The Times-Picayune 09-15-2025

GOLDEN DISAPPOINTMENT

Saints quarterbackSpencer Rattler, bottom,loses theballonfourthdownatthe endofthe game againstthe SanFrancisco 49ersonSundayatthe Caesars Superdome. In frontofaSuperdome crowdthathad more 49ersfaithfulthan home fans,the Saints played outwhat’sbecomingafamiliar storyline. They were competitive(SpencerRattler hadacareer-high threetouchdown passes)and gave themselves achanceatanupset win, butultimately, SanFrancisco came up with sacksontwo game-decidingplays andheldonfor a26-21 victory. Thelossdrops theSaintsto0-2 as they embark on adifficult road trip to Seattleand Buffalo, Newyork. It’s also theirsixth consecutivelossdatingtolastseasonand their fifth straightlossatthe Superdome—the franchise’slongest such skid since199495.

Audit: La. pregnancy centers lack oversight

Millions budgeted forservices

BY EMILY WOODRUFF Staff writer

The Louisiana legislative auditor recentlyfound that thestate’seffort to steer women toward childbirth instead of abortion has weakoversight, according to areport released this month. The Pregnancy and Baby Care Initiative, created by lawmakers in 2024 andrun through the Departmentof Children and Family Services, was meanttoexpand services forwomen facing unplanned pregnancies. Lawmakers earmarked $4 million in state funds to paynonprofit centersfor specific services. But less than ayear later,auditors found that DCFS contracts don’t match state law in what they define as services eligible forstate funding,

BY ELYSE CARMOSINO Staff writer

The share of Louisiana students whoregularly miss school dropped 2 percentagepointslast year —a notable improvement after absenteeism rates climbed two years in arow The state’schronic absenteeism rate hit 22.5% during the 2024-25 school year,down from24.6% the year prior,according to data recently released by thestate Department of Education. It still hovers slightly above the pre-pandemic rate of about 18% in 2018-19.

Localscientistsmark10thanniversary of signal discovery

Observatorybracesfor potentialcutsbyTrump administration

BY CLAIRE GRUNEWALD Staff writer

Asignal lasting less than asecond traveled about 1.3 billion light years before it reached an observatory deep in the piney woods of Livingston 10 years ago The brief signal —caused by apair of blackholes colliding —was thefirstgravitational waves ever detected, and it created anew way for scientists to look into the universe. TheSept. 14, 2015, detection confirmed akey prediction of Albert Einstein’sgeneral theory of relativity, earned theNobel Prize in physics and kick-starteda newera of astronomy “Mostofushad figured that with nature being perverse, that the first signal would be

really hard to pull out of the noise. Andthen the signal came beautifully, beautifully clear,” said Joseph Giaime, head of the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave ObservatoryinLivingston. The observatoryisone of two in the United States fundedbythe National Science Foundation with its

ä See SIGNAL, page 5A

BRIEFS FROM WIRE REPORTS

Judge extends measures for Guatemalan children

WASHINGTON A federal judge is temporarily keeping in place measures preventing the Trump administration from deporting Guatemalan migrant children in government custody Judge Timothy J. Kelly’s decision Saturday keeps the government from removing Guatemalan children who came to the U.S. alone and are currently living in government shelters and foster care through Tuesday Kelly’s order said he needed a brief extension to continue to study the issue because up until a hearing on Wednesday the facts of the case were still changing. His decision comes after the government during that hearing backtracked on previous claims that the children’s parents requested them back.

The court decision stems from a Labor Day weekend operation when the Trump administration attempted to remove dozens of Guatemalan migrant children who had come to the U.S. alone and were living in U.S government shelters and foster care.

The government has said in court filings that it identified 457 children for possible removal to Guatemala although that list was eventually whittled down to 327. In the end, 76 got as far as boarding planes in El Paso and Harlingen, Texas, early morning on Aug. 31 and were set to depart to Guatemala in what the government described as a first phase Immigration and children’s advocates, who had been alerted of possible efforts to remove Guatemalan minors, immediately sued the Trump administration to prevent the children’s removal.

A federal judge in Washington granted advocates a 14-day temporary restraining order largely preventing the Trump administration from removing migrant children in its care except in limited circumstances where an immigration judge had already ordered their removal after reviewing their cases Kelly’s Saturday order extends that protection three more days.

Tornadoes hit homes in southeastern Utah

MONTICELLO,Utah Tornadoes destroyed several homes in southeastern Utah over the weekend, but authorities said there were no reports of people injured.

A storm produced two tornadoes in San Juan County in southeastern Utah over the span of an hour starting around 12:35 p.m. Saturday, according to meteorologist Kris Sanders with the National Weather Service’s office in Grand Junction, Colorado. The paths of the tornadoes that touched down near Montezuma Creek likely covered less than 10 miles, but the weather service hadn’t yet determined their exact tracks or wind speeds Sanders said by telephone.

Three homes in the area were demolished in the storm, Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren said in a social media post No injuries were reported, but an unknown number of livestock and pets were reported missing, the Navajo Police Department said in a social media post. Images posted by the department showed the towering column of a tornado surrounded by dark clouds and also a flattened home surrounded by debris.

Tornadoes are pretty unusual in that part of Utah, Sanders said, noting that the weather service had only confirmed two there since 1950.

Teen allegedly threatened to shoot up Minn. school

MINNEAPOLIS A 14-year-old student was arrested last week after he threatened to “shoot up” his school in northern Minnesota.

On Thursday, authorities were alerted by the Nevis Public School that a student had threatened to bring a gun to the school, according to a statement from Hubbard County Sheriff Cory Aukes. Deputies learned that a boy told other students that he was going to “shoot up the school, shoot a particular student, and then shoot himself.”

The boy was arrested for making terroristic threats and was taken to the Northwestern Minnesota Juvenile Center in Bemidji.

Ukrainian drones hit Russian refinery

By The Associated Press

Ukrainian drones have struck one of Russia’s largest oil refineries, sparking a fire, Russian officials and Ukraine’s military said Sunday

The overnight strike on the Kirishi refinery, in Russia’s northwestern Leningrad region, follows weeks of Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil infrastructure that Kyiv says fuels Moscow’s war effort

The facility, operated by Russian company Surgutneftegas, produces close to 355,000 barrels per day of crude, and is one of Russia’s top three by output.

More than three years since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, drones continue to be a key weapon for both sides. Multiple Russian drones crossed into Poland on Wednesday, prompting NATO to send fighter jets to shoot them down and underlining longheld concerns that the fighting might spill over beyond Ukraine’s borders.

According to Ukraine’s General Staff, explosions and a fire were

reported at the Kirishi refinery It posted a photo appearing to show a blaze and clouds of smoke against a night sky

Regional Gov Alexander Drozdenko said that three drones were downed overnight in the Kirishi area, with falling debris sparking a fire at the facility He said that no one was injured, and the blaze was put out.

As of Sunday afternoon, Russian officials offered no further comment on the consequences of the strike, and it wasn’t immediately possible to verify these. At least 80 Ukrainian drones were shot down overnight over Russia, the annexed Crimean Peninsula and the adjacent Sea of Azov according to the Russian Defense Ministry Ukrainian drones previously targeted the Kirishi refinery in March, causing minor damage, according to social media posts published at the time by Drozdenko. Russia remains the world’s second-largest oil exporter, but a seasonal rise in demand and sustained Ukrainian drone strikes have caused gasoline shortages in re-

cent weeks. Gas stations have run dry in some regions of the country, with motorists waiting in long lines and officials resorting to rationing or cutting off sales altogether

To try to ease the shortage, Russia has paused gasoline exports, with officials on Wednesday declaring a full ban until Sept. 30 and a partial ban affecting traders and intermediaries until Oct. 31.

Also in the Leningrad region a diesel locomotive was derailed during the night, local Gov Drozdenko said Sunday He said the incident occurred near Gatchina south of St. Petersburg. Russia’s No. 2 city, which was known as Leningrad during Soviet times, is surrounded by but not included in the region of the same name.

Drozdenko said the locomotive’s driver was trapped in his cabin, and later died of his injuries while being transported to a hospital. He added an official investigation would check for signs of sabotage.

Elsewhere, as some Russians headed to the polls to elect local governors and deputies on Sunday, the head of the Russia’s main

Pro-Palestinian protesters force early end to bike race

Spanish authorities say more than 100,000 people took part

BY TALES AZZONI Associated Press

MADRID Spanish authorities say more than 100,000 people took part in the latest pro-Palestinian protests that interrupted the final stage of the Spanish Vuelta and forced organizers to cut short the Grand Tour event on Sunday, capping a campaign of disruptions

The central government’s representative for the Madrid region said authorities estimated more than 100,000 people joined Sunday’s protests. The number could not be independently verified.

Visma-Lease a Bike rider Jonas Vingegaard was confirmed as the overall winner of the three-week cycling race.

There were clashes between police and protesters near the route finale in Madrid. Some protesters carrying antiIsrael banners partly blocked the road and forced riders to stop.

There was no stage winner and the podium ceremony was called off because of security concerns. Organizers said the final stage “ended early to ensure the safety of the riders.”

“Due to the protests in Madrid, the race ended earlier than planned and there will

be no podium ceremony,” race officials said.

There were about 31 miles left on the 21st stage that was a mostly ceremonial ride into Madrid.

The protesters threw barriers onto the road on a finishing circuit in the Spanish capital. Riders had been expected to do nine laps on the circuit.

Several hundred protesters stayed on the road where the race was supposed to pass by Anti-Israel banners were also hung from nearby buildings. The protests continued well into the evening in Madrid, most of them peaceful.

Earlier protesters threw objects at police and officers used tear gas to try to disperse the crowds. Spanish media reported that authorities said 20 people were injured and at least two people were detained.

Protesters carrying Palestine flags jeered when the teams’ support cars passed by them along the route.

Police in riot gear had confronted protesters at different points along the route. More than 1,500 police officers had been deployed ahead of the last stage.

There had been no major incidents as the riders set off on the 64.3-mile final stage starting in nearby Alalpardo.

The Grand Tour event was largely disrupted by protesters against the presence of Israeli-owned team Premier Tech, which earlier in the race removed the team name from its uniforms.

Trump still trying to fire Cook

BY ALAN SUDERMAN Associated Press

President Donald Trump’s administration renewed its request Sunday for a federal appeals court to let him fire Lisa Cook from the Federal Reserve’s board of governors, a move the president is seeking ahead of the central bank’s vote on interest rates.

The Trump administration filed a response Sunday to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, arguing that Cook’s legal arguments for why she should stay on the job were meritless. Lawyers for Cook argued in a Saturday filing that the Trump administration has not shown sufficient cause to fire her, and stressed the risks to the economy and country if the president were allowed to fire a Fed governor without proper cause.

Cook’s firing marks the first time in the central bank’s 112-year history that

a president has tried to fire a governor

“The public and the executive share an interest in ensuring the integrity of the Federal Reserve,” Trump’s lawyers argued in Sunday’s filing. “And that requires respecting the president’s statutory authority to remove governors ‘for cause’ when such cause arises.”

Bill Pulte, a Trump appointee to the agency that regulates mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, has accused Cook of signing separate documents in which she allegedly said that both the Atlanta property and a home in Ann Arbor, Michigan, also purchased in June 2021, were both “primary residences.” Pulte submitted a criminal referral to the Justice Department which has opened an investigation.

Cook referred to the condominium as a “vacation home” in a loan estimate, a characterization that could undermine claims by the Trump administration that she committed mortgage fraud.

electoral body told reporters that it and Russia’s electronic voting system were facing a large wave of cyberattacks.

Ella Pamfilova, of the Central Election Commission, said that “an unprecedented attack is underway” on its digital systems, but assured the public that it wouldn’t affect the outcome of the votes.

The commission’s website appeared to be down for much of Sunday, when 21 out of Russia’s more than 80 regions were set to elect new governors. Seats in nearly a dozen regional assemblies and various municipal bodies were also up for grabs.

But few expected a meaningful challenge to President Vladimir Putin’s United Russia party and its supporters, following a sweeping crackdown on dissent that came with Moscow’s all-out invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022.

Almost 100 denial-of-service attacks were recorded on Sunday on online resources linked to the elections, according to Alexander Izhko of Russia’s media and digital watchdog, Roskomnadzor

Qatar denounces Israel before major summit

BY JON GAMBRELL Associated Press

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates

Qatar’s prime minister denounced Israel on Sunday as foreign ministers from Arab and Muslim nations met to discuss a possible unified response to Israel’s attack on Doha targeting the leadership of the militant group Hamas.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, who also serves as Qatar’s foreign minister made the comments before a meeting Monday of leaders from those nations.

Sheikh Mohammed said Qatar remained committed to working with Egypt and the United States to reach a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war that has devastated the Gaza Strip. However, he said that the Israeli strike that killed six people five members of Hamas and a local Qatari security force member — represented “an attack on the principle of mediation itself.”

“This attack can only be described as state terrorism, an approach pursued

by the current extremist Israeli government, which flouts international law,” the minister said. “The reckless and treacherous Israeli aggression was committed while the state of Qatar was hosting official and public negotiations, with the knowledge of the Israeli side itself, and with the aim of achieving a ceasefire in Gaza.”

Sheikh Mohammed stressed the moment had come for consequences to Israel’s attacks in the wider Middle East. “It is time for the international community to stop applying double standards and punish Israel for all the crimes it has committed,” Sheikh Mohammed said in footage later released by Qatar’s government from the closed-door meeting. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday night again defended the strike.

“The Hamas terrorists chiefs living in Qatar don’t care about the people in Gaza,” he posted on X.

“They blocked all ceasefire attempts in order to endlessly drag out the war.”

Governor:Motiveinshootingnot yetcertain

Suspectleanedtothe left politically, he says

BY NICHOLAS RICCARDI and JOSH BOAK Associated Press

WASHINGTON— Familyand friends of the 22-year-old accused of fatally shooting conservativeactivist Charlie Kirk described his politics as veering left in recentyearsas he spent large amountsoftime scrolling the “dark cornersofthe internet,” Utah Gov.Spencer Cox said Sunday Investigators were still piecing together information about the suspect, Tyler Robinson, and not yet ready to discuss apotentialmotive. But Cox notedthat Robinson, who is not cooperating with lawenforcement, disliked Kirk and may have been “radicalized” online.

“There clearly was aleftist ideology,”Cox said on NBC’s“Meet the Press,” citing interviews with Robinson’srelatives and acquaintances. “Friends have confirmed that there waskindofthat deep,

dark internet, theReddit culture, andthese other dark places of the internet where this person was goingdeep.”

He pointed to references found engraved on theammunition used to kill Kirk, which included anti-fascist andmeme-culture language. Court records show that onebullet casing had themessage, “Hey,fascist! Catch!”

ARepublicanwho hascalled on allpartisans to tone down their rhetoricfollowing theattack, the governor added: “I really don’t have adog in this fight. If this was aradicalized MAGA person, I’dbe saying that as well.”

Cox stressedonseveral Sunday morning news shows thatinvestigators are still trying to pin down amotive for the attack on Kirk, a father of two and Trumpconfidant who was killed Wednesday while on oneofhis signature college speaking tours at UtahValley University.The governor saidmore information may comeout once Robinson appears in court Tuesday.

Coxsaidthe suspect’spartner

partner,amale transitioning to female,” Cox said. “I can say that he has been incrediblycooperative, this partner has been very cooperative, had no idea that this was happening.”

Investigators have spoken to Robinson’srelativesand carried outasearchwarrant at his family’shome in Washington, 240 miles southwest of Utah Valley University,where the shooting took place.

State records showRobinson is registered to vote but not affiliated withapolitical party and is listed as inactive, meaning he did not vote in the twomost recent generalelections. His parentsare registered Republicans.

academic scholarship, according to avideo of himreading hisacceptance letter that wasposted to afamily member’s social media account.

But he attended foronly one semester,according to the university.Heiscurrently enrolled as a third-year student in the electrical apprenticeship program at Dixie Technical College in St. George.

was transgender,which somepoliticianshavepointed to as asign Robinson was targeting Kirk, the founder of Turning PointUSA,for his anti-trans views.But authoritieshavenot said whether it is relevantasthey investigate Robinson’smotive.

“The roommate was aromantic

Online activity by Robinson’s mother reflects an active family that traveledwidely.Inone photo, ayoung Robinson can be seen smiling as he grips thehandlesof a.50-caliber heavy machine gun outside amilitary facility

Ahigh school honorrollstudent who scored in the 99th percentile nationally on standardizedtests, he was admitted to Utah State University in 2021 on aprestigious

Meanwhile, Kirk was memorialized with candlelit vigils and other events Sunday At DreamCityChurchinPhoenix, where Kirk hosted one of his “Freedom Night in America” gatherings, attendees viewed clips of the conservativeactivist discussing his desire to be “remembered forcourage formyfaith.”

During aquestion-and-answer session, achurch pastor,Angel Barnett, called on the crowd to honorKirk by carrying on his message.

“The left is nervous,” Barnett said. “Andthey’re concerned because they’ve lost control. Charlie startedthat, andwewill continue it.”

BY NICHOLAS RICCARDI Associated Press

DENVER Fromthe moment conservativeactivist and icon Charlie Kirkwas felled by an assassin’sbullet, partisans beganfightingover which side was to blame.

PresidentDonaldTrump became the most prominent to do so, tying theattackto “the radical left” before a suspect was even identified It was part of anew,grim tradition in apolarizedcountry —trying to pin immediate responsibility for an act of public violence on one of twopolitical sides. As the nation reels from awave of physical attacks against both Republicans and Democrats, experts warn that the rush to blame sometimes ambiguous and irrational acts on political movements could lead to more conflict

“What you’re seeing now is exactly how the spiralof violence occurs,” said Robert Pape, apolitical scientist and director of the ChicagoProject on Security and Threats at the University of Chicago On Friday,authoritiesannounced they had arrested 22-year-old Tyler Robinson

of Washington, Utah, in the shooting. He was not affiliated with any party and had notvoted inthe last two general elections. Even so, officials said Robinson had recently grown more political and expressednegative views aboutKirk.

There was other initial evidence of Robinson’spotential influences. According to court papers, he carved taunting phrases into his ammunition —including one bullet casingmarkedwith “Hey,fascist! Catch!”— and others from theirony-laden worldofmemes andonline video games.

‘NihilisticViolent Extremism’ Expertssay political assassins don’talwaysfall into neatly sorted partisan categories. In somecases like that of Thomas Mathew Crooks, whoshot Trump at acampaignrally lastyear, there is little record of any political stances whatsoever TheFBI has said Crooks also had researched then-President JoeBiden as apossible attack target.

Bruce Hoffman, who studies terrorism at Georgetown University,noted that

the FBI hascreateda new category,Nihilistic Violent Extremism, to track the increasing number of attacks thatseemtohavenoclear political motivation

“Extremism is becoming asalad bowl of ideologies where you can pick whatever you want,” Hoffman said, adding that theincreasing number of lone wolf attacks means violenceisincreasinglyunmoored from organizations withclear political goals.

What’smoreimportant thanthe attackers’ state of mind, expertsstressed, is thebroaderpolitical environment. The more heated the atmosphere,the more likely it’ll lead unstable people to commit violence.

“What they all share is apolitical ecosystem that’svery permissiveabout violence towards political rivals,” Arie Perlinger, aprofessor of security studies at the University of MassachusettsLowell, said of recent perpetrators of political violence. “Becausepoliticians are incentivized to useextreme rhetoric and extreme language, thatleads to demonizationofpolitical rivals.”

Kilmeade apologizes forsayingmentally ill homelesspeopleshouldbeexecuted

BY DAVID BAUDER AP media writer

Fox News Channel host

Brian Kilmeade apologized on Sunday for advocating for the execution of mentally ill homeless peoplein adiscussion on the network last week, saying his remark was “extremely callous.” Kilmeade’sinitial comment came on a“Fox &Friends” episode Wednesday and began getting widespread circulation online over the weekend. Kilmeade, ahostof the morning show,was talking with co-hosts Lawrence Jones and Ainsley Earhardt

aboutthe Aug. 22 stabbing murder of Iryna Zarutska on alight rail traininCharlotte, North Carolina. Ahomeless and mentally ill man, Decarlos Brown Jr., was arrestedfor murder andthe case received extensive attention on Fox followingthe release of asecurity video of the stabbing. Jones wastalking on“Fox &Friends” onWednesday about public money spent on trying to help homeless peopleand suggested that those whodidn’taccept services offered to themshould be jailed.“Or involuntary lethal injection,orsome-

thing,” Kilmeade said. “Just kill ’em.” Earhardt interjected, “Why didithavetoget to this point?” Kilmeadereplied, “I will saythis, we’re not voting for the right people.”

During an appearance on the “Fox &Friends” weekendshowSunday, Kilmeade said that “I wronglysaidthey should get lethal injection.I apologize for thatextremely callous remark. Iamobviously awarethat not allmentally ill, homeless people act as the perpetrator didinNorth Carolina and thatsomany homeless peopledeserveour empathyand compassion.”

Callsfor calm and‘war’

That certainly happened after the Kirk killing. The 31-year-old father of two young children was an icon on the new,populist right, especially among young conservatives, and akey ally of Trump. While some conservatives calledfor calm,others, such as conspiracy theorist Alex Jones andpodcaster andformer Trumpadviser Steve Bannon, called for “war.”

In aspeech on the House floor on Thursday,Rep. Mary Miller, R-Ill., said Kirk’s“deathwas not an isolated tragedy.Itispart of a disturbing trend in political violence in our country,encouraged by the radical left and amplified by acorrupt media that hasgone from being fake to totally evil.”

Many prominent Democratsissued statements

urging calmonbothsides. Among themwereCalifornia Gov.Gavin Newsom and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, whose husband was gravely injuredbya hammer-wielding attacker HouseSpeakerMike Johnson, R-Benton, also called for lowering the temperature across the board.

Trump: ‘Radicalsonthe left’

Still, the mostprominent practitioner of polarizedattacksremains Trump. Friday morning, shortly after announcing thearrest on Fox News,hesaid “the radicals on the right oftentimes areradical becausethey don’twant to see crime. The radicalsonthe left are the problem.”

TheAnti-Defamation League found that from 2022 through2024, allof the61political killings in the U.S. were committed by

right-wing extremists. That changed on the first day of 2025, whena Texasman flying the flag of the Islamic State group killed 14 people by driving his truck through acrowded NewOrleans street before being fatally shot by police. Hoffmansaid that in modern history,the right has been responsible for more political attacks on people than the left. He said that’s because left-wing radicals aremorelikely to target property rather than people, andbecause theextreme rightboasts organizations such as militias. He addedthatafter Trump pardoned morethan 1,500 people convicted of crimes during the Jan. 6, 2021,attack on the U.S. Capitol, “there’s abeliefincertain quarters that, if you engage in violence, the slate can be wiped clean.”

centers were paid without proof of what services they provided, and performance data stopped coming in once centers hit their yearly caps for payment.

“Appropriate oversight is important because Louisiana pregnancy centers are not establishedbylaw as regulated health care facilities subjecttolicensing statutes andcompliancewith federaland state regulations for thehealth care services manyprovide,” the report from Legislative Auditor Mike Waguespack stated.

As of June 2025, 12 of the state’s 38 centers held contractswith the department to participate in the program. Each was eligible to receive up to $100,800 annually,paidona fee-for-service basis at arate of up to $300 per client per month.

Nearly all reached their funding caps by midsummer,with the departmentpaying out about $1.17 million. The Legislaturehad allocated $4 million for the first year, leaving $2.8 million unused.

Lawmakershavesince cutthe pregnancy center general fund budget by more than half,to$1.74 million in the coming fiscal year

DCFS plans to backfill with $2.26

ABSENTEEISM

Continued from page1A

readingscores have rebounded to pre-COVID-19 levels, has struggledtoaddressrising absenteeism.

After absences spiked nationwide during the pandemic, most states saw their numbers fall in recentyears —but until last school year, Louisiana’srate continued to rise.

Worried that the state’s recent academic progress would be lost unlesssomething was done, state and local education leaders have made improving attendance apriority,and now those efforts appear to be paying off.

“I believe in what we’re doing, and Ibelieve in our academic strategy,” state Superintendent of Schools Cade Brumley said in an interview Wednesday.“If morekids are in schooleveryday,they’ll have greater access to that strategy that’s producing results.” Systemsmakestrides

Several of the state’slargest schoolsystems experiencedminorreductionsin chronic absenteeism, defined as students who miss 10% or more of aschool year Jefferson Parish and East Baton Rouge Parish saw their rates drop by 3percentage points last school year,while Lafayette’sfell by 2percentage points, and the rate in Orleans Parish dipped by half apercentage point.

Tensas Parish, atiny rural district with about 300 students, saw the biggest overall reduction in chronic absenteeism: Its rate fell from roughly 44% in 2023-24to 33% last school year

millioninfederalwelfare dollars through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program. At the same time, theagency intends to more than double the cap on payments per center, to almost $250,000.

Health services

State lawlimits funding to four categories of services: counseling, referrals, classes and items such as diapers andcar seats. Most centers offerother services,some of whichare considered health care services. All 12 offered ultrasounds; nearlyhalf prescribed medication or provided screenings for sexually transmitted infections

Pregnancy centers in Louisiana are not licensed as medical providersand,unlike some states such as Connecticut, Illinois and Colorado, do nothave to disclose that status to clients.

Their growthhas coincided with the closure of PlannedParenthood’sNew Orleans clinic this month, which did not provide abortions but was alicensed center that provided medical services Without regulation, there are no state requirementsthat ultrasounds or otherservices be conducted and interpreted by aprofessional.

The centers are not subject to patient privacy laws like HIPAA or data confidentialityagreements

“Because pregnancycenters

arenot regulated, clientsdonot have the abilitytofile acomplaint against aprovider or pregnancy center if an adverse eventtakes place,” the report stated.

Erica Inzina, policy director for Louisiana Right to Life, said it was misleading to suggest centersoperateoutside proper safeguards because the employees who work there are subject to the licensing requirementsoftheir profession. Louisiana Right to Lifehas consistentlysupported legislationthat funds and promotes pregnancy resourcecenters.

While some centersreported having aphysicianonstaff (9 of 12 said theyhad alicensed physician connected to thecenter), there is no state requirement that ultrasounds be performed or interpreted by qualifiedmedical professionals.

Abortion rights activists have long criticized pregnancy centers. In a2022 report, the abortion rights group Lift Louisiana said the centers provide little to no medical care, operatewithout oversight andspread medically inaccurateinformation,suchas suggesting abortion is more dangerousthangiving birth, or causes breastcancer or infertility,claims which arenot backed by data.

“It is irresponsible and insulting that our legislators are choosing to spend millions of state funds paying unregulated pregnancy centers instead of investing in legitimate public healthinterventions,”said AlexMoody,staff at-

torneyfor LiftLouisiana

Moody pointed outthatlast year apregnancy center in NewIberia released thefull names, last menstrualperiod and due date of 13 clients without theirpermission

“Because they are notalicensed and regulated health care provider, they have faced no consequences,” Moody said.

The audit suggested that Louisiana lawmakers consider prohibiting acenter from advertising itself as ahealth carefacilityor requiring licensure for centers that provide health care. Alabama, Massachusetts andCalifornia have pregnancy centers licensed throughthe statehealthdepartment. Hawaii requires the centers to comply with HIPAA.

Data collection

DCFScontracts showed that they allowed billing forcategories not included in state law,such as nursingservices. Thecontracts alsodid not define other services, instead grouping them in categories such as “programmatic data.”

Theagency also did not make the pregnancy centers show what specific services were provided or show proof of that service.

Centerswere simply paid $300 for each client theyreported, no matterwhat was provided.

The department’scontracts require centerstosubmit monthly reports showing howmanyclients receivedcounseling, referralsor classes. Yetonce centers reached theirannual caps, the agency

Louisiana Chief Justice John Weimer,who said he was alarmed by rising absenteeism,earlier this year proposed a“Solutions Summit” that would bring together stakeholders from across thestate to discuss solutions to theabsenteeism crisis.

Thefirst-of-its-kind event took place Monday in Alexandria, drawing nearly 400 participants whowork in school districts, court systems and community-based groups.

“Whatweneed is buy-in from local areas andsupport from thestate to help them implement guidance,” Weimer said in an interview “Wecan’t dictate what the

stopped collectingdata.

DCFS told auditors it will begin enforcing those rules. Supporters of the centers saiditwas amatter of wording.

“On the surface it may look like they are not in alignment, but in reality the services that can be billed for areindeedsubcategories of one or all the eligible services,” Inzina saidinanemail. Future generalcontractor

Underthe law, DCFSmust eventually hand administration of the program to asingle nonprofit “generalcontractor,”which would subcontract with pregnancy centers statewide. That change isn’t expected until 2027.

Auditors warned that outsourcing could eat into funds for services, sincethe contractor will be entitled to an administrative fee. They pointed out that the law doesn’tcap what they can charge. Florida’s contractor charges 8.3%, while Oklahoma’s receives a20% administrative fee.

Louisiana Right to Life said the report highlighted aneed for the generalcontractor,“despite the auditor’ssuggestion to the contrary,” because acontractor would address mostoftheir concerns.

In awritten response, the department agreed with all audit recommendations. The agency said new oversight policies will take effect next year

Email Emily Woodruff at ewoodruff@theadvocate.com

solutions are, but we can gather everyone together to collaborate.”

Louisiana was one of just four states where chronic absenteeism rose during the 2023-24 school year,according to data from 46 states compiled by FutureEd, a thinktankatGeorgetown University.AsofSept. 2, only seven states had released absenteeism numbers for thelast school year.All but one, Colorado,saw improvements overthe previous year,though none has yet returned to pre-pandemiclevels, according to FutureEd.

Email Elyse Carmosino at ecarmosino@theadvocate. com.

Tensas ParishSchools Superintendent Joyce Russ said that her staff hasmade aconcerted effort over the past two years to stay on top of attendance data, identify studentswho are at risk of becoming chronically absentand reach outto families before theproblem snowballs.

