The Times-Picayune 09-03-2026 by The Advocate

SAVE $ 22 2

SAVE 70 ¢

— ONLY —

PREVIOUSLY FROZEN

$ 77

N O L A.C O M

When You Buy 2

— ONLY —

HALF

SAVE $ 02 5

SAVE up $ 98 to 4

$ 99

2/$

PARTNER

— ONLY —

2 LB BAG

PREFERRED

24 PACK 12 OZ CANS

1097

LB LB Darling Coke, Sprite, Chicken Boneless TRUCKLOAD SALE Easy Peel Mandarins Diet Coke or Barq’s Breast Tenders Pork Loin visit rouses.com for more weekly ad specials! Prices good at all New Orleans, Gretna, Kenner, Metairie, Marrero, Slidell, Mandeville and Covington stores September 2nd - September 9th, 2026.

T h u r s d ay, s e p T e m b e r 3, 2026

$2.00X

Flood agency searches for leakers

$23,000 spent on investigation BY ALEX LUBBEN

Staff writer

A New Orleans-area ﬂood protection agency spent $23,000 investigating whether an employee improperly accessed emails and hired a private investigator to sweep its offices for listening devices, as its leaders sought to clamp down on leaks to local media, internal documents show.

The Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority-East’s regional director, Jeff Williams, also initiated a criminal investigation into information technology specialist Kevin Kazmierczak, which found no probable cause to bring charges. Other employees said the investigation had damaged morale and contributed to staff turnover at the agency tasked with overseeing the system of levees and

pumps designed to protect the region from hurricane storm surge. Following the investigations into his alleged wrongdoing, Kazmierczak, 57, said that he was given a choice: Retire or be ﬁred. He chose to retire, he said, Williams but denies that he did anything wrong. The agency alleges he improperly accessed certain emails, in violation of its

ethics policy. He said the agency’s management is “completely paranoid about what they are doing being exposed.” “But why?” he asked. “Shouldn’t an organization such as ours be open and honest about everything they do?” Kazmierczak’s tasks involved fulﬁlling public records requests from reporters and members of the public, and he said he accessed certain sensitive emails in the course of doing his job.

SUNKEN GARDEN

Williams said an internal review of Kazmierczak’s computer activity justified bringing on an outside firm. “FPA-East became concerned that certain internal records and information might have been disclosed outside normal authority processes,” he said. The investigation into Kazmierczak is not the only one of its kind the agency has pursued recently. An officer with the agency’s police

ä See LEAKERS, page 4A

CATAHOULA PARISH

Deputy: Warden ordered jail beatings cover-up Court filing details alleged abuse of handcuffed inmates BY PATRICK SLOAN-TURNER Staff writer

STAFF PHOTO By DAVID GRUNFELD

A large oak tree in New Orleans’ Lake Terrace neighborhood collapsed into a massive hole earlier this week after an extended water main leak. Residents on Killdeer Street estimated that the washed-out area was 10 to 15 feet deep and 40 feet wide as crews worked to remove the tree on Wednesday. City Council member Eugene Green said he was seeking answers from Sewerage & Water Board officials on the incident. ‘It’s been frustrating,’ said Maria Stokes, the daughter of the home’s owner. ‘It’s not just the immediate concern; it’s the concern for the future integrity of the house.’

The top wardens at a Louisiana jail tried to orchestrate a coverup after guards pepper-sprayed, handcuffed and beat subdued inmates with electric riot shields, a former deputy testified in federal court. Former Catahoula Parish Correctional Center Warden Jeremy Wiley and five other jail officials were indicted in May on a slew of charges related to the alleged brutality at the jail on Feb. 1, 2024. Wiley faces 13 counts of civil rights abuse along with Assistant Warden Gary Allen, former jail Col. William Savage and former Chief of Security James Wathen. All four entered not guilty pleas at their arraignments. Carl Michael Williamson, the jail’s former transportation director, pleaded guilty to a single count

ä See COVER-UP, page 4A

Jurors appear deadlocked in staged-crash murder trial BY JAMES FINN Staff writer

A federal judge ordered jurors to keep deliberating Wednesday in New Orleans’ staged wrecks insurance fraud and murder case after they deadlocked on at least some of the charges facing two men accused of conspiring to kill an FBI cooperator. Chief U.S. Judge Wendy Vitter

WEATHER HIGH 93 LOW 78 PAGE 8A

delivered the so-called “dynamite charge” to jurors Wednesday afternoon after they had spent nearly 24 hours deliberating without reaching a verdict in the trial of disbarred Kenner lawyer Sean Alfortish and Leon “Chunky” Parker. Alfortish faces a raft of fraud counts for allegedly orchestrating the staged collisions scheme, in which he’s accused of funneling bogus wrecks to his injury-lawyer

“We received the note that you sent. I shared it with all counsel and the defendants. They’ve asked me to give this further instruction: I’m going to ask that you continue your deliberations in an effort to agree upon a verdict.”

the jury to deadlock. Around 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, Vitter brieﬂy pulled prosecutors and defense attorneys to a private sidebar in her courtroom to discuss a question she had received from the jury, CHIEF U.S. JUDGE WENDy VITTER which she did not read in open court. Vitter then called jurors into the ﬁancée for litigation, plus murder- pulling the trigger that killed Garcourtroom to deliver a directive conspiracy charges tied to the 2020 rison. killing of FBI cooperator Cornelius It was unclear which of the ä See JURORS, page 4A Garrison III. Parker is accused of charges facing the two men caused

Business ......................6A Commentary ................5B Nation-World................2A Classified .....................7D Deaths .........................3B Opinion ........................4B Comics-Puzzles .....3D-6D Living............................1D Sports ..........................1C

14TH yEAR, NO. 22

2A ✦ Thursday, September 3, 2026 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

BRIEFS

FROM WIRE REPORTS

Pabst Blue Ribbon offers $20K to help find beer

Pabst Blue Ribbon wants its beer back, and it’s offering a reward to help that happen. Greig DeBow, the CEO of Pabst Brewing Co., said Wednesday that the company will pay up to $20,000 to anyone who provides new information that leads to the recovery of 1,602 cases of Pabst Blue Ribbon and non-alcoholic Old Milwaukee beer. The beer went missing Aug. 17 in Southern California. “I’m sure they look cool with a garage full of PBR,” DeBow said in a post on TikTok. “That’s actually not cool though. We want it back.” Police in Montclair, California, said the beer was stolen from a warehouse in two separate incidents on the same day. In the ﬁrst heist, about $45,000 worth of beer headed to Tucson, Arizona, was picked up but never delivered, according to police. An hour later, a “purported subcontracting company” submitted fake documents to pick up another $25,000 worth of beer, Montclair police said. Both thefts occurred on Aug. 17 at an Anheuser-Busch distribution center about 40 miles east of Los Angeles. All told, the thieves made off with 40,000 pounds of beer, Pabst said. Police estimated that the stolen beer was worth $70,000. DeBow said the company wants the beer to be returned by Sept. 9. Anyone with information is asked to email hotline@ pabst.com. The theft was one of several recent high-proﬁle food heists. Late last year, 40,000 oysters, lobster worth $400,000 and a cache of crabmeat all were stolen in separate incidents within weeks of each other in New England.

Turkish ship with 10 crew sinks after collision ISTANBUL — A Turkish cargo ship with 10 crew aboard sank Wednesday after a collision with a tanker off Istanbul, and there were no immediate signs of survivors, Turkish authorities said. A lifeboat and other debris belonging to the Tugberk Imamoglu have been found but there is no sign of the crew, the General Directorate of Maritime Affairs said in a statement. “There are 10 seafarers on board, including the captain,” Transport Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu said. “They are all Turkish. We can say that the sinking occurred rapidly in 11 minutes. No one has been found alive.” Two helicopters and 12 search and rescue vessels were searching the area. The ship collided with the Turkish-ﬂagged tanker Alsu in the Marmara Sea at 3 a.m., the statement said. An emergency signal was received from the Tugberk Imamoglu and the ﬁrst rescue craft reached the site 4:10 a.m. The vessel, which was carrying rolled steel, collided with the Alsu about 20 miles south of Silivri, a western suburb of Turkey’s largest city.

At least 22 killed in bus crash in Egypt CAIRO — At least 22 people, including Egyptians and Jordanians, were killed Wednesday in a passenger bus crash in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, authorities in both countries said. Twentyeight others were injured. The accident happened on a road linking the tourist resorts of Dahab and Nuweiba in South Sinai province, the Egyptian Health Ministry said in a statement. The ministry said it deployed 20 ambulances to the scene to transport the dead and wounded to nearby hospitals. It didn’t elaborate on the victims’ nationalities. The Jordanian Foreign Ministry said there were Jordanians among the casualties, without providing a toll. The Amman-based al-Mamlaka public broadcaster reported that 10 Jordanians were killed in the crash. It said the bus was bound for Amman from Cairo when it overturned on a road between Dahab and Nuweiba. The Egyptian health ministry didn’t elaborate on the causes, but local media reported that the bus overturned after one of its tires blew out.

lll

Congo Ebola deaths top 3,000

Outbreak spreading at unprecedented speed BY CONSTANT SAME BAGALWA and OPE ADETAYO Associated Press

BUNIA, Congo — Congo’s Ebola outbreak has killed more than 3,000 people out of more than 6,100 conﬁrmed cases, according to the latest government data from Wednesday, as the disease is spreading at an unprecedented speed, faster than efforts to track and slow it. Data from Congo’s Ministry of Health showed the outbreak has recorded 6,186 confirmed cases, including 3,007 deaths since it was declared a global health emergency in mid-May. It remains the fastestgrowing outbreak of Ebola ever. Jean-Claude Angwanzia, a resident of Bunia, said that he left Mambassa in the epicenter of Ituri province, because he didn’t feel safe. He said that he hardly saw health workers and infected

bodies were being mishandled, prompting safety concerns. “I had to ﬂee the area because of the danger looming over us,” he said. The pace of the outbreak is putting a strain on people’s lives. Papy Baraka, a public transportation driver in Bunia, has had to cut down on the number of passengers he picks up in his car. “The disease puts everyone at risk, and daily life has slowed to a crawl. We are afraid,” he said. Recent weeks have witnessed a surge in cases, with two new health zones affected last week in North Kivu, where the fatality rate is much higher than in the rest of the affected provinces. The virus has spread to six provinces. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control said Tuesday in a report that the efforts to contain the virus “remained below established

response targets” and the fast expansion of the disease across many health zones indicates “uncontrolled expansion of the outbreak.” The report said that the statistics show that most of the cases are “occurring outside known transmission chains” as a result of the percentage of conﬁrmed new cases coming from only between 15% and 20% of known contacts. Director-General of the World Health Organization, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said on Wednesday that there are chains of transmission the health authorities are not aware of. “Until every chain is found and broken, the epidemic will continue; And it will continue to pose a threat to DRC, its neighbors, and the region as a whole,” he said. Health workers are struggling under difﬁcult conditions and have gone on strike multiple times to

demand their pay. The disease has continued to spread rapidly for several reasons, including conﬂict in the eastern region of the country where the outbreak is concentrated, attacks on health workers, miners constantly on the move, and inadequate health infrastructure. The resumption of school in the middle of the outbreak has also raised concerns about transmission in classrooms. The World Health Organization said that the outbreak is on track to exceed the deadliest on record, West Africa’s regional outbreak between 2014 and 2016, which killed 11,000 people. The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that the outbreak is possibly three times larger than the number of cases recorded, as surveillance and contact tracing are still weak. Despite that, the outbreak has already become Congo’s deadliest Ebola outbreak.

Driscoll offers no reason for his exit

Any concerns were abArmy secretary sent from Driscoll’s post X late Tuesday night, says Wednesday on which was his ﬁrst public was his last day statement since the White

BY BEN FINLEY and MARY CLARE JALONICK Associated Press TIMES MEDIA LTD PHOTO By RICHARD POHLE

Britain’s King Charles III and Queen Camilla, accompanied by French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron and Prime Minister Andy Burnham and his wife Marie-France van Heel, view the Bayeux Tapestry exhibition at the British Museum in London on Wednesday.

Macron, King Charles III hail intertwined histories Bayeux Tapestry exhibit in London viewed as ‘precious symbol of trust’

BY JILL LAWLESS

Associated Press

LONDON — French President Emmanuel Macron and Britain’s King Charles III hailed the Bayeux Tapestry as a symbol of their countries’ intertwined stories as they visited the 1,000-year-old artwork Wednesday at its temporary home in the British Museum. The two heads of state viewed the embroidered depiction of the 1066 Norman conquest of England alongside new Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who is eager to restitch bonds between Britain and its European neighbors that have been frayed by Brexit. Charles praised the agreement between Britain and France that brought the priceless, fragile tapestry to London, and called its presence there “a precious symbol of trust at a time when trust seems sadly to be in short supply between nations.” Macron said during a reception at the museum that the artwork is “more than just a linen canvas bordered with wool. It represents a whole chapter of French, British and European history.” “The epic it tells bound our cultures, our histories and our destinies together,” the French president said. France loaned the embroidery, insured for $1.1 billion, for a 10-month exhibition that opens to the public on Sept. 10. It was spirited from France to London by road

and rail in a clandestine high-security operation in July, the first time since the 11th century that it has touched British soil. Burnham said that the tapestry’s return “is a landmark moment in the history of our two nations.” Macron and his wife, Brigitte Macron, had tea with the king and Queen Camilla at their Clarence House residence before traveling to the museum by royal Bentley to meet Burnham, the prime minister’s wife, Marie-France van Heel, and members of the teams that brought the tapestry from France to the U.K. They walked the length of the tapestry, displayed horizontally in high-tech cases, and stopped to examine several of its 58 scenes of combat, coronation and the suffering of ordinary people swept up in the last successful invasion of England. Stitched in wool thread on linen fabric, the artwork depicts events leading up to the Battle of Hastings in October 1066, when William, Duke of Normandy, defeated King Harold’s Anglo-Saxon army. The invasion ended Saxon rule and made William the Conqueror the first Norman king of England. Historians believe the tapestry was commissioned by Bishop Odo of Bayeux, William’s half brother, and was probably sewn by women in England — possibly nuns — before being taken across the Channel. It has spent most of the last millennium in the town of Bayeux in northwest France, apart from two short periods at the Louvre Museum in Paris. The loan was agreed after delicate diplomatic negotiations, and despite concern from some French cultural figures about the risk of moving the delicate cloth.

Tiger Woods pleads no contest to reckless driving charge BY DANIEL KOZIN Associated Press

STUART, Fla. — Tiger Woods pleaded no contest to a reckless driving charge and his driver’s license was suspended for five years Wednesday following a March rollover crash in Florida, where he initially was accused of driving under the influence. Woods, still one of golf’s most influential figures and as recognizable as any athlete in the world, has had a remarkable fall since winning the 2019 Masters for his 15th major. The first person of Black

heritage to win the Masters in 1997, his career has been derailed by multiple back and knee surgeries, car crashes and dependence on pain medication. He was arrested in March after his SUV clipped a truck and rolled over on its side on a beachside residential road near his home on Jupiter Island. A sheriff’s report said deputies found two pain pills in his pocket and he showed signs of impairment. He did a Breathalyzer test, which came out negative, but refused to take a urine test. He pleaded not guilty to the original DUI charge.

WASHINGTON — Dan Driscoll has announced that his last full day as U.S. Army secretary was Wednesday, but his social media post offered no explanation for why he is stepping down after 18 months as the service’s civilian leader. Driscoll is a friend of Vice President JD Vance and has good relationships with both Republicans and Democrats in Congress. But tensions with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have been widely reported, and some of Driscoll’s allies in the Army were ousted this year by President Donald Trump’s Pentagon chief. Driscoll spoke with Trump on the current state of the Army before he submitted his resignation this week, The Associated Press has reported.

House confirmed his departure Monday. Driscoll said it has been “the honor of a lifetime” to serve as Army secretary under Trump and Hegseth. Driscoll praised the soldiers, their families and the Army’s civilian workforce for helping “modernize and accelerate how the Army mans, trains, and equips the most lethal fighting force on the face of the earth.” “We could not have made the progress we did without the support of Secretary Hegseth,” he added. His exit comes as the U.S. military has returned to launching airstrikes against Iran after a lull in hostilities during the more than six-month-old war, leaving the nation’s largest ﬁghting force without top civilian or uniformed leaders who have been conﬁrmed by the Senate. It was not immediately clear who would fill Driscoll’s role at least temporarily.

GET IN TOUCH Customer Service: HELP@THEADVOCATE.COM or 504-529-0522 News Tips / Stories: NEWSTIPS@THEADVOCATE.COM Obituaries: 225-388-0289 • Mon-Fri 9-5; Sat 10-5; Closed Sun Advertising Sales: 504-636-7421 • Mon-Fri 8-5 Classiﬁed Advertising: 225-383-0111 • Mon-Fri 8-5 Subscribe: nola.com/subscribe E-Edition: nola.com/eedition Archives: nola.newsbank.com The Times-Picayune (USPS 18530) is published by Capital City Press at 840 St. Charles Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70130 and at additional mailing offices. Periodicals postage paid at New Orleans, LA. ISSN: 2379-0008. Capital City Press, proprietor. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Times-Picayune, Circulation Accounting, P.O. Box 588, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-0588. Newspaper carriers are independent contractors and not employees of Capital City Press.

All home delivery subscription sales are non-refundable. Should you discontinue your subscription during term, the subscription will end with the expiration date on your subscription, and there will not be a refund of a prorated amount. Subscribers who purchased their subscription before Feb. 1, 2023 and wish to cancel can request a refund of a remaining balance at https://www.nola.com/app/forms/refund-request-form/. Refunds are considered on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of Capital City Press, LLC or its designee. All subscriptions purchased that include a special edition will have the special edition value deducted prior to any refund provided to subscriber upon cancellation of service. Standard subscription rates may be effective upon renewal. All standard subscriptions include digital access and e-Edition, a digital replica of the printed Advocate edition(s). The apps are free for tablets and smartphones. Smartphone apps may not be supported on all devices. The Times-Picayune standard subscription rate is $80.89 per 4-week period, plus tax. Standard digital subscriptions include e-Edition with the rate of $31.15 per 4-week period, plus tax starting 1/1/25. Special editions included in home delivery subscriptions are 1/30/26, 3/11/26, 4/15/26, 5/27/26, 7/8/26, 8/19/26, 9/30/26 11/26/26, 1/22/27, 3/10/27, 4/14/27, 5/26/27, 7/14/27, 8/18/27, 9/29/27 and 11/25/27 and are billed at $6.23 each. The Thanksgiving Day edition will be billed at your regular Thursday rate plus $6.23. To opt out of special edition delivery, email help@theadvocate.com or call 225-388-0395. By opting out of special editions you will not receive that day’s newspaper. Thanksgiving Day is not a special edition and opting out for that edition isn’t permitted. Prices shown are in U.S. dollars. Prices subject to change. Other restrictions may apply. We no longer provide credit for temporary delivery stops of 14 days or less. During a temporary delivery stop donations are made to our News in Education program. This program provides newspapers and digital access to schools across Louisiana. This program is paid for by sponsors and temporary stops so that students may use the newspaper for educational purposes in the classroom. During a temporary delivery stop of the print edition subscribers have unlimited digital access to theadvocate.com, nola.com and the apps for tablet and smartphone. Seasonal delivery times from August 2025 through February 2026 will extend to 8:00 a.m. on weekends. Subscribers may also choose to access our digital replica e-Edition of the printed Advocate, Times Picayune and Acadiana Advocate only. As a highly valued customer, we also value your privacy. All personal information collected by The Advocate will be used for administration and customer verification; it may be used for promotional purposes in accordance with The Advocate’s privacy policy. Please refer to our policy located at https://www.theadvocate. com/new_policy/ for information regarding the collection, use and disclosure of personal information. By providing your phone number and email address you agree that we can call or email you to confirm delivery service, satisfaction and/or sales promotions as they may occur from The Times-Picayune. The Times-Picayune: 840 St. Charles Ave., New Orleans, LA 70130 St. Tammany Bureau (NEWS only): 321 New Hampshire St., Covington, LA 70433 • 985-276-5054

The Times-Picayune ✦ nola.com ✦ Thursday, September 3, 2026 ✦ 3A

lll

Locations

JOIN US FOR

Steak Night

ESPLANADE 504-322-2595 CARROLLTON 504-766-0972 FILMORE 504-218-7048 ARABI 504-266-2059 METAIRIE 504-835-5979 JEFFERSON 504-503-0900

THURSDAYS 3-7PM @ JEFFERSON, ARABI, FILMORE, AND METAIRIE

CANSECOS.COM

Four Day Sale Green Bell Peppers

While Supplies Last

Jumbo Chicken Drumsticks or Thighs

Small Chicken Wings

99¢

Family Pack

Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs

PRICES RICES VALID 9/3 - 9/6

5lb Bag

Family Pack

Assorted Bone-In Pork Chops

USDA Inspected Ribeye Steaks

$10

Family Pack

Kraft Velvetta or Deluxe Mac & Cheese Dinners

5lb

Selected 16oz

3/ Violi Olive Oil

$5 Bounty Paper Towels

33.8oz

4 Roll

3lb Bag

Kraft Salad Dressings

Food Club Long Grain Rice

40oz

Gold Medal Flour

Food Club Vegetable Oil

Selected 12-14oz

Family Pack

Hot Weekly Specials Chicken Leg Quarters

USDA Choice Angus Chuck Roast or Top Round Roast

81% Lean Ground Beef

Fresh Oysters

49¢

$11

10lb Bag

Coke Products

12 Pack Cans MUST BUY 2

$11

Lay’s XL Chips

4.75oz-8oz MUST BUY 2

Red Ripe Seedless Watermelons

Blue Plate Mayo

30oz

10lb Tubes

Chicken Wings

Pint

Family Pack

Manda Smoked Sausage

Hormel Chili

No Beans 15oz

2lb

Blue Bell Ice Cream Half Gallon

LIMITS MAY APPLY. NOT ALL ITEMS WILL BE AVAILABLE. NO RAINCHECKS. NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR TYPOGRAPHICAL OR IMAGE-BASED ERRORS. THANK YOU FOR UNDERSTANDING.

4A ✦ Thursday, September 3, 2026 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

lll

JURORS

the hit, as Harris alleged. Parker lawyers Stephen Haedicke and Richard Schroeder sought to discredit Harris’ trustworthiness. They unpacked a series of lies federal agents acknowledged Harris had told them during FBI “proffer” sessions and noted how Harris appeared to change his story on the witness stand regarding the destruction of one of the burner phones.

Continued from page 1A she later conﬁrmed was an “Allen charge” — also referred to as a “dynamite charge,” or instruction to a deadlocked jury to keep working toward a verdict. “We received the note that you sent. I shared it with all counsel and the defendants,” Vitter told the jury. “They’ve asked me to give this further instruction: I’m going to ask that you continue your deliberations in an effort to agree upon a verdict.” Vitter then sent the jurors back to the jury room to continued deliberating. Afterward, she said from the bench that she issued the directive because nearly ﬁve days had passed since the jury began its deliberations. “The jury was given the case on Friday, Aug. 28,” she said. “It is now Sept. 2. (The jury) came back with this question. The court feels like after these many hours, the approved … Allen charge was appropriate to give.” The marathon jury deliberations, which are set to enter their fourth full day Thursday, follow a three-week trial in which prosecutors sought to convince the jury that Alfortish was culpable for a complex, overlapping web of crimes. He’s accused not only of white-collar counts for the alleged insurance scheme, but also witness tampering and murderconspiracy counts stemming from Garrison’s killing.

Deliberations drag on The jury can fail to reach a verdict on some charges while still reaching a verdict on others. But in the staged wrecks case, which has drawn national headlines and commanded a vast amount of federal law enforcement resources, a hung jury or acquittal on any count Alfortish faces would strike a stunning blow to

Few questions from the jury Juries can submit questions to judges during deliberations. This jury has only lodged a couple of questions — a wrinkle that trial bar veterans called unusual for a jury taking so long to deliberate. Late Tuesday, the jury asked Vitter its first question: They requested a map “of the greater New Orleans area.” Jurors are generally expected to rest their verdicts solely on material lodged as evidence, and Vitter rejected the request. By reconvening Thursday morning for a fourth full day of deliberations, the jurors reviewing AlSTAFF PHOTO By ENAN CHEDIAK fortish and Parker’s charges will place themselves among the lonU.S. trial attorney J. Ryan McLaren, from left, Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Katherine Kaufman, Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Payne, U.S. trial attorney Samir Paul and Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Klebba exit the Hale Boggs gest-deliberating juries in recent memory in New Orleans’ federal Federal Building in New Orleans on Wednesday. court. The jury that weighed Motta’s case in March deliberated for just prosecutors and agents who spent ciates, insurance defense lawyers was shot. Harris testified that he planned over five hours before finding her years unraveling the case both be- and passengers in staged wrecks the hit at Alfortish’s direction guilty. fore and after their star witness’ to the stand. In 2014, a federal jury deliberatAlfortish was accused of later and enlisted Parker, an old fambrutal murder. Prosecutors have sought to con- ordering the hit on Garrison, a ily friend, as the triggerman. For ed for six hours before convicting vince the jury that Alfortish — a “slammer” who drove passenger his part, Harris admits to buying a former New Orleans Mayor Ray disbarred attorney, former Ken- vehicles in staged wrecks before pair of burner phones and coaxing Nagin of corruption counts. New Orleans District Attorney ner city judge and avid horseman he began cooperating with the FBI. Gardner to lure Garrison outside In arguing their case of Garri- with a phone call moments before Jason Williams in 2022 was ac— was the mastermind behind a complex, overlapping web of son’s murder, prosecutors relied the shooting. quitted of tax counts by a federal Alfortish’s defense attorneys, jury that deliberated for about 16 crimes. heavily on location data showing For years, prosecutors said he the movements of Parker, Alfor- Shaun Clarke and James Washing- hours. funneled staged wrecks for litiga- tish and a third alleged co-conspir- ton, homed in during the trial on a A Washington, D.C.-area jury tion to his fiancée, injury attorney ator, Ryan “Red” Harris. Harris lack of direct evidence tying their that convicted former CongressVanessa Motta, who was separate- was the first person arrested in the client to the murder. An FBI loca- man Bill Jefferson of corruption ly convicted in March of litigating killing and quickly pleaded guilty tion data specialist, Blake Down- in 2009 did so after deliberating bogus wrecks for big insurance to plotting the hit alongside his ing, acknowledged under question- for five days. The federal judge payouts. They showed the jury then-girlfriend, Jovanna Gardner, ing that he was unable to confirm overseeing that case, however, rethousands of pages of financial who acknowledged calling Garri- Alfortish, Parker and Harris all peatedly dismissed jurors early in ledgers and called business asso- son to lure him outside before he met before the murder to discuss the early afternoon.

COVER-UP

Littleton had previously pleaded not guilty at his May arraignment Continued from page 1A to a handful of charges before recently taking a plea deal to a single conspiracy count. The defendants could not be of civil rights abuse. Allen was also charged with wit- reached for comment Wednesday. As part of his guilty plea, Littleness tampering, while all ﬁve face additional counts of falsifying re- ton admitted that he and others used cruel and excessive force on ports. On Aug. 19, former Deputy Chad 11 inmates and two pretrial detainLittleton pleaded guilty to con- ees. Federal prosecutors say the 13 spiracy to violate civil rights. He says Wiley and Allen learned the people had been housed in a cell FBI was investigating the incident with only six beds for several and instructed him to cover it up days and were protesting the jail’s by fabricating a report that omit- overcrowded conditions when the ted the assault of 13 inmates and assaults began. In a sworn statement, Littleton pretrial detainees.

LEAKERS

Continued from page 1A department also contributed to an investigation that led to the firing of another employee, former Director of Operations Darren Austin, whose job was to oversee pumps and floodgates. He was accused of overallocating overtime pay to one of his subordinates. He denied wrongdoing, and no criminal charges were filed against Austin following the investigation. Seven employees who either work at the agency or recently left said the investigations have soured morale there. All of them believed Kazmierczak was wrongly accused. The employees also alleged that the investigation is emblematic of Williams’ suspicion of his own employees. They said falling morale has driven staff out of the agency, especially senior leaders. The flood authority’s workforce dashboard, published online, shows that the agency has 70 staff vacancies of 315 total positions, though it has increased the number of positions it budgets for in recent years. The agency’s leadership says turnover has been a problem at the agency for years, and that they have been working to address it. A 2022 report from the Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s Office identified turnover and morale as organizational concerns. “By October 2025, months before the Kazmierczak investigation, FPA-East was already developing a formal cultural-transformation initiative focused on trust, morale, leadership alignment, accountability and employee engagement,” Williams

said in a statement. Shane Guidry, the chief executive of a maritime transportation company and an informal adviser to Gov. Jeff Landry who has been overseeing changes at the levee authority, said it “makes a ton of sense” for the agency to spend $23,000 on an outside investigation into leakers. “When you’ve got the head of IT that’s doing things, you can’t ﬁgure it out. You can’t catch them. You got to bring somebody just as smart as them or smarter to catch them,” Guidry said. “I’m surprised it was that cheap.”

An expensive investigation The ﬂood agency has been in the spotlight over the past couple of years over controversial changes Landry’s administration has been pursuing there. As the news media, particularly The TimesPicayune | The Advocate, reported on leaked documents, agency leaders openly expressed frustration. “We have so many (expletive) rats over there in that building,” board President Peter Vicari told a reporter in April. Kazmierczak’s computer activity caught the agency leadership’s attention as they sought to limit leaks to the press. “The combination of the volume of activity, the subject matter of particular searches and the sensitivity of the records involved prompted management to initiate a formal administrative investigation, retain an independent forensic firm and place Mr. Kazmierczak on paid administrative leave pending investigation,” Williams said. In May, the agency put out a request for proposals “to provide independent forensic support for an administrative investigation in-

said the warden and the assistant warden ordered him and other officers to spray the demonstrators with pepper spray, handcuff them and bring them from the cell into the recreation yard. He says Wiley ordered the prisoners to identify leaders of the protest and then “began using an electrified riot shield and his body weight to shock and crush handcuffed prisoners who were lying on the ground,” striking them while they were still subdued by pepper spray. A few weeks later, Littleton reported to an office inside the jail, where Wiley and Allen told him they had learned that the FBI was

volving potential misuse or exceeded authorized access to agency systems,” according to internal documents obtained through a public records request. That request was not issued publicly because of the sensitive nature of the work, according to internal agency emails, and was instead shopped around to a handful of firms. Paratech was eventually hired. The firm, through its attorney William Larzelere, said it provides cybersecurity to clients and does not discuss specifics. In June, the agency also contracted with a private investigator to conduct an “assessment of an administrative building.” The investigator was paid $1,250 for four hours of work, which the agency confirmed involved sweeping the offices for listening devices. That move was separate from the investigation into Kazmierczak, Williams said. Kazmierczak was eventually summoned to meet with an investigator with the flood agency’s police force after Williams initiated a criminal investigation to ascertain whether he committed trespass against state computers and malfeasance in office — both felonies. The police investigation, conducted in parallel to Paratech’s, concluded having “not yielded facts and circumstances that constituted probable cause to believe a crime had been committed.” But Paratech’s findings led the agency to conclude that Kazmierczak had improperly accessed certain emails. Paratech was to be paid $22,937.50 for its work. The agency’s director of engineering, Ryan Foster, objected to the investigation and refused to sign the check, internal emails show. It was signed by Williams

investigating what took place in the yard, he testified. “Wiley and Allen ordered Littleton to write a report that omitted the assaults, and they further instructed him to backdate the report” to the date of the incident, prosecutors say. Over multiple years, jail supervisors and officers operated under an agreement to assault inmates and pretrial detainees that had been selected for interrogation or punishment, according to Littleton. The agreement involved bringing weapons “such as electrified riot shields” with them, prosecutors say, as they took inmates to

and Vicari. A police body camera was used to record Kazmierczak’s interview with Williams and the agency’s human resources staff, which he found unusual because the interview was not related to police business. The agency conﬁrmed the camera was used to produce an “accurate record and transcripts.” “We have since terminated the use of body-worn cameras for non-law-enforcement employee investigations based on advice of counsel,” said the agency’s public affairs director Stephanie Gerarve.

Staff turnover As the agency’s leadership

jail areas with no cameras to be assaulted and then falsiﬁed reports to omit the beatings. In a statement shortly after Wiley and others were indicted in May, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Louisiana Zach Keller called the facts of the case “a disgraceful abuse” of the trust placed upon ofﬁcers to “treat people in prison with dignity and respect.” At a May news conference, Catahoula Parish Sheriff Toney Edwards said he had suspended the employees — including Wiley — “until the matter is resolved by the courts.” The court has set a February trial date for the case.

pursues investigations into certain employees, turnover at the agency remains high. Since Landry and his allies began implementing changes there in 2024, every member of the agency’s nine-member board of commissioners has been replaced. At the staff level, the agency has seen an annual turnover rate of around 20% every year since 2023. Williams said the turnover rate “deserves management attention,” and stressed that the issue had existed before Landry and his allies started instituting changes. Since Williams arrived at the agency in August 2025, six of the 11 director-level staff positions — the head of public information, safety

director, director of operations, director of maintenance, human resources director and director of finance — have all left, either of their own accord or because they were let go. Watchdog groups are concerned. “Citizens for 1 Greater New Orleans continues to be extremely concerned about the level of staff turnover and the proper use of our flood protection tax dollars,” said Blair DuQuesnay, the chair of the organization, which advocated for levee board reform after Hurricane Katrina. “We question the need to continue to suppress information from the public about how our flood tax dollars are being spent.

STAY IN THE HOME YOU LOVE WITH A STILTZ HOMELIFT

NOW WITH

$555 OFF LIMITED TIME OFFER

Our home elevators can ﬁt in almost any home

A Stiltz Homelift is a safe, attractive, & affordable alternative to stairlifts. It requires no supporting walls, has a small footprint and uses less power power than a coffee maker.

Affordable Small Footprint Full Safety Features Low Power Consumption Freestanding Design Wheelchair Accessible Fast Installation Full Warranty

For a FREE BROCHURE or no-obligation home visit

Call 1-844-813-0691

The Times-Picayune ✦ nola.com ✦ Thursday, September 3, 2026 ✦ 5A

Iran targets Gulf neighbors in retaliation lll

Fighting escalates after American bombardment over weekend

crude oil, the international standard, has climbed to around $95, up more than 30% from the start of the war. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Iran will “continue to feel the squeeze” from the United States until it drops any nuclear weapons ambitions and ends support for armed groups in the Middle East. Iran has always insisted its nuclear program is peaceful.

BY DAVID RISING and SAMY MAGDY Associated Press

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Iran fired on U.S. allies in the Gulf early Wednesday following a night of American bombardment that Iranian state media says included a deadly strike on a wedding party. The latest violence came after a monthlong lull in fighting. The sixmonth war has led to a spike in oil prices, roiled the global economy and posed increasing political problems for U.S. President Donald Trump’s Republican Party ahead of November midterm elections. Fighting has escalated since the American military hit Iranian rocket launchers on an island in the Strait of Hormuz over the weekend, saying Iran was planning to use them to lay mines. Iran retaliated by firing missiles at American bases in Jordan that were intercepted. American military resources are stretched and political pressure in Washington is mounting, while Iran’s economy has been battered by sanctions and an American naval blockade. Iran’s currency hit another record low on Wednesday,

U.S. allies fend off attacks

TASNIM NEWS AGENCy PHOTO By MASOUD MOHAMMADI

Damage is seen at a building that Iranian media said was hit in a U.S. strike in Kuhestak, southern Iran, early Wednesday. with traders in Tehran exchanging 2.20 million rials for one U.S. dollar, a 10% hike from last week’s record. Neither side can continue indeﬁnitely between full-scale war and a truce, said Hamidreza Azizi, senior Iran analyst at the Crisis Group, an international think tank. “At some point, one of the sides may see a need to escalate in order to break this cycle,” he cautioned. “So that could bring the two sides to a point that they have been trying to avoid until now, which is a full-scale war.”

came as the standoff seemed to be shifting slightly more in the U.S. favor, with the price of oil hitting around $80 a barrel last month and Iranian leaders talking about growing economic hardships, said Sascha Bruchmann, an analyst with the International Institute for Strategic Studies’ Middle East office in Bahrain. “The U.S. is trying to reinstall some kind of confidence into the global oil markets … and the Iranians had to respond to that by reinserting insecurity and doubt,” Bruchmann said. Struggle focused on strait, oil Since the fighting resumed over The latest flare-up in violence the weekend, the price of Brent

Following the strikes on Jordan, U.S. Gulf allies Kuwait and Bahrain said they had also come under attack, without reporting any casualties. “You will soon see that Iran’s new strategy on the battleﬁeld, in diplomacy, and in confronting the economic blockade will shatter your foundations,” the recently appointed head of Iran’s powerful Supreme National Security Council, Mohsen Rezaei, said on X. In Iraq, where Iranian-backed forces are active, Kurdish authorities said they had intercepted 10 drones laden with explosives in the Irbil area. Iranian television reported that American bases in Irbil had been targeted. Israel’s military also said that Iran-backed Hezbollah ﬁred two explosive drones at its soldiers in southern Lebanon, without causing casualties. The U.S. Central Command said Tuesday’s strikes focused on Ira-

nian military targets, including air defense sites, radar systems and maritime assets.

4 killed, state media says One U.S. strike hit a home hosting a wedding in Kuhestak, a small coastal town overlooking the Strait of Hormuz, according to Iranian state media. Four people were killed — two women and two children, aged 4 and 16 — and at least 68 were wounded, the state news agency IRNA and state TV said Wednesday. Just after the strike, Ahmad Nafisi, the province’s deputy governor, told Iranian state television that five people were killed. There was no explanation for the change. Several heavy explosions shook Kuhestak, with fireballs that lit up the night sky, according to security camera footage carried by the semiofficial Fars news agency. Images from Iran’s semiofficial Tasnim news agency showed several hospitalized children being treated for injuries at a hospital in the nearby town of Minab, where a U.S. missile strike on the opening day of the war hit a primary school, killing more than 100 children. Footage from the Iranian Red Crescent showed rescue workers entering a damaged home in the wake of the strike. It showed a hole in the roof of one house in a neighborhood of densely packed homes.

Russian strikes kill 2 Former Tropical Storm civilians Edouard lingers over Texas Ukrainian Moscow, Kyiv threaten Heavy rains flood homes, roadways

to raise the stakes

BY HANNA ARHIROVA and BARRY HATTON

BY JAMIE STENGLE and LEKAN OYEKANMI

Associated Press

LIVINGSTON, Texas — Texas authorities rescued dozens of people from stranded cars, homes surrounded by floodwaters and an assisted living facility Wednesday as former Tropical Storm Edouard lingered over rural parts of the state and dumped nearly 2 feet of rain in some places. Heavy rains from the storm, which weakened into a tropical depression after making landfall Tuesday, were expected to threaten the eastern part of the state through Thursday morning, the National Weather Service said. Meanwhile, a burst of tropical weather persisted in the Pacific Ocean, where two hurricanes and a strengthening tropical storm were churning in open waters. In Texas’ hard-hit Hardin County, about 85 miles northeast of Houston, officials said flooding, downed trees and powerlines, debris, and power outages were still creating hazardous conditions. Between 18 inches and 20 inches fell in parts of the county over the last two days, the weather service said. The average local monthly rainfall for September is just 5.51 inches, said Nick Slaughter, a meteorologist with the weather service. Across the area close to the Louisiana border, schools and municipal offices were closed, and residents were told to stay home.

HOUSTON CHRONICLE PHOTO By BRETT COOMER

Chase Barfield walks to his truck as he takes belongings and his dogs away from floodwaters around his house in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Edouard near Honey Island, Texas, on Wednesday. Hardin County’s office of emergency management said Wednesday afternoon that 12 motorists had to be rescued after driving into flooded roadways, two people had to be rescued from a flooded home, about 10 structures were damaged by trees and thousands were still without power by late Wednesday afternoon. In Jefferson County, located about 80 miles northeast of Houston, the main concern was restoring power after trees and limbs were brought down during the storm, which had wind gusts up to 90 mph, said Robert Grimm, the county emergency management coordinator. About 22,000 customers in the county were without power as of late Wednesday afternoon, nearly half of the 50,000 util-

ity customers affected statewide, according to poweroutage.com. Grady Leger said that as the storm moved through Hardin County on Tuesday evening, a powerline went down by his home near Lumberton, and he could feel the vibration coming up from the ground. “Some blue and yellow, white sparks caught part of my dead tree on ﬁre,” Leger said. An assisted living facility was damaged in Hardin County, and 21 people were evacuated, according to Texas Parks and Wildlife, whose game wardens assisted. Photos from the agency showed some ofﬁcials wading in thigh-deep water in parts of the county. Edouard is expected to dissipate Thursday.

IRS Back Taxes Got You Worried? These guys helped so much!! Helped me navigate my unfortunate situation with such ease. A BIG thank you... A huge blessing.

“

- Catherine

Our Tax Professionals will get you on the phone with the IRS in minutes for FREE.

KYIV, Ukraine — Russian aerial attacks overnight and during daylight Wednesday killed two civilians and wounded six in the central Ukrainian city of Dnipro, local officials said, while the Kyiv and Odesa regions bore the brunt of Moscow’s latest strikes. The air war between Russia and Ukraine has intensified as the conflict stretches into its fifth year following Moscow’s invasion of its neighbor. The front line in eastern and southern Ukraine remains largely deadlocked, and U.S. efforts to negotiate a settlement have yet to produce a path to peace. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy exchanged threats late Tuesday over what their next steps might be. Zelenskyy warned foreign airlines that flying in Russia is not safe because of Ukrainian long-range drone attacks, saying that “Russian airspace will effectively be closing.” The military pressure aims to compel Russia to accept peace negotiations, he said. Putin accused Zelenskyy of “state terrorism” and said: “We don’t negotiate with terrorists.” Putin’s comments got short shrift from Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation, a government body, which said the remarks were a flagrant

attempt by the Russian leader to shift the blame away from Moscow. “A state that itself unleashed this war, that daily commits terror against Ukrainian civilians and destroys cities, is again trying to portray itself as a ‘victim,’” the center said. Russian Transportation Minister Andrey Nikitin dismissed any travel concerns, saying authorities are constantly strengthening flight safety. “We will not allow any significant disruptions to civil aviation,” he told reporters, according to Russian news agency Interfax. At a late-night news conference at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Kyrgyzstan, Putin also addressed reports that the Ukrainian military had used British-made drones to strike inside Russia. Asked whether Russia would strike British military facilities if the U.K. government continues to provide Ukraine with weaponry, Putin declined to rule it out. With a small smile, he told reporters that is “a military secret.” China and North Korea, meanwhile, have provided military support for Russia, as has Iran in previous years. The Russian and Ukrainian leaders’ comments came as European officials weigh their response to the latest in what they say is Moscow’s campaign of continental sabotage and disruption aimed at weakening support for Ukraine. Germany on Tuesday blamed Russia for an attempted attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport last month using a drone laden with explosives.

T N E M E C A L P E R ROOF & REPAIRS WE’LL BE AT 30 YEAR

NEW ROOF $

ANY WRIT TEN ESTIMATE!

5,13000*

WITH SYNTHETIC FELT * BASED ON 1800 SQ. FT.

We will help negotiate the best solution for your tax challenge. At PRIORITY TAX, WE'VE GOT YOUR BACK!

CALL NOW FOR FREE CONSULTATION!

888.518.9361 Priority Tax is a private company that identifies qualified consumers who require tax assistance. They are not the IRS, nor a State Taxing Authority. They are not a debt relief company or attorney referral service. Costs and results will vary. RESULTS ARE NOT GUARANTEED. Hiring a tax resolution company is an important decision and should not be based solely on advertisements. There is no charge for a consultation. Call for complete details.

Fully Insured

ACME ONE CALL FIXES ALL NEW ORLEANS ROUGE EXTERIORS LLC BATON HOUMA 504-913-6535 2500 Houma Blvd., Metairie, LA

6A ✦ Thursday, September 3, 2026 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

lll

BUSINESS N O L A.C O M/BIZ

DOW 53,061.95 295.07 0.56%

NASDAQ 26,217.83 118.05 0.45%

BRIEFS

FROM WIRE REPORTS

8 Mich. newspapers to end print in December

MLive Media Group will stop printing its eight Michigan newspapers in December, the publisher said in a story posted on its website Wednesday. The final printed editions will be delivered Dec. 6, MLive Community President John Hiner said in the story. The eight publications will continue in digital formats, including MLive.com, the MLive app, online newspaper editions, social media and email newsletters, according to the company. They are Ann Arbor News, Bay City Times, Flint Journal, Grand Rapids Press, Jackson Citizen Patriot, Kalamazoo Gazette, Muskegon Chronicle and Saginaw News. MLive said more than 99% of its readers access its content digitally. The company also said digital and online news subscribers surpassed print subscribers this year. MLive said it does not publicly release its circulation numbers; however it did note that according to the Nieman Journalism Lab, it has more than 8 million monthly visits to its website. New York-based Advance Local owns MLive.com and consolidated its Michigan newspaper titles under the MLive umbrella in 2012. The newspapers date back more than 120 years.

