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M o n d ay, J u ly 28, 2025
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HIDING FROM THE HEAT
U.S.-EU deal sets 15% tariff Move averts threat of major trade war
BY WILL WEISSERT Associated Press
What followed was a flawed 1985 conviction, a life prison sentence and a 28year odyssey for Duncan to clear his name in the killing from behind bars, as he became perhaps the most successful inmate counsel inside the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola. In “Jailhouse Lawyer,” a memoir released this month, Duncan and appellate attorney Sophie Cull chronicle a childhood in New Orleans, raised as
EDINBURGH, Scotland — The United States and the European Union agreed on Sunday to a trade framework setting a 15% tariff on most goods, staving off — at least for now — far higher imports on both sides that might have sent shock waves through economies around the globe. The sweeping announcement came after President Donald Trump and European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen met briefly at Trump’s Turnberry golf course in Scotland. Their private sit-down culminated months of bargaining, with the White House deadline Friday near- “It was a very ing for imposing punishing interesting tariffs on the EU’s 27 memnegotiation. I ber countries. think it’s going “It was a very interesting negotiation. I think it’s going to be great for both parties.” to be great for both parties,” Trump said. The agreement, PRESIDENT he said, was “a good deal for DONALD TRUMP everybody” and “a giant deal with lots of countries.” Von der Leyen said the deal “will bring stability, it will bring predictability, that’s very important for our businesses on both sides of the Atlantic.” As with other, recent tariff agreements that Trump announced with countries including Japan and the United Kingdom, some major details remain pending in this one. Trump said the EU had agreed to buy some $750 billion worth of U.S. energy and invest $600 billion more than it already is in America — as well as make a major military equipment purchase. He said tariffs “for automobiles and everything else will be a straight across tariff of 15%” and meant that U.S. exporters ”have the opening up of all of the European countries.” Von der Leyen said the 15% tariffs were “across the board, all inclusive” and that
ä See MEMOIR, page 4A
ä See TARIFF, page 6A
STAFF PHOTO By JOHN McCUSKER
Sharon and Steve Smith, of New Orleans found their beat-the-heat spot on Sunday under the pedestrian bridge at Bayou St. John as they parked their kayaks for a bit of shade as temperatures hit 96.
Exonerated man details his legal odyssey Activist releases memoir after Angola
when I was 14, shoplifting for clothes,” said Duncan, 62. “That ruined my life.” It wasn’t the crime so much as the mugshot. BY JOHN SIMERMAN Five years later, it led Staff writer authorities to pluck When Calvin Duncan spoke last Duncan, then 19, from month to a group of teen students in a Job Corps program a New Orleans courtroom, he offered in the mountains of Or- Duncan a seemingly modest regret from his egon and haul him back youth. to New Orleans to face a capital murder “First, don’t make the mistake I made charge.
LONGING FOR JUSTICE
New unit takes on logjam of N.O. homicide cases It’s making progress, but a huge challenge remains
He arrived four months after Jason Williams took office. The pandemic still loomed, stalling cases, and a wave of veteran prosecutors loyal to former District Attorney Leon Cannizzaro quit. BY JILLIAN KRAMER and JEFF ADELSON Then, the city recorded the highest perStaff writer capita murder rate in the nation. An already massive case backlog collided On his first day at the Orleans with a surge in new killings, Parish District Attorney’s Office ä For more pushing the system to its breakfour years ago, prosecutor Matthew Derbes looked around and on this ing point. thought the building had been series, go Something had to be done. looted. Williams successfully won to nola.com Case files were jammed into city funding to support a new, warped, unlabeled boxes meant specialized homicide unit, now for frozen seafood. His caseload led by Derbes. Its goal: chisel stretched 40 feet. Laptops crashed on trial the massive logjam of homicide cases in the mornings. court system. “It was a very difficult place to work,” ä See UNIT, page 4A Derbes said.
WEATHER HIGH 97 LOW 79 PAGE 6B
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File cabinets and boxes are stacked toward the ceiling, containing years worth of legal records at the Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Office.
STAFF PHOTO By CHRIS GRANGER
12TH yEAR, NO. 350