The Advocate 09-16-2025

CLOSING THE GENDER GAP

La. girls fell behind in math during COVID, but progress is being made

BY PATRICK WALL, ANNIE MA and SHARON LURYE Staff and Associated Press writers

DESTREHAN

During a recent group project in her eighth grade engineering class, Charlotte Buccola took charge. Standing between the two boys on her team, she silently arranged sticky notes on a wall as the group tried, without speaking, to design a system for making hot chocolate.

As the students at Harry Hurst Middle School practiced the engineering design process and the critical skill of collaboration, the girls seemed to excel. They worked efficiently and cooperatively, offering their peers support

“Your drawings are really good,” Charlotte told another girl when they were comparing designs. “Well done.”

Efforts to close the gap between boys and girls in STEM classes are picking up after losing steam nationwide during the chaos of the COVID-19 pandemic Schools have extensive work ahead of them to make up the ground girls lost, in both interest and performance.

In the years leading up to the pandemic, the gender gap had nearly closed. But within a few years, girls lost all the ground they had gained in

math test scores over the previous decade, according to an Associated Press analysis. While boys’ scores also suffered during COVID-19, they have recovered faster than girls, widening the gender gap.

In Louisiana, girls now slightly trail boys in math, after outperforming them before the pandemic. As learning went online, special programs to engage girls lapsed, and schools were slow to restart them. Zoom school also emphasized rote learning, a technique based on repetition that some experts believe

may favor boys, instead of teaching students to solve problems in different ways, which may benefit girls.

Lindsay Maxie, who teaches the engineering class at Hurst Middle School in a suburb outside New Orleans, said that small-group, handson projects allow her female students to shine.

“Being able to collaborate with other students really impacts their learning,” she said. “And that was something that kind of went away

ä See GENDER, page 5A

After-hours clubs draw scrutiny

Officials eye uptick in violence at Baton Rouge

BY QUINN COFFMAN Staff writer

Two people have been killed outside “afterhours” nightclubs in Baton Rouge over the past year Now, city-parish leaders, police and residents living near these venues are asking if keeping the party going is putting more revelers in danger East Baton Rouge Parish alcohol ordinances keep licensed bars and clubs from staying open later than 2 a.m. Monday through Saturday, or midnight on Sundays.

But when that time passes, patrons congregate at after-hours clubs, which can’t legally serve alcohol or encourage patrons to bring their own.

“We’re still in conversations about how we manage after-hours clubs to ensure that we protect our constituents,” District 5 Metro Council member Darryl Hurst told The Advocate on Friday “No. 1 is, it’s just a noise ordinance, because a lot of these are close to residences. People invest in these communities where they live, work and play; they want peace,” Hurst said. “No. 2 is the crime, and it’s not about what happens in the business, it’s about the inability to control what happens in the parking lots and in the streets.”

The establishments caught Hurst’s attention after the shooting death of 25-year-old Prenesha Wagner in June. Wagner had only recently arrived outside the

U.S. again targets boat from Venezuela

Trump says vessel carrying drugs

BY AAMER MADHANI and REGINA GARCIA CANO Associated Press

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump said the U.S. military on Monday again targeted a boat allegedly carrying drugs from Venezuela, killing three aboard the vessel.

“The Strike occurred while these confirmed narcoterrorists from Venezuela were in International Waters transporting illegal narcotics (A DEADLY WEAPON POISONING AMERICANS!) headed to the U.S.,” Trump said in a Truth Social post announcing the strike. “These extremely violent drug trafficking cartels POSE A THREAT to U.S National Security, Foreign Policy, and vital U.S. Interests.”

The strike was carried out nearly two weeks after another military strike on what the Trump

ä See BOAT, page 7A

Financial future of small-town hospitals in state hinges on program

BY EMILY WOODRUFF Staff writer

The White House announced Monday that applications are open for the new Rural Health Transformation Fund, a $50 billion initiative over five years that federal officials said will “make rural America healthy again.”

The money comes as Medicaid, a lifeline for rural hospitals, faces deep

cuts under the same law that created the fund. Louisiana has around 50 rural hospitals whose financial health hinges on securing a share of it. States now face a tight deadline: applications are due in early November, leaving only a few weeks to design detailed proposals. Federal officials will have less than two months to review and distribute the money before the end of the year Louisiana has a large number of small-town hospitals walking a financial tightrope to stay afloat. Democratic senators flagged 33 hospitals in the state as at risk of closure in a letter earlier this year, the highest number in any state after Kentucky The fund was created in response to a backlash over Medicaid cuts in the One Big Beautiful Bill signed into law in July About 1 in 3 people in Louisiana uses Medicaid, one of the highest rates in the nation. Louisiana is the only state in the Deep South that expanded Medicaid, meaning a larger share of its population depends on it, and rural providers tend to see more patients with Medicaid. Officials say the new fund could help stabilize access to emergency rooms, recruit nurses and doctors to rural La. eyes share of $50B fund for rural health ä See RURAL, page 7A

National Guard to deploy to Memphis

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump signed an order Monday sending the National Guard into Memphis to combat crime, offering another major test of the limits of presidential power by using military force in American cities.

With Republican Tennessee Gov Bill Lee visiting the Oval Office, Trump said troops would deployed and join a special task force in the city comprised of officials from various federal agencies, including the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the U.S. Marshall’s service.

He said the goal would be to stamp out crime in a way that he says sending in the National Guard and federalizing the local police force has in Washington.

The presidential memorandum Trump signed did not include details on when troops would be deployed or exactly what his promised surge in law enforcement efforts would look like.

Comey daughter sues over her firing

NEW YORK Former federal prosecutor Maurene Comey sued the U.S. government Monday to get her job back, saying her firing was for political reasons and was unconstitutional.

Her lawsuit in Manhattan federal court blamed the firing on the fact that her father is James Comey a former FBI director, “or because of her perceived political affiliation and beliefs, or both.” Comey is seeking to be reinstated and a declaration that her firing was unlawful and a violation of the Constitution’s “Separation of Powers” clause.

James Comey was fired as FBI director by President Donald Trump in 2017 The lawsuit noted he has since written a memoir critical of Trump and has publicly criticized Trump and his administration, including a May social media post that Trump and others perceived as threatening.

The lawsuit said Maurene Comey’s July firing came the day after her supervisors asked her to lead a major public corruption case and three months after she’d received her latest “Outstanding” review British politicians condemn Musk

LONDON Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday condemned “dangerous” comments by Elon Musk after the X and Tesla owner told an anti-immigration rally that violence is coming to Britain and they must fight or die. But the U.K. government resisted opposition calls to sanction Musk for the remarks.

Starmer denounced violence on the fringes of Saturday’s 100,000 or more-strong “Unite the Kingdom” demonstration in London organized by far-right campaigner Tommy Robinson.

Police said 26 officers were injured, four seriously, as a minority among the protesters tried to breach lines separating them from a smaller anti-racist counter-demonstration. There were 25 people arrested at the event and the Metropolitan Police said more arrests would follow Addressing the demonstration by video link Musk called for the dissolution of Parliament and an early election to remove Starmer’s center-left government. He told protesters “violence is coming to you” and “you either fight back or you die.”

Shutdown talk heats up over U.S. budget

Democrats insist on stopping health care cuts

BY KEVIN FREKING and LISA MASCARO Associated Press

WASHINGTON A deadline looming, Congress charged Monday toward a federal government shutdown as Republicans brush back Democratic demands to save health care funding from cutbacks, while Democrats are flexing a newfound willingness to play hardball, even if it means closing offices and services.

Republican leaders are ready to call the Democrats’ bluff, possibly as soon as this week, with a test vote before the end-of-the-month deadline to keep government running.

GOP leaders said they could tee up a vote on a short-term spending bill that would keep the federal government fully operational when the new budget year begins Oct. 1. It would likely be a temporary patch, into mid-November House Speaker Mike Johnson said the measure would include funds to boost security for lawmakers in the wake of the assassination of conservative activist

Charlie Kirk. Additionally, the Trump administration said it’s asking Congress for $58 million in increased funding for the U.S. Marshals Service and security for the Supreme Court. And the Senate is considering its own proposals. “I want everyone within the sound of my voice to understand: Members of Congress are safe,” Johnson, R-Benton, said Monday at the Capitol. “They will be kept safe. They have security measures now at their residence and personally. We can always enhance and do more and do better.”

In the past budget battles, it has been Republicans who’ve been willing to engage in shutdown threats as a way to focus attention on their priority demands. That was the situation during the nation’s longest shutdown, during the winter of 201819, when President Donald Trump was insisting on federal funds to build the U.S.Mexico border wall.

This time, however, Democrats, facing intense pressure from their base of supporters to stand up to Trump and refuse to fund

the administration’s policies, are taking a tougher position — even if it means halting funds needed to run federal offices.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said he and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries are united in opposing any legislation that doesn’t include key health care provisions.

They have particularly focused on the potential for skyrocketing health care premiums for millions of Americans if Congress fails to extend enhanced subsidies, which many people use to buy insurance on the Affordable Care Act exchange. Those subsidies were put in place during the COVID-19 crisis, but are set to expire. Schumer contends that Republicans and Trump will be held responsible if they don’t negotiate a bipartisan deal.

“If one side refuses to negotiate, they are the ones causing the shutdown,” Schumer said.

Trump, though, called on Republicans to stay united, and sought to pin the blame for any shutdown on Democrats.

Rubio, Netanyahu meet in show of unified U.S., Israel

BY MATTHEW LEE and SAMY MAGDY Associated Press

JERUSALEM Israel and the United States showed a unified front on Monday in the face of growing international anger over Israel’s airstrikes on Hamas leaders in Qatar and its intensifying bombardment of Gaza City

As Arab and Muslim leaders met in Doha to condemn Israel’s attack last week in Qatar and new rounds of criticism were aired over Israeli plans to occupy Gaza City, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stood shoulder-toshoulder in Jerusalem and downplayed the furor that had, at least for a short time, taken the Trump administration aback.

Rubio plans to pay a quick visit to Qatar on Tuesday, as the administration appears keen to ease tensions between its two close allies, before flying on to London to join President Donald Trump on his state visit to Britain.

“We understand they’re not happy about what happened,” Rubio told Fox News. But “we still have Hamas, we still have hostages, and we still have a war And all those things still have to be dealt with, and we are hopeful that Qatar and all of our Gulf partners will continue to add something

Israeli

Secretary

Monday at the Prime

constructive.”

There were no signs of U.S. frustration with Israel’s latest actions, although Trump had made clear his displeasure with Israel’s unilateral strike on Hamas in Qatar

Both Netanyahu and Rubio said the only way to end the conflict in Gaza is through the elimination of Hamas and the release of the remaining 48 hostages around 20 of them believed to be alive — setting aside calls for an interim ceasefire in favor of an immediate end to the conflict.

Hamas has said it will only free the remaining hostages in return for Palestinian prisoners, a lasting ceasefire and an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.

Rubio had come to Israel seeking answers from Netanyahu about how Israel

FBI: DNA evidence matches Charlie Kirk’s accused killer

BY JESSE BEDAYN and JOHN SEEWER Associated Press

OREM,Utah DNA on a towel wrapped around a rifle found near where conservative activist Charlie Kirk was assassinated matched that of the 22-year-old accused in the killing, FBI Director Kash Patel said on Monday

Investigators also have used DNA evidence to link the suspect, Tyler Robinson, with a screwdriver recovered from the rooftop where the fatal shot was fired, Patel said Monday on the Fox News show “Fox & Friends.”

Authorities in Utah are preparing to file capital murder charges against Robinson as early as Tuesday in the killing of Kirk, a dominant figure in conservative politics who became a confidant of President Donald Trump after founding Arizona-based Turning Point USA, one of the nation’s largest political organizations. Kirk, who brought young, conservative evangelical Christians into politics, was shot Wednesday while speaking at Utah Valley University during one of his many campus stops. The shooting raised fears about increasing political violence in a deeply polarized United States.

Officials have said Robinson carried a hatred for Kirk and ascribed to a “leftist ideology” that had grown in recent years. Robinson’s family and friends said he spent large amounts of time scrolling the “dark corners of the internet,” Utah Gov Spencer Cox said Sunday Patel told Fox that Robinson had written in a note before the shooting that he had an opportunity to take out Kirk and was going to do it. Investigators were able to recover the note’s contents after it had been destroyed, the FBI director said, paraphrasing from the note without revealing more details. Over the weekend, Cox said Robinson’s romantic partner was transgender but authorities did not know yet whether that the suspect targeted Kirk for his anti-

transgender views. Utah’s department of public safety chief said Monday that Robinson’s partner has been cooperative.

“There was a romantic, personal relationship there. We are still investigating whether that individual had any involvement,” commissioner Beau Mason told The Associated Press.

“We believe that Tyler Robinson acted by himself during this shooting,” said Mason, who added that investigators are looking at whether anyone else knew of his plans beforehand.

Authorities said Robinson has not been cooperating with law enforcement since being jailed for suspicion of aggravated murder They say that he may have been “radicalized” online and that ammunition found in the gun used to kill Kirk included anti-fascist and meme-culture engravings. Court records show that one bullet casing had the message, “Hey, fascist! Catch!” Robinson was arrested late Thursday near where he grew up around St. George, in the southwestern corner of Utah between Las Vegas and Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks. It’s unclear whether he has an attorney who could speak on his behalf, and his family has declined to comment to the AP Tributes to Kirk continue across the country A line of mourners wrapped around theKennedyCenterinWashington for a vigil Sunday, and there were moments of silence at several professional sporting events.

Vice President JD Vance, who counted Kirk as a close friend, served as a substitute host Monday on “The Charlie Kirk Show” on Rumble, a streaming platform. Vance spoke about how Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, told him her husband never raised his voice to her and was never “cross or meanspirited to her.”

“I took from that moment that I needed to be a better husband and I needed to be a better father,” the vice president said. “That is the way I’m going to honor my friend.”

intended to proceed in Gaza and assess its interest in Qatar retaining a mediating role.

“Your presence here in Israel today is a clear message that America stands with Israel. You stand with us in the face of terror,” said Netanyahu.

The Doha attack, which killed at least five lowerranking Hamas members and a member of the Qatari security forces, appears to have paused mediation efforts.

Rubio later met with families of the hostages, who aired concerns that Israel’s latest offensive could doom their loved ones and called on the Trump administration to swiftly resume negotiations, according to a statement from the main group representing relatives of the captives.

Summit leads to little action after Israeli strike

BY JON GAMBRELL Associated Press

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates Qatar

hosted a summit of Arab and Islamic nations Monday in the hopes of presenting a united response to Israel’s attack on Hamas leaders last week in Doha. But leaders offered different views about what to do, and the group agreed to take only minimal action.

Israel, which launched its invasion of Gaza in response to Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack, has retaliated against the militant group and other members of Iran’s so-called Axis of Resistance elsewhere, including in Iran, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen and now Qatar That’s fueled wider anger among Mideast nations already enraged by the deaths of more than 64,000 Palestinians during the war in Gaza and contributed to growing concern that the U.S. commitment to protect Gulf Arab states may not be strong enough.

However, significant differences among the nations likely blunted any attempt at cooperation.

Condemnations came from countries that Israel considers enemies, like Iran. Meanwhile, the nations that have diplomatic recognition deals with Israel were reluctant to sever those ties Monday was the fifth anniversary of the signing by Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates of the Abraham Accords that marked their formal recognition of Israel.

“Condemnations will not stop the missiles. Declarations will not free Palestine,” Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said. “Severe, punitive actions must be put in place.”

Fiery speech

Qatar’s ruling emir opened the

summit by accusing Israel of not caring about its hostages in Gaza and instead working to ”ensure Gaza is no longer livable.” Israel has said the goals of its war include bringing all the hostages back and defeating Hamas.

“If Israel wishes to assassinate the Hamas leaders, why then engage in negotiations?” Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani asked. “If you wish to insist on the liberation of hostages, why then do they assassinate all negotiators?”

The speech was unusually fiery for the 45-year-old ruler of Qatar, which has served as key mediator in ceasefire talks

“There is no room to deal with such a party that’s cowardly and treacherous,” he added. “Those who work consistently to assassinate the party in these negotiations will certainly do everything to ensure the failure of these negotiations When they claim that they seek the liberation of hostages,

Immigrants deported from U.S. to Ghana are sent home

Lawyers say some may face torture

BY EDWARD ACQUAH, WILSON MCMAKIN and REBECCA SANTANA Associated Press

ACCRA, Ghana A group of 14 West Africans deported to Ghana from the U.S. have been sent to their home countries, places where lawyers representing some of the men say they face a risk of persecution or torture.

News of the West Africans’ deportation to Ghana emerged last week, sparking a lawsuit by U.S. lawyers. They argue the move was an attempt by U.S. authorities to evade their own immigration laws that prevent some of the men from being returned to countries where their wellbeing could be at risk.

On Monday, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, Ghana’s minister for government communications, told the Associated Press that all 14 — 13 Nigerians and one Gambian — “have since left for their home countries,” without saying when they were returned. Lawyers say it’s another case of the Trump adminis-

tration deporting people and then trying to distance itself from the repercussions. The case has drawn parallels to that of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who the administration mistakenly deported to El Salvador despite a court order prohibiting it, then argued it couldn’t get him back.

The Trump administration, faced with people in immigration proceedings who for legal and procedural reasons cannot be sent back to their home countries, has increasingly been trying to send them to third countries with which the administration has created agreements to take deportees.

Lawyers representing five of the West African men filed a lawsuit last Friday arguing that the men, who’d been sent to Ghana along with another nine people, had legal protections preventing them from being sent home over concerns they’d be tortured or persecuted. The complaint, filed by lawyers for Asian Americans Advancing Justice, said the men had been granted fear-based relief from being sent to their countries and asked the judge to immediately halt their deportations.

that’s a mere lie.”

Sheikh Tamim also denounced Israel over what he called the “genocide” it is committing in Gaza an assessment offered by multiple others at the summit Israel vehemently denies it is committing genocide. It says Hamas is prolonging the war by not surrendering and releasing the hostages.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Israel “should also be squeezed economically, as previous experience shows that such steps yield results.”

Iran attending summit

After the U.S. bombed Iranian nuclear sites in June, Iran struck Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, a major hub for American forces — a move that angered Qatar Nevertheless, Iran sent President Masoud Pezeshkian to attend Monday’s meeting, where he urged other nations to “isolate the aggressor.”

Pezeshkian did not touch on Iran’s

attack on Qatar but did mention Israel’s war on Iran in June. He also warned that any country in the region could be next.

“The attack on Doha changed lots of miscalculations and wrong ideas,” he said. “It showed that no Arab or Muslim country is safe from the aggression of the regime in Tel Aviv Tomorrow it can be any Arab or Muslim capital’s turn.”

Before the summit, analysts floated possibly closing airspace to Israeli flights or downgrading ties with Israel. A final statement from the meeting, however, only called on states to “take all possible legal and effective measures to prevent Israel from continuing its actions against the Palestinian people.”

The six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council, which includes Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, held its own meeting on the sidelines of the summit. Its members decided to take steps “to activate the mechanisms of joint defense and the Gulf deterrence capabilities,” they said in a statement, without elaborating.

Qatar key in ceasefire talks

Qatar an energy-rich nation on the Arabian Peninsula that hosted the 2022 World Cup, long has served as an intermediary in conflicts. For years, it has hosted Hamas’ political leadership at the request of the U.S., providing a channel for Israel to negotiate with the militant group that has controlled Gaza for years.

But as the Israel-Hamas war has raged on, Qatar increasingly has been criticized by hard-liners within Netanyahu’s government. Netanyahu himself has vowed to strike all those who organized the Hamas-led attack on Israel in 2023. And since last week’s strike, the Israeli leader has doubled down on saying Qatar remains a possible target if Hamas

leaders are there.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was in Israel on Monday for meetings with Netanyahu and other Israeli officials to express America’s concern over the attack on Qatar and talk about Israel’s planned new offensive on Gaza City Rubio planned to pay a quick visit to Qatar on Tuesday as the administration seeks to ease tensions between its two close allies.

Rubio declined to address Israel’s strike while speaking to journalists in Jerusalem, but he said America wanted to work with all its partners in the region to stop Hamas and reach a ceasefire in the war

“We’re going to continue to encourage Qatar to play a constructive role in that regard,” Rubio said.

Netanyahu again added that Israel’s decision to attack Qatar “was a wholly independent decision by us.” Netanyahu faces increasing pressure from the Israeli public to end the war and bring home the 48 hostages still held in Gaza, of whom 20 are believed by Israel to still be alive.

The Hamas-led Oct. 7 attack killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and led to the abduction of 251.

Israel’s ensuing offensives in Gaza have killed more than 64,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not say how many were civilians or combatants. It says around half of those killed were women and children.

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

Kim Seong-Min, North Korea defector, dies at 63

BY HYUNG-JIN KIM Associated Press

SEOUL, South Korea Kim Seong-Min, a prominent North Korean defector who used radio broadcasts, USB sticks and a network of sources in the secretive country to inform the North Korean public about the truth of their authoritarian government, has died. He was 63

The founder of the Seoulbased Free North Korea Radio was pronounced dead at a Seoul hospital on Friday years after fighting a lung cancer that recently spread to his liver, his former colleagues said. They said Kim was cremated and his remains were placed at a columbarium near the border with North Korea.

“We, North Korean defectors, lost one of our leaders. We aren’t sure if we’ll have such a leader again. He was truly our hope,” said Choi Junghoon, a defector who worked with Kim for seven years.

Kim, a former North Korean army captain who arrived in South Korea in 1999, began shortwave radio broadcasts into the

North — where most people have no official access to foreign news — in 2005.

The station included everything from success stories of North Korean defectors in South Korea and the purported luxurious lifestyles of the North’s ruling Kim family to political news in South Ko-

rea, the U.S. and elsewhere. Kim’s station also threw plastic bottles containing USB sticks with world news and South Korean TV dramas and K-pop songs into the sea to let them float toward North Korean shores on the tides. He had sources in North Korea who used illegal mobile phones to sneak news from the country before his station relayed them back to people in other parts of North Korea. Kim frequently appeared at rallies, forums and TV programs to criticize North Korea’s widely condemned human rights records.

NYC mayor’s race exposes rift in Democratic Party

BY STEVE PEOPLES and JOEY CAPPELLETTI Associated Press

NEW YORK Democratic

Sen. Chris Van Hollen stood before Iowa Democrats over the weekend and blasted his party’s leadership as “spineless” for refusing to endorse Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic nominee for New York City mayor

“Many Democratic members of the Senate and the House representing New York have stayed on the sidelines,” Van Hollen said. “That kind of spineless politics is what people are sick of. They need to get behind him and get behind him now.”

It was another jab in an ongoing rift within the party over Mamdani’s campaign.

Democratic leaders in Washington and moderate Democrats on the ballot this fall are actively distancing themselves from Mamdani, a 33-year-old self-described democratic socialist, while progressives rally behind him, noting Mamdani’s economic populism and youthful charisma have generated tremendous support from grassroots activists well beyond New York.

Meanwhile Republicans, including President Donald Trump, are watching with delight and sometimes piling on, linking Mamdani and his far-left policies to the Democratic brand. That’s been the case in New Jersey and Virginia, the only states holding elections for governor this year, and GOP officials have signaled that the strategy will continue well into next year’s high-stakes midterm elections.

Democratic New York Gov. Kathy Hochul endorsed Mamdani on Sunday, declaring in a New York Times opinion piece that “New York needs leaders who will put aside differences, stand up and fight back against Mr. Trump.” Trump responded Monday in a social media post where he inaccurately described Mamdani as a communist and implied federal funding could be withheld from the city if Mamdani is elected “This is a rather shocking development, and a very bad one for New York City,” Trump wrote. “Washington will be watching this situation very closely No reason to be sending good money after bad!”

Nothing from Capitol Hill

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has re-

peatedly declined to endorse Mamdani when asked by reporters, saying, “I choose to make endorsements when I choose to make endorsements.” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said he met with Mamdani last week — but did not endorse him. Both are New Yorkers. Schumer and Mamdani worked together on issues in the past, including debt relief for taxi drivers, and have spoken highly of each other After Mamdani won the Democratic primary, Schumer praised him on social media for running a campaign that connected with New Yorkers.

The lack of endorsement underscores the political pressure the leaders face, needing to win races not just in Democratic strongholds like New York but also in swing states or places that lean toward Republicans, such as Senate contests next year in North Carolina and Ohio.

Mamdani has been an outspoken critic of Israel. He called its military campaign in Gaza a “genocide” and said Palestine should exist as “a state with equal rights.” He also has called for tax increases on the wealthy to make life more affordable for everyday New Yorkers through initiatives like free buses.

