The Acadiana Advocate 08-11-2025

GROUNDBREAKING TREATMENT

La.’s firstsicklecellgenetherapy patientaimsto fly

DanielCressy sits on ahospital bed as his blood stem cells are harvested as part of the process to remove

disease at ManningFamily Children’sinNew Orleans on July 30.

BY EMILYWOODRUFF |Staff writer

This story is the first in an occasional series following Louisiana’sfirst patients to receive gene therapy for sickle cell disease.

On the third floor of ManningFamily Children’shospital in New Orleans recently,a spinning centrifuge wobbledand hummed next to Daniel Cressy’sbed.

From his neck, thin tubessnaked into the machine spinning his blood, separating out the stem cells doctors hope will help cure his sickle cell disease

Later the same day,the bagofblood hanging from the top of the machine was on its way to Scotland,where the stem cells were scheduled to be genetically edited to reset his body’s switch for protection from thesearing,unpredictable

pain of his chronic disease.

Once those modified stem cells are reintroduced and take rootinhis bone marrow, Cressy hopes to be in the air,too. The gene therapy is his second chance after the Federal Aviation Administration denied his medical clearancetobea pilot. Cressy,22, is the firstperson in Louisiana to receive a groundbreaking gene therapy that could offer afunctional cure for sickle cell. Thousands of people in thestate live withthe same diagnosis, but getting this multimillion-dollar treatment isn’teasy.For Cressy,ittook 18 months of evaluations and insurance approvals. Across thestate, more patients are lining up, but only one other person, a10-year-old in Shreveport, has made it through the approvals process so far

LouisianaDemocrats workingtorebuild theparty

Butasolidly Republican voterbasemeans some crossing theaisle

BY TYLER BRIDGES |Staff writer

Beto O’Rourke was fired up when he appeared before an enthusiastic crowd of more than 1,000 people in NewOrleanson Thursday night, telling them that Democrats can begin turning around theirfortunes inLouisiana. Thepath, saidO’Rourke, aformer congressman who lost highly publicized races for the U.S. Senateand governor in Texas, requires “finding and fielding the candidates who are going to show up and authentically and honestly engage with the people they want to serve, learn from them,reflect what they are hearing, campaignlike there is no tomorrow. It’sapath lined with obstacles. In the 2023elections, RepublicanGov Jeff Landry surprised most observers by

cruising to victoryinthe primaryoverhis Democratic challenger,negating the need for arunoff. Republicans alsoprevailed once again in all of the other statewide offices, and they captured enough additional legislative seats to claimatwo-thirds supermajority in both the House and the Senate.

Republicanshavenot held so much power in Louisiana since the post-Civil War Reconstruction era 150 years ago.

Parish school system taking steps to lowerrates

BY ASHLEYWHITE |Staff writer

Absenteeism in schools is abasic concept. If students aren’tinclass, they’re missing outoneducational time, which cancausethem to fall behind in their classes and leave them ill-prepared for whatever comes next.

But statesaround the U.S., including Louisiana, are still struggling with high absenteeism rates that soared during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Both the state Department of Education and Lafayette Parish school system Superintendent Francis Touchet Jr.are pushing initiatives to focus on the issue this year

Most people are likely familiar with the term truancy, whichiswhen astudent has five or more unexcused absences in asemester

Butchronicabsenteeismiswhena student misses 10% or moreofthe days they’ve been enrolled in their current school, regardless of if the absence is excused. Thatincludes time missed for doctor’sappointments or suspensions.

“Our No.1goal is to get kids in school and get them educated from day one,” said Rollan Moore, the director of child welfareand attendance forthe school system.“On average, when students have good average daily attendance, they get educational instruction, they get the units they need for next level and they have the adequate knowledge to be successful.”

Attendance counts start from the first day of the school, including the district’s staggered start days.

Chronic absenteeism is an issue that’s plaguing the United States. During the 2023-24 school year,about 23.5% of studentswerechronically absent, according to national data.That’snot as high as the rate at the peak of the pandemic —about 29% —but still higher than the pre-pandemic level of about 15%.

Lafayette Parish’soverall chronic

Thursday.

BRIEFS

Police say N.Y. tourist killed in Puerto Rico

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico A tourist who was visiting Puerto Rico for Bad Bunny’s residency was fatally shot early Sunday at La Perla, a popular seaside shantytown, police said.

The victim was identified as Kevin Mares, a 25-year-old who lived in New York according to a police statement.

The shooting happened in the predawn hours at a nightspot called Refuge for Mistreated Men in La Perla, a coastal community that has struggled to shed its dark reputation.

Homicide detective Sgt Arnaldo Ruiz said in a phone interview that the shooting took place when several people near Mares began arguing and one pulled out a gun and shot at least three people, including Mares A brother and a sister in their mid-40s who live in La Perla were injured and remain hospitalized.

Ruiz said Mares was an innocent bystander He was with three other friends who told police they were in Puerto Rico for one of Bad Bunny’s 30 concerts, which have attracted tens of thousands of visitors to the U.S. territory Mares was shot on the left side of his abdomen and was taken to Puerto Rico’s largest public hospital, where he died, authorities said.

Ruiz said police don’t yet know what the people were arguing about and don’t have a description of the shooter “We have very little information,” he said.

Ruiz added that Mares’ three friends also were from New York. He didn’t have their hometowns.

One killed, buildings collapse in Turkey quake

ISTANBUL A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck Turkey’s northwestern province of Balikesir on Sunday, killing at least one person and causing more than a dozen buildings to collapse, officials said. At least 29 people were injured.

The earthquake, with an epicenter in the town of Sindirgi, sent shocks that were felt some 125 miles to the north in Istanbul — a city of more than 16 million people. An elderly woman died shortly after being pulled out alive from the debris of a collapsed building in Sindirgi, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya told reporters Four other people were rescued from the building.

Yerlikaya said a total of 16 buildings collapsed in the region most of them derelict and unused. Two mosque minarets also tumbled down, he said None of the injured were in serious condition, the minister said.

Television footage showed rescue teams asking for silence so they can listen for signs of life beneath the rubble.

Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Management Agency said the earthquake was followed by several aftershocks, including one measuring 4.6, and urged citizens not to enter damaged buildings.

$7K worth of Labubu dolls stolen in California

LOSANGELES A group of masked thieves stole about $7,000 worth of Labubu dolls from a Los Angeles-area store this week, authorities said. The incident took place early Wednesday morning at a store in La Puente, a city about 18 miles east of Los Angeles, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said. The department said the suspects used a stolen Toyota Tacoma in the incident, which was recovered shortly afterward The agency said it was investigating the case and did not have additional information.

Labubu dolls, created by Hong Kong-born artist Kasing Lung, have become a popular collectible item a decade after the toothy monsters were first introduced.

Toy vendor One Stop Shop said in an Instagram post that the thieves took all of the store’s inventory and trashed the establishment. The store posted surveillance footage showing a group of people wearing hoodies and face coverings breaking in. The suspects are seen shuffling through items and carrying boxes out of the shop.

Netanyahu defends Gaza offensive

Israeli leader says operation will be wider than announced

BY WAFAA SHURAFA, SAM METZ and SAMY MAGDY Associated Press

JERUSALEM Israeli Prime

Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday defended a new military offensive in Gaza that’s more sweeping than previously announced, declaring in the face of growing condemnation at home and abroad that Israel “has no choice but to finish the job and complete the defeat of Hamas.”

Even as more Israelis express concern over the 22-month war, Netanyahu said the security Cabinet last week instructed the dismantling of Hamas strongholds not only in Gaza City but also in the “central camps” and Muwasi. A source familiar with the operation, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media, confirmed that Israel plans it in both areas

The camps sheltering well over a half-million displaced people, according to the U.N. — had not been part of Israel’s announcement Friday It was not clear why, though Netanyahu faced criticism this weekend within his ruling coalition that targeting

Gaza City was not enough.

Netanyahu said there would be “safe zones,” but such designated areas have been bombed in the past

Netanyahu’s office late Sunday said he had spoken with President Donald Trump about the plan and thanked him for his “steadfast support.”

Rejecting starvation in Gaza as well as a “global campaign of lies,” Netanyahu spoke to foreign media just before an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council, a platform for outrage but little action on the war

“Our goal is not to occupy Gaza, our goal is to free Gaza,” Netanyahu asserted The goals, he said, include demilitarizing the territory, the Israeli military having “overriding security control” and a non-Israeli civilian administration in

charge.

Israel wants to increase the number of aid distribution sites in Gaza, he said, but in a later briefing to local media, he asserted: “There is no hunger. There was no hunger There was a shortage, and there was certainly no policy of starvation.”

Netanyahu also said he has directed Israel’s military to “bring in more foreign journalists” — which would be a striking development, as they haven’t been allowed into Gaza beyond military embeds during the war

He again blamed many of Gaza’s problems on the Hamas militant group, including civilian deaths, destruction and aid shortages. “Hamas still has thousands of armed terrorists,” he asserted, adding that Palestinians are “begging” to be freed from them.

Hamas responded with

a lengthy statement that summed up Netanyahu’s remarks as “blatant lies.”

Late Sunday, heavy bombardment was reported in Gaza City Shortly before midnight local time, broadcaster Al Jazeera said correspondent Anas al-Sharif was killed in a strike along with other journalists and a driver, citing the director of nearby Shifa Hospital there.

Israel’s military confirmed it, asserting al-Sharif had “posed as a journalist” and alleging he was with Hamas. The Committee to Protect Journalists last month said it was gravely concerned for his safety and said he was a “targeted by an Israeli military smear campaign.”

The United States defended Israel, saying it has the right to decide what’s best for its security It called

allegations of genocide in Gaza false. The U.S. has veto power at the council and can block proposed actions there. Other council members, and U.N. officials, expressed alarm. China called the “collective punishment” of people in Gaza unacceptable. Russia warned against a “reckless intensification of hostilities.”

“This is no longer a looming hunger crisis; this is starvation,” said Ramesh Rajasingham with the U.N. humanitarian office. “Humanitarian conditions are beyond horrific. We have frankly run out of words to describe it.”

Israel faces growing action even by its closest allies. Netanyahu said Chancellor Friedrich Merz of Germany had “buckled under” the growing international criticism by stopping exports of military equipment to Israel that could be used in Gaza. Merz, for his part, told public broadcaster ARD that Germany and Israel were talking “very critically” but Berlin’s overall policies of friendship haven’t changed. At least 31 Palestinians were killed while seeking aid in Gaza, hospitals and witnesses said. The Associated Press spoke to witnesses of gunfire in the Israeli-controlled Morag and Netzarim corridors and the Teina area in the south All accused Israeli forces of firing at crowds trying to reach food distributions or waiting for convoys.

U.K. police: Over 500 arrested in pro-Palestinian events

BY DANICA KIRKA Associated Press

LONDON London police said Sunday that 532 people were arrested the previous day when supporters of a pro-Palestinian group recently outlawed as a terrorist organization intentionally broke the law to test the government’s ability to enforce the ban.

The Metropolitan Police Service released the updated figures as protesters demanding the immediate release of the remaining Israeli hostages in Gaza held their own march through central London on Sunday afternoon.

Action was banned after committing serious attacks involving violence, significant injuries and extensive criminal damage.

“The right to protest is one we protect fiercely but this is very different from displaying support for this one specific and narrow, proscribed organization,” Cooper said in a statement.

“Many people may not yet know the reality of this organization, but the assessments are very clear this is not a nonviolent organization,” she added. Police released updated

information on the Palestine Action protest after the front pages of Sunday newspapers featured photos of elderly protesters being carted off by officers.

One of those was La Pethick, an 89-year-old retired psychotherapist, who told the Times of London that she had the support of her five grandchildren. “We are having our right to peaceful protest being taken away,” she said.

Almost half of those arrested were over the age of 60, according to figures released by the Met.

The vast majority of those detained on Saturday were arrested for displaying placards declaring their support for the group known as Palestine Action Police updated their earlier totals and said 522 people were arrested for supporting a proscribed organization in violation of anti-terror laws. Another 10 people were arrested on a variety of charges, including assaulting and obstructing police officers.

that the government is illegally restricting freedom of expression by banning a direct action organization that has challenged its policies.

Backers of Palestine Action staged the protest to underscore their belief

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, who oversees law enforcement in Britain, rejected that characterization, saying Palestine

Flash flooding cancels last day of Wisconsin State Fair

By The Associated Press

MILWAUKEE Flash flood-

ing canceled the final day of the Wisconsin State Fair on Sunday as continued heavy rainfall in half a dozen Midwest states forced motorists to abandon their vehicles, cut power to thousands of households and closed busy roadways.

Organizers of the Wisconsin State Fair said they were scrapping the final day of the 11-day event after rains flooded the fairgrounds in West Allis, which is just outside Milwaukee

“We are saddened we cannot deliver this final day of the Wisconsin State Fair, but know that this is the best decision with current conditions and the forecast ahead,” organizers said in a statement

The National Weather Service issued flood watches and warnings for parts of Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri, Illinois and Wis-

consin. After rainfall began on Saturday in some areas forecasters predicted “repeated rounds of heavy rain,” along with hail, damaging winds and isolated tornadoes into Monday

Among the worst hit was the Milwaukee area, where as many as 12 inches of rain had fallen in some areas by Sunday, according to the National Weather Service, which also noted river flooding in Milwaukee and Waukesha counties. Some motorists left their stranded cars on roads. Nearly 47,000 customers of We Energies lost power in southeast Wisconsin. In the suburban village of Wauwatosa, an overflowing and fastmoving Menomonee River submerged a popular playground.

“Really unfortunately, it’s just a really bad overlap of circumstances in terms of how all this rain fell but then fell over such

a populated area,” said Andrew Quigley, a National Weather Service meteorologist.

Firefighters responded to over 600 calls including for gas leaks, flooded basements, electrical outages and water rescues, according to the Milwaukee Fire Department. Meanwhile, city crews worked overnight to clear surface water

“We’re still in the middle of it,” Fire Chief Aaron Lipski told reporters Sunday “We’re still catching up right now.”

USA Triathlon canceled its Sprint and Paratriathlon National Championships in Milwaukee, where thousands of athletes were expected to participate. Meanwhile, the Sunday afternoon Brewers versus Mets game at American Family Field was expected to continue as scheduled even as the parking lot remained inaccessible to traffic.

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European leaders rally behind Ukraine before meeting

Trump to host Putin on Friday in Alaska

BY SAMYA KULLAB Associated Press

KYIV, Ukraine European nations have rallied behind Ukraine, saying peace in the war-torn nation can’t be resolved without Kyiv ahead of an upcoming meeting between President Donald Trump and Russia’s Vladimir Putin in Alaska.

Trump said next Friday’s meeting with his Russian counterpart on U.S. soil would focus on ending the war, now in its fourth year

In response, Zelenskyy thanked European allies in a post on X, writing Sunday: “The end of the war must be fair, and I am grateful to everyone who stands with Ukraine and our people.”

Saturday’s statement by top European leaders came after the White House confirmed the U.S. president was willing to grant Putin the one-on-one meeting Russia has long pushed for and suggestions from Trump that a peace deal could include “some swapping of territories.” That raised fears that Kyiv may be pressured into

giving up land or accepting other curbs on its sovereignty

A White House official, who spoke on condition of anonymity as they aren’t allowed to speak publicly, told The Associated Press that Trump remained open to a trilateral summit with both the Russian and Ukrainian leaders, but for now, he will have a bilateral meeting requested by Putin. In an interview with Fox News taped on Thursday but aired on Sunday, Vice President JD Vance said Trump had got Putin to agree to meet with Zelenskyy and

Trump to crack down on homelessness in D.C. crime reduction push

BY HADRIANA LOWENKRON Bloomberg News (TNS)

President Donald Trump said his push to reduce crime in the nation’s capital will include moving out homeless people who camp along the city streets.

