The Advocate 09-03-2025

EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL ENROLLMENT 2024 39,696 2025 38,244 CHANGE 3.7%Ô

EBR schools see big decline in enrollment

Drop from last year biggest since start of pandemic

BY CHARLES LUSSIER Staff writer

Coming back from the Labor Day holiday, student enrollment in East Baton Rouge Parish schools has declined by about 3.7% compared to a year ago.

If that holds, it would be the biggest enrollment decline for the state’s second-largest traditional school district since the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. And it would amount to a 14% drop over a six-year span.

Official enrollment counts for public schools in Louisiana occur twice a year — on Oct. 1 and Feb. 1. Each

student gone equates to thousands of dollars in lost state education funding. Tuesday was the 18th day of school since summer break ended Aug. 7.

The East Baton Rouge Parish school system had 38,244 students overall on its rolls Tuesday That is 1,452 students fewer than were on its rolls the day after Labor Day 2024. Last year was the first time in decades that enrollment in the parish school system dipped below 40,000 students.

Much of the decline in East Baton Rouge this year is tied to the closure in May of two charter schools run by Texas-based IDEA Public Schools, both of which had “F” letter grades

from the state. Those schools, IDEA Bridge and Innovation, had nearly 2,000 students combined and were briefly among the largest schools in the district. Bridge Academy and Audubon Baton Rouge — the new operators at those campuses are teaching 1,123 fewer students than were enrolled in the schools they replaced. Unlike the IDEA schools, neither of their replacements are operating high schools, and Audubon stops at fifth grade. Traditional schools operated by the East Baton Rouge Parish school

ä See DECLINE, page 6A

La. targets court’s death penalty decision

BY MATT BRUCE Staff writer

The Louisiana Attorney General’s Office has filed a motion that seeks to uproot the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark ruling that declared the death penalty for juvenile offenders unconstitutional.

The 2005 court order abolished executions of those younger than 18 at the time of their crimes, saying capital punishment for juvenile offenders violates Eighth Amendment constitutional protections against cruel and unusual punishment Prosecutors for Attorney General Liz Murrill’s office, however, argue the death sentence should be reinstated for a man who was just a week shy of his 18th birthday when he shot and killed an LSU freshman execution-style during a 1992 carjacking and abduction.

Dale Dwayne Craig, now 50, was convicted of first-degree murder in Kipp Earl Gullett’s slaying more than 30 years ago. He originally was placed on death row after a jury unanimously agreed he should be executed. But when the Supreme Court in March 2005 issued its split decision in Roper

2005 ruling outlawed death sentence for juvenile offenders ä See DECISION, page 6A

Child care centers struggle to stay afloat, survey

BY ELYSE CARMOSINO Staff writer

Louisiana’s early child care providers are struggling to keep their doors open amid rising operating costs, according to a new survey that could spell trouble for a state where thousands of families lack access to affordable child care. About half of providers said their monthly revenues don’t always cover their expenses, according to an online survey conducted in June by the advocacy group Louisiana Policy Institute for Children. Nearly 8 in 10 of 728 respondents said

ä See CENTERS, page 6A

Fast internet will reach rural areas under revamped rules

Some communities feel left out

BY JENNA ROSS Staff writer

Fast, fiber internet is coming to Buras in Plaquemines Parish, fulfilling a federal grant aimed at bringing high-speed connections to more rural areas

But after a rewrite of rules for the program, fiber internet is no longer being planned for Lake Providence, in the state’s northeast corner In August, the state Office of Broadband Development and Connectivity released the new awardees of a highly anticipated, highly debated federal grant program meant to fuel broadband availability across the country Most

of the $499 million headed to Louisiana will go to fiber companies including Cajun Broadband, the homegrown company set to build in Plaquemines and several other areas. The Trump administration rewrote the rules for the $42 billion Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment grant program earlier this year Some internet companies and activists feared that rural Louisiana residents would be left with few options beyond satellite service already available. And while some areas will now see satellite services instead of fiber, it’s only a small slice of overall funding. SpaceX, the company expected to benefit from that rewrite, will receive just $7.7 million of Louisiana’s grant allocation, or 1.5%.

The state’s draft plan still needs approval from the National Tele-

communications and Information Administration.

Cajun Broadband, based in Broussard, will get $18.2 million to bring fiber to 4,000 locations. That’s less than the $26.2 million it would have received before the program’s revamp because the company, knowing that its previous winning bids were now public information, lowered its bids this time around “to protect ourselves,” co-founder Chris Disher said. “The goal of it was to save the government money, and it did,” Disher said. “And we can still build what we want to.”

In addition to rural Plaquemines, Cajun will be running new fiber in North Vermilion and West St. Mary, Disher said. The Louisiana

ä See INTERNET, page 7A

Man charged with murder after prank HOUSTON Police have charged a Houston man with murder in the fatal shooting of an 11-yearold boy who knocked on the door of a home and ran away as a prank, police said Tuesday

The 42-year-old man, identified by authorities as Gonzalo Leon Jr was taken into custody and booked into the Harris County Jail in Houston early Tuesday On local property records, Leon matches the name of the owner of the home where police say the boy knocked on the door Court records did not list an attorney for Leon to comment on the allegations.

The boy, Julian Guzman, and a cousin had been attending a birthday party Saturday night when they “became bored and wanted to ring doorbells, or play ‘ding dong ditch,’” according to a probable cause affidavit. The prank commonly called “ding dong ditching” involves ringing a doorbell or knocking on a door and fleeing before someone inside opens the door Police departments around the country have issued public service announcements in recent months warning people that such actions aren’t funny but dangerous.

Iowa senator won’t seek 2026 reelection DES MOINES, Iowa — U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst said Tuesday that she will not seek reelection next year, confirming in a video post on social media that she will retire after months of speculation about her plans.

Ernst’s departure opens up a Senate seat in the state known for its long-serving incumbents. Ernst was first elected in 2014 to the open seat previously held by Tom Harkin, a Democrat who served for 30 years. Republican Chuck Grassley, Iowa’s senior U.S senator, was first elected to the Senate in 1980.

Her announcement Tuesday followed reports last week that she was expected to announce her retirement in September In a video, Ernst cited her aging and growing family as a reason for opting out of a reelection bid.

“This was no easy decision,” Ernst said. “I never imagined this farm girl would have the opportunity to serve as a lieutenant colonel and then a United States senator.”

It is another unexpected retirement for Senate Republicans as they work to maintain their majority in the chamber with Ernst joining Sen. Thom Tillis, of North Carolina, who turned down a reelection bid after clashing with President Donald Trump. West Point restores Gen. Lee’s portrait

A painting of Gen. Robert E. Lee dressed in his Confederate uniform is back on display in the West Point’s library, several years after the storied academy removed honors to the Civil War military leader.

There also are plans to restore a bust of Lee that had been removed from a plaza at the U.S. Military Academy, and a quote from Lee about honor that was removed from a separate plaza is now on display beneath the portrait, an Army spokesperson said Tuesday The items were removed to comply with a Department of Defense directive in 2022 that ordered the academy to address racial injustice and do away with installations that “commemorate or memorialize the Confederacy The Pentagon’s decision to rehang the portrait, which shows a Black man leading Lee’s horse in the background, was first reported by The New York Times. It had been hanging in the library since the 1950s before it was placed it in storage.

The actions at West Point come as the Trump administration restores Confederate names and monuments that had been removed in recent years.

“At West Point, the United States Military Academy is prepared to restore historical names, artifacts, and assets to their original form and place,” Rebecca Hodson, the Army’s communications director, said in a statement. “Under this administration, we honor our history and learn from it we don’t erase it.”

Space Command to move to Ala.

Trump says it will leave temporary headquarters in Colo.

BY SEUNG MIN KIM and KIM CHANDLER Associated Press

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that U.S Space Command will be located in Alabama, reversing a Bidenera decision to keep it at its temporary headquarters in Colorado. The long-expected decision from Trump caps a four-year tug of war between two states and opposing administrations about where to locate U.S. Space Command, an intense fight because the headquarters would be a significant boon to the local economy. Alabama and Colorado have long battled

to claim Space Command, with elected officials from both states asserting their state is the better location.

“The U.S. Space Command headquarters will move to the beautiful locale of a place called Huntsville, Alabama, forever to be known from this point forward as Rocket City,” said Trump, flanked by Republican members of Alabama’s congressional delegation, from the Oval Office on Tuesday “We had a lot of competition for this and Alabama’s getting it.”

Trump said Huntsville won the race for the Space Command headquarters, in part, because “they fought harder for it than anybody else.”

GOP Sen. Tommy Tuberville, who is running for governor of Alabama, said Huntsville is the “perfect place” for the headquarters and suggested it be named after

Trump. And Alabama Republican Sen. Katie Britt, who stood next to Trump during the announcement, thanked Trump for “restoring Space Command to its rightful home.”

“The Biden administration chose to make this political,” she said. “What we want to do is put the safety and security of Americans first. We want to make sure our American war fighter is put first.”

U.S. Space Command said in a statement on X after the announcement that it “stands ready to carry out the direction of the President following today’s announcement of Huntsville, Alabama as the command’s permanent headquarters location.” Its functions include conducting operations like enabling satellite-based navigation and troop communication and providing warning of missile launches.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Rescuers race to find Afghan quake survivors

Death toll passes 1,400

By The Associated Press

JALALABAD, Afghanistan The United Nations warned of an exponential rise in casualties from a major earthquake in eastern Afghanistan, as the Taliban said the death toll passed 1,400 on Tuesday with more than 3,000 people injured.

The figures provided by Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid were just for the province of Kunar

Sunday night’s powerful 6.0 magnitude earthquake struck several provinces, causing extensive damage. It flattened villages and trapped people under the rubble of homes constructed mostly of mud bricks and wood that were unable to withstand the shock.

Rough terrain is hampering rescue and relief efforts, forcing Taliban authorities to air-drop dozens of commandos to evacuate the injured from places where helicopters cannot land.

Aid agency Save the Children said one

of its teams walked for over 12 miles to reach villages cut off by rock falls, carrying medical equipment on their backs with the help of community members.

An aftershock of 5.2 close to the epicenter of Sunday’s quake rattled the area on Tuesday, according to the U.S. Geological Survey There were no immediate reports of damage.

Indrika Ratwatte, the U.N.’s resident coordinator for Afghanistan, said rescuers are scrambling in a “race against time” to reach the mountainous and remote area hit. In a media briefing in Geneva Tuesday, he warned of a surge in casualty numbers.

“We cannot afford to forget the people of Afghanistan who are facing multiple crises, multiple shocks, and the resilience of the communities has been saturated,” Ratwatte said, while urging the international community to step forward.

“These are life and death decisions while we race against time to reach people,” he said.

It is the third major earthquake since the Taliban seized power in 2021.

Graham Greene, actor best known for ‘Dances with Wolves’, dies at 73

BY MARIA SHERMAN Associated Press

NEW YORK — Graham Greene, a trailblazing Indigenous actor whose long and successful career on the big and small screen included an Oscar nomination for his portrayal of Kicking Bird in “Dances with Wolves,” has died. He was 73. Greene died Monday in Stratford, Ontario, after a long battle with an unspecified illness. Variety first reported the news on Monday night. A representative for Greene did not immediately respond to an Associated Press request for comment.

Born in June 1952 in Ohsweken, Ontario, on Canada’s Six Nations Reserve, Greene worked as a draftsman, high steelworker, welder and carpenter before becoming an actor in the 1970s, beginning with the 1979 Canadian drama series “The

in 1994’s “Maverick,” 1995’s “Die Hard with a Vengeance,” 2012’s “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2” and 2017’s “Wind River.”

Great Detective” and 1983 film “Running Brave.” He is best known for his landmark role as Kicking Bird in the 1990 film “Dances with Wolves.” Greene’s 1991 Oscar nomination was one of 12 the movie earned. It won seven, including the top prize of best picture and best director for Kevin Costner Greene also starred as Arlen Bitterbuck in the 1999 Tom Hanks project, “The Green Mile.” Greene had a storied career, also appearing

He also acted in many critically acclaimed television programs, including “Reservation Dogs,” “1883,” “The Last of Us” and “Tulsa King.” In 2000, Greene’s “Listen to the Storyteller” won a Grammy for best spoken word album for children. He also starred as elder Chief Rains Fall in the massively popular 2018 video game “Red Dead Redemption 2.” He was also nominated for an Independent Spirit award for the 2002 film “Skins,” which documented life on the Lakota Sioux reservation. Greene broke barriers for Native actors, demonstrating through his singular talent that Indigenous stories should and must be told by them.

Huntsville, Alabama, nicknamed Rocket City, has long been home to the Army’s Redstone Arsenal and NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center. The Army’s Space and Missile Defense Command is also located in Huntsville, which drew its nickname because of its role in building the first rockets for the U.S. space program.

Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle said about 1,400 Space Command jobs will transition to Redstone Arsenal over the next five years.

“This decision is not about what’s best for Huntsville it’s about being mission-focused,” said Battle.

“The decision to locate U.S. Space Command at Redstone ensures our nation is prepared to meet growing challenges in space. Huntsville is ready with our experienced workforce, resilient infrastructure and deep commitment to national defense.”

Judge set to hear Boeing crash case

BY LISA LEFF and RIO YAMAT Associated Press

Families who lost loved ones in two crashes of Boeing 737 Max jetliners may get their last chance to demand the company face criminal prosecution Wednesday That’s when a federal judge in Texas is set to hear arguments on a U.S. government motion to dismiss a felony charge against Boeing.

U.S. prosecutors charged Boeing with conspiracy to commit fraud in connection with the crashes that killed 346 people off the coast of Indonesia and in Ethiopia. Federal prosecutors alleged Boeing deceived government regulators about a flight-control system that was later implicated in the fatal flights, which took place less than five months apart in 2018 and 2019.

Boeing decided to plead guilty instead of going to trial, but U.S. District Chief Judge Reed O’Connor rejected the aircraft maker’s plea agreement in December O’Connor, who also will consider whether to let prosecutors dismiss the

Customer

conspiracy charge, objected to diversity, equity and inclusion policies potentially influencing the selection of an independent monitor to oversee the company’s promised reforms.

Lawyers representing relatives of some of the passengers who died cheered O’Connor’s decision, hoping it would further their goal of seeing former Boeing executives prosecuted during a public trial and more severe financial punishment for the company Instead, the delay worked to Boeing’s favor The judge’s refusal to accept the agreement meant the company was free to challenge the Justice Department’s rationale for charging Boeing as a corporation. It also meant prosecutors would have to secure a new deal for a guilty plea.

The government and Boeing spent six months renegotiating their plea deal. During that time, President Donald Trump returned to office and ordered an end to the diversity initiatives that gave O’Connor pause.

Judge: Trump illegally deployed troops to L.A.

President can’t create a national police force, ruling says

BY OLGA R. RODRIGUEZ Associated Press

er cities across the country, including Oakland and San Francisco, and that raises concerns they are “creating a national police force with the President as its chief.”

les.”

SAN FRANCISCO A federal judge ruled Tuesday that President Donald Trump’s administration “willfully” broke federal law by sending National Guard troops to the Los Angeles area in early June after days of protests over immigration raids In the 52-page ruling, U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer in San Francisco noted Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have stated their intention to deploy National Guard troops to oth-

Breyer did not require the 300 remaining soldiers to leave but pointed out they received improper training and ordered the administration to stop using them “to execute the laws.” The order that applies only to California will take effect Sept. 12.

The White House indicated the government plans to appeal.

“Once again, a rogue judge is trying to usurp the authority of the Commander-in-Chief to protect American cities from violence and destruction,” White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said in a statement.

It was unclear if the order could set a precedent that could impact plans by Trump, who has discussed National Guard deployments in Democratic-led cities like Chicago, Baltimore and New York. Trump

has already deployed the guard as part of his unprecedented law enforcement takeover targeting crime, immigration and homelessness in Washington, where he has direct legal control over the District of Columbia National Guard.

Breyer said in his ruling that the Trump administration used troops for functions that were barred by their own training materials, refused to “meaningfully coordinate with state and local officials” and “‘coached’ ” federal law enforcement agencies on the language to use when requesting the Guard’s assistance.

He said the government knew “they were ordering troops to execute domestic law beyond their usual authority” in using “armed soldiers (whose identity was often obscured by protective armor) and military vehicles to set up protective perimeters and traffic blockades, engage in crowd control, and otherwise demonstrate a military presence in and around Los Ange-

Trump to order intervention in Chicago and Baltimore

Leaders say they oppose plan

BY WILL WEISSERT and SOPHIA TAREEN Associated Press

WASHINGTON President

Donald Trump said Tuesday that he will direct federal law enforcement intervention to combat crime in Chicago and Baltimore, despite staunch opposition from elected leaders and many residents in both cities.

Asked by reporters in the Oval Office about sending National Guard troops to the nation’s third-largest city, Trump said, “We’re going in,” but added, “I didn’t say when.” “I have an obligation,” the president said. ”This isn’t a political thing.”

Illinois Gov JB Pritzker, a potential 2028 Democratic presidential contender, scoffed at the notion of sending military troops and federal agents into Chicago, reiterating Tuesday that federal intervention was not required or wanted.

Trump has already sent National Guard troops into Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., where he’s also federalized the police force.

He has said he plans similar moves in other Democratrun cities even as a federal judge on Tuesday deemed the California deployment illegal.

The president praised Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser for working with federal forces, but repeated his criticism of Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, a Democrat.

Trump said he’d love to have Pritzker call and say, “Send in the troops” — even though the two-term governor has repeatedly said he won’t be doing that.

“If the governor of Illinois would call up, call me up, I would love to do it,” Trump

said. “Now, we’re going to do it anyway We have the right to do it.”

Pritzker deemed Trump’s comments to call him for help as “unhinged.” The two have been locked in an escalating war of words for days as Trump called Chicago “the world’s most dangerous city” earlier Tuesday

The state received its first contact about federal intervention on Saturday when the head of the Illinois State Police got a call from Gregory Bovino, chief of the Border Patrol’s El Centro, California, sector, saying immigration agents would come to Chicago, according to Pritzker Pritzker urged the public not to let the presence of federal agents spark tensions in the city but asked residents to look out for neighbors, and to film interactions with federal agents and share them publicly

Recently, the Trump administration has renewed interest in the city’s daily crime log, including using a spate of shootings during the Labor Day weekend as

justification for increased military presence.

Chicago’s homicide rate is 21.7 per 100,000 residents in 2024, according to analysis of federal crime data by the Rochester Institute of Technology

It cites seven other major U.S. cities St. Louis, New Orleans, Detroit, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Indianapolis and Richmond, Virginia — with higher rates.

Trump also said Tuesday that he has an “obligation to protect this country, and that includes Baltimore.” Local officials there have joined Democratic Maryland Gov Wes Moore in similarly opposing federal law enforcement intervention.

A spokesperson for Moore said deploying the National Guard was “theatrical and not sustainable.”

Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott listed some of the city’s recent accomplishments in curbing gun violence.

Scott has repeatedly accused the president of using racist rhetoric and targeting Black-led cities, like Baltimore and Chicago.

Breyer barred troops from such actions, including making arrests, searches, acting as informants and collecting evidence. California sued over the deployment of troops, saying it violates the Posse Comitatus Act, a 1878 law that prohibits military enforcement of domestic laws. Lawyers for the Trump administration argued the Posse Comitatus Act doesn’t apply because the troops were protecting federal officers, not enforcing laws, and that the president had the authority to call on the troops.

when the president is otherwise unable “to execute the laws of the United States.”

The deployment appeared to be the first time in decades that a state’s National Guard was activated without a request from its governor, a significant escalation against those who have sought to hinder the administration’s mass deportation efforts.

Trump federalized members of the California National Guard under section 12406 of Title 10, which allows the president to call the guard into federal service when the country “is invaded,” when “there is a rebellion or danger of a rebellion against the authority of the Government,” or

Thousands of protesters took to the streets in response, blocking off a major freeway and setting self-driving cars on fire as law enforcement used tear gas, rubber bullets and flash bangs to control the crowd.

Democratic Gov Gavin Newsom said in a statement the court sided with democracy “No president is a king — not even Trump — and no president can trample a state’s power to protect its people,” he said.

Military lawyersOK’dtoserve as immigrationjudges

Pentagon approves up to 600 in temporaryrole

BY KONSTANTINTOROPIN

Associated Press

WASHINGTON Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has approved sending up to 600 military lawyers to theJustice Department to serve as temporary immigration judges, according to amemo reviewed by The Associated Press.

Trump administration more regularlyturns to the military as it cracksdown on illegal immigration through ramped-up arrests and deportations.

Its growing role in the pushincludes troopspatrolling the U.S.-Mexico border, National Guard members being sent into U.S. cities to support immigrationenforcementefforts, housing people awaiting deportation on military basesand using military aircraft to carry out deportations.

Trumpadministration, their union says. In themost recent round of terminations, theInternational Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers said in July that at least17immigration judges hadbeen fired “without cause” in courts across the country

That has left about 600 immigrationjudges, union figures show,meaning the Pentagon move would double their ranks.

AWhiteHouse official said Tuesday that theadministration is looking at avariety of optionstohelp resolve the significant backlog of immigration cases, including hiring additional immigration judges. Theofficial, whowas not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity, saidthe matter should be “a priority that everyone —including those waiting for adjudication —can rally around.”

The military will begin sending groups of 150 attorneys —both military and civilians to theJustice Department “as soon as practicable,” and the military services shouldhavethe first round of people identified by next week, according to the Aug. 27 memo. The effort comes as the

The administration’sfocus on illegal immigration has addedstrainto theimmigration courts,which were already dealing with amassive backlog of roughly 3.5 million cases that hasballooned in recent years. An organization for immigration lawyers called the new directive a“destructive” move meant to undermine the courts.

At the same time, more than 100 immigrationjudges have been firedorleft voluntarily after taking deferred resignations offeredbythe

TheJusticeDepartment, whichoversees theimmigration courts, requested the assistancefromthe Defense Department, accordingtothe memo sent by the Pentagon’sexecutivesecretarytohis DOJ counterpart. The militarylawyers’ duties as immigration judges will initially lastnomore than 179 days but can be renewed, it said.

ADOJ spokesperson referred questions aboutthe plan to theDefense Department, whereofficials directed questions to the White House.

Some Epsteinfiles arereleased

BY STEPHENGROVES

Associated Press

WASHINGTON TheHouse Oversight Committee on Tuesdaypubliclypostedthe files it has received from the Justice Department on the sex trafficking investigations into Jeffrey Epstein and his former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell.

The folders contained hundredsofimage files of yearsold court filings related to Epstein and Maxwell. They also contained video files appearing to be bodycam footage from police searches, as well as law enforcement interviews with victims with their faces obscured.

The Justice Department released the files to the committee in response to asubpoena, but the filesmostly contain information that was already publicly known.

Still, pressure is growing in Congress for lawmakers to acttoforce greater disclosure in the case.

HouseRepublican Speak-

er Mike Johnson is trying to quell an effort by Democrats and someRepublicans to force avote on abill that would require the Justice Department to releaseall the informationin theso-called Epstein files,with the exceptionofthe victims’ personal information.

Acting quickly,lawmakers pressing for the full release of the so-called Epstein files launched acampaign for the House to take up their bill. Meanwhile,Johnsonand abipartisan group of lawmakers metwith survivors of abuse by Epstein and former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell

“The objective here is not justtouncover, investigate theEpsteinevils, but alsoto ensurethatthisneverhappens again andultimately to find out why justicehas been delayed for these ladies for so very long,” said Johnson, R-La., after he emergedfrom atwo-hourmeeting with six of thesurvivors. “It is inexcusable. And it willstop now because the Congress is dialed in on this,”headded.

But thereare still intense disagreements on howlawmakersshould proceed. Johnson is pressing forthe inquiry to be handled by theHouse Oversight Committee and putting forward aresolution that directs thecommittee to publicly release its findings.

