The Acadiana Advocate 07-18-2025

Diversionproject killed

Stateplans smaller-scalecoastal restorationwork

BY MIKE SMITH Staff writer

Thestate on Thursdayofficially canceled the Mid-BaratariaSedimentDiversion,Louisiana’s biggest-evercoastal restoration project, and moved to replace it with asmaller-scale version accompanied with other elements,citing ballooning costs and otherfactors.

The announcement hadbeen widely anticipated, but remained amajor development considering theyears of studyand evaluation that had gone into the unprecedented $3 billion project.Ithas longbeen seen asthe linchpin of the state’s50-year coastal master plan

The U.S. Army CorpsofEngineers had alreadysuspended the project’spermitin April and Gov.JeffLandry had signaled his opposition to it in itscurrent form

“The state of Louisiana, through its

“Atthe end of the day, it’sjust something that we just could not afford, no way, shape or form. All of the rest of the projects that we have going on in the state would have suffered at some point.”

Coastal Protection andRestoration Authority (CPRA), hasreached an agreement with the Louisiana TrusteeImplementation Grouptoterminate theMidBaratariaSedimentDiversion Project,” astatementfrom trustees overseeing funds from the2010 BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill read.

Tony Alford,who chairs Landry’sadvisory commission on coastal issues, said

thecost of theproject wasjust too great.

“Atthe endofthe day, it’s just somethingthatwejustcould notafford, no way,shape or form,” Alford said. “All of the rest of the projectsthat we have going on in the state would have suffered at somepoint.”

Coastal advocates haveargued that the scaleofthe project was necessary to meet Louisiana’sseverelandlosscrisis andexpressed concern that the plan was being abandoned.

Lafayette indoor sports complex advances

Tourismofficialsseek UL land forproject

BY STEPHENMARCANTEL Staff writer

Lafayette tourism officials are moving forwardonconstructionof a150,000-square-foot indoor sports complex that they say would draw thousands of visitors to the area. The Lafayette Convention and Visitors Commission voted on Wednesdaytoproceed with talks with officials with the University of Louisiana at Lafayette to acquire land alongCajundome Boulevard to build the complex.

It’s anew location for thecomplex, which in 2023 wasannounced forBeaullieu Park and Comeaux Recreation Center but commissionPresident and CEO Ben Berthelot said that the city maybeable to see anew indoor sports facility becomeareality over the next few years.

“There’salot of parts that can go one way or the other but they basically authorized me to enter into negotiations,” Berthelot said.

They have previously noted that the Landry administration’sdecisionto pause theproject, which broke ground in August 2023 underhis predecessorJohn Bel Edwards, has been an important contributor to increased costs.

Some $2.92 billion was to be paid for withBPoil spillfunds, andthe overall

TONy ALFORD,chair of Gov. Jeff Landry’s advisorycommission on coastal issues ä See DIVERSION, page 5A

lesson of hiscareer is ‘keepgrinding’

BY POET WOLFE Staff writer

Hardheaded. Stubborn. Ahard worker Thosewerethe words mixed martial artistand LouisiananativeDustin Poirier usedtodescribe himself as a child, during amomentofquietselfreflection at his homeinLafayette five days before he steps intothe Ultimate Fighting Championshipcageone final time in New OrleansonSaturday They’re also words that describe

himthroughout his16-year career of triumphs,defeats, doubt, courage and bloodshed as aprofessional fighter and UFC headliner In 2012, a23-year-old Poirierspoke to areporter after his loss to Chan Sung Jung. Bloodied and exhausted, he held back tears.

“It’sabig hit to me,man. This is my life ”Poirier said, choking up. “I’m going to winorI’m gonna die in the cage.One of thetwo is goingtohappen.”

Then there was Poirier in 2021, vengeful and hellbentwhenheknocked outConor McGregor withanagonizing salvoofpunches,rewriting his name in UFC history.Later,in2024, after his losstoIslam Makhachev at UFC 302, thecrowd saw adifferent, war-wearied

Thefacility,which would be at thecorner of CajundomeBoulevard and West Congress Street, would feature 10 basketball courts and20volleyball courts, he said. Early drafts of the facility also include meeting rooms, aperformance training center, afamily entertainment center and acafe. Preliminary reviews indicatethe project would cost $35 million-$40 million but would result in 140,000 annual visitors and 30,000 hotel room stays forthe parish.

Poirier

“If Idofight again, whatamIfighting for?” he said to Joe Rogan in the Octagonafter thefight, catchinghis breath “I don’tknow, Igot alittle girl Ilove and Igotta see. Ithink this could be it.” It didn’ttake long forPoirier to shed those layers of doubt. His final fight before retiring will come in theSmoothie KingCenter this weekendagainst Max Holloway.Inaninterview,Poirier said he knows exactly whathe’sfighting for “Totry to get one morewin, to go out on top ...” he said. “Tolay the gloves down and retire in Louisiana, where I first startedtraining and first started fighting.”

Thespirit of afighter has always

See POIRIER, page 7A

Ukraine to up domestic arms production

KYIV Ukraine A new Ukrainian government approved Thursday will race to expand domestic arms production to meet half the country’s weapons needs within six months as it tries to push back Russia’s invasion, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

Meanwhile, Switzerland said Thursday that the U.S. Defense Department had informed it that Washington is diverting a Swiss order for Patriot air defense systems to help Ukraine, which badly needs to improve its response to increasingly heavy Russian aerial attacks.

The Swiss Defense Ministry, which in 2022 ordered five Patriot systems, said Thursday it has been informed by the U.S. Defense Department that it will “reprioritize the delivery of Patriot systems to support Ukraine.”

It was not immediately clear whether the Swiss-ordered Patriots would go directly to Ukraine or would replace units in other European countries that may be donated to Kyiv

Delivery to Switzerland of the systems, worth billions of dollars, was scheduled to begin in 2027 and be completed in 2028.

But the Swiss government said Washington informed it of the delay on Wednesday, adding that it was unclear how many systems would be affected.

The need to adequately arm Ukraine’s military is pressing as Russia looks to drive forward its summer offensive after three years of war and pounds Ukrainian cities with hundreds of drones and ballistic and cruise missiles.

It remains unclear when the promised U.S.-made weapons, especially the Patriot systems, might reach Ukraine. Trump has agreed to send the weaponry but it will be paid for by European countries.

Rescuers find mom and son lost in Calif. forest

A mother and her 9-year-oldson who got lost in a remote California forest while on their way to a Boy Scouts camp were rescued after a search crew found notes the pair had left behind The notes weighed down by rocks with “HELP” written at the top said they were stranded up the road with no phone service.

A volunteer search-and-rescue team that was training in the Sierra Nevada foothills found the pair Saturday, a day after they had set out for the camp, according to the Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office.

The woman and her son got lost on Friday after they left the Sacramento area and their GPS had directed them onto old logging roads deep into the forest, said Lt. Greg Stark, a spokesperson for the sheriff’s office.

They eventually lost their GPS signal and then got stuck about 10 miles from the nearest paved road, Stark said.

Britain will lower voting age to 16

LONDON Britain will lower the voting age from 18 to 16 by the next national election as part of measures to increase democratic participation, the government announced Thursday The center-left Labour Party pledged before it was elected in July 2024 to lower the voting age for elections to Britain’s Parliament. Scotland and Wales already let 16- and 17-year-olds vote in local and regional elections.

Britain will join the shortlist of countries where the voting age is 16, alongside the likes of Austria, Brazil and Ecuador

A handful of European Union countries, including Belgium, Germany and Malta, allow 16-year-olds to vote in elections to the European Parliament.

The move comes alongside wider reforms that include tightening campaign financing rules to stop shell companies with murky ownership from donating to political parties. Democracy Minister Rushanara Ali said the change would strengthen safeguards against foreign interference in British politics. There will also be tougher sentences for people convicted of intimidating candidates.

PHOTO By DAMIAN DOVARGANES

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE

Special needs teacher Deja Nebula sets up an art installation on July 3 displaying names and faces of people who have been detained, deported or sent to offshore camps during ICE

Feds give Medicaid recipients’ data to ICE

Personal info includes addresses, ethnicity

BY KIMBERLY KINDY and AMANDA SEITZ Associated Press

WASHINGTON Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials will be given access to the personal data of the nation’s 79 million Medicaid enrollees, including home addresses and ethnicities, to track down immigrants who may not be living legally in the United States, according to an agreement obtained by The Associated Press.

The information will give ICE officials the ability to find “the location of aliens” across the country, says the agreement signed Monday between the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the Department of Homeland Security The agreement has not been announced publicly

The extraordinary disclosure of millions of such personal health data to deportation officials is the latest escalation in the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown, which has repeatedly tested legal boundaries in its effort to arrest 3,000 people daily

Lawmakers and some CMS officials have challenged the legality of deportation officials’ access to some states’ Medicaid enrollee data. It’s a move, first reported by the AP last month, that Health and Human Services officials said was aimed at rooting out people enrolled in the program improperly

But the latest data-sharing agreement makes clear what ICE officials intend to do with the health data.

“ICE will use the CMS data to allow ICE to receive identity and location information on aliens identified by ICE,” the agreement says Such disclosures, even if not acted upon, could cause widespread alarm among people seeking emergency medical help for themselves or their children. Other efforts to crack down on illegal immigration

have made schools, churches, courthous-

es and other everyday places feel perilous to immigrants and even U.S. citizens who fear getting caught up in a raid.

HHS spokesman Andrew Nixon would not respond to the latest agreement. It is unclear, though, whether Homeland Security has yet accessed the information

The department’s assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin, said in an emailed statement that the two agencies “are exploring an initiative to ensure that illegal aliens are not receiving Medicaid benefits that are meant for law-abiding Americans.”

The database will reveal to ICE officials the names, addresses, birth dates, ethnic and racial information, as well as Social Security numbers for all people enrolled in Medicaid. The state and federally funded program provides health care coverage program for the poorest of people, including millions of children.

The agreement does not allow ICE officials to download the data. Instead, they will be allowed to access it for a limited period from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday until Sept 9.

“They are trying to turn us into immigration agents,” said a CMS official did not have permission to speak to the media and insisted on anonymity.

Immigrants who are not living in the U.S. legally, as well as some lawfully present immigrants, are not allowed to enroll in the Medicaid program that provides nearly-free coverage for health services. Medicaid is a jointly funded program between states and the federal government.

But federal law requires all states to offer emergency Medicaid, a temporary coverage that pays only for lifesaving services in emergency rooms to anyone, including non-U.S. citizens. Emergency Medicaid is often used by immigrants, including those who are lawfully present and those who are not

Many people sign up for emergency Medicaid in their most desperate moments, said Hannah Katch, a previous adviser at CMS during the Biden administration.

Syrian forces who fought Druze militias leave Sweida province

BY KAREEM CHEHAYEB and GHAITH ALSAYED Associated Press

DAMASCUS, Syria — Syrian government forces had largely pulled out of the southern province of Sweida on Thursday after days of clashes with militias linked to the Druze minority that threatened to unravel the country’s postwar transition.

The conflict had drawn airstrikes against Syrian forces by neighboring Israel in defense of the Druze before a truce — mediated by the U.S., Turkey and Arab countries and announced Wednesday — halted most of the fighting.

However, Syrian state media said Thursday that Druze militiamen had launched revenge attacks on Sunni Bedouin communities, leading to a wave of their displacement. There were some reports of renewed clashes.

Bedouin clans had fought on the government side, while the Israeli military came to the assistance of the Druze, who form a substantial community in Israel, where they are seen as a loyal minority and where they often serve in the military

Under the latest truce, reached Wednesday after a previous agreement unraveled, Druze factions and clerics have been appointed to maintain internal security in Sweida, Syria’s interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa said in an address broadcast early Thursday.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed Thursday to keep southern Syria demilitarized and to protect the Druze community “This will also be the continuation of our policy,” he said.

In a major escalation of its involvement in the conflict, Israel on Wednesday had struck the Syrian Defense Ministry head-

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By LEO CORREA Syrian Druze people cross back into Syria Thursday as they walk at the IsraeliSyrian border, in the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights town of Majdal Shams.

quarters in central Damascus.

Convoys of government forces started withdrawing from Sweida overnight, Syrian state media reported, saying it was in line with the ceasefire deal and that the military operation against the Druze factions had ended.

The truce was announced by Syria’s Interior Ministry and in a video message by a Druze religious leader The previous agreement on Tuesday quickly broke down after being dismissed by prominent Druze cleric Sheikh Hikmat Al-Hijri.

The Syrian government has not released any casualty counts from the fighting.

The Britain-based war monitor Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said nearly 600 fighters and civilians were killed on both sides over four days of deadly clashes. The monitor also said at least 86 civilians killed in “field executions” — mostly Druze Syrians killed by government forces and their allies — and that at least three Bedouin civilians were killed in revenge attacks Thursday by Druze militiamen.

Trump checked for lower leg swelling

President diagnosed with common condition in older adults

BY DARLENE SUPERVILLE and LAURAN NEERGAARD Associated Press

WASHINGTON President

Donald Trump recently had a medical checkup after noticing “mild swelling” in his lower legs and was found to have a condition common in older adults that causes blood to pool in his veins, the White House said Thursday Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said tests by the White House medical unit showed that Trump has chronic venous insufficiency, which occurs when little valves inside the veins that normally help move blood against gravity gradually lose the ability to work properly

Leavitt also addressed bruising on the back of Trump’s hand, seen in recent photos covered by makeup that was not an exact match to his skin tone She said the bruising was “consistent” with irritation from his “frequent handshaking and the use of aspirin.” Trump takes aspirin to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke.

She said during her press briefing that her disclosure of Trump’s medical checkup was meant to dispel recent speculation about the 79-year-old president’s health. Nonetheless, the announcement was notable given that the Republican president has routinely kept secret basic facts about his health.

Trump in April had a comprehensive physical exam with more than a dozen medical specialists. The three-page report released then by the White House did not include a finding of chronic venous insufficiency At the time, Trump’s doctor, Sean Barbabella, determined that the president’s joints and muscles had a full range of motion, with normal blood flow and no swelling. Leavitt did not say when

Trump first noticed the swelling in his lower legs. As part of the president’s routine medical care and out of an “abundance of caution,” she said he had a “comprehensive exam” that included vascular, lower extremity and ultrasound testing. She noted that chronic venous insufficiency is a benign condition that is common in people over age 70. She said the tests revealed no evidence of deep vein thrombosis, a more serious medical condition in which a blood clot forms in one or more of the deep veins in the body, usually in the legs. Nor was there any evidence of arterial disease, she said, reading a letter from Barbabella. People often are advised to lose weight, walk for exercise and elevate their legs periodically, and some may be advised to wear compression stockings. Severe cases over time can lead to complications including lower leg sores called ulcers. Blood clots are one cause, but was ruled out, Leavitt said. Leavitt said the condition wasn’t causing the president any discomfort She wouldn’t discuss how he was treating the condition and suggested those details would be in the doctor’s letter, which was later released to the public. But the letter was the same as what she read, and it did not include any additional details Dr Anahita Dua, a vascular surgeon at Mass General Brigham who has never treated Trump, said there is no cure for chronic venous insufficiency

“The vast majority of people, probably including our president, have a mild to moderate form of it,” Dua said.

People with the condition can reduce the swelling by wearing medical-grade compression socks or stockings, to help the blood circulate back to the heart, or by walking, she said.

The exam the White House disclosed Thursday included other testing that found no signs of heart failure, renal impairment or systemic illness in Trump, Leavitt said.

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House sendsbillregulatingstablecoins to Trump

BY MARYCLARE JALONICK, JOEY CAPPELLETTI and ALAN SUDERMAN Associated Press

WASHINGTON The House has passed three bills intended to boost the legitimacy of thecryptocurrency industry with new regulations as President Donald Trump has pushed to make the U.S. the crypto capital of the world.”

One of the three bills, legislation to regulatea type of cryptocurrency called stablecoins, had already passed the Senate with broad bipartisan support and will now head to Trump’sdesk.The other two bills —abroader measure to create anew market structure for cryptocurrency and abill to prohibit the Federal Reserve from issuing anew digital currency—willgotothe Senate

The stablecoin bill, passed on a308-122 vote, sets initial guardrails and consumer protections for the cryptocurrency,which is tied to a stable asset, often the U.S. dollar,toreduce price volatility.Itpassed the Senate with bipartisan support in June

“Around the world, payment systems are undergoing arevolution,” said House Financial Services Chair French Hill of Arkansas as lawmakers debated the stablecoin legislation Thursdaymorning. Hill said the bill will “ensure American competitiveness and strong guardrailsfor ourconsumers. After Trump declared it “cryptoweek,” thebills were stalled for more than aday amid disagreementsamong House Republicans about how to combine thelegislation. In the end, GOP leaders put the threebills foraseparatevotes, leaving thefateof the other two bills unclearin theSenate. Theinternaldissent could foreshadow challenges ahead for the more sweeping crypto legislation that Trump has demanded and the industry has poured millions into advancing.

industrywith newregulations as PresidentDonald Trumphas pushed to makethe U.S. the ‘crypto capital of the world.

commodities regulated by the CommodityFutures Trading Commission and which are securities policed by the Securities and Exchange Commission.Ingeneral,tokens associated with “mature” blockchains, like bitcoin,will be considered commodities.

Thestablecoinmeasure is seen by lawmakers and the industry asa step toward adding legitimacyand consumer trust to arapidly growing sector.Treasury SecretaryScottBessentsaid in June that thelegislation could help that currency “grow into a$3.7 trillion market by theend of the decade.”

The bill outlinesrequirementsfor stablecoin issuers, including compliance with U.S.anti-money laundering andsanctionslaws, and mandates that issuers hold reserves backing thecryptocurrency.Withoutsucha framework, Republicans on

the Senate Banking Committee in astatement warned, “consumers face risks like unstable reserves or unclear operationsfrom stablecoin issuers.”

