Despite years of debate about the dire need for anew Lafayette Parish jail, state funding earmarked for the project will instead be used to build an administration building for the Lafayette Parish
Sheriff’sOffice. Thestate Legislature during the regular 2025 sessiontransferred $17.5 millionincapitaloutlay funds intended for thenew jail to theSheriff’s Office to build anew administrationbuilding next to existing facilities on Willow Street at areported cost of $64 million
Lafayette ParishMayor-President Monique Boulet, at aParish Council budget hearing Thursday said bothprojectsare heavily reliant on state capital outlay funding and can’tbebuilt simultaneously “The governor posed the question more than once, which one is the priority to go first,” Boulet
said. It wasdecided to construct theadministration building first, transferring Sheriff’s Office stafffrom severalbuildings they occupy downtown to the single administration building to be built on Willow Street,Boulet said in an interview
UNDERPRESSURE
Trump.
BY MEGHAN FRIEDMANN Staff writer
U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy,ofLouisiana, will once againplay akey role in the confirmation of acontroversial nominee of President Donald
Fundsfor newLafayettejailreallocated
Thursday afternoon.
ThenLafayette Consolidated Government representatives and SheriffMark Garber,she said, can work on securing money to build the jail.
Garber wasnot immediately available foraninterview
Lafayette Parish government is required by lawtoprovide ajail.
BY MATT BRUCE Staff writer
during those months.
economy
Trumpthisweek picked E.J. Antoni, theconservative Heritage Foundation’s chief economist, to head the Bureau of LaborStatistics, an agencythat produces closelywatched data aboutthe
Antoni would replace Erika McEntarfer, whoTrump fired two weeksago afterthe release of an unfavorable jobsreport. That reportshowed weak job growth in July and revised earlier figures forMay and June, nearly erasing the job gains previously reported
Trumpclaimed the figures were manipulated to make him look bad. Buthis critics argue there’snoevidence for that, and they fear apolitically motivated firing could cast doubtonthe integrity of numbers that businessesand economists rely on to make important deci-
Afederal appeals court on Thursday uphelda Louisiana judge’sdecision to invalidate the state’slegislative districtmap for House and Senate races, saying they violated Section 2ofthe Voting Rights Act.
But the current mapswill stay in place at least until the U.S. Supreme Court issues its ruling in Louisiana v. Callais, aseparate but similar case disputing Louisiana’scongressional voting districts. The ruling in that case could broadly change the legal precedents for redistricting lawsuits.
U.S. District Court Judge Shelly Dick in February 2024 enjoined district maps that Louisiana lawmakers enacted during a2022 special session,determining legislative lines drawnfor the state seats unlawfully diluted the strength of
Currentlegislative districtsdiluteBlack votes, judgeruled ä California moves forward with redistricting effort. PAGE 3A ä See MAPS, page 5A
sions. Before Antoni takes the job, the Senate must vote to confirm him.Cassidy chairs the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, which must decide whethertoreportAntoni’s Cassidytoplaykey
ä See CASSIDY, page 5A
Garber
DOJ worker accused in sandwich throwing fired
WASHINGTON A man charged with a felony for hurling a sandwich at a federal law enforcement official in the nation’s capital has been fired from his job at the Justice Department, Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a social media post Thursday A video of Sean Charles Dunn berating a group of federal agents late Sunday went viral online. Dunn was arrested on an assault charge after he threw a “sub-style” sandwich at a Customs and Border Protection agent, a court filing said Dunn, 37, of Washington, was an international affairs specialist in the Justice Department’s criminal division, according to a department official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a personnel matter
“This is an example of the Deep State we have been up against for seven months as we work to refocus DOJ,” Bondi wrote. “You will NOT work in this administration while disrespecting our government and law enforcement.”
Sabrina Shroff, an attorney who represented Dunn at his initial appearance in federal court, declined to comment on the allegations against her client after Thursday’s hearing.
More charges filed in Minn. lawmaker killings
MINNEAPOLIS A Minnesota man accused of killing a top Democratic state lawmaker and wounding another while pretending to be a police officer is now facing new and upgraded state charges after a fresh indictment was announced Thursday, just a week after he pleaded not guilty in federal court Vance Boelter now faces two charges of first-degree murder, four counts of attempted firstdegree murder and charges of impersonating a police officer and animal cruelty for shooting one family’s dog. Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said the charges “reflect the weight of Mr Boelter’s crimes.” But the state case will continue to take a back seat to the federal case against Boelter where he could face more serious consequences. He was indicted July 15 on six counts of murder, stalking and firearms violations. The murder charges could carry the federal death penalty although prosecutors haven’t decided yet whether to seek that while the maximum penalty on the state charges is life in prison because Minnesota doesn’t have the death penalty Boelter pleaded not guilty in federal court on Aug. 7 Moriarty had requested the state prosecution proceed first, but federal prosecutors are using their authority to press their case, according to Daniel Borgertpoepping, the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office’s public information officer Man pleads not guilty in hikers’ deaths in Ark. FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The teacher who authorities say admitted to fatally stabbing two hikers at Devil’s Den State Park in Arkansas last month pleaded not guilty Thursday to murder charges. Andrew James McGann entered the plea during a brief hearing before a state judge at Washington County’s jail Thursday morning. Circuit Judge Joanna Taylor scheduled McGann’s next hearing for Nov 14 He’s being held without bond. McGann has been charged with two counts of capital murder in the July 26 killing of Clinton David Brink, 43, and Cristen Amanda Brink, 41. The two were hiking with their daughters — ages 7 and 9 years old — and the girls were not injured in the attack. Authorities have not publicly identified a motive for the attack at Devil’s Den, a 2,500-acre tate park about 140 miles northwest of Little Rock. McGann was arrested on July 30 at a barbershop in Springdale, about 30 miles north of the park.
McGann had not yet started his new job at Springdale Public Schools and had previously worked in Texas and Oklahoma Authorities have said he did not have a prior criminal record.
Federal takeover ramps up in D.C.
Police chief orders more cooperation with immigration agents
BY ASHRAF KHALIL Associated Press
WASHINGTON The Washington, D.C., police chief stepped up cooperation between her officers and federal immigration officials as President Donald Trump’s law enforcement takeover of the nation’s capital took root Thursday National Guard troops watched over some of the world’s most renowned landmarks and Humvees took up position in front of the busy main train station.
The police chief’s order establishes that Metropolitan Police Department officers may now share information with immigration agencies regarding people not in custody — such as someone involved in a traffic stop or checkpoint. MPD officers may also provide “transportation for federal immigration employees and detained subject,” the order states.
The changes, which raise collaboration between the two forces in notable ways, erodes the district’s long-standing policy against cooperating with civil immigration enforcement They are effective immediately
Mayor Muriel Bowser walking a tightrope between the Republican White House and the constituency of her largely Democratic city, was out of town Thursday for a family commitment in Martha’s Vineyard but would be back Friday her office said.
In a city tense from days of ramp-up toward federal law enforcement intervention, volunteers helped homeless people leave long-standing encampments to where, exactly, was often unclear Trump told reporters that he was pleased at how the operation and, now its direct link with his immigration-control efforts — was unfolding.
“That’s a very positive thing, I have heard that just happened,” Trump said of Police Chief Pamela Smith’s order “That’s a great step. That’s a great step if they’re doing that.”
For an already wary Washington, Thursday marked a notable — and highly vis-
ible uptick in presence from the previous two days. The visibility of federal forces around the city, including in many high-traffic areas, was striking to residents going about their lives. Trump has the power to take over federal law enforcement for 30 days before his actions must be reviewed by Congress, though he has said he’ll re-evaluate as that deadline approaches
The response before Thursday had been gradual and, by all appearances, low key But on Wednesday night, officers set up a checkpoint in one of D.C.’s popular nightlife areas, drawing protests. The White House said 45 arrests were made Wednesday night, with 29 people arrested for living in the country illegally; other arrests included for distribution or possession of drugs, carrying a concealed weapon and assaulting a federal officer
Troops were stationed outside the Union Station transportation hub as the 800 Guard members who have been activated by Trump start in on missions that include monument security, community safety patrols and beautification efforts, the Pentagon said.
“They will remain until law and order has been restored in the District as determined by the president, standing as the gatekeepers of our great nation’s capital,” Pentagon press secretary Kingsley Wilson said. “The National Guard is uniquely qualified for this mission as a communitybased force with strong local ties and disciplined training.”
Wilson said the troops won’t be armed and declined to give more details on what the safety patrols or beautification efforts would entail or how many Guard members have already been sent out on the streets.
National Guard Maj. Micah Maxwell said troops will assist law enforcement in a variety of roles, including traffic control posts and crowd control. The Guard members have been trained in de-escalation tactics and crowd control equipment, Maxwell said.
The White House said Thursday that Guard members aren’t making arrests but are “protecting federal assets, providing a safe environment for law enforcement officers to make arrests, and deterring violent crime with a visible law enforcement presence.”
Judge strikes down Trump guidance against diversity programs at schools
BY COLLIN BINKLEY Associated Press
WASHINGTON A federal judge on Thursday struck down two Trump administration actions aimed at eliminating diversity, equity and inclusion programs at the nation’s schools and universities.
In her ruling, U.S. District Judge Stephanie Gallagher in Maryland found that the Education Department violated the law when it threatened to cut federal funding from educational institutions that continued with DEI initiatives
The guidance has been on hold since April when three federal judges blocked various portions of the Education Department’s anti-DEI measures.
The ruling Thursday followed a motion for summary judgment from the American Federation of Teachers and the American Sociological Association, which challenged the government’s actions in a February lawsuit.
The case centers on two Education Department memos ordering schools and universities to end all “race-based decision-making” or face penalties up to a total loss of federal funding. It’s part of a campaign to end practices the Trump administration frames as discrimination against White and Asian American
students.
The new ruling orders the department to scrap the guidance because it runs afoul of procedural requirements, though Gallagher wrote that she took no view on whether the policies were “good or bad, prudent or foolish, fair or unfair.”
Gallagher who was appointed by President Donald Trump, rejected the government’s argument that the memos simply served to remind schools that discrimination is illegal.
“It initiated a sea change in how the Department of Education regulates educational practices and classroom conduct, causing millions of educators to reasonably fear that their lawful, and even beneficial, speech might cause them or their schools to be punished,” Gallagher wrote.
Democracy Forward, a legal advocacy firm representing the plaintiffs, called it an important victory over the administration’s attack on DEI.
“Threatening teachers and sowing chaos in schools throughout America is part of the administration’s war on education, and today the people won,” said Skye Perryman, the group’s president and CEO.
The Education Department did not immediately comment on Thursday
Putin praises Trump’s efforts to end Ukraine war
Russian, U.S.
leaders to meet Friday
BY PAN PYLAS and JUSTIN SPIKE Associated Press
LONDON Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday praised President Donald Trump’s efforts to end the war in Ukraine, more than three years after Moscow launched its invasion, as the two leaders prepared for a pivotal U.S.-Russiaummit Friday in Alaska.
Following a meeting Thursday with top government officials on the summit, Putin said in a short video released by the Kremlin that the Trump administration was making “quite energetic and sincere efforts to stop the hostilities” and to “reach agreements that are of interest to all parties involved.”
Putin also suggested that “long-term conditions of peace between our countries, and in Europe, and in the world as a whole,” could be reached under an agreement with the U.S on nuclear arms control.
In Washington, Trump said there was a 25% chance that the summit would fail, but he also floated the idea that, if the meeting succeeds, he could bring Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Alaska for a subsequent, three-way meeting.
In a radio interview with Fox News, Trump also said he might be willing to stay in Alaska longer, depending on what happens with Putin.
Meanwhile, Zelenskyy and other European leaders worked to ensure their interests are taken into account when Trump and Putin meet in Anchorage.
U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer welcomed Zelenskyy to London on Thursday in a show of British support for Ukraine a day before the critical TrumpPutin meeting. The two embraced warmly outside Starmer’s offices at 10 Downing Street without making any comments, and
Zelenskyy departed about an hour later Zelenskyy’s trip to the British capital came a day after he took part in virtual meetings from Berlin with Trump and the leaders of several European countries. Those leaders said that Trump had assured them that he would make a priority of trying to achieve a ceasefire in Ukraine when he meets with Putin.
Speaking after the meetings to reporters, Trump warned of “very severe consequences” for Russia if Putin doesn’t agree to stop the war against Ukraine after Friday’s meeting.
While some European leaders, including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron, praised Wednesday’s video conference with Trump as constructive, uncertainty remained over how the U.S. leader — whose rhetoric toward both Zelenskyy and Putin has evolved dramatically since retaking office this year — would conduct negotiations in the absence of any other interested parties.
Both Zelenskyy and the Europeans have worried that the bilateral U.S.-Russia summit would leave them and their interests sidelined, and that any conclusions could favor Moscow and leave Ukraine and Europe’s future security in jeopardy Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov tamped down expectations for any breakthroughs from the Friday summit, saying there were no plans to sign documents and that it would be a “big mistake” to predict the results of the negotiations, according to Russian news outlet Interfax.
Starmer said Wednesday that the Alaska summit could be a path to a ceasefire in Ukraine, but he also alluded to European concerns that Trump may strike a deal that forces Ukraine to cede territory to Russia. He warned that Western allies must be prepared to step up pressure on Russia if necessary
National Guard personnel keep watch Thursday as travelers arrive at the entrance to Union Station near the Capitol in Washington.
California moves forward with redistricting effort
Move seeks to counter Texas’ plan
BY MICHAEL R. BLOOD and TRÂN NGUYEN Associated Press
LOS ANGELES California
Gov Gavin Newsom
said
Thursday his state will hold
a Nov 4 special election to seek voter approval of new congressional map drawn to try to win Democrats five more U.S. House seats in 2026.
The move is a direct response to a Republican-led effort in Texas, pushed by President Donald Trump as his party seeks to maintain its slim House majority after the midterm elections.
Texas lawmakers are considering a new map that would help them send five more Republicans to Washington. Democrats who so far have halted a vote by leaving the state announced Thurs-
day that they will return home if state Republicans end their current special session and California releases its own redrawn map proposal. Both were expected to happen Friday Texas Republican Gov Greg Abbott is expected to call another special session to push through new maps.
“We can’t stand back and watch this democracy disappear district by district all
across the country,” Newsom said, joined by prominent labor leaders and Democratic politicians.
California lawmakers must officially declare the special election, which they plan to do next week after voting on the new maps. Democrats hold supermajorities in both chambers, and Newsom said he’s not worried about winning the required support from two-thirds of lawmak-
Texas Democrats set plan to end walkout over GOP redraw of maps
BY NADIA LATHAN and SOPHIA TAREEN Associated Press
CHICAGO Texas Democrats on Thursday moved closer to ending a nearly two-week walkout that has blocked the GOP’s redrawing of U.S. House maps before the 2026 election and put them under escalating threats by Republicans back home.
The Democrats announced they will return provided that Texas Republicans end a special session and California releases its own redrawn map proposal, both of which were expected to happen Friday Democrats did not say what day they might return. Republican Texas Gov
Greg Abbott still intends to push through new maps that would give the GOP five more winnable seats before next year’s midterm elections. House Speaker Dustin Burrows has said that if Democrats don’t return the next time lawmakers reconvene on Friday, the session will end and the governor will immediately begin another one Abbott put redistricting on the agenda at the urging of President Donald Trump, who wants to shore up Republicans’ narrow House majority and avoid a repeat of his first presidency, when the 2018 midterms restored Democrats to a House majority that blocked his agenda and twice impeached him. It
is unusual for redistricting to take place in the middle of the decade and typically occurs once at the beginning of each decade to coincide with the census.