Trump said he will hold a news conference Monday to lay out his ideas for ending violent crime in the nation’s capital, a concept that moved to the forefront of his agenda after the attempted carjacking of a former aide.

Trump said in a social media post Sunday that “The Homeless have to move out, IMMEDIATELY,” adding “we will give you places to stay, but FAR from the Capital.” Trump also suggested he would incarcerate those who have committed crimes.

The news conference will also focus on the “Cleanliness and the General Physical Renovation and Condition of our once beautiful and well maintained Capital,” he said in a second post Sunday, one in which he also slammed the renovation of the Federal Reserve building. The ongoing project — which is funded by the federal government, not D.C. — has been part of Trump’s sustained attack on Fed Chair Jerome Powell.

The president has already signed an executive order that makes it easier for states and cities to remove outdoor encampments on federal lands and get people into mental health or addiction

treatment, a shift in approach from existing policies that have worked to find housing for homeless people first and then seek treatment opportunities for them. The effort comes amid the Trump administration’s increased show of federal law enforcement around Washington, D.C. A day after a former member of his so-called Department of Government Efficiency was injured during an attempted carjacking in D.C., he called for a federal takeover of the District, which has been seeking to end all federal control of the city for decades. Violent crime has been dropping in the District for two years, according to local police data. As of Jan. 3, violent crime in D.C. in 2024 was at a 30-year low, according to the US Justice Department Trump’s powers to take over” the capital city are limited.

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, in an interview that aired Sunday on MSNBC’s “The Weekend,” said it was the president’s prerogative to call out the D.C National Guard, which he controls.

Trump used the California National Guard, which is controlled by that state’s governor, to help quell unrest over immigration raids in Los Angeles in June But “I’m concerned about them not being used efficiently,” said Bowser, who highlighted the drop in violent crime.

it was now only a matter of scheduling before a meeting would take place. The Kremlin has previously said that Putin and Zelenskyy should meet only when an agreement negotiated by their delegations is close. A request to the White House for clarification has not immediately been answered.

Trump previously said he would meet with Putin regardless of whether the Russian leader agreed to meet with Zelenskyy

The Trump-Putin meeting may prove pivotal in a war that began when Russia invaded its western neighbor

and has led to tens of thousands of deaths, although there’s no guarantee it will stop the fighting since Moscow and Kyiv remain far apart on their conditions for peace.

Saturday’s statement, signed by the president of the European Union and leaders of France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Finland and the UK, stressed the need for a “just and lasting peace” for Kyiv including “robust and credible” security guarantees.

“Ukraine has the freedom of choice over its own destiny Meaningful negotia-

tions can only take place in the context of a ceasefire or reduction of hostilities,” the statement said.

“The path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukraine. We remain committed to the principle that international borders must not be changed by force,” the Europeans added.

The European statement follows a meeting between Vance and top European and Ukrainian officials at the British Foreign Secretary’s weekend residence to discuss how to end the war

U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., told NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday that a good deal would mean preventing an emboldened Russia, and aggressors elsewhere, from trying to once again redraw borders by force.

A Trump ally and Russia hawk, Graham nevertheless said that “you can’t end a war without talking.”

“I do hope that Zelenskyy can be part of the process.

I have every confidence in the world that (Trump) is going to go to meet Putin from a position of strength, that he’s going to look out for Europe and Ukrainian needs to end this war honorably,” he said.

He argued that “Ukraine is not going to evict every

Russian” soldier but said the West should give Kyiv robust security guarantees, keep some of its forces on the ground “as trip wires,” and keep arming Ukraine “so that Russia will be deterred by the most lethal army on the continent of Europe.”

A monthlong U.S.-led push to achieve a truce in Ukraine has so far proved fruitless, with Kyiv agreeing in principle while the Kremlin has held out for terms more to its liking.

Trump also moved up an ultimatum to impose additional sanctions on Russia and introduce secondary tariffs targeting countries that buy Russian oil if the Kremlin did not move toward a settlement. The deadline was Friday The White House did not answer questions Saturday about possible sanctions. The Kremlin earlier this week reiterated demands that Ukraine give up territory, abandon its bid to join NATO, and accept limits on its military, in exchange for a withdrawal of Russian troops from the rest of the country Particularly galling for Kyiv is Moscow’s insistence that it cede pockets of eastern and southern Ukraine the Kremlin claims to have annexed, despite lacking full military control.

Colorado prison evacuated amid wildfire

By The Associated Press

MEEKER, Colo.

— A Colorado prison was evacuated as one of the largest wildfires in state history continued to grow, and officials warned residents of remote areas to be ready to leave Sunday as gusty winds and low humidity fed the flames.

Evacuation orders were already in place for mountain communities as the Lee Fire charred more than 167 square miles across Garfield and Rio Blanco counties, with just 6% containment. No injuries or structural damage has been reported.

All 179 incarcerated people were safely removed from the Rifle Correctional Center on Saturday “out of an abundance of caution,” the Colorado Department of Corrections said in a statement. They were temporarily relocated about 150 miles away to the Buena Vista Correctional Complex, the department said.

The Lee Fire, churning through trees and brush about 250 miles west of Denver, is now the sixthlargest single fire in the state’s history according to the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control.

More than a thousand firefighters are battling the blaze, working to keep the flames to the west of Colorado 13 and north of County Road 5, officials said.

Health officials issued air quality warnings related to smoke from the Lee

Fire and the 23-square-mile Elk Fire burning just to the east.

In Southern California, crews reached 62% containment on the 8-square-mile Canyon Fire that forced evacuations and destroyed seven structures after breaking out Thursday near the Los Angeles County and Ventura County line. Three firefighters have been injured, including a battalion chief who was seriously hurt when his pickup truck rolled over in steep terrain.

The hardest part for the patient, which includes chemotherapy and a month of isolation, is still ahead. But after that, if all goes well, it’s likely Cressy will be able to live free from sickle cell’s debilitating pain episodes — and reapply for medical clearance.

“There’s no freedom like flying It’s an escape from everything else,” he said, a smile breaking across his face in his hospital bed.

“When you’re up in the clouds, it’s just you and the plane.”

Harvesting the stem cells

In the first year of life, babies with sickle cell disease often appear completely healthy Most parents only learn their child has the condition after a routine heel prick in the hospital.

That’s because, during infancy, the body still relies on fetal hemoglobin, a type of oxygen-carrying protein that’s produced in the womb. But the gene that makes fetal hemoglobin is turned off shortly after infancy

Sickle cell patients have a mutation in the hemoglobin gene that makes blood cells stiffen and curve into a crescent shape that easily clots and gets jammed up in their joints, causing intense pain.

For Cressy, who grew up in New Orleans and Kenner sickle cell pain episodes felt like a rubber band tightening around his entire body

He had them more often as a kid, but as a teenager mostly got them under control with a medication called hydroxyurea.

Last Wednesday, his blood was causing trouble for the centrifuge. He has received regular transfusions to replace his sickled blood for months as part of the protocol for the gene therapy, but his blood was still thick and prone to clotting, making it harder for the machine to separate the stem cells.

Nurse Angel Haydel adjusted the anticoagulant in the machine and fluids running through a port in his chest to keep the machine moving. The setup requires one-on-one supervision if one nurse leaves the room, another steps in and it chirps with alarms every few minutes. The machine will cycle for around six hours for three days. Cressy will return in September for another stem cell harvesting. Two of the stem cell collections will go to Scotland, and one will stay in New Orleans as a backup, in case the treatment doesn’t work and he needs his original cells again.

On average, patients need 2.2 collections for the therapy said Rob Clark, chief communications officer at Vertex.

Flipping the switch

In Scotland a strand of “guide RNA” — a genetic bloodhound designed to sniff out a certain sequence of DNA — will join with the Cas9 enzyme. The RNA will scan Cressy’s genome like a GPS until it finds its mark:

a control switch that keeps the fetal hemoglobin gene turned off.

Cas9 will then snip the DNA at that precise spot, unlocking the gene so it can switch back on The approach, called CRISPR, enables scientists to edit genes with pinpoint accuracy, and has been used for everything from boosting the nutrition in vegetables to reprogramming immune cells to fighting treatmentresistant cancers.

The edited stem cells are then frozen, shipped back and infused into Cressy’s bloodstream. They travel to the bone marrow, which has been cleared of other cells by chemotherapy, and once established, they rebuild the blood supply with healthy red blood cells.

“His cells, once they’re changed, effectively become the drug,” said Dr Zachary LeBlanc, a pediatric hematologist and oncologist at Manning Family Children’s. The goal is that Cressy’s own body will keep sickling at bay without any other treatment — “a cure,” said LeBlanc.

A cure in sight

There are risks. Any treatment that changes a patient’s stem cells can carry a small risk of cancer, especially blood cancers, if the inserted genes accidentally affect cancer-related genes or if the transplant puts lasting stress on the bone marrow

In 2021, Bluebird Bio, the company behind a second recently approved type of gene therapy for sickle cell, announced that two of seven patients previously treated with their product in a clinical trial developed acute myeloid leukemia. An investigation found the cancer was likely unrelated to the gene therapy itself. Bluebird uses a different approach to gene therapy than Vertex, relying on a deactivated virus to deliver a healthy gene into a patient’s

own stem cells.

Both therapies come with all the familiar side effects of cancer treatment: hair loss, nausea, fatigue, dangerously low immunity and infertility For a few weeks, patients are extremely vulnerable, often confined to isolation rooms where every visitor is masked and gloved.

But the trial results are promising. In one study all but two of 31 patients were free from severe pain crises for at least a year after treatment with Casgevy, the Vertex product. In another, all 44 patients ages 12 to 35 avoided hospitalization for a year after therapy

Still, it’s new

“You’re still probably only talking about in the history of the planet, 150 maybe 200 people now that have ever done this,” LeBlanc said. “The vast majority of them have been in the last two or three years.”

Just 29 patients have had Casgevy infused into their bone marrow since its launch in December 2023. Eighty-six more, like Cressy, have had their first cell collection, according to Vertex’s second quarter financial results for 2025.

An insurance battle

Convincing doctors was just the beginning. Despite drug approval a year and a half ago, progress in getting the treatment to patients has been slow That’s mainly for one reason, said Dr Julie Kanter, president of the National Alliance of Sickle Cell Centers. Kanter was the head of the Sickle Cell Center of Southern Louisiana before leaving for Alabama.

“It’s expensive,” said Kanter “And it’s just complicated. Who puts the money out? Where does it go? When do you get reimbursed?”

Casgevy, the product made by Vertex, is a $2.2 million therapy That

doesn’t include the hospital stays, chemotherapy and other costs. The other product, Lyfgenia made by Bluebird, is $3.1 million.

Dr LeBlanc and his team have joked: What if someone with a bag of money just showed up, willing to pay?

That hasn’t happened yet.

Instead, Lynn Winfield, the director of patient services for cancer and hematology at Children’s, has spent months going back and forth with insurance companies.

For Cressy, who has Medicaid, they’ve landed on a model that includes shipping the product from Scotland to Tennessee where a specialty pharmacy will receive the drug before passing it back to the hospital, sparing them from being on the hook for the cost. The hospital has about nine other patients in line, with only one other approved.

La.’s sickle cell population

Louisiana consistently ranks among the states with the highest sickle cell disease prevalence per capita. About 80 babies are diagnosed each year. Medicaid covers care for roughly 3,000 people with the condition, but the total number living with it is unknown, though the state is building a registry

In 2023, 1,430 people were hospitalized with sickle cell disease in Louisiana

The state has recently signed on to a new federal program called the Cell and Gene Therapy Access Model that will help Medicaid patients get access to expensive sickle cell gene therapies. Under the plan, drugmakers will give states discounts or rebates if the treatments don’t work as promised, and allows CMS to be the negotiator between

the payor and company The program covers about 84% of Medicaid patients with sickle cell nationwide and could give Louisiana up to $9.5 million in federal support to launch it starting this year

Although the list price of Casgevy is $2.2 million, insurers typically negotiate prices with drug companies. Vertex declined to provide specifics of agreements.

“Nobody’s paying full price,” said Kanter, noting that is how hospitals and insurers typically operate. The model could expand to other high-cost gene therapies in the future if it is successful.

‘If I can do it, they can do it’ For now, Cressy is still driving an 18-wheeler most nights, moving food between New Orleans and Lafayette, but he’s already picturing the day he can get back to flight training. He didn’t set out to be the first person in Louisiana to get the therapy “I really just wanted to be cured so I could fly,” he said. “But once I found out I’d be the first, I figured I should share what it’s actually like so other patients know it’s possible.”

The FAA has confirmed that other sickle cell patients who underwent gene therapy were able to fly again. Cressy befriended one of them, creating a brand called “Privileged Pilots.” He has been speaking at aviation and sickle cell events, explaining the process to people who might want to do the same. As he tried not to look at the blood draining into the centrifuge beside his hospital bed, his self-made shirt summed up how he sees himself. It reads “IMPOSSIBLE,” with the “IM” in a different color “I want people to see that what was once impossible is possible,” he said. “If I can do it, they can do it.” Email Emily Woodruff at ewoodruff@theadvocate. com.

Given the size of the Republican advantage in Louisiana, Democrats in the state Legislaturehave decidednot to mimic the defiant approach of Democrats in Washington and are instead working with the Republican leadership in Baton Rouge whenever possible to notch small victories for their constituents.

“They have concluded it’s best to be accommodationist,” said James Carville, the preeminent Democratic strategist wholives in New Orleans. “This is moreof an observation than acriticism.”

Trying to find path back Amonth after the 2023 election, Davante Lewis, a Democratic member of the Public Service Commission from Baton Rouge, said his party had hit “rock bottom.”

Asked recently for an update, Lewis said, “Weare trying to find our path back,” and pointed to some successes over the past 18 months.

He noted that progressive groups and Democrats helped organize the campaign that in March resoundinglydefeated four constitutional amendments sought by Landry and the Legislature.

“Wehave been aggressively engaged in rebuilding the party from the ground up with local candidates in local races,” said Randal Gaines, who replaced Katie Bernhardt in April 2024 to become the party chair Still, Democrats can’t point to much success at the ballot box since the fall 2023 elections.

Cleo Fields did wina congressional seat in 2024 for a district that stretches from Baton Rouge to Shreveport, but that was no surprise since Landry and state legislators drew the district earlier in the year for aBlack Democrat to win it.

Marshall Simien ousted the Republican mayor of Lake Charleslast year,but he switched from Democrat to no party for the election Meanwhile, in Baton Rouge, football coach Sid Edwards, aRepublican, knocked off Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome,

ABSENTEEISM

Continued from page1A

absenteeism rate for that same time period, which is themost recent data available, was 26%. That number is decreasing, Moore said, but it’snot where thedistrict wants to be.

Howtoaddress theissue

At the core of absenteeism is communication and relationships, Moore said.

Each school has atruancy team thatwillmonitor daily attendance. They’ll immediately work with familiesto determine what’shappening at home whether that be transportation, uniform or

aDemocrat, when she ran for reelection in 2024. In 2024, PresidentDonald Trump carried Louisiana with 60% of the vote, while Republican candidates won about65% of thevotecumulatively in the six congressional races.

So far,nomajor Democrat hasannounced plans to run against U.S. Sen. BillCassidy,aRepublican,who is facingthree major Republican candidates,with qualifying for the November 2026 general election set to occur in January

StateSen. Jay Luneau, DAlexandria, said he is polling to assess his chances, notingthatnoone from the Louisiana Democratic Party has spoken to him yet about running.

