The Acadiana Advocate 08-30-2025

Meetingtodiscuss possible newschool

NorthLafayette site firstsuggested last year

BY ASHLEY WHITE Staff writer

separation.

Ameeting next week will discuss the possibility of anew school on the north side of Lafayette. The 100 Black Men of Greater Lafayette, School Board member Amy Trahan and Superintendent Francis Touchet Jr.will talk with thecommunity at 6p.m. Wednesday at the Downtown Convention Center,124 S.Buchanan St., about anew school. Fewdetails were released about the planned school, including what grades it would serve or its location.

andTouchet also are expected to share information about the planning process

property and creating two new buildings, one for sixth through eighth graders and one forninth through 12th.

The meeting is designed to get feedback from community members abouthow anew school could best servethe community.Trahan

The possibility of new school buildings in north Lafayette was first floated last fall as part of aseries of optimization proposals from adistrict-hired strategic planner.The planner suggested moving Paul Breaux Middle to the Northside High

However, theboard rejected other proposals forconsolidation and closures, which meantthey would not have the funding necessary for the change. Alast-minute pitch toclose Paul Breaux and turn Northside High into a6-12 facility received strong public opposition because it would place older studentsinone facility with little

BIGMEN ON CAMPUS

of Louisiana atLafayette safetyTyree Skipper,right, and long

fourthgrade studentsFridayatJ.W.Faulk ElementarySchool.

Students at J.W. Faulk Elementary had special lunch guests Friday—University of Louisianaat Lafayette footballplayers. Students were celebratingbehavioral success with ajerseyday andwere allowedtowear spirit shirts for their favorite sports teams. Teachers got in on the funwith a‘tailgate’ lunch filled with sports dayclassicslikedips and veggie platters. The biggest touchdown of theday was having the football players eat lunch with students. Theysat withstudents at their tables, talking aboutSaturday’sbig game and what J.W. Faulk students were learning

ä More on the Ragin’ Cajuns home opener in their newstadium in Sports, 5C.

BY MEGHAN FRIEDMANN Staff writer

After adeer tested positive for a fatal disease in Catahoula Parish, Louisiana addeddeer baiting restrictions to several new parishes, sparking controversy among the hunting community. The rules have also drawn the ire

of some lawmakers, who say they infringe on American freedom and disrupt Louisiana hunting culture.

State officials arguethe measures will protectthe state’sdeer population in thelong term by helping to prevent the spread of chronicwasting disease,orCWD, which has reduced deer populationsinother parts of the country

They say deer baiting can createnew gathering spots for deer that would nototherwise interact, increasing the contact rate among animals and facilitating the spread of CWD.

Critics have suggestedthe risks of CWDmay be overblown and question whetherthe mitigation measures would be effective.

Earlier this year,the Louisiana Wildlife& FisheriesCommission issued adeclaration of emergency that banned deer baiting in parts of Richland, Caldwell, La Salle and Catahoula parishes, expanding the state’s“CWD Control Area.”

The district recently secured $61.5million in bondsfor renovationsand wing additions at Judice Middle, L.J. Alleman Middle and Acadiana High. Thoseschools have long been on alist forreplacement and repairs.

The district would likely need to secure similarbonds to payfor new north-side schools.

Email AshleyWhiteatashley. white@theadvocate.com.

LSU replacing dean of lawschool

BY ALYSE PFEIL Staff writer

Allensaysshe raised concerns about ‘irregularities’ in finances Allen

LSU on Fridayannounced that Paul M. Hebert Law Center Dean Alena Allenwillend her tenure as dean at theconclusion of the academicyear.But an attorney representing Allen said the dean had not agreed to resign her position when she was asked just aday earlier —and she was considering legal action over allegedwhistleblower retaliation, racial and gender discrimination, andviolations of LSU policy In aletter to LSU on Friday,Allison Jones, Allen’sattorney,said the LSU Board of Supervisors “engagedinsystematic discrimination andretaliatoryconduct” against Allen after she raised concerns about “irregularities” in the LSU law school’sfinances. According to documents provided to TheAdvocate |The TimesPicayune, Allen said she was concerned that the school’sbudget showed it receiving the full cost of tuition when in factitgranted numerous discounts. That ledto budget shortfalls, and private donations fromthe school’sfoundation filling the gap, she said. But while she reportedthe irregularitiesand workedtoaddress them,she said she faced questions from LSUleaders that ledher to believe she was being blamed for

ä See LAW, page 7A

Preexisting bans hadbeen established in parts of Tensas, Madison, Concordia and Franklin parishes, according to the order,which also expandedthe controlareainConcordia and Franklin parishes. The orderwas effective May 1. It came after abuckinCatahoula testedpositive forCWD, the first case found in awild Louisiana deer outside Tensas Parish,according

ä See DEER, page 7A

China criticizes U.S senators’ Taiwan visit

TAIPEI, Taiwan A visit by a pair of U.S. senators to Taiwan has drawn criticism from China, which claims the island as its own and objects to any contact between officials of the two sides.

Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker a Mississippi Republican, and Nebraska Republican Deb Fischer arrived in Taipei on Friday for a series of high-level meetings with senior Taiwan leaders to discuss U.S.-Taiwan relations, regional security, trade and investment, according to the American Institute in Taiwan, which acts as Washington’s de facto embassy in lieu of formal diplomatic relations with the self-governing island democracy Upon arrival, Wicker said: “A thriving democracy is never fully assured and we’re here to talk to our friends and allies in Taiwan about what we’re doing to enhance worldwide peace.”

“At a time of global unrest, it is extremely significant for us to be here,” Fischer added, noting that discussions would include “security, opportunities and progress for this part of the world.”

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun protested the visit, saying it “undermines China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and sends a gravely wrong signal to the separatist Taiwan independence forces.”

Japan accelerates missile deployment

TOKYO Japan plans to deploy its domestically developed long-range missiles a year earlier than planned, the Defense Ministry announced Friday, as the country steps up efforts to strengthen its strike-back capability in response to rising challenges in the region.

Under the new schedule, a first batch of the domestically developed Type-12 anti-ship missiles will be installed at its army’s Camp Kengun in Japan’s southwestern prefecture of Kmuamoto by March 2026, the ministry said. The Type-12 missile has a range of about 620 miles Japan is seeking to create a more self-sufficient military as a deterrence against China’s increasingly assertive naval activity in regional seas. Japan in June spotted two Chinese aircraft carriers almost simultaneously operating near southern Japanese islands for the first time. Japan also has concerns about the rising tensions caused by North Korea and Russia. These efforts mark a historic shift. Japan, under its post-World War II pacifist constitution, used to limit the use of force for selfdefense only But it made a major break from that policy in 2022 when it adopted a five-year security strateg y that names China as its biggest strategic challenge and calls for a closer Japan-U.S. alliance and more offensive roles for Japan’s Self-Defense Forces.

Legionnaires’ outbreak linked to N.Y. buildings

NEW YORK New York City health officials said Friday that bacteria from two city-run buildings, including a hospital, matched samples from some patients in a Legionnaires’ disease outbreak in Central Harlem that has killed seven people and sickened dozens of others

The bacteria was found in cooling towers atop Harlem Hospital and a construction site where the city’s public health lab is located, officials said Since the source has now been determined, the investigation into the bacterial cluster is now closed, authorities said, and the cooling towers have been cleaned and disinfected.

The city also is considering a series of changes to try to prevent future outbreaks.

The Health Department received seven clinical specimens in this cluster which matched the Legionella strain in the towers. The agency said it typically gets culture specimens for 6-9% of all reported cases of Legionnaires.

The announcement came a day after officials said they had determined that the death of a person with the disease, who died before mid-August, was associated with cluster

Israel declares Gaza City combat zone

War’s death toll surpasses 63,000

BY WAFAA SHURAFA, SAM METZ and JULIA FRANKEL Associated Press

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip Israel

declared Gaza’s largest city a combat zone and recovered the remains of two hostages on Friday as the army launched the start of a planned offensive that has drawn international condemnation.

As the military announced the resumption of fighting, health officials said the death toll in Gaza has risen to 63,025, with 59 deaths reported by hospitals over the last 24 hours.

Aid groups and a church sheltering people said they would stay in Gaza City, refusing to abandon the hungry and displaced.

The shift comes weeks after Israel first announced plans to widen its offensive in the city, where hundreds of thousands are sheltering while enduring famine. In recent days, the military has ramped up strikes on the city’s outskirts.

Plumes of smoke and thunderous blasts could be seen and heard across the border in southern Israel on Friday morning.

Israel has called Gaza City a Hamas stronghold, alleging that a network of tunnels remain in use despite several previous large-scale raids on the area throughout nearly 23

months of war Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that Israel needs to cripple Hamas’ capabilities in the city to avoid a repeat of the Oct. 7, 2023, attack that ignited the war

While United Nations agencies and aid groups condemned the offensive, people in Gaza City said it made little difference.

“The massacres never stopped, even during the humanitarian pauses,” resident Mohamed Aboul Hadi said in a text message from Gaza City

Some who fled south were putting together tents Friday in the central Gaza Strip, west of the Nuseirat refugee camp. They spoke of the miserable conditions they have endured.

“We are thrown in the streets like, what would I say? Like dogs? We are not like dogs. Dogs are better

than us,” said Mohammed Maarouf standing in front of a shelter for him and his family of nine.

More than 63,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war started, the Gaza Health Ministry said Friday The ministry’s count — 63,025 — does not distinguish between fighters and civilians. It also said five people had died from malnutrition-related causes over the past 24 hours, raising the toll to 322, including 121 children, since the war began.

The ministry is part of the Hamas-run government and staffed by medical professionals. The U.N. and independent experts consider it the most reliable source on war casualties. Israel disputes its figures but has not provided its own.

Facing international criticism, Israel instituted what it called “tactical pauses”

in Gaza City and two other populated areas last month.

That paused fighting from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. to allow more aid to get through, though aid groups have said deliveries remained challenging due to blockade, looting and Israeli restrictions.

Midday Friday, the military changed course, marking the latest escalation after weeks of preparatory strikes in some of the city’s neighborhoods and calling up tens of thousands of reservists.

“We will intensify our strikes until we bring back all the kidnapped hostages and dismantle Hamas,” said Israeli army spokesperson Avichay Adraee, who urged Palestinians in Gaza City to flee south, calling evacuation “inevitable.”

The U.N. said Thursday that 23,000 people had evacuated this past week, but many in Gaza City say there is nowhere safe to go.

“We cannot find any place in the west nor in the south. Conditions are difficult. Where are we going? We don’t know,” said Saddam Yazigi as he prepared to leave.

About 440 people sheltering at the Holy Family Church of Gaza City planned to remain there, along with clergy assisting them, although the church has few defenses.

“When we feel danger, people get closer to the walls or whatever, it’s more protected,” Farid Jubran told The Associated Press.

The UN’s humanitarian agency also planned to keep its staff and NGOs on the ground.

The Israeli military did not say whether it had notified residents or aid groups of its plans to resume daytime fighting before Friday’s 11:30 a.m. announcement.

The Norwegian Refugee Council, which coordinates a coalition of aid groups in Gaza, said it had no advance notice. The U.N. feared the area could lose half of its hospital bed capacity

“We cannot provide health services to 2 million people besieged in the south,” said Zaher alWahidi, a spokesperson for Gaza’s Health Ministry

Hundreds of residents began that journey on Friday, piling their few remaining possessions onto pickup trucks or donkey carts. Many have been forced to leave their homes more than once.

Appeals court finds Trump’s tariffs unconstitutional

Judges leave them in place for now

BY PAUL WISEMAN and LINDSAY WHITEHURST Associated Press

WASHINGTON A federal appeals court ruled Friday that President Donald Trump had no legal right to impose sweeping tariffs but left in place for now his effort to build a protectionist wall around the American economy

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ruled Trump wasn’t legally allowed to declare national emergencies and impose import taxes on

almost every country on earth, largely upholding a May decision by a specialized federal trade court in New York.

But the court’s 7-4 decision tossed out a part of that ruling striking down the tariffs immediately, allowing his administration time to appeal to the Supreme Court The decision complicates Trump’s ambitions to upend decades of American trade policy completely on his own. Trump has alternative laws for imposing import taxes, but they would limit the speed and severity with which he could act. His tariffs — and the erratic way he’s rolled them out — have shaken

global markets, alienated U.S. trading partners and allies and raised fears of higher prices and slower economic growth.

But he’s also used the levies to pressure the European Union, Japan and other countries into accepting one-sided trade deals and to bring tens of billions of dollars into the federal Treasury to help pay for the massive tax cuts he signed into law July 4.

“While existing trade deals may not automatically unravel, the administration could lose a pillar of its negotiating strategy which may embolden foreign governments to resist future demands, delay implementation of prior

Trump ends Harris’ Secret Service protection after Biden extended it

BY SEUNG MIN KIM and ADRIANA GOMEZ LICON Associated Press

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump has revoked former Vice President Kamala Harris’ Secret Service protection that otherwise would have ended next summer, senior Trump administration officials said Friday

Former vice presidents typically get federal government protection for six months after leaving office, while ex-presidents do so for life. But then-President Joe Biden quietly signed a directive, at Harris’ request, that had extended protection for her beyond the traditional six months, according to another person familiar with the matter The people insisted on anonymity to discuss a matter not made public Trump, a Republican, defeated Harris, a Democrat, in the presidential election last year

His move to drop Harris’ Secret Service protection comes as the former vice president, who became the Democratic nominee last summer after a chaotic series of events that led to Biden dropping out of the contest, is about to embark on a book tour for her memoir, titled “107 Days.”

The tour has 15 stops, including visits abroad to London and Toronto. The book, which refers to the historically short length of her presidential campaign, will be released Sept 23, and the tour begins the following day

A recent threat intelligence assessment the Secret Service conducts on those it protects, such as Harris, found no red flags or credible evidence of a threat to the former vice president, said a White House official who also insisted on anonymity to discuss internal deliberations. The administration found no reason Harris’ protection should go beyond the

standard six-month period for former vice presidents, the official said. Trump’s vice president from his first term, Mike Pence, did not have extended Secret Service protection beyond the standard six months.

Still, it is not unusual for Secret Service protection to continue well beyond the statutory six-month window, particularly when former officials face credible and ongoing threats. But Trump’s decisions to revoke the protection have stood out both for timing and for targets.

During Trump’s second presidency, he repeatedly has cut off security for adversaries and figures who have fallen from favor including his onetime national security adviser John Bolton and members of Biden’s family, including the former president’s adult children. Outgoing presidents can extend protection for those who might otherwise not be eligible; Trump did so for his family after leaving office in 2021.

commitments, or even seek to renegotiate terms,” Ashley Akers, senior counsel at the Holland & Knight law firm and a former Justice Department trial lawyer, said before the appeals court decision. “A ruling against the tariffs would represent not just a legal defeat, but a serious blow to the administration’s coercive trade diplomacy model.”

The government also might have to refund some of the import taxes that it’s col-

lected, delivering a financial blow to the U.S. Treasury “It would be 1929 all over again, a GREAT DEPRESSION!” Trump said in a previous post on Truth Social. Revenue from tariffs totaled $142 billion by July more than double what it was at the same point the year before. Indeed, the Justice Department warned in a legal filing this month that revoking the tariffs could mean “financial ruin” for the United States.

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Trump blocks $4.9B in foreign aid Congress OK’d

BY JOSH BOAK Associated Press

WASHINGTON President

Donald Trump has told House Speaker Mike Johnson that he won’t be spending $4.9 billion in congressionally approved foreign aid, effectively cutting the budget without going through the legislative branch.

Trump, who sent a letter to Johnson, R-Benton, on Thursday, is using what’s known as a pocket rescission — when a president submits a request to Congress to not spend approved funds toward the end of the fiscal year, so Congress cannot act on the request in a 45-day timeframe and the money goes unspent as a result. It’s the first time in nearly 50 years a president has used one. The fiscal year draws to a close at the end of September

The letter was posted Friday morning on the X account of the White House Office of Management and Budget. It said the funding would be cut from the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development, or USAID, an early target of Trump’s efforts to cut foreign aid. If the White House standardizes this move, the president could effectively bypass Congress on key spending choices and potentially throw into disarray efforts in the House and the Senate to keep the government funded when the next fiscal year starts in October

The use of a pocket rescission fits part a broader pattern by the Trump administration to exact greater control over the U.S. government, eroding the power of Congress and agencies such as the Federal Reserve and

the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, among others. The administration has already fired federal workers and imposed a historic increase in tariffs without going through Congress, putting the burden on the judicial branch to determine the limits of presidential power.

A White House official, who insisted on anonymity on a call with reporters to discuss the move, declined to say how the administration might use pocket rescissions in the coming years or what the upper limits of it might be as a tool. The official expressed confidence the administration would prevail in any legal challenges and said a goal of the proposed spending cuts was to make the cleanest case possible for these types of clawbacks.

Winding down USAID

Secretary of State Marco Rubio posted on X that USAID is essentially being shuttered and congratulated White House budget director Russ Vought for managing the process “USAID is officially in close out mode,” Rubio said. “Russ is now at the helm to oversee the closeout of an agency that long ago went off the rails.”

The 1974 Impoundment Control Act gives the president the authority to propose canceling funds approved by Congress. Congress can within 45 days vote on pulling back the funds or sustaining them, but by proposing the rescission so close to Sept. 30 the White House argues that the money won’t be spent and the funding lapses. What was essentially the last pocket rescission occurred in 1977 by Demo-

cratic then-President Jimmy Carter, and the Trump administration argues it’s a legally permissible tool despite some murkiness as Carter had initially proposed the clawback well ahead of the 45-day deadline.

Pushback

The move by the Trump administration drew immediate backlash in parts of the Senate over its legality.

Sen. Susan Collins, RMaine, said in a statement that the Constitution “makes clear that Congress has the responsibility for the power of the purse” and any effort to claw back funds “without congressional approval is a clear violation of the law.”

“Instead of this attempt to undermine the law, the appropriate way is to identify ways to reduce excessive spending through the bipartisan, annual appropriations

process,” Collins said. “Congress approves rescissions regularly as part of this process.”

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer of New York warned that Trump’s use of the pocket veto could undermine the normal funding process and risk “a painful and entirely unnecessary shutdown.” After all, any budget agreements reached in the Senate could lack authority if the Trump White House has the power to withhold spending as it sees fit Schumer said in a statement that Republican leaders have yet to meet with Democrats on a path to fund the government after the fiscal year ends on Sept 30 just as Trump tries an “unlawful gambit to circumvent the Congress all together.”

“But if Republicans are insistent on going it alone, Democrats won’t be party to

Fed governor seeks court order blocking

BY CHRISTOPHER RUGABER and PAUL WISEMAN AP economics writers

A lawyer for Lisa Cook on Friday urged a U.S. judge to let the Federal Reserve governor keep her job while she fights President Donald Trump’s attempt to fire her in a stunning assault on the central bank’s independence. The case in the U.S. District Court in Washington D.C. could provide Trump with expansive power over the Fed, which has traditionally been shielded from political pressure as it makes tough, complicated decisions about whether to raise interest rates to fight inflation or lower them to encourage hiring and economic growth.

criticized the Fed — and its chair, Jerome Powell — for refusing to cut interest rates. The central bank has left its benchmark rate unchanged this year, partly because it is waiting to see whether the big taxes tariffs that Trump is slapping on foreign products will push inflation higher Cook has voted against a cut, along with most board members.

history Economists broadly support Fed independence because it makes it easier for the central bank to take unpopular steps such as raising interest rates.

their destruction,” Schumer said.

‘No exceptions’

Eloise Pasachoff, a Georgetown University law professor and expert on federal spending issues, has written that the Impoundment Control Act allows rescissions only if Congress acts within 45 days, meaning the the White House alone cannot decide to not spend the funds.

“This mandatory language admits no exceptions, indicating that Congress expects the funds to be used as intended before the end of the fiscal year if it does not approve the proposed rescission,” Pasachoff wrote in an academic paper last year

What’s in the funding?

