The Acadiana Advocate 08-14-2025

Trump warns Putin ahead of summit

President threatens ‘severe consequences’ if war isn’t stopped

BY GEIR MOULSON and SYLVIE CORBET Associated Press

BERLIN President Donald Trump warned Wednesday that there will be “very severe consequences” if Russian President Vladimir Putin does not agree to stop the war against Ukraine after the two leaders meet for a summit later this week in Alaska.

Trump made the comment in response to a question from a reporter after announcing this year’s Kennedy Center Honors recipients in Washington. He did not say what the consequences might be.

The remark came soon after Trump consulted with European leaders, who said the president assured them he would make a priority of trying to achieve a ceasefire in Ukraine when he speaks with Putin on Friday in Anchorage. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy joined several of Kyiv’s main allies in the virtual meeting with the U.S. leader, and Zelenskyy told the group that Putin “is bluffing” ahead of the planned summit about Russia’s ability to occupy all of Ukraine and shake off sanctions.

ä See SUMMIT, page 5A

‘They

Crowded buses causing concern

Officials working on problem, say district changes may have exacerbated issues

BY ASHLEY WHITE Staff writer

District leaders said they’re working to fix issues after some Lafayette Parish school system students reported filing onto crowded buses, sitting three to a seat or in aisles.

Lafayette Parish school system Transportation Operation Manager Ross Cloteaux said the district is aware of the issue and is working with drivers, school administrators and families to quickly address the issue.

“Our focus is the safety of these students,” he said. “We’re knocking the overloads out as quickly as possible.”

While the problem of overcrowded buses isn’t new to this school year, the issue has been made more challenging this year because of several district changes. The Lafayette Parish School Board voted last fall to close S.J. Montgomery Elementary and rezone students to the Lafayette Middle

“Our focus is the safety of these students. We’re knocking the overloads out as quickly as possible.”

ROSS CLOTEAUX, Lafayette Parish school system transportation operation manager

School site. Lafayette Middle School students were rezoned to several different schools, including Acadian Middle and Paul Breaux Middle.

The board also voted to make Katharine Drexel Elementary a dedicated early childhood education site similar to the Truman Early Childhood Education Center rezoning K-5 students who attended the school and some pre-K students

All of those site changes were on top of a decision to change school start times.

ä See BUSES, page 4A

Vote set on power for Meta facility

PSC decision coming earlier than expected

BY JOSIE ABUGOV Staff writer

A controversial plan to power Meta’s largest artificial intelligence data center anywhere in the world, to be built in rural northeast Louisiana, will head for a vote by state regulators next week, far ahead of initially planned.

The fast-tracked approval by the Public Service Commission is drawing concern from advocates who say average ratepayers and other industrial companies are being put at risk of covering electricity costs for the giant facility, equivalent to the size of around 70 football fields. Entergy and supporters of the plan say enough safeguards are in place and that there is no reason to further delay a project that could be transformational for the impoverished region. Entergy, which is proposing to build three gas-fired plants to power the data center, requested that the commission take up the issue two months before the regulators were initially expected to vote. The vote at the Aug. 20 meeting will also occur before a judge who oversaw a recent hearing into the proposal will be able to release her recommendations.

“I really want folks across the state to understand that this decision is not just about one of the world’s largest data centers in north Louisiana,” said Logan Burke, the executive director of the Alliance for Affordable Energy consumer advocacy group. “Whether it sets a precedent or not, and it most certainly will, the costs will show up on people’s bills across the state.”

A coalition of the largest oil, gas and petrochemical companies operating in Louisiana have similarly argued that the request poses huge risks for them. Around 30 companies are part of the coalition, including Exxon, Shell and Dow under the banner of the Louisiana

ä See META, page 5A

could be pretty much anywhere’

Inside the search to find two brothers who went missing in a custody battle

BY MEGAN WYATT Staff writer

Chase Desormeaux feared the worst after he stopped hearing from his two sons. Cohen, 7 and Colton 5 missed the first day of school, Christmas and their birthdays.

After they did not show up for a routine custody drop-off, alerts went out last December across Louisiana asking people to be on the lookout for the boys The U.S. Marshals Service joined the search, while the Calcasieu Parish

Sheriff’s Office also tried to track them down

As Desormeaux continued searching for his sons, their faces flashed on national news screens

Investigators had not been able to determine their specific location, saying the boys could be as near as still in Louisiana or Texas, or as far away as California, Michigan, Illinois or Pennsylvania.

“They could be pretty much anywhere,” said a host of “On Patrol: Live” on the Reelz network, which featured their case in March and told viewers they were with their mom. “But it also means that she’ll probably be interacting with people, so if you know her, you see her, you recognize her, please help.”

The case of the missing Desormeaux boys wound up taking nine months, spanning two states, including multiple law en-

forcement agencies and highlighting an often overlooked concern in the world of missing and exploited children: What happens when they are with a parent when they go missing? Experts say such missing persons cases generally receive far less attention than those that involve strangers who abduct children.

It was 2:30 a.m. on March 31 when a phone call woke up their dad from his sleep. There was news about the boys.

The Desormeaux boys went missing amid a messy custody battle. After their parents, Chase and Sharlene Desormeaux, separated in February 2022, a Lake Charles judge granted them shared custody Chase Desormeaux was named

Florida approves first bear hunt in a decade

ORLANDO Fla. Florida’s wildlife commissioners set aside pleas and arguments from black bear advocates Wednesday and approved a December hunt of the state’s shy but increasingly troublesome species.

The board’s 5-0 vote — with two commissioners absent followed more than two hours of rancorous public comment with hunters and wildlife defenders trading barbs and disagreeing about how much science the state used to craft rules for Florida’s first bear hunt in a decade, with more to follow annually

“Hunting is the tool most commonly used to manage bear populations,” said George Warthen, the state’s conservation chief, at the meeting in Havana, Florida. Opponents countered by pointing out the state Fish & Wildlife agency had not yet finished an update of an “abundance” survey of its largest land mammal, previously listed as a threatened species because its known numbers dwindled to less than 500 in the 1970s.

They also argued the commission was considering “cruel rules” to allow the use of bowand-arrows and tracking dogs.

State experts estimate about 4,000 Florida black bears now roam the peninsula.

Hunters also got the OK to kill bears over a bait or feed station a tactic forbidden in the last hunt, in 2015.

Armed robbers take $700,000 in truck heist

PHILADELPHIA Police are investigating whether the armed robbery of a Brinks truck on Tuesday outside a Philadelphia-area store is related to four other attacks on armored vehicles in and around the city this summer

Two armed males got away with between $700,000 and $800,000 in the midday Tuesday heist at an H Mart in Elkins Park, according to Cheltenham Township police. The robbers fled with the cash and later abandoned their vehicle nearby, police said. No shots were fired, and no one was injured.

Federal prosecutors announced Wednesday that three people from Philadelphia who were arrested in early August are charged in connection with the $2 million armed robbery of a Brinks armored vehicle outside a Home Depot on June 21.

A Loomis armored transport vehicle was held up outside an Aldi in a different neighborhood

five days later Then on July 2, a Brinks truck was held up outside a Dollar General at a shopping center And on July 15, police had a report of two suspects robbing one of the armored vehicles in northeast Philadelphia. FBI agent Wayne Jacobs told CBS News Philadelphia that law enforcement recovered most of the money stolen in the June 21 heist, as well as a number of long weapons and handguns. Some of the money had been spent on jewelry, clothes and other items, he said.

‘Frankenstein bunnies’ found in Colorado

DENVER A group of rabbits in Colorado with grotesque, hornlike growths may seem straight out of a low-budget horror film, but scientists say there’s no reason to be spooked — the furry creatures merely have a relatively common virus The cottontails recently spotted in Fort Collins are infected with the mostly harmless Shope papillomavirus, which causes wart-like growths that protrude from their faces like metastasizing horns. Viral photos have inspired unflattering nicknames, including “Frankenstein bunnies,” “demon rabbits” and “zombie rabbits.” But their affliction is nothing new, with the virus inspiring ancient folklore and fueling scientific research nearly 100 years ago. The virus likely influenced the centuries-old jackalope myth in North America, which told of a rabbit with antlers or horns, among other animal variations. The disease in rabbits also contributed to scientists’ knowledge about the connection between viruses and cancer, such as the human papillomavirus that causes cervical cancer

Nations threaten Iran sanctions

BY STEFANIE DAZIO and KAREEM CHEHAYEB Associated Press

BERLIN The top diplomats of Britain France and Germany threatened to reimpose sanctions on Iran as an end-of-the-month deadline nears for the country to resume negotiations with the West over its nuclear program and cooperation with the United Nations nuclear watchdog

The three countries, known as the E3, wrote in a letter to the United Nations dated Friday that they were willing to trigger a process known as the “snapback” mechanism, which allows one of the Western parties to reimpose U.N. sanctions, if Tehran doesn’t comply with its requirements.

French Foreign Minister JeanNöel Barrot posted the letter Wednesday to X. He co-signed it along with top diplomats from Germany and the United Kingdom “E3 have always committed to

use all diplomatic tools at our disposal to ensure Iran does not develop a nuclear weapon,” the letter said. “We have made clear that if Iran is not willing to reach a diplomatic solution before the end of August 2025, or does not seize the opportunity of an extension, E3 are prepared to trigger the snapback mechanism.”

The Iranian government didn’t immediately respond to the development, but parliament member Manouchehr Mottaki — who was Iran’s top diplomat for five years in the 2000s warned of a swift reaction to any move to trigger the snapback mechanism.

He said the Iranian parliament has a “finger on the trigger” for quitting the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty, or NPT, the international treaty aimed at halting the spread of nuclear weapons. “We only need 24 hours to approve quitting the nuclear deal,” if the E3 raises the issue at the U.N. Security Council, Mottaki said.

The letter from the E3 comes following a period of apparent diplomatic deadlock after a 12-day war between Iran and Israel in June, where Israeli and American jets struck some key nuclear-related facilities in the Islamic Republic.

The countries met with Iranian officials last month in Turkey at Iran’s consulate building in Istanbul on the possibility of reimposing international sanctions, lifted in 2015 in exchange for Tehran accepting restrictions and monitoring of its nuclear program.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, Esmail Baghaei, said at the time that he hoped that the meeting would see the E3 nations reassess their “previous unconstructive attitude.”

Talks with Washington for a new nuclear deal haven’t resumed, and Iran has since suspended ties with the International Atomic Energy Agency, the U.N. nuclear watchdog, following the attacks. The IAEA’s first visit to Iran since the

Judge concludes hearing on ‘Alligator

BY DAVID FISCHER Associated Press

MIAMI The fate of a makeshift immigrant detention center in the Florida Everglades dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz” hung in the balance on Wednesday as a federal judge considered whether building on sensitive wetlands violated environmental laws.

Last week, U.S District Judge Kathleen Williams ordered a 14-day halt on additional construction at the site while witnesses testified at a hearing, part of a lawsuit seeking to halt operations and further construction. The temporary order doesn’t include any restrictions on law enforcement or immigration enforcement activity The judge concluded a multiday hearing on Wednesday without making an immediate decision on whether to issue a preliminary injunction.

Environmental groups and a Native American tribe have sued over the facility, saying it was hastily set up without the environmental impact considerations needed for all federal projects, even though it deals with immigration, a federal matter

“It just flies in the face of what NEPA requires,” said Paul Schwiep, an attorney for the environmental groups, referring to the National Environmental Policy Act. Florida and the Trump administration argue that the state is building and oper-

Alcatraz’

ating the detention center so those rules about an environmental review don’t apply Adam Gustafson, an attorney for the federal government, said during the hearing’s closing arguments Wednesday that the federal government only plays an advisory role at the facility

The judge last week said the center was, at a minimum, a joint partnership between the state and federal government.

The first phase of “Alligator Alcatraz” opened in July atop a lightly used, singlerunway training airport. Less than 1,000 detainees were being held there as of last week, and it’s designed to eventually hold up to 3,000 people.

Inside the compound’s large white tents, rows of bunk beds are surrounded by chain-link cages. People held there say worms turn up in the food, toilets don’t flush and flood floors with fecal waste, while mosquitoes and other insects are everywhere. At times the air conditioners abruptly shut off in the sweltering heat. Detainees are said to go days without showering or getting prescription medicine, and can only speak to lawyers and loved ones by phone.

Gov Ron DeSantis has said the location in the Everglades was meant as a deterrent against escape, much like the island prison in California that Republicans named it after The detention center has an estimated annual cost of $450 million, according to a public database.

Texas couple found guilty of concealing, harboring bakery workers in U.S. illegally

BY VALERIE GONZALEZ Associated Press

Two South Texas bakery owners are guilty of concealing and harboring employees in the U.S. illegally, a jury found Wednesday afternoon following a trial that only lasted three days.

Leonardo Baez and Nora Avila-Guel, a Mexican couple who have legal permanent residence in the U.S., were charged after being arrested at their bakery along with eight employees in February.

It’s a rare case in which business own-

ers are charged with criminal offenses rather than just a fine.

Six of the employees had visitor visas, and two were in the country illegally

None had permission to work in the U.S.

Employees lived in a room with six beds and shared two bathrooms in the same

building as the bakery, according to the federal affidavit.

Baex and Avila-Guel were tried this week in Brownsville, a border city about a 20-minute drive southeast of their Los Fresnos bakery The jury heard from five government witnesses, including an agent who was present during the raid. The defense presented no witnesses.

Videos of the interviews with the two employees in the country without visas or work authorization were played. Both employees said they were not held against their will and were compensated for their work, according to local reporting.

Baez’s attorney, Sergio Luis Villarreal, called the verdict “heartbreaking.”

“We were arguing the lack of concealment, the lack of covertness in all this,” Villarreal said. “I mean, there was no exploitation, no abuse.”

war didn’t entail any visits to nuclear facilities Monday, and cooperation wasn’t officially restored.

One of the three countries opting to trigger the snapback mechanism would renew sanctions on Iran, but Tehran renewing cooperation with the Vienna-based IAEA and addressing concerns about its highlyenriched uranium stockpile would delay it, according to a diplomat who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity following July’s meeting in Istanbul. German Foreign Ministry spokesperson Josef Hinterseher on Wednesday said that the letter “once again underlines that the legal preconditions for snapback have long existed.”

U.S. intelligence agencies and the IAEA had assessed Iran last had an organized nuclear weapons program in 2003, though Tehran had been enriching uranium up to 60% — a short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90%.

Appeals court lets administration end foreign aid

BY MICHAEL KUNZELMAN Associated Press

WASHINGTON A divided panel of appeals court judges ruled Wednesday that the Trump administration can suspend or terminate billions of dollars of congressionally appropriated funding for foreign aid.

Two of three judges from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit concluded that grant recipients challenging the freeze did not meet the requirements for a preliminary injunction restoring the flow of money In January on the first day of his second term in the White House, Republican President Donald Trump issued an executive order directing the State Department and the U.S Agency for International Development to freeze spending on foreign aid.

After groups of grant recipients sued to challenge that order, U.S. District Judge Amir Ali ordered

the administration to release the full amount of foreign assistance that Congress had appropriated for the 2024 budget year The appeal court’s majority partially vacated Ali’s order Judges Karen LeCraft Henderson and Gregory Katsas concluded that the plaintiffs did not have a valid legal basis for the court to hear their claims. The ruling was not on the merits of whether the government unconstitutionally infringed on Congress’ spending powers. Judge Florence Pan, who dissented, said the Supreme Court has held “in no uncertain terms” that the president does not have the authority to disobey laws for policy reasons. The money at issue includes nearly $4 billion for USAID to spend on global health programs and more than $6 billion for HIV and AIDS programs. Trump has portrayed the foreign aid as wasteful spending.

Customer Service: HELP@THEADVOCATE.COMor337-234-0800

News Tips /Stories: NEWSTIPS@THEADVOCATE.COM

Obituaries: 225-388-0289• Mon-Fri9-5; Sat10-5;ClosedSun

Advertising Sales: 337-234-0174•Mon-Fri 8-5

Classified Advertising: 225-383-0111• Mon-Fri8-5

Subscribe: theadvocate.com/subscribe E-Edition: theadvocate.com/eedition Archives: theadvocate.newsbank.com

Plan for homeless people in D.C. unclear

BY MEG KINNARD Associated Press

President Donald Trump says homeless people in the nation’s capital will be moved far from the city as part of his federal takeover of policing in the District of Columbia and crackdown on crime.

With his exact plans unclear, there is concern among advocates and others who say there are better ways to address the issue of homelessness than clearing encampments, as the Republican administration has pledged to do Washington’s status as a congressionally established federal district gives Trump the opportunity to push his tough-on-crime agenda, though he has not proposed solutions to the root causes of homelessness or crime.

How many are there?

It is difficult to obtain accurate counts of homeless populations.

On one day at the end of each January, municipal agencies across the United States perform what is called a “point-in-time” count aimed at capturing the total

number of people in emergency shelters, transitional housing or without any housing.

The 2025 count in the district put the total at 5,138 adults and children, a 9% decrease compared with the year before, according to

Democratic Mayor Muriel Bowser

Where will they be taken?