Lake Ontario renamed on Apple Maps in U.S. CHICAGO — Apple has relabeled Lake Ontario to “Lake America” for U.S. users of its Maps app, following competitor Google days after President Donald Trump ordered a new name for the body of water amid his escalating trade war with Canada. As of Wednesday morning, Apple Maps displayed “Lake America” for U.S. users looking at the lake that sits between the state of New York and Canada’s Ontario province. Users outside of the U.S. still saw the Lake Ontario name. Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Wednesday. Earlier this week, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum told Fox that Trump had reached out to the company “directly” about the change. The president declared the new “Lake America” name last week — marking one of the latest provocations during his trade war with Canada that is now hiking tariffs on both sides of the border. His executive order on Friday directed the Interior Department to update the lake’s name in the U.S. geographic naming service. Trump cannot force Canada to also change the name of Lake Ontario.

Judge orders changes to Google’s digital ads A federal judge on Wednesday ordered Google to retool the system powering its monopoly in digital advertising, sparing the company from a wrenching breakup sought by the U.S. government. The initial two-page decision by U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema in Virginia marks the second time in a year that Google has received a reprieve from a Justice Department proposal to dismantle its internet empire. Meanwhile, what courts have described as the company’s anti-competitive practices have enriched Google’s corporate parent, Alphabet Inc., which has a market value of $4.11 trillion. After a judge declared Google’s ubiquitous search engine as an illegal monopoly in 2024, the Justice Department pushed for a penalty that would have required the company to sell its popular Chrome web browser. But it was rebuffed last September by another federal judge overseeing that case. Now Brinkema has also rejected the government’s argument that Google should be forced to sell parts of the technology underlying a byzantine system that generates a signiﬁcant portion of the company’s nearly $400 billion in annual ad sales.

S&P 500 7,666.60 35.13 0.46%

EURO 1.1587 -0.0005 -0.04%

CRUDE OIL 91.01 0.79 0.88%

GOLD 4,366.30 18.30 0.42%

6-MO T-BILLS 4.03 0.0 0.0%

30-YR T-BONDS 5.26 -0.01 -0.13%

Huang urges G20 to speed AI adoption

Nvidia chief, whose company is at a central issue in the November alone” because of the country’s Nvidia CEO says the heart of the AI boom, likened midterm elections. At the same regulatory environment and protechnology to water, electric- time, a spate of security breaches, energy policy. ‘single worst outcome’ the Nvidia, the world’s most valuable ity and other utilities. “This is the where AI models escaped secure testing environments, has fueled company, is the leading provider of is to be left behind great equalizer.”

BY MAGGIE EASTLAND Bloomberg News (TNS)

Nvidia Corp. Chief Executive Officer Jensen Huang called on Group of 20 nations to accelerate their adoption of artiﬁcial intelligence as a way to enhance growth, urging the world’s largest economies to expand data centers and other infrastructure to support the emerging technology. “Every single country needs to build infrastructure so you can support your own local economy,” Huang said Wednesday at a tech event in North Carolina hosted by the U.S. for G20 members. The

Huang spoke during a fireside chat with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick at the event, where Trump administration ofﬁcials are pressing G20 members to adopt a set of guidelines for overseeing new technologies like AI. Dubbed the Carolina Principles, the document cautions nations against creating new regulatory bodies for AI while urging closer collaboration between governments and private industry to test emerging technologies. G20 delegates gathered in North Carolina this week against the backdrop of growing public opposition in the U.S. to data center construction that’s emerged

global calls for stricter oversight to ensure the safety of cuttingedge systems. In his remarks, Huang said that the “single worst outcome” for a country is “being left behind.” The Nvidia chief warned that could happen if the public and policymakers let fears about AI drive the conversation about the technology. “We have to make sure that we are balanced in talking about it,” he said, and focus on AI’s potential for boosting prosperity. Huang held out the U.S. as an example, saying Nvidia would “invest close to a trillion dollars into the United States infrastructure” over the course of “this year

AI accelerators, a key component for training and running artiﬁcial intelligence models. Last week the chipmaker projected sales growth of 70% for the next fiscal year, sending its shares on their biggest one-day rally since April 2025. In remarks to reporters, Huang also recommended that governments adopt narrow regulations for AI, saying that the responsibility for ensuring product safety should fall to companies rather than public ofﬁcials. On Tuesday, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, whose ventures have made an all-in bet on the technology, accused the European Union of “extraordinarily high” regulations.

Chevron confirms that it will expand operations in Venezuela Trump had announced an ambitious deal to develop the nation’s oil reserves

BY MICHELLE CHAPMAN and REGINA GARCIA CANO AP business writers

Oil giant Chevron confirmed that it will expand operations in Venezuela after President Donald Trump announced an ambitious deal to develop the nation’s oil reserves and give the Pentagon a stake in the profits. Chevron, the only U.S. oil company with a major presence in Venezuela, said Wednesday that it has been assigned additional acreage in the Orinoco Belt, where it has active operations. The company plans to invest more than $7 billion over the next five years, with the goal of more than doubling its current production to about 600,000 barrels a day. Venezuela holds the world’s largest proven reserves, totaling more than 303 billion barrels of crude oil, according to OPEC’s 2025 Annual Statistical Bulletin. Saudi Arabia is a distant second with 267 billion barrels. Yet because Venezuela’s energy infrastructure is severely degraded and the nation is operating under international sanctions, its daily production is just over 1 million barrels, compared with the 10 million to 11 million barrels that Saudi Arabia produces each day. The U.S. produces almost 14 million barrels per day. Chevron, the second-largest U.S. oil company, has had a presence in Venezuela since 1923. The White House confirmed Monday that it is partnering with North American Blue Energy Partners, NABEP, as part of Trump‘s push to tap into Venezuela’s oil industry. Yet the agreement has been met with skepticism from energy experts who say it will take years to revive Venezuela’s oil industry, which is in disarray after years of neglect. There are also questions about whether Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, has the authority to give NABEP 100year rights over 17 oil fields with reserves of 65 billion barrels — and whether future Venezuelan or American administrations would overturn the agreement. Venezuela’s constitution states that arrangements like the one that the United States an-

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By ARIANA CUBILLOS

A fisherman steers his boat on Lake Maracaibo in the oil-producing region of Cabimas, Venezuela, on Tuesday. nounced this week must be approved by the National Assembly, which has not happened, wrote Ian Vásquez, vice president for international studies at the Cato Institute. Trump has eyed Venezuela’s oil since the January capture of then-President Nicolás Maduro and has pressed to get U.S. businesses back into the country. “We have Exxon going in, we have Chevron going in. We have our big oil companies going in,” he said that same month. He suggested again on Monday that other U.S. oil majors were preparing for a return, though other than Chevron, there is no evidence of that. Exxon Mobil CEO Darren Woods said in January that Venezuela was “uninvestable.” An Exxon spokesman said this week that “nothing has changed.” The history of U.S. oil majors in Venezuela explains the hesitation. Venezuela nationalized its oil industry in 1976 and created the state-owned company Petróleos de Venezuela S.A. A second nationalization occurred in 2007, when President Hugo Chávez pushed foreign oil companies into state-controlled joint ventures and

seized the assets of companies that refused. Chevron agreed to a joint venture. Others, including Exxon and ConocoPhillips, refused, and Venezuela took their assets. Trump has said that the agreement with Venezuela would “substantially lower” gasoline prices in the U.S. However, analyst have repeatedly warned that Venezuela’s dilapidated oil infrastructure will require years of restoration work and tens of billions of dollars to resuscitate. “It could take 2 to 4 years to get new greenﬁeld facilities online in the Orinoco region,” Amy Jaffe, director of the Global Energy, Climate, and Sustainability Lab at New York University, said in an email. “Other places where there is no pipeline and other kinds of support infrastructure could take longer.” Meanwhile, the national average price for a gallon of regular gasoline jumped overnight to $4.12, according to the motor club AAA. That is 93 cents more than it cost at this point last year. Garcia Cano reported from Caracas. Associated Press writers Aamer Madhani and Collin Binkley in Washington contributed to this report.

Trump administration backs OpenAI in N.Y. Times copyright case Millions of articles ingested, processed by ChatGPT BY ALANNA DURKIN RICHER

Associated Press

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration is wading into a legal ﬁght between OpenAI and the New York Times, backing the ChatGPT-maker’s argument in a closely watched case over how it builds its AI technology by ingesting and processing millions of news articles. In court papers filed Tuesday, the Justice Department supported OpenAI’s argument that training its models on troves of writings found on the internet is protected by the “fair use” doctrine of copyright law. The Justice Department wrote

that “the creative possibilities and public beneﬁts” of training large language models on such content “far outweigh any competitive harm.” It told the court that siding with The New York Times and other publishers who argue OpenAI’s practice violates copyright law would thwart “creative and scientiﬁc progress while hindering American prosperity and economic mobility.” “The entire reason that AI models are rapidly reshaping the economy and national security is that they help people, including those working in creative fields, make things and get things done,” Justice Department attorneys wrote. The “creative benefits often overlap with national security interests,” the department added, because AI models can “help national security officials analyze and draw infer-

ences from (unprotected) real- pay fairly for the content that world facts such as those conveyed makes their products possible, as copyright law requires,” Graham in New York Times articles.” James, a spokesperson for the paTimes criticizes the U.S. position per, said in an emailed statement. The lawsuit, and the government’s involvement in it, are symp- Times says livelihood threatened toms of something happening all The Times sued OpenAI in 2023, over the world, particularly in re- arguing that the company was cent months: the rush to keep up threatening its journalists’ livewith the rapid rise of AI tools over lihoods by effectively stealing the past ﬁve years. In many cases, billions of dollars’ worth of their disputes about AI and its practices work, in some cases spitting out are winding their way through The Times’ material verbatim courts that still lack precedents — to people seeking answers from and in some cases language — to generative artiﬁcial intelligence match the subject matter. like ChatGPT. The threat to news The New York Times said publications became even more Wednesday that the administra- apparent when, in 2024, Google intion “is siding with a handful of troduced AI-generated summaries trillion-dollar AI companies at the at the top of online search results, expense of the countless American cutting off the advertising dolcreators whose work they stole.” lars that come when people click “Both AI and creators can thrive a link to the information’s original — AI companies simply need to source.

The Times-Picayune ✦ nola.com ✦ Thursday, September 3, 2026 ✦ 7A

lll

Carrier crew disembarks in Thailand EU struggles to ﬁnd

effective response to failed drone attack

USS Abraham Lincoln docks after 260 days at sea

of sanctions on Russia over Germany blames the war in Ukraine, hitting Russia for incident more than 3,000 ofﬁcials, oli-

BY SAKCHAI LALIT, JINTAMAS SAKSORNCHAI and ANTON L. DELGADO Associated Press

PATTAYA, THAILAND — The USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier, which spent nearly nine months at sea to support U.S. operations against Iran, docked at a port in eastern Thailand on Wednesday to give the crew of about 5,000 an opportunity for beachside rest and recuperation. The sailors and Marines aboard the nuclear-powered ship had not been on shore for more than 260 days, and reports emerged last month of deteriorating mental health among the crew as well as shortages of key food supplies aboard. The Navy downplayed any problems, and President Donald Trump commented that the Lincoln’s lengthy deployment was “not nearly long enough.” The Lincoln, launched in 1988 and as long as about three American football ﬁelds, made its way into the Laem Chabang port in Thailand’s Chonburi province Wednesday morning shortly after the destroyer USS Frank E. Petersen Jr., one of several ships in its carrier strike group, sailed past the area. Another, the guidedmissile cruiser USS Robert Smalls, headed to Map Ta Phut in neighboring Rayong province. The Lincoln’s crew members later debarked to spend their free time in nearby Pattaya, a seaside resort city that U.S. military personnel have frequented since the Vietnam War era.

The ship looks a bit worn Crew members were not immediately accessible to media, but the ship itself looked due for at least a new paint job, with large blotches of what appeared to be rust on the hull, especially just above the waterline and at the edge of the ﬂight deck, where fighter aircraft and helicopters were parked. The U.S. Embassy said the ship has been deployed for a total of 286 days since November, and that Thailand was the ship’s ﬁrst full port stop in that time. Its total uninterrupted time at sea before Wednesday’s arrival was 264 days.

BY LORNE COOK Associated Press

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By SAKCHAI LALIT

Navy personnel walk on the deck of the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln as it arrives at the port in Laem Chabang, Chonburi, Thailand, on Wednesday. When asked about the carrier’s appearance, Capt. Dan Keeler, the Lincoln’s commanding ofﬁcer, replied that “it is normal for a long deployment and we’re not going to make further comments.” “It looks like what it is: a ship that’s been continuously at sea for 286 days,” Euan Graham, a defense expert at the Australian National Security College, told The Associated Press after reviewing photos of the ship. “And the Abraham Lincoln has been on a prolonged combat deployment, during which normal port calls were denied to it. “So it becomes a tempting symbol of the U.S. Navy’s strategic overstretch and fatigue,” he added. “However, what’s also notable is the impressive state of the air wing. So maybe the underlying story is also one of resilience under conditions of extreme stress.” The Navy had dismissed reports about sailors onboard struggling with mental health concerns. A Navy ofﬁcial said a sailor aboard the Lincoln went overboard in early August but the person was quickly recovered, treated by the ship’s medical department and transferred off ship for follow-up care. The official would not say whether it was considered a suicide attempt.

Local businesses happy In Pattaya, welcome banners hung outside restaurants and bars, and a local gem store touted its selfdescribed special deals. A giant LED sign in front of the city’s famous Walking

Street, a nightlife hub, features a welcome message with images of the Lincoln, as well as the Thai and U.S. ﬂags. Pattaya’s mayor, Poramet Ngampichet, said he expected the visit could generate about $3 million for the city. Once known mostly as a seedy city of bars and massage parlors offering sexual services, the city has in recent years toned down its act to become more of a family destination, with attractions such as theme parks and golf courses. Jaroon Kasemsantitham has run a beachside restaurant there for more than 30 years. He said September is usually the worst month for business, and 2026 had been especially bad because of the tourism slump triggered by the Iran war. The 66-year-old put up a welcome banner with a U.S. flag motif and a silhouette of a carrier, and the words “ALL WELCOME.” Politics was not what he cared to talk about, he told AP. “I’m doing business, so I want a lot of customers,” Jaroon said. “When we heard the news, we were excited. … I sent a video clip to my employees and said ‘Look, the Americans are coming.’ ”

New Jersey. She spoke to the AP outside Pattaya’s Hard Rock Hotel, where city ofﬁcials welcomed dozens of service members arriving by bus. She said her daughter, an entry-level seaman, ﬁnished basic training in October and shipped out for the Lincoln’s deployment in midNovember, later celebrating her 25th birthday on board. She said she worried most just after the U.S. launched its initial attack on Iran at the end of February and she was unable to connect with Jada for a while. “It was an uncertain time. It was a scary time. It was difficult — definitely difficult. But she has a support system. Her friends reached out to me. In fact, one of her good childhood friends is here as well,” she said. “It was a time for us to stick together and trust and believe that she would be OK.” Another carrier, the usually Asia-based USS George Washington, relieved the Lincoln in the Middle East in August. The Lincoln is heading home soon, said its commander, Capt. Keeler.

BRUSSELS — The European Union on Wednesday weighed how best to respond to an attempted drone attack at a German airport blamed on Russia but struggled to ﬁnd new ways to meet the challenge without resorting to military means. The German government said Tuesday that Russia was responsible for the failed attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport on Aug. 4 using a drone laden with explosives and announced it would shut down a Russian consulate among other measures. The nature of the incident and its attribution to Russia set a new benchmark. The drone was found near a Ukrainian cargo plane and the device was defused. The airport is a major international freight hub used for providing support to Ukraine. “It is clear that it has all the hallmarks of statesponsored terrorism. The question is: what do we do about this,” EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas told reporters before chairing a meeting of the bloc’s foreign ministers in Ireland. They discussed sanctions, visa restrictions and shutting Russian consulates, among other measures. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said France summoned Russia’s envoy to “protest strongly” and wants to impose sanctions on more of the Kremlin’s shadow ﬂeet ships. “We won’t allow an act of such gravity without consequences,” Barrot said. The EU has slapped almost two dozen packages

garchs and entities including banks, energy companies and drone makers. The EU was already preparing to impose more travel bans and asset freezes on another 1,600 people, Kallas said. Hundreds of ships making up the shadow ﬂeet illicitly shipping oil to fuel Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war effort have been targeted too. Russian diplomats have routinely been summoned around Europe, even expelled. Russia has sometimes seemed immune to such measures. The challenge is how to respond effectively without going too far. EU member nations, many of them NATO allies, remain cautious about being dragged into open conﬂict with nuclear-armed Russia. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the incident “marks a new escalation on European Union soil,” and that her services “are looking at ways to cut deeper into Russia’s war chest.” She did not elaborate. Germany insisted it was “not at war” but had become a “daily target” of the Kremlin’s hybrid campaign. Putin dismissed the allegations, saying Berlin wants to distract from its own failings and dissatisfaction among voters. Any proof being offered “has been planted,” Putin said. But German Foreign Minister Johan Wadephul said Berlin had carefully prepared its response “and now Russia must live with these consequences.” He called on Russia “to show that it is also ready for reasonable talks and negotiations, particularly regarding the situation in Ukraine.”

Rendezvous with family Visitors to Pattaya on Wednesday included Shakeira Fairfax, the mother of a crew member, who traveled to Thailand to meet her daughter Jada. “I’m excited. I’m so full of emotion. I can’t wait to hold her. I can’t wait to snuggle up next to her,” said Shakeira, who hails from Paterson,

China presses U.S. for answers after a man dies in ICE custody BY RYAN J. FOLEY Associated Press

The Chinese government is pressing for answers after a Chinese man died hours after being taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in a U.S. territory. Lianyong Wei, 51, died Aug. 23 at a hospital in the Northern Mariana Islands, ICE announced in a news release Tuesday. Wei was arrested Aug. 21 by the Northern Mariana Islands Department of Public Safety on criminal charges stemming from an alleged assault on a family of five

at their home, according to ICE. He was taken into ICE custody the next day pending removal proceedings. ICE said a guard at the lockup in Saipan found Wei unresponsive during routine morning checks on Aug. 23. He was taken to a hospital emergency room, where he was pronounced dead after “life-sustaining interventions were initiated,” the agency said, noting that the cause of his death is under investigation. Wei entered the U.S. territory in February 2019 and was authorized to stay for two weeks, according to ICE. U.S. authorities began

removal proceedings in July 2026, and Wei’s next hearing had been scheduled for this month. The Chinese Consulate General in Los Angeles said it had been notified of Wei’s death. “We have expressed serious concerns to the relevant U.S. authorities over this incident and required a timely and thorough investigation into the cause of Mr. Wei’s death, notification of the findings, measures to prevent any recurrence of similar incidents, and assistance to the family of the deceased in handling the aftermath,” the consulate said in a statement.

Thousands in Spain protest border crisis BY JOSEPH WILSON, SERGIO RODRIGO and SUMAN NAISHADHAM Associated Press

CEUTA, Spain — The city of Ceuta, a tiny speck of Spanish territory perched on the northern African coast, normally celebrates its Sept. 2 annual ofﬁcial holiday largely ignored by the mainland. But not this year, after Ceuta became the epicenter of Spain’s worst border crisis in living memory. In lieu of festivities, tens of thousands of people took to the streets Wednesday across Spain to protest the ongo-

ing humanitarian crisis in Ceuta, demanding solutions and blaming Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez for his government’s handling of it. In Madrid, authorities said some 50,000 protesters turned out. After the demonstration ended, an Associated Press journalist heard shots and explosions. Spanish newspaper El País reported that police fired rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse crowds. There were significant turnouts also in Barcelona, Valencia and Seville. Waving Spanish ﬂags, demonstrators shouted “A united

Ceuta will never be defeated,” “Sánchez to prison” and “Invaders — go home!” referring to the thousands of migrants still in the city. The official organizer of Wednesday’s protests in Madrid and more than 200 other cities and towns was the nonpartisan Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces. But the protests were promoted by the PP and Vox, which is strongly against irregular migration. Spain’s minister of territorial policy, Ángel Víctor Torres, told Spanish National Radio that the protests were politically motivated.

Call 504-553-1235 to schedule your free quote today!

8A ✦ Thursday, September 3, 2026 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

lll

with meteorologist Damon Singleton

TODAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

A t-storm around in the p.m.

A heavy t-storm in the p.m.

Humid; a stray p.m. t-storm

Humid with a thunderstorm

A t-storm around in the p.m.

Some rain and a thunderstorm

HIGH

LOW

HIGH

93° 78°

LOW

HIGH

89° 78°

LOW

90° 77°

Beaumont 88/76 Port Arthur 87/76

Baton Rouge 94/75

Lake Charles 91/75

New Orleans 93/78 Houma 91/74

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

Hattiesburg 95/74

Alexandria 92/74

Lafayette 92/75

10s

20s

30s

40s

50s

LOW

HIGH

LOW

90° 78°

New Orleans through 5 p.m. Wednesday

Jackson 95/73 Many 91/71

HIGH

90° 77°

TEMPERATURE

Longview 92/74

-0s

LOW

Monroe 96/75

Shreveport 93/74

-10s

HIGH

91° 78°

Well, no tropical disturbance or flash flooding risk today, instead the heat becomes an issue for us once again. Most of Southeast Louisiana is under a moderate heat risk today with a few areas being under a major heat risk. So today, expect a mostly sunny to partly cloudy, hot and humid day with a light breeze and isolated showers and thunderstorms. Temperatures this afternoon will rise to the low to mid-90s with heat index or “feels like” temperatures as high as 105 or higher.

60s

70s

80s

90s 100s 110s

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

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

Sunrise today Sunset tonight Moonrise today Moonset today LAST

SEP 4

City

Atlanta Austin Boston Charlotte Chicago Dallas Denver Houston Las Vegas

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

91°/77° 90°/76° 91°/74° 100° in 2000 62° in 1967

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

HIGH

12:38p 6:35a 5:01a 6:37a 2:20a 1:37a 3:28a

6:39 a.m. 7:21 p.m. 11:29 p.m. 1:16 p.m. NEW

FIRST

SEP 10

96 101 79 98 92 91 89 88 95

TODAY Lo

75 77 67 74 74 77 61 76 74

FULL

SEP 18

s t t s t t s t s

SEP 26

96 93 82 98 90 90 90 92 97

FRI. Lo

74 74 63 74 74 78 63 76 73

t t s t t t t t s

FT.

LOW

YESTERDAY

TODAY

READING 37 MAIN POLLUTANT Ozone

MAIN POLLUTANT Ozone

GOOD

PRECIPITATION

0.05” 0.26” 0.44” 44.55” 46.29”

FT.

HIGH

0.8 12:09a 0.1 1.9 7:21p 0.3 2.1 1:37p 0.0 1.8 5:34p 0.3 1.5 2:19p 0.1 1.8 12:51p 0.1 1.9 3:21p 0.1

---------------

FT.

---------------

SOURCE: LOUISIANA DEQ AND AIRNOW.GOV

LOW

---------------

FT.

---------------

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 4:48a 11:03a 5:17p 11:32p Friday 5:49a 12:04p 6:19p ---Saturday 6:49a 12:33a 7:20p 1:04p Sunday 7:46a 1:31a 8:17p 2:02p Monday 8:41a 2:26a 9:10p 2:56p Tuesday 9:32a 3:18a 9:59p 3:46p Wednesday 10:20a 4:07a 10:45p 4:32p

City

TODAY

Los Angeles 82 Miami 92 Nashville 101 New york City 83 Philadelphia 92 Phoenix 100 St. Louis 98 San Francisco 72 Seattle 65

64 80 74 71 75 81 80 57 50

s t s t t s s pc t

GOOD

83 90 101 83 87 101 98 73 68

FRI. Lo

65 79 72 67 68 82 80 58 53

s t t pc pc t s pc sh

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

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

FLOOD STAGE

34 48 48 35 27 22 17

WED. 24-HOUR STAGE CHANGE

3.00 28.60 30.80 15.20 8.70 6.37 4.80

-1.84 -1.07 -0.70 -0.70 -0.40 -0.30 -0.20

16.07

-1.10

-1.47

+0.15

18 29 8

-1.18 10.30 2.92

-0.05 +0.11 -0.02

13 15

1.53 0.76

-0.07 -0.03

47 34 29 20 12 6

14.02 9.73 7.83 6.77 4.20 2.86

-0.52 -0.21 -0.19 +0.07 +0.20 +0.16

data as of 7 a.m. Wednesday

Immigrant rights group seeks to Jury in Lindsay Clancy trial goes home after block use of federal databases Lawsuit alleges legal voters could be purged BY MICHAEL R. BLOOD AP political writer

LOS ANGELES — An immigrant rights group sued the Trump administration Wednesday to block the U.S. Department of Homeland Security from using federal databases that it alleged are being used to target naturalized citizens who are eligible to vote. The lawsuit, ﬁled in U.S. District Court in Washington on behalf of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, alleges that DHS and the U.S. Justice Department are interfering with fair elections by using inaccurate federal databases in an attempt to buttress allegations of voter fraud.

The federal government is engaging in an “attack on the freedom to vote,” Angelica Salas, the coalition’s executive director, said at a Los Angeles news conference. “This is voter intimidation.” The lawsuit — ﬁled on behalf of the coalition by the UCLA Voting Rights Project — becomes part of a swirl of legal moves that states, including California, have taken to fend off federal actions that threaten to create confusion during the midterms. “It’s not an accident the federal government is trying to interfere with the right to vote. ... They believe they can intimidate naturalized U.S. citizens,” said Xavier Becerra, the Democratic nominee for California governor who is acting as a senior adviser to the voting project. The lawsuit alleges that the ad-

ministration might be comparing voter rolls with undisclosed government databases. Those systems can include outdated information and be riddled with errors, it said, and could produce inaccurate results that disproportionately affect naturalized voters. “Comparing government databases to try and arrive at a list of noncitizen registrants has been shown to result in erroneous data,” the lawsuit said. “Congress has never authorized such activities and in fact has ... prohibited invasion of voter privacy through government data matches in this way.” The Trump administration has been targeting noncitizen voting to allege it could be a source of significant fraud during the midterm elections, even though actual voting by people who are not citizens is rare.

Kennedy Center disassembles ‘Blue’ sculpture BY JESSE BEDAYN

Associated Press

The Kennedy Center took down a sculpture known as “Blue” Wednesday, the latest change to the cultural and performing arts center that stirred some pushback in President Donald Trump’s second term. The sculpture, a tall, blue stick ﬁgure poised in action — as if to kick a ball or, from a different angle, having just kicked one — was designed by sculptor Joel Shapiro and installed in 2019. The removal follows a longerrunning saga with the Kennedy Center, where the Trump-aligned board is ﬁghting in court for the right to plaster the president’s name on the historic institution. It falls within a broader effort to reshape Washington to Trump’s liking, including demolishing the White House’s East Wing to build a ballroom, a proposed triumphal arch near Arlington National Cemetery and a renovated golf course. Shapiro, known for breathing life into otherwise minimalist stick figures, described “Blue”

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By MARK SCHIEFELBEIN

Workers remove the sculpture “Blue” by artist Joel Shapiro on the grounds of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington on Wednesday. in a video posted to the Kennedy Center’s YouTube years ago as being “about action and risk and performance and energy. It’s a celebration of possibility.” Shapiro died in 2025, and “Blue” will no longer celebrate possibility at the Kennedy Center, though it may be reinstalled elsewhere through the Joel Shapiro and El-

len Phelan Foundation. “We are deeply grateful to Joel Shapiro for the years Blue has spent animating our campus and connecting visitors to his vision,” the Kennedy Center said in an emailed statement. “We are honored to have been stewards of his vibrant work and a part of his enduring legacy.”

ﬁfth day with no verdict Judge instructs deadlocked panel to continue deliberating BY MICHAEL CASEY and LEAH WILLINGHAM Associated Press

PLYMOUTH, Mass. — Jurors in the Lindsay Clancy trial went home without a verdict Wednesday following a ﬁfth day of deliberations and twice saying they can’t agree whether the Massachusetts mother is criminally responsible for killing her three young children. The jury will return again Thursday morning. The judge told them to keep deliberating Wednesday when they said for a second straight day that they were at an impasse — a sign there’s a growing chance of a hung jury and the trial ending without a resolution. Clancy, a 36-year-old former labor and delivery nurse, doesn’t deny strangling her children in the basement of their home in 2023. Her attorney argues that postpartum psychosis led to her actions, while prosecutors say she knew what she was doing when she killed Cora, Dawson and Callan Clancy, ages 5, 3 and 8 months. “I know it’s been a long day,” Judge William Sullivan said, “so at this point, what I’m going to do is, ﬁrst off thank you for your time and commitment to this case. I’m going to ask you to come back tomorrow morning.” Clancy stared at the jury with no expression when Sullivan earlier in the day explained to the courtroom that the jurors were at a standstill.

telligent, more impartial or more competent to decide it than you are.” Elyse Hershon, a Boston criminal defense attorney and legal analyst, said, “The next time they say they are deadlocked or unagreed — that is usually the mistrial call.”

If there’s a mistrial Clancy’s livestreamed trial has generated intense interest, with reporters and spectators packing the courtroom. The case has also sparked deep public divisions over her culpability and the issues around maternal mental health after childbirth. Jurors have heard testimony from relatives and doctors about how Clancy’s mental health declined in the months before the killings and how her treatment included several medications and a short stay in a psychiatric hospital. Medical experts hired by the prosecution and the defense reached sharply different conclusions about her psychiatric state. If jurors ultimately can’t agree on a verdict, the judge could declare a mistrial. Prosecutors would then have to decide whether to put Clancy on trial again, drop the charges or try to negotiate a plea deal with her lawyer. If the jury decides Clancy was criminally responsible for her actions, it could convict her of either murder or manslaughter. If she is acquitted, a judge could still order her conﬁned to a mental health facility if an evaluation determines that she poses a danger to the public.

Woman charged with filming jury

Dawn Light, 56, was arraigned on an intimidation charge Wednesday at the same courthouse as Clancy’s Judge tells jury to keep trying trial in Plymouth, south of Boston. Sullivan told the jurors not to Authorities say she filmed jurors abandon their own convictions just leaving the courthouse a day earlier. Light, a retired nurse and Clancy to reach a verdict, but urged them to seriously consider opposing supporter, told reporters she was views and reassess their positions there: “To see Lindsay. And I did see her. She was getting picked up by if appropriate. No one knows, he said, whether the van.” Her lawyer Jennifer White another jury would be “more in- called it a “misunderstanding.”

JEFFERSON • NEW ORLEANS • ST. TAMMANY • RIVER PARISHES ST. BERNARD • TANGIPAHOA • PLAQUEMINES

METRO

N O L A.C O M

T h u r s d ay, s e p T e m b e r 3, 2026

1bN

Essence Festival responds to demands Officials want ‘sustainable, multiyear agreement’ BY JONI HESS Staff writer

As the Essence Festival of Culture nears the end of its ﬁve-year contract with New Orleans this month, Essence ofﬁcials on Wednesday touted the event’s 30-year history and a laundry list of reasons it should remain in New Orleans long term. Sundial Media Group, Essence’s parent company, has asked the city

for another multiyear agreement that deﬁnes what a successful festival looks like, beyond the three-day event’s growing popularity and the millions of dollars it has generated for the city over the years. “As discussions with the city of New Orleans, the state of Louisiana and other stakeholders continue for 2027 and beyond, Sundial is seeking a sustainable, multiyear agreement that provides the certainty, shared investment and long-term planning

The crowd listens to George Clinton at the Essence Festival of Culture at the Caesars Superdome on July 5.

required to support the Festival’s future in New Orleans,” Sundial ofﬁcials said in a statement. Sundial was responding to a city steering committee’s letter in August where committee members scoffed at the ﬁrm’s request for $10 million to $12 million in annual city and state incentives unless they meet certain conditions. Those asks include a marketing

STAFF FILE PHOTO By ENAN CHEDIAK

ä See ESSENCE, page 2B

Charter school delays launch

CLEANING DAY

Key Academy didn’t reach enrollment targets

BY ELYSE CARMOSINO Staff writer

STAFF PHOTO By CHRIS GRANGER

Pigeons take ﬂight beneath a sky heavy with gathering clouds as Michael Fernandez and Virtis Vincent of C M Combs Construction clean the top of a glass awning in front of a condo across from Lafayette Square in downtown New Orleans on Monday.

PEARL RIVER

Candidates promote open-door policy

Council members ELECTION ( m“ aTy ohr i’ss) job is so facing off for mayor demanding, H

BY JIM DERRY

and I am about to be 62 years old,” Lee said. “I still Two well-known members of drive my bus full time, and every the Pearl River Town Council day my routine is coming to the will face off for mayor this No- (mayor’s) office at 5 a.m., drive vember, and each say having an my bus, come back, drive my bus open-door policy will be part of in the afternoon and then be back the platform in their respective here again tomorrow morning.” The next mayor also will serve bids for office. Virgil Phillips and Cheryl with a new police chief, as Jack Schultheis, both Republicans, Sessions also is not seeking reare vying for the election after two terms in office. position, with Both Phillips and Schultheis the election besay having a good relationship with the next chief — either Steing held Nov. 3 and early voting ven Ball or John Polk — will be from Oct. 20-27. highly important. The winner Virgil Phillips will replace outgoing mayor Joe Phillips Phillips, 70, has spent nearly Lee, who has all his life in town and graduated served since Ocfrom Pearl River High School in 1975. For the past 31 years, he tober 2021 when has served as the public-address former Mayor announcer at the home football David McQueen games for his alma mater. became ill and He has served as an alderman was unable to under three mayors, including in serve. McQueen an interim capacity in 2003 after died the followincumbent Pat Walsh died. Philing month, and Schultheis Lee was elected lips then won a runoff against to a full term in November 2022. Lola Monroe and left office durHe said he decided not to run ing an unsuccessful run for mayfor another term to spend more or in 2010. He won his latest term time with his family, as he ex- in 2022. He owns a small lawn-care pects to continue his other job as a school bus driver for the St. ä See CANDIDATES, page 2B Tammany Parish school system. Staff writer

STAFF PHOTO By MISSy WILKINSON

New Orleans Police Department officers Corey Campbell, from left, and Juan Garcia, Capt. Buddy Micheu and Traffic Fatality Unit investigators Richard Chambers and Jason Naquin announce the arrest of Destiny Goodman, 26, in a 2022 traffic fatality on Wednesday.

Woman arrested in fatal 2022 hit-and-run 2 pedestrians killed in crash

BY MISSY WILKINSON Staff writer

Four years after a hit-andrun driver killed two people by slamming into a car, flipping and hitting at least ﬁve pedestrians, New Orleans police said they have arrested the woman responsible for the deadly crash. Destiny Goodman, 26, confessed to the killings after being pulled over for driving the wrong way in the 2600 block of Sage Street, said the New Orleans Police Department’s traffic commander, Capt. Buddy

Micheu. Police said Goodman was evasive about her identity during the Tuesday traffic stop. Officers found she had outstanding warrants for domestic battery, criminal damage and probation and parole violations. NOPD officer Corey Campbell recognized her as a person of interest in the 2022 hit-and-run. “She was arrested and subsequently came in, interviewed ... and was found to admit to what she had done four years ago,” Micheu said. Goodman was booked into the Orleans Justice Center on two counts of manslaughter, four counts of hit-and-run driving

ä See ARRESTED, page 2B

A Louisiana charter school for children with dyslexia has pushed back the official launch of its new Jefferson Parish campus as it works to enroll more students. Louisiana Key Academy, which operates three campuses across the state, was slated to open a fourth location for grades 1-4 in Metairie last month. However, the school told state officials this summer that it is delaying the launch of the new campus until August 2027. In the meantime, the Metairie location has opened its doors and welcomed its first cohort of students. But rather than operating as its own school, the site is functioning as an extension of the network’s Baton Rouge campus, where the Jefferson Parish students are technically enrolled, state officials said. The school initially aimed to enroll 160 students at the Metairie campus before lowering the goal to 80 students. It is still far short of that target, with just over 40 students, school leaders said. Germain Gilson, assistant superintendent of school choice for the Louisiana Department of Education, said the school needs more time to market itself and recruit new students. “They were not pleased with the number of students they had,” Gilson told the state board of education last month, before the board voted to allow the delayed opening. In an interview Tuesday, Louisiana Key Academy founder Laura Cassidy referred to the delay as a technicality, noting that the Metairie campus is still serving students this school year. She said the location will be classified by the state as a “learning pod” rather than its own school until it meets its enrollment target of 80 students, adding that the distinction will not impact the school’s funding or day-to-day operations. Ted Beasley, a spokesperson for the state education department, said state law does not specify a minimum number of students that

ä See LAUNCH, page 2B

STAFF FILE PHOTO By CHRIS GRANGER

Joshua Washington, principal of Key Academy in Metairie, places letters and word building materials on a desk on June 8.

2B ✦ Thursday, September 3, 2026 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

lll

Foosball champion set to defend her title

Sullivan Rue, of Crowley, won women’s singles in 2025 BY DOUG MacCASH Staff writer

A mellow clacking sound, once familiar in barrooms, bowling alleys and rathskellers across America, ﬁlled a ballroom in the Hyatt Regency Hotel on Loyola Avenue Wednesday morning. The World Championship of Foosball 2026 was underway. Foosball is a toy version of soccer, where players use handles attached to iron rods to cause miniature plastic ﬁgurines to kick a tiny ball toward mail slot-sized goals. The game was phenomenally popular in the 1970s, right up there with pool and pinball machines. Though foosball never disappeared, the fad faded over the years. But now, foosball is surging once more. Jennifer Smith, the World Foosball Tour director of operations, said she’s not sure of the reason for the renewed interest. Maybe people crave the social “connecting” and the “actual touching” of foosball, which is so

STAFF PHOTO By DOUG MacCASH

Foosball players warm up before matches begin at the World Championship of Foosball 2026.

The 2025 women’s singles foosball champion is Sullivan Rue, who hails from Crowley and is scheduled to defend her title this weekend. Rue, who is in her early 20s, comes from a foosball family; both of her parents are international champions. In a YouTube video, Rue explained that she began taking home trophies when she was just 5 years old. In addition to scoring goals, Rue currently works as an intensive care nurse in Lafayette, according to her Facebook page. During foosball’s heyday, casual players twisted and spun the handles as best they could, hoping to randomly whack the ball toward the goal. For some, it was as much a game of chance as skill. But standards at the championship are conspicuously high.

and violent that the ball became invisible. Occasionally it ricocheted off of the tabletop playing ﬁeld and bounced away on the carpeted ﬂoor. Ron Newsom, 63, had traveled from San Antonio to compete in the championship. “The game has changed a lot,” since he began playing as a 20-something, Newsom said. Now, “if you can’t pass to your partner, or play zone defense, or catch loose balls,” you don’t stand a chance. Newsom’s 29-year-old son Dylan, a Navy corpsman (medic), who’d flown in from Annapolis, Maryland, for the championship, said he grew up watching his dad play on the family foosball table at their home. When he started touring to play in tournaments, he was “hooked on it,” he said.

Hooked on the game

The details

On Wednesday morning, a quartet of players dueled with astonishing speed and finesse. They were able to juggle the pink much more physical than com- ship, which continues through rubber ball between little plastic puter games, she said. Or maybe Sunday, is expected to attract players, side-to-side and front-toit’s nostalgia. “All of the wayback 800 competitors who will vie for back. They were even able to use $175,000 in prize money. Some of one plastic player to dribble the stuff is coming back,” she said. the competitors are “really, really, ball in place, buying time before Start with a Rue really good players,” Smith said. striking. Shots at the goal were so swift Smith said the 2026 Champion- “It’s mind blowing.”

To compete in the World Championship of Foosball 2026 costs between $25 and $80, depending on the category. Some competitions are free. Admission to watch the competition is free. For details, visit the World Championship of Foosball 2026 website. Email Doug MacCash at dmaccash@theadvocate.com.

Metairie jeweler accused of money laundering LAUNCH

Continued from page 1B

Officials say Savoie failed to turn over clients’ money BY MICHELLE HUNTER Staff writer

The Jefferson Parish District Attorney’s Office filed charges against a Metairie jeweler accused of failing to turn over tens of thousands of dollars he received after authorities say he sold gold coins, diamonds, watches and other valuables for his customers. Ira Savoie, 71, was charged Aug. 25 with money laundering valued over $100,000 and seven counts of exploitation of the elderly, according to court records. Investigators don’t believe that Savoie, of Savoie Fine Jewelry, still has the cash he allegedly received from the sales. Savoie told authorities he was tricked out of the money

ESSENCE

Continued from page 1B budget summary and receipts proving that vendors have been paid for the 2026 event. Sundial earlier this year had an outstanding balance of $456,000 owed to the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center from 2025 for hosting three days of panels, workshops and other events. It’s unclear if Essence met those demands. A spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment. Walt Leger III, a steering commit-

ARRESTED

Continued from page 1B involving death or serious injury, and one count each of negligent injury, obstruction of justice, domestic abuse child endangerment and simple criminal damage. After consulting with the Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Ofﬁce, however, the NOPD determined that the statute of limitations had expired on all charges except the manslaughter counts. On Easter Sunday evening, April

CANDIDATES

Continued from page 1B

service, Virgil and Sons. Before that, Phillips worked on the U.S. Space Shuttle External Tank Team at Lockheed Martin for nearly two decades. He is focusing his candidacy around working closely with the council, ensuring fiscal discipline and staying in communication with residents. He also now produces short informational videos on his Facebook page about goings-on around town, including one on a town hall and a Vietnam veterans memorial. “Outreach is important. You have

by con artists who fooled him with gift card scams, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office said. The Sheriff’s Office opened an investigation in early April after receiving a complaint from a victim who accused Savoie of theft, said Sgt. Brandon Veal, spokesperson for the department. As detectives began investigating, they identified at least eight victims. A 74-year-old man told investigators Savoie agreed to sell a 3.6-carat diamond from a ring he owned for $15,000. In January 2026, Savoie notified the man that the diamond had been sold and promised a check. But the victim told investigators he never received any money or got the diamond back, the Sheriff’s Office said. Savoie wrote a $20,523 check that bounced to a 75-year-old woman for whom he’d sold $20,523 worth of gold coins, bracelets and other items, according to court records. Detectives searching Savoie’s

business identified another victim when they recovered his gold American Waltham Watch Co. pocket watch valued at $15,000. They returned the watch to the 65-year-old owner, who said Savoie owed him $10,500 for a diamond that had reportedly been sold, according to authorities. During questioning, Savoie confessed to selling the victims’ valuables but told detectives he’d fallen victim to “several scams.” Savoie admitted following instructions to buy gift cards that he then provided to swindlers, according to authorities. Gift card scammers use a number of methods to siphon money out of victims, including posing as online romantic partners in need of quick cash or phony government ofﬁcials urgently seeking payment of a ﬁne, according to the Federal Trade Commission. The Sheriff’s Office didn’t provide any details about which ver-

sion of the scam they suspect Savoie fell for. No information was available about why Savoie was charged with money laundering instead of theft. The Jefferson Parish District Attorney’s Ofﬁce does not comment on open cases. Judson Mitchell, a clinical professor with the Loyola College of Law, said gift cards are a classic tool used for money laundering, the act of making dirty money appear clean. “Basically, you have cash proceeds from an illegal transaction … and you can’t take it down to the bank because there are a lot of financial safeguards in place where they report large deposits,” Mitchell said. “So, you put it in a legitimate system or business to give the money the appearance of being legitimate.” Savoie was free Tuesday on a $75,000 bond, according to court records. He is scheduled to be arraigned Oct. 1.

tee member, also did not return a request for comment on Thursday. That committee, appointed by Mayor Helena Moreno, said it would consider taking proposals “from any interested and qualiﬁed festival organizers” to compete with Essence for the annual July Fourth weekend slot, signaling heightened pressure on the company to get its act together. Last year, Essence was criticized heavily for myriad mishaps beyond late vendor payments. They released the nightly concert lineup in April and added new acts just a week before the event. Superdome

shows ran well into the morning hours. And access to the popular, miniconcert Superlounges came at a premium cost. Essence leaders have apologized for those issues but the stakes remain high as the city weighs whether to move forward with a new contract. Essence on Wednesday highlighted over 11,000 jobs the festival has created over the last four years, an estimated $179.3 million produced in tax revenue and an attendance rate that has grown year after year to about 88,000 daily visitors in 2026 alone.