Texas House Democrats said in a statement that attorneys have told them they must return to the state to “build a strong public legislative record” for an upcoming legal battle against a new map.
At the same time, the Texas Democrats want to wait until California Democrats file their bill to redraw the state’s maps, state Rep. Gene Wu, the House Democratic leader said.
“We want to make sure the baton is fully in their hands before we let go,” Wu said.
ers to advance the maps.
Democrats signaled that they plan to make the campaign about more than maps, tying it explicitly to the fate of American democracy and as an opportunity for voters to reject Trump’s policies.
“Donald Trump, you have poked the bear and we will punch back,” Newsom, who is seen as a possible 2028 presidential contender, said at a news conference with other Democrats.
The Thursday announcement marks the first time any state beyond Texas is officially wading into the middecade redistricting fight, kicking off a national standoff that could spill into more states.
A number of Republicanled states appear poised to move forward with their own new maps. In Missouri, a document obtained by The Associated Press shows the state Senate received a
$46,000 invoice to activate six redistricting software licenses and provide training for up to 10 staff members Newsom encouraged other Democratic-led states to get involved.
“We need to stand up — not just California. Other blue states need to stand up,” Newsom said.
Republicans currently hold a 219-212 majority in the U.S. House, with four vacancies. New maps are typically drawn once a decade after the census is conducted.
Many states, including Texas, give legislators the power to draw maps. Some, such as California, rely on an independent commission that is supposed to be nonpartisan.
The California map would take effect only if a Republican state moves forward, and it would remain through the 2030 elections. After that, Democrats say they would return mapmaking power to the
commission approved by voters more than a decade ago.
Some people already have said they would sue to block the effort, and influential voices including former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger may campaign against it. Newsom said he’s spoken with Schwarzenegger
“Gavin Newsom’s latest stunt has nothing to do with Californians and everything to do with consolidating radical Democrat power, silencing California voters, and propping up his pathetic 2028 presidential pipe dream,” National Republican Congressional Committee spokesperson Christian Martinez said in a statement. “Newsom’s made it clear: he’ll shred California’s Constitution and trample over democracy — running a cynical, self-serving playbook where Californians are an afterthought and power is the only priority.”
Acadianisthe onlyambulance service in Louisiana to hold accreditations from both the CommissiononAccreditation of Ambulance Services and the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems, our industry’smost stringentaccreditation agencies.
Thatmeans Acadian exceedsthe gold standard in EMStraining, equipment, protocols and medics
and
ambulance service in Louisiana.
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By MARCIO JOSE SANCHEZ
California Gov Gavin Newsom speaks Thursday during a news conference in Los Angeles.
TheLafayette Parish Correctional Center downtownisaging and is persistently in need of repairs
The parish is spending $1 million to waterproof the building.
The jail also is crowded. The crowding has been exacerbated by a newstate law that requires 17-yearolds to be housed in adult jail rather than ajuvenile facility.Federal law, however,views 17-year-olds as minors and requires them to be separated from adults.
TheLafayette jail has been unabletoaccommodate 17-year-olds because of the federal separation requirements, Capt. John Mowell, thesheriff’s public affairs director,said late last year.
Garber is paying to sendsome inmates to jails in other parishes, including River BendDetention FacilityinnorthLouisiana.
Parish Councilmember John Guilbeau said Thursday he can see where the cost of maintaining the jail is extremely high. He urged thoseinvolvedtoexpediteconstruction of the sheriff’s administration buildingand then the jail.
“I thinkit’scritical,” Guilbeau
lengesand seconded Dick’s reasoning.
Black votes acrossthe state and violated the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965. Dick, the chief judgeof the U.S. Middle District Court of Louisiana based in Baton Rouge, ordered elections officials to redraw the district maps in away that doesn’tpack high concentrations of Black voters into a small number of majorityminority districts or fragment African American voters into separate districts to prevent them from forming powerful voting blocs In a54-page order published Thursday afternoon, a judicial panel from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit affirmed Dick’sruling last year
Dick, in her 2024 ruling, found that 18 House districts and seven Senate districts were “cracked” or “packed,” drawn in amanner thatdiluted the Black vote. The Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill,acting on behalf of the secretary of state, appealed Dick’sruling on seven fronts. Among the state’sarguments was that Dick misapplied what are known as Gingles principles, athree-pronged legal framework for analyzing the plaintiffs’ claims of voter dilution. Elections officials also said her ruling was unconstitutional.
Fifth Circuit judges James Dennis, Catharina Haynes andCarrillo Ramirez rejected all of the state’schal-
CASSIDY
Continued from page1A
nomination favorablyorunfavorably to the full Senate.
ACassidy spokesperson did not say whether the Louisiana senator supported Antoni’snomination. “BLS’syearslong failureto produce reliable data —especially when that data has broad market-moving implications —isunacceptable,” the spokesperson said in a statement. “Weneed aBLS Commissionercommitted to producing accurate,unbiased economic information to the American people.
Chairman Cassidy looks forward to meeting with Dr Antoni to discuss how he will accomplish this.” Late last year,Cassidy sent aletter to McEntarfer complaining about frequent
“In forty-one pagesofdetailed analysis, the district court parsed through expert testimony,made and explained its credibility determinations,and balanced the factors to assess compactness asrequired by our case law,” theappellate judges wrote in Thursday’sorder “Someone had to lose, and someone had to win. Any argumentthat the district court applied the incorrect legalstandard at Gingles 1 is meritless.”
The lawsuit challenging thestate’s2022 legislative maps was filed March2022 in the Middle District federal court. It came weeks after theLegislature passedSenate Bill 1and House Bill 14 to enact the Houseand Senatemaps. Agroup of Black voters who lived in packed and cracked voting districts across the state were the plaintiffs, along with several votingrights groups like theAmerican Civil Liberties Union and theNAACP
When theLegislature redrewthe maps,itaddedjust one new majority-Black district,according to the lawsuit. But the plaintiffs argued to adequately represent thegrowthofthe Louisiana’sBlack population, whereBlack residents made up about one-third of thestate’s population, the Legislature shouldhave added three new majorityBlack districts in theSenate and between six and nine such districts in theHouse. Afterthe maps approved by the Legislaturewere
revisions to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ jobsdata. Theagencyought to produce data that is more accurate atthe timeofits release, said the letter. In each jobs report, the government typically revises itsprevioustwo months’ jobs figures as more survey responses come in, butmany economists were surprised at thescale of the revisions to thenumbers for Mayand June.
Still,the bureau’sjobsdata has long been consideredreliable andfree from political bias.
It’s not the first timeCassidy has found himself entangledina controversial confirmation process. After wavering in his support for Health Secretary Robert F. KennedyJr.,Cassidy cast akey voteinfavor of his appointment,despite Kennedy’sskepticism about
said, calling the existing jail antiquated and high risk.
Foryears, officials have touted the positives of moving the jail out of downtown Lafayette so that primeland in the city’scenter can be used for other development
In 2022, former Mayor-President Josh Guillorybrokereda publicprivate partnershiptobuilda 1,000-bed, $100 million jail without raising taxes. The Parish Council in 2023 bought landinthe 1800 block of West WillowStreet, between North Pat Street andHebert Road,for the new jail.
But the project never progressed.Boulet defeated Guillory
challenged in courtin2022, they were still used for the 2023 state House and Senate races.
State Rep. Mike Johnson, aPineville Republican who was on the committee that handled redistricting in 2022, said the current maps will remain in place while theU.S. SupremeCourt considers Louisianav.Callais.
The Callais and Nairne cases deal with manyofthe sameconstitutional issues, he said.
“The actual creation of new maps, if that were necessary,ordealing with what would be correct maps, that portion of the case was stayed just last week by Judge Dick pending the outcomeofthe Supreme Court,” Johnson said. “Although the ruling from the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal has importance to thecase, Judge Dick herself recognizesthatthiscasecan’t go forward until theSupreme Court rules on Callais.”
Earlier this month,Dick issued astayinthe Nairne case, postponing akey evidentiary hearingwas supposed to take place Aug. 25. During that hearing, the state andplaintiffs would have hadthe chancetopropose alternative legislative maps for the state races. Dick halted proceedings in the case to await the Supreme Court’supcoming Callais decision and pending the outcome of thestate’s appeal in Nairne.
Attorneys for the plaintiffs sought to block thestay becausetheyworry it won’t leave time for new maps to
vaccines.
The Senateconfirmed Kennedy in a52-48 vote in February Cassidy,a medical doctor, has frequently defended vaccines and the science behind them.
He is also hoping for Trump’sendorsement in what could be aclose reelection fight next year
Since taking up thehelm of the U.S. Department for Healthand Human Services, Kennedyhas canceledabout $500 million in fundingfor vaccine research and fired the members of atop vaccine advisory committee, replacing some of themwith appointees who questioned vaccine safety.
TheAssociated Press contributed tothis report.
Email Meghan Friedmann at meghan.friedmann@ theadvocate.com.
in the November 2023 election and killed theproposal.
The cost to build the jail through thepublic-privatepartnership “wouldhave usedall of thefunding that paysfor jail/prisoner operations/capital outlay as well as courthouse maintenance and improvements,” Jamie Boudreaux, spokesperson for LCG, said in May “It would have been fiscally irresponsible,” Boudreauxsaid, “to pursue this path to construct anew jail.”
That would have left nothing to payfor state-mandated prisoner costs like foodand clothing,
be implemented beforeOctober 2027, thenext cycle when all of the state’sHouse and Senate seats are up for election.
Plaintiffs hope the redrawn linesinclude three brand-new majority-Black Senatedistricts and six new majority-Black districts in thestate House.
“This case hasbeen pending along time,and we’re
she said, or to pay forcourthouse maintenance.
In May,Garberresurrected a 2019 jail funding lawsuit against the parish that had been dormant since 2022.
Garber’slawsuit, filed when Joel Robideaux was mayor-president, accuses theparish of notmeeting itslegal responsibilities to paycertain mandated costs forjail operations.
State law,the lawsuit alleges, requires the parish to provide ajail and pay forits operating costs.
Email Claire Taylor at ctaylor@ theadvocate.com.
very happy because we got a positive decision,” saidSarah Brannon, an attorney for theAmerican Civil Liberties Union Foundation. “This is certainly astep in the right direction toward getting a victory forBlack voters in Louisiana so that they will have an equal opportunity to elect theircandidates of choice.
“Weare quite pleased that the Fifth Circuit understands the issues that Black voters in Louisiana have been facing formany,many years,” she added. TheSecretary of State’s office declined to comment on pending litigation. Reporter Alyse Pfeil contributed to this story. Email Matt Bruce at matt. bruce@theadvocate.com.
BRIEFS
FROM WIRE REPORTS
Applications for jobless benefits fell last week
The number of Americans filing for jobless benefits fell modestly last week, remaining in the historically low range since the U.S economy emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Applications for unemployment benefits for the week ending Aug. 9 fell by 3,000 to 224,000, the Labor Department reported Thursday That’s below the 230,000 new applications that economists had forecast. Weekly applications for jobless benefits are seen as a proxy for U.S. layoffs and have mostly settled in a historically healthy range between 200,000 and 250,000 since COVID-19 throttled the economy in the spring of 2020.
Two weeks ago, a grim July jobs report sent financial markets spiraling, spurring President Donald Trump to fire Erika McEntarfer, the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which tallies the monthly employment numbers. The BLS does not contribute to the weekly unemployment benefits report except to calculate the annual seasonal adjustments.
U.S. employers added just 73,000 jobs in July, well short of the 115,000 analysts forecast Worse, revisions to the May and June figures shaved 258,000 jobs off previous estimates and the unemployment rate ticked up to 4.2% from 4.1%.
Average mortgage rate drops to 6.58%
The average rate on a 30-year U.S. mortgage fell this week to its lowest level in nearly 10 months, giving prospective homebuyers a sorely needed boost in purchasing power that could help inject life into a stagnant housing market.
The long-term rate fell to 6.58% from 6.63% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday A year ago, the rate averaged 6.49%.
Borrowing costs on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages popular with homeowners refinancing their home loans, also fell. The average rate dropped to 5.71% from 5.75% last week. A year ago it was 5.66% Freddie Mac said.
Elevated mortgage rates have helped keep the U.S. housing market in a sales slump since early 2022, when rates started to climb from the rock-bottom lows they reached during the pandemic. Home sales sank last year to their lowest level in nearly 30 years.
Kellogg to end use of artificial dyes in cereals
WK Kellogg Co. plans to remove artificial dyes from its breakfast cereals in the next two and a half years, according to the company and the attorney general of Texas. The maker of Froot Loops and Apple Jacks gave the timeline as U.S food producers face increasing pressure from the U.S. government and consumers to phase out synthetic colorings from their products.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said Wednesday that Kellogg had signed an agreement assuring his office that the Michigan-based company would “permanently remove toxic dyes” from its cereals by the end of 2027. Paxton launched an investigation earlier this year into whether Kellogg violated state consumer protection laws by continuing to use blue, red, yellow, green, and orange artificial dyes. Around the same time, U.S. health officials said that they would urge foodmakers to voluntarily work toward removing petroleum-based colors.
Both Kellogg and General Mills, another major U.S. cereal maker, said they would. General Mills later joined Kraft Heinz, Nestle, Smuckers and some other food manufacturers in announcing target dates for making all their products without artificial dyes.
But Paxton’s office said Kellogg was the first to sign a “legally binding” agreement.
Big Tech keeps Wall Street steady
dipped 11 points, or less than 0.1%, and the Nasdaq composite dipped by less than 0.1% from its record set the day before.
BY STAN CHOE AP business writer
NEW YORK — Most stocks fell on Wall Street Thursday after a disappointing report said inflation was worse last month at the U.S. wholesale level than economists expected. But gains for Amazon and some other influential Big Tech companies helped mask the losses. Seven out of every 10 stocks within the S&P 500 fell, though the index edged up by less than 0.1% to set another all-time high.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average
The inflation data forced traders to second-guess their widespread consensus that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates at its next meeting in September Lower rates can boost investment prices and the economy by making it cheaper for U.S. households and businesses to borrow to buy houses, cars or equipment, but they also risk worsening inflation.
“This doesn’t slam the door on a September rate cut,” but it may raise some doubt, according to Chris Larkin, managing director trading and investing, at E-Trade from Morgan Stanley Traders now see a 7.4% chance
that the Fed may hold rates steady in September, according to data from CME Group. A day earlier, they were betting on a 100% certainty that the Fed would cut its main rate for the first time this year
Higher interest rates drag on all kinds of companies by keeping the cost to borrow high. They can hurt smaller companies in particular because they often need to borrow to grow The Russell 2000 index of smaller U.S. stocks tumbled a market-leading 1.2%.
On Wall Street, Tapestry tumbled after the company behind the Coach and Kate Spade New York brands showed it’s feeling the pressure of tariffs.
It detailed how much profit it could lose in its upcoming fiscal
year because of tariffs and duties, and its forecast for profit fell short of analysts’ expectations, even though its forecast for revenue came in above. Its stock fell 15.7%, despite it also reporting a stronger profit for the latest quarter than analysts expected. Deere fell 6.8% even though the machinery maker likewise delivered a better profit than expected. There, too, the focus was on where profits are heading. It cut the top end of its forecasted range for profit this fiscal year and said its customers “remain cautious amid ongoing uncertainty.”
On the winning side of Wall Street was Fossil Group, which jumped 29.8% after the seller of watches and other accessories reported better profit than expected.