It’s not entirely clear

Trump wrote on his social media site before Monday’s news conference announcing the takeover that

“The homeless have to move out, IMMEDIATELY. We will give you places to stay, but FAR from the Capital.”

Asked during a media briefing

at the White House on Tuesday where homeless people would be relocated, press secretary Karoline Leavitt said local police and federal agencies would “enforce the laws that are already on the books,” which, she said, “have been completely ignored.”

Citing a city regulation that she said gives local police “the authority to take action when it comes to homeless encampments,” Leavitt said homeless people “will be given the option to leave their encampment, to be taken to a homeless shelter, to be offered addiction or mental health services.” Those who refuse “will be susceptible to fines or to jail time.”

What are city officials doing?

Kevin Donahue, the city administrator, said outreach workers were visiting homeless encampments and that the city has a building available that could house as many as 200 people, if needed.

Donahue made the comments during a conversation with community advocates and Bowser The conversation was broadcast on X.

What are people in D.C. saying?

Washington residents emphasized reductions in crime in recent years and concerns over the removal of homeless encampments in interviews Tuesday criticizing the federal takeover of the city’s police department.

Sheiena Taylor 36, said she is more fearful as a result of the presence of federal forces in the city where she was born and raised.

“Being homeless isn’t a crime,” she said emphasizing the need for solutions to the root causes of homelessness or crime rather than policing.

In several spots across the city, AP journalists talked to homeless people who were being told either by federal law enforcement officials or advocacy groups to pack up tents and belongings from parks and other public spaces before more formal removal measures. Some expressed fear and anxiety about what might be coming.

Trump names Kennedy Center honorees, says he’ll host

President takes over role from committee

BY ANNIE MA and HILLEL ITALIE Associated Press

WASHINGTON As the new chairman of the Kennedy Center, President Donald Trump added a highly personal stamp to this year’s announcement of the recipients of the annual honors, whom he named as country music star George Strait, “Rocky” actor Sylvester Stallone, singer Gloria Gaynor, the rock band Kiss and actor-singer Michael Crawford. Instead of the Kennedy Center revealing the names through a press release as usual, Trump announced the honorees himself during a Wednesday press conference at the site, where he was flanked by American flags and photo stands for each of the entertainers that were initially covered by red drapes. Unlike in his first term, when he didn’t even attend the honors ceremony he announced that he would be hosting it later this year and that he had been deeply involved with the selection process. He also suggested he might choose himself for a future award.

The spectacle marked a new era for the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, which Trump has taken over by installing himself as chair and replacing the board of trustees with loyalists. He has even hinted he’d like to see the

venue renamed the Trump/ Kennedy Center Trump has made revamping the Kennedy Center and what he calls its “woke” agenda — the center of an ongoing push to overhaul such cultural institutions as the National Endowment of the Humanities and the Smithsonian museums. The Kennedy Center Honors were established in 1978 an d ha ve been given to a broad range of artists. Until Trump’s first term, presidents of both major political parties traditionally attended the annual ceremony, even when they dis ag re ed politically with a given recipient.

Prominent liberals such as Barbra Streisand and Warren Beatty were honored during the administration of Republican George W. Bush, and a leading conservative, Charlton Heston, was feted during the administration of Democrat Bill Clinton.

At least some of this year’s

Criss and Paul

are photographed before a 1977 concert in

winners have a history of backing Trump. Stallone is a prominent supporter who has called Trump “the second George Washington” and was named by the president, along with Jon Voight and Mel Gibson, as a Hollywood special ambassador Founding Kiss member Ace Frehley endorsed Trump in 2020, calling him “the strongest leader we’ve got.” Meanwhile, fellow Kiss musician Paul Stanley has often criticized the Republican president, notably his resistance to accepting his election loss to Democrat Joe Biden in 2020.

The Kennedy Center informs honorees in advance, and all four original Kiss performers, who also include Gene Simmons and Peter Criss, issued statements through a band publicist

“The prestige of the Kennedy Center Honors cannot be overstated and I accept this on behalf of the long legacy of Kiss and all of the

White House says federal officers will be in D.C. around the clock

BY LINDSAY WHITEHURST and ASHRAF KHALIL Associated Press

WASHINGTON As a wary Washington waited, the White House promised a ramp-up of National Guard troops and federal officers on the streets of the nation’s capital around the clock starting Wednesday, days after President Donald Trump’s unprecedented announcement that his administration would take over the city’s police department for at least a month.

The city’s Democratic mayor walked a political tightrope, referring to the takeover as an “authoritarian push” at one point and later framing the infusion of officers as boost to public safety, though one with few specific barometers for success. The Republican president has said crime in the city was at emergency levels that only such federal intervention could fix — even as District of Columbia leaders pointed to statistics showing violent crime at a 30-year low after a sharp rise two years ago.

A “significantly higher” presence of guard members was expected Wednesday night, and federal agents will be out during the day as well as at night, according to the White House. Hundreds of federal law enforcement and city police officers who patrolled the streets Tuesday night made 43 arrests, compared with about two dozen the night before.

D.C. Council member Christina Henderson downplayed the arrest reports as “a bunch of traffic stops” and said the administration was seeking to disguise how unnecessary this federal intervention is.

“I’m looking at this list of arrests and they sound like a normal Saturday night in any big city,” said Henderson.

In one neighborhood, officers from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the FBI could be seen along with the U.S. Park Police searching the car of a motorist parked just outside a legal parking area to eat takeout and drop off a friend. Two blocks away, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers gathered in a parking lot before driving off on patrol.

In other parts of the city, including those with popular nightlife hot spots, federal patrols were harder to find. At the National Mall, there was little law enforcement activity aside from Park Police cruisers pulling over a taxi driver near the Washington Monument. Trump suggested Wednesday that he could seek a longer period of control or decide to call on Congress to exercise authority over city laws his administration sees as lax on crime. “We’re gonna do this very quickly But we’re gonna want extensions. I don’t want to call a national emergency If I have to, I will,” he said.

The arrests made by 1,450 federal and local officers across the city included those for suspicion of driving under the influence and unlawful entry, as well as a warrant for assault with a deadly weapon according to the White House. Seven illegal firearms were seized. There have now been more than 100 arrests since Trump began beefing up the federal law enforcement presence, White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers said.

band members who helped create our iconic band,” Stanley said. Kiss and the other nominees have had substantial, even iconic, careers. Stal-

lone’s portrayals of the underdog boxer Rocky Balboa and Vietnam veteran John J. Rambo are fixtures in popular culture. Strait’s dozens of chart-topping hits, including “Check Yes or No” and “I Cross My Heart,” have led to his nickname the King of Country Music. Few bands have sold more records or more famously covered their faces in makeup than Kiss, members of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Crawford is a celebrated stage actor who won a Tony for his starring role in “The Phantom of the Opera,” and Gaynor is a leading star from the 1970s disco era whose “I Will Survive” is a feminist anthem.

Breaking with tradition, none of the honorees was from the fields of dance, jazz or classical music.

This year’s Kennedy Center Honors ceremony will

take place on Dec. 7 and will air on CBS and stream on Paramount+

Historically, a bipartisan advisory committee selects the recipients, who over the years have ranged from George Balanchine and Tom Hanks to Aretha Franklin and Stephen Sondheim Trump said Wednesday that he was “about 98% involved” in choosing the honorees and conferred with such handpicked Kennedy Center officials as Ric Grenell and Sergio Gor He said he “turned down plenty” of names, saying those individuals were “too woke” or too liberal. In choosing himself as the host of December’s gathering, he takes on a role once filled by Caroline Kennedy daughter of the late President John F. Kennedy, the center’s namesake.

Most high schools stayed at the same start times as the 2024-25 school year But middle schools start about an hour earlier and elementary schools start about 15 minutes earlier

The change in start times was not only made in an effort to get buses off the roads by 5 p.m., but also to create consolidated and more efficient routes.

Cloteaux said the school district is addressing the “heavy hitters,” or buses with the most severe overcrowding, first A lot of those buses are in central Lafayette Parish. He said the district understands it’s a fluid issue, but hopes to have everything resolved before the end of the week.

Bus safety means that the number of riders matches the bus’s capacity, which for system is either 72 or 66 passengers Each student should be sitting face forward on a bench seat.

One of the things families can do to help address the issue is to ensure their student is a registered bus rider in the district’s system. Families can check their

SEARCH

Continued from page 1A

the domiciliary parent, and he cared for the boys while Sharlene Desormeaux worked as a travel nurse in Los Angeles. But there were warning signs that the custody order was not being followed.

One example was in April 2022, when Sharlene Desormeaux took the boys to Los Angeles without communicating with Chase Desormeaux, court records say She left their Lake Charles home with the boys and would not communicate with him about bringing their sons to school and day care, according to an affidavit filed by Chase Desormeaux.

“This case presents some very strange happenings in the past few months, many pleadings/arguments related to those strange happenings, and more procedural interplay than a normal custody case typically involves,” a hearing officer wrote in an August 2022 court filing. “At present, the minor children are in California. They should not be.”

The next year, in a letter to the court, Sharlene Desormeaux said she was a victim of abuse at the hands of Chase Desormeaux. She described shoving, stalking, psychological abuse and emotional abuse in a petition asking for a protective order “I am in extreme fear for mine and my children’s safety,” she wrote. “He is unpredictable.”

Sharlene Desormeaux did not agree to be interviewed for this story after several attempts to reach her Chase Desormeaux denied the allegations against him, and the court did not grant her a temporary restraining order By the end of 2023, their divorce was finalized and

student’s status in the parent portal or on J-Campus. If a student is not listed as a bus rider, the school clerk should be contacted.

Even if a student only rides the bus a few days a week, or only in the afternoons, they should be registered as a bus rider

Cloteaux said he’s confident the district will quickly fix the overcrowding issue.

“This year has been a great collaboration between the administration at the schools and my team as far as getting information quickly,” he said. “We have the resources at hand that we need in order to go ahead and make the changes to these buses.”

The district, like many other school districts across the U.S., struggles with having enough bus drivers year-round, especially substitute drivers who can fill in when a driver is sick or on vacation

To address the issue, the district offers free CDL training for those interested in full-time or substitute driver jobs.

Concerns or questions about transportation can be submitted through the system online portal or by calling (337) 521-7433.

Email Ashley White at ashley white@theadvocate.com.

their custody arrangement was evenly split between them, with the kids switching between their homes every week.

The warning signs continued: Sharlene Desormeaux often did not show up with the boys when it was time for them to switch homes, and they would sometimes miss school and day care when their dad was set to pick them up to begin his week of custody, court records say In June 2024, Sharlene Desormeaux received permission to bring the boys to Texas for a family event. She missed her custody drop-off afterward

But this time, they did not return after a few days as usual. Both she and his sons were missing.

Chase Desormeaux immediately asked in court to be granted full custody, but District Judge Mitchell Redd of the 14th Judicial District Court denied his initial requests. By November five months after the boys had gone missing, Redd granted him full, permanent custody of their sons. Redd also issued an arrest warrant for Sharlene Desormeaux, saying she was in contempt for missing multiple court dates and cutting off communication with her ex-husband

The judge’s Nov. 18, 2024, order instructed any officer who found the children to take custody of them and to return them to Chase Desormeaux.

Attempts to find the boys ramped up.

Nicholas Roselli, a senior inspector with the U.S Marshals Service, said deputies with his New Orleans office looked for Sharlene Desormeaux in the Houston area because she had family connections there.

“Even though we’re trying to find these kids, we don’t know her reaction,” Roselli said. In the meantime, their

plight hit national airwaves on the Reelz network in segments on March 1 and March 7.

Sharlene Desormeaux agreed by phone to turn herself in to the police on March 28, but investigators said she didn’t show up. Three days later, she showed up at Houston Methodist Hospital in the middle of the night with her sons.

“She went there to soften the blow,” Roselli said. “Maybe she didn’t want to take her kids to the jail That was her way of turning herself in.”

Chase Desormeaux soon got the call: The boys were OK and at the hospital.

He jumped into his truck and made the three-hour trek to Houston. As he waited for hospital staff to verify his identity, he heard Colton’s voice for the first time in nine months.

“My son just hollered, ‘Dad!’ and he ran up to me and jumped in my arms,” Desormeaux said. “And then my other son heard him and ran to me as well. It was a very emotional moment.”

Chase Desormeaux remembers noticing how much their facial features had changed in just a few months and how overgrown their hair was.

“They were in hiding,”

Chase Desormeaux said. “She wasn’t bringing them to get haircuts and things like that.”

With the boys back in Lake Charles with their dad, Sharlene Desormeaux was sentenced in late April to serve 90 days in the Calcasieu Parish Correctional Center She was also ordered to pay a $500 fine and held in contempt of court for violating the custody agreement and missing court dates.

She was released from jail July 6.

Her attorney, Wilford Carter Sr., said she ensured the boys received good care while they were away Carter said Sharlene

Desormeaux, who has had

multiple attorneys through the custody battle, was not properly notified of court dates last fall. Carter did not represent her until the most recent hearing in April.

“I’ve done everything possible to make sure she got a day in court,” Carter said.

“She never got her day in court.”

When children go missing at the hands of an unknown perpetrator, the news typically spreads far and wide. It’s often much quieter when children go missing with a family member, especially their own mother

“One of the biggest challenges is that there is a misconception that because a child is with their parent, that the child is safe,” said Angeline Hartmann, spokesperson for the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. “There are a lot of

assumptions that happen. We ask people not to make assumptions. Once children are declared missing, no matter what the circumstances, they need your help.”

Law enforcement, media outlets and other organizations can be slower to publicize family abduction cases, Hartmann said, but it’s still critical to act quickly

“There can be high emotion involved when we’re talking about family abductions,” Hartmann said. “And that emotion, that intensity, can be dangerous. It can lead to things that people normally wouldn’t do.”

Chase Desormeaux said the boys have been opening up since returning to Lake Charles. They are also attending counseling sessions to help process everything. While away, Chase Desormeaux said the boys believed their home had

been destroyed by a hurricane — something that might have seemed like a real possibility to them after Hurricane Laura devastated Lake Charles in 2020. They also shared that they would hide in a closet any time someone knocked on the door of their aunt’s Houston home where they were staying.

“When you’re in hiding, you don’t go outside and play at the playground because you’re worried that people might spot you,” Hartmann said. “So you’re living a life of isolation. Think about all the things that are normal for children — to see a

tor to play outside None of that happens when you are living a life on the

and those are the things that

ple don’t think about.”

Email Megan Wyatt at mwyatt@theadvocate. com.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said afterward that “important decisions” could be made in Alaska, but he stressed that “fundamental European and Ukrainian security interests must be protected.”

Merz convened Wednesday’s meeting in an attempt to make sure European and Ukrainian leaders are heard ahead of the summit. He stressed that a ceasefire must come at the beginning of negotiations. He told reporters that Trump “also wants to make this one of his priorities” in the meeting with Putin.

At a separate appearance in France, French President Emmanuel Macron said Trump “was very clear” that the U.S wants to achieve a ceasefire at the summit

Following Friday’s summit, Macron added, Trump will “seek a future trilateral meeting” — one involving Trump, Putin and Zelenskyy He said he hoped that it could be held in Europe “in a neutral country that is acceptable to all parties.”

Merz, who described Wednesday’s conversation as “constructive and good,” said the Europeans made clear that “Ukraine must sit at the table as soon as there are follow-up meetings.”

European allies have pushed for Ukraine’s involvement in any peace talks, fearful that discussions that exclude Kyiv could otherwise favor Moscow

The Ukrainian president, who traveled to Berlin to join the meeting alongside Merz, has repeatedly cast doubt on whether Putin would negotiate in good faith. He said Wednesday that he hoped an immediate ceasefire will be “the central topic” in Alaska, but also argued that Putin “definitely does not want peace.”

Zelenskyy said Putin “is trying to apply pressure on all sectors of the Ukrainian front” in an attempt to show that Russia is “capable of occupying all of Ukraine.” Putin is also bluffing that sanctions “do not matter to him and are ineffective,” he added. “In reality, sanctions are very helpful and are hitting Russia’s war economy hard.”

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

as “a feel-out meeting” where he can assess the Russian leader’s intentions.

Yet Trump has disappointed allies in Europe by saying Ukraine will have to give up some Russianheld territory. He has also said Russia must accept land swaps, although it was unclear what Putin might be expected to surrender Trump on Monday ducked repeated chances to say that he would push for Zelenskyy to take part in his discussions with Putin, and the president was dismissive of Zelenskyy and his need to be part of an effort to seek peace.

Trump said that following Friday’s summit, a meeting between the Russian and Ukrainian leaders could be arranged, or that it could also be a meeting with “Putin and Zelenskyy and me.”

The Europeans and Ukraine are

wary that Putin, who has waged the biggest land war in Europe since 1945 and used Russia’s energy might to try to intimidate the European Union, might secure favorable concessions and set the outlines of a peace deal without them.

The overarching fear of many European countries is that Putin will set his sights on one of them next if he wins in Ukraine.

