The Acadiana Advocate 08-05-2025

FESTIVALS ACADIENS ET CRÉOLES

50 YEARS OF RÉVEILLE

Festival Acadiens celebrates anniversary, releases its October lineup

BY JOANNA BROWN Staff writer

Lafayette, it’s time to start getting ready for fall festival season. Festivals Acadiens et Créoles released its 2025 lineup Monday, with musicians ranging from legends like Zachary Richard and Wayne Toups, to rising stars such as Beau Cheval and Les Amis du Teche.

Local artists like Richard helped build the area’s first large-scale Cajun and zydeco music festival into the cultural behemoth it is today. Founded in 1974 by Barry Jean Ancelet to promote the traditions of Louisiana French music, both Richard and “King of Zydeco” Clifton Chenier gave bold performances at the 1975 event, which was then called the “Tribute to Cajun Music Concert.”

“This year marks half a century since Zachary Richard’s flag-waving performance at the 1975 concert, which eventually evolved into our event,” said Ancelet. “That same night, Clifton Chenier appeared wearing a crown, proclaiming his role as ‘King of Zydeco.’ Those bold and provocative moments became a call to action for generations of Cajun and Creole musicians — artists who continue to honor the past while shaping the future of this vibrant, living

ä See FESTIVAL, page 4A

Zachary Richard is among the many legends and rising stars set to play at the 2025 Festivals Acadiens et Créoles. Richard performed in 1975 at the event that would evolve into the festival.

Texas Democrats prevent state map vote

Gov. Abbott orders troopers to arrest lawmakers

BY BILL BARROW and NADIA LATHAN Associated Press

AUSTIN, Texas — Texas Democrats on Monday prevented their state’s House of Representatives from moving forward, at least for now, with a redrawn congressional map sought by President Donald Trump to shore up Republicans’ 2026 midterm

prospects as his political standing falters.

After dozens of Democrats left the state, the Republicandominated House was unable to establish the quorum of lawmakers required to do business.

Abbott

Texas Gov Greg Abbott has made threats about removing members who are absent from their seats. Democrats counter that Abbott is using “smoke and mirrors” to assert legal authority he

does not have.

The Republican-dominated House quickly issued civil arrest warrants for absent Democrats and Abbott ordered state troopers to help find and arrest them, but lawmakers physically outside Texas are beyond the jurisdiction of state authorities.

“If you continue to go down this road, there will be consequences,” House Speaker Rep. Dustin Burrows said from the chamber floor, later telling reporters that includes fines.

The Democratic revolt and Abbott’s threats ratcheted up a fight over congressional maps

that began in Texas but now includes Democratic governors who have floated the possibility of redrawing their own state maps in retaliation, even if their options are limited The dispute also reflects Trump’s aggressive view of presidential power and his grip on the Republican Party nationally, while testing the longstanding balance of powers between the federal government and individual states.

At the center of the impasse is Trump’s hope of adding five GOP-leaning congressional seats

ä See TEXAS, page 4A

Lafayette man dies in Utah glider crash

Arthur Hartie Spence Jr., president of ASH Industries, was licensed pilot

BY KRISTIN ASKELSON Staff writer

Arthur Hartie Spence Jr president of a Lafayette company that makes customized injection molds, was killed Friday when his glider crashed into the side of a mountain in northern Utah. He was 60 years old.

Spence

Officials with the Morgan County Fire Department said the glider crashed into Mahogany Mountain on private land above Bohmann Ranch around 2 p.m. Friday Spence, president of ASH Industries in Lafayette, was piloting the glider and was found dead at the crash scene, officials said. His identity was confirmed Monday on social media.

“Hartie first and foremost, was a resolute family man, accomplished businessman, and a servant of God,” commented a colleague from a private firearms training facility

“If you were lucky enough to receive his annual holiday letter, his dedication to his family and God were evident. His family was the center of his life as well as his faith.” The crash, which occurred at

BY BLAKE PATERSON Staff writer

Planned Parenthood is ceasing operations in Louisiana and shutting down its reproductive health clinics in Baton Rouge and New Orleans, part of a wave of closures of the organization’s clinics across the U.S. due to funding issues and moves by the Trump administration to cut off access to federal money

The nonprofit, which has operated in Louisiana for more than 40 years, said in a statement that it informed its staff on Friday of the

Israeli AG dismissed; standoff builds

JERUSALEM The Israeli Cabinet on Monday voted unanimously to fire the attorney general, escalating a long-running standoff between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the judiciary that critics see as a threat to the country’s democratic institutions.

The Supreme Court froze the move while it considers the legality Netanyahu and his supporters accuse Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara of exceeding her powers by blocking decisions by the elected government, including a move to fire the head of Israel’s domestic security agency, another ostensibly apolitical office. She has said there is a conflict of interest because Netanyahu and several former aides face a series of criminal investigations.

Critics accuse Netanyahu, who is on trial for corruption, of undermining judicial independence and seeking to concentrate power in the hands of his coalition government, the most nationalist and religious in Israel’s history Netanyahu denies the allegations and says he is the victim of a witch hunt by hostile judicial officials egged on by the media.

3rd accused of helping Tenn. fugitive

JACKSON, Tenn. — Police in Tennessee have charged a 23-yearold woman with assisting a man wanted in the murders of the parents, grandmother and uncle of an infant found alive miles away from the crime scene. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said Dearrah Sanders, of Jackson, Tennessee, was arrested on Monday and charged with being an accessory after the killings Investigators have also arrested two men on similar charges, alleging they helped 28-year-old Austin Robert Drummond after the July 29 killings Drummond remained on the run on Monday afternoon, the TBI said in a news release. Over the weekend, police in Jackson warned that they didn’t know Drummond’s whereabouts and advised residents to lock their doors and “remain alert.” The U.S. Marshals Service said recently that Drummond could have fled the state. Authorities have left many questions unanswered, including how the three people allegedly helped Drummond, the manner in which the victims were killed and how the baby ended up in a car seat in the Tigrett area, roughly 40 miles from the bodies.

Henriette forms; Dexter churns in Atlantic

MIAMI A tropical storm formed in the Pacific Ocean on Monday at the same time a different tropical storm was churning in the Atlantic Ocean but moving away from land, forecasters said.

Tropical Storm Henriette was announced by the Miamibased National Hurricane Center The storm was centered in the eastern Pacific about 895 miles southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula.

Henriette had maximum sustained winds of 45 mph and was moving to the west-northwest at 15 mph. Forecasters said there were no threats to land and no watches or warnings in effect, but Henriette was expected to strengthen over the next couple of days.

Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Dexter was churning in the Atlantic Ocean about 275 miles north-northwest of Bermuda. It also had maximum sustained winds at 45 mph on Monday, the hurricane center said Dexter was moving northeast at 15 mph and was expected to continue in that direction, however forecasters expect the tropical storm to weaken into a post-tropical cyclone by the middle to latter part of the week No watches or warnings were associated with Dexter, and forecasters said there were no hazards affecting land

Video adds pressure for Gaza ceasefire

Father of hostage distraught as group releases images of emaciated son

BY MELANIE LIDMAN Associated Press

JERUSALEM Ofir Braslavski

watched as his emaciated son Rom writhed in anguish on a dirty mattress somewhere inside the Gaza Strip in video footage released by Palestinian militants in recent days showing the agony of Israeli hostages.

“You see your child dying before your eyes, and you can’t do anything,” he said Monday from his home. “It drives you crazy, it’s unbearable.”

New images of two skeletal hostages have horrified Israelis and added pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reach a ceasefire with Hamas, even as his government considers another expansion of the war, which has already destroyed much of Gaza and pushed it toward famine.

In the video released by the Islamic Jihad militant group, Rom Braslavski says injuries in his foot prevent him from being able to stand In another video, released by Hamas, Evyatar David says he is digging his own grave and speaks of days without food.

The Associated Press does not normally publish videos of hostages filmed under duress, but is publishing brief excerpts after receiving consent from their families.

The videos led tens of thousands of Israelis to take to the streets on Saturday night and demand a ceasefire deal, in one of the largest turnouts for the weekly protests in recent months.

Braslavski said Rom looks much worse than he did in a video released four months ago.

“There, he also looks terrible, but he had this hope in his eyes where he felt he was still going to get out and it would be OK,” Braslavski said. “Now, in the last video, he looks completely turned off, it’s as if he’s waiting for death His eyes are turned off, he probably doesn’t

O

from militant group Palestinian Islamic Jihad, published last week of his son Rom gaunt and emaciated in captivity in Gaza, in Almon, an Israeli settlement in the West Bank.

want to endure this suffering anymore.”

Braslavski said his son, who was working as a security guard at a music festival in southern Israel during the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack that triggered the war, is usually a strong happy-go-lucky kid

The video released last week, in which his son sobs and begs for his life, is the first time he’s seen his son cry Netanyahu said Monday that he will convene the Cabinet this week to discuss how Israel can meet the three goals he has set for the war: defeating Hamas, returning the hostages and ensuring Gaza no longer poses a threat to Israel.

But his plans to potentially increase military operations are meeting staunch opposition from within Israel, including letters of protest from leading security leaders and cultural figures.

The footage of the Israeli hostages has stirred condemnation. U.N Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was “very shocked” by the videos and “this unacceptable violation of human dignity,” U.N. deputy

spokesman Farhan Haq said.

The videos were released as international experts say a “worst-case scenario of famine” is unfolding in the coastal territory, where Israel’s offensive has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians and made it nearly impossible to safely deliver food and other humanitarian aid. Images of starving Palestinians have drawn international condemnation of Israel’s conduct. Families of the hostages fear that the lack of food threatens the remaining hostages, too. Fewer than half of the 50 remaining hostages are believed to be alive, the rest either killed during the October 2023 attack or while in captivity

The International Committee of the Red Cross said it was “appalled by the harrowing videos” and called for access to the hostages.

Israel has requested an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council on the hostages, which will take place on Tuesday Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said he will travel to New York for the meeting.

Floris’ winds batter Scotland, disrupt travel and festivals

By The Associated Press

LONDON — Authorities in Scotland canceled trains, closed parks and warned people to tie down backyard trampolines as an unusually strong summer storm toppled trees, felled power lines and disrupted travel across northern Britain.

The U.K.’s Meteorological Office on Monday issued an “amber” wind warning in Scotland for Storm Floris, meaning there is potential risk to lives and property, especially from large waves in coastal areas.

Network Rail Scotland said wind gusts of up to 90 mph had brought down trees across lines and damaged overhead wires. More than 22,000 properties were without electricity, operator Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks said After reports of mobile homes being blown over on the Isle of Skye off Scotland’s northwest coast, police Scotland said that “anyone with campervans should remain parked in sheltered areas until the wind speed reduces.”

The wind and heavy rain hit at the busiest time of year for tourism, with hundreds of thousands of

Members of the public

against the wind as they walk along the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, Scotland, on Monday Storm Floris is expected to cause severe travel disruption to road, air and ferry services, and close bridges.

people flocking to the Edinburgh Fringe and other arts festivals. The Edinburgh Military Tattoo, one of the city’s biggest tourist draws, canceled Monday’s scheduled outdoor performance by massed ranks of bagpipers and drummers at Edinburgh Castle.

Train companies canceled services across much of Scotland and some ferry crossings were also scrapped. Floris, named by weather authorities, also hit parts of Northern Ireland, Wales and northern England, the Met Office said.

Scottish government minister Angela Constance urged people to be careful if traveling and “consider this a winter journey as opposed to a summer journey.”

“Please make sure you’ve got warm clothes, food, water, plenty of fuel and that your mobile phone is charged up,” she said.

Train operator ScotRail urged “anyone with garden equipment, such as tents, trampolines or furniture, to secure items so that they don’t blow onto the tracks and interfere with lineside equipment.”

High court puts Brazil’s former president on house arrest

BY MAURICIO SAVARESE Associated Press

SAOPAULO Brazil’sSupremeCourtonMonday

ordered the house arrest for the country’s former President Jair Bolsonaro, on trial for allegedly masterminding a coup plot to remain in office despite his defeat in the 2022 election a case that has gripped the South American country as it faces a trade war with the Trump administration.

Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who oversees the case against Bolsonaro before the top court, said in his decision that the 70-year-old former president had violated precautionary measures imposed on him by posting content on the social media channels of his three lawmaker sons. On Sunday, Bolsonaro addressed supporters in Rio de Janeiro through the phone of one of his sons, Sen. Flávio Bolsonaro.

Thetrialofthefar-rightleaderisreceivingrenewed attention after President Donald Trump directly tied a 50% tariff on imported Brazilian goods to the judicial situation of Jair Bolsonaro, a Trump ally Trump has called the proceedings a “witch hunt,” triggering nationalist reactions from leaders of all branches of power in Brazil, including President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva Following news of the arrest order, a staffer with Brazil’s federal police told The Associated Press that federal agents were at Bolsonaro’s residence in the capital of Brasilia to seize cellphones,asorderedbydeMoraesinhisdecision. The staffer spoke on condition of anonymity due to their lack of authorization to speak about the matter publicly Bolsonaro is expected to remain in Brasilia for his house arrest as he is not allowed to travel. He also has a house in Rio de Janeiro, where he held his electoral base as a lawmaker for three decades. Brazil’s prosecutors accuse Bolsonaro of heading a criminal organization that plotted to overturn the election, including plans to kill Lula and de Moraes after the far-right leader narrowly lost his reelection bid in 2022. Monday’s order followed one from the top court last month that ordered Bolsonaro wear an electronic ankle monitor and imposed a curfew on his activities while the proceedings are underway DeMoraesaddedinhisrulingthatBolsonaro, who governed Brazil between 2019 and 2022, has spread messages with “a clear content of encouragement and instigation to attacks against the Supreme Court and a blatant support for foreign intervention in the Brazilian Judiciary.”

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Cassidy, rivals laud fed firing

Trumpaxed commissioner afterunfavorable jobs report

BY TYLER BRIDGES Staff writer

U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy,RBaton Rouge, and the three Republicanschallenging his reelection support President Donald Trump’sdecisionto fire the person who oversees the federal government office that collects jobs figures.

Trump sacked Erika McEntarfer,the commissionerof the Bureau of LaborStatistics, on Friday after her office reported feeble job growth in July and revisedfigures that nearly erased the job gains previously given in Mayand June.

Together,the job figures indicate that the U.S. economy is slowingdown, the exact opposite of whatTrump has been claiming.

The job numbers, Trump wrote on Truth Social, “were RIGGED in order to make the Republicans, and ME, look bad.”