Producer prices surged in July
BY PAUL WISEMAN AP economics writer
WASHINGTON U.S. wholesale inflation surged unexpectedly last month, signaling that President Donald Trump’s sweeping taxes on imports are pushing costs up and that higher prices for consumers may be on the way
The Labor Department reported Thursday that its producer price index — which measures inflation before it hits consumers rose 0.9% last month from June, the biggest jump in more than three years. Compared with a year earlier, wholesale prices rose 3.3%.
The numbers were much higher than economists had expected.
Prices rose faster for producers than consumers last month, suggesting that U.S. importers may, for now, be eating the cost of Trump’s tariffs rather than passing them on to customers.
That may not last.
“It will only be a matter of time before producers pass their higher tariff-related costs onto the backs of inflation-weary consumers,” wrote Christopher Rupkey, chief economist at fwdbonds, a financial markets research firm.
Excluding volatile food and energy prices, so-called core producer prices rose 0.9% from June the biggest month-overmonth jump since March 2022.
Compared with a year ago, core wholesale prices rose 3.7% after posting a 2.6% year-over-year jump in June.
Wholesale food prices rose 1.4% from June, led by a 38.9% surge in vegetable prices. The price of home electronic equipment gained 5% from June. Both are heavily imported in the U.S.
BY MICHELLE CHAPMAN AP business writer
Taylor Swift’s upcoming album release and her love of all things orange isn’t lost on her fans or brands that are seeking a ride on what has become an enormous economic tailwind
On Wednesday after Swift went on the “New Heights” podcast cohosted by her boyfriend and NFL football star Travis Kelce to announce the imminent release of her 12th studio album “The Life of a Showgirl,” major companies went into marketing overdrive. The reason? Swift’s ability to generate buzz and draw dollars. Swift’s tour appearances have become economic events. The singer’s Eras Tour two years ago was the first such tour to cross the billion-dollar mark, according to Pollstar’s 2023 year-end charts. Cities and their surrounding areas registered a sizable economic boost after Swift appeared, with thousands of fans making the pilgrimage and spending money at hotels, restaurants and elsewhere. Companies are no longer waiting to capitalize on Swift’s gravitation-
But some aspects of Thursday’s producer price report were puzzling, including a big jump in profit margins at retailers and wholesalers. Economist Stephen Brown at Capital Economics found the increase “to put it lightly, counterintuitive given the anecdotal evidence that firms are absorbing the lion’s share of tariff increases in margins.”
Trump’s tariffs have generated considerable uncertainty about the U.S. economy, the world’s largest, which could explain some seemingly contradictory trends. Trump has negotiated trade agreements with several major U.S. trading partners, including the European Union and Japan. But the details have not been published, leaving businesses uncertain about where tariff rates will end up and, therefore, whether and how they should adjust their own prices.
The fallout from the tariffs has also been delayed because many importers stockpiled products before the taxes took effect.
Those inventories are diminishing, however
The wholesale inflation report two days after the Labor Department reported that consumer prices rose 2.7% last month from July 2024, the same as the previous month and up from a postpandemic low of 2.3% in April. Core consumer prices rose 3.1%, up from 2.9% in June. Both figures are above the Federal Reserve’s 2% target.
The new consumer price numbers suggest that slowing rent increases and cheaper gas are partly offsetting the impacts of Trump’s tariffs. Many businesses are also likely still absorbing much of the cost of the duties instead of passing them along to customers via higher prices.
The producer and consumer inflation numbers are both issued by the Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, which is already in Trump’s crosshairs.
After the BLS issued a disappointing jobs report for July, Trump fired the director of the
BLS, groundlessly accusing the bureau of rigging the numbers for political reasons. Trump then nominated a partisan ideologue to replace her, raising fears of political interference in economic data that investors, policymakers, businesses and the Federal Reserve rely on to make decisions.
Thursday’s report is likely to complicate decisions for the Fed. After an ominous July jobs report, the central bank was widely expected to cut interest rates at its meeting next month in a bid to recharge hiring.
The Fed has drawn Trump’s ire for not cutting interest rates already Under Chair Jerome Powell, it had been delaying rate cuts until it better understood the impact of Trump’s tariffs on inflation. “This report is a strong validation of the Fed’s wait-andsee stance on policy changes,” Carl Weinberg, chief economist at High Frequency Economics, wrote in a commentary Thursday
al pull and orange-themed memes from big brands began rolling out almost immediately
That is because Swift appeared onstage wearing orange numerous times toward the end of her Eras Tour and she discussed her feelings about the color on the Wednesday podcast. Numerous corporations, from
United Airlines to Olive Garden, began posting orange-hued memes on their own social media accounts soon after the new album was announced. Shake Shack, FedEx, Buffalo Wild Wings, Cinnabon, Walmart and Netflix did, too.
More than a dozen NHL teams followed with posts on social media acknowledging Swift’s new al-
bum, both north and south of the border
Even X got in on the action, declaring that it had a new profile pic: a glittery orange X. The post has garnered 5.5 million views so far Google is using its search engine to celebrate the October release of Swift’s “The Life of a Showgirl.” Users search for “Taylor Swift,” are greeted with a stream of orange digital confetti, along with a flaming orange heart and the phrase, “And, baby, that’s show business for you.”
Many, it seemed, saw value in tying their brand to Swift. Swift mentioned during the Wednesday podcast that she had Lasik eye surgery. The X account for LASIK.com wasted no time promoting the fortuitous namedrop.
“i got LASIK, i have incredible vision,” they posted, accompanied by a video of Swift giving a shout out to the procedure on the “New Heights” podcast. “TAYLOR SWIFT EVERYONE (red heart emoji). WE’VE PEEKED!!!!!!!!” The post currently has more than 389,000 views and 15,000 likes.
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By MIKE STEWART
woman measures a new appliance Thursday at a store in Kennesaw, Ga.
ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By LEWIS JOLy
Taylor Swift performs May 9, 2024, at the Paris Le Defense Arena as a part of her Eras Tour concert in Paris.
Groups call on Israel to end ‘weaponization’ of aid
BY WAFAA SHURAFA and SAM METZ Associated Press
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip
More than 100 nonprofit groups warned Thursday that Israel’s rules for aid groups working in the Gaza Strip and occupied West Bank will block much-needed relief and replace independent organizations with those that serve Israel’s political and military agenda — charges that Israel denied. At the same time, hospital officials reported more deaths from Israeli airstrikes and an increasing toll from malnutrition.
The mounting backlash over aid restrictions and the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza have been cited by several countries as a factor in their moves toward recognizing Palestinian statehood. Yet on Thursday, Israel advanced plans for a new settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank, with one far-right government minister describing the move as a way to “bury the idea of a Palestinian state.”
The nonprofit groups, in-
drops organized by foreign governments and the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation — the new Israel and U.S.backed contractor that since May has been the primary distributor of aid in Gaza.
letter It said 380 trucks entered Gaza on Wednesday
And on Thursday, the Israeli military said, 119 aid packages containing food for Gaza residents were airdropped by six different countries.
decry the amount of lifesaving supplies stuck at border crossings.
cluding Oxfam, Doctors Without Borders and CARE, were responding to registration rules announced by Israel in March that require organizations to hand over full lists of their donors and Palestinian staff for vetting They contend doing so could endanger their staff and give Israel broad grounds to block aid if groups are deemed to be “delegitimizing” the country or supporting boycotts or divestment.
The aid groups stressed on Thursday that most of them have not been able to deliver “a single truck” of lifesaving assistance since Israel implemented a blockade in March. Their letter called on other countries and donors to pressure Israel “to end the weaponization of aid, including through bureaucratic obstruction.”
The aid that the groups provide supplements assistance from the United Nations, air-
Justices allow Miss. to require age verification on social media
BY MARK SHERMAN and LINDSAY WHITEHURST Associated Press
WASHINGTON The Supreme Court on Thursday refused for now to block enforcement of a Mississippi law aimed at regulating the use of social media by children, an issue of growing national concern.
The justices rejected an emergency appeal from a tech industry group representing major platforms like Facebook, X and YouTube
NetChoice is challenging laws passed in Mississippi and other states that require social media users to verify their ages, and asked the court to keep the measure on hold while a lawsuit plays out.
There were no noted dissents from the brief, unsigned order Justice Brett Kavanaugh wrote that there’s a good chance NetChoice will eventually succeed in showing that the law is unconstitutional, but hadn’t shown it must be blocked while the lawsuit unfolds.
NetChoice argues that the Mississippi law threatens privacy rights and unconstitutionally restricts the free expression of users of all ages.
A federal judge agreed and prevented the 2024 law from taking effect. But a threejudge panel of the 5th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruled in July that the law could be enforced while the lawsuit proceeds. It’s the latest legal devel-
opment as court challenges
play out against similar laws in states across the country
Parents and even some teenagers are growing increasingly concerned about the effects of social media use on young people. Supporters of the new laws have said they are needed to help curb the explosive use of social media among young people, and what researchers say is an associated increase in depression and anxiety. Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch told the justices that age verification could help protect young people from “sexual abuse, trafficking, physical violence, sextortion and more,” activities that Fitch noted are not protected by the First Amendment
Despite those channels, the amount of aid reaching Gaza remains far below what the U.N. and relief groups previously delivered.
Meanwhile, the U.N. agency helping Palestinian refugees, known as UNRWA, said Thursday that dehydration is increasing in Gaza amid limited water supplies and a heat wave that has pushed temperatures above 104 degrees.
U.N. agencies and a small number of aid groups have resumed delivering assistance, but say the number of trucks allowed in remains far from sufficient
COGAT, the Israeli military body in charge of humanitarian aid to Gaza, denied the claims in the NGOs’
During the two-month ceasefire, aid groups demanded Israel allow entry for 600 trucks per day
“The alleged delay in aid entry occurs only when organizations choose not to meet the basic security requirements intended to prevent Hamas’s involvement,” COGAT said.
Israel has pressed U.N. agencies to accept military escorts to deliver goods into Gaza, a demand they’ve largely rejected, citing their commitment to neutrality
The standoff has been the source of competing claims: Israel maintains it allows aid into Gaza that adheres to its rules, while aid groups that have long operated in Gaza
U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff had met with U.N. humanitarian officials in New York about the “need to, speedily, scale up aid into Gaza.”
Hospitals throughout Gaza on Thursday reported casualties from Israeli strikes on Gaza City which Israel identified as a militant stronghold last week when it announced plans to launch a new offensive against Hamas. An Israeli strike on Gaza City killed one person and wounded three others, an official at Shifa Hospital said. A separate strike killed five people in Gaza City on Thursday morning, according to al-Ahli hospital, which received the casualties.
Israel’s military did not immediately respond to questions about the strikes.
BY JUAN A. LOZANO Associated Press
HOUSTON — A judge on Thursday granted a request by federal prosecutors to dismiss two of the 14 counts against U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, of Texas, and his wife, as part of a federal bribery and conspiracy indictment. The judge also ordered that their trial, which had been set for September, be rescheduled for next year Prosecutors with the U.S Justice Department had asked U.S District Judge Lee Rosenthal to dismiss two counts that Cuellar and his wife had each faced related to violating the prohibition on public officials acting as agents of a foreign principal. Federal authorities have charged Cuellar, 69, and his wife, Imelda Cuellar with accepting thousands of dollars in exchange for the congressman advancing the interests of an Azerbaijancontrolled energy company and a bank in Mexico Cuellar is accused of agreeing to influence legislation favorable to Azerbaijan and deliver a pro-Azerbaijan speech on the floor of the U.S. House. The payments to the couple initially went
through a Texas-based shell company owned by Imelda Cuellar and two of the couple’s children, according to the indictment.
Cuellar has said he and his wife are innocent.
Prosecutors said they were dismissing the two counts following a February memorandum from U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi that shifted the focus of charges filed under the Foreign Agents Registration Act. The law is aimed at ensuring transparency about lobbying efforts done in the U.S at the direction of foreign governments or principals. Judge dismisses 2 counts against Texas congressman, reschedules bribery
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By ABDEL KAREEM HANA
Palestinian children sell bags of drinking water during a hot summer day with temperatures reaching 97 degrees on Wednesday in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip.
More than 200attendFields’ town hall
Residentsurgecongressman to do more againstTrump’s bill
BY CHRISTOPHER CARTWRIGHT Staff writer
An 11th grader expressed concerns over cuts to the U.S.DepartmentofEducation’sTRIOprogram, which provides educational support to students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Awoman with adisabled daughter worried
about cutstoMedicaid waiver programs. A23-year-oldman urged Democrats to mobilize outreach to young peopleand more forcefully oppose President Donald Trump’s administration Theseand several dozen other peoplespoke to U.S. Rep.Cleo Fields,D-BatonRouge,duringa Wednesday town hall attended
by morethan 200 people at Baton Rouge CommunityCollege.
“I have watched democracy in this country diminish and being pulled out from under us repeatedly and over and over again,” said resident Michael Hopping. “I’m nota bigpolitical activist type person, butI came here because Iwant to find out what Ican do. I, personally,havegot to do something,and Ifeel like we all do, and Ihope I’m not sounding too radical.”
Fields’ town hall, the last in a series he held across 10 parishes, was part of apolitical tug-of-war playing out across the country.Members of the U.S. House of Representativesare out of Washington, D.C., and back in their districts for August recess —and the One BigBeautiful Bill, which enacted much of Trump’sdomestic agenda, is dominating conversations. Speaking with their constituents, Republicans have trumpeted
NO LIMITS
Lafayettetoddler selected to representDown syndrome communityinNew york’s TimesSquare
BY JA’KORIMADISON Staff writer
Dancing around the house to Taylor Swift’s“Welcome to New York,” Emery Tanner,a4-year-old from Lafayette, is gearing up to represent the Down syndrome community in NewYork’s Times Square.
Diagnosed with Down syndrome at birth, Emery’s photo was chosen from more than 2,600 submissions to the National Down Syndrome Society’sworldwide call for photos after her mom submitted an application in February.Her picture will be displayed in Times Square on Sept. 6.
“Emeryis capable of doing what otherkids can.”
JULIA TANNER, Emery’s mother
“This was actuallyour thirdyear to apply, and we finallygot in,” said Julia Tanner, Em er y’ s mom. “I’m ex ci te d. Emery is going to look like a Southern Louisiana belle all the way up north.”
Her parents, friends and family members, including her two siblings, 9-year-old Ryleigh and 6-year-oldAinsley,will be in attendance
As the youngest of three girls, Emery is growing up in ahomefilledwith“all things girls,” Tannersaid, from makeup and high heels to every shade of pink. Emery especially loves the movie “Frozen”and has spent most of her summer swimming with family and friends.
Tanner said oneofthe biggest misconceptions about people with disabilities is that others tend to place limits on what they can achieve, which shebelieves simply isn’ttrue.
“Emery is capable of doing what other kids can. It just takes her alittle longer to get there,” Tanner said. “It’sthe same with myoldest, who is autistic. People limit them, but they’rejust like any other kids, just with their own unique ways of learning.”
The Times Square video presentation kicks off the New York City Buddy Walk, which takes place at the Naumburg Bandshell in Central Park.
The presentation will be livestreamed on theNational Down Syndrome Society’sFacebook pagefrom 8:30p.m.to9:30p.m.Sept.6
Email Ja’kori Madison at jakori.madison@ theadvocate.com.
PHOTOSPROVIDED By JULIATANNER
Lafayette toddler EmeryTanner waschosen from more than 2,600 photo submissions to represent theDownsyndromecommunity in Newyork’sTimes Square.
LEFT: Emery Tanner plays on her bike.