Merz said that “if there is no movement on the Russian side in Alaska, then the United States and the Europeans should and must increase the pressure” on Moscow

Zelenskyy said Tuesday that Putin wantsUkrainetowithdrawfromthe remaining 30% of the Donetsk region that it still controls as part of a ceasefire deal, a proposal the Ukrainian leader categorically rejected.

Zelenskyy reiterated that

Ukraine would not give up any territory 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. focused on ending the war have not addressed key Ukrainian demands, including security guarantees to prevent future Russian aggression and ensuring that Europe is included in negotiations.

Three weeks after Trump returned to office, his administration took the leverage of Ukraine’s NATO membership off the table — something Putin has demanded — and signaled that the EU and Ukraine must handle security in Europe now while America focuses its attention elsewhere.

Senior EU officials believe Trump may be satisfied with sim-

ply securing a ceasefire in Ukraine and that he is probably more interested in broader U.S. interests and great power politics, aiming to ramp up business with Russia and rehabilitate Putin.

Russian forces on the ground in Ukraine have been closing in on a key territorial grab around the city of Pokrovsk, in the eastern Donbas region that comprises Ukraine’s eastern industrial heartland, which Putin has long coveted. Military analysts using opensource information to monitor the battles have said Ukraine’s ability to fend off those advances could be critical. Losing Pokrovsk would hand Russia an important victory ahead of the summit and could complicate Ukrainian supply lines to the Donetsk region, where the Kremlin has focused the bulk of military efforts.

Energy Users Group. The coalition declined to comment. But the proposal has widespread political backing, including from Gov. Jeff Landry Entergy the state’s largest utility, has argued throughout the monthslong process that the new plants are in the public interest.

It also notes that commission rules allow the regulators to consider the request before the judge’s recommendation or at any other time during a proceeding

“At this time, the parties have issued in excess of 1,000 discovery requests, extensive testimony has been filed, and there was a multiday hearing on the company’s application,” Entergy spokesperson Brandon Scardigli said.

“The remaining procedural steps do not present an opportunity for additional questioning or evidence, and all parties have had a full and complete opportunity to present their case to the commission.”

‘Stomped in its tracks’

The commission meeting will be held in the city of Plaquemine, part of the panel’s practice of regularly traveling outside Baton Rouge.

In July, an administrative judge oversaw a hearing into whether the utility’s plan served the public interest — part of usual commission procedures But the hearing is only meant to be informational, with the commission not required to wait on the judge or even to abide by the recommendations After the three-day hearing, the various groups would typically file briefs and the judge would eventually issue a legal opinion.

Burke described the process as being “stomped in its tracks.” Commissioner Davante Lewis has previously raised concerns over the fasttracked timeline, but said

this week that he wouldn’t describe the moved-up vote as improper since the issues have been thoroughly debated. The process has also resulted in some agreements being reached Before the July hearing, a number of groups that were intervening in the case came to an agreement with the utility These groups include the Southern Renewable Energy Association, the Sierra Club, Walmart and the staff of the commission who help advise the regulators. Those agreements included additional commitments on renewable energy, though these are not legally binding.

The advocacy groups and the coalition of industrial companies representing the smallest and the largest Entergy customers — are the only ones still actively opposing the case.

‘All for it’

Meta announced its plans last December to build a $10 billion AI data center on a site in Richland Parish. Entergy wants to build the three new gas plants as well as other transmission infrastructure, at a cost of over $5 billion, to power the center

The facility needs unprecedented amounts of power — at least 2,600 megawatts, more than double the peak demand that New Orleans required during the city’s hottest summer

The tech company also has plans to scale up the data center to around double that energy capacity, and expand the site to rival the size of Manhattan, according to a July social media post by Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg. In publicly filed documents, Entergy says the tech giant will cover the costs of the three power plants for 15 years. But the oil and gas companies and the advocacy groups are concerned with Meta’s 15-year contract with Entergy, a deal that is hidden from public view, citing proprietary information. They’ve noted that the

gas plants can last between 30 and 45 years, far longer than Meta’s commitment to pay

Other new costs linked to the data center — including fuel for the plants and a $550 million transmission line — will not be covered by Meta, and are therefore shared by all of Entergy Louisiana’s customers.

Entergy says that if Meta decides to leave after the 15-year term, older plants in the utility’s system can be phased out in favor of the newer, more efficient ones. It is widely expected that the regulators will approve Entergy’s request. Two commissioners have already voiced their support.

“I’m for it 1,000%,” said Commissioner Foster Campbell, who represents utility customers in the area where the data center is being built. “It’s a part of the state that doesn’t get a lot of attention. These are good-paying jobs. I’m all for it.”

Other state officials, including Landry, have similarly welcomed the data center as a boon for growth It is expected to bring at least 300 permanent jobs and 5,000 at-peak construction jobs, thought it is unclear if these roles will be filled by locals.

Lewis said he has not made up his mind on how he will vote, as he’s still reviewing and meeting with involved parties.

“I still think there was a lack of transparency,” he said, noting questions around job creation and the projected energy usage of the facility

“We have never been asked to approve a utility building something so big for solely one customer. We didn’t take the steps that other states took where they created rules around how they will evaluate data centers, what requirements would that application have to have if a utility brought a data center online or onto the grid.”

Email Josie Abugov at josie.abugov@theadvocate. com.

Shown

BY JONATHANMATTISE

and SARAH BRUMFIELD

AssociatedPress

CHATTANOOGA,Tenn. Amoth-

er,fatherand child were killed when atree fell on theircar during heavyrain andflooding in Tennessee, where submerged roads also ledtodramatic rescuesof peopletrapped in their cars, authorities said Wednesday

The three were killed when saturated ground caused alarge tree to fall in the Chattanoogasuburb of East Ridge just after midnight, Hamilton County Office of EmergencyManagement spokesperson Amy Maxwell said. Additionally,abody was found when authorities were searching for aman whowas swept away when he ran past firefighters and abarricade that blocked a flooded road Tuesday,according to the Chattanooga Fire Department. The local police and medical examiner will determine the cause of death

3killedby fallen tree in heavyTenn. rains

The flooding prompted rescues of people stuck in homes and swamped vehicles. Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp declared alocal state of emergency Tuesday night. Residents were urged to exercise extreme caution At anews conference Wednesday,officials said they didn’t expect so much

rain and flooding to hit so quickly

At one point,there were 60 vehicles on the flooded interstate, saidChris Adams, director of emergency management for Hamilton County.Some first responders were carrying people on their backs who couldn’t

Chicagoofficerswho firednearly100 timesintraffic stop won’tbecharged

BY SOPHIA TAREEN Associated Press

CHICAGO Five Chicago police officers from atactical unit who fired their guns nearly 100 times during a 2024 trafficstop that killed a 26-year-oldman won’tface criminal charges, prosecutors announced Wednesday “The decision is not reached lightly nor doesit diminish the tragedy that occurred,” Cook County State’s Attorney EileenO’Neill Burke said at anewsconference. “But to the question of whether the officers committed acrime underthe Illinois Criminal Code, the answer is straightforward: They did not.” The shooting that killed Dexter Reed, aBlack man, raised questions aboutthe

use of force and therole of tactical officers who were involved. In Reed’s case, the officers were dressed in plainclothes and drove unmarked cars as theysurrounded Reed’sSUV on March 21, 2024. Reed fired first, which Burke said waspart of the “clear and overwhelming evidence” that led her to decideagainst pursuing charges. One officer was injured. Burke said Reed fired 11 rounds in two bursts with agun he obtained illegally The officers shot back 96 times, even after Reed left thevehicle, fell to theground and laymotionless. Oneofficer alone fired 50 shots. Reed was hit 13times, including on his legs and chest, accordingtothe Cook Countymedical examiner

The shooting andReed’s death happened within roughly one minute.

Policehavereleased little andattimes conflicting information about what prompted thetraffic stop. Initially policesaid officers had pulled Reed over for notwearinga seat belt. Latercityattorneys said it was due to illegally tinted windows.

Reed’s family alleged that the officers didn’tproperly identify themselves as police during the West Side trafficstop;lacked reasonable suspiciontostop Reed; escalated thesituationby immediately drawing guns, blocking his vehicle and shouting profanity-laced commands; andfailed to provide timely medical care as Reed lay in thestreet.

move well through thewater, anddropped them off on theraised divider in the middle of the highway,Adams added.

“Weall knowto‘turn around, not drown,’ but when you look at it and it’s 2inchesdeep,and then next thing you know it’s4

feet deep,that’ssomething you’venever seen before,” Adamssaid.

There weresomanycalls for help that 911 calls were “holding in everyminute of every hour for about three hours straight,” with a morethan 940 calls between 6p.m. andmidnight, said Barbara Loveless, director of operationsfor Hamilton County 911.

Troy Plemons, acommunicationssystemstechnician forEPB, Chattanooga’s electricity andtelecommunications utility,said he was stuck in trafficonaninterstateinhis bucket truck for two to threehours on Tuesdayevening whenthe area started to flood quickly

ThenPlemons said he saw the water pick up an SUV, and whenheand two Lawson Electric workersencouraged awoman inside to get out, shethrew up herhands like she didn’tknow if she could.

Plemons moved to the bed of atruck next to him to try to getclosertothe woman, but the water wasgetting up to her chestand he said he re-

alized someone was going to have to go in to get her

“I didn’tthink there was anytime,”hesaid. “I tried my best.”

Plemons said the water was reaching neck level for the womaninthe SUVwhen he used aboring bit offered by theLawson Electric workers to break the window and helped the woman get out.

“Itwas arush forsure. I felt like Iwas pretty calm until Ibrokethe window,” Plemonssaid. “I wasdoing everything Icould to get her outbecause the water was rising pretty quick.”

He helped the woman to the road and she sat down in his vehicle to warm up forawhile. There wereseveral rescuesofpeople whose cars were overwhelmed by water in theareauntil the water receded about two to three hours later and traffic begantomoveagain, Plemonssaid.

“I felt like Iwas there at the right time,” he said. “I’m thankful Iwas there to help that lady.”

Manwho livestreamed killings pleads guilty

BY ADRIANSAINZ Associated Press

MEMPHIS,Tenn. ATennessee man avoided atrial and possible death sentence by pleading guiltyWednesday to fatally shooting three people and wounding three others in adaylong seriesofshootings that was livestreamed on social media in 2022. Ezekiel Kelly,22, pleadedguilty to firstdegreemurderand two dozen other charges in aMemphiscourtroom. Shelby County Judge James Jones Jr.sentenced Kelly to threelifesentences without parole,plus 221 years, in adeal with prosecutors. Kelly hadpleadednot guiltyinthe shooting rampage in Memphis that led to acitywide shelter-in-placeorder.Hetookthe stand during Wednesday’shearing, telling thejudge he agreed to plead guilty and that he accepted the prison sentences.

Kellycried as the relative of avictim gave astatement in court. Kelly thensaidthere was nothing he could saytogive shooting victims and theirfamilies closure. He added that he wasinthe “darkest place of my life” at the time of the shootings andhewanted to help others avoid the same baddecisions he made. “God gave

me asecond chance,” Kelly said. Kelly’strial had been set to begin Feb. 9. His lawyers hadsaidthatevidenceinthe case included 400 witnesses and more than 300 videos. Prosecutors had said they plannedto seek the death penalty if Kelly were convicted of first-degree murder Along with the killings of Dewayne Tunstall, Richard Clark and Allison Parker Kelly also had been charged with offenses including attempted murder, reckless endangerment with adeadly weapon,theft and commission of an act of terrorism.

At least three witnesses saw Kelly shoot Tunstall during agathering at aMemphis home at about1 a.m. on Sept. 7, 2022, according to apoliceaffidavit. Clark and Parkerwereshotlater thatday,authorities said.

Policesaidthreeother people were wounded in the shootings, which took place in differentparts of Memphis, including at agas station, along an interstate and at an auto parts store. Kelly livestreamed himself on social media platforms firing agun and wounding aman at the auto parts store andtalking about shooting people.

Grandjurieshandupmurderindictments

St.Martin, Iberia parishes have busy week

Staff and KATC-TV reports

Grand juries in St. Martin and Iberia parishes handedupmultiple indictmentsthis week, Dis-

trict AttorneyMichael Haik told KATC-TV In Iberia Parish, Steven Vital, 29, was indicted on achargeof second-degree murder and felon in possession of a firearminthe slaying of Jermaine Riles. Riles, 49, was shot in the 100 block of Dark Alley the day after Christmasin2022. He died later at ahospital. Police calledthe shooting a “domestic-related homicide” but didnot release details.

Thegrand jury also indicteda 16-year-old from New Iberia in the slaying of Rylon Daniels. Daniels was 14 years old when he was shot in April at the 2025 SpanishFestival. The 16-year-old is now formally charged with second-degree murder Also indicted was Marklin Reaux, 36, of New Iberia. He’s accused of first-degreemurder, theft of amotor vehicle and possession of drugs. He’s asuspect in

theApril slaying of John Berard, which triggered amultiparish car chase. Police found Berard dead inside aPollard Avenue home and realized his car was missing. The car was spotted afew hours later by New Iberiapolice. They tried to pull thecar over,but the driver fled.The chase ended in Breaux Bridge, and Reauxwas takeninto custody.Policeidentified him as a relative of Berard’sand described theslaying as a“domestic-related homicide.”

The grandjuryalsoindicted Reginald Peters, 26, on acharge of second-degreemurderand two counts of afelon in possession of a firearm in the slaying of Denarius Joseph. Policefound Joseph’sbody in the street in March; he had been shot multiple times. Detectives with NewIberia police identified Peters as asuspect in the shooting

OUTONA LIMB

Agreategret cleansa bit of debris from its beak at Heymann Park in Lafayette on Wednesday

Cubanrestaurantto buildonJohnstonStreet

It will feature whole-roastedpigs

AGueydan man was arrested and is facing multiple charges related to childpornography and animal sex abuse.

CRIME BLOTTER

Advocate staff reports

“Cases like this are always very disturbing for ourLouisiana Bureau of Investigation agents.I’d like tothank them and deputies with the Acadia Parish Sheriff’s Office for their great work on this case. If you hurt our kids or animals in Louisiana, you’re going straight to jail,” Murrill said. Manbooked in childporn, sexual abuse of animals

BY JOANNA BROWN Staff writer

James Bouley,25, of Gueydan, was booked with100 counts of possession ofchild sexual abuse materialsunder the age of 13 and 10 counts of sexual abuse of an animal.He was booked into the Acadia Parish Jail with bail set at $125,000. Attorney General Liz Murrill’sLouisiana Bureau of Investigation, along with the Acadia Parish Sheriff’sOffice, conducted the investigation.

Yury Remedio, Lafayette’s newestrestaurateur, is excited to bring something new to theAcadiana area: whole roastedpigs.

“They’ll have theapple in their mouths,” said Remedio, who is busy demolishing the former site of Home Cut Donuts &Kolaches, 5611 Johnston St., to make room for CubanTradition, which he hopes to open at theend of the year

Remedio andhis wife,Denise, bought the building in late June and recently got ademolition permit from Lafayette Consolidated Government to beginwork on the building, records show His concept will be atwo-story building with aglass-enclosed dining space on the second floor and an open kitchenconcept at the entrance. The kitchen will be ashowcase for Remedio’s“Cajun microwaves”— glass rotisserie ovens forroasting pigs.

“Customers can seethe entire pig roasting and how we cook the Cuban food,” he said. “It will be allcompletely authentic and traditional.”

SinceRemedio is starting from scratchonthe site, he said he is also planning to add adrive-thru. He went for demolition instead of remodeling the building due to wall damage and safety issues.

Cuban Tradition will be afamily affair,run by Remedioand his wife, brother,sister-in-law,mom andcousins. Remedio, who workedinthe oil field before leaving to open the restaurant,isfamiliar with what it feels like to embark on theunknown.Hecame to theU.S.in 1994 after spending 16 days at sea navigating the Straits of Florida on ahomemade raft beforelandinginKey West, Florida.

“I came with four friends on four,55-gallon oildrums,” he said “Wepulled them together,made a platformand tied all four drums together.”

Remediocame to Lafayette a year later and “never left,” he said.

Barring any construction delays, Remedio is planning to open therestaurant on Dec. 31. It would be the second Cuban restaurant in Lafayette, along with Cafe Habana City, operated by Rafael Garcia and his family since 2002.

Email Joanna Brown at joanna. brown@theadvocate.com.

DOTD aims to partnerwith businesses

Staff report

Anew initiative is recruiting helpfrombusinessesinfourcitiestoremove trash and beautify Louisiana’shighwaysthrough a sponsorship program TheLouisiana Department of Transportation and Development haspartnered withAdopt AHighway MaintenanceCorp. for apilotprogram in Baton Rouge,New Orleans, Lafayette andShreveport. “Litter removalisa costly, ongoingissue in Louisiana,” DOTD Secretary Glenn Ledet said. “This partnership helps ease the financialburdenontaxpayers while creating acleaner more welcomingenvironment forresidents and visitors alike.”