Registrationsebb

There aremoreregistered Democrats than Republicans in Louisiana, but that margin is steadily eroding, said John Couvillon, aBaton Rouge-based pollster and demographer.

Since August2023, the percentage of Democratic votersin Louisiana has shrunk from 38.6% of the electorateto36.7%.Republicans, meanwhile, have gone from 33.9%to35.2%, and independent voters have edged up from27.5% to 28%,Couvillon said.

This means that, compared to two years ago, there are 57,263 fewer Democrats, 39,674 more Republicans and14,762 moreindependents.

“I would saythere is minimal good news since their overwhelminglosses in 2023,”Couvillon said of Democrats. “You still have a solid Republican majority in Louisiana.”

Following the2023electionresults, Republicans hold a28-11 advantage in the stateSenateand 73-32 margin in the House.

At Landry’sbehest,the Republican-controlled Legislature has redrawn Louisiana’scongressional boundariesand locked up more criminals, undoing thecriminal justice overhaul that was asignature achievement of Landry’s Democratic predecessor, John BelEdwards. Legislators have also votedtopost the TenCommandments in all classrooms, revamped the state tax systeminways

stable housing issues. Moore’steam, which includes truancy officers, have been checking in with families who they worked with last year

Thegoal is towork with familiesbeforeabsenteeism turns into atruancy issue, keeping in mindwhat’s best for students. Getting the courts involved,hesaid, is alast resort. Butall of that comes down to open communication betweenschoolsand families. When studentsfeel connected to theirteachers andclassmates, they want to come to school. When familiesfeel comfortable sharing their struggleswith school leaders, connections can be made within the dis-

thathesays will generate more investment andpassed legislation to makeitharder for people injured in car accidents to win big payouts, in the beliefthatthiswill lower insurance rates.

‘Accommodationistparty’

Carville had said after the poor 2023 election results thatDemocratshad to act likeanopposition partyto begin to reverse their fortunes at the ballot box.

That would require Democrats to regularlychallenge Landry and the Republican leadership of the Legislature with aconsistent message that would score points with the media andthe public.

Democratic lawmakers have notdone that, however Instead, theyoften work with Landryand have providedthe votes needed to pass two major pieces of legislation thatthe governor wanted.

House Democratshave agood working relationshipwith Speaker Phillip DeVillier,R-Eunice, praising him for includingthem in his visitstoHouse districts throughout thestate and for naming two Democrats to chair House committees.

Senate President Cameron Henry,R-Metairie, has also followedthe lead of his two Republican predecessors by working closely with Democrats and naming twoofthem to chair Senate

committees.

None of these moves would happen in hyperpartisan Washington.

“They’reanaccommodationist party,” Carville said of Democrats in Louisiana.

“That’sanunderstandable choice they’ve made. You’ll get aleft turn lane in your (legislative) district. But you’renever goingtowin elections doing that. They won’t ever definethemselves.”

‘You have to be at thetable’ State Sen. Gerald Boudreaux, of Lafayette,who leads the 11-member Democratic Senatecaucus, said Republicans hold so much power that it behooves Democrats to workwiththem whenever possible, without sacrificing their principles.

“Our votes would reflect that we have opposed the things we don’tagree with and don’tmove the state forward,” Boudreauxsaid.

“But if you wanttodosomething for your people, you have to be at the table, in the game.Wecould have made a name forourselves, and our districts would have no projects, no funds, no bills that wouldenhance the quality of life thatwefight for.We

negotiatedsomethingsinto thebill that wereinthe best interest of thepeople.”

Boudreauxwas referring to how,during aspecial session in November Democrats helped Landry overcomethe opposition of conservativeRepublicans by voting to pass legislation that flattened state income taxes while increasing the state sales tax

In return, Landry agreed to increase spending for Grambling University and forthe threeSouthern University campuses by atotal of $10 million annually for the next three years. He also agreed to not cut spending on early childhood education and to ensure that juveniles jailed in adultprisons will have access to education and vo-tech training programs aimed at keeping them from committing morecrimes.

Andbecause Democrats worked with Henry,heensuredthateachone hadat least one project in the annual infrastructure spending bill.

In April, Democrats came to Landry’srescueagain on his chief legislative priority House Bill 148, which gives the insurance commissioner greater authority to reject

rate increases. If rates continue to rise, Landry said, he will blame the current commissioner,Tim Temple, who objected to the legislation. Republicans were divided on the bill, but it passed with unanimous support from Democrats.

“On any policy that is bad for the working families, we make sure to include on the record why it’sbad for Louisiana,and we make the authors explain whythey’re supporting this legislation,” saidstate Rep. Matthew Willard,ofNew Orleans, who heads the 32-member House Democratic Caucus.

“But we still have to work with them so we canbring homethings for our district,” Willard said. “That’s the balancing act.I don’t believe we can just stand up and say no to everything. Not everything the governor pushes is bad for Louisiana.” Whenitcame time after the session forLandry to exercise hisline-item veto, 16 of the 17 spending projects he killed weresponsored by Republicans who had voted against HB148.

Boudreauxnoted another benefit of working with Landry and Henry On May19, twodozen Black Democrats and two White Democrats took the unusualstepofstanding in solidarityinthe front of the House to express their anger with House Bill 685, ameasure by Rep. Emily Chenevert, R-Baton Rouge, that wouldrollback Louisiana’sdiversity,equity and inclusion programs.

“Let me be frank. This is an anti-Black bill,” said state Rep. Edmund Jordan, DBaton Rouge, while othersw called it “divisive.” Boudreaux and other Democrats asked Landry and Henry to bottle up the bill in the Senate,without giving it ahearing. HB685 died without getting ahearing.

“If allyou do is sayno, when these issues come up, youdon’t getany support,” Boudreaux said.

EmailTyler Bridges at tbridges@theadvocate.com.

trict and outside agencies to triageissues, Moore said. “The only way we can help keep kids safe is to have them on campus and know what’s going on,” he said. “That’swhy we build these relationships.”

Drone pushing limits off Gulf Coast Company seeks

BY BOB WARREN Staff writer

From an airstrip just north of Interstate 10 on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, an aviation company recently launched an unmanned plane for a three-day flight, an important milestone on its quest for longer flights using only sunlight as fuel.

Skydweller, the world’s largest solar-powered flying drone its 236-foot wingspan is bigger than a 747 — recently logged flights of 73 and 74 hours after taking off from its operations base at Stennis International Airport just east of the Louisiana-Mississippi state line, according to the company

The eventual goal? Flights of up to 90 days.

Robert Miller, CEO and co-found-

honors police officer

Sergeant dies after being injured in crash

BY AIDAN McCAHILL Staff writer

Eisworth

Hundreds of first responders formed a procession through Baton Rouge on Sunday afternoon, paying tribute to Sgt. Caleb Eisworth, a decorated police officer who died in the morning from injuries suffered in June when a pickup truck rammed his motorcycle in what authorities say was an intentional attack.

Reflecting on Eisworth, Baton Rouge Police Chief Thomas Morse quoted an engraving on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington,

ä See POLICE, page 4B

Traffic signal added by Lafayette High campus

Intersection of Congress and Marie Antoinette has dedicated left turn

BY JA’KORI MADISON Staff writer

Lafayette Consolidated Gov-

ernment has installed a new traffic signal at the intersection of Congress Street and Marie Antoinette Street.

Now fully operational, the signal includes a dedicated left turn arrow to support the new parking and traffic layout developed for the updated Lafayette High campus, according to LCG. The intersection improvements were made in close coordination with the Lafayette Parish school system. The new traffic signal will improve safety and traffic flow for students, parents and commuters traveling in and

ä See TRAFFIC, page 4B

longer flights using sunlight

er of Skydweller Aero, is confident

that goal is near

“It always takes a little longer than you think, but we’re getting there,” Miller said in a recent interview “Every 12 months we see a quantum step in where we’re headed.

The recent test flights mark a big leap from last fall, when the company announced it had made six test flights, including one of 22.5 hours.

Skydweller Aero’s continued success has kept the interest of the U.S military which Miller hopes will translate into contracts for additional aircraft that spurs company growth at its hub on the Gulf Coast.

The Skydweller project was announced with much fanfare in March 2024, with news releases from the state of Mississippi prais-

ing the company and a huge media gathering during which the company showed the aircraft, which resembles a giant glider but weighs less than a Ford F-150 pickup.

Since then, the craft has performed well in a series of tests, the latest of which piled up 222 hours of air time over four separate flights under the watch of the U.S Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division. That testing included the 73and 74-hour flights, according to the company “We really showed the military how it could work,” Miller said. “Our goal is 90 days, and we think we’re on our way to getting there.”

In a news release last month, the Navy praised Skydweller saying

Skydweller, a solar-powered plane, recently had flights of 73 and 74 hours from its operations base at Stennis International Airport just east of the Louisiana-Mississippi state line

BLAST FROM THE PAST

ABOVE: Bob Borel fires a musket during Acadian Culture Day

RIGHT: Musician Kevin Rees, right, explains the Cajun accordion to Luke Lalonde, 10, during Acadian Culture Day

TOP: Families march in the Tintamarre, a tradition of making loud noises to express pride in their Acadian heritage, during Acadian Culture Day at Vermilionville on Sunday in Lafayette Visitors could experience live music, great food, art, cooking, storytelling, spinning and weaving.

They all askfor zookeepers, so be sure to thank

yours

At theend of July,wecelebrated National Zookeeper Week and invited all Louisianans to join us in recognizing the extraordinary dedication and compassion of the animal keepers at Audubon Zoo, Audubon Aquarium,Audubon Insectarium, Audubon Louisiana Nature Center and FreeportMcMoRan Audubon Species SurvivalCenter At Audubon Nature Institute, zookeepers play acentral role in the mission to celebrate thewonders of nature and inspire action to preserve it. They are the unsung heroes of wildlifeconservation. Their work goes far beyond feeding animals and cleaning enclosures, these professionals are caretakers, educators, researchers and advocates They build deep bonds with the animals in their care, monitortheir health and behavior and contribute to global efforts to protect endangered species. Whether hand-rearing awhooping crane chick, training asea lion for medical checkups or helping rescue critically endangered sea turtles, their work is vital and deeply impactful. Their jobs are often physically demanding and emotionally intense, yet they arrive daily withpassion and purpose. They share their knowledge with guests, helping people of all ages understand the importance of biodiversity and conservation. They contribute to programs that have global significance. They arestewards of life, caring for creatures great and small with unwavering dedication.

Join me in showing gratitude to the people who dedicatetheir lives to protecting wildlife and inspiring future generations. Thank them for their tireless work, compassion and commitment to making the world abetterplace for animals and humans alike.

MICHAEL J. SAWAYA president and CEO,L.Ronald Forman chair in conservation leadership, AudubonNature Institute

LETTERSTOTHE EDITOR

AREWELCOME.HEREARE

YOUR VIEWS

PBMs arenofriendto veterans or ruralresidents

As acancer patient covered by my husband’sTRICARE health insurance, Iread Rob Maness’ July 11 guest column opposing pharmacy benefit manager reform with disappointment. His argument misses the realityfor families like mine. He claims that Louisiana’sproposed ban on PBMs from owning pharmacies would create barriers forveterans to access prescriptions. ButPBMs already create barriers by dictatingultra-low reimbursement rates to local independent pharmacies, preventing them from participating in TRICARE. That means patients like me and my husband, a retired veteran, are forced to use PBMmailorder services whether we want to or not Mail ordermight sound convenient, but it often leadstodelays, lost medications and zero personal care. I’veexperienced this danger firsthand. Maness tries to scare us by saying reform will close pharmacies and displace veterans. What’smore likely is that locally operated pharmacies and non-PBM chains will expand when unfair competition from powerful, vertically integrated PBMs is removed. When PBMs own pharmacies,they set reim-

bursement rates tofavor themselves while underpaying competitors, driving them out of business. Banning PBMsfrom owning pharmacies would end this conflict of interest, keeping locally operated pharmacies open and thriving.

Here in Louisiana, independents have always served ruraland underserved communities where big chains refuse to go. They provide personalized care, deliver medicationsand work hard to ensure no one goes without. The idea that only PBMchains can serve patientsisfalse and insulting to the small-business pharmacistsworking daily to keep Louisianans healthy PBMsuse their ownership of pharmacies to manipulate thesystem.They underpay locally operated pharmacies, force veterans into their mail-order programs andovercharge TRICARE while pocketing the difference. That isn’tabout access andquality care. It’sabout greed.

Banning PBMsfromowning pharmacies would bring affordability,access and better care back to Louisiana.

DONNA WALKER Ball

Hospital execs ignore that reform aims at making Medicaid recipients work

Ibelieve the executives of Ochsner Health and LCMC have different reasons to complain about the Big Beautiful Bill than the rights of the people on Medicaid.

It’s the money,period. Don’t come on with the fake righteous attitude. What the new rules forMedicaid do is makethe layabouts on Medicaid work like everyone else, in order to receive the benefits that the working population provides by paying taxes.

I’ve got to admit that since LCMC took over West Jefferson Hospital, the emergency room and the rest of the services at the hospital have drastically improved. And that’s great; it was terrible before. And Ochsner does agood job, also. Iknow because Iexperienced treatment at Ochsner,and my wife just experienced it at West Jefferson. But that doesn’tgive the executives of those facilities the right to spread misleading information. The reason forthe changes is to get people to go to work to receive free benefits. Before my wife and I retired, we had to purchase health insurance. We didn’tget it forfree. I’mglad they’re changing the rules.

OUR GUIDELINES: Letters are published identifying name and the writer’scity of residence.The Advocate |The Times-Picayune require astreet address and phone number for verification purposes, but that information is not published. Letters are not to exceed 300 words. Letters to the Editor,The Advocate, P.O. Box 588 Baton Rouge, LA 70821-0588, or email letters@theadvocate.com. TO SEND US ALETTER, SCAN HERE

U.S. Rep.Clay Higgins called this bill “one big beautiful thing.” U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, aphysician, voted for it despite its cuts to Medicaid. U.S. Sen. John Kennedy,who claims to hate “big government,” helped grow it in all the wrong directions. Each of them had achoice —and they chose politics over people. If we’re going to quotescripture, let’sget it right.Jesus didn’task if we protected profits. He asked: Did you feed me? Didyou clothe me?Did you care for me? (Matthew 25:3536). This bill answers: No. No to the hungry, thesick, the stranger and the least among us.

This isn’tabout party. It’sabout clarity.Our people deserve better than this Bullship Bill. KEITH A. ISTRE NewIberia

I’m from New Iberia. I’ve lived through enoughoil booms and buststoknow that when Baton Rouge or D.C. says we’re gettingsomething “beautiful,” we better look closely.The so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill” passed by Congress isn’tbeautiful. It’s not even honest.It’swhat Icall the Big Bullship Bill —and it sells out Acadiana’sfuture in more ways than one. Let’sstart with thefacts: This bill cuts nearly$1trillion from Medicaid over time. That’snot belt-tightening —that’s agut punchtothousands of rural families, seniors andchildren right here in Iberia and the surroundingparishes. Then there’sthe energy betrayal. Just as Iberia Parish lands a$1.1 billion solar project —one ofthe largest in Louisiana history —thisbill strips support for clean energy Over 700 jobs are tied to that project.And instead of securing those jobs and expanding this path forward, our representatives voted to keep us chained tofossil cycles of instability.Weall know what that’slike: One year it’s good pay in thefield; the next year it’slayoffs and waiting.

Have ourleaders made it anysafer yet?