RIGHT: Emery Tanner,from left, plays dress-up withher siblings Ryleigh Tanner,9, and Ainsley Tanner,6
the bill’smassive tax breaks that they argue will be “jet fuel” for the economy, an addition of $45 billion in immigration enforcement spending and regulatory rollbacks that they say will help Louisiana businesses. They also are playing up aprovision that lets Louisiana keep moremoney from offshore oil production to spend on coastal restoration efforts.
“As aresult of the One Big Beautiful Bill, Louisiana will see more funding to protect our coastline
ä See TOWN HALL, page 4B
Magnolia Pantry to celebrate opening
SmallBusinessChallenge winner to open downtown
BY ADAM DAIGLE Acadiana business editor
OneAcadiana andother agencies will celebrate the openingofMagnoliaPantry, the business that will open in the historic Sans SoucibuildingindowntownLafayette. Aribbon-cutting ceremony will be at 4p.m. Aug. 28 to markthe milestonefor the business, which wasthe winner in OneAcadiana’s Small Business Challenge last year Magnolia Pantry,ajoint venture owned by Korey Champagne, of Acadiana Slice Pies, and Alexis Badon, withMagnolia Moon Herbals, held asoft openingearlier this month at its location at 219 E. Vermilion St. Other agencies on hand for the event will be the Lafayette Public Trust Financing Authority,Downtown Development Authority,Lafayette Economic Development Authority,Louisiana Small Business Development Center,OpportunityMachine and the LEED Center at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
As winners of the competition, Champagne and Badon received acapital infusion of up to $100,000 and alease in the 1,200-square-foot historic building.
“One Acadiana’s Small Business Challenge, apart of our Vibrant Acadiana initiative, aimed to foster small business growth, whilebolsteringvibrancy andfoot traffic in downtown Lafayette,” said President andCEO Troy Wayman. “Wewere able to collaborate with our local partners to apply awinning concept here in our own community,continuing to makeLafayette and Acadiana the best place to livework, and play.”
An anonymous bomb threat at anursing home in Rayne hasled to the arrest of a Hessmer man Officials identified Jonathan Jones, 22, of Hessmer, as the suspect allegedly responsible for the threat. Jones was arrested and charged with communicating falseinformation of planned arson. According to the Rayne Police Department, they responded to an anonymous bomb threat July 16 at TheEllington of Rayne nursing home. Although thebomb threat was determined to be false, elderly residents were put at risk when they were evacuated from the climate-controlled facility during the search, police said. Police located Jones on Wednesday in Hessmer and took him into custody.Policesaidthe cellphone usedtoplace the threatening call wasrecovered. Jones’bailisset at $250,000. He was
Fields
OPINION
Sessiona winfor some reformsbut more areneeded
My team and Ispent thepast year,including actively participating in 14 autoinsurance committee hearings before thelegislative session, working with legislators to draft acomprehensive package of regulatoryand legal reform legislation aimed at reducing the cost to drivers in our insurance system —many of which ultimately passed during session.
Of the 20 insurance and legal reform bills Isupported when session began, eight became law
These new laws includea limit on the ability for aperson who is mostly at fault for an accident to recover damages,the requirement for aplaintiff in apersonal injury lawsuit to prove the accident caused the injury andclearer proof of loss requirements that can simplify the claims process.
The Legislature also passed Act 466, which says that in lawsuits involving an accusation of negligence that resulted in an injury, juries may hear and consider
theamount actually paid to the medical providerasopposed to only theamountoriginally billed —and weall know the amountpaid is rarely as high as theamount billed. In cases where health insurance is used, Act 466 limits recovery to the amountpaid by ahealth insurer Act 466 is agood step toward fixing our medical billingtransparency problem. However,westill must address themajor issue of inflated providerbilling when the patient does not usehealth insurance.
Theemphasisonlegal reform did not limit our focus on strengtheningthe propertyinsurance market for home and business owners. Of the19regulatory and property insurance bills I supported when session began, 13 became law Twoofthese newlaws work together to create apermanent source of funding from the insurance industry for the Louisiana Fortify Homes Program (LFHP),
while three others create or increase existing tax incentives for fortified roofs.
Outsideofsolidifying theLFHP, theLegislature also passed several bills to improve policyholders’ experience in our market. These changes include required training on new insurance laws for agents, adjusters and public adjusters. This will help makesure consumers receive the best guidance. The changes also include increasing the notice period for cancellationsand nonrenewals to 60 days for most policies and requiring that nonrenewal notices include thecause for the nonrenewal so policyholders can address the issue and improve their insurability.Finally,italso contains stiffer penalties for insurers that do not provide rental car benefitstopolicyholders in atimely manner
While theLegislature passed manygood bills this year,Iam disappointed by thegovernor’s vetoofSenate Bill 111 and by theSenate’srejection of 12 other reform bills Isupported —10of which failed to pass theSenate Judiciary ACommittee. These
For over 30 years, Ihave dedicated myself to the protection andrestoration of Louisiana’s coast. As alegislator for12 years serving as chairman of theNatural Resources and Environment Committee, a Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority board member representing the House of Representatives as well as parish president of Terrebonne Parish for eight years,I have witnessed firsthand the challenges and triumphs of coastal management. It is crucial that we maintaina balanced and strategic approach to coastal restoration.
In 2024, Iwas appointedbyGov Jeff Landry and confirmed bythe Senate to serve as board chairman of CPRA.
project area after construction.
Mitigation and adaptive management costs are not fully funded by Deepwater Horizon settlement funds. These escalating costs threatened to derail CPRA’s ability to fund other vital projects across ourcoast and obligate future funding streams, and 50 years to build land for coastal protection is just too long. We need, and can build, cost-effective projects that produce benefits within ourlifetimes.
bills would have provided meaningful legal reforms, including a cap on general damages, limiting attorney contingency fees and more.
Worse, Act 11, which went through several iterations while being pushed through the legislativeprocess by Gov.Jeff Landry, threatens theprogress we’ve madebygiving the insurance commissioner unilateral authority to disapprove rate requests and publish proprietary and/or confidential information forpurely political, personal and other subjective reasons.
Act 11 makes Louisiana’sinsurance industry moreheavily regulated than California’s, harming our efforts to create apredictable regulatory environment that fosters competition, protects consumers and ensures the financial stabilityofinsurers. This is not theright path forLouisiana.
In April, Iwrote that Iwould explore other options if we didn’t get true legal reform passed and signed into law.Because of how mixed this year’sresults are, I plan to explore one of those other
options, specifically the Louisiana Commercial Automobile Corporation.
Based on the Louisiana Workers’ Compensation Corporation which solved the workers’ comp crisis in the 1980s and 1990s, the LCAC would provide affordable insurance forbusinesses that have no realistic commercial auto options and demonstrate the degree to which our legal system is corrupting the market. Iplan to study this option and, depending on the results, may propose future legislation to establish it.
Iappreciate the sponsors of the above-mentioned bills and their serious focus on improving our insurance market this year
As we begin the hard workof implementing the reforms that have just passed, my staffand I are already looking forward to working with legislators next session to continue strengthening Louisiana’sinsurance markets to the benefit of the citizens of our great state.
TimTemple is theLouisiana commissionerofinsurance.
Reclassifyingcannabisfor medicalpurposesisoverdue
Iimmediately began reviewing the costly $3 billion-plus Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion project. Prior to Landry’stenure CPRAleaders assured thepublic thatno tax dollars would be used forthis project. Funding for the project was cappedat$2.8 billion in Deepwater Horizonoil spill settlement funds from the Trustee Implementation Group through funding of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundationand the NaturalResource Damage Assessment.
In both business and governance, making tough decisions is adaily reality. As chairman, Iunderstand the importanceof operating withinour financial means. This principle is not just soundbusiness sense; it is essential for effectivegovernance.
The recent decision by theLandry administration to cancel the diversion projectexemplifies this approach. Along with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, a decision was made to suspendthe Corps permit and reachanagreement with the Trustee Implementation Group resolution to terminate the Mid-Barataria Diversion project. The project aimed to address coastal erosion in alimited area andits initialconstructioncosts were envisioned at approximately $700 million. However,as theproject evolved, costs rose to over $3 billion Thisfigure would have escalated because of mitigation issues that would havebeen caused by construction. There would have been post-construction andother costs, in the form of adaptive management (known as “pay as you go”). Recent engineering estimates suggested an additional $1 7billion could be needed for maintenance dredging of navigable waterways in the20-mile
For example, thestate announced intent to pursue thecongressionally authorized diversion approved for engineering and construction in the 2007 Water Resources Development Act, known as Medium Diversion at Myrtle Grove, with dedicated dredging. This projectwill result in moreland being built faster at lower cost and with fewer impacts than the Mid-Barataria diversion.
It will leave Louisiana with more money available to fund other vital projectsalong thecoast.
Thedecision to halt thediversion project was not made lightly.Considering the uncertainties andquestionable environmentaloutcomes recognized by various agencies, including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, TIG, as well as thelatest scientific modelingreport, it was necessary to abandon the current project.
This ensures that no single project jeopardizes CPRA’s mission to deliver acomprehensive, coast-wideprotection and restoration program. By stopping the financial bleeding, we can advance numerous other projectsthat will protect our communities without compromisingthe financial health of ourcoastal program. Leadership requires making difficult choices, and Icommend Landry for prioritizing fiscal responsibility.This decision allows ustoreturn to acommon-sense approach, focusing on projects that offer tangiblebenefits without breaking thebank. It is areminder that while environmental ambition is important, it must be balanced with practicality and foresight. As we move forward, let us embrace this opportunity to protect and restore our coast with arenewed commitment to fiscal prudence. The future of our communities depends on it.
Gordon E. Dove is chairman of the board of the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority
Life with severe spasticity fromcerebral palsyisfar from easy.Spasticity is an abnormal muscle tightness from contraction that is related to damage to the body’sneurological system. Spasticity treatments are often invasive andrequire a team of caregivers. Treatments include physical therapy,intrathecal drugs or surgery.Despite these available treatments, it remains an area ripe for medical research,asnone of the available treatments provide the necessary relief for some spasticity patients. Despite more than adozen years of physical therapymultiple times aweek, Istill suffer from significant ambulatory problems
While credible medical authorities such as the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine and theJournal of the American Medical Association have released publications indicating that evidence exists formarijuana’sabilitytotreat spasticity,the U.S. remains behind in medical marijuanaresearch for the condition.
This is largely due to marijuana’s statusasaSchedule Idrug. Schedule I drugs,defined as having “no accepted medical use,” face significant research barriers, includingspecial DEA license registration,limited funding options, special federal funding barriers and a significant limitation in federally legal places for researchers to acquire marijuanafor medical research.
Despite bipartisan calls for easing medical marijuana research restrictions, promises made during the Biden Administration,campaign promises from President Donald Trump, approximately 30,000 public letters of support for rescheduling and even afederal budget amendment that prevents the DOJ from pursuing medical marijuana cases, legal barriers to marijuana research continue to block medical research
It’slong past time for the federal government to act andremove marijuana from Schedule I, as suffering constituents were promised.
While American innovationhas been stifled, UK-based GW Pharmaceuticals, now JazzPharmaceuticals, developed a marijuana-based nasal spraytreatment for spasticity available in 29 countries —but not theUnited States.
Ihave been working on medical marijuanapolicy in Louisiana since2014
when Ifirst met state Sen. FredMills andtestifiedinfavor of his bill, which was designed to allowpatients with spasticity andcancer access to medical marijuana,which was alreadylegal for themfor over 20 years. Sincegraduating law school andhelping to legalize medical marijuana in Louisiana, Ihave worked acrossthe country and at home in the marijuana industry Ihaveseen andexperienced the life-changing powerofcannabisbasedtreatments, as well as the devastating consequencesofmarijuana’s outdated classification under federal law. Ihaveseen the limited research, patient access, insurance coverage and otherbarriers thatcannotbeallowedto continue Despite the support for rescheduling, little progress hasbeenmade. While the Department of Health and Human Services recommended medical marijuana rescheduling in 2023, the DEA subsequently canceled the marijuana rescheduling hearing.
Marijuana’smedical research now againremains stalled, and Iamcalling on leadersinour federal agencies to make achange
Rescheduling cannabis would begin aprocessofremoving regulatory hindrances.Research institutions would be able to study cannabis the same as any othersubstance
Schedule III would bring cannabis into the same regulatory frameworks usedtoevaluate other medicines, instead of drugs like heroin andmeth, finally allowing researcherstoapply for federal grants andconductclinical trials.
Rescheduling means increased protectionfor patients as many remain concernedabout legalgrayareas Veterans using cannabis through state programs risk losing benefits. Professionals worry about liability.Banks and credit cardprocessors often won’twork with retailers. I’ve spent yearsfighting for asystem where people don’thavetochoosebetween treatment andlegality.Rescheduling cannabis is aboutrecognizing what so many of us already know: Cannabis hasmedical properties that need to be researched immediately.This isn’t just policy—it’spersonal.
Jacob Irving is an attorney basedin Baton Rouge.
COMMENTARY
APPLEWHITE
ASSOCIATEDPRESS PHOTOByJ.SCOTT
Militarypersonnel departthe District of Columbia National Guard Headquarters as President Donald Trump implements hisorder to use federallaw enforcement and theNational Guardtoexpel homeless people and rid the nation’scapitalofviolent crime in Washington on Tuesday
ISSUE OF THE WEEK D.C. TAKEOVER
President Donald Trumpsent the National Guard into Washington, D.C., and federalized the city’s police force this week in an efforttocombat violent crimeinthe nation’scapital.The troops would also tackle homelessness, whichhas become an increasing problem.Somecritics saythe administration’seffort goes toofar,pointing to statistics that showinrecentyears crime has dropped in D.C.,asithas in otherbig cities. Still, othersargue the city’s crimeratesremain unacceptably high.Will the federal government stepping in makeadifference? Hereare twoperspectives.
Crimeisabig problembut National Guardisn’t needed
Imake apoint of agreeingwithPresident Donald Trump whenever heis right about something, and I’m afraid he is right that in D.C., crime and disorder is amajor problem.
It is not as big aproblem as it wasa few yearsago,but with crime, as withcancer, “somewhatless of aproblem thanitwas” is not really very good news.
This does not justify Trump’s harebrained scheme to deploy the National Guard to patrol thestreets, an idea that marries sinister overtones with very limitedeffectiveness. Nor is the problem likely to be solved by federalizing D.C. law enforcement and prosecutions, as he suggested at aMonday news conference. But Trump’scritics will not talk him out of these plansbyconjuring the specter of afascisttakeover,nor by arguing that he shouldn’t be worried about crime, because after all, lookhow much it’sfallen!
federal prosecutions? For starters, D.C.’s progressive establishment needs to show aserious commitment to solving theproblem, which means beefing up thecriminal justice system, not just hunting for “root causes” that can be addressed by social workers.
National Guardjusta temporaryfixfor issues
ega McArdle M n
D.C. had 187 homicides in 2024, or about 27 for every 100,000 residents.That is, to be sure, amassive 32% drop from the273 people who werekilled in 2023, butthat probably wasn’tmuch comfort tothose187 people or theirgrievingfamilies. And it’s horrific comparedwith Boston,whichhad 3.7 homicidesper 100,000 residents during thatsametimeframe, New York City (4.7) or Los Angeles (7.1). Even afurtherreduction in 2025 —year-to-date homicides have fallen 12 percent compared with thesame period last year —won’tbring those numbers anywherenear where theyshould be. This is the capital cityofour country Disorder,such publicdruguse or homelessness, is also aseriousissue. It does not endangerlifeor property, but it does make publicspacesless usable, frayingthe civic fabric that knits acity together.AsTrump said in his news conference, “Washington D.C. should be one of thesafest,cleanest and most beautiful cities in theworld.”At themoment it is not. So, how to solve thoseproblems, if not with the NationalGuard andtougher
writer’scity of residence.TheAdvocate|
published. Letters are not to
As Christopher Lewis andAdaner Usmani argued in a2022 paper,America is underpoliced but overincarcerated. Because we don’thave enough police to control crime, violent crimeishigh compared to the rest of the developed world, and clearance rates are low.Wehave tried to compensate for this by handing down moresevere sentences for those who are caught. Unfortunately,the sort of people who are goodatcalculatingthe expected value of their actions tendnot to become criminals, so this doesn’twork very well —especially in the case of juveniles, who have been involved in some horrific, high-profile crimes in recent years.
