KERRVILLE,Texas Families sifted through waterlogged debris Sunday and stepped inside empty cabins at Camp Mystic, an allgirls summer camp ripped apart by flash floods that washed homes off their foundations and killed at least 82 people in central Texas. Rescuers maneuvering through challenging terrain continued their desperate search for the missing, including 10 girls and a counselor from the camp. For the first time since the storms
began pounding Texas, Gov Greg Abbott said there were 41 people confirmed to be unaccounted for across the state and more could be missing. In Kerr County, home to Camp Mystic and other youth camps in the Texas Hill Country, searchers have found the bodies of 68 people, including 28 children, Sheriff Larry Leitha said in the afternoon. He pledged to keep searching
Death toll rises to 82 as officials warn more rain, flooding likely ä See SEARCH, page 3A
ä Louisiana sends first responders. Page 3A
ä How weather conditions led to once-ina-generation event. Page 3A
NECESSITIES THEBEAR
A golden orb weaver spider hangs out on a snare of its own as Hunter Hicks, a technician supervisor
the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Bear Program, left, and program biologist Tony Vidrine replace a bait bag and a raspberryscented attractant above a bear hair snare in St. Mary Parish.
Low-tech methods used to track former endangered species’ population in Atchafalaya Basin as state determines hunting limits
BY AIDAN McCAHILL Staff writer
Tony Vidrine jerks his head to one side, then the other, dodging briars as he maneuvers his ATV through thick underbrush. It’s the hour before the day’s heat becomes oppressive, when the last of the morning dew still clings to knee-high blades of grass.
Cruising ahead of him is
21-year-old Hunter Hicks, a recent Northwestern State University graduate. The two are traveling to a hunting camp in St. Mary Parish, hoping the bait they set the week before will prove fruitful. After working for 40 years as a biologist for the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Vidrine spends his
ä See BEAR, page 4A
Bear hair is snagged in a barb in a snare Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries agents use to track the state’s black bear population.
Threats loom over New Orleans-area levee systems
Money lacking to counter sinking land, intensifying storms
BY MARK SCHLEIFSTEIN
Contributing writer
Plans
but also for flood insurance purposes. If the levees drop below that level
Volunteers search for flood survivors along the banks of the Guadalupe River on Sunday in Hunt, Texas.
Baker schools office goes quiet
Charter group takes over management
BY CHARLES LUSSIER Staff writer
You can count on one hand these days the number of people still working for the Baker school system. Schools Superintendent J.T Stroder names four people, including himself, who continue to show up each day at the old car dealership at the corner of Plank and Pettit roads that serves as the main office for this suburban Baton Rouge school district. By contrast, the bulk of the rest of the 100-plus Baker school employees have signed on with the new management: Helix Community Schools.
Helix is a 15-year-old charter school group based in Baton Rouge. It’s led by Preston Castille, an attorney and a member of the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. Baker is the second school district in Louisiana to convert to all charters. NOLA Public Schools is the other district to do so, though last year it opened a lone school that it operates directly Charter schools are public schools run privately via charters, or contracts.
The conversion to charters ends 22 years of direct school operations for Baker, dating back to when the small city gained its educational independence from the East Baton Rouge Parish school system. Over that time, Baker has seen enrollment decline. Some students jumped to independent charter schools, including three the state allowed to open in Baker Baker has also struggled academically, landing at or near the bottom of state rankings.
On June 26, Helix finalized its takeover of Baker public schools, about three months after the process was initiated. Helix is moving into three school properties that are home to Baker’s two remaining schools: Baker High and Park Ridge Academic Magnet School. Helix’s contract continues through summer 2030.
These two schools, which educate about 1,000 students, are joining three existing Baton Rouge charter schools run by Helix as well as a newly constructed Helix charter school in Opelousas that is opening this fall. The addition of the schools
ä See BAKER, page 5A ä See LEVEE, page 5A
STAFF PHOTOS By LESLIE WESTBROOK
in
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By RODOLFO GONZALEZ
Stroder
BRIEFS FROM WIRE REPORTS
Seven bodies found at fireworks warehouse
ESPARTO, Calif. Authorities in Northern California have found the bodies of all seven people missing since an explosion last week at a fireworks warehouse that caused a wildfire and shook a tiny farming community
The barrage of fireworks that exploded Tuesday caused a massive blaze that led to other spot fires and collapsed the building in Yolo County, about 40 miles northwest of Sacramento.
All human remains have been recovered from the charred warehouse site, but the identities of the deceased were being withheld pending family notifications, the county said in a statement Sunday
“Crews are continuing to mitigate explosive hazards present at the scene,” the statement said. The cause of the explosion was under investigation
Two people were treated for injuries following the blast in the town of Encarto, officials said.
The warehouse was managed by Devastating Pyrotechnics, which has more than 30 years of experience designing and producing fireworks shows, according to a screenshot of its website before it was taken down.
“Our hearts and thoughts are with those we lost, their families, and everyone impacted in our community,” the company said in a statement last week.
The wildfire covered nearly 80 acres and scorched surrounding agricultural fields, officials said. Boko Haram kills 9, injures 4 in Nigeria
ABUJA, Nigeria Islamic extremists killed nine people and injured four in Borno state in northeastern Nigeria, authorities said Sunday
The attack was carried out by Boko Haram militants on the Malam Fatori community, Babagana Zulum, the state governor, said He did not say when the attack happened.
The community, very close to the border of Chad, is about 167 miles from Maiduguri, Borno’s capital city.
The governor, represented by Sugun Mai Mele, the commissioner for local governments, visited the community and warned residents against collaborating with Boko Haram militants.
“Anyone found collaborating with the insurgents to bring harm or attack to the people of Malam Fatori will be cursed,” he said, adding that there are measures being put in place to fortify the town against future attacks.
Islamic extremists have repeatedly overrun military outposts mined roads with bombs and raided civilian communities, raising fears of a possible return to peak Boko Haram-era insecurity despite the military’s claims of successes
Musk asks X users about new political party
BRIDGEWATER, N.J Elon Musk said he’s carrying out his threat to form a new political party after his fissure with President Donald Trump, announcing the America Party in response to the president’s sweeping tax cuts law Musk, once an ever-present ally to Trump as he headed up the slashing agency known as the Department of Government Efficiency, broke with the Republican president over his signature legislation, which was signed into law Friday
“When it comes to bankrupting our country with waste & graft, we live in a one-party system, not a democracy,” Musk said Saturday on X, the social media company he owns. “Today the America Party is formed to give you back your freedom.”
Musk, who spent at least $250 million supporting Trump in the 2024 election, could impact the 2026 elections determining control of Congress if he is willing to spend significant amounts of money Spokespeople for Musk and his political action committee, America PAC, didn’t immediately comment Sunday Musk on Sunday spent the morning on X taking feedback from users about the party and indicated he’d use the party to get involved in the 2026 midterm elections.
New details emerge on Gaza proposal
BY WAFAA SHURAFA, ABBY SEWELL and KAREEM CHEHAYEB Associated Press
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip New details of the Gaza ceasefire proposal emerged on Sunday as Israel sent a negotiating team to Qatar ahead of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu‘s White House visit for talks toward an agreement. Inside the territory, hospital officials said Israeli airstrikes killed at least 38 Palestinians.
“There are 20 hostages that are alive, 30 dead. I am determined, we are determined to bring them all back. And we will also be determined to ensure that Gaza will no longer pose a threat to Israel,” Netanyahu said before departing, emphasizing the goal of eliminating Hamas’ military and governing power
A person familiar with the negotiations shared with The Associated Press a copy of the latest ceasefire proposal submitted by mediators to Hamas, and its veracity was confirmed by two other people familiar with the document. All three spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the sensitive talks with the media.
The document outlines plans for a 60day ceasefire during which Hamas would hand over 10 living and 18 dead hostages, Israeli forces would withdraw to a buffer zone along Gaza’s borders with Israel and Egypt, and significant amounts of aid would be brought in. The document says
the aid would be distributed by United Nations agencies and the Palestinian Red Crescent.
Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli facilities would be released in exchange for the hostages, but the number is not yet agreed upon.
The proposal stops short of guaranteeing a permanent end to the war — a condition demanded by Hamas — but says negotiations for a permanent ceasefire would take place during the 60 days. During that time, “President (Donald) Trump guarantees Israel’s adherence” to halting military operations, the document says, adding that Trump “will personally announce the ceasefire agreement.”
Israeli strikes hit two houses in Gaza City, killing 20 Palestinians and wounding 25 others, according to Mohammed Abu Selmia, director of Shifa Hospital, which serves the area. Israel’s military said it struck several Hamas fighters.
Israeli strikes killed 18 Palestinians in Muwasi on the Mediterranean coast, where thousands of displaced people live in tents, said officials at Nasser Hospital in nearby Khan Younis.
Israel’s military had no immediate comment on those strikes but said it struck 130 targets across Gaza in the past 24 hours. It claimed it targeted Hamas command and control structures storage facilities, weapons and launchers, and that they killed a number of militants in northern Gaza.
Tariffs, Middle East issues lead summit
BY MAURICIO SAVARESE and ELÉONORE HUGHES Associated Press
RIO DE JANEIRO The BRICS bloc of developing nations on Sunday condemned the increase of tariffs and attacks on Iran, but refrained from naming U.S.
President Donald Trump. The group’s declaration also took aim at Israel’s military actions in the Middle East.
China’s President Xi Jinping did not attend a BRICS summit for the first time since he became his country’s leader in 2012. Russian President Vladimir Putin, who will make an appearance via videoconference, continues to mostly avoid traveling abroad due to an international arrest warrant issued after Russia invaded Ukraine.
The group’s declaration raised “serious concerns” about the rise of tariffs which it said were “inconsistent with WTO (World Trade Organization) rules,” the document says The group added that those restrictions “threaten reduce global trade, disrupt global supply chains, and introduce uncertainty.”
Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva criticized NATO’s decision to hike military spending by 5% of GDP annually by 2035 That sentiment was later echoed in the group’s declaration.
“It is always easier to invest in war than in peace,” Lula said at the opening of the summit.
Iran in attendance
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, who was expected to attend the summit before the attacks on his country in June, sent his foreign minister Abbas Araghchi to the meeting in Rio. Araghchi told leaders he had pushed for every member of the United Nations to condemn Israel’s strikes strongly, which he called an “invasion,” state media reported. He added Israel and the U.S. should be accountable for rights violations. The Iranian foreign minister said the aftermath of the war “will not be lim-
ited” to one country. “The entire region and beyond will be damaged,” he said.
On Ukraine, “We recall our national positions concerning the conflict in Ukraine as expressed in the appropriate fora, including the U.N. Security Council and the U.N. General Assembly,” the group said in its final declaration.
Avoid Trump’s tariffs
Brazil, the country that chairs the bloc, has picked six strategic priorities for the summit: global cooperation in healthcare; trade, investment and finance; climate change; governance for artificial intelligence; peace-making and security; and institutional development.
It has decided to focus on less controversial issues such as promoting trade relations between members and global health, after Trump returned to the White House, said Ana Garcia, a professor at the Rio de Janeiro Federal Rural University
“Brazil wants the least amount of damage possible and to avoid drawing the attention of the Trump administration to prevent any type of risk to the Brazilian economy,” Garcia said.
‘Opportunity for emerging countries’ BRICS was founded by Brazil Russia, India, China and South Africa, but the group last year expanded to include Indonesia, Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates.
As well as new members, the bloc has 10 strategic partner countries, a category created at last year’s summit that includes Belarus, Cuba and Vietnam.
Despite notable absences, the summit is important for attendees, especially in the context of instability provoked by Trump’s tariff wars, said Bruce Scheidl, a researcher at the University of Sao
BRICS study group.
“The summit offers the best opportunity for emerging countries to respond, in the sense of seeking alternatives and diversifying their economic partnerships,” Scheidl said.
Combs gets ovation from inmates after victory, lawyer says
BY MICHAEL R. SISAK and LARRY NEUMEISTER Associated Press
NEW YORK Sean “Diddy” Combs got a standing ovation from fellow inmates when the music mogul returned to jail after winning acquittals on potential life-in-prison charges, providing what his lawyer says might have been the best thing he could do for Black incarcerated men in America.
“They all said: ‘We never get to see anyone who beats the government,’” attorney Marc Agnifilo said in a weekend interview days after a jury acquitted Combs of sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy charges.
Combs, 55, remains jailed after his Wednesday conviction on prostitutionrelated charges and could still face several years in prison at an upcoming sentencing after being credited for 10 months already served.
After federal agents raided his homes in Los Angeles and Miami in March 2024, the lawyer said he told Combs to expect arrest on sex trafficking charges.
“I said: ‘Maybe it’s your fate in life to be the guy who wins,’ ” he recalled during a telephone interview briefly interrupted by a jailhouse call from Combs. “They need to see that someone can win. I think he took that to heart.” Blunt trial strategy works
The verdict came after a veteran team of eight defense lawyers led by Agnifilo executed a trial strategy that resonated with jurors. Combs passed lawyers notes during effective cross-examinations of nearly three dozen witnesses over two months, including Combs’ ex-employees.
The lawyers told jurors Combs was a jealous domestic abuser with a drug problem who participated in the swinger lifestyle through threesomes involving Combs, his girlfriends and another man.
“You may think to yourself, wow, he is a really bad boyfriend,” Combs’ lawyer Teny Geragos told jurors in her May opening statement. But that, she said, “is simply not sex trafficking.” “This was a major victory for the defense and a major loss for the prosecution,” said Mitchell Epner, a lawyer who worked with Agnifilo as a federal prosecutor in New Jersey over two decades ago. He credited “a dream team of defense lawyers” against prosecutors who almost always win.
Agnifilo showcased what would become his trial strategy — belittling the charges and mocking the investigation that led to them last September in arguing unsuccessfully for bail. The case against Combs was what happens when the “federal government comes into our bedrooms,” he said.
Questioning witnesses
During an eight-week trial, Combs’ lawyers picked apart the prosecution case with mostly gentle but firm cross-examinations. Combs never testified and his lawyers called no witnesses. Sarah Krissoff, a federal prosecutor in Manhattan from 2008 to 2021, said Combs’ defense team “had a narrative from the beginning and they did all of it without putting on any witnesses. That’s masterful.” Ironically, Agnifilo expanded the use of racketeering laws as a federal prosecutor on an organized crime task force in New Jersey two decades ago, using them often to indict street gangs in violencetorn cities.
Prosecutors “didn’t have a conspiracy they just didn’t,” he said. “They basically had Combs’ personal life and tried to build racketeering around personal assistants.”
Some personal assistants, even after viewing videos of Combs beating his longtime girlfriend, Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, had glowing things to say about Combs on crossexamination.
Paulo’s
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By SILVIA IZQUIERDO
From left, Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto, South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and China’s Premier Li Qiang pose for a group photo Sunday at the 17th annual BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro.
How weather conditions set the stage for deadly floods
BY MICHAEL PHILLIS Associated Press
WASHINGTON Incredible amounts of moisture in the air fueled a storm that moved slowly and dumped rain over central Texas, creating conditions for fatal flash floods in the early morning hours when it was easy to catch people by surprise, meteorologists said.
More than 12 inches of rain fell in the Texas Hill Country over a span of several hours early Friday causing water levels to quickly rise, according to the weather forecasting company AccuWeather The area is prone to flash flooding, but this was an especially bad storm. Dozens of deaths have been reported along with numerous rescues. Meteorologists said that an atmo-
sphere warmed by human-caused climate change can hold more moisture and allow bad storms to dump more rain, though it’s hard to connect specific storms to a warming planet so soon after they occur
“In a warming climate we know that the atmosphere has more moisture to give, to hold on to and then to release. But also the thing that we know about climate change is that our rain events are not as uniform as what they used to be,” said Shel Winkley a meteorologist with Climate Central. “So, you’ll get these big rain events happening in localized areas, tapping into the historic level of moisture in the atmosphere.”
In recent weeks, flash flooding driven by bursts of heavy rain turned deadly elsewhere in Texas and in West Virginia. In San Antonio
in June more than 7 inches of rain fell over a span of hours, prompting dozens of rescues from the fast-rising floodwaters and killing at least 13. And in West Virginia that month, at least nine people died when as much as 4 inches of rain fell within 40 minutes and caused flash flooding in the Wheeling area.
‘Sudden surge’
Robert Henson, a meteorologist and writer with Yale Climate Connections, said this latest Texas rain storm was roughly a once-in-a-generation event. It fell in the Texas Hill Country where water quickly shoots down rugged hills into narrow river basins that swell quickly
“As is often the case with the worst disasters, many things came together in a terrible way,” Henson said.
Plus, the area had been in a drought, so the water ran down the dry, hard land fast. That made it more dangerous for children attending camp
“A sudden surge of rain like that is going to have a harder time getting absorbed,” said Brett Anderson, a senior meteorologist at AccuWeather “It just runs right off of it. It’s like concrete.”
Former National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration chief scientist Ryan Maue, a private meteorologist, calculated Saturday morning that the storm had dropped 120 billion gallons of water on Kerr County, which received the brunt of the storm.
A storm with plenty of fuel Moisture fueled the storm from
many directions. Tropical Storm Barry formed briefly last weekend, moving over Mexico and then its remnants continued up into Texas. But the jet stream, a current of air that moves weather patterns, wasn’t there to push that moisture away
“Normally weather systems and the remnants of tropical systems will get picked up by the jet stream, and that’s just not over Texas currently,” said Winkley, the Climate Central meteorologist. “It’s essentially a weather system without a road to get away from the Lone Star State.”
The warm water of the Gulf fueled the moist atmosphere. Even more moisture came from areas over the Pacific Ocean to the west The combination gave the storm plenty of fuel once it got started.
until “everybody is found” from Friday’s flash floods. Ten other deaths were reported in Travis, Burnet, Kendall, Tom Green and Williamson counties, according to local officials. The death toll is certain to rise over the next few days, said Col. Freeman Martin, of the Texas Department of Public Safety
The governor warned Sunday that additional rounds of heavy rains lasting into Tuesday could produce more life-threatening flooding, especially in places already saturated.