The funds in the pocket rescission package include $3.2 billion in development

assistance grants, $520 million for the United Nations, $838 million for international peacekeeping operations and $322 million to encourage democratic values in other countries.

Trump had previously sought to get congressional backing for rescissions and succeeded in doing so in July when the House and the Senate approved $9 billion worth of cuts. Those rescissions clawed back funding for public broadcasting and foreign aid.

The Trump administration has made deep reductions to foreign aid one of its hallmark policies, despite the relatively meager savings relative to the deficit and possible damage to America’s reputation abroad as foreign populations lose access to food supplies and development programs. In February, the administration said it would eliminate almost all of USAID’s foreign aid contracts and $60 billion in overall assistance abroad USAID has since been dismantled, and its few remaining programs have been placed under State Department control.

The Trump administration appealed to the Supreme Court on Wednesday to stop lower court decisions that had preserved foreign aid, including for global health and HIV and AIDS programs, that Trump has tried to freeze. But on Friday, the administration withdrew its appeal to the Supreme Court, after a favorable appeals court ruling late Thursday

The New York Post first reported the pocket rescission. AP writers Mark Sherman, Lindsay Whitehurst and Stephen Groves contributed to this report.

Trump has sought to fire Cook over allegations that she committed mortgage fraud when she purchased a home and condo in 2021, the year before President Joe Biden appointed her to the Fed’s governing board. Trump has repeatedly

Arguments in the court Friday centered on what constitutes “cause,” which in this case are the unproven accusations of mortgage fraud In an exchange with U.S. District Judge Jia Cobb, Cook’s lawyer Abbe David Lowell, said Trump’s motivations are clear “He’s already said he wants a majority (on the Fed board). He’s bragged that he’s going to get it.”

If Cook’s firing is allowed to stand, it would likely erode the Fed’s long-standing independence from dayto-day politics. No president has ever fired a Fed governor in the agency’s 112-year

Cook has asked the court to issue an emergency order that would prevent her firing and enable her to remain on the seven-member board of governors while her lawsuit to the overturn the firing makes its way through the courts. The case may end up before the U.S. Supreme Court.

The district court ruling is not expected until after Labor Day although Judge Cobb said she would seek to expedite the case.

In court Friday, the Justice Department’s Yaakov Roth, who represented the Trump administration at the hearing, complained that Cook had not offered an explanation for anything questionable in her mortgage documents or a defense against the fraud allegations.

The allegations remain just that, leveled by Bill Pulte, Trump’s appointee to the agency that oversees mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Zelenskyy seeks talks with Trump, European leaders

Ukrainian leader wants to discuss slow progress of peace efforts

BY HANNA ARHIROVA Associated Press

KYIV, Ukraine Ukrainian

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Friday that Ukrainian officials want to meet with President Donald Trump and European leaders next week to discuss recent developments in efforts to end the three-year war with Russia.

The proposed meetings appeared designed to add momentum to the push for peace, as Zelenskyy expressed frustration with what he called Russia’s lack of constructive engagement in the process while it continues to launch devastating aerial attacks on civilian areas.

Trump has bristled at Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s stalling on an U.S. proposal for direct peace talks with Zelenskyy and said a week ago he expected to decide on next steps in two weeks if direct talks aren’t scheduled Trump complained last month that Putin “ talks nice and then he bombs everybody.” But he has also chided Ukraine for its attacks and a major Russian missile and drone attack on Ukraine overnight from Wednesday to Thursday that killed at least 23 people drew no

public condemnation from the Trump administration. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt noted Thursday that Ukraine has been striking Russian oil refineries.

Andriy Yermak, the head of Ukraine’s presidential office, met on Friday in New York with Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff to discuss preparations for upcoming meetings “The key priority is to push forward real diplomacy and ensure the implementation of all the agreements reached at the Washington summit,” Yermak said in a social media post “We are

coordinating our efforts.”

Yermak said he had briefed Witkoff on Russia’s latest attacks on Ukraine and lamented that Putin had shown no willingness to engage in peace efforts despite his meeting with Trump in Alaska this month.

“Unfortunately, Russia is failing to fulfill anything necessary to end the war and is clearly dragging out the hostilities,” Yermak wrote in a lengthy post on X. “Ukraine supports President Trump’s firm resolve, as well as that of all partners, to achieve a lasting peace as soon as possible. Ukraine welcomes all peace initiatives put forward

Pakistan races to evacuate tens of thousands stranded by floods

BY BABAR DOGAR and MUNIR AHMED Associated Press

NAROWAL, Pakistan Rescuers in Pakistan raced to evacuate tens of thousands of people stranded by floods, with many left without food or medical supplies Friday as the government struggled to provide aid and prevent Lahore and other cities from deluges.

The floods in the eastern Punjab province began Monday when an abnormal amount of rain triggered sudden water releases from Indian dams on the Sutlej, Chenab and Ravi rivers The rising floodwaters were the first to hit the region in four decades.

New Delhi last week alerted Islamabad about potential cross-border flooding Since then, nearly 300,000 people have been evacuated from flood-hit areas, said Irfan Ali Kathia, director general of the Punjab Disaster Management Authority More than 1 million have been affected. Around 20 people have died in this week’s floods in Punjab, raising the nationwide death toll to 820 since flash floods in late June, Kathia said. Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir visited flood-hit areas of Narowal district on Friday to review rescue and relief operations.

Nearly 1,100 relief and medical camps are operating in the province to provide temporary shelter and treat-

ment, with more medical camps being set up in floodhit areas, he added. Floodwater inundated some villages near Lahore, raising fears in the city On Friday, authorities and the military made controlled breaches in protective embankments at several points along the overflowing Chenab River to reduce pressure and protect major cities, according to the National Disaster Management Authority It said water levels in rivers remain dangerously high and warned that further rainfall could worsen flooding.

Authorities have struggled to respond to the floods. Many people said Friday they were still without any government help and urgently needed food and medical supplies.

An Associated Press reporter on Thursday saw village after village underwater Floodwaters covered fields and streets and thou-

sands of people sat along the roadsides. Many had fled their homes in haste, carrying little or no food.

“We are in great misery Neither the government nor anyone else has come to inquire about us,” said Mohammad Saleem, a farmer in Narowal, sitting on a road surrounded by water with hundreds of other people.

Rana Hanan, a lecturer at Narowal University, said more than 100 houses in his community were destroyed.

“When the water came, people saved themselves on their own,” he said.

In some areas, residents clung to rooftops awaiting rescue, while those who reached higher ground reported hunger, skin infections, and diarrhea.

Private charity Sahara Foundation has set up a medical camp in Kartarpur village to treat those suffering from illnesses caused by a lack of clean water and food.

by the United States. But unfortunately, each of them is being stalled by Russia.”

Of the meeting, a White House official said only that Yermak and Sergiy Kyslytsya, Ukraine’s ambassador extraordinary gave Witkoff a status update on the war and Russia’s strikes on Kyiv this week. The official was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Zelenskyy told reporters in Kyiv that he expected “several meetings at different venues” with European leaders next week.

Ukrainian negotiators have been trying to move

the peace process forward in talks in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Switzerland and the United States, he said.

Ukraine has accepted a U.S. proposal for a ceasefire and a meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy, but Moscow has raised objections.

Zelenskyy accused Russia of dragging out negotiations, including by putting off a Russia-Ukraine summit with the argument that the groundwork for a possible peace settlement must be thrashed out first by lower officials before leaders meet.

That reasoning, Zelenskyy said, is “artificial because they want to show the United States that they are constructive, but they are not constructive.”

“In my opinion, leaders must urgently be involved to reach agreements,” Zelenskyy added.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov on Friday reiterated Moscow’s long-held position that Putin “doesn’t rule out” meeting Zelenskyy, but only after progress is made “at the expert level.”

A summit “must be well prepared so that it can finalize the work that must first be carried out at the expert level,” Peskov told reporters during his daily conference call.

“At this point we can’t say that the expert work is in full swing, so to speak. No, unfortunately, not We maintain our interest and our readiness for these negotiations,” he said.

Zelenskyy urged swift secondary sanctions on countries that trade with Russia and thereby support its war economy He said the possible postwar security guarantees being assessed by Western countries to deter another Russian invasion in the future must include a secure supply of weapons for Ukraine, either through domestic production or Western provision, and U.S. weapons paid for by Europe.

Zelenskyy’s comments came after the death toll in a major Russian missile and drone strike on the Ukrainian capital rose to 23, including four children, officials said Friday Ukraine needs more sophisticated Western air defense systems to counter such attacks.

Authorities in the Kyiv region declared Friday an official day of mourning. Flags flew at half-staff and all entertainment events were canceled after Russia hammered Ukraine with almost 600 drones and more than 30 missiles overnight from Wednesday to Thursday, including rare strikes on downtown Kyiv Rescue workers pulled 17 people from the rubble after the attack, among them four children, Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said. The youngest victim was a 2-year-old girl. Some bodies have yet to be identified, and eight people remain unaccounted for, authorities said. More than 50 people were wounded.

Thai court dismisses PM over call with Cambodian official

BY PAPITCHAYA SCHWARZ AND GRANT PECK Associated Press

BANGKOK Thailand’s Constitutional Court on Friday dismissed Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, ruling that she violated ethics rules in a phone call with a high-ranking Cambodian official.

The decision ends the term of the nation’s youngest prime minister and delivers the latest blow to the powerful Shinawatra political dynasty that has dominated Thai politics for more than two decades.

In a 6-3 vote, the judges found that Paetongtarn’s conduct in a June 15 call with Cambodia’s former leader Hun Sen compromised national interests.

The call, which became public just weeks before a deadly border conflict erupted between the two countries, sparked outrage in Thailand. Audio of the conversation revealed Paetongtarn addressing Hun Sen as “uncle” and appearing to criticize a Thai army general as an “opponent” while discussing the tense border situation.

The complaint against Paetongtarn lodged by a group of senators alleged

that “due to a personal relationship that appeared aligned with Cambodia, (she) was consistently willing to comply with or act in accordance with the wishes of the Cambodian side.”

It further charged that her reference to the Thai general “lacked demonstrable honesty and integrity, and seriously violated or failed to comply with ethical standards.”

However, the court said in its ruling that Paetongtarn intended to uphold Thailand’s national interests and tried to prevent serious conflicts that could affect its sovereignty and border security. It concluded that her actions did not clearly appear to be dishonest. The majority opinion nevertheless found that her conversation constituted a breach of ethical standards.

Paetongtarn, 39, has defended herself by arguing that her familiar tone during the call was a negotiating tactic aimed at de-escalating tensions. She apologized, but insisted that it did not damage national security After the court’s ruling Friday, she said she would accept it but insisted that she was innocent and had acted with the sole purpose

of saving lives.

Audio of the call was leaked online by Hun Sen, who was Cambodia’s prime minister for 38 years until his son Hun Manet took over the job in 2023. The phone call came as longstanding border tensions escalated after a Cambodian soldier was killed in a brief fracas with Thai troops in disputed territory in May In late June, the two countries engaged in five days of combat that killed dozens of people and displaced more than 260,000. The friendly tone of Paetongtarn’s call raised hackles among many Thais because of her family’s history Her father, Thaksin Shinawatra, a business owner who earned a vast fortune in the telecommunications sector and who was prime minister from 2001-06, has in the past faced allegations of putting his personal interests over those of the nation, and had a seemingly warm friendship with Hun Sen. Friday’s ruling is also a blow to Thaksin, who was ousted from power by a military coup but has managed to remain a dominant force in Thai politics.

By The Associated Press

JAKARTA, Indonesia Protests erupted for a fifth day Friday in multiple cities and tensions soared across Indonesia, a day after a delivery rider was allegedly run over by a police armored vehicle during clashes between riot police and students protesting lawmakers’ allowances Protesters marched to the headquarters of the police mobile brigade in the capital Jakarta on Friday, and some attempted to storm the compound. Police used water canons and fired rounds of tear gas to push back the demonstrators, who hurled bottles, rocks and flares at them.

One group of rioters set fire to a five-story building near the police compound in Kwitang neighborhood of central Jakarta, causing several people to be trapped inside. Some students halted their protests to help soldiers and residents rescue those trapped.

Other protesters destroyed traffic signs and other infrastructure, causing traffic to come to a standstill in the area. Demonstrators also attacked police trucks and patrol cars and damaged several government offices in the unrest that soon led crowds to looting and burning vehicles. Shops and malls near the protest sites and Glodok

Chinatown in Jakarta shuttered early over safety concerns as residents were still haunted by the May 1998 riots when racial violence against Chinese Indonesians broke out in Indonesia during violent protests that led to the fall of the Suharto dictatorship. Amid the 1998 violence, over 1,000 died and thousands more were bankrupted or fled the country Clashes between rockthrowing demonstrators and riot police also broke out in other cities across the country, including Surabaya, Solo, Yogyakarta, Medan, Makassar, Manado, Bandung and Manokwari in the easternmost Papua region.

to areleasefrom theLouisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.There have been multiple cases involving captivedeer in other parishes.

CWD was first detectedinLouisianain2022, accordingtothe release.

After the emergencydeclaration took effect, theWildlifeand Fisheries Commission sought to draft anew,long-term rule definingthe control area.

The proposed rule is expected to take effect Sept. 20. It still expands the control area to the new parishes but softens the restrictions in some areas by creating a“buffer” zone, where baiting would be allowedbynonstationarymethods, said Johnathan Bordelon, LDWF’s deer program manager

That means hunters may spread feed through other means, includingavehicle, Bordelon said The rule also prohibits hunters from movingwhole deercarcasses outofthe control area, though they maymove certain processed meat and finished taxidermy mounts. What is CWD?

Related to madcow disease, CWD causes ahealthyprotein to misfold, creating holes in the brain, Bordelon told lawmakers during an Aug. 27 meeting of the Senateand House natural resources committees.

That panel had the power to vote to reject the rule, or partsofit, but it took no action.

Deer can shed CWDinto the environment through fluids suchas saliva, and the affected material

After adeer tested positivefor

severalmoreparishes,

the issues —even though they hadhappenedbefore her tenure.

“I am the first woman and the first person of color to serve as the permanent dean of the Paul M. Hebert Law Center.That fact is not incidental —itiscentral to what follows,” she wrote in one response to auditors. “I finditdeeplytroubling,and frankly difficult to ignore, that Iappear to be held to astandard far more exacting than that applied to my white, overwhelmingly malepredecessors. It was they who oversaw and entrenched the very practices Ihave since questioned and begun to reform.” An LSU spokesperson said the university “cannot comment on personnel matters.”

Jones said Allen asked LSUfor an investigation into potentialracial and gender discrimination.On Thursday,three months later,Allen was invited to a meeting with LSU interim Executive Vice President and Provost Troy Blanchard and AssociateVice President and Chief Human Resources Director Clay Jones, Jones said Blanchard told Allen the LSU Board of Supervisors haddecided to “make a change in leadership at the law school” because “they were just going adifferent direction” and she would be able to serve therole until the end of the academic

aRepublican from Greenwell Springs who grew up hunting, slammed the rule in an interview

Growing up, she looked forward to setting out corn fordeer every year,she said, adding that the practice celebrated the reverence of the sport and the animal.

“It’sacultural aspect of the state of Louisiana,” she said, calling the restrictions “about as anti-Sportsman’s Paradise as you can get.”

Rep. DannyMcCormick,R-Oil City,also pushedback against the rule during the meeting of the natural resources committees, drawing parallels between the CWD rule andrestrictions placed upon people during the COVID-19 pandemic.

He was concerned the rule would take away freedoms andnever give them back, he said.

McCormick said his granddaughter was able to kill her first deer at 6years oldbecause it was standing at acorn feeder

“I’m very concerned about Louisiana Wildlife andFisheries taking that right away,” he said.

Meanwhile, Andy Brown, directorofcommodity andpublic policy forthe Louisiana Farm Bureau, saidrestricting deer baiting would have economicconsequences by reducing opportunitiesfor farmers to sell deer feed.

Officialssay that is whyitisimportant to take action to mitigate thedisease early on.

Still, it is hard to predict the spread of the disease, said Michael Chamberlain, aprofessor at the University of Georgia whospecializes in wildlife management.

canremaininfectiousfor years, Bordelon said. There are no known cases of CWD in humans,but the World Health Organization recommends against consumingmeat from animalsthat test positivefor CWD. The disease can spread to other cervids, including moose, elk and reindeer CWD was first detected in Colorado in 1967 and has since spread to 36 states,according to Bordelon. Itsprevalenceislow in Louisiana, but if it hits acertain threshold, it could cause population loss, he said.

“I am the first woman and the first person of color to serve as the permanent dean of the Paul M. Hebert LawCenter.That fact is not incidental —itiscentral to what follows. I find it deeplytroubling,and frankly difficult to ignore, that Iappear to be heldtoa standard far more exacting than that applied to my white, overwhelminglymalepredecessors. It wasthey who oversawand entrenched the verypractices Ihave since questioned and begun to reform.”

ALENAALLEN,Paul M.HebertLaw Center Dean

year, accordingaletter Jonessent to LSU. Blanchard also saidthat Allen could resignand “control the messaging,” but Allen declined to resign, Jones said

On Friday,around 12:30 p.m., Blanchard sent an internal LSU email announcingthat“Dean Allen will complete her service as dean and transition to afulltimefacultyrole within the

Law Center.”

“HowCWD functionsisvery differentasyou move acrossthe landscape,” he told lawmakers. But “the hunter in me says we need to trytoseekwaystomitigate and not get to that point (of populationdecline).”

‘Anti-Sportsman’s Paradise’

Not all hunters are on the same page as Chamberlain.

State Rep. LaurenVentrella,

ButRickOwens,ahunter and conservationist with the Louisiana Wildlife Federation, said the rule represented acompromise between many different partiesand that his organization would support it, though they initially felt it didn’tinclude enough CWD mitigation measures.

Email Meghan Friedmann at meghan.friedmann@ theadvocate.com.

“Inthe months ahead,we will launch anational search to identify the next dean, with the process designed to ensure thatnew leadership is in place upon theconclusionofDean Allen’stenure,” theemail said. Jones said that neither she nor Allen had been given advance notice of the email. ALouisiana native,Allen was nameddean in February 2023. She hadpreviously been deputydirector of the

Association of American Law Schools and held several leadership positions at the University of Arkansas law school.

LSUhas seen severalhighprofile departures this year Former President William Tate left in June for Rutgers University; Provost Roy Haggerty departed for Oregon State in May. The university’stop lawyer Winston DeCuir,and chief administrative officer also leftthis year

The law school attracted political controversy when aprofessor,Ken Levy,was recorded using vulgar language to criticize President Donald Trumpand Gov. Jeff Landry.Landryurged LSU to take action against Levyfor his comments,and LSU suspended himwith pay Staff writer Jan Risher contributed to this report. Email Alyse Pfeil at alyse pfeil@theadvocate.com.

Texasgovernor signsstate’s new maps into law

BY DAVID A. LIEB

and ANDREW DEMILLO Associated Press

JEFFERSON CITY,Mo— Republican Gov.Mike Kehoe is calling Missouri lawmakersinto aspecial session to redraw thestate’s U.S. House districts as part of agrowing national battle between Republicans and Democrats seekinganedge in next year’s congressional elections.

Kehoe’sannouncement

Friday comes just hoursafter Texas GOP Gov.Greg Abbott signed into law anew congressional voting map designed to help Republicans gain five more seats in the 2026 midterm elections. It marked awin for President Donald Trump, who has been urging Republican-led states to reshape district linesto give the party abetter shot at retaining control of the House. Missouri would become the third state to pursue an unusual mid-decade redistricting for partisan advantage. Republican-led Texas took up the task first but was quickly

countered by Democraticled California. Kehoe scheduled Missouri’sspecial session to begin Sept. 3. Missouriisrepresented in the U.S. House by six Republicans and twoDemocrats —Reps. Wesley Bell in St Louis and Emanuel Cleaver in Kansas City.Republicans hope to gain onemore seat by reshaping Cleaver’sdistricttostretchfurther from Kansas City into suburban or ruralareas thatleanmore Republican.