After thevotes,HouseRepublicans strongly urged the Senate to take up the second bill, whichwould create a new market structure for cryptocurrency Rep. Bryan Steil, R-Wis.,

said the294-134 vote on that legislation shows broad bipartisan support and a“massive energy” on the issue.

But it is so far unclear whether the Senate would consider the House bill or try to write its own. That legislation aimstoprovide clarity forhow digital assets areregulated.The bill defineswhatforms of cryptocurrency should be treated as

The third bill, passed on a narrower 219-210 margin, prohibitsthe U.S. from offering what’sknown as a“centralbankdigital currency,” which is like agovernmentissued form of digital cash. Thecrypto industry has long complained that unclear laws have made it difficult to operate in the U.S. and that the Biden administration tried to regulate it through enforcementactionsrather thantransparent rulemaking. Gettingthisbillpassed hasbeen atop priority for the industry,whichhas quickly become amajor powerplayerinWashington thanks to heavy campaign donations and lobbying.

Advocates said the passage of the bills marks akey momentincryptocurrency’s winding path toward mainstream adoption.

HousepoisedtoOKcut to public broadcasting,foreign aid

BY KEVIN FREKING and MARYCLARE JALONICK Associated Press

WASHINGTON The House is expected late Thursday to approve President Donald Trump’srequest to claw back about $9 billion for public broadcasting and foreign aid as Republicans target institutions and programs they view as bloated or out of step with their agenda. The White House had described the package as atest case and said that if Congress went along, morewould come. The House’s approval wouldmark the first timein decades that apresident has successfully submitted such arescissions request to Congress, and eventhen the results were more mixed. Un-

like other presidents, Trump is getting nearly all the cuts he requested. Opponents voiced concerns not only about the programs targeted, but about Congress ceding its spending powers to the executivebranch as investmentsapproved on a bipartisan basis are being subsequentlycanceled on party-line votes. No Democrats supportedthe measure when it passed theSenate, 51-48, in the early morning hours Thursday. TwoRepublicansalsovoted no. “Weneedtoget back to fiscalsanityand thisisanimportant step,” House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Benton, told reporters. The package cancelsabout $1.1 billion for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting

and nearly $8 billion for avariety of foreign aid programs, many designed to helpcountrieswhere drought, disease and political unrest endure. Theefforttoclawback asliver of federal spendingcomes just weeksafter Republicansalsomuscled through Trump’stax and spending cut bill without any Democraticsupport. The Congressional Budget Office hasprojectedthat measure will increasethe U.S. debt by about$3.3trillion over the coming decade.

The cancellation of $1.1 billion for the CPR represents the full amountitisdue to receive during thenext two budget years.

The WhiteHouse says the publicmedia system is politically biased and an unneces-

sary expense.

Thecorporation distributes more thantwo-thirds of themoney to morethan 1,500 locally operated public television and radio stations, with much of theremainder assignedtoNational Public Radio and the Public BroadcastingService to support national programming.

Democrats were unsuccessfulinrestoringinthe Senate.

Lawmakers withlarge rural constituencies have voiced particular concern about what the cuts to public broadcasting could mean for some local public stationsin their state.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, RAlaska,said Tuesday thatthe

stations are “not just your news —itisyourtsunami alert, it is your landslide alert, it is your volcano alert.”

Less than aday later,as theSenate debatedthe bill, a7.3 magnitude earthquake struck off the remote Alaska Peninsula, triggering tsunami warnings on local public broadcasting stations that advisedpeople to getto higher ground.

Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., said he secureda deal from the White House that some money administered by the Interior Department would be repurposedtosubsidize Native American public radio stationsinabout adozen states.

But Kate Riley,president

BY ERIC TUCKER Associated Press

WASHINGTON President

Donald Trump will not recommend aspecial counsel in the Jeffrey Epstein investigation, aWhite House spokeswoman said Thursday,turning aside calls for further action in an inquiry that hasroiled theJustice Department and angered supporters who had been expectingatreasuretrove of documents from the case The rejection of aspecial counsel is part of an effortby the White House to turn the page from continued outrage from corners of Trump’s base over the Justice Department’srefusal last week to release additional records from the investigation into

Epstein, awell-connected and wealthyfinancier who killed himself in jail in 2019 as he awaited trial on sex trafficking charges.

Officials also saidEpstein didnot maintaina muchhyped“client list” and said the evidence was clear he had died by suicide despite conspiracytheories to the contrary.

Trump on Wednesday sought toclamp downon criticismfrom hisown supporters about hisadministration’shandling of the Epsteinrelated records, callingthem “weaklings”who werebeing duped and characterizing the investigationasa “hoax” even though hishand-picked leadersatthe FBI and Justice Departmenthad long stokedpublic expectations

that importantinformation was being hidden.

Thenews organization Just the News published excerpts Wednesdayfrom aTrump interviewinwhich Trump said he would be open to having aspecial counsel look into “anything credible”related to Epstein, as well as other long-standing grievances he and his supportershave long raised.

But White House press secretaryKaroline Leavitt appeared to closethe door Thursday on aspecial counsel for the Epsteininvestigation, saying “the idea was floated fromsomeone in the media to the president.”

“Thepresident would not recommendaspecial prosecutor in the Epstein case,” she said.

and CEO of America’sPublic Television Stations, anetworkoflocally owned and operatedstations, said that deal was“at best ashortterm,half-measurethatwill stillresultincutsand reduced service at the stations it purports to save.” Among the foreign aid cuts are $800 million foraprogram that provides emergency shelter,water and family reunification for refugees and $496 milliontoprovide food, waterand health care forcountries hit by natural disasters and conflicts. There also is a$4.15 billioncut for programsthat aimtoboost economies and democratic institutions in developing nations.

Israelistrikehitschurch, killing3and wounding priest

BY WAFAA SHURAFA and MELANIE LIDMAN Associated Press

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip An Israeli shell slammed into the compound of the only Catholic churchinthe Gaza Strip on Thursday,killing three people and wounding 10 others, including the parish priest, according to church officials. The late Pope Francis, who died in April, hadregularly spoken to the priest about the war’s toll on civilians.

The shelling of the Holy Family Catholic Church in Gaza also damaged the church compound, where hundreds of Palestinians havebeen sheltering from the 21-month Israel-Hamas war.Israel expressed regret over what it describedasan accident and said it was investigating.

Pope Leo XIV on Thursday renewed his call for an immediate ceasefireinresponse to the attack.

In atelegram of condolences for the victims, Leo expressed “his profound hope for dialogue, reconcili-

ation and enduring peacein the region.” The pope said he was “deeply saddened to learn of the lossoflifeand injury caused by themilitary attack,” and expressed his closeness to the wounded priest,the Rev. Gabriel Romanelli, and the entire parish.

PresidentDonaldTrump called Israeli PrimeMinisterBenjamin Netanyahu to express hisfrustration over thestrike on thechurch, the White Housesaid. Netanyahu later released astatement saying Israel “deeplyregrets that astray ammunition hit Gaza’sHoly Family Church.”

The church compound was shelteringbothChristians andMuslims, including a numberofchildrenwith disabilities, according to Fadel Naem, acting director of Al-Ahli Hospital, which received the casualties.

The Catholic charity Caritas Jerusalem said theparish’s 60-year-oldjanitor and an 84-year-old woman receiving psychosocial support inside aCaritas tent in thechurchcompoundwere killed in the attack. Parish

Nationwide protests start againsthealthcarecuts, immigrationcrackdown

BY COREY WILLIAMS and CHRISTINE FERNANDO Associated Press

CHICAGO Protests and events against President Donald Trump’scontroversial policies that include mass deportations and cuts to Medicaid and other safety nets for poor people have started Thursday at more than 1,600 locations around the country

The “Good Trouble Lives On” national day of action honors the late congressman and civil rights leader John Lewis. Protestswere being held along streets, at court houses and other public spaces. Organizers have called for them to be peaceful.

“Weare navigating one of the mostterrifyingmoments in our nation’shistory,” Public Citizen copresident Lisa Gilbert said during an online news conference Tuesday.“We are all grappling with arise of authoritarianism andlaw-

lessness within ouradministration as the rights, freedomsand expectations of our verydemocracy are being challenged.”

Public Citizen is anonprofit with astated mission of taking on corporate power. It is amemberofa coalitionofgroups behind Thursday’sprotests.

Major protests were plannedinAtlanta andSt. Louis, as well as Oakland, California, and Annapolis, Maryland.

Lewis first was elected to Congressin1986. He died in 2020 at the age of 80 following an advancedpancreatic cancerdiagnosis.

He was the youngest and last survivor ofthe Big Six civil rights activists, a group led by the Rev.Martin LutherKingJr. In 1965, a 25-year-old Lewis ledsome 600 protesters in theBloody Sunday march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma,Alabama.Lewis was beaten by police, suffering askull fracture.

ThursdayinGaza City.

priest Romanelli was lightly wounded.

“Wewere struck in the churchwhile all the people there were elders,innocent people and children,” said Shady Abu Dawood, whose mother was wounded by shrapneltoher head. “We lovepeace and call for it, and this is abrutal, unjustifiedaction by theIsraelioc-

cupation.”

TheIsraeli militarysaid an initial assessmentindicated that “fragments from a shell fired during operational activityinthe area hit the church mistakenly.” It said it was still investigating. Themilitarysaid it only strikesmilitant targets, ”makes everyfeasible effort to mitigate harm to civilians

and religious structures, and regrets any unintentional damage caused to them.”

Israel has repeatedly struck schools, shelters, hospitals and other civilian buildings, accusing Hamas militants of sheltering inside and blaming them forcivilian deaths. Palestinians say nowhere hasfeltsafesince Israel launched its offensive

in response to Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack.

ItalianPremier Giorgia Meloni blamed Israel for the strike on the church. “The attacksonthe civilian population that Israel has been demonstrating formonths are unacceptable,” she said. The church is just astone’s throw from Al-Ahli Hospital, Naem said, noting that the area around both the church and the hospital has been repeatedly struck for over a week.

The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem,which alsohas achurch in Gaza that previously sustained damage from Israeli strikes, said the Holy Family Church wassheltering 600 displaced people, including many children, and 54 people with disabilities. It said thebuilding suffered significant damage.

Targeting aholy site “is a blatant affront to human dignityand agrave violation of the sanctity of life and the inviolability of religious sites, which aremeant to serve as safe havens during times of war,” the Church said in a statement.

Firedprosecutor: ‘Fearisthe tool of atyrant’

BY ERIC TUCKER and ALANNADURKIN RICHER Associated Press

WASHINGTON Maurene Comey,the daughterofformer FBI director James Comey who as afederal prosecutor in Manhattan worked on cases against Sean “Diddy” Combs and Jeffrey Epstein, saidin anotetocolleagues that “fear is the tool of atyrant”and that her firing without reason should fuel “a fire of righteous indignation at abuses of power.”

tims. Of dedication to truth above all else.”

“If acareer prosecutor can be fired without reason, fear may seep into the decisions of those who remain,” Comey said in thenote, which was obtained by The Associated PressonThursday.“Do not let that happen. Fear is thetool of atyrant,wielded to suppress independent thought.”

“Instead of fear,” she added, “let this momentfuel the fire that already burns at the heart of this place. Afire of righteous indignation at abuses of power.Ofcommitment to seek justicefor vic-

Until herfiring Wednesday, Comey hadbeen aveteran lawyer in the Southern District of New York, long considered themost elite of the Justice Department’sprosecution offices. Her cases included the sex traffickingprosecution of Epstein, whokilledhimself behind bars in 2019 as he was awaiting trial, and the recent case against Combs, whichendedearlier this monthwitha mixed verdict

Her termination represented thelatest Justice Department effort to fire lawyers withoutexplanation, atrend thathas raisedalarm over adisregard for civil service protections designedtoremove attorneys for political reasons. The department has also fired anumber of prosecutors whoworked on cases that have provoked Donald Trump’sire, including some who handled U.S. Capitol riot cases andlawyersand support staff who worked on special counselJack Smith’s prosecutionsofthe Republi-

can president. She was long seen as apotential target given herfather’sfraught relationship over the last decade with Trump. The Justice Department recently appeared to acknowledge the existence of an investigationinto James Comey,though the basis for that inquiry is unclear

Asked about the firing Thursday,White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said, “This wasadecisionmadebythe DepartmentofJustice.” Maurene Comey had most recently been among the prosecutors in the sex trafficking andracketeering case against Combs. The hip-hop mogul was acquitted of the maincharges but convicted of lesser prostitutionrelated offenses that may result in aprison sentence of just afew years, an outcome seen by someasarare defeat forprosecutions. But she was successful in numerous other prosecutions, most notably helping secure the conviction of Ghislaine Maxwell on sex trafficking charges forhelping financier Epstein sexu-

ally abuse underage girls. In thatcase, she delivered arebuttal argument during closings, as she did in the Combs case. Her firing comes as Attorney General Pam Bondi faces intense criticism from somemembers of Trump’s base for the Justice Department’sdecision not to release any more evidence in the government’spossession from Epstein’ssex trafficking investigation.Some right-wing internet personalities, like Laura Loomer, who have been critical of Bondi’shandling of the Epsteinfiles, hadbeen calling forMaurene Comey’sfiring. James Comey wasthe FBI director when Trump took office in 2017, having been appointedbythen-President Barack Obama, aDemocrat, and servingbefore that as a senior Justice Department official in Republican President George W. Bush’sadministration. But hisrelationship with Trump was strainedfrom the start. The FBI director resisted arequest by Trump at aprivate dinner to pledge personal loyalty to the president.

BY MAKIYASEMINERA

Associated Press

RALEIGH, N.C.— North Carolina can seek federal funding to help its overloaded responseefforts to Tropical Storm Chantal, which killed at least six people and left damage from flooding in its wake, as Gov.Josh Stein announced astate of emergency Thursday

Aone-two punch from Chantalfollowed by severe weather in the state’scenter has“overwhelmed theresponse and recovery efforts of local governments,” according to Stein’sexecutive order

Some rivers reached record-breaking levels from thestorm,including theEno River in Durham, one of severalcitieswhere some

residents lost accesstosafe drinking water because of damage to thewater system. In some places, the storm dumped as much as 9to12 inchesofrain, according to the governor’soffice.

Chantal hit at theend of the July Fourth weekend, andseveral daysofsevere weather plowed through as people were still picking up the pieces from dam-

age caused by thetropical storm’s remnants

The emergency declaration, whichtook effect Wednesday,jump-starts the process for North Carolina to seek federal recovery assistanceifneeded. It covers 13 counties in the state’scenter, someofwhich are hometo populous cities like Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill.

Local law enforcement

agencies have confirmed at least six deaths from the storm. Businesses were wreckedand many residents were displaced from their homes after emergency responders rescued them from flooding.

A58-year-old womancalled 911 on her way to work after her SUV got caught in floodwaters, but the call disconnected and she was later found dead alittlewaysfrom herunoccupiedvehicle,according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. Rescuers searched for days in ChathamCounty only to find twomissing canoers had died, the county sheriff’s officesaid, while another womandied when floodwatersswept her vehicle off the road, the State Highway Patrol said.

GOP leaders address library pronoun controversy

BY ALYSE PFEIL Staff writer

Gov Jeff Landry and other prominent Louisiana conservatives are criticizing Baton Rouge’s library system after a former employee said he was fired because he refused to use someone’s preferred gender pronouns.

Luke Ash said he was let go from a job at East Baton Rouge Parish Library on July 10 after he refused to use someone’s preferred pronouns.

He recounted the story in an interview with Tony Perkins posted online Tuesday Perkins, a pastor and former state representative, is president of the Family Research Council, a religious conservative political advocacy group.

When Perkins asked if the library gave him the option of “using the incorrect biological pronoun and playing the game,” Ash

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contract included a maximum guaranteed price. But cost increases caused by the state would not have been covered under the price guarantee.

Regardless, it had appeared increasingly unrealistic that the project could be revived in the same form as more time passed and inflation added to the already high price. The state was also confronted with legal challenges over it.

“After years of planning and navigating significant legal and permitting challenges, we’ve made the difficult decision to terminate the Mid-Barataria project,” CPRA Chairman Gordon “Gordy” Dove said in a statement. “However, our commitment to coastal restoration has not wavered.

We are now focused on advancing the Myrtle Grove project, which we believe will deliver similar benefits to rebuild and sustain our

responded affirmatively, adding that he was “not going to lie.”

Reached by phone, Ash declined to comment for this story, saying that he had been talking to a lot of people and was trying to discern his next steps.

Ash was hired as a library technician in late March, and his termination was effective July 11, according to personnel records obtained by The Advocate.

He told WBRZ he knew his choice violated the library’s inclusivity policy, which says that employees have the right to be addressed by their chosen name and pronouns but that he disagreed with that policy, citing “religious convictions.”

The East Baton Rouge Parish Library declined to comment on Thursday

Ash is the lead pastor at Stevendale Baptist Church in Baton Rouge, according to the church’s website.

Ash told Perkins that he saw “several” things at the library indicating that it was not “a place that was hospitable for a Christian or even a conservatively minded person.”

“The library made their decision that they would rather have a difficult conversation with me than for a transgender person to hear something that they didn’t want to hear,” Ash said.

Ash’s story gained steam on social media this week, grabbing the attention of Louisiana’s top GOP leaders.

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill, referring to the WBRZ report, said in a social media post Thursday, “This was a public employee in a taxpayer-funded public library.”

“Government can’t force you to violate your conscience or deeply held religious beliefs,” she added. “This isn’t California or New York. In Louisiana, a Christian has rights

just like anyone else.”

Gov Jeff Landry also weighed in, saying on X that “preferred pronouns don’t exist — only biological ones!”