Masked government goons indiscriminately grabpeople off the street and disappear them to prisons or out of the country

Using electronic devices to locate us and listen in on our cellphone calls.

Empowering everyone to carry afirearm concealed,sothat we don’tknow if thatbozo next to us is packing deadly heat.

Policeand self-appointed vigilantes electronically watching us with technology that

can recognize our faces, our clothing, our cars and bicycles,but has difficulty accurately distinguishing one brown face from another Armed militarywith armored vehicles in thestreets. If our leaders are trying to makemefeel safer,they’re doing it all wrong. KENNETH RICHARDS Gretna

In the past 160 days or so in the TrumpIIpresidency,I have witnessed and been concerned about the well-being of my friends, family and colleagues here in Louisiana. I have seen the U.S. News &World Report, which places Louisiana in last place in quality of lifefor the second year in arow.I have seen the Elon Musk DOGE crew chain saw departments (Social Security,National Institutes of Health, Centers forDisease Control and Prevention, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Federal Aviation Administration) and agencies without knowing or caring what function they serve.

The FEMA chief David Richardson is out of his depth, as evidenced by the response to the Texas flooding. We now have the BBB, or Big Beast of aBill, to cut hundreds of billions from Medicaid.

Solutions are at hand, but they require compassion and less actual waste and tax gap tolerance. U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I has proposed Senate Bill 1149 to salvage Medicare and Social Security by scrapping the artificial $200,000 withholding cap.

Ipay 6% on all of my income; others should, too. Then-U.S. Rep. Katie Porter,D-Calif., in committee hearings last year,found the Department of Defense has failed six consecutive audits and cannot account for61% of its assets. The IRS’ 2024 TaxGap of uncollected funds stands at $668 billion. Abudget is an indication of moral priorities. The waste and abuse are not elderly,children, lunch programs, rec centers, primary care and safe, affordable medication. We can do what we should and not induce a$4trillion addition to the debt.

MATTHEW McCANN Marrero

DOGDAYSOFSUMMER

Hot! We received 727 entries in this week’s Cartoon Caption Contest.With so many hilarious punchlines sent in,these were aton of fun to read through. Luckily, we show lotsof finalistseach week so youcan seefor yourselves howfunnytheyare. Great job, everyone! As always, when we have duplicateentries,and we always do, we pick theearliest sent in. —Walt

MICHELE STARNES,KENNER: “I’doffer himatowel, but I’m allergic to effort!”

JIM BARNETT,BETHESDA,MARYLAND: “yeah, but can he spend all daychasing laser pointers and hidingina cardboard box?”

GISELE PRADOS,METAIRIE: “He hasn’t been this happysince theyinstalled the new fire hydrant at the corner.”

LYNDOUCET,MAURICE: “Well, onegood thing.Theywon’t let him back into the house today!”

LYNN WISMAR, KENNER: “Looks likeit’s only raining Dogs today?!”

FREDDYWAGUESPACKJR., METAIRIE: “Definitely aSprinkler Spaniel.

SUSAN GALE WICKES,RICHMOND,IN: “That’sevenworse than the spraybottle.”

MADYXX CIELENCKI, MANDEVILLE: “Wait until he finds out he’sgoing tothe vetin 15 minutes.”

DAVID DELGADO,NEW ORLEANS: “Whateverittakes to keep him from meddling in our affairs!”

When Gov.Jeff Landry did the expected and killed the state’sfirst river sediment diversion, this truismcame to mind: While it’shard to earn a good reputation, it’seven harder to regain it once it’sbeen lost. Landry’swell-earned reputation as ascience denier was surely enhanced by ditching one of the world’s most respected sciencebased climate adaptation plans. But Louisiana’sgood name may suffer long-lasting harm. That’sbecause the news that agovernor who regards climate change as a hoax has taken politicalcontrolofa scienceagency is likelytoend two decades of unprecedented respect Louisiana had gained from the world’sscientific community Yousee, astate often derided forfinishing at the bottom of lists for literacy, pollution and corruption, whoseuniversities were known as jockfactories with partyschools attached, was finally gaining attention for its brain power,thanks to its coastal science. Within afew years of itscreation, the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority was drawing topresearchers away from other states. They were eager to become part of its CoastalMaster Plan, agroundbreakingscientificinitiative. This wasn’tthe old Band-Aid approach featuring alist of singleprojects. It was afirst-of-its-kind, holistic,system-wide approach using scientificresearchto understand the causes for the collapse of the coastal zone, then provide solutions And the guiding rulewas thatprojects couldn’tbetemporary fixes. Theyhad to result in permanent positive changes. The sheer audacity of its scale and

DONNA REUTER, METAIRIE: “This is why we have eight more lives than he has.”

SAMJOHNSON, ZACHARY: “Lookslikethe couch is allours tonight!!”

JAYF.FOX,MADISONVILLE: “Goopen the door.Thatnew white sofahas hisname written alloverit.”

SHERI LINDSEY,BATON ROUGE: “It’snot nearly as funnyaswatching himrun in circles.”

CHARLES SMITH, ST.ROSE: “He’sbeen doingthis sincehegot on that newhigh protein dog food.

NANCE NESOM, BATONROUGE: “yeah, I thinkhehad even more funlast winter with that ‘white stuff!’”

JEFFHARTZHEIM, FUQUAYVARINA, N.C.: “Just think…wehaveeightmore lives of thiscrap?”

GINA VILLAVASO,NEW ORLEANS: “He maybecool,but he has no dignity.”

RONALDCARO, DESTREHAN: “Sometimes Iwish we weren’t so sophisticated and couldenjoyasimplepleasure.”

BETTY BORDELON, KENNER: “He’sbeen sprinklingall overthe lawn anyway!”

KEITHHORCASITAS,BATON ROUGE: “The ‘Cat Days of Summer’ are so much cooler!”

STUART CLARK, LAFAYETTE: “Hotdog!”

LYNN SMITH, NEWORLEANS: “And they can’tget himinto the tub!”

JOE KOVACS,NEW ORLEANS: “Doyou think he knowswehaveair conditioning?”

SUSAN LEE, NEW ORLEANS: “He hasn’thad thismuchfun sincethe toilet overflowed.

KERI STIEGLER, NEWORLEANS: “I hate to break it to you, Morris, but the nextwater bill is sure to cutinto our catnip budget.

SUZANNE LORIO, METAIRIE: “I don’t know about you, but I’m ready foranother nap!”

RICHARD MILLER, BATONROUGE: “Now let’ssee himuse alitter box.”

WANDABRAUD,GONZALES: “Hey, Blue Bayou’sclosed, so Iguess it’sthe next best thing!”

DENNIEWILLIAMS,ALEXANDRIA: “Just another dog dayafternoon in Louisiana.”

In the Middle East, war is conducted not only with bullets andmissiles, but also with pictures.

The latest arepictures of allegedly starving childreninGaza distributed by Hamas andits enablers with the intention of blaming Israel for delaying, even denying entry of food trucks into the strip. Suchpicturesare gobbled up anddistributedtothe world without question by media thatare always critical of Israel andhardly critical at allofforces that seek to destroythe Jewish state

Perhaps no nationinhistory has cared aboutpreserving human life more than modern Israel. It even treats its wounded enemies in Israelihospitals. It releases hundreds of convicted terrorists in exchange fora handful of captured Israeli soldiers.

It distributes leaflets and makes phone calls urging civilians to evacuate areas inhabitedbyHamasterrorists before those areas areattacked. What other nationdoes that?

The NewYorkPost reports, “Col. Abdullah Halabi, from the Coordination of Government Activitiesinthe Territories, told reporters recently that around 1,000 truckloadsofaid remain undelivered ‘due to alack of cooperation from the international community and internationalorganizations.”’ Predictably,othersare blaming Israel, whichplays into Hamas’ hands. The problemfor Israel is that it has defeated Hamas, but Hamas won’tsurrender. The terrorist organization is the main impediment to getting food to those who need it, but the seedsoftoday’s disasterbegan in 2005 when Israel unilaterally disengaged fromthe Gaza Strip by dismantling all21ofits remaining settlements. It didn’ttake aprophet to predict the vacuum would soon be filled by terrorists eager to use Gaza as abasefor attacking Israel

Whatfollowedwas this:

n Gazans stupidly elected Hamas as their government. Theyare nowreaping what theysowed

its commitment to base everything on the evidence unmasked by research was morefamiliar to efforts undertaken by states with acknowledged world-class research institutions, such as California and Massachusetts. Louisiana’shistory caused understandable skepticism, but soon the results proved the doubters wrong. Indeed, as climate change began impacting coastalareasaround theworld, Louisianawas exporting itsscienceand engineering.

Just as importantly,the plan was supportedbythe two preceding governors fromdifferent parties. Republican Bobby Jindaland Democrat John Bel Edwards agreedthat scientific research shouldauthorthe agency’sprojects, from beach restoration to riverdiversions.

And those diversions always were the heart of the plan. Research showed they were themost efficient way to move enough sediment intosinking deltas to meet the demand of accelerating sea levelrise caused by climate warming. Thatpoliticalsupport helped improve the state’sreputation.

Then came Landry’sax.

In canceling the$3billion Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion —widely considered the linchpin of the coastal plan —heand his team didn’tlist scientificconcerns, suchasthe emerging challenges due to therecordrate of sea level causedbyfossil fuel emissions. Of course,nooil lover like Landrywill ever mention that.

“At theend of the day,it’sjust something that we just could not afford, no way,shape or form,” said Tony Alford,

chair of the Governor’s Advisory CommissiononCoastalProtection. Alford is not ascientist. He was aco-owner and president of aHouma-based oilfield services company.And his math doesn’t work. Money for theBPdisaster was to cover at least$2.26 billion of the cost. Where thatmoney goes now is uncertain. Most of this was predictable when Landry took office. He quickly said he and his new CPRA chair,former Terrebonne ParishPresident Gordy Dove, sharedavision to remake the way the board “oversees theprojects that are necessary to protect our coasts. Why restructure an office thatwas garnering worldwide plaudits? Why kill aproject lauded not onlyfor groundbreaking research and engineering, but for sticking to theessential scientific model of adaptive management —being able to modify as critical influences on the resultsincreased, such as the uncharted changes cascading from climatechange?

The scientific world already has its answer:The program is now being directed by apolitician. And this politician has shown that, like his hero in the White House, he musthave totalcontroleven in areas of which he has no expertise, suchasscience. Which means the reputation our state gained as this project and program grew over the last 20 years was an illusion. It’s still politicsover science in Louisiana BobMarshall, aPulitzer Prizewinning Louisiana environmental journalist, can be reached at bmarshallenviro@gmail.com, and followed on X, @BMarshallEnviro.

n Hamas beganpreparing tunnels and placing missilesincivilianareas like schoolsand hospitals so whenIsrael respondedtotheir attacks they would show videoofcivilians being killed or injured to international media n On Oct. 7, 2023, Hamasmurdered Israelicivilians at amusic concertand took hostages, some of whomare dead,a few released andanestimated50remainin their hands.

n Hamas hasstolenfood andprevented suppliesfromreaching the needy.

Picturesand the narrative that accompaniesthemcan be manipulatedto serve the ends of Hamas. Twoexamples: Awidely circulatedphoto shows ayoung boyheldbywhatappearstobehis mother.The child’semaciated condition was initially portrayedasaresult of starvation. Newsweek andThe New York Post investigated anddiscovered that the boy, identifiedonly as Muhammad, also suffers from conditions like cerebralpalsy, hypoxemia andagenetic disorder. His malnutritionmay be exacerbated by the war,but it does notappear to be the sole cause of his condition.

Anotherchild, identified as Osama alRaqab, suffers from cystic fibrosis and was receiving care in Italy after he was evacuated from Gaza. His picture was also widely distributedwith starvation blamedasthe cause.These casesdon’t excuse the food shortages many are experiencing in Gaza,but they add perspective andshould emphasize, if the media were doing their job, where the real blame lies.

Scenarioslike this have been playedout so oftenoverdecades you might think the media andgovernments that always seem to take the side of Israel’senemies would have figureditout by now.Itleadsone to questionwhose side they are on. Given their statements, boycotts and slanted news coverage, it seemsclear they are on the side of Israel’senemies.

Email Cal Thomas at tcaeditors@tribpub. com.

TO

Ex-deputyraidedwrong address, officialssay

FiredPlaquemines officerwas workingas abountyhunter

BY AIDAN McCAHILL Staff writer

Aformer Plaquemines Parish sheriff’s deputy now workingasa bounty hunter finds himself facing the law rather than enforcingitafter he allegedly raided thewrong BatonRouge addressinthe middle of the night.

Brian Green, 41, of Belle Chasse, wasarrestedFridaybyBaton Rougepolice on afelonycount of home invasion and two misdemeanor counts of simple criminal damage to property.Two Slidell men,Roderick Larkins, 31 and Jhustyn Garrett,31, also face the same charges from the incident Green was fired from the Plaquemines Parish Sheriff’s Office in 2018 for his connections to the far-right group Proud Boys.

POLICE

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D.C.: “It’s not how these officers died that made them heroes, but how they lived their lives. Ithink that sums upCaleb.”

Eisworth served on the forcefor 23 years,joining the motorcycle division in 2008. He received multiple awards for heroism in thelineofduty, including the Medal of Valor —the highest honor bestowed by theBaton Rouge Police Department —for having pulled amotorist from a burningvehicle while offduty He is survived by awife and daughter.His death also marks the 20th anniversary of thekilling of Detective Terry Lee Melancon Jr., who was fatally shot whileexecuting a search warrant. Officials said they will be seeking the deathpenalty for Gad Black, theman they sayisresponsible for the crash. His charge willbeupgraded to firstdegree murder afterEisworth’sdeath.

Eisworth was critically injured June 16 in acrash thathappened around 11 a.m. on Joor Road, near Prescott Road. He was on his waytoawork-related escort assignment when a driver,later identifiedas Black, struck Eisworth’s motorcyclewith his pickup truck. Police said Black had followed theofficer for ashort distance before the crash. Minutes later,someone using the name Gad Black postedonsocial media: “Check Him Out On Joor Rd. Stretched One.” In theweeks afterEisworth’sinjury,the Baton Rouge community came out to supportthe officer,showing up in large numbers at ajambalaya fundraiser put on by first responders, as well as donating blood.

Last month, surgeons at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center amputatedbothofEisworth’s legsabovethe knee, and his familyexpressed hope after his vitals improved, postingonsocialmedia to thankthe hospital doctors and staff for the care they were giving him. But late Sunday morning,after seven weeks inthe hospital, Eisworth died with his lovedones around him Morse said.

Shortly after he died, a motorcade bearing Eisworth’sbody left Our Ladyofthe Lake Hospital around 12:30 p.m., arriving

Hisarrest warrant states that around1:40 a.m. July 21, Baton Rouge police were called to Alight Baton Rouge, an apartment complex on West McKinley Street that caters to LSU students. There, they discovered that Green, Garrett and Larkins had acted as “armed fugitive recovery agents” and forciblyentered aresident’s apartment. Themen searched thehomeby kickinginall locked doors in a show of force, arrest documents say. After discovering the tenant hiding in the bathroom, Green and hiscolleagues realized they had made amistake:The person they were looking for nolonger lived at the address, Green’sarrest warrant says.

Theinvestigator also wrote that neither Green,Larkins nor Garrett attempted to notify locallaw enforcement of their actions, and did not conduct any sort of surveillance to make sure the apartment was theright address. In Louisiana, state law requireslicensedbond

recovery agents(bounty hunters) to notify law enforcement before conducting bail enforcement.