Thefiles released Tuesday included audioofanEpstein employeedescribing to alaw enforcementofficial how “there werealot of girls that were very,very young” visiting the home but couldn’tsay for sure if they wereminors. Over the course of Epstein’svisitstothe home, the mansaid morethan adozen girls mightvisit,and that he wascharged with cleaning the room where Epsteinhad massages, twicedaily Some of the interviews with officers from the Palm BeachPoliceDepartment date to 2005, according to timestamps read out by officials at the beginning of the files.

Most,ifnot all, of the text documents posted Tuesday had already been public.

Trumpdismisses health rumors

BY CHRIS MEGERIAN Associated Press

WASHINGTON Sometimes it feels like barely an hourcan go by without hearing from President Donald Trump. So when he didn’tappear for one day,then two, then three, speculation started to swirl online about his health. Not even afew glimpses of the president visiting his golf course over the weekend were enough to stanch the social media rumor mill fueled by political opponents. Trump was asked directly about it Tuesdayathis first public event in aweek.

“How did you find out over

the weekend that youwere dead?” asked Fox News’ Peter Doocy.“Didyou see that?”

“No,”the 79-year-old Trump respondedflatly

The president said he wasn’taware that people were wondering if he had died, but he had heard there were concerns about his health.

“I knew they weresaying, like: ‘Is he OK?How is he feeling? What’swrong?’” Trump said,callingthe speculation“fakenews”and saying he “was very activeover the weekend.”

Recently,Trumphas been seen with bruising on the

Theheadofthe American Immigration Lawyers Association decried bringing in temporary judges who lack expertise in immigration law,saying “it makes as much as sense as having a cardiologist do ahip replacement.”

“Expecting fairdecisions from judgesunfamiliar with thelaw is absurd. This reckless move guts dueprocess andfurther underminesthe integrityofour immigra-

tion court system,” said Ben Johnson, the organization’s executive director The memo stressed that theadditionalattorneysare contingent on availability and that mobilizingreserve officers maybenecessary Plus,the document said DOJ would be responsible for ensuring that anyone sent from the Pentagon does not violate the federal prohibition on using the military as domestic law enforcement, known as the Posse Comitatus Act.

The administration faced asetback on itsefforts to use troops in unique ways to combat illegalimmigration andcrime,witha court rulingTuesday that it “willfully”violatedfederal law by sending National Guard troops to Los Angeles in early June.

It is not immediately clear what impact shifting that number of military at-

torneys would have on the armed forces’ justice system. The attorneys, called judge advocates,havea range of dutiesmuchlike civilianlawyers, fromcarrying out prosecutions, actingasa defenseattorneyor offering legal advice. Pentagonofficials did immediately offer details on whereany of the600 attorneys will be drawn from and whether they will come from activedutyorthe reserves. Until shewas abruptly firedinJuly,formersupervising judge Jennifer Peyton administered the intensive training that all judges in Chicago undergo before working in some of the busiest immigration courts in the country.After the weekslong training, newjudgesare paired with an experienced mentor and have atwo-year probationary period.

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back of his right hand, sometimes concealed with makeup, andswelling around his ankles

The White House has said Trump was diagnosed with chronicvenousinsufficiency,which means veins in the legs can’tproperly carry blood back to theheart, causing it to poolinthe lower legs. It’s afairly common conditionfor older adults

As far as the bruising, press secretary Karoline Leavittsaid it’sfrom“frequent handshakingand the use of aspirin,” which Trump takes regularly to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke

they worry about being able to operate their business over thenext six months.

The providers cited rising costs of food, cleaning and classroom supplies and insurance, withpremiums increasing by an average of more than $7,000 last year,the survey found. At the same time, theLouisianaLegislature hascut early childhood funding, resulting in the loss of 720 state-funded seats in 2024.

Now,many child careprovidersare struggling to keep their services high quality and affordable, said Shannon Johns, owner of Cenla Christian ChildcareCenters, which operate six centers throughout the state With “insurance and operating costs climbingsoquickly,wecannot afford to pay the wages that our high-quality teachers truly deserve,” she said during arecent webinar on thesurveyresults.

“While another tuition increase might help, it would put already struggling familiesinto an even worse position.”

Louisiana has achildcare shortage, with morethan 100,000 children lacking access to affordable or quality child care, according to the Louisiana Policy Institute for Children.

Early childhood education helps prepare children for school, and it’scrucial to the state’seconomy Parents without child careare more likely to miss work, quit their jobsorshy away from pursuing higher education, advocates say Yetproviders are unable to keep up with the demand for affordable

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system have on thewhole failed to enroll many of the students who left IDEA. Those schools collectively are educating 32,054 students, or 773 fewer than ayear ago. The enrollment picture varies by grade level. While kindergarten classes have grown slightly comparedwithayearago,enrollment starts to dip around fifthgrade across the district, continuing allthe waythroughsenioryear,

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v. Simmons, aMissouri case also involving a17-year-old convicted killer,itoverturned statutes in 19 states that permitted theexecutions of culprits who were 16 and 17 years old. Craig was among more than 70 juvenile offenders who already had been convicted and condemned to death that had their capital sentences vacated after Roper Craig’sdeath sentence was amended to life in prison without thepossibility of parole, probation or early termination. In May 2023, 19th Judicial District Judge Eboni Johnson Rose, swayedby thetransformation in character she said Craighas displayed while in prison, made him eligible for parole.

State prosecutors are now appealing Rose’s ruling, arguing for the Louisiana Supreme Court to

care, with nearlytwo-thirds who responded to the survey reporting having waitlists.

Onereason ishigh staff turnover,whichprovidersattribute to low pay.Louisiana’searlyeducationteachers, whooften hold advanced degrees andworklong hours, earned an average annual salary of $28,000 last year —nearly half what the state’sK-12 teachers made, thereport found.

“When providersdon’t have the staff they need, classrooms remain closed, families stay on wait-

with the loneexception of seventh grade

Theclosure of the IDEA schools hasmeant that theshare of students attending district-sponsored charter schools has declined overall.

Five of remaining charter schools, however,have gained students. Theyrange from 28 added studentsatSouth Baton Rouge Charter Academy to 262 more at Helix Aviation Academy.All but oneof those schools, though, is growing students at least in part by adding grade levels. Helix Aviation added students in five grades and now stretches

strip away Craig’sparole eligibility duringa hearing last week in front of justices.

Twoweeks before that hearing, Deputy Solicitor General Zachary Faircloth filed the motion to get Craig’sdeath sentence reinstated In the Aug. 11 filing, Faircloth acknowledged that “current U.S. Supreme Courtprecedent requires this court to deny thismotion.” But he indicated prosecutors intend to challenge Roper in appeals.

“The state understands that the courtmustdeny this motion,” his motionstated. “The state preserves for appellate review,however,its positionthat Roper is egregiously wrong and should be overruled.”

In the filing, the AttorneyGeneral’s Office emphasizedthe fact thatCraig wasjustdays away from turning18when he squeezed thetrigger and ended Gullet’s life.

“But he was fully an adult,” the motionstates.

Gullett,an LSU student,was 18 when Craig and three other teens carjacked himatgunpoint as he re-

Lawmakers have made some moves to makechild care more accessible.

Earlierthis year,the state Legislature reauthorized Workforce Child Care TaxCredits, whichoffers atax break to familieswho enroll their young children at stateapproved facilities, and expanded access to early child care for working parents.

Thereport says state officials can do moretoease the early child care shortage, including expanding high school training and certification programstoinclude early childhood education credentials to increasethe numberofeducators who choosetogointo early child care, andimproving compensation for teachers by offering them assistance program eligibility and implementing awage scale that better compensates them fortheir experience.

lists, andyoung children miss out on important learning opportunities,” said Libbie Sonnier, CEO for the Louisiana Policy Institute for Children.

Another reason that providers can’tserve more children is that manyfamilies can’tafford tuition Child care costs an average of $14,000 per child ayear,which is unaffordable for manyfamilies, according to thereport. Meanwhile, thousands areonthe waitlist for state tuition assistance through Louisiana’sChild Care Assistance

from kindergarten to 10th grade

The only grades that saw thenumberofstudents go up compared to ayear ago werethe eighthand ninthgrades. Helix’s two sister schools —Helix Legaland Helix Mentorship —havelost students compared to ayear ago.

The currentenrollment picture in East Baton Rouge is complicated by adistrictwide “realignment”plan approved in April by the parish SchoolBoard, which closed nine schools andaddedor subtracted studentsfrom several more.

Sixschools have 100 or more students compared with ayear

turned to his dorm on thenight of Sept. 14,1992. The quartetforced Gulletback into his Ford Bronco and they drove around with him for nearly an hour.Court records andtrial testimonyindicate Craig spearheaded the armed robbery and abduction and terrorized Gullett during the ride

The group of teensdrove to a secluded construction site near Kenilworth Parkway,where Craig shot Gullett three times in the head,thenstood over him andfired morebulletsathim.

Afterthe killing, Craig joked aloud and bragged to his accomplices, telling them “I told you Iwas hard,” according to court records. Stateprosecutors stress thathelater threatened the three teenswho helped him carry out the carjacking and abduction.

“I love you all, you aremyboys,” Craig said shortly after shooting Gullett. “If you say on f****** word, I’ll kill you, too.”

In his filing, Faircloth noted that four of the nine SCOTUS justices dissentedagainst the Roper rul-

Program Jennifer Stevenson, owner of Garden of Knowledge preschool in Washington Parish, said her enrollment hasdeclined as families struggle to pay tuition without public assistance. The shrinkingenrollmentalsoputsfinancial pressure on thepreschool, Stevenson added

“This is notonly delaying access to care forfamily,”she said, “but also prevents providers from filling open seats and bringing in needed tuition revenue.”

ago thanks to the changes: Capitol High, which added 277; Progress Elementary,up220; Scotlandville middle school, up 165; Capitol Elementary,up138; Highland Elementary,up124; and Melrose Elementary,up101.

On the flip side, two realigned schools havelost more than 100 students: Crestworth Elementary, down 205, and GlenOaks Park Elementary,down123.

Twotraditional Baton Rouge public schoolsnot directlyaffected by therealignment planhave added more than 100 students compared with ayear ago: Jefferson Terrace Elementary,up106,

ingwhenitwas decidedin2005. He argued the landmark ruling “bears all the hallmarks of aconstitutional precedent that should be overruled.

“Ithas causedsignificantjurisprudential and real-world consequences,” Faircloth wrote.

TheAttorney General’s Office said the state will seek to overturn Roperifand when the case reaches theU.S. SupremeCourt.

“The Supreme Court’sdecision in Roper v. Simmons is egregiously wrong,” Murrill said. “Itprohibits States like Louisianafrom executingcriminals like Dale Craig— who carjacked, kidnapped, terrorized, pistol-whippedand then shot to death Kip EarlGullett, an unsuspecting LSU freshman —just because he was aweek away from his18thbirthdaywhenhecommittedthis heinous crime. There is no basis in law or logic for that absurd result.”

John Landis is aNew Orleans attorneywho has been representing Craig throughout his post-conviction relief efforts formuchofthe

The report also calls for sustainable, long-term funding solutions for early child care. But obtaining that funding could prove difficult. State lawmakers cut $9 million for early education in 2024. The Legislature is also seeking to use three education trust funds to raisepublicschoolteachers’ pay, whichwould further reduce early education funding by about $10 million annually

If that happens, the Louisiana Policy Institute for Children previously warned it could result in an additional 1,600 children losing their early education seats.

“Without relief,” said Shannon Johns, the child care center owner, “wedorisk losing theveryteachers andfamilieswho make early learning possible.”

Email Elyse Carmosino at ecarmosino@theadvocate.com.

and Westdale Middle, up 104. Meanwhile, Scotlandville High School is down 168 students compared with ayear ago. Enrollment at that school has declined by about30% sincebeforethe pandemic.

High schools in Baton Rouge in general have suffered notable declines since the start of the pandemic.

Tara High continues to be the exception. It has almost 1,100 students, adding 72 students comparedwitha year ago. Its enrollmenthas grownalmost 48% since fall 2021 when it had bottomed out at around 740 students.

past 28 years. He said the state’s appeal of Rose’s2023 order has delayed Craig’sparole hearing indefinitely. Landis calledthe motion asking ajudge to reinstate Craig’s death sentence another stall tactic.

“Only the Legislature has the power to change the law governing juvenileoffenders.Thiscourtcannot do so,” Landis argued in an Aug. 13 response to the state’smotion.

“By requesting that the court deny the motion, the state unquestionablyistrying to manufacture another appeal for the sole purpose of further delaying thedefendant’s parolehearing to which he is entitled. Respectfully the court should notfacilitate the state’scynical effort to further delay the inevitable —the parole hearing that the defendant has earned.”

ChiefJudge Donald Johnson,of the 19thJudicialDistrict, has set an Oct. 15 court date to hear opposing arguments on the motion.

Email Matt Bruceatmatt. bruce@theadvocate.com.

Local Fiber Consortium, the program’sbiggest awardee, will receive $378 millionto extend fiber to 68,500 homes and businesses.

But one area that had expected fiber saw things flip under the tweaked grant program: Lake Providence.

Last year,Conexon, which builds fiberinternet networks in rural areas, had been picked to connectthe small city in East Carroll Parishwith a$6.2 million grant.Conexon has history in the area: With the help of an earlier stategrant program, known as GUMBO, the company brought 325 miles of fiber to 1,400 households and businesses outside of town. But this month, Conexon learned that SpaceX had won broadband grant funding there.

Starlink, operatedby SpaceX,isalready available in Lake Providence.It’sunclear how SpaceX plans to use the $150,000 it received for the area. Aspokesperson did not respond to an email last week. But many residents who envy their rural neighbors’ fiber internet said they’re disappointed.

“We’re back to square one,” said Wanda Manning, aretired teacher who, with the nonprofit Delta Interfaith, has been pushingfor faster,cheaper internet. “I think it’sworsethan square one ” Manning was “blessed”to have Starlink afew years back, thanks to agrant aimed at students and educators, and it worked well. But when that grant ended, she balked at the service’s $120-a-month price tag. “It’s not the internet we need in this town,” she said.

Conexon will still build networks in otherparts of the state and the country In the grant’sfirst iteration, the company was awarded about $65 million in Louisiana. Under the new draft plan, it will get $9.3 million The company will be OK, said co-CEO Jonathan Chambers. But the residents of East Carroll Parish? After three or four years of effort, “they will receive no investment, no job creation,noinfrastructure.” He criticized state and federal leadersfor leaving “the most rural and poorest part of the state of Louisiana in acomparative disadvantage to therestof the state and the rest of the nation.

“It’sabetrayal and agoddamned shame,” he said.

Differentinternetspeeds

Fiber cables, installed underground,consistently meetthe FederalCommunications Commission’s broadbandrequirements of 100megabits per secondfor downloads and20Mbps for uploads. This summer,anational speed analysis found that just 17.4% of Starlink users gotspeeds consistent with thoseminimum requirements. That study,byOokla, a privateresearch company, showed that Louisiana users fared even worse: Just 9% of thestate’sStarlink users got those speeds.

SpaceX argues it should have gotten more funding than it did.

In aletter to the state broadband office, first reported by PCMag, thecompany argues that it “applied to serve virtually allBEAD households for less than $100 milliondollars. As such, Louisiana’sproposal includes over $400million dollars in wasteful and unnecessary taxpayer spending.”

But fiber internet companiesarguethat their service is faster andmore futureproof.

In its draft final proposal for broadband grant funding, the statebroadband office’s ExecutiveDirector VeneethIyengartouted thefact that 82% of awards will go to Louisiana-based providers. “Weare not only closing thedigital divide but strengthening our local economy,” he wrote. “These investments will unlock unprecedented opportunities for economic development, education, and expanded healthcareaccess in every corner of ourstate.”

Starting small, expanding Cajun Broadband was the first company in thestate to start andfinish abuild using aGUMBO grant, its co-CEO Disher said But the company started small —with “an antenna in atree.”In2017, frustrated with hisfamily’s AT&T internet connection,Disher

started renting fixed wireless internet services off of celltowers. One neighbor wanted in, then another Now,the companyprovides internet across Acadiana, in adonut-like shape surrounding Lafayette.

The broadband grant funding will allow the company to expand further,including into ruralPlaquemines.

BobbyThomas worksin Belle Chase, where“internet service is tremendous,” he said. “Lightning in abottle.” But each night he returns home to Buras: “Ugh, back to this.”

Thomas has asmart TV he can’tuse. The idea of Netflix excites him.Still, as executive director of the Plaquemines Association of Business and Industry,he said he’s more focused on the economic possibilities fiber internet could bring to thelacy reachesofthe parish.

Slow service has been “a barrier,”hesaid, “forbusinessesexpanding or new businesses relocating.”

U.S. strike on vessel targeted Venezuela gang

Trump says Caribbean attack killed 11

BY AAMER MADHANI, KONSTANTIN TOROPIN and REGINA GARCIA CANO Associated Press

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said Tuesday the U.S. has carried out a strike in the southern Caribbean against a drugcarrying vessel that departed from Venezuela and was operated by the Tren de Aragua gang.

The president said in a social media posting that 11 people were killed in the military operation and he posted a video of a small vessel appearing to explode in flames.

“The strike occurred while the terrorists were at sea in International waters transporting illegal narcotics, heading to the United States,” Trump said the posting. “No U.S. Forces were harmed in this strike. Please let this serve as notice to anybody even thinking about bringing drugs into the United States of America.”

lady Cilia Flores walking the streets of his childhood neighborhood.

A television presenter said Maduro was “bathing in patriotic love” as he interacted with supporters.

“In the face of imperialist threats, God (is) with us,” Maduro told supporters.

Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio had first announced the strike earlier Tuesday shortly before Rubio left on a trip to Mexico and Ecuador for talks on drug cartels, security, tariffs and more.

its maritime force in the waters off Venezuela to combat threats from Latin American drug cartels.

The U.S. has not signaled any planned land incursion by the thousands of personnel being deployed.

Still, Maduro’s government has responded by deploying troops along Venezuela’s coast and border with neighboring Colombia, as well as by urging Venezuelans to enlist in a civilian militia.

access to the Pacific and Caribbean, are the world’s top cocaine producers.

The latest U.N. World Drug Report shows that various countries in South America, including Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, reported larger cocaine seizures in 2022 than in 2021, but it does not assign Venezuela the outsize role that the White House has in recent months.

the U.S.

The video, which is largely in black and white, is not clear enough to see if the craft is carrying as many as 11 people. The video also did not show any large or clear stashes of drugs inside the boat.

Tren de Aragua originated more than a decade ago at an infamously lawless prison with hardened criminals in Venezuela’s central state of Aragua. The gang has expanded in recent years as more than 7.7 million Venezuelans fled economic turmoil and migrated to other Latin American countries or

The video appears to show a long, multi-engine speedboat traveling at sea when a bright flash of light busts over the craft. The boat is then briefly seen covered in flames.

Trump and administration officials have repeatedly blamed the gang for being at the root of the violence and illicit drug dealing that plague some cities.

The White House did not immediately explain how the military determined that those aboard the vessel were Tren de Aragua members.

The size of the gang is unclear as is the extent to which its actions are coordinated across state lines and national borders.

After Trump announced the strike, Venezuelan state television showed President Nicolas Maduro and first

Rubio to visit Mexico, Ecuador for talks

Tariffs, migration and cartels top his agenda

BY MATTHEW LEE and MEGAN JANETSKY Associated Press

MEXICO CITY Security, sovereignty, tariffs, trade, drugs and migration all hot-button issues for the Trump administration and its neighbors in the Western Hemisphere — will top Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s agenda this week on his third trip to Latin America since becoming the chief U.S. diplomat.

In talks with leaders in Mexico and Ecuador on Wednesday and Thursday, Rubio will make the case that broader, deeper cooperation with the U.S. on those issues is vitally important to improving health, safety and security in the Americas and the Caribbean.

Yet, President Donald Trump has alienated many in the region — far beyond the usual array of U.S. antagonists like Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela — with persistent demands, coupled with threats of sweeping tariffs and massive sanctions for not complying with his desires.

Trump has demanded, and so far won, some concessions from Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum’s gov-

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO

Secretary of State Marco Rubio

ernment, which is eager to defuse the tariff threats

Just a few hours before Rubio’s arrival Tuesday, Sheinbaum was set to lead a meeting of the country’s most important security forum, which brings together all 32 governors, the army, navy, federal prosecutor’s office and security commanders to coordinate actions across Mexico

Sheinbaum had been talking for weeks about how Mexico was finalizing a comprehensive security agreement with the State Department that, among other things, was supposed to include plans for a “joint investigation group” to combat the flow of fentanyl and the drug’s precursors into the U.S. and weapons from north to south.

“Under no circumstance will we accept interventions, interference or any other act from abroad that is detrimental to the integrity, independence and sovereignty

of the country,” she said Monday in her State of the Nation address marking her first year in office.

Last week, however, a senior State Department official downplayed suggestions that a formal agreement — at least one that includes protections for Mexican sovereignty — was in the works.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to preview Rubio’s meetings, said sovereignty protections were “understood” by both countries without having to be formalized in a document.

Sheinbaum lowered her expectations Tuesday, saying it would not be a formal agreement but rather a kind of memorandum of understanding to share information and intelligence on drug trafficking or money laundering obtained “by them in their territory, by us in our territory unless commonly agreed upon.”

“There will be moments of greater tension, of less tension, of issues that we do not agree on, but we have to try to have a good relationship, and I believe tomorrow’s meeting will show that,”

Sheinbaum said of her meeting with Rubio on Wednesday “It is a relationship of respect and at the same time collaboration.”

To appease Trump, Sheinbaum has gone after Mexican cartels and their fentanyl production more aggressively than her predecessor

In a brief exchange with reporters before departing Miami for Mexico City, Rubio deferred questions about the specifics of the strike to the Pentagon. He said the drugs on the vessel were likely headed to Trinidad or elsewhere in the Caribbean.

The U.S. recently announced plans to boost

Maduro has insisted that the U.S. is building a false drug-trafficking narrative to try to force him out of office.

He and other government officials have repeatedly cited a United Nations report that they say shows traffickers attempt to move only 5% of the cocaine produced in Colombia through Venezuela. Landlocked Bolivia and Colombia, with

“The impact of increased cocaine trafficking has been felt in Ecuador in particular, which has seen a wave of lethal violence in recent years linked to both local and transnational crime groups, most notably from Mexico and the Balkan countries,” according to the report. Maduro on Monday told reporters he “would constitutionally declare a republic in arms” if his country were attacked by U.S. forces deployed to the Caribbean.

Rizzo, Joseph

continued from not from words, but from example. His legacylives on in the traditions he passed down,the stories he told, and the love he gave freely Amassand private service willbeheldata later date.

Joseph Rizzo, beloved husband, father, grandfather,great-grandfather, andbrother, passed away peacefully on August 29, 2025, surrounded by the love and presence of his cherished family. He was 81 yearsold.