DOTD said the program will serve as asustainable way to

through asponsorship program.

We add our voice to the chorus of those in Baton Rouge mourning the deathand celebrating the life of Sgt. Caleb Eisworth, the Baton Rouge Police officer who died almost two months after being struck by apickup truck while riding his police motorcycle in what prosecutors have alleged was an intentional attack because he wore abadge.

At times during the ensuing months following the June 16 attack, he seemed tobeimproving, but on Sunday,hesuccumbed while surrounded by loved ones.

A23-year veteran of the department and a motorcycle officer since 2008, Eisworth will be remembered as ahero who, during his career, was awarded anumber of commendations and awards including the Medal of Valor, thehighesthonor the departmentbestows, for having rescued aperson from aburning vehicle while off-duty Baton Rouge Police Chief Thomas Morse described Eisworth as a“wonderful guy” who loved his family and LSU sports. He leaves behindhis wife and adaughter

The attack on Eisworth should serve as the latest tragic reminder that,for many in law enforcement, apotentially fatal threat can come at any momentand from any direction.

It also comes at atime when there have been other acts of violence against police. In recent days, aDeKalb County Police officer was shot and killed while responding toa shooting at the federalCenters for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. And last month, aNew York City police officer was among those killed duringaManhattan shooting.

Louisiana has seen its share of anti-police violence. In March, St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Deputy Grant Candies was killed when he was deploying aspike strip during ahigh-speed chase in Slidell.

And we hardly need to be reminded of the traumatic summer of 2016, when an armed gunman, apparently angered by thedeathof Alton Sterling in police custody,ambushed law enforcement officers in Baton Rouge, killing three and wounding three more. Afourthdied years later due to injuries sustained in the ambush. This month also marks 20 years since the death of Det. Terry Lee Melancon Jr., another BRPD officer who was shot while on asearch warrant.

We acknowledge that not all policing is perfect. There are problems, of course, some of them serious. But there are also officers like Eisworth and Candies, bothofwhom died while fulfilling their duty to protect and serve their communities. That’sworthy of our respect and gratitude. And no amount of grievance can justify violence against the officers who patrol ourstreets.

The words of this editorial will do little to assuage the pain that Eisworth’sfamily is experiencing. Nevertheless, we hope and pray that they will find some comfort in knowing that all of Louisiana mourns with them.

LETTERSTOTHE EDITOR ARE WELCOME. HERE AREOUR

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

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

TO SEND US A LETTER, SCANHERE

OPINION

Apolice processionleavesOur Ladyofthe LakeHospital escorting officer Caleb Eisworthafter he wastaken off life supportonAug.10.

What asurprise! Gov.Jeff Landry and other prominent conservatives are attacking the East Baton Rouge Parish Library System again. The article on July 22 regarding the dismissal of alibrary employee after “he refused to use someone’s preferred pronouns” included some information that raises questions as to whether that is the single reason he wasdismissed. Luke Ash told WBRZ that he knew his choice violated the library’sinclusivity policy,yet he chose to violate it. Why would anyone choose to take ajob where they knew they disagreed with the employer’spolicy? And, would Landry keep an employee who purposely chose to violate the policies of his office?

Monday,asIfollowed the procession escorting Sgt.Caleb Eisworth through thehalls of OurLady of the LakeHospital, Iwitnessed something truly moving. Hundreds of hospital employees —doctors, nurses, clerical staff, maintenance workers, cafeteria personnel and others —lined the corridors to pay their respects. Many were in tears, manywere praying, all showing reverence for aman most of them had probably never known personally, but whose life they had respected during his time in their care.

These were people of all ages, races, political affiliations and faiths who came together in aspontaneous display of respect and compassion.

My wife and I, over our 55 years together,have lived in five different places and have always subscribed to adaily newspaper.Today’sAdvocate is, without adoubt, the best local paper we’ve ever read. People in theBaton Rouge area who don’tsubscribe missout on so much Andthe community suffers when residentsaren’tknowledgeable about local issues —such as taxes, roads, schools, businesses (new and old), events, crime, and more. Communities thrive when people pull together to solve problems, and good newspapers are

This outpouring of genuine love and emotion from health care workers whobarely knew him speaks volumes about the caliber of people we have serving in our healthcare system here in greater Baton Rouge.

This momentreminded me of the fundamental goodness that exists in our community,particularly among those who dedicate their lives to caring for others.

Special thanks to all health care employees in our community,and particularly on this occasion, to the staffand employees of OurLady of the Lake Hospital.

HILLAR MOORE district attorney,East Baton RougeParish

often the catalyst. The Advocateoffers an outstanding blend of national, state andlocal news. The staff writers are excellent; they present not just facts, but the context needed to understand each story.The food section is agem —especially its coverage of new restaurants. The editorial pages offer diverse andcompeting viewpoints, giving open-minded readers an opportunity to see both sides of theissues. Perhaps thepaper’smost valuable asset is its balanced editorial commentaryand willingness to call out politi-

According to the article, Ash stated that he saw “several” things at the library indicating that it was not “a place that was hospitable for aChristian.” IamaChristian. Ihave used the services provided by the East Baton Rouge Parish Library System for numerous years. Ihave visited the main library,many of the branches and used the bookmobile. Never have Ifelt that the main library,the branches or the bookmobile were inhospitable to me as aChristian. Ihave visited and used libraries in many other cities. In my opinion, the East Baton Rouge Parish Library System is one of the best and something to point to with pride.As evidenced by previous overwhelming voter approval on library issues, it seems that Iamnot alone in this opinion.

BEVERLYE.TIPTON Baton Rouge

cal misconduct. The editorials in “Our Views” are consistently accurate, honest and thoughtful —I especially value them during elections. Our local television stations are also impressive, but The Advocate’sdepth of coverage stands out. The printed press still offers unmatched opportunities to understand complex issues and to hold our government leaders and agencies accountable.

We are fortunate to have such anewspaper

KURT KIESLING Gonzales

COMMENTARY

KATRINA

YEARS

REFLECTIONS

CHARLES E. HAMILTON JR on culture

ArtbyChandra McCormick and KeithCalhoun

Knockeddown, notout

On Sunday evening, Aug. 28, 2005, I was looking out of theupper window of the Hyatt Regency NewOrleans, looking down as crowdswere scurrying to enter the Superdome. Ihad just checked into the hotel withmyfamily, including my daughterand my new grandson, Jordan,who was 6days old Iwas thinking aboutthe approach of Hurricane Katrina, predictedtoarrive the next day.Would Ibeabletogo home?

Earlier in the day,Ileft theZulu Club on Broad Street, makingsure everything was boarded upand sandbags were in place. Iwas elected Zulu president in June 2004. Ihad family responsibilities.Now Ihad clubresponsibilities.

That night, as aprecautionary measure, Hyatt personnel instructed hotel guests to grab blanketsand pillows and move to theballrooms downstairs. They would protect usfrom flying window glass. Ibrought abassinetfor Jordon

As thestorm arrived,myfamily,other guests and Iheardloud thunderand harsh winds beating againstthe walls. The atrium started to leak. Iworried aboutmy family andthe club.

It was arough night,but we felt relieved and blessed to be alive. We were ready to go home.

Then we heard thewater was rising

We decided to makeamove, to leave and take our chances goingelsewhere. Through rising waters, we drove across Loyola Avenue to theCrescent City Connection. We drove west across the bridge to Patterson, in St. Mary Parish, to my mother-in-law’shome.

We left the bassinet at the hotel. The next day,wedrove to Houston. My family was safe, including the baby.Iwatched what washappening in New Orleans. The club building on Broad Street had taken more than 4feet of water on thebottom floor.Thatwas aproblem. I wondered whether we could return to normal.

Nearly all of our Zulu members were in different locations. We would keep in touch by phoneand theinternet. After abouta month, Icalled a

PROVIDED PHOTOSByCHARLES HAMILTON LEFT,Jordan Barnes, Charles Hamilton’sgrandson, was6daysold when Hamilton and his family sought refugeinthe Hyatt Regency just before Hurricane Katrina struck on Aug. 29,2005. Twenty years later,Jordon is 20 and astudent at LSU in Baton Rouge.

membership meetinginPlaquemine, just outside of Baton Rouge. About 60 membersarrived from throughout the South. We discussed our future and debated next steps, ultimately deciding that we had to return and rebuild.

And we planned to parade on Mardi GrasDay 2006. We faced opposition, including among members who thought that wasn’tagood idea.

Icalled another meeting, this time at Southern Eagle on AirlineDriveinMetairie. More than 200 members voted to parade. That parade was scaled back. Our annual ball had 1,200 participants at the Hilton Riverside, not the20,000 we normally host at the Morial Convention Center

We did not have aking in 2006. Larry Hammond, who had been elected in May2005 to be the2006 Zulu king, asked to reign in 2007, and we obliged.

Theparade was modest, but theattention was huge. We had worldwide media attention from as far away as Russia and Japan. We paraded along an alternative route, so we didn’ttake the floats to our North Broad Street home. We did walk toour club from the Superdome. It was asight to behold and instrumental in our city’sreturn. Onewriter wrote that it was the year that “Zulu

Saved Mardi Gras.”

Oneaspect of that day that Iremember clearly.When my float reached Gallier Hall for thetraditional toast with the mayor,Isaid, “Katrina knocked us down, but did not knock us out.”

It was aheartfelt, passionate statement. Zulu was not knockeddown. Neither was New Orleans. We lost 12 memberstoHurricane Katrina. At St.John Institutional Missionary BaptistChurch on Jackson Avenue, achurch on our parade route, we prayed and thanked God forour members’ lives —and for moving us forward.

My grandson Jordon was born days before thebig storm. It was the right thingfor Zulu to rebuild. It wasthe right thingfor New Orleans to rebuild. Zulu has grown since 2005 from 200 memberstoamore diverse group of 800 members. Katrina baby Jordon, believed to be theyoungest person at the Hilton the night Katrina roared, is asophomore at LSU in Baton Rouge. He’ll be 20 years old afew days before the 20th anniversary of Katrina.

Jordon can look at Zulu and New Orleans can know that we and others madedecisions to continue to build our culture for his generation and others to come.

documenting the culture of Louisiana and its people for about 40 years.

Throughout August and September,weare featuring reflections on the 20th anniversary of hurricanes Katrina and Rita, two storms that changed Louisiana forever

NOPD officeraccused of hiring sexworkers

BY MISSY WILKINSON Staff writer

ANew Orleans Police

Department officer was arrested, accused of hiring sex workers while on the clock in the French Quarter, Louisiana State Police said Wednesday.

Terrance“TJ” Johnson, 56, aveteran officerinthe 8th District, was booked into Orleans Justice Center on Wednesday on counts of prostitution, malfeasance in office andinjuringpublic records. NOPD Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick said the Public Integrity Bureau is “fast-tracking” an internal investigation.

“This is so disappointing,” Kirkpatricksaid at amedia briefing Wednesday afternoon. “It’snot only disappointing. It’sdisgusting He jeopardized and compromisedthesafetyofhisfellow officers. We’ll take some immediate actions to have a removal from this agency as quickly as possible.”

An affidavit supporting an arrest warrant for Johnson says State Police identified him during their investigation of Danette Colbert, who is accused of drugging, robbing and ultimately killing Kansas City sports reporter

INDICTMENTS

Continued from page1B

and obtained warrants for his arrest. He was spotted at astore acouple days later,and after afoot chase, he was arrested. The grand jury also indictedAnikkera Johnson, 32,ofSt. Martinville, on achargeofprincipal to second-degree murder in this case.

The St. Martin Parish grand jury also handed

BLOTTER

Continued from page1B

The investigation is ongoing.

Police search for escaped inmate

Authorities are searching for an inmate who escaped police custody in Evangeline Parish.

Braylon Johnson, 25, escaped from theVille Platte City Jail just before 11 a.m. Sunday,according to Ville Platte Police Chief A. Perry Thomas.

Johnson was arrested July 29 and charged with domestic abuse, aggravated battery,and child endangerment. He also had abench warrant out of St. Landry Parish, authorities say Police are asking citizens to call 911 if theysee Johnson or know anything about his whereabouts.

Police arrest suspect in shooting

Lafayette policeofficers responded to areport of a shooting in the 100 block of North Loop Street about 4:20 a.m. Monday The victim told officers that he had gone to aresidence in the 200 block of Dewey Street and, after knocking on the door,was confronted by aman identi-

fied as Christian Simmons, according to astatement from the Lafayette Police Department. According to the victim, Simmons told him to leave, and as the victim was running away,Simmons began firing shots, striking the victim, police said. The victim then made his way to North Loop Street, where he contacted police. He was transportedtoa hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening.

Officers located Simmons and several witnesses at the residence on Dewey Street, and Simmons was arrested and booked intothe Lafayette Parish Correctional Center on counts of attempt-

rant states.

Adan Manzano, in town to cover theSuper Bowl in February Detectives foundJohnson listed as acontact on Colbert’sphone under “TJ Popo,” according to the affidavit.

Alongside Colbert’stexts directing a“full-scale, organized theft ring,” detectives found texts to Johnson. Police saidinsome, hetipped her off to potential “undercover feds” and solicited her for prostitution. Johnsonallegedly paid women forsex multiple times,including while on the clock and in uniform, the document states. One incident occurred in July,when police saida uniformed Johnson left his marked unit on North Peters Street near Crescent Park, gotinto awoman’svehicle and paid her $200 for sex. That womantoldpolice Johnson was “’a good trick’ who often paid women in exchange for sexual relations, and thatitwas widelyknown in the FrenchQuartercommunity,” the warrant states. In October,Johnsonallegedly toldhis colleagueshe wasonBourbon Street and “available if needed” when he washeaded to NewOrleans East for sex, the war-

up severalmurder indictments, Haik said The grand jury indicted Malik Alexander, 19, of BreauxBridge, on acharge of second-degree murder in theslaying of Andre Arceneaux, 19, who was shot to death in March Also indictedwas Michael Zachary,19, accused of second-degree murder and possession of an illegally transferred weapon in aMarch slaying in Cade. Three peoplewere shot during the incident on Smede

ed second-degree murder and possession of a firearm by aperson convicted of certain felonies

Police investigating suspicious death

TheOpelousas Police Department is investigatinga suspiciousdeath in the1200 block of Newman Street.

Officers respondedMondaytoa report of an unresponsive individual. When they arrived, they found the person dead at the scene. Because of the circumstances surroundingthe incident, investigatorsare treating the death as suspicious. Police are processing the scene andgathering information.

Authorities say anyone with information should call thePoliceDepartment or St. Landry CrimeStoppersat (337) 948-TIPS. All calls will remain confidential.

Jennings police arrest teen

Jennings police arrested ateentheysaidskipped school,got kickedout of Walmart for causing problems and led policeona chase ina stolenvehicle. Anotherteen is wanted by authorities.

Thenames have not been released because of their ages.

Officers respondedtoa call Monday froma mother who said her teen was“uncontrollable,”had skipped school and was kicked out of Walmart for disruptive behavior, according to Jennings police.

Storeemployees told police two teenshad been causing adisturbance insidethe store. They werereportedly runningthroughthe aisles with Nerf guns, and one had fireda Nerf projectile that hit acustomer in the face. Later,police received a report that the same two teenshad stolen avehicle from theWalmart parking lot. Thevehiclewas spotted near Fire Station 2onLa. 26, but the teens drove offwhen officers attempted atraffic stop, leadingtoachase to-

A28-year NOPD veteran, Johnson accrued alengthy disciplinary history,according to Public Integrity Bureau records. It includes a November 2005 violation for neglectofduty afterhewas “AWOL”during Hurricane Katrina.

He was suspendedfor a day in 2015 for breaking the department’suse-of-force policy.Hewas again disciplined with aone-day suspensionin2018 for neglect of duty.

In July 2019, Johnson ran ared light in his Ford F-150 and struck abike commuter on the way to hisRoyal Street job.

Johnsonrefusedtoidentify himself to thecyclistand left the scene at St. Louisand North Rampart streets. The cyclist wenttothe 8th Districtstation to file areport Investigatorspulledsecurity footagetoidentify Johnson, whowas notchargedcriminally.Instead,hereceived letters of reprimand for lapsesinprofessionalism and adherence to the law,records show Johnson faces two counts of prostitution, three counts of malfeasance in office and two counts of injuring public records.

Highway,and Javeuin Williams,20, of Breaux Bridge, died.Policewere called to the location and found that therehad been an argument and someonehad fireda gun into agroup of people,then fled thescene. Zacharycrashed his vehicle near the scene and was transported to thehospital. When he was released, he was booked with possession of an illegally transferred weapon, and following an investigation, amurder charge was added.

ward Lake Arthur.The pursuit was called off after officers lost sight of the vehicle.

Early Tuesday,the mother of one of the teens called police and said her son was at Marcus Cain Park.Officers dispatched tothe park recoveredthe vehicle andone of the teens. Police said the second teen ranaway and remains at large.

The teen who was found was arrested and released to his mother’scustody,police said. He received citations for theft of amotor vehicle and being an unruly and ungovernable juvenile.