Families were allowed to look around the camp beginning Sunday morning. One girl walked out of a building carrying a large bell. A man, who said his daughter was rescued from a cabin on the highest point in the camp, walked a riverbank, looking in clumps of trees and under big rocks.
A woman and a teenage girl, both wearing rubber waders, briefly went inside one of the cabins, which stood next to a pile of soaked mattresses, a storage trunk and clothes. At one point, the pair doubled over, sobbing before they embraced.
One family left with a blue footlocker A teenage girl had tears running down her face looking out the open window, gazing at the wreckage as they slowly drove away Searching the disaster zone
While the families saw the devastation for the first time, nearby crews operating heavy equipment pulled tree trunks and tangled branches from the water as they searched the river
With each passing hour, the outlook of finding more survivors became even more bleak. Volunteers and some families of the missing who drove to the disaster zone searched the riverbanks despite being asked not to do so. Authorities faced growing questions about whether enough warnings were issued in an area long vulnerable to flooding and whether enough preparations were made.
President Donald Trump signed a major disaster declaration Sunday for Kerr County, activating the Federal Emergency Management
Agency to Texas. The president said he would likely visit Friday “I would have done it today, but we’d just be in their way,” he told reporters before boarding Air Force One back to Washington after spending the weekend at his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey “It’s a horrible thing that took place, absolutely horrible.”
The destructive, fast-moving waters rose 26 feet on the river in only 45 minutes before daybreak Friday, washing away homes and vehicles. The danger was not over as flash flood watches remained in effect and more rain fell in central Texas on Sunday Searchers used helicopters, boats and drones to look for victims and to rescue people stranded in trees and from camps isolated by washedout roads. Officials said more than 850 people were rescued in the first 36 hours.
Harrowing escapes Survivors shared terrifying stories of being swept away and clinging to trees as rampaging floodwaters carried trees and cars past them. Others fled to attics inside their homes, praying the water wouldn’t reach them.
At Camp Mystic, a cabin full of girls held onto a rope strung by rescuers as they walked across a bridge with water whipping around their legs.
Among those confirmed dead were an 8-year-old girl from Mountain Brook, Alabama, who was at Camp Mystic and the director of another camp up the road.
Two school-age sisters from Dallas were missing after their cabin was swept away Their parents were staying in a different cabin and were safe, but the girls’ grandparents were unaccounted for.
Locals know the Hill Country as “flash flood alley,” but the flooding in the middle of the night caught many campers and residents by surprise Warnings before disaster
The National Weather Service on Thursday advised of potential flooding and then sent out a series of flash flood warnings in the early hours of Friday before issuing flash flood emergencies a rare alert notifying of imminent danger
At the Mo-Ranch Camp in the community of Hunt, officials had been monitoring the weather and opted to move several hundred campers and attendees at a church youth conference to higher ground.
At nearby Camps Rio Vista and Sierra Vista, organizers also had mentioned on social media that they were watching the weather the day before ending their second summer session Thursday Authorities and elected officials have said they did not expect such an intense downpour, the equivalent of months’ worth of rain for the area.
Trump, asked whether he was still planning to phase out FEMA, said that was something “we can talk about later, but right now we are busy working.” He has previously said he wants to overhaul if not completely eliminate FEMA and has been sharply critical of its performance.
Trump also was asked whether he planned to rehire any of the federal meteorologists who were fired this year as part of widespread government spending reductions.
“I would think not. This was a thing that happened in seconds. Nobody expected it. Nobody saw it. Very talented people there, and they didn’t see it,” the president said.
La. sends first responders to Texas
BY HALEY MILLER Staff writer
A 12-person team of Louisiana first responders specializing in swift-water rescue and urban search and rescue was dispatched Saturday to aid in Texas flood emergency efforts.
At least 82 people have died and dozens remain missing, including at least 10 campers and a counselor at a girls summer camp, per The Associated Press and Reuters, since the devastating floods in central Texas began Friday Authorities warned that heavy rain would continue in hard-hit areas through Tuesday
The teams are experienced in swift-water rescues, said Ken Pastorick, a spokesperson for the Office of the State Fire Marshal — the sort of operations authorities have been performing across Hill Country after the Guadalupe River overtopped its banks and inundated whole communities.
The crew arrived in Texas shortly after 1:30 a.m. Sunday, Baton Rouge Fire
Department Chief Michael Kimble said, and is made up of highly trained firefighters.
“People have bent over backwards to help Louisiana in a time of hurricane or flood that we experienced, like in 2016,” Kimble said.
“Now it’s our time to give back to another state that’s in need.”
The Louisiana firefighters are in the process of receiving an assignment from the division supervisor in Texas to aid in ongoing rescue efforts, Kimble said
The team is composed of personnel from Louisiana task forces 2 and 3, including responders from Baton Rouge, Zachary West Feliciana, East Side and Shreveport fire departments.
Louisiana first responders have long deployed to Texas in the wake of natural and humanitarian disasters there, including following hurricanes and in response to the crisis on the U.S border with Mexico in recent years.
Texas frequently returns the favor sending National Guard troops and other teams in the wake of major
storms and other disasters.
“I am incredibly proud of our teams and their unwavering willingness to stand alongside our sister states,” Bryan J. Adams, principal assistant of the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections, said Saturday in a release from the Office of the State Fire Marshal.
Their presence will provide critical support to overwhelmed local emergency departments, the release says. The members of the team have trained yearround for missions such as this one, it added “We are incredibly proud of the professionalism, courage, and selflessness these men and women demonstrate each time they are called upon,” the release says. “Their willingness to leave their homes and families to help others in need is a true testament to the spirit of Louisiana’s first responders.” Staff writer James Finn contributed to this report. Email Haley Miller at haley.miller@theadvocate. com.
HOUSTON CHRONICLE PHOTO By JASON FOCHTMAN
Myra Zunker takes a moment while searching for her missing niece and nephew Sunday along the Guadalupe River in Hunt, Texas.
semi-retirement as thebossofthe “BearCrew,” agroup of Wildlife andFisheries biologists and interns tasked with collecting Louisiana black bear hair samples from 115 sites in St. Mary and Iberiaparishes.
It’sthe first bear population study since 2013conducted in the lower Atchafalaya Basin —home to one of thestate’soldestand densest bear populations. Next winter, the area will also be another site of Louisiana’srevived black bear hunt, expanded from last year’s11 tags —orhunting permits —to26, making it 15 in Tensas Parish, three in Pointe Coupee Parish and eight in St. Mary
The return of black bear hunting in Louisiana, firstbanned in the 1980s, is seen by many as theculmination of aconservation success story.In1992, after it was listed as threatened under the Endangered SpeciesAct, “Save the Louisiana BlackBear” license plates were introduced to fund habitat restoration. Aroundthe sametime,federal and state programs began paying landowners to return unproductive farmland to forest.
Since the 1990s, hundreds of thousandsofacres of bottomland hardwood habitat have been restored in Louisiana, according to the LSU AgCenter
But not everyone is afan of the hunt. Some simply don’t like killing the beloved animals, acomplaint likely to go unheard in the Sportsman’sParadise. Others believe there is still work to do for the state symbol.
“The state describes the success storyasa completed story,” said Brennan Spoor,anattorney for TheAtchafalaya Basinkeeper,an environmental group. “It seems like there is adecent bit more that needs to be done.”
Lowtech, high yield
The technology behind collecting bear hair is simple. Crews wrap two lines of barbed wire around a cluster of three to four treestocreate abear-sized enclosure. Athin rope isthen tied about 5to6feet up onetree andstretchedacross thespace to another, bisectingthe enclosure.
Armed with cans of bear spray, Hicks and Vidrine spend the morning rebaiting snares by tying abio-
and hair samples arecollected and labeled. Afteranalyzing theDNA, biologists first profile the initial batchofsamples to “mark” genetically unique individuals, then comparethose withasecond batch collected aweek later to identify which bears were “recaptured.”
By multiplying the totalunique individuals from each batchand dividing by the number found in both, scientistsare able to estimate the population size. The method, a cornerstone of ecological research calledcapture-mark-recapture, is repeated throughout thesummer
black bear hunt, further accelerated their decline.Bythe 1960s, the population had plummeted below 100, prompting thestate to import bears from Minnesota to repopulate central Louisiana,where they mixedwithnorthernpopulations. Meanwhile, the coastalbearsremained isolated. Hanks andVidrine have observed the bears regularly swimming across theMississippi andAtchafalaya rivers, and even making their dens in hollowed-out cypress or tupelotrees jutting fromthe brackish marsh water
“Sometimes it will be 8or10 feet deep underthose trees,” said Hanks. “They don’thave any problem swimming.”
Thesebears areamong the apex predatorsofthe Atchafalaya Swamp, amillion-acre flood plain and the nation’slargest andmost productive wetlands. Its southern delta, withabout 20 milesofcoastline,isthe only part of Louisiana’s coast where land is actively building due to sediment deposition.
have recent data to show that.” Differentdefinitions
As Vidrine andHicks check the morning’sfinalsnare,golfballs from an adjacent country club are scatteredjust afew dozenyards away.The area, moreurban than northern parishes,has seen some of the morefrequent bear encounters in the state. Vidrine says it’s not uncommon to hear complaints from farmers about bearsmunching on sugar cane, and during the summer,he’scalled to collect bear roadkill about once aweek.
Many believe thebear’sincreasing nuisance to farmers, motorists, hunters and anyone who leaves theirtrashout is evidenceofa growing population —and the need for ahunt. In 2024, after the new lotterysystem for bear hunting permits was introduced, lawmakers amended the black bear license plate program so proceeds could be usedfor population management, in addition to habitat restoration.
degradable dogwaste bagnearthe middle of the thin rope. Doughnuts —remnants of Lafayette’smorning rush at Rickey Meche’sDonut King —are placed inside thebags
Hicks then ties an unlikely olfactory lure to thetrap: atampon he’s sprayed with an intense, oil-based raspberry scent
“I’ll buyabout 10 packs from Walmart,” Vidrine said of the feminine hygiene products. “The cashierwill usually give you akind of funny look.”
June is the height of breeding season,and male bearscan travel up to 20 miles aday in search of amate.
With asense of smell over 2,000 timesmorepowerfulthan humans, thegoal is that bears will lumber through the snares throughout the summer,leaving behind hair samples but remaining unharmed.
“Once they find it, they usually keepcomingback,” said Vidrine.
Thesnares are checked weekly,
“That is how we getour population estimates,” said John Hanks, Wildlife and Fisheries’ large carnivore program manager —ormore accurately,the state’s“Bear Czar.” “Wedoone (area) every year for five years.”
Swampbearlife
At nearly all the snares, fist-sized golden silk orb-weaver spiders have attached their sprawling webs to the bait ropes for structure. Fartherupthe canopy,apair of barred owls hoot in the morning sun, adding to abuzzing symphony of cicadas and deer flies. In between visits to thesites, Vidrine halts the ATV to point out various flora Louisiana bears forage for: muscadines,elderberries and pokeweed.
Coastalbears here area genetically singularsubspecies calledUrsusamericanus luteolus. Throughout the 20th century, as Louisiana’s bottomland hardwood forestswere converted to agriculture, natural corridors for black bears to roam were cut off. Meanwhile, overhunting, dating back to President Teddy Roosevelt’slegendary Louisiana
Whilethe Basinkeepers’main focusisonhow decades of altered riverhydrology andincreased sediment threaten the basin’sflood capacity —and, by extension, the future of southern Louisiana they have recently become vocal andlitigious advocates for black bear protection.Alongside groups like the Sierra Club, they have sued over the bear’sdelisting, petitioned againstlast year’shunt and oppose theexpandedhunt, arguingthat Louisiana’spopulation monitoring is inadequate.
Whenthe Louisiana black bear wasremoved from thethreatened list in 2016, Wildlife and Fisheries estimated the bear population was between 500 and1,000, and agreed to seven years of post-delisting monitoring with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.However,the Basinkeepers point to the fact that the most recent2023 report largely used to revive the hunt reliedon2021 data from northern andcentral Louisiana, not recent coastalcounts.
Most estimates place Louisiana’s current black bear populationbetween 1,200 and 1,500. Thelast publishedstudy found about 138 bears in thecoastal population of St. Mary and Iberiaparishes as of 2013.
“The issue is, we can’tknow that if we haven’tchecked anything in 13 years,” Spoorsaid. “Theyare telling us thepopulationisgood enough to hunt, but they don’teven
“Louisiana is saying that if the roadkill rates are increasing, the population is increasing,” Spoor said. “Inmyhead, if you’re an organization taskedwithconserving the bear they should try to increase the habitat.”
Hanks, whooversaw the 2024 hunt,argueed that thepopulation hasreached its modern carrying capacity
“This is not ‘we’re going out to kill the bears,’”hesaid, noting that last year’shunt helped generate additionalrevenue towardconservation and increase awareness about bears. “Wehave surplus bears.”
Louisiana’slandscape can no longersupport pre-20th-century bear populations, Hanks said.
“Maybe there could’ve been 20,000 bears in Louisiana hundreds of years ago,” he said. “Wecertainly don’tneed that now.”
Hanks said that data collected this summerwill help determine whether to expand or shrink the 2026 hunt in St. Mary Parish. Once the weather cools off in the early fall,he’ll begin collaring females to analyze breeding habits. During that time, hunters across the state will vie forone of the few lucky lottery tickets. Last year,there were over 900 applications —ademand unlikely to diminish in Louisiana.
“The whole ideaistokeep checking on themtomakesure we don’t get out of hand,” Hanks said.
EmailAidan McCahill at aidan. mccahill@theadvocate.com.
Russia, Ukraine trade drone strikes
By The Associated Press
Russia and Ukraine struck each other with hundreds of drones on Sunday throwing Russian air travel in disarray, shortly after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced deals with Western partners that would allow Kyiv to scale up drone production.
Photos circulating on social media showed crowds huddling at Russian airports including key international hubs in Moscow and St. Petersburg, as hundreds
LEVEE
Continued from page 1A
due to a combination of land subsidence and sea level rise, they may lose their certification under the National Flood Insurance Program, causing rates to skyrocket.
Separately, the 200-year study is seen as important in part because of how storms are projected to intensify in the years ahead. So-called 100-year storm surges are expected to occur more frequently in the future.
Congress has authorized both projects, but funding must be appropriated separately No money is included for either in both President Donald Trump’s budget proposal for the next fiscal year and the One Big Beautiful Bill approved by Congress. Under the congressionally authorized plans, the federal government is slated to pay 65% of the cost of keeping the levees at 100-year level through 2078, with the state covering the rest. The east bank portion of the work is estimated to cost $2.6 billion and the west bank $613 million, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Over the 2024 and 2025 fiscal years, the Corps received its 65% share for engineering and design funds to keep the levees at 100-year levels, amounting to $3 million for the east bank and $765,000 for the west bank.
As for the 200-year study no federal money has been appropriated for it so far Land sinking, water rising
The $14.6 billion hurricane protection system built in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina has been widely praised as a vast improvement over the levees that crumbled during the 2005 storm But because of Louisiana’s subsiding land and increased sea levels expected to result from climate change over the next 50 years, regular work is required to keep it all at 100-year surge level.
One recent study showed parts of the system are sinking faster than sea levels are rising.
According to Corps analysis, keeping the system elevated is expected to result in annual economic benefits from avoided flood damage of $167 million a year for the east bank and $59.9 million for the west bank. A first round of levee elevations
of flights were delayed or canceled due to Ukrainian drone strikes on Saturday and overnight, according to Russia’s Transport Ministry
The flight disruptions hit Moscow’s Sheremetyevo and St. Petersburg’s main Pulkovo airports. Other airports in western and central Russia also faced disruptions.
Russian air defenses shot down 120 Ukrainian drones during the nighttime attacks, and 39 more before 2 p m Moscow time on Sunday Russia’s Defense
should occur by 2033, one study found.
“We are currently finalizing our review plan, beginning hydraulic modeling, and rights of entry for data collection. Once complete, we will have better insight regarding the project schedule,” said Corps spokesperson Ricky Boyett.
But the president of the east bank regional levee authority raised concerns that the Corps wasn’t receiving enough money to keep the levees elevated, despite support for such funding from the regional authorities and the state Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority
“We, as an agency, have worked hard over the last few years to ensure that regular levee lifts and other necessary maintenance are in the Corps’ authorization and funding to maintain our 100-year protection level,” said Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection AuthorityEast President Roy Carubba. The east bank levee system, known as Lake Pontchartrain and Vicinity, would see 50 miles of levee lifts and 3 miles of replaced or new floodwalls. The West Bank and Vicinity system would include 49 miles of levee lifts, 1 mile of new floodwall and 268 feet of floodwall replacement Sea level rise caused by global warming over the 50year planning period is taken into account. The plans, for example, include raising portions of the Mississippi River levees on both banks that are considered part of the hurricane levee system to keep up with sea level rise.
An expensive part of the work will be replacing fabric mats used to armor the outer portions of earthen levees from erosion caused by storm surges during hurricanes. The mats will have to be replaced for each levee lift. The matting adds “resilience” to the earthen parts of the levee system, which the Corps says armors them for a 500-year surge event.
Carubba said the authority has built its 35% local match funds for both the design work and eventual construction into its annual budgeting process.
Jesse Noel, regional director of Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection AuthorityWest, said it began working on a self-funded levee lift program in 2022, and is in the permitting phase for lifting two levee sections. It’s
Ministry said. It did not clarify how many had hit targets, or how many had been launched in total.
Early on Sunday, Ukrainian drones injured two civilians in Russia’s Belgorod region near the border, its Gov Vyacheslav Gladkov said Sunday The Ukrainian attacks came just days after Russia pummelled Kyiv with waves of drones and missiles overnight into Friday, in what Ukrainian officials called the largest such strike since Moscow’s allout invasion. The seven-
also working with the Corps on the long-term 100-year lift program.
“To fund these efforts, SLFPA-W is utilizing a supplemental millage approved by the voters in 2018 which is dedicated to funding capital projects, including levee lifts,” he said.
‘Dire consequences’
As for the 200-year study, the concerns are twofold.
One involves worries that 100-year protection will not be enough as storms intensify in the future. But the second involves the original design itself.
