The Times-Picayune 08-13-2025

Jeffersoncutsteacher vacanciesinhalf

BY ELYSE CARMOSINO Staff writer

On the first day of school for Bissonet Elementaryin Jefferson Parish, Amy Geronimo stood in front of agaggle of new third graders as she wrapped up aseries of first-day icebreakers on Monday

“Are you guys ready to learn this year?” she asked as herstudents erupted into cheers. “Thisiswhat an amazing teacherlookslike,” she joked.

Geronimo is one of three teaching apprenticesatBissonet working toward certification througha new online program called Reach Universitythat officials say has helped put adent in the teacher shortageatthe state’slargest school district

“Anapprenticeship is away to (hire new) educators who have experienced the climate and culture of this profession.”

LAURA ROUSSEL, Jefferson Parish chief academic officer

Teacher vacancies have dropped to 70 in Jefferson,less than half of the open positions at the same time last year

Officials have attributedthe feat to several of thedistrict’s ongoing recruitmentefforts, including its in-house certification program. But some,likeJefferson’s ChiefAcademic Officer Laura Roussel,saida unique degree program from Reach

University has been astandout because of its accessibility andhow wellitprepares candidates to take on new teachingroles.

“An apprenticeship is away to (hirenew)educatorswho have experienced theclimate and culture of this profession,” she said.

In Jefferson Parish, where policy advisers for theU.S. Senate Committee on Education visitedtoobserve the program in action Monday,school leaders saythe program has madeiteasier to hire and retain qualifiededucators,particularly as districts acrossthe country see teachervacancies spikefollowing thepandemic. The district has felt the shortage

ä See TEACHER, page 5A

National GuardbeginsarrivinginD.C.

Troops part of Trump’s takeover of law enforcementincity

BY ASHRAF KHALIL and LINDSAYWHITEHURST Associated Press

WASHINGTON The new picture of law enforcement in the nation’s capital began takingshape Tuesday as some of the 800 National Guard members deployed bythe Trump administration began arriv-

ing. Thecity’s police and federal officials, projecting cooperation took the first steps in an uneasy partnership to reduce crime in what President DonaldTrump called —without substantiation alawless city The influx came themorning afterthe Republican president announced hewould be activating the guardmembers and taking over theDistrict’spolice department,something the law allows himtodotemporarily.Hecited a crime emergency —but referred to the same crime that city officials

stress is already falling noticeably Mayor Muriel Bowser pledged to work alongside thefederal officials Trumphas tasked with overseeing thecity’slaw enforcement, while insistingthe policechiefremained in charge of thedepartmentand its officers.

“Howwegot here or what we think about the circumstances right nowwehave morepolice, and we want to make sure we use them,” she told reporters.

Thetonewas ashiftfrom the day

ä

skin and tissue. So farthis year,the bacteria has been linked to over 70 infectionsand nine deaths acrossLouisiana, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi and Texas. Louisianaaccounts foradisproportionate share of thecases, with20infectionsand four deaths. In comparison, thestate averaged just sevencases and one death per year over the past decade.

Venturecapital fundtargets Tulane alums

Startups,growing companies sought to bringworktoLa.

BY RICH COLLINS Staff writer

Anew venture capital fund hopes to tap into Tulane University’snationwide brand and active alumni network across the country to find both investors and startup companies worthy of acash infusion.

NewOrleans-based 1834 Ventures on Monday announced the launch of its inaugural $20 million startup fund and its first twoinvestments. Co-managing partners Patrick Hernandezand Evan Nicoll said they plan to leverage the alumni network of Nicoll’salma mater,Tulane,toinvest in and grow scalable ventures while encouraging them to bring their business to Louisiana.

ä See VENTURE, page 4A

3 hurt as fire burns century-old buildings

SALT LAKE CITY — Three firefighters were injured after a blaze that started in a restaurant’s kitchen scorched century-old buildings in Salt Lake City’s nightlife hub, officials said Tuesday

Firefighters were dispatched to a cooking fire at the London Belle Supper Club on Monday night and found smoke and fire in the kitchen area, Salt Lake City Fire Chief Karl Lieb said at a news conference. The intense heat created a challenging environment, and because it was unsafe to keep firefighters inside or on the roof, where they normally start their attack, he said they fought the fire with aerial devices

Mexico expels 26 cartel figures wanted by U S.

WASHINGTON Mexico sent 26 high-ranking cartel figures to the United States Tuesday in the latest major deal with the Trump administration as American authorities ratchet up pressure on criminal networks smuggling drugs across the border

Those being handed over to U.S. custody include Abigael González Valencia, a leader of “Los Cuinis,” a group closely aligned with notorious cartel Jalisco New Generation or CJNG, a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press. Another person, Roberto Salazar is wanted in connection to the 2008 killing of a Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy, the person said. Other defendants have ties to the Sinaloa Cartel, the Los Zetas cartel and other violent drug trafficking groups. They were being flown to American soil after the Justice Department agreed not to seek the death penalty against any of the defendants or against any cartel leaders and members transferred to the U.S. in February, the person said.

6 ex-officials convicted in deaths of 41 girls

GUATEMALA CITY A Guatemalan judge convicted six people of various crimes Tuesday in connection with the deaths of 41 girls in a 2017 fire at a facility for at-risk youth that had a history of abuse. They had all declared their innocence Tuesday Judge Ingrid Cifuentes handed down cumulative sentences of six years to 25 years for charges ranging from manslaughter to abuse of authority She also ordered the investigation of former President Jimmy Morales for his role in ordering police to work at a facility where minors who had not committed crimes were held Prosecutors had earlier requested sentences up to 131 years for some of those convicted, who were all former government workers.

‘What’s Happening!!,’ actress dies at 60

LOS ANGELES Danielle Spencer, who played the wisecracking and tattling little sister Dee Thomas on the 1970s sitcom “What’s Happening!!” has died at 60. Spencer, who became a veterinarian later in life, died Monday at a hospital in Richmond, Virginia, after a yearslong battle with cancer family spokesperson Sandra Jones said. As Dee, Spencer was the smarter, more serious younger sister who offered a steady stream of deadpan roasts of big brother Roger “Raj” Thomas and his friends Dwayne Nelson and Freddie “Rerun” Stubbs.

Zelenskyy: Putin wants rest of Donetsk region

BY LORNE COOK and SAMYA KULLAB

Associated Press

KYIV,Ukraine — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Tuesday that Russian President Vladimir Putin wants Ukraine to withdraw from the remaining 30% of the Donetsk region that it controls as part of a ceasefire deal, a proposal the leader categorically rejected.

Zelenskyy reiterated that Ukraine would not withdraw from territories it controls, saying that would be unconstitutional and would serve only as a springboard for a future Russian invasion.

He said diplomatic discussions led by the U.S focusing on ending the war have not touched on security guarantees for Ukraine to prevent future Russian aggression and that meeting formats currently being discussed do not include Europe’s participation, both key demands of Kyiv

Meanwhile, Russian forces on the ground have been closing in on a key territorial grab around the city of Pokrovsk.

Zelenskyy said the necessity of territorial concessions was conveyed to him by U.S officials

ahead of a summit Friday between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, and in further meetings at the level of national security officials. It remained unclear whether Ukraine would take part in the Friday summit European Union leaders also have been sidelined from the meeting, and they appealed to Trump on Tuesday to protect their interests.

Zelenskyy said Putin wants the remaining 3,500 square miles of Donetsk under Kyiv’s control, where the war’s toughest battles are grinding on, as part of a ceasefire plan, in a press briefing on Tuesday in Kyiv

Doing so would hand Russia almost the entirety of the Donbas, a region comprising Ukraine’s eastern industrial heartland that Putin has long coveted.

Zelenskyy learned of Russia’s position after holding a call with Trump and special envoy Steve Witkoff, after the latter’s bilateral meeting with Putin.

Witkoff told Zelenskyy that Russia was ready to end the war and that there should be territorial concessions from both sides. Some European partners were also part of the call.

“And that probably Putin wants us to leave Donbas. That is, it didn’t sound like America wants us to leave,” he said, recounting the call.

Zelenskyy reiterated that withdrawing from Ukraine-controlled territory was out of the question, especially as the question of security guarantees for Ukraine, were not being discussed.

“We will not leave Donbas. We cannot do this. Everyone forgets the first part our territories are illegally occupied,” Zelenskyy told reporters at a briefing on Tuesday “Donbas for the Russians is a springboard for a future new offensive.”

Zelenskyy said this is what occurred in 2014 when Russia illegally annexed the Crimean Peninsula.

Trump has said he wants to see whether Putin is serious about ending the war, now in its fourth year

The U.S. president has disappointed allies in Europe by saying Ukraine will have to give up some Russian-held territory. He also said Russia must accept land swaps, although it was unclear what Putin might be expected to surrender.

Texas attorney general escalates redistricting fight

Trump ally seeks arrest of progressive activist

BY BILL BARROW and NADIA LATHAN Associated Press

AUSTIN, Texas Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton ratcheted up President Donald Trump’s congressional redistricting fight by calling Tuesday for progressive activist Beto O’Rourke to be put “behind bars” for helping Democrats who have managed to block the GOP’s gerrymandering efforts with an extended walkout Hours earlier, Texas Republican leaders said they were prepared to end their stalemated special session that includes the proposed new maps and immediately begin another standoff with Democratic legislators. Dozens of Democrats have left the state to prevent their GOP colleagues from voting on the changes and meeting Trump’s demands ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

The developments are the latest escalations in a battle that began in Austin and now reaches into multiple courtrooms and statehouses controlled by both major parties.

Paxton, a Trump acolyte who is running for the U.S. Senate, asked a Texas judge on Tuesday to hold O’Rourke in contempt of court, arguing that the former congressman and onetime presidential candidate has continued to fundraise for absent Democrats despite an order last week that Paxton said should have stopped some of his activities.

“It’s time to lock him up,” Paxton said of O’Rourke in a fiery written statement

O’Rourke denied any wrongdoing and called the attorney general a “corrupt, lying thug.”

At the Texas Capitol, House Speaker Dustin Burrows was more muted as he confirmed Republicans’ next moves after dozens of Democrats again did not show up, preventing the necessary quorum for business to be conducted. Burrows said from the House floor that lawmakers will not attempt to reconvene again until Friday If Democrats are still absent — and they have given no indication that they plan to return — the speaker and Gov Greg Abbott said Republicans will end the current session, with the governor immediately calling another Abbott called Democrats “derelict” and said in statement that he will “continue to call special session after special session until we get this Texas first agenda passed.” Democrats responded by declaring victory — even if temporarily

“We said we would defeat Abbott’s first corrupt special session, and that’s exactly what we’re doing,” Texas House Democratic Caucus Chair Rep. Gene Wu said in a statement.

Netanyahu hints talks now focus on release of hostages

BY NATALIE MELZER Associated Press

JERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday hinted that ceasefire efforts in Gaza are now focused on a comprehensive deal that would release the remaining hostages all at once, rather than in phases.

Arab officials told The Associated Press last week that mediators Egypt and Qatar were preparing a new framework for a deal that would include the release of all remaining hostages in one go in return for a lasting ceasefire and the withdrawal of Israeli forces.

The long-running indirect talks appeared to break down last month. But a Hamas delegation arrived in Cairo for ceasefire talks on Tuesday, Egypt’s state-run Qahera news channel reported, a sign that efforts have not been abandoned after 22 months of war Israel has threatened to widen its military offensive against Hamas to the areas of Gaza that it does not yet control, and where most of the territory’s 2 million residents have sought refuge.

Those plans have sparked international condemnation and criticism within Israel, and could be intended to raise pressure on Hamas to reach a ceasefire. The militants still hold 50 hostages taken in the Oct. 7, 2023, attack that sparked the war Israel believes around 20 of them are alive.

In an interview with Israel’s i24 News network broadcast Tuesday, Netanyahu was asked if the window had closed on a partial ceasefire deal. Egyptian Foreign Ministry Badr Abdelatty told reporters that Cairo is still trying to advance an earlier proposal for an initial 60-day ceasefire, the release of some hostages and an influx of humanitarian aid before further talks on a lasting truce.

“I think it’s behind us,” Netanyahu replied. “We tried, we made all kinds of attempts we went through a lot, but it turned out that they were just misleading us.”

Explosioncause underinvestigation

Workerswere heating coal at steelplant

BY MARC LEVY,MICHAEL CASEY and PETERSMITH Associated Press

CLAIRTON, Pa.— Workers

were heating coal into akey component of steelmaking andpreparingfor maintenance when an explosion rocked aU.S. Steelplant outside Pittsburgh, acompany executive said Tuesday,aday after the blast killed two workers.

The explosion, which was powerful enough to shake nearby homes, injured more than 10 other steelworkers, including one who spent hours trapped in rubble. It also knocked down awall, scorched apickup truck and sent ahuge plume of black smoke into the air

Initially,the plant’sown fire department and local responders rescued some of the workers. When it was determined that the areawas not stable enough for those effortstocontinue, aspecialized rescue team went in, said Matthew Brown, chief of Allegheny County Emergency Services.

The Pittsburgh-based Pennsylvania Urban Search &Rescue Strike Team One stabilized awall and used an advanced camera to detect the trapped worker’s location and then carefully removed thedebris to free him.

“That’swhat gave us that success,” Brown said.

U.S. Steel’schief manufacturing officer,Scott Buckiso, said workers were conducting routine operationsatthe timeofthe accident.

The plant, amassive industrial facility along the Monongahela River,converts coaltocoke,akey

component in the steelmakingprocess. Theplant in Clairtonisconsidered the largest cokingoperation in North America and is one of four major U.S. Steel plants in Pennsylvania To make coke, coal is baked in special ovens for hours at high temperatures to removeimpuritiesthat couldotherwise weaken steel.The process creates what’sknownascoke gas —alethal mix of methane, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide.

Twoloudboomsthat followed the initial blast were initially thought to be subsequent explosions,but Buckisosaidthey were from the activation of two reliefpressurevalves —a safetymechanism that operated as expected.

The cause of the explosion remained under investigation, and Democratic Gov Josh Shapiro told reporters Tuesday that workers deserve an “answer for what happened.”

“Weowe them the answers to their questions, andwe owe themtonever forget thesacrificesthat occurred here yesterday,”

Shapirosaid.Before arriving at anews conference, he met with family members of aworker who died.

Allegheny CountyExecutive Sara Innamorato told reporters she had assurances from U.S.Steel that the company would continue to cooperate fully with investigators.

“Weall share acommon goal. We want to gettothe bottom of what happened, and we want to prevent it from happening ever again,” Innamorato said. Shapiro also used the news conference topay tribute to the workers who died. The county medical examiner’s office identified oneofthe dead as Timothy Quinn, 39. Asecond worker was notidentified, with his family requesting privacy

The Allegheny County Police Department saidfive people were hospitalized in criticalbut stable condition Mondaynight, andfive others were treated and released.

ShapirodescribedQuinn as adevoted father of three known to his friends as “TQ.” He served as amentor andleader to other workers

and was known for cracking jokes. The second-genera-

tion steelworker followed in his father’sfootstepsand wasa“mama’sboy” who, after working long shifts, would take care of his mother andlook afterhis children and his girlfriend’stwo children.

“His life was cuttoo short because of what happened here at this plant,” Shapiro said. “Wehave aresponsibly to remember hislegacy,to makesure his memorylives on. We will make sure his children know his dad wasa special man,agood man and aman whohelped build this community withhis hands the way his father did.”

U.S. Steel CEO David Burritt called it an “extraordinarily difficult day” for a U.S. Steel family that has “suffered heartbreaking losses.” According to the company,the plant hasapproximately 1,400 workers.

Thecompany,hesaid, is working closely with local, state and federal authorities. He would not speculate about the cause of the explosion.

“Wewill share as much as we can, as soon as we can, and we will take every step necessary to keep our people safe,” Burritt said. Deanna Forkey was working behind the counter at the HometownBurgers &Deli, which her family owns, near theplant whenshe heardthe explosion. She said the restaurant door popped open.

“When Ilooked out, all you could see wasblack smoke,” shesaid. “Explosions over there aren’t really uncommon. We hear them alot. But that one obviously was much worse.”

She said manyplant workers are regulars at the restaurant.

at the

On August 1, 2025,University Medical Center NewOrleans celebrated amajor milestone—10 yearsofservicetothe people of NewOrleans andthe entireGulf Southregion. This anniversaryreflects more than adecadeoflifesaving care;it honorsalegacy that extendsbacktoCharity Hospital,reaffirming our commitment to carefor all—clinical excellence,transformational innovation, community engagement, cutting-edge research, and culturalconnection, regardlessofcircumstance. We’re proud to honor our past, celebrateour present, andinspire ourfutureasatrusted regional leaderinhealthcare andinthe decadestocome

“Tulane graduates and entrepreneurs who have participated in Tulane programming have received a top-tier education,” Hernandez said. “Weconsider that acompetitive advantage. Plus, we know that Tulane grads around the country have an affinityfor New Orleans and Louisiana.”

“Weare hoping to capitalize on that to bring more business to the state,” he added.

Hernandez said the fund has raised$4.4million in commitments from 30 investors nationwide.One of those investors is the Louisiana Economic Development Corporation, which spends federal dollars dedicated to economic development by the Biden administration. The State Small Business Credit Initiative will match private dollars raised for investment.

The fund’sfirst two investments are in Cabana Mental

HealthSolutions,ahealth careplatform, and Orion Longevity,maker of asmart mattress cover designed to improve sleep. The fund, named in honor of Tulane’sfoundingyear,is notaffiliated with the university.Instead, it was created to “support andinvest in innovation emerging from its extendedcommunity,” said Hernandez, who spent more than four years as director of capital access at theNew Orleans-based startup incubator Propeller

The new fund go t SSBCI approvalin Fe bru ary andkicked off fundraising shortly after “Wefocused alot on hittingsome bigger out-of-state markets, where peopleknow thatLouisiana has this influx of capital,”Hernandezsaid. “Wewanted to build momentum outsideofthe state first and then comeback.”

Thefund will invest both in newcompanies and in established ones that need capital to continuegrowing. The first two betsfrom

1834 Ventures are on out-ofstatestartups with Tulane ties Cabana is adigital mental health platform serving U.S. military veterans. Founded by Tulanealum David Black, thecompany is based in Annapolis, Maryland, but is planning an imminent move to New Orleans.

Cabana,whichsaidithas securedseven-figuresin annual recurring revenue through federal contracts, is partnering with Ochsner to strengthen wellness and support initiatives for employees.

Thecompanyprovides online, on-demandtherapy with individualcounselors or small groups,aswell as workplace “pods,” physical booths where users can take tailored, short mental health breaks during theworkday 1834’sother announced investmentisinOrionLongevity,maker of mattress coversthatuse biometric sensors to monitor and optimize sleep. Thecompany, led by Tulane alum Harry Gestetner,aims to begin full production this fall. Its prototypesuse high-techmethodstoregulate users’ body temperatures. The company will remain

headquartered in California but plans to find ways for its supply chain to runthrough Louisiana.

“Wehaveanattraction strategy,focusing not just on companies based locally butalso ones willing to set up operations here or move back here,” Hernandez said 1834 Venturesisworking closely with the Tulane Innovation Institute andthe Tulane VentureFund on coinvestment, programming, and founder readiness.

“With 1834 Ventures now part of Louisiana’s investment scene, we’reopening more doors for ventures ready to launchand grow here,” said Kimberly Gramm,managingpartner at Tulane Ventures.

In late August, the fund will co-lead atwo-part webinar series withthe university’sInnovation Institute on venture capitalfundamentals.Itwill be open to founders and startup teams.

1834 Ventures encourages applicationsfrom startups founded by Tulane alumni,

students, faculty,staff and community,agroup that could include any business thatparticipatedinTulane entrepreneurial support programming. But it is not limited to them

It plans to invest in many different types of businesses and at different stages of development, including the pre-seed, seed and Series Astages. Check sizeswill range from $50,000 to $1 million.

1834 Ventures is the ninth fund in the state approved to participate in the State Small Business Credit Initiative administered by Louisiana Economic Development. The program,launched in 2023, could potentially provide up to $113 million in capitalfor thestate’s entrepreneurs with an emphasis on supporting historically underserved communities. Thereare deadlines that havetobemet to unlockall the money Thestate’s program,recently rebranded “Louisiana Opportunity Capital,” has

committed morethan $25 million to nine participating funds, according to LED, which said 150 Louisiana small businesses have receivedinvestmentorloans through the state program. The state added adirect investment program,the Louisiana Growth Fund,earlier this year in an effort to get dollars intothe handsofentrepreneurs morequickly The program supplies public matching funds for private investment dollars up to aset amount. The state has committed $5 million in matching funds so far to 1834 Ventures.

Ochsner Health and Tulane are among those operating SSBCI-backedfunds. Boot64 Ventures has been amongthe most active,investing $5.8million in 26 companies to date. After the program’sslow launch, funds investing SSBCI money have picked up the pace, in the hopes of unlocking all the potential federal matching dollars in the timeallotted.

Experts point to several factors fueling the recent increase, including rising water temperatures and storm runoff that provides nutrientsfor bacterial growth. While the bacterium can sometimes enter the body through eating raw or undercooked seafood, the Louisiana Department of Health reports that three-quarters of recent infections involved wounds or other direct water exposure.

Vibrio bacteria flourish in warm, brackish waters conditions that are common during the summer months.

Afterheavy rainsand storms, nutrients like phosphorusand nitrogenwash into coastal waters, helping the bacteria multiply,said Tiong Aw,apublic health microbiologist and professorat Tulane University

“All these create an ideal condition for Vibrio to grow and survive,” Aw said. There are dozens of types of Vibrio bacteria, and they can live in temperatures as low as 50 degrees. But they especially like the warm conditions of the Gulf.

Astudy published in the Journal of Climate found that water temperatures in the Gulf have risen at twice the rate of globalocean temperatures between1970 and 2020.

“As the oceans havegotten warmer in recent years, it’s not surprising that cases are increasing,” said Dr.David Mushatt, an infectious disease expert at Tulane University.“Temperature and salt content arewhat these bacteria like.” Vibriovulnificus enters the body either through an open wound exposed to contaminated water or by consumingraw shellfish.

Eating raw or undercooked contaminated oysters causes gastrointestinal illness and, insevere cases, abloodstream infection That form is notaskin-destroying infection,but it can be lifethreatening.

Infection can also occur when Vibrio vulnificus gains access throughabreak in the skin.Someone shucking raw oysters with acut, for example, can be exposed if the bacteriainvadethe wound. It can also enter through injuries sustained in or near the water, such as scraping aleg on aboat, or from any existing wound that comes into contact with contaminated seawater

Once inside,itmultiplies rapidlyand releases toxins thatkill cells and break downtissue, causingsevere damage.

Vibriovulnificus is a“rare but very serious infection,” said Dr.Norman Beatty, an associate professor of medicine at the University of Florida. Mostcuts exposed to seawater will heal normally,hesaid, but certain warningsigns can signal the infection has taken hold

The first hallmark sign is theappearanceofblisters, knownasbullae, near the infected wound, and arapid onset of swellingand redness, Beatty said Often, adelay in getting to adoctor whocouldprescribe antibiotics allows the infection to progress, sometimes requiring surgical removal of infected tissue or even amputation,said Beatty.Severe cases can lead to sepsis and septic shock, which can befatal.

If you get acut while in the water,Mushatt suggested cleaning it right away with hydrogen peroxide and antibiotic ointment.But don’t wait if thewound starts turningred,swelling or oozing pus

“Thiscan progressover

hours,”Mushattsaid.

Putting off going to the emergency room until your vacation is over is not the right choice. Even athreehour drive back homefrom the beach could make adifference in theoutcome.

“You wouldn’twant to wait that long,” said Mushatt, whorecommendedseeking careatalocal emergency department.

People with liverdisease, diabetes or weakened immune systemsshould be especially cautious. “For these individuals, the threshold to seek care is even lower,” Mushattadded.

Only asmall numberof recentinfections have been linked to eating raw oysters, according to the Health Department, andnosingle harvesting area hasbeen identified as asource.

Evelyn Watts, aseafood extension specialist at LSU AgCenter, emphasized that eating rawshellfish always carries some risk,especially from April through October when the bacteria is most active. She advised consumers to look for oysters labeled safe for raw consumption.

Certain groups, includingpregnantpeople, older adults, those with weakened immune systems, and individuals with liver disease, diabetes, kidney disease, or undergoing chemotherapy or other immunosuppressive treatments,should avoid raw shellfish altogether to reduce their risk of serious infection. Currently, there is no specific state or federalprogram testing coastal waters for Vibrio vulnificus, Aw said. However,Aw’slab has been monitoring Lake Pontchartrain for the past year and found the bacteria presentyear-round, with higher levels during summer when water temperatures reach about 86 degrees Fahrenheit

acutely,reporting more than 150 teaching vacancies during the 2024-25 school year Louisiana as awhole struggles to hire teachers. As of this year,the state had over 2,500openteaching positions. In 2022, astate audit reportfound that Louisiana also hadthe fifth-highest rate of uncertified teachers at 9%.

Across thestate, more than 1,350 candidates are currently enrolled in Reach’sapprenticeship degree program,including 78 in Jefferson Parish, where the first graduates are expected this year

“It’sone of those relationships where all parties win,” Superintendent JamesGray said, “and overall, our kids will benefit from it because we have better quality teachers.”

Reach is anonprofit university that gives its students the opportunity to earnon-the-job degrees for $900 ayear Its apprenticeship program allowsteaching candidates to train to become certified teachers while receiving paraprofessional pay,making the program more accessible forthose who would otherwise be unable to leave their full-time jobs to pursue adegree.

Formed by agroup of California educators who launched their first teacher credential programin2007, Reachwas established in 2020 with the goal of reducing barriers to entry in highneed professions and offering asolution to the U.S. teacher shortage.

The organization operates in Alabama, Arkansas, California,Colorado, Georgia, Louisiana, Texas and Tennessee, and it’sfunded through federal Pell grants as well as stateworkforce development and philanthropic funds.

The program offers classes exclusivelyonline and focusesonrecruiting can-

didates from low-income rural and urban regions.

The primary difference between an apprenticeship degree and atypical teaching degree is that candidates spend more timeina real classroom and are paid aregular salary while they complete theiron-the-job training, explained Nancy Suarez,BissonetElementary School principal. Under Reach, participants have theoption to earn an early childhood educator certificate in one year,anassociate degree in twoyears, or abachelor’sdegreein four years. Theytake classes at night andare trained in four core content areas: ELA, math,science and social studies.

HeathGrimes, Reach’s southeast vice president, notedthat because candidates apprentice in their local school districts, it reduces theamount of additional training once acandidateis hired full-time. “When Iwas asuperintendent and principal, so many peoplesaid to me thatthey

wished they had ahandin training teachers because they wouldn’tknowanything”about theschool they were hiredtowork in, he said.

Because training is based in acandidate’sfuture workplace, “they already knowthe bellschedule,the emergency procedures,the literacyprogram,soall of thatcomes without needing to do additional professional developmentwhentheyget here.”

Eddy Hoffman worked as aparaprofessionalinJefferson Parish schools for nine yearsbefore shedecided to enroll with Reach to become an English language learning teacher.Being able to trainalongside thesame teachersshe’s worked with fornearly a decade, she said, made the learning experience more enriching.

“They’re very supportive,” she said.

Email ElyseCarmosino at ecarmosino@theadvocate. com.

before, when Bowser said Trump’splan to take over the Metropolitan Police Department and call in the National Guard was not aproductive step and argued his perceived state of emergency simply doesn’tmatch the declining crime numbers. Still, the law gives the federal government more sway over the capital city than in U.S. states, and Bowser said her administration’sability to push back is limited.

Attorney General Pam Bondi posted on social mediathatthe meetingwas productive.

The law allows Trump to take over the D.C. police for up to 30 days, though White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt suggestedit could last longer as authorities later “reevaluate and reassess.” Extending federal control past that time would require Congressional approval, something likely toughtoachieve in theface of Democratic resistance.

About 850 officers and agents fanned out across Washington on Monday and arrested 23 people overnight, Leavitt said. The charges, she said, included homicide, drunken driving, gun and drug crimes and subway fare evasion. She didn’timmediately provide further information on the arrests.

The U.S. Park Police has also removed 70 homeless encampments over the last five months, she said. People who were living in them can leave,gotoahomeless shelterorgointodrugaddiction treatment, Leavitt said. Those who refusecould face fines or jail time.

While Trump invokes his plan by saying that “we’re going to take our capital back,” Bowserand the MPD maintainthat violentcrime overall in Washington has decreased to a30-year low afterasharp rise in 2023. Carjackings, for example, dropped about 50% in 2024 and are down again this year.More than half of those arrested, however,are juveniles, and the extent of thosepunishments is apoint of contention for the Trump administration.

Resident Jeraod Tyre, who’slivedinWashington for15years,saidhedoessee crime slowing down. He’s wary of the NationalGuard troops, who don’thave the same local knowledge as the city’s regularpolice force. “I feel safe walking through the city each and every day.The police are doing a mighty fine job,” he said. Bowser, aDemocrat, spent much of Trump’sfirst term in office openly sparring withthe Republican president. She fended off his initial plans for amilitary parade through thestreets and stood in public opposition

House. In Trump’ssecond term, backed by Republican control of bothhouses of Congress, Bowser has walked a public tightropefor months, emphasizing common ground with the Trump administration on issues such as thesuccessful effort to bring the NFL’s Washington Commanders back to the District of Columbia Shewatched with open concern for the city streets as Trumpfinally got his military parade this summer Herdecision to dismantle BlackLives Matter Plaza earlier this year served as a neat metaphor for just how much the power dynamics between the twoexecutives hadevolved.

Now that fraught relationship enters unchartedterritory as Trump has followed through on months of what manyD.C. officials had quietly hoped were empty threats. The newstandoff hascast Bowser in asympatheticlight,even among her longtime critics. “It’s apower play and we’re an easytarget,”saidClinique Chapman, CEO of the D.C JusticeLab andfrequent Bowser critic. Bowser contends that allthe power resides with Trump and that local officials can do littleotherthan comply and make the bestof it.Aslong as Washington remains afederal enclave with limited autonomy under the 1973 Home Rule Act,she said,it will remainvulnerable to such takeovers.

Trump is the first president to use the law’sSection 740totakeover Washington’spolice for upto30days during times of emergencies.

For Trump, the effort to take over public safety in D.C. reflects an escalation of his aggressive approach to lawenforcement. The

Trump’sdeclaration of a state of emergency fitsthe generalpattern of his secondterminoffice. He has declared states of emergency on issues ranging from borderprotection to economic tariffs,enabling him to essentially rule via executive order. In manycases, he has moved forwardwhile thecourts sorted them out.

Bowser’sclaims about successfully driving down violent crimerates received backing earlier this year from an unlikely source. Ed Martin, Trump’soriginal choice for U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, issued apress release in April hailing a25% drop in violent crime ratesfromthe previous year

TomPower,resident of the hip Logan Circle neighborhood for over adecade, said he occasionally hears about shootings or car break-ins, but he’snever been avictim himself. “I never felt threatened, I’ve never given much thought to it,” he said.

Washingtonnative Sheina Taylor said thetroops are putting her on edge. “It’s more fearful now because even though you’re alaw abiding citizen, here in D.C., you don’tknow,especially because I’mAfrican American,” she said.

Trump’s newly confirmed topfederal prosecutor for Washington, onetime judge and former Fox News host Jeanine Pirro, argued that violent crime remains high and asignificantissuefor victims,despiterecent decreases.“Thesewere vibranthuman beingscut down because of illegal guns,”she said.

BY CHRISTOPHER RUGABER and JOSH BOAK Associated Press writers

WASHINGTON The director of the agency that produces the nation’s jobs and inflation data is typically a mild-mannered technocrat, often with extensive experience in statistical agencies, with little public profile.