Born to Nicholas Joseph Rizzo and BarbaraMurphy Rizzo, Joseph liveda life marked by devotion—to his family, his values, and the quiet strength that defined him. He was adevoted familyman whose greatest joy came from spending time with his loved ones. With astrong work ethic and unwavering dedication, he found fulfillment not in hobbies, but in the simple pleasures of family life and hard work. Joseph is survived by his loving wife, Darcy Kowalo Rizzo, with whom he shared astorybook romance that blossomed into 57 beautiful years of marriage. Their life together was built on unwavering support, deep connection, and enduring love. As proud parents of three children, they created a home filled with warmth, resilience, and joy—a legacy Joseph cherished above all else. Some of their happiest moments were spent by the ocean, where their shared love for the beach brought peace, laughter, and lasting memories. Of all his accomplishments, Joseph was most proud of his role as afather.Heleaves behind three beloved children: Nicholas Joseph RizzoII, married to Jen Rizzo; Maria Therese LeBlanc, married to Jay LeBlanc;and Darcy Lynn Waguespack. Hischildren were the center of his world and the legacy he cherished most, each areflection of thelove and values he instilled throughout his life. Of all the roles Joseph held in life, his favorite title was 'Grandpa.' He embraced it with pride, joy, and aheart full of love. His grandchildren—Emma Kathryn Rizzo, Conner Nicholas LeBlanc, Joseph Rizzo II, Mia Therese Rizzo, Caleb Murphy LeBlanc, Edward Louis Waguespack, and Sarah Claire LeBlanc—and his greatgrandson, Bennett Nicholas Gonzales, were the light of his life. They will always remember the beach trips filled with laughter, the special meals he lovingly prepared, and the endless supply of grandpa jokes that never failed to bring asmile Thesecherished moments, rich with warmth, humor, and joy, are the legacy of love he leaves behind. Joseph is also survived by his sisters, Barbara Scully and Angela Rizzo Hughes (Kenneth Hughes), with whom he shared many years of memories of their life growing up in NewOrleans. He was precededindeath by his parents and his sister, Maria Therese Rizzo, whose memory remained important to him throughout his life. Joseph's life was atestament to quiet leadership, deep familypride, and the kind of wisdom that comes

Scott,

BraxtonJerrod

BraxtonJerrodScott en‐tered into eternalrestat Our Lady of theLakeRe‐gionalMedical Center on August26, 2025. He was38years oldnative andresi‐dentofBaton Rouge, Louisiana.Viewing at New Ark BaptistChurch on Fri‐day,September 5. 2025

from9:00until Celebration ofLifeService at 11:00am conducted by Rev. Devin Wright. Survivorsinclude his mother,AriaScott Lee (Lionel); father,William Spurlock, Houston, Texas; other relativesand friends. Arrangementsentrusted to Miller& Daughter Mortu‐ary

Fredie TerralSeab, 95, of Luling, Louisiana,passed awaypeacefully on August 30, 2025, surrounded by loved ones. Shetook great pride in her ageand active lifestyle. Not longafter one birthday passed, she was lookingforward to the

next.While most people don't want to see that number go up,she was proud to show what she couldstilldoatanadvanced age. Fredie's life was one of love,generosity and dedication to her family and friends. Fredie was born on June 2, 1930, in Jena, Louisiana to JB and EthelShaifer Terral. She is survivedbyher daughter KaySeabDavey (Gerald), as wellasher grandchildren Lauren Davey Rogers (Kade), Jeremy Davey, and Lindsey Davey (CarlosGoenaga) and six greatgrandchildren: Ashlyn, Marshall, Kadence, Preston,Andres, and Josephine. Fredie is preceded in deathbyhusband of 48 years Murray K Seab and theirdaughter SueIrene Seab.She is also preceded in deathbyher sixbrothers whom she stayed close to throughout her life.For thepast six years, Fredie resided at SummerhouseAshton Manor in Luling,LA. During those years she made many friendsand acquaintances. Special thanks to thestaff at Summerhouse formaking her last few years comfortingand enjoyable.Thank youtoHospice Specialistsof Louisiana for their compassionate care, especially Alisha Coleman, Regina Oxford,and Melvin McGee for their extra attentionto Fredie. She always looked forward to theirvisits. Fredie touched thelives of many.She willberemembered as ateacherand administrator in theNatchez public schools. She was passionate abouther career and tookprideinher many accomplishmentsas an educator.Inher late 80s she joinedFacebook. Herfavorite part aboutit was hearing fromformer students. Fredie appreciated history and spent much of herfree time doing genealogicalresearch. Throughher extensive research she was able to builda family tree that went back dozens of generations. She wrote abook detailing her family history and had it printedfor all her relatives. Her collection of researchiscontained in tenlarge binders that will be donated to the Jena library.Her love of genealogyand history led Fredie to theDaughters of theAmerican Revolution. She was passionateabout thegroup's workinhistorical preservation and edui h i

cation. Shewas aprevious member of theWilliam Dunbar Chapter(Natchez), Baton Rouge Chapter, and mostlyrecently afounding member of theGerman Coast Chapter(LA River Parishes). Other than her passionfor genealogy, Fredie lovedtotravel, shop forantiques, and sew. She left to her family treasured piecesthat she collected along theway and beloved articles madebyher own hand. Aservicetohonor Fredie'slifewillbeheldon Friday, September 5, 2025 at Rabenhorst Funeral Home East 11000 Florida Blvd.,Baton Rouge, LA.Visitationwillbefrom9:00 AM until thefuneral service at

10:30 AM,burial will be at theRoxie Cemetery,Roxie, MS.Familyand friends are invited to gatherand celebrate hermemory.Inlieu of flowers, the familyrequests donations be sent to German Coast DAR Chapter, P.O. Box 1062, Destrehan, LA 70047 in furtheranceoftheir efforts to promote historicpreservation,education, andpatriotism. Fredie'slegacy lives on in herthree cherished grandchildren. They were thelight of herlifeand broughther much joy. Her example of love,grace, anddetermination leaves a lastingimprintonher familyguiding us to live with h ki d d

strength kindness, and purpose.

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Bigthings arehappening this year for theSouthernJaguarsWomen’sVolleyball Team

Mostnotably,Jeremiah“Jeri”Esteshas joined thestaff as associateheadcoach CoachEstes comeswithalengthy track recordofsuccess.Hehascoachedatpowerhouseprogramsincluding Long Beach State– wherehehelpedguide thefirst undefeatedNCAANationalChampionship team in history– UC SantaBarbara and East Carolina University.Inaddition, he hascoached andmentoredmorethan40 OlympiansintheUnitedStatesandRussia.

CoachEstessaidhehasreceivedawarm welcomeinBaton Rougeand hasbeen impressedbyeverythingfromplayers’ dedicationtothesupportoftheSouthern administrationineffortstomakefacility improvements andencourage fans to supportthe team

“I’msuperthankfulwithhowI’vebeen received over here,” he said.“Allofthe supportisprettyexcitingand makesthe playersfeelappreciated.”

Head CoachDawnBarnessaidthis year’s roster features 20 players, some from as farawayasMexico, California andArizona.Eight arereturningtothe teamandsixarefreshmen.Astheseason begins,theyare lookingtobuild on the successestheyhad last year,including twowinsoverGrambling

“We’renotgoingtotakeanyteamlightly We’regoing to be readytoroll,”Coach Barnessaid.“We’regoingtobesurprising alot of people.”

CoachBarnessaida newNCAArule allowedplayers to starttrainingearlier thisyear.Thatmeanttheywereinthegym oftenthissummer, workingonstrength andconditioningplusmorethan500 contacts perpractice.

CoachEstessaidsomeareasofemphasis sofarhavebeenagility,dexterityandcoordination,along with drills to implement systemsfor defense, serves andattacks

“Theassessmentofwhattheteamneeds happenswhenweseethemplay,”hesaid “Wesee what type of ball controlthey have,whattypeofpower they canapply with accuracy.Then, we adjust.They’re workingsohard. I’ve seen improvement from practice to practice.”

Visithttps://gojagsports.com/sports/ womens-volleyballtolearn more about this year’s schedule andpurchasetickets forupcomingmatches

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Judgereverses contempt order

BR prosecutor disciplined during courtclash

BY MATT BRUCE Staff writer

ABaton Rouge judge Tuesday rescinded acontempt order she placed on astate prosecutor after reviewing notes and transcripts from arecent murder trial.

District Judge Louise Hines Myers held three attorneys in contempt of court and kicked one of them out of the courtroommidway throughthe retrialofBrian Alexander Lavergne. The explosive six-day trial ended Aug. 25 with

Higgins seeksto defund health agencies

Congressman fights promotionofCOVID vaccinefor kids

BY MARK BALLARD Staff writer

WASHINGTON U.S. Rep. Clay Higgins, R-Lafayette, is urging hiscolleagues to banfunding to organizations that promote the COVID-19 vaccine for kids.

“I urge the subcommittee to protect our children and adolescents by prohibiting federal funding to state health departments and national associations that promote the COVID-19 shot,”Higgins wrote in aletter Saturday to the House Appropriations subcommittee that is working on a bill to fund the Departments of Labor,Health and HumanServices, Education, and related agencies for the fiscal year that begins October 1. Higgins’ letter expands on a statement he made last month specifically targeting the New Orleans Health Department, which posted on social media amessage from the American Academy of Pediatrics recommending children get vaccinated.

The Lafayette Republican’s position is in line with Health Secretary Robert F. KennedyJr. Kennedy last week proposed standards that limited eligibility for COVID-19 vaccinations this fall.

Those include restrictions for those under the age of 5years, whocan qualify only for the Moderna vaccination and only when the child has aspecific underlying condition.

Kennedy’snew regulationsrequire aphysician’srecommendation, rather than just showing up at pharmacies. Those getting the inoculation withoutadoctor’ssay-so would have to pay for the shot, which costs about $140 each.

President Donald Trump asked on social media Monday for pharmaceuticalcompanies to “justify the success of their various Covid Drugs. Many people think they are amiracle that saved Millions of lives. Others disagree! With CDC being ripped apart over thisquestion, Iwant the answer,and Iwant it NOW.”

ajuryfinding Lavergne guilty of double homicide in the 2021 killings of his ex-girlfriend and her new boyfriend.

Stateprosecutors clashed with the defendant’sattorneys along theway,and it led to Hines Myers, who presided over the trial, to issueher contemptorders. On Aug. 21, during the secondday of testimony,she had La’Deisha Woods, thesecond prong of Lavergne’s legal team,removed from the courtroom and barred her from returningfor thefinal21/2 days of the

trial. She held Stephen Sterling, Lavergne’slead defense counsel, in contempt on eight counts, and issueda contempt order against Assistant District Attorney Morgan Johnson, the lead prosecutor Hines Myers reversed the contempt orderonJohnson when the prosecutor stood in her courtroom Tuesday morning. The judge said after reviewing her trial notes and listening to the portion of Johnson’sclosing arguments, she was sure she should have sustainedthe defense objection that led to John-

son’scontempt.

“I was electedtobefairand followthe law,”HinesMyerssaid during Tuesday’shearing. “Closing argument is to be limited to evidence and the facts and law applicable to the case, as well as the attorneys’reasonable inferences drawn from the evidence.”

Afterward, prosecutorsexpressedgratitude, and Johnson felt vindicated by the reversal.

“I am grateful that Judge Hines (Myers) acknowledged her mistakeand we were able to save resources our office planned to devotetoahearing and appeal of her original decision,” shesaidina

statement. “This unfortunate situation has onlystrengthenedmyresolve to continue to seek the truth and fight forjustice forall citizens of East Baton Rouge Parish. Iam humbled by thesupportIhave received from my colleaguesand the communitysince this issuehas come to light.”

East Baton Rouge ParishDistrict Attorney HillarMoore huddled with Johnson and other prosecutors outside the courtroom following Tuesday’shearing. He applaudedHinesMyers forcorrecting herself

ä See CONTEMPT, page 2B

MADE IN THESHADE

Apedestrian makes theirown shadewith apaper umbrella Thursday while walking

Street near the Capitol Park Museumindowntown Baton

JEFFERSONPARISH

Schoolsstill seeking FEMA repair money

Hurricane Idacaused

BY ELYSE CARMOSINO Staff writer

When Hurricane Ida tore through Jefferson Parish in August 2021, it caused widespread destruction across the state’slargest school system, resulting in an estimated $400 million in damage.

But as the fourthanniversary of thestormarrivedFriday, dozens of major repair projects —from roof replacementstorebuilding an entire school —had yet to get underway,much less be completed. Other projects arefinished, but the federalgovernment still hasn’treimbursed the district for the cost, accordingtoJefferson Parish School Board member and Facilities Committee Chair Clay Moise. District officials mostly blame the Federal Emergency Management Agency’slengthy fundingapproval process for thedelay.As of this month, FEMA hasagreed to pay for only 18 of more than

100 projects for which the district has sought reimbursement,Moise said. FEMA did not respond to arequest forcommentfor this story but an agency representative told TheTimes-Picayune lastyear that FEMA has taken stepstosimplify thereimbursement process. Also adding to the delay have been repeated revisionsofproject cost estimates and adisputeover Jefferson’sinsurancecoverage, officials said.

ABaton Rouge man was arrested Friday in afatal shooting from early August. But according to an affidavitfor the man’sarrest, he actually was the first person to report the incident to police.

Nugene Eackles, 49, was booked on acount of second-degree murder in theAug. 3death of Frank Johnson, 41.

Policefound Johnson with a single gunshot wound to his head about 6:30a.m.outside aresidenceinthe 3200 block of Byron Avenue. He wastransportedtoa hospital,where he died.

Officers originally were called to thescene by aman,later revealed to be Eackles, whosaid he heard agunshot and saw Johnson on the ground, according the arrest affidavit.

Whenpolicearrived, the “witness” wasstill at the scene, seemingly with aplantoavoid suspicion.Duringquestioning,Eackles told officers his namewas Teddy Simsand that his date of birth was Jan. 12,1979, the affidavit states.

Detectives later found that “Teddy Sims” did notexistand that theman whohad called 911 andspokentoofficers on scene

was actually Eackles, whose real birthday is Jan. 12, 1976. The scheme was discovered when police reviewed surveillance video from nearby residences on Byron Avenue, the affidavit states.Inthe footage, Johnson can be seen getting into an altercation with another man, who is seen wearing thesame whiteT-shirt, rippedjeansand black shoes that Eackles wore when speaking to officersafter the shooting. In the video, Eackles can be seen shooting Johnson, walking inside theresidence on Byron Avenue, then coming outside and kneeling next to Johnson while speaking on the phone, the affidavit states.

Basedonthe video’stimestamp, police said Eackles called 911toreportthe shooting only nine minutesafter pullingthe trigger

White Castle fire chief accused of assault

White Castle Fire Chief John Marque was issued amisdemeanor summons, accused of assaulting avolunteer firefighter, White Castle Police Chief Harold Brooks said Tuesday

Brooks said Marque was issued the summons following an incidentinvolvinga firefighter with the department.

Other details, including the date of the incident and thenature of the assault, are forthcoming, Brooks said.

Arrest made in Iberville shooting

Asuspect was arrested in afatal Iberville Parish shooting that left another man injured, officialssaid

Investigators arrested Ashton Bourgeois, 19, of Maringouin, and booked him into the Iberville Parish jail on counts of second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder

The shootings happened Monday on Third Street in Maringouin. Deputies responding to a911 call found two meninjured by gunfire the Sheriff’s Office said. One of them, a23-yearold, who was not identified, was brought by aprivate vehicle to ahospital, where he died from his injuries, the Sheriff’s Office said in anews release.

The second man, 24, was transported by ambulance to ahospital and is in stable condition.

TheSheriff’s Officesaid the investigation is ongoingand additional arrests are expected.

The shootings Monday followed an earlier shooting in Iberville Parish on Friday,when a24-year-old was shot multiple times in Plaquemine. He was transported to ahospital and remainsinguardedbut stable condition, the Sheriff’s Office said.

APlaquemine man, Donald Ray Vondo Jr., 26, was arrested andbookedinto jail on counts of attempted second-degree murder and possessionofa firearm by a convicted felon.

The West BatonRouge Parish Sheriff’s Office assisted in Monday’sarrest, and the Pointe Coupee Parish Sheriff’s Office assisted in Friday’s.

Inmate who escaped work-release found

An East Feliciana Parish Prison inmate who was on work-release at aWalker metal fabricating plant escaped for afew hours Tuesday morning before being recaptured.

Christopher Truemaine Samuel, 26, of Ruston, was originally convictedofaggravated battery in Lincoln Parish with arelease date of Sept. 6, 2028.

HIGGINS

Continued from page1B

Trump’sfirstadministration orchestrated“Operation Warp Speed,” which paused some regulations and issued emergency federal grants to fasttrack development of the vaccines that are credited with ending the pandemic. Trump continued that drug companies should “show me GREATnumbers and results, butthey don’tseem to be showing them to many others.I want them to show them NOW,toCDC and the public, and clearupthis MESS, one way or the other!!!” Meanwhile,Higgins, a five-term representative, on Fridaywrote House Speaker Mike Johnson, RBenton, that he intended to withdraw from the Homeland Security Committee, where he ran unsuccessfully to be chair

“My Republican colleagueshave chosen an alternate path for the Committee that Ihelped to build, apath more in alignment withthe less conservative factions of our Conference, factions whose core principles are quite variant from my own conservative perspective on key issues like amnesty, ICE operations,and opposition to the surveillance state,” Higgins wrote.

Samuel was on aworkrelease programatDeltak Manufacturing when he walked off about 8:40 a.m. Tuesday,according to arelease from the East Feliciana Parish Sheriff’s Office

TheDeltak plant is located at 39455 John Lanier Road

The LivingstonParish Sheriff’s Officeassistedin the search, with its deputies beingthe onestolocate Samuel “You’ll noticealot of our units+ K9 +Air,” analert on theSheriff’sOffice’s appread Tuesday morning. The area around Deltakis wooded.

Samuelwas located in the general areaofthe escape about 1:20 p.m. andwas captured withoutincident.

Samuel is being booked as afugitive into the Livingston Parish prison before being returned to East Feliciana. An arrestwarrant for simple escape for Samuelisbeing secured by the East Feliciana Parish Sheriff’sOffice.

Man arrested in church vandalism

Aman wasarrestedMonday,accused of spray painting profanities on three churches Sunday nightand early Monday morning,according to the EastBaton Rouge Parish Sheriff’sOffice

Jimmie Mouton, 24,was booked on countsofinstitutional vandalism. He is accused of spraypainting profane wordsinblack on theexteriorofGreenwell SpringsBaptistChurch andIndian MoundBaptist Church in East Baton Rouge Parish, and LockhartBaptist ChurchinLivingstonParish, according to an arrestreportfrom the Sheriff’s Office.

After they were called to thescene at Greenwell SpringsBaptistChurch on Monday morning, sheriff’sdeputies used video surveillance footage to find apossiblelicense plate for the suspect’s vehicle. The footage showed aToyota Camry into the church parking lot about 12:30 a.m.

Usingcar registration information, deputieslocated Mouton’sresidence in Zachary and went there to question him. At thesame time, Livingston Parish authorities reported asimilar incident.

At theresidence, Mouton agreed to speaktodeputies andadmittedtospray painting the churches. He told deputieshecommittedthe vandalism because he knew several individualswho hadbeenrobbed of theirmoney by these churches and even sexually assaulted by their members.

It was during aNovember 2023 Homeland SecurityCommittee hearing that Higgins accused thenFBI Director Christopher Wray of sending federal agents to pose as Trump supportersand entrap what he called an otherwise peaceful group that entered the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6—the day Congress was going through the ceremony of officially naming Joe Bidenthe winner of the 2020 presidential election.

Higginsalwaysclaimed to have irrefutableevidencebut never shared anypubliclyexcept for photosofemptyvansthat he called “ghost buses.” Higgins alsoisamember of theHouse Oversight and Government ReformCommitteeand ofthe House ArmedServices Committee.

EmailMarkBallardat mballard@theadvocate com.

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CONTEMPT

“The court’sreview exonerated averytough but fair andethical assistant district attorney’svigorous prosecution andher closing arguments,”Mooresaid.

“Judges have adifficult jobduringtrials,especially those involving serious crimes andthose that are highly litigated and contentious as this one was,” Moore said. “Making decisions during these stressful times is difficult. Irespect thecourageofthis judge’s review of thetrial. Andbased on her re-review,reversing herself based on the factspresented. She is to be commended.”

MONEY

Continuedfrom page 1B

By contrast, some school districts, such as nearby Lafourche Parish, have managed to navigate the federal reimbursementprocess and are well on their way to completing Ida-related repairs.

Meanwhile, Jefferson Parishstudentsand staffmust make do with buildings still damagedbythe storm. Around 500 students at Fisher Middle-High School in Lafitte still attend classes at atemporary campus 40 minutes away from the damaged school building.

School Board member Steven Guitterrezworriesthat the yearslongdelay is holding the district back from making other building upgradesthat will benefit students.

“I want to look forwaysto improve facilities,”hesaid in an interview, “not still be working on Ida repairs.

What repairsare needed?

Around 700 Jefferson Parishschool buildings sustained damage from Hurricane Ida’s 150-mphwinds andheavy rains. The fallout ranged from broken windows and mangled roofs to extensive damageatFisherMiddleHigh School, which was declared atotal loss.

Some schools still waiting for repairs include:

n Hearst Elementary School, which needs cafeteria roof repairs and updated insulation.Estimatedcost: $1.3 million.

n JosephElementary School requires ceilingrepairs in the teacher’slounge, men and women’srestrooms andsome classrooms. Estimatedcost:$43,000.

n Woods School needs asbestos treatment in the book room of theadministrationbuilding and several classrooms. Estimated cost: $68,000.

According to trial testimony,Lavergne used a12-gauge shotgun to shoot LaQuincia Jackson, his 26-year-old exgirlfriend, and her boyfriend of five years, 33-year-old Fredrick Hollins, at pointblankrange insidethe couple’sTigerland apartmentin the 4600 block of Earl Gros Avenue. He killed thecouple as they slept in their bed on the evening of Jan. 23, 2021. Lavergnenow faces two mandatory life sentences without the possibility of parole when he goes before HinesMyers forsentencing Oct. 1.

Lavergne was beingtried for the second time in less than10months. His first trial last Octoberended in ahung jury that couldn’treach a verdict and Hines Myers de-

The expected costofmany projects has grown considerably.Recently,the School Board approved budget increases for severalIda-related repair projects, including: n Adams Middle School repairs are now budgeted at $1.8 million, up from about $349,000 in 2023.

n Woodland West Elementary School repairs are now budgetedat$1.4 million, up from about $547,000 in 2024.

n Haynes Academy for Advanced Studies repairs are now budgeted at $4.5 million, up from $3.3 million in 2023.

The largest and most expensiveprojectisrebuilding Fisher Middle-HighSchool.

In May, FEMA approved nearly $70 millionfor the project, which came after representatives from thedistrict and School Boardtook several trips to Washington, D.C., to appeal to Louisiana’s congressional delegationfor help movingthe approval process along, Moisesaid.

The new building is expected to open in fall 2028.

Moise said some less pressing unfinishedprojects include replacing gas windows, which are made of twopanes of glass with gassealed inside to improve insulation. Construction crews will need to pull out entirewalls at one school to replace the seals.

clared amistrial. Prosecutors from the DistrictAttorney’sOfficeinitially assumed Johnson’s contempt orderstemmed fromacommentshe made referencing DNA testimony by aBaton Rouge Police Department detective, Sgt. Chris Fisher,the lead homicide investigator in the case. But Hines Myers said it was actually acomment Johnson made about Lavergne failing to hand over to investigators thescreenshotofa conversation that wassent through a text message. Johnsontoldjurors the text was sent the day after thekillings,and HinesMyers initially ruled the time of the text wasn’tintroduced in trial testimony.Afterreviewing the case, she said it was

Until then, the building can remain in operation,Moise said.

Whyisittakingsolong?

According to Moise, FEMA’s notoriously lengthy reimbursement process and issues with the district’sinsurancecoveragehaveset timelines back.

Some of thedelay is dueto cost estimates that increased after additional damage was found, requiring FEMA to reapprovethe projects, he said.

PatrickJenkins, the district’schief operations officer, said that while highercosts have slowed projects down, they ensure schools get all the fixesthey need.

“I knowwedon’tnecessarily like to have budgetincreases,” he saidata recent School Board meeting.But in allcases,“these budgetincreases are going to benefit students, as well as the district.”

Leaders of other school districts also saidthat FEMA’s lengthy and complicated reimbursement process, alongwithstaffturnoverat FEMA’s regional office, have drivenrepairholdups. As the Trumpadministration seeks to downsize or even eliminate theagency,some experts and district leaders say they fear even longer delays.