Even as it was being built, local and state officials warned it would be overtopped by surges caused by storms the size of Katrina. The strength of the levees are designed to withstand being overtopped and not crumble, as they did in Katrina. But serious flooding would still occur from overtopping.
Forensic studies by the Corps indicate that hurricane surges from storms greater than 100-year strength could result in significant parts of the levee interior being flooded with as much as 5 feet of water, even assuming that all pumps are operating properly
Katrina’s surge on the Mississippi coast — about 28 feet above sea level plus waves was considered a 400-year event.
In St. Bernard Parish, surge overtopped levees along the Mississippi RiverGulf Outlet at levels as high as 19.5 feet plus another 4.5 feet of waves, which some have compared to a 250-year event. In Lake Pontchartrain, the highest water level was measured at 12 feet, plus waves.
A $3 million, three-year study on whether to raise the system to 200-year level was authorized by Congress in 2022, but has not yet received any funding.
The state Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority sent letters to the chairs of the House and Senate appropriations committees on April 1 urging the funds be appropriated.
In 2024, the east bank authority also agreed to pay half of the $3 million study cost, rather than its normal 35% share.
The study may consider ways of elevating the postKatrina levee system, as well as adding wetlands or other
hour onslaught killed at least two civilians, wounded dozens more and caused widespread damage, Ukraine said, while Moscow ramped up its push to capture more of its neighbor’s land.
In total, Russia launched 550 drones and missiles across Ukraine that night, according to the country’s air force. The barrages have coincided with a concerted Russian effort to break through parts of the roughly 620-mile front line, where Ukrainian troops are under severe pressure.
features outside the levees to reduce surge heights, or finding ways of temporarily storing or redirecting surge water away from the protected area.
“The Greater New Orleans area is home to critical industries, including energy shipping and tourism, all of which rely on robust flood protection infrastructure,” said thenCPRA Executive Director Glenn Ledet Jr before his recent appointment to head the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development.
“The devastation of Hurricane Katrina demonstrated the dire consequences of levee failure, and we must act now to fortify our flood protection systems before the next major storm.”
Carubba also raised concern about the failure to fund the study
“Regrettably, the Corps has dragged its feet in initiating the study,” he said. “So we are using every means available to procure federal funds to make that happen, and we will have the necessary state/local match available when needed to construct the necessary assets to continue to protect our citizens.”
BAKER
Continued from page 1A
in Baker and in Opelousas will more than double the size of this 15-year-old network.
As part of the change in management, Baker has laid off or accepted retirements of about 100 employees. Castille said Helix has thus far hired about 65% of the displaced Baker employees.
Baker’s budget, about $15.6 million, is shrinking dramatically thanks to the transition.
State law limits to 2% what it can charge Helix annually for the cost of overseeing the charter school group. The agreement negotiated with Helix calls for the charter organization to set aside additional money to cover legacy costs for employees who’ve retired from Baker And Helix has agreed to pay almost $48,000 to Baker to lease the property of the school district.
The Baker district has some required ongoing expenses, including maintaining an elected School Board and employing a superintendent.
Stroder, who has led school districts in multiple states, came to Baker in 2021 and two years later was promoted to superintendent. His salary is about $146,000 a year, with a compensation package valued at $156,000 a year His contract does not expire until June 2027.
For the remainder of his tenure, his job duties are greatly reduced. One role he is retaining is grant writing.
“I just finished two grants for probably about almost $700,000 that we should hear back from in August or September,” he said. Stroder said his contract also allows him to do side work such as educational consulting.
“I have a few things brewing,” he said, without providing details.
The five elected School Board members — they are considered part-time employees by law — make $9,600 a year, except for
board President Monique Butler, who makes $10,800 annually Four are in their first term and board member Joyce Burges is in her second term. All five are up for reelection in fall 2026.
The decision to shift to charters has turned this often fractious board into allies, at least for now Heretofore, important votes have split in a 3-2 margin. Butler, Burges and fellow board member Alteen Profit are usually in the majority while board members Clara Joseph and Linda Perkins are in the minority Those old divisions were on display briefly at the board’s July 1 meeting.
The board that night voted unanimously to “roll forward” the property tax millage for Baker schools. The vote returns tax rates to 43.2 mills, what they were in 2023, consequently increasing school revenue by an estimated $276,000.
A year ago, it rejected the same proposal. While a 3-2 majority supported the roll forward, it needed four votes, a supermajority to pass. That loss of that money led Stroder to lay off two employees. This time, Castille implored the board members to set aside differences and support the additional school funding.
Perkins, who voted no to the roll forward a year ago, was reluctant. She said she suspects widespread fraud in Baker schools. She’s said she’s not satisfied by the recently released annual district audit and wants a “topto-bottom” investigative audit.
Nevertheless, she relented and supported the roll forward.
“I have prayed so much for the future being different than what has transpired in the past,” Perkins said. “The children have been failing to be educated in the past, and I pray that (Helix) does the right thing in education them in the future.”
Email Charles Lussier at clussier@theadvocate. com.
Fire chief hits car, lawsuit alleges
Resident claims siren, lights were offwhile running redlight
BY CLAIRE GRUNEWALD
ADenham Springs resident is suing aLivingston Parish firechief, claiming he hither car after running ared light without his emergency lights and siren on. However,inthe originalcrash report, thechief claims thelightsand siren were switched on.
Eileen Crawford,a 76-y e ar-old Denh am Springsresident, filed acivillawsuit in June against Livingston Parish FireProtection District 5Chief JoeKoczrowski after acar crash in July 2024 Crawford saidshe was driving north on La. 16 in the right lane and drove intoanintersection during her greentraffic signal. Koczrowski was driving a fire district-owned pickup east onLa. 64.
Koczrowski was respondingtoa call for service when he entered that intersection during ared traffic signal, hitting Crawford’s car’sdriver’sside in aTbone crash, causing her to travel out of control and spin,according to court recordsand the original crashreport.
Crawfordclaims that Ko czrow ski enter ed the intersection withouthis emergency lights and siren activated,because she didn’tsee or hear his truck before the collision.
In the Louisiana State Policecrash report, Koczrowski was reported to have his emergency lights and siren activatedwhile crossing the intersection after pausingfor traffic, and he did not have time to reactbefore hittingher car,accordingtohis originalstatement.
Due to driver statements andavideo recording of the crash, the State Police report said Koczrowski wasoperatinginanemergencyresponse. Crawford suffered severeinjuries to herrib cage,neck, lower back and atraumatic brain injury —all of which required medicaltreatment that she is still getting ayear later, according tothe lawsuit. She claimsthe crashwas caused by his negligence, andthat she has had to pay out of pocket because theother party’sinsurance didnot adjust her claim
Only Crawford was marked as injured in the Louisiana StatePolice report. Bothvehicles were damaged and needed to be towed fromthe scene, according to thereport. Crawford hired Hales& Strickland, alaw firm out of Rayville thathandles auto incidents, forthe lawsuit. The suit was served to Koczrowski, the fire district, the Parish Council and the National Union FireInsurance Company of Pittsburgh. According to court records, the defendants don’thaveattorneys assigned to the lawsuit as of Monday Neither Koczrowskior Crawford’sattorneys responded to requests for comment
Fatalcyclist crashesrise
Between2019 and2023, 170diedinLa.
BY MARGARET DeLANEY Staff writer
In 2022, the number of cyclist deaths nationwide reached arecord high of 1,105, according to the National HighwayTraffic Safety Administration.
Between 2019 and 2023, 170cyclists diedfromfatal motor vehicle crashes in Louisiana, accordingto data from the U.S. Department of Transportation. TheseLouisiana parishes had thehighestnumber of fatal motor crashes involving acyclist: n Orleans Parish with 28 deaths, n East Baton Rouge Parish with 26 deaths, n Lafayette Parish with 16 deaths, n Ascension Parish with 11 deaths, n Jefferson andOuachita
parishes with eight deaths each, n Rapides Parish with seven deaths, n Calcasieu Parish with sixdeaths, n and Lafourche,St. Landry and Iberia parishes with five deaths each Bossier,Natchitoches, St. Johnthe Baptist, Evangeline, St. Charles, Allen, Plaquemines and Jackson parishes had one cyclist death due to amotor vehicle crash
Justunder 50% of Louisiana parisheshad zero fatal motor vehicle crashes involving acyclist between 2019 and 2023 including Assumption, Avoyelles, Beauregard,Bienville, Caldwell, Cameron, Catahoula, Claiborne, De Soto, East Carroll, East Feliciana, Franklin, Grant, LaSalle, Lincoln, Madison, Morehouse,Pointe Coupee,Red River, Richland, Sabine, St. Helena, St. James, St. Martin, Tensas, Union, Vernon, West Baton Rouge, West Carroll, West Feliciana and Websterparishes.
FREE FAMILy FUN
ABOVE: Museumgoers takeinthe vibrant display of retroprintsatthe LSU Museum of Art’s‘Carved &Crafted: The Artof Letterpress’ exhibition duringthe Free First Sundayevent held everyfirst Sundayofthe monthfrom1p.m. to 4p.m.
LEFT: Children participatinginFamily Field Trip,a collaborativesummer partnership with local nonprofits including theLSU Museum of Artand Line4Line, run through aplayground-styleparachute.
Arrest made in police captain’sstabbing
St.Gabriel man founddead, sheriffsays
BYHALEY
Staff writer
MILLER
An arrest wasmadeSunday in the stabbing death of St.Gabriel police Capt Devin Boutte, who was found dead at hishome early Sunday morning, Iberville Parish Sheriff BrettStassi said. Warren Mitchell III, 25, of
St. Gabriel, hasbeenbooked on acount of second-degree murder, accordingtoaFacebook post from the Sheriff’s Office.
Mitchell was taken into custody without incident the Sheriff’sOffice reported.
Iberville community members expressed shockand griefatthe murder throughout Sunday,asmessages of remembrance and prayer rolledinonsocial media.
“It is with deep sadness that we announce the passingofCaptain Devin Boutte, adedicated and respected
member of theSt. Gabriel Police Department,”the city of St. Gabriel said in arelease on Facebook. “Captain Boutte served our community with honorand distinction for approximately12years, having joined our department as an eager young man determined to makeadifference.” Boutte lived on Legion Drive in St. Gabriel. When he died, he was captain of the uniformpatrol division, leading with compassion, integrity and strength, the release said
TheNew Roads Police Department extended condolencesSundaymorning on Facebook, calling it atragic loss under “heartbreaking circumstances.”
“Captain Boutte served his community with courage, honor,and dedication,” the post said.
The St. Gabrielrelease said the loss weighs heavily on the department.
“Weask the community to keep us in your prayers as we mourn the loss of another life taken fartoo soon,” the release said.
STAFFPHOTOSByCHARLES CHAMPAGNE
Beasley, Deanna
Rabenhorst FuneralHome, 11000 Florida Blvd., BatonRouge,LAat 11am Daigle,Mercedes ResthavenFuneralHome, 11817 Jefferson Hwy BatonRouge at 11:00am.
Woodward, David
Rabenhorst FuneralHome, Baton Rouge at 10:00am.
Obituaries
Couhig, Kevin
Kevin Hearsey Couhig died at his vacationhome in Cashiers, NC, July 1, 2025. He was 73. Couhig is best remembered as agreat storyteller, an okay duck hunter, abrilliant businessman and as apeerless father, husband, brother and friend.
Couhig lived alife of remarkable accomplishment andservice, both in his private life and in his professional life. As acapstone to his public life, Couhig was elected as thefirst president of West Feliciana Parish in 2013 following the introduction of the parish's new Parish Council government reorganization, which replaced the former police jury system. He was re-elected in 2015. During his two terms Couhig compiled anotable record of accomplishment. Among thechanges he spearheaded or contributed to wasa change approved by the Louisiana TaxCommission to direct all property taxes paid by the Riverbend Nuclear Plant to the parish, a revision that brings millions of dollars in additional funds annuallytothe parish. He also oversaw the purchase and rehabilitation of the old Mississippi ferry landing, which now serves the multiple cruise ships that regularly dock in St. Francisville. The new multibillion-dollar artificial intelligence and Bitcoin mining facilitynow under construction by HUT8 in
West Feliciana is being builtlargely on property Couhig obtained or optionedfor theparishas part of anew business parkhecreated. He resigned his position in 2018tospend moretime with his family. Couhig was a1969 graduate of St. Francisville High School wherehewas anotablestudent. Hissenior year he was also,according to his own testimony the worst quarterback in school history. While attending Georgetown UniversityinWashington,DC, he married CandaceJones, hishigh school sweetheart. The two, who divorcedin1995, have three boys and four grandchildren. After graduating from Georgetown Couhig worked some yearsmanaging his father's Baton Rouge-basedpestcontrol company, Couhig Pestaway. He latermanaged Asphodel Plantation, the family's East Feliciana bedand-breakfast. In 1977hewas hiredby the State of Louisiana as an economic development specialist, andwas charged with bringingin new industrytothe state In 1978 he was promoted to Financial Incentives Director of Louisiana's Office of Commerce &Industry.Heiscreditedwithimplementing alocal readinessprogram (Ready Cities),the nation's first state-level Enterprise Zone Program. In 1981hewas appointed by Republican Governor DavidTreen as Assistant Secretary of Commerce to lead the StateofLouisiana's economic development programs. He was the youngest person to ever hold theoffice. As Assistant Secretary Couhig was credited with numerous innovative programs to help develop smallbusiness and entrepreneurshipin Louisiana.Hewas thelead authorofthe Certified Capital CompaniesProgram,enablingLouisiana to rapidlygrow the amount of venturecapital available to smallbusiness in the state. Couhigwas re-appointed AssistantSecretarybynewly elected Democratic Governor Edwin Edwards and servedin that position untilheresigned in 1985 After leaving state service,with partner Doug Wilkinson Couhigfounded Bankers MortgageService Corporation. The company
was created to aid commercial banks as they began mortgage lending, a market openedtobanks by then-recent changes in state law. The company was so successful that at theend of itsfirst year Couhigwas named Entrepreneur of theYearby Baton Rouge Business Report Following thesaleof Bankers MortgagetoBanc One in 1987, Couhig was asked by theBaton Rouge Chamber of Commerce to establish thestate'sfirst seedcapital firm. Otherinvestors included theBaton Rouge Area Foundation as wellasnumerous insurance companies and retirementfunds. Source Capital,LLC,madeequity investmentsand mezzanine and SBA loans to more than 130 smallbusinessesinthe Gulf South. Source Capital also founded First BIDCO, which became thelargest Small Business Administration lenderinLouisiana prior to itssaletoFidelity Bank in BatonRouge.OthernotableSource investments included Raisin' Canes (Source provided funding forthe company's first four locations), U.S. Agencies and Presonus,Inc., a Baton Rouge audio firm that was regularly named as one of Inc.magazine's fastest growing U.S. corporations. Couhigserved Presonus as Chairman of theBoard when thethenmultinational firm soldin 2021 to theFender Corporation. Couhigalso founded Resource EnvironmentalSolutions, growing it into thelargest wetlands restorationfirm in thenation. He called thecompany's planting of tens of millions of treestorestore Louisiana'swetlands his proudestprofessional achievement.
In addition to his professionalactivities, Couhig was adedicatedfather to histhree boys, and particularlytotheir earlysoccer careers and later business careers. In 1990 he coached theCatholicHigh School soccer team and theBaton Rouge United SoccerClub to state championships. As aresult he wasnamedthe National Soccer Coaches Association of America'sCoach of theYearfor theten-state Region Six. In the early 1980s Couhig started the United Cup Soccer tournament in BatonRouge; it remains one of the largest sports-related annual tourism events in Baton
Rouge. In addition,he served as Chairman of the Baton Rouge United Soccer Club. Couhigwas alifelong supporter of Liverpool FootballClub Couhigwas born in New Orleans in 1951, thefifth childofMarcelle Reese (LeBlanc)Couhig.Marcelle, apioneer in the Louisiana tourism industry, was widowed in WorldWar II and providedKevin with his eldest brotherand sister, Sam A. LeBlancIII (Noelle) of St. Francisville and Marcelle LeBlanc HickeyofSt. Francisville.Her latter husband, Robert E. Couhig--a well-known figure in Baton Rouge business circles added four more: Rob, Jr. (Melissa) of St. Francisville; Owen Couhig Kemp of St.Francisville, Kevin, and MarkSt.John Couhig(Linda) of Seguin, TX. Hisparents raised the combined family as one. Couhigwas preceded in death by his mother and father.
He is survivedbyhis belovedwife,Claire, of St. Francisville,and by her sons, MatthewJoseph Vecchio (Demilee) of Travelers Rest, SC,and JacobWilliam Vecchio (Janilie),ofLas Vegas, NV
Couhigisalso survived by his threesons: Peter Marcus Couhig (Finney) of Baton Rouge, Patrick Hearsey CouhigofSt. Francisville,and Brendan Fitzgibbons Couhig (Jenn) of Arlington, WA, and by his one granddaughter, Anna Reese Couhig,and his threegrandsons, James Emmet "Buster" Couhig, Marcus Alexander "Mac" Couhigand Lincoln Francis Couhig
He is also survivedby his threebrothers, twosisters and twoformerwives. Allare in mourning. His funeral Mass will take place at Our Ladyof Mt.CarmelinSt. Fran-
AnthonyFreddyPichon Jr lovingly known as "Duke," adevoted husband, father,brother,and lifelongcaregiver, passed away peacefullyonTuesday, July 1, 2025, at the CarpenterHouse in Baton Rouge,Louisiana. He was 72. Born on September30, 1952, in NewOrleans, Louisiana, to Louise and FreddyPichon, Duke dedicated 44 years of hislifeto nursing,a profession that perfectly matchedhis compassionateheart and steady spirit.Hespent much of hiscareerserving patients at OchsnerHospital,where hiscalmdemeanor, skill, anddeep empathy earnedhim the respect and gratitude of colleaguesand families alike.Hemarriedthe love of hislife, Lynn, on December5,1970, and thetwo were inseparable ever since —buildinga life centeredonlove, laughter, andunwaveringsupport for oneanotherand their family. Duke is survivedby hisloving wife,LynnPichon;his children, Angela Pichon,Renada Pichon Watters and husband, Keith,and AnthonyPichonIII He is also survivedbyhis sister,Kathleen Dillonand herson,Duke'snephew, PatrickDillon.Dukewas a familyman above all else, always proudofhis children's accomplishments anddeeply devotedto
Pichon, AnthonyFreddy
No FEMA? No problem, or maybe thereisfor Louisiana
Sure, FEMA can dissolveand let the state handle emergency responses.