But like so much in President Donald Trump’s second administration, this time is different

Trump has selected E.J Antoni, chief economist at the conservative Heritage Foundation, to be the next commissioner at the Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics. Antoni’s nomination was quickly met with a cascade of criticism from other economists, from across the political spectrum.

His selection threatens to bring a new level of politicization to what for decades has been a nonpartisan agency widely accepted as a producer of reliable measures of the nation’s economic health. While many former Labor Department officials say it is unlikely Antoni will be able to distort or alter the data, particularly in the short run, he could change the currently dry-as-dust way it is presented.

Antoni was nominated by Trump after the BLS released a jobs report Aug. 1 that showed that hiring had weakened in July and was much lower in May and June than the agency had previously reported. Trump, without evidence, charged that the data had been “rigged” for political reasons and fired the then-BLS chair, Erika McEntarfer, much to the dismay of many within the agency Antoni has been a vocal critic of the government’s jobs data in frequent appearances on podcasts and cable TV His partisan commentary is unusual for someone who may end up leading the BLS. For instance, on Aug 4 a week before he was nominated — Antoni said in an interview on Fox News Digital that the Labor

Department should stop publishing the monthly jobs reports until its data collection processes improve, and rely on quarterly data based on actual employment filings with state unemployment offices.

The monthly employment reports are probably the closestwatched economic data on Wall Street, and can frequently cause swings in stock prices.

When asked at Tuesday’s White House briefing whether the jobs report would continue to be released, press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the administration hoped it would be

“I believe that is the plan and that’s the hope,” Leavitt said.

Leavitt also defended Antoni’s nomination, calling him an “economic expert” who has testified before Congress and adding that, “the president trusts him to lead this important department.”

Yet Antoni’s TV and podcast appearances have created more of a portrait of a conservative ideologue, instead of a careful economist who considers tradeoffs and prioritizes getting the math correct.

“There’s just nothing in his writing or his resume to suggest that he’s qualified for the position, besides that he is always manipulating the data to favor Trump in some way,” said Brian Albrecht, chief economist at the International Center for Law and Economics.

Antoni wrongly claimed in the last year of Biden’s presidency that the economy had been in recession since 2022; called on the entire Federal Reserve board to be fired for not earning a profit on its Treasury securities holdings; and posted a chart on social media that conflated timelines to suggest inflation was headed to 15%.

His argument that the U.S. was in a recession rested on a vastly exaggerated measure of housing inflation, based on newly-purchased home prices, to artificially make the nation’s gross domestic product appear smaller than it was.

Judge orders ICE to improve conditions at NYC facility

BY MICHAEL R. SISAK Associated Press

NEW YORK A federal judge ordered the Trump administration Tuesday to immediately improve conditions at a New York City immigration holding facility, acting on complaints by jailed migrants that it is dirty, smelly and overcrowded.

Judge Lewis A Kaplan, ruling in a lawsuit filed on behalf of detainees, issued a temporary restraining order requiring U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement to limit capacity, ensure cleanliness and provide sleeping mats in so-called hold rooms at 26 Federal Plaza, a government building in Manhattan

Cellphone video recorded last month by a detainee showed about two dozen men crowded in one of the building’s four hold rooms, many lying on the floor with thermal blankets but no mattresses or padding.

In court filings, detainees complained they had no soap, tooth-

brushes or other hygiene products. They said they were fed inedible “slop” and endured the “horrific stench” of sweat, urine and feces, in part because the rooms have open toilets. One woman having her period couldn’t use menstrual products because women in her room were given just two to divvy up, the lawsuit said.

Kaplan ordered immigration officials to allocate 50 square feet per person — shrinking the largest hold room’s capacity to about 15 people after detainees said 40 or more were being jammed in The building, home to immigration court and the FBI’s New York field office, has become an epicenter of President Donald Trump’s crackdown on illegal immigration.

The judge ordered the government to thoroughly clean the cells three times a day and provide an adequate supply of hygiene products. Addressing concerns that detainees weren’t able to communicate with lawyers, Kaplan ordered

the government to make accommodations for confidential legal telephone calls.

“My conclusion here is that there is a very serious threat of continuing irreparable injury, given the conditions that I’ve been told about,” Kaplan said at a hearing Tuesday where a government lawyer conceded that some of the complaints were valid.

“I think we all agree that conditions at 26 Federal Plaza need to be humane, and we obviously share that belief,” government lawyer Jeffrey S. Oestericher said, adding that he agreed “inhumane conditions are not appropriate and should not be tolerated.”

The lawsuit filed by the immigrant rights organization Make the Road New York, the New York Civil Liberties Union and the American Civil Liberties Union — sought court intervention to end what plaintiff lawyer Heather Gregorio called “inhumane and horrifying conditions.”

at amakeshift

People leave

in honor of David Rose, the officer whowas killedin the shooting at theU.S.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention headquarters in Atlanta.

Police:ShooterattackedGa. CDCsitetoprotest vaccines

BY CHARLOTTE KRAMON and JEFF MARTIN Associated Press

ATLANTA— The man who fired more than 180 shots with along gun at the headquartersofthe U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention broke into alocked safe to get his father’s weapons and wanted to send a message againstCOVID-19vaccines, authorities said Tuesday. Underscoring the leveloffirepowerinvolved, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said more than500 shell casingswere recovered from the scene. Authorities haven’tsaid how many shots were fired by Patrick Joseph Whiteand how many by police. The GBI said forensic testing was still pending Documents found in asearch of the home where White had lived with his parents “expressed the shooter’sdiscontentwiththe COVID-19 vaccinations,” GBI Director Chris Hosey said.

White, 30, had written about wantingtomake “the public aware of his discontent with the vaccine,” Hosey added.

Whitealsohad recently verbalized thoughtsofsuicide, which ledtolaw enforcement being contacted several weeks beforethe shooting, Hosey said.Hedied at thescene Friday of aself-inflicted gunshot wound after killing DeKalb County PoliceOfficerDavid Rose

The shootingreflects the dangers public healthleaders have been experiencing aroundthe country since anti-vaccine vitriol took root during thepandemic. Such rhetorichas been amplifiedasPresident DonaldTrump’shealth secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has repeatedlymade falseand misleading statements about the safetyofimmunizations.

“Weknowthatmisinformation can be dangerous. Not only to health, buttothose that trust us andthose we want to trust,”

Dr.Susan Monarez told CDC employees in an “all-hands” meeting Tuesday,her first since theattack capped her first full week on campus as CDC director

“Weneed to rebuild thetrust together,” Monarez said, accordingtoa transcript obtained by The Associated Press. “The trust is what binds us. In moments like this,wemust meet thechallenges with rational, evidence-based discourse spoken with compassion and understanding. That is how we will lead.”

White’sparents have fully cooperated with the investigation of their son, who hadnoknown criminal history, Hosey saidTuesday With asearch warrantattheir home in the Atlantasuburb of Kennesaw,authoritiesrecovered written documents and electronic devices that are being analyzed. Investigators also recovered five firearms, including agun of his father’sthat he used in theattack, Hosey said.

BY JAMIE STENGLE and JIM VERTUNO Associated Press

AUSTIN, Texas Arandom shooting outside aTarget store in Texas beganwhena gunman killed an employee collecting shopping carts then aman and his 4-yearoldgranddaughter,sparking achaotic hour of stolen cars and crashes thatended withhim arrested naked holding aBible,policesaidTuesday Ethan Nieneker,32, is charged with two counts of capital murder and one count of murderoverMonday’sshooting in Austin. Court records show aseries of past arrests for domesticviolence andassault

“Whathappenedyesterdaywasan unprovoked and deliberate attack, adeliberate act of violence,” Police Chief Lisa Davis saidata news conference. “Innocentliveswere taken in broad daylight, in aplace where people should feel safe to run their everyday errands and to live their everyday lives.”

Thepolicechiefsaidthatalthough Nienekerhad ahistoryofmental health issues, she was unaware of any specific diagnosis. Sgt. Nathan Sexton said the firearm Nieneker usedinthe attacks was acquired through family

After shooting the Target em-

ployee, Nieneker shotthe grandfather as he satinthe driver’s seat of his sport utilityvehicle,thenfatally shot the little girl in the back seat before stealing the vehicle and driving away fast, policesaid.

“It was acompletely random choosing of the victims,” Sexton said.

Police said the Target employee, Hector Leopoldo MartinezMachuca, 24, was taken to ahospital where he died. Adam Chow, 65, andhis granddaughter werepronounced dead at thescenewhile Chow’swife sustainedminor injuries. The name of thechild wasnot released Over thenexthour,Nieneker tried to steal awater truck at a construction site, caused multiple vehicle crashes, wrecked Chow’s vehicle and then stole aVolkswagenhe’d crashed into, policesaid. He also tried to break intoaWaymo self-driving vehicle, threw abrick through the home of an acquaintance andwalkednaked through a backyard

Officersfound Nieneker walking nakedona street after he ditched his clothes in aportable toilet, police said. He was holding aBible andwas subdued withaTaser when he would notcomply withdemands “Hesaidthat he wasJesus,” Sexton said.

Video shows desperate parents pleaded with Uvalde officers to act

Police body camera footage released after legal battle

BY JIM VERTUNO and JOHN SEEWER Associated Press

AUSTIN,Texas Desperate parents

begged law enforcement officers to storm an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, in the frantic minutes after a gunman opened

fire in one of the deadliest classroom attacks in U.S history, police body camera video released Tuesday shows.

“Whose class is he in?” one parent can be heard asking. Another comes up and yells, “Come on man, my daughter is in there!”

The heartbreaking videos show the agonizingly slow law enforcement response along with confusion and delays. Authorities failed to confront 18-year-old gunman

Salvador Ramos for more than an hour after the attack at Robb Elementary School began on May 24, 2022. Nineteen students and two teachers were killed.

deputies visited the gunman’s home three months before the shooting after his mother said she was scared of him, while nearly six hours of bodycam videos revealed missteps and frustration throughout the attack and its aftermath.

Several videos show officers from multiple departments inside the school hallway and standing outside some suggesting throwing gas in the window or searching for a key to the locked classroom. But it’s unclear who is in charge.

Within minutes, parents making their way to a fence near the school yell at officers to do something.

One parent angrily says, “Either you go in or I’m going in bro,” adding a few seconds later, “My kids are in there, bro. Please!” In one video, an officer involved in the initial response can be heard saying, “We can’t see him at all” before adding, “We were at the front and he started shooting.”

The officer wearing the bodycam asks: “He’s in a classroom right?” Another officer responds: “With kids.”

BY CEDAR ATTANASIO Associated Press

Residents in some parts of Juneau prepared to evacuate ahead of what could be a record surge of flooding as rainwater and snowmelt in a huge basin dammed by Alaska’s Mendenhall Glacier started to flow downstream toward the capital city Officials in recent days have been warning people in the flood zone to be ready to evacuate. On Tuesday morning they confirmed water had started escaping the ice dam, with flooding expected late Tuesday and on Wednesday They advised people in the city’s flood zone to leave

The Mendenhall Glacier is about 12 miles from Juneau and is a popular tourist attraction due to its

proximity to Alaska’s capital city and easy access on walking trails Homes on the city’s outskirts are within miles of Mendenhall Lake, which sits below the glacier and many front the Mendenhall River

The water that’s being released in the glacial outburst is flowing into the river, putting homes that are closest to the river at risk. The National Weather Service said it expected flooding to peak at 4 p.m. local time Wednesday

“This will be a new record, based on all of the information that we have,” Nicole Ferrin, a weather service meteorologist, told a news conference Tuesday Flooding from the basin has become an annual concern, and in recent years has swept away houses and swamped hundreds of homes. Government agencies installed temporary barriers this year in hopes of protecting several hundred homes in the inundation area

from widespread damage.

The thinning, retreating glacier in southeast Alaska acts as a dam for Suicide Basin, which fills each spring and summer with rainwater and snowmelt. The basin itself was left behind when a smaller glacier nearby retreated.

When the water in the basin builds upenoughpressure,itforcesitsway under or around the ice dam, entering Mendenhall Lake and eventually the Mendenhall River Before the basin reached the limit of its capacity and began overtopping, the water level was rising rapidly — as much as 4 feet per day during especially sunny or rainy days, according to the National Weather Service.

The threat of so-called glacier outburst flooding has troubled parts of Juneau since 2011 In some years, there has been limited flooding of streets or properties near the lake or river

The records released Tuesday are the final batch of documents that local authorities withheld during a yearslong legal battle over public access. Family members of the victims, including Jesse Rizo, the uncle of 9-yearold victim Jackie Cazares, were among those pushing for the records to be released.

“When a shooter comes in and destroys the community and causes a ripple effect, this is the reality And you cannot shy away from it,” said Rizo, who was elected to the school board after the shooting. He said had been talking to family members and not all of them felt they would be able to watch the videos and read the documents immediately

“For those that are ready for it, I hope that it provides some kind of healing,” he said.

The documents disclosed that

“Something needs to be done ASAP,” a voice can be heard saying almost an hour before anyone charged into the classroom. Outside, a woman who says she’s a relative of the gunman sobs, telling police to “take him out.”

Documents released Monday by the school district offer the most detailed look yet at the gunman whose downward spiral began in middle school with a series of suspensions and warnings for harassment and bullying. He dropped out of school just months before the shooting.

Sheriff’s deputies went to the gunman’s home on two consecutive nights before the attack because he was arguing with his mother over Wi-Fi and broken video game equipment after she turned off the internet, according to county records released Tuesday

Stocks rally on hopes for interest rate cuts

NEW YORK The U.S. stock market rallied to records on Tuesday after data suggested inflation across the country was a touch better last month than economists expected.

The S&P 500 rose 1.1% to top its all-time high set two weeks ago. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 483 points, or 1.1%, and the Nasdaq composite jumped 1.4% to set its own record.

Stocks got a lift from hopes that the better-than-expected inflation report will give the Federal Reserve leeway to cut interest rates at its next meeting in September.

Lower rates would give a boost to investment prices and to the economy by making it cheaper for U.S. households and businesses to borrow to buy houses, cars or equipment.

President Donald Trump has angrily been calling for cuts to help the economy, often insulting the Fed’s chair personally while doing so.

But the Fed has been hesitant because of the possibility that Trump’s tariffs could make inflation much worse Lowering rates would give inflation more fuel, potentially adding oxygen to a growing fire That’s why Fed officials have said they wanted to see more data come in about inflation before moving.

Spirit Airlines sounds alarm on its future NEW YORK Just five months after emerging from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, Spirit Airlines is warning about its future ability to stay in business.

Spirit Aviation Holdings, the budget carrier’s parent company, says it has “substantial doubt” about its ability to continue as a going concern over the next year — which is accounting-speak for running out of money In a quarterly report issued Monday, Spirit pointed to “adverse market conditions” that it’s continued to face after a recent restructuring and other efforts to revive its business.

That includes weak demand for domestic leisure travel, which Spirit said persisted in the second quarter of its fiscal year — among other challenges and “uncertainties in its business operations” that the Florida company expects to continue “for at least the remainder of 2025.”

Spirit’s shares tumbled more than 40% Tuesday, with the company’s stock closing at $2.10.

YouTube to test age verification system

YouTube on Wednesday will begin testing a new age-verification system in the U.S. that relies on artificial intelligence to differentiate between adults and minors, based on the kinds of videos that they have been watching

The tests initially will only affect a sliver of YouTube’s audience in the U.S., but it will likely become more pervasive if the system works as well at guessing viewers’ ages as it does in other parts of the world. The system will only work when viewers are logged into their accounts, and it will make its age assessments regardless of the birth date a user might have entered upon signing up. If the system flags a loggedin viewer as being under 18, YouTube will impose the normal controls and restrictions that the site already uses as a way to prevent minors from watching videos and engaging in other behavior deemed inappropriate for that age. The safeguards include reminders to take a break from the screen, privacy warnings and restrictions on video recommendations YouTube, which has been owned by Google for nearly 20 years, also doesn’t show ads tailored to individual tastes if a viewer is under 18.

BUSINESS

NOLA.COM/BIZ

La. companies make Inc. 5000 list

BY TIMOTHY BOONE Staff writer

Forty-eight Louisiana companies made the annual Inc. 5000 list of America’s fastest-growing companies, with a West Monroe construction firm ranking the highest. EPC, which builds and maintains fiber networks, ranked No. 202 on the list, after reporting 1,932% revenue growth between 2021 and 2024. EPC was founded in 2016. This is the first time EPC made the list.

Getpro Industrial of Prairieville, a female-owned business that sells fluid sealing products, such as gaskets and fasteners, to petrochemical plants was ranked 216. Getpro, founded by Kyle Landaiche, reported revenue growth of 1,771% over a three year period This was the first

time Getpro made the list.

Omega Foundation Services, a Slaughter civil and industrial heavy construction company, ranked 267 on the list, after reporting 1,467% revenue growth between 2021 and 2024. Omega was founded in 2019 and is led by Andrew Bennett. This is the second year in a row Omega made the list; last year, it was the highest-ranking company in the state.

Southern Coatings of Broussard made its first appearance in the Inc. 5000 at 545. The company, which provides painting and blasting services for water towers and storage tanks, posted 741% revenue growth over the three-year period. Southern Coatings was founded in 2021.

NOLA DMC, a New Orleans travel business, rose to 595 in its third appearance on the list. The busi-

ness is a destination management company that schedules events, activities and tours. It posted 696% growth.

Pulse eCitation Solutions of Baton Rouge debuted on the list at 628. The company provides technology that allows law enforcement officers to electronically generate and print citations. It saw its revenue grow by 664% over the past three years.

Currency Bank of Baton Rouge made its first appearance on the Inc. 5000 at 742. The community bank, which started in 2021, saw its revenue grow by 560% over the past three years. Crew One Productions, a New Orleans-based business that provides staffing for concerts, festivals and venues, also debuted on the list. The company was ranked at 927, after

U.S. inflation holds steady

Mild tariff hit offset by cheaper gas, food

BY CHRISTOPHER RUGABER AP economics writer

WASHINGTON U.S. inflation was unchanged in July as rising prices for some imported goods were balanced by falling gas and grocery prices, leaving overall prices modestly higher than a year ago.

Consumer prices rose 2.7% in July from a year earlier, the Labor Department said Tuesday, the same asthepreviousmonthandupfroma post-pandemic low of 2.3% in April.

Excluding the volatile food and energy categories, core prices rose 3.1%, up from 2.9% in June. Both figures are above the Federal Reserve’s 2% target.

The new numbers suggest that slowing rent increases and cheaper gas are offsetting some impacts of PresidentDonaldTrump’ssweeping tariffs Many businesses are also likely still absorbing much of the cost of the duties. Tuesday’s figures probably reflect some impact from the 10% universal tariff Trump imposed in April, as well as higher duties on countries such as China and Canada.

Brian Bethune, an economist at Boston College, said that overall U.S. tariffs calculated as the amount of duties paid by U.S. companies divided by overall imports — has reached 10%, the highest in decades, and will likely keep rising for months.

“Those cost increases will be passed on to the consumer in some way, shape, or form,” Bethune said. Some companies could return to “shrinkflation,” he added, in which they reduce the package size of a good while keeping the price the same.

And companies that are absorbing tariff costs, which would cut into their profit margins, are less likely to hire new employees, he said.

The Federal Reserve may now be in a difficult spot.

Hiring slowed sharply in the spring, after Trump announced tariffs in April. The stalling out of job gains has boosted financial market expectations for an interest rate

cut by the central bank at its next meeting in September, and some Fed officials have raised concerns about the health of the job market.

A rate cut by the Fed often, but not always, lowers borrowing costs for mortgages, car loans, and business loans.

Economists are divided over how Fed officials will read the data in the coming months Some argued that the worsening jobs picture will outweigh lingering inflation concerns and lead the Fed to cut at its next meeting in September Yet some say that with core inflation notably above 2% and rising, the Fed will postpone that decision.

Chair Jerome Powell has warned that worsening inflation could keep the Fed on the sidelines a stance that has enraged Trump, who has defied traditional norms of central bank independence and demanded lower borrowing costs.

On Tuesday, Trump attacked Powell again for not cutting rates and suggested he would allow a lawsuit against the Fed to proceed because of the rising costs of its extensive building renovation. It wasn’t clear what lawsuit he was referring to.

On a monthly basis, prices rose 0.2% in July down from 0.3% the previous month, while core prices ticked up 0.3%, a bit faster than the 0.2% in June. Gas prices fell 2.2% from June to July and have plunged 9.5% from a year earlier, the government’s report said Grocery prices slipped 0.1% last month, though they are still 2.2% higher than a year ago. Tariffs appeared to raise the cost of some imported items: Shoe prices jumped 1.4% from June to July, though they are still just 0.9% more expensive than a year ago. The cost of furniture leapt 0.9% in July and is 3.2% higher than a year earlier Coffee costs nearly 15% more than a year earlier mostly because of troubled harvests overseas, thoughsteepdutiesonimportsfrom Brazil could push those prices higher in the coming months. Nearly all U.S. coffee is imported. Tuesday’s data arrives at a high-

reporting 459% revenue growth. Lafayette-based FlyGuys, a drone and data technology company, was ranked at No. 1,022. It reported a 418% jump in revenue.

Another Lafayette company S1 Technology, also made the list at No. 1,068. The company, which offers IT support and service for smalland medium-sized businesses, had 401% revenue growth.

Companies submit data to make the Inc. 5000 list In order to qualify the business must have been founded and generated revenue by March 31, 2021. Businesses must be based in the U.S., privately held, for-profit and independent entities, not subsidiaries or divisions of other firms.

Email Timothy Boone at tboone@ theadvocate.com.

ly-charged moment for the Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, which collects and publishes the inflation data. Trump fired Erika McEntarfer, then the head of BLS, after the Aug. 1 jobs report also showed sharply lower hiring for May and June than had previously been reported.

The president posted on social media Monday that he has picked E.J. Antoni, an economist at the conservative Heritage Foundation and a frequent critic of the jobs report, to replace McEntarfer

Adding to the turmoil at BLS is a government hiring freeze that has forced it to cut back on the data it collects for each inflation report, the agency has said. UBS economist Alan Detmeister estimates that BLS is now collecting about 18% fewer price quotes for the inflation report than it did earlier this year He thinks the report will produce more volatile results, though averaged out over time, still reliable.

Smaller companies are trying to avoid raising prices and some have turned to novel ways of raising funds.

Clothing maker Princess Awesome, which designs matching clothes for children and adults, has seen its costs jump 15% to 20% because of the tariffs. The company has joined a lawsuit seeking to block the duties. Rebecca Melsky, CEO and co-founder of the firm, says it is prohibitively expensive to make the cotton blend fabrics it uses in the United States.

For now, the company has instituted a “tip jar” on its website where it asks customers to help defray the cost of goods.

“We have not across the board raised prices because of the tariffs yet,” she said

Trump has insisted that overseas manufacturers will pay the tariffs by reducing their prices to offset the duties. Yet the pre-tariff prices of imports haven’t fallen much since the levies were put in place.

Economists at Goldman Sachs estimate that foreign manufacturers have absorbed just 14% of the duties through June, while 22% has been paid by consumers and 64% by U.S. companies.

BY FATIMA HUSSEIN

Associated Press

WASHINGTON The U.S. budget deficit in July climbed 20% this fiscal year compared with the last despite the U.S. taking in record income from President Donald Trump’s tariffs, according to Treasury Department data released Tuesday The U.S. saw a 273% increase — or $21 billion — in customs revenue in July over the same period last year, the data showed. A Treasury official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to preview the data said overall increased spending is in part due to a mix of expenditures, including growing interest payments on the public debt and cost-of-living increases to Social Security payouts, among other costs. This comes as the federal government’s gross national debt creeps up to the $37 trillion mark Even as Trump talks about America becoming rich because of his import tax hikes, federal spending keeps outpacing the revenues collected by the government. That financial picture might change as companies exhaust their pre-tariff inventories, forcing them to import moregoodsandgenerateevenmore in tax revenues that could whittle away at the deficit without meaningfully reducing it as promised If tariffs fail to deliver on Trump’s pledge to improve the government’s balance sheet, the American public could be faced with fewer job options, more inflationary pressures and higher interest rates on mortgages, auto loans and credit cards. The budget deficit is the annual gap between what the U.S. government raises in taxes and what it spends, over time feeding into the overall national debt.

While organizations like the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget say that tariff income can be a stream of meaningful revenue — estimated to generate about $1.3 trillion over the course of President Trump’s four-year term in office; someeconomistslikeKentSmetters of the University of Pennsylvania’s Penn Wharton Budget Model say tariffs are likely to result “ in only modest reductions in federal debt.” In June, the Congressional Budget Office estimated that President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariff plan would cut deficits by $2.8 trillion over a 10-year period while shrinking the economy, raising the inflation rate and reducing the purchasing power of households overall. But revenue estimates are also difficult to predict as the president has changed his tariff rates repeatedly and the taxes declared as part of an economic emergency are currently under appeal in a U.S court. ATreasuryofficialdidnotrespond to an Associated Press request for comment on when the U.S. could begin to see tariff revenue start to put a dent in the deficit.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said last month on Fox Business Network’s “Mornings with Maria” that the administration is “laser-focused on bringing this deficit down.” The Trump administration expects to make more trade deals with other nations, including China and other major economies.

Millions in Europe face record heat

Temperatures,dryness help sparkwildfires

BY SUMAN NAISHADHAM Associated Press

MADRID Wildfires burned in parts of Europe on Tuesday as millions of people across thecontinent struggled to adapt to the new reality: record summer heat Temperatures in some areas soared past 104 Fahrenheit.

Europe is warming faster than any othercontinent, at twice the speed of the global average since the 1980s, accordingtothe European Union’sCopernicusClimate Change Service. Last year was the hottest year on record inEurope and globally, the monitoring agency said.

Scientists warn climate change is exacerbating the frequency and intensity of heat and dryness, making parts of Europe more vulnerable to wildfires. The burning of fuels like gasoline, oil and coal releases heat-trapping gasses that

are the main driver of climate change.

Spainand Portugal:Fires rage

Outside Madrid, firefighters hadlargely contained ablaze that broke out Monday night, authorities said.Itkilleda manwho suffered burns on 98% of hisbody, emergency servicessaid.

Elsewhere, firefightersand nearly 1,000 soldiers were battlingblazes in regionsincluding Castile and Leon, Castile-LaMancha, Andalusia andGalicia. Thousands of people evacuated homes andhotels, including holidaygoers at beaches at the southern tipof Spain.

Regional authorities said Tuesday afternoon that some of those evacuated from beach locations could return to their hotels.

In Portugal, more than 700 firefighterswere working to control afire in the municipality of Tran-

coso, about217 miles northeast of Lisbon. Smaller fires were burning further north.

Turkey:Thousands evacuated

Firefighters largely brought a major wildfire in northwest Turkeyunder control, theforestry minister announced,aday after the blaze prompted hundreds of evacuations and led to the suspension of maritime traffic.

Theblaze broke outonagriculturalland in Canakkale province. Fanned by strong winds, it rapidly spread toaforested area, then to a residential one. It forced theevacuationof2,000 residents —some by sea —and led to 77 hospitalizations due to smoke exposure, officials said.

Firefighters were still battling two other wildfires in Manisa and Izmir provinces in western Turkey,Agriculture and Forestry Minister Ibrahim Yumakli said on

SouthKoreancourt orders arrest of former firstlady

Investigators seek to charge herwith bribery, stock manipulation

BY KIM TONG-HYUNG Associated Press

SEOUL, South Korea ASouth Korean court on Tuesday ordered the arrest of the wife of jailed former President Yoon Suk Yeol as investigators seek to charge her over various suspectedcrimes, including bribery,stock manipulation and meddlingin the selection of acandidate.

In granting aspecial prosecutor’srequest for an arrest warrant near midnight, the Seoul Central District Court said Kim Keon Hee poses a risk of destroying evidence. The investigation into Kim is one of three specialprose-

cutor probes launched under Seoul’snew liberal government targeting the presidency of Yoon, aconservativewho was removed from office in April and rearrested last month over his brief imposition of martial law in December

WhileYoon’s self-inflicted downfall extended adecadeslong run of SouthKorean presidencies ending badly, he and Kimare the first presidentialcouple to be simultaneouslyarrested overcriminal allegations. Yoon’ssurprisingyetpoorly planned power grab on Dec. 3 came amida seeminglyroutine standoff with the liberals, who he described as “antistate” forces abusing their legislative majoritytoblock his agenda. Some political opponents have questioned whether Yoon’s actions were at least partly motivated by growing allegations against

his wife,which hurt his approval ratings and gave political ammunitiontohis rivals.

Kim didnot speak to reporters as she arrivedatthe Seoul court Tuesday foranhourslong hearing on the warrant request. She will be held at a detention center in southern Seoul, separate from the facilityholding Yoon.

The investigation team led by Special Prosecutor Min Joong-ki, whowas appointed in June by newliberalPresident LeeJae Myung, questioned Kim for about seven hours on Wednesdaylast week before deciding to seek her arrest.

Kimspoke briefly to reporters as she appeared forlast week’squestioning, issuing avague apology for causing public concern but also hinting thatshe would deny the allegations againsther,portraying herself as “someone insignificant.”

social media.

France:Ared alertfor heat

The national weather authority placed most of France’ssouthern regiononthe highest heat warn-

BY DÁNICACOTO and ASHRAFKHALIL Associated Press

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico Afederal grand jury hasindicted one of Haiti’s most powerfulgangleaders anda U.S. citizen accused of conspiring with him to violate U.S. sanctions and fund gang activities in thetroubled Caribbean country,the U.S. Justice Departmentannounced Tuesday

JimmyChérizier, best known as “Barbecue,” is a leader of agang federation called VivAnsanm thatthe U.S. designated as aforeign terrorist organization in May

Chérizierlives in Haiti and the United States is offering up to $5 million for information leading to his

arrest or conviction.

ing, with temperatures above104 Fexpectedfor thesecondconsecutive day

The heat will spread to thenortheast, including the Parisregion, Meteo France said.

ChrisLandberg, asenior U.S. State Department official, said Chérizier’s “reign of terror and massviolence against Haiti must end.”

But Jake Johnston, author of “Aid State” and international research director at the Washington-basedCenter for Economic and Policy Research,questionedthe government’sreason for offering abounty

“This is aguy whoisgiving international media interviews regularly.Idon’t think the issue is being able to find him,” Johnston said, adding that the indictment doesn’trepresent athreat to Chérizier since he lives in Haiti. “It’shardtosee how it’ll have muchofaneffect.”

Chérizier is aformer elite policeofficer who

was fired in 2018 andwas later accused of organizing large-scale massacres in the slums of Grand Ravine in 2017, in La Saline in 2018 and in Bel-Air in 2019. More than 100 people were killed in themassacres,which Chérizier has deniedorganizing. “Haiti is ahot spotright now.…There is incredible violencegoing on there,” U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said Tuesday, calling theLa Saline killings “notorious because (Chérizier) both planned and participated” in the slaughter In 2020, Chérizier created the “G9Family and Allies,” an alliance that grew from nine gangs to include more than adozen gangs, according to aU.N.Security Council report.

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Judge clears the way for museum

Location is Oretha Castle Haley’s childhood home

BY JONI HESS Staff writer

A New Orleans judge has re-

versed a land use decision imposed by the City Council last year that halted plans for a controversial museum in the childhood home of civil rights icon Oretha Castle

Henderson-Chandler’s attorney, William Aaron, said they are “most pleased” with the judge’s decision and next steps depend on whether the City Council honors the court’s

Haley Civil District Court Judge Jennifer Medley on Monday sided with the homeowner of the historic shotgun double in Treme, Candice Henderson-Chandler, who argued her application for a zoning exception met all requirements for approval and was disregarded by the council without grounds

ruling and grants the zoning request or appeals. The home at 917-919 North Tonti was originally purchased by Haley’s parents in the 1950s. It served as a safe haven for the Freedom Riders and as headquarters of the Congress of Racial Equality New Orleans Chapter — a civil rights organization Haley co-founded and led.