Trump’sdecisiontofire McEntarfer has prompted strong condemnation from economists, former government officials and Democratic lawmakers.They say hismovecalls into question the reliability of the Labor Department’sfuturereporting and seems reminiscent of how authoritarian leaders try to squash bad news.

Sean Combs denied releaseon bail aheadof sentencing

BY JENNIFERPELTZ

Associated Press

NEW YORK Sean “Diddy” Combs can’tgohome from jail to await sentencing on his prostitution-relatedconviction, ajudge said Monday,denying the rap and style mogul’slatest bidfor bail.

Combs has been behind barssince his September arrest. He faced federal charges of coercing girlfriends into having drugfueled sex marathonswith male sex workers while he watched and filmed them He was acquitted last month of the topcharges —racketeering and sex trafficking —while being convicted of two counts of a prostitution-relatedoffense.

The conviction carries the potential for up to 10 years in prison. But there are complicated federalguidelines for calculating sentences in any given case, and prosecutors and Combs’ lawyers disagree substantially on how the guidelines come out for his case In any event, the guidelines aren’tmandatory,and Judge Arun Subramanian will have wide latitude in deciding Combs’ punishment.

The Bad Boy Records founder,now 55, was for decades aprotean figure in pop culture.

AGrammy-winning hip hop artist and entrepreneur with aflair for finding and launching big talents, he presided over abusiness empire that ranged from fashion to reality TV Prosecutors claimed he used his fame, wealth and violence to force and manipulate two now-ex-girlfriends into dayslong, drugged-up sexual performances he called “freak-offs”or“hotel nights.”

His lawyers argued that the government tried to criminalize consensual, if unconventional, sexual tastesthatplayedout in complicated relationships.

The defenseacknowledged that Combs had violent outbursts but said nothing he did came amountedtothe crimes with which he was charged.

That’snot the view of Cassidy and his three opponents: state Treasurer John Fleming, stateSen.BlakeMiguez andPublicServiceCommissioner Eric Skrmetta.They willcompeteina Republican primary in April, and each one wantsTrump’sendorsement.

“McEntarfer’sremoval is understandable,” Cassidy said in astatement.“Jobs reports have always required revisions, but the initial reports have become significantly less accurate under McEntarfer’sleadership. As the lead Republican on the Senate HELP Committee, Isent her aletter last year during the Biden administrationasking why the revisions were so large. Now,the initial reports are even less accurateand the revisions even greater.”

Skrmetta offered amore pronounced statement than Cassidy

“President Trump’sdecision to terminate Commissioner McEntarfer from the Bureau of Labor Statistics was asolid, bold and justified move to safeguardthe integrity of economic data against prior administration partisan manipulation,”Skrmetta,who represents suburbanNew Orleans, said in atext. “It’sthe right decisionfor President Trump to question apattern of BLSreportsunder Commissioner McEntarfer’stenure—one ofconsistently overreportingjob gains during the Biden era, only to regularly revise them downward later.” Miguez, of New Iberia, also applauded Trump’smove,

writing in atext that “the American people elected President Trump because they trust he will make decisions that alwaysput America first. Thepresident has a right to fire her,and he was right to fire her. He knows what he is doing. Idon’tfault him one bit for not trusting this Bidenappointee.”

Fleming, who servedinthe U.S.House from 2009-17, said he hasbeen concernedabout the statistics agency’srevisions.

“She never seems to get it right,”Fleming said.“President Trump feelslike she was manipulating the numbers to make Biden look good and now it’sthe opposite. It seems appropriate to replace herat this time.”

Trump,inhis TruthSocial postonFriday, claimed McEntarfer’soffice had revisedjobsfiguresdownward for several months at one

point last year— but only afterthe November election, to boostthe candidacy of thenVice PresidentKamala Harris.

Trump’sstatementwas false. In fact,the statistics agency revised thefigures downward in August, before the election.

McEntarfer was nominated by then-President Joe Biden lastyear andconfirmed by theSenate,withthen-senators Marco Rubio and JD Vance among those who voted yes. Rubio is now Trump’ssecretary of state, while Vanceis vice president.

WilliamBeach,who was appointed by Trump and served as McEntarfer’spredecessor, called the reasons behind Trump’smove“totally groundless,”writingit“sets adangerous precedent and underminesthe statistical missionofthe Bureau.”

Stephen Sheffrin, aveteran economics professor at Tulane University,dismisses complaints that thestatistics agency underMcEntarfer has tiltedtoward Democrats. But he believes that theoffice could do abetterjob of compilingand reporting its numbers.

“Fromtimetotime, it’s worthlooking at this,” Sheffrin said.“Abetterthing might have been to say it was ridiculous, and we’ll take alook at theBLS or to have the Labor Department do an overall review of their procedures.”

Email TylerBridges at tbridges@theadvocate. com.

Tennesseeset to executeinmate withoutturning off defibrillator

BY JONATHAN MATTISE Associated Press

NASHVILLE,Tenn.— Tennessee is set to execute an inmate Tuesday without deactivating his implanted defibrillator,asuncertainty lingers about whether the device will shock his heart when alethal drug takeseffect.

Barringa late reprieve requested from the governor, ByronBlack’sexecution will go forward after alegal back-and-forth over whether thestate would need to turn off his implantable cardioverterdefibrillator. The nonprofit Death Penalty Information Center saidit’sunaware of anyother casesinwhich an inmate was making similar claimstoBlack’s aboutICDs or pacemakers. Black’sattorneys said they haven’tfound acomparable case,either TheU.S.Supreme Court on Monday rejected several appeals by Black. The executionwouldbe Tennessee’ssecond since May, aftera pause for five years, first because of COVID-19 and then because of misstepsbythe Tennessee Department of Correction.

Twenty-seven men have died by court-ordered execution so far this year in the U.S., and nine other peopleare scheduled to be put to death in seven statesduring the remainder of 2025. The number of executions this year exceeds the 25 carriedout lastyearand in 2018. It is thehighest total since 2015,when28people were put to death.

Black’s condition Black, 69, is in awheelchair,suffering from dementia, braindamage, kidney failure, congestive heartfailure andother conditions, hisattorneys have said In mid-July,atrial court judge agreed with Black’s attorneys that officials must have the instrument deactivated to avert the risk that it could cause unnecessary painand prolong theexecution. But the state Supreme Court intervened July 31 to overturnthat decision, saying theother judge lacked the authority to order the change.

The state has disputed that thelethal injection would cause Black’s defibrillator to shock him. Even if shocks were triggered, Black wouldn’tfeel them, the state has added.

didn’treach out to proper hospital leadership andthat there hadbeen no agreementtodothe work.

N.Y. Post plansa

Calif. newspaper

BY JENNIFER PELTZ Associated Press

NEW YORK The NewYork Post is launching aCalifornia tabloid newspaper and news sitenextyear,the company announced Monday,bringing an assertive, irreverent andconservative-friendly fixture of the Big Apple media landscape to theGoldenState.Inthe process, it is creating a 21st-century rarity: anew American newspaper with arobust print edition. Adding another title to Rupert Murdoch‘s media empire, The California Post is setting out to cover politics, local news, business, entertainment and sports in the nation’smost populous state, whiledrawing andbuilding on the venerable New York paper’snational coverage. Plans for theLos Angeles-basedpaper call for aprint edition seven days aweek plus a website, social media accounts and video and audio pieces.

“There is no doubt that the Post will play acrucial role in engaging and enlightening readers, who arestarvedofserious reporting andpuckish wit,” Robert Thomson,chiefexecutive of Post corporate parent News Corp., said in astatement. In typically brash andpunchy Post fashion, he portrayedCalifornia as plagued by ”jaundiced, jaded journalism.” California, with apopulation of nearly 40 million, still hashundreds of newspapers, including dailies in and around Los Angeles and other major cities. But the nation’ssecond-mostpopulous city hasn’thad a dedicated tabloid focused on regional issues in recent memory, according to Danny Bakewell, president of the Los Angeles Press Club.

“It’sreally an untest-

ed market here,” said Bakewell, who is editor-inchiefofthe LosAngeles Sentinel, aweekly focused on the city’sBlack population. “L.A. is always ready for good-quality news reporting, and particularly in this momentwhen so many otherpapers areshrinking anddisappearing, it could be areally unique opportunity.”

The 224-year-old New York Post wasfounded by no less aluminary than Alexander Hamilton, the country’sfirst treasury secretary,anauthor of the Federalist Papers, the victimofaduelatthe hands of the vice president and the inspirationfor theBroadway smash “Hamilton.” Murdoch,News Corp.s founder and now its chairman emeritus, bought the Post in 1976, sold it adozen years later,thenrepurchased it in 1993. The Postisknown for its relentless and skewering approach to reporting, its facilitywithsensational or racy subject matter,its Page Six gossip column and the paper’shuge and often memorable frontpage headlines —see, for example, 1983’s“Headless Body in Topless Bar.” At the same time,the Post is aplayer in both local and national politics. It routinely pushes, fromthe right, on “wokeness” and other culture-war pressure points, and it has broken such political stories as the Hunter Biden laptop saga. ThePosthas an avid reader in President Donald Trump, who gave its“Pod Force One” podcast an interview as recently as last month. With the Los Angeles readership second only to NewYork’s, The California Post “isthe next manifestation of our national brand,” Editor-in-Chief Keith Poole said in astatement.

Black’sattorneys have counteredthatevenifthe lethal drug beingused, pentobarbital, renders someone unresponsive, they aren’t necessarily unaware or unable to feel pain.

Black’s case

Black was convicted in the 1988 shooting deaths of his girlfriend Angela Clay 29, andher two daughters, Latoya Clay,9,and Lakeisha Clay, 6. Prosecutors said he was in ajealous rage when he shot thethree at theirhome. At the time, Black was on work-release while serving time forshooting Clay’sestranged husband.

Linette Bell, whose sister and twonieces were killed, recently told WKRN-TV: “Hedidn’thavemercy on them, so why should we have mercy on him?”

“Itfeels like it is never-ending,” Bell toldthe news outlet. “They aren’t even resting in their own grave.”

Medicalconsiderations

An implantable cardioverter-defibrillator is asmall, battery-powered electronic device that is surgically implanted in the chest, typically near the left collarbone. It serves as apacemaker and an emergency defibrillator

Black’sattorneys say the only way to be sure it’s off is for adoctor to place aprogramming device over the implantsite, sendingita deactivation command, with no surgery required.

The legal case also spurred areminderthatmost medical professionals consider participation in executions a violationofhealth care ethics.

While thejudge’sorder to deactivate the device was in place, state officials said Nashville General Hospital practitioners would do the procedure the daybefore at the hospital, but wouldn’t travel to theprison on execution dayasthe court required. The judge offered some leeway,allowingthe procedure at the hospital on themorning of the execution.

ButNashville General then released astatement saying thestate’scontractor

FESTIVAL

tradition. It’s both meaningful and gratifying to look back with pride and look ahead with excitement.”

Festivals Acadiens et Créoles will take place this year from Oct. 10-12

at Girard Park in Lafayette. Here’s the lineup for three nights of performance from area Cajun and zydeco bands, celebrating “Cinquante ans de Réveille: Et Asteur Quoi?!” or, “Fifty Years of Réveille: And Now What?!” The full music and event schedule will be released in September

Friday, Oct. 10

n Zachary Richard

n Rusty Metoyer & the Zydeco Krush

Saturday, Oct. 11

n Jourdan Thibodeaux et les Rôdailleurs

n Chris Ardoin & Nu-Step

Zydeco

n Cedric Watson et Bijou

Créole

n Leon Chavis & the Zydeco Flames

n Pine Leaf Boys

n Has Beans

n 4 Generations of the Dopsie Family featuring Rockin’ Dopsie Jr., Anthony Dopsie, Tiger Dopsie, Dwayne Dopsie and Mike

Dopsie

n The Revelers

n Corey McCauley and His Evangeline Aces

n Horace Trahan & the Ossun Express

n Curley Taylor & Zydeco

CLOSE

Continued from page 1A

closures that will take effect

Sept. 30. Planned Parenthood’s Louisiana clinics provide birth control, tests for sexually transmitted diseases, cancer screenings and other health care services. Over the past year, the organization provided care to more than 10,600 patients. They have never been licensed to provide abortions in the state

“This is not a decision we wanted to make,” said Melaney Linton, the president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast, adding that “political warfare” on the nonprofit by its opponents forced the closures.

The closures come as the organization’s national affiliate, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, wages a legal battle against efforts by the Trump administration to end Medicaid payments to its clinics. More than half of Planned Parenthood patients rely on Medicaid, the federal health care program that serves millions of low-income and disabled

CRASH

Continued from page 1A

Trouble n Luke Huval Band n Daniel Coolik n David Greely n Drake LeBlanc n Jimmy Breaux

n CJ Chenier

n Four Horses

n Ruben Moreno’s Zydeco

Re-Evolution

n Cameron Dupuy & the Cajun Troubadours

n Renée Reed

n Kevin Wimmer

n Balfa Toujours

n Beau Cheval

n Lil’ Pookie & the Zydeco

Sensations

n Jerry Devillier

n Christine Balfa

n Zach Guidry

n Brandon Ledet

n Geno Delafose & French Rockin’ Boogie

n Magnolia Sisters

n Donny Broussard & The Louisiana Stars

n The Holiday Playgirls

Sunday, Oct. 12

n Wayne Toups & ZydeCajun

n Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys

n Gregg Martinez with special guest Johnnie Allan

n Lil’ Nathan & the

Americans. A federal judge has temporarily blocked the administration’s efforts.

Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast announced last month that it would also shutter two of its six clinics in Houston and hand over the remaining four clinics to Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas.

Planned Parenthood began serving Louisiana in 1984, when the organization’s New Orleans affiliate opened a clinic on Magazine Street. In 2016, the organization moved into a 7,000-squarefoot clinic on South Claiborne Avenue, following a drawnout battle with the Archdiocese of New Orleans, which opposed the project.

The facility was built to provide abortions but the state Department of Health refused to approve the licenses needed to do so That led to a yearslong legal battle, which continued up until the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022 and Louisiana enacted a neartotal ban on the procedures.