We have one of the best-managedstategovernments in the U.S.
We have some of the best-managed and cheapest home, storm and auto insurance in thenation
We have some of the best-maintained roads, bridges and infrastructure in the nation.
Our Office of Motor Vehicles is the most technologically advanced and efficient in the U.S.
We have one of the best-maintained power grids. We don’thave to worryabout losing powerfor weeks or months after storm damage or heavy wind andrain storms.
Our state health services are the best. They keep us informed of possible health issues that are forthcoming. Our vaccine response is great.
Louisiana has the best governor and legislators.They always putthe needs of the constituents above party politics Taxes are no problem. Our taxes are well used. We need to fund more posters of the TenCommandments and less on needed libraries, internet and helpful books. Internet accessisnot neededinrural areas.
We have some of the best-funded and supported public schools, teachers and school support staff. Who needs public schools when you can opt out for state-funded private schools?
We have one of the greatest state prison systems. We don’t have the largest prison population in the U.S. Storm surges, flooding andhurricanes are not aproblem. We can move farthernorth and build tornado shelters. We don’tneed meteorological assistance from the feds or the state. Satellites justcause debris to fall from the sky.Wecan just look up weather in the Farmers’ Almanac or use a wet finger held up in the windlike the old folks used to do. I’m sure Ileft out plenty of things about our well-maintained state. Take care and be safe.
BJ RIEDIE Belle Chasse
YOUR VIEWS
Don’tlet bridge project destroyrarecypress forest
The A.E. LeBlanc old-growth cypress forest in Iberville Parish is one of the rarest places left in our nation —aliving remnant of theonce-vast cypress forests that blanketed Louisiana. With trees over 300 years old —and thepotential to liveover 1,000 —this forest has stood undisturbed for centuries, providingirreplaceable benefitstopeople and wildlife. Now it faces destruction if theMississippi River bridge project proceeds through this ancientforest instead of one of two viable alternativeroutes.
Less than 1% of easternU.S. forests have remainedintact long enough to develop oldgrowthcharacteristics. The A.E. LeBlanc forest is not merely old —itisecologically functional. Its mature root systems slow floodwaters, reduce erosion and improve water quality.Its canopy and deep soils store carbon,helping regulate climate amid intensifying storms. It provides critical habitat fornativewildlife and migratory birds that cannot thriveinyounger or fragmented for-
ests.
This is one of thefew privately protected old-growth forests in Louisiana and one of just afew hundred recognized by the OldGrowth Forest Network. Destroying it would be short-sighted and irreversible.
Shintech can rebuild infrastructure. But we cannot rebuild an old-growth forest. We cannot manufacture time.
Fragmentingthis forest alters everything —temperatures rise, humidity drops, native species decline and invasives spread. These aren’tjust trees —they are part of an ancient, irreplaceable system. Once damaged, it cannot be restored.
This forest is not for sale. If it’slost, it will be because it was taken from thefamilies workingtopreserve it.
Let us be thegeneration that said no. Protect theA.E. LeBlanc old-growth cypress forest.
Once gone, it is gone forever JOAN MALOOF founder,Old-Growth Forest Network
Pope Leo’s family tree showshow race is an absurd construct
Imagine that you discovered, all in one day,that you are pope and that you are Black. DoesGod have asense of humor,orwhat? Ithink that’swhat happened to Robert Francis Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV.His grandparents were Black NewOrleanians until they moved to Chicago around 1910 and became White.
Twoparts of the family were ripped apart by the pernicious, ridiculous concept of race and all the political, social and cultural assumptions that came with it in the early 1900s. That ridiculousness and manyofthose assumptions are still with us. Now, morethan acentury later,this family is reuniting, curious about each other and celebrating their common ancestry
So yes, Godhas asense of humor as away of getting our attention. But the purpose of the lesson is reconciliation. This newspaper reported how Ellen Dionne Alverez, 77, alifelong Black NewOrleanian, discovered lately through family records that she is Pope Leo’ssecond cousin, once removed.
Malcolm Moore, 70, grew up just afew miles away from Alverez in Broadmoor.Healways considered himself White. He is also the Pope’s second cousin once removed. So Godhas asense of humor and also asense of irony.How clever of him to put it out there on the world stage —the ridiculousness, the speciousness, the made-up-ness, of the concept of race. Yes, our imagined racial identities have shaped all of our self-concepts, sometimes forbetter,sometimes forworse. How long will it take to blot out the concept of race once and forall, not just on our birth certificates, but from our collective social psyche?
Recently,the paper reported the resignation of Kim Terrell, staff scientist for the Environmental Law Clinic at Tulane Law School,citing university censorship and infringement of her academic freedom. Speakingonmyown behalf and not theuniversity’s, and from my experience as the current director of the clinic, I’d like to clarify afew things.
First, theclinic will continue to rely on Terrell’spowerful work in its advocacy.Wehope andexpect there will be moretocome.
tinginreturn. Butpeople of this state are better off when their voices can be amplified withscience and when courthouses are accessible to them. Law students are better off with interdisciplinary advocacy and experience practicing thehighest ideals of the profession in representing clients whowould otherwise go unrepresented on controversial matters.
ORISSA AREND NewOrleans
LETTERSTOTHE EDITOR
AREWELCOME.HEREARE
OUR GUIDELINES: Letters are published identifying name and the writer’scity of residence.The Advocate |The Times-Picayune require astreet 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 ALETTER, SCAN HERE
Second, despite theloss of avaluable staff scientist, the clinic continues to practice and advocate on behalf of our clients. We know there are those who are afraid of Louisiana residents having access to legal representation to enforce environmental laws.And some are afraid of peer-reviewed science that shedslight on the environmental and public health costs of pollution and takes an honest accountingofwhat we are truly get-
Accolades to whoever had theAndrea Bocelli concert visit New Orleans. It was fabulous andextremely entertaining. Now for thebig problem: The parking dilemma needs to be resolved. All of the“open” gates at the Superdome need to be opened so all traffic heading east on Poydras can park quickly Thankfully,the concert was delayed by about20minutes for those caught in the rain
Marie Curie stated, “Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood.” The governor’s triumphant response to Terrell’sresignation reveals aperceived victory of politics over sciencebut it is as misplaced as it is premature. We understand that it is our clients’ voices thatare the true target, and so we follow our clients’ lead and fear not. The clinic is still here,the science isn’tgoing away, and we will notgodown withouta fight.
LISA JORDAN director, Environmental LawClinic,Tulane Law School
and trying to park somewhere. Samewith theSmoothie King Center —more entrances need to be madeavailable for the public.
Let’ssee if an engineer with the city can work on resolving this issue with the traffic and parking. It is quite aggravating forall drivers at any concert or sporting event.
MICHAEL
BOWEN Baton Rouge
STAFF PHOTO By JAVIER GALLEGOS
Abaldcypress tree towers above aslough at A.E. LeBlanc Natural Area and Old-Growth Cypress
COMMENTARY
SEA YOUINCOURT!
Louisianahas watereverywhere. It must be tough to be alittle fish down there. In this week’s underseascenario, here’s aplace where theycan settletheirdisputes.
So,what’s going on in this cartoon? youtell me.Bewitty,funny, crazy,absurd or snarky —just trytokeep it clean.There’snolimit on the number of entries.
The winning punchlinewill be lettered into the word balloon and runonMonday, July 14, in our printeditionsand online. In addition, the winner will receivea signed print of the cartoon along witha cool winner’sT-shirt! Somehonorable mentions will also be listed.
To enter,emailentriestocartooncontest@theadvocate.com.
DON’T FORGET! Allentriesmust include your name,homeaddress and phone number.Cell numbersare best.
The deadline for all entries is midnight on Thursday, July 10.
Good luck, everyone!— Walt
COLUMBIA, South Carolina As Icruised west on I-20 toward the state’scapital city,mycar’sthermostatmeasured the outsidetemperature at 103 degrees and this was without factoring in the heat index, which would have raised it to about 109.
Letthe countdown begin to 250
Those annoying countdown clocks the cable TV networks use to letusknow howmuchtime remains before apresidentialaddress or something else regardedasworthy of ourattentionmight be useful as America begins the countdown to the 250thanniversary of the publication of the DeclarationofIndependence. Aquestionthatwould be helpful fordiscussion during ourincreasingly dividedtimesmight be: “Whatdoes it meantobe an American”? Is it defined in the lyrics of the LeeGreenwood song “I’m proud to be an American where at least Iknow I’m free”? That doesn’tfully answerthe question: whatisanAmerican and even more, what is America?
Schoolchildren once studiedsuch things before American history was rewritten in many public schoolsand universitiestofita progressive narrative Theylearnedthatthe country was namedfor the Italian explorer Amerigo Vespucci,whose claim to fame was the discoverythatthe land he wasexploring, the New World, was notapartofAsia, but aseparatecontinent. German cartographerMartin Waldseemuller used Vespucci’s first name, whose Latin versionwas “Americus,” to labelthe future United States on amap he drew in 1507. The name “America” wasquickly and universally accepted. Today we might have hada naming contest. Thatstill doesn’tanswer the questionastowhatisAmericaand who are Americans?
Frank Sinatra gave his answer in a song titled“The House ILive In.” In the run-up to singing it, Sinatra’snarration includes: “Only in Americacould all that’shappened to me, happentoaguy like me.Anywhere else Imight have wound up digging coal.”
Thatgetsclose to answering the questions.
The last time Iwas this hotwas four years ago, when my son and Idrove across the Mojave Desert in July en route tohis newhome in California. Ata rest stop midway,Ispotted a proud flowering shrub, walked over and congratulated it. Back in the car with Leo, apit/border collie hybrid panting lovingly down our necks, we gazed at the gas gauge’sremaining miles and compared the figure withthe miles to our destination —amuch larger number.Then Iestimated howmuch water we had left and tried nottothink about howlong we’d last if the worst happened. Suddenly,myson and Iboth screamed. Aroad sign suggesting a town —Ludlow —had materialized through the waves of heat. Another sign read, “Next Services 27 Miles.” Surely this meant gasoline, no? Searchingthe horizon, we saw what looked like alow building with asign perched high above bearingthe number 76 encircled in orange. Gas!
We took the exit and were ecstatic to find apump in front of ashuttered store. Just one, but it worked. Ludlow, population 9, is in California and was once an important water stop for the railroadalong Route 66. Otherwise, it seems to be aplace where aperson goes to be forgotten by the other 8. The heat let up by about 45 degrees when we reached Ventura on the coast, and we thought we’d landed in heaven. I’ve known few happier moments, which is testament to theimportance of one’senvirons to well-being. Vacations speak to this, too. Alas, the heat in South Carolina shows no sign of relenting, even if the dome relocates.
Nearly everyone thinks it’s becoming hotter each year,and science seems to bear this out. Thenumber and intensity of heat waves are increasing, as are the frequency and severityof hurricanes. As long as we do nothing to curtailgreenhouse-gas emissions, temperaturesare projected to rise more —though South Carolina is aregional
leader intrying to mitigateclimate change, as wellasstorm surges and other environmental repercussions, according to theSouthern Environmental LawCenter
Otherstates, notably Washington, Oregon,California, Vermont, Massachusettsand Maryland, areahead of the rest in taking stepstoprotect theenvironment. Theseexceptions notwithstanding, my drive to Columbia convinced me that Homosapiens is the stupidest species on the planet If you’ve been on an airplane recently,you can’thave missed them, scattered on theoutskirts of cities and towns —densely populated minidesertswith naryatree. Not even a proud shrub.
Theaffordable-housing shortage of thepast several years has given rise to fast-and-cheap development that no one seems to want but that developers and officialdom justify as necessary Sure, we need more houses witha patch of grass for first-time home buyers,preferably near workplaces and schools.
Butwhy not afew trees, too?
Bulldozing old-growth forests to make way for chockablock housing a stone’sthrow from the interstate is illogical,ifnot counterintuitive. Trees conserve water by absorbing stormwaterrunoff, and they reduce erosion by stabilizing soil.
Most anyone prefers ayard with
trees andthe shade they provide, but developersclaim critical costsavings are passed on to buyers. This might be so, but why not raise standards that ultimately benefitthosebuyers, as well as their communities?
The same lack of imagination governs the paved parking lots that resemble asphalt deserts. Tryfinding ashade tree to parkunder next time you’re at WalmartorCostco. With allour smarts and technology,wecan’tcome up with abetter way to provide parking than impermeable asphalt?Thereare alternatives,but first we must demand them. I’ve wandered abit from Ludlow here, but thetheme is thesame. We need to adapttohotter times, not by becoming accustomed to the heat but by changing the way we build and preserving our natural resources. As someonewho grew up in Florida beforeschools and most homes were air-conditioned, I’m as heat-tolerant as anyone. ButIcan assure you that theFlorida heat and humidityfrom decades ago can’tcompare to what so manyAmericans have been experiencing during thepast week’sheat wave. Ourdesertlike heat these days should motivate us to start acting smarter,orit’sonly going to get worse.
Kathleen Parker is on X, @KathleenParker
Americaisa land of opportunity for those who can seeitand seize it. If you can’t make it here,you are unlikely to do as well anywhere else. America is also aboutovercoming obstacles. Their storiesusedtoinspire people who hada bad start in life before we acceptedthe false notionthatweare entitled to whatothers ownand don’thave to work for it.
Americaisanideainacontinuing quest forthe ideal.Whenwehavefailed to live up to the Declaration and our constitutional principles, we don’tgive up. We try to make things right because we have astandard —a foundation— that defineswhatisright. “Wehold these truths to be self-evident.” Such truths (“endowedbyour Creator with certain unalienable rights”) helped us overcome the evil scourge of slavery and the denial of civil rights to those who descended from the enslaved. What other nation offers suchopportunitiesand hope? Freedom is not“just another word for nothing left to lose,” as Janis Joplin sang. But with freedom comes responsibility, including the expectation it will be renewedbyeach succeeding generation. As Ronald Reagan correctly stated: “Freedom is nevermore than one generationaway fromextinction. We didn’t pass it to ourchildreninthe bloodstream. It must be fought for,protected, andhandedonfor themtodothe same, or oneday we will spend our sunset yearstelling ourchildren and our children’schildrenwhat it was once like in the United Stateswhere menwere free.” Let’shaveaconversation during these next 365 days aboutwhat it means to be an American andwhatwewill do to renewAmerica forthe next generation while preserving it for the current ones. In answertothe questions about Americaand Americans, it’shardtoimprove on the motto inscribedonthe Great Seal of the United States—Epluribus unum, “frommany, one.” Letthe countdown begin.
Email Cal Thomas at tcaeditorstribpub. com.
Kathleen Parker
Cal Thomas
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By JULIA DEMAREENIKHINSON
AU.S.Capitol Police officer pours water on his head outsidethe Capitol in Washington.
aSpecial Eventduring the month of March! During this event, we will be offering these FREE services:
•FREE Hearing Consultations
•FREE Video Otoscope Exam: Hearinglossorjust earwax?
•FREE Clean &Check on currenthearing aids
•FREE Baseline Audiogram Assessment
•FREE Familiar Voice Test
•FREE Demo of Audibel’s latest hearing technology!
AreYou or Anyone YouKnow Experiencing the Following?
1. Asking people to speak up or repeat themselves?
2. Turning theTVuploud tounderstandwhat is being said?
3. Ringing or noises in your ears?
Audibelis NOW Offering...
•Hearingaids at NO COST to those who qualify!•
• That’s Right. No Co-Pay!NoExamFee! No AdjustmentFee! If youhavethiscard, youmay qualifyfor free hearing aids! Call today to verifyyour benefits
SUMMER BREW
BY ROD WALKER Staff writer
Corey Brewer has done a little bit of everything in basketball.
He won back-to-back national championships at the University of Florida, earning Most Outstanding Player in the 2007 Final Four
He won an NBA title with the Dallas Mavericks in 2011. His 13-year NBA career included a 51-point game for the Minnesota Timberwolves against the Houston Rockets on April 12, 2014.
He even finds time to play in the Big3, the 3-on-3 league founded by Ice Cube Brewer, entering his sixth season on the New Orleans Pelicans coaching staff, now gets to do something he’s always wanted to do. He’ll sit in the coveted first chair on the bench as head coach of the Pelicans’ Summer League team.
“It’s a great opportunity for me,” Brewer said. “Thanks to the Pelicans organization and coach (Willie) Green for letting me have this role of being a head coach and coming out here and teaching these guys.” Brewer conducted his first practice
Sunday He has just three days to get his team prepared for Thursday’s Summer League opener in Las Vegas against the Timberwolves, one of eight teams he
BY RONALD BLUM AP baseball writer
NEW YORK Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw was picked for his 11th All-Star Game, and Paul Skenes, James Wood and Elly De La Cruz boosted the 23-andunder group to five when they were picked Sunday for the July 15 showcase at Atlanta’s Truist Park. Wood at 22 is the youngest of the 65 All-Stars, while Skenes, De La Cruz and fan-elected starters Pete Crow-Armstrong and Jacob Wilson are all 23. Cal Raleigh and Yoshinobu Yamamoto joined Wood, Wilson and Crow-Armstrong among 19
first-time All-Stars Wood was acquired by Washington in the August 2022 trade that sent outfielder Juan Soto to San Diego. “It’ll just be cool being around some of the best players in the game,” Wood said. Kershaw last week became the 20th pitcher to reach 3,000 strikeouts, and commissioner Rob Manfred made the lefthander the 65th All-Star as a so-called Legend Pick, his first since selecting Miguel Cabrera and Albert Pujols in 2022 under a provision in the collective bargaining agreement. Kershaw gives the Dodgers
MLB, page 4B
BY DOUG FEINBERG AP
BY BOB WOJNOWSKI
The Detroit News (TNS)
It’s everywhere in sports. In the endless commercials, in the constant scroll of betting odds during broadcasts, in the occasional gas p or cheer when a meaningless last-second basket turns out to be financially meaningful for someone.