“Louisianans should never lose their job because they refuse to lie!” Landry said.

In commenting, the governor shared a Wednesday social media post about Ash’s story from Libs of TikTok, a popular controversial right-wing account which has 4.3 million followers.

The Libs of TikTok post about Ash was shared 12,000 times.

Late Thursday afternoon, Woodlawn Baptist Church Lead Pastor Lewis Richerson sent a letter to the East Baton Rouge Parish Library Board demanding that it reinstate Ash and “change all DEI-directed policies that led to his termination, ensuring that no employee is forced to violate their religious beliefs or conscience.”

Additionally, any project to replace Mid-Barataria will likely have to undergo a lengthy scientific evalua

closed doors.” The Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana, which has worked for decades on

when

The letter also listed the names of more than 30 other supporters, primarily leaders of Baptist churches in the Baton Rouge area. Libraries have in recent years become hot spots for debates over gender and sexuality in Louisiana. Livingston Parish Library Director Michelle Parrish was ousted from that role in a latenight library board vote Tuesday The library system has been in turmoil for the last few years over books with sexual and LGBT themes.

The drama that has included library board resignations and firings, calls for an investigation by the state attorney general’s office, and a documentary produced by Sarah Jessica Parker Lafayette’s library system has seen similar controversies.

Email Alyse Pfeil at alyse.pfeil@ theadvocate.com.

posited sediment along the way, working with nature to restore a heavily eroded part of the coast.

But the plan was controversial from the start, particularly among commercial shrimpers and oyster growers in the project area. They would have been forced to either move farther out or find another line or work since the influx of fresh water would have badly damaged their industry

Supporters of the project noted that those fisheries will be decimated even if the project is not built, since land loss and saltwater intrusion will accelerate there, though that would occur over a much longer period of time.

Other concerns involving the Mid-Barataria plan included threats to the dolphin population in the area as well as increased flood risks for some locations due to the project. The plan included $378 million in mitigation funds to compensate those affected, including

commercial fishermen, who argued that amount was not nearly enough. Prominent opponents of the project included Lt. Gov Billy Nungesser, the former Plaquemines Parish president. Nungesser discussed his criticism of the project with Landry before his election as governor Louisiana’s land loss crisis is only expected to worsen in the years ahead as sea level rise gains pace. The state has already lost around 2,000 square miles over the past century around the size of Delaware.

Confining the Mississippi River in place with levees and flood walls set the problem in motion, but other factors have been large contributors, including the thousands of miles of canals dug through wetlands by the oil and gas industry and shipping channels that funneled in saltwater intrusion.

Email Mike Smith at msmith@theadvocate.com.

BRIEFS

FROM STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

All solar, wind projects must get Burgum’s OK

WASHINGTON All solar and wind energy projects on federal lands and waters must be personally approved by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum under a new order that authorizes him to conduct “elevated review” of activities ranging from leases to rights of way, construction and operational plans, grants and biological opinions

The enhanced oversight on clean-energy projects is aimed at “ending preferential treatment for unreliable, subsidydependent wind and solar energy,” the Interior Department said in a statement Thursday. The order “will ensure all evaluations are thorough and deliberative” on potential projects on millions of acres of federal lands and offshore areas, the department said.

Clean-energy advocates said the action could hamstring projects that need to be underway quickly to qualify for federal tax credits that are set to expire under the tax-cut and spending bill that President Donald Trump signed into law July 4. The law phases out credits for wind, solar and other renewable energy while enhancing federal support for fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas In the legislation, Trump and GOP lawmakers moved to dismantle the 2022 climate law passed by Democrats under President Joe Biden. And on July 7, Trump signed an executive order that further restricts subsidies for what he called “expensive and unreliable energy policies from the Green New Scam.” Applications for jobless benefits fall again

WASHINGTON The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits fell last week to the lowest level in three months, a sign that the U.S labor market remains sturdy despite fears over the impact of widespread U.S. tariffs. The Labor Department reported Thursday that jobless claims for the week ending July 12 fell by 7,000 to 221,000, the fifth straight weekly decline and the fewest since mid-April. Last week’s number was also lower than the 232,000 that analysts forecast. Applications for unemployment aid are viewed as representative of layoffs. Earlier this month, the Labor Department reported that U.S. employers added a surprising 147,000 jobs in June, adding to evidence that the American labor market continues to show resilience. The job gains were much bigger than expected and the unemployment rate ticked down 4.1% from 4.2% in May Analysts were expecting the unemployment to rise to 4.3%.

Juul allowed to keep selling e-cigarettes

WASHINGTON The Food and Drug Administration is allowing vaping brand Juul to keep its e-cigarettes on the market providing relief to a company that has struggled for years after being widely blamed for sparking the teen vaping trend FDA regulators said Thursday that Juul’s studies show its e-cigarettes are less harmful for adult smokers, who can benefit from switching completely to vaping.

The FDA decision applies to both tobacco- and mentholflavored versions of the reusable product, which works with nicotine-filled cartridges sold in two different strengths.

Juul previously discontinued several fruit and candy flavors that helped drive its popularity but were favored by teens. Juul will be one of only two U.S. companies authorized to sell menthol-flavored vapes, which many adults prefer to tobacco flavor Parents, politicians and antitobacco groups have argued for years that Juul products should be permanently banned due to their role in triggering a yearslong spike in underage vaping.

BUSINESS

THEADVOCATE.COM/news/business

U.S. retail sales bounce around

Whipsaw trade environment prompts erratic spending

BY ANNE D’INNOCENZIO AP business writer

WASHINGTON Consumers picked up their spending in June after an earlier pullback, despite anxiety over tariffs and the state of the U.S. economy

Retail sales rose a better-than-expected 0.6% in June, the Commerce Department said Thursday, after two consecutive months of spending declines, a 0.1% pullback in April and a 0.9% slowdown in May

Retail was buoyed earlier in the year by car sales as Americans attempted to get ahead of President Donald Trump’s 25% duty on imported cars and car parts. The erratic consumer spending

is taking place during a period of mixed signals about the economy as well. The U.S. economy shrank at a 0.5% annual pace from January through March, but the U.S. job market is proving to be very resilient, and major tariffs keep getting postponed.

Healthy spending continues, with a heavy focus on necessities, rather than electronics or new appliances

Yet consumers haven’t completely cut out spending on nonessential goods. Sales at restaurants, the lone services component within the Census Bureau report and a barometer of discretionary spending, rose moderately

“Consumers are only feeling a modest amount of pressure from tariffs, and any weakness here is not having much of an effect in forcing them to pull back on more discretionary areas of spending such as restaurants and bars,”

wrote William Blair’s macro analyst Richard de Chazal.

Yet Chazal fears that the administration may be picking up false assurances from strong consumer spending. Consumer sentiment and markets have tumbled after aggressive tariff announcements, and many economists expect rising prices will have a greater impact on consumers before the year is over

Retail sales in June included a 1.2% gain in sales of autos and auto parts. Spending expanded across most major categories including clothing and personal care.

Excluding autos and automotive parts, sales rose 0.5%, according to the Commerce Department Clothing and accessories sales rose 0.9%, while health and personal care sales saw a 0.5% bump. Online retailers recorded a 0.4% gain.

Electronics and appliance retailers, furniture stores and depart-

ment stores all saw sales declines.

The products sold in these sectors are heavily imported.

A category of sales that excludes volatile sectors such as gas, cars, and restaurants rose last month by 0.5% from the previous month.

The figure feeds into the Bureau of Economic Analysis’ consumption estimate and is a sign that consumers are still spending on some discretionary items.

The retail sales report arrives amid a whipsaw frenzy of on and off again tariffs have that jolted businesses and households. Business owners say it’s become very difficult to manage supplies and inventories. Americans, when they do shop, are generally steering clear of the things they don’t absolutely need. The latest government report showed that inflation rose last month to its highest level since February

Scrutiny over soda sweeteners

Trump says Coke to shift to cane sugar as consumers look at no-sugar drinks

BY DEE-ANN DURBIN AP business writer

The debate over whether CocaCola should use high-fructose corn syrup or cane sugar in its signature soda obscures an important fact: Consumers are increasingly looking for Coke with no sugar at all.

Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, introduced in 2017, uses both the artificial sweetener aspartame and the natural sweetener stevia in its recipe. It’s one of Coke’s fastest-growing products, with global case volumes up 14% in the first quarter of the year By comparison, the company’s total case volumes were up 2%.

PepsiCo also noted Thursday that 60% of its sales volumes in major markets in the second quarter came from low- or nosugar drinks.

“When you look at colas, the percentage of growth coming from zero sugar is significant,” said Duane Stanford, the editor and publisher of Beverage Digest.

The scrutiny over Coke’s sweeteners began Wednesday when President Donald Trump announced that Atlanta-based Coca-Cola Co. had agreed to switch to using cane sugar in the regular version of its beverage manufactured in the U.S.

“I have been speaking to CocaCola about using REAL Cane Sugar in Coke in the United States, and they have agreed to do so,” Trump wrote on his social media site. “I’d like to thank all of those in authority at CocaCola. This will be a very good move by them — You’ll see. It’s just better!”

Coca-Cola didn’t confirm the change. In a statement, the company said it appreciated Trump’s enthusiasm and would share details on new offerings soon.

Stanford said he doubts CocaCola will fully shift away from

high fructose corn syrup, which has sweetened Coke in the U.S. since the 1980s. There would be tremendous supply chain and logistics headaches, he said, and the U.S. doesn’t make enough sugar for Coke’s needs.

He expects the Atlanta-based company will offer a cane sugarsweetened version in the U.S. just like its rival Pepsi has been doing since 2009. He noted that Coke has indulged U.S. fans by importing Mexican Coke, which is made with cane sugar, since 2005. Coke positions Mexican Coke as an upscale alternative and sells it in glass bottles.

The corn industry wasn’t happy with the speculation. In a statement Wednesday, Corn Refiners Association President and CEO John Bode said replacing high fructose corn syrup with cane sugar makes no sense and would cost thousands of American manufacturing jobs.

Shares in ADM, a maker of high fructose corn syrup, dipped nearly 2% Thursday after Trump’s announcement.

In a message on X, Coca-Cola

defended high fructose corn syrup, saying it’s no more likely to contribute to obesity than table sugar or other full-calorie sweeteners. “It’s safe; it has about the same number of calories per serving as table sugar and is metabolized in a similar way by your body,” the company said. “Please be assured that Coca-Cola brand soft drinks do not contain any harmful substances.”

The Food and Drug Administration also says there is no evidence of any difference in safety among foods sweetened with high fructose corn syrup and those that use sugar, honey or other traditional sweeteners.

Soft drink preferences are highly subjective, as anyone who has been in a Pepsi vs. Coke or 7-Up vs. Sprite debate knows.

But recent trends indicate that Coke and other drink makers need to focus on the kinds of lowand no-sugar drinks that a growing number of consumers are seeking, according to Stanford.

He said his data shows original Coke was the top seller by volume in the U.S. last year, with

19% market share, while Coke Zero Sugar was seventh and had a 4% market share. But Coke Zero Sugar’s share grew 10%, while original Coke’s share was flat. Nutritionists suggest avoiding added sugars, no matter the form, since they provide empty calories with no nutrients. The 2020 U.S. dietary guidelines advise people to limit foods and beverages higher in added sugars, and say children under 2 should not be fed them at all.

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy has spoken out against sugar His agency is expected to release updated nutrition guidelines later this year

“There’s things we’ll never be able to eliminate, like sugar,” Kennedy said at an April news conference. “And sugar is poison, and Americans need to know that.”

Aspartame and other artificial sweeteners are also named as a concern in a government report Kennedy issued in May AP health and science editor Jonathan Poet contributed from Philadelphia.

Wall Street cruises to more records amid mixed profit reports

BY STAN CHOE AP business writer

NEW YORK Wall Street rose to records on Thursday following better-than-expected updates on the economy and a mixed set of profit reports from big U.S. companies

The S&P 500 climbed 0.5% to top its all-time high set a week ago. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 229 points, or 0.5%, and the Nasdaq composite added 0.7% to its own record set the day before. Trading was calmer than Wednesday’s, when President Donald Trump jolted financial markets by saying he had discussed the “concept” of firing the chair of the Federal Reserve but was unlikely

to do so. Such a move could help Wall Street get the lower interest rates it loves but would also risk a weakened Fed unable to make the unpopular moves needed to keep inflation under control. A strong profit report from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co helped drive tech stocks and its net income soared nearly 61% in the last quarter from a year earlier The chip maker said it’s seeing strong demand from artificial intelligence and other customers, and TSMC’s stock that trades in the United States rose 3.4%. Other stocks involved in AI also climbed, and a 1% gain for Nvidia was one of the strongest forces

pushing upward on the S&P 500. PepsiCo jumped 7.5% after delivering revenue and profit that topped Wall Street’s expectations. The drink and snack giant also stood by its financial forecasts given in April, which projected lower full-year profit than previous forecasts due to increased costs from tariffs and a pullback in consumer spending. United Airlines flew 3.1% higher after reporting a stronger profit for the latest quarter than analysts expected It also said it’s seen an acceleration in demand from customers that began in early July, and it’s expecting less uncertainty about the economy to hurt its business in the second half of this year On the losing side of Wall Street was Abbott Laboratories, which fell 8.5% despite delivering results for the latest quarter that edged past analysts’ expectations. The health care company cut the top end of its forecast range for revenue growth over 2025.

Elevance Health dropped 12.2% after reporting a weaker profit than analysts expected It cut its forecast for profit in 2025 because of rising medical cost trends in its Affordable Care Act business, along with other factors. In the bond market, Treasury yields were mixed following several better-than-expected reports on the economy

Oakdale police chief’s wife arrested in fraud case

BY AIDAN McCAHILL Staff writer

Two days after the Oakdale police chief was arrested for allegedly talking part in a scheme to provide hundreds of fraudulent visas to non-U.S. residents, his wife also has been jailed after being accused of conspiring to commit fraud with the same convenience store owner tied to her husband’s case. Louisiana State Police announced the arrest of 50-year-old

POIRIER

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lived within Poirier, even as a child growing up in Lafayette

Part of it is in his blood. Both his father and grandfather were boxers. It also comes from the tightknit, blue-collar community he grew up in, where his mother ran a foster home out of their house while raising him and his two siblings.

Ultimately, he said, his community was a place where “people had to get their hands dirty and put in work to get anything they wanted.”

Poirier can’t pinpoint the exact moment he knew he wanted to become a professional fighter

As a kid, fighting earned him no rewards. It instead landed him in boot camp and detention centers, neither of which could break his natural pull toward combat

But eventually, it started paying off in the right ways. He turned pro in 2009, and quickly rose into the highest echelons of the sport

Poirier may have said it best in “Fightville,” a popular 2011 documentary that followed him and other rising Lafayette-area martial artists: “Fighting has opened a path to redemption for me.”

Resilience in mind, body, soul More than anything, fighting showed Poirier that he was in control of his future.

“I didn’t have anybody to point the finger at but myself, whether I did good or bad,” he said during the recent interview “It was just me, pushing myself to be better.”

For a fighter, the mind must be

The proposed sports facility could house an indoor track facility along with basketball courts. It could also include meeting rooms, a performance training center, a family entertainment center and a cafe.

Alison Doyle on Thursday for alleged unethical conduct in the municipal property bidding process. Doyle is a former Oakdale city employee and wife of Police Chief Chad Doyle. The Louisiana State Police Criminal Intelligence Unit’s Alexandria Field Office began investigating Alison Doyle after receiving “credible information” she had worked with Chandrakant “Lala” Patel to manipulate the bidding process for two city-owned properties, accord-

ing to a news release.

After conducting a thorough review, investigators found sufficient evidence to substantiate the allegations, the release says. Alison Doyle was arrested and charged with two felony counts of malfeasance in office. She was booked in the Allen Parish Jail.

The announcement came two days after agents with the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations and IRS descended on a law

Dustin Poirier carries a ceremonial check before his Good Fight Foundation presentation of $35,000 to Catholic Charities of Acadiana’s food bank in 2024.

as resilient as the body and soul. And the times that doubt weighed on him, Poirier credits his wife, Jolie, for pulling him back into the

right headspace every time. When Poirier was 18 and didn’t have a car, Jolie drove him to Texarkana, Texas, for his first ama-

enforcement conference in Baton Rouge, arresting Chad Doyle and Forest Hill Police Chief Glynn Dixon. Patel, who owns convenience stores and a fast-food restaurant in Oakdale and Glenmora; Michael “Freck” Slaney, Oakdale’s city marshal; and Tebo Onishea, a former Glenmora police chief, were also arrested Tuesday

All four are accused of taking part in scheme in which foreign nationals — most of whom were

teur fight. The couple, together since middle school, married in 2009 and bought their first house

Though his young age at that time might suggest otherwise, Poirier’s first taste of success didn’t come quickly

While “Fightville” was being filmed, he wasn’t just training — he was driving a delivery truck, hauling windows, doors, trim and molding to customers to make ends meet.

from India — paid Patel thousands of dollars to help them obtain a “U visa,” designed to grant victims or witnesses of certain crimes immigration status if they aid law enforcement. Patel would then pay $5,000 to a law enforcement agent to forge a police report listing the applicant as a victim that could be included with a visa application. During the raids, federal agents executed 11 search warrants, including at the Doyles’ residence.

“Nothing’s ever going to fill that void. No matter how many businesses I have, no matter how many things keep me busy outside that. I don’t think anything’s ever going to fill that void of preparing to fight a man in front of the world.”

In one scene, Poirier points at photos of himself when he was 200 pounds, saying some didn’t even recognize him after he started training. But what many did recognize, including his mother, was his transformation from a troubled boy to a determined fighter

“He’s finally found what he’s been looking for all of this time,” his mother said in the documentary “I know that he has been waiting his whole life to climb up something and put his hands in the air because he did it the best.”