Unable to provide abortions, Planned Parenthood continued to provide other services while helping Louisianans access out-of-state abortion care, covering costs

7,000 feet, also sparked a wildfire, which required multiple agencies to contain The cause of the crash is under investigation. The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation and Safety Board are investigating the crash, and state fire authorities are investigating the blaze. Hartie was licensed to fly fixed wing aircraft, includ-

Zydeco Big Timers

n Bonsoir, Catin

n T’Monde

n Alphonse Ardoin & the Zydeco Kings

n Lost Bayou Ramblers

n Roddie Romero

n Nathan Williams Sr

n Curley Taylor

n CJ Chenier & the Red

Hot Louisiana Band

n Colby Martin

n Cedric Watson

n Mike Broussard

n Donna Angelle

n Lafayette Rhythm Devils

n Kelli Jones

n Chère Élise

n Les Amis du Teche

n Zachary Richard

n Savoy Family Band

n Adeline Miller

n The Babineaux Sisters

n Corey Ledet Zydeco

n C-4

n Horace Trahan

n Megan Constantin

n Kristi Guillory

n Dylan Aucoin

n Wayne Singleton

n Terry & the Zydeco Bad

Boys

n Blake Miller & The OldFashioned Aces

n Kevin Naquin

n Jesse Lége

including airfare, lodging and child care.

The legal battle over funding for Planned Parenthood centers around a provision in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed by President Donald Trump in July which instructed the federal government to end Medicaid payments for one year to abortion providers that received more than $800,000 from Medicaid in 2023.

Although Planned Parenthood is not specifically named in the statute, which went into effect July 4, the organization’s leaders say it was meant to affect their nearly 600 centers in 48 states.

Federal law already bars taxpayer money from covering most abortions, but some conservatives argue abortion providers use Medicaid money for other health services to subsidize abortion.

Lawyers for the government argued in court documents that the bill “stops federal subsidies for Big Abortion.”

“All three democratically elected components of the Federal Government collaborated to enact that provision consistent with their electoral mandates from the American

ing single- and multipleengine planes. According to the National Transportation and Safety Board, he was involved in a crash June 25, 2021, while landing at the Jennings airport. There were no injuries in that incident, according to the NTSB report.

in Texas before the upcoming midterms. That would bolster his party’s chances of preserving its U.S. House majority something Republicans were unable to do in the 2018 midterms during Trump’s first presidency. Republicans currently hold 25 of Texas’ 38 seats. That’s nearly a 2-to-1 advantage and already a wider partisan gap than in the 2024 presidential election, when Trump won 56.1% of Texas ballots, while Democrat Kamala Harris received 42.5%. Speaking Monday on the Fox News show “America’s Newsroom,” Abbott essentially admitted to the partisan power play, noting the U.S. Supreme Court has determined “there is nothing illegal” about shaping districts to a majority party’s advantage. He even acknowledged it as “gerrymandering” before correcting himself to say Texas is “drawing lines.”

More than 1,800 miles away from Austin, New York Gov Kathy Hochul appeared with Texas Democrats and argued that their cause should be national.

“We’re not going to tolerate our democracy being stolen in a modern-day stagecoach heist by a bunch of law breaking cowboys,” Hochul said Monday, flanked by several of the lawmakers who left Texas. “If Republicans are willing to rewrite rules to give themselves

people as to how they want their hard-earned taxpayer dollars spent,” the government wrote in court filings.

In her statement, Linton blamed the political push against the nonprofit for the closure of the clinics in New Orleans and Baton Rouge. “Anti-reproductive health lawmakers obsessed with power and control have spent decades fighting the concept that people deserve to control their own bodies,”

an advantage, then they’re leaving us with no choice: We must do the same. You have to fight fire with fire.”

Abbott insisted ahead of Monday’s scheduled session that lawmakers have “absconded” in violation of their sworn duties to the state.

“I believe they have forfeited their seats in the state Legislature because they are not doing the job they were elected to do,” he said in the Fox News interview, invoking his state’s hallmark machismo to call the lawmakers “un-Texan.”

“Texans don’t run from a fight,” he said.

Democrats said they had no plans to heed the governor’s demands.

“He has no legal mechanism,” said Texas Rep. Jolanda Jones, one of the lawmakers who was in New York on Monday “Subpoenas from Texas don’t work in New York, so he can’t come and get us. Subpoenas in Texas don’t work in Chicago.

He’s putting up smoke and mirrors.”

A refusal by Texas lawmakers to show up is a civil violation of legislative rules.

As for his threat to remove the lawmakers, Abbott cited a nonbinding legal opinion issued by Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton amid an partisan quorum dispute in 2021. Paxton suggested a court could determine that a legislator had forfeited their office.

Paxton, who is running for U.S. Senate, said on X that Democrats who “try and run away like cowards should be found, arrested, and brought

Linton said. “These extremists have done everything they can to ‘defund’ Planned Parenthood, dismantle public health infrastructure, and block patients from the care they rely on. This cruelty and failed leadership are the reasons we are here today.”

It’s unclear what will happen to Planned Parenthood’s South Claiborne property, which was funded by millions of dollars in donations. In July, a group of long-

back to the Capitol immediately.”

University of Houston law professor David Froomkin cast doubt on Abbott’s and Paxton’s interpretation, saying it’s “baseless” to claim the lawmakers in question have abandoned their seats when their absence is clearly tied to the current legislative debate.

Still, the Republican response is accelerated compared with the 2021 dispute, when weeks passed before the GOP majority opted for civil arrest warrants. Froomkin said Abbott could be using the mere possibility of legal wrangling over their jobs to intimidate lawmakers into returning to Austin. The lawmakers who left declined to say how long they will hold out.

“The magic of a quorum break is you never telegraph the how long or what you’re going to do,” said Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer who has served in the Legislature since 2001. “We recognized when we got on the plane that we’re in this for the long haul.”

Texas House Democratic Caucus leader Gene Wu said his members “will do whatever it takes” but added, “What that looks like, we don’t know.”

Legislative walkouts often only delay passage of a bill, including in 2021, when many of the same Texas House Democrats left the state for 38 days to protest new voting restrictions. Once they returned, Republicans

time donors sent a letter to Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast arguing that efforts to sell the building would interfere with the conditions of their donations and that legal action could follow Planned Parenthood, which also has a clinic on Government Street in Baton Rouge, will continue to keep its doors open in Louisiana until the end of September The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Facedwithhardships,Ethiopiansrisk perils at seas forabetterlifeelsewhere

Immigration challenges underscoredafter ship overturns, killing dozens

BY AMANUELGEBREMEDHIN

andSAMUEL

BIRHANE

GITACHEW Associated Press

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia The deadly shipwreck in waters off Yemen’scoast over the weekend is weighing heavily on the hearts of many in Ethiopia. Twelve migrants on the boat that carried 154 Ethiopians survived the tragedy —atleast68died and 74 remain missing.

When Solomon Gebremichael heard about Sunday’s disaster,it brought back heartbreaking memories

—hehad lost aclose friend and abrother to illegal migration years ago.

“I understand the pain all too well,” Gebremichael said at his homeinEthiopia’scapital, Addis Ababa.

Although Ethiopia has been relatively stable since the war in the country’sTigray region ended in 2022, youth unemployment is over 20%, leading many to risk dangerous waters trying to reach the wealthy Gulf Arab countries, seeking abetter life elsewhere.

Mesel Kindeyamade the crossing in 2016 via the same sea route as the boat that capsizedonSunday, traveling without papers on harrowing journeys arranged by smugglers from Ethiopia to Saudi Arabia.

“Wec ould bare ly breathe,” she said of her own sea crossing. “Speaking up could get us thrown overboard by smugglers. I deeply regret risking my life,thinking it would improve my situation.”

KindeyamadeittoSaudi Arabia and worked as a maid for six months before she was captured by authorities and imprisoned

foreight months.By the timeshe wasdeportedback to Ethiopia, she had barely managed to earn back the initialcost of her journey

“Despite thehardships of life, illegalimmigration is just not asolution,” shesaid Over the past years, hundreds of migrants have died in shipwrecks off Yemen, the Arabworld’smostimpoverished country that has been engulfed in acivil war since September 2014.

“This shows the desperationofthe situation in Ethiopia for many people,” said Teklemichael Ab Sahlemariam, ahuman rights lawyer practicing in Addis Ababa.

“They arepushed to head to awar-torn nation like Yemen and onwardto Saudi Arabia or Europe,” he said “I know of many who have perished.”

Andmany of those who get caught and are sent backtoEthiopia try and make the crossing again.

“Peoplekeep going back, even when they are deported, facing financial extortion and subjected to sexual exploitation,” the lawyer said. Ethiopia’s foreign ministry in astatement on Mon-

day urged Ethiopians “to uselegal avenuesinsecuring opportunities.”

“Wewarn citizens not to take the illegal route in finding suchopportunities andavoid the services of traffickers at allcost,” the statementsaid.

African Union spokespersonNuurMohamud Sheek calledfor urgent collective action in apost on social media “to tackle the root causes of irregularmigration and the upholding of migrant rightsand to prevent further lossoflife.”

Yemen is amajor route for migrants from East Africa and the Horn of Africa countries.

About 60,000 migrants arrived in Yemen last year, down from 97,200 in 2023 adrop that has been attributed togreater patrolling of the waters,according to a March report by theU.N.’s migration agency,the International Organization for Migration.

In March, at least two migrants diedand 186 others were missing after four boatscapsized off Yemen andDjibouti,accordingto theIOM

JanRisher

LOUISIANA AT LARGE

La.summer in ashanty boat

WesModes emailedinthe spring about his plan to spend the summer in ashanty boat on therivers of south Louisiana.

My first question was obvious: Why plan this trip for the summer?

On Thursday night, in an air-conditioned,upstairs bar overlookinga marina and campground on theInner Harbor Navigation Canal near Lake Pontchartrain, Ilearned the answer: He’sateacher and has thesummer off.

Technically,he’sanart professor,and Dotty,his shanty boat —built over two years using the remains of a100-year-old chicken coop —looks like something Disney might design if asked to build ashanty boat. Modes will hate that comparison, but it’s true.

With clothes hanging to dry from the small back porch, walls lined with books andrusted signs, avase of flowers on the table, the boat is beautiful and rustic all at once.

His attention to detail and use of space are amaster class for tinyhouseconstruction Cleansheets?

Aboard his shanty boat, Modes is the director of “A Secret History of American River People,” adecadelongparticipatory project documentingoverlooked river communities. Since his first trip, he and his crew have collected175 oral histories and traveled 3,000 river miles and 30,000 miles on land. He’straversed the Upper Mississippi River,the Tennessee, the Sacramento, the Hudson, the Ohio and nowthe Atchafalaya River system.

Along the way this summer, Modes has had friends join him, including Adrian Nankivell for the last leg of the trip. Nankivell came from acold New Zealand winter for ariver trip that was suretoheat things up. When Iasked how comfortable or uncomfortable the weather was this summer,Nankivell said the rain had helped, but still.

Nankivell slept in ahammock diagonally stretched from one cornerofthe living quarters to another.Modes slept in the “captain’squarters,” aloft above the living quarters with about 16 inches of clearance.

“You know when you have clean sheets and they’re all dry and slightly warm and they have that really crisp feel?” Modes asked me. “And then youlike feel like you don’tdeserve those sheets, so you go and you take a hotshower —and you’re all completely new.You’relike anew person?”

Isaid, “Yes, Ilovethatfeeling. Iknow it well.”

He continued.

“And then you get into your sheets and it’slike perfect, and all is right with the world? The sheetsare dry and smooth,”he said.

His clean-sheet description was so nicely done that it had me smiling and nodding along.

He paused.

“This summer was 100% not likethat,” Modes said.

Alongthe river

But other than the hot nights above the shanty boat, thesummer was full of adventures, problems and searches for solutions.

Over the years on rivers, Modes has noticed how many towns exist because of rivers —but now have little to do with them.

On June 21, Modes put the shanty boat in the Red River in Colfax to start his 2025 river journey

“Wecame downthrough the locks and Alexandria. Alexandria’slike one of thosetowns

‘Rootedinthe community’

LafayetteElementary undergoes transformation,ready to welcomeinaugural class

BY ASHLEY WHITE Staff writer

The first day of school is full of fresh beginnings. That sentiment is goingto be most palpable at Lafayette Elementary,which is welcoming its inaugural class.

About 400 kindergarten through fifth grade students will fill the halls this week under the leadership of Principal Colleen Comeaux and anewly assembledfaculty

The Lafayette ParishSchool Board voted in the fall to closeLafayette Middle School andrezone its students. It also voted to close S.J. Montgomery Elementary and move those students to the newly minted Lafayette Elementary,which is in the same building as the former Lafayette MiddleonUniversity Avenue.

Comeaux,who’s been an educator for 16 years, saidshe andthe staffare excited to start anew school year under a newroof.

“Weare notsimply opening aschool today,” she told teachers andstaff Mondaymorning. We areopening possibilities. Possibilities for students to find their spark, for teachers to make alastingimpact and for families to feel apart of something special.”

It will be ayear of learning andgrowth

for everyone at Lafayette Elementary, even Comeaux who is serving as aprincipal for the first time. That mindset has shaped the school’smission statement: “Rooted in culture,growing together.”

The school was built in 1926 as the original Lafayette High. When the new Lafayette High was built on West CongressStreet, theUniversity Avenue site was turned into amiddleschool. For the first time, it will welcome elementary students.

It has“seen generations walkthrough it,”Comeauxsaidinher message to staff.

“Thisbuilding capturesmyheart everytimeI look at it,” shesaid. “Whata privilege it is to writethe next chapter in its legacy.”

The school was transformed over

Lafayetteartistcreates swamp-themed mural

Wetlandscene to greetstudents

BYASHLEY WHITE Staff writer

The halls of Katharine Drexel Ear-

ly Childhood Centerhavebeentransformed from plain white to aswamp scene, filled with cypress trees and wetland creatures. Themural spans thehallways of the school’s2020 wing where about 180pre-Kand kindergarten students will roam thehalls when school starts this week.

“Art is very impactful,”saidDirk Guidry,aLafayette artist who created themural. “Tobeable to utilize it in our community and in our schools

is helpful for the students.”

Guidry worked with Katharine Drexel Principal CarlieRoszellona design thatembraced the school’s alligator’smascot. Set against abayou backdrop, there’sadifferent critter for each door —acrawfish, abutterfly,apelican, aspoonbill.

“I hope it’s inspiringfor (the students),” Guidrysaid. “I hope that the colors and everything brighten up their day.”

It took about 160 hours over a month to completethe mural. And Guidry had help painting the walls from five other Lafayette artists. The Lafayette Parish School Board voted tomove most of thedistrict’s pre-K classes to two schools on ei-

the summer with the help of district maintenance workers and volunteers, including the University of Louisiana at Lafayette basketballteam, Lafayette High students and nonprofit Love our Schools. Hallways were painted, new flooring was put in and the furniture wasreplaced to be abetter fit for smaller students.

Having so many groups cometogether to get the school ready has let Comeaux andher staffknowthe community supports the school’smission, she said.

“Ithelps us feel like we are rooted in the community together,” she said.

“We’ve been working days, weekends and nights.”

“Nowthat’sall done, we are readyto start on the real work.”