The investigation is ongoing.

Police: Twoarrested in rape of child

TwoLakeCharlesmen were arrested, accused of rape,after police received a report of inappropriate contact withachild.

On Sunday,Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’sOffice deputies were dispatched after acomplaint alleged that 23-yearold Jacobe S. Young had inappropriate sexualcontact withachild under the age of 13, according to astatement from the department.

Sheriff’s Office Special Victims Unit detectives assisted withthe investigation and found that20-year-old Kayden I. Bruner had also had inappropriatesexual contact withthe child, police said.

Police alsofound bruises on thechild’s body.Young and Brunerwerebooked into theCalcasieuCorrectional Center on counts of first-degree rape. Bruner was also booked on cruelty to ajuvenile.

Acelebration of life will be held at 11:30 AM on Friday, August 15, 2025 in Delhomme Funeral HomeChapel of theFlowers for John Edward Erny,77, who passed away on August 7, 2025 at HoustonMethodist Hospital.

PastorMike Walker will conduct thefuneralservices.

Aprivateburial willtake place in Calvary Cemetery on Saturday, August 16, 2025.

Mr. Erny, aresident of Lafayette, was theson of thelate Lawrence "Prof" Erny and theformerEvelyn Sibille.Heleavesbehinda legacy of laughter, generosity,and an unmatched devotion to thoseheloved.

Obituaries belovedwife of 42 years, Martha"Marti" Swarthout Erny; son Scott Erny, daughterAlexandraErny Johanningand herhusbandMike Johanning; grandson, Barron Johanning; siblings, Lawrence"Larry" (Glory) Erny, Beverly"Sue" Erny (Mickey) Marcello,and Rita Erny Pendergraft; sister-in-law,MillieErny; and numerouscousins, nieces &nephews whowerecherished andloved. He wasprecededin death by hisparents, Lawrenceand Evelyn Erny; brother, James"Jim" Erny; and brother-in-law,Marion "Penny"Pendergraft, & UncleGerald "Jerry"Sibille Thefamilyrequeststhat visitinghours be observed at Delhomme Funeral Home -Bertrand on Friday, August 15, 2025 from 9:30 AM untilthe time of service Personal condolences may be sent to thefamily of John Edward Erny at: www.delhommefuneralho me.com John Edward Ernyand hisfamilywerecared for andentrusted final arrangements to Delhomme Funeral Home, 1011 BertrandDrive, Lafayette, LA.

Hisfaith and optimisticbelief sustained John through many physical battlesfollowing amultiple transplant surgery in 1995.

After leaving thefamily music industry, John built The Erny Insurance agency from theground up,growing it into athriving business with multiple locations across Louisiana Just weeksbeforehis passing,John had proudly merged his agency with Select Risk Insurance Group. He was genuinely excited abouthis new role as SeniorVice President, seeingitasthe next chapterindoing what he loved most.

John's passionfor sports followedhim after an activehighschoolcareer at NorthsideHigh School with atraveling softball team &culminating with highschool officiating.Heserved his industryand community in countless ways. He was a member and past president of the Professional Insurance Agents of Acadiana and servedon thestate board.Hewas activeinthe Junior Chamber of Commerce, served as president of the KiwanisClub of Acadiana, and member of the Louisiana High School OfficialsAssociation.

John's life was rich with deep friendships- especiallyhis close-knit group of PhiKappa Theta(PKT) fraternitybrotherswho continue to gather regularly,his lifelong friend group fromNorthsideHigh, and his dear friend and trainer, Kevin Castille who continually encouraged himinthe gym. John's quick wit,unwavering generosity, and big-hearted nature touched everyone who knew him. His most recent passion was his grandson who brought so much joy intohis life He is survivedbyhis

ALiturgyofthe Word will be held at 1:30 PM on Friday, August 15, 2025 in Delhomme Chapel of the Flowers for Patsy Jane Miller Mahfouz, 90, who passedawayonTuesday, August 12, 2025. Rev. Msgr. KeithJ DeRouen,Pastor of Our Lady QueenofAngels Catholic Church,will conduct thefuneral services. Entombment will take place in Calvary Mausoleum. Patsy was born in Cankton,LAonJuly23, 1935. Shewas an honorary graduate of Lafayette High School andshortly after, moved to Jennings, LA to pursuea career in hair styling.Itwas through this journeythatshe met the love of herlife, Alexis,who wasthe best man at her friend'swedding. ReturningtoLafayette in theearly 60s, they built a life filledwithmanyfriendships bringingmuch joy andhappiness. Although Patsy wasanonlychild, she fondlyreminded often that acircleoffriends is so important. Memories of rosarymornings, Run Away Moms trips, bourree

games, casinoruns, bingo nights at thePetroleum Club, andbridge tables broughta smiletoher face. She wasa veracious reader and wonderful cook.

Adevoted wife,daughter, mother,grandmother, andgreat-grandmother, shewas so proudofher familyand washappiest when surrounded by them Sheissurvivedbyher children, onedaughter, Leslie Mahfouz Patoutand herhusband, Sebastian, andone son, Alex A. Mahfouz Jr.; two grandchildren,BrittanyA.Mahfouz andAlexA.Mahfouz, III; great-grandson,Jayden Brown; numerousnieces & nephews.

Shewas preceded in death by herbeloved husband of 50 years, Alexis AnthonyMahfouz, Sr.; and hermother, Edmay Miller Thefamilyrequeststhat visitinghours be observed at Delhomme Funeral Home -Bertrand on Friday, August 15, 2025 beginning at 10:00 AM.ARosarywill be ledbyPatsy's Thursday MorningRosary Groupat 1:00 PM in the funeral home parlor.

Pallbearers willbeAlex Mahfouz III,AlMahfouz, KahlilMahfouz, Jason Mahfouz, Danny Babineaux, andCharles Marcantel.

Memorial contributions may be sent in the name of Patsy Miller Mahfouz to: St.Joseph's Diner, De La Salle Christian Brothers, or thecharity of yourchoice. Thefamilywould like to give special thanks to Dr. Richard Hines, Dr. Timothy Keys, andKimberly Parich for thecare given Patsy theselast few years. Much gratitude to "Nita" who took suchlovingcareof mom everyeveningduring thelast month of herlife. Personal condolences may be sent to thefamily of Patsy JaneMiller Mahfouz at: www.delhom mefuneralhome.com Patsy JaneMiller Mahfouz andher family were caredfor and entrustedfinal arrangements to Delhomme Funeral Home, 1011 BertrandDrive, Lafayette, LA. CopyrightDelhomme Funeral Homes, Inc. August 2025.

SPORTS

Shough finding footing afterearly struggles

BY LUKE JOHNSON Staff writer

IRVINE,Calif.— Before the New Orleans Saints decampedfor Southern California, Tyler Shough missed an opportunity to make abig play duringascrimmage at the team’sMetairie facility

The rookie quarterback rolled to hisleft and saw receiver Rashid Shaheed flash open to his right in the end zone. Shough squared his shoulders to throw and tried to squeeze the ball through awindow that was never reallythere. Linebacker Nephi Sewell read what washappeningand drifted back toward the middle of the field, easily intercepting the throw and killing a red-zone opportunity Flash forward to amorerecent practice on UC-Irvine’scampus.There wasShough, rolling to his left and seeingareceiver flash open in theend zone.Thistime, he threw the ball high toward theback of the end zone —what he described as a“top-shelf” throw.Ifitwas off the mark, it would have sailed harmlessly out of bounds. Instead, receiver Kevin Austin high-pointed it fora touchdown.

“The best lesson I’ve learned is, you’re goingtohave to accept failure sometimesand keep going,” Shough said. ä Jaguars at Saints NOON SUNDAy,KATC

When Dan Borne applied to becomethe public addressannouncer at TigerStadium in 1986, his voice was theonlyone heard. The job was his, virtually by default. Thatwasn’tthe case after Borne announced his retirement in July.LSU has received about 40 formal applicationsto fill Borne’srole, asearch that has reached the red zone with the Tigers’ Sept.6home opener against Louisiana Tech drawingcloser It is ahuge responsibility and void to fill. Theseat in Tiger Stadium’sPAboothhas had precious few occupants. Since 1955, only threepeople haveheldthe job: lateWAFB weatherman Sid Crocker from 1955-85, Borne and Bill Franques. The PA announcer and publicistfor LSUbaseball, Franques filledin for Borne during the 2024 season when the latter took aleave of absence for medical reasons, as well as for asprinkling of other games over the years.LSU is seekingareplacement for Borne as thePAannouncer for men’sbasketball as well.

Dave Haskin, the LSU associateathletic

EY OP ERS

BY KOKI RILEY Staff writer

LSUpassed the halfway mark of preseason camponTuesday,holding its11th practice ahead of theseason opener at Clemson on Aug. 30. Here are five observationsthrough the first halfofpreseason practices for LSU.

Perkinsmakingplays

After tearing hisACL during the fourthgame of theseason ayear ago, redshirt junior linebacker Harold Perkins has wreaked havoc during camp. Perkins’ speed,agility andquickness have all returned to pre-injury levels.Healsoappearsmorecomfortable returning to thestar position,ahybrid safety/linebacker role that gives him thefreedom tomake plays all over the field. Between Perkins andjuniorWhit Weeks, LSUheadsinto theseason

with oneofthe best linebacking corps in thecountry O-linequestions

Replacing fourthree-year starters along the offensive linealways was going to be achallenge for LSU. With Will Campbell, EmeryJones, Garrett Dellingerand Miles Frazier all in the NFLnow, theTigersadded two transfers and brought back onestarter,relying on their younger pieces to fill the remaining holes That strategy has provided mixed results. The unit has held its own in

pass protection at times —the first team dominated the defensive line in one-on-one drills Saturday —but also consistently struggledtorun the ball, especially in short-yardage situations.

Coach Brian Kellyinsiststhe starters aren’tset, but LSU has leaned on thesamefivelinemen since the beginning of camp.

Virginia Tech center Braelin Moore has been arock at center

Redshirt sophomore DJ Chester and Northwestern transfer Josh

ä See LSU, page 3C

Cajuns players, staff settotourupdated stadium aheadofseasonopener

BY KEVIN FOOTE Staff writer

UL coach Michael Desormeaux saw the progress in December and then one more time in February, but he intentionally has avoided peeksatthe newly renovated Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium since.

“I was blown away at what it is, Desormeaux said of his lastvisit.“ButI said, ‘I don’twant to see anymore until it’s done.’ ” Saturday is that day

“On the 16th,we’re goingtoset up atour forthe team to go see it,” Desormeaux said. “It’s going to be like Christmas.You walk in and it’ssomething that’shard to believe is ours.

“It’ssomething that’sreally special. I’m excited to getinthere andgosee the finished product.” Redshirt seniorTerrenceWilliams has

heard about theplans for the stadium renovation since his days of being recruited, so Saturday will be areal treat forhim

“It’sgoing to be very exciting to see,” he said. “As players, youknow, we haven’t seen it yet. We’vejustseenthe outsideand how good it looks from theoutside and

seeing it lit up at night. “That’sbeen agreat experience, but to see the inside of it and actually be able to see it whenit’sdone, it’sgoing to be very exciting.”

Scheffler to use different caddie at BMW tourney

Liberty eager to bounce back

Flames movitated in Conference USA after disappointing 2024 season

BY TERESA M.WALKER

AP sportswriter

The Liberty Flames find themselves in a familiar position favored to win the Conference USA title with added motivation of bouncing back from a disappointing 2024.

Coach Jamey Chadwell and his Flames were favored a year ago only to miss the title game. They also finished on a two-game skid capped by a loss in the Bahamas Bowl.

“Maybe a bad taste in the mouth about how we finished thinking that we could’ve had a better season than we had last year and I think the guys returning knew that and they knew why we didn’t and they’re focused on making sure we don’t beat ourselves moving forward,” Chadwell said.

Liberty had a game canceled by Hurricane Helene in September, then stumbled to a 5-3 mark in league play and 8-4 overall. It was a big drop from 2023 when Liberty went undefeated in winning the CUSA championship and a berth in the Fiesta Bowl in Chadwell’s first season.

Now Chadwell is managing the transfer portal that saw quarterback Kaidon Salter go to Colorado Ethan Vasko is among 13 portal additions, and the quarterback threw for 2,110 yards and 14 touchdowns last season at Coastal Carolina. Vasko also ran for 447 yards and five more scores.

Chadwell said the challenge now in Conference USA is knowing which teams got “plucked” through the portal and who’s actually back.

He sees his fellow coaches now having to build teams each season rather than programs.

“We lost a bunch of guys just like everybody else, but I do think we have a good nucleus,” Chadwell said.

“I think we have a chance to have a really, really good year if we can stay together and stay connected.”

Liberty also will be relying on Vaughn Blue and JuJu Gray to keep an offense clicking after ranking fourth nationally last season averaging 250.7 yards rushing

per game. Western Kentucky also is a heavy favorite after the Hilltoppers lost in the title game last December

Defending C-USA champ Jacksonville State will try to defend its league title with a first-year head coach.

Louisiana Tech is expected to bounce back after a 5-8 season as well.

Transfer portal help

Western Kentucky went back to the portal for a quarterback with Maverick McIvor transferring from Abilene Christian.

McIvor threw for 3,847 yards and 30 touchdowns with seven interceptions.

McIvor should be comfortable with offensive coordinator Rick Bowie, brought along for the same job

Other portal additions include running back George Hart III and a pair of wide receivers in K.D. Hutchinson and Noah Meyers.

Newcomer coach

Jacksonville State has Charles Kelly in his first season as a first-

time head coach replacing Rich Rodriguez, who went to West Virginia.

Kelly was hired away from Auburn where he had been co-defensive coordinator to return to where he started his coaching career at Jacksonville State in 1994.

The Gamecocks hope to ease Kelly’s transition with the addition of running back Cam Cook, who transferred from TCU after scoring nine TDs in 2024.

Tony Franklin’s back

The offensive coordinator is back at Louisiana Tech where he was coordinator between 2010 and 2012. He’s also had a stint in the same role at Middle Tennessee for six seasons before retiring in January 2021. Louisiana Tech already has quarterback Evan Bullock returning after throwing for 2,104 yards with 14 TDs and only three interceptions

The last time Franklin was the Bulldogs’ offensive coordinator, Louisiana Tech led FBS scoring 51.5 points and piling up 577.9

yards per game.

Waiting for bowl options

Delaware and Missouri State are in the second year transitioning from the Football Championship Subdivision to the Football Bowl Subdivision.

That means they’re not eligible for bowl games. But if the record is worthy, they each could become eligible if not enough FBS teams are available to fill the slots.

Notable matchups

The season starts Aug. 23 when Sam Houston visits Western Kentucky C-USA has packed its schedule with some heavyweight games starting with Kennesaw State visiting Wake Forest on Aug. 29 and Missouri State at Southern California on Aug. 30. Sept. 6 is a big day for C-USA with FIU at Penn State, Kennesaw State at Indiana, Delaware going to Colorado, Middle Tennessee playing at Wisconsin and Louisiana Tech visiting LSU. UTEP goes to Texas on Sept 13, and Western Kentucky visits LSU on Nov 22 before the season finale at Jacksonville State.

Venus Williams, 45, set for U.S. Open singles

BY HOWARD FENDRICH

AP tennis writer

NEW YORK Venus Williams will make her return to Grand Slam tennis at the U.S. Open after a twoyear absence, receiving a wildcard invitation on Wednesday to compete in singles at Flushing Meadows at age 45. The American will be the oldest entrant in singles at the tournament since Renee Richards was 47 in 1981, according to the International Tennis Federation Williams already had been given a wild-card entry by the U.S Tennis Association for next week’s mixed doubles competition. Singles matches begin in New York on Aug. 24. She is the owner of seven major singles championships including at the U.S. Open in 2000 and 2001 along with another 14 in women’s doubles, all won with her younger sister, Serena, plus two in mixed doubles. Serena retired with 23 Slam singles trophies after playing at the 2022 U.S Open The older Williams last participated in a Grand Slam tournament at the 2023 U.S. Open, losing in the first round. She hasn’t won a singles match there since 2019. When Williams came back to the tour last month at the DC Open for her first match anywhere in 16 months, a reporter asked whether that would be a one-time thing or if there were plans for other tournaments “I’m just here for now and who knows?” she replied then. “Maybe there’s more. But at the moment, I’m focused just on this. I haven’t played in a year There is no doubt I can play tennis but obviously coming back to play matches, it takes time to get in the swing of things I definitely feel I’ll play well. I’m still the same player I’m a big hitter. I hit big. This is my brand.”

Last year, Williams had surgery to remove uterine fibroids and missed most of the season. In Washington this July she competed for the first time since March 2024 at the Miami Open and became the oldest woman to win a tour-level singles match since Martina Navratilova was 47 at Wimbledon in 2004; Williams

Scottie Scheffler is going with a PGA Tour caddie for the BMW Championship as his regular looper, Ted Scott, deals with a family emergency at home in Louisiana. A Lafayette native, Scott had to leave immediately after the third round of the FedEx St Jude Championship, and Scheffler used longtime friend Brad Payne from the College Golf Fellowship.