Some Republicans had pushed for amap that could give them a7-1 edge when redrawing districts afterthe 2020 census. But the GOP legislativemajority ultimately optedagainst it. Some feared the more aggressive plan could be susceptible to alegal challenge andcould backfire in apoor election yearfor Republicans by creatingmorecompetitive districts that couldallowDemocrats to win three seats.

Republicans won a220-215 House majority over Democrats in 2024, an outcome that aligned almost perfectly with the share of the vote won bythe twoparties in districtsacross theU.S., accordingtoa recent Associated Press analysis. Although the

Missouri’s GOPgovernor orders redraw of Housemap

overall outcome was close to neutral, theAP’sanalysis shows thatDemocrats and Republicans each benefited from advantagesinparticularstates stemming fromthe way districtsweredrawn.

Democratswould need to net threeseats in next year’s election to takecontrol of thechamber.The incumbent president’sparty tends to loseseats in themidterm elections,aswas thecase for Trump in 2018, when

Democrats won control of the House andsubsequently launchedinvestigations of Trump.

Seeking to avoidasimilar situation in his second term, Trump hasurgedRepublican-led states to fortify their congressionalseats In Texas, Republicansalreadyhold 25 of the 38 congressional seats.

“Texas is now morered in the United States Congress,” Abbott saidina videohe

posted on Xofhim signing the legislation. In response to the Texas efforts, Democratic California Gov. GavinNewsom approved aNovember statewide election on arevised U.S. Housemap that gives Democrats there achance of winning five additional seats. Democrats alreadyhold43 of California’s 52 congressional seats. Newsom, who has emerged as aleading adversary of

Trump on redistricting and other issues, tauntingly labeled Abbott on Xasthe president’s“#1 lapdog” following the signing. Voting rights groups filed alawsuit this week ahead of Abbott’ssigning the bill, saying the newmap weakensthe electoral influence of Black voters.Texas Democrats have also vowed to challenge the new mapincourt. The redistricting battle could spread to other states. Republicans couldseekto squeezemoreseats outof Ohio, where the state constitution requires districts to be redrawn before the 2026 elections.

Republican officialsin Florida, Indiana andelsewhere also are considering revising theirU.S.House districts, as are Democratic officials in Illinois, Maryland and NewYork. In Utah,ajudge recently ordered the Republican-led Legislature to draw newcongressionaldistricts after findingthatlawmakershadweakened andignored an independent commission established by voters to prevent partisan gerrymandering. Republicans have won allfourof Utah’scongressional seats underthe map approvedby lawmakers in 2021.

U.S. revokesvisas of Palestinianpresident,other officials

Move comes aheadofU.N GeneralAssembly

BY MATTHEW LEE AP diplomaticwriter

WASHINGTON Secretary of State Marco Rubio has revoked the visas of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and 80 other officials ahead of next month’sannual high-level meeting of the U.N. General Assembly, astep the Palestinian Authority decried as against international law

AState Department offi-

cial, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss visa issues thatare normally confidential,disclosed Friday that Abbas and other officials fromthe Palestinian Authority were among those affected by new visa restrictions. Palestinianrepresentatives assignedtothe U.N.mission, however,were granted exceptions.

Themove is the latest in aseries of steps the Trump administration has taken to target Palestinianswithvisa restrictions and comes as the Israeli military declared Gaza’slargest city acombat zone. TheState Department also suspended aprogram

thathad allowed injured Palestinian children from Gaza to come to theU.S. for medicaltreatment afterasocial media outcry by some conservatives.

The State Department said in astatement that Rubioalso orderedsome new visa applicationsfrom Palestinian officials,including thosetied to the Palestine Liberation Organization,bedenied.

“It is in our national security intereststohold the PLO and PA accountable for not complying with their commitments, and for undermining the prospectsfor peace,” the statement said. It saidthat to be consid-

ered partners for peace, the groups“must consistently repudiate terrorism, and end incitement to terrorism in education, as required by U.S.law andaspromised by the PLO.”

ThePalestinianAuthoritydenounced thevisa withdrawalsasaviolation of U.S.commitments as the host country of the United Nations and urged theState Department to reverse its decision.

It said in astatement that the Palestinian presidency “expressedits deep regret and astonishment” at the visa decision, which “contravenes internationallaw andthe

HeadquartersAgreement,especially sincethe State of Palestine is an observermember of theUnited Nations.”

U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said the world body would be seeking clarification from the State Department.

“Weobviously hope that this will be resolved,” he said. “Itisimportant that all member states, permanent observers be able to be represented.”

The State Department said representatives assigned to the PalestinianAuthority mission at the United Nations would be grantedwaivers under the U.S. host coun-

try agreement with the U.N. so they cancontinuetheir NewYork-based operations. TheTrump administration has pursued acrackdown on someofthose who have legal permission to come to theU.S., andattimes the standard for releasing onceprivileged information on canceled visas seems to have been relaxed to make apublic point. For instance, the State Department’sNo. 2diplomat posted on social media when the U.S. pulledvisas for British punk-rap duo Bob Vylan aftertheyled crowds in chanting “death” to the Israeli military

Council votes to reconsider loan

St. Landry Parish needs to close budget shortfall

BY STEPHEN MARCANTEL Staff writer

The St. Landry Parish Council, in a brief Tuesday night meeting, voted unanimously to reintroduce a failed ordinance that would have allowed the parish to seek out $4.6

million loan from the State Bond Commission. The council on Aug. 20 voted 5-4 to approve Parish President Jessie Bellard’s approach to the commission, but fell short of the required seven votes to pass, according to St. Landry Now

The vote didn’t stop Bellard, who appeared in front of the commission Aug. 21, from asking for a lifeline to pay off an upcoming $1.6 million loan the parish received in December and to help fill up an expected $3.6 million budget shortfall.

However the commission didn’t reach a conclusion, delaying its decision until next month and requesting that the Parish Council come to a consensus. Bellard, speaking with the commission, said mandated expenses have hindered the parish and expects his government to run out of money by the end of the month.

FUNNEL OF LOVE

CGI employees pack 16,000 red beans and rice meals for families and individuals experiencing food insecurity in Lafayette on Thursday The Feed the Funnel event was held in partnership with The Pack Shack to benefit three local food banks — Second Harvest Food Bank of Acadiana, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s Campus Cupboard and South Louisiana Community College’s The Pantry STAFF PHOTOS By LESLIE WESTBROOK

BY JA’KORI MADISON Staff writer

PosiGencustomers seek answers

Homeowners in N.O. signed agreements with solarpanel firm Iwona Leonard stands beside rooftop solar panels at her homeinNew Orleans on Friday. Homeownerswho signed long-term lease agreements withsolar panel installer PosiGen are searching for answers after the Louisianabased company laid off hundreds of workers and ceased most of its operations.

BY BLAKE PATERSON Staff writer

Homeowners who signed long-term lease agreements with solar panel installer PosiGen aresearching for answers after the Louisiana-based company laid off hundreds of workersand ceased most of its operations.

PosiGen, which has offices in seven states andis Louisiana’slargest solar company,notified state and local officials on Monday that it was laying off166 employees at its facilities in Jefferson and St. Charles parishes, saying it defaulted on acredit line and couldn’t raisethe long-term capital it needed amid rollbacks in federal renewable energy tax credits.

Thenewscameasa shock to IwonaLeonard,who recently signed a20-year lease agreement with PosiGen and had solar panels installed on the roof of her double in the Lower Garden District justlast week

PROGRAM

“Preparedness is about anticipating the needs of our residentsand having real solutions in place before danger strikes,” Sonnier said. “Extreme heat can be lifethreatening, especially for seniors, individualswithout access to air conditioning, and those with preexisting health conditions. By working together and securing resources in advance, we’re building asystem that can respond quickly and protect the most vulnerable in our community.”

Key components of the effort include:

SUSPECT

Continued from page1B

about 7:25 p.m. Sunday where officers respondedto reports of gunfire in the 500 block of Saucier Parkway in north Lafayette.

Leonard said the person she reached on PosiGen’s customer service hotline told her they were “waiting formoreinformation from the higher-ups”onwhat the restructuringmeant for customers.

“I’m very nervous,”Leonard said PosiGen’sfounder and executive chairman, Tom Neyhart, did not respond to calls, textsand emails. Messages leftwith contacts listed in the company’s state filings were alsonot returned.

Founded in 2011, PosiGen specializes in marketing solar energy systems to low- to moderate-income households and rode awave of state andfederalsolar credits that allowed it to grow quickly for much of thepast decade.

But it said its ability to securenew investments, which were needed to fund recent expansions, were hampered by thepassage in July of President Donald Trump’stax and spending bill,whichcancels certain renewable energy tax credits starting next year In early August, the Trumpadministration also terminated$7billion in grantsaimed at expanding access to solar energy for disadvantaged communi-

Cooling infrastructure support: StineHome &Yardin Broussard has donated four industrial-sized fans, which will be staged at designated pavilion sites managed by Lafayette Consolidated Government’sParks, Arts, Recreation, and Culture Department.These fans will support public cooling effortsinhigh-use outdoor spaces during excessive heatadvisories.

Community coolingcenters: Oak StreetHealth on Moss Street hascommitted to servingas acoolingcenter,offering a safe, air-conditioned space for adults 55 and older when temperatures rise to dangerous levels. Essentialsuppliesand outreach: Catholic CharitiesofAca-

Officers found ajuvenile suffering from gunshot wounds. Thechild was transported by ambulance to ahospital. The memorial wasbeingheld in memory of 36-year-old Phillip Francis, who was fatally shotFridaynight at the WoodSpring Suites Hotel in Lafayette. According to police,Francis was killed during an altercation with 39-year-old Kyle Jagneaux,

COUNCIL

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allocated per year for loan repayment.

ties. Louisiana was awarded $156 million throughthe Solar for Allprogram last year but wasstill waiting for federal approval of its workplan.

According to aletter to employees from CEO Peter Shaperthatwas obtained by trade publication SolarPower World, PosiGen wasn’t able to obtain enough financing to continue operating and would “dramatically reduce” thesize of its workforce.

Jeff Cantin, the CEO of another New Orleanspanel installer,Solar Alternatives, and also serves as board president of theGulf States Renewable Energy Industries Association, saidsome companies were preparing for the rollout of the federal grant program. PosiGen, he said, may have been left in abind when it was canceled. “The government created aprogram, announced it, startedrolling it out, asked businesses to scaleupfor it and thenpulled the rug out from underit,” said Cantin. “It’sfine if the administration wants to change priorities,but they need to acknowledge that businesses have responded to the government and need time to adapt.”

Under her contract with PosiGen, Leonard agreed to pay $60 per month each for two sets of solar panels, with no upfront cost and paymentsincreasing $1 a yearfor the next 20 years. In return, Leonard would be able touse thepower generated to offset her electricity bill, which she said can sometimes costas muchas$600 per month. Entergy New Orleans also credits residents with rooftop solar for the excess power they producefor the grid

Leonardisstill waiting for Entergy and thecityof New Orleans to inspect the panels. After that, PosiGen said it would turn themon remotely and begin sending hera monthly bill. It’sunclear what comes next forPosiGen. Thecompany told state officials that an additional 92 employees in Louisiana could be laid off in the next two weeks if it can’tfind additional funding or away to sellwhatremains of itsbusiness.

“It’svery uneasynot knowing who’sgoing to take over thelease,”Leonard said.

Email Blake Paterson at bpaterson@theadvocate. com

diana continues to play a critical role in local disaster response. The organization has opened St.Joseph Diner as atemporary cooling station and is distributing waterand icetounsheltered individuals using donated insulated cups and personal ice chests. Community members can support this effort by donating new or gently-used items.

Continued from page1B LOTTERY

With adepleted general fund, the parish may have to make drastic cuts to its workforce,Bellard said “Parish government, as you see it and how the people see it, is going to change drastically until next year because I’m gonna have to lay off pretty much everybody but the council and myself,” Bellard toldthe commission.

Butitdoesn’tmean the parish isbroke, Bellard told KATC. Instead, it’sthe general fund that is facing a deficit, and the parish operatesoff of dozens of other fund accounts. Council member Harold Taylor used his time Tuesdaynight to requestthatthe parish government provide himwith accounting records, including income, expenses, salaries, and debts At the commission meeting, Taylor said that theparish presidentdoesnot involve himand two other council members in anydiscussions Bellard told thenews sta-

Residentsare encouraged to stayinformed during extreme heat events by subscribing to LafayetteNOW, Lafayette Parish’sofficial emergency alert system. LafayetteNOWprovides real-time notificationson weather emergencies and other critical safetyinformation

aformer Lafayette police officer

As of Thursday evening, the 6-year-old victim is in critical condition, police said. This incident remains under investigation

Email Ja’koriMadison at jakori.madison@ theadvocate.com.

tionthat the council will take their vote on the ordinance on Sept.17.

Enail Stephen Marcantel at stephen.marcantel@ theadvocate.com.

3brothersaccused of stabbing deathonboat

Staff report

Threesiblings have been arrested, accused of killing aco-worker aboard acommercial fishing vesselin PlaqueminesParish.

Josiah Cottrell, 28, TimothyCottrell, 25, and David Cottrell, 22, were booked with second-degreemurder, according to Capt. Chaun Domingue,spokesperson for the Plaquemines Parish Sheriff’s Office. All three arefromBroussard.

Authorities have not yet released the nameofthe victim, who suffered multiple stabwounds, Domingue

said. The manand the Cottrell brothers workedasdeckhands on thevessel,which wasnot identified by the Sheriff’s Office. Thehomicide occurred about 10:30 p.m.Thursday while thevessel wasnear the Red Pass waterway,just west of Venice,according to Domingue.Authorities werecontacted by officials on thevessel, anddeputies boarded near the Empire jetties.

Detectivesare still trying to determine what led up to the stabbing, according to Domingue.

Newmanufacturing planttocreate275 jobs

BY IANNE SALVOSA Staff writer

TwoSouth Korean companies said they will invest $59.4 millioninaWest Baton Rouge manufacturing facilitythatwill provide components for the defense, automotive, energy and process industries, a move expected to create 275 jobs.

The SNT Motiv andSNT Energy plant in Bruslyis also expected to create 418 indirect jobs,accordingto Louisiana Economic Development.

Plansare to renovate the formerTrinity Marine Products building to house the manufacturing plant. Theplant shut downin 2016, axing more than 280 workers, andhas been vacant since. Operations at the facility are set to begin in the spring, according to LED.

SNTMotivand SNT Energy areparentcompanies of SNTGlobal. This will

be their first consolidated manufacturing plant in the U.S. SNTMotivproduces automotive motors for companies like Hyundai and infantry weapons for governmentagencies. SNTEnergy manufactures products like air coolers and surface condensers for the energy industry,supplying equipment for the$17.5 billion WoodsideEnergyliquefied naturalgas project in Calcasieu Parish. “By prioritizing site readiness, talent and innovation, we are positioning Louisianatocapture projects of this caliber that strengthen ourmanufacturing, energy and processindustries while creating newhighwage job opportunities for ourpeople,” LEDSecretary Susan Bourgeoissaid in a statement. SNT is expected to participate in the state’sIndustrial TaxExemption and HighImpact Jobs Programs.

More shrimp pulled for potential contamination

More companies are recalling tens of thousands of packages of imported shrimp sold at Walmart, Kroger and other U.S. stores because they may contain radioactive contamination, according to federal notices.

AquaStar USA Corp. of Seattle is recalling more than 26,000 packages of refrigerated cocktail shrimp sold at Walmart stores in 27 states between July 31 and Aug. 16. The company is also recalling about 18,000 bags of Kroger-branded cooked, medium peeled, tail-off shrimp sold at stores in 17 states between July 24 and Aug. 11

At the same time, H&N Group Inc., a wholesale seafood distributor in Vernon, California, is recalling more than 17,000 cases of frozen shrimp sold to grocery stores on the East Coast, according to a notice from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. That recall began on Aug. 12. The products have been pulled because they may be contaminated with Cesium-137, a radioactive isotope that is a byproduct of nuclear reactions. The risk appears to be small, but the shrimp could pose a “potential health concern” for people exposed to low levels of Cesium-137 over time, FDA officials said.

Delta settles after jet dumped fuel on schools

LOS ANGELES Delta Air Lines has agreed to pay $79 million to settle a class-action lawsuit filed in 2020 after one of its airplanes that was experiencing engine trouble dumped its fuel over schoolyards and densely populated neighborhoods near Los Angeles.

The Delta jet had departed from Los Angeles to Shanghai on Jan. 14, 2020, when it needed to quickly return to Los Angeles International Airport. The Boeing 777-200 landed safely after circling back over Los Angeles while dumping 15,000 gallons of fuel to reach a safe landing weight.

Los Angeles County firefighters were called to schools in the city of Cudahy, where nearly 60 schoolchildren and teachers were examined for minor skin and lung irritations. None required hospitalization. Shortly after, teachers from Park Avenue Elementary School in Cudahy filed a lawsuit against the airline, saying they were exposed to jet fuel that drizzled down like raindrops with “overwhelming” fumes. Later, several Cudahy homeowners filed a class-action suit. The teachers said they sought medical treatment after the incident and experienced physical and emotional pain.

780,000 pressure washers under recall

NEWYORK About 780,000 pressure washers sold at retailers like Home Depot are being recalled across the U.S. and Canada due to a projectile hazard that has resulted in fractures and other injuries among some consumers. According to a Thursday recall notice published by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, TTI Outdoor Power Equipment is recalling certain models of its Ryobi-branded electric pressure washers because the products’ capacitor can overheat and burst, “causing parts to be forcefully ejected.”

Consumers in possession of the now-recalled pressure washers are urged to stop using them immediately and visit Ryobi’s recall website to learn about how to receive a free repair kit, which includes a replacement capacitor The Ryobi washers under recall have model numbers RY142300 and RY142711VNM. About 764,000 were sold in the U.S., in addition to 16,000 in Canada.

In the U.S. these products were sold at Home Depot and Direct Tools Factory Outlet between July 2017 and June 2024, the CPSC notes, for about $300 to $400 in stores and online.

Key inflation gauge holds steady

BY CHRISTOPHER RUGABER AP economics writer

WASHINGTON The Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauge mostly held steady last month despite President Donald Trump’s broad-based tariffs, but a measure of underlying inflation increased.

Prices rose 2.6% in July compared with a year ago, the Commerce Department said Friday, the same annual increase as in June. Excluding the volatile food and energy categories, prices rose 2.9% from a year earlier, up from 2.8% in the previous month and the highest since February

The figures illustrate why many officials at the Federal Reserve have been reluctant to cut their key interest rate. While inflation is much lower than the roughly 9.1% peak it reached three years ago, it is still running noticeably above the Fed’s 2% target. At the same time, the report showed that consumer spending picked up last month and could boost economic growth, which weakened considerably in the first six months of the year On a monthly basis, consumer prices rose 0.2% from June to July, down from 0.3% the previous month, while core prices increased

0.3% for the second month in a row

The figures are similar to those reported earlier this month in the more widely followed consumer price index, which has risen 2.7% from a year ago. The core CPI increased 3.1% in July compared with a year earlier Separately, the Friday report showed that consumer spending jumped 0.5% in July, the biggest increase since March and a sign that many Americans are still willing to open their wallets despite high interest rates. Spending jumped sharply for long-lasting goods such as cars, appliances and furniture, many of which are imported.

Incomes rose 0.4% from June to July, boosted by a healthy gain in wages and salaries, the report showed.

Fed Chair Jerome Powell has said the central bank will likely cut its key rate at its meeting next month. But policymakers are expected to proceed cautiously Trump has relentlessly pushed Powell and the Fed for lower interest rates, calling Powell “Too Late” and a “moron” and arguing that there is “no inflation.” On Monday he sought to fire Lisa Cook, a member of the Fed’s governing board, after allegations of mortgage fraud were revealed.