After Henderson-Chandler

bought the home in 2021 and began holding events and showcasing historical materials featuring Haley, the family issued a cease and desist on using her name, image and likeness. That restraining order has since been lifted, however, according to court documents.

Plans for a museum in the home, under the zoning permit in question, include youth tours, exhibits and activities highlighting the home’s past.

Supporters of the museum in-

clude Haley’s brother Johnnie Castle, who foreclosed on the home in 2016, along with Civil Rights Movement pioneers Jerome “Big Duck” Smith and Dodie Smith-Simmons and community members who feel the project is an opportunity to educate young people across the city Those opposed include multiple members of the Haley family, who spoke out along with community members last year before the

Sight sitting

BY MARCO CARTOLANO Staff writer

BY ALEX LUBBEN Staff writer

More than 2,300 shrimpers, boat owners and seafood businesses from across the Gulf Coast are suing two companies over an oil spill off Louisiana’s coast on Aug. 8, 2022 — the opening day of shrimping season. Roughly 200 of the plain-

tiffs are from Louisiana, with the rest from across the Gulf Coast.

AG seeks different coroner for terminally ill man

BY SOPHIE KASAKOVE Staff writer

A New Orleans man who sued Orleans Parish Coroner Dwight McKenna two years ago is terminally ill, but McKenna should not be the one to handle his remains when he dies, Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill said Monday. Citing state law that bars the coroner from handling cases in which they have a conflict of interest, Murrill said that a nearby parish’s coroner should instead handle the remains of Sidney Smith, who won a lawsuit after McKenna’s office misidentified his son’s body in 2023.

Smith has terminal cancer and said in June that he expects to die within the year In her July 11 ruling, Civil District Court judge Marissa Hutabarat found McKenna’s office liable for “outrageous and reckless” misconduct after it failed to identify Smith’s son, 42-year-old Justin Smith, who died of a drug overdose in June 2023. Smith’s body was left unidentified in the morgue for 25 days while his father searched for him. Hutabarat awarded $67,500 in damages to Smith in July Murrill’s office sent the letter on Monday to state Rep. Mandie Landry, D-New Orleans, who asked Murrill for an opinion on July 22 on behalf of Smith, who lives in her district. According to state law, the attorney general shall determine “whether a conflict exists or if the coroner is unqualified, based on all available facts and circumstances.”

The Smith case is the second trial this year against the Coroner’s Office over misidentification allegations. The parents of another overdose victim in 2022, Benjamin Pfantz, searched for their missing son for eight months after the New Orleans Police Department misspelled his name as “Peantz.” In that case, Judge Kern Reese found that McKenna’s office violated its duty by failing to verify the misspelled name of Pfantz, and awarded Pfantz’s parents $10,000. They are appealing the award. McKenna is appealing the ruling.

A spokesperson for the Coroner’s Office did not respond to a request for comment on Murrill’s letter

In a statement in response to Hutabat’s ruling, McKenna said he disagreed with the decision and will appeal, claiming the failure to identify Smith was out of his office’s control. He blamed the error as well as in the case of Pfantz, on the NOPD, which conducts fingerprint identifications at the coroner’s request. McKenna won another four-year term as coroner in July after no candidate signed up to oppose him.

“My office has always been and remains committed to fulfilling its legal responsibilities with diligence and integrity,” McKenna said.

MUSEUM

Continued frompage1B

council’sunanimous denial of the zoningpermit. They could not be reached for comment Tuesday “Buying ahouse does not give you the right to tell thestory of thepeoplewho lived there,”Haley’s grandson, Blair Haley,said previously They took issue with Henderson-Chandler,aNew Orleans transplant, profiting offofthe

OPEN

Continued from page1B

secure, Kaplan said The Howlin’ Wolf and its neighbor,The Den, are both conducting business as usual.

Kaplan said he hopes to takethe nextsteps “with a laugh and awink,” as The Howlin’ Wolf team works with architects and engineers on repairs

“Wetold him we don’t have adrivethru, but some people don’tlisten,” he wrote in apost on TheHowlin’ Wolf’s Instagram page. “All kidding aside, thank god no one was seriously hurt Anyone know agood contractor? Might be timeto renovate.”

Kaplan said he hopes the city can do more to address safety measures on streets with heavy pedestrianand vehicle traffic.

“Wecan be more proactive in keeping people safe,” he said.

NewOrleansPoliceDepartment officers were dispatched to the sceneof the crash just before 2a.m. Sunday,aspokesperson said.

home. Her nonprofit, Friends of the Freedom House, offers paid memberships andbranded items suchas“Freedom Song” bar soap and“Community” candles for sale on itswebsite. Andone side of the home is advertised online as ashort-term rental with descriptions of the property’shistory Underthe restrainingorder last year that prevented theuse of the image, name andlikeness of Haley,family members and the councilalso took issue withopening a cultural facility centered on the Freedom Riders withoutmention

Oneperson was injured andtaken to ahospital, though policesaid it was unclear whether the person wasthe driver or passenger of the SUV Police are still investigatingthe crash and did not sharemoreinformation.

Photos show ablack SUV stopped at the bar’sentrance, its front bumper slammed into the buildingand bricksfroman exteriorwallpiled around it on the sidewalk.The SUV’s hood and windshield appear to be seriously damaged.

Kaplan said he heardthe news from abartender who wasworking at thetime, whenthe bar was getting ready to close.

Justafew hoursearlier, Kaplan said several events, including apickleball festival andtwo conferences,had attracted sizable crowds to the neighborhood.

“There were literally hundredsofpeople walking up and down the street,” Kaplan said. “Ifthishad happened during that time, someone could have been seriously injured or killed.”

This isn’tthe first time a vehicle has hit The How-

of Haley, whowas acentral figure

Some neighborsadded to theopposition,sayingapublicmuseum would be disruptive to theirqualityoflife andworsen traffic on the two-way street along North Tonti,which regularly fields trafficfrom DookyChaseRestaurant and an elementary school on Dumaine.

Thecontroversy illustrates simmering frustrations felt by NewOrleans nativesover gentrification, displacementofpeople of color from historicneighborhoods,and concerns about who

hasthe right to profit off stories important to the city’scultural fabric.

“My hopeisthat this ruling might be acatalyst for the parties to come together and talk aboutwhat’s in the best interest of thecommunity andthat property,” council member Eugene Green said, adding that he doesn’t foreseeplans to appeal the court’sdecision on thecity’s behalf.

Email Joni Hess at joni.hess@ theadvocate.com.

company also said it contracted athird-partylab to test shrimp in the area and confirmed they were safe for human consumption.

Kimberly Chauvin, the coowner of DavidChauvin Shrimp Company in Dulac, is quoted in the lawsuit expressing her frustration over the difficulties the spill caused the shrimping industry

“Fishermen are now confused on whethertheyshould be taking achanceofgoing outto shrimp,” she told The Houma Couriershortly after the spill. “Do you spend the moneyfor suppliestoget rejected at thedock forthe saleofyour shrimp? And docks are worried that if we buy the shrimp, are we going to get paid by the processors or willtheyrejectthe shrimp?Thisisa no-win situation for us.”

The plaintiffs accuse the companies of negligence and of violating the federal Oil Pollution Act andstate environmental laws.Theyare seeking damages forthe lost profits and damage to theirgear andboats.They also want the court to order the companies to restore affected fishing areas and take steps to “repair reputational damage done to Terrebonne Bay’sand Louisiana’sseafood industry.” Richard J. Nava, the Houstonbasedattorneyrepresentingthe plaintiffs,did not immediately respondtoarequest forcomment. WCC also did not respond to arequest for comment. Hilcorp, one of the largest privately held oilcompaniesin the U.S., reported morethan adozen spills in Louisiana after Hurricane Ida in 2021, and in 2018, paid $920,000 to settleclaims that it dredged through oyster reefs without a permit.

Email AlexLubbenatalex. lubben@theadvocate.com.

An SUVcrashed into the entrance for the Howlin’Wolf music venue in NewOrleans’

lin’

Wolf. Kaplan said a previous crash impacted one of the building’sfront supportstructuresbut did notresultinsignificant damage. Other local businesses and homes have also been struck byvehicles, including in 2021, when a Jeep drove through Dat Dog’s courtyardonFreret Street

Kaplan, who wasthe first director of the city’s office of nighttime economy, said he believesthe hospitality industry should be partners in protecting tourists and locals alike.

“I think it’simportant to make the place safe, but it takes time, it takes effort, it takes money,” Kaplan said.

Theowners of Tipitina’s, for example, were recently in discussions with city officials aboutways to prevent serious crashes near the music venue, he said.

Email Marco Cartolano at marco.cartolano@ theadvocate.com

Amtrak kicks off Gulf Coast Mardi Gras route

Train service begins Saturday

BY POET WOLFE Staff writer

For the first time in nearly 30 years, a passenger train service between New Orleans and Mobile, Alabama, will chug along the Gulf Coast again, thanks to a yearslong effort by Amtrak to revive a longstalled train route between the two cities.

The route, called the Mardi Gras Service, begins Saturday and will offer two daily departures with four Mississippi stops along the Gulf Coast: Bay St. Louis, Gulfport, Biloxi and Pascagoula. Travel time will be about four hours, with tickets starting at $15 each way The service marks a return of

Gulf Coast Limited, a route that started in 1996 but ended nine months later because of limited stops and troubles with state funding. Relaunching just days before the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, the revived route signals the region’s economic and infrastructural progress since the storm devastated New Orleans and the Mississippi Coast. Amtrak and state officials believe the route will help drive economic growth and development across the Gulf Coast. It already has in some cities — Bay St. Louis tidied up its Depot District with a flurry of new developments ahead of the service’s launch From the schedule and station locations to menu items and amenities, here’s everything you should know before boarding the train.

Morning and evening departures from New Orleans are set at 7:35 a.m. and 5:31 p.m., according to Amtrak, with arrivals in Mobile at 11:18 a.m. and 9:14 p.m.

In Mobile, the departures occur at 6:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., with arrivals in New Orleans at 10:30 a.m. and 8:13 p.m.

Passengers planning to spend a day at one stop won’t arrive back home until the evening. Those who leave from New Orleans in the morning and arrive at Bay St. Louis at 8:59 a.m., for example, will have to wait for the evening train, or Train 25, which arrives at 6:42 p.m. Amtrak officials warn that delays relating to several infrastructure projects may occur Baton Rouge residents who want to use the Amtrak Mardi Gras Service can take a bus from the city’s

Greyhound station to Union Passenger Terminal in New Orleans Buses depart daily at 5:35 a.m. and 2 p.m., with arrivals scheduled for 7:05 a.m. and 4:45 p.m.

The stations are located in walkable areas of each city In New Orleans, the station is in the Central Business District, near the French Quarter, restaurants and entertainment like the National World War II Museum.

Meanwhile, the one in Bay St. Louis is across from the Depot District, which also offers an eclectic mix of restaurants, fitness centers and vacation rentals.

According to Amtrak officials, the following are the station locations: n 1001 Loyola Ave., in New Orleans n 1928 Depot Way, in Bay St. Louis n 1419 27th Ave., in Gulfport n 890 Esters Blvd., in Biloxi n 505 Railroad Ave., in Pascagoula n 101 South Water St., in Mobile. The service offers an extensive menu of breakfast, lunch and dinner options, along with snacks and both alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages. Pastries, oatmeal and a breakfast sandwich are on the breakfast menu. For lunch and dinner passengers will have the choice of sandwiches, hot dogs and cheeseburgers. Snacks include nuts, candies and chips. Amtrak also included locally sourced foods from New Orleans, including muffulettas, Zapp’s VooDoo Chips and pralines.

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

Audit finds millions in housing funds mismanaged

Federal probe underway into EBR’s Office of Community Development

BY PATRICK SLOAN-TURNER Staff writer

The East Baton Rouge Parish agency that doled out hundreds of millions of dollars in federal housing funding during the COVID-19 pandemic allowed too much to be spent on fees to developers, spent money before contracts were in place and made duplicate payments for the same invoices, an internal audit found. Federal law enforcement is investigating the office’s activity under former Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome, multiple sources said.

The audit, done last year under Broome’s administration, highlights a project to build three small homes. The cost ballooned from $220,000 to almost $500,000 — and the developer collected more than quadruple the amount of personal fees he was originally allowed, the audit notes.

The developer, Jason Hughes, of Hughes Consultant Group LLC, says his contract more than doubled in size because of rising construction costs during COVID-19, and any excess fees paid to him were the city-parish’s error, not his.

“In my opinion, after looking back on it, the people that were in place had no idea or no understanding of how that money worked and how it was supposed to be spent,” said Hughes about the city-parish development office. “That led to putting people like myself and other developers in bad situations.”

That project is not the only one under scrutiny: Another city-parish effort, the $6 million “Housing for Heroes” development was the subject of federal grand jury subpoenas last year and has sat frozen since its approval nearly four years ago.

Auditors say the issues go beyond a single project, pointing to systematic problems in an office that paid out nearly $250 million in grants over just 2 1/2 years. Broome said the grants made a big difference in the community, “funding thousands of units that are now completed or underway.”

“One of my guiding principles for my administration and staff was that all work should be ethically, morally and legally sound,” the former mayor said. “I welcome proper audit and scrutiny, but it is important to view our work in its entirety and not allow an individual issue to overshadow years of meaningful progress for our community.”

A spokesperson for the current mayor Sid Edwards, said his office is aware of the audit findings and

“has complied with all requests made by the authorities.”

Three homes on Central Road

In January 2024, the city-parish’s auditing division scrutinized the selection, award and payment processes under the Office of Community Development’s HOME Investment Partnership and Community Development Block Grant programs in 2021 and 2022. Investigators selected seven contracts out of hundreds of programs and found questionable payments and practices.

For one project in particular, the Office of Community Development paid $135,000 in developer fees when the original contract budgeted just $33,000. The final version allowed for $72,000 in developer fees. No project or developer is identified in the report, but city-parish records of payment amounts, dates and fees all match the Central Road Rehabilitation project, awarded to Hughes.

Originally budgeted at $148,000 in 2021 and increased to $220,000 in February 2022, the project renovated three homes — one just under 1,000 square feet, the other two under 700 square feet — on Central Road in Baton Rouge.

Hughes still owns the houses and said he recently found renters for two of the three homes. The most recently available property records show the homes have an assessed property tax value of $11,000 each

For such projects, the city-parish allows developer fees payment to the developer outside of construction costs — of between 10% to 17% of the project’s total budget.

When the project was originally budgeted at $220,000, Hughes’ fee was set at $33,000, or 15%. But on his first payment, records show the city-parish issued him a $72,000

check for developer fees on Feb. 3, 2022.

The total cost of Hughes’ contract more than doubled months after the rehab project began and was amended to $450,000 At the amended cost total, the developer’s total fee of $135,000 represented 28%, which “exceeds the amount allowed” by city-parish regulations, auditors said.

“For whatever reason, the payments that were sent to me were categorized as developer’s fees,” Hughes said. “Back then, I was not paying attention to how it was labeled.”

In a statement, Broome said she was made aware of concerns about Hughes’ project “only when he personally approached me with requests I could not grant.”

Broome said her pushback against Hughes’ project caused the developer to criticize her publicly during the 2024 mayoral campaign and support her opponent Ted James.

Then-Assistant Chief Administrative Officer Courtney Scott oversaw much of the grant implementation for Broome’s administration, records and emails show, alongside Tasha Saunders, who was director of the Office of Community Development at the time. Scott and Saunders did not respond to requests for comment.

Hughes said federal housing authorities have contacted him since the rehab project was finished, asking about the developer fees he was paid.

Missing documents

Auditors say the community development office did not follow its own policy and procedures in several cases that were sampled.

In one of the seven reviewed, the office started paying construction expenses before contracts were effective. Duplicate payments for a single invoice were made to a de-

veloper on one occasion, auditors said.

In their review, investigators found no proof in the Office of Community Development’s files that project applications were evaluated prior to approval for any of the audited contracts. They also found the city-parish had no process for evaluating whether a request for a change order increasing the cost of a project was reasonable.

Auditors also said that the office did not have any evidence that project monitoring took place for all of 2022. In two projects, the amount awarded was higher than the amount the developer requested in the application — one by $800,000, the other by $72,070. From the start of 2020 through April 2023, the office entered into 382 grant contracts through various programs, according to cityparish records.

Last year a federal grand jury issued a subpoena at City Hall requesting documents related to the “Housing for Heroes” development deal.

At least two Metro Council members turned over text messages with the developer who was awarded the $6 million in federal funds to build low-income housing in Scotlandville, according to public records obtained by The Advocate.

Then-council member Chauna Banks took issue with Broome slowing the deal down, as the Mayor’s Office raised concern that the developer had not followed federal regulations.

The status of that grand jury investigation is unclear

Lump sums, few details Federal programs during the pandemic sent billions of dollars to various municipalities like Baton Rouge to boost economies and develop communities.

In Baton Rouge, tens of millions in grant money came before the Metro Council for approval. Housing projects were on the council’s agenda almost every month in 2022 and 2023.

On the council’s agenda, this funding typically appeared as a lump sum of grant money for the Mayor’s Office to distribute, pending the council’s approval with no specific developers or projects named.

In the online agenda, a link led to a separate document listing the grant programs and the amounts earmarked for each developer There was usually little breakdown of how much of that money would go to construction costs or developer fees.

In Hughes’ case, when his contract was increased to $450,000, it appeared on an agenda as another lump sum grant allocation with no mention of a changed original dollar amount, council minutes show

At its original price tag of $148,000, Hughes’ project was first approved by the council on April 14, 2021. On Feb. 3 2022, his first check was issued for $72,000 and another was issued two weeks later for $63,000 on Feb. 16. By then, Hughes had been paid $130,000 in developer fees.

On Feb. 23, 2022, the Office of Community Development brought more money to the council for approval, which included an increase of Hughes’ budget to $220,000. In August, more money would be approved by the council, increasing his project’s total cost to $450,000.

The developer said he is still owed an additional $220,000 from the city-parish for the three homes on Central Road.

Email Patrick Sloan-Turner at patrick.sloan-turner@ theadvocate.com.

Bailey, Robert Baumann, Sandra Benjamin,Joan Brinson, Loyd

Brown, Diana

Chetta,Angelo

Colgan,Irene

Comiskey, Blanche

Delord Sr., John

Falanga,Ruth

Morris,Gaile

Stewart, Carolyn

Treaudo, Shirley

Trice, Pamela

EJefferson

LA Muhleisen

Falanga,Ruth

Leitz-Eagan

Baumann, Sandra

Colgan,Irene

NewOrleans

Boyd Family

Stewart, Carolyn

Charbonnet

Treaudo, Shirley

DW Rhodes

Brinson, Loyd

Estelle JWilson

Morris,Gaile

Lake Lawn Metairie

Benjamin,Joan Comiskey, Blanche River Parish

Millet-Guidry

Brown, Diana St Bernard CharbonnetLabat

Bailey, Robert

Obituaries

Bailey, Robert Joseph

Robert Joseph Bailey passedawayonFriday, Au‐gust8,2025 at theage of 78. Born to thelateRobert and Florence Bailey on June 20, 1947 in NewOr‐leans,LA, “Bobby”ashe was knowntofamilyand friends,was theeldest child.Heissurvivedby daughters,MichelleBailey Quintero, StephanieBailey Bayardand theirfamilies; siblings, Patricia Nether‐land(Doug), GlennBailey, NoraJones (Kerry)and James Bailey (Wendy) along with numerous nieces, nephewsother rel‐ativesand friends. Bobby was aformerProcessing Geophysicistwho worked for Amoco, Southern Seis‐mic Processors andBailey Seismic Services through‐out hiscareer.A private Celebration honoring his Lifewillbeheldata later time. Finalarrangements entrusted to Charbonnet FamilyServices, (504)302 1520.

AliceTaylorand grew up in Sioux Falls, SD with four siblings, Mary,Thomas, Barbara,and Kathleen.She was preceded in deathby her loving husband of 24 years,Henry J. Baumann, Jr.,her firsthusband, TheodoreV.Fish, Sr as wellasher brother, Tom, and sister,Kathy.She was a loving Momtofourboys, TheodoreV.Fish, Jr (Karen),ThomasT.Fish (Emma), RandallG.Fish, and BrianJ.Fish(Helen) She wasalsoa caring Grandma to nine grandchil‐dren, Kaitlynn West (William),MadelynnVar‐nado(Dylan),Carolyn Hemry (Charles), Brandon, Brandy, Haley, BrianJr., Travis, andLauren, andtwo great-grandchildren,Grace and Montana. Sheearneda B.A.degreeinSociology fromLindenwood College inSt. Charles, MO,after‐wards workingasa teacher andsocialworker inSt. Louis. Shemoved to Metairie, LA in 1971 and began asuccessful decades long career as a realtor,serving on the ethicsboard andcherish‐ing thefriendships with her realtorcolleagues. She married hersecondhus‐band, Henry, in 1982, and theyenjoyed awonderful life filled with family, friends,and travel.She vol‐unteeredfor many years deliveringMeals On Wheelstothe elderlyand was an active member at Atonement Lutheran Church.She enjoyeda vari‐ety of social clubsinclud‐ing Spring Fiesta,Les Amies,GardenClub, Bridge Club, andthe Kreweof Rhea, servingasMaidin 2007. Herfamilywould like tothank thecaregiversat Inspired Living Kenner for the wonderfulcareshe has receivedoverthe last few years.She will be dearly missedbyall who knew her.Funeralserviceswill beheldatLeitz-Eagan Fu‐neral Home in Metairie,LA onAugust15, 2025 at 1:00 pmwithvisitationbegin‐ningat11:00 am.Private burialwillfollow. Fond memoriesand expressions ofcondolences maybe sharedatwww.leitzeaganf uneralhome.com.

Benjamin, Joan Durland

Joan Durland Benjamin passedawaypeacefully on August 10, 2025inNew Orleans,Louisiana, fifteen days shortofher 100th birthday. Joan was the marriedtothe late William Mente Benjaminfor 65 years. Shewas the daughter of the late Elizabeth Warner and William Davies Durland,and the sister of Elizabeth DurlandDupont

Joan was born on August 25, 1925inBeverly, Massachusetts and lived in New Orleans formost of her life.For many years, she spent summers in Greensboro, North Carolina.

Joan is survived by four loving children, William Proctor Benjamin (Margaret) of Greensboro, North Carolina, John DurlandBenjamin,ofBoca Raton, Florida, Ann Benjamin Zuraw (Ben) of Greensboro, North Carolina, and Thomas Mente Benjamin(Sallee)of NewOrleans, ten grandchildren,WilliamProctor Benjamin, Jr., Elise Benjamin Turner,Lucy Zuraw Thompson, Jerrold Mente Zuraw, Lane Zuraw Ortenberg,Hughes Whitescarver Benjamin, Esme' Boyce Benjamin, Marshall Beardsley Benjamin, Roberta Belle Benjamin, Reid Campbell Benjamin and five great grandchildrenand affectionately was known as "Mimi."

Joan attendedLouise McGehee School and later graduated from Newcomb College in 1946,where she was amember of Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority

An active community volunteer,Joan was the founding President of the Young Audiencesof Louisiana and wasa Board Memberofthe Women's CommitteeofNew Orleans Symphony, theWomen's VoluntaryCommitteeof the NewOrleansMuseum of Art, and the Auxiliary Board of the Lighthouse of the Blind.She was apast Chairman of the Ladies Golf Associationofthe New Orleans CountryClub, aformer President of the Stuart Clan, anda past member of the Board of the Orleans Club and the Le Petit Salon. She was a

member of theMayflower Society and theDaughters of the American Revolution.

An accomplishedgolfer and tennis player, Joan enjoyed many friendshipson thegolflinks and thetennis courts in NewOrleans and in Greensboro, North Carolina

Joan was amember of St.Charles Avenue Presbyterian Church in NewOrleans forover80 years, and thecongregation'slongest living memberatthe time of her death. Formany years, she taught Sunday School and was astrongsupporter of and teacher for the Start theAdventure in Reading (STAIR)program

The family wouldliketo thank thestaff at Lambeth House, Right at Home, and Home Care Solutions for their care of Joan.

Amemorial service will be held on Monday, August 18, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. at the Chapel at St.Charles Avenue Presbyterian Church, NewOrleans, LA withvisitation preceding at 10:00 a.m. The burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be madetothe St. Charles Avenue Presbyterian Church, LambethHouse Foundation, or thecharity of your choice.The family invitesyou to share your thoughts, fond memories and condolences online at www.lakelawnmetairie.co m

Loyd HenryBrinson de‐partedthislifeonSatur‐day,August2,2025, at the age of 73. He wasbornin Prentiss, MS on March28, 1952, to thelateHezekiah Sr. andLuvella MageeBrin‐son.Loydattended Orleans ParishSchoolsand gradu‐atedfromBooker T. Wash‐ingtonSeniorHighSchool Healsoattended North CarolinaA&T StateUniver‐sitybeforebecomingill.He had apassion forart and was anatural artist.Unfor‐tunately,his paintings werelostinthe Katrina event.Hewillbedearly missedbyhis familyand friends.Loydissurvivedby seven siblings.Heleaves behindYvonne Custard (Herman Custard),John Brinson,CurtisBrinson (Lisa Brinson),Regina Robinson, Alveretta Williams (Arthur Williams), HezekiahBrinson,Jr(Yu‐landa Brinson) andMichael Brinson (IrmaBrinson)and PhilJohnson,his special nephew. He waspreceded indeath by hisparents, Hezekiah, Sr andLuvella Magee Brinsonand five siblings, Robert Fulton Brinson,Sr. (Gloria),Larry Brinson,JeromeBuckley (Evelyn), CarolynBrinson, and JoyceArmstrong.Heis survivedbya host of nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, family, and friends. TheBrinson familywould like to ex‐press oursincere apprecia‐tionand thanks to John J. Hainkel Jr.-AudubonRetire‐mentVillage fortheir many years of care provided to Loyd. We also thankall our familyand friendsfor all yourprayers during this time. Relativesand friends ofthe familyare invitedto attend hisFuneralService atRhodesFuneralChapel, 3933 Washington Avenue New Orleans, LA on Friday, August15, 2025 at 10:00 am. Visitation will beginat 9:00am. Funeralservices willbelivestreamedby visitingwww.facebook com/D.W.RhodesFuneral‐Home/live.Interment will beheldatWoodlawn Park MemorialCemetery, 9820 NineMilePoint Rd,W Westwego, LA 70094 Arrangements by D.W.

Rhodes FuneralHome, New Orleans,LA. Please visit www.rhodesfuneral.comto signthe online guestbook 1Th 4:13 Brothers andsis‐ters, we do notwantyou to beuninformedabout those who sleep in death, so that you do notgrievelikethe restofmankind,who have nohope.

Brown, DianaOckmond

DianaOckmond Brown passedawaypeacefully on Sunday, August 10, 2025, at the ageof80, surrounded byfamily, faith,and the loveshe generously gave throughouther life.Diana was born on Tuesday, Au‐gust15, 1944, in Vacherie, Louisiana.She grew up surrounded by strong val‐ues,close family, andthe kindoflovethatshapeda lifetime. Dianaispreceded indeath by herparents Robertand LillianOck‐mond, brothers Lawrence and Russel Ockmond, and sisterGloriaStein,aswell asher husband,Floyd Brown. Sheissurvivedby her siblings (RobertOck‐mond, Betty Marie, Barbara Becnel, andLilyGranier), along with herthree chil‐dren; RaymondBrown, Caren Owen (Tim), and Corey (Vanessa)Brown Her five grandchildren; Taylorand Christopher Owen, TiffanyBrown Alyssa Brown, Branden Brown, andadoptedgrand‐daughter, Chloe“Coley” Si‐moneaux.Relatives and friends areinvited to at‐tendthe FuneralService on Friday, August 15, 2025 at St. PeterCatholicChurch, 1550 Hwy. 44, Reserve, LA Visitationwillbeheldfrom 9:00a.m.to11:00 a.m. with the FuneralService to im‐mediately follow at 11:00 a.m.Interment in St.Peter Cemetery. In lieu of flow‐ers,the familyasksthat donations be made to “A RaceAgainst Blindness” or “Lighthouse forthe Blind”

Chetta, Angelo

AngeloChetta, 91, died of kidney failureat LambethHouse/St. Anna's on August 10, 2025. He was adevoted son, aloving brother, abeloved uncle and aloyal friend. Though he never married and was theyoungest of five children, he became thepatriarch of theChetta family and therepository of thefamily's history and Sicilian heritage. Until he suffered adebilitating infectiontwo years ago,hewas extremely active and independent.A lifelong "health nut," he exercised religiously, devoured countless vitamin supplements, and studied all kindsofalternative publications on healthand wellness. Family and friends admired Angelo forhis intelligence, creativity, excellent taste, greatsenseofhumor and quick wit. Agraduate of Tulane University, he had ahighly successful career. He workedasan urban planner for theSt. Bernard Planning Commissionand became thefirst executive director of thethenbrand-new St.