An accidental shooting led to the death of aman on Saturday in New Iberia. NewIberia police responded about 8p.m.toreports of ashooting in the 900 block of AnnStreet on Saturday, according to adepartment release. Uponarrival, police found a 38-year-old man suffering froma gunshot wound. He was taken to ahospital, wherehedied of his injuries Investigation of surveillance footage, physical

evidence and witnessinterviews led police to believe the shooting to be accidental and no foul play is suspected at this time. An investigation is ongoing.

Machete-wielding woman arrested Awoman was arrested Sunday in Acadia Parish, accused of assaulting and threatening people with a machete. Sally Chavis,46, was booked with two counts of aggravated battery with a weapon, twocounts of re-

OUR VIEWS

Give LA DOGE a chance

There’slikely little disagreement that government at all levels should operateefficiently.All taxpayers surely want their dollars to be spent wisely and frugally

That’swhy we are cautiously optimistic about Gov. JeffLandry’sLouisiana Department of Government Efficiency,orLADOGE. Approached correctly,this initiative has the potentialto benefit both state workersand the residentswho interact with government.

The reason for our caution should be obvious to anyone whofollows nationalnews. Landry’s interest in reexaminingstate government dates back to his days as attorneygeneral,but he rebranded the initiative “LA DOGE” to piggyback on the Trump administration’scontroversialeffort, headed initially by ElonMusk.

We are hardly the first to criticizehow DOGE in Washington has carriedout its mission. Under Musk, the initiative —itwas never aformal department, as Louisiana’s is not— belittled government workers and slashed jobs and programs without fully understanding orappreciating the value they provide. The wreckageand hard feelings have been widespread, somelayoffsand programcutswerechaotically reversed, and so far, there’slittle evidence ofactual savings

It doesn’thave to be that way.Wefervently hopethat, in Louisiana, it won’t be

We’re glad to hear Landry and his appointed “fiscal responsibility czar” Steve Orlando say LA DOGE’sgoal is not to cut government jobs or services for the sake of cutting, but to useabusiness-mindedapproach to help agenciesspend taxpayer dollars wisely

We believe any largeorganizationcan benefit from such periodic review.Bureaucraciescan become stuck on the way things have always been done, even if there are betterapproaches For those who work within the system, attemptingchange can pose frustrating institutional obstacles.

That doesn’tmean we have no concerns.A major one is that LA DOGEdoesn’tplan to follow public meetings laws thatrequire government actions take place in public. We urge it notto adopt aculture of secrecy in doing what is clearly the people’sbusiness.

But we are encouraged that it’sstarting off by lookingatthe perennially troubledDepartment of Children and Family Servicesand atthe sprawling Health Department, which will face major challenges once Medicaid cuts outlined in theOne Big Beautiful Bill kick in.

If LA DOGE effectively modernizes operations,eliminatesunnecessary contracts and ensures thatonlythose whodeserveservices are gettingthem without hurting those whoqualify, that’d be awin for everyone

So as it undertakes its work, weurgeLADOGE to approach it with humility,anopenmind and respectfor thosewho work in government. And we encourage state employeesand citizens to receive itsrecommendationsinthe same spirit. Done right,thisinitiative doesn’thave to be divisive.

In the coming years, Louisiana government will have to dig deep to fulfill its citizens’ many needs. We hopethis new effort will make that challenge easier

LETTERSTOTHE EDITOR ARE WELCOME. HERE AREOUR

GUIDELINES: Letters are published identifying name, occupation and/or title and the writer’scity of residence

TheAdvocate |The Times-Picayune require astreet address andphone number for verification purposes, but that information is not published. Letters are not to exceed 300 words. Letters to the Editor,The Advocate, P.O. Box 588, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-0588, or email letters@ theadvocate.com.

TO SEND US A LETTER, SCANHERE

OPINION

YOUR VIEWS

StudyonMississippi bridge projectneeds to startover

The editorial published on July 9on theMississippi River bridge project ended with the statement, “Commuters and travelers,from Louisianaand everywhere, deserve to know when their long traffic nightmare will finally be over ” The short answer is never,based on thethree location alternatives currently being proposed.

Far removed from theexisting bridge and the Interstate 10 and Interstate12travel corridor and likely to be atoll facility,any such new bridge will not solve thetraffic congestion prob-

lem on the existing I-10 bridge. Only alocation close to the existing bridge that serves theI-10/I-12 corridor traffic would substantially relieve the traffic congestion that currently exists. New Orleansused the parallel bridge concept when the Crescent City Connection bridge was expanded, and it was implemented successfully.The ongoing study should be refocused on abridge location that would truly address the I-10/I-12 corridor traffic congestion problem.

KENNETH A. PERRET Baton Rouge

Cassidyshouldbequestioned abouthis vote

Icalled U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy’s Washington office withthe following question, however,Iwas rebuffed by thestaffer on the phone and instructed to fill out an online form instead. In apress release on June 27, explaining his opposition to the war powers resolution introduced by U.S. Sen. TimKaine of Virginia after President Donald Trumpunilaterally decided to bombIran, Cassidy wrote, “In thetime in which Congress would debate, the nuclear weapons could be deployed or moved andhidden.”

Cassidy seems to be referring here to nuclear weapons allegedly in Iran’s possession; however,nocredible source has claimed that Iran had or aspires to have nuclear weapons. Rather, in its latest Annual Threat Assessment issued in March, the Office of theDi-

rector of National Intelligence wrote that “we continue to assess Iran is not building anuclear weapon.” Why,then, did Cassidy refer to nonexistent nuclear weapons to justify his decision to votenoonS.J. Res. 59? What information does Cassidy have that contradicts the assessment of the U.S. intelligence community? If there is no such countervailing information, why is Cassidy basing his voting decisions on false premises? We have been told these sortsofWMD lies before, to disastrous effect Ironically,Congress taking the time to debateand authorize awar is meant to forestall thekind of dangerously fallible decision-making Cassidy seems to have employed in this case.

JOHN C. O’DAY NewOrleans

Does Mike Johnsonknowanythingabout hisstate?

There is an incorrect assumption by thepeople of Louisiana that one of their representatives is third in line for thepresidency.But based on how Mike Johnson pushed through theBig BeautifulBill, Iamforced to conclude that not only does he not represent the people of Louisiana, but also that he’s never actually been to this state. Louisianaisroutinely ranked in the top five of most impoverished states, with apopulation that is either aging, unemployed or underemployed. The entire state of Louisiana is held aloft by millionsoffederal dollars that fund our health care and hurricane recovery.And yet Johnson is behaving as if

no one in Louisiana’s4th District has even heard of the federal government and that the rest of the state has goldplated rimsontheir tires. Johnson put up almost no fight against abill that will strip Louisiana of its health care while enriching this country’sbillionaire class. That’s because Johnson’sreal constituency is madeupofonly this country’sbillionaires, and only three of those live in Louisiana. All threeofLouisiana’s billionaires live in NewOrleans, by theway,which is 325 miles away from Mike Johnson’soffice in Bossier City DANGALLO Metairie

Fine businesses who employ undocumented workerstopay forICE

At atimewhen the U.S. Immigration and CustomsEnforcement budget has tripled, and we are spending billions on new detention facilities, Ifind myself wondering if someof this additional expense could be recouped by fining businesses and labor contractors that hire immigrants without workpermits.

Ibelieve that if the twopolitical parties could stop politicizing immigration and craft legislation that would allow in only the number of immigrants needed to supplement the American workforce, impose tight controls on the issuing of immigrant work permits and penalize any employer whohires undocumented workers, illegal immigration would slow dramatically

Our country must enforce its laws and its borders, but to engage in wholesale roundups using masked ICEagents wearing no identification is undermining the civil liberties of every American.

Iwould rather see our health care budget tripled.

MARCIA B. COOKE NewOrleans

Scalise’said in case to be lauded,but more is required

U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise wasinstrumental in Immigration and Customs Enforcement’srelease of Mandonna Kashanian from ICE custody.I’m sure the congressman agrees that ICEseizing this person was atravesty of justice. The fact that acongressman had to “pull strings” to secure her release is but asymptom of the dangers we faceinour republic.

While Scalise certainly gains political credit forhis role in her release, as an experienced Washington politician whoiswell-versed in public policy and the use of power,I would hope that he would recognize that this wasnot an isolated incident and makeastatement to that effect. Of course, such an action would require him to moveoutside of his political comfort zone.

However,itwould be the moral and ethical thing to do.

PHILIP FRADY NewOrleans

COMMENTARY

KATRINA YEARS 20 THEESSAYS

Dr.Michael G. White on improvisation

ArtbyChandra McCormick and KeithCalhoun

Clarinetist Dr.Michael White, left,plays withthe Tuxedo Brass Band withmusicians JosephTerregano, also on clarinet, and LucienBarber on tuba, during an UptownNew Orleansprocessioninthe 1990s. The imagefrom the photography archiveofKeith Calhoun and Chandra McCormick was waterlogged in Hurricane Katrina’s floodwaters, rescued and then restored by the artists in 2010.

What ourmusic teaches us aboutrecovery

WhenHurricane Katrina arrived in late August 2005, it was awarning to the entire worldthatclimate change andits results, likecoastal erosion,risingtides and more devastatingsuperstormsand tsunamis, wouldbethe new order forthe planet.

To this nation and state, Katrina andits aftermath revealedthe need for anew approach to disaster preparation andaid, levee reconstruction andcoastal restoration, damage cleanup andreparation, financial assistance anda widerange of necessary social services. Forthe citizens of New Orleans, Katrina’sfierce winds blew the roof off our celebratory lives. Its lingering flood waters drowned our innocence and indifference. There would be no return to normal for many of us. Life as we had known it would neverbethe same.

In some ways, the storm washed up surprising revelations and questions about government agencies, ourfalsely imagined safety,response time,responsibility and accountability. Many ofus have lived nearly twodecades through the lingering effectsofstorm-related trauma, stress and devastating losses of loved ones, property, valuables and lifestyles.

In some ways, Hurricane Katrina was achance to use —orconsider —the lessons found in our traditional jazz culture Amain musical characteristic of New Orleans-style jazz is improvisation

To play jazz, you useyour hearing and knowledge of asong’smelodyand chord structure to spontaneously give your personal take on atune, itsfeeling and its meaning. That individualaspect used in ensemble playing and featured solos, teaches us to dig down deepinside ourselves to make the best of our present surroundings, whether it bethe song form, conditions under which we are playing or the quality of accompanying musicians.

In many aspects of Katrina recovery, anew level of improvisation became a necessary part of life thatweused to repair homes, find lodging, cope with illness and death, seek assistance and deal with the complexities of ouraltered daily lives.

Katrina forced us to playa new tune, to

beginanew life song. We had to replace our characteristic resistance to change by embracing new and different ways of existingand going about daily activities. That is like what happens in jazzimprovisation.

New Orleans jazz is characterized by its more communal nature. Our authentic Black community parade tradition of social club members, brass bands and endless second-lines achieves aspiritually powerful spectacle of sight,sound and movementcreated by mutually inspired layers of improvisation.

While individual improvisation is important in all jazz, our original jazz style also emphasizes collective improvisation. Each instrument of thetypical horn section of trumpet,trombone and clarinet is free within its specific roleto improvisetogether in call-and-response musical conversations above asteady rhythm section pulse to create ahigher, more powerful and more exciting sonic patinathanany one individual could.

Thelesson here is that unity is important in gaining the strength to overcome and rebound from tragedy.Many witnessed thesame kind of coming together found in our jazztradition in thepeople of New Orleanshelping and inspiring each other to rebound from Hurricane Katrina’saftermath.

The spirit of our old Sunday church parade tradition, in which brass bands played up-tempo jazz versions of hymns as well-dressed proud congregations paraded through community streets, added the elements of religious faithand prayer to the idea of unity and strength to overcome tragedy.Iwroteand recorded thesong “Sunday Morning” shortly after Katrina with those parades and our long recovery in mind, combining faith, unity and prayer: “Come together,Sunday morning When thelight moves darkness from thesky Sunday morning, when Isee you

We shall march together bye and bye.”

The traditional New Orleansjazzfuneral offers apsychologically healthy way of viewing and dealing with existence-altering disasters, like Katrina.

Thefirst part of the funeral is aprocession that acknowledges and embraces

loss and grief, reflected by the slow, sad hymns of abrass band. After burial or “cutting thebody loose,” there is a second-line withup-tempo music and dancing by family,friends, social club membersand acrowd of anonymous followers. The faster music and joyous dancing symbolize thehappiness that we should feel for thedeceased person, who is now free of life’stroubles and earthly burdens. We celebrate their transition to anew and better existence in union with theCreator.Katrina was adeath, an end of life as we knew it. Butitwas also a transition into anew life, an opportunity to begin again.

As the20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina’sdevastating visit to our area approaches, it is atime to reflect on all that has happened since that fateful Monday,Aug. 29, 2005. It is atimeto honor thedead and remember all our suffering and losses. It is atimetoappreciatewhat is right about ourcommunity, and seek positive ways to fix what isn’tright. Ourtransition from pre- to post-Katrina life, our survival,recovery and renewal have been —like in the jazz funeral —away of transitioning closer to theCreator

For many, theKatrina experience taught us to be stronger,tobethankful for what we had and have.

It is areminder that we must remain strong and prepare ourselves to lessen losses and grief in the future, as the truthabout our geographic location and climate conditions remains afrightening reality.

It is atime for us to uniteinprayer, encourage strong leadership and find positive ways toteach our young. It is also atime to reflect upon the unique cultural traditions that make New Orleans amagical and special place; their true meaning and purpose, their authentic noncommercial forms,theirvalue to our community,and theways in which they continue to define, inspire, challenge, uniteand free us.

Avaluable resource for how we can deal withdisasters like Katrina, the COVID epidemic and personal tragedy is found through prayer and something as close and personal as our authentic jazz tradition.

Dr.MichaelG.White is an accomplished clarinetist, composer, historian, producer and songwriter. He graduated from St.Augustine High School and Xavier University of Louisiana, and he has a master’sand adoctoratefrom Tulane University.Heisthe founderofthe Original Liberty Jazz Band. He lost nearly everything to Hurricane Katrina, and he’s been building anew life since

Chandra McCormick and Keith Calhoun are artists bornand raisedinNew Orleans’ Lower 9thWard.Amarriedcouple, theyhavebeen documenting the culture of Louisiana and its people formore than four decades and have received numerous awards fortheir work.

BLOTTER

Continued from page1B

sisting an officer and one count of aggravated assault with aweapon, according to Church Point police.