The entire process is “so

reasonable to infer when the text was sent.

“I do my best to takeas good of notes as possibleduring trial so that Ican make good calls. But Ican’talways be perfect,” the judge said. She pledged to look back at her contempt orders for Sterlingand Woodsand review the court record before rendering rulings in their respective cases. Both defense attorneysappeared before Hines Myers last week, and she postponed their contempt hearings to allow time for court reporters to transcribe the proceedings. The contempt hearings are slated to be held Nov. 15, according to records.

Email Matt Bruceatmatt. bruce@theadvocate.com.

complex and overwhelming,” said Jarod Martin, superintendent in Lafourche Parish, which sustained around $150 million in damageduring Ida Yet, hisdistrict is nearly finished navigating FEMA’s reimbursement process, receiving funding to complete over 30 projects, leavingonly twostalled—schoolsthe district deemed to be total losses that need to be rebuilt In JeffersonParish, confusion over Jefferson’sinsurance coverage also contributed to project delays, Moise said.

Agencypolicyrequires districts to carry insurance plans that meet minimum requirements to be eligible to receive FEMA money after a disaster. Like many Louisiana school districts,Moise said that Jefferson Parish couldn’t afford the required level of coverage, so thedistrict appealed to the state insurance commissioner,who approved an abated $45 million to make up forthe gapincoverage. But years later,FEMA changed its stance and said the district had failed to follow astipulation that had requiredthe agency to signoff on theinsurancecommissioner’sdecision. After district officials again asked federal lawmakers forhelp, FEMA dropped the issue, Moise said.

BUSINESS

BRIEFS

FROM WIRE REPORTS

US stocks sink under bond market pressire

Wall Street sank on Tuesday as rising pressure from the bond market pulled U.S. stocks further from their records.

The S&P 500 fell 0.7% for its worst day in a month after paring a loss that earlier reached 1.5%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 249 points, or 0.5%, and the Nasdaq composite lost 0.8% All three are still relatively close to their recently set all-time highs.

Big Tech companies led the market lower They’ve been soaring for years on expectations that they’ll continue to dominate the economy, but they have also shot so high that critics say their prices have become too expensive. Nvidia, whose chips are powering much of the world’s move into artificial-intelligence technology, fell 2% and was the single strongest force pulling the S&P 500 downward. Amazon sank 1.6%, and Apple dropped 1%.

The overall stock market felt pressure from rising yields in the bond market, where the 10year Treasury yield climbed to 4.27% from 4.23% late Friday When bonds are paying more in interest, investors are less willing to pay high prices for stocks

Longer-term bond yields are on the rise around the world, in part because of worries about how difficult it will be for governments to repay their growing mountains of debt.

Disney to pay $10M data collection fine

The Walt Disney Co. will pay a $10 million fine to settle a Federal Trade Commission lawsuit alleging it allowed personal data to be collected on kids under 13, violating federal law

The FTC said Tuesday Disney violated the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, or COPPA, which requires kidoriented apps and websites to get parents’ consent before collecting personal information of children under 13. According to the complaint, Disney failed to properly label some videos that it uploaded to YouTube as “Made for Kids.”

The mislabeling allowed Disney, through YouTube, to collect personal data from children under 13 viewing child-directed videos and use that data for targeted advertising to children, the FTC said. That’s because, since the videos weren’t labeled as being for kids, they included targeted advertising.

Representatives for Disney did not immediately return a message for comment.

Google, the parent company of YouTube, agreed to pay $170 million in a similar settlement in 2019

Nestlé dismisses CEO after an investigation

Swiss food giant Nestlé said Monday it dismissed its CEO Laurent Freixe after an investigation into an undisclosed relationship with a direct subordinate.

The maker of Nescafé drinks and Purina pet food said in a statement the dismissal was effective immediately An investigation found the undisclosed romantic relationship with a direct subordinate violated Nestlé’s code of conduct.

Freixe, who had been CEO for a year, will be replaced by Philipp Navratil, a longtime Nestlé executive.

“This was a necessary decision,” said Chairman Paul Bulcke “Nestlé’s values and governance are strong foundations of our company.”

The company didn’t give any other details about the investigation.

Freixe had been with Nestlé since 1986, holding roles around the world. When Nestlé revamped its geographic structure in January 2022, Freixe became CEO of Zone Latin America.

In August 2024, he was tapped to replace then-CEO Mark Schneider in the top role, and started Sept. 1, 2024.

Google avoids breakup in monopoly case

Judge orders other changes in landmark ruling

BY MICHAEL LIEDTKE AP technology writer

SAN FRANCISCO A federal judge on Tuesday ordered a shake-up of Google’s search engine in a crackdown aimed at curbing the corrosive power of an illegal monopoly while rebuffing the U.S. government’s attempt to break up the company and impose other restraints.

The 226-page decision made by U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta in Washington, D.C., will likely ripple across the technological landscape at a time when the industry is being reshaped by breakthroughs in artificial intelligence including conversational “answer engines” as companies like ChatGPT and

Perplexity try to upend Google’s long-held position as the internet’s main gateway

The innovations and competition being unleashed by generative artificial intelligence, or “GenAI,” have reshaped the judge’s approach to remedies in the nearly five-year-old antitrust case.

“Unlike the typical case where the court’s job is to resolve a dispute based on historic facts, here the court is asked to gaze into a crystal ball and look to the future Not exactly a judge’s forte,” Mehta wrote.

Investors seemed to interpret the ruling as a relatively light slap on the wrist for Google, as the stock price of its corporate parent, Alphabet Inc., surged nearly 3% in extended trading. The judge is trying to rein in Google by prohibiting some of the tactics the company deployed to drive traffic to its search engine and other services

But Mehta stopped short of ban-

ning the multi-billion dollar deals that Google has been making for years to lock in its search engine as the default on smartphones, personal computers and other devices. Those deals, involving payments of more than $26 billion annually, were one of the main issues that prompted the judge to conclude Google’s search engine was an illegal monopoly, but he decided banning them in the future would do more harm than good.

Partially because he is allowing the default deals to continue, Mehta is ordering Google to give its current and would-be rivals access to some of its search engine’s secret sauce — the data stockpiled from trillions of queries that it used to help improve the quality of its search results.

The judge also rejected the U.S. Justice Department’s effort to force Google to sell its popular Chrome browser, concluding it was an unwarranted step that

“would be incredibly messy and highly risky.”

Allowing the default search deals to continue is more than just a victory for Google. It’s also something that Apple, which receives more than $20 billion annually from Google, and the beneficiaries of the payments urged Mehta to maintain.

In hearings earlier this year, Apple warned the judge that banning the contracts would deprive the company of money that it funnels into its own innovative research.

The Cupertino, California, company also cautioned that the ban could have the unintended consequence of making Google even more powerful by pocketing the money it had been spending on deals while most consumers will still end up flocking to Google’s search engine anyway Neither Google nor the Justice Department immediately responded to requests for comment.

BLOCKBUSTER SPLIT

After creating one of the biggest food companies on the planet, Kraft Heinz to break into two companies

BY DEE-ANN DURBIN and MICHELLE CHAPMAN AP business writers

NEW YORK Kraft Heinz is splitting into two companies a decade after a merger of the brands created one of the biggest food manufacturers on the planet.

One of the companies, currently called Global Taste Elevation Co., will include brands such as Heinz, Philadelphia cream cheese and Kraft Mac & Cheese, Kraft Heinz said Tuesday The other, currently called North American Grocery Co., will include slower-selling brands like Maxwell House, Oscar Mayer Kraft Singles and Lunchables.

The official names of the two companies will be released later

Kraft Heinz said in May that it was conducting a strategic review of the company, signaling a potential split It expects the transaction to close in the second half of 2026.

When the company formed in 2015, it wanted to capitalize on its massive scale. But shifting tastes complicated those plans, with households seeking out healthier options.

Kraft Heinz and other food producers have tried to follow those trends. In 2021, Kraft Heinz sold both its Planters nut business and its natural cheese business, vowing to reinvest the money into higher-growth brands like P3 protein snacks. But the company continued to struggle.

Kraft Heinz’s net revenue has fallen every

year since 2020, when it saw a pandemicrelated bump in sales. In April, Kraft Heinz lowered its full-year sales and earnings guidance, citing weaker customer spending in the U.S. and the impact of President Donald Trump’s tariffs.

“Kraft Heinz’s brands are iconic and beloved, but the complexity of our current structure makes it challenging to allocate capital effectively, prioritize initiatives and drive scale in our most promising areas,” Executive Chairman Miguel Patricio said in a statement.

The path to the merger of Kraft and Heinz began in 2013, when billionaire investor Warren Buffett teamed up with Brazilian investment firm 3G Capital to buy H.J. Heinz Co. At the time, the $23 billion deal was the most expensive ever in the food industry 3G was also behind the formation of Restaurant Brands International a merger of Burger King, Tim Hortons and Popeyes — and Anheuser-Busch InBev It’s known for strict cost controls and so-called zero-based budgeting, which requires all expenses to be justified each quarter

The deal was intended to help Heinz, which was founded in 1869 in Pittsburgh, expand sales of its condiments and sauces on grocery store shelves. Heinz’s new owners also set about cutting costs, laying off hundreds of workers within months.

At the same time Kraft, based in Chicago, sought for a partner after a 2011 split from its snack division, which became Mondelez

International.

In 2015, Buffett and 3G decided to merge Heinz with Kraft The merger created the 5th largest food and beverage company in the world, with annual revenue of $28 billion. Buffett and 3G each contributed $5 billion for a special dividend for Kraft shareholders. At the time, the prevailing attitude was that the bigger the conglomerate, the more companies would save through sharing services like accounting, said Russell Zwanka, an associate professor of food marketing at Western Michigan University

But even at the time of the merger, many consumers were shifting away from the kinds of highly processed packaged foods that Kraft sells, like Velveeta cheese and Kool-Aid. The push to remove artificial flavors and dyes added further costs.

“The customer has become much more diligent in what they’re buying, and so it’s making it more difficult to allocate your resources properly,” Zwanka said.

In 2019, Kraft Heinz slashed the value of its Oscar Meyer and Kraft brands by $15.4 billion. Many investors blamed the company’s leadership, saying its zeal for costcutting was hurting brand innovation.

Buffett told CNBC Tuesday that he’s disappointed that Kraft Heinz decided to go forwarded with the split, which will cost the company $300 million and take a year to complete. He’s also frustrated that shareholders won’t get a vote on the move.

BY MATT O’BRIEN AP technology writer

Artificial intelligence chatbot makers OpenAI and Meta say they are adjusting how their chatbots respond to teenagers asking questions about suicide or showing signs of mental and emotional distress.

OpenAI, maker of ChatGPT, said Tuesday it is preparing to roll out new controls enabling parents to link their accounts to their teen’s account.

Parents can choose which features to disable and “receive notifications when the system detects their teen is in a moment of acute

distress,” according to a company blog post that says the changes will go into effect this fall.

Regardless of a user’s age, the company says its chatbots will attempt to redirect the most distressing conversations to more capable AI models that can provide a better response.

The announcement comes a week after the parents of 16-yearold Adam Raine sued OpenAI and its CEO Sam Altman, alleging that ChatGPT coached the California boy in planning and taking his own life earlier this year Jay Edelson, the family’s attorney on Tuesday described the OpenAI announcement as “vague

promises to do better” and “nothing more than OpenAI’s crisis management team trying to change the subject.” Altman “should either unequivocally say that he believes ChatGPT is safe or immediately pull it from the market,” Edelson said. Meta, the parent company of Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp, also said it is now blocking its chatbots from talking with teens about self-harm, suicide, disordered eating and inappropriate romantic conversations, and instead directs them to expert resources. Meta already offers parental controls on teen accounts. A study published last week in

the medical journal Psychiatric Services found inconsistencies in how three popular artificial intelligence chatbots responded to queries about suicide.

The study by researchers at the RAND Corporation found a need for “further refinement” in ChatGPT, Google’s Gemini and Anthropic’s Claude The researchers did not study Meta’s chatbots. The study’s lead author, Ryan McBain, said Tuesday that “it’s encouraging to see OpenAI and Meta introducing features like parental controls and routing sensitive conversations to more capable models, but these are incremental steps.”

Acosta,Mercedes Falcon 'Decie'

Mercedes "Decie" Fal-

con Acosta,life-long native and resident of Smoke Bend,LA. She was Born on July 3, 1928, passed away at her home surrounded by loved ones on August 30, 2025, at the age of 97. Decie was afaithfulservantof God and enjoyedspending time with her kids and grandkids. She was a parishioner of St. Franics of Assisi Catholic Church of Smoke Bend, LA. Decie is survived by her 11children, Lee "Tip" Falcon, Jr. (Ann), Richard "Chuck" Falcon (Darlene), Margaret "Gal" Barrient (Frank), Claude Falcon (Rose Marie), Renard Falcon (Ella),Mark Falcon, Andrea Williams (Terry), Claire "Boozie" Casso, Jerome "Rommie" Falcon, Donna Madere (James), Lawrence "Nutchie" Falcon (Kim);30 grandchildren; 42 great grandchildren; 1great greatgrandchild. She is preceded in death by her husbands, Lee Falcon, Sr. and Lloyd Acosta; daughter, Yvonne Beasley; parents, Oscar andIrma Lanoix; siblings, Norma Lanoix, Ella"Laloot" Denoux, Florence "Totee" Denoux, Irma "Tiny" Marino, Elmo, Oscar "Khaki", Earl "Chumbo" Landry "Benny" Lanoix, and Una Lanoix Caballero. Visitation will be held on Friday, September 5, 2025, at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Smoke Bend, LA from 9am until Mass of Christian Burial at 12pm. Burial to follow at Ascension of Our Lord Catholic Church Cemetery.The family would like to thank the staff of Amedisys Hospice for their compassion and care, as well as Ellen Guilott for administering Communion to Mercedes once she was unable to attend mass.

Alexander,Nell J. Boyett

With heavy hearts, the family of Nell J. Boyett Alexander announces her passing into eternal rest onFriday, August 29th, 2025, at the age of 92. Born on August 1st, 1933, Nell's lifewas aradiant giftof love, kindness, and grace. Nell was first married to Earl Ray Boyett, with whom she began her journey offamily and motherhood. She was later blessed with her husband, William Lamar Alexander, who, along with her daughter, Deborah Gray, preceded her in death. She is survived by her children: Eliz-

abeth Smith (Spencer), Linda Patterson (Douglas), and CharlesBoyett (JenniferArmand); her brother, MarvinJames; hersister, Carolyn J. Hayes; five grandchildren—Johnathan, Kristy, Matthew, Lauren, and Rheanna; and eight great-g randchi ld ren—Saigen, Aubry,Parker, Avery, Easton, Elliott, Oliver, and Hayden. The familyextends their heartfelt gratitude to the Baton Rouge Hospice Foundation for the care they providedduring Nell's final days.Theyalso wish to express theirdeepest thanks for your love, support, and prayers. Memorial donations may be made to the Baton Rouge Hospice Foundation in her honor. Thoughher chairnow sits emptyand her voice is silent, Nell's love willforever echo in theheartsofher family Herlifewas asong of love, and hermelody will never fade.

Raymond Ficklinage 84 and aresident of Prairieville, La passed awaysurrounded by his loving family. He wasa veteran of the United States Navy.Heloved working in his garden, and spending time at the hunting camp, hunting. He enjoyedfishing trips, his familyand Jesus. He is survived by his wife, Gloria Thibeau Ficklin; 2sons, KendallFicklinand Kevin Ficklin; 2daughters, Ashley Parrott and KarenDevall (Stephen); 2brothers, Arthur Ficklin(Audrey), and Larry Ficklin(Nina); 2 sisters, JeanetteDixonand Dianne Roll (Ted); grandchildren, KristenBenedetto (Jesse), Rhagen Lastrapes (Michel),RyanFicklin (Brandi), Koby Ficklin (Brendi), Payten Leblanc, Katelyn and Jenna Devall; great grandchildren, Jonah, Cullen and Brady Benedetto, KnollFicklin, Rowe and Nixon Lastrapes, Wesley and Wyatt Ficklin, Lillie Richardson, Kai and Kolsyn Ficklin. He waspreceded indeath by his parents, Emory Sr.,and Mary Poche Ficklin; son, Kyle Ray Ficklin; siblings, Peggy Mayers, Emory Ficklin Jr FayeThomas, Cherry James, Judy Roddy,and EvaDixon.

Services for Raymond willbeheldonThursday, Sept 4, 2025, at Carpenters Chapel UnitedMethodist Church. Visitation will be from 9amuntil the funeral service at 11 am, conducted by Pastor TerryNelson, andPastorLarry Ficklin. PallbearerswillbeRyan Ficklin, Koby Ficklin, Jesse Benedetto, Michel Lastrapes, Chad Buratt, Daryl Finnerty,Jonah Benedetto, Knoll Ficklin. Honorary PallbearerswillbeWesley Ficklin, Wyatt Ficklin,Kai Ficklin. Arrangements by OursoFuneral Home og Gonzales, La. www.oursofh.com

SteveFourrier, May 9, 1943 -September 1, 2025. SteveFourrier, anative of BatonRouge and resident of NewRoads, passed away peacefully on September 1, 2025, surrounded by hisfourchildren and grandchildren.

Adevoted Catholic, Stevelived afull and faithfilledlife alongside his belovedwife of 52 years, Susan Cazedessus Fourrier. Together they raised four children and were blessed with 16 grandchildren and 8great-grandchildren, withone moreon theway.Heissurvivedby his children, Peterand Susan Fourrierand theirchildren Whitney, Cody,Blake, Amanda, and Kaitlin; Gregory Fourrierand his children Madeline, Gabrielle Amelia, MaKali, andCharlie; Jonathan and Rebecca Fourrierand their children Ethan, Nolan, Benjamin, and Sarah Kathryn; and StephanieFourrier Fontaine and her children Andrew and Katherine. He is also survivedbyhis brothers, Andre Fourrier and Michel and hiswife KarenFourrier. He was precededin death by his wife, Susan Cazedessus Fourrier; his parents, Lawrence (Larry) and Carmen Hebert Fourrier; and hisin-laws, Eugene and VirginiaCulpepper Cazedessus.

Stevegraduated from CatholicHighSchool, Class of 1961, and attended LSU. He worked for the LouisianaSecretary of Statebefore being drafted intothe U.S. Army, where he trained at Fort Polk and was ultimatelystationed at thePentagon. In August of 1968, he married Susan, beginning apartnership that would be thecenter of hislife Following his service, Stevebegan asuccessful career alongside his father at FourrierInsurance Agency,where he worked until his retirement in 1989. Beyond his professional career, Stevededicated his time, talent,and faithtoSt. Aloysius Catholic Church and School, CatholicHigh School of Baton Rouge, and St.Joseph'sAcademy. He cherished thefriendships andcommunity he built through these institutions. In 1990, Stevewas honored with theprestigious GoldenBear HallofFame Award fromCatholicHigh School, recognizing his leadership,character, and dedication to theschool. Steve's legacy is one of faith, family,service,and joy.

One of Steve's greatest joys was timespent with family in Grand Isleatthe "Island Queen."The beach was asecond home, where countless memorieswere madefishing,crabbing shrimping,duckhunting, and spending time with friends who grew intofamily. He was also amember of the TropicalGardens Hunting Club in Pecan Island,where he enjoyed duck hunting and thecamaraderieoffriends. Known forhis quick wit, good humor,and never meeting astranger,Steve was lovedbyall who knew him.

The family wishes to thank thededicated staff at Baton Rouge General d h d fl

ICUand the3rd floornurses, as well as Dr. Panzarello,Dr. Cullota, and Dr. Paul Rachal and hisstaff for their exceptionalcare and support over theyears. They would also like to thank theLacour House staff, residents, and friends—especiallyMs. Margaret Bishop—for their care, kindness,and companionship withhim overthe last twoyears.

The visitationwillbe held on Thursday,September4,2025 at Niland'sFuneral Home in NewRoads La from9:00 am until 11:30am. The Mass of ChristianBurial willbe held at St.Mary's Catholic Church in NewRoads at 12 noon,with interment to follow at St. Mary'sCemetery.Pallbearers willbehis grandsons: Ethan Fourrier, Cody Fourrier, Blake Fourrier, NolanFourrier, Andrew Fontaine, and Charlie Fourrier. Honorary pallbearerswillbeMichel Fourrier, Andre Fourrier,Bo Bienvenu, Mike Lamana, Mike Nola,L.J. Dantin, Stan Heine,CharlieTramonte, and Ensley Duke. In lieu of flowers,donations may be madeto PointeCoupee Home Health and Hospice in gratitudefor their compassionatecare.

Sherry Rood Frink died August 30, 2025, in Montgomery Village,Maryland. She was 93. She was anative of Flint,Michigan. Aftergraduating from Flint Central HighSchool and Michigan State University, Sherry fulfilled her longtime desire to become an airline stewardess. Sherry is survivedbytwo sons and daughters-in-law: Christopher(Emily) of BatonRouge and Geoffrey (Connie)ofDamascus, Maryland; and five grandchildrenand threegreatgrandchildren. Sherry traveled extensively andwas lucky enoughtolivein many places including Mexico, Florida, PuetroRico, Maryland, Virginia, Texas and Louisiana. She even oversaw building a house in Annapolis, Maryland. Sherry was lovedfor herquickwit,great sense of humor,and thewonderful friendshipsshe made wherever she went.Per her wishes, Sherry was cremated.There willbea memorial serviceonTuesday, September 2at2 pm at The RedShoes at 2303 Government St.,Baton Rouge. Remembrances can be mailedtoBethany Frink at 23804 Rolling Fork Way Gaithersburg,MD20882.

Hollier-Smith, Hanni Roshea

Ourbeloved Hanni Roshea Hollier-Smith, a proudnative of Baton Rouge,passed away peacefully on August 13, 2025, at Baton Rouge General MedicalCenter, after a courageousthree-year battle with breast cancer Shewas 43 years old.

Hanniwas thecherished eldest of threesiblings. A radiantspirit full of joy, humor, and boundless creativity, she hada raregift forlightingupany room she entered. Whether throughsinging,acting, or herunforgettable impressions and accents, she couldalways bringlaughterand warmthtothose around her. Her vibrant presence andmagnetic personalitywill be deeply missed by all whoknew andloved her.

Sheissurvived by her devotedhusband, Cornelius Smith, the love of herlife; herbeloved son, Lieutenant Junior Grade Sethan Hollier; herloving parents, Ray M. Hollierand Regina HannaHollier;and herdear brothers, Memphis R. Hollierand Airman HarrisonHollier. Shealso leaves behind ahostof aunts, uncles andcousins whowill forever hold her memory in theirhearts.

Familyand friends are invited to attendthe Visitation on Saturday, September 13, 2025, from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at United Believers Baptist Church,8837 Greenwell Springs Rd., Baton Rouge with Funeral Servicesimmediately following. Pastor Manuel Pigee, III,Officiating Servicesentrusted to Hall Davis and SonFuneral

Jeansonne, Dr. James Louis 'Jim'

JamesLouis Jeansonne, "Jim"tofamilyand friends, wasour belovedhusband, father,grandfather,brother,uncle and friend. He passedaway, at theage of 75, on August 30, 2025, surroundedbyhis family. Born September 10, 1949 in Baton Rouge,Louisiana, Jimlived alifedefinedby strength,generosity and quietsensitivity. Well-read anddeeply curious, Jim foundjoy in history, literature and all things of nature.Heloved spending time in thewoods, whether huntingorsimply observingand nurturing all of God's wondrous gifts blossoming at hisfarminNorwood, Louisiana. He was a curiousamalgamationof theeclectic -a "modern Renaissance man";heenjoyed scuba diving, travel andanappreciationofa vibrantmusic spectrum that ranged from Randy Travis to TheRolling Stones, classical music andeverything in between Hisfamilywillalways remember himfor hissharp mind, kindheart andcalm presence. He knew when to fold anotherinto hisembrace,sharingtheir sorrows or magnifying their joys. He waslarge in frame and in heart. Jimgraduatedfrom Broadmoor High School, earneda Bachelor of Science degree from Louisiana State University in 1972 and then went on

When youneed thenews. Wherever youreadthe news

to graduate as aDoctor of Dental Surgeryfrom LSU in 1976. Following hisgraduation, Jimserved active dutyasa Captaininthe United States Army, stationed at Fort Huachuca, Arizona, from 1976 to 1979, carrying the values of patriotism and service throughout his lifetime.