When Poirier looks back at that ambitious kid now, ahead of his last fight and with a professional record of 30 wins and 9 losses, he only has two things to say to him.

“Keep grinding. It’s gonna pay off.”

Life after retirement

Though he has said Saturday’s bout will be his last, it’s still hard

COMPLEX

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It will be funded by a 2% tourism improvement tax district on all hotels, which hoteliers agreed to assess on themselves and is expected to generate $2 million annually Collections began in January

“It’s going to open up so many possibilities that we weren’t able to go after,” Berthelot said “Our board recognizes the importance of the university as the largest economic driver in the region. I think this is an opportunity for (the university) to achieve some of their goals as well in terms of growth in revenue and growth in their master plan.”

The board, eyeing hotel development for the area, said that the location was chosen for its proximity to other venues like the Cajundome and the adjacent convention center Other locations were suggested but required purchasing land.

for Poirier to imagine a life without the cage. He’s competing for the BMF belt, a symbolic title that’s awarded to UFC fighters for their toughness. After that, he will return to his home in Lafayette, where he and his wife have lived since 2016, to raise their daughter and prepare for the birth of their son. The retiring fighter said he plans to stay in vo lv ed i n The Good Fight Foundation, a charity he and Jolie founded in 2017 to support causes in Lafayette. The nonprofit raises money by auctioning off memorabilia from Poirier’s UFC career

He plans to keep growing his businesses, like his hot sauce brand Poirier’s Louisiana Style, and is considering investing in additional residential properties. And soon, a reboot of “Fightville” will be released, following the end of Poirier’s fighting career Still, life won’t feel quite the same once he lays the gloves down.

“Nothing’s ever going to fill that void,” Poirier said. “No matter how many businesses I have, no matter how many things keep me busy outside that. I don’t think anything’s ever going to fill that void of preparing to fight a man in front of the world.”

Email Poet Wolfe at poet.wolfe@ theadvocate.com.

The Beaullieu Park location was placed on pause during the transition to Mayor-President Monique Boulet’s administration. The location was never set in stone despite a September 2023 announcement.

“The direction is that we move forward with UL,” Berthelot said. “As long as there’s not a reason not to, then we would not pursue any other location. If we have to pursue another location, based on negotiations not moving forward, then we would.”

Whether or not the facility sparks growth in that area is still to be determined, officials said. The convention center, built in 2002, was supposed to attract more hotels to the area but that never happened, board members noted. Berthelot noted the sports complex is something different.

“It will lead to growth,” he said. “This indoor sports complex has the ability to fast track that just by the sheer number of people that will be utilizing it on a weekly basis.”

Man convicted in overdose death

7-year-old child died from fentanyl in 2023

BY CLAIRE TAYLOR Staff writer

A Carencro man was convicted of second-degree murder in the death of his 7-year-old stepdaughter who allegedly died from an overdose of fentanyl while in his care Daniel James Boudreaux Jr., 51, was convicted by a Lafayette Parish jury on July 14 on charges of sec-

ond-degree murder, second-degree cruelty to a juvenile and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, Assistant District Attorney Chase Edwards said Wednesday Boudreaux’s attorney, Harold Register III, on Wednesday filed a motion for a new trial and a motion for post-verdict judgement of acquittal, court records show He was not immediately available

for comment and the documents were not yet available online.

On Jan. 10, 2023, emergency response and the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office were called to a residence in the 400 block of Rue De Etoiles in Carencro about reports of an unresponsive child. McKenna Poirier, 7, was taken to a local emergency center and pronounced dead, court records show

Police records used to obtain a search warrant indicate she had blood on her legs, vomit and a bloody mouth but no signs of physical trauma. The autopsy report concluded the cause of death was acute fentanyl toxicity Tests showed the girl had 17.2 nanograms (billionths of a gram) per milliliter in her system, Edwards said. It takes only 3 nanograms to kill a grown man, he said

The trial took six days, Edwards said. It took the jury 90 minutes to

hand down the guilty verdicts. This is the second murder conviction in 15th Judicial Court in Lafayette for someone who allegedly provided fentanyl that caused an overdose death, District Attorney Don Landry said on Wednesday This is the fourth known murder conviction of its kind in Louisiana, he said “The mother testified, and that was very powerful,” Edwards said. The girl’s mother wasn’t charged,

AI IN FOCUS

Charter school to open this fall emphasizing technology and preparing students for the future

BY STEPHEN MARCANTEL Staff writer

When Preston Castille left his hometown of Opelousas after graduating as valedictorian from Plaisance High School, he told himself that one day he would come back to help the community that nurtured and raised him. He went on to be a lawyer a law professor, a judge and a member of the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. He later became the president and CEO of Helix Community Schools, a network of six charter schools in the state.

That is when a tax on the ballot in St. Landry Parish aimed at lifting teacher pay and building new schools failed twice, leaving School Board members there with a conundrum they were unsure how to solve at the time.

People then reached out to Castille, telling him it was time to find a way to give back to the parish. He approached the school district and pitched the idea of a school that would focus on this

More coming through Saturday

quickly evolving technology, artificial intelligence.

“So we, as Helix, got together with the district and joined forces and to do what we’ve now done and build a new school, which hasn’t happened in decades,” Castille said.

Tracey Antee, left, regional development director of Helix, and Preston Castille lead a tour of the new Helix AI and Medical Academy charter school in Opelousas on Monday.

Now, Castille stands in the hallways of the Helix AI and Medical Academy just south of Opelousas with classes expected to start in August. The 40,000-square-foot school,

ä See AI, page 4B

BY ASHLEY WHITE, MARK BALLARD, KEVIN FREKING and MARY CLARE JALONICK Staff writers and Associated Press

WASHINGTON The Senate has passed about $9 billion in federal spending cuts requested by President Donald Trump, including deep reductions to public broadcasting, moving forward on one of the president’s top priorities despite concerns from several Republican senators. The legislation, which moved to the House on Thursday, would have a tiny impact on the nation’s rising debt but could have major ramifications for targeted spending, from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to U.S. food aid programs abroad. The House is expected to approve the “rescission” package that the White House described as a test case and said that if Congress went along, more would come. The House’s approval would mark the first time in decades that a president has successfully submitted such a rescissions request to Congress, and even then the results were more mixed. Unlike other presidents, Trump is getting nearly all the cuts he requested.

Thursday morning, after the rescission package passed in the Senate, Lafayette’s public radio station KRVS played the nationally distributed World Cafe program. It carried a “gorgeous set” by Marcella Simien produced at KRVS’ performance studio as part of the Acadiana Music Showcase collaboration, said Cheryl Devall, the station’s general manager

“It was a timely reminder of the way public radio — especially music-driven stations like this offers the kind of cultural riches that seldom if ever get exposure on its commercial counterparts,” she said in an emailed statement KRVS has served Acadiana since 1963. Funding cuts won’t change the way it elevates the region’s culture and connects with a loyal regional audience and a growing audience of listeners throughout and beyond the U.S., Devall said.

“Like the people who turned Louisiana from a mosquito-ridden wilderness into a hospitable haven, we’ll adapt and make the

of

we have,” she said.

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OPINION

People with STIs need treatment

LawmakersinLouisiana nearly passed alaw that could have criminalized nearlyevery adult in the state simplyfor knowing their sexually transmitted infection status. House Bill 76 would have turned everyday health realities into felony offenses that disproportionately target our communities, especially Black women and survivors of sexual violence. As Black women committed to genuine safety and security for our communities, we raised the alarm, and people listened. HB76 did not advance andthe immediate threat has been stopped. In itsplace, the Legislature hasapproveda task force to study publichealthoutcomes relatedtosexually transmitted infections.

This could be an opportunityto movetoward evidence-based and community informed solutions, butonly if those most impacted aretruly heard HB76 would have let the state treatpeople as criminals just for living with an STI. Under theproposedlaw,someone who knows theirstatus could have faced prison time and sex offender registration simply for having consensual sex.Evenifthey told theirpartner.Eveniftheyused protection. Even if they hadanundetectable viral load. It would have invited thestate to second-guess private moments and turn misunderstandingsordisagreements into felony charges.

Sexually transmitted infections arecommon and treatable. Nearly 23,000 Louisianans are living with HIV.Roughly one in six adults nationwidehas herpes. HPV is so commonthatmost sexually active people will contract it at somepoint in theirlives.

Butstructural barriers, includinginequitable healthcare access, housing shortages, transportation issues and discrimination, make underserved Louisiana communi-

tiesparticularly vulnerable to sexually transmitted infections, especially Black and brown people, LGBTQ+ people, women and working class people.

Stigma, discrimination and criminalization already create powerful barriers to testing, care and treatment. Laws thatcriminalize STIs do more thandiscourage people from learning their status. They can push people out of jobs, housing and relationships, and increase their risk of experiencing violence.

By punishing those who know their STI status, it creates apowerful reason not to get testedatall. It also fuels stigma that already pushes people away from the care and support they need. Doctors and even Louisiana’sown previous task force have warned thatlaws like this do not help.

The proposed law would also harm survivors of sexual assault who acquire an STI. Instead of support and healing, they’d be retraumatizedbythe very system thatis supposed to protect them.

Supporters of the bill claimed it was meant to stoppeople who “intentionally spread” STIs. But this is amyth and it obscures the

Recent federalactions have putoffshore

leasingbackontrack

For generations, offshore energyinthe Gulf of America has powered America’s economy and fueled thousandsofcareers here in Louisiana. But in recent years, prior administrations caused acloud of uncertainty which has hung over the industry Federal delays, unpredictable lease schedules and regulatory whiplash have taken atoll— not just on companies like mine, but on the workers, families andcommunities who depend on asteady offshore energy economy As aworld leader, our nation cannot be run like this. Our economy deserves and requires certainty with its industries. The effort and capitalthat is invested in this industry is massive so seesaw policy decisions make us all losers. That’swhy two recent decisionsby Secretary of the Interior DougBurgum deserve real credit: advancingGulfof America Lease Sale 262 and launching the process to develop anew five-year Offshore Leasing Program. Together,they send along-overdue message —one that offshore workers across the Gulf Coast havebeen waiting to hear: The Gulf of America is back on track! We have work-hardened,skilled mariners that get the “work”doneand they are ready for more. Our company,headquartered in Lafayette, has served the offshore industry for morethan40years.Our U.S.built vessels transport workers, equipment and supplies to and from offshore platforms, facilitating successful shallow water and deepwateroperations across theGulf. We don’tdrill wells —but we do help make offshoredevelopmentpossible.

We put more bootsondeck. AnySouth Louisiananknows maintaining aboat costs money.Big steel ones cost even moreand that means we are doing businesswith lots of vendors not only in Louisiana but all over the nation.

truth: Disclosure is not always safe or easy,but instead is often arisk factor for increased violenceand discrimination.Disclosure can carry real risksfor women, queer and trans peopleand those livingin poverty.People have faced charges even after disclosing, based on a partner’sword alone.

If we criminalize STIs, nearly every adult in Louisiana could face thethreat of heightened policing, steep fines, lengthy imprisonmentand even sex offender registration —simply forbeing aware of their health status.

Louisiana already has aharmful HIV criminalization law that is used unequally and unfairly Black Louisianans are about onethirdofthe population but nearly two-thirds of those targeted by theoutdated law

We need real solutions that genuinely protect our health and safety. That meansinvesting in comprehensive health education,making STI testing more available and ensuring access to proven prevention and treatment options. Survivors of sexual violence deserve trauma-informed services,

such as sustained counseling and support and medications that prevent HIVtransmission. We must also address the social and economic inequities that increase violence and create asafer environment fordisclosing one’sSTI status. These proven strategies would meaningfully address the issues of STIsand sexual violence, while avoiding criminalizing our communities, especially Black women and survivors of violence. We can reduce stigmainstead of writing it into law

As the new task force begins its work, lawmakers have another chance to get it right. This starts with listening to survivors, doctors, and community members. Having ahealth condition should never be acrime. It’s timefor Louisiana to lead with care.

S. Mandisa Moore-O’Neal is a NewOrleans-basedattorney and executive director of the Center forHIV Lawand Policy MillicentFoster is alongtime HIV advocate and public speaker who has lived withHIV for23years

La.’sfundamental approach to educationgetting noticed

Resilience runs deep in Louisiana’s classrooms. The state is making waves nationally —and from my office in Geneva, Switzerland, internationally —for the impressive strides in education it has made thelast five years.

The scale of impact is enormous.National studies showthe offshore oil and gas industry supports nearly 400,000 U.S. jobs and contributes over $30 billion to the economy annually In Louisiana, those jobsaren’t just statistics —they’re neighbors, friends and family members.

Asingle oil and gas project in theGulf supports more than 200 different job types, many of which pay nearly 30% abovethe national average. One Deepwater development alone can generate$295 million in annual spending, $100 million in direct wages and morethan 1,400 direct jobs each year over a30-year projectlife. That kind of economic engine doesn’trun without areliable federal leasing process.

We’ve also seen how theindustry continuestoraise the bar.Offshore operations in the Gulf of America are among themost tightly regulated in theworld. Safety and environmental performance are central to every operation and still continue to improve. AtAries Marine, we takepride in doing things theright way— because the Gulf is home. It’swhere we live, workand play and where we produce the most deliciousseafood available.

Sec.Burgum’sdecisions to advance Lease Sale 262and initiatea new leasing programare steps in the rightdirection. Theyshowanunderstanding thatoffshore energy plays avital role in America’s energy security,economic strengthand lower-emissions future.

Louisiananow ranks first in the nation for strong early literacy policy,and its studentsachieved their highestever placement on the National Assessment of Educational Progress Nation’s Report Card, moving from 49th in 2019 to 32nd overall last year As director general of the International Baccalaureate, which teaches 2million students in 160 countries —including at 10 schools in Louisiana —Ibelieve that educational progress begins witharenewed commitment to doing thebasics exceptionally well.

When lease sales stallorpermitting slows down, the impact hitsour crews, our shipyards and the small businesses that keep us all moving.

That’swhy stability matters. Whenthe federal government offers predictable, regular lease sales —and lays out aclear long-termplanthrougha five-year leasing program —companies can invest with confidence. That investment ripples throughout the Gulf Coast economy. We hire more mariners. We buy more steel

We urge continued bipartisan support for these efforts. WhenWashington delivers thestability our industry needs, Louisianadelivers results. Our state has the people, the infrastructure and the knowhowtolead the way —and withastable offshorepolicy, we’reready to do just that.

Court Ramsay is thepresident and CEO ofAries Marine Corporation in Lafayette.

That approach is bearing fruit in Louisiana. It is the only state to exceed pre-COVID scores in 4th grade reading, and it ranks second in 4thgrade math growth

Louisianaimproved its scores by doubling down on proven, foundational reforms: training all K-3 teachers in the “science of reading,” deploying intensive tutoring and requiring literacy screeners with parental notifications. These are long-termcommitments to doing the basics well.

“Slownessisaqualityofthe brave,” I write in my forthcoming book, “Learning as if Life Depended on It.” Louisiana’s long-terminvestmentinfoundational literacy shows the courage to stay the course. Butlastingprogress depends on turning strongbeginnings into shared success for all students, everywhere in the state.

That’swhy Louisiana was the perfect state to carry out our first-in-the-world pilot program for early access to the IB curriculum. For the first time ever,select public high schools in Louisiana canbegin teaching IB Diploma Programand Careerrelated Program courses before completing theIB’stypical two-yearauthorization process. This expands immediate access to high-quality, future-ready education.

At itscore, IB equips students not just with academic knowledge, but with the curiosity,resilience and globalperspective needed to navigatetoday’scomplex world. It emphasizes inquiry,critical thinking and personal growth.

StudentsatSt. Frederick High School

in Monroewill be the first to pilot IB’s early accessprogram next month. The initiative aligns directly with Louisiana’s revised2024 Public School Accountability Plan, whichemphasizes college andcareer readiness. It bridgesglobal andstate standards while honoring local priorities, helping educatorsdeepen instruction and keep students engaged. The timing couldn’tbemore fitting for IB’scommitment to Louisiana.Earlierthis week,more than 1,500 teachersand educators from the U.S., Canada andLatin America gathered in NewOrleans for the IB Global Conference. The July 15 opening coincidedwith World Youth Skills Day—a reminder of howeducationprepares youth for tomorrow’seconomy. In Louisiana, thatfuture liesinhealth, energy andtech —sectorsdemanding innovative, skills-based learning.

Louisiana’s classroom comeback embodiesissuesclose to my heart: First, learning is civic andpersonal. The state’searly reading gains weren’tjust policy— they depended on training, community voice andtrust in teachers.

Second, we must unlearn systems steeped in rigidity.For decades, highstakestesting andnarrow “teach to the test” mindsets undermined deep learning. Louisiana’s pivotbacktofundamentals andnow stepforward with early access to advanced,college-focused IB programs —echoes aviewIhold: Education must move beyond static curriculum to dynamic learning thatkeeps pace with today’s fast-moving world.

As aFinnish educator and lifelong learner, Ibelieve every region has unique strengths. Louisiana’scultural tapestry Creoleand Cajun voices, French language tradition, its jazz musicians’ collaborative creations —isfertile ground for IB’s globally-minded approach. The Louisiana pilot means many morestudents may soon join the IB family here, preparing them to thrive on aglobally competitive stage.

As 1,500 educators met in NewOrleans, we all celebrated the state’sremarkable and meaningful reading and mathgains —and learned from one another to help students everywhere soar

In Louisiana’sclassrooms, that journey is wellunderway

Olli-PekkaHeinonen is the director generalofInternationalBaccalaureate.