We don’tneed harsher sentences, but morecapacity to ensure that some sentence, any sentence, will result from a crime. Staffing fell at the D.C. police department post-pandemic, andsodid stops and arrests. Though the situation has stabilized, and crime is now falling from its pandemic highs, thelevel of violence remains unacceptable.
Those who are opposed to Trump’srecentmoves should argue not that they constitute incipient fascism, but that they aren’t areal solution. The department needs moremoney to hire moreofficers; better training,management andadvancement opportunities for those officers; and theassurance that the people they catch will beprosecuted. Andthe D.C. Department ofCorrections needs to pioneer new approaches that Republicans and Democrats can live with: sanctions focused on deterrence andincapacitation, not retribution or political showmanship Megan McArdle is on X, @asymmetricinfo.
Iwas borninWashington, D.C., at theend of 1942. Growing up in the suburbs there was so little crime it made the front page in the city’sthree newspapers. Today,unless someone who works on Capitol Hill is murdered, or associated withaprominent business, stories are usually buried in the Metro section. Then, you could walk the streetsatnight and feel safe. Now, you take your life in your hands.
President Donald Trump has ordered National Guard troops into the citytohelp D.C. policecontrol violent crime.
As U.S. Attorneyfor D.C. Jeanine Pirro notedataWhite House news conference, many teen criminals are assignedtofamily court where “they aresent to yoga and art classes. That changes today.”
There are facts, lies and statistics, as the saying goes, and Democrats are claiming statistics show violent crime is down in D.C.
n The White House has issued alist comparing actual DC crimestatistics withothercities and countries:
n In 2024, Washington, D.C., saw ahomicide rate of 27.3 per 100,000 residents. Thatwas the fourth-highest homicide rateinthe country —nearly six times higher than NewYork City and alsohigher than Atlanta, Chicago and Compton.
n If Washington, D.C., were astate, it would have thehighest homicide rate of any state in the nation.
n In 2012, thehomicide rate in Washington, D.C. was just 13.9 per 100,000 residents.
n Washington, D.C.’smurder rate is roughly threetimes higher than that of Islamabad, Pakistan, and 18 times higher thanthatofcommunist-run Havana, Cuba.
n The number of juveniles arrested in Washington, D.C., hasgone up each year since 2020 —many of whom have had prior arrests for violent crimes.
n There were 29,348 crimes reported in Washington, D.C. last year, including 3,469 violent offenses, 1,026 assaults with adangerous weapon, 2,113 robberies, and 5,139 motor vehicle thefts.
n So far in 2025, there have already been nearly 1,600 violent crimes and nearly 16,000 total crimes reported in Washington, D.C.
These statistics are not only troubling on their own, but they also likely significantly understate the level of crimeinWashington, D.C.
n Many residents don’tfeel safe reporting crime.
n More than half of all violent crime in the U.S. goes unreported.
n WUSA-TV:“D.C. residents voice frustration over rising violence, questioning police stats and demanding real action to make neighborhoods feel safe again.”
CNN notes: “Extending the takeover for alonger period requires Trump to formally notify the chairs and ranking members of congressional committees handling DC affairs. Any control lasting more than 30 days would need congressional approval and must be passed into law,a highly improbable scenario given the current gridlock in aclosely divided Congress.”
Area residents know what needs to happen in addition to swiftpunishment of the perpetrators. They include employed fathers in the home and school choice to free especially poor kids from failing public schools that give them nothing on which to build alife. Without these the National Guard will only be atemporary fix.
Email Cal Thomas at tcaeditors@ tribpub.com
White supremacist monument was removedin2017
BY DOUG MacCASH Staff writer
The Battle of Liberty Place monument, asymbolof19th-century White supremacist sentiments, was removedfromits place near the foot of Canal Street on April 24,2017 Its elimination from public view was the first of severaltakedownsofsymbols of NewOrleans’racistpast.
The obelisk-shaped, stone sculpture has not been seen since. But in October,the notorious artifactisscheduledtoappear at the MuseumofContemporary Art in Los Angeles, as part of an exhibit that —according to aMOCAnews release is meant to consider the “legacies of post-Civil War America as they continue to resonate today,bringing together aselection of decommissioned monuments, many of which areConfederate.”
Theexhibit, titled Monuments, will include historical public artworks that were removed from view in Baltimore, Maryland; Montgomery,Alabama;Charlottesville and Richmond,Virginia; and Raleigh, North Carolina
TOWN HALL
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andrampupour energy security,” U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow,aRepublican whose district stretchesfrom Baton Rouge to Monroe, wrote in apost on X. “Louisiana is leading the way in unleashing American-made energy!”
But speaking in their districts, Democrats have seized on the bill’scuts to Medicaid, which provides health insurance for lowincome families, and SNAP, or food stamps “I represent Louisiana. I’ve got alot of people on Medicaid. I’ve got alot of people on SNAP.And they’re not lazy and shiftless; they work every day,” Fields said. “And when people say, ‘You always oppose thingsthat the president puts forward.’ Well, let me just tell you, I don’trepresent the president. Irepresent you.” Fields’ district,created last year as part of alegal battle over the number of
BLOTTER
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bookedinto the Avoyelles Parish Jail on additional charges related to drugs and astolen firearm recovered during the search of his residence.
Pedestrian killed in St. Landrycrash
Louisiana State Police are askingfor help locating avehicle involved in a fatal crash.
Troop Iresponded toa two-vehicle crash involving apedestrian just before 2a.m. Thursday on U.S. 167 near Flamingo Road in St. Landry Parish. The crash claimed the life of 42-year-old Chrystal Thevis, of Opelousas.
Apreliminary investigationrevealed that a2011 Toyota 4Runner was traveling south on U.S. 167 when it struck Thevis, who was walking in the roadway wearing dark-colored clothing, according to a spokesperson for Troop I. Thevis was then struck by asecond southbound vehiclethat left the scene and has not yet been identified. Thevis sustained fatal injuries and died at the scene. The driver of the 4Runner was not injured.
The MOCA news release did notname theobjectionable monument acquired from New Orleans. But MOCA’s chief communications officer Danielle Bias confirmedthatthe museum hadborrowed theBattleof Liberty Place monument fromthe city Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s office did notimmediately respond to arequest for comment.
According to theMOCA release, “the monuments in the exhibition will be shown in their varying statesoftransformation, from unmarred to heavily vandalized.”
The historicobjects will be displayed with contemporary artworks that were inspired by their original meaning and their eventual removals. As stated in the release,“by juxtaposing these objects with contemporary works,the exhibition expands thecontext in which they are understood and highlights the gaps and omissionsinpopular narratives of American history.”
Theexhibitwas created by MOCA senior curator Bennett Simpson; Hamza Walker,director of The Brick exhibition space; andrenowned Black artist Kara Walker,known for
majority-Black districtsin Louisiana, is solidly Democratic:Hewon with 51%of thevote to Republican Elbert Guillory’s38%.
Worriesabout thebill
Many ofthose who spoke Wednesdaynight feared theimpact ofthe One Big, BeautifulBill on Louisiana, whichhas roughly32% of its population on Medicaid. Nancy LeBlanc, 68, said herfamily had to take out asecond mortgage to pay for her disabled daughter’shealth care before herdaughter was accepted into theMedicaid waiver program
“Thisisanoptional program. In Louisiana, when thereare Medicaid shortfalls, they will look at the optional programs to cut,” she said. “So, when people say,‘Oh,yourdaughter’s not going to be affected. It’sjust for waste, fraud and abuse, or it’sonly for people who are not working, et cetera.’ That’s not true.And we need toget that word out.” Following acomment
Although impairment was not suspected,the driver of the4Runnervoluntarily provided abreath sample, which showed no alcohol detected. Astandardtoxicologysample was collected from Thevis and submitted for analysis. This crash remains under investigation.
Troopers urge anyone with information related to the crash or who may have been in thearea between 1:30 and 2a.m.to contact Louisiana State Police TroopIat337-2625880. Information can also be reported anonymously through the Louisiana State Police online reporting system by visiting File aReport or calling the State Police Fusion Center Hotline at 800-434-8007.
Former sheriff employee convicted
Aformer employee of the St. LandryParish Sheriff’s Office has been convicted of theft and malfeasance in connection with crimes committed in 2022, prosecutors said. Eliot PatrickBertrand, whoserved as fleet operationsmanager forthe Sheriff’s Office, was convicted Wednesdayofmalfeasance in office, attempted malfeasance in office theft greater than$1,000
Erny,John Delhomme FuneralHomeChapelof the Flowers, 1011BertrandDrive in Lafayette,at11:30 a.m.
Mahfouz,Patsy
Delhomme Chapel of theFlowers at 1:30pm
Obituaries
Hanks, CarlJ
The Battle of Liberty Place monument was erected in 1891 as atributetoa short-lived, violent revolt by theDemocratic White League, comprised of ex-Confederates, against the Republican Reconstruction-era government of Louisiana in 1874.
Starting in 1932, the monument bore an inscription which read in part: “the nationalelection of November 1876 recognizedwhite supremacy in the South and gave us our state.” Fordecades before itsremoval, the monument was alightning rod of controversy In 1993, it hadbeen moved ashortdistance from itsoriginalprominent location on Canal Street to an obscurelocation in the shadow of ahotel parking garage. Removal of such artifacts“prompted anational debate that remains ongoing,” accordingtothe MOCA statement.
by Fields aboutthe importance of next year’smidterm elections,23-year-old DylanHamiltonworried voting wasn’tenough.
“As aperson who’sbeen keeping up with everything that’sbeen going on, it doesn’teven feel like we’re going to have another one,” he said aboutthe election “Because theyseem intent on bendingthe rules so they can stay.”
Fields emphasizedthe need for people to remain hopeful and encourage those theyknow to vote and organize.
“I do thinkpeople are goingtoget fed up, and right nowall members of Congress are at home, he said. “… And hopefully people aretalking to them. If they do not hold townhall meetings, they’re talking to them hopefully in the grocery store, the barbershop, everywhere. Let people know how you feel.”
Email Christopher Cartwright at christopher cartwright@theadvocate. com.
but less than $5,000 and theft greater than$5,000 but lessthan $25,000.
Prosecutors said Bertrand usedhis supervisory position to improperly receive apersonal payment forservices and for selling severalloads of scrap metal belonging to the Sheriff’s Department forpersonalgain. The evidence also showed that Bertrand used his position to illegally purchase equipment andsupplies through thedepartment’s purchase order system to enhance and remodel hispersonal property,officials said.
Sheriff Bobby J. Guidroz said the investigation into Bertrand resultedfroma tip from acitizen.
Funeral serviceswillbe held on Saturday, August 16, 2025, at 12:30 pm in La Chapelle de Martin & Castille in Lafayette, for CarlJohnson Hanks, age 89, who passed away on Tuesday, August 12, 2025, at Maison de Lafayette. The family requeststhat visitationbeobservedin Martin &Castille's DOWNTOWN Locationon Friday, August 15, 2025, from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm and willcontinue on Saturday morning from 9:00 am until time of services. ARosary willberecited on Friday evening at 6:30 pm.
The Very Reverend Chester C. Arceneaux, VF, willconduct thefuneral services.Interment willbe held in Fountain Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Lafayettetobelaid to rest withhis belovedMaryetta Survivorsincludehis daughter, Julie Hanks Inzerella and her husband, Kirk; his sons, Damon Hanks and Bryan Hanks and hiswife,Michelle; two sisters,Joicy Sterlingand Gilderie"PeeWee" Armentor;six grandchildren;and four greatgrandchildren.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Maryetta Martin Hanks; parents, Olive Quebedeaux Hanks and Guilliame Hanks; five sisters,RubySaltzman, Nancy Hanks, Sadie Redlich, RobertaJohn, and Alice Desormeaux; and one brother, Earl Hanks.
BorninMorse,Louisiana on November19, 1935, and raised in Crowley, Carl was alongtime resident of Lafayette. Adevoted son,
husband, father,grandfather,great-grandfather, andfriend, he worked as a Parts Salesman with Hub CityFordfor 49 years and also with Evangeline Downsfor 30 years. A graduate of Crowley High School, he attendedSLI andwas aparishionerof theCathedral of St.John theEvangelist, wherehe wasa member of the KnightsofColumbus. Carl enjoyed cooking favorite meals for familyand friends, cheering on his footballteams, andcherishingtimewiththosehe lovedmost, especially his grandchildren. Pallbearers will be Caleb Inzerella, Trey Colomb, Allan Lanphier, Willard Sterling, Jr., Robert John, Jr andRobertMahtook, Jr
ThefamilyofMr. Hanks extends theirheartfelt appreciation to hiscaretakersand providers, especiallyLinda Hebert, Ungelita Bonnet, Dominique Knatt, Angela Hebert,and Naomi Gaubert Memorial contributions honoringCarl's memory may be made to St.Jude Children'sResearch Hospital, www.stjude.org/ donate/donate-to-st-jude, (800) 805-5856, 501 St.Jude Place Memphis, TN 38105 View theobituaryand guestbook online at www.mourning.com
Martin& Castille Funeral HomeDOWNTOWN, 330 St LandryStreet, Lafayette,
Louisiana70506, 337-2342311
George William Hite,Jr., 94. Visitation will be observed at Fountain Memorial FuneralHome in Lafayette, LA on Saturday, August 16, 2025, from 9:00 am untilthe Funeral Service at 10:30 am. Online obituaryand guest book may be viewedatwww.fou ntainmemorialfuneralhom e.com. Fountain Memorial Funeral Home and Cemetery,1010 Pandora St 337-981-7098isinchargeof arrangements.
STAFF FILE PHOTO By MATTHEW HINTON
Aportion of aWhite supremacist monument is removedbythe One Canal Place parking lot inNew Orleans in 2017.
Hite Jr., George W.
SPORTS
LSU wide receiver Barion Brownruns the ball after acatch during the team’sspringpractice on April
Stadium. Brown’schemistry with quarterback
STANDOUTS
Five Tigers making an impact throughthe firsthalfofLSU preseason
BY REED DARCEY Staff writer
When the LSUfootball team wakes up on Saturday,only twoweeks will separate it from its seasonopening showdown on the road againstClemson on Aug. 30.
The Tigers have spent the last two weeks sortingthrough position battles on theoffensiveline and in the secondary,while searching for the best ways to deploy each of the18transfers it signedinthe offseason. Not allofthem will start, but coach Brian Kelly and hisstaff are counting on most of them to fill some key roles.
Having trouble keeping track of all the new names andfaces? We’ve got you covered.
Here are five playerswho have caught our eye in the first half of LSU’spreseason camp, with returning stars such as GarrettNussmeier and HaroldPerkinsexcluded
1. CB MansoorDelane
2. TE Trey’Dez Green
Saints need Penning’s recovery to be speedy
The New Orleans Saints need Trevor Penning.