Themost important strategy has been creating awelcoming school community where students feel seen andheard,Russsaid, addingthat shemakes apoint of forming arelationship with every child

“Kids need people in their liveswho theyknowwillbe there forthem, who they can counton,” shesaid.“That’s what Itry to do.”

Though most districts’ absenteeism rates declined last school year,13saw their numbersrise,includingCameron Parish, which increased by more thanfour percentagepoints, accordingtodata.

Twodistricts, Richland andSt. Tammany, sawno

change.

Focusonattendance

Stateleadershave put effort into reducing absenteeism.

In June, the state Education Department released guidance encouraging districts to focusonprevention methods and improving school culture, rather than punitive measures,todraw chronically absent students back to school.The departmentalso encouraged districts to submit attendance data to the state more frequently to earlier spot students at risk of falling behind.

Brumley said thatgetting timely,reliable attendance datafrom districts is acritical first step in improving attendance statewide.

“Wehave much more confidence in the qualityofthe data,” he said, “whichwill be able to help us drive future decisions.”

Leadersinsectors beyond education have also been eager to help.

counterpart, LIGO Hanford, in Washingtonstate. Tenyears andhundreds of gravitational wave detections later,LIGO is celebrating the anniversaryofthe historic eventafter abusy summer Since May,scientistshave been bracing for potential budget cuts after the Trump administration proposed slashing more than half of the foundation’supcoming fiscal year budget. If the cutsare approved, aLIGO observatory could shut down. The observatory also announced the discovery of the most massiveblack hole merger ever detected. More recently,LIGO had its sharpest detection yet that proved one of theoretical physicist and cosmologist Stephen Hawking’stheories to be correct.

Black hole hunting

Since the historic discovery in 2015, LIGO detectors have logged more than 300 gravitational wave events from black hole collisions.

This number has far surpassed scientists’ expectations from 10 years ago. LIGO is able to detect so many events because the observatories are consistently improving and upgrading their gravitational wave detectors. Typically,the detectors run for afew years, then shut down for afew years for improvements.

LIGO Livingstonhas plans to shut down for upgrades in November However,there is anumberitishoping to increase. So far,LIGO has only detectedatleasttwo binary neutronstarmergers

GabrielaGonzález,LSU professorand alsothe spokesperson for the international LIGOScientificCollaboration during the2015 breakthrough, said these mergers are rarer thanoriginally expected.

This cosmicevent occurs when two neutron stars, which are remnantsofcollapsed massive stars, collide andproducea powerful explosion. They are detected by gravitational waves as well.

“That’swhy we keep workingonincreasingthe sensitivity of the detectors, because we want to see ifwe can see more of those neutron stars,” she said.

González also said by building better andlonger detectors, scientists could see systemsfarther away, and ultimately,more star mergers

Fundingupinthe air

The fate of LIGO funding forthe next fiscal year might be decidedinthe next few weeks, as the upcoming federal fiscal yearfor theU.S.government begins Oct. 1. In May,the Trump administration announceda proposedfederal budget request for2026 that would cut $5.2 billion, or 57%, of the foundation’s$9billion annual budget.

Under the proposed federal budget,only oneLIGO observatory would operatewith areduced level of spending for LIGO technologydevelopmentinthe 2026 fiscal year,according to the budget proposal.

AU.S. House subcommittee in July proposeda budget that would cut only 23%,about $2 billion, from the foundation. AU.S. Senatesubcommittee proposed abudget that would cut only $16 million from the science organization.

González, along with 2,000 other top scientists in the country, recentlysigned an open letter to Congress warning it about the damage budget cuts could do to thenation.

González said she felt prompted to do so because she believes LIGO andother projects sometimes aren’t talked about enough.

“I thinkthat whenpeople read aboutscience,they always think it’shappening somewhere else. This is happening in Louisiana. We have adetector that is discovering black holes in Louisiana,” she said.

Giaime does not know when abudget will be passed and said the scientists are nervously waiting to see what happens.

“LIGO will be an extremely different place, and many aspects of ourprogram will be on lifesupport,”hesaid about possible large budget cuts.

Email Claire Grunewald at claire.grunewald@ theadvocate.com.

Pope honors 21st centurymartyrs

BY NICOLE WINFIELD Associated Press

ROME Pope Leo XIV on Sunday honored hundreds of Christians who have been killed for their faith in the 21st century,praising their courage and lamenting that their numbers were growing in many parts of the world

The Vatican has been documenting these Christian martyrs, not as part of its saint-making process butto merely collect and remember their stories. Their numbers include cases of Christiansbeing killed by Islamic militants, mafia groups or Amazonian ranchers upset at their defense of the rainforest and poor Leopresided over aHoly Year evening prayer service to honor them, inviting Orthodox patriarchs and Christian ministers from over 30 Christian denominations. It waspartofthe Vatican’s ongoing effort to underline what it calls the indiscriminate “ecumenism of blood” that unites Christians who arepersecutedand killed for their faith, regardless of their particular denomination.

“Many brothers and sisters, even today,carry the same cross as our Lord on account of their witness to the faith in difficult situations and hostile contexts,” Leo said. “Like him, they are persecuted, condemned and killed.”

The service, at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, came 25 years after St. John Paul II presided over a2000 Jubilee commemoration of new martyrs held at the Colosseum. Leo cited afew examples

Rome.

of martyrdomsince then, including Sister Dorothy Stang, an American nun whospent three decades tryingtopreserve the Amazon rainforest and defend the rights of poorsettlers who confronted powerfulranchers seeking their lands. She wasgunneddownin2005 in ahit ordered by ranchers

“When those who were about tokill herasked her for aweapon, she showed them her Bible and replied, ‘This is my only weapon,’”Leo said.

Leo lamented that despite the endofthe “great dictatorshipsofthe 1900s,” when Christians werepersecuted in partsofEurope,Christians were stillbeing killed and in some places, in even greater numbers thanbefore AVatican study commission created in 2023 has

documented morethan 1,500 cases of martyrs since 2000, including the 21 Coptic Orthodox workers beheaded by Islamic militants in Libya in 2015. The commission has also documented stories of Christians killedbycriminalorganizations or imply becausetheirpresence and defenseofChristian principles was bothersome, said Andrea Riccardi, vice president of the commission. At abriefing last week, Riccardi saidthe complete list of names wouldn’tbe released now because of ongoing security concerns in parts of theworld. Buthe providedthe breakdown of themartyrs the commission had added ontoits list: n 643 in sub-SaharanAfrica,mostkilledinIslamic militantattacks.

n 357 in Asia and Oceania, including the victimsofthe Eastern Sunday2019 suicide bomb attacks on three churchesinColombo, Sri Lanka.

n 304 in the Americas, including missionariesand activists targetedfor defending theAmazon n 277 in the Middle East and North Africa, many of whom were Christians of other,non-Catholic denominations.

n 43 in Europe, but Riccardi noted that among those killed elsewhere there were 110 Europeans,mostly missionary priestsand nuns. Riccardi stressed thatits work was completely separatefrom theprocess of beatification and canonization, which also considers martyrs for possible sainthood.

LeoXIV

marvels at his‘huge learning curve’ as he turns70

BY NICOLE WINFIELD Associated Press

ROME Pope Leo XIV

marveled at the “huge learning curve” he has taken on as pontiff and likened some aspects of the jobtojumping “in on the deep end of the pool very quickly,” in excerpts of an interview released Sunday on his 70th birthday

Thepopealsolamented widening income gaps betweenthe workingclass and CEOs, recalling the recent news that Elon Musk could be in line to become the world’sfirst trillionaire. “If that is the only thingthathas value anymore, then we’re in big trouble,” Leo said in the comments, the pope’sfirst interview as history’s first American pope.

Thecommentscamejust aday after Musk’sbrother’s company,Nova Sky Stories, staged alight show over the Vatican featuring 3,000 drones depicting images from the Sistine Chapel and even Pope Francis’ face.

The interview was conducted this summer by Vatican correspondentElise Ann Allen for her forthcoming biography of Leo.

Excerpts were published Sunday on Allen’sCatholic news site Crux, and in the El Comercio daily of Peru.

In theexcerpts, Leo spoke aboutfeeling both American and Peruvian, given hisdual citizenship and 20 years of missionary experience in Peru. He

said that experience gave him great appreciation of the Latin American church and Pope Francis’ ministry as history’sfirst South American pope.

Asked whether he would root forthe U.S. or Peru in afuture WorldCup, Leo drew parallels to his childhood in Chicago and the value of not shutting down opponents.

“Even at home, Igrew up aWhite Sox fan, but my mother was aCubs fan, so you couldn’tbeone of those fans that shut out the other side,” he said. “Welearned, even in sports,tohave an open, dialogical,friendly and not angry competitive stance on things like that, because we might not have gotten dinner hadwe been!”

Francis promoted Leo to atop jobatthe Vatican in 2023, making clearhe viewed him as apotential successor.Nevertheless Leo said he wasn’tfully prepared forthe job.

“There’sstill ahuge learning curve ahead of me,” he said, adding that he had found his footing as pastor,but that the challenge was the job as world leader

“On thatone Ihad to jumpinonthe deep end of the pool very quickly,” he said.

Theinterview was released Sunday as Leo marked his 70th birthday, which wascelebratedat the Vatican during his traditional noon blessing.

Suburb wherePopeLeo XIVgrewupcelebrateshis 70th birthday

BY SOPHIA TAREEN

Associated Press

CHICAGO The Chicago suburb where Pope Leo XIV grew up marked his 70th birthdaySunday with gospel music and aballoon release outside his boyhood home.

Asmall crowdattendedthe festivities outside the modest brick house in Dolton, where theformer Robert Prevost grew up after he was born in 1955 in Chicago,about20

milesaway “It’sa good timefor the communitytocome together,” saidVillage President Jason House. “It shows that great peoplecome out of the village of Dolton.”

The village purchasedthe houseinJuly in hopesof boosting tourism andclaiming apiece of papal history of thefirst American pope. WhenhewaselectedinMay at age69, he wasthe youngest pope since 1978, when Karol

Wojtyla was elected Pope John Paul II at age 58. Leo’sbirthdaywas celebrated at the Vatican during histraditional noon blessing, where he saw“Happy birthday” banners, in English, Italianand Spanishand balloons held up by thosegathered in St. Peter’sSquare. In Illinois,photographs of him as achild and as pope were displayedoutside the three-bedroom houseinthe suburb southofChicago.

French PM dropsplantocut holidays

BY FRANCOIS DE BEAUPUY Bloomberg News (TNS)

France’snew Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu dropped an unpopular proposal by his predecessor to cut two public holidays, while warningthat thegovernment will need to find otherways to trim its budget deficit.

Lecornu, appointed by President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday to replace Francois Bayrou who was ousted earlierthisweek after losing aconfidence vote in parliament, faces the daunting task of convincing afragmentedlower houseto restore public finances.

Fitch Ratings downgraded

the credit rating of France’s sovereign debt to A+from AA-onFriday evening, a sign that the upheaval of repeated governmentcollapse has lockedthe countryinto an enduring battle tocontain aswelling debtburden.

“I hear what our citizens say: they want work to pay,” Lecornu said in an interview with La Depechenewspaper published Saturday. “Dropping the suppression of holidays will require to find other sources of funding.” Bayrou had proposed$52 billion of spending cuts and taxhikesthat would narrow France’s2026 deficitto4.6% of economic outputfrom an expected 5.4% this year.As

part of the plan, he floated aproposal to cut two public holidays as away to boost the nation’scompetitiveness.

The country mustkeep reducingits publicdeficit, Lecornu told thenewspaper

Both those who claim that the International Monetary Fund is “at the doors” of France’sFinance Ministry, and those who claim that the situation canbeleftassuch are lying, he said.

Lawmakers haveshown little willingness for compromise. Many are calling for arepeat of thesnaplegislative electionsin2024 that split parliament into three opposing blocs incapable of agreeing on financial bills.

Once atown of afew thousand wheremostresidents were white, Dolton is now acommunity of roughly 20,000 wheremostresidents are Black.

Attendees prayed for the pope’s health andleadership. There wasanacappella rendition of the gospel hit “Break Every Chain,” along with theStevieWonderver-

sion of “Happy Birthday.” Silver balloons in theshape of starswerereleasedinto the sky “Wehope people feel welcome,” House said.

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SEPTEMBER 2025

Council debates confirmation

Controversy follows top pick for Jefferson Parish post

BY LARA NICHOLSON Staff writer

As Jefferson Parish seeks to revamp its building permit process to make it easier for business own-

ers and residents, the Parish Council is set to hire a new head of the department from the Mississippi Gulf Coast. But the city where Mark Savasta worked for three years, Pass

Christian, is now embroiled in controversy after its Board of Aldermen asked the state auditor to investigate three departments. And Savasta is suing the city over

Only one school bound by reading law

Charter schools are excluded from retention policy

BY MARIE FAZIO Staff writer

Out of nearly 3,300 third graders in New Orleans public schools last year, only four were required to repeat the grade under a new state reading law

It isn’t because the city’s students are so advanced in reading: Nearly half of New Orleans third graders scored below grade level on a spring reading test. Rather, the main reason is that the new law, which requires students to achieve a minimum reading score to advance to fourth grade, only applies to traditional public schools.

The bill’s author said that charter schools were unintentionally left out. The upshot is that the entire New Orleans public school system, which is made up of independently operated charter schools, was exempt from the law except for the Leah Chase School, the city’s only traditional public school.

In the spring, about half of Leah Chase School’s 52 third graders scored below the cutoff needed to move to fourth grade, according to data provided by NOLA Public Schools Six of those students qualified for exemptions from the law due to learning challenges, while others improved their scores on a retest Ultimately, four students were held back, though two of them left the school.

Statewide, nearly one in four Louisiana third graders was at risk of being held back due to their spring reading scores. The state has not released final retention numbers, but after exemptions, summer school and retesting, relatively few students are expected to have been held back.

The third grade retention law, which the state Legislature passed in 2023, was part of a statewide push to improve literacy Teachers also were trained in the “science of reading,” a research-backed literacy instruction technique based in phonics, and the state ramped up tutoring in schools. Schools also were required to give literacy screeners to students in kindergarten through third grade three times each school year to assess their reading progress. Charter schools had to give the reading tests and ensure their teachers received the literacy training. But they didn’t have to make struggling readers repeat third grade.

Richard Nelson, who is secretary of Louisiana’s Department of Revenue, was a state lawmaker in 2023 when he authored the third grade retention bill. In a recent interview, he said he

Keep marching on

ABOVE: The Young Men Olympian Jr

Benevolent Association holds a brass band parade in Central City in New Orleans on Sunday. The YMO was founded in 1884 and is the last post-Reconstruction benevolent association that still holds annual parades and funerals for its members.

RIGHT: A participant jumps in the air

ST. TAMMANY PARISH

Road map takes the humorous route

BY BOB WARREN Staff writer

There’s a new road map in carcrazy St. Tammany Parish that looks a good bit more accurate than anything Waze or Google has produced. Conceived by Lt. Carli Messina of the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office, the map shows the parish’s busiest thoroughfares — while offering some rather insightful commentary along the way.

U.S. 190 in Lacombe? “One slow driver = 47 angry drivers.”

The roads in the northern part of the parish? “Waze not gonna work.” The Madisonville bridge?

“Where patience goes to die.” The Lake Pontchartrain Causeway? “45 minutes of questioning life choices.”

Actually, the questioning life choices reference shows up twice on the map. It appears again on the stretch of U.S. 190 north of Interstate 12 heading to Covington. And it’s not wrong in either case. Messina, who works in the sheriff’s Public Affairs Division, said the map came to her fittingly, as she sat in heavy traffic. “Forty-five minutes from Mandeville to Covington? I feel it in

Environmental journalist wins advocacy award

Schleifstein heralded for drawing attention to coastal issues

BY MIKE SMITH Staff writer

Longtime Times-Picayune environmental journalist Mark Schleifstein is being recognized with a prestigious lifetime achievement award for his work shining a light on Louisiana coastal issues.

Schleifstein, who retired from the newspaper at the end of 2024, is being granted the award by the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana, the state’s oldest coastal

One man dead in N.O. stabbing

Central City incident wounds

second man

BY DESIREE STENNETT and KASEY BUBNASH Staff writers

Continued from page 1B

my soul,” Messina laughed. In addition to dealing with media requests, the Public Affairs Division runs a popular Facebook page that has grown to 182,000 followers. Between official news releases announcing arrests or other law enforcement activities, the page is often populated with humorous, sometimes snarky, musings about Tammany roads and drivers.

Noting the appearance of a rare early-September cool front, one recent post said, “The temperature dropped this morning from 99 to 65 like it saw a state trooper Still not an excuse to not use your blinker.”

One man was killed and another wounded in a Central City stabbing Sunday morning, according to the New Orleans Police Department.

DEBATES

Continued from page 1B

Parish President Cynthia Lee Sheng launched a task force in March to suggest changes and the council hired consulting firm Barry, Dunn, McNeil & Parker LLC last June to review and revise ordinances.

‘Political in nature’

The longtime permits director Danny Ferrara, retired in May after 41 years

The Parish Council will vote at its Wednesday meeting whether to confirm Savasta as his replacement, after deferring his confirmation at the last meeting He’ll be paid

READING

Continued from page 1B

had not meant to exclude charter schools from the law but that by the time he became aware of the omission it was too late in the legislative process to add them into the bill. He said he hopes another lawmaker will eventually amend the law to close the charter loophole.

“If you’re in a public school and get held back, you can just transfer to a charter,” he said. “The goal was to have every kid reading by fourth grade and anything that undermines that, even for one child, is not great policy.”

But Caroline Roemer, who heads the Louisiana Association of Public Charter Schools, said that including charter schools in the retention law would encroach on their autonomy “Tell us what the standard is and hold us accountable to that standard,” she said, “but otherwise get out of the way to let charter schools make those decisions.”

Louisiana’s retention law was modeled after a similar law in Mississippi that led to widespread improvement in literacy across the state.

But Roemer, who said students who are held back a grade have lower graduation rates, said it’s unclear whether the retention policy was a driving factor behind the improvements.

“What we do believe in is remediation, intensive tutoring that comes with the resources to provide those services,” she said. “So the Legislature prioritizing and funding tutoring is going to have a much greater impact than a retention law.”

School isn’t exempt

New Orleans has only one traditional public school that is subject to the retention law: The

Police were called to the 2100 block of South Liberty Street at 8:20 a.m. Paramedics took the wounded men to a local hospital, where one later died, police said Police did not immediately release more information

The stabbing occurred

about $117,000 per year, according to personnel records.

Savasta has 16 years of experience working in city inspections, including Pass Christian; Houston, Texas; Mobile, Alabama; and Pascagoula, Mississippi; according to his resume.

“We believe that his termination was political in nature, and that he was forthright with all of this information with us at the very beginning,” said Lee Sheng.

Savasta filed a federal lawsuit against Pass Christian on Aug 25 in the Southern District of Mississippi alleging that his termination was the result of his political campaigning against Mayor Kenny

Leah Chase School. It opened last fall as the city’s first permanent district-run school in nearly two decades. Unlike the city’s charter schools, which operate independently and have authority over day-to-day decisions like curriculum, it is controlled by NOLA Public Schools and the Orleans Parish School Board.

Board member Leila Eames, who has called for the district to run more schools, said that requiring only Leah Chase to retain students creates a double standard within the district.

“I just don’t think it’s fair that out of 60-something schools in this district, only one school is held accountable to the law and could possibly retain students,” she said. “To me that is discriminatory.”

About 45% of the school’s third graders tested well-below the reading benchmark last fall In the spring, 49% tested wellbelow When students who were at risk of being held back retook the test this summer, just 10 remained below the cutoff needed to move to fourth grade Six were granted exemptions: One was an English language learner, three failed a dyslexia screener and two had special education plans Four students were flagged to repeat third grade this school year but two switched to other schools, according to NOLA Public Schools records.

NOLA Public Schools declined to make available anyone from Leah Chase School to discuss literacy strategies and did not respond to questions about different standards for traditional and charter schools

Social media posts from the school showed third graders reading a passage about a “prickly porcupine” and drawing pictures about what they read during summer school

just hours before the Young Men Olympians secondline parade was set to roll through the neighborhood. Several food vendors who arrived after the killing proceeded to set up shop as investigators worked the scene.

Email Desiree Stennett at desiree.stennett@ theadvocate.com.

Torgeson and Alderman Atlarge Victor Pickich during their elections last spring, and not because he “failed to properly supervise” a subordinate in making timely deposits, as the city told him.

The Pass Christian Board of Aldermen voted to terminate him and his subordinate, former city clerical code officer Virginia “Jenny” Lowery, in April, the day after the spring election. Lowery also sued the city alleging that she was fired for reporting Pickich after he cursed at her while intoxicated at a bar

Both Savasta and Lowery claim that their terminations were a violation of their First Amendment rights.

SCHLEIFSTEIN

Continued from page 1B

advocacy group. The organization highlighted Schleifstein’s work over the decades as vital in drawing attention to the state’s coastal crisis, among other environmental issues.

“For more than four decades, Mark has been the voice helping Louisiana make sense of the challenges and possibilities for our coast,” Kim Reyher, CRCL executive director, said in a statement last week. “He has helped us all recognize and understand our coastal land loss crisis. His work has placed restoration at the center of our state’s story — and his legacy will endure for generations.”

Louisiana has lost around 2,000 square miles of land over the last century, roughly the size of Delaware. The levees holding the Mississippi River in place set the problem in motion, but oil and gas activity and saltwater intrusion due to the digging of shipping channels have played important roles. Sea level rise due to climate change is projected to greatly worsen the problem in the future.

Schleifstein, 74, has been at the forefront of reporting on those issues since joining the newspaper in 1984. He has been viewed for years as the dean of the state’s environmental journalists, consistently breaking stories and writing in-depth pieces exploring Louisiana’s myriad coastal challenges.

He has won a long list of local, state and national prizes, including from the Society of Environmental Journalists and the National Academy of Sciences, on topics ranging from coastal erosion to industrial pollution and the destruction caused by Formosan termites in New Orleans

He has also shared in Pulitzer Prizes for his reporting on Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath as well as

In a parish well-known for its traffic snarls, it’s little surprise that Messina’s road map has been a hit on social media. The post on the Sheriff’s Office page had gotten 5,700 likes and more than 500 comments by Wednesday

“It’s precious and I truly enjoyed the humor,” one commenter said.

“It’s the 45 minutes of questioning life choices for me!!!!” another said, adding

Savasta declined to comment.

Jim Waide, attorney for Savasta and Lowery said Jefferson Parish cannot legally refuse to hire Savasta because of his lawsuit, and that “everything in there (the lawsuit) is true.”

‘Very impressive’

Jefferson Parish hired Savasta as building permits director on Aug. 2, about three weeks before he sued Pass Christian, according to personnel records.

At-large council member Scott Walker said the council deferred the last vote in response to a news article that had recently been published about the litigation, and that they wanted

for the paper’s 1996 series ”Oceans of Trouble,” which explored the perilous state of the world’s fisheries.

In addition to his own work, Schleifstein has dedicated himself to mentoring younger journalists, including through active involvement in a range of journalism organizations. Since the start of the year, he has served as a Walton Family Foundation environmental reporting fellow Predicting Katrina

He called the award an acknowledgement of both his work and that of organizations such as CRCL “to start restoring land loss in south Louisiana and to tie that restoration process to better protection from hurricane storm surges.”

Schleifstein recalled the gradual understanding among the wider public of the importance of coastal land loss and its effects on storm surge. He has worked on at least three separate projects over the years highlighting the problem, in addition to his sustained, day-to-day coverage. Those projects have included a 2007 series he co-authored, titled “Last Chance: The Fight to Save a Disappearing Coast,” which won the John B. Oakes Prize for Environmental Reporting from Columbia University

A 2002 series he co-authored, “Washing Away,” identified problems with the New Orleans area’s levee system three years before Hurricane Katrina and was eventually viewed as having predicted many of the effects of the devastating storm. That series also addressed the problem of coastal land loss and its role in storm surge In addition, Schleifstein played a key role in the newspaper’s coverage of Katrina itself while also losing his Lakeview home to the flood, like so many other New Orleanians. His house took on 15 feet of water In 2006, he co-authored

a laughing emoji. Messina said she loves reading the comments. “People thought it was funny They said, ‘This is dead on.’” Messina said she’s experienced just about everything she tossed onto the

to “pump the brakes and make sure there was nothing that would surprise us.” Walker said after talks with Savasta and the administration, he feels comfortable as of now approving Savasta as a parish employee.

“I like the guy, I think he’s been very impressive in all he’s done so far,” Walker said. “By all accounts, he’s fired up to do the job.”

At-large council member Jennifer Van Vrancken questioned the administration’s transparency and vetting process, since the parish president’s office did not proactively disclose the termination or litigation with them ahead of the vote.

“That should have been

with John McQuaid the book “Path of Destruction: The Devastation of New Orleans and the Coming Age of Superstorms.”

‘An opportunity’ Schleifstein said he hoped state leaders consider innovative ways to combine wetlands restoration projects with hurricane protection measures as Louisiana looks for practical and affordable methods to address its vulnerabilities. He noted the importance of building stronger protection to guard against larger storms, particularly in an era of intensifying hurricanes.

One way would be combining levee improvements with wetlands restoration, which would work together to block storm surge. The state should look at such innovative approaches in the wake of the canceled Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion, the controversial $3 billion project that drew strong opposition from commercial fishers and others, he said.

“The state actually has an opportunity to do something different, but it’s going to have to work to do it,” said Schleifstein, a father of two and grandfather of four

Gordon Russell, the paper’s former managing editor for investigations who is now with The Boston Globe, wrote in nominating him for the award that “without his reporting at The Times-Picayune and The Advocate, it’s hard to imagine where coastal preservation and restoration would rank among Louisiana’s problems.”

Schleifstein and other CRCL award recipients will be honored Nov. 13 at SoLou restaurant in Baton Rouge. Tickets can be purchased online. The other awardees in recognition of coastal stewardship include: n Dr Jelagat Cheruiyot, a Tulane professor who has inspired hundreds of students to work in coastal restoration and has spear-

map, including the note at the I-10/I-59/I-12 interchange in Slidell that says, “30 minutes from Buc-ee’s,” with an arrow pointing to Mississippi.

“Had to add that,” she said. “I adore Buc-ee’s.

shared with us,” she said. Pass Christian’s termination of Savasta and Lowery is one of many issues plaguing the city’s government, as the Board of Aldermen requested Mississippi’s state auditor to step in and investigate the city code, harbor and water departments, the Sun Herald reported last month. Neither Savasta nor Lowery have been accused of wrongdoing in that investigation. Torgeson declined to comment on the litigation. An attorney for Pickich could not be reached Friday

Email Lara Nicholson at lnicholson@theadvocate. com.

headed several restoration and stormwater management projects.

n New Orleans high school Brother Martin, whose students participate in an interdisciplinary lesson on coastal issues that has included logging more than a thousand volunteer hours working on CRCL’s restoration projects.

n Sandy Nguyen, the executive director of Coastal Communities Consulting, who for more than two decades has provided technical assistance, business support and capacity building to commercial fishers, shrimpers and oyster harvesters in southeast Louisiana.

n Anne Milling, who founded Women of the Storm, a nonpartisan, nonpolitical alliance that drew attention to the needs of a post-Katrina New Orleans and the Gulf Coast and to coastal restoration more broadly

n Theresa Schmidt, who retired this year after 47 years as a journalist at KPLC in Lake Charles. Her work has included reporting on the region’s coastal and ecosystem issues.

n Dominique Seibert, the Louisiana SeaGrant agent for St. Bernard and Plaquemines parishes who works to promote stewardship of the state’s coastal resources through a combination of research, education and outreach programs.