The split also has deepened within the New York delegation itself. After Hochul’s endorsement, Rep. Tom Suozzi on Monday said he would not be endorsing Mamdani because he does not agree “with his proposed solutions.” In contrast, swing-district Rep. Pat Ryan endorsed Mamdani on Tuesday: “I know whose side I’m on. I’m with the people. I’m with Zohran.”

For many progressives, the Democratic establishment’s Mamdani snub has echoes of Sen Bernie Sand-

ers’ political rise. The independent Vermont senator struggled for decades to earn the support and respect of Democratic leaders, even as his popularity exploded and he emerged as a leading presidential candidate.

Perhaps that’s why Sanders himself has served as one of Mamdani’s fiercest defenders.

“I find it hard to understand how the major Democratic leaders in New York State are not supporting the Democratic candidate,” Sanders said last week “So, we got another fight on our hands, and that is the future of the Democratic Party.”

National progressive groups have united behind Mamdani, sensing much larger stakes than New York City’s mayoral contest.

“I can’t overstate how angry grassroots voters are. It’s off the charts on this one,” said Joseph Geevarghese, executive director of Our Revolution, an activist group born of the Sanders movement.

The debate has spilled into contested primaries ahead of next year’s midterm elections. That includes a Senate contest in Michigan between establishment candidates like Rep. Haley Stevens and state Sen. Mallory McMorrow, and Abdul El-Sayed, who is more of a political outsider

“It’s odd to me that if a candidate were to win a Democratic primary that the Democratic party wouldn’t take notes and understand why that person won. And then shift accordingly,” said El-Sayed.

“Parties exist to funnel the will of the people and I think when you have a growing chasm between leadership in the party and what the people want, that only ever ends up in one way: Either the parties lose elections, or the party moves.”

Trump blames Walz after not lowering flags for slain lawmaker

President had refused to call governor after death of Minnesota Democrat

BY WILL WEISSERT and STEVE KARNOWSKI Associated Press

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump claimed Monday that he would have ordered flags lowered to half-staff following the assassination of a Minnesota Democratic state lawmaker this summer had he been asked by the state’s governor But Trump at the time refused to even call Democratic Gov Tim Walz to express his condolences, saying it would only “waste time.” Trump made the remark during an unrelated Oval Office event as he defended his decision to lower U.S. flags after last week’s slaying of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

After announcing that he was deploying the National Guard to Memphis, Trump was asked Monday why he signed an order lowering flags nationwide after Kirk’s killing during an event in Utah, but didn’t do so after former Democratic state House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband were shot and killed in June.

Trump replied, “Well, if the governor had asked me to do that, I would have done that.”

“But the governor of Minnesota didn’t ask me,” the president said.

He continued, “I wouldn’t have thought of that. But I would have if somebody had asked me,” and added: “Had the governor asked me to do that, I would have done that gladly.”

Walz’s spokesperson did not immediately comment on the president’s remarks.

But Walz tweeted a video call for unity on Monday evening that featured references to Hortman’s assassination and the recent shooting at a Minneapolis Catholic church that killed two students and injured 21 people. The video included feel-good scenes from the recent Minnesota State Fair but didn’t mention Kirk.

“The world feels crazy right now, but we won’t lose hope. We will get through this, together,” Walz said.

Trump’s assertions omitted the fact that — days after Hortman and her husband were shot dead in their home in the northern Minneapolis

BY COLLIN BINKLEY AP education writer

WASHINGTON The Trump administration is redirecting nearly $500 million in federal funding toward historically Black colleges and tribal colleges, a one-time investment covered primarily by cuts to other colleges serving large numbers of minority students.

The Education Department announced the funding boost days after cutting $350 million from other grants, mostly from programs reserved for colleges that have large numbers of Hispanic students. Agency leaders said those grants were unconstitutional because they’re available only to colleges with certain minority enrollment thresholds.

Education Secretary Linda McMahon said the changes will redirect money away “from ineffective and discriminatory pro grams toward those which support student success.”

“The Department has carefully scrutinized our federal grants, ensuring that taxpayers are not funding racially discriminatory programs but those programs which promote merit and excellence in education,” McMahon said in a statement.

The department is also redirecting about $60 million toward funding for charter schools and $137 million toward American history and civics grants. President Donald Trump in January issued an executive action ordering the agency to repurpose federal money toward charter schools and other school choice initiatives.

It amounts to a one-time federal funding boost of

48% increase for HBCUs and it more than doubles funding for tribal colleges and universities, the department said.

The department is flexing its power to repurpose discretionary funding to match the president’s priorities made possible through a stopgap funding bill passed by Congress this year that gives the executive branch more authority over spending decisions.

Trump has long called himself a champion of HBCUs. During his first term, Congress added $250 million a year for HBCUs. This year

Trump signed an executive action that pledges an annual White House summit, an advisory board and other support for HBCUs.

The Education Department said the money comes from programs found to be “not in the best interest of students and families.” It previously said the other minority-serving grants would be redirected to programs that do not rely on racial quotas.

A person familiar with the decision said money is also being directed away from programs that support gifted and talented programs, magnet schools, international education and teacher training Most of

those programs would be zeroed out in Trump’s 2026 budget request, said the person, who was not authorized to discuss the decision and spoke on the condition of anonymity Last week’s cuts to the the Hispanic Serving Institution program reversed decades of precedent. Congress created the program in 1998 after finding that Latino students were going to college and graduating at far lower rates than white students. The department also cut several smaller programs for colleges serving certain percentages of Asian American, Black or Native American students. The cuts drew swift blowback from Democrats, who said those programs have long had bipartisan support and fueled social mobility for working-class Americans.

A July memo from the Justice Department argues that the Hispanic Serving Institution grants are unconstitutional because they’re open only to colleges where a quarter of undergraduates or more are Hispanic. The department declined to defend the program in a suit brought by the state of Tennessee and Students for Fair Admissions, an anti-affirmative action group.

suburbs — the president was asked if he’d be calling Walz. Trump suggested that doing so would “waste time.”

Presidents often reach out to governors, mayors and other elected officials at times of tragedy, such as after mass killings or natural disasters, to offer condolences and, if needed, federal assistance.

But Trump said then that Walz, the Democratic vice presidential nominee against Trump in last year’s election, was “slick.

“I think the governor of Minnesota is so whacked out. I’m not calling him. Why would I call him?” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One in June He then added, “The guy doesn’t have a clue” and “he’s a mess So, you know, I could be nice and call him but why waste time?”

Teddy Tschann, a spokesperson for Walz, responded at the time with a statement saying, “Governor Walz wishes that President Trump would be a President for all Americans, but this tragedy isn’t about Trump or Walz.”

Trump also said Monday that he planned to attend Kirk’s funeral this weekend in Arizona and added that he’d likely be speaking.

“I guess I’ll say a few words, I don’t know,” he said. “But I guess I will.”

during COVID.” In most school districts inthe 2008-09 school year, boys had higher average math scores on standardized teststhan girls, according to AP’sanalysis, which looked at scoresacross 15 years in over5,000 school districts. It was based on average test scoresfor third through eighth graders in 33 states, compiled by the Educational Opportunity Project at Stanford University Adecade later,girls had notonly caught up, they were ahead: Slightly more than half of districtshad higher mathaverages for girls. Within afew years of the pandemic, the parity disappeared In 2023-24, boys on average outscored girls in math in nearly nine out of 10 districts.

In Louisiana,girls’mathscores dropped the equivalent of 17%of agrade level during the pandemic, while boys improved 15% of agrade level. By 2024,Louisiana boys were leading in math —the first time they outscoredgirls in over adecade.

Aseparate study by NWEA, an education research company, found gaps between boys andgirls in science and math on national assessments went from being practically nonexistent in 2019 to favoring boys around 2022.

Studies haveindicatedgirls reported higher levels of anxiety and depression during the pandemic, plus morecaretaking burdens than boys, but the dip in academic performance did notappear outside STEM. Girls outperformed boys in reading in nearly every district nationwide before the pandemic and continued todo so afterward.

“It wasn’tsomething like COVID happened and girls just fell apart,” said Megan Kuhfeld, one of the authors of the NWEA study.

Effortslosttraction

In the years leading up to the pandemic, teaching practices shifted to de-emphasizespeed, competition and rote memorization.Through new curriculum standards, schools movedtoward research-backed methods that emphasized how to think flexibly to solve problems and how to tackle numeric problems conceptually

CLUBS

Continued frompage1A

BigBlueHouse after-hours spot on South Choctaw Drive, when an altercation, which she wasnot involved in, escalated into agunfight Five others were injuredin the shooting, and police said they found 160 bullet casings strewn across South Choctaw and Acadian Thruway Baton Rouge Police Chief Thomas Morse said at the time that the Big Blue House had already been under police scrutiny for serving alcohol without aliquor license from the parish Office of Alcoholic Beverage Control, and for attracting large public crowds that stayed into the night.

Aspokesperson for the Police Department said a pattern of shootings arisingfromcrowdsoutside after-hours clubs has been noticed.

“They’re fairly new,” police Sgt. L’Jean McKneely said.“We didn’tuse to have these after hours as much as we do now.Each one that comes up is now currently under review,because we’re seeing atrend of that kind of activity at those locations.”

He said thedepartmentis reviewing venues’ compliance with Alcoholic Beverage Controlordinances, like not selling alcohol after 2a.m. or encouraging patrons to bring their own. According to parish alcohol ordinances, the only liquor license that allows a business to sell after 2a.m. is offered strictly to riverboat casinos.

“So we’re seeing if they’re in any kind of violation, which puts us in an enforcement position to where we can take some typeofaction,” McKneely said. Chris Cranford, director of East Baton Rouge’sOffice of Alcoholic Beverage Control, said hisoffice doesn’t keep arecord of any event centers or reception halls that aren’tlicensed. Instead businesses are investigated

Educators also promoted participationinSTEM subjects and programs that boosted girls’ confidence, including extracurriculars that emphasized hands-on learning andconnected abstract concepts to real-life applications.

Girls who were recruited for STEM classesand competitions often excelled, said Latrenda Knighten, aformer mathspecialist in the EastBaton Rouge Parish school system

“When the conditionsare there, they step up to theplate,”said Knighten, who now is president of the National Council of Teachersof Mathematics.

But lately,Knighten senses less of an appetite andfunding for programs that target historically underrepresentedgroupsinSTEM, including girlsand students of color. Shealsonoticed some teachers abandon the newer,conceptual math practices during the upheaval of the pandemic.

“Once they got awayfrom it,” she said, “it was hard to get some peopletocome back to what we know works.”

based on complaints.

“Establishments that are operating outside of the law usuallytendtobeinviolation of thelaw in more ways than one,”Cranford said in astatementprovidedtoThe Advocate. “Whenour office receives acomplaint, we alwaysimpressupon the business owners that it is best to come into legal compliance.”

McKneely agreed, saying hismessagetoany afterhours venues is to get right withAlcoholic Beverage Control and to request an extra-dutypolicedetail from thePolice Department

WhileHurst couldnot give specifics on how he planstocombat the venues, he saidhis goal is to “limit the violence,bring peace to thehomeowners that have investedinthese properties and allow our citizens to have fun.”

“We’re not trying to control thefun, but at some pointto manage expectations of how we control thesecorridors to ensure that public safetyisatthe forefront,” he said When asked if closing any of thevenues mightsend patronstodrink or loiterin public instead, both Hurst andMcKneely pointed out that public intoxication is alsoillegal, and officers wouldenforce those laws in that situation

AllNite Entertainment LLC, thecompanythatowns theBig BlueHouse, had its businesslicenserevoked in May 2024

Witnesses at adifferent fatal shooting in August said the area along PlankRoad hasbeenbusier at night afterthe closureofthe Big Blue House and has led to more shootings. Before Wagner’sdeath, a homicide occurred outside an after-hours spot in October, during SouthernUniversity’s homecoming. Dexter Cormier,36, was waiting to order at afood tent in aparking loton Greenwell Springs road the night ofOct.20whenhe was shot. LikeWagner,Cormier was

Bias againstgirls persists

Despite shiftsinsocietal perceptions, abias against girls persists in science andmath subjects, according to teachers, administrators andadvocates.Itbecomes amessage girlscan internalize about their own abilities, they say, even at avery young age.

Ronny Seal, acurriculum specialist in career education, said thateven students who choose to take STEM classes often pursue different pathways according to theirgender: Girls are more likely to studyhealth careers,while boys exploreengineering.

“I’m still seeing those traditional roles kind of play out,” said Seal, who works in St. Charles Parish public schools, whichinclude Harry Hurst Middle School.

“We’re still fighting that.”

Girls also may have been more sensitive to changes in instructional methodsspurred by the pandemic, saidJanine Remillard, amath education professor at the University of Pennsylvania. Researchhas found that girls tend

abystander.Hewas also engaged and acaregiver to his paralyzed father But membersofthe Park Forest Crime Prevention Districtsay theywere madeaware of problems at the Sunrise AllEntertainment after-hours club on Greenwell SpringsRoad since 2023. Residents near the establishment said they have been disturbed by loud music, extratraffic, parking lot fights and litter in their yards.

Parking along side streets anddrag racing also kept residents from easily getting to their homeswhen theestablishmentwas open Complaints were put to the Metro Council, Police Department, Louisiana State Fire Marshal’s Office, the Alcoholic Beverage Control, the building’slandlord and others.

Citationswere issued, leading to police preventing the venue from purchasing police security, but nightlife appetites kept thevenue busy withcustomers.Onat least one occasion, another officer was assaulted in the lot, according to the prevention district “Cormier’sdeath waswhat we feared would happen,” according to astatement providedbyPatsy LeDay, president of the Park Forest Community Association.

Thecrime prevention districtsaiditbelievesalcohol was being sold at the establishmentaswell, which advertisedevents ending at 5a.m. and 6a.m. Following Cormier’s death, the location was temporarily closed, before being permanently closed months later

The association also is requesting that similar afterhours venuesinstall cameras, addsignage and make sure thelot is well-lit.

Itsmembers also would like morepolicepatrols alongGreenwell Springs Road andmore enforcement of the Alcoholic Beverage Control’sban on after-hours clubs serving alcohol.

Email Quinn Coffman at quinn.coffman@ theadvocate.com.

to prefer learning things thatare connected to real-life examples, while boys generally do better in acompetitive environment.

“What teachers told me during COVID is thefirstthing to go were allofthese sense-making processes,” shesaid.

Renewcommitment

Like Louisiana as awhole, St. CharlesParishexperienced a STEM gender reversal during thepandemic— one that has attracted little public notice

In 2019, its girls were ahead of boysbyabout aquarter of agrade level in math, according to the Stanforddata. By 2024, its boys ledthe girls by asimilaramount.

Now the district is taking steps that officials believe will spur STEM interest andachievement amongall students, including girls. One newprogrambrings in employeesfromlocal energy companies, including Entergy and Valero, to teach science lessons.

Last school year,engineers from IMTT,aNew Orleans-basedliquid storage company,demonstrated

how to heat up vegetable oil so it flows through coppertubing. The three engineers —including one who is awoman —had once been students at Albert Cammon Middle School, where they gave the lesson.

“They were able to come back and say,‘We did it, y’all can do it too,’” said Seal,the careereducationspecialist.

Meanwhile, STEM classessuch as Lindsay Maxie’s“Engineering Essentials” arecenteredoncollaboration and problem-solving, which appeals to students like eighth graderKamryn Patterson.

“It’snot boring,”she said recentlyasstudents designed systems formaking hot chocolate. “You always have something to do.”

Herclassmate, Belle Cassagne, said team projectslike thatfoster learning.

“Ifwehave questions,” shesaid, “we askeach other.” Lurye reported from Philadelphia. Todd Feathers contributed reporting from New York.

Boys & Girls Clubs a big winner at Emmys

The Boys & Girls Clubs of America may end up being the biggest winner of Sunday night’s Emmy Awards.

The afterschool youth programming nonprofit is seeing a donation surge after a controversial fundraising bit at the center of television’s biggest night.

Emmys host Nate Bargatze pledged $100,000 to the group at the top of the telecast — with a twist.

The comedian then deducted $1,000 for every second that an acceptance speech exceeded the allotted time and added the same amount for every second under the limit. Boys & Girls Clubs children stood with the trophy holder for each announcement before retreating into the wings.

The charitable gag failed to restrain many winners. “Hacks” star Hannah Einbinder vowed, “I’ll pay the difference” while accepting the award for outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series.

“We (expletive) over the Boys & Girls,” comedian Seth Rogen said as the ticker plunged deeper into the negatives.

With the show nearly over, the sum had fallen below zero to negative $60,000.

The Boys & Girls Clubs “were waiting to see the outcome in real time, like everyone else,” Lisa Anastasi, the organization’s chief development and external relations officer, said Monday in an email.

They ultimately received what Anastasi called a “generous surprise”: $250,000 from Bargatze and $100,000 from broadcaster CBS.

Wall Street on the rise as Tesla vrooms

NEW YORK Wall Street rose to more records on Monday at the start of a week that could show whether the U.S. stock market’s big recent rally has been overdone or prescient

The S&P 500 climbed 0.5% and topped its prior all-time high, which was set last week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 49 points, or 0.1%, and the Nasdaq composite added 0.9% to its own record.

Tesla helped lead the way and rose 3.6% after Elon Musk bought stock worth roughly $1 billion through a trust.

The electric vehicle company’s stock price came into the day with a slight loss for the year so far, and the purchase could be a signal of Musk’s faith in it.

Alphabet was the single strongest force lifting the S&P 500 after gaining 4.5%, which brought the total value for Google’s parent company above $3 trillion.

Trump again seeks end to earnings reports

President Donald Trump again called for an end to quarterly earnings reports, tapping into a long-running fault line in American capitalism over how much information should be disclosed by public companies.

In a social media post on Monday, Trump echoed comments he made during his first term to end the quarterly reports that companies issue to share financial results with investors.

“Subject to SEC Approval, Companies and Corporations should no longer be forced to ‘Report’ on a quarterly basis (Quarterly Reporting!), but rather to Report on a ‘Six (6) Month Basis,’ ” Trump said on social media.

“This will save money, and allow managers to focus on properly running their companies.” The Securities and Exchange Commission didn’t immediately return a request for comment. The SEC mandated for companies to report quarterly in 1970, part of its decadeslong push to increase transparency following the stock market crash in 1929.

BUSINESS

China says Nvidia violated laws

Conditions imposed on purchase to prevent monopoly

BY KELVIN CHAN AP business writer

LONDON China accused Nvidia on Monday of violating the country’s antimonopoly laws and said it would step up scrutiny of the world’s leading chipmaker escalating tensions with Washington as the two countries held trade talks

this week.

Chinese regulators said a preliminary investigation found that Nvidia didn’t comply with conditions imposed when it purchased Mellanox Technologies, a network and data transmission company

The one-sentence statement from the State Administration for Market Regulation statement did not mention any punishment but said it would carry out “further investigation.”

“We comply with the law in all respects,” an Nvidia spokesperson said “We will continue to cooper-

ate with all relevant government agencies as they evaluate the impact of export controls on competition in the commercial markets.” Regulators said in December they were investigating the company for suspected violations stemming from the $6.9 billion acquisition of Mellanox The deal was completed in 2020 after the Chinese regulator gave conditional approval for Nvidia to buy the Israeli company The announcement, which came as the two sides held trade talks in Spain, is the latest tit-for-tat move

between Washington and Beijing in their trade battle over technology focusing on semiconductors and the equipment to make them.

On Saturday, China’s Ministry of Commerce said it was carrying out an antidumping investigation into certain analog IC chips imported from the U.S., including commodity chips commonly made by companies such as Texas Instruments and ON Semiconductor

The ministry also announced a separate antidiscrimination probe into U.S. measures against China’s chip sector

Shipping companies support new global fee on greenhouse gases

BY JENNIFER MCDERMOTT Associated Press

Nearly 200 shipping companies said Monday they want the world’s largest maritime nations to adopt regulations that include the first-ever global fee on greenhouse gases to reduce their sector’s emissions.

The Getting to Zero Coalition, an alliance of companies, governments and intergovernmental organizations, is asking member states of the International Maritime Organization to support adopting regulations to transition to green shipping, including the fee, when they meet in London next month.

The statement was shared exclusively with The Associated Press in advance.

“Given the significance of the political decision being made, we think it is important that industry voices in favor of this adoption be heard,” Jesse Fahnestock, who leads decarbonization work at the Global Maritime Forum, said Monday The forum manages the Getting to Zero Coalition. The Trump administration unequivocally rejected the proposal before the IMO and has threatened to retaliate if nations support

it, setting the stage for a fight over the major climate deal The U.S. considers the proposed regulatory framework “effectively a global carbon tax on Americans levied by an unaccountable U.N. organization,” the U.S. Secretaries of State, Commerce, Energy and Transportation said in a joint statement last month.

U.S.-based shipping companies, however, have endorsed it. The Chamber of Shipping of America wants one global system, not multiple regional systems that could double charge vessels for their emissions depending on the route, said Kathy Metcalf, the chamber’s president emeritus.

Shipping emissions have grown over the last decade to about 3% of the global total as vessels have gotten bigger, delivering more cargo per trip and using immense amounts of fossil fuels. The IMO, which regulates international shipping, set a target for the sector to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by about 2050, and has committed to ensuring that fuels with zero or near-zero emissions are used more widely

In April, IMO member states agreed on the contents of a regulatory framework to impose a minimum fee for every ton of green-

house gases emitted by ships above certain thresholds and set a marine fuel standard to phase in cleaner fuels. The IMO aims for consensus in decision-making but, in this case, had to vote. The United States was notably absent. Now nations have to decide if the regulations will enter into force in 2027 If agreed upon, the regulations will become mandatory for large oceangoing ships over 5,000 gross tonnage, which emit 85% of the total carbon emissions from international shipping, according to the IMO.

If nations don’t agree, shipping’s decarbonization will be further delayed and “the chance of the sector playing a proper and fair part in the fight to keep global heating below dangerous levels will almost certainly be lost,” said Delaine McCullough, president of the Clean Shipping Coalition and Ocean Conservancy shipping program director

The U.S. secretaries said in their statement that “fellow IMO members should be on notice” the U.S. will “not hesitate to retaliate or explore remedies for our citizens” if they do not support the United States, against this action.

U.S. and China reach a framework deal on TikTok

BY

JOSH BOAK, SUMAN NAISHADHAM and DIDI TANG Associated Press

MADRID A framework deal has been reached between China and the U.S. for the ownership of popular social video platform TikTok, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said after weekend trade talks in Spain.

Bessent said in a news conference after the latest round of trade talks between the world’s two largest economies concluded in Madrid that U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese Premier Xi Jinping would speak Friday to possibly finalize the deal. He said the objective was to switch to U.S. owner-

ship from China’s ByteDance.

“We are not going to talk about the commercial terms of the deal,” Bessent said. “It’s between two private parties. But the commercial terms have been agreed upon.”

Li Chenggang, China’s international trade representative, told reporters the sides have reached “basic framework consensus” to resolve TikTok-related issues in a cooperative way, reduce investment barriers and promote related economic and trade cooperation.

The meeting in Madrid is the fourth round of trade talks between U.S. and Chinese officials since Trump launched a tariff war on Chinese goods in April. A fifth round of negotiations is likely to

happen “in the coming weeks,”

Bessent said, with both governments planning for a possible summit between Trump and Xi later this year or early next year to solidify a trade agreement. However, nothing has been confirmed, and analysts say possible trade bumps could delay the visit.

In Madrid, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said the team was “very focused on TikTok and making sure that it was a deal that is fair for the Chinese” but also “completely respects U.S. national security concerns.”

Wang Jingtao, deputy director of China’s Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission, told reporters in Madrid there was consensus on autho-

rization of “the use of intellectual property rights such as (TikTok’s) algorithm” — a main sticking point in the deal.

The sides also agreed on entrusting a partner with handling U.S user data and content security, he said.

During Joe Biden’s Democratic presidency, Congress and the White House used national security grounds to approve a U.S. ban on TikTok unless its Chinese parent company sold its controlling stake. U.S. officials were concerned about ByteDance’s roots and ownership, pointing to laws in China that require Chinese companies to hand over data requested by the government.

administration said was a drugcarrying speedboat from Venezuela that killed 11.

Speaking to reporters in the Oval

Office later on Monday Trump said he had been shown footage of the latest strike by Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Asked what proof the U.S. has that the vessel was carrying drugs, Trump replied, “We have proof. All you have to do is look at the cargo that was spattered all over the ocean big bags of cocaine and and fentanyl all over the place.”

The Trump administration has justified the first strike as a necessary escalation to stem the flow of drugs into the United States.