Bernard Civic Auditorium. In 1968, he produced aconcert therewith theEnglish rock bandThe Whoand later broughtthe first national touringcompany of "Jesus Christ Superstar" to thearea. For some twenty years, he wasvicepresident of operationsatthe Superdome. In this role he oversaw everysporting eventimaginablefromcollege bowls to Saintsgames to Monster Trucks as well as concerts andappearancesbyeveryonefrom Pope John PaulIItoMick Jagger andThe Rolling Stones. The1988 RepublicanNational Convention wasalso held at theDomeonhis watch. Despite thedemands of hisjob,Angelostill found time to delve into some imaginative sidelinesand entrepreneurial ventures. In 1982, he createdthe legendofthe Crawgator, a mythicalcreature roaming Louisiana's swamps and sometimespreying on humans whowerethenresurrected as Cajuns. The loreofthe Crawgator capturedthe localimagination.Asthe unofficial statemascot,the Crawgator made appearancesfor yearsatfestivals andspecial events. The critter spawned astringof products, including tshirts, mugs, soupbowls, cocktail glasses, even a beer anda hotsauce Angelo also co-founded Project: Educational Theatre, bringing professional stage productions to aquarterofa millionelementaryand highschool students throughout the South. When he left theDome, he worked with Rehage Entertainment andoversaw operationsfor the Voodoo Festivalfor anumberofyearsand several Revlon Runs/Walks for Women in NewYorkCity. Besides his family, the twogreat lovesofhis life were food and music.A true foodie, Angelorelished hisfamily'sSicilian cooking as well as dining out. He was always ready to trya newrestaurant. Althoughheappreciated local cuisine,his tastes were more adventurous. He hada passion for good Italian dishes andoften craved theexoticflavorsof Indian Vindaloo. Angelo wasa bigfan of thebargain-priced martinismany Brennan restaurants served at lunchtime Oneday when the family dinedatBacco,heordered drinks for thewhole table When his nieceVirginia complained,"But, Uncle, I don't thinkI'd like amartini," he quipped,"Forten cents, you're goingtolove it!" Fond of classical music, he held season ticketsto theopera and thesymphony for manyyears. He lovedtotellstories about how, whileattendinghigh school at Holy Cross, he wasa supernumerary in many localopera productionsand "starred"asa spear carrier in "Aida."He wouldalways say, "With 'Aida'Verdi putthe grand in opera." Angelo wasa great admirerofall Verdi's works,but hisfavorite was "LaTraviata."Hewas amazed by thecomposer's long andprolific career Over thepast few years, Angelo lovedattendingthe Metropolitan Opera's HD performancesscreenedin movie theatres worldwide So impressed with the

quality of these cinematic productions, he considered thema newoperaart form that couldeven surpass attending aliveperformance On oneofthe last days that he was alert,his niece Denise fed himsmall bites of pizza while he listened to aCDbyAnnaNetrebko, hisfavorite soprano. He wasinheaven. Angelo enjoyed travel andoften vacationed with friends in the Caribbean He also traveled to Mexico andSpain,where,fascinated by theMoors'history, he couldfinallyobserve theirinfluence first hand. He touredSicilywith his sister Rose Emig, hislate sister-in-law Leslie Chetta, hisnephew Greg Chetta andGreg'swife Virginia There, he marveled at the Greek ruinsand theimprint theMoors left on that culture.The best partof thetripwas that he and hissister Rose visitedtheir mother's birthplace, the small Sicilian village of Contessa Entellina. He is preceded in death by hisparents Lena and Angelo Chetta; andhis brothers Frank,Salvadore andAnthony Chetta. He is survived by his loving sister Rose Emig andhis dear nieces and nephews: Greg Chetta (Virginia), hisdevoted caregiverDenise Chetta, ClayChetta(Debra), Frank Emig (Teri), KenEmig, Carol Emig (Michael Durst), GerardEmig (Pam), Guy Chetta(Nora), Mark Chetta (Helen),James Chetta (Connie) and dozensofgreat- and greatgreat nieces andnephews. Theywill all forever treasure thememories of their beloved"Uncle," as they always called him. The familywishesto thank the staff of Lambeth House/St. Anna's, Touro Infirmaryand Guardian AngelHospice fortheir exceptionally compassionate care Acelebration of life for familyand friends willbe held at alater date. Please considera memorial gift to theLambeth House Foundation,Touro InfirmaryFoundation or theNew Orleans Opera Association

Irene(Terre) LeeColgan, bornonJuly7,1943, in Shreveport, Louisiana, passed away peacefully at homeonAugust11, 2025, inDestrehan,Louisiana She was82years old. Terre was thebeloved wife of Clark Colgan,withwhom she shared 59 yearsof marriage. Together they built aliferootedinlove and family. Shewas ade‐voted mother to her daughters KimberleyCol‐gan Basile andher hus‐bandLeo,and Courtney ColganMesserlyand her husband Robert.Her legacycontinues through her cherishedgrandchil‐dren: JayTrusheim, Jr.and his wife Christin;Joshua Trusheim; DylanTorrance and hiswifeHeather Tran; MadisonTorrance; Isaac

Galaforo;Rebekah Galaforo; andCarolineBasile. Terre also delightedinthe presenceofher greatgrandchildren:Grace, Jacob,Catherine,Thomas, and Luke Trusheim.She was preceded in deathby her parents, Patricia Hisey Wareand Andrew Clayton Ware, herbrother Francis Dickinson Leeand hersis‐ter ShirleyLee Holten.A woman of deep faith,Terre was adedicated member ofbothSt. CharlesBor‐romeo Church andOur LadyofPerpetual Help Church. Herspiritual life was aguiding force throughouther yearsand a sourceofstrengthfor those around her. Mayher memorybring comfortto those who knew andloved her.Relatives andfriends are invitedtoattenda fu‐neral serviceonThursday, August14, 2025, at St Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, 13396 RiverRd. De‐strehan,LA. Visitation will beheldfrom10:00AM –12:00PM with aMassof Christian Burial to beginat 12:00PM.Interment will fol‐low at St.Charles Bor‐romeo Cemetery

Mouledoux

Comiskey passed away peacefully at the age of 94 on the8th of August, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana surrounded by her family. She was preceded in death by her husband of 53 years, James August Comiskey, Sr. who died in 2005. Her parents, Gabriel Jean Mouledoux and Hilda Grither Goodspeed, her siblings, Gabriel (Adrienne), Thelma Mae Trapolin (Winter), Warren (Gloria), Yvonne Hill, Hilda Blitch (Buck), George (Evelyn), Elaine Webb (Wally), Marian Clay (Sonny), and Sister Marie Jeanne, RSM also preceded her. She is survived by her sister-in-law, Laura Comiskey Murphy,her eleven children, Margaret (the late Karl) Pomerleau, Marian Roper (Tim), James Comiskey (Carlin), Laura Broders (John), Blanche Michelle (the lateHaber) McCarthy, Jeanne Hartnett (John), Eileen, Paula Mentz (Hal), Louise Bryan(John), Elizabeth Novick (Lee), and Catherine Marsh (Andrew); twenty-seven grandchildren,Brian Pomerleau (Stacie), DavidPomerleau (Wendi), Bridget Kelly (Aaron Haye), Erin Furby (Ryan), Alexandra Roper (Heather Rotz), Victoria Roper, James Cosmo Comiskey (Melissa), Andrée Comiskey, Justin Comiskey, Sara Fairchild (Ryan),Gabrielle Broders (Brandon Rogers), Jacob Broders, Jack Hartnett, AnnabelleHartnett, Caroline Hartnett, Henry Mentz (Haley), James Mentz (Julia),Philip Mentz Margaret Mentz, Camille Bryan, Augusta Bryan, Malcolm Bryan, Quinn Novick, Hannah Novick, Mathilde Marsh, William Marsh and James Marsh; and thirteen great-grandchildren, Oliver, August, Nathaniel, Spencer, Stella, Blaise, Knox, James Orion, Cormac, Ty, Nia, Henry and Sloane, and many beloved nieces and nephews.

Blanche attended Catholic schools from kindergarten through college, graduating the Valedictorian from Holy Name of Jesus Mercy Academy High School and with honors from Loyola University. During her time at Loyola, she promoted racial justice with the The Young Christian Students of Loyola. Blanche also excelled in journalism and was the first woman to be

appointedEditor of the Loyola Maroon. In hersenioryearofcollege Blanche was elected Student Council President but was quickly informed that women werenot allowed to serve as President and eventually servedasStudent Council Representative At Loyola,Blanchemet James Comiskey, alaw student, and the two decidedtomarryontheir very firstdate.Fromthat moment, herlifewas joyfullyanchoredinfamily and faith. While she embraced her most cherished role as wifeand motherto eleven children,Blanche also distinguishedherself as one of themostremarkable volunteersofher generation.

Blanchehelped turn out the votefor women through education and workshops with the League of Women Voters. In 1978,Blanchebecame thesecondfemale Board Memberofthe "Keep Christin Christmas" Campaign.

Throughher active volunteerism, Blancheinstilled alifelongcommitment to helping others. Many Saturdaysfound her— with daughtersin tow—teaching sewing at the House of Bread, leading aGirl Scout troop, or delivering foodtofamilies inneed. She exhibited great fortitude in everyendeavor and often encouragedher children with the words, "It is not easy but it is possible."

The most transformative leadership position for Blanchewas working alongside SusanLevyinorganizingover 3,000 volunteers for the Vatican Pavilion during the 1984 Louisiana World Exposition. Following this year longproject,Blanche and Susan created an awareness of liturgicalart with the program,"Stained Glass Art in SacredPlaces Tours" sponsored by the PreservationResource Center The intersection of preservation,art, andfaith was realizedwhen Blanche and Susan founded the Friends of St. Alphonsus to save the 161-year-old church of the same name. In 1996, as President of the organization, Blanche helped secure its designation as aNational Historic Landmark Blanche's lifetime of servicewas recognized by her community,bynational organizations and by the Church.

She was honored with the MotherCatherine McAuley Award from the Mercy Alumnae Association, the Volunteer Activist Award fromSt. Elizabeth's Guild, the Regina Matrum Award from the Council of Catholic Schools CooperativeClubs,and the Young LeadershipCouncil Role Model Award. Blanche received the Golden Rose Award from the Ladies Ancient Orderof Hibernians and, together with herlatehusband JamesA.ComiskeySr.,the Adjutor HominumAward from Loyola University.In 1989, Pope John Paul II bestowedupon herthe Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice medal—one of the highest honors granted to the laity— in tribute to her extraordinary devotion and service.

Some of Blanche's happiest times werespent at her City Park Avenue home whereshe lived forover fiftyyears and developed life-long friendships with her neighbors. Threegenerations of family members fondly remembertaking longwalks in the park to climb the oak trees and feed the ducks. When BlanchemovedtoLambeth House in 2023 she quickly found the kindness of new friends.

Blanche's familywould like to expressdeepappreciation to the devoted medical and nursing staff at TouroLCMCHealth Telemetry MUnit. Relatives and friends areinvited to attend The RequiemMasscelebrated by Archbishop Aymond at OurLady of the Rosary Catholic Church, 3368

EsplanadeAvenue,on Tuesday, August 19, 2025. Visitation willbeatthe Church beginning at 9:30 am followedbyMass at 11:00 am. AVisitation will also be held on Monday, August 18, 2025 at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home,5100 Pontchartrain Blvd.,from 5-7pm. In lieu of flowers,donations may be madeto: City Park Conservancy, Loyola University, https://spark.lo yno.edu/tribute, or CatholicCharities Archdiocese of New Orleans, P.O. Box 58009 NewOrleans, LA 70158 attention: Blanche Comiskey memorial. To view or signthe online guestbook, visit www.lakelawnmetairie.co m

Delord Sr., John P. International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, LocalUnion #130: The Officers andMembers ofthislocal union are herebyrequested to attend the Memorial Mass of John P.DelordSr.,onFriday, Au‐gust15, 2025, at Lake Lawn MetairieFuneralHome, 5100 PontchartrainBlvd., New Orleans, LA 70124 at 12:00 p.m. Visitation will begin from 10:00 a.m. until Masstime. Intermentwill followinLakeLawnPark. ByOrder of:ErnestC Corky” Cortez.Attest: RodneyR.Wallis, Business Manager/Financial Secre‐tary

Ruth BurstFalanga,age 97, aresidentofKenner, Louisiana,passedaway peacefullyonAugust7, 2025 at TheCarpenter House of St.JosephHos‐pice. Shewas born on April 18, 1928 in NewOrleans, Louisiana to GuyJohn Burst,Sr. andRuthCarey Burst.She wasprecededin death by herhusband of 64 years,Emile C. Falangaand byher parents, GuyJohn Burst,Sr. andRuthCarey Burst andbyher siblings: Guy Burst, Jr., Charles Burst,Bernard Burst, Sr MaryMaurice Burst, D.C., RolandBurst,PaulBurst Peter Burstand Gayle Burst Tournillon.She is sur‐vived by herchildren: Sue F.Kottemann (Richard); LTC Daniel J. Falanga, ARNG, Ret. (Lynn);Eliza‐bethF.Lomax (Kent); James E. Falanga(Brenda), and by hergrandchildren: Michelle K. Conaway; Jen‐nifer A. Kottemann(SSG Lance,USA,(RET);MAJ Je‐remyD.Falanga,USA (RET);(Adrienne); Lisa F. Davis;Brian C. Lomax (LeighAnne); KevinM Lomax (Melissa); JeffreyD Falanga,USAF, (RET) (Emily);and Jessica Falanga.She is also sur‐vived by 11 great-grand‐children, and5 great-great grandchildren.She wasa 1948 graduate of St Stephen High School in New Orleans. Ruth Falanga willberememberedfor her strength, determination, wit andher loveliness in new ways.She dedicated her life to herfamilyand alwayshad alistening ear and aready hug when needed forthose she loved.She enjoyedworking inher garden andwas a fierce andloyal fan of the New OrleansSaints. She loved trying newthings and wasalwaysready for the next adventure. Rela‐tives andfriends arein‐vited to attend theVisita‐tionand FuneralMassat DivineMercy Catholic Church,4337 SalLentini Parkway in Kenner,onSat‐urday,August16, 2025. Vis‐itation will be held at the church from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. AFuneralMass will be celebrated at 11:00

a.m. Intermentwilltake place at St.Vincent Ceme‐teryNo. 2, 1950 Soniat Street,New Orleans. In lieu of flowers, Massespre‐ferredordonations made toThe CarpenterHouse of St. Joseph Hospice, 507 Up‐stream, RiverRidge,LA 70123. Arrangements by L. A.Muhleisen &Son Funeral Home. To sharememories orcondolences,please visit www.muhleisen.com.

Morris, GaileMarie Gray

GaileMarie Gray Morris passedpeacefullyonFri‐day August 1, 2025 at her home. Shewas 73 years old.Gaile wasbornFebru‐ary 27, 1952 in NewOr‐leans,Louisiana where she resided.Daughterofthe lateMildredOdumand Wil‐son Odum,Sr. Wife of the lateSidneyMorris. Sister ofKathleen Snowden, Wil‐son Odum Jr., Michael Odum, Jayson Odum,and the late Clarence,Wayne Sr.,AngelaOdum, andLor‐raine Gray.MotherofWen‐dellGray(Treniece Mar‐shall)and thelateDonell (Tweet), Corey(Termite), Sharrie (Meetie), andKevin Gray. Also survived by a hostofgrandchildren great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, other relativesand friends. Relatives andfriends of the familyare invitedtoattend the CelebrationofLifeSer‐vicewhich will be held on Friday, August 15, 2025 for 10:00 a.m. at EstelleJ.Wil‐son FuneralHome, Inc., 2715 Danneel Street,New Orleans,La. 70113. Visita‐tionfrom9:00a.m.until service time.Pastor Michelle Dunams officiat‐ing.Interment:Providence MemorialParkCemetery, 8200 AirlineDr.,Metairie, La. 70003. Arrangements entrusted to Estelle J. Wil‐son FuneralHome, Inc., 2715 Danneel Street,NOLA 70113. Information: (504) 895-4903. To sign online guest book,pleasevisit www.estellejwilsonfh.com.

CarolynH

CarolynH.Stewart,sur‐rounded by family, peace‐fully passedawayonMon‐day,August4,2025, at the age of 83. Born andreared inNew Orleans, LA,onJan‐uary2,1942, to theunion of the late Bertha andWilliam HornSr. Carolynwas the 2nd child of eleven.She workedfor theBon Ton Restaurantfor over 30 years before retiring.She issurvivedbyher children Antoinette,James Jr., Avris Stewart,Denise(Gerald) Youngblood Sr., Cheryl and Dione Stewart, 18 grand‐children, 51 great-grand‐children, and7 great-great grandchildren.Her sib‐lings,Ernie Horn,Lena (Phillip) Clay,Brenda (Nathan)Clavo,GailStew‐art,Nathalie (Kirk) Sim‐mons, Rosalieand Donald Horn, adevoted cousin JanicePauline,and ahost ofnieces, nephews, cousins,other relatives and friends. Preceded in death by herparents Berthaand WilliamHorn Sr.,son Troy Stewart, sib‐lings WilliamHornJr.,Ray‐mondAmbrose Sr., Patricia Irvin, sister-in-lawJoyce

Ambrose, brother-in-law CedricStewart,Aunties Rosalie Holmes andLucy Mae Pauline. Relativesand friends of thefamily, LSUHSC, SLAManagement, Caesar’sCasino, Tulane and East JeffersonHospi‐tals, andthe Marriott Hotel are invitedtoattendthe Celebration of Life Service onFriday, August 15, 2025, for 10:00 a.m. at Gentilly Baptist Church,5141 FranklinAve., NewOrleans, LA70122. Visitation will begin at 9:00 a.m. Pastor TyroneSmith,officiating. Intermentwillfollowat ProvidenceMemorialPark Cemetery, Metairie,LA. Professionalarrangements are entrustedtoThe Boyd FamilyFuneralHome. Guestbook Online:www anewtraditionbegins.com (504)282-0600. Linear BrooksBoydand Donavin D.BoydOwners/FuneralDi‐rectors

ShirleyKellerTreaudo peacefully answered the Lord’scallonMonday, July 28, 2025. Alifelongresident ofNew Orleans, Shirley was born at CharityHospi‐tal to herproud parents, the late JessieFosterand Mamie SimpsononNovem‐ber 3, 1949. Shewas a graduateofBooker T. WashingtonHighSchool and went on to attend SouthernUniversityatNew Orleans.Shirley wasa de‐voted mother,grand‐motherand great-grand‐mother. Sheissurvivedby her four children,thirteen grandchildren andtwo great-grandchildren.Inad‐ditiontoher parents, Shirley is also preceded in death by otherbeloved familymembers,Marie Payne,AlexChapman ClarencePayne,Ernest Keller, SamKellerand Willie MaeBurton. Apro‐fessional homemaker, Shirley waswell-knownfor her creativity in the kitchen andthe deep love she extended to herchil‐drenand grandchildren. Her nurturingspirit, home‐mademeals andunwaver‐ing supportlefta lasting impactoneveryone blessedtoknowher.A memorialservice honoring the life andlegacyofthe lateShirley KellerTreaudo willbeheldinthe Chapel ofCharbonnetLabat Glapion FuneralHome, 1615 St.PhilipStreet,New Orleans,LA70116 on Thursday,August14, 2025

at 1pm. IntermentPrivate Visitation12noon in the Chapel. Please sign online guestbook at www.cha rbonnetfuneralhome.com. Charbonnet LabatGlapion, Directors (504)581 4411.

Pamela FolksTrice peacefully passedawayon Friday, August 8, 2025, in Covington,Louisiana,at the ageof64. Shewas born onSunday, December 18 1960, in NewOrleans, Louisiana,tothe late Rhoda Rutkin Folksand Frank E. Folks, Jr.She wasa residentofPonchatoula, Louisiana.Pamelalived life witha full heartand ajoy‐ful spirit.Witha passion for travel,she explored the world,alwaysmeetingoth‐ers with kindness and compassion. Pamela was generous, happy, andal‐waysready to lend ahand toanyoneinneed.She had a love foranimals,espe‐cially hersweet dog, Betsy. She will be deeply missed byher children,aswellas byall who knew andloved her.Pamelaissurvivedby her son, Daniel Trice; daughter, Rachel Binder (Jeremy); granddaughter, HannahBinder; sister, RhondaPritchett (David); aswellasnumerous nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends. Shewas pre‐ceded in deathbyher mother, RhodaRutkin Folks;father, FrankE.Folks, Jr.;sister, LindaMulkey; and brothers,Larry Folks and Gary Folks. Visitation willbeheldonSaturday, August16, 2025, at Harry McKneely& SonFuneral Home- Ponchatoula, 100 W.MagnoliaSt.,Poncha‐toula,Louisiana,from10:00 amuntil theservice begins at2:00pm. Intermentwill followinSandHillCeme‐tery, Ponchatoula, Louisiana.Inmemoryof Pamela, donationsmay be madetoLouisiana CASA or St. Jude's Children's Re‐searchHospital, causes she wasdeeply passionate about andheldclose to her heart.The familywould liketoexpress theirsin‐ceregratitude to St.Tam‐manyHospitalHospice for the care andcompassion shown during this difficult time. Arrangements have been entrustedtoHarry McKneely& SonFuneral Homeand Crematoryof Hammond andPoncha‐toula.

When U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy backed RobertF Kennedy Jr.tolead the Department of Health and Human Services, the respected Baton Rouge physician and longtime vaccine advocate admitted that the decision had been difficult Kennedyiswell known for advocating policies that fall well outside mainstream medical thinking, particularly when it comes to vaccination. But Cassidy said at the time he would consult regularly with Kennedy,and use his oversight authority as chair of the Senate’sHealth,Education, Labor and Pension Committeeto“rebuff any attempts to remove the public’saccessto lifesaving vaccines without ironclad,causational scientificevidence that can be defended before the mainstream scientific community and before Congress.” The senator alsovowed to “carefully watch for anyeffort to wrongfully sow public fearabout vaccines...”

With Kennedy’s recent revocation of almost $500 million in development contracts fornew vaccinesusing mRNA technology,we callon Cassidytodojust that.

Cassidy has already taken the first stepof publicly opposing Kennedy’smove, which affects22projects aimed at preparing fornational health emergencies. These vaccines can be developed and adjusted rapidly; theywere widely employed during the COVID pandemic, and scientists believe they have great potential to addressawide range of deadly diseases

“It is unfortunate that the Secretaryjust canceled ahalf abillion worth of work, wasting the money which is already invested,” Cassidy wroteonX.“He has also conceded toChina an importanttechnology needed to combat cancer andinfectious disease. President Trumpwants to Make America Healthy Again and Make AmericaGreat Again. This works against both of President Trump’sgoals.”

He’shardly alone in hiscriticism. Prominent researchers around the country aresounding alarms, as are several leading officialsfrom President Donald Trump’sfirst administration.

“Weknow that by the most conservativeestimates over 2million lives have beensaved becauseofmRNA technology.It helped us develop COVID vaccines in record time. It’squite frankly President Trump’s greatestachievement,” wrote Trump’sfirst surgeon general Jerome Adams, in asocial mediapostthat Cassidy retweeted.

We admit we were disappointed thatCassidy chose to cast his pivotal nomination vote on Kennedy’sbehalf, even as we were glad tohear of his plan to be an active partner incrafting ourcountry’shealth care agenda.

So while we applaudCassidy for speaking out on the mRNA decision, we hope he won’t stop there. We urge him to call Kennedy before his committee, ask hard questions, hear from experts and do everything inhis official power to reverseorminimize effects of apolicy that will harm the nation’sreadiness for the next pandemic,and also needlessly undermine confidenceinother promising uses forthis important technology,including in the fight against cancer We know this is not astance Cassidy is eager to take as he approaches next year’s election, but we believe lives depend on it. Based on his own words, we suspect that Cassidy does too.

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Recently,guest essayist Rob Maness suggested banning pharmacy benefit managersfrom owning pharmacies in Louisianawould create disruptions in care for veterans and rural residents. However,this perspective overlooks critical issues with PBM practices and thebroader implications for Louisianans, especially veterans. Maness’ claim that banning PBMowned pharmacies would harm veterans and rural residents is misleading. In truth, PBMsoften exploit these populations by funneling them into mailorder systems that lack transparency and accountability.TRICARE, the federally funded health plan for service membersand veterans, contracts with aFortune 15 corporation whose PBM pushes beneficiaries to fill their prescriptions through itsprivately contracted PBM mail-order pharmacy Veterans and service members may use themilitary base pharmacy,but there are only three militarybases in thestate.

Under the TRICARE PBM’splan, basic generic medications like Atorvastatin,which costs an average of $8.47 for a90-day supply without insurance, costs more than $500 through TRI-

The recent killings of Gazans attemptingtoget food at distribution pointsbring up adisturbing question. Why is this still happening? Is thekilling of scores of innocent civilians a necessary byproduct of the killing of, possibly,one or two Hamas terrorists?

The entire civilized world has been looking on in horror and disgust as this continues to occur.People, women and children are starving for no acceptable reason. Why don’tthe responsible nations of

Peter Chol’sletter to the newspaper on July 19 about opinion columnist Cal Thomas hit thenail on the head. He didn’tmince words and the points he madewere unvarnished.

Thomas has consistently proven that his opinions are delusional, ignorant and mean, typical of awide swath of

CARE’sPBM-owned mail-order pharmacy.Inaddition, TRICARE’sPBM offers Louisiana independent pharmacies contracts with reimbursements so unsustainably low that very few local pharmacies can afford to join the TRICARE network. How does lack of access to alocal pharmacy benefit veterans and rural residents?

Big box and national chainpharmacies rarely set up shop in rural areas, and patients cannot have arelationship with amail-order pharmacy or its call center Maness’ suggestionthat independent pharmacies “lack the capacity” to fill gaps left by PBM-owned pharmacies ignores the reality that independent pharmacies are often theonly healthcare providers in rural areas. Banning PBM-owned pharmacies is anecessary move toward afairer moretransparent health care system that also reverses instead of creates pharmacy deserts. Veterans, rural residentsand all Louisianans deserve asystem that works forthem,not against them.

MONIQUE WHITNEY executivedirector,Pharmacists United for Truth and Transparency

theworld take action? Inform Israel and Hamas that multiple food distribution locations will be established in Gaza, backed up by United Nations troops and materiel, whowill ensure that any disruptions in food distribution will be met with appropriate force. This might take awhile to establish,but the alternative is not what acivilized society shouldbeaccepting. Where is therest of the world? PAUL MAJOR Livonia

Americansnowadays. He is transparent as awar hawk, and the persona he depictsinhis opinions reveals his intolerance of diplomacy and peace. Thank you, Peter Chol. Icouldn’t agree more.

GENE PAQUETTE Breaux Bridge

This refers to an article in the July 21 edition regarding ameeting to be held in Lafayette on Sept. 8on absenteeism.The meeting is being called by Chief Justice John Weimer of the Louisiana Supreme Court and is expected to include teachers, principals, district attorneys and judges. There is no mention of parent input. The first teacher of any student is their parents. Even the lack of parents is alearning experience. The people most responsible for their children to be in the classroom are the parents. Isuggest they consider including across-section of parents in this meeting. That is, low-income single parents, parents who send their children to school by school bus and those who are able to deliver and pick up their children every day If achild is legitimately absent from school, their parents are/should be aware, if the student is absent without cause, the school administration is responsible for advising parents and Families in Need of Services to offer assistance at the source. Instead of attempting to put aBand-Aid on the problem, let us try to treat the problem from the source If parents do not care if their student is absent on agiven day or days, they should be required to state such and bear the consequences. The community and officials should look to them as the responsible party

JOSEPH ZEHNER Metairie

The erosion of ourdemocracy was not caused by the workofthe farrightbut thework of thefar left Theystarted withour institutionsof higherlearning. The farleft began to attack ourdemocracy before the SecondWorldWar

MARIE SPICUZZA Kenner

Time forDemocrats to get seriousabout politicalfuture

Gee, what’shappened to the“silly season”ofU.S. politics?

That’swhat many of us in thedaily journalism trade used to call the periods, usually in latesummer or nearholidays, when news media put an unusually intense focus on lighthearted or frivolous stories duetoa shortage of more serious news.

We currently have no such shortage. Even latebreaking investigations and speculation surrounding thesuicide of President Donald Trump’slate friend Jeffrey Epstein have had to compete witha ferocious partisan war within some of thestates over redistricting.

Consider Texas, where Republicans in the statelegislature are attempting, at Trump’surging, to redraw congressional districtsinorder to flipfive more districts to Republican majorities. Democratic legislators have fled the state to deny the legislature aquorum, in hopes of preventing Republicans from carrying out their plan

Some have taken refuge in Illinois, leading Texas Republicanstocall for their arrest by the FBI. Illinois’ Gov. JB Pritzker has vowed to protect them.

“Donald Trump is trying to steal five seats from the people —frankly,ofthe country,not just the people of Texas— and disenfranchise people,” Pritzker said on “The Late Show withStephen Colbert.” “We’re talking aboutviolating theVoting Rights Act andthe Constitution.

Pritzker also declined to turn away from the possibility of amid-decade congressional remap in his own state He told Colbert: “It’spossible. I’ve said everythingisonthe table. We’ve gotta fightfire with fire.”

Are we starting to see thehardball attitude that many frustrated Democrats have been urging their national party to adopt?

Still smarting from the debacle of Joe Biden’s2024 candidacy and thesubsequent defeat of the Kamala Harris/Tim Walz ticket, Dems appear increasingly ready to face areal threat to their ability to regain power in 2026 and beyond. For their part, Republicansare not trying to hide their determination to gerrymander their way outofamidterm backlash in November 2026. Vice President JD Vance visited Indiana to urge lawmakers to redraw their congressional map. It’salreadya reliably Republican-voting state,but itappears the GOP wants to leave nothingto chance.

Ifind it to be no small irony that these battle lines are forming on the60th anniversary of the 1965 VotingRights Act. Someof us areold enough to remember the feeling that anew page in American history had been turned when that law was enacted. We believed that itwould finally end thedenial and dilution of Black voting power That dream,once won, now must be defended once again.

Frankly,it’sbeen anever-ending chore. Thelast time House Democrats held the majority,they introduced a sweepingpackage of good-government reforms, including acenterpiece legislation to endpartisan gerrymandering.

“The people should choose their politicians,” then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in 2021 beforethe House passed the For thePeople Act, which would later dieinthe Senate. “Politicians should not bechoosing their voters.”

Of course, choosing their voters is precisely what Trumpand Republican legislatures intend to do. Trump’steam haspushed Republicans to redraw maps“wherever redistricting is an option.”

Democrats can’tafford to respond with anything less. Indeed, some Democrats, such as California Gov.Gavin Newsom, are switching from their past

lofty positions in favor of bipartisan redistricting commissions toembracing theidea of fighting fire withfire. Pelosi, who remains amember of the U.S. House, said that while Democrats favor nationwide independent commissions to draw congressional district maps, they “cannot and will not unilaterally disarm.”

Recentpolling trends show eroding support for Trump’sactions and policies, which can aptly summed up as “reverse Robin Hood” with apolicestatesideshow.This is especially the case among independents but is noticeable even among Republicans, many of whom no doubt realize their president is off the chain.

Abig opportunityisopening for challengers who can show voters sanity, humanityand the backbone to standuptothe schoolyard bully in theOval Office. AndDemocrats have shown before that they can rise from theslough of despond to winanelectoral mandate. This normally silly season has turned sinister,and thestakes to Democrats are existential. Their first step in winning back voters is showing they’re willing to fight.

Email Clarence Page at clarence47page@gmail.com

GREENSBURG —OnMonday, 16-year-old ChristopherWilliams stood in awood-paneled St. Helena courtroom and pleaded guilty to second-degreemurder

Some fads end slowly,taking up to ageneration to wane. Othersare like lightning, bursting on the scene unexpectedly,destroying all in itspath. This is what has happened in the Sydney Sweeney storm.Anadfor American Eagle blue jeans and especially the reaction to it catapulted the 27-year-old actress to national fame and controversy Move over,Taylor Swift!

In case you weren’t paying attention, thead shows Sweeney reclining while zipping up a pair of jeans and flashing alittle cleavage. What sparked the woke left’s attention and outrage was thead copy which invoked adouble meaning: “It’s not just good genes. Sydney Sweeney has great jeans.” Critics claim the ad promotes eugenics. Critics also began likening the reference to genes, instead ofjeans, tothe pursuit of amaster race by the Nazis. The reaction was swift. American Eagle Jeans flew off the shelves. The company stock soared 25% one day.Onhearing that Sweeney is a Republican, President Donald Trump said, “If Sydney Sweeney is aregistered Republican, Ithink her ad is fantastic. Thetide has seriously turned. Being WOKE is for losers, being Republican is what you want to be.” Sweeney’svoting precinct is in Florida’smost southern and conservative Monroe County.Liberal outrage

from 51% to 40%.Itisnot likely to go higher for some time, if at all.

As for those American Eagle jeans, we’re not talking about the “No Excuses” jeanspromoted by Donna Rice after her affair with Sen. Gary Hart, D-Colo., became public in 1987, or the “You’ve Got the Power” ad featuring aMonica Lewinsky clothing line after her sexual encounterswith President Bill Clinton. Thoseads wereexploiting what might be called negative celebrity. The Sweeney ads and theleft’sreaction to them are combating thecultural zeitgeist.

Comedian Bill Maher saidthis about theSweeney backlash on his HBO show: “In other uncomfortable racial news,sad news, we found out this week that Sydney Sweeney is aNazi.

surged further when avideo showed her firing agun on agun range. What this signals is that promoters of the culture wars are losing. The recent resignation of Jaguar CEO AdrianMardell also proves the point. Jaguar created an ad featuring people wrapped in shades of pink. No cars appeared in the ad. It was made to introduce an all-electric product line beginning next year.Jaguar buyers rebelled. So did some dealerswho knew their customers didn’twant a single option. One person posted on social media “I don’town aJaguar,but if Idid Iwould sellit.” Jaguar owners, like most of the rest of thecountry, want the freedom to choose the type of car they wish to buy.According to aGallup poll in March, interest in owning an electric car has dropped

“No she’snot, but you’ve seen the ad This is avery important ad that we’re seeing now,thereshe is dressed like Jay Leno in all blue denim. And shetalks about thefact that shehas blue eyes and then saysshe has great jeans, you know,because she’swearing jeans! Butaccording to the woke people this means she’saWhitesupremacist.

“I also (think) it’spretty funny that all the online social justice girls are like ‘it’s racist, there is no such thing as good genes.’ Right, and then you go on Tinder and swipe left on everybald guy.”

Iwonder if American Eagle carries my size?

