The Acadiana Advocate 09-21-2025

Long legal career preceded Haynes’ conviction

Former assistantdistrict attorney foundguilty in kickback scheme

BY CLAIRE TAYLOR |Staff writer

Gary Haynes grew up on Azalea Street in Lafayette, aneighbor of Don Landry, who wrote aletter of recommendation for Haynes to get into law school and repaid Haynes for helping with his successful 2020 campaign to become district attorney with ajob in hisoffice.

Haynes was convictedThursday by a 12-personjuryinfederal court on six charges in connection with akickback scheme in Landry’spretrial intervention office. He faces asentence of 65 years in prison, five years of supervised release, and afine of up to $250,000, or both

SINKING INTO THEGULF

Threeotherpeople— Dusty Guidry,Leonard Franques and Joe Prejean —enteredplea dealswith federal officials, admitting to some extenttheirrolesinthe kickback scheme. Haynesrefused plea dealoffers and chose to stand trial instead Haynes, who wasonadministrativeleave without pay,has beendismissed in the wake of Thursday’sconviction, Landry said. Haynes,67, who attended an earlier version of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, became an engineer andworked in theoil fieldbeforeearning his lawdegree.

In an audio recording from the FBI investigation, he said he maintained ageneral practice, focused on personal injury cases He also conductedbusiness transactions for oilfield companies, he said,and handled litigation for some oilfield companies. At some point, Landryand Haynes “practiced alittle civil lawtogether,”Landry said on Sept.8,the firstday of testimony in Haynes’ federal trial.

In the recording, Haynes said he boughta nice house on University Avenue in Lafayette where his private office is today “It took me 10 years, and then, allI had was adown payment on it,”hesaid. “I had to get amortgage.”

Haynes ä See HAYNES, page 7A

BY ALEX LUBBEN Staff writer

Mikeal Berthelot Jr.was navigating the mouth of theMississippi Riverinhis shrimp boat, astretch of water he’d traversedmany times before. The water was calm.The sunbeatdown. His deckhand was making apeanut butter sandwich.

Thenthe boat slammedinto something theycouldn’tsee.

The crash threw Berthelot forward. As he grasped for support, hishandshattered aglass pane in front of the steering wheel.

“My boat is stuck on some-

thing,” he toldhis father over the phone. “Itwentthrough thebottom of the hull.”

Within minutes, the engine room filled withwater.Within an hour,the boat had sunk. Berthelot didn’tknow it at thetime, but he had struck an oldoil well, drilled more thanahalf-centuryago. Back then, the site was surrounded by marsh. Today, it’s in navigable open water There are thousands more like it. An analysis by The Times-Picayune and The Advocate, independently reviewed by researchers

ä See SINKING, page 6A

COWBOY CHURCHES ROPE IN WORSHIPPERS

roots

BY JENNA ROSS |Staff writer

LORANGER Before he stands at apulpit, before he wears amicrophone, before he deliversasermon, Pastor Randy Smith of the Crossbrand Cowboy Church leads aprayer behind therodeo arena.

Just after 2p.m. Sunday,a hush comes over the arena as Smithprays thatGod protect the menand boys about to ride.ThatGod watch over them. That God lead them into church at 4p.m. “Amen,” themen murmur This is how services start at Crossbrand with thecreakofagate, theclang of abell and awarning: “Fire in thehole!” Then abullbursts outofapen,kicking up

dust, arider atop its back forfive seconds. Forthe next hour,Smith will be out there with them,penningbulls,straddlinggates and hoping that afew of these men whohave never before attendedchurchmight find their way to the back pew It’sthe hope of hundreds of cowboy churches across the South. Since they began popping up in Louisiana’srural reaches adecade or more ago, the churches have ushered folks into their barnlike buildings, adorned with hay bales and horseshoes, with a“comeas you are” message. The lack of adress code, steeple or formal denomination hints at how Christianity is

ä See CHURCH, page 7A

STAFFPHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER

Damaged equipment sticks out of the water near oil wells and platformssouth of Venice on June 5. Thousandsofold oil wells drilled on land nowsit in open water offLouisiana, threatening boats, leakingoil and leaving taxpayers withthe cleanup bill.

STAFF PHOTO By CHRIS GRANGER RandySmith, pastor of the Crossbrand CowboyChurch, right, leadsa momentofprayer and reflectionrecently in the corral as bull riders getready to ridebefore worship services in Loranger

Serbia stages large military parade

BELGRADE, Serbia Serbia on Saturday staged a large-scale military parade in the capital Belgrade, showcasing tanks, missile systems and fighter jets in what officials described as the country’s biggest display of army strength in its history.

President Aleksandar Vucic reviewed the parade, which included about 10,000 troops, saying the show of force underscored Serbia’s ability to defend its independence and sovereignty and act as a deterrent against any foreign aggressor Serbia is mostly surrounded by NATOmember states.

Columns of troops marched through the New Belgrade district of the capital as crowds waved national flags, while aircraft roared overhead.

The event featured both domestically produced weapons as well as rocket launchers from Israel, drones purchased from the United Arab Emirates as well as tanks supplied by Russia and anti-aircraft systems from China, reflecting Belgrade’s close ties with Moscow and Beijing despite its declared goal of joining the European Union.

Critics said the parade was designed less to showcase the strength of the military than to bolster Vucic’s populist rule that has been challenged by studentled protests and growing international scrutiny of his increasingly authoritarian grip on power Opposition leaders accused the government of using the army as a political prop, while rights groups noted that some state employees were pressured to attend the parade and were transported in hundreds of buses.

Large WWII-era bomb found in Hong Kong

HONG KONG — Thousands of people were evacuated from their homes in Hong Kong overnight so experts could defuse a large U.S.-made bomb left over from World War II that was discovered at a construction site

Police said the bomb was nearly 5 feet in length and weighed about 1,000 pounds. It was discovered by construction workers in Quarry Bay, a bustling residential and business district on the west side of Hong Kong island

“We have confirmed this object to be a bomb dating back to World War II,” said Andy Chan Tin-Chu, a police official speaking to reporters ahead of the operation. He said that because of “the exceptionally high risks associated with its disposal,” approximately 1,900 households involving 6,000 individuals were “urged to evacuate swiftly.”

The operation to deactivate the bomb began late Friday and lasted until about 11:30 a.m. Saturday No one was injured in the operation.

Officials say man shot bear found in Fla. home

ORLANDO,Fla.— A Central Florida man shot and killed a bear he said became trapped in his home Friday, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

“The FWC was notified of a bear entering a home in DeLand,” the agency said in an emailed statement. “The bear was shot and killed by the home’s occupants and no injuries to the occupants have been reported.”

The home was in a rural part of Lake County The area is among a heavily forested part of the state south of Ocala National Forest, home to much of Florida’s black bear population.

“FWC Law Enforcement documented evidence of damage to the exterior doors consistent with entry by a bear,” the statement said. “FWC Bear Management staff will canvass the community for awareness and education, as well as monitor the area for additional bear activity of concern.”

Zeke Clark, who said he found the bear in his home off Ponderosa Avenue, said the bear had come in through his garage door that automatically shut behind it. The bear then made it into the home’s living room scaring his mother-in-law and encountering barking dogs. The bear then went to the bathroom. He said the bear came at the door and that he feared for his family’s safety, so he shot the bear.

Israeli strikes kill

14 in Gaza City

Some countries prepare to recognize Palestinian state

BY SAMY MAGDY Associated Press

CAIRO Scores of Palestinians, many pushing carts of belongings or carrying their possessions on their backs, fled Gaza City on Saturday as Israel ramped up its offensive, including with strikes that health officials said killed at least 14 people overnight.

Later in Israel, thousands joined the families of hostages still being held by Hamas to demand that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu negotiate an end to the war

There were protests in Jerusalem and in Tel Aviv where a large black banner was unfurled imploring U.S. President Donald Trump to help end the war, with “SAVE THEM!” in yellow letters.

The latest military strikes come as some prominent Western countries prepare to recognize Palestinian statehood at the gathering of world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly next week.

They include the U.K., France, Canada, Australia, Malta, Belgium and Luxembourg.

In a statement Friday, Portugal’s Foreign Affairs Ministry said it will recognize a Palestinian state on Sunday The Iberian country had previously announced its plans to do so but now set an official date

The latest Israeli operation, which began this week, further escalates a conflict that has roiled the Middle East and likely pushes any ceasefire further out of reach.

The Israeli military, which says it wants to “destroy Hamas’ military infrastructure” and urged Palestinians to leave, hasn’t given a timeline for the offensive, but there were indications it could take months.

Israeli bombardment over the past 23 months has killed more than 65,000 people in Gaza, destroyed vast areas of the strip,

displaced around 90% of the population and caused a catastrophic humanitarian crisis, with experts saying Gaza City is experiencing famine.

Dr Rami Mhanna, the managing director of Shifa Hospital, where some of the bodies were brought, said the dead included six people from the same family after a strike hit their home early Saturday morning. They were relatives of the hospital’s director, Dr Mohamed Abu Selmiya, he said.

The Palestinian Red Crescent said five others were killed in another strike close to Shawa Square.

Israel’s military said it couldn’t comment on the specific strikes without more information, but that it was “operating to dismantle Hamas military capabilities” and “takes feasible precautions to mitigate civilian harm.”

Israel has been urging hundreds of thousands of Palestinians sheltering in Gaza City to move south to what it calls a humanitarian zone and opened another corridor south of Gaza City for two days this week to allow more people to evacuate.

Palestinians were streaming out of Gaza City by car and on foot, though many in the famine-stricken city are unwilling to be uprooted again, too weak to leave or unable to afford the cost of moving.

Along the coastal Wadi Gaza route, those too exhausted to continue stopped to catch their breath and give their children a much-needed break from the difficult journey

“No water, electricity, or internet. People are forced to leave with nothing,” said Seif Abu Oomsan. “They target us with things you wouldn’t imagine, like science fiction. They target us with missiles that we have never heard of.”

“We are headed toward the unknown. Nobody knows where they are going,” said Faris Swafiri.

Aid groups have warned that forcing thousands of people to evacuate will exacerbate the dire humanitarian crisis. They are appealing for a ceasefire so aid can reach those who need it

Russia launches a large-scale attack on Ukraine, killing 3

BY HANNA ARHIROVA Associated Press

KYIV, Ukraine Russia launched a largescale missile and drone attack targeting regions across Ukraine early Saturday, killing at least three people and wounding dozens more, Ukrainian officials said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the attacks took place across nine regions, including Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolaiv, Chernihiv, Zaporizhzhia, Poltava Kyiv Odesa, Sumy and Kharkiv

“The enemy’s target was our infrastructure, residential areas and civilian enterprises,” he said, adding that a missile equipped with cluster munitions struck a multistory building in the city of Dnipro.

“Each such strike is not a military necessity but a deliberate strategy by Russia to intimidate civilians and destroy our infrastructure,” Zelenskyy said in a statement on his official Telegram account.

Elsewhere, Ukrainian drones overnight slammed into an energy facility in Samara southwestern Russia, according to the local governor and Ukraine’s General Staff.

Russia’s Defense Ministry on Saturday said its forces intercepted 149 Ukrainian drones during the night.

Zelenskyy said he expects to meet President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly next week. He also said the first ladies of Ukraine and the United States would likely hold separate talks focused on hu-

Schumer, Jeffries demand meeting with president

Democratic leaders want to talk to Trump as shutdown looms

BY LISA MASCARO AP congressional correspondent

WASHINGTON As a possible federal shutdown looms, the Democratic leaders of Congress are demanding a meeting with President Donald Trump to negotiate an end to what they call “your decision” to shutter government offices if no action is taken by the endof-the month deadline.

Sen. Chuck Schumer and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries said Saturday that Republicans, at Trump’s insistence, have refused to enter talks.

Democrats are pushing to preserve health care programs as part of any deal to keep government running past the Sept. 30 funding deadline.

“We write to demand a meeting in connection with your decision to shut down the federal government because of the Republican desire to continue to gut the health care of the American people,” the two New York Democrats wrote.

“Democrats have been clear and consistent in our position,” they said. “We are ready to work toward a bipartisan spending agreement that improves the lives of American families and addresses the Republican health care crisis.”

A Trump administration official, who was not authorized to comment on the matter publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity was dismissive of the Democrats’ demand.

Congress, which is controlled by Republicans, failed to address the funding issue before lawmakers left town Friday for a break

The House approved a Republican proposal to keep the federal government funded into November, but the measure failed in the Senate. A Democratic

proposal that would have boosted health care funds also failed. It all leaves Congress and the White House with no easy way out of the standoff that threatens a shutdown in less than two weeks when the current budget year and funding expires. Trump’s first term in office saw a monthlong shutdown, the longest in federal history, in 2018-19.

Trump predicted Friday that there could be “a closed country for a period of time.” He said the government will continue to “take care” of the military and Social Security payments in a closure.

Republicans have insisted they are not to blame for any possible shutdown, turning it back on Democrats.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Benton, and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., have put forward the short-term measure, which is a typical way that Congress resolves such logjams. That would keep government operations running at current levels as talks get underway While the House was able to narrowly pass the temporary funding measure on a mostly party-line vote, in the Senate the process can require a higher 60-vote threshold that means support is needed from Republicans and Democrats. Democrats are working to protect health care programs. The Democratic proposal would extend enhanced health insurance subsidies set to expire at the end of the year, plus reverse Medicaid cuts that were included in Republicans’ big tax break and spending cut bill enacted earlier this year Republicans have said the Democrats’ demands to reverse the Medicaid changes are a nonstarter, but they have also said there is time to address the health insurance subsidy issue in the months ahead.

Associated Press writer Aamer Madhani contributed to this report.

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manitarian issues involving children.

At least 30 people were wounded in the attack in Ukraine’s central Dnipropetrovsk region, local Gov Serhii Lysak said. Several high-rise buildings and homes were damaged in the eastern city of Dnipro. In the Kyiv region, local authorities reported strikes in the areas of Bucha, Boryspil and Obukhiv A home and cars were damaged. In the western region of Lviv, Gov Maxim Kozytsky said two cruise missiles were shot down. Russia launched 619 drones and missiles, Ukraine’s air force said, of which 552 drones, two ballistic missiles and 29 cruise missiles were shot down or neutralized.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By LEO CORREA

Buildings that were destroyed during the Israeli ground and air operations are engulfed by smoke Saturday after an Israeli strike in the northern Gaza Strip, as seen from southern Israel.

PROVIDED PHOTO In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Emergency Services on Saturday, rescue workers put out a fire of a barn destroyed by a Russian strike in Odesa region, Ukraine.

Marchers protest firms‘profitingoff theclimate crisis’

Demonstrators gather worldwide

BY MELINA WALLING Associated Press

NEW YORK Thousands of activists marched down Park Avenue and turned down Billionaires’ Row toward Trump Tower in New York Saturday to “Make Billionaires Pay,” calling for climate justice, democracy,free speech, gender equality,astop to the Trump’simmigration crackdown and aceasefire in Gaza

Their signs and reasons for taking to the streets were diverse, but many said the march highlighteda commontheme behind the issues they stood for: that asmall, elite class of the wealthy andpowerfulconsistently prioritized profits over people’slives.

“I don’tsee them as movements. Idon’tsee them as organizations. Ijust see humanity.Weare all on this Earth. This is our mother,” said Mahaishuwea, whose name means Eagle Woman in thelanguage of theHidatsa tribe,which is based in North Dakota.

As marchers gathered, she spoke about her personal experiences growing up on the Fort Berthold Indian reser-

vation, whereshe survived cancer.Standing in frontof investment management company Blackstone’sheadquarters, she connected the violenthistory of colonization and resource extraction on Indigenous lands to thepresent-day greed of the powerful. “Theyhave asickness,” she said. Demonstrationshave been planned aroundthe world this week aheadofthe United

Cyberattackdisrupts check-in systemsat European airports

BY PANPYLAS and JAMEY KEATEN Associated Press

LONDON Acyberattack targeting check-in and boarding systems disrupted air traffic and caused delays at several of Europe’smajor airports on Saturday

While the impact on travelers appeared to be limited, experts said the intrusion exposed vulnerabilities in security systems.

The disruptions to electronic systems initially reported at Brussels,Berlin’s Brandenburg and London’s Heathrow airports meant that only manual check-in andboardingwas possible Many other European airports said their operations were unaffected.

“There wasa cyberattack on Friday night 19 September against the service provider for the check-in and boarding systems affecting severalEuropean airports including Brussels Airport,” said Brussels Airport in a statement, initially reporting a“large impact” on flight schedules.

Airports said the issue centeredaroundaprovider of check-in and boarding systems —not airlines or the airports themselves. Collins Aerospace, whose systems help passengers check themselves in,print boarding passes and bag tags and dispatchtheir luggage

from akiosk, cited a“cyberrelated disruption” to its MUSE (Multi-User System Environment)softwareat “selectairports.” It was not immediately clear whomight be behind the cyberattack,but experts said it could turn outtobe hackers,criminalorganizations, or state actors. Travel analyst Paul Charles said he was“surprised and shocked”bythe attack that has affected one of the world’s topaviationand defense companies

He said “it’sdeeply worryingthata company of that stature whonormally have such resilient systems in placehavebeen affected ”

“This is avery clevercyberattack indeed because it’s affected anumber ofairlines andairports at thesametime —not just one airportorone airline, butthey’ve got into thecoresystem thatenables airlines toeffectively check in many of their passengers at different desks at differentairports around Europe,” he told Sky News.

As theday wore on, the falloutappearedtobecontained Brussels Airport spokespersonIhsane Chioua Lekhli told broadcaster VTM that by midmorning, nine flights had been canceled, four were redirected toanother airport and 15 faced delays of an hourormore. Shesaid it wasn’t immediately clear

Nations General Assembly andNew York Climate Week Despiteyears of international conferences,negotiations and treaties, countries have continuedtoincreasetheir emissions of carbon dioxide and other planet-warming greenhousegas emissions, fueling more frequent and intense extreme weather events. 2024 was thehottest year on record,and the Trumpadministration has

been working to roll back foundational environmental rules. This has freed theway foroil andcoalindustries to pollutemorewhile presenting moreroadblocks to wind and solar energy development

Tamika Middleton, managing director of the Women’s March, saidthat although it sometimes can be challenging to bring together people who are passionateabout

An airportemployeepoints at adeparture board Saturday after acyberattack caused delays at Brussels International AirportinZaventem, Belgium.

how long thedisruptions

might last

Axel Schmidt, head of communications at the Brandenburgairport, saidthat by late morning, “we don’thave anyflights canceled due to this specific reason, but that could change.” TheBerlin airport saidoperators had cut off connections to affected systems

Heathrow, Europe’s busiest airport, said thedisruption has been “minimal” withno flight cancellations directly linkedtothe problems afflicting Collins. Aspokesperson would notprovide details as to how manyflights have been delayed as aresult of the cyberattack.

The airports advised travelers to check their flight status andapologizedfor any inconvenience.

Somepassengers voiced annoyanceatthe lack of staff. With many,ifnot most, checking in individually, airlines have reduced the number of people operating at the traditionalcheck-in

different causes, this year the intersections between them felt clearer.“The climate crisis,economicfights and immigrantfightsare all really one big fight,” she said.

The crowdstretched for over four city blocksand passed by luxury stores like Louis Vuitton,Bergdorf Goodman and Tiffany & Co. Somecarried enormous papier-mache puppets of ElonMusk, Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg.Several grabbedthe edgesofa 160foot “climate pollutersbill” calling out the economic damages wrought by extreme weather events made worsebythe carbon emissions of major polluting companies.

counters.

Maria Casey,who was on herway to atwo-weekbackpacking holiday in Thailand with EtihadAirways, said she had to spend three hours at baggage check-in at Heathrow’sTerminal 4.

“They had to write our baggage tabs by hand,”she said. “Only twodesks were staffed, whichiswhy we werecheesed off.”

Collins, an aviation and defense technology company that is asubsidiary of RTX Corp., formerlyRaytheon Technologies, said it was“actively working to resolve the issue and restore full functionality to ourcustomers as quickly as possible.”

“The impact is limited to electronic customer checkin and baggage drop and can be mitigatedwith manual check-in operations,” it said in astatement.

Still, expertssaid the attack pointed tovulnerabilities —ones that hackers are increasingly trying to exploit

Others dressed as the Statue of Liberty,rangcowbells and waved flags with the Star Wars character Princess Leia or homemade signs inkedin sharpie and paint. One simply read: “Free Kimmel.” TatianaCruz was oneofthe people holding up the puppet of Elon Musk. “Eat the rich, that’sthe mainmessage,” shesaid, smiling. Butshe also explained that this was herfirst year actively protesting more after two of her friendsweredeportedafter being detainedbyU.S.Immigration and Customs Enforcement.Since then,she hasgotten more involved in movements for migrant rights, Palestinian liberation and fighting climate change. “The monster up top is similar in alot of different scenarios,” she said. Julia Donahue-Wait had come out from the South Bronx with agroup of families whohad started organizing together andalso described the manycauses present at the march as interconnected. Her young daughter Eurydice has grown up on picket lines and helped with the poster painting. Behind her,another protester held asign: “Our work is love,” it read. “It’sall peoplewithout power taking it back,” Donahue-Wait said. “What we say to thekids is,wehave safetyand we need to stand up for people who don’thave safety.”

U.S. attorney resignsamid Trump’spush to prosecute official

BY ALANNA DURKIN RICHER Associated Press

WASHINGTON— Aconservative lawyer who has said she was falsely accused of being at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, has been tapped to serve as the top federal prosecutor forthe Virginia office that was thrownintoturmoil when its U.S. attorney was pushed out on Friday

Mary “Maggie” Cleary said in an emailtostaff on Saturdaythat shehad been named acting U.S. attorney forthe EasternDistrict of Virginia,according to a copy viewed by The Associated Press.

She replaces Erik Siebert, who resigned amid apush by Trump administration officials to bring criminal charges against New York Attorney General Letitia James in amortgagefraud investigation.

“While this appointment was unexpected, Iam humbledtobejoining your ranks,” Cleary told employees in the email.

Mahaishuweasaidalthough many people are scared, she thought it was important to show up. Her 12-year-old daughter is back at home. But she wants to teach future generations howtospeak up, and “to show people we’re not afraid,” she said. At theend of themarch, protesters held afive-minute moment of silence during whichthey sat in front of the TrumpInternational Hotel and Tower

chargeJames, alongtime foe of President Donald Trump. The investigation stems from alleged paperwork discrepancies on James’ Brooklyn town house and aVirginia home. TheJustice Department has spent months conductingthe investigation but has yet to bring charges, and there’sbeen no indication that prosecutors have managed to uncover any degree of incriminating evidence necessary to secure an indictment. James’ lawyers have vigorously denied any allegations and characterized theinvestigation as an act of political revenge.

Clearywill take over an office in tumultover political pressure by administrationofficials to criminally

While Siebert said in an emailFridayevening that he had submitted his resignation, Trumpsaid in asocial media post: “He didn’t quit, Ifired him!” Trump noted he was backed by the state’stwo Democratic senators, Mark Warner and TimKaine, adding: “Next time let him go in as aDemocrat, not aRepublican.” Cleary recentlyrejoined the Justice Department as a senior counsel in the criminal divisionafter working as aprosecutor in theCulpepperCommonwealth’s Attorneys Office. She also worked as deputysecretary of public safety in Virginia Republican Gov.Glenn Youngkin’sadministration and later served in Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares’ office. Conservative lawyer newtop prosecutor in office

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By ANGELINAKATSANIS

Awoman dressed as the Statue of Liberty marches throughManhattan in the ‘Make Billionaires Pay’ climate protest on SaturdayinNew york.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By HARRy NAKOS

Comedians often center stage in battles over free speech

BY JAKE COYLE AP film writer

NEWYORK Bassem Youssef, the Egyptian satirist whose “Daily Show”-like program was canceled after the military seized the once prodemocracy government, watched the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel with an immediate sense of familiarity

“My Fellow American Citizens,” Youssef wrote on X “Welcome to my world.”

Youssef’s show skewering public figures led to a criminal investigation in 2013 after complaints that he had insulted then-President Mohammed Morsi. When a military coup followed, pressure on Youssef intensified. He announced that the climate in Egypt was “not suitable for a political satire program.” Youssef fled the country and resettled in the United States.

In all the stunning things about ABC’s swift removal of Kimmel, its longtime late-night host and Oscarshosting face of the network, perhaps the least surprising was that a comedian was at the center of a battle over free speech.

As long as jokes have been told, comedians have drawn the ire of the powerful. That has often put comedians on the front lines of free-speech battles, from George Carlin violating obscenity laws to a satirical puppet show trying to exist in Vladimir Putin’s Russia. In authoritarian regimes, crackdowns on speech usually make comedy a target.

“Comedy doesn’t change the world, but it’s a bellwether We’re the banana peel in the coal mine,” Jon Stewart said in 2022 at the Kennedy Center, with Kimmel looking on from the audience. “When a society is under threat, comedians are the ones who get sent away first.”

Kimmel’s indefinite suspension followed comments he made about the Republican response to Charlie Kirk’s killing. Conservatives said Kimmel misrepresented

the political beliefs of Tyler Robinson, who is accused of assassinating Kirk. Federal Communications Commission chairman Brendan Carr responded to Kimmel’s comments with the threat: “We can do this the easy way or the hard way.” After a group of ABCaffiliated stations said they wouldn’t air “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” The Walt Disney Co. pulled the show Wednesday just before air, prompting a firestorm of debate over free speech. Comedians have been among the passionate protesters

“If you have any concern or belief in real freedom or the Constitution and free speech, this is it,” said the stand-up comedian and podcaster Marc Maron. “This is the deciding moment. This is what authoritarianism looks like right now.”

Late-night hosts, current and former, rushed to Kimmel’s defense. Jay Leno, the longtime host of “The Tonight Show,” shrugged to reporters Thursday: “It’s a comedian talking.” On Thursday night’s “The Late Show,” Stephen Colbert whose own show will end in May over what CBS called financial reasons but Colbert has called “a big fat bribe” to Trump — mocked Carr the FCC chairman, for declaring that programming should represent “community values.”

“Well, you know what my

community values are, buster?” Colbert said. “Freedom of speech.”

Punch lines with power

Since before Charlie Chaplin mocked Adolf Hitler in the 1940s film, “The Great Dictator,” comedy has served as one of the most unfiltered expressions of free speech and a reliable metric of a democratic republic’s health. On Wednesday, MSNBC’s Chris Hayes noted: “The countries where comedians can’t mock the leader on late-night TV are not really ones you want to live in.”

Outside the U.S., media control has often meant policing comedy. Thin-skinned leaders and autocrats have taken punch lines as genuine threats.

Shortly after Putin became president of Russia in 2000, armed operatives raided the offices of NTV the network that aired “Kukly,” a satirical puppet show that often lampooned Putin. NTV owner Vladimir Gusinsky was jailed on embezzlement charges and “Kukly” disappeared in 2002.

Zeinab Mousavi, one of the first Iranian women to do stand-up comedy in her country, was charged last month with making statements that were “contrary to public morality.”

In India, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, political comedy has grown

Luigi Mangione’s lawyers want death penalty off table in CEO slaying case

BY MICHAEL R. SISAK Associated Press

NEWYORK Luigi Mangione’s lawyers urged a judge on Saturday to bar federal prosecutors from seeking the death penalty in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, arguing that authorities prejudiced his case by turning his arrest into a “Marvel movie” spectacle and by publicly declaring their desire to see him executed.

Fresh from a legal victory that eliminated terrorism charges in Mangione’s state murder case, his lawyers are now fighting to have his federal case dismissed, seizing on U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi’s declaration before his April indictment that capital punishment is war-

ranted for a “premeditated, coldblooded assassination that shocked America.” Bondi’s statements and other official actions including a highly choreographed perp walk that saw Mangione led upaManhattanpierbyarmed officers, and the Trump administration’s flouting of established death penalty procedures — “have violated Mr Mangione’s constitutional and statutory rights and have fatally prejudiced this death penalty case,” his lawyers argued in a court filing.

Mangione’s defense team, led by former Manhattan prosecutor Karen Friedman Agnifilo, implored U.S. District Judge Margaret Garnett, an appointee of President Joe Biden, ”to correct the errors made by the government and prevent this

case from proceeding as a death penalty prosecution.”

Bondi announced in April that she was directing Manhattan federal prosecutors to seek the death penalty for Mangione. It was the first time the Justice Department said it was bringing a capital case after President Donald Trump returned to office Jan. 20 with a pledge to revive federal executions, which his predecessor Biden had put on hold.

Mangione’s lawyers argue that Bondi’s announcement which she followed with Instagram posts and a TV appearance — showed the decision was “based on politics, not merit” and, they said, her remarks tainted the grand jury process that resulted in his indictment a few weeks later

increasingly off-limits. In March, a performance by the popular comedian Kunal Kamra included a Bollywood song parody that indirectly made apparent reference to a local politician. Government employees ransacked the comedy club. Kamra pledged to cooperate with police and then added: “But will the law be fairly and equally deployed against those who have decided that vandalism is the appropriate response to being offended by a joke?”

‘A massive shift’

The Kimmel situation isn’t as extreme as those international examples, let alone countries like China and Hungary, where curbs on expression have all but extinguished comedy But it bears similarities. Trump, who has long chafed at latenight hosts’ jokes at his expense, warned broadcasters

on Thursday that run negative commentary of him.

“I would think maybe their license should be taken away,” Trump said.

Carr has said Kimmel is just the beginning. “This is a massive shift that’s taking place in the media ecosystem,” he said. “I think the consequences are going to continue to flow.”

For some, a so-called “consequence culture” has replaced “cancel culture.”

Roseanne Barr reacted with irony after Kimmel’s suspension In 2018, ABC pulled the plug on her sitcom, “Roseanne,” after Barr made a racist barb on Twitter about Valerie Jarrett, a former aide to former President Barack Obama, referring to her as the child of the Muslim Brotherhood and the “Planet of the Apes” movies.

“Yeah imagine an administration putting pressure on a television channel to fire a

comedian they didn’t like,” Barr said Wednesday on X. Conservatives have long railed against so-called “cancel culture” ruining comedy At the Conservative Political Action Conference in February, Elon Musk lamented: “They wanted to make comedy illegal. You couldn’t make fun of anything so comedy sucked. Legalize comedy!” Some of those same “antiwoke” comedians, though, have come out in support of Kimmel. Tim Dillon, the comedian and podcaster, wrote on Instagram: “I am against Kimmel being taken off the air and against people being shot for their opinions. See how easy it is?” Others took a more ironic approach. The Onion republished an editorial from several years ago. It read: “Today the path forward could not be clearer Simply put, we need mass censorship now.”

SeptemberisHealthy AgingMonth,a national observance that highlightsthe positive aspects of growingolder andencouragesadultstotake charge of theirhealth, happinessand wellbeing. With Americanslivinglongerthanever, the conversation is shifting away from merely adding yearstoone’s life to embracingwaysto make thoseyears vibrant, active andpurposeful.

TheVincent Senior Living in Lafayetteis leading theway in helpingolder adults live well,withthoughtfulprogramming,strong social connectionsand awellness-focused environmentwhere residentsbecomemore active,mobileand engagedwiththeir peers.

“A lotoftimes when seniorslivealone,they tend to be more isolated anddecline rapidly becausetheyare notmovingaroundasmuch andnot interactingwithother people.When they move into TheVincent,theyare around people whoare in theirage rangeand canrelate to theirlifeexperiences.Thatrelatabilitypiece is huge,” said FrankieDabney, TheVincent’s CommunityRelations Director Expertsnotethatfourmainpillars most oftensupport healthyaging –physicalfitness, mental stimulation, proper nutritionand social engagement.Studies show that each of these playsaroleinreducingthe risksofchronic illness, slowingcognitive declineand improving overallquality of life

At TheVincent,those pillarsare builtinto everyday life.Fromwater aerobics andwalks around theon-site pond to book clubs, live music andguest speakers,residents areoffered a holistic mixofactivitiesthatmeetbothphysical andcognitive needs.

“Wehavesmaller activities like bingoand puzzles, as well as larger groupactivitiessuch as talksfromlocal expertsabout health and aging,”Dabneysaid. “Wealsopromotealot of reading.Wehavelibraries in alllevelsofcare as well as abookclub. We keep ourtheaters open,which givesresidents achancetowatch contentonlinesuchasTED Talksoreducational YouTubevideos.”

ForThe Vincent’smemorycareresidents, cognitiveprogramsare adaptedtomeetindividual abilities. Dabney said thememorycare activities areusually shorter– 30 minutesor less –and more hands-on in nature

“Wemeetpeoplewhere they are,”she said “Peoplewithdementiaand Alzheimer’shave much shorterattention spans, so we tailor thoseactivitiestomeetthatneed. We do alot of arts andcrafts. In IndependentLiving, it’s alittlemoregearedtowardsocialactivities, stimulationand engagement.”

Fromaphysicalstandpoint,regularmovement is oneofthe most importantfactors in healthy aging. Exercise helpspreservemobility, improve balanceand reduce theriskoffalls.Dabney said physical activity is wovenintolifeatThe

Vincent. TheIndependentLivingportion of the communityfeaturesa gymand twoswimming pools. Residentscan attend organizedclasses or usethemontheir ownontheir schedule TheAssistedLivingportion of TheVincent hasaphysicaltherapy suitethatdoubles as a gym. Dabney said aphysicaltherapist is on-site fivedaysa week thanks to apartnership with LHCGroup

“The therapistalsoteaches community-wide balanceand fitness classesand hostsawalking club.It’sagreatpartnership. Shereallyhelps contribute to theoverall wellbeingofour residents,”Dabneysaid. “Wealsohavea pond near thebackofour property that is surrounded by awalking trailthatisalmostone mile long A lotofresidents enjoywalking outthere when theweather is nice.” What apersoneatsand drinks also directly impactshow they age. Balanced nutritioniskey, butmaintainproperhydration is equallyvital Dabney notedthatThe Vincenthas hydration stations throughout thecommunity to make it easy forresidents to reachtheir dailywater intakegoals.Allmealsarereviewedandapproved by adietitian,ensuringresidents receivethe nutrientstheyneed. Each dayfeaturesboth adaily special andana la cartemenuwhere residents canselecttheir favorites.

“Wedefinitely give them optionssotheycan eat what they like,” Dabney said.“If they have anydietary restrictions,weare mindful of those. Food is such abig part of theculture in Louisianaand that extendstoour community. We like to balancethe nutritionalneeds with the funand social aspect that comeswithsharing amealtogether.”

TheVincent’s modelrepresentsabroad-based healthyaging modelthataddresses physical health,mentalstimulation,socialconnections andemotionalwellbeing.Byofferingresidentsthe toolstoremainactive, engagedand connected, TheVincent provides aroadmap foraging well Formoreinformation or to schedule atour, call 337-345-4105orvisit vincentseniorliving.com.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By JAE C. HONG Asher Rogers holds an image of Jimmy Kimmel on Saturday outside El Capitan Entertainment Centre, where ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ is staged in Los Angeles.

By Amanda McElfresh | amcelfresh@theadvocate.com

This articleisbrought to youbyThe VincentSeniorLiving.

at Tulane University,estimates more than 3,600 wells once drilled on land or in wetlands are now in open water —aresult of decades of erosion, sinking land and rising seas. Some leak. Many endanger boats. Hundreds may fall to taxpayers to clean up

As land peels away from oil and gas wells along Louisiana’seroding coastline, they become increasingly difficult and expensiveto plug, inspectand maintain

The state has not fully contended with the growing costs of plugging afleet of wells in open water and keeping them plugged permanently— norwiththe environmental hazards that these wells maypose.

As aresult, Louisianais left with agraveyard of old wells pocking its disappearing coasts, sinking into the Gulf with the rest of the once-vibrant marsh.

“It’salot more expensive to plug awell in water as opposedtoonland,” said Mark Agerton, aresearcher at the Center for Energy Studies at Rice University in Houston, who has studied the costs of plugging oil and gas wells in Louisiana. “The environmental risks are high in theseecologicallysensitive areas along the coast.”

While decades of drilling have helped fuel the economy of the state and the nation, the industry has also played an importantrolein coastal land loss and climate change, which is causing rising seas.

Louisiana’scoastal wetlands contain moreoil and gas wells than anywhere else in the U.S. The prospect of plugging them has long been aconcern for the state, butless attention has been paid to what is disappearing under the tides.

Neither the Louisiana Oil and Gas Association, which represents smaller oiland gas companies, nor the Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association, representing the majors, responded to requests for comment.

The Louisiana Oil and Gas Associationhas previously supported federal funding to plug oil and gas wells

Louisiana has 7,583 unplugged wells in its offshore andinland statewaters,according to astudy published in Nature —morethanTexas, Alabama and California combined. The total does not include offshore wells in federal waters, which begin three miles off Louisiana’s coast.

Louisiana has relied heavily on federal aid, particularly through the Biden-era Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, whichhas funded the plugging of hundreds of wells. But the state only has about $246 million in state funds earmarked to plug wells in its waters,according to the Department of Energy and Natural Resources. That’sonly enough to plug about 850 wells —roughly 11% of the total number Spills in coastal waters, particularly in wetlands, are hazardous and costly to clean up. Oil suffocates plants, accelerating land loss and harming ecosystems.

Patrick Courreges,a DENR spokesperson, said that the agency has no system for tracking whether wells along the coast were drilled on land but are now in open water,though the department began to log whether wells are on land or in water in 2021

were likely pluggedbefore that requirementtook effect,according to DENR data.Those olderwells are more likely to leak,and may need to be monitored or replugged. But the DENR said that it does not reinspect plugged wells unless it receives areport indicating the need

A financialgap

Tracking wells

Using archived maps from theU.S.Geological Survey and historical records,The Times-Picayune analyzed wellsdrilled between1932 and2016 across two dozen coastal parishes. Of nearly 84,000 wells drilled over that period, 3,654 were likely drilled on landorinmarsh and are now in open water.Most are permanently plugged— their wellhead has been removed and the wellbore is plugged with cementcasings —but hundreds are not. Only12ofthe 3,654still produceoil.

These figures arerough estimates, constrained by gaps in staterecords and thelimitationsofhistorical coastlinemaps, the oldest of which are based on grainy aerial photographs from the 1930s. Locationsdata for older wells can sometimes

be off by morethan 1,000 feet, accordingtoScott Eustis, thecommunity science director at Healthy Gulf, a nonprofit environmental advocacy organization and coauthor of an upcomingstudy aboutabandonedoil andgas infrastructure.

Thestate haslost 610 wells that couldn’tbelocated and so could notbeplugged. Still more are likely completely undocumented, drilled before modern rules went into effect, accordingtothe state’slegislative auditor Mead Allison, aprofessor in Tulane’sDepartment of River-Coastal Science and Engineering, reviewed The Times-Picayune’smethodologyand called it “scientifically valid.”

The analysis is likely an undercount of thenumber of wells thatwere drilled on land and are now in water

The most recent coastal map is from 2020, and land loss

hascontinued sincethen. Theanalysisalsoexcludes wells thatare very near to land, and many wells exist right at the edge of land or marsh.

Still, the best-available data shows what’salready happened and makes clear what’stocome.

It isn’thardtofind hazardouswells. Just afew miles north of where Berthelot’s boatsank, Well 307 rusts abovethe waterline in Quarantine Bay.

“It’scoated in oil,” Eustis noticed as he inspected it in earlyJune.Itwas leaking. It had been drilled in 1980 and temporarily plugged on Aug. 27, 2005, “an auspicious date,” Eustissaid —just two days before HurricaneKatrina made landfall lessthan five milesaway

Twentyyearslater,Well 307 hasn’tbeen turned back on The company thatowns

When awell is drilled, oil companies legally must set aside money to plug it once it runs dry.But state law requires companiestopost farless money than it actually costs to plug awell, especially forolderwells now in water. Whena well is drilledon land, oilcompaniesoftenset aside less than10% of the costofactually plugging the well. And many operators are coveredby“blanket” policies —lump-sum guarantees for entire fields that can be as low as $50,000 for dozens of wells, according to the legislative auditor.

For some of the oldest submerged wells, there may be no money setaside at all.

the well, Cox Operating, is going through bankruptcy proceedings in Texas. Another company may buy up Cox’s assets, including Well 307. If no one does, the well will likely become orphaned, and responsibility for plugging it will fall to the state.

Rising costs

Paul McKimdescribed how he maneuvered his small barge through the swamp to awell he was hired to plug, where he found abotched job: Instead of poured cement,someone hadstuffed afew bags of powdered cement into the borehole.

“That’show they plugged them back then,” he said. “Wehad to drill themout” to plug the well properly

Plugging awell in water can cost four times as much as plugging oneonland. In about4feet of water,itcan cost about$400,000,said McKim, theowner of CrescentEnergy,acompanythat plugs wells in Louisiana and Texas. On land, the same job might cost just $100,000. McKim’sclients are mainly oilcompanies; he also plugs orphanwells, fundedbyfederal dollars.

Theaverage cost across allwells in Louisianais $113,000, according to the state’s legislative auditor. The state’s DENR said thatits orphanwellprogram had plugged 70 wells on water since 2014 at an average costof$287,000.

Plugging wells properly is highly technical. Crews removeany remaining parts of thewellhead aboveground, puncture the casing with dynamite, and inject highpressure cementtoseal the well deep underground. That allows them to place multiple cement plugs at precise depths inside the wellbore

The goal is to prevent oil or gas from migrating into groundwater or thesurface and isolate it deep underground, ideally forever.

Many older wells were never plugged to modern standards.Inthe early20th century,companiessometimes sealed wells with “well-seasoned pine wood,” according to a2023 report preparedfor theEnvironmental Integrity Project. It wasn’tuntil 1941 thatLouisiana began requiring cement plugs.

TheTimes-Picayuneidentified437 wells thatappear to have been drilled on land, are now in open water,and

“Financial security wasn’t even athing until 2000,” said Courreges, the DENR spokesperson. “Industry had a100-year head startwith no financial securityrequirements.”

Pluggedbut stillrisky

Plugging may ultimately not be enough in ashifting, sinking landscape.

“Damn near every coastal oil field has sunk two or three feet due to fluid withdrawals of the oil and gas,” said Greg Miller,a former oilindustry professionaland founderof ICON Environmental, aconsulting firm.

Thatslowmovementunderground can stress awell’s structure, even if it was sealed correctly Louisiana law requires well casings to be cut at least 10 feet below the mudline in state waters.Ifthe casing is cuttoo shallow—orifthe well was on land when it was pluggedand so was cuttoa shallowerdepth —the pipe may still protrude, posing anavigational hazard. That mayhavebeenwhathappened withthe well that sank Berthelot’sboat. But even aproper cut and deep cementjob offers no absolute guarantee.

“There is ahigh probability,but not acertainty,that it won’tleak for, quote, ‘some time,’ unquote,” saidAnthony Ingraffea, aprofessoremeritus of petroleum engineering at CornellUniversity

‘Wehad nightmares’

Whilethe state wrestles with the burden of old coastal wells, the Berthelots have been left to shoulder aburden of their own. Afterthe boat sank,they spent about $40,000 hiring divers and abarge with acrane to fish it out of the Gulf. He and his son hoped to rehabilitate it and make it seaworthy again, but it cleaved in two during the salvage process. They tried,unsuccessfully,toget compensation from acompanythatonceowned the well.

“Wewent through all this trouble. We had nightmares,” BerthelotSr. said. “But the boat just blew up like abomb.” To learnmore about this how we found oil wells drilled on land that arenow in water,visit nola.com/ news/environment/coastaloil-wells-methodology

Email AlexLubbenat alex.lubben@theadvocate. com.

STAFF PHOTOSBySOPHIA GERMER

rest on partially submerged oil pipes south of Venice on June 5.

CHURCH

evolving in cornersofthis country T-shirts, ball caps and boots are welcomed, though on asummer Sunday at Crossbrand, an hour’sdrive northofNew Orleans, one man had removed his mudcaked cowboy boots at the door For Smith, a71-year-old former rodeo cowboy,the aesthetics arereal. Theinvitation is urgent.

He describes himselfas “some old redneck country boy” who “can’tpreacha lick.”

One-on-one, he’ssoftspokenwith aslow,gentle drawl. But each Sunday, he shouts, pounding apulpit constructed entirelyof horseshoes andrattling the tambourine hanging from it

Like many other rural, conservative pastors, he takes aim at “the left”and astand against abortion.

God gives him strength to preach thisway,hetells worshippers on arecent Sunday.“How can Istand up here and holler and scream without the power of God?

I’m like aBrahman bull sometimes, and it’sprobably because Ihang out with too many bulls.” He believes souls are at stake.

‘Lostasagoose’

God came to Smith in arodeo camper Growing up in Hammond and Albany,his father was an alcoholic,but hismom took him to church. He started riding and jockeying whenhewas 13, alongside men who smoked and drank and did no good. Hisparents got divorced not long after that, “and when that happens to any child, the world consumes you, and that’s what happened to me.”

By his teens, he’d rejected God. “I was lost as agoose,” he said. Then, 23 years old, alone in that camper,“the Holy Spirit showed up.” He wept, “which Ididn’tthink bull riders were supposed to do.”