But several senators, Democrats and some Republicans, have indicated their dissatisfaction with the administration’s rationale and questioned the legality of the action. They view it as a potential overreach of executive authority in part because the military was used for law enforcement purposes. The Trump administration has

Trump did not specify whether Tren de Aragua was also the target of Monday’s strike.

The Venezuelan government did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the reported strike. The Trump administration has railed specifically against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro for the scourge of illegal drugs in U.S. communities.

Maduro during a news conference earlier on Monday lashed out at the U.S. government, accusing the Trump administration of using drug trafficking accusations as an excuse for a military operation whose intentions are “to intimidate and seek regime change” in the South American country

Maduro also repudiated what he described as a weekend operation in which 18 Marines raided a Venezuelan fishing boat in the Caribbean.

“What were they looking for?

have been the military incident that the warmongers, extremists who want a war in the Caribbean, are seeking.”

Speaking to Fox News earlier Monday, Rubio reiterated that the U.S. doesn’t see Maduro as the rightful leader of Venezuela but as head of a drug cartel. Rubio has consistently depicted Venezuela as a vestige of communist ideology in the Western Hemisphere.

“We’re not going to have a cartel, operating or masquerading as a government, operating in our own hemisphere,” Rubio said. Following the first military strike on a boat allegedly carrying drugs from Venezuela, America’s chief diplomat said Trump was “going to use the U.S. military and all the elements of American power to target cartels who are targeting America.”

claimed self-defense as a legal justification for the first strike, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio arguing the drug cartels “pose an immediate threat” to the nation.

U.S. officials said the strike

early this month targeted Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan gang designated by the U.S. as a terrorist organization. And they indicated more military strikes on drug targets would be coming as the U.S. looks to “wage war” on cartels.

Tuna? What were they looking for? A kilo of snapper? Who gave the order in Washington for a missile destroyer to send 18 armed Marines to raid a tuna fishing vessel?” he said. “They were looking for a military incident. If the tuna fishing boys had any kind of weapons and used weapons while in Venezuelan jurisdiction, it would

AP and others have reported that the boat had turned around and was heading back to shore when it was struck But Rubio on Monday said he didn’t know if that’s accurate

“What needs to start happening is some of these boats need to get blown up,” Rubio said. “We can’t live in a world where all of a sudden they do a U-turn and so we can’t touch them anymore.”

communities and modernize technology like electronic medical records and telehealth systems

Dr Mehmet Oz, who leads the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, said the program is designed to transform how care is delivered rather than cover dayto-day operating costs. During a call with reporters Monday, he described possible uses for the money, such as upgrading electronic records, expanding telehealth, deploying mobile clinics and testing new payment models to make lowvolume hospitals more profitable.

“If we do this the right way, states will customize solutions,” Oz said. “Understandably, the needs of the North Slope of Alaska are very different from upstate New York. They’re both rural but they have to be able to get access to care in different ways, and we

need different types of providers to be able to work there.”

Half of the $50 billion will be divided equally among states that apply giving the same allocation to Louisiana as large states such as Texas or California. The other half will be awarded at the discretion of Medicare and Medicaid Services, taking into consideration the size of each state’s rural population, the share of health facilities located in rural areas and the number of hospitals serving a high proportion of low-income patients.

Jeff Reynolds, director of the Rural Hospital Coalition of Louisiana, said the state is guaranteed at least $100 million a year for five years under the new program, with the possibility of receiving as much as $250 million annually depending on federal allocations. While the money could be significant, Louisiana will need to find ways to invest in long-term improvements like the ones outlined by Oz, or others, such as workforce recruitment and upgrades

for aging facilities, many of which date back to the 1950s and ’60s.

“This investment is very unique. I haven’t seen this in my 35-year career a 100% federal grant invested just in rural communities, and giving it such a short turnaround time to do this,” said Reynolds, who previously oversaw the state’s Medicaid budget as chief financial officer at the state Health Department.

Rural hospitals expect to take a bigger financial hit from Medicaid cuts, but those reductions are not scheduled to begin for several years.

“It is a case where we’re having to look for ways to invest this limited money so when the rural hospitals start taking a reduction in state fiscal year 2029 they’re in a better position to deal with those reductions than they are today,” Reynolds said.

Louisiana has 49 rural hospitals operating under the state’s Rural Hospital Preservation Act, plus seven “look-alike” hospitals that

receive partial rural reimbursement rates. Reynolds said the funding could support these hospitals and other rural providers, such as federally qualified health centers, clinics and ambulance services, depending on how the Department of Health designs its plan.

Louisiana has already begun drafting its required transformation plan to secure federal dollars. The Department of Health convened a Rural Health Transformation Task Force on Aug. 20, bringing together hospitals, clinics, universities, insurers, local officials and business leaders to map out priorities.

“These funds are not earmarked for specific hospitals; rather, they can be used across the service delivery spectrum to help transform healthcare for residents in rural areas,” Health Secretary Bruce Greenstein said in an emailed statement.

The task force identified chronic illness, technology gaps and severe workforce shortages as ur-

gent challenges.

Louisiana’s workforce gaps are severe: 73% of residents live in a primary care shortage area, 93% lack adequate access to mental health providers, and 86% face shortages in dental care. With nearly a third of the state’s population living in rural areas, those shortages fall especially hard on small towns.

The federal rules outlining which providers can receive the money are wide-ranging, Reynolds said, making the program a popular target.

“Because the federal law is so broad, they’ve been getting a request from everybody and their dog, to be honest with you,” he said.

To manage the influx, the Health Department has launched a website for public input and plans to hold hearings across the state before finalizing its proposal.

Email Emily Woodruff at ewoodruff@theadvocate.com.

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LOUISIANA AT LARGE

Secret life of Mike theTiger

Even on hot days with minimal ventilation, LSU’scostumed mascotMike the Tiger is still one cool cat.

On aMonday afternoon at the Carl Maddox Fieldhouse at LSU, Team Mike captain Landon Terro and Kandace Hale, LSU’s head Tiger Girls/traditions coach, reminded me early on: No one “is” Mike. Instead, Mikehas helpers —six to be exact. When it comes to taking the heat that invariably comes with the territory,Team Mikeis ready “Mike’sjust tough,” said Terro, who is asenior at LSU from Lafayette.“Even if Mike is in an air-conditioned environment, if Mike isn’tsweating, Mike’snot doing itright.”

That toughness requires planning, an incredible work ethic, lots of conditioning and plentyof hydration.

Terro says most of the team members are about the same size —they range from 5’10” to 6’2”. Since 2005, when the new Team Mikeera started, there have been 52 members. Terro is Mike No. 46, and this is his second year on the squad.

Hale has been acoach at LSU for 11 years. She said she enjoys her work —particularly getting to know so many student-athletes. Her favorite part of the job is watchingthe student-athletes become leaders and seeing their success in and after college. Team Mike Camp

The work involved for LSU’s belovedmascot starts witha weeklong Team Mike Camp every August before the schoolyear and football season begin “Wehelp plan things for Mike throughout the season, different kinds of wardrobe ideas,” Terro said.

And what awardrobe it is Terro gave me abehind-thescenestour of Mike’ssuper-secret closet, which is full of sequins, helmets, robes and Mardi Gras beads.Despite the private tour,I was not able to open the door to see Mike’sLair.That was off-limits, reserved only for Team Mike However,Idid see the costumes for Santa Claus Mike, DarthVader Mike, Elvis Mike, Mardi Gras Mike,Ghostbuster Mike, Egg Mike and Kim Mulkey Mike.

Superman Mike is always afavorite, Terro said.

For all of the outlandish costumes, there’s aseamstress, Miss Sherry, who makes sure everything fits.

Because, as Hale explained, “Mike’saspecial size.”

‘We’re here forMike’ Terro said he sees being apart of Team Mike as an act of service.

“Mike’sthe focal point,” Terro said. “He’sthe moneymaker.He has such arich history of just making people happy.”

Some members of the team don’teven tell theirfamily members of their role in the magic that is game day at Tiger Stadium and beyond.

Team Mike members know most of the work they do isn’t glamorous.

“It is very faceless,” Terro said. “We’re not here for any of the recognition. We’re here for Mike.” There’ssome Clark Kent-ness to the whole thing. Or Peter Parker,asthe case may be, according to Terro.

One minute he’swalkingdown Victory Hill, and the crowd is going wild. Twodays later,he’s taking the same path completely anonymously.Noone recognizes him. Even so, there are benefits.

ä

MidCityalliancehas newleader

Jacksonwants to help people reach financialstability

BY IANNE SALVOSA Staff writer

Dexter Jackson didn’tthink he would stay in Baton Rouge.

With an acceptance letter to graduate school in Los Angeles, he thought he would pursue adegreeinpublic administration. But after hehosted aconcert series in hishouse —which he learned he could purchase during aMid City Redevelopment Alliance home-

ownership course —hedecided to reinvest in thecity he grew up in.

Jackson began hisroleasthe MCRA’s executive director late last month.Jackson said he wanted to lead the organization to help others reach financial stability andrealize homeownership is possible.

“Wetake for granted the things thata home gives us, thestability,the consistency,asafe place,” Jackson said. “There are many

folks in our community whodon’t have that,who canattainit, and just don’t have the tools and resources to know how to be able to do it.”

Beforejoining the MCRA, Jackson taught English and social studiesatLowery Middle School in Ascension Parish. He also previouslyserved as the executive director for Humanities Amped, a nonprofitthatworks with schools to implement educational pro-

gramming.

He saidhis background in education trained him to be attuned to people’sindividual needs and determinehow to help themgrow, whichwillhelphim connectpeople in the MCRA’s service area with financial resources.

“Managinga classofeighth graders preparesyou foreverything,” he said.

Jackson’sgoals for the organization include reestablishing its levelofinfluence in Mid City,

JOHNSON

GAME

DAy

READy

TOP: LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier stands with patients, from left, Maholy Alvarenga-Sanchez, Jaxson Savoy,Sophie Greene and Beckett Duplechainduring avisit to the OurLady of the Lake Children’sHospital on Monday in Baton Rouge.

ABOVE: Nussmeier signs special LSU footballheadphones for Ja-Kaylen Monroe.

La.native, ‘Pitt’ actress LaNasa wins 1stEmmy

BY JUDY BERGERON Staff writer

After 30-plus years in Hollywood, New Orleans-bornand Baton Rouge-raised actress Katherine LaNasa took home an Emmy on Sunday night. Besting five other nominees, including Patricia Arquette and former Louisianan Parker Posey, LaNasa received the statuette for bestsupporting actress in adrama series for herrole in themuchacclaimed HBO Max freshman series “The Pitt.” It also was her first Emmy nomination.

“I am so proud and honored to receive this award from the (Television) Academy,” LaNasa began. “My wholecareer, Iwanted to

workfor John Wells, and he elevates everything in his wake John, I’m so much better when you’re around… mostlybecause Idon’twant to get fired.”

Writer,producer and director Wells has anchored some of TV’s biggest prime-timehits, including “ER,” “The West Wing” and now, “The Pitt.”

Clutching asmall piece of paper,LaNasa went on to thank all the nursesthatinspiredher characterDana Evans, herfamilyat “The Pitt,” her childrenand husband,actor GrantShow. Shethen let outacelebratory yell, raised up her Emmy and bowed before being escorted off stage.

ä See EMMY, page 2B

BY CHARLES LUSSIER Staff writer

Trumpadministration backs Chevron in suit

Company seeks to fight litigation in federal court

BY ALEX LUBBEN Staff writer

The Trump administration is siding with Chevron at the U.S. Supreme Court in a closely watched case related to Louisiana’s coastal lawsuits and whether they should be heard in state or federal court. In a brief filed with the court last week, U.S. Solicitor General John Sauer agreed with Chevron, which was recently ordered by a Plaquemines Parish jury to pay $745 million to restore state wetlands, that it should be allowed to fight that case and others in federal court, which is seen as a potentially friendlier venue for the oil giant.

The company has argued that federal court is the correct venue for cases of this type because they involve oil and gas production that was part of a federally sanctioned effort during World War II to make aviation fuel. Chevron and the companies it bought “worked for the federal government to refine aviation gasoline — a vital wartime product that powered Allied air forces to victory,” Sauer argued in the brief.

Plaquemines Parish, which sued the companies, has argued successfully in lower courts that the oil in question was not directly linked to wartime production and therefore the case should remain in state court.

RISHER

Continued from page 1B

“We’re on scholarship. We get merchandise. We get a bunch of benefits through the school and the athletic department,” Terro said. “Just being able to travel — if you’re a sports fan, you get to be front row, literally, seeing all the things happen.”

Still, Terro said he believes it goes back to service. He recognized how a quick interaction with Mike can be a game changer for a kid in the stands, a fellow student or a longtime fan.

“A mediocre interaction with Mike is a bad interaction,” Hale said “We want every interaction to be memorable, and we never know when it’s someone’s first time to meet Mike.”

Terro said that sense of responsibility has shaped his perspective, and he believes it will continue to shape him for years to come.

“This, more than anything, has taught me service and sacrifice and putting someone else first,” Terro said. “Putting the team, putting Mike before myself — it’s just finding the beauty in service and giving back to people.”

CHARTER

Continued from page 1B

including setting up shop in areas previously little touched by charter schools.

Legislation allowing charter schools to open learning pods was not passed until 2021 and regulations were not formalized until April 2023. Nevertheless, company attorneys argue that Charter Schools USA was on the right side of the law when it opened pod after pod without officially notifying state regulators.

“While the (state) learning pod law was not adopted until 2021, it was simply a confirmation of the ability of (school districts) to establish learning pods,” they write. In response to the audit and additional scrutiny of learning pods, the charter schools in question have made several changes to operations.

As to the allegation that learning pods parents paid charges they shouldn’t have, the company may end up paying the money back

“In an abundance of caution, the $511,538 in fees collected will be subject to return following a review with (the Louisiana Department of Education),” according to the response.

It’s not clear, however, if that’s all the money parents paid out. The state auditors note that they lacked the legal authority to obtain

The case before the Supreme Court relates to one of more than 40 similar lawsuits across south Louisiana, all spearheaded by Baton Rouge attorney John Carmouche of law firm Talbot, Carmouche and Marcello, that seek damages from oil companies for coastal restoration

The first of the cases was filed in 2013. Though the legal saga stretches back more than a decade, the new filing means that Gov Jeff Landry and Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill are now on the opposite side of the case from the Trump administration

Landry’s administration argued the case in Plaquemines alongside the parish and Carmouche, and Murrill has been outspoken in support of the litigation.

Murrill said Monday she is standing behind the lawsuits.

“When the Supreme Court gets past the smoke and mirrors, it will see there’s no federal contractor connection,” Murrill said. “But as I’ve said before it won’t matter whether we are in state or federal court for this small group of lawsuits. The jurors are the same people.”

The U.S. Department of Justice filed a friend of the court filing, meaning that while it is not a party to the lawsuit, it claims a significant interest in its outcome.

Since the cases were filed, oil companies have tried three times to remove the cases to federal court. That effort has so far been unsuccessful. In 2022, a split three-judge panel at the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals sent

Joy outweighs the work

The Team Mike schedule is demanding

Game days are especially intense, with early mornings and being among the first to arrive at Tiger Stadium.

“And we’re the last ones to

all the relevant records from pod operators and consequently “could not determine the extent of fees collected from students and their purpose.”

State law says “a charter school shall not charge any student any tuition or an attendance fee of any kind.”

Charter schools are public schools run privately via contracts, or charters.

Other findings from the audit are:

n Charter Schools USA paid $6.7 million over almost four years to an affiliated company known as BOSS to operate five learning pods, but did so without “board approval, written contracts, or adequate documentation.” BOSS stands for Blended and Online School Solutions.

n Even after new learning pod rules took effect in April 2023, BOSS failed to notify state regulators about two pod operations.

n Almost $932,000 in bank transfers were conducted without board approval or adequate documentation. Company attorneys say those transfers were mostly to help the charter school network make payroll when state funding arrived late.

MID CITY

Continued from page 1B

the case back to state court and it moved forward to trial.

Carmouche, working for Plaquemines Parish, won the case in April after a monthlong trial, successfully convincing a jury that the company did not properly clean up after it ceased oil production.

But before the trial started, Chevron had appealed the 5th Circuit’s ruling that the case belonged in state court, and the Supreme Court agreed to hear that appeal.

The Supreme Court is expected to hear the case in the fall. If it were to rule in favor of Chevron, some or all of the 40 cases in Louisiana could move from state to federal court.

Vic Marcello, a lawyer on Carmouche’s legal team, said a federal judge could vacate the Plaquemines verdict if the Supreme Court sends that case to federal court.

Republican attorneys general from seven states, led by West Virginia Attorney General JB McCuskey, filed briefs arguing that the cases belong in federal rather than state court.

So did the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Louisiana-based free-market think tank The Pelican Institute, and six Republican senators, led by U.S. Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah.

The lawmakers argued in their brief that “a party acting on behalf of the federal government should not have to litigate claims in potentially hostile venues” referring to the local Louisiana parishes where the cases were filed.

leave. We meet three times a week whether it’s for social media, for scheduling, grooming, costume — whatever it is, just getting everything in order,” Terro said. “Obviously we’re collegiate, but I’d say it’s a professional gig.”

Occasionally, they meet celebrities and get front-row views to history

For Terro, though, it goes back to the individual interactions with fans.

“To really be able to make a difference in someone’s life, at least for me, is why I continue to do it and what sticks out to me the most,” Terro said.

Dancing is also a part of the job.

“It’s always nice to hit the Griddy, which is like an LSU staple,” Terro said. “Everybody knows the Griddy Everybody knows how to jig.”

Everyone except me.

I had to get a lesson on the jig.

(This Baton Rouge staple is not a dance move I’ll be bringing to the dance floor.)

But Terro would have been more than happy to try and teach me. He’s that kind of guy

Maybe that’s the secret of Mike the Tiger — the magic is in the mask, but the heart is in the helpers.

n Taxpayers are paying a lot of money to lease charter school property — one 20-year lease is set for $13.9 million more than the original cost of the school — without “documentation demonstrating the lease represented fair market value.”

n Records requested by auditors were not provided in a timely manner — one request took 184 business days to complete and were in some cases “redacted, incomplete, or inadequate.”

The South Louisiana Charter Foundation is the official target of the audit. The nonprofit foundation has no employees but has a board of directors. That board manages contracts for two charters: Iberville Charter Academy in Plaquemine and South Baton Rouge Charter Academy in Baton Rouge.

Both schools are operated by Charter Schools USA. The audit largely centers around the actions of that company and its affiliates.

The legislative audit focuses on Iberville Charter Academy and its learning pods spread across south Louisiana whose students were simultaneously on the school’s rolls. The pods operated in Baton Rouge, Breaux Bridge, Houma, Gonzales, Lafayette, Metairie, Pierre Part, Prairieville and Thibodaux.

From 2014 to 2019, its first five years in operation, the school’s enrollment ranged from 200 to 300 students who all lived within driving distance of Plaquemine. After it embraced learning pods in other parts of the state, Iberville Charter’s enrollment shot up and currently tops 500 students.

Two members of the South Louisiana Charter board and two former principals of Iberville Charter

doubling down on the MCRA’s most successful programs including homeownership and financial literacy and determining other areas where the organization can have an impact, like foreclosure remediation and youth development. He said he sees his role as the “connective tissue” of the organization, learning from the staff members who have served the MCRA longer than him to bridge gaps that were created in the past. Jackson is the third person to take on the role of executive director in the past three years. The last long-term leader, Samuel Sanders, served the organization in a 15-year tenure where he got Mid City designated as a cultural district and secured a NeighborWorks America charter for the organizations. One of his first major objectives is to reestablish trust between the MCRA and the community, which he says was lost due to the organization’s waning presence at community events. The staff has “carried the weight” of the executive director position in recent years but does not have the bandwidth to perform all the job’s functions and their own roles, he said. He is looking to create “cyclical funding” for the organization, which starts with rebuilding trust so community members feel comfortable donating and investing in the MCRA. The organization’s net income has dwindled in recent years, recording a $347,101 deficit in the 2023 fiscal year, a $121,257 deficit in fiscal 2022 and $159,523 in debt for fiscal 2021, according to the MCRA’s most recently available tax filings. Contributions and grants have declined concurrently, from just under $1.5 million in 2021, to $903,029 in 2022 and $593,542 in 2023 The organization garnered at least $1 million in contributions and grants each

EMMY

Continued from page 1B

LaNasa, 58, shares a daughter, Eloise, with Show She also has a son, Henry Hopper, from her first marriage to the late actor Dennis Hopper

For the glamorous evening at Hollywood’s Peacock Theater, LaNasa wore a strapless Jason Wu gown in ivory with a powder blue bow on the bustline. The gown featured a fitted column silhouette and trailing bustle.

LaNasa plays her tough, yet compassionate, nurse Dana opposite Noah Wyle as Dr. Michael Robinavitch. Wyle, also one of the show’s executive producers, won best actor in a drama series. Both actors shared in “The Pitt’s” best drama series win.

Set in a modern-day hospital in Pittsburgh, specifically its frenzied emergency department, each episode represents one hour in the staff’s fictional 15-hour work shift.

year from 2017 to 2021. By the end of the year, he plans for the organization to attend 40 community events, establish or reengage two to five partnerships, and formalize internal procedures.

“Hopefully they see that I’m serious and that I’m not going anywhere. I’m on the team and I’m here with them,” he said.

Jackson has been meeting with the organization’s board of directors biweekly as he settles into the role. Board President Julie Pleasant said during the several months the organization was searching for a new executive director, before Jackson’s hire, there had been a “disconnect” between the staff and the board due to the leadership changes. She said the board took the period as a chance to connect with the staff and emphasize that the body is there to support them.

Pleasant said the board also updated its bylaws within the past year to provide better personnel policies and benefits for the staff.

“The board wanted to step up and do what the board’s supposed to do,” she said.

Community members celebrated Jackson’s entrance into the organization with a recent reception at the MCRA’s office. Members from development and community organizations like the Downtown Development District and the Walls Project were in attendance, as well as Jackson’s family

Elizabeth “Boo” Thomas, the MCRA’s founding director, said Jackson possesses a leadership quality that she hasn’t seen in some of the past leaders. She said she hopes the organization can keep supporting residents’ homeownership and tackle challenges like blighted properties under Jackson’s leadership.

“You can’t manufacture that. You are born with leadership to make a difference, to effect change, to include people who have never been included,” Thomas said. “That’s what he’s going to do.”

Also on Sunday night, Tramell Tillman, who previously attended Xavier University was honored as outstanding supporting actor in a drama series for his role of Seth Milchick on Apple TV+’s “Severance.”

who were interviewed by auditors professed little knowledge of these far-flung satellite campuses at that time.

Auditors blame Charter Schools USA for failing to supply board members and the public with more information about what they were doing with the pods.

For instance, none of the $6.7 million it spent with BOSS, its affiliate that ran the pods, was approved by the Iberville Charter board.

“The absence of written agreements, detailed invoices, board oversight, and proper financial disclosures significantly undermines the (board)’s ability to demonstrate fiscal accountability, ensure transparency, and comply with public fund stewardship obligations,” the audit says.

The audit has been long in the making. It grew out of a highly critical 2022 audit commissioned by the state Department of Education and conducted by the nonprofit group TenSquare. That audit concluded that the Iberville Charter contract should be revoked — an attorney for Iberville Charter criticized that inquiry, saying it was “of no value and should be totally disregarded.”

The response to the latest audit is less provocative, consisting largely of additional background and context for the auditors to consider

For instance, to the finding that the company dragged its feet in fulfilling document requests, at-

In addition, New Orleans native Brian Badie won an Emmy during the first of two Creative Arts Awards ceremonies last week. Badie was honored in the category of outstanding contemporary hairstyling for his work on the HBO Max drama “The Penguin.”

Email Judy Bergeron at jbergeron@theadvocate.com.

torneys blame the “voluminous nature of the records requests,” saying they “required extensive compilation and review of documents spanning multiple years of operations across various areas.” They also note that during this time the company’s electronic records system “abruptly shut down,’ creating “substantial delays.”

The audit ends with 16 recommendations, including:

n Work with the state on correction plans for “past fee collection” and for pods that were not authorized under state rules.

n Amend Iberville’s charter agreement to spell out “specific penalties for delays in providing requested records” and to require that “all financial, educational, and operational records” be stored in Louisiana, not just at corporate headquarters in Fort Lauderdale. n Require board members and senior management to receive regular training on fiduciary responsibilities and charter school governance standards.

Drouilhet,Louise

St.GeorgeCatholic Church,7808 St George Drive, at 10 a.m.