Officers were dispatched Sunday afternoon in the area of Wilson andJosephstreets regarding acall about a woman running around with amachete threatening people

Officials said when they arrived, officers spoke with the victims and learned that two people had been struck with the machete but the blade was dull and it did not cut them. Another individual was also threatened but never struck.

When officers approached Chavis, they said she retreatedinto her residence and barricaded thedoor.She was unable to be talked out the residence and officers conducted aforced entry

Officials said Chavis resisted officers again but officers were able to subdue her and conduct an arrest.

Chavis has mental issuesand becomes violent,authorities said They said she has been arrested several times, once for allegedly ramming into aChurch Point Police Department unit intentionally.She has been arrested several times on accusations of threatening people and trespassingontheir property,police said.

Shooting leaves 1 injured, police say

The Opelousas Police Department is investigating aMonday shooting that left one man injured.

Police responded to the 800 block of St. Cyr Street after hearing gunshotswhile on patrol, according to aPolice Department announcement. Upon arrival, policefound aman sufferingfromseveral gunshotwounds to his lower body

The manwas transported to ahospital for treatment. Investigators are gathering evidence and speaking with witnesses Chief Graig LeBlanc urgesanyone with information related to this incident to contact the Opelousas Police Department at (337)948-2500

Allcalls will remain anonymous.

Twowomen killed in I-10 crash

State Policeare investigatingacrash that killed two women over the weekend.

Cynthia Dinet, 66,of Gretna, andElisa Lightell, 68,ofMaurice, died shortly after 5p.m. Sunday.Troopers responded to reports of afatal crash on Interstate 10 East nearthe intersection of La. 328, according to a Louisiana State Police Troop Iannouncement.

Dinet and Lightell were stopped on the right shoulder of I-10, police said. Both women were outside the vehicle when aLexus,travelingeastin the rightlane, swerved intothe rightshoulder to avoidcongestion,striking thestopped vehicle and both women. Dinet and Lightell suffered fatalinjuries. The unrestraineddriverof the Lexus received moderate injuries and was transported to ahospital for treatment.

Routine toxicology samples were collected for analysis. The crash remains under investigation.

LOTTERY

SUNDAY,AUG. 3, 2025

PICK 3:

MURAL

Continued from page1B

ther side of theVermilion River —Truman and Katharine Drexel. Myrtle Place Elementary is the only other site with pre-Kclasses; it has two French immersion pre-K classes.

The mural at Katharine Drexel is away to refresh the space for its new cohort

“It’sagreat way to invite our new students to awelcoming environment,” said school system Director of Early ChildhoodEmmyThibodeaux. “It’s going to allowour students the ability to blossom in their own way at their new littlehome.”

As of Monday morning, therewerestill open seats at both Katharine Drexel and Truman. Students must be 4 years old by Sept.30toenroll. For more information about pre-K, visit enrolllafayette. com

Email AshleyWhite at ashley.white@theadvocate. com.

Local artist DirkGuidry talks about his work on Monday duringthe

AdrianNankivell and WesModes remove ashanty boat fromthe sideofthe Almonaster Avenue

storm while waiting for the bridgetoopen

RISHER

Continued from page 1B

that now has no river culture,”Modes said. “Like there’snothing there along the river,other than a weak attempt at adock. There’snoway to like stop there when you’re, you know,soit’sjust like, ‘All right,you just move on by.’”

Theycame down theRed River, which becomes the Atchafalaya Rivernear Simmesport —specifically where the Red Riverjoins with water flowing from an outflow channel of the Mississippi River into the Atchafalaya

The shantyboat stopped in Simmesport, where they hadabit of excitement by docking on the river’s edge, walking into town and meeting, by chance, a niceyoung man who drove them back to their boat. Shortly thereafter,Modes saidthey encountered two other young men dressed in fullmilitia gear,with sidearms and patches that said, “Always be ready,” andlocked and loaded AR15s.

“And so they were. They were like, ‘Hey,this is private property.’ We’re like, ‘That’sfine. We’ll get out of here.’”

The situation, as they say,escalated from there, with tripstothe police station, citations issued, threats madeand more. Things became friendlier once they were southof Interstate10. By the timetheyreached the bayous near Houma and Dulac, theheat hadn’t let up, but Modes says they hadfound theirgroove and theway that even tenuous connections in Louisiana

can open doors. The stories had gotten deeper,and the riverand its people, for the most part, gentler

Modes is spending afew more days in New Orleans. He’ssimultaneously still processing the trip, getting

ready for the next semester of teaching and already looking forward to his next river adventure.

History doesn’tlive in comfort —itlives in stories. And rivers still have plenty to tell.

rangeis $46,842-$84,302 annually anddepends on qualifications.Goto https://wwwgovernmentjobscom/ careers/louisiana/jobs/5020987/mobileequipment-operator-2-heavy-lafayette fordetailedinformation or to apply. ContactKelly Stanford at 337-735-8720 or KStanford@wlf.la.govfor more infor‐mation

UL’s newstadium on schedule

Workers continue to put the finishing touches on Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium on Friday in preparation for UL’s Aug. 30 season opener againstRice.

Nussmeier

commands another sharpday of offense

LSULBPerkins continuesto shineatpreseasoncamp

BY REED DARCEY

Staff writer

Once he used ahard count to fool apairof overeager edgerushers, Garrett Nussmeier’seyes lit up. The veteran LSUquarterback knew he had earnedhis offense afree play,sochoosing his nextmove was easy. Nussmeier would snap the balland throw to Trey’Dez Green —the 6-foot-7 tight end running afade pattern down the right sideline. Once Green snatched the pass in tight coverage and tapped his foot in bounds, he had completed aplay representativeofthe preseason practice the Tigers’ offenseheld on Monday morning —a smoother session thanthe uneven one it turnedinonSaturday Nussmeier fit afew impressive throws into tightwindows.Running back Caden Durham broke off along run.The offensive line —alargely unsettled unit with four new starters —showed signs that it was improving in pass protection.

The defense still made plays, such as an interception by Harold Perkins orpass break-ups by cornerbacksPJWoodland andDJPickett.But thefirst-team offense controlled the day —justlike it did in the Tigers’first practice of the preseason Nussmeier completed fiveofthe eight passes he threw in 7on7repsthat simulated third-and-medium situations. Then hewent 6for 9inteam drills, work that included completions withfive different receivers.

Stadiumundergoing final touchesasfans, players gear up forgameday

BY KEVIN FOOTE Staff writer

UL’s August camp is underway, andthe seasonopenerisscheduledfor 7p.m. Saturday,Aug. 30 against Rice.

And while everyone in theathletic departmentisexcited for the long-awaitedopening of OurLady of Lourdes Stadium, deputy directorofathletics Trey Frazier said Monday everything is on schedule for the big day “Asfar as preparedness, Ithink we’rein areally good spot,” Frazier said. “The stadium is coming along well.

“If you’re driving by,you can see that

they’re still working on some things, but there shouldn’tbeany issues as far as the stadiumbeing abletorockand roll(for opener).”

Much of the tasks left to do are things mostfans “wouldn’teven notice” in these final three weeks before gameweek arrives, Frazier said.

“The painting and the graphics are what they’re working on finalizing,” Frazier said.

“Yes, there is somelandscaping still going on, but all the major things are done …even furniture is in the clubs and the suites, and all the seats are installed.” The otherbig aspect is the final installationofthe newplaying turf, whichshould be “this week, but no later than next week.” Essentially,the yard-line markers are remaining.

RETURN ON INVESTMENT

Saints ä See LSU, page 3C

LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier STAFF FILE PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

BY

MATTHEW Staff writer

Erik McC rounders On his left, Kelvin Bank first-round p spectively T sar Ruiz and 2020 and 202 Not many can say the s The Saints projected to sive linemen round The L other, but in players isn’ ton picked Jets, joined a successful Eagles Does it ma Since arri Kellen Moor build his tea he isn’t alon

PARAS

oyissurrounded by firstthere’sTrevor Penningand s —the New Orleans Saints’ icks from 2022 and 2025, rehen, to his right, there’sCeTaliese Fuaga—from the 4 classes.

centers —let alone teams ame. are one of just two teams have four starting offenwho were taken in the first osAngeles Chargers are the that case, oneofthe four t homegrown. Mekhi Bec11thoverall in 2020 by the Los AngelesinMarch after year withthe Philadelphia tter?

ving to coach the Saints, e has consistently vowed to m through thetrenches. But e in that trainofthought

coaches across the NFL love to tout the importance of offensive (and defensive) line play.And New Orleans is coming off aseason in whichits line playwas relatively poor,despite having three firstrounders.

The difference, it seems, might be the distinction between general platitudes andwhether ateam actually continues to makeaninvestment in the position year after year.And to start the Moore era, the Saints drafted Banks ninth overall, switched Fuaga back to right tackle and moved Penning insidetoplay leftguard.

The Saints are banking on their changes up front suddenly turning one of their biggest weaknesses into oneoftheir biggest strengths.

“You can havethat statusand you canhaveall that, butyou’vegot to go outthere andplay football at the same time,” Banks said. “The guys on our line, we were picked in the first round. They believedinusfor areason andobviously, we have talent. Andthey believe we have thetalent to go out there and do it.

Youcan have that status and you can have allthat, but you’ve gottogoout there and play football at the same time. The guys on our line, we werepicked in the first round. They believed in us for areason and obviously,wehave talent. And they believe we have the talent to go out there and do it.”

KELVIN BANKS, Saints tackle

NASCAR pivots after MLB Speedway

BY TERESA M. WALKER AP sportswriter

BRISTOL,Tenn.

— The instant the Atlanta Braves and Cincinnati Reds cleared the baseball diamond inside the infield at Bristol Motor Speedway, a new clock started

“The Last Great Colosseum” has to switch from hosting the MLB Speedway Classic and be ready for NASCAR’s return to the historic racetrack hosting a playoff chase race Sept. 13.

“As soon as the last pitch is thrown, the last hit’s hit, teams do their thing, postgame’s taken care of, pads will start coming off the wall, and they’ll work through the night to basically start disassembling so we can reassemble for the NASCAR race,” said Steve Swift, Speedway Motorsports’ senior vice president of operations.

Major League Baseball used BaAM Productions, a creative production company, for everything from clubhouses complete with showers, strength and conditioning rooms, and coaches’ and trainers’ offices to batting cages, grandstands and broadcast booths.

Pit walls taken down to keep the Reds and Braves from crashing into them have to be rebuilt Swift said pouring concrete walls does take time and then more time to cure properly Additives can help concrete cure faster, but that’s

parking lots. Swift said they have found groups to help use some of the materials to help people still recovering from the damages left by Hurricane Helene. That includes 2x4s and plywood used for the grandstands.

“A lot of stuff is going to go to good use as far as the rebuild portion,” Swift said. “We just need to get it out of the way so we can put back asphalt and concrete.”

This new renovation schedule has a couple of days built in for protection. The target date for being finished is Sept. 7.

“There may still be some paint drying whenever they roll in with the Goodyear haulers, but we’ll definitely shoot for that (Sept 7) day,” Swift said “And at the latest, we’re looking at Tuesday.”

Astros’ Paredes will avoid season-ending surgery

MIAMI Astros third baseman

Isaac Paredes will rehab his right hamstring injury instead of undergoing surgery in hopes of returning before the season is over, general manager Dana Brown said Monday Paredes suffered what Brown described as a “severe” right hamstring strain in a loss to the Seattle Mariners on July 19. He’s had multiple rounds of imaging done since then and received a second opinion last week from a doctor, who told him his two choices were to rehab the injury or undergo season-ending surgery Paredes received a platelet-rich plasma injection for his hamstring and will begin rehab, which will mostly take place in Houston, Brown said. He added that the immediate course of action will be a “long period” of resting the hamstring.

Spurs, Fox agree to $228M, four-year deal

SAN ANTONIO San Antonio Spurs guard De’Aaron Fox has agreed to a four-year, $228 million maximum contract extension, a person with knowledge of the situation said Monday

just one of the reconstruction issues causing obstacles.

Swift said Bristol has had great partners planning for all the details of making this happen. Now it’s time for Bristol Motor Speedway to go from hosting the first MLB regular-season game in the state of Tennessee and setting a record with a paid attendance of 91,032 back to its racing roots.

“It is difficult, but it’s things that we like,” Swift said “It gives us a challenge and we like challenges.”

The transformation to a baseball diamond in the infield required 17,500 tons of gravel to level the infield, then 340 tons of Pennsylvania clay for the playing surface.

Braves first baseman Matt Olson said Saturday that he couldn’t believe Bristol was transformed all for one game. Well, everything that can be recycled will be used somewhere after the baseball diamond is removed. Some of the gravel will be used in Bristol Motor Speedway’s

Bristol hosted a college football game in 2016 that drew 156,990. Now the NHL might be in Bristol’s future after Sportico reported Friday that league officials would be checking out how the racetrack handled Major League Baseball.

When asked about possibly hosting an outdoor hockey game, Swift only said a hockey rink would be similar to a football field and that Speedway Motorsports has big dreams for what is possible at places like Bristol.

“We’ve shown with football and now baseball being here, that things can take place and we can do the the things that nobody would even think about,” Swift said.

Byron looks to build momentum for playoffs

BY JOHN BOHNENKAMP Associated Press

NEWTON,Iowa William Byron was already locked into the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs and was second in the regular-season point standings heading into Sunday’s race at Iowa Speedway Still, Byron didn’t like how things were going heading into the closing stretch of the regular season.

Byron had five finishes of 27th or worse in the last eight races, and coming to a track where he has had success in the past, he wanted to regain some confidence with the playoffs approaching “I think we’ve been fast every weekend,” Byron said. “I mean, I can’t think of a week when we’ve been slow, it’s just the results haven’t come together And it was starting to wear on us a little bit and starting to create some kind of, ‘What’s going to happen next?’” What happened next, though, was Byron getting his second win of the season on Sunday, gambling on fuel mileage for a win that he thought had changed the momentum of his season. Byron went the last 144 laps of the 350-lap race without a stop, and a third stage filled with caution flags helped him conserve enough fuel to get to the finish. He left Iowa Speedway, where he has now won in all three of NASCAR’s series, with an 18-point

lead over Hendrick Motorsports teammate Chase Elliott for the regular-season title.

“This is going to kind of put the pendulum the other way,” Byron said.

Byron won the season-opening Daytona 500, and has eight top10 finishes this season, including three second-place finishes.

But he had a 37th-place finish at Atlanta, a 40th-place finish at the Chicago street race, and 31stplace finish at Dover He was 16th last week at Indianapolis, when he had to make a late pit stop for fuel Surviving to win this one is something that crew chief Rudy Fugle expected.