This week he has turned to Michael Cromie. He usually works for Chris Kirk, who missed qualifying for the BMW Championship by one shot. The family matter involving Scott was kept private, though Scheffler said he has spoken to him a couple of times and the family was in good spirits. Scheffler remains the No. 1 seed in the FedEx Cup at the BMW Championship.

Browns QB Sanders likely to miss game with an injury Cleveland rookie quarterback

Shedeur Sanders suffers an oblique injury during drills ahead of practice Wednesday and is considered unlikely to play in the Browns’ preseason game against the Eagles.

Sanders did not play the remainder of the practice session after he was hurt and was ruled out of Thursday’s practice.

Sanders and the Browns were in Philadelphia for a pair of joint practices ahead of Saturday’s preseason game.

The Browns said Sanders is dayto-day

Sanders completed 14 of 23 passes for 138 yards with two first-half touchdown passes to Kaden Davis in his NFL preseason debut in a win over Carolina on Friday night.

Running back Cook agrees to four-year deal with Bills

Running back James Cook secured a big payday and a four-year deal to stay with the Buffalo Bills, ending his contract standoff. Cook’s deal will pay him $48 million over the four years, two people with knowledge of the agreement confirmed to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity

The contract includes $30 million in guaranteed money one of the people said. Cook was selected by Buffalo in the second round of the 2022 draft out of Georgia.

The new deal comes a day after Cook ended his weeklong standoff by returning to practice. He skipped four straight sessions and although he took part in warmups, he declined to play in Buffalo’s preseason-opener against the New York Giants on Saturday

NBA approves sale of Celtics for $6.1 billion

The NBA on Wednesday unanimously approved the sale of the Boston Celtics to a group led by private equity mogul Bill Chisholm, a deal that values the franchise at more than $6.1 billion the largest ever for an American pro-sports team.

also won a doubles match at the DC Open.

In the process, Williams drew a ton of attention for her tennis, yes, but also for letting the world know she’s engaged to an Italian actor and for her half-joking comments about needing to get back on court to get covered by health insurance.

“I love Venus We’re friends. I didn’t really know this was something she was still wanting to do. But I also didn’t know it was something she didn’t want to do,” said Mark Ein, the chairman of the hard-court tournament in Washington. “I was surprised. And it was a wonderful surprise.”

Williams also entered the Cincinnati Open via a wild card last week, exiting in the first round of singles.

In New York, she will play in the Aug. 19-20 mixed doubles tournament with Reilly Opelka, a 27-year-old American who used to be ranked in the top 20.

Other women getting singles wild cards for the U.S. Open are Americans Clervie Ngounoue, Julieta Pareja, Caty McNally, Valerie Glozman and Alyssa Ahn, plus France’s Caroline Garcia — who’ll be playing in her last Grand Slam tournament before retirement — and Australia’s Talia Gibson.

Men’s wild cards went to Americans Brandon Holt, Nishesh Basavareddy, Tristan Boyer, Emilio Nava, Stefan Dostanic and Darwin Blanch, and France’s Valentin Royer and Australia’s Tristan Schoolkate.

The league said the transaction is expected to close shortly When it does, Chisholm will take ownership of at least 51% of the team, with full control coming by 2028 at a price that could bring the total value to $7.3 billion. The previous record for a U.S sports franchise was the $6.05 billion paid for the NFL’s Washington Commanders in 2023. The record price for an NBA team was the $4 billion mortgage firm owner Mat Ishbia paid for the Phoenix Suns in 2023.

Rangers put slugger García on 10-day IL

The wild card-chasing Texas Rangers put slugger Adolis García on the 10-day injured list Wednesday because of a sprained left ankle, and activated outfielder Evan Carter after he missed 10 games because of back spasms.

Texas made the moves with both outfielders before their series finale against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Another outfielder, Wyatt Langford, was held out of the lineup because of forearm stiffness but could be available to pinch-hit. García is hitting .224 with 16 homers and 64 RBIs in 116 games. He hit .176 (6 for 34) during the nine-game homestand that ended with Wednesday’s game Carter was in a 4-for-34

Dubose ready to go

A year ago, injuries took a toll on the depth at cornerback, and it limited what first-year defensive coordinator Jim Salgado could do with the group. The plan this season is to be more aggressive at the position

A big part of that new approach is 6-foot, 185-pound redshirt junior Lorenzell Dubose.

“I feel like this year is really the year I have a lot to prove that I can be the best in the Sun Belt,” Dubose said. “In the spring, the coaches talked a lot about maybe being able to attack and play more press coverage than they did last year.”

Dubose said he’s much more confident in his ability to play press coverage

“That’s pretty much the main thing I’ve been trying to work on, so I can challenge more balls and to basically just contest a lot of catches,” said Dubose, who was credited with 11 tackles, one pass breakup and 1.5 stops behind the line in 13 games as a reserve last season. “I’ve been working on that for the longest, and it’s going to show up this season.”

Dubose gives credit to former UL cornerback Keyon Martin for helping him develop Taking Martin’s place at one starting cornerback spot is Richmond transfer Trae Tomlinson.

“Yeah, that’s my guy,” Dubose said of Tomlinson. “Ever since he came in, he’s just been working. He’s a very hard worker He’s always doing extra to get better He’s a leader. He’s been leading the young guys. He’s just a great guy.”

Cambre’s lasting impact

Dalen Cambre still is an influence on the UL Ragin’ Cajuns.

The wide receiver and special teams standout currently is in camp with the New York Giants after signing with the NFC East club shortly after the NFL draft concluded in April.

But his diligence to details and approach to being the best teammate possible are still being utilized by the UL coaching staff. When offensive coordinator Tim Leger was asked how tough it’s going to be to feed so many mouths in the receiver room, he had a quick response. It started with the unit’s chemistry and the example that Cambre left behind.

“Dalen is a guy who had 10 career catches,” Leger said. “Yet he’s still in an NFL camp, right, and he’s got a really good chance to make that team. So it’s not always about how many balls you catch. It’s about when you get on the field. If you play at a really high level, people are going to notice.”

Email Kevin Foote at kfoote@theadvocate.com.

SAINTS

Continued from page 1C

Plays like these illustrate the growth that has been evident lately Shough learned from the bad interception and a week later applied the knowledge to earn a positive outcome.

Shough’s start to training camp was fairly bumpy He played half a tick slow he struggled with pressure, he sometimes looked unwilling to show off his arm with aggressive throws and instead opted for check-downs. But as things have progressed the No. 40 overall pick appears to be finding his footing and is making a strong push to claim the team’s starting quarterback job. It has helped that the Saints have been playing what Shough described as “realistic football” in recent practices While New Orleans is still doing some scripted periods, it has shifted more heavily into “call-it” mode, in which the offensive and defensive play-callers call plays live depending on the situation.

Shough has appreciated that his play-caller, head coach Kellen Moore, is a former professional quarterback who understands the benefit of having practice follow a game-like flow.

RABALAIS

Continued from page 1C

director for marketing and broadcast operations, is overseeing the search He said he’s never experienced the volume of interest in a job like this before.

“I’ve done these searches before, but not to this magnitude,” Haskin said. “It’s kind of like replacing a long-standing head coach. It’s a very important piece of LSU’s game day, not just for football but for men’s basketball.

“The thing that got me was all the people who grew up with Dan being the voice of LSU football and basketball. What he meant to LSU It’s an honor and carrying that tradition on to the next person is a tall task. Those are big shoes to fill. But I know he’s honored to have the ‘passing of the mic,’ as he told me.”

Borne, who was the longtime president of the Louisiana Chemical Association, has inspired a wide variety of applicants. One is Bill Sanders, principal at Lee & Associates, a local commercial real estate firm. Sanders’ experience at sports

Continued from page 1C

Thompson have earned the majority of reps at guard, but LSU also has rotated in redshirt sophomore Paul Mubenga and redshirt freshman Coen Echols at their spots. At tackle, redshirt sophomore Tyree Adams and redshirt freshman Weston Davis routinely have held starting positions.

Adams started at left tackle in the Texas Bowl and has maintained the role throughout camp. Davis has had promising moments thanks to his athleticism and size, but he’s also struggled in pass protection and has committed multiple false-start penalties.

Defensive depth

An aggressive offseason in the transfer portal combined with a core of young players returning and key players such as Perkins coming back mean that LSU heads into the season with its deepest defense under coach Brian Kelly

That reality has been evident this preseason. Defensive coordinator Blake Baker has continued to rotate defenders in and out of the first unit during scrimmages. The Tigers have gone at least four deep at defensive tackle and edge rusher, have relied on multiple linebackers, and haven’t been afraid to rotate safeties and cornerbacks in and out depending on the situation

Young players not expected to play a major role heading into camp have emerged. Freshman CJ Jimcoily has stepped up as a physical option at the star position. Redshirt freshman Tylen Singleton has

announcing admittedly is limited. It entails calling eighthgrade basketball games for his nephew at St. Aloysius School But there was something about the LSU PA job that spoke to Sanders, as it no doubt did for thousands of other LSU fans, an inner and perhaps unspoken ambition. Difference was, Sanders took his shot and actually clicked on the button to submit his audition tape while most folks dismissed the notion out of hand.

“You really do feel funny recording yourself on your phone at the kitchen island and converting it to an MP3 file, which I had to ask ChatGPT how to do,” Sanders said with a chuckle. “It’s the definition of getting uncomfortable. But, I thought, why not take a shot? The main reason I wanted to do it was to tell my kids you have to be willing to try things that are hard and not be afraid to fail.”

Applicants were asked to submit an audition tape reading from a script and send it in electronically Finalists are being brought into Tiger Stadium this week for in-person auditions.

“I’ve done these searches before, but not to this magnitude. It’s kind of like replacing a long-standing head coach. It’s a very important piece of LSU’s game day, not just for football but for men’s basketball.”

DAVE HASKIN, LSU associate athletic director for marketing

Mike Smith, the longtime voice of LSU gymnastics meets, is one of the finalists. He heads to Tiger Stadium’s PA booth Thursday for his in-person audition, put in the unusual position of having his voice boom out not over 100,000 voices but 100,000 empty seats.

“From my perspective, it’s an honor to be considered and very gratifying,” said Smith, the founder and CEO of MDSA Strategic Communications, a St. Francisville-based public relations firm. Smith got his start as the PA announcer for LSU softball, and he also called soccer, swimming and diving meets and even LSU

made plays at linebacker Redshirt freshman edge rusher Kolaj Cobbins has shown potential as a pass rusher Starters from years past haven’t been guaranteed the same roles on this year’s team. Sixth-year senior defensive tackle Jacobian Guillory

has rotated in and out of the firstteam defense, as has sophomore Ahmad Breaux. And fifth-year senior safety Jardin Gilbert has worked fewer snaps with the first team because of the emergence of NC State transfer Tamarcus Cooley and Houston transfer AJ Haulcy

Saints quarterback Tyler Shough looks to make a pass during the

Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday in Inglewood, Calif.

“Whenever we’re going in the actual football scenarios, I think that’s when I perform the best,” Shough said. “We’re out there, and I’m just operating and feeling it and getting out there on the move and all those things. That’s where I feel most comfortable.” Moore repeatedly has said that one of the traits he likes about Shough is his maturity and the way he’s demonstrated an ability to respond to adversity In college, that meant navigating several serious injuries. Through training camp, it has meant bouncing back after a mistake on the practice field or in a preseason game. That was evident in the preseason opener, when Shough threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown “It’s not what we want; it’s a low moment for any quarterback,” Moore said. But the way he re-

sponded was excellent.”

The response was a five-play, 82-yard touchdown drive. Shough went 4 for 4 for 80 yards on that drive, with the final throw a 54yard thunderbolt to Mason Tipton for a score. That is the sort of stuff Moore is looking for out of his young quarterback, and it is why Moore has been optimistic about Shough even while he was going through his growing pains earlier in camp.

“This is Tyler’s first NFL train-

baseball. It was during a softball game at old Tiger Park where then LSU gymnastics coach D-D Breaux strode into the press box to look Smith up in person.

“She asked me if I knew anything about gymnastics,” Smith said. “I said, ‘No, ma’am, I don’t.’ She said, ‘You’re perfect for the job.’ I said, ‘How’s that?’ She said, ‘I’ll teach you everything you need to know.’ ” Thirty-one years later, Smith is still at it. He also has been the PA voice of the SEC gymnastics championship meets since 2018.

“I’ve learned a lot about the fans and emotions and inner workings of the sport,” Smith said. “I know how to get folks fired up, but the primary focus is to inform. It’ll give me the opportunity to bring that to Tiger Stadium, if I’m so fortunate.”

Haskin said LSU is planning to honor Borne at a home football game this season, though which one has yet to be determined. The new Tiger Stadium PA voice will no doubt make the introductions. It will be then that the mic truly will be passed.

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

Gooden is a problem

No defensive lineman has made more plays in the backfield than Bernard Gooden, a transfer from South Florida.

At6-foot-1and268pounds,Gooden uses his smaller size to his advantage. He’s quick off the snap, agile and often too slippery for blockers to stay in front of. No defensive linemanhasbeenmoreeffectiveagainst the run than him so far Last year, Gooden had 35 quarterback pressures and 16 tackles, according to Pro Football Focus. The fifth-year senior began his career at Wake Forest before he spent two years at South Florida. RBs after Durham

LSU has an established No. 1 running back in Caden Durham. But after the sophomore, the Tigers’ options have dwindled. Junior Kaleb Jackson and freshman Harlem Berry were expected to play big roles in the backfield this season, but Jackson hasn’t taken a noticeable step forward after struggling last year, and Berry has had trouble with the physicality of LSU defenders at practices. He’s had issues with breaking tackles and fumbled Saturday Freshman JT Lindsey was suspended last week after he was arrested on accessory to seconddegree murder charges. He could have helped take some load off of Durham, but LSU will turn to sophomore Ju’Juan Johnson to fill that role instead. Johnson began preseason camp working with the quarterbacks but has since shifted back to running back after playing the position last year

Email Koki Riley at Koki.Riley@theadvocate.com.

ing camp; you cannot rush to judgment,” Moore said. “You’ve got to go through this whole process. He’s going to get better each and every day; there are a lot of things that are first-time trial and error, and then you get better the second time. You don’t see a lot of the same mistakes.”

Shough said incremental improvement was his goal going into training camp. While he entered it with some expectations he is the highest-drafted quarterback

the Saints have had since Archie Manning he wasn’t necessarily placing those expectations on himself.

He is going to try to play perfect football, and he’s going to critique himself harshly when he makes mistakes. But he’s allowed himself some grace, because those mistakes ultimately generate the growth he’s looking for.

“I mean, I’m not going to be Tom Brady or Drew Brees in training camp right now,” Shough said. “I want to aspire to continue to grow and I think the coaches have done a good job of just facilitating a lot of these practices.”

Email Luke Johnson at ljohnson@theadvocate.com.

PAST FIVE YEARS

PROJECTEDSTARTERS

Jaelan

6-2 227 Sr

OT Mister Finney6-6 306 So.

GCamdyn Richard 5-8 247 Sr

CMason Roger 5-9 249 Jr

GDannyFuselier 5-8 195 Sr

OT Khaymen George* 6-2 226 Sr

QB Carson Gurzi 6-1 208 So.

Carencro

What we know

Ayear ago, Carencro struggled through a4-7 seasonthat endedwith a first-round loss to St. Augustine in the Division Iselect playoffs.

What we don’tknow

166 Sr

LB TevontreyJackson 5-7173 Sr

DB Rontrell Woods 5-6 151 Sr

CB Brandon Duffy* 6-0172 So.

CB Amarre Dennis*5-8 147 Sr

FS Wilson Landry* 5-7 171 Sr

SS Derace James 6-2 197 So.

*Returningstarter Coaches

Head coach: Gavin Peters (4-7, 2nd season

Assistant coaches: Joey Dwyer (OC/ QB ,Benjamin Gonzales (OC/OL , Derrick Franchak (OL ,Kendarius Poullard (RB ,Mondarius Poullard (WR ,Eric Tolivour (WR ,Craig Levet(football operations ;Jordan Romero (DC/LB ,Dwight Lewis (DL Kobie Pettis (DC ,TraceSutton (DL Junavion Sias (RB ,Kyle Seibold (DC)

The Bears are expecting to bounce back thisseason.

CoachGavinPetersmadesomeadditions to his coachingstaff, bringing on five former Acadiana High assistant coaches —headlined by defensive coordinator Kyle Seibold —tobolster the program.

“I think our biggest strength is our coaching staff,”Peterssaid.“WhenI was at Acadiana and left to comehere, Iwas excited about my coaching idols becoming my rivals. The rivalry was hard, butitwas fun. We developed greatrelationships Buttohave some of those guys come join us here nowisonly goingtomakeusbetter.”

In addition to adding more coaches withchampionship experience, Peters said he’sexcited about thequality of talent theBears return this season.