FalconerJr.,Ramsey

ResthavenGardenofMemories, 11817 JeffersonHighway,at11a.m

Kean III, Frank

FirstUnitedMethodist Church,930 North Boulevard, at 2p.m

Luquette,Jeffery ResthavenFuneral Home at 11am

Melancon, Jane

St.Ann Catholic Church in Morganza, LAat 11am

Osterberger, Linda

OurLadyofMount Carmel Catholic Church in St.Francisville at 11 a.m.

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Hebrews11:1).

Judy Diane Cain died on September 13, 2025, at the age of seventy-nine. She was preceded in death by her beloved parents Jack Lundy Cain, Sr., of Texarkana, Texas, and Dorothy Eleanor Kennedy Cain, of Camden, Arkansas. She is survived by one brother, Jack Lundy Cain, Jr. of Sagamore Hills, Ohio, who is married to his college sweetheart Bonnie Markle Cain, and by their two sons, Benjamin Robert Cain of Warwick, New York,who is married to Dorothy Davis, and Philip Andrew Cain of Patterson, New York, who is married toSonja Dawson. Both nephews remain ecstatic over their choice of mates, as does her brother Jack.

Judy Cain graduated from the University of Southwestern Louisianain Lafayette in 1968, and she soon went to work for the Iberia ParishDepartment of Public Welfare.Thirtynine and one-half years later, she retired from the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals. During those years, she met many of the nicest, smartest, funniest, hardest -working, most caring people in Louisiana. It was a lifetime honor to work alongside each of them

She especially respected Division of AdministrationCommissioner Raymond Laborde who recognized early on that state managers were being called upontoperform more difficult and complicated tasks, and would benefit, as would the state, fromstronger training. With help from like minds, Commissioner Laborde ushered in the Comprehensive PublicTraining Program for Louisiana which focused on upgrading the knowledge base and managerial skillsofthe state work force leaders.

Graduates of the program became credentialed Certified Public Managers. Other states followed suit. In 1984, seven states joined to formthe American Academy of Certified Public Managers, an association of practitioners committed to promoting ahigh professional, educational and ethical standard in public management. The original charter states were Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, New Jersey, North Carolina and Oklahoma. In time, the American Academy became twenty-five states strong. "I loved meeting and working with dedicated public service managers from across the country, being exposed to the best thinkers from their universities, hearing successful practitioners describe how they discovered what actually worked in the public

sector workplace.I firmly believethat the American Academy wasa giftfrom God."

The family requests thosewho wish to express sympathy to consider makinga donation to The Alzheimer's Association in Judy Cain's name

Farrow, Donald Curtis

Donald Curtis Farrow passedawaypeacefully on September13, 2025, surrounded byhis children and reunited in heaven with the love of his life, Ann. He was born on October 30, 1933, in Clarks, Louisiana,toAudriaand CurtFarrow. Known by many names—Donald, Dad, Don, D.C., Mr. Don, Uncle Donald, and Poppy—he was greatly loved,admired, and respected. Donald was aproud Marine,a graduate of LouisianaTech University, and the ownerofInsight, Inc. He was also aloyal Episcopalian, serving as SeniorWarden at Grace Memorial Church in Hammond, Louisiana Donald is survivedby his children: Lisa Farrow Barousse; KimberlyFarrow Crespo and herhusband Luis;and John Farrow and his wifeVanessa.Heisalso survivedbyhis grandchildren: MorganKeithAllan; Sherrard Crespo Martin and her husband Louis; Noelle Farrow Treloar and herhusband Cory;and Holly Farrow and her fiancé Kaleb Campesi;and his great-grandchildren Emma Soignier, Knox Campesi, and Arlo Treloar(due in November). Additionally, he is survived by his sisters-in-lawLynn Kingand Judy Morris; his sister and brother-in-law Fran and Danny Childress; as well as ahost of nieces, nephews, and dear friends. He was predeceased by his wife, Ann MorrisFarrow; hisparents, Audria and Curt Farrow; his sister and brother-in-lawMary Jane and EarlMullin; his motherand father-in-law Francesand Wooten Morris; his brothers-in-law MajorJohn Morris and Craig King; his son-in-law Val Barousse; and his nephew JaredChildress. Special thanks to those who cared for "Mr. Donald": Onaliseand Ana,and allthe staffatGlenncrest SeniorLiving;and Haley, Jodi, and Lisa with Hospice in his Care. Visitation willbeheld September19, 2025from 5:00 p.m.to7:30p.m. at Runnymede Clubhouse 10119Runnymede Avenue, BatonRouge, Louisiana. A private family service will be held at afuturedate Inlieuofflowers, please consider making a donation to the Companion Animal Alliance, Alzheimer's Association, or acharity of your choice in Donald's memory He willbedearly missedbyall who knew and loved him.

Harelson,LynetteV

Lynette V. Harelson, a cherished matriarchand beloved community member,passedawaypeacefully of naturalcauses on September 11, 2025, in her birthplace of Baton Rouge, Louisiana.Born on February 20, 1937, to Florence andWallace Voorhies, Lynette's life was atestament to the enduring poweroflove and the strength

of family ties. Lynette was agraduateofSt. Joseph's Academy, Class of 1955. Lynette's Catholicfaith guided her every step,imbuing her with agrace that touched everyone she met Together with her beloved husband of 65 years, Carol, and theirdearfriend Ronnie Bullion, Lynette co-built and operated University Cinema at thegates of LSU. The cinema was more than abusiness; it was a gathering place for the community,where Lynette's loving smileand gracious personality became as much astapleasthe films themselves. Her warmth and generosity of spirit transformed asimple movie-going experience into acherished memory for countless patrons.Lynette's life was rich with love and laughter, shared with her devoted family and a wide circleoffriends Though predeceased by her husband Carol,her parents, in-laws, son-inlawArtie Zimmerman, and brother-in-law LutherPayer, Lynette's legacy lives on through her children RhondaZimmerman, Diana Tullos and her husband Craig, and her son John. She was the proud grandmother of Alex Madison andher husband Jake, and she cherished her roleasa sistertoJoyce Payer. Lynette is also survived by her nephews Ricky, Rocky and RobPayer and their families.Her life was also marked by enduring friendships, which she cultivated with greatcare. Lynette willbefondly remembered by her dear friends RonnieBullion, Dorothy Cannon, Jewel Doran, Helen Cooper, PatDemers, BeBee Reynolds,Ruby Tujague,Mary Alice Fournet and theirloving families.Each friendship was atreasuretoLynette and she nurturedthese relationships withthe same love and attentionshe gave to her family.A Memorial Mass willbeheld at St.Thomas More Catholic Church at 11:00 am, Tuesday, September 16th. The family willbegin receiving guestsat10:00 am. Areception at The Lake House, 12323 Old Hammond Hwy. willtake place immediately after themass. In lieu of flowers thefamily requests that donations be madeto St.Thomas More Catholic Church or the charity of your choice.ArrangementsbyChurch Funeral Services Baton Rouge225644-9683 www.churchfuner alservices.com

Lindsly, KennethRay

Kenneth Ray Lindsly, 67, of Central,LA, passed away peacefully on September 11, 2025, surrounded by hisfamily Born on October 30, 1957, in Baton Rouge, LA.Ray livedmost of his life in BatonRouge and thesurrounding area. Ray was agraduateof Baton Rouge High School and was known for his dedicationand his work ethic. Hisworking career was in theretail food business, transitioningtohelpingfamily and friendswith cabinetry, remodeling,and home repairprojects. His joyand experience with woodworking, home repair and gardening provided Ray with immense talent which he willingly shared Ray is survivedbyhis wife of 45 years, Juanita Sicard Lindsly; his daughterSarah (Jason)Adams, and sons Jason and Jeremy Lindsly; his brothersJoe (Jean) Lindsly, Layne Lindsly, Calvin (Rhonda)Lindsly, LesBergeron and his sisterAngela (Michael) King; his uncle Tony (Connie) Oubre, auntsTammie (Joe) May and Barbara Navarre and numerous

cousins, niecesand nephews. Ray was preceded in death by his parents Josephand Wynona Oubre Lindsly, Sr.; grandparents Calvinand Georginia Zeringue Oubre and Numa and Agnes Sicard Lindsly and uncle Henry Navarre, Jr PerRay'swishes, there will onlybea graveside serviceonWednesday, September 17, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. at Greenoaks Memorial Park, Baton Rouge, LA The family wouldliketo express their heartfelt gratitudetothe dedicated staff at John Ochsner Heart and Vascular Institute,the donor family,and the many healthprofessionals forhelpingtoadd 22 years of life following his heart transplant. Ray'slegacy will live on in thelives he touched,and he willbe deeply missed by allwho knew him.

Magee,GaryR

Gary R. Magee, bornon

January 18, 1960, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, passed away on Saturday, September 13, 2025, at the ageof65. Gary served in thearmy in the 82nd airborne division. He served in theGulf War and was stationedinGermany. He also served in theNational Guard.Gary was very proud of his militaryservice and lovedhis country While he was attending LSU, he was amanager for theLSU tennisteam. He workedfor Brecasatennis coach. He lovedplaying tennisand golf. He graduated ITI and worked for the state of LA in BridgeDesign.Gary helpeddesign what is now theCentral Thruway. He represented LA in Washington DC in 2016 at theALS convention. Gary is survived by his wife, Lisa Wells Magee; twostepsons, Patrick Johnson and Nicholas Johnson; brother,Bill Magee; sisters, Michelle Magee Walters and spouse,Greg, Danni Magee Downing and spouse,Paul; andnumerous nieces and nephews. He is proceeded in deathbyhis grandmother, MinnieMagee (Nannie); father, WilliamNoel Magee;mother, Janice James Magee; mother-inlaw, Helen Tingle Wells; and father-in-law, Delvin Wells. The family would like to extend aspecial thankstoMitzi Holmesfor hercare and support during this time, as well as DanielleWalker for going aboveand beyond to care forGary during his timein hospice.Visitation will take place at Resthaven Funeral Home on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, beginning at 10:00 AM until funeral services beginat 12:00 PM.Burial to follow at Resthaven Gardens of Memory. Familyand friends may signthe online obituary or leavea personal note to thefamily at www.resthavenbatonroug e.com.

Melancon, JaneWitty BelovedasMeme to her family and Janie to her husband, JaneWitty Melancon died on Friday, September 12, 2025 at the ageof94. Janewas born September 3, 1931 in Cloutierville, LA to John V. and MathildaWitty. They latermovedtoLettsworth, LA and then to Morganza, LA where she remained until 2008, when she and her husband,Ted,movedto NewRoads, LA. JaneattendedSLI (now University of LouisianaatLafayette) in business. She was adevoted wife, mother, grandmother and friend to many. She

workedtirelesslyalong her husband's sideinthe family business, Purina Feed Service andHardware Supply, whileraisingtheir four childrenand caring for elderlyparents. Janeand Ted were honored this past February by Bishop Michael Duca for the longest livingmarriedcouple(76 years) in theDiocese of Baton Rouge Jane is survived by her threesons: Mickey,Robin andKevin andwife Dana; onedaughter, Marasha andhusbandBourg Langlois; and twosisters-inlaw Nancy (Peggy) Witty andVickieWitty. Shealso leaves behind 12 grandchildrenand theirspouses and22great-grandchildren andtheir spouses. Sheis preceded in death by her husband Norris"Ted" Melancon,two grandsons Beau Chad andJames CasieMelancon;parents John andMathilda Witty; threebrothersand sistersin-law Kennethand Paula Witty, Vernon "Spooky" Witty, Donald andRoberta Witty.Visitation will be held at At.Ann Catholic Church in Morganza, LA on Tuesday, September 16, from 9:00 am untilreligious servicesat11:00 am followedbyburialinchurch cemetery. Janewill be remembered for herdevoted faith, love forher family andjoy of livingwith asincere interest and compassion she demonstratedtowards everyoneshe met. Memorial donations may be made to Catholic of Pointe Coupee, 405 Louisiana St., NewRoads, LA 70760. The familywould like to take this time to thankThe LaCourHouse, Pointe Coupee Home Healthand Pointe Coupee Hospice fortheir excellent care andher entire family for thevisits, snacks, flowersand genuine love for Memsie, especially daughter-in-law Dana Melancon andgranddaughterKaylii Jewell

Minnie Rabywas born May2,1939 in Meridian Mississippi to thelate Aaron Moore and Jose Cole Moore.Minnie attended WalterL.Cohen Senior High class of 1957 and later attendedSouthernUniversityinNew OrleansreceivinganAssociate, aBachelor, andMaster's degrees in Social Work.Minnie was employed as asocial worker for more than 25 years. Herlast rolewas with TravelersAid Society providingservicestothe homeless and vulnerable populationsinthe NewOrleansareauntil Hurricane KatrinainAugust of 2005. This unfortunate tragedy causedher andher husband to relocate to GonzalesLA, whereshe spent herremainingyearsuntil herhomegoing on Monday, September 8, 2025. Minnie wasthe wife of the late Earl Raby, motherofthree sons, Alvin Wiggins, Derek Wigginsand the lateErrol Raby; fivegrandchildren, CandiceMitchell, Shayla Wiggins, ChristinaWiggins, ShaquilleWiggins andLauren Simone Raby; fourgreat-grandchildren Chase Usher,Brayden Mitchell, PrestonMitchell andOmari Uwadi.Two Brothers, thelateLionel Moore and thelateWillie Moore;two Sisters Letha Mathews,and Joann Rivera of Monticello NY;a host of nieces and nephews; two daughters in law,Karen WigginsHouston,TX, and Carlis Wiggins AtlantaGA; also adopted NephewsTimothyand Jermey Gouxand adopted nieceLenaFarr. Amemorial service willbeheldat 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 20, 2025 at The Christian Assembly, 42158

Marilyn June Smith, 87, a loving wife, mother, grandmother,great-grandmother,sister,and friend passedaway unexpectedly at home on Saturday, September 13, 2025. Born in MountVernon, Indiana, sherelocated to Prairieville, Louisianain 1965. She andher latehusband, Brady, ownedand operated Brady'sBar in Prairievillefor 30 years. Shealso workedfor TRI andWestatasa field operator for 27 years. Marilyn hadanamazing life. Her greatest passionswere traveling, bowling,and working in heryard.A recent accomplishmentwas her50yearsofconsecutive attendance andparticipation in theNational BowlingTournamentinLas Vegas, Nevada, whereshe received aplaque, diamond necklace, andher picture in thenationalbowling magazine.Marilyn is survivedbeher daughters, Debbie Cambre(Rabbit), andAngela Eiseman;her son, Mike Smith (Stacy); sisters, BeverlyMarchand, SharleneChurch (Ron), Ruth Coffer, andKathy Walker; brother, James Eaton. Sheisalso survived by her8 grandchildren, Courtney Ricca(Kory), Misty Perez, Devon Eiseman (Joanne), Jordan Eiseman (Natalie),Lauren Delapasse (Tyson), Garrett Smith, Lexi Smith,and Brandon Tyrone;9greatgrandchildren, Chloe Wilkinson, Claire Wolfe (Easton),Brayden Tyrone, Scotty Caillout,Malek Novoa Perez, GiGi Kramer, Jordan Eiseman II, Grace AnnEiseman,and Blaire Delapasse;and 1greatgreat-grandchild,Cohen Israeland 1onthe way.Marilyn is preceded in death by herparents, Charles andGraceEaton;husband, BradySmith: son, Wayne Hancock; grandson,Rustin Tyrone, sisters, Dolly Eaton, Wanda Brandle, and Jeanie Duncan;and brother,GillEaton.May hergentlesoul, rest in peace. May hermemory continue to inspire andcomfortthose whoknewand lovedher Visitation will be held at Ascension Funeral Home in Gonzales, LA, on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, from 5:00 pm until8:00 pm. And on Wednesday, from 10:00 am untilthe funeral service at 12:00 noon in thefuneralhomechapel. Gravesideserviceswill follow immediatelyatPrairieville Cemetery.Pallbearers will be Brandon and Brayden Tyrone, Devon andJordan Eiseman, GarrettSmith andCourtneyRicca

OURVIEWS

Tackling heat-related deaths needstobe apriority

Scorching summers are nothing new inLouisiana. But as temperatures soar,there isa rising humantollinour statethat has often gone unnoticed. In an investigative report in thisnewspaper, reporter Sam Karlin explored how heat-related deaths have skyrocketed in recent years,often affecting elderly and vulnerable populations

Data from the Centers forDiseaseControland Prevention tracked this alarming rise in fatalities due to heat that have totaled an annualaverage of 45 per year across Louisiana over thepastfive years. That’s close to afourfold increase inthe death rate compared to the previous two decades Anditputs Louisiana near the top in heat-related deaths in the nation. Only Arizona andNevada have recorded more in the past two years.But experts say that even those numbers may be an undercount, giventhat the effects of deadly heat exposure arenot often tracked by coronersor health professionals.

While heat-relateddeaths seem to have dipped thisyear, the problemisexpectedtoonly get worse due to climate change.

Louisiana’sunique geography adds to thethreat, with our plethora of bayous, lakes andswamps making ourclimate more humid than most. High humidity makes it harderfor the bodytocool down

We are also seeing an increase in the duration of heat waves, which on average last 4.5 days longer in New Orleans today compared to theaverage in the 1960s.

In the record-setting summer of 2023,New Orleanssaw the second-longest streak ofdayswith extreme heat in the world. That summer also saw 86 heat-relateddeaths,the most the state hasever recorded.

Finding ways to address the issue isn’t as easy as it might seem. Certainly,taking steps to lower the impact of climate change is part ofthe longterm solution.

Planting trees can also help keep citiescooler,as often trees tend to be located in wealthier neighborhoods,leaving some low-income residents trapped in urban heat islands.

But moreimmediate relief is needed forthe many low-income and elderly Louisianans who lack resources to protect themselvesfromthe heat.According to theEnergy InformationAdministration, about 76% of Louisiana residents have central air conditioning. That’saround the same percentage as South Dakota, astate withsignificantlycooler average summer temperatures.

We are used to weather-related risks inLouisiana, butheat has become an insidious killer that we are only beginning to understand.There is no federalprogramorfunding to mitigate theeffects of extreme heat, as our reporting notes, butraising awarenessofthe danger is an important first step. We hope that more peoplewill keep an eye on theirneighborswhen temperaturesrise.As always, acaring community can be alifeline to those in need.

LETTERSTOTHE EDITOR ARE WELCOME. HERE AREOUR

GUIDELINES: Letters are published identifying name, occupation and/or title and the writer’scity of residence.The Advocate |The TimesPicayune 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 SENDUS ALETTER SCAN HERE

Stop coddling RFKJr. andhis abuseofpower

Department of Healthand Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’sembarrassing behavior at the recent SenateFinance Committee hearing revealed aman profoundly contemptuous of the oversight process and of being required to answer to anyone at all. His at times absurd claims that anyone who disagrees with or challenges him is lying, revealed aman who knows his arguments and claims cannot withstand scrutiny and who thus seeks to discredit his critics with personal attacks. It’seasy to believe that SecretaryKennedy cares about health; after all, he talksabout healthalot. Butifone pays attention to what he does, it’s clear that what he really cares about is power.IfKennedy cared about health, he would takefull advantage of the opportunityhis position gives him to pick thebrains of the world’s leading authorities on health, medicine and science since he

personally has no educational background or experience in any of these fields. Instead, he refuses even to be briefed by them, freezing them out of the decision-making process and firing as many as he can get away with.

If Kennedy had confidence in his ideas, he would welcomebeing challenged by people who disagree as achance to testthe strengthofhis ideas, and as an opportunity to convince others to change their minds. Instead, he does everything he can to avoid being challenged, and smears as aliar or corrupt anyone who dares to do so.

This is thebehavior of aman who, more than anything, fears being exposed as the fraud he is and losing his grip on power It’stime for Sen. Bill Cassidy (andSen. John N. Kennedy) to admit their support of RFK Jr.’s confirmation was amistake and to call for him to be fired.

BEATRICE WINKLER Baton Rouge

Congress needstostand up forvictims of JeffreyEpstein

The survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’strafficking ring are being denied justice, and the silence of our Republican congressional representatives directly compounds their pain.

Just days ago, these brave women held apress conference specifically calling on elected officials for truth and accountability. The refusal to even acknowledge their existence sends aclear message to every victim in Louisiana: thatpowerful predators who prey on the vulnerable are protected while survivors are ignored.

Our foundational promise of equal justiceisatstake. If this cover-up continues, it permanently codifies atwo-tiered systemwhere the well-connected escape consequences and the powerless are abandoned. By choosing to act,our representativescan help dismantle this cor-

ruption and affirmthat our laws apply to everyone. Their leadership can restore public trust and prove thatthe voices of victims mattermore thanthe influence of powerful abusers.

The time for excuses is over

The survivors’ press conference was adirect test of leadership —atest congressional leaders failed by choosing silence. Every second of thatsilence aligns themmore closely with the perpetrators, and theynow face asimple, defining choice: Will theyheed the desperate cries of victimsand their families or stay complicit in the cover-up demanded by the powerful?

We call on themtostand with us —sign the discharge petition, co-sponsor the Epstein Files Transparency Act and force a vote. End the cover-up.

ANDREWKEMP Baton Rouge

AttacksonVoting Rights Actcouldn’tbe more disingenuous

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill rightly claimsthat Section 2ofthe 1965 Voting Rights Act “forbids sorting voters by race.” That she and others want that law overturned so that so-calledred states can then proceed to sort voters by race stands as another milestone in hypocrisy

The project to remake America to suit acrass and lawless class of citizens by any and all means continues at breakneck speed. The result will be apolluted wasteland where the American Dream lies in ruins.

JEROME FREEDMAN Baton Rouge

FalunGongProtectionAct deserves support

Why should Sens. Bill Cassidy and John Kennedy support the Falun GongProtection Act? Because Louisiana has along, proud history of standing up when it matters most. Louisianans know what it meanstoendure hardship and act with strength and conviction. That samespirit calls Louisiana today to confront one of the darkest human rights crises —even if it’shappening beyond the borders, it demands our attention and moral clarity For over twodecades, the Chinese Communist Party has persecuted Falun Gongpractitioners peaceful people whofollow the principles of truthfulness, compassion and tolerance. Investigations confirm that manyhave been detained, tortured and had their organs forcibly harvested and sold. Even worse, the CCP’srepression is reaching across borders —threatening exiled believers, including here in the U.S.

The Falun GongProtection Act would sanction those responsible, block U.S. exports used in organ harvesting and prevent American institutions from being complicit in these crimes.

Iwant to thank our Louisiana congressional representatives forsupporting the Falun Gong Protection Act, which passed the House unanimously in early May

Iurge Sens. Cassidy and Kennedy to support this bill and show that Louisiana remains on the right side of history

FixingU.S. 90 more important than golf

Revitalization of U.S. 90 from Louisiana to Mississippi is advertised at approximately $350 million. Perhaps Louisiana can begin by redirecting the $5 million and whatever else from awasteful LIVGolf tournament to the project. Gov.Jeff Landry can sure come up with somehare-brained ideas! Maybe he gets aspecial throne at the tournament. This idea warrants one madeofporcelain.

JAMES PITCHFORD Baton Rouge

COMMENTARY

Blamingtrade aU.S.tradition

Having seen New England, Kentucky’sHenry Clay (17771852) was aghast. The senator’s rhetorical flair,however failed him. He should have described what nowadays would be called the “carnage” caused by the “Britain shock”:

“In passing along the highway,one frequently sees large and spacious buildings, with the glass broken out of the windows, the shutters hanging in ruinous disorder,without anyappearance of activity,and enveloped in solitary gloom. Upon inquiring what they are,you are almost always informed that they were some cotton or other factory,which their proprietors could no longer keep in motion against the overwhelmingpressure of foreign competition.”

Somehow New England thrived despite the end of whaling,the southward migrationofthe textile industry,the departure of many shoemakers, and other supposed setbacks. Protectionists, however,persist in imagining recent calamities that they think validate government curtailments of economic freedom.Hence their lingering preoccupation with the “China shock,” the alleged damage done to American industries and communities by imports

from China. Today,the president’s long listof nations being beastly to America includes mightySwitzerland, which he has threatened with stratospherictariffs. (Because it has pushed upon Americansunconscionable amountsofchocolates and wristwatches?) The “China shock” was larger than the “Swiss shock,” but not really shocking.

Afrequently cited study says China destroyed 2.4 million U.S. jobs between 1999 and 2011. If so, in those 13 years, as many jobs were eliminated by Chinese importsasare eliminated, on average, by the normal churning of the U.S. economy every 41 days. Between 2000 and 2015, U.S. dynamism involved Americans leaving manufacturing and other jobs about 900 million times.