AFacebook account withGreen’s name and information that lines up with court records suggests he was actively seeking toexpand his fugitiverecovery enterprise In October,heposted “Hey! Anybody interested in getting started in acareer in Fugitive Recover (BountyHunting)?Drop me aline for theinfo!”InMay,heindicated he was looking for an apprentice to mentor,writing that he was seekingpeopleinterested in “getting into the exciting world” of fugitive recovery.

Garrett hasalso postedabout bounty hunting on social media, including TikTok videos of him wearing fugitive recovery gear.In onecaption,hewrote, “Real Mandalorian.”

ALinkedIn page under Green’s name, with aprofile picture that matches his Facebook photos,lists him as adeputy for the PlaqueminesParish Sheriff’s Of-

fice between2013and 2018.In August 2018, there was an uproar on social media after someone discovered Green had listed himselfasa“Deputy Sheriff, Father Proud Boy”inthe intro sectionof hisFacebook page.

The Proud Boys, originally foundedin2016 by Vice Media co-founder Gavin McInnes, is an all-male group whose core tenet is “Western chauvinism.” Its members believetraditionalmasculinity and Western culture are under siege, and have advocated against “political correctness” and “White guilt.” TheSouthern Poverty Law Centercharacterizesthemasa hategroup, though McInnes and other members have disputed that portrayal.

After several members were indicted for theirinvolvement in the insurrectionatthe U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, the group wasbanned from most social media platforms and has sincebecomemuch less visible.

In 2018,Green was the admin-

istrator of thelocal chapter’s Facebook page whenthe Sheriff’s Office launched an internal investigationinto his activities. In onevideoposted to Facebook Greensaid, “I’m aproud Western chauvinist who refuses to apologize forcreating the modern world.” When SheriffGeraldTurlich firedGreen,hestoppedshort of calling the Proud Boys ahate group, stating instead that action was taken for Green’s decision to promote his ties with the group on at least one social media page whilewearing hisagency uniform.

“Green’s decisiontoutilizethe uniform to promote the views of theProudBoys, whose valuesare contradictory to the values and the vision of the (Sheriff’s Office), will notbetolerated,”Turlich said in a statement.

Turlich also noted at the time that Green had never been disciplined or received any public complaints during his five years as adeputy

Motorcycle

alittleoverhalfanhour lateratthe EastBaton Rouge Parish Coroner’s Office, wheremorethan40 motorcycle officers stood in formation to salute their fallen colleague. Morse,a close colleague whograduated from the police academy oneyear apart from Eisworthand wasshotalongsidehim duringa 2004 trafficstop, described him as a“family man, asportsman,anLSU fan” and “justa wonderful guy.”

District Attorney Hillar Moore, whosaid hehad known Eisworth sincethe officer joined themotorcycle division, remembered him as someone who was “always smiling.”

“This is an extremely tragic, horrificway to die,”he said. “It’sa tough loss for not only Baton Rouge policemen,but law enforcementand Baton Rougeitself.”

In the days after the attack, Black, 41, of Baton Rouge, wasbooked on a count of attempted firstdegree murder of apolice officer in thecrash. Counts of hate crimes against law enforcement and resistingan officer were later added Black’sgirlfriend, Asia

Raby, 40, was also arrested, booked on counts of obstructionofjusticeand accessory after the fact to attempted first-degree murder of apolice officer

A19thJudicial District Court commissioner appointedasanity commission to examine Black’s fitness to standtrial.

Thecommissioner,Nicole Robinson, also ordered Black to return to courtonSept. 3, to appear before adistrict judge for abailreview.

Black’sfamily issued a public apology to Eisworth after the attack

“On behalf of our entire family,weextend our deepest and most heartfelt apologies to youand your loved ones for the injuries yousustained on June 16, 2025,”the familysaid, in part.“Please know that our thoughtsand prayers are withyou and your family during this difficult time.”

Black hasalengthyhistory of arrests, including incidents involving violence against police officers.

In 2014, Black was arrested for trying to ram Baton Rouge police vehicles during aJuly4 chase involvingMorse, whowas an officeratthe time.Now

he mayface the death penalty

Discussing nextsteps, Mooresaid he intends to present both Black’sand Raby’scases to agrand jury.Then, depending on the wishes of the Eisworth family and the sanity commission’sevaluation of Black’sfitness to stand trial,Moore said he would fileanofficial noticeofintent to seek the death penalty.Headdedthat Black’s mental state would likely be acentral issue in the trial.

“A lot of it will hinge on sanity defense,” Moore said.

AttorneyGeneral Liz Murrill said she would support Moore’sdecision to seek the death penalty

“I will offerany support he needsfrom my office,” shesaidSunday Walkingout of the Coroner’sOffice after the procession, Mayor-President Sid Edwards expressed a mix of despairand anger

“It’s aprofoundsadness right now.Watching his littlegirl,seeinghis parents and his wife,” he said. “My emotions are mixed right now between infuriated andprofoundsadness. When’sitgoing to stop?

Edwards described Eisworth as a“warrior”who “meant alot to the city.”

“A normal man couldn’t have made it this long. Thegrit, thetoughness, thenyou add the honor,” he added.

Edwards asked Baton Rouge residents to fly their flags at half-staff in honor of Eisworth

“Just continue prayers for him and his family but alsofor the entiredepartment,”Morse said. “It’s going to be atimeofgrieving for all of us as we go through this week to make preparations to honor him.”

Email Aidan McCahill at aidan.mccahill@ theadvocate.com.

around the new Lafayette HighSchool campus area.

“In

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therecent tests marked “a significant advancement” in long-endurance solar flight and the aircraft’s“potential to enhance maritime intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance.”

TheNavy also said the testing “validated the system’s communicationlinks, autonomous real-time decision making and abilitytoadapt to turbulentweather.”

Because of Skydweller’s construction andweight, severe weather is athreat. But the recent tests provided some answers, Miller said.

“Wedon’tflythrough thunderstorms, but we fly between them,” he said.

Because the aircraftisdesigned to stay aloft for long periods, the militarysees it as surveillance tool that could freeupmore traditional aircraftfor other operations, according to the company.

Skydweller’s huge wingspan is designed to help keep it aloft, while the aircraft’s 17,000 solarcells spend the daycollecting sunlight and storing that fuel in the batteries that power theplane at speeds of around 35 mph andaltitudes up to 40,000 feet.

Skydweller Aero, aprivately-held company headquartered in Oklahoma City, set up shop at Stennis International in 2023, promising amultimillion-dollarinvestment. Thecompany had$40 million fromdifferent investment groups.

Miller said Skydweller is building asecondsolarpoweredaircraft,with the parts being made elsewhere and assembled at Stennis. He still envisions afleet of solarpowered aircraftflying outof Stennis.

“We’ve gottoraise some money,but withour success we’reseeing more interest,” Miller said. “People realize this is goingtobea game changer.”

Miller said the company is working with the Mississippi Development Authority,the state’seconomic developmentagency,tobuild asecond hangar at Stennis that the company would lease. Miller has said company plans to eventually growthe full-time workforce to 65 to 75 people in the next couple of years.

“The Gulf Coast is agreat home forus,” he said.

Tigers’ injuries, legalissues causefor concern

For LSU football, it was alreadya tense enough preseason camp to have Tigerfans ready to bite through glass.

SAINTS PRESEASON

SLOW START

But two things happened this past week thathad theanxiety meter peggingthe needle,making an alreadysweatyAugust even worse. First camethe word (rumor)thatTigers quarterback Garrett Nussmeier had suffered adevastating knee injury Wednesday in practice. Sources, and finally LSU coach Brian Kelly himself, dispelled the notion, though something had clearly happened. Then there were the developinglegal issuesfor backup running back JT Lindsey Kelly said Friday that basically,Nussmeier has been dealing withchronic tendinitis in his knee, and that he tweaked it during practice. Nussmeier was, reporterswere told, back out for practice Friday —the practice session was closed to the media at alate hour,adding to the mystery.Hepracticed fully in front of reporters Saturday,though he came up limping at one point after ascrambling run. On ascale of 1to10, with 1being athigh bruise and 10 being your season is over before it begins, Kelly called Nuss’sknee a“1.5.” But the cold tsunami of anxiety that swept over LSU fandom was a10. Perhaps, as Nigel Tufnel of “Spinal Tap” might have said, the unease may have gone to 11.

Lose Nussmeier and you cankiss goodbye LSU’shopes of contendingfor anational championship or even making the College Football Playoff. One isleft

ä See RABALAIS, page 3C

injurylate last week.

BY REED DARCEY Staff writer

Garrett Nussmeier triedsomething different on Saturday.Fromthe shotgun, he motioned out to the boundary and lined up as awidereceiver, leavingsophomore quarterback Ju’Juan Johnson in chargeofthe LSU backfield.

What happened next? Johnson took the snap, paused amoment and scampered toward the line of scrimmage.Arunning back led him through ahole in the defense.Itwas awildcat run —aconcept absent from an LSU rushing offense that struggledlast seasonunder first-year coordinator Joe Sloan Now the Tigers are hoping theycan find more production on the ground.It’sunclear exactly how often they’ll run new packages such as wildcatruns this year,but it’sapparent they’re at least experimenting with their rushing offense. LSU spent asizable portion of its ninth preseason practiceon Saturday rehearsing fresh short-yardage

Rookie QB Shough outperformsRattler in loss to Chargers

BY MATTHEWPARAS Staff writer

INGLEWOOD,Calif. It canbetempting —and sometimes dangerous —toread too much into the preseason.

For every rookie likeShedeur Sanders andJaxson Dart who light up the box score, there are journeymen like Skylar Thompson and Jarrett Stidhamwho also post their own gaudy stats without nearly the same amount of fanfare. It can be temptingtoprop up the young players as asign of greatness to come, while dismissing the others as exhibition fodder

But this year’s preseason for theNew Orleans Saints mattersmore than usual. Even if theresultsaren’tindicativeofhow theplayers will perform this comingseason, the Saints stillhavetodetermine astartingquarterback These games, coaches have said, willplay asignificant factor in their evaluation.

rushing concepts. “You gotta run thefootball in SEC,”Sloan said on Saturday.“Ithink that’scritical.”

LSU never found aconsistent rushing attack last season. No Southeastern Conference team in 2024 averaged fewer rushing attempts(29) or fewer rushing yards(116) than theTigers. Instead, they decided to rely heavily on Nussmeier’sarm. Only oneFBS quarterback (Syracuse’sKyle McCord) threw morepasses than LSU’sfirst-yearstarter, whoalso finishedthe year with 77 more pass attempts than any other SEC signal-caller Nussmeier didn’thave trouble moving the offense down the field.

The problem was that his unit toofrequently sputtered in the red zone. Last season, LSUpunctuated only 57% of its drives with touchdowns —one of the three lowest rates in the league. Had the Tigers fielded amorefunctional

And there was plenty to evaluate in Sunday’s27-13 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. TylerShough outperformed Spencer Rattler in New Orleans’ preseason opener,but neither quarterback delivered thekind of statementperformancethatcould put an endtothe battle.

Shough wasthe more accurate of thetwo, leading the Saintstotheir twoscoringdrivesand outthrowing Rattler in terms of yards. The second-rounder posted an 86.4 quarterback rating to Rattler’s75.2. Shough went 15 of 22 for 165 yards, atouchdown andaninterceptioncompared to Rattler going 7of11for 53 yards and afumble. Each performance, of course, comes withcaveats. The Chargers rested their starters, leaving Rattler and Shough to compete against backups. But the playing time was relatively even: Shough led the Saints on six drives

ä See SAINTS, page 3C

9:55

Rose rallies late to win at St. Jude

The Associated Press

MEMPHIS Tenn. — Justin Rose made up a three-shot deficit over the last five holes against hard-luck Tommy Fleetwood, and then made two birdies in a playoff against U.S. Open champion J.J. Spaun to win the FedEx St. Jude Championship on Sunday Rose delivered another sterling performance, closing with a 3-under 67 for his 24th victory worldwide that puts him back into the top 10 in the world at age 45 and secures his spot in another Ryder Cup.

He birdied four straight holes, and narrowly missed a 13-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole at the TPC Southwind for a win in regulation. Rose wound up making six birdies over the last eight holes he played, the last one a 10-foot putt on the 18th on the third playoff hole.

“An amazing last 90 minutes,” Rose said. “I played unbelievable golf down the stretch. When I bring my best, I know I’m good enough to play and to compete, and to now win against the best players in the world. Very gratifying day for me.” Spaun showed plenty of moxie on his own. He made a 20-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole to pull into a share of the lead and closed with a 65. He also made a 30-foot birdie putt on the second extra hole with Rose in tight.

“I hung in there the best I could, and he beat me to the hole first Just wasn’t meant to be,” said Spaun, who locked up a spot in his first Ryder Cup.

Lost in his remarkable rally was another setback for Fleetwood, who has become a sympathetic figure in golf for close calls and his graciousness in defeat. This looked to be his time to add a PGA Tour title to his wins around the world, especially when his 35-foot birdie on the 12th was the first of three birdies in a four-hole stretch

that gave him a two-shot lead with three to play

But he hit pitch through the green on the par-5 16th and had to scramble for par He was between clubs on the 17th, hit a poor shot and a worse par attempt from 7 feet for bogey Needing birdie on the 18th to have a chance, he drove into a bunker Fleetwood shot 69 and finished one shot out of the playoff along with Scottie Scheffler, who grazed the edge of so many putts on the back nine and had to settle a 67.

“There’s a lot of positives to take, as much as I won’t feel like that right now I’m just going to look at what I feel like I could have done and how close it was,” Fleetwood said.

“All these experiences and these close calls, like I say, there’s no point in allowing them to have a negative effect on what happens next. What would be the point?” he said. “It was a great week. I did a ton of good stuff, and as disappointed as I am, I have to try to find the strength to make it all a positive experience and hopefully next time go again.”

Scheffler has not finished worse than eighth place in his last 12 tournaments dating to March. He played the final round without his regular caddie, Ted Scott, who had an emergency family situation back home in Louisiana.

Rose wasn’t the only player leaving the TPC Southwind with a big smile. Bud Cauley was on the bubble for finishing in the top 50 in the FedEx Cup when he holed a bunker shot for birdie on the 17th hole and locked up his spot for the second round of the FedEx Cup playoffs next week outside Baltimore.

Rickie Fowler, who missed the postseason last year, shot 69 to tie for sixth and advance to the BMW Championship Others who moved into the top 50 were Kurt Kitayama, Jhonattan Vegas and J.T Poston

Van Gisbergen remains king of road with victory

The Associated Press

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y Shane van Gisbergen’s latest victory in NASCAR’s premier series was as historical as it was emotional.

With his father, Robert, on hand for the first time this year, the Auckland, New Zealand, native set a Cup Series rookie record with his fourth victory, blowing out the competition again at Watkins Glen International.

“It’s just amazing to have him here,” said van Gisbergen, who last saw his father while visiting home over the Christmas break.

“It’s been a very tough, tough year for dad, and he hasn’t been able to travel, so to have him here for the next three weeks and share this with him, it’s amazing.”

As amazing as van Gisbergen’s rookie season in the Cup series.

The Trackhouse Racing driver joined 2020 champion Chase Elliott and NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon as the only drivers to win four consecutive Cup races on road or street courses.

Unlike his prior wins at Mexico City, Chicago and Sonoma, van Gisbergen was unable to start from the pole position after being edged by Ryan Blaney. After qualifying second, van Gisbergen bided his time and took his first lead on the 25th of the 90-lap race. He then settled into a typically flawless and smooth rhythm on the 2.45-mile road course.

“I’m just a very lucky guy to get to drive for an amazing bunch of people and just execute,” van Gisbergen said. “The day went flawlessly.”