That’sespecially true on offense withthe return of star receiver Chantz Babineaux, aNicholls State commitment, along with receiver KendrickBernard andquarterback Carson Gurzi.

“Our most experienced group on the team may be ourreceivers,” Peters said. “Our quarterback was also able to get some reps ayear ago. So hopefully we are going to beable to throw it and our guys are able to catch it.”

The Bearshave weapons at the skill positions, an improved offensive line and adefense they expect to be stout. But the biggest question mark for the Bears, Peters said, is “can we play winning football?”

“Weknow that we are going to have to be able to block on offense,”Peters said. “Weknowthatwe have to be able to control the lineofscrimmage and run thefootball for us to be able to do what we want to do.

“But can we do it consistently? Can we play winning football on the 5A level, especially with one of thetoughest schedules in the state?”

While those questions willbeanswered as the season progresses, Petersisoptimistic.

“This is Carencro, so thestandard is the standard,” Peterssaid. “Wehave moreexperience this year than we had last year.Ithink this team is better than the team we had ayear ago. But is it going to be enough?”

Howwesee it

As is the case year after year,Carencro can’t be counted out. While depth may be aconcern, the Bears possess enough talent to put together awinning season and make areturn trip to the playoffs.

EricNarcisse

Chantz Babineaux

WR,6-0,201, Sr ANicholls State commitment, Babineaux has been adifferencemakerfor the Bears since his freshman season.Afour-year starter, Babineaux is explosiveand a threat to score from anywhere on the field.Athree-star recruit,Babineaux had nearly 1,000 yards receiving last season with12touchdown receptions.

ChrisBaham

p.m. BuffaloatTampaBay,6:30 p.m.

L.A. Chargers at San Francisco,7:30 p.m. Las Vegas at Arizona, 9p.m. Pro basketball WNBAglance EASTERN CONFERENCE WL PctGB

p.m. LosAngeles at Dallas, 6:30 p.m. Washington at Indiana, 6:30 p.m. Las Vegas at Phoenix, 9p.m. SeattleatAtlanta, 9p.m. Saturday’s game New York at Minnesota, 1p.m. Tennis

Cincinnati Open At Lindner Family TennisCenter; Cincinnati Purse: $9,193,540; Surface: Hardcourt outdoor Men’s singles Round of 32 Ben Shelton (5), United States, def. Roberto Bautista Agut, Spain, 7-6(3),6-3 Round of 16 Holger Rune (7), Denmark, def. Frances Tiafoe (10),United States, 6-4, 3-1, ret.

Women’s singles Round of 32 VeronikaKudermetova,Russia,def.Clara Tauson (16),Denmark, 3-6, 7-6 (4), 6-4. Women’s singles Round of 16 IgaSwiatek (3), Poland, def. Sorana Cirstea Romania, 6-4, 6-3. Men’s doubles Round of 16 Rajeev Ram, United States,and Nikola Mektic, Croatia, def. Kevin Krawietz and Tim Putz (4), Germany,7-6 (3), 7-5. Lloyd Glasspool and Julian Cash (2), Britain def. Matthew Ebdenand Jordan Thompson, Australia, 7-5, 5-7, 10-8. Youth baseball Little LeagueWorld Series At Williamsport, Pa Wednesday’s games Game 1: Venezuela 5, Puerto Rico 0 Game 2: Nevada 16, Illinois1 Game 3: Arraijan(Panama) vs.Brisbane

RB,5-8,154, Sr Pound forpound the strongestplayer on the team,Baham had atremendous offseason preparing forhis season year What Baham lacks in size,hemakes up forinwork ethic, strength and toughness. He has good vision and enough speed to break away from defenders.

Kendrick Bernard

WR,5-9,193, Sr

Afour-yearstarter, Bernard is another skill position player whoisstrong in the weight room Equippedwith great hands, Bernard uses his strength to turn small gains into big ones.

KhaymenGeorge T, 6-2, 226, Sr George has established himself as one of thebest offensivelinemen in District 3-5A.A physical blocker, George excels in bothrunning and passing games. Rontrell Woods

DB,5-6,151, Sr Woods is aphysical presence despite his lack of size.A twoyear starter,Woods’ physicality helps him in runsupport, and he has enough speed to be an assetincoverage.

EricNarcisse

LIVING

Inthe golden haze of the 1960s and ’70s, myDad Oscar andIcrafted memories along the waterways of New Orleans that would lasta lifetime.

BY BETH DOOLEY

TheMinnesota Star Tribune (TNS)

“Americans just do not know how to cook green beans,” said afarmers market vendor as she handed me asack of deep green, plumpbeans she picked earlier that morning. “When they’re underdone and too crisp, they just don’t have much taste. Give them a fewminutes moretimewhen you boil them.They’re tender but still firm.The little beans within the green bean [the seed] will cook, too.”

Having grownuponlimp, soggy,overcooked beans, I wasreluctant to try this technique. Igot the water boiling, dropped the beans, watched the pot and when they turned abright green, drained them and refreshed under cold running water.They were pliable but no longer snapped back. After Idrizzled the beans with alittle good olive oil and sprinkled with coarse salt, they were so finger-licking good I nearly polished off the entire lot. The baby bean inside the green bean added agentle creaminess. Cooked this way, the beans weremilder and less harsh —more of themselves. Iturned what was left of those beans into abowl,added a fewcooked newpotatoes from last night’s dinner and alittle prosciutto forbody,tossed the whole thing in aboldvinaigrette andtoppeditoff withthinly sliced radishestoadd apeppery snap.IfIhad cherry tomatoes, corn or cucumbersatthe ready, they’d make fine additions, too. Givensummer’sheat, this allveggie combo makes asatisfying alternative to achilled main dish pasta salad, plus it can be made ahead. Serve with ahunk of toothy rustic bread and save what’sleft for a fine lunch. Follow this light, healthy dinner with ascoop of ice cream fordessert …noguilt!

BigGreen Bean Salad

Kevin Belton

Our ritual began before dawn. Dad would gently shake me awake. Iwouldrub sleep outofmyeyes, grab my pre-packed tacklebox and follow himto the car

We frequented the marshybayous where cypress knees poked through still waters. Dad taughtme to read the water —how ripples might betray a lurking bass, or how to spot the telltale bubbles of feeding catfish.

ä See MEMORIES, page 6C

6C

Florentine Fish

¼cup halfand half

Serves 4.

1tablespoon olive oil

1tablespoon butter

1cup red bellpepper, chopped 2garlic cloves, minced 9ounces fresh baby spinach 2ounces cream cheese

3tablespoons Parmesan cheese, grated 45-ounce, thick pieces of skinless white firm fish fillet(such as grouper flounder or bass) Kosher salt Fresh black pepper

1. In alarge skillet over medium heat,add ½tablespoonofolive oiland ½tablespoonof butter, red bell pepper andgarlic andcook for about 4minutes

2. Add spinach, season with apinch of salt and pepper mix until thespinach wilts down.

3. Addcream cheese, half and half and Parmesan cheese. Mix well until cream cheese is melted andresembles creamed spinach.

4. Heat aseparate skilletonmedium-high heat, add remaining oil and butter

Serves 4. Recipe is from Beth Dooley.Inspired by the classic French bean salads, you can make the salad in advance to allow the flavorstomarry 1pound newpotatoes (see tip) 2cloves garlic, smashed 1tablespoon chopped capers 2teaspoons Dijon mustard ¼cup white wine vinegar 1 3 cup extra-virgin olive oil 2pounds green beans, trimmed 2slices prosciutto, cut into thick pieces, optional 1tablespoon chopped thyme, plus more forgarnish 2tablespoonschoppedparsley, plus more forgarnish 2tablespoonschoppedbasil, plus more forgarnish ¼cup slicedradishes

5. Season fish on both sides withsalt and pepper and place in thehot pan.

6. Cook 6minutes on first side and flip fish over and cook other side an additional 5minutes, until cooked through and browned.

7. Divide the spinach mixture on thebottom of each plate and top with apiece of fish.

1. Bring alarge pot of wellsalted water to aboil. Add the potatoes and cook at abrisk simmeruntil easily pierced, about 25 minutes. Drain.

2. In asmallbowl, whisk together the garlic, capers, mustard and vinegar.Add the oil and whisk until emulsified.

3. When the potatoes are just cool enough to handle, slice into ¼-inch chunks and transfer to a largebowl. Add half of thevinaigrette while the potatoes are still warm.

4. In alargepot of rapidlyboiling water,cook the beans until they turn brightgreen, 4to5minutes. Transfer to acolander and drain; rinse under cold water.Cut into ½-inch pieces andtransferto thebowl withthe potatoes.

5. Add the prosciutto and toss with enough of the dressing to coat the beans. Add the herbs and top with the radishes. Garnish with anyleftover dressing and moreherbs.

6. Serve chilled or at room temperature with ahunk of crusty bread.

TIP: If you have leftover cooked potatoes,slicethemand add them to the beans

CheeseburgerRice Paper Spirals

Serves 4. Recipe is from Gretchen McKay, Post-Gazette

1pound ground beef

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Pinch or two of garlic powder

12 rice paper

¼cup

2tablespoons

1tablespoon

¼teaspoon fine sea salt

¼teaspoon garlic powder

Squirtortwo of ketchup

BURGER

Continued from page5C

burrito-style into atight cylinder, curled into aspiral and baked to agolden crisp under asprinkle of sesame seed.

Atangy,mayo-based special saucecrafted with yellowmustard and sweet pickle relish is served on the side for dipping, along with shoestring fries. Recipes for the culinary creation dubbed the “Big Mac Spiral” have been making the rounds on social media for awhile, and I’m guessing it’sbecausethe

1. Preheat oven to 400 F.

2. Brown and crumble ground beef in alarge nonstick skillet over mediumhigh heat. Drain any grease. Season to tastewithsalt, pepperand alittle garlicpowder.

3. Whiskeggs with alittle waterinawide and shallowbowl (it should be large enough to hold arice paper round comfortably).One at atime, carefully dip 3rice papers intothe beaten egg for afew seconds until they soften (begentle!), thenlay them in arow with theedges overlapping on alightly oiled cutting board.

4. Spoon ¼ofthe ground beef evenly across the top of thesheets, followed by shredded lettuce, shredded cheese, diced pickles and onions.

spirals actually are afairly goodfacsimile of the real deal.The rice paper bakes up crispy,the ingredients are fairly economical and for those on gluten-free diets, there’snoworries aboutcross-contamination with flour Rice paper roundsaren’t as delicate as they might appear,but youdohave to be carefulwhen rehydrating them. Also, they need only afew secondsinthe egg wash;linger toolong and they’ll get too soft and be tricky to work with It helps to get all the ingredients organized at awork station before you prepare to roll. Lightly

5. Roll up like acigar into atight cylinder, then gently curve it around itself into a spiral.

6. Place spirals on aparchment paper-covered baking sheet. Brush with alittlebit of the egg washand sprinkle with sesame seeds. Repeat with remaining wrappers and fillings.

7. Bake spirals in preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until crispy and golden brown.

8. While spirals arebaking, make saucebystirring all the ingredients together in asmall bowl. Tasteand add moreseasoning if needed. Set aside.

9. Whenspirals are done baking, remove from the oven and serve immediately with dipping sauce.

oiling the cutting board so nothing sticks will also makerolling easier,along with allowing yourself a few tries to get thehang of it. Practice makes perfect! Don’tfret over small tears, as theycan be repaired by overlapping the rounds. If the rip is toobig to work with, simply replace the torn sheet with afresh round —a package comes with more thanthe 12 sheets you need to make this recipe. Iserved the rolls with a copycat McDonald’sspecial sauce but you could use thousand island dressing. Or,simply dip the spirals in Heinz ketchup. Fries go best as aside.

PHOTO By MONICA BELTON

Strawberry CheesecakeParfaits

Serves 3

2cups graham cracker crumbs

¼cup butter,melted

1tablespoon sugar

16 ounces cream cheese,softened 14-ouncecan sweetened condensed milk

1teaspoon vanilla

1pound fresh strawberries, chopped

Whipped cream and extra strawberries for topping

1. Stir together graham cracker crumbs, meltedbut-

MEMORIES

Continued from page5C

“Patience,”Dad would say,his voice barely above a whisper,“is what separates a fisherman from someone who just holds apole.” Our expeditions often took us to Lake Pontchartrain, where the brackish waters yielded speckled trout and croaker.Ilearned to bait hooks with live shrimp. When we returned home, our coolerheavy withthe day’scatch, my mom Sarah would smile becauseweall knew dinner would be spectacular

Those catches weretransformed into feaststhat celebrated the bounty of Louisianawaters.

Dad’sspecial courtbouillon —arich tomato-based stew swimming with fresh fish, onions, bell peppers and celery —would simmer all afternoon, filling our home with aromas that announcedsuccess.

Iwould watch, mesmerized, as my Dad added just the right amount of filé powder,atechnique passed down from his Dad.

Summer vacations meant trips to Waveland Beach

ter,and sugar in amedium mixingbowl. Set aside.

2. In alarge mixing bowl, beat cream cheese with an electricmixeruntil smooth. Addsweetened condensed milk andvanilla,and mix until combined.

3. Addasmall layerofthe cheesecake mixture to the bottom of theglass.

4. Adda layerofgraham cracker crumbs (using half of thecrumb mixture, divid-

alongMississippi’sGulf Coast. There, the fishing changed from freshwater patience to theexcitement of castinginto thesurf Dadtaughtmehow to read the tides and spot the sandbars where red fish and flounder gathered We’d spend hours with ourlines in the water, talkingabout everything andnothing,the rhythmic sound of waves providing the soundtrack to their conversations

These coastal tripsoften included detours to Canton,Mississippi, wheremy great-grandmother’shouse stood as an oasis of Southern comfort. Her kitchen,perpetually warm and fragrant, welcomed uswith open arms andcast-iron skillets.

She’d transform their catches into crispy fish fillets dredgedincornmeal, accompanied byhushpuppies that Iswore were the best! Her table groaned under the weightofSouthern delicacies —collard greens simmered with ham hocks, sweet corn puddingand tomatoes still warm from her garden. Fordessert, there was alwayspeach cobbler or

What do Idowith leftoversauce packets?

Dear Miss Manners: Ioften have lunch at fast-food restaurants. Iwill get five or six packetsofhot sauce from the self-serve area, and when I’m finished with lunch, Ijust return the unopened packetstowhere Igot them. Sometimes I get bad looks from people for doing this. What is the etiquette for this? Should Ijust trash any unopened sauce packets?

circumstances in thewarehousebefore they made it to theself-servearea.

ButMissManners hasa question foryou: Given that theportionsofeverything are identical from meal to meal, would it notbesimplerto decide,onceand for all, howmanypackets youneed?

ed amongthe 3glasses). Add alayer of choppedstrawberries(dividing thestrawberriesevenly amongthe glasses). Reserve6-9 pieces of strawberry for garnish.

5. Add athick layer of cheesecake mixture (divided evenly among the cups). Adda final layerofthe graham cracker mixture.

6. Topwith whippedcream andadditionalfresh strawberry pieces.

blackberry pie, thefruits harvested from her backyard. “Eat up,” she’dinsist, “growing boys need their strengthfor fishing.

Through Dad’spatient instruction, Ilearned perseverance, attention todetail and respect for nature’s rhythms. In Grandma’s kitchen, Iabsorbed the importance of family traditions and the love expressed through carefully prepared food. Today,when Icast aline into water or prepare Dad’s courtbouillon recipe for my own family andfriends, those sun-dappled days return —the weight of my Dad’shand on my shoulder thetaste of Grandma’s cornbread, and the knowledge that some inheritances can’tbemeasured, only treasured.

Kevin Belton is resident chef of WWL-TV and has taught classes in Louisiana cooking for 30 years. The most recent of his four cookbooks, “KevinBelton’sCookin’ Louisiana: Flavors from the Parishes of the Pelican State,” was published in 2021. EmailChef at chefkevinbelton@gmail. com.

Gentlereader: Either solution is acceptable to etiquette, but this is not one you are going to win, no matter what you do. Half of the restaurant will lecture you about the waste of throwing away the unused packets —never mind thatthe packets are tiny The other half will lecture you about itsbeing unsanitary to return them— never mind thatthey are sealed, and thatthey were likely stored in far less sanitary

Dear Miss Manners: I wasatthe dentist, having acleaning, when the dentist and the hygienist began adetailed conversation about their plans forthe weekend.

One said something funny and Ichuckled —as much as one can with tools in one’smouth —atwhich point apause in their conversation led me to believe Ihad committed afaux pas by eavesdropping. In the future, should I pretend to be part of the furniture?

Gentle reader: Or morelike aplant being pruned or

watered? Miss Manners suspects that the dentist and hygienist, just like all those people yelling into their phones in public and then glaring at passersby,indeed thought you were eavesdropping. Youwere not. In fact, you may have done them afavor by reminding them that someone else waspresent. Otherwise, they may have gone on to say something terrible, thinking their patient wasunder anesthesia. If this happens to you again, pretend you were coughing and that you need arinse.