“He’s an awesome driver,”

Fugle said “I think he’s the best driver all-around, in the field right now He’s mine, and I should say that. But I really think he’s maturing and getting the experience to show that off. He’s very welldiversified, and then he’s a fighter He’s got a hard line and fights through anything. There’s no quit in him.”

Byron had fuel-mileage issues late at Michigan, and again last week at Indianapolis. Even with that, Fugle knew he could still gamble with his driver

“Those are things that he’s gotten better as well over the years, rolling with the punches and what happens next,” Fugle said. “And next thing you know you’re leading and you get a chance to win.”

Byron admitted he was nervous as the laps dwindled on Sunday

“I knew what to expect,” he said.

“I knew what to look for and all that in terms of if I ran out of fuel. But I was just thinking about preserving as much as I could, doing a lot of different things in the car, lifting early and just not using a lot of throttle percentage So just the guys did a really good job coaching me on what to do.”

Byron thought there was a little fuel left in the tank at the end.

“I felt like if I could get off of (turn) four, come into the white (flag), I could win the race,” he said. “So that’s kind of what was

in my head. And that was mostly true. When I did the burnout, at the tail end of the burnout, I had the fuel pressure come up. So I don’t know how many laps that would have been.” Now, Byron said, he has new fuel to get to the playoffs. “I really feel like we needed to win a race like this, we deserve to win a race based on how we’ve grown all year and it just wasn’t happening,” Byron said. “It’s is just a big relief for us to have one kind of go our way We’ve just been running so well this year, I feel like this is going to be a big momentum boost for our team.”

Fox is under contract this season for the final year of his five year, $163 million deal. The extension starts in 2026-27, said the person, who spoke with The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the Spurs have yet to announce the agreement. ESPN first reported the deal.

The move was expected after the Spurs made a big splash at the trade deadline last season by getting Fox from the Sacramento Kings. Fox has career averages of 21.5 points and 6.1 assists in eight NBA seasons. He averaged 19.7 points with the Spurs last season.

Cowboys DT Smith leaves practice early with injury

OXNARD, Calif. Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Mazi Smith left practice early on Monday because of an apparent lower-body injury Smith, a 2023 first-round draft pick who has struggled to live up to expectations in his first two seasons in the NFL, appeared to be favoring his right leg as he walked down the sideline midway through the workout. He was examined in the trainer’s tent for several minutes before leaving the field under his own power Smith is entering his third season in the league, and cannot afford to miss time. He’s been struggling to hold down a starting spot and enters the preseason in danger of losing his job.

Djokovic withdraws from Cincinnati Open

CINCINNATI — Novak Djokovic pulled out of the Cincinnati Open on Monday for what officially was listed as a “non-medical” reason, meaning he will head to the U.S Open without having played a match in about 1 1/2 months.

The 24-time Grand Slam champion hasn’t competed since losing in the Wimbledon semifinals to eventual champion Jannik Sinner on July 11. That straight-set defeat against Sinner at the All England Club came two days after the 38-yearold Djokovic took what he described as a “nasty” fall in the last game of his quarterfinal victory Djokovic was clearly compromised against Sinner and unable to move at his best.

Star RB Barkley declined Trump sports council

PHILADELPHIA Saquon Barkley has declines President Donald Trump’s invitation to serve on the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition, which was part of an executive order he signed on Thursday The All-Pro running back said Monday that given his busy schedule with the NFL season impending, he and his family decided it would be in his best interest to decline the position.

Barkley said that the White House approached his management team “a couple months ago” to discuss the opportunity but that he isn’t “too familiar” with it.

“Was definitely a little shocked when my name was mentioned, but I’m assuming it’s something great,” Barkley said. “So, I appreciate it. But was a little shocked when my name was mentioned.”

The turf is new with more technological upgrades from the previous turf field.

“We put the Louisiana state outline behind the stacked Ragin’ Cajuns,” Frazier said. “The technology has improved with turf. The old turf was filled with these rubber pellets that were basically old tires that were all grinded up and filled in.

“It’s now some kind of coconut mix, believe it or not. It’s supposed to feel a lot more like a natural surface than the old turf did It is a newer, nicer technology It’s a little easier on knees, apparently.”

In addition to the fans, athletic department and construction workers, the coaches and players are awaiting the unveiling with great eagerness.

“It’s super exciting,” quarterback Walker Howard said. “We got new uniforms and we’ve got a new stadium. All the guys are super fired up I mean, it’s a great time to be a UL fan right now

“We’ve got a great team, and we’ve got a great coach. Coach (Michael) Desormeaux has been doing a great job. All of our players will fight for that man.”

Junior running back Zylan Perry already has his game face on.

“It’s going to be good, but you can’t let that distract us from winning the game,” he said of the new stadium. “So yes, it’ll be good, but you just got to come in and compete with everything you have.”

While the final touches are being executed, UL’s marketing team will be getting Cajun players and coaches out in the public. That begins with the August takeover campaign, in which the Cajuns will partner with 35 local businesses to “do some advertising and some fun stuff in their businesses.”

That will be followed by “Gear up for Gameday” and “Eat Local” projects the final two weeks before game week.

“It’s getting close, and everything is looking good,” Frazier said “It’s exciting.”

Email Kevin Foote at kfoote@theadvocate.com.

SAINTS

Continued from page 1C

“Now we’ve got to put it all together.” Draft status, as Banks said, isn’t everything. It could be said the reason the Saints have taken so many offensive linemen over the past few years is because they haven’t hit on enough of those picks. Penning was taken to be a star left tackle, but the 26-year-old has had a tumultuous pro journey that has included several benchings, a move to right tackle and now a kick to the inside. As well as Fuaga played at times last year his struggles in pass protection — his pass block win rate of 84% ranked 57th out of 66 qualifying tackles, according to ESPN — perhaps explain why the Saints’ new coaching staff wanted to move him back to right tackle, the position he played in college. But the Saints’ tendency to build their line through the draft is also a philosophy — a throughline that has existed during all of general manager Mickey Loomis’ 23-year tenure. Loomis strongly believes in homegrown talent, and indeed, the Saints are one of seven teams projected to have a starting offensive line that does not include a player who has played elsewhere in the NFL. The other six? Atlanta, Baltimore, Indianapolis, Dallas, Detroit and Seattle. Because the Saints have invested so many draft picks in the line of late, the unit isn’t that expen-

LSU football featured in new SEC documentary

BY SCOTT RABALAIS Staff writer

The Southeastern Conference is going Hollywood this week, and LSU football will have a starring role.

“Any Given Saturday,” a sevenpart documentary on SEC football, debuts Tuesday on Netflix. Conference officials provided a preview screening of the first episode in July during SEC Media Days in Atlanta, an episode that focuses on this past season’s wild 36-33 LSU

LSU

Continued from page 1C

On one notable play, Nussmeier evaded the rush, stepped up in the pocket, adjusted his arm angle and fired to receiver Chris Hilton, a fifth-year senior who had run into a throwing window in the middle of the field. On another, Nussmeier found Hilton again, this time dropping a perfectly thrown ball over his shoulder along the sideline and in between two defenders.

Here’s what else stood out from the hour-long viewing window that LSU opened to reporters at its fifth preseasonpractice thelastsession before the Tigers put on the pads.

Perkins disruptive again

On one of Monday’s 7-on-7 reps, Perkins floated into coverage and locked his eyes onto Nussmeier, positioning himself to dash backward and undercut a pass over the middle intended for freshman receiver TaRon Francis.

Nussmeier thought he had a throwing window

But Perkins was leaving it open, only so he could slam it shut once the ball was out and come down with an interception.

“He baited Nussmeier into it,” coach Brian Kelly said.

Through five practices, Perkins is disrupting the LSU offense. All indications are that he’s not only recovered from the ACL injury that cut his junior season short, but also comfortable in his Star position — the do-it-all role assigned to him in defensive coordinator

Blake Baker’s scheme.

By all accounts, the inside linebacker experiment is over

victory at South Carolina.

Unlike “SEC Storied” documentaries that appear on the SEC Network, “Any Given Saturday” takes an unvarnished look behind the scenes in the first episode as the Tigers and Gamecocks prepare for and play in this past September’s crucial early season contest. The language gets salty at times, but the emotions and intensity are real LSU coach Brian Kelly said this past week he had not seen the finished series, but that he liked the

reality of the documentary’s style.

“We said, ‘Let’s be who we are,’ ” Kelly said.

“There are narratives that people have that are based upon what they see on the sideline. They don’t get a really good sense of what your program is about. How you operate. We thought this would be a good way to change those narratives about how people perceive the way it is and the way it really is.”

The series is produced by a company called Box to Box Films. It

Perkins is now free to use his freakish speed and athleticism all over the field.

“I think it’s a familiar role for him,” Kelly said, “one that now he has a complete knowledge of the linebacker position. He’s not just a guy out there running around making plays. He’s so much more intentional. He knows the game. He knows the nuances of it.”

On Monday, after Perkins intercepted Nussmeier in the secondary, he lined up on the edge in

team drills, crashed the pocket and knocked the LSU quarterback off balance, forcing him into an errant throw On another 11-on-11 rep, he recognized a pass to the flat, sprinted toward the line of scrimmage, ducked under a block from Green and dropped transfer tight end Bauer Sharp — all before he could turn upfield to pick up positive yards.

“He just knows that this is his year,” Kelly said, “and all those things have allowed him to be re-

sive for 2025. McCoy and Ruiz are the team’s only starting linemen who are on their second contracts, and according to Over The Cap, the Saints have the eighthsmallest number of cap dollars allocated toward the offensive line this season. Consider this: Ryan Ramczyk who retired in June and hasn’t played since 2023

— has a higher cap number this coming season than any other

has produced a number of other sports documentaries for Netflix, including the popular “Formula 1: Drive to Survive,” “Full Swing” on pro golf, and “Sprint” on the world of professional track that includes LSU Olympic gold medalist Sha’Carri Richardson.

Netflix also debuted an NFL documentary series in July called “Quarterback: Season 2” that features former LSU Heisman-winning quarterback Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals.

ally, really focused and not distracted by anything.”

Interior offensive line

Virginia Tech transfer Braelin Moore has solidified LSU’s starting center position, Kelly said Monday, and four players are still competing for the two guard spots next to him on the first-team offensive line.

So far, returning starter DJ Chester has taken most of the top reps at left guard, with Northwestern transfer Josh Thompson receiving the bulk of the same snaps at right guard. Kelly said, however, that they’re each competing with returners such as redshirt sophomore Paul Mubenga and redshirt freshman Coen Echols.

Mubenga took first-team reps at left guard on Monday while Chester worked as the Tigers’ secondteam center

“It’s a four-man rotation right now with those guys,” Kelly said. The tackles haven’t changed. Redshirt sophomore Tyree Adams is still lining up as LSU’s top left tackle. Weston Davis, a redshirt freshman, is still the first-team right tackle.

Attendance

Neither receiver Aaron Anderson (knee), nor transfer safety Tamarcus Cooley practiced on Monday Kelly said that LSU is hoping to have Anderson — a redshirt junior who recently had work done to address inflammation in his knee — back on the field by Wednesday

Email Reed Darcey at reed. darcey@theadvocate.com.

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

sustain blocks. And then there’s Penning whom Thorn called one of the sport’s five best run blockers before citing the “very stark” disparity in pass protection Thorn said he’s “cautiously optimistic” on Penning’s move to guard.

“If all three hit, then yeah, I mean maybe the Saints could be top 10,” Thorn said, later adding, “For me, it was easier to poke holes and ask questions than actually have solid answers. That’s why I’m going into the year with them as a below-average unit.”

Health, of course, will also be an important factor Last year’s line was decimated by injuries, none more impactful than McCoy’s groin and elbow injuries that caused him to miss nine games. The Saints’ depth up front appears to remain a huge problem, and training camp hasn’t eased those concerns. Both backup centers, Will Clapp and Kyle Hergel, have had consistent snapping issues, while guard Nick Saldiveri, a 2023 fourthrounder, is already lost for the season with a knee injury

He said he thought Fuaga was “pretty shaky” in the pass game as a rookie, but believes the switch to right tackle will help raise the 23-year-old’s floor Thorn was also “a little bit skeptical” on the Banks selection not because he disliked him as a player, but because he’s concerned about the rookie’s play strength and whether he can

lineman on the roster Still, plenty of concerns exist. Take a glance at any annual offensive line ranking, and the Saints tend to fall in the No. 2225 range Offensive line expert Brandon Thorn, one of those rankers who had the Saints ranked 22nd for Establish The Run, said that while there’s promise at all five spots along the line, he thinks that New Orleans’ line is better suited for run blocking than pass protection.

But as much as the Saints were hurt last year New Orleans hasn’t deviated from the Banks-PenningMcCoy-Ruiz-Fuaga lineup in camp — at least in a practice setting. The Saints’ goal, for now, is to establish as much continuity as possible. Consider the plan another way Moore is trying to invest in the unit.

“It’s about building inside-out, ultimately,” Moore said.

Email Matthew Paras at matt. paras@theadvocate.com

Head coach: Broc Prejean (55-7)

PREP FOOTBALL SEASON PREVIEW

What we know

The standard at Vermilion Catholic doesn’t change.

The Screaming Eagles went 40-2 the past three years, highlighted by a 14-0 season that culminated in a 2024 Division IV select championship win over Ouachita Christian.

“There are new faces, but they’re faces who have been sitting behind guys who eat, sleep and breathe football,” VC coach Broc Prejean said.

“This group has been waiting in the wings.

Luke McLain, a first-team allstate defensive back, moves to linebacker after leading the squad in tackles and interceptions. The senior will be the feature back on offense.

“Luke made a name for himself last year,” Prejean said.

“He’s aggressive You get every pound of him on offense and defense. We definitely need a big season from him.”

Prejean will rely on seniors Seth Boudreaux and Jayden Sons to get three new starters on the offensive line up to speed. As the only starters listed over 200 pounds, Boudreaux and Sons will also play defensive line in coordinator Brett Blakey’s 3-3 stack.

“Brett does such a great job of moving players around pre- and post-snap,” Prejean said. “That has to continue to be part of how we play to create confusion and chaos.”

What we don’t know

How will Vermilion Catholic, which has seven new offensive starters (six on defense), respond to the loss of Class 1A Outstanding Player Jonathan Dartez, who is now at Nicholls State after having one of the best seasons ever for a quarterback in Louisiana.

“We had him for four years,” Prejean said. “We miss him, and we’re excited for his future at Nicholls. Life goes on. We’re going to let these guys create their own narrative.”