Gambling always has been a lure and a challenge for the sports world. From the 1919
Black Sox Scandal, to Pete Rose’s baseball ban, to Malik Beasley ensnared in a federal gambling investigation that cost him his job with the Detroit Pistons. Beasley hasn’t been charged with any wrongdoing, but amid the probe, revelations of his financial and legal woes surfaced. The Pistons pulled their $42 million offer and signed someone else, leaving Beasley to wonder what’s next. He could be exonerated, or he could be suspended or banned if linked to gambling on NBA games. The reflex reaction is to lament
the perils of legalized gambling, which is a simplistic and unhelpful response. There are perils to alcohol use and other societal vices, but they’ll never be abuse-free, no matter how many disclaimers and warning labels are attached. Online gambling has become a multibillion-dollar industry, and the states that legalize it now up to 39 — reap tax revenue. A lot of money is being made, and yes, a lot of money is being lost. But you’re kidding yourself if you think this is a raging new-age problem. Legalization
brought gambling out of the shadows, but it didn’t eliminate shadowy irresponsibility and the addictive nature of humans. Creating temptation Online sites such as FanDuel and DraftKings are required to regulate and monitor When gambling improprieties are suspected, they’re usually uncovered by professional sites and casinos, which report them to authorities. According to ESPN, the feds
“I’m
Also announced Sunday Kayla Thornton, Gabby Williams, Kiki Iriafen and Sonia Citron will be making their AllStar debuts as reserves.
Thornton has been in the league for nine years and finally is getting her chance to play in the exhibition game She was selected in the expansion draft by Golden State last year from New York and has helped the expansion team get off to a good start.
“It would be such a reward for her,” said New York coach Sandy Brondello, who will be one of the All-Star coaches. “She’s been a role player all her career, but to go into a new organization and do so well, I voted for her as an alternate to get there because she deserves it.” Williams has been in the league for six seasons, although she’s missed time to play with France’s national team. She’s having a strong season for Seattle this year Washington rookies Iriafen and Citron join Dallas’ Paige Bueckers as first-year players on the All-Star team. Bueckers was chosen as a starter It’s the first time that three rookies will be playing in the game since 2011.
Other reserves chosen include Seattle’s Skylar Diggins, Phoenix’s Alyssa Thomas, Atlanta’s Rhyne Howard Indiana’s Kelsey Mitchell, Los Angeles’ Kelsey Plum, Minnesota’s Courtney Williams and Las Vegas’ Jackie Young.
“It means a lot to go with these other two,” said Diggins, who will be making her seventh All-Star appearance, of playing with teammates Nneka Ogwumike and Williams.
Thomas will be making her sixth allstar appearance and first with Phoenix.
played for during his career. He was pleased with what he saw in his first
ASSOCIATED
team this month.
Van Gisbergen masters Chicago
He sweeps Xfinity, Cup road courses
BY JAY COHEN AP sports writer
CHICAGO Shane van Gisbergen burned out his tires in celebration, sending white smoke into the air He signed a rugby ball and punted it into the stands in downtown Chicago.
It was a familiar scene.
Van Gisbergen completed a Windy City sweep Sunday, winning the NASCAR Cup Series race on the tricky street course in downtown Chicago.
“Epic weekend for us. I’m a lucky guy,” van Gisbergen said A talented one, too.
The 36-year-old New Zealand native became the second driver to sweep the Xfinity and Cup races in a single weekend from the pole, joining Kyle Busch at Indianapolis in 2016. With his third career Cup win, he also became the winningest foreign-born driver on NASCAR’s top series.
It was van Gisbergen’s second victory of the season after the Trackhouse Racing driver also won last month on a Mexico City road course.
“He’s the best road course stock car racer that I’ve ever seen,” Trackhouse owner Justin Marks said. “I think when he’s done with us all and walks away from the sport, I think he’s going to walk away as the best road course racer that this sport has ever seen.” Marks brought van Gisbergen
over from Australia’s Supercars for the first edition of NASCAR’s Chicago experiment in 2023, and he became the first driver to win his Cup debut since Johnny Rutherford in the second qualifying race at Daytona in 1963.
He also won Chicago’s Xfinity Series stop last year and the first stage in the Cup race before he was knocked out by a crash
“This joint, it’s changed my life,”
van Gisbergen said “I didn’t have any plans to do more NASCAR races when I first came over here, and I never thought I’d be in NAS-
CAR full time.”
In what might be the last NASCAR race on the downtown Chicago circuit, Ty Gibbs was second and Tyler Reddick finished third. Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch rounded out the top five.
“My team called a great strategy and got me in position to get me up front to compete for the win,” Gibbs said “It worked out for us today, so I’m glad to have a good finish, but we wish we could have gone for the win.”
Michael McDowell joined van Gisbergen on the front row and quickly moved in front. He won
Stage 1 and led for 31 laps before he was derailed by a throttle cable issue.
Van Gisbergen regained the lead when he passed Chase Briscoe with 16 laps left. As fog and rain moved into downtown Chicago, van Gisbergen controlled the action the rest of the way
AJ Allmendinger was sixth, and Ryan Preece finished seventh.
Ryan Blaney, who won the second stage, was 12th.
“I thought overall it was a pretty decent day It was nice to win that stage,” Blaney said.
William Byron’s day was cut short by a clutch problem. The Hendrick Motorsports driver leads the point standings by 13 points over Chase Elliott.
After McDowell seized the lead early in the race, Carson Hocevar caused a multicar crash when he hit the wall and spun out between turns 10 and 11. Brad Keselowski, Austin Dillon, Daniel Suárez and Will Brown were among the drivers collected in the wreck.
“I didn’t see it until the last second,” Keselowski said. “I slowed down and I actually felt I was going to get stopped and then I just kind of got ran over from behind.
It’s just a narrow street course and sometimes there’s nowhere to go.”
Ty Dillon and Reddick moved into the third round of NASCAR’s inaugural in-season tournament when Keselowski and Hocevar were unable to finish the race.
Dillon, the No. 32 seed, eliminated Keselowski after he upset topseeded Denny Hamlin last weekend at Atlanta.
Campbell wins second PGA playoff of season
The Associated Press SILVIS, Ill. — Brian Campbell won for the second time this year on the PGA Tour, both in a playoff, when he closed with a 4-under 67 and beat Emiliano Grillo with a par on the first extra hole Sunday in the John Deere Classic. It extended the win-or-bust season for Campbell, who won the Mexico Open in a playoff in late February He has finished out of the top 30 in every tournament except for his two victories.
This one might be enough to get him into the British Open, depending on how high up he moves in the world ranking published Monday traditionally used as the alternate list. Campbell appeared to have control of the tournament with three birdies in a four-hole stretch to start the back nine. But he fell back with a double bogey into the
trees on the 15th, and it was a wild scramble to the finish.
Grillo, who also closed with a 67, took the lead when Campbell made double bogey, only to threeputt for bogey on the 16th. Campbell, one of the shorter hitters on tour, blasted a 3-wood to 18 feet for a two-putt birdie on the par-5 17th and narrowly missed a 25-foot birdie on the 18th. He was the first player to post at 18-under 266.
Grillo got up-and-down for birdie on the 17th, holing an 8-foot putt, and caught a bad break on the 18th when his drive settled into a divot. He hit wedge to just inside 40 feet and two-putted for par to join Campbell at 266.
David Lipsky was poised to join them when he hit a punch 3-wood to 8 feet for eagle on the 17th to tie for the lead But he hooked his drive on the 18th, couldn’t reach the green, and his 15-foot par putt
to get into the playoff caught the left lip and spun away He shot 68 and tied for third with Kevin Roy (65). The playoff lacked any real drama. Campbell hit a beautiful trap draw to about 15 feet on the 18th. Grillo, who caught a break when his drive to the right was sitting up in trampled rough, sent long over the green. His flop shot didn’t quite reach the putting surface, and his par attempt from 25 feet never had a chance.
“I got myself there. I gave myself a chance,” Grillo said. “I made some good putts. Hit a good putt on the 72nd and that’s all I can do.” Campbell becomes the fifth player this year to have multiple victories in individual tournaments on the PGA Tour, joining Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy Sepp Straka and Ryan Fox.
Brewers RHP Woodruff tosses gem after long layoff
Milwaukee Brewers righthander Brandon Woodruff struck out eight and threw two-hit ball through six innings against Miami on Sunday to win his first start in the majors since Sept. 23, 2023.
The two-time All-Star hadn’t pitched in the big leagues since having shoulder surgery after the 2023 season. Woodruff (1-0) struck out the side in the first inning and was lifted after six innings and throwing 53 of his 70 pitches for strikes without a walk in the 3-1 victory
Both of the hits he allowed were by Marlins left fielder Heriberto Hernandez, who singled in the third and homered in the fifth.
“No one could have expected six innings, two-hit ball or whatever it was,” manager Pat Murphy said
Guardians place outfielder Thomas on injured list
Guardians outfielder Lane Thomas was placed on the 10-day injured list because of plantar fasciitis in his right foot Sunday before Cleveland faced the Detroit Tigers.
The move is retroactive to Saturday Infielder Will Wilson was recalled from Triple-A Columbus.
Thomas also missed 11 games in late May and early June because of plantar fasciitis in his right foot. Manager Stephen Vogt said before the game that next week’s All-Star break should give Thomas plenty of time to rest up for the second half of the season.
Thomas also missed five weeks because of a right wrist bone bruise after getting hit by a pitch during the April 8 home opener against the Chicago White Sox.
Cavaliers re-sign Merrill, bring back ex-Pel Nance
The Cleveland Cavaliers will have a pair of familiar players back next season.
The Cavs announced Sunday they have re-signed Sam Merrill to a four-year contract and brought back Larry Nance Jr for a second stint on a one-year deal. Merrill averaged 7.2 points and made 137 3-pointers in 71 games last season. The fifth-year guard had 27 points and nine 3s on Feb. 2 at Dallas. Merrill was the final pick in the 2020 draft by New Orleans before joining the Cavaliers in March 2023.
Nance, a former Pelicans player, spent parts of four seasons with the Cavs from 2018-21. He appeared in 182 games, including 76 starts, and averaged 9.5 points and 7.5 rebounds
Cowboys return man, WR Turpin arrested near Dallas
All-Pro return man KaVontae Turpin of the Dallas Cowboys was arrested in a Dallas suburb on misdemeanor charges of marijuana possession and unlawful carrying of a weapon, authorities said Sunday Turpin was arrested by police in Allen on Saturday The 28-year-old is out of jail on bond. There is no record of an attorney for Turpin. The team declined to comment.
The former TCU standout is going into his fourth season with the Cowboys and recently signed an $18 million, three-year contract.
The Cowboys signed Turpin out of the USFL in 2022. He had played in several satellite football leagues before joining the USFL. Turpin had career-bests of 31 catches for 420 yards and scored two touchdowns last season.
Irish offensive lineman
He finished about a half-hour ahead of the final group, but Campbell chose to stay in the clubhouse to see whether his score would hold up instead of staying loose on the practice range. He said it was hot enough that it was better to cool off and get some rest, and there was no arguing with the result — he drilled his drive down the middle and put all the pressure on Grillo with his approach to the green. Max Homa, winless in more than two years, ran off three straight birdies early in the round to briefly take the lead. He played the last 14 holes in 1 over, missing key putts to stay in the game, and wound up with a 69 to tie for fifth. It was his first top 10 on the PGA Tour in nearly 15 months. Five others tied for fifth, including 47-year-old Matt Kuchar, who closed with a 66, and Lucas Glover, who shot a 64.
Jagusah injured in crash
Notre Dame offensive lineman
Charles Jagusah broke his left arm Saturday in a utility task vehicle crash in Wyoming. School officials announced Sunday that Jagusah had surgery to repair his fractured humerus, which is a bone located between the shoulder and elbow They said the initial prognosis was “favorable” and that he would return to campus this week for continued care. This marks the second consecutive year that Jagusah, one of Notre Dame’s most promising offensive linemen, has suffered a major injury before the season. Jagusah was projected to open 2024 as Notre Dame’s starting left tackle, but he tore his right pectoral muscle during preseason practice. He came back to play in the Fighting Irish’s final three College Football Playoff games.
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By ERIN HOOLEy
Shane van Gisbergen does a victory burnout after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at the Grant Park 165 on Sunday in Chicago.
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHTO By ERIN HOOLEy
Shane van Gisbergen holds the trophy after winning a NASCAR Cup Series race Sunday in Chicago. He also won the Xfinity race on Saturday
Mexico beats U.S. for 10th Gold Cup
By The Assoicated Press
HOUSTON Edson Álvarez scored a tiebreaking goal in the 77th minute after a video review reversed an offside call, and Mexico beat the United States 2-1 on Sunday night for its record 10th CONCACAF Gold Cup title.
Chris Richards put the U.S. ahead in the fourth minute, heading in a Sebastian Berhalter free kick for the second time in the tournament, but Raúl Jiménez tied the score in the 27th with his third goal of this Gold Cup.
Mexico was awarded the free kick when Diego Luna fouled Alexis Vega on a flank. Johan Vásquez flicked the restart across the goal mouth and Álvarez burst past the defense, redirecting the ball from 3 yards just inside Matt Freese’s far post. While the play was initially called offside, the goal was awarded by the VAR, and Mexico defended its title from 2023 while improving to 6-2 in Gold Cup finals against the U.S. Patrick Agyemang had a chance two minutes into stoppage time, but he didn’t make good contact on his short-range shot that was blocked by goalkeeper Luis Malagón.
“We’re disappointed obviously to not come away with a win,” U.S. captain Tim Ream said. A sellout crowd of 70,925 at NRG Stadium was about 70% pro-Mexico and booed U.S. players when they walked out for pregame warmups. Mexico dominated with 60% possession and had 12 corner kicks to none for the Americans.
This was the last competitive match for the U.S. and Mexico be-
Mexico midfielder Edson Álvarez celebrates after scoring against the
CONCACAF Gold Cup final match in Houston on Sunday.
fore co-hosting next year’s World Cup with Canada.
The U.S., which has seven Gold Cup titles but none since 2021, used a starting lineup with only a handful of players currently projected as World Cup starters, missing regulars because of vacation, injuries and the Club World Cup.
Coach Mauricio Pochettino used their absence to evaluate players who could push for starting jobs
during the friendlies this fall and next spring, and Luna, Agyemang and Freese emerged as contenders for World Cup roster spots.
Richards put the U.S. in front when he headed Berhalter’s free kick from about 40 yards off the crossbar The ball bounced straight down and just crossed the goal line.
Jiménez scored his 42nd international goal, third-most in Mexican history He burst past the
defense and one-timed the pass from Marcel Ruiz, beating Freese from about 10 yards on a shot that might have nicked Ream.
Jiménez celebrated by grabbing a Mexico No. 20 jersey with “DIOGO J” in honor of Diogo Jota, his former Wolverhampton teammate who died in a car crash Thursday in Spain. Jiménez ran to a corner, sat down with the jersey and mimicked playing a video game.
Norway, Switzerland prevail in Women’s Euro
BY GRAHAM DUNBAR AP sports writer
SION, Switzerland Norway winger
Caroline Graham Hansen showed Sunday why she was second in the Ballon d’Or vote last year to her superstar Barcelona teammate Aitana Bonmatí.
Graham Hansen lifted Norway into the quarterfinals of the Women’s European Championships with a decisive late goal in a 2-1 win over Finland.
It meant Norway became the first team in the knockout rounds as the winner of Group A after host Switzerland beat Iceland 2-0 in the later game Sunday In the 84th minute of a tied game, there seemed little danger when Graham Hansen got the ball tight on the right wing marked by two Finland opponents 45 yards from goal.
She dribbled past both players detailed to stop her, darted into the penalty area, met two more defenders, deceived them and created space to float a deft chip that went into the net off the far post.
Maybe it was a cross aimed for Norway captain Ada Hegerberg but it still looked great.
“It was a half-shot, half-cross,” Graham Hansen said “If it wasn’t going in, it was going to Ada. You have to make something happen
Continued from page 1B
have been investigating Beasley for 18 months — back to his one season with the Milwaukee Bucks after getting tipped by a U.S. sportsbook. The Detroit News also reported Beasley has been sued numerous times for debt repayments.
Gambling used to be a tedious, dangerous endeavor, run by neighborhood bookies and organized crime. Now everyone at least in states with legalized gambling basically has a casino on their phone, a pocketbook in their pocket Convenience creates temptation and consequences. The mechanisms are new, but the debate isn’t, and there’s no turning back. Sports and gambling sites are inextricably linked by sponsorship and viewership. Is it too pervasive and unseemly? Well, that question can’t be answered unless you answer these: Are $200 million contracts in pro sports too pervasive and unseemly? What about the rivers of money flowing through college sports now? What about the rising cost of tickets?
Everything about sports in America is overwrought, and I won’t be hypocritical here I cover sports for newspaper, radio and TV, which all make money
EURO CUP ROUNDUP
out of nothing.” Just three minutes earlier, she had missed a much easier chance to win the game by scooping a shot
from gambling ads. You lose the “Sports Are Too Big” argument when it’s so lucrative, and fans are so passionate, and so many livelihoods are tied to it.
Legalized gambling has elevated sports’ popularity and rocketed revenue, for better or worse. Since gambling was legalized after a Supreme Court ruling in 2018, it has become a cumbersome part of the viewing experience. But it also has set up guardrails and guidelines.
Beasley is the latest NBA player to come under scrutiny In April 2024, Jontay Porter of the Toronto Raptors was suspended for life for manipulating prop bets and sharing information with gamblers. In that same case, Charlotte guard Terry Rozier was investigated and ultimately cleared.
In 2007, long before legalized gambling, a scandal shook sports to its core. NBA referee Tim Donaghy was found guilty of betting on games he officiated and sharing information with gamblers. He spent 15 months in prison, and the NBA spent untold time assessing damage to its reputation. That’s partly why the league now so closely tracks betting activity.
The problem is, one case stirs suspicions of more, and suspicion tears at the foundation of sports.
In the infamous 1919 Black Sox Scandal, White Sox players were
over the bar when having almost too much time to think and pick her spot
“You maybe feel like that was the chance that could have secured the victory,” Graham Hansen said.