ISSUE OF THE WEEK BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL

After thepassageofthe OneBig Beautiful Bill Act, Republicans and Democrats honedtheir messages to voters aboutwhat it means for them.While someelementsofthe bill maybewelcome, such as taxcuts, polls areshowing that manyAmericans are worried about cuts to popular programs likeMedicaid. How thepublic viewsthe legislation could determinewhich party makes gains in themidtermelections that will determine control of Congress.What shouldthe parties be telling the public about the law? Hereare twoperspectives:

Sellinghow thelaw benefits Americans

It’sone thing to pass amajor piece of legislation and haveitsigned by the president; it’squite another toget the public to swallow it as something that benefits most of the country House and Senate Democrats, who stood in unison against President Donald Trump’s“big beautiful bill” —even trying to changethe name of it to spite Republicans —now thinkthey have astrategy to misrepresent it to the public. Polls show amajority don’tlike the bill.

lions of dollars “toshape” voter impressions. It’snot likely that those who votedfor or against themeasure have read it. Recall then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi who said about the Obamacare bill, “Wehave to pass thebill so you can findout what’sinit.”

would-be monarchs andoligarchs.”

The Wall Street Journal cites apoll byQuinnipiacUniversity and Fox News that shows opposition to the new law outweighs support by 20%.

Probably amajor reason forits unpopularity is the way themedia frames anything that includes cuts, even when those cutsmake sense and separately might poll well. These include forcing able-bodied people who receive Medicaid to look forwork, cutting taxesonSocial Securityfor everyone but the hated “rich,”and maintaining the Trumptax cuts, even though they won’tbefelt if theycontinue as they are.

The law addstothe already unsustainable $37 trillion national debt. According to an analysis bythe Committee for aResponsible Federal Budget the law “adds $4.1 trillion to the debt through 2034” and adds“5.5 trillion if made permanent.”

Republicans are countingoneconomic growthand tariffs to produce enough revenue to reduce thedebt. It is like giving Dracula more blood, hoping he will go on the wagon.

The Wall Street Journal story notes that both parties plan to spendmil-

At 940 pages, thebig, beautiful bill will be ahard sell. Democrats may have aslight advantage because it’s currently causing people to fear their benefits might end. Fear works for them with low-information voters, so whyshouldn’tthey tryitagain?

Where it didn’twork was with the 1996 Bill Clinton-Newt Gingrich success at welfare reform initiative, deliciously known as “The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act.” TheLeft claimed people would starve, lose their homes and other “the skyisfalling” prophecies. It didn’t happen. Able-bodied people mostly foundjobs when they realized the gravy train wasn’tstopping at their mailbox anymore. The same will likely happenwhen it comes to the necessary and long overdue reform of Medicaid andother outmoded andbloated socialspending. If Republicans can sell thelaw to thepublic better than Democrats can lie about it, they could maintain and possiblyexpand their majorities in Congress.Ifthat happens they must use that mandate to seriously reduce thedebt. No nation in history has been able to sustain a$37 trillion debt. Are we so arrogant that we believe we can avoid history and solid economic policy?Ifweare, no manner of clever accounting tricks, polling, or sleight of hand will be able todeliver us from history’sjudgment

EmailCal Thomas at tcaeditors@ tribpub.com.

President Donald Trump’s Big BeautifulBill is already the subject of campaign attack ads launched by both parties. OneRepublican group is targeting vulnerable House Democrats like Rep. Jared Golden of Maine with thecharge of “voting againsttax cuts. ADemocratic operation is goingafter swing-district Republicans like Rep.Rob Bresnahan of Pennsylvania withamillion-dollarad buy featuring aconstituent who complains that Bresnahanbrokehis promise to hertoprotect Medicaid.

“Afterwards, whenthe votes were done, when Ifound outhow he voted, Iwas very upset to hear that Congressman Bresnahanvoted forthe largest cut to Medicaid in history,” the constituent says.

The 2026 midterm election is well underway,and the stakes are considerable. Republicans cling to athree-seat margin in the House, and aDemocraticvictory would upset Trump’slegislative ambitions during his final twoyears in office. Both parties think theycan usethe Big Beautiful Billtosway voters. Both can’t be right.

“Every Democrat (in the) House and Senate voted no,” argued Louisiana Rep. Steve Scalise, the House majority leader.“The American people are going to seegreat benefits from thisbill, and they’re going to know which party was fighting for them.”

Rep. Jamie RaskinofMaryland retorted thatthe Republican bill has“written the script” for Democraticcampaign messages. “I’m certainly goingtobe talking about it all of the time,” he told USA Today.“Imean, nothing could bettercapture the way thatthe Republican party just servesDonald Trump andour

Polls show that Democrats start with an advantage. Amid-June Fox News poll foundthat59% of registered voters opposed thebill, while 38% favored it Butthose are tentative numbers; much depends on howthe bill is described anddefined over thenext16months, andRepublicanshavestrongthemes to promote.

Taxcutsare always winners, and the bill extendsmassive reductions initially adopted during Trump’s first term.Plus, it adds somenew benefits —reduced taxes on tips and overtime as well as extendedcreditsfor someseniors and parents.

Shrewdly,the bill postpones manyof itsunpopularbudget cuts untilafter the midterm elections, andits mostdamaging long-term effect —a $4 trillion increase in thenational debt —remains an intangibleabstraction that seldom impacts voters directly.

Still, Democrats benefit from some structural advantages, starting withthe fact that theopposition almostalways gains House seats in midterm balloting.

In addition, no president is able to keep allofhis promises, so acertain amount of disenchantment is inevitable As the Democraticads in Pennsylvania emphasize, Trump andhis alliesvowed —explicitly andoften —toprotect Medicaidfunding, andtheyfailedtodoso.

The battlelineshavebeen drawn.The attack adshave already been written Who benefitsfrom theBig Beautiful Bill? Andwho suffers? Does it advance growth or aggravate debt? Reward work or punish misfortune?How parties frame these questions —and how voters answer them —will influence American politics foryears to come. Email Steven Roberts at stevecokie@ gmail.com.

which can house upward of 600 students, will begin teaching students from kindergarten to fifth grade how to use and prepare for AI in future job markets, Castille said.

The school has afocus on the medical applications of AI, but students will also use technology to assist with coding and other aspectsofaregular school curriculum.

“Children now are starting to explore and understand that artificial intelli-

RAIN

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Morgan City and 4inches in Charenton.

Another couple of inches is possible as the rain-

BUDGETS

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Public radio station

KEDM, which serves the Monroe area, said in aFacebook post the cuts “would have devastating effects on KEDM’sability to serve you.” About 22% of the station’s budgeted revenue, or about $145,000, comes from federal funding. If its funding is cut, the station would immediately seektoraise the lost funds from donors and business sponsors, it said on its website.

But, “the loss of federal funding would very likely result in immediate and significant impactsonour ability to provide essential services, including the production of local and regional news and music programming, our ability to purchase national programming, and maintain broadcast infrastructure,” it said.

gencereallyisa powerful tool,” Castille said. “Because it’ssuchapowerful tool, how do we get kidsto learn about theconcept, become inspired about the concepts and start to develop thebuilding blocks that allow themtouse it to create, to invent new ideas? What you’re seeing now is thetip of theiceberg.”

The school willalsoadapt over time tokeep pace with the rapidly changing technology.It is alsolooking to partner with nearby hospitals, such as OpelousasGeneral Hospital,and clinicstoprovide students withhands-on learning and

fall lingers throughSaturday,Jones said. The heavy rainfall arrived in Lafayette around 4p.m.Thursday as the storm system moved from east to west across thestate. Most of Acadiana can

The White House says andRepublicans have long argued —the public media system is politicallybiased and an unnecessary expense

Thecorporation distributes more than two-thirds of the money to more than 1,500 locally operated public television andradio stations, with much of theremainder assigned toNational Public Radio and thePublic Broadcasting Service to support national programming

TheCorporation for PublicBroadcasting wasestablished in 1967 to provide outlets for hard-to-reach communitiesand programmingthatthe business plans of advertiser-funded private television andradio stations could not justify Public Broadcasting Service is responsible for Ken Burnsdocumentaries, Julia Child’scookingshows,the NOVA scienceseries,and allmanner of children’seducational programming,such as “Daniel Tiger’sNeighbor-

to meet professionalsina desired career field AI, or generative AI, was in its early stages when Castille approachedthe school board around 2022 about his idea. Castille said that the board considered theconcept “novel,”but it wasn’tuntil applications like ChatGPT went online thatthe districtbegan to understand the power of AI. The technologyisn’t withoutits critics and controversy.Many teachers believe that students arepotentially using it to cheat on assignments. Others suggest that the AI can become acrutch for

expect at least 2to4 inches of rain through Saturday,Jones said, but it’spossible isolated areas can receive 10 inchesor more through lateSaturday, when therain is expected to end. The risk of flooding is

hood,” which teaches practical skills like being polite to adults and tryingnew foods to children between 2and 5 years old.

Louisiana has318 radio stations, of which 10 get money from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and 48 television stations, eight of which get federal money, U.S. Sen. John N. Kennedy R-Madisonville,said earlier this week.

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting gives money to PBS, which gives that money to local stations.

Louisiana receivesabout $2.5 million. The stations then pay PBS dues to allow access to its programming.

Louisiana pays about $2.4 millionindues. Thatmoney is thengiven by PBS as grants to the producers, who are also raising money from other sources to put together the individual programs.

LouisianaPublicBroadcasting, LPB, is astate agency that receives mostofits funding from the state gen-

students.

Castille, who acknowledged the cons of AI, sees it differently “It’skind of likethe calculator.” Castille said. “Once upon atime, that same argument waswe don’twant kids using calculators because they will useitasa crutch.Now it’s understood thatthat’sjust atool.” AI, he noted, is here and is here to stay.Students should learn how to use technology and understand its limitations. Which is exactly what Castille sought toprove to his law students when he requiredthem to use AI

slightlylower on Friday, he said, and even lower on Saturday

The long-range forecast isn’tgreat news.Jones said another lowpressure system is expected to move across the Florida peninsula in the middle

eral fund and from corporate and viewer donations.

LPB is budgeted to receive $13.2 million from the state in the fiscal year that began this month

As the only statewide network, LPBbroadcasts inaugurations, someLegislature events, gubernatorial news conferences, when hurricanes threaten,and other events. LPB shares its broadcastswith privatestations.

LPB alsoprovides educational programming that augmentskindergarten through 12thgradeteachinginschools and programmingthat homebound and homeless children can use to continue their education.

The state’stwo largest radio stations affiliated with NPR are WWNO in New Orleans, which receives about $220,000 ayear in federal funds, and WRKF in Baton Rouge, which receives about $150,000, said Paul Maassen, generalmanager of WWNO and WRKF

to write a35-page paper

The AI was able to generate basicknowledge, and students found that it ultimately served as ajumping-off point for the rest of the assignment. The school is expected to break ground on itsmiddle school sectionbythe end of this year,Castille said, followedeventually by a high school section. He hopes Helix will be able to entice future investing in Opelousasand itsflourishing Interstate 49 corridor

Email Stephen Marcantel at stephen.marcantel@ theadvocate.com.

of next week,much like this one did, then enter the Gulf.

“There maywell be another one next week,”he said.

Email Claire Taylor at ctaylor@theadvocate.com.

For both stations, the money accounts forabout 8% of thestations’ budgets. The rest comesfromindividual donations, local business underwriters, and various grants from public and philanthropic sources, he said Tuesday In addition, theCorporation of Public Broadcasting pays forsharedservices, such as rights to airmusic and the satellite system that delivers national programming. Those expenses will now the borne by individual stations, which could add another $50,000 each station will have to start paying.

“We’re going to really have to take some hard looks at the programming budget. Thatincludesnational programming. But its also going to include local programming too. Local programs areexpensivetoproduce,” Maassen said.

Still, Maassen said WWNO and WRKF,which operate in thestate’slargest markets, are in good position relative

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he said, because she had checked herselfintoasecure rehab facility. She testified withoutany offer of aplea deal that she was an addict andpeople were in andout of thehomedealing drugs, he said.

Law enforcement and emergency medical personnelwere familiarwiththe address because of numerous calls regarding drug deals and health concerns, including an attempted suicide, court recordsshow.

Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 8beforeDistrictJudge ValerieGotch Garrett. Boudreaux faces amandatory sentence of life without the possibility of parole for the second-degree murder conviction, up to 40 years for thesecond-degreecruelty to ajuvenile conviction and five to 40 yearsfor possession withintenttodistribute fentanyl

to otherstations, particularly in rural areas wherefederal money accounts for up to 40% of theirbudgets. In manycases, not just in Louisiana but acrossthe nation, thesmallerstations are the only available freebroadcasts of not just local affairs but also disaster warnings.

“I hope the legislators fully understand the ramificationsoftheir votes,”Maassen said.

SPORTS

Reid, Mathieu couldlift defense

BY MATTHEW PARAS Staff writer

Tyrann Mathieu and Justin Reid have intertwined alot throughouttheir careers. At first, it was in Houston, where Mathieu served as a mentor for Reid when the latterenteredthe NFL in 2018. Then,yearslater,itwas Reid whoreplaced Mathieu in Kansas City after the Chiefs decided to not re-sign the veteran. Now, this season, thepairreunitedagain: TheSaintssignedReidtoa splashy threeyear,$30.5 million contract

“Weboth get to come in and add our own flavors to the defense,” Reid said.

Reid’s addition wasthe Saints’most significant free-agent move thisoffseason.By luring the two-time Super Bowlchampion away from the Chiefs, theSaints hope Reid provides an instant sparkto their secondary New Orleans opted foramarquee signing rather than bring back starter Will Harris, who signed atwo-year,$8milliondeal with theWashington Commanders.

How much of an impact will Reid provide? If his history is any past indication, the 28-year-old should be athudding presence in the box and help shoreupa porousrun defense. His versatility should alsopairwell with Mathieu, who can also mixand match his roles on the backend.

Let’stake acloser look at thesafetyposition. Best case

In the NFL, explosive plays are defined as passes that gain at least 16 yards andruns that go for at least 12 yards. Last season, the

BY WILSON ALEXANDER Staff writer

ATLANTA— The first time Barion Brown returned akickoff fora touchdown, Kentucky defensive back Jordan Lovett gave him ablock. Three years later,the thought of Brown sprinting past him andeveryone else on thefieldhasn’t left his mind.

“He’sa blur,dude,” Lovett said. “He’sone place, then he’s notthere. He sees the hole, it’s over.That’sone person I can say,ifhegets any open space, you ain’tcatching him.”

Brown transferred to LSU after three seasonsatKentucky,and he could become oneofthe Tigers’ top wide receiversalong with redshirt senior Chris Hilton, redshirt juniorAaron Anderson, Oklahoma transfer Nic Anderson and senior Zavion Thomas. Lovett practiced against Brown for the past three years.

BY KEVIN FOOTE Staff writer

UL’s search for anew hitting coach is over Coach Alyson Habetz landedonthe father of aformer player in Western Michigan assistant coach Bill Shipman Shipman spent the lasttwo seasonsasthe hittingcoach at WesternMichigan after a successful stint as aselect softball coach. Shipman’steams won the AmateurSoftball Association champion,finishedthird in the ASA Gold bracket and third in the premier girls fastpitch finals. In his short time with Western Michigan,

ATLANTA— Missouri coach

li Drinkwitz marched to the odium at SEC media days nThursday morning and uickly announced (facetiously) that he had nothing to say about the Epstein files, radiation beltsorwhether Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone. He did have something pithy to say about SEC football scheduling,orrather the lack thereof.

He often had to cover him,and he offered adescription of Brown’s skill set.

“Speed. Speed. Speed. Speed. And he canstopona dime,” Lovett said, snapping, “like that.”

Theword speed cameupregularly at SEC media days this weekinreference to LSU’swide receivers. LSU linebacker Whit Weeks said four have run faster than 23 mph, and quarterback Garrett Nussmeier thinks allofthem run the40-yard dash in at least 4.4 seconds.

“In that unit,” Nussmeier said, “it’sall speed.”

LSU was intentional about adding speed to the position. When Chris Hilton got hurt last season, it didn’thave someoneelsewho was ready to contributeand could stretch thefield vertically.Offensive coordinator Joe Sloan joked at LSU’scoaches clinicthathedid what anygoodcoach

“Eight-ornine-game schedule,” Drinkwitzsaid. “We’ve been debating

he didproduce two first-team All-MAC performers in PaytonKelly (.351) and Haley Boxwell (.331). Shipman takes over aULoffensethat struggled in the power game with only 22 home runs last season. Western Michigan had41asa team. Muchlike former UL coach Gerry Glasco, Shipmangot into the softball world coachinghis daughters before becoming acollege coach Maddi played at Tennessee from 2011-14, earning SEC Playerofthe

that for five years.” SEC scheduling has become what we call in the newsbiz an “evergreen” story,one that has along shelf life or can be revisited over and over again. It was the topicdujour in most of the media sessions here.The same at the SEC spring meeting in May.The same at those two events last year and the year beforethat and the year SEC commissioner Greg Sankey

wasasked about apermanent scheduling format when he spoke here Monday.Hesaid there will be aformat soon. It’s starting to sound like acampaign promise. On the other hand, perhaps there is starting to be alittle clarity and movement on the subject. Abreak in the logjam.Sankey did asubsequent interview with ESPN’s Heather Dinich here Wednesday,inwhich

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MEN’S LACROSSE

8p.m. PLL: Utah vs.Carolina ESPN2

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL

1p.m. Boston at ChicagoCubs MLBN

6p.m. N.y.yankeesatAtlanta MLBN

10 p.m.Milwaukee at L.A. Dodgers MLBN

NBA SUMMER LEAGUE

3p.m. Dallas vs.OrlandoNBATV

5p.m. Philadelphiavs. Brooklyn NBATV

7p.m. Utahvs. ChicagoNBATV

8p.m.Indiana vs. NewOrleans ESPN

9p.m.Denvervs. L.A. LakersNBATV

MEN’S SOCCER

6p.m.USL: Pittsburgh at Detroit ESPN2 WOMEN’S SOCCER

2p.m.Spain vs.Switzerland Fox

3:55 p.m.Uruguayvs. Peru FS2

6:55 p.m.Argentina vs. Chile FS2 SOFTBALL

7p.m.Bandits vs.Volts ESPNU TENNIS

8:30 p.m.Los Cabos-ATP Semifinals Tennis WNBA

7p.m.Kia Skills ChallengeESPN

*Saturday

BritishOpenhas 5-waytie forlead

BY DOUG FERGUSON AP golf writer

PORTRUSH, NorthernIreland The British Open had alittle bit of everything Thursday,from sunshine to rain, abreeze to stronggusts And no surprise, it had Scottie Scheffler right in the mix.