Email Mike Smith at msmith@theadvocate.com

NewOrleans Area Deaths

DiMaggio, Carolyn

Godelfer,Barbara Marino, Carole St Tammany EJ Fielding

DiMaggio, Carolyn Marino, Carole

Obituaries

DiMaggio, Carolyn Mary Staiger

CarolynMaryStaiger

DiMaggio, adevoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother,passed away on September6 2025, at theage of 93. She leavesbehinda legacy of faith,kindness, humor, and lovethatwillbecherished byall whoknewher.Born onAugust10, 1932, in New Orleans,Louisiana,Carolyn was thedaughterofJohn A.Staiger,Sr. andSidonie HarangStaiger.For more than67years,she wasthe beloved wife of theloveof her life,the late Peter JosephDiMaggio. Together theybuilt afamilyrooted infaith anddevotion. She was thelovingmotherof DawnDiMaggio, Deanna D. Allen (Michael), David DiMaggio, Sr.(Anna), and DinaD.Martinez; cher‐ished grandmotherofSean Martinez, Meghan Mar‐tinez,DanielleDiMaggio, MollieM.Hood(Thomas), Jared Allen, ShaneMar‐tinez (Chloe), DavidDiMag‐gio,Jr.,JeremyAllen, and CarolineAllen;and proud great-grandmother of six. In addition to herchildren, grandchildren,and greatgrandchildren,she is sur‐vived by sisters-in-law, Elizabeth DiMaggioand LorraineD.Schembre (Joseph). Shewas pre‐ceded in deathbyher hus‐band, herparents,her brother,JohnA.Staiger,Jr., her sister,Beverly S. Davis, and hersisters-in-law, Marie D. St.Philipand JacquelineD.Turner (Robert). Carolynlived a lifedeeply rooted in her Catholic faith,attending daily Mass andfaithfully praying therosaryindevo‐tiontothe BlessedMother. In 1961, sheand Peter moved theirfamilyto Arabi,Louisiana,where she became afounding memberofSt. Robert Bel‐larmine Catholic Church, serving as EucharisticMin‐ister,Commentator,and Lector. In recognitionof their shared dedication to the Church,she andPeter werehonored with the Order of St.Louis Medal‐lionfromthe Archdiocese ofNew Orleans. Following Hurricane Katrina, they re‐located to Mandeville, where they became parish‐ionersofOur Lady of the LakeCatholicChurch.A graduateofthe Academy ofthe Holy Angels High School (Class of 1950),Car‐olynlater attended Our LadyofHolyCross College. She dedicatedmuchof her lifetoteaching, servingas anelementaryschool teacher at IncarnateWord, St. Mary of theAngels, and St. Robert Bellarmine schools.Mostofher career was spentteachingsecond grade,a role sheespecially loved becauseitallowed her to prepareher stu‐dents fortheir FirstHoly Communion.Familywas Carolyn’s greatest joy. GiGi and PawPaw nevermissed a Grandparents’Day,and shetreasured everyoppor‐

tunity to spendtimewith her children,grandchil‐dren, andgreat-grandchil‐dren. Carolynhad agiftfor hospitality—whether it was gatheringthe family around thetable,prepar‐ing favorite meals, or wel‐comingfriends into her home, shedelighted in feedingbothbodyand soul. Shefound joyinlife’s simplepleasures,espe‐cially thelaughterand friendshipshe shared with her beloved Pokeno group. She wasalsoactiveasa memberofthe Knightsof ColumbusJanssenCouncil #3068 Ladies Auxiliary, the HolyFaith Associates,and AARPChapter 5408. Visita‐tionwillbeheldon Wednesday,September 17 2025, from 10:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m.,atSt. Pius X Catholic Church,6666 Spanish Fort Blvd., NewOr‐leans,LA, followed by a MassofChristian Burial at 12:30 p.m. Intermentwill beprivate at theSoutheast Louisiana Veterans Ceme‐teryinSlidell, Louisiana. Funeralarrangementshave been entrustedtoE.J FieldingFuneralHome. A tribute maybeviewedand condolences shared at www.ejfieldingfh.com

Godelfer, Barbara Ann Barbara Ann Godelfer, 80, passedawayonAugust 25, 2025 after abriefillness. Shewas the daughterofthe late Miriam and Thomas Godelfer

Barbara is survived by sistersLynn Blankenship, Beverly Montalbano, and Miriam Hodges, brother Thomas Godelfer, Jr., as well as many nieces and nephews.

Shewas agraduate of St. Joseph Academy and USL, and was aretired AT&T account executive.

Visitationwill be September 18 at 10:30, at Celebration Church, 3550 Williams Blvd. Funeral services willfollow at 11:30.

Marino,CaroleAnn

Carole AnnMarino passedawayonFriday, September 12,2025. She was born in Kenner,LAon October 4, 1949. Sheissur‐vived by herniece,Jessica Marino. Shewas preceded indeath by herparents Mildred Daigle Marino and Anthony Marino;and her brother Anthony“Tony Marino. Ms.Marinowas a nativeofKennerand ares‐ident of theNorthshorefor over30years.Carolewas a retired nurse who loved helping others.She wasan avidgardenerand Saints fan.She will be missedby all who knew andloved her.Relatives andfriends are invitedtoattendthe funeralservicesatE.J FieldingFuneral Home 2260 W. 21st Avenue,Cov‐ingtonLA70433,on Wednesday,September 17, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. with vis‐itation on Wednesdaybe‐ginning at 9:00 a.m. Inter‐mentwillfollowin Pinecrest Memorial Gar‐dens. E.J. Fielding Funeral Homehas been entrusted withfuneral arrangements The Marino familyinvites you to sharethoughts, fondest memories,and condolences online at E. J. FieldingFuneralHome Guest Book at www.ejfield ingfh.com

AMBERAlerts merely patch abroken system

When avulnerable, missing child is found deceased, thegrief is overwhelming, and the search for someone —orsome system to blame is immediate. Into this void, politiciansand well-meaning parents step. Before knowing all the factsand without consulting with experts, they push for new “stronger” laws or demand changestoalert systems. These premature interventions make for powerful optics but are child protection theater Politicians may present themselves to parents as protectors by championing more expansive alerting systems after tragedies. These gestures soothe public fear butare fueledbymyths about alerteffectivenessand fail to address the realities of complex missing child investigations. This is public safety by shortcut —and the consequences are serious. The real work of protecting missing children requires consistent investment in investigative resources, training, technical expertise and staffing. It means weighing risk factors, adhering to alert criteria and ensuring enough officers are available to process the flood of calls once an alert is issued. The truth is, not all tragedies are preventable. Competent law enforcement and alert activations cannot always overcome tragicaccidents or an abductor’sdecision to harm achild. What improves outcomes is disciplined, behind-the-scenes work —quiet and unglamorous butfar more effective than reactive gestures. Alert systems are crafted for specific purposes. Expanding themreflexively under political pressure undermines effectiveness and makes alerts vulnerable to abuse. Broader criteriaand faster alerts may look likesolutions, but likeacar alarm that sounds too often, overuse leads to alert fatigue. In rare cases, alerts can even escalate danger for the children they aim to save.

Restraint is not indifference —itisprotection. The best way to honor childrenlosttotragedy is through missing childpolicies grounded in data, expertise and sound principles —not symbolic measures born of grief.

STACEY PEARSON founder,The Pelican Project

YOUR VIEWS

WWIIera veterans and survivors sit in front during the Dr.Hal Baumgarten D-Day CommemorationCeremonyand Museum’s25thanniversarycelebration at the National WWII Museum in NewOrleans on June 6.

We aresquandering thelegacy left by braveWWIIveterans

The National WWII Museum is achronicle of America’s fight againstfascism. It tells astory of courage and tenacity in theface of unspeakable brutality and aggression. It is the storyofAmerican citizens coming togetherasanation to opposeand defeat the authoritarianaspirationsofMussolini, Hitler andHirohito. And why did thepeople of America do this? Whydid they sacrifice everything for this cause? Because they knew that fascism was wrong,thatitwas adagger to the heart of freedom. Because they knew that fascism meantslavery and worse It is perhaps just as well thatthe World War

II generation is mostly gone. For theywould likely be appalled at the eagernesswith which their descendants the beneficiaries of their sacrifice— have turnedaway from the democracy they fought so hard to preserve and instead have gleefully embraced existence under the fascist thumbofadim-witted martinet. Theywould be dismayed at the breakneck speed at which 250 yearsofAmerican progress has beenreversed, rocketing the country backward into anew Stone Age. Were theyalive today,they would just die

Funding forlevee inspectionsshould be easy fordelegationtoget behind

In light of thedeathand devastation of Katrina, one might think that inspecting the levees around New Orleanswould be a priority.One might think1,392 lost souls, some floating face down in 10 feet of water, others sucking for air in an attic or dying in awheelchair on Interstate10without medicine,might attract the attention of politicians. However,itseems Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, Majority Leader Steve Scalise and our two senators, one of whom is in the election cycle next year,could not care less when it comes to funding the inspection of ourlevees. As pointed out by thenewspaper,levee inspection was funded at $1.3 million in 2023, but virtually cut in half to $691,000 in 2025. Many cliches come to mind: Pay me now or payme later.Penny-wise and pound-foolish. Youget what you pay for.But I’ve comeup with my own —that seemsjust plain stupid. Afew years after Katrina, Iworked for the

one-time acting chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water.Wespent hours in conference committee negotiating withSen. Mary Landrieu over funding to rebuild thelevees. She was tenacious and dogged in insisting on asizable part of the eventual $14.5 billion to rebuild thelevees. Butnow we can’tfind $609,000?

My point is, there were serious politicians who cared about the people of New Orleans. Then. Butnone now

We have agovernor who only uses New Orleansasa prop to prove he’s meaner and crazier than the governor of Florida. And, thespeaker,majority leader and both senatorsonly care about New Orleans when their true “Lord and Savior” Donald Trumpgives his permission. In thewords of Randy Newman,“They’re tryin’ to washusaway!”

RICHARD PATRICK NewOrleans

Biden’sCHIPS Actbenefited La.companies

The semiconductor manufacturer Micron Technology is using Baton Rouge-based MMR Group in an expansion project. An article Aug. 17 mentions government subsidies for critical technology as spurring the expansion.

We should be appreciative of the Biden administration. In 2022, President Joe Biden signed into law the Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors (CHIPS) and Science Act. The legislation directs hundreds of billions of dollars toward supercharging domestic production of advanced technologies such as semiconductors, also known as microchips or chips. Since its passage, private firms have announced nearly $400 billion in additional investments in chips and other electronics.

The CHIPS Act details are inspiring. The benefits are wide-ranging, including boosting manufacturing and the supply chain, research for better chips and other electronics, defense uses and training the workforce.

KAREN GRADY NewOrleans

Our daily news can be depressing and vile. It seems as if controversy has taken on alife of its own. Few would have ever imagined that something as benign as alibrary or its board could stoke such issues. My example wasjust that and not intended to elicit controversy Much-needed relief was found on Aug. 24’sSports page in an article by Jeff Duncan, “Manning Made.” No matter what your team or school loyalty,the message was uplifting and positive: class, dignity,leadership and family Arch Manning’sspecial relationship with his grandfather,Archie, defines simplicity,honor and lowkey dignity.Asort of respecting yourself before expecting others to respect you. Yougotta smile at Arch’snickname for his grandfather,“Red.” Simple, straightforward and Manning all the way through.

Column on immigrant workersafter Katrina wasbeautiful tribute

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

Trump’ssuccess makesitharderfor

Whether you love him or hatehim, President Donald Trumpisonapath to make midterm election victories for theDemocrats very difficult. As of this date, the economy is doing very well. The stock market is at an all-time high. The president is doing everything he can to stop foreign wars and negotiate peace between Russia and Ukraine. The southern border is now secure, thetariffs don’tseem to be harming anything to date andmost people seem to be supportive of stopping crime in their communities, regardless of what the solution actually entails. If this kind of success holds up until the time of themidterms, and if Trumpcontinueshis pragmatic approach of addressing problems andsucceeding in fixing them, it would behard to imagine that the majority of the people in the United States would

Democrats

votefor aCongress that might impede such progress. Meanwhile, theDemocrats have done very little to define real leaders in their party. Andinstead of turning to amore moderate tone in their platforms, they’re doing thereverse. They are actively supporting a moreradical approach. Does the public want men competing in women’ssports? Is themajority in favor of children undergoing gender-affirming care without the consent of their parents?

Iwouldn’tthink so, but then, Idon’thave my thumbonthe pulse of what’shappening in America right now.For the record, Iama registered Democrat,but admittedly,I have lost faith in thedecisions of theDemocratic Party

PHILIP CANGELOSI Baton Rouge

Even though the world is on fire, the quietly brilliant columnbyErrol Laborde, “Hurricane Katrina and the workforce that saved New Orleans,” touched our souls and lifted shared memories to the surface regarding our Katrina rebuilding process. We might still be living in the Katrina trailer in our driveway if it wasn’t for the skills of the immigrant workers who were responsible for turning the wreck of our home into abeautiful residence again.

Unlike the American workers of the A+ rated Louisiana contractor we hired, they always arrived on timeand needed no special incentives; they completed their projects on time and as promised. Despite the disparaging remarks that I heard from someinour community about these workers, the immigrant men and women we were privileged to have workinour homewere the best among us.

TERRYVERIGAN, KATHY J. HIGGINS Metairie

COMMENTARY

WALT’S CAPTION CONTEST

HERE COMES AUTUMN

It certainly doesn’t feel likefallisaround thecorner,but it actually startsnext Monday.These squirrels aregetting ajumponnut-gathering season and one hascomeupwith anew approach.

So,what’sgoing on in this cartoon? youtell me.Bewitty,funny, crazy,absurd or snarky —just trytokeep it clean.There’s no limit on the number of entries

Thewinningpunchline will be lettered into the word balloon and runon

Monday, Sept. 22 in our printeditions and online. In addition, the winner will receiveasigned print of thecartoon along with acool winner’sT-shirt!

Some honorable mentions will also be listed.

To enter,email your entries to cartooncontest@theadvocate.com.

DON’T FORGET! All entries must includeyourname, homeaddressand phone number.Cell numbers are best.

Thedeadline for all entries is midnightonThursday, Sept. 18

Gather your punchlines and send them in to win!

Good luck— Walt

Thegirlonthe traindeservesjustice

Killing science costslives

Donald Trumphas embraced the slogan MAHA —Make America Healthy Again but his policies are doing exactly the opposite. Fears are growing in the medical world that his war on science and research will make America sicker,not stronger Trump’slatest target is the Centers forDisease Control and Prevention, the nation’spremier public health agency.Hefired the director,Dr. Susan Monarez, because she wouldn’t endorse the anti-science, anti-vaccine obsessions of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the secretary of Health and Human Services. Four other senior officials then quit in protest.

Kennedy is considered a quack by serious researchers whoagree that vaccines are a safe, even miraculous, advance.

“The World Health Organization, an agency with someof the mostprominent medical experts around the globe, recently noted that over the past 50 years, vaccines have saved at least 154 million lives and reduced the infant deaths by 40%,” Sen. Bernie Sanders wrote in The NewYork Times

Dr.Fiona Havers, aleading vaccine researcher wholeft the CDClast spring, told the Times that if the Trump/ Kennedy crusade against immunizations isn’tthwarted, “a lot of Americans are going to die as aresult of vaccine-preventable diseases.”

The clash over vaccines is part of amuch larger campaign Trumpand Kennedy are conducting against health care providers and researchers. As nine former CDCchiefs wrote in the Times:“Mr.Kennedy has fired thousands of federal health workers and severely weakened programsdesigned to protect Americans from cancer,heart attacks, strokes, lead poisoning, injury,violence and more. Amid the largest measles outbreak in the United States in ageneration, he’sfocused on unproven treatments while downplaying vaccines. He canceled investments in promising medical research that will leave us illprepared forfuture health emergencies.”

Shefled Ukrainefor fear she might be killed in the warwith Russia and came to America, whereshe thought shemight be safe. She was wrong. Iryna Zarutska, 23, was sitting alone on atrain in Charlotte, NorthCarolina, when asecurity camera showed aman getting up from his seat behind her and stabbing her to death. The suspect, Decarlos Brown, then walked up the aisle withblood dripping from the knife onto the floor of the train car

The incident occurred Aug. 22, but has only caught the public’sattention recently after the train company released avideo of the attack. Brown is acareer criminal who belongs in prison. He had been identified in 14 previous cases in Mecklenburg County and sentenced to just six years in prison on various countsthat included robbery with adangerous weapon, larceny and breaking and entering. He has been charged with first-degree murder in the stabbing of Zarutska.

Themayor of Charlotte, Viola Lyles, aDemocrat, called Zarutska’sdeath “a senseless and tragic loss” and then made apitch to her legislature for money to hire more police officers. Howabout getting rid of cash bail, liberal judges and district attorneys who appear to care more for thecriminal than they do innocent citizens? When we tolerate crime (look at the videos of looting at stores across the country while security guards watch and do nothing) the more of it we will get. This is why,since President Donald Trump deployed National Guard to the streets of Washington, D.C., “violent crime is down byalmost half when compared to the same 19 days in 2024,” according to aCBS News analysis of crime data. When people planningtoperform criminal acts think they might get caughtand punished, then atough-oncrime approach is one way tokeep our streets safe. Keeping dangerous career criminals behindbars in order to protect thepublicwhich isone of the reasons we have prisons. Mayor Lyles also calledonthe media

not to show the video. No, that video should be repeatedly shown —and it has been on Fox News, as well as made part of Republican campaign commercials for the next two electionstodemonstratehow Democrats’ soft-on-crime policies lead to such tragedies.

Speaking on religious freedom at The Museum of the Bible in Washington, Trump said of thestabbing, along with undocumented immigrants with criminalrecords he has ordered deported: “These are evil people. We have to be able tohandle that and if we don’t handle that we don’thave acountry.”

He is right

Since the president spoke at the Museum of the Bible, someoneshould have given him this most appropriate verse from Ecclesiastes 8:11: “When the sentence for acrime is not quickly

carried out, people’shearts are filled with schemes to do wrong.” Exactly! To put it in away even the secular mind can understand: When we tolerate evil and refuse to sufficiently standagainstitwithswift and certain punishment,weare bound to get more of it. Butwhen we standagainstit, using not only thepolice, the courts and prisons,but teaching right from wrong in our homes and schools as we once did, we aremore likely to get better results. Unfortunately,wehave abandoned standards that were once taught and, yes, imposed on the young and we are now reaping thewhirlwind. The stabbing deathofthat girlonthe train is just thelatest example.

Email Cal Thomas at tcaeditorstribpub.com.

These actions have caused serious, selfinflicted wounds to vital government services. “I never have seen an instance of an advanced, affluent country with among the finest scientific resources and leaders in the world be under assault, not from small pockets of the public or people whohave unusual beliefs, but from the government itself,” Allan M. Brandt, apublic health historian at Harvard University,said in The Washington Post. “This has just been radically unprecedented.”

The firing of Monarez, whoheld the post for only amonth, mirrors awide-ranging purge of other government officials whodare to state facts that challenge Trump’smaniacal and misguided worldview

Twoimportant forces that restrained Trump during his first term are now largely gone: Seasoned professionals willing to tell Trump no have been replaced by bootlicking loyalists whoalways say yes, and Congressional Republicans have, with fewexceptions, embraced the president’sholy waragainst his critics.

The vaccine controversy is avivid example of the administration’sruthless determination to root out those “nonpolitical” experts throughout the government. In June, Kennedy fired all 17 members of acritical committee that advises the CDConhow to employ immunizations. Their recommendations are then adopted by manydoctors, school systems, health insurers and others.

“Mr.Kennedy went on to nameeight new (committee) members, at least half of whom appear to share his antipathy to vaccines,” reported the Times.“Twohave testified against vaccine makers in trials.”

This panel is due to meet again later this month, and Monarez says she wasfired because she would not promise to accept the recommendations of acadre openly committed to anti-vaccine policies. As her lawyers stated, she “refused to rubber-stampunscientific, reckless directives and fire dedicated health experts.”

“Itisabout the systematic dismantling of public health institutions, the silencing of experts and the dangerous politicization of science,” they wrote.

The situation is so perilous that Sen. Bill Cassidy,a Louisiana Republican and physician whoonce helped establish clinics to vaccinate schoolchildren, has warned that any recommendations madebythe new panel “should be rejected as lacking legitimacy.”

Trumprecently said that as president, he has “the right to do anything Iwant to do” to protect the nation’ssecurity and safety.But his reckless rejection of medical research is putting that safety at great risk. Killing science costs lives.

Email Steven Roberts at stevecokie@gmail. com.

with meteorologist Damon Singleton

Bayeux Tapestry to travel from France to Britain

BY NICOLAS GARRIGA and JOHN LEICESTER Associated Press

BAYEUX, France For centuries, the storytelling masterpiece has been a source of wonder and fascination. In vivid and gruesome detail, the 230-foot embroidered cloth recounts how a fierce duke from France conquered England in 1066, reshaping British and European history

The Bayeux Tapestry, with its scenes of sword-wielding knights in ferocious combat and King Harold of England’s famous death, pierced by an arrow to an eye, has since the 11th century served as a sobering parable of military might, vengeance, betrayal and the complexity of Anglo-French relations, long seeped with blood and rivalry but also affection and cooperation.

Now, the medieval forerunner of today’s comic strips, commissioned as propaganda for the Normandy duke William known as “the Conqueror” after he took the English throne from Harold, is being readied for a new narrative mission.

Warming Channel ties

Next year, the fragile artistic and historic treasure will be gingerly transported from its museum in Bayeux, Normandy, to star in a blockbuster exhibition in London’s British Museum, from September 2026 to July 2027. Its first U.K. outing in almost 1,000 years will testify to the warming latest chapter in ties across the English Channel that chilled with the U.K.’s acrimonious departure from the European Union in 2020. The loan was announced in July, when French President Emmanuel Macron became the first EU head of state to pay a state visit to the U.K. since Brexit. Bayeux Museum curator Antoine Verney says the cross-Channel trip will be a homecoming of sorts for the tapestry, because historians widely believe that it was embroidered in England, using woolen threads on linen canvas, and because William’s victory at the Battle of Hastings was such a major

juncture in English history, seared into the U.K.’s collective consciousness.

“For the British, the date — the only date — that all of them know is 1066,” Verney said in an interview with The Associated Press.

A trip not without risks

Moving an artwork so unwieldy made from nine pieces of linen fabric stitched together and showing 626 characters, 37 buildings, 41 ships and 202 horses and mules in a total of 58 scenes — is further complicated by its great age and the wear and tear of time.

“There is always a risk. The goal is for those risks to be as carefully calculated as possible,” said Verney the curator Believed to have been commis-

sioned by Bishop Odo, William the Conqueror’s half-brother, to decorate a new cathedral in Bayeux in 1077, the treasure is thought to have remained there, mostly stored in a wooden chest and almost unknown, for seven centuries, surviving the French Revolution, fires and other perils.

Since then, only twice is the embroidery known to have been exhibited outside of the Normandy city Napoleon Bonaparte had it shown off in Paris’ Louvre Museum from late 1803 to early 1804. During World War II, it was displayed again in the Louvre in late 1944, after Allied forces that had landed in Normandy on D-Day, June 6, of that year had fought onward to Paris and liberated it. The work, seen by more than 15

million visitors in its Bayeux museum since 1983, “has the unique characteristic of being both monumental and very fragile,” Verney said. “The textile fibers are 900 years old. So they have naturally degraded simply due to age. But at the same time, this is a work that has already traveled extensively and been handled a great deal.”

A renovated museum

During the treasure’s stay in the U.K., its museum in Bayeux will be getting a major facelift costing tens of millions of dollars. The doors closed to visitors Sept. 1, with reopening planned for October 2027, when the embroidery will be rehoused in a new building, encased on an inclined 70-meterlong table that Verney said will

totally transform the viewing experience.

How exactly the treasure will be transported to the U.K. isn’t yet clear

“The studies required to allow its transfer to London and its exhibition at the British Museum are not finished, are under discussion, and are being carried out between the two governments,” Verney said.

But he expressed confidence that it will be in safe hands.

“How can one imagine, in my view, that the British Museum would risk damaging, through the exhibition, this work that is a major element of a shared heritage?” he asked. “I don’t believe that the British could take risks that would endanger this major element of

history and of

SPORTS

WOE-AND-2

Saints quarterbackSpencer Rattler ispressured by SanFrancisco 49ersdefensiveend

Superdome.The Saintslost their second game of the season.

Saints fumble away opportunityat comeback in loss to SanFrancisco

BY MATTHEW PARAS Staff writer

Here Spencer Rattler was again

For the second straight week, the New Orleans Saints quarterback was given the ball withachance to leadagame-winning drive. But this time,Rattlerfound himself having to shout louder than usual.Withchants of “DE-FENSE”carrying throughout the stadium, Rattler didn’thave to quite go to asilentcount, buthehad to raise his voice so his teammates could hear the play call.

But Sunday wasn’taroad game for the Saints. The stands at the Caesars Superdome justlooked and sounded that way with the overwhelming number of fans cheering

for the SanFrancisco 49ers.

“They traveled well,” Rattler said. Maybe the noise wasn’tthe ultimate reason that Rattler andthe offense couldn’t rally in Sunday’s2621 loss to theSan Francisco49ers, but make no mistake, it was afactor throughout the game. Plenty of peoplecheered,for instance, when Rattler fumbled thegame away on a fourth-down strip-sack thatclinched the win for San Francisco.

The consensus coming into the season was that the Saintswere in store for along year Twoweeks in,thatlooks to be painfully true. Yes, the Saints (0-2) fought down to thewire in back-to-back games —a

ä See SAINTS, page 4C

Twogames into season,things alreadylookbleak forNew Orleans

Brace yourself, Saints fans. A long season awaits.

Youknew it was going to be bad. In fact, some of you even went so far as to welcome the rebuilding campaign. But nowthatit’shere, the grimreality of ahopelessly forlorn season is starting to set in We’reonly two games into the2025 season, and it already feels like things are slipping away The Saints’ 26-21 loss to theSan Francisco 49ers dropped them to a0-2 start for the first time in eight years. Call it what you want. Overreaction.Hyperbole. Premature panic. Another word is perhaps moreap-

propriate: reality Sunday’ssetback followed an alltoo-familiar script.

The sameculprits conspired to undermine the Saints’ chances of winning. Penalties. Dropped passes. Missed tackles and missed field goals. It washard to watch. Other than acouple of nifty pass completions from Spencer Rattler to Rashid Shaheed and Juwan Johnson, there wasn’tmuch to write homeabout.

The Saints never led and allowed backup quarterback Mac Jones to pass for279 yards and three touchdowns. Admirably,they fought until

ä See DUNCAN, page 5C

WNBA PLAYOFFS ROUNDUP

Collier, Lynx rout Valkyries

By The Associated Press

MINNEAPOLIS Napheesa Col-

lier scored 20 points to lead five players in double figures and the Minnesota Lynx breezed to a 10172 victory over the Golden State Valkyries on Sunday in Game 1 of the best-of-three first-round WNBA series.

Collier hit 7 of 11 shots with a 3-pointer and all five of her free throws, adding six rebounds.

Natisha Hiedeman made two 3-pointers and scored 18 for the Lynx, while Kayla McBride added 17. Jessica Shepard had 12 points and eight rebounds and Courtney Williams pitched in with 11 points and four steals.

Veronica Burton and Cecilia Zandalasini both scored 14 to lead Golden State. Burton added seven assists and three steals but also had seven of the Valkyries’ 16 turnovers. Janelle Salaün had 13 points and eight rebounds and Temi Fágbénlé scored 12 before fouling out.

Burton hit two 3-pointers for Golden State in an 11-4 run to start the game and the Valkyries led 2821 after one quarter

McBride had two baskets in a 12-3 run to begin the second period and Minnesota moved in front 33-31. McBride had 14 points by halftime and Collier scored 11 for a 47-39 lead.

Alanna Smith hit a 3-pointer with 8:47 left in the third quarter

for a 52-42 advantage and Minnesota led by double digits the rest of the way

DiJonai Carrington sank two 3-pointers and Williams hit one in the final 70 seconds as the Lynx took a 79-58 lead into the final period

The Valkyries are still looking for their first win over the Lynx in their first year in the league after losing all four regular-season matchups three by double digits.

Minnesota’s 34-10 record led the league. Golden State will host Game 2 on Wednesday

DREAM 80, FEVER 68: In College Park, Georgia, Allisha Gray and Rhyne Howard scored 20 points apiece to help the Atlanta Dream beat the Indiana Fever in Game 1 of the best-of-three first-round playoff series.

Naz Hillmon, who was the AP Sixth Person of the Year, added 16 points and nine rebounds for the third-seeded Dream. Atlanta can advance to the semifinals with a win in Game 2 on Tuesday in Indianapolis.

Brionna Jones made a tiebreaking layup and Gray hit a pull-up

jumper before Howard hit a 3-pointer that gave Atlanta a 47-40 lead almost four minutes into the second half and the Fever trailed the rest of the way

Kelsey Mitchell led No. 7 seed Indiana with 27 points. Odyssey Sims scored 10 points and Aliyah Boston grabbed 12 rebounds to go with eight points and five assists. The Fever were missing Caitlin Clark, who is sidelined for the playoffs with a groin injury she suffered in the middle of July LIBERTY 76,MERCURY 69: In Phoenix, Natasha Cloud scored 23 points, Breanna Stewart added 18 before hurting her knee in overtime and the New York Liberty beat the Phoenix Mercury in Game 1 of their best-of-three first-round playoff series. New York will advance to the semifinals with a win in Game 2 on Wednesday in New York. Stewart fell to the ground and grabbed at her left knee after making a layup with 3:01 to play in overtime. She stayed in the game and missed the free throw, trying to play through the injury She left the game about a minute later and didn’t return.

New York coach Sandy Brondello had no update on Stewart’s injury after the game.

Kahleah Copper led the Mercury with 15 points and Alyssa Thomas had 14 points, nine rebounds and eight assists. DeWanna Bonner added 12 points.

JGR emerges as Cup championship favorite

BY NATE RYAN Associated Press

Whether it’s winning three Super Bowls or five NASCAR Cup Series championships, Joe Gibbs knows how to guide his teams to success through internal turmoil. So when Christopher Bell angrily called out his No 20 crew last week for questionable strategy during a 24-race winless streak, Gibbs let the emotions run their course rather than step in to defuse the tension.

“I’ve been on the sideline and heard some outbursts,” Gibbs said. “We’ve had some outbursts in our competition meetings in racing I’ve learned when you’re around sports, and things don’t go your way that’s going to happen every now and then.

“I let them handle it. I really do.”

With his fourth victory this season, Bell reaffirmed Saturday night at Bristol Motor Speedway that that’s a winning philosophy for Joe Gibbs Racing, which completed a first-round sweep of the

Pro

Bell, center celebrates winning the

Race on Saturday in Bristol, Tenn.

NASCAR Cup Series playoffs at the Tennessee short track. Bell, Denny Hamlin and Chase Briscoe have won three consecutive races to stamp the team as the championship favorite. JGR’s

four Toyotas led a combined 757 of 1,107 laps in the first round of the playoffs, which were cut from 16 to 12 drivers at Bristol with seven races and three rounds left.

“We’ve got fast cars right now,”

Gibbs said. “I think it just says a lot for the way we feel back at the race shop. It’s a big deal all the way across the board for us. It really means a lot.”

His hands-off approach won Cup titles with hot-tempered Tony Stewart and Kyle Busch. Bell is mild-mannered by comparison, so he made headlines with a vulgarity-filled tirade on his team radio for losing “with the best car every week” after a seventh place at World Wide Technology Raceway.

He had only praise Saturday for his team and crew chief Adam Stevens, who deftly managed Bell’s pace and tactics over 500 hazardous laps at Bristol as many teams struggled with excessive tire wear on the 0.533-mile oval.