“But you can’t stay in the past.
accused of throwing the World Series, which led to suspensions and trials. I doubt that was the only gambling issue then, just like I don’t assume the NBA cases are completely isolated.
Collateral consequences
The issue is churning toward college athletics, too The NCAA is considering a proposal that would allow athletes and staff to bet on pro sports. The governing body would focus instead on illegal betting on college events, which are more susceptible to gambling influences, with athletes living among thousands of students The NCAA always is ripe for hypocrisy charges, and probably realizes a blanket ban on online gambling isn’t practical. The business is still expanding, with gambling sites’ revenue up a reported 30% last year Two huge markets are still untapped, as the largest states — California and Texas — have yet to legalize. Unfortunately, there are collateral consequences. There’s a hidden toll on athlete-fan interactions, which rears in ugly ways Players in all sports have complained about social media threats from gamblers who blame athletes’ miscues for losing a bet.
Anonymity breeds cowardice and contempt. Numerous fanheckling incidents have been tied
Nationals clear out manager, general manager
By The Associated Press
WASHINGTON Manager Dave Martinez and general manager
SWITZERLAND 2, ICELAND 0: In Bern, Switzerland, host nation Switzerland put its Women’s European Championship campaign back on track with a win over Iceland, eliminating its opponents in the process and avoiding the possibility of a penalty shootout in its final group match
Géraldine Reuteler netted with 14 minutes remaining as the Stadion Wankdorf erupted in celebration in a sea of red, and Alayah Pilgrim sealed the result right at the death to leave their team on the brink of history.
“This is something special I have to say,” said Switzerland coach Pia Sundhage, who steered the United States to two Olympic titles. “I did not believe that Swiss people could create this kind of atmosphere.”
It was only a second-ever win at the Euros for Switzerland, which has never made it to the knockout stages.
It will now be all to play for on Thursday when Switzerland meets Finland in their final group match, with a place in the quarterfinals at stake Both teams are level on three points — three points behind Norway, which beat Finland 2-1 earlier and has now advanced to the knockout stage as Group A champion.
to angry losers. It’s even more personal with prop bets, in which people gamble on a single player’s statistics, such as how many points or rebounds they record.
That was noted in the Beasley investigation, when a game between the Bucks and Blazers on Jan. 31, 2024, was flagged by sportsbooks for abnormal betting volumes. According to ESPN, Beasley’s over/under rebound total was set at 2.5 and gamblers bet heavily on the under Beasley actually went over, with six rebounds. Again, no charges have been filed.
Prop bets can create problems because they’re more easily manipulated, usually involving only one athlete, unless part of a larger parlay Is one solution to eliminate prop bets and allow wagering only on wins and losses and team totals? Some states have adopted that approach. But props and parlays are extremely popular, with gambling sites offering hundreds of options.
The Beasley situation brought it closer to home and illuminated the danger, but it’s always been there in some form. There’s a massive, shared incentive for leagues and gambling entities to police the system. If the integrity of a solitary bet is questioned, it can raise suspicions about the integrity of the game itself. And if that ever happens on a regular basis, all bets are off.
Mike Rizzo were fired by the Washington Nationals on Sunday, more than halfway through their sixth consecutive losing season since winning the 2019 World Series.
The move came after the Nationals were swept by the Boston Red Sox. They are 3753, and the only other National League club with a worse record is the Colorado Rockies
“Our family is eternally grateful for their years of dedication to the organization, including their roles in bringing a World Series trophy to Washington,” owner Mark Lerner said in a statement. “While we are appreciative of their past successes, the on-field performance has not been where we or our fans expect it to be. This is a pivotal time for our club, and we believe a fresh approach and new energy is the best course of action for our team moving forward.”
Rizzo’s time running the Nationals is over after more than a decade and a half. One of the Lerners’ first hires when they assumed control of the organization, Rizzo had been GM since 2009 and had president of baseball operations added to his title in 2013.
“He played an instrumental role in leading the transformation of our farm system and building a roster that reached an unprecedented level of organizational success,” Lerner said. “Mike helped make us who we are as an organization, and we’re so thankful to him for his hard work and dedication.”
Senior vice president and assistant general manager Mike DeBartolo is taking over for Rizzo on an interim basis. Washington has the No. 1 pick in the upcoming draft.
Martinez became the fourth manager fired since the start of the season after Pittsburgh’s Derek Shelton, Colorado’s Bud Black and Baltimore’s Brandon Hyde. It was not immediately clear who would succeed Martinez, who last month bristled at a question about how to spread the blame among players and coaches.
“It’s never on coaching,” Martinez said in June. “Never on coaching. Coaches work their (butts) off every single day We’re not going to finger point here and say it’s coaches It’s never on the coaches. They work hard. The message is clear All the work is done prior So, sometimes, they have to go out there and play the game. It’s always been about the players. Always.”
Martinez had never been a manager at any level when Rizzo hired him to replace Dusty Baker before the 2018 season. The Nationals went 82-80 in Martinez’s first season and got off to a 19-31 start the next year, leading to some calls for him to be replaced.
But Rizzo stuck with Martinez, and that decision paid off in a big way Led by starting pitchers Stephen Strasburg, who earned World Series MVP honors, and Max Scherzer, rookie outfielder Juan Soto, young shortstop Trea Turner and a string of veterans — including Howie Kendrick, Ryan Zimmerman and Anthony Rendon the Nationals won the franchise’s first title. They took a step back in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, and then Rizzo began tearing apart the roster, making a series of trades that sent Scherzer, Soto, Turner and others elsewhere.
The reconstruction has continued, without much in the way of concrete progress in the standings to show for it, although the team does have some building blocks that show promise, including starter MacKenzie Gore, shortstop CJ Abrams, and outfielders James Wood and Dylan Crews. Gore and Wood are NL All-Stars
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By ALESSANDRA TARANTINO Norway’s Caroline Graham, left, celebrates with Ada Hegerberg after scoring her side’s second goal during the Euro 2025, group A, soccer match between Norway and Finland at Stade de Tourbillon in Sion, Switzerland on Sunday.
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By ASHLEy LANDIS
United States in the second half of the
Martinez
Rizzo
Guardiansendurelongest skid in 13 years
BY JOE REEDY AP sports writer
CLEVELAND Stephen Vogt has tried to look at the bright side despite everything that has gone wrong for his Cleveland Guardians over the past two weeks.
“We’re all wearing it. It’sfrustrating, but the only way to get through frustrating situations is to stay positive and keep working,” the manager said beforeSunday’s game against Detroit.
Vogt’spower of positivity is going to be tested over the next week.
Sunday’s7-2 loss to theTigers in 10 innings extended the Guardians’ losing streak to 10 games, the first time since 2012 they’ve had a double-digit skid.
It is the 11th time in franchise history they have lost 10 straight in a single season. The team recordis 12, set in 1931.
“This game felt like akick in the pants. It really did. Gut-wrenching. Heart-wrenching,” Vogt said.
Cleveland is an AL-worst 9-22 since June 1, including a4-12mark at home. The Guardians have droppedeight of their last 10 threegame series and have been swept four times At 40-48, the Guardians are assured of goingintothe All-Star break under .500 for the first time since 2015 Cleveland is 61/2 games out of a wild-card spot after it won the AL Central and reachedthe AL Cham-
pionship Series lastseason. Repeatingasdivisionchampions is outof reach with a151/2-game deficit to the Tigers after beingswept over the weekend.
To say the Guardians are struggling at theplate would be kind. Theyare batting .166 duringthe skid, their worst 10-game stretch since posting a.163 average in 2020.
MLB ALL-STAR GAME ROSTERS
American League
Starters
C: Cal Raleigh(SEA)
1B: Vladimir GuerreroJr. (TOR)
2B: Gleyber Torres (DET)
at least fiveAll-Stars for the sixth straight season. The oldest NL AllStar at 37and most senior All-Star with 11 selections, Kershaw is joined by Yamamotoand fan-elected starters Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman and Will Smith Kershaw said he didn’t want to discuss the selection on Sunday Detroit and Seattle will have four players each at the game.
Starting pitchers Hunter Brown of Houston, Garrett Crochet of Boston, Jacob deGrom of Texas, MaxFried of theNew York Yankees and Tarik Skubal of Detroit were voted to the AL staff by players, managersand coaches RelieversAroldis Chapman of Boston,JoshHader of Houston and Andrés Muñoz of Seattle also made it. Chapman is the oldestAll-Star born 19 days before Kershaw AL reserves pickedbyplayers included Toronto catcher Alejandro Kirk, Tampa Bay first baseman Jonathan Aranda and second baseman Brandon Lowe, Houstonshortstop JeremyPeña, Bostonthird baseman Alex Bregman, Athletics designated hitter Brent Rooker,and outfielders Byron Buxton of Minnesota, Steven Kwan of Cleveland and JulioRodríguez of Seattle. MLB used its six picks on pitchers Kris Bubic of Kansas City, Yusei Kikuchi of the LosAngeles
3B: José Ramírez (CLE) SS: Jacob Wilson (ATH)
OF:Aaron Judge (NYY) OF:Riley Greene (DET)
OF:Javier Báez (DET)
DH: Ryan O’Hearn (BAL)
Reserves C: AlejandroKirk (TOR)
INF:JonathanAranda(TB)
INF:Alex Bregman (BOS)
INF:Jazz Chisholm Jr. (NYY)
INF:Brandon Lowe (TB)
INF:JeremyPeña (HOU)
INF:BobbyWitt Jr. (KC)
OF:Byron Buxton (MIN)
OF:Steven Kwan (CLE)
OF:Julio Rodríguez (SEA)
DH: BrentRooker (ATH)
Starting pitchers
RHP: Hunter Brown(HOU)
LHP: Kris Bubic (KC)
LHP: Garrett Crochet (BOS)
RHP: Jacob deGrom (TEX)
LHP: Max Fried (NYY)
LHP: Yusei Kikuchi (LAA)
LHP: Tarik Skubal (DET)
RHP: ShaneSmith (CWS)
RHP: Bryan Woo(SEA)
Relief pitchers
LHP: Aroldis Chapman (BOS)
LHP: Josh Hader (HOU)
RHP: Andrés Muñoz (SEA)
Angels,Shane Smithofthe Chicago White Sox and Bryan Woo of Seattle, along withYankees infielder Jazz Chisholmand Kansas City shortstopBobby Witt Jr Smith became the second player since 2000 to become an All-Star in theseason after he was selected in the Rule 5draft,following Marlins second baseman Dan Uggla in 2006, accordingtothe Elias SportsBureau.Smith was left unprotected by Milwaukee and joined Wilson (Athletics) as theonly rookies on the All-Star
REESE
Continued from page1B
“Anytime you’re an All-Star, it’sa huge honor,” Thomassaid “There are alot of great players in the league. To be around this long and it to be my sixth is agreat honor.”
The reserves were selected by the WNBA’s 13 head coaches, who each voted for three guards, fivefrontcourtplayers andfour players at either position regardless of conference. The coaches were not able to vote for their own players.
Captains Caitlin Clark and Napheesa Collier will draft their teams for the All-Star Game. First they’ll choose from the eight other starters: Breanna Stewart,A’ja Wilson, Bueckers, Ogwumike, Allisha Gray,SabrinaIonescu, Satou Sabally and Aliyah Boston
WNBA ALL-STARROSTER
Captains Captainsdraft teams Tuesday, July 8 Caitlin Clark, G, Indiana Napheesa Collier, F, Minnesota Starters Paige Bueckers, G, Dallas Sabrina Ionescu, G, New York A’ja Wilson, F, Las Vegas Breanna Stewart, F, New York Aliyah Boston, F, Indiana NnekaOgwumike, F, Seattle Satou Sabally,F,Phoenix Reserves Sonia Citron, G, Washington Skylar Diggins, G, Seattle Rhyne, Howard,G,Atlanta Kiki Iriafen,F,Washington Kelsey Mitchell, G, Indiana Kelsey Plum, G, LosAngeles Angel Reese, F, Chicago Alyssa Thomas, F, Phoenix Kayla Thornton, F, Golden State Courtney Williams, G, Minnesota GabbyWilliams, G, Seattle Jackie Young, G, Las Vegas
Some notableplayers left offthe team were Washington’sBrittney Sykes, Atlanta’s Brionna Jones, New York’sNatasha Cloud and Los Angeles’ Dearica Hamby Connecticut was the only team without an All-Star selection.
Clutch hitting has beeneven worse.The Guardians are 5of52 during the losing streak with runners in scoring position,including 2for 31 with two out.
“I feel like we’re getting our runners on justwaiting for that onebig hit. Thepitchersare doing what theyhave to do. We had some good defense last couple days,” said Steven Kwan, who earned his second straightALAll-Star selection on Sunday Cleveland went 9-15 in June and hada.206 batting average, which is tied forthe third-worst batting monthinfranchise historywith at least 13 games played.
TheGuardians arewinless in six July games, including two shutouts.
“Wehaven’tbeen great at situational hitting. We have to continue to workonthat. It’s frustrating,” Vogt said.
Kwan and third baseman José Ramírez are the only everyday players batting above.240. Even Ramírez, the AL’s starting All-Star thirdbaseman, has cooled off, going 3for 31 in thelast10games. His batting average during theskidhas
dropped 21 points to .297.
Pitching for the most part has been solid, but has faltered at key times. On Sunday,closer Emmanuel Clase threw awild pitch on a99.9 mph cutter on a1-2 count with two outs in the ninth inning, allowing pinch-runner Zach McKinstry to score the tying run.
Trey Sweeney’sthree-run homer in the10th inning markedthe first timethatsomeonehad gone deep on Cade Smith in 81 appearances and782/3 innings.
“We’re all wearing it. It’sfrustrating,but the onlyway to get through frustrating situationsis to stay positive and keep working,” Vogt said.
Vogt hastried to remain calm whilewhile stressingthatalot of theseason remains. But with the tradedeadlinelessthana month away,time mayberunning out.
“It doesn’tdoany good to loathe or talkabout negativesand moan and complain,” Vogt said. “That’s notproductive.We’vegot to keep working to get better.There is light at the end of the tunnel. Imean, it’s going to turn.”
National League
Starters
C: Will Smith (LAD)
1B: FreddieFreeman (LAD)
2B: Ketel Marte (AZ)
3B: MannyMachado (SD)
SS: Francisco Lindor (NYM)
OF:Ronald Acuña Jr.(ATL)
OF:Pete Crow-Armstrong (CHC)
OF:Kyle Tucker (CHC)
DH: Shohei Ohtani (LAD)
Reserves
C: Hunter Goodman (COL)
INF:Pete Alonso (NYM)
INF:Elly De La Cruz (CIN)
INF:Brendan Donovan(STL)
INF:Matt Olson(ATL)
INF:EugenioSuárez (AZ)
OF:Corbin Carroll(AZ)
OF:Kyle Stowers (MIA)
OF:Fernando TatisJr. (SD)
OF:James Wood (WSH)
DH: Kyle Schwarber (PHI)
Starting pitchers
LHP: Matthew Boyd (CHC)
LHP: MacKenzie Gore(WSH)
LHP: Clayton Kershaw(LAD)—Legend Pick
RHP: Freddy Peralta(MIL)
LHP: Robbie Ray(SF)
LHP: Chris Sale(ATL)
RHP: Paul Skenes (PIT)
RHP: Logan Webb (SF)
RHP: Zack Wheeler (PHI)
RHP: Yoshinobu Yamamoto (LAD)
Relief pitchers
RHP: Jason Adam (SD)
RHP: Edwin Díaz (NYM)
RHP: Randy Rodríguez (SF)
rosters. Pittsburgh’s Skenes, Washington’s MacKenzie Gore, Atlanta’s Chris Sale, San Francisco’sLogan Webb and Philadelphia’sZack Wheeler were elected to thestarting rotation by players. Relievers Jason AdamofSan Diego, Edwin Díaz of theNew York Mets and Randy Rodríguez of SanFrancisco alsomadethe squad.
Skenes started last year’sAllStar Gamejust 66 days after his major-league debut, pitching a hitless inning in the NL’s 5-3 loss
BREWER
Continuedfrom page 1B
practice.
“Weare going to playhard,” Brewer said. “That’sgoing to be our identity. We are going to be thehardest-playing team, and we are going to get some wins.”
While winning is welcomed, the ultimate goal is to give the rookies and younger playersachance to showcase theirtalents in what will be for manytheir first taste of theNBA. For Brewer,it’sa chance to get ataste of being a head coach.
His players likedwhattheysaw in theircoach after the first practice.
“He’sone of those guys who is going to continue to push you andcontinue to give youevery piece of advicehe’sgot,” rookie guard JeremiahFears said. “As aplayer,something I’m taking from him is continuing to pick his brain. He’spicking my brain, so I’m going to continue picking his brain and learneverythingI canfrom him.”
Fears and Brewer have something in common.Both were selected withthe No. 7overall pick in theirdraft class. Fearswas taken with the seventhpick last month. Brewer was selected seventh in 2007 when Fears was just 8months old.
Rookie forward Derik Queen,
at Arlington, Texas.
Player-elected NL reserveswere Colorado catcher Hunter Goodman,Metsfirst baseman Pete Alonso,St. Louis second baseman Brendan Donovan, Cincinnati’s De La Cruz at shortstop, Arizona third baseman Eugenio Suárez, Philadelphia DH Kyle Schwarber, andWashington’sWood, Arizona’s
drafted with the13thpickin June, specifically remembers one play from Brewer’scareer On theplay,Brewerstole apass and went in fora slam dunk beforefalling hard on his back
While Queen may not have been impressed by Brewer’sfallsix seasons ago, he did like the first practice underBrewer
“He drew up thisset and Ihad neverseen it before,” Queen said “It was agood play.Weexecuted it well.” Brewer wants to see that execution travel to Vegas. He wantsto seeguyssuchasFears andQueen shine as theyget their first experience of NBA basketball.