Thousands of visitors ﬂock to New Orleans every Fourth of July weekend for the annual summit of music, culture and wellness. Visitors take part in free seminars and activities at the Convention Center or they attend a nightly lineup of high-proﬁle musical guests. The letter boasts that Essence brought an estimated 83% hotel occupancy rate this year and $253 million in visitor spending. The company’s agreement ends with the city on Friday. “We want to stay in New Orleans,” said Sundial CEO Kirk McDonald in the statement. “That should not be lost in this conversation.”

17, 2022, police say Goodman sped the wrong way down Pauger Street, crossed North Miro Street and T-boned a Honda Accord. Her Chevrolet Suburban flipped and hit five pedestrians on the sidewalk, as well as three unoccupied vehicles, authorities said. Goodman and her passengers ﬂed the scene on foot, police said. Emergency Medical Services took several injured pedestrians and the Honda Accord’s driver to a hospital. Joseph Clark, 58, who was struck by the Suburban as it ﬂipped, died at the hospital. Senetta Hodges, 62, died two weeks

later from her injuries. In the years between the fatal crash and her Tuesday rebooking, Goodman was arrested multiple times. She pleaded guilty to unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and criminally negligent discharging of a ﬁrearm in June 2025 and received a two-year suspended sentence and two years’ active probation. In 2022, a post-pandemic surge in homicides, carjackings, armed robberies and juvenile crime overwhelmed the understaffed department, and detectives struggled to clear cases. This year, the NOPD

has cleared at least eight cold homicide cases dating back to 2021. The department’s clearance rate is hovering at around 100%. Tuesday’s directed traffic enforcement in Gentilly Terrace, which led to Goodman’s arrest, is part of the department’s rampedup emphasis on proactive policing amid a historic decline in violent crime. Goodman’s bail was scheduled to be set Wednesday in Orleans Parish Criminal District Court. If convicted of manslaughter, she faces up to a 40-year imprisonment at hard labor.

town clerk under McQueen and brieﬂy into Lee’s interim term before leaving her position to run for alderwoman. She now is in an administrative role for St. Tammany Parish, coordinating tasks across multiple facilities. She became a town alderwoman in 2022, her ﬁrst foray into politics. Born on the U.S. Marine base at Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, North Carolina, she moved to the New Orleans area early in life and graduated from the Seton Academy, which closed in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina 21 years ago. Cheryl Schultheis With her background, she puts Schultheis, 62, was an owner of a near the top of her priority list plumbing business for more than upgrading water and sewer lines a decade before getting into public across the area, and she intends to service. She served as Pearl River’s pursue state grants and funds to re-

duce operating costs. She also said it was important to be able to listen to the concerns of those in the community. “I just believe in an open-door policy. We can’t be dismissive of the concerns of our citizens,” Schultheis said. “I don’t like the animosity between the police department and the town hall. That has to stop; it’s too much. We need to work together as a team, and that’s one of the main things I will focus on.” To get everyone on the same page, she says she would sit down with the new police chief and “establish some common goals,” and to make sure that when divisions arise between the police and the administration, the problems are quickly solved.

to be readily available, you have to be transparent of what you’re doing and listen to the people’s concerns,” Phillips said. “You have to be able to work with the five people who sit alongside you on that council. There’s a misconception the mayor does what he wants, but he has to work to the will of the people.” He also hopes to lead the way on upgrading the town’s sewer system and says, “I don’t mind knocking on someone’s door and telling them, ‘We’re small, but we’re mighty. We need help.’ ”

charter schools must enroll before opening. He added that school districts and charter schools can establish learning pods with 10 or more students as extensions of existing schools. Cassidy said she believes the new campus will be able to meet its enrollment goal by the end of this school year. “Big picture, this doesn’t really change anything,” she said. “We’ll still get funding per child, and we’ll still get grant money we qualiﬁed for.”

Recruitment barriers Founded in 2013, Louisiana Key Academy is the first charter school network in Louisiana designed specifically for students with dyslexia, a neurological disorder that can make it difficult to read, spell and write. The charter has grown to serve 440 students in grades 1-8 at campuses in Baton Rouge, Covington and Shreveport. In August 2025, the state board of education approved the school’s request to open a new Jefferson Parish campus, despite concerns about the school’s academic record. Its sites have previously received F and D state ratings, which school officials say reflects students’ low test scores because they enter the school far behind their peers. In its application, the school said it aimed to enroll 160 students at the new campus. Cassidy said that number was a preliminary goal, which the school has since revised in consultation with state officials. Because Louisiana Key Academy only enrolls students who have received a formal dyslexia diagnosis, its admissions process is more complicated than at most schools, Principal Joshua Washington told The Times-Picayune in June. All applicants must undergo dyslexia screening before they can secure a spot, he explained. The screening, which must be overseen by a certified academic language therapist, is only offered in Baton Rouge or New Orleans on certain days, he added. Cassidy added that the stigma around dyslexia can make some families hesitant to enroll their children in a specialized school, requiring the network to spend more time educating parents about the disorder. “Sometimes parents are embarrassed” about their child’s diagnosis, she said. “They just don’t understand it.” Email Elyse Carmosino at ecarmosino@theadvocate.com.

LOTTERY

TUESDAY, SEPT. 1, 2026 PICK 3: 4-3-8 PICK 4: 1-4-7-3 PICK 5: 3-8-8-5-6 MEGA MILLIONS: 1-22-51-61-63 MEGA BALL: 17

Unofficial notification, keep your tickets.

lll

New Orleans Area Deaths Bazile, Randy DeRoche, Marc Mathieu, Louise Tubre', Paulette Woods, Doris Young, Sainttena

E Jefferson Richardson FH Young, Sainttena

New Orleans Boyd Family Bazile, Randy Tubre', Paulette

Obituaries Bazile, Randy A.

Randy A Bazile, age 58, entered into eternal rest on Friday, August 21, 2026. He was preceded in death by his father Edward Thomas Jr, and his grandmother Juanita Bazile, his father-in-law Van C Baptiste Sr., and his sisterin-law, Kimberly Baptiste. He leaves to cherish his precious memories, his wife of 35 years, Dionne Bazile. His children, Brandon A Bazile, (daughter in love) Alyssa Bazile, daughters, Brooke K. Bazile, and Brandi J. Bazile. His two grandchildren Harper E. Bazile and Collin A. Bazile. His mother Alice M. Thomas, his sister's in love, Lowanda Baptiste Llopis (Roul), Lynnette Williams (Henry), and his brother in love Van C. Baptiste Jr. (Andree'). Also survived by a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, and friends. Relatives and friends of the family are invited to attend the Celebration of Life Service honoring Randy on Saturday, September 5, 2026, for 10:00 am. at Living The Word International Church, 2528 Old Spanish Trail, Slidell, LA 70461. Visitation will begin at 9:00 am. Pastor Lawrence Weathersby, officiating. Guestbook Online: www.an ewtraditionbegins.com (504)282-0600. Linear Brooks Boyd and Donavin D. Boyd Owners/Funeral Directors.

August 6, 2026, at the Village at Orchard Ridge. Born February 27, 1923, in New Orleans, Louisiana, she was the daughter of the late George Joseph Llopis and Antonia (Hall) Llopis. She was preceded in death by her husband, Owen Rudolph Mathieu Sr., whom she married December 8, 1943, in New Orleans. Louise was a graduate of Xavier University Preparatory School and Xavier University of New Orleans. She, her husband, and their first child moved to Washington D.C. in 1946, as Owen looked to begin a career after his service in World War II. She quickly made friends with whom she would be close for the rest of her life, and she found her life's professional passion in teaching. She taught home economics as a junior high and high school teacher in the Washington, D.C. Public School System. She was known as an excellent teacher, greatly admired by her many students, and recognized by Seventeen Magazine as a "Homemaking Teacher of the Year" in 1960. She and her husband Owen moved from Montgomery County, Maryland to The Village at Orchard Ridge in Winchester, Virginia in 2017. A woman of many talents and interests, Louise had a life-long appreciation of the arts and design. She studied the violin, playing in school orchestras from childhood through college. She also enjoyed watercolor painting. She had an exceptional sense of style expressed through interior and clothing design and floral arrangement, among other disciplines. She was also actively involved in numerous social and community organizations, including the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, the Women's Committee of the Washington Performing Arts Society, the Links, Jack and Jill of America and others. She was a woman who fearlessly embraced many aspects of life and thrived in the company of others yet never lost humility despite her accomplishments. Friends of her children who met her only once never forgot her, never stopped asking about her well-being. Louise is survived by her sons, Owen and his wife Eileen, of Marblehead, MA and Michael and his wife Catherine, of Winchester, VA; her grandchildren, Melanie (Greg) of Marblehead, MA; Eric (Christina) of Santa Barbara, CA; Irène (Justin) of Toronto, Canada; Maura of Denver, CO; Jeannette of San Francisco, CA.; and Benoît of Québec, Canada; three great-grandchildren; and two great-greatgrandchildren. She was also preceded in death by her brother, George J. Llopis Jr. She will missed.

DeRoche, Marc

IBEW Local 130 members are hereby requested to attend the Catholic Mass at St. Benilde Catholic Church, 1901 Division St., Metairie, LA on September 3, 2026. Visitation begins at 9:00 AM followed by mass at 9:30 AM.

Mathieu, Louise L.

Tubre', Paulette Scott

Paulette Tubre' passed away peacefully on August 27, 2026, surrounded by loved ones at the age of 76. She is survived by her daughters Tammy Tubre'Jones (Vernon), Jennifer Tubre' (Doolie), and Lindsey Leonard, grandchildren Britten Barrios, Homer Robinson Jr., and Jourdan Jones, siblings Joseph Scott Jr. (Liz), Bryan Scott (Zina), Troy Scott (Barbara), Kimberly ScottThompson (Malcolm), great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, other close family members, and countless friends. Preceded in death by her parents Joseph Scott Sr. and Martha RobinsonScott, grandparents Mr. and Mrs. Louis Robinson Sr., and brother Gregory Scott. Family and friends are invited to attend the Celebration of Life Service on Saturday, September 5, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. with visitation to begin at 12:00 p.m. at Little Zion Baptist Church 3231 Audubon Street New Orleans, LA 70125. Officiating, Reverend Dwight E. Clay of Zion Travelers First Baptist Church, New Orleans, LA. Interment will follow at Mount Olivet Cemetery, 2050 Caton St., New Orleans, LA 70122. Special thanks to the administration and staff of University Medical Center of New Orleans and the care team of Passages Hospice Northshore. Guestbook Online: www.anewtraditi onbegins.com (504)2820600. Linear Brooks Boyd and Donavin D. Boyd Owners/Funeral Directors.

Woods, Doris Rosemond

Doris Rosemond Woods, the beloved daughter of Richard and Marie Rosemond, was born June 2, 1926, in Welcome, Louisiana, and passed August 27, 2026. Doris spent her early life in St.

deeply

Services for Louise will be private. Please visit obituaries and tribute wall at ompsfuneralhome.com

The Advocate’s Obituary Department Labor Day Holiday Hours

James Parish where she received her education in Donaldsonville, Louisiana. Doris was baptized at an early age by Reverand Henry Tribit, pastor of Buena Vista Baptist Church. Doris subsequently moved to New Orleans, Louisiana and later served as the first lady of Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church pastored by her late husband Reverand Cleveland Woods, Sr. Doris was employed by Orleans Parish School Board. Doris was precedented in death by her parents, husband, daughter Iris Woods, son Darrel Micheal Woods and fourteen siblings. Doris is survived by seven children Louis (Dianne) Pedescleaux, Ronald (Polly) Rosemond, Cleveland (Sheila) Woods, Jr., Ponce Woods Sr., Wanda (John) WoodsMatthews, Boris Woods Sr., and Ryan (Rachel), Woods; grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Funeral services will be held at Charbonnet Funeral Home, 1615 St. Philip Street, New Orleans, Louisiana on Friday, September 4, 2026. Visitation will begin at 9:00 a.m. followed by funeral service at 10:00 a.m. with Reverand Orin D. Grant, Sr., pastor of St. Paul Baptist Church, officiating. Doris' final resting place is Resthaven Memorial Park Cemetery, 10400 Old Gentilly Road, New Orleans, Louisiana.

Louise L. Mathieu, 103, of Winchester, Virginia, passed away peacefully on

100% U.S. BASED CUSTOMER SERVICE.

Ranked #1 in customer satisfaction by ACSI®.*

EMAIL:

obits@theadvocate.com OR CALL FOR MORE INFORMATION:

225-388-0289

How to place a Memorial Ad An “In Memory Of” ad, is a way to pay tribute to your loved one. This remembrance is often printed on the anniversary of a loved one’s death. The deadline is two days prior to the day you want your ad to appear. TO PLACE A MEMORIAL AD GO TO: obituaries.nola.com, click submit an obituary and select create a memoriam.

FAST, RELIABLE NATIONWIDE COVERAGE. Ranked #1 in network coverage by ACSI®.*

855-337-6197

SUNDAY 9/6 MONDAY 9/7 TUESDAY 9/8

or call 225-388-0289

How to place an Obituary Notice

Switch & Save Today.

RUNDATE

Email obits@theadvocate.com

Sainttena Edmond Young passed away peacefully on Saturday, August 22, 2026, at Ochsner Kenner in Kenner, LA, at the age of 75. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and longtime resident of St. Rose, LA. Sainttena is survived by her devoted husband of 53 years, Reverend Lucien Young Jr.; daughters, Angela Marie Young, Tonya Maria YoungMassey (William Sr.), and Shannon Sherita Zardes (Charles); son, Lucien Young III; grandsons, Martin Mercadel III and William Lawrence Massey Jr.; brothers, Joseph Edmond Sr. (Michelle) and Bernard Edmond; sisters, Alberta Henderson and Evelyn Thomas; uncle, Reyna Antoine Sr.; sister-in -law, Cynthia Edmond; and a host of loving nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives, and dear friends. Visitation will be held Friday, September 4, 2026, at Community Church of River Ridge, 116 Florida St., River Ridge, LA 70123, beginning at 9:00 a.m., followed by a Celebration of Life Service at 10:00 a.m. Interment will be on Wednesday, September 9, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. at

Backed by #1 Network Coverage and Customer Satisfaction.*

EARLY DEADLINES FOR OBITUARIES SATURDAY 9/5 @ 3 PM

Southeast Louisiana Veterans Cemetery, 34888 Grantham College Dr., Slidell, LA 70460. Arrangements entrusted to Richardson Funeral Home of Jefferson, Inc., 11112 Jefferson Highway, River Ridge, LA 70123, (504) 469-2243. Sainttena's loving spirit, faith, devotion to family, and kindness toward others will forever remain in the hearts of all who knew and loved her.

Young, Sainttena Edmond

OVER 50? UNLIMITED FOR JUST $35/MONTH.

Due to the Labor Day Holiday, our offices will be closed Monday, Sept. 7th, 2026.

DEADLINE

The Times-Picayune ✦ nola.com ✦ Thursday, September 3, 2026 ✦ 3B

© 2026 Consumer Cellular, Inc. Terms and Conditions subject to change. Plans shown include $5 credit for AutoPay and E-billing. Taxes and other fees apply. Credit approval required for new service. Cellular service is not available in all areas and is subject to system limitations. For unlimited plans, high-speed data is reduced after 35GB on single-line plans and 50GB of combined usage on multi-line plans for the remainder of your billing cycle. Unlimited data plans only for customers age 50+. Age validation required. *2025 ACSI® Survey of customers rating their own wireless service provider. ACSI® and its logo are registered trademarks of the American Customer Satisfaction Index LLC. For more about the ACSI®, visit www.theacsi.org.

ACADIANA BUSINESS TODAY

LSU SPORTS UPDATES

NEWSLETTERS

SAINTS INSIDER BATON ROUGE DAILY UPDATES

The biggest stories customized to your interests – delivered direct to your inbox. LOUISIANA INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM

NEW ORLEANS MORNING HEADLINES AND LUNCH LINE

plus more... nola.com/newsletters

4B ✦ Thursday, September 3, 2026 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

lll

OPINION N O L A.C O M/opinions

OUR VIEWS

Whatever NOPD is doing to solve homicide cases, it’s working It’s the kind of number you read, then stop and reread to make sure you understood it correctly the first time. That’s how stunning the news is that the longunderstaffed, overworked and, at least sometimes, overwhelmed New Orleans Police Department has racked up an astonishing 98% clearance rate on homicide cases so far this year. The near-perfect score is more than double that of just four years ago, when the city ranked as the nation’s murder capital and police cleared just over 40% of homicide cases. The figure doesn’t directly reflect all killings that happened this year, but about two-thirds of investigations into the 49 murders logged as of mid-August have resulted in arrests. The clearance rate also takes into account seven older murder cases dating back as far as 2021 that were cleared in this calendar year. No matter how you count it, though, NOPD investigators are seeing remarkable success these days. We congratulate them, and also the city and department leaders and state, federal and community partners who have crafted and carried out effective policies to drastically reduce violent crime. In an interview with reporter Missy Wilkinson, CEO of the New Orleans Police and Justice Foundation Melanie Talia spread the credit widely. “The strategies that (NOPD Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick) and her team have put into place are working,” she said. “They’re working with local, state and federal partners, with the Department of Health and the community.” The good news on homicide cases coincides with an overall drop in violent crime in the city. While the number of calls for service has remained consistent, reports of violent crimes have fallen 36% over the last three years, and the homicide rate is the lowest it’s been in half a century. That’s freed up investigators who spend more time and energy on each investigation. Whereas many NOPD homicide detectives once worked 15 or 16 cases a year, now they generally have three or four. And that itself has helped break the cycle of violence. “Solving these (cases) has a bit of a compounding effect,” said Matthew Stone, a former NOPD detective and spokesperson for the NOPJF. “The faster they solve them, the harder it is (for individuals) to seek retribution or escalate when they are already locked up.” Experts point to a host of policy initiatives and partnerships that helped bring the city to this point. District Attorney Jason Williams’ prosecutors work closely with detectives to build strong cases. Technology has provided new surveillance and investigative tools and leads. Close relationships with the Louisiana State Police’s Troop NOLA and the F.B.I. are paying off. As always, though, accountability starts at the top. There was never a question that Mayor Helena Moreno would ask Kirkpatrick, who was first hired by former Mayor LaToya Cantrell, to stay on. We’re certainly glad she did. These remarkable numbers show, once more, that Kirkpatrick’s brand of leadership is working.

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.

TO SEND US A LETTER, SCAN HERE

YOUR VIEWS

St. Tammany needs housing, but respect the flood risks

The recent headline asks, “Following St. Tammany subdivisions veto, developers wonder where, if they can build homes.” Perhaps the better question is: How do we build here? The article cites St. Tammany Parish’s Comprehensive Housing Needs Assessment and its finding that thousands of additional homes are needed. But that same assessment says new housing should not be built on unsuitable land such as floodplains, and it recommends enhanced restrictions on residential development in floodprone areas. Its survey found flood risk ranked first among factors respondents identified when selecting where to live, with 75% identifying it as important. Citing the Housing Needs Assessment’s projected need while ignoring these findings cherry-picks the study, making the claim that developers have nowhere to build indefensible. That does not mean these properties cannot be developed. They already have zoning allowing development. The question was whether placing approximately 800 families in an area with documented riverine flood hazards and inadequate infrastructure should be parish policy.

Parish President Mike Cooper made his position clear with his veto, noting that the Housing Needs Assessment also says new development should avoid flood-prone areas and be located where infrastructure can handle it. Northshore Riverwatch provided the Parish Council with modern FEMA flood modeling, historical data and photographs of area-wide flooding. Engineering can reduce flood risk, but it cannot eliminate it. Floods can and do exceed the events we design for, and the historical record shows those exceedances occur with troubling regularity. Large fill projects can intensify existing riverine flood risks in a community. So how do we build here? Large developments requiring extensive fill belong outside known riverine floodhazard areas. That’s responsible land-use planning, not anti-development. St. Tammany needs housing. Housing demand is real. So are the floodplains. How we build matters.

MATTHEW ALLEN founder and executive director, Northshore Riverwatch Folsom

Don’t punish players for the broken football system Attacks on LSU football coach Lane Kiffin and programs giving waived NFL rookies another chance are aimed at the wrong target. Kiffin is defending young men being chewed up by a system run by adults. That is Saban-like leadership. Players trust advisers and chase the NFL dream, only to be discarded months later without playing a game. Then the NCAA and conferences close the college door. Meanwhile, these leaders allow high school players and families to be manipulated by the pay-for-play marketplace they built or permitted. Teenagers navigate agents, contracts and transfer inducements before playing a college snap. The adults profit, then blame the kids when bad decisions follow. College football granted extraordinary eligibility relief after the 2020 COVID season. Yet when this group seeks one final season, conference leaders suddenly discover rigid limits and “competitive balance.” If these players are qualified and eligible under the evolving rules, let

STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

LSU head coach Lane Kiffin

them return. If college leaders oppose second chances, make the rule prospective and absolute: No player may leave college early for the NFL. Otherwise, protect those who go undrafted or are waived before the season. Stop attacking coaches willing to ﬁght for players. Hold the adults who created this mess accountable.

LSU is standing up for its players, even when they are not stars A rash of court decisions over the past several years has established that the NCAA has been unfairly imposing arbitrary eligibility rules for decades, and finally, players have had enough. Revenue sharing for college athletes has put an emphatic end to pure amateurism; literally, schools are paying players to play. The latest fail by the NCAA was making the “five for five” rule regarding a fifth year of college eligibility starting with the class of 2022, but announcing it after players from 2022, who had already played four years of football, thought they had no choice but to try the NFL. As for SEC commissioner Greg Sankey, why didn’t he threaten suspensions and fines when Vandy let Diego Pavia play or when Ole Miss fought for Trinidad Chambliss to play, after they were both ruled ineligible by the NCAA and then went to court? It is hypocritical of Vandy and Ole Miss to vote to punish schools who play athletes who the courts say are eligible, because that is exactly what they are doing and have done. As for why LSU would allow those players to play, consider that It is harder to stand up for a principle, like fairness to college athletes, when you are not fighting for star players. The players in the lawsuits are just young men and women who want to be treated fairly and let the courts decide. They include men and women in various sports, not just football. When people ask why LSU would risk penalties and bad press for a backup football player, they should ask why the NCAA and SEC have turned a blind eye to star quarterbacks who got courts to let them break the rules and have only issued threats when someone fights for players who are not stars.

DANNIE GARRETT Baton Rouge

STEVEN A. SCHEURICH Mandeville

FIVE-TIME WINNER OF THE PULITZER PRIZE

KEVIN HALL

President & Publisher

RENE SANCHEZ

ARNESSA GARRETT Managing Editor/ Opinion

JUSTIN MITCHELL

VP/News, Executive Editor

Managing Editor/ Audience

KARYN KEARNEY

HANK STUEVER

EVP/Strategic Partnerships

Managing Editor/ Enterprise

FRED KALMBACH

JENNIFER BROWN

JERRY DICOLO

EMMA DISCHER

Managing Editor

Managing Editor, New Orleans

KRISTIN ASKELSON Managing Editor, Acadiana

BARBARA LEADER Managing Editor, Shreveport

Senior Editor Senior Editor

ANDREA GALLO Senior Editor/ Investigations

JESSICA WILLIAMS Senior Editor

ROGER HOLMES

CHASE HEATHERLY

Executive VP, Operations

Chief Revenue Ofﬁcer

ASHLEY WHITCHER

VP/ Consumer Sales

VP/IT

JIM MYERS

VP/Finance

ROBERT STOLL

VP/Distribution

KYLE WHITFIELD

GEORGES MEDIA GROUP JOHN D. GEORGES Owner

JUDI TERZOTIS

ROBERT YOUNG

Chief Executive Ofﬁcer

LOU HUDSON

Editorial Page

General Manager/ Advertising VP/ Majors & Nationals

DAN SHEA

Chairman

ARNESSA GARRETT STEPHANIE GRACE WILL SUTTON QUIN HILLYER FAIMON ROBERTS

The Times-Picayune ✦ nola.com ✦ Thursday, September 3, 2026 ✦ 5B

lll

COMMENTARY Which Republican will run to succeed Trump in 2028? Over the last year or so, President Donald Trump has sometimes pointed to Vice President JD Vance as his preference for the 2028 Republican presidential nomination. Sometimes he has spoken favorably of Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and sometimes of a Vance-Rubio “dream team.” Every now and then, Trump has referred to unspecified others who might emerge. Lately, we’ve had reports that two others, Byron Republican Sen. Ted York Cruz, R-Texas, and War Secretary Pete Hegseth, might be considering a move in 2028. (Cruz has said he is thinking about it, while Hegseth has denied any such intentions.) And now, Trump has said he expects there will be other candidates as well. In the Oval Office, Trump was asked whether he had seen reports that Hegseth is considering a run. “Could you see yourself supporting him?” a reporter asked. Trump praised the war secretary but stayed noncommittal on any presidential race. “I think he’s doing a fantastic job,” Trump said of Hegseth. “But it’s very early to talk about that. We have to get through the midterms first. I think he’s a very good guy, but I’ll bet there’s a lot of people considering it that you don’t know about. You probably have — you have a lot of people.” Trump did not elaborate. Was he saying that he knew of a lot of people considering it — information the public did not currently have? Or was he just guessing that there are a lot of possible candidates? In any event, it was quite clear that Trump envisions a 2028 Republican race that expands beyond Vance or Rubio, or Vance and Rubio. “It’s no secret that I want to be president,” Cruz said on a podcast recently. The Texas Republican described presidential ambition as “a bug that history has proved is rarely ended” and suggested that he has a permanent case of it. Without offering any support, Trump

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By ALEX BRANDON

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, right, speaks as President Donald Trump and Jennifer Hegseth listen during a meeting about military families in Washington. said of a Cruz run, “I think he might do that. He’s a talented guy.” Political veterans will remember that Cruz ran for the GOP nomination in 2016, when he hit a brick wall named Donald J. Trump. Cruz lasted longer than most of Trump’s GOP opponents and ended his campaign with a bitter tirade against Trump. He then pointedly refused to endorse the nominee at the Republican convention. Still, the voters have a way of turning a politician’s head around, and Cruz became a prominent supporter of President Trump, and has been so for the last decade. For his part, Hegseth denied the NBC News report that he “has told close friends and associates that he is considering a run for president in 2028.” NBC said that Hegseth and his wife, Jennifer, “have ﬂoated the idea of a presidential run for the past few months, believing he has some of the same attributes that have made Donald Trump popular with the MAGA movement.” “100 percent false,” Hegseth wrote

on X. “We told NBC that, but they just lie with anonymous ‘sources.’” NBC attributed some of the story to buzz surrounding Hegseth’s trip to Iowa to campaign for Republican midterm candidates. Beyond a brief and unsuccessful entry into a Republican primary for the Senate from Minnesota back in 2012, Hegseth has never run for anything. As Trump said, it’s very early. But it’s not too early to see that potential GOP candidates might view 2028 as 1) an enormously important race to deﬁne at least the initial post-Trump direction of the Republican Party, and 2) a race that should include more than one or two candidates. That doesn’t mean any other candidate beyond Vance or Rubio can gain traction. Perhaps they can’t. But at this point, who knows? The party isn’t locked into anything. If you can’t imagine the race moving beyond two men, perhaps you’re not imagining enough. Byron York is on X, @Bryon York.

Elites vary, depending on who you ask Is celebrity streamer Hasan Piker an For progressives dreaming of an elite? Is the president of Harvard just economic revolution (and beating back an ordinary working Joe? Or is it the Republican attacks on universities and reverse? Or is it the billionaires who mainstream media outlets), this might really run things? seem like heartening news: Their moWho, in other words, is the elite? ment has finally arrived! Lakshya Jain, In America’s populist era, everyone the Argument’s pollster, suggested that wants to believe they are the possibility in a recent newsletchampion of Jane Q. Public ter that argued the public is “far against the corrupt, self-dealing more aligned with the left-wing insiders who are running the theory of the elites, which incountry to suit themselves. dexes more heavily on economic Almost no one will cop to being power.” one of those insiders. ConservaThat’s certainly the theory of Megan M eega gan tive legislators position themMcArdle every Democratic campaign ad I’ve seen this primary season, selves as plucky Davids standall of which seem to hit three ing up to the Goliath hive mind themes: fight Trump, make things afof left-leaning journalists, academics, activists and bureaucrats who exert a fordable for ordinary people and tax shadowy control over government and billionaires. But peering into the Argucorporations. The left is equally conment’s poll, I came away unsure that there is such a thing as systematic antivinced it’s the underdog but has been elite politics. Rather, I suspect that the having a bruising fight over whether only people truly obsessed with elites the hated elites should be defined as are other elites, and anti-elite politics the White male power structure or as is often intra-elite politics wearing corporations and the ultrarich. A poll of 3,000 registered voters con- glasses and a fake mustache. The poll’s most surprising finding is ducted in late July by the Argument, that voters don’t really have a clear a publication devoted to promoting sense of what the elites are up to. “The liberalism, suggests that people are electorate sees elites as believing in most receptive to the latter definition. everything that ordinary people don’t For those polled, billionaires count as elites, as do celebrities and maybe cor- agree with. To be elite is to be the opposite of the average American,” porate executives and politicians. ColJain wrote. For example, voters told lege professors and journalists don’t. pollsters that elites were mostly rich So were those of us who spent years complaining about the hard-left turn of people and business executives — and then said that elites were more likely elite institutions wrong? than other people to support nationalNot quite. I’d argue we were right — five years ago. America doesn’t have izing most American businesses. one elite but many, and at any given This is incoherent. But then, ordinary time, the public is hopping mad at voters are often incoherent in this way, some of them, but not necessarily the because most of them don’t pay attensame ones as they used to be. Right tion to politics, and even when they do, now, wealth looms larger than woke they’re often rooting for a team rather media, in part for the reasons I laid out than rooting around in policy detail. in my recent column: Collapsing public Though it’s now unfashionable to trust and a fragmented media environ- praise elites, this is why we need them. ment have greatly diminished the influ- A complex modern society cannot be run by a show of hands. The public ence of legacy journalism.

simply wants too many incompatible things, such as more spending, lower budget deficits and no new taxes on anyone except billionaires. Some group of people must be informed enough to understand that this is mathematically impossible and powerful enough to negotiate acceptable compromises. The public knows when illegal immigration seems to have gotten out of hand but not how immigration rules affect the price of produce. It knows that it wants less crime and a fair shake from the justice system but not why judges prevent juries from hearing certain kinds of evidence. It knows it wants safe planes, comfy seats with legroom, minimal travel delays and cheap tickets, but it does not understand the first thing about aviation safety or airline operations. Unfortunately, elites who do have strong opinions about such things have recently given in to the temptation to frame these questions not as disagreements over trade-offs but as a fight between the public and abusive elites. Some of that always happens in a democracy, of course, but not to the extent we’ve seen over the last 10 years. Elites are no longer merely sparring with each other; they are launching all-out attacks on the institutions that regulate elite power and make a functional democracy possible. If it gets them one inch closer to power, they will pack the courts, censor the press, limit academic freedom, use prosecutorial power to persecute political opponents or deny the legitimacy of election results. They will do it under the pretense that this is necessary to stop elites from oppressing the common people. I don’t know how much the public buys any of this. But I do know that as long as elites keep trying to sell it, we’ll keep tearing each other apart. Megan McArdle is on X, @asymmetricinfo.

Space and data projects could learn from children’s books When considering the data center in Richland Parish, beware of IT. When considering the SpaceX facility in Vermilion Parish, beware of IT. If the subject is carbon capture, or storage of nuclear waste inside offshore salt domes or, well, just about anything else, beware of IT. And while you’re at it, beware of joining the dwarfs. The references above are from children’s literature. In Madeleine L’Engle’s classic, “A Wrinkle in Time,” the great enemy, known as IT, was a giant, “disembodied brain. ... that pulsed and quivered, that seized and commanded.” And “IT was the Quin most horrible, repellent thing.” Hillyer The result of IT’s regime was that everybody thought in unison, acted in unison, so much so that even the children bounced their balls and skipped their ropes in perfect unison, while each house had exactly the same design and even the same number of flowers. Not a single person thought for himself. Then there were the dwarfs in “The Last Battle,” the final book of C.S. Lewis’ famed Narnia series. Thrown through a stable door that actually was a portal into heaven, the dwarfs could not be convinced that they were in anything but a dark, dank, disgusting barn. Offered the finest food and wine, they insisted they were being given hay and rotten turnip leaves and dirty water from a donkey’s trough. “Well at least there’s no Humbug here,” they said. “We haven’t let anyone take us in. The Dwarfs are for the Dwarfs.” Now, you ask, how does any of this apply to SpaceX or a Meta data center? Well, it applies the same way it does to almost any politicized controversy these days. Each side immediately chooses its own IT and quickly gives up all independent thought. And each side becomes so tribal and insular, like the Narnian dwarfs, that it denies even the best things about reality while insisting that the evil establishment is out to get them — out to fool them, out to cheat them. The Lion-Christ Aslan explains: “Their prison is only in their own minds, yet they are in that prison; and so afraid of being taken in that they can not be taken out.” In today’s politics, it seems, nowhere is there room for questions on either side. There’s no room for doubt. There’s no middle ground. So when the data center or the space pad gets announced, one side tells us the projects are such unmitigated blessings that we must abandon all transparency, forgo all questions, waive almost all regulations and oppositional legal options. We must all accept IT’s guidance, all bounce our balls in rhythm, all bow in uniformity. Or, if we follow a different IT, we must man our ramparts in unyielding opposition, try to block everything and, by gosh, refuse to be taken in. Promise us heaven on Earth, or at least enough jobs and education to seem like civic heaven, and we insist we’re being offered barnyard offal and by golly, our little band of dwarfs will retreat into fierce formation in our sad little corners. The pro-development side will cite the wisdom that the early bird gets the worm and that he who hesitates is lost. The antidevelopment side will say that haste makes waste and we should look before we leap. The truth, counterintuitively, is that all four maxims are correct: Too much delay and dithering can be disastrous, but so too can too much impulsiveness. To use other references from children’s fiction, when Gov. Jeff Landry requires so many officials to sign nondisclosure agreements and insists, with President Donald Trump, on bulldozing environmental reviews, it’s no wonder his opponents think he sounds like Kaa the Python (from “The Jungle Book”) hissing “Trust in me, just in me.” Yet the opponents often sound, annoyingly and counterproductively, like “The Boy Who Said No!” To both sides, we should say: Can we please find a way to “get to yes,” but still ask questions? Yes, we desperately need jobs in Richland Parish, but can we have more details on how the massive water needs will be met? Yes, we love reaching for the stars and love the idea of a $100 billion investment in Vermilion Parish, but how will you mitigate harms to fisheries or wetlands? Can we slow down just a little, without it meaning “stop?” Let’s emerge from our corners. Leave behind the rote groupthink of our side’s IT. We need no artificial intelligence to know that the space we now need is the space to get the details right. Email Quin Hillyer at quin.hillyer@ theadvocate.com

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.

TO SEND US A LETTER, SCAN HERE

6B ✦ Thursday, September 3, 2026 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

lll

Livingston data center talk circulating Commercial tract off La. 447 could be potential site

BY GIGI LIMAN Staff writer

Rumors have started swirling about a data center potentially coming to Livingston Parish. In recent days, posts circulating on social media have claimed that one of the centers used by tech companies to power artiﬁcial intelligence computing is on its way, asserting that a deal has been made and that elected officials have signed nondisclosure agreements to keep it hidden from the public. In response, Parish President Randy Delatte put out a video Tuesday saying he had not signed an NDA and that there was “no data center project that I can announce today.” But that doesn’t mean there might not be one in the future. A 691-acre commercial tract off La. 447 in Walker is on the market, and its broker is pitching it as a potential data center, Delatte said in an interview. “There has been a broker that wants to bring a data center in,” Delatte said. “He doesn’t have a client yet, so he has to go through that process, and the client has to look to see if that can work for them.” Delatte said he supports the idea of bringing a data center to the property, contingent on the details. “I would surely try my best for that to happen for nothing else but the amount of money that would come in to improve the services

STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

Cars fill a parking lot at the south end of the Meta data center site as construction can be seen surrounded by rural farmland along La. 80 in Holly Ridge on Aug. 4. that Livingston Parish needs,” Delatte said. The land, brokered by Reeder Capital Partners of Texas, had previously been pitched as a residential subdivision, then a garbage dump, then a Buc-ee’s. Earlier this year, it almost became a battery plant, Delatte said. The switch from residential to commercial zoning helped fuel the rumors about an AI facility coming to town, along with reports that a Livingston Parish Council member signed an NDA in 2025. Delatte pointed out the property would bring in around $140 million in annual property tax as a reason to back the data center idea. With that level of income, he said, resi-

dents could receive rebates on their Livingston Parish government taxes. Data centers also offer permanent technical jobs to surrounding residents once the facilities are up and running and construction jobs before then. Delatte said he has met several Livingston residents who commute to Richland Parish to work on construction of a data center there. “To me, it’s a win-win,” Delatte said. “But I will listen to the will of the people.” He said he would hope to use additional revenue from the infrastructure project to increase pay for teachers and sheriff’s deputies, much like has been done in Rich-

land Parish, where Meta is building a $50 billion Meta Hyperion center. Some teachers in Richland Parish will rake in an extra $50,000 in bonuses thanks to the sales tax boom brought in by Meta, according to the parish’s chamber of commerce. “It’s not fair for our teachers to make less money than surrounding parishes. It’s not fair for our law enforcement, people who risk their lives on a daily basis, to be making $37,000 a year,” Delatte said. A Livingston Parish center would have a lot of company in the state. Construction is underway on a $2.5 billion Hut 8 artiﬁcial intelligence data center in West Feliciana Parish. Amazon is building an $18 billion multicampus data center development that will span Caddo and Bossier parishes. Another $3.6 billion AI intelligence factory is planned for Rapides Parish. While data centers provide massive ﬁnancial rewards to their communities, they can also impose burdens on nearby residents. Concerns about the developments have largely focused on the massive amounts of water and electricity the centers require, which has led to increased energy and utility bills for nearby residents of existing centers. The facilities also emit loud, continuous noise that can seep beyond the private property. In June, Gov. Jeff Landry signed an executive order that places some restraints on the impact data centers can have on the cost of energy. Several parishes have attempted to enact proactive policies regulat-

ing data centers before they face a proposal. The Ascension Parish Council is moving to create new rules for how and where data centers could pop up across the parish, even though none have been proposed there, and the St. Charles Parish Council passed zoning and noise ordinances in June directed at future data center developments. Livingston does not have parishspeciﬁc ordinances, and none have been proposed, but council members reached for comment expressed caution about the prospect of a data center coming to town. “I think there’s a huge discrepancy between what it could be and what it is,” council member John Mangus said. “I’m willing to entertain it, but I can’t say I’m 100% for it.” “Right now, I’m for holding back,” council member Joe Erdey said. “I personally need more information, and we don’t have that yet.” Delatte said a deal would work only if residents’ water and utilities bills would be protected. Data centers are increasingly using closed-loop systems for water consumption, which recirculate water and limit additional usage. This type of system, which will be used by the Meta center in Richland Parish, would be necessary for a proposed deal to get Delatte’s stamp of approval, he said. He added that he would want a hypothetical data center to furnish its own electricity. Whether that would ultimately be required would be part of the discussion if the proposal advances to that stage.

Police chief fired amid Details emerge from road rage encounter Authorities say controversy in Miss. city shooting was justified Officer shot and killed a 1-year-old child in June

BY MICHELLE HUNTER Staff writer

BY SOPHIE BATES Associated Press

The police chief of a northern Mississippi city where a 1-yearold Black child, Kohen Wiley, was shot and killed by police responding to a shoplifting call was fired Tuesday amid a new controversy. Senatobia Police Chief Harold Vanderford submitted his resignation the same day, but the city’s Board of Aldermen declined to acknowledge it and instead voted unanimously to fire the chief, according to the city clerk, who did not elaborate on their reasons. The firing followed reporting by The New York Times and others last month that alleged Vanderford used racist slurs in private text conversations with a colleague. It also comes amid the aftermath of the child’s shooting and other incidents. The toddler was fatally shot and another woman was wounded June 14 after a Senatobia police officer fired into a vehicle while investigating a shoplifting call at a Walmart. The boy’s mother, Vellesiya Wiley, denied that she or a friend accompanying her had stolen anything, and no charges have been filed against them. The officer who shot Kohen and the woman driving the car the child was in has been placed on administrative leave while the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation looks into the shooting. Kohen was Black, as is his mother. The death ignited anger in a small city where tensions between Black residents and the police have boiled over in recent years. Senatobia, with a population of more than 8,000, is about 40 miles south of Memphis. “I believe the Board has a responsibility to protect the integrity and trust of the Senatobia Police Department,” Alderman Demetrius Garrett wrote in a Facebook post. “I still believe in unity. But unity does not mean ignoring serious issues it means standing together for what is right.” The city had previously addressed the reporting about Vanderford’s texts, saying in a statement on Aug. 25 that he had appeared before the mayor and board to answer questions and that he would continue to serve as police chief. Senatobia Alderman Chris McConnell called for an independent investigation of the Police Department. “We need answers about departmental leadership, internal culture, the handling of complaints and misconduct, financial prac-

PROVIDED PHOTO By VERONICA ROBERSON

This undated photo shows Kohen Wiley, of Senatobia, Miss. Kohen was shot and killed by police responding to a shoplifting call, and the city’s police chief was fired Tuesday amid controversies.

tices, and whether the Board has been receiving the information necessary to provide proper oversight,” McConnell said in a statement. “Our citizens deserve a police department they can trust.” National civil rights attorney Ben Crump, representing Kohen’s family, called the chief’s firing the “right decision.” “The racist language that cost Chief Vanderford his job is exactly why this family cannot simply be told to trust the process,” Crump said in a statement calling for the Mississippi Bureau of Investigations to release body-camera footage of the shooting. “Give this family the facts they have been owed since the day Kohen died.” The Senatobia Police Department declined to comment on the firing, and Vanderford could not be immediately located for a response Wednesday. Vanderford was appointed police chief on Sept. 29 after the Board of Aldermen declined to reappoint the previous chief, Richard Chandler, in July of that year. Chandler led the department through several controversies. They included the 2023 arrest of a 10-year-old Black boy for urinating in public and an incident in which an officer threatened a woman with a Taser and pulled her from her car during a dispute over a handicapped parking space outside the same Walmart where the child was shot. “You removed Richard Chandler,” said Senatobia community activist Patrick Lumumba. “But you did not remove the culture of racism, and that’s what Vanderford harbors.” Following the child’s death, Lumumba formed the Senatobia Committee for Accountability and Transparency, a community watchdog group that is demanding answers about the June shooting and advocating for better policing.

The rush-hour shooting of a woman at a busy Metairie intersection Wednesday morning happened during a road rage confrontation that investigators called justifiable, according to the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office. The shooting victim, a 27-yearold woman from Luling, was taken to a hospital in critical condition. The woman was listed as stable as of Wednesday afternoon, according to Sgt. Brandon Veal, spokesperson for the department. The shooter, a 41-year-old woman from Harvey, was questioned by Sheriff’s Office detectives and later released. She was not booked with any criminal charges, according to Veal, who said the case is still under

investigation. The shooting occurred at about 7:30 a.m. at the intersection of Clearview Parkway and Airline Drive in Metairie. The women were driving separate vehicles north on Clearview when they were involved in some sort of rolling conflict, according to Veal. When the vehicles came to a stop at Airline Drive, the 27-year-old woman got out of her car and went to stand at the other driver’s passenger-side window, Veal said. The 41-year-old woman remained in her vehicle. At some point, she armed herself and shot the 27-year-old woman. The 41-year-old woman then drove to a nearby location where she called 911 to report the shooting, Veal said. The Sheriff’s Office did not disclose what happened at the window, including why the 41-yearold woman said she opened fire. But detectives later determined that the shooting was justified, Veal said.

Louisiana law allows a person to use deadly force under certain circumstances, according to Judson Mitchell, a clinical professor with the Loyola College of Law “If you’re in fear for your life, if someone is pointing a gun at you, and you’re not the aggressor, you certainly have that option,” Mitchell said. The state’s justifiable homicide statute states that such acts of self-defense are permitted when a person reasonably believes their life is in imminent danger and that such force is necessary. But it’s difficult to know how authorities are applying the law without more details of what occurred Wednesday morning. “I would want to know who was armed. Was everybody armed? What was the nature of the threat the woman was making?” Mitchell said. “It could be a very justified decision under the law.” Email Michelle Hunter at mhunter@theadvocate.com.