Charging from fourth to first on a late restart, Bell led the final four laps and held off Brad Keselowski for his 13th career victory “Winning fixes everything, that’s for sure,” Bell said. “It’s a huge morale boost for the team and myself as a driver.”

Jefferson-Wooden wins gold in women’s 100m sprint

Seville of Jamaica wins men’s 100 at world championships

BY EDDIE PELLS Associated Press

TOKYO Usain Bolt went crazy up in a luxury box.

Down below, sprinters in his country’s familiar colors — black, green and, of course, gold — were wreaking havoc on the track. It was a good night for the United States, too, as the sport’s past and the future collided in backto-back 100-meter finals at world championships on a steamy Sunday in Tokyo. Jamaica’s Oblique Seville and Kishane Thompson sent Bolt into celebration mode by combining for a 1-2 finish in the men’s 100-meter sprint, while defending champion Noah Lyles took bronze. Moments earlier, America’s Melissa Jefferson-Wooden had romped to a win in a women’s sprint that featured a newcomer silver medalist in Jamaica’s Tina Clayton, a fond farewell for the is-

U.S.

land country’s Shelly-Ann FraserPryce, who finished sixth, and a fifth-place finish from former LSU star Sha’Carri Richardson, who never found her stride this year

“It’s a changing of the guard, in a sense,” Jefferson-Wooden said. “You’re going to see some new faces and things like that. It’s

the

great competition.” Seville won the men’s race in a career-best 9.77 seconds fulfilling the promise he’s shown since he made his Olympic debut in this stadium four years ago, but didn’t get out of the semifinals.

The 24-year-old Jefferson-Wooden turned her race into a laugher

Scheffler warms up for Ryder Cup with sixth win NAPA, Calif. — Scottie Scheffler wanted to stay sharp ahead of the Ryder Cup, and the world’s No. 1 player looked every bit of that Sunday, closing with a 5-under 67 to win the Procore Championship for his sixth PGA Tour win of the year Scheffler made up a two-shot deficit on Ryder Cup teammate Ben Griffin, who was poised to force a playoff until he three-putted the par-5 18th from 60 feet for par to finish one behind.

Griffin, who started the final round with three straight birdies, shot a 70.

It was his 19th career victory on the PGA Tour, and now he heads to match play in the Ryder Cup against Europe, which has had the upper hand in these matches the past three decades.

Hull wins LPGA event as Thai star four-putts No. 18

MAINEVILLE, Ohio Charley Hull took advantage of top-ranked Jeeno Thitikul’s final-hole putting meltdown Sunday to win the Kroger Queen City Championship. Thitikul a stroke ahead after Hull bogeyed the par-4 17th — four-putted the par-5 18th from about 50 feet, missing a 5-footer and a 3-foot comebacker Hull twoputted from about 30 feet, making a 2-footer for the victory Fighting ankle and back issues, Hull closed with a 4-under 68 to finish at 20-under 268 at TPC River’s Bend. The 29-year-old English player won her third LPGA Tour title and first since 2022. She also has four victories on the Ladies European Tour Lottie Woad of England was third at 18 under after a 66.

Goosen wins fourth PGA Tour Champions title

SIOUX FALLS S.D. Retief Goosen won the Sanford International on Sunday for his fourth career PGA Tour Champions victory closing with a 3-under 67 for a two-stroke margin over Bo Van Pelt. Goosen finished at 13-under 197 at Minnehaha Country Club The 56-year-old South African star the 2001 and 2004 U.S Open champion — won for the first time since The Galleri Classic in March 2024. Van Pelt finished with a 68. Ernie Els (73) and Darren Clarke (68) tied for third at 8 under Charles Schwab Cup leader Miguel Angel Jimenez was 7 under after a 71. Steve Stricker was unable to defend his title as he recovers from back surgery He hopes to return to the PGA Tour Champions in December

Hatton, former world boxing champ, dies at 46

MANCHESTER, England Ricky Hatton, the former boxing world champion who rose to become one of the most popular fighters in the sport, has died. He was 46. Hatton was found dead at his home in Greater Manchester, Britain’s Press Association reported Sunday Police said they were not treating the death as suspicious. Friends of Hatton were quick to pay tribute Sunday morning.

right away She got about a step ahead of Olympic champion Julien Alfred in the lane next to her then kept expanding her lead and ran hard through the line when she could have coasted.

She finished in 10.61, breaking Richardson’s 2-year-old worldchampionship mark by .04. Her margin of .15 seconds over Clayton was a blowout the same gap Alfred, the Olympic champion who finished third this time, beat Richardson by in Paris last year

“This year was about accepting that I wanted to be a better athlete and putting in the work to do so,” Jefferson-Wooden said.

Another American success story came in the long-jump pit, where Tara Davis-Woodhall took care of yet another piece of unfinished business, adding the long jump world championship to the Olympic title she won last year

The victory in Tokyo comes two years after a second-place finish at worlds left her disappointed and sparked her to rededicate herself to the sport.

Also in the field, America’s Valarie Allman captured gold in the discus throw to round out her set of gold-silver-bronze from worlds. She also has two Olympic titles.

“Today we lost not only one of Britain’s greatest boxers, but a friend, a mentor, a warrior, Ricky Hatton,” former world champion, Amir Khan, posted on X. Hatton won world titles at lightwelterweight and welterweight and at the height of his career shared the ring with the best boxers of his generation, including Kostya Tszyu, Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao.

Bradshaw’s filly wins big at Pocahontas Stakes LOUISVILLE, Ky Four-time Super Bowl champion Terry Bradshaw is a winner again.

A 2-year-old filly co-owned by the 77-year-old Fox NFL Sunday analyst won the $251,250 Pocahontas Stakes at Churchill Downs on Saturday Taken by the Wind earned 10 qualifying points for next year’s $1.5 million Kentucky Oaks and set up a potential start in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies on Oct. 31 at Del Mar The filly purchased for $20,000, improved to 2-0 and earned $136,710 for the Grade 3 victory “I’m on cloud nine,” said Bradshaw, who co-owns the

NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Aubrey hits 64-yard FG, OT game winner

By The Associated Press

ARLINGTON Texas Brandon Aubrey

kicked a 46-yard field goal on the final play of overtime after a tying 64-yarder to end regulation, and the Dallas Cowboys beat the New York Giants 40-37 in a thrilling duel between star quarterbacks Dak Prescott and Russell Wilson on Sunday

The Cowboys extended their winning streak against the NFC East rivals to nine games — the longest active streak in the NFL among division opponents and Prescott beat the Giants for the 14th consecutive time since losing both starts against them as a rookie in 2016.

Overtime was on the verge of going scoreless after the teams combined for five go-ahead TDs in the final 12 minutes of the fourth quarter

That included a go-ahead TD apiece for Prescott and Wilson in the final minute before Prescott got the Cowboys just far enough for Aubrey’s tying kick on the last play of regulation.

Wilson, who threw for 450 yards and three touchdowns, connected with Malik Nabors on a 48-yard TD for a 37-34 New York lead with 25 seconds remaining after Prescott threw a 6-yarder to George Pickens with 52 seconds to go.

The Giants just needed a field goal to win when Wilson threw an ill-advised deep ball with pressure, and Donovan Wilson intercepted at the Dallas 30 with 2 minutes left in OT Prescott put Aubrey in chip-shot range with a 14-yard scramble.

LIONS 52, BEARS 21: In Detroit, Jared Goff threw for 334 yards and matched a career high with five touchdown passes, including a career-high three scores to Amon-Ra St. Brown, to help the Detroit bounce back with a win over Chicago.

The Lions (1-1) dropped the opener at Green Bay and responded as they have consistently under coach Dan Campbell, avoiding consecutive losses in the regular season over the last 2 1/2 years.

the start. With the Bills (2-0) leading 10-0, Allen left late in the first quarter after getting hit in the face when he scrambled and was stopped for no gain. Micheal Clemons appeared to get a hand under the quarterback’s facemask.

PATRIOTS 33, DOLPHINS 27: In Miami Gardens, Florida, Drake Maye threw for two touchdowns and rushed for another, Antonio Gibson returned a kickoff 90 yards for a score, and New England beat Miami for Mike Vrabel’s first win as the Patriots’ coach.

Maye completed 19 of 23 passes for 230 yards. He had an 8-yard TD pass to former Dolphin Mack Hollins and a 16-yard scoring toss to Kayshon Boutte.

ing, but the Eagles (2-0) defense stepped up, carrying them to their seventh straight win and 17th in a span of 18 games They held Chiefs to 294 yards, stopped them once on fourth down and came away with the only turnover at a pivotal point in the game.

The Eagles have now won three in a row over Kansas City. The Chiefs had won the four matchups before that.

COLTS 29, BRONCOS 28: In Indianapolis Spencer Shrader made a 45yard field goal with no time left after the Broncos were penalized for leverage on his missed 60yard try, and Indianapolis beat Denver for their first 2-0 start since 2009.

The Bears (0-2) turned the ball over twice in the first half, leading to a 28-14 deficit that was too large to overcome in coach Ben Johnson’s return to the city where he became an offensive coordinator and one of the NFL’s top coaching candidates.

SEAHAWKS 31, STEELERS 17: In Pittsburgh, George Holani pounced on a live ball in the end zone for an improbable touchdown, and Seattle took advantage of sloppy play by Pittsburgh to pull off a surprise victory

The Seahawks had taken a 3-point lead early in the fourth quarter on Jason Myers’ 54-yard field goal when the ensuing kickoff bounced over the hands of Steelers rookie Kaleb Johnson and into the end zone.

While Johnson turned his back and walked toward the bench, Holani raced to the end zone and fell on the ball just before it rolled out of bounds to give the Seahawks (11) a 24-14 lead. That was enough on a day Aaron Rodgers and the rest of Pittsburgh’s offense delivered a dud in the Steelers’ home opener

RAVENS 41, BROWNS 17: In Balti-

more, Lamar Jackson threw four touchdown passes and Baltimore’s defense harassed Joe Flacco throughout his return to Charm City as the Ravens dispatched Cleveland.

After holding Cincinnati to 141 yards in a one-point loss to the Bengals last week, the Cleveland defense limited Derrick Henry to just 24 yards on 11 rushing attempts and forced the Ravens to work.

But the Browns (0-2) were mostly inept on offense. Flacco, the former Super Bowl-winning quarterback for the Ravens playing his first game in Baltimore as an opposing player, went 25 for 45 for 199 yards and a touchdown, with an interception and a lost fumble.

BILLS 30, JETS 10: In East Rutherford, New Jersey, Josh Allen shook off a bloody nose that sidelined him for two plays, James Cook ran for 132 yards and two touchdowns and Buffalo cruised to a victory over New York.

Buffalo, coming off a 41-40 comeback win over Baltimore, needed no late rally in this one as the Bills (2-0) shut down Justin Fields and the Jets’ offense from

Browning relieves injured Burrow as Bengals win

BY JOE REEDY Associated Press

CINCINNATI Jake Browning and the Cincinnati Bengals turned a nightmarish first half including an injury to Joe Burrow — into a dream finish.

Browning relieved Burrow and scored the go-ahead touchdown on a 1-yard sneak with 18 seconds remaining to give the Bengals a 3127 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday and their first 2-0 start since 2018.

Burrow suffered a left toe injury in the first half and did not return He left the locker room on crutches and with a boot on his foot

The former LSU standout is dealing with a turf toe injury that could require surgery sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Sunday night. Images of the injury to Burrow’s left toe, which he suffered in the second quarter of Sunday’s 31-27 home win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, are being sent to noted foot specialist Dr Robert Anderson to be reviewed, sources told Schefter If surgery is deemed necessary, it is expected to sideline Burrow for approximately three months.

“It’s a touch of gray on the day Won the game, very happy for that but I’m sure people are concerned,” center Ted Karras said. Bengals coach Zac Taylor said he didn’t have an update on Burrow’s injury

“Resilient group that found a way It feels like that’s what this year is turning into already,” Taylor said. “You know just a group that believes in each other and never flinches, even when things are difficult.” Browning threw three interceptions, but also accounted for three touchdowns (two passing, one rushing). Cincinnati scored on four of the eight drives he led, none more important than the last

The Bengals took over at their own 8 with 3:42 remaining after the Jaguars’ Trevor Lawrence couldn’t connect with Brian Thomas Jr on fourth-and-5 Browning directed

a 15-play, 92-yard drive on which he completed 9 of 12 passes for 65 yards, including a 13-yard flare to running back Chase Brown on fourth-and-3 at the 15.

Cincinnati also benefited from a pass-interference penalty on Jacksonville two-way rookie Travis Hunter on a fourth-down play at the Bengals 33. The call moved the ball to the Jaguars 42 with 1:49 remaining.

“I had thrown three picks, and somehow we had a chance to win the game,” said Browning, who completed 21 of 32 passes for 241 yards “I can’t be afraid of the fourth in that situation. The defense did a good job forcing a turnover on downs, so I had to be delusional and aggressive, because the moment called for it.”

On the sneak, Karras and Browning said they knew the Jaguars were trying to go low, which created the opportunity for him to lunge over the goal line.

Burrow was 7 of 13 for 76 yards and a touchdown before the injury

The sixth-year quarterback left after he was sacked by Arik Armstead with 9:02 remaining in the

second quarter It was the Jaguars’ second sack of Burrow

“You think you’re on the sideline then you’re thrown in. That creates an emotional jump. You try to ride that wave and operate,” Browning said.

The Bengals trailed 17-10 at halftime.

“We found ourselves in an offensive nightmare. I credit everyone for digging ourselves and not just folding in because that could have easily happened,” Karras said.

Browning’s best throw was a 42yard touchdown to Tee Higgins in the fourth quarter that made it 24-24. On third-and-5, Higgins got separation from Tyson Campbell and caught the ball at the Jacksonville 16. Campbell and teammate Andrew Wingard ran into each other at the 11, allowing Higgins to waltz into the end zone.

The Jaguars converted only one of their three interceptions into a touchdown.

First-year coach Liam Coen said of his late fourth-down decision: “That’s a 100 percent a ‘Go.’”

The Dolphins took a 27-23 lead midway through the fourth when Malik Washington returned a punt 74 yards for a touchdown. Before Miami fans were even done celebrating the play, Gibson took the ensuing kickoff to the house to give the Patriots a three-point lead.

RAMS 33, TITANS 19: In Nashville, Tennessee, Matthew Stafford threw for 298 yards and two touchdowns and Los Angeles spoiled rookie Cam Ward’s NFL home opener, scoring 20 straight points to beat Tennessee.

Wide receiver Puka Nacua also ran 45 yards for a touchdown Davante Adams had 106 yards receiving and a touchdown catch. Joshua Karty also kicked two field goals.

The Rams (2-0) sacked the No. 1 overall draft pick five times. Linebacker Byron Young had two, and he also stripped Ward of the ball at the Titans 21 on his second sack.

EAGLES 20, CHIEFS 17: In Kansas City Missouri, Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley had touchdown runs, and Andrew Mukuba came up with a big fourth-quarter interception of Patrick Mahomes, helping Philadelphia over Kansas City in a rematch of a Super Bowl that Philadelphia won in a rout. Hurts threw for just 101 yards and Barkley was held to 88 rush-

Trailing by two with 3:15 left, the Colts played conservatively on their final drive, with Jonathan Taylor running the ball seven times and Daniel Jones throwing only one pass. Those plays netted 26 yards and set up Shrader’s attempt from the Colts logo at midfield that missed short and right.

But Dondrea Tillman was flagged for leverage — using a teammate to vault himself into the air to try to block the kick. The 15-yard personal-foul penalty put Indy well within Shrader’s range, and he easily converted his fifth field goal of the game.

CARDINALS 27, PANTHERS 22: In Glendale, Arizona, Josh Sweat had a strip-sack that led to an early defensive touchdown, Calais Campbell had a sack with 26 seconds left in the game to turn back a frantic Carolina rally and Arizona beat the Panthers. Carolina trailed 27-3 with 9:23 left in the third quarter, but Bryce Young threw three touchdown passes in the second half to lead a comeback attempt. The third touchdown, a 1-yard throw to Hunter Renfrow, cut the margin to 27-22 with 1:58 left.

The Panthers then converted the onside kick, getting the ball at midfield and setting up a final offensive drive. Young was sacked on fourth down by the 39-year-old Campbell to end the threat.

Tampa Bay’s Evans cherishes potential last game at NRG Stadium

BY KRISTIE RIEKEN AP sportswriter

HOUSTON Tampa Bay’s Mike Evans is always thrilled to play in Houston since NRG Stadium is just an hour from where he grew up in Galveston, Texas.

The star receiver in his 12th NFL season expects Monday night’s trip to face the Houston Texans to mean a little more than past visits considering it could be his last time to play there.

“It might be,” Evans said. “Even if I played another three or four years, when is the next time we go back? This might be my last time. So, I’ve got a lot of people coming to this game for that sole reason.”

Evans, who also played collegiately in the state at Texas A&M, is hoping this visit goes better than Tampa Bay’s previous trip to Houston in 2023 when C.J. Stroud’s career-high five touchdown passes allowed the Texans to rally for a 39-37 win in the final minute. Evans said that loss “broke our heart” and he hopes the Buccaneers can get some payback Monday Leading that charge with him will be fellow Texan Baker Mayfield, who is from Austin. The quarterback is also looking forward to the trip to his home state and hopes to grab something from his favorite Texas-based burger chain while he’s in town.

“It’s always awesome,” he said. “It’s always awesome to get Whataburger after the game as well. That’s a really big plus. But yeah, it’s always good to go back to Texas, knowing that there’s a lot of people there to support. We have a bunch of guys that have roots there as well. So, it’s a good time.”

Tampa Bay will try to improve to 2-0 after rallying for a 23-20 win over Atlanta in the opener last week. The Texans are looking for their first win after falling to the Rams 14-9 last week after a

ä Buccaneers at Texans. 6 P.M. MONDAy,ABC, ESPN

late fumble.

Houston coach DeMeco Ryans knows his team will have its hands full dealing with Mayfield and Tampa Bay’s passing game Monday night.

“Baker Mayfield, he’s playing the best he’s played in his career,” Ryans said. “(Coach) Todd (Bowles) has done a really nice job of working with Baker The passing game they were top five in pretty much all the major offensive categories last year It shows. They have weapons at receiver Mike Evans has done it for a long time, continues to shine.”

And the Texans understand how potent rookie first-round pick Emeka Egbuka can be, too after he scored two touchdowns, including the game winner in his debut last week.

“Egbuka, has done a really nice job making some explosive plays,” Ryans said. “He showed up big time for them in their game versus Atlanta. Baker, he does a really nice job of just moving around, scrambling in the pocket, keeping plays alive. You see toughness, you see grittiness from Baker, which allows their passing game to thrive.” Evans had five receptions for 51 yards in the opener. The Buccaneers would love to get him the ball more, but Bowles understands that if teams key on him then other receivers will have a chance to shine as Egbuka did last week.

“He’s a big focus of our offense,” Bowles said. “Obviously, he’s a focus for defenses when they play us so he’s going to command two or three guys sometimes. So, that opens up the run game, it opens up the other receivers, the tight ends, it helps the quarterback get his read a lot quicker Mike does a lot of things even when he’s not getting the ball.”

49ERS 26 SAINTS 21

Kamara’s fumble shifts momentum

San Francisco quickly capitalized on turnover

BY LUKE JOHNSON Staff writer

Francisco, McCaffrey 13-55, B.Robinson 6-20, Jones 6-6, Pearsall 1-(minus 4). New Orleans, Kamara 21-100, Rattler 4-14, Miller 5-8. PASSING—San Francisco, Jones 26-39-0-279. New Orleans, Rattler 25-34-0-206.

RECEIVING—San Francisco, McCaffrey

6-52, Jennings 5-89, Pearsall 4-56, Tonges

4-31, Bourne 3-32, Farrell 2-15, Juszczyk 1-5, B.Robinson 1-(minus 1). New Orleans, Olave

6-53, Kamara 6-21, Johnson 5-49, Shaheed 4-52, Cooks 2-26, Vele 1-3, Miller 1-2.

PUNT RETURNS—San Francisco, Moore 1-1. New Orleans, Shaheed 2-23.

KICKOFF RETURNS—San Francisco, Guerendo 2-47. New Orleans, Miller 3-82.

TACKLES-ASSISTS-SACKS—San Francisco, Warner 8-2-0, Winters 6-2-0, Green 5-0-0, Stout 4-1-1, M.Williams 4-1-0, Bosa 3-6-1, Huff 3-1-1, Lenoir 3-1-0, Sigle 2-3-0, Pinnock 2-2-0, Davis 1-1-0, Gross-Matos 1-1-0, Lucas 1-0-0, Okuayinonu 1-0-0, Collins 0-2-0, Elliott

0-2-0. New Orleans, Davis 5-6-0, Sanker 5-3-0, Granderson 5-2-2, Yiadom 5-2-0, Reid 5-0-0, Werner 5-0-0, Taylor 3-3-0, Rumph 2-0-1, Shepherd 1-1-0, Godchaux 1-0-0, Jordan 1-00, McKinstry 1-0-0, Broughton 0-3-0.

INTERCEPTIONS—San Francisco, None. New Orleans, None. MISSED FIELD GOALS—New Orleans, Grupe

40. OFFICIALS—Referee Shawn Smith, Ump Tra Blake, HL Jay Bilbo, LJ Jeff Seeman, FJ Dyrol Prioleau, SJ Boris Cheek, BJ Dino Paganelli, Replay Mike Wimmer.

The New Orleans Saints’ first turnover of the year could not have come at a more inopportune time.

Trailing 19-14 in the third quarter, the Saints were driving into San Francisco 49ers territory with an opportunity to take the lead Quarterback Spencer Rattler found Alvin Kamara open in the flat but put the ball just a little behind the running back Kamara hauled the pass in, but he couldn’t do it cleanly, pinning the ball on his shoulder pads. As he was being taken to the ground, San Francisco’s All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner stormed in and punched the ball out of Kamara’s hands.

Referees initially ruled Kamara was down by contact, but after a replay review they determined that while he maintained possession long enough for it to be considered a catch, he lost control before his knee hit the ground.

“The main component that they were discussing is if it was a catch or no catch,” said Saints coach Kellen Moore. “There’s enough action in there. I haven’t seen it. I just saw the TV perspective of it from the big screen. Obviously he had kind of controlled it with his hand. Once that happened, it became a catch, and there was a fumble.”

Kamara fumbled the ball at the 49ers’ 29-yard line and Warner recovered it at the 32.

San Francisco took possession of the ball and went on a sevenplay, 68-yard touchdown drive, culminating in a 42-yard touchdown pass from Mac Jones to Jauan Jennings on third and 11 to push the 49ers lead to 26-14.

Missed opportunity

After missing one field goal in the entirety of training camp and preseason Saints kicker Blake Grupe has now missed two in as many regular-season games.

Quarterback Rattler and Rashid Shaheed connected on a 39-yard

pass on the third play of the game, a deep shot that pushed the Saints to the San Francisco 26-yard line.

The next three plays gained just 4 yards, setting Grupe up for a 40yard field goal to give the Saints an early 3-0 lead. But the ball took a hard right turn after it left Grupe’s foot and sailed wide of the uprights.

Last week, Grupe missed a 38-yarder to the left of the uprights — a miss he took the blame for after rushing his process when the play clock was winding down. He is now 1-for-3 on field goals this season.

“Blake’s got too much good going on,” Moore said. “He’s just got to get better and clean it up.”

Flight plans

Looking ahead to the Saints’ Week 3 road matchup against the Seattle Seahawks, the team will depart a few days early for the Pacific Northwest.

The Saints will take a team charter to Seattle after Thursday’s practice, then conduct their Friday session at the Uni-

versity of Washington’s campus. This isn’t particularly new: New Orleans also practiced at Husky Stadium in 2019, spending the entire week there after a road matchup against the Los Angeles Rams. Moore said there are a couple of advantages to getting out there early beyond getting the players acclimated to the Pacific time zone.

“We’ve been here for close to a month now, so with the long travel up there, we felt like it would be a good opportunity for our team to spend some extra time together,” Moore said.

Odds and ends

Cam Jordan played in his 228th game as a member of the Saints Sunday, tying him with Drew Brees for the most appearances all time in a Saints uniform Michael “Beer Man” Lewis joined the team on the sideline as the Legend of the Game, and Hall of Famer Rickey Jackson was in attendance for the game as well Linebackers Demario Davis and Pete Werner led the pregame Who Dat chant.

sign that coach Kellen Moore is doing all that he can to keep his team competitive. But what does it say that so many Saints season-ticket holders appeared to sell their seats this early into the season? And more troubling for New Orleans, the product on the field couldn’t even beat a team missing its usual starting quarterback.

Mac Jones was not supposed to look like Brock Purdy, who’s reportedly out 2-5 weeks with turf toe. But the 49ers backup carved the Saints’ secondary, throwing for 279 yards and three touchdowns on 26-of-39 passing. Over the last few months, the Saints have made plenty of moves to indicate they’re on board for a rebuild Just a day earlier, New Orleans traded a late-round pick swap for an injured wide receiver who won’t suit up in 2025. Teams competing for the now don’t make that type of move. Still, rebuilding a franchise takes time — and pain. And to start the season, the punches have come early “Our guys are competing,” Moore said. “It hurts when you lose games like this. That’s how it’s supposed to feel. There are no feelgood moments out of this.” It can be natural in games like this particularly in the first year of a new coach, to focus on the

positives. Rattler, for the second straight week, not only staved off calls for the Saints to turn to rookie Tyler Shough, but the quarterback is processing the defense fast enough to give his team a chance. Against the 49ers, Rattler made more of an effort to push the ball down the field — and his aggression paid off. His first pass was a 39-yard completion to Rashid Shaheed, and his first touchdown was an 18-yard strike to Juwan Johnson.

Rattler, who went 25 of 34 for 207 yards and three touchdowns, was the main reason the Saints had a chance. The second-year quarterback helped New Orleans overcome a sluggish first half with a much more efficient second half. Rattler kept numerous drives alive with sharp throws and impressive scrambles such as when he used a quarterback keeper to pick up fourth-and-1 on a third-quarter drive that resulted in a 3-yard touchdown to Shaheed.

But the Saints can’t ignore the negatives, which have outweighed any silver linings of the first two weeks

Late in the fourth quarter, the Saints had two drives to potentially steal the game away from San Francisco. But each time, pressure from San Francisco’s defensive line wrecked any chance of a comeback

First, on third-and-6 with 3:50 left, All-Pro edge rusher Nick Bosa overpowered rookie Kelvin Banks to crumple Rattler Then, on fourth-and-2 with 1:03 left, Bryce

Huff quickly beat Taliese Fuaga to strip Rattler of the football, leading to a 49ers recovery

“Really, we couldn’t even get the play started,” Moore said. The fumble, Rattler’s sixth in nine career games, was the play that sealed New Orleans’ loss. The Saints’ biggest problems, though, came well before that. Before their first touchdown to cut San

Francisco’s lead to 9-7, the Saints’ first four possessions resulted in a 40-yard field goal and three punts. Rattler missed an easy-looking, wide-open touchdown to Chris Olave on the first drive, too.

There was no more inexplicable problem than Jones. Too often on Sunday, the 27-year-old resembled the intriguing prospect that was drafted 15th overall in 2021 rath-

er than the bust who flamed out of New England, struggled as a backup in Jacksonville and landed with San Francisco as a reclamation project.

Jones was the quarterback responsible for the Saints’ last shutout in 2023, when he played so poorly the Patriots benched him en route to a 34-0 loss. But on Sunday, Jones executed all the hallmarks of 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan’s offense. He thrived on rollouts, was accurate on quick throws and even made plays with his feet.

“He did a hell of a job,” Shanahan said.

Jones created separation in pivotal moments, keeping the Saints at bay Just before halftime, the fourth-year signal-caller hit seven of his nine passes and found running back Christian McCaffrey for a 7-yard touchdown to give the 49ers a 16-7 lead.

Then, in what proved to be the deciding score, Jones helped the 49ers take advantage of a rare Alvin Kamara fumble by hitting Jauan Jennings on a 42-yard touchdown across the middle of the field — on third-and-11, no less.

The Saints, even with another scored touchdown, couldn’t close the gap. And now, with road trips to face the Seattle Seahawks and Buffalo Bills on deck, who knows when their first win will finally come.

“We have to grow from this,” Moore said.

Email Matthew

49ERS26, SAINTS

THREEAND OUT: RODWALKER’STOP THREETAKEAWAyS FROM SAINTS LOSS TO 49ERS

DEFENSIVEWOES

1

If youhad told me before the game that aMac Jones-led offense would hang 26 points on this Saints defense, Iwould have said “no way.”The bread and butter of these Saints is supposed to be their defense.With the 49ers missing both starting quarterback Brock Purdyand tight end GeorgeKittle, this was agame where the defense could perhapsfeast. The Saints’ Dletting the 49ers respond to atouchdown in the secondquarter was akiller.The third-down defense wasn’t good, either (the 49ers converted on 8 of 15).The defense boweduplate to givethe offense achance, but asking the Saints to score more than 26 points isa tallask.

DUNCAN

Continued from page1C

the end, but overall,their effortswerefutile —and not nearly enough to overcome their lack of talent, experience and execution.

“You have to play cleaner football,” Moore said. “You have to clean your own house in all three phases. We have to do more of what winning football teams do.”

The Saints have now lost five consecutive home games dating back to last season. Theyhaven’twon in New Orleans since Week 11 of last year on Nov.11, 2024.

No wonder so many Saints fans elected to skip the game and sell their tickets on the secondary market. The lower bowlof the Superdome had anoticeable scarlet red hue to it Sunday as Niners fans took overthe stadiumdown the stretch. Week 2might seem early to be throwing in the towel, but Saints fans are understandably trying to secure areturn on their investment where they can.

“There’spain with losing another (close) one,” Moore said. “It hurts when you lose games like this, and that’show it’ssupposed to feel. There’snofeel-good moments out this.”