Manufacturing as apercentage of post-1945 U.S. GDP peaked in 1954 and has declined ever since, as it has in most developed nations

TheU.S. decline has been remarkably steady,around 2 percent ayear,sincebefore the surge of Chinese imports began. Veronique de Rugy,ofthe Cato Institute and George Mason University’sMercatus Center, notes that today’smanufacturing jobproblem is a shortage of workers to fill the more than600,000 openings in the sector U.S. inflation-adjusted manufacturing output is up

177 percent over 1975, the lastyear America ran what thepresident deems indispensable —anannual trade surplus.George Mason University’s Don Boudreaux, curator of the Cafe Hayek blog, writes that industrial production hit arecord high in September 2018, “almost 43 years after America began running itsstillunbroken string of annual tradedeficits in 1975.” They began 27 yearsbefore China joined theWorld Trade Organization. Boudreaux says that since China joined the WTO in December 2001, the average monthly decline of manufacturing jobs as a percentage of nonfarmjobs has slowed from 0.166 percent to 0.144 percent. Manufacturing employment has declined primarily becausemanufacturing moved to more hospitable jurisdictions (often in the American South). Andas labor became dramatically more productive because of robotics and automation. Similarly,Boudreaux notes, improved agronomy drove the20th century’sdecline of agriculture employment as apercentage of the labor force from 40 percent in 1900 to 2percent in 2000. During this dislocation, food surpluses soared,food prices fell and former farmers did not starve. Butreturn to New England. Andtoargumentsthat persist.

Massachusetts Sen. Daniel Webster (1782-1852) refuted

Clay’sprotectionism. University of Texas historian H.W.Brands,in“Heirs of the Founders,” quotes Webster: “Commerce is not agambling amongnations for astake, to be won by some and lost by others. Allparties gain, all parties make profits, all parties grow rich, by theoperations of just and liberal commerce.”

“If theworld had but one clime and but one soil,” Webster said, “ifall men had thesame wants and the same means… then,indeed, what one obtained from the other by exchangewould injureone party in thesame degree that it benefited the other.” Actually,however, “Weinhabit avarious earth. We have reciprocal wants, and reciprocal means for gratifying one another’s wants.”

Clay,however,thought national “honor” was acasualty of U.S. “dependence” on international commerce, so he praised the self-sufficiency of the farm of Kentucky’sfirst governor:“You will behold every member of his family clad with the produce of their own hands and usefully employed, the spinning wheel and theloom in motion by day-break.”

Andatnightfall, thefamily gathersatthe hearth to make, with their own hands, smartphones and pharmaceuticals.

EmailGeorge Will at georgewill@washpost.com.

Violence,inhumanity, intimidation andmurder

Recovering from the2020 insanity

What adifference half adecade makes. This summer’sprevailing ethos, zeitgeist, vibe call it any fancy name you want —was sharply different from the summer,just five years ago, of COVID-19 and Black Lives Matter

Such sudden changes in the moral atmosphere seem to occur every so often. The year 1776, the 250th anniversary of which we are scheduled to commemorate next year,was perhaps one such occasion, when the English-speaking world saw the publication of the Declaration of Independence,Adam Smith’s“The Wealth of Nations” and the first volume of Edward Gibbon’s“The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire.”

Another break in general consciousness, from Victorian stricture to Bloomsbury Group fluidity,was announced 101 years ago by the novelist Virginia Woolf. “On or about December 1910,” she wrote, “human nature changed. All human relations shifted, and when humanrelations change there is at the same time achange in religion, conduct, politics and literature.” And it has happened again in the great contrast between the notoriety most conventional media outlets gave to the eight-minute tape showing the death of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis in May 2020 and the almost total blackout by the same media outlets of the surveillance footage of the stabbing of Ukrainianrefugee Iryna Zarutska by areleased felon in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Aug. 22 Floyd’sdeath was taken as proof thatpolice in the United States routinely killed unarmed Black men, and that racism was as central to American life as ever.Itinspired aseriesof “mostly peaceful” urban riots that causedbillions of dollars in damage.

It sparked arevival of the Black Lives Matter group, whose Democratic congressional leaders in Kente cloth bowed in the Capitol and whose name was emblazoned on the pavement of 16th Street outside the White House. Floyd’sdeath also sparked asudden upward spike in violent crime, attributed incorrectly to the COVID-19 pandemic, which started months earlier,resulting in far more deaths of Black Americans than any police malfeasance.

Contrast that with the nonresponse by most media outlets and Democratic politicians to Zarutska’smurder in Charlotte. Plainly,they did not want voters coming to the obvious conclusion that liberal policies, such as cashless bail, release violent menonto the streets and public transit.

Other evidence of the change in vibe came from bestselling author Malcolm Gladwell’s confession that he lied during a2022 MIT panel when he said he supported transgender women (that is, biological menwho present themselves as women) competing in female sports.

That was the year when the press gave wide publicity to Lia (formerly Will) Thomas’ swimming records against female competitors and teammates, who were ordered by athletic and university authorities not to protest or complain about Thomas’ presence in the locker room.

But most Americans believed physical differences between the sexes matter,just as weight divisions are appropriate in wrestling and boxing. As journalist Josh Barro reminded his fellow Democrats, Americans oppose biological meninwomen’ssports by a66% to 15% margin.

Gladwell’sconfession of error and columnist Megan McArdle’spreviously unreported recollection that in 2022 “people were terrified to talk” freely about the issue suggest that, in Woolf’s words, “human relations shifted” sometime in 2023 or 2024.

Less than 24 hours before the 24th anniversaryof the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States, Kristan Hawkins was speaking on the campusof Montana State University She noticed her phone blowing up with activity.She looked. She paused. She announced the breaking news that Charlie Kirk had been shot on another college campus. Youdidn’thave to know anything to realize this wasn’tarandom news story to Hawkins —she was in shock. Her friend had beenshot. Her friend had beenshot doing exactly what she was doing. And students laughed. It’salmost as if that’swhat social media trains us to do, when reflexively responding to news involving people in politics. Such firebrands are names that embody ideology

We don’tsee them as people. Hawkins is the president of theStudents for Life of America, and as part of a tour,Kristan had arrived in Montana andinvitedstudentstotell her whyshe is wrongonabortion Somestudents thought it was funnythat Kirk was shot. Iimagine because they don’tthink ofKirkasa human being, but asarepresentative of so much that they disagree with In our hyper-politicized culture, where ideologyisa religion, anddehumanization is almost necessary to make engagement satisfying, we use callousness as self-medication for all things we are unhappy about Kirk was on campusinvitingstudents to debate, helpingthem mature —intellectually andemotionally,even spiritually Kirk wentbeyondthe empty symbols and hollow rhetoric of modern political discourse.Hemadeacase. He was unafraid to challenge

and be challenged. Andhe had thehumilitytoadmit that he didn’thave all the answers.

Hawkins was standing by asign that said “Abortion: Change My Mind.” Her sign indicated: Irespect you enough tolisten to what you have to say.About 150 studentsgathered, but the respect wasn’tquitereciprocated.

“If you think shooting Charlie Kirk is justified because you disagree with him on politics, you need to examine your heart,” Hawkins said in responsetothe students’ laughter.“This is what abortion culture has done in our country.Our abortion culture has said that the mostvulnerable humans in our world don’tdeserve the right to liveand we get to choose whether or not they live or die.

“Abortion culturehas led to adesensitizing of our nation,where we think we can shoot our political enemies —and we think is it justi-

fied.” She asked the crowd if they thought it was funny that President Donald Trump was shot. On thevideo if the incident, you can hear studentsinthe crowd yell, “Oh yeah!”

When Hawkins shared that Charlie had been shot in the neck, there was cheering. When she promised to share their callous reaction with theworld on YouTube, “F*** yeah!”isthe mostaudible reaction.

That sounds awfully alot like pride. Prideisa deadly sin. Andnow we see why it reduces other people to mereobjectsand deadens empathy and sympathy

Be free to be wrong and defend someone else’sright to do thesame. Andmay we change one another’sminds on things. Or at least try. With human encounter,not intimidation and murder

Email Kathryn Jean Lopez at klopez@nationalreview com.

Someofthis may just reflect the success of President Donald Trump’scomeback. In 2022, he was beleaguered by lawsuits, discredited by Jan. 6, and scorned by manyRepublicans. In 2024, he wastriumphantly elected to asecond term

But the shiftinTrump’sapproval ratings, from 45.9% in 2016 to 46.8% in 2020 to 49.8% in 2024, wasn’toverwhelming. Something morefundamental happened. Notjust Democratic politicians but also leaders of liberaldominated institutions discredited themselves: Teachers unions that kept schools closed; university administrators whotolerated violent speech suppression; Biden administration officials whoclaimed to have no alternative to the open borders policy they enforced for three and ahalf years; public health mandarins wholied about maskand vaccine effectiveness and secretly conspired to discredit the lab leak theory of COVID-19 origin; top media outlets, led by The NewYork Times,that routinely suppressed inconvenient truths about former President Joe Biden’sdebility; Hunter Biden’s laptop and the Russia collusion hoax. All these eminences squandered their credibility and forfeited their trust, just as Woolf thought the Victorians squandered and forfeited theirs.

“The summer of 2020 waslegitimately insane,” wrote the critical liberal Thomas Chatterton Williams, author of the recently published “Summer of Our Discontent.” America is recovering its footing, though there’salways adanger of wobbling off to another side. MichaelBaroneisonX,@MichaelBarone.

SPORTS

Newinformation

The great radio commentator Paul Harvey had acatchphrase that punctuated his broadcasts for decades: “And now you know the rest of thestory.”

If Harvey was commenting on LSU football, he definitely would haveused that line.

Now we know why Brian Kelly blew up at postgame questionsabout LSU’s lackluster offense after Saturday’s2010 victory overFlorida. Now we know better why LSU leaned so heavily on its defense to carry the night against the Gators. Now we know,atleast in part, what hasbeenholdingquarterback Garrett Nussmeier back

First, let’stalk aboutwhat is by far the mostimportant thing— Nussmeier’s

health. At his Monday news conference, Kelly addressed growing rumors and questions about Nussmeier by revealing that his star quarterback has been dealing with a“torso injury” since preseason camp. Talk about an aha moment. There were at least two occasions when the mediaviewed preseason practices —in-

Newangle emergesfor tush-pushdetractors

BY ROBMAADDI

The Super Bowl rematch turned into bully ball highlighted by the NFL’s ugliest play

Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley and the Philadelphia Eagles pushed —literally —their way past PatrickMahomesand the Kansas City Chiefs by the score of 20-17 on Sunday

Hurts scored atouchdown on atush push, and the Eaglesused the play seven times to help hand the Chiefs their first three-game losing streak with Mahomesand send them to their first 0-2 start since 2014

TheNFL triedtoban to the tush push after aproposal from

theGreen Bay Packers in the offseason butfell twovotes short of eliminatingit. Those whooppose the playmust have cringed watchingthe Eaglesuse it repeatedly in frontofa national TV audience.

There’snodoubt many of the decision-makers noticed.

TomBrady pointed outthat two of thePhiladelphia offensive linemen moved early when Hurts waspushedinto theend zone for a20-10 lead midway through the fourth quarter.Replays showed theEaglesgot away withafalse start.

After Hurts appearedtolose theballbut wasruled downto

cluding ascrimmage in Tiger Stadium one week before theClemson game— where Nussmeier was participating but didn’tattemptapass. Kelly said at the time Nussmeier was on a“pitch count,” but obviously it was more than that. It is now reasonable to think that Nussmeier’sphysical condition played apart in that badly underthrowndeep pass in theLouisiana Tech game intendedfor Barion Brown that was intercepted. Nussmeier said last Tuesdaythathejust threw abad ball. But thereasonsfor whyhehas attempted few deep balls (13 attempts of 20-plus yards with fourcompletions) and why

BY WILSON ALEXANDER Staff writer

LSUcoach Brian Kelly saidquarterback Garrett Nussmeier has been playing through atorso injury that he sufferedinpreseason camp and won’t be abletofully recover untilthe Tigers’ open date later this month.

Although the injury has not prevented Nussmeier from starting the first three games, Kelly said No. 3LSU has limited him at practice to manage the issue. Kelly said Nussmeier developed the injury from throwing alot before the season.

“He’sbeen slowed alittlebit witha torso injury,and he’sfighting through it,and he’s getting better,” Kelly said Monday. “He’snot goingtobeableto really shut it down until we get to the bye week.”

Nussmeier has struggled at times this season, completing 65.1% of his passes for 689 yards with three touchdowns and twointerceptions. Nussmeier feels “tightness” in historso, Kelly said, so LSU hasdecreased his workload at practice.

“You want to be careful with how manyreps he’sgetting throwing the football,” Kelly said. “He’sovercoming that, but we cuthim down substantially. Ithink he’s on theother side of that, but we had to be really careful with him the first fewweeks.”

LSU plays Southeastern Louisiana on Saturday night before traveling to No. 13 Ole Miss next week. It then has its first open date of the season before playing threestraight SEC games. Kelly does not expect the issue to affect Nussmeierthroughout theseason, saying it will improve the most when he can rest during the open date.

“I think with thebye week after Ole Miss, we should be in agreat place,” Kelly said.

Late in preseason camp, there were acouple of practices open to themedia in whichNussmeier did not throw Kelly said at thetime LSUwanted to manage his workload because he had thrown alot over the summer, but he did notmentionthe injury Nussmeier also reaggravated apreexisting case of patellar tendinitis in

I laugh whenever Ilook on social media and see fans from an opposing NFL team boast about how they took over Bourbon Street That’seasy to do. Locals aren’t hanging out there anyway

Butwhen fans of an opposing team takeover theCaesars Superdome, that’sa totally different story That was thecase Sunday in the New OrleansSaints’ 26-21 loss to theSan Francisco 49ers. If you sat in theDome with your eyes closed, you would have

sworn theSaints had won based on the crowd noise. There was aloud roar from the sea of redwhenthe 49ers scored their first touchdown. Those roars got even louder with chants of “DE-FENSE, DE-FENSE” later in the game as the Saints tried to rally for avictory “Didn’tlike it,” Saints defensive end Cam Jordan said. “I didn’t like the noise coming from them, especially whenSaints Nation has been so strong for so long. One of the rare instances when you could

hear the opposing crowd. We’ve got to give our team more ways to win. We’ve got to figure out how to give the city more hope. Hopefully that never happens again.” To the 49ers’ credit, they have a passionatefan base. They always travelwellfor road games, just like Saints fans do.And when it comes to traveling for NFL games, the city of New Orleans is always adestination spot. So seeing folks dressedinred andgold throughout the French Quarter allweekendwasn’ta surprise. But to seewhatfelt like a6040 split (perhaps even 50-50) and

Burrow to have surgery on left toe

Bengals quarterback could miss 3 months

BY JOE REEDY Associated Press

CINCINNATI Bengals coach Zac Taylor confirmed Monday that quarterback Joe Burrow will have surgery on his injured left toe.

“We are working through the details and timelines We will go through the week and get all the information we can,” Taylor said during an afternoon news conference. Taylor did not have a timeline for when the former LSU star will have surgery or how long the franchise quarterback might be out. The turf toe injury is expected to sideline Burrow a minimum of three months.

“I don’t know what a toe rehab looks like,” Taylor said. “I know Joe’s gonna give it everything he’s got. He’s gonna do everything he can to get onto the field.”

It is Burrow’s third major injury in his six seasons since being the top overall pick in the 2020 draft and a major blow to Cincinnati, which is off to its first 2-0 start since 2018 and has postseason aspirations after missing the playoffs the past two seasons.

Burrow left the Bengals locker room on crutches and wearing a boot on his left foot on Sunday after injuring his toe during the second quarter of Cincinnati’s 31-27 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Burrow was sacked by Jaguars defensive tackle Arik Armstead for a 5-yard loss at the Bengals 35-yard line with 9:02 remaining in the first half. It was the second time Burrow had been sacked in the game.

Burrow went into the sideline medical tent. He came out and walked briefly with a limp before heading to the locker room.

“It’s tough right now We’re going to be OK. He’s a strong guy,” wide receiver Tee Higgins said after the game. “We look forward to seeing what the results are.”

Burrow has been sacked 201 times in six seasons, the second most in the league since 2020. The latest injury again puts the Bengals front office in the spotlight for electing to give high-value

contracts to Higgins and Ja’Marr

Chase without properly addressing the offensive line.

“I don’t know how a turf toe injury fully happens, if you get hit or stepped on. I know that potentially he could have been clean for 99% of the game, and the one play is where this happens,” Taylor said.

“I get it. I understand where people are going to come from.

They’re going to be very attacking of us. Our style of play got us to a Super Bowl, two AFC championship games and two division titles, and won a lot of games for us. We’re always evaluating how we can protect our players and put

them in the best position possible.”

Burrow’s injury comes at an inopportune time for the Bengals, who play at Minnesota next week to begin a stretch of five straight opponents that made the playoffs last year

“We’re 2-0, and we’ve got a lot of good energy right now,” Taylor said. “There are plenty of things to clean up. We haven’t put our best foot forward or put together our best football collectively.”

Jake Browning will be the starter in Burrow’s absence. He completed 21 of 32 passes for 241 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions.

What is turf toe?

Burrow is the latest NFL star to be sidelined by turf toe, an oddsounding but extremely painful injury Its seemingly non-threatening name might cause some to downplay it. But turf toe certainly is no joking matter for anyone who has had to work their way back onto the field from it. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, the injury — medically known as a metatarsophalangeal joint sprain — occurs when the ligaments around the joint of the big toe at the ball of the foot are sprained or ruptured, often as a result of the toe being hyperextended. It happens sometimes when someone lifts their heel, but the ball of their big toe remains on the ground, jamming it and causing a hyperextension.

How does it affect athletes?

Turf toe makes it extremely difficult to push off your foot and cut while running. It’s painful and causes swelling. It can sideline players for several weeks or months, depending on the severity of the injury

What are the grades of turf toe?

Grade I: This is the best-case scenario, where there is only stretching of the ligament with swelling and tenderness but no tear This could sideline a player for as little as a week.

Grade II: The ligament is partially torn and there’s bruising with restricted and painful movement with the toe. This could take several weeks to heal.

Grade III: The ligament is fully torn and there could be a dislocation of the joint — the metatarsophalangeal — in the big toe. This likely requires surgery and could take several months to heal.

How is turf toe treated?

Rest, icing and elevation are required, but further treatments depend on severity Stiff-soled shoes or orthotics can help an athlete return faster from a Grade I injury

Someone with a Grade II injury might need a walking boot after a week or two of rest. A Grade III injury could require surgery, all of the above and physical therapy

Jaguars WR Thomas trying to snap slump

BY MARK LONG Associated Press

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Brian Thomas is in the early stages of a sophomore slump.

The Jacksonville Jaguars receiver, who made the Pro Bowl as a rookie, has five catches for 60 yards through two weeks despite being targeted a team-high 19 times. He has a drop in each game, including a critical one in a 31-27 debacle at Cincinnati on Sunday.

On fourth-and-5 from the Cincinnati 7, and with the Jaguars leading 27-24, Trevor Lawrence delivered a perfect pass to Thomas short of the first-down marker But the former LSU standout turned his head before securing the catch and watched the ball fall to the ground.

“It’s super frustrating,” Thomas said. “Just got to put it behind you and go on to the next week.” Coach Liam Coen said Monday that Thomas has been dealing with a sore wrist, although he was not on the injury report last week.

Thomas and the Jaguars (1-1) host Houston on Sunday a chance for the team to show it can handle adversity better than it has in recent years. Even though there was no guarantee that Thomas would have gotten the first down, it proved to be a significant turning point. The Bengals drove 92 yards and essentially won the game on backup quarterback Jake Browning’s 1-yard plunge.

Thomas finished with four receptions for 49 yards on 12 targets. Equally as egregious as his

drop was a first-half play in which he stopped running across the middle, prompting CBS analyst Logan Ryan to call it a “business decision.” Thomas also appeared to duck on a pass in the end zone early in the fourth quarter

“Just got to be better,” Thomas said. “Go catch the ball. It’s plain and simple. Just go catch the ball.” Thomas caught 87 passes for

1,282 yards and 10 touchdowns last season. He was so impressive that Jacksonville’s new regime decided to move on from fellow receivers Christian Kirk and Gabe Davis and build coach Liam Coen’s offense around Thomas. But Thomas had drop issues throughout training camp and the preseason red flags that now appear to be trickling into

Commanders QB Daniels

day-to-day with knee injury

WASHINGTON Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels is dealing with a knee injury and coach Dan Quinn said Monday the AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year’s status for the team’s next game is up in the air The Commanders (1-1) host the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday “He did have an MRI and he has already begun his return-to-play process with us. He is truly dayto-day,” Quinn said during a video conference with reporters.

Daniels was hurt in Washington’s 27-18 loss at the Green Bay Packers on Thursday night. The former LSU quarterback was sacked four times and faced pressure throughout the game from a blitz-heavy Packers defense.

Marcus Mariota is Washington’s backup at the position.

Vikings QB McCarthy out with sprained right ankle

EAGAN, Minn. — Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy will probably miss at least the next game with a sprained right ankle, coach Kevin O’Connell said on Monday, and running back Aaron Jones is likely to join him on the sideline with a hamstring injury

McCarthy didn’t miss any time during Minnesota’s 22-6 loss to Atlanta, passing an initial medical evaluation and getting his foot taped up for extra support. The ankle pain predictably worsened overnight, O’Connell said.

The Vikings weren’t planning to put McCarthy on short-term injured reserve, so his injury status is considered week-to-week.

Carson Wentz, the 10th-year veteran who just joined the Vikings two weeks ago, is in line to start against the Bengals.

Jets QB in concussion protocol; status uncertain

New York Jets quarterback Justin Fields remained in the concussion protocol Monday, and his availability for the team’s next game is uncertain.

Coach Aaron Glenn said Fields will continue to be evaluated after the quarterback was hurt late in the Jets’ 30-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday

If Fields is unable to play next Sunday at Tampa Bay, veteran backup Tyrod Taylor would start for New York.

Fields fell backward when he was sacked by Joey Bosa in the fourth quarter and the back of his helmet hit off the turf. He was down for a few moments before he was able to get up and walk off under his own power

Duplantis snags another world record in pole vault

meaningful games.

“We’re all frustrated at different times, and we want to make that play,” Lawrence said “But just not much to say there. I think he understands the situation, and it is what it is.

“There’s not much to say Guys know We all got to just own our part, move on and improve.”

What’s working

Jacksonville’s rushing attack was stout for the second consecutive week. The Jags finished with 139 yards on the ground against the Bengals and now lead the league in rushing heading into Monday night games. Travis Etienne had 71 yards rushing, and rookie Bhayshul Tuten added 42 more. Jacksonville is averaging 169.5 yards rushing a game.

What needs help

The Jaguars were flagged five times over nine plays in the second quarter for illegal shifts. All of them were declined, but the penalties were a glaring misstep for a team playing its first road game under a new regime.

Coen said the staff put “too much on” players with pre-snap movements and silent cadences.

“That’s something that we have to be better at as coaches and go figure out,” he said.

Key number

5: Number of games Lawrence missed last season after Houston

LB Azeez Al-Shaair’s violent forearm blow to the face. On Sunday, they will meet on the same field for the first time since the incident.

TOKYO Mondo Duplantis captured his third world championship on Monday. It was another world record — the 14th time he’s set it — by clearing the bar at 6.30 meters.

Duplantis cleared it on his third and final attempt.

After clearing 6.10, the former LSU athlete imitated Japanese baseball Hall of Famer Ichiro Suzuki’s pre-bat sleeve-tugging routine.

“My brother was in the crowd and he plays baseball, so I was trying to fire him up,” Duplantis said. “And the Japanese people, if they understood it, it was just something fun.”

The Louisiana-born phenom who competes for his mother’s native Sweden collected $70,000 for the win along with the $100,000 bonus that goes to record breakers at world championships.

Hall of Fame goaltender

Giacomin dies at age 86

Ed Giacomin, a Hockey Hall of Fame goaltender and one of the faces of the New York Rangers franchise in the 1960s and ’70s, has died. He was 86.

Giacomin died of natural causes, a Rangers spokesperson said after the organization learned of the news from his family A spokesperson for the NHL Alumni Association said Giacomin died at his home Sunday night.

Known for puck-handling and leaving the crease before it was common practice for netminders, Giacomin won the Vezina Trophy as the league’s top goalie in 197071 and backstopped New York to the Stanley Cup Final in ’72. Giacomin was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1987.

CONROy

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By MICHAEL

DenverBroncoskicker WilLutz, right,walksoff the field withJeremy Crawshawafter Lutz missed a field goal during the second half against the Indianapolis Colts on SundayinIndianapolis.

Payton takesblame forBroncos’gaffes

BY ARNIE STAPLETON

AP pro football writer

ENGLEWOOD,Colo. Darren

Rizziisoff to aroughstart as the new special teams coordinator of the Denver Broncos.