T-P, Advocate staff recognized for work 4 first-place awards given for 2025 work

Staff report Reporters from The TimesPicayune | The Advocate won several awards in the Society of Professional Journalists’ 2026 Green Eyeshades competition, which recognizes the best journalism in the southeastern U.S. The newspaper’s coverage of the 2025 New Year’s terror attack on Bourbon Street received

ﬁrst place awards in categories for both breaking news and deadline disaster and crisis reporting. The attack left 14 victims dead and dozens more injured. The newspaper’s Green Eyeshade wins include: n First place, breaking news reporting: Staff, Bourbon Street terror attack coverage n First place, deadline disaster and crisis reporting: Staff, Bourbon Street terror attack coverage n First place, data-driven reporting: Jeff Adelson and Jillian

Kramer, “Longing for Justice” n First place, courts, crime and the law reporting: Jillian Kramer and Jeff Adelson, “Longing for Justice” n Second place, general news writing: John Simerman and Andrea Gallo, death penalty coverage n Second place, nondeadline disaster and crisis reporting: Staff, Bourbon Street terror attack coverage n Third place, public affairs and policy reporting: Mike Smith, “The River’s Reckoning.”

JEFFERSON PARISH

Deputy accused of drunken driving in patrol car BY MICHELLE HUNTER Staff writer

The Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office arrested a deputy accused of battering his girlfriend and driving his patrol vehicle while intoxicated, according to authorities. Kyle Nugent, 34, was arrested Monday night in Harvey and booked with DWI, reckless operation of a vehicle, hit-and-run driving and battery of a dating partner involving strangulation, said Capt. Jason Rivarde, spokesperson for the Sheriff’s Office. Nugent, a nine-year veteran of the department, was fired, Rivarde said.

He was arrested about 11:45 p.m. in the parking lot of an apartment complex in the 1400 block of Central Park Boulevard in Harvey where the incident took place. The location is near the Sheriff’s Ofﬁce’s 2nd Patrol District headquarters at 1551 Central Park Blvd. Nugent is accused of committing a battery against his girlfriend, Rivarde said. No information was available Tuesday evening about whether she suffered any injuries. At some point, Nugent also hit another vehicle with his patrol unit, police said. He was taken into custody in the parking lot. Nugent was being held without bail Tuesday evening at the Jeffer-

son Parish Correctional in Gretna on the DWI and battery counts. Bail was set at $1,000 on the other counts, according to court records. Email Michelle Hunter at mhunter@theadvocate.com.

NOLA.COM/SUBSCRIBE

OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

SPORTS

N O L A.C O M

T h u r s d ay, s e p T e m b e r 3, 2026

1CN

‘I didn’t want to quit’

C L E M S O N A T L S U • 6 : 3 0 P. M . S A T U R D A y • A B C

Final questions

Tulane cancer survivor Marks ready for Duke BY GUERRY SMITH Contributing writer

STAFF FILE PHOTO

Fireworks erupt as LSU players take the field in Tiger Stadium in an undated photo. More fireworks are expected Saturday night when LSU hosts Clemson in the season opener for both teams.

As LSU’s opener nears, let’s try to tie up some loose ends

ä LSU’s Ausberry: College sports nearing financial ‘cliff.’ PAGE 3C

e’ve gone from months to weeks to days to hours away until LSU opens the

Lane Kiffin era Saturday night in Tiger Stadium against Clemson. Kickoff is officially at 6:30 p.m. on ABC, but as Kiffin said Monday, it will probably be closer to 6:49 p.m. Without a moment to lose, we figured it would be a good time to squeeze in a question-and-answer column before foot meets ball:

Scott Rabalais Will LSU continue its recent tradition of blockbuster season openers under Kiffin? It doesn’t sound like it. Believe it or not, this is LSU’s first home opener since 2020. The past five years LSU has opened at neutral sites or away, as with last year’s 17-10 win at Clemson. “This is a great matchup,” Kiffin said Monday. “I’m excited to be a part of it.” Well, maybe not that excited. From

2022-25, Kifﬁn’s Ole Miss teams opened with Troy, Mercer, Furman and Georgia State, winning by a combined average score of 60-6. “This is a really challenging opener,” he said. “Something we really haven’t been a part of. We made our schedules differently.” Maybe it’s Kifﬁn or maybe the ball was already rolling in that direction, but most of LSU’s openers will look quite different going forward. The Tigers open at home in 2027 against Northwestern State,

ä See RABALAIS, page 3C

Clemson’s ‘nobodies’ have plenty of juice BY JON BLAU

Less than two years after being diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma, Gavin Marks almost certainly will start at center for Tulane against Duke on Saturday. By this point, it is no surprise. He earned FCS freshman All-America honors at Mercer in 2025 after receiving his ﬁnal chemotherapy treatment that May. The word “toughness” may be overused in football, but not in Marks’ case. ä Tulane at “Man, I don’t think Duke. 2:30 P.M. I felt 100% until I got here (to Tulane SATURDAy,ACCN in January),” he said. “When I was in summer workouts (at Mercer), I would be throwing up. It was bad. They had to give me IVs, but I didn’t want to quit. I didn’t want anybody on the team to look at me different. I just wanted to keep working hard.” Marks found out he had Hodgkin lymphoma in November 2024 after his last regular-season game for Rolesville High in Wendell, North Carolina. While his school started a ﬁve-week playoff run to the Class 4A state championship game, he spent two weeks in the hospital before beginning outpatient chemotherapy for six months. He already was in the middle stage of the cancer, with a tumor that had been growing in between his heart and lungs. He has noticed rashes on his skin starting in July and thought it might be poison ivy before they lasted for three months. He also developed a lingering cough that a doctor labeled pneumonia. One morning, he woke up and told his mom he felt like he was breathing through a straw, prompting another visit to the doctor. This time, an Xray on his chest led to a CT scan and a subsequent phone call telling him to return to the hospital immediately. “My mom broke down, but I was cool,” he said. “It was chill.”

ä See MARKS, page 5C

overcoming the odds against the bigger blue bloods of college football. He likes to play underdog, especially coming off a season where Clemson succumbed to the “rat poison” of expectations, ﬁnishing 7-6 with a roster ﬁlled with NFL prospects. It’s not surprising to hear Swinney tamp down expectations and hand out little to no praise of his players. But are they just a bunch of nobodies? Not quite. In fact, there’s enough talent there to give LSU a scare in its own stadium. Here’s why.

Staff writer

All preseason, Clemson coach Dabo Swinney has described his team in five words. “Just a bunch of nobodies,” he said all of August, with a sly grin on his face. If those words are taken literally, it should strengthen the confidence of the LSU faithful and Las Vegas oddsmakers heading into Lane Kiffin’s debut. LSU went into Clemson’s Death Valley just ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By JACOB KUPFERMAN a year ago, beating an ACC power with nine Clemson linebacker Sammy Brown reacts More complete defense NFL draft picks. This year, Clemson has to during last season’s game against LSU in make a return trip to LSU’s Death Valley, light Clemson lost a couple of top-35 picks along Clemson, S.C. those pro players and behind a first-year startthe defensive line in Peter Woods and T.J. Parker, but it’s possible Tom Allen has a better ing quarterback. It’s not as star-studded a team, but it’s wise During Clemson’s heyday, the colorful coach ä See CLEMSON, page 3C not to take Swinney completely at his word. talked all the time about “little ole Clemson”

PROVIDED PHOTO

Tulane center Gavin Marks prepares to snap the ball during a recent practice.

For a decade, Wood’s job has been a snap for Saints Veteran specialist goes largely unnoticed, and that’s a good thing

BY ROD WALKER Staff writer

STAFF PHOTO By DAVID GRUNFELD

Saints long snapper Zach Wood snaps the ball during a training camp practice on Aug. 9 in Metairie. Wood is entering his 10th season with the team.

If things go according to plan, this will be the only time Zach Wood’s name appears in a story about the Saints this season. If you have kept up with the Saints’ oh-so-reliable long snapper, you know things typically go as planned. That’s why Wood is entering his 10th season with the Saints. He’s been around just as long as Alvin Kamara. Cam Jordan is the only teammate who has been in New Orleans longer. But unlike Jordan and Kamara, chances are you wouldn’t even recognize Wood if he walked pass

ä Saints at Lions. NOON SEPT. 13, FOX

you on the street. That’s how it goes when you’re playing the position that never gets mentioned unless something goes terribly wrong. “Every time I hear about long snappers, that gets said,” Wood said. “And that’s the truest thing ever. It would be nice to have a pat on the butt every now and then for having a great game. But if I’m never getting bothered at all, that’s ﬁne.” Long snappers don’t get much ink, but Wood deserves his. I can’t recall ever seeing him having a bad snap, although he assures me

it’s happened. “I’ve had bad snaps,” Wood said. “Hopefully not egregious enough for everybody to notice. But for me, I have a standard and if a snap is not that, I consider it a bad snap. I’ve had quite a few of those that I’m not super happy about.” Wood, who plays a position often taken for granted, doesn’t take his job for granted. He’s been a steady cog on a special teams unit that has had its share of turnover in recent years. The days when you could just pencil in Wood on the 53-man roster alongside punter Thomas Morstead and kicker Wil Lutz are long gone. The Saints will have their third

ä See WOOD, page 4C

2C ✦ Thursday, September 3, 2026 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

lll

IN BRIEF

BROADCAST HIGHLIGHTS On TV 5 p.m. 6 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL UMass at Rutgers Akron at Wake Forest Colorado at Georgia Tech E. Illinois at Minnesota Ark.-Pine Bluff at Missouri

8 p.m. 8 p.m.

BTN ACCN ESPN NBCSN SECN

UAB at Illinois BTN Idaho at Utah ESPNU WOMEN’S COLLEGE SOCCER 5:30 p.m. Florida St. at Georgia ESPNU WOMEN’S COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL 7 p.m. Auburn at Wisconsin FS1 HORSE RACING noon Saratoga Live FS2

FROM STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

MLB noon Toronto at Cleveland 6 p.m. Boston at Baltimore 8:30 p.m. Athletics at Seattle TENNIS 10:30 a.m. U.S. Open 6 p.m. U.S. Open

MLBN FOX MLBN ESPN ESPN2

Koval explains departure from LSU Ukrainian center says roster addition led to move

BY REED DARCEY

Staff writer

Former LSU women’s basketball center Kate Koval said Wednesday in a statement that the Tigers’ decision to recruit a Russian player had a “deeply personal effect” on her. Koval, a junior from Ukraine, left the team on Aug. 23, nine days after coach Kim Mulkey announced that she and her staff had signed a 17-year-old Russian center named Anna Minaeva. Koval’s father is part of the Ukrainian military, and he “takes tremendous pride in defending his country against Russian aggression,” the 6-foot-5 center said in the statement. “For me,” Koval said, “this war is not distant or abstract. People close to me have been killed and wounded in Russian attacks, and places where I grew up and first began playing basketball have been destroyed by missile strikes. “The timing of this situation and the deeply personal effect it has had on me, my family and those we care about who continue to live through and ﬁght this war ultimately made me question whether LSU remained the right place for me.” Koval also said that she did not learn that LSU had decided to recruit Minaeva until after the transfer portal closed in April. She said her decision to leave the program was “not easy” and that she hopes that the NCAA will allow her to compete for a different team during the 2026-27 season. “While I understand and respect that roster decisions are a part of college basketball,” Koval said, “I have to remain true to myself, my values and my country. “I felt I had found a home at LSU, and I am incredibly grateful for my teammates who became family, as well as my coaches, staff, professors and the entire LSU community. I will always cherish the relationships, experiences, and memories I made there.” Mulkey told The Advocate in an interview on Aug. 17 that she talked to Koval before she started recruiting Minaeva. The

HENDERSON, Nev. — Kirk Cousins, as expected, will be the starting quarterback for the Raiders when Las Vegas opens its season Sept. 13 against Miami, coach Klint Kubiak announced Wednesday. Cousins ran the first-team offense nearly the entire preseason with rookie and No. 1 overall draft pick Fernando Mendoza working mostly with the second unit. The Raiders kept three quarterbacks; Aidan O’Connell returns for his fourth season. The Raiders signed Cousins, who enters his 15th season, to a twoyear deal with $20 million in guaranteed money. His previous club, the Atlanta Falcons, is responsible for $8.7 million this season. Cousins is 88-77-2 as a starter with Washington, Minnesota and Atlanta.

Vikings sign LB Van Noy to their practice squad

STAFF FILE PHOTO By HILARy SCHEINUK

LSU forward Kate Koval, center, fights for control of the ball against Arkansas guard Bonnie Deas, left, and Arkansas forward Maria Anais Rodriguez, right, on January 29 at the LSU PMAC. two met in a parked car outside Koval’s apartment complex, she said, and discussed Mulkey’s hope that Koval and Minaeva could become “ambassadors” for peace and kinship as teammates this coming season. The LSU coach thought the pairing could turn into an uplifting story. “I want you to understand I’m not here to ask you to change how you feel about Russia,” Mulkey said, recalling her conversation with Koval. “I’m just here out of respect for your family and out of respect for you to let you know. Because I know how personal it is for you. “Know that what I have to do in this business, I cannot make a decision to not recruit somebody that can help our program because of a conﬂict between two countries.” Koval, a former top-ﬁve national recruit, spent her freshman season at Notre Dame and her sophomore year at LSU. In 202526, she started 17 of the 35 games the Tigers played, averaging 8.3 points and 6.3 rebounds per con-

test while shooting 56% from the ﬁeld. In her statement, Koval said she “fully intended” to return to LSU for her junior season before the Tigers began recruiting Minaeva. Koval was expected to start at center in 2026-27. Now, Koval will need to obtain a waiver to play this season. NCAA rules do not allow players in any sport to leave one team and join another outside of a transfer portal window. An LSU spokesperson declined to comment for this story.

national prospects, according to ESPN rankings. Wilson Manyacka is a 6-foot2 wing from Maryland, while Banks is a 5-10 point guard from Washington, D.C. Either player could pair well on the roster with Bradley, the towering 6-5 center from Oak Grove, a small town in northeast Louisiana. She’s one of the highest-rated recruits the state has ever produced, and she’s been verbally committed to the Tigers since April. LSU’s home game against Clemson is one of the most highly anticipated season openers in Recruits on campus program history. ESPN’s “ColLSU commitment Caroline lege GameDay” is in town for the Bradley is visiting Baton Rouge matchup, which is set to kick off on Friday and Saturday alongside at 6:30 p.m. Saturday on ABC. two other high-profile recruits Banks and Wilson Manyacka from the 2027 high school class. are taking official visits around Mulkey and her staff also are the game, the source said. Bradhosting guards Ivanna Wilson ley’s visit is unofficial. Manyacka and Jezelle “GG” Banks, a program source con- Email Reed Darcey at reed. firmed Wednesday, around the darcey@theadvocate.com. first game of coach Lane Kiffin’s For more LSU sports updates, tenure as the LSU football coach. sign up for our newsletter at All three recruits are top-five theadvocate.com/lsunewsletter

Judge rejects NCAA bid to dismiss order Missouri DT Webb has been cleared to play this season

BY DAVE SKRETTA

AP sportswriter

Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz was in the midst of a 10-minute teleconference with reporters Wednesday when he learned that a St. Louis County judge had denied the NCAA’s motion to dismiss a temporary restraining order, clearing defensive tackle Sterling Webb to play for the 25thranked Tigers this season. The news came little more than 24 hours before the opener against Arkansas Pine-Bluff on Thursday night. Such is the chaotic nature of college athletics these days, with a multitude of cases slowly winding their way through the judicial system with rosters across the country in limbo as the season begins. “It looks like we’re ready to go!” Drinkwitz exclaimed, upon hearing the news of Webb’s availability from a reporter’s tweet. “You just wait for the tweets. That’s what you do. You (reporters) wait for injury reports to tell you who’s in and who’s out. We wait for tweets from judges to tell you who’s in and who’s out. What a system we have.” Webb was granted a temporary restraining in late July so that he could play a fifth season under rules that were recently adopted

Kubiak selects Cousins as Raiders starting QB

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By VASHA HUNT

Alabama offensive lineman Jaeden Roberts, left, blocks Missouri defensive tackle Sterling Webb, right, during a game on Oct. 26, 2024, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. by the NCAA. The new eligibility model allows five seasons of competition in a five-year period, beginning with an athlete’s fulltime enrollment or the academic year following their 19th birthday, whichever occurs first. But it was not supposed to include athletes who exhausted their eligibility under the old model after last season, and that has left those athletes challenging the plan in court.

Webb, one of the Tigers’ most experienced players, has been practicing ever since he was granted the order, and he should play plenty against Arkansas Pine-Bluff in their opener. He’s made 11 starts and appeared in 25 games over the past two seasons. Nearly 400 athletes have sued the NCAA and other defendants, seeking additional eligibility and claiming the organization’s 5-in-5 rule is unfair because it excludes

members of the high school Class of 2022. More than 30 lawsuits, several of them in federal court, are in different stages of litigation. Some include a handful athletes who signed professional contracts, which prompted every Power Four conference and others in the Bowl Subdivision to ban pros from returning to college – leading to even more court ﬁlings. Drinkwitz has been among the coaches in multiple sports who have been vocal in their disdain for the state of college sports. “College athletics is not in a great place. I said this several years ago when we had announcement of conference changes in the middle of fall camp, and I said, ‘Who considered the student athletes?’ ” Drinkwitz said last weekend. “This stuff is not good for any student athlete. And it’s a direct reﬂection of our inability as leaders to come up with a plan.” Drinkwitz has been pressing for the Protect College Sports Act, a bill in the Senate that would give the NCAA some protection against the sort of lawsuits that are upending college athletics. But the bill remains weeks away from a potential vote. “If that if that bill has passed, this stuff is not happening right now,” he said, “because there’s a framework for what the future of college athletics looks like. And you know, (Texas A&M coach) Mike Elko said it a couple days ago, like, ‘The season’s kicked off, and we have no — we do not know what the rules are for eligibility.’ That’s embarrassing, man.”

EAGAN, Minn. — The Minnesota Vikings have signed 13-year veteran outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy to their practice squad, adding some needed depth and experience at the edge rusher position. Van Noy, who was a free agent after playing the last three seasons with the Baltimore Ravens, agreed to join the Vikings on Tuesday night after visiting team headquarters. That he’s on the practice squad now means little for his ultimate role, given teams may elevate two players per game to the active roster. Van Noy, who joins his ﬁfth team in seven years, has 57 sacks in 173 career regular-season games after playing primarily on the inside earlier in his career. He earned his ﬁrst Pro Bowl selection in 2024.

Quarterback Milton rejoins Cowboys practice squad

FRISCO, Texas — Quarterback Joe Milton rejoined the Dallas Cowboys on the practice squad Wednesday after losing his backup job to offseason pickup Sam Howell. Milton was waived Monday, a day before coach Brian Schottenheimer said the nod to be the No. 2 behind Dak Prescott went to Howell because of his overall command of the offense. Milton backed up Prescott in 2025, his second year in the league after the Cowboys acquired him in a trade with New England. The 26-year-old was much better in the preseason this summer than a year ago, throwing for 378 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions.

Braves OF Acuña fastest to reach 200 HRs and SBs

WASHINGTON — Ronald Acuña hit a three-run homer to become the fastest player in major league history to reach 200 home runs and 200 stolen bases, and the Atlanta Braves beat the Washington Nationals 9-0 on Wednesday. Acuña hit a drive to left-center in the seventh, his 14th of the season, to make it 6-0. He needed 904 games to reach the 200/200 club. Alfonso Soriano set the previous record at 929 games in August of 2006 while playing for the Nationals against the Braves. Acuña stole the 225th base of his career and 20th of the season, swiping second after his leadoff single in the sixth against Riley Cornelio (2-2), who struck out the next two batters.

Koivun added to American team for Presidents Cup

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — Jackson Koivun was added to the U.S. team for the Presidents Cup on Tuesday just three months after leaving Auburn, one of two newcomers captain Brandt Snedeker picked for an American team that hasn’t lost in 28 years. Koivun, who won the 3M Open in his third start as a professional and qualiﬁed for the PGA Tour postseason in just five tournaments, is the first player since Jordan Spieth in 2013 to start a year without a tour card and play in the Presidents Cup. “I’m just happy he took a chance on me. I’m going to give it my all,” Koivun said. Snedeker also took Presidents Cup newcomer Jacob Bridgeman, who won at Riviera this year.

The Times-Picayune ✦ nola.com ✦ Thursday, September 3, 2026 ✦ 3C

lll

Ausberry: College sports nearing financial ‘cliff’ BY KOKI RILEY Staff writer

Verge Ausberry stood at the front of the room and started telling stories. He talked about Michigan basketball’s Fab Five, and how the Wolverines’ basketball starting lineup from the 1990s, despite their fame, didn’t make any money off of their name, image and likeness. He told a story about Shabazz Napier, the former UConn point guard who told reporters during the Huskies’ 2014 national championship season that there were nights where he’d go to bed starving. He also discussed lawsuits, namely landmark cases that finally began paying the athletes, that pushed the college sports world to where it is today — on the verge of driving itself off of a financial cliff. “It’s not sustainable. The cliff is coming,” Ausberry, the LSU athletic director, warned the Baton Rouge Rotary Club on Wednesday. “And by December, if we don’t have any (new legislation) in place, we’re looking at football teams jumping from $50 million to $6570 million.” LSU is playing a leading role in the chaos that has enveloped college sports. The athletic department is spending upward of $62 million for the buyouts of former men’s basketball coach Matt McMahon and former football coach Brian Kelly, and that’s before factoring in the money LSU spent on luring Lane Kiffin to replace Kelly and Will Wade to replace McMahon. The Tigers reportedly are spending more than $40 million on their football team, and the men’s basketball program has spent aggressively in adding talent from overseas. LSU also has been active in

STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

LSU president Wade Rousse, left, and athletic director Verge Ausberry, right, hold a win bar as they introduce men’s basketball coach Will Wade during a news conference on March 30 at the PMAC. adding top transfer portal talent in women’s basketball and baseball, which also wasn’t cheap. “We can’t keep it up. We can’t sustain it,” Ausberry said. “A good football team today costs between $40 and $50 million. A basketball team, started at $12 million last year, is about $20 million (this year). A baseball team is pushing close to $10 million. A women’s basketball team is about $5 million.” That doesn’t include the legal battle set to take place in Baton Rouge on Thursday, which would determine the eligibility of multiple former NFL players looking to return to LSU for a ﬁfth year of school. Ausberry was reluctant to dive into the speciﬁcs of the case

SEC lays out its argument against ex-pros returning BY ZACH EWING AND JON BLAU

Staff writers

The Southeastern Conference has laid out its argument against exNFL players returning to college football. The SEC filed a brief Wednesday with a Baton Rouge court, which is slated to hold a hearing Thursday to determine whether athletes hoping to play a fifth college season receive an injunction against the NCAA and SEC, including multiple football players who signed contracts with NFL teams. The brief lays out the SEC’s argument on why it should be able to enforce punishments against schools and coaches who permit ex-pros to join their programs. “This case arises amid substantial uncertainty concerning rules governing college sports,” the SEC’s opposition to a petition for a preliminary injunction reads. “But the question presented as to the SEC is significantly narrower than the broader debate. It is whether the SEC can enforce and require its member institutions to comply with SEC rules.” That second sentence was bolded, underscoring just how critical selfgovernance has become for conferences after the NCAA’s antitrust vulnerabilities in court. A group of 30-plus athletes were granted a temporary restraining order against the NCAA in midAugust by Judge William Jorden. It granted Class of 2022 high school graduates, who were not given a fifth year of eligibility despite the NCAA modifying its rules to allow current athletes five seasons in five years, the go-ahead to return to the college ranks. In response, the SEC instituted penalties against schools that added athletes who were previously signed or rostered by pro leagues — the NFL, NBA and WNBA — including a fine equal to 50% of that sport’s budget, a suspension of a team’s coach for half the season and the revoking of a school’s voting on privileges on business matters. The plaintiffs’ attorneys argued the original temporary restraining order applies to the SEC because it works in concert with the NCAA. But the SEC argues it is not a “functionary” of the NCAA and did not coordinate on its implementation of penalties. “The Louisiana Supreme Court has expressly instructed that courts should not interfere with the internal affairs of a private association unless its proceedings have not been conducted fairly and honestly or its conduct is fraudulent,” the SEC’s Wednesday filing read. “Louisiana appellate courts have applied

the same principle specifically to reasonable eligibility rules adopted and disciplinary measures undertaken by athletic associations.” The SEC said it is “fostering fair competition” among its member schools by creating rules against former pros returning to college. “SEC member institutions have made roster manSankey agement decisions and conducted preseason practices under eligibility rules that did not contemplate an August influx of athletes returning from professional rosters,” the SEC’s filing continued. LSU isn’t the only SEC school attempting to add ex-pros, but Lane Kiffin and his program has been the most aggressive. Ahead of Saturday’s opener with Clemson, the Tigers have received commitments from former Ole Miss starters Dae’Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris, who signed with the Browns and Saints, respectively, in the preseason. They also may be adding former Utah cornerback Blake Cotton, another plaintiff who “intends to seek a roster spot at a D-I university in Louisiana,” according to the lawsuit. SEC commissioner Greg Sankey, who was added as a defendant to the plaintiffs’ lawsuit after the league’s penalties for using expros were announced, provided an affidavit Wednesday that said SEC school presidents voted 15-0 to support those punishments, with LSU president Wade Rousse abstaining. He argued that the SEC is not an agent of the NCAA. Yahoo Sports reported Wednesday that Sankey plans to appear in person Thursday and could testify. For now, the SEC is complying with the judge’s order, which prevents both the NCAA and the conference from enforcing its penalties against schools, including LSU, that would add fifth-year seniors and ex-pros outside of the NCAA’s designated transfer windows. But every signal from the SEC is that it’s not backing down. Tennessee chancellor Donde Plowman, president of the SEC’s executive committee, told ESPN on Tuesday that the league will enforce its rules regarding NFL players returning to college. A day later, ESPN obtained a letter from Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr to Sankey encouraging him to take “all measures available” to punish LSU if it added former NFL players, including suspending or expelling LSU from the SEC.”

or his thoughts on the matter, but he did say that LSU would “make sure to follow the SEC and NCAA rules.” All of it, combined with the drama that has been associated with Wade and Kifﬁn, has placed LSU front and center in the news since the end of last year. “Everyone is saying to me, ‘Hey Verge, every day you’re on TV,’ ” Ausberry said. “You’re supposed to be. You’re at LSU.” But free publicity alone won’t save LSU, the SEC and the rest of college sports from potential financial ruin. They need solutions to their economic reality, and Ausberry believes that two things must happen to ﬁx the situation. First, he wants an antitrust ex-

RABALAIS

Continued from page 1C

UL-Monroe in 2028 and Tulane in 2030. The next opener resembling this one is 2029 against SMU in Arlington, Texas. More yawners, yes. Kiffin is thinking about more chances to ease into the season and work out some of the issues LSU must address under duress against Clemson. Is Sam Leavitt 100% ready to play after a Lisfranc foot injury sidelined him at Arizona State in November? I asked Leavitt on Tuesday whether he was going to be the same quick, elusive runner he was before his injury or more selective about taking off. “We haven’t played a game yet, so we’ll see,” Leavitt said with a grin. “No, I feel 100%. I’m ready to be a great player for this team. I feel I’m going to be the same player physically in every aspect, if not better.” A dual-threat quarterback is crucial to make the Kiffin/Charlie Weis Jr. offense run at full horsepower. In Kiffin’s six seasons at Ole Miss, the quarterback ranked second or third on the team in rushing while even accounting for sack yardage. With transfer Dilin Jones at

CLEMSON

Continued from page 1C defense in his second season as the Clemson defensive coordinator. A bust-prone secondary negated the talent Clemson had up front in 2025, finishing 120th nationally in pass defense at 251 yards allowed per game. But Swinney finally plunged into the transfer portal for some help. He grabbed Old Dominion’s Jerome Carter and Southern Miss’s Corey Myrick, who combined for 166 tackles and eight interceptions last season. Carter had 11 tackles in a season opener against eventual national champ Indiana. Clemson also added Penn State transfer Elliot Washington, who reportedly runs a sub-4.3-second 40-yard dash, to play corner opposite of Ashton Hampton, a 6-foot2, 205-pound junior who has, by all accounts, blossomed into a star in Allen’s secondary. There are unknowns at defensive tackle, but Clemson has multiple edge rushers who could cause fits for LSU. Will Heldt is a 6-6, 260-pound senior who led Clemson in sacks (7.5) and tackles for loss (15.5) last fall, and Jahiem Lawson, the brother of former NFL first-round pick Shaq Lawson, has matured as a redshirt senior.

emption that would prevent the NCAA, conferences or schools from getting routinely sued in court. Secondly, he’d aim to implement a one-time transfer rule that would allow athletes to enter the portal just once before they graduate. After graduating, they’d be permitted to enter the portal again. “And that would solve pretty much all of our problems,” Ausberry said regarding the transfer rule proposal. “… That would really help us with the transfer portal. If not, every year, you’re really re-recruiting your team (year over year), and what it does is drive the price up because you’re in a free market.” Both the antiturst exemption and the transfer rule are within

tailback, along with returners Harlem Berry, Caden Durham and others, can that much production be expected from Leavitt? Or will LSU have its ﬁrst 1,000-yard rusher at tailback since Tyrion Davis-Price in 2021? NFL draft analyst Todd McShay said recently that he believes Leavitt has a chance to “wind up being the best quarterback from this class.” That probably means more passing and less running. SEC teams are reportedly threatening to boycott games if LSU rosters players who returned from the NFL. What happens if they actually do? I don’t think that will ever happen, but if it did, they’d probably be subject to a forfeit. It would be kind of perversely poetic if LSU marched all the way to the SEC championship game on a string of forfeits. Is LSU the only school trying to do this? Certainly not. Dae’quan Wright, one of the players in the suit going before a local judge Thursday, said Ole Miss and South Carolina tried to recruit him. And On3.com reported Wednesday that multiple SEC schools are looking into adding players recently cut from NFL preseason rosters, proving that the top sport in the SEC is hypocrisy.

Linebacker Sammy Brown has 194 tackles, including 25 for loss, in his first two seasons. He’s a former multisport athlete who wrestled and played running back in high school. Again, there are major questions at defensive tackle, especially with redshirt senior Vic Burley likely suspended for the opener. It’s also questionable whether Kobe McCloud or Jeremiah Alexander step up to give Clemson the play it needs at linebacker next to Brown after Luke Ferrelli’s late jump to Ole Miss amid a tampering saga. That’s an especially massive question with 6-7 LSU tight end Trey’Dez Green in the fold.

Dynamic duo at WR It’s fair to question Clemson’s situation at quarterback, especially since freshman Tait Reynolds was able to push redshirt junior Christopher Vizzina to the wire. But it’s not like Vizzina has no weapons around him. Former top recruits T.J. Moore and Bryant Wesco are heading into their junior seasons at wideout. Moore emerged as a sophomore with 834 yards, and Wesco, with 537 yards, would have if not for a spinal injury suffered in Clemson’s seventh game. Both have the speed to take the top off of defenses, and they are

the Protect College Sports Act, a bill in the U.S. Senate that has yet to pass. Ausberry offered his support for the bill Wednesday, but he doesn’t fully endorse every aspect of the proposal. “We like the bill, we support the bill, the bill is good,” Ausberry said. “Do we want some amendments on the bill? We do. It would make it better for us, especially (among the) Power Four. “If we don’t get a bill, we won’t get anything. We don’t get antitrust … we just want antitrust so we can stop getting sued every 10 years.” What Ausberry did fully push up against was the idea of collective bargaining in college sports. For one, he’s unsure who the schools would specifically be bargaining with if the players unionized. More crucially, he doesn’t believe the players would want to bargain with the schools because of the large sums of money they’re already making. But whether the solution to these ﬁnancial problems is with collective bargaining, a bill in Congress or something else, LSU and the rest of the college sports world is still facing a ticking time bomb that is set to go off at the end of the year, when football programs across the nation will begin handing out more hefty contracts to players. It’s now up to Ausberry, administrators across the nation or politicians to stop the car before it ﬂies off the cliff. “Where do we stop this?” Ausberry said. “Where do we contain it? And that’s what we’re trying to control.” Email Koki Riley at koki.riley@ theadvocate.com. For more LSU sports updates, sign up for our newsletter at theadvocate.com/ lsunewsletter

What is Kiffin’s biggest concern about his team heading into the opener? Clearly it’s defensive tackle, where LSU appears likely to start a pair of true freshmen in Richard Anderson and Deuce Geralds. Talented freshmen, but freshmen nonetheless. “I feel things have settled down for the most part except for Dtackle,” Kifﬁn said. “We have a lot of guys doing good things in there — some old, some young — so we’ll rotate in there.” Going back to the players returning from the NFL thing, that’s clearly why he wants to add one of the plaintiffs, former Ole Miss defensive tackle Zxavian Harris, to the roster. It never rains in Tiger Stadium … so will it? As of this writing, there is a 75% chance of rain Saturday. The good news, at least from my weather app, is that said rain is expected early Saturday morning and then clear out. Looking like it will be in the low 80s and dry by kickoff. It does rain in Tiger Stadium, but supposedly not that often. According to WBRZ weather data, just 1% of LSU’s home games have been played in the rain since 1960. If that’s true, then I’ve attended all of them. I’d say on average there’s rain once a season, but hopefully not for Saturday’s game.

explosive enough in and out of their breaks to create separation. Clemson coaches also have raved about freshman Gordon Sellars, and Naeem Burroughs could emerge as a weapon in the slot. Clemson’s tight end room is probably deeper than LSU’s with Olsen Patt-Henry, Christian Bentancur and Logan Brooking. There are question marks on Clemson’s offensive line, which returns contributors such as Brayden Jacobs, Elyjah Thurmon, Harris Sewell and Collin Sadler. Sewell switched to center and the other three were banged up last year. It’s a more athletic offensive line than Clemson has had; there are just a lot of moving parts with Jacobs swinging out to left tackle, Sadler bumping out to right and a youngster — either Ronan O’Connell, Tucker Kattus or Easton Ware — at one guard spot. The backfield of Gideon Davidson and speedy SMU transfer Chris Johnson is talented enough to break one off. Vizzina has to be protected from Princewill Umanmielen’s rush, and Clemson has to establish a running game, which it struggled to do a year ago. But there’s a world where it happens. If it does, Clemson has playmakers to generate explosive plays. Even if Swinney is calling them a “bunch of nobodies.”

4C ✦ Thursday, September 3, 2026 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

lll

Falcons’ 4 QBs an ‘insurance policy’ Atlanta has not yet announced a starter for the position

BY CHARLES ODUM AP sportswriter

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Atlanta Falcons general manager Ian Cunningham said Wednesday the decision to open the season with four quarterbacks on the 53-man roster was “a little bit of an insurance policy.” The injury histories and performances of the top two quarterbacks, Michael Penix and Tua Tagovailoa, made that necessary for the Falcons, who open the season at Pittsburgh on Sept. 13. The Falcons haven’t announced a starting quarterback and also have Cooper Rush and undrafted rookie Jack Strand on their 53man roster at the position. When Tagovailoa was slowed at the start of training camp by lower back tightness, the Falcons signed Rush while Strand had an unexpected opportunity to work with the first-team offense. “What it did show, it wasn’t too big for him, you know, to come in and do what he did early on,” Cunningham said of Strand before adding the rookie from Division II Minnesota State-Moorhead “showed the ability to just progress and get better ever since.” Penix did not play in a preseason game as he continued his recovery from a left knee injury which ended his 2025 season. He was cleared to join team drills for the first time last week but was held out of the Falcons’ final preseason game at Miami on Friday night. Tagovailoa, who has a history of concussions, led a touchdown drive but lost a fumbled snap in Atlanta’s 17-12 win over the Dolphins. It was Tagovailoa’s second

BY JOHN MARSHALL AP sportswriter

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By BRyNN ANDERSON

Atlanta Falcons quarterbacks Michael Penix, center right, Jack Strand, left, and Tua Tagovailoa, right, run drills during training camp on Aug. 24 in Flowery Branch, Ga. fumbled snap in three preseason games — one from the shotgun and one under center. The turnovers by Tagovailoa may have played a role in Falcons ﬁrst-year coach Kevin Stefanski waiting to select a regular-season starter. The return to Miami last week provided a reminder that Tagovailoa was benched for the ﬁnal three games of his sixth season with the Dolphins last season after he set a career high with 15 interceptions. Cunningham confirmed on Wednesday there has been no decision on a starter. The Falcons were 3-6 in Penix’s nine starts last season as he com-

pleted 60.1% of his passes with nine touchdowns and three interceptions. In two seasons, the 2024 ﬁrst-round draft pick has 12 touchdown passes with six interceptions. If Penix starts at Pittsburgh, plays well and shows he is fully recovered from his injury, the Falcons could adjust their 53-man roster and proceed with three quarterbacks. The decision to carry four quarterbacks left the team with only Bijan Robinson and Brian Robinson at running back. Tyler Goodson is on the 16-player practice squad as the third running back. “I feel like that’s a little bit of

the roster gymnastics, right?” Cunningham said. “It’s four quarterbacks and two running backs. You have to sacrifice at some position. ... And it will probably change throughout the season. Just because we start with this 53 now, it may not be the same 53 that it is, you know, Week 18.” One of the Falcons’ most surprising roster cuts, defensive lineman Zach Harrison, was re-signed to the practice squad on Wednesday. The Falcons also signed defensive end Khalid Kareem and defensive back Jammie Robinson to the practice squad and released defensive back Cobee Bryant and defensive end Cam Sample.

Sabalenka powers into U.S. Open third round BY BRIAN MAHONEY AP sportswriter

NEW YORK — Aryna Sabalenka came to the U.S. Open struggling and in danger of losing the No. 1 ranking. She heads to the third round looking every bit ready for a threepeat. The top-seeded Sabalenka overwhelmed Polina Iatcenko 6-1, 6-1 in 53 minutes on Wednesday night, putting on a power-hitting display that made it seem her recent problems are in the past. “Happy with the level I played today, happy with the focus and happy to be through this match,” Sabalenka said. A number of players have only finished one match. Jessica Pegula was one, needing only 56 minutes to defeat Sofia Kenin 6-3, 6-1. Kenin, the 2020 Australian Open champion, beat Venus Williams in her first match. “To be out of there in under an hour, it doesn’t always happen,” Pegula said. “So I think I’m just going to take that one and run, I guess, until the next round.” No. 8 seed Ben Shelton followed Pegula on Ashe and beat Hubert Hurkacz 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 (3), 7-5, while No. 7 Daniil Medvedev raced past Sebastian Gorzny — except for a brief delay to protest the chair umpire’s decision to replay a point when two birds sat on the net — 6-3, 6-3, 7-5. Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz followed Sabalenka on Ashe.

Sabalenka feeling better Sabalenka is trying to become the ﬁrst player to win three in a row in Flushing Meadows since

WOOD

Continued from page 1C kicker in as many seasons this year with Daniel Carlson replacing Charlie Smyth, who replaced Blake Grupe last season. The Saints are on their fifth punter since Morstead left after the 2020 season. “I’ve gotten used to it,” Wood said. “Luckily the Saints do a good job of bringing good people in here. They aren’t bringing in guys who are hard to work with.” That doesn’t mean it’s easy to see kicking competitions in training camp play out. Carlson, signed by the Saints last week, ended up winning the three-man competition over Smyth and Tanner Brown. Smyth will remain on the practice squad while Brown is looking for a job after getting waived.

Pac-12 football returns after 4 years

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By ADAM HUNGER

Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus serves to Polina Iatcenko of Russia during the second round of the U.S. Open on Wednesday in New york. Serena Williams from 2012-14, but arrived after losing in the fourth round of her past three tournaments. She needs help to stay atop the WTA rankings even if she wins the title. She won 15 of 16 points on first serve in the first set and only dropped off a little in the second, finishing 21 for 28 in the match, against an opponent who is playing in her first Grand Slam tournament. “I think I struggled a little bit in the middle of the season. Once again, I’m not going to defend myself or explain why, what happened, but I’m happy with my level,” Sabalenka said. “I can definitely say that mentally I’m way stronger than I was in the middle of the season, and physically I also feel stronger. So I feel like I’m on my level of play.”

A four-day first round

“It’s really tough,” Wood said. “I’ve been in that position before. It’s really hard when its something you dedicate so much time to. These guys want this so bad. It’s something they’ve dreamed of their entire lives. But just because it doesn’t happen here doesn’t mean it won’t happen. Rejection is hard. Getting told no is hard. I feel for those guys and I never take it for granted.” Grupe was let go by the Saints last season before landing with the Indianapolis Colts. The Colts released Grupe this week before he signed with the New York Jets. “Being a kicker is something I don’t envy,” Wood said. “It’s a tough position. There are not a lot of opportunities. It’s not like you can go in a game and get a bunch of reps.” Wood knows a thing or two about competing for a job. It’s how his story in New Orleans began. The

Saints were desperate for a long snapper in 2017 after Jon Dorenbos was diagnosed with an aortic aneurysm right before the season started. Sean Payton brought in ﬁve players to try out for the position on a Friday afternoon, just three days before the season opener against the Minnesota Vikings. Wood won the job and has been the long snapper ever since. Since taking over, he’s been the steady piece for every kicker or punter who has auditioned. There is an advantage to having someone who can consistently snap the ball exactly where it needs to be. “For sure,” Saints special teams coordinator Phil Galiano said. Galiano followed up that response by knocking on the wooden podium, not wanting to jinx his long snapper. “The one thing about Zach is you can look at him and he keeps him-

When the U.S. Open switched to a Sunday start last year, it spread out the ﬁrst round over the ﬁrst three days, so Wednesday would have arrived with everyone playing in the second round had the weather cooperated. It hadn’t. Alex de Minaur, the No. 6 seed from Australia, said with all the juggling his match was moved twice from the court where he was originally scheduled. He finally started his U.S. Open on Wednesday on Court 11 and beat Italy’s Andrea Guerrieri 6-2, 6-2, 6-4. “It’s been a couple tough days. But I mean, these tournaments, it’s all about adapting and that’s the name of the game,” de Minaur said. “There’s too much to play for to let something like this affect you.”

Paula Badosa said she didn’t even know how to prepare for the resumption of her match against Daria Kasatkina, which was halted Tuesday with her one game from winning to set up a second-round match against No. 4 Coco Gauff. “I didn’t know if I was going to play just two points or six, or I don’t know how much, how many I play or one more set,” the Spaniard said Wednesday after finishing off her 6-1, 6-4 victory. At least she got through. No. 12 Rafael Jodar, the 19-year-old from Spain who came in after a strong summer, was routed 6-2, 6-1, 6-1 by Bu Yunchaokete of China when his first-round match was finally completed. “I knew it wasn’t going to be easy because I was waiting a lot yesterday and today as well, but it is what it is,” Jodar said. “We cannot control the rain, so it’s difficult for both players.” The first round was finally completed late Wednesday, a day when 25 men’s singles matches were scheduled to get the tournament back on track. Alex Michelsen pulled off an upset in one of them by ousting fellow American Brandon Nakashima, the No. 16 seed, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4. No. 7 Karolina Muchova, the Wimbledon runner-up, beat Katie Boulter 6-1, 6-0 to reach the third round, while No. 11 Marta Kostyuk got past 2017 U.S. Open champion Sloane Stephens 6-1, 7-5. No. 31 seed Leylah Fernandez set up a matchup of past U.S. Open runners-up against Pegula, with the winner to meet either No. 16 Sorana Cirstea or No. 19 Jasmine Paolini.

self in unbelievable shape,” Galiano said. “He takes great pride in that and keeping his body healthy. As long as he continues to do that, he can play a while.” Wood is listed at 6-foot-3, 255 pounds. That’s much lighter than the 283 pounds he carried on his frame as a defensive end at SMU. He’s 33 now. While that may be considered old in running back years, it’s an infant in long snapper years. San Francisco 49ers long snapper Jon Weeks is 40 and still going strong. “Jon has been slinging them for a long time,” Wood said. “He’s an animal.” Will Wood still be doing the same at 40? “I would love to play as long as these guys want to keep me here,” he said. Email Rod Walker at rwalker@ theadvocate.com.