Sunday’sloss should serve as awake-up call for anyone who might have deluded themselves into believing Mooreand Rattler might defy preseason predictions and ambush the league the way Sean Payton and Drew Brees did in 2006.

Back-to-back home losses to the Cardinals and 49ers —two winnable games againstbeatable and vulnerable opponents —only confirmed the dire forecasts from experts across the league. The Saints look like ateam that’salong way away from beingcompetitive

“I feel like we took astep(in theright direction),” Moore said. “We’ve just got to play at ahigher level.”

Such aprospect seems dubious at this point. The Saints have lost 14 of their last 17 games overall and 15 of their last 20 one-score games. That’snot bad luck. That’swhat stock analystscall amarket indicator

And with adaunting two-game road trip on deck, there is little reason to believe things will turn around in the weeks ahead. The Saints must fly from one corner of the country to the other while playing in two of the most hostile environments in the league. Seattle and Buffalo are acombined 3-1 and look like bona fide playoff contenders.

An 0-4 start doesn’tjust seem possible. It seems likely

“I wouldn’tsay the vibes are down at all,” Rattler said.“All these games come down to the little details. We’vegot to keep harping on those details. We’ve got alot ahead of us.”

That might not be agood thing the way the seasonhas started.

Normally,NFL seasonstend to fly by Week 1kicks off, and you look up andit’s December.That doesn’tfeel likethe case this year If the first two games are any indication, this season feels like aslog.

Email Jeff Duncan at jduncan@theadvocate.com.

RATTLER REVIEW

2

Spencer Rattler’sstartwasn’tgreat. He completed just one of his first sevenpass attempts. Included in that slowstartiswhat shouldhavebeen an easy touchdown to Chris Olave, but Rattler’spass was behind Olaveinthe endzone.But eventually Rattler gotgoing,completing 14 consecutive passes at one point. He also had acoupleofkey runs for firstdowns.yeah, he missedsomethrows along the way. Hisprogression, though, fromwhere he was as arookie to where he is now, is noticeable. He completed 25 of 34 passes for206 yards and 3touchdowns.The Saintscan win gameswith Rattler at quarterback, but theywill need to playmuchbetter in otherareas.

3

DOME-FIELD ADVANTAGE?

Remember when the Superdome was intimidating? It isn’t now, and it definitely wasn’t on Sunday.The place wasa seaof49ers red Whenthe 49ersscoredtheir firsttouchdown,you would have thought the Saints had scored based on howloud it was.The Saints have nowlost five straight homegames. The last time they lost five straight homegames was in 2005, which deserves an asterisk considering those gamesweren’t in the Dome.Thelast timetheylost five in arow in this building was at theend of the 1994 and beginning of the 1995 season.The twolossestostart this season came against twobeatable teams,especially sincethe 49erswerewithout Purdy.

‘GOT TO GET

BY LUKE JOHNSON Staff writer

It was aone-score game earlyin the fourth quarter,and theNew Orleans Saints defense had aprime opportunity to give its offense ashotat ago-ahead drive.

And thenSan Francisco 49ers

quarterback Mac Jones stepped up into aclean pocket and threaded the needleinthe New Orleans Cover 2zone on third-and-11,dropping a pass behind the linebackers to Jauan Jennings, who took it to the house for a42-yard touchdown.

It wasthe lastand biggestblow the 49ers landed against the Saints defense on crucial third-down plays in the Saints’ 26-21 loss. At the point Jones and Jennings connected, San Francisco had converted eight of its 12 thirddowns.

Four of those conversions, including theJenningstouchdown, came when the 49ers faceda thirdand-10orlonger. That is coming on the heels of aperformance against theArizona CardinalsinWeek1 in which the Saints allowed Arizona to convert third downs of 10, 11 and 12 yards.

“Weare giving up waytoo much in that situation,” head coach Kellen Moore said.

“We’re doing such agreat job on first andsecond(down), andweget into these third-and-8-pluses, and they’re finding these windows and completing throws,” linebacker Pete Werner said. “That’s unacceptable.”

The inability to getoff thefieldon third down was morepronounced in Sunday’sloss to SanFrancisco because of theplayoutcomes:Each of Jones’ threetouchdown passes came

when the 49erswereinthird down.

The first was athird-and-short where Jones kept the ball, rolledto his left and found an open Luke Farrell in the flat. Farrell broke through apoorAlontae Taylortackleattempt for an 11-yard score.

With seconds remaining in the firsthalf, Jonesagain steppedup into aclean pocket andfound running back ChristianMcCaffrey on an out-breaking routefor a7-yard touchdown on third-and-6.

Thecommon threadonmost of the conversions seemed to be New Orleans’ difficulties generating pressure on Jones. Carl Granderson sacked him twice in thefirst half, and Chris Rumph showed great hustle on astrip sack that set up aSaints touchdown, but Jones otherwise had aclean pocket to operate inside for much of thegame.

“Wehavetobeable to affect the quarterback,” said defensive end Cam Jordan. “Weknew we had to gethim off thespot. He was able to …get the ball out as fastashe could.”

Jones was a2022 first-round pick of theNew England Patriots,but Sunday’sgame was his debut for the 49ers. He played becausethe usual starter,Brock Purdy,missedthe game with toe and shoulder injuries.

Before his arrivalinSan Francisco, Jones’ star had dimmed considerably sincehis strong rookie season. But against the Saints, Jones compiled a113.1 passer rating and carrieda 49ersoffense that managed just 77 yards on the ground.

“This is thepros, andit’sthe pros for areason,”linebacker Demario Davis said. “The guys who come off the benchare very good players;

they can gethot and do good things just like starters, and he did that today.”

New Orleans came intothe game figuring theSan Franciscooffense wasnot going to change much despite the stylistic differences between Jonesand themoremobile Purdy.Thatmeanta lotofquick passes that attacked the middle of the field.

After the game, Saints players saidthey saw what they figured they were going to see with Jones in the lineup, and they didn’tsee their failuresasa defensive game plan issue. Werner said he believed the Saintswereinthe right coverages to answerwhatSan Franciscowas doing, but the players didn’talways execute the coverages properly

“Wejust weren’tinthe right spots,” Werner said. “Wecould’ve anticipated alot better.I don’tthink it had anything to do with the game plan, the rush plan; Ithink that was all great. Ijust think we’ve got to do better.”

The Saints ultimately did get some third-downstops —Jones threw third-down incompletions to end consecutive drives in the fourth quarter,giving the Saints achance at twogo-ahead drives late in the game. But the damage had already been done.

“The NFL, morethan anything else,issituational football,” safety Justin Reid said. “Wegave ourselves phenomenal position, winning first and second down. And it’sjust about winning third down. Gottoget off the field.”

Email Luke Johnsonat ljohnson@theadvocate.com.

after thenational

againstDukeonSaturday at

Sumrallsalutes selloutcrowd

BY GUERRYSMITH

Contributing writer

Students streamed onto the field from the end zone stands to celebrate Tulane’semotional 34-27 win against Dukeand Darian Mensah on Saturday night. Their energy during the game was even more significant.

Coach Jon Sumrall and hisplayers lauded the seventh sellout crowd in Yulman Stadium’s12-year history for its roleinthe Blue Devils’ jittery,mistake-filled performance.Inparticular,back-to-back false-start penalties on afield goal attempt led to amissed 44-yard kick as the Green Wave took quick control in the first quarter

“The studentsection wasfreaking awesome,” Sumrallsaid. “It was loud, and it affected the game. Their two false-start penalties was the crowd. That wasn’tus. Thank you to everybody that came. Man, we need that environment all thetime.”

It was astark contrast to the Wave’sAug. 30 opener against Northwestern, when an announced crowd of 22,103 at avenue with a listed capacity of 30,000thinnedout considerably in the second half on ahot day

“They had alot more energy tonight than Game 1,” said quarterback JakeRetzlaff, whocriticized the crowd in that 23-3 victoryearlier this week. “It was ablast.I love to see the fans show up and show out like they did. Iamgoingtocontinue to challenge them to keep that atmosphere high no matter who walks into the building. Iwant to see thestands full for all four quarters. They really affected the game.”

Many came to boo Mensah, who transferred to Duke last December after guiding Tulane to itsthird consecutive American Conference championship game appearance as aredshirt freshman quarterback. They stayed to support theWave’s second consecutive home win versus aPower 4opponent after it went winless against thoseteams since the stadium opened in 2014.

“(There were) moments in the game Icouldn’thear ourcoaches speaking to me because the crowd was so loud,” said redshirtsophomore linebacker DicksonAgu, who had ateam-high 10 tackles. “Their offensive linecouldn’thear what Darian was communicating. We need that to keep happening at Tulane because it affects thegame.” The Wave gave them plentyofop-

portunities to make noise.Retzlaff’s four rushing touchdowns were the most ever for aTulane quarterback and one off the school record set twice by Matt Forte in 2007. Offensivecoordinator Joe Craddock’s creative play callsbamboozled Duke’sdefense several times as the Wave scored touchdowns on three of its four series.The Blue Devils hadno idea where the ball was going when backupquarterback Brendan Sullivan lined up next to Retzlaff, took ahandoff and threw for afirst downonthe run.Theywere fooled completelybyball fakes on acouple of Retzlaff’s touchdown jaunts.

“Our offensive staff does agreat job,” Sumrall said. “Joe (Craddock) works his tail off.Hespends aton of time game planning and thinkingabout howtomake our offense successful. He calleda really good game.Hehad really good balance, just kind of keeping them off.”

Conversely,the Wave defense kept Mensah off balance for most of the night. Duke did not score its first touchdown until the final minuteof the firsthalf, and even that drive came after nickelback Javion White dropped what would have been his second interceptioninasmany possessions in Blue Devils territory

The tonewas set in the first quarter,whenMensah went3 of 8for 60 yards

“The biggest thing was getting him off his spot,”Agu said.“He’s a great passer to his right,but to his left, not so well. We made himthrow to his left and be uncomfortable. There was no moment in thegame where we were confused or on our heels or backed up.Wewerealways ready for what was coming.”

Tulane,which is 3-0 for only the second time thiscentury,willhead to 13th-ranked OleMiss(3-0) next Saturday having been ahead for all but 14 minutes and two seconds in its first three games.The Wave still hasplenty to clean up —Retzlaff pointed to hissecond lost fumble in as manyweeks and his sliding short of themarker on third down on the next serieswhile over-compensatingfor hisprevious mistake —but themistakes didnot sully theatmosphere on Saturday night

“It felt good to finally get astorm crowdand awin,” said Agu, who remembered SMU fansrunning onto the field after the Wave lost the 2023 American championshipgame at home. “It’sjust awhole lot of joy goingonwhen people yousee in class storm thefieldand say, ‘what’sup?’

LSUoffense must improve before conference play starts

BY REED DARCEY Staff writer

LSU keeps winning. Itsdefense is wreakinghavoc. Yetthe tenor of coach BrianKelly’slast twopostgame news conferences hasn’tmatched the positive results the Tigers have found on the field.

Kelly chose not to hide his frustrationafter LSU picked up alackluster win over Louisiana Tech in itshome opener.Then— after the Tigers caught five interceptions in a20-10 win over Florida—the fourth-year LSU coachfound himselfinatesty exchange withareporterwho made the first questionposed on Saturday one about the offense’s struggles.

“That footballteam just worked theirtail off to get an SEC win,” Kelly saidangrily, “and you want to know what’s wrong.”

What exactly is wrong with theLSU offense, which scored only 13 pointsagainstFlorida?

The No. 3Tigers (3-0) went three-and-out five times on Saturday— andpunted seven times

Before Caden Durham broke off a51-yard run on the last drive of the game, their rushing attack had produced only 68 yards on 20 carries. They convertedonlyfourofthe 14 third downs they faced. Garrett Nussmeierthrew an interception that could’ve helped theGators eatintoLSU’slead— except quarterback DJ Lagway tossed his fourth pick of the night nine plays later The point is that theTigers struggledonoffense. For the second game in arow

Theseason is only three weeks old, and LSU has faced threetough defenses.

But the early returns on its retooled offenseare not promising. The Tigers are struggling to find consistent,efficient yardageonthe ground, and Nussmeier isn’tcompletingexplosive passing plays —two of the same issues they battled for mostoflastseason.

“The offense, they’re going to get it rolling,” edge rusherJack

Pyburnsaid. “They have every singletool, every single key that theyneed.

“Butatthe endofthe day, we got their back. It doesn’t matter what situation we’re in.That’s our mentality.”

In 2024, LSU finished 14th amongSEC teamsinred-zone touchdown conversion percentage (57%). Now,in2025, the Tigers are 16th —because they’ve converted only fiveoftheir 11 red-zone trips into touchdowns (40%)

LSU ran for only 116 yards per game last year —the lowest rate in the SEC.

Now it’s rushing for111 yards per game —the second-lowest rate in the SEC.

In 2024, the Tigers excelled on third down.Their 49%conversion rate —the sixth-highest mark amongFBS teams—led the SEC.

This season,however,LSU has convertedonly 17 of its 41 third-down tries (42%). Now,11 of its leaguefoes are converting third downs at ahigherrate.

TheTigersaren’tcompletingchunk passingplays either TenSEC teamshave completed morepasses of at least 10 yards thanLSU this season, and14 have more completionsofat least 20 yards. Nussmeier has thrown three touchdown passes andtwo interceptions, including the one that foiled the drive the Tigers could’ve used to seal the win —and salvage arough night of offense.

Kelly said that kind of turnover “can’thappen,” especially because LSU reached the red zone so infrequently against Florida.

“We’ve talked aboutit enough,” he said, “and I’mnot gonna beat him up here.He knows. We just gotta take care of thefootball, andthe way we’replaying offensively,we have to be smart, right? And take what the defense gives us.”

Kelly then pointed out that Nussmeierisplaying behind a brand-new offensive line. Four of the starters from last season’sunit moved on to theNFL, andthe fifth(DJ Chester) is now working as LSU’ssixthof-

fensive lineman. Braelin Moore, thetransfercenterfromVirginia Tech, played through an ankle sprain on Saturday as well,and he helped the Tigers improve in pass protection.

Nussmeier was pressured on only three of his28dropbacks against Florida, according to Pro Football Focus. In Week 2against Louisiana Tech —a game that LSUplayed without Moore —hewas pressured 11 times

“These guys are working hard to get better,” Kelly said. “I’m withthem every single day, and Iwatch them,and they’re gonna have to getbetter.There’s no doubt, but they’re committed, and we’re gonna commit to them and we’re gonna keep working with them.”

There are some positive signs. Nussmeier,for instance, fought off aslow start on Saturday to complete 10 of 11 pass attempts across akey stretch of the first half. Then, late in the fourth, Durham’s 51-yard carry allowed LSU to line up in victory formation.

That run was the Tigers’ third rush that picked up at least30 yards. Only three SEC teams have more such carries this season.

And then there’sthe defense, the unit that Kelly preferred to discuss on Saturday.Because it shut down Florida, LSU has nowallowed10points or fewer in three consecutive games for the first timesince 2011.

Things have changed quite a bitonthatsideofthe ball over the last twoyears. Nowthe concerns lie elsewhere.

“I mean,you guys werehere when we had aprolific offense,” Kelly said. “That doesn’twork. That doesn’t work.You can’t outscore people and be achampionship team.You can build your offense around the defense if it’s that good. Andthat’swhat we’re going to do.

“We’re going to get better on offense —more efficient.But at the end of the day,we’re notgoing to put our defense in abad situation, and that’swhat we have to get better at.”

WhyTexas,LSU dropped, OU rose in my AP

Othernotes

If one could ascribe atheme to my ballot, last week’svotewas about sample size. Could one bad loss drop Florida and Alabama behind twoteams they were heads and sho ulders above in my preseason rankings? Were two games enoughtodetermine that Clemson has systemic issues on offense? Had Miami erased all of its potential question marksafterone bigwin over Notre Dame?

Dear reader,I offer thisquestion to you: Are justone or two weeks of games enough to radically change your outlook on ateam? If your answer is yes, then youlikely thought my AP poll last week was the work of aschmuck.

It’strue that leaning on preseason outlooksfor the first week or twoto astrong degree —atleastincomparison to my colleagues —may be flawed. But the truth is, there’s no perfect way to devise an AP poll, especially early in the yearas teams try to discover themselves.

Idon’tput together theserankings everyweek to convince anyonethat my processisthe right one. All Iask is forpeople to give me time and their respect as Iexplain my decision-making with my ballot each week. With that said,here’swhere I landed after awild Week 3. My AP poll afterWeek3 1. Penn State, 2. Miami,3.Georgia, 4. Ohio State, 5. Oregon, 6. TexasA&M, 7. Oklahoma, 8. LSU, 9. Texas, 10.Notre Dame, 11. Illinois,12. Michigan, 13.Alabama,14. Florida State, 15. Auburn, 16. Tennessee, 17.Texas Tech, 18. Georgia Tech,19. Vanderbilt, 20.Missouri, 21. Utah, 22. TCU,23. Iowa State, 24.Arizona State,25. Tulane. Just missed: Indiana, Southern Cal, Ole Miss, Nebraska.

Explaining Texas, LSUand OU Texasand LSU dropped this week because of their struggling offenses.Yes,LSU hasn’t lost a game, and the Longhorns’ only defeat cametoOhio State on the road, but neitherteamdominated its weaker opponents to thedegree

that atop-5 team should.

For LSU, its wins over Clemson and Floridahavelost the luster they hadheading into the season The Tigers also had trouble putting up points against LouisianaTech. Meanwhile, Texas struggled to completeapass against UTEP on Saturday,asquarterback Arch Manning’splaythrough three games has left me worried about theLonghorns. Ilikehow Oklahoma haslooked on both sidesofthe ball. Andeven if the victoryagainst Michigan was at home and against afreshman quarterback, theSooners dominated ateam thatisbetter than anyone Texas or LSU has beaten this season.

TheNotre Dame conundrum

The Fighting Irish have lost to two top-10 teams in my poll by a combined four points.Ifacouple of playshad gone theirway,they’d probably be No. 1.

I’mnot saying that NotreDame is perfect, and it’s obviously important towin the games, but how you lose and who you lose to are also critical factors.

Miami shot up my poll again afterdominating South Florida this weekend. The Hurricanes offense hasbeen surprisingly excellent, andtheir performance on Saturday proved their big win over Notre Dame wasn’tafluke.

Filling out the bottom eight of my poll was an adventure. South Carolina, Pittsburgh and South Florida joined Florida and Clemson as the five schoolsthat slid outside of my rankings; therefore, finding fivesuitable replacements forthem was achallenge.

Theeasiest decisions Imade, however,wereranking Vanderbilt and Georgia Tech.

Vanderbilt’s dominant showing against South Carolina on the road wasimpressive, even when factoring in quarterback LaNoris Sellers’ injury.The Commodores were winning before he got hurt.

Georgia Tech joined Vanderbilt in my poll after its big win over Clemson. TheYellow Jackets didn’t dominate theTigers at home, but they were still thebetterteam. I also nearly hadGeorgia Tech in my

top 25 to begin the year Utah, TCUand Tulane were the other new entrants to my poll. The Utes and Horned Frogs have been on thecusp of making my top25 for the past few weeks, and Tulane’simpressive win over Duke this week is whyitearned the last spot in the rankings.

Kelly frustrated by targeting call

BY REED DARCEY Staff writer

When Brian Kelly was asked about the targeting penalty that disqualified star linebacker Whit Weeks from LSU’s 20-10 win over Florida on Saturday, he let out an exasperated sigh.

Kelly understands why officials made the call, he said. He just wishes rules would give defenders more leeway when one of their tackles meets the criteria for targeting, which carries an automatic ejection.

“I just have a hard time with this one,” Kelly said. On Florida’s first drive, Weeks was trying to make a tackle when he lowered the crown of his helmet and contacted the face mask of receiver Vernell Brown. After a video review officials confirmed the targeting call they made on the field and disqualified Weeks, who watched the rest of the game from the sideline.

Brown also lowered his helmet as he braced for the hit. The two players’ heads then collided.

“I come at it from a different perspective,” Kelly said. “I think, when you become a runner and you duck your head, that targeting is not what we’re looking for This

is not my call, but I think from a national standpoint, that’s the one area that I’ve always had a problem (with). When you become a runner, and you drop your head, then the crown is susceptible to hitting somebody as a runner.”

When the call was made, Weeks was visibly upset. He removed his helmet and stormed to the sideline.

Kelly spoke to him afterward not long before Florida settled for a 45-yard field goal to cap its opening drive.

“I guess they watched it,” Kelly said, “and he must have hit with the top of his head, the crown, and if you hit with the crown, then it meets targeting. So I understand that.

“I just philosophically have a hard time, when a guy becomes a runner and he ducks his head, that’s a difficult burden to put on a tackler.”

LSU still played stout defense without Weeks

The Tigers intercepted Gators quarterback DJ Lagway five times and sacked him three times. They also tallied five tackles for loss and four pass-breakups, while holding Florida to only 79 net rushing yards.

The performance was impressive, especially because LSU

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By ERIC GAy Texas quarterback Arch Manning is hit by UTEP safety Kode Lowe as he scrambles during the second half of their game on Saturday in Austin, Texas.

QB Manning: ‘I’ve got to play better’ after another ragged outing

BY JIM VERTUNO AP sportswriter

AUSTIN Texas Arch Manning admits he has to play better than he has so far

The Texas quarterback is playing far below what was expected when he started the season as an early Heisman Trophy favorite and leader of what was then the No. 1 team in the country Manning strug g led through a season-opening road loss at Ohio State that started a wave of national criticism and questions of whether he was overrated and was anointed too soon Saturday’s poor outing in a 27-10 win over UTEP will only bring more.

Manning was 11 of 25 passing for 114 yards and a touchdown against the Miners in a game Texas (2-1) was heavily favored. He had a string of misfires with 10 consecutive incompletions in the second quarter, tossed an end zone interception and never looked comfortable as he side-armed some throws and missed open receivers on others.

Texas’ wasn’t in danger of losing the game, but Manning’s recurring struggles in the offense are enough to concern Texas fans about the upcoming SEC schedule and whether the Longhorns really are title contenders. Through the first three games, Manning is completing just 55% of passes.

“I’ve got to play better,” Manning said. “A lot of quarterbacks, a lot of players, want to be great. I know I’m better than this.”

Greatness was expected from his first days on campus, and certainly from the first minute on the field this season After all, he’s the lat-

played most of the second half without its other starting linebacker, West Weeks — the older brother of Whit Weeks — who injured his calf halfway through the third quarter Whit Weeks, a team captain and preseason first-team All-SEC selection, has made seven tackles this

season and totaled three quarterback hurries. During a breakout sophomore year, Weeks recorded a team-high 125 tackles to rank second in the SEC. He returned to start the first two games after recovering from an ankle injury in the Texas Bowl

LSU linebacker Whit Weeks, center, walks the sideline moments after being ejected from the game for targeting against Florida in the first quarter on Saturday at Tiger Stadium.

that required surgery Weeks will not miss any additional game time because he was disqualified in the first half. Sophomore Davhon Keys played linebacker in his place for most of the night and finished with a team-high 14 tackles.

Warren Easton restores order with victory over Kennedy

BY CHRISTOPHER DABE Staff writer

Warren Easton waited a year for the chance to walk off the field as winners against Kennedy

“We got our lick back from last year,” Easton coach Jerry Phillips said after his team avenged last year’s loss by beating Kennedy 31-7 on Saturday at Tad Gormley Stadium.

Thomas Vaughn scored two touchdowns — one rushing and one receiving on a pass from Carl Reed, who also ran for a score. Terrell Surtain also ran for a touchdown. Freshman Rekye Gibson opened the scoring when he returned a blocked field goal for a touchdown late in the first quarter

Defensive lineman Juelz Haley forced and recovered a fumble on the next play from scrimmage, and that set up Surtain to score his touchdown on a 27-yard run for a 13-0 lead.

Easton (2-0) will play next against Slidell in a nondistrict game before opening 9-5A play in Week 4 against St. Augustine.

“Our thing was really at camp — nobody put in the work we did,” Dunn said “Three practices a day Nobody put in the work we put in. That just showed in the football.”

Other standouts for Easton include junior linebacker James Curley, who intercepted a pass in the second half, and senior defensive end Marcus Jasmin, who made several stops at the line and in the backfield. Senior Kaleb Gibson blocked the field goal that got returned for a touchdown.

Surtain and Vaughn, both seniors, combined for 204 yards from scrimmage, with Vaughn rushing for 89 yards and a touchdown along with one reception for 11 yards while Vaughn had two receptions for 71 yards, including a 45-yard touchdown, and 33 yards rushing with another score.

Despite the win against Kennedy (1-1), Easton has some things to fix. Included among them are the 17 penalties for 180 yards.

“We got to clean up all the mistakes,” Phillips said. “Way too many penalties.”

est big, strong-armed quarterback from America’s most famous football family

He was one of the top recruits in the country coming out of high school. He waited the last two seasons behind Quinn Ewers, but flashed enough moments of brilliance in two starts when Ewers was hurt to further intensify already intense expectations.

Off the field, he has raked in millions in endorsements. Some of his product television ads have aired during Texas games this season.

Certainly more was expected of a quarterback in his third season in coach Steve Sarkisian’s offense. And yet Manning often looks rushed or confused or just simply misses open receivers.

“All my life I’ve been an accurate passer,” Manning said. “I’ve just got to get back to it.”

Sarkisian believes he can bring Manning to the level of play that was expected Sarkisian at various times has pleaded for patience from fans and pundits.

“I feel like we’ve done enough with him to have a pretty good understanding of who he is as a player and what he’s capable of. I know there’s a lot of football in him that’s high-level football,” Sarkisian said “Our job as coaches is to work him towards that,” Sarkisian said. “We’ve righted the ship before, we’ll get there.”

Manning’s teammates say they’re still confident in him as their leader

“He’s still a great quarterback,” offensive lineman Trevor Goosby said. “I tell him that every day.”

“Our mindset has been, we got to restore order in the city,” Phillips said as he thought back on last season’s 2-8 overall record and 0-7 record in district games, “and we’re on our revenge tour.”

Easton had typically been among the top teams in the city but stumbled its first time playing in District 9-5A, also commonly known as the Catholic League.

The Eagles are now a more seasoned team with 28 seniors listed on the roster for the Kennedy game.

“We got a lot of seniors, and this senior class, they have had a rough four years here,” Phillips said. “They first two years not really playing that much, and then the years after that with the season being taken and us not going to the playoffs and stuff like that, so

they’re hungry.”

Easton hasn’t been to the playoffs since the current seniors were freshmen.

“People didn’t have us winning this year,” senior linebacker Narco Dunn said. “We just came with our head down. That’s really our mindset the whole season. Not really getting too cocky but we’re going to keep our head down and keep pushing.”

Easton spent six days away from home at a camp in Kiln, Mississippi, for practices and workouts, something the school hadn’t done the past few years because of scheduling conflicts with the camp site, Phillips said.

Included in the camp regimen was a daily three-mile run with flashlights at 5:30 a.m.

The one Kennedy touchdown came on a 46-yard moon ball of a pass from junior Dunham Dorrian to junior Semaj Lyons in the end zone to make the score 13-7 in the second quarter Kennedy had only three first downs in the second half.

Dorrian tried another moon ball of a pass on the next drive that got picked off by Gibson.

Kennedy senior Braylon Antoine picked off a pass in the third quarter Kennedy, a 19-0 winner against Scotlandville to start the season, will play Week 3 at St. Amant.

The Cougars will face five consecutive 5A schools before opening District 10-3A play in Week 6 against Booker T. Washington.

Contact Christopher Dabe at cdabe@theadvocate.com

UCLA fires coach Foster after 0-3 start

BY BETH HARRIS AP sportswriter

LOS ANGELES UCLA fired secondyear football coach DeShaun Foster on Sunday after the school’s first 0-3 start since 2019.

Athletic director Martin Jarmond announced the move two days after the Bruins lost to New Mexico 35-10, their second straight loss to a Mountain West Conference opponent

“It’s not a decision I made lightly, but it was important to take decisive action,” Jarmond said on a Zoom call with media. “This serves as a message to our fans that the results we’ve seen so far are simply not acceptable.”

Tim Skipper will serve as interim coach for the rest of the season, which includes games against three highly ranked Big Ten Conference opponents. Skipper had been special assistant to Foster, and he served as Fresno State’s interim coach last year

Foster was 5-10 since taking over the program from Chip Kelly in February 2024, after national signing day and relatively late in the recruiting process. “I regret putting DeShaun in that

position as we were going into the Big Ten,” Jarmond said. “Getting a start so late really disadvantaged the start of his coaching career.”

Last year, the Bruins finished 5-7 after a 1-5 start in the school’s first season in the Big Ten. Foster had been the program’s running backs coach from 2017-23 and added the title of associate head coach in 2023 before being promoted to the top job by Jarmond. Foster spent one season on the staff at Texas Tech.

The Bruins were beaten by Utah in their opener and by UNLV a week ago They trailed at halftime in all three losses, two of them coming at the Rose Bowl, where attendance was sparse and tarps are used to cover wide swaths of seating. Foster was asked Friday if he was still the person for the job, and he replied: “Most definitely Because I can get these boys to play.”

However even the arrival of highly touted quarterback Nico Iamaleava via the transfer portal couldn’t save Foster The sophomore left Tennessee after leading the Volunteers to the College Football Playoff last season and didn’t participate in spring camp.

Iamaleava defended Foster after Friday’s loss, saying: “We’re not executing as players. It all falls back on the players.”

Iamaleava is among 55 new players in Westwood this season, along with eight new assistants. Over half the defensive line is made up of transfers.

Foster hired Tino Sunseri from Indiana as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, but the Bruins’ offense ranks 127th nationally (14.3 points per game) and got outscored 30-0 in the first quarter of each game this season. The Bruins repeatedly shot themselves in the foot with penalties in the losses, too.