Yes, you read that right.
Forget the past three seasons of Penning’scareer
The Saints’ offensive line is better with him than without him
ä Jaguars at Saints NOON SUNDAy, KATC
This timeaweek ago, I would have called the Saints’ O-line the team’s strength. Maybe it still is. But the foot injury left guard Penning suffered in Sunday’spreseason loss to the Los Angeles Chargers leaves agaping 6-foot-7, 325-pound hole in the line. At least fornow Areport by the NFLNetworksays Penning will miss afew weeks.
Saints head coach Kellen Moore didn’tsay how long Penning’sinjury would have him sidelined, only saying “a little while.”
How long that is remains to be seen. What we do know though, is Penning will miss somepractice time—avaluable commodity foraplayer making the transition from tackle to guard this season. There was atime whennews of Penning missing time wouldn’thaveseemed
Delane, aVirginia Tech transfer, certainly looks the part. He’sbig, physicaland competitiveinall his one-on-one repsagainst LSUreceivers. In team drills,Nussmeier has hardlythrown in his vicinity. But he’sstill madeafew stand-out plays, such as the interception he almost secured in the end zone on Monday and the scoop-and-scoretouchdown he foundonTuesday In the spring,Delane saidhejoined the Tigers largely because he wanted to boost his draft stock. So far,sogood forthe senior.He’s usedpreseasoncamp to solidify his standing as LSU’stop outside cornerback.
In LSU’s Texas Bowl win over Baylor, Green caught sixpasses for 53 yards and twotouchdowns. Now he’s picking up whereheleft off —and ä See LSU, page 3C
Fordhamcomfortable in newrolewithUL
BYKEVIN FOOTE Staff writer
Redshirt sophomore Cooper Fordham knows he has big shoes to fill this season for the UL Ragin’ Cajuns.
Last year’sstarting center Landon Burton was 6-foot-3 and weighed 314 pounds. Fordhamislistedat6-foot-2 and292 pounds Neither Fordham nor UL’s coaching staff is all that concerned about thetransition.
“I’m asmaller guy, I’ve gotalittlebit shorter arms, but Ilike to feellike Iknow the game pretty well and Ithink Iplayphysical,” Fordham said.
“Cooper brings an elite level of toughness,” UL coach Michael Desormeaux said.“He doesn’tlook like the restofthem(offensive linemen), but he has all the traits you need
“He has elite toughness, he’sreally,really intelligentand he plays really hard.” Unlike some new starters, Fordham also brings more playingexperiencethansome. Because of injury,the native of Jacksonville, Florida, has taken critical snaps before this season, and he’sconvinced he’suptothe task.
“I learned from Landon Burton and AJ Gillie and Jax (Harrington),”Fordham said.
BY RODWALKER Staff writer
October22ndcan’t getheresoonenough forthe New Orleans Pelicans. That’swhen the Pelicans will be in Memphis, Tennessee, to play their season opener against the Grizzlies. It’ll be the first of 82 opportunities the Pelicans will gettoremove the bitter taste from one of theworst seasons in franchisehistory The Pelicansfinished21-61 last season and missed the playoffs in aseason filled with farmore injuries than wins. Will this season, the first one with Joe Dumars calling the shots as the team’s executive vice-president of basketball operations, be better? Time will tell. For now,weknow the path the Pelicans will be on afterthe NBAreleased theupcoming season’sschedule on Thursday Here are five takeaways from the Pelicans’ schedule as they try to get back on track after awoeful 2024-25 season.
STAFF FILE PHOTOBySOPHIA GERMER Saints lineman TrevorPenning runs drills during organized team activities on May22. Penning was injured during the Saints’ preseason loss to the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday
STAFF FILE PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON
12 at Tiger
Garrett Nussmeier during camp shows promise ahead of thefall.
1:05
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MR.TRIPLEDIGITS
UL transfer pitcher canalready hear fans chanting his nickname
BY MIKE COPPAGE
Contributing writer
Kyrin LeBlanc envisionsULRagin’ Cajuns’ baseball fans chanting his nickname. The hard-throwing transfer pitcher,who expects to be in a closer role at his new school, wants to hearthe words “Mr.Triple Digits” —which refers to his velocity —ashetakes themound “It’sfun being up there in the 1% of the world,” LeBlanc said of throwing his fastball up to102 mph. “When you getupthere in the triple digits and strike somebody out, it’sdifferent.”
The St. Martinville High grad is transferring to UL from Texas
A&M, where he spentone year anddidn’tmakeany appearances because ofwhathedescribed as “dead arm from overthrowing.”
“Ah man, it’sbeen crazy,” he said of the reaction from the Lafayette area to his decision to comeback near his hometown for two final years ofeligibility. “UL fans are insane. I’veheard things about how they’re going to chant my nickname.”
LeBlancisback in rare form, striking out 36 in 192/3 innings during the summer for the Abilene Flying Bison of TheMid-America League. He was second in the league with three savesin12appearances.
“I’m back up to 101,”hesaid. “WhenIthrow that hard,it’sfree and easy.Idon’tevenfeel it come off my fingers. Ilookup, and it’s there (in thecatcher’smitt).”
The 6-foot-3 right-handeralso throws asinker (at 97-98 mph) and
asweeper (86-88) and has shown improvement with control, going from “walking alot of hitters” to 10 walks over the summer “When batters are geared up forthe fastball andIthrowthe sweeper,itchanges how they look at everything,” he said. “Personally,Ilike to go withthe curveball (for an out pitch).”
LeBlanc spent twopost-high school seasons at CiscoJunior College in Texas, throwing a combined 24 innings (21asa sophomore) with37strikeouts. He bonded with assistant coach Mark Jones and initially committed to Texas beforeswitching to the Aggies after acoaching change.
“Atthe beginning of mycareer it was hard coming in andmaintainingcontrol,”hesaid. “I’ve been working on honing in on the strike zone. It paid offthis summer.”
UL coach Matt Deggs estab-
lished arelationship with LeBlanc,who also had interest from FloridaState, Central Florida and multiple SEC schools.
“Coach Deggs is different from alot of head coaches,” LeBlanc said.“He reminded me of coach Jones. We got along really well with that same chemistry.Coach Deggs reached out quite abit during my recruitment. Iwant to go back to Louisiana and dominate.”
In thefuture, the businessmajor plans to build baseball programs for local youth. LeBlancsaidhis yearsinthe juniorcollege ranks in Texas helped moldaconfident mindset
“It was amazing,” he said. “I wouldn’tchange it foranything and would do it all over again. It’s agrind, getting in there, knowing nothing andreally starting to see that it’sall on yourself
“You havetoput yourself into apositiontosucceed; Idon’t take anything for granted.”
Browns QB Sanders sidelined with injury
PHILADELPHIA— Cleveland rookie quarterback ShedeurSanders remained sidelined from practice Thursdaywithanoblique injury, and it is unlikely he will play in the Browns’ preseason game against the Eagles. Sanders suffered the injury during drills ahead of practice Wednesday. Sanders andthe Browns were in Philadelphia for apairofjoint practices ahead of Saturday’spreseason game.
The Browns said Sanders is day to day Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said ahead of Thursday’spractice that Sanders would be out “for a little bit” andthe team wanted to be smart with his health because the former Colorado standout is “a thrower.”
Lakers to honor HOF coachRiley with statue
LOS ANGELES
The Los Angeles Lakers will unveila statueofformer coach Pat Riley on Feb. 22, as theHallofFamer joins the likes of former team greats Kareem Abdul-Jabbar,Magic Johnson and KobeBryant in bronze outside their downtownarena.
The Lakers will fittingly honor Riley against their long-time rival, the Boston Celtics.
Riley coached the Lakers from 1981 to 1990 during the team’s “Showtime” eraand wonfourNBA championships (1982, 1985,1987, 1988). With Johnsonand AbdulJabbar leadinganexcitingroster with agroundbreaking fast-break offense, theLakerswent 533-194 (.733) in Riley’stenure and added 102 playoff victories over nine seasons.
Socialjusticemessages to continue in end zones
The NFL is continuing its onfield social justice messaging for asixth straight season.
All 32 teams will feature an end zone message of their choice at each home game throughout the season,selecting fromfour options: “End Racism,”“Stop Hate,” “Choose Love,” or “Inspire Change.” Once again, “ItTakes All of Us” will be stenciled in the opposite end zone forall games.
These messages will complement theleague’s other cause campaigns suchasSalutetoServiceand Crucial Catch, whichwillappearinend zones during select dates.
“We’re workinghand-in-hand with players, and alongside our clubs, to amplify player voices and underscore whatismost importanttothem,”AnnaIsaacson, the NFL’s senior vice president of social responsibility,said.
Medalist Stout ralliesto advanceatU.S. Amateur
SAN FRANCISCO Top-ranked amateur JacksonKoivundidn’tmake abirdie until his finalholefor the second straight round in the U.S. Amateur. The difference Thursday washewas eliminated at The Olympic Club, along with three othersfrom thetop 10 in theworld amateur ranking.
BY DOUG FERGUSON AP golf writer
OWINGS MILLS,Md.
received
leading
season, and he will get $5 million forbeing the No. 1seed after this week’sBMW Championship. That is still part of the bonus pool and
will not be official money But now that theplayerwith lowest score wins the Tour Championship —and
and U.S. Open champion J.J. Spaun ($12,302,222) now will have amathematical chance of topping Scheffler if they winatEast Lake. The runner-up at East Lake gets $5 million in official money,while third place gets $3,705,000. Last place gets$355,000. ThelasttimeEastLakehad an official purse wasin2018 at $9 million,and Tiger Woods won $1.62 million. Justin Rose won theFedEx Cup without winning a postseason event and got the $10 million bonus. Patrick Cantlay was among several players wholiked the change away from starting strokes, and he said winning the Tour Championship —evenifa player wasat No. 30 —was still worthy of being theFedEx Cup champion. Tour Championship nowo
OklahomaState junior Preston Stout, the medalist in stroke-play qualifying andthe No.4-ranked amateur, became the only player from the top 10 to advance, taking the lead for the first time on the 13thholebeforewinning, 2and 1, over David Liechty Koivun squeaked by in his opening match. He wasn’tsofortunate in the second round, as Max Herendeen took the lead on the seventh hole and led the rest of the day
Brewers fans earn free burgerswith 12th win Brandon Woodruffhas pitched some of themostimportant games in Milwaukee Brewers history but even he felt alittleadditional pressure as he took the mound Wednesday afternoon against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Notonly would avictory maintainhis perfect record on the season and extend Milwaukee’swinning streak to 12 games, free hamburgers for the entire city of Milwaukee were on theline.
“There was alittle bit moreat stake today,” Woodruff said. “I wanted to win those burgers bad. Who doesn’twant afree burger?” TheBrewers beat the Pirates 12-5 to extend their winning streak to 12.
PROVIDED PHOTO
St.Martinville nativeKyrin LeBlanc is transferringtoULfrom Texas A&M.
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By GEORGEWALKER IV
J.J. Spaun reacts to amissed putt on the 14th green during the final round of the St.Jude Championship golf tournament on Sunday in Memphis, Tenn.
Continued from page 1C
he’s not only flashing in the red zone. In team drills and 7-on-7 work between the 20yard lines, the sophomore is creating enough separation on his short and intermediate routes to draw consistent targets from Nussmeier Green still needs to improve as a blocker before he can become a complete tight end who can play on every down. But LSU is lining him up everywhere: in-line, in the slot and out wide. Expect him to at least play a large role in the passing game.
3. DT Bernard Gooden
LSU’s interior offensive linemen have had their hands full with Gooden, the 6-foot-1, 268-pound South Florida transfer He’s not a physically imposing de-
WALKER
Continued from page 1C
like a big deal.
The first three years of his NFL career have been underwhelming, especially considering the Saints selected him with the No. 19 overall pick in the 2022 draft. But things seemed to be pointing in the right direction for Penning this training camp as he moved to a position that played to his best assets. Penning’s strength is his strength.
All that brute power he has is much better utilized inside at guard as opposed to the athleticism required at tackle.
It’s been obvious that Penning, entering the final year of his rookie contract, is more comfortable and more confident at guard.
The position switch is one of the most important moves Kellen Moore made since taking over as head coach. It helped transform a unit that was a question mark this time last year
Erik McCoy is rock solid at center Cesar Ruiz is steady on McCoy’s right side. And there is the promise of the two tackles taken in the first round of the last two drafts: Taliese Fuaga last year and Kelvin Banks this year
PELICANS
Spotlight dimming
The Pelicans were mustsee TV after drafting Zion Williamson with the No 1 overall pick in 2019. The NBA awarded the Pelicans with 30 nationally televised games that season. That number has dwindled since then as the Pelicans have been given about half as many national TV games in recent years The Pels had 18 nationally televised games on the schedule three years ago Two years ago, they had 12. And 13 last season. This year, they have been given just two national TV games: vs. the Spurs at home (Dec. 8 on Peacock) and vs. the Grizzlies (Jan 30 on ESPN). This will also be the fifth consecutive season the Pelicans don’t get a high-profile Christmas Day game. Bah humbug.
Back-to-backs
The dreaded back-toback games are always one of the first things to look for on a schedule. It’s even more important for teams like the Pelicans, especially if they continue to be cautious with playing Williamson two games in a row The Pelicans had 16 back-to-back dates on last season’s schedule. They went 6-26 in those games This season, they have 15 back-to-backs.
Toughest stretch
Two seasons ago, the Pelicans were the best road team in the NBA. They won 28 games away from the Smoothie King Center that year But road wins (heck, any wins) were hard to
fensive tackle — a fact that adds weight to what he’s accomplished in camp. His quick get-off and competitive motor are erasing size advantages. Gooden’s had an unusual career He’s a fifth-year senior, but he’s played only two full seasons one at Wake Forest and another at South Florida. So it was a bit of a surprise when Gooden kept flashing early in camp. He’s now seeing significant snaps on LSU’s firstteam defensive line.
4. WR Barion Brown
You can count on Brown to make a highlight-reel catch in just about every practice. He and Nussmeier have struck up a nice connection. On the first day of camp, they linked up for a deep touchdown pass. On Monday, Nussmeier found Brown for a roughly 30-yard score in tight coverage near
All of a sudden, the Saints seemed to have finally assembled the puzzle pieces up front.
Then Sunday afternoon at SoFi Stadium happened.
In addition to the Penning injury the Saints also lost backup interior lineman Will Clapp on the first series. Clapp, a New Orleans native who returned to the Saints this offseason after spending the past three seasons with the Chargers and the Buffalo Bills was going to be a key reserve for the Saints. Now he’s out for the season, removing depth from a unit that didn’t have a whole lot to begin with.
This Saints’ offensive line is probably only going to be as good as the first five of Fuaga, Ruiz, McCoy, Penning and Banks. That quintet had taken all the reps with the first-team offense throughout camp before the Penning injury
We saw last season just how quickly things can go downhill with one missing piece up front.
Remember last year?
The city was buzzing when the Saints steamrolled the Carolina Panthers and Dallas Cowboys to get off to a 2-0 start
Then on the first drive of Week 3 against the Philadelphia Eagles, McCoy went down with a groin injury, and the Saints were never quite the same. There were plenty of other injuries
the corner of the end zone. Brown might be the fastest player on the team. He
along the way, but it all started with the loss of McCoy Offensive line play will be even more critical this season for a team with unproven quarterbacks vying for the starting job. The Saints need to be able to run the ball effectively to make things easier for Spencer Rattler or Tyler Shough. That starts with the guys blocking up front. They also need to be able to protect Rattler or Shough.