The Pac-12, the self-dubbed “Conference of Champions” with athletic excellence going back more than a century, turned into the conference of ashes. A mass exodus of 10 schools in 15 months left the Pac-12 in tatters, dimming the future of a conference that was once the proud home of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Cheryl Miller, Tiger Woods, Jackie Robinson, Lisa Leslie, Jackie JoynerKersey and many more. League brass and the two remaining schools worked behind scenes to pull the conference out of a death spiral and now, more than four years since the first two schools left, the Pac-12 is back as something of a startup. “We’re literally launching a new league,” Pac-12 Commissioner Teresa Gould said. “We’ve been doing all the things that are already established in a traditional conference, but we wound ours down. So now we’re winding it back up and it’s a fun time.” The new version of this venerable old conference officially launched on July 1, when seven new members joined Oregon State and Washington State. The soccer, volleyball and cross-country seasons kicked off last month. Next gen Pac-12 kicks off in full force this week with the start of the football season. Newcomer Fresno State gets it started at No. 14 Southern California on Thursday night with all eight teams, capped by Washington State’s Apple Cup rivalry game against former Pac-12 member No. 17 Washington on Sunday. “It’s really exciting,” said Kirby Moore, the first-year Washington State coach and Washington state native. “Very few times do you get to be a part of history and be the first in the Pac-12 Conference coming back together.” There were plenty of doubts it would ever happen. The once-powerful conference jokingly became the “Pac-2,” but no one with remaining ties to the league was laughing as staff were laid off and the future looked bleak. There were lots of discussions and legalities to sort through over money for the former members as well as complications over new membership Within a few months, the conference began showing signs of life. The Pac-12 worked out a deal for Oregon State and Washington State to play Mountain West Conference schools for the 2024 season, with deals for other sports in separate scheduling agreements. Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State and San Diego State became the first new members in late 2024 after bolting the Mountain West. Utah State joined the Pac-12 not long after that and powerhouse Gonzaga gave the league a higher national profile by joining as a basketball-only member. Texas State’s addition in 2025 was the final piece, giving the conference an FBS-mandated eight football schools. “Things shifted very, very fast,” Gould said. There were still hurdles to clear. The Pac-12 and Mountain West became embroiled in legal wrangling over “poaching” fees and three of the conference’s new members filed a separate lawsuit over exit fees from the Mountain West. Both lawsuits were settled earlier this year. Gould and the Pac-12 also had to negotiate new media rights deals, a massive stumbling block under previous commissioners that, in large part, led to the exodus to other leagues. The Pac-12 worked that out by negotiating deals with CBS, USA Network and The CW, ensuring all its football games and many basketball games will be on linear TV — meaning no more fumbling through the channels to find “Pac12 After Dark.” As a Power Five (now Four) league, the conference would have had an automatic bid under the new 12-team format. Because the reimagined conference dropped into the Group of Six conference category, the trajectory to a playoff spot is no longer a straight line. The Pac-12 hopes to boost its CFP chances by scheduling “flex” games during the final week of the regular season, creating the best possible rematches to enhance its postseason chances. The Pac-12 spent four years searching for solutions to prevent the conference’s extinction. The result is an old conference with a new look and feel.

The Times-Picayune ✦ nola.com ✦ Thursday, September 3, 2026 ✦ 5C

lll

These 12 volleyball players are some of best in the area BY CHRISTOPHER DABE Staff writer

STAFF FILE PHOTO By CHRIS GRANGER

Jesuit defensive back Jack Maguire, center, practices on Aug. 6.

‘We’re getting his upside’ Multisport athlete becomes Jesuit’s defensive leader

BY CHRISTOPHER DABE

Staff writer

The quarterback scrambled toward the far sideline, and Jesuit safety Jack Maguire kept his eyes on the passer, anticipating his next move. When the quarterback ﬁred just before stepping out of bounds, Maguire cut in front of the receiver near the sideline for an interception. The play against Brother Martin last season reinforced a decision Maguire already had begun to make about his athletic future. “My sophomore year, once I became a starter in football and I was still like sixth man in basketball, I switched my mentality to be more of a football guy,” Maguire said. He continued playing both sports, earning a starting spot in basketball as a junior last season. But football could be the sport he plays at the next level. Illinois State offered him a scholarship in

WEEK 1 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE All games 7 p.m. unless noted.

Thursday Jefferson Rise vs. Riverdale at Yenni, 6:30 p.m. North Iberville vs. Fisher at Memtsas, 6:30 p.m. Cohen vs. Booker T. Washington at Pan American Covington vs. De La Salle at Bertolino Madison Prep vs. Jesuit at Gormley

Friday

L.B. Landry vs. Carver at Pan American, 3:30 p.m. Abramson vs. Sarah T. Reed at Joe Brown Amite at Franklinton

May. “If I pick up a few more offers, it would be amazing,” Maguire said. Now a third-year starter, Maguire (6-foot-3, 195 pounds) brings more experience than anyone on the Jesuit defense into Thursday’s season opener against Madison Prep at Tad Gormley Stadium. Maguire came to Jesuit in eighth grade, earned playing time with the varsity as a freshman and moved into the starting lineup as a sophomore. He has 90 career tackles with 18 pass breakups, three interceptions, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. “He’s the leader on the defense,” Jesuit coach Ryan Manale said. “He brings energy every day at practice. His effort has been tremendous. He’s very focused this year going into his senior year.” The Jesuit defense has senior Logan Boutte and junior Austin Guedry among its returning starters up front. Junior Jacolby Treaudo is back at cornerback. Like his teammates, Maguire embraces the aggression required to play defense. “Especially in the Catholic League,” he said. “Every week you’re going against Division I

Ascension Christian at Ben Franklin Bonnabel vs. Kenner Discovery at Bertolino Brother Martin at Southside Centerville vs. Haynes at Yenni Chalmette vs. John Ehret at Memtsas Fontainebleau at Lakeshore Hahnville at Shaw Hammond at Prairieville Hannan at Northlake Christian Higgins at South Plaquemines John Curtis vs. North Shore (Texas) at Cajun Field, Lafayette Lafayette Renaissance vs. Edna Karr at Morris F.X. Jeff Sr. Stadium Legacy (Texas) at St. Charles Mandeville at Salmen McMain at Belle Chasse Newman at St. John’s (Texas) North Vermilion at St. Martin’s Northshore at Lutcher

prospects. I kind of like that — and hitting people.” Maguire gets tested daily by wide receiver Ja’ir Burks, a Tulane commitment and the twotime reigning state hurdles champion. Their battles began with a one-on-one drill in eighth grade, when Maguire tried to shed Burks as a downﬁeld blocker. “He’s an amazing competitor,” Maguire said. “We try to feed off each other.” Maguire hopes to make more big plays like the interception against Brother Martin last season. He also forced a fumble in that game, although Jesuit did not recover it. “He’s always been a pretty ﬁerce competitor,” Jesuit basketball coach Chris Jennings said. “That’s probably what makes him good at everything. He doesn’t back down.” Maguire has become a football standout after entering high school with basketball as his primary sport. “He fell in love with football and now he’s a true multisport athlete,” Manale said. “I think we’re getting his upside.”

Patrick Taylor at Willow Pearl River at Pearl River Central (Miss.) Ponchatoula at Walker Riverside vs. John F. Kennedy at Pan American Rummel at U-High Slidell vs. Holy Cross at Gormley Sophie B. Wright at Young Audiences South Terrebonne at Country Day St. Edmund at West St. John St. James at East St. John St. Paul’s at Destrehan Thomas Jefferson at Pope John Paul II Warren Easton at East Ascension West Jefferson at Central Lafourche

Saturday

St. Augustine vs. McDonogh 35 at Gormley, 6:30 p.m. Morris Jeff vs. East Jefferson at Yenni

BY DOUG FEINBERG AP basketball writer

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By EBRAHIM NOROOZI

The U.S. women’s basketball team practices ahead of a game between China and the U.S. during the Women’s Basketball World Cup in Berlin, Germany, on Wednesday. format is different from the 2022 one. With 16 teams competing in Germany instead of the 12 they had four years ago, each country will play only three games in the preliminary round, down from ﬁve in Australia. That gives the U.S. fewer games to figure out rotations and work on its on-court chemistry, but it does give them more rest time. “It’s just more of being really focused and locked in when we do have our time together, and we know that there’s a lot of information to install,” coach Kara Lawson said. “I don’t think it’s changed the way I would normally coach. It’s just being very direct with what we want done, and they were great today in practice at picking up a

The high school volleyball season is underway. Here’s a look at some outside hitters and middle blockers to watch during the 2026 season. Elizabeth Alford, Sacred Heart, Sr.: The top returning scorer for the frequent state tournament qualifier with 323 kills, 62 blocks and 22 aces last season. Hadley Bonifacic, Dominican, Jr.: Her 284 kills last season are the most of any returning player from a team that reached the Division I state finals for the seventh year in a row. Coach Jessica Chatellier described Bonifacic as an outside hitter who also attacks from the middle. Audrey Dubuc, Chapelle, Sr.: Her 311 kills and 396 digs both ranked second on a team that upset Mount Carmel in the state quarterfinals last season. “The heart of the team,” coach Jodee Pulizzano said. Lila Franovich, Mount Carmel, Sr.: A powerful hitter with a team-high 491 kills last season, plus 112 digs during her all-state campaign last season. “When the ball is off the net or out of system, she’s still a threat,” coach Ashley Miller said. Layla Henderson, Country Day, Sr.: The middle blocker with 418 kills and 64 blocks last season helped the Cajuns to their 10th consecutive Division V state championship and the 19th in school history. Zhoey Johnson, Academy of Our Lady, Jr.: Assumes the top-scoring role after four-year starter Lillian Daviss graduated. Johnson ended last season with 165 kills, 47 blocks, 49 digs and 42 aces. Taylor Litolff, Kenner Discovery, Sr.: The UAB beach volleyball commit- Contact Christopher Dabe at ment helped her school reach the cdabe@theadvocate.com

Contact Christopher Dabe at cdabe@theadvocate.com

U.S. women short on practice time heading into FIBA World Cup BERLIN — The U.S. women’s national team is short on practice time heading into a major competition where anything less than winning a gold medal is considered a failure. The Americans will have to jell quickly if they hope to win a fifth straight FIBA women’s World Cup. The tournament begins Friday, when the U.S. plays China in one of eight games in Berlin. The Americans already have had a couple of practices in Berlin since their staggered arrivals, marking the first time that the 12 players on the squad were together as a team. The U.S. is working in a bunch of young, new players like Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese and Paige Bueckers, with half the roster making its World Cup debut. Having little practice time is nothing new to the Americans. “It’s good to get the group together. It’s a new group. The beneficial thing about us is that even though we haven’t practiced with each other much, but we know our games really well because we scout each other every single day (in the WNBA),” veteran guard Chelsea Gray said. “So we know people’s strengths. I think basketball players, we compartmentalize better than anyone. So this is no different, we’re going to have to learn on the fly.” They’ll have less time to get ready because this World Cup

state tournament three years in a row. Older sister Brianna signed to play beach volleyball at Southeastern Louisiana. Victoria McCann, Chapelle, Sr.: The topscoring player (548 kills, 68 blocks) on a team that upset Mount Carmel in the quarterfinals and Dominican in the regular season last year. The former setter changed positions after she hit a growth spurt to reach 5-foot-10. “She’s a put-away hitter,” Pulizzano said. Makayla Morter, John Curtis, Sr.: The team leader in kills the past three seasons posted 432 kills with a team-high 78 aces, 36 blocks and 319 digs for a team that reached the Division IV semifinals last season. Emma Pippenger, Slidell, Sr.: Her 351 kills and 408 digs are the most of any returning player from the reigning Division I state champions. The Tigers graduated three of their top four scoring players after winning back-to-back state titles. LeiLani Reid, Newman, Sr.: The Outstanding Player selection in the Division IV state finals after recording 11 kills, two blocks, two aces and three digs in a sweep of topseeded Dunham. The six-rotation standout finished with 442 kills, 78 aces, 72 blocks and 312 digs. Jade Washington, Country Day, Sr.: The returning All-Metro small schools player of the year was equally strong as a front-row scorer with 401 kills and 39 blocks as she was as a back-row defender with 435 digs. Her 15 kills, two blocks and nine digs in a sweep of Central Catholic helped Country Day win the 19th state title in school history, and the 10th in a row.

lot in a short period of time.” If the Americans do win their group, which also includes China, the Czech Republic and Italy, they’ll have two days off before the quarterfinals. Gray doesn’t mind having fewer games. “It’s less on our bodies honestly, especially with the pause in the WNBA season,” the 33-year-old Gray said. “I like a little bit of a break.” Usually the World Cup begins right after the WNBA season ﬁnishes. This time, the league is pausing for two weeks because of the international competition. “It’s deﬁnitely different,” said Breanna Stewart, who has helped the U.S. win the last three World Cup gold medals.

STAFF FILE PHOTO By BRAD BOWIE

Jade Washington, right, goes for the kill as Country Day faces Central Catholic in the Division V finals of the state tournament on Nov. 15 at the Cajundome in Lafayette.

MARKS

Continued from page 1C That surprising calmness remained a part of his personality throughout the ordeal. Two days after his diagnosis, Mercer ofﬁcials told his dad his scholarship would be honored, ending any concern there. Marks was determined not to let the cancer end his goals as he dealt with a two-week wait for the cancer to be removed because of its tricky location, and then the subsequent chemo treatments. “I actually didn’t lose much weight,” he said. “I worked out every day. I have something on my Instagram with me bench pressing hours after chemo. I would go to the gym right after. I’d feel like crap and go throw up in the bathroom, but I wouldn’t miss a day. “Honestly, you want to quit, but I had so much support around me. It gave me a new perception on life like everything’s not just going to be given to you. Everything can be taken away in a moment, and that’s really stuck with me.” Although Mercer recruited a player to start over him at center, Marks was having none of it. Pronounced cancer free on May 6, 2025, he arrived 22 days later with the mentality to win the job. Mission accomplished. He started 10 games and did not allow a sack as the Bears went undefeated in the Southern Conference and qualiﬁed for the FCS playoffs. When he decided to enter the transfer portal, Tulane had a hidden advantage in new offensive line coach Cody Kennedy. Marks’ trainer in Wendell played for Kennedy when he coached at Division II University of North CarolinaPembroke in 2015, and he told

Marks that Kennedy could bring him to the next level. The attraction was mutual. “We loved him when we recruited him,” Tulane coach Will Hall said. “He has unbelievable tenacity. He understands how to overcome adversity.” A foot injury to center John Bock in preseason camp opened the door for Marks on the ﬁrst team, and he has practiced there ever since. Although Bock has not been ruled out ofﬁcially as of Wednesday, he is unlikely to play Saturday. Marks (6-foot-3, 297 pounds), who is about 20 pounds lighter than Bock, believes he is up to the task. “I’m very comfortable,” he said. “I have great coaching around me, and there’s nothing I’m not ready for. I’m a smart player, pretty athletic. I try to be calm under pressure and keep everybody else under the same calmness.” He certainly has impressed his line mates, never bringing up his cancer ordeal while working hard every day. “He’s a strong dude,” right guard Reese Baker said. “He’s a tough guy who keeps rolling. He’s knowledgeable and gets everyone on the same page.”

HOME-DELIVERED

EVERY DAY

NOLA.COM/SUBSCRIBE

6C ✦ Thursday, September 3, 2026 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

lll

Clippers lose 5 ﬁrst-round picks; owner suspended NBA also hits Leonard with $700K penalty in sweeping salary cap circumvention case

BY BETH HARRIS AP sportswriter

LOS ANGELES — The NBA imposed a sweeping punishment against the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday for violating salary cap circumvention rules, suspending owner Steve Ballmer for one year, fining the team $30 million and forcing it to forfeit five first-round draft picks. Also, two-time NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard was hit with a $700,000 penalty, president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank was banned for six months and team president of business operations Gillian Zucker was suspended for one year. The Clippers will give up one first-round pick in each draft from 2029-2033. The league came down hard on the organization after a nearly yearlong investigation led by an outside law firm. The Clippers had said multiple times that they had done nothing wrong and expected to be exonerated. “I think that we’re going to be in the clear,” Leonard said in April, “so I’m not stressing it.” At the same time, Frank said, “If you know Steve and know Steve’s integrity, you know there’s nothing to it. We believe and we’ve very confident we’re on the right side of this.” The team maintained that stance Wednesday. “We vehemently reject the NBA’s findings, which are the result of a heavily biased investigation seeking to justify a predetermined narrative rather than facts and evidence,” the team said in a statement. “What the league told

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By RyAN SUN

Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer sits on the sideline before a game against the Chicago Bulls on March 13 in Inglewood, Calif. Ballmer was suspended one year and the Clippers were fined $30 milliion and forced to forfeit five first-round draft picks for violating NBA salary cap rules. us privately differs from what it announced today publicly, and they have not held themselves close to the standard Commissioner (Adam) Silver set at the start of this investigation to ensure its fairness and accuracy.” The Clippers said they will “now fight just as hard to demonstrate our innocence. We intend to vigorously challenge these findings and penalties through every avenue available to us and look forward to an ethical and impartial arbitration process.” The league said it and the players’ union agreed to confirm the penalties as final and binding on all parties. It said the outside law firm continues to receive information involving the investigation, and the league “will consider further action as appropriate.” “I am deeply disappointed by the flagrant violations of our rules and by the Clippers’ institutional and leadership failures that led to this misconduct,” Silver said in a statement. “The severity of the penalties reflects the seriousness of the violations.”

The NBA began investigating in September 2025 whether a $28 million endorsement contract between Leonard and Aspiration Fund Adviser LLC — a company that ﬁled for bankruptcy last year — broke league rules, following a report by journalist Pablo Torre. Earlier this year, Aspiration cofounder Joseph Sanberg was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to defrauding investors and lenders of at least $248 million. The Clippers released a letter from Ballmer’s attorney David Kelley to Silver in which he described the investigation as “a witch hunt” and the subsequent penalties as a “gross injustice.” Kelley accused Silver of not keeping his promises that the investigation would be governed by due process and fundamental fairness as well as the burden being on the league to prove any violations through evidence. “League counsel has acknowledged in our discussions that the league does not believe there was an agreement between the Clip-

pers and Aspiration to funnel money to Kawhi Leonard. League counsel also agreed with the Department of Justice, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and a federal judge that Mr. Ballmer was a victim of Joe Sanberg’s fraud — not a participant,” wrote Kelley, a partner in the ﬁrm O’Melveny and Myers. “Mr. Ballmer’s reputation has been irreparably damaged as he now ﬁnds himself embroiled not only in this heavily biased investigation, but in civil litigation, the Aspiration bankruptcy proceeding, and more,” Kelley wrote. Kelley wrote that no league rule prohibits team personnel making introductions to both sponsors and vendors in response to player requests. “Retroactively punishing the Clippers for violating a rule that never existed is hardly consistent with due process,” Kelley wrote. The league said Ballmer knowingly sought to help Leonard obtain off-court income deals, approved a business deal that he knew was a precondition for Aspiration to enter into an endorsement contract with Leonard, and for failing to create conditions under which his team followed league rules. “I accept full responsibility for lapses in judgment by people within my inner circle and regret the distraction this situation has caused the fans and my family,” Leonard said in a statement issued through his new agent, Harrison Gaines. The NBA said Leonard, through his former business manager and uncle Dennis Robertson, “violated the circumvention rules by pressuring the Clippers to assist him in obtaining off-court income opportunities, successfully obtaining those opportunities, and failing to reimburse payments by the Clippers for personal expenses.” “I entered into my contract with the Clippers as well as the agreements in question in good faith,

fully committed to fulfilling my obligations and with no knowledge of any intent on anyone’s part to circumvent the salary cap,” Leonard said in his statement. The league said Ballmer was suspended for “knowingly seeking to help Mr. Leonard obtain off-court income opportunities,” among other issues. Leonard’s trade to the Toronto Raptors has been on hold pending the outcome of the investigation. The Raptors had said they still want Leonard, and he apparently is just as eager to return to the team where he won an NBA title and was Finals MVP in 2019. “As I return to Toronto, I am focused on what I can control, closing this chapter, and moving forward with a clean slate,” Leonard said in his statement. The Clippers and their personnel will be under a compliance and monitoring program by the league for five years and Robertson was banned from doing business with NBA teams for five years. The league penalized Frank for his involvement with the impermissible endorsement arrangements and for approving impermissible expenses incurred by Leonard and his family. Zucker was banned for being primarily and directly culpable for the illegal endorsement arrangements and for lying to investigators. Both will lose their salaries during their bans. It’s not the first time the Clippers have run afoul of NBA rules under Ballmer, who bought the team for $2 billion in August 2014. They were fined $250,000 a year later for violating rules against offering unauthorized business or investment opportunities to players during their courting of free agent DeAndre Jordan. A presentation to him improperly included a $200,000-per-year deal with luxury carmaker Lexus. Ballmer, 70, was CEO of Microsoft from 2000 to 2014.

SCOREBOARD Odds NFL Sept. 9

FAVORITE at SEATTLE

OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG 4½ 3½ (44½) New Eng.

FAVORITE at LA RAMS

OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG 3½ 3½ (48½) San Fran.

Sept. 10

Sept. 13

FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG at PITTS. 3 3 (41½) Atlanta Chicago 2½ 2½ (47½) at CAROLINA Baltimore 3½ 3½ (48½) at INDIANA. at CINCINNATI 3½ 3½ (50½) Tampa at TENNESSEE 2½ 1½ (39½) NY Jets at DETROIT 7 7 (49½) N.O. Buffalo 1½ 1½ (44½) at HOUS. at J’VILLE 7½ 7½ (40½) Cleveland at LAS VEGAS 3½ 3½ (40½) Miami at CHARGERS 10½ 10½ (46½) Arizona at PHILA. 4½ 4½ (45½) Washington at MINNESOTA 1½ 1½ (45½) Green Bay Dallas 2½ 2½ (48½) at GIANTS

Sept. 14

FAVORITE at KC

OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG 2½ 2½ (43½) Denver

College football Thursday

FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG at RUTGERS 30½ 29½ (51½) UMass at KENN. ST. 21½ 22½ (51½) W. Georgia at BUFFALO 27½ 18½ (48½) Albany at DELAWARE 30½ 28½ (55½) Merrimck at WAKE FOR. 22½ 24½ (48½) Akron at UCF 38½ 42½ (58½) Beth.-Cook. at GA. TECH 7½ 6½ (50½) Colorado at MISSOURI 50½ 54½ (61½) UAPB at MINNESOTA 43½ 42½ (51½) E. Illinois at UTAH 35½ 34½ (57½) Idaho at ILLINOIS 27½ 27½ (54½) UAB

Friday

FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG at E. MICH. 4 2½ (56½) San Jose St. at PURDUE 30½ 36½ (56½) Indiana St. at GA. ST. 26½ 28½ (62½) NC A&T at KANSAS 40½ 41½ (54½) LIU Post at OKLAHOMA 40½ 41½ (51½) UTEP at MICH. ST. 10½ 10½ (47½) Toledo at USC 23½ 21½ (51½) Fresno St. Miami (FL) 22 24½ (47½) at STANFORD

Saturday

FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG at UCONN 21½ 19½ (52½) Lafayette at SYRACUSE 27½ 33½ (56½) New Hamp. at B. GREEN 1½ 2½ (48½) Tarleton St. at J. MADISON 6 6 (50½) Liberty at NEBRASKA 23½ 23½ (46½) Ohio at HOUSTON 18½ 20½ (49½) Oregon St. at ALABAMA 26½ 27½ (52½) East Car. at INDIANA 40½ 40½ (55½) N. Texas at ARMY 37½ 36½ (50½) Bryant at W. VIRGINIA 17½ 21½ (56½) C. Caro. at PITT 15½ 16½ (48½) Miami (OH) at OHIO ST. 50½ 50½ (56½) Ball State at S. CARO. 34½ 36½ (54½) Kent State at IOWA ST. 30½ 29½ (52½) SE Mo. St. at KENTUCKY 27½ 23½ (62½) Y’town St at AIR FORCE 23½ 28½ (58½) Duquesne at TEMPLE 12½ 14½ (51½) Rh. Island at GEORGIA 48½ 47½ (54½) Tenn. St. at CHARLOTTE 17½ 20½ (46½) Citadel at UTSA 27½ 28½ (59½) UTRGV at AUBURN 7 7½ (59½) Baylor at N. DAK. ST. 35½ 41½ (57½) Fordham at NAVY 30½ 30½ (50½) Towson at CINCINNATI 7½ 7½ (49½) B. College at DUKE 9½ 7½ (51½) Tulane at OREGON 24½ 24½ (51½) Boise State at TEXAS 30½ 29½ (59½) Texas State at TENNESSEE 47½ 46½ (66½) Furman at APP. STATE 22½ 19½ (53½) Maine at PENN ST.23½ 24½ (52½) Marshall Oklahoma St. 12½ 13½ (59½) at TULSA at IOWA 30½ 31½ (44½) N. Illinois at ARKANSAS 40½ 40½ (63½) N. Alabama at SO. MISS 23½ 20½ (50½) Alcorn State at OLD DOM. 41½ 40½ (52½)Norfolk State at COLO. ST. 3½ 3 (46½) Wyoming at S. ALABAMA 14½ 12½ (52½) Southeastern at S. FLORIDA 12½ 14 (52½) Fiu at M. TENN. 25½ 20½ (59½) Murray St. at KANSAS ST. 41½ 40½ (54½) Nicholls at UTAH ST. 23½ 13½ (62½) Idaho State at J’VILLE ST’ 20½ 20½ (54½) E. Kentucky at VANDY 35½ 29½ (60½) Austin Peay at TEXAS A&M 38½ 40½ (53½) Mo. State at GA SOUTH. 26½ 25½ (51½) Charle. So. at TEXAS TECH 41½ 42½ (59½) Ab. Christian at RICE 21½ 22½ (47½) HCU at TROY 17½ 16½ (54½) Sam Hou. at MEMPHIS 10½ 11½ (52½) Ark. St. W. Mich. at MICHIGAN 26½ 27½ (48½) at MISS. ST. 28½ 28½ (54½) UL-Monroe at LSU 11½ 10½ (50½) Clemson at VA. TECH 47½ 55½ (62½) VMI at LA. TECH 40½ 44½ (55½)N’western St. at FLORIDA 26½ 26½ (59½) Fau at N’WESTERN 15½ 13½ (46½) S. Dak. St. UL 17½ 20½ (48½) Lamar at MARYLAND 41½ 45½ (56½) Hampton

at BYU 47½ at N. MEX. ST. 23½ at ARIZONA 29½ at S. DIEGO ST. 40½ UNLV 1½ at ARIZ. ST. 42½ at NEW MEX. 12½ at SACR. ST. 32½ W. Kentucky 3 UCLA 1½

Sunday

51½ 28½ 31½ 40½ 3 43½ 10½ 37½ 1½ 1½

(61½) Utah Tech (52½) Mercyhurst (58½) N. Arizona (62½) Port. St. (56½) at HAWAII (52½) Morgan St. (46½) C. Mich. (56½) MVSU (52½) at NEVADA (53½) at CAL

FAVORITE at WASH. at NOT. DAME at OLE MISS

OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG 21½ 23½ (50½) Wash. St. 20½ 20½ (47½) Wisconsin 6½ 6½ (55½) Louisville

FAVORITE SMU

OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG 2½ 3½ (53½) at FLA. ST.

Monday

Major League Baseball Thursday

American League FAVORITE LINE Toronto -111 at HOUSTON -166 Boston -126 Tampa Bay -126 at SEATTLE -210 National League FAVORITE LINE at PITTSBURGH -162 Milwaukee -115 at LA DODGERS -300 Interleague FAVORITE LINE Miami -121

UNDERDOG at CLEVELAND White Sox at BALTIMORE at TEXAS Athletics

LINE -110 +134 +108 +108 +176

UNDERDOG LINE San Francisco +136 at CHICAGO CUBS -107 St. Louis +235 UNDERDOG at KANSAS CITY

LINE -100

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

Tuesday’s games

Pct .593 .564 .504 .472 .450

GB — 4 12½ 17 20

W 86 78 69 68 67

L 53 61 70 71 73

Pct .619 .561 .496 .489 .479

GB — 8 17 18 19½

W 82 74 73 57 54

L 56 67 67 82 86

Pct .594 .525 .521 .410 .386

GB — 9½ 10 25½ 29

Tampa Bay 6, N.Y. Mets 2 Cincinnati 4, San Diego 3 Washington 9, Atlanta 5 Miami 6, Kansas City 3 Pittsburgh 13, San Francisco 12 Milwaukee 9, Chicago Cubs 4 Colorado 4, Baltimore 2 Philadelphia 7, Arizona 1 St. Louis 13, L.A. Dodgers 8 Cincinnati 7, San Diego 3 Atlanta 9, Washington 0 Arizona 1, Philadelphia 0 Colorado 6, Baltimore 5, 11 innings N.Y. Mets 10, Tampa Bay 4 San Francisco at Pittsburgh, n Miami at Kansas City, n Milwaukee at Chicago Cubs, n St. Louis at L.A. Dodgers, n

W 31 29 27 24 16 15 14 8

L 9 11 13 16 24 25 26 32

Pct .775 .725 .675 .600 .400 .375 .350 .200

GB — 2 4 7 15 16 17 23

San Francisco (Tidwell 0-1) at Pittsburgh (Jones 2-6), 11:35 a.m. Milwaukee (Henderson 9-2) at Chicago Cubs (Gausman 8-11), 6:15 p.m. Miami (Alcantara 13-8) at Kansas City (Wacha 8-8), 6:40 p.m. St. Louis (Mathews 1-2) at L.A. Dodgers (Skubal 8-7), 9:10 p.m.

Thursday’s games

Pro football NFL schedule Week 1 Wednesday, Sept. 9

New England at Seattle, 7:20 p.m.

Tampa Bay New York Boston Baltimore Toronto

W 83 79 75 69 69

L 56 60 65 71 71

Pct .597 .568 .536 .493 .493

GB — 4 8½ 14½ 14½

Chicago Cleveland Minnesota Detroit Kansas City

W 73 70 67 63 62

L 65 69 72 75 77

Pct .529 .504 .482 .457 .446

GB — 3½ 6½ 10 11½

Houston Texas Seattle Athletics Los Angeles

W 70 69 66 54 53

L 69 71 74 86 86

Pct .504 .493 .471 .386 .381

GB — 1½ 4½ 16½ 17

Tampa Bay 6, N.Y. Mets 2 Cleveland 6, Toronto 1 Miami 6, Kansas City 3 Seattle 9, Boston 6 Minnesota 15, Detroit 2 Texas 8, Athletics 5 Chicago White Sox 5, Houston 1 Colorado 4, Baltimore 2 N.Y. Yankees 7, L.A. Angels 3

Wednesday’s games

Athletics 9, Texas 2 Colorado 6, Baltimore 5, 11 innings Seattle 8, Boston 3 Toronto 11, Cleveland 0 N.Y. Mets 10, Tampa Bay 4 Detroit at Minnesota, n Miami at Kansas City, n Chicago White Sox at Houston, n N.Y. Yankees at L.A. Angels, n

Thursday’s games

Los Angeles Arizona San Diego San Francisco Colorado

L 57 61 69 75 77

Wednesday’s games

American League

Tuesday’s games

Milwaukee Chicago St. Louis Pittsburgh Cincinnati West Division

W 83 79 70 67 63

GB — — 2 2 11 15 16

Major League Baseball

West Division

Atlanta Philadelphia Miami Washington New York Central Division

Pct .650 .650 .600 .600 .375 .275 .250

No games scheduled.

Central Division

East Division

L 14 14 16 16 25 29 30

This week

East Division

National League

W 26 26 24 24 15 11 10

WESTERN CONFERENCE x-Minnesota x-Golden State x-Las Vegas x-Dallas Portland Los Angeles Phoenix Seattle x-clinched playoff spot

Boston (Bennett 9-6) at Baltimore (Young 9-3), 6:15 p.m. Miami (Alcantara 13-8) at Kansas City (Wacha 8-8), 6:40 p.m. Tampa Bay (McClanahan 10-6) at Texas (Quantrill 6-5), 7:05 p.m. A’s (Ginn 9-8) at Seattle (Anderson 0-0), 8:40 p.m.

Toronto (Soriano 11-7) at Cleveland (Bibee 5-14), 12:10 p.m. Chicago White Sox (Castillo 4-10) at Houston (Brown 4-3), 1:10 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 10

San Francisco vs. LA Rams at Melbourne, Australia, 7:35 p.m.

Sunday, Sept. 13

Baltimore at Indianapolis, noon NY Jets at Tennessee, noon Buffalo at Houston, noon Cleveland at Jacksonville, noon New Orleans at Detroit, noon Chicago at Carolina, noon Tampa Bay at Cincinnati, noon Atlanta at Pittsburgh, noon Arizona at LA Chargers, 3:25 p.m. Green Bay at Minnesota, 3:25 p.m. Washington at Philadelphia, 3:25 p.m. Miami at Las Vegas, 3:25 p.m. Dallas at NY Giants, 7:20 p.m.

Monday, Sept. 14

Denver at Kansas City, 7:15 p.m.

College football State schedule Saturday’s games

Tulane at Duke, 2:30 p.m. Southeastern at South Alabama, 6 p.m. Texas Wesleyan at McNeese St., 6 p.m. Central St. (Ohio) at Grambling, 6 p.m. Kentucky St. at Southern, 6 p.m. Nicholls State at Kansas St., 6 p.m. Clemson at LSU, 6:30 p.m. Northwestern St. at Louisiana Tech, 6:30 p.m. UL-Monroe at Mississippi St., 6:30 p.m. Lamar at UL, 7 p.m.

National schedule Thursday’s games

EAST Umass (0-0) at Rutgers (0-0), 5 p.m. SOUTH Akron (0-0) at Wake Forest (0-0), 6 p.m. Merrimack (0-1) at Delaware (0-0), 6 p.m. Bethune-Cookman (0-0) at UCF (0-0), 6 p.m. West Georgia (0-1) at Kennesaw St. (0-0), 6 p.m. Colorado (0-0) at Georgia Tech (0-0), 7 p.m.

MIDWEST Ark.-Pine Bluff (1-0) at Missouri (0-0), 7 p.m. E. Illinois (1-0) at Minnesota (0-0), 7 p.m. UAB (0-0) at Illinois (0-0), 8 p.m. FAR WEST Idaho (0-1) at Utah (0-0), 8 p.m.

MIDWEST Notre Dame (0-0) vs. Wisconsin (0-0) at Green Bay, Wis., 6:30 p.m. FAR WEST Washington St. (0-0) at Washington (0-0), 3 p.m.

MIDWEST San Jose St. (0-1) at E. Michigan (1-0), 5:30 p.m. Indiana St. (0-1) at Purdue (0-0), 6 p.m. LIU Brooklyn (0-1) at Kansas (0-0), 7 p.m. Toledo (0-0) at Michigan St. (0-0), 7 p.m. SOUTHWEST UTEP (0-0) at Oklahoma (0-0), 7 p.m. FAR WEST Fresno St. (0-0) at Southern Cal (1-0), 8 p.m. Miami (0-0) at Stanford (1-0), 8 p.m.

SOUTH SMU (0-0) at Florida St. (1-0), 6:30 p.m.

Friday’s games

Saturday’s games

EAST Lafayette (0-0) at Uconn (0-0), 11 a.m. New Hampshire (0-1) at Syracuse (0-0), 11 a.m. Bryant (1-0) at Army (0-0), 11 a.m. Coastal Carolina (0-0) at West Virginia (0-0), 11 a.m. Miami (Ohio) (0-0) at Pittsburgh (0-0), 11:30 a.m. Lehigh (1-0) at Georgetown (0-0), 11:30 a.m. Rhode Island (1-0) at Temple (0-0), 1 p.m. Towson (0-1) at Navy (0-0), 2:30 p.m. Marshall (0-0) at Penn St. (0-0), 2:30 p.m. Hampton (1-0) at Maryland (0-0), 7 p.m. SOUTH Liberty (0-0) at James Madison (0-0), 11 a.m. East Carolina (0-0) at Alabama (0-0), 11 a.m. Kent St. (0-0) at South Carolina (0-0), 11:45 a.m. Youngstown St. (1-0) at Kentucky (0-0), noon Gardner-Webb (0-1) at Wofford (1-0), 12:30 p.m. Tennessee St. (0-1) at Georgia (0-0), 2 p.m. The Citadel (0-1) at Charlotte (0-0), 2:30 p.m. Auburn (0-0) vs. Baylor (0-0) at Atlanta, 2:30 p.m. Furman (1-0) at Tennessee (0-0), 2:30 p.m. Maine (1-0) at Appalachian St. (0-0), 2:30 p.m. Alcorn St. (1-0) at Southern Miss (0-0), 4 p.m. Tusculum (0-0) at ETSU (0-1), 4:30 p.m. Norfolk St. (1-0) at Old Dominion (0-0), 5 p.m. FIU (0-0) at South Florida (0-0), 6 p.m. E. Kentucky (0-1) at Jacksonville St. (0-1), 6 p.m. Austin Peay (1-0) at Vanderbilt (0-0), 6 p.m. Sam Houston St. (0-0) at Troy (0-0), 6 p.m. Arkansas St. (0-0) at Memphis (1-0), 6 p.m. VMI (0-1) at Virginia Tech (0-0), 6:30 p.m. FAU (0-0) at Florida (0-0), 6:45 p.m. MIDWEST Tarleton St. (1-0) at Bowling Green (0-0), 11 a.m. Ohio (0-0) at Nebraska (0-0), 11 a.m. North Texas (0-0) at Indiana (0-0), 11 a.m. Ball St. (0-0) at Ohio St. (0-0), 11:30 a.m. SE Missouri (1-0) at Iowa St. (0-0), noon Fordham (0-1) at N. Dakota St. (1-0), 2:30 p.m. Boston College (0-0) at Cincinnati (0-0), 2:30 p.m. N. Illinois (0-0) at Iowa (0-0), 3:15 p.m. Illinois St. (1-0) at W. Illinois (1-0), 6 p.m. W. Michigan (0-0) at Michigan (0-0), 6:30 p.m. S. Dakota St. (1-0) at Northwestern (0-0), 7 p.m. SOUTHWEST Oregon St. (0-0) at Houston (0-0), 11 a.m. UT Rio Grande Valley (1-0) at UTSA (0-0), 2:30 p.m. Texas State (0-0) at Texas (0-0), 2:30 p.m. Oklahoma St. (0-0) at Tulsa (0-0), 2:45 p.m. North Alabama (1-0) at Arkansas (0-0), 3:15 p.m. Missouri St. (0-0) at Texas A&M (0-0), 6 p.m. Abilene Christian (0-1) at Texas Tech (0-0), 6 p.m. Houston Christian (1-0) at Rice (0-0), 6 p.m. East Texas A&M (0-1) at Stephen F. Austin (1-0), 7 p.m. FAR WEST Duquesne (0-0) at Air Force (0-0), noon Boise St. (0-0) at Oregon (0-0), 2:30 p.m. Wyoming (0-0) at Colorado St. (0-0), 5 p.m. Idaho St. (1-0) at Utah St. (0-0), 6 p.m. N. Iowa (0-0) at E. Washington (0-1), 6 p.m. Utah Tech (0-1) at BYU (0-0), 7 p.m. Mercyhurst (0-1) at New Mexico St. (0-1), 8 p.m. N. Arizona (1-0) at Arizona (0-0), 8:30 p.m. Portland St. (0-1) at San Diego St. (0-0), 8:30 p.m. UNLV (0-1) at Hawaii (0-1), 9 p.m. UC Davis (1-0) at San Diego (0-0), 9 p.m. Morgan St. (1-0) at Arizona St. (0-0), 9 p.m. Cent. Michigan (0-0) at New Mexico (0-0), 9 p.m. MVSU (0-1) at Sacramento St. (0-1), 9 p.m. W. Kentucky (0-0) at Nevada (0-0), 9:30 p.m. UCLA (0-0) at California (0-0), 9:30 p.m.

Sunday’s games

SOUTH Ole Miss (0-0) vs. Louisville (0-0) at Nashville, Tenn., 6:30 p.m.

Monday’s game

Tennis U.S. Open results Men’s singles

First round Botic Van de Zandschulp, Netherlands, def. Jan Choinski, Britain, 6-3, 6-1, 7-6 (5). Yunchaokete Bu, China, def. Rafael Jodar (12), Spain, 6-2, 6-1, 6-1. Zachary Svajda, United States, def. Daniel Altmaier, Germany, 6-3, 6-1, 6-7 (5), 6-2. Alex de Minaur (6), Australia, def. Andrea Guerrieri, Italy, 6-2, 6-2, 6-4. Second round Alex Michelsen, United States, def. Brandon Nakashima (16), United States, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4. Daniil Medvedev (7), Russia, def. Sebastian Gorzny, United States, 6-1, 6-3, 7-5. Daniel Merida, Spain, def. Andrey Rublev (23), Russia, 6-7 (3), 6-2, 6-4, 6-4. Arthur Rinderknech (26), France, def. Jaume Munar, Spain, 7-6 (4), 6-2, 7-5. Ben Shelton (8), United States, def. Hubert Hurkacz, Poland, 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 (3), 7-5.

Women’s singles

Second round Taylor Townsend, United States, def. Taylah Preston, Australia, 6-1, 6-1. Jasmine Paolini (19), Italy, def. Lucrezia Stefanini, Italy, 6-4, 6-1. Leylah Fernandez (31), Canada, def. Mananchaya Sawangkaew, Thailand, 6-4, 6-1. Diana Shnaider (15), Russia, def. Karolina Pliskova, Czechia, 6-1, 7-6 (4). Jessica Pegula (3), United States, def. Soﬁa Kenin, United States, 6-3, 6-1. Sorana Cirstea (16), Romania, def. Diane Parry, France, 6-2, 7-5. Marta Kostyuk (11), Ukraine, def. Sloane Stephens, United States, 6-1, 7-5. Karolina Muchova (7), Czechia, def. Katie Boulter, Britain, 6-1, 6-0. Kamilla Rakhimova, Russia, def. Oksana Selekhmeteva, Russia, 6-3, 6-0.

Transactions Major League Baseball

American League ATHLETICS — Designated LHP José Suarez for assignment. Selected the contract of RHP Geoff Hartlieb from Las Vegas (PCL). BOSTON RED SOX — Recalled LHP Raymond Burgos from Worcester (IL). Optioned RHP Jedixson Paez to Worcester. CHICAGO WHITE SOX — Reinstated RHP Davis Martin from the 15-day IL. Optioned RHP Tanner McDougal to Charlotte (IL). KANSAS CITY ROYALS — Reinstated 2B Michael Massey from the 7-day IL. Designated LF Drew Waters for assignment. NEW YORK YANKEES — Sent RHP Clarke Schmidt on a rehab assignment to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (IL). TAMPA BAY RAYS — Reinstated RHP Grifﬁn Jax from the 15-day IL. Optioned RHP Alex Cook to Durham (IL). National League ATLANTA BRAVES — Designated LHP Hayden Harris for assignment. Optioned RHP Blake Burkhalter to Gwinnett (IL). Selected the contract of RHP Elieser Hernández from Gwinnett. NEW YORK METS — Reinstated RHP Justin Hagenman from the 60-day IL. Optioned RHP Dylan Ross to Syracuse (IL). WASHINGTON NATIONALS — Designated LHP Tom Cosgrove for assignment. Reinstated RF James Wood from the 10-day IL. Optioned LF Andrew Pinckney to Rochester (IL). Recalled RHP Riley Cornelio from Rochester.

BASKETBALL

NBA NBA — Forfeited five first-round draft picks and fined the L.A. Clippers $30 million for salary cap circumvention rules. Suspended L.A. Clippers owner Steve Ballmer and president of business operations Gillian Zucker one-year for salary cap circumvention rules. Suspended L.A. Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank six-months for salary cap circumvention rules. Fined Toronto Raptors F Kawhi Leonard $700,000 for his connection with the violations. CLEVELAND CAVALIERS — Signed C Khalifa Diop to a contract.

FOOTBALL

NFL ATLANTA FALCONS — Signed DEs Zach Harrison and Khalid Kareem and S Jammie Robinson to the practice squad. Released DE Cameron Sample and DB Cobee Bryant from the practice squad.

LIVING

N O L A.C O M

Gazpacho makes for satisfying vegetarian dinner

T h u r s d ay, s e p T e m b e r 3, 2026

1dN

Orzo Pasta Salad with Chicken Sausage, Zucchini and Tomato | PHOTO BY LIZ FAUL

BY LINDA GASSENHEIMER Tribune News Service (TNS)

When I saw the fresh summer vegetables at the market, a simple Gazpacho dinner came to mind. This classic chilled soup can be blended until silky smooth or left chunky for more texture. I prefer the chunky version because it’s hearty enough to serve as a satisfying vegetarian dinner. Simply chop the vegetables into small pieces, a task that takes just a few minutes, then stir everything together. With no cooking required, this refreshing summer meal is ready in minutes.