In 1979, Jim launched his dental practice in Gonzales, Louisiana—a careerhe carried forward with compassion, skill and passionate dedication until retiring in 2025. Hispassion for his profession led him often to remark "I loved my work; Ihave never felt that I'worked' aday in my life. Every day was ajoy." That dedication and drive was echoed in the assurances ofa number of colleagues, who have shared thatJim was vital to launching their careers.

Jim was active in his community, serving in the GonzalesRotary Club, acting as its president in 2022 and 2023. He was alsoa Fellow Craft Mason working towards his degrees with lodge Feliciana #31 when he passed He is survived by Kathy, his loving and faithful wife of 43 years and his children,Stephanie Marie Jeansonne and her husband Billy Tullier, James Robert Jeansonne and his wife Paige, and Katie Jeansonne Maxwelland her husband Jack; his grandchildren, Pilot, Ronin, Freya, MaudieJames and Cannon, who affectionately called him "the Dude" (AKA: "the most awesome Dude"); his siblings, Wendy Anne Jeansonne and her husband Dave Dargo and Stephen Prince Jeansonne andhis wife Nancy;numerous nieces and nephews; andmany other loved ones, including his beloved four-legged furry side-kick "Buddy." He is preceded in death by his parents, Robert Louis Jeansonne and SylviaAnne Hernandez Jeansonne. While Jim treasured his relationships with many special people, Drexell Boggs, ChrisReily andDr. Chad Spillers held cherished places in his heart. With each, many years of shared professional and recreational endeavors forged unbreakable bonds of brotherhood.

Jim's drink of choice was bourbon or whiskey over severely crushed ice, whichhereferredtoasa "snow cone." It was integraltotoasts of "to the family" when loved ones gathered and it consistently kicked off arousing game of spades and other shared moments of good company.

In time, the family will hold two memorial celebrations in honor of Jim: one at his home in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and another at his home in Norwood, Louisiana. Dates and times for these celebrations willbeannounced. In the meantime, we know that each of us now have stewardship over the gifts that Jim has shared; it would put a smile on his face to know that you took aleisurely walk in nature, preferably with abeloved family member or friend and perhaps afurry friend, and that you just inhaled the beauty that is God's most generous gift to each of us -seize it. Hug your loved ones. Tell them what is in your heart. He would be honored to know that you thought of him as you drank in these things Jim's familywould like to thank his entire care team at Our Lady of the Lake RegionalMedical Center for their compassionate care. In lieu of flowers, donations may be

made to the Tunnel to TowersFoundation, in honor of his lifelong commitment to service and community.

Knobloch, Warren Marshall

Warren Marshall Knoblochpassedaway peacefully in hishome at the ageof83onAugust30, 2025. He was born in Baton Rouge on April 8, 1942. He livedand thrived thanks to the love and devotionof his late parents Woodrow Marshall Knobloch and Dorothy Bourgeois Knobloch. Warrenwas a kind and gentle soul who was verysweet and compliant. He wouldgreet everyone with asmileand offerhis friendship. He taughtothers about acceptance, love, patience,and the joyoflife'ssimple pleasures. He is survived by his sisterDiane Knobloch Silarais, many wonderful and supportive friends, and especially his advocate Thelma Keller Jones. He is precededin death by his parents, his brother-in-law Ojars"Olie" Silarais, his grandmother Eva MarchandBourgeois, auntsand uncles Jimmy and Ethel Bourgeois, Alex and Juliette Bourgeois, Marjorie Longlanais,and Gloria LaBorde. Warren was an extremely hard worker. He began working at the ageof14asa "bag boy"atthe Aand Pstore in Westmoreland Village at Government Street. After many yearshethen workedanadditional44 years in competitive employment at the Department of Transportation and Development. Warren was alifelong memberof OurLady of Mercy Catholic Churchand the Knights of Columbus. As ayoung man he attended 10:30mass everySundayfollowedby family lunch at the downtown Piccadilly on Third Street.Heloved LSU footballespecially the Golden Band from Tigerland as his father was amemberduring the Huey P. Long erain the 1930s. He was also a big fanofCoach Bear Bryant.Hewas present in Tiger Stadium for BillyCannon's famous touchdown in 1959.The destinationhe loved themost was LasVegas and his favorite concerts were Elvis Presley and Diana Ross. Deep appreciationisexpressed to the medical stafffor their care and support, Dr.R Todd Cooley, nurses Kristie and Freddie,Dr. Mark Posner,and Dr.DannyWood. Many thanks to the ladies of All Kare Alternative for their love and service, Monica Johnson,Brenda Kingston,Tawanda Schofield Knightshed, Lora McKee, and thelateCinder Smith Aclise, and director Jeremy Jones along with friend SarahBuckhalter. A specialthankyou to Hospice of Baton Rougeand nurse Debbie, Toni, Carrie, and Jay. Religiousservices will be held at Our Lady of Mercy on Friday, September 5with visitation at 9:00 am followed by mass at 10:00amcelebrated by Fr. Cleo Milano. Reception to follow atthe Parish Activity Centerimmediatelyfollowing the service. Burial

willbeheldatRoselawn Cemetery in thefamily plot.Rabenhorst Funeral Home downtownisin charge of arrangements.

On Wednesday, August 13, 2025, at 1:18 p.m.,God called MorrisJ.Lapeyrouse home to Heaven.Hewas 97 yearsold,borninNew Or‐leansonOctober 20,1927 to parentsMorrisLapey‐rouseofHouma andClaire ToupsLapeyrouseofThi‐bodaux.Morrisissurvived by daughter Denise Leonard(Roy);son Keith Lapeyrouse (Sandra); grandson JamesLapey‐rouse; sistersMarlene Lapeyrouse Lorioand the late Marion Waguen‐hauser;latestepdaughter XeniaHelmstetter and stepdaughter-in-lawCindy Goudeau(Gano); anddaily caretakerTerri Rushing. Morriswas trulyconsid‐ered a“catch” with his good looks, easy charm, andhardworkethic.He marriedThelmaWigginton Lapeyrouse,and some 10 yearslater after Thelma’s passing, Nellie Forsythe Lapeyrouse.Sadly,both passed away before him after suffering long-time illnesses; Morrislovingly caredfor them until their passing. In theearly years of hismarriagetoThelma, he movedthe littlefamily to Chalmette andenjoyed life fully there. Morrisgrad‐uatedfromAloysiusHigh School andDelgado Com‐munity College, and worked 30 yearsfor the FederalGovernmentatthe Port of Embarkationasa Plannerand Estimator. He wasalsointheMerchant Marinesand drafted into theArmyduringthe Ko‐rean War. Morrisretired at 54 with acomfortable pen‐sion.Heloved workingon wood projects,but could also do electrical,plumb‐ing, roofing,cementing andmostanythingelse. He addedontothe Chalmette houseseveral timesand renovatedthe AlgiersPoint houseafter he moved there. Morriswas Godfa‐ther to severalniecesand nephews, andloved play‐ingballinthe backyard andteachingthemtobuild construction itemsaswell. Whilebusyatworkand home with Thelma being sick earlyon, Morrisstill found time to be active at OurLadyofPromptSuccor Church in Chalmette and wasanAssistantBoy ScoutLeaderofTroop 85. He helped to establishthe Bullseye ShootingRange andenjoyed theNARF, Na‐tional Association of Re‐tiredFederal Employees, andtheir meetings.Hewas an avid guncollector and reloader,and wonseveral shootingcompetitions. Relativesand friendsare invitedtoattenda visita‐tion on Saturday,Septem‐ber6,2025 at Holy Name of Mary Catholic Church,400 Verret Street,New Orleans, LA 70114, from 9amto11 am with aFuneralMassat 11 am.Burialservicesto followatWestlawnMemo‐

rial Park,1225 Whitney Ave.,Terrytown, LA 70056.

MaryLeJeuneLemoine, born on August 18, 1938, in Hammond, Louisiana, passed away on Sunday, August 31, 2025, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, at the ageof87. She is remembered as alovingmother, grandmother, and greatgrandmother, who cherishedher family and built lasting connections with her friends and neighbors throughout her life.Mary beganher career as asocial workerand lateranoffice manager fora Dialysis Center. She was deeply committed to her Catholic faith.Her dedication and compassion extendedbeyond her professional life, as she was actively involved in variousministrieswithin the Catholic Church. Mary was achartermember of St.Louis King of France Parish and participatedinthe Catholic Daughters, theAltar Society, and thePastoral CouncilatSt. Thomas More Catholic Church. She most recently was an active member of St.George Catholic Parish. Mary is survivedbyher children, Marcel (Nancy)Lemoine Rachel (Steve) Boudreaux and Claire (Mark) Gregory; sister, Suzanne Santopadre; grandchildren: Tyler (Bri)Boudreaux Danielle (Austin)Hall, Sarah (Brennon) Mason, LaurenGregory, Madeline Lemoine,and Mary Grace Lemoine;and her greatgrandchildren, Rosie Boudreaux, Carleigh Hall, and Henry Mason; along with numerous nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her husband of 50 years, Francis Alvin Lemoine;father, Randolph Charles LeJeuneSr.;mother, Laura Lolita LeJeune; brother, RandolphCharles LeJeuneJr.;and her life-

longfriend, Jeanette Mouton Coats. Thefamilyinvites you to gatherinher memory during visitation at St.George Catholic Church in Baton Rouge on Thursday, September 4, 2025, from 9:30 AM until 11:00 AM,until Funeral Mass at 11:00 AM.Burial will follow at Resthaven GardensofMemorywitha reception to follow at ResthavenFuneral Home.

Virginia A. Majorpassed away peacefully on Satur‐day, August 30, 2025, at her home.She wasbornin Glynn, Louisiana, on No‐vember 6, 1925. Virginia ob‐tained an accountingde‐gree from LSUin1946, fol‐lowing which shebecame aCertified Public Accoun‐tant.She wasanoriginal partnerinPosthlewaite Nettervillefromwhich she retiredafter alongand successful career.Funeral services will be held at St Aloysius Catholic Church, 2025 Stuart Ave.,Baton Rouge, LA 70808 on Thurs‐day, September4,2025, at 11:00 a.m. Father Allelo will officiate. Visitation will be at St.Aloysiusprior to the servicefrom10:00 a.m. until servicetime. Inter‐ment will be held in ResthavenCemeteryunder thedirection of Raben‐horstFuneral Home

Palermo, Robert J'Bobby'

Robert "Bobby" J. Palermo passedawayduring Labor Dayweekend. He wasa native &resident of Addis, LA &a faithful memberofSaint John the Baptist (SJB) Catholic Church in Brusly. Bobby hada deep love forthe outdoors &spent many cherished days hunting& fishing. He enjoyed cooking, watching sports& spending time with family& friends. His greatest joycamefrom sharing stories &laughter with those he loved. He waspreceded in death by hisparents, Addie Barbier Cazes &Peter Palermo; loving wife, Pennie Palermo; son,Steve Palermo (Candy); daughter, Lisa Smith (Mike); grandson Pete Palermo;great-grandson, Jacob Wade; &grandson-in-law, Matt Daniel. He is survived by hischildren, RhondaPalermo Rodriguez &her former husband, Todd Rodriguez; &Joseph Palermo (Katherine). He is also survived by hissiblings: Jody Cazes,Jaye Guerin, &Shannon Plauche.His legacycontinuesthrough hisgrandchildren:Amber Wade(Tommy), Megan Daniel; Chelsae Buttrey (Brandon), Tyler Smith; Trista Cruz (Shaun), TrentRodriguez (Jena), Trey Rodriguez, Tori Rodriguez(fiancé Terry Comeaux); Anna, Sarah &Jacob Palermo;Brandon Toups(Bethany) as well as numerousgreat-grandchildren.VisitationatSJB in Brusly, LA, on Thu.Sep.4, 2025, at 10:00 AM;Memorial Mass at 11:00 AM.Bereavement Receptionwill be after Mass at SJBfellowshiphall.

OPINION

Privatedonors help Amistad Research Center carryon

The Amistad Research Center‘s executive director Kathe Hambrick did something she didn’twant to do earlier this summer: She told half of her staff she couldn’tafford to keep themon.

Fortypercent of the internationally recognized center’s$1.5 million budget waswiped out when the Institute of Museum and Library Sciences notified Hambrick thatthe Amistad’s grants had been terminated.The reason wasnot specified,but the decisionbythe federal agency that provides library and museum grants wasin sync with President Donald Trump’saim to end support for groups, organizations and programs that reflect the experiences and history of underserved and underrepresented communities.

The cuts wenttothe heart of theAmistad Research Center’smission.Named forthe ship on which kidnapped Africans bound forslavery revoltedin1839, the center,whichishoused at Tulane University,holds amassive archive documenting the experiences of African American and other minoritygroups in theU.S., from paintings by acclaimed artist Jacob Lawrence to the records of the LouisianaCoalitionAgainst Racism and Nazism, which exposedthe history of politician and former Ku KluxKlanleader David Duke. Hambrick quickly set about saving the center’swork.

Separate from its mainwebsite, she created a “Save Black History” companionsite to drawattention to the center’sfinancial plight.

It turnedout that help arrived quickerthan Hambrick could have imagined.Inlessthan three months, the center raised more than $1.6 million, and fiveofthe seven laid-off employees have been rehired. In arecent statement,the executive director expressed herappreciation.

“Because of this generosity andsupport, Amistad’sstaff can continueits mission of making the stories and voices of marginalized groups available to the public whiletrainingthe next generation of preservation professionals,” she wrote.

The Andrew W. MellonFoundation made a three-year commitment, promising$750,000 for generaloperatingneeds.The Getty Foundation made atwo-yearpromiseofatotal of $275,000 to help with operations and save thepapersand works of sculptor RichmondBarthé, master artist Elizabeth Catlett, cartographer LouiseJefferson andvisualartist Senga Nengudi through its Black Visual Arts Archivesinitiative. About 300 individuals and group donors contributed smaller donations of $5 to $100,000. Noting the “difficult environment in which all of our organizations are operating,amid increasing challenges andattacks fromthe current administration in Washington, D.C.,” Hambrick told the center’sbenefactors that their “commitment to stand withAmistadduring this critical time speaks volumes.”

The Amistad Research Center startedat Fisk University in Nashville, moved to Dillard University thentoTulane. Throughout, it has continued to be aplace where academics, researchers, scholars and citizens have visitedto dig deeper into our American history It deserves continued support

LETTERSTOTHE

HERE

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

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

Honoring Foundersdoesn’t

Recently Iread aletter sent in by Adrian Bruneau. Onething that caught my attention was that he said theleft was tearing down statues of our founders and rewriting history through the lens of grievance. I’m going to pose aquestion to Bruneau and any others who hold that point of view: Would you rather that we ignore our founders’faults and issues and paint them as perfect beings?

Washington owned slaves. Lincoln believed African Americansweren’t equal to whites. FDR put over 100,000 Japanese Americansininternment camps. Pretending that these things didn’thappen doesn’tmean that they didn’t.

Butarecent executive order has declared that exhibits under theDepartmentofthe Interior that “inappropriately disparage Americanspast or living” are to be removed. This now

In Rich Lowry’scolumn on gerrymandering, he gives an example of a Democrat gerrymander.Hedoesn’t point out that in 2021 Democrats proposed abill that would have eliminated gerrymandering for purely political advantage.

It provided clear guidelines for courts to use to identify district divisions created solely for partisan purposes. It would also have provided

Thanks for your continued coverage of the abominable death, destruction and devastation in Gazaand Israel.

As youreported, as of Aug. 6, this has continued for morethan 22 months.In Israel, an estimated 1,139 people were killed and 250 taken hostage in Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack in addition to other Israelis killed sincethen. And over 61,000 Palestinians have died, many by starvation when food and other relief suppliesare at their doorstep. Iaffirm theright of thestate of Israel to existinpeace and to defend itself. I alsoaffirm theright of astate of Palestine to existinpeace and defend itself. IamaChristian. With many others, Iabhor thecontinuing mutual destruction and annihi-

meansthat morethan adozen references to slavery are in danger of being removed from Independence National Historic Park, with the supposed objectiveofrestoring “truth and sanity.” Not only this, but mentions of queer and transgender people wereremoved from theNational Park Service’s Stonewall website. History is being rewritten as we speak Yetasignificant number of people (including Bruneau) act as if an honest and critical view of leaders and figures who made questionable decisions is completely unreasonable.Teaching kids that the best of us are still human is good for them. We have to accept our founders, flaws and all. By erasing and censoring our past mistakes we’re setting our country up to repeat those very mistakes that we’ve tried to forget. EMMETTMURPHY Baton Rouge

courts the power to reject those divisions. That bill didn’tget far, but it shows that Democrats were willing to give up political gerrymandering. Now Republicans are outraged that states led by Democrats wanttofollow Texas’ lead and redraw their own maps. SeemstomeTexas Gov.Greg Abbottstarted theball rolling.

ANDREWGALLIEN Harahan

lation of thepeople of Israel and Palestine.Ibelieve that The God of Abraham creates all human beings and declares each one to be good. Ibelieve that God loves everyone God gives birth to. As a Christian, Ibelieve that this applies to one’senemies as wellastooneself. God led Moses and his people out of slavery intothe desert and fed them manna from heaven. At Meribah, God gave the people water to drink. Jesus fed thousands of people. Ibelieve that it grieves theCreator –asitgrieves so many of us –that starvation is being used as as tactic of politicsand war. Idonot have apolitical solution to this abomination. But it must stop.

RICHARD SAXER NewOrleans

The U.S. 90 bridges at the Louisiana/Mississippi state line have been shut downfor way too long. At first, it was believed that it would only be fortwo years, but that deadline has passed with no immediate plans for reconstruction. One wonders if the problem of delayed reconstruction is with Mississippi or Louisiana or both. Many people are frequent travelers from the NewOrleans area to eastern Gulf states forweekend beach trips or vacations. Itravel frequently from Metairie to Pensacola and back. This trip is usually about 3.5 hours using Interstate 10. Many times, there are accidents or roadwork that reduces lanes to one. Traffic backsupfor miles.

My trip last week was six hours due to an accidentonthe high bridge at the Louisiana/Mississippi state line. The alternate route, U.S. 90, that would relieve such congestion, remains closed. This bridge is so important in times of hurricane evacuation and necessary forthe restoration of the economy of the businesses located in the area. Let’sput our state representatives and the governors in acouple of the traffic jamsand see what happens. FRAN WISEWAN Metairie

U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy et al. are wrong to concur with the president’s overreach in firing the commissioner of Labor Statistics and, worse,are in arace to the bottom to supplicate for an endorsement. The bureau generates its job numbers by reviewing past data and current trends, and the Trump tariff “policy” of wild swings, phantom deadlines and governing-bygrievance takes an imperfect science and injects an unprecedented degree of uncertainty into the process.

Our commander-in-chief is knocking over the water glass and asking whythe table is wet.

TAYLOR LORIO Metairie

Skepticismiscalledfor as LSUarena deal progresses

Maybe LSU does need anew $400 million arena.

collegesports, first-rate facilities are amust

Of the 21 museumsunder the umbrella of the Smithsonian Institution, one in particular seemsrecently to have rubbed President Donald Trumpthe wrong way

Maybe the best way to build it is in apublic-private partnership with Oak View Group.Maybe they’re the only ones capable of building, funding and operating the arena. Maybe the only way to get this offthe ground is to offer $100 million or more in financial incentives from Tiger Athletic Foundation and Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Maybe negotiating over further incentives funded by sales tax in thearena district is also necessary

And maybe, just maybe, anew arena will be a“catalyzing” development for the city of BatonRouge that will not only generate new convention business butboost the city’slive-event profile and help persuade more youngpeople that Baton Rouge is worthsticking around in after graduatingfrom LSU or Southern.

Maybe all of those things are true. That’scertainly the sales pitch being offered by awide range of proponents, including leaders from TAF, FMOL, Visit Baton Rouge, the Baton Rouge Area Chamber and the Baton Rouge AreaFoundation, all of whom sat down with this newspaper’seditorial board last week.

And let me say this: LSU definitely needs anew arena. The PeteMaravich Assembly Center is obsoleteand insufficient for big time athletics. Andifwe know anything about thisnew era of

Butunlike Shaquille O’Neal, who very publicly announced his investment in the new arena, I’m not sold. I’m notwillingtogrant all those “maybes.”

Iamalso not ready togoasfar as East Baton Rouge Republican Party chairman WoodyJenkins, who called the plan a“scam” and “corrupt.”

Idothink adose of skepticism is healthy, myself included.

Lest we forget, LSU stands for Louisiana State University.It’sthe very essence of apublic entity and the brand is one that manyLouisianans —myself certainly included —hold very dearly

Yetinthe plans for anew arena, aprivate organization,TAF,was negotiating on behalfofthe universityand by extension, the people of Louisiana.

TAFsaysthat originally,there were 19 potential developers, alist that was whittled to 12-14, then six, then two.

TAFdenied public records requests from this newspaper for documents related to those other firms or about the process. In theend, they only named the two finalists. Then the second, ASM Legends, dropped out.

Oak View Group is the only company that can do this project, its proponents argue. This makes it look less like good business, as proponentsinsist,and morelike old-style Louisianapolitics.

When Oak View founder and former CEO TimothyJ.Leiweke was indicted on acharge ofbid-rigging in Texas, it just solidifiedthat image even if that’s unfair.The indictment has nothing to do with theLouisiana project, Leiweke insists he’sinnocentand he plans to

fight thecharges, we are told. ButweinLouisiana have seen this story before. Ourcynicism is justified Andthen there are thetens of millions of dollars in incentives that could flow to Oak View Group. According to adraft of theterm sheet from last fall, TAFwould pay Oak View $30 million over the first 10 years of the deal and then $40 million over years 11-20. In addition, $40 million from the$50 million, 10-year naming rightsdeal from Franciscan Missionaries of OurLady would also go to Oak View Group. Somesimple math makes that $70 million in the arena’sfirst 10 years from those two entities. Andatleast $110 million in the first 20 years. To be fair,that’s not public money per se,but given thenumber of folks beholden to TAFfor their LSU tickets or who rely on FMOL medical care, it feels like it. Throw on top of that the potential thatsome of the one-cent sales tax planned for thearena district may also be funneled back to Oak View Group, and that number grows even more. Of course, all of those elements are still being negotiated before afinal termsheet is hammered out. Butstill, that’sa lot of sweetener for what, it seems, should be aprofitable venue.

Perhaps these elements will be better explained in the coming months and my concerns will be mollified.I’m open to that. Butinthe meantime, we should remain dubious. After all, we’re from Louisiana. We’ve earned it

Faimon A. RobertsIII can be reached at froberts@theadvocate.com.

“The Smithsonian is OUTOFCONTROL,” Trumpfulminated in asocial media postTuesday,“where everything discussed is how horrible our Country is, how bad Slavery was, and how unaccomplished the downtrodden have been —Nothing about Success, nothing about Brightness, nothing about the Future.” Mercy me. Imagine that! A museum dedicated to African American history and culture that dares to include someexhibits about slavery If you haven’tseen the real thing —and I have been back with friends and relatives more times than Ihave kept count —the experience is nowhere near as gloomyasthe president recollects. They even have Chuck Berry’sred Cadillac Eldorado on display,speaking of “success” and “brightness.”