The Saints have plugged in veteran Dillon Radunz in Penning’s spot during practice. Radunz has played mostly at tackle in camp, including in Sunday’s game against the Chargers.
The best-case scenario is for a speedy return for Penning.
“Any player who can keep participating would be awesome,” Moore said. “But things like this happen. Trevor will do everything he can to prepare himself for when the opportunity presents itself again. We feel good with where he’s at right now.”
Where the Saints need him most though is on the field.
Any chance the Saints have of exceeding the low expectations that many people have for this season depends on how well the Saints play up front.
Penning plays a big 6-7, 325 part in that.
ing in late October against the Nuggets, Clippers and Thunder And in late February, there is a six-game road trip out West to play Utah (twice), both Los Angeles teams, Sacramento and Phoenix. Also, there’s a tough five-game homestand in mid-November that includes the Lakers, Warriors, Thunder and Nuggets
Playing the Clippers (Halloween night), Lakers, Clippers, Mavericks and Grizzlies in group play of the InSeason Tournament won’t be an easy task either Easiest stretch
There really isn’t one. But since we have to put something here, let’s go with the back-to-back home games in March against the Washington Wizards and the Toronto Raptors.
Double dipping
If you’re a fan of both the Pelicans and the football team that plays next door, get the batteries for the remote ready for these games
Here are the two Sundays the Pels and Saints play on the same day this season.
Nov 2: (Pels at OKC , Saints at L.A. Rams) Nov 30: (Pels at L.A. Lakers Saints at Miami Dolphins).
There is a possible third one on January 4 when the Pelicans play at the Miami Heat The Saints will play the rival Atlanta Falcons in the regular season finale on either Saturday or Sunday that week. By the way, there were six such occasions last season when New Orleans’ two pro franchises played on the same day The Pels and
days.
come by last season. These two road stretches are the most difficult. First, there is a three-game trek start-
can outrun anybody, and Nussmeier has the arm strength to deliver him ac-
curate deep balls. LSU’s offense already looks more explosive, and
ing a starter for the first time, Fordham knows all about the importance of being a leader and he was never shy about accepting that role.
Brown is a large reason why.
5. CB PJ Woodland
An injury or two in the secondary would force LSU to rely on Woodland, a sophomore who appeared in all 13 games of his freshman season. If practice is an indication, then Woodland would provide serviceable production in place of an LSU starter In camp, he’s blanketing receivers and breaking up passes thrown mostly by second-team quarterback Michael Van Buren. Woodland enrolled at LSU as a three-star recruit from Mississippi. Now he’s working behind only Delane, Stamps and Florida transfer Ja’Keem Jackson. Five-star freshman DJ Pickett has taken most of the second-team reps at corner opposite Woodland. Email Reed Darcey at reed. darcey@theadvocate.com
nasty and he’s going to fight for you. And he’s smart and has helped me a lot.
to go
in
“They’re great people to learn from I’ve looked up to them. They set the standard and they set it really high. I’m just trying to fulfill the standard.”
Fordham has been living up to standards his entire life — his father, Todd, has been an offensive tackle in the NFL for a decade on a number of teams like the Steelers, Broncos, Jaguars and Panthers. For Desormeaux, that pedigree doesn’t always mean Fordham knows all the answers, but he at least knows the right questions to ask.
“He communicates really well,” Fordham said. “He cares about it a whole lot. I mean, he’s always up there asking questions. He’s one of those guys, if you don’t have an answer for him, you need to go find it, because he’s going to keep asking. So he just brings a lot of things.” So even though he’s becom-
“There’s just a standard in the line room, and we got to hold ourselves to that standard,” Fordham insisted.
“Anything below it, it’s not good enough So we have to go out there every day, work ashardaswecan,becausewe know what we want to do at the end of the day, and that’s towinthechampionship.And there’s only one way to do it, and it’s in the dirt.”
Likewise, Fordham appreciates the player-led culture on the squad so far
“There’s a bunch of guys that lead the team,” Fordham said. “The coaches, when it’s time for them to come in, they’ll help and stuff, but I think it’s a playerled team here. I love it,I really do. It’s a brotherhood.”
It didn’t take redshirt junior transfer quarterback Walker Howard very long to appreciate what Fordham brings to the table.
“I mean, he’s nasty,” Howard said. “He might not be the biggest guy, but he’s
“We watched film over the holidays just trying to break it down with communication for me and him would help better And where he can help me and where I can help him, and he’s done a great job.”
Fordhamsaidhistransition to being a starter has been helped by second-year offensive line coach Steve Farmer
“He’ll break something down and make it a lot easier to understand,” Fordham said of Farmer
“You’re not running around out there with your head cut off. You actually know what’s going on. He explains everything really well. I feel like we understand the offense.” He also appreciates the quarterback room for making his job easier, including Howard
“Walker’s a really good quarterback,” Fordham said. “He plays fast. He just communicates well. He does everything that you’re supposed to do. He gets us all where we’re supposed to go. He’s a good player.”
STAFF PHOTO By JAVIER GALLEGOS
LSU defensive lineman Bernard Gooden carries a tackle wheel during practice at the Football Operations Center on Tuesday.
2025 SCHEDULE
Date Opponent
Sept. 5BeauChene
Sept. 12NORTHWEST
Sept.
Sept. 26 Comeaux
Oct.3 Northside
Oct.10TEURLINGS
Oct. 16 Westgate
Oct. 24
Oct. 31
Nov. 7 Crowley
HOME GAMES IN CAPS
PAST FIVE YEARS
2024:
3-6
PROJECTEDSTARTERS
Offense
WR Syncere Smith (5-10, 150, Jr.)*
WR Lionel Francis (6-3, 155, So.)
TE BrodyTrahan (6-3, 240, Jr.)*
TBlaise Mouton (5-8, 185, Sr.)
GIsaiah Guilbeau (5-8, 220,Sr.)
CIzra Jackson (6-3, 275, Sr.)*
GChaiden Gibson (6-1, 225,Sr.)*
TReid Romero (6-0, 235, So.)
QB Austin Judice(5-8, 155,Sr.)
RB Chase Cary(5-8, 155, Jr.)*
RB Rudolph Peter (5-10, 165, Sr.)
Defense
DE BrodyTrahan (6-3, 240, Jr.)*
DL BrodyCastille (6-0, 255,So.)
DE Adrian Conley(6-1, 215, Jr.)
LB Logan Roy(5-9, 205, Jr.)
LB Hayden Bullock (5-10, 185, Sr.)
LB Gabriel Joyner (5-10, 185,Jr.)*
LB Palmer Shreve (5-7, 140, Sr.)
CB Ashton Breaux (5-8, 150,Jr.)
CB Isaiah Landry(5-8, 155, Jr.)
FS Dallas Bercier (5-10, 175,So.)
SS Horacio Robertson (6-0, 190, Sr.)*
*Returning starter
COACHES
Head coach: Kaine Guidry (32-32). Assistant coaches: RobertEtheridge (DC), Hunter Meche (LB), Cory Roy (DL/S&C) RandyJudice (QB) Graylin Campbell (OL) Alex Mosier (OL) JohnDavid Dupont (WR) Kaine Guidry (RB/OC).
Rayne
What we know
In previous years, theRayne Wolves have been an explosiveoffense, capable of scoring quickly and from anywhere on thefieldwith Kylin Wheeler andKorey Malone.
But this year,things are going to be different for theWolves.
TheWolves will have to be moremethodical with their offensive drives, relying moreonball control andeatingupclock with the running game.
“Weare looking to replace alot of production,” coach KaineGuidry said. “It’s really going to start with our offensive lineand really just playing some ball control. Getting first downs with 3, 4and 5 yards atatime.
“I don’tthinkwehave thathuge, big-playthreat that we have had in the past, but that could benefitusinkind of tryingtokeep the defenseonthe sideline.”
Offensively,the Wolveshavefive returning starters, butwillhavenew faces at quarterback, fullback,receiver,bothtacklepositionsand guard And among their returning players, only one wingback Chase Gary —has scored an offensive touchdown.
“I feel OK with where we areonthe offensive line. In the scheme that we are running, Ithink we should be able to lean on the backfield and run the football OK enough to be able tothrow someplayaction and keep people honest.”
What we don’tknow
Defensively,there is going to be alot of new faces in the starting lineupfor the Wolves, who allowed 35 points per game in 2024. With only three returning startersindefensive end BrodyTrahan, outside linebacker Gabriel Joyner and strong safetyHoracio Robertson, the Wolves will rely alot of inexperience on all threelevels. However,the addition of newdefensive coordinator Robert Etheridge andhis new3-4 alignment has Guidry confident the unitwill be improved. Guidry likes the potential of the Wolves’ defensive linethatconsists of Trahan, defensive end Adrian Conley and nose guard Rondale Johnson. “Wefeel like our defensive line has the potential to be really solid,” Guidrysaid. “Rondale is only a sophomore,but he is abig kidwho is reallyathletic And Adrian played alot for us last year and he’s pretty good. We also have three or four other guys that we feel good about rolling in there.” Ho we seeit
Defensively, theWolveshavetobebetter than they were ayear ago. Considering the lack of quick-score ability,the Wolves aren’tbuilt to get into shootouts. If Rayne, which is competing in one of the toughestdistricts in the state, is going to makeapostseason run, being better defensively will be vital.
EricNarcisse
SCOREBOARD
Austin Judice
QB,5-8,155, Sr
Judice started at safetyasa sophomore before being injured. After sitting out last season, he returns as Rayne’s quarterback. He has ahigh football IQ and has provento have command of the offense BrodyTrahan
TE/DE, 6-3, 240, Jr
Trahan is athreeyear starter, whowill be asked to playon both sidesofthe ball. He has good size,isaphysical blocker and has good hands.Trahan has good quickness and is asure tackler.
RudolphPeter
RB/DB,5-10, 165, Sr
Peterisone of the Wolves’most athletic players. His versatility is evident by the fact he’s playedcornerback, linebacker,safety and running back in his career.Peter has good speed and runs with power.
HoracioRobertson
SS/RB,6-0,190, Sr
Robertson is one of the most physical players on the team He lovescontact, is physical and tackles withapurpose
Expect Robertson to playclose to the line of scrimmage,but he has the speed to playincoverage.
SyncereSmith
WR/CB,5-10, 150, Jr
Smith has been playedsince his freshman year Although not big,Smithisa playmaker. He is shifty and makes tacklers miss. On defense, he is one of the Wolves’bestcoverguys.
EricNarcisse
TennisCenter; Cincinnati Purse: $9,193,540; Surface: Hardcourt outdoor Men’ssingles Round of 16 BenShelton(5),United States, def. Jiri Lehecka(22),Czechia,6-4,6-4 Quarterfinals Jannik Sinner(1),Italy, def. Felix AugerAliassime (23),Canada, 6-0, 6-2. Women’s singles Round of 16 Coco Gauff (2), United States, def. Lucia Bronzetti,Italy, 6-2, 6-4. Jasmine Paolini(7),Italy, def. BarboraKrejcikova, Czechia,6-1,6-2 VarvaraGracheva, Russia, def. Ella Seidel, Germany, 2-6, 6-1, 6-1. Men’sdoubles Round of 16 Neal Skupski and Joe Salisbury (5), Britain def. SadioDoumbia, France, and Brandon Nakashima, United States,6-4, 7-6 (3). LucasMiedler, Austria, andFrancisco Cabral,Portugal,def. EdouardRoger-Vasselin, France, and Hugo Nys(8),Monaco, 6-3, 3-6, 10-7. Mate Pavic, Croatia, and Marcelo ArevaloGonzalez (1), El Salvador, def. Marcelo Melo, Brazil, and AlexanderZverev, Germany,6-2, 7-6(3) Women’s doubles Quarterfinals Lyudmyla Kichenok,Ukraine,and EllenPerez (6), Australia,def. Nicole Melichar-Martinez, United States, and Liudmila Samsonova Russia, 6-4, 6-1. Gabriela Dabrowski, Canada, and Erin Routliffe (2), New Zealand, def. Caty McNally, United States, and Linda Noskova, Czechia, 6-2, 7-6(3) AlexandraPanova,Russia,and HanyuGuo, China, def. BarboraKrejcikova, Czechia,and Jelena Ostapenko, Latvia,walkover. SaraErrani and Jasmine Paolini(1),Italy, def. MarketaVondrousova, Czechia, and Peyton Stearns,United States, 6-4, 6-3. Youthbaseball Little LeagueWorld Series At Williamsport, Pa Wednesday’s games Game 1: Venezuela 5, Puerto Rico 0 Game 2:
Ari Astersets his western/drama/dark comedy“Eddington” in themidst of the pandemicasastandoff escalates between twotownofficials, pittingneighbor against neighbor.Checkout thenew Joaquin Phoenix-starring film at 7:30 p.m Fridayatthe Manship Theatre. $11.50. manshiptheatre.org.
LIVING
Discover local flair at ‘MidCity’s GotTalent’
BY JUDYBERGERON Staff writer
“Grab your ticket and get youroutfit ready for oneofthe most exciting nights in Baton Rouge this summer,”Mid City Redevelopment Alliance posted on Facebook on Monday The event, “MidCity’s Got Talent,” hits the stage for the first time at 6p.m. Friday at HiltonCapitol Center’sfirst-floor RiverviewBallroominBaton Rouge. In addition to thelive performances,the gala evening will include abanquet, openbar, silent auction and localcelebrity judges Mayor-President SidEdwards, singer Quintana Lynell, NeighborWorks’ JamesRoss and WAFB’sJohnny Ahysen.
STAFF FILE PHOTO By BRETT DUKE Blues and jazzsinger Quiana Lynell will be oneofthe celebrity judges for the first ‘MidCity’sGot Talent’ on Fridaynight.
The selection process yielded seven performers who will entertain the crowd while competing for the $1,000 prize. They are:
n Lynn A. Anselmo, aseasoned songwriter who’s been honing his craft for more than 50 years, and with adeep-rooted passion for music, continues to perform original songs weekly throughout south Louisiana; n Audi, The Artist, who, for over 20 years, has poured her heart into music, with songs spinningonbothdigital platformsand local radio stations; n Chassyd,a vocalist and mother of five, who says music holds aspecial place in her soul; n Gwenda Phoenix Bourgeois, an accomplished belly dancer whohas diveddeep into thedynamic Bohemian Blade style; n Issy Mathes, asinger-songwriterblendingalternative rock and soul with raw emotion and lyrical depth, she’salsoleadvocalistofher six-piece band, ISSY; n Randy Martono-Chai (Randy MC), aclassically trained pianist and soulful vocalist who blends the elegance of Western classical music with the energy of pop, R&B and gospel; and n Autumn Percival, 16, who studies theater arts and performance at theNew OrleansCenter forCreative Arts. All proceeds from “MidCity’s Got Talent” will go to supportMid City Redevelopment Alliance. Tickets are priced at $108.55 and available at MidCityRedevelopment.org.
Mid CityRedevelopmentAlliance is anonprofit organization providing homeownersupport and fosteringcommunity engagement throughits homeownercenter and community building and engagementteam. Email Judy Bergeron at jbergeron@theadvocate.com.
ChelseaBryan as Ada LeBoeuf awaits her fate after being chargedinthe
from Matison LeBlanc’s short film,‘Adaand the
Going Underground
BY JUDY BERGERON Staff writer
The countdown is on forthe inaugural Baton Rouge Underground Film Festival, which runs Thursday-Sunday,Aug. 21-24, packed with film screenings, panels,workshops and more.
It all celebrates theartistic and cultural value of the indie andgenre-focused talent surrounding Baton Rouge while also fostering avibrant, interconnected independent film community,according to the BRUFF’smission statement.