Trump cancels $679M in wind projects

Administration continues attacks on reeling industry

BY MATTHEW DALY Associated Press

WASHINGTON The Transportation Department on Friday canceled $679 million in federal funding for a dozen offshore wind projects, the latest attack by the Trump administration on the reeling U.S. offshore wind industry Funding for projects in 11 states was rescinded, including $435 million for a floating wind farm in Northern California and $47 million to boost an offshore wind project in Maryland that the Interior Department has pledged to cancel.

“Wasteful, wind projects are using resources that could otherwise go towards revitalizing America’s maritime industry,” Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said in a statement.

“Thanks to President Trump, we are prioritizing real infrastructure improvements over fantasy wind projects that cost much and offer little.”

The Trump administration has stepped up its crusade against wind and other renewable energy sources in recent weeks, cutting federal funding and canceling projects approved by the Biden administration in a sustained attack on clean energy sources that scientists say are crucial to the fight against climate change.

President Donald Trump has vowed to restore U.S. “energy dominance” in the global market and has pushed to increase U.S. reliance on fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas.

California Rep. Jared Huffman, the top Democrat on the House Natural Resources Committee, called Duffy’s action “outrageous” and deeply disappointing.

“It’s an attack on our jobs. It’s an attack on our energy. It’s an attack on our families and their ability to pay the bills.”

DAN

McKEE,governor of Rhode Island

Trump and his Cabinet “have a stubborn and mystifying hatred of clean energy,” Huffman said in an interview “It’s so dogmatic. They are willing to eliminate thousands of jobs and an entire sector that can bring cheap, reliable power to American consumers.”

The canceled funding will be redirected to upgrade ports and other infrastructure in the U.S., where possible, according to the Transportation Department.

Separately, Trump’s Energy Department said Friday it is withdrawing a $716 million loan guarantee approved by the Biden administration to upgrade and expand transmission infrastructure to accommodate a nowthreatened offshore wind project in New Jersey

The moves come as the administration abruptly halted construction last week of a nearly complete wind farm off the coast of Rhode Island and Connecticut. The Interior Department said the government needs to review the $4 billion Revolution Wind project and address national security concerns. It did not specify what those concerns are.

Democratic governors, lawmakers and union workers in New England have called for Trump and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to reverse course. Trump has long expressed disdain for wind power, frequently calling it an ugly and expensive form of energy that “smart” countries don’t use. Last week, with U.S. electricity prices rising at more than twice the rate of inflation, Trump lashed out, falsely blaming renewable power for skyrocket-

ing energy costs. He called wind and solar energy “THE SCAM OF THE CENTURY!” in a social media post and vowed not to approve any wind or solar projects.

“We’re not allowing any windmills to go up unless there’s a legal situation where somebody committed to it a long time ago,”

Trump said at a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday.

Energy analysts say renewable sources have little to do with recent price hikes, which are based on increased demand from artificial intelligence and energyhungry data centers, along with aging infrastructure and increasingly extreme weather events such as wildfires that are exacerbated by climate change.

Revolution Wind’s developer, Danish energy company Orsted, said it is evaluating the financial impact of stopping construction on the New England project and is considering legal proceedings Revolution Wind was expected to be Rhode Island and Connecticut’s first commercial-scale offshore wind farm, capable of powering more than 350,000 homes.

Trump has made sweeping strides to prioritize fossil fuels and hinder renewable energy projects. Those include reviewing wind and solar energy permits, canceling plans to use large areas of federal waters for new offshore wind development and stopping work on another offshore wind project for New York, although construction was later allowed to resume.

Some critics say the steps to cancel projects put Americans’ livelihoods at risk.

“It’s an attack on our jobs,” Rhode Island Gov Dan McKee said of the move to stop construction of Revolution Wind.

“It’s an attack on our energy It’s an attack on our families and their ability to pay the bills.”

Patrick Crowley, president of the Rhode Island AFL-CIO, said his union is “going to fight (Trump) every step of the way, no matter how long it takes.”

Stocks

pull back from latest highs

Street closed out an-

winning month Friday, even as stocks gave back some of their recent gains, pulling the market below its latest all-time highs. The S&P 500 fell 0.6% a day after climbing to a record high. The benchmark index ended August with a 1.9% gain, its fourth straight month of gains. It’s now up 9.8% so far this year The Dow Jones Industrial Average also came off its own record high, slipping 0.2%, while the Nasdaq composite closed 1.2% lower “The reason the market is down today is primarily because we are heading into a long weekend, and a lot of traders don’t like to have a hefty exposure over a long weekend because of the news that could come out and take them by surprise,” said Sam Stovall, chief investment strategist at CFRA. Mixed economic data may also have given traders an excuse to sell and pocket some profits following the market’s milestone-setting week A closely watched measure of inflation showed prices mostly held steady last month, and a survey of consumer sentiment suggested Americans’ worries about the economy and prices intensified since July Losses in technology weighed on the market, offsetting gains in health care and other sectors.

Dell Technologies slid 8.9% for the biggest decline among S&P 500 stocks a day after the company reported second-quarter revenue that exceeded analysts’ expectations, but noted margin pressures and weakness in PC revenue.

Among other tech companies that ended the day in the red: Tech giant Nvidia fell 3.3%, Broadcom dropped 3.6% and Oracle slid 5.9%. Treasury yields were mixed in the bond market. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.23% from 4.21% late Wednesday The yield on the two-year Treasury, which more closely tracks expectations for Federal Reserve action, slipped to 3.62% from 3.63%. Among the stocks that weighed on the market Friday were Ulta Beauty and Marvell Technology Ulta fell 7.1% despite posting second-quarter earnings and revenue that topped analysts’ estimates, while Marvell slid 18.6% after its third-quarter guidance fell short of what Wall Street was expecting. Petco Health & Wellness and Autodesk bucked the broader market slide after reporting better-thanexpected quarterly results Petco jumped 23.5% and Autodesk climbed 9.1%. U.S. markets will be closed on Monday for the Labor Day holiday

OPINION

What’s happening with FEMA is seriousbusiness

The time to worry about natural disasters is before, not after,they happen.

That’swhy Louisiana has reason to worry about what’shappening at the Federal Emergency Management Agency We’ve seen the consequences when FEMA doesn’twork.

swift execution of ourmission.” It cites the dismissal of “experienced staff whose institutional knowledge and relationships are vital to ensure effective emergency management.”

Ron Faucheux

Aslow response to Hurricane Katrina, bureaucratic failures and lack of vigorous coordination brought addedmisery to already unbearable conditions. Red tape and silly rules often thwarted efforts of first responders, local officials, charities and church groups to provide badly neededassistance.

One-third of FEMA’s full-time staff, according to the letter,has left so far this year,either voluntarily or not.The actingdirector of theagency,accordingtoThe Wall StreetJournal, acknowledged just two weeks before the currentAtlantic hurricane season began that he didnot haveafully formed disaster-response plan

FEMA was created in 1979 to bring together federal agencies dealing with disaster assistance, state preparedness, flood insurance, weather services,fire prevention and other functions. Later,the Stafford Act was passed, authorizing the president to act on emergency preparedness and pre-disaster mitigation assistance.

Hours after Katrina hit, FEMA became the poster child for bureaucratic incompetence. That’swhy President George W. Bush’s infamous comment about FEMA’s then-director Michael D. Brown —“Brownie, you’re doing aheck of ajob —was an embarrassment, especiallyfor aformer Gulf Coast governor who should have known better Since then, changes have been proposedtofixFEMA. Bipartisan legislation introduced this summer in Congress(HR 4669) includes a host of reforms —reducing paperwork, improving transparency and strengthening coordination among agencies. According to the bill’sauthor,House Transportation Committee chair Sam Graves of Missouri, it’sintended “to cut through the bureaucracy,streamline programs, provide flexibility,and return FEMA to its core purpose of empowering the states to lead and coordinating the federal response when it’sneeded.”

This all sounds good.

Reshaping FEMA into avigilant, nimble and smooth-running operation is essential. But fixing the problem isn’tjust agoal for the future; it must be done now,during the current hurricane season. This is why apublic letter of protest, recently signed by more than 180 FEMA officials and employees,must not be ignored.

The letter claims that, since January,“FEMA has beenunder the leadership of individuals lacking legal qualifications, Senate approval, and the demonstrated background required of aFEMA Administrator.”

It says the current FEMA management hinders “the

In addition,the letter is critical of theTrumpadministration’s impoundment of FEMA funds and transfer of assets, which led to problemsduring theJuly floods in Kerrville, Texas. “Mission assignments were delayed up to 72 hours,” claims the letter

Theletter also warns against efforts to eliminate pre-disaster mitigation programs, whichoften benefit Louisiana.“As disasters growmore frequentand costly,removingmitigation initiatives is fiscally irresponsible and puts American lives andpropertyatunnecessary risk.” The letter points out that, on average, FEMA mitigation grants save taxpayers $6 for every $1 spent.

AFEMA Review Council, co-chaired bysecretaries of the homelandsecurity and defensedepartments, is now exploringways to restructure disastermanagement The council’smembership is heavily weighted toward members from Southern states that are frequently in hurricane paths. It includes currentand former governors ofVirginia, Texas andMississippi, as well as Tampa’smayor.Mark Cooper,who was chief ofstaff to former LouisianaGov JohnBel Edwards, is also amember.Afinal report is due by Nov. 16. The Trumpadministration’splan to abolish FEMA and rechannel funding directlytothe states isa complex issue, requiringa formula to determinewho gets what,when and how Can we trust Washington to do this right?Will Louisianabeleft holdinganempty bag? If it comes to that,let’s hope our state’spowerful congressional delegation canprotect us. Improvingthe performance, management and structure of any government bureaucracy is agood thing.FEMA reformcould work, if done properly Given what we’veseen, that remains abig “if.”

Ron Faucheux is a nonpartisan political analyst, pollster and writer based in Louisiana.

GAMEDAY

LSu AT cLemSon • 6:30 P.m. SATurdAy • ABc

EC C SHIFT

LSu hopes losing out on $12m man underwood helped it build a championship roster

BY SCOTT RABALAIS Sports columnist

By the time Tamarcus Cooley decided to transfer to LSU in mid-January, the former North Carolina State safety knew quite well the Tigers’ portal train was steaming toward something big.

“I was definitely aware” of the other players LSU was pulling in, Cooley said. “I knew for a fact we could build something here. It was a major factor.”

By the time Cooley picked LSU on Jan. 13, the Tigers already had gotten players such as Florida edge rusher Jack Pyburn, Virginia Tech center Braelin Moore and cornerback Mansoor Delane, Oklahoma wide receiver Nic Anderson and Kentucky receiver/kick return specialist Barion Brown. All those players are expected to play significant roles for No. 9 LSU as it begins the season Saturday in a blockbuster opener at No. 4 Clemson (6:30 p.m., ABC).

Also by the time Cooley picked LSU, the Tigers had lost the pledge of high school quarterback Bryce Underwood to Michigan, his home state school.

ä See LSU, page 2C

LSUGAMEDAY

BROADCAST INFORMATION

LSU at CLEMSON

6:30 p.m. Saturday,MemorialStadium,Clemson,S.C

TV: ABC| Line: Clemson by 4

Radio: WDGL-FM, 98.1; WWL-AM, 870; WWL-FM,105.3;

SCHEDULES

LSU

LSU

Continuedfrom page1C

Thetwo eventualities —the flipofthe nation’sNo. 1prepprospect and the attraction of agroup of players thateventually would comprise the nation’stop-rankedtransfer portal class —reflect thenew realities of attracting talent and building rosters in present day college football. And neither are mutually exclusive of each other

According to previous Advocatereporting, LSU was preparedtooffer Underwood $1.5 millionper season to play in Baton Rouge.The prospect of walking the same pathasrecent LSU Heisman Trophy-winning quarterbacks Joe Burrow and Jayden Daniels resonatedwith Underwood, who was committedtothe Tigers for ayear

But in November,Michigan swooped in with adeal worthy of “The Godfather” —anoffer Underwood couldnot refuse. Oracle founder Larry Ellison (worth$282 billion, according to Forbes) teamed with Barstool Sports founder and Michigan alum Dave Portnoy (notworth nearly as much, but also filthy rich) to help Big Blue reportedlyoffer Underwood $12 million for his college career

Having already given away theending, you know that LSU couldn’torwouldn’tcompete with such an offer.LSU spent only (only being arelative term in today’shigh-priced talent market) $5.5 million on its rosterfor the 2024 season and acombined $11 million over the previous threeseasons.

Thephrase“youget what youpay for” applies here, for better or worse.LSU was unable to compliment astar-studded offense in 2023 ledbyDaniels andreceiversMalik Nabers and Brian Thomas with even amediocre defense That teammissedout on aberth in the fourteam College Football Playoff because of it.

In 2024,LSU wasnot quiteasgoodoffensively but somewhat better defensively and got taken outofcontention for thenow 12team CFP by amidseason three-game losing streak,winding up 9-4after aTexas Bowl win over Baylor. It wasa nice waytofinish.But if playingin the CFPisthe equivalent of playing on Broadway,the Tigers were doing community theater in the Texas Bowl.

LSU coach BrianKelly minced few words about where LSU was with its roster-building capabilities during his first three seasons in BatonRouge.

from LSUtoMichigan in November

“Everyone talks about iron sharpening iron,” Kelly said Wednesday on the SEC coaches’ media teleconference. “Wedidn’thave iron. It was iron versus butter.”

Harshwords,perhaps,but honest ones Clearly,tobuild up its roster to be able to contend in the SECand forone of thosecoveted CFP berths, LSU had to have the financial means to do so. Maybe LSU couldn’tquite get to aposition to lavish $12 milliononthe career of oneplayersuchasUnderwood,but to borrow aterm from the movie “Moneyball,” perhaps LSU could re-create him in the aggregate. Sometimes you have to lose to win. In the caseofthe Underwood flip, thatmay turn out to be the scenario for LSU.

Kelly realized the program had to do more to attract talent. He pledged$1million from his compensation package (money that by rule had to go to the Tiger Athletic Foundation’s scholarship fund, not to LSU’sNIL efforts) to getboosters to kickinto afundraiser called the “MillionDollarMatch Challenge.” The campaign netted $3.23 million in donations, and LSU was well on its way Through Kelly’scommitment and somehighly motivated fundraising from boosters who wanttosee the Tigers back on top, LSU spent the equivalent of aCaribbean island nation’s GDP to stock its roster with top-shelf transfers andhighschooltalent. On hisfirstweeklyradio show of the new season Aug. 21, Kelly revealed that figure to be $18 million.

STAFF PREDICTIONS

REED DARCEY

CLEMSON 30, LSU 26

Clemsonis flushwithreturning talent,and it’s playingathome. Thosefacts make it toughto find apathtoanLSU upset, even though preseason camp hasshown that this roster,onpaper,isthe strongestone BrianKelly’s builtsofar in histenure in BatonRouge.T.J.Parkerand PeterWoods have theirway with an unsettledoffensive line,forcing GarrettNussmeier outofrhythm.

ZACH EWING

LSU 31, CLEMSON 28

Clemsonreturns alot,but let’snot forget that it wasnot aplayoff team last year untila dramatic winoverSMU in theACC championship game Clemsondidn’tbeatanyonein2024asgoodas this LSUteam, andthe purple andgold Tigers have spentthe offseasonrestockingtheir roster and overemphasizingthisgame. LSU finally findsa way to endthe season-opening drought.

SCOTTRABALAIS

CLEMSON 27,LSU 24

If this game were played in TigerStadium —Death Valley Sr., as BrianKelly wouldhaveit— Iwould pick LSU. As it is,it’saskinga lotofLSU to break itslosingstreakinits firsttruetop-10roadseason opener.I thinkLSU keepsitclose,withGarrett Nussmeierconnectingonatleast acoupleof bigplays,but theroadTigersfallshort trying to overcome a10-pointfourth-quarterdeficit.

KOKI

RILEY

CLEMSON 21,LSU 17

LSUcan winthisgameifthe offensivelineholds itsown againstanelite Clemsondefensive front. Butit’shardtobankonthat, givenLSU’s question marksatleftguard andright tackle,the group’slack of experience playingtogetherand thechallenges of havingtodoitall on theroad. KeepingGarrett Nussmeieronhis feet will be achallenge throughout thenight

Kelly agreed that losing Underwood wasa catalyst for raising the money to help build this year’sroster through the portaland with high school recruits such as five-starcornerback DJ Pickett, achallenger for astarting role.

“All those things play into what Ihavesaid from Day 1,” Kellysaid. “In this new model you have to be able to adapt to current circumstances. Certainlythat (Underwood) was abig one we had to address and adaptto.

“At the end of the day,itwas our fanbase that stepped up and said we need to be part of this. With the gift Imade and over 1,500 gifts to support our roster,everybody hadtheir ear to the ground and were ready to adjust andbe attuned to what’s goingonincollegefootball.

LSU ended up with 18 transfers, many of whom likely will play key roles against Clemson. It was important, Kelly said, not just to pull talented players out of the portal,but the right players. The unstated conclusion beingthat LSU finally had the means going into this season to do just that.

“We’ve been at this for the past nine months,” Kelly said. “You make sure yourecruit the rightguys. This is ateam we werevery intentional about in terms of going out and getting mature players who canstand up to those moments” againsta team such as Clemson.

“When you’re putting together the DNA of afootball team,it’snot justabouttalent acquisition. It’smakingsure you have the piecesnecessary to compete in those moments. When there’sa turnover.When there’sasudden change. When momentum is not going your way.What is the makeup of your team?

“I want to have the conversationafter the game that we competed the right way.That our composure was amazing. And that we played withgreat confidence.”

Underwood definitely would have hadtosit at leastone yearatLSU, waitingfor his turn to be the starting quarterback behind established star and fifth-year senior Garrett Nussmeier.AtMichigan,

he has been thrust into astartingrole. At theexact same time as LSU’stough-as-nails opener with Clemson kicksoff,Underwood and the Wolverines will ease into 2025 at home against five-touchdown underdog New Mexico. Things don’tget real for Michigan and its $12 millionman until next week at No 18 Oklahoma.

Losing outonUnderwoodmay havespurred LSU and itswell-heeled boosterstohelpbuild acontenderroster this year,but recruiting is an annualthing. Nussmeier will leave forthe NFL after this season —LSU clearly made it worth his while to stay for 2025. That means theTigers will look to recentlytransferred quarterback MichaelVan Burenfrom Mississippi Stateorcurrent redshirtfreshman Colin Hurley to be their quarterback in 2026. Just as likely,LSU will head back intothe portal totry to entice aproven quarterback to transfer in for nextseason. Quarterbacks bounce all over the college football map these days, but youdon’t finda really good oneinthe discount aisle. If LSU wants/needs to go that route for next season,itwill cost dearly

When you’re puttingtogether theDNA of a football team, it’s notjust about talent acquisition It’smaking sure youhavethe pieces necessaryto compete in those moments.When there’saturnover. When there’sa sudden change. When momentum is not going your way.What is the makeup of your team?”

BRIAN KELLy, LSU coach

COLLEGE FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

That’saconcern for another time. For now,the focus is on making the CFPthis season. Perhaps in the end it will all work out for LSU and Michigan, whichhappens to be the one traditional power program the Tigers neverhaveplayed in football. Who knows? Maybe LSU and Michigan, whohave won two of the pastseven national championships and are eager to get there again, will end up facing each other in the CFPcome December or January

Like it or not, it takes the kindoffinancialcommitment LSU and Michigan made to get to the topthese days. No guarantee of success, of course, but nottrying will guaranteeyou won’tmake it LSU knows that as wellas anyone.

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

Murray St. (0-0) at ETSU (0-0), 4:30 p.m.

Weber St. (0-0)atJames Madison(0-0),5 p.m.

New Hampshire(0-0) at NC Central(1-0),5 p.m.