Foster was a star running back for the Bruins during his college career, including a four-touchdown performance against rival USC in 1998, before playing seven seasons in the NFL.

“Serving as the head coach at UCLA, my beloved alma mater, has been the honor of a lifetime,” Foster said in a statement. “While I am deeply disappointed that we were unable to achieve the success that our players, fans, and university deserve, I am grateful for the opportunity to have led this program.”

LIVING

“I heard stories of how it was50yearsago,whereitwas just clouds of mosquitoes everywhere. We want everybody to be able to enjoytheir yard.”

ControlBoard director

Termiteand Rodent

CLAUDIA RIEGEL,

Allhands on deck

Meet thebug bosses tackling arecord-breaking West Nile, mosquito season in NewOrleans

BY HANNAH LEVITAN Staff writer

Arecord-breakingsurge in mosquito activity has pushed the City of New OrleansMosquito, Termite andRodent Control Board into overdrive this summer as they racetokeep the city safe from West Nile virus.

Armed with fogging trucks, ahelicopterand abuffet of pesticides, theboard is targetingmosquitohot spots across the city,hoping to stay one step ahead of avirus season that board director Claudia Riegel said is shaping up to be one of the worst in years.

“You never really know when we’re going to have that year,but this is it,” Riegel said aboutthe surgeofthe virus’primary carrier in New Orleans, the southern house mosquito (Culexquinquefasciatus) This year,over 745 mosquito pools tested positivefor West Nile

Claudia Riegel, NewOrleans Mosquito, Termite and Rodent Control Board director, looks throughthe board’s archives.

virus across Louisiana, an increase from lastyear’scount of 617. Of those, 200 positive pools werein Orleans Parish,where at least two human cases wereconfirmed by the Louisiana Department of Health in August. Transmitted between wild birds

andmosquitoes,WestNile virus caninfect humans if they arebittenbyaninfectedmosquito.And while most infectionsare asymptomatic, West Nilecan cause severe illness, especially in older adults andpeople with underlying healthconditions.

To combat and monitor New Orleans’ own mosquito population made up of 44 separate mosquito species found throughout the state —the board tests thousands of the small insects weekly, manning 52 battery-powered traps scattered throughout thecity

Each trap is fitted with asmall fan that sucks mosquitoes in, allowing taxonomists to collect asample of the local mosquito population. Even though the board is counting fewer mosquitoes this year, Riegel said they’re finding higher rates of infected bugs.

See MOSQUITOES, page 2D

They metat adrive-in. Nowtheyown one.

BY GENE PUSKAR,MINGSON LAU and HOLLYRAMER Associated Press

OREFIELD,Pa. In aromance and adventure worthy of the big screen, aPennsylvania couple is preserving the past andforging afuture as the owners of the world’soldest operating drive-in movie theater Lauren McChesney got more than admissiontoa double fea-

ture when she handed herticket to Matt McClanahanatadifferentdrive-in he managed in 2018. Theystarted datingayear later, and, in August,got engaged. In between,they purchased Shankweiler’sDrive-In Theatre, which was Pennsylvania’sfirst drivein and onlythe nation’ssecond when it opened in 1934. Thecouplebeganbrainstorming

Is lithium atreatment forAlzheimer’s disease?

Lithium is nature’slightest metal, enabling it to store energy at high density and discharge electrons rapidly.It powers our phones, laptops and electric vehicles.

Probably less well-knownis that the original formulation of the softdrink 7UP contained lithium and wasmarketed under the nameBib-lable lithiated Lemon-Lime Soda. The lithium was removed in 1948 after the Food and Drug Administration banned the lithium citrate in softdrinks.

Another form of lithium, lithium carbonate, has been widely prescribed in the treatment of bipolar disorder in the United States, and wasfirst approved by the FDA in 1970. This form of lithium is believed to be a mood stabilizer and can also be prescribed for long-term treatment of depression.

The specific mechanism of lithium carbonate is not known, but it is believed to suppress stress in the brain and helps restore neuroplasticity —the brain’sability to change and adapt as we get older

According to Mark Johnson, aWashington Post contributor, astudy written in NATURE recently found that the loss of lithium,anaturally occurring element in the brain, could be an early sign of Alzheimer’s disease as well as apowerful driver of the disease. Alzheimer’sdisease affects morethan 7million Americans today

In the article, Johnson wrote that the study,led by Bruce A. Yankner,aprofessor of genetics and neurology at Harvard Medical School, found that lithium is important to the health of all the major types of brain cells in mice. Depletionof lithium in the brain also seems to be afactor in almost all of the major deterioration that occurs with Alzheimer’sdisease.

“Lithium hasbeen around for decades andwehavealot of evidencesupporting its use,” notesElizabeth Hoge,aprofessorofpsychiatry at Georgetown University School of Medicine

“It does help patients. We know thatitworks fromrandomized, controlledtrials.

Lithium had been reviewed previously as apotential Alzheimer’streatment and antiaging medication. A2017 study in Denmark found that the presence of lithium in drinking water might be linked to a lower incidence of dementia in the population.

The sun sets on the Shankweiler’s Drive-Inascars arrive for the evening’sdouble feature of ‘Jaws’ and ‘Twisters’ in Orefield, Pa

AP PHOTO By GENE J. PUSKAR

Yankner becameinterested in the study of lithium after measuring the levels of 30 different metals in the brain and blood of people whowere 1) cognitively healthy,2)people in the very early stage of dementia, and 3) people with full-blownAlzheimer’sdisease. Only lithium,out of all the 30 metals measured, changed significantly among the three groups. Additionally,Yankner found that small amounts of lithium wereable to reverse a

See LITHIUM, page 2D ä See DRIVE-IN, page 2D

Ultrasound mayhelpdiagnoseradialnerve compression

Dear Doctors: I’m having radial nerve problems whenever Iuse my triceps, like pushing thelawn mower,opening doors or pushing up from the recliner.It’smaking my thumb and pointer finger very weak. An ultrasounddidn’t show any nerve compression.If compression happens only when Iflex the muscle, does that mean it won’tshow on adiagnostic workup?

Dear reader: Theradial nerve weaves its way from just below the armpit, through the elbow joint and down the length of the forearm. It animates the triceps, the muscle group at the back of the upper arm that engages during the pushing and pressing movements you have described. Abranch of the radial nerve continues down through the wrist and into aportion of the hand.It

DRIVE-IN

Continued from page1D

about drive-ins duringa cross-country road trip that included stops at both operational and abandoned theaters. Their original goal was to opena new drivein, but when they learned Shankweiler’smight get sold to developers, “the light bulb went off,” McClanahan said. “Why are we spending so much time tryingtobuild onewhen there’sone literally down the road from our house that’sfor sale and is like the most important drive-in?” he said.

The drive-in movie theater industry began in Camden, New Jersey,in1933 and peaked in thelate 1950s, with more than 4,000 driveins, according to theUnited Drive-In Theatre Owners Association. The numbers droppedrapidly in the 1970s and80s as other entertainment options increased, along with land values that made selling for redevelopment attractive. Though popular during the pandemic, by 2024, there were only 283 left, according to the association.

McClanahan, 35, who grew up going to Shankweiler’s, had managed another drive-in and started amobile movie business during the coronavirus pandemic. In contrast, McChesney,41, had never been to adrive-in before 2018,and shelefta stable corporate job in the health care industry to take on this new venture. Buying

MOSQUITOES

Continued from page1D

“Right now,our trap counts are not super high, they’re prettylow,but the southern house mosquitoes that are coming back, alot of those have West Nile,” Riegel said.

“It’sahigh incidencewith alow population,” she said Luring in thepesky insects

Each Monday,control board employees take to the streets of New Orleans to set up battery-powered Gravid traps —devices designedto capture female mosquitoes looking to lay eggs —above bins the team has filled with fetid water

“Weuse fish emulsionin water and we let it cookin agarbage can for aweek, so it gets really nasty and smelly,” Riegel said. “The mosquitoes love it.”

On Tuesdays, the team returns to collect the insectfilled traps, all of which are carefully inspected by taxonomistsatthe Louisiana State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory in Baton Rouge.

“It doesn’tmatter if there’s 200 (mosquitoes) in that trap or 2,000. They all get identified,” control board assistant directorCarrie Cottone said Each specimen’sDNA is tested for the virus using areal-time PCR test —the same test used to detect COVID. Riegel said the team can also look at resistance to see if any mosquitoeshave become immune to different types of pesticides.

Pesticide resistance, along with amyriad of factors like timing, temperature and species, canimpact the ef-

Dr.Elizabeth Ko

Dr.Eve Glazier

ASK THE DOCTORS

controls extension and flexion of the wrist, thethumb, the index andmiddle fingers, andthe inner halfofthe ring finger.Italso provides sensation to the back of the hand andthose fingers.

The meandering path of the radial nerve brings it close to bone, muscles andconnective tissue, makingitvulnerable to compression.This canoccur from overuse, trauma, injury,repeated or sustained pressure, structural

anomalies and inflammatory conditions, suchasarthritis or diabetes. If thenerve is squeezed or trapped by thesurrounding tissues, thepressure can interfere with its ability to function.

The weakness in your thumb and index finger are consistent with radial nerve compression. Additional symptomscan include adull ache in the outer forearm, just below theelbow,and numbness, tingling or aburning sensation in the fingers theradial nerve serves. These may becomeworse at night. More severe compression can cause weakness in the wrist or fingers, and may make it difficult to grip objects, turn the palm upward or perform precision movement. Diagnosis begins with aphysical exam and apatient history,and may include imaging tests, includ-

PROVIDED PHOTO FROM LAUREN McCHESNEy Lauren McChesneyand Matt McClanahan, owners of Shankweiler’sDrive-In in Orefield, Penn., pose for aphoto in Perkaise, Pa., in 2019.

Shankweiler’swas arisk for both of them —they pooled their savings and secured a$1 millionloan to buy the drive-in in 2022 —but one they say has paidoff.

“This was an undertaking that was leapsand bounds bigger than anything I’d ever done in my life, in termsofinvestment,monthly expenses, and debt,” McClanahan said. “It still feels surreal when Ithink about it.” They’vebuilt asuccessfulbusiness with thehelp of strongsummer attendance, the occasional big-name filmlike “Wicked,”and special events likeValentine’s Day “date night” screenings of “The Notebook.” The drive-in is open seven days aweek from Memorial Day to LaborDay,and Thursdays through Sundays the rest of the year.Tickets are $9 for children and$13 foradults.

fectiveness of control efforts.

“When our countsstart to get to like 300 per trap, that’s our signal to do acity preemptive spray,” Riegel said, adding thatthe goal is to knock out thepopulation that feedsonbirds in early spring.

‘Breakingthe epidemic’

When it comes to citywide mosquito management, the control board usesanintegrative approach that involves meticulous mosquito surveillance,targeted treatment and constant dataanalysis, according to their website. The board dividesthe city into 46 zones to keep close tabs on insect populations.

Whenpathogensare detected or mosquito counts spike,the board sends out its fogging trucks. Buthow and where they spray depends on alistoffactors like species, life stageand pesticide resistance.

Before fogging, Riegel said the teamlooks at weather,wind directionand even conducts cage trials to determineifmosquitoes have become resistant to certain chemicals.

Each fogging job takes two to three hours and involves driving atruck through narrow streets after dark to target mosquitoes when they’re most active.

Though some residents areeager to requestthat this city fogtheir neighborhood more, Cottonesaid the science behind fogging is not to spray every single house within aneighborhood.In fact,ifyourhome or neighborhood is being sprayed, it’slikely that you’re in ahot spot for activity

“You don’t want usinyour neighborhood,” Riegelsaid.

KenQuerio, 52,ofKutztown,Pennsylvania, has been going to Shankweiler’s sincehewas ateenager. He made apoint to seek out the owners before arecent viewing of “Jaws.”

“I actually thanked them,” he said. “It’s wonderful to have an old-school, an old venue like this still going.”

Wilson Shankweiler, a prominent hotel owner and movie buff, opened what was then calledShankweiler’sPark-In Theatre on April 15, 1934. McClanahanand McChesney areits fourth owners.

McChesneysaidthe success of thebusinessplayed arole in the timing of their engagement.

“Weknew we’d eventually getmarried, but we kept doing other things instead, likestarting businessesand buying movie theaters,” she said.

“If we’re in your neighborhood,you either have elevatedmosquito numbers or there’sactivity going on with West Nile virus or one of our arboviruses. We don’t spray for spray’ssake.”

When theydospray,Riegel said the trucks use “ultra-low volume application” to release the chemicals, which allows thefog concentration to spread across between half andthree-fourths of an ounce per acre.

For moreprecise jobs, the board deploys itshelicopter, misting backyardsand other hard-to-reach spacesthatallow them to target mosquito adults and larvae.

“You need larviciding in tandem with adulticiding to reallyhelpbreak thoseepidemics,”Riegel said.

Protecting public health

Placed underthe city’s Homeland Security division, thepest control board plays acritical role in safeguarding public health —not just fromitchybites, but from serious disease threats.

Thatmeansmore than just spraying mosquitoes.

“Thisisa partnership,” Riegel said. “Weneed the public to be engaged in turning over containers, removing clutter,removing water sources for us.”

Eliminating standing water —inold tires, muddy ruts andonwet tarps, to name afew —can help drive down the mosquitopopulation. The city also offers several free serviceslike yard inspection and waste removal.

“I heard stories of how it was 50 years ago, where it was just clouds of mosquitoes everywhere,” Riegel said. “Wewant everybodyto be able toenjoy their yard.

ing the ultrasound you underwent. This technique involves adevice thatemitshigh-frequency sound waves that scatter as they enter the body.Asthey encounter solid tissue,the sound wavesbounce, each at aunique frequency based on the type of tissue encountered. On their return journey,the highfrequency waves are converted into electrical impulses, then processed by acomputer and presentedasvisual images. Because the weakness in your thumband index finger occurs during movements that engage your triceps, ascan knownasdynamic ultrasoundcan be auseful diagnostic tool. Unlike regular ultrasound,which creates static images, this form of the scan allows clinicians to view their patient’sskeletal structures in motion.This, along with significant

advances in image quality,have madedynamic ultrasound an important diagnostic tool formusculoskeletal injuries and nerve impingement or compression. If leftuntreated, the discomfort, weakness and limits to range of motion associated with radial nerve compression can worsen. If nerve damage occurs, they can even becomepermanent. We think it would be wise foryou to ask your doctor about adynamic ultrasound scan. If they are dismissive or resistant, don’thesitate to seek asecond opinion. Send yourquestions to askthedoctors@mednet.ucla edu, or write: Ask theDoctors, c/oUCLA HealthSciences Media Relations, 10880 Wilshire Blvd.,Suite 1450, Los Angeles, CA, 90024.

Privatetimespent with family isn’tselfish

Dear Annie: My husband works in thefamily business alongside his father, his brother-in-law,and sometimes his brother and cousin. He is agenerous, hardworking man who would give theshirt off his back for his family.Unfortunately,they seem to take advantage of that generosity. Despite thepressures of the business, we make it aprioritytoenjoy our life together.On Sundays, we take our children out to eat, and we plan family activities and vacations with just the four of us. These outings are specialtousand give our kids wonderful memories.

first? —Frustrated but Firm Dear Frustrated but Firm: Stop feeling guilty forliving your life. Parents are entitled to private family time without the whole clan tagging along. The next timesomeone complains, smile and say: “Welike to keep Sundays just forus.” Period. No excuses, no guilt. If they keep pushing, that’stheir problem,not yours. You’re raising your kids, not running a restaurant.

The problem is, his family makes us feel guilty for having these moments without them. They say thingslike, “You go out to eat every weekend,” as if it’swrong that we don’tinvitethem along. Even their young children have been drawn intoit, asking our kids where we went and saying, “I wish we could go, too.” It feels like they are using guilt and envy to undermine our choices. The truthis, we live within our means. We pay our bills, budget carefully and choose to spend what’s left on making memories with our kids. Butthe constant comments and guilt-tripping are starting to get under my husband’s skin, too.

I’ve kept quiet so far,but I’m wondering —what is thebest way to respond when family tries to make us feel selfish or guiltyfor puttingour little family

ByThe Associated Press

Today is Monday Sept.15, the 258th day of 2025. There are 107 days left in the year

Todayinhistory: On Sept.15, 1963, four Black girls were killed when abomb went off during Sunday services at the 16th Street BaptistChurch in Birmingham, Alabama. (Three Ku Klux Klansmen were eventually convicted for their roles in theblast.)

Also on this date: In 1835, Charles Darwin reached the Galápagos Islands aboard theHMS Beagle.

In 1935, theNuremberg Laws wereenacted in Nazi Germany,depriving German Jews of their

LITHIUM

Continuedfrom page1D

mouse model of Alzheimer’sdisease and restore brain function. Yankner states that “things can change as you go from

Dear Annie: Iread the letter from the grandparent who felt pushed away by her daughters-in-law.Mysituation is even harder; it’smy own daughter whoisshutting us out. My son-in-law,her exhusband, is the one who allows us to see our three granddaughters. Since their divorce, my daughter has been living with aman whodrinks heavily and uses drugs. Sadly,she has turned against me and my husband, resenting us for speaking the truth about her choices. What hurts mostisthat this man verbally and emotionally abuses my granddaughters, and they often say they want to stay with us instead. My daughter resists this, and our relationship has becomea constant battle. We raised her with love, support and every opportunity.She was abright student with a4.0 GPA, and we never mistreated her.Yet today she shows us no respect and treats us with the samecontempt as the man she lives with. It breaks our hearts, and I

TODAYINHISTORY

citizenship. In 1940, the tide turned in the Battle of Britain in World WarII, as the Royal Air Force inflicted heavy losses upon the Luftwaffe. In 1958, acommuter train headed forNew York City plunged into Newark Bay after missing astop signal and sliding off the open NewarkBay lift bridge, killing 48 people. In 1959, Nikita Khrushchev becamethe first Soviet head of state to visit the United States as he arrived at AndrewsAir Force Base outside Washington. In 1978, Muhammad Ali becamethe first boxer to capture the heavyweight title three times, winning by unanimous decision in his rematch with

would not wish this pain on anyone. What do you think we should do? —Heartbroken Grandparents Dear HeartbrokenGrandparents: My heart aches foryou. Few things cut deeper than watching achild you raised with love makepainful choices —and then having to stand by while your grandchildren are caught in the middle. But here’s the truth: Youcannotchange your daughterorrescueher from hercurrent path. Whatyou can do is stay steadyand loving for your granddaughters. Be the safe place theyknow they can count on.Avoid harsh confrontations with your daughter, as theymay only push herfurtheraway and limit your accesstothe children. If you truly believe the children are being abused, it’simportant to contact child protective services or another authority.I know that’sfrightening, but protecting your granddaughters’ well-being must come first.

Beyond that, consider family counseling or asupport group forgrandparents in similar situations. Youneed aplace to grieve, to vent and to gather strength. You’ve given your daughter every opportunity in life—but now,the best giftyou can give is stability and unconditional love forher children. Sometimes that love speaks loudest in patience, boundaries and courage.

Send yourquestions forAnnie Lane to dearannie@creators.com.

Leon Spinks. In 2008, as aresult of the subprimemortgage crisis, Lehman Brothers filed for Chapter 11 in the largest bankruptcy filing in U.S. history

Today’sbirthdays: Writerdirector Ron Shelton is 80. Actor Tommy Lee Jones is 79. Film director Oliver Stone is 79. Football coach Pete Carroll is 74. TV personality Lisa Vanderpump is 65. Football Hall of Famer Dan Marino is 64. Actor Josh Charles is 54. Olympic gold medal swimmer TomDolan is 50. Actor TomHardy is 48. Actor AmyDavidson is 46.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Plan with care and responsibility. Establish abudget andexplore innovative ways to achieve your goals. Thesupport youdrum up will encourage you to claim aposition that allowsyou to call the shots.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) Slowdown:take abreather and reconfigure your routine to suit your well-being. Live lifeto accommodatewhat's important to you, and you will discover thehappinessyou deserve.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) Volunteer and raise your qualifications to match your demands. It'stime for afresh perspective and to shoot for the stars. Trust your instincts; be bold andact.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov.23-Dec. 21) Be careful who you let influenceyou. The input you receive from lovedoneswill be in your best interest. Listen and act accordingly to avoidpoor choices.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Put your head down, focus on what youmust do and refuse to let anything get in your way. Yourreputation is at stake, so move forward with pride anddignity, and leave nothing to chance.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Put more energy into the things that makeyou happy. Set abudget that can sustain the lifestyle you desire. Time is precious, and being abletoaccommodate your dreams is theway forward.

PISCES(Feb.20-March 20) Keep your money in asafe place. People you encounter today will be eager to take

advantage of you, and others will inspire you to take control of your life andprospects.

ARIES(March 21-April 19) Look at every angle and push yourself above and beyond the callofduty, andwhattranspires will help youfulfill your goals. You can dream, but it's your actions that will makethe difference.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) Tap into your emotionsand broaden your awareness regarding what's important to you. Dealingwithfriends, family and colleagues can be overwhelming due to inconsistencies or inflated facts

GEMINI (May21-June 20) Do your best to keep up. Ask questions, show interest and maintain good relationships. Being wellconnected help yousucceed when opportunities arise.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) Set higher expectations and useyour skills differently to suit each taskyou pursue. Ingenuity will getyou where youwant to go. Be bold; believe in yourself and your ability to thrive.

LEO(July 23-Aug.22) Makechoices that align with howyou envision your life unfolding. Incorporate alifestyle change that focuses on health and wellbeing. Takecare of yourself instead of burning out.

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

Sudoku

InstructIons: sudoku is anumber-placing puzzle based on a9x9 grid with several given numbers. The objectistoplace the numbers 1to9inthe empty squaressothat each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once.The difficulty levelofthe sudoku increasesfrommonday to sunday.

Saturday’s Puzzle Answer

BY PHILLIP ALDER Bridge

Henny Youngman said, “I bet on a horse at 10 to one. It didn’t come in until half-past five.”

Bridge defendersmusttimegetting the tricks that they need to defeat the contract before the declarer has won the number that he requires.

In this deal, the defenders requirefive tricks to beat three spades. Westleads the heartace. What should happenafter that?

Westdoubled on the second roundto show five hearts, fourdiamonds and extra values. (To bid three diamonds would have guaranteed afive-card suit.)

Northraisedspades to indicateapromising hand, but Southhad nothing to spare, and those three low hearts were awarning bell. Under the heartace, East signals with his 10, starting ahigh-low (echo) with a doubleton.Now West can see four defensivetricksviathespadeaceandthreetop hearts, but where is the fifth winner?

Next, West should consider the highcard points. Afterchecking the dummy and his hand, he sees there are only11 points missing. South musthavemostor allofthemfor his advance at the twolevel, which Ithink should be forcing by an unpassed hand. If East andWestcannot get another side-suit trick, they must collect asecond trump trick.

Westshould cash theheart king to con-

wuzzles

firm East’s doubleton, then shift to his singletonclub.

South will wininhis hand and play a trump, but West takesthe trickand continues withhis heart two, the lowest card beingasuit-preferencesignal.Eastruffs andreturns aclub, which West ruffs for down one.

©2025 by nEa, inc., dist. By andrewsmcmeel syndication

Each Wuzzle is aword riddle which creates adisguised word, phrase, name, place, saying, etc. For example: nOOngOOD =gOOD aFTErnOOn

Previous answers:

word game

INstRuctIoNs: 1. Words must be of

or “dies,” are not allowed. 3.

toDAY’s WoRD uPsILoN: OOP-sih-lon: The 20th letter of the Greek alphabet.

Average mark 14 words Time limit 20 minutes

Can you find 19 or more words in UPSILON?

sAtuRDAY’s WoRD —NItRIFIEs

dIrectIons: make a2-to 7-letterword from theletters in each row. add pointsof each word, using scoring directions at right. Finally, 7-letterwords get 50-point bonus. “Blanks” used as any letter have no point value. all the words are in theOfficial sCraBBlE® players Dictionary, 5thEdition.

Saturday’s Puzzle Answer

Formoreinformationontournaments and clubs,email naspa –north american sCraBBlE playersassociation: info@scrabbleplayers.org.Visit ourwebsite:www.scrabbleplayers.org. For puzzleinquiries contact scrgrams@gmail.com. Hasbro andits logo sCraBBlE associated logo,the design of thedistinctive sCraBBlE brand gamecard, and the distinctive letter tile designs are trademarksofHasbrointhe

©2021 Hasbro.all

ken ken

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

WiShinG Well

plEasanTliTTlE

the number of lettersis6ormore,

left

Ordinances,Chapter 29, Roadsand Bridges, Arti‐cleV.Constructionof Sidewalks, andmustin‐stalla newsidewalk and/or repair or replace an existing sidewalk,as thecasemay be Section 29-151, Para‐graph(C) requires that this notice be published three(3) timeswithin a thirty (30) dayperiodin theofficial journalofJef‐

accor‐dance with theafore‐mentioned Code of Ordi‐nances. MalindaP.Lee 1305 Meadow St Metairie,LA70003 RE:EASTBANKSUB Lots ½ of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6Sq 3 1305 Meadow St Metairie,LA70003 Repair/replace Sidewalk 158217-SEP15-22-29-3T $50.40

MAYOR RETURNED BY THE MAYOR ONAUGUST 01, 2025 AT 03:50 P.M.

AISHA COLLIER ASSISTANT CLERK OF COUNCIL ROLL CALL VOTE:

YEAS: Giarrusso, Green,Harris, Moreno, Morrell, Thomas -6

NAYS: 0

ABSENT:King -1

RECUSED: 0 **Copies of the attachment may be seen in full in the Clerk of Council’s Office, 1300 Perdido Street, Room 1E09, City Hall.

ORDINANCE

CITY OF NEW ORLEANS CITY HALL: June 26, 2025

CALENDAR NO. 35,150 NO. 30399 MAYOR COUNCIL SERIES BY:COUNCILMEMBER MORRELL

AN ORDINANCE to amend and reordain Article 26 of the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance (Ordinance No. 4264 M.C.S., as amended by Ordinance No.26,413 M.C.S. and subsequent amendments) to amend the definition of “customary lodging services” to requireatminimum personnel or staffing on site at all hours; and otherwise to provide with respect thereto. WHEREAS, Zoning Docket Number 23/25 was initiated by City Council MotionNo. M-25-136 and referredtothe City Planning Commission; and WHEREAS, the City Planning Commission held apublic hearing on this zoning petition and recommended approval of atext amendment in its report to the City Council dated May 1, 2025, presented in Zoning Docket Number 23/25; and WHEREAS, the recommendation of the City Planning Commission was upheld, and the changes weredeemed necessary and in the best interest of the City of New Orleans and weregranted approval with modification as stated in Motion Number M-25-318 of the Council of the City of New Orleans on June 12, 2025; and SECTION 1. THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OFNEW ORLEANSHEREBY ORDAINS, That Article 26 of the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance (Ordinance No. 4264 M.C.S., as amended by Ordinance No. 26,413 M.C.S. and subsequent amendments), be, and is hereby amended and reordained to read as follows: “ARTICLE 26. DEFINITIONS *** 26.6DEFINITIONS ***

Customary Lodging Services. Guest services provided by lodging facilities including hotels/motels. Customary services include at aminimum 1) dedicated lobby space to adequately enable check-in/check-out procedures,and 2) personnel/ staffing to assist guests at check-in/check-out; and 3) at least one on-site, on-dutystaffmember that is physically present at all times and capable of immediately assisting guests, overseeing operations of the facility addressing safety and security matters and responding to emergencies.

***”

ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL OFTHE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS JULY 24, 2025

JP MORRELL PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

DELIVERED TO THE MAYOR ONJULY24, 2025

APPROVED: DISAPPROVED: JULY30, 2025

LaTOYACANTRELL

MAYOR RETURNED BY THE MAYOR ONAUGUST 01, 2025 AT 03:50 P.M.

AISHA COLLIER

ASSISTANT CLERK OF COUNCIL ROLL CALL VOTE: YEAS: Giarrusso, Green,Harris, Moreno, Morrell, Thomas -6

NAYS: 0

ABSENT:King -1

RECUSED: 0 **Copies of the attachment may be seen in full in the Clerk of Council’s Office, 1300 Perdido Street, Room 1E09, City Hall.

ORDINANCE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS CITY HALL: June 26, 2025

CALENDAR NO. 35,151 NO. 30400 MAYOR COUNCIL SERIES BY:COUNCILMEMBER GREEN

AN ORDINANCE to effect azoningchange from aLILight Industrial District to an MU-1 Medium Intensity Mixed-Use District, on Square31, Lot C-2-B-1, Gentilly Industrial District, in the ThirdMunicipal District, bounded by Alvar Street, Carver Rams Way(formerly Higgins Boulevard), DesireStreet, and Chickasaw Street (Municipal Address: 3601 Desire Street); and otherwise to provide with respect thereto. WHEREAS, Zoning Docket Number 25/25 was initiated by Giving Hope, Inc. and referred to the City Planning Commission; and WHEREAS, the City Planning Commission

Chickasaw

the Council of the City of New Orleans, approved on June 12, 2025. SECTION 2. Whoever does anything prohibited by this Ordinance or fails to do anything required to be done by this Ordinance shallbeguilty of amisdemeanor.Upon conviction of such amisdemeanor,the individual shall be subject to a fine, imprisonment, or both, in accordance with Section1-13 of the Code of the City of New Orleans. Such aconviction shall be cause for immediatecancellation of the Use and Occupancy Permitfor the premises. Alternatively,the individual shall be subject to whatever civil liabilities, penalties, or remedies the law prescribes.

ADOPTED BY THECOUNCIL OF THECITYOFNEW ORLEANSJULY 24, 2025 JP MORRELL PRESIDENTOFTHE COUNCIL

DELIVERED TO THEMAYOR ON JULY24, 2025

APPROVED:

DISAPPROVED: JULY 30, 2025

LaTOYACANTRELL

MAYOR RETURNED BY THEMAYOR ON AUGUST01, 2025 AT 03:50 P.M.