William Simon the leading returning receiver takes over at quarterback In addition to prepar-

ing for games as Dartez’s backup the past three years, Simon has lined up at running back, slot receiver free safety and linebacker during his career He was also a key player on the state championship baseball team

“He’s a jack of all trades,” Prejean said. “I told somebody the other day that if you really know football and watched our offense, Simon might have been the guy who made it go so effectively because of how many different things we did with him.

“He’s a really smart, intelligent kid, and he can spin the ball well.”

Simon will target receivers Matthew Mollere and James Bradley, who is replacing the leading receiver in 2024 tight end Allen McLain Mollere averaged 17 yards per catch and is a tremendous route-runner How we see it

Prejean said the month of August will be critical for his team, which kicks off the season against another reigning state champ in Catholic New Iberia. Last year VC was the only regularseason loss for Catholic NI.

“We had a really competitive summer,” Prejean said. “We liked what we saw in 7-on-7. We loved what we saw in the weight room, so it’s just a matter of having a great August.

Dartez rushed for over 2,500 yards last year, and Prejean expects the Eagles to throw the ball more often, although McLain is prepared to be a workhorse after carrying 57 times for 496 yards and four touchdowns.

VC will again face Erath and Ascension Episcopal after handing each team its only regularseason loss in 2024. Loreauville, which beat Erath in the playoffs to advance to the Division III quarterfinals, is also on the schedule.

“The numbers aren’t quite where we want them, but I think the competitive nature is there,” said Prejean, whose roster lists around 30 players. Our guys have learned how to be ironmen on the field.

“It’s not going to be easy The season starts with a gauntlet.”

Vermilion Catholic hasn’t lost a regular-season game since a setback to Erath in 2021

SCOREBOARD

LUKE MCLAIN

RB/LB 5-10, 176, SR. McLain is the Eagles’ best-looking prospect when the pads are strapped on, said Prejean, who added that the senior relishes pressure-packed moments and doesn’t want to ever come off the field.

WILLIAM SIMON

QB, 5-11, 188, SR. After constantly switching positions last year the versatile Simon is entrenched at signal-caller The keys to the offense are in the hands of the senior, a four-year starter with a sturdy frame as a dual-threat QB

SETH BOUDREAUX

OL/DL 5-10, 270, SR.

No player, including Simon, has taken as many snaps the past two years as Boudreaux.The Eagles’ largest player “really grinds and gets after it,” Prejean said.

JAYDEN SONS

OL/DL 5-9, 209, SR.

Last year, Sons stepped into the role of starting center and did an outstanding job He checks all the boxes as a “really fast” player for his size who is “incredibly strong,” Prejean said.

CALEB GUIDRY

RB/LB 5-8, 170, SR.

The linebacking corps will be a team strength with McLain and Guidry, who returned an interception 88 yards for a touchdown in last year’s title game. Guidry also sealed the win against Ouachita Christian.

El Niño desert orchid is aunique hybrid

New woody ornamentals

GARDEN NEWS

don’tcome along as often as annual bedding plants. So when El Niño desert orchid hit the market, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Jason Stagg was excited to see the flowering shrub’spotential for Louisiana gardens.

Something else about this new plant intrigued Stagg.ElNiño is ahybrid of an unusual pairofnative plants: catalpa, atree we are familiar with here in Louisiana and desert willow,aplant that’s common in Western states.

Why is this significant?

“Creating ahybrid out of plants from two different generaisoften verydifficult,” Stagg said. El Niño has been given the scientific name Chitalpa —a mashup of Chilopsis,the genus to which desert willow belongs, and Catalpa

This plant from Proven Winners is more than just abreeding success, though. It’satoughas-nails, easy-care shrub that bursts with frilly,pink-to-violet blooms in late spring and summer.Atthe AgCenter Botanic Gardens at Burden in Baton Rouge, El Niño started flowering in May,and the blooms have kept coming ever since.

McCLURE

OLIVIA

El Niño desertorchid’s fragrant blooms attract pollinators.

“They’re incredibly fragrant,” Stagg said. “They’re also drawing in alot of pollinators, and that’ssomethingwe love to have in our garden.”

El Niño’sopposite-arranged, pointed leaveshave interesting visual qualities, too.

“They’re very architectural,” Stagg said. “It’salmost likethe shrub was sculpted, and Ithink that creates areally neat shape in the garden.”

The El Niño at Burden has been in the ground for only acouple of years, and it has already reached about 10 feet tall. Stagg expects it to top out alittle taller than that witha spread of 4to6feet.

ä See ORCHID, page 6C

LOOKINGTO COOL OFF? AT A NEWHOME? GETTHE BEST OF

WORLDS WITH THESEAREAHOUSES ON THEMARKET

BY LAURENCHERAMIE | Staff writer

Inthe dog days of summer,who doesn’tlove adip in thepool? Particularly in Louisiana, outdoor pools can offer avariety of benefits —and not just for cooling off in theheat. Pools can be agreat way to exercise, socialize and enhance your backyard space. Swimming can improvecardiovascular health, physical therapy and mental health. Pools can even increase ahome’spropertyvalue and overall desirability

Pools come in many forms —from stock tanks and plunge pools to lap lanes and cocktail pools —but every one featured below is in-ground. Three of thefive featured houses have gunite pools, known for their durability Here are five houses on themarket in Baton Rouge that have stunning pools and outdoor spaces.

222 W. SHADYLAKE PLACE, BATONROUGE

|$575,000

In the Lakeside Subdivision off of Bluebonnet Boulevard, the property at 222 W. Shady Lake Place is ablend of comfort, convenienceand outdoor luxury.The living room features awall of windowsoverlooking the custom saltwater pool and hottub, designedbyEdward Jenkins. The outdoor space includes ascreened-in patio, new pool pump, outdoor shower and aworkshop area offthe double carport.

With a20% down payment, the estimated monthly payment is $3,694 with a30-year fixed loan.

6947 GOVERNMENTST., BATONROUGE |$650,000

According to thelisting, this classicColonialhome was built in the early1940s for the president of StandardOil. Today,the propertysits behind wrought irongates on an expansive lot in theOld Goodwood neighborhood. Theoutdoorspace is aprivate oasis, including acustom gunite pool, apergola for shade and a more than300-square-foot gazebo for entertaining. With a20% down payment, the estimated monthly payment is $4,170 with a30-year fixed loan.

ä See POOL, page 6C

PHOTOSFROMREALTOR.COM

The property at 6947 Government St., Baton Rouge, features acustom gunite pool and pergola.

JOYHOLDEN Staff writer

By The Associated Press

Today is Tuesday,Aug. 5, the 217thday of 2025. There are 148 days left in the year

Todayinhistory

On Aug. 5, 1962, South African anti-apartheid activist Nelson Mandela was arrested on charges of leaving the country without avalid passport and inciting workers to strike; it was the beginning of 27 years of imprisonment.

Also on this date:

In 1861, AbrahamLincoln signed the Revenue Act of 1861, which levied the firstincome tax on Americans (a flat tax of 3% on those making over $800/year) to help fund the Union’sCivil War effort.

In 1864, during the Civil War, Union Adm. David G. Farragut led his fleet to victory in theBattle of Mobile Bay,Alabama.

In 1884, the cornerstone for the Statue of Liberty’spedestal was laid onBedloe’sIslandin New York Harbor

In 1914, what’sbelieved to be the first electric traffic lightsystem was installed in Cleveland, Ohio, at the intersection of East 105th Street and EuclidAvenue

In 1936, Jesse Owens of the UnitedStateswon the200-meter dash at the Berlin Olympics, collecting the third of his four gold medals.

In 1953, Operation Big Switch began as remaining prisoners taken during the Korean War were exchanged at Panmunjom.

In 1957, the music and dance show “American Bandstand ” hosted by DickClark, made its nationalnetwork debut, beginning a30-year run on ABC-TV

In 1962, Marilyn Monroe, 36, wasfounddead in herLos Angeles home;her death was ruled aprobable suicide from “acute barbiturate poisoning.”

In 1964, U.S. Navypilot Everett Alvarez Jr.became the first American flyer to beshot down andcaptured byNorth Vietnam; he washeldprisoneruntil February 1973. In 1974, the White House released transcripts of subpoenaed taperecordingsshowing that President Richard Nixon and his chief of staff, H.R. Haldeman, haddiscussed aplan in June 1972 to use theCIA to thwart the FBI’s Watergate investigation; revelation of the tape sparked Nixon’sresignation

In 2010, 33 workers were trapped inacopper mine in northern Chile after atunnel caved in (all were rescued after beingentombed for 69 days)

In 2011, the sun-powered robotic explorer Junorocketed toward Jupiter on afive-year quest to discoverthe secret recipe for making planets.(Juno reached Jupiter on July 4, 2016.)

Today’sBirthdays: Countrymusic songwriter Bobby Braddock is 85. Actor LoniAnderson is 80. Pop singer SamanthaSang is 74. Actor-singer Maureen McCormick is 69. Rock musician Pat Smearis66. Author David Baldacci is 65. Actor Janet McTeer is 64. Basketball Hall of Famer Patrick Ewing is 63. ActorMark Strongis62. Directorscreenwriter James Gunn is 59. Actor Jonathan Silverman is 59. Actor Jesse Williams is 44. Actor/singer Olivia Holt is 28. NBA guardAnthony Edwards is 24. Actor Albert Tsai is 21.

LSU AGCENTER PHOTO By OLIVIA McCLURE

El Niño desertorchid hasopposite-arranged, pointed leavesthat create visualinterest in the garden.

ORCHID

Continued from page5C

El Niño has the most flower power in full sun but can do just fine in partial sun. It isdeciduous, meaning it willlose its leaves in the winter El Niño grows and establishes quickly and is low maintenance. It can handle droughts,heavy rain and everything in between It even survived Louisiana’srecord freezing temperatures this past winter

NADER

Continued from page5C

Naders are the paternal granddaughters of Sam Nader,LSU’s assistant athletic director for football operations since2000, and his wife, Ann. They are the maternal granddaughters of thelate TomGreene, aveterinarian andformerstate senator,and his wife, Cathy. The four Baton Rouge girls’

Nice try: It’s stillrudeto stareatsomeone’s chest

Dear Miss Manners: Increasingly these days, both men and women wear T-shirtswith messages, mottos andinsultsemblazoned on them. Presumably,atleast part of the intent is to communicatesomething. Ienjoy looking at them and trying to decipher themessages. However,todosowith women may involve a prolonged and possibly unwanted stare at their chests, especially since Iamaslow reader.What would Miss Manners recommend in such situations?

tances, co-workers and friends.

It also appears to be deer resistant. Researchers have observed little deer damage in trials in North Carolina—where the plant wasdeveloped —aswell as locally at Burden and the AgCenter Hammond Research Station. Likemost shrubs, El Niño should be planted in thecooler months. If you’relooking to add something unique to your garden, be sure to put it on your list of plants to try “This plant is oneofthe most interesting new introductions that we’ve seeninyears,” Stagg said.

modeling careers started when Brooks Nader,agraduate of EpiscopalHighSchool,won aSports IllustratedSwimsuit casting search in 2019and appearedin every year since, including being acover model in 2023. Theshow will focus on the Naders’success as they juggle the social scene of Manhattan’selite and theincreased attention on their romantic lives.

Email Joy Holden at joy holden@theadvocate.com.

Continued from page5C

succulents, begonias, carnivorous plants, staghorn fernsand more. Need some horticultural help? Members of different area plant

societiesand vendors will be available to answer questions and discuss selecting, growing and maintaining the plants that they are selling All sale proceeds will benefit the Botanical Gardens. The event is sponsored by theBotanic GardenFoundation,Friends of the Botanic Garden and BREC. EXPO

Gentlereader: Miss Manners agrees that people who turn themselves into billboards must expect to be read. Butshe finds it disingenuous of you to suggest that T-shirt messages aresolong or dense as to require thereader to give them prolonged attention. Youare allowed one glance and no leaning in closely,even if you are nearsighted. Then move on.

Dear Miss Manners: Ihave atwin sister who lives in the sametown that Ido. We look reasonably similar,especially tothose who don’t know us well. We share some social circles, but of course we also have many separate acquain-

My dilemma is that often, when someoneinpublic greets me or begins aconversation with me, I either don’tknow them at all or Ivaguely recognize them as an acquaintance of my sister’s(say,amember of her church or extended family). There’salways theslight chance (and fear) that this is someone I do know and have failed to recall, but chances are that this person has mistaken me formysister Ican never think of a politeway to clarify the situation. Occasionally an easy solution will present itself,such as them asking about my twin’shusband or child, but mostoften Iwind up giving short, awkward answers and exiting the situation as quickly as possible. I’msure this leaves people thinking I(or rather,my twin sister) wasrather rude.

On theoccasions that Ihave helped them realize their mistake, they usually feel really embarrassed and upset. Iknow she must have the same problem;I often will have people tell me, “I ran into you at the grocery store last weekand you acted as if you didn’teven know me!”

Preparingfor theend of

Dear Heloise: Both my wife and I are in our 80s, so I’ve created a detailed list of things that need to get done once we pass. My list includes all of my insurances (home, earthquake, car,life, etc.) with names and phone numbers. In my list, Ialso include my latest will along with things like my checking and savings account numbers. In addition, I have my social securitynumber and the phone numbers needed to contact them to stop payments. My sons will have to pay our stateand federal taxes, so Ihave my accountant’s number avail-

POOL

Continuedfrom page5C

17835 E.

Is there apolite way to handle a case of mistaken identity without making others feel flustered or uncomfortable fortheir mistake?

Gentle reader: No doubt you have to put up with countless tedious remarks and jokes, forwhich Miss Manners offers her your sympathy

But these are honest mistakes. Youneed only say,“No, that must have been my sister.” Or,ifyou have somedoubt, an ambiguous but good-natured, “Sorry —I’m so often mistaken formytwin sister.”

Besides, can you honestly tell Miss Manners that you have never enjoyed playing tricks on people by switching identities? Even as children? (But not, she trusts, by taking each other’sexams in whichever subject each of you happened to be stronger.Just harmless fooling.)

She is only suggesting that there may be charms, as well as nuisances, to twinship.

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

able. Included are the names and numbers of allmyhomeexpenses, suchasthe housekeeper,gardener andpool man,along with the reverse mortgage company.Plus, my list includes all my doctors, and Ieven have my list of passwordstoget into my computer and cellphone. Iread your columnevery day and find the items very useful. Keep them coming!

—Howard Zeff, in Mission Viejo, California

Openingplastic caps

Dear Heloise: Ithink Iprobably read this hint in your column before, but it is worth repeating:

AUGUSTADRIVE, BATONROUGE

|$3,495,500

No detail is overlooked at 17835 E. AugustaDrive, which overlooks the Country Club of Louisiana golf course’sfifth hole.The backyard also features akitchen,customgunite mineral saltwater pool and a1,500-square-foot guest house. With a20% down payment, the estimated monthly payment is $21,125 with a30-year fixed loan.