TNS PHOTO By LINDA GASSENHEIMER

Chunky Gazpacho

Yields 2 servings. Recipe is by Linda Gassenheimer. 2 cups low-sodium tomato juice 2 cups diced ripe tomatoes, about ¼-inch dice ¾ cup diced red onion, about ¼-inch dice 1 cup diced cucumbers skin on, about ¼-inch dice 1 cup diced green bell pepper, about ¼-inch dice 1 cup reduced-sodium canned great northern beans, rinsed and drained 1 small Haas avocado, skin removed, flesh cut into 1-inch pieces 2 teaspoons olive oil 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar Salt and freshly ground black pepper 1 cup croutons 2 tablespoons sour cream 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil leaves 1. Place tomato juice, tomato, onion, cucumber, green bell pepper, beans and avocado into a large bowl. Remove 1 cup of the ingredients and puree them using a food processor or emersion blender until mostly smooth. Return the puree to the bowl. 2. Add the olive oil, balsamic vinegar and salt and pepper to taste. Mix all together. 3. Divide between two large bowls. Add croutons and 1 tablespoon sour cream to each bowl. Sprinkle basil on top. NUTRITION INFO PER SERVING: 499 calories (35 percent from fat), 19.5 g fat (3.8 g saturated, 10.0 g monounsaturated), 7 mg cholesterol, 17.8 g protein, 70.7 g carbohydrates, 16.9 g ﬁber, 158 mg sodium.

To-goFood Simple, savory dishes do double duty Orzo Pasta Salad with Chicken Sausage, for dinner and Zucchini and Tomato packing a lunch

Serves 6-8. Recipe by Liz Faul.

At the grocery store last week, I saw all the brightly colored lunch boxes displayed with snap lid containers, cueing memories of the many packed lunches that I made for my kids during their school years. Liz Faul After my kids left for college a few years ago, it took some time to fall into a new, slower rhythm with cooking and discover again what I wanted to eat, which always fell on the proverbial back burner in the past. But I’ve come to realize that the skills I learned packing nutritious yet convenient lunches over the years don’t have to go to waste: during busy weeknights, making a meal that can easily be packed into my next day’s lunch is an everyday delight. Last week, inspired by a meal I had at a friend’s home this summer, I made salmon

ä See TO-GO, page 2D

2 cups orzo pasta 1 teaspoon salt (plus more for seasoning) 2 tablespoons olive oil (divided) 4 links of chicken sausage (I used chicken, spinach and feta sausage) 1 onion (diced)

2-3 zucchini (cut into small pieces) 1 pint cherry tomatoes ¼ cup fresh basil leaves (chopped) ¼ cup fresh Italian parsley ¼ freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese ¼ cup toasted pine nuts (optional)

1. Bring a medium pot of water to a boil and add salt and the orzo pasta. Boil the pasta uncovered for about 8 minutes. Then drain the water and pasta into a colander. Let sit while you prepare the vegetables and meat to add to the pasta. 2. Cut the sausage into bitesize pieces. Add to a pan, then add olive oil and the sausage. Let the sausage cook until lightly brown on both sides. Once the sausage is cooked, turn off the heat and let the sausage sit until the vegetables are cooked. 3. In a medium pan, over medium-high heat, add the diced onion and zucchini. Stir the on-

ion and zucchini over medium heat until the vegetables lose ﬂuid and begin to turn golden brown. Add the sliced cherry tomatoes, and stir the tomatoes into the vegetable mixture. Once the tomatoes soften, add the freshly chopped basil leaves and parsley leaves. Stir the herbs into the vegetables. Turn the heat off. 4. In a large serving bowl, add orzo pasta, cooked sausage and cooked vegetables and gently stir together. 5. Serve the pasta with the grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese and toasted pine nuts for a salty, crunchy garnish.

Salmon with Herb Butter ä Rice with Fresh Dill and Lemon MORE RECIPES ää Broiled Cucumber,Tomato and Onion Salad ä End-of-Summer Succotash 2D

Soak up savory beef flavor with ramen noodles Beef with Ramen Noodles

BY LINDA GASSENHEIMER Tribune News Service (TNS)

Ramen dishes have become a favorite for quick, satisfying meals, and this recipe comes together in just minutes. Unlike traditional pasta, which is made from hard durum wheat, ramen noodles are made with softer wheat flour, giving them a tender texture that readily absorbs the flavors of the sauce they’re cooked in. You can find ramen noodles made with rice flour or, they may be labeled as soft Chinese noodles. Either works with this dinner. If

TNS PHOTO By LINDA GASSENHEIMER the only ramen available comes packaged with soup seasoning, simply discard the ﬂavor packets and use the noodles for this recipe. HELPFUL HINTS: n Rice noodles can be used.

n Any quick cooking beef can be used instead of tenderloin. n Any type of grater can be used for the ginger such as a microplane or box grater.

Beef with Ramen Noodles

1. Cook noodles according to package instructions. Remove from heat, drain 4 ounces ramen noodles to and run cold water over make 1½-cup cooked noodles them to keep them sepa2 tablespoons low-sodium soy rate and set aside. sauce 2. Mix soy sauce, vin2 teaspoons rice wine vinegar egar, beef broth and brown 1 cup reduced-sodium beef broth sugar together in a small 2 tablespoons brown sugar bowl, stirring to dissolve 2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger the sugar. 2 crushed garlic cloves 3. Heat ½ tablespoon oil 1 tablespoon sesame oil, in a large skillet over medivided use dium-high heat. Add the ¾ pound grass fed beef meat and saute 3 minutes. tenderloin cut into ½-inch pieces Remove to a plate. 2 cups snow peas 4. Add the remaining ½ 1 cup sliced red bell pepper tablespoon oil, fresh ginger, 4 sliced scallions garlic, snow peas and red

Yields 2 servings. Recipe is by Linda Gassenheimer.

bell pepper to the skillet. Cook about 1 minute. Add the sauce mixture and bring to a simmer for 3 minutes. 5. Return the meat to the skillet and mix into the sauce. Add the cooked noodles and toss well. Divide between two dinner plates and sprinkle scallions on top. NUTRITION INFO PER SERVING: 619 calories (27 percent from fat), 18.4 g fat (5.8 g saturated, 6.9 g monounsaturated), 84 mg cholesterol, 47.8 g protein, 66.3 g carbohydrates, 4.6 g ﬁber, 669 mg sodium.

2D ✦ Thursday, September 3, 2026 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

lll

A husband weighs in on wife’s weight loss

PHOTO By LIZ FAUL

Broiled Salmon with Herb Butter served with Rice with Fresh Dill and Lemon; and Cucumber, Tomato and Onion Salad

Broiled Salmon with Herb Butter Yields 4 servings. Recipe by Liz Faul. of the oven. Set the oven to broil (I used the highest setting). 2. Line a rimmed baking sheet with tin foil. Place the salmon filets skin-side down on the baking sheet. Drizzle olive oil over the salmon and 1. Place an oven rack to a rub it into the filets. Sprinkle high level in the oven so it each filet with salt and pepis about 6 inches below the per. If using, put ½ tablebroiler element at the top spoon of herbed butter on 4 salmon filets 2 teaspoons olive oil 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon freshly cracked pepper 2 tablespoon herbed butter (I used garlic and herb butter by Kerrygold)

top of each salmon ﬁlet. 3. Gently place the prepared salmon filets under the broiler and broil for 6-8 minutes. Watch closely because high-heat broilers can burn the top of the filets quickly. The tops of the salmon ﬁlets are done when they look lightly browned and the fish flakes easily with a fork.

Rice with Fresh Dill and Lemon Recipe by Liz Faul. the heat up to medium-high and cover. Bring the rice to a boil. Then turn the heat down to a simmer and put the cover on the pot. Let the rice simmer on low heat. 2. After 30 minutes, check to see if the water has all been absorbed. Then fluff 1. In a small pot with a lid, the rice with a fork. It should add the salt and rice. Turn be fluffy and tender when

2 cups water 1 teaspoon salt 1 cup long grain rice 1 tablespoon lemon juice 2 teaspoons lemon zest 4 tablespoons finely chopped fresh dill (or substitute fresh parsley) 1 tablespoon olive oil

it’s done. Turn the heat off and let the rice cool. 3. Add the lemon juice, zest and freshly chopped dill. Mix the lemon and herbs into the rice. Drizzle with olive oil and serve. Note: If you have leftover rice, this is a great way to zhuzh it up and use it for another meal.

Cucumber, Tomato and Onion Salad Serves 6. Adapted from Samin Nosrat’s Salad-e Shirazi recipe published in the New York Times. 2 pints of cherry tomatoes (cut tomatoes into small pieces) 3 cucumbers (peeled, seeded and cut into small pieces) ½ red onion (diced) 3 tablespoons chopped fresh Italian

parsley (and/or basil, dill, mint) 3 tablespoons extravirgin olive oil 1 teaspoon red wine vinegar 2 tablespoons lemon juice Salt and pepper (to taste)

1. In a large bowl, add the chopped cherry tomatoes, peeled and chopped cucumbers, diced red onion and freshly chopped herbs. 2. In a small bowl, add the olive oil, vinegar, lemon juice and salt and pepper. Whisk until combined to form a bright, tangy vinaigrette for the salad. 3. Stir the vinaigrette into the salad. Taste and adjust the seasoning with salt or a bit more lemon juice if needed. Serve at room temperature.

End-of-Summer Succotash Serves 4-6. Recipe is by Liz Faul. medium heat, add the chopped onion and garlic. Stir until aromatic (don’t let the garlic brown). 2. Add okra and saute for 5 minutes, or until tender. Add the zucchini and cook for 3- 4 minutes. Then add the corn and the precooked lima beans. 3. Stir all the vegetables together and let their ﬂavors meld. If the pan gets dry, add about 1/4 cup of vegetable stock or water to add steam and refresh the vegetables. Then add the sliced cherry tomatoes and fresh parsley and stir for about 2 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste 1. In a large pan over and serve.

1-2 tablespoons olive oil 1 Vidalia onion (finely chopped) 3 cloves of garlic (diced) 8 small okra, sliced into bitesize pieces 2 zucchini, cut into small pieces 6 ears of corn, husked, kernels removed (or 1 pound frozen corn kernels, defrosted) 1 pound fresh or frozen lima beans (defrosted and pre-boiled/ cooked) ¼ cup of vegetable stock (or water) 1 pint of cherry tomatoes, halved 2 tablespoons freshly chopped parsley (or fresh basil) Salt and pepper to taste

TO-GO

Continued from page 1D served with a Persian tomato and cucumber salad and dill-infused rice. I had forgotten how much I liked fresh dill; the sharp, aromatic herb cut through the richness of the ﬁsh perfectly, bridging the gap between a hearty dinner and a reviving midday meal. My friend generously packed me a serving to go, which I had for lunch the next day. This lunch was memorable. Honestly, I craved it all summer, so I decided to make it myself. Here are a few cooking tips that may help when you try this dish at home. If you don’t have enough salmon left over to pack for lunch, a tin of smoked salmon is a great substitute: it packs the same savory punch with zero additional stove time.

You can still ﬁnd these ingredients in local farmers markets, or bags of these ingredients in the freezer section of the grocery store. But if time permits, I think that adding freshly shucked corn in succotash makes a big difference. This is a great dish, because you can vary the ingredients based on your taste preference. Sometimes, I add bell pepper and cayenne to add some spice. If you don’t have lima beans, try substituting black-eyed peas. It really is a great vegetable medley that can be used as a side dish or eaten over rice as a full meal. It’s a very versatile dish to serve at dinner and plan on saving some for lunch. Liz Sullivan Faul is a registered dietitian nutritionist who enjoys cooking and sharing meals with her friends and family.

family. It was always presumed I would “come home.” I addressed this more than once, but it went in one ear and out the other. My only surviving sibling is now too infirm to travel, so I’ve given up on her ever visiting. All I wanted was to show them how well my life had turned out. I guess my reason for writing is to ask if I’m justified in feeling a bit bitter. Your thoughts, please. — Good Life Never Acknowledged Dear Good Life: After 28 trips home and so little effort in return, you have every right to feel hurt. You wanted your family to take an interest in the life you built, and too often, they simply didn’t show up. But justified or not, bitterness won’t give you what you wanted. Hold onto what you did get: a wonderful life and an even closer relationship with your mother. Your family may never fully appreciate the life you built, and that’s their loss. Don’t let bitterness spoil the life you’re proud of. Send your questions for Annie Lane to dearannie@creators.com.

Education starts in the home Remember, you’ll never Dear Heloise: Education begins at home! I recently leave behind anything of encouraged all the parents greater importance than your children. — Heloise of teenagers in our rural community to teach the Microwaveable sponges kids three basic hand signals when they’re riding Dear Heloise: I just saw a their ATVs or bikes on/ hint from someone who near the roadway. was telling people Lots of kids ride to microwave their them in the rural sponges to clean country areas and them. I always do on the back roads. this, but I bought The feedback from new sponges and parents was aslooked at the packtounding in the fact Hints from age today to see Heloise if they were comthat the general response was: “They postable because don’t teach this in driver’s they felt different. They education.” weren’t because they were Ugh! Children and teen- made out of synthetic agers do not need to learn material and also careverything from teachried a warning not to put them in the microwave. ers. Parents should look They weren’t the sponges it up and teach them the three basic hand signals at that I normally buy. Just home! It’s so simple to en- a heads-up! — Lynn Fodor, in sure a bit of safety instead New York of making excuses. It’s so frustrating to always hear Damaged clothing fibers the “teacher” excuses. I Dear Heloise: Wringing love your column and read out wet clothes ruins the it daily! — Michelle, in Axtell, ﬁbers. This stresses the Texas ﬁbers and causes them to Michelle, I’ve always wear out faster. The oldbelieved that education fashioned wringer washstarts at home. This goes ers actually compressed for hygiene and table the garments between manners, too. By the age two rollers to squeeze the of 5, every child should be water out. I wash items by able to write their name, hand, squeeze them out, recite their address and and let them drip out bephone number, know their fore moving them to a drycolors, and count to 20. ing rack. — Ann, via email

Ann, there are some things that need to be laid ﬂat and pressed with a dry towel so that excess water can be removed. Things such as delicate undergarments and sweaters do well with this method. Wringing out fabrics may remove a lot of water, but you’re correct when you say that it damages the ﬁbers. — Heloise

Gift-giving ideas Dear Heloise: Every year, I worry about what to give certain people for the holidays. So many of my friends are downsizing, so I ﬁgure food is usually appreciated. There are many companies that ship food items to people. For someone who can’t get out as often as they’d like, a subscription to a magazine that they enjoy reading or a gift card to a bookstore is a good idea. (And you don’t have to worry about sizes!) A gift card to a store that sells cosmetics, hair products and perfumes is a nice present for women. But don’t surprise anyone with an animal. This is a gift that someone needs to select for themselves. — Carol J., in Lansing, Michigan Send a hint to heloise@ heloise.com.

TODAY IN HISTORY

PHOTO By LIZ FAUL

End-of-Summer Succotash

Orzo is another great base for a multipurpose meal. It is a rice-shaped pasta and equally as versatile: its small shape allows it to hold on to ﬂavors without getting soggy. It’s one of my favorite pastas for this reason, and I like to use it to make a light yet satisfying one-dish meal that mixes in chicken sausage, zucchini, garden tomatoes and fresh herbs. If you can make it to a local farmers market, get the last of the ripe red garden tomatoes. Farm fresh tomatoes are a blessing to savor for as long as they last. This dish may taste even better the next day. A splash of olive oil or a squeeze of fresh lemon juice bring all the savory, roasted ﬂavors right back to life. For a seasonal vegetarian option, try making an end-of-summer succotash. This dish is made with lima beans, corn, okra, zucchini, tomatoes and fresh herbs.

won’t give her new inforDear Annie: My wife, who is 62, has always been inmation; it’ll just start to sound like doubt in her secure about her weight, judgment. even though I’ve never Dear Annie: Over 50 years once cared or thought she ago, I left home to needed to change pursue my teachanything. A few months ago, she deing career some 1,700 miles away. cided on her own to I’ve had a wonderstart a GLP-1 medication for weight ful life, save for loss, and she’s doone thing: I feel Annie ignored by my ing it under a docLane family. tor’s supervision. DEAR ANNIE I haven’t had She’s thrilled with nearly any visits the results so far. from them. One sister I’m happy she’s happy, but I can’t shake the feel- came to see me in 1977. She’s traveled the world ing that she’s the guinea since but visited here just pig for a drug that’s still once. My brother came fairly new. What if there are long-term side effects in 1983 — a trip I paid nobody’s caught yet? I’ve for — and said he’d rather visit a larger city ﬁve mentioned this to her hours away, again at my once, and she brushed expense, because there it off. Am I overthinkwas nothing exciting to ing this? — Second-Guessing do where I live. Another Husband Dear Second-Guessing: Your sister visited for a morncaution is reasonable. ing when her cruise ship Newer drugs can carry was diverted nearby due unknowns that only surto a storm. The one bright spot was face with time, and wanting more certainty before my mother, who visited your wife commits is vigi- more than the three of them combined. Our bond lant, not paranoid. grew even stronger than But this was her call, it already was, and she made with a doctor shared secrets with me watching her numbers. that she never told my sibYou’ve said your piece once, and she heard it and lings. I’m thankful for that. chose to go ahead anyway. Meanwhile, I made at Repeating the concern least 28 trips to see my

By The Associated Press Today is Thursday, Sept. 3, the 246th day of 2026. There are 119 days left in the year. Today in history: On Sept. 3, 1783, representatives of the United States and Britain signed the Treaty of Paris, which officially ended the Revolutionary War and recognized U.S. sovereignty. Also on this date: In 1861, during the Civil War, Confederate forces invaded the border state of Kentucky, which had declared its neutrality in the conflict. In 1894, the United States celebrated the first federal Labor Day holiday. In 1935, Sir Malcolm Campbell became the first person to drive an automobile more than 300 mph, speeding across the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah. In 1939, Britain, France,

Australia and New Zealand declared war on Germany, two days after the Nazi invasion of Poland; in a radio address, Britain’s King George VI said, “With God’s help, we shall prevail.” In 1943, Allied forces invaded the mainland of Italy during World War II, the same day Italian ofﬁcials signed a secret armistice with the Allies. In 1976, America’s Viking 2 lander touched down on Mars to take the ﬁrst close-up, color photographs of the red planet’s surface. In 1999, a French judge closed a two-year inquiry into the car crash that killed Princess Diana, dismissing all charges against nine photographers and a press motorcyclist, and concluding the crash was caused by an inebriated driver. In 2019, Walmart said it would stop selling ammunition for handguns and

short-barrel riﬂes, and the store chain requested that customers not openly carry ﬁrearms in its stores; the announcement followed a shooting at a Walmart store in Texas that left 22 people dead. In 2025, a picturesque electric streetcar that is one of Lisbon’s big tourist attractions derailed and crashed in the Portuguese capital, killing 15 people and injuring 18 others. Today’s birthdays: Singermusician Al Jardine (The Beach Boys) is 84. Filmmaker Jean-Pierre Jeunet is 73. Rock guitarist Steve Jones (The Sex Pistols) is 71. Actor Steve Schirripa (TV: “The Sopranos”) is 68. Author Malcolm Gladwell is 63. Actor Charlie Sheen is 61. Filmmaker Noah Baumbach is 57. Actor Garrett Hedlund is 42. Olympic gold medal snowboarder Shaun White is 40. Model-actor Kaia Gerber is 25. Actor Jack Dylan Grazer is 23.

The Times-Picayune ✦ nola.com ✦ Thursday, September 3, 2026 ✦ 3D

lll

FrAnK And erneSt

roSebUdS

zItS

zodIAC VIRGo (Aug. 23-sept. 22) Pay attention to detail. Jumping into something will have its pitfalls. Question everything, and listen to your inner voice. Fend for yourself, and do what feels right. LIBRA (sept. 23-oct. 23) Relax, gather your thoughts and take time to rejuvenate and pamper yourself. Distance yourself from drama, and give yourself a chance to breathe and to sort through any confusion or difficulties you are experiencing. scoRPIo (oct. 24-nov. 22) Give yourself a chance to live, learn and experience new people, places and pastimes. Engage in what brings you joy and makes you think. Look at controversial situations from a distance. sAGIttARIus (nov. 23-Dec. 21) Listen to suggestions, but do what makes you happy. Problems with those you associate with will lead to emotional differences and a change of heart. Put your energy into how you earn your living. cAPRIcoRn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Take care of paperwork that's about to be outdated. Negotiate with those you do business with, and don't be afraid to ask for and get what you want in writing. AQuARIus (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) You'll be tempted to overspend by trying to make someone you love happy. Offer affectionate gestures instead. Going into debt if you don't have to will lead to regret. PIscEs (Feb. 20-March 20) Take a back seat and watch the world go by. Taking a break will give you time to think

and to consider what's next for you. Put your energy into self-awareness and finding your bliss. Choose practicality. ARIEs (March 21-April 19) Do things your way. Use your ingenuity and discipline to ensure that whatever project you take on has your signature. What you do will help you gain momentum and recognition. tAuRus (April 20-May 20) Focus on what you know you can deliver. Put your energy toward finishing what you start and presenting and marketing your skills and achievements personally. GEMInI (May 21-June 20) Say less, listen more. Truth and facts matter, and getting it right the first time will help you get what you want. Reach out to those in key positions. If you gather information, an opportunity will come your way. cAncER (June 21-July 22) Keep your plans to yourself. Changes at home or to your personal life require secrecy. Focus on how you can make your surroundings and lifestyle more convenient. LEo (July 23-Aug. 22) Keeping a steady pace will get you to the finish line. Take pride in what you do, and give credit to those who help you along the way. Partnerships look playful and fruitful if you maintain equilibrium. 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: A EQuALs s

Mother GooSe And GrIMM

SherMAn’S LAGoon FAMILY CIrCUS

dooneSbUrY

4D ✦ Thursday, September 3, 2026 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

CurTiS

Hi and LoiS

lll

Sudoku InstructIons: sudoku is a number-placing puzzle based on a 9x9 grid with several given numbers. The object is to place the numbers 1 to 9 in the empty squares so that each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once. The difficulty level of the sudoku increases from monday to sunday. Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer

BaBY BLueS

BLondie

THe wiZard oF id

nea CroSSwordS

La TimeS CroSSword

The Times-Picayune ✦ nola.com ✦ Thursday, September 3, 2026 ✦ 5D

lll

B.C.

Bridge By PHILLIP ALDER Brigham Young said, “Silence may be golden, but can you think of a better way to entertain someone than to listen to him?” Can you think of a better way to find the best opening lead than to listen to the bidding? Look at the West hand and the auction in today’s diagram. What should West lead against four spades? When the opponents are cruising toward a game or slam, pay attention. In particular, work out how many points each player has. And sometimes you will also know the distribution of at least one opponent’s hand — as in this deal. North announced five hearts, four clubs and three spades; his hand had 3-5-1-4 (or perhaps 3-5-0-5 or even 3-6-04) distribution. He also promised extra strength, usually 15 or 16 high-card points. With a minimum, he would have raised one spade to two spades. South showed game-invitational values with three-card heart support. Then, when he preferred four spades to four hearts, he indicated five spades. Given that dummy is very short in diamonds, leading that suit has little appeal. (Yes, it works if East wins the first trick and shifts to a low club.) A trump is too

garfield

Pearls Before swiNe

hagar the horriBle

passive. The opponents have bid quite strongly, so it is probably right to lead actively. That means choosing the club jack. East takes dummy’s queen with his ace and returns the suit. Then the defenders can take two clubs, one diamond and one heart for down one. © 2026 by nEa, inc., dist. By andrews mcmeel syndication

wuzzles Each Wuzzle is a word riddle which creates a disguised word, phrase, name, place, saying, etc. For example: nOOn gOOD = gOOD aFTErnOOn

PiCKles

Previous answers:

mallard fillmore

word game InstRuctIons: 1. Words must be of four or more letters. 2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed. 3. additional words made by adding a “d” or an “s” may not be used. 4. proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed.

toDAy’s WoRD — tAMBouR: TAM-bore: A drum beaten with the hands or some

Bizarro

marmaduKe

implement. Average mark 16 words Time limit 30 minutes Can you find 25 or more words in TAMBOUR? yEstERDAy’s WoRD — VIntAGE vain vane vang vegan vein vent vine vita naive native nave

neat tang tine tinea ting tinge agent ante anti gain gait

gate gave gent giant give given gnat eating

loCKhorNs hidato Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer

today’s thought “Whoever despises the word shall be destroyed: but he that fears the commandment shall be rewarded.” Proverbs 13:13

Read the Bible. Believe the Bible. Apply the Bible. G.E. Dean

6D ✦ Thursday, September 3, 2026 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

muttS

roSe iS roSe

lll

Scrabble GramS dIrectIons: make a 2- to 7-letter word from the letters in each row. add points of each word, using scoring directions at right. Finally, 7-letter words get 50-point bonus. “Blanks” used as any letter have no point value. all the words are in the Official sCraBBlE® players Dictionary, 5th Edition.

Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer

jump Start

For more information on tournaments and clubs, email naspa – north american sCraBBlE players association: info@scrabbleplayers.org. Visit our website: www.scrabbleplayers.org. For puzzle inquiries contact scrgrams@gmail.com.

Get fuzzy

Hasbro and its logo sCraBBlE associated logo, the design of the distinctive sCraBBlE brand game card, and the distinctive letter tile designs are trademarks of Hasbro in the United states and Canada. ©2021 Hasbro. all rights reserved. Distributed by Tribune Content agency, llC.

ken ken

animal crackerS

DuStin

InstructIons: 1 - Each row and each column must contain the numbers 1 thorugh 4 (easy) or 1 through 6 (challenging) without repeating. 2 - The numbers within the heavily outlined boxes, called cages, must combine using the given operation (in any order) to produce the target numbers in the top-left corners. 3 - Freebies: Fill in the single-box cages with the number in the top-left corner.

Wallace the brave

Drabble

WiShinG Well breWSter rockit

luann

HErE is a plEasanT liTTlE gamE that will give you a message every day. it’s a numerical puzzle designed to spell out your fortune. Count the letters in your first name. if the number of letters is 6 or more, subtract 4. if the number is less than 6, add 3. The result is your key number. start at the upper left-hand corner and check each of your key numbers, left to right. Then read the message the checked figures give you.

The Times-Picayune ✦ nola.com ✦ Thursday, September 3, 2026 ✦ 7D

lll

classifieds.nola.com Search & Place Ads Ads Onlines at classifieds.nola.com • Call Monday Us Monday - Friday 8AM - 5PMatat(504) (504)636-7435 636-7435 Search & Place Onlines at classifieds.nola.com - Friday 8AM - 5PM

Announcements Anyone knowing the whereabouts of any heirs, legatees, successors or assigns of Fredy Orlando Dolmo, Sr., please contact Thomas P. Sanderson, Curator Ad Hoc, at (504) 586-0064, 4224 Canal St., NOLA 70119, or tps@boninlawﬁrm.com. Property rights involved. 199573-Sept 3-5, 3t $111.10 Anyone knowing the whereabouts of any relatives or heirs of Elnora Cousin, who previously resided at 1126 Tupelo St. Slidell LA 70458, or Llewellyn J. Cousin Sr or Llewellyn J Cousin Jr., please contact Chris Lozes at 985-264-7458. 199496-Sept 2-4, 3t $113.20 Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Barry Patin, please contact Thomas J. Capella, Esq., 4928 Jasper, Metairie, LA 70006, (504) 401-8765. 199424-Sept 2-4, 3t $75.40

Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Carla Bonner Yibrin and/or Lufty Yibrin, last known address of 4505 Gary Mikel Ave., Metairie, LA 70002, please contact Timothy F. Hand, Esq. at (504) 368-1118. 199626-Sept 3-5, 3t $98.50 Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Hung Van Nguyen, 6080 Winchester Park Dr., New Orleans, LA, please contact N. Kim Nguyen, Attorney, 401 Whitney Ave., #515, Gretna, LA 70056, or (504)218-5946. 199425-Sept 2-3, 2t $72.60 Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Jermarcus Welch, please contactN. Sundiata Haley at (504) 533-8720. 199453-Sept 2-4, 3t $62.80 JN1FV7EK0JM530206 INFINITI is stored at 8101 Almonaster Ave, New Orleans, LA, 70126. If all current charges are not paid and vehicle claimed by the owner by September 18, a Permit to Sell may be obtained. 199575-Sept 3-4, 2t $79.60 SUNNY SIDE UP, LLC. d/b/a SUNNY SIDE UP NOLA is applying to the ofﬁce of Alcohol and Tobacco Control of the State of Louisiana for a permit to sell beverages of HIGH AND LOW alcohol content at retail in the parish of ORLEANS at the following address: 5951 BULLARD AVENUE STE 6, NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA 70128 SUNNY SIDE UP, LLC. d/b/a SUNNY SIDE NOLA 5951 BULLARD AVENUE, STE 6, NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA 70128 ADNEN GHARBI- MEMBER 199360-Sept 2-3, 2t $186.40 WE ARE APPLYING TO THE COMMISSIONER OF THE OFFICE OF ALCOHOL & TOBACCO CONTROL OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA FOR A PERMIT TO SELL BEVERAGES OF HIGH AND LOW ALCOHOLIC CONTENT IN THE PARISH OF ORLEANS AT THE FOLLOWING ADDRESS: 2127 PRYTANIA TENANT, LLC D/B/A THE WHIT, 2127 PRYTANIA STREET, NEW ORLEANS, LA 70130. ERIC R. GEORGE, MEMBER. 199631 Sept. 3 1t $87.34 WE ARE APPLYING TO THE COMMISSIONER OF THE OFFICE OF ALCOHOL & TOBACCO CONTROL OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA FOR A PERMIT TO SELL BEVERAGES OF HIGH AND LOW ALCOHOLIC CONTENT IN THE PARISH OF

Public Notices

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

PUBLIC NOTICE --Advertisement for Bids

ORLEANS AT THE FOLLOWING ADDRESS: CHARLOTTE’S NOLA, LLC D/B/A CHARLOTTE’S, 3607 MAGAZINE STREET, NEW ORLEANS, LA 70115. KYLE S. BRECHTEL, MEMBER. 199639 Sept. 3 1t $85.18 WE ARE APPLYING TO THE COMMISSIONER OF THE OFFICE OF ALCOHOL & TOBACCO CONTROL OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA FOR A PERMIT TO SELL BEVERAGES OF HIGH AND LOW ALCOHOLIC CONTENT IN THE PARISH OF ORLEANS AT THE FOLLOWING ADDRESS: 2500 ST CLAUDE OPERATIONS, LLC D/B/A LARRY’S POBOYS, 2500 ST. CLAUDE AVENUE, NEW ORLEANS, LA 70117. LAWRENCE L. MORROW, MEMBER. 199636 Sept. 3 1t $89.50 WE ARE APPLYING TO THE COMMISSIONER OF THE OFFICE OF ALCOHOL & TOBACCO CONTROL OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA FOR A PERMIT TO SELL BEVERAGES OF HIGH AND LOW ALCOHOLIC CONTENT IN THE PARISH OF ORLEANS AT THE FOLLOWING ADDRESS: MEYER PROVISIONS LLC D/B/A MEYER PROVISIONS, 7913-7915 MAPLE STREET, NEW ORLEANS, LA 70118. GREGORY MEYER, MEMBER. 199643 Sept. 3 1t $85.18 Advertising Looking to promote your services or find a new hire? Deliver your classified message statewide for as little as $265 per week through the Louisiana Press Association’s Classified Network. Pre-payment required. To learn more, email advertising@lapress.com or call 225-344-9309. Miscellaneous End your tax worries today. Let us make your tax problem our priority. Scared, stuck with high tax amounts? Our A+ tax professionals can help. Call for a FREE consultation. Call Priority Tax now 1877-249-9376. We Buy Houses for Cash AS-IS! No repairs. No fuss. Any condition. Easy process: Call, get cash offer and get paid. Call today for your fair cash offer: 1-225-545-1983. Struggling with debt? If you have over $15,000 in debt we help you be debt free in as little as 24-48 months. Pay nothing to enroll. Call Now: 1-877-773-1742. Donate your car, truck, boat, RV and more to support our veterans! Schedule a FAST, FREE vehicle pickup and receive a top tax deduction! Call Veteran Car Donations at 1-844-742-5188 today!

DENTAL INSURANCE from Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. Coverage for 400 plus procedures. Real dental insurance - NOT just a discount plan. Do not wait! Call now! Get your FREE Dental Information Kit with all the details! 1-855-268-0108 www.dental50plus.com/morning #6258 Home Improvement Safe Step Stairlifts. Enjoy greater independence and stay in the home you love. Feel safe on every level. $750 off plus FREE installation. Made in the U.S.A. Call today for a free quote. 1-866-915-2470.

Dish Network: Get DISH Satellite TV + Internet! Free Install, Free HD-DVR Upgrade, 80,000 On-Demand Movies, Plus Limited Time Up To $600 In Gift Cards. Call Today! 1-855-654-8207

Employment

CEMETERY PLOTS Westlawn Cemetery Mausoleum, in the Chapel. Corr IV, Tier A, holds 6 interments $17,500. 504-259-0505 FARM EQUIPMENT For Sale $2300 ﬁrm: 7ft Heavy Duty Disk, hardly used. Bought at Tractor Supply 985 316-6755.

New Orleans Real Estate For Sale

* Accounting * Bookkeeper * Account Coordinator * Finance * Payroll Officer * Sales Representatives * Customer Service * Business Admin Representative As part of our ongoing expansion, we are seeking part-time, work-fromhome candidates. The position offers a monthly salary of $1,300, in addition to benefits, and requires minimal time commitment. The role involves just 2-3 hours of internet access per week.

4710 MUSIC STREET, GENTILLY Home For Sale or Rent. $250,000 or $2,000/month. Ready October 1st. Call James 817-891-0453.

New Orleans Rental

APARTMENT

GENTILLY 2544 ALLEN TOUSSAINT BLVD. NEWLY RENOVATED!!! 1-2 Bdrm Apts * From $800/mo Parking * Sec Gate 504-209-8054 * 504-454-1333

APARTMENT METAIRIE

Requirements: * Must be computer literate * Must have 2-3 hours of internet access per week * Must be efficient and dedicated Interested candidates may reach out via email at michelle.appliedit@gmail.com for further information.

10,000 Apt Homes and 75 Locations with Studio, 1, 2 & 3 Bedrooms Pools, Access Gates, Garages (504) 360-9347 APARTMENT

METAIRIE 3201 RICHLAND AVENUE 1/2 Block off Vets * by Paretti Jaguar 1 Bed * Prkg * Pool * Rent $675/mo 504-320-6958 * 504-454-1333

CONSTRUCTION Hiring for Utility Hands and Tank Clean‐ ers. Must hav a aTWIC CARD, PEC, AND T HUET. RESUMES MUST BE EMAILED TO TMCTHAWK0619@GMAIL.COM

g y g placement, in strict con‐ formance with the re‐ quirements provided in the Bidding Documents. (Estimated Cost: To be provided at bid opening).

g Board for Contractors. This project is classified as Electrical General. Ob‐ jection to the required classification should be filed in accordance with La. R.S. 37:2165.

The Invitation to Bid con‐ tained in the bidding documents and all re‐ quirements contained therein are incorporated into this advertisement for bids as if herein com‐ pletely set forth. VergesRome Architects Advertisement Dates: Times Picayune/nola. com Thursday, August 20, 2026 Thursday, August 27, 2026 Thursday, September 3, 2026

PUBLIC NOTICE --ADVERTISEMENT FOR PROPOSALS Sealed proposals will be received by the Jefferson Parish School Board, 501 Manhattan Blvd., Ste 2200, Harvey, LA, 70058 until 11:00 a.m., Septem‐ ber 18, 2026 for: RFP #3409 – Shredding Services Proposal packet may be picked up from the Pur‐ chasing Department at 501 Manhattan Blvd., Suite 2200, Harvey, LA 70058, or by email re‐ quest to thomas.doster@ jpschools.org. Participation by minority and female-owned busi‐ nesses is encouraged. Tom Doster Director of Purchasing & Procurement 199463-SEP 3-10-2T $23.68 PUBLIC NOTICE --INVITATION TO BID COMMUNICATION TOWERS EMERGENCY GENERTOR REPLACEMENT

A Pre-Bid Conference (NON-MANDATORY) will be held Tuesday, August 25, 2026 at 10:00 am at the PROJECT SITE, 8900 Hayne Blvd.; New Or‐ leans, LA 70127.

Notice is hereby given that the Board of Com‐ missioners of the Port of New Orleans (Board) will receive bids electroni‐ cally at Central Bidding, via www.centralbidding. com, on or before Mon‐ day, September 28, 2026 until 11:00 A.M., local time, for Work Order No. 1-1201, Communication Towers Emergency Gen‐ erator Replacement.

The bidding documents, consisting of drawings, speciﬁcations and other Contract Documents for the project, are available i h d f

The work consists of fur‐ nishing all labor, mater‐ ial and equipment for the communication towers emergency generator re‐ l i i

If request for Bidding Documents is made through U.S. mail or other delivery services, bidder must furnish a street mailing address and will be held respon‐ sible for service fees. A pre-bid conference will be held on Wednesday, September 16, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. local time at the Board’s Administra‐ tion Building, located at 1350 Port of New Orleans Place, New Orleans, Louisiana 70130. An op‐ tional site visit will fol‐ low – TWIC is required for all attendees planning to participate. Bidders are urged to attend. Federal regulations re‐ quire that persons seek‐ ing entry to secure areas of United States ports must present a valid Transportation Workers Identiﬁcation Credential (TWIC) card and must maintain possession of the TWIC at all times in secure port areas. Restricted areas include port property between Felicity Street and Henry Clay Avenue, Alabo Street Wharf, Jourdan Road Wharf, the Julia Street and Erato Street Cruise Terminals, and during cargo activities at Poland Avenue Wharf and Governor Nicholls Street Wharf. Prospec‐ tive bidders must pro‐ vide their own Harbor Police Department (HPD) approved TWIC escorts for those in their party who do not have a TWIC. Note that only contrac‐ tors with open Board contracts are eligible to be on the approved es‐ cort list. The Board will not provide nor arrange for escorts. See Section 1000 – General Require‐ ments. Once an employer is under contract with the Board, TWIC card holders and their Sponsoring Em‐ ployer must submit an application to Harbor Po‐ lice and the TWIC card holder must attend a training session in order to be certiﬁed as an Ap‐ proved TWIC Escort for anyone entering the se‐ cured area without a TWIC. Bidding Documents will be issued only to those contractors complying with state licensing laws for contractors, La. R.S. 37:2150, et. seq. On any bid submitted in the amount of $50,000 or more, the contractor must hold at the time this bid is opened a valid license issued by the Louisiana State Licensing d f

APARTMENT WESTBANK * 3 Bedrooms /2.5 Baths, Double Garage, Private Yard. $1,800/Mo. 504-913-4263

A deposit of five percent (5%) of the cost of the contract price of work to be done for the Base Bid plus all additive Alter‐ nate Bid prices, by certi‐ fied check, cashier's check or bid bond is re‐ quired, and the bidder to whom the contract is awarded shall also be re‐ quired to furnish a per‐ formance bond in the total amount of the bid. The bid bond must be furnished in accordance with the requirements of La. R.S. 38:2218, and the performance bond in ac‐ cordance with the provi‐ sions of La. R.S. 38:2219. The award of contract, if awarded, will be made within 45 calendar days after bid opening to the lowest qualified bidder whose bid complies with all requirements pre‐ scribed. However, when the contract is to be fi‐ nanced by bonds which are required to be sold after receipt of bids, or when the contract is to be financed in whole or in part by federal, state or other funds not avail‐ able at the time bids are received, or when the contract requires a poll of the Louisiana Legisla‐ ture before contract funds are available, the time will not start until receipt of federal or state concurrence or concur‐ rence of the other fund‐ ing source in accordance with LA. R.S. 38:2215(D). Award will be within 45 calendar days after the sale of bonds or receipt of concurrence in award from the federal or state agency or other funding source. Funds for this contract: __ _ ___ will not be immedi‐ ately available, the 45day period for contract award will not begin at the time of bid opening, and the deadlines under La. R.S. 38:2215 for contract execution and issuance of notice to proceed shall not apply. _X _will be immediately available and the 45-day period for contract award will begin at the time of bid opening. Work in the amount of at least sixty percent (60%) of total amount of con‐ tract as awarded shall be performed by contractor at the construction site or within his own shop, plant, or yard with his own employees. The Board as an equal opportunity public entity invites and encourages DBE’s and SBE’s to sub‐ mit bids on its projects. In order to comply with the Constitution of the State of Louisiana, such certification programs must be race and gender neutral. All questions, correspon‐ dence, inquiries, and other communications regarding this procure‐ ment shall be directed to Board of Commissioners of the Port of New Or‐ leans, Procurement De‐ partment, 1350 Port of New Orleans Place, New

Automotive WANT TO BUY Cars, Trucks & Camper Trailers. Running or Not in any cond, with or w/out title. 504-508-0087 2019 HYUNDAI ELANTRA 2.0L Limited needs some body work. Motor and transmission good. $3500 or best offer. 504-235-3223.

Pets

APARTMENT

METAIRIE 3513 EDENBORN AVENUE Lrg 2 Bed, 1 Bath * $925 * Off St Prkg Blocks from Lakeside 504-982-4040 * 504-885-8060 504-454-1333

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

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

Orleans, LA 70130 or pro‐ curement@portnola.com. All questions will be an‐ swered via additional in‐ formation or addenda and will be posted on Central Bidding website at: www.centralbidding. com Questions must be submitted at least seven (7) days prior to bid opening. These individu‐ als are not authorized to and shall not render legal opinions or advice. No information will be given regarding the proper evidence of cor‐ porate authority as re‐ quired in this bid. Each bidder is advised to con‐ sult his own counsel for such information. Please be advised that these individuals are not the legal representatives of the Board. 199484-SEP 3-10-17-3T $297.30 PUBLIC NOTICE --INVITATION TO BID NO. 3124: AS NEEDED PURCHASE AND DELIVERY OF AGGREGATE MATERIALS The New Orleans Public Belt Railroad Commis‐ sion for the Port of New Orleans (“NOPB”) is so‐ liciting bids for the asneeded purchase and de‐ livery of ballast and ag‐ gregate materials (the “Materials”), as set forth more fully and in accor‐ dance with the General Conditions and Specifi‐ cations (“Specifica‐ tions”) and subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the form agree‐ ment attached hereto (“Agreement”) for an ini‐ tial term of one (1) year, with the NOPB having the option to renew for two (2) additional one-year periods. Official bid documents can be downloaded and must be submitted elec‐ tronically through Cen‐ tral Bidding at www.cen tralbidding.com. The specifications of the Invi‐ tation to Bid (ITB) may also be obtained from App, the SEBconnect available on both the Apple and Google play platforms. BID SUBMISSION: NOPB will accept sealed bids for this Project until 10:00 a.m. CDT on Thursday, September 17, 2026 (the “Bid Submission Dead‐ line”). Any bid received after the Bid Submission Deadline will not be con‐ sidered. Bidders must submit bids electronically for this Project in the follow‐ ing way: • Submit an ELECTRONIC BID. Bids must be submitted electronically at www. centralbidding.com For any questions relating to the electronic bidding process, please call Cen‐ tral Bidding at 225-8104814. The bidder must at‐ tach a completed and signed digital copy of the Bid Form, Proof of Au‐ thority and any other documents required in the Bidding Documents. The NOPB shall not be re‐ sponsible if a bidder can‐ not complete or submit an electronic bid. Bidders shall be responsible for receiving confirmation h h bid

Reporting you can trust on stories that matter

CATS Young Male Cat, Gray Colors, Have too many cats, Looking for another home for him. Please call 504-861-9617 ($50) DOGS AKC Standard Poodles. Black & Parti black & white. Ready to Go. Utd on all shots & worming. Text 228-669-8581 or 228-669-2377. Shih tzu Puppies Girls and Boys 8 weeks old. Ponchatoula. Must find good homes 350 9853503343

SUBSCRIBE TODAY

THE CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT will be closed on NDAY, SEPTEMBER 7th MONDAY in observance of

LABOR DAY

And will be observing the following Early Deadline: Deadline: Display Ads Thursday 9/3 @ 3pm

Run Date Tuesday 9/8 Wednesday 9/9

As always, you may place your ad 7 days a week, 24 hours a day online at www.theadvocate.com or call Monday – Friday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

(225) 383-0111

1-800-960-6397

p j in hard copy from a re‐ production company of the bidder’s choice or in digital format, on a Com‐ pact Disc, from the Archi‐ tect’s office. Please con‐ tact the office to request a disc to be sent via U.S. Mail, for pick up at the Architect’s office or to request hard copies:

In accordance with LSA R.S. 38:2212 (E)(7), com‐ plete Bidding Documents are available for down‐ load via Central Bidding at www.centralbidding. com. Bidding Documents may also be obtained from the SEBconnect App, available in both the Apple and Google play platforms.