Email Cal Thomasattcaeditors@ tribpub.com

The pleacame nearly two yearsafter Williams opened fire into acar in the parking lot of St. Helena College and Career Academy, killing 16-year-old Vernon Gordon Jr.and wounding two others. The case, which grippedthe tiny St. HelenaParish community,vividly laid bare the gapbetween the idealsofjusticeand the messiness of their application, especially whenitcomes to young offenders. Williams wasjust 14 at the time of the crime. And even though he wastriedasanadult, as part of his plea, he received anine-year sentence. Thatfar shorter than the mandatory life sentence for second-degree murder that most adult offenders get.

Before agreeing to the plea, District AttorneyScottPerrilloux told me his staff had to navigate some thorny challenges.

“There’s no owner’smanualthat dictates howtohandle asituation like this,” Perrilloux said afterthe hearing. “There’snoformula.”

One of the first decisions was whether to try to have the casetransferred to adult court. If the casestayedinjuvenile court, andWilliams was found guilty,hecould nothaveremained in jail past his 21stbirthdayand his record would have remainedsealed.

Given the nature of the crime, the juvenile limitation“wasn’tsufficient” for this case, Perrilloux said. So prosecutors successfully moved to have the case transferred to adult court. Evenwith the case in adult court, because Williams wasjust 14, he cannotbejailed past his 31stbirthday, Perrilloux said.

Finally,eventhough there was little doubt thatWilliams wasthe shooter,getting aconvictionwasn’tnecessarily aslamdunk. Williams’ attorneyplanned to argue that the boy feared for his safety afterbeing bulliedby Gordon. Perrilloux worried thatcould affect the jury

“Having 12 people agree on just about anything is difficult,”hetoldme.

Hence, the pleadeal and the nine years. With credit fortime served and good time, Williams could be outbythe time he’s 24 yearsold.

Though he’ll be aconvictedfelon,he’ll still have most of his life before him.

Along the wooden benches in the courtroom Mondaywereplenty who didn’tsee that as justice. About 20 of Gordon’sfriends and relativeshad come to the hearing, many wearing shirts emblazonedwith his picture.Before handing down the sentence, state District Judge Jeffrey Johnsonallowed several of themtospeak

“I’m so broken,”his grandmother said. She askedhow this could have happenedatschool, where hergrandsonshould have been safe.

“Theychangedour family forever,” Marquelle Bernard-Gordon, Gordon Jr.’smother, said. The killing had been especially hard on hertwo younger children, she said. “No one wins in this.”

His father,Vernon GordonSr.,saidthe killing would forcehis “family to serve alife sentenceofgrief.”

“Wefeel like this was done to secure aquick conviction,”hesaid, accusing prosecutors of notworking hard enough. “Wefeel we have no choice but to acceptthis plea deal.”

On the otherside of the aisle, far fewer had come to support Williams. But of the handful thatdid, severalworematching orange shirts emblazonedwith abiblical reference on the front and“Standing in love with Cjaye”writtenonthe back Forhis part, Williams spoke only when addressedbythe judge.During Gordon’sfamily’scomments, he looked down with folded hands.

Perrilloux understands the families’ frustration. One lost ason forever.Another is losing onetoyearsbehind bars. Their versions of what justiceisare not the same.

“People want tough on crimeuntil it’stheir family,thentheywantmercy,” he said. “We want to do the right thing but figuring out what thatisisnot always abright line.”

Outside the courthouse,Marquelle and VernonSr. stood with alife-size cutout of their son. The hearing took place five days after what would have been his 18thbirthday. In the cutout, he’s wearing abow tie, awhite shirt andAir Jordansneakers. Abright smile lights up his face.

Theyhope, with the case resolved, that they’ll finally be able to move on “This is the beginning of closure,” Marquelle said. “I feel like this is the beginning.”

Faimon A. Roberts III canbereached at froberts@theadvocate.com.

SPORTS

Making up ground

Saints pour resources into restoring once-proud run defense

BY LUKE JOHNSON Staff writer

IRVINE, Calif. — There is pride in the way Davon Godchaux plays, and that may be a key element to the Saints defense this year

At 330 pounds, the ninth-year pro is the heaviest player on the roster The offensive linemen who have had to face Godchaux are coming to terms with what “old man strength” means as he has tossed them aside to make plays The veteran nose tackle has stood out for a specific reason during this training camp: He is on the field to play a central role in snuffing out the opposing team’s rushing attack, and that involves playing with pride.

weren’t good: 4.9 yards per carry (31st), 2.01 yards per carry before contact (28th), 60 runs of 10-plus yards (23rd), 11.9% run stuff rate (30th) and +.08 Expected Points Added per run (30th).

“Last year still doesn’t sit well with us,” linebacker Pete Werner said. “Any good defense, you’ve always got to stop the run. That has to be a given within any single year.”

Unproven Tulane CBs elevating their profile

BY GUERRY SMITH Contributing writer

Tulane sophomore Jahiem Johnson picked up the nickname “Joker” in middle school and has kept it even though he is unsure of the origin behind it. He is quite certain about something else, though. The joke will be on any opponent that underestimates him and his fellow untested cornerbacks at the Green Wave defense’s greenest position.

“We have a pretty good group,” he said. “Every day at practice we are always working and have the mindset that nobody can outwork us. We have some good receivers we cover every day, and they are preparing us for this upcoming season.”

A year ago, graduate transfers Micah Robinson (Furman) and Johnathan Edwards (Indiana State) arrived from FCS programs in the summer and ended up splitting almost all of the cornerback downs with holdover Rayshawn Pleasant. Coach Jon Sumrall knew he needed to upgrade the room significantly after watching the corners struggle in spring 2024.

He added reinforcements again this summer after Pleasant transferred just before spring practice started, but this time the returners have held their own.

Johnson, a Hammond product who made four tackles while playing sparingly last fall, virtually locked down one spot with a strong spring.

Sophomore Jayden Lewis, a reserve nickelback with six tackles a year ago, and redshirt freshman E’Zaiah Shine, who did not play at all, are in a tight battle for the other starting role.

Eyes on the field

Football, becoming complete tight end now in Green’s court

BY REED DARCEY Staff writer

What’s another 7 pounds?

Trey’Dez Green said he’s already packed on about 20 in the two weeks since LSU began preseason camp Only a few more, and he’ll be back up to the weight at which he finished last football season Green no longer has to slim down to play basketball after shifting his full focus to football following his freshman season at LSU when he played both sports. He now is focusing on developing into a complete tight end after LSU asked him to direct most of his attention to the passing attack a year ago. The sophomore already can run routes and catch. What needs to improve is his blocking, the skill that — if perfected — can turn him into an every-down player and one of the top tight ends in the country The first step is adding the weight back, so what’s his secret?

“Eat every day,” Green said Tuesday “I eat like five meals a day.” The fried chicken. The red beans and rice. The jambalaya. None of it has slowed down Green, the former high-profile recruit and twosport star who’s emerged through

Slice the numbers any way you like, they

“It’s just got to be something you really just do,” Godchaux said. “There’s a technique to it, but it’s more about pride in stopping the run.” The Saints used to take pride in their run defense, but that hasn’t been the case in recent years. They had a top-five run defense four straight years from 2018-21 but have been bottom 10 in each of the past three seasons. The run defense cratered last season, when New Orleans ranked 31st among 32 teams in stopping the run.

Something needed to change. To the Saints credit, plenty did.

One of their first moves was to trade for Godchaux, giving them a physical presence in the middle of their defense that was lacking last season. Their big-ticket free agent acquisition was safety Justin Reid, who is known for his physicality In

ä See SAINTS, page 5C

the first 11 practices of preseason camp as one of Garrett Nussmeier’s favorite targets. The two have struck up a nice connection — and not just in the red zone. In a one-on-one rep Monday Green’s release off of the line of scrimmage forced Harold Perkins to stumble. There was no catching him after that, even for a speedy player such as Perkins. Green’s long strides propelled him about 2 yards ahead of Perkins, and Nussmeier didn’t have much trouble fitting a high-arcing pass into the large throwing window that his tight end opened

Nussmeier then found Green open on a shallow out-breaking route on the first play of a team drill before firing him a pass in the flat after a play-action fake on the first rep of seven-on-seven work. Then came the red-zone targets. Nussmeier and Green connected on the first — a post route for a touchdown over the top of tight coverage before misfiring on the second, a fade pattern against freshman cornerback DJ Pickett.

“He’s a mismatch,” LSU defensive coordinator Blake Baker said

ä See GREEN, page 4C

“They are just light years away from last year,” defensive coordinator Greg Gasparato said. “They were just trying to figure it out. Their comfort level is night and day different. Now they can focus on using their athleticism and the tools that they have. They can play fast now.”

ä See TULANE, page 4C

WR Thomas flashes as LSU defense

BY WILSON ALEXANDER Staff writer

Zavion Thomas leapt for a ball thrown down the seam Tuesday morning as LSU worked on redzone situations. DJ Pickett, a 6-foot-5 cornerback, had tight coverage, but the 5-10 wide receiver jumped over him. Thomas held onto the ball as Pickett tried to knock it out of his grasp, and they fell to the ground. Thomas’ catch was the offensive highlight of LSU’s fully padded practice, an hour of which was open to the media. But once again — as often has been the case this preseason — the defense mostly won the 11-on-11 plays that were seen by reporters. Here’s a full rundown of what we saw during LSU’s 11th preseason practice. The Tigers ran 18 plays in the 11-on-11 periods that took place during the open portion. The next two days are closed to the media. Defense stands out The 11-on-11 period started in the red zone with the starting offense playing against a defense mostly filled with backup linebackers and safeties. On the

first play, sophomore defensive tackle Ahmad Breaux recorded a tackle for loss when Thomas took a counter handoff. After a false start on redshirt freshman right tackle Weston Davis, Thomas caught the roughly 22-yard touchdown from Garrett Nussmeier Otherwise, the LSU offense struggled to move the ball. After the touchdown, the second-team offense came onto the field against the apparent starting defense. The ball was placed at the 1-yard line after a pass interference call on sophomore cornerback PJ Woodland in the end zone on first down. On the next play linebacker Harold Perkins blew up an inside handoff to running back Kaleb Jackson for a tackle for loss. The backups did not score on the next three plays, either Their last play in the series was a direct snap that bounced off Jackson and was returned for a touchdown by senior cornerback Mansoor Delane. No longer in the red zone, the starting offense retook the field at its own 1-yard line, once again against the apparent secondteam defense. Breaux made another tackle, and Nussmeier completed a short throw to Nic

6

White House lawn a UFC target

After Paramount deal, White says event will happen

BY DAN GELSTON AP sportswriter

Hours after Paramount and UFC announced a billion-dollar rights deal, Dana White said he had yet to hear from his friend, President Donald Trump, on his thoughts about the fight company’s new streaming home.

That was fine with White The UFC CEO was set to travel to Washington on Aug. 28 to meet with Trump and his daughter, Ivanka, to catch up and discuss logistics on the proposed Fourth of July fight card next year at the White House.

Trump said last month he wanted to stage a UFC match on the White House grounds with upwards of 20,000 spectators to celebrate 250 years of American independence.

“It’s absolutely going to happen,” White told The Associated Press. “Think about that, the 250th birthday of the United States of America, the UFC will be on the White House south lawn live on CBS.”

The idea of cage fights at the White House would have seemed improbable when the Fertitta brothers purchased UFC for $2 million in 2001 and put White in charge of the fledging fight promotion.

White helped steer the company into a $4 billion sale in 2016 and broadcast rights deals with Fox and ESPN before landing owner TKO Group’s richest one yet a seven-year deal with Paramount starting in 2026 worth an average of $1.1 billion a year with all cards on its streaming platform Paramount+ and select numbered events also set to simulcast on CBS.

ESPN, Amazon and Netflix and other traditional sports broadcast players seemed more in play for UFC rights — White had previously hinted fights could air across different platforms but Paramount was a serious contender from the start of the negotiating window

The Paramount and UFC deal came just days after Skydance and Paramount officially closed their $8 billion merger kicking off the reign of a new entertainment giant after a contentious endeavor to get the transaction over the finish line White said he was impressed with the vision Skydance CEO David Ellison had for the the global MMA leader early in contract talks and how those plans should blossom now that Ellison is chairman and CEO of Paramount.

“When you talk about Paramount, you talk about David Ellison, they’re brilliant businessmen, very aggressive, risk takers,” White said. “They’re right up my alley These are the kind of guys that I like to be in business with.”

The $1.1 billion deal marks a notable jump from the roughly $550 million that ESPN paid each year for UFC coverage today

But UFC’s new home on Paramount will simplify offerings for fans — with all content set to be available on Paramount+ (which currently costs between $7.99 and $12.99 a month) rather than various pay-per-view fees.

Paramount also said it intends to explore UFC rights outside the U.S “as they become available in the future.”

UFC matchmakers were set to meet this week to shape what White said would be a loaded debut Paramount card. The UFC boss noted it was still too early to discuss a potential main event for the White House fight night.

“This is a 1-of-1 event,” White said.

There are still some moving parts to UFC broadcasts and other television programming it has its hands in as the company moves into the Paramount era.

White said there are still moving parts to the deal and that includes potentially finding new homes for “The Ultimate Fighter,” “Road To UFC,” and “Dana White’s Contender Series.” It’s not necessarily a given the traditional 10 p.m. start time for what were the pay-per-view events would stand, especially on nights cards will also air on CBS.

“We haven’t figured that out yet but we will,” White said.

And what about the sometimescontentious issue of fighter pay?

Some established fighters have clauses in their contracts that they earn more money the higher the buyrate on their cards.

Again, most of those issues are to-be-determined as UFC and Paramount settle in to the new deal — with $1.1 billion headed the fight company’s way

“It will affect fighter pay, big time,” White said “From deal-todeal, fighter pay has grown, too. Every time we win, everybody wins.”

Boxer Jake Paul wrote on social media the dying PPV model — which was overpriced for fights as UFC saw a decline in buys because of missing star power in many main events — should give the fighters an increased idea of their worth.

AND CHRIS

FILE PHOTOS By

This photo combination shows a UFC logo outside an arena on April 24, 2021, in Jacksonville, Fla., and the Paramount logo during the Paramount Pictures presentation at CinemaCon on April 3 in Las Vegas.

“Every fighter in the UFC now has a clear picture of what the revenue is...no more PPV excuses,” Paul wrote. “Get your worth boys and girls.”

White also scoffed at the idea that the traditional PPV model is dead.

There are still UFC cards on pay-per-view the rest of the year through the end of the ESPN contract and White and Saudi Arabia have teamed to launch a new boxing venture that starts next year and could use a PPV home. White, though, is part of the promotional team for the Canelo Álvarez and Terence Crawford fight in September in Las Vegas that airs on Netflix.

“It’s definitely not run it’s course,” White said. “There were

guys out there who were interested in pay-per-view and there were guys out there that weren’t Wherever we ended up, that’s what we’re going to roll with.”

White said UFC archival footage “kills it” in repeat views and those classic bouts also needed a new home once the ESPN deal expires.

Just when it seems there’s little left for UFC to conquer, White says, there’s always more. Why stop at becoming the biggest fight game in the world? Why not rewrite the pecking order in popularity and riches and go for No. 1 in all sports?

“You have the NFL, the NBA, the UFC, and soccer globally,” White said. “We’re coming. We’re coming for all of them.”

Sprinter Richardson addresses arrest and apologizes

BY PAT GRAHAM AP sportswriter

Sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson

addressed her recent domestic violence arrest in a video on social media and issued an apology to her boyfriend Christian Coleman. A former LSU sprinter, Richardson posted a video on her Instagram account Monday night in which she said she put herself in a “compromised situation.” She issued a written apology to Coleman on Tuesday morning.

“I love him & to him I can’t apologize enough,” the reigning 100-meter world champion wrote in all capital letters on Instagram, adding that her apology “should be just as loud” as her “actions.”

Richardson

Duplantis raises pole vault record for 13th time

Former LSU pole vault star Mondo Duplantis raised his pole vault world record to 6.29 meters at the Istvan Gyulai Memorial meet in Budapest on Tuesday

The Olympic and world champion added a centimeter at his second attempt to the previous record mark which he set in June at a Diamond League meet in front of home fans in Stockholm. It was the 13th pole vault world record for the 25-yearold Swede and the third this year It was another statement win in Budapest for Duplantis, who retained his world title in the Hungarian capital in 2023 by clearing 6.10.

At the World Athletics Continental Tour Gold meeting on Tuesday, Duplantis cleared 6.11 at his second attempt and then successfully targeted the world record also with his second try

LSU men’s golfer makes final 64 at U.S. Amateur SAN FRANCISCO LSU golfer Arni Sveinsson advanced to the matchplay portion of the 125th U.S. Amateur on Tuesday at Olympic Club.

Sveinsson, a sophomore for the Tigers this fall, shot even-par 140 in 36-hole qualifying with a 68 Monday on the Ocean course and a 72 Tuesday on the Lake course.

Four other LSU golfers were in the field of 312 trying to make it to the match-play round of 64. Qualifying was not expected to finish until Wednesday morning.

“We had a pretty good game plan going into it, and hit a lot of fairways, hit a lot of greens, stayed really disciplined with the tucked pins,” Sveinsson said. The round of 64 will be televised at 5 p.m. on Peacock.

Astros All-Star closer

Hader placed on 15-day IL

Houston Astros All-Star closer

Josh Hader was placed on the 15day disabled list Tuesday with a strained left shoulder

The move, retroactive to Monday, comes after the left-hander reported shoulder discomfort before Monday’s game against the Boston Red Sox.

Manager Joe Espada added that they don’t yet know the severity of the injury and should know more after additional testing.

Espada said he would not name a closer to fill in while Hader is out, but would use his relievers based on matchups.

Hader, who is in his second season in Houston, is 6-2 with a 2.05 ERA and is tied for third in the majors with 28 saves in 48 appearances this season.

Bills RB Cook resumes practice after ‘hold-in’ Buffalo Bills running back James Cook resumed practicing on Tuesday, ending his temporary “hold-in” as part of a contract standoff that began on Aug. 3. Cook took the field in uniform and participated throughout practice, including team drills, after missing four straight sessions last week — the last two in which the fourth-year player failed to even make an appearance on the sideline. Cook declined to speak to reporters afterward about his decision to return to practice while still in the midst of seeking to secure a contract extension on the final year of his rookie deal. Coach Sean McDermott anticipated Cook’s return, who was the NFL’s co-leader with 16 touchdowns rushing last season.

Packers QB Love out after procedure on left thumb

“I was told Coleman did not want to participate any further in the investigation and declined to be a victim.”

The officer reviewed camera footage and observed Richardson reach out with her left arm and grab Coleman’s backpack and yank it away Richardson then appeared to get in Coleman’s way with Coleman trying to step around her Coleman was shoved into a wall. Later in the report, it said Richardson appeared to throw an item at Coleman, with the TSA indicating it may have been headphones.

The officer said in the report:

“To Christian I love you & I am so sorry,” she wrote. Richardson was arrested July 27 on a fourthdegree domestic violence offense for allegedly assaulting Coleman at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. She was booked into South Correctional Entity in Des Moines, Washington, for more than 18 hours. Her arrest was days before she ran the 100 meters at the U.S. championships in Eugene, Oregon. In the video, Richardson said she’s practicing “self-reflection” and refuses “to run away but face everything that comes to me head on.” According to the police report, an officer at the airport was notified by a Transportation Security Administration supervisor of a disturbance between Richardson and her boyfriend, Coleman, the 2019 world 100-meter champion.

A message was left with Coleman from The Associated Press. Richardson wrote that Coleman “came into my life & gave me more than a relationship but a greater understanding of unconditional love from what I’ve experienced in my past.”

She won the 100 at the 2023 world championships in Budapest and finished with the silver at the Paris Games last summer. She also helped the 4x100 relay to an Olympic gold.

She didn’t compete during the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 following a positive marijuana test at the U.S. Olympic trials.

The Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love will miss at least a week after having a procedure to repair a ligament issue in his left thumb, Packers said Tuesday Love was spotted with his thumb wrapped on the sideline during the Packers’ 30-10 preseason loss to the New York Jets on Saturday Love started the game and went 1 of 5 for 7 yards with neither of the two drives he led resulting in points.

The injury is to Love’s non-throwing hand and occurred, coach Matt LaFleur said, when he was sacked for a 3-yard loss by Jay Tufele on the quarterback’s final snap from scrimmage.

LaFleur said the recovery process is a quick one, with the expectation Love will be back at practice in some capacity next week.

PGATour’splayoffsnot like othersports

OWINGS MILLS,Md. Instead of outrage and grave concern that Rory McIlroy chose to sit out the first FedEx Cup playoff event without dropping asingle spot in the rankings —let it be areminder that golf is not like other sports. These are not the “playoffs.” That’sfor team sports.

This is golf, which has never had adefining finish to its year and never will.

Doug Ferguson

The FedEx Cup attempted to create afinish line until the tour tried to promote it as so much more. What it did was create an incentive for the best players to compete after the majors were over.That part has worked beautifully,and it still does, with or without McIlroy Perhaps one reason McIlroy’sabsence got so much attention was no one had skipped apostseason event (barring injury) since Webb Simpson five years ago. Simpson pulled out of the BMW Championship at No. 3inthe FedEx Cup, saying he wanted to be fresh for the FedEx Cup finale at East Lake.

McIlroy had said in June he has earned the right to do whatever he wants, and that includes skipping a$20 million tournament (for the third time this year), and sitting out the first round of what the PGA Tour calls its “playoffs.” He remains at No. 2.

in NorthernIreland on July 20.McIlroychose to

But he certainly wasn’t the firstto do that. Tiger Woodswas ano-show for the firstplayoffeventin 2007, andhestill went on to win the FedEx Cup. Phil Mickelson skippedthe BMW Championship that year when it was the third of four postseason events. Sergio Garcia?Hemissed seven postseasonevents when he waseligible (and presumably healthy), one year taking time off in Switzerland and Spain because hewanted abreak McIlroyfinished up nine holesofpractice at

Thunderheadlines

Caves Valley on Monday afternoon as some of the players who advanced to the second stage werestill on their way to the BMW Championship after a steamy week in Memphis, Tennessee. Given the heat, he’sprobably fresher than most. He first raised the questionlastyear when he was No. 3inthe FedEx Cup, finished next-to-last in Memphis and wondered what he was doing there. He only dropped to No. 5. It changed nothing. So it was no surprise McIlroy sat

opening night, ChristmasDay games

By The Associated Press

NEW YORK The Oklahoma City Thunder felt slighted last season when it was left off the NBA’s Christmas schedule.

That won’tbeanissue this year

MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the NBA champion Thunder will be working at home for Christmas this season, playing host to Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs as part of the league’sannual Dec. 25 quintupleheader BetMGM Sportsbook has the Thunder favored by 9.5 points.

The other Christmas games,released by the NBA on Tuesday: Cleveland at New York (favored at -2.5), HoustonatLeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers (-1.5),No. 1pick Cooper Flaggand Dallas visiting Golden State (-4.5) and Minnesota playing at Denver (-4.5).

Some NBA Cup games are scheduled to be released Wednesday,and the full schedule —80ofthe 82 games for all teams —isto be released on Thursday The remaining two games for each club will be filled in during December based on how teamsfareinthe NBA Cup.

“They make the schedule. We play it,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said last season,whenasked about his club not being picked for the Dec. 25 lineup. “Our players, Iknow,would have liked to play on Christmas because that’s such astaple day in the NBA season. But we can’tcontrol that.” Well, they sort of did control their Christmas scheduling fate this season.

The NBA champions typically get invited to play on Christmas the following season;OklahomaCitybeat Indiana in aseven-game NBAFinals last season. The Eastern Conference championPacers areamong the Christmas snubs this year, after losing Tyrese Haliburton to an Achilles tear that will sideline him for the entirety of this season and seeing Myles Turner opt to sign with Milwaukee in free agency The Knicks will be playing their 58th Christmas

is settoplayon

beingleftoff the holiday schedule last year

STAFF FILE PHOTO By

GERMER Lakers forward LeBron James reacts to aplay against the Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center on Nov. 16. James and the Lakers will playhost to the Rockets on Dec. 25.

game,extending theirNBA record. The first Christmas game in league history was at Madison Square Garden in 1947. Boston,Philadelphia and Phoenix played on Christmas last season and didn’t make the Dec. 25 cut this season, replacedbyCleveland (whichwas the East’s No. 1seed), Houston (which landedKevinDurant in an offseason blockbusterfrom the Suns) and theThunder. Cleveland and the Thunderare playing on Christmas forthe first time since 2018. The Rocketshave a Christmas gamefor the first timesince 2019. James, if he plays on the holiday, will be making his 20th Christmas appearance

in hisrecord 23rd NBA season. Only 12 NBAfranchises have 20 Christmas games, and James could soon have thatmany as a player

And it’ll be abig NBA holidayinTexas:All three of thestate’steams are playing on Christmas for thefirst time.

Openingnight

NBC’sreturn to the NBA broadcast worldofficially starts with opening night on Oct. 21, when the Thunder (favored by 6.5 points) will receive their championship rings before playing host to Durant and the Rockets in the first game of the season. That will be followed by Stephen Curry,Jimmy Butler and Golden State taking on James, Luka Doncic and theLakers (-3.5) in the second game of the NBC doubleheader. Those are the only two games on opening night

MLKDay Peacock and NBC will have four games on Jan. 19, which is Martin Luther King Jr.Day The matchups: Milwaukee at AtlantaonPeacock at noon, followed by three gamesonNBC: Oklahoma City at Cleveland at 1:30 p.m., Dallas at New York at 4p.m. and Boston at Detroit at 7p.m. Memphis, which typically plays on the holiday,isnot this season. The Grizzlies will be returning from Europe, after facing Orlando on Jan. 15 in Berlin and Jan. 18 in London.

this one out

Scottie Scheffler could have easily done thesame. The TPC Southwind is wherehelastmissed acut (in 2022, when the postseasonopener had 125-man field and a36-hole cut). The FedEx St.Jude Classic also gave him asponsor exemptionwhen he was 17, and he has never misseditas aPGA Tour member.His choice.

But playoffs?

Jim Moraand his infamous “Playoffs?” interview comes to mind this time of the year

TheFedExCup might be alot easier to understand —and appreciate —ifthe PGATour had just stuck to the right languagewhen thisseason-ending bonanza first was unveiled. It wasatEast Lakein 2006 during the Tour Championship—remember,that was the year Woodsand Mickelson both decidedto skipthe PGATour’sfinale —when former commissioner TimFinchem laid out the details of theFedEx Cup. He saidgolf was theonly major sport where the regular season was more compelling than thefinish(he apparently didn’t think much of tennis). And so Finchem introduced a concept referred to as a championship series of four tournaments. He used that phrase “championship series” —20timesinalengthy newsconference. The eight times he mentioned “playoffs”was in comparison to other sports and howthe championship series would be “our version of theplayoffsystem.”

And then somemarketing genius leaned on “playoffs,” the wordwas painted onto agrassy hill at Westchester Country Club, the term stuck anditstill doesn’tmake sense.

That especially was the case when it began with 144 players, leading Jim Furyk to do the math.

“Infootball, there’s32 teamsinthe NFL, and if I’mcorrect, 12 teams go to the playoffs,” he said

in 2007. “This year,125 guys also keep theirtour card and 144 people are going to the Playoffs.So that’sroughly 110% of the league.” Golf is not like other sports.

Theconcept is fine. The PGATour’sversion of the playoffs is working because it provides three weeksofits best players competing foratrophy that is slowlygaining in stature. It’s not one of thefour majors. It’s probably still anotch below ThePlayers Championship.

ThePGA Tour has tweaked the format five times,seeking asolution that doesn’texist.

Themost recent format —“starting strokes” —was the mostcontroversial, withthe No. 1player startingat10-under parbefore the Tour Championship began. Not even Scheffler liked that. But it at least rewarded the players whoperformed thebest throughout the year

Now the 30 players who emerge from the BMW Championshipthisweek will allstart from scratch at East Lake, and thelow score wins. The“seasonlong champion” could be someone whowins forthe first time all year How is the FedExCup trophy any different from the oldTour Championship trophy?

Themoney is better.And unlikethe last Tour Championshipbefore the FedEx Cupbegan, at least everyone will show up.

BY DOUG FEINBERG Associated Press

NEWYORK Even with many of its top stars sidelined, the WNBA has still had strong ratings andattendance numbers this season. Injuries have kept Caitlin Clark, Breanna Stewart, NapheesaCollierand former LSU star Angel Reese out, but that hasn’tdampened fan interest in theleague. ESPN games are up slightly over last season, and games on ABC are up 17%. Atten dance has also still been strong, thanks to the addition of the Golden StateValkyries this season, who have sold out all of their home games, averaging morethan 18,000 fans. Still, it has not all been rosy.The league hasreceivednegative attention for sex toysbeing thrown on the court at various arenas over atwo-week span. That has subsided over the past few days.

For the most part, even without their stars, those teamshavebeen able to play at ahigh level. Minnesota has won all three games without Collier —the MVP frontrunner whoissidelined with aright ankle sprain, to remain in first place in the standings. Indiana has gone 6-2 over its past eight games without Clark, who has been out for nearly amonth with aright groin injury.She is progressing from the injury but still is not practicing.

Thesecond-year guard told Sue Bird on her podcast that she feels alevel of “responsibility” to play, knowing that so many people have been drawntothe leaguebecause of her “I think that’sdefinitely been hard. I’mgoing to go to every road gamenomatter what,whether I’mplaying or not. It’shard because obviously Idofeel this responsibility of being out there and playing,” Clark said. New York has been up and down without Stewart, who said she plans to be back by the end of the month from abone bruise in herright knee.

Honoring Bird

The Seattle Storm will unveil astatue of Sue Bird on Saturday before the team faces Phoenix on Sunday. Seattle is the first WNBA franchise to dedicateastatue to aformer player.Next month, Bird will be inducted intothe NaismithBasketball Hall of Fame.

Player of theweek

A’ja Wilson of LasVegas was the AP player of the week after averaging 25.3 points, 13 rebounds and 3.7 assists to help the Aces win allthreeoftheir games last week.She had the first 30-point, 20-rebound game in league history in awin over Connecticut on Sunday.

Game of theweek

New York at Minnesota, Saturday.The Lynx beat the Liberty in NewYorklast Sunday andnow don’tplay again until the twoteams tip off in Minnesota. New York has back-toback games in Los Angeles on Monday and Las Vegas on Tuesday before heading to Minnesota.

Penn State primed for big season

Nittany Lions seek Big Ten title but Ohio St., Oregon close behind

BY ERIC OLSON Associated Press

The stage is set for Penn State, and now the question is whether the second-ranked Nittany Lions will capitalize

While defending national champion Ohio State, defending Big Ten champ Oregon and heavyweight Michigan are breaking in new quarterbacks, Penn State goes into the season with a threeyear starter in Drew Allar, a pair of 1,000-yard rushers and a top-10 defense with first-year coordinator Jim Knowles.

“I think when you look at all of our personnel, not just the players, but the staff and players, it’s the best combination that we’ve had in my 12 years here,” coach James Franklin said. “The depth, the experience, the talent is impressive.”

The Nittany Lions have won at least 10 games three straight years, and last season they made the College Football Playoff for the first time and beat overmatched opponents SMU and Boise State before a 27-24 loss to Notre Dame in the semifinal at the Orange Bowl. The knock against Franklin and the Lions is that they win the games they are supposed to but not the ones when the lights are the brightest.

“We were a drive away from playing for the national championship last year and 99% of the programs in the country would be jacked about that season and how it went, and I don’t know if that was necessarily the case here, right?” Franklin said.

Except for a Sept. 27 home game

THOMAS

Continued from page 1C

Anderson for 7 yards.

Nussmeier’s last pass of the day fell incomplete as he rolled out to his right. Nussmeier looked for redshirt junior receiver Aaron Anderson along the sideline, but junior cornerback Ashton Stamps had tight coverage. Aaron Anderson continues to work his way back onto the field after missing the beginning of camp with inflammation in his left knee. He has compression sleeves on both legs, but he is doing more.