The 36-year-old rookie made his final pit stop with 27 laps remaining and cycled into first place on Lap 74 of a clean race with only three yellow flags. Cruising to a big lead while leading the final 17 laps, van Gisbergen beat Christopher Bell by 11.116 seconds.

“I’m thrilled because we’ve been struggling a little bit,” Bell said. “Just trying to execute the races has been tough for us, so really awesome to have a good day Frustrated to get our butts kicked by (van Gisbergen). He’s doing such a really good job.”

With five victories in only 38 career starts in NASCAR’s premier series, van Gisbergen trails only Elliott (seven wins) and Kyle Larson (six) among active drivers on street or road courses. He also is the fastest to five wins in Cup since the legendary Dan Gurney, who won

his fifth race in his 13th start in January 1968.

The win validated the decision by Trackhouse to sign van Gisbergen to a multiyear contract extension last week. Tied with Denny Hamlin for the series lead in victories, van Gisbergen holds the No. 2 seed in the playoffs with two races remaining in the regular season.

The first round will be held at three oval tracks, where the inexperienced van Gisbergen, who raced exclusively on road and street courses while winning three championships in the Australia-based Supercars, has an average finish of 26.9 this year

“It ain’t going to be easy, that’s for sure,” van Gisbergen said of his playoff outlook. “The first round, it’s some very difficult left-handed tracks for me, but I’m getting better at it, and I’m enjoying myself, and it’s a challenge. That’s why we’re here, and we’ll have a proper crack at it.”

Playoff watch

Third-place finisher Chris Buescher improved to 34 points ahead of Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing teammate Ryan Preece in the battle for the final playoff spot. Buescher outdueled van Gisbergen on the final lap to win at Watkins Glen last year His team tailored its strategy Sunday toward amassing stage points instead of following the win-oriented strategy used by van Gisbergen.

“Last year, we didn’t have to deal with the points side of things, so we brought a fast race car and made it happen,” Buescher said. “We had a really fast race car again, just definitely took the opportunity to capitalize on some big stage points early.”

Feisty Gibbs

It was another frustrating race for Ty Gibbs, who spun John Hunter Nemechek late in Stage 2 and then complained about the handling and strategy of his No. 54 Toyota. Joe Gibbs Racing competition director Chris Gabehart, who recently began working as a strategist and consultant to Gibbs’ team, radioed the driver to “stay in the game” after the Nemechek wreck and later took issue after Gibbs questioned his team’s strategy

“I’m sure you’ve got a real good understanding from inside the car,” Gabehart told Gibbs on the radio. “So you can call the strategy if you want, or we can keep rolling.”

Palou secures fourth IndyCar championship

BY JENNA FRYER AP auto racing writer

Alex Palou wrapped up his fourth IndyCar championship in the last five seasons on Sunday at Portland International Raceway when title contender Pato O’Ward lost power early in the race.

O’Ward started from the pole and was the only driver mathematically eligible to beat Palou for the championship. Palou went into Sunday with a cozy 121-point lead over O’Ward in the standings and so long as he left Portland up by 108 points, he’d clinch the championship in the first race of a three consecutive weekends to close the season. The Astor Cup became his just 22 laps into the race on the Portland road course when O’Ward had an electronic issue on his Arrow McLaren Chevrolet and had to make an unplanned pit stop He returned to the track down nine laps from the leaders Palou finished third, O’Ward finished 25th and Palou has the title cemented with two races remaining in the IndyCar season and an insurmountable 151-point lead Palou was feisty in the closing

portion of the race and raced unnecessarily aggressive at times even driving off course with four laps remaining and drag-racing Christian Lundgaard for position. Palou has won all four of his championships for Chip Ganassi Racing and ran away with this one, his third consecutive, by storming out of the gate with a win in the first two races of the year to set the pace for Ganassi to win its 17th IndyCar title in 30 years. The 17 championships tie Penske Racing. Twelve of Ganassi’s IndyCar titles have come in the last 17 years, starting with Scott Dixon’s brilliant 2008 season in which he put together a run similar to the one Palou had this year Dixon in 2008 won six races, including the

Scheffler gets sub after caddie Scott returns home

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Scottie Scheffler has turned to a tour chaplain as his caddie Sunday for the final round of the FedEx St Jude Championship when Lafayette native Ted Scott had to leave due to a family emergency Scheffler began the final round two shots out of the lead.

Brad Payne, a chaplain to several PGA Tour players as president of the College Golf Fellowship, is a close friend of the world’s No. 1 player and has been in this spot before.

Scheffler turned to him as a fill-in caddie for the third round of the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla because Scott’s daughter was graduating.

The Tour didn’t disclose what led Scott to leave Memphis for Louisiana after the third round.

Liberty’s Stewart targets return by end of month

NEW YORK Breanna Stewart is feeling better after suffering a bone bruise in her right knee late last month and hopes to be back by the end of the month.

The two-time WNBA MVP hurt her knee in the Liberty’s loss to the Los Angeles Sparks on July 26 and talked before New York’s 83-71 loss to Minnesota on Sunday “I feel great. I just finished working out on the court in the back,” Stewart said. “And it’s really just kind of giving my leg — the bone — a little bit of time while we have it.”

Stewart has been rehabbing the injury and Liberty coach Sandy Brondello said she thought her star forward could be back by the end of August.

Yankees’ Boone ejected for fifth time this season

NEW YORK New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone was ejected from a game for the fifth time this season in the third inning on Sunday against the Houston Astros. Boone thought Jason Alexander’s sinker to Ryan McMahon was a low called strike. He argued with plate umpire Derek Thomas, who replied: “I’ve heard you enough Aaron,” and tossed him out.

Boone continued the argument for about another minute while third base umpire Jordan Baker interceded and the at-bat continued with McMahon flying out to center field.

Boone was ejected six times last season. His last ejection was by Manny Gonzalez on July 23 in Toronto during the seventh inning for arguing a called third strike on Anthony Volpe.

Gauff eliminates Wang to advance at Cincy Open

Second-seeded Coco Gauff needed just 70 minutes to deliver a 6-3, 6-2 victory over China’s Xinyu Wang in second-round play Sunday at the Cincinnati Open in Mason, Ohio.

Playing for the first time since winning the National Bank Open doubles title with McCartney Kessler in Montreal, Gauff shrugged off eight double faults by rebuffing all five of Wang’s break points.

Indianapolis 500, six poles and the first of his six championships.

“I couldn’t be happier right now. This has been an amazing season, an amazing five years with CGR,” said Palou. Only A.J. Foyt (seven) and Dixon (six) have more championships than Palou, who broke through this season by winning on ovals to finally show he’s the complete package. That was clear years ago, and he is embroiled in a $30 million breach of contract civil suit with Arrow McLaren for not honoring a deal to join that team.

He’s instead stayed loyal to Ganassi and this year, Palou won five of the first six races, including the Indianapolis 500 that had eluded him in five previous tries. That win at the Brickyard cemented the Spaniard’s path to another championship and he’s been untouchable since.

Palou went into Portland with a series-high eight wins, five poles, 11 top-five finishes in 14 races 563 laps led and a 1.2 average finish. He padded those number on Sunday Palou joined Dario Franchitti, Sebastien Bourdais and Ted Horn as the only drivers in series history to win three consecutive titles.

“It feels great to be back in Cincinnati,” said Gauff, on court. Gauff came into Cincinnati following a shocking loss to eventual champion Victoria Mboko in the fourth round of the Canadian Open. Gauff will face Ukrainian Dayana Yastremska, the No. 32 seed, next. Yastremska was the player who eliminated her in the first round at Wimbledon three weeks after her crown at Roland-Garros.

Zilisch sports an elbow sling a day after nasty fall

Sporting a smile with his left elbow in a black sling draped around his neck, Connor Zilisch was back Sunday at Watkins Glen International and recounting his scary fall in victory lane.

After winning Saturday’s Xfinity race at the road course, Zilisch took a nasty tumble while attempting a celebratory perch on his No 88 Chevrolet in celebration Zilisch, 19, was taken to the hospital and diagnosed with a broken collarbone. Trackhouse Racing withdrew the No. 87 Chevy that he was scheduled to drive Sunday at Watkins Glen.

“Very grateful to be able to walk away from that,” Zilisch said Sunday “I guess I didn’t walk away, but I’m very grateful to be walking today and to just be all right.”

1

QUARTERBACK QUESTIONS

The Saints had been waiting for a chance to see their quarterback competition continue in a live-game setting

But the picture remains muddled Spencer Rattler (7 of 11, 53 yards, lost fumble) was unspectacular in five scoreless first-half drives.Tyler Shough (15 of 22, 165 yards) was generally more steady and had by far the biggest play with a 54yard touchdown to Mason Tipton but also an ugly interception returned for a Chargers touchdown.The search for the Week 1 starter continues.

DEFENSIVE DEBUT

2

Our first look at Brandon Staley’s defense was generally positive. Operating without starters such as Demario Davis, Pete Werner, Chase young and Carl Granderson, the Saints held the Chargers backups to two offensive touchdowns (one after a third-and-long face-mask penalty prolonged the drive and one against fourth-stringers in the final two minutes).The defense had three sacks, including a near safety by Khristian Boyd, and allowed only 100 yards passing One big negative: The Chargers gained 148 yards rushing at 4.4 yards per carry.

Saints offensive lineman Trevor Penning blocks during the second quarter of a game against the New york Giants on Dec. 8, 2024, in East Rutherford, N.J Penning left the Saints preseason game against the Chargers early with an injury.

OL Penning, Clapp leave game early with injuries

BY LUKE JOHNSON Staff writer

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Before the Saints made it to halftime of their preseason opener against the Los Angeles Chargers, two offensive linemen had to return to the locker room because of apparent injuries.

Trevor Penning, who is in the midst of a transition to guard, went to the locker room during the second quarter A report from the WWL-AM sideline reporter indicated Penning appeared to be walking normally, but he had his shoes off as he made his way back to the locker room.

Will Clapp left the game flanked by athletic trainers after the Saints’ second offensive play from scrimmage. It is not yet clear what Clapp’s injury is, but he returned to the locker room on a cart.

The Saints trotted out four of their five regular starters at offensive line for the preseason opener, with Clapp filling in for Pro Bowl center Erik McCoy in the starting lineup. When Clapp left the game, the Saints inserted undrafted rookie Torriccelli Simpkins at center Starting right tackle Taliese Fuaga and right guard Cesar Ruiz played

LSU

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rushing attack, maybe more of their drives would’ve resulted in six points.

So coach Brian Kelly and his staff spent a large chunk of their offseason trying to build one

The very first transfer they signed was Oklahoma tight end Bauer Sharp a converted Southeastern Louisiana quarterback with a mean streak and a willingness to run block. Sloan said Friday that he brings “violence” to LSU’s rushing attack.

“He’s got physicality,” Kelly said in December, “especially in the run game.”

Then LSU decided to hire a rungame coordinator to fill the role left behind by Slade Nagle, the tight ends coach and special teams coordinator who took a play-calling gig at Houston. By the end of January, Kelly had settled on Alex Atkins — a former Tennessee-Martin offensive tackle who had spent the previous three seasons as Florida State’s offensive coordinator He was fired last November at the end of a 2-10 season as part of a shakeup to coach Mike Norvell’s staff. Atkins’ challenge? Incorporate new concepts into Sloan’s offense,

only the first offensive series before giving way to the backups.

The Saints kept both Penning and first-rounder Kelvin Banks in for the first four offensive series.

Joint practices incoming?

The Saints may wind up attending a joint practice on their West Coast trip after all.

Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay told reporters Sunday that his team is hopeful to conduct a practice with the Saints Thursday, which is the Saints’ final day in Southern California. The Rams previously had a joint practice with the Chargers lined up for this coming week, but the Chargers canceled the session after going through numerous injuries.

The Saints have not participated in a joint practice since the 2023 season, when they went against the Chargers in Costa Mesa, California Their scheduled joint session against the San Francisco 49ers fell through last year after San Francisco went through its own rash of injuries.

Not for everyone

While a significant portion of the Saints’ roster participated in pregame warmups with the

while also making sure that an offensive line with four new starters can execute them. Through nine preseason practices, LSU is still installing parts of its rushing offense and working through position battles at both left guard and right guard.

But it appears that the Tigers have solidified both of their starting offensive tackles redshirt sophomore Tyree Adams and redshirt freshman Weston Davis and their first-team center, Virginia Tech transfer Braelin Moore.

“I’m pleased with the structure of the run game,” Kelly said, “the way it’s progressing from direct snap to shotgun to a variety of different looks. We still have a lot to install at this point, so right now, I feel pretty good. We’ve got to do a better job up front handling the movement.” And Nussmeier, according to both Kelly and Sloan, needs to do a better job of scrambling. LSU wants him to use more opportunities to tuck the ball and run, instead of taking a sack, risking a fumble or potentially forcing a pass into too small of a throwing window

“He’s athletic enough to do that,” Kelly said.

LSU is also hoping sophomore running back Caden Durham can stay healthy Last year he emerged as the Tigers’ top runner,

rest of the team, head coach Kellen Moore rested most of his most experienced starters for Sunday’s preseason opener Chris Olave (ankle) and Alontae Taylor did not go through warmups with the rest of the team, and neither did several other players who’d been dealing with nagging injuries, such as Landon Young, Devin Neal and J.T. Gray

Several others went through warmups but never left the sideline during the game, including: McCoy Alvin Kamara, Rashid Shaheed, Davon Godchaux, Chase Young, Carl Granderson, Cam Jordan, Justin Reid, Demario Davis and Pete Werner Odds and ends

Wide receiver Bub Means and tight end Mason Pline also left the game early with injury Rookie defenders Fadil Diggs and Danny Stutsman each finished with three tackles while playing most of the first half (or, in Stutsman’s case, all of it). Diggs has been coming on strong in training camp and he recorded a sack Sunday The Saints flip-flopped their punters throughout the day but James Burnip handled the first kick.

Email Luke Johnson at ljohnson@theadvocate.com.

but toe injuries limited his explosiveness. Now he’s leading a group of tailbacks with size in 6-foot, 234-pound junior Kaleb Jackson and speed in five-star freshman Harlem Berry

But those three are the only scholarship tailbacks on LSU’s active roster Trey Holly — the redshirt sophomore who’s spent the last two seasons battling legal troubles — transferred to Southern in July Then, freshman JT Lindsey turned himself in to authorities on Friday after a warrant was issued for his arrest. He’s now facing an accessory after the fact to second-degree murder charge and has been suspended from team activities.

In a bind, LSU can turn to Johnson. He began last season as a defensive back, then moved to running back after the veteran John Emery suffered a season-ending knee injury

Now Johnson’s a wildcat quarterback who may represent a creative shift taking place in the LSU rushing attack.

“There’s some schematic things,” Sloan said, “where we’re gonna be able to put some guys in positions to make sure we can create some more explosives in the run game. I think that’s the key

“But I have been pleased with what we’ve done.”

DOUBTING DEPTH

3

At least on offense, nothing that happened Sunday will assuage concerns about depth, especially after injuries to starting guard Trevor Penning, second-string center Will Clapp and backup wide receiver Bub Means The result was a makeshift offensive line that allowed five sacks, paved the way for a paltry 61 yards rushing and brought back strong memories of last year’s injury-riddled unit For the Saints to be successful, the depth either needs to improve or the starters need to stay on the field.