By the time he met his wife, Tammy Jane, at arodeo, he was reformed. She competed too, barrel racing and breakaway roping. They marriedwithin the year Smith credits God for the titles that followed, including the six-time Tri-State Rodeo Association bull riding champion.Photos from thattime show himwith a big belt buckleand thick mustache, handling bulls with wide horns and wild eyes. On his chaps:agold cross. The couple dairy-farmed,

HAYNES

Continued from page1A

Butthe next 10 years, Haynes said, were so good he paid the loanoff in only four years. At some point, Haynes began taking trips to Panama. He was captured on audio by the FBI talking about atrip he had coming up in 2021 or 2022.

Firstappointment

Mike Harson became district attorney in 1983 and was reelected several times. Haynes was appointed assistant district attorney Haynes’ wife, Barna, also worked in theDistrictAttorney’sOffice, servingas

too, on TammyJane’sfamily landinrural Loranger.She had more than onedream about achurch in the field outside their house, where Crossbrand nowstands.In theearly1980s,theybegan hosting Cowboysfor Christ, aBiblestudy,intheirhome.

There werefive people at first, then 10, then 30 squeezed into their littlelivingroom.

In 2008, apastorfriend came to Smith with anewspaper article aboutcowboy churches, which at the time were popping up inTexas and beyond. He thought Smith ought to become a pastorand asked himto pray about it.

ButSmith told him: “I don’tneed to pray about it.”

He’d felt called to theministry for years but “didn’t know if Iwould ever fit in,” he said. Acowboy church, though, he couldpicture.

Abarnwilldo Cowboy churches don’t differ much from their conservative Protestantcounterparts in termsoftheir message, saidS.Moxy Moczygemba,authorofa 2019 research paper on them.

What’sdifferent is the package used to offer that message, shesaid, from the country tunes tothe rustic spaces. AJuly service at CornerstoneCowboy Church in New Iberiabegan with Hank Williams.At Brandedfor ChristCowboy Church in Leesville, baptisms takeplace in awateringtrough.

“Why buy an expensive building when abarnwill do?” Moczygemba said. “Why have abaptismal font when youcan use ahorse trough? Why buy stained glass when you can have horseshoes welded into a cross?”

With those choices, they’relowering barriers, Moczygemba said, making thechurches feel more approachable to men in rural

Harson’sadministrative assistant for decades. The familieswereclose.Gary Haynes said he delivered cash campaign “donations” to Harson,inone case $10,000. In 2008, Barna Haynes got caught up in abribery schemethatinvolved aprivate investigatorpayingher and others in the District Attorney’sOfficetotransfer his“clients” from citycourt to district court where,with herhelpand off-the-book payments totaling at least $50,000, theirchargeswere expunged She was sentenced to 18 months in afederal medical facility.Gary Haynes said in an audio recording that she onlyspent 12 months there. She is reportedly ill and did

areas. And men are typically thetarget of such churches, she added, withthe idea that if youropethemin, their families will follow

TheSmiths started Crossbrand in thebulldogging box in 2008.Longtimers tell the storyofone congregant who passed out from heat stroke. (Herecovered.) They built a shed, adding “piece by piece by piece,” Tammy Jane Smith said.Walls, pews,a trough for baptisms.

Thosepews filled, so last year they added another 20 feet, aline still visible on the church’sconcrete floor.The churchdoesn’tcount members, Smith said,but 140 to 150 people regularly attend.

“We’veabout run out of room,” Smithsaid. “We’ll let God handle that one.”

notattendher husband’s nine-day trial. In arecording connected with themore recent scheme, which Gary Haynes was unaware was being recorded, he implicated Harson in theearlier scheme. Oldfriends

Gary Haynes assisted his old friend Don Landryduringhis 2020 campaignfor district attorney.Torepay Haynes,Landry saidheput Haynes on staff as an assistant district attorney over pretrial diversion. Landry, who was friends with Ronnie Guidry,a campaign donorand father of Dusty Guidry,hired the younger Guidry as aconsultant on contract to work in pretrial intervention withHaynes.

‘Tired of whispering

But by 4p.m. on aSunday in July,several of theback pews remained empty. Up front, thepraise band, wearingAmericanflag T-shirts, camo and, in the caseofthe lead guitarist, ared “Gulf of America” cap,playedone favorite, then another

Then thekeyboardist, Casey Foster,introduced a new one, inspired by some of Smith’sfavorite Scripture.

“It maylook like I’msurrounded/but I’m surrounded by you,” Foster sang once, twice, three times.

By thefourth, Sm ered his chin, wiping tears.Hecries of that front row,while ahand high.

During his serm

Guidry and Gary funneledmore offen to PTI, specifica ing them to Franq nesses wherethe onlineclassesand to clear their records. threemen were to profits.

The scheme and being set up in th ana Department of and Fisheries with Secretary Jack Montoucet blew up when th vestigation of kickbacks thepretrial program thestate-levels 2022.

Montoucet’s tria uled for May 11 in federal court.

Email Claire Taylor ctaylor@theadvocat

day,though, his tears seemed to spring from frustration.

“Oh my goodness, there are so many young menout there,” he said. “They come and ride the bulls, and it just breaks your heart when you can’tget them to cometo church.”

Smithpounded the pulpit: “God is sick and tired of whispering!”

Afterward,his eyes were red, his tone weary.Ayouth rodeo had him out until 1a.m the night before. By 8a.m., he wasback in the pastures beside the church, feeding the calves, steer and bulls.

The church’sboys see how Smith goes from pastures to rodeo arena to church and back again, said Sherri MacNeil, whojoined Crossbrand in 2015.

Over time, Smith became amentor to her sons who, when they joined the church, weren’tintouch with their father. Theywitnessed his toughness in the ring and his softness in the pew

“Thatright there… it’s suchanamazing example foryoung men,” she said.

Humble andhardworking, Smith is “the feel of our church, the backbone of come-as-you-are,” said TorrieHyde, 31, who began attending whenshe wasin seventh or eighth grade: “I wasjust akid into rodeo.”

That feel goes beyond jeans, she said. Smith is open about hispast mistakes. He calls to people “who messed up bigyesterday” butwant to do better today,Hyde said. “Weall need to get out of playing churchand recognize that we’re real people,” shesaid. “Andreal people have real problems.”

Those problems extendto kids, whom Hyde pastors. It’snot uncommon for the church’schildren to come from families without afather,a mother or both, Hyde said. For them to have questions about divorce or drugs. Hyde’sown kids are now involved in rodeo. On arecentSunday, her5-year-old son Zeke, clad in cowboy boots and spurs, climbed the big blue gate and waited forhis calf. He pulledona vest, ahelmet. By the time he was ready to ride, five men, including his father, surrounded the stall.

But it wasSmith who pulled open the gate.

Up with thebulls

It’sjust before 4p.m., and Smith has traded adusty fadedT-shirtfor aclean,collared shirt and aball cap for acream cowboy hat.

He holds aStyrofoam cup of coffee in one hand and his leather attaché, bulging full of notes from sermons past, in the other. (“My filing cabinet,” he later jokes.) At thetop of hisnotes, he’s scrawled adedicationfor the service,heldthe week after conservative activist Charlie Kirk was killed. “Dedicated to CharlieKirk, atrue warrior.” The pewswere full, and Smith madehis way from one to the next, shaking folks’ handsand holding folks’ shoulders. He bent down to check on a4-yearold whohad clipped his chin while riding acalfearlier that afternoon.“Howare you, cowboy?” There are associations of cowboy churches, among them the International Cowboy Alliance Network, based in Monroe, which provides ministerial credentials, helps churches write bylaws andhosts twice-yearly “roundups.” But Smith has eschewed any associations, in large part because he didn’tlike their rules. It’stough to geta good count of cowboy churches forthatreason:Manyare doing their own thing. On this Sunday,like many Sundays, Smith paraphrases and repeats averse from Joshua: “Have Inot commanded you to be strong and of good courage?”

“God wants us to stand up andfight the good fight of faith …“hesays. “So make achoice to stand up with courage and strength that God gives you…“hecontinues. “Amen?” He pounds his fist. The tambourine jingles. “Amen!” the crowd replies. Smith was up early with thebulls.His 72ndbirthday wasapproaching. But the worldwasn’tweighing on him in the sameway this week.He’sencouraged, he says, by what he thinks is a revival forming after Kirk’s death.

After themusic,abaptism and his sermon, Smith stepped off the stage. He wore no hat, no microphone. “Prayand askGod for boldness,” Smith said, his voice quieter now

“Whenyou pray andask Godfor boldness, he will hit youlike alightning bolt,” he said. “You will begin to speak the word of God with boldness andpower.” He’d steppedout of the range of the phone,recording for Facebook. At this point, he was speaking just forthe people before him, for the ones in the back pew

Pastor RandySmith sips coffee as he watches bull riders gather in abarnnext to the Crossbrand Cowboy Church

STAFF PHOTOSByCHRIS GRANGER

RandySmith,pastor of the Crossbrand CowboyChurch, left, talks to amember of his congregation before worship service in Loranger on Sept14.

Amember of Crossbrand CowboyChurch rides abull before worship services.

Publicservicejournalismisn’t amoneymaker,butthanksto yoursupport,we’reableto fulfillourjournalisticmission.

SufferingSoYoung

Achildwelfaresystemfallingapart

How the state’sDepartment of Children and Family Services failed Louisiana’smost vulnerable children

BreakingPoint

Thetollofsoaringhomeinsurancerates

Ever-rising ratesofproperty insurance are forcing residents of south Louisianaout of their homesand communities

ForDearLife

SolvingLouisiana’schronicinfantmortalitycrisis

Louisianaloses nearly 200babies ayear from being born too early,too tiny or from pregnancy complications

BrokenCity

IgnoredinfrastructureproblemsgripNewOrleans

WhyNew Orleans failstostaydry and functionaldespite billions in funding

LongingforJustice

ThetollofwaitinginNewOrleans’criminalcourt

It takeslonger to resolve amurder case in the New Orleanscourt than nearly anywhere else in the country

Calif. bans most law enforcement officers from wearing masks

BY TRÂN NGUYEN and MARTHA BELLISLE Associated Press

California became the first state to ban most law enforcement, including federal immigration agents, from covering their faces while conducting official business under a bill signed Saturday by Gov Gavin Newsom.

The ban is a direct response to recent immigration raids in Los Angeles, where federal agents wore masks while making mass arrests. The raids prompted days of protest across and led President Donald Trump to deploy National Guard troops and Marines to the area.

Newsom said California is unique in that 27% of its residents are foreign born.

“We celebrate that diversity. It’s what makes California great. It’s what makes America great. It is under assault,” he said at a news conference in Los Angeles “This is the United States of America.”

The Democratic governor said the state is pushing back against the practice of masked agents without identification or badge numbers detaining people on the streets.

“The impact of these policies all

across this city, our state and nation are terrifying,” Newsom said.

“It’s like a dystopian sci-fi movie. Unmarked cars, people in masks, people quite literally disappearing. No due process, no rights, no right in a democracy where we have rights. Immigrants have rights, and we have the right to stand up and push back, and that’s what we’re doing here today.”

But it’s unclear how — or whether — the state can enforce the ban on federal agents. A homeland security official called the legislation “despicable” in a statement last week, adding that the ban would put officers in danger

The Department of Homeland Security said it sent letters Friday to the attorneys general in California, Illinois and New York reinforcing previous instructions that the Democratic-led states honor detainers from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for “criminal illegal aliens within their jurisdictions.” DHS said in a statement Saturday that if the states fail to comply, it would pursue “all appropriate measures to end their inadvisable and irresponsible obstruction.”

There was no immediate response to messages seeking com-

ment from DHS and ICE after the law was signed by Newsom in Los Angeles, flanked by state lawmakers and immigrant community members.

The new law prohibits neck gaiters, ski masks and other facial coverings for local and federal officers, including immigration enforcement agents, while they conduct official business. It makes exceptions for undercover agents, medical masks such as N95 respirators or tactical gear It doesn’t apply to state police.

Trump administration officials have consistently defended the practice, saying immigration agents have faced strident and increasing harassment in public and online as they have gone about their enforcement in service of

Trump’s drive toward mass deportation, and hiding their identities is for their and their families’ safety

Federal agents are already instructed to identify themselves and wear vests with ICE or Homeland Security markers during operations, Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said this week.

“The men and women at CBP ICE, and all of our federal law enforcement agencies put their lives on the line every day to arrest violent criminal illegal aliens to protect and defend the lives of American citizens,” she said in a statement.

Newsom said concerns about doxing, or publishing agents personal information online, are unfounded and unproven.

Officials: Russian jets over Estonia ignored signals

BY EMMA BURROWS

TALLINN, Estonia Russian pilots ignored signals from Italian jets responding from NATO’s Baltic Air Policing Mission when they violated Estonian airspace, a senior Estonian military official said Saturday

The 12-minute incursion was the latest test of the alliance’s ability to respond to Russian airborne threats after around 20 Russian drones entered Polish airspace on Sept. 10.

BY AAMER MADHANI Associated Press

WASHINGTON An emerging TikTok deal with China will ensure that U.S. companies control the algorithm that powers the app’s video feed and Americans will hold a majority of seats on a board overseeing U.S. operations, the White House said Saturday A central question to the tug of war between Washington and Beijing has been whether the popular social video platform would keep its algorithm after the potential divestment of Chinese parent com-

pany ByteDance. Congress passed legislation calling for a TikTok ban to go into effect in January, but President Donald Trump has repeatedly signed orders that have allowed TikTok to keep operating in the United States as his administration tries to reach agreement for ByteDance to sell its U.S. operations.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said tech giant Oracle would be responsible for the app’s data and security and that Americans will control six of the seven seats for a planned board. Oracle did not immediately

respond to a request for comment.

“We are 100% confident that a deal is done, now that deal just needs to be signed and the president’s team is working with their Chinese counterparts to do just that,” Leavitt told Fox News’ “Saturday in America.” A day earlier, Trump and China’s Xi Jinping discussed a TikTok deal in a lengthy phone call.

Leavitt said “the algorithm will also be controlled by America as well,” offering more detail about how the deal, at least in the eyes of the White House, is taking shape. TikTok’s algorithm fuels what

users see on the app. American officials have warned the algorithm is vulnerable to manipulation by Chinese authorities, who can use it to shape content on the platform in a way that’s difficult to detect.

Trump said after his call with Xi that American investors were lined up and that the Chinese leader has been “a gentleman” about the matter The Republican president was vague on the crucial question of whether China would control the algorithm.

“It’s all being worked out,” Trump said. “We’re going to have very good control.”

Dream

Russia’s Defense Ministry on Saturday denied its aircraft flew into Estonia’s airspace, after Tallinn reported three fighter jets crossed into its territory on Friday without permission. Estonian officials dismissed the denial, saying the violation was confirmed by radar and visual contact and suggested it could be a tactic to draw Western resources away from Ukraine. The Russian MIG-31 fighters entered Estonian airspace between 9:58 a.m. and 10:10 a.m. local time Friday in the area of Vaindloo, a small island located in the Gulf of Finland in the Baltic Sea, the Estonian military said. A ministry statement said it was the fourth airspace violation by Russia this year It still “needs to be confirmed,” if the border violation was deliberate or not, said Col. Ants Kiviselg, the commander of Estonia’s Military Intelligence Center Regardless, he said, the Russian jets “must have known that they are in (Estonian) airspace.” The Russian pilots didn’t pose a “military threat,” Kiviselg said. But although they acknowledged communication from the Italian pilots flying F-35 fighter jets, they apparently ignored it and “didn’t actually follow the signs,” which is partly why they were in Estonian airspace for so long, he added.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By ETHAN SWOPE Supporters gather during an immigration rally on Saturday in Los Angeles.

BY COLLIN BINKLEY Associated Press

At first, Clemson University took a stand for free speech. It condemned employees’ remarks that made light of Charlie Kirk’s death on social media, but the school said it was committed to protecting the Constitution. Three days later, under pressure from conservatives in the Statehouse, it fired one of the employees. As an outcry grew and the White House took interest, it fired two more.

The swift developments at the public university in South Carolina reflect the intense pressure on college leaders nationwide to police insensitive comments about the conservative activist’s assassination, which leaves them with no easy choices. Colleges can defy the Republican backlash and defend their employees’ speech rights, risking the kind of federal attention that has prompted billions of dollars in cuts at Harvard and other universities. Or they can bow to the pressure and risk what some scholars see as a historic erosion of campus speech rights.

A campaign among the right to punish those disparaging Kirk has cut across industries, with some conservatives calling for the firing of private sector employees, journalists and others they judge as promoting violence. But the stakes are especially high for colleges, which are already under intense scrutiny from an administration that has sought

to reshape campuses it describes as “woke” and overrun by leftist thinking

The White House coordinated a call with federal agencies Monday to discuss “funding options” at Clemson and other universities, according to a person with knowledge of the call who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the private meeting. The White House did not provide details.

The federal government’s increasing appetite to dictate what can and can’t be said on campuses — from protests over the IsraelHamas war to commentary on Kirk’s death — violates the First Amendment, said Lara Schwartz, an American University scholar on constitutional law and campus speech. Distasteful as they may be, she said, many comments provoking outrage are clearly protected speech.

“This could very much signal the end of free expression in the United States,” Schwartz said. “People should be reading this not as like a little social media battle, but as a full-on constitutional crisis.”

Over the weekend, Clemson became the epicenter in a battle between those who revered and those who reviled Kirk Republicans at all levels rushed to support a campus GOP club that shared social media posts from campus employees mocking Kirk’s death State lawmakers showed up on campus with signs demanding the employees’ firing

One screenshot circulated by college Republicans showed a professor of audio technology reposted a message on X the day of the killing that said: “According to Kirk, empathy is a made-up new-age term, so keep the

EDUCATION

jokes coming. It’s what he would have wanted.”

In Congress, Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee responded to Clemson’s statement defending free speech with a two-word social media post: “Defund Clemson.” State lawmakers threatened to cut funding, including one whose post was circulated by President Donald Trump.

South Carolina Republican Rep. Nancy Mace, who’s running for governor, sent a letter to the Education Department on Monday urging it to pull all federal funding from schools and universities that fail to swiftly terminate employees “who would celebrate or justify political violence.”

Ahead of an emergency

meeting by Clemson’s governing board Monday, the state’s Republican attorney general sent a letter assuring leaders the firings would be permitted under state law Alan Wilson said fired employees can challenge the dismissals in civil cases, but Clemson or other universities would not be prosecuted under a state law that forbids firings based on political opinions.

“Fear of criminal prosecution should not deter the President of a state university, such as Clemson, from taking the appropriate corrective action against university employees for such vile and incendiary comments on a public platform,” Wilson wrote.

One employee was fired

prior to the meeting, and Clemson announced Tuesday it had dismissed two others, both faculty members.

Conservatives calling for the firings have said glorifying and celebrating violence also incites it, crossing into speech not protected by the Constitution. Attorney General Pam Bondi vowed to go after those whose speech threatens violence in the wake of Kirk’s killing.

“For far too long, we’ve watched the radical left normalize threats, call for assassinations and cheer on political violence,” she said.

“That era is over.”

Education Secretary Linda McMahon on Wednesday encouraged schools and colleges to crack down on anyone celebrating the killing.

In a video statement, she said such comments are the product of universities and schools that breed “divisive ideologies.”

“I commend the institutions and leaders who have acted swiftly to condemn and hold accountable those who have crossed this ethical line,” she said.

Several colleges have fired or suspended employees over comments on Kirk, including the University of Miami, the University of Tennessee, Auburn University and the University of California, Los Angeles. Others have warned they are investigating social media posts. Iowa’s Board of Regents, for one, empowered the state’s public universities to take immediate action, including termination. President Sherry Bates said posts made last week were “offensive, inappropriate, and above all, unacceptable.”

“We expect more from those who work at our institutions,” she said.

Some university leaders have sought to find a balance, condemning callous comments while pledging commitment to First Amendment principles. In Georgia, Columbus State University’s president, Stuart Rayfield, said a professor’s post that received attention online was regrettable but faculty and students are “entitled to their own personal views under the First Amendment.” University of Missouri leaders on Wednesday said they respect the rights of employees to speak as citizens, but they encouraged staff “to use those freedoms responsibly, especially when engaging on social media.” Associated Press writer Alanna Durkin Richer contributed to this report.

LOUISIANAPOLITICS

La.’s‘WhippedPete’ at center of national controversy

WASHINGTON —The photo of an escaped enslaved personwith scars covering his back has been oneofthe most influential images in American history, almost since the moment it was taken in BatonRouge during theCivil War.

Hundreds of thousands of 21/2 by 4inch cartes de viste, the social media platform of the 1860s, were credited with helping persuade the North to make ending the South’s peculiarinstitution awar goal.

Florida Street and Interstate 110 where the photograph likely was taken.

“It tells the truth of apeople who built this nation, endured itsgreatest injustices, and still rise to shape its future with brilliance, faith and resilience,”

Carter added.

Ballard

Alargely oblivious Northernpopulation saw for the first time the brutality described in books like the fictionalized “Uncle Tom’sCabin,” which took place on the Red River,and “Twelve Years aSlave,” anonfiction account that took place in Avoyelles Parish.

Since then, “The Scourged Back,” also called “Whipped Pete,” has been used on magazine covers, in movies and as part of protests.

The famed photograph came to the forefront again last week with reports in The Washington Post and The New York Times, citing internal memos and agency sources, that the Trumpadministration ordered its removal froma national monument.

The Interior Department disputed that specific artifacts had been taken down.But the agency acknowledged areview of such materials in adherence to President Donald Trump’s March order to remove artifacts that “inappropriately disparage Americans.”

“These materials, this history, is not ‘divisive,’”said Democratic Rep. Troy Carter,whose district once included the Baton Rouge neighborhood —around

Louisiana chief justice gets artexhibit

John Weimer,chief justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court, is quick to use humor to downplay hisabilities with apaintbrush

An upcoming exhibit to display his work at the George Rodrigue Gallery in the French Quarter will feature the “amateur” hand of someone who is “obviouslyaself-taught painter,” Weimer said. But he allowed that anyone viewing his art might just give it agood review “You be the judge,” he said. The public opening for the show will take place on Nov.14from 5p.m. to 7p.m., and his more than 100 paintings willremain on displayfor at least the following month.

Cartes de viste were distributedbyabolitionists and frequently referred to in speeches by Frederick Douglassand Sojourner Truth, both of whom had been enslaved.

Theimage was published in The Liberator,anabolitionist newspaper,then picked up in the July 4, 1863, edition of Harper’sWeekly,from which many Northerners got their news. Initially,anti-war Democrats called the photoa fake, which led eyewitnesses to publish their accounts.

Scholars have tried, though not totally successfully,tocobble together theeventssurrounding the famousphotograph.

Theman in the picture, named Peter,was interviewed by Massachusettssoldiers while William D. McPherson and his partner, J. Oliver, of New Orleans, took three photos, each with adifferent angle to better show the welts.

Gordon, as Petersubsequently wascalled,primarily spoke French to troops who did not,so hisaccountattached to the back of thephoto is somewhat jumbled.

Whatisclear,and documented, was that Union Major General Nathaniel P. Banks issued an order onJan. 29, 1863,that affirmed theEmancipation Proclamation andinformed Louisiana plantation owners that, while troops would not assist theenslaved from escaping, the Union would free whoever cametotheir lines.

mostly painted rustic scenes in hishome area —inand around Thibodauxand Lafourche Parish.

Duringarecentdinner,hetook abreak from the conversation to quicklysketchalive oak tree on a scratch pieceofpaper

Weimer said he paintsinfits and starts, depending on his work schedule and mood. He has been so busy after becoming chief justice in 2021 —aposition he holdsbecauseheisthe longest serving justice on the seven-member court —that he has completed only two paintings since then, hesaid.

None of the paintings at the upcoming exhibit are for sale because Weimer doesn’twant to sell his work to anyone who might appear before his court one day.Heeventually planstodonatemost of thepaintingstocharity.

River,between what is now Krotz Springs and Melville.

Chased by slave catchers and rubbing onions on his body to throw off his pursuer’sdogs, Gordon said he walked barefoot through the swamp for10days now traversed in about half-hour on elevated U.S. 190 —before running into Union troops near Port Allen whoferried him across the Mississippi River On April 2, 1863, Gordon entered the Provost-Marshal’s office, about where the federal courthouse’sfront parking lot now stands. He wanted to enlist in aBlack regiment and was examined by physicians whose tents were nearby Yankee doctors —Samuel Knapp Towleand J.W.Mercer, to nametwo —were shocked by the sight of his back, though one wrote that he had seen dozens that were just like it.

In May 1863, Gordon joined African American soldiers in attacking Port Hudson, the last major Confederate stronghold on the Mississippi. Then his story falls from history Democratic Rep. Cleo Fields, whose district now includes where the photograph likely was taken, sees “The Scourged Back” as one of Louisiana’smost important artifacts from the Civil War.

“There is amisconception that preserving these exhibits is about division, but Iamofthe belief that they are essential to understanding whoweare as anation. This attempt to erase that is deeply troubling, and simply unnecessary,” Fields said. “Wecannot pretend the struggles of the past don’texist, nor can we deny the lessons that history continues to teach us.”

EmailMark Ballard at mballard@theadvocate.com.

Weimer said he became interested in painting as an undergraduate of Nicholls State decades ago. It was there that he took his only art class.

His more experienced classmates, he said, “were kindenough to give me afew pointers. That was the extent of my training,if you will.”

Over the years, Weimer has

Asked whyhepaints, Weimer offered another self-deprecating remark.

“I’ve really gotten agreat deal of satisfaction from doing the paintings,using therudimentary skills I’ve been blessed with,” he said. “I’m apainter and let everyoneelse be the judge if this really qualifies as artornot. I’m not

going to flatter myself by calling it art.”

Shane Guidry nabs marlin trophy

Shane Guidry wields enormous power for aprivate citizenasGov Jeff Landry’sbehind-the-scenes power broker on matterslarge and small in metroNew Orleans

He’splayed akey role in negotiating anew leasefor the Saints to play at the Caesars Superdome for at leastthe next 10 years, adeal thatisexpected tobeannounced any day

Guidryisalso themajority owner of Harvey Gulf International Marine, abillion-dollar business thathas 50 transportvessels delivering construction materials, food, fuel and drilling materials to offshoreplatforms. But as anyone who follows his Team Harvey Instagram feed knows, Guidry’strue passionis deep-sea fishing. And he takes it very seriously

Guidryisfeeling pretty good these days because he emerged as the topangler earlier this monthat thefinal tournament of the season sponsoredbyMarlin Magazine. The event took place at Scrub Island in the British Virgin Islands. Guidrycaught and reeled in the mostblue marlin among the13

boats competing. He wasaboard his 82-footViking sport fishing yacht. In all, he caught 13 of the giant fish. Underthe rules, he released all of them

Team Harvey has five other men on the boat performing various roles, including changing the bait and looking for fish on underwater sonar.

“Whenthe fish bites, Igrab the rodand reel, and Ifight the fish,” Guidrysaid. “You have to video thatyou grabbedthat rod, got in the chair,caught the fish and brought it in yourself.”

Team Harvey wona$65,000 prize. And his performance means thatGuidry and Team Harvey will be able to participate at the Rolex Championship in Costa Rica in April, acompetition of the top 30 teams worldwide.

Noting that the angler reels in the big fish, Guidry said he returnedtothat role after losing 70 pounds.

“It ain’teasy to fight those fish,” said Guidry,55. “I didn’twant to be the reason why we lost. Now I’m back in good physical shape.”

Ex-BESEmember wins beauty pageant

Carolyn Hill calls it going from politics to pageantry Hill was elected to the Board of

Elementary and Secondary Education from Baton Rouge in 2014, lost her reelection in 2018 after opposing the so-called “Common Core” education curriculum and lost a2025 race forthe state Senate.

She has also worked as apolitical consultant forindependent and Democratic candidates.

On awhim this year,Hill entered the contest to be Miss Louisiana forAmerica Strong. It’s organized by Mrs. America Inc. Hill, 43, said she had never previously entered abeauty pageant. In an eight-woman field in June in Hammond, Hill won.Each of the contestants were interviewed and judged in competitions while wearing aswimsuit, an evening gownand acostume representative of Louisiana. Hill dressed as the state insect, awestern honeybee, although she added heels. Hill also competed in the national pageant in Las Vegas in August but did not win.

Back in Louisiana, she is looking forward to the role that calls forher to assist others.

“Whether through public policy or pageantry,mymission remains the same: to uplift others, inspire womentoembrace their leadership potential, and continue serving my community with purpose,” she said.

Gordon ran away March 24, 1863, from the 3,000-acre cot-

ton plantation owned by Capt. John Lyons on the Atchafalaya

PHOTO PROVIDEDByLIBRARy OF CONGRESS/MCPHERSON &OLIVER

Escaped slave Gordon, also known as ‘Whipped Peter,’ showing his scarred back at amedical examination, Baton RougeonApril 2, 1863.

Mark

-Freda

THE GULF COAST

Mississippi Coast island has water like Florida beaches

BY JUSTIN MITCHELL Staff writer

As a Bay St. Louis native who is newish to living in New Orleans, it’s easy to see how the Mississippi Gulf Coast has become one of the fastest growing areas in the South.

Although devastated by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, signs of destruction are now few and far between.

Cities that dot the manmade beaches along Highway 90 have re-developed their downtowns. New housing — subdivisions, apartments and waterfront homes is taking over vacant lots. And people are moving there from Louisiana, Texas and other states.

But growing up in a “tourist town” also means locals may overlook how much there is to do on the Coast. I’ve visited the brown, murky beaches more times that I can count, but until recently had never taken a short boat ride to the barrier islands.

In many ways, the islands are a hidden gem and mostly visited by locals with boat access. But they are nothing short of extraordinary.

There are four barrier islands on the Mississippi Coast: Cat, Ship, Horn and Petit Bois islands Cat Island is the most developed, and Ship is a popular beach option with ferry service

But both Horn and Petit Bois are remote wilderness areas managed by the National Park Service, except for 96 acres of Horn Island that are currently for sale.

Horn Island is also famously the inspiration behind the work of Walter Anderson, an eccentric painter and Mississippi’s most renowned visual artist who would often row the 12 miles out there in a small wooden skiff.

A couple of weekends ago, a group of friends and I went to Horn Island, about 30 minutes off the coast of Biloxi and only accessible by boat.

We went on a sunny Saturday and enjoyed a smooth ride out to the southwest side of Horn Island, welcomed by a remote stretch of white sand, driftwood and water so clear it rivaled Florida beaches.

Our group spent four hours on Horn Island, and because we went early in the morning there weren’t many other boaters out and about We were able to swim in the Gulf, watch dolphins, chase crabs along the shoreline and explore the island and unique driftwood left behind. The waves crashing

at high tide were peaceful, and I wound up laying under a tent for a short nap.

We brought snacks and sandwiches for a lunch by the water before packing up and leaving the island as we found it. We waved goodbye to a pack of dolphins and the crystal clear water, already making plans for our next trip out.

How to get to Horn Island

If you’re visiting the Mississippi Coast, or a local with no boat, the best way to get to the islands is through a charter service.

These businesses are equipped with boat captains who will shuttle you and a small group to any nearby island on a vessel. My friends and I have used

Island Hopper Charters multiple times, and our captain, Dan, is friendly, knowledgeable and always gets us there and back safely

On this most recent trip, our friend was the boat captain. He has a boater’s license and does a monthly boat rental membership.

What to know

n Book a charter service, and tip your captain with cash at the end of the ride.

n If you want to see the clear water go on the Gulf side of the island.

n Pack a tent, towels, and sunscreen.

n Don’t bring glass bottles stick to cans or plastic.

n Bring a trash bag and take your litter with you. Leave the island as you

preservedthe soul of what makes us NewOrleanians, making this the perfect holidaygift for anyone whobleeds the purple,green andgold of Mardi Gras. Booksship in time for holidaygift-giving!

PHOTOS PROVIDED By ERIC JEANSONNE

The waves lap against the beach recently on Horn Island near Biloxi, Miss.

Trump’s peace efforts falter as Ukraine, Gaza wars grow

BY CHRIS MEGERIAN and MATTHEW LEE Associated Press

WASHINGTON — A month after an Alaskan summit with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, President Donald Trump still seems surprised that his gambit did not pay off with peace in Ukraine.

“He’s let me down,” Trump said this week. “He really let me down.”

There has been no more progress in the Middle East, where Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is beginning a new offensive in Gaza City and lashing out across the region.

“They have to be very, very careful,” Trump said after Israel targeted Hamas inside Qatar, a U.S. ally that has been hosting diplomatic negotiations.

Trump’s disappointment and frustration is much different from the confidence and dominance he tries to project on the international stage, especially as he trumpets his diplomatic efforts and campaigns for the Nobel Peace Prize. Asked about his goals for the upcoming U.N. General Assembly, the president said “world peace.” But the most high-profile conflicts appear to be escalating instead of winding down.

“This whole last nine months of peace efforts was just a merry-go-round,” said Max Bergmann, a State Department official under Democratic President Barack Obama who now works at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. Although Trump prizes bold gestures a stealth bomber strike in Iran, a sweeping tariff announcement solving a global

jigsaw puzzle is a far bigger struggle.

The fundamental truth, Bergmann said, is “trying to reach peace agreements is very hard,” and that Trump has not surrounded himself with experienced diplomats and foreign policy experts

“It’s like if you were to tell me, ‘Go do a hotel deal,’ ” Bergmann said. “It would be a terrible deal. I would lose a lot of money.”

In Trump’s defense, the White House has pointed to comments from European leaders who have praised his efforts working to forge peace agreements. Trump often notes that he hires “only the best people.”

Matt Kroenig, a senior policy adviser at the Pentagon during Trump’s first term, said the president’s brashness can get results, such as when he demanded increased defense spending from European allies.

Trump, however, can end up spinning his wheels on more challenging issues and eventually give up, such as when he tried to persuade Kim Jong Un to end North Korea’s nuclear program.

When it comes to making peace in Ukraine and Gaza, Kroenig wondered, “At what point does he say, ‘This is too hard, let’s move on to other issues.’”

Foreign policy is usually a team sport for presidential administrations, requiring extensive coordination among agencies through the National Security Council.

But Trump has dramatically slashed the council’s staff, and Marco Rubio serves as both secretary of state and national security adviser.

“It’s one person setting the strategy and everyone else is waiting to see,” Kroenig said. In the Middle East, Trump

is getting caught in the middle of an increasingly combustible situation. He has visited Arab nations, including Qatar, this year to strengthen ties, and he has backed Israel’s military operations in Gaza and Iran.

But now Israel, emboldened by its battlefield success, is striking more widely throughout the region, including the recent attack targeting Hamas officials in Qatar That jeopardized negotiations that the United States has been trying to push along and rattled Arab leaders’ faith in Trump’s ability to influence, let alone rein in, Netanyahu.

Some of them now view Israel, not Iran, as their primary security threat, according to three Arab diplomats familiar with conversations at the last summit of the Gulf Cooperation Council in Doha. It’s a noticeable shift after Israel and Arab nations grew closer during Trump’s first term, when the Republican

president championed the Abraham Accords. The diplomats were not authorized to publicly discuss the private conversations and spoke on condition of anonymity.

U.S. officials have tried to assuage doubts by pointing to Trump’s expressions of displeasure with Netanyahu’s latest moves, to recent meetings held with Qatar’s prime minister and to discussions of enhanced security arrangements.

During next week’s annual high-level gathering at the General Assembly, Rubio

and Trump special envoy Steve Witkoff can expect to hear a chorus of criticism, with Arab nations seeking a more fundamental shift in how the U.S. approaches the region.

For example, the U.S. has tried to ensure that Israel has a military edge over its Arab neighbors. But now that Israel has attacked Qatar with U.S.-supplied weapons — a strike that Qatar was unable to counter with its own U.S.supplied defenses Arab diplomats are considering demanding stronger support.

Such a move would likely be politically untenable, at least for now, with support for Israel strong among Republicans who control Congress.

In Europe, Trump has frustrated his critics with his equivocal approach to Putin, sometimes suggesting that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is just as responsible for the war that Moscow started with its 2022 invasion.

Trump recently insisted that his meeting with Putin “accomplished a lot,” but “it takes two to tango.”

“You know those are two people, Zelenskyy and Putin, that hate each other,” he said. Fears that the war in Ukraine could spill over have been heightened by recent Russian military incursions into the airspace of NATO members Poland and Estonia. After three Russian fighter jets entered Estonian airspace on Friday, Trump said it could signal “big trouble.” During a news conference in the United Kingdom on his state visit, Trump said he was dedicated to stopping the conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine. Then he turned philosophical.

“You never know in war You know, war is a different thing,” he said. “Things happen that are very opposite of what you thought.”

BY BARBARA ORTUTAY, SEUNG MIN KIM and AAMER MADHANI Associated Press

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump’s latest plan to overhaul the American immigration system has left some immigrant workers confused, forcing the White House on Saturday to scramble to clarify that a new $100,000 fee on visas for skilled tech workers only applies to new applicants and not to current visa holders.

The president on Friday, with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick by his side, signed a proclamation that will require the new fee for what are known as H-1B visas — meant for high-skilled jobs that tech companies find hard to fill.

“Those who already hold H-1B visas and are currently outside of the country right now will NOT be charged $100,000 to re-enter,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a posting on X. “This applies only to new visas, not renewals, and not current visa holders.”

The fee takes effect at 12:01 a.m. ET Sunday It is scheduled to expire after a year But it could be extended if the government determines that is in the interest of the United States to keep it.

travel to/from the U.S.”

But immigration attorneys said that the White House move threatened to upend the lives of many skilled workers and has far-reaching impact on American business.

Kathleen Campbell Walker, an immigration attorney with Dickinson Wright based in El Paso, Texas, said in a posting on LinkedIn that the White House move “inserts total chaos in existing H-1B process with basically a day’s notice.”

Lutnick on Friday told reporters that the fee would be an annual cost for companies.

But a White House official said Saturday that it’s a “onetime fee.” Asked if Lutnick’s comments sowed confusion, the official, who was not authorized to comment publicly about the matter and spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the new fee “currently does not apply to renewals but that policy is under discussion.”

Meanwhile, India’s government expressed concern Saturday that the Trump administration move would dramatically raise the fee for visas that bring tech workers from there and other countries to the United States.

To be certain, if the moves survive legal muster, they will deliver staggering price increases. The visa fee for skilled workers would jump from $215.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs said Saturday that Trump’s plan “was being studied by all concerned, including by Indian industry The ministry warned that ”this measure is likely to have humanitarian consequences by way of the disruption caused for families. Government hopes that these disruptions can be addressed suitably by the U.S. authorities.

More than 70% of H-1B visa holders are from India. H-1B visas, which require at least a bachelor’s degree, are meant for high-skilled jobs that tech companies find difficult to fill. Critics say the program undercuts American workers, luring people from overseas who are often willing to work for as little as $60,000 annually That is well below the $100,000-plus salaries typically paid to U.S. technology workers.

Trump on Friday insisted that the tech industry would not oppose the move. Lutnick meanwhile, claimed “all big companies” are on board.

The White House in a social media post also sought to make clear the new rule “does not impact the ability of any current visa holder to

Representatives for the biggest tech companies, including Amazon, Apple, Google and Meta, did not immediately respond to messages for comment. Microsoft declined to comment. Officials

Trump also rolled out a $1 million “gold card” visa for wealthy individuals The moves face near-certain legal challenges amid widespread criticism he is sidestepping Congress.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By ALEX BRANDON

President Donald Trump speaks Friday in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington.

Disputes on immigration, insurance heard

Lawmakers at town hall asked about legislative proposals

BY JOEL THOMPSON Contributing writer

A community town hall hosted by several Acadiana GOP lawmakers turned contentious Thursday evening when the topic focused on various immigration proposals in the state Legislature.

The town hall at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church was coordinated by several elected officials representing the Lafayette area, includ-

ing state Sen. Brach Myers, state Reps Annie Spell and Josh Carlson, and Lafayette City Council member Liz Webb Hebert.

The elected officials were asked about whether they supported several immigration proposals in the Louisiana Legislature, including HB436, which would limit nonlegal residents from certain legal remedies in car crashes.

“If someone is not of legal status, they are not legally driving

Five Tributaries Project helping with flooding

Cleared bayous allow water to drain faster

BY QUINN COFFMAN Staff writer

A plan to dredge five Baton Rouge bayous, designed in the 1990s and implemented only after the deadly flooding of 2016, is now successfully protecting homes from floodwater and it is only 15% complete.

The Five Tributaries Project involves clearing foliage from the banks and snagging obstacles along the bottoms of five bayous in East Baton Rouge Parish, each of which empties into the Amite River With these bayous cleared, their water can drain more quickly into the Amite instead of rising over their banks and threatening homes.

ä See FIVE, page 2B

Lake Charles man convicted of murder

Woman’s body found in her vehicle

BY COURTNEY PEDERSEN Staff writer

A Lake Charles man was found guilty of first-degree murder, identity theft and unlawful disposal of remains by a jury on Thursday Christopher Cater, 43, was accused of killing 72-year-old Shelia Ortega, driving her car around for a month with her body inside, using her home and accessing her bank information, according to a statement from the Calcasieu Parish District Attorney’s Office.

On Aug. 20, 2023, deputies from the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to a Lake Charles home in reference to a missing person, identified as Ortega, according to an Aug 22, 2023, news release from the office. Ortega’s family members advised police

ä See MURDER, page 2B

around, in the field of insurance it’s a hard argument to say that that person should be awarded damages the same way that a person who has legal status is,” Spell said. Carlson echoed the statement saying, “If you’re not in the country legally, and you hit someone, then I think it’s perfectly reasonable to say that you don’t have the right to recover.” These comments drew pushback from attendees.

“Any human being in this country and in this state has human dignity,” said Brooke Arceneaux, one of several community members in attendance to challenge statements made by the legislators on the topic. Arceneaux went on to compare the legislation to alleged human rights violations at an immigration detention center in Basile.

“At the Basile detention facility there are documented cases

of abuse from the warden He sexually abused them, allegedly. Just because someone isn’t a legal citizen of Louisiana, do they have no rights?”

Spell pushed back.

“I see sexual assault as very different from a car accident,” she said. “In statute, if a sexual act occurs to any human being, legal status or not, there’s prosecution.”

This led to a tense exchange between Spell and an attendee that segued into the town hall’s abrupt

COMMUNITy CLEANUP

ABOVE: Volunteer Sheila Romanoff, center, and her children, Olivier Foreman, 10, left, and Jack Foreman, 6, right, spread rocks.

RIGHT: Volunteers are welcomed by students.

TOP: Volunteers paint squares in the playground at L. Leo Judice Elementary School in Scott on Saturday during the Love Our Schools and Parish Proud for Scott community cleanup. Projects at Acadiana High, Scott Middle, L. Leo Judice and Westside Elementary included painting, planting, graveling, litter pickup and more.

STAFF PHOTOS By BRAD KEMP

ä See DISPUTES, page 2B

DISPUTES

Continued from page1B

end.

“You’re denigrating them (nonlegal residents) by callingthem an economic issue.

…We’re talking about humanbeings here …and what rights and responsibilities we have towards themas asociety.We’re asking you for your opinion on that, and what we’re hearing back is talk about insurance,” the attendee said.

Spell responded: “The bills that were addressed were specifically regardingaccess to services,and so Iwas speaking to that.”

Car insurance was also a focus of discussion.

One attendee,who was involved in an automobile crash with an uninsured driver earlier this year,

FIVE

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“If you imagine the trapezoidal channel (of the bayou), we’re pretty much clearing allvegetation offthe side slopes coming down to about 2inches above the ground, and then any obstructions or hindrances in the water itself, stumps, branches, anythingsticking out, we’ll remove those as well,” said DavidBradley,project director with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Whilethe dredging plan was funded in 2018, it wasn’t until February 2023that the first portion of the first bayou had been successfully cleared and snagged. Fred Raiford, transportation and drainage director for the parish, admitted delays slowed the start of the project, but says now that thelower portions of Bayou Fountain, Ward Creek and Jones Creek have been cleared, he is already seeing results.

“Those areas have always had problems with flooding and drainage, and once we’ve done that work I’ve had very, very,very,very few calls about water,” Raiford said.

“The reason Iknow that is because Igolook out. I mean, Iwatch when it rains at night.Iget up becauseI know I’m gonna get phone calls, I’d like to at leastknow I’ve looked at it.” Raiford said the completed work on those threebayous has been a“tremendous plus for us with reducing the flood risk for people in our parish.”

The clearing and snagging of lower Jones Creek was finished in February 2023, BayouFountain’slowerfew miles were done in September 2023, and Ward Creek’s part was completed in May 2024.

In total, 11.2 miles of waterway have been cleared, with roughly another55 miles to go.

Those completed areas were all from the lowest and deepest portions of these bayous, where they bottom out into the Amite River and where the water is deep enough to supportbarges with excavators usedfor clearing. The barges won’tbeanoption for the remaining waterways, and Bradley expects the Corps instead will be using amphibious excavators, sometimes called “marsh buggies.”