The second-team offense had one more chance against the starting defense.

Other than a completion from quarterback Michael Van Buren to tight end Donovan Green for a first down, it did not move the ball much during six plays. Wild Tiger?

With the ball at the 1-yard line during the red-zone periods, Van Buren motioned out of the backfield.

Sophomore Ju’Juan Johnson took the snap. Johnson, who has played quarterback and running back in the preseason, was tackled short of the goal line.

After an incompletion, Van Buren lined up on the outside with Johnson and Jackson in the backfield. LSU called the direct snap to Jackson, and the ball bounced off his hands, allowing Delane to return it for a defensive touchdown.

LSU did not show the wildcat look again, but it has experimented with it multiple times during preseason practice. On Tuesday the wildcat plays did not have any success.

Other tidbits

Sophomore cornerback Ja’Keem Jackson, a Florida transfer, did not practice. Instead, he worked off to the side with athletic trainers or rode

GREEN

Continued from page 1C

of Green, “and I think coach (Joe) Sloan and that offensive staff does a really, really nice job of trying to put him in advantageous situations. In camp, Green has lined up as a tight end and at wide receiver He’s taken reps from the slot and along the boundary In each spot, he’ll usually have an advantage. The cornerbacks and safeties are too small. The linebackers are too slow Now LSU needs to help Green take advantage of those mismatches. On Monday, wide receivers coach Cortez Hankton spent time teaching the sophomore how to release off the line of scrimmage and how to sepa-

against No 7 Oregon, the Nittany Lions probably won’t be tested until the back end of their schedule. They’ll be trying for their first conference championship since 2016 and the automatic CFP bid that goes with it.

If not Penn State, who?

No. 3 Ohio State and No. 7 Oregon are poised to return to the playoff if their new quarterbacks keep the offenses on the rails.

Buckeyes coach Ryan Day is still deciding between Julian Sayin and Lincoln Kienholz. Ohio State is going for its first Big Ten title since 2020 along with a repeat national championship. With so many elite players spread across the field,

both are possible.

Former UCLA five-star QB

Dante Moore takes over for Dillon Gabriel at Oregon, which went 13-0 with a win over Penn State in the conference championship game to earn the CFP top seed before losing to Ohio State in the quarterfinals. Much is expected of Dakorien Moore, the top-rated receiver in the 2025 recruiting class. No 14 Michigan landed the nation’s No. 1 recruit in quarterback Bryce Underwood. The Wolverines didn’t win the Big Ten last year, but they did beat Ohio State a fourth straight time. Underwood and a new group of receivers should improve the Big Ten’s worst passing game.

Team on the rise

There’s chatter about No. 12 Illinois being a CFP contender It’s not crazy talk. The Illini bring back QB Luke Altmyer and 15 other starters from their 10-win team, and the schedule is manageable. The Illini last season knocked off a program record-tying four Top 25 opponents, and their six Big Ten wins were their most since 2007. And the rest No. 20 Indiana was the nation’s surprise team last season. Can Curt Cignetti keep it going? Cal transfer Fernando Mendoza, who threw for over 3,000 yards, is the new QB. Iowa’s hopes ride the arm of Mark Gronowski, who put up monster numbers at South Dakota State and could have just as easily entered the NFL draft. Minnesota needs to get its offense going. Four of the Gophers’ five losses a year ago were one-score games. Rutgers went to the portal to improve a defense that tied for second-most touchdowns allowed in the Big Ten. Jayden Maiava enters his first full season as starting QB for Southern California, whose five one-score losses tied for the most in the FBS. Washington’s defense will be coordinated by Ryan Walters, an ace DC at Illinois before a failed run as Purdue’s head coach. Michigan State needs more from QB Aidan Chiles, who has yet to find his rhythm Matt Rhule’s teams at Temple and Baylor made big jumps in Year 3. The same should happen at Nebraska with QB Dylan Raiola back and a manageable schedule.

Zavion

a stationary bike. Jackson left Monday’s practice early after appearing to suffer an injury

When LSU practiced punts, Kentucky transfer Barion Brown, Aaron Anderson and Thomas were catching

rate from defenders at the top of his routes. Green said on Tuesday that he received special instructions from Alex Atkins, a former offensive lineman who’s now the LSU tight ends coach and run-game coordinator Atkins, Green said, is helping him put his hands in the right places when he blocks.

“You can’t be an in-line blocker at that position unless you’re willing,” head coach Brian Kelly said, “and I’ve had a lot of really good in-line tight ends that weren’t willing.

“He wants to get in there and mix it up.” Green is 6-foot-7, which means he won’t have trouble coming down with contested catches, but he may struggle with bending low enough to gain the leverage he needs for certain blocks.

them That’s a lot of speed in the return game.

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

“The game is played from low to high,” Kelly said, “so we’ve got to get him in great leverage positions. Most of it is not playing too high, and that’s not an easy feat in his position in terms of his size.”

Green said he’s working on it, and LSU can afford to give him time to learn. Mason Taylor may be off to the NFL, but Oklahoma transfer tight end Bauer Sharp is a large part of the offense, and he’s shown in preseason camp both a willingness and ability to tackle the dirty work. Green has the willingness. As for the ability that’ll come from the weight he’s gained and the extra time he’s spent developing into the complete tight end LSU needs him to become “I’m all in on football right now,” Green said. “That’s my focus.”

TULANE

Continued from page 1C

UCLA can build on a strong finish with Tennessee transfer QB Nico Iamaleava. Wisconsin, in its first eight games, faces three top-10 opponents and another in the top 15. SMU transfer QB Preston Stone is next in line to spark a Northwestern offense that has struggled for going on seven years. Freshman QB Malik Washington is a bright spot for a Maryland team that incurred huge losses in the portal. Barry Odom takes over a Purdue team whose only win was against FCS member Indiana State. Mark your calendars No. 1 Texas at No. 3 Ohio State, Aug. 30; No. 14 Michigan at No. 18 Oklahoma, Sept. 6; No. 7 Oregon at No. 2 Penn State, Sept. 27; No. 3 Ohio State at No. 12 Illinois, Oct. 11; No. 2 Penn State at No 3 Ohio State, Nov 1; No. 20 Indiana at No. 2 Penn State, Nov 8; Nebraska at No. 2 Penn State, Nov 22; No. 3 Ohio State at No. 14 Michigan, Nov 29.

Although some projected starters came via the transfer portal, Tulane will line up with proven performers at every defensive position but cornerback when it opens against Northwestern on Aug. 30 at Yulman Stadium.

No one knows how Johnson, Lewis and Shine will react to the spotlight, but their consistency in camp is a good sign.

“I like the direction Joker’s gone in,” Sumrall said. “He elevated through spring practice and showed he’s probably the top guy in that room and can be a high-level player, but they all have to keep growing. Shine has probably had the best camp out of all of them. Jayden’s a really smart, natural player who would be in the competition to be a starting spear (nickelback) or safety (if he were practicing there).”

Their development has left summer transfers LJ Green, who redshirted at Troy in 2023 under Sumrall before starting every game in 2024, and KC Eziomume, who had 25 tackles and six breakups las year at Albany, on the outside looking in during an unsettled competition that includes Wofford transfer Isaiah Wadsworth and redshirt freshman Armani Cargo.

Sumrall labeled Shine as the player who had improved the most from the start of spring through the first two weeks of preseason camp.

“I’ve just been working hard every day,” Shine said.

“Last season, I sat the whole year, so this is going to be a breakout season for me

I can put my name out and show people who I am and what a great player I am.” Lewis, an Alabama native, chose Tulane instead of Auburn in 2024. Sumrall lauded his speed as a high school 100-meter sprinter in addition to the smarts that would allow him to fit anywhere in the secondary

“I feel very comfortable at corner,” Lewis said. “I’ve just been coming to practice every day with the consistency and the mind to grow It’s the best position for me to be in right now to help the team, so whatever the team needs, that’s where I’m going to play.”

Sumrall admitted he was not entirely happy with the cornerbacks in Saturday’s scrimmage, but he praised their potential.

“I like the depth in that room,” he said. “Who elevates into a starting role is going to be interesting to see.”

Lagniappe

Tulane practiced Tuesday morning at the Shrine on Airline in shorts and shoulder pads under milder, cloudier conditions than recent outdoor workouts. Nickelback TJ Smith, a transfer from Division II East Central who has been getting plenty of time on the firstteam defense, picked off a pass from Kadin Semonza again after doing it in Saturday’s scrimmage. The session ended with safety Bailey Despanie stopping tight end Johnny Pascuzzi short of a first down on fourth down near the goal line on a pass from Jake Retzlaff. The Wave will be off Wednesday before practicing Thursday and Friday ahead of Saturday’s scrimmage at 11 a.m. at Yulman Stadium.

Shough finishing important work at QB

BY MATTHEW PARAS Staff writer

IRVINE, Calif.

Increasingly in the New Orleans Saints quarterback competition, the battle seems to be centered around the adage of, “It’s not about how you start but how you finish.”

Technically, Spencer Rattler again started with the first team when the Saints reconvened for practice Tuesday after an off day But it was Tyler Shough who ultimately got more reps

with the first-team offense, fresh off his preseason debut in Sunday’s loss to the Chargers. During that outing, Shough got 30 snaps to Rattler’s 29, but the rookie’s reps came entirely with the backups.

On Tuesday, Rattler ran with the starters during the Saints’ scripted team drills meaning the offense knows what plays to run and what concepts to work on ahead of time. But in New Orleans’ “call-it” period, when coach Kellen Moore dials up plays in the flow of the moment to simulate a real game, the order flipped with Shough leading the first-

team offense against the second-team defense and Rattler leading the secondteam offense against the starting defense.

Between them, Shough again looked like the better quarterback. That’s been the trend of late as the rookie appears to be hitting his stride. In the first of two “call-it” drills, Shough led the offense on a 12-play drive of about 60 yards that saw him spreading the ball around to a variety of targets.

His best throw came on the seventh play of the drive when the Saints faced about a fourth and 8. Standing comfortably in the pocket

with excellent protection from the offensive line, Shough stepped up and hit Rashid Shaheed in stride for the first down.

Shough’s ability to lead drives that result in points might be what is starting to separate him from Rattler Moore said there were “no wow” moments from Rattler’s performance against the Chargers, and that’s a good description of how his game has been lately He threw for less than 5 yards per attempt against the Chargers. During Tuesday’s practice, he often settled for check-downs and safe throws.

That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but unfortunately for Rattler, he’s not leading the Saints on scoring drives. During Tuesday’s session, Rattler led a whopping 16play drive that inched down the field. Starting at the offense’s own 20, Rattler dinked-and-dunked his way to get New Orleans in the red zone by completing 7 of 10 passes during that stretch. But like in Sunday’s game, when the Saints got into favorable field position several times, Rattler didn’t finish. He tried to hit Dante Pettis on a slant that bounced off the wide receiver’s hands and was intercepted by safety

Julian Blackmon

Maybe the play wasn’t entirely Rattler’s fault — his pass looked more than catchable — but the play was reminiscent of the strip-sack that resulted in a fumble against the Chargers. The turnover ruined a promising drive. Rattler’s confidence has been his defining trait throughout camp, but his performances as of late seem to indicate that Rattler might be rattled.

Here’s a look at the stats from Tuesday’s session: Rattler: 8 of 16 with an INT Shough: 10 of 14 Jake Haener: 2 of 3

By ADAM HUNGER

Giants WR Nabers sits out joint practice at Jets

BY STEPHEN WHYNO AP sportswriter

FLORHAM PARK, N.J Malik

Nabers did not participate in the New York Giants’ first of two joint practices against the Jets on Tuesday, and coach Brian Daboll was not forthcoming about details surrounding the top wide receiver’s status.

Nabers has been dealing with a toe injury that caused him to miss spring workouts, though Daboll at the time called it “nothing serious.”

The 22-year-old continues to manage it in training camp, sitting out the end of 11-on-11 drills at practice last week, not taking part in an ensuing pregame walkthrough practice and not playing in the exhibition opener at Buffalo last weekend.

Daboll has been tightlipped about injuries since camp began last month, and that continued with questions about whether Nabers was out because of the toe ailment and if he was concerned.

“I’m not going to get into injuries,” Daboll said. “He’s rehabbing, and he’s doing everything he can do to get back.”

The Giants start the season in less than four weeks

SAINTS

Continued from page 1C

the draft, the Saints used two third-round picks and a fourth-round selection on a defensive tackle (Vernon Broughton), a safety (Jonas Sanker) and a linebacker (Danny Stutsman) — with the latter two being known as exceptional run defenders New Orleans spent resources on the spine of its defense, and that didn’t come together by chance.

“(General manager Mickey Loomis, head coach Kellen Moore) and our personnel team have done a great job of trying to arm us with as many players that kind of fit the way we want to play,” defensive coordinator Brandon Staley said. Staley is one of those changes, too.

The new defensive coordinator brought a 3-4 base defense with him to New Orleans, and while the Saints will spend most of their time in sub personnel packages with five or more defensive backs on the field, his scheme still will present different challenges to offenses than previous itera-

at Nabers’ good friend and former LSU teammate Jayden Daniels and the Washington Commanders. Starting quarterback Russell Wilson downplayed not having Nabers on the field.

“Malik and I have gotten a lot of time together,” Wilson said. “I trust his work ethic, his ability to get open. Obviously, I’ve spent a lot of time with him throwing a football. When he is out there, when he has been, we’ve been lights-out on everything that we’ve done. I think he’s been special for us.”

Wilson praised fellow receivers Darius Slayton and Wan’Dale Robinson and singled out Zach Pascal and rookie Beaux Collins for making plays in Nabers’ absence. But there’s little arguing that New York’s offense loses a lot if Nabers is unavailable when the games start to matter.

“Everybody’s kind of contributing,” Wilson said. “That’s what we need. We want to facilitate the ball to the right guy at the right time, and we want to be able to do that and obviously Malik’s a key part to that.” Cornerbacks Dru Phillips and Tre Hawkins also did not practice against the Jets, along with rookie running back Cam Skattebo,

“He’s one of the top interior players in the game, and I still believe that’s true. And the other thing that you’re getting with him when you’re starting a new program is that he’s also bringing culture to your team experience.”

BRANDON STALEy Saints defensive coordinator

tions of the Saints defense. The new-look defense will force offenses to account for more players at the line of scrimmage. In base looks, that means three defensive linemen and two players lined up at each edge of the line. In sub packages, the same principle will apply, just with different personnel. The aim is to occupy the front so the second- and third-level defenders are free to make plays.

“The way we coach in the run game is (the defensive linemen) are taking care of it so that the guys behind the ball can just go find the ball and play it instinctively and freely,” Staley said If the goal of modern NFL offenses is to manipulate

wideouts Jalin Hyatt and Da’Quan Felton and guard Evan Neal. Phillips was injured in the Bills game, while Daboll did not want to share details about Hyatt not being out there.

Left tackle Andrew Thomas, who remains on the physically unable to perform list as he works back from foot surgery, did not make the trip, according to Daboll, who said the 26-year-old offensive lineman is rehabbing and “getting better every day.”

After the Giants’ offense got off to a rough start against the Jets’ defense on Tuesday, veteran QB Jameis Winston gathered teammates together for an animated address.

He may wind up being third on the depth chart behind Wilson and rookie firstround pick Jaxson Dart, but Winston has not been shy to let his voice be heard this summer Wilson said he deferred to Winston to deliver the message that time.

“He’s got those great motivational speeches,” Wilson said. “Jameis and I, we both (have) a lot of experience, a lot of understanding of what we want to do, how we want to motivate, how do we want to lead. I think that’s important.”

space to their advantage, this defense is designed to snuff it out.

“The difference is there’s less double teams for the interior guys, and the edge players can play on the edge,” defensive edge coach Jay Rodgers said “So we’re actually, schematically, a little bigger up front than maybe some of the years prior

“The enemy of run defense is space. We want to take all the air out of the running back’s run lanes and then finish on the ball carrier.”

Godchaux is a space eater, and throughout his career he has played that role well. Staley has been on the opposing sideline from Godchaux several times during his coaching career, and that’s part of what informed the trade this offseason.

“He’s one of the top interior players in the game, and I still believe that’s true,” Staley said.

“And the other thing that you’re getting with him when you’re starting a new program is that he’s also bringing culture to your team experience.”

That last point may be important for a team coming off a bad season defending the run, because Godchaux

BY LUKE JOHNSON and MATTHEW PARAS Staff writers

IRVINE, Calif. — Alontae Taylor missed the New Orleans Saints preseason opener against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, and he did not participate in Tuesday’s practice.

Now we know why:

Coach Kellen Moore said Taylor suffered a groin injury late last week in practice, and he is expected to be out “a while” — though Moore did not indicate whether that meant Taylor was in risk of missing any regular-season time.

“Something came up and he had to go into recovery mode,” Moore said.

Taylor is expected to play a pivotal role in this Saints defense under first-year defensive coordinator Brandon Staley In the base defense, Taylor is the starting outside corner When the Saints shift to sub personnel, Taylor fills the star position, in which Taylor would be used in a variety of ways.

Entering a contract year Taylor has been entrenched in a starting role for the Saints most of the last three seasons.

Penning update

Trevor Penning appears to have avoided a serious injury

Penning will miss a few weeks with a foot injury he suffered in Sunday’s preseason loss to the Chargers, according to a report from The NFL Network. But that’s relatively good news for Penning and the Saints, considering he was carted off during the game.

Penning figures to be an important piece to the offensive line this season.

The team’s new coaching staff switched the former first-rounder from tackle to

knows it’s going to take more than him to get the Saints back where they used to be. Pride needs to be a de-

guard, a position change that has appeared to suit Penning’s strengths better The 26-year-old is also entering the final year of his rookie contract.

Clapp out for year

The Saints placed Will Clapp on injured reserve Tuesday afternoon, officially ending his 2025 season. According to an NFL Network report, the former Brother Martin and LSU offensive lineman suffered a Lisfranc injury on the opening series of the team’s first preseason game.

Clapp was a seventh-round pick of the Saints back in 2018. He spent his first four professional seasons with the Saints before stints with the Chargers and Buffalo Bills.

He signed back in New Orleans this offseason to provide depth along the interior of the offensive line. He has been the team’s secondstring center throughout training camp, and he started the preseason game while the Saints held out usual starter Erik McCoy

His role may now go to undrafted rookie Torricelli Simpkins, who recently started working at center during training camp after spending most of his time at guard. Simpkins played 97% of the team’s of-

fense-wide mentality

“Everybody’s got to gel together,” Godchaux said, “because if one person is weak,

fensive snaps Sunday against the Chargers. Saints sign three New Orleans signed three players after a recent tryout in receiver Roderick Daniels, tight end Seth Green and defensive tackle Jayden Peevy To make room for the additions, the Saints waived tight end Mason Pline and receiver Chris Tyree, both with injury designations. Daniels had participated on a tryout basis with the Saints earlier this summer The former SMU receiver recorded 18 touchdowns in his college career — 12 as a receiver, four as a runner and two as a punt returner Green was with the Saints earlier in training camp but was waived after the Saints claimed Pline off waivers from the San Francisco 49ers. Pline suffered an undisclosed injury during the preseason opener and needed help from the training staff to leave the field. Peevy has appeared in six NFL games the last three seasons with the Tennessee Titans and Carolina Panthers, recording 1.5 sacks and a forced fumble in his career He also spent time with the Houston Texans practice squad last season.

we’re all weak.”

Email Luke Johnson at ljohnson@theadvocate.com.

yellowisacocktail built with gin and Suze at Le

Frenchconnection

Impressive newbistro feelslike asummer escape for thecourse of ameal

makeasummer special.

BY IAN McNULTY | Staff writer

There was no missing that we wereinNew Orleans in the middle of summer,not in this beautiful new downtown bistro where onlyafew other people were dining on aslowweeknight.

But as our table filled, first with crustybread andrich, cultured butter, then aprogression of appetizers, fromtextbook charcuterie to asummergarden-fresh special,wehad thatpleasing feeling of temporary transport thatthe right restaurant meal can deliver.

There, between thesoft brick walls andunderthe slow ceiling fans, we were in France, at least foraslong as this meal would last. We did our best to extendit, from adappercocktail to start and through the very-French wine list. We were at Le Moyne Bistro (746 TchoupitoulasSt.,504-350-1750) in the Warehouse District,inthe address that

many people knew for two decades as Tommy’s Cuisine. It opened in April, and through the month of August it is oneofabout 150 restaurants taking part in Coolinary, offering aspecial set price menu. This one has appealing choices across

By IANMcNULTy Email him at imcnulty@theadvocate.com Covering the New Orleans food scene means encountering classics, surprises, moments and memories. Here areafew quick hits from my notebook of late.

Boucherie chef/owner Nathanial Zimet made asurprise move earlier this year by closing his Carrollton restaurant for June and July.Itwas part of a tactic to avoid the losses many local restaurants endure in the slow summer,and one that others have contemplated.The chef determined he could doit because he had other projectsto keep his staff working. One

Tradewars andtariffs have rattled thewineworld, sure,

Warehouse is back in the same location at 6205 S. Miro St. and with new owners.

and

Keepingthe dishwasherclean

Dear Heloise: Ilive alone and only use my dishwasher a couple times aweek. In between washings, Isprinkle baking soda on the bottom of the dishwasher.Nomore odors between washings! —Kaynella W.,in Omaha, Nebraska Crispsheets

Dear Heloise: Years ago, my mother toldmethe thread count for crisp percale sheets. Naturally,Ihave forgotten about it, and she’snolonger with us. Even though I always hang up my sheets (weather-permitting), they are not crisp like they used to be. Could you recommend athread count for crisp sheets? —Marilyn B.,via email Marilyn, a400 thread

count is usually recommendedfor percalesheets. Youcan go higheronthe thread count, but please remember that the higher thethread count, theless breathabilityyour sheets will have. Heloise Wastenot

Dear Heloise: For many years Iwould try to pinchthe last remainsoftoothpaste(or similar items stored ina malleable tube) toward the top with my fingers to avoid waste. Recently,an idea struck me when Ihappened to have somelip balmon the counter nearby. Placing thelip balmcontainer on its side at thebottom of the toothpastetube and sliding it to the top with firm pres-

TODAYINHISTORY

By The Associated Press

Today is Wednesday, Aug. 13, the 225th day of 2025. There are 140 days left in the year

Todayinhistory:

On Aug. 13, 1961, on what would become known as Barbed Wire Sunday,East Germanysealedthe border between Berlin’seastern and western sectorsbefore building awall that would divide the city for the next 28 years. Also on this date: In 1521, Spanish conqueror Hernando Cortez captured Tenochtitlan, present-day Mexico City, from the Aztecs. In 1792, French revolutionaries arrested and imprisoned King Louis XVI; he would be executed

BOUCHERIE

Continued from page1D

ent version of Boucherie from the restaurant New Orleans has known for 17 years

Boucherie reopened from its summer hiatus on Friday,serving its Coolinary menu, part of the citywide summer dining promotion of prix fixe dining deals running through the end of August. After Coolinary,Boucherie will close for aweek in early Septemberto polish off arenovation. When it reopens, Zimet will be lifting the lid on anew Boucherie, one that is primarily atasting menu restaurant. The hallmark of the highest end of fine dining, tasting menus have grownin number and variety around New Orleans.

But Zimet is drawing up the new Boucherie to be more accessible than most, with afew different options built in.

“The idea of Boucherie originally was to be fine dining for the people,” said Zimet. “This is quadrupling down on that.Everything we’re doing is with higher intentionality.” At the same time, the chef is also developing Boucherie’sadjacent sister restaurant, Bourrée, as acasual eatery with an extensive and lush outdoor area. Tastingmenuand aside

In its new iteration, Boucherie’scottage home will have amore refined, upscale dining room and seatasmaller number of people, with six tables around the space in addition to the four-seat bar.Zimet envisions serving up to 30 people per night for the tasting menu.

This will be afive-course degustation (or tasting menu) approach for $135. There will be smoke (because it’sstill Boucherie), there will be influences from Japanese cuisine (one of Zimet’sguide stars) and there willbeaplayful streak too. As it often goes with these menus, therewill be more than five courses, with other tastes along the way,from an amuse-bouche to sweet bites after dessert

sure madesure that every last speck of toothpaste was used.

This also works well for my wife’smakeup containers, and the cylindrical shape of the lip balm ensures you won’taccidentally rupture thecontainer that you are squeezing. —Tyler, in Murray,Nebraska Groceryshoppinglists

Dear Heloise: In response to Jan S.,inPennsylvania, regarding how she makes out her grocery shopping list, Ihave amagnetic dry erase board that Ikeep on thefront of myrefrigerator.Whenever Iamrunning low on something, Ijust jot it on the board! —Helen B.,in New Hampshire

Send ahinttoheloise@ heloise.com.

by guillotine the following January In 1889, William Gray of Hartford, Connecticut, received apatentfor the first coin-operated telephone. In 1918, Opha May Johnson became the first woman to join theU.S. Marine Corps. In 1952, Big Mama Thornton first recorded thesong “Hound Dog,” fouryears before Elvis Presley’s famous version was released In 1969, New York City held aticker-tape parade for Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong,Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin and Michael Collins. In 1995, Baseball Hall of FamerMickey Mantle died at aDallas hospital of rapidly spreadingliver cancer at age63.

BOUCHERIE

8115Jeannette St., (504) 862-5514

BOURRÉE

1510S.Carrollton Ave., (504) 510-4040

In addition to thetastingmenu, Boucherie will serve an alacarte menu that will include dishes that have long been Boucherie standards, including boudin balls,collardgreenswith gritfries, beef Wellingtons and smoked scallops, along with asmokedWagyu brisketburger

On Wednesdays, the restaurant will serve this ala carte menu across allits dining areas. ThenThursday through Saturday the dining roomwill focusexclusively on the tasting menu, while the alacarte menu will be available at the outdoor coveredpatio and at the small, four-seatbar inside creatingdifferent ways for people to dine here

Since the Michelin Guide formally announced it would begin rating restaurants in New Orleans, andasix-state Southern region, some upscalelocal restaurants have been upping their game withhigher levels of luxurydiningand refinement.

Zimet,however,his plans aren’t influenced by potential Michelin recognition. Instead, hecalls thisnew rendition of Boucherie areturn to hisoriginal culinary inspiration.

“The idea was alwaysto have thecasual food finance more fine dining,” he said. “I want us to push for excellence.”

Food truckroots

Zimet, aNorth Carolina native, moved to New Orleans more than 20 years ago to cook in finedining restaurants, including Commander’s Palaceand Stella!

The summer after Hurricane Katrina, he started afood truck, abig purple van called theQue Crawl, serving late-night food with achef’s touch.Itwas perhaps the first manifestation of themodern food truck trendinNew Orleans, and the truck is still part of his operation today In 2008, the food truck led to the restaurant Bouch-

LE MOYNE

Continuedfrom page1D

In 2011, seven people were killed when astage collapsed at the Indiana StateFair during apowerful storm just before aconcert was to begin.

Today’sBirthdays: Former U.S. Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders is 92. Opera singer Kathleen Battleis77. High wireaerialistPhilippe Petit is 76. Hockey Hall of Famer Bobby Clarke is 76. Golf Hall of Famer Betsy King is 70. Movie director Paul Greengrassis70. Actor Danny Bonaduceis66. TV weatherman Sam Champion is 64. ActorDawnn Lewis is 64. ActorJohn Slattery is 63. ActorDebi Mazar is 61. Figureskater MidoriIto is 56. ArkansasGov.Sarah Huckabee Sanders is 43. ActorSebastianStanis43. ActorLennon Stella is 26.

erie, staking out ground for midrange upscale/casual dining, withelevated versions of his food truck fare. Wagyu brisket,blackened shrimp on grit cake, smoked scallops and Krispy Kreme doughnut bread pudding becamesignatures (andare all dishes on this year’sCoolinary menu).

In 2015, thechef opened a second concept,Bourrée, as aCajun style smokehouse merged withabeer garden, serving house-made boudin, sandwiches and specialties in chicken wings and fresh fruit daiquiris.

Agardenoasis

Bourree is itself adapting into anew mode. From the beer garden upfront,its grounds continue around back through aL-shaped lot connecting with Boucherie on the adjacent street.

Zimet is now developing this into what he calls a “garden oasis,” with astage for music and flexibility for hosting eventsand markets. Bourrée meanwhile, is shifting intoacombination wine bar,deli and butcher shop.

It will remain acasual spot with alot of outdoor seating, and, potentially a place for people to continue theevening after the tasting menudinner next door can cut below for print for space“Dining is saturated in New Orleans. There’sa lot of great food. We need to stand apart by offering an experience,” Zimet said. “Wehave the skill set,weare updating thespace to reflect the level of gastronomy.Let’smake a special occasion that much morespecial.”

The tastingmenumove and evolution of Bourrée aren’tthe only projectson thechef’s plate.

Zimet andhis partners have also acquired alarge new warehouse space, Uptown on Front Street, by theriverfront. This will becomethe homebase for a new farm-to-table initiative, called Humble Bumble, supplied by anumber of small local farms, including his own in Abita Springs. The vision is for this to supply farm fresh food to public and the chef’s own school lunch program, Boucherie Feeds, which currently works with a dozen local schools.

theselections, with three course for $55. Butthere was so much more on the menu that enticed, andwequickly decided to make this abigger meal.

Traditionalyet modern

Le Moyne Bistro is related to the nearby small plates restaurant Plates (1051 Annunciation St.), and it’sliterally connected to Maria’s Oyster &WineBar (752 Tchoupitoulas St.) just next door (whichwas formerly thelounge NOSH,and Tommy’s Wine Bar before that).

The chefs Farrell Harrison and Christian Hurst run the restaurants with co-partner BrianWeisnicht. The manager,Tim Armstead, is well known from his years with at EmerilLagasse restaurants.

Le Moyne is the most upscale of this newgroup’s spots, andalsothe hub for anetwork of private dining rooms discreetly embedded, or perhaps hidden, around this property

What really had me talkingaboutLeMoyne after this meal, and in thedays since, is howitfeelstraditionally French but also has its own personality The restaurantisnamed forthe founderofcolonial New Orleans, but this is not aFrench Creole menu. It is French-French, anda most welcome addition to the din-

ELIO’S

Continuedfrom page1D

thehusband and wife owners of Brady’sWine Warehouse (1029 O.C. Haley Blvd.) downtown, purchased thebusiness and reopened Monday

“It’s agreat spot,and they had great customers, so we want tokeep it going,” said Patrick Brady Elio’swas firstopened in 1993 by thelate Elio Todaro, an immigrant from Sicily,whose family also startedVieux Carre Wine & Spirits in the1980s.His son TimTodarolater ranElio’s. Tucked away on aside

ing scene forthat reason. Dishes are familiar from the bistro standards, but they are not just ticking boxes. Distinctive touches show agently modern house style.

On themenu

The pate campagne, a rustic, chilled terrine that’s worth avisit over aglass of wine at the bar all on itsown, is denseand shot through with pistachio. I found myself pressing thick slices of it into the crust of the house bread withsome sharp mustard.

The steak tartare has a clean cut and atrickle of heat between acrown of horseradish and astreak of chile oil. There was aspecial of Jimmy Nardello peppers (this is the name of the pepper,I learned,not the grower; sometimes they’re calledJimmies, or,endearingly,“Nards”). This brought fruity,mildly spicy tasty red peppers singing of summer,just crinkled on the grill, finished with atomatovinaigrette.