Zach Ewing

SAINTS

Continued from page 1C

to Rattler’s five. Third-stringer Jake Haener (5-of-8 for 41 yards) took over with just under five minutes left. Neither quarterback got a full deck to work with. Coach Kellen Moore rested center Erik McCoy running back Alvin Kamara and wide receivers Rashid Shaheed and Chris Olave (ankle) on offense. And guard Cesar Ruiz and tackle Taliese Fuaga played just two drives before sitting as a precaution. Rookie tackle Kelvin Banks and guard Trevor Penning sat early in the second quarter The piecemeal lineup, however was nothing new to Rattler The second-year quarterback spent most of his rookie season having to adjust to a decimated lineup, often playing without many of the same players who were rested Sunday

So it was perhaps fitting then that in Rattler’s first start of the preseason, the quarterback looked much of the same as he did last year

Rattler’s arm talent and decisiveness were positives. On his first drive, the 25-year-old stood calmly in the pocket and found running back Kendre Miller on a checkdown for a 9-yard gain. He followed that up with a 21-yard completion to Cedrick Wilson to convert a third down. Rattler also did a nice job of gaining back a good chunk of yards on thirdand-19 on a nice ball to Brandin Cooks. But Rattler’s worst tendencies popped up again Sunday He couldn’t convert points on favorable field position, including when the Saints started at the LAC 17 after a muffed punt. He took three sacks in 28 snaps, one of which resulted in a fumble that the Chargers recovered.

Rattler’s fumble may not have been all his fault tackle Dillon Radunz got smoked on the play — but it was another turnover for a player who had five fumbles (three lost) and five interceptions in seven games last year Rattler’s three sacks also matched his rookie season average when he was brought down 3.1 times per game in 2024. The Saints tried not to let Rattler’s day end on a down note. After his fumble, Rattler trotted out on the field for his fifth drive

RABALAIS

Continued from page 1C

to conclude that this particular issue won’t be what sidelines Nussmeier if anything does. But it does raise the question of how LSU deals with him.

Taking off and running more often — not at a Jayden Danielslike pace, but more than Nussmeier did in 2024 — has been thought to be part of the gameplan this season. Does his knee situation change that? Kelly said they won’t practice differently with Nussmeier, no trying to protect him beyond the red noncontact jersey he and the other quarterbacks already wear But will he be more likely to stay in the pocket than everyone was led to believe?

As for the whole injury story gone wild, one is left to wonder how these things happen. Someone watching/working at practice Wednesday told someone who posted an even wilder story on a message board and the fuse was then lit. But how does it go from what was clearly a minor ailment to a full-blown structural issue requiring surgery? Quite simply, it’s the age in which we live in. Everyone wants to be “in the know,” but while legitimate news organizations are unpopular in general, they remain the best way to find out if something is serious or fantasy Here’s something serious: the charges against Lindsey that he housed two murder suspects in his on-campus apartment, charges that Friday led Lindsey to turn himself into LSU police.

of the afternoon. While Rattler led the offense past midfield, the series stalled shortly after with another punt.

Shough, meanwhile, hurt the Saints with his own turnover — even more so.

In the third quarter, the rookie stared down Dante Pettis on a throw that Chargers rookie corner Eric Rogers intercepted and returned for a 43-yard touchdown The score gave the Chargers a 17-3 lead.

But throughout the Saints’ quarterback battle, Moore has often talked about wanting to see his quarterbacks respond to mistakes — and Shough responded to his pick-6 in a big way On the next drive, Shough hit Mason Tipton for a 54-yard touchdown on a deep bomb down the field.

The play was a near-perfect sequence of events for the Saints. Running back Clyde EdwardsHelaire picked up the blitz, Tipton beat the defense on a filthy stop-and-go and the Saints had a quarterback with the arm strength capable of ripping it.

Elsewhere, Shough played with poise in his first (unofficial) NFL outing. He looked comfortable from the jump as he led the Saints with 1:38 left on a 10-play, 52-yard drive that resulted in a Blake Grupe field goal just before halftime He scanned the field and waded off pressure, despite being sacked twice. Each quarterback did well enough to leave Moore with more to think about. But the battle isn’t likely to be over anytime soon.

Email Matthew Paras at matt. paras@theadvocate.com

The charge is called accessory after the fact.

Lindsey’s attorney, former LSU football player Kris Perret, told The Advocate his client didn’t know the two men were wanted. Police in Alexandria, where the murder of Corey Brooks took place in May, expressed skepticism that Lindsey was unaware of the case considering he, Brooks and the two suspects all went to Alexandria Senior High, plus the case’s media coverage. In any respect, Lindsey is suspended from the LSU team until the charges against him are resolved. While Lindsey’s future with the team is uncertain, the Tigers’ present situation is quite clear LSU is down to just three scholarship running backs Caden Durham, Kaleb Jackson and freshman Harlem Berry — plus Ju’Juan Johnson. He’s listed on LSU’s roster as a quarterback but is a multifaceted player who can play a variety of positions. Johnson may be pressed into a running back role more than anyone could have anticipated.

LSU’s thinning depth at running back — Trey Holly transferred to Southern earlier this summer — is one of the most pressing issues facing the Tigers heading into the season. LSU must have an effective running game to balance the offense. The Tigers didn’t have that in 2024, when they were last in the SEC with 116.4 rushing yards per contest.

Both situations Nussmeier’s knee and LSU’s running back depth — are stark reminders of how tenuous the Tigers’ bid for potential greatness is in 2025.

DB

PAST FIVE YEARS

PROJECTED STARTERS

PREP FOOTBALL SEASON PREVIEW

Comeaux High

Comeaux High’s defensive standouts include, from

Satchel, Greg Dauphiney; from front

and Larry Vallier

What we know

Comeaux coach Marquis Newsome is excited about the upcoming season, especially when he looks at the strength of his Spartans team.

The defense is expected to carry the Spartans early on, but if Comeaux is going to be as strong defensively as the coaching staff believes, Newsome said the defensive line will need to set the tone.

“Everything about this season and our success is going to start and stop with the play of our defensive line,” Newsome said. “I expect that our guys are going to be playing with a chip on their shoulder.”

Led by Larry Vallier, Braylon Thomas, Julian Joseph, Cohen Jacobs, Javontrey Robertson and Levy Kestner, the Spartans defensive line is relishing the opportunity to make Comeaux stout in the trenches.

COACHES

Head coach: Marquis Newsom (0-20).

Assistant coaches: Marcques Lewis, Desmond Woods, Jeremy Joseph, Dylan Batiste, Jack Franks,Tre’Breyian Jacquet, Rodderick Dixon, Brad Bergeron,Thei Washington, Quentin Payne

“We’re not the biggest, strongest or fastest, but we play together as a unit,” Newsome said. “Our defensive line is selfless. Our defensive line is going to make the offensive line better Whether we win or lose, it is going to be decided by what we do in the trenches.”

What we don’t know

The Spartans have found success hard to come by over the years, especially the past three seasons. Comeaux, which is in the midst of a 32-game losing streak that

began in Week 9 of the 2021 season, was close on several occasions last year to snapping the winning drought.

After being so close last year, the mantra this season for the Spartans is to learn how to finish games.

“We have to learn how to finish,” Newsome said adamantly “Last year, we were 0-10, but out of those 10 games, we led in seven of them. Six of those we were winning in the fourth quarter So yeah, finishing games is going to be important for us, and I hope it is something that we can learn.”

Confident the Spartans will be more competitive this season, Newsome said the players “must change their mindset.”

The Spartans are excited about their skill position players, such as quarterback Sean Brinkhaus and running back Jaden Celestine.

“Last year, it just felt like we were always waiting for the other shoe to drop,” Newsome said. “It was like we were just waiting for something bad to happen. But we can’t do that We have to finish games when we have the chance to. If we can get that one win out of the way, I think it will get us going.”

How we see it

Nothing has come easy for the Spartans, and although they face an uphill battle to secure a playoff spot in a competitive District 3-5A, they are talented enough to put an end to the losing streak. Expect the Spartans to earn a win and put the losing streak to rest. Eric Narcisse

SCOREBOARD

JADEN CELESTINE

RB/DB, 5-11, 190, JR. Celestine is a dynamic playmaker for the Spartans. He has a great combination of vision, speed and power when running with the football. Celestine has good hands, which makes him a threat when lined up as a receiver

SEAN BRINKHAUS

QB, 6-1, 175, SR.

Brinkhaus, who has established himself as a vocal leader, does a great job of reading defenses. He has a strong arm, which allows him to make all of the throws and has shown an increase in confidence this summer

LARRY VALLIER

DE/LB, 6-3, 215, JR. Vallier who does a good job of using his long arms, has a nonstop motor He flies to the ball consistently and has shown a knack for getting after the quarterback. He’s a solid tackler and is improving as a run stopper

GREG DAUPHINEY

DB, 5-10, 180, SR. Dauphiney, a four-year starter is the heart of the Spartans defense.A team leader with good speed, Dauphiney has great ball skills and has proven to be a very good tackler

BRAYLON

THOMAS

DT, 6-1, 265, SR. Thomas has a mean streak and has shown the ability to be strong at the point of attack.A physically gifted lineman,Thomas excels as a pass rusher and at stopping the run.

United States, 7-6 (4), 6-3. Roberto Bautista Agut, Spain, def. Cameron Norrie (32), Britain, 6-4, 6-3. Women’s Singles Round of 64 Jelena Ostapenko (23), Latvia, def. Camila Osorio, Colombia, walkover. Ashlyn Krueger (26), United States, def. Anastasija Sevastova, Latvia, 6-4, 0-6, 6-3. Veronika Kudermetova, Russia, def. Belinda Bencic (17), Switzerland, 6-4, 7-6 (0). Dayana Yastremska (32), Ukraine, def. Viktoriya Tomova, Bulgaria, 6-4, 2-6, 6-2. Jasmine Paolini (7), Italy, def. Maria Sakkari, Greece, 7-6 (2), 7-6 (5). Magda Linette (31), Poland, def. Rebecca Sramkova, Slovakia, 7-6 (4), 6-0. Coco Gauff (2), United States, def. Wang Xinyu, China, 6-3, 6-2. Ella Seidel, Germany, def. Emma Navarro (8), United States, 6-4, 1-6, 6-4. Women’s Doubles Round of 32 Asia Muhammad, United States, and Demi Schuurs (5), Netherlands, def. Storm Hunter, Australia, and Desirae Krawczyk, United States, 7-5, 2-6, 10-4. Shuko Aoyama, Japan, and Cristina Bucsa, Spain, def. Hao-Ching Chan, Taiwan, and Xinyu Jiang (8), China, 6-2, 7-6 (4). Nicole Melichar-Martinez, United States, and Liudmila Samsonova, Russia, def. Zhang Shuai, China, and Taylor Townsend (3), United States, 6-3, 7-5. Lyudmyla Kichenok, Ukraine, and Ellen Perez (6), Australia, def. Sorana Cirstea, Romania, and Anna Kalinskaya, Russia, 7-5, 7-5. Pro golf

FedEx St. Jude Championship par scores Sunday At TPC Southwind Memphis, Tenn. Purse: $20 million Yardage: 7,288; Par: 70 Final Round (x-won on third playoff hole) x-Justin Rose

-16 J.J. Spaun

16 Tommy Fleetwood

-15 Scottie Scheffler

Czechia, def. Ethan Quinn, United States, 6-4, 6-2. Andrey Rublev (9), Russia, def. Learner Tien,

LIVING

CLEAN MACHINES

This companyis flying industrial drones to scrub NewOrleans high-rises.Here’show they do it.

BY HANNAH LEVITAN Staff writer

Inthe reflection of the15-story InterContinentalNew Orleans, adronehoversseveral feet away,dousing the high-rise hotel’sweathered facade as it washes away layers of grime

The robot, piloted from stories below,works quicklytogive the building awell-deserved shine one that happens withoutworkers ever needingtoset foot onrisky scaffolding.

Over thepast decade, thedrone industry has taken offinthe commercialsector,emergingasan auspicious solution to demanding tasks —likecleaning the windows of skyscrapers and high-rises. As of July 2025,the Federal Aviation Administration logged over 822,000 registered drones and 460,375 certified remotepilots.

In New Orleans, drones are already fast at work cleaning the exteriors of buildings across the city.Manyofthemare runbylocal businesswomen Kim Dixon and MulladyVoelker’scompany,Drone Powered Solutions, which launched

Rob Stenger pilots apressurewashing drone to clean amultistoryoffice buildinginthe 100 block of Veterans Memorial Boulevard in Metairie.

in 2024 after the duo lefttheir roles in healthcare to enter the region’s budding drone industry

“Wethought it was aneat concept, and as we sort of peeled the layers back,werealizedthatthis actually has alot of legs and would be areally interesting space to be in —one that’schanging really fast

every day,” Voelker said.

After months of research and planning, DPS opened in New Orleans and Miami. Ayear in, the company has several dozen pilots and four drones.

The duo says the drone services theyoffer are faster,safer and a lessexpensive alternative to traditional window and facade cleaning.

“It’sa mixbetween art and science,” Voelker said.

Howitall works

Wash drones, made specifically for cleaning, are equipped with sensors andcameras that monitor the washing process andassess riskofdamage. They’regrowing popular in areas like automotive care, solarenergyand building maintenance.

At DPS, Voelker said thecompany decided to use drones optimized to carry heavy water loads thatare made by amanufacturer based in Jacksonville, Florida. Washing dronesplus their water equipment, hoses and batteries all vary in size, but must weigh under 55 pounds to

ä See DRONES, page 6C

Lessen stress by including Alzheimer’s patientin care decisions

Howdoyou makethe transitiontoa long-termcare setting less stressful for someone affected by dementia?

The decision to movealoved one into asenior living community is often difficult and challenging.

While the movemay be the right timefor the individual’s health, safety and well-being, the transition can bring about somecomplex emotions, such as fear,grief and uncertainty —not only forthe affected individuals but also forthe entire family

But, before the boxes start getting packed and paperwork is signed, the movetoalongterm care setting can be less stressful if the caregiver can begin the process by first honoring their loved one’sidentity, preserving their autonomy and creating asense of homeand belonging.

First, the caregiver should makeappointments to tour a fewlong-term care settings and take their loved one with them,ifthey are able. The caregiver should take measures to allow the individual to participate in the decisionmaking process. Talking openly with the individual about the moveand their preferences and encouraging questions makes the individual feel empowered and valued, and also eases the stress level of the transition.

Once along-term care setting is selected, the individual’s room in the long-term setting should mimictheir homeenvironment. Re-creating asense of familiarity is very important forthe loved one to feel comfortable and safe. Packing meaningful décor,family photos, favorite artwork and somefamiliar furniture and beddings will remind the individual that they can take the feeling of homewith them

After move-in day,itishelpfulfor the caregiver to know their loved one’sbasic routine, mealtimes, activities, and to be introduced to staff. The affected individual and the caregiver will both have myriad emotions such as sadness, guilt, relief and hope. These emotions should be acknowledged, and the long-term care setting’ssocial worker can offer tips and

ä See DECISIONS, page 6C

Museum artifactsrevealhistory of racism in U.S.

By The Associated Press

man in 1955, and adesk where the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.planned voting rights marches.

“What we do hereishelpexplain our story,asacommunity, as aculture,asasociety to those who may not have lived through it, who may not remember it or whomay havea different memory than whatwecollectively understand,” said Amber Mitchell, curatorofBlack history at theHenry Ford Public access to these items at federal sitesmay be restricted or prohibited under Trumpadministrationrulesseeking to

bar what the president calls “divisive” ideology thatacknowledges theoutsizedroleracism has played in American history and culture. The artifacts include: n The Clark Doll, aplastic, dark-skinnedtoy doll usedby psychologists Kennethand MamieClark during the1940s while studying the impact of segregation on Black children.