Coastal Carolina (0-0)atVirginia (0-0),5 p.m.

Webber International (0-0)atStetson(0-0),5 p.m.

Presbyterian (0-0)atMercer (0-0), 5p.m.

Gardner-Webb (0-0)atW.Carolina (0-0), 5p.m.

Allen YellowJackets (0-0)atMoreheadSt. (0-0),5 p.m.

Wofford(0-0) at SC State (0-0), 5p.m

North Alabama (0-0)atW.Kentucky (1-0), 6p.m.

LIU Brooklyn (0-0) at Florida(0-0), 6p.m.

Charleston Southern(0-0)atVanderbilt (0-0),6 p.m.

AustinPeay(0-0) at MiddleTennessee (0-0),6 p.m.

Morgan St. (0-0)atSouth Alabama (0-0), 6p.m.

Georgia St. (0-0) at Mississippi (0-0), 6:45 p.m.

MIDWEST

Texas(0-0) at OhioSt. (0-0), 11 a.m.

Ball St. (0-0)atPurdue (0-0), 11 a.m.

Merrimack (0-0)atKent St. (0-0), 11 a.m. Va.Lynchburg(0-0) at Valparaiso (0-0),1 p.m. Butler (0-0)atN.Iowa(0-0), 1p.m.

THENATION

THINGS TO WATCHINWEEK1

Tide turns to newquarterback No. 8Alabama is turning to longtime backup quarterback Ty Simpson to makehis first start when the Crimson Tide opens coach Kalen DeBoer’ssecond season at Florida State. Simpson will be tasked with gettingthe ball to asupporting cast led by receiver Ryan Williams.The Tide will be withoutrunning back Jam Miller (collarbone). Florida State is debuting a$265 million stadium renovation, arevamped offense and aretooled defense under sixth-year coach MikeNorvell aftera 2-10 campaign.

Underwood set for debut No.14Michigan opensthe season at home againstNew Mexico. Former LSU commitment and No.1 overall high school prospect Bryce Underwood is expected to takethe Wolverines’ first snap, becoming the fourth freshman quarterback to startinprogram history. Michigan beat No.11 Alabama 19-13 in the ReliaQuest Bowl,closing the seasonwith three straight wins to finish 8-5. Thewinning streak included afourth straight win over rival OhioState in coachSherrone Moore’s debut season.

Lotoforange in Atlanta No. 24 Tennesseeand Syracuse openthe season at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. TheVolsare 3-0 all-time against theOrange. The last time the teams faced offwas in 2001 when Tennessee downedSyracuse 33-9 in Knoxville.Tennessee openedits 1998 national championship season with avictory over the OrangeatSyracuse.Both Tennesseeand Syracuse went 10-3 last season.TennesseecoachJosh Heupel has a7-0 record in season openersduring his coaching career

Inside ‘1-0’mentality

BY KOKI RILEY Staff writer

In Brian Kelly’s first year as LSU coach, preseason camp was meant to establish anew culture.

Year 2was about reinforcing those habits. Last season, an emphasiswas placed on improving ahistoricallypoor defense from the prior year This preseason, the tone was different again. Kelly and the Tigers’ sole focus has been going 1-0.

“I feel like our mentality is just 1-0, it’sClemson,” redshirt junior linebacker Harold Perkins said. “It’snot (Louisiana Tech) it’snot nobodyunderneath them. Our main focus and our mentality is to go 1-0inWeek 1.”

Winning the first game of the season has become amajor obstacle for LSU. The Tigers haven’twon aseason opener since 2019. Losses to Mississippi Stateand UCLA under Ed Orgeron have been followed by twodefeats to Florida Stateand afifth consecutive losslast year against Southern Cal. Breaking that trend will be anything but easy Saturday when No. 9LSU facesNo. 4 Clemson on the road (6:30p.m., ABC). Clemson enters the matchup with athird-year starting quarterback and Heisman Trophy candidate in Cade Klubnik, and two potential first-round picks on the defensive line.

“Whatever poll you’re looking at, it’satop-five team,” Kelly said. “They reached the (College Football Playoff last year). Iknow coach (Dabo Swinney) very well. Thirteen seasons at 10 wins. They’re the epitome of consistency at the highest level.”

When it comes to emphasizing the importance of winning the first game, Kelly hastranslated his words into actions by adjusting LSU’spreseason practice schedule.

In years past, it wasseemingly randomized until the week of thefirst game.This preseason, LSU hasbeen on aconsistent game-week schedule for three weeks before the first game of the year

“Usually in camp, it’s kind of choppy,” junior linebacker Whit Weeks said. “You’ll go three days on, have aweirdoff day, like on aWednesday. Butfor the pastthree weeks, we’vebeen practicing Monday through Saturday, andthen(have an)off day on Sunday.”

The game-weekschedule also has included night scrimmages under the lights at TigerStadi-

Email Koki RileyatKoki. Riley@theadvocate.com. Who,

LSU

firstgameofthe year

um the past two Saturdays. Both practiceshavebeen at 6:30p.m., thesame time LSU will face Clemson this weekend.

“Itreally feelslikeyou’regoing into agame,”Weeks said.

“All day you’re preparinglike it’s agame.”

Gettingintoits game-week routine weeks earlierhas helped

LSU develop strongerhabits heading into this Saturday.For example,atypical Tuesdayfor Kelly’steam during game week is called “Attitude Tuesday.” Before it faces Clemson, LSU will have had threeAttitude Tuesdays. “I think coach Kelly and (strengthand conditioning

coach Jake Flint) did an unbelievable job putting together a practice schedule,” fifth-year senior quarterback Garrett Nussmeier said, “just as faras allowing us to get intoroutines, (to) build (and) start to build routines, something we talk a lot about here.

“And so Ithink it’sbeen extremely beneficial, andIthink it’sgoing to pay off.”

Kelly isn’tready to take avictory lap. Whether the schedule changes actually worked won’t be determined until Saturday’s gameisover

ButasLSU inchesclosertoward its massive showdown with Clemson, Kellyishappy with how his team prepared for thebig game.

“This was really about trying to get intoa routine, so game week didn’tfeel so unusual,” Kelly said. “AndIthink our guys really adapted well to understanding that even in camp, each day of the week was laid out.”

“And Ithink that allowedthem to be alot more intentionalabout their work each and every day.”

BY JOE REEDY Associated Press

COLUMBUS,Ohio— Texasand Ohio State are used to dealing with pressure. The expectationsfor both programsgoing into Saturday are at fever pitch as the top-ranked Longhorns and defending national champion No. 3Buckeyes meet in oneofthe most-hypedopeners in recent memory.

“It is agreat way to start the year It’sjust different. There’spositivesand negatives to everything, but what agreat game to kickoff the season with against agreat opponent,” Ohio State coach Ryan Daysaid.

This will be the fifth meeting between thevaunted programs.Inthreeofthe past four meetings— includingthe two times they have met in the regular season —the winner has gone on to play for the national title.

The last matchup wasJan. 10 in aCollege Football Playoff semifinal at the Cotton Bowl, when the Buckeyes pulled away in the second half for a28-14 victory In the232 days sincethe teamslast met, 26 players fromthat game were selected in the NFLdraft(Ohio State 14, Texas 12) with only 17 of the 44 combined starters on offense and defense forboth sides returning.

“At the end of the day,that stung walking outofthe Cotton Bowl last year.But this is anew challenge, anew journey, anew mission we’re on,” Texascoach Steve Sarkisian said.

Arch Madness

Heisman Trophy contender Arch Manning will make histhird collegiate start. He playedin10games last season,including twostarts, and made abrief appearance against the Buckeyes and had an 8-yard carry.Eventhough thesophomore hasreceivedthe most attention, Manning realizes that thegame will not only come downtohim

“I always have to remind myself it’s not about me,it’sabout the whole team,” he said. “Wehave to play the situations well, not give them short fields andtake care of the ball. Our receivers have gotten together every practice.”

Ohio State’sJeremiahSmith gets all the hype at wide receiver,but Texas has abudding playmakerreadyfor abreakoutseason.RyanWingo had29catches for472 yards and two touchdowns last season as freshman. Like Smith, Wingo can be aphysical mismatch forsome defensive backs at 6-foot-1, 215 pounds with speed.

TheOther QB

Ohio State’s JulianSayin will be making his first start. The sophomore took 27 snaps in four games last season and was 5for 12 for84yards and one touchdown. Sayin is thefifth quarterbackunder Day to makehis first start, joining Dwayne Haskins (in 2018 when Daywas the offensive coordinator), Justin Fields (2019), C.J. Stroud (2021) andKyle McCord (2023).

What aboutthe defenses?

Matt Patricia takes over as Ohio State’s defensive coordinator and inherited a unit that hadonlythree returningstarters. One of those is safety Caleb Downs, whommany have as one of the top-ranked defensive prospects for next year’sdraft. Aconcern remainsthe defensiveline, which has four new starters. Texas has six starters returning but lost two in the secondary,includingcornerback Jahdae

Haven not a typical top-notch recruit

Dunham QB takes analytical approach to intense interest

BY REED DARCEY Staff writer

About five or six years ago, Elijah Haven sat down and penciled out his future

His plan?

Pursue a career in computer engineering and found his own company. He didn’t have all the details sketched out, but he did have a name — Haven Tech — and he made sure to include it in the essay he submitted for a middle school award.

But plans can change and priorities can shift, especially for someone as athletically gifted as Haven.

“As early as fifth grade,” his mother, Ebony Haven, said, “he knew that’s kind of what he wanted to do.” Haven, a junior at The Dunham School, might still grow up to represent a large company He’s still on track to work as an engineer — but not in the traditional sense, or at least the way he envisioned it when he wrote that essay in middle school.

Haven’s a quarterback now, both for the present and foreseeable future.

The consensus among recruiting services is that Haven is the nation’s top signal caller in the Class of 2027. He was once the next big thing on the Baton Rouge high school sports scene. Now, he’s a household name with the power to alter the trajectory of a major college football program.

“I can’t recall a single quarterback that especially from the Baton Rouge area in particular, has drawn the eyes of so many offensive coordinators and coaches around the country quite like Elijah,” said Sam Spiegelman, a recruiting analyst for On3 and Rivals, Everyone wants to know what Haven is thinking. Scouts. College coaches. Agents. Reporters. Anyone lucky enough to get a piece of the 6-foot-5 220-pound junior will meet a 16-year-old with the talent to one day

ä See HAVEN, page

RE

BY AARON BEARD

AP sportswriter

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — North Carolina bet big on Bill Belichick to elevate its football program beyond decades of also-ran status and midtier bowl appearances More simply, it was a bet Belichick could do something he never has before.

The 73-year-old with six Super Bowl titles as an NFL head coach is now a college rookie. He’s traded rosters of 30-somethings for recruiting teenagers yet to emerge from under their parents’ wings. He’s greeted donors at fundraising gatherings, and he’s working amid a wildly evolving landscape of player empowerment across college athletics.

BY KEVIN FOOTE Staff writer

A lot will be unveiled when the UL Ragin’ Cajuns take on the Rice Owls at 7 p.m. Saturday in the 2025 season opener The most obvious is the new Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium.

“I just want to put on a good show for the fans opening up a new stadium,” UL running back Bill Davis said. “I’m not really worried about any pressure. Just go out there and play football.”

From what coach Michael Desormeaux has observed throughout the offseason, the Cajuns will carry a specific mindset for this first game.

“Man we just want to get that losing taste out of our mouths,” Davis said.

“I think this team feels like we have something to prove we haven’t done anything,” Desormeaux said “We’re the team that lost the last two games last season. There’s a lot for this team to be hungry about.”

The first on-field look comes Monday night when the Tar Heels host TCU.

“I’ve been through a lot of opening days,” Belichick said, “and every one is the same in that there’s some things you kind of feel good about, there’s some other questions that you have.” The setting

The spotlight will lock on Belichick taking the field as he pushes a vision of building the NFL’s “33rd team” at a school better known for its storied men’s basketball program. ESPN will host a pregame show from Kenan Stadium. UNC has sold out season tickets (at higher prices, no less) and singlegame seats. And beyond Monday, streaming

Both Rice and UL essentially are unveiling new offenses as well.

The Cajuns’ big change comes with new quarterback Walker Howard, who also with throw to a host of new targets.

“We got to find our formula,” Desormeaux said. “It’s going to be fun. I’m as excited as can be.”

Howard has won over his new team.

“Walker’s a great guy,” right tackle George Jackson said.

“He’s a great QB. He knows what he’s doing out there. We trust him. We’re going to go out there, and we’re going to give him everything we have.”

Rice has a brand-new triple option offense under new coach Scott Abell, who led Davidson to the nation’s top FCS rushing offense six times in the past seven years.

“I don’t think it’s necessarily them trying to trick you as much as they’ll make you play your technique over and over and over,” defensive end Jordan Lawson said.

“The one time that you are out of place or out of a gap,

provider Hulu will feature the program in a behind-the-scenes show TCU coach Sonny Dykes has experience with spectacle, at least Two years ago, his ranked Horned Frogs hosted Colorado in retired NFL star Deion Sanders’ Buffaloes debut — and lost. “Never thought I would, no,” Dykes said of facing Belichick. “Just assumed he would aways coach in the NFL and assumed I’d always coach in college, and didn’t really consider that possibility One thing I’ve learned about college football though is never say never.”

College pivot

U.S.

Alcaraz wins despite knee problem

Shelton quits during third-round from left shoulder injury

BY HOWARD FENDRICH and BRIAN MAHONEY AP sportswriters

NEW YORK Carlos Alcaraz was cruising along in the U.S. Open’s third round, leading by a set and a break after taking 10 of the first 14 games in Arthur Ashe Stadium on Friday, when an awkward step while striking a forehand caused an issue with his right knee.

The No. 2-seeded Alcaraz, who won the first of his five Grand Slam titles at Flushing Meadows in 2022, got broken for the first time in the tournament, then took a medical timeout and had his leg massaged by a trainer Problem solved: Alcaraz rolled through the rest of the match, never dropping another game, and beat No. 32 Luciano Darderi 6-2, 6-4, 6-0. It was the first, brief hint of any trouble for the 22-year-old Alcaraz this week — well, other than the hair-cutting mistake by his brother that led to a shaved head

He didn’t let teasing from Frances Tiafoe about that bother him, and Alcaraz didn’t seem too concerned about what went on with his knee against Darderi, a 23-year-old Italian who was making his debut as a seed at a major “I just felt something that was not working good in the knee, but after five, six points, it was gone,” Alcaraz said, describing the visit from the trainer as precautionary

“I’m going to talk with my team, but I’m not worried about it.”

Other than that blip, his play was terrific in the 1-hour, 44-minute match.

He delivered 31 winners to just 12 unforced errors and won 70 of the 105 points that lasted four shots or fewer

“It’s too bad that I ran into Carlos in the third round, because right now it’s impossible to play against Jannik (Sinner) or Carlos. They are the two whose level is above everyone else’s,” Darderi said. “Everyone knew going into today that my chances were not the highest.”

Alcaraz, who faces Arthur Rinderknech in the fourth round, improved his career Grand Slam record to 80-13. Only Boris Becker Bjorn Borg and Rafael Nadal

were younger by a month or two — when they got their 80th match win at majors.

Meanwhile, the No. 6-seeded

Ben Shelton, a two-time major semifinalist, stopped because of an injury after dropping the fourth set against Adrian Mannarino to force a fifth set. His shoulder injury was perhaps caused when he landed on his left arm after tracking down a ball in the corner on the final point to win the third set..

But early in the fourth, the 2023

U.S. Open semifinalist began wincing and said to his coach’s box: “I did something to my shoulder I don’t know what it is.”

He received treatment in the middle of the set, where the trainer rubbed some cream on his left shoulder, and tried to shorten the points afterward by consistently attacking the net. But after Mannarino won the set, Shelton was visited again by the trainer and called off the match, leaving the court with a towel over his head and tears in his eyes.

Mannarino, a 37-year-old from France, ended up with his first vic-

tory in 23 career against matches against top-10 players in Grand Slam tournaments.

“When he started to have pain, he was leading in the match,” Mannarino said. “Honestly, he would have probably won that match.”

Shelton was certainly a heavy favorite in it after coming in with a 14-2 record this summer on hard courts and winning the title in Toronto, where he routed Mannarino early in the tournament.

Shelton was one of the best hopes to give the U.S. its first men’s major champion since Andy Roddick won the 2003 U.S. Open. Another of them, No. 17 seed Frances Tiafoe, who had reached the semifinals in Flushing Meadows in two of the previous three years, was eliminated with a 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (7) loss to German qualifier Jan-Lennard Struff.

Shelton’s left-handed serve is one of the most powerful in tennis, and his 140-mph ace in the first set matched the third-fastest of this U.S. Open. He still was able to crank up some hard ones after the injury but repeatedly grabbed

at the shoulder after or even in the midst of — points.

Bryan Shelton, his father and coach, told the 22-year-old to come forward, hoping to end the points quickly Shelton had 13 serve-andvolley points in the fourth set after only three in the first three sets, and he was at the net for a missed volley when Mannarino broke him for a 4-3 lead in the fourth Shelton fought off four set points in his next service game before Mannarino held to win the set.

Other events

The 82nd-ranked Rinderknech reached the fourth round at a Slam for the first time by defeating Benjamin Bonzi 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-2. Bonzi had won both of his first two matches in five sets, including in a wild one against 2021 U.S. Open champion Daniil Medvedev, who was fined $42,500 by the tournament for his meltdown after play was delayed when a photographer wandered onto the court. Emma Raducanu’s best run at Flushing Meadows since her 2021 trophy ended with a 6-1, 6-2 loss to No. 9 Elena Rybakina.

Townsend in spotlight after confrontation

BY STEPHEN WHYNO AP sportswriter

NEW YORK Taylor Townsend is in the spotlight at the U.S. Open as a result of an interaction she wishes never took place.

Townsend said Jelena Ostapenko told her she had “no class” and “no education” during a face-to-face argument after their secondround match Wednesday A huge crowd cheered her on in doubles on Thursday and now Townsend is set to be front and center in prime time at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Friday night against fifth-seeded Mirra Andreeva.

Going into this Grand Slam, Townsend had nowhere near the star power or the name recognition of fellow Americans Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula, and she is not even seeded in single’s play Yet the 29-year-old who is half of the top-ranked women’s doubles team in the world and was No. 1 as a junior player has become one of the biggest stories of the tournament through no fault of her own. Still, Townsend hopes the attention around the confrontation and her calling attention to it can be a positive for the U.S. Open and tennis in general.

“If I’m someone who can draw huge crowds into the stadiums as a name that can bring people to

the United States, returns a shot during her doubles match against Aldila

of Indonesia, and Nadiia

of Ukraine, in the second round of the U.S Open on Thursday in New york.

come and buy tickets and support the game, then that’s a crown that I’ll gladly wear,” Townsend said.

“Whatever that it is, whatever type of attention that it brought, it’s doing the right things, which is bring people to see the sport and bringing people in to support and that’s what it’s all about.” Townsend, who is Black, and Ostapenko who is from Latvia, had an intense back and forth af-

ter Townsend won in straight sets.

When asked if she thought the comments had racial undertones, Townsend said she didn’t take it that way but acknowledged, “That has been a stigma in our community of being ‘not educated’ and all of the things, when it’s the furthest thing from the truth.”

Gauff and Naomi Osaka were among those who publicly came to Townsend’s defense. Osaka called what Townsend reported Ostapenko saying “one of the worst things you can say to a Black tennis player in a majority white sport.” Even privately, Townsend said other players came up to her to broach the subject and express their support. Online, she gained thousands of social media followers. “It’s cool to know that people see you and people are watching and more than anything,” Townsend said. “I was hoping that it was received a certain type of way and it was, so it was just external validation that I handled things the right way and that’s what I’m the most proud of and the most happy with. I wasn’t looking for that and in my answers and when I decided and I spoke and I said what I said I wasn’t looking for those things, but it’s nice to know that I made people proud.” Townsend is in the third round

Pelicans guard Alvarado injured in FIBA AmeriCup

New Orleans Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado was injured Thursday night during a game in the FIBA AmeriCup in Miami.