Perhaps one day,Brewer will get to see his own son in the NBA, too. Kellen Brewer will be ajunior at Metairie Country Day this fall. As asophomore, Brewer and CurtisMcAllister (sonoflegendary Saints running back Deuce McAllister) ledCountry Day to astate title.Brewer is expected to be one of the top players in the Class of 2027. Asocial media video of himthrowing downtwo thunderousslams thissummer went viral, making Brewer one proud father
Corbin Carroll andthe Padres’ Fernando Tatis Jr.inthe outfield. MLB’sNLpicks were Yamamoto,the Cubs’ MatthewBoyd, Milwaukee’sFreddy Peralta and the Giants’ Robbie Ray for the pitching staff. Atlanta first baseman Matt Olson and Miamioutfielder Kyle Stowerswerethe position choices.
PELICANS SUMMER LEAGUE ROSTER
Trey Alexander, G Tytan Anderson, F Will Baker,C KeionBrooks, F Hunter Dickinson, C JeremiahFears, G AJ Hoggard, G Chase Hunter,G yves Missi, C Micah Peavy, G *Antonio Reeves, G Derik Queen,F/C LesterQuinones, G Christian Shumate,F Trey Townsend, F *Reeves is playing forthe Pelicans’ Summer League team despite getting waived last week.
“He’sbeen working,”Brewer said of his son. “Hopefully he keeps getting better.” Knowing how to separate being acoach anda dadcan be difficult at times, Brewer admits. “It’sbeen different,” he said. “Being aplayerand thencoaching and being adad is three different people, Iguess youcan say.Iwant to coach him. But then Iwanttoyellathim.But then I’mlike,‘Let me sit down andbe Dad.’” Brewer the dadknows his son’s opportunitieswill come Brewer the coach is hoping to make the most of the opportunity thathas come to him this summer in Vegas.
“My goal is to be ahead coach,” Brewersaid. “Soit’sone step towards that.”
PELICANS ADD EX-LSU PLAYERBAKER FORSUMMER
LSU men’sbasketball fans will see afamiliar face in the NBASummer League in LasVegasstarting this week. The NewOrleansPelicans addedformer Tigers big manWill Baker to their Summer League team.The 6-foot-11, 240-pound center playedone season for coachMatt McMahon in 2023-24.
Baker averaged 11 points and 4.8 rebounds in his senior year at LSU,which went 17-16 and 9-9 in the SoutheasternConference. He shot 50.2% from the field and 35.7% from the 3-point line
This past season, Baker played27games forthe Iowa Wolves in the NBAGLeague. He averaged4.4 points and 2.3 rebounds in 9.3 minutes. ThePelicans also added former McNeeseState playerChristian Shumate for Summer League. The 6-6 wing averaged 10.4 points and 6.5 rebounds last season.
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By CARLOS AVILAGONZALEZ Kayla Thornton, left, of theGolden StateValkyries drives to the basket against the Seattle StorminSan Francisco on June 29.
Toyloy Brown III
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By PHIL LONG
Cleveland Guardians manager Stephen Vogt watches his team before a game against theDetroit Tigers on Sunday in Cleveland
AlcarazrunsWimbledon winstreakto18matches
BY HOWARD FENDRICH
AP tennis writer
LONDON Carlos Alcaraz’slatest
up-and-down Wimbledon performance began with adroppedset.
Later Sunday,hewas in danger of getting broken to fall further behind in the third. And then, as heso often does, Alcaraz seizedthe moment, producedsome magic and moved closer to athird consecutive title at the All EnglandClub.
Alcarazstretched hiswinning streak in the grass-court Grand Slam tournament to 18 matches
—and his current unbeaten run across all events to 22 —bycoming back to beatNo. 14 seed Andrey Rublev 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 at Centre Court to return to thequarterfinals.
In this fortnight’s firstmatchup
between two men ranked in the top 20, No. 2Alcaraz broughtout his best while down 3-2 in the third set. First, he needed to fend off abreak chance for Rublev,doing so witha forehand passing winner
After eventually holding to 3-all, Alcaraz earned his own breakopportunity and didn’tlet Rublev escape. On an eight-stroke exchange, Alcaraz sprinted from one corner of the court to the other and, with astomp of hisright foot anda bit of aslide, he flicked across-court forehand winner
Alcaraz spread his arms wide, pointed to his right ear and basked in the crowd’sloud adulation, the noise bouncing off the underside of the stadium’sclosed roof.
Rublev sat in his sideline chair, looked up at his guest boxand made asarcastic “OK” hand signal. Just 10 minutes later,that set belonged to Alcaraz, who will face 2022 semifinalist Cam Norrie —the last British player in singles —onTuesday for aberth in the final four
“I always said that it’sjust about belief in yourself. It doesn’tmatter that you are one-set-to-love down,” Alcaraz said. “Tennis is asport that can change in justone point. One point can change the match completely,turn around everything.”
The 61st-ranked Norrie,who
Spain’sCarlos Alcaraz gestures as he plays Russia’sAndreyRublevduring afourth-round singles match at WimbledononSundayinLondon.
played collegetennis at TCU in Fort Worth, Texas, advanced with a6-3, 7-6 (4), 6-7 (7),6-7 (5), 6-3 win over qualifier Nicolas Jarry,who hit46aces. Norrie hada chance to close things out much earlier than he didbut failed to convert a match pointwhile ahead 6-5 in the third-set tiebreaker The other men’s quarterfinal Tuesday will be No. 5TaylorFritz vs. No. 17Karen Khachanov.Fritz, last year’sU.S. Open runner-up, had ashort day because his opponent,Jordan Thompson, quit after about 40 minutes withback and leg injuries that he’d been dealing with throughoutthe tournament. Alcaraz is just 22 and already ownsfive Grand Slam trophies, the latest arriving in June at the French Open.Hehasn’tlosta matchanywhere sinceApril 20 against Holger Rune in the final at Barcelona. There have been lapses, of course,including when Alcaraz fell behind bytwo sets against No. 1JannikSinnerinthe final at Roland-Garros. Or when theSpaniard
lostfour points in arow after going up 5-3 in theopening tiebreaker against Rublev He hasn’t been as close-to-perfect as others over the past week: Sinner,No. 10 Ben Shelton and No. 22 Flavio Cobolli haven’tdropped a set heading into their fourth-round contests. Alcaraz has ceded five setsalready Also on Sunday,No. 1Aryna Sabalenka reached the quarterfinals at her 11th consecutive Grand Slam tournament, defeating No. 24 Elise Mertens6-4, 7-6 (4), and will play unseeded Laura Siegemund, the 37-year-old German whofollowed up herelimination of Australian Open champ MadisonKeys by beating Solana Sierra 6-3, 6-2. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova beat Sonay Kartal 7-6 (3), 6-4 to return to thegrass-courtmajor’s quarterfinals forthe first time in nine years. Pavlyuchenkova’sopponent Tuesday will be Amanda Anisimova, the13th-seeded American who got past No. 30 Linda Noskova 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 at night.
‘Deactivated’electronic
BY HOWARD FENDRICH AP tennis writer
LONDON Aballthatclearly landedlong in amatch at Centre Court wasn’tcalled out Sunday because theelectronic system that replaced line judges at Wimbledon this year accidentally was shut off forthree points.
And, because the replay review procedure that usedtobeinplace also has been scrapped, the chair umpire called forado-over on thepoint at 4-all in the first set much to the dismay of Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, the player who would have wonthe game if the propercallhad been made originally Pavlyuchenkova wound up getting broken there to trailSonay KartalofBritain, but she eventually didcomeback to win the match7-6 (3), 6-4and reach the quarterfinals at the AllEngland Club for the first timesince 2016.
“You took the game away from me,” Pavlyuchenkova told chair umpire Nico Helwerth at the changeover after the game ended.
Pavlyuchenkova, who is Russian, also said in the momentthat the decision-making there went in Kartal’sfavor because she is a local player Nextfor Pavlyuchenkova is amatchagainstNo. 13 Amanda Anisimova of the United States, a 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 winner against No.30 Linda Noskova on Sunday night. Anisimova also wasaWimbledon quarterfinalist in 2022; her best Slamshowing was making the 2019 French Open semifinals at age 17. At her newsconference, Pavlyuchenkova said Helwerth told her after the match that he did thinkKartal’sshot landed out.
“I think he felt bad, alittle bit,” Pavlyuchenkova said. “He probably felt like he should have taken theinitiative and called it out.”
Pavlyuchenkova also said Helwerth“probably was scared
to take such abig decision.” Pavlyuchenkova was serving and had agame point whenKartal hit abackhand that landed beyond the opposite baseline, TV replays showed.But there was no sound of oneofthe recordedvoices being used forthe first timeat Wimbledon to reflect when the technology being used in place of human officials determinesthata ball landed out.
At least Pavlyuchenkova could joke about the whole episode later.Asked how she’d feel about it had she lost the match, Pavlyuchenkova respondedwith a laugh: “I would just saythatI hate Wimbledon and never come back.”
She also cracked that chair umpiresare “very good at giving fines and code violations” and never miss those, but perhaps it would be beneficialifthey did a betterjob of noticing mistaken calls.
Kartalsaidshe couldn’tsee where her shot went.
“That situation is ararity.I don’tthink it’s really ever happened—ifithas. It’s tough.What can youdo? The umpire’strying his best in that situation, and he handled it fine,” Kartal said. “I think the system just malfunctioneda little bit, and the fairest waywas whathedid: replay the point.”
Helwerth delayedplaywhile he madeaphone call from his stand. Eventually,play resumed, Pavlyuchenkova missed aforehand on thereplay, then lost thegame a fewpoints later
The tournamentlooked into it afterward andblamed “humanerror,” saying that the linecalling setup “was deactivated in erroronpartofthe server’s side of the court forone game by those operating the system,” according to an All England Club spokesperson, who added: “Wecontinue to have full confidenceinthe accuracy of the ball-tracking technology.”
Chicken from SouthernClassic Chicken is marinated for24hoursintheir house dry seasoning.
‘BEST… I’VE EVER HAD’
BY SERENAPUANG
Staff writer
The North Louisianafried chicken chainthat Lafayette customers raved about plans torapidly expand in Baton Rouge this year
Southern Classic Chicken was founded by two brothers in Shreveport, Leon and HowardFanning, who havebeeninthe business for 35 years with 17 corporate locations.InearlyJune,theyopened thefirstfranchise location in Lafayettetomuch fanfare—cars were lineduparound therestaurant before they opened The Fanning’ssons now run the business,including Brandonand Alex Fanning(Leon’ssons) and Alan Fanning (Howard’sson)
The first Baton Rouge location is set to open inlatesummer on South SherwoodForestBoulevard. The next will open in the fall on Florida Boulevard near Rouses, and they’re looking at athird location somewhere on Plank Road
DonnieJarreau ishandling the realestate transactions forthe locations in Baton Rouge. Jarreau’s SSFHoldings LLC bought 3410 S. Sherwood Forest Blvd., in August “Baton Rouge, to them, is the center of thestate, so they want to prove concept in Baton Rouge that willhelpwith their expansion plansthroughout theSoutheast,” Jarreau said
PROVIDED PHOTOS
Southern Classic Chicken, created by Shreveportbrothers, is opening a location in Baton Rougeat3410 S. Sherwood Forest Blvd.inAugust.
“I stand by it, and Ikeep looking for anybody thatcan rivalit.”
TOMGERDES,vice president of brand operations for Southern Classic Chicken
According to TomGerdes, vice president of brandoperations for Southern Classic Chicken, there’sa franchiselocation in New Orleans comingsoon.Gerdes grew up in the Northeast beforemoving to Louisianaabout four years ago. He said what sets their chicken apart is the flavor
“The spice and flavor you get isn’t just in theskin,” he said. “That’s
ä See CLASSIC, page 2C
Vacation with mindfulnesstoget most outoftrip
BY CHRISTOPHER ELLIOTT Travel Troubleshooter
Chloe Bennet says she felt unwelcome when shevisitedVenice recently.And she had adecision to make
“It was acombinationofthe high visitor taxes, signage prohibiting certain actions, suchas sitting on steps or eating outdoors, and critical looks when Iused English,” says Bennet,
an editor who works foranacademic publisher based in Tampa. “The unspoken message was: My presence wasn’twelcome.” Bennet didn’t know what to do. Anditturnsout that alot of visitors may be in asimilar situation this summer
Themost
Demonstrators march and shout slogans protesting against masstourism in Barcelona, Spain, in 2024.
Howcan apathybemanaged in an individual with frontotemporal dementia?
Frontotemporal dementia or frontotemporal degeneration (FTD)refers to arange of disorders that impact the brain’s frontal lobes (regions behind forehead) or its temporal lobes (regions behind ears). These areas of the brain are commonly associated with personality, behavior and language.
Apathy in FTD is one of the mostchallenging aspects of the disorder forcaregivers and health care professionals to manage. FTD affects the individual enjoying everyday activities, participation in social events, performing household tasks and even personal hygiene and self-care. Managing apathy in those with FTD should be individually tailored, and effective interventions and environmental strategies should be delivered and promoted with understanding and patience.
Caregivers can assist in the journey of FTD by learning all about the disease-related changes in the brain that are affecting their loved ones. Getting educated about FTD and its processes can help to maintain the caregiver’sempathetic connection to the individual and thus reduce anger and frustration in the relationship of both parties. The individual with FTD feels apathetic mostdays, with no motivation and/or the ability to initiate anything. The needs and interests of the individual with FTD should be assessed, and in that way,amore personcentered approach can be maintained.
What motivates him or her? What brings joy? What music could be played? Cover all the individual’sbiography,including spiritual, emotional, physical, nutritional, intellectual and social interests. Develop activities based on this biography and adapt them accordingly as abilities change during the progression of the disorder
Eliminating the need to makedecisions and having a planned structure are helpful and necessary ways to manage and reduce apathy.Individuals with FTD require alot of time to process information and instructions, so it is important not to rush communications or the prescribed activity
External cueing may be necessary to start an activity and keep the individual engaged. Reliance just on verbal cueing will be less effective as FTD progresses, so caregivers may need to take moredirect action or mimicthe action they want their loved ones to perform. Incorporate acustomized music playlist forthe individual and promote physical activity like walking or dancing. Repetitive activities also work well, such as folding laundry, as these are consistent with someofthe behavioral symptomsassociated with FTD Additionally,multisensory activities may overwhelm the
Pollen counts arehighest they’vebeenindecades
Dear Doctors: Ihave hay fever, but usually it’snot that bad. This year,however,ithas been awful. I’m plugged up, my eyes are itchy and by the endofthe day,Ihave aheadache. We livenear Atlanta, and alot of people hereare miserable.Over-the-counter meds aren’thelping. What can Ido?
Dear reader: We suspect your body is responding to pollen, the powdery substance emitted by many plants, grasses andtrees in the reproduction process. The National Allergy Bureau,anarm of the American Academy of Allergy,Asthma and Immunology, compiles dailyreadings of pollen counts.This spring, their data show the highest pollen counts recordedindecades in many re-
CLASSIC
Continued from page1C
easy.Anybody can do that.”
He said that Southern Classic Chicken’s unique flavorcomes from thecare the staff takes in marinating
APATHY
Continued from page1C
individual, so these need to be introduced one senseat atime as to not distract the individual or cause him or her to lose interest. Overall, any engagement withthe individual withFTD should be enjoyable, nonthreatening andpurposeful to generate motivation and to
VACATION
Continued from page1C
will be more exasperated than ever as crowds of tourists descend on their city “Popular destinations have alove-hate relationship with tourists, especially this summer,” explains Susan Sherren, who runs the travel design companyCouture Trips. “They can’tlive without tourists funding their economy.But at thesame time, localaffordability concerns and overcrowding have skyrocketed, making thelocals quiteupset.Ireally can’tblame them, and would not wish that influxof humanity in my city.”
Should yougohome?
So what should you do if you feel like people don’t want you there? Turn around and go home? No. As it turns out, thereare provenways to defuse these hostilities andset your trip on the right track. Iknow because I’m on the road almost every day out of the year, and I’ve had to deal with almost everywhere Igo. But first,let’sget back to Bennet’sstory.She could allow the unfriendly looks and the high taxes ruin her trip —orshe could do something about it. She decided to do something.
“I had wantedtoexplore Venice for many years and hoped to bond with the city without feeling like Iwas disrupting its rhythm,” she says.“Idecided to modify my behavior to improve the situation. Even basicItalian phrases like ‘Buongiorno’ and ‘Grazie’ made anoticeable difference when Iused them.”
Bennet also decided to supportlocal businesses instead of visiting well-known tourist spots, and she stayed away from attractions during peak times.
“I noticedthatlocalsbecamemore welcoming when they saw my efforts to honor their cultural norms,” she adds.
Could it be that simple?
Just stop acting like atourist? Maybe.
Feelingunwelcome
Experts say you can avoid achilly receptiononyour next vacation. But the time to start thinking about it is now.
“Feeling welcome as atraveler starts long before your planelands,” says Jessica Flores, chief experience officer for TourismCares, anon-
Dr.Elizabeth Ko Dr.Eve Glazier ASK THE DOCTORS
gions of the United States. The NABmaintains about85 pollen counting stationsacross the U.S. Devices at each station capture pollenand mold spores, and they collect samplesevery 24 hours. They examine the samples under amicroscope to get readings on thenumber of pollengrains per cubicmeter of air. Thehigherthe
fresh chicken every day in dry seasoning (witha secret recipe) for24 hours beforeit goesthrough adouble batter process.
The chain is also known for itsaffordable prices —most meals cost between$5and $7. “I stand by it, and Ikeep lookingfor anybody that can
garner more enthusiasm, pleasure and to maintain a quality of life.
Many caregiversfeel guilty about “not doing enough” for theirloved ones, which adds undue stress.
Joining asupportgroup specifically forFTD caregivers can helpcaregiversexpress their feelings in addition to learning more ways and suggestions to manage apathy in their loved ones
Contact the Association
profit dedicated to advancing sustainability in the travel and tourism industry.“The best way to ensure apositive experience is to do your homework before arriving.”
Don’tgoalone. That’sthe advice of Diane Rulke, aprofessor of organizational behavior atCarnegie Mellon University who haslived in Europe for thelast 25 years.
“Travel with alocal guide, if possible,” she adds. Alocal will help you avoid the most touristy areas, thebiggest crowds, andwill help you have amore authentic experience.
Also, there’sstrength in numbers, so travel with friends and respect local customs.