Well, hard as this may be to believe, the president’sdescription of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture falls woefully short of accuracy especially in comparison to his remarks at the museum’s opening in 2017.

“I’m deeply proud that we now have amuseum that honors the millions of African American men and women whobuilt our national heritage,” he said, “especially when it comes to faith, culture and the unbreakable American spirit....”

“And it really is very,very special. It’s something that, frankly,ifyou want to know the truth, it’sdoing so well that everybody is talking about it.”

Ah, what adifference eight years make!

The president’srecent comments came a week after the White House sent an ominous announcement to the Smithsonian: its museums would be required to revise any content that the administration finds problematic in “tone, historical framing and alignment with American ideals” —and they have 120 days to do so.

Black Americans are not the only folks whose depictions are receiving special scrutiny.For example, apainting of refugees at the U.S.-Mexico border that was afinalist in acontest at the National Portrait Gallery,another Smithsonianaffiliated museum, wassingled out for denunciation.

“Refugees Crossing the Border Wall Into South Texas,” a2022 work by painter Rigoberto A. Gonzalez, showsafamily in flight from some unseen peril, scaling awooden ladder at what appears to be Trump’s“big, beautiful wall” at the U.S./Mexico border

Donald Trump’sallegedfascist crackdown is finally here—federal troops are on the streets of major U.S. cities with almost certainly more on the way First, they came for Los Angeles, then, for Washington, D.C., and next, if reportsare to be believed, Chicago.

There’snodoubt that Trump loves the optics and sense of strength that comes with deploying the National Guard to U.S. cities, while many of his political enemies love the thrill of decrying the arrival of the dystopia they’ve always warned about.

The Guard troops obviously aren’t Trump’sequivalent of Mussolini’s squadristi or Hitler’sbrownshirts brawlers and enforcers operating outside the law to crush apolitical party’s opponents. They are awell-trained, entirely lawful military force that isn’tengaging in street fights or arresting dissidents. The Guard’srole has, mostly, been to stand in front of federal buildings and other public landmarks. In Washington, D.C., they walk along Metro platforms andgenerally make themselves visible (they are often seen drinking coffee and taking photos with tourists).

In short, they’ve been abenign presence, although still apolitical flashpoint. For Trump, the Guard deployments are an emblem of the restorationof public order.Nothingsays the lawman

LETTERS TO

isback in town quitelike Humvees parked in front of Union Station and camouflaged federal troops walking the streets. That thetroopsare overkill makes them even more potent as asymbol —Trump really means it. Thatthey generate areaction from his opponents is even better, since it promptsthem into attacking atoken of lawfulness in places that suffer from endemic disorder

So, Trump feels an urge to take the show on anational tour,withthe Windy City or perhaps Baltimore as the next stop. This is abad idea. D.C. and L.A. present unique circumstances not replicated in other cities. Legally,D.C. is an easyquestion Although Congresshas granted D.C. home rule, the federal government has plenary power over the district. Thepresident of theUnited States has direct authority over theD.C. National Guard, and can also take control of the city’spolice department. Constitutionally and legally,Trump is on solid ground. Since D.C.has aunique statusand the feds have taken over thepolice department,therehas been useful collaboration between the federal and local law-enforcementofficials. (The early returns have been encouraging, with the city seeing amoderate dip in crime.)

None of this would apply to Chicago or Baltimore. The federal government has no special roleingoverning them,

and politically hostile mayors would maintain full control of theirpolice departments. The emphasis would surelybeonresistance to unwelcome federal intrusionsrather than reluctantcooperation.

Now,this was true in L.A., as well, but theriotsand obstruction of federal immigration enforcement there gave Trump theauthority to federalize members of the California National Guard and protect federal assets. Unless similar unrest breaks out in Chicago or Baltimore, Trump is going to have to stretch for alegal justification for deploying theNational Guard, and risk ahigh-profile legal reverse.

Regardless, the National Guard has limited utilityasapolice force. Its bootsonthe ground can createasense of asafer environment, and perhaps, at the margins, free up local police resources for other duties. But what places like Chicago need is moreintensive policing in high-crime areas. The National Guardisnot going to nor should it —become de facto cops making gang and drug arrests in the Southand West Sides of the city.(The FBI and DEA, on the other hand, could actually help).

At theend of the day,thereisno easy cure for the flagrant misgovernance of cities likeChicago. It is a long-term, deep-rooted ideological and political phenomenon that won’tbe easily reversed, whether the troops in camouflage show up or not.

Rich Lowry is on X@RichLowry

It maybeart to you or,atleast, to me. But to the art critics whostaffthe “Official White House Rapid Response account” on X, this was nothing morethan “the perfect example of what President Trumpmeans when he says the Smithsonian is ‘OUTOFCONTROL.’ “ Art, like history,must never stir troubling thoughts or any critical impulses in ourheads. To go back to Trump’soriginal condemnatory post on Truth Social: “This Country cannotbe WOKE, because WOKE IS BROKE. We have the ‘HOTTEST’ Country in the World, andwewant people to talk about it, including in our Museums.”

It’snot just our national museums thatare “out of control.” Those were the words Trump used to describe crimeonthe streets of Washington D.C. to justify ordering the District’sNational Guard to police the nation’scapital, subsequently joined by guardsmen from Louisiana, Mississippi, Ohio, South Carolina and West Virginia,all of which have Republican governors.

Someofmylocal media colleagues soon discovered that manymembers of the guard came from cities that happened to have higher crime rates than the District, where officials and media have been reporting athree-year decline in violent crimes.

Somemembers of Team Trumpaccused the city of reporting “rigged” numbers, much like the president attributed recent reports of weakness in the job market to “rigged” data, and then fired the Senate-confirmed Bureau of Labor Statistics official responsible forcomputing those numbers each month.

Washington, Trumpclaimed in an announcementonAug. 7, wasonthe brink of “complete andtotal lawlessness.”

But, from my vantage point, the streets were notably quiet, if you look past the unusually high number of Humvees and guardsmen, resembling an authoritarian takeover Fortunately,the resemblance to apolice state has not been totally debilitating. If you can standthe seasonal heat, Istill recommendthe city to tourists, especially the great museums. Even President Trumphas declared the city to be “safeagain.”

Email Clarence Page at clarence47page @gmail.com.

SPORTS

Southern QB Woodsnot clearedtoplay

BY TOYLOYBROWN III Staff writer

For the first time this season,Southern coach Terrence Graves announced who will be the team’sstarting quarterback for an upcoming game.

The player under center for the home opener at 6p.m. Saturday against Alabama State will be junior Cam’Ron McCoy, Graves saidTuesday.McCoy played the majority of the game in both the Jaguars’win against Mississippi Valley State last Saturday and their season-opening

ä AlabamaState at Southern. 6P.M. SATURDAy

loss vs.NorthCarolinaCentral on Aug.23.

ThedecisiontonameMcCoy the starteratA.W.Mumford StadiumonSaturdaywasn’t complicated after redshirt sophomoreJalen Woodswas ruled out with aheadand neck injury he suffered in thelast game Woods was hit on thefront of his helmet while sliding after an 8-yard runwith 12:46 left in the

second quarter againstMVSU. He remained on the ground for several minutes andwas put on astretcher and driventoahospital.

About two hours after the game, Southern athletics posted astatement on social media sayingWoods hadhis full rangeof motion and was in good condition

Graves saidWoods is getting better but is not ready to play “He’s progressing every day so it’saday-to-daything with him,” Graves said. “He’sgoing through the concussion protocol

and just basically (seeing) how he feels.You know,you just never knowwhenyou have those types of injuries. So,you know, God is good. We’re still praying for him, hoping that he’ll have amore speedy recovery.Soit’s day-to-day withhim.” Woods missed the SWAC championship game in 2024because of aconcussion. He started againstMVSU on Saturday and completed 9of13passes for 61 yards.His first game actionwas in the opener when he

See WOODS, page 3C

Owning ‘mistake’

SouthernquarterbackJalen

BY KOKI RILEY

Staff writer

Time was of the essence for Brian Kelly toward the end of the first half Saturday against Clemson.

With 15 seconds left before halftime, the LSU coach elected to go for it on fourthand 2 at the Clemson 12-yard line instead of settling forthe short field goal that would have cut the LSU deficit to 10-6.

“The mistakethat Imade on that is that we didn’t have enough time on the clock to getinfour plays.”

sive than someinkeeping the offense on the field.

BRIAN KELLy,LSU coach

It was an aggressiveapproach, one that LSU’s analytics model would have supported in atypical fourth-and-2situation in the red zone. But with only one timeout at his disposal and seconds remaining in the half, Kelly,withsomeperspective,said he made the wrong decision.

“The mistake that Imade on thatisthat we didn’thave enough time on the clock to get in fourplays,” Kelly said LSU didn’tpick up the first down anyway,aswide receiver

Still, the numbersgiven to him late in the first half on Saturdayhad factored in the amount of time left in the half. Kellyalsousedhis final timeout beforethe snap.

ChrisHilton fumbled Garrett Nussmeier’sscreen pass. Even if Hilton had held onto the ball, he would have fallen short of the sticks Kelly uses analytics to help informhis decisions in fourthdown situations. Hisuse of analytics has been afactor in why he’s been more aggres-

“Even if we got it with only onetimeoutand timeleft on theclock,itwould not have given us themaximumopportunity on that go,” Kelly said. “Sothatwas amistake on my part. We should have kicked the field goal in that situation.”

ä See LSU, page 4C

Saints WR Vele aims to be comforttoQBs

and tight end JuwanJohnson smile while running adrill before apreseason game against the DenverBroncosonAug.23atthe Caesars Superdome.

BY MATTHEW PARAS Staff writer

When Devaughn Vele found out he was tradedtothe Saints last month, Denver Broncos

coach Sean Payton told the wide receiver many of the same things he would later say publicly

The coach told him how hard of adecision it was to make. Payton and general manager George Paton wished him the best, Vele said.

“At theend of the day,I understand it’sa business,” Vele said. “It’snohard feelings,

nothing like that. Just understanding I’ve got to adjust and to contribute where Ican.”

The Saints will need himto contribute right away.After New Orleans traded a2026 fourth-round pick and2027 seventh-round pick for the 27-year-old, Vele’sskill set specificallycouldbea valuable asset againstthe Saints’ first opponent of the season. Few teams love to disguise exotic pressures and formations quite like the Arizona Cardinals, requiring quarterbacks to make quick decisions. On Monday,Saints

coach Kellen Moore noted the stress theCardinals defense puts on an offense,from the flexibility of theirsafetiesto the five-man “penny” fronts along the defensive line

In Denver, Vele emerged as asafety valve —and his 6-foot-5 size givesquarterbacks abig blanket when in danger

“There’salot of things Itry to focus on alot to improve my game,” Vele said. “I know people see (my size) as an asset, so we’regoing to try to utilize thatasmuch as Ican, but at the same time, I’mjust willing to work.”

One of the more interesting

The Saints’ decision to cut edge rusher Isaiah Foskey last week raised eyebrows and fueled wild discussions about his infamous place in the club’sdraft history Foskey never cracked the starting lineup and failed to record asingle sack in 27 career games. His best contributions wereonspecial teams. Not what the Saints expected when they selected him with the No. 40 overall pick in the 2023 draft. That no NFLteam has taken a flyer on him yet is telling. To be fair,Foskey wasdrafted to fit adifferent schemeand the 2023 draftlooks like adecidedly weak one. Few of the secondrounders that year have madean impact in the league, with tight end Sam LaPorta and safety Brian Branch being the exceptions. Still, there’snosugarcoating it. Foskey wasamiss —and abig one, given previous swings and misses on Marcus Davenport and Payton Turner Still, Foskey is farfrom the biggest bust in Saints’ history In fact, he wouldn’teven rank in the top 10, which says something about the Saints’ ignominious drafthistory Let’stake alook at the list of infamous draftpicks:

No.10: FB-LBLes Kelley

No.9:DTKevin Hardy

1967, R1 (No. 26): Future Hall of Famers Willie Lanier and Lem Barney werestill on the board, but the Saints decided to go for the burly Alabamafullback-linebacker with the first draftpick in franchise history.The dubious decision would haunt the Saints and set the tone forthe club’sgrim early seasons.

Kelly battled the measles and aknee injury as arookie and played in just twogames. He moved to linebacker ayear later and started just one game. He wascut in 1969. His career production: one interception and one kickoffreturn for20yards.

1968, R1 (7): An asterisk applies here because Hardy never played adown forthe Saints. He was sent to the San Francisco 49ers by NFLcommissioner Pete Rozelle

Foskey latest in long lineofSaints’ misses ä See BUST, page 5C

Alcaraz, Pegula reach U.S. Opensemis

BY STEPHEN WHYNO Associated Press

NEW YORK Carlos Alcaraz fingerwagged the crowd, beat Jiri Lehecka to thenet and cruisedinto the semifinals at the U.S. Open. The second-seeded Spaniard beat Lehecka 6-4,6-2, 6-4inthe quarterfinals on Tuesday, making some highlight-reel shotsand putting his hand to hisear afterward to encourage more cheers from fans at Arthur Ashe Stadium.It’s his first hard-court semifinal appearance at amajor since winning his firstGrand Slam title at the U.S. Open in 2023

“I kind of met the Grand Slam version of Carlos,” Lehecka said. “He just showed that he is one of the contenders, for sure. Everyone knew that, and he proved that.” Alcaraz is just 22 years old and is in the semifinals at amajor for the ninth time. Only Rafael Nadal with 10 has more before turning 23. Next up for Alcaraz is either Taylor Fritz or Novak Djokovic, who knockedhim out of theAustralian Open in the quarterfinals.

Alcaraz would supplant Jannik Sinner —whomhelost to in the Wimbledon final and beat in the French Open final —atop the rankings if he wins theU.S. Open forasecondtime.

“It’sreally difficult not to think about it,” Alcaraz said. “Every timethat Istep on the court, I am tryingnot to think about it If Ithink about the No. 1spot too much, Ithink I’m going to put pressureonmyself, andI just don’twant to dothat.”

Beforefacing Fritz or Djokovic on Friday,Alcaraz plans to play golfWednesday with 2017 Masters champion Sergio Garcia.He thinks his countryman owes him more than afew strokes.

“He has to give me at leastbetween 10 and15shots,” Alcaraz said. “It’sgoing to be great. I’m not that good, Sergio,come on.”

On the women’sside, Jessica Pegulabroke through her quarterfinal wall againatthe U.S.Open, defeating Barbora Krejcikova 6-3, 6-3 to get to the semifinals at aGrand Slam tournament for just the second time in her career She failed to advance into the semisinher first 22 main draw ap-

pearances at amajor before reaching the final at Flushing Meadows ayear ago, when she lost to Aryna Sabalenka.They’llmeet again in the semifinals on Thursdayafter Sabalenka advanced in awalkover when Marketa Vondrousova withdrew because of injury

“My biggest accomplishment last year was just gettingpast the quarterfinals,”Pegula said. “Now Ican say I’vedone it twice.”

Pegula, who was eliminated in thefourth round at the AustralianOpen, the third round at the French Open and the first round at Wimbledon, is thefirstwoman to make back-to-back U.S. Open semifinals without losing aset since Serena Williams from 201114. Pegula, 31, is seeded fourth at the U.S. Openand aiming for her first GrandSlamchampionship. She and No. 8Amanda Anisimova are theonly Americansleft in the women’ssingles field. Williams, Fernandezfallin women’sdoubles quarterfinals

Venus Williams’first Grand Slam tournamentintwo years

ended when sheand LeylahFernandez lost in the women’sdoubles quarterfinals to the top-seeded duo of Taylor Townsend and KaterinaSiniakova 6-1, 6-2. When thematch finishedafter 56 minutes in Louis Armstrong Stadium, Williamssmiledas she walked to the net to shake hands with Siniakova, then hug Townsend. Thousands of spectators rose to give Williamsastandingovation; Townsend andSiniakova thenjoinedin, applauding for Williams.

“Growing up watchingVenus and(her sister) Serena,for me and my sister,itwas an inspiration,” Townsend toldthe crowd.“It was an honor to share the court today.” Siniakova called Williams “a legend” and said it was“aprivilege” to play against her

The 45-year-old Williams earlier exited in the first round of bothsingles —bowing out against Karolina Muchova in three sets and mixed doubles. She was out of competition for16monthsuntil returning to play at atournament in Washington in July. Her most recent major tournament had been the2023 U.S. Open.

Osakaproveshardtobeatinlater rounds

Shehas neverlost onceinquarterfinals of aGrand Slam

BY HOWARD FENDRICH Associated Press

NEW YORK Once NaomiOsaka is in the quarterfinals of aGrand Slam tournament, look out. For awhile, it was getting there that wasthe problem. Right now,Osaka appears to be backather best, and she most definitively is back at that stageofa major,getting ready to face Karolina Muchova at the U.S.Open on Wednesday for aspot in the semifinals.

It’sthe first time Osaka —who has been ranked No. 1and now is seeded No. 23 —has made it this far at one of the four most important eventsintennis since the Australian Open in early 2021. That wasalsothe last time she won aSlam trophy

So far in her career,the 27-yearoldOsaka has left with the championship every time she got past the fourth round at anymajor something she did at Flushing Meadows on Monday with adominant win against No. 3seed Coco Gauff by a6-3, 6-2 score in barely more than an hour

“She seems relaxed outthere. She forced me to play how Idid today,” Gauff said. “Regardless (of) whatever formshe’sin, she’s always atough player,and Idon’t think anyone takes her for grant-

Muchova on Wednesdayfor aspotinthe

ed, regardlessofwhere her ‘form’ is, especially on hard courts.” Osakaisafour-time Grand Slam champion,always on that surface —winning in New York in 2018 and2020, plustwice more at Melbourne Park —thanks to going a combined 12-0in the quarterfinals,semifinalsand finals.

Osaka was asked aboutthatunbeaten mark.

“I wouldn’t say it gives me pressure or confidence. Ithink for me, you know,this is kind of uncharted territory at this point of my career,” Osaka said, referring to the 41/2-year gap. “I’m just enjoying it.

I’m having fun. I’m being able to playagainst the best players in theworld.”

It was laterin2021, at theFrench Open. that she revealed that she hadbeen dealing with anxiety and depression,thenbegan taking a series of mental health breaks Shelater missed17monthsfor maternityleave; her daughter, Shai, was born in July 2023. Twomonths after that,Osaka came to the U.S. Open and sat in thestands at Arthur AsheStadium to watch while Gauff beat Muchova in the semifinals en route to the title.

Powerout at Penske, will not returnfor 18thseason

CHARLOTTE,N.C. Will Power,the consummate companyman who won twoIndyCar titles and the Indianapolis 500for RogerPenske, will not return to Team Penske for an 18th season.

Thelong-expected announcement was finally made Tuesday, twodays after the season finale, and nearly ayear after speculation began that Power would not be renewed when his contract expired as the team eyed ayounger driver Power turns 45 at the start of next season. Power,with 45 career victories, ranks fourth on the all-time IndyCar wins list behind A.J. Foyt (67),ScottDixon(59) andMario Andretti (52). He passedAndretti as the greatest qualifier in series history

BasketballHallofFamer Raveling dies at age88

George Raveling, aHall of Fame basketballcoach whoplayed arole in Michael Jordan signinga landmark endorsement deal withNike, has died. He was 88.

Raveling’sfamily said Tuesday in astatement that he had“faced cancer with courage and grace.” Raveling, whowas inducted into theNaismithMemorialBasketball Hall of Fame in 2015, had acareer record of 335-293 from 1972-94 at Washington State, Iowa and Southern California.His success at those programs landed Raveling on the U.S. Olympic basketball staffs in 1984 and 1988.

Jordan was on the 1984 team, andRaveling helpedpersuadehim to sign with Nike.Heintroduced Jordan to Sonny Vaccaro at Nike, which helped lead to acontract that gave Jordan his own brand, made him millionsand changed the athletic apparel industry

WNBA star Clarkbetter, not clearedfor contact

PHOENIX Caitlin Clark is improvingbut stillhasn’t been cleared for contact drills during practice. With only aweek left in the regular season, the Indiana star participated in full-court drills without defense during ashootaround before the Feverfaced the Phoenix Mercury on Tuesday night.

Coach Stephanie White told reporters thatthe second-year guard had been limited to shooting drills and individual work. She said she hopes Clark will return before the end of the season. Indiana entered Tuesday seventh in the standings, battling forapostseason spot. Clark has been sidelined with aright groininjury sinceJuly15 and Tuesday night’sgame was the 19th in arow she has missed.

Mizzou QB out indefinitely; kicker is out for season

The 11th-seeded Muchova, a 29-year-old from theCzech Republic, is atalented all-court playerwho is as creative withher racket as anyone in the game. She was the runner-up to Iga Swiatek on the French Open’sred clay in 2023 and also has reached the semifinals on the hard courts at FlushingMeadows each of the past twoyears —eliminating Osaka in the second round in 2024.

“She’s agreat player.Ithink she picked up her form again and she’sgetting better and better.We cansee (from) her results,”said Muchova, who got past Venus Williamsinthe first round last week. “Wepracticed here,actually.SoI expect areallytough battle.It’s going to be achallenge, forsure.”

As for what’schangedabout Osaka over the course of her latestcomeback, Muchovathinksthe main thingisgetting in arhythm by competing more.

Osaka,equipped with ahuge serve and huge forehand, has pushed top players over the past 11/2 years but hasn’t always been able to get to the finish line, including when she held amatch point butwasn’tabletowin amarvelous contest against Swiatek at RolandGarros in 2024.

“The difference,I think, is she just now (has) more matches under her belt, (and is) winning matches, andI’d say. she (has) thatbeliefagain that shecan be the best,and trust her strokes more,” Muchova said. “Playing really fast,really good.”

Missouri will be without backup quarterback Sam Horn for“an extended period of time” because of an injury,Tigers coach Eli Drinkwitz said Tuesday,and kicker BlakeCraigwill missthe rest of the season after tearing an ACL.

Horn had been in acompetition with Penn State transfer Beau Pribula to be the starting quarterback, and both wereexpected to playinlastweek’sopeneragainst Central Arkansas. But Horn injured his right leg in the first quarter on adesigned run, and that left Pribula to play most of the way in a61-6 rout of the Bears.

Pribula was23of28for 283 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran 10 times for65yards and twomore scores.

WR Davisisrejoining Bills as partofpractice squad

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y The Buffalo Bills are bringing backanother familiar face by agreeing to a deal with Gabe Davis thatadds the receiver to the team’s practice squad.

It’s uncertainwhenDaviswill be cleared to play.The 26-yearold receiver,who spent his first four NFLseasonswith Buffalo,is recovering from atorn meniscus in hisleftknee after he got hurt in mid-November,ending his one season in Jacksonville.

Davishad 20 catchesfor 239 yards and two TDsfor the Jaguars. He was released in May despite having two yearsremaining on a $39 million, three-year contract. Davis is the latest former Bill to return, joining safety Jordan Poyer anddefensive tackle Jordan Phillips.

Hardworking seniors lead Brusly offense

BY JACKSON REYES Staff writer

Brusly senior running back Patrick Gales walked to the gate to meet friends and family after the Panthers’ 27-7 jamboree win over Parkview Baptist Gales’ back faced the field, and under the shine of the floodlights, his backplate became more visible with an image of a barking K-9 and a phrase written across it: “Danger: Beware of dog.”

The Nicholls State commit lived up to the words on his back after he found himself all alone on a double-pass play for a 60-yard touchdown against the Eagles last Thursday Gales is a two-sport athlete with game-changing speed. He made the All-Metro team in the 100-meter dash in track and field

While his speed led to an easy touchdown for the running back, he prefers to use his abilities to help his teammates.

“I don’t like just to go ahead and get the ball,” Gales said “I’m fast enough to where I have the ability to open up the field for my teammates. Whatever I’m doing to lead us to success, I love it.”