Former U.S. Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick handled the notorious “Calamity Corner” par-3 16th by chipping in for birdie. Harris English,whose longtime caddie couldn’t get atravel visa for the UK becauseofprison time served 20 years ago, put his shortgamecoach on the bagand made seven birdies.

They were among fiveplayers tied for the lead at 4-under 67, the largestlogjam after18holes of the BritishOpen since there was asix-way tie in 1938.

One shot behindwas Scheffler the world’sNo. 1player who has not finished out of the top 10 in the last four months, astretch that includes anothermajoramong three wins.

He was satisfied with the day’s work of 68,evenwhilehitting only three of 14 fairways.

Rory McIlroy made bogey on the opening hole before amassive gallery —that was still three shots better than his start in 2019 —and overcame three bogeys in afourhole stretch with akey birdie on No. 17 that allowed him to break par at 70.

McIlroy only hit two fairways. He was satisfied with the day’s work of 68,evenwhilehitting only three of 14 fairways.

“It was atough enough day, especially either chopping out of the rough or outofthe fairwaybunkers most of the time,” McIlroy said. “So to shoot under par was a good effort.”

It’snot that golf’s best were necessary wild off the tee.

There was that small matter of weather,often the greatest defense of links golf, which brought the occasional rain, the constant wind and rounds that nearly last six hours.

That’swhy Scheffler seemed perplexed about so much attention on his accuracy off thetee.

“You’re the second guy that’s mentioned that to me,” Scheffler said. “I actually thought Idroveit pretty good. Idon’tknow what you guys are seeing. When it’sraining sideways, believe it or not (it’s) not that easy to get the ball in the fairway

“Really only had oneswing Iwasn’ttoo happy with on the second hole,” he said. “But outside that, Ifelt like Ihit alot of good tee shots, hit the ball really solid, so definitely agoodbit of confidence for the next couple of rounds.”

Therealsowas his4-ironto3 feet on the 16th for birdie,the

start of birdie-birdie-par finish.

But no one could go extremely low

Jacob Skov Olesen, the British Amateur champion lastyear from Denmark,was thefirst playerto getto5underuntila bogeyat the last. He was joined at 67 by Li HaotongofChina, and then Fitzpatrick joined thegroup with hismarvelous chip-in. Christiaan Bezuidenhoutwas the only player from theafternoonwave to join them at 67.

Fitzpatrickreached alow point in hisgame at ThePlayersChampionshipand appears to be back on track, particularly with what he called awell-rounded gamein tough conditions on these links. He is coming off atie for fourth last week in the Scottish Open.

Thechip-in was his highlight, from well below the green to the right, into the cup on the fly “A bitofluck, obviously,” Fitzpatricksaid. “Sometimes you needthat. It just came outalittle bitharderthanI anticipated and on theperfect line.”

Li might have hadthe most impressive round, keeping bogeys off his card, by holing a10-foot parputtonthe final hole.

Anotherbogey-free round belonged to 44-year-old Justin Rose, in thegroup at 69 that included 52-year-oldLee Westwood, former Openchampion Brian Harman and Lucas Glover,who was tied for thelead until apair of bogeys early on the back nine.

English and Olesenwere the only players to reach 5under at any point.

Harris walked along with Ramon Bescansa,a former player, occasionalcaddie and mostly known for teachingputt and chipping.

Eric Larson,who hascaddied for English the lasteight years, was denieda newtravel visa required for theUK.

Among the redflags is anyone serving morethan 12 months in prison. Larson served 10 years for conspiracy to distribute cocaine, acase of knowing friends in the Midwestwho wanted it and people in south Florida who had it.

Bescansacaddies for Abraham Ancer on LIVGolf, whodidn’t qualify for theOpen. Englishis in acrucialstretch of theseason as he tries to makethe Ryder Cup team. The lanky Georgian isn’t bothered by much, and he’s han-

dled thedisruption with ease.

The golf has been pretty steady, too. For everyone, thehardest part was staying dressed for the occasion.There were sweatersand thenrainsuits,and some finished theirround in short-sleevedshirts. This is what is meant by “mixed” conditions in the forecast.

Defending champion Xander Schauffele hada mixtureofbirdies andbogeys that added to an even-par 71. Shane Lowry,the last Open champion at Royal Portrush in 2019, had the nerves of someone hitting the opening tee shot.

He handled that beautifully along with mostother shots in the worst of the weather in his round of 70.

Andthis might just be the start.

“We’re going to get challenging conditions over the next few days,” Lowry said.

“Today,for example, the 11th hole was likethe worst hole to get the weather we got in. Ithink there’sgoing to be certaintimes in the tournament where that’sgoingtohappen, andyou just need to kind of put your head downand battle through it and see where it leaves you.”

Spidercamtechmodernizesoldest major

BY STEVE DOUGLAS AP sportswriter

PORTRUSH, NorthernIreland The oldest majorchampionship has taken astep into the modern world by using atechnological feature that British Open organizers hope will bring to life one of the most storied walks in golf. Spidercam —that’sa camera, not asuperhero —was usedin golf for the first time at Royal Portrush on Thursday.It’sa camerasuspended above the18th green using four pylons about 25 meters high, giving TV viewers unique viewsofthe closinghole and its undulations.

Heldina resting position high to the back of the green for approach shots, Spidercam swoops down as theplayers make their walk to the green and hovers just above them as they make their putts.

“It’spretty cool the way it can

move and do all thoseswings,”

said Northern Irish golfer Tom McKibbin, who went out at 6:35 a.m. local time in the first group ofthe daywith Nicolai Hojgaard and Padraig Harrington. They were the first players to experience in competition the technology which reportedly cost the R&A300,000 pounds ($400,000)toinstall.

“It was alittle bitdifferent,” McKibbin said. “I’d never seen it before.”

That’sbecause the R&A is using the technology beforeany of theprofessionaltours in golf Spidercam has, though, operated widelyinTVcoverage of other majorsportsincluding soccer,rugby and cricket —and has occasionally gotten in the way In 2017,India star MS Dhonihit ashot in acricket match against England that smashed into the hovering camera andbroke it In 2022, South Africa cricketer

Anrich Nortje was knocked to the ground when he collidedwith alow-swinging Spidercam as he walkedtohis place in the field in atest against Australia. The camera operator responsible wasstood downfor theremainderofthe match.

“I didn’tknow what hit me,” Nortje said at thetime.“Idon’t thinkitshould be travelingat head height.” At Royal Portrush, Spidercam will complement existing technology suchasaplane camera, aerial drones andbunkercameras to enhance TV coverage. According to theGuardian newspaper,players were briefed lastweek aboutplans to use Spidercam at Royal Portrush and there were no complaints despite the potential for getting distracted whilepreparing to make ashot. As Hojgaardand Harrington walked alongside each other

Former Eagles special teams Braman diesat38

Bryan Braman, akey special teamsplayerfor thePhiladelphia Eagles’ first SuperBowl championship team, hasdied from arare and aggressive form of cancer.He was38.

Braman wasdiagnosed earlier this year andhad multiple surgeries in recentmonths in an attempt to treat the illness. He died Thursday morning, according to the team

Signedasanundraftedfree agent by theTexans in 2011, Braman playedseven seasons in the NFL. He spent his first threein Houston and last four in Philadelphia. The Eagles beat the Patriots 41-33towin thefranchise’s first SuperBowl in Braman’sfinal gameonFeb. 4, 2018. Braman had 56 tackles, 11/2 sacksand two fumble recoveries in 97 career games.

Arsenal pays feetosign Smith from Liverpool

Olivia Smithbecame the most expensive player in women’ssoccerhistory Thursday when she joined Arsenal from Liverpool for aworld recordtransferfee of 1 million pounds ($1.34 million).

The new benchmark in women’ssoccer surpasses the 900,000 pounds ($1.1 million) Chelsea paid forNaomi Girma from SanDiego Wave in January

The 20-year-old Canada forward signeda four-year deal,aperson with knowledge of the contract told The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because thefull details of thetransferhave not been madepublic.

Smith’sdeal highlights the rapid increase in spending in women’s soccer with transfer records regularly broken in recent years.

Diamondbacksstar’shome burglarized during All-Stars Ahome belonging to Arizona Diamondbacks star Ketel Marte was burglarized during the Major League BaseballAll-Star break, according to police.

Scottsdale, Arizona, police confirmed that the department is investigating a“high-dollar residential burglary” thatisbelieved to have happened on Tuesday night, which is when Marte was playing forthe National League in itsAllStar gamewin in Atlanta. Numerous personal itemsand jewelry were stolen. No one was at homeatthe timeofthe crime. Police say the investigation is ongoing. The FBI has warned sports leagues about crime organizations targeting professional athletes. The NFLand NBAhave issued security alerts to athletes.

Marathon record-holder suspended for doping test

Women’smarathon worldrecordholderRuth Chepngetichwas provisionally suspended for apositive doping test on Thursday Track and field’sAthletics Integrity Unit said Chepngetich tested positive for abanned diureticand masking agent in March and “opted for avoluntary provisional suspension,” during the investigation. The Kenyan runner set the world recordbyalmost two minutesat the Chicago Marathon last October in 2hours, 9minutes, 56 seconds. She also wonthe marathon at the 2019 world championships in Qatar.The AIU gave no timetable for adisciplinary case. The substance Chepngetich tested positive for hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ)which can be usedtodisguise the use of performance-enhancing drugs.

to the 18th green,Spidercam swung down and over them. As Harrington made his twoputts the camera almost circled him. Hojgaard said he didn’t notice Spidercam. With Royal Portrush not having aclubhouse on the 18th green,therehas been space to install the technology.Other venuesonthe Open rotation won’t have that luxury,notably Royal Lytham St. Anne’s,Royal Troon and Hoylake. Next year’sOpen is at Royal Birkdale, which hasits clubhousenear the 18th green but shouldstill have room forthe Spidercam technology

“We. believe thatSpidercam will bring millions of fans anew perspective of theaction from Royal Portrush,” said Neil Armit, chief commercialofficer at the R&A, “with incredible detail andaccessibility wherever they are in theworld.”

ATPFinals in Turin remains through ’26; future uncertain TheATP Finalswill remaininTurin at least through 2026, the Italian Tennis and Padel Federation announced Thursday —although political issues could affect whether the tournament stays in Italy beyond then.

ATPchairman Andrea Gaudenzi announced in November that the contract for theyear-ending tournament withthe Italianfederationwas extendedfor anotherfive yearsthrough 2030 —but withoutspecifying whether theevent would remain in Turin or moveto Milanand anew arenabeing built for ice hockey at the 2026 MilanCortina Olympics.

Binaghi also said that anew government decree which could diminish the federation’scontrol over organizing the tournament threatens to force the ATPtogoelsewhere.

Clark pulls out of All-Star weekend because of groin injury

BY DOUG FEINBERG AP basketball writer

INDIANAPOLIS Caitlin Clark is out of AllStar weekend.

The Indiana Fever guard injured her right groin on Tuesday night in the final minute of the team’s win over the Connecticut Sun She said Thursday in a message posted on X that she had to rest her body.

“I am incredibly sad and disappointed to say I can’t participate in the 3-Point Contest or the All-Star Game,” Clark said in the message posted by the Fever “I have to rest my body I will still be at Gainbridge Fieldhouse for all the action and I’m looking forward to helping (Liberty coach Sandy Brondello) coach our team to a win.” Clark was supposed to compete in a loaded

LSU

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would do next: recruit another one Brown, a former top 100 recruit, recorded 50 catches for 628 yards and four touchdowns as a freshman while playing with quarterback Will Levis. His production declined, but the dip coincided with a drop in the quality of Kentucky’s quarterback play Brown recorded a combined 72 catches for 900 yards and seven touchdowns over the past two years Kentucky also tried to get him the ball out of the backfield.

Kentucky senior tight end Josh Kattus has seen Brown’s career up close. They signed with Kentucky in the 2022 class, and they both had key roles the past three seasons. He watched Brown’s five kickoff returns for touchdowns, an SEC record. With Brown’s speed, Kattus was asked, what’s it like when he finds open space?

“You kind of already know what’s going to happen,” Kattus said. “You just start pointing at the end zone and being like, ‘That’s where he’s going.’ No one can catch that guy.” Brown might not even be the fastest player at the position. Hilton claimed he owns the title with a top speed recorded at 23.7 mph, and redshirt freshman Jelani Watkins’ personal best in the 100-meter is 10.01 seconds, the sixth-best time in LSU track history

Hilton thought he would finally break out last season after a career filled with injuries, only to miss the first seven games with an ankle injury Unable to run routes for a long time, he struggled when he returned At one point, Hilton got chewed out by coach Brian Kelly for continually jumping instead of running through the catch

Nussmeier thought Hilton showed “who he really is as a player” once he regained his confidence. Hilton finished the season with six catches for 198 yards and three touchdowns in the last two games.

“I think if you watch the last three games of the season, you can see how much of a different team we were and would have been if we would’ve had a healthy Chris Hilton,” Nussmeier said. “His ability to take the top off, his ability to run a backside dig and go 60 yards to the house because of his speed,

RABALAIS

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he expressed his support for a nine-game conference schedule that could take shape in time for the 2026 season At the moment, there is no SEC schedule beyond this season.

Support by Sankey does not equal a demand or a mandate on the commissioner’s part, and as he was quick to point out he can make peace with the SEC continuing to operate under an eight-game schedule format as well. Ever more the pragmatist than the dictator, Sankey can see both sides of what has clearly been a thorny issue

“I think we should be working towards that,” Sankey said to ESPN. “My life doesn’t end if we don’t. There’s this absolutist notion that he (Sankey) is going to dictate what’s going to happen. I think we should have an adult conversation We should be able to make a decision

“I think nine games would promote great interest through the year, but it would be hard to coach. I’ve had candid conversations with coaches I’ve told them that.” LSU athletic director Scott Woodward and coach Brian Kelly have been publicly in the nine-game camp for a long time. They welcome the competition and, frankly, welcome the need for one less nonconference game that is likely to be an unappealing rent-a-win against a mid-major to FCS level school.

But not everyone is in that camp, especially the schools that play annual rivalry games against Power Four conference opponents from outside the SEC. Those schools include Florida (Florida State), Georgia (Georgia Tech), Kentucky (Louisville) and South Carolina (Clemson). This year the Gamecocks, who visit Tiger Stadium on Oct. 11, bookend their season with two Power Four foes: Virginia Tech in Atlanta on Aug. 31 and Clemson at home on Nov 29.

“I’m never going to shy away from competition,” South Carolina coach Shane Beamer said. “But in my mind, we’re always playing (the equivalent of) nine conference games. If we go to nine, then we’re (in effect) playing 10 conference games.”

Ultimately deals within and without the SEC will have to be struck in terms of con-

3-point contest Friday night and is captain of one of the All-Star teams. The second-year guard was the leading vote getter from the fans and has been a huge reason the league has had a boon in attendance and ratings over the last two seasons.

The WNBA announced that Brittney Sykes of Washington will replace Clark in the All-Star Game. They haven’t announced a replacement for her in the 3-point contest. Clark sat out the Fever’s 98-77 loss against New York Fever coach Stephanie White said Clark had imaging done Wednesday and deferred to the team’s training staff for more details except to say that she considered it good news.

during a spring practice on March 22 at the Charles McClendon Practice Facility

is unbelievable.”

Nussmeier talked up the versatility around him. Brown and Hilton have top-end speed. Aaron Anderson came back after a breakout year, and Nic Anderson offers a big body on the outside. Thomas, tight end Bauer Sharp and tight end Trey’Dez Green will all get touches. LSU also has running backs who could be part of the passing game.

“We have so many different guys who can line up in so many different places and do so many special things with the ball in their hand,” Nussmeier said. “It’s a good feeling as a quarterback, and I guess you could say it makes my job a little easier My responsibility is just to give them opportunities to make plays.”

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

ference scheduling and the College Football Playoff.

While the SEC expanded to 16 teams last year by adding Texas and Oklahoma, there is support within college sports to grow the CFP from 12 teams where it was last year to 14 or more likely 16.

The SEC wants a 5-11 format for a 16team playoff with automatic bids for the five highest-ranked conference champions and 11 at-large slots. Reportedly the Big Ten, the other superpower conference who with the SEC is coming to rule college athletics, won’t agree to 5-11 unless the SEC and ACC play nine conference games (the Big Ten and Big 12 already do so).

What will ultimately drive home an SEC scheduling agreement and a new CFP format?

It’s a five-letter word starting with “M”: M-O-N-E-Y Sankey said the next CFP TV agreement with ESPN says a format has to be determined by Nov 30. Finally, perhaps, by the end of this season we will know what the schedule format will look like going into the future. It’s important to add that the SEC’s future doesn’t have to include one be-all, end-all scheduling format. Sankey said Monday that “look ins” could be included in the scheduling plan at prescribed points in the future where the scheduling format could be tweaked. Personally I’ve always believed nine games is the best for the SEC. It brings the league into line with the other Power Fours (I’m certain the ACC will go along, too), eliminates one unappealing nonconference game, almost certainly brings the SEC more TV revenue and paves the way for a format that allows everyone in the conference to play every other school within a four-year span. Hard as it may be to believe, but Georgia and Texas A&M have only played one regular-season game (2019) since the Aggies joined the SEC in 2012. It’s beyond time for the SEC and its fans to see white smoke on the conference scheduling issue. Finally, there may be a time when that will happen within a reasonable time frame.