To get these machines to the water,and to store the collected debris, the parish floodwater authority will

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asked aboutthe possibilityofrequiringinsurance agentsto letpolicyholders know aboutthe existence of Collision Deductible Waiversthat can be added onto their policy whenever significant changesare madeto theplan. Those arewaivers in which automobile insurerswill coverdeductibles in cases where thepartyat fault is uninsured. “I was calledtopublic service to solve problems like this,” said Myers, who serves on the Senate Insurance Committee. “When Ihear from you that that’sanissue, to me that’s an issue nowthat we’re going to solve.”

On the questionoflowering auto insurancerates,Hebert touted variousLCG policies aimed at reducing the number of crashes, which she said will lead to lower rates.

“Weran acampaign at var-

ious intersections within my district,” she said. “We’re installing more and more flashing speedometers. These are effective ways of slowing people down.”

The legislators were also asked about gerrymanderinginthe state in light of the ongoing Supreme Court case over Louisiana’scurrent congressionaldistrict map, which features twomajority-minority districts, and whether the current map in their view is gerrymandering along racial lines.

“Where the Constitution providesguidance, where the SupremeCourt provides guidance, that’s theguidance we need to follow,” Myers said.

In addition to questions and public comments, the legislators used theopportunity to tout several recent changestothe structure of Louisiana government, as

wellaspromote an upcomingconstitutionalamendment on the ballot in April which will allow $2 billion across multiple trust funds to be usedfor teacher pay raises.

“This is away to take money that’sgenerated very little each year foreducation, and say,‘Let’spay off debt, let’sfree up money at the state and local level, and higher ed, and pay our teachers $2,000-$2,500 more ayear,’”Carlson said.

The town hall comes as the Louisiana Legislature is in between sessions and could possibly meet for aspecial session. All fourelected officials are eligible for reelection in the 2027 state general election. For moreinformationonhow to get in touch with your state legislators and city councilmembers, visit legis.la.gov and lafayettela.gov/council.

LarryGallowaystandsinaneighbor’sbackyard on Friday in his Sagefield subdivision, overlooking an overgrownditch that stands between him and sugarcane land once belonging to the Longwood Plantation. Where he stands wasunderwater in August 2021.

need topay residentsto use their land

These right-of-way parcels could be as small as 25foot stripsalong the bayous’ banks or up to an acre plot on which to pile whatever is pulled from the water Raifordestimatedthe remaining work will require more than 300 temporary land acquisitions, none of which has been made.

Once allfive bayous have been cleared andsnagged, theCorps will alsoconstruct concrete ripraponthe banks of portions of Jones Creek and look to make channel enlargements to parts ofBeaver Bayou and Blackwater BayouinCentral.

So,how much longer?

Bradley,with the Corps, said he is waiting to get a better idea of the estimated time forcompletionfor the project Raifordhas estimated the end of 2031.

Both pointed to the unknown variables of ongoing environmental surveys, construction timelines delivered to thedirectorsfrom contractors, and thespecter of hidden utilities needingto be relocated Raiford wasthe parish’s public works director when the Five Tributaries plan was first considered in 1995 and 1996. Hesaid despite approval from theWater Resources DevelopmentAct forthe projecttobegin construction in 1999,the lack of federal money wasa hurdle. The FiveTributariesProjectwas given an estimated costof$255 million, with the federalmoney being allocated in the BipartisanBudget Act of 2018.

Butthatallocationalsore-

quires the Corps’ “non-federal partners” to pay25% of the costs of the total project, or roughly $64 million of that $255 milliontotal.

So far,the parish has needed to pay onlyaround $10 million, Raiford estimated, with roughlyanother $40 million being matched by a capital outlay from the state. In addition to sharingcosts, the parish and the Corps have other responsibilities in regards to the project.

The parish must acquire land andrelocateutilities, whilethe Corpsmustdevelop environmental impact statements and award construction contracts.

As for what is immediately next: the Corps has completed environmentalsurveys forthe upper portions of JonesCreek andhas ongoing surveys for upper Bayou Fountain andupper Ward Creek.

In areas where work has been completed, Raiford said in the past he might have gotten calls about flooded ditches during a2-or3-inch rain Now,the complaints have grown quiet.

“It maynot be ideal for everybody yet, but it takes alot of money to do what needs to be done,” Raiford said Waitingfor thenext flood

In ameetingroom of the South Branch library,behind awallofpaintings depicting waves, rivers andotherwatery imagery,the Greater Federation of BatonRouge Neighborhood Associations held its annual stormwater summit.

The residents had each lived through theflooding of 2016 and returned to their own slices of BatonRouge to rebuild.

Throughout the summit, the homeowners peppered parish and state officials withquestions abouttheir particular backyard bayou and the possiblework being done there.

Butmost of the homeowners shared asimilar fear: If floodwaters come, will we be forced to rebuild again?

Larry Galloway,former president of the Sagefield Homeowners Association, whichliesonthe otherside of Burbank Drive from Bayou Fountain, said his neighbors experienced bad flooding during both 2016 and 2021.

On Friday,standing on the edge of along ditch where Longwood Plantation Road turns to nothing but grass, Galloway gesturedout at whereaclogged culvert had to be pulled from the ground after flooding in August 2021.

“Someofthemgot it in theirhomes and these down here, they got it real bad They couldn’tget out,”Galloway saidfrom his neighbor’sbackyard.“Andboy, somehouses thatway,most of them it was up to the mailboxes.”

Galloway isn’tsure if he has noticed less water backing up in the Bayou Fountain outlets that surround his subdivision, but he hopes Raifordisright that the snagging has helped. Mostly, he is concernedabout new development in the area, especially in places that were underwater in 2021, and how those new homes might push water into Sagefield.

The real test, he says, will be when the next flood hits.

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

Obituaries

Funeral serviceswillbe held on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, at a 10:00 am Mass of Christian Burial in St.Mary, Mother of theChurchCatholic Church in Lafayette for Ms. EmilyClaire Duhon, age 87, whopassed away on Thursday, September 18, 2025, at Ochsner Lafayette General MedicalCenterin Lafayette. Thefamilyrequeststhat visitation be observedin St.Mary Catholic Church on Tuesdaymorningfrom 9:00 am untiltimeofservices. ARosary will be prayed at 9:30 am.

Reverend CedricSonnier will be theCelebrant of the Funeral Mass and will conduct theservices. Lectors will be Sue Caswelland DamonSmith and Giftbearers willbeTanya Smith, Andrea Patin, and Diana Cash Lennon

Musical selectionswill be "HereI Am, Lord," "Psalm 23," "Ave Maria, "OnEagle'sWings," "Pie Jesu," and "Battle Hymn of theRepublic,"providedby Raymond Hebert accompanied by Deborah Duhonon theorgan,Lauren Baker on theviolin, andWill Green on thetrumpet. Intermentwill be in the IstreCemetery on Swift Road in Mermentau Cove, LA. Gravesideservices with committal prayers will be conductedby Reverend RaviJampangi.

Survivors includeher children, JackieT.Hodges andher husband, Steve, andJim Thibodeaux; nephew,DamonSmith and hiswife,Tricia; herniece, Tanya Smith; andher great niece, Elizabeth Smith Sanchez andher husband, Cesar. Shewas preceded in death by herparents, Mr Peterson Duhonand Mrs. Adeline CaryDuhon;one brother, Douglas Dean Duhon; onesister,Sylvia DuhonSmith; anda nephew,Timmy Smith. Emilywas anative of Mermentau,LA, and had made herhomein Lafayette since 1963. She wasa proudgraduate of Estherwood High School, whereshe wasa member of itsfinal graduating class. Awoman of great compassion,courage,faith, andperseverance, Emily raisedtwo childrenonher ownand workedtirelessly to provide forher family. Shededicated manyyears of hercareertoBellSouth, later AT&T,where she served as aphoneoperator andmanager. After her time with AT&T, she continued in administrative rolesacross avariety of fields, including construction,steel fabrication,bottling, home health, telecommunications, lawn service,education,and accounting.Ineveryposition, she wasrespected for her intelligence,reliability, and thekindness she showed to those she worked alongside.

Herdeep faithshaped everypartofher life. Emily treasured hertimewith TheRoses Rosary Group and herdevotion to prayingthe Rosary. Whether in prayer or conversation, she neverforgot whowas in need,always rememberingintentionsand faithfully followingupwith care andconcern. Shealso foundjoy in visitingthe homebound, volunteering andgiving of hertimeto others.A true friend, she wasknown for herselflessness, checking in often, listeningwithcompassion, and placingthe needs of others before herown As aparishioner of St Mary, Mother of the Church Catholic Church in Lafayette, Emilywas afamiliar presence at Saturday eveningMass. Sheservedasa gift bearer, wasactive in theAltar Society, and helped with the"Sweetest Ministry" gatheringsafter Mass, whereher warm spirit and willingness to serve fostered atruesense of community. Emily'slifewas defined by herlove of faith, family, andfriends. Shewill be rememberedfor herperseverance, gentle spirit,devotion to prayer,and the countless ways she touchedthe lives of those around her.

Pallbearers will be Jim Thibodeaux, DamonSmith, Steve Hodges, Cesar Sanchez,and Michael Pears.

ThefamilyofMs. Duhon extends theirheartfelt appreciation andgratitude to theteam of Ochsner Lafayette General Nephrology Center especiallyDr. Ziad M. Ashkar; herphysician, Dr.Kenneth E. McCarron; theteam of N.S.I.Nursing Specialties home health; andher friends andfaithfulcaregivers, AndreaPatin and Patricia Almanza

Memorial contributions may be made in memory of EmilyClaire Duhonto Hospice of Acadiana -337232-1234 -2600 Johnston St Suite 200 Lafayette, LA 70503 -https://hospiceaca diana.com/donate View theobituaryand guestbook online at www.mourning.com Martin& Castille Funeral HomeDOWNTOWN, 330 St LandryStreet, Lafayette, Louisiana 70506, 337-2342311

that they had not spokento her in approximately one month. The next day,detectives in the missing person investigation located Ortega’sSUV in the Parkdale Mall parking lot with her body inside. Cater,41atthe time and an acquaintance of Ortega, was located at anearby business and told the deputies he killed Ortega approximately one month before and admitted to opening several loans with her information following her death.

“Wehave seen some

strange caseshereinCalcasieu Parish, but this case is definitely an unusual one for us,” then Calcasieu Parish SheriffTonyMancuso said in 2023. “Wehave never seen someone drive around with a deadbody in the SUV for 30 days.”

The case was heardin state districtcourt in Calcasieu Parish in Lake Charles by Judge Kendrick Guidry Jury selectionwas on Monday,and the trial began on Tuesday Thecase was prosecuted by the CalcasieuParishDistrictAttorney’sOfficeFirst AssistantDistrict Attorney Jacob Johnson andAssistant District Attorney ChristopherGuelzow

Johnson said thatCater pleaded both notguilty and notguilty by reason of insanity. The jury unanimously found him guiltyonall counts.

“I think it’salwaysimportant to hold themostviolent offenders accountable,” Johnson said. “…When you have the evidence to convict someonewho is depraved enough to do this to anyone, muchless thananelderly woman who took him into her home when he didn’t have aplace to live, who gave himmoney when he didn’thave anything to eat. It’s important to hold that type of person accountable to themaximum extent the

law allows.” Cater is being held in custody withoutbailuntil his sentencing on Oct. 7.

Email Courtney Pedersen at courtney.pedersen@ theadvocate.com.

LOTTERY

FRIDAY,SEPT.19, 2025

PICK 3: 6-0-7 PICK 4: 8-4-2-9

PICK 5: 4-3-1-4-3

MEGA MILLIONS: 2-22-27-42-58

MEGA BALL: 8

STAFF PHOTO By QUINN COFFMAN

Duhon, Emily Claire

ENGINEERING CGITechnologies andSolutions Inc. seeksSoftwareEngineerinLafayette LA:Design, dvlp,document, test & debugapps soft &systs that contain logical& mathematical sols.Job req bach deginCompSci,Engg, Info Systs IT,ora relfield,&5 yrsofprogressive post-baccexp in theITorbus consult‐ingindustry. Alternatively, theem‐ployer will accept amaster’sdeg in CompSci,Engg, Info Systs, IT,ora rel field, &3 yrsofexp in theITorbusiness consulting industry.Telecomm. per‐mittedupto75% from assigned loc. All offers of empare contingent upon suc‐cessfulcompofabackground check which mayincldrugscreendepending on work assignment.Multipleposi‐tionsavailable.Email resume to re‐cruiting@cgifederal.com& refjob code 323236

ENGINEERING CGITechnologies andSolutions Inc. seeksSoftwareEngineerinLafayette LA:Design, dvlp,document, test & debugapps soft &systs that contain logical& mathematical sols.Job req bach deginCompSci,Engg, Info Systs, IT,ora relfield,&5 yrsofprogressive post-baccexp in theITorbusinesscon‐sultingindustry. Alloffersofemp are contingent upon successful comp of a background check, which mayincl drug screen dependingonworkas‐signment.Multiplepositions available. Emailresumetorecruiting@cgifederal com& refjob code 344721.

FINANCIAL

FinancialAnalyst Direct financialactivitiesand monitor trends andvariances.Assistwithbud‐gets,reconcile management reports, andmonitor variancesfrombudgeted line items. Assist with audits,longterm financialplanning,expense analysis andreimbursement.Prepare andreviewmonthly/quarterly financial reports. MBArequired. Mail resumes: AshanEnterprisesLLC,Attn: G. Awan 900 Gerstner Memorial Dr Lake Charles, LA 70601. HEALTH CARE National HospitalistServices, PC seeks HospitalistPhysician (Multiple) in Alexandria,LA. REQ: MD (US/frgn equiv) or DO (US/frgn equiv);comple‐tion of residencyinInternalMed or Family Med; BE/BCinInternalMed or Family Med; &possess or eligible to applyfor LA medlicense.Toapply emailCVtolisha_falk@scphealth.com.

In accordance with LouisianaRS38:2212. vendorsmay submit theirbid electronically at thewebsite listed above. BiddingDocuments are availabletoviewonlyat thewebsite.Bidders may requestthe electronic bidpackage from Keirston St.Amant at kstamant@lafayettela govor337-291-8034. Bidderswishing to sub‐mittheir bidelectroni‐callymust firstberegis‐teredonlinewith Lafayette Consolidated Government as apoten‐tial supplieratthe web‐site listed above. Bidders submitting bids electron‐ically arerequiredtopro‐vide thesamedocu‐mentsasbidders sub‐mittingthrough themail as soon as available. Only abid bond,certified

panied by acertified check, cashier’scheck or bidbondpayable to theLafayette Consoli‐datedGovernment, the amount of which shallbe five percent(5%)ofthe base bidplusadditive al‐ternates.Ifabid bond is used,itshall be written by asuretyorinsurance companycurrently on theU.S.Departmentof theTreasuryFinancial Management Servicelist of approved bonding companieswhich is pub‐lished annually in the FederalRegister, or by a Louisianadomiciled in‐surancecompany with at leastanA-Ratinginthe latest printing of theA.M Best’s KeyRatingGuide to writeindividualbonds up to tenpercent (10%) of policyholders’ surplus as showninthe A.M. Best’s KeyRatingGuide or by an insurancecom‐pany in good standing li‐censed to writebid bondswhich is either domiciledinLouisiana or ownedbyLouisiana resi‐dents. Thebid bond shall be issued by acompany licensed to do business in Louisiana. Thecerti‐fied check, cashier’s check, or bidbondshall be givenasa guarantee that thebiddershall exe‐cute thecontract, should it be awardedtohim,in conformity with thecon‐tractdocuments within ten(10)days. No contractor maywith‐draw itsbid priortothe deadline forsubmission of bids.Withdrawalof bids thereafter shallbe allowedonlypursuantto LA R.S. 38§2214.C. Other‐wise,nobiddermay withdraw hisbid forat leastforty-five (45) days after thetimescheduled forthe bidopening of bids.Eachbid shallbe submittedonlyonthe bidformprovidedwithin thespecifications.

Bids will be evaluatedby thePurchaser basedon thelowestresponsible andresponsivebid sub‐mitted whichisalsoin compliance with thebid documents.

Consolidated Government reserves the righttorejectany andall bids forjustcause in ac‐cordance with LA R.S. 38§2214.B. Contractorsorcontract‐ing firmssubmittingbids in theamount of $50,000.00 or more shall certifythattheyare li‐censed contractors under Chapter24ofTitle 37 of theLouisiana Re‐visedStatutesof1950 andshowtheir license numberonthe frontof thesealedenvelopein whichtheir bidisen‐closed.Contractors shall be licensed forthe clas‐sification of “Building Construction”. Bids in theamountsspecified abovewhich have notbid in accordance with the requirements,shall be rejected andshall notbe read.Additional informa‐tion relative to licensing maybeobtainedfrom theLouisiana StateLi‐censingBoard forCon‐tractors,Baton Rouge, Louisiana. TheLafayette Consoli‐datedGovernment strongly encourages the participationofDBEs (Disadvantaged Business Enterprises) in allcon‐tracts or procurements letbythe Lafayette Con‐solidatedGovernment forgoodsand services andlabor andmaterial. To that end, allcontrac‐tors andsuppliers are encouraged to utilize DBEs business enter‐prises in thepurchaseor sub-contractingofmate‐rials, supplies, services andlabor andmaterialin whichdisadvantaged businessesare available. Assistance in identifying said businessesmay be obtained by calling2918410. PURCHASING DIVISION Lafayette Consolidated Government PUBLISHDATES:9/10, 9/14, 9/21 DPR998993 157451-SEP10-14-21-3T $233.76

MeetingID: 848 2851 0041 Passcode:062686 ScopeofServices: The scopeofthe projectcon‐sistsofbut is notlimited to thecontractorsupply‐ingthe labor, equipment, superintendence, mater‐ial, etc.,toaccomplish theworkset outinthe plansand specifications prepared by the Lafayette Consolidated Government’s Depart‐ment of Public Works, for concrete slab replace‐ment,concretepatching, cracksealing,joint cleaning,and sealing, curb replacement, side‐walk replacement, and allother incidentalsas‐sociated with this work at repair sitesdesig‐natedthe Lafayette Con‐solidatedGovernmenton specified locationswith in thecitylimitsand on additional locations within thecitylimitsof Lafayette.All work to be completedwithin65 workingdaysfor is‐suance of Notice to Pro‐ceed In accordance with LouisianaRS38:2212. vendorsmay submit theirbid electronically at thewebsite listed above. BiddingDocuments are availabletoviewonlyat thewebsite.Bidders may requestthe electronic bidpackage from HeatherKestler at hkestler@lafayettela.gov Bidderssubmitting bids electronically arere‐quired to providethe same documentsasbid‐ders submitting through themailassoon as avail‐able.Onlya bidbond, certified checkor cashier’scheck shallbe submittedasthe bidse‐curity.Electroniccopies of both thefront and back of thecheck or bid bond shallbeincluded with theelectronicbid Bids

Specificationsfor Roads, Drainage,Bridges and OtherInfrastructure2023 Edition” areavailable at theOffice of Purchasing locatedat705 West Uni‐versityAvenue Lafayette,LA70502 upon paymentof$95 perset non-refundable.NOTE: NO CASH WILL BE AC‐CEPTED -ONLYCHECKS OR MONEYORDERS MADE PAYABLETO LAFAYETTE CONSOLI‐DATEDGOVERNMENT. Copies of Section“C” Standard Specifications forRoads,Drainage, Bridgesand OtherInfra‐structure” 2023 Edition areavailable from the Public WorksDepartment at 1515 EUniversityAv‐enue,BuildingA Lafayette LA 70501. Bid Documentsshall be availableuntil twentyfour hoursbeforethe bid openingdate. Questions relative to thebidding documentsshall be ad‐dressedtoHeather Kestlerathkestler@ lafayettela.gov Contractorsare re‐questedtoattend aprebidmeeting, which will be held on September30, 2023 at 10:00 AM in the largeconferenceroom Lafayette Consolidated Government,Public WorksAdministration Building locatedat1515 East University Avenue Lafayette,LA. Each bidshall be accom‐panied by acertified check, cashier’scheck or bidbondpayable to theLafayette Consoli‐datedGovernment, the amount of which shallbe five percent(5%)ofthe base bidplusadditiveal‐ternates.Ifabid bond is used,itshall be written by asuretyorinsurance companycurrently on theU.S.Departmentof theTreasuryFinancial Management Servicelist of approved bonding

OPINION

Don’tfumble Superdome dealfor long-suffering Saints fans

In football, almost the worst mistake imaginable is afumble on the one-yard line.

Yet, as the negotiations grind on to extend the Saints’ lease at the Superdome beyond 2030, we fear that could happenifall parties don’tcome to the table with afocus on gettingtothe goal. We urge the Saints, the state and Superdome management to recognize whattheymeanto this state and region and come up with adeal to extend the team’slease without further delay

Slightlymore than aweekago,reliefseemed the order of the day when reportsemerged that the Saints were expected soon to sign anew long-term lease for the Caesars Superdome. On Wednesday,though, those feelingsturned into considerable concern when negotiators missed akey deadline to finalize thedeal, thus putting in jeopardy New Orleans’ bid to host the 2031 Super Bowl.

Because conflicts with conventions and Mardi Gras probably will kill chances of the cityhosting Super Bowls between 2032 and 2037, this could mean no return of the big game to Louisiana until at least 2038. Coming off such asuccessful Super Bowl this year,that 13-year delay (at least) before another one would beamajor disappointment.

Momentum canbejust as much aforce in civic affairs as it is on the playing field. Yetonce lost, it can be exceedingly difficult toregain.

Obviously, the Saintsand the state aremutually beneficial partners. The Saints are arallying point and akey locus of civic unity,along with being afont of charitable action –and the state and indeed entire Gulf region in turn reward the Saints with love and dedicationto afamous degree.

The Saints also must recognize thatLouisiana has put up hundreds of millions of dollars through the years in economicbenefits for the team and in makingtheir Superdome home a world-class facility

Everybody knew well in advance that the official deadline for a2031 Super Bowl bid was coming. And the basics of the Superdome lease itself reportedly are in place. So the wrangling to wring out every lastdollar negotiating side issues such as rentalagreementsfor the nearby Benson Tower seems frivolous and superfluous. Both Saints spokesman Greg Bensel and businessman Shane Guidry,who has beenworking with state officials on the lease, say they believe New Orleans’ Super Bowl bid can be revived if thelease deal is signed before league owners meet to vote on the 2031 site.Todoso, owner Gayle Benson apparently would need to use her storied persuasive powers to convince CommissionerRoger Goodell to put the Saintsbid back in play despite the missed deadline. But every further day of deferral creates ahigher bar against such persuasive efforts. Come on, everybody: Get this done.

LETTERSTOTHE EDITOR ARE WELCOME. HERE AREOUR

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

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

TO SEND USA LETTER SCANHERE

Louisiana is astate with a unique culture and aresilient, caring spirit It’s also aplace where journalism can save lives.

At TheTimes-Picayune |The Advocate | NOLA.com, ourmissionofpublic service demands that we dig deep into issues, tell the truthand spark change. Today,we’re launchingour $100K in 100 Days campaign to supportthe LouisianaJournalism Fund. We’re asking you— our readersand neighbors— to be part of this vital work. Everyweek, our journalists arestriving to shine light on seriouscommunity problemsand help pointthe way towardsolutions Our2022 reporting project ”Suffering So Young” revealed deadly failures at Louisiana’schild welfare agency.Inresponse, the state created anew watchdog, the Department of Children and Family Services hired more staff andfoster childrenfiled afederal lawsuitcitingour reporting. In one case,our

follow-up story forced DCFS to providemoreresources to ateen in need.

In 2023, our series ”For Dear Life” exposed why Louisianahas some of thehighest infant and maternal death rates in the developed world. Sincethen, the state has launcheda plan to cut overdose deathsamong mothers by 80%, Woman’s Hospitalopeneda rare perinatal mental health unit andlawmakersrequired Medicaid and insurersto cover doulaservices Families like Amber andJonathan Davis, wholost theirinfant, remind us daily how much these stories matter. Our 2024 series ”Breaking Point” investigated soaring property insurance coststhat aredriving families acrosssouth Louisiana from their homes. Lawmakershave since expanded tax credits to help residents build fortified roofs and tightened regulation on insurers Homeowners nowregularly seek us out for advice.

That same year,the series ”BrokenCity” showed how slowly NewOrleans fixes potholes and delivers basic services compared to many other cities. Within months, Mayor LaToya Cantrell boosted the public works budgetby35%, and our findings are central to the debate in this year’s mayoral race.

WhyWeNeedYou

This is the power of local journalism. It holds leaders accountable, drives policy andgivesvoice to people who would otherwise go unheard But it only happens when communities like ours invest in it.

As we close out 2025, we’ve set agoal to raise $100,000 in 100daysfor theLouisiana Journalism Fund. Every dollarsupports public service reporting that strengthens our communitiesand protects the most vulnerable among us. We cannotdothiswithout you. Please consider making a tax-deductible gift. Together, we can ensure Louisiana has the journalism it deserves. Joinus. Visit louisianajournalismfund.org.Bea stakeholder in Louisiana’sfuture. Donate today Kevin Hall is president and publisher of the TimesPicayune |The Advocate | NOLA.com. Rene Sanchez is the news organization’s executive editor

We make dozens of decisions perday when we put out anewspaper and put storiesonline. What stories should make the front page? How big should the headline be? What should thepicture be? What stories should dominate our homepage online? What should be thetext sharedonsocial media? What about captions, graphics, audio and video? Sometimes during big breaking news, we don’thave alot of timetomake those decisions. But we recognize thattoour readers, each decisionsays something about our priorities,and thosepriorities areoften scrutinized.

Ican’tsay we always make the right decision, but know thatthese decisions arenot made lightly by editors, page designers, digital editors or photo editors. And thedecisions arecomplicated by the fact thatweserve awide audience. We arenot ascientific journal or asports websiteorfood blog. We aremany things to many people, so we have to make decisions based on what might be relevant to the widestpossible audience each day It’s never an exact science. Sometimes we choose to highlight stories thatare important, but perhaps not as familiar to readers. At

other times, we feel that even though some maynot feel a story is important, it’ssomething alarge segment of our audience is talking about, and we want to be apart of that conversation. We also try to deliver amix of topics. We know the news can be heavy at times, and so we try to highlight the good things that are happening in our community,our nation and the world as well. So please let us know if you have good news stories to share.

Turning to our letters inbox, for the weekof Aug. 14-28, we received 59 letters. The immigration debate continues to generate interest from all sides. We received five letters on the topic, most focused on

conditions at ICE detention centers. The next most popular topic was the deployment of National Guard troops to cities in the UnitedStates to combat crime. Opinion was almost evenly split on this issue, with some saying cities should welcome the help while others saw using the military for domestic policing as setting adangerous precedent. Lastly,our newly revamped weather page was the subject of four letters. We recognize that change is sometimes hard to get used to, and we are listening to your feedback.

Arnessa Garrett is Deputy Editor |Opinion Page Editor Emailher at arnessa. garrett@theadvocate.com.

STAFFFILE PHOTOByJAVIER GALLEGOS

The newspaper’sprinting press packaging room is pictured on April9

Kevin Hall PRESIDENT AND PUBLISHER

Rene Sanchez EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Arnessa Garrett

COMMENTARY

Trump’sGuard feverdream disrespectsLandry’swork

Twoyears ago this fall, Jeff Landry won huge in his bid for Louisiana governor,beating 14 primary opponents so handily that he was able to avoid arunoff. He pulled that off with very little support from New Orleans, where the Republican candidate took just 10% of the heavily Democratic city’svote. If any result wouldseem to set up acontentious relationship, this was it. So it was pretty remarkable last week to hear the three Democrats running to be the city’smayor applaud one of Landry’s major initiatives: Troop NOLA, the Louisiana State Police troop that has been on the ground since 2024.Crime stats in the city started improving even before Troop Nolaarrived, but the steep reduction that has continued leaves no doubt that the partnership between local and statelaw enforcement has been fruitful. All three candidates —state Sen. Royce Duplessis, City Coun-

cil Vice PresidentHelena Moreno andCity Council member Oliver Thomas —have significant political differences with Landry, including over some policies that directly affect the city. Yetata forum Imoderated for the paper, all three deemed theTroop Nola experimenta success.

out in about two weeks.”

Never mind that the characterization directly conflicts with thegood news that Landry,one of his eager acolytes, has proudly claimed as ahighlight of his term so far

It’sall created avisibly awkward situation for the governor

Trump’sshow of blunt force in thecapital’stourist-heavy center

Last week, The Washington Post published details of a draft plan to put 1,000 troops in various Louisiana cities, under Landry’scontrolbut paid for with federal money.

done already by bringing state police to NewOrleans, and said Louisiana could use federal help to expand that initiative, including to other cities.

“You need National Guard in neighborhoods? Probably not,” Guidry added.

And that leads to the real paradox here.

Whichwould be theend of this story,ifnot for an unreliable narrator up in Washington throwing in histwo cents.

That, of course, would be PresidentDonald Trump, who has ignored notable drops in urban crime nationwideand maneuvered to send armed troops into cities under Democraticcontrol, from LosAngeles to Washington, D.C., to Memphis

Forreasonsthat aren’tentirely clear,New Orleansisinhis sights as well. Trumphas called it “a very nicesection of this country that’sbecome quite, you know, quite tough,quite bad,” and claimed that “we’ll straighten that

As thepresident’s followers almost always do, Landry has contorted himself to agree with Trump’stake. Federalized National Guard membersunder his command would be welcome in the city to help fight crime, he says. Even though these troops have no police training for authority.Even though the move would likely blow up thecooperative spirit that he and city leaders have against all odds maintained.Even though many New Orleanians would interpret themove as a hostile invasion, which is what’s happened withNational Guard troops deployed in Washington —including, under Landry’sorders, from Louisiana—toadd to

Local and state officials say that they’ve been told little and that no decisions have been made. But thereaction from Landry and those close to him is telling.

In one recent appearance, the governor talked up the National Guard’swork as a“force multiplier” to secure the area after the New Year’sDay terrorist attack on Bourbon Street. But he also reeled off awish list of federal resources —“prosecutors, more FBI agents,more ICEagents, moreHSI agents” —that would be far more helpful than the militaryindoing the real work of combating crime.

Andwhile he said he wasonly speaking forhimself,Landry’s close unpaidadviser Shane Guidry cheered what Landry has

We’ve got Democrats and Republicans at the city and state levels, all rightfully proud to have come up with acollaboration that’sworking. But collaboration doesn’tmake forgood TV, certainly not the type that Trump seeks to create by sending swaggering soldiers past restaurants, coffee shops and jeering locals. So then the question of the day is just what the real goal is, to makegovernment work, or to put on ashow?

With Trumpincharge, Ithink we all know the answer to that one.

Email Stephanie Grace at sgrace@theadvocate.com.

It’s writteninthe StarrthatRussiaislosingits warinUkraine

Never mind all those American news reports that Russian drone attacks are successfully weakening Ukraine and frightening Poland. The realityisthat Ukraine actually is winning its defensive, existential war,and it just needs the United States to stop tying its hands.

That is the message from perhaps the United States’ most knowledgeable expert on Russia, who happens to be an adoptive New Orleanian of long standing —and he makes acompelling case

S. Frederick Starr is perhaps best known as the founder and leader of the Louisiana Repertory Jazz Ensemble, as aprolific author on history and culture, as co-founder of the Greater New Orleans Foundation and as a former vice president of Tulane and president of Oberlin College. His academic field and decades of practical experience, though, always has involved Russian and central Asian affairs. He is the cofounder of the Kennan Institute for advanced Russian studies, and he has advisedthree presidents and the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

“Basically,bluntly,Russiais definitely and unquestionably losing this war,” Starr told me last week. “And that’swhy you see desperate acts like this attack by dronesagainst Poland.” Starr said the war has broken Russia’seconomy,wreckedits military,greatly exacerbated its “huge demographiccollapse” and weakened Russian President Vladmir Putin’slong-term hold on power “On the eve of Russia’sinvasion,” Starr said, “Russia was riding high. It had $160 billion in its rainy-day fund; it appeared to be booming; and Putin had already seized part of Georgia…and he had also claimed Crimea.” Now,

Charlie Kirk has been called many things, including an influencer,especially of young people. Abetter label might be “converter.” The power to speak truth in away that changes apolitical mindset is better than influencer.Kirk possessed that power which led to his murder by a22-year-old man who wanted to rob him of it. Written on one of the shells recovered at the scene was “Hey fascist! Catch!”

though, Russiahas “completely spent that $160 billion …and the Russian state is literally bankrupt.” Some 1,200,000 young Russian men either have been killed in the war or “wounded to the extent that they can’t work,” and Putin “long since ran out of trained military …(In addition to the dead and wounded), tens of thousandsare goingovertothe Ukrainian side.Meanwhile, he has had no money to repair roads, to keep the railroads going andsoon…and there’sahuge gas crisis in Russia, enormous.”

With Russia’strained troops mowed down, Putinhas had to empty Russian prisons to feed the killing fields. If andwhen those criminalsreturn from the front, they are resuming their bad ways and fomenting“mayhem” with a huge spike in Russian crime. Meanwhile, Ukraine is inflictingseriousdamage, often unreported in the West,onRussian infrastructure. Prohibited by both theBiden andTrumpadministrationsfrom using mostU.S. arms to strikelegitimate military targets inside Russia, Ukrainians “designed their own missiles, and they are very good: The latest one (was) just released aweek ago, calledthe ‘flamingo,’ and it’supto the highestworlds standards for long-range missiles.” Ukraine has used those missiles successfully “deep in Russia” in “extraordinarily subtly planned attacks” to hit all themajor refineries, andthe Russian oil supply is down “profoundly.”

With all this occurring, Starr said the U.S. should change its policies to help Ukrainewin more quickly— andhesaid we should not worry aboutPutin’snuclear “bluffs” because Putin’smilitary leaders and the Russian business class know that would lead to the

for help and couldn’tanswer.It appearedhehad simply repeated what he had read on theinternet, or heard from others.

utter destruction of the Russian military. Starr said theU.S. should be takingaseries of steps. Provide morearmsfor Ukraine to defend itself. Lift all the“hand brakes” on how those arms can be used. Significantly rampupsanctions on Russian energy exports, including putting any country that buys from Russia on ablacklist. Directly seize Russian financial assets in theWest. Andcompletely cut Russia off from the Societyfor Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication system, theworld’smost important network for making international

financial transactions. He said if Russia were fully evicted from SWIFT “tomorrow morning, it would change the game180 degrees …with the stroke of apen.” Starr also said correct U.S. messaging is crucial.The U.S. should “make clear that ourobjective is thefull restoration of Ukraine’s sovereign territory,” Not alandfor-peace deal, but full Russian withdrawal from Ukraine’sinternationally recognized borders. Putin,Starr said, is “no spring chicken,” and there are credible leaders in Russia whocould replace Putin’sgeneration. Many

of them are better educated than Putin’sentourage, and while he doesn’tbelieve the U.S. should meddle in Russia’sinternal affairs, Starr says “weshould me making contact with them,wishing them well.”

“There is aRussia beyond Putin,” Starr said. It can be abetter Russia, and the U.S. should be poised to befriend that better Russia if it emerges.

Ibelieve Starr is right on all counts. Now we just need President Donald Trumptolisten. Email Quin Hillyer at quin hillyer@theadvocate.com

Among the many videos of Kirk debating studentswho disagreed with his conservative philosophy and Christian faith was ayoung man who asked about some of what he called Kirk’s“fascist statements.” Kirk challenged him to name one.The student appeared flustered, looked around

Theinternet andits social mediapages are asewer.The Left is always blaming conservatives for any acts of political violence, but just Googling Kirk’sname reveals comments from presumablyliberals, that are disgusting at best and vile in the extreme. Here are just afew.An elected English Councilor, Fiona Wild, posted on Facebook that Kirk had “brought this upon himself so good riddance to anot very niceman! America need (sic) to get rid of the other tit now!”(angry face emoji). Wild resigned her position after heavy criticism. Manyother postings echoher statement.

Twouniversities —The UniversityofMississippi and Middle StateUniversity in Tennessee fired employees for posting negativecomments on social media about Kirk’sdeath. That’sa start since someofour once-great universities have allowed professors to teach and promote hatred of various political philosophies and religions. Anyone celebrating Kirk’s murder on social media —or promoting any violence against anyone —should be banned on all platformsfor life. This isn’tabout free speech. It’sabout incitement

Social media has kept too many Americansfrom knowing each other.Weare identified by labels which say nothing about our humanity and intrinsic value. We speak of someofour fellow citizens as being on the “other side.” China, Russia, Iran and North

Korea are on the other side. Their dictators are opposed to what we stand for.Doweneed enemies among us? If so, we will become out of one, many, the opposite of our unifying national motto. When Iwas moreactive on the college lecture circuit in the ‘80s and ‘90s Iparticipated in civil debates. Afterward, Iwould occasionally have dinner with my political opposite, one of whom was liberal Sen. George McGovern (D-S.D.),aWorld WarIIveteran, as was my father.McGovern and Ibecame friends because we got to know each other beyond politics

It was the samewith the late Bob Beckel, whoran Walter Mondale’s1984 campaign (he used to say “I managed Mondale to the greatest loss in political history, now I’m on TV as an expert. It’s agreat country”). Bob became

my best friend and we grew to love each other.Weeven changed the other’sminds on afew issues because we took timetolisten to what the other had to say This is supposed to be aspecial year leading up to the 250th anniversary of our nation’sbirth. Instead, it is rapidly becoming something else. We had better re-examine the values and virtues that initially contributed to this unique nation or,like other nations before us, America will implode and cease to exist. That waspart of Charlie Kirk’s message to the young. Ayoung man whodidn’twant them to hear it killed him,but his ideas will find other voices because manyof those ideas are true and truth has apower of its own.

Email Cal Thomas at tcaeditors@tribpub.com.

Cal Thomas

Stephanie Grace

PHOTO PROVIDED

MECHANISED BRIGADE PRESS SERVICE

positions near Chasiv yar,

Quin Hillyer

SPORTS

UL’s late surge turns to heartbreak

Cajuns tie game late, fall on last-second field goal

BY KEVIN FOOTE Staff writer

YPSILANTI, Mich. — The UL Ragin’ Cajuns

flirted with a big-time comeback against Eastern Michigan on Saturday at Rynearson Stadium.

Instead, they were saddled with a heartbreaking 34-31 loss to the Eagles.

“It’s a lot of up and downs,” UL coach Michael Desormeaux said. “Certainly, there’s not a lot of quitting on this team, I’ll tell you that. That’s something that goes a long way. Right now, it’s not resulting wins.”

All signs pointed to a rather routine loss

Nussmeier picks up his game vs. Lions

Quarterback shines as LSU routs Southeastern

BY WILSON ALEXANDER

Staff writer

Garrett Nussmeier dropped back, and with his feet planted at Southeastern Louisiana’s 40-yard line, launched a throw to the back of the end zone. Though wide receiver Nic Anderson could not make the catch in midair, it was the kind of pass that had been missing from the LSU offense so far this season. If you wanted proof that Nussmeier has turned a corner after playing through a torso injury, as LSU coach Brian Kelly said earlier in the week, he provided some in No 3 LSU’s 56-10 win Saturday night inside Tiger Stadium.

Nussmeier completed 81% of his throws (25 of 31) for 273 yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed for a score LSU (40) took out Nussmeier and the rest of the starters after building a 42-0 lead early in the third quarter Through the first three games, Nussmeier’s longest pass attempt traveled about 34 yards in the air and that was an underthrown ball down the left sideline against Louisiana Tech that was intercepted. He was 4 of 13 on passes of more than 20 yards downfield, according to Pro Football Focus, as LSU struggled to push the ball deep Nussmeier looked like himself against Southeastern (2-2), the only FCS opponent on the Tigers’ schedule. He attempted two passes that traveled roughly 50 yards in the air. Although both were incomplete one drew a pass interference penalty — Nussmeier had plenty of distance. He went 1 of 2 on throws of more than 20 yards downfield and he was accurate in the intermediate passing game.

ä See LSU, page 3C

for a

on Saturday at Tiger Stadium.

for the Cajuns when it appeared quarterback Daniel Beale had thrown his third interception of the fourth quarter Instead, a roughing-the-passer penalty was called to keep the Cajuns’ drive alive.

Beale then connected with Shelton Sampson for a 44-yard pass over the middle. That led to Zylan Perry’s 10-yard touchdown run to tie the game at 31-31 with 44 seconds left

“You kind of feel like you’re going to overtime there,” Desormeaux said. “You felt like you had all the momentum right there.”

Desormeaux said he didn’t seriously consider going for the two-point conversion there.

“No, I just felt like that the momentum was ours right there,” he said. “I felt like it

Saints coach Moore explains why he reset former OC Kubiak’s offense

BY MATTHEW PARAS Staff writer

hen the Los Angeles Chargers hired him as offensive coordinator in 2023, Kellen Moore was determined not to be a wrecking ball and held over some of the team’s previous concepts for a few reasons.

First, Moore knew predecessor Joe Lombardi’s scheme well after playing under him as a quarterback in Detroit. More importantly, Moore recalled, Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert already had worked with a “million” coordinators to start his promising career So Moore wanted to maintain some semblance of continuity, even with his fresh approach.

Two years later when he was hired to coach the New Orleans Saints,

his ax.

Moore brought out

Saints center Erik McCoy protects the line after snapping the ball to quarterback Spencer Rattler in a game against the San Francisco 49ers on Sept. 14 at the Caesars Superdome. STAFF PHOTO By DAVID GRUNFELD

Cajuns running back Zylan Perry runs the ball during a game against Eastern Michigan on Saturday at Rynearson Stadium in ypsilanti, Mich.

ATHLETICS

STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier rolls to his left before making a throw

touchdown against Southeastern in the second quarter

TOP 25 COLLEGE FOOTBALL ROUNDUP

Oklahoma gets record 10 sacks in win

By The Associated Press

NORMAN, Okla. — John Mateer passed for 271 yards, and No. 11 Oklahoma beat No 22 Auburn and former Sooners quarterback Jackson Arnold 24-17 on Saturday Mateer, who transferred from Washington State to replace Arnold, scored the go-ahead touchdown on a 9-yard run with 4:54 remaining.

The Sooners (4-0, 1-0 SEC) now head into their bye week unbeaten.

“Proud of our players: the determination, the resolve, the grit, the ability to overcome, keep fighting back, keep striking,” Oklahoma coach Brent Venables said. Arnold led Oklahoma during last year’s upset of Alabama before transferring. He couldn’t replicate that magic against the Sooners, in part because they set a school record by sacking him 10 times. He passed for 220 yards and a touchdown, but rushed for minus-11 yards on 21 carries.

“It obviously sucks losing the game and I know we wanted to win. But it was good to see them after the game,” Arnold said of his former teammates. “People that I haven’t seen in around nine or 10 months.”

Oklahoma pass rusher R Mason Thomas missed the first half after being called for targeting last Saturday against Temple He got a sack on his second play back in the third quarter, then later sacked Arnold for a safety with 1:06 remaining to close the scoring.

With Venables calling the defense, Oklahoma held the Tigers to 287 yards. Defensive linemen accounted for 8.5 of Oklahoma’s sacks.

“We talked about going into the game, the only non-negotiable that has to happen for us to win this game is when the storyline has to say y’all (defensive linemen) played your butt off,” Venables said.

Isaiah Sategna had career highs of nine catches and 127 yards, including a 24-yard touchdown grab, and Tate Sandell made three field goals for the Sooners. Eric Singleton had 60 yards on nine catches for the Tigers (3-1, 0-1)

Malcolm Simmons’ 4-yard touchdown run tied the game, and Alex McPherson’s extra point put the Tigers up 17-16 with 7:08 to play Mateer came right back and led the Sooners down the field for the go-ahead score.

“We lost a tough one on the road in a very good conference against a highly ranked team,” Auburn coach Hugh Freeze said. “And we didn’t play our best and had a chance to win it.”

No. 7 FLORIDA STATE 66, KENT STATE 10: In Tallahassee, Florida, Tommy Castellanos passed for 205 yards and had two of Florida State’s eight rushing touchdowns in a rout of Kent State Gavin Sawchuk had 11 carries for 97 yards and two touchdowns as the Seminoles (3-0) ran for a single-game school record 498 yards and surpassed last season’s win total.

Florida State had as many touchdowns against Kent State as it did in 12 games in 2024.

Castellanos left in the second quarter with an apparent ankle injury, but he ran down the sideline in the third quarter. With the Seminoles in front 45-7, Castellanos did not play in the second half.

Micahi Danzy had a 64-yard touchdown run and added receptions of 65 yards and 47 yards. The redshirt freshman now has three touchdowns in three games.

The Golden Flashes’ Dru DeShields completed 9 of 18 passes for 129 yards and had a 75-yard touchdown pass to Da’Shawn Martin. Kent State ran for 43 yards on 28 carries and was not able to sustain any drives.