APARTMENT WESTBANK * $1300/Mo. 2 Bedrooms, 2 Baths, 4-Car Garage/Workshop. Pets OK. 504-913-4263

Looking for the right hire? Public Notices Bids/Proposals

All Bids must be in accor‐ dance with the Bidding Documents on ﬁle with the Port of New Orleans.

APARTMENT N.O. EAST * LITTLE WOODS SPECIAL 7819 SANDS STREET * 3 BD/2 BA Central A & H * Fenced Backyard Sec 8 Welcome. No Deposit. $1,200 504-241-6189 * 504-430-1162

HOUSE Algiers-Former Double. 4Brms, 2baths. Great location. Fully fenced. $119,000.00 713-398-6027 elanza@soldbyelanza.com

APARTMENT ESPLANADE RIDGE The Carson Company, Inc. 2900 Third St., 1Bd/1Ba.................$700 3953 Delachaise St. (Up), 3/1.......$950 8940 Dinkins St., 2Bds/1Ba...........$995 2300 N. Broad St., 1Bd/1Ba...........$995 2443 N. Robertson St., 2/1...........$1150 5910 Hayne Blvd. Up 4/1.....(Sec 8 OK) 8904 Olive St., 3Bds/1Ba.............$1350 2503 S. Dorgenois St., 2/1...(Sec 8 OK) 1222 S Salcedo #201, Up 2/1......$1639 4557 Feliciana St, 5Bds/2Bas.....$2500 821-1858 * 822-8432 * 427-4646

COMMUNICATIONS Positions Available:

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

197962-aug 20-27-sept 33t $1,203.27

The successful bidder IS required to furnish the Owner with a Payment and Performance Bond for 100% of the contract amount prior to the is‐ suance of a contract to perform the work.

Home Services DIRECTV- All your entertainment. Nothing on your roof! Sign up for Directv and get your ﬁrst three months of Max, Paramount+, Showtime, Starz, MGM+ and Cinemax included. Choice package $84.99/mo. Some restrictions apply. Call DIRECTV 1-866-734-0452

Merchandise

BATH & SHOWER UPDATES in as little

Bids shall be submitted in a sealed opaque enve‐ lope containing only one bid form. The bid enve‐ lope shall be identiﬁed on the outside with the name of the project, and the name, address, and Louisiana contractor’s li‐ cense number of the Bid‐ der.

The Owner reserves the right to reject any and all bids for cause; such ac‐ tion will be in accor‐ dance with Title 38 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes. In accordance with La. R.S. 38:2212 (A) (1)(b), the provisions and requirements of this Sec‐ tion, those stated in the advertisement for bids, and those required on the bid form shall not be considered as informali‐ ties and shall not be waived.

PEST CONTROL: PROTECT YOUR HOME from pests safely and affordably. Roaches, Bed Bugs, Rodent, Termite, Spiders and other pests. Locally owned and affordable. Call for service or an inspection today! 1-877-728-0264 Have zip code of property ready when calling!

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

VergesRome Architects, APAC 320 N. Carrollton Avenue New Orleans, Louisiana 70119 Ofﬁce: 504-488-7739 Email: tony@vergesrome. com kelly@vergesrome.com

A Bid Bond IS NOT re‐ quired for this project.

PROFESSIONAL LAWN SERVICE: Fertilization, weed control, seeding, aeration and mosquito control. Call now for a free quote. Ask about our ﬁrst application special! 1-877-6911898.

Health and Wellness Audien Hearing. The world’s ﬁrst hearing aid with touchscreen controls. No tiny buttons, apps or prescriptions. 45-day risk free trial. Free shipping. Lifetime support. More than 1.5 million happy customers. Call Audien 1-866-6788713.

Sealed bids will be re‐ ceived by the LIGHT CITY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY (Owner) until 2:00 pm on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, at the ofﬁces of VergesRome Architects at 320 N. Carrollton Ave., Suite 100; New Orleans, LA 70119, at which time bids for the LIGHT CITY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY – NEW SCHOOL/GYMNA‐ SIUM BUILDING will be opened and publicly read aloud. The Contract Doc‐ uments have been pre‐ pared by VERGES ROME ARCHITECTS; 320 N. CAR‐ ROLLTON AVE, SUITE 100; NEW ORLEANS, LA 70119; T: 504.488.7739. Bids re‐ ceived after the above time will not be ac‐ cepted. Any person re‐ quiring special accom‐ modations shall notify the Architect, of the types of accommoda‐ tions required not less than seven (7) days be‐ fore the bid opening.

Bids shall be accepted from Contractors who are licensed under La. R.S. 37:2150-2163 for the classiﬁcation of “Build‐ ing Construction.” Bidder is required to comply with provisions and re‐ quirements of LA R.S.38:2212 (A)(1)(c). No bid may be withdrawn for a period of forty-ﬁve (45) days after receipt of bids, except under the provisions of La. R.S. 38:2214.

as ONE DAY! Affordable prices - No payments for 18 months! Lifetime warranty & professional installs. Senior & Military Discounts available. Call: 1-877-496-0371.

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

g that the bid was suc‐ cessfully delivered prior to the Bid Submission Deadline.

p the deadline will not be considered.

p j tion will be available. Representatives from LADOTD will be available at the open house to an‐ swer questions and dis‐ cuss issues related to the project. Verbal and written comments on the project can be submitted at the meeting. Com‐ ments can also be mailed to the LADOTD address shown below, postmarked by October 2, 2026. The public meet‐ ing has been scheduled as follows:

BID OPENING: Immedi‐ ately following the Bid Submission Deadline, bids will be opened in ac‐ cordance with the bid documents. NOPB CONTACT: Bidders must submit Questions in writing to procure‐ ment@railnola.com by Wednesday, September 9, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. CST. As necessary, addenda to this ITB will be issued to all bidders receiving this ITB. Questions, an‐ swers, and all forms re‐ quired will be posted on Central Bidding at www. centralbidding.com . 199488-SEP 3-8-2T $76.24

PUBLIC NOTICE --New Orleans Redevelopment Authority (NORA) Request for Proposals (RFP) Residential Real Estate Appraisal Services Issue Date: Thursday, August 27, 2026 Due Date: Thursday, September 17, 2026 The New Orleans Rede‐ velopment Authority (NORA), to meet its needs and activities, is requesting proposals from qualiﬁed appraisal ﬁrms to provide Residen‐ tial Real Estate Appraisal Services for properties with fewer than four (4) units and vacant or unimproved land. The services sought in the RFP are intended to cover properties in NORA’s inventory or that may be acquired by NORA. It is anticipated that NORA will enter into multiple Professional Services Contracts with the successful respon‐ dents for the provision of appraisal services. Ser‐ vices will be requested on an as-needed basis. Single copies of the RFP may be obtained on NORA’s website at www. noraworks.org or by con‐ tacting Lucinda Rachel, Purchasing Specialist via telephone at (504) 6584400 or email at lvrachel@nola.gov. During the period be‐ tween the issuance of this RFP and the due date, no oral interpreta‐ tion of the RFP require‐ ments will be provided to any prospective Offeror. All questions and re‐ quests for interpretation must be submitted in writing to Lucinda Rachel, Purchasing Spe‐ cialist, via email at lvrachel@nola.gov. The deadline for submitting questions is Friday, Sep‐ tember 11, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. (CST). NORA will reasonably attempt to answer questions sub‐ mitted in advance. All questions and answers will be provided via an addendum. All proposals must be uploaded to an assigned shared folder no later than THURSDAY, SEPTEM‐ BER 17, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. (CST). All responses must be received by NORA on or before the submission deadline. Re‐ sponses delivered after h d dli ill b

NORA will not accept re‐ sponses submitted by email or fax. All re‐ sponses must be re‐ ceived by NORA on or be‐ fore the Submission Deadline. NORA will not consider responses de‐ livered after the dead‐ line. Brenda M. Breaux Executive Director 198725-aug 27-sept 3-103t $91.05 PUBLIC NOTICE --Nunez Community Col‐ lege will receive bids until 2:00 PM (CST) on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, and thereafter publicly opened for Grass Maintenance. There will be a Pre-bid meeting on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, at 9:00 AM (CST). Manda‐ tory site visits will be conducted on Wednes‐ day, September 9th and Thursday, September 10th. Additional informa‐ tion may be obtained by contacting Wendy Frazier in the Purchasing Depart‐ ment, Nunez Community College, 3710 Paris Road, Chalmette, LA 70043 (504) 278-6475. wfrazier@ nunez.edu. Please refer‐ rence 40015_NUNEZ_GM‐ S2026. Evidence of authority to submit bid shall be re‐ quired in accordance with R.S. 38:2812 (A) (1) (c) and/ or R.S. 39:1954 (C) (2) (d). AA/EEO 199601-SEP 3-7-14-3T $317.17 PUBLIC NOTICE --OPEN HOUSE PUBLIC MEETING STATE AND FEDERAL AID PROJECT NO. H.014886 US 90: LAFITTE AVE TO FRANCE RD ORLEANS PARISH The Louisiana Depart‐ ment of Transportation and Development (LADOTD) is conducting an open house public meeting for the proposed US 90: LAFITTE AVE TO FRANCE RD project. The proposed project would include roadway im‐ provements along US Highway 90 (North Broad Street/Gentilly Boule‐ vard/Chef Menteur High‐ way) from its intersec‐ tion with Laﬁtte Avenue to its intersection with France Road. The overall scope of work includes pavement resurfacing, with spot pedestrian and turn lane improvements. The project will include the closure and modiﬁ‐ cation of median open‐ ings between St. Bernard Avenue and George Nick Connor Drive to con‐ struct turn lanes and im‐ prove access manage‐ ment. No additional right-of-way (ROW) will be required. The purpose of the meeting is to pro‐ vide information about the project and to obtain input from interested parties. There will be a continuous multi-media presentation about the proposed project during the meeting and addi‐ tional project informa‐ i ill b il bl

Thursday, September 17, 2026 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. Langston Hughes Academy Library 3519 Trafalgar Street New Orleans, LA 70119 Should you require spe‐ cial assistance, due to a disability, to participate in this public meeting, please contact LADOTD by mail at the address shown below, or by tele‐ phone at 225.242.4505, at least five working days prior to the meeting. Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development Environmental Engineer Administrator, Section 28 P.O. Box 94245 Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9245 198623-sept 3-10-2t $82.84 PUBLIC NOTICE --ORLEANS PARISH SCHOOL BOARD Procurement Department 2401 Westbend Parkway, Suite 5055 New Orleans, Louisiana 70114 ADVERTISEMENT REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL NO. 27-0037 SYSTEMWIDE NEEDS PROGRAM CITYWIDE CRI‐ SIS INTERVENTION SER‐ VICES Electronic Responses to Request for Proposal rel‐ ative to the above will be received via email sub‐ mission to the Procure‐ ment Department for the Orleans Parish School Board (“OPSB” or “the District”) at 2401 West‐ bend Parkway, Suite 5055, New Orleans, Louisiana 70114 until 9:00 A.M. (CST) on Tuesday, September22, 2026. Specifications and quali‐ fications are found in the RFP documents and may be obtained by visiting the District’s website at www.nolapublicschools. com. All questions re‐ garding this RFP shall be directed to the Executive Director of Procurement at procurement@nol apublicschools.com. The District will host a Virtual Pre-Proposal meeting to be held on Friday, September 4 , 2026, at 9:00 A.M. (CST). The Virtual link can be found below: Register in advance for this meeting: https://us06web.zoom. us/meeting/register/8vR 3oBgITOatn38CSiCZHQ After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing infor‐ mation about joining the i

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

meeting.

The District reserves the right to reject any or all Responses to Request for Proposal whenever such rejection is in its best in‐ terest in accordance with law. The provisions and requirements of this ad‐ vertisement shall not be waived. NOLA Public Schools shall make every effort to provide reasonable ac‐ commodations for per‐ sons with disabilities. The requests for any rea‐ sonable accommodation shall be submitted in writing to the Executive Director of Procurement, no less than seven (7) days in advance of any meetings. Paul A. Lucius Executive Director of Pro‐ curement FIRST INSERTION DATE: THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 2026 SECOND INSERTION DATE: THURSDAY, AUGUST 27, 2026 THIRD INSERTION DATE: THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2026 197863-AUG 20-27-SEP 33T $135.31

PUBLIC NOTICE --ORLEANS PARISH SCHOOL BOARD Procurement Department 2401 Westbend Parkway, Suite 5055 New Orleans, Louisiana 70114 ADVERTISEMENT REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL NO. 27-0030 TITLE II SERVICES FOR NON-PUBLIC SCHOOLS Electronic Responses to Request for Proposal rel‐ ative to the above will be received via email sub‐ mission to the Procure‐ ment Department for the Orleans Parish School Board (“OPSB” or “the District”) at 2401 West‐ bend Parkway, Suite 5055, New Orleans, Louisiana 70114 until 11:00 A.M. (CST) on Tues‐ day, September 22, 2026. Specifications and quali‐ fications are found in the RFP documents and may be obtained by visiting the District’s website at www.nolapublicschools. com. All questions re‐ garding this RFP shall be directed to the Executive Director of Procurement procurement@nol at apublicschools.com. The District will host a Virtual Pre-Proposal meeting to be held on Friday, September 4, 2026, at 11:00 A.M. (CST). The Virtual link can be found below: Register in advance for this meeting: https://us06web.zoom. us/meeting/register/f8_ tJG-YSnm_OGEF-9x6qw After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing infor‐ mation about joining the meeting. The District reserves the right to reject any or all Responses to Request for Proposal whenever such rejection is in its best in‐ terest in accordance with law. The provisions and i f hi d

8D ✦ Thursday, September 3, 2026 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune Public Notices Bids/Proposals

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

p requirements of this ad‐ vertisement shall not be waived.

g g y receive a conﬁrmation email containing infor‐ mation about joining the meeting.

y p 2026, at 12:00 P.M. (CST). The Virtual link can be found below:

NOLA Public Schools shall make every effort to provide reasonable ac‐ commodations for per‐ sons with disabilities. The requests for any rea‐ sonable accommodation shall be submitted in writing to the Executive Director of Procurement, no less than seven (7) days in advance of any meetings. Paul A. Lucius Executive Director of Procurement FIRST INSERTION DATE: THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 2026 SECOND INSERTION DATE: THURSDAY, AUGUST 27, 2026 THIRD INSERTION DATE: THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2026 198036-aug 20-27-sept 33t $132.31

PUBLIC NOTICE --ORLEANS PARISH SCHOOL BOARD Procurement Department 2401 Westbend Parkway, Suite 5055 New Orleans, Louisiana 70114 ADVERTISEMENT REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL NO. 27-0022 TITLE I SERVICES FOR NON-PUBLIC SCHOOLS Electronic Responses to Request for Proposal rel‐ ative to the above will be received via email sub‐ mission to the Procure‐ ment Department for the Orleans Parish School Board (“OPSB” or “the District”) at 2401 West‐ bend Parkway, Suite 5055, New Orleans, Louisiana 70114 until 10:00 A.M. (CST) on Tues‐ day, September22, 2026. Specifications and quali‐ fications are found in the RFP documents and may be obtained by visiting the District’s website at www.nolapublicschools. com. All questions re‐ garding this RFP shall be directed to the Executive Director of Procurement at procurement@nol apublicschools.com. The District will host a Virtual Pre-Proposal meeting to be held on Friday, September 4 , 2026, at 10:00 A.M. (CST). The Virtual link can be found below: Register in advance for this meeting: https://us06web.zoom. us/meeting/register/ZGo tyLJERre5MWA0cr2wow After registering, you will i fi i

The District reserves the right to reject any or all Responses to Request for Proposal whenever such rejection is in its best in‐ terest in accordance with law. The provisions and requirements of this ad‐ vertisement shall not be waived. NOLA Public Schools shall make every effort to provide reasonable ac‐ commodations for per‐ sons with disabilities. The requests for any rea‐ sonable accommodation shall be submitted in writing to the Executive Director of Procurement, no less than seven (7) days in advance of any meetings. Paul A. Lucius Executive Director of Procurement FIRST INSERTION DATE: THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 2026 SECOND INSERTION DATE: THURSDAY, AUGUST 27, 2026 THIRD INSERTION DATE: THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2026 197862-aug 20 -27-sep 33t $133.30

Speciﬁcations and quali‐ ﬁcations are found in the RFP documents and may be obtained by visiting the District’s website at www.nolapublicschools. com. All questions re‐ garding this RFP shall be directed to the Executive Director of Procurement at procurement@nol apublicschools.com. The District will host a Virtual Pre-Proposal meeting to be held on Friday, September 4, ( )

Legal Notices

PUBLIC NOTICE ---

CITY PLANNING COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

https://us06web.zoom. us/meeting/register/ 38Ze_AuRSAaIi1duFDR3 8Q

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2026, 1:30 P.M.

After registering, you will receive a conﬁrmation email containing infor‐ mation about joining the meeting. The District reserves the right to reject any or all Responses to Request for Proposal whenever such rejection is in its best in‐ terest in accordance with law. The provisions and requirements of this ad‐ vertisement shall not be waived. NOLA Public Schools shall make every effort to provide reasonable ac‐ commodations for per‐ sons with disabilities. The requests for any rea‐ sonable accommodation shall be submitted in writing to the Executive Director of Procurement, no less than seven (7) days in advance of any meetings. Paul A. Lucius Executive Director of Procurement

FIRST INSERTION DATE: THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 2026 SECOND INSERTION DATE: THURSDAY, AUGUST 27, 2026 THIRD INSERTION DATE: THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2026 198037-aug 20-27-sept 33t $135.31

PUBLIC NOTICE ---

Electronic Responses to Request for Proposal rel‐ ative to the above will be received via email sub‐ mission to the Procure‐ ment Department for the Orleans Parish School Board (“OPSB” or “the District”) at 2401 West‐ bend Parkway, Suite 5055, New Orleans, Louisiana 70114 until 12:00 P.M. (CST) on Tues‐ day, September 22, 2026.

lll

The Ernest N. Morial New Orleans Exhibition Hall Authority (“the Author‐ ity”) is requesting sealed bids for C-2250 Procure‐ ment of Fryer & Bread & Batter Cabinet-Dump Station. Bids are due Thursday, September 10, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at which time Bids received on time and in the correct loca‐ tion will be considered. Bid documents may be obtained online at https://www.centralauct ionhouse.com/Category/ 10822/NewOrleansErnes tNMorialConventionCe nter or by contacting the Contracts Department at (504) 582-3562 or con‐ tracts@mccno.com. All Bids must be submitted in accordance with the bid documents. 198450--AUG 26-SEP 3-2T $18.96

PUBLIC HEARING CITY HALL, 1300 PERDIDO STREET CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER (CITY HALL - 1E07) The City Planning Com‐ mission, in accordance with the provisions of Ar‐ ticle 4 of the Comprehen‐ sive Zoning Ordinance, Ordinance No. 4,264 M.C.S., as amended, will hold a public hearing. The public hearing will consider the following proposed amendments to the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance of the City of New Orleans. Materials for these items may be viewed via https://onestopapp.nola. gov/ The public comment deadline is 5 pm on the Monday that is 8 days before the meeting date. Zoning Docket 098/26 Applicant(s): City Council Motion No. M-26-272 Request: Amendment to the text of the Compre‐ hensive Zoning Ordi‐ nance to implement, with certain modiﬁcations, the Commission’s recom‐ mendations from its Cannabis, Tobacco, and Nicotine Study.

Legal Notices

y p September 14.

Legal Notices

September 2, September 9, and September 16, 2026

PUBLIC NOTICE --CITY PLANNING COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

Robert Rivers, Executive Director

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2026

NOCP 9261

CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS 1300 PERDIDO STREET 1st FLOOR

NEWS 24/7 ON

THE CITY PLANNING COMMISSION, IN ACCOR‐

Franklin Avenue. (Policy A)

q Third Municipal District and bounded by Law Street, Republic Street, Hope Street, and George Nick Connor Drive. Mu‐ nicipal addresses are 1863-1865 Law Street and 2600-2606 George Nick Connor Drive. (Policy A)

SD099-26 Resubdivision of Lot M into Lots M-1 and Lot C in Square 405A, Fourth Municipal Dis‐ trict and bounded by South Claiborne Avenue, Washington Avenue, Clara Street, and Toledano Street. Munici‐ pal addresses are 2900 South Claiborne Avenue and 2912 Washington Av‐ enue. (Policy D)

SD098-26 Resubdivision of Lot 5-A into Lots 5A1 and 5A2 in Square 37, Third Municipal District and bounded by Franklin Avenue, Jasmine Street, Iris Street, and Wisteria Street. Municipal ad‐ dresses are 4118-4128

THE CITY PLANNING COMMISSION WILL HEAR PROPONENTS AND OPPO‐ NENTS TO THE ABOVE PROPOSED SUBDIVISION. ALL INTERESTED PARTIES ARE ENCOURAGED TO AT‐ TEND AND ALL RELEVANT COMMENTS CONCERNING THE PROPOSED CHANGES

SD103-26 Resubdivision of Lots A, B, 6, and 7 into Lot A-1 in Square 1507, hi d i i l i i

On August 27, 2026, Entergy New Orleans, LLC (“ENO” or “Company”) made a Filing pursuant to the Electric Formula Rate Plan (“EFRP”) Rider Schedule approved and adopted by the Council of the City of New Orleans in Council Resolution R-19457, in the Agreement in Principle approved in Resolution R-20-344, the Agreement in Principle approved in Resolution R-23-423, and Resolution R-23-491 approving the three-year extension of the EFRP Rider Schedule. The Filing implements the Final EFRP Rate Adjustments and resolves all disputes related to the July 15, 2026 corrections report of the Council Advisors. The Final EFRP Rate Adjustments are effective the first billing cycle of September 2026. The cover sheet summarizes the Filings and attached to the cover sheet summary are copies of the Filings so that anyone who wishes to may review the filing and may make a copy at his/her expense. A copy of this notice, the summary, and the Filings are located at the main branch and every operational satellite branch of the New Orleans Public Library, the office of the Clerk of Council of the City of New Orleans, and the ENO Customer Care Centers located in Orleans Parish. SUMMARY OF ENTERGY NEW ORLEANS, LLC FINAL ELECTRIC FORMULA RATE PLAN RATE ADJUSTMENTS PURSUANT TO THE ELECTRIC FORMULA RATE PLAN RIDER SCHEDULE Commencing with the first billing cycle in September 2026, ENO will implement an increase in authorized electric FRP revenues of $16.2 million. The estimated net effects of the revenue changes on typical monthly electric bills are as follows: Estimated Typical Monthly Electric Bills Customer Type

Energy (kWh)

Demand (kW)

Present Rates

Proposed Rates

Residential Legacy

1,000

$146.32

$150.71

$4.39

Residential Algiers

1,000

$141.84

$146.09

$4.25

Small Electric Legacy

9,125

$1,471.31

$1,568.57

$97.26

Small Electric Algiers

9,125

$1,426.27

$1,520.55

$94.28

Large Electric Legacy

91,250

250

$10,677.51

$10,707.09

$29.58

Large Electric Algiers

91,250

250

$10,350.64

$10,379.33

$28.69

Variance

Numbers may not add due to rounding Written comments should be filed with the City Council Utilities Regulatory Office-City Hall, Room 6E07, 1300 Perdido Street, New Orleans, LA 70112. Phone (504) 658-1110 for more information.

Written public comment: You may also submit written comments to the Executive Director in ad‐ vance by mail (1300 Per‐ dido Street, 7th ﬂoor, New Orleans LA 70112) or email (CPCinfo@nola. gov). All written com‐ ments must be received by 5 p.m. on Monday, b

DANCE WITH PROVISIONS OF THE CITY OF NEW OR‐ LEANS SUBDIVISION REG‐ ULATIONS, WILL HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING ON SEP‐ TEMBER 22, 2026 ON THE FOLLOWING MATTER:

Legal Notices

NOTICE

In person public comment: The City Planning Com‐ mission, in accordance with Article 4 of the Com‐ prehensive Zoning Ordi‐ nance, Ordinance No. 4,264 M.C.S., as amended, will hear proponents and opponents to the above proposed changes to the Comprehensive Zoning Law of the City of New Orleans. All interested parties are encouraged to attend and all relevant comments concerning the proposed changes are encouraged. The CPC has established public hearing rules within its Administrative Rules, Policies, & Procedures, which are available on the CPC website (www. nola.gov/cpc).

Legal Notices

SUBDIVISION DOCKETS 098-26, 099-26, and 103-26

PUBLIC HEARING: 1:30 P.M.

199538-sept 2-9-16-3t $109.32

Legal Notices

ENTERGY NEW ORLEANS, LLC NOCP 9262 199541-683939-sept 3-10-17-3t $ 381.15

GONZALES CEMENT AND BRICK CONCRETE CONTRACTOR Any size job Servicing New Orleans & Northshore area

Sidewalks, Patios, Driveways, etc.

Ray Gonzales 504-458-7278

NO JOB TOO SMALL!

SIDEWALKS & DRIVEWAYS

504-236-2375

TRIPLE BBB

CONSTRUCTION CO. INC.

Hurricane Fence and Home Improvement is Your JellyFish Lighting Dealer All In One Exterior Lighting Solution Controlled from your smart device anywhere

Pool Enclosures • Patio Covers • Rooﬁng Siding • Glass Rooms • Screen Rooms Sofﬁt • Fascia • Windows & Screens

Security-Accent-Holiday-Game Day Lighting Trim - Patio - Landscaping FREE ESTIMATE • 504-466-3712 1 yr no interest financing

JAMES H. BALL, SR.

P R ES I D E N T 2158 Kenner Ave. Kenner, LA 70062

RESIDENTIAL • COMMERCIAL • REMODELING & NEW CONSTRUCTION

An Affordable Quality Builder for Over 25 Years • Room Additions • Custom Kitchens • Custom Baths

• Window Replacements • New Roofing & Repairs • Concrete Work

Building Homes & Remodeling

NOW SERVICING THE NORTHSHORE & SOUTHSHORE!

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES SHRIMP - CRAWFISH - FISH - OYSTER - CRAB

PARTNER WITH PROCESSOR Email resume with past experience in the seafood industry to: shrimpexpert89@gmail.com

Driveways, houses fences. - 504-913-1920

ABLE TREE SERVICE 50+ YEARS LOCAL SERVICE $2 Million Liabilty Insurance • Worker’s Comp NEVER A COMPLAINT TO THE

TRIMMING STUMP REMOVAL

50 4 - 828 -1532

REALTOR®

“Connecting You to the Soul of New Orleans One Home, One Neighborhood, One Passion at a Time!”

m 504.239.1481 o 504.861.7575 corinne.fox@compass.com www.compass.com/agents/corinne-fox 7934 Maple St. New Orleans, LA 70118 Licensed by the State of Louisiana

Licensed, Bonded and fully Insured with a 96.5% approval rating

o D e e ct o

MR. CARBO FIRST FOR BEST PRICES!

Corinne Fox

504 -570 - 6683

3030 Lausat Street, Metairie, Louisiana 70001 Website: twomenandatruck.com/neworleans

(NO INVESTMENT REQUIRED, YOU DO THE SALES & SHARE PROFITS)

PRESSURE WASHING WE RECYCLE YOUR TREES

• Carport Enclosures • Garages • Plumbing Repairs

Your Plans or Ours ~ Licensed and Insured

Fax 504-467-6708

Make your holidays a lot easier with the Versa Lift Attic Elevator Prices start at $2795 12 month no interest financing available CALL 504-466-3712 Hurricane Fence and Home Improvement

REMOVAL STORM PREP

R.J. LABORDE CONSTRUCTION

Call for Estimates: 504-885-5224 / 504-250-7139

504-467-6998

GET READY FOR THE HOLIDAYS

CALL

504-466-3712

www.hurricanefenceneworleans.com All types of Fences Exclusive Pre-Stained Cedar Fences

Tree Trimming & Removal • Stump Grinding *Must Dial Area Code*

504-341-2006 FREE ESTIMATES!

License and Insured and Professionally trained

To advertise here, please call 225-383-0111 or visit us at servicedirectory.nola.com

The Times-Picayune ✦ nola.com ✦ Thursday, September 3, 2026 ✦ 9D

lll

Legal Notices

ARE ENCOURAGED. THE CPC HAS ESTABLISHED PUBLIC HEARING RULES WITHIN ITS ADMINISTRA‐ TIVE RULES, POLICIES, & PROCEDURES, WHICH ARE AVAILABLE ON THE CPC WEBSITE: WWW. NOLA.GOV/CPC. YOU MAY ALSO SUBMIT WRITTEN COMMENTS TO THE EX‐ ECUTIVE DIRECTOR IN ADVANCE BY MAIL (1300 PERDIDO STREET, 7TH FLOOR, NEW ORLEANS, LA 70112) OR EMAIL CPCINFO@NOLA.GOV. ALL WRITTEN COMMENTS MUST BE RECEIVED BY CLOSE OF BUSINESS ON THE MONDAY, EIGHT DAYS PRIOR TO THE HEARING DATE. September 3, 10 and 17, 2026 Robert Rivers, Executive Director NOCP 9263 199662-sept 3-10-17-3t $114.36 PUBLIC NOTICE --UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF LOUISIANA IN RE: THE MATTER OF T&M HOLDINGS, AS OWNER OF THE M/V DOU‐ GLAS, PETITIONING FOR EXONERATION FROM OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY CIVIL ACTION NO.: 252286 c/w 26-1694 Applies to: 26-1694 SECTION: A JUDGE: Jay C. Zainey MAGISTRATE JUDGE: Karen Wells Roby ADMIRALTY - Rule 9(h) NOTICE TO CLAIMANTS OF COMPLAINT FOR EXON‐ ERATION FROM OR LIMI‐ TATION OF LIABILITY NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that T&M Holdings, LLC, as owner and operator of the M/V DOUGLAS, her engines, tackle, gear, fur‐ niture, appurtenances, etc. (hereinafter "the Vessel"), has ﬁled a Complaint, pursuant to 46 U.S.C. §§ 30501, et seq., for exoneration from or limitation of lia‐ bility for all claims for any and all loss of life, in‐ jury, loss of property, de‐ struction, or damage, arising out of or related to the casualty allegedly involving the Vessel as is more fully described in T&M Holdings, LLC's Complaint For Exonera‐ tion From or Limitation of Liability ("Complaint"). All persons having such claims must ﬁle their re‐ spective claims, as pro‐ vided in Rule F of the Supplemental Rules for Admiralty or Maritime Claims of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, with the Clerk of Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, Carol L. Michel, United States Courthouse, 500 Poydras Street, Room C151, New Orleans, LA 70130, and must serve a copy thereof on counsel for Limitation Petitioner, Al‐ fred J. Rufty, III and i l f h

Public Notices Successions

Legal Notices

y Austin S. Glascoe of the ﬁrm of Jones Walker LLP, 201 St. Charles Ave., 48th Floor, New Orleans, LA 70170 on or before the 31st day of October, 2026, or be defaulted. If any claimant desires to contest either the right to exoneration from or the right to limitation of liability, that claimant shall ﬁle and serve on counsel for the Limita‐ tion Petitioner an answer to the Complaint on or before the aforesaid date unless the claim has in‐ cluded an answer, so designated, or be de‐ faulted. Personal attendance is not required. Date: Aug 12 2026 Carol L. Michel Name of clerk of court L. Guillot Deputy clerk's signature

customary notary fees, taxes, and title, except for realtor fees and any customary seller costs. The immovable owned by the decedent which the Administratrix pro‐ poses to sell at private sale is described as fol‐ lows: 1000 Main Street, LaPlace, LA 70068 more particularly described, per the St. John the Bap‐ tist Assessor, Lot D, Square A, Farm Lot No. 5. Any heir or creditor who opposes the proposed sale must ﬁle his opposi‐ tion with the Court within seven (7) days from the date that publi‐ cation of this notice ap‐ pears. Attorney: Robert T. Garrity, Jr. and/or Pierre W. Mouledoux Address: 615 Hickory Ave, Hara‐ han, LA 70123 Telephone: (504) 738-1111

198152-sep 3-10-17-24-4t $1,118.92

Public Notices Meet/Hear/Min

PUBLIC NOTICE ---

Public Notices Successions

HOME DELIVERED

PUBLIC NOTICE --40TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT FOR THE PARISH OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST STATE OF LOUISIANA NO. 8224, DIVISION A SUCCES‐ SION OF RICHARD L. AL‐ FORD, JR. NOTICE OF AP‐ PLICATION FOR AUTHOR‐ ITY TO SELL IMMOVABLE PROPERTY AT PRIVATE SALE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that MARY JO ELLEN ALFORD, in her ca‐ pacity as Administratrix of the Succession of Richard L. Alford, Jr., has petitioned this Court for authority to sell an im‐ movable at private sale, in accordance with the provisions of Article 33281 et seq. of the Code of Civil Procedure, to EBTESAM MOHSEN, for the total sum of EIGHTY THOUSAND DOLLARS AND NO/100 ($80,000.00) DOLLARS cash, in its pre‐ sent condition, as is, with no warranty as to the condition of the immov‐ able; however, the sale was subject to inspec‐ tions and appraisal with the purchaser paying own costs in connection with the sale including, but not limited to, all

LOUISIANA OWNED

SUBSCRIBE TODAY

A REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE PORT OF NEW ORLEANS, HELD IN THE FIRST FLOOR AUDITORIUM AT ITS OFFICE LOCATED AT 1350 PORT OF NEW ORLEANS PLACE, NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA, WAS CALLED TO ORDER BY CHAIRMAN MICHAEL A. THOMAS AT 1:36 P.M. Michael A. Thomas, Chairman Todd P. Murphy, Secretary Treasurer Jeanne E. Ferrer, Member James J. Carter, Jr., Member Sharonda R. Williams, Member Dale S. Revelle, Member

MEMBER ABSENT:

Darryl D. Berger, Vice-Chairman

STAFF:

L. Marino, Chief of Staff and Vice-President of External Affairs J. Escudier, Chief Legal Officer A. Laurie, Chief Financial Officer K. App, Chief Commercial Officer M. Jensen, Chief Operating Officer C. Donze, Staff Attorney G. Brown, Vice-President, People & Culture K. Barnes, Human Resources B. Wilson, Human Resources A. McKnight, Human Resources L. Robinson, Human Resources H. Peltier, Engineering M. Sulser, Director, Engineering J. Passaro, Manager, Engineering C. Nguyen, Manager, Engineering C. Labat, Director, Procurement K. Chinn, Procurement K. Gilmore, Director, Real Estate E. LeCompte, Manager, Environmental E. Federer, Director, Sustainable Development B. Skaggs, Manager, Sustainable Development B. Bailey, Information Technology Specialist A. Hanks, Manager, Cruise A. Bierman, Manager, Insurance and FEMA Administration K. Mills, Manager, Government & Community Affairs J. Fields, Marketing & Communications Officer M. Singley, Executive Staff Officer S. Hodges, Board Secretariat

GUESTS:

T. Bryant, NOPB G. Harris, NOPB C. Kocur, NOPB M. Scelson, NOPB L. LaCoste, NOPB A. Thompson, Holy Cross Resident K. Braud, The Covent Collective M. Bowers, KIEWIT K. Boulton, KIEWIT P. West, EJES Inc. M. Moore, MOREO J. Meadows, T-P P. Gangi, BEAM C. Parker

Roll Call & Determination of Quorum

MEMBERS PRESENT:

Michael A. Thomas, Chairman Todd P. Murphy, Secretary Treasurer Jeanne E. Ferrer, Member James J. Carter, Jr., Member Sharonda R. Williams, Member Dale S. Revelle, Member

MEMBER ABSENT:

Darryl D. Berger, Vice-Chairman

STAFF:

Tomeka Bryant, General Manager & Chief Strategy Officer G. Harris, Manager, Operations Support C. Kocur, Vice-President, Engineering M. Scelson, Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel L. LaCoste, Staff Attorney I. McPherson, Vice-President, Transportation

GUESTS:

199486-SEP 3-1T $38.70

Public Notices Successions

A REGULAR MEETING OF THE NEW ORLEANS PUBLIC BELT RAILROAD COMMISSION FOR THE PORT OF NEW ORLEANS, HELD IN THE FIRST FLOOR AUDITORIUM OF THE PORT OF NEW ORLEANS’ OFFICES, LOCATED AT 1350 PORT OF NEW ORLEANS PLACE, NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA, WAS CALLED TO ORDER BY CHAIRMAN MICHAEL A. THOMAS AT 1:30 P.M.

SEVEN DAYS

Pursuant to the La. Gov‐ ernment Budget Act, The Board of Directors of Col‐ legiate Academies ap‐ proved the 2026-27 bud‐ get at the board meeting on August 26th, 2026 at 6:00 PM and has com‐ pleted the budget process.

Public Notices Successions

THE NEW ORLEANS PUBLIC BELT RAILROAD COMMISSION FOR THE PORT OF NEW ORLEANS MINUTES OF THE REGULAR COMMISSION MEETING THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2026

199605-SEP 3-23-2T $72.94

THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE PORT OF NEW ORLEANS MINUTES OF THE REGULAR BOARD MEETING THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2026

MEMBERS PRESENT:

Public Notices Successions

L. Marino, Port of New Orleans A. Laurie, Port of New Orleans K. App, Port of New Orleans M. Jensen, Port of New Orleans G. Brown, Port of New Orleans C. Donze, Port of New Orleans Lt. C. Cummings, Harbor Police Department B. Bailey, Port of New Orleans K. Barnes, Port of New Orleans B. Wilson, Port of New Orleans A. McKnight, Port of New Orleans L. Robinson, Port of New Orleans H. Peltier, Port of New Orleans M. Sulser, Port of New Orleans J. Passaro, Port of New Orleans C. Nguyen, Port of New Orleans C. Labat, Port of New Orleans K. Chinn, Port of New Orleans K. Gilmore, Port of New Orleans E. LeCompte, Port of New Orleans E. Federer, Port of New Orleans B. Skaggs, Port of New Orleans A. Hanks, Port of New Orleans A. Bierman, Port of New Orleans K. Mills, Port of New Orleans J. Fields, Port of New Orleans M. Singley, Port of New Orleans S. Hodges, Port of New Orleans A. Thompson, Holy Cross Resident K. Braud, The Covent Collective M. Bowers, KIEWIT K. Boulton, KIEWIT P. West, EJES Inc. M. Moore, MOREO J. Meadows, T-P P. Gangi, BEAM

Following a roll call of Board members, Chairman Thomas confirmed a quorum and called the meeting to order at 1:36 p.m. II. Public Comment Chairman Thomas called for public comment and Ms. Hodges announced that one (1) individual requested to make public comment on matters not listed on the agenda. Prior to inviting the speakers to the podium, Ms. Hodges read the Board’s public comment parameters. Amanda Thompson voiced her opposition to the proposed organic grain terminal at the Alabo Street Wharf and the rehabilitation of the rail infrastructure serving the Alabo Street Wharf. III. Report by the President and Chief Executive Officer In the absence of Ms. Branch, the Chief Commercial Officer, Ms. App, presented an overview of the June 2026 volume and productivity statistics, along with a summary of the month’s key highlights. IV. Approval of the Meeting Minutes for June 2026 Chairman Thomas called for a motion to approve the public meeting minutes for June 2026, as previously circulated. Commissioner Carter moved to accept the minutes and Commissioner Revelle seconded. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY V. Action Items: A. Acceptance of the Consolidated Financial Statements for June 2026. Mr. Laurie presented the consolidated financial statements for the month of June, a copy of which is made a part of these minutes. Commissioner Ferrer moved to approve the consolidated financial statements and Commissioner Murphy seconded. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY B. Consider Approval of a Resolution Authorizing the President and Chief Executive Officer to Enter into a Lease Agreement with Danzas Corporation d/b/a DHL Global Forwarding for the Property Located at 8000 Jourdan Road, New Orleans, Louisiana. Mr. Gilmore presented and recommended approval of the resolution. Commissioner Williams moved to approve the resolution and Commissioner Murphy seconded. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY C. Consider Approval of a Resolution Awarding a Contract to Kostmayer Construction, LLC in the Amount of $615,000 for Nashville B Fire Pump Intake Repairs. Mr. Sulser presented and recommended approval of the resolution. Commissioner Carter moved to approve the resolution and Commissioner Revelle seconded. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

Public Notices Successions

C. Parker I.

Roll Call & Determination of Quorum Following a roll call of Commission members, Chairman Thomas confirmed a quorum and called the meeting to order at 1:30 p.m.

II. Pledge of Allegiance Chairman Thomas lead the Pledge of Allegiance. III. Public Comment Chairman Thomas called for agenda-related public comments but there were none. IV. Report of the General Manager Ms. Bryant reported on the June volumes and productivity statistics. V. Approval of Meeting Minutes for June 2026 Chairman Thomas called for a motion to approve the public meeting minutes for June 2026, as previously circulated. Commissioner Carter moved to approve the minutes and Commissioner Revelle seconded. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY VI. Action Items: A. Acceptance of the Financial Statement for June 2026. Mr. Laurie presented the Commission’s financial statement for the month of June, a copy of which is made a part of these minutes. Commissioner Williams moved to accept the financial statement and Commissioner Carter seconded. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY B. Consider Approval of a Resolution Awarding a Contract to GSD Trading USA, Inc. in the Amount of $189,000 for the Trinity Site Demolition Project. Mr. Kocur presented and recommended approval of the resolution. Commissioner Murphy moved to approve the resolution and Commissioner Revelle seconded. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY VII. Chairman & Commissioners’ Comments Chairman Thomas asked for Commissioners’ comments but there were none. VIII. Adjournment There being no further business to come before the Commission, Chairman Thomas called for a motion to adjourn. Commissioner Murphy so moved and Commissioner Revelle seconded. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY and Chairman Thomas adjourned the meeting at 1:36 p.m.

199333-683372-sep 3-1t $ 221.76

resolution. Commissioner Williams moved to approve the resolution and Commissioner Murphy seconded. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY E. Consider Approval of a Resolution Awarding a Contract to D&D Construction LA, LLC in the Amount of $1,196,840 for Julia Street Wharf Cruise Bollard Upgrades. Mr. Sulser presented and recommended approval of the resolution. Commissioner Revelle moved to approve the resolution and Commissioner Murphy seconded. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY F. Consider Approval of a Resolution Authorizing the President and Chief Executive Officer to Amend the Contract with Modjeski and Masters, Inc. for As-Needed Engineering and Professional Services for Moveable Bridges to Increase the Not-to-Exceed Cost by $250,000. Mr. Sulser presented and recommended approval of the resolution. Commissioner Ferrer moved to approve the resolution and Commissioner Williams seconded. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY G. Consider Approval of a Resolution Authorizing the President and Chief Executive Officer to Enter into an Entity/State Agreement with the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development in Connection with the Federal Funding Administration for the St. Claude Bridge Rehabilitation Project. Mr. Sulser presented and recommended approval of the resolution. Commissioner Carter moved to approve the resolution and Commissioner Revelle seconded. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY H. Consider Approval of a Resolution Authorizing the President and Chief Executive Officer to Accept Project Completion with Barriere Construction Company, L.L.C., Under the Port Construction and Development Priority Program for the Nashville Avenue Terminal Paving Improvements Phase 1. Mr. Sulser presented and recommended approval of the resolution. Commissioner Murphy moved to approve the resolution and Commissioner Williams seconded. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY VI. Chairman and Commissioners’ Comments Chairman Thomas asked for Commissioners’ comments but there were none. VII. Adjournment There being no further business to come before the Board, Chairman Thomas called for a motion to adjourn. Commissioner Williams so moved and Commissioner Ferrer seconded. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY and Chairman Thomas adjourned the meeting at 1:58 p.m.

D. Consider Approval of a Resolution Awarding a Contract to Roundhouse Restoration, LLC in the Amount of $305,000 for Administration Building IT Room HVAC Upgrades.

199332-683371-sep 3-1t $ 332.64

Mr. Sulser presented and recommended approval of the

Something for everyone. SHOP TODAY! store.nola.com

10D ✦ Thursday, September 3, 2026 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

Scan to download

lll

Scan to download

ONE great state FOUR great apps

Scan to download

THIS MONTH AT THE LIBRARY RESOURCES, SERVICES, AND EVENTS VOLUME 2

ISSUE 9

SEPTEMBER 2026

g n i L L a c

l a c all lo S n a i c i S u m only streaming service, ’ ns lea Or w Ne to sic mu ur yo it bm Su

CRESCENT CIT Y SOUNDS. bmissions open September 4 – October 2 Su

Info SeSSIonS:

nds.org crescentcitysou

Learn how to submit, what we accept, how much you’ll be paid and how we choose the hosted albums.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9 • 5:30PM – 6:30PM Algiers Regional Library

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12 • 2PM – 3PM Nora Navra Library

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16 • 5:30PM – 6:30PM Central City Library

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29 • 5:30PM – 6:30PM East New Orleans Regional Library

Plus, September is

Library Card Sign-Up Month Sign up for a new card or renew your card for a prize!