With the attention Gales drew from the Parkview Baptist defense, it opened up the passing game for senior quarterback Drake Vincent. He found senior wide receiver Darion Bennett, who took off for a 75-yard touch-

down Vincent later found senior wide receiver Marion Irving on a go route that led to a 52-yard score.

“We’ve got explosiveness everywhere,” Gales said. “The wide receiver group is nothing but talent.”

Gales also credited his quarterback and the execution that was shown throughout the evening.

Brusly coach Hoff Schooler said

Sanders defends Colorado staff, clock management

BY PAT GRAHAM AP sports writer

BOULDER, Colo. — A feisty Deion Sanders is pushing back against anyone second-guessing his clock management or calling out his coaching staff.

The Colorado coach also announced highly touted freshman quarterback Julian Lewis would see the field against Delaware this weekend and suggested the NCAA should consider some rule adjustments to promote kickoff returns Sanders had a lot on his mind Tuesday after taking a few days to ponder a 27-20 loss to Georgia Tech to open the season. It’s the first time Sanders has started 0-1 at either Colorado or Jackson State.

“If we hit the darn plays, we wouldn’t be asking these questions,” said Sanders, who’s in his third season at Colorado. “We had the plays. We just didn’t make it happen.” Sanders went into detail on Colorado’s final drive with 1:07 left and why he saved his two timeouts. The first play a pass that resulted in minus-2 yards — ended up chewing up a chunk of time.

“Do you call a timeout there? No, you’re right there. You don’t call a timeout there. You’ve got to go. You’ve got to go,” he said “You’re running tempo.”

WOODS

Continued from page 1C

played the final 6:12 against North Carolina Central.

Graves visibly was upset after no penalty flag was thrown after the hit Woods took. He said after the game that referees told him

The Buffaloes ended up driving to the 50 with three seconds remaining before attempting a Hail Mary that was knocked down.

“We’re trying to fix what was broken last week and we’re on to this week,” Sanders said. “I was there a few days ago but I’m gone now I’m into this week now.”

The offense proved inconsistent in Week 1 with Kaidon Salter taking over for Shedeur Sanders and as offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur adjusts to calling plays for more of a dual-threat option. The Buffaloes turned three early turnovers into just seven points. Asked about the conversations with Shurmur in the aftermath, Deion Sanders responded: “It’s funny that you start out with coach Shurmur and we gave up over 300 yards, darn near 400 yards, rushing. It’s ironic to me. It seems like you guys pick and choose who you want to target.”

The defense struggled, too, after producing those early turnovers. Coordinator Robert Livingston’s crew allowed 463 total yards, including a late 45-yard TD run from Georgia Tech QB Haynes King.

“We didn’t lose the game because of coach Shurmur, coach Livingston or one specific thing,” Sanders said. “I’ve got to do a better job.”

Woods waited too long to slide, and that it appeared to be a hit from a defender’s shoulder and not a head-to-head collision.

the success in the passing game is a testament to the work his guys have put in all offseason.

“Those guys have worked hours on end all summer long,” Schooler said. “Sometimes by themselves on a weekend, sometimes with coaches there.”

The Panthers seniors are a group just itching to get out on the field

and play football, he said. While Brusly hit on several explosive plays, Schooler thought his side missed out on others and still has plenty of room for improvement.

The Panthers did pick up one penalty for excessive celebration, but Gales said the team will make sure that gets fixed in no time. He said the celebration makes sure

everyone on the team gets their credit, including the offensive linemen. Schooler said they’ll get right back to work in practice to ensure the penalties don’t cost them in a future game.

Brusly slotted in at No. 7 in The Advocate’s top 10 rankings for District 4A-5A. The Panthers will open their season at Port Allen at 7 p.m. on Friday night.

Gales said the win is a sign of good things to come for his side.

“We’re ready to eat all year,” Gales said. “Effort,

Belichick’s debut as a college coach ends in a blowout loss

UNC is clobbered by TCU amid hype

BY AARON BEARD Associated Press

CHAPEL HILL,N.C. North Carolina’s high-point moment in its first game under coach Bill Belichick came early

A festive pregame atmosphere led to a roar from the crowd at kickoff. And a season-opening drive moved at a crisp pace to the end zone.

After that, well, Monday night’s hyped-up debut turned into a romp by TCU — along with a reminder that even an NFL icon with six Super Bowl titles as a head coach can’t just magically turn the Tar Heels into winners after decades of also-ran status.

“We played competitively but then just couldn’t sustain it,” Belichick said in a familiar low tone from his NFL news conferences after the 48-14 loss. “Obviously, we have a lot of work to do. We need to do a better job all the way around — coaching, playing, all three phases of the game.”

The blowout put a major damper on a night buzzing with optimism for the 73-year-old Belichick’s college debut, only to see the Horned Frogs dominate so thoroughly they drove UNC fans to the Kenan Stadium exits by midway through the third quarter

“It was a great environment tonight,” Belichick said. “I mean, the fans were awesome. There was great energy in the stadium. We just didn’t do enough to keep it going. We’ve got to play better for the energy to be sustainable.”

By the end of the game, Kenan was a ghost town, and the Tar Heels had given up more points than in any previous opener in their history, according to Sportradar

It was a jarring result, even amid uncertainty as to exactly what to expect from UNC with roughly 70 new players between transfers and incoming recruits. There were few highlights after that opening drive beyond Kaleb Cost’s athletic reeling in of a deflected ball for an interception, and quarterback Max Johnson returning in relief from a serious leg injury sustained in last year’s opener at Minnesota.

“We’re just moving forward, just moving forward,” said Cost, offering an unintentional callback to Belichick’s famous “We’re on to Cincinnati” response to reporters’ questions after a blowout loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in 2014.

UNC was picked to finish eighth in the 17-team Atlantic Coast Conference, though that seemed almost entirely predicated on Belichick’s mere presence. This is a man, after all, who teamed with legendary quarterback Tom Brady to win six world titles in his 24-year run with the New England Patriots

So there was spectacle to Belichick’s debut as he took the field sporting a familiar look from the pro sideline with a gray hoodie — only this one bearing the name “Carolina Football” in that distinctive shade of light blue.

An estimated 5,000 fans packed onto a main campus quad for a pregame concert and throngs lined the team’s walk to Kenan, where UNC has sold out all its season tickets at an elevated price with Belichick’s arrival — and single-game seats for the season. The game attracted ESPN to hold a pregame studio show from the sideline.

There were notable former UNC athletes from years past, including NBA legend Michael Jordan — who won a national championship under Dean Smith here in 1982 — and former UNC star linebacker Lawrence Taylor, who played under Belichick when he was an assistant and eventually defensive

coordinator with the New York Giants during the 1980s. Belichick roamed the field during pregame warmups for the better part of a half-hour At one point, he stood on the UNC end of the field with general manager Michael Lombardi, then shared a quick handshake with ACC commissioner Jim Phillips as he made his way toward midfield.

Once there, Belichick shook hands with members of the officiating crew and watched the Horned Frogs warm up.

The Tar Heels got off to a sprint of a start with an 83-yard drive that ended with Caleb Hood scoring through the right side from 8 yards out, followed by forcing a quick punt. But things soon started getting away TCU — which lost in a similar scenario as the “other” team in Deion Sanders’ debut at Colorado two years ago — never looked rattled or thrown. Bud Clark provided a highlight by jumping Gio Lopez’s sideline throw for an easy 25-yard pick-six as TCU took a 20-7 lead into the break. It quickly got worse after halftime. Kevorian Barnes sprinted through the right side and down the sideline for a 75-yard touchdown on the first snap Trent Battle added his own big run, slipping through the left side untouched and going 28 yards for a TD. And finally, Devean Deal had a 37-yard scoop-and-score on Lopez’s fumble to make it 41-7 and start the Kenan exodus.

“We’re still waiting to hear back,” Graves said. “AD Banks has been on top of that from its inception. The big thing was, at Valley, the replay wasn’t working and it wasn’t on Valley’s part.

“I said, ‘Whether it was a shoulder or a head, the guy gave himself up.’ And, you know, not to call (a penalty) their guy got to play and my guy got carted off to the hospital,” Graves said that night. On Tuesday, he said that Southern athletic director Roman Banks reached out to the Southwestern Athletic Conference to learn more about why there wasn’t a penalty on the play

“Coach Banks has been consistent and diligent about getting some clarification and some response back in terms of that. So when we find out, I’m sure he’ll release something to let everyone know.” McCoy, a junior Jackson State transfer, completed 8 of 17 passes for 82 yards and a touchdown in relief of Woods during the 34-29 victory He also rushed five times for 35 yards and a touchdown. McCoy showed some progress from his season-opening performance

H LSU FOOTBALL

THREE AND OUT: SCOTT RABALAIS SHARES HIS TOP TAKES FROM BRIAN KELLy’S NEWS CONFERENCE

1

KELLY VS DABO

On Tuesday, Clemson coach Dabo Swinney gave both teams a failing grade from Saturday’s 17-10 LSU win: a 65 for LSU a 58 for Clemson Kelly jabbed back: “I thought we dominated them in the second half. Maybe he didn’t see the second half. He might not have wanted to see the second half.” Kelly clearly still is chapped that Swinney dropped a dime on AJ Haulcy to the NCAA, leading to his firsthalf suspension Saturday because of an ejection at Houston last season

2 1-0 1-0 1-0

Typically in the LSU team room there are panels describing all the upcoming games and potential postseason targets as well.This preseason, the only opponent referred to on the wall was Clemson. On Tuesday, the Clemson game panel was replaced by a plain gold one, and a panel referring to the Louisiana Tech game was displayed. Kelly explained that the 1-0 mindset for Clemson will continue all season.“This is our mantra for the year.”Why change what works?

LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier looks to pass in the first half against Clemson on Saturday in Clemson, S.C.

Kelly agrees with disputed

incompletion call, not rule

BY REED DARCEY AND SCOTT RABALAIS Staff writers

In the second half Saturday against Clemson, LSU receiver Barion Brown appeared to haul in a 30-yard touchdown pass from Garrett Nussmeier

Then officials reviewed the play and ruled that Brown had not completed the process of the catch as he dove across the Clemson end zone’s front pylon. The decision sparked an officiating controversy that stole some attention away from the Tigers’ 17-10 win Coach Brian Kelly said Tuesday he thinks the officials made the correct call, but he does want to tweak the rule.

“The rule was applied correctly by the letter of it,” Kelly said “But rules are made to be changed, and so hopefully down the road, I think there’ll be some changes in the way that is looked at. But the crew administered the protocols and procedures the right way on that play.”

Kelly said he had what he described as an “extremely productive” conversation about the ruling with John McDaid the SEC coordinator of football officials Kelly also compared the play to the 2-yard touchdown run that running back Caden Durham scored on Saturday Durham, Kelly pointed out, extended the ball over the plane of the goal line, then lost possession as he fell to the ground That play was a clear touchdown, but Brown’s was not.

“A runner doesn’t have the same burden as a wide receiver,” Kelly said. “There is conversation about how we can make this cleaner, for sure, because clearly from a com-

LSU

Continued from page 1C

Kelly’s error cost LSU potential points, but it didn’t cost his team the game. LSU shut out Clemson in the second half en route to a 1710 victory on the road.

“Our preparation allowed us to play with great composure on the road in a very hostile environment,” Kelly said. “We competed

mon sense standpoint, that (the incompletion) doesn’t make much sense.”

On the ABC broadcast, ESPN rules analyst Matt Austin said he believed officials should have ruled the play a touchdown.

Hill fractures hand LSU transfer wide receiver Destyn Hill fractured his left hand Saturday, Kelly said on Tuesday Hill a redshirt sophomore from Florida State who prepped at Edna Karr — underwent surgery on Monday to have a plate inserted in his injured hand Kelly said Hill is expected to miss only one game.

“He’ll be out this week,” Kelly said. “We think that we can get him in a position where next week he can be in a limited capacity for us. So, the plate stabilizes it to the point where we can put a cast on it that allows him to function as a wide receiver.”

Hill played only two snaps in the win over Clemson, according to Pro Football Focus. LSU rotated six receivers in and out of the offense. Zavion Thomas led the group in snaps (44), but AaronAnderson earned the most targets, receptions and yards. He caught six passes on eight targets for 99 yards.

As a freshman at Florida State, Hill tallied six receptions for 87 yards across the 10 games he played. He sat out his entire sophomore season with an injury, then transferred to LSU in December Nussmeier’s Heisman odds Nussmeier began the season in a tie with Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik for the second-best odds to win the Heisman Trophy

Then he guided LSU to a road win over Clemson on Saturday,

on every play, but most importantly, we played with great confidence.

“Our guys believed going into the game that they were going to win the game regardless of the situation.”

LSU’s win improved it to 1-0 for the first time since 2019, and it was the defense that led the way, holding Clemson to 261 total yards and 31 yards on the ground. In the second half, the hosts were limited to just 12 yards rushing and

helping his team snap a streak of season-opening losses and earn one of the most impressive victories of the year’s first full slate of college football games.

Now Nussmeier is the betting favorite to win the Heisman, according to the latest odds at Caesars, DraftKings and FanDuel.

Some of the quarterbacks behind him are South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers, Miami’s Carson Beck, Oklahoma’s John Mateer and Georgia’s Gunner Stockton Klubnik, Texas quarterback Arch Manning and Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith three of the preseason favorites for the award — saw their odds diminish after shaky performances.

Nussmeier completed 28 of 38 pass attempts for 232 yards and a touchdown against Clemson. The LSU defense limited Klubnik’s offense to only 261 total yards.

LSU in the polls

LSU didn’t just climb in the national polls after Saturday’s victory at Clemson, the Tigers made a huge leap to their highest ranking under Kelly

LSU moved up to No. 3 in The Associated Press Top 25 poll. It’s the highest ranking for the Tigers since they finished the 2019 season at No. 1.

LSU’s previous high under Kelly was No. 5 late in the 2022 season and in the 2023 preseason rankings.

The Tigers were behind Ohio State and Penn State in the AP poll with 1,514 points and three first-place votes. Penn State had 1,558 points and No. 4 Georgia had 1,410 points.

LSU opens its home schedule Saturday against Louisiana Tech in Tiger Stadium Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. and will be streamed on ESPN+.

less than 10 minutes of possession time.

“In terms of how you play team defense, you first have to have a passion,” Kelly said, “because you’ve got to run, hit, you’ve got to get excited, but then you’ve got to do your job, not somebody else’s job. And we had a lot of that going on at times, and we’ll continue to build on that.” The stellar defensive performance in the second half was a major factor in why, unlike earlier

3

THE BROWN OUT Kelly addressed the touchdown catch ruled an incomplete pass Saturday by Barion Brown, basically saying he thought officials correctly applied a bad rule.“Rules are made to be changed,” Kelly said.Agreed. Brown caught the ball, crossed the goal line, then bobbled the ball when he hit the ground out of bounds.The rule that allowed Caden Durham’s run to be a touchdown — although the ball came out after he broke the plane — should apply to a catch such as Brown’s.

BY KOKI RILEY Staff writer

Week 1 of the college football season was one of the most exciting opening weekends in recent memory Ohio State, LSU and Miami all won thrillers against top-10 opponents. Florida State took down Alabama handily in a massive upset. All of this action led to a tough week for me when it came to filling out my poll Here’s where I landed after Week 1:

My AP poll after Week 1

1. LSU, 2. Ohio State, 3. Penn State, 4. Texas, 5. Florida, 6. Clemson, 7. Georgia, 8. Oregon, 9. Miami, 10. Notre Dame, 11. Arizona State, 12. Illinois, 13. Oklahoma, 14. Texas A&M, 15. Michigan, 16. Alabama, 17. Texas Tech, 18. Florida State, 19. Iowa State, 20. South Carolina, 21. Auburn, 22. Duke, 23. Tennessee, 24. Pittsburgh, 25. SMU Just missed: Utah, TCU, Ole Miss, Missouri, Georgia Tech

Why is LSU No. 1?

LSU had the best win in the country, taking down my preseason No 1 team on the road. The victory wasn’t fluky, either LSU only won by a touchdown, but the visitors had nearly 100 more total yards and held the ball for nearly 15 extra minutes. LSU was my No. 4 team heading into the season. If coach Brian Kelly’s team is going to play defense at this level, he could win his first national championship in January Penn State dominating an overmatched Nevada team wasn’t enough for it to earn the top spot over LSU. The Ohio State defense was incredible against Texas, allowing me to bump the Buckeyes up from No. 6 to No. 2. I still have enough questions about redshirt freshman quarterback Julian Sayin and the running game to keep them out of my top spot.

What about Alabama?

In many ways, Alabama’s latest stinker against Florida State can be viewed as a giant flashing red light.

Florida State didn’t come close to cracking my preseason poll, and yet the Crimson Tide were out-hustled, out-coached and beaten up at the line of scrimmage. The Seminoles made Alabama look extremely ordinary, and that should be a major concern given how much returning talent the Crimson Tide has this year With all of that said, the loss was just one game. Alabama had stinkers last year under coach Kalen DeBoer and still nearly made the College Football Playoff. A similar roster beat Georgia and demolished LSU a year ago. Alabama was my No. 5 team heading into the year for a reason One game wasn’t enough to move the Tide outside of the top 20.

Other notes

I left the Notre Dame-Miami game feeling a lot better about the Hurricanes. Georgia transfer quarterback Carson Beck showed much better accuracy

in the game, Kelly decided to take a more conservative approach and punt the ball away on fourth and 5 at Clemson’s 40-yard line with 5:04 left to play

“Analytics would have had us going for it at that time,” Kelly said. “But I loved the way our defense (was playing).”

A product of Kelly’s aggressiveness on fourth down since arriving in Baton Rouge has been because of the quality or lack thereof, of the LSU defense.

and decision-making Sunday than he did last year, and the Miami pass rush seems to have boosted the Hurricanes defense, which was woeful last season.

I’m not too worried about the Irish. Winning on the road with a freshman quarterback (CJ Carr) against a quality opponent on opening night is a tall task. I have questions about the Notre Dame offense, but I still think this is a top-10 team.

Kansas State’s loss to Iowa State and close win over North Dakota raise a lot of red flags about the state of the Wildcats. Their conference foe, Baylor, also couldn’t stop anything on the ground against a very athletic Auburn team. For those reasons, both Big 12 schools slipped out of my poll. Tennessee leaped into my top 25 after an impressive offensive showing against Syracuse. UCLA transfer quarterback Joey Aguilar had no issues assimilating with coach Josh Heupel’s offense. I’m curious to see how the Volunteers look in two weeks when they have their first major test against Georgia. Also in the SEC, South Carolina didn’t knock my socks off Sunday against Virginia Tech. The Hokies don’t have the experience or talent they had last year, yet the Gamecocks let them hang around despite their obvious athletic advantages.

I’m excited to see what happens in the Michigan-Oklahoma game Saturday We didn’t learn much about either side in Week 1, but freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood showed a lot of promise in his first

The unit’s struggles over the last few seasons resulted in Kelly having to lean on his offense more in those riskier situations. But Saturday’s performance proved there’s a strong chance the LSU defense in 2025 will be a lot more reliable. And if the unit ends up becoming a strength, that will change the way Kelly views fourth downs later this year Email Koki Riley at Koki.Riley@ theadvocate.com.

SAINTS

N.O. adds QB Haener back to 53-man roster

BY LUKE JOHNSON, MATTHEW PARAS andJEFF DUNCAN Staff writers

Aweek after being left off the Saints 53-man roster,quarterback

Jake Haener is back on it.

Haener,who had returned tothe club on the practice squadafter the Saints waived him last week, wassigned back to theactiveroster Tuesday afternoon. He takes the spot the Saints created by releasinglongtimespecialteams

Saints notebook

standout J.T. Gray Afourth-round pick of theSaints in 2023, Haener has appeared in eight games with one start,completing 46.2%ofhis passes while totaling 226 yards, a touchdown and an interception. He opened training camp this year as part of athree-man competition for the starting quarterback job, but while New Orleans never ruled him out before hisrelease, his practice and preseasonsnaps dramatically decreased as the season neared. Spencer Rattler beat out rookie Tyler Shough for the starting quarterback job.

NewOrleans alsosignedlinebacker Eku Leota andreceiver Tommy Mellott to its practice squad, giving it the full allotment of 17 players. Mellott is aformer collegequarterback whom the Las VegasRaiders selected in the sixth round of the draft in the spring. He was a highly productive player at Montana State, accounting for 3,523

Continued from page1C

as punishment for the clubillegally signing tight end Dave Parks before free agencywas implemented. Hardy went on to play for three teamsand never made amark. He was arotational player and finished his five-year career with five sacksand 12 starts. Not the way you want to reboundfrom the whiff on Kelley ayear earlier

No.8:GRoyce Smith

1972, R1 (8): Smith started 10 games as arookie but fell out of thestarting lineup in Year 2and was traded to the Falcons in 1974.Worse, the two players taken directly after Smith —tight end Jerome Barkum and linebacker Jeff Siemon started for 10 seasons and became Pro Bowlers.

No.7:LBRickMiddleton

1974, R1 (13): Middleton was supposedtobethe face of the Saints defensebut he never developed into an impact player.Hestarted just one season and madehis greatest contributions on special teams. He was dealt to the Chargers after two years

The Saints took the wrong Ohio State linebacker.One pick after their selection of Middleton, Denver took Randy Gradishar,afranchise cornerstone and future Hall of Famer

No.6:DTJohnathan Sullivan

2003, R1 (6): Sullivan was adisaster from the start. He reported late to camp and showed little initiative other than at the buffet line. In three quiet seasons, Sullivan started just 16 games and recorded 78 tackles, 1.5 sacks and aforced fumble. The Saints traded him to the Patriots in 2006 for abackup receiver.The Patriots waived him four months later

The decision to draft Sullivan was compounded by the price they paid to trade up with Arizona to select him —two first-round picks and asecond-rounder —and the fact that the Vikings selected future All-Pro defensive tackle Kevin Williams three picks later Arizona used the second-round pick to select future star receiver Anquan Boldin. The 2003 draft was truly aboomor-bust proposition. Six of the top 10 players selectedwent on to be multitime Pro Bowlers.Four —including Sullivan, receiver Charles Rogers and quarterback Byron Leftwich —failed to makean impactand were out of the league after afew seasons

No.5:DEJoe Campbell

1977, R1 (7): The Saints raved about Campbell’smean streak when they selected him with theNo. 7 overall pick out of Maryland.What they didn’tknow was that itdidn’t have an off switch. His emotional outbursts led to countlessfights, penalties and sideline eruptionsat

Superdome. Haener

rushingyards, 5,810 passing yards and96total touchdowns in his college career. He won theWalter Payton Award last season, the FCS equivalentofthe Heisman Trophy Leotahas appeared in 11 games during thelast two seasonswith theCarolina Panthers andPittsburgh Steelers, recording one sack, three tackles for lossand nine tackles in hiscareer Oldrival,new exec Foryears, Thomas Dimitroff wasthe

architect of the Atlanta Falcons.

Now, he’sjoining their biggest rival.TheSaints announced Tuesday they have hired theformer Falcons general manager as aconsultant

Dimitroff, 59, had been around the Saints for the majority of the offseason,regularlyattending practices in Metairie andinIrvine, California.

Dimitroff, atwo-time NFLexecutive of theyear,worked for theFalcons from 2008-20, draft-

ing quarterback Matt Ryanand constructing aroster that reached SuperBowl LI. He also hasfront office stints with the New England Patriots,Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions and Kansas CityChiefs.

The Saints have resorted to hiring former general managers as consultants in recent years. Last year,New Orleans added former Saints andDolphins general manager Randy Mueller andformer Raidersgeneral manager Dave Ziegler to the fold. Ziegler left to join the

Tennessee Titans front officethis offseason as an assistantgeneral manager

This marks Dimitroff’s first NFL job since he wasfired by the Falcons in 2020. After the Falcons, Dimitrofffounded thesportsanalyticscompanySumerSports. He also interviewed with the New York Jets andthe Titansthisoffseason fortheir generalmanager vacancies.