The tuna Niçoise is

street, it wasnonetheless centrally located at across section of neighborhoods, very close to Tulane and Loyola universities, and earned aloyal following forits bargain finds. Earlier this year,Tim Todaro announced plans to close the store and began selling through its inventory

The Bradys have been working with TimTodaro as they prepared to reopen, getting insight on what past customers wanted to guide their new inventory

“Wewant to bring people back with what they’ve alwaysloved here, and eventually we want to show them something new too,” said Patrick Brady

Beef shortrib carbonnade is ahearty dish on the menu.

moreafish entree with salad accoutrements than a saladper se.The tuna was thankfully left rare with just aspice-crusted surface sear,arching over the fresh crunchand squeak of oiled vegetables and an added underlayer of broiled potatoes. The beef short rib carbonnade is asweater weather dish, but also one that is irresistible for me with its sauce, somewhere between stew andgravy.Insummer it worked well passed around the table to share, and drew moreofthe bread to dredge. For dessert, it was apineapple cake with black tea carameland roastedpineapple ice cream. This meal started with cocktails,for me aray of liquid sunshine called “Yellow” built around ginand the aperitif Suze. It ended with admiration for anewcomer adding refined depth andmoreeasyelegance to the downtown diningscene. Email IanMcNultyat imcnulty@theadvocate. com.

In one change from the past, Elio’swill no longer sell kegs. That had once been abig part of its business, and manylocals may recall buying their first kegs here. But the business had changed, especially after the nearby universities banned kegs (and other “common source” alcohol containers).

Hard seltzers, however,a drink category on therise, will be well represented on theshelves, alongwithbeer

The lollipops and dog treats Elio’skept on hand forvisitors are also back. The Bradys have run their downtownwine shop since 2015.

—ByIan McNulty

n Merriment on the Mississippi

Adebutante trio embraced floral festivity in Grand Oaks Mansion at Mardi Gras World under the theme “Magnolias on the Mississippi.” The colorful invitation by Heidi Hayne for Betty Hunley Designs listed the notables. The hosts and the debs were Jaye and Chuck Moll for daughter and stepdaughter Laney Calhoun; Julie and Rene Paysse for Sloane;and Julie and Larry Stokes for Taylor Their names appeared on the invitation amid depictions of local canine celebs Blue Dog and Scrim;alazy alligator with aChampagne flute; aBevoloinspired lantern; and the three honorees in long white dresses hoisting secondline umbrellas. The requisite magnolia was duly represented, along with other fanciful flora Larger-than-life magnolias lined the walkway and entrance to the party site, Grand Oaks Mansion, where guests relished a magical garden under astarlit sky (where it never rains). Further features were stone pathways, oak trees, fountains, and a footbridge over a stream. Magnolias and candle-lighted centerpieces decorated the tables, a GOBO projection bathed the Mansion’s faux-sky ceiling, and a photo booth supplied souvenir shots.

LaneyCalhoun, Jaye

The moms’ and daughters’ dresses showed avariety of summer colors and styles with floral motifs. Laney wore a Halston from Azby’sand her mother, Jaye, donned afrock from Yvonne LaFleur

Numerous food and buffet stations by 12 Seasons Catering lured the party pack, who smiled at the cookies decorated with street lanterns, magnolias, alligators and the facade of theMansion. Creole Creamery and NothingBundt Cakes pleased more taste buds. An Albrecht Ice Sculptures ice luge featuring magnolias put abig chill on martinis and cosmopolitans.

n TeaTime

Nell Nolan SOCIETY

Heading theinvitation was “Mrs. Scott Farrell Roussel, Mrs. Robert Joseph Shonberg invite you for tea in honor of Lillian Margaret Roussel.” During the two hours of the lovely event in aclub guests thanked thedebutante’smother, Ashley,the above Mrs. Roussel, and her grandmother, Margaret Schonberg Lillian is afifth-generation debutantewithin her family Meade Wenzel did the flowers, arranging blue hydrangeas, pink tulips, white lilies, yellow ranunculus and other shades of pastel posies in inherited antique silver vases.

To hail thehonoree, aspecialty beverage was created: Lillian’sLemon Basil Martini. It was served in frosted cups with the debutante’scustom crest created by artist and family friend Joanne Roberts. More features of the table were custom cookies with the above crest by Cookie Gram (SherylPhipps), along with assorted scones, mini quiches, brie and beggar’spurses, tea sandwiches, lemon bars, macaroons, mochabarquettes, and tea and coffee punch.

Joining in the afternoon ado were deb sister CarolineRoussel and paternal grandmother Mrs. Richard Devlin Roussel,Linda.From the Schonberg family came Lynn, Elizabeth,Kara, and Kara. Others were Kristen Blackburn, Gretchen Breaux and daughter Marguerite, Brenda Marshall, and Nicette Goodier with daughter Kendall Hales and granddaughter Caroline Hales.Another such threesomewas GayleEhrensing with daughter Elizabeth Bush and granddaughter Charlotte Bush.

Many moredelighted in the conviviality of the multigenerational gathering of family and friends, who have enjoyed participating in the tradition of debutanteactivities for decades. For Lillian, this was her moment.

n ASunday Sprint

Maddox, James

Among the Calhoun clan were deb grandmother PatFenerty Andras, debbrother Michael Bardwell with spouse Amanda,sister Emma Caffrey (who performed afew songs with Ethan Williams), and, all Andras, Lisa andRobert, Hope and David, Patrick, and Sydney and Taylor Also, Susieand Charlie Diermann, Carolyn Lambert and daughter Karen, Erin and Larry McNutt with Ana, Genevieve Doucet, Monique and Warren Gardner,Kathy Conklin and Bob Angelico,and Catherine andJimmy Giroir Paysse partygoers included deb siblings René III and Lauren Paysse, Debbieand Doug Acomb, Caraand Doug Acomb,Wes Bryan, Lindaand Alan Brackett, Courtney and Will Nalty,Yvette Monjuand Chuck Walsten, Lynn and Stephen Schonberg,Gayle and Gary McNamara,Anneand Bill Hughs, Julieand Semmes Hughs,Terri and Jim Stuckey,Wendy and Patrick Duckworth,and Christie and Steve Conroy. Stokes socializers counted deb siblings Brandon Stokes and JacquelineMaddox, grandmothers BelvaStokes and Doris Skinner,James Stokes, Kirk and Julie Talbot,West and Aimee Adatto Freeman, Dailia Wolfson,and Pilar Blanco and Michael Elbe. All three families had overlapping guest lists Others joining in the fun were Hayley Shannon, Meredith Smith and LibbyBowles, Jessica Engler, and Rachel and Ricky Douglas with Alexandraand Olivia. Music beckoned, thanks to the sounds of the Nola Dukes, who werefollowed byaDJfor the final hour with afew songsbyLaney’s sister, Emma.Inthe spirit of the bash, the honorees, who sported twinklingwhite floral wreaths in their hair,got up on the stage to sing Chappell Roan‘s “Pink PonyClub” withthe band. With this gesture, Laney,Sloane and Taylor embodied the lyrics, “Oh mama (and dad), I’m just having fun.”

n Ladies wholunch

Lucy Claire Perschall was honored at a luncheon in aclub that was given by her grandmother, Mrs. Clement Francis Perschall Jr ,who answers to Linda. The invitation, in colors of eggshell, soft pink and green, featured aChina plate with arolled napkin and, tied by asprig of greenery,asmall place card with an “L.” Longhot pink and peach roses were placed in two vases on amantel, and three bowls of thesame roses bedecked the

No one had any trouble remembering the name of thevenue. It was Marché and the samefirst nameas thedebutante honoree. The pretty florally-framed invitation stated “Please Join Us for aMidsummer Afternoon honoring MarchéBeals.” Her parents, Moniqueand Willard “Beau” Beals, were thehostsand thelocation was Marché on NorthPeters Street in theVieux Carré. “Wechose Marché as our venue since it is agorgeous old French Market location with beautiful views of the Mississippi River (and) it also shares her name,” said Monique. AmbroseGarden embellished the premises with lush storybook botanicals. Mediterranean and Asian described the food, all light fare, while the make-your-own poke bowlwas ahuge hit. Traditional chomps, such as mini muffalettas andboth crab and traditional beignets added local flavor.Asfor the libations, the Scout Spritz (named forthe deb’sdog, puppy Scout)was arefreshing Champagne cocktail withelderflower and mint and real flower garnish.

White was right for the dress. Marché accessorized her For Love &Lemonsmaxi with acrown of flowers, and mom Maxine made hosting rounds in an Amsale satin mode. As partyfavors, guests received colorful flower crowns.

Closest family and friends —and there were many—included deb sisters Chloeand Francois Beals,grandfather Capt. George“Skipper”VinsonJr.,Deborah Vinson, Maryand Robert Sellars, Georgeen O’Connell with son Brendan,AvaVentress, Lucie Monsted with parents Fionuala and Charles, NicoleCiaccio, Kristen Chawla, Michele and Norris Williamson, MikeAlline,MikeDark,DaveWaldheim, Blake Ecuyer,Cooper Jordan, and members of the debutante coterie and their parents. Victoria Campesi wasthe partyplanner

“Anabsolutely wonderfulsummer afternoon,” said Marché about her partying that featured James Martin and theBig Easy Band playing someofher favorite songs.“Georgia” and “Brown Eyed Girl” topped the list.

LEo (July 23-Aug. 22) You have the intelligence and ingenuity to make your life better, but first, you must put aside your emotional baggage and get rid of what's weighing you down. Embrace positive change.

VIRGo (Aug. 23-sept. 22) An adjustment to how you handle your money and work responsibilities will reinforce the qualities that separate you from anyone trying to compete with you. Take the high road, and success will follow.

LIBRA (sept. 23-oct. 23) Set aside your differencesandlistentowhatothershaveto say.Lookatthebigpictureandrecognize what's in it for you, then address what's necessary for you to participate.

scoRPIo (oct. 24-nov. 22) Make your actions count. Refuse to get caught in a verbal battle when it's what you do that makes a difference. Follow your heart and pursue your dreams.

sAGIttARIus (nov. 23-Dec. 21) Look around you and consider the upgrades you want to make to your surroundings Set a budget and stick to it to avoid unwanted stress and debt. Be smart with your money and protect yourself against illness and injury.

cAPRIcoRn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) You may want to rethink your subscriptions, expenditures and investments. Consider your options. Address problems and offer alternativestoanyoneinfringingonyour kindness.

AQuARIus (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Yourfast-paced attitude and actions will lead to friction if they aren't in sync. Be aware of all

aspects of a situation. Be in control and make changes to protect yourself from anyone taking advantage of you.

PIscEs (Feb. 20-March 20) Takeamidweek break and do something that makes you happy. Personal improvements, spending time with someone you love or visiting a place that brings you peace or closure can be uplifting.

ARIEs (March 21-April 19) Emotional excess is apparent. Pay attention, demonstrate discipline in all that you do and look for subtle solutions to unusual situations. Know when to say no and move on.

tAuRus (April 20-May 20) Go about your business, finish what you start and avoid conversations that lead to ridicule or resentment. Redefining what you want to do next will point you in a positive direction.

GEMInI (May 21-June 20) Reach out to special-interest groups and networking institutions that can guide you on your journey Learn as you go and take on whatever excites you A positive attitude will lead to new opportunities.

cAncER (June 21-July 22) Take a closer look at situations that can influence your status, direction or relationships with associates. Keeping the peace is in your best interest. Choose to be creative, innovative and disciplined.

The horoscope, an entertainment feature, is not based on scientific fact. © 2025 by nEa, inc., dist. By andrews mcmeel syndication

Sudoku

InstructIons: sudoku is anumber-placing puzzle based on a9x9 grid with several given numbers. The object is to place the numbers1 to 9inthe empty squares so that each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once. Thedifficulty level of the sudoku increases from monday to sunday.

Yesterday’s PuzzleAnswer

Bridge

By PHILLIP ALDER

Dean Martin said,“When your opponent’ssittin’there holdin’ all the aces, there’s only onething to do: kick over the table.”

Ihave never seen that at abridge tournament —but perhapsithas happened. Itisgenerallyconsideredthattheopponentsare not on your team. Butmany of them, especially when on defense, will throw tricks in your direction. And there arealso dealswhere you can force the opponentstohelpyou Southisinfour hearts. How shouldhe plan the playafter Westleads the spade king? With the annoying mirrordistribution in theminors, declarer has four potentiallosers: one heart, twodiamonds and one club. It looks as though South must guess trumps. If so, what is the percentage play?

Apriori,itisabout2percent better to play for the drop.However, given the known uneven spade split, theodds have changed, making afinesse through East the favorite.

Declarer, though, with reasonable minor-suitbreaks,doesnotneedtoguess atall.Heshouldwinwithdummy’sspade ace, ruff aspade in his hand, cash the club ace, play aclub to dummy’sking, ruffanother spade, lead adiamond to dummy’s ace, and ruff the last spade. Then South, who stillhas A-9-8 opposite K-J-10 in trumps,exitswithaclub or adiamond. Theopponentstake their three tricks, but at trick 11, they must helpdeclarer. Whatever is led, South ruffs lowinthe nexthandanddoesnothavetoguesswho holds the heartqueen. Perhaps East and West wouldwonder if they shouldhave upended the table near the end!

©2025 by nEa,inc., dist. By andrews mcmeel syndication

Each Wuzzle is awordriddlewhich creates adisguised word, phrase, name, place, saying, etc. For example: nOOn gOOD =gOOD aFTErnOOn

Previous answers:

word game

InstRuctIons: 1. Words must be of fourormore letters. 2. Words that acquire fourletters by the addition of “s,”such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed.3 additional words made by adding a“d” or an “s” may not be used. 4. proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit wordsare not allowed

toDAy’s WoRD HoRoLoGERs: huh-RAHL-uh-jers: People who make clocks or watches.

Average mark25words

Timelimit 40 minutes

Can you find 37 or morewords in HOROLOGERS?

yEstERDAy’s WoRD —InFERRInG

infer infringe inner nine feign fern fine finer finger fining fire firing fringe erring reign rein reining rerig rife ring ringer grief grin

dIrectIons: make a 2- to 7-letter word from the letters in each row. add points of each word, using scoring directions at right. Finally, 7-letter words get 50-point bonus. “Blanks” used as any letter have no point value. all the words are in the Official sCraBBlE® players Dictionary, 5th Edition.

ken ken

InstructIons: 1 Each row and each column must contain the numbers 1 thorugh 4 (easy) or 1 through 6 (challenging) without repeating. 2 The numbers within the heavily outlined boxes, called cages, must combine using the given operation (in any order) to produce the target numbers in the top-left corners. 3 Freebies: Fill in the single-box cages with the number in the top-left corner. HErE is a

Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer

them throughmostrepro‐graphic firms. Plan hold‐ersare responsiblefor theirown reproduction costs. Questionsabout this procedureshall be directed to theDesigner at Meyers Engineers, LTD, 4937 Hearst Street Metairie,LA70001. Phone (504) 885-9892. Attention: ElenaAnderson. E-Mail Address: eanderson@ meyer-e-L.com. AMandatory Pre-Bid conference andsitevisit is scheduledfor 2:00 p.m. CT on,Wednesday,Sep‐tember 3, 2025, Gonzales ReadinessCenterClass‐room,412 SouthIrma Blvd,Gonzales, LA 70737. Attendance at this Con‐ferenceismandatory Prospectivebidders must attend theentire mandatoryPre-Bid con‐ferenceinorder to sub‐mita bid. TheConstruc‐tion andFacilitiesMan‐agementOffice pointof contactisDavid L. How‐ley, Email: david.l.howley nfg@army.mil CFMO Building #3022, Office #235, 6400 St Claude Av‐enue,New Orleans, LA 70117, 504-278-8129. BIDS

listed abovelocationin ordertosubmitanelec‐tronic bid. TheOwner reserves the righttoacceptorreject anyand allBidsfor just cause. In accordance with directives andguid‐ance publishedbyFacil‐ityPlanningand Control, theLouisiana Revised Statutes,the provisions andrequirementsof thosestatedinthe ad‐vertisementfor bids and thoserequiredonthe bid form shall notbe waivered.The Louisiana Military Department Deputy Director forCon‐tracting andPurchasing andthe StateContract‐ingOfficerdonot

8

3

char‐acteristic protectedby law. 153349-aug13-1t $130.06 (ONE OR MORE SERIES) NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVENincompliance with theprovisionsof Chapter2-A of Title9 of theLouisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, as amended(R.S. 9:23419:2347, inclusive) (the “Act”),particularlyR.S 9:2347(H),thatthe Jeffer‐sonParishFinance Au‐thority(the“Authority”), proposes to sell to an un‐derwriting groupcom‐posedofStifel, Nicolaus &Company,Incorporated andSisungSecurities Corporation(collectively the“Underwriters”) (i) notexceeding $33,000,000 aggregate principalamount(with theexact amount to be determined on thedate of each sale)ofJefferson P i h Fi A th it

NOTICE OF ELECTION (ASCORRECTED)

of each sale) of Jefferson Parish FinanceAuthority Single Family Mortgage RevenueBonds,ona taxexempt or taxablebasis in oneormoreseries, andonone or more is‐suance dates(the “Bonds”),maturingnot laterthanforty (40) yearsfromtheir date of issuance andbearing in‐terest arateorrates not exceeding10% per annum for fixedinterest rate bondsand at apur‐chaseprice of notless than 100% of theaggre‐gate principalamount of theBonds,pluspremium if any, as setforth in the Indenturespecified below, at thespecial meetingofthe Authority scheduledfor August 25th2025, 10:30 o'clock a.m.,Central Daylight Time,atthe Jefferson P i h Fi A th it

Pursuant to the provisions of ResolutionR-25-134,adopted by the City Council of New OrleansonFebruary 27,2025, NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that an election willbeheldinNew Orleans on Saturday,October 11, 2025 and at the election therewillbesubmitted to all registered voters (who arequalified and entitledtovote at the said election under the Constitution and Lawsofthe Stateof Louisiana and the Constitution and Laws of the UnitedStates) residing in the Castle Manor Improvement District (“District”),which is comprised of theareaofthe City of New Orleans located within the following boundaries: following perimeter: Cerise Avenue, the south side of Chef Menteur Highway,GawainDrive, andthe northside of Dwyer Road canal; the following proposition,towit: CASTLEMANOR IMPROVEMENTDISTRICTPROPOSITION Shall the City of New Orleans levy an annual feeoneach parcel within the Castle Manor ImprovementDistrict (“District”), as delineated by La. R.S. 33:9091.28(B),inanamount nottoexceed $100 per residentially zoned parcel for the first three years that the feeiscollected and $125 for the next two years of collection, and nottoexceed $200 percommercially zoned parcel forthe firstthree yearsthat thefee iscollected and $225 for the next two years of collection, excepta parcel whose owner qualifies forspecialassessment pursuant to Article VII, Section 18(G)(1) of the LouisianaConstitution, with the precise amount as requested by duly adoptedboardresolution, for aterm of five years, commencingonJanuary 1, 2026 and ending December 31, 2030, which is estimated to generate approximately $65,000 annually,tobeused exclusively forthe purposeofpromoting and encouraging the beautification and security of the District, except a1%Citycollection fee, and if used foradditional lawenforcement or securitypersonnel and their services, such personnel andservices shall be supplemental to and notinlieu of personnel and services provided by the New OrleansPolice Department?

Said election shall be heldatthe pollingplaces located within the precincts delineated hereinbelow.The pollsinsuch precincts will open at seven o’clock in the morning (7:00a.m.) and closeateighto’clock inthe evening (8:00 p.m.), in accordance withthe provisionsofR.S 18:541. Registered voters in each of the followingprecincts whoare residents of the District shallbeeligible to vote on said proposition: POLLINGPLACES

WARD PRECINCT LOCATION

9 37 (P), 38A(P) Resurrection of Our Lord School 4861 Rosalia Drive

The estimated cost of this election, as determined bythe Louisiana SecretaryofState, based upon the provisionsofTitle 18,Chapter 8A of theLouisiana Revised Statutes and the actual costs of similar elections is $300. The Council, acting under the powers granted to it by theCity Charter and state statutes, shall meet at its regular meeting place, the Council Chamber,City Hall, 1300 Perdido Street, New Orleans, Louisiana on Thursday,November 20,2025beginning at ten o’clock (10:00) a.m. and shall then and thereinopen andpublic session proceed to examine and canvass thereturns and declarethe result of said election.

AISHA R. COLLIER ASSISTANT CLERK OF COUNCIL

PUBLICATIONDATES: August 6, 13,20and 27,2025 NOCP 8548

1527670-534752-aug 6-13-20-27-4t

Time at the Jefferson Parish FinanceAuthority 1221 Elmwood Park Blvd Suite. 505, Jefferson, LA or such otherdate, time and/or placeasmay be determined andan‐nounced by theChair‐manorthe Secretaryof theAuthority.Other pro‐posals forthe purchase of theBonds arehereby invitedand,upontimely receiptwillbeconsid‐d d h l

receipt will be consid ered and theproposal most advantageousto theAuthority will be ac‐cepted at thetimeofthe sale TheBonds will be sold pursuant to theterms of aresolutionadopted by or to be adoptedbythe Authorityunder thepro‐visionsofthe Act, and oneormoreSeriesIn‐d t ( h S i

one or more Series In dentures (eacha “Series Indenture”)and theGen‐eral Indenturedated as of December 1, 2023 (the “General Indenture”,and together with theSeries Indenture(s),the “Inden‐ture”) between theAu‐thorityand Hancock WhitneyBank(the “Trustee”). Neitherthe Commissionnor anyoffi‐cer, member,employee t th f h

OFFICIAL NOTICE OF POLLING PLACELOCATIONS

Underthe authority of LA.R.S.18:536 and Ordinance No.7180

M.C.S.,the Councilofthe City of NewOrleans, herebypublishes the following changeinpollingplace locations: MOTION (ASCORRECTED) NO. M-25-356

CITY HALL: June 26, 2025

BY:COUNCILMEMBERSGIARRUSSO,KINGAND GREEN WHEREAS,Louisiana Revised Statute§ 18:534 provides that “once a pollingplace has been established,itmay only be changed by avote of theparishgoverning authority”and “shallnot be changed during the period commencing on thedatethe qualifying period opens and ending on thedateofthe general election”;and WHEREAS,the earliest qualifying period forthe October11, 2025 municipalprimary electionbeginsonJuly9,2025; and WHEREAS,Esperanza CharterSchool (4407 S. Carrollton Ave.), Dillard University Kearny Hall (2601 Gentilly Blvd.), St.Maryofthe Angels (2225 Congress St.), Robert M. Lusher School (7315 WillowSt.), Ellis Marsallis Jr.Building(5625 Loyola Ave.), Lafayette AcademyLower School (2727 S. Carrollton Ave.), St.Stephen MissionaryBaptist Church (1738 L. B. Landry Ave.), Berean BibleChurch (3712 Herschel St.), and International School of Louisiana (4040 EagleSt.)are no longer availablefor any elections; and WHEREAS,per thememorandum to theClerk of Councildated June 17, 2025, theClerk of Criminal District Court, Darren P. Lombardhas recommended forimmediateactionpermanent pollinglocationchanges; NOW THEREFORE BE IT MOVEDBYTHE COUNCILOFTHE CITY OF NEWORLEANS, That thefollowing permanent pollinglocations, shown under the“New Site”columnofthe tablebelow,shallbeestablished as theofficial polling places forthe belowidentified precinctswithinthe Parish of Orleans for future elections, includingthe upcoming October11, 2025 municipal primaryelection: Ward/ Precinct Original Site New Site

3/18EsperanzaCharter School 4407 S. Carrollton Ave.

Success Preparatory at ThurgoodMarshallSchool 4621 CanalSt.

3/19 EsperanzaCharter

cer member employee or agentthereof has passeduponorendorsed themeritsoforthe secu‐rity of theBonds andnei‐ther theCommission, nor theState of Louisiana (the “State”) northe Parish of Jefferson(the “Parish”)haveany liabil‐itythereunder or thereby.

TheBonds arebeing is‐d d

TITLED:FED‐ERAL NATIONAL MORTGAGE AS‐SOCIATIONVER‐SUSAMANDAL GREEMN

CI VI L DI ST RI CT

CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2025-2999

By virtue of a Writ of Seizure andSaledi‐rected to me by theHonorable Judges of Civil District Court forthe Parish of Orleans, in the aboveentitled cause, Iwillpro‐ceed to sell by public auction, on theground floor of theCivil District Court Building,421 Loyola Avenue in theFirst Dis‐trictofthe City on August 14, 2025,at12:00 o'clocknoon, thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit:

913-915 ALINE ST NEWOR‐LEANS, LA 70115 LOT: 8, SQUARE: 162 SIXTHMUNICI‐PALDISTRICT ACQMIN: 1379213 WRIT AMOUNT: $249,791.74

Seized in the abovesuit, TERMS- CASH Thepurchaser at themoment of adjudication to make ade‐positoften per‐cent of thepur‐chaseprice,and thebalance within thirty days thereafter

Note:The pay‐ment must be Cash,Cashier's Check, Certified CheckorMoney Order. No Per‐sonalChecks. FACEMASKS ANDTEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPON ENTERING BUILDING

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Orleans

GH 9 DEAN MORRIS, LLC318-3881440 ZACHARYG YOUNG

TheN.O.Advo‐cate Date (s): 7/9/2025 & 8/13/2025

Jul9-aug13-2t

$86.66

PUBLIC NOTICE SALE BY SHERIFF JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT THAT CERTAIN PORTIONOF GROUND BEAR‐

trict of the City on August 14 2025, at 12:00 o'clocknoon thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit:

1200-02 MILTON ST NEWOR‐LEANS, LA 70122 LOTS 24A, 26A AND27A 3RDMUNICIPAL DISTRICT ACQMIN: 1022245 WRIT AMOUNT: $105,502.41

Seized in the abovesuit, TERMS- CASH Thepurchaser at themoment of adjudication to make ade‐positoften per‐cent of thepur‐chaseprice,and thebalance within thirty days thereafter Note:The pay‐ment must be Cash,Cashier's Check, Certified CheckorMoney Order. No Per‐sonalChecks FACE MASKS ANDTEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPON ENTERING BUILDING

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Orleans

RB 32 THELAW OF‐FICESOFHER‐SCHELC.AD‐COCK,JR.,L.L.C (225) 756-0373 DENNIS F. WIG‐GINS,JR

TheN.O.Advo‐cate Date (s): 7/9/2025 & 8/13/2025 Jul9-aug 13-2t $96.18

PUBLIC NOTICE SALE BY SHERIFF JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT THAT CERTAIN PORTIONOF GROUND BEAR‐INGMUNICIPAL NUMBER 11300 PRENTISS AV‐ENUE,THISCITY, IN THEMATTEREN‐TITLED:MORT‐GAGE ASSETS MANAGEMENT LLCVERSUSTHE UNOPENED SUC‐CESSIONOF MARGARET WALKER MOR‐GANA/K/A MARGARET WALKER MOR‐GANA/K/A MARGARET W. MORGAN A/K/A MARGARET MORGAN

CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2023-965

By virtue of a Writ of FieriFa‐cias directed to me by theHon‐orable Judges of CivilDistrict Courtfor the Parish of Or‐leans, in the aboveentitled cause, Iwillpro‐ceed to sell by public auction, on theground floorofthe Civil District Court Building,421 Loyola Avenue in theFirst Dis‐trictofthe City on August 14, 2025, at 12:00 o'clocknoon thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit:

11300PRENTISS AV NEWOR‐LEANS, LA 70128 LOT: 9, SQUARE: R THIRDMUNICI‐PALDISTRICT ACQMIN: 1053433 WRIT AMOUNT: $118,545.87

sonal Checks FACE MASKS ANDTEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPON ENTERING BUILDING

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Orleans

GH 29 THELAW OF‐FICESOFHER‐SCHELC.AD‐COCK,JR.,L.L.C (225) 756-0373 COREYJ.GIROIR

TheN.O.Advo‐cate Date (s): 7/9/2025 & 8/13/2025

Jul9-aug 13-2t $93.01

PUBLIC NOTICE SALE BY SHERIFF JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT THAT CERTAIN PORTIONOF GROUND BEAR‐INGMUNICIPAL NUMBERS853032 GERVAISST, CITY OF NEW ORLEANS, IN THEMATTEREN‐TITLED:WILM‐INGTON SAV‐INGS FUND SO‐CIETY, FSB, AS TRUSTEEOF STANWICH MORTGAGE LOAN TRUSTF VERSUS REY‐NARD ANTHONY NOBLES A/K/A REYNARDA.NO‐BLES A/K/AREYNARD NOBLES

CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2023-2619

By virtue of a Writ of Seizure andSaledi‐rected to me by theHonorable Judges of Civil District Court forthe Parish of Orleans, in the aboveentitled cause, Iwillpro‐ceed to sell by public auction, on theground floor of theCivil District Court Building,421 Loyola Avenue in theFirst Dis‐trictofthe City on August 14, 2025,at12:00 o'clocknoon, thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit: 8530-32 GERVAIS ST NEWOR‐LEANS, LA 70127 LOT19- SQUARE E 3RDMUNICIPAL DISTRICT ACQMIN: 929847 LAKE GROVES PARK SUBDIVI‐SION WRIT AMOUNT: $88,047.96

Seized in the abovesuit, TERMS- CASH Thepurchaser at themoment of adjudication to make ade‐positoften per‐cent of thepur‐chaseprice,and thebalance within thirty days thereafter

Note:The pay‐ment must be Cash,Cashier's Check, Certified CheckorMoney Order. No Per‐sonalChecks. FACE MASKS ANDTEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPON ENTERING BUILDING

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Orleans

RB 28

THAT CERTAIN PORTIONOF GROUND BEAR‐INGMUNICIPAL NUMBER 2435 PACE BOULE‐VARD AND2800 SANDRA DRIVE, THIS CITY,IN THEMATTEREN‐TITLED:LBC 2 TRUST, AS AS‐SIGNEE FROM FIRST SOUTHWESTERN FINANCIALSER‐VICES, LLCVER‐SUSLIFECEN‐TERFULL GOSPEL BAP‐TIST CATHE‐DRAL, BISHOP J. DOU‐GLAS WILEY ANDLISAV WILEY

CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2021-6462

By virtue of a Writ of FieriFa‐cias directed to me by theHon‐orable Judges of CivilDistrict Courtfor the Parish of Or‐leans, in the aboveentitled cause, Iwillpro‐ceed to sell by public auction, on theground floor of theCivil District Court Building,421 Loyola Avenue, in theFirst Dis‐trictofthe City on August 14, 2025, at 12:00 o'clocknoon thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit: 2435 PACE BOULEVARD AND2800 SAN‐DRADRIVE NEW ORLEANS, LA 70114

LOTS:1,2,3,4-A 4-B, 4-C, AND4D, SQUARE:25 FIFTHMUNICI‐PALDISTRICT ACQMIN: 1340996 WRIT AMOUNT:

$1,452,710.71

Seized in the abovesuit, TERMS- 100% CASH AT THE MOMENT OF AD‐JUDICATION

Note:The pay‐ment must be Cash,Cashier's Check, Certified CheckorMoney Order. No Per‐sonalChecks. FACE MASKS ANDTEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPON ENTERING BUILDING

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Or‐leans

GH 27 THECOHNLAW FIRM,LLC 225769-0858 BARTLEYP BOURGEOIS

TheN.O.Advo‐

cate Date (s): 7/9/2025 & 8/13/2025 Jul9-aug 13-2t $91.95

PUBLIC NOTICE

SALE BY SHERIFF JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT THAT CERTAIN PORTIONOF GROUND,BEAR‐INGMUNICIPAL NO.6801 MAYO ROAD,CITYOF NEWORLEANS, IN THEMATTER ENTITLED:CITY OF NEWOR‐LEANSVERSUS SIDNEY PAYNE, JR. ANDLOVE‐TOUCH MINISTRIES,INC

Building, 421 Loyola Avenue, in theFirst Dis‐trictofthe City on August 14, 2025, at 12:00 o'clocknoon, thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit:

6801 MAYO ROAD LOT28-A, SQUARE 1, THIRDMUNICI‐PALDISTRICT, PARC BRITTANY SUBDIVISION ACQUIRED MIN 1249615 WRIT AMOUNT:

$40,231.46

Seized in the abovesuit, TERMS- CASH Thepurchaser at themoment of adjudication to make ade‐positoften per‐cent of thepur‐chaseprice,and thebalance within thirty days thereafter

Note:The pay‐ment must be Cash,Cashier's Check, Certified CheckorMoney Order. No Per‐sonalChecks FACE MASKS ANDTEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPON ENTERING BUILDING

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Orleans

BD 26

THECITYOF NEWORLEANS (504) 658-4346 LATEEFAH HAR‐RIS

TheN.O.Advo‐cate Date (s): 7/9/2025 & 8/13/2025

Jul9-aug 13-2t $87.18

PUBLIC NOTICE SALE BY SHERIFF JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT THAT CERTAIN PORTIONOF GROUND BEAR‐INGMUNICIPAL NUMBER 22082210 GENERAL TAYLOR STREET, THIS CITY,IN THEMATTEREN‐TITLED:GLENDA ALGERE-JACK‐SONAND TARA ALGERE-BYRD VERSUS THE UNOPENED SUC‐CESSION OF LU‐CILLEALGERE COLLINS

CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2025-343

By virtue of a CourtOrder di‐rected to me by theHonorable Judges of Civil District Court forthe Parish of Orleans, in the aboveentitled cause, Iwillpro‐ceed to sell by public auction, on theground floor of theCivil District Court Building,421 Loyola Avenue, in theFirst Dis‐trictofthe City on August 14, 2025, at 12:00 o'clocknoon, thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit: 2208-2210 GEN‐ERAL TAYLOR ST NEWORLEANS, LA LOT20, SQUARE 548, SIXTHMUNICI‐PALDISTRICT, ACQCIN:706784

Orleans

BD 24 SUNRISELAW GROUPLLC 844999-9912 LOGANH GREENBERG

TheN.O.Advo‐cate Date (s): 7/9/2025 & 8/13/2025

Jul9-aug 13-2t $86.13

PUBLIC NOTICE SALE BY SHERIFF JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT THAT CERTAIN PORTIONOF GROUND BEAR‐INGMUNICIPAL NUMBER 505 CONSTANCEST, CITY OF NEW ORLEANS, IN THEMATTEREN‐TITLED:GULF COASTBANK ANDTRUST VER‐SUSCBA HOME BUILDERS INC. CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2025-2984

By virtue of a Writ of Seizure andSaledi‐rected to me by theHonorable Judges of Civil District Court forthe Parish of Orleans, in the aboveentitled cause, Iwillpro‐ceed to sell by public auction, on theground floor of theCivil District Court Building,421 Loyola Avenue, in theFirst Dis‐trictofthe City on August 14, 2025, at 12:00 o'clocknoon thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit:

3505 CON‐STANCE ST NEW ORLEANS, LA 70115 LOT14ASQUARE 213 6THMUNICIPAL DISTRICT ACQMIN: 1400376 WRIT AMOUNT: $734,610.64

Seized in the abovesuit, TERMS- CASH Thepurchaser at themoment of adjudication to make ade‐positoften per‐cent of thepur‐chaseprice,and thebalance within thirty days thereafter Note:The pay‐ment must be Cash,Cashier's Check, Certified CheckorMoney Order. No Per‐sonalChecks FACE MASKS ANDTEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPON ENTERING BUILDING

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Orleans RB 23 NEWMAN, MATHIS,BRADY &SPEDALE, APLC 504-8379040 WAYNEA.MAIO‐RANA,JR.