Or, at least, reasonable compared to not having one at all.

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

AP PHOTO By FRANK

Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark watches as players warm up before a game against the New york Liberty on Wednesday in New york.

Clark got hurt with under a minute left. She walked downcourt holding her right groin after assisting on the Fever’s final

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Saints’ defense ranked very poorly in that category, allowing 131 such plays. That was the sixth-most across the league.

Reid’s addition may go a long way toward fixing that problem.

The Saints’ breakdowns weren’t all on the back end, but they were a notable part of the issue Think back to when Jordan Howden ran into Harris and Marshon Lattimore near the end of the Saints’ Week 3 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on a 60-yard play that swung the game.

The steadiness from Reid and Mathieu should, in theory, cut down on some of the mental errors that plagued the Saints last season. Mathieu isn’t coming off his best season, but he can produce He had three interceptions to go along with his two forced fumbles in 2024.

The wild card for this position is Sanker

The Saints drafted the Virginia product in the third round for a reason, and he gives the Saints another big, rangy safety If Mathieu’s play time is limited at all next season — his snap percentage of 86.2 last year was his lowest since 2016 — then perhaps Sanker will get a chance to show what he can do.

Either way, if Reid hits in the way that the Saints intend, then that should lift the overall makeup of the defense. It may also be beneficial for Reid, who has never made a Pro Bowl or All-Pro team.

Reid has praised the way defensive coordinator Brandon Staley used All-Pro safety Derwin James when Staley coached the Los Angeles Chargers. Reid won’t have the same exact role, which Staley calls the star position, but he should still be put in spots to succeed.

basket. As teammate Aliyah Boston tried to console her, Clark walked to the basket stanchion and banged her head against it before heading to the bench. During the timeout, she covered her head with a towel and appeared to be holding back tears. Clark had been durable throughout college and her first season in the WNBA, never missing a game. Now she’s had four different muscle injuries so far this year She missed the preseason opener with tightness in her quad but played the next day in an exhibition game at her alma mater, Iowa. She suffered a quad strain against New York on May 24 that kept her out for five games. Clark returned June 14 and played in five games before suffering another injury to her left groin that kept her out for four contests and the Commissioner’s Cup final.

Worst case

One of the more interesting questions of training camp will be how the Saints intend to use Mathieu and Reid together At their best, they both excel at making plays close to thelineofscrimmage andthat’ssomething thatMathieuhasn’tbeenaskedtodonearlyas muchsincesigningwithNewOrleansin2022. The media also didn’t see much of the pairing during OTAs and mandatory minicamp. Mathieu skipped the team’s voluntary workouts and when he returned for camp, his snaps appeared limited. Mathieu was often with the second unit, though the coaches did sprinkle in reps with Reid during those plays, likely to get a look at the pairing. If that trend continues in camp, that could be a bad sign for Mathieu’s status It’d still be surprising to see the veteran cut before the season begins, but if his workload doesn’t increase, it’d be fair to wonder if this staff doesn’t see a significant role for him. The Saints, though, wanted Mathieu back for 2025. The two sides reworked the safety’s contract again this offseason. Perhaps Mathieu’s limited workload in minicamp can simply be chalked up to not being as familiar with the playbook due to his earlier missed time. But his usage is worth keeping an eye on, anyway Elsewhere, the Saints need Reid to pan out. Though his salary in manageable — he’s the league’s 16th highest-paid safety, according to Over the Cap the safety’s addition was the team’s one major move that didn’t involve re-signing their own. Prediction in 10 words or less Reid makes first Pro Bowl of career Email Matthew Paras at matt.paras@theadvocate.com

Checkmate!

South Branch Library,2210 Glasgow Ave., and theBBR Knights Chess Club will celebrate International Chess Dayat2:30p.m. Sunday. All ages and skill levels welcome forachesspuzzlecompetition, “exhibition simul match,” scavenger hunt, arts and crafts, and ashowing of the movie “Queen of Katwe.” ebrpl.com

LIVING

Deep cuts

With scheduleout, BR Underground Film Fest readiesto highlightLouisiana’s independentartists

BYJUDYBERGERON Staff writer

With five weeks to go before the inaugural BatonRougeUnderground Film Festival,the scope and buzz for the event continues to grow

Even before the first film screens, organizers have expanded the August event from itsinitial three days to four days, made possible by support fromfest sponsors. Presented by VisitBaton Rouge, the fest willrun Aug.21-24 at theManshipTheatre

LeBlanc

In addition, apre-festival event, BRUFF’sfirst “Indie Spotlight Night” in June at Celtic Media Center,saw invited guests filling the studios’ screening room. Supported by Irrevocable Designee LLC, theevening offereda meet and greet reception followedby ashowing of “Ada and the Doc,” ashort film that also will befeatured at the festival.

“Ada and the Doc,” Morgan City native Matison LeBlanc’s school projecttowardher advanced degree, was chosen to screen at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival in May “Ada”tellsthe storyofthe first woman to be executed in Louisiana. LeBlanc hopes to develop afeature-length version of the film.

Meanwhile,the festival announcedits selected 10 featurelength films, 39 short film projects and schedulelast week, which also features seven panels and four hands-on workshops. The films were chosen from more than150 submissions worldwide

“The Baton Rouge Underground Film Festival showcases the best of Louisiana’sindependent film scene. We’re here to celebrate what makeslocal storytelling specialand to get these artists in the right room with the right people,” BRUFF

CreativeDirector Brendan Pyron said in anews release. “If you care about the future of film in our state, come to BRUFF Badges and tickets are on sale nowatour website.” The full festival scheduleis nowlive at batonrougeunderground.com. Check out the variety of ticket options at manshiptheatre.org.

Want to help?

Volunteer oppportunities are available prior to and during the festival. All volunteers will receive abadge for the festival.Inordertoreceive abadge, at least two time slots will need to be registered for via the BRUFF volunteer application on the fest’sInstagram page and atthe following link: forms.gle/v67RJbuLrw5tFtZj8.

ä See UNDERGROUND, page 6C Staff report From fairy talestofun musicals, Sherlock Holmesto“Swan Lake,” the ManshipTheatrehas announced afullslateoffamily shows for the 2025-26 season. Here’smore on what’sinstore: Sept.14 THE SHARPE FAMILYSINGERS …LIVE!:

HEAT WAVE

LOUISIANAMUSIC

STARS

SHINEBRIGHTWITH SUMMEROFNEW MUSIC

BY JOHN WIRT | Contributing writer

Famous and on-the-rise Louisiana recording artists, including country star Lainey Wilson, 2025 “American Idol”finalist John Foster and line-dance king Cupid, recently released new music.

Here’sarundown:

LAINEYWILSON

“Overthe Rainbow,”the heart-tugging ballad popularized by Judy Garland in the classic 1939 film “The Wizard of Oz,” inspired Lainey Wilson’s latestsingle. In “Somewhere OverLoredo,” Wilson sings and dreams of rodeo nights in the little border town where she once knew her true love. The “Wizard of Oz” references include thelittle dog who co-stars in thesong. “Somewhere Over Loredo” is one of five new songs on the deluxe edition of Wilson’s2024 album, “Whirlwind,” to be released Aug. 22. The Grammy-, CMA- andACM-winning singer from Baskin —the biggest music star from Louisiana in years —will perform Sept. 11

and 12 at Raising Cane’sRiver Center Arena in Baton Rouge and Sept. 13 at Brookshire Grocery Arena in Bossier City Wilson will also join Mumford &Sonsfor their“Railroad RevivalTour” showAug. 3at Champions Square in NewOrleans.

JUSTIN GARNER ANDCUPID

Rhythm-and-blues singer JustinGarner joins Cupid, the line-dance king from Lafayette, for “Midnight Is for Lovers.” The destined-for-thedance-floortrackisGarner’s firstfusionofSouthernsoul and line dancewith his signa-

ture romantic R&B-pop. Popular fordecades though line dancing has been, it exploded this year on the heels of South Carolina singer 803Fresh’s “Boots on the Ground.” That ä See MUSIC, page 6C

Don’tleave possessionsunattendedwhile out

Dear Heloise: M.W. in California said she straps her cross-body purse intoashopping cart so that no one could steal it without taking the cart. Iwas shopping not long ago. There were afew grocery items in my cart The only things of minein the cart were anumber of clothing shopping bags. I walked alittle way away to look into the dairy section. The cart was still in sight if Iturned this way

By The Associated Press

Hints from Heloise

But despite the help of three store employees, Inever saw the cart again.Ifsomeone would do this for afew shopping bags, Iwouldn’t want M.W.oranyone following her suggestion to make this mistake and become a“cross body.” —Bill W.,via email Coffee grounds

Dear Heloise: Ilove redbud trees and had one planted in my yard in 2023. Theladyatthe nursery told

TODAYINHISTORY

Today is Friday,July18, the 199th day of 2025. There are 166 days left in the year Todayinhistory

On July 18, 1976, at the Summer Olympics in Montreal, Nadia Comaneci of Romania became the first gymnast to receive aperfect score of 10 from Olympic judges for her performance on the uneven bars. Also on this date: In 1536, the English Parliament passed an act declaring the authority of the pope void in England In 1863, during the Civil War, Union troops spearheadedbythe 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, made up of Black soldiers, charged Confederate-held Fort Wagner on Morris Island, S.C. The Confederates were able to repel the Northerners,who suffered heavy losses; the 54th’scommander,Col. Robert Gould Shaw,was among those who were killed. In 1964, nearly aweek of rioting erupted in New York’sHarlemneighborhood following the

MANSHIP

Continued from page5C

tradition of mariachi music has its roots of origin in cities suchas Guadalajara and Mexico City. As the ever-evolving genre’sinfluence spread, it reached Chicago and birthed the MariachiHerencia de México. The young virtuosic Latin Grammy-nominated group has issued chart-topping albumsand performed acrossthe North American continent.

Dec. 7

“SANTA’SLITTLE HELPERS”: LIGHTWIRE THEATER: Follow four little elves as they discover who they are, what true friendship is, and what purpose they have as oneofSanta’s littlehelpers. All ages will be entertained by the colorful sets, beautiful costumes and doo-wop’n live band.

JAN. 25

“THE UGLYDUCKLING”: The New Orleans-based Lightwire Theater returns to the Manship with aclassic tale turned modern utilizing light, musicand technology. Recommended forall ages, butalsonote that theatre will turn completely dark once the performance begins so that you cansee the lit characters and props.

Feb. 1

“PETETHE CAT”: Recommendedfor grades Pre-K through third.“For Pete theCat, life is an adventure no matter where you windup. So theminute the groovy blue cat meets The Biddles, he gets the whole family rocking, except for young Jimmy Biddle, the most organized second grader onplanet Earth.

“When Jimmy draws ablank in art class,it turnsout Peteis the perfect pal to help him work it out. Jimmyand Pete go on an adventureoffriendship all the way to Paris in aVWbus!,” the synopsis states.

Feb. 7

AQUILA THEATRE: “THE HOUND OF BASKERVILLES”: Thefog-shrouded moorsofEngland arethe backdrop for this spine-tingling mystery that can only be solved by

UNDERGROUND

Continued from page5C

Grantsand more

With sponsor support, the festival award three grants to rising filmmakers: the Shoestring grant, $5,000, to afilmmaker to go toward anew project; the Panavision Camera grant, a$15,000Panavision camera rental packageto adirector or cinematographer;

me aboutyour trick to mix coffee grounds in with theroots to stimulategrowth. Well, Istarted collecting the grounds, and when Ihad afreezer bag full, Iplanted my redbud tree. Youwouldn’tbelieve how well it’staken off! My slow-growing tree is full and tall now.This coffee trick really works. So many neighbors ask what Iused, and I tell them coffee grounds as recommended by Heloise. Thanks for all theterrific hints you have provided over the years.

—Monica B.,inSan Antonio Foryoursafety

Dear Heloise: Joan D. wrote in to say that she had taken aselfdefense class and how it had come in handy when she needed it. Itook aself-defense class years ago, anditwas alifesaver Aman tried to kidnap me at a do-it-yourselfcar wash when I was the only person around. He was later found and arrested for kidnapping awoman, rape and attempted murder

Irealized howclose Icame to being oneofhis rapevictims or possibly getting killed. Iurge everyone to learn at least afew basicsteps to defend themselves. Younever knowwhatastrangerhas in mind, so it’s better offsafe than sorry The police usually know where defense classes are being held, so just call and ask. Take afriend with you when you go. —Anavid reader,inNew York

Send ahinttoheloise@heloise com.

SHOWSTOWATCH —ACADIANA

fatal police shooting of aBlack teenager,James Powell, two days earlier In 2005, an unrepentant Eric Rudolph was sentenced in Birmingham, Alabama, to lifeinprison foranabortion clinic bombing that killed an off-duty policeofficer and maimed anurse Today’sbirthdays: Olympic gold medalfigure skater Tenley Albright is 90. Movie director Paul Verhoeven is 87. Singer Dion DiMucci is 86. Actor James Brolin is 85. Baseball Hall of Famer Joe Torre is 85. Singer Martha Reeves is 84. Business mogul Richard Branson is 75. Actor MargoMartindale is 74. Musician RickySkaggs is 71. World Golf Hall of FamerNick Faldois 68. Actor ElizabethMcGovern is 64. Actor VinDiesel is 58. Author Elizabeth Gilbert is 56. Retired NBA All-Star Penny Hardaway is 54. Singer-songwriter M.I.A. is 50. Actor Elsa Pataky (“The Fast and the Furious” films) is 49. Movie director Jared Hess is 46. Actor Kristen Bell is 45. Actor PriyankaChopra is 43. Actor Chace Crawford is 40.

the legendary Sherlock Holmes andtrusted companion, Dr.Watson. Theymustinvestigatethe mysterious death of SirCharles Baskerville, rumoredtobethe victim ofasupernaturaland savage hound. Asthey uncover chilling secretsand darkfamily histories, Holmesmustuse razor-sharp intellect to solve acase wherelogicand superstition collide.

March8

BILL BLAGG’S FAMILYMAGIC: With more than 60 minutes of nonstop magical fun, the show is specifically designed to entertainand engageaudiences of all ages. Bill Blagg blends comedy,audience participationand mind-bending magic.

“Prepare to be amazedasordinary objectscometolifewhile others vanish in the blink of an eye… andyou mighteven be chosen to float in midair!,” according to thenews release.

March22

FLAMENCO VIVOCARLOTA SANTANA:

The troupe, which promotes flamencointhe U.S.,was founded by acclaimed artist CarlotaSantana in 1983. Santanahas created more than 25 original works and is known for her passion and dedicationtothe art form. Santana’s work,includingthe “100 Years of Flamenco in New York”exhibit, has earned her numerous awards, solidifyingher legacy in flamenco. Recommended for grades four to 12th.

March28

HOUSTON BALLETII: Presented in partnershipwith theBaton Rouge Ballet Theatre. Houston Ballet II is the second company of Houston Ballet, America’sfourth largest ballet company. Comprised of an array of ballet students from around the world, Houston Ballet II members perform adiverse range of works, including excerpts from great classics like “The Sleeping Beauty,” “Swan Lake” and “The Nutcracker”to contemporaryworks by Houston Balletartistic director Stanton Welch. For information on single tickets or season passes, visitmanshiptheatre.org.

and theCelticStudios grant, five days of stage spacetoafilmmaker

SPONSOR LIST: batonrougeunderground.com/#sponsors DONATION WEBSITE: paypal. com/donate/?hosted_button_ id=DEP48THG3JFM8

MORE INFORMATION: batonrougeunderground.comorfollow on social media at @BatonRougeUnderground

Email Judy Bergeron at jbergeron@theadvocate.com.

FRIDAY

DONNY BROUSSARD BAND: Fred’s, Mamou,8 a.m.

LIVE MUSIC: Cane River Pecan CompanyPie Bar New Iberia, 5p.m

CASEY COURVILLE: Adopted DogBrewing,Lafayette, 6p.m

MARLON G.: Prejean’s, Broussard, 6p.m

PAUL TASSIN: Charley G’s Seafood Grill, Lafayette, 6p.m

STRAIGHT WHISKEY: The Silver Slipper, Arnaudville, 6p.m

LIVE MUSIC: Jim Deggy’s Brick Oven Pizza&Brewery,Lafayette, 6p.m

FRIDAYNIGHT JAM: La Maison de Begnaud, Scott, 6p.m

LIVE MUSIC: Buck & Johnny’s, Breaux Bridge, 6:30 p.m.

THE CAST: SHUCKS!, Abbeville, 6:30 p.m.

JAMBALAYA TRIO: Randol’sCajun Restaurant, Breaux Bridge, 6:30 p.m.

FIRSTSTREET HOOLIGANS: Blue Moon Saloon,Lafayette, 8p.m

PHANTUMSUN, GOODBYE

ACADEMY,AND KISMET: Artmosphere, Lafayette, 8p.m

WAYNE BLUE BURNS: Whiskey &Vine, Lafayette, 8p.m

REAGAN ERA REJECTS, HELLFURY, BONDBREAKER, DOGMA: Freetown Boom Boom Room, Lafayette, 8p.m

MATTHEW EWING AND THE ALL STAR BAND: Toby’s Lounge, Opelousas, 8:30 p.m.