Atlantawent113-95inDimitroff’stenure with sixplayoff appearances.

Captains named

TheSaintselected eightteam captains forthe 2025 season.

The offensive captains are Brandin Cooks, Alvin Kamara and Erik McCoy.The defense is represented by Demario Davis, Cam Jordan and Justin Reid.Special teamscaptains are Blake Grupe and Zach Wood Saints players voted on captains Monday,and the selections were announcedata team dinnerlater that night.

The vote of Kamara is afirst in his eight-year career with the team. The starrunning back was nameda team captain by interim coach Darren Rizzi in Week 10 of last season, but he had never been voted ateam captain by his peers. Grupe, Cooks andReid are also first-timeselections.

McCoy, Davis, Jordan and Wood werecaptains in 2024. Theywere joined by Derek Carr, TaysomHill, Tyrann Mathieu,Gray and Kamara (added in Week 10).

games. Campbellrecorded eight sacks in 31/2 seasons before he was traded to theRaiders five games into the1980 campaign.

No.4:OG Kurt Schumacher

1975, R1 (12): The Saintstook Schumacher one pick after the Rams selected guard Dennis Harrah, who started 144 games andwent to six Pro Bowls.Schumacher started 16 games and was out of theleague after four years.

No.3:WRLarry Burton

1975, R1 (7): If theSchumacher pickwasn’tbad enough, the Saints doubled their whammy by reaching for Burton five picks earlier in Round 1. The Saints hadn’thad atrue No. 1receiver since they traded Ken Burrough in 1971. The

little-known Burton was an Olympic track standout with sprinter’s speed. Unfortunately,hecouldn’t catch or stay healthy.Hewas injured for much of his career and caught just 35 passes in three seasons. In 1978, he was waived and was out of football two years later In reaching for Burton and Schumacher,the Saintsbypassed several future Pro Bowlers, including Harrah, Gary “Big Hands” Johnson, Russ Francis andLouis Wright

No.2:DEShawn Knight

1987, R1 (11): The Saints were prepared to select Purdue cornerback Rod Woodson with the No. 11 pick, but theSteelerstook him at No. 10. The top three players on theSaints’ board were receiver Haywood Jeffires, tackle Harris

Barton and defensive end Shawn Knight. The Saints took Knight. How bad wasKnight? He reported to training camp late and fell out of favor with the coaching staff.

After his rookie season, the Saints traded him to Denver.Inthree career NFLseasons, he started just onegameand failed to record asingle stat. He wasout of the league in three years. Jeffires and Barton, meanwhile, went on to stellar careers. Each wasaPro Bowler and All-Pro.

No.1:P-PKRussell Erxleben

1979, R1 (11): The pick that will live in infamy Head coach Dick Nolan fell in love with the strong-legged Texas kicker-punter while coaching the Southteam at the Senior Bowl. Against the wishes of personnel director Harry Hulmes, he made him thesecond-highest drafted punter-kicker in NFLhistory Erxleben wasabust from the start.Hecomplained about back and leg problemsduring training camp and wasbeaten out forthe starting kicker job by Rich Szaro. In his first game, his desperation pass after an errantsnap wasintercepted forthe game-winning touchdown in an overtime loss to thearchrival Falcons. In his second season, he missed a potential game-tying 34-yard field goal attemptina26-23 homeloss to the49ers. He converted only4of8 field goals in five seasons. In the38drafts since the Saints’ dubious selection, only one specialist has been selected in Round 1(Sebastian Janikowski, Raiders, 2000).

Email JeffDuncanatjduncan@ theadvocate.com.

Continued from page1C

decisionsfor theSaints coaching staff will be where exactlytoline up thesecondyear wideout. In Denver,the Broncos discoveredVele could thrive fromthe slot whereheplayed62.5% of his snaps, according to ProFootball Focus. But the slot was a newadjustment forVele last yearafter playing on the outside in college.

Moorehas saidhesees Vele as capable of playing anyofthe three receiver spots. During training camp, before Vele’sarrival, Moore mixed andmatched whohe chose to playfrom the slot. Sometimes, Moore wentwith Chris Olave, the team’sNo. 1 receiver. On other occasions, he’d go with Brandin Cooks. In some instances, he’d forgo awide receiver and have tight end Juwan Johnson line up there. But the coach hasahistory of deploying abiggerreceiver fromthe slot, when he has the option. As the offensive coordinator of the Los Angeles Chargers in 2023, Moore utilizedKeenan Allen —still afull 3inchesshorter than Vele —asa go-to target from theslot, with58% of his snaps coming fromthat area.

“It’sthe same reason we talk about tight endsand being aquarterback’sbest friend —there’sbig guys, there’scatch radius, there’s alittlebit of an abilityto playwithyourbodyand boxpeople outincontested catch situations,” Moore said. “Those guys show up a littlebit more in themiddle of the field.” As arookie, Vele showed up when called upon. Of his 41 catches, 26 resulted in afirst down —and 12 of those came on third or fourth down. All three of histouchdowns were in the red zone. Interestingly,two of hisscores came when he waslinedup on the outside —including one ridiculous catch that sawthe rookiesecure the ball afterthree otherplayers bobbledit.

“Coach Payton and alot of theguys trusted in me, andwhenmyopportunities came, Ihad to make sure Imadethe most of them,” Vele said.

Scoring Average 1, Scottie Scheffler, 68.140. 2, Rory McIlroy, 68.083. 3, Tommy Fleetwood, 69.357. 4, Russell Henley, 69.716. 5, Harry Hall, 69.764. 6, Ben Griffin, 69.827. 7, J.J. Spaun, 69.880. 8, Robert MacIntyre, 69.900. 9, Justin Thomas, 70.041. 10, Sepp

Tennis Center (seedings in parentheses): Men’s Singles Quarterfinals Carlos Alcaraz (2), Spain, def. Jiri Lehecka (20), Czechia, 6-4, 6-2, 6-4. Women’s Singles Quarterfinals Jessica Pegula (4), United States, def. Barbora Krejcikova, Czechia, 6-3, 6-3. Women’s Doubles Quarterfinals Gabriela Dabrowski, Canada, and Erin Routliffe (3), New Zealand, def. Timea Babos, Hungary, and Luisa Stefani (11), Brazil, 0-6, 6-4, 6-4.

Golf

PGA Tour Statistics Through Sept. 1 FedExCup Season Points 1, Tommy Fleetwood, 2,923. 2 (tie), Patrick Cantlay and Russell Henley, 1,661. 4 (tie), Scottie Scheffler, Corey Conners and Cameron Young, 7,456. 7 (tie), Justin Thomas, Sam Burns and Keegan Bradley, 2,477. 10, 2 tied with 1,414.

LIVING

Staff report

Pasta Rustico at Nino’s n Nino’s 7512 Bluebonnet Blvd., Baton Rouge

A classic, filling, rich dish at Nino’s was just what was in store on a rainy afternoon in Baton Rouge. The Pasta Rustico had so much depth and earthiness in its flavors. The freshly made, tubed pasta was covered in creamy, delectable mushroom sauce. The extra sprinkles of Parmesan and lightly dressed arugula over the top of the dish added salinity and green freshness. While the dish has an option of adding protein, the pasta and accompanying sauce is dense enough to stand alone. But, if needing a bit of something extra, I would recommend the chicken.

— Margaret DeLaney, health coordinator

Fried chicken buffet at Rascal’s

n Rascal’s Cajun Restaurant, 2181 Mire Highway, Scott

It’s hard to beat a good Cajun buffet. One price and unlimited servings? Sign me up. Faced with piles of rice dressing, creamy red beans and heaps of golden fried chicken, I expected to leave happy and perhaps a little overfull — but what I got actually blew my mind a little bit. The rice dressing was among the best I’d ever had, and the red beans and rice had an inimitable flavor that made me want to meet the chef. The fried chicken, which is offered on the buffet on Sundays, Thursdays and Saturdays, was tender and crispy and delectably seasoned, and somehow avoided greasiness. I did go back for a medley of sides, including green beans, corn and mashed potatoes, intending to try a bite of each — but ate most of the plate.

Dessert was the same story

The peach cobbler and banana pudding on offer this Saturday night has been on

The restaurant scene is ever-changing in Baton

with many establishments closing up shop and others opening new concepts. These are three updates in the

Piccadilly cafeteria closes after 65 years

One of Baton Rouge’s four remaining Piccadilly cafeterias closed its doors this August

“This decision was not made lightly We always consider a store closure our very last option, but it is sometimes necessary as we navigate the everchanging environment of the restaurant industry,” said Piccadilly Chief Operating Officer Keith L. Brown, of Youngsville, via email last week.

A sign on the front door at 5179 Plank Road announced the closure. Inside, employees in uniforms cleaned the building, some wiping down windows with rags.

An employee standing outside said she was notified one week before the closure. When a manager came outside, she ushered the employee back inside and declined to be interviewed or offer further information.

ä See OPEN, page 2D

BY MADDIE SCOTT Staff writer

“After proudly serving the North Baton Rouge community for 65 years, we are sorry to announce we are closing our doors permanently on August 26th, 2025,” the sign read.

Downtown Baton Rouge saw the first Piccadillyopen at 214 Third St. in 1944. By the 1960s, local cafeterias featured cloth napkins, live music, commissioned murals, chandeliers and homecooked food.

For decades, the Baton Rouge-based Piccadilly Cafeteria builtmomentum and spreadacross the country, growing to 270 locations in 1998. But in 2003, the company filed for bankruptcy due to poor performance, filing again in 2012. About 29 Piccadilly locations remain in operation across seven states, according to the company’s website. Brown went on to say in his email that the company extends gratitude to the dedicated staff, adding that “most of our management and team memberswillbe going to work” at other Piccadillys.

The closure sign listed four of the nearestPiccadilly locations: n 6406 Florida Blvd.

n 3332 Sherwood Forest Blvd. n 5474 Essen Lane n 27156 CrossingCircle, Denham Springs

—Maddie Scott, food and features reporter

K-dramadininginBR

KPOT Korean BBQ & Hot Potopened this month in Baton Rouge, and, just like in the K-dramas,diners cook their own food at their table. The all-you-can-eat restaurantopenedAug. 28at 7620 Andrea DriveinBaton Rouge, across from St. George Catholic Church on SiegenLane.

KPOT is afranchise restaurant chain that began in New Jersey in 2018. It became known forhaving tables with built-in grills where diners cook the meats and vegetables of their choosing TheBaton Rougeisthe 120th location and thefirst in Louisiana.

Nancy Zhang, theKPOT regional manager of Louisiana, worked at theoriginal location when it opened aboutseven years agoin New Jersey

The menususually range alittle bitdepending on the location, Zhangsaid TheBaton Rougelocation’s menu has several categories, including sliced meat, seafood, sides, soy beans, noodlesand vegetables.

More than two dozen meat andseafood options are available, including primebrisket,chicken bulgogi, pork belly,jumbo shrimpand spicy baby octopus. Additional itemsmay be added, depending on what the community wants, Zhangsaid.

In addition to aregular drinks bar,there’sa sauce and appetizer bar with a varietyofdipping sauces and traditional Korean side dishes —kimchi, pickled vegetables and avariety of seasoned salads.

Plus, KPOToffers aselection of bubble tea. “Comehere with an open mindand abig tummy,” Zhangsaid.

Pricing:

n Lunch, which is Monday through Friday until 4p.m., costs $20.99 for adults, $11.99 for children 7-10 or $7.99 for children 4-6.

n Everyday dinner,starting at 4p.m. on weekdays is $31.99 for adults, $16.99 for children 7-10 or $12.99 for children 4-6. Dinner is all day on weekends.

n The entire table must select barbecue, hot pot or both(ordering both is an additional $5).

Onlineordering won’t be availableimmediatelybut will hopefully start in the future as the staff gets the hang of things, Zhang said.

—Maddie Scott, food and features reporter

SHOW

Continued from page1D

Other winners include: Dessert

n First: Mary Frances Daniel, of Bacon &Fig, Orange Chocolate Cake Shooter

n Second: Savannah Casey of CCLA, Coffee Entremet

n Third: Madelyn Schmidt Burr,ofEloise Market & Cakery,The Bourbon King Louisiana flavor

n First: Jon Jackson, of LSU Dining, Jalapeño Relish Chicken Liver

n Second: Nick Jarreau, of Louisiana Crave-A-Ball, Fried ShrimpAuGratin Ball

n Th ird: Hamilton Haverkamp, of Bacon &Fig, Smoked Stuffed Pepper Popper Meat

n First: TreVeillon, of The Gregory,Oxtail Marmalade

Newbakeryatthe mall

In the mood for asweet treat while you shop?

The House of Deaux, a new bakery specializing in cinnamon rolls, opened quietly on Aug. 25 in the outdoor space of the Mall of Louisiana.

Menu items include a Dubai cinnamon roll with chocolate and pistachio, a “golden gooey caramel” cinnamon roll topped with pecans and adark-chocolate cinnamon roll topped with Oreos.

The spot selling ooey,gooey rolls replaced Menchie’s Frozen Yoghurt which closed earlier this year

Although the fresh bakery items are theselling point,the spot also sells loaded teas for $8 with flavors like passion punch, cherry bomb, melon madness and more. Regular cinnamon rolls begin at $7.99 and flavored rolls are $8.50.

—Margaret DeLaney, healthand features reporter

n Third:Cameron Crefasi, of Bin77, Braised Beef Short Rib and Polenta Seafood

n First:Patrick Trahan, of Ruffino’s,BlueCrab Gnocchi

n Second:Needhi Patel,of SpiceAffair Supper Club (atL’Auberge), Meen Korma

n Second: PhillipBeard,of LSU Dining,SmokedSteen’s Cane Syrup Duck Breast

(FishCurry)

n Third: BlakeRobinson, of Mansurs On the Boulevard, “Can’t Get Knafeh of It” Tart Best of Wine

n First:Brotte Creation Grosset, Rhône 2022

n Second: Mt. Veeder,Napa Valley 2021

n Third:Mouton Noir “In Sheep’sClothing,” Oregon 2023

By The Associated Press

Today is Wednesday, Sept.3,the 246thday of 2025. There are 119 days left in theyear

Todayinhistory:

Dear Miss Manners: Ilive in afour-family apartment building in amiddle-class neighborhood. All of the tenants are very nice people, but the landlord is notoriously unresponsive. Ilive on the second floor,and the young lady in the apartment next door to me has everything delivered to her We share acommon front stairway

The other day,adelivery was made to her front door (a few feet from mine) from alocal coffee shop. From the trail of evidence left by the delivery person, the lid of the coffee cup must have come loose on the front porch, then the drink spilled through the foyer and up two flights of stairs, terminating at her door It was amess. The coffee must have been an extra-large with milk and sugar

My neighbor told me about the spill, that she had apprised the landlord of the mess needing to be cleaned up, and that she had left bad feedback for the delivery person.

BEST

Continued from page1D

my mind ever since, and I already can’twait for my next visit. If you give Rascal’satry,you’ll probably end up feelingthe same way

—Joanna Brown, staff writer ChickenMarsala and pastavodka at Di Gulio’s n Di Giulio Brothers Italian Cafe, 2903 Perkins Road, Baton Rouge If there’sone thing about Di Giulio’sthat you can count on, it’sagood meal. On abusy Friday evening we called up the Italian cafe and asked if theyhad a table for six available. The manager said, “Yes, if you can make it here in 7minutes, I’ll hold it for you.” And boy did we make it

The next hour of dining was spectacular,with a great wine list, abustling crowd and friendly atmosphere. Opened since1987, the restaurant has never lost its traditional sense of Italian wonder and lifestyle.

Iordered the chicken Marsala, adecadent, hearty and full-bodied mushroom sauce over

Andthat was the end of the story —a coffeesplashed stairway floor for everyone totry to tiptoe around.

How should Ihave handled this situation, and who do you think should have been responsible for cleaning it up: the delivery service? The landlord? My neighbor? Other?

GentleReader: Your neighbor should have cleaned it up, or the building management could have, if theyhave regular arrangements for such things —although it sounds as if theydonot Butif this goesonmuch longer,MissManners is going to come over and clean it up herself, if only to put an end to the discussion. Even if this was an extra-extra-large coffee, we are not talking about a Superfund site.

Dear Miss Manners: Iwas in asubway station waiting for my train, standing near acolumn, when agentleman emerged from the otherside ofthe column. I wasinstantly face-to-face with this man, whose face was missing most of its features, presumably as a result of some trauma. Iamsorry tosay I gasped. Very audibly We continued towait for the train, and Ididn’tknow what to do. Istood there

silently,smiling in what I hope was afriendly manner

Ican only plead that thegasp was completely involuntaryand reflexive. Should Ihave apologized? At thetime, Ithought doing so would just make thesituation even more awkward.

Iwas honestly at aloss as to how to remedymy poor behavior.This happened some time ago, but Ihave been bothered by it ever since.

Gentle Reader: That is understandable, but Miss Mannersbelieves that you can stop now

Yourecognize that your reaction was involuntary that you felt sorry,and that drawing too much attention to it would have made things worse. The correct response would have been, “I’m so sorry;you startled me!” suggesting that youwould have had an identical reaction to any visage at equally close range.

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

Aplateoffried chicken,red beans and rice and rice dressingfrom Rascal’sCajun Restaurant in Scott

perfectly cooked chicken, with asideofspaghetti. Top tip: ask for amix of both red and white sauces on

thepasta, it’sa whole new world of flavors.

—Margaret DeLaney, healthcoordinator

On Sept.3,1783, representatives of the United States and Britainsigned theTreaty of Paris, which officially ended the RevolutionaryWar and recognized U.S. sovereignty

Also on this date:

In 1861, during theCivil War, Confederate forces invaded theborder state of Kentucky,which had declared its neutralityin theconflict.

In 1894, the United States celebrated the first federal Labor Day holiday

In 1935, SirMalcolm Campbell became the first person to drive an automobile more than 300 mph, speeding across the Bonneville Salt Flatsin Utah.

In 1939, Britain, France, Australia andNew Zealand declared waronGermany,two days after the Nazi invasion of Poland; in aradio address, Britain’sKingGeorge VI said, “With God’shelp, we shall prevail.”

In 1943, Allied forces invaded Italy during World WarII, the same day Italian officials signed a secret armistice with the Allies.

In 1976, America’sViking 2landertouched down on Mars to take the first close-up, color photographs of the redplanet’s surface.

In 1999, aFrenchjudge closed atwo-year inquiry into the car crashthat killedPrincessDiana, dismissing allcharges against nine photographers anda press motorcyclist, andconcluding the crashwas caused by an inebriateddriver.

In 2019, Walmart said it would stopselling ammunitionfor handguns and short-barrelrifles, and the store chainrequested thatcustomers notopenly carry firearms in its stores; the announcement followed ashooting at a Walmart store in Texas thatleft22people dead. Today’sbirthdays: SingermusicianAlJardine (The Beach Boys) is 82.Actor Valerie Perrine is 82. Filmmaker Jean-Pierre Jeunetis72. Rock guitarist Steve Jones (The SexPistols) is 70. Actor Steve Schirripa (TV:“The Sopranos”) is 67. Author MalcolmGladwell is 62. ActorCharlie Sheen is 60. Filmmaker Noah Baumbach is 56. ActorGarrett Hedlund is 41. Olympic gold medal snowboarder Shaun White is 39. Modelactor Kaia Gerber is 24. ActorJack Dylan Grazer is 22.

VIRGo (Aug. 23-sept. 22) Take pleasure in who you are what you've done and what you still want to achieve. Refuse to let inconsistency be your demise or outsiders confuse you. Do your research and make things happen your way.

LIBRA (sept. 23-oct. 23) Sitbackandrefuse to let your emotions or temper escalate. Look for peace and tranquility in places that bring you joy. Stick close to home or find your comfort zone wherever you are.

scoRPIo (oct. 24-Nov. 22) A little charm will go a long way. Focus on your talents, skills and goals and you will discover the best approach to accomplish tasks to your specifications and without interference.

sAGIttARIus (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) You'll crave change, but don't take on more than you can handle. Listen to what others say, but only commit to what's feasible. Don't believe everything you hear, and get what you want in writing.

cAPRIcoRN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Actinginhaste will backfire. A change in your routine willjump-startyourmindandencourage youtoexpandyourawarenessregarding matters of concern

AQuARIus (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Keep pushing forward until you are satisfied with the results. You have plenty to gain if you adjust your home environment to suit your needs better. An unusual marketing strategy will pay off.

PIscEs (Feb. 20-March 20) Be a leader, not a follower. Problems with someone you interact with will inevitably arise, alter-

WonderWord

ing your feelings about continuing the relationship. Take a timeout and rethink your next move.

ARIEs (March 21-April 19) Exerciserestraint whenitcomestotryingtoproveyourself to unworthy people. Your best returns will come from spending more time on perfectingyourself,yourimageandyour skills. A financial shift is within reach.

tAuRus (April 20-May 20) Intellectual activities and events will be your platform to shine. Summarize your talents and objectives and update your resume. The time to push your way to stardom is now.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) Achangeinmindset due to adverse events will hold you back. Create your scenario instead of becoming part of someone else's goal. Replace what isn't working with what will.

cANcER (June 21-July 22) An optimistic attitude will pave the way to new beginnings. Put your energy into transformation, not anger and regret. Get up and go and make things happen, and you'll discover something or someone special. LEo (July 23-Aug. 22) Put pressure where it will help you gain access to what you want, and don't look back. Refuse to let technicalities stand between you and your dreams. Take care of legalities, rules and regulations quickly.

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

FAMILY CIrCUS

Sudoku

InstructIons: Sudoku is 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

Bridge

By PHILLIP ALDER

Baroness Edith Clara Summerskill, who was aLabour Party member of British Parliament from 1938 to 1961, said, “Nagging is the repetition of unpalatable truths.”

That does not apply to nagging in bridge classes, where the teacher is repeating truths aboutthe game. Look at the South hand in today’s diagram. With 22 points, agreat five-cardsuitand allof those prime cards, it easily qualifies for atwo-club opening bid. Butafter North responds two diamonds, the negative responseusually made with 0-7points what shouldSouth rebid?

While you are thinking about that suppose South ends in three no-trump. WhathappensafterWestleadseitherthe spade four or the heart king?

Abasicruleofbidding at the game-level is to aimfor no-trump, not for aminor. When this deal wasplayed, South rebid threeclubs insteadoftwo no-trump abad error. It got worse when North passed out three clubs,aforcing bid!

Over two no-trump, North would have usedStaymantotrytofinda4-4spadefit before settling into three no-trump. It would be normal for Westtolead the spadefour.SouthcapturesEast’s10with his king, cashes the diamond ace, and continues with the diamond jack. Here, East has to win and can do no better than to cash hisspade queen andplay another spade to hold declarer to 10 tricks However, if West is psychic, he will lead the heartking. Then South cannot make hiscontract. Declarer wouldrue the lack of the club 10 on the boardasan entryfor the diamond finesse.

AndrewsMcMeel

©2025 by NEA,Inc., dist. By

Syndication

Each Wuzzle is aword riddlewhich creates adisguised word,phrase, name, place, saying, etc. For example: NOONGOOD =GOOD AFTERNOON

Previous answers:

word game

INstRuctIoNs: 1. Words must be of four or more letters. 2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” suchas“bats” or “dies,” are not allowed. 3. Additional words made by adding a“d” or an “s” may not be used. 4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexuallyexplicitwordsare not allowed.

toDAy’sWoRD DIstREss: dih-STRES:Pain or sufferingaffectingthe body or mind.

Average mark 25 words Time limit 35 minutes

Can youfind 31 or more words in DISTRESS?

yEstERDAy’s WoRD—BEAcoNs