AISHACOLLIER

ASSISTANTCLERK OF COUNCIL

ROLL CALL VOTE:

YEAS: Giarrusso,Green, Harris, Moreno, Morrell, Thomas -6

NAYS: 0 ABSENT: King –1

RECUSED: 0 **Copies of the attachment may be seen in full in the Clerk of Council’s Office, 1300 Perdido Street, Room 1E09, City Hall.

ORDINANCE

CITYOFNEW ORLEANS

CITYHALL: June 26, 2025

CALENDAR NO.35,156

NO.30401 MAYOR COUNCILSERIES

BY:COUNCILMEMBER GREEN (BYREQUEST)

AN ORDINANCE to approve and authorize the City of New Orleans (“City”), by and through the New Orleans AviationBoard(“NOAB”),toenter into an Amended and Restated Lease Agreement at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport with BREEZE AVIATION GROUP, INC.;and otherwise to provide with respect thereto. WHEREAS, in accordance with Section5-602 of the Home RuleCharter for the City, NOAB is charged with the administration and operation of the Airport; and WHEREAS, StateLaw La. R.S. 2:135.1 permits airports eligible to receive funding from the Federal AviationAdministration to lease immovable property at fair market value without competitive solicitation; and WHEREAS, StateLaw,La. R.S. 2:351 authorizes the NOAB to lease property with Council approval; and WHEREAS, the NOAB negotiated with respect to immovable vacant properties outside of the mainterminal building, identified as facilities located within or East of Concourse D, former terminal (South), for the purpose of airline operations, located in Kenner,Louisiana, 70062 and now desiretoamend the Agreement to modify certain provisions of the Agreement;NOW,THEREFORE SECTION 1. THE COUNCIL OF THECITYOFNEW ORLEANSHEREBY

ORDAINS, That the Council hereby approves and that the City of New Orleans, by and through the New Orleans AviationBoard, be and is hereby authorized to sign the following lease agreement in substantial conformance to and with Exhibit “A”attached hereto and made apart hereof: Exhibit: A Document: Amended and Restated Lease with BREEZE AVIATION

GROUP,INC. ADOPTED BY THECOUNCILOFTHE CITYOFNEW ORLEANSJULY 24, 2025 JP MORRELL PRESIDENTOFTHE COUNCIL

DELIVERED TO THEMAYOR ON JULY24, 2025

APPROVED: DISAPPROVED: JULY 30, 2025

LaTOYACANTRELL

MAYOR RETURNED BY THEMAYOR ON AUGUST01, 2025 AT 03:50 P.M.

AISHACOLLIER ASSISTANTCLERK OF COUNCIL

ROLL CALL VOTE:

YEAS: Giarrusso,Green, Harris, Moreno, Morrell, Thomas -6

NAYS: 0 ABSENT: King –1

RECUSED: 0

**Copies of the attachment may be seen in full in the Clerk of Council’s Office, 1300 Perdido Street, Room 1E09, City Hall.

ORDINANCE CITYOFNEW ORLEANS

CITYHALL: June 12, 2025

CALENDAR NO.35,157

NO.30402 MAYOR COUNCILSERIES

BY:COUNCILMEMBER GREEN (BYREQUEST)

AN ORDINANCE to approve and authorize the City of New Orleans (“City”), by and through the New Orleans AviationBoard(“NOAB”),to enter into an amended Lease and Concessions Agreement at the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport with PARADIES LAGADERE @MSY II, LLC; and otherwise to provide with respect thereto. WHEREAS, in accordance with Section5-602 of the Home RuleCharter for the City, NOAB is charged with the administration,maintenance, and operation of the Airport; and WHEREAS, StateLaw,La. R.S. 2:351 authorizes the NOAB to lease property with Council approval; and WHEREAS, on August 15, 2017, Paradies Lagadere@MSYII, LLC, entered into aLease and Concession Agreement forpackage two (2) at the North Terminal as described in the RFP 8910-02071; and WHEREAS, the NOAB granted various rent accommodations and relief to mitigate the negative impacts of COVID-19 during the pandemic, authorized an extension of the Lease Term; and WHEREAS, the NOAB also negotiated with respect to the updates to the Additional Space included within the Leased Premises, which is comprised of up to 3,500 sq. ft of revenue- generating space, located on the first and second floor levels, updated the construction and indemnification requirements in the agreement, and clarified concessionaire contributions to the Airport-administered concessionmarketing fund; NOW, THEREFORE SECTION 1. THE COUNCILOFTHE CITYOFNEW ORLEANSHEREBY ORDAINS, That the Council hereby approves and that the City of New Orleans, by and through the New Orleans AviationBoard, be and is hereby authorized to sign, the following lease agreement in substantial conformance to and with Exhibit“A” attached hereto and made apart hereof: Exhibit: A Document: Amendment No.1tothe Lease and Concessions Agreement with PARADIES LAGADERE @MSY II, LLC.

ADOPTED BY THECOUNCILOFTHE CITYOFNEW ORLEANSJULY 24, 2025 JP MORRELL PRESIDENT OF THECOUNCIL DELIVERED TO THEMAYOR ON JULY24, 2025

APPROVED: DISAPPROVED: JULY 30, 2025

LaTOYACANTRELL MAYOR RETURNED BY THEMAYOR ON AUGUST01, 2025 AT 03:50 P.M.

AISHACOLLIER ASSISTANTCLERK OF COUNCIL ROLL CALL VOTE: YEAS: Giarrusso,Green, Harris, Moreno, Morrell, Thomas -6

NAYS: 0 ABSENT: King RECUSED: 0 **Copies of the attachment may be seen in full in the Clerk of Council’s Office, 1300 Perdido Street, Room 1E09, City Hall.

ORDINANCE CITYOFNEW ORLEANS CITYHALL: July 10, 2025 CALENDAR NO.35,158 NO.30403 MAYOR COUNCILSERIES BY:COUNCILMEMBERS KING (BYREQUEST) ANDGREEN AN ORDINANCE authorizing the Mayorofthe City of

City of NewOrleanswith the powers, duties, andfunctions as established therein andpursuant to M.C.S. OrdinanceNo. 24126; and WHEREAS, ADDisa political subdivision of the State of Louisiana establishedpursuant to Louisiana Revised Statute §33:2740.27; and WHEREAS, the City,the Commission, andADD desiretoenterinto a cooperative endeavor agreementinorder to accomplish the valued public purpose of supporting, promoting, stimulatingpublic interest in, andraising anddistributing funds to benefitthe construction, creation, preservation, andmaintenance of public parks andplaygrounds, recreationalfacilities, andrecreationaland otherleisureprograms and activitiesinthe City of NewOrleans; NOW THEREFORE SECTION I. THE COUNCILOFTHE CITY OF NEWORLEANSHEREBY ORDAINS, That the Mayor,onbehalfofthe City of NewOrleans, is hereby authorized to enterinto the attached cooperative endeavor agreementwith the NewOrleansRecreation Development Commission, andAlgiers Development District, for aterm greater thanone year,for the public purpose of providing quality recreational, academic,cultural and/or economic opportunitiesfor the City’sresidents by leasing Algiers Development District’sFederal City SwimmingFacility to NORDfor swimming programs andsupporting the upkeep of the Federal City Swimming Facility SECTION 2. Thatsaidcooperative endeavor agreementisattached to this ordinanceas“Exhibit A” andincorporatedand made apart hereof. ADOPTEDBYTHE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEWORLEANSJULY 24, 2025 JP MORRELL

PRESIDENTOFTHE COUNCIL

DELIVERED TO THE MAYOR ON JULY24, 2025

APPROVED:

DISAPPROVED: JULY30, 2025

LaTOYACANTRELL

MAYOR RETURNED BY THE MAYOR ON AUGUST 01, 2025 AT 03:50 P.M.

AISHA COLLIER ASSISTANT CLERK OF COUNCIL ROLLCALL VOTE: YEAS: Giarrusso, Green,Harris, Moreno, Morrell, Thomas-6

NAYS: 0

ABSENT:King -1 RECUSED: 0 **Copies of the attachment may be seen in full in the Clerk of Council’s Office, 1300 Perdido Street,Room 1E09, City Hall.

ORDINANCE CITY OF NEWORLEANS

CITY HALL: July 10, 2025

CALENDAR NO. 35,159 NO. 30404 MAYOR COUNCIL SERIES BY:COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS (BY REQUEST)

AN ORDINANCE authorizing the Mayor of the City of NewOrleanstoenter into aCooperative Endeavor Agreementbetween the City of NewOrleans (“City”) andthe Housing Authority of NewOrleans(HANO), administered through the HANO PoliceDepartment (HANOPD), for aterm greater than one year,for the public purpose of providing LawEnforcementMutualAid andMobilization,inthe City of NewOrleans, as morefully detailed in the Cooperative Endeavor Agreementform attached hereto as Exhibit “A”; andotherwise to provide with respect thereto.

WHEREAS, pursuant to the authority containedinArticle 7, Section 14(C) of the Louisiana Constitution of 1974, andstatutory authority supplemental thereto, the State of Louisiana andits political subdivisions, including the City,may enterinto cooperative endeavors with each other, or with anypublic or private corporation or individual; andfurtherpursuant to Section 9-314 of the Home Rule Charter of the City of NewOrleans, the City mayenterinto cooperative endeavors with anypublic or private association,corporation, or individualfor activitiesinsupportofeconomic growth andotherpublic purposes; and WHEREAS, the City andthe Housing Authority of NewOrleans(HANO), administeredthrough the HANO PoliceDepartment (HANOPD) desire to enterinto acooperative endeavor agreementinorder to accomplish the valued public purpose of providing LawEnforcementMutualAid and Mobilization in the City of NewOrleans; NOW THEREFORE

SECTION I. THE COUNCILOFTHE CITY OF NEWORLEANSHEREBY ORDAINS, That the Mayor,onbehalfofthe City of NewOrleans, is hereby authorized to enterinto the attached cooperative endeavor agreement with the Housing Authority of NewOrleans(HANO), administeredthrough the HANO PoliceDepartment (HANOPD), for aterm of three (3)years for the public purpose of providing LawEnforcementMutualAid and Mobilization in the City of NewOrleans.

SECTION 2. ThatsaidCooperative Endeavor Agreementisattached to this ordinanceasExhibit “A” andincorporatedand made apart hereof. ADOPTEDBYTHE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEWORLEANSJULY 24, 2025

JP MORRELL

PRESIDENTOFTHE COUNCIL

DELIVERED TO THE MAYOR ON JULY24, 2025

APPROVED: DISAPPROVED: JULY30, 2025 LaTOYACANTRELL

MAYOR RETURNED BY THE MAYOR ON AUGUST 01, 2025 AT 03:50 P.M. AISHA COLLIER ASSISTANT CLERK OF COUNCIL ROLLCALL VOTE: YEAS: Giarrusso, Green,Harris, Moreno, Morrell, Thomas-6 NAYS: 0 ABSENT:King -1

RECUSED: 0 **Copies of the attachment may be seen in full in the Clerk of Council’s Office, 1300 Perdido Street,Room 1E09, City Hall.

ORDINANCE CITY OF NEWORLEANS

CITY HALL: July 10, 2025 CALENDAR NO. 35,160 NO. 30405 MAYOR COUNCIL SERIES BY:COUNCILMEMBER MORRELL AN ORDINANCE to repeal Section 34-21.1ofthe Code of the City of NewOrleanstoremove requirements for horsesparticipating in acarnival parade; andotherwise to provide with respect thereto.

SECTION 1. THE COUNCILOFTHE CITY OF NEWORLEANSHEREBY ORDAINS, That Section 34-21.1ofthe Code of the City of NewOrleans, Louisiana,isrepealed in its entirety.

ADOPTEDBYTHE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEWORLEANSJULY 24, 2025 JP MORRELL

PRESIDENTOFTHE COUNCIL

DELIVERED TO THE MAYOR ON JULY24, 2025

APPROVED: DISAPPROVED: JULY30, 2025

LaTOYACANTRELL

MAYOR RETURNED BY THE MAYOR ON AUGUST 01, 2025 AT 03:50 P.M.

AISHA COLLIER ASSISTANT CLERK OF COUNCIL ROLLCALL VOTE: YEAS: Giarrusso, Green,Harris, Moreno, Morrell, Thomas-6

NAYS: 0 ABSENT:King -1

RECUSED: 0 REDLINED VERSION: “CHAPTER 34 –CARNIVAL, MARDI GRAS

ARTICLE III. –GENERALREGULATIONS FOR PARADES

Sec. 34-21. -Animals prohibited. Horsesnot participating in acarnivalparade andall reptiles areprohibited within 200 yards of acarnivalparade route during acarnivalparade or the pendency of aparade. This section shall not applytoany animalused by alaw enforcementagency.

Sec. 34-21.1– HorsesParticipating in CarnivalParade All horses participating in acarnivalparade shall have acurrent physical hip tagfromthe agency designated by the City to maintain its animal control programunderChapter 18. The hip tagshall be displayed on the horse at alltimesduring the carnivalparade or the pendency of the carnivalparade. To qualify for ahip tag, in addition to anyrequirements required by the animalcontrol agency,horsesshall have acurrenthealth certification from alicensed veterinarian andcurrent vaccinationsagainst Eastern andWesternEncephalitis; Tetanus; EHV1and EHV4 Herpes; West Nile; Influenza; Strangles; and, Rabies.

Sec. 34-22. -Southern Decadence Festival; Bourbon Street;use of amplification equipment.

(a) Beginning on the Wednesday of or prior to the Southern Decadence Festival, until Monday,the last day of the Southern Decadence Festival, on Bourbon Street,between Iberville Street andEsplanade Avenue,it shall be unlawful to operate or allow the operation,for personal use,of anypersonalsound-amplification equipment, megaphones, bullhorns or anydevice or apparatus for the reproduction or amplification of the human voice or other sounds (hereinaftercollectively referred to as “soundamplification equipment”), in the public right-of-way,including streetsor sidewalks, producing sounds registeringmorethan85db(A).

(b) The limitations on the operation of sound amplification equipment in subsection (a) of this section shall not applytothe operation of horns, sirens, or other emergencywarning devices actually being usedin emergencycircumstance.

** *” ORDINANCE CITY OF NEWORLEANS

of

for activities in

association, corporation, or

and

purposes; and WHEREAS, Tulane is aprivate non-profitcorporation,whose principal address is located at 6823 St. Charles Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70118 and is authorized to enter into aCEA with the City; and WHEREAS, the City and Tulane desiretoenter into acooperative endeavor agreement in order to accomplish the valued public purpose of improving caretosick and injured persons in New Orleans while providing access to amedical and clinical education program for Tulane medical residents; in the City of New Orleans; NOW THEREFORE

SECTION I. THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS HEREBY

ORDAINS, That the Mayor,onbehalf of the City of New Orleans is hereby authorized to enter into the attached cooperative endeavor agreement with The Administrators of the Tulane Educational Fund, for aterm of five years, for the public purpose of improving caretosick and injured persons in New Orleans while providing access to amedical and clinical education program for Tulane medical residents in the City of New Orleans.

SECTION 2. That said Cooperative Endeavor Agreement isattached to this ordinance as Exhibit “A” and incorporated and made apart hereof.

ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEWORLEANS JULY 24, 2025 JP MORRELL

PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

DELIVERED TO THE MAYOR ON JULY24, 2025

APPROVED:

DISAPPROVED: JULY30, 2025

LaTOYACANTRELL

MAYOR

RETURNED BY THE MAYOR ONAUGUST 01, 2025 AT 03:50 P.M.

AISHA COLLIER

ASSISTANT CLERK OF COUNCIL ROLL CALL VOTE:

YEAS: Giarrusso, Green,Harris, Moreno, Morrell, Thomas -6

NAYS: 0

ABSENT:King -1

RECUSED: 0

**Copies of the attachment may be seen in full in the Clerk of Council’s Office, 1300 Perdido Street,Room 1E09, City Hall.

ORDINANCE

CITY OF NEW ORLEANS

CITY HALL: July 20, 2025

CALENDARNO. 35,162 NO. 30407 MAYOR COUNCIL SERIES

BY:COUNCILMEMBER GIARRUSSO (BY REQUEST)

AN ORDINANCE authorizing the Mayor of the City of New Orleans to enter into aCooperative Endeavor Agreement between the CityofNew Orleans(“City”), and The Administratorsofthe Tulane Educational Fund (“Tulane”) for aterm greater than one year,for thepublic purpose of ensuring public safety through the City granting Tulane and TEMS with permission to operate as alicensedVolunteer Ambulance Service through the Louisiana Department of Health &Hospitals and Parish of Orleans, to provide services to within the boundaries of Tulane University’sUptown Campus and to participate in clinical practice opportunities with NOEMS, as morefully detailed in the CEA form attached hereto as Exhibit “A”; and otherwise to provide with respect thereto.

WHEREAS, pursuant to the authority contained in Article 7, Section 14(C) of the Louisiana Constitutionof1974, and statutory authority supplemental thereto, the State of Louisiana and its political subdivisions, including the City,may enter into cooperative endeavorswitheach other or with any public or private corporation or individual; and further pursuant to Section 9-314 of the Home Rule Charter of the City of New Orleans, the City may enter into cooperative endeavors with any public or private association, corporation, or individual for activities in support of economic growth and other public purposes; and WHEREAS, Tulane is aprivate non-profitcorporation, whose principal address is located at 6823 St. Charles Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70118 and is authorized to enter into aCEA with the City; and WHEREAS, the City and the City and Tulane desiretoenter into a cooperative endeavor agreement in order to accomplish the valued public purpose ensuring public safety through the City granting Tulane and TEMS with permission to operate as alicensed Volunteer Ambulance Service through the Louisiana Department of Health &Hospitals and Parish of Orleans, to provide services within the boundaries of Tulane University’s Uptown Campus and to participate in clinical practice opportunities with NOEMS; in the City of New Orleans; NOWTHEREFORE SECTION I. THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OFNEW ORLEANS HEREBY ORDAINS, That the Mayor,onbehalf of the City of New Orleans, is hereby authorized to enter into the attached cooperative endeavor agreement with The Administrators of the Tulane Educational Fund (“Tulane”), aterm of five years, for the public purpose of ensuring public safety through the City granting Tulane and TEMS with permission to operate as alicensed Volunteer Ambulance Service through the Louisiana Department of Health &Hospitals and Parish of Orleans, to provide services to within the boundaries of Tulane University’sUptown Campus and to participate in clinical practice opportunities with NOEMS in the City of New Orleans. SECTION 2. That said Cooperative Endeavor Agreement is attached to this ordinance as Exhibit “A” and incorporated and made apart hereof.

ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL OFTHE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS JULY 24, 2025

JP

MORRELL PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

DELIVERED TO THE MAYOR ON JULY24, 2025

APPROVED: DISAPPROVED: JULY30, 2025

LaTOYACANTRELL

MAYOR

RETURNED BY THE MAYOR ONAUGUST 01, 2025 AT 03:50 P.M. AISHA COLLIER ASSISTANT CLERK OF COUNCIL ROLL CALL VOTE: YEAS: Giarrusso, Green,Harris, Moreno, Morrell, Thomas -6

NAYS: 0

ABSENT:King -1

RECUSED: 0 **Copies of the attachment may be seen in full in the Clerk of Council’s Office, 1300 Perdido Street,Room 1E09, City Hall.

ORDINANCE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS CITY HALL: July 10, 2025

CALENDARNO. 35,163 NO. 30408 MAYOR COUNCIL SERIES BY:COUNCILMEMBER MORENO AN ORDINANCE to amend and reordain Section 2-13 of the Code of the City of New Orleans to remove references to specificChief Administrative Office policies, to clarify reporting duties, and to direct the Chief Administrative Office to update existing policies to ensureconsistency with current law; and otherwise to provide with respect thereto. SECTION 1. THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OFNEW ORLEANSHEREBY ORDAINS, That Section 2-13 of the Code of the City of New Orleans, Louisiana is amended to read as follows: “Chapter2–ADMINISTRATION ARTICLE I-INGENERAL

Sec. 2-13. -Review of employment candidates’ criminal history (a) Applicants to the City of New Orleans, for both classified and unclassified positions, will be considered for employment opportunities based on the merits of their skills and experience related to the position for which they areapplying. The hiring department or office (hereafter “hiringdepartment”) will conduct interviews of qualified individuals prior to requesting acriminal background check, and no job application submitted prior to such interview shall inquireinto an applicant’scriminal history.This policy is known as “Ban the Box”.

(b) For all positions, the job announcement, recruitment information, andposition description shall provide the following information: “The hiring department will conduct interviews of qualified individuals prior to requesting acriminal background check, and no job application submitted prior to such interview shall inquireinto an applicant’scriminalhistory. If this position is subject to abackground check for any convictions related to its responsibilities and requirements, employment will be contingent upon successful completion of abackgroundinvestigationincluding criminal history.Criminal history will not automatically disqualify a candidate.”

(c) Following the appropriate recruitment procedurefor classified and unclassified personnel, the hiring department will conduct interviews, select up to three applicants per position, and send an authorization to release information form to each applicant following the interview. An enclosureletter to accompany the form informs the applicant that a criminal background check will occur,asks

prior convictions, and notifies the applicant that he or she willreceive a copy of any report received by the city. (d) The hiring department shall not consider the following criminal records in its review of the criminal background check: (1) Records of arrest or charges not followed by avalid conviction; (2) Sealed, dismissed, or expunged convictions; (3) Misdemeanor convictions wherenojail sentence may be imposed; (4) Non-felony convictions committed when the applicant was younger than 18 years old, regardless of whether they have been expunged; or (5) Any felony conviction thatdoes not demonstrate adirect and specific nexus to the duties and essential functions of the position sought.In determining whether afelony conviction has adirect and specificnexus to the duties and essential functions of the position, the hiring department shall consider: (i) The natureand gravity of the offense; (ii) The timethat has passed since the offense or completionofthe sentence; (iii) The specificduties and responsibilities of the position; (iv) Whether the applicant has multiplefelony convictions; or (v) Any mitigating factors, including evidence of restitution and rehabilitation on the part of the applicant. The determination as to whether acriminal felony conviction has adirect and specificnexus to the duties and essential functions of the position sought shallbemade in writing.

(e) If the applicant’scriminal history includes evidence of acriminal conviction not excluded from considerationunder subsection (d), the hiring department shall provide the applicant with an opportunityto respond and submitevidence that the information is inaccurate or that mitigation or rehabilitation has occurred since the conviction, using formsand processes established by the chief administrative officer.After receiving the response form from the applicant with any supplemental information or after the expiration of five business days from notifying the applicant of his or her opportunity forresponse, whichever occurs first, the hiring department may make a final employment decision using any supplemental information provided by the applicant to consider the natureofthe crime, the time elapsed, the natureofthe job, and mitigating factors, including those recommended by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in guidance document number 915.002. Evidence of mitigation or rehabilitation may be established by the passage of timesince the offense or release from incarceration without any subsequent arrest or conviction; compliance with termsand conditions of probation or parole; completion of mandatory or voluntary drug or alcohol treatment programs, if relevant; and documentation of current fitness or suitabilityfor the position, including but not limited to letters of reference, certificates of program completion, or records of educational attainment.

(f) If an applicant with afelony conviction is not hired, the hiring department shall document the basis for that decision in writing. This writing shall indicate whether the hiring decision was based, in wholeorinpart, upon the applicant’scriminal history and, if applicable, whether and how the determination that aparticular felony conviction demonstrated adirect and specificnexus to the duties and essential functions of the position sought was made, as well as how any mitigating information provided pursuant to subsection (e) was evaluated. To the extent the hiring decision was not based on the existence of the felony conviction, the department shall state in writing the reason the applicant was not selected.

(g)Any information pertaining to an applicant’sbackground check obtained in connection with the hiring process shall remainconfidential and shall not be used, distributed, or disseminated by the hiring department, except as otherwise required by law.

(h)The chief administrative office (hereafter “enforcement agency”) is authorized to enforce this section and oversee complaints from persons denied employment in violation thereof

(i) Chief administrative office human resources division shall maintaina recordofcompleted applicationforms, criminal background checks, and any supplemental information provided by an applicant for aminimum of three years, and shall provide the enforcement agency with access to such records to monitorcompliancewith this section.

(j) The enforcement agency shallannuallyconduct an auditofthe city’shiring practices to review compliance with this section, and shall provide an annual report to the city council summarizing the findings and recommendations.

(k) If acurrent city employee’sjob title or appointing authority changes, then acriminal history check may be performed at the discretion of the appointing authority,and considered using the procedures and criteria outlined in this section.

(l) The law department shallbeavailabletoprovide quarterly training to appointing authorities or human resources personnel, as needed.

(m)This section shall not apply to any hiring conducted during an emergency,orfor positionsinthe New Orleans Police Department, New Orleans FireDepartment,the New Orleans AviationBoard, the New Orleans Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, or the JuvenileJustice Intervention Center (Department of Human Services).

(n) Any applicant who is denied employment in violation of this section shall have the right to bring acivil action in Civil District Court to enforce the provisions of this section.”

SECTION 2. THE COUNCILOFTHE CITYOFNEW ORLEANSHEREBY

ORDAINS, That the chief administrative officer is hereby directed and requested to review Chief Administrative Office Policy No.129(R) and, as appropriate, to update the policy to be consistent with and to implement the provisions of Section2-13 of the City Code, as amended.

ADOPTED BY THECOUNCILOFTHE CITYOFNEW ORLEANSJULY 24, 2025 JP MORRELL

PRESIDENTOFTHE COUNCIL

DELIVERED TO THE MAYOR ON JULY24, 2025

APPROVED: DISAPPROVED: JULY30, 2025

LaTOYACANTRELL

MAYOR RETURNED BY THEMAYOR ON AUGUST 01, 2025 AT 03:50 P.M.

AISHACOLLIER ASSISTANTCLERK OF COUNCIL

ROLL CALL VOTE:

YEAS: Giarrusso,Green, Harris, Moreno, Morrell, Thomas -6

NAYS: 0 ABSENT: King -1

RECUSED: 0 ENGROSSED VERSION:

The following engrossed version shows how the proposed law would modify City Code Sec. 2-13. Additions areunderlined. Deletions are shown as strikethroughs “Chapter 2- ADMINISTRATION ARTICLE I-INGENERAL

Sec. 2-13. -Review of employment candidates’ criminal history

(a) Applicantstothe City of New Orleans, forboth classified and unclassified positions, will be considered for employment opportunities based on the merits of their skills and experience related to the position for which they areapplying. The hiring department or office (hereafter “hiring department”) will conduct interviews of qualified individuals prior to requesting acriminal background check, and no jobapplication submitted priortosuch interview shall inquire into an applicant’scriminal history.This policy is known as “Ban the Box”.

(b) For allpositions, the jobannouncement, recruitment information, and position descriptionshall provide the following information: “The hiring department will conduct interviews of qualified individualsprior to requesting acriminal background check, and no jobapplication submitted prior to such interview shall inquire into an applicant’scriminal history.If this position is subject to abackground check for any convictions related to its responsibilities and requirements, employment will be contingent upon successful completion of abackground investigation including criminal history.Criminal history will not automatically disqualify a candidate.

(c) Following the appropriate recruitment procedurefor classified and unclassified personnel, the hiring department will conduct interviews, select up to three applicants per position, and send an authorization to release information form to each applicant following the interview An enclosureletter to accompany the form informsthe applicant that a criminal background check will occur,asks the applicant to disclose any prior convictions, and notifies the applicant that he or she willreceive acopy of any report received by the city.Other processes shallbeas provided in CAOPolicy Memorandum 129, issued January 10, 2014

(d) The hiring department shall not consider the following criminal records in its review of the criminal background check: (1) Records of arrest or charges not followed by avalid conviction; (2) Sealed, dismissed, or expunged convictions; (3) Misdemeanor convictions wherenojail sentence may be imposed; or (4) Non-felony convictions committed when the applicant was younger than 18 years old, regardless of whether they have been expunged.; or (5) Any felony conviction thatdoes not demonstrate adirect and specific nexus to the duties and essential functions of the position sought.In determining whether afelony conviction has adirect and specificnexus to the duties and essential functions of the position, the hiring department shall consider: (i) The natureand gravity of the offense; (ii) The timethat has passed since the offense or completionofthe

information is inaccurate or that mitigation or rehabilitation hasoccurred since the conviction, using forms andprocesses establishedbythe chiefadministrative officer.The relevant form andotherprocesses shall be as provided in CAO Policy Memorandum129. Afterreceiving the response form from the applicant with anysupplementalinformation

the crime,the time elapsed, the natureofthe job, andmitigating factors, including those recommendedbythe U.S. Equal EmploymentOpportunity Commission in guidancedocument number 915.002. Evidence of mitigation or rehabilitation may be established by the passage of time since the offense or release from incarceration without anysubsequent arrest or conviction; compliancewith terms and conditions of probation or parole;completion of mandatoryorvoluntary drug or alcohol treatment programs, if relevant; anddocumentation of current fitness or suitability for the position, including but not limitedto letters of reference, certificates of programcompletion, or recordsof educationalattainment (f)Ifanapplicant with afelony conviction is not hired, the hiring department shall document the basis for thatdecision in writing. This writing shall indicatewhetherthe hiring decision wasbased, in whole or in part, upon the applicant’scriminal historyand, if applicable, whetherand how the determination thataparticularfelony conviction demonstrated adirect andspecificnexustothe duties andessential functions of the position sought wasmade, as well as how anymitigating information provided pursuant to subsection (e) wasevaluated. To the extentthe hiring decision wasnot basedonthe existence of the felony conviction, the department shall state in writing the reasonthe applicantwas not selected.

(g) Any information pertaining to an applicant’sbackground check obtained in connection with the hiring process shall remain confidential andshall not be used, distributed, or disseminated by the hiring department, except as otherwise required by law.