ä See ARTIFACTS, page 6C

Ford, viewitems from The JacksonHome at The HenryFord in Dearborn, Mich

Vegandietcausesincreased intestinal gas

Dear Doctors: Iama vegan, and after ameal, Ihave uncomfortable and smelly intestinal gas. It has onlyever easedwhenItook an antibiotic and after colonoscopy prep. Iassume that’sbecause these killed my gut bacteria. Is there afast way to reset thegut? Is this problem ahealthrisk?

Dear reader: Thegut microbiome referstothe remarkable and complex ecosystem of trillions of bacteria, fungi, viruses andother microorganisms that maketheir home in our gut. While some are found in the small intestine, the vast majority live in the large intestine. Researchcontinues to uncovernew ways that thecomposition, diversity and healthof these colonies of microorganisms affect our health. The microbes we host have adirect influence

Dr.Elizabeth Ko

Dr.Eve Glazier ASK THE DOCTORS

on diverse processes such as digestion, nutrient absorption, cardiovascular andneural health, immune responseand even brain health and function. Youare correct that aprimary cause of intestinal gas is the metabolic activity of bacteria in the gut. It has to do with dietary fiber, which is acomplex carbohydrate. Unlikesimple carbs, which get absorbed into thebloodstream in

Mixupbrewing method

Dear Heloise: As acoffee professional, I’d like to add to the conversation about bitterness in coffee. The No. 1cause of bitterness is overextraction.The brewing methoddetermines the grind size. This is related to the length of time that the grounds remain in contact with the water If you consistently have bitter coffee, your grind is too fine for your brewing method. —Jennifer S., via email

No more liquidsoftener

No matter how often Icleaned outthe machine, this would continue.

Ichose to stop using softener,

thesmall intestine, fiber passes undigested intothe colon, or large intestine. There, the cellulose, pectin, lignin, hemicellulose, mucilageand other cell remnants that survived thedigestive process become food for the resident bacteria.

First,enzymes produced by the bacteria dismantle the complex carbs. Then, through fermentation,the resulting simple sugars get processed intoshort-chain fatty acids the bacteria can absorb. Oneofthe byproductsofthat fermentation is —you guessed it —intestinal gas.

In your case, several considerations come to mind. As a plant-forward vegan, your diet contains asignificant amount of plant-based fiber.Cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cab-

bage and cauliflower; foods that contain sulfur such as garlic and onions; and beans and legumes are associated with robust and sometimes smelly gas production. Somevegans whoexperience excessive gas find it useful to subtract, then gradually reintroduce, specific foodstohelp identifyany that may be problematic. Some people then choose to limit or eliminate those foods.

It’struethatantibiotics and colonoscopy prep cansignificantly alter the balance of intestinal flora. Research shows that, when used only occasionally antibiotics don’tcause lasting damage. Gutrecoverycan take anywhere from severalweeks to afew months, so be patient. You can boost your gut recovery by eating dietary fiber froma wide

range of sources.This canalso temporarily increase intestinal gas. Excessive gas production is not ahealth risk. It can sometimes be asymptom of an underlying disease or condition such as Crohn’sdisease, irritable bowel syndrome(IBS), ulcerative colitis or small intestinal bowel overgrowth (SIBO). If changes to your diet don’thave abeneficial effect on gas production, check in with your health care provider for guidance.

Sendyour questions to askthedoctors@mednet.ucla edu, or write: Ask theDoctors, c/oUCLA HealthSciences Media Relations, 10880 Wilshire Blvd.,Suite1450, Los Angeles CA, 90024.

Hints from Heloise

Dear Heloise: Several years ago, clothes were coming out of my washing machine with arotted smell. Ialso noticed mold growing inside the area where the liquid fabric softener would go in my washingmachine. It didn’t matter if it was aname-brand fabric softener or alower brand.

figuring somethingwas in it that caused this. Istarted to useeither dryersheets or wool balls.The smellhas never come back again. Problem solved! —Elizabeth M. Elizabeth, yes,indeed, using too much softener or not regularly cleaning thedispenser can cause mold growth. Frontloaders are especially prone to this problem. Cold water, which most people use today can also stop thesoftener from completely dissolving, creating aresiduebuildup. Always leave the washer door openfor about an hourtodry out. —Heloise

Send ahint to heloise@heloise. com.

TODAYINHISTORY

By The Associated Press

Today is Monday,Aug. 11,the 223rd day of 2025. There are142 days left in the year

Todayinhistory

On Aug. 11, 1934, the first federal prisoners arrived at Alcatraz Island, aformer military prison, in San Francisco Bay; the island would be home tomore than 1,500 prisoners overthe next three decades, including gangsters Al Capone and James “Whitey” Bulger,before closing in 1963.

Also on this date:

In 1919, Germany’sWeimar Constitution was signed by President Friedrich Ebert.

In 1929, Babe Ruth became the first baseball player to reach 500 career home runs with ahomer at Cleveland’sLeague Park

In 1949, President Harry S Truman nominatedGeneral Omar N. Bradley to become the first chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

In 1952, Hussein bin Talal was proclaimed King of Jordan, beginning areign lasting nearly 47 years.

In 1956, abstract painter Jackson Pollock died in an automobile accident on Long Island, New York, at age 44.

In 1965, rioting that claimed 34 lives and lasted six days broke out in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles.

In 1972, the last U.S. ground combat troops in South Vietnam left to return to the United States.

In 1973, at ahouse partyin the Bronx, 18-year-oldDJ Kool

DECISIONS

Continued from page5C

strategies to navigate these emotions and make the first few days of living in the new space ones of joy and reminiscing, as well as offering assurance and support As the caregiver builds relationships with the staff, they will feel more comfortable sharing and advocating for their loved one during their stay at thelongtermcare setting. Any concerns about their loved one and their care shouldbeaddressed to the staff so that person-centered care can provide the best quality of life for their loved one. Additionally,the caregiver could assist staff by volunteering in activities or other events, which would help their loved onecre-

Herc began extending the musical breaksofthe records he was playingand speaking over the beat,markingthe (unofficial) birthofhip-hop music.

In 1992, the Mall of America, thenation’s largest shopping and entertainmentcenter,opened in Bloomington,Minnesota.

In 1997, PresidentBill Clinton made the first use ofthe historic line-item veto, rejectingthree items in spending and taxbills.

(The U.S.Supreme Court later struck down the vetoasunconstitutional.)

In 2012, more than 300 people were killed and more than 3,000 injured after earthquakes struck near Tabriz, Iran.

In 2014, AcademyAwardwinningactor and comedian Robin Williams died in Tiburon, California, at age 63.

Today’sBirthdays: Magazine columnist Marilyn VosSavant is 79. Countrymusicsinger John Conlee is 79. Computer scientist and Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak is 75. Musician Joe Jackson is 71. Playwright DavidHenry Hwang is 68. Journalist/commentator David Brooksis64. Actor Viola Davis is 60. Actor Embeth Davidtzis60. Actor-host Joe Rogan is 58. Actor AnnaGunn is 57. Actor SophieOkonedo is 57. Rock guitaristCharlie Sexton is 57. Hip-hop artist Ali Shaheed Muhammad(ATribe Called Quest) is 55. Actor Will Friedle is 49. Rock singer Ben Gibbard is 49. Actor Merritt Wever is 45. Actor Chris Hemsworth is 42. Rapper Asher Roth is 40. Political commentatorTomiLahren is 33. Actor Alyson Stoner is 32.

ate opportunities to feel more connected andsupported in the environment. From the beginning, the longterm care setting should offer a commitment to purposeful livingfor theaffected individual. Moving into along-termcare setting should be just achange of address, as it should feel just like home, so that thetransition runs smoothlyand thecaregiver and loved one arebothcontent in an environment in which they feel respected and their dignity is always honored.

Dana Territo is an Alzheimer’s advocate and author of “What My Grandchildren Taught Me About Alzheimer’s Disease.” She hosts “The Memory Whisperer.”Email her at thememorywhisperer@gmail com.

DRONES

Continuedfrom page5C

comply with FAAregulations.

Before each wash job,the team views thebuilding on Google Earth to develop asiteplanand then launches avideo drone to survey the area, identifying whichspots need additional attention or are damaged

From there, dependingonthe surface andamount of buildup, the team chooses which cleaningsystem is best for the building, such as awater jet or brush.

Voelker said the drones can clean 5,000to7,000 square feet in an hour,though it can take longer depending on other factors likethe building’smaterial and design.

Duringthe washprocess,all buildings are coated in acleaning solution that absorbs mold and dirt beforebeing sprayed withdeionized water,which Voelker said mitigates mineral buildup on windows.

The company’spumping system, which extracts minerals from machine water,ispatent-pending, according to Voelker

Who fliesthe drones?

Manning ahefty drone connected to apressure pumpwhile standingona crowded sidewalk below is no small feat.Ittakes precision andpatience, which is whyDPS pilots are trained to workinhightraffic, high-stress environments.

“They’re doing it onstage, so to speak, becausethere’salways people onlooking and wanting to see what’shappening,” Voelker said.

Split between two cities,the DPS corporate team hirespilotstocom-

ARTIFACTS

Continuedfrom page5C

The doll is on permanent display in the Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site in Topeka, Kansas.

n Shards of stained glassfrom windows at the 16th Street Baptist ChurchinBirmingham, Alabama, are on display at The National MuseumofAfrican American History andCulture, part of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. White supremacists bombed the church in 1963,killing four Black

left,GerritWarnshuisand Seth

pletejobs across the Gulf South.

All drone operators are required to complete about 20 hours of onsite training,ontop of havingtheir drone pilot license, Voelker said.

To becomecertified under the FAA’sSmall Unmanned Aircraft System Rule, known as Part 107, drone pilots must obtain aRemote Pilot Certificate, which involves taking an FAAaeronautical knowledge test on drone regulations, operating requirements and safety procedures. Drone pilots are also issued an online training course.

DPS candidates spend aday shadowing core pilots —getting familiar with the equipment and ensuring that no onlookers distract the pilot —especially since each drone costs upward of $45,000.

The company recently openeda

girls attending Sunday school.

n Parts of acar owned by NAACPactivist VernonDahmer are on long-term loan to The Mississippi Civil Rights Museum in Jackson, Mississippi. The Ku Klux Klan firebombed and shot at Dahmer’shome in 1966. Dahmer, who hadrecruited Blacks to vote,rescued his family and they escaped in the car,but he died the next day from smoke inhalation.

n Fountain pens usedbyPresident Lyndon B. Johnson to sign the 1964 Civil Rights Act and the 1965 Voting Rights Act are on display at The NationalMuseum of African American History and Culture.

pilottraining academy,Dixonsaid, as part of their “larger plan forpilots to expand into other service lines forthe future at DPS.”

What’s next?

Voelker and Dixon plantogrow New Orleans-born DPSinto a $500 million company.Todothat, they’re expanding into other markets.

“Weconsider ourselves adrone company,” Voelker said. “We’re just expanding into security and surveillance as well, whichisentirely different service line.” And in September,they’re opening anew branch in Spain.

“We’re not content just cleaning New Orleans,” Voelker said. “We’re looking to make this international.”

n Executive Orders 9980 and 9981 that desegregated the U.S. military and the federal government are stored in the National Archives, but copies are on display at the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library in Independence, Missouri. Truman issued the orders in 1948 following abeating that left Army Sgt.Isaac Woodard blind. Woodardwas heading home to South Carolina in 1946 afterserving in WWII when aWhite police chief pulled him from aGreyhound bus and beat him.Woodward was stillwearing hisuniform when he was assaulted. An all-White jury acquitted the chief.

LEO (July23-Aug. 22) Use your intelligence along with the energy and power necessary to get you to your destination. Engage in talksand participate in groups that encourage you to satisfy your needs.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Being part of the solution will bring you closer to others who share your concerns. Play the numbers game and do your part to ensure you maintain the safetyand security that putsyour mind at ease.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) Achange will energize you. Review your schedule and createatimetable that meets your needs.Distance yourself from anyone interferinginyour life choices.

SCORPIO(Oct. 24-Nov. 22) Live, learnand leave the past behind. Execute plans with passion and engageinevents that give you aplatform to promote andmarket your skills. Travel and educational pursuits willpave theway to newbeginnings.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov.23-Dec. 21) Stop letting emotions and egointerfere with your domestic responsibilities. Devise plans that you can implement yourselfif necessary. Let your actions lead theway and your results speak for you.

CAPRICORN (Dec.22-Jan. 19) Payattention to shared expenses andjoint ventures. When worry sets in, alter your position to secure your assets. Someone will try to keep you guessing.

AQUARIUS (Jan.20-Feb. 19) Take careof debtand openadiscussion with someonewho can offer expert advice. An

opportunity to use your talents, skills and experience in alucrative manner is apparent.

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) Network,broaden your connections and gain ground by exploring what's possiblewithyour skills andexperience to improve your life. Take agreaterinterest in howyou look,feel and present yourselftoothers.

ARIES (March 21-April 19) Walk away from temptation and overindulgent people. Utilizeintelligence and practical applications to deter others from interfering with your space, integrity and plans.

TAURUS (April20-May 20) Work behind the scenes. Geteverything sorted out before engaging in talks or giving anyone ahintastoyour agenda. The less interference you encounter, the better off you'll be

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) Adjust, adapt and fine-tune.Leave no roomfor errorand don'tgivesomeone else the authority to make choices for you. Choose ahealthy lifestylewhile avoiding indulgence CANCER (June 21-July 22) Work to make adifference. Speak on behalf of those who can't speak for themselves, and engage in functions andevents that represent your beliefs and life goals Personalimprovementswill enhance your confidence.

Thehoroscope, 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 the Sudoku increases fromMonday to Sunday.

Saturday’s Puzzle Answer

BY PHILLIP ALDER

All bridge writers make mistakes. But they should work hard to give sound advice to their readers, especially in the bidding.

Look at the North hand in today’s diagram. Youopen one spade, and your partner responds twodiamonds. What would you rebid?

Thereisanexcellent general rule in bidding: Never immediately rebid in a suit, whethera major or aminor, unless youhave at least six cards in that suit.

Here, North has an easy two-no-trump rebid. But the columnist who gave this hand had North rebid two spades withoutone wordofcomment. In my opinion,eventhreediamondsisabetterrebid than two spades If you put the North hand opposite my hypothesizedSouth hand, you will see that six diamonds is the bestspot. It requires little morethan one of two finesses, and makes here. After North rebidstwono-trump,apossiblesequence is three clubs-three diamonds -three spades -four hearts (a control-bid; North’s hand couldhardlybebetter) -six diamonds -pass. If Northrebids twospades, South might well jump straight to four spades

Butwhathappens to six spades? East leads the heart king, which kills thecontract. Probably North would win with hisace, play aclub to theace, and run thespade jack.East calmly ducks. And now, when declarer repeatsthe spade finesse,hegoes down two, losing one spade and two hearts. Occasionally, youwill have to rebid immediately in afive-cardsuit, but then every other alternative must be worse ©2025 by NEA, Inc.,dist. By Andrews McMeel Syndication

wuzzles

Each Wuzzleisaword riddle which creates adisguised word, phrase, name, place, saying, etc. For example: NOON GOOD =GOOD AFTERNOON

Previous answers:

word game

InsTRucTIons: 1. Words must be of four or more letters. 2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are

Proper

explicit words are not allowed.

ToDAY’sWoRD DIALYsIs: dye-AL-ih-sis: The separation of substances by means of their unequal diffusion through membranes.

Average mark 10 words Time limit 20 minutes Can youfind 17 or more words in DIALYSIS?

sATuRDAY’sWoRD —EXcuLPATE

today’s thought

“The fear of theLord is thebeginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of theholy is understanding.” Proverbs 9:10