The Broncos got away with apair of big blunders in the opener when AllPro Marvin Mims muffed apunt and the Broncos allowed a71-yard kickoff return, but they paid dearly Sunday for apair of special teams blemishes that cost them awin at Indianapolis.

WilLutz clankeda42yard field goal attempt off the right upright with 3:15 remaining and Denver (11) clinging to a28-26 lead. That meant Indy needed onlyafield goal to win it, which the Colts achieved on ado-over after apenalty on linebacker Dondrea Tillman negated a60-yard miss as time expired and moved the ball well within Spencer Shrader’srange.

Coach Sean Payton absolved Rizzi and Tillman on Monday, sayinghe should have backed off the aggressive call to try to block the 60-yard attempt.

Payton explained that Tillman wasn’tsupposed to both push downhis opponentand try to leap over him, but there wasa misalignment as the Colts switcheduptheir field goal protection unit and Tillman was correctly called for pushing off another player to try to block the kick.

“Before any andall that, though, we should be working anormal rush, anormal interior rushwitha60-yard attempt,” Payton said. “That’sonme. It’s noton Darren. It’snot on Tillman With a60-yard field goal attempt, it’sdifferent. The alignment got wrong and the call was correct. But my bigregretflying home wasthat’s more fora closer field goal. That’smore for

agimme than a60-yardattempt,and that’sonme.”

Shrader nailed the 45yard do-over to send Denver to another loss like the one last year at Kansas City when Lutz’schip-shot attempt was blocked with no timeremaining, allowing the Chiefs to escapewith an improbable win after several Chiefs bowled over Broncos linemanAlexForsyth

Just likelast year with Forsyth, Paytonismaking sure Tillman doesn’ttake all of the blame. His teammateshad his back after thegame.

“He doesn’thave to be worriedabout it,” NikBonitto said.“Imean, at the endofthe day, we’reall human.Everybodymakes mistakes. He thought what he was trying to do was to make aplay for theteam, help us win thegame. And if they call the flag,Imean, he hadthe right intent. It’s not like he went out there tryingtolose thegame.

“At the end of the day, it is what it is. They call what they call. We’ve got to move on.”

And clean things up, not only on special teams, either The offense sputtered with achance to take control, committing acostly penalty and aturnoverlate in the game. The defense didn’tget its usual pressure and star cornerback Patrick Surtain gotway more work than usual as theColts didn’t shyaway from him like most teams do.

“There’snoway we should have lost that game,” right tackleMike McGlincheysaid. “Wehad probably six or seven opportunities in the second half to end it, and we didn’t Coach said it best rightafter the game —you’ve got to learn to win. But, in ordertodothat, you’ve got to stop losing, and we gave that game away.”

SAINTS NOTEBOOK

Injury likely to endDT Broughton’sseason

BY LUKE JOHNSON and MATTHEWPARAS Staff writers

Vernon Broughton made his New Orleans Saints debut Sunday againstthe San Francisco 49ers, but his follow-up performance will have to wait.

Broughton suffered ahip injury againstthe 49ers thatisexpected endhis rookie season, according to an NFL Networkreport. Saints coach Kellen Moore said Monday that Broughtonisawaiting a final determination before he optsfor surgery but Moore acknowledged that Broughtonwill be out for “an extendedperiod of time.”

“They’re finalizing all the MRIs andeverything, allthe tests,today,” Moore said. “We’ll figureout an action planmoving forward.”

Moore said Broughton will “most likely” go on injured reserve this week

TheSaints used the first of their two third-round picks to select Broughton out of Texas.

He wasahealthyscratch fora Week 1losstothe Arizona Cardinals, but he was active against the 49ers, playing24defensivesnaps He recorded three tackles.

“He played some really good football yesterday,” Moore said.

Adefensive tackleincollege, the Saints primarily usedBroughton as a3-4 defensive end throughout training camp. New Orleans hasseveral veteranoptions to help makeupfor the loss, including Jonathan Bullard and Jonah Williams Polk’s freshstart

Ja’Lynn Polk had such arough rookie season that the New England Patriotswere willing to trade the 2024 secondround wide receiver after just one year

Butthat one season wasn’t enough to scare off the Saints,who acquired Polk on Saturday for alate-round pick swap.

“It’s(his) first yearinthe NFL,” Mooresaid. “I’m not going to overreact to whatever happenedinNew England. There are some circumstances there.Weliked him coming out and areexcited for where he’sgoing.”

Moore said the Saints did their research into Polk’s time in New England, as

Continued from page1C

49ers faithful filling up most of the Dome’slower level in Week 2ofthe season was alarming, aclear sign of the growing frustration of Saints fans who would rather sell their tickets than watch.

“It’sdefinitely frustrating whenyou come to ahome game and you can’teven hear your own cadence,” right guard Cesar Ruiz said “Even before the game when we came out thetunnel and Isaw all that red, Isaid, ‘Dang.’ But even in these situations, we still have to go out there and handle business.” Simply put, the Saints haven’tbeen doing that.A building that had been one of the most intimidating venues in the NFL during the Sean Payton-Drew Brees era all of asudden

isn’t. Sunday’sloss was the Saints’fifth consecutive defeat in the Dome. Youhave to go all the way back to 2005 to findthe last time the Saints lost that manyhome gamesina row, but that season deserves an asterisk. TheSaintshad to pack their bags and play their home games out of town because of Hurricane Katrina. The last time the Saints lost five straight games in the Dome was at the end of the 1994 season and beginning of 1995. These are thegrowing pains that comewith arebuild for afranchise that hasn’tmade the playoffs since the 2020 season. Since then,the Dome hasn’treally rocked like it used to. Theloudest it’sbeen was theHalloween 2021 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers when the place erupted as P.J. Williams picked offaTom Brady pass and returned it for atouchdown.

wellashis path from high schooltoTexas Tech and Washington. Moore liked the wide receiver coming out of last year’sdraft and that the team would “fall back” on the“evidence” it acquired over anumber of years.

Even though the23-yearold is out for the entire seasonwith ashoulder injury, Mooreindicated theSaints can get alot out of Polk in thelong term.

“I feel like we’re bringing in an awesomepiece,” Moore said. “I’m excited for him, for himtojust get healthy first and foremost. Andthen (we’ll) bring him in here and anew environmentfor himwill be phenomenal.”

As arookie, Polk had an underwhelming 12 catches for 87 yards, andhis advanced stats were even more discouraging. According to

TruMedia, Polk’syards per route run —anindicator that’spredictive of future success —was just 0.35, the lowest of any wide receiver with at least 30 targets since 2012, when the data first became available.

Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated saidonNBC Sports Boston that the PatriotsfelttheymissedonPolk’s “football character,” adding thewide receiver“didn’t dig himself out of that hole” afterhebecame abackup. Polk started five of the Patriots’ first six games before he came off the bench in six of his next eight. He also missedtwo gamesinthat span because of an injury But Polk wasaproductive playerincollege,recording more than1,000 yards receiving in his final season at Washington. And the Saints, who sent the Patriots a

2027 sixth-round pick in exchange for Polk and a2028 seventh-round pick, believe they can still tap into that potential after achange of scenery

Newlidstodebut

The Saints introduced new white helmets earlier this year,and they will wear them forthe first time against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 3, pairing the helmets with their color rush uniforms. It will mark the first time in franchise history the Saints have worn awhite helmetfor ameaningful game. The new helmet features a white shell that incorporates small black flecks throughout and agold fleur de lis on thesides. Thecenterstripe is also gold, with subtle fleur de lis details.

SanFrancisco 49ersfans celebrate after beating the Saints 26-21 at the Caesars Superdome on Sunday

DAVID GRUNFELD

Thedecibel levels also got high at thebeginning of last seasonwhen the Saints lit up the scoreboard for 47 points in aseason-opening winover the CarolinaPanthers. And again two weeksafter that when what looked like a high-powered Saints offense was 2-0 entering thegame against the Philadelphia Eagles

Now,the Saintsare 3-14 over their last 17 games.

TheDome, especially on this particular Sunday, lost a bitofits swagger Saints center Erik McCoy would much rather hear hisown quarterback than a noisy crowd.

“Itsucks,” McCoy said.

But McCoy andhis teammates know thecure,and there’sonlyone

“We’vegot to win,” McCoy said. “It’spretty simple. If we win some games, that changes.”

Email Rod Walker at rwalker@theadvocate.com

You knowhim well.Scotthas been covering LSU since 1992. He is theauthor of three highly acclaimed booksonLSU and was chosen as an LSU Expertfor ESPN’s SEC 150 Documentary

Each Monday,Scottwill puthis thoughts on the last week’sgameand thenextweek’sgame into avideo essayplacing the game in its context anddrawing historical parallels

Kelly apologizes for outburst with reporter

BY KOKI RILEY AND WILSON ALEXANDER Staff writer

LSU coach Brian Kelly addressed why he went off after the first question of his postgame news conference after the Tigers’ 20-10 win over Florida and apologized to the reporter Kelly opened his news conference Monday by addressing his reaction when asked Saturday about LSU’s offensive issues. Kelly said he texted with WBRZ-TV sports director Michael Cauble and apologized for how he handled the exchange.

“I think it’s important to understand that my standards relative to how we work with the media on a day-to-day basis need to be higher,” Kelly said, “and I take responsibility for that, and I’ll be better in the future.” Kelly added that emotions run high after a game and that it’s hard for him to make specific assessments before he has watched film. He said he wanted to “defend” his players after the win, not wanting to focus at the time on what the team needed to improve

“But having said that, I publicly apologize to Mike,” Kelly said. “He’s an outstanding reporter he works hard and we’ll do better moving forward.”

LSU scored one offensive touchdown and gained 316 yards against Florida. Though Kelly did recognize LSU has to play better on offense, he thought the Tigers did what it took to win by controlling field position and playing to their defense, which intercepted Florida quarterback DJ Lagway five times.

After Kelly made an opening statement Saturday Cauble asked what he had seen from the offense, and Kelly cut off him off. Kelly raised his voice as Cauble asked follow-up questions about LSU’s

Continued from page 1C

his left knee Aug. 6, Kelly said He practiced fully again a few days later with a brace, which Nussmeier has not worn during games this season. Nussmeier ranked fifth nationally with 4,052 yards passing in his first season as a starter in 2024. Through three games this season, he is ninth in the SEC in yards passing. LSU has averaged 20 points per game, which ranks last in the conference It has scored only five offensive touchdowns.

Last week, Nussmeier was asked whether an injury or mechanical issue contributed to an interception he threw against Louisiana Tech when he underthrew open wide receiver Barion Brown on a deep ball down the left sideline Nussmeier said no, adding he “just didn’t make the throw.”

LSU’s vertical passing game has struggled, a potential side effect of Nussmeier’s limitations in practice. Nussmeier is 4 of 13 for 132 yards, one touchdown and one interception on throws of more than 20 yards downfield, according to Pro Football Focus.

Kelly said LSU hasn’t been able to practice deep passing plays much until last week, but now that Nussmeier has “turned a corner,” it will build its offense around him.

“You’re not working on it as

third-down offense and struggling run game.

In part, Kelly said “you’re spoiled” and called the questions

“out of line.” He took responsibility for the rant Monday

“I have to do a better job of handling myself in those situations,”

Kelly said on the SEC Network.

“I’ll do better Because I think everybody knows there’s emotion, those questions can be such that you want to defend your team and you want to defend your players.

“That’s your first reaction after a great win But like I said, I’ve been doing it a long time, but I can do better I can learn and handle myself in a better fashion as well.”

Update on West Weeks

LSU fifth-year senior linebacker

West Weeks‘ calf strain, an injury he suffered Saturday against Florida, is not believed to be a “long-term situation,” Kelly said on the SEC Network on Monday

During his appearance on SEC

This Morning, Kelly stated Weeks will wear a walking boot Monday and Tuesday before the Tigers attempt to get him on the practice field.

“(It’s) much better news than what we thought at first,” Kelly said.

He suffered the strain in the third quarter and did not return to the game after landing awkwardly out of bounds while pursuing Lagway Weeks finished with 12 total tackles and a tackle for loss.

LSU adds QB pledge

Four-star quarterback and Class of 2027 prospect Peyton Houston has committed to LSU, he announced in a ceremony at Evangel Christian Academy on Monday Houston is the No. 11 quarterback in the nation and the No. 6

prospect in Louisiana for 2027, according to the 247Sports Composite. He attends Evangel Christian in Shreveport. Houston chose LSU over Southern Cal, Texas, Texas A&M and Oklahoma. Houston is LSU’s first committed player for the Class of 2027. He’s one of three quarterbacks ranked among the top-10 players in the state. Dunham five-star recruit Elijah Haven and Benton High four-star prospect Malachi Zeigler are the other two top quarterback recruits in the state. LSU does not have a quarterback committed to its 2026 class. The Tigers have the No. 11 class in the nation and hold commitments from six top-100 prospects.

LSU-Ole Miss game time

LSU’s trip to Ole Miss on Sept. 27 will kick off at 2:30 p.m. and be televised on ABC, the Southeastern Conference announced Monday LSU took down Florida 20-10 at home on Saturday to improve to 3-0. The Tigers offense failed to score in the second half, but their defense intercepted Florida five times. LSU’s only points in the second half came on a pick-six by sophomore safety Dashawn Spears

Ole Miss also improved to 3-0 on Saturday after defeating Arkansas 41-35. After taking a 31-28 lead at halftime, the Rebels scored 10 unanswered points to pull away from the Razorbacks in the second half.

This Saturday, LSU hosts Southeastern Louisiana. The game is set to kick off at 6:45 p.m. and will be televised on the SEC Network.

Ole Miss faces Tulane at home on Saturday Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m., and the game will be available on ESPN.

much in practice,” Kelly said.

“When you get your shots, you want to be able to take them. But

we’re not doing a lot in practice.

We’re starting to pick up that pace.

We started a little bit last week.

We’ll continue to pick it up more this week.”

In LSU’s 20-10 win over Florida, Nussmeier completed 55.6% of his passes for 220 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He completed 10 of 11 passes at one point, including a 23-yard touchdown to Zavion Thomas, but he went 4 of 10 the rest of the game.

After Nussmeier threw an interception back across his body early in the fourth quarter, LSU did not

Ex-Southern players help top-10 HBCU teams

BY TOYLOY BROWN III Staff writer

Many HBCU football powers won their games in Week 3 of the college football season Southern (1-3) wasn’t one of them after its 56-7 loss at Fresno State of the FBS.

Here’s how I voted in the BOXTOROW HBCU football media poll this week. It’s the first time this season I’ve dropped Southern from my rankings.

1. Jackson State (2-1): The Tigers sat out starting quarterback JaCobian Morgan but still earned a 30-0 win over Division II Tuskegee. Jackson State allowed only seven first downs and 24 total yards rushing.

2. South Carolina State (2-1): The Bulldogs outlasted Bethune-Cookman 55-41 at home. South Carolina State’s 24-0 lead in the first quarter showed how strong a team it can be when its offense and defense are clicking.

The fourth quarter was slightly alarming as Bethune-Cookman scored 28 points to South Carolina State’s 14.

3. North Carolina Central (22): The Eagles blasted Division II Fayetteville State 49-19 at home. They were led by quarterback Walker Harris, who completed 23 of 36 passes for 387 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. The redshirt senior is leading the MidEastern Athletic Conference in passing yards per game (211.5)

4. Alabama State (2-1): The Hornets won their second game in a row after a 37-9 drubbing of Miles, a Division II team. Quarterback Andrew Body completed 14 of 16 passes for 251 yards and four touchdowns and also ran for 60 yards on seven attempts. The redshirt junior has commanded an offense that has scored at least 30 points in every game, including 42 in its loss to FBS program UAB.

5. Alabama A&M (2-1): Alabama A&M makes the top five after capturing an impressive 23-21 win over Tennessee State. The last score was a career-long 45-yard field goal in the third quarter by Victor Barbosa, who made three overall. Quarterback Cornelious Brown passed for a season-high 329 yards. He also had three touchdowns and completed 21 of 33 passes.

6. Tennessee State (1-2): The Tigers were unable to protect their home field against Alabama A&M. They had a great performance from Southern transfer Kendric Rhymes, who had 24 carries for 111 yards and

RABALAIS

Continued from page 1C

many of his passes have had more flutter than zip on them now become clear

I’m sure word of Nussmeier’s injury has many LSU folks thinking back to the torn abdomen suffered in the 2020 Missouri game by former Tigers quarterback Myles Brennan, an injury that effectively spelled the end of his LSU career Nussmeier’s issue does not sound that dire, but Kelly added that Nuss will not get to fully rest and heal until LSU’s first open date. That means Nussmeier will have to play through it this Saturday at home against Southeastern Louisiana (6:45 p.m., SEC Network) and next week at No. 13 Ole Miss (2:30 p.m., ABC).

Now to the earlier issue of Kelly’s postgame blowup at questions from WBRZ sports director Michael Cauble about the offense, particularly the lack of a running game, Kelly personally apologized to Cauble and again did so publicly at Monday’s news conference.

a touchdown. He also caught seven passes for 64 yards and one touchdown

7. Howard (2-1): Howard dominated Morehouse 38-10 after scoring 21 points in the fourth quarter The Bison also held the Division II foe to zero points in the period. They excelled at the line of scrimmage, gaining 425 yards of offense compared to Morehouse’s 182.

8. Delaware State (2-1): Delaware State had the first blowout win in the coach DeSean Jackson era, winning 36-14 over Bowie State, a Division II program. Jackson’s team is averaging 30 points per game, which leads the MEAC. However Delaware State also leads the conference in penalty yards per game, with 125.3, which are 43 yards more than the team in second place.

9. Edward Waters (3-0): The Tigers enjoyed one of the biggest victories in program history winning 41-38 over Virginia Union, the reigning champions of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association in Division II. Edward Waters won on a 35-yard field goal by freshman Ryan Gagne. Former Southern quarterback Noah Bodden led the offense as he completed 20 of 35 passes for 303 yards and one touchdown.

10. Prairie View (1-2): Prairie View fell 38-17 to Rice on the road. It held strong early against the American Conference team, ending the first quarter tied 7-7. The Panthers were unable to sustain defensively allowing 17 points in the second quarter. Tevin Carter of Prairie View rushed for 65 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries.

respects, bigger than LSU’s season-opening win at Clemson, into which the Tigers poured so much effort and attention. The Saturday night tirade made national news, and I’m sure it made memes on social media (I’m glad to say I’m not that bored to go and look for them).

A teaser about it was on the bottom of the screen during ESPN’s “SportsCenter” after the game, not a reference to LSU’s important victory You would have to scour national media again to find any reference to Kelly’s Monday apology, which in my opinion with all the circumstances taken into account was more than adequate.

What Kelly didn’t take into account Saturday night was that the questions were about seasonlong issues with the offense. The concern for this LSU team is the opposite of 2023, but similar nonetheless. That season, a championship-caliber offense led by Heisman-winning quarterback Jayden Daniels was likely kept out of the four-team College Football Playoff by a historically inept LSU defense.

attempt a pass on its final two possessions. Kelly said LSU managed the game to prioritize field position and lean on a defense that had five interceptions.

“We’re taking some plays away from him as well,” Kelly said. “And he’s done a really good job. I think he managed the run game as well as he has all year We got to let him get the ball out to the playmakers. That will be more of what has to happen. And then we’ve got to keep him healthy That’s the most important thing.”

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Cauble’s questions about the offense — which has generated just 53 points this season, not counting Dashawn Spears’ picksix Saturday — were valid and justified. The timing of the questions, which came at the start of the postgame Q and A, perhaps could have been better But they were questions that deserved to be asked.

Conversely, Kelly has the right to take issue with a question and to take up for his team, which had just scored a 10-point victory in its SEC opener Florida’s loss the previous week to South Florida didn’t change the fact that Kelly clearly saw this as a huge and dangerous game. It was, in most

Through three games, the concern this season is that a championship-caliber defense could be kept out of the now 12-team CFP by an offense that is ranked 94th or worse in total offense, scoring offense, rushing and red-zone production.

Kelly said LSU crafted a more conservative offensive approach against Florida because the Tigers defense has been so good. For example, Kelly punted three times when analytics said to go for it on fourth down. Going forward, he admitted that will have to change.

“We’re going to have to do both,” Kelly said, “rely on the defense and be more aggressive on offense.”

“The rest of the story” is set to unfold.

THE VARSITY ZONE

BATON ROUGE AREA FOOTBALL TOP 10s

CLASS 5A AND 4A

1. Catholic-BR (2-0): The Bears defeated St.Thomas More in a back-and-forth battle that ended 35-28.

2. Central (2-0): The Wildcats came from behind to defeat their rival, Denham Springs, on the road, 34-28.

3. Zachary (2-0): The Broncos took down Acadiana 30-14 to remain unbeaten. Zachary has scored more than 30 points in both of its wins.

4. St. Amant (2-0): Behind a monster performance from senior QB Cooper Babin, the Gators took down Cecilia 60-56.

5. Brusly (2-0): The Panthers finished Week 2 with their second straight blowout. Brusly blew past Broadmoor 43-7 on Friday.

6. Liberty (2-0): The Patriots defeated White Castle in commanding fashion with a 59-0 victory.

7. Plaquemine (1-1): After a Week 1 loss, the Green Devils bounced back with a 43-29 victory over Scotlandville.

8. St. Michael (2-0): In the first game in their home stadium, the Warriors took down Tara 42-8.

9. Denham Springs (1-1): The yellow Jackets fell in a close one to Central at home, 34-28. Denham Springs led for most of the second half before falling in the final minutes.

10. Istrouma (2-0): The Indians took down McKinley 24-0 to stay unbeaten. Istrouma has shut out its first two opponents.

CLASS 3A AND BELOW

1. Dunham (2-0): The Tigers took down Live Oak in a shootout, 63-42. Junior QB Elijah Haven put up 535 total yards and eight touchdowns.

2. St. James (2-0): The Wildcats dominated West St. John 52-6 to remain undefeated in the early season.

3. University High (1-1): The Cubs fell to Rummel in the Caesars Superdome, 30-17, for their first loss of the season.

4. Madison Prep (2-0): The Chargers took down Mandeville 30-21 behind another solid performance from two-way star Landon Johnson.

5. North Iberville (2-0): The Bears won a close contest against Livonia, 26-25, to stay unblemished in the

early season.

6. Catholic-PC (2-0): The Hornets blew out Crowley 63-12 on the road in their Week 2 matchup.

7. Slaughter Charter (2-0): The Knights routed Morgan City 62-0 in Week 2. Slaughter Charter has shut out its first two opponents.

8. Southern Lab (1-1): The Kittens bounced back after their Week 1 loss by taking down Carroll, 34-20, this past Friday night.

9. St. John (2-0): The Eagles dominated Springfield, putting up 50 points in a commanding 50-12 win.

10. Ascension Catholic (1-1): After a narrow Week 1 win, the Bulldogs stumbled against Loreauville in a 41-21 defeat.

Jackson Reyes

ANGLE

Continued from page 1C

gain a first down on the play in the final two minutes, Fox rules analyst Dean Blandino said: “I am done with the tush push, guys. It’s a hard play to officiate.”

While there was plenty of scoring and exciting action around the league in Week 2 — the Cowboys beat the Giants 40-37 in overtime in a thrilling, back-and-forth matchup — the tush push became a main topic of conversation during the NFL’s game of the week Sure, there was plenty of talk about Kansas City’s early season struggles, Andy Reid’s out-of-sync offense and Travis Kelce not being on the same page with Mahomes. But the game wasn’t pretty, and the tush push magnified the ugliness. Critics argued in the offseason that it’s a dangerous play but there wasn’t enough injury data to ban it for safety concerns. Most of the disdain was directed at the aesthetics of the play

“Is it part of what football has been traditionally, or is it more of a rugby play?” NFL competition committee chairman Rich McKay said about the discussion.

Those who hate the appearance of the tush push saw it on full display at Arrowhead Stadium.

They’ll have to see it for at least the remainder of the season be-

Save the seeds

Apracticefrom thepastmaking comeback.Here are4tipsfrom theexperts

GARDEN NEWS

It’salways abit sad to see our summer vegetable gardens peter out as the season comes to aclose. Those once-verdant plants are now fading as the long, hot summer takes itstoll. Though harvests of fresh produce may be dwindling, gardens at this time of year can stillprovide us with something valuable: seeds. Seed saving isn’tascommon as it used to be,but it was away of life for many of our ancestors who lived offthe land and prized self-sufficiency.Itwas how they ensured they had seeds to plant —and food on the table —the followingyear. In recent times, some folks have rekindled an interest in saving seeds. Not only does this practice allow you to make the most of your plantings and buildaperpetual supply of seeds, but it also saves money helps preserve genetic diversity and makes it easy to swap favorite and unique varieties with friends.