Alvarado, playing for Puerto Rico, was carried off the court on a stretcher in the third quarter of the game, according to a video posted on X. On the play, Alvarado appeared to fall on his tailbone. Puerto Rico was playing against Argentina, which won the game 8277. Alvarado posted on Instagram, “Appreciate the love y’all,” Alvarado wrote. “But your boy good. God got me.”

The Pelicans didn’t have any further updates on Alvarado’s injury Friday evening. Alvarado is entering his fifth season with the Pelicans. He averaged a career-high in points (10.3), assists (4.6) and rebounds (2.4) last season.

Florida baseball coach reprimanded for profanity

The NCAA Division I Baseball Committee issued a public reprimand to Florida coach Kevin O’Sullivan on Friday for aggressive behavior and profanity-laced language directed at site administrators for the regional in Conway, South Carolina.

The committee said O’Sullivan’s actions violated an NCAA misconduct bylaw during a championship event. O’Sullivan publicly apologized June 2, the day after his tirade. Florida also suspended O’Sullivan for the first three games of the 2026 regular season.

O’Sullivan was upset because the start time of his team’s elimination game against East Carolina — an 11-4 loss — was pushed back an hour. East Carolina’s previous game had ended at midnight.

Patriots release safety Peppers during shuffle

The New England Patriots released safety Jabrill Peppers on Friday marking the latest shakeup of the team’s roster under new coach Mike Vrabel. The 29-yearold Peppers, who was entering his fourth year in New England, made the Patriots’ initial 53-man roster and was expected to start alongside Kyle Dugger in the Patriots secondary in their revamped defense. Instead, Peppers’ departure is the latest turn away from holdover players and contracts that were dolled out under former coaches Bill Belichick and Jerod Mayo. Cornerback Jonathan Jones and defensive tackle Deatrich Wise weren’t re-signed this offseason, and receiver Kendrick Bourne and offensive lineman Cole Strange were both recently cut.

Red Sox release pitcher

Buehler, calling up Tolle

Walker Buehler who got the final out in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ World Series victory last season and was expected to be a key member of the Boston rotation this year, was released on Friday after the Red Sox concluded he couldn’t help their playoff push from the bullpen.

at the U.S. Open, along with Gauff, Osaka and Pegula, more than a decade after the U.S. Tennis Association decided to hold her out of junior competition over concerns about her fitness. The organization in 2012 withheld funding her tournament appearances while she focused on getting in better shape.

In the intervening time, she has become dominant in doubles, winning Wimbledon last year and the Australian Open earlier this year with partner Katerina Siniakova, and the pair is the top seed in Flushing Meadows. Townsend has not gotten past the fourth round in singles at a major If she does so this time, she wants the lesson to be that it is OK to stand up for yourself.

“Sometimes I feel like in society, especially people of color, we are expected to be silenced, or sometimes there are times where we have to decide and be very strategic as to when we speak up, and in these type of moments, it’s important for me to speak up, not only for myself but for my culture,” Townsend said. “No matter what, no matter what attention comes or whatever, I think it’s about being unapologetically yourself, be happy in who you are and never allow anyone to take you out of your character and who you are as a person.”

Buehler, 31, has struggled since signing a $21.05 million contract with Boston, going 7-7 with a 5.45 ERA. He made 22 starts before he was demoted to the bullpen last week; in his only relief appearance since earning a save in Game 5 of the Series.

To fill Buehler’s spot on the roster, the Red Sox called up top pitching prospect Payton Tolle to make his major league debut against Pirates ace Paul Skenes.

Miami LB Hayes charged with vehicular homicide

Miami linebacker Adarius Hayes has been charged with three counts of vehicular homicide and one count of reckless driving with serious bodily injury, all of which followed the investigation into a May crash that killed three people.

Hayes surrendered to police Friday morning in his hometown of Largo, Florida, and records show he was booked into the Pinellas County Jail before bonding out a few hours later Miami said Hayes “has been indefinitely suspended from all athletic related activities” in response to the charges.

Police previously revealed that the three people who died as a result of the crash — a 78-year-old woman, plus two children ages 10 and 4 — were all in a Kia Soul, which collided with a Dodge Durango being driven by Hayes.

Dukesleadway to open season

SUNBELT POWERRANKINGS

makeinone offseason.

TheRiceoffense is atripleoption system undera newheadcoach and play caller.The Cajuns offensehas thesameschemeand play caller butnew personnelbringsavaried emphasis.Defensively,Ricehad 33 sackslastseasonbut struggledto getoff the field. TheULdefense may be thebestofthe four units, andnew quarterbackWalkerHowardiseager to create an immediatememoryin hisCajuns’ debut.

open anew stadium on ahigh note.

The UL offense is introducing a new starting quarterback with mostly newtargets around him. Ricehas anew head coach who brings atriple option offense that led the FCS in rushing sixofthe past seven seasons at Davidson. Defensively,the Cajuns are in the second year under Jim Salgado andshould be improved.

3. Georgia Southern

2024 record: 8-5 overall, 6-2 Sun

Belt

This week: at Fresno State, 8:30 p.m. Saturday (FS1)

Extrapoints: TheEagles begin a season of high hopes with aWest Coast trip to meet Fresno State andUSC. The bad news is Fresno State already has played agame. Thegood news is Kansas handled the Bulldogs 31-7, limiting Fresno to 179totalyards. GeorgiaSoutherncoach Clay Helton’s offenses have producedplenty of big plays during his tenure but also many turnovers.

4. TexasState

2024 record: 8-5 overall, 5-3 Sun

Belt

This week: vs. Eastern Michigan, 7:30 p.m. Saturday (ESPN+)

Extrapoints: The Bobcats begin theirfinalseasoninthe SunBelt with what should be afavorable matchup against an Eastern Michigan clubthat was 5-7 ayear ago. TexasState will unveil anew startingquarterback in redshirt freshman Brad Jackson.

5. Arkansas State

2024 record: 8-5 overall, 5-3 Sun Belt

CAJUNS

Continued from page5C

that’swhenithits you.”

While there’s some mystery involved with anew coachand scheme, Lawson is looking forward to thechallenge.

“From aD-line standpoint,it’s alittle bitmore funactually,because alot more of the game is on you,” he said. “We’re going to have to be physicalwith theseguys.”

Secondary coach GeorgeBarlow said UL fansalsowill get introduced to aphysical new defensive back in Richmond transfer Trae Tomlinson.

“Trae is areally physical kid, andhe’skind of like Courtland (Flowers) when he was at Richmond —heplayedsomecorner, played somesafety,heplayed a littlebit of nickel,”Barlowsaid.

“He’sareallyphysical kid. He’s probably themostphysicalofall of them (in thesecondary).”

RB JaQuez Cross all return.

6. OldDominion

2024 record: 5-7 overall, 4-4 Sun

Belt

This week: at Indiana, 1:30 p.m. Saturday (FS1)

Extrapoints: Playing Power Four programs early isn’tnew for the Monarchs, who lost to SouthCarolina 23-19 last season, lost to Wake Forest27-24 and beat Virginia Tech 20-17 two years ago, and got nipped by Virginia 16-14 in 2022. The Hoosiers, coming off aCFP berth, may be atoughertask ODUstruggledwith turnovers last season.

7. SouthAlabama

2024 record: 7-6 overall, 5-3 Sun Belt

Thisweek: vs. MorganState, 6p.m. Saturday (ESPN+)

Extrapoints: Morgan State is an FCSprogram outofthe MEAC that went 6-6lastseason. The Jaguarslostpromisingquarterback Gio Lopez toNorth Carolina in thespring, and they recently named Utah State transfer Bishop Davenport as their starter.South Alabamaalsomustreplace its leading rusher and receiver from last year

8. Southern Miss

2024 record: 1-11 overall, 0-8Sun Belt

Thisweek: vs. Mississippi State, 11 a.m. Saturday (ESPN)

Extrapoints: What an opportunity for the Eagles, whobegin anew era under coach Charles Huff at home against an SEC team on ESPN. Huff spent most of Sun Belt media days trying to con-

In addition to playing cornerback,Tomlinsonwill help redshirt sophomoreMaurion Eleam at the Star spot

“He’s had areally good camp,” Barlowsaid of Eleam.“He’sgot areally,really high football IQ. He plays fast, plays physical, and he’sdone agood job covering.”

Al lo ft hos e strengths seem ready to bolsterthe UL defenseinits second season under coordinator JimSalgado.

Goneisleading tackler KC Ossai.

9. CoastalCarolina

2024 record: 6-7 overall, 3-5Sun Belt

This week: at Virginia, 5p.m. Saturday (ACCN)

Extrapoints: The Cavaliers beat Coastal 43-24 last season behind a dominating 383 yards rushing in thefirst meeting between the two schools. Virginia is 6-4 against current Sun Belt clubs. The Chanticleers are going to amore passhappyoffensethis season.North Carolina transfer TadHudson and Marylandtransfer MJ Morris are bothexpected to play at quarterback for Coastal.

10.AppalachianState

2024 record: 5-6 overall, 3-5Sun Belt

This week: at Charlotte, Friday (n)

Extrapoints:This is the biggest mystery matchup in the Sun Belt this weekend. Both teamshave new head coaches.

Both programs spentmuch of Augustcamp trying to settle on starting quarterbacks. Charlotte announced Tuesday its going with North Carolina transfer Connor Harrell. The Mountaineers still were undecided between Iowa State transfer JJ Kohland Billy Wiles under first-year coach Dowell Loggains.

11.Troy

2024 record: 4-8overall, 3-5Sun Belt

This week: vs. Nicholls State, 6p.m. Saturday (ESPN+)

Extrapoints: The Trojans finished strong after atroubling start to their 2024 season under first-year

Flowers, aredshirt senior,has returned to the lineup at cornerback at 6-foot, 190 pounds.

“He’sa good player,and we’re just going to findthe best spot for him to give us achanceonSaturday to make some plays,” Barlow said. “And Ithink he’ll do that.”

“They’re stout upfront. They’ve gotsome big bodies in there. They hold the point really well. Thething Ialways kind of look for is how hard guys play through the down.”

MICHAEL DESORMEAUX, UL coach,on Rice

Jaden Dugger will be calling the plays now at linebacker,along with former backups Terrence Williams, Kailep Edwards and Lorenzell Dubosecarrying heavier loads.

“We’re playing alot faster,” Lawson said. “Wedidn’thave to spend as much time learning.

Redshirt senior safety Jalen Clark also hopes to unveil amuchimproved versionofhimself Saturday

“He hada great camp,” Desormeaux said of Clark. “I think whenyou’re really motivated to do something and you’re really driventodosomething, you attack theworkwitha different type of purpose.

“Thisyearfromtheget-go,it’sjust been different. I’m happy for him because he’sareally talented kid.” The scenario is different, but

season but et st 221 euce Cardinals un

Last game:Beat St. Francis 29-0 in season opener Thursday

Extrapoints:The big question going into the offseason for the Warhawkswas replacing firstteam All-SunBelt leadingrusher AhmadHardy,who transferredto Missouri. Redshirt junior Braylon McReynolds led a311-yard rushing attack Thursday with 113 yards on 11 carries. Defensively, UL-Monroe limited St.Francisto seven first downsand 131 total yards.

13.Georgia State

2024 record: 3-9 overall, 1-7Sun Belt

This week: at Ole Miss, 6:45 p.m Saturday (SECN)

Extrapoints: The Panthers hope to takeabig stepforward in coach Dell McGee’ssecond season at the helm.Playingtoughcompetition such as Ole Miss is nothing new to Georgia State, with 19 of its last 23 losses coming against bowl teams.Ole Miss hopes to bounce back from adisappointing finish to last season.

14.Marshall

2024 record: 10-3 overall,7-1 Sun Belt

This week: at Georgia, 2:30 p.m. Saturday (ESPN)

Extrapoints: This opener won’t tell us muchabout the new Thunderin’ Herd. After winning the Sun Belt last season, coach Charles Huff migrated south to Mississippi, alongwith alarge group of transfers. Marshallisliterally starting over this season.Next week against Missouri State will tell us moreabout the Herd.

Davishas workedhardtolose10 pounds and improve his speed.

“Justbeing able to getinand out of cuts very quickly,” Davis said. “I definitely feel like if I’m 10 pounds lighter,Idon’tthink I getcaught (frombehind) in oneor twoplays last year.Iprobablyrun away from those guys.”

What’snot as newisthe Rice defense, which might be the most troubling factor forthe Cajuns.

Led by 6-3, 332-pound nose tackle Blake Boenisch, the Owls finished third in the American Conference with335 yards alloweda gamelast season and collected 33 sacks.

“They’re stout upfront,” Desormeauxsaid. “They’ve got somebig bodies in there. They hold the point really well. The thing Ialways kind of look for is how hard guys play through the down.

“Theydoareally good jobon the initial strike, but Ithink what they do agreat job, they play with great effort on defense.”

Corso’s emotional farewell

ESPN personality to pick his final mascot head on Saturday show

BY JOE REEDY AP sportswriter

COLUMBUS, Ohio

It is rare for a sports broadcasting figure to retire on his own terms or to be able to accept the tributes or adulation of colleagues and fans.

Lee Corso gets to experience that on Saturday

Corso makes his final appearance as part of ESPN’s “College GameDay” crew before No. 3 and reigning national champion Ohio State hosts top-ranked Texas.

Since announcing his retirement earlier this year Corso has received his share of acclaim and send-offs. He was honored at the ESPY Awards in July and received a standing ovation before boarding his flight in Orlando, Florida, on Thursday

“It’s a gamut of different emotions. I’m trying to stay in the celebratory lane this weekend,” said GameDay analyst Kirk Herbstreit, who has sat next to Corso since 1996. “We don’t want to be emotional or sad when it’s his last show We can be sad next week But this weekend, we need to be celebrating him Everything he’s meant to us and to the sport.”

Corso, who turned 90 on Aug. 7, has been a part of “GameDay” since its start in 1987 and has made pregame shows entertaining under a simple philosophy: “Football is just the vehicle. It’s entertainment, sweetheart.”

“Almost everyone, no matter what they accomplish in our industry, sort of gets dragged out boots first. They don’t really get a chance to say farewell,” GameDay host Rece Davis said on Friday after a production meeting. “I think it’s a real blessing that we’re able to give Lee his flowers on a day when he’s feeling great, doing great, and excited for a game.”

GameDay’s 26th appearance in Columbus also marks a fullcircle moment for Corso. It was outside Ohio Stadium on Oct. 5, 1996, where Corso’s popular headgear prediction segment began.

Corso donned Brutus Buckeye’s head before Ohio State faced Penn State, and the rest is history Corso has worn 69 different schools’ mascot headgear and has dressed up as Notre Dame’s Fighting Irish leprechaun, the Stanford tree, and historic figures James Madison and Benjamin Franklin However, Brutus remains Corso’s first love, wearing it 45 times.

“When we looked at the schedule, the obvious place was to try to go to Tallahassee, where he played (at Florida State), but this game

HAVEN

Continued from page 5C

play in the NFL, the polish to deftly traverse a high-stakes, modern recruitment, and the focus to lead his Dunham team back to the Division III select state championship.

Haven has games to win, endorsement deals to fulfill and colleges to visit. He also has honors, advanced placement and dual-enrollment classes to pass All those responsibilities will set him up for a whirlwind junior season — perhaps the most important portion of a recruitment that sprung up organically, shifting him off course from the engineering career he originally wanted to pursue.

“There was no blueprint to the NFL for Elijah growing up,” said Matt Bowers, the New Orleansarea car dealer who signed Haven to an NIL deal in January. “He’s incredibly mature and smart. I mean, he’s more mature and socially adept than I was at 31 years old. He’s 16.”

‘One in a million’

Chad Myers was sure the kid would play college hoops. All the Dunham boys basketball coach needed to see was the time Elijah Haven dunked in a tournament for eighth graders, prompting kids to ask him to sign autographs after the game. At the time, he was in seventh grade

This middle-schooler, Myers figured, would one day lead the Tigers to a state title or two, ride off into the sunset and begin playing college basketball somewhere — probably at a

is so big. The fact that it’s a noon game. It became a no-brainer to have it here,” Herbstreit said. “It is very kind of storybook. The fact that we started with this and and end it here in Columbus.”

Corso has a 66.5% winning rate on his headgear predictions (286144), which is much better than his 73-85-6 mark in 15 years as a coach at Louisville, Indiana, and Northern Illinois.

His final headgear pick will be on the field at Ohio Stadium. Besides airing across all of ESPN’s networks, Fox Sports may show part of it. The final hour of both pregame shows will also take place in the Horseshoe.

Tom Rinaldi and Chris Fallica — former GameDay crew members now with Fox Sports — are also expected to give their thoughts on Corso’s retirement.

“Now that his career, obviously coaching but now as a broadcaster, is ending, you look back on the impact that you made. And he certainly made a major impact on a lot of people,” Ohio State coach Ryan Day said. “For him to be here for his last mascot game in his last year means a lot to all of us.”

When GameDay started, Corso was the analytical one known for hot takes, while the late Beano Cook was the funny one who made game predictions a production.

The show took place at ESPN’s studios in Bristol, Connecticut, until it went on the road for the first time in 1993, before Notre Dame hosted Florida State in a No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup. The show has been on the road regularly since 1995.

Chris Fowler was the host from 1990 through 2014 before Davis took over Besides Herbstreit,

power-conference school.

Then Myers saw Haven start his first game at quarterback for Dunham.

“Oh crap,” he said then. “Never mind.”

That night, Haven accounted for 534 yards of total offense and seven touchdowns in a 52-46 loss to Parkview Baptist. Neil Weiner, the Dunham football coach, noticed that his new quarterback was navigating the pocket to avoid pressure and moving safeties with his eyes. Some passers never learn how to truly operate an offense, but Haven had most of the controls figured out by the first game of his freshman season.

“Statistically speaking,” Weiner said, “it was the best game I think I’ve ever had a quarterback have.”

Then the wheels on the recruiting train started to spin. Offers rolled in slowly at first, then accelerated once Haven picked up an invite to OT7 — the summer seven-on-seven league that puts high-level recruits in front of scouts and plasters their highlights all over social media. The recruiting services, of course, were there too, and they could see exactly how Haven compared to some of the country’s top quarterbacks.

Before long, the 2027 class had a new No. 1 quarterback. And he hadn’t even begun his sophomore season. Haven’s parents, Kwame and Ebony, knew their oldest son was talented. But the recruiting world was new to them. They’re more academics than athletes Kwame a pharmacist by trade with a doctoral degree — was a high

BELICHICK

Continued from page 5C

Belichick’s NFL career featured a 24-year run leading the New England Patriots, producing six world titles alongside star quarterback Tom Brady When Belichick and the Patriots split in January 2024, he held 333 regular-season and playoff wins, trailing only Don Shula (347) for the NFL record.

Belichick was later linked to NFL jobs but nothing materialized. That led to the unlikely pairing with UNC when the school moved on from Mack Brown. At the time, Belichick said he “always wanted” to try college coaching and cited his late father Steve’s connection as a Tar Heels assistant in the 1950s. In the months since, he’s popped up at men’s basketball and baseball games and can rattle off a list of stops — Atlanta, New York and Chicago included — on the donor circuit.

him to visit or talk with the UNC staff, and that Belichick had been receptive to Rackley’s observations. That included a tip to look at defensive lineman Xavier Lewis, landing the former Austin Peay recruit on the UNC roster as a freshman.

Rackley said six of his players have UNC offers with three committed: Griffin-Haynes; his brother Jayden, a linebacker and fellow senior; and junior running back Amir Brown.