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

Teenagedaughtercausing strain

Dear Harriette: My 13-yearold daughter has recently started refusing to attend family gatherings like birthday parties or Sunday dinners at my parents’ house. She says they’re “boring, fake and awaste of time.” Iunderstand that she’sa teenager and trying to find her own identity,but it’sreally starting to hurt my parents’ feelings. They miss her and have mentioned that they feel like she doesn’t care about spending time with them anymore. I’ve tried explaining to my daughter how importantfamily is and how these events aren’tjust

By The Associated Press

about fun; they’re about staying connected to those whomatter to us. She just shuts downorrolls her eyes. Idon’t wanttoforce her to come and make things even more awkward, but I also don’twant to let her completely disconnect from the family.How do Inavigate this without pushing her further away or upsetting my parents even more? Is this just aphase, or should Ibeconcerned about something deeper going on? —Awkward Teen

Dear Awkward Teen: First, makesure that nothing has happened between your daughter and your parents

TODAYINHISTORY

In 1947, Pakistan gained independence from British rule.

Today is Thursday, Aug. 14, the 226th day of 2025. There are 139 days left in the year

Todayinhistory: On Aug. 14, 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed theSocial Security Act into law,ensuring income for elderly Americans and creating afederal unemployment insurance program

Also on this date: In 1936, in front of an estimated 20,000 spectators, Rainey Bethea was hanged in Owensboro, Kentucky, in the last public execution in the United States.

In 1945, President Harry S. Truman announced that Imperial Japan had surrendered unconditionally, ending World WarII.

In 1994, Ilich Ramirez Sanchez, the terrorist knownas“Carlos the Jackal,” was captured by French agents in Sudan.

In 1997, an unrepentant Timothy McVeigh wasformally sentenced to death forthe OklahomaCity bombing. (McVeigh was executed by lethal injection in 2001.)

In 2016, Usain Bolt became the first athlete to winthe 100-meter dash in three consecutive Olympics, taking gold at the Summer Games in Rio.

In 2021, a7.2-magnitude earthquake struck Haiti, turning thousands of structures into rubble; the quake leftmore than 2,200 people dead and injured

to cause her not to wantto spend timewith them.Shy of an egregious incident between them, my recommendation is that you let your daughter know that you need her to show up and be respectful at these family events; they are not optional. If she refuses, take away aprivilege that she values, like visiting with friends or using social media. Yes, teens can go through tremendous emotional turmoil, but that should not give them apass to be disrespectful to others, especially their grandparents. Do not tolerate it.

Send questions to askharriette@ harriettecole.com.

morethan 12,000 others. Today’sbirthdays: Broadway lyricist LeeAdams (“Bye Bye Birdie”) is 101.College Football Hall of Famer andNFL quarterback JohnBrodie is 90. Singer Dash Crofts is 85. Country singerConnie Smith is 84. Comedian-actor Steve Martin is 80. Film directorWim Wenders is 80 Singer-musicianLarry Graham is 79. Actor Susan Saint James is 79. Author Danielle Steel is 78.“Far Side”cartoonist Gary Larsonis75. ActorCarlLumbly is 74. Olympic gold medal swimmer Debbie Meyeris73. ActorJackee Harry is 69. NASCAR Hall of Famer Rusty Wallace is 69. ActorMarcia Gay Hardenis66. Basketball Hall of Famer Earvin “Magic”Johnsonis66.

LEo (July 23-Aug. 22) You have the wherewithal to be successful, but first, you must determine what that means to you. It'stime to make yourself happy andto let others fend for themselves.

VIRGo(Aug.23-sept. 22) Volunteer, do your part and see what happens. The peopleyou meet will lead to new possibilities. Engage in discussions, offer suggestions and showcaseyour skills.

LIBRA (sept. 23-oct. 23) Push hard when energy is arequirement to get things done on time andyour way. Take control,doyour thing andstopwaiting for someone else to step in and do things for you.

scoRPIo(oct. 24-nov. 22) Engage in events or pastimes that will help hone your assets. Travel,reunions and personal growth will help youdiscover what's missing in your life and how to turn things around that areholding you back.

sAGITTARIus (nov. 23-Dec. 21) Achange will spark your imagination and interests. Home improvements thatyou can do yourselfwill be the most rewarding. Invest wisely in yourself, and you can thrive.

cAPRIcoRn (Dec.22-Jan.19) Show compassion and understanding, and you'll gaininsight into whatothers want and need to support your demands. Life is about clarity, honesty andfreewill, not conquest and orders.

AQuARIus(Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Be careful making promises. Don't offeranything youcan't deliver.Achange at homecan

save you money. Alucrative opportunity is within reach. Extend your thoughts and put your plans in motion.

PIscEs (Feb. 20-March20) Spend less timeanalyzing andpontificatingand more timedoing. What youaccomplish will have an impact on the people you encounter and the reputationyou are building.

ARIEs (March 21-April 19) Paymore attention to taking care of your responsibilities and less to adding to your to-do list. Organization and discipline are necessary to maintain your reputation. Aclean slate will help youavoid criticism

TAuRus (April 20-May 20) Emotions will surface regarding domestic andpersonal affairs. Don'twaste time on matters over which you have no control. Follow your heart anddowhatmakes you happy.

GEMInI (May21-June 20) An open mind will keep you awareofthe possibilities. Converse with people in the know, and you'll discover something that will make life choices easier. Be observant and thorough.

cAncER (June 21-July 22) Look at every angle before you make amove. Walk away fromexcessive suggestions and avoid taking on responsibilities that don't belong to you.

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

FAMILYCIrCUS

Sudoku

InstructIons: Sudoku is anumber-placing puzzle based on a9x9 grid with several given numbers. Theobject is to place the numbers 1to9inthe empty squares so that each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once. Thedifficulty level of the Sudoku increases fromMonday to Sunday.

Puzzle Answer

By PHILLIPALDER Bridge

In the“GetSmart”television show, theagents from Control usually battled againstthe bad guys from Kaos.Tobe successful, bridge players must know how to control the trump suit; otherwise, the play might become chaotic.

In this example deal, Southisinfour spades. The defenders start withtwo rounds of hearts. Howshould South continue?

North’s sequence showed agame-invitational hand with exactly three spades. Although South had only 12 high-card points, his secondary club fit made his hand worth game.

Declarer has 10 winners: five spades, twodiamondsand three clubs. Andif trumps are breaking 3-2, it will be easy totakethosetricks.SoSouthshouldwonder about a4-1 spade split.

To see why thisisimportant,suppose declarer trumps the second round of hearts and starts to draw trumps. When he sees the 4-1 break, he will have to stop (or runout of trumps) and shift to clubs. ButifEastducks the first round, takes thesecond(seeing West’shigh-lowto show adoubleton), and gives West aclub ruff, the defenders will eventually get a diamond trickfor down one.

Since South is doomed to lose one diamond whatever happens, he shouldbe happy to concede it at trick two,discarding adiamondfrom his hand instead of ruffing. Then if athird heart is played, declarer can ruffinthe dummy, keeping his five trumpsintact. He can draw trumps, knockout theclub ace and claim.

wuzzles

Watch out for the loser-on-loser play. ©2025 by NEA, Inc., dist.

By AndrewsMcMeel Syndication

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

Previous answers:

word game

InsTRucTIons: 1. Words must be of four or moreletters. 2. Words that acquire fourletters by the additionof“s,” suchas“bats” or “dies,” are notallowed. 3. Additional wordsmade by adding a“d” or an “s” may notbeused. 4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are notallowed.

ToDAy’s WoRD TRyouTs: TRY-outs: Tests of the ability to fill apart or meet standards.

Averagemark23words

Time limit 35 minutes Can youfind28ormore wordsinTRYOUTS?

thought

of agood man are ordered by the Lord:and he delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholds him with his hand.

BRIEFS

FROM WIRE REPORTS

Wall Street rises higher after worldwide rally

NEW YORK U.S. stocks ticked higher on Wednesday after a rally spurred by hopes for lower U.S interest rates wrapped around the world.

The S&P 500 rose 0.3%, coming off its latest all-time high. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 463 points, or 1%, while the Nasdaq composite added 0.1% to its own record set the day before.

Treasury yields eased in the bond market as expectations reached a virtual consensus that the Federal Reserve will cut its main interest rate for the first time this year at its next meeting in September Lower rates can boost investment prices and the economy by making it cheaper for U.S. households and businesses to borrow to buy houses, cars or equipment, though they risk worsening inflation.

On Wall Street, stocks of companies that could benefit most from lower interest rates helped lead the way PulteGroup climbed 5.4%, and Lennar rose 5.2% as part of a broad rally for homebuilders and others in the housing industry Lower rates could make mortgages cheaper to get, which could spur more buying. Brinker International rose 1.6% after becoming the latest to report stronger results for the latest quarter than analysts expected Gildan to purchase

HanesBrands for $2.2B

Gildan Activewear is buying the struggling HanesBrands for $2.2 billion in a deal that gives the basic apparel maker access to household name brands like Hanes and Maidenform. The companies put the transaction’s value at about $4.4 billion when HanesBrands’ debt is included.

Gildan, in addition to its namesake brand, also makes American Apparel and Peds. HanesBrands’ sales have fallen for three consecutive years and it hasn’t turned an annual profit since 2021.

The North Carolina company sold its Champion brand last year to Authentic Brands Group for more than $1 billion HanesBrands shareholders will receive 0.102 common shares of Gildan and 80 cents in cash for each share of HanesBrands common stock They will own about 19.9% of Gildan stock once the deal closes.

Bessent sees chip deals as model

Treasury Secretary Scott

Bessent said the recent deal to allow Nvidia Corp. and Advanced Micro Devices Inc. to resume lower-end artificial intelligence chip sales to China, on the condition they give the U.S. government a 15% cut of the related revenue, could serve as a model for others.

“I think we could see it in other industries over time,” Bessent said Wednesday in a television interview on Bloomberg Surveillance. “Right now, this is unique, but now that we have the model and the beta test, why not expand it?”

Bessent credited President Donald Trump with the “very unique solution” of allowing Nvidia to expand in China and become a bellwether for Chinese technology, with the U.S. taxpayer getting “a share of” the reward. The revenue the Treasury receives from the arrangement will go to pay down debt, he said.

“If we could make a substantial debt” repayment, that would then allow for discussions about a program of sending money to taxpayers, he also said. On Tuesday, Bessent said that he’d be meeting again with his Chinese counterparts “within the next two or three months,” speaking on Fox Business He dismissed the possibility of China emulating other U.S. trading partners in winning tariff relief in return for boosting investments in the U.S.

bers, with plans to reach over 2,300 cities and towns by year-end.

BY ANNE D’INNOCENZIO AP retail writer

NEW YORK Amazon is now rolling out a service where its Prime members can order their blueberries and milk at the same time as basic items like batteries and T-shirts and get them within hours.

The online juggernaut said Wednesday that customers in more than 1,000 cities and towns including Raleigh, North Carolina; Milwaukee; and Columbus, Ohio, now have access to fresh groceries with its free same-day delivery service on orders over $25 for Prime mem-

Amazon called the move “one of the most significant grocery expansions” for the online retailer as it introduces thousands of perishable items into its existing logistics network. The expansion is expected to put pressure on grocery delivery services offered by such rivals as Walmart, Kroger and Target, which all saw their shares take a hit in trading Wednesday Amazon’s shares rose 1%.

Amazon said that if an order doesn’t meet the minimum, members can still choose same-day delivery for a $2.99 fee. For customers without a Prime membership, the service is available with a $12.99 fee, regardless of order In the past, Prime subscribers’ grocery orders were fulfilled

through Amazon Fresh or Whole Foods Market. Prime members pay $14.99 monthly or $139 annually

Amazon launched its Prime membership in 2005, and it has become the gold standard for subscription services with a slew of perks including unlimited streaming with Prime Video and discounts at Whole Foods and Amazon Fresh.

Walmart, which launched its membership program called Walmart+ in 2020, has been racing to add more benefits. It costs $12.95 per month or $98 per year Depending on members’ location and availability, Walmart members can schedule same-day delivery for their groceries, including perishables.

Doug Herrington, CEO of Worldwide Amazon Stores, noted that

customers can order milk alongside electronics; oranges, apples, and potatoes with a mystery novel; and frozen pizza at the same time as tools for their next home improvement project and check out with one cart and have everything delivered to their doorstep within hours. Amazon noted that many of its customers were first-time Amazon grocery shoppers who now return to shop twice as often with the same-day delivery service compared to those who

BY BRUCE SCHREINER Associated Press

LOUISVILLE,Ky

GE Appliances plans to shift production of refrigerators, gas ranges and water heaters out of China and Mexico as part of a more than $3 billion investment to expand its U.S. operations in Kentucky, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee and South Carolina.

The investment — the second-largest in the Louisville-based company’s history — is expected to add more than 1,000 jobs while ramping up domestic production and modernizing plants in the next five years.

“Our long-term strategy is about manufacturing close to our customers,” said CEO Kevin Nolan. “With lean manufacturing, upskilling our workforce and automation, the math works for manufacturing in the United States.”

The majority of GE Appliances’ production is already in the U.S. and the shift means only that the company will transfer more work to its domestic plants.

GE Appliances will relocate production of gas ranges from Mexico to a plant in Georgia, while six refrigerator models now made in China will be manufactured at its Alabama plant, the company said.

In June, the company said it would move production of clothes washers from China to its sprawling manufacturing complex in Louisville The reshoring announcements come as President Donald Trump tries to lure factories back to the United States by imposing import taxes — tariffs — on foreign goods.

GE Appliances said Wednesday that the first phase of its new investment will begin at plants in five Southern states — Kentucky, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee and South Carolina

“We are defining the future of manufacturing at GE Appliances by investing in our plants, people and communities,” Nolan said “No other appliance company over the last decade has invested more in U.S. manufacturing than we have, and our $3 billion, five-year plan shows that our commitment to U.S. manufacturing will continue into the future.”

The multiyear plan includes ramping up production of gas ranges that have been made in Mexico but will shift to the company’s plant in LaFayette, Georgia, the company said. Production of six refrigerators

BY STEPHANIE RIEGEL Staff writer

Georges Enterprises, the Louisiana-based parent company of food distributor Imperial Trading Co and other diverse businesses in media, gaming and real estate, has named Nike Georges as its new president, marking the rise of a new generation into the leadership of the family-owned company run by CEO John Georges. Nike Georges, 28, will be respon-

now made in China will move to its plant in Decatur, Alabama. The GE Appliances plant in Camden, South Carolina, will add production of electric and hybrid heat pump water heaters, doubling the factory’s output and employment once the project is complete, the company said. The plant now produces gas water heaters. Production of the company’s electric and hybrid water heaters — now made in China will shift to South Carolina. In Selmer, Tennessee, its plant will produce two new models of air conditioners.

The latest investment includes the June announcement that GE Appliances will

pump $490 million into its Kentucky complex to produce a combo washer/dryer and a lineup of front load washers that are now made in China.

In all, production of more than 15 models of front load washers will shift to the company’s Louisville complex — known as Appliance Park, it said.

Kentucky Gov Andy Beshear said Wednesday that the investment shows his state’s ability to support world-class companies with a skilled workforce and the resources needed to thrive.

“GE Appliances has established Kentucky as America’s destination for advanced manufacturing and job creation, and today’s news shows this iconic company’s unwavering belief in the commonwealth and the role we play in their success,” Beshear said.

GE Appliances handles product design and engineering work at its Louisville headquarters but doesn’t make all of its products in the U.S. It contracts with other manufacturers including in China, for some of its production where it doesn’t have capacity or needs access to a global supply chain. The company said its core business strategy is to base production in the United States, and investments announced in June and on Wednesday are another step toward achieving that goal.

GE Appliances is a subsidiary of the Chinabased Haier company

sible for driving the Elmwood company’s growth strategies and leading business development initiatives. In addition to Imperial Trading, which supplies food and other products to more than 5,000 convenience stores across 21 states, Georges Enterprises serves as the parent company of AMA Distributors and Georges Media Group, which owns The Times-Picayune, The Advocate, The Acadiana Advocate, The Shreveport-Bossier Advocate and Gambit

“There comes a point when it’s time for the next generation,” said John Georges, who will continue in his current role with the company “Nike has been with the company for six years. He’s ready.” John Georges was 30 when he became president of Imperial Trading, which was founded by his grandfather Gus Pelias in 1916. In the four decades since, the company has grown into a diversified enterprise with more than $3 billion in annual sales and 2,500 employees.

In an interview Wednesday, he said he wanted to begin the process of passing the torch.

“It’s an important benchmark for the company,” he said. Nike Georges joined the com-

pany in 2019 after graduating from the University of Virginia with a bachelor’s degree in public policy and leadership. In the years since, he worked in management at Imperial Trading under its president, Wayne Baquet, and played a key role in the design and implementation of an automated storage, retrieval and picking system at Imperial’s Bossier City Distribution Center

“It’s an honor,” said Nike Georges, who plans to focus initially on enhancing Imperial’s competitive position. “We are looking to make good investments in the state to help us be competitive on a national level, because we are competing with big national distributors.”