SEPTEMBER 2026

/nolalibrary

@nolalibrary

Main Library

219 Loyola Avenue (504) 596-2570

EARLY LITERACY EVENTS

Algiers Regional Library

The New Orleans Public Library offers storytimes for children from birth to age 5 at all of our locations. Visit nolalibrary.org/early-literacy for more information.

Alvar Library

TODDLER TIME

3014 Holiday Drive (504) 596-2641 913 Alvar Street (504) 596-2667

Central City Library

2020 Jackson Avenue, Suite 139 (504) 596-3110

Children’s Resource Center Library

913 Napoleon Avenue (504) 596-2628

Desire / Florida Satellite Location

Read, sing, and wiggle during an interactive storytime geared towards toddlers and their caregivers, followed by a time to play with toys, sensory activities, or crafts. Wednesdays from 10:30am – 11:30am Algiers Regional Library

PLAYTIME & EVENING PLAYTIME

Imagine and play with Library-provided toys, dress-up clothes, puppets, and more. Each month is a new theme for children to explore. This child-led event is for children ages 2 – 5 and their families.

3250 Industry Street

East New Orleans Regional Library 5641 Read Boulevard (504) 596-0200

Cita Dennis Hubbell Library

725 Pelican Avenue (504) 596-3113

Rosa F. Keller Library and Community Center 4300 South Broad Avenue (504) 596-2660

THINK IT! CREATE IT! BUILD IT!

For locations and hours, visit nolalibrary.co/playtime.

Creative and interactive playtime featuring giant-sized building materials. Spark creativity and promote imaginative play. Wednesdays starting on the 9th from 4pm – 5pm East New Orleans Regional Library

LITTLE STEAMERS

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library

A series designed for children ages 3 – 5 years old to explore Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) at the Library.

Milton H. Latter Memorial Library

Norman Mayer Library

Saturday, September 5 from 10:30am – 11:30am Norman Mayer Library

1611 Fats Domino Avenue (504) 596-2695

5120 Saint Charles Avenue (504) 596-2625 3001 Gentilly Boulevard (504) 596-3100

LITTLE STOMPERS

Mid-City Library

Explore New Orleans music and culture during this 6-week interactive program series designed for children and their caregivers.

4140 Canal Street (504) 596-2654

Nora Navra Library

1902 Saint Bernard Avenue (504) 596-3118

Nix Library

1401 South Carrollton Avenue (504) 596-2630

REACH Center

2022 St. Bernard Avenue, Building C (504) 256-6983

Robert E. Smith Library 6301 Canal Boulevard (504) 596-2638

Big Easy Rascals is for ages 12 months to 24 months Mardi Gras Mambos is for ages 3 to 5

Did you know that you can access ABCmouse for free? Help your child build a strong foundation for future academic success with comprehensive and engaging online courses to assist early learners to succeed in pre-K, kindergarten, and early elementary school. Get started with your Library card at nolalibrary.org.

Register at nolalibrary.co/little-stompers. Saturday, September 19 and 26 from 10:15am – 11am and 11:15am – 12pm East New Orleans Regional Library

ALL PROGRAMS SPONSORED BY THE LIBRARY FOUNDATION OF NEW ORLEANS. ALL EVENTS ARE FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. YOU DO NOT NEED A LIBRARY CARD. OCCASIONALLY, EVENT DATES AND TIMES CHANGE. CHECK EVENTS.NOLALIBRARY.ORG OR CALL YOUR LIBRARY LOCATION TO CONFIRM THE MOST CURRENT EVENT INFORMATION.

SEPTEMBER 2026

TEEN & TWEEN TEEN DROP-IN EVENTS

CHILDREN’S EVENTS

Hang out, play games, make art, learn a new hobby, or explore new tech at this program for teens ages 11 – 18.

STEAM CLUB

TEEN VOLUNTEER DAY

Experiment, create, or craft at this handson STEAM event for children ages 6 – 12.

Serve your community, be creative, socialize, and earn service-learning hours. Teen Volunteer Day is open to teens ages 14 – 18.

This month’s activities include:

Painting Like Alma Thomas Paint like the greats. Copy Alma Thomas’s vibrant style of movement, color, and shape with acrylic paints.

Register at nolalibrary.co/teen-drop-in to help us plan supplies. Tuesday, September 15 from 4pm – 5pm Mid-City Library Tuesday, September 15 from 4:30pm – 5:30pm East New Orleans Regional Library

Tuesday, September 1 from 4pm – 6pm Mid-City Library

Tuesday, September 1 from 4pm – 5pm Milton H. Latter Memorial Library

Tuesday, September 8 from 4pm – 6pm Milton H. Latter Memorial Library

EXPRESS YOURSELF! MONTHLY TRANS & QUEER TEEN HANGOUT WITH THE NEW

Wednesdays at Chess Club from 4pm – 5:30pm Algiers Regional Library

Enjoy games, activities, and pizza each month at this drop-in event for teens ages 11 – 18.

TEEN VOLUNTEER ORIENTATION

Rainsticks Make it rain with homemade versions of traditional rainstick instruments. Wednesday, September 30 from 4pm – 5pm Central City Library

CHESS CLUB

Beginner and experienced players are welcome at Chess Club. Each session includes instruction as needed but focuses on playing against other participants or Library staff. Practice problem-solving and develop critical thinking at this hands-on STEAM program for ages 6 – 12.

Plus • Play Doh Club • Origami Frog Racing • Tornado in a Jar • Doodle Bots • Skeleton Hand • Factory Flowers • Dungeons and Dragons

Wednesdays from 4pm – 5pm Algiers Regional Library

Visit nolalibrary.co/STEAM for times and locations.

FREE IMMUNIZATIONS FOR CHILDREN

Thursdays from 4pm – 5pm Cita Dennis Hubbell Library

MATH WORKOUTS

WITH MAKE IT COUNT MATH

Build math confidence and have fun along the way. Play math games and increase math skills in this 3 week series by Make It Count Math and teen mentors. For 1st – 4th graders and 5th – 7th graders. Meal included. Register at nolalibrary.co/math-workouts. Wednesdays beginning September 16 from 4pm – 5:30pm and 5pm – 6:30pm Norman Mayer Library

Interested in volunteering at the library? Volunteering for the first time in a while? Our monthly virtual orientation session shares everything you need to know. Register at nolalibrary.co/orientation.

ORLEANS PRIDE CENTER

Thursday, September 10 from 4:30pm – 5:30pm Main Library

Monday, September 14 from 4:30pm – 5:30pm

The Greater New Orleans Immunization Network at Manning Family Children’s will provide free vaccines to children 0 – 18 years of age. No appointment is necessary. To prepare for your visit, plan to bring required documents for the child: birth certiﬁcate or passport, immunization record (if applicable). Tuesday, September 22 from 1:30pm – 4:30pm Algiers Regional Library Wednesday, September 23 from 1:30pm – 4:30pm East New Orleans Regional Library

SEPTEMBER 2026

ADULT EVENTS

AUTHOR NIGHT AT HUBBELL LIBRARY: GARY M. SMITH TWO LEAVES AND A BUD: TEA IN CONTEMPORARY TIMES

TECHCONNECT

Book a one-on-one appointment to develop conﬁdence, build computer skills, and grow more comfortable in today’s digital world.

This reference guide takes readers on a tea journey from historical contexts to contemporary farming, harvesting, processing, and serving, exploring tea cultivars, tisanes, herbal infusions, and more.

Tuesday, September 15 from 6:30pm – 7:30pm Cita Dennis Hubbell Library

Tuesdays from 10am – 12pm Wednesdays from 3pm – 5pm East New Orleans Regional Library

FINANCIAL LITERACY PRESENTATION

LEARN TO TYPE WITHOUT LOOKING - AND HAVE FUN TOO!

Build long-term ﬁnancial stability in real-world, accessible ways. Leave this session empowered with foundational money skills, including budgeting, credit awareness, and ﬁnancial goal-setting.

Learn typing skills, including the ability to ﬁnd keys on the keyboard. Increase your comfort level in using a computer. Register at nolalibrary.co/typing. Tuesdays from 10am – 11:30am Main Library

FOUNDATIONS OF CULTURAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP

WITH MUSIC AND CULTURE COALITION OF NEW ORLEANS

WITH ON PATH FOUNDATION

SOIL MAKING 101

WITH PELICAN GARDENS

Learn the basics of how to make your own garden soil mix to provide nutrients and drainage in your home garden using a variety of resources. Saturday, September 19 from 1pm – 2pm East New Orleans Regional Library

PLANT SWAP

Celebrate the ﬁrst day of fall with a new plant. Bring your clippings, propagations, cast off plants, and spare pots to swap and share. Make your own seed bomb to propagate native wildﬂowers. Tuesday, September 22 from 4pm – 6pm Mid-City Library

HISTORIC DISTRICT LANDMARKS COMMISSION OPEN HOUSE

50 YEARS OF PROTECTING NEW ORLEANS’ ARCHITECTURAL HISTORY

Are you a in cultural organization or part of the cultural community? Get an introduction to topics like basic ﬁnancial management, building partnerships, incorporating your organization, and more.

Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the creation of the Historic District Landmarks Commission at the City Archives & Special Collections with an Open House and Special Presentation.

Thursday, September 10 from 11:30am – 1pm Norman Mayer Library

Friday, September 18 from 11am – 1pm Main Library

KNOW SOMEONE WHO IS UNABLE TO LEAVE HOME DUE TO PERMANENT OR TEMPORARY DISABILITY? They may be eligible for Books-by-Mail, which is available to all Orleans Parish Library cardholders over eighteen years of age who are homebound due to medical or mobility issues. Get more information and apply at nolalibrary.org/books-by-mail.

NOU LA-WE ARE HERE: IN RHYTHM OF OUR CREOLE ROOTS

Celebrate the city’s legacy and the resilience and maintenance of Creole culture in New Orleans through arts and culture. Saturday, September 26 from 10am – 12pm REACH Center

AUTHOR TALK AND COFFEE TASTING: MARIELLE SONGY - COFFEE CULTURE NEW ORLEANS

Enjoy a sampling of fresh-brewed coffees from HEY Coffee Co. while Marielle Songy discusses her new book, Coffee Culture New Orleans, tracing the city’s rich history of coffee traditions. Saturday, September 26 from 11am – 12:30pm Norman Mayer Library

*SPONSORED BY THE FRIENDS OF THE NEW ORLEANS PUBLIC LIBRARY | ALL EVENTS ARE FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. YOU DO NOT NEED A LIBRARY CARD. OCCASIONALLY, EVENT DATES AND TIMES CHANGE. CHECK EVENTS.NOLALIBRARY.ORG OR CALL YOUR LIBRARY LOCATION TO CONFIRM THE MOST CURRENT EVENT INFORMATION.

The Times-Picayune ✦ nola.com ✦ Thursday, September 3, 2026 ✦ 1S

lll

Relax this

LABOR DAY

UP SAVE TO

% OFF

Covington • New Orleans

PLUS SHOP AND WIN YOUR PURCHASE UP TO

$7,500! Disclaimer: See Store for additional details. Discounts oﬀ suggested Retail. Prior sales excluded / can not be combined with other oﬀers. Mattress, Stressless Furniture, warranties and protection plan are excluded. Purchases made from 8/19/26 - 9/14/26 are eligible.

2S ✦ Thursday, September 3, 2026 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

lll

DOERR FURNITURE – A NEW ORLEANS STAPLE Doerr Furniture was founded by Charles L. Doerr, Sr. in 1938 and continues to serve its loyal customers throughout Southeast Louisiana and the Gulf South. We are now a Fouth-generation family business, rooted in the history of New Orleans.

WE’RE COMMITTED TO YOU

To this day, the Mutter Family believes that the focus is on you, Our customer, and strives to provide unparalleled customer service. From the ﬁrst greeting at the showroom to the delivery of your furniture and after, Doerr Furniture’s aim is to welcome you into the Doerr Family.

LIFE IS GOOD WITH SOLID WOOD We have the largest Selection of North American Made Solid wood in the Gulf South!

Generations have trusted Doerr Furniture, so come on in and let us customize furniture for you! David Mutter President, Doerr Furniture

The Times-Picayune ✦ nola.com ✦ Thursday, September 3, 2026 ✦ 3S

lll

We travel the country to bring you the

Highest Quality Furniture. We’re committed to hand-crafted products from skilled craftsmen.

Celebrate Stickley’s 125th Anniversary WITH LIMITED EDITION PIECES EXCLUSIVELY AT DOERR New Orleans 914 Elysian Fields Ave. (504) 947-0606

Covington • New Orleans

Covington 1645 N. Hwy 190 Suite 600 (985) 900 -2425

DoerrFurniture.com M-F 10-6 Sat 10-5

Disclaimer: See Store for additional details. Discounts oﬀ suggested Retail. Prior sales excluded / can not be combined with other oﬀers. Mattress, Stressless Furniture, warranties and protection plan are excluded. Purchases made from 8/19/26 - 9/14/26 are eligible.

4S ✦ Thursday, September 3, 2026 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

lll

Let us make your house, a home!

Choose from Hundreds of Premium Fabrics! Style, Comfort, and Durability...

SAVE up

OFF

Experience the

The Perfect Recliner for Daytime Relaxation and Peaceful Sleep!

Covington • New Orleans

New Orleans 914 Elysian Fields Ave. (504) 947-0606

Covington 1645 N. Hwy 190 Suite 600 (985) 900 -2425

DoerrFurniture.com Mon-Fri 10-6 Sat 10-5

THE TIMES-PICAYUNE

PAGE 6

Sept. 3, 2026

SOUTHERN DECADENCE THIS WEEKEND page 9

Bagel shop aims to expand northshore offerings page 4

2 ✦ Thursday, September 3, 2026 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

don’t miss

children’s museum turns 40

“Party Like It’s 1986” is the theme for the family birthday bash from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and teen scene celebration from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at 15 Henry Thomas Drive on the City Park campus. Take part in retro activities, a sing-along, lawn games and photo ops, and enjoy cake and music by Where Y’acht, plus a DJ, party treats and crafts. Admission to the museum will be free, but families are encouraged to RSVP. lcm.org.

lll

mermaid parade The banks of the Mississippi River will be teeming with mermaids, mermen, pirates, ﬁsh and other aquatic oddities for the fourth annual procession Saturday through Goldring Woldenberg Park to the Audubon Aquarium Plaza. The Mudlark Puppeteers perform at 4 p.m. Registration to stroll alongside begins at 4:30 p.m. Participation is $35, beneﬁting the aquarium. The parade starts at 6:30 p.m. at 1 Canal St. The crowning of the queen and king takes place at 8 p.m. to wrap the contest.

festival de las américas Lyrica Baroque will have a ﬂavorful evening of music and cuisine at 3 p.m. Sunday as a fundraiser for the chamber music education program at a private home in Kenner. For the musical taste buds, performances will include Jaren Atherholt and the Electric Yat Quartet. At 3 p.m., a reception with Latin dishes and beverages will set the tone, while a paella dinner will be served at 5 p.m. Tickets start at $100. lyricabaroque.com.

ABOUT LAGNIAPPE

The Lagniappe section is published each Thursday by The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate. All inquiries about Lagniappe should be directed to the editor. LAGNIAPPE EDITOR: Lauren Walck, lauren.walck@theadvocate.com COVER DESIGN: Andrea Daniel CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Victor Andrews, Kasey Bubnash, Marigny Lanaux, Doug MacCash, Ian McNulty, Justin Mitchell, Keith Spera, Willie Swett, Bob Warren, Poet Wolfe

GET LISTED IN LAGNIAPPE

Submit events to Lagniappe at least two weeks in advance by sending an email to events@theadvocate.com.

ON THE COVER

New Orleanians ﬂocked to the Joy Theater recently for Bingo Loco, a global phenomenom that combines a party and playing bingo. Photo by Enan Chediak. Writer Kasey Bubnash was there. Story on Page 6.

Jaren Atherholt

yoga festival The Hotel Peter & Paul in the Marigny hosts four days of immersive workshops, sound baths and experiences focused on movement and wellness, plus live music. Doors open at 5 p.m. Thursday, 1:30 p.m. Friday, 7:30 a.m. Saturday and 8:30 a.m. Sunday. Registration starts at $165.

lll

The Times-Picayune ✦ nola.com ✦ Thursday, September 3, 2026 ✦ 3

attractions

A new miniature train is circling Audubon Zoo BY MARIGNY LANAUX Staff writer

A new miniature train is pulling into the station at Audubon Zoo, with a different name and upgraded look, nearly 130 years after the ﬁrst mini train tracks were laid at Audubon Park. What was the Swamp Train is now the Audubon Wonders of Nature Express, and no tracks are needed for it to chug around the 54-acre campus in Uptown thanks to rubber wheels — like a very long, deluxe golf cart. Passengers will still ﬁnd covered seats and open-

sided cars along with a narrated ride with fun facts to accompany scenic views. It holds up to 45 people and is wheelchair-accessible. The former Swamp Train went out of service in February. “It was just time for an upgrade,” the zoo said on Facebook. “After many years of making memories, our old train was ready to retire.” The Express runs daily starting at 10:30 a.m., with the ability to ride all day. The train has two designated stops — the Train Depot Stop and the Swamp Stop — where passengers

The new Audubon Wonders of Nature Express takes passengers around Audubon Zoo daily.

can hop on and off at their convenience. Tickets are available for $5 for Audubon all-access or zoo-only members and $6.50 for nonmembers at the zoo’s front gate, membership window or train ticket booth. Children under the age of 13 must be accompanied by an adult. Vice President of Communications Melissa Lee said the train is a beloved tradition for generations of visitors. “We are so happy that it will be part of wonderful zoo memories for our guests as they explore,” she said.

cookbook signing Chef Edgar “Dook” Chase IV, of the legendary Crescent City culinary family, will be at the Garden District Book Shop at 6 p.m. Tuesday in The Rink, 2727 Prytania St., to sign copies of “A Chef’s Journey,” which features recipes from the WYES PBS series. The event is free, but space is limited. gardendistrictbookshop.com.

hispanic heritage fair The East Bank Regional Library, 4747 W. Napoleon Ave., Metairie, will be the site of the kickoff for Hispanic Heritage Month from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. The mostly Spanish program includes activities and crafts for kids, dance performances and community resources on topics including health, education and employment. jplibrary.net.

PROVIDED PHOTO By AUDUBON ZOO/ T MILLS

AY SUND

1 OC20T261

Heaven’s Pets at Lake Lawn Metairie Cemeteries Every step supports local animal rescues. Register, donate or fundraise today!

N O L A D O G S R A C E .C O M

4 ✦ Thursday, September 3, 2026 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

food

lll

HOLE

HEARTED

A St. Tammany couple quit their jobs and bet on bagels. Their Mandeville eatery is thriving. BY POET WOLFE Staff writer

For four months, Billy and Dana Tune would come home from work and disappear into the kitchen — surrounded by flour, yeast and piles of cookbooks — attempting to create the perfect bagel recipe — or at least one that might eventually free them from their fulltime jobs. Dana Tune worked in the hotel industry and cared for their two children, while Billy Tune’s work on construction sites could stretch to 70 hours a week. Eventually, the couple said, they became tired of working for other people. “We decided, what does the community need?” Billy Tune said. “That was a big thing. We taught ourselves to make bagels, mix and match recipes, and threw more bagels away than we were proud of, until we figured it out.” Once their recipes were refined, the couple began selling bagels at local charity events and the Covington Farmers Market in 2022, where their following on the northshore gradually grew for two years, until they decided a pop-up wasn’t enough. “We decided if we were up and quitting our jobs,” Dana Tune said, “it needed to be something somewhat lucrative that nobody else had done yet.” So the couple opened Dilly & Sons Bagelry and Cafe in Mandeville, where the bagel scene remains relatively small. But Dilly & Sons’ success is also part of a broader shift in the New Orleans area, where an influx of transplants with Northern roots has helped bring bagels to a region better known for beignets. In 2022, Connecticut native Breanne Kostyk and her husband, Jeff

Hinson, opened Flour Moon Bagels on the Lafitte Greenway. Last year, New York native Justin Shugrue opened Shug’s Bagels in Uptown. Now that wave has reached beyond the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway, inspiring longtime northshore residents like the Tunes to make a distinctly New York staple their own. Following one’s passions is a familiar lesson from school, movies and books, even when it means discomfort: quitting a job, sacrificing financial security, moving to another city. The real challenge is actually doing it. The northshore couple followed that philosophy. Both admit it was, in Dana Tune’s words, “terrifying” — a process that involved real risks while they balanced parenting and full-time jobs, and plenty of failures, especially without prior baking experience. Now, as business owners, their days look somewhat similar to their late nights and early mornings years ago. Billy Tune arrives at the shop everyday at 4 a.m. and bakes for two hours, while Dana Tune prepares the dough for

the next several days, long before customers begin to trickle into the shop and place orders. On a recent Wednesday morning, Billy Tune threw oil on a griddle as he made the Trailhead Sandwich, a favorite on the menu that features smoked turkey cloaked in provolone and American cheese on a pressed inverted bagel — a technique meant to prevent the toppings from burning. He later served a rosemary salt bagel with cream cheese made by Dana Tune.

ä See BAGELS, page 5

The owners of Dilly & Sons, above, in Mandeville worked for years to perfect their bagel technique before opening. The shop serves an assortment of bagels, below, with cream cheese and sandwiches. STAFF PHOTOS By POET WOLFE

lll

food

The Times-Picayune ✦ nola.com ✦ Thursday, September 3, 2026 ✦ 5

Want to expand your northshore dining plans?

Feliciana restaurant in Covington serves a French rustic menu in a stylish setting.

Writers share a few of their go-to choices New Orleans gets all the national acclaim when it comes to dining, but the northshore has hundreds restaurants offering impeccable cuisine, dishes worthy of an Instagram grid post, holes in the wall with cheap fried seafood and hidden cocktail bars perfect for last call. From Cajun to pizza to Thai to cheap deals writers Ian McNulty, Bob Warren and Willie Swett dish on their favorite restaurants in St. Tammany Parish. — Justin Mitchell

Ian McNulty’s picks Feliciana, 405 E. Gibson St., Covington: Soulful French rustic cuisine in gorgeous setting between the bustling bar and ﬂickering candles; check out the second-ﬂoor Paradise bar, too. Little Blue Door, 320 Courthouse Alley, Covington: A tiny cocktail bar hidden on a back alley, with a perpetual after-hours vibe and an original take on classic cocktails. Aperitif Spritz + Bites, 1943 Lakeshore Drive, Old Mandeville: Like a beach house turned bistro with lakefront views, breezes on the porch and a modern, upscale/casual menu.

BAGELS

Continued from page 4 Around them, daisy-yellow walls were covered in photographs of New Orleans streets, while speakers played surf rock. Dana Tune said they hope to eventually either expand into a bigger location or open a second with a Jewish delicatessen. Their community outreach has also gradually expanded. Each year, they raise money for the St. Tammany Christmas Project and local school drives. In October, the shop serves pink bagels, with all proceeds going to the

T-Rey’s Boudin & Specialty Foods, 69282 La. 59, Mandeville: A Cajun smokehouse with meaty takeout plate lunches, cracklin and boudin balls for the car ride and boudin worth a trip alone to stock up. Social, 708 Water St., Madisonville: Vibrant contemporary Peruvian food with light ceviches and seafood tiraditos, and a big dose of style across the arty decor and elaborate cocktails.

Willie Swett’s picks Meribo Pizza, 326 Lee Lane, Covington: They have a crazy good deal on Wednesdays, $10 for a large pie. Bayou Boil N Geaux, 1512 U.S. 190, Covington: Great for crawﬁsh, daiquiris and their pickle sandwich. Baan Thai, 501 N. Thread St., Covington: It’s right next to the St. Tammany Parish courthouse and is a favorite spot among attorneys. They have a great lunch special.

Bob Warren’s picks Leonardo’s Trattoria & Pizzeria, 2625 Florida St., Mandeville: It’s in a strip shopping center and has great Italian dishes and pizza. Pat’s Rest Awhile, 2129 Lakeshore Drive,

St. Tammany Cancer Center, while a medical unit known as the Be Well Bus offers free mammograms in the parking lot. Their list of goals, Dana Tune said, has continued to grow since they opened the shop. “It doesn’t matter if you’re digging ditches as long as you dig for yourself,” she recalled her grandfather telling her throughout childhood. “We were digging ditches for other people, and it was exhausting. So we just said, ‘Enough is enough.’ And we laid everything on the line to open this.” Email Poet Wolfe at poet.wolfe@ theadvocate.com.

STAFF FILE PHOTO By DAVID GRUNFELD

Mandeville: This seafood spot is such a good place. Great views and good food. KY’s Olde Towne Bicycle Shop, 2267 Cary St., Slidell: If I’m in Olde Towne, I love to eat at KY’s. It’s a classic lunch and dinner spot, with po-boys and various specials. Kenney Seafood, 400 Pontchartrain Drive,

Slidell: The fried seafood is really good, and for $18 you can get enough fried ﬁsh and shrimp to bring home for lunch the next day. Palmettos on the Bayou, 1901 Bayou Lane, Slidell: It’s very good. Eat on the covered deck overlooking Bayou Bonfouca.

unleash your l e o p a r d spirit

7732 m a p l e 865 . 9625 mon - sat 10 - 5:30

shop @gaetanasnola

6 ✦ Thursday, September 3, 2026 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

events

lll

IN THAT

NUMBER Bingo Loco’s mix of loud music, drinking and a traditional game that brings people together is right at home in New Orleans BY KASEY BUBNASH

Staff writer

STAFF PHOTOS By ENAN CHEDIAK

Davis Cornelius dances onstage recently during Bingo Loco at Joy Theater in New Orleans.

When Davis Cornelius’ soonto-be mother-in-law gifted him tickets to bingo night at the Joy Theater for his 25th birthday in August, he did not immediately envision himself stripping onstage to Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies.” But it became clear to him that’s what would have to happen as soon as emcee Christina CostelloKubicek called him to the stage during a musical interlude that night. Motivated by liquid courage, the roaring crowd and, of course, Queen B, Cornelius ripped off his bingo-themed Hawaiian shirt — also a gift from his mother-in-law — with such ferocity that a button could be seen whizzing past DJ Aisha Stroud’s face. Cornelius said he’s been known to remove his shirt in public for laughs before; he just didn’t think it would ever happen at bingo. “I had no idea what I was signing up for,” he said. Since Bingo Loco ﬁrst ofﬁcially

ä See BINGO, page 8

ABOVE: A participant fills out their bingo card. RIGHT: Laura Osteen, left, celebrates with MC Chrissy after winning a cardboard cutout of Beyoncé.

lll

The Times-Picayune ✦ nola.com ✦ Thursday, September 3, 2026 ✦ 7

ABOVE: A crowd of Bingo Loco particpants wave lighted foam party favors while waiting for numbers to be called. LEFT: Vicky Manschot pretends to play a guitar as confetti flies.

The first of these bizarro bingo parties happened in a basement in Dublin on a rainy Thursday night nearly 10 years ago, and Craig Reynolds, cofounder of Locomotive Live, said attendees raged for five wild hours.

8 ✦ Thursday, September 3, 2026 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

events

lll

BINGO

The crowd dances during Bingo Loco recently at Joy Theater on Canal Street in New Orleans.

Continued from page 6 launched in the U.S. roughly two years ago, the global game night and dance party has sparked countless polarizing reviews online, with some hailing it as the best night of their lives as others slamming it as an overpriced ﬂop with plants for prizewinners. “This is an alcohol fueled NIGHTMARE,” one Reddit user exclaimed after attending an event in Oklahoma last year. “It’s garbage,” another said after a Bingo Loco event in Alabama. “Not worth the money.” But you wouldn’t have guessed about negative reviews at the Joy on Aug. 22, when swarms of costumed and glittering New Orleans locals and visitors crowded around tables and onto the balcony with drinks, bingo cards and LED foam glowsticks in hand, unabashedly partying the three-hour event away. With a playlist that largely features early 2000s club hits, regular interruptions for twerking and chugging competitions, and prizes like air fryers and guitars, Bingo Loco is the kind of event that’s only going to be as fun as you’re willing to make it. In a city known for bringing the party, it’s no surprise that everyone understood the assignment. “It’s amazing,” Jeanne Renda said as she carried handfuls of Jell-O shots back to her table, where her friends were all dressed in ’80s-themed attire. “I already want to come back.”

Bizarro bingo is born Bingo Loco technically got its start in Ireland, but the idea for the event was born in the Middle East, where Craig Reynolds found himself playing bingo at a bar while backpacking through Iraq. Reynolds, co-founder of Locomotive Live, the global entertainment company that hosts Bingo Loco, said the bar was ﬁlled with locals and American soldiers, all of whom spoke different languages and came from completely different backgrounds. But they were still able to play the game together. When Reynolds and his partners were brainstorming ideas for unique entertainment events to host back at home in Dublin, he thought back to

STAFF PHOTO By ENAN CHEDIAK

that night. ets for upcoming shows at Chelsea’s “Bingo is one of the oldest games Live in Baton Rouge in September and in the world for a reason,” he said. Live! Casino & Hotel in Bossier City “Everyone understands it; it’s very in October are going for roughly $45 simple.” after fees. While bingo often brings to mind Release your inhibitions senior centers and stuffy rec rooms, Reynolds said he thought it would be Reynolds said Bingo Loco has befun to turn that on its head. What if come most popular among women in bingo was instead accompanied by their 30s to 40s, particularly for bachblaring music, flashing lights and shots elorette and birthday parties, where inof booze? hibitions are often left behind anyway. The first of these A group of 12 celBingo Loco is “really just bizarro bingo parebrating a friend’s ties happened in a kind of an excuse to leave your 40th birthday at basement in Dublin ego at the door and have fun with The Joy leaned into the game’s usual on a rainy Thursyour friends.” association with day night nearly the elderly, arriv10 years ago, and CRAIG REyNOLDS, co-founder of Reynolds said ating by party bus Locomotive Live dressed in white tendees raged for wigs, cardigans five wild hours. A clip from the event went viral on Face- and suspenders. They proceeded to twerk on stage, dance on chairs and book, and soon, Reynolds was hosting grind to music by Usher. Bingo Loco events all over Dublin, the Kelli Robichaux, who was going United Kingdom and Australia. Now Bingo Loco operates in over 200 by the alias of Sylvia while dressed in knee-high compression socks and locations across the globe on a residency model, hosting recurring shows gaudy gold jewelry, was one of these gray-haired party animals. It was her at venues in cities like New Orleans. first Bingo Loco, and she’d certainly Though there aren’t any upcoming events scheduled in New Orleans, tick- never been to a bingo night that quite

compares. “I kind of like it,” she said, smiling and adjusting her bottle cap glasses as music thumped in the background. What Robichaux did know was that, like at many bingo events, there are prizes. But unlike at the average community center or church, winners have to perform for their prizes on stage. Some of these performances are admittedly harder to stomach than others. While one winner had to chug a tallboy and another performed an air-guitar solo, one poor soul was asked to give a giant pink stuffed animal an extensive lap dance. But Robichaux said she’d go to great lengths for the grand prize, a trip for two to Las Vegas. “I’ll be on stage and do whatever she asks me to do,” she said, suggestively pushing up the children’s blankets stuffed into her oversized bra. That’s the kind of attitude Reynolds always hopes to see. Bingo Loco isn’t meant to be a place for serious gaming. “It’s really just kind of an excuse to leave your ego at the door and have fun with your friends,” he said. Email Kasey Bubnash at kasey. bubnash@theadvocate.com.

lll

The Times-Picayune ✦ nola.com ✦ Thursday, September 3, 2026 ✦ 9

events

gay Our

apparel

Southern Decadence’s festive costuming isn’t just for the ‘boys’ anymore Those of you considering having a bar crawl in the Big Easy better be careful. The Southern Decadence parade was once a mere bar crawl begun by a handful of Doug pals 54 years MacCash ago, and just look what it’s become: a big, noisy, hot mess of a street ramble that’s a splash of happiness in the midst of the hopelessly hot summer. About 1,000 costumed, occasionally risqué marchers will circulate through the Vieux Carre on Sunday for the huge gathering of the LGBTQ+ community with myriad events traditionally held over Labor Day weekend. Splendidly decked-out and made-up grand marshals are centerpieces of the Decadence parade. The number of marshals varies from year to year,

said Jimmy Gale, this year’s parade captain. In 2026, there will be six — an all-time high — and the group will emphasize “more queer women and lesbians,” Gale said. “Historically, Decadence has been for the boys,” he said. “This year, the girls are reclaiming some space.” Decadence fans may recall that last year, the parade was scheduled to start at 5 p.m. instead of the usual 2 p.m., in order to avoid the worst of the afternoon sun. Some organizers hoped to return to the original start time this year. As a compromise, the 2026 parade will begin at 3 p.m. That way, Gale said, people have time to get ready to go to the Decadence parties that take place around town later that night. Carnival-style dance and marching groups are a big part of the Decadence parade experience, and many of the

STAFF FILE PHOTOS By SCOTT THRELKELD

The Merry Antoinettes march during the 2024 Southern Decadence parade in New Orleans. Carnivalstyle dance and marching groups are a big part of the Decadence parade experience, and many of the old favorites will participate in the 2026 procession, including the Merry Antoinettes.

People march during the 2024 Southern Decadence parade. About 1,000 costumed, occasionally risqué marchers are expected to make their way through the Vieux Carre for this year’s showing on Sunday. old favorites will participate in the 2026 procession, including the Rolling Elvi, the Disco Amigos, Beyjorettes, Mary

Antoinettes, Sassy Racks, Pair-A-Dice Tumblers and, of course, the New Orleans chapter of the heavenly Sisters of

Perpetual Indulgence. New this year will be the Krewe of Queerly Beloved as well as the Purple, Green and Golden Girls, who were inspired by the 1980s-’90s sitcom. Gale, a former grand marshal, is managing the traditionally helter-skelter affair, and ongoing French Quarter construction may cause lastminute parade route changes. But if all else fails, just follow the joyous cheering, he said. The Southern Decadence walking parade is expected to begin at 3 p.m. on Royal Street at the corner of Barracks Street. It follows Royal to St. Louis Street, where it will turn right, then right on North Rampart Street, right on Toulouse Street, left on Burgundy Street, right on St. Ann Street, and left on Bourbon Street, where it disbands. Email Doug MacCash at dmaccash@theadvocate.com.

10 ✦ Thursday, September 3, 2026 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

music

lll

CHANCE THE RAPPER

Keith Spera SOUND CHECK

Live music options in New Orleans for the week of Sept. 3-9 include a Chicago rapper teamed with an up-and-coming New Orleans rapper as well as a landmark anniversary for an arena rock cover band. Email Keith Spera at kspera@ theadvocate.com.

WEDNESDAY,THE FILLMORE Chance the Rapper is from Chicago, but he seemingly has a thing for New Orleans. He attended and posted about this year’s Zulu parade and visited for St. Joseph’s Night last year. On July 30, he joined New Orleans rapper, entertainer and viral content creators Subtweet Shawn and Look at Lolly to shoot a block party-style video in the Bywater neighborhood. And the opening act for most dates on the 41-city tour — celebrating the 10th anniversary of his “Coloring Book” mixtape — is fast-rising New Orleans rapper La Reezy. At 21, La Reezy’s output as a rapper and producer spans a couple hundred songs, three albums, multiple mixtapes and dozens of videos. He’s also locked in multiple brand partnerships and launched various community outreach and youth empowerment initiatives. And inﬂuential hip-hop magazine XXL named to its 2026 Freshman Class of artists to watch. The “Coloring Book 10th Anniversary Tour” with Chance the Rapper and La Reezy stops at the Fillmore on Wednesday. Tickets start at $53.

Chance the Rapper

OTHER NOTEWORTHY SHOWS THURSDAY

Contraflow

CONTRAFLOW 20TH ANNIVERSARY SATURDAY, ROCK ‘N’ BOWL For 20 years now, Contraﬂow has cranked out exact, full-bodied reproductions of arena rock anthems from the 1970s and ’80s by the likes of Whitesnake, Foreigner, Bon Jovi, Sammy Hagar, Styx, Boston, Kiss, Journey, Motley Crue, etc. But the band’s roots are in a very different genre. Guitarist Joey Pitcher and vocalist Derrick LeFevre ﬁrst collaborated in an R&B cover band called Soul Shop that recreated favorites by Earth Wind & Fire, the O’Jays, the Temptations and Chaka Khan. They eventually returned to rock, which is more in their wheelhouse. Pitcher has said that seeing Rush

in 1977 at the old Warehouse venue was a life-changing event. And LeFevre fronted Louisiana hard rock band Lillian Axe from 2004 to 2010 and again for a European tour in 2012. In 2006, following a Hurricane Katrina-triggered delay, Pitcher launched Contraflow with drummer R.L. Marix and others members of a Top 40 wedding band called the Distractions. LeFevre joined the Contraflow lineup in 2012. Bassist Jesus Hernandez and guitarist Christopher Pons round out the current lineup. Contraflow celebrates its 20th anniversary on Saturday at Rock ‘N’ Bowl, a favorite local venue. Admission is $17. Commemorative 20th anniversary Contraflow T-shirts will be available.

Born in Washington, D.C., and based in New Orleans, vocalist James Jordan applies his baritone to R&B, soul, jazz, funk and more. He released his debut album, “Reﬂections,” this year. He’ll perform at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Thursday at Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro, joined by Michael Sze on violin, Dimitri Hanafin Reyes on piano, Dane Harter on bass and Jackson Shaeffer on drums. Tickets are $30. Geno Delafose & French Rockin’ Boogie are featured for this week’s Zydeco Night at Rock ‘N’ Bowl. Tickets are $17.

FRIDAY A sure sign that summer is done? Tipitina’s presents the ﬁnal installment of the 2026 “Free Fridays” series of no-cover shows this weekend. Contemporary R&B and soul singer Erica Falls and her band headline; Kota Dosa opens the show at 9 p.m. Admission is free. Dr. Michael White is one of the foremost practitioners of traditional New Orleans jazz clarinet. He’s also a proliﬁc composer of new songs in the genre and a historian and educator with an encyclopedic knowledge of the music’s past. He’ll front his Original Liberty Jazz Band at Snug Harbor for shows at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Friday. His all-star band for the evening will include Gregg Stafford on trumpet, Dwayne Paulin on trombone, Seva Venet on banjo, Steve Pistorius on piano, Tyler Thompson on bass and James Alsanders on drums. Ticket are $45. Local modern rock band Neutral Snap headlines Rock ‘N’ Bowl, with Out in Front opening the show. Tickets are $17.

Erica Falls

music

lll

SATURDAY The Desert Nudes came into existence when a group of New Orleans musicians found themselves out West in the wide-open desert during the pandemic. Guitarist J.P. Carmody, Johnny Sketch & the Dirty Notes bassist/vocalist Dave Pomerleau and drummer Andre Bohren apply harmonies and humor to a mix of cowboy songs, classic country songs and roots rock. The Desert Nudes’ “Keep A-Movin’, Dan: Songs of Hydration, Vigor, Horses, and Wide Open Spaces” features the likes of “Tumbling Tumbleweeds” and “Cool Water.” The Desert Nudes reopen Chickie Wah Wah on Saturday after the venue took a short summer break. Showtime is 9 p.m. Tickets are $20 plus fees. Texas-born saxophonist Alejandro Canales has shared stages with Trombone Shorty and the Treme and Soul brass bands. Colombian pianist/composer Roberto Perez teaches at the Ellis Marsalis Center for Music. They’ll join forces for a free happy hour show at Snug Harbor from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, performing and improvising Latin music, jazz and funk. Later on Saturday, Snug Harbor presents Havana-born, New Orleansbased percussionist Alexey Marti & Afrogumbo’s blend of Afro-Cuban and New Orleans rhythms at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $35. Catch The Quickening at the Maple Leaf Bar; admission is $18.

SUNDAY Pianist Tom Hook, who spent many years as a bandleader for the Delta Queen Steamboat Co., teams up with acclaimed New Orleans jazz trumpeter Wendell Brunious for a free happy show at 4:30 p.m. at Snug Harbor.

Alexey Marti

Charmaine Neville Later on Sunday, Snug Harbor hosts the Charmaine Neville Band, which typically performs at Snug Harbor on Mondays (but not during the height of summer, when Snug is closed on Mondays). She’ll be backed by longtime pianist and musical director Amasa Miller, plus Detroit Brooks on guitar, Donald Ramsey on bass and Raymond Weber on drums. Show times are at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Admission is $30.

TUESDAY Peruvian cumbia band Los Mirlos visits the House of Blues. Tickets start at $34.

WEDNESDAY Drummer Stanton Moore, organist Joe Ashlar and saxophonist Brad Walker team up for “Happy Organ Hour” at the Maple Leaf Bar from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Tickets are $20 advance, $25 at the door. Singer Melanie Scholtz and drummer Adonis Rose play a free happy hour set at Snug Harbor at 5 p.m. They’ll showcase music from their “Sweet Nancy” tribute to Nancy Wilson, in addition to original material from Scholtz’s album “Seven.” They’ll be joined by Ashlin Parker on trumpet, Derek Douget on tenor sax, Rex Gregory on alto sax, Seth Finch on piano and Jason Stewart on acoustic bass. Admission is free. Later Wednesday, the Uptown Jazz Orchestra swings out at Snug Harbor at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., led by trombonist Delfeayo Marsalis. Tickets are $45.

The Times-Picayune ✦ nola.com ✦ Thursday, September 3, 2026 ✦ 11

stages

Professor debuting Y2K-set ‘Late Shift’ at northshore playhouse Mandeville’s 30 by Ninety Theatre premieres a new work by a local playwright and university professor that takes a trip back in time to Y2K. “Late Shift,” penned by Louisiana Writer Award winner and Victor LouiAndrews Southeastern siana University associate professor David Armand, will run for three performances at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the 880 Lafayette St. playhouse. The two-act play looks at a pair of siblings and their widowed mother set against the backdrop of New Year’s Eve 1999 as they work through family drama, uncertainty and connections. Armand, a south Louisiana native and the writer-inArmand residence at the Hammond university, is marking his debut as a playwright. “I never thought I’d write a play,” he said. “For years, I’d been publishing novels and memoirs and poetry, but have always been fascinated by what stories could do when shown on stage.” He draws from personal experience for the emotional landscape of the show. In 2021, Armand started writing about the turn of the century, “when I was working as a telemarketer, dealing with the loss of my father and trying to ﬁgure out what the future held for me — all while the rest of the world was wondering what was going to happen when the clocks struck midnight that year, signaling in the new millennium, what people had started calling Y2K.

PROVIDED PHOTO

Casey Jones, from left, Casey Lipscomb and Aaron Bridges will appear in the premiere of ‘Late Shift,’ opening at 30 by Ninety Theatre in Mandeville.

“It was a time of both uncertainty and excitement and I wanted to capture that in my play.” As most did, Armand made it through Y2K unscathed, though he did say he was busy “taking orders for an Amish hardware store (people were ordering supplies for the end of the world left and right!). But the worry and uncertainty of that time is deﬁnitely addressed in the play, as well as references to all those orders I took back then.” Hope is an overarching theme for the show, and the playwright wants audiences to get the message on multiple levels, including “hope in the future, hope that even the hardest parts of life can turn out OK, and hope that certain people are sent into our lives when we need them most,” he said. Julie Keen directs the show, with Larry Bergeron, Casey Lipscomb, Aaron Bridges and Casey Jones in the cast. Tickets start at $20. Visit 30byninety. com. Email Victor Andrews at vandrews@ theadvocate.com.

12 ✦ Thursday, September 3, 2026 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

lll

2026 LE PETIT THEATRE

Scan for Tickets

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18 6:30 PM

Co-Chairs

Judy Barrasso and Brent Barriere, Eugene Priestley Young Committee Chairs

Betsy and Steve Clement

Learn more and get your tickets at LePetitTheatre.com MAIN STAGE SPONSORS

Judy Y. Barrasso and Brent B. Barriere Rosemary B. & Brunswick G. Deutsch Foundation for Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carre RED CARPET SPONSORS First Horizon Bank Friend & Company Kathleen and Charlie Van Horn

616 St. Peter Street NOLA

AshleyLorraine Photography

2025 Curtain Call Ball Entertainment

LePetitTheatre.com

504.522.2081 x1