ORDINARYWORLD: Rock ‘n’ Bowl, Lafayette, 9p.m

THE RETRO REWIND: The Ruins Lounge, Lafayette, 9p.m

RUSTY METOYER: Cowboys Nightclub,Scott, 10 p.m.

SATURDAY

WAYNE SINGLETON & SAME OL 2STEP: Buck & Johnny’s, Breaux Bridge, 8a.m

SATURDAY MORNING JAM

SESSIONS: The SavoyMusic Center,Eunice,9 a.m.

CAJUN JAM: Moncus Park, Lafayette, 9a.m

CAJUN JAM: Tante Marie, Breaux Bridge, 11 a.m.

CAJUN FRENCH MUSIC

JAM: Vermilionville, Lafayette, 1p.m

JAMMIN’ ON THE BAYOU: St.Landry Visitor Center,

MUSIC

Continuedfrom page5C

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION By MARy BRUTON

Louisiana-raised blues singer,songwriter and pianist

Marcia Ball takes the stageatthe Grand Opera House of the South in Crowleyat7 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $51-$61.

Opelousas, 1p.m

CAJUN JAMSESSION: Touchet’s Bar,Maurice, 2p.m

MAJOR HANDY! SWAMP

SATURDAYS: Cypress Cove Landing,Breaux Bridge, 3p.m

GRITS &GRAVY: Bayou Teche Brewing, Arnaudville, 4p.m

CHALAN THIBODEAUX: Prejean’s,Broussard, 6p.m

JACK WOODSON: Charley G’sSeafood Grill, Lafayette, 6p.m

GRACE NOVOSAD: Adopted DogBrewing,Lafayette, 6p.m

MIKEBROUSSARD: The Silver Slipper, Arnaudville 6p.m

LIVE MUSIC: Jim Deggy’s Brick Oven Pizza&Brewery,Lafayette, 6p.m.

ABIGAIL: SHUCKS!, Abbeville, 6:30 p.m.

LIVE MUSIC: Buck & Johnny’s, Breaux Bridge, 6:30 p.m.

ZACH EDWARDS: Tap Room, Lafayette, 6:30 p.m

CATAHOULA BAND: Pat’s Atchafalaya Club, Henderson, 7p.m

MARCIA BALL: Grand OperaHouse of theSouth, Crowley,7 p.m. BREWSTER DURBIN ALL STARS +GENUINE MUSTARD: Blue Moon Saloon, Lafayette, 8p.m

ESE, TARGET AUDIENCE: Freetown Boom Boom Room, Lafayette, 8p.m.

JULIAN PRIMEAUX: Hideaway on Lee, Lafayette, 8p.m

song’sofficial musicvideo has 11 millionYouTube views.

Garner wants to capitalize on this latestline-dance craze.

“I’ve been performing pretty much all overthe U.S.,” the Plaquemine nativesaid. “The one thing people have been asking for from me is something up-tempo. Adance record. So, Iwanted to do somethingup-tempo that hasa twostep feel to it. Cupid is the perfect artist to drive that sound home.”

Cupid —known for his multimillion-selling 2007 hit,“Cupid Shuffle,” and 2021 single, “Flex”—met Garner in 2019 at the Essence Festival in New Orleans. At the festival, Garner recalled, “Cupid stopped meand said, ‘Hey Ilove your work.’ Isaid the same to him.Wewanted to work together.So, now is thetime to showcase two Louisianaartists together on a song.”

Cupid is hisfriend, mentorand peer,Garner said.

“Overthe years, we’vealways supportedeachother fromsidelines. Our journeys are similar We’re both from smalltowns and have big dreams. I’m honored to have Cupid on the track.”

Originally conceived by Garner as asolorecording, “Midnight Is for Lovers” evolved into aduet

“I kept feeling as thoughsomeone was missing,” he said. “The person who cametomind was Cu-

HIGHPERFORMANCE: La PoussiereCajun Dancehall, BreauxBridge,8 p.m

ANDREW WAIN JAZZ: Whiskey& Vine,Lafayette, 8p.m. SOUTHERN ELECTRONIC MUSIC CONFERENCE EDM NIGHT: Artmosphere, Lafayette, 8p.m.

TRAVIS MATTE AND THE KINGPINS: Toby’s Lounge, Opelousas, 8:30 p.m

YACHT-SEA: Rock ‘n’ Bowl, Lafayette, 9p.m.

SUNDAY

GLENN ZERINGUE: Whiskey &Vine,Lafayette, 11 a.m.

LIVE MUSIC: TanteMarie, BreauxBridge,11a.m. CICO’SSONGWRITING CIRCLE: NUNU Arts and CultureCollective, Arnaudville, noon BALDUDIMANCHE— CURTIS POULLARD &THE CREOLE ZYDECO BAND: Vermilionville,Lafayette, 1p.m.

SUNDAYFUNDAY— GENO DELAFOSE: Buck & Johnny’sthe Glassroom, BreauxBridge,1 p.m

CAJUN JAM: BayouTeche Brewing, Arnaudville, 2p.m.

RUSTY METOYER: Cypress Cove Landing, Breaux Bridge, 3p.m.

JUSTIN CORNETT: Pat’s Atchafalaya Club,Henderson, 4:30 p.m

CHUBBYCARRIER: Rock ‘n’ Bowl, Lafayette, 5p.m.

STEVE FREY: The Silver Slipper,Arnaudville,6 p.m

JAKE SINELLA: CharleyG’s Seafood Grill, Lafayette, 6p.m.

pid. The vocalsand theharmony and the melody are reminiscent of Earth,Wind, &Fireand theJackson 5, but the two-step and Southern soul are in there as well. With Cupid on the record, it’sthe perfect marriage of genres.”

Garner’snext show is Aug. 9at Sweet Lorraine’sJazz Club in New Orleans.

JOHN FOSTER

Addis nativeJohn Foster and the other finalists in season 23 of “American Idol”havereleased their postseason singles. Foster previewed his song, “TellThat Angel ILove Her,” on the April 20 episode of “American Idol.”Foster wrote thesong in memoryofMaggieDunn,afriendand fellowBrusly High School student. Dunn, 17, andCaroline Gill, 16, were killed on New Year’s Eve 2022 when an Addis police officer ran ared light during ahigh-speed chase. Since Foster’srise to runner-up on “American Idol,” he’s performed twice at theGrand OleOpryin Nashville. Following his Opry debutonJune7,hereturnedfor a second appearance on July 9, his 19thbirthday. Foster’snextBaton Rouge performances areAug. 1 and2 at The TexasClub. He returns to the Grand Ole Opry on Aug. 21. LVVRS

Apop-rockband from Lafayette, LVVRS has issued its latest single, “The Bed.” It precedes theOctober release of LVVRS’secondEP,

MONDAY

PATRICIO LATINO SOLO: Cafe Habana City, Lafayette, 11 a.m.

SAMSPHAR: CharleyG’s Seafood Grill, Lafayette, 6p.m.

TUESDAY

TERRYHUVAL &FRIENDS: Prejean’s Restaurant Lafayette, 6p.m.

JACK WOODSON: Charley G’s Seafood Grill, Lafayette, 6p.m.

GROOVE ROOM: Blue Moon Saloon, Lafayette, 8p.m.

KILLER KARAOKE: Freetown Boom Boom Room, Lafayette, 8p.m.

WEDNESDAY DULCIMERJAM: St. Landry VisitorCenter,Opelousas, 10 a.m. FOREST HUVAL BAND: Park Bistro, Lafayette, 6p.m.

ABI CLAIR: Whiskey& Vine,Lafayette, 6p.m.

DAVE TRAINER: Charley G’s Seafood Grill, Lafayette, 6p.m.

SAMAND AMANDASPHAR: The TapRoom, Lafayette, 6:30 p.m

CAJUN JAM: Blue Moon Saloon, Lafayette, 8p.m.

THURSDAY

DUSTIN SONNIER: LakeviewPark, Eunice,5:30 p.m

AUDREYBROUSSARD: CharleyG’s Seafood Grill, Lafayette, 6p.m.

MATT GARYTRIO: Whiskey &Vine,Lafayette, 6p.m.

COMMUNITY DRUM CIRCLE: MoncusPark, Lafayette, 6p.m.

RORYSUIRE: SHUCKS!, Abbeville,6:30 p.m

SLIM BAWB &STEVE JUDICE CD RELEASE: Hideaway on Lee, Lafayette, 7p.m.

HORACE TRAHAN: Rock ‘n’ Bowl, Lafayette, 7:30 p.m

ZACH EDWARDS: Blue Moon Saloon, Lafayette, 8p.m.

KARAOKE PARTY: Black Bull, Youngsville,8 p.m

Compiledby MarchaundJones

Want yourvenue’s music listed? Email info/photos to showstowatch@ theadvocate.com. The deadline is noon FRIDAY forthe following Friday’spaper.

“Heaven and the Heartland.” Led by singer-songwriter River Gibson, LVVRS made its second consecutive appearance at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival in April. This October,the band will play its debut performance at the Austin City Limits Music Festival. LVVRS’ song “Backseat Bliss” appeared in Season 6ofthe Netflix series “Love Is Blind.”Another of the band’ssongs, “Hypnotic Love,” appeared in Season 1ofNetflix’s “The Ultimatum: Marry or Move On.” Theband made acameo appearance in the Baton Rouge-filmed “The Iron Claw,” the 2023 film starring Zac Efron and Lily James.

KAREN WALDRUP

Mandeville native Karen Waldrup, aTop 5finalist in season 25 of “The Voice,” recently released “Blue Cowboy Boots.” It’s abreakup song with an upbeat message. “Itfeels good putting adead-end relationship behind you,” Waldrup said. “The word ‘blue’ isn’tabout regret, but rather aboutfreedom. Rodeo, cowboy lingo is fun. It feels good putting on your favorite boots and getting happy.” ANashville resident sinceher graduation from the University of Southern Mississippi, Waldrup cowrote “Blue Cowboy Boots” with Ed Hill, the Grammy-nominated songwriter whose recording artists cuts include Trisha Yearwood and Tracy Lawrence. “Blue CowboyBoots” follows the singer’s previously released seven studio albums and morethan 50 singles.

cAncER(June 21-July 22) Size up asituation andworkyourmagic to ensure everything goes according to plan. Home, family, comfort and convenience will lead to gratitude and peace of mind. Takepride in what youhave.

LEo (July 23-Aug. 22) Be cautious dealing with peoplewho can influenceyour reputation, career or financialwellbeing. Take the high road, share positive input and enjoywhatever event youattend.

VIRGo(Aug. 23-sept. 22) Don't let anger set in;findbetter ways to expel your energy. Volunteer to help acause that concernsyou.Declutter, dismiss and discardwhat no longerworksfor you.

LIBRA (sept. 23-oct. 23) Keep absorbing information and using your discoveries to improveyour life.Research, travel and makea move; it will help you find the happinessorsatisfaction you're searching for.

scoRPIo (oct. 24-nov. 22) Transform whatever you discoverinto something that improves your lifeoryourrelationships. Channel your energy into what youcan do to help acause or improve yourself

sAGIttARIus (nov. 23-Dec. 21) Take pride in your surroundings. Pay it forward and give away itemsyou no longer need or use. Akindgesture, romanticsuggestion or an eventthat can lead to love will pay off.

cAPRIcoRn (Dec.22-Jan. 19) Payattention to loved ones. Make plans that unite people. Be the glue, the go-to per-

son, and enjoy the attention and love.A change doesn't have to be costly,but it must be satisfying andgratifying.

AQuARIus (Jan. 20-Feb.19) Embrace change andconsider what you want to manifest foryourself. Discuss your feelings and intentions with lovedones andmakeplans that promote alifestyle that promotes equalopportunities.

PIscEs (Feb. 20-March20) Concentrate on where your money goes. Planning and sacrifice will be necessary to achieve your goal. Refuse to let outsiders talk you intosomething you don'tneed or want.

ARIEs (March 21-April 19) Refuse to let emotionalspending or indulgencetake thelead.Sticking to the truth may be difficult, but it will help youphase out the people andprojects that no longer reflect your valuesorbeliefs.

tAuRus (April 20-May 20) Be careful what you sign up fororpromise. Wanting to be apeople pleaser will hold you back when youneed to gain respect by doing what's right and best foryou Trust in your abilities.

GEMInI (May 21-June 20) Achange will be uplifting. Adopting anew image, making an upgrade or attending asocial eventwillchange your perspective andofferinsight into your challenges. Optimize your chances to getahead

The horoscope, an entertainment feature, is not based on scientific fact. ©2025 by NEA, Inc., dist.

By Andrews McMeel Syndication

yEQuALsB

FAMILYCIrCUS

Sudoku

InstructIons: Sudoku is anumber-placing puzzle based on a9x9 grid with several given numbers. The object is to place the numbers 1to9inthe empty squares so that each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the samenumber only once. The difficulty level of the Sudoku increases from Monday to Sunday.

Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer

By PHILLIP ALDER

Robertson Davies, apopularCanadian author, said,“The eye sees only what the mind is prepared to comprehend.”

Isuppose that applies to bridge players, except that they must also tryto “see” the opposing hands,imagining where thekey missing cards lie. Andif youcan,always assume the worstpossible breaks. Agreed, they will not happen often, but when theydo, if you can overcome them, you andyourpartner will be very happy.

In thisdeal, how shouldSouth play in sixspades? West leads aheart. East wins withhis ace and shifts to adiamond North’s four-spaderebid showed a maximum opening bidwith no singleton or void (otherwise, he would have made asplinter bid).

Southused Blackwood, East doubling North’sfive-heartreplytoaskforaheart lead.South, not worried about hearts, jumped to six spades.

Theonly potential problem is in the trump suit.Declarer’s inner eye should see that if the four missing cards are divided2-2 or 3-1, there will be no worries.SoSouth should assume a4-0 split Howcan he overcomethat?

If Easthas allfour trumps, declarer is doomed; he must lose atrump trick.

But if West hasall four, Southissafe as long as he startswith his king, keeping dummy’s ace and queen hovering over West’s 10 and jack. When the 4-0 division is disclosed, declarer twice leads spades through West to nullify his trump holding. Theeyes have it! ©2025 by NEA, Inc dist. By Andrews McMeel Syndication

EachWuzzleisaword riddle which creates adisguised word, phrase, name, place,

InstRuctIons:

toDAy’s

Timelimit

Previous answers:

thought

Bids shallbeaccepted only from Contractors who arelicensedbythe LouisianaState Licensing Boardfor Contractorsfor theclassification of Building Construction.No bidmay be withdrawn fora period of forty-five (45) days after receiptof bids,exceptunder the provisions of La.R.S 38:2214. AMandatory Pre-Bid Conference will beginat: SouthsideHighSchool 312 Almonaster Road Youngsville,LA70592 at 10:00 a.m.,CST on Friday, July 25, 2025. TheOwnerreservesthe

ment to theownerofliq‐uidateddamages in the amount of fifteenhun‐dred dollars($1,500.00) perconsecutive calendar dayifthe projectisnot b i ll l y p j substantiallycomplete by thedates specified Bids will be publicly opened andreadaloud at theabove stated time anddateinthe Purchas‐ingDepartmentConfer‐ence Room ofthe Lafayette Parish School System CentralOffice Building Complete BiddingDocu‐mentsfor this projectare beingdistributed in elec‐tronic form andmay be obtained withoutcharge andwithout depositfrom thePublicPlanRoom at www.centerlinebidco nnect.com.Printed copies arenot available from theOwnerorPro‐ject Designer but arrangements canbe made to obtain them throughmostrepro‐graphic firms. Plan hold‐ersare responsiblefor theirown reproduction costs. Questionsabout this procedureshouldbe directed to:Centerline –Phone: 504-291-5738, emailbidconnect@ centerline.co. Each bidmustbeaccom‐panied by acertified check, cashier’scheck or BidBondusing the Owner’sformpayable to theLafayette Parish School System,the amount of which shallbe five percent(5%)ofthe amount of theproposed Base Bidplusall Alter‐nates. MoneyOrderswill notbeaccepted. Electronic bids maybe submittedonlineat www.centerlinebidco nnect.com.Inaccor‐dancewithLARS38: 2212.E(6),bidsfor this projectmay be submit‐tedelectronicallyvia up‐load to Centerline Bid Connect (www.centerl inebidconnect.com ). All biddocuments shallbe uploaded by thedue date andtimestatedabove Questionsabout this pro‐cedure should be di‐rected to Centerline (phone:504-291-5738) (email: bidconnect@centerline. co). ABid bond will be re‐quired,per thecontract documents, andshould be uploaded with the rest of therequiredBid Documents. If ascanned copy of theBid Bond is uploaded,the original notarizedbid bond must be produced “on-de‐mand perthe Owner’s request. ThesuccessfulBidder shallberequiredtofur‐nish aPerformance and PaymentBondinan amount equalto100% of theContractonthe formsprovidedbythe School Boardand written in accordance with Louisianalaw

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN,that Ordinance No. CO-066-2025 hasbeen introduced and is proposedfor adoption by the Lafayette City Council on August 5, 2025, whereby the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government would transferseven (7)pointblank ranger green ballistic vests, which arenolongerneededfor public purposes,to theFranklin Police Department, the following described property,towit:

VEST 180000361350180000361336 SWAT RANGER GRN BALLISTIC VEST 210000081657210000081650 SWAT RANGER GRN BALLISTIC VEST 210000081660210000081653

Any opposition to the proposedordinance shall be made in writing and filed with the Office of the Lafayette Clerk of the Council within 15 days after the first publication of this notice.Ifanopposition is filed, the Lafayette City Council shall not adopt the ordinance until ahearing has been held.

/s/ Joseph Gordon-Wiltz

JOSEPH GORDON-WILTZ LAFAYETTE CLERK OF THE COUNCIL

/s/Joseph Gordon-Wiltz

JOSEPH GORDON-WILTZ

LAFAYETTECLERK

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