LSU AGCENTERPHOTO

Envelopes are agreat wayto store seeds.

Kerry Heafner and Marcie Wilson, two LSU AgCenterhorticulture agents, are on amission to encourage people to join the seed-saving movement.

Through their North Louisiana Seed Preservation Program, Heafner and Wilson have tracked downseeds for a number of varieties that were once staples of Louisiana gardens but were eventually lost to time. Many were developed by LSU scientistsinthe early to mid-20th century The program’scollection now includes seeds of varieties that your grandparents might have grown —things like the Red-NSweet watermelon, Louisiana Green Velvet okra and awide range of tomatoes, snap beans and field peas.

It’slargely because of home gardeners who dutifully stashed their seeds year after year that Heafnerand Wilson have been able to rediscover these outstanding varieties and introduce them to others. So, what kinds of seeds can be saved? And how do you do it? Here are some tips from Heafner and Wilson.

Save seedsfromhealthy plants Seeds must be from heirloom, or open-pollinated,varieties that have been pollinated naturally by wind, insectsor animals. Heirloom varieties are usuallymarked as such at the garden center and differ from modernhybrids, whose seeds typically either are sterile or won’tbreed “true.”

Youshould only save seeds from plants grown in isolation

“Wethink

that’ll be aniceway to getpeople back into the traditional retail setting by offering alittleextraamenity that you’re just not goingtoget on an online shoporanything like that.” GARRETT J. KEMP,Circa1857 co-owner

ALLTHE TALK

PBY MADDIE SCOTT Staff writer

rized around Baton Rouge for its European antiques, vintage furniture anddecor,Circa1857 might soon offer more thanjust antiques. Co-owner Garrett J. Kemp has managed thebusiness since 2016, andnow,hewants to reinvent retail.

Beforethe end of the year,Kemp is hoping to open aspeakeasy lounge,aslong as permits and zoningsubmissions go through as expected.

“Wereally wantedtofigure out away,‘Howdowebring in more people back toward atraditional retail setting?, Kemp said.

For Kemp andhis husband, Luke Lognion, aspeakeasy lounge is the answer

An openingdateisnot yetofficial because Kempiscurrently acquiringthe proper permits, so it’sstill aworkinprogress, he said. It will be heard by the zoning commission in mid-October

An online store is tricky for an antique business because one-of-akind listings must be immediately

SHOWGIRL ERA

Market and Cakery’sJuly

strawberry lemonade, crèmebrûlée, cake batter confettiand triple chocolatechip.

before purchasing, Kemp said.

“Wethink that’ll be anice wayto get people back into the traditional retail setting by offering alittle extra amenity that you’re just not going to get on an online shop or anything like that,” he said.

The project has been alabor of love, Kemp said.The spacewill feel like an elevatedcocktailbar, makingitthe perfect spot to grab adrink before or after dinner and hang out forabit.

An inside look

updated after asinglepurchase. On the other side, in-personshoppers gettofeel,smelland touch the product, and maybe grab adrink

Thearea is still under construction, but the speakeasy spans two mainrooms —alounge room and abarroom with hues of green, gray and blue. In the bar area, Kemp handbuilt emerald-green shelveson the back wallwhere bottles will be displayed. In front of the shelves is alonglive-oakslabcounter that Kemp is building with the help of afriend. The walls sport several different wallpapers. Oneisapink wallpaper featuring differentsafari animals wearingtop hats andsuits,

Husband’sgameisn’t really that cute

Dear Miss Manners: My husband and Idine out often. Iuse my napkinand have good manners, but even so, there are times thatIapparently get small particles of food on my face. When this happens, my husband thinks it’sfun to play “food-on-your-face charades.” He will point to his own face to let me know that there is aproblem, then when Iuse my napkin to clean it up, he will say “wrong side” andpoint to another place on his face. This can go on three or four times until Ifeel totallyembarrassedand humiliated.

Gentle reader: And that amuses him?

By The Associated Press

Todayinhistory:

Judith Martin MISS MANNERS

Miss Mannershas no trouble solving yoursurface problem: Carryasmall mirror in your purse, andcheck your face yourself.But you might wanttoconsider that the underlying problem also requiresattention. Dear Miss Manners: Is it rude,orat least unprofessional, for my urologist to never address me by name andinstead use theword “pal”? For example: “Hey, pal,”or“Take it easy,pal.”

He is about 30 years my junior, but Ihave other doctors younger thanhim whodonot do this. At first, Ithought this was agenerational thing of “being cool” or whatever.But now it just disgusts me, and I’m on the cusp of cutting ties.

TODAYINHISTORY

Today is Tuesday,Sept. 16,the 259th day of 2025. There are 106 days left in the year

On Sept. 16, 1893, the largest land run in U.S. historyoccurred as more than 100,000 Whitesettlers rushed to claimover more than 6million acres of land in what is now northern Oklahoma. Also on this date:

In 1810, Catholic priest Miguel Hidalgo yCostilla called on his parishioners to join him in a rebellion against Spanish rule, marking the beginning of the Mexican WarofIndependence.

In 1908, General Motors was founded in Flint, Michigan,by William C. Durant.

In 1940, SamuelT.Rayburn of Texas was first elected speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives; he would hold thepost for arecord 17 years, spanning three separate terms.

In 1966, the Metropolitan Opera officially opened itsnew opera house at New York’sLincoln Center for the Performing Arts with the world premiere of Samuel Barber’s“Antonyand Cleopatra.”

In 1974, President Gerald R. Ford signed aproclamation announcing aconditional amnesty program for Vietnam war deserters and draft evaders. In 1982, the massacre of more than 1,300 Palestinianmen, women and children at thehands of Israeli-allied Christian Phalange militiamen began in west Beirut’sSabra and Shatila refugee camps.

BAKERY

Continued from page1D

she’sinspired by Swift’sdrive and dedicationtoher music, along with her ability to inspire women. Burr attended theEras concert and wanted to provide a space in BatonRouge for Swift fans to congregate and celebrate the upcoming album.

“I feel like having alistening party is just ano-brainer because we are awoman-owned business, and we are showingpeople that girlscan do whatever they want to do,” Burr said. The bakery will be decorated in aSwift theme and will include photoopportunities with “Eras” backgrounds.Burr encourages attendees to come dressed in their favorite era or Swift merchandise and to prepare their favorite Swift tune for Swiftie karaoke.

Burr notedthat the newlocation is ideal for an event like this because of thesize, layout and fenced-in outdoor space.

“Wehave new indoor and outdoor surround sound, so we’ll be taking advantageofthat by listening to the music andhaving like alittle bit of an inside and outside experience,” she said

“The Life of aShowgirl” listening party will also feature Swiftinspired treats and drinks for people to sample,asthe new location will also serve coffee and tea. The event is free and open to the public.

“Wejust wanna get to know everybody and hangout, and it’ll just be afun time for Swifties to get to know each other,” Burr said.

The new location also features aprivate party room and fencedin yard, which will allow for the storefront to be openwhileprivate events or cake-decorating classesare goingon. Burr says she’sexcited that thenew location shares aparking lot with a dental office, so the bakery will

Gentlereader: It is supposed to be cute. Like you, Miss Manners doesn’tmuch care for cute. However,she has noticed that there is hardly away of addressing people formally without the risk of causing offense. Sometimes it is just the use of formality,aswhen aperson addressed as “mister” says, “That makes me feel old.” More often, it is the choice of title, as when a professional title is omitted,ora lady is infuriated because someone guesses wrong about whether she prefers Miss, Ms. or Mrs. Miss Manners is sorry to see honorifics disappearing, because they indicate respect, distinguish between professional and social relationships, and establishstages of intimacy.But unless everyone

calms down, she understands why it is easiertouse kindergarten forms.

Dear Miss Manners: Afriend called me asking if she could crash at my place that sameday.I thought that was super rude. Ifelt very uncomfortable with her just unexpectedly telling me she wanted to stay at my place instead of getting ahotel room She can affordit; money is not an issue. She was visiting someone else, but didn’twant to stay at that friend’shouse because she has a husband andtwo children, whereas Ihave moreroom. Friends need to understand my house is not acrash pad. This is my sanctuary.It’snot an emergency

Gentle reader: Then whyare you treating this as an etiquette emergency?

Of course it is your house, which is whyitshould be easy to tell afriend, “I’m so sorry,but that won’twork. Ihope you find something.”

Miss Manners hates to think of the trouble people might get into if manners required them to yield to every proposition made to them

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

Take alookatthistwo-in-onehint

In 2007, O.J. Simpson was arrested in thealleged armed robbery of sports memorabilia collectors in Las Vegas.(Simpson was later convicted of kidnapping and armedrobbery and sentenced to nine to 33 years in prison; he was released in 2017.)

In 2013, Aaron Alexis,aformerU.S. Navy reservist,went on ashootingrampage inside the Washington Navy Yard, killing 12 peoplebefore being fatally shot police.

In 2018, at least 17 people were confirmed dead from Hurricane Florence as catastrophic flooding spread across the Carolinas.

Today’sbirthdays: Actor George Chakiris is 93. Actor Ed Begley Jr.is76. Author-historianfilmmaker Henry Louis Gates Jr.is75. Country singer David Bellamy (TheBellamy Brothers) is 75. Actor Mickey Rourke is 73. Jazz musician Earl Klugh is 72. TV personality Mark McEwen is 71. Baseball Hall of Famer Robin Yount is 70. Magician David Copperfield is 69. Actor Jennifer Tilly is 67. Retired MLB All-Star pitcher Orel Hershiser is 67. Baseball Hall of Famer TimRaines is 66. Singer Richard Marx is 62. Comedian Molly Shannon is 61. Singer Marc Anthonyis57. News anchor/talk show host Tamron Hall is 55. Comedian-actor Amy Poehler is 54. Singer-songwriter Musiq Soulchild is 48. Rapper Flo Rida is 46. Actor Alexis Bledel is 44. Actor MadelineZima is 40. Actor Max Minghella is 40. Rock singer-musician Nick Jonas (The Jonas Brothers) is 33.Actor Chase Stokes is 33.

PROVIDED PHOTO

Thenew Eloise Market and Cakery is located at 1940 Perkins Road in the HundredOaks neighborhood.

have an entireparking lotfor customers during the evenings and weekends.

For Burr,this new location is like coming home. She grew up on Park Boulevard and went to St. Joseph’s Academy,soshe’sfamiliarwith the area.

“All my friends lived on the streetsaround here,” Burr said.

“So Ifeel like thisneighborhood is perfect for us just because alot of our community comes through this area every day.”

The previous location of Eloise Market and Cakery was at 320 Lee Drive and had been open since 2021. Burr closed the first location because shewas looking foralarger space with adifferent layout.

The newEloise Market and Cakery is currently taking preorders forpickup only until Oct. 3. Thegrandopening weekend will also include “Vendor Market Saturday” on Oct. 4and “Family FunDay Sunday”onOct. 5. Formore information, visit eloisemarket.com

Email Joy Holden at joy holden@theadvocate.com.

Dear Heloise: In theAdvocatein Louisiana, Isaw two recommendations in your column that I’d like to add to:

First,wooden cutting boards have been proven to be thesafest option of cutting boards. Detailed tests conducted by at least two universities show that wooden boards remain safe and bacteria-free with minimal upkeep. Just wash them in soapy water as you would any dish or pot.Anoccasional rubdown withcommon mineral oil is acheap and easy way to keep them from drying out.

with the powder; just sprinkle the powder where the bugs will walk in it. Ilive in New Orleans and have used boric acid powder fordecades with great results. —Andy Gallien, via email

the appearance wasactually quite nice. —Nancy,inFlorida

Bedsheethint

Fixing astained counter

Second, boric acid powder is, indeed, agreat way toget rid of manycrawling critters including roaches, antsand silverfish. It isn’tnecessary to mix any sugar

Dear Heloise: Iwanted to write in with aresponse to the man whostained his counter with red wine. Years ago, we boughta homewhere theowner had cleverly repaired aburned area of thekitchen counter.They had set ahot pan next to the stove. They had arepairman cut the burned area out. This was replaced with asquare of heat-tolerant material so that you could set ahot pot on it. The square had ametal border,and

Dear Heloise: My husband and I are older and sleep in separate roomsfor avariety of reasons. We have queen- and king-size beds, and Iusually change the sheets once aweek. But then my husband suggested ahint: Since we each only sleep on one side of the bed, whynot turn the sheets around and switch the pillowcases? Then we could just remake the bed so that we are sleeping on the clean sheets from the other side. It saves us the timeofdoing laundry and folding items. —Karen, in Florida

Send ahinttoheloise@heloise com.

Makesure seeds are fully

SEEDS

Continuedfrom page1D

from other varieties of thesame species. For example, if you grew morethan one type of okra this summer,those plantsmay have cross-pollinated, affecting the purityofthe seeds’ genetics. The seeds may indeed sprout next year —but they may produce offtypes withundesirable traits.

Isolationdistancevaries

Finally,keep seeds from pestand disease-free plants that were good performers in your garden. Preparingthe seeds

Many seeds are quitesimple to save. For beans, peas and okra, you can just leave pods on the plants, allow them to turn brown and fully dry,then pluck them.

CIRCA 1857

Continuedfrom page1D

which Kemp bought from Divine Savages, aBritish wallpaper business based in Bath,England.

“Other than the barstools, all of our furniture will be antique pieces,” Kemp said. “Allofour glassware is going to be vintage pieces. Obviously,wehave agood source for it. We’ll be able to swap things out often.”

Kemp plans for the glassware to cycle, so there’ll often be something new.And someglasses may be available for purchase.

Somefurniture pieces have already been chosen, including a

Break or cut open the pods to accessthe seeds. Air dry the seeds for aday to ensure there is no moisture present before storing. It takes afew extra steps to preserve the seeds of veggies like tomatoes and cucumbers that have ajelly-like substance called locular gel around their seeds. You’ll needtoscoop out the seeds, place them in water and let them ferment forabout three days. This process allows the seeds to detach from thepulp and the gel, which inhibits germination. Fermentation can still be beneficial for watermelonsand other kinds of produce that don’thave locular gel.Itseparates seeds from pulp while removingpathogens and boostinggermination rates. After fermentation, spread the seeds in asingle layer on anonstick surface like awaxy paper plate. Allow them to air dry completely,which may take several

pink and green striped antique sofa. Plush armchairs anddim lighting give the entire space an intimate feeling.

He plans for the entrance to be on thesame wallasCirca 1857’s entrance and hopesfor apatio area as well.

“We’ll have tons of plants,” Kemp said aboutthe patioarea. “Withmy treecoverage, Iplanonhanging somechandeliers and things from the trees just to kind of keep the whimsical aspect to it.”

Openingdate, hoursand menu

Kemp might not officially name thelounge, instead having it as an extensionofCirca 1857. If everything goes as planned, the speakeasy might open in late November

days. Be patient; don’tbetempted to dry seeds in an oven or dehydrator

Storageoptions

Package your dry seeds into something airtight such as envelopes, plastic bags and jars forstorage. Tossing in silica gel packs, rice or powdered milk can help reduce moisture accumulation. Be sure to label the storage containers with the crop, variety and date.

Store seeds in acool, dark, dry place. Abox on ashelf works fine, and so does arefrigerator kept between 35 and 40 degrees. The freezer is great forlong-term storage of heirloom seeds, keeping them viable foryears. For moreinformation on how to save and store seeds, visit www LSUAgCenter.com/SeedPreservationProgram or contact your local AgCenter agent.

or December,hesaid.

Kemp would like the speakeasy’s hours to overlap alittle with Circa 1857’s hours. For example,the speakeasy mayopen around 4p.m on weekdays, giving customers an hour or so to shop around the antique store and then grab adrink. On weekends, the speakeasy will likely open earlier, so customers can make aday outoftheir shopping experience and also visit other businesses on thelot like Leola’sCafe.

While the menu won’tinclude food, it’ll have some local, maybe European, beer brands, Kemp said. “I thinkwe’ll have arobustand seasonally changing menu of cocktails,” Kemp said. “And we’ll have somebeers and wines and whatnot as well.”

VIRGo (Aug. 23-sept. 22) Get ready to roll up your sleeves and do the work yourself. Take pride in what you do, and the rewards will be forthcoming. An opportunity to spend time with someone seasoned will be informative.

LIBRA (sept. 23-oct 23) Keep your feet firmly planted on the ground and your mind focused on what's necessary and how quickly you can achieve what you set out to do. Your attention to detail will pay off.

scoRPIo (oct. 24-Nov. 22) You need a break. Shake things up and redirect your energy toward something you feel enthusiastic about, and the tables will turn. Put yourself first and do something that brings out the best in you.

sAGIttARIus (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) Change your surroundings to make your life easier and more comfortable. Stop worrying about what others want, say or do when your focus should be on doing what's best for you.

cAPRIcoRN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Get out and communicate with people who share your interests. Traveling, reuniting with people from your past and paying more attention to those you care about will help you get your life in order.

AQuARIus (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Today is all about how you make and spend your cash. Look for higher-paying jobs, send out resumes and network with people who share your skills, and you'll gain insight into who's hiring.

PIscEs (Feb. 20-March 20) Mix business with pleasure and expand your connec-

tions and ability to get ahead. Discipline and hard work alone won't be enough; you'll also need allies and a desire to stay on top.

ARIEs (March 21-April 19) Focus, and finish what you start. Don't take on too much, or overreact to situations that might cause relationship problems. Join groups that encourage you to choose an active lifestyle.

tAuRus (April 20-May 20) Spend more time working from home. Too much activity happening around you will be distracting. Avoid discussions with disgruntled associates. Take better care of your health.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) Keep your thoughts to yourself until you are ready to proceed. A change will point you in a new direction and encourage you to acquire additional knowledge, certifications or other assets.

cANcER (June 21-July 22) An open and honest approach to personal and professional affairs will help avoid discord. Use your charm and intellect to persuade others to support your plans.

LEo (July 23-Aug. 22) Hard work will pay off. What you do will be noticed. Stand tall and be proud of what you can offer, and you will receive more than anticipated in return.

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

Sudoku

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

Yesterday’s PuzzleAnswer

By PHILLIP ALDER Bridge

To what was this commentreferring? “TheChipalsoreducesthedamagedone by bandits. They stillsteal drinks and cheers along the course,but no longer scramblethepayingrunners’results.No entry fee, no Chip, no time or place. For abridge declarer, it can be acase of no entry card, no contract success as in this deal. HowshouldSouthplantheplayinthree no-trump after West leads the heartfour and East putsuphis 10?

With all of thoseaces and kings,that South hand is worth atwo-club opening bidevenifyourrangeforatwo-no-trump opening is agood 20 to 22.

South starts with six top tricks: two spades, two hearts (given thelead) and twodiamonds. He canestablish at least three club tricks, but if the defender with the ace can hold up that card until the third round of the suit, declarer will need adummy entry. This can be only the heart queen. First, this requiresWest’s having the heart king. That is highlylikelybecause withoutthe king, West wouldhave probablyled the nine from aholding like 9-8-7-4-2. Second, South must win the first trickwith his ace, not withhis jack. Then, after driving out the club ace and winning East’s shift, declarer can lead a hearttowarddummy’squeentogenerate

thatvitalentry.Theopeningobservation wasmadebyJoe Henderson about the Bostonmarathon. To stop nonentries suddenly seeming tobedoingwell,eachrunnerhasamicrochipinhis laces. This also gives everyone an accurate start-line-to-finish-line time. ©2025 by NEA,Inc., dist.

By Andrews McMeel Syndication

Each Wuzzle is awordriddlewhich creates adisguised word, phrase, name, place, saying, etc. For example: NOON GOOD =GOOD AFTERNOON

Previous answers:

word game

INstRuctIoNs: 1. Words must be of fourormore letters. 2. Words that acquire fourletters by the addition of “s,”such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed.3 Additional words made by adding a“d” or an “s” may not be used. 4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit wordsare not allowed toDAy’s WoRD toRsIoN: TOR-shun: The twisting of abody.

Average mark16words

Time limit 25 minutes

Can you find 23 or morewords in TORSION?

yEstERDAy’s WoRD —uPsILoN

upon pious plus silo slip slop snip soil soul soup spin spoil spun lion lisp loin lupin onus opus

thought

tell you, No:but, except you repent, you shall all likewise perish.” Luke13:5

Conservation,P.O.Box 94275, BatonRouge,LA 70804-9275, within the thirty (30) calendar day period followingthe date of this notice.Inthe ab‐senceofthe filing of any letter of objectionduring thesaidthirty(30)calen‐darday period,a Supple‐mental Order will be is‐sued terminatingthe unit(s) as requestedby theapplicant. With re‐specttothe computation of said thirty (30) calen‐darday period of time al‐lowedfor receivingwrit‐tenobjections, thedate of this LegalNoticeand theapproval date shall notbeincluded. In the eventthe last dayofsaid thirty (30) calendar day period falls on aSatur‐day, Sunday,ora legal holiday, it shallbeunder‐stood that thelastday of said thirty (30) calendar dayperiodwillthenbe considered to be thefol‐lowing Monday or the dayfollowing thelegal holiday. Acopyofthisapplica‐tion is availablefor in‐

p www.centerlinebidco nnect.com Printed copies arenot available from theDesignerbut arrangements canbe made to obtain them throughmostrepro‐graphic firms. Plan hold‐ersare responsiblefor theirown reproduction costs.

Questionsabout this pro‐cedure shallbedirected to theDesignerat: Didier Architecture: Derryl Didier,Architect &Associates, LLC 17531 OldJefferson Hwy.,Suite C Prairieville, LA 70769 Telephone: 225-744-0008 E-mail:

derryl@didierarch.com

Allbidsshall be accom‐panied by bidsecurityin an amount of five per‐cent (5.0%) of thesum of thebasebid andall al‐ternates.The form of this security shallbeas stated in theInstructions to Biddersincludedin theBid Documentsfor this project.

ThesuccessfulBidder shallberequiredtofur‐nish aPerformance and PaymentBondwritten as describedinthe Instruc‐tionsto Biddersincluded in theBid Documentsfor this project.

APRE-BID CONFERENCE WILL BE HELD at 10:00 AM on Thursday September18, 2025 at Building D, Facility Services Conference Room D45, 290 East AirportDrive BatonRouge,LA70806.

FORBIDS Sealed bids will be re‐ceived forthe Stateof Louisianabythe Division of Administration and shallbedirectedtothe Office of Facility Planning andControl,1201 North ThirdStreet, Claiborne Office Building,Suite 7160, BatonRouge, Louisiana, 70802 or P.O. Box94095, BatonRouge, Louisiana, 70804-9095. Thedeadlinefor receipt of bids is 2:00 PM on Tuesday, October07, 2025,atwhich time bids will be opened andread aloudina public meeting in theClaiborne Office Building Conference Room 1-155. FOR: Roof Replacement InvestigativeSupport Services (ISS)Building DPSDataProcessing Center BatonRouge,Louisiana PROJECTNUMBER: 01-107-24-04, F.01004679 Complete Bidding Docu‐mentsfor this projectare availableinelectronic form.Theymay be ob‐

Bids shallbeaccepted from Contractorswho arelicensedunder LA R.S. 37:2150-2192 forthe classification of Building Construction or Roofing andSheet Metal, Siding Bidder is required to comply with provisions andrequirementsofLA R.S. 38:2212(B)(5). No bid maybewithdrawn for a period of forty-five (45) days after receiptof bids,exceptunder the provisions of LA.R.S 38:2214.

TheOwnerreservesthe righttorejectany andall bids forjustcause.Inac‐cordance with La.R.S 38:2212(B)(1), theprovi‐sionsand requirements of this Sectionand those stated in thebidding documentsshall notbe waived by anyentity.

When this projectis fi‐nanced either partially or entirely with StateBonds or financed in whole or in part by federalorother fundswhich arenot readilyavailable at the time bids arereceived, theaward of this Con‐tractiscontingentupon thegrantingoflines of credit,orthe sale of bondsbythe Bond Com‐missionorthe availabil‐ityoffederal or other funds. TheState shall incurnoobligationtothe Contractor untilthe Con‐tractBetween Ownerand Contractor is fullyexe‐cuted.