LeBlanc
“The festival is gearing up to be amagnificent event.Everything is coming together,and nowall we needisyou!” said JoeCarlton,Baton Rouge filmmaker and the festival’s financialdirector. “Join us downtownaswekickoff theresurgence of the indie film spirit in Louisiana.” In the spotlight on Sunday,Aug.
24, will be Morgan Cityfilmmaker Matison LeBlanc and her short film, “Ada andthe Doc.”Audiencemembers unfamiliarwith this Louisiana story will,inthe few short minutes, watch theshocking tale unfoldofthe first womanexecuted in Louisiana in 1929. AdaLeBoeuf and the town physician, Dr.Thomas E. Dreher,were both hanged for the grisly murder of LeBoeuf’s husband, Jim LeBoeuf. Thekillings took place near Lake Palourde, outside Morgan City.
Here, the 24-year-old LeBlanc, who now lives in New Orleans, discusses “Ada,” her ambitious Savannah College of Art andDesign mandatory senior film project. She graduated from SCADin2023. Tell us alittle about the film. So we made what’scalleda proof of concept. Andsoit’skind of like the first 15 minutes of what thefeature would be like, what it would look like.
And the shortrecently screened at the CannesFilm Festival.How didyou pull that off?
Ihad an internship last year with the American Pavilion in Cannes, a giant film market, you know.Ifound out that they also held an emerging filmmakers competition.SoI applied for that. And then Ialso won acontest that allowed me to attend the festival asecond time. Interning again, it was like avideo contest where youhad to talk about how the programchangedyourlifeand all that stuff. And Iwon second place. So they covered almost all of it for me to return. And so Ireturned as both afilmmaker and an intern.
Igot to intern with Lionsgate, their international sales team, while Iwas there this past May. And thenwe
ä See UNDERGROUND, page 6C
BY ROBIN MILLER Staff writer
PROVIDED PHOTO
grisly killingofher husband in ascene
Doc.’LeBlanc plans to expandthe shortinto afeature film in 2026.
FRIDAY LIVE MUSIC: Delcam-
breShrimp Festival, Festival Grounds, 10 a.m.
GRACE NOVOSAD&
MIKE LARSON &THE ONES WHO GOTAWAY: Hideaway on Lee, Lafayette, 11 a.m.
LIVE MUSIC: Cane River Pecan Company Pie Bar, New Iberia, 5p.m.
BLAKE LUQUETTE: Prejean’s, Broussard, 6p.m.
DISCO NIGHT: Cafe Sydnie Mae, Breaux Bridge, 6p.m.
FRIDAY NIGHT JAM: La Maison de Begnaud, Scott, 6p.m
JADA AND KEVIN: Adopted Dog Brewing, Lafayette, 6p.m.
KARAOKE PARTY: PandaEntertainment, Black Bull, Youngsville, 8p.m.
ZACH EDWARDS: Blue Moon Saloon, Lafayette, 8p.m.
Compiled by Marchaund Jones
Want your venue’s music listed?
Emailinfo/photos to showstowatch@ theadvocate.com. The deadline is noon FRIDAY for the following Friday’s paper
By The Associated Press
Today is Friday,Aug. 15, the 227th day of 2025. There are 138 days left in theyear
Todayinhistory: On Aug. 15, 1969, the Woodstock Music and ArtFair opened in upstate New York; morethan 460,000 people attended the threeday festival, which would become awatershed event in American music and culture.
Also on this date:
In 1057, Macbeth, King of Scots, was killed in battle by Malcolm, theeldest son of King Duncan, whom Macbeth had slain.
In 1914, thePanama Canal officially opened as the SS Ancon
UNDERGROUND
Continuedfrom page5C
werealsoscreening my film three times —twice with Film USA, and KatiePryor,who runs theBaton Rouge Film Commission, orchestrated that; andthen once in the emerging filmmakers showcase.For “Ada and theDoc,”did you hear people talking about or telling you this story? Or how did you first hear about it? Ihad no clue about this story
THEATER
Continuedfrom page5C
theLouisianaShakespeare Company’s“The Tempest” and Sullivan Theater’s comedy,“Noises Off!”
This means there are lots of options this week in local live theater beginning with a25-member cast to kick off Playmakers’ 43rd season. ‘Footloose’
Yes, 25 kids make up Playmakers’ castfor “Footloose,” where teenseven play theadult parts. So, don’tbestartled at seeing 14-yearold University High freshman Grayson Morgan in therole of the Rev.Shaw Moore.
“I feel like I’m an older person in ayoung person’sbody,”the Playmakersveteran said.
“That’swhatwetell him, too,” director Joni Duhe said.
Other cast members in the room laugh. Most of them have seen the original 1984 film on which the musical is based. Some have evenseen the 2011 remake,towhichthey give less thanglowing reviews.
It’sthe original movie they like best, and the musical notonly follows its story but includes songs from the originalsoundtrack, including “Let’s Hear It for the Boy, “Holding Out for aHero” and, of course,the title track, “Footloose.”
Along with Morgan, the play features 16-year-oldConnorSwillie,a sophomoreatEpiscopalHigh School, as Red; 15-year-old Syndle LeJeune, ajunior at BatonRouge Magnet High School, as Ariel; 14-year-oldDonovan Clark, afreshman at Zachary High School,as Willard; 16-year-old Ruby Dupré,a junioratBaton Rouge Magnet, as Rusty;17-year-oldToriBroussard, asenior at LibertyMagnet High School,asUrleen; and14-year-old Annalee Templet,a freshman at University High School,asWendy Jo.
“This has been one of ourmost close-knit castsatPlaymakers,” Duhe said. “I thinkthat little sense of community we’ve built over the years has led up to this show,and it’s been fun to watch them. I’ve been doing Playmakers since 2018, and I’ve known some of these kids
TODAYINHISTORY
crossed the just-completed waterway between the Pacific and Atlantic oceans.
In 1947, India gained independence after nearly 200 years of Britishrule.
In 1961, as workers began constructing aBerlin Wall madeof concrete, East German soldier Conrad Schumann leapt to freedom over atangle of barbed wire.
In 1989, F.W. de Klerk was sworn in as acting president of South Africa, one dayafter P.W. Botha resignedbecause of apower struggle within the National Party
In 2003, bouncing back from the largest blackout in U.S. history, cities from the Midwest to Manhattan restored power to tens of
which is whyI wassoenamored by it.Iworked asummer job at the Morgan City Public Library,and one daymybosscame in with this old black medicalbag full of equipment and Iwas digging around in it, and he comes up to me and he is like, ‘You know, you’re touching the bag of amurderer,right?’ And Iwas like, ‘Whatare you talkingabout?’ Andhe asked me if I’dever heard the story of Ada and theDoc.
So he gavemehis personal copy, theonly book (by Charles M. Hargroder) everwrittenabout the sto-
since they’ve been little bitty.”
The sense of community will spilloverinto thestoryasRen andthe Rev. Shaw come to terms, bonding as they realize that each has suffered loss andneither has all the answers.
Performances for“Footloose” are7 p.m.Friday; 2p.m. SaturdaySunday; 7p.m. Friday,Aug. 22; and 2p.m. Saturday andSunday,Aug. 23-24, in theReilly Theatre, Tower Drive, LSU.Tickets are $20 for studentsand children and $30 for adults. Visit playmakersbr.org
‘The Tempest’ Louisiana is in thepeak of hurricane season, and there’saShakespeare story forthat.
Thebard wasfamiliar with viciousstorms, and one with hurricanestrength winds will take center stage on Friday when the Louisiana Shakespeare Companyopens “The Tempest” in the Virginia &John Noland Black Box Studio at theCary Saurage Community Arts Center.
The timing couldn’tbemore perfect.
“So, when we were talking about doing ‘The Tempest,’ the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina wasinthe back of my mind,” Executiveand Artistic Director Jennifer Bouquet said. “’The Tempest’ is allabout astorm thatcausesa shipwreckand maroons people on an island. So, there are alot of feelings of being left behind or marooned, figuratively and betrayed. There’salsoa smalllovestoryin it, and in the end, it’sabout coming together and forgiveness.”
Thethememirrors theemotions many inNew Orleans and along the Mississippi Gulf Coast were feeling in the wake of the hurricane.
“Wereally wanted to like put ‘The Tempest’ in astorm-ravaged city,but we’re not specifically sayingit’sKatrina,” Bouquetsaid.
“But we know because there have been hurricanes that have decimated not just New Orleansbut allotherparts of the Gulf Coastal South, we decided to set it in a modernday damaged city.”
The story opens with powerful sorcerer Pospero, who useshis magictoconjure atempestuous stormthat landsall of his sea-trav-
millions of people. Today’sbirthdays: Actor Jim Dale is 90. Retired SupremeCourt Justice Stephen Breyer is 87. U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., is 87. Author-journalist Linda Ellerbee is 81. Songwriter Jimmy Webb is 79. Actor Phyllis Smith is 76. Britain’sPrincess Anne is 75. Actor Tess Harper is 75. Actor Zeljko Ivanek is 68. Celebrity chef TomColicchio is 63. Film director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu is 62. Philanthropist Melinda French Gates is 61. Actor Debra Messing is 57. Actor Anthony Anderson is 55. Actor Ben Affleck is 53. Olympic gold medal beach volleyball player Kerri Walsh Jennings is 47.
ry.Iread the book and Iwas fascinated and Iwas flabbergasted that Ihad never heard of it because it’s incredibly important and relevant, especially withthe climate of everything going on right now.’ Ticket prices to the Baton Rouge Underground Film Festivalrange from $15-$75, with acomplete festival pass also available. For more info, visit www.batonrougeunderground.com
Email Judy Bergeron at jbergeron@theadvocate.com.
eling enemies on an island. From there, he engineers situations to force his enemies to face their misdeeds and sins.
Shakespeare wrote the play between 1610 and 1611, and it’sbelievedtobeone of the last works he wrote alone.
The cast features Shane StewartasStephano,Antoni Rogers as Ariel, TimmieCallais as Prospero, Carlyle Runfalo as Antonio, Julie Roundtree as Sebastian and Chad Harelson as Alonso.
Performances of the Louisiana Shakespeare Company’sproduction of “The Tempest” are 7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday,and 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday,Aug.22-23, in the CarySaurage Community Arts Center, 233 St. Ferdinand St. Tickets are$26.50. Visit lashakes.org ‘NoisesOff!’
Sullivan Theater in Central offers up somecomic relief to counter the August heat with its production of Michael Frayn’splay within aplay,“Noises Off!”. Madalyn Mullins directs this three-act show,which centers on atheater company’s10-week run of afarce titled “Nothing On.” The production deteriorates as cast relationships sour,devolving into ahilarious show of improvisation. Called“the funniest farce ever written,” “Noises Off” presents a manic menagerie of itinerant actors rehearsing aflop called “Nothing On.” Doors slamming, on and offstageintrigue,and an errant herring all figure in the plot of this hilarious and classically comic play
The play opens with atouring company dress-rehearsing the conventional farce. Mixing mockery and homage, Frayn heaps into this play-within-a-playahilariousmelee of stock characters andsituations. “Noises Off” is intendedfor adult audiences, with strong language, comedic sexual themes, and staged violence. Parental guidance is advised. Performances of “Noises Off! are 7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday; 2p.m. Sunday;7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 22; 2p.m.and 7:30 p.m. Saturday,Aug. 23; and 2p.m. Sunday Aug. 24, at Sullivan Theater,8849 SullivanRoad, Central. Tickets are $23-$29. Visit sullivantheater.com
LEo (July 23-Aug. 22) Set the stage for success and dominate situations that require leadership. To stay in control, you must first take hold of whatever you face and combat problems with solutions.
VIRGo (Aug. 23-sept. 22) Compromise if necessary, and you will make headway. Lending a helping hand will position you for a pleasant surprise or reunion with someone special. A trip, seminar or networking event looks promising.
LIBRA (sept. 23-oct. 23) Pick up the pace and apply what you know to get things done on time Set a budget, get organized and work diligently to ensure you achieve the success you desire.
scoRPIo (oct. 24-nov. 22) Pay more attention to what you do and how you do it, and less to conversations that tug on your emotions and throw you off course Personal improvements that lead to knowledge, growth and validation are favored.
sAGIttARIus (nov. 23-Dec. 21) Spend more time at home; fix up your space to suit your needs, declutter and lower your overhead by upgrading and replacing faulty equipment. Avoid emotional drama.
cAPRIcoRn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Domestic changes will place you in a better financial position. Make special plans with someone you adore, and it will bring you closer together. Don't shy away from opportunities.
AQuARIus (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Your interest in money will mount as you focus more
on investing in something you want to pursue. A change at home can lead to positive results and increased financial flexibility.
PIscEs (Feb. 20-March 20) Sit tight and watch. A social event that allows you to reconnect with people from your past will offer insight into how to use your skills more effectively to boost your finances.
ARIEs (March 21-April 19) Reorganize your thoughts about your professional direction. Refuse to let negativity cause you to disengage. Get involved, take on problems and be true to yourself.
tAuRus (April 20-May 20) Decline invitations that don't appeal to you, cost too much or involve indulgent practices. The peace of mind you gain from wiping your slate clean will be well worth it.
GEMInI (May 21-June 20) Listen, verify information and focus on victory. You have plenty to gain if you are willing to make changes on the fly. Be the powerhouse you are and soar to the forefront.
cAncER (June 21-July 22) Take an interest in what's happening in your neighborhood and volunteer to help. The people you meet and the information you gather will help you make better lifestyle choices.
Celebrity Cipher cryptograms are created from quotations by famous people, past and present. Each letter in the cipher stands for another.
toDAy's cLuE: G EQuALs c
FAMILY CIrCUS
CeLebrItY CIpher
For better or For WorSe
SALLY Forth
beetLe bAILeY
Mother GooSe And GrIMM
LAGoon
Sudoku
InstructIons: Sudoku is anumber-placing puzzle based on a9x9 grid with several given numbers. Theobject is to place the numbers 1to9 in the empty squares so that each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once. Thedifficulty level of theSudoku increases from Monday to Sunday.
Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer
nea CroSSwordS La TimeS CroSSword
THewiZard oF id
BLondie
BaBY BLueS
Hi and LoiS CurTiS
Puzzle Answer
By PHILLIP ALDER Bridge
Michel de Montaigne, a 16th-century French essayist who was well-known for combining intellectual exercises with casualanecdotes,said,“Inninelifetimes, you’ll never know as much about your cat as your cat knows about you.”
In bridge, nines (and 10s) can be valuable cards. If your hand has several of these intermediates, as they are known, be optimistic in the bidding. In this deal, South is in five diamonds. What should he do after taking the heart-queen lead with his ace?
North made a game-invitational limit raise. South’s decision to plunge into five diamonds worked well. If he had rebid a scientific three hearts, trying to reach three no-trump, West might have deduced that his opponents were weak in spades and led that suit. Then five diamonds would have failed.
South has three potential losers: two spades and one club. He has 10 winners: two hearts, six diamonds and two clubs. So it seems as though he needs the club finesse to work. However, South can improve those odds considerably.
Declarer should draw trumps, cash his second heartwinner,andcast adriftwith a spade. The defenders take two tricks in the suit ending with West. (If East is on lead, he must either play into dummy’s club king-jack tenace or concede a ruffand-sluff.) When West shifts to a club, South plays low from the dummy. Here, East has to put up the queen, so the contract is home. But if East can play the 10, declarer still
By Andrews McMeel Syndication
thought
I will declare my iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin.” Psalms 38:18