“Even when I go out to practices, when (Belichick) sees us, before he goes to anybody else, he’ll come talk to us,” Rackley said. “That means something to me. Not saying other coaches haven’t done that, but the fact that I know my guys will be in good hands, that makes me settled in my spirit, in my heart, that they’re going to be OK.”

Convincing a mother

Desmond Howard has been with the show since 2006, Pat McAfee joined in 2022, and Nick Saban last year after retiring from Alabama.

Fowler, who will call Saturday night’s game between No. 9 LSU and fourth-ranked Clemson will also be a part of the GameDay crew on Saturday Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said the beauty of Corso and “College GameDay” is that they allow fans to experience the flavor of being at a game at Texas or Alabama on television.

“Coach Corso was able to bring the aspect of a coach and a very analytical approach to the games being played, but then the entertainment and doing the headgear at the end of every show,” Sarkesian said. “I know that was something we all used to look forward to. What was he going to do? Like that was going to determine who would win the game or not, but that was the beauty of the show, getting people excited about every Saturday for college football.”

GameDay producer Jim Gaiero thinks Corso may still have a surprise or two for Saturday No one would be surprised if he led on that he was picking with Ohio State and ended up going with Texas.

But even though Corso will no longer be a part of Saturday mornings for college football fans, his impact will continue to be felt.

“His ability to bring entertainment to a preview show helped get away from seriousness. You can be outrageous and still do your job, but you can still have fun,” Gaiero said “I think other shows have tried to do that, even political shows.”

school swimmer who grew up in suburban Atlanta. Ebony — a Baton Rouge native who now serves as the executive director of the Louisiana Developmental Disabilities Council — has two graduate degrees from Tulane.

The couple met as undergrads at Xavier-New Orleans. Once they married, they set up shop in Prairieville, had three kids and decided to enroll their oldest, Elijah, at the private Dunham school for its academic rigor, not its Class 2A football program.

Now Kwame Haven applies his clinical background to his son’s recruitment.

He uses a spreadsheet to keep track of all the variables It’s grown to 20 or 30 columns, he said, one for every program that’s courting Elijah. The corresponding rows sort teams by categories such as style of offense, alumni in the NFL, head coach and professional quarterbacks who have played for its head coach.

“And then we rank those schools in different tiers of how we feel about them,” Kwame said. “There’s gonna be a subjective component, but let’s try to at least categorize or organize the objective components that we can empirically see, right?”

Kwame hopes the process eases some of the pressure on Elijah, allowing him to focus on football, school, his social life and basketball, too. Since eighth grade, Haven also has starred for the varsity hoops team after football season.

“It’s a one-in-a-million type situation for us with him,” Myers said. “He’s been dealing with this for a while, but you would never know You would never know he

“It’s really fun to be part of a school,” Belichick said last month. “I grew up in Annapolis at the Naval Academy and there’s only one team: there’s Navy It didn’t matter if it was Navy baseball, Navy lacrosse, Navy football, Navy swimming, Navy this, Navy that — you always root for the same team. So you’re really part of a community.”

UNC gave Belichick a five-year deal, the first three guaranteed at $10 million in base and supplemental pay, to spark a program that last won an ACC title in 1980. It comes as the sport’s role as the revenue driver in college athletics never has been more important, particularly with July’s introduction of revenue sharing. In a recent athletics department podcast, chancellor Lee Roberts pointed to early returns in added buzz from Belichick’s mere presence.

“I’d say, in a lot of ways the experiment and I think that’s the right word — has already been successful,” Roberts said. Coaching relationships

Of course, questions followed. Among the biggest: Would the NFL lifer known for terse and gruff responses in Patriots news conferences really hit the recruiting trail?

Rolesville High coach Ranier Rackley quickly was convinced. His school, about 40 miles east of Chapel Hill, was an immediate stop for Belichick with the Rams featuring multiple prospects, including four-star senior edge rusher Zavion Griffin-Haynes.

“There was a situation for me with my schedule that I had to change the dates of him originally coming,” Rackley said. “He was like, ‘No, we’ll make it around your schedule.’ And he did that.

For me, I’m like, ‘Wow, this is Bill Belichick adjusting to my schedule to come see my kids.’

Rackley recalled Belichick spending two hours in his first visit “talking about ball, talking about life” while working to build relationships. Rackley said there’s an “open-door policy” for

was a superstar He’s just another student out here, and that’s the way he likes it.”

A decision to make

Yes, Haven is already a quasiprofessional quarterback. Today, most recruits of his caliber are. But no, he won’t reclassify to speed up the process of becoming a full-fledged professional athlete.

Haven’s mom, Ebony, is OK with him enrolling a semester early at whichever school he chooses. But skipping out on his entire senior year of high school is a bridge too far for her, even if her son has the academic record to do so.

“He’s already having to grow up a little bit faster,” she said.

NIL deals such as the one Haven signed with Bowers, the New Orleans car dealer are part of the reason why Once that partnership was announced, social media buzzed with comments that accused Bowers of using the agreement to lure the prized quarterback to Ole Miss, his alma mater Bowers wants to set things straight. He doesn’t care where Haven goes to college, he said. In fact, he’s known the quarterback since before he was a quarterback. As a pre-teen, Haven played for the EYBL basketball team Bowers runs. He and Kwame Haven struck up a friendship over food orders they would make to hotel lobbies during basketball tournament trips.

“The genesis of the relationship was really over basketball,” he said. “We’re just friends, you know? I don’t want anything from them.”

Bowers is one of the folks who

Winning over Mom is a tougher sell. And Latara Griffin, mother to the Griffin-Haynes brothers, wasn’t going to be easily swayed by numbers on a résumé.

“I am really a football mom,” she said. “I care about my kids. I care about being able to lay my head down at night and know my kids are good and being taken care of.”

So she didn’t hold back when questioning Belichick including how he’d go from coaching grown men to teenagers who never have lived away from home. Or whether this was a one-year pitstop before returning to the NFL.

Griffin said she sensed some nervousness from the coaching great in early conversations, though that faded into a welcoming vibe. She described establishing a strong connection with the UNC defensive coordinator

Belichick’s son, Steve, and his family — and appreciated the elder Belichick’s effort to understand the importance of the brothers to play together After prayer-filled days for her, the brothers announced their commitment to UNC in June for a January enrollment.

“I think after being around us a little bit more, I’ve seen him kind of be a little bit more open: telling jokes, laughing and smiling,” she said with a laugh. “When you see Bill Belichick on pictures, you don’t really feel like he’s funny and cool like that. But he is.”

What’s ahead

Belichick’s current players have had time to get past starstruck first encounters with a man they grew up watching at the sport’s highest level.

“It’s pretty normal now,” receiver Alex Taylor said. That doesn’t mean Belichick’s presence has lost its luster, or that friends and family have stopped inquiring about what Belichick is like.

“Honestly it’s just every meeting I walk into, every new day,” Boise State transfer linebacker Andrew Simpson said, “I just sit there and I understand that I’m in front of greatness.”

The only thing left now? Actually winning games.

has offered broader “guidance and counsel” to Haven and his parents as they navigate the recruiting process, Kwame said. The family also seeks legal advice from Baton Rouge lawyer David Fleshman and marketing support from NIL agent RJ Harris.

“He’s a very polite, nice kid,” Bowers said of Haven. “You ask him to go sign an autograph, he’ll do it. He’s just a nice kid. So, I think he’s handled it fairly well, but I think it’s gonna get really, really intense locally for him. I feel bad for him to some degree, you know what I mean? Like, people expect him to go to LSU. Why?” Haven can play wherever he wants. All the SEC powers LSU, Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Ole Miss — are after him. So, too, are some more academically rigorous schools such as Cornell, Stanford, Duke and SMU. On Aug. 11, On3’s Steve Wiltfong predicted Haven would choose Florida, not his hometown Tigers.

But there’s still time for things to change, especially because Haven and his parents are treating his choice of a college football team like it’s an engineering project. An organic, new-age recruitment, they think, demands a slow, clinical approach.

“I think that we’ve already sped up his teenage years as much as I would like to,” Ebony said, “and I want him to be a true kid, a high school kid, and enjoy those experiences because you’ll never get them back.”

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

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO

Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons celebratesafter sacking Giants quarterback Drew Lock at agame in Arlington, Texas, on Nov. 28. Dallastraded Parsons to the Green BayPackers, with Parsons receiving afour-year,$188 million contractwith $136 millionguaranteed.

Parsonswelcomes

high expectations

Linebacker says he hassightson achampionship

BY STEVE MEGARGEE Associated Press

GREEN BAY, Wis. Micah Parsonsisembracing the expectations that come from joining the Green Bay Packers with arecord-setting contract.

“I just want to do whatever Ican to help the Packers win achampionship,” Parsons told The AssociatedPress on Friday,aday after theedge rusher was traded from the Dallas Cowboys and agreed to acontract that makes him the highest-paid non-quarterback in league history

Parsons received afouryear,$188 million contract with $136 million guaranteed. The Packers sent two first-roundpicks andthreetime Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kenny Clark to Dallas in exchange for Parsons, who already has 52 1/2 career sacks through his first four NFL seasons.

Parsons’ new team could result in anew uniform number.AtDallas,Parsons had No.11, which wide receiver Jayden Reedcurrently wears for Green Bay The 26-year-old Parsons hinted at anew number Friday when he went on Xand asked, “Should Igo0 or 1!

Adding Parsonsmakes the Packers among the league’s top Super Bowl contenders after they reached the playoffs with the NFL’s youngest team each of the past two years. Parsons shoresupa pass rush thatwasn’treliable lastseason, when the Packerswent 11-7 andlostat Philadelphiainthe NFCwild card round.Parsons should make up aformidable passrushingtandemwithRashan Gary,who has39career sacks in six seasons.

Althoughthe Packershad 45 sackstotie foreighth in theNFL, more than half of them came in four games. They had no more than one sack in seven of their17 games.

Parsons has recorded at least 12sacks each of his four seasons, whereas the Packers haven’thad anyone collect that many sacks in aseason since Za’Darius Smith had12 1/2 in 2020.

Forafranchise that is known for traditionally building itsrosterbydeveloping itsown draft picks, this represents atrueswing for thefences.

This Packersteam had plentyofsolidplayers but lacked star power.Parsons instantly provides that.

Green Bay has ahistoryof signing futureHallofFame defensive playerswho can leadchampionship runs.Reggie White came over from

Philadelphiaand played a huge role on the1996 championship team. CharlesWoodson arrivedfrom Oakland and helped lead the2010 Super Bowl run.

Parsons’ acquisition brings thePackers some potential consequences.

Theloss of Clark could hinder Green Bay’s rundefense.Clark is coming offa 2024 season in which he recorded only onesack while dealing with atoe injury that required surgery,but he’s healthy now and has always been solid against the run.

LosingClark and allowing defensive tackle T.J. Slaton to sign with the Cincinnati Bengals in free agency leaves Green Bayshort on depth at that position. The Packers need abig season from Devonte Wyatt, a2022 first-round draft pick.

Andwithall themoney Green Bayispaying Parsons and quarterback Jordan Love, whosigned afouryear, $220 million extension lastyear,the Packers may need to makesome hard decisions down the road with players approaching the end of their contracts.

Thelist of Packersentering thefinal year of their dealsincludes widereceiversRomeo Doubs and Christian Watson, left tackle Rasheed Walker and linebacker Quay Walker,who has led Green Bayintackles eachof thepast three years.

BY JOSH DUBOW Associated Press

The shocking decision by theDallas Cowboys to trade Micah Parsons to Green Bay after four dominant seasons as apass rusher is far from unprecedented Averysimilartrade happened on the eveofthe 2018 season when the Oakland Raiders shipped two-time All-Pro andonetime Defensive Player of the Year winner Khalil Mack to Chicago. Both trades happened after failed contract talks and featured two first-round picks in return, although Dallasalso got defensive tackle Kenny Clark from the Packers. That 2018 tradedidn’tultimately work out for either team. Mack washighly productive in Chicago, earning All-Pro honors his first year,but couldn’t do enough to help the Bears winaplayoff game in hisfour seasonsbefore being traded to theChargers.

TheRaiders used the first pickonrunning back Josh Jacobs,who wasvery productive before leaving as afree agent following the 2023 season Thesecondfirst-rounder waswastedon cornerback Damon Arnette, who was cut halfway through his secondseason. Here’sa look at some other NFL stars who were traded in their primes: Herschel Walker

The mostfamous trade in Dallas history came in Jerry Jones’ first season as owner in 1989 when the Cowboys dealt Herschel Walker to Minnesota for apackage that ultimately led toeight draft picks, including three first-rounders.

Dallas usedthose picks to help draft Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith and key contributorstothree Super Bowl wins like Darren Woodson, Kevin Smith and Russell Maryland.

The Vikings didn’twin aplayoffgame in two-plus seasons withWalker CharlesHaley

Jones hasanother famousdeal that helped fuel Dallas’ 1990s dynasty when he acquired the pass rusher from San Francisco for second- and third-round picks in 1992. Haley was the final piece on defense the Cowboys needed to winthree Super Bowlsinhis first four seasons, eliminating the 49ers in theNFC title gameonthe way to the first two titles.

RandyMoss

Moss was athree-time All-Pro and the most dominant deep threat in theleague when Minnesota traded him to Oakland in 2005 for apackage that included the No.7 overall pick in the draft.The deal helped neither teamasthe Vikingsusedthe pick on Troy Williamson, who caught 79 passes in three seasons, andthe Raiders wonsix games in two seasons.

Moss wasthen tradedagain in 2007 to NewEngland andset an NFLrecord with 23 TD catches his first season as the Patriots became theonly team to go 16-0 in the regular season.

Fran Tarkenton

By The Associated Press

ASHBURN, Va.— Jayden Daniels publicly supported Terry McLaurin’scase fora new contract extension.

As he nowaidsthe Washington Commanders top receiver’s expeditedramp-up period before Week 1, the franchise quarterback offers more than words.

“Whatever we have to do to get ready for Week 1,” Daniels said Thursday of helping McLaurin’sacclimation period after skipping training camp because of a contract dispute that was resolved earlier this week.

TheQBwas all smiles discussing the return of his most popular playmaker given that he spent camp without his two projected starting outside receivers.

Noah Brown missed significant time with aknee injury while McLaurin, entering the final year of his current deal, pushed for an extension.

McLaurin got it Monday, a contract through 2028 valued at up to $96 million, signed Tuesday and got back on the field Wednesday to resume preparations for the season opener Sept. 7against the New York Giants. Washington’soffense, fifth in scoring at 28.5 points per game last season, pavedthe way to making the playoffs and reaching the franchise’s first NFC championship game appearance since the

1991 season.The passing duo ofDaniels, the AP OffensiveRookie of theYear, and McLaurin, asecondteam All-Pro, providedthe spark. McLaurin set acareer high with 13 touchdown receptions, oneless than the 14 total in the threeyears before Daniels arrivedasthe No 2pick in thedraft. Daniels’ five longest completions in the regular season all went to his top target, including an 86-yard touchdown in Week 12 against Dallas. Though Danielsremained sharp in camp, the perimeter and downfield passing

production decreased, other thanwhen he targetedhis primary slot receiver,Deebo Samuel. Washingtonscored a touchdown in Daniels’ lone preseason possession. The four-play drive,cappedby Daniels’ 14-yard scamper into theend zone, did not include apass attempt.

During McLaurin’sreturn on Wednesday after missing all of camp and some offseason workouts,hemadean over-the-shoulder catch that was reminiscent of special moments from last season. “It’slike riding abike,” McLaurin told Daniels.

Eric Dickerson

The disgruntledDickersonwas traded from the Los Angeles RamstoIndianapolis in 1987 in ablockbuster deal that also sent Cornelius Bennett to Buffalo. Dickerson helped the Colts makethe playoffs for the first timein10years in his first season and then led the NFLinrushing in 1988.

Marshall Faulk

Faulk led the NFLwith 2,227 yards from scrimmage in 1998 when Indianapolis made thesurprising decision to deal him to St.Louis.The ColtswentontodraftHall of FamerEdgerrin James in the first round as Faulk’sreplacement, but theRams really wonthe deal.

Faulk helpedformthe “GreatestShow on Turf” offense as St. Louis won the Super Bowl his first season. Faulk had nearly 1,500 more yards fromscrimmage and 18 more TDs than any other player from 1999-2001 as he won AP Offensive Player of the Year all three seasons and MVP in 2000.

ChristianMcCaffrey

McCaffrey helpedtransform SanFrancisco’s offense when he was acquired from Carolina during the2022 season for apackage of four picks. McCaffrey gained 3,233 yards and scored 31 TDs in his first 27 regular-season gamesfor theNiners before being hampered by injurieslast season. He wonAPOffensive Player of the Year in 2023 when he helped San Francisco reach the Super Bowl.

Fred Dean

Dean was coming offanAll-Pro season in 1980 when he wastradedthe following year to San Francisco forapackage that included afirst-round pick. His addition helped fuel the start of the 49ers dynasty He wasanAll-Pro in 1981 when San Francisco wonits first of five titles in a14-season span and had a171/2-sack season in 1983 before ending up in the Hall of Fame.

Darrelle Revis

Reviswas theNFL’s topshut-down cornerback whenhewas traded to TampaBay for apackage that included afirst-round pick before the 2013 season. The Jets turned that pick into Sheldon Richardson, and Revis spent only one season with the Bucs before being cut. He then wentto NewEngland as afree agent wherehewon aSuper Bowl.

ChampBailey

In one of the biggest star-for-star trades, Denver acquired Bailey from Washington forstarrunning back ClintonPortis. Portis hadfour1,000-yard rushing seasonswith Washington, but the Broncos were the biggest winner Bailey played 10 more seasons, earning All-Pro honors his first three seasons, leading the league with 10 interceptions in 2006 and getting into the Hall of Fame. Paul Warfield

Warfield had made back-to-back Pro Bowls for Cleveland when Don Shula acquired him in his first season as Miami’s head coach. Warfieldprovided aneeded deep threat forthe Dolphins,makingthe Pro Bowlinfive straight seasons. Warfield wasanAll-Pro twiceand helpedMiami win back-to-back Super Bowls, including the 17-0 season in 1972.

Mike Haynes

Six yearsafter being traded by Minnesotatothe New York Giants, Tarkenton returned to theVikings in 1972 after making four Pro Bowls in six seasonsinNew York. Tarkentonled Minnesota to theSuper Bowl threetimes in seven seasonsin his secondstint —losingevery time —and was the NFL MVP in 1975.

Haynes was holding out in New England in 1983 whenthe Raiders acquired him for afirst- and second-round pick during the season.

Haynes madeanimmediate impact by elevating theRaiders defenseashe teamed with Lester Hayes in the secondary.Los Angeles wonthe Super Bowllater that season,and Hayneswas named AllPro the next twoyears.

Drago’s has new spot in Perkins Rowe

BY MADDIE SCOTT Staff writer

Drago’s is bringing charbroiled oysters back to Baton Rouge. After the seafood restaurant closed its Baton Rouge location in January, Drago’s is bouncing back with a new spot in Perkins Rowe. The restaurant will host a grand opening at 6 p.m. Sept. 2 at 10111 Perkins Rowe.

“We’re so blessed to have a second opportunity to make a first impression,” said Drago’s owner and manager Tommy Cvitanovich

The Metairie-born seafood chain started in 1969 and became famous for its charbroiled oysters It has six locations five in Louisiana and one in Jackson, Mississippi.

The Baton Rouge location, near the Interstate 10-College Drive interchange, opened three weeks before the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020, and business never recovered, Cvitanovich said. Hotel occupancy rates on Constitution Avenue plunged, a big point of business, and ongoing construction on College Drive didn’t help either, he said.

When golf simulation bar Loft 18 offered to buy out the lease, Cvitanovich saw an opportunity, leading to the location’s closure in January He always had the plan to eventually reopen another location in the city, but it took longer than expected.

“This restaurant is going to have that same magic in Metairie, and I’m not going to tolerate anything less,” he said.

The 7,300-square-foot spot sits right on Perkin Rowe’s Town Square.