No. 13 OLE MISS 45, TULANE 10: In Oxford Mississippi, Trinidad Chambliss threw for two touch-

downs, Kewan Lacy added a pair of 1-yard touchdown runs and Ole Miss handed Tulane its first loss with a victory Ole Miss (4-0) dominated the Green Wave, building a 23-3 halftime lead, after earning consecutive close wins over SEC foes Kentucky and Arkansas.

Chambliss, confirmed as the starting quarterback on Thursday provided a second consecutive strong performance with 17-of-27 passing for 307 yards while adding 112 yards on 14 rushes.

Deuce Alexander had four receptions for 94 yards, including a 33-yard TD reception. Dae’Quan Wright caught a 5-yard scoring pass as Chambliss connected with seven receivers.

Lacy finished with 68 yards on 18 rushes, while Logan Diggs added a 2-yard touchdown run midway through the fourth period. Lucas Carneiro added field goals of 22, 54 and 34 yards. The Rebels finished with 548 yards of total offense and scored on all six trips to the red zone.

Tulane (3-1) managed only 282 yards of total offense and turned the ball over on downs three times in the second half.

Jake Retzlaff, after an 0-for9 start, finished 5 of 17 for 56 yards.

The Green Wave avoided the shutout with a 34-yard field goal from Patrick Durkin and a fourth-quarter touchdown pass of 5 yards from backup quarterback Brendan Sullivan to Anthony Brown-Stephens. No. 21 MICHIGAN 30, NEBRASKA 27: In Lincoln, Nebraska, Justice Haynes rushed for 149 yards and broke one of Michigan’s three long touchdown runs in a win over Nebraska, extending the Cornhuskers’ losing streak against Top 25 opponents to 28 games.

Freshman Bryce Underwood was just 12-of-22 passing for 105 yards in his first Big Ten road game but scored the Wolverines’ first touchdown on a 37-yard run and extended his team’s last scoring drive with a key third-down pass and a scramble

Dylan Raiola’s 52-yard Hail

Mary to Jacory Barney Jr for a touchdown to end the first half

tied it 17-all and gave the Cornhuskers (3-1, 0-1 Big Ten) momentum heading into the third quarter They managed just a field goal after that until Raiola led them on a 75-yard drive to make it a three-point game with 1:34 left Michigan (3-1, 1-0) recovered the onside kick, picked up a first down and ran out the clock.

No. 17 TEXAS TECH 34, No. 16 UTAH 10:

In Salt Lake City, backup quarterback Will Hammond stepped into a stagnant Texas Tech offense

in the third quarter and put together four scoring drives to lead the Red Raiders to a win over Utah. Hammond threw for 169 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 61 yards. He entered the game in relief of Behren Morton, whose helmet slammed on the turf after he slid head-first into contact with Utah linebacker Johnathan Hall during the Red Raiders’ (4-0, 1-0 Big 12) opening drive of the third quarter. Morton was ruled out after the hit with his team leading 10-3. He threw for 142 yards and two interceptions before exiting. Utah had a quiet day on the ground by its usual standards. The Utes totaled just 101 rushing yards while averaging 3.3 yards per carry On the other side, Utah allowed Texas Tech to gain 173 yards and score two touchdowns on the ground. No 6 OREGON 41, OREGON STATE 7: In Eugene, Oregon, Dante Moore threw for 305 yards and a career-high four touchdowns, and Oregon rolled to a victory over former Pac-12 foe Oregon State before the rivalry goes on a break next season.

Moore was 21-of-31 passing and spread his scoring strikes to four different receivers for the Ducks (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten), who had 585 yards in total offense.

Anthony Hankerson ran for 38 yards on 14 carries and the lone touchdown for the 0-4 Beavers.

Oregon freshman Dakorien Moore scored on the Ducks’ first drive of the game with a 22-yard touchdown reception.

For a winless team, the Beavers were surprisingly resilient early and tied the game at 7 on Hankerson’s 1-yard touchdown run late in the first quarter Oregon went back in front on Moore’s 23-yard scoring pass to Sadiq Kenyon and Jordon Davison added a 3-yard TD dash to make it 21-7 at halftime.

After the break, Moore found Jeremiah McClellan with a 13-yard touchdown and Atticus Sappington kicked a 24-yard field goal.

Gary Bryant Jr caught a 49yard touchdown from Moore and Sappington added a 28-yarder to seal it in the fourth.

No. 15 TENNESSEE 56, UAB 24: In Knoxville, Tennessee, Joey Aguilar threw for 218 yards with three touchdowns and an interception to lead Tennessee over UAB.

The Volunteers (3-1) recovered from their overtime loss to Georgia last week with a dominating performance over the Blazers (22). The win was coach Josh Heupel’s 40th at Tennessee.

Mike Matthews had a 39-yard touchdown reception and Chris Brazzell II hauled one in from 19 yards. Star Thomas ran for a

Mariners All-Star Woo listed as day-to-day

Seattle right-hander Bryan Woo has “minor inflammation” in his pectoral muscle and is listed as day-to-day, manager Dan Wilson said Saturday

“The MRI revealed some minor inflammation in his pec and it’s really just kind of a day-to-day thing,” Wilson said “We’ll continue to assess him each day We’ll know a little bit more in the next 24 to 48 hours depending on how he responds, and that’s really what we know at this point.”

Woo exited the Mariners’ 4-0 win over the Houston Astros on Friday night after throwing a couple of warmup pitches in the sixth inning.

Shortly after Woo started warming up, a team trainer and coaches came out. After a brief discussion, the All-Star exited with the trainer

U.S. to take on Italy in finals of King Cup

SHENZHEN, China Jessica Pegula and Emma Navarro each came from a set down to win their singles matches and the United States defeated Britain 2-0 on Saturday to reach the Billie Jean King Cup final.

The U.S. will face reigning champion Italy in Sunday’s final.

The seventh-ranked Pegula rallied past Katie Boulter 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 to seal it for the Americans after the 18th-ranked Navarro beat Sonay Kartal 3-6, 6-4, 6-3. Pegula is coming off a run to the U.S. Open semifinals.

The BJK Cup was formerly known as the Fed Cup, and the U.S. is the most successful team as an 18-time winner but hasn’t won since 2017.

The best-of-three contests feature two singles matches followed by a potentially decisive doubles match.

touchdown and caught a scoring pass. Aguilar played just one series in the second half after Tennessee led 42-7 at halftime. Tennessee’s run game, which Heupel called “important to our identity,” accounted for 235 yards and four TDs after sputtering last week.

UAB QB Jalen Kitna threw for 364 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.

No 18 GEORGIA TECH 45,TEMPLE 24: In Atlanta, Haynes King threw for 161 yards and two touchdowns, Malachi Hosley ran for two touchdowns, and Georgia Tech raced out to a quick three touchdown lead and beat Temple.

The Yellow Jackets (4-0), playing their first home game as a ranked team since 2015, scored touchdowns on their first three possessions, gaining 199 yards on 16 offensive plays for a 21-0 firstquarter lead.

King opened the scoring with a 17-yard touchdown run, and threw touchdown passes to Malik Rutherford and Isiah Canion. Temple (2-2) pulled within 2114 on Jay Ducker’s 2-yard touchdown run in the second quarter and Evan Simon’s 28-yard scoring pass to JoJo Bermudez.

But Hosley scored his third and fourth rushing touchdowns of the season on consecutive drives, busting off left tackle for a 34-yard score and pushing forward from 2 yards out to restore the 21-point advantage by the end of three quarters.

No. 24 NOTRE DAME 56, PURDUE 30: In South Bend, Indiana, Jadarian Price scored four touchdowns, including a 100-yard kickoff return, and Notre Dame beat Purdue for its first win of the season. The Irish beat the Boilermakers for the 10th straight time, including last season’s 66-7 blowout. Notre Dame leads the series 6126-2.

Coming off losses against No. 4 Miami and No. 10 Texas A&M to start the season, Notre Dame (1-2) took command with three touchdowns in the third quarter to break away from a 35-23 halftime lead.

Price scored three touchdowns rushing (21, 9 and 1 yards). He carried the ball nine times for 74 yards and finished with 216 allpurpose yards.

Jeremiyah Love racked up 157 yards rushing on 19 carries, including scoring runs of 46 yards and 1 yard.

Notre Dame quarterback C.J. Carr was 10-of-12 passing for 223 yards and two touchdowns.

The game was delayed by 1 hour and 54 minutes due to a lightning delay late in the second quarter Purdue (2-2) was led by quarterback Ryan Browne’s 21-of-34 passing for 250 yards and one touchdown.

Dream’s Hillmon gets WNBA’s top reserve award

Atlanta forward Naz Hillmon was named the WNBA Sixth Player of the Year on Saturday, making her the first Dream player in franchise history to win the award.

Hillmon averaged 8.6 points and 6.2 rebounds for the Dream and made 53 3-pointers after hitting just one across her first three WNBA seasons.

Hillmon came off the bench in 27 of the Dream’s 44 games and set a franchise record by appearing in 150 consecutive contests.

Hillmon, who played college basketball at Michigan, was second in the league in plus-minus (+7.6 per game) and helped Atlanta earn the No. 3 seed and win a franchiserecord 30 games. She won the AP Sixth Woman of the Year award earlier this month.

Fever star Clark says WNBA fined her for tweet

Caitlin Clark said referees couldn’t stop her Indiana Fever

The WNBA made her pay for it. The Fever’s All-Star guard, who is sidelined for the postseason with a right groin injury, posted on social media Saturday that she was fined $200 for tweeting “Refs couldn’t stop us” after Indiana’s Game 2 win over Atlanta in the first round of the playoffs.

“Got fined $200 for this lol,” she wrote on X, adding a series of crying laughter emojis “BENCH MOB WILL BE EVEN MORE ROWDY TOMORROW LETS GOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

The Fever open the WNBA semifinals against the Las Vegas Aces on Sunday

The WNBA typically doesn’t announce when players are fined.

Koepka looking to snap yearlong winning drought PARIS Five-time major champion Brooks Koepka rattled off five straight birdies on the back nine Saturday and had a 6-under 65, giving him a share of the lead in the French Open as he tries to win for the first time in more than a year Min Woo Lee shot 68 and was tied with Koepka at 11-under 202. They were one shot clear of a trio that included Michael Kim, another American in Paris during an off week on the PGA Tour This is Koepka’s third straight week playing on the European tour, after missing the cut in the Irish Open and the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth. Koepka’s last victory was in August 2024 in the LIV Golf League.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By ALONZO ADAMS

Oklahoma defensive lineman David Stone, right, sacks Auburn quarterback Jackson Arnold on Saturday in Norman, Okla.

Jaden Celestine, Comeaux

The player who promised his coach he’d help end the losing streak is delivering One week after Comeaux’s first win in three seasons, Celestine ran for 320 yards and five touchdowns on 24 carries for the Spartans’ second straight win.

Caiden Bellard, Lafayette Christian

PREP REWIND

Lafayette Christian is much more than a one-man show. It just seemed that way at times with Bellard rushing for 232 yards and two TDs on 22 carries, plus catching a 17yard TD pass in a win over Westgate.

FIVE STARS OF THE NIGHT

Hugo Morales, Delcambre

Speaking of workhorse running backs, Morales carried the Panthers to a third straight win by rushing for 261 yards and three touchdowns on 21 carries for a road win over a 4A opponent.

GAME OF THE WEEK

Jack Landry, Erath

The undefeated Bobcats have been cruising behind the hot hand of their quarterback Jack Landry so far this season. On Friday, Landry threw for 222 yards on 11-of-16 passing for four touchdowns for a road win over Eunice.

Christian Breaux, St. Thomas More

In a 21-point comeback for the ages, Breaux was the biggest weapon for the Cougars with seven receptions for 166 yards and four TDs.The senior receiver also added a two-point conversion.

Teurlings shakes off slow start to beat ND

BY ERIC NARCISSE Staff writer

Teurlings Catholic first-year

coach Michael Courville knew the time would come this season where his Rebels would find themselves in a fight.

And he admittedly was anxious to see how the Rebels would respond.

On Friday, the Rebels (3-0) took a couple of haymakers to start their game against Notre Dame, but they showed grit and a willingness to fight as Teurlings overcame an early deficit on the road to defeat the Pios 24-20 at Gardiner Memorial Stadium.

“Sometimes you are going to get punched, and we showed that we are going to punch back,” Courville said. “They really hit us hard, but our kids kept fighting, and that’s Teurlings Catholic football for you. All heart and no quit.”

Trailing 20-17 with less than a minute remaining in the fourth quarter, Rebels quarterback Alex Munoz connected with Quinn Simon for what would be the gamewinning 26-yard touchdown with 41 seconds left

“It’s just a testament to our team and to Teurlings Catholic football,” Munoz said. “Going down there and winning the game on the final drive showed who we are. It gave us an identity We showed we can blow you out or win in a dog fight.”

Munoz, who struggled throwing the football as a result of the Pios’ constant pressure, finished the game 6-of-18 for 162 yards, an interception and one touchdown, while rushing for 38 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries.

“When Alex threw the ball, I just went for it,” Simon said. That’s what I’m supposed to do. See the ball, go get the ball.”

Courville said Munoz, who was 1-for-9 with an interception in the first half, never lost confidence in himself despite the first-half woes.

“He wasn’t himself (Friday),” Courville said. “But credit Notre Dame because they were on him all night. He wasn’t able to be comfortable.”

Rebels running back Ian Schwander finished with a gamehigh 85 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries, while Andrew Viator (1-53), Nick Celestine (1-44) and Simon (2-40) all had at least 40 yards receiving.

“I have faith in all of our guys,” Munoz said. “In the first half, we weren’t playing as loose as we needed to play But at halftime, we

just preached having fun and playing loose in the second half.”

The Pios (2-1) jumped on the Rebels quickly, scoring on a 65yard touchdown pass from quarterback Drew Lejeune to running back Joachim Bourgeois on the first play to take a 7-0 lead.

After the defense came away with an interception three plays later, the Pios made another trip to the end zone, this time on a 38-yard touchdown run by Brice Duhon on the first play of that possession to extend the lead to 14-0 with 10:08 remaining in the first quarter

“At halftime, we were down 14-3 and I told the kids I wanted to see what kind of character we had,” Courville said. “We haven’t experienced any adversity so far this season, so I wanted to see how we would respond. I knew

we would respond, because as I looked around the locker room at halftime, no one looked like they were quitting.”

On their opening possession the Rebels went 77 yards on three plays on a drive that was capped by a 21-yard touchdown run by Schwander to pull Teurlings to within four at 14-10 with 10:46 remaining in the third quarter

Two possessions later, the Rebels took their first lead of the game at 17-14 on a 10-yard touchdown run by Munoz.

Midway through the fourth quarter, Lejeune scored on a 9-yard touchdown run to put the Pios back in front at 20-17 with 6:51 remaining in the game. Lejeune was 9-of-22 passing for 163 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions, while rushing for 69 yards and a

touchdown on 16 carries.

Notre Dame’s defense forced Teurlings to punt on its ensuing possession, and just when it looked like the Pios might be able to run the clock out, the drive stalled and resulted in a punt with 1:45 left in the game.

“With the way we had been playing, I knew we would go down and score,” Courville said. “I felt really good.”

In addition to Lejeune, the Pios were led by Bourgeois, who had 58 yards rushing on 16 carries, while catching three passes for 102 yards and a touchdown.

“Anytime you can win a game, it is important and a big deal,” Courville said. “You only get 10 of them. But this is a big road victory for us and where we are as a program, it is massive.”

Crusaders rout Chargers in Westminster battle

George tosses three early touchdowns in blowout victory

BY MIKE COPPAGE

Contributing writer

The talk around the Westminster Christian campus has been that the Crusaders have possibly their best football team since the coach Tommy Badon days.

The Crusaders backed up those claims in Friday’s 49-7 nondistrict win over Westminster ChristianLafayette.

The Crusaders rolled to a 21-0 halftime lead behind three touchdowns from senior quarterback Stephen George. They continued the assault in the second half, taking a shutout into the final two minutes of the fourth quarter of the contest played at Lafayette Renaissance.

“I thought we played well in all three phases,” WCA coach Byron Porter said. “I’m proud as heck of our guys. We played hard we fought, and we played solid in all

three phases tonight.” The Crusaders (3-0) put their wealth of skill players on display

Defensive back Evan Lemon’s interception on WCA-Lafayette’s first drive set up George with a

short field for a 15-yard TD pass to Damien Thomas. Later, Lemon caught two passes for 92 yards and two scores.

“We believe,” Porter said. “When we first came in here, we took over a 2-8 team. We went to the playoffs the very first year It’s all part of the process. The guys know what it takes to win.”

The Chargers (2-1) didn’t get a first down until late in the first half. Matt Lalonde’s 10-yard tackle for loss saddled WCA-Lafayette on its second drive. The Chargers went for it on fourth-and-5 on their next possession, and Kyle Horde dumped the runner for a 2-yard loss.

“We made a statement as a team,” Horde said. “We’re not just offense. Our defense gets the ball back and gets stops when needed.”

After George’s 9-yard keeper extended the lead to 21-0, Horde opened the third quarter with a 56-yard touchdown run. Cayden Brown and Jack Hunt also ran for scores. George extended one drive by scrambling and then firing a dart to Horde for a 35-yard gain.

“It’s fun for me to think they

have to guard me,” said Horde, who has great size at 6-foot-2 and 220 pounds “I know I’m a lot faster than most players in Class 1A. I run a 4.4.

“When things break down, Stephen has the ability to run or throw He has wheels.”

Gavin Frith, who plays a similar role to Lemon’s, had an interception and an acrobatic diving catch. The WCA secondary held the Chargers to 2-of-12 passing for 15 yards.

Pierce Gable scored on a TD run in the fourth quarter for the Chargers. With two running backs out with injuries, Gable and Andre Greene combined to rush for 125 yards on 27 carries.

George finished with 198 yards passing on seven completions with four total touchdowns. Branson Ray had a 25-yard catch for the Crusaders, and kicker Mac Proffitt was automatic on extra points and touchbacks.

The Crusaders begin District 6-1A play next week vs. Catholic of Pointe Coupee. The Chargers play host to Ascension Christian in a nondistrict contest.

Teurlings Catholic wide receiver Nick Celestine, rear, makes a catch against Notre Dame defender Griffin Doucet on Friday.

PHOTO By ROBIN MAy

Westminster QB Stephen George, right, gets past the defense during the Crusaders’ win over Westminster-Lafayette on Friday.

STAFF PHOTOS By BRAD KEMP Teurlings Catholic quarterback Alex Munoz, center, runs with the ball against the Notre Dame defense during their game on Friday at Gardiner Memorial Stadium in Crowley. Munoz rushed for 38 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries.

PREP REWIND

St. Thomas More pulls off dramatic comeback

Cougars rally for win at Acadiana

BY NICK FONTENOT

Contributing writer

For three quarters, it looked like Acadiana was about to hand St. Thomas More its third straight loss to start the season.

Instead, the Cougars stormed back from three scores down in the final nine minutes to steal a 39-35 win Friday night — a result that seemed impossible not long before it happened.

STM trailed 35-14 midway through the fourth quarter, its offense bottled up all night by the Wreckin’ Rams defense STM quarterback Cole Bergeron and the Cougars offense had struggled to find rhythm, and an 0-3 start loomed large.

But STM coach Shane Savoie said his team never looked at the scoreboard.

“We tell the kids all the time the scoreboard shouldn’t determine how well we play,” Savoie said “This game is play to play The odds were against us, but no one on our sideline was thinking about the score. We just said, get better on the next snap. Next thing you know, it’s working in our favor.” Bergeron ignited the rally with a 32-yard strike at the 9:40 mark to

cut the deficit to 35-25. After a defensive stop, he hit again from 14 yards out just two minutes later

The Cougars defense forced another quick punt, and Bergeron delivered the dagger: a 27-yard touchdown pass, his third of the quarter, to give STM its first lead of the night with just over four minutes left in the game.

Bergeron finished with five touchdown passes and said the Cougars’ fourth-quarter comeback didn’t overly surprise him.

“I knew we were capable,” Bergeron said. “Our sideline stayed composed. Once we get into our high-tempo offense, we know we can wear teams down. We knew it was going to be a fourth-quarter game, and we took that seriously.”

For Acadiana, it was another gut-punching loss that dropped the Rams to 0-3 for the first time since 2015 Rams coach Doug Dotson, still chasing his first win leading the storied program, didn’t sugarcoat the frustration.

“We’re all mad in our huddle right now,” Dotson said. “This one hurts. It feels like we let it get away You never get those back, and it feels like the season is fleeting. But our kids are resilient. They’re going to bow up. I’m sure everybody’s licking their chops right now thinking the Rams are not who we’ve been, but I promise you, anybody who overlooks us is

going to be sorry.”

Savoie, though thrilled with the comeback, echoed that sentiment. He cautioned against defining either team by the early record or the final score alone.

“We know Acadiana is a good football team,” Savoie said. “They lost three games to really good football teams. I mean, obviously, it feels great. I won’t lie to you and tell you it doesn’t. But either way, you’re talking about two teams that have played some of the best teams in the state of Louisiana in the first three weeks of the season. And the scoreboard shouldn’t define your kids’ effort.

“If your kids are playing well and they’re playing hard and they’re doing what you’re asking them to do, that’s what you should be focused on. That’s what you should be working on. And you hope our communities give us the leverage to get the kids to trust in that process so that you can help them be successful down the line.”

The rugged early-season schedule continues for St. Thomas More, which awaits longtime powerhouse Neville from Monroe on Friday

“Going home tonight at 0-3 wouldn’t have been fun, but I wouldn’t have felt any different,” Savoie said. “I’d still be equally proud of those kids for how they responded against these odds.”

SCORES AND SUMMARIES

Vermilion Catholic’s late score lifts Eagles past Loreauville

Simon’s 11-yard

TD run in final seconds seals win

BY STEVE PELOQUIN Contributing writer

Most high school football programs like playing a difficult nondistrict schedule because it helps them in the all-important power rankings, as well as prepares them for the postseason.

Sometimes that approach can make wins difficult to come by The Vermilion Catholic Screamin’ Eagles can attest to that reality three weeks into the season.

After falling to defending state champion Catholic-New Iberia and then to Class 4A Breaux Bridge by a point, Vermilion Catholic (1-2) captured its first win of the season with a dramatic 29-26 road win over Loreauville on Friday William Simon’s 11-yard touchdown run with only three seconds remaining turned out to be the difference in an exciting matchup between two highly respected programs.

“Any time you get a win over coach (Terry) Martin and this program, it’s a good win,” Vermilion Catholic coach Broc Prejean said.

“Any win you have over here, it’s a big deal.

“It was an exciting game Regardless of how it ended, I had fun coaching football tonight, but I’m happy that our guys got that validation of a W.”

VC scored on the first drive of the game as Simon capped off the drive with a 4-yard run for a quick 7-0 lead at the 6:48 mark of the opening quarter

Loreauville (1-2) answered right away as Blake Delcambre scored on a 1-yard plunge at the 2:27 mark of the first quarter

The Screamin’ Eagles regained the advantage at the 10:41 mark of the second quarter when Luke McLain scored on a 13-yard run to make it 14-7.

On the ensuing kickoff, Loreauville continued the seesaw battle with Delcambre bringing back the kickoff 80 yards for a score.

Delcambre was injured on the

return, however, and missed the remainder of the game.

That made it even tougher on the Tigers, who were already playing without some key players, to also play without their quarterback for the remainder of the game.

Loreauville had a chance to score late in the half, driving down inside the VC 5 before attempting a field goal. It missed the mark to keep it tied at 14-all at halftime.

“We have some key injuries this week, but they (Vermilion Catholic) had some last week, and it’s all part of the game,” Loreauville coach Terry Martin said. “We just missed on too many opportunities, which were self-inflicted.”

After a scoreless third quarter, VC scored the first points of the second half at the 8:18 mark of the fourth quarter on Simon’s 15-yard run for a 21-14 lead.

The Tigers, refusing to throw in the towel, came right back and scored on a 12-yard pass from Wyatt Hazelwood to Blaise Romero to make it 21-20 after the missed extra point

Loreauville took the lead for the first time with only 1:03 left on a 7-yard touchdown pass from Hazelwood to Thomas Carter for a 26-20 advantage.

“What a performance by Wyatt tonight,” Martin said of Hazelwood. “He never started on defense prior to this year, hasn’t been getting a lot of work at quarterback, and he came in and made some big-time plays.”

With only 63 seconds left, VC handled the hurry-up offense to perfection, going 60 yards to set up Simon’s game-winning 11-yard run with three seconds to spare. It was his third rushing touchdown of the game.

“A minute left to score, we were fortunate to have saved some timeouts, but Will made some big plays for us,” Prejean said of Simon. “And he didn’t flinch when things didn’t go his way, which may be what I’m most proud of him for He proved that ‘C’ (Captain) on his chest this year has been earned.”

The schedule doesn’t get any easier for VC. The Erath Bobcats are 3-0, scoring 117 points this season.

“We’re going to enjoy this win until we get back from Loreauville,” Prejean said. “Obviously, we then have to break down some film and start getting ready for Erath, who is absolutely rolling right now.”

Prejean

STAFF PHOTO By BRAD BOWIE

St. Thomas More quarterback Cole Bergeron, center and the Cougars pulled off a miraculous comeback win over Acadiana on Friday.

‘HIGHLYFAVORED’

SAINTS

OUT: OL Dillon Radunz (toe), DEChase young (calf)

QUESTIONABLE: OT

as the fleur-de-lis on the side of their helmets.

“In my mind, I’m playing everygame of my existence,” Jordan said. “Unless they hide my bags, I’m playing.

When Jordan plays his229th game against the Seattle Seahawks andmoves to the top of thefranchise list, it’ll be his latest bulletpoint on astacked résumé.

He’salready the team’sall-time leader in sacks (123 and counting). In the season opener,hemoved into thetop 20 of the NFL’s all-time sackslist. Hisname will be in the rafters of the Superdome in the Ring of Honorsomeday.And basedon what he’s done andhow longhe’sdoneit, he’s earned aspotonthe Saints’ Mount Rushmore, alongwithBrees andRickey

getolder, those weeks become longer to prepare for andlonger to recover between games. So Camgoing into Year 15 is notsurprising, because it’shim. He has little kid energy. Nobodyknows that more than Nikki Jordan.Theyhavefourkids.

“But people alwaystell me Ihave five kids when youinclude Cam,” she said. “For the life of him, he can’tsleep in. He hasanatural alarmclock and will be up at 6or6:30 every morning. He always has to do something. Evenonhis off days. Just ask Elicia Broussard Sheridan, who handles community relations for the Saints.

“Once the season starts, you can just put it on your calendarthat something

the Green Bay Packers. That game was an indication of what was to come. The rookie played with abrace on his knee that day after aminor injury two weeks before in apreseason game. “I’ve never been one for butterflies,” Jordan said about that day.“But Iwas definitely determined and highly focused just in terms of being zoned in.” He’sbeen at it ever since. How many more games will he add to the record he will set Sunday? He’ll think about that at the end of this season. “I’ve always said that

Saints defensiveend Cam Jordan celebrates sackingSeattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith during agame at the Caesars Superdome on Oct. 9, 2022.

STAFF FILE

PHOTO By DAVID GRUNFELD

STAFFPHOTO By DAVID GRUNFELD

Saints defensiveend CamJordan sacks Arizona CardinalsquarterbackKyler Murray at the Caesars Superdome on Sept. 7.

Rod Walker

SAINTS

Continued from page1C

“Wejust clean-slated it forthe most part here,” Moore said.

With the Saints, Moore installed hisoffense andtossedout what former offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak ran last year.The differenceswill be on full display Sundaywhenthe Saints facethe Seattle Seahawks, the team that now employs Kubiak as its play-caller The clash in styles markshow different teams can go about attacking adefense. Moore and Kubiak bothhavebeen lauded for their offensive prowess, but the different ways these men scheme plays couldn’tbe more glaring.

Kubiak emphasizes stretching the field with zone-based runs, mixing in agood doseofplayaction and utilizing condensed formations to keep defenses off guard. Moore wantstospread it out, push the pace and mix in RPOs (run-pass options) to create aguessing game

One idea isn’tautomatically better than the other.They’re just distinct

That’sfootball.

“That’sthe beauty of it,” Mooresaid.“There’s alot of different ways of approaching this. There’snoright way or awrong way.It’sthe fun challenge of this.

“That’swhat we all enjoy.This job is problem solving and helping the guys become the best versions of themself. And that’swhat we get to do eachweek.”

Shotgun, shotgun, shotgun Erik McCoy rarely has paid this much attention to how hesnaps the ball.

Last year,the Saintscenterprimarily was focused on reading the opposing coverage before the play so that he could communicate necessary adjustments to theprotection. Kubiak,inparticular,tasks the center to handle protection calls in his offense to help ease the burden on thequarterback.But when it wastimetorun theplay, more often than not, McCoy would just hand it off to the quarterback under center

This year,McCoy is still involved with protections, but he said he’s hadtobeonhis “P’sand Q’s” because of how often the Saints snap out of the shotgun formation

“You’ve got to get these things on the money,” he said.

3s andlayups

TheSeahawks haven’texactly lit theleague on fireasthe Saints did through thefirst two weeks last season, but Kubiak’sfingerprintsare all over the offense.

The Seahawks have run the fifth-mostsnaps under center —one spot above where the Saints finished in 2024. They have apass-run ratio of 52-48, closertowhat Kubiak likely wanted to run in New Orleans before consistently trailing skewed that split (57-43). Anditwouldn’tbea Kubiak offensewithout an overload of pre-snap motion, doing so on 59.6% of Seattle’splays,a slight uptick from last year’s57.8% in New Orleans.

“Yeah, it’ssimilar,” cornerback Alontae Taylor said, noting Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigbais“basically” playingChris Olave’srole from last year

If there is oneoverlapbetween Moore and Kubiak, they seem to share aloveofmotion.Moore not only has the Saints running motion on 69.1% of their snaps but he also ranitatasimilar rate (57.5%) as Kubiak last season with the PhiladelphiaEagles.

Most of theparallels end there.

Philosophically,Kubiak and Moore attack defenses in different ways. In thepassing game, quarterback Jake Haener said Kubiak really tries to emphasize themiddle of the field by “layering things on topofeach other.” Moore, at leasttostart the season, hasworked the perimeter more of late, Haener said. Nearly half (37 of 80) of Rattler’s attempts have comeonout routes or hitches.

That’s the beautyofit, there’salot of differentways of approaching this.There’s no rightway or awrongway It’sthe fun challenge of this.”

KELLENMOORE, Saints coach

Moore hasmade the Saints ashotgun-first team. In simple terms, the coach uses formations that spread out his receivers and keeps the quarterback standing several yardsbehind the center.Whilethere is still variety to howthe Saints line up within those looks, noteam in the NFL has run more plays out of shotgun than NewOrleans.

Through two games, according to Next Gen Stats, theSaintshaverun 113shotgun snaps. Last year’steam didn’t reach that mark until Week 5. Moore likes these looks because they allow the quarterback to see the field “a little bit cleaner”, and that’suseful since starter Spencer Rattler is only 6feet tall

There are deeper explanations. Moore said he’s“tied” the run game around these formations to avoid being as one-dimensional. Out of the shotgun, the Saints have the seventh-highest rushing rate at 31%.

The Saints have put aheavy emphasis on RPO, which requires the quarterback to makea splitsecond decision whether to passorrun theball based on how thedefense reacts.Inthis setting, according to Pro Football Reference, the Saints’ 28 RPOs are tied for aleague highahead of Week 3.

Because the Saints arestill spread out wide, defenses aren’tstacking the boxasmuchas they would in obvious run situations AlvinKamara, for instance, has faced alight box (six or fewer defenders) on 73.1% of his rushing plays, the highest rate in the league, according to Next Gen Stats.He’spunished such looks, running for 113yards on 24 carries. Kubiak wasn’tallergictothe shotgun last year,but the Saints ranked 27th ontotal shotgunplays.

Moore, too, lovesagood basketball analogy. In the offseason, he showed his players the Indiana Pacers as an example of how fast he wants theSaints to play—and it should be no surprise that New Orleans’ 38 no-huddle snaps rank second this season. The coach also harpsonhis quarterbackstostick to “3-pointers and layups” —either passes that result in big gains or easy completions.

“If the 3-pointer is there, take it,” Rattler said. “Ifnot, getyour layup.”

To borrow anotherbasketball term,Moore is also cognizantofthe mid-range shot— whichhas been largelyphasedout in the NBA because of its inefficiency.Mid-range shots, these days, are reserved for superstars or specialists, suchas Kevin Durant or DeMar DeRozan who shoot wellabove averageon those looks.

So what’sthe NFLequivalent of amid-range jumper? Defensive coordinator Brandon Staley said they’rethe plays that are “first-down-oriented” —a 6-to-12-yard play, he said —rather than beingdesignedtobeexplosive.

“Threes add up quicker than 2s,” said Staley, noting that checking it down can still pick up the same amount of yardage as first-down-oriented plays. “It’s just that simplicity to it, as well. But Ialso think there’sanefficiency aspect to it for offenses It’sless risky

“Sometimes in thatfirst-down-orientedarea, there’sa lotofpeopleinthe way.And so if there’sa lot of people in the way,more risk.”

Moore understands that tradeoff, even though the Saints haven’tconsistently hit on explosives. New Orleanshas just nine explosivestostart the season,the NFL’s fifth-fewesttotal.Only three of those nine have gone for at least 20 yards.

Butthe logic is there. Staley said the“simple” approach is how every great offense has functioned, adding it alsohelps that playersplay fast.

“It’sa sign of whoKellenisand what makes himsuch an effective coach,” Staley said.

Mooresaidhehas a“tonofrespect”for Kubiak. He said he recognizedthere was a“lot of good stuff” that Kubiak brought to theSaints, butthe franchiseultimately madeachange after adisappointing 5-12 season. Theoffense, hamstrung by alitanyofinjuries, wasn’t as effective as it needed to be.

So,Moorebrought his own system —one that is unlike anything the Saintshad seen before.

Email Matthew Paras at matt.paras@theadvocate.com

OFFENSIVELEADERS

DEFENSIVELEADERS

STAFF PREDICTIONS

JEFF DUNCAN

SEAHAWKS 27, SAINTS13: LumenField is no placetotry to snap alosingstreak, especially when you’re as hurt as theSaintsare.Coach Kellen Mooreand quarterback SpencerRattler will need to be creative to carveout points against astingy, aggressive defense. The Saints mightneeda boostfrom defenseand specialteams to spring theupset

LUKE JOHNSON

SEAHAWKS 26, SAINTS16: This game will boil down to the trenches. TheSaints are taking a banged-up offensiveline into a hostile road environment to face one of the tougher defensivefronts in the NFL. That doesn’t sound like ideal conditions for abreakout offensiveperformance. The Saints open the Kellen Moore era0-3.

MATTHEWPARAS

SEAHAWKS 28, SAINTS 17: Maybe the Seahawks will have aletdown aftera big win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, but that’shard to count on. The NewOrleans offensiveline is in store fora tough afternoon, and I’m not confident the defensecan stop the plays KlintKubiak wants to run, evenafter seeing them in practice last year

RODWALKER

SEAHAWKS 24, SAINTS 10: To Kellen Moore’scredit, the Saints have been competitive, but those twogameswere at home (although Sunday’sgame against the 49ers didn’t feel likehome). Nowtheygo into ahostile

to face

EAGLES 34, CAJUNS 31

THREE AND OUT: KEVIN FOOTE’S TOP TAKEAWAyS FROM UL’S LOSS IN MICHIGAN

PASSING BETTER

1

Despite a third loss in four games, the UL passing game was definitely better The routes called were much better, taking advantage of all of the tight ends. Everyone knew it would be better than 4 yards passing at Missouri, but it was much better Daniel Beale was 20-of-33 passing for 222 yards. More than that, he hit some big pass plays when it was really needed to display good progress. Shelton Sampson caught three key balls for 87 yards and had a 24-yard catch nullified by a penalty

ROLLER-COASTER DEFENSE

2

The Cajuns defense started slow again. Unlike the first two games, it didn’t just dominate after that, and it gave up too much to win the game. Eastern Michigan finished with 20 first downs and 409 yards, including 183 on the ground.The defensive line got beat pretty handily at times.The Eagles were 6 of 14 on third down, but three of those were critical conversions that contributed heavily to the loss. In the second half, the defense got good pressure to force a pick-six and a few stops.

PENALTIES COSTLY

3

you could make a pretty good argument that penalties cost the Cajuns the game. The flags hurt in quantity and quality. Getting 10 for 85 yards is too much, but two drives in the first half and two more in the second half were filled with self-inflicted wounds that made the job for the Eastern Michigan defense too easy Two holding calls in particular were well downfield after good gains had been made to help thwart drives.The Eagles also got eight flags for 92 yards, so the officials weren’t shy.

in

was all in our favor I didn’t want to put it on one play.”

Eastern Michigan quarterback Noah Kim responded with a clutch 27-yard completion on third and 4 to tight end Joshua Long to get in field goal range — a play Desormeaux said he thought Kim was throwing away at the time.

Rudy Kessinger then made a 42-yard field goal with three seconds left for the game-winner

“The only way I know is to work harder and stay together,” Desormeaux said Both teams are now 1-3. The Cajuns open Sun Belt play at home against Marshall on Saturday Beale finished 20-of-33 passing for 222 yards with no touchdowns and three interceptions.

“I thought Daniel played well,” Desormeaux said. “I thought he played with less hesitation.”

The Cajuns ran the ball for 214 yards, led by Perry with 110 yards and two touchdowns.

Eastern Michigan posted 20 first downs and 409 yards on the UL defense. Kim was 21-of-31 passing for 226 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Running back Dontae McMillan ran for 126 yards.

The UL offense had an encouraging first half, but the defense didn’t cooperate.

On the first drive, the Cajuns drove 75 yards on seven plays in 3:28 to grab an early lead. Three completions including two to tight end Drew Chappell for 21 yards set up a 23-yard touchdown run from Perry.

After the teams exchanged punts, the Eagles gained some momentum with an eight-play, 54-yard drive in 3:31 to tie it with a 3-yard touchdown run by Kim to tie it with 5:07 left in the first quarter.

UL responded with a 12-play, 54-yard drive in 5:11, but two flags forced the Cajuns to settle for a 38-yard field goal from Tony Sterner and a 10-7 lead on the first play of the second quarter Sterner had made a 51-yarder earlier in the drive, but a roughing-the-kicker flag on EMU extended the drive.

The Eagles scored touchdowns on two of their last three drives of the first half. Completions of 23 yards to Terry Lockett and then 36 to Nick Devereaux set up a 2-yard Tavierre Dunlap touchdown run.

UL wide receiver Rob Williams runs the ball during a game against Eastern Michigan on Saturday.

The second one was a 15-yard scoring toss to Long with 1:13 left before halftime to go up 21-17.

UL had a chance to respond before the half, but the Cajuns couldn’t deliver. Beale completed four straight passes — including a 27-yarder to Rob Williams — to reach the EMU 30.

A pass to the goal line wasn’t handled by Sampson, then Sterner missed a 44yard field goal with three seconds left to allow the Eagles to lead at halftime.

UL compiled 277 total yards in the first half, including 168 rushing. That was highlighted by a Bill Davis 45-yard touchdown run to complement Perry’s 84 yards in the first half.

The defense stepped up in the third quarter when some pressure created a bad throw from Kim and Courtline Flowers took full advantage with a 35-yard interception return for a score to give UL a 24-21 lead with 5:20 left in the third quarter But UL’s only offensive drive of the third quarter stalled at the EMU 45 after two promising first downs, and the Eagles ended the quarter in style.

Kim converted a third and 15 with a 26yard completion to Nick Devereaux to ignite Eastern Michigan’s drive that ended with a 6-yard TD plunge from Tavierre Dunlap for a 28-24 lead on the first play

Quarter

Perry 23 run (Sterner kick), 11:32.

BY KEVIN FOOTE Staff writer

YPSILANTI, Mich. — After passing for only 4 yards in a loss to Missouri, much of the pregame attention was around the changes UL would make to rejuvenate its passing attack. Quite a few of them seemed to work despite a 34-31 road loss to Eastern Michigan on Saturday One of the obvious changes was getting the tight ends more involved, especially Furman transfer Brock Chappell

“That was something that we had kind of known in our tight end room and felt kind of on Thursday when we were going through some stuff that tight ends were going to get the ball this week and be able to make a change and help our offense get going,” Chappell said. On the game’s first drive, Chappell caught passes for 10 and 11 yards to lead to Zylan Perry‘s 23-yard touchdown run. Chappell finished with three receptions for 32 yards while fellow tight end Trey Miller caught his only target for 14 yards. Starting tight end Caden Jensen didn’t have as productive of a game with two catches for 8 yards on five targets.

Upon arriving in Lafayette in January Chappell said he developed a good connection with quarterback Daniel Beale

“I kind of joined in that friend group (including Beale) and you know we kind of started doing everything together,” Chappell said. “So just the connection, all the way through summer, fall camp, just kind of kept building.”

Scary injury

At the end of the final play UL wide receiver Rob Williams wasn’t able to walk off the field. The ambulance had to be brought onto the field to transport Williams off of it.

“I thought he got back up, but he went back down and he just couldn’t,” Desormeaux said of Williams after the game. “He had some numbness and things like that, and he had a really bad headache.”

The injury was a result of a collision with an Eastern Michigan player during UL’s kickoff return that involved numerous laterals.

“We’re hoping that for the best, but I mean, it seems like every week it’s something that’s just crushing you,” Desormeaux said.

Penalties still hurting

Much like in the home games, it wasn’t that the Cajuns had a high number of penalties but the flags continued to be costly In the first game it was on special teams. In this one, they came on offense.

After the encouraging first drive, an illegal procedure infraction wiped out a completion to Jensen before a punt.

On the next drive, it appeared the Cajuns were headed for another touchdown, but a holding flag and an illegal block in the back forced the Cajuns to settle for a 38-yard Tony Sterner field goal.

“We were about to be first and goal inside the 5,” Desormeaux said of that series. “There’s another drive that killed us when we’re moving the ball. A lot of it is effort penalties down the field bit, but it’s just some of it’s not very disciplined.

“Getting a holding penalty, you know, we had one of them way after the play.”

Then early in the third quarter, it appeared UL was headed for another score, but a procedure flag ruined a second-and-5 situation from the EMU 37. The Cajuns never recovered and punted for a touchback.

It carried over to the second half as well. Two pre-snap flags ended UL’s first drive of the fourth quarter and a holding flag spoiled a 24-yard completion to Shelton Sampson in the final two minutes.

The Cajuns finished the game with 10 flags for 85 yards.

PROVIDED PHOTOS By UL ATHLETICS/BENJAMIN R. MASSEy

UL quarterback Daniel Beale looks to make a pass during a game against Eastern Michigan on Saturday at Rynearson Stadium

ypsilanti, Mich.

LIVING

DannyHeitman AT RANDOM

Itookasmall

breakfrom thenews,and Pope Leo mightapprove

When my son graduated from amaster’sprogram in Pittsburgh last May,Iwanted to be fully present during the long weekend our family had scheduled to celebrate. Iwas afraid I’d miss importantmoments because Iwas glued to ascreen filled with the latest headlines.

As our plane lifted from the runway in Louisiana, Iput away my phone, resolved to go on amedia fastfor thenext few days.

We’d barely reached cruising altitude when aflight attendant began strolling the aisles, her arms filled withheadphones for the onboard TV programming.

“In case you’re interested,” she announced, “they’ve just named the new pope.”

Phones lit up throughoutthe cabin, and most of the screens attached to each seat popped on, too. Iquickly abandoned my resolution to avoid the news. But my viewing station didn’twork, and my smartphone service was spotty,too.

Icraned my head over the seat ahead of me and glimpsed an image of the newly elected PopeLeo XIV entering the balcony over St. Peter’s Square

My neck quickly tired,soI leaned back into my seat and pondered whether the little news desert in which I’d found myself might have been exactly whatI’d asked for.Asa longtime journalist, Iavidly follow current events as an occupational necessity

But I’m not apapal correspondent, and neither my career nor the world would suffer if Iwaited awhile to catch up on developments at the Vatican.

As most of my fellow passengers watched the announcement of the new pontiff, Igazed at abrilliant field of clouds beyond the window and remembered other times when big news broke during my vacations. Iwas in aParis cafe in 1991 after President George H.W.Bush developed an irregular heartbeat at Camp David,prompting nearby customers to proclaim “désastre” at the thought that the leader of the free world mightbeinperil.

Later that year,Iwas on a rural Alaskan road outside Anchoragewhen plotters staged an ultimately unsuccessful coup against Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev.Itfelt strange to be at such aremove from things as superpowers trembled all those decades ago. Slowly,Icame to understand the futility of waiting for the news cycle to calm down so that Icould step away from it without fear of missing out The very nature of the news is its relentlessness,which is precisely why we all need respitesfrom currentevents. It’s something I’m trying to keep in mind this autumn as the churn of urgent news bulletins continues at high pitch. I’m glad to live in aworld where the hard work of news gatherers makes it possible to stay abreast of what’shappening. I’m also glad that Iput the news away long enough toenjoy my son’sgraduation. Pope Leo wouldprobably say thatI made the right call.