(h)The chiefadministrative office (hereafter“enforcementagency”) is authorized to enforce this section andoversee complaints from persons denied employment in violation thereof.

(i) Chiefadministrative office humanresources division shall maintain a record of completedapplication forms, criminalbackground checks, and anysupplementalinformation providedbyanapplicant for aminimum of three years, andshall provide the enforcementagencywith accessto such recordstomonitor compliancewith this section.

(j) The enforcementagencyshall annually conductanaudit of the city’s hiring practices to review compliancewith this section, andshall provide an annualreport to the chairofthe city council’s governmentalaffairs committee summarizingthe findings andany recommendations.

(k) If acurrent city employee’sjob title or appointing authority changes, thenacriminal historycheck maybeperformedatthe discretion of the appointing authority,and consideredusing the procedures andcriteria outlined in this section.

(l) The lawdepartment shall be available to provide quarterly training to appointing authoritiesorhumanresources personnel, as needed.

(m) This section shall not apply to anyhiring conductedduring an emergency, or for positions in the NewOrleansPoliceDepartment, New Orleans FireDepartment, the NewOrleansAviation Board,the New Orleans Office of Homeland Security andEmergencyPreparedness,or the Juvenile Justice Intervention Center(Department of HumanServices). (n)Any applicantwho is denied employment in violation of this section shall have the righttobringa civil action in Civil District Court to enforce the provisions of this section.”

ORDINANCE

CITY OF NEWORLEANS

CITY HALL: July 10, 2025 CALENDAR NO. 35,165 NO. 30409 MAYOR COUNCIL SERIES BY:COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS (BY REQUEST) AN ORDINANCE authorizing the Mayor of the City of NewOrleansto enterinto aCooperative Endeavor Agreementbetween the City of New Orleans (the“City”) andthe Sewerage andWater BoardofNew Orleans, (“SWBNO”) with aterm greater thanone year,for the public purpose of administering the collection of OrleansParish sanitation chargers, as morefully detailed in the Cooperative Endeavor Agreementform attached hereto as Exhibit “A”; andotherwise to provide with respect thereto. WHEREAS, pursuant to the authority containedinArticle 7, Section (14)(C) of the Louisiana Constitution of 1974, andstatutory authority supplemental thereto, the State of Louisiana andits political subdivisions, including the City,may enterinto cooperative endeavors with each other, or with anypublic or private corporation or individual; andfurtherpursuant to Section 9-314 of the Home Rule Charter of the City of NewOrleans, the City mayenterinto cooperative endeavors with anypublic or private association,corporation,orindividualfor activitiesinsupportofeconomic growth andotherpublic purposes; and WHEREAS, the City andthe SWBNO desiretoenterinto acooperative endeavor agreementinorder to accomplish the valuedpublic purpose of administeringthe collection of OrleansParish sanitation chargers; and WHEREAS, Section 9-314 of the Home Rule Charter of the City of New Orleans ordains thatcooperative endeavor agreements having aterm of morethanone year must be reviewed andapproved by the NewOrleans City Council; NOW THEREFORE SECTION I. THE COUNCILOFTHE CITY OF NEWORLEANSHEREBY ORDAINS, That the Mayor,onbehalfofthe City of NewOrleans, is hereby authorized to enterinto the attached cooperative endeavor agreement (“CEA”) with the Sewerage andWater BoardofNew Orleans, for aterm of five (5)years,for the public purpose of administeringthe collection of Orleans Parish sanitation chargers by including public sanitation charges on each individualSWBNO account utilizing SWBNOwater service which is eligible for sanitation services provided by the City

SECTION II. That, for the purpose of executing the CEAbetween the City andSWBNO, Rule 57 of the Rulesand Regulations of the Council of the City of NewOrleansissuspended.

SECTION III. ThatsaidCEA is attached to this ordinanceas“Exhibit A” andincorporatedand made apart hereof.

ADOPTEDBYTHE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEWORLEANSJULY 24, 2025 JP MORRELL

PRESIDENTOFTHE COUNCIL

DELIVERED TO THE MAYOR ON JULY24, 2025

APPROVED: DISAPPROVED: JULY30, 2025

LaTOYACANTRELL

MAYOR

RETURNED BY THE MAYOR ON AUGUST 01, 2025 AT 03:50 P.M.

AISHA COLLIER

ASSISTANT CLERK OF COUNCIL

ROLLCALL VOTE: YEAS: Giarrusso, Green,Harris, Moreno, Morrell, Thomas-6 NAYS: 0 ABSENT:King -1

RECUSED: 0 **Copies of the attachment may be seen in full in the Clerk of Council’s Office, 1300 Perdido Street,Room 1E09, City Hall.

ORDINANCE (AS AMENDED) (AS CORRECTED) CITY OF NEWORLEANS

CITY HALL: July 10, 2025

CALENDAR NO. 35,166 NO. 30410 MAYOR COUNCIL SERIES BY:COUNCILMEMBERS MORRELL, GIARRUSSO, MORENO AND HARRIS AN ORDINANCE to callanelection on November15, 2025, at whichthe electors of the City of NewOrleanswill be asked to approve an amendment to the Home Rule Charter establishing Section 4-406, whichprovides relative to the independence of the City Attorneyasthe legalrepresentative of the City of NewOrleansand includesprovisions thatclarify the identity of the City Attorney’sprimary client, compelcompliancewith ethical rules governing institutional representation, requireconsultation with allbranches of government, mandate independentand impartial legal judgment in the face of conflictingdirectives, impose an affirmative duty to comply with anduphold laws whenever possible, prohibit conflicting representation in inter-branch disputes without consent, authorizethe adoption of legislation ensuring the operational independence of the LawDepartment, andprevent unilateral removalbythe Mayor in certain situations, andotherwise to provide with respect thereto. SECTION 1.THE COUNCILOFTHE CITY OF NEWORLEANSHEREBY ORDAINS, That an election is hereby called, in conformity with Section 9-202 of the Home RuleCharter of the City of NewOrleansand Article VI, Section 4ofthe Louisiana Constitution of 1974, at whichelection there shall be submitted to the qualified electors of the City of Orleans, for their approvalorrejection, aproposal to establish Article IV,Section 4-406 of the Home Rule Charter of the City of NewOrleans, whichprovides relative to the independence of the City Attorneyasset forth in SECTION 4of this Ordinance. SECTION 2. Thatsaidelection shall be held on November15, 2025, between the hours of 7:00 a.m.and 8:00 p.m. underthe General Election Laws of the State of Louisiana SECTION 3. Thatthe official ballot to be usedatsaidelection andinserted in allvoting machinesshall have printed thereon the following: HOMERULE CHARTER

PROPOSITION Shall the Home Rule Charter of the City of NewOrleansbeamendedto establish Article IV,Section 4-406, whichprovides for the independence of the City Attorneyasthe legalrepresentative of the City of NewOrleans andincludesprovisions thatclarify the identity of the City Attorney’s primary client, compelcompliancewith ethical rulesgoverning

OFFI CIAL PROCEE DIN GS OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS

REGULAR SESSION

CITY HALL: JULY24, 2025

The Council of the City of New Orleans metthis day in Regular Session

at 10:05A.M., in the Council Chamber,City Hall, Council President, JP Morrell, presiding.

On callingthe roll, the following members answered to their names:

PRESENT: MORRELL (PRESIDENT)

GIARRUSSO HARRIS GREEN

THOMAS

ABSENT: MORENO (VICE PRESIDENT) (Arrived late in the meeting).

KING FIVE MEMBERSPRESENT,CONSTITUTING AQUORUM.

ROLL CALL

AISHA R. COLLIER

ASSISTANT CLERK OF COUNCIL

INVOCATION

BISHOP BRANDON BOUTIN UNITED FELLOWSHIP FULL GOSPEL BAPTIST CHURCH

PLEDGEOFALLEGIANCE

JOSEPH I. GIARRUSSO III

COUNCILMEMBER DISTRICT“A”

ORDINANCES ON FINAL PASSAGE

CAL. NO. 35,149 -BY: COUNCILMEMBER MORRELL -AnOrdinance to amend and reordain Article 19 of the Comprehensive ZoningOrdinance (Ordinance No. 4264 M.C.S., as amended by Ordinance No. 26,413

M.C.S. and subsequent amendments) to establish anew Interim Zoning District (IZD) to be named the CustomaryLodging Services Staffing Interim Zoning District,the intent of which is to prohibit the acceptance of any application for any license or permit for ahotel or motel which does not provide staffing at all hours as apart of customary lodging services; and otherwise to provide with respect thereto. (Zoning Docket NO.22/25)

ROLL CALL:

YEAS: Giarrusso, Green,Harris, Moreno, Morrell, Thomas -6

NAYS: 0

ABSENT:King -1

RECUSED: 0 AND THE ORDINANCE WASADOPTED.

CAL. NO. 35,150 -BY:

COUNCILMEMBERMORRELL -AnOrdinance to amend and reordain Article 26 of the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance (Ordinance No. 4264 M.C.S., as amended by Ordinance No 26,413 M.C.S. and subsequent amendments) to amend the definition of “customary lodging services” to requireat minimum personnel or staffing on site at all hours; and otherwise to provide with respect thereto. (Zoning DocketNO. 23/25)

ROLL CALL:

YEAS: Giarrusso, Green,Harris, Moreno, Morrell, Thomas -6

NAYS: 0

ABSENT:King -1

RECUSED: 0 AND THE ORDINANCE WASADOPTED.

CAL. NO. 35,151 -BY:

COUNCILMEMBER GREEN -AnOrdinance to effect azoning change from aLILight Industrial District to an MU-1 MediumIntensity Mixed-Use District, on Square31, Lot C-2-B-1, Gentilly Industrial District, in the ThirdMunicipal District, bounded by Alvar Street,Carver Rams Way(formerly Higgins Boulevard), DesireStreet,and Chickasaw Street (Municipal Address: 3601 DesireStreet); and otherwise to provide with respect thereto. (Zoning Docket NO.25/25)

ROLL CALL:

YEAS: Giarrusso, Green,Harris, Moreno, Morrell, Thomas -6

NAYS: 0

ABSENT:King -1

RECUSED: 0 AND THE ORDINANCE WASADOPTED.

CAL. NO. 35,156 -BY: COUNCILMEMBERGREEN (BYREQUEST)An Ordinance to approve and authorize the City of New Orleans (“City”), by and throughthe New Orleans Aviation Board(“NOAB”),toenter into an Amended and Restated Lease Agreement at Louis Armstrong New OrleansInternational Airportwith BREEZE AVIATION GROUP, INC.; and otherwise to provide with respect thereto.

ROLL CALL:

YEAS: Giarrusso, Green,Harris,Moreno, Morrell, Thomas -6

NAYS: 0

ABSENT:King -1

RECUSED: 0 AND THE ORDINANCE WASADOPTED.

CAL. NO. 35,157 -BY: COUNCILMEMBERGREEN (BYREQUEST) -An

Ordinance to approve and authorize the City of New Orleans (“City”), by and through the New Orleans Aviation Board(“NOAB”),toenter into an amended Lease and Concessions Agreement at the Louis Armstrong New OrleansInternational Airport with PARADIESLAGADERE @MSY II, LLC; and otherwise to provide with respect thereto.

ROLL CALL:

YEAS: Giarrusso, Green,Harris, Moreno, Morrell, Thomas -6

NAYS: 0

ABSENT:King -1

RECUSED: 0 AND THE ORDINANCE WASADOPTED.

CAL. NO. 35,158 -BY: COUNCILMEMBERS KING (BY REQUEST) AND GREEN -AnOrdinance authorizing the Mayor of the City of New Orleanstoenter into aCooperative Endeavor Agreement among the City of New Orleans (the “City”), the New Orleans Recreation Development Commission (the “Commission”), and Algiers Development District (“ADD”), for aterm greater than one year,for the public purpose of supporting public recreation and sustainability by ADDleasing to NORD and by NORD operating aswimming pool and related facilities for New Orleansresidents,asmorefully detailed in the Cooperative Endeavor Agreement Exhibit “A”; and otherwise to provide with respect thereto.

ROLL CALL:

YEAS: Giarrusso, Green,Harris, Moreno, Morrell, Thomas -6

NAYS: 0

ABSENT:King -1

RECUSED: 0 AND THE ORDINANCE WASADOPTED.

CAL. NO. 35,159 -BY: COUNCILMEMBERTHOMAS (BY REQUEST)An Ordinance authorizing theMayor of the City of New Orleans to enter into aCooperative Endeavor Agreement between the City of New Orleans (“City”) and the Housing Authority of New Orleans (HANO), administered through the HANO Police Department (HANOPD), for aterm greater than one year,for the public purpose of providing Law Enforcement Mutual Aid and Mobilization, in the City of New Orleans, as morefully detailed in the Cooperative Endeavor Agreement form Exhibit “A”; and otherwise to provide with respect thereto.

ROLL CALL:

YEAS: Giarrusso, Green,Harris, Moreno, Morrell, Thomas -6

NAYS: 0

ABSENT:King -1

RECUSED: 0 AND THE ORDINANCE WASADOPTED.

CAL. NO. 35,160 -BY: COUNCILMEMBER MORRELL -AnOrdinance to repeal Section 34-21.1 of the Code of the City of New Orleans to remove requirements for horses participating in acarnival parade; and otherwise to provide with respect thereto.

ROLL CALL:

YEAS: Giarrusso, Green,Harris, Moreno, Morrell, Thomas -6

NAYS: 0

ABSENT:King -1

RECUSED: 0 AND THE ORDINANCE WASADOPTED.

CAL. NO.35,161 -BY: COUNCILMEMBER GIARRUSSO (BY REQUEST)

-AnOrdinance authorizing the Mayor of the City of New Orleans to enter into aCooperative Endeavor Agreement (“CEA”) between the City of New Orleans(the “City”) and The Administrators of the Tulane Educational Fund (“Tulane”), for aterm greater than one year,for the public purpose of improving caretosick and injured persons in New Orleans while providing access to amedical and clinical education program for Tulane medical residents, as morefully detailed in the CEA form Exhibit “A”; and otherwise to provide with respect thereto.

ROLL CALL: YEAS: Giarrusso, Green,Harris, Moreno, Morrell, Thomas -6

NAYS: 0 ABSENT:King -1

RECUSED: 0 AND THE ORDINANCE WASADOPTED. CAL. NO.35,162 -BY: COUNCILMEMBERGIARRUSSO (BY REQUEST)

-AnOrdinance authorizing the Mayor of the City of New Orleans to enter into aCooperative Endeavor Agreement between the City of New Orleans (“City”), and The Administrators of the Tulane Educational Fund (“Tulane”) fora term greater than one year,for the public purpose of ensuring public safety through the City granting Tulane and TEMS with permission to operateasa licensedVolunteer Ambulance Service through the Louisiana Department of Health &Hospitals and Parish of Orleans, to provide services to within the boundaries of Tulane

-6

NAYS: 0 ABSENT:King -1 RECUSED: 0 ANDTHE ORDINANCE WASADOPTED.

CAL. NO.35,163 -BY: COUNCILMEMBER MORENO -AnOrdinance to amend and reordainSection 2-13 of the Code of the City of New Orleans to remove references to specificChief Administrative Office policies, to clarify reporting duties, and to directthe Chief Administrative Office to update existing policies to ensureconsistency with current law; and otherwise to provide with respect thereto.

ROLL CALL:

YEAS: Giarrusso,Green, Harris, Moreno, Morrell, Thomas -6

NAYS: 0 ABSENT:King -1

RECUSED: 0 ANDTHE ORDINANCE WASADOPTED.

CAL. NO.35,165 -BY: COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS (BYREQUEST) -An Ordinance authorizing the Mayorofthe City of New Orleans to enter into aCooperative Endeavor Agreement between the City of New Orleans (the “City”) and the Sewerage and Water BoardofNew Orleans, (“SWBNO”) with aterm greater than one year,for the public purpose of administering the collection of Orleans Parish sanitation chargers, as morefully detailed in the Cooperative Endeavor Agreement form Exhibit“A”;and otherwise to provide with respect thereto.

ROLL CALL:

YEAS: Giarrusso,Green, Harris, Moreno, Morrell, Thomas -6

NAYS: 0 ABSENT: King -1

RECUSED: 0 ANDTHE ORDINANCE WASADOPTED.

CAL. NO.35,166 -BY: COUNCILMEMBERS MORRELL, GIARRUSSO, MORENO ANDHARRIS- An Ordinance to call an election on November 15, 2025, at which the electors of the City of New Orleans will be asked to approve an amendment to the Home RuleCharter establishing Section 4-406, which provides relative to the independence of the City Attorney as the legal representative of the City of New Orleans and includes provisions that clarify the identity of the City Attorney’sprimary client, compel compliance with ethical rules governing institutional representation, require consultation with all branches of government,mandate independent and impartial legal judgment in the face of conflicting directives, impose an affirmative duty to comply with and uphold laws whenever possible, prohibit conflicting representation in inter-branch disputes without consent, authorize the adoption of legislationensuring the operational independence of the Law Department,and prevent unilateral removal by the Mayorincertain situations, and otherwise to provide with respect thereto.

ROLL CALL:

YEAS: Giarrusso,Green, Harris, Moreno, Morrell, Thomas -6

NAYS: 0

ABSENT:King -1

RECUSED: 0

ANDTHE ORDINANCE,ASAMENDED, WASADOPTED.

CAL. NO.35,167 -BY: COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS (BYREQUEST) -

An Ordinance authorizing the Mayorofthe City of New Orleans to enter into aCooperative Endeavor Agreement (“CEA”)between the City of New Orleans (the “City”) and the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”), for aterm greater than one year,for the public purpose of constructing the Lincoln Bridge Access Project in the City of New Orleans, as morefully detailed in the CEAExhibit “A”; and otherwise to provide with respect thereto.

ROLL CALL:

YEAS: Giarrusso,Green, Harris, Moreno, Morrell, Thomas -6

NAYS: 0

ABSENT: King -1

RECUSED: 0 ANDTHE ORDINANCE WASADOPTED.

CAL. NO.35,168 -BY: COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS (BYREQUEST) -

An Ordinance authorizing the Mayor of the City of New Orleans to enter into aCooperative Endeavor Agreement (“CEA”)between the City of New Orleans (“City”) and the United States Department of the Treasury (“Treasury Department”), foraterm greater than one year,for the public purpose of redeveloping Lincoln Beach in the City of New Orleans, as more fully detailed in the CEAExhibit“A”;and otherwise to provide with respect thereto.

ROLL CALL:

YEAS: Giarrusso,Green, Harris, Moreno, Morrell, Thomas -6

NAYS: 0 ABSENT: King -1

RECUSED: 0 ANDTHE ORDINANCE WASADOPTED.

CAL. NO.35,169 -BY: COUNCILMEMBERS THOMAS (BYREQUEST)

MORRELL, MORENO, GIARRUSSO, HARRIS, KING ANDGREEN -An

Ordinance authorizing the Mayorofthe City of New Orleans to enter into aCooperative Endeavor Agreement between the City of New Orleans (the “City”) and the University of New Orleans (“UNO”), foraterm greater than one year,for the public purpose of shoreline protection and beach nourishment at Lincoln Beach in the City of New Orleans, as morefully detailedinthe CEAExhibit “1”; and otherwise to provide with respect thereto.

ROLL CALL: YEAS: Giarrusso,Green, Harris, Moreno, Morrell, Thomas -6

NAYS: 0 ABSENT: King -1

RECUSED: 0 ANDTHE ORDINANCE WASADOPTED.

MOTION/RESOLUTION (LYING OVER)

NO.M-25-287

CITYHALL: May22, 2025

BY:COUNCILMEMBERS GIARRUSSO, MORENO, MORRELL, GREEN ANDTHOMAS WHEREAS, at its meeting on May 9, 2025, the Civil Service Commission adopted the following amendments to the Classified Pay Plan (Office of the InspectorGeneral). In accordance with Article X, Section10ofthe Constitution of Louisiana, this agency is submitting for Council approval, the following amendments to the Classified Pay Plan as adopted by the Civil Service Commission at its meeting of May9,2025 as outlined below: New Special Rate of Pay: At the request of the Office of the InspectorGeneral the Civil Service Commission approved the aforementioned Special RateofPay that would allow Departments to recognize and engage employees by providing for discretionary pay and leave awards. Discretionary Incentive Pay and Leave awardincentives areintended to recognize, rewardand commend outstanding individual or team jobperformance. These incentives areawarded at the sole discretion of the Appointing Authority rather than expected to be received by departmental employees. Special RateofPay: Discretionary Incentive Pay and Leave Award Incentives Discretionary Incentive Pay and Leave awardincentives areintended to recognize, rewardand commend outstanding individual or team job performance.

I: General

1. As authorized by the Appointing Authority, adepartment may grant a lumpsum discretionary monetary and or leave awardtoanemployee for any of the following reasons:

a) Outstanding or commendable jobperformance; b) Reducing costs in ameasurableway while maintaining or improving service and/or quality; c) Increasing productivity; d) Simplifying procedures; e) Improving program effectiveness; f) Increasing citizen satisfaction; g) Other recognizable achievementsthat arebeneficial to the city and its citizens.

2. The funding source forthis program is the personal services budget fund within adepartment’sannual budget. The allocated amount for this purpose would be capped at no morethan 1.25% of the personal services budget foreach fiscal year.Incentive plans that

MOTION WASREADINFULL, THE ROLLWAS CALLEDONTHE ADOPTION THEREOF,AND RESULTED AS FOLLOWS: YEAS: Giarrusso, Green,Harris, Moreno, Morrell-5 NAYS: 0 ABSENT:King, Thomas-2 AND THE MOTION WASADOPTED. MOTIONS/RESOLUTIONS NO. M-25-394 BY:COUNCILMEMBERS HARRIS, KING AND GREEN (BY REQUEST) WHEREAS, Section 70-10(a) of the NewOrleansCity Code ordains that certaincontractsproviding for the aggregateexpenditureofmorethan $1,000,000.00 in city funds during the initialterm andall allowablerenewal terms or having an initialterm of morethanone year must be signed by the president of the City Council; and WHEREAS, Section 70-10(b) of the NewOrleansCity Code ordains that the President of the NewOrleansCity Council (“Council”)shall not execute anysuchcontract unless authorized to do so by Council motion; and WHEREAS, the City of NewOrleans, via the Office of Housing Policyand Community Development, andCanal Crossing Senior Apartments, LP desiretoenterinto aLoan Agreementfor $6,000,000.00 to rehabilitate forty-nine (49) affordable housing units with City funds, as well as seven accessorydocuments to the LoanAgreements including aSubordination Agreement, City of NewOrleansAffordable RentalHousing Program Regulatory Agreement, City of NewOrleansEmergency RentalAssistance Program2 andCommunity Development BlockGrantProgramMortgage Pledge of Leases andRents andSecurity Agreement, andCity of NewOrleansERAP2 andCDBG ProgramPromissory Notesattached respectively hereto in conformity as Exhibits A, B, C, D, E, Fand G; NOW THEREFORE BE IT MOVED BY THE COUNCILOFTHE CITY OF NEWORLEANS, That the President of the Council shall be added as asignatory to the agreements between the City of NewOrleansand CanalCrossing Senior Apartments, LP BE IT MOVED BY THE COUNCILOFTHE CITY OF NEWORLEANS, That the President of the Council is authorized to sign the agreements between the City of NewOrleansand CanalCrossing Senior Apartments, LP BE IT FURTHER MOVED BY THE COUNCILOFTHE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS, thatthe Clerk of Council shall forwardcopiesofthis motion andexhibits A, B, C, D, E, F, andG to the City Attorney’sOffice. THE FOREGOING MOTION WASREADINFULL, THE ROLLWAS CALLEDONTHE ADOPTION THEREOF,AND RESULTED AS FOLLOWS: YEAS: Giarrusso, Green,Harris, Moreno, Morrell, Thomas- 6 NAYS: 0 ABSENT:King -1 AND THE MOTION WASADOPTED. NO. M-25-395 BY:COUNCILMEMBERS GREEN, KING AND HARRIS (BY REQUEST) WHEREAS, Section 70-10 of the Code of the City of NewOrleans(“Code”) requires thatcertaincontractsproviding for the aggregateexpenditure of morethan $1,000,000.00 in city funds during the initialterm andall allowable renewal terms or having an initialterm of morethanone year must be signed by the President of the City Council; and WHEREAS, Section 70-10 of the Code furtherprovides thatthe President of the City Council shall not execute anysuchcontract unless authorized to do so by Council motion; and WHEREAS, The City of NewOrleans’ (“City”) Emergency Medical Services andLife-Assist, Inc, desiretoenterAmendment 4tothe Professional Services Agreementfor medical supplies andpharmaceuticals, for aperiod of one (1)year with the compensation being $1,001,000; and aggregateamount to $4,000,000.00;NOW THEREFORE BE IT MOVED BY THE COUNCILOFTHE CITY OF NEWORLEANS, thatthe President of the Council shall be added as asignatory to the Amendment No.4tothe Professional Services Agreementbetween the City of NewOrleansand Life-Assist, Inc.; and BE IT FURTHER MOVED, thatthe President of the Council is hereby authorized to sign Amendment No.4tothe Professional Services Agreementbetween the City of NewOrleansand Life-Assist, Inc., as attached hereto as Exhibit A; and BE IT FURTHER MOVED, thatthe Clerk of Council shall forwardcopiesof this motion, including Exhibit A, to the City Attorney’sOffice to effectuate this request. THE FOREGOING MOTION WASREADINFULL, THE ROLLWAS CALLEDONTHE ADOPTION THEREOF,AND RESULTED AS FOLLOWS: YEAS: Giarrusso, Green,Harris, Moreno, Morrell, Thomas-6 NAYS: 0 ABSENT:King -1 AND THE MOTION WASADOPTED NO. M-25-396 BY:COUNCILMEMBERS MORENO, GIARRUSSO AND GREEN WHEREAS, The Fair Grounds Race Course &Slots, commonly knownas the “Fair Grounds”, hasbeen afundamentalpart of the fabric of the City of NewOrleansand of the FaubourgSt. John since its opening in the 1830’s; and WHEREAS, the property upon whichthe Fair Grounds sits is zoned HURD1 (Historic UrbanTwo-Family Residential) in the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance (CZO), whichpermits as aconditionaluse those Racetracks existing as of the CZO’seffective date; and WHEREAS, CZOsection 25.3.G.7 specifically permits “an existing fairground in aresidentialdistrict” to continue operating; and WHEREAS, given the importanceofthis facility to the neighborhood and the City at large, the Council desires to ensureits continuedoperation as aRacetrack andFairgrounds; and WHEREAS, Councilmembers Morenoand Giarrusso introduced amotion to initiate an Interim Zoning District to preserve the status quo for adoption by this Council; and WHEREAS, the Council wishesfor the City Planning Commission to considerthe desirability of apermanentzoning change to enact an overlay district to preserve the historic use of this site for the benefitofthe neighborhood andfor the City at large; NOW,THEREFORE BE IT MOVED BY THE COUNCILOFTHE CITY OF NEWORLEANS, That the City Planning Commission is directed to conductapublic hearing to consideramendments to OrdinanceNo. 4264 M.C.S., as amended, the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance, to createanoverlay district to be namedthe Fairgrounds Overlay District, whichshall encompass the area upon whichthe Fair Grounds Race Course &Slots currently sits, generally bounded by Gentilly Boulevard, Belfort Street/Avenue,Trafalgar Street,DesaixBoulevard,St. Louis Cemetery No. 3, St. VincentStreet VernaCourt, andFortin Street,toprohibit alluses except Fairgrounds and Racetracks andtorequirethatFairgrounds andRacetracks be conditional useswithin this Overlay.Aspart of this zoning docket, the City Planning Commission is directed to review prior conditionaluses granted on the site as well as custom andbest practices to devise use standards for Fairgrounds andRacetracks whichset forth allowable accessoryuses. BE IT FURTHER MOVED, Thatthe application feerequirements of Article 4ofthe Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance in the amount of $1,500 are hereby waived.

BE IT FURTHER MOVED, Thatinthe process of reviewing this amendment, the City Planning Commission staffisdirected andgranted the flexibility to make allappropriate changestothe proposed regulations andany existing correspondingregulations in the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance, as amended, to establish consistencyand continuity with the formatofthe existing zoning code, to add references wherever references arecustomary,needed and/or appropriate,tomake the appropriate adjustmentstoclarify anyambiguitiesormistakes, andto make adjustmentsdeemed necessary in light of public testimony resulting from this review THE FOREGOING MOTION WASREADINFULL; THE ROLLWAS CALLEDONTHE ADOPTION THEREOF,AND RESULTED AS FOLLOWS:

YEAS: Giarrusso, Green,Harris, Moreno, Morrell, Thomas-6 NAYS: 0 ABSENT:King -1 RECUSED: 0 AND THE MOTION WASADOPTED NO. M-25-397 BY:COUNCILMEMBER HARRIS SECONDED BY:COUNCILMEMBER GIARRUSSO BE IT MOVED BY THE COUNCILOFTHE CITY OF NEWORLEANS, That demolition application #25-10949-DEMO of StarRecovery Services, LLC regarding the property located at 2025-2027 Sixth Street is approved, andthe Department of Safety andPermits is hereby authorized to issue ademolition permit. BE IT FURTHER MOVED, Thatthe Clerk of Council shall forward copies of this motion to the Department of Safety andPermits andall otheraffected commissionsand departments. THE FOREGOING MOTION WASREADINFULL, THE ROLLWAS CALLEDONTHE ADOPTION THEREOF,AND RESULTED AS FOLLOWS: YEAS: Giarrusso, Green,Harris, Moreno, Morrell, Thomas-6 NAYS: 0 ABSENT:King -1 AND THE MOTION WASADOPTED. NO. M-25-398 BY:COUNCILMEMBER HARRIS

SECONDED BY:COUNCILMEMBER GIARRUSSO WHEREAS,