REQUISITION 11297693

Bonds, Series 2025, of the Chaneyville FireProtection District No. 7ofthe Parish of East Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana; and providing for other matters in connection therewith. By Chaneyville Fire Protection District. RESOLUTION

Establishing health insurance rates and plan design for employees and retirees, effective January 1, 2026. By Human Resources Director RESOLUTION

Authorizing the Mayor-President to accept agrant on behalf of Local Workforce Development Board21fromthe Louisiana Workforce Commission, Office of Workforce Development (LWC), to administer the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Program (EmployBR) in the amount of $3,717,125 and execute all documents in connection therewith for agrant period of July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2027. By Workforce Investment Director RESOLUTION

Authorization for the Mayor-President and/or Chairman of the Airport Commission to formally request the Louisiana DOTD, Division of Aviation to provide funds required to complete the airport improvements at the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport specifically described in the Capital Improvement Program Application for state financial assistance for fiscal year’s2026-2030 and to provide for $20,000.00 local contribution for each of 100% state funded projects listed therein. By Aviation Director. RESOLUTION

Pursuant to Ordinance 16612, the Baton Rouge City Court Judges will receive the equivalent salary of the East Baton Rouge Parish District Judge. Therefore, each City Court Judge will requireanincrease in their City-Parish base pay for the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 in the amount of $10,006.00. By Interim Clerk of Court/Judicial Administrator.

RESOLUTION

Authorizing the Mayor-President to execute an agreement between the City of Baton Rouge, Parish of East Baton Rouge, on behalf of the Office of Community Development, and Youth Oasis, in an amount not to exceed $70,000.00, with aterm beginning May 1, 2025, and ending May 30, 2026, and further authorizing the execution of all related documents. By Community Development Director

RESOLUTION

Authorizing the Mayor-President to accept the grant awardfor the FFY 2026 Highway Safety Grant in an amount up to $93,000 on behalf of the Baton Rouge City Court from the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission for the operation of the Baton Rouge City Court’sDWI/Sobriety Court. Additionally authorizing the Administrative Judge and/or Interim Clerk of Court/Judicial Administrator of the Baton Rouge City Court to execute all related grant agreements and/or necessary documents in connection therewith at the appropriate time. The grant is 100% federally funded through the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission. The Grants Review Committee shall review and approve the line-item budget prior to the expenditureoffunds. By Interim Clerk of Court/JudicialAdministrator. RESOLUTION

Authorizing the Mayor-President on behalf of the Division of Human Development and Services, Ryan White Program to amend asubrecipient

LSA-R.S.

NOTICE OF INTENTION TO DECLARE ADJUDICATED TAXPROPERTY SURPLUS AND TO SELL SAME UNDER THEPROVISIONSOF LSA-R.S.

ET

Authorizingthe Metropolitan Counciltodeclarethe

previously adjudicated to East Baton Rouge

property,and to authorize thesaleofsaidproperties to theindicated persons, their agentsorassigns for the consideration mentioned (MinimumBid Amount), or to thehighest offerorwho submits their offer with a certified check or money orderinthe amount indicated:

Lot 9+ Sq 12

for atotal awarded amount of $1,047,028.00, which includes all funding under the Ryan White Ending the HIV Epidemic Program, and authorizing the execution of alldocumentsinconnectiontherewith. By Human Development &Services Director

RESOLUTION

Authorizing the Mayor-President on behalfofthe Division of Human Development and Services, Ryan White Program to amend asubrecipient contract with HIV/AIDSAlliance for Region Two, Inc. in the amount of $120,010.00 and extend the contract period through February 28, 2026, for atotal awarded amount of $1,305,441.00, which includes all funding under the Ryan White Ending the HIV Epidemic Program, and authorizing the execution of alldocumentsinconnectiontherewith. By Human Development & Services Director

RESOLUTION

Authorizing the Mayor-President on behalfofthe Division of Human Development and Services, Ryan White Program to amend asubrecipient contract with Our Lady of the Lake in the amount of $76,743.00 and extend the contract period through February 28, 2026 fora totalawarded amount of $765,546.00, which includes all funding under the Ryan White Ending the HIV EpidemicProgram, and authorizing the execution of all documents in connection therewith. By Human Development &Services Director

RESOLUTION

Authorizing the Mayor-President on behalf of the Division of Human Development and Services, Ryan White Program to amend asubrecipient contract with Family Services of Greater Baton Rouge in the amount of $104,427.00, and extend the contract period through February 28, 2026, foratotal awarded amount of $956,323.00, which includes all funding under the Ryan White Ending the HIV EpidemicProgram, and authorizing the execution of all documents in connection therewith. By Human Development &Services Director

RESOLUTION

Authorizing the Mayor-President on behalf of the Division of Human Development and Services, Ryan White Program to amend asubrecipient

contract with NO AIDS Taskforce in the amount of $64,620.00, and extend the contract period through February 28, 2026, foratotal awarded amount of $732,236.00, which includes allfunding under the Ryan White Ending the HIV Epidemic Program, and authorizing the execution of all documents in connection therewith. By Human Development &Services Director

RESOLUTION

Authorizing the Mayor-President on behalf of the Division of Human Development and Services, Ryan White Program to amend asubrecipient contract with Volunteers of America South Central Louisiana in the amount of $123,141.00 and extend the contract period through February 28, 2026 for atotal awarded amount of $1,406,175.00, which includes all funding under the Ryan White Ending the HIV EpidemicProgram, and authorizing the execution of all documents in connection therewith. By Human Development &Services Director

RESOLUTION

Receiving an introductory report by the new CEOofSt. Vincent de Paul, outlining her vision for the organization. By Councilwoman Carolyn R. Coleman.

RESOLUTION

Authorizing the Mayor-President to execute aContract for Construction InspectionServices with RichardC.Lambert Consultants, LLC., for services associated with MOVEBR Enhancement Project Plank Road Corridor Enhancement Segment 2(Dawson Drive to Harding), being City-Parish Project No.20-EN-HC-0033, in an amount not to exceed $192,000. (Account No.9217100077 4372.00000-0000000000-653100). By Transportation and Drainage Director

RESOLUTION

Authorizing the Mayor-President to execute aSupplemental Agreement to Contract for Professional Engineering Services with Forte &Tablada, Inc. forservices associated with MOVEBR Capacity Project OldHammond Highway Segment 1–Phase C, being City-Parish Project No.12-CSHC-0043C,inanamount not to exceed $1,826,025.49. (Account No 9217100034-4360 00003-0000000000-653240). By Transportation and Drainage Director

RESOLUTION

Authorizing the Mayor-President to execute Supplemental Agreement 9for Professional Engineering Services with Shread-Kuyrkendall& Associates, Inc. forservices associated with MOVEBR Capacity Project Pecue Lane/I-10 Interchange, being City-Parish Project No.09-CS-US-0041, in an amount not to exceed $225,000. (Account No.9217100032-000004360.00000-0000000000-653100). By Transportation and Drainage Director.

Authorizingthe

RESOLUTION

andDrainageDirector

RESOLUTION

Authorizing the Mayor-President to sign the collection agreementwith Southern University Economic Development District to collect and distribute the 1% sales taxand 1% occupancy taxlevied by the District effective October1,2025 through Resolution No. 01 of the Southern University Economic Development District dated August 26, 2025. By FinanceDirector

RESOLUTION

Authorizing the Mayor-President to sign the collection agreementwith Louisiana State University Economic Development District to collect and distribute the 1% sales taxand 1% occupancy taxlevied by the District effective October1,2025 through Resolution No. 08 of the Louisiana State University Economic Development District dated August 28, 2025. By FinanceDirector

RESOLUTION

Authorizing the Mayor-President to execute an AmendedIntergovernmental Agreementbetween the Ascension Parish Government, East Ascension ConsolidatedGravity Drainage District No. 1, Iberville Parish,and East Baton Rouge Parish to include the City of St. George in connection with the Bayou Manchac Restoration andWards Creek realignment project through the Louisiana Watershed Initiative Programinanamount not to exceed $30,000,000.00. By Transportation andDrainageDirector

RESOLUTION

Rescinding Council Resolution 58620, awarding the contract for Old Hammond Highway- Segment 1S.Flannery to Goodwood, being Project No. 12-CS-HC-0043A-5,toRichard PriceContractingCo., LLC and awarding the contract to the next lowest responsible bidder,Command Construction Industries, LLC, in the amount of $6,553,099.50 (Account No. 9217100034-4360 00106-0000000000-653100; 9217100034-4370 00000-0000000000-653100).By: Transportation andDrainageDirector

CONDEMNATION INTRODUCTIONS

EdwardMitchell andMichael Mitchell 1123 Blount Rd., Lot A-2 (Should Read Lot A-2 Resub. Of Lot A), Sq. 31 North Baton Rouge Subdivision -Council District 2-Kenney Aline WalkerSampson 5730 Fairfields

PUBLIC NOTICE

REQUISITION11297692

OFFICIAL PUBLIC NOTICE OF THE REGULARZONING MEETING OF THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL OF THEPARISHOFEAST BATONROUGE ANDTHE CITY OF BATONROUGE Notice is hereby givento allcitizensofthe City of BatonRouge,Parishof East BatonRouge andto allother interested per‐sons,ofthe introduction at theregular meetingof theMetropolitanCouncil of theCityofBaton Rougeand ParishofEast BatonRouge,heldonAu‐gust 27, 2025, of thepro‐posedordinances, theti‐tles of which areset forthhereinafter,and that public hearingwill be held thereonbythe Metropolitan Councilat 4:00 P.M.,Wednesday September17, 2025, in theCouncil Chambers (Room 348) on thethird floor of theCity-Parish Governmental Building in this City,these proposed ordinances beingenti‐tled as follows:

ORDINANCE

Amending theCompre‐hensiveZoningMap of theCityofBaton Rouge andParishofEastBaton Rouge, as containedin andmadepartofthe “Unified Development Code “, as amendedso as to change thezoning on thepropertylocated at 20414 SamuelsRoad To amendthe Compre‐hensiveLandUse Plan from Agricultural/Rural to Commercial, located on thenorth side of Mount Pleasant-Zachary Road,eastofSamuels Road,ona portionof property noworformerly knownasTract B-1-A-1-A2-Aofthe WilliamT Woodside Property.Sec‐tions6 and66, T5S, R1W, GLD, EBRP,LA(Council District 1- Noel) PA-5-25 ORDINANCE Amending theCompre‐hensiveZoningMap of theCityofBaton Rouge andParishofEastBaton Rouge, as containedin andmadepartofthe “Unified Development Code “, as amendedso as to change thezoning on

located l d

p p y at 20414 SamuelsRoad To rezone from Ruralto CommercialWarehouse One(CW1) on property locatedonthe northside of MountPleasantZacharyRoad, east of SamuelsRoad, on apor‐tion of property nowor formerly knownasTract B-1-A-1-A-2-Aofthe WilliamT.Woodside Property.Sections6 and 66, T5S, R1W, GLD, EBRP LA (Council District 1 –Noel) CASE 29-25

ORDINANCE Chapter9,Use Regula‐tionsUnified Develop‐ment Code amendment to revise Section9.5.2.D Fences andWalls amending theheightand location criteria of fences andwalls allow‐ingfor placementcloser to astreet when other similarfencesorwalls arelocated in thesame subdivision, or when abutting awider side‐walk or multi-usepath TA-1-25

ORDINANCE

Amending theCompre‐hensiveZoningMap of theCityofBaton Rouge andParishofEastBaton Rouge, as containedin andmadepartofthe “Unified Development Code “, as amendedso as to change thezoning on thepropertylocated at 1750 Gulf SouthPark‐wayTorezonefromRural to LightCommercial Three(LC3) on property locatedonthe west side of Gulf SouthParkway southofInnovationPark Drive, on property nowor formerly knownasLot Y2-B-1-A-1-A-1-A-2ofBaton RougeAreaFoundation Property.Section 77, T8S, R1E, GLD, EBRP,LA(Coun‐cilDistrict3 -Gaudet) CASE 27-25 ORDINANCE Amending theCompre‐hensiveZoningMap of theCityofBaton Rouge andParishofEastBaton Rouge, as containedin andmadepartofthe “Unified Development Code “, as amendedso as to change thezoning on thepropertylocated at 6263 Comite DriveTo rezone from HeavyCom‐mercial(C2)toSingle Family Residential(A1) property locatedonthe northsideofComite Drive, east of Plank Road on aportion of property noworformerly known f

y as Tract4-D-1-7-A-5 of H. B. WeilandTract.Section 33, T5S, R1E, GLD, EBRP, LA (Council District 2Kenney) CASE 28-25 156281 Sept.2,9,16, 3t $203.05

PUBLIC NOTICE

TheLouisiana Depart‐ment of Culture, Recre‐ation& Tourism, Office of StateParks is issuing a Requestfor Information (RFI)tosolicit anyand all projectideas foron-call disaster recovery,debris cleanup,downtreere‐moval, andemergency management consultant services in theevent of a man-made or naturaldis‐asteratState Parks Properties.The objec‐tives in soliciting infor‐mation aretopromote theState Parksmission achieveproperbalance of preservation anduti‐lization of StateParks Properties while becom‐ingmore financiallyselfsustaining,and better servethe needsofciti‐zens andofvisitorsto Louisianathrough collab‐orationutilizingPublic PrivatePartnerships. TheRFI packet,which in‐cludes atimeline, in‐structions forproposal submission,and selec‐tion criteria,isavailable at http://www.opportu nitiesinlouisiana.com. It mayalsobepickedup between 9a.m.and 4 p.m. weekdays at theOf‐fice of StatePark, Capitol Annex, ThirdFloor,1051 NorthThird Street,Baton Rouge, LA,70802. Written Proposalsmustbere‐ceived by StateParks at this addressnolater than 4:00 p.m. CT onFri‐day, October31, 2024. StateParks will continue itscommitmenttoen‐sure allprojectspromote ourmission statement, have community sup‐port,and supportoflocal andstate electedoffi‐cials. StateParks also commitstonot proceed with anyprojectsthat will be detrimentaltothe localcommunity or any localbusiness. Allinquiries concerning theRFI should be submit‐

ted in writingtothe Issu‐ingOfficer, BrettSan‐difer, at bsandifer@crt. la.gov 157442-SEP10-OCT9 $579.96

regulationsfor thestor‐ageand disposal of wastetires within the city limits of St.George andfor relatedmatters (CouncilmemberMurrell) (3)Zoning Commission Itemsfor Public Hearing andAction 1. Motion by Council Member Murrell, sec‐ondedbyCouncilmem‐berHimmeltoapprove Zoning MatterNo. T25-07 –Ordinance to amend Title7 of theSt. George Unified Development Code as enactedbyOrdi‐nanceNo. 2025-005 to readoptthe Drusilla Jef‐ferson Design Overlay District Standardsand to providefor relatedmat‐ters Zoning Commissionvote: Motion to recommend approval by Marien;sec‐ondedbyMcAllister. YEAS –Billy Aguillard JasonMcAllister, Bobby McKey, Laurie Marien Travis Thornton.NAYS –0. Motion passedand T25-07 wasrecom‐mended forapproval. Public commentwas opened with no speak‐ers. AYES:Cook,Himmel, Ed‐monds, Monachello,Mur‐rell, Talbot,Dellucci NAYS:NoneABSENT: 2. Motion by Coun‐cilmember Monachello seconded by Coun‐cilmemberMurrell to ap‐proveZoningCommis‐sion Case No.Z25-09 –Ordinancetorezone a 2.53-acre parcel located at 15961 AirlineHwy from R(Rural) to CW1(Com‐mercialWarehousing One) andtoprovide for relatedmatters (Appli‐cant:Brian Aguillard,B M.Aguillard& Associates on behalf of MMR Con‐structors, Inc) RelatedCase: Approval of Zoning Commission Case No.SP25-03, forthe construction of anew two-storyoffice building is contingent upon the approval of Case No.Z2509. Zoning Commissionvote: Motion to recommend approval by Marien;sec‐ondedbyMcAllister. YEAS –Jason McAllister BobbyMcKey,Laurie Marien,TravisThornton. NAYS –0.RECUSED –Billy ill d i d NOTICE OF INTENT

TO CREATE AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SUBDISTRICT WITHIN THE LOUISIANA STATEUNIVERSITYECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, pursuant to La. R.S. 33:9038.76, that the BoardofCommissioners (the Board”) of the LouisianaState University Economic Development District, apolitical subdivision of theState of Louisiana (the “District”), as the governing authority of the District proposes to consider the adoption of aresolution,inaccordance with La. R.S. 33:9038.76, creating an economic development subdistrict within the District to be called the “LSU EDD Athletic Subdistrict” (the Subdistrict”) as described in Exhibit “A” and depicted on Exhibit “B” attached hereto. NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHERGIVEN, pursuant to La. R.S. 33:9038.76, that the Boardwill meet in open and public session on Tuesday,September 30, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. at the LSU Foundation, Firstfloor BoardRoom, 3796 Nicholson Drive,Baton Rouge, LA 70802, to hear any objections to the creation of the Subdistrict as described above. Exhibit “A” LSU EDD ATHLETIC SUBDISTRICT LEGAL DESCRIPTION OF GEOGRAPHICAL BOUNDARIES

The “LSU EDD Athletic Subdistrict” encompasses an area within the LSU Campus, consisting generally of LSU-owned properties serving primarily athletic functions, and being morefully described as follows: MAP REFERENCE POINT “P.O.B.” Commence at apoint which is the intersectionofeast right of way line of River Road andthe south right of way line of Skip Bertman Drive; Thence proceed southeast along the south right of way line of Skip Bertman Drive to the intersection of the centerline of an unnamed drainage canal, located immediately west of the LSU Stores building; Thence proceed northerly along the centerline of the said unnamed drainage canal to its intersection with the north

to orderat5:00p.m MayorYates ledthe as‐sembly in

Allegiance 2. Roll

Present:

Murrell, CouncilMember Talbot,Council Member Monachello,Council Member Cook,Council Member Himmel, Council Member Edmonds, Coun‐cilMemberDellucci Absent:

3. Approval of Minutes: Motion by CouncilMem‐berMurrell, seconded by CouncilMemberHimmel to approvethe minutes of theAugust12, 2025, councilmeeting. AYES:Murrell, Dellucci Talbot,Cook,Himmel, Ed‐monds, Monachello NAYS:NoneABSENT:

4. MonthlyFinancialsRe‐port givenbyBrandon Boylan Public comment was opened with no speak‐ers. (2)IntroductionofOrdi‐nances forPublicHear‐ingonSeptember 9, 2025

y Aguillard.Motion passed andZ25-09 wasrecom‐mended for approval

Public commentwas opened with no speak‐ers.

AYES:Cook,Himmel, Ed‐monds, Monachello,Mur‐rell, Talbot,Dellucci NAYS:NoneABSENT: (4)New Business (Items forPublicHearing and Action) (1)Motion by Council Member Himmel, sec‐ondedbyCouncil Mem‐berCook to approvean ordinancetoprohibit publicly displaying mate‐rial definedasobscene or appealingtothe pruri‐entinterests andtopro‐vide forrelated matters (Councilmember Murrell) Public comment was opened with no speak‐ers.

AYES:Cook,Himmel, Ed‐monds, Monachello,Mur‐rell, Talbot,Dellucci NAYS:NoneABSENT: (2)Motion by Council Member Himmel, sec‐ondedbyCouncil Mem‐berMurrell to approve ordinancetoregulatethe sale,use,and possession of pyrotechnics andto providefor relatedmat‐ters.(Councilmember Murrell) Public comment was opened with thefollow‐ingspeakers: Justin Turner,Monty McNott, MichaelMcDowell, Courtney Turner,Coun‐cilmemberMurrell AYES:Cook,Himmel, Ed‐monds, Monachello,Tal‐bot, Murrell, Dellucci NAYS:NoneABSENT:

PUBLIC NOTICE

Themeetingadjourned at 5:21pm Meetingminutes ap‐proved on Dustin Yates, MayorAt‐test: Lorraine Beaman,City Clerk 158480-SEP16-1T

Thesuccessor executor forthe Succession of ColeyA.Scott, Sr #81,518 filedinthe 19th Judicial District Courtfor theParishofEastBaton Rouge, Louisiana, aPeti‐tion forHomologationto payestatedebts from theproceedsinthe reg‐istryofthe court. Thepe‐tition canbehomolo‐gatedafter

1. Ordinancetoregulate thenumberand place‐ment of vape shops, liquor stores,and mari‐juanadispensaries within thecitylimitsof St.Georgeand forre‐latedmatters.(Coun‐cilmemberMurrell) 2. Ordinancetoestablish

point, being located northerly of the northwest corner of the Audubon Sugar Factorycooling tower;

Thence proceed southwesterly in acounter-clockwise direction along the walkway lying northerlyand westerly of Jesse Coates Hall to the centerline of the existing cross-walk at the LSU campus street commonly known as SouthStadium Drive;

Thence proceed along saidcrosswalk to the centerline of the LSU campus street commonly known as SouthStadium Drive;

Thence proceed westerly along the centerline of the LSU campus street commonly known as SouthStadium Drive to the northerlyextension of the easterly edge of the SouthStadium parking lot;

Thence proceed along the northerly extension of the easterly edge of the SouthStadium parking lotand the easterly edge of the SouthStadium parking lottothe Southeast corner thereof;

Thence proceed along the southerly edge of the SouthStadium parking lottothe centerline of the LSU streetcommonlyknown as West Stadium Drive;

Thence proceed in asoutherly direction along the centerline of West Stadium Drive and the extension thereof to the south right-of-way line of the LSUstreet commonly known as SouthQuad Drive FormerlyNicholson Extension); MAP REFERENCE POINT “B

Thence proceed easterlyalong the south right-of-way line of SouthQuad Drive to the centerline of the sidewalk separating the Front Nine parking lotand the Touchdown Villageparking lotasthey exist on July of 2025; Thence proceed southerly along the centerline of the sidewalk separating the Front Nine parking lotand the Touchdown Villageparking lottothe north right of way line of Gourrier Avenue;

Thence proceed in awesterly direction along the north right of way line of Gourrier Avetoits intersectionwith the extension of the west property line of acalled 4.79 acretract of land of the former Knox &Amiss Estate, located east of Bayou Fountain;

Thence proceed in asoutherlydirection along the west property line of acalled 4.79 acretract of land of the former Knox &Amiss Estatetoits southwesterncorner,being its intersection with the north right of way line of Burbank Drive; Thence proceed in asoutherly direction across Burbank Drive to the northwest corner of Lot 2A-1-A-1-B, of the James T. Amiss Tract;

Thence proceed from saidpoint in asoutherlydirection along the west property line of Lots2A-1-A-1-B and 2A-1-A-1-C-2-B of the James T.

Amiss Tract, to the intersection of the north right of way line of Nicholson Drive (La Hwy 30); Thence proceed in asoutherlydirection along the extension of the west property line of Lot 2A-1-A-1-C-2-B,ofthe James T. Amiss Tract crossing Nicholson Drive (La Hwy 30) and across the Canadian National Railroad to the intersection with the southwest right of way line of the Canadian National Railroad; Thence proceed in asoutheasterly direction along the southwest right of wayline of Canadian National Railroad to the easterly extension of the northernboundary of an existing Drainage Servitude that runs along the northernboundary of Brightside North II Subdivision; MAP REFERENCE POINT “C”

Thence proceed in anorthwesterly direction along said northernboundary of the existing Drainage Servitude to the southeast corner of Lot 13, Tigerland Acres; Thence proceed, along the easternboundary of Lot 13 and continuing along the easternboundary of Tigerland Acres to the northeast corner of Lot1,Tigerland Acres, said corner also being the southwest corner of Lot B-2, Tigerland Acres; Thence proceed in asoutheasterly directionalong the southernboundary of Lot B-2, Tigerland Acres and continuing along the southernboundary of Lot X, Tigerland Acres, to the southeasterncorner of Lot X, Tigerland Acres, said corner also being on the southwest right of way line of Canadian National Railroad; MAP REFERENCE POINT “D

Thence proceed in anorthwesterlydirection along the southwest right of way line of Canadian National Railroad to the northeast corner of Lot B-2, Tigerland Acres;

MAP REFERENCE POINT “E”

Thenceproceed in asouthwesterlydirection along the northern boundary of Lot B-2, TigerlandAcres to the easternright of way of Alvin Dark Avenue; Thenceproceed in anortheasterlydirection along the easternright of way of Alvin Dark Avenue to the southernright of way of Bob Pettit Boulevard; Thenceproceed across the rightofway of Bob Pettit Boulevardtothe southwest corner of Lot A-1, TigerlandAcres;

Thenceproceed along the westernboundary of Lot A-1, TigerlandAcres to the northern boundary of Tigerland Acres Subdivision;

Thenceproceed in asouthwesterlydirection along the north boundary of TigerlandAcres Subdivision to the northwest corner of Lot 38-A of said TigerlandAcres Subdivision, said point being the northeast corner of the called100 Acre tract,saidtract comprising the Louisiana School for the Deaf;

Thenceproceed in awesterlythensoutherly direction along the northern andeasternline of the called100 Acre tract,saidtract comprising the Louisiana School for the Deaf,toapoint 250