Email Danny Heitman at danny@dannyheitman.com

to

SHARING CULTURE

Newlending libraryinLafayette serves French students,teachers, families

BY JOANNABROWN Staff writer

MurielCastille arrivedinSt.

Martin Parish from La Rochelle, France, 30 years ago.

Shecametoteach French in local schools, and she quickly settled into life in Louisianaafter getting marriedand starting afamily of her own. But something about raising childrensofar fromhome made Castille realize how important it was to maintain astrong connection with her French culture and language.

Shebegan volunteering with Alliance Française’sLafayette chapter,not long after the group expanded from New Orleans in 2005. Located in downtownLafayette at 735 Jefferson St., Alliance Française hostsgamenights, coffeeoutings,Frenchtablesand other activities for people looking to speak French anddive intothe area’sFrancophone culture.

“Over the years,I’ve seenFrench people come here to stay for afew years,” Castille said. “They go back to France anddon’t knowwhat to do with their books —and I’d been

missing French books.”

Earlier this year,Castille decided to spearhead aFrenchlibrary collection for Alliance Française de Lafayette,startingwith boxes of donated booksfromAlliance FrançaisedeLaNouvelle-Orléans. She startedfrom zero and has

nowamassed about 2,500 titles withmore room remaining on the shelves. This library has options ranging from AgathaChristie andDean Koontz mysteries, to volumes on

ä See LIBRARY, page 4D

‘I’M MORE ME NOW’ BenFolds brings hismusic andpiano to Lafayette

BY JOANNA BROWN Staff writer

BenFoldsisover 35 years intoa careerthat has taken himfrom early ’90s alternative rock, to orchestral pieces withsymphonies all over the world. Hispiano has been his constant, aloftyand emotionalcompanion to Folds’music as he navigates

relationships, creativity and the business of living in his famously honestsongwriting. Tickets are available nowfor Folds’ upcoming Lafayette show,“Ben Folds anda Piano,” coming to the Heymann Center on Wednesday,Sept. 24. Fromtop singles like “Brick,” with 1990s rock band Ben Folds Five, to his recent work advocatingfor the arts,Folds credits his staying power as asinger-songwriter to asimple rule: “I always follow the path I’mmost interested in.”

Fanscan expect to see his unvarnished artistry,including the humorand thoughtfulness that put Folds’ songwriting on the

ä See FOLDS, page 4D

“Noone has ever asked me to sell out, but Iwouldn’tchange a notetosell more,” said Folds. “In alonger career it’seasy to evolve into amore cynical place, but the only way to remain interesting is to only follow what you’re interestedin. Ifeellike I’mmoreme now than ever.” As the title“Ben Folds and a Piano” indicates, Folds is solo for this tour

STAFFPHOTOSByBRAD KEMP

French libraryvolunteer Muriel Castille shows some of the French children’sbooksatAllianceFrançaise French lending libraryinLafayette. Families can come to the library on Mondays

play games in French

The Alliance Française French lending libraryoffers avariety of genres.

LA. BAKES

Ahomemadetouch is theicing on twocelebratory cakes

The past several monthshave been filled with multiple reasons to celebrate, including milestone birthdays for various friends and family members, myself included.

Afew people’sbirthdays have moved them into new decades or bestowed the right to drive or vote, and some have reached the age to leave the nest. Birthdays, especially milestone birthdays, are the perfect opportunity to pause, reflect and celebrate.

Olivia Regard

The tradition of birthdaycakes can be traced back to ancient civilizations. The ancientGreeks decorated moon-shaped cakes with candlestomake thecake glow like the moon and believed that the smoke from the candles would carry the celebrant’s prayers to the gods.

In medieval England, cakes were baked with asymbolic object inside, and it was believed thatthe person who found the object would have good luck in the year that followed.

And in the 18th century,the Germans celebrated Kinderfeste, aparty for achild during which lit candles were placed on the cake in the morning and left to burn all day until after dinner when the cake was eaten. Over time, these traditions evolved, and themodern, layered birthdaycake emerged as wellas the tradition of having candles totaling the person’sage plus one, to represent hope for another healthy year

The recipes below are two of my favorite ways to add a homemade touch to abirthday celebration and serve as more than just adelicious indulgence. The first, awhite chocolate raspberry cake, is my personal favorite. The raspberries add a sweet freshness to the vanilla cake that complements the Swiss meringue buttercream.

The second recipe brings the funofconfetti to the cakebatter with ahomemadetakeon the Funfetti cake made even more festive with sprinkles on top.

These cakes are ameaningful way to bring people together, spread happiness and create cherished memories. Whether you opt for aclassic cake or cupcakes, the joy of sharing a sweetmomentwith loved ones makes the celebration even more special.

So, the next time abirthday comes around, don’tskip the cake —make it the heartofthe celebration!

WhiteChocolate Raspberry Cake with SwissMeringue Buttercream

Makes 2(8-inch) round cakes.

Pinch of seasalt

1. Preheat the oven to 350 F. Line two (8-inch)cake pans with parchment paper and spray with baking spray

2. Sift together the flour,baking powder and salt.

3. Place thebutter and sugarin alarge bowl.Using an electric mixer with the whisk attachment or astand mixer,beat the butter and sugar until light andfluffy

4. Addthe oil and beat to incorporate.

5. Add the eggs, oneegg at a time, andbeat on medium-high speed until each egg is fullyincorporated. Stop the mixer between additions to scrape down the sides.

6. Add the crème fraîche and vanilla and beat until combined.

7. Add half of the dry ingredients to thebatter and mix on low speed.

8. Pour in the milk and mix to incorporate.

9. Add the remaining dry ingredientsand mix at low speed.

10. Pour the batterintothe two cake pans. Bake for approximately 35 minutes, rotating the pans midway through baking. Remove from the oven and letcakes cool completely on awire rack or tea towel

11.Oncethe cakesare cooled, slicethe cakesinhalf horizontally to make four layers. Make the filling:

1. While the cakes bake, combine theraspberries, sugar,salt, cornstarch andlemon juiceina small pot over medium heat.Continue stirring until thesugar dissolves.

2. Simmer on low-medium heat for 5-10 minutes until raspberries have brokenapart andthe mixture thickens. Allow to cool completelyand refrigerate until ready to assemble the cakes.

3. Create adouble boiler by placing asmall amount of water in apot.Place the bowl of astand mixer on top of the pot.Ensure the bowl does not touch thewater. Bring the water to aboil, then lower the heat to simmer

4. Placethe eggwhitesand sugar in thebowlofa standmixer and place thebowlover the simmering waterfor 5-10 minutes. Whisk theegg whites and sugar until the granulated sugar is completely dissolved. (Note: Youcan test this by quicklydipping your finger into themixture. Rub it

between your fingers. Youshould not feel any sugar granules.)

5. Once thesugar is dissolved, removethe bowl of egg whites from the heat. Using the whisk attachment for thestandmixer, beat the egg whites withthe sugar 10-15minutesonhigh speed. Continue beating until stiff peaks form and the mixture is glossy

6. Meanwhile,microwavethe white chocolate in 30-second intervals, stirringbetween each interval,until thechocolateismelted and smooth.Set aside to cool.

7. Once the meringue comes together,lower the speed of the standmixer to low-medium and slowly incorporate the butter one tablespoon at atime. Allowthe butter to incorporatefully before adding the next tablespoon. Once all the butter is added, increase themixer speedtohightoallow the meringue and butter to come together

8. Gently fold in the white chocolate, vanilla extract and salt into themeringue butter cream and mix until fully combined.

Assemble thecake:

1. Spread alayerofraspberry filling on thefirst layer of cake. Topwith white chocolate buttercream.

2. Place thesecondlayer on top and repeat with raspberry filling and buttercream with theremaining layers.

3. Refrigerate the cake for30 minutes to allow the cake to set.

4. Once set, finishicing the cake

with the remaining buttercream. Topthe cake with fresh raspberries andwhite chocolate shavings. Confetti Cake

Makes 24 cupcakes or a3-layer, 8-inch cake.

The cake:

21/2 cups flour

1/4 cup cornstarch

1teaspoon kosher salt

2teaspoonsbaking powder

1cup unsaltedbutter, at room temperature

11/4 cups sugar

4large eggwhites, at room temperature (Save the yolks;you willuse theminthe icing.)

1/4 cup vegetableoil

1tablespoon vanilla

1/2 teaspoon almondextract

3/4 cup whole milk

1/2 cup rainbowsprinkles (I recommend using the jimmies/cylinders, notnonpareils or sanding sugar.)

1. Preheat the oven to 350F

2. Line the bottoms of 24 muffin cups. (Or,ifbaking acake, line 3(8-inch) cake pans with parchmentpaper and spraywith nonstick baking spray.)

3. In amedium bowl, sift together the flour,cornstarch, salt and baking powder.

4. In astand mixerfitted with the paddle attachment, cream together thebutterand sugaruntil light and fluffy,3to4 minutes.

5. Add the egg whites, one at a time, mixing wellafter eachaddition.

6. Add the oil and the almond

andvanilla extracts.

7. With the mixerrunning on lowspeed, add thedry mixture andthe milk in threealternating batches, stopping after each additiontoscrapedownthe sides. Mix until just combined.

8. Using arubber spatula, gently fold in thesprinklesuntil they’re evenly distributed.

9. Distribute the batter among the muffin cups (or cake pans).

10. Bakeuntil atoothpickinserted intothe center comes out clean (approximately 25 minutes for cakes and20minutes for cupcakes).

11.Allow to cool on awirerack completely,then add icing and additionalsprinkles.

French Buttercream

3large eggs

5large eggyolks

2cups granulated sugar 1/2 cupwater 2cups plus 2tablespoons unsalted butter,atroom temperature 11/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

1. Place the eggs and egg yolks in the bowlofanelectric mixer fittedwith the whisk attachment.

2. Combine the sugar and water in amedium potand stir over medium heat until it comes to aboil. When it begins to boil, stop stirring. Attach acandy thermometer to the pot and allow it to cook until the syrup reaches 230 F. While the syrup cooks, if anysugar crystals wash up on the sides, brush them away using apastry brush dipped in cool water

3. When the sugar reaches 230 F, begin whipping the eggs and yolks on medium-high speed.

4. Whenthe sugar reaches240 F, add the sugar syrup in aslow, steady stream while the mixer continues to run. Continue to whip on high speed until the mixture is pale and very thick and the bowl is no longer noticeably warm to the touch.

5. With the mixer running, gradually add room temperature butter one tablespoon at atime. Continue adding the butter and mixing until all butter is incorporatedand the frosting is light and smooth.

6. Beat in the vanilla and salt andmix to combine

(Note: The buttercream can be usedimmediately or refrigerated in an airtight container for one week.)

PHOTOSByOLIVIA REGARD

White Chocolate RaspberryCakewith Swiss Meringue Buttercream

Confetti Cake

TRAVEL

FontainebleauState Park offers cool respite

BY CATHERINE S. COMEAUX

Contributing writer

Catherine S. Comeaux andher

family spent three summers exploring state, national and provincialparks —fromLouisiana to Alaska, to Nova Scotia andall along the Mississippi River in between. This year,she turns her attention to our Louisianastate parks to discover the natural beauty of the South less than a day’s drive from home.

At Fontainebleau StatePark, cypress groves intertwine with sandy beaches. Salty and fresh waters mingle in theestuary of Lake Pontchartrain. Nearby,the remains of ancient shell mounds share space with the crumbling brick of a19th-century sugar mill.

These picturesque juxtapositions make up the beauty of the park’s2,800acres of oak-shaded, lake-cooled lands on the northshore nearMandeville. Any time of year,but especially toward the end of the Louisiana’s six-month summer,itisone of the best places to be outdoors.

For millennia, people have inhabited this area, taking advantage of the cool breezes coming off one of the largest inland saltwater bodies in the United States. Shellmoundsand sugarmills

The Tchefuncte-built shell middens in the park are presumed to have functioned as living areas andburial mounds from600 to 200 B.C. The Acolapissaarrived in the early 1700s as well as the Choctaw whose descendants still reside in the region. On their heels followed European settlers, specifically aFrenchman named Bernard de Marigny who, along with acrew of over 100 enslaved people, developed Fontainebleau —asugar cane plantation which operated until the 1850s. The plantation took itsname from aforest near Paris, but when the site became astate park in 1938, it opened as Tchefuncte State Park. Later in 1943 —perhaps for amore distinctive ring or as anod to the UnitedStates’ World WarIIallies in France (certainly not for ease-of-spelling) theparkbecameFontainebleau State Park. In the park’searly years,the young men of the Civilian Conservation Corps built many of the original buildings that remain today,including the pier and expansive brick bath house at the lake. Today,avariety of people enjoy the park. Outdoor enthusiasts come for aday on the trails and waterways or for several in one of the campgrounds or lakeside cabins

According to one maintenance worker’sestimate, the park will attract 700 to 800 hundred visitors on anygiven Sundayduring summer break.

They come forswimming, picnicking and photo shoots withthe ancient live oaks and whitesandy shores of the lake for abackdrop. In 2021, filmmakers used the swampmarshlands of the parkfor scenes in “Where theCrawdads Sing” (basedonthe best-selling novel by zoologist-conservationist Delia Owens).

Rock-a-while

The Visitors’ Center is an ex-

TRAVEL TROUBLESHOOTER

By ChristopherElliott

cellent place to start aday at the park. Bathrooms, water and bike rentalsare available24hours onsite. The center itself is open from 9a.m.to4 p.m. and houses several cases of artifacts ranging from the time of theTchefunctetothe

Civilian Conservation Corps

Anature trail starts beyond the patio out back, promising deep shade anda plethora of plants with interpretive signage. Staff is availabletopoint youinthe right direction with their up-to-dateinformation as to what areas might be ano-godue to storm damage or flesh-chomping horseflies.

Interpretive ranger Garrett

Shelton invites visitorstosit in one of the big rockers facinga picture window looking out on the remains of the sugar mill chimneys rising out of wild grape vines and palmettos.

During my recent visit to the park, he pointed out native flora andnoted,“Nature providesan antidote for every health problem we have,” asheextolledthe antiviral properties of atincture made from sweet gum balls and told me the stories of the critters in the wall-to-wallaquariumssurrounding us.

Wide water

Heading outtobike thenature trail, Shelton sent me off with the fun fact that “Lake” Pontchartrain is technically not alake but rather an estuary —abrackish body ofwater where freshwater rivers meet salt water.Owing to their dual nature,estuariessupport amuch widervariety of life thanthe typical lake.

Ibikedmyway through the woods and crossed awhitetail doe and her fawn on my way to the Pontchartrainestuary (a mouthful of aname to chew on). At the shore, Iwas surprised by ashiny aluminum flock of birds heading

skyward —a sculpture createdby AlyAdduci, Gabriel Wimmer and BrentBarnidge. Installed in 2023, this piece was funded by the Louisiana Percent For ArtProgram which is supported by a1999 law that earmarks 1% of every state renovation project that exceeds$2milliontobespent on public art. (Other works of art funded by this program can be foundatBogueChitto,Palmetto Island and Lake Darbonne state

parks as well as at hundreds of other stateproperties.)

Theshiny birds lead toward a shoreline cypress grovewhere I kickedoff my shoes andwaded through the cool,sandy-bottomed waters.

Theknees here grow sideways, stretched and tangled, forming natural benches —the perfect spot for fish watching in the clear shallows. Gazing through the mossinto

the distance at the world’slongest continuous bridge over water (Lake Pontchartrain Causeway), I decidedthat“okwa-ta,” the Choctaw name for this “wide water,” makesmoresense andsolvesthe “lake”misnomer No matter what the wide water is called, its fishing, swimming, boating and cooling effect are a big drawfor visitors. Another draw is the park’saccess to the Tammany Trace, a31mile asphalttrail developed on a former railroad corridor which connectsthe citiesofCovington, Abita Springs, Mandeville, Lacombeand Slidell. Cyclists staying in the park can make it into Mandeville for lunch in ashort, 10-minute bike ride.This is especially convenient for RV campers whoaren’ttowing aget-around vehicle

Whether you plan to bike, hike, paddle or simply enjoy some cold fried chickenatapicnic table,the cool shady naturalbeauty of Fontainebleau State Park is waiting for you.

Know before yougo

n Bikerentals areavailable through canoeandtrail.com.

n Kayak rentals areavailable at the Cane Bayou boat launch via bayouadventure.com.

n An all-terrain track wheelchair is available at this park from 8:30 a.m. to 2p.m. It must be reservedatleast 48 hours in advancebycalling the park at (985) 624-4443.

n Campingand cabinreservations can be made by calling the park or reserving online at lastateparks.com.

n Groceries are available in nearby Mandeville.

Upcoming events n Trick or treating: 4p.m.to 6p.m.Oct.18and 25.

Passengers were downgraded to cheapseats,deniedrefunds

back. You’re right. Iberia should have refunded 75 percent of the fare for your downgraded cabin under EC 261. Since you booked with miles, thecompensationshould reflect

thefare’svalue in Avios points. The airline alsofailed to address your husband’sclaim properly Requiring aloyalty account for compensation is notavalid reason to deny apassenger’srights. Youdid everythingright by citing EC 261 and escalating to the Iberia executives listed on my consumer advocacy site, Elliott. org. Your husbandshould have filed aseparate claim (even without an Iberia Plus account) and created one if required. Always keep apaper trail, as you did it’s critical for proving your case. When an airline fails to follow regulations,thereisaway to light afire under it.You can file

acomplaint with the country’s aviation regulator.Inyour case, that would have been Spain’s Agencia EstataldeSeguridad Aérea, which is responsible for enforcing EC 261 in Spain. Youhad an excellent paper trailwithIberia and you cited thecorrect regulations. An AESA complaint might have nudgedit intodoing the right thing. By theway,this is the first time I’ve seen an airline make aloyalty program membership aprerequisite forEC261 compensation. But it kind of makes sense. Iberia’spolicy is to return themiles to the ticketed traveler How could Iberia have compen-

satedhim with Aviospoints if he didn’thaveanaccount?

Iberia is following aplaybook I’ve seen many timesinmycareer as aconsumeradvocate. An airline offers you take-it-orleave-it compensation. And you have to decide:Take it or leave it?

Icontacted Iberia on your behalf, anditrefunded75% of the miles youand your husband spent on the flight.

Christopher Elliott is the founderofElliott Advocacy,a nonprofitorganizationthathelps consumers solvetheirproblems. Email himatchris@elliott.org.

Christopher Elliott

Awhitetail doeand fawn walk along the Sugar Mill Nature Trail.

PHOTO By CATHERINE S. COMEAUX

at Fontainebleau State Park.

Let’sgobeyondthe garden to improve

BY MARYBROWN

Contributing writer

Human Condition

It’sright afterdawn, and the air is quiet and cool. Mostofmy garden is waking up, but the pink and yellow four-o-clocks,having offered their fragrance all night, are closing Broad caladium leavesborder stands of aspidistra. Bees buzzin the purple salvia while mockingbirds and cardinals start their morning conversations. Flaming orange marigolds holdsteadyas tiny pink wildfire waves on wiry stems.Our majestic live oak towers over everything; Iplanteditin acoffee can 34 years ago, before I even had ayard, because the tiny acorn sprouted on its own and it so desperately wanted to live All of this is true, but it’snot the wholetruth. Yousee, my yard is now awilderness, due to months of neglect. Carefully-laid flagstones are obscured by grassy growth.A

rosebush in the far corner, covered with bush-killervines, is probably dead but Ihaven’tinvestigated; there’snotellingwhat critters, warm- and cold-blooded,lurk beneath the vegetation. My pink azaleaishidden by the heart-shaped leaves of air potato

vine. Apot of basil is barely clinging to life. Plants grew from coleus seeds that Iplanted in May, but they’re begging to be transplanted. Worst of all, tome, are thegolden cat’s-claw flowers mingling withmyoleander: abadge of shame for aNew Orleansgar-

dener (I hang my head) because it meansthose powerful vines have been undisturbed foryears. Neglect can quickly overrun agarden, arelationship, acity,a nation. It doesn’treally matter what the reasons are (“I don’thave time, or energy; Idon’tfeel like it right now; I’m achy,orexhausted; I’ll take care of it tomorrow,” and you can probably add some to that list). There can be beauty in agarden, arelationship, acity,anation. We’retelling the truth when we list the good things, but it’snot the whole truth if we ignore shoulderhigh weeds and suffocating vines. Let’stake an honest look at what’swrong and at what we can do, because we can each take steps toend neglect.

Regarding our nation, we can call or email legislators; we can absorb news carefully; we can pray that those in authority will makewise, courageous, compassionatedecisions.

How aboutour city of New Orleans? An important election

is approaching. Let’sstudy the issues and candidates, and vote wisely.Also, might you volunteer somewhere? Smile and say “hello” to astranger? Pray regularly about the numerous problems surrounding us, instead of just complaining? Forrelationships, youprobably knowwhatwill help. Extra time andattention, maybe an apologyor two,some effort focusedonmending andbuilding, andmoreprayer. Those gardens? Ihope yours is not as overgrown as mine. But while Iwas finishing up this submission, Isaw acat’s-claw flower flutter to the ground. It wasonly 6p.m. There wasstill timetopull 10 minutes’ worth of weeds. —Brown lives in New Orleans.

HumanConditionsubmissions of 600 wordsorfewer may be emailedtofeatures@ theadvocate.com. Stories will be kept on file and publication is notguaranteed.There is no payment forHumanCondition

DidPaulNewman, Joanne Woodward call BatonRouge home?

BY JOYHOLDEN Staff writer

Areader asked if it was true that Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward ever owned a house on thelakes in Baton Rouge Arumor circulated around Baton Rouge in the 1980s and ’90s that Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward were updating aparticular home on the University Lakes offStanford Avenue. Through the years, the Hollywood-Baton Rouge real estate connection has continued to linger The property in question has consistently been the beautiful home at 3465 E. Lakeshore Drive reachedall the way back to HyacinthAvenue

Though false, the real estate whispers continued.

From April to July in 1989, Newmanwas filming in BatonRouge for the movie “Blaze” aboutEarl K. Long and his mistress, Blaze Starr

No one knows the exact origins of the rumor —perhaps Newman or his wife, Woodward,who attended LSU in 1949, were seen around the lakes at one point. At any rate,people began speculating.

FOLDS

Continued from page1D

map —but overthe past several years, his sound has been emboldened via recording andperformance work with symphonies in the U.S. and Australia. In 2017, Folds was named the first artistic adviser to the National Symphony Orchestra at theKennedy Center. He resigned from the roleearlier this year,citing concern overPresident Donald Trump’smove to oust leaders while naming himself chairman of the performing arts center,which is home tothe National Symphony Orchestra and the Washington National Opera.

Folds’ Lafayette show will feature popular tracks from his years with Ben Folds Five and hissoloworkinanintimate format. His audience has always felt like an indispensable part of the experience,oftenjoking with Folds andthe band and interacting deeply with the music.But these days, according to Folds, it’samore knowledgeable and empatheticcrowd —much like the artist himself.

“When we started out we werecasting our net, playing foralot of strangers whodidn’t know what the hell Iwas doing,” he said. “It was more snarky, more joke heckling. The crowd has grown more to understand anything Iput outthere in an instant.”

He’sstill putting everything he wants to out there —just with more awareness that his songs, and even his longevity,carries impact. Folds says he feels that responsibilitymore than ever now, as amusician, father and creative professional.

“We’ve all grown kinder,if that makes sense,” he said. “It’s aprettynoisy world, and now we’re all aware that the world may not be turning in the best direction. This is amoment for people to be respectful of each other,and the shows have really been abastion of peaceful, empathetic gatherings.”

Therumor originated in an age thatpredated the internet anddigital sleuthing techniques. So, thebelieffloated around Baton Rouge without debate for years. Ultimately,it was passed on to younger generations.

Clay Fourrier,former Louisiana Public Broadcasting executive director who worked for theorganization for 50 years, remembers howthe newsofNewman buying theBaton Rougehouse was flying aroundduring the “Blaze” filming and continued to grow

TheRogers family,who lived next door on Hyacinth Avenue, heard multiple stories about Newman living next door —at least part-time. Evennow,the five Rogers sisters and their families still debate theNewman connection totheir childhood neighborhood via text messages and family group chats. Throughthe years,the Rogerses caughtglimpses of classic cars, which fitNewman’sinterest in automobiles.

Instead of Cool Hand Luke, though, thehouse belonged to Bob Dean Jr.Hebought the house in May of 1989, the same time

that Newman was in Baton Rouge filming “Blaze.” Dean purchased thehome in 1989 for $302,500. If thatname rings abell, Dean is the nursing home owner who pleaded no contest in July 2024 to

15 criminalcharges in Tangipahoa Parish. Charges against Dean included cruelty to the infirmed for his decision to send 843 of his patients to an ill-equipped warehouse during Hurricane Ida in 2021. Dean did have amassive classic

car collection worth $10 million that wasseized as collateral for an unpaid $10 million loan, which would explain the stream of fancy cars —that fueled the Newman rumor mill.

Deansold the homeonE.Lakeshore Drive in 2016 for$1.395 million.

Jo Landreneau, along-timereal estate agent in Baton Rouge, said that there were rumors that Newmantemporarily lived in the East Lakeshore home before Dean moved in. To her knowledge, she says Newmanvisited Baton Rouge briefly on multiple occasions while he was filming. However,henever actually purchased aproperty Although Newmanand Woodward never lived in Louisiana full time, they did make several movies here. In addition to “Blaze,” they filmed “Long Hot Summer”in1958 in Clinton and “The Drowning Pool” in 1974 in Lake Charles and New Orleans. Do you have aquestion about something in Louisiana that’s got you curious? Email your question to curiouslouisiana@ theadvocate.com. Include your name, phonenumber andthe city where you live.

LIBRARY

Continued from page1D

history,art, travel, politicsand philosophy.There is arobust children’ssection, allofthe collected Tintincomics and even anumber of books on Egyptology. Castille says that she will take everything shecan get,and it’sbeen fun to see thetypes of books people collect based on their personal livesand interests.

“Sociologically,it’sveryinteresting. Everypersonwho’sdonated has had adifferent type of book. We had aFrench politician who gave us 30 books on French poli-

tics before going back home. Maybe someone will take an interest in that,” she said. Castille is hoping to benefit Lafayette’sextensive population of people whoread in French,which includes teachers like herself— whoarrive from Francophone countries —and their students, who often have trouble finding French books outside of their curriculum. ArecentMondaynight sawtwo Alliance Française members stop in to play games and check out the books —Lafayette French immersionteacher Nathan Labarrere and UniversityofLouisianaatLafayette doctoral student Abby Blair

“It’ssoimportant for people

to readifthey want to getbetter with thelanguage,” Castille said.

“I wanted to read everything in French to my kids,soI traveled to France all the time and brought back books. Some people don’t have theopportunity to go back, and they need books.”

She says the books are “better as aresource here than sitting in the garage.” Castille is planning to grow the library’sprogramming with speakers and author events, especially highlighting local authors working in French.The library is currentlyopen for limited hours, from 4p.m.to5 p.m. on Wednesdays and 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Saturdays. Members can also peruse

the books during other Alliance Française events, such as Monday gamenights, held from 6p.m. to 8p.m.

The library is only open to Alliance Française members, with annualmembership duesstarting at $20 forteachers and students, $35 forindividuals,$50 forcouples and $75 forafamily groupofthree or more.For now,members can check out one book per month, and donations from all are welcome.

“We’re limited now because we’re just starting,” Castille said, “but there will be changes as we grow.”

Email Joanna Brownatjoanna. brown@theadvocate.com.

PROVIDED PHOTO By ABC TELEVISIONNETWORK

Joanne Woodward and Paul Newman share about their lives and careers in an interviewthat aired on the ABCNewstelevision magazine ‘20/20.’

STAFF PHOTO By BRAD KEMP

Library visitors Nathan Labarrere, from left, and Abby Blair play the game Bangwith libraryvolunteer Muriel Castille and AllianceFrançaise president SabineMoulinduring Mondaynight game nightatAlliance FrançaiseFrench lending libraryinLafayette.

BOOKS

Finding strength in strands

BY JOY HOLDEN Staff writer

Jessica B. Harris, acclaimed author and food historian who lives part-time in New York and part-time in New Orleans, has published a new book on American food history that doubles as a cookbook, titled “Braided Heritage: Recipes and Stories on the Origin of American Cuisine.”

BETWEEN THE PAGES WITH JESSICA B HARRIS

Over her career Harris has written, edited and translated 17 books, including 12 cookbooks that document the foods of the African diaspora — such as “High on the Hog: A Culinary Journey from Africa to America,” which was adapted into a Netflix series. Harris is also a professor emerita at Queens College in New York and holds awards from the Southern Foodways Alliance, Soul Summit and James Beard Foundation Her book, “Braided Heritage: Recipes and Stories on the Origin of American Cuisine,” examines the three cultures that form American food: Native American, European and African. A combination of food history and recipes, this cookbook also functions as a historical and personal journey of these three varied cuisines. Harris platforms her friends from each group to share their stories and recipes.

Can you describe the American braid of American cuisine and how it inspired your book “Braided Heritage?”

The whole idea is three strands of something coming together that are put together in such a way that their resulting tensile strength of the thing is very different from the strength of either of the strands. But also it creates something altogether differently People don’t know that there are strands in the American cuisine. It just seems to be a homogenous kind of thing to some people, but there are definitely strands. What were you most surprised to learn in your research for the book?

I think the Dutch I certainly knew New Amsterdam and Peter Stuyvesant. And I’m a New Yorker, so we’ve got lots of remnants of it, but I still don’t think I was quite as aware as I am now of what role they played and how extensive their trading empire was that they brought to the mix. It was very different.

Of all the places you’ve lived, why do you choose to live part time in New Orleans?

I spend time in New Orleans because it is pretty much the United States and epicenter of everything that I do. I study food, and certainly New Orleans is the food center I study African culture in the New World. New Orleans is a place for that. I study African religion in the New World, and New Orleans is a place for that. So, it is the epicenter of many things.

I usually just simply say, because my soul sings there, and I

let it go. You see all three strands of the braid one way or the other If you look at old pictures of the French Market, Native people selling sassafras, you’ll see the African Americans either selling or buying and European Americans. It’s all there, and it certainly all turns up in much of the classic food of New Orleans.

Do you have a favorite recipe, and also, do you have a favorite thing to eat from the book? A favorite recipe is kind of saying, “Who’s your favorite child?”

My favorite thing to eat probably is something I make very infrequently, but that I do love, which would be the watermelon rind pickles. I like to pickle things because they remind me of my mother and my grandmother

In all your writings, cooking and travels, what have you learned about food and people that you want to share with readers?

You discover, over the course of things, that there’s more that joins us than separates us. We may not cook it the same way, but we probably eat it here and there. There are unusual food steps that you get in X place or Y place or Z place. But if you come down to the basics, chicken is in a lot of places around the world. Beef, depending on religion, is in a lot of places around the world. Pork, same thing. The same vegetables are in

a lot of places. We were talking about okra, which is certainly on the African continent, but also in southern Asia. I went to China in 2019. I’d never been before, and my first meal was okra and barbecue. I had no idea they had okra in China. It was barbecue duck, not barbecue pork or anything like that. But it was very much a meal that could be parallel. I think that’s the thing to remember: there’s a lot that joins us in things we don’t even understand or think of.

Email Joy Holden at joy.holden@ theadvocate.com.

A Southerner goes searching for home in this author’s new memoir

BY RIEN FERTEL

Contributing writer

“House of Smoke: A Southerner Goes Searching for Home” by John T. Edge, Crown, 272 pages.

For the past quarter-century, John T. Edge has been one of the leading voices shaping how Americans, especially in the South, think about food Growing up in Georgia, Edge experimented with identities: a Lost Cause fanboy raised in the home of Confederate Gen. Alfred Iverson Jr., University of Georgia “frat bro,” Athens cool town scenester and college dropout.

He discovered his academic leanings and authorial voice at the University of Mississippi’s Center for the Study of Southern Culture.

His first byline, a 1998 “Oxford American” essay was a slick bit of immersive journalism working as a Bourbon Street Lucky Dog vendor, à la Ignatius J. Reilly The next year, he co-founded the Southern Foodways Alliance, an organization that injected “celebratory activism” into the study of the region’s culinary past, present and future. An organizational high point came in 2006, when a cohort of SFA volunteers helped rebuild Willie Mae’s Scotch House, a storied fried chicken restaurant in New Orleans’ 7th Ward.

Edge served as the alliance’s director until 2021, following a tumultuous period when he was derided by many of the organization’s own members as, he notes in his new memoir, a “kingmaker” and “a White overseer who profited from Black labor.” He now hosts the Emmy Award-winning television show “True South. His memoir “House of Smoke” showcases an always engaging

BETWEEN THE PAGES WITH JOHN T. EDGE

the universal sense. My past as a Southerner and my past in a more familial sense. The search for the next great barbecue joint, the frequent drive to New Orleans, those were searches for experience. But they were a kind of fleeing, running away from home. I didn’t really understand what the driver was for me in the first place. What sent me out on the highway? Why was I always in search of the next thing? Why did I call restaurants second homes?

To write a memoir is to establish some cause and effect with your life. When I did that, I recognized that so much of what I thought was running toward something was running away from something.

You write about your thinking in the early years of the SFA that racism “is the truth to confront, and writing about food is the best way to get there.” How did you come to that line of thinking? Do you still hold that to be true?

contributions.

That was idealistic. And I still remain pretty idealistic — I haven’t lost that. You could read it as naiveté. The thing I realized is that so much of what I was focused upon was the sins of the past. As a new generation of writers comes along and grows, they are focusing the attention on the sins of the present with more urgency and more of a call to action. I’ve thought a lot about that after 2020, and it is, I think, a worthwhile insight for those who might follow behind me.

We’re talking on the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. Can you talk about what New Orleans has meant to you?

writer grappling with what it means to be a Southerner, the stories we inherit and the meaning of home.

This interview has been condensed and edited

Editor’s note: Rien Fertel is a member of Southern Foodways Alliance.

There’s this dichotomy in your book, a trope that pops up again and again: rootlessness versus rootedness, in regards to family history and place

The close of my book is, in essence, me hunting down the Confederate brigadier general and

killing him off. In a lot of ways, because of the particular place in which I grew up, I didn’t realize, until I stacked up the scenes in my book, that the door that opened for me was the door to knowing myself better knowing the South better and asking harder questions of my place and my people.

My family and the South are proxies for one another It’s pretty common to profess — William Faulkner professed it — “I love the South, and I hate the South.” I once said the same things about elements of my family I once said the same things about the South. And I realized that my work is to love my place and love my people. What I thought was exploration, a search for answers, was actually a fleeing from my past in

That’s a line of approach that was inspired by John Egerton, my friend and colleague, who had two big books: “Speak Now Against Today” about the generation before the Civil Rights Movement in the South, and “Southern Food” (about) the idea that food was this democratic reflection of who we are and, in our totality, our most varied selves.

I grew up in a generation where cookbooks were written and articles were published where the contributions of working-class people of color were left out. I believed that if I could help people understand the power of the work that generation upon generation of working class Southerners had done, by way of food, we could crack open everything. There could be an appreciation of other sorts of labor and other sorts of

One of my fondest recollections of the city is grounded in post-Katrina times. It was a work weekend at Willie Mae’s Scotch House, and I went with a big group of people to Le Bon Temps Roule. The Soul Rebels were playing in that back room and they played “No Place Like Home.”

It was a chant, a call and response from the band to the audience for 15 minutes, back and forth, back and forth. Everybody heard each other Everybody saw each other The power of common bonds, common beliefs, common loves of language and music and food New Orleans has taught me that. And it taught me that that night.

New Orleans has certainly fed me well. Even more than that, New Orleans has helped teach me how I want to live, not maybe how I always live, but it’s taught me about the joy and promise of communal experience.

Rien Fertel is the author of four books, including, most recently, “Brown Pelican.”

Harris

PROVIDED PHOTO

For the past quarter-century, John T. Edge has been one of the leading voices shaping how Americans, especially in the South, think about food.

Redfordbrought change to cinema

Actor, director transformed film industrywith Sundance

BY LINDSEY BAHR AP film writer

Robert Redford wasdisillusioned with the Hollywood mainstream. The Sundance Kid, who died Tuesday at age 89, knew that there were more stories out there, ones that weren’tgetting made into films because of therigidity of the business. So he made something different, founding Sundance Institute andthe Sundance Film Festivalasanalternative avenue for emerging filmmakers, where independence was avirtue, not aliability Over the past four decades, the institute and the festival have given an early platform to countless youngfilmmakers, including Steven Soderbergh, Paul Thomas Anderson, Quentin Tarantino, Ryan Coogler,Chloé Zhao, Nicole Holofcener,Nia DaCosta,Taika Waititi, AvaDuVernay,Rian Johnson, Gina Prince-Bythewood, Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert and many more.

“For me, the word to be underscored is ‘independence.’ I’ve always believed in that word. That’s what ledtomeeventually wanting to create acategory that supported independent artists who weren’tgiven achance tobe heard,” Redford told The Associated Press in 2018. “The industry was pretty well controlled by the mainstream, which Iwas apart of. But Isaw other stories out there that weren’thaving achance to be told and Ithought, ‘Well, maybe I can commit my energies to giving those people achance.’ As Ilook back on it, Ifeel very good about that.”

In 2019, Redford said he intended to step back from his public facing role at the festival, though

he remained theorganization’s president and founder untilhis death.

“I think we’re at apoint where I can move on to adifferent place, because the thing I’ve missed over theyears is being able to spend time with thefilms and with the filmmakersand to see their work and be part of their community,”hesaid at the 2019 kickoff.

“I don’tthink the festival needsa whole lot of introduction now: It runs onits own course, andI’m happy for that.”

InspirationinUtah

Redford’slove affair with Utah began much earlier, on acrosscountry motorcycle road tripin 1961when he bought 2acres of land. By 1969, with more money in hispocket from his filmsuccess-

Smallitems canbe stored in

a glove

es, he’d purchased5,000 acres, some of which was amountain resort but most of theland was for wilderness preserves. He named it Sundance, after his character in “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.”

In 1981, the year he won best picture anddirector for “Ordinary People,” he established the Sundance Institute, anonprofit organization and held the first filmmakers labatthe Sundance Mountain Resort, about13miles northeast of Provo.

Afew yearslater,in1985, the institute took over what was then known as theU.S.Film Festival, which would later be renamed the SundanceFilm Festival. The festival in themid-80s hosted theCoen brothers “Blood Simple” and Jim Jarmusch’s“Stranger Than Para-

dise.”

Birthofanindie boom

Thefestival was really put on the map when Soderbergh premiered “sex, liesand videotape” in ParkCity in 1989. Atrue indie, thefilm went on to winthe Palme d’Or at Cannesand getanOscar nomination, but it wasits box office success that ignited averitable indie film boom. And Sundance was where allthe discoveries were happening. In 1991, the festivalpremiered “Daughters of the Dust,” “Paris is Burning” and“Slacker,” in 1992,Tarantino’s“Reservoir Dogs,” in 1993, WesAnderson brought “Bottle Rocket,” and in 1994 “Hoop Dreams”and “Clerks.”

“If it weren’tfor Robert Redford, independent arthousesmight not have succeeded,” saidGary Meyer,

cofounderofLandmark Theatre, and aformer festival director at Telluride who also worked with Redford. “Having the ‘Sundance Kid’ give his stamp of approval to independent features and documentaries brought audiences to our theaters, while helping launchthe careers of dozens of filmmakers He made it ‘cool’tosee adventurous movies when they came to commercial neighborhood theaters.”

Commitmenttoartists

In 1994, the Sundance Institute also made acommitment to Indigenousfilmmakers by launchinga festival programtoshowcase Native and Indigenous films that continues to this day Film and TV producer Bird Runningwater,who is Cheyenne and Mescalero Apache, spent 20 years at the Sundance Institute helping Redford build aplatform for Indigenous artists.

While hard to sum up the importanceofwhathas been accomplishedoverthe decades,Runningwater calleditlife-changing fornot only artistsbut fortribal communities as well, to see themselves reflected on the screen in an authentic way.

“I’m so pleased to have been a part of that for Sundance, and it’s allthanks to Redford’svision,” he said. “You know,hejust had this notion that things could be different if we talk our ownstories, and Ido believe we’reinthatera of changing things.”

Behind-the-scenespower

The festival might get the most headlines, but it’sthe year-round work of the Institute that hasreally left amark on independent cinema. The screenwriting and directing labs have been just as, if not more, influential in helping to launch the first films of many of Hollywood’s top filmmakers over the past 40 years, under the leadership of Michelle Satter,who hashelpedshepherd projects from “Hard Eight” to “Fruitvale Station” and “Love & Basketball.”

Frequent flyertired of elbowjabs

Dear Heloise: For keeping small items like eye pencils, my good tweezers, and asharpener findable, organized and tidy (and to keep points or blades from premature dulling and bouncing around in my makeup bag), Iuse aclear rubber glove and put things Iwant to protect into each finger.Then Iclamp the wrist closed with aclothespin or abinder clip. It’seasy to grab and find items, and things are much tidier —Melissa A., in Oswego,New York Santavs. reality

Dear Heloise: In response toLee E., regarding Santa, our kidslearned, in time, the truth about Santa. I let them know that Imuch prefer aworld withSanta in it thanone without. We have quite enough reality to contend with already Randy,inSan Antonio More on Santa

Dear Heloise: Iwas appalled with the letter you received from Lee E. of Moseley, Virginia. Generations of children have been delighted and lived anormal childhood while believing in and enjoying these mythical holiday mascots. What ajoy it is to believe in and experience the magic of the seasons withthese lovable characters! Iknow of no one whowas scared for life because of their early fascination with these myths. Adult life becomes areality fastenough. If Lee wants to ban the experience of this joyful time from their family,fine, but please do nottry to ruin it for the rest of us. —D.T in Florida

D.T., I’ve always felt like Christmas had alittle more “magic”toit with Santa Claus as the mysterious visitor who brings gifts. Childhood is short, so let children enjoy it as much as possible. And we should remember that sadly there are children all over the world who have bombs falling on their homes, who go hungry every day,and have lostsomuch and gone through experiences that no child should go through. What would be the purpose of depriving achild of the happiness theyget whentheysee aSanta in astore?

They’ll get enough “reality” as an adult —Heloise Santacontinued

Dear Heloise: Ican see both sides of the debate, andhere’swhere I landed: As achild, when Ifound outthat the Tooth Fairyand Easter Bunny weren’treal, Iwas really angryatmyparents for lying for alittle while. ThenIgot to see youngerkids enjoy the wonder anddidn’twanttocrush theirjoy; who would?

WhenIbecamea parent,Igot to see the wonder,joy and imaginationofmychildrenbecome incalculably enhanced by holiday incarnations. When they started to question it, Isat them down and explained itessentially like this: Santa,the Easter Bunny,the Tooth Fairy —all of them are notphysically real. What is real is what they represent. They arelikethe mascotsofthe holiday, and we allknow thatmascots aren’t realeither.Every parent andlovedone has the essence of SantaClaus in them when they give agift to someone theylove. Thisishow thistradition lives on. Unicorns aren’treal either,but no one throwsatemper tantrum about it whenthey find out. Imagination, when it’stied to positive,good, kind and generous eventsand people,isnot abad thing. It should be embraced. Santa is real. Helives in theheartsof those who let him. —Heidi G., viaemail No cavities here

Dear Heloise:I brush my teeth with an electric toothbrushfor 2minutes, then Ibrush with aregular brush and rinse my mouth out with water.ThenIuse amouthwash and rinse with awater pick, using most ofthe water in it. Icannotstandthe tasteoftoothpaste or mouthwash, so Iamleft witha very cleantaste in my mouth. Ihave not hadacavity since I started using this routine. Ialso have my teeth cleaned twice a year. —Dorothy C., in Montana Dorothy, this is anice routine for healthyteeth and gums. Many of usjust brush ourteeth and go about ourday with this type of cleaning.Mornings are often rushed for manyofus, so it’s all the timewehave. —Heloise

Send ahint to heloise@heloise. com.

Judith Martin MISS MANNERS

Dear Miss Manners: When flying, Ioften find myself subjected to the unintentional elbow jabs of my seatmate. Ialways make aconscious effort to remain within the boundaries of my seat,carefully avoiding encroaching on anyone else’s space. However,on my last flight, Iwas elbowed repeatedly while attempting to sleep. (For the record, Ihave been assured Iamnot asnorer!)

I’m certain my fellow passengers aren’tdoing this on purpose, but the repeated nudging is becoming unbearable. Idon’twish to createascene or risk being removed from the flight, but I’d also love to know if you have any elegant,perhaps even quippy,way to handle this situationwithout resorting to calling aflight attendant. Also,I wonder whether your advice would change depending on the seat I’min. Iamtypically awindow-seat traveler,though I’ve found myself in the middle seat more thanonce, much to my dismay

By The Associated Press

TodayisSunday, Sept. 21, the 264th day of 2025. There are 101 days left in theyear

Todayinhistory: On Sept.21, 2013, an attack by armed militants in the Westgate shopping mall in Nairobi, Kenya, left 67 people dead and hundreds injured.

Also on this date: In 1792, theNational Convention of France issued aproclamation announcing the abolition of theFrench monarchy.

In 1898, in response to aletter from 8-year-old Virginia O’Hanlon, the New York Sun newspaper wroteaneditorial containing the famous line “Yes, Virginia, there is aSanta Claus.”

In 1915, Cecil Chubb purchased Stonehenge for £6,600; the last privateowner of the site, Chubb donated it tothe British people three years later

In 1922, President Warren Harding signed theLodge-Fish Resolution, aCongressional resolution endorsing the creation of a Jewish state in Palestine.

Gentle reader: The annoyance is the same no matter which seat youare sitting in. It just feelsmore injurious when youare suffering in the middle already. Miss Manners suggests youreact to the jabsbylooking startled and even producing asmall yelp. When your seatmate realizes what caused this,you may say goodnaturedly,“We’re packed pretty tight in here.” Andifyou are awoken? Add, “I hope my beingasleep wasn’tbothering you.”

Dear Miss Manners: How shouldyou respond to amother-in-lawwho always calls you fat? We only see my MIL afew times per year,eitherwhenweflyher here to visit or we fly to visit her. Every time, Ijokingly makea bet withmyhusband on how long she will last before making arude commentabout how much weight I’ve gained. She said Iwas fat when Iwas in great shape. Shesaid Iwas fatwhen I was carrying baby weight from giving her twoperfect grandchildren. Beforewevisited her last summer,Iworked hard and lost some weight. She still said Ihad “gottenfat.” Icorrected her, saying I

In 1937, “The Hobbit,” by J.R.R. Tolkien, was first published by George Allen &Unwin Ltd.ofLondon. In 1938, ahurricane madeU.S. landfall, striking parts of New York and New England while causing widespread damage and claiming some700 lives.

In 1939, Romanian Prime Minister Armand Clinescu was assassinated by members of the fascist Iron Guard movement.

In 1955, at Yankee Stadium in New York,boxer Rocky Marciano completed his undefeated professional career by knocking out Archie Moore in the ninth round of theirtitle fight.

In 1970, Monday Night Football madeits debut on ABC, with the Cleveland Browns defeating the New York Jets 31-21.

In 1981, the Senate unanimously confirmed the nomination of Sandra Day O’Connor to become thefirst female justice on the SupremeCourt.

In 1989, Hurricane Hugo crashed into South Carolina; the storm was blamed for56deaths in the Caribbean and 29 in the

hadactually lost weight andwas wearing size 10 jeans, whichwas a great accomplishment forme. She thought Iwas exaggerating and saidthatI can’t wear a10because shewears a14-16 andis“notthat much bigger” than me. NowI’m NINE MONTHS PREGNANT,and shehas arrived to help withthe oldertwo children when we go to the hospital.Itonly took aboutahalf-hour before she started layingintohow much weight I’ve gained, saying she’s neverseen me thisbig before. Inever thought shewould be so insulting whenI am literally days away from delivering. It’s getting undermyskin this time, andIhavebeen crying over it Next time shecomments, Ithink I need to put herinher place. What shouldIsay?

Gentle reader: MissManners suggests starting with, “I’m nine months pregnant!”

Whenthis response is no longer accurate, youmay say,“Please do notcomment on my weight. Iwould never dream of saying something about yours.”

Email dearmissmanners@ gmail.com.

United States. In 2022, Russia’sVladimir Putin ordered amobilization of reservists forthe first time since World WarII, nearly seven months after invading Ukraine. Today’sbirthdays: Producer Jerry Bruckheimer is 82. Musician DonFelder is 78. Author Stephen King is 78. Basketball Hall of Famer Artis Gilmore is

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By DOUGLAS C. PIZAC

Robert Redfordstands on abalconyalong Main Street, which is decorated withhis SundanceFilm Festival banners, in 2003 in Park City, Utah.

Hints from Heloise

Will an immigrationraid in Georgia impact anew La. Hyundai steel mill? 5E

DOUBLING DOWN

Caesars underwent amassive renovation recently an expansion and modernization that included partnering with local celebrity chefs likeEmeril Lagasse, whoopened Emeril’sBrasserie inside the casino.

BY STEPHANIE RIEGEL and TIMOTHY BOONE Staff writers

The former Hollywood Casino, just north of theState Capitol in BatonRouge, moved onto land in 2023 as partofan$85 millionoverhaul. Rebranded as The Queen, the casino had morespace for slots and table games, new dining and entertainment options anda shorterwalk from the parking lottothe gambling floor The move paid off forBally’s,

not alone. Across the state, casinos from Bossier City to BatonRouge,aswellasCaesars in New Orleans, are upgrading, expanding and adding newamenities —and seeing big returns in the process. For the first seven months of theyear,the 16

See CASINOS, page 2E

Home batteriesrisinginpopularity throughout thestate

BY RICH COLLINS Staff writer

New Orleans-based Solar Alternatives has beeninstalling rooftop solar panels along the Gulf Coast for 17 years. For most of that time, only about aquarter of the company’scustomers chose to bolster their solar equipment with backup batteriesthat would allow their homes or businesses to function during apower outage That changed in 2021, when Hurricane Ida left thousands of homes and businesses in Louisiana without powerfor weeks. Today, 75% of Solar Alternatives’ customersbuy batteries.

“Ultimately, utilities are going to have a giant wake-up moment.”

ARUSHI SHARMA FRANK,battery consultant

Cantin

“During Ida, not everyone with batteries had aperfect experience, but people who used them went weeks without agrid in some cases and had power,” said Jeffrey Cantin, Solar Alternativesowner.“Those stories started getting out, andthat’swhen people really started seeing the techproven out.” Fueled by cheaper andbetter batteries, worsening grid instability and federal incentives,batteries for homes and businesses arerising in popularity. In 2024, thenumber of installations jumped 64%over theprevious year, Bloomberg reported.Trade groups predictthe market will top$43 billion adecade from now So far,only about 10% of the roughly 10,000 homes in the Greater New Orleans area with solar equipment have battery systems. Butthe numberisgrowing as the trend catches on, Cantin said. Uptown resident Z Smith, an architect at Eskew+Dumez+Ripple,isan early adopter. He purchased two battery systems while increasing thenumber of

ä See BATTERIES, page 2E

STAFFPHOTO By JAVIER GALLEGOS

Guest Pamela Phillips plays aslot machine at The Queen CasinoinBaton Rouge. The former Hollywood Casino movedonto land in 2023 as part of an $85 million overhaul.

STAFF FILE PHOTO By CHRIS GRANGER

STAFFPHOTO By BRETT DUKE Christian DiMaggio prepares to install abatteryonthe side of Nicole Russell’shome in Bush.

Issued Sept. 10-16

Commercial alterations

INDUSTRIAL: 200 Brothers Road, Scott; description, metal canopy, entry and front sidewalk for Flow Control Equipment; applicant and contractor, L Mark Builders; $20,000.

OTHER: 112 Bertrand Drive, description, remodel waiting area and customer restrooms; applicant and contractor, Cajun Paving & Construction of Acadiana; $20,000.

OFFICE: 110 Travis St., description, interior renovation of an existing building for new tenant at Travis Technology Center; applicant, Ritter Maher Architects; contractor, Thomson Brothers Construction; $2 million.

OFFICE: 210 Heymann Blvd., description, demolition and renovation of existing tenant office space; applicant, Beal & Hebert; contractor, Thomson Brothers Construction; $1.2 million.

New commercial

1310 E. BROUSSARD ROAD, LOT

A: description, golf cart shed for

BATTERIES

Continued from page 1E

solar panels at his family’s home in 2020. He pays a small monthly connection fee to Entergy in lieu of a regular utility bill and has remained cool through outages ever since.

“During the Ida grid outage, we were baking cookies in the middle of the day and invited friends and family over to use our AC,” he said. “We’d check with our neighbors to see if anybody needed ice.”

It’s not just about reliability and comfort. Last year, Smith signed up to participate in an Entergy pilot program that offers incentives to allow the utility to activate his batteries during times of peak grid usage.

“We got a check for $600,” he said. “It’s a sweet deal.” Cheaper, smarter

The growth of the residential and business battery market follows the rise in popularity over the past 20 years of electric vehicles, which are powered by inhome battery systems like Tesla’s Powerwall.

Over the years, the technology has advanced, enabling battery systems to do more while saving users money Prices for the systems from different manufacturers vary widely but they aren’t cheap: a Tesla Powerwall could cost about $16,000 before incentives, and installation adds thousands to the tab.

“There have been major improvements to the components that convert the power and connect to an electrical panel as well as the app experience,” said Cole Ashman, a New Orleans native and Tulane University alumnus who launched a San Franciscobased battery startup last year “That results in easier installations, labor savings and more data that can be used to optimize power usage.”

Today’s smart batteries help homeowners save money by optimizing energy usage, said Ashman, who spoke last week at the Tulane Future of Energy Forum. They can also help customers potentially make money by taking stress off the power grid.

“Batteries have gotten a little bit cheaper but a lot smarter,” he said. His company, Pila, aims to make batteries even more accessible by selling “plug-and-play” devices that customers can use without any permitting to provide emergency backup power for refrigerators and other essential appliances. His products are due to roll out next year at a price of about $1,000 each.

In Louisiana, customers will almost always pair batteries with solar panels But in other states, especially those that charge different prices for energy depending on demand, there may be incentives to buy batteries on their

BUILDING PERMITS

townhome development; applicant, Guidry Land Development; contractor, DSLD; $1.1 million.

137-B AMY ROAD, BROUSSARD: description, slab only and commercial building buildout; applicant, 3735-90 LLC; contractor, Park Group Construction; $300,000.

New residential

201 BODENGER ROAD: BCS Builders, $696,250. 3112 N. UNIVERSITY AVE.: Jay Castille Construction, $484,000.

108 BRADDISH COURT: DSLD, $326,750. 323 ELIAS G. ROAD: self-contracting, $530,250.

205 DWAYNE DRIVE, DUSON: Dugas Construction, $137,500. 102 SALTMEADOW LANE: Prestigious Home Builders, $462,625.

227 WAKELY COURT: DSLD, $299,750.

100 KEELINGWOOD LANE: Level Construction & Development, $356,375.

112 CHESTER ST.: Reliance Real Estate Group, $143,750. 305 LYDIA LANE: Devyn Enterprises, $235,750.

307 LYDIA LANE: Devyn Enterprises, $237,125.

309 LYDIA LANE: Devyn Enterprises, $238,500.

132 BELLE LAKE DRIVE: DR Horton, $360,625.

127 BELLE LAKE DRIVE: DR Horton, $348,975.

109 MEADOW WALK DRIVE, BROUSSARD: AM Design, $218,000.

900 SUMMER ST., BROUSSARD: DSLD, $125,734.

111 LOTUS ST., BROUSSARD: DSLD $136,552.

113 LOTUS ST., BROUSSARD: DSLD $139,002.

114 SQUIRREL RUN, YOUNGSVILLE: Atchafalaya Homes, $130,421.

123 CAPE TOWN AVE., YOUNGSVILLE: Elite Home Builders, $370,000.

1206 BROYLES ST., YOUNGSVILLE: Brian Guidry Custom Homes, $950,000.

104 HARBOURSIDE DRIVE, YOUNGSVILLE: Manuel Builders, $190,000.

102 HARBOURSIDE DRIVE, YOUNGSVILLE: Manuel Builders, $220,000.

415 N. LARRIVIERE ROAD, YOUNGSVILLE: Robert Cenac, $125,000.

Congress in July, poses a threat to the growth of the battery storage market, at least in the short term.

Federal subsidies for residential solar and batteries will dry up at the end of year, though there will be a longer and more complicated sunset for commercial credits that will last until the next decade.

“It’s a nuanced federal policy climate,” said Pierre Moses, a renewable energy developer and Tulane professor “Some Biden-era incentives were attacked significantly (in the Big Beautiful Bill) while others were extended.”

Cantin, of Solar Alternatives, said the changes don’t mean the industry will grind to a halt.

CASINOS

Continued from page 1E

state-licensed riverboats and Caesars have brought in $1.27 billion, up nearly 11% from $1.15 billion during the same period last year

That figure has been boosted by the addition of a 15th riverboat casino, the Live! Casino & Hotel, in Bossier City Since 2022, Horseshoe Lake Charles, The Queen Baton Rouge and Treasure Chest in Kenner have all moved on to land. The Belle of Baton Rouge will join them in December, when its $141 million expansion and rebrand as Bally’s Baton Rouge is completed.

Caesars, meanwhile, completed a more than $400 million overhaul at the end of 2024.

In part, the new investment is fueled by a 2018 change to state law that allowed floating casinos, which for decades were only allowed to operate over water, to move onto land and open bigger gaming halls with better facilities and adjoining hotels.

It has also been fueled by more competition from a growing number of jurisdictions that have legalized gaming in the more than three decades since Louisiana’s first riverboats opened.

“People like new,” said Matt Roob, senior vice president of financial analysis for Spectrum Gaming, a consulting firm. “That’s really what you’re seeing, and to stay competitive, you have to give them something new.”

Evolution

In the early years, the state’s gaming laws required that floating casinos — then, all paddlewheelstyle riverboats — actually cruise from time to time over open water Over time, as concerns about legalized gaming eased the laws relaxed and floating casinos evolved into multistory facilities that sat atop barges.

Still, they were required to technically float, which casino operators and their lobbyists argued put them at a competitive disadvantage at a time when legalized gaming of one sort or another was spreading across the country

In 2018, state Sen. Ronnie Johns, a Lake Charles Republican, led efforts to change the law to allow riverboat casinos to move onto land. Johns later became head of the Louisiana Gaming Board. In exchange, casino operators had to show the move would lead to significant investment, in the form of new restaurants, hotels and entertainment facilities.

So far, it has.

STAFF FILE PHOTO By BRETT DUKE

The previously floating Treasure Chest Casino opened a new larger, $100 million land-based casino at the end of Williams Boulevard in June 2024. At twice the size, the new casino features a convention space, 1,700-space parking lot and four new restaurants, including Kenner’s only steakhouse.

steakhouse.

In its first year, the casino collected an average gross revenue of $12.6 million per month, about 82% higher than the year before, according to gaming revenue reports by Louisiana State Police.

The casino’s average patronage also nearly doubled during that period, with about 89,000 customers visiting each month compared with about 47,000 the year before.

Kenner Mayor Michael Glaser said earlier this summer that the new facility is not only more popular with gamblers because of its amenities and convenience but that local organizations book meetings and galas in the event spaces.

Caesars, the state’s largest and only traditional land-based casino, has undergone a massive renovation of its own. The project cost more than $400 million over three years and was part of a rebrand of the 25-year-old casino, which opened at the foot of Canal Street as Harrah’s in 1999.

The expansion and modernization included overhauling the entrances of the building and painting it white, in keeping with the look of a Caesar’s casino property, adding new windows and a food hall with restaurants branded by celebrity chefs Emeril Lagasse and Nina Compton.

Interior renovations included modernizing gaming space, removing the heavy framing and dark carpet, and replacing them with a lighter, airier and more contemporary decor, casino officials said.

United Methodist Church in MidCity

own, charging them with grid power when it’s cheap and using it during peak times.

Ashman, who remembers New Orleans’ frequent power outages from his childhood, is part of a growing group promoting the power of batteries in homes and businesses to be networked together to form a “virtual power plant,” relieving stress on a utility’s power grid in times of high demand

His company is among those supporting a proposal for a multimillion-dollar public investment to create a virtual power plant in New Orleans.

The nonprofits Together New Orleans and the Alliance for Affordable Energy are leading the project, which is modeled on others in Puerto Rico, California and other locations.

The New Orleans City Council opened a docket and allocated money to potentially greenlight a plan last year, and supporters are hoping for more action soon.

Disappearing incentives

President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, passed by

“It just means that if people don’t finish their battery projects before the end of the year, they will be more expensive,” he said. “There will be a rush at the end of the year, and it’ll take some time to grow back to where it was.”

Business incentives remaining in place is significant for Solar Alternatives, which made the majority of its revenue this year from commercial customers.

The company’s business portfolio includes the Mall of Louisiana in Baton Rouge a “fully resilient” Gulf Coast Bank branch in Elmwood and the St. Peter Apartments, a Mid-City mixedincome housing development that includes enough solar panels and batteries to run the entire 50 units

“We’ve got a big battery there that looks like the lunar lander, and it worked all through Ida, kept residents cool and allowed to invite guests over,” said Smith, one of the project’s architects.

Arushi Sharma Frank, a battery consultant who helped create the virtual power plant proposal for Together New Orleans, sees a lot of changes on the horizon.

“The policy landscape for energy storage in people’s homes is multiplying at a rate that’s usually really not typical for energy tech,” she said. “Ultimately, utilities are going to have a giant wake-up moment.”

Email Rich Collins at rich. collins@theadvocate.com.

In Baton Rouge, The Queen’s $8.1 million in winnings in July was nearly four times greater than in July 2023. The number of visitors nearly tripled and the casino added 100 new employees.

“We’ve seen not only greater foot traffic and greater revenue share, but increases in retail revenue for food and beverage, catering and entertainment,” said Lauren Westerfield, a Bally’s spokesperson. By improving The Queen and making it easier for locals to get on the casino floor, Westerfield said the property has increased its footprint.

“We have more repeat visitation customers,” she said. “The people who were visiting once a week are now coming three to five times a week.”

Bally’s officials hope they see the same effect when the Belle moves onto land later this year Plans are to add 100 new employees, along with a range of new restaurants including an oyster bar/bistro, a cocktail bar and a sports lounge. The property’s 242 room hotel opened in the spring. It had been closed since the start of COVID-19 pandemic due to roof damage.

Attracting locals, visitors

In Kenner, the Treasure Chest Casino has had a similar experience. It opened a new larger, $100 million land-based casino in June 2024.

Twice the size of its floating predecessor, the new casino features a convention space, 1,700-space parking lot and four new restaurants, including Kenner’s only

Caesars also built a new 340room, casino-adjacent hotel that opened shortly before New Orleans welcomed crowds to the Super Bowl in February In the months since, general manager Samir Mowad said Caesars has seen growth both in the number of patrons and the amount they spend. In July, the number of casino admissions was up 28% and revenues jumped 20% over the year before.

“When we made our investment, the objective was to grow our piece of the pie,” Mowad said. “That certainly has happened for us, both by reengaging our locals and attracting new visitors from out of town.”

Way of the future

It’s not clear from the data how much of the increased casino spend is coming from new customers versus existing ones, who are spending more money at the Treasure Chest or The Queen instead of a casino on the Mississippi Gulf Coast or one of the tribal properties.

But Roob, the consultant, said it’s likely a combination of the two.

“If you have a nice, new casino in New Orleans or Kenner, your customers are much less likely to go over to Mississippi,” he said. “It is also like, ‘Gee, if I really like the bar and it’s a nice place and they make a good drink, I might have a second instead of just one.’”

The current round of upgrades and expansions at casinos around the state is part of an ongoing way of doing business, Mowad said. Customers are demanding more and to keep up with the competition, casinos will have to continue to deliver and reinvent themselves in new ways.

“It’s no longer a matter of you spend $400 million and you’re done for 10 years,” he said. “You want to continue to invest in your property to make it something people want to come visit again and again.”

STAFF PHOTO By RICH COLLINS Preschool teacher Dana Christmas and her son Tristan walk past a row of batteries at First Grace

PROVIDED PHOTO

New Orleans native Cole Ashman, left, collaborates with a co-worker at the San Francisco offices of his battery startup Pila.

TALKING BUSINESS

ASK THE EXPERTS

Lafayette economy seeing rising job numbers

BY ADAM DAIGLE Acadiana business editor

Q&A WITH JERRy PREJEAN

When job figures were released earlier this summer for Lafayette Parish, the numbers were good. The parish recorded over 192,000 total jobs, its second -highest employment number in at least 10 years. That number could continue to climb while the unemployment rate remains lower than most areas, said Jerry Prejean, Acadiana market president for First Horizon Bank. Prejean was chair last year of One Acadiana, the chamber of commerce for Lafayette and the leading economic development organization for the nine-parish Acadiana region.

“I think Lafayette is certainly handling itself well,” Prejean said “I think things are going to get even better once you start seeing some of these bigger projects like First Solar come online. People are going to work in Iberia Parish but live and play in Lafayette Parish. Where we’re seeing lift is in a lot of manufacturing.”

In this week’s edition of Talking Business, Prejean talks more about the manufacturing sector’s growing presence in the region, the fluctuations in the real estate market and how he was raised by parents who never attended high school.

This interview was edited for clarity Manufacturing has been a hot area, but health care is still solid.Tell me a little more about the job activity Manufacturing is clicking on all cylinders. Health care is a huge employer for this area, and we’ve got the oil field that’s doing well again. It’s very cyclical, but all the timing is right, and I think that’s driving the unemployment num-

bers down.

In which industries are you seeing a lot of commercial loan activity of late?

We’re blessed to have construction be a big part of our success with equipment and financing. Not only manufacturing equipment but also plant expansion. We’re also proud of some of the work we’ve done with nonprofits like the University (of Louisiana at Lafayette) and the football stadium that’s been a big plus. But really health care, manufacturing and construction have been some of the big successes that we’ve seen.

What are you seeing in the real estate market? Is the consumer demand for newly built homes still strong despite higher interest rates?

People got accustomed to sub-

3% interest rates on mortgage loans for a very long time. Even at a 6.5% or 7% interest rate, it’s still an attractive rate, but folks have really started to pull back. There’s still some demand for new construction. Refinancing is zero, basically, because no one wants to give up a 2.5% rate and jump into a 7.5% rate. I’m seeing a little bit more of looking at home equity lines of credit to do some basic improvements on houses.

The average sale price of a home in Lafayette Parish continues to climb like other areas around the country. It’s getting closer to $300,000. How much of a concern is that for you?

I’m concerned that when you factor in the cost of homeowner’s insurance on top of that. The

whole insurance crisis is really a concern, and it’s especially if you’re south of I-10. Those are factored into your qualifying guidelines, and I just worry that single-income households may be priced out of the market. That’s maybe why you’re seeing a bunch of apartment complexes starting to pop up and rental subdivisions come into the market.

What are you seeing with consumer loans and other personal loans?

If you look at low unemployment rates and households having some really disposable income, that converts to personal loans, maybe loan consolidations and automobile loans. We’re seeing some activity on that front here in Lafayette. If you look at the stats from the auto

dealerships, things seem to be going well. The other thing we look at is general delinquencies. Are people paying their bills? We’re not seeing any real issues on that front. It tells me that people are not overextending themselves yet.

You’re kind of known for your family history with parents who had limited education and were shaped by the Great Depression. What was life like for you growing up?

My dad had no formal education up until he went to World War II.

My mom had an eighth grade education and grew up in the Tolson Road/Verot School Road area. She was fortunate there was an African American school there, but beyond eighth grade, it was the family’s responsibility to get their kids to Paul Breaux Elementary The parish school system did not provide transportation for all the kids. But this allowed them to focus on education as a cornerstone for their kids. I’ve got two older brothers who are physicians. It re-

Building the Future of Energy Logistics.

STAFF PHOTO By LESLIE WESTBROOK

‘I think Lafayette is certainly handling itself well,’ said Jerry Prejean, Acadiana market president for First Horizon Bank in Lafayette.

One Acadiana launches election hub site

One Acadiana has launched its 2025 Elections Hub, afree online resourceto help voters navigate the fall elections. The site, oneacadiana.com/elections, includes key election dates, 1A’s Ballot Guide and anew video series, “1A Ballot Briefings.”

Voters in Lafayette Parishwill decide on two local millage renewals on Oct. 11 —one for the LafayetteParish school system and the other for theBayouVermilion District.

The Ballot Guide outlines thetwo millage renewals, explaining what a“yes” vote and a“no” vote would mean for each.

One Acadianaisalso introducing 1A Ballot Briefings, avideo series designed to give voters an in-depth lookatballot items. Episodes for the Oct. 11election includeinterviews with the Lafayette Parish public schoolssuperintendent and the executive director of the Bayou Vermilion District.

EarlyvotingisSept. 27 to Oct. 4.Tofind apolling location, visitsos.la.gov

LCG identifies 5intersections for roundabouts

Roundabouts are planned forfive locations around Lafayette while another will be expanded, said WarrenAbadie, director of traffic,roads and bridges for Lafayette Consolidated Government.

Abadie, who spoke with Jan Swift on the Discover Lafayette podcast,said the roundabout at RuedeBelierand Ridge Road will be expanded to amultilane version while new ones are planned at other locations.

Those include:

n East Broussard Road and Robley Drive

n West Broussard and Duhon roads

n Ridge and Domingue roads

n Vincent and East Broussard roads

n La. 92 and East Broussard Road toward Milton

Abadie said roundabouts are safer, more efficient andaccommodate Uturns but are more difficult to design and build, and some —like the Ridge Road and Rue de Belierroundabout —are already over capacity

“Traffic engineering is abalance of three things,” Abadie said.“Capacity. Convenience. Andsafety.Ifsafety was first, your car wouldn’tgomorethan five miles an hour.Ifitwas all about convenience, there’d be no pavement markings on the road. And if it was all about capacity,Iwouldn’t allow left turnson signals.”

5waystohelpyou ride outinflation

Michelle Singletary

THE COLOR OF MONEy

Oureconomy just can’tshake inflation’sunyielding grip. Consumer prices rose 0.4% in August, pushing annual inflation to 2.9%, up from 2.7% in July,according to the Labor Department. Although inflationhas come down from the scorching highs in 2022, the stubborn, slow creep upward in housing, grocery and gas prices is affecting millions of families.

Evenbefore the Labor Department released its latest consumer price index report, many people werefeeling pessimistic about their finances.

For August, “households’ inflationexpectations ticked up,” according to the Federal Reserve BankofNew York’sCenter for Microeconomic Data Survey of ConsumerExpectations.

The New York Fed alsoreported that unemployment and “job loss expectations worsened.” The optimism of finding ajob once unemployed declined to arecord low

For consumers with enough income and savings, rising prices might not require significant changes in their spending habits.

However,for people living paycheck to paycheck, inflation can make it muchharder to cover essentials like food, gas and rent. It could lead to skipping meals or falling behind on bills.

Here’swhat some readers have been asking meabout coping with rising prices.

Howcan Iadjust my budget to manage rising inflation?

Start with the most obvious, easier-to-drop expenses.

People underestimate how much they spend dining out.

TheLabor Department reported that the food-away-fromhome index rose 3.9% over the pastyear,with full-service meals climbing 4.6%.

Reviewyour bank and credit card statements for the last several months and add up just how much you spend eating out. The totalmay surprise you. Maybe

it’stimetofast from grabbing fast food or sit-down restaurant meals.

Restaurants aren’tthe only budget-busting culprit. Grocery costshave also jumped, so it’s worthauditing your spending in this category,too.

Here’sa challenge: Take stock of all the food you have in your home —the canned beans, rice, noodles, frozen vegetables and meats—and use it all up before buying new groceries. Use a search engine to list some ingredients and find meal ideas.

Entertainment subscriptions are another area to scrutinize Unbundled cable options and streaming services were supposed to save money,but the monthly fees for multiple platforms—especially premium, ad-free plans —add up quickly

And don’toverlookyour phone bill. When was the last time you compared mobile plans or negotiatedwith your carrier?

Here’ssomething Idowith many subscriptions. Ilet alot lapse. If Idon’tmiss it, Idon’t renew.For servicesIwould like to keep, the companies almost always offer adiscount deal to win back my business.

If you need help withbudgeting or other ideas for trimming, Irecommend getting assistance from anonprofit credit counselor.You can find one by going to nfcc.org, run by the National Foundation for Credit Counseling.

This is the moment to take a deep dive into your entire budget, identify the leaks and trim where you can.

How much do Ineed in emergency savings now?

When you’re dealing with higher costs for basics, your emergency fund becomes an essential safety net.

The recommended amount, expertssay,isatleast threeto six months’ worth of living expenses. However,that’snot possible for many households.

Don’tlet thishigh expectation discourage you from saving whatever you can. Even asmall cushion can help cover higher prices. Set agoal. If you canonly

manage $20, that’sfine. Your next payday,see if you can increase the savings amount. Here’sanother tip. When you cut acost, treat it like a“bill you pay yourself.” Move that freedup cash immediately to savings so it doesn’t get reabsorbed into daily spending. If you’re living paycheck to paycheck, you should be reviewing your budget monthly to catch any overspending.

How can Imanagethe higher costs from my company’sreturn-to-office policy?

Your sweats don’tmeet the office dress code, so now you feel you have to buy more clothes thatare office-appropriate.

Or you now have to add back commuting costs back into your budget, including maybe some speeding tickets or late fees for child care because traffic is so bad.

You’re so madabout the return-to-office policy and losing treasured flexibility that you don’thave the mental energy to work out anew spending plan.

Feel what you need to feel, but you still need to work on an updated baseline for office-related expenses. Identify all your new costsand compare them to potential savings because you aren’tworking from home. Perhaps your utilities will be lower, allowing you to offset additional work expenses. Some habits don’tneed to change. If you made your lunch from leftovers from dinner pack thatmeal for work.

Before updating your wardrobe, take an inventory of what you already own. Focus on putting together foundational pieces in neutral colors. Make mixing and matching your budget saver

Don’tstress about having an extensive wardrobe. I’m on TV all the time, and Iwear the same few blazers repeatedly.I dare someone to say something to me about my repeats!

Should Idelay making amajor purchase?

If the economy gets worse and you lose your job, you mayneed to tapsavings for much longer thanexpected. Think about this if you’re considering buying a

home or trading in apaid-off vehicle.

As rents have increased, it’s understandable that you might be considering homeownership to stabilize your housing costs through afixed-rate mortgage. For others, renting might be a better financial option, offering more flexibility to move and minimaltonomaintenance responsibility

Akey question to ask yourself is whether buying ahome will deplete your savings to the point where you can’thandle higher consumer prices. The same is true for taking on auto debt.

Many car owners have a budget-crushing monthly burden. The share of new-car buyers with monthly payments of $1,000 hit an all-timehigh of 19.3% for the second quarter, up from 17.8% for the same period ayear earlier,according to Edmunds, acar-shopping website.

The average amount financed for anew vehicle was $42,388, an all-timehigh. The average payment was $756. Used-car prices are better,but not cheap. The average price was just shy of $30,000 with amonthly payment of $559.

Should Istopordecrease contributions to my retirementaccount?

It may be tempting to cover rising prices by pulling back on your retirement contributions. If you can, hold offonthat. Make this move as alast resort. Many savers have reaped the benefit of keeping up with their retirement savings.

In its second-quarter review of retirement accounts, Fidelity Investments reported that average 401(k) balances reached a record high, despite the market volatility.The average 401(k) balance was up by 8%. Of course, it’shard to stay the course when you’re facing financial pressure from rising prices. But retirement saving is along-term game plan, and you should do what you can to stick to that goal.

EmailMichelle Singletary at michelle.singletary@washpost. com.

Beyond isn’taplace —it’samindset. Andit’sabeliefthathas poweredusfor over80years

We areJones Walker LLP,a firmdrivenbyanentrepreneurial spirit,adeepsense of community, and afierce determination to deliverexceptional serviceand valuefor our clients.

Since1937, ourfirm hasbeencommitted to workingwithcommunity leaders to developbusiness opportunitiesacrossthe state. We aresteadfast in continuing ourdedicationtogobeyondinadvising clientsand supportinginitiatives andorganizations that make Louisiana abetterplace to live andwork

WilliamH.Hines,ManagingPartner bhines@joneswalker.com 504.582.8000 201St. CharlesAvenue NewOrleans,LA70170-5100

LED: Hyundairaids won’timpactDonaldsonvilleplans

BY STEPHANIE RIEGEL Staff writer

In the wake of an immigration raid at aHyundai battery plant in Georgiaearlier this month, South Korean leaders warned the Trump administration that Korean businesses mayrethink billions of dollars in planned investments in the U.S.

Nearly 500 South Korean workerswere detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in theSept. 4raid,igniting outrage from the South Korean government and U.S. trading partners. For Louisiana, the controversy wasparticularly concerning. Hyundaiis planning to build anearly $6 billion steel million near Donaldsonville, bringing a newindustry to the state and promising to create more than 1,300 well-paying jobs.

More thantwo weeksafter the raid, Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Susan Bourgeois said she is not worried about the future of the steel mill,which is set to break ground next fall.

“Weare not having any subtle or direct inference fromHyundaithat they are rethinking the investment,” Bourgeois said lastweek.

“Our teams meet all the time and there is no inference that is going to change.”

The incident underscores the challenges the Trump administration faces as it tries to encourage foreign investment in the country while implementing controversial trade and immigration policies, the latter of which have madeitharder for foreign workers to come intothe U.S.and stay here legally

The Hyundai steel mill, announced at aWhite House ceremony earlier this spring as sweeping new tariffs were getting ready to go into effect, was touted by PresidentDonald Trumpasanexample of how his economic policies are bringing new

Hyundai Steel representative Seokho Lee delivers amessagefrom the Hyundai CEO during an announcement of aHyundai steel mill in Ascension Parish. After nearly 500 South Koreans were recentlydetained in aU.S Immigrations and Customs Enforcement raid in Georgia, Louisiana officials are reaffirmingthat those plans have not been interrupted.

million in incentives that the state agreed to give Hyundai in return forbuilding the plant in the state.

first steel mill in the U.S. When completed, it will supply the company’stwo U.S. auto factories in Alabama andGeorgia with steel sheets forthe more than 600,000 vehicles they produce annually

Hyundai officials to discuss thelogistics of the deal,including land acquisitions, road and rail upgrades, and the creation of astate-owned worker trainingfacility in Donaldsonville.

investment tothe country “Money is pouringinand we wanttokeep it that way,” he said at thetime.

Theplantwillbebuilt by HyundaiMotor Group, whichalso ownsKia Corp., and would be thecompany’s

The facility will be built on 1,700 acres of sugar cane fields on the west bank of Ascension Parishinthe RiverplexMegapark, aburgeoning industrial park that stateand localeconomic development officials have promoted to chemical and manufacturing companies.

In themonthssince it was announced, Bourgeois said officials from LED and Ascension Parish have been meetingregularly with

“We’refar into this process,” Bourgeoissaid. “Everything is on track.”

While the project has been afeather in thecap of the Trump andLandry administrations, it is generating push back from the local environmental advocates, who are concerned about emissions from the plant and its impact on residents.

Following the Sept. 4raid, agroup of Ascension Parish residents called on Landry to cancel morethan $500

“Governor (Jeff) Landry you offered up taxpayers’ hard earned money —not to thelocal in-statebusinesses whoare proven job creators andwho pay taxes in our state— buttomulti-billion dollar corporations that are alreadyenjoying record profits,” said Anne Rolfes, executive director of the LouisianaBucketBrigade “We’re counting on you to keep thatmoney andgive it to the local businesseswho need it most.” LandrysaidTuesday the projectisonschedule and moving forward.

Email StephanieRiegel at stephanie.riegel@ theadvocate.com.

Menhaden Industry Steps Up for Local CommunitiesinWakeofHurricanes

By Amanda McElfresh, amcelfresh@theadvocate.com

Thisarticle is Brought to youbythe Louisiana CommercialFisheriesCoalitionLLC With the 20th anniversary of Hurricanes Katrina andRita upon us,Louisianians arethinking back to that devastation and remembering all thosewho helped us getthrough thosedifficult times.When hurricanes batter the Gulf Coast,the menhaden industry—often seen only forits fishing fleet and processing plants—has taken on adifferentrole: acommittedneighbor ready to step up in timesofcrisis

In September 2021, after Hurricane Ida tore through southeastern Louisiana,Omega Protein quickly mobilized relief forhard-hit Terrebonne Parish. The companydelivered 550 gallons of gasoline, 3pallets of water(252 cases), and apalletofhand sanitizer from its plantinAbbeville to St.JosephChurch in Chauvin. Throughsocial media,the company directed its followers to local charities to help getthe communityback on its feet Companyemployees alsopartnered with relief organization BayouBoysCommunity Helperstodistributeover1,000 meals to residents who had been impacted by the hurricane in neighboring Lafourche Parish. Ayear earlier,when Hurricane Laura devastatedCameron Parish with 150-mph winds,the destruction wasstaggering.Inthe

days immediately after the storm, Omega Protein stepped in, despite having closed its Cameron facilityin2013.

In acompanyrelease,Ben Landry, spokesman forthe industry,explained:

“Cameron wasawonderful home forusfor nearly half acentury.Eventhough we no longer operateinCameron, the people there arestill our friends and neighbors, and we will not turn our back on them during their time of need.”

OmegaProtein’s contributions delivered in partnership with the local Cameron Lions Club,paid fornecessities such as fuel for generators, bottled water, and tents.

“Omega Protein wasone of the first ones to say, ‘whatdoyou need, howcan we help,’” said Stephanie Rodrigue, presidentofthe Cameron Lions

Club.“We were very pleasedtohear from Omega, butevenmoresotoknowthatthey still caredsomuchabout ourcommunity, about ourresidents,and wanted to make adifferencewhen adifferencewas most needed in thoseearly weeks, when resources were so very limited andthe need was astronomically high.”

Stateleaders also acknowledged the effort.

“Cameron Parish has sustained incredible damagefrom this storm,”said State Representative Ryan Bourriaque in acompanypress releaseissued at the time. “But with the help of good neighbors like OmegaProtein and the generosity of peopleeverywhere, we’ll rebuildthis communityand get it back on its feet.”

Similarly, in 2024,when Hurricane Helene swept across

western North Carolina and left thousands without power, theindustry stepped up to help.CookeSeafood,the parentcompany of OmegaProtein, and othermembersof theCooke family of companies,including WancheseFishCompanyand Shoreland Trucking, delivered afull18-wheeler semitrailer truckload of ice to support relief efforts in Marion, North Carolina

Following widespread poweroutages in theregion, accesstoice becamecritical for preserving food,babyformula,and other perishableitems

“Weknewthatice wasneeded urgently in Western North Carolina, and ourteam wasready to help,” said JonSteeves Director of Operations at WancheseFish Company.“North Carolina’s inlandresidents have always supported us when coastal communitieshavebeen hit by storms,soit’s ourturn to return thefavor.We’re glad we couldcontribute and help those in need.” These storiesreflect aside of the menhaden industry that often goes unseen. Beyond supplying asustainable fishery and supporting thousands of Louisiana jobs,the industry has consistently stepped up as a reliable neighborintimes of crisis—whether on theGulfCoastoracrossthe country When disaster strikes,the menhaden industry showsthatits commitment goes far beyond thewater.

STAFF FILE PHOTOS By MICHAELJOHNSON

Aguest takes aphotoofPresident Donald Trumpalong withSpeaker of the House MikeJohnson and Gov. Jeff Landry,on screen,asof

cialsinMarch announce plans for aHyundai steel mill

Omega Protein trucks loaded with pallets of water, gasoline and hand sanitizer for Hurricane Ida relief

Bottled water, gasoline and hand sanitizer being loaded for distribution to Hurricane Ida victims

Gallagher: ALouisiana StoryofGrowth, Community andResilience

Gallagher,one of the world’slargestinsurancebrokerage,risk managementand consulting firms, has asignificantpresencein Louisiana, with arich history andadeep commitmenttothe local community. With roots in the statedatingback decades, Gallagher has grownintothe largest broker inLouisiana, providing awide array of services to businesses of allsizes acrossvarious sectors

“WhereIthink we areuniquelypositioned is thatwedon’t have that institutional mindset. We haven’talwaysbeen big.We’vealwayshad to be alittle morenimble, creativeand client-centric, said” Numa “Bumpy” Triche,regional president. “The result isthatwehavethe sizeand scale of anybody in the world, with robustdataanalytics and modeling capabilities. But our local operations arevery much integrated within the local market.”

Founded in 1927,Gallagher has expanded globally and reports $11.3 billion in total adjustedbrokerage andrisk managementrevenues in 2024 and amarket capitalization of $76.1billion as of January 30,2025.

Thecompanyhas aworkforce of nearly56,000 employees worldwide morethan 970officesglobally,and servesclients in over130 countries.

In Louisiana, Gallagher’s journeybeganwithanacquisition in Baton Rouge,which led to theestablishmentofofficesinNew Orleans and Monroe,Louisiana. Thecompanyhas strategically acquired local firms overthe years, integrating their employees and maintaining alocal focus. This growth has resulted in 18 officesstatewide and asignificant regional market share. Thecompanyhas grownits businessbyworking withpeople and organizations who sharecommon values and vision. “Gallagher has one of thelargest operations within ourSoutheastregion in terms of our footprint acrossthe stateand the various markets, Triche said. “Atthe same time, we arealwaysclient-focused, withthe people in the statebeing the ones who work with the local teams and businesses. People work with us because we provide awhite-glove service experiencewitheasyaccessibilitytoour team and our broader tools and resources. We have invested heavily in areas relatedtodata analysis and forensicaccounting in order to provide the technical and detailed support to our teams.Whatwedoisoffer ourclients access to global expertise tailored to their needs.”

As proud as Gallagher is of its growth,theyare prouder to have been able to maintainits unique culture. This cultureissummed up in 25 tenets called TheGallagher Way, aset of shared values thatemphasize ethics, integrityand aclient-centricapproach. These values were articulatedbyRobert E. Gallagher backin1984and have sinceguided the company’soperations and relationships. Keyprinciples include providing excellentrisk managementservices,supporting and respecting colleagues, pursuing professional excellenceand fostering open communication. Thecompanyculturevalues empathy, trust, leadership and teamwork, with astrong emphasis on treating everyone with courtesyand respect

Gallagher’s commitmenttoLouisiana goes beyond business. The companyhas alocalpresence, with employees deeply embedded in the community.

“Our employees see theirclients at church on Sundays,play golf with them on Saturdays,and go to lunch with them on Wednesdays,” said William Jackson, ExecutiveVicePresidentof Gallagher’s SoutheastRegion and leader of the NewOrleans operation and the region’s specialtyproducts.Our local connection is akey differentiatorfor Gallagher,combining the resourcesand capabilities of alarge global firmwith the personalized serviceofa communitybroker.

“Weteam up withlocalpartnerstomakeevery communitywejoin a morevibrantone.Fromfundraisersfor localcharities to crawfishboils and hurricane relief,our officesgivebacktothe peopleand places in whichwelive. As we grow larger,wemaintain close ties to the communities we serve.

Gallagher serves adiverse range of industries in Louisiana,including manufacturing, agribusiness, public sector,higher education, aerospace, energy,entertainmentand lifesciences. Thecompanypositions itself as athought leader when it comes to riskmanagementguidance on topics suchascyber risks, healthcare,marine construction AI, social inflation and other influences thatimpactinsurance claim costs, leading to higher premiums and impacting the insuranceindustry’srisklandscape.The team prides itself on providing expertiseand insights on keyindustries and currenteventsimpacting this region.

WILLIAM JACKSON ExecutiveVicePresidentSoutheast Region, Gallagher

Gallagher is poised forcontinued success in Louisiana,driven by its strong values, localfocus and expertise in keyindustries. Thecompany’s emphasis on client-centric service, combined with its global resources, positions it as atrustedpartner forbusinesses andindividuals seeking insurance, risk managementand consulting solutions.AsGallagher continues to grow and adapttothe evolving needsofthe market its commitmenttothe local communities remains acornerstone of its identity

SUNDAY | SEPTEMBER 21 | 2025

ASPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Ridingthe Rails: NewGulfCoast Service

Fall Festivalsthat Feed theSoul

Exploring Louisiana’s NorthshoreWaters

Retreats,Spas and Yoga Getaways

AJourneyThrough Mississippi

RIDING THE RAILS TRAIN TRAVEL EXPANDS

By Amanda McElfresh amcelfresh@theadvocate.com

For the first time in nearly 20 years, travelersare able to ride daily trains along the Mississippi GulfCoast.The Amtrak MardiGrasService operatestwice daily in each direction, withmorning and evening departures from NewOrleans and Mobile. Along the way, thetrains stop in Bay St.Louis,Gulfport,Biloxi and Pascagoula.

“With the launch of the Amtrak Mardi Gras Service,wearenot just restoring a transportation link; we arecelebrating the vibrantcultureand communityspirit of the Gulf Coast,” said JoeDonahue, Louisiana’s transportation secretary Thenew line linksdirectly with Amtrak’s

CityofNew OrleansroutetoChicagoand connect to the Crescent(to NewYorkvia Atlanta)and the Sunset Limited (toLos Angeles via San Antonio,Houstonand Tucson).For travelers, thismeanssame-day or next-dayaccessfromthe GulfCoast to destinations across the country.

The GulfCoast line is the latest addition to anational network filled withbucket-list journeys.The California Zephyr carries passengersfromChicagotoSan Francisco throughthe Rockies andSierraNevada. The Coast Starlightfollows the Pacific shoreline from Seattle to Los Angeles.The Empire Buildertraverses the northern plains to Glacier National Park, while the Southwest Chief reveals NewMexico desertsand Arizona canyons on itsway from Chicagoto LosAngeles.

In the Northeast,the Northeast Corridor connectsBoston, NewYork, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C.,ina fraction of the time it takestodrive. And in Florida, Brightline nowlinksMiami andOrlando, offering afast,modern alternative in oneof the country’sbusiest corridors.

Rail service is the fastest-growing segmentofAmtrak’sbusiness, with 31 statesponsoredroutes in 20 states. Supported by

partnerships with state governments and the Federal Railroad Administration, these expansions reflect agrowing recognition thattrains canplayacentral role in sustainablemobility.

ForGulfCoast travelers, thenew Mardi Gras Service is morethanaroute—it’sa return of choice, cultureand community connection.

“This service willopen theMississippi Gulf Coast to awhole newtourism market, makingalready wonderfulplaces even better,” said Southern Rail Commission Chairman Knox Ross.

As morepassengersrediscoverthe joys of the rails—whether foraweekendfestival in Mobileoracross-countrytrektothe Rockies—train travel is once again proving it has afutureasbrightasits storied past

By Amanda McElfresh amcelfresh@theadvocate com

Whether you’re readyfor aquick weekend retreatoralarge family reunion, Reed Real Estate has abeach rental to suit your needs.With an abundance of waterfront properties in Gulf Shores and Fort Morgan at Alabama’s only petfriendly beach in Alabama,Reed has alocation that is perfect foryou and your guests.Hereare some topselections forthis fall.

Wave LinkWest

With sixbedrooms, multiple flat-screen TVs, a spacious kitchen with breakfast bar and adining table that cansit up to 16,thisGulf-frontduplexis designed with familiesand groups in mind. Enjoy the scenery with covereddecksand outdoor dining space andaprivateboardwalk to the beach. There’s alsoasharedpool with aneighboring duplex.

Gumbo One

Recharge in thisthree-bedroom,two-bath home with Gulf views, astock of boardgames, twoporch swingsand aprivatepool. The blend of coziness, serenityand privacy makesthisthe ideal retreatfor atranquil escape with all the comforts of home. This homeispet-friendly fordogs15pounds and under.

Wave LinkEast

Thisnew listing has six bedrooms, four baths and canaccommodate up to 16 guests.Aprivate beach path leads directly to apool. The main floor features hardwood floorsthroughout an open living, dining and kitchenarea, plus an inviting seating area –perfectfor large gatherings. There’s alsoawet bar with amini-fridgeand updated kitchenwith large island and seating forfour.

Wild Oats

This peaceful beach cottagehas three bedrooms, twobaths and sleeps up to eightguests.Two bedroomsopendirectly onto the deck with sliding glassdoorsand sweeping Gulf views.Other features include updatedkitchenand bar seating, cable TVsinthe living room and all bedrooms, and high speed wifi.

From Swamp Tours to Su t Di i nse n ng:

ExploringLouisiana’s Northshore Waters

By Amanda McElfresh amcelfresh@theadvocate.com

This article is broughttoyou by Visit theNorthshore.

There’snothing likegetting outonthe wateralong the Northshore, where LakePontchartrain and itssurrounding waterwaysoffer endless opportunitiesfor adventureand relaxation. Whether you’re seeking the thrill of discovery of the peace of awaterside sunset,the Northshorepromises both joyand unforgettable memories.

Swamp Tours

HoneyIslandSwamp on thenortheastedgeof St.TammanyParish features pristine beauty, lush nature and abundantwildlife. Alligators canbeseen sunning themselves on logs or watching warily from thebanks –unless your tour guidelures them closer with afew marshmallows!Alsobeonthe lookoutfor turtles, eagles, snowy white egrets,heronsand nutria

Make the most of your tripbybookinga Honey Island Swamp tour in advance. Most toursrun about twohours. Cajun Encounters Tour Co. bringsvisitorsout on apontoon boat, while NewOrleansKayak SwampTourslets more adventurous explorers getrightonthe water.

Outdoor Dining

There’snoshortage of restaurants along the Northshorethattakeadvantageofthe picturesque setting with outdoor seating. It’s hardtobeatthe combination of scenic views, good company, friendly service and Louisiana delicacies prepared with fresh ingredients and lots of love.Whether you’re looking forfamilyfriendly options,alow-key date nightoraplace to let your hair down over the weekend, there’s aNorthshorerestaurant foryou.Somepopular waterside options include Abita Roasting Company,Aperifid Spritz &Bites,GilliGil’s Island, Morton’sSeafood Restaurantand Bar, Palmettosonthe Bayou, Rips on the Lake,The Anchor,The Wakehouse andTRiver’s Bar and Grill.

LakePontchartrain

Despiteits name, thisbody of waterisactually an estuary thatencompassesabout630 square miles.The wateraverages12to14feet in depth and is brackish –mostlyfreshwateronthe west,but increasing in salinitythe farther east yougo. No matter whereyou arealong the lake, there’ssomething to appreciate about it.

In Mandeville, aseawall, restaurants with a view, amarina and parkslet locals and visitors make the most of the lake. More than adozen fishing chartersoperate outofSlidell, taking anglers outfor the chancetocatchtrout,bull reds and triple-tail. TheSt. TammanyParish Fishing PierinSlidelland theSunsetPoint Fishing PierinMandeville offer greataccessif youprefertofish from thebanks.

Numerous businesseswith kayak, paddleboard and canoe rentalsare all along Lake Pontchartrain, or youcan takeguided boat rentalsout of Fairview-Riverside State Park down the TchefuncteRiver to themouth of the lake.

WaterfrontParks

Fontainebleau State Park in Mandeville and Fairview-Riverside State Park in Madisonville both aregreat spots to enjoy thecrisp fall weather in Louisiana.

Locatedonthe north shoreofLake

Pontchartrain, Fontainebleau spans more than 2,800 acresfeaturing ancientliveoaks, scenic trails, asandy beach, fishing piersand more. Extend your visit witha lodging option, including cabins,campsites and RV hookups.

Fairview-Riverside is situatedalong the Tchefuncte River,where visitorscan enjoypicnics, fishing and boating from the convenientlaunch. Aboardwalk winds through themarsh,offering excellent opportunitiesfor wildlifeobservations.Well-maintained cabins andcampsites areavailable forlonger visits.

SI TTH EN OR TH SH OR E.CO M andhappinessripplesthrough TheNorthshore.It’snotsimply adestination,it’safeeling.

VI

Sports &Eats– ChicagoGourmet Chicago, IL | Sep 25–28

This year’s ChicagoGourmet festivaladopts a playful sports theme: “StepUptothe Plate”. Held at MillenniumPark, theevent features Tacos &Tequila with Rick Bayless, aHamburger Hopcompetition, Saturday’sAsian Late NightMarket,and charming brunch events like“Rise& Shine Gourmet.”

PandaFest | Nashville, TN | Oct24-26

Held at Fair Park, this fast-growing Asian food festival offersover80vendorsserving 250+ authenticstreet food dishes,along with artisan crafts.

Festivals That Feed the Soul: America’ s Best Autumn

Culinary Events

By Amanda McElfresh amcelfresh@theadvocate.com

Asthe leaves turn and theair grows crisp,culinary enthusiasts are celebrating autumn’s vibrant flavors acrossthe United States. Some of thebiggest food trends for2025include bold tastes,regional specialties, elevated comfort food, healthiersnacks, plus the flavors of pumpkin and caramel. These and other trends aresuretobe highlightedatsome of the nation’stop food celebrations this fall. Whether you’re craving smokybourbon, sweet garlic or festival-tested comfort food, hereare the some of the topupcoming toursand events

Southern Charm— Food &Wine Classic Charleston, SC | Nov14–16

Join celebrated chefs,including Emeril Lagasse and Gail Simmons, at this three-daystandout.The festival blends cooking demos,tastingsfrom100+ wineries and restaurants,and themed gatheringslikethe Southern Living Tailgateand SeatoTable crabbing workshop

Bishop’sOrchards Pizza-Themed CornMaze Guilford, CT | through Nov2 Thiscreativecorn mazehonorsConnecticut’spizza legacy.Explorepizza-themed art, and enjoywood-fired pies and aCider Hutatthe orchard.

Wine,Food&Coastal Vibes —Food+Wine Festival San Diego, CA | Nov7–9

Held along the golden California coast,this eventpairs panoramic sunsets with farm-freshfoodand wine. Elitechefs,farmers, andlocal vintnersconvergetooffer gourmet experiences,chefs’demonstration kits,and coastal tasting tents.

Austin Food &Wine Festival | Austin,TX | Nov7-9

This year’s highlights include the “MadeinTexas”event, fire-pit experiences,grilling sessions by Chef TimLove, and demos from celebritychefs.

Wurstfest | NewBraunfels, TX | Nov7-16

This 10-daycelebration of German-Texanculture includes sausage, schnitzel, beer halls,music, and authentic Bavarian cuisine.

ATaste of the South —Highlands Food &Wine Festival | Highland, NC | Nov13-16

Setinthe cozy Blue RidgeMountains,this festival celebrates its 10th anniversary with Michelin-star talent, Grammy-winning performers(The Wallflowers, Blind Boys of Alabama), andculinarycraft from James BeardAward winners.

FAJou Th h

Mississippi

Music g y

rney roug , Cuisine and Civil Ri hts Histor

romsoulful music and unforgettable cuisinetothe powerful history ofthe Civil Rights Movement,Mississippi has preservedits heritageina waythatinvites travelerstonot just visit,but experience. One of the bestwaysto do that is itsvisitor trails, which weaveculture,historyand flavor into journeys that speak to thesoul.

Walk the Mississippi Blues Trail

With more than 200 markers acrossthe state, thetrail honorslegendarymusicians, recording studios and historicvenues thatgaveriseto America’smost influential music.

In Clarksdale, the Delta Blues Museum tells thestory of Muddy Waters,B.B.King and other pioneersthrough exhibits andartifacts. Down thestreet,catchlivemusic at Ground Zero BluesClub,co-ownedbyactor Morgan Freeman, foranauthentic tasteoftoday’s blues scene.

From there, head to Indianola, where theB.B. King Museum and Delta InterpretiveCenter offersanin-depth look at thelifeofthe “Kingof theBlues.” Musichistory fans will appreciate Dockery FarmsinCleveland, widelyconsidered the birthplace of the Delta blues,whereCharley Patton once played. Capoff your tour at Club Ebony, ahistoric Indianolavenue where B.B. King and countless other greats performed.

By Amanda McElfresh amcelfresh@theadvocate.com

TasteYourWay Along Mississippi’sFoodTrails

No Mississippi journeyiscompletewithout savoring the flavors thatdefine its communities Thestate has severalfood-themed trails,but two stand outfor fall travelers.

TheTamale Trail– Hottamales areone of the Delta’smost beloveddishes,blending African Americanand Mexicanculinarytraditionsintoa spicy,comforting bite.Greenville, often called the “Hot Tamale Capital of the World,”isthe perfect starting point. At Doe’sEat Place, world-famous forboth its steaksand tamales,you’ll experience Deltadining at its finest. Another local favorite, HotTamale Heaven, is known forits perfectly seasoned, no-frills tamales thatlocalsswear by.

In Rosedale, make timefor the WhiteFront Café,atamale institution since the 1940s. At Airport Grocery in Cleveland, tamales pair with Southernsides in arustic setting. Roundout your tour at Solly’s HotTamales in Vicksburg, afamily-run staplewith recipespasseddown through generations.

TheSeafood Trail– Along the Gulf Coast, restaurants showcaseshrimp,oysters,craband fishstraightfromlocal waters

Foranelegantstart,dine at Mary Mahoney’s Old French HouseinBiloxi,known forits oysters and seafood gumbo. Next,enjoy the casual, beachfrontvibeatThe Reef,alsoinBiloxi,where shrimp po’boys areafavorite

In Gulfport,Shaggy’soffersa fun, familyfriendly atmospherewith seafood baskets and coastal cocktails,while WhitePillarsinBiloxi elevatescoastal cuisine with locally sourced, gourmetdishes

Reflect on the Mississippi Freedom Trail

This is one of the state’smost powerful experiences, highlighting keylocations from the Civil Rights Movementand inviting visitors to reflect on the struggles and triumphs of those who fought forequality.

In Jackson, the Medgar Evers Home Museum preserves the home of thecivil rights leader, and the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum offers immersiveexhibitsthattrace the movement’s statewide and national impact.

Travel east to Philadelphia, whereamarker honorsJames Chaney, Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerner,three civil rights workers murdered in 1964. BackinJackson, Tougaloo Collegestands as asymbol of studentactivism and organizing power.

In Oxford,visit the UniversityofMississippi, whereJames Meredith became the first Black studentadmittedin1962. Thesiteremains apowerful reminder of the courageand persistence required to desegregate higher education in the South.

Each stop is not only alessoninhistory but a call to reflect on howfar thenation hascome and thework stillleft to do.

to some of Louisiana’s TOP Your guide

By Amanda McElfresh amcelfresh@theadvocate.com

Tangipahoa ParishFair | Sep 28 to Oct 6|Amite

Theoldestfairinthe statecontinues its traditionofshowcasing local culture, preserving history,promoting economicdevelopment and nurturing community pride through agricultural exhibits, music, food, talent showcases,rides andmore. Details: tangifair.org

FGerman Fest |Oct 4and 5|Rayne Nestled in the heart of Acadiana, Rayneproudly celebratesits rich German heritage with live entertainment, delicious authentic Germanfood, afantastic selection of Germanbeerontap,folklore demonstrations,and plenty of activities forthe kids.Withaclean, family-friendly atmosphere,it’sagreat spot forvisitors of all ages to create unforgettable memories.

Details: robertscovegermanfest.com

FallFa Festivals Festivals

all in Louisiana is filled with celebration and community spirit. As the summer heatfinally eases, towns and cities acrossthe statecome alivewith festivals thatshowcase the bestoflocal culture, food and music. Here aresome of ourfavorites thatwe’re looking forwardtoin2025:

RedRiver RevelArtsFestival |Sep 30 to Oct 8|Shreveport

Musical performancesfor nine days in downtownShreveport and a vibrant atmospherethatcaters to diverse interests. Families eagerly participate in creativeand educationalactivities during nights and weekends. Meanwhile,the festival serves as amagnet fortalented visual artists nationwide,attractingindividuals from various regions who eagerly showcase and sell their art, captivating both local residents and visitors. Details: redriverrevel.com

Louisiana Sugar Cane Festival | Sep 21 to Sep 28 |New Iberia There’ssomethingfor everyone to celebrateone of Louisiana’s premier crops. TheFarmers Tractor Parade features vintage farm equipment. Local kids lead the Children’sParade.The Royalty Parade is highlighted by Queen Sugar andKing Sucrose.In BoulignyPlaza, dancethe night away at the Fais-Do-Do.Also downtown is astreet fair with akid-friendly carnival atmosphere Details: hisugar.org

BeauregardParishFair | Sep30toOct 4|DeRidder

Acelebration of 96 years of cultivatingthe land by hand, this event celebrates central Louisiana with exhibits, aparade,carnival, live entertainment, bakedgoods and much more. Details: beauregardparishfair.com

Louisiana Gumbo Festival |Oct 10,11, 12 |Thibodaux

Think youknowGumbo?Want to sample truly authentic Cajun gumbo?Then headonovertothe "Gumbo CapitolofLouisiana" for theLouisiana Gumbo Festival!Volunteerscooknearly 500 gallons of freshseafood andchicken &sausagegumbo during the festival weekend. Details: lagumbofest.com

Zwolle Tamale Fiesta |Oct 10,11, 12 |Zwolle

Celebratethe delicacy with atamale making demonstration, tamale eating and tamale judging contest, treasurehunt, livebands &dancing, arts &crafts,and aparade. TheFiesta also features pageants, armwrestling contests forall ages, atrail ride,Spanish costumecontests, rides andfood booths, avery popular Fiesta Mud Bog Racefor trucks, and over20,000 dozentamales forsale.

Details: zwolletamalefiesta.com

IntroducingBally’s Hotel! With twogamingand entertainment destinations anda completely renovatedhotel -use ourcontinuous shuttle to dine, game andstayall within DowntownBaton Rouge.Located stepsawayfromthe Capitol andaclose distancetoTiger Stadium, Bally’sBaton Rouge Hotel, TheBelle of BatonRouge TemporaryCasinoand The QueenBaton Rouge offer acomplete getawayexperience.

GAMBLING PROBLEM? PLEASE

InternationalRiceFestival | Oct 16, 17,18| Crowley

Thecelebration honors thericeindustry and itshardworking farmers. Throughout the weekend, twosound stages arefilled withliveentertainment. Festival goers can participate in many additional activities such as TheClassic Car Show, the Crowley High 5k Run Walk and the Fiddle andAccordionContest. The RiceFestival Queen’sContest,the,RiceEating Contestand Frog Derbyare always must-seeevents.The festival has notone but twoparades during the weekend.A Children’s Parade is featured on Friday afternoon andThe Grand Parade takes the streets on Saturday afternoon. Details: ricefestival.com

Rougarou Fest |Oct 17,18, 19 |Houma

TheRougarou Fest is aFREE family-friendly festival with aspooky flair thatcelebrates therichfolklore that exists along the bayous of Southeast Louisiana.Itshowcases livemusic, culturalactivities, children’sactivities,Cajunfood, the Krewe Ga Rouparade, and so much more. All proceeds go to theSouth Louisiana Wetlands Discovery Center,a nonprofit organization thatisrevolutionizing howwethink, teach andlearnabout Louisiana’s disappearing coast. Details: rougaroufest.org

WoodenBoatFestival |Oct 18 and 19 |Madisonville

Thecharming town of Madisonville,with apopulation of only 800 residents, swells each October to nearly 20,000 visitors when it hosts oneofLouisiana’s mostpicturesque festivals on the banksofthe beautiful TchefuncteRiver.Asalways,the festival will kick off with aFridayevening Maritime Mania party with attendees dressing in “nautical” or pirateattireand dancing the night away on the grounds of theMaritime Museum. Saturdayand Sundayare filled with activities thatinclude music, excellent food and beverage vendors,artists’ displays,children’sactivities,and the ever-popular Quick ‘n Dirty Boat Building Contestand Parade.Details: maritimemuseumlouisiana.org

StateFair of Louisiana |Oct. 30 to Nov16|Shreveport

Get ready for17daysoffun, food,and family-friendly excitement at the 119th StateFairofLouisiana! This year’s fair will featurethe largest carnival and livestock show in thestate,along with an action-packed lineup of can’t-missevents andattractions. These include handson agricultural education, an interactivezoo and tasty treats forall. Details: statefairoflouisiana.com

NOLA

ZydecoFestival |Nov 1|Slidell

Set againstthe BayouBonfouca in Slidell, attendees will be treatedto live performances by ZydecobandsfromSouthwest Louisiana, infusing the air with infectious rhythms and energy with danceclasses between each musical act!Indulge your taste budswith delicious and flavorful Louisiana cuisine,featuring classic dishes thatembodythe essenceof Creole and Cajun cooking. Details: nolazydeco.org

Winter

By Amanda McElfresh amcelfresh@theadvocate.com

As2025winds down, manypeople aresearching forwaystofinish the year withmorecalm and clarity. Between holiday stress, colder weather and the fast pace of daily life, winterwellnessretreats, spas and yoga getaways areincreasingly popular.These experiences inviteparticipants to slowdown, reflect, and recharge beforestepping into 2026.

Unlikesummer vacations packed with sightseeing andconstantactivity, winterwellness experiences aredesigned forstillnessand intentional care.They blend movement, mindfulness,nourishing food, and restorativetherapies to support bothbody and spirit Retreats around theU.S.are curating programs to help guests resetinthe colder months. At Vita Pura Yoga in Sedona, Arizona,participants practice yoga under the redrockswhileenjoying guided hikesand plant-based meals.The KripaluCenterinMassachusett offersstructured programs focused on yoga,meditation and mindfulness, while Rivermountain Retreatin Pennsylvania blends breathwork,art andhot cedar soaking tubs to encouragedeep rest and reflection. The LodgeatWoodloch in northeastTexas provides nature

eWllness treats, Spas aGetaways nal

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walks, meditation worksh winter renewal.

On the East Coast, The combines Eastern and biophilic thermal pools setting

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Spasplayacentral role i comfort and healing therap Park City, Utah,The Spa a massages, heatedoutdoo

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s andhydrotherapypools perfect for inter wellnessbyprovidingwarmth, eswhen the weather turns cold. In tein EriksenLodge offershot stone ools anddaily meditation classes. at MayflowerInn in Connecticut tern therapies such as cryotherapy, d yoga in apeaceful countryside

In the Gulf South, The offerssignature treatme from sugar cane scrubs In Mississippi,The Allu heritagewith restorative Thesedestinations prove seasonalrenewal. Yoga remains acornerst typically pair energizing flows,balancing activity themes of gratitude andr

In California,Boulder in adeserteco-retreats Hudson Valleyprovid blend, with guided routines desi

a at TheRitz-Carlton, NewOrleans s infused with regionaltouches, outhern-inspiredaromatherapy. n SpainGreenwood blends Delta assages, facials,and yoga classes. u don’thavetotravelfar to find of seasonalwellness. Programs ning practices with gentle evening h rest.Instructorsoften highlight ewal—perfect forclosing out the year dens near Joshua Tree offersyoga ing, while in NewYork, TheRanch a more intensivefitness-and-yoga es, plant-based meals andstructured dtoreset body andmind.

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Here in the South, Wild Lotus Yoga in NewOrleans frequentlyhosts seasonal retreats and workshops, pairing soulful flows with music and mindfulness. In the Florida Panhandle, yoga and wellnessweekends at Seaside or Santa RosaBeach combine beachside sunrises with restorativeevening sessions—idealfor anyone seeking reflection by thewater Forthosewho find restoration in nature, winter wellness canalsomean embracing the season itself.At Brush Creek Ranch in Wyoming, guests practiceyoga in greenhouses,soak in natural hotspringsand enjoy spatreatments surrounded by snowywilderness. In Virginia,Wintergreen Resorthosts wellnessweekends thatcombine yoga,farm-to-table dining and guided mindfulnesshikes,making the most of crispmountain air.

Whether it’saluxurious spaescape, ayogaweekend, or awildernessimmersion, winterwellness experiences provide morethanpampering. Theycreate spaceto pause, reset, and step into the newyearwith clarity.As 2025 comes to aclose,theseretreats,spas and getaways remind us thatrest is not indulgence—it’spreparation forthe possibilities thatlie ahead in 2026.

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ServingSouth Louisiana with4Locations: 10172Mammoth Ave, BatonRouge 112 NorthPat St,Scott -Acadiana &SWLA 20017Hwy 36,Covington -NorthshoretoMS 2207 Greenwood St,Kenner -NOLAtoHouma

NonstopFlights Make NewOrleans More Connected Than Ever

Not long ago, traveling from NewOrleans to otherparts of thecountry –orbeyond –meantbracing forlayovers.But today, LouisArmstrongNew Orleans International Airport (MSY)has nonstop direct flights to morethan50destinations,simplifying travel foreveryone. Whether you’re abusiness traveler trying to makeamorning meeting in Houston, a familyeager forDisneymagicinOrlando or a couplechasingsunsets in Cancún, chancesare good therewithouta st

Some nonstoprou arestaples: Atlant Dallasand Houston remain heavily traveled, with multiple flights daily.But MSY also reaches further.You canboarda planeinNew Orleans and step off just hourslater in Chicago, New York, Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles San Francisco. Internationally,t is moreconnected Popular routes include Cancún, London, Torontoand Tegucigalpa.Seasonal flightsadd even more variety, whisking passengerstoski towns in the Rockies or beach retreats along the East Coast when demand spikes.

Formanylocals, the most popular internationalgetawayisCancún,just a two-hour flightfromMSY. Direct flights mean youcan leave NewOrleans in the morning andbeonthe beach by lunchtime, sipping a margarita with your toes in the sand Thenonstop flighttoLondon-Heathrow is another milestone forNew Orleans travelers.

Instead of flying east foratransatlantic connection, passengerscan boardatMSY andarriveinLondon in under 10 hours. This routeconnects Louisiana directly to Europe’s financial hub while giving locals asimple gatewaytothe rest of the continent. From Heathrow,travelerscan connect to nearly any major European or international city. Theadvantages of direct flights go beyond convenience. Forbusinesstravelers, dismoneysaved. For es,fewer layovers mean sstress, fewerchances lost luggageand happier kids.For older travelers, skipping the sprintacrossa busy airport canmakethe difference between agood trip and a daunting one. And forNew Orleans itself, nonstop flights are amajoreconomic driver.Direct connections make the citymoreappealing onventions,attract tional visitors and give mpanies easier accessto global markets.

As thetravelindustry continues to recover and grow,MSY showsnosigns of slowing down. Routes arebeing evaluated constantly,with demand forLatin America, Canada and Europe likely to drivethe next wave of expansion. ForNew Orleanians,thatmeans more chances to skipthe connections and go straighttowhere youwanttobe. Whether it’saweekend in Chicago, awedding in Jamaica or abusinesstrip to London, nonstop flights from NewOrleans aremaking the world feel alittle smaller and a lot moreaccessible.

FOOD AS MEDICINE

School’s teaching kitchen helps doctors, community

BY EMILY WOODRUFF

Staff writer

Leaning over a stainless steel bowl, chef

Heather Nace urged a fourth-year medical student to massage her kale with greater gusto.

“You gotta get in there, girl,” Nace said, explaining that massaging breaks down cellulose so the leaves become tender and palatable. “If you don’t massage it, it’s not going to digest.”

At Tulane University’s Goldring Center for Culinary Medicine, founded in 2012 as the first teaching kitchen embedded in a U.S. medical school, moments like this are the curriculum. Medical students rotate between case studies and cooking stations, translating nutrition theory into meals they can cook themselves and, one day, recommend to patients

The center also runs free community cooking classes, giving New Orleanians the same chance to build skills and confidence in the kitchen.

Case studies and cooking

On a recent Friday, students were given several patient scenarios: a 29-year-old woman with lactose intolerance who still needed adequate calcium, a 38-year-old with suspected celiac disease and a preschooler with a nut allergy.

The exercise asked them not only to counsel the patient medically, ordering tests to diagnose and treat their conditions, but also to build meals that would work with their lifestyles.

At another station, second-year medical student Mashaal Syed meticulously chopped an onion for a Mediterraneanstyle salad. She hopes to go into neurosurgery, a field not often associated with nutrition counseling But Syed sees an opportunity

“Just because you do surgery doesn’t mean you want everyone to receive surgery,” Syed said. “If I can help someone manage symptoms through diet — like a patient with Parkinson’s that’s a win.”

She added that credibility matters. Patients are bombarded with online advice, from gluten-free fads to seed-oil scares

“If you can speak from experience, if you’ve cooked the food yourself, it makes a difference,” Syed said.

Community classes

The center also arms community members to think more critically about the connection between food and health. Since 2013, the program has reached more than 1,600 community members in New Orleans out of their kitchen next to Whole Foods on

ABOVE, Medical students at the Goldring Center for Culinary Medicine dig into the food they cooked after going over case studies. LEFT, Fudgy black bean brownies were cooked by students during a free community cooking class at the Goldring Center for Culinary Medicine.

Broad Street. Interest remains high: The waitlist now tops 650 people, with 200 added since January alone. Classes are available for children as young as 5. Shannon May, 24, saw the class information at a farmers market. Curious, she signed up with a couple of friends. Over the six weeks, her approach to food changed.

ä See KITCHEN, page 2X

Sepsis test saved the life of electrician

BR man diagnosed with flesh-eating bacteria

BY MARGARET DELANEY Staff writer

On May 31, Herman Middleton felt horrible. His right calf was pulsing in pain. He had a fever of 104 — a type of hurt he had never felt before.

Regina Middleton, his wife and registered nurse of 36 years at Our Lady of the Lake, sprung into action. She gave her husband Tylenol to break the fever and took him to urgent care. His tests for flu and Covid-19 came back negative. They went home, but his fever did not break. The second urgent care the Middletons went to that day told them to go to the emergency room.

“The pain kept increasing rapidly,” Herman Middleton said. “I was at a pain level 10. I had never felt that before.”

As part of the triage at Our Lady of the Lake, he received a comprehensive metabolic panel, complete blood work, lactic acid and IntelliSep tests. All delivered within 30 minutes.

Herman Middleton was both high in lactic acid and in his susceptibility for sepsis, a life-threatening, overwhelming immune response to an infection and the leading cause of in-hospital mortality

He scored a three on the IntelliSep test — the highest score possible. He was in septic shock.

Two years ago, the Lake hospital in Baton Rouge integrated the IntelliSep test into their triage work flow at their emergency department.

The rapid test, a machine the size of a telephone developed in-part by principal investigator Dr Hollis “Bud” O’Neil at LSU and doctors at Our Lady of the Lake, tests a patient’s blood for their susceptibility to get sepsis. The test gives patients a score of one to three. A one indicates that a patient is to have sepsis, and a three indicates a high probability of sepsis.

“When you’re a three in our institution, that for us is just like if you are having a heart attack or if you’re having a stroke,” Dr Chris Thomas said. “It creates

ä See SEPSIS, page 4X

Regina and Herman

recently at Our Lady of the Lake Hospital, where Herman was saved because of how soon Regina got him to the ER

Thomas

PHOTOS By SABREE HILL

Chef Heather Nace assists medical students at the Goldring Center for Culinary Medicine in New Orleans.

STAFF PHOTO By JAVIER GALLEGOS

Middleton

HEALTH MAKERS

Meet the team testing La. mosquito pools for viruses

BY MARGARET DELANEY Staff writer

In late June, the Louisiana Department of Health confirmed the first case of West Nile virus of 2025. In 2024, there were 57 confirmed human cases of West Nile virus in Louisiana, including three deaths.

About 1 in 150 people who are infected with West Nile virus develop a severe illness that can affect the brain, spinal cord and nerves, which may even cause paralysis or death, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Between 80% and 90% of all West Nile virus cases are asymptomatic, according to LDH.

Tarra Hardin, a technician at the Diagnostic Lab in Baton Rouge, tests nearly 19,000 mosquitoes each week for various viruses in the state.

How does the mosquito testing process work?

We’re the only accredited Veterinary Diagnostic Lab in the state of Louisiana. We do a lot of testing here, but in this particular lab, we do a lot of testing looking for DNA or RNA by methods called polymerase chain reaction in mosquitoes.

We’ve had this protocol and this testing in place because West Nile virus started in 2002 — the first case reported in Louisiana We work with the mosquito abatement districts. There are 32 of them in the state that we work with.

Of the 64 parishes, only half have mosquito abatement services. The taxpayer pays for that.

We work with those parishes and we work with the

KITCHEN

Continued from page 1X

“I hated cooking before this,” May said. “I was impatient, I ate out a lot, and I wasted food.” Goldring’s instructors showed her how to save money by buying sale items like family packs of chicken and turning them into multiple meals, how to store ingredients properly, and how to add fiber-rich foods to ease her chronic stomach pain. She now cooks more often at home, leans on simple black bean tacos and zucchini muffins, and checks Goldring’s online recipe database for weekly inspiration.

The center also develops specialized classes. In partnership with the Tulane Center for Genetics, staff created courses for families managing phenylketonuria, a rare genetic disorder requiring a nearly protein-free diet. Other offerings have focused on patients with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes, teaching budget-friendly recipes that keep carbs in check while increasing fiber, protein and healthy fats

“Our general curriculum and recipes are all based on Mediterranean diet principles, meaning that they can be applied to all our most prevalent chronic conditions of heart disease, diabetes and hypertension,” said Nace, the director of operations and executive chef. Tracking the changes

This fall, one group is also contributing to research. Through the Cu-

WE

STAFF PHOTOS By HILARy SCHEINUK

Vials of testing materials from across the state are seen in the mosquito testing lab recently at the Louisiana Animal Disease Diagnostic Lab at LSU’s

Louisiana Department of Health to test mosquitoes for various viruses in the state.

What are the steps for testing mosquitoes?

We get mosquito samples every week at this time of the year They come from all the parishes. They drop them off, or they FedEx, every week. Each box delivered comes with vials. And these vials have a mosquito zone. Then, each vial of mosquitoes gets pulverized in a mixer valve. When we get the mosquito samples from each parish, the species have already been determined. They know what species the mosquitoes are, and they know exactly where they’ve collected them. Each vial sample has a site code. That’s really important because, if that vial is positive, that’s where the abatement trucks go and apply their pesticide. Our indicators show us

linary Health Outcomes Project, adults 55 and older will have lab work done before and after the sixweek series. Researchers will track changes in blood sugar, cholesterol, blood pressure and other health markers

For Kristi August, a 60-year-old who works in law enforcement, the study offered a timely reset Already, she’s experimenting with new ingredients, paying closer attention to protein, healthy fats, fruits and legumes. She was always interested in cooking, but now she thinks more about how it affects her health.

“I just find myself doing things differently,” August said.

She’s adding more vegetables to tacos, for example. She also has more energy.

This is something that everybody could benefit from,” August said. “If I had done this class when I was 25, my kids probably would eat differently.”

The Goldring curriculum has grown far beyond New Orleans First developed at Tulane, it now forms the backbone of the American College of Culinary Medicine and is licensed to more than 60 institutions nationwide, including medical schools, residency programs, nursing schools and dietetic programs.

Nace serves on the ACCM advisory board, helping update the curriculum and set standards for other sites.

For Nace, who has led the program for six years, the payoff is the ripple effect: Students taking what they learn into clinics, patients gaining confidence

if there are a lot of West Nile virus mosquitoes in one area If there’s a lot of positive mosquitoes, that’s a good indication that a transmission could occur That’s where parishes go to do prevention and control — either getting rid of standing water or spraying down with insecticide.

With between five and 100 mosquitoes in each vial, and 500 to 600 vials from each parish each week, we have tested about 2 million mosquitoes since 2002.

What should people know about West Nile virus in the state?

West Nile virus is the most prevalent mosquitoborne virus in Louisiana There’s another one this year that’s getting ugly here called Eastern equine encephalitis. We test for that virus, too.

We test Louisiana mosquitoes for three things: Eastern equine encephalitis and St. Louis encephalitis virus and, of course West Nile virus.

Those three are in the United States, and they circulate within mosquitoes — mosquitoes being the vector Mosquitoes usually feed on birds. The bird is infected but doesn’t die. It is most common in the warmer months, during mosquito season. This year, although there have been some cases of West Nile, it is not abnormal to have this many mosquitoes testing positive for the virus.

Email Margaret DeLaney at margaret.delaney@ theadvocate.com.

in the kitchen, and families changing daily habits

Medicine concept

Although the “food as medicine” concept is now often touted by politicians pushing the “Make America Healthy Again” movement, the Goldring Center model has remained consistent since its founding: introductory classes in the first year, focused modules on protein, fats, hypertension, and allergies, and electives that give students both counseling skills and culinary skills.

WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU

The Louisiana Health section is focused on providing in-depth, personal accounts of health in the state.This section looks at medical innovations, health discoveries, state and national health statistics and reexamining tried and true methods on ways to live well.

Health editions will also profile people who are advancing health for the state of Louisiana.

Do you have a health story? We want to hear from you.

Email margaret.delaney@ theadvocate.com to submit health questions, stories and more.

Early sessions include mindfulness and motivational interviewing, teaching future physicians to draw out what patients are ready and willing to change.

“We’re not saying food instead of medicine,” Nace emphasized. “We’re saying food as a complement. There are barriers we can’t solve, like food access, but we can improve kitchen confidence ” Nace offers the kind of tips you might otherwise find yourself Googling in the frozen meat aisle or searching on YouTube midrecipe: how to slice an onion efficiently, or how to decide between wild-caught and farmed salmon on a budget.

During a recent class, as the scent of garlic, ginger and onion filled the room, she moved easily from station to station setting a timer for one student, then pausing to explain the chemical reaction that turns sunflower seed cookies green a favorite trick for the youngest chefs.

The class builds toward a shared meal. At the end, one-time strangers sit together at a long counter lined with dishes that look ready for a restaurant menu: chana masala with roasted cauliflower, turkey and zucchini sliders with lemony yogurt sauce, a cucumber and avocado salad, roasted

and a

massaged to a dark,

For a moment, there is silence as the students fill their plates and dig in. Then Nace pulls up the nutrition information for each dish on a screen, linking flavor back to science. Email Emily Woodruff at ewoodruff@theadvocate. com.

salmon,

kale salad

glossy sheen.

Allison Clark plates Chewy Banana Nut Oatmeal Cookies in a free community cooking class at the Goldring Center for Culinary Medicine.

ADVOCATE STAFF PHOTOS By SHAWN FINK

Lynette Thornton, left, and her nephew, Ta Ray Roberts assemble quinoa lettuce wraps in a free community cooking class at the Goldring Center for Culinary Medicine in New Orleans.

LSU laboratory scientist Tarra Harden shows trending data in the mosquito testing lab

LSU laboratory scientist Tarra Harden performs a test in the mosquito testing lab

School of Veterinary Medicine in Baton Rouge.

EatFit LiveFit

Carpool snacks: What theprospack

Withtheschoolyearinfullswing, thefamilycarisnowservingas thesnackbarformanyfamilies betweenschool,activitiesandsports practice.Thedrive-thrumayseemlikea decentsolutioninapinch,butfastfood isn’tcheap—anditoftenisn’thealthyor evenfast.Packingsnacksisalmostalways ourbestbet,butthatleavesparentsand guardianswiththequestionofwhatto pack,aswellashowtomakeitnutritious andkeepitinteresting

So,Ireachedouttofellowdietitians—all ofwhomarealsoparents—tosharetheir go-tocarpoolsnacksandstrategies.Their ideasareclever,funandparent-tested.And importantly,eachbalancesnutritionwith practicality(minimalpreptimeandless mess)andactuallysatisfieskidsofallages. Here’sWhatTheyHadtoSay: HopeFruge,dietitianwithEatFitMonroe andmomofLandry(5),Marienne(3) andCallahan(1)lovesFairlifeChocolate ProteinShakes,Kodiakproteinbars andHintKidsapplewater.“Tothem theshakesaresimplychocolatemilk, butit’sactuallyagreatproteinboostina spill-proofthermos,”shesaid.“TheKodiak proteinbarsfeellikeatreatbuthave stayingpower,andIlovekeepingHintKids applewaterinthecar—it’ssomethingfun andflavorful,butstilllow-sugar.”

AlexisThompson,lifestylenutrition dietitianatOchsnerHealthandmomof Jackson(4)sayspeanutbutterbitesand Hippeaschickpeapuffsaretwogo-to favoritesforon-the-gosnacks.“I’lloften makepeanutbutterbitesforpickup,”she said.“It’sassimpleasspreadingpeanut butter(oranynutorseedbutter)ona wholesomebread(welikeDave’sKiller Bread)andcuttingitintosquares.Fora crunchysnack,Hippeaschickpeapuffs arealwaysahit.” LaurenH.Berry,lifestylenutrition dietitianandsupervisoratOchsner

HealthandmomtoJames(8months)keeps herselfandoldercarpoolcompanions satisfiedwithhigh-protein,portableoptions thataregoodforkidsandadults,including miniKindbars,BalanceBreaksorP3 packsandChompsMiniSticks.

“Jamesisstillsoyoung,we’renotinfull carpool-snackmodeyet,butthesearethe onesIloveforolderkidsandmyself,too!”

JamieMeeks,directorofsportsnutrition fortheNewOrleansSaintsandmomof three(ages10,5and3),turnstoStarbucks forHorizonchocolatemilkandprotein snackpacks(cheeseandfruit)when needed.Fromhome,herkidslovegrainy crackerswithBabybelcheese,turkey andcheesesandwichesonwholegrain breadandbeefjerky.“Theseareourgo-to optionsforwhenwe’veplannedahead,” shesaid.“Whenwehaven’t,thefallback optionisthecoffeeshopdrivethru.”

AnnieKent,formerEatFitNorthshore dietitianandnowfull-timemomtoAddie (4),Gracie(3)andJack(1)stockscheese sticks(Tillamookbrandistheirfavorite), homemadewholegrainminimuffins andfreshfruitthat’scar-tested:bananas, tangerinesandsmallapples.“Wekeep thingsprettyconsistentwiththesesnacks,” shesaid.“Theyalsohavetotravelreally well.”

SavannaLatimer,formerEatFitBR dietitian,nowBoston-basedandfull-time momtoRoe(3)preferskid-sizedPerfect BarsandLesserEvilpopcorn,alsoknown as‘spaceballs.’ “Welikethingsthatare

simplebutbalanced —protein,alittlecarb, andsomethingshe’ll actuallyeat,”shesaid.

ForJoyBanks, dieteticinternat EatFitandmomof Jace(8),foodcanbe complicatedbecause ofsignificantfood allergies.Carpool snacksinJace’s“safe zone”includecrispy chickpeas,plantain chipsandseaweed sheets. “Oursnacks lookalittledifferent becauseofJace’s allergies.He’sallergic tonuts,fish,oats,soy, dairy,eggandtreenuts,” shesaid.“We’vegotten creativewithwhatworksforhim.”

Jace,8yearsold,enjoysa healthysnackafterschool

SaraArtigues,lifestylenutritiondietitian atOchsnerHealthandmomofBenjamin (6),stockstrailmixwithnuts,raisinsanda wholegraincereallikeMultigrainCheerios, Sunchipsandindividuallywrapped,snacksizecheese.“Iliketokeepitsimplewith thingsthathitallthebases—protein, crunchandsomethingfun,”shesaid.

AnnaWalterWhite,dietitianatEat FitShreveportandmomofEllie(22 months),breaksupminifruitbarsand unsweetenedfreeze-driedfruitinto tinybites.“Wekeepitreallysimplewith

MollyKimball,RD,CSSD,isaregistereddietitian withOchsnerHealthandfounderofOchsner’sEatFit nonprofitinitiative.Formorewellnesscontent,tuneinto Molly’spodcast,FUELEDWellness+Nutrition,andfollow @MollykimballRDand@EatFitOchsneronsocialmedia. Emailnutrition@ochsner.orgtoconnectwithMollyor scheduleaconsultwithherteam.

BY THENUMBERS

In 2023, Louisiana had the 16th-highest percentageof Medicare members getting mammogram screenings. Mammograms are low-dose X-rays of the breast. Regular mammograms can help find breast cancer at an early stage, when treatment is most likely to be successful, according to the American Cancer Society

On average, 38% of Louisianans with Medicare will getamammogram screening, according to data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.That’sjust belowthe national averageat 37%.

American Cancer Society screening recommendations for women at averagebreast cancer risk are as follows: n Women between 40 and

44 have the optiontostart screening witha mammogram every year n Women45to54should getmammograms every year n Women55and older canswitch toa mammogram everyother year,ortheycan choosetocontinue yearly mammograms. Screening should continue as long as a womanisingoodhealthand is expectedtoliveatleast 10 more years. n Allwomenshould understand what toexpect when gettinga mammogram forbreast cancer screening

These parishes had the highest percentageofadults with Medicare to have a mammogram screening in 2023,indescending order: n St.Charles Parishwith 45%,

n Lafayette Parish with 43%, n Assumption, Jefferson, Orleans, St.Tammanyand Webster parishes with 42%, n and Acadiaand Bossier parishes with 40%

These parishes had the lowest percentageofadults with Medicare to have a mammogram screeningin 2023, in ascendingorder: n Caldwell and Vernon parishes with 25%, n Franklin Parish with 26%, n Winn Parish with 28%, n Allen,Morehouse and Washington parishes with 31%, n Beauregard, Catahoula, Grant, Red River,Richland and Tensas parishes with 32%, n and East Feliciana, LaSalle and Union parishes with 33%

toddler-friendlyfavorites —easytextures,clean ingredients,”shesaid. AmandaLangford, associatechief,clinical nutrition,nutrition andfoodservice,New Orleans-baseddietitian andmomoftwo daughtersmixesand matchessnacksfrom threecategories:carbs (crackers,popcorn orfruit),protein/fat (cheesestick,singleservingpeanutbutter orturkeyslices)and fun(chocolatechips orfruitgummies).“We doa‘chooseyourown adventure’snackboxthat wepackthenightbefore: pickacarb,pickaproteinand/orfat,picka funadd-in,”shesaid.“Itkeepskidsengaged andgivesthemownership.Ondayswith four-hourgymnastics,we’llpackabigger versionofthis.”

MicheleGerarve,oncologydietitianat OchsnerHealthandmomofLuca(4),avoids peanutsbecauseofanallergy,optingfor simplebasics MadeGoodGranolaMinis, SimpleMillsPopMmmsorcheesesticks “Lucaisallergictopeanuts,sowegofor snacksthatarenut-free,simpleandeasyto portion,”shesaid.

BottomLine

Carpoolsnackscanbesimple,andalittle planninggoesalongway.Thebestoptions haveamixofcarbswithproteinand/or fattokeepkidsfueleduntilthenextmeal, whilealsokeepingcarmesstoaminimum. Whetherit’sasimplecheesestickorevena proteinshakeinaspill-proofthermos,these tipsfromregistereddietitiansandparents willmaketheridesmootherforeveryone.

Clinical triallinks proteinmedicationtofat reduction

BY MARGARETDELANEY

Staff writer

Aprotein pill could help weight loss and improve sleep habits in obese adults, affirmingthe long-standing theory that sleep and metabolism are connected, according to anew studyconducted at Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge. “The findings are very exciting —Pep19 not only

improvedsleep butalsoreducedabdominal fat,” said Dr.Prachi Singh, associate professor and director of the Sleepand Cardiometabolic Health Lab at Pennington Biomedical. Themolecule, Pep19, is a synthetic version of avery small pieceofprotein naturally found in human cells. Pep19 hasanti-obesity effects, improving blood sugar,cholesterol andblood pressure in animal models in previousstudies. In this study out of Pennington, Singh andDr. Frank Greenwayfound that five

milligrams of Pep19 taken orally each nightreduces visceral fat andimproves sleep quality.

The results from theearlystage clinical trial, conducted alongside Israel’sProteimax Biotechnology and Brazil’sUniversityofSão Paulo’s BiomedicalSciences Institute,was publishedin thejournal Diabetes MetabolismResearch and Reviews in June.

The clinical trial looked at 24 volunteers between the ages of 46 and59, weighing between 91 and 106 kilograms (that’sabout 200 to 233

pounds) witha body mass index between 30 and 35.

Thesesubjectswere evaluated over 60 days in a triple-blind clinical trial. In this type of scientific study, neither theparticipants, the researchers northose responsible forthe analysis know which volunteers took Pep19 and which took aplacebo. Participantswere divided into three groups: placebo, twomilligrams of Pep19and five milligrams of Pep19. The medication was given orally in capsules once aday before bedtime.

At the end of 60 days, parameters such as quality of life,bodycompositionand biochemical markers were evaluated.

The resultsshowed that the group thatreceived5 mg of Pep19 had a17% reductioninvisceral fat, which is strongly linked to cardiovascular disease andtype 2 diabetes, with no changes in lean body mass. In addition, allvolunteers whoreceived Pep19 in either concentration showed improvedsleep quality,which is important since poor sleep contributes to obesity and

its adverse effects. Notably,noside effects were observed. The authors of the study emphasize that more extensive and longer-term clinical studiesare still needed. However,the “beneficialeffects, safetyand ease of administration of the molecule reinforceits potentialasa practical and effective solution,”according to astatement from Pennington Biomedical Research Center Email Margaret DeLaney at margaret.delaney@ theadvocate.com.

BROUGH TT OY OU BY

Molly Kimball RD,CSSD

Our Lady of the Lake to participate in cell therapy clinical trial

Our Lady of the Lake Cancer Institute announced its participation as the first site in Louisiana for a Phase I clinical trial evaluating allogeneic CAR-T cell therapy Dr. Nakhle Saba serves as the principal investigator for this innovative study involving cellular immunotherapy

Allogeneic CAR-T therapy uses donor-derived T cells that are genetically engineered to recognize and target cancer cells This approach may lead to reduced treatment durations and enhanced patient outcomes.

Cancer Institute welcomes cell therapy doctor

Dr Harry Sequeira will be join-

ing the team at Our Lady of the Lake Cancer Institute in Baton Rouge. Sequeira, an internal medicine physician specializing in cell therapy and leukemia, will be part of the Heme-Malignancy and Cell Therapy Program. The location has recently become a site for a Phase I clinical trial with Poseida for allogeneic CAR-T therapy a personalized form of immunotherapy that trains your immune cells to recognize and destroy cancer Holistic wellness clinic to open in Central Revive Wellness, a premier holistic health clinic offering comprehensive care for women, children, and families, announces official

grand opening on Friday, Sept 26.

Revive Wellness, at 18901 Greenwell Springs Road, Suite B, Central, will push clients through a multidisciplinary approach that includes chiropractic care, nutrition coaching, massage therapy, infant feeding, speech therapy, strength training and supportive services for families

Ochsner LSU welcomes pediatric ENT

Ochsner LSU Health welcomes pediatric ENT Dr Saudamini Lele to the team. Lele brings extensive experience and a deep commitment to delivering high-quality, compassionate care for children across

the region.

‘Hope Walk’ to be held in Baton Rouge Oct. 18

The Louisiana Affiliate of the Huntington’s Disease Society of America will host the rescheduled 2025 HDSA Team Hope Walk on Oct. 18, at BREC Highland Road Grand Pavilion, 14024 Highland Road, Baton Rouge. Registration begins at 9 a.m., and the event begins at 10 a.m. Rural health program seeks responses

The Louisiana Department of Health launches an online form to address strategies in delivering

rural health care. The results and responses from the survey will inform the state department’s application to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Rural Health Transformation Program. LDH is seeking feedback from hospitals, health care providers, academic institutions, community-based organizations technology suppliers and rural residents. The online form can be found on the LDH website and must be submitted by 5 p.m. on Sept. 24.

Health Notes is an occasional listing of health happenings around Louisiana. Have something you’d like to share? Contact us at margaret.delaney@theadvocate.com.

N.H. man gets successful pig kidney transplant

BY LAURAN NEERGAARD Associated Press

WASHINGTON A self-described science nerd is the latest American to get an experimental pig kidney transplant, at a crucial point in the quest to prove if animals organs really might save human lives

The 54-year-old New Hampshire man is faring well after his June 14 operation, doctors at Massachusetts General Hospital announced last week.

“I really wanted to contribute to the science of it,” Bill Stewart, an athletic trainer from Dover, New Hampshire, told The Associated Press.

That’s not the only milestone the Mass General team is marking: A pig kidney has kept another New Hampshire man, Tim Andrews, off dialysis for a record seven months and counting. Until now, the longest that a gene-edited pig organ transplant was known to last was 130 days.

Based on lessons from the New Hampshire men and a handful of other one-off attempts, the Food and Drug Administration approved pig producer eGenesis to begin a rigorous study of kidney xenotransplants

“Right now we have a bottleneck” in finding enough human organs, said Mass General kidney specialist Dr Leonardo Riella who will help lead the new clini-

SEPSIS

Continued from page 1X

a very specific pathway where our teams go to evaluate you.”

Dr Matt Buzhardt an internist of hospital medicine at the Lake, suspected sepsis shock early-on in Herman Middleton’s prognosis, and immediately put him on antibiotics.

After MRI’s and ultrasounds Buzhardt and his team were able to determine that not only did Herman Middleton suffer septic shock, his original infection was Vibrio vulnificus, a flesh-eating bacteria that has killed six people in the state this summer

His prognosis of Vibrio and septic shock, Herman Middleton was lucky to be alive, according to Regina Middleton and many of his doctors

Saving a life

The IntelliSep test saved Herman Middleton’s life, and he isn’t the first patient at Our Lady of the Lake to benefit from the groundbreaking test.

Since introducing the test in August 2023, the Lake’s emergency department has tested 18,757 patients, reduced mortality by 24% in sepsis patients and reduced mortality by 18% in non-sepsis patients.

IntelliSep is used in the entire Our Lady of the Lake hospitals, including Ascension, St Elizabeth and Acadiana locations. Johns Hopkins Hospital System in Maryland, Hous-

Surgeons, from left

a genetically edited pig kidney into Bill Stewart on June 14 at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.

cal trial.

More than 100,000 people are on the U.S. transplant list, most who need a kidney and thousands die waiting.

As an alternative, scientists are genetically altering pigs so their organs are more humanlike, less likely to be immediately attacked and

destroyed by people’s immune system. Initial experiments, two hearts and two kidneys, were short-lived and included very ill patients. Chinese researchers also recently announced a kidney xenotransplant but released little information.

Then an Alabama woman whose pig kidney lasted 130 days before rejection prompted its removal, sending her back to dialysis, helped researchers shift to not-as-sick patients.

In New Hampshire, high blood pressure caused Stewart’s kidneys to fail but

he had no other health problems. It can take up to seven years for people with his blood type to find a matching kidney from a deceased donor, and some would-be living donors didn’t qualify

After two years on dialysis, he heard about Mass General’s most recent xenotrans-

Dr Chris Thomas puts his arm on Regina Middleton and says the life of her husband, Herman, was saved because of how soon she got him to the ER while he was dealing with sepsis recently at Our Lady of the Lake Hospital Herman spent several weeks as a patient at OLOL where Regina also works.

ton Methodist in Texas and Stanford University Medical Centers in California all have FDA-approval to use the device.

“Before this, we had to assume everyone had sepsis,” said Thomas, vice president and chief quality officer for the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System. “We can move our focus to finding the cause of a patient’s in-

fection, instead of treating every patient for sepsis.”

Now nurses and doctors can spend time diagnosing and treating patients that come in with septic-like symptoms. The test saves the hospital time and money — and sends patients home a day earlier on average.

Looking to the future

As a patient becomes

less-likely to become septic, their IntelliSep score decreases from three to one, according to a new published study out of Johns Hopkins. The band score will decrease before a patient’s organs recover Thomas said.

“A patient can go from a three to a two to a one, “ Thomas said. “The one band score will be there 24-hours before his kidney

function starts to get better.”

The Lake health system, however, can only use the IntelliSep test within the restrictions of their FDAapproval from 2023 — testing patients when they come into the hospital. With further research, Thomas said the test can make the hospital more confident sending healthy patients home.

plant recipient — Andrews — and applied to be the next candidate.

“I’ve always been a little bit of a science nerd,” Stewart said Conscious of how new these experiments are, he sought out Andrews for advice and ultimately decided, “worst case scenario, they can always take it out.”

Thrilled to no longer have his time and energy sapped by dialysis, Stewart said he’s easing back into desk duties at work and visited his old dialysis clinic to “let everyone know I’m doing all right and maybe kind of give some people some hope.” Riella, the kidney specialist, said Stewart had his anti-rejection drugs adjusted to counter an early concern and that Andrews has needed similar adjustments. He said it’s far too early to predict how long pig kidneys might be able to last but it would be useful even if initially they can buy people time off dialysis until they get a matching human organ.

“A year, hopefully longer than that — that’s already a huge advantage,” he said. The new eGenesis trial will provide gene-edited pig kidney transplants to 30 people age 50 or older who are on dialysis and the transplant list. Another developer of gene-edited pig organs, United Therapeutics, is about to start enrolling people in a similar FDAapproved study

“If you’re ever going to test someone in an emergency department, and you’re going to give them a piece of information that says you can go home to your dinner, I want them to stay home,” Thomas said. Regina Middleton took precarious notes of her husband’s stay at the Lake, recounting that Herman Middleton had gained 56 pounds of fluid in his body, primarily his lower extremities, in 30 days. The eve before his departure to outpatient care, doctors drained three and a half liters, almost one gallon, of fluid from Herman Middleton, providing instant relief.

“It was a pain like I’d never seen before,” Herman Middleton said. “I couldn’t walk with all of the fluid in my legs and in my feet.”

After two stays at the Lake’s telemetry unit and a six-day stay in the ICU, Herman Middleton is back on his feet, walking with his wife at home.

“I’m 61-years-old,” Herman Middleton said pointing to his wife, “I’m lucky to be here right now and, without this angel, I would not be alive.” Herman and Regina Middleton walk together every day A feat they would have not thought possible just two months ago.

“We give the glory to God, family and friends,” Regina Middleton said. “We know that the doctors here are the reason we’re here.”

Email Margaret DeLaney at margaret.delaney@ theadvocate.com.

PROVIDED PHOTO By SARAH EVANS/MASS GENERAL BRIGHAM

Dr Nahel Elias, Dr. Alban Longchamp Dr Tatsuo Kawai and Dr Shoko Kimura transplant

STAFF PHOTO By JAVIER GALLEGOS

Ochsner Health saves lives with rapid stroke care

By AmandaMcElfresh amcelfresh@theadvocate.com

Thisstory is brought to you by

OchsnerHealth.

Today, morepeople aresurviving strokes with fewerlong-lasting side effects becauseof fast-acting treatments medications and minimally invasiveprocedures —delivered in the first hoursaftersymptoms begin, when the brain has the greatest chance to heal. The quick treatments and advanced rehabilitation happening at Ochsner Health provide life-saving accessto expert strokecarethat is critically important in Louisiana

According to the Centersfor Disease Controland Prevention, strokeisthe state’s fourth leading causeofdeath, placing Louisiana squarely within the “StrokeBelt” of the United States.

While the data is sobering, Ochsner experts areoptimistic thatraising awareness about strokesymptoms and the benefits of immediate treatments willsavemorelives and improve recovery forstrokesurvivors.

Quick action canmake all the difference

Astrokeoccurswhen blood flowto the brain is interrupted. The majorityof strokes,about 87%, areischemic, caused by clots thatblock bloodvessels.Hemorrhagic strokes makeupabout 13% of incidents and occur when aweakened blood vesselbursts and bleeds into the brain. Arelatedcondition,called atransient ischemic attack (TIA), or mini-stroke, is caused by atemporary blockage. Although TIAs resolvequickly,theseare medical emergencies and often signal the possibilityofadditional and potentially moreseverestrokes in the future.

“Any type of strokeisanemergency,” said Shail S. Thanki, MD vascular and interventional neurologist,Ochsner LafayetteGeneral Neuroscience Center.“In the past, therewas amisperception thatonce astrokehappens,thereisnothing youcan do.Thatisnolongerthe case.Wenow have clot-busting medications and canperform amechanical thrombectomyto remove aclot.However, this is all time-sensitive. Every minutethatthe brain is not getting blood, brain cells aredying. The longer you wait,the lesschance youhaveofagood recovery.You want to gettreatmentassoon as possible.

Speech: Slurred speech or difficultyspeaking or understanding Time:

Time to call 911immediately

“Clot-busting medications arestandardtherapyfor an acutestroke, especially in patients who arriveatthe hospital within 4.5hoursofhaving symptoms,” he said. “If needed, we can alsoperform amechanical thrombectomy to physically remove aclot.Stroke treatmenthas evolved significantly over thepast10to15years, and newerclinical trials have shown thatthrombectomy is one of thebest treatments.Hereat Ochsner LafayetteGeneral, we areactually one of the busiest centers in Louisiana forthrombectomyprocedures and ranked by U.S. News &World Report as high performing in stroketreatment and procedures.”

While timely treatmentmakes adifference in astrokepatient’s outcomes,the rehabilitation processafter the emergency has passedisalsocritical. Ochsner’s services include physical, occupational and speech therapyinboth inpatientand outpatientsettings.

ShailS.Thanki,MD Neurology

“Patience is key. You arenot going to seedrastic changes overnightorevenin aweek,”Dr. Thanki said. “It is going to requirepersistence, determination andcontinued effort.”

Dailydecisions can impactstroke risk

Anytypeofstrokeisan emergency.Inthepast, therewasamisperception thatonceastroke happens,thereisnothing youcando.Thatisno longerthecase.

Dr.Thanki said thatmeans calling for medical help as soon as strokesymptoms appear,which could include asudden loss of balance or coordination, eyeproblems and vision trouble, facial drooping on one side, weaknessornumbnessinone arm, or slurred or confused speech. The BE FAST acronym is asimple waytoremember thesesymptoms.Itstands for:

Balance: Sudden lossofbalance or coordination

Eyes: Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes

Face: Facial drooping, usually on one side

Arms: Arm weaknessornumbness, especially if one arm drifts downward

Certain risk factorscan makepeople more susceptible to astroke. Theseinclude high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, excessivealcohol consumption, high blood sugar and sleep apnea.Louisiana’sheatand humidity canelevate strokerisk foreveryone. Research published by the American Heart Association in 2024found thatextreme heatcontributed to additional ischemic and hemorrhagicstrokedeaths worldwide, with low-income and medically underserved regions being themost vulnerable.

“Hottertemperatures and humiditycreatemorerisk for elevatedblood pressure, high cholesterol, dehydration and electrolyteimbalances that canmakepeople moreprone to strokes,” said Kadyn Brooks, NP,neurology, OchsnerMed-

ShailS.Thanki,MD Vascularandinterventionalneurology OchsnerLafayetteGeneral NeuroscienceCenter Oncesomeoneworks withtheirprimarycare providertocontroland managetheirriskfactors, itbecomesmoreabout maintenance.Youcan workonthingsalittleat atime,daybyday,and decreaseyourstrokerisk.

KadynBrooks,NP Neurology OchsnerMedicalComplex–TheGrove

ical Complex– The Grove in BatonRouge.

“The health risk factorsand environmentalriskfactors correlate.Ifyou have comorbidities,prolonged heatexposurecan further increaseyour risk of stroke.”

Brookssaid thereare severalsteps people cantaketoreduce theirrisk of having

astroke. The American Stroke Association estimatesthat up to 80% of strokes arepreventable through lifestyle and medical management. Some steps people cantakeinclude managing their blood pressure, staying well hydrated, eating heart-healthydiets,exercising regularly,quitting smoking, limiting alcohol intakeand screening forheart conditions thatcan be managed under a doctor’s supervision.

“A holistic approach is usually best,” Brookssaid. “I’ve seen people reduce their risk factors with aMediterranean diet or DASH diet,which is lowinsodium. Anyexerciseisbeneficial, even going forabrisk walk afew times aweek. Once someone workswith their primary care provider to controland manage their risk factors, it becomes moreabout maintenance. You canwork on thingsalittle at a time, daybyday,and decrease your strokerisk.

Ochsner leadswith educationand screenings Dr.Thanki said Ochsner is alsotaking abroader approach when it comes to strokeprevention. He and his stroketeam host an annual strokescreening event, in which people canhave their cholesterol levels and carotid arteries tested, while alsospeaking to adoctor about their family history and other risk factors. Other community outreach and educational programs takeplace throughout the year,and Dr.Thanki said he has made it aprioritytocontinue to raiseawareness.

“The keytostrokeprevention is education and helping people modifyrisk factors. When we do that, our communities are healthier overall,”hesaid. “I have heardsomanypatients saythatthey didn’tthink theycould have astroke. They think theyare invincible, or theyaren’t awareoftheir risk factors. The morewe canhelp them identifythosefactors and addressthem, the more chances we have of preventing strokes in the future.

OchsnerHealthistheleadingnonprofithealthcareproviderintheGulfSouth,deliveringexpertcareatits47hospitalsand

KadynBrooks,NP Neurology

AtOchsnerCancerCenterofAcadiana,webelievethateveryindividual’s journeywithcancerisunique.Withcompassionandexpertise,wecollaborate withyoutodevelopacomprehensivetreatmentplantailoredtoyourspecific diagnosis.Weunderstandthattheroadtoremissioncanbechallenging,but withusbyyourside,hopeandhealingconvergealongyourpath,and—in thefaceofcancer—youareneveralone.

Learnmoreatochsner.org/CCA

Adream realized

LaPlaceteenager’s storefront business promotes healthyeating

BY MICHELLE HUNTER Staff writer

Every Saturday night, Kaylee Davis andher family transformed their LaPlace kitchen into ajuice factoryin hopes of furthering the 12-year-old’s entrepreneurial dreams Into the wee hours of the morning, they would prep,cut andjuiceapples, bananas, papayas, lemons, strawberries, blueberries, pineapples, kale and other ingredients forKaylee’svarious juice blends that she would bottle, label and sell the next day at alocal farmer’smarket.

“She wassellingout withinanhour,” Kaylee’s mother,Tishia Boldene Davis, 45, recalled of those early days. Four yearslater,Kayleeand her family expanded on those dreams. Squeezy Fresh, abrick-and-mortar juice bar,opened July 18 in Destrehan where the now-16-year-old high school junior and her staff sell freshly pressedjuicesand smoothieblends, including her bestsellers, Summerfest, Strawberry Shortcake, Green Delight and Island Breeze.

Kaylee’sultimate goal is to get more people —teensand kids especially to think healthier.Her creative taste buds are the business’ secret weapon. Kaylee threw herself into researching and formulating juiceblendsto help her little brother,who wasdiagnosedwitha rare form ofepilepsy Butasfamily,friends and the commu-

nity soon learned, shehad aknack for creatingbeneficial andfantastically yummy juice recipes.

“Strawberry.Kiwi. Iget an idea in my head and just make it,” Kaylee said.

Kaylee’sfirst foray into juicingbeganat10whenshe triedtoimprove the taste of the kale juice herfather drank everymorning.

“I knew Icould make this better,” shesaid.

Kaylee began experimenting with variousfruitsand vegetablecombinations. Herhobbygained newpurpose when sheset out to help her little brother,DeVaughn. Hisepileptic seizuressometimes meant trips to ahospitalinHouston fortreatment.

“I was notOK, seeing my brother in astate where he doesn’thavecontrol of his body,”she said. “It was very scary seeing my parentswake up in themiddleofthe night to bring him to the hospital.

DeVaughn’sdoctor’srecommended limiting certain foodsfromhis diet, Tishia Boldene Davis said. Cow’s milk, for instance, affected his epilepsy,meaninghehad to stick to almond or coconut milk.Kaylee thought perhaps juicing might give him some better alternatives.

Through her juicing recipes, she found ways to get herbrother to take in more vegetables and beneficial mineralswithout added sugar or a bitter taste. DeVaughn is nowpartial to Kaylee’sBeetnikjuice, thoughhe won’t eat beets on their own, shesaid.

In addition to the obvious fruits and veggies, Kaylee’singredients listalso includes sea moss, rich in vitamins and minerals; turmeric, believed to

have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties; moringa,another plant chock full of vitamins; camu camu, aberry high in vitamin C; and cacao, dark chocolate.

After DeVaughn saw benefitsfrom his sister’sjuices, Kaylee began sharingher blends with otherfamily members. Thosefamily membersbegansharing with friends whostarted to send Kaylee requests for bottles

In 2021, Kayleebegan selling seven flavors of her freshly pressed, homebottled juices everySundayatthe HarahanFarmer’sMarket, Tishia BoldeneDavissaid.

“Thekids loved it. The adults loved it,”she said.

Kaylee’s success at the farmer marketled the family to look into turning Squeezy Fresh LLC. into an official juice bar.Tishia Boldene Davis, an accountant by trade, became an investor andco-owner, handlingthe financesideofbusinesswhile Kaylee assumed command of recipesand design.

Tishia BoldeneDavis hired aconsultantfrom ajuice company based in California to show them the ropes

“I hired themtocome on board, and they helpedwith everything from the design to openingupand giving us feedbackonoperations,” shesaid.

Kaylee’sfamily helped renovate andprepare thespace the company rented at 1955 OrmondBlvd., Destrehan, and held agrandopening and ribboncutting on Aug. 7.

Kaylee stopsbythe store every day and worksthere at least three days a week. However,Terrielle Johnson, affectionately knownas“Ms.T,” is the

See DREAM, page 2Y

JanRisher

Four words that changed everything

Ihaven’tspent many yearsof my life living alone, but Ienjoyed the few yearsthat Idid. Twoofthoseyearswerespent in the early 1990s in aone-bedroom apartment above adesign studio on ThomaStreet near downtown Reno, Nevada. It was adream of alittle apartment, with abig deck looking to the west toward the Sierra Nevada mountains in the distance.

Iloved that little apartment and enjoyed making it my own.

For the first year Ilived there, Idid not have atelevision. However,anold boyfriend gave me a6-inch color television that I put in acorner and rarely used. (I used to remember it being a black-and-white television, but there’sa detail I’ll shareinamoment that proves otherwise). I’ve never been much of a housekeeper,but one day Idecided to go all-in on cleaning my little home. Iturned on the television to keep me company.A redheaded comedian was telling aseries of stories on TV.(The fact that Iremember he had red hair is what has convinced me that the television was color). He began to tell one story about aguy whogot aparking ticket in San Francisco. It was a story that completely changed my life.

The comedian said he sawa manwalk out of his hometo find aparking ticket on his Jeep Cherokee. Even beforehegot to the ticket pinned beneath his windshield wiper,the manstarted yelling and cursing. Finally, he picked it up and continued to rant and rave and yell and curse flailing the ticket in the air and generally having afit.

This manlived on abig hill, and askateboarder was coming down the hill, watching the scene unfold.

The manwith the parking ticket continued to wail.

The skateboarder continued to ride down the hill. Eventually, the two were side by side, and the skateboarder said to the man with theparking ticket, “Acknowledge, man, and move on.”

The comedian then said, and I’m paraphrasing herefrom more than 30 yearsofmemory, “I mean, what’sthe mangoing to do? Is he going to stayinthat frenzied state forever? No, he’s not. If he’seven remotely mentally and emotionally healthy, he’sgoing to get over it eventually.Sowhy not do it now?”

Those wordsstopped me in my tracks.

Ihad never thought about anything like that. Igrewupin atimeand place watching most of the adults around me hold on to any perceived wrongs against them like badges of honor.The comedian’sidea made complete sensetome. Why not just let it go from the start and move on?

Andthat’swhat Istarted trying to do right then.

My life since has been profoundly better and more enjoyable. Until then, Ihad operated on the belief that my anger or frustration, or whatever negative emotion Iwas embracing, would somehow empower or vindicate me.Orthat it would serveto prove that Iwas right.

What good does being both right and unhappy serve?

Simply letting the gunk go and moving directly into the “whatto-do-to-fix-this” phasehas changed everything.

Of course,Iamnot always able to immediately just let something go. Sometimes,Istill

STAFF PHOTOSByJOHN McCUSKER

Squeezy Fresh is apressed juicebusiness started by 16-year-old Kaylee Davis, right, withhelp from her mom, TishiaBoldone Davis. Kaylee began juicing when she was 12 to help her brother,who suffers withseizures.

ManagerTerrielle Johnson prepares atreatatSqueezy Fresh.

Colin LaRosa prepares adrink at Squeezy Fresh.

ASK THE EXPERTS

‘Everything you need is in a ballet class’

Lafayette Ballet Theatre shapes future leaders

BY LAUREN CHERAMIE Staff writer

Shannon Heath fell in love with ballet at 6 years old after her mother put her and her sisters in a dance class in Houston after the passing of their father

With their collective experience, the women have danced in New York, Chicago, Colorado, Canada and more. In 1982, Heath’s sister, Lynnie, opened Dance Innovations in Lafayette, and in 1995, Shannon Heath took over and renamed the studio to Lafayette Ballet Theatre, which is now a nonprofit organization.

Today, Shannon Heath and her sister, Mitzi, lead Lafayette Ballet Theatre as artistic directors. They have staged “The Nutcracker” for 25 years and host educational programs that reach over 2,500 children annually in schools and at the theater

This year, Lafayette Ballet Theatre will stage “The Nutcracker” Dec 13 and 14. Visit lafayetteballettheatre.org for more information. What is the significance of The Nutcracker, and why is it important to you?

Personally, it’s very important, but it’s also important to the growth of our children. It offers vital opportunity for them to perform on stage. We bring in guest artists from all across the world. We’re very lucky to gain these artists from Pacific Northwest Ballet, who come to Acadiana and work with our children.

Not only is The Nutcracker important because it’s a beautiful holiday tradition, but it also offers roles for almost every age level that develop skills that build upon themselves What you learn as an angel is musicality But what you learn as an angel builds on what you need for the next role.

It also gives us an opportunity for us to employ local artists. What’s really special about this year is that it’s our 25th anniversary How far has Lafayette Ballet Theatre’s The Nutcracker come in 25 years?

My sister, Mitzi, and I are co-artistic directors. We staged the ballet in 2001, crossing our fingers that it would take hold in our community, because Acadiana had a touring company that would come in and bring it. They didn’t use local dancers. We wanted so much, as

DREAM

Continued from page 1y

juice bar’s general manager

“My boss is 16,” Johnson said with a smile. “Kaylee is my favorite person. She’s a big motivation I don’t know how she can handle it all, school and everything else she’s got going on.”

In addition to classwork, Kaylee plays point guard for the basketball season that is about to get underway She also runs track, though she recently halted volleyball because there just wasn’t enough time.

“I try to get all my work done at school,” Kaylee said.

“If I don’t, I’ll do it in the car on the way here.” Kaylee’s next goal is a food truck so that she can bring her juices to more farmers markets and festivals.

“She wants young people to know that healthy does taste good,” Tishia Boldene Davis said.

Email Michelle Hunter at mhunter@theadvocate.com.

Lafayette Ballet Theater, to present this and offer this to children all throughout Acadiana. It doesn’t just include our school, it includes all of the dancers of Acadiana.

Twenty-five years later, we’re more appreciative of this ballet than ever before.

We were able to build a new facility to accommodate the artists, which was finished in 2017. The growth from “The Nutcracker” has allowed Lafayette Ballet Theatre to thrive and has offered dancers from all across Acadiana an opportunity to perform in this incredible classic.

This year we’re partnering with Acadiana Symphony Orchestra. We’ll be employing 40 musicians and at least 20 local artists, so it’s a big collaborative effort.

What has the experience been like to work with your sister?

That’s the glue that holds it all together, and I think that’s why we’ve been so successful. We’re willing to work hard, and we’ve used everyone’s talents in the family

My mother no longer does the costumes, but she set some of those original costumes that allowed the theatre to have incredible productions like “Cinderella” and “Sleeping Beauty.” Her legacy will live forever and dance forever

As a child, did you originally ask to be put in dance, or did your mom enroll you in dance?

When I was 2, my other sister Lynnie was 8, and Mitzi was 10. When we were of that age, my father died of a heart attack. He was only 30. When he passed away, my mom had three young girls. From the story I’ve heard, a therapist told her to put us in something — make them active, give them things to challenge them, and put them in something that you think they would enjoy

We were all living in Houston because my father worked for NASA. He was a mechanical engineer, and he was part of a team that developed the fuel cell that was used in the Apollo craft that went to the moon When he passed, my mom decided that we should come home to Louisiana.

She went home to her parents, and she put us in dance — because she desperately wanted it as a child, but they didn’t have the resources when she was young. We were taking all types of dance, and ballet stuck. Every summer we were in New York with every program almost imaginable. We were so fortunate because our mom would come with us and make all these opportunities possible.

RISHER

Continued from page 1y

Those opportunities were important because we didn’t know it, but we would have a lifelong commitment to providing dance education in Acadiana

Besides dance skills, of course, what other skills does dance teach a student?

Everything. I don’t know when it happens, but somewhere between the first day and when you see the dancers do big leaps across the stage, there is every single thing you need to succeed.

It’s discipline, time management, intelligence, failure, teamwork and commitment.

We’ve had several alumni come back to speak at fundraisers, and there are neurologists and lawyers. One doctor even told me, “School wasn’t any different. When I didn’t feel well, I had to be at rehearsal. There weren’t any questions asked. Whether I was ready or not, the performance was coming, and that curtain was going to open. You better be out there ready.”

I’ve never been to medical school — it definitely wouldn’t be the thing for me — but I’ve had so many people tell me that everything you need to succeed in life is in a ballet class. How do you think dance builds confidence in young women?

have to wallow in it a bit — or talk it through several times. However, for the most part, I have been practicing “Acknowledge and move on,” since that day It has been my mantra Through the years, I’ve searched for the comedian to no avail. I would love to tell him how that story changed everything for me. Watching our home burn a few weeks ago and the days and weeks since has given me plenty of opportunity to continue the practice. There have certainly been some moments of despair, but trying to approach the whole experience from a “this-is-sointeresting” perspective has made this time much easier

bear — like the

Over and over, we’ll have dancers that gain acceptance into professional winter programs.

We’re so proud of that, but one of the first things, believe it or not, that does build confidence is failure.

As a teacher, it’s not what I see as something that a student will call failure. From a student’s point of view, failure is not gain-

ing the role they felt they worked hard for or not gaining acceptance into a program. They turn that into motivation to move them forward. Not all, but a very large percentage turn that into motivation to change what they’re doing, add more work or build strength.

A lot of times they’ll build confidence by performing

a role that’s way outside their comfort zone. When I watch them struggle and then I see them perform this incredible variation on stage, I have pride like a mother a little bit. If everybody else believes in them, they begin believing in themselves.

Email Lauren Cheramie at lauren.cheramie@ theadvocate.com.

PROVIDED PHOTOS

Shannon Heath, center, is the artistic director at Lafayette Ballet Theatre.

The full cast of ‘The Nutcracker’ performs Act 2 at the Lafayette Ballet Theatre.

Childhoodeducation starts in thehome

BR organization helpsfamilies of young children

BY JOYHOLDEN Staff writer

When children are little, their first teachers are their parents.

But when it comestime for preschool, not every young child is enrolled. Sometimes, ifthey haven’tbeen trained, parents and caregivers don’tknow how to implement playtime,socialization, reading time and developmental learning.

The Baton RougeEarly Childhood Education Collaborative is here to help parents by providing home-based early childhood education and supportfor families and caregivers of underserved preschool-aged children.

“Weare aboutkindergarten readiness, but we are really about school readiness,” said Cathy Griffin, an education consultant with the collaborative. “Wewant to tapinto children’s curiosity that they’re born with.”

In 2021, Louisiana Policy Institute for Children conducted research that found the state of Louisiana serves only 29% of in-need children four andunder in all publicly funded early care andeducation programs includingEarly Head Start,Head Start and state-administered programs such as the Child Care Assistance Program. Because kindergarten is mandatory by law in Louisiana forchildren who are5years old by Sept. 30, many do not meet the benchmarks for school readiness by that age.

For early childhood education to succeed in Louisiana, BRECEC executive director Patricia Haynes-Smith says that the state needs donor money forthose individuals who are not receiving state money ‘Theyweren’t ready’

In 2018, BRECEC’scurrent chief operating officer,Dan Chavis, met with community members to discuss ways to helpreach underserved childrenbelow the age of

five. Thecollaborative was formed thenext year,and by 2020, the organization had its 501(c)(3) status.

In Marchof2021, BRECEC established the HomeStart Early Childhood Educationand Wellness programtocater to families with children who aren’tenrolled in learningcenters or Head Start programs. Over 255 familieswith 367 children havebeen enrolled in the program since its inception.

Sonny Cranch, aretired public relations and advertising executive, volunteers with HomeStart and has been an advocate of BRECEC since thebeginning.

“Inhomes wherethere wasnot access to nor could the caregivers afford day care, the children wouldshowupatthe schoolhouse door, and they weren’tready for school,” Cranch said. “They didn’t knowthe numbers. Theydidn’t knowthe alphabet, didn’tknow their colors.BRECEC realizedthat those very children were the ones that, as they progressed through school,become more andmore frustrated.”

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation was thefirst source of funding for HomeStart in 2021. Other donorslike the Louisiana Department of Health Bureau of Minority Health Access, East Baton Rouge Parish Housing Authority,Wilson Foundation, Louis Calder Foundation, East Baton Rouge Parish School System and Charles Lamar Family Foundation were other donorsthathelped get theprogram off the ground.

The HomeStart program employs three early learning specialists who use the evidence and playbased curriculum,ParentChild+, as wellasLouisiana Believes early childhood education standardsto teach children directly and train parents and caregivers to implement early childhood learning strategies. Thespecialists visit thefamiliestwiceaweekfor 48 weeks.

HomeStart in Baton Rouge is the only ParentChild+siteinthe Deep South. Started in New York in 1979, ParentChild+ wasthe product of several years of Dr.Phyllis Levenstein’sresearch and pilot program, theVerbal Interaction Project and theMother-Child Home Program,

which approached reaching children and their parents at home, before they even entered school.

Childhoodeducation

The Louisiana Policy Institute for Children foundthat only 30% of Louisiana children arrive at kindergarten meetingcritical benchmarks.Early care andeducation programs prepare children to enter kindergartenreadytosucceed, which reduces the likelihood of academic struggles later on. When children begin school behind, they generally remain behind. However,studies show that when children can read proficiently by third grade, they are more likely to achieve academic success, graduate fromhigh school anddowellwhenthey enterthe

workforce, Chavis said.

“Young children feel failure, and they feel it very strongly,” Griffin said. “If you start in acycle of failure, you go into every activity and every teacher feeling like you’re goingtofail. Whenyou work with children, one-on-one or in small groups, they begin to experience success.”

During each HomeStart visit, the earlylearningspecialistsgive the parent or caregiver afree book or an educational toy and guide sheet that’sfocused on school readiness skills.The specialistsmeetwith families and home-basedchild care providers with up to six children under 5years old. They model playing with thedevelopmental toys and reading the appropriate bookstothe children so parents

andcaregiverscan continuethe early learning at home.

“The parents see the joy in doing that andwhattheir children are learning. They’re filling their housewithgoodtoysand good books,” Griffin said.

Shelia Chavis, the BRECEC education director,says the collaborative wants to empower parents and caregivers through HomeStart strategies that are needed for school readiness.

Literacy andS.T.E.A.M

After the Parent Child+ curriculumisfinished, the HomeStart early learning specialists introduce the Reading Out LoudEveryday programasa part of theliteracy initiative. The program provides parents with reading strategies to help their children develop language skills, vocabulary,comprehension and imagination.

“One of thestatisticsthat’salways stood outtomeisthatthe highest indicator of school success is children being read to on thelapsofa trusted adult,” Griffin said. “We’re helping them to do that. To see achild snuggle up and be read to, they just soak it up. I think literacy is key,just as parents being involved is key.”

Another expansion to HomeStart is ascience,technology,engineering, art and mathematics component that helps promote critical thinking, experimentation and creativity

STEAMItUpSaturdaysatCarver Library provides alearning environmentfor theHomeStart families. Griffin preparesexperiments and activities forthe children, and she showsfamilies how to gather loose parts and scavenged materials like boxes and bottle caps to do the activities at home.

“Everybody needs to get involved in better childhood education,” Dan Chavis said. “That’swhy we usethe word collaborative with ourname. We want everybody to get involved. We don’twant to take allthe credit.Wejustwanttobe aresource for the community; we can support the efforts of the parents.”

Email Joy Holdenatjoy.holden@ theadvocate.com.

PROVIDED PHOTO

Achild stacks blocks that were gifts from HomeStart.

& VALUES

Teens rewrite the rules of Israel-Palestine dialogue

BY FIONA ANDRE Contributing writer

As he returned home from a Jewish National Fund convention in December 2023, Alexander Kalish, a Jewish high school student from the Seattle area, kept thinking about the demonstrations that disturbed the event.

For days, pro-Palestinian protesters stood outside the Denver convention center to denounce the gathering of pro-Israeli students and donors. As he watched protesters condemn the event as “pro-genocide” and JNF attendees dismiss their concerns, Kalish, now 17, said he considered what the two sides would gain from having a discussion.

Back home, he shared his idea of creating a space for students to share their diverse views on Israel and Palestine with his longtime friend and neighbor, Kenan Khatib, whose parents are Palestinian.

As tensions reached an all-time high among their classmates at their high school and they said they saw both sides dehumanizing the other, the two teens founded Voices of Understanding last fall, a Seattle nonprofit that aims to bridge differences between students and help them challenge their stances on Israel and the Palestinian territories.

“We’re not here to have a debate,” said Khatib, 15.

“We’re here to have a discussion where both sides learn and have an open mind.”

The organization aims to help students connect respectfully, despite their disagreements, Kalish explained. “Our goal is that

when these people talk to each other they go from being people who hate this other group to being people who are like, ‘These people really aren’t that bad.’”

The organization is supported by the American Friends of the Parents Circle, a national group that brings together Israelis and Palestinians who have lost relatives in the conflict; Solutions Not Sides, a United Kingdom educational peace-building program; the United States-based Alliance for Middle East Peace; and Atidna International, a U.S. college-focused Jewish-Palestinian dialogue organization VOU counts Hamze Awawde, a Palestinian peace activist based in the West Bank; Jadd Hashem, a Palestinian American who serves as vice president of Atidna International; and Elijah Kahlenberg, founder of Atidna International, as advisers.

In hourlong confidential Zoom sessions, students are invited to share their views while demonstrating empa-

thy and understanding for the other side. After they fill out an online questionnaire inquiring about their views and knowledge of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, students are paired with a participant who holds opposite views and a facilitator who moderates the sessions. Participants can also join small group discussions.

The founders aim to have facilitated 100 separate discussions by the end of September.

Each meeting starts with a video outlining the rules to listen attentively not to interrupt and to remain respectful — and describing the purpose of the session. Rather than lecturing participants on the history of the conflict, the sessions focus on getting students to talk openly, explained Aude Santelmo, a 24-year-old recent college graduate from France who started moderating sessions in May Guidelines for facilitators recommend not to correct each other’s statements, noting “facts are

highly contested these days and you are not likely to agree on them in a one-hour conversation.” Instead, moderators should invite participants to accept that they “see certain facts differently rather than trying to straighten each other out.”

The document suggests students consider what they think the day-to-day lives of people living in Israel and the Palestinian territories are like, what they believe are the biggest misunderstandings about Israel and the Palestinian territories, and what peace would look like to them. At the end of the sessions, students are asked to reflect on what they learned from the conversation.

So far, the organization counts four facilitators, including Kalish’s father, Dan, who is also an adviser, and Awawde. All are expected to remain neutral during the sessions, a spokesperson for VOU told RNS.

Usually, Santelmo said, she starts by asking participants what they know about Israel and the Palestinian territories and where they’ve learned it from, she said.

“We try to bring a conversation where they can share their feelings,” said Santelmo, who moved from France to Israel to study conflict resolution and mediation at Tel Aviv University

When she senses tensions, Santelmo offers participants a break. Afterward, she has students reflect on what triggered the discomfort and helps them reformulate some of their stances in a way that might be better understood, she

said.

“Everyone has feelings I’m kind of connected to this and so obviously I’m not objective, but I think that my feelings about this should be acknowledged, and especially the feelings of the other side should also be acknowledged,” said Santelmo, who is Jewish.

Taking breaks and switching topics when they hit a roadblock is also what helped Kalish and Khatib have fruitful discussions, they both said.

Khatib, whose maternal family has lived in the village of Majd al-Krum in Galilee, now part of Israel, since 1938, told Kalish about the sense of injustice Palestinians have felt for decades. His paternal grandparents were among the about 750,000 Palestinians displaced during the Nakba, the forced exile of Palestinians in 1948, and became refugees in Lebanon.

He tried to articulate why some Palestinians viewed the deadly Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel as an act of liberation, though he said he deplored the violence. When the attack happened, Kalish was completing a semester abroad in Israel as part of a JNF fellowship. The program takes Jewish high schoolers to the country to follow an “Israel studies curriculum.” Kalish left Israel a few days after the attack and told Khatib about what it meant for Israeli society

The two teens, who prefer not to use the term “conflict” to talk about Israel and the Palestinian territories, spent weeks discussing the Israeli occupation in the West Bank,

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing government and the history and meaning of Zionism, before they founded VOU. Though the two disagreed on many things, sometimes circling on one topic for hours, their tense conversations helped them broaden their understanding of the decadeslong regional tensions, they said.

Eva Friedman, a 16-yearold participant from Seattle, said the sessions offered a much-needed space for open discussions. After the Oct. 7 attacks, Friedman, who is Jewish, said discussions were often very emotive.

“I saw the religious part of it a lot, and I also learned about it in school from a more unbiased perspective, and so I had already been able to see multiple ways to look at the issue,” she said. “I’ve always been cautious about it, but I also wanted to learn more.”

During the session she attended, which Kalish’s father moderated, the discussion started “at a surface level” before getting “deep” and touching on what she and her discussion partner thought could help bring peace, she said.

Kalish and Khatib are partnering with local high schools and colleges to encourage students to enroll in VOU’s sessions. Their project, they said, aims to help broaden opinions of younger students, who might be more open-minded than older ones.

“While it may not make a change now, in the future, it’ll make a change,” Khatib said.

City food forests offer a chance to experience nature

BY ALLYSON CHIU

Contributing writer

Editor’s note: This story, created by Allyson Chiu for The Washington Post is part of the Solutions Story Tracker from the Solutions Journalism Network, a nonprofit organization dedicated to rigorous reporting about responses to social problems Louisiana Inspired features solutions journalism stories that provide tangible evidence that positive change is happening in other places and in our own communities — solutions that can be adopted around the world.

Dawn Taft reached into a tangle of leafy branches, the top half of her body largely disappearing from view

“Oh my God, pawpaws!” Taft exclaimed, holding back large canoe-shaped leaves to reveal a cluster of smooth, light-green fruit.

The tree bearing North America’s largest native fruit is one of more than a dozen edible plants flourishing in a roughly 8,600-square-foot plot sandwiched between homes and an auto-repair shop.

The space in Hyattsville, Maryland, was converted from two empty residential lots about a decade ago. It’s now a well-established “food forest” — like a community garden, but featuring food-bearing trees and shrubs, and intended to mimic the natural ecosystem.

It provides residents with a chance to harvest fresh, free produce and to connect with nature, said Taft, the city’s environmental programs manager and arborist.

“When you live in a city, you sometimes don’t get to experience the forest,” or appreciate that the things you buy from a grocery store were grown somewhere, she said. “That’s a really cool piece of what this place offers.” Food forest projects have been taking root in multiple U.S cities. In Atlanta, Boston, Denver, Philadelphia, Seattle and elsewhere, groups have partnered with local communities to cultivate layers of edible plants on public parkland, in empty lots and along

roadsides

Their champions say that in addition to food, these forests offer a host of climate and environmental benefits

“It’s the most hopeful form of land management that I’ve heard about,” said Lincoln Smith, founder of Forested, a 10-