Iwas trying to twist the smooth, plastic cap off asmallbottle and just couldn’topen it. Ifinally grabbed arubber band and wrapped it around the lid, and I wasimmediately able to grip it and twist it off! —Debra V.,via email Cold butter pats

Dear Heloise: Ihad to smile when I read the hint about holding refrigerated pats of butter in your hand to soften them.I learned this (as well as manyother things) at our church lunches. Others assumed that Iwas praying! —Jo, in Little Rock,Arkansas Email heloise@heloise.com.

4966 BLUEBONNET BLVD., BATONROUGE |$2,295,000

KEYDETAILS n 4bed n

This houseinSouth Baton Rouge was built in 2023 on nearly an acre of land, located half amile from both Interstates 10 and 12. Outside, thesaltwater pool is made for relaxing, and the cabana includes afully equipped outdoorkitchen forentertaining. On theback porch, enjoy remotecontrolledscreens and aventlessfireplace. The backyard also includes fruit trees and grapevines. With a20% down payment, the estimated monthly payment is $12,872 with a30-year fixed loan.

19614 S. MUIRFIELDCIRCLE, BATONROUGE |$4,995,000

Get the feeling of being at an Italian villa when looking at thepool at 19614 S. MuirfieldCircle

The resort-style outdoor space features ahot tub, expansive patio and fully equipped outdoor kitchen for entertaining. The house itselfincludestravertine balustrades and aclay tile roof. With a20% down payment, the estimated monthly payment is $31,242 with a30-year fixed loan. Email Lauren Cheramie at lauren. cheramie@theadvocate.com.

LEo (July 23-Aug. 22) Your high energy will meet with resistance and competition. Time is on your side, and patience will be necessary to outmaneuver any opponent you encounter.

VIRGo (Aug. 23-sept. 22) Networking events will alter your perspective on professional progress. An interesting turn of events will allow you to utilize your skills in more ways than you thought possible.

LIBRA (sept. 23-oct. 23) Participate in events that offer insight into how you can best contribute and make a difference. Establish yourself as a frontrunner, but don't jeopardize your physical or emotional well-being.

scoRPIo (oct. 24-nov. 22) Avoid letting someone take advantage of you. Don't sell yourself short. What you sacrifice will lead to other limitations on your time, skills and ability to move forward.

sAGIttARIus (nov. 23-Dec. 21) Keep tabs on job postings and career options Domestic problems will arise if there is no compromise. If you can't meet in the middle, you may have to rethink your long-term plans.

cAPRIcoRn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Emotions will overflow if you let others drag you into their drama. You'll gain more ground if you focus on money, contracts and partnerships with people who share your agenda.

AQuARIus (Jan. 20-Feb 19) Emphasize your talents and utilize them to get the best results. Direct talks are preferable when dealing with information that comes from unfamiliar sources.

PIscEs (Feb. 20-March 20) Get in the game. Stand tall and refuse to let anyone steal your thunder. Opportunity knocks; let your charm lead the way. ARIEs (March 21-April 19) Dedication meets innovation, and the sky's the limit. Refuse to let anyone step in and disrupt your plans. Expect someone to be jealous of your accomplishments.

tAuRus (April 20-May 20) Engage in topics of interest. Take precautions to maintain your rights while standing up for your beliefs. Refuse to let a stubborn attitude get in the way of common sense.

GEMInI (May 21-June 20) Go where the action is, learn all you can and choose to experience life. What you do will make a difference. Set high standards and leave no room for error. Take charge.

cAncER (June 21-July 22) Proceed with caution, and when in doubt, sit tight and watch. Timing is crucial if you want to maintain your reputation and effectively address the concerns you have.

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

By Andrews McMeel Syndication

Sudoku

InstructIons: Sudoku is anumber-placing puzzle based on a9x9 grid with several given numbers. Theobject is to place the numbers 1to9 in the empty squares so that each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once. Thedifficulty level of theSudoku increases from Monday to Sunday.

Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer

By PHILLIP ALDER

Herbert Beerbohm Tree, an English actor and theater manager who died in 1917, said, “A committee should consist of three men, two of whom are absent.”

So, a male bridge declarer is a committee. In this deal, how should the committee play in three no-trump after West leads the heart jack?

Most authorities recommend not using Stayman when responder has 4-3-3-3 distribution with a four-card major. And that will be right most of the time. However, when there is a 4-4 fit and opener has 4-4-3-2 distribution, the suit in which the partnership has only five cards could prove to be a fatal weakness. (Note that in this deal four spades has no chance, but if West had a second spade, it would be makable.)

South starts with eight top tricks: one spade, three hearts, two diamonds and two clubs. His order of business is to collect a second spade trick. And there is a guaranteed line of play. After taking the first trick, declarer should cash his spade ace. Here, the queen drops from West, so South continues with a spade to dummy’s jack. But if the ace collects only low cards, declarer still plays another spade and must eventually establish that second winner.

Note that initially playing a spade to the 10 is fatal here. The tempting finesse must be deleted from the agenda. Finally,

Average

Time

Can

BRIEFS

FROM WIRE REPORTS

OPEC+ countries to boost oil production

NEWYORK— A group of countries that are part of the OPEC+ alliance of oil-exporting countries has agreed to boost oil production, a move some believe could lower oil and gasoline prices, citing a steady global economic outlook and low oil inventories

The group met virtually on Sunday and announced that eight of its member countries would increase oil production by 547,000 barrels per day in September

The countries boosting output, including Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, United Arab Emirates Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Algeria and Oman, had been participating in voluntary production cuts, initially made in November 2023, which were scheduled to be phased out by September 2026. The announcement means the voluntary production cuts will end ahead of schedule.

The move follows an OPEC+ decision in July to boost production by 548,000 barrels per day in August. OPEC said the production adjustments may be paused or reversed as market conditions evolve.

When production increases, oil and gasoline prices may fall. But Brent crude oil, which is considered a global benchmark, has been trading near $70 per barrel, which could be due to a potential loss of Russian oil on the market and a large rise in crude inventories in China, according to research firm Clearview Energy Partners.

China pushes back at oil demands by U.S.

WASHINGTON U.S. and Chinese officials may be able to settle many of their differences to reach a trade deal and avert punishing tariffs, but they remain far apart on one issue: the U.S. demand that China stop purchasing oil from Iran and Russia.

“China will always ensure its energy supply in ways that serve our national interests,” China’s Foreign Ministry posted on X on Wednesday following two days of trade negotiations in Stockholm, responding to the U.S. threat of a 100% tariff.

“Coercion and pressuring will not achieve anything. China will firmly defend its sovereignty, security and development interests,” the ministry said The response is notable at a time when both Beijing and Washington are signaling optimism and goodwill about reaching a deal to keep commercial ties between the world’s two largest economies stable — after climbing down from skyhigh tariffs and harsh trade restrictions.

It underscores China’s confidence in playing hardball when dealing with the Trump administration, especially when trade is linked to its energy and foreign policies.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, emerging from the talks, told reporters that when it comes to Russian oil purchases the “Chinese take their sovereignty very seriously.

Thousands of Boeing workers go on strike

NEW YORK — Several thousand workers at three Midwest manufacturing plants where Boeing develops military aircraft and weapons are on strike early

The strike started early Monday at Boeing facilities in St. Louis; St. Charles, Missouri; and Mascoutah, Illinois, after about 3,200 local members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers voted to reject a modified labor agreement.

It included a 20% wage increase over four years and $5,000 ratification bonuses. The walkout potentially complicates Boeing’s progress in regaining its financial footing following a bruising 2024. Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg told analysts last week that the impact would be much less than a walkout last year by 33,000 workers who assemble the company’s commercial jetliners.

Tesla gives Musk $29B in stock

BY MICHELLE CHAPMAN Associated Press

Tesla gave Elon Musk a stock grant of $29 billion on Monday as a reward for years of “transformative and unprecedented” growth despite a recent foray into rightwing politics that has hurt its sales, profits and its stock price.

All major Las Vegas Strip casinos are unionized, defying national trend The 96 million shares a reward for growth, company says

In giving its billionaire CEO 96 million in restricted shares, the electric car company noted that Musk hasn’t been paid in years because his 2018 compensation package has been rejected by a Delaware court. The award comes eight months after a judge revoked the 2018 pay package a second time. Tesla has appealed the ruling.

Tesla on Monday called the grant a “first step, good faith” way of retaining Musk and keeping him focused, citing his leadership of SpaceX, xAI and other companies.

Musk said recently that he needed more shares and control so he couldn’t be ousted by shareholder activists “Rewarding Elon for what he has done and continues to do for Tesla is the right thing to do,” the company said in a regulatory filing, citing an increase of $735 billion in Tesla’s value on the stock market since 2018. Tesla shares have plunged 25% this year largely due to blowback over Musk’s affiliation with President Donald Trump. But Tesla also faces intensifying competition

from both the big Detroit automakers, and from China. In its most recent quarter, Tesla reported that quarterly profits plunged from $1.39 billion to $409 million. Revenue also fell and the company fell short of even the lowered expectations on Wall Street. Investors have grown increasingly worried about the trajectory of the company after Musk had spent so much time in Washington this year, becoming one of the most prominent officials in the Trump administration in its bid to slash the size of the U.S. government.

BETTING ON THE UNION

union membership overall is declining.

BY RIO YAMAT Associated Press

LASVEGAS When Susana Pacheco accepted

a housekeeping job 16 years ago at a casino on the Las Vegas Strip, she believed it was a step toward stability for her and her 2-yearold daughter

But the single mom found herself exhausted, falling behind on bills and without access to stable health insurance, caught in a cycle of low pay and little support. For years, she said, there was no safety net in sight until now

For 25 years, her employer, the Venetian, had resisted organizing efforts as one of the last holdouts on the Strip, locked in a prolonged standoff with the Culinary Workers Union. But a recent change in ownership opened the Venetian’s doors to union representation just as the Strip’s newest casino, the Fontainebleau, was also inking its first labor contract

The historic deals finalized late last year mark a major turning point: For the first time in the Culinary Union’s 90-year history, all major casinos on the Strip are unionized. Backed by 60,000 members, most of them in Las Vegas, it is the largest labor union in Nevada.

The union’s success on the Strip is a notable exception in a national landscape where

And this summer contracts have provided workers with added security as the city’s tourism dips. Visitation was down 11% in June compared with a year earlier, and the Strip’s occupancy rate also fell from 88% last June to 82%, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority

“Together, we’ve shown that change can be a positive force, and I’m confident that this partnership will continue to benefit us all in the years to come,” Patrick Nichols, president and CEO of the Venetian, said shortly after workers approved the deal.

Pacheco says their new contract has already reshaped her day-to-day life. The housekeeper no longer races against the clock to clean an unmanageable number of hotel suites, and she’s spending more quality time with her children because of the better pay and guaranteed days off.

“Now with the union, we have a voice,” Pacheco said.

The Culinary Union is also seeing gains despite Republican-led efforts to curb union power

About 10% of U.S. workers belonged to a union in 2024, down from 20% in 1983, the first year for which data is available, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor statistics.

President Donald Trump in March signed an executive order seeking to end collective bargaining for certain federal employees that led to union leaders suing the administration. Nevada and more than two dozen other states now have so-called “right to work” laws that let workers opt out of union membership and dues.

GOP lawmakers have also supported changes to the National Labor Relations Board and other regulatory bodies, seeking to reduce what they view as overly burdensome rules on businesses.

Ruben Garcia, professor and director of the workplace program at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas law school, said the Culinary Union’s resilience stems from its deep roots in Las Vegas, its ability to adapt to the growth and corporatization of the casino industry, and its long history of navigating complex power dynamics with casino owners and operators. He said the consolidation of casinos on the Las Vegas Strip mirrors the dominance of the Big Three automakers in Detroit. A few powerful companies — MGM Resorts International, Caesars Entertainment and Wynn Resorts now control most of the dozens of casinos along Las Vegas Boulevard.

“That consolidation can make things harder for workers in some ways, but it also gives unions one large target,” Garcia said. That dynamic worked in the union’s favor in 2023, when the threat of a major strike by 35,000 hospitality workers with expired contracts loomed over the Strip. But a lastminute deal with Caesars narrowly averted the walkout, and it triggered a domino effect across the Strip, with the union quickly finalizing similar deals for workers at MGM Resorts and Wynn properties.

The latest contracts secured a historic 32% bump in pay over the life of the fiveyear contract. Union casino workers will earn an average $35 hourly, including benefits, by the end of it.

BY STAN CHOE Associated Press

NEW YORK U.S. stocks rallied on Monday and won back most of their sharp loss from last week, when worries about how President Donald Trump’s tariffs may be punishing the economy sent a shudder through Wall Street. The S&P 500 jumped 1.5% to follow up its worst day since May with its best since May The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 585 points, or 1.3%, and the Nasdaq composite leaped 2%. Idexx Laboratories helped lead the way and soared 27.5% after the seller of veterinary instruments and other health care prod-

ucts reported a stronger profit for the spring than analysts expected. It also raised its forecast for profit over the full year Tyson Foods likewise delivered a bigger-than-expected profit for the latest quarter, and the company behind the Jimmy Dean and Hillshire Farms brands rose 2.4%.

Stocks are coming off their worst week since May not so much because of that criticism but because of worries that Trump’s tariffs may be hitting the U.S. economy following a longer wait than some economists had expected. Job growth slowed sharply last month, and the unemployment rate worsened to 4.2%.

They helped make up for a nearly 3% loss for Berkshire Hathaway after Warren Buffett’s company reported a drop in profit for its latest quarter from a year earlier The drop-off was due in part to the falling value of its investment in Kraft Heinz. The pressure is on U.S. companies to deliver bigger profits after their stock prices shot to record after record recently The jump in stock prices from a low point in April raised criticism that the broad market had become too expensive.

The Fed has instead been keeping rates steady this year, in part because lower rates can send inflation higher, and Trump’s tariffs may be set to increase prices for U.S. households.

Friday’s stunningly weak jobs report did raise expectations on Wall Street that the Fed will cut interest rates at its next meeting in September That caused Treasury yields to slump in the bond market, and they eased a bit more on Monday The yield on the 10-year Treasury slipped to 4.19% from 4.23% late Friday

Trump reacted to Friday’s disappointing jobs numbers by firing the person in charge of compiling them. He also continued his criticism of the Federal Reserve, which could lower interest rates in order to pump adrenaline into the economy