Respect the locals. Lisa Mirza Grotts, an etiquette expert who specializes in travel issues, says Bennet hadthe right idea. “Pay close attention to local customs and social norms,” shesays. The visitors who get the cold stares areusuallythe ones whofloutlocal practices— speaking loudly in acountry that values peaceand quiet or wearinginappropriateor immodestclothingina more traditional country Make apersonal connection. Howdoyou dothat? “A few wordsinthe local language, genuine curiosity about their culture, and adhering to community rules can quickly ease tension,” explains John Rose, chief riskand security officer at ALTOUR.“By remaining flexible, respectful, and informed, you increase your chances ofturning a frosty receptioninto amemorable, positivetravelexperience.” It’s true —Americanswho assumeeveryone else speaksEnglish rank among the topannoyances at popular destinations. In otherwords, get some local advice —and takeit. And don’tact like the place belongs to you (because it doesn’t).
Andhow do Iknow that’s true?Well, I’ve had some experiencewith this.
Turningthingsaround
Youmight find this hard to believe, but even journalists like me are often unwelcome in places we visit. (OK, that was ajoke.) I’ve always felt welcome in places like Turkey and the Middle Eastern Gulf states or theAmericanSouth, which have long traditions of welcomingstrangers. I’ve felt less wanted —which is a polite way of saying I’ve felt unwelcome —inplaceslike Australia,Brazil and parts of theCaribbean
number,the moreairborne pollen. AccordingtoNAB data, the Atlanta area is recording its highest pollen counts in 35 years. Hay fever is thebody’sresponse to this pollen. The medical term for this unique form of discomfort is allergic rhinitis. Breathing in pollen spores triggers theimmune system tosend out chemical messengers called histamines. These set off an inflammatoryresponsemeant to repel and kill thepollen invaders. The congestion, itchy eyes and headache you have are common symptoms of hay fever.Other symptoms can include sneezing, postnasal drip, watery eyes, coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, sore throat and fatigue.
Once theBatonRouge area locations open, the restaurant will serve lunch and dinner,seven days aweek. Email Serena Puang at serena.puang@ theadvocate.com.
for Frontotemporal Degeneration (www.theaftd.org or (866) 507-7222) for more information and resources.
Dana Territo is an Alzheimer’s advocate and author of “What My Grandchildren Taught Me About Alzheimer’s Disease.” She hosts“The Memory Whisperer.” Emailher at thememorywhisperer@ gmail.com.
The first thing Ialways try to do is understand why they dislike tourists. And usually,there’s apretty good reason, ranging from silly (“You drive on the wrong side of theroad”)toserious (“You’veexploited my island for generations”).
Rachel McCaffery,a sustainable tourism expert,recalls stepping off acruise ship in Corsica only to be greeted by protesters. But insteadofwalkingpast them,she stoppedand asked them why they were demonstrating.
“There were five or six enormouscruise ships that docked in their small town harbor every day,” she says. “Turns outthe continual churning of giant engines meanssmokeregularly billows into nearby homes, affecting people’shealth.”
That was aclassy move. Youdon’twanttobegrouped with all theannoyingtourists —you know,the ones who crowd the town square snapping selfies. It’s the best way to set yourself apart withgood manners and respect for local culture. So that’swhat Itry to do. Kindness works
My final strategy is the hardest:Itry to return their rage withkindness.When they grimace, Ismile. And when they ignore me, Ilean into my politeness.
Anditusually works. Thanks to these strategies, I have friends in someofthe least hospitable places on Earth. Andyou can, too.
Christopher Elliott is an author,consumer advocate, and journalist. He founded Elliott Advocacy, anonprofit organization that helps solve consumer problems. He publishes Elliott Confidential,atravel newsletter,and theElliott Report, anews siteabout customer service. If you need help with aconsumer problem, you can reach him here or emailhim at chris@elliott.org.
Many people with allergic rhinitis get relief from over-the-counter antihistamines. Although they can be helpful, it is possible to build up atolerance to their effects. Immunotherapies, such as allergy shots or tablets, are also an option. This year’ssuperchargedpollen counts can even botherpeople who don’thaveallergies. This is known as nonallergic rhinitis. Antihistamines are noteffective forpeople with nonallergic rhinitis because histamines don’tcause their symptoms. They can try over-the-counter decongestants. Asaline sinus rinse to wash away sporescan also help. Always use distilledorsterilized water in sinus rinse,asbacteriacan be present in tapwater Pollen counts are highest in the
morning, at night and when it’s windy.Taking medication before heading out at those times can get ahead of symptoms. Agood mask can provide aphysical barrier Pollen spores cling to surfaces, including skin, hair and clothes. Ashower before bed and washing clothes thoroughly can also limit exposure. If severe symptoms persist, check in with your doctor about other options, such as prescription medications.
Sendyour questions to askthedoctors@mednet.ucla edu, or write: Ask theDoctors, c/oUCLA HealthSciences Media Relations, 10880 Wilshire Blvd.,Suite1450, Los Angeles, CA, 90024.
TODAYINHISTORY
By The Associated Press
Today is Monday,
July 7, the 188th day of 2025. There are 177 days left in the year
TodayinHistory
On July 7, 1981, President Ronald Reagan announced he was nominating Arizona Judge Sandra Day O’Connor to become thefirst female justice on theU.S. SupremeCourt.
Also on this date:
In 1865, four people were hanged in Washington,D.C., for conspiring with John Wilkes Booth to assassinate President Abraham Lincoln:Lewis Powell, David Herold, George Atzerodt and Mary Surratt, thefirst woman to be executed by thefederal government
In 1898, President William McKinley signed the Newlands Resolution, approving theannexation of theRepublic of Hawaii.
In 1930, construction began on Boulder Dam (known today as Hoover Dam).
In 1976, theUnited States Military Academy at West Pointincluded female
cadets forthe first time as 119 womenjoined the Class of 1980.
In 1990, the first “Three Tenors” concert took place as opera stars Luciano Pavarotti, Plácido Domingo and Jose Carreras performed amid the brick ruins of Rome’sBaths of Caracalla on the eve of the FIFA World Cup final.
In 2005, terrorist bombings in three Underground stations and adouble-decker bus killed 52 people and four bombers in the worst attack on London since World WarII.
In 2010, Los Angeles police arrested and charged Lonnie Franklin Jr.inthe city’s“Grim Sleeper” serial killings. (Franklin, who wassentenced to death for the killings of nine women and ateenage girl, died in prison in March 2020 at the age of 67.)
In 2016, Micah Johnson, aBlack Armyveteran who served in Afghanistan, opened fire on Dallas police, killing five officers in an act of vengeance for the fatal police shootings of Black men;the attack ended with Johnson being
on their home.
Today’sBirthdays: Musicianconductor DocSeverinsen is 98. Former Beatle Ringo Starr is 85. World Golf Hall of Famer Tony Jacklin is 81. Actor Joe Spano is 79. Actor Roz Ryan is 74. Actor Billy Campbell is 66. Basketball
killed by abomb delivered by apolice robot. In 2021, asquad of gunmen assassinated Haitian President Jovenel Moïse and wounded his wife in an overnight raid
Hall of Famer Ralph Sampson is 65. Singer-songwriter Vonda Shepard is 62. Actor-comedian Jim Gaffigan is 59. Actor AmyCarlson is 57. Actor Jorja Fox is 57. Actor Robin Weigert is 56.
cAncER (June 21-July22) Turn your attention to domestic matters, comfortand peace of mind. Refuse to let othersdictateyour future. Follow your passion and promote what you have to offer.
LEo(July23-Aug. 22) Social or networking eventswill change how you approach meetings.Speak from the heart, question anything that doesn't sound legitimate and proceed confidently.
VIRGo (Aug. 23-sept.22) Take amoment to realign your thoughts and body language to suit your situation. Maintaina state of calm and think matters through before you share your plans.
LIBRA (sept. 23-oct. 23) Put your responsibilities first before moving on to more pleasurabletasks. The order in which youdothings will affect the outcome and how others perceive you.
scoRPIo (oct. 24-nov.22) Refusetolet your emotionscause work-related problems that can negatively influence your reputation or long-term goals. Mixing business withpleasure is in your best interest.
sAGITTARIus(nov. 23-Dec. 21) Blowing situations out of proportion will cost you. Use your intelligence to initiate a positive step forward. Overspending on unnecessary itemswill be your downfall. Strive for stability.
cAPRIcoRn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Check what's available andwithin your budget before proceeding withaproject. Knowledge will help you avoid emotionalmistakes.
Chooseyour associates with careand think twice beforeparticipating in a joint venture.
AQuARIus (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Trust your instincts, intelligence and experience. Personal gain and growth will improve yourlifestyle and relationships. Don't be afraid of alittle competition.
PIscEs(Feb. 20-March 20) Developing a fair plan will be difficult if emotions and ego get involved. Composure willbenecessary if youwanttogain ground. Be willing to compromise, but don't allow anyone to take advantage of you.
ARIEs (March 21-April 19) Determination will get you everywhere. Direct your energy where it offers the highest return. Take care of yourself first, and you'll feel better about yourself and morewilling to help others.
TAuRus(April20-May20) Communication willleadtoopportunity,new connections and tips that will help solve domestic concerns. An energetic approach will help you fast-track your way to the top.
GEMInI (May21-June 20) Networking will help you recognize who is on your side and whoposesathreat. Astute behavior will foil anyone trying to outmaneuver you. An avant-garde appearance and friendly demeanor will seal adeal.
InstructIons: Sudoku is anumber-placing puzzle based on a9x9 grid with several given numbers. The object is to place the numbers 1to9 in the empty squares so that each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once. The difficulty level of the Sudoku increases from Monday to Sunday.
Saturday’s Puzzle Answer
THe wiZard oF id
BLondie
BaBY BLueS
Hi and LoiS
Bridge
By PHILLIP ALDER
Sydney J. Harris, anewspaper journalist from Chicago who diedin1986, said, “An idealist believes the short run doesn’t count.Acynic believes the long run doesn’t matter. Arealist believes that whatisdone or leftundone in the short run determines the longrun.”
Abridge player knows that counting is important in the long run —the 13 tricks of adeal. Here, how should South play in three no-trump after West leadsthe club 10?
If you were sitting South, would you have opened one diamond or one club, or passed?
With ace-king, ace, you should almost always open the bidding. It is textbook to bid one diamond becauseifWest overcalls onespade and North makes anegative double, you can rebid two clubs. Note alsothatafter you open onediamond, if West passes and North responds one heart, it is better to rebid two hearts (missing afourth trump) than one no-trump (with no spade stopper)or twoclubs(whichpromisesfivediamonds and risks ending in a4-2 diamond fit).
Inthegivenauction,twoclubswasNew MinorForcing,askingopenertodescribe hishandfurther.Two diamondsdenied both three spades and four hearts.
EachWuzzle is aword riddle which creates adisguised word, phrase, name, place, saying, etc. For example: NOON GOOD =GOOD AFTERNOON
Previous answers:
word game
InsTRucTIons:
ToDAy’s
Average
Time
today’s thought
“And said, Truly Isay to you, Except you be converted, and become as little children, you shall notenter into thekingdom of heaven. Whoever therefore shall humble himself as this littlechild, thesame is greatest in thekingdomofheaven.” Matthew 18:3-4
WILLOW ST JOHN HULBERT 3423 ANNA ST A&TACQUISITIONS, LLC 3435 CHOCTAWDR RAYMONDA BENNIE 241 LOVERS LN CHRISTOPHERD.AUZENNE 8713 PECANTREEDR SEETAKHAN 8117 SKYSAILAVE IBRAHIMK KHODER 8649 GSRI AVE JSR1 LLCREGISTEREDAGENT: JUSTIN WALLER 1415 JASPER AVE FLORAE DANGERFIELD 8282 STERNAVE JUANAVARGAS-RICO 11448 EBLACK OAKDR SHARON N. JOSEPH 722 N38THST WADE WILLIAMS C/ODONALDWILLIAMS 4473 CLAYTONST SURPRISE HOMES, INC. JERRYE.FAKOURI 4762 WASHINGTON AVE T.B. BROWN, SR.C/O MICHAELSEALS 3575 GOVERNMENT ST JAMESPASCOLCUTRER, JR 2844 ANITAAVE ASIMENYE SCHAFER 1919 PLANKRDLANDON PROPERTIES,LLC REGISTERED
880 North Alexander Avenue,PortAllen Thursday,June 12, 2025 5:30 PM
The Following Minutes AreSummarized For Brevity,For Precise Meeting Information Please Refer To Meeting Audio Or Video.
1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER& REQUESTALL ELECTRONIC DEVICES BE SILENCED
ARegular Meeting of the West Baton Rouge Parish Council was held on Thursday,June 12, 2025 and called to order at 05:30 PM. Council Chairman Carey Denstelasked that all electronic devices be placed on silent.
2. OPENING PRAYER Councilman Atley Walker Jr.led everyone in an openingprayer
3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Chairman Denstel recognized Mr.Chad Doiron, Drainage Superintendent, who led everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance.
4. LOG ATTENDANCE
The following members wererecordedasbeing present: Messrs. Kirk Allain, Daryl “Turf” Babin, Atley Walker,BradyHotard,Kenneth Gordon,Carey Denstel, Alan Crowe, KatherineAndre, Gary Joseph. Also present were, Mr.Jason Manola, Parish President, Mr.Phillip Bourgoyne, Executive Assistant, Mr.Chance Stephens, Director of Finance, Mr.Brandon Bourgoyne Director of Public Works, Ms. Kristen Canezaro, Special Legal Counsel, and Mrs. Michelle Tullier,Council Clerk
5. MINUTES APPROVAL
A. Approval of Minutes from The Regular Meeting of May22, 2025. Amotion was made by Council Member Kirk Allain, seconded by Council Member Brady Hotardto approve Minutes from The Regular Meeting of May 22, 2025.
The vote was recorded as follows: YEAS: 9(Kirk Allain, Daryl “Turf” Babin, Atley Walker,Brady Hotard, Kenneth Gordon, Carey Denstel, Alan Crowe, Katherine Andre, Gary Joseph)
NAYS:0(None)
ABSENT:0(None)
ABSTAIN: 0(None) As aresult of the votes, the motion Passed.
6. CONSIDER ANY AMENDMENTSTOTHE AGENDA Therewerenoitems to consider at this time.
7. PARISH PRESIDENT’S REPORT Parish President Jason Manola was recognized and covered the following items: Update on the recent legislative Session
8. PUBLIC COMMENTS
Mr.Anthony Summers was recognized and expressed to the Council his concerns over the redlight sequencing on the La 1Corridor. Mr Summers asked the Council and Administrationtoreach out to DOTD and see if the lights could be sequenced to better help the traffic flow President Manola noted that the Parish and municipalities do have ongoing conversations with DOTD to try andget th entireLa1 corridor in sequence.
9. COMMUNICATIONS WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS AND/OR ELECTED OR APPOINTED OFFICIALS
Mr.Chance Stephens was recognized and brieflyreviewed the updated budget to actual numbers for 2025. Said numbers can be found at the end of these minutes.
Mr.Brandon Bourgoyne, was recognized and gave abriefupdate on the La1/415 connector project and also noted the LA 1lane shift will
take place tonight. Councilman Hotardhad afew questionsinregards to the connector schedule.
10. NEW BUSINESS A. Consider Cancellation of July 10, 2025 Regular Council Meeting Due to National Conference. Amotionwas made by Council Member Daryl “Turf” Babin, seconded by Council Member Kirk Allaintoapprove Cancellation of the July10,
2025 Regular Council Meeting due to National Conference.
B. Consider Approval of New Job Title/Description of Animal Services Administrative Specialist withJob Classification of 106.
Mr.Chance Stephens was recognized and reviewed the new job title and description, explaining this was achange in the title and description for amoreclerical role, and it wouldnot increase the budget in any way
Amotionwas made by Council Member Kirk Allain, seconded by Council Member Katherine Andretoapprove the New JobTitle/ DescriptionofAnimal Services Administrative Specialist withJob Classification of 106.
11. PUBLIC HEARING ON PREVIOUSLYINTRODUCEDORDINANCES
Therewerenoitems to consider at this time.
12. CONSIDER STATUS REPORT, CHANGE ORDER AND/OR OTHER MATTERS AS REQUIRED ON CURRENTPROJECTS
Therewerenoitems to consider at this time.
13. INTRODUCTIONOFORDINANCES
Mrs.Tullier,CouncilClerkreadbytitle the below proposed ordinance/s being introduced and publicized by title,and considered for adoption following apublichearing as specified below,at5:30 pm in the Council Chambers, located at 880 North Alexander Avenue, Port Allen,La.:
A. An Ordinance authorizingthe Parish of West BatonRouge, State of Louisiana to proceed witha not to exceed $9,160,000 financing through the Louisiana Local Government Environmental Facilities and Community Development Authority; requesting the Louisiana Local Government Environmental Facilities and Community Development Authoritytoissue itsRevenue Bonds to allow it to finance improvements to the Parish’ssewer system; employing Bond Counsel,Independent Registered Municipal Advisor and Underwriter/Placement Agent; authorizing an application to the StateBond Commission; and otherwise providing with respect thereto. PublicHearing Date: June 26, 2025
B. An Ordinance Adopting An Operating Budget Of Revenues And Expenditures For The Fiscal Year Beginning July 1, 2025 And Ending June 30, 2026. As Published By The West BatonRouge Parish CouncilOnAging. Public Hearing Date: June 26, 2025.
C. An Ordinance To Amend And Reenact The West BatonRouge Parish Code Of Ordinances, PartIII (“Unified Development Code”), AppendixA.“Purchase/Donation Of Real Property”, Section1 “Descriptions”,and Further Authorizing The Parish President to Sign the Necessary Documentation to Accept DonationofLot WBR-SofThe Settlement at Silverstone Subdivision, WBR Parish Assessor Parcel #3054090002000, PortAllen, Louisiana. Public
Council Member Brady Hotard to approve the Resolution of TheWest Baton Rouge Parish Council DesignatingThe Advocateasthe Official Journalfor July 1, 2025 To June30, 2026. The vote wasrecorded as follows: YEAS: 9 (Kirk Allain,