ä See DRAGO’S, page 12C

HI NADERS!

Joe and Tammy Burns show off a Communicator Award ‘Rock School’ received in 2017. This award is often described as the radio/podcast equivalent of a TV Emmy

ROCK SCHOOL

Respecting each other’s talking space is vital to a good radio show, the

Southeastern professor’s backyard studio project becomes a global radio hit

BY JUDY BERGERON Staff writer

Joe Burns is in his backyard recording studio chatting with Les Paul, Eddie Van Halen, Jimi Hendrix, Kurt Cobain and Rik Emmett of the Canadian rock band Triumph.

Then Burns wakes up. Yes, it’s all been a dream, but dreams are good, right?

As Burns and his co-host/wife Tammy Burns surpass 900 “Rock School” radio shows, the Southeastern Louisiana University department head still has a dream list of interviewees rattling around his rock ‘n’ roll brain. No mind

ON THE AIR

”Rock School” airs on 90.9 The Lion at 5 p.m.Thursdays and 4 p.m. Sundays. It is also available on the station’s website, https://www2.southeastern.edu/kslu/ rock_school/, the Public Radio Exchange network (PRX) and at the American Archive of Public Broadcasting

that all these electric guitar masters have passed on, save for 72-year-old Emmett — it’s a dream, remember?

Back to reality, former disc jockey and

Baton Rouge’s famous sisters give behind-the-scenes insight as show premieres

BY JOY HOLDEN Staff writer

After a long summer, the Nader sisters Brooks, Mary Holland, Grace Ann and Sarah Jane — are ready to share their lives with the world. From Baton Rouge to New York City these young women are living boldly in their new television series, “Love Thy Nader.” The show premiered Thursday on Freeform and is streaming in its entirety on Hulu. The series captures the four sisters’ professional, familial and romantic lives in the glamorous world of modeling in Manhattan.

Speaking on a Zoom call from New York, the sisters

said they were excited about the premiere. They watched the first three episodes with their parents, Breaux and Holland Nader even the awkward scenes.

“It was a perfect depiction of our lives and our dynamic,” said Brooks Nader “It was actually quite funny to have our dad and mom sitting next to us and making us answer them during the episodes.”

The first episode begins with the sisters moving in together in a luxe SoHo apartment. They are adjusting to living together while Brooks Nader’s then-boyfriend, Gleb Savchenko, and their parents visit at the same time. Interesting conversations and situations ensue. When it came to the film

crew following them around, the Nader sisters all said they became like family In fact, when they visited Maringouin, where their mother’s family is from, the family urged the crew to put their cameras down and have some crawfish, Brooks Nader said.

The Nader sisters filmed from April to June, so the storylines are fairly recent and relevant to their current lives. Throughout the process, they learned each other’s weird habits and how they all had changed since they’d lived in the same house as teenagers.

One Louisiana moment featured Holland Nader, their mother, shopping for ingredients with Mary Holland and preparing gumbo for the

family meal. To keep up Louisiana traditions, Holland Nader froze some gumbo and brought it with her to Los Angeles for the premiere, the sisters said Even though they may be far from Louisiana, Louisiana is not far from them in their hearts. The sisters said that even with their new fame, they still plan to come home for “the Louisiana seasons” — football, Christmas, Mardi Gras and crawfish. Before the call ended, all four of the Nader sisters wanted Baton Rouge to know that they love their hometown, and they can’t wait to come home for an LSU game.

Email Joy Holden at joy holden@theadvocate.com.

longtime guitarist Joe Burns has created 60-minute nuggets of music and talk featuring musicians, authors and more so entertaining and informative that “Rock School” is now part of the American Archive of Public Broadcasting, a project of the Library of Congress and WGBH in Boston.

The goal is to preserve for posterity the most significant public television and radio programs of the past 60 years.

”We’re one of the featured shows, which is mind-boggling,” Joe Burns said after settling into his comfy living room

ä See ROCK, page 12C

Unload the dishwasher smartly

Dear Heloise: Unload the bottom rack of the dishwasher first to keep the items there dry.Top rack items, like coffee cupbottoms, often still have water in them and drip when they’retipped and removed. —J.Savela, in North Port,Florida

Ramp it up

Dear Heloise: To enable my pet to get himself up on the bed, Ifound that a sturdy,ultradense foam pet ramp is better than stair steps forsenior dogs and dogs with arthritis. The dog can climb the ramp more easily than having to lift each foot up onto astep. The ramps are available from major online retailers. Prices vary,though, and we invested in aquality ramp. Donald K., in Pennsylvania Stampofapproval

Dear Heloise: Recently Iwas homebound with abroken ankle and tibia. During my recuperation, I received over 70 “get well” cards. One of my friends enclosed abook of postage stamps in her card. Because Iwrote alot of letters, this was the best thing Icouldhave received. Icurrently havegone through six books of stamps from writing to friendsand family Anyway,myhelpful hint: When sending a“get well” card, enclose abook of postage stamps. It is a thoughtful gift —Chick J.,inLittleton, New Hampshire Office/kitchen combo

Dear Heloise: Ihave adesk in my kitchen. This makes it easier to answer emailsorwrite letters while preparing ameal. Also, the kids can sit at the desk andwork on their projects or homework while Icook, and we can havea nice chat. —Deborah T.,inTexas Send ahint to heloise@heloise. com.

TODAYINHISTORY

By The Associated Press

Today is Saturday,Aug. 30, the 242nd day of 2025. There are 123 days left in the year

Todayinhistory:

On Aug. 30, 1916, on his fourth attempt, explorerErnest Shackleton successfully returned to Elephant Island in Antarctica to rescue 22 of his stranded crew members, who had survived on the barren island for four and a half months after the sinkingof their ship, the Endurance.

Also on this date:

In 1941, during World WarII, German forces approaching Leningrad cut off the remaining rail line out of the city In 1945, U.S. Gen. Douglas MacArthur arrivedinJapan to set up Allied occupation headquarters.

In 1963, the “Hot Line” communications link betweenWashington and Moscowwent into operation.

In 1967, the Senate confirmed the appointment of Thurgood Marshall as the firstBlack justice on the U.S. Supreme Court.

In 2005, aday after Hurricane Katrina hit, floods covered 80% of New Orleans, looting continued to spread and rescuers in helicopters and boats picked up hundreds of stranded people.

In 2021, the United States completed its withdrawalfrom Afghanistan, ending America’s longest war with the Talibanback in power,asAir Force transport planescarried aremaining contingent of troops from Kabul airport.After watching the last U.S. planes disappear into the sky over Afghanistan, Taliban fighters fired their guns into the air,celebrating victory after a20-year insurgency.

In 2022, Mikhail Gorbachev, who was the last leader of the Soviet Union, and waged alosing battle to salvage acrumbling empire but produced extraordinary reforms that led to theend ofthe Cold War, died at age 91.

Today’sbirthdays: Investor and philanthropist Warren Buffettis 95. Actor Elizabeth Ashley is 86. Actor John Kani is 83. Cartoonist Robert Crumb is 82. Olympic gold medal skier Jean-Claude Killy is 82. Comedian Lewis Black is 77. BasketballHall of Famer Robert Parish is 72. U.S. Senator Thom Tillis, R-N.C., is 65. Actor Michael Chiklis is 62. ActorCameron Diaz is 53. TV personality/journalist Lisa Ling is 52. Former MLB pitcher Adam Wainwright is 44. Former professional tennis player Andy Roddick is 43. Singer-songwriter Bebe Rexha is 36.

ROCK

Continued from page11C

couch after aday at the office last week.

He explained that each of his shows hadto be converted into a very specific audio formatand uploaded to the archive. Visit americanarchive.org,click on “special collections” andthere you’ll find “Rock School.”

In addition to itshome station,the university’sKSLU (also known as90.9The Lion), “Rock School’ is picked up by 30 other public radio stations worldwide, amongthem stations in Colorado, Alaska, California, theUK, Spain, and yes, Joe Burns’ almamater, Westminster College.

In session since 2007, “Rock School” was recorded at KSLU until afew years ago.

Ashowisborn

Aself-professed “radio rat,” Joe Burns gave those running an onair fundraiser at KSLU in 2007 an ultimatum: If he weretobeonair for an hourasrequested, he’d put together hisown playlist and talking points.

“SoI wentinand just off thetop of my head,said abunch of stuff, andapparently we raised more money than any other hour,” Joe Burns said. “Andwedid it twice in arow.That’swhen we said, ‘I think there’sashow here.’”

Theteacher and one of his master’sdegree students, Chad Pierce, whocollaborated in the show’s early days, arefuzzy on who should take credit for“Rock School’s”name.

“Because ‘School of Rock’ was taken.And Ithink it was just as

DRAGO’S

Continued from page11C

On Thursday,the restaurant bustledwith opening daypreparation.Line cooks practiced making dishes,dollies wheeledpackages inside, managers bounced from sectiontosection, bartenders stocked shelves and waiters-intraining gathered in thedining area.

Thebuilding wasformerly Kona Grill, which closed about six years ago in 2019, and locals may remember itsmassive fish tanks. One got knocked out for the Drago’stakeover,aspot now housing the iconic open-concept oyster station

“It took everything in me not to make it alobster tank,” he said.

Theother fishtank, which still stands, is located beside the host stand.

“I wanted to put trout andredfish in here,” he said. “Wildlife and Fisheries won’tallow it,but I didget part of what Iwanted. Ido have oyster shells in here. Ireally wantedittobeindigenoustothis area.”

Cvitanovich said Drago’smay have the best patio area in all of Baton Rouge.

“I’m really looking forward to thepatioatmosphereofthis restaurant,” he said. “You know, openingupthe square to this restaurant on Perkins Rowe, where you have beautifulsunlight and trees. We have abeautiful fountain,abandstand.”

The gardens are manicured, and thebuildings are beautiful.

“This is goingtobeasclose to having arestaurant in the French

JoeBurns has at least 10 national and international awards recognizing his longtime radio show, ‘Rock School.’

simple as ‘School of Rock’ is a movie. Well,let’s go with ‘Rock School.’ Therewego, now we have it,” Joe Burnsrecalled.

Butdon’t bother thinking it’s justanhourofhim spinning his favs.

“It startswith rock,”hesaid. “Butthe point is alecture for an hour each week about some rock topic.”

Thegenre of tunes that listeners hear correlates to thesubject of thehour Take these, for instance:

n Where is artificial intelligence headed?

n Concerns surrounding music concerts

n Rock starswho have had heart attacks(inspiredbyJoe Burns’ own)

n Hottest100 Australian songs

“There is no wall that we won’t cross. We play jazzfrom theearly 1900s if it fits the topic. I’ve played

stuff from ‘Porgy and Bess.’ I’ve playedstuff from‘Showboat,’ ” he said. “Wehavebeaten Taylor Swifttodeath.It’sjust,she breaks records andbreaks records.”

Prep,prep, prep

Burnsand Burnssay they’ve gotten production of the weekly show down to an art.

“Wedoshows in bursts, meaning oneweekend we’ll blow outfour and then we won’tdoanother one for two weekends,”heexplained. “One of the concerns is it being atopical show.Wedon’twant to get too far out in front. But on the same aspect, something has to happen forashow to occur.”

In addition to overseeing the Department of Communication and MediaStudies and histeaching duties, he scours entertainment websites, email subscriptions and news of the day in search of subject matter

Timewise, each show generally takes four hours to put together,with at least twohours of that being research. Ascript is written, song list compiled, and thenaround an hour to record it, followedbyahalf-hour for editing.

Tammy Burns joins in when it’s time to head out to the cozy studio, which her husband hasdecked out withLed Zeppelin,Pink Floydand Blues Brothers posters, alongside one of Hank Williams. Collectible figures and other music tchotchkes decorate awooden table holding the soundboard and keyboard. Mic stands, lighting, awall-mounted monitor and Joe Burns’ guitar collection complete thescene.

“I am thedumbperson walking in,” hiswifesays with agrin.“I don’twant to know the topic be-

Quarter without being in the French Quarter,” he said. There’sone big thing Cvitanovichwill debut in Baton Rouge: He’s adding agrab-and-go breakfast section in partnership with PJ’sCoffee. It’llopenabout a week after the grand opening, likely Sept. 8.

The menu is amix of PJ’sCoffee drinks (about 15-20 options) and three PJ’sCoffee breakfast sandwiches: sausage,egg andcheese on abiscuit; bacon, egg and cheese on abiscuit;and turkey sausage, egg and cheese on an Englishmuffin. They willalsooffercroissants strawberry croissants, beignets and homemade quiche.

The grab-and-go is separate from the regular breakfast menu for those dining in. That menuincludes disheslike salmon toast,

chicken and waffles and king cake pancakes.

Cvitanovich says the new section was inspiredbyhis love for the coffee shop atmosphere. If everything goes well, he maybring the idea to the Metairie location as well.

“I’m acoffee shop kind of guy,” Cvitanovichsaid. “I go to coffee shopsalmostevery morning. I love coffee.”

The restaurant will have the same menu as the Metairie location, including staples like charbroiledoysters, gumbo,lobster and barbecue shrimp.

Cvitanovich has afew favorite dishes: theFleur DesLis shrimp, which is made with friedshrimp, roasted red pepper aioli and horseradish. Steak is among his favorites,

cause what Idon’tknow makes me ask questions and be surprised. I don’twanttogoinknowing anything.”

“She’sthe audience member

The point of being agood sidekick is understanding that it’stwo people talking, but they can’ttalk at the sametime,” Joe Burns said. They’ve been doing the radio show together foryears,and they trust each other,the couple agreed.

It takestwo

Although thecouple met while working at an Alabama radio station soon after college, Tammy Burns eventually moved on to a career in pharmaceutical sales. Her husband returned to school for his master’sand doctorate degrees, tradingthe disc jockey life for an academic one. Nevertheless, they share alove of rock music,and aficionado Joe Burns emphasized that doing theshow solo isn’tanoption forhim

“He’sjust got to have somebody standingthere with him, you know, to look at andIdisagreeor say yes, no, yeah, nay,” Tammy Burns said. “Most of the timeit’s stuff Idon’tknow anyway,soit’s not like it’sanargument.”

The 10 national and international Communicator Awards (often described as the radio/podcast equivalent of aTVEmmy) honoring theshow, whichare found throughout the home, and the Library of Congress recognition seem to contradict Burns’ modest self-assessment.

On the brightside, there’salways teaching.

“I’m never happier than when I’minfront of aclass,” he said. Or possibly in front of his wife and amic.

too.

“For aseafood restaurant, we do areally good job with steaks,”he said. “Our bone-in rib-eye is outstanding.”

Every steak is sousvide’d,a French cooking method where meat is sealed in abag,placedin acirculating water bath and slowcooked at alow temperature of 130 degrees.

There’salso the Shrimp Ruth, adishwithcookedtomatoes, lightly seared shrimp,buttered risotto and sautéed spinach.It was named after itsinventor,an employee at the originallocation in Metairie named Ruth Jenkins, but people called her MamaRuth. Jenkins made thedishtofeed various members of the Cvitanovich family,and it waseventually added to the menu. To this day, Cvitanovich loves adding seared tomatoestoany hotseafoodpoboy,oreven just achicken club on ciabatta, because of MamaRuth.

The restaurant will be dinneronly forthe first fewdays, but by the end of September,Cvitanovich hopestoserve breakfast, lunch and dinner

The Baton Rouge staffincludes amix of newhiresand longtime veteran staff from other locations. Cvitanovichhopes to have afamily memberworking at the location every day,whether that’s oneofhis twosons, daughter or nieces.

“I love what Ido,” he said. “I enjoybeing around people.I enjoy serving people.I enjoy talking to people.”

Drago’s, 10111 Perkins Rowe, Baton Rouge. Open 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 7:30 a.m. to 9p.m. Sunday through Wednesday

VIRGO (Aug. 23-sept. 22) Eliminate frustration over money mattersbyavoiding joint ventures or shared expenses. Channel your energy into personal and physical pursuits that promoteyour health,happiness and overall wellbeing.

LIBRA (sept. 23-Oct. 23) Set your sights on your goal, and don't look up or back until you reach your destination. The journey youembark on will help you discard what'snolongerpurposeful.

scORPIO (Oct. 24-nov.22) Map out your pathbefore you take off. Look at every angle, and abide by the rules to avoid getting caught up in someone else's misfortune. Stick to what you know and do best.

sAGITTARIus(nov. 23-Dec. 21) You're readytotake the plunge, update your image or change your direction. Keeping up with the times will offer aboost to your confidence,helping you find your way.

cAPRIcORn (Dec.22-Jan. 19) Rethink what's important to you, and choose to use your money to benefit you Research will help revise your plans to ensure you benefit from the results. Don't overreact; workquietly toward reaching your objective.

AQuARIus(Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Don't be afraid to apply pressure when necessary.Ifyou believe in something, followthrough. Yourmoney will serve you bestifyou invest in yourself

PIscEs (Feb.20-March 20) Finishwhat you start. Pouryour energy into doing

and add your unique touch to ensure you get the credit you deserve. Emotional turmoil will arise if you allow someone to usecriticism to make you feel inadequate.

ARIEs (March 21-April 19) Put your energy, discipline and ingenious ideas to work for you. Enjoy physical challenges and strive for victory. Balance and equality are necessary to your success. TAuRus (April 20-May20) Protect your health, wealthand emotional wellbeing. Refuse to let what others do ruin your plans. Get what you want in writing, and don't mixbusiness with pleasure.

GEMInI (May 21-June 20) Review your situation andbethe one to initiate change. Adomestic change will touch you emotionally. Be sure to follow through. Concentrate on what you want to achieve. cAncER (June 21-July 22) Focus on opportunity and investing more time and effort into simplifying your life. Walk away from thosewho hold you back or complicate your life. Happiness is a choice. Do your best.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) If you're funtobe with, everyone will want to be around you. Keep your emotions and troubles to yourself.Smile, be happy, and let go of the past. Choose fitness, not indulgence.

The horoscope, an entertainmentfeature, is not based on scientific fact. ©2025 by NEA,Inc dist. By AndrewsMcMeel Syndication

Sudoku

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

Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer

nea CroSSwordS La TimeS CroSSword

By PHILLIP ALDER Bridge

C.J. Cherryh, ascience fiction andfantasy author who has an asteroidnamed after her, said, “Trade isn’t about goods. Trade is about information. Goods sitin the warehouse until information moves them.”

For the lasttwo weeks, we have been usingthe acronym “trade” to helpfind theright plays.Wetrack the tricks, read thelead, audition the auction, deduce the danger, and eye the entries.

Hereisonemoreexample.Howshould Southplayinfour spades afterWest guesses well to lead afourth-highest club five?

When North raises three spades to four, he knows that there couldbefour toplosers, but it might make or be agood sacrificeagainsta making four-heart contract for East-West

Thisdeal is East’sproblem. He should realize that if the defenders are going to win four tricks,they will be either three clubs (West started with queen-fourth) andthe heartace, or two clubs (West started with five clubs) and two hearts.

So, East takes the first trick with his club king and cashes the club ace, noting that West plays the two,indicating that West started withfive clubs.Now East must shift to alow heart. If West has the king, cashing the ace first works fine; butnot here. The question is:Will South guess correctly?

Finally, if West wins the third trick with the heart queen, how does he know to return aheart, not give East aclub ruff?

BecauseifEasthadbegunwiththeaceking-doubleton of clubs, he would have won the first trickwith the ace, then cashed theking.

©2025 by NEA, Inc., dist.

By Andrews McMeel Syndication

Each Wuzzle is aword riddle which creates adisguised word, phrase, name, place, saying,

Previous answers:

InsTRucTIOns: 1. Words must be of four or more letters. 2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,”such as “bats” or “dies,”are not allowed. 3. Additional

TODAy’sWORD DEFERMEnT: dih-FER-ment: Official postponement of military service.

Averagemark 38 words Time limit 60 minutes Can youfind 50 or morewords in DEFERMENT?