TheN.O.Advo‐cate Date (s): 7/9/2025 & 8/13/2025 Jul9-aug 13-2t $87

RELL LANDRY, SIMEON V. SANDERS, AND DEXTER C. CUM‐MINGS

CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2021-2610

By virtue of a Writ of FieriFa‐cias directed to me by theHon‐orable Judges of CivilDistrict Courtfor the Parish of Or‐leans, in the aboveentitled cause, Iwillpro‐ceed to sell by public auction, on theground floor of theCivil District Court Building,421 Loyola Avenue in theFirst Dis‐trictofthe City on August 14, 2025, at 12:00 o'clocknoon, thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit: 2816-18N DORGENOIS STREET LOTO-2 SQUARE 1318, THIRDMUNICI‐PALDISTRICT ACQUIRED MIN 1297856 WRIT AMOUNT: $1,205.00

Seized in the abovesuit, TERMS- CASH Thepurchaser at themoment of adjudication to make ade‐positoften per‐cent of thepur‐chaseprice,and thebalance within thirty days thereafter

Note:The pay‐ment must be Cash,Cashier's Check, Certified CheckorMoney Order. No Per‐sonalChecks. FACE MASKS ANDTEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPON ENTERING BUILDING

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Orleans

BD 1 CITY OF NEW ORLEANS504658-4346 DEISHA LA‐GARDE

TheN.O.Advo‐cate Date (s): 7/9/2025 & 8/13/2025 Jul9-aug13-2t $93.54

PUBLIC NOTICE

SALE BY SHERIFF JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT

THAT CERTAIN PORTIONOF GROUND BEAR‐INGMUNICIPAL NUMBER 1750 ST.CHARLES AV‐ENUE,UNITPH D, THIS CITY,IN THEMATTEREN‐TITLED:FIRST HORIZONBANK VERSUS SHIVA K. AKULAA/K/A SHIVAKUMAR AKULA

CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2024-7187

By virtue of a Writ of Seizure andSaledi‐rected to me by theHonorable Judges of Civil District Court forthe Parish of Orleans, in the aboveentitled cause, Iwillpro‐ceed to sell by

Seized in the abovesuit, TERMS- CASH Thepurchaser at themoment of adjudication to make ade‐positoften per‐cent of thepur‐chaseprice,and thebalance within thirty days thereafter

THELAW OF‐FICESOFHER‐SCHELC.AD‐COCK,JR.,L.L.C (225) 756-0373 COREYJ.GIROIR

TheN.O.Advo‐cate Date (s): 7/9/2025 & 8/13/2025 Jul9-aug 13-2t $94.69

CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2019-7912

TERMS- CASH Thepurchaser at themoment of adjudication to make ade‐positoften per‐cent of thepur‐chaseprice,and thebalance within thirty days thereafter

Note:The pay‐ment must be Cash,Cashier's Check, Certified CheckorMoney Order. No Per‐sonalChecks.

PUBLIC NOTICE SALE BY SHERIFF JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT

By virtue of a Writ of FieriFa‐cias directed to me by theHon‐orable Judges of CivilDistrict Courtfor the Parish of Or‐leans, in the aboveentitled cause, Iwillpro‐ceed to sell by public auction, on theground floor of theCivil District Court Building,421 L l A

Note:The pay‐ment must be Cash,Cashier's Check, Certified CheckorMoney Order. No Per‐sonalChecks. FACE MASKS ANDTEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPONENTERING BUILDING

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of

PUBLIC NOTICE SALE BY SHERIFF JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT THAT CERTAIN PORTIONOF GROUND,BEAR‐INGMUNICIPAL NO.2816-18 N. DORGENOIS STREET,CITYOF NEWORLEANS, IN THEMATTER ENTITLED:CITY OF NEWOR‐LEANSVERSUS MELVIN QUINN, AUGUSTINE MASSEYQUINN, EARL R. LANDRY RHONDA LANDRY DAVIS, JEANNETTE LANDRY BLOOM REGINALD LANDRY,DAR‐

ALL THE RIGHTS, WAYS,PRIVI‐LEGES, SERVI‐TUDES, APPURTE‐NANCES AND ADVANTAGES THEREUNTOBE‐LONGINGORIN ANYWISE APPERTAINING, IN THECITYOF NEWORLEANS ANDDESIG‐NATEDAS SQUARE NO 201, ANDAC‐CORDINGTOA SURVEY OF GILBERT, KELY & COUTURIE,INC., SURVEYING ANDENGINEER‐ING, JAMESH COUTURIE, P.L.S.,DATED MAY18, 2005, SAID SQUARE IS BOUNDEDBY POLYMNIA,PRY‐TANIA, URANIA ANDFELICITY STREETSAND ST.CHARLES AV‐ENUE AND WHICHSQUARE OF GROUND IS MORE FULLYDE‐SCRIBED AS FOLLOWS: COMMENCING AT THEINTER‐SECTIONOF POLYMNIA STREET ANDST. CHALRES AVENUE,SAID PROPERTY MEA‐SURESA DIS‐TANCEOFTWO HUNDRED EIGHTY TWO FEET,SIX INCHES,FIVE LINES (282'6"5"')FRONT ON ST.CHARLES AVENUE TO THE INTERSECTION OF ST.CHARLES AVENUE ANDFE‐LICITY STREET, THENCE AT AN ANGLEOFONE HUNDRED THREE(103) DE‐GREES,TWO (2) MINUTES, FOUR (4) SECONDS, ADIS‐TANCEOFONE HUNDREDSIXTY SIXFEET,THREE INCHES,AND ZERO LINES (166'3"0"') FRONTONFE‐LICITY STREET, FRONTONFE‐LICITY STREET TO APOINT, THENCE AT AN ANGLEONE HUNDREDSIXTY SIX(166) DE‐GREES,FIFTY FIVE (55) MINUTES, TWENTY SIX (26) SECONDS, A DISTANCE OF TWOHUNDRED FIFTYTWO FEET,NINE INCHE, ANDFIVE LINES(252'9" 5") FRONTONURA‐NIASTREET TO THE INTERSECTION OF URANIA AND PRYTANIA STREETS, THENCE AT AN ANGLEOF NINETY (90) DE‐GREES,THREE (3)MINUTES, ANDTHIRTY(30) SECONDS, ADIS‐TANCE OF THREEHUN‐DRED NINETEEN FEET,NINE INCHES,AND ONELINE (319'9"1"') FRONT ALONGPRYTA‐NIASTREET TO THEINTERSEC‐TION OF PRYTA‐NIAAND POLYMNIA STREETS, THENCE AT AN ANGLEEIGHTY NINE (89) DE‐GREES,FIFTY NINE (59) MINUTES, AND FIFTY(50) SEC‐ONDS,A DIS‐TANCEOFFOUR HUNDREDFOUR‐TEEN FEET,TEN INCHES,AND TWOLINES (414'10"2"') FRONTON POLYMNIA STREET TO THE POINTOFBE‐GINNING; SUB‐JECT TO RE‐STRICTIONS, SERVITUDES, RIGHTS OF WAY ANDOUTSTAND‐INGMINERAL RIGHTS OF RECORD AF‐FECTINGTHE PROPERTY THEIMPROVE‐MENTS THEREONBEAR‐INGMUNICIPAL 18750 ST CHARLESAV‐ENUE, UNIT PHD, NEW ORLEANS, LA 70130. WRIT AMOUNT:

WRIT AMOUNT: $182,167.08

Seized in the abovesuit, TERMS- CASH Thepurchaser at themoment of adjudication to make ade‐positoften per‐cent of thepur‐chaseprice,and thebalance within thirty days thereafter

Note:The pay‐ment must be Cash,Cashier's Check, Certified CheckorMoney Order. No Per‐sonalChecks. FACE MASKS ANDTEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPON ENTERING BUILDING

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Orleans BT 14 DEAN MORRIS, LLC318 388 1440 ZACHARY YOUNG

TheN.O.Advo‐cate Date (s): 7/9/2025 & 8/13/2025

Jul9-aug13-2t $176.12

PUBLIC NOTICE SALE BY SHERIFF JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT THAT CERTAIN PORTIONOF GROUND BEAR‐INGMUNICIPAL NO.6028 NORTH PRIEUR STREET, CITY OF NEW ORLEANS, IN THEMATTEREN‐TITLED:CITYOF NEWORLEANS VERSUS LASHON LAFRANCE A/K/ALASHON LAPRANCE AND MOORINGFI‐NANCIALCOR‐PORATION 401 (K)PROFIT SHARINGPLAN

CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2022-8253

By virtue of a Writ of FieriFa‐cias directed to me by theHon‐orable Judges of CivilDistrict Courtfor the Parish of Or‐leans, in the aboveentitled cause, Iwillpro‐ceed to sell by public auction, on theground floor of theCivil District Court Building,421 Loyola Avenue, in theFirst Dis‐trictofthe City on August 14, 2025, at 12:00 o'clocknoon, thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit: 6028 NPRIEUR STREET LOT25, SQURE 834, THIRDMUNICI‐PALDISTRICT, ACQUIRED MIN 1193900 WRIT AMOUNT: $4,655.00

By virtue of a Writ of Seizure andSaledi‐rected to me by theHonorable Judges of Civil District Court forthe Parish of Orleans, in the aboveentitled cause, Iwillpro‐ceed to sell by public auction, on theground floor of theCivil District Court Building,421 Loyola Avenue, in theFirst Dis‐trictofthe City on August 14, 2025, at 12:00 o'clocknoon, thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit: ACERTAIN SQUARE OF GROUND,TO‐GETHER WITH ALLTHE BUILD‐INGS AND IMPROVEMENTS THEREON, AND ALLTHE RIGHTS,

Seized in the abovesuit, TERMS- CASH Thepurchaser at themoment of adjudication to make ade‐positoften per‐cent of thepur‐chaseprice,and thebalance within thirty days thereafter

Note:The pay‐ment must be Cash,Cashier's Check, Certified CheckorMoney Order. No Per‐sonalChecks. FACE MASKS ANDTEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPON ENTERING BUILDING

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Orleans

BD 2 CITY OF NEW ORLEANS(504) 658-4346 ANNA T. LEE

TheN.O.Advo‐cate Date (s): 7/9/2025 &

(s): 7/9/2025 & 8/13/2025

Jul9-aug 13-2t $89.30

WOODSIDE HAYESA/K/A CATHERINE W. HAYESA/K/A CATHERINE HAYES

CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2024-2729

By virtue of a Writ of Seizure andSaledi‐rected to me by theHonorable Judges of Civil District Court forthe Parish of Orleans, in the aboveentitled cause, Iwillpro‐ceed to sell by public auction, on theground floor of theCivil District Court Building,421 Loyola Avenue in theFirst Dis‐trictofthe City on September 18, 2025, at 12:00 o'clocknoon thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit:

By virtue of a Writ of Seizure andSaledi‐rected to me by theHonorable Judges of Civil District Court forthe Parish of Orleans, in the aboveentitled cause, Iwillpro‐ceed to sell by public auction, on theground floor of theCivil District Court Building,421 Loyola Avenue in theFirst Dis‐trictofthe City on September 18, 2025, at 12:00 o'clocknoon, thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit: 3420 MANSFIELD AV NEWOR‐LEANS, LA 70131 LOT: 25, SQUARE:143 ACQMIN: 1084437 HOLLYPARK SECTION1-A SUBDIVISION WRIT AMOUNT: $185,012.70 Seized in the abovesuit, TERMS- CASH Thepurchaser at themoment of adjudication to make ade‐positoften per‐cent of thepur‐chaseprice,and thebalance within thirty days thereafter

Note:The pay‐ment must be Cash,Cashier's Check, Certified CheckorMoney Order. No Per‐sonalChecks. FACE MASKS ANDTEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPON ENTERING BUILDING

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Or‐leans

GH 21 LOGS LEGAL GROUPLLP 504838-7535 AMYR.ORTIS

TheN.O.Advo‐cate Date (s): 8/13/2025 & 9/17/2025 aug13-sep17-2t $90.36

8234 BELFASTST NEWORLEANS, LA 70118 LOT: B, SQUARE 379 SEVENTHMU‐NICIPALDIS‐TRICT ACQMIN: 927213 WRIT AMOUNT: $58,985.10

Seized in the abovesuit, TERMS- CASH Thepurchaser at themoment of adjudication to make ade‐positoften per‐cent of thepur‐chaseprice,and thebalance within thirty days thereafter Note:The pay‐ment must be Cash,Cashier's Check, Certified CheckorMoney Order. No Per‐sonalChecks FACE MASKS ANDTEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPON ENTERING BUILDING

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Orleans

GH 18 LAWOFFICESOF HERSCHEL C. ADCOCK,JR. LLC (225) 756-0373 COREYJ.GIROIR

TheN.O.Advo‐cate Date (s): 8/13/2025 & 9/17/2025 aug13-sep17-2t $98.83

PUBLIC NOTICE

SALE BY SHERIFF JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT THAT CERTAIN PORTIONOF GROUNDBEAR‐INGMUNICIPAL NUMBER 5752 BANCROFT DRIVE, THIS CITY,IN THEMATTEREN‐TITLED:NATION‐STAR MORT‐GAGE LLCVER‐SUSLOUELLA P. GIVENS HARD‐ING, (A/K/A LOUELLA PEARL GIVENS, LOUELLA PEARL HARDING, LOUELLA P. HARDING, LOUELLA PEARL GIVENS HARDING, LOUELLA GIVENS HARD‐ING) ANDTHE OPENED SUC‐CESSION OF CHARLESHARD‐ING, (A/K/A CHARLESCOR‐NELIUSHARD‐ING) AND41EN‐CAMPMENT,LLC

CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2024-6824

public auction, on theground floor of theCivil District Court Building,421 Loyola Avenue in theFirst Dis‐trictofthe City on September 18, 2025, at 12:00 o'clocknoon, thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit: 5752 BANCROFT DR NEWOR‐LEANS, LA 70122 LOT: 6, SQUARE: 46 THIRDMUNICI‐PALDISTRICT ACQMIN: 712387 OAKPARKGAR‐DENS WRIT AMOUNT: $173,657.10

Seized in the abovesuit, TERMS- CASH Thepurchaser at themoment of adjudication to make ade‐positoften per‐cent of thepur‐chaseprice,and thebalance within thirty days thereafter Note:The pay‐ment must be Cash,Cashier's Check, Certified CheckorMoney Order. No Per‐sonalChecks. FACE MASKS ANDTEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPON ENTERING BUILDING

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Orleans

GH 4 ALBERTELLI LAW, P.A. 813-221-4743 PENNY DAIGRE‐PONT

TheN.O.Advo‐cate Date (s): 8/13/2025 & 9/17/2025 aug13-sep17-2t $99.36

PUBLIC NOTICE SALE BY SHERIFF JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT THAT CERTAIN PORTIONOF GROUNDBEAR‐INGMUNICIPAL NUMBER 713 LANG ST,CITY OF NEW OR‐LEANS, IN THEMATTER ENTITLED: WELLSFARGO BANK,N.A.VER‐SUSAMANDA MAHERMACK A/K/AAMANDA M. MACK A/K/A AMANDA MACK

CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2025-1546

By virtue of a Writ of Seizure andSaledi‐rected to me by theHonorable Judges of Civil District Court forthe Parish of Orleans, in the aboveentitled cause, Iwillpro‐ceed to sell by public auction, on theground floor of theCivil District Court Building,421 Loyola Avenue in theFirst Dis‐trictofthe City on August 14, 2025, at 12:00 o'clocknoon, thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit: 713 LANGST NEWORLEANS LA 70131 LOT370SQUARE 21 5THMUNICIPAL DISTRICT ACQMIN: 1335252 WRIT AMOUNT: $83,171.47

sonal Checks FACE MASKS ANDTEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPON ENTERING BUILDING

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Orleans

RB 30 THELAW OF‐FICESOFHER‐SCHELC.AD‐COCK,JR.,L.L.C (225) 756-0373 COREYJ.GIROIR

TheN.O.Advo‐cate Date (s): 7/9/2025 & 8/13/2025 Jul9-aug13-2t $64.30

PUBLIC NOTICE

SALE BY SHERIFF JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT

THAT CERTAIN PORTIONOF GROUND BEAR‐INGMUNICIPAL NUMBER 3159 BLAIRSTREET CITY OF NEW ORLEANS, IN THEMATTEREN‐TITLED:WILM‐INGTON SAV‐INGS FUND SO‐CIETY, FSB, NOT IN ITSINDIVID‐UAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER

TRUSTEEFOR NRPL 2024-RPL1 TRUSTVERSUS

LYNYETTA T WEBB (A/K/A LYNYETTA THOMAS WEBB) ANDHERBERT

JOSEPH WEBB

CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2025-1924

By virtue of a Writ of Seizure andSaledi‐rected to me by theHonorable Judges of Civil District Court forthe Parish of Orleans, in the aboveentitled cause, Iwillpro‐ceed to sell by public auction, on theground floor of theCivil District Court Building,421 Loyola Avenue, in theFirst Dis‐trictofthe City on September 18, 2025, at 12:00 o'clocknoon thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit: 3159 BLAIRST NEWORLEANS, LA 70131 LOT149SQUARE 143 5THMUNICIPAL DISTRICT ACQMIN: 907053 RIVERPARK SUBDIVISION WRIT AMOUNT: $98,159.80

Seized in the abovesuit, TERMS- CASH Thepurchaser at themoment of adjudication to make ade‐positoften per‐cent of thepur‐chaseprice,and thebalance within thirty days thereafter

Note:The pay‐ment must be Cash,Cashier's Check, Certified CheckorMoney Order. No Per‐sonalChecks. FACE MASKS ANDTEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPON ENTERING BUILDING

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Orleans

JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT

THAT CERTAIN PORTIONOF GROUND BEAR‐INGMUNICIPAL NUMBER 2835 A PTUREAUD AV CITY OF NEW ORLEANS, IN THEMATTEREN‐TITLED:ADMIN‐ISTRATOR,U.S SMALLBUSI‐NESS ADMINIS‐TRATION, AN AGENCY OF THEUNITED STATES GOV‐ERNMENTVER‐SUSDINELAM WHITE-SANDERS A/K/ADINELA WHITESANDERS A/K/ADINELA M. WHITEA/K/A DINELA WHITE A/K/ADINELA SANDERS

CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2025-3023

By virtue of a Writ of Seizure andSaledi‐rected to me by theHonorable Judges of Civil District Court forthe Parish of Orleans, in the aboveentitled cause, Iwillpro‐ceed to sell by public auction, on theground floor of theCivil District Court Building,421 Loyola Avenue, in theFirst Dis‐trictofthe City on September 18, 2025, at 12:00 o'clock noon thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit: 2835 AP TUREAUDAV NEWORLEANS LA 70119 LOT7 &8SQUARE 1721 3RDMUNICIPAL DISTRICT ACQMIN: 873011 WRIT AMOUNT: $139,072.94

Seized in the abovesuit, TERMS- CASH Thepurchaser at themoment of adjudication to make ade‐positoften per‐cent of thepur‐chaseprice,and thebalance within thirty days thereafter Note:The pay‐ment must be Cash,Cashier's Check,Certified CheckorMoney Order. No Per‐sonalChecks. FACE MASKS ANDTEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPON ENTERING BUILDING

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Or‐leans RB 16

TREVATHAN

LAWFIRM, APLC 225-334-9222 ALLISON BEASLEY

TheN.O.Advo‐cate Date (s): 8/13/2025 & 9/17/2025 aug13-sep17-2t $94.07

PUBLIC NOTICE

SALE BY SHERIFF JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT THAT CERTAIN PORTIONOF GROUND BEAR‐INGMUNICIPAL NUMBERS3217 &3219 GRAVIER ST,CITYOFNEW ORLEANS, IN THEMATTEREN‐TITLED: SERVBANK,SB VERSUS VER‐NONN.LUMAR

ceed to sell by public auction, on theground floor of theCivil District Court Building,421 Loyola Avenue, in theFirst Dis‐trictofthe City on September 18, 2025, at 12:00 o'clocknoon, thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit: 3217 &3219 GRAVIERST NEWORLEANS LA 70119 LOT5 -SQUARE 664 1STMUNICIPAL DISTRICT ACQMIN: 1234714 WRIT AMOUNT: $193,612.18

Seized in the abovesuit, TERMS- CASH Thepurchaser at themoment of adjudication to make ade‐positoften per‐cent of thepur‐chaseprice,and thebalance within thirty days thereafter

Note:The pay‐ment must be Cash,Cashier's Check, Certified CheckorMoney Order. No Per‐sonalChecks FACE MASKS ANDTEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPON ENTERING BUILDING

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Orleans

RB 13 JACKSON& MCPHERSON, LLC504-5819444 CRIS R. JACK‐SON

TheN.O.Advo‐cate Date (s): 8/13/2025 & 9/17/2025

aug13-sep17-2t $87.71

PUBLIC NOTICE SALE BY SHERIFF JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT THAT CERTAIN PORTIONOF GROUND BEAR‐INGMUNICIPAL NUMBER 5617 ALBANY COURT, THIS CITY,IN THE MATTERENTI‐TLED:U.S.BANK, NATIONAL AS‐SOCIATION, AS TRUSTEEFOR STRUCTURED ASSETSECURI‐TIES CORPORATION MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST 2005-RF2VER‐SUSGARRONM JOHNSONAND TONYASHORT AKA TONYAJOHN‐SONAKA TONYA SHORTJOHN‐SON

at the moment of adjudication to make ade‐positoften per‐cent of thepur‐chaseprice,and thebalance within thirty days thereafter

Note:The pay‐ment must be Cash,Cashier's Check, Certified CheckorMoney Order. No Per‐sonalChecks. FACE MASKS ANDTEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPON ENTERING BUILDING

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Orleans

GH 8 DEAN MORRIS, LLC318-3881440 ASHLEY E. MOR‐RIS

TheN.O.Advo‐cate Date (s): 8/13/2025 & 9/17/2025 aug13-sep17-2t $95.66

PUBLIC NOTICE

SALE BY SHERIFF JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT THAT CERTAIN PORTIONOF GROUND BEAR‐INGMUNICIPAL NUMBER 3212 ORLEANSAV, CITY OF NEW ORLEANS, IN THEMATTEREN‐TITLED:THE MONEYSOURCE, INCVERSUS JANELLEMCKIN‐LEY

CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2024-6070

By virtue of a Writ of Seizure andSaledi‐rected to me by theHonorable Judges of Civil District Court forthe Parish of Orleans, in the aboveentitled cause, Iwillpro‐ceed to sell by public auction, on theground floor of theCivil District Court Building,421 Loyola Avenue, in theFirst Dis‐trictofthe City on September 18, 2025, at 12:00 o'clocknoon, thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit: 3212 ORLEANS ST NEWOR‐LEANS, LA 70119 LOTL -SQUARE 446 SECOND MUNIC‐IPAL DISTRICT ACQMIN: 1255270 WRIT AMOUNT: $218,829.59

JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT THAT PORTION OF GROUND BEARINGMU‐NICIPALNO. 2520-22 JENA ST THIS CITY IN THEMATTEREN‐TITLED: DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUSTCOM‐PANY,AS TRUSTEEFOR HOME EQUITY MORTGAGE LOAN ASSET-BACKED TRUSTSERIES INABS2007-B HOME EQUITY MORTGAGE LOAN ASSETBACKED CERTIFICATES SERIES INABS 2007-BVERSUS JOHN FITZGER‐ALDTAYLOR A/K/AJOHNF TAYLOR A/K/A JOHN TAYLOR CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2020-4347

By virtue of a Writ of Seizure andSaledi‐rected to me by theHonorable Judges of Civil District Court forthe Parish of Orleans, in the aboveentitled cause, Iwillpro‐ceed to sell by public auction, on theground floor of theCivil District Court Building,421 Loyola Avenue, in theFirst Dis‐trictofthe City on September 18, 2025, at 12:00 o'clocknoon, thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit: 2520-22 JENA ST LOT17A SQ 604 SIXTHMUNICI‐PALDISTRICT ACQUIRED MIN 894679 WRIT AMOUNT: $124,597.85

Seized in the abovesuit, TERMS- CASH Thepurchaser at themoment of adjudication to make ade‐positoften per‐cent of thepur‐chaseprice,and thebalance within thirty days thereafter Note:The pay‐ment must be Cash,Cashier's Check, Certified CheckorMoney Order. No Per‐sonalChecks. FACE MASKS ANDTEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPON ENTERING BUILDING SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Orleans

Seized in the abovesuit, TERMS- CASH

Thepurchaser at themoment of adjudication to make ade‐positoften per‐cent of thepur‐chaseprice,and thebalance within thirty days thereafter

Note:The pay‐ment must be Cash,Cashier's Check, Certified CheckorMoney Order. No Per‐sonal Checks FACE MASKS ANDTEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPON ENTERING BUILDING

SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Orleans

RB 17

PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2025-2705

By virtue of a Writ of Seizure andSaledi‐rected to me by theHonorable Judges of Civil District Court forthe Parish of Orleans, in the aboveentitled cause, Iwillpro‐ceed to sell by public auction, on theground floor of theCivil District Court Building,421 Loyola Avenue, in theFirst Dis‐trictofthe City on August 14, 2025, at 12:00 o'clocknoon, thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit: 5061 STEPHEN GIRARD AV‐ENUE,4022 PRENTISS AV‐ENUE,5700 CAMPUS BOULE‐VARD NEWOR‐LEANS, LA 70126 LOT: 13, SQUARE:25 PONTCHAR‐TRAINPARK SUBDIVISION, SECTION3-B LOT: 11, SQUARE:40A GENTILLWOODS SUBDIVISION LOT: 10, SQUARE:28 PONTCHAR‐TRAINPARK SUBDIVISION, SECTION3B THIRDMUNICI‐PALDISTRICT ACQMIN: 1395621 WRIT AMOUNT: $459,750.00

Seized in the abovesuit, TERMS- CASH Thepurchaser at themoment of adjudication to make a de‐positoften per‐cent of thepur‐chaseprice,and thebalance within thirty days thereafter Note:The pay‐ment must be Cash,Cashier's Check, Certified CheckorMoney Order. No Per‐sonalChecks. FACE MASKS ANDTEMPERA‐TURECHECKS AREREQUIRED UPON ENTERING BUILDING SusanHutson Sheriff, Parish of Orleans GH 7 DEAN MORRIS, LLC318-3881440 ASHLEY E. MOR‐RIS TheN.O.Advo‐cate Date (s): 7/9/2025 & 8/13/2025 FEB5-MAR 12-2T $104.66

BD 32 THELAW OF‐FICESOFHER‐SCHELC.AD‐COCK,JR.,LLC (225) 756-0373 COREYJGIROIR TheN.O.Advo‐cate Date (s): 8/13/2025 & 9/17/2025 aug13-sep17-2t $95.66

By virtue of a Writ of Seizure andSaledi‐rected to me by theHonorable Judges of Civil District Court forthe Parish of Orleans, in the aboveentitled cause, Iwillpro‐ceed to sell by publicauction, th d

Seized in the abovesuit, TERMS- CASH Thepurchaser at themoment of adjudication to make ade‐positoften per‐cent of thepur‐chaseprice,and thebalance within thirty days thereafter

Note:The pay‐ment must be Cash,Cashier's Check, Certified CheckorMoney Order. No Per‐sonalChecks.

RB 19 LOGS LEGAL GROUPLLP 504838-7535 EMILYA MUELLER

TheN.O.Advo‐cate Date (s): 8/13/2025 & 9/17/2025

aug13-sep17-2t $95.13

CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2025-2336

By virtue of a Writ of Seizure andSaledi‐rected to me by theHonorable Judges of Civil District Court forthe Parish of Orleans, in the aboveentitled cause,

CI VI L DI ST RI CT CO UR TF OR PA RI SH OF OR LE AN S Case No: 2025-660 By virtue of a Writ of Seizure andSaledi‐rected to me by theHonorable Judges of Civil District Court forthe Parish of Orleans, in the aboveentitled cause, Iwillpro‐ceed to sell by public auction, on theground floor of theCivil District Court Building,421 Loyola Avenue, in theFirst Dis‐trictofthe City on September 18, 2025, at 12:00 o'clocknoon, thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit: 5617 ALBANY CT NEWORLEANS, LA 70131 LOT: 3, SQUARE: 29 FIFTHMUNICI‐PALDISTRICT ACQMIN: 1401333 AURORA GAR‐DENS WRIT AMOUNT: $75,197.14

Seized in the abovesuit, TERMS- CASH Thepurchaser at themoment

LAWOFFICES JACKSON& MCPHERSON, L.L.C504-5819444 CRIS R. JACK‐SON

TheN.O.Advo‐cate Date (s): 8/13/2025 & 9/17/2025

aug13-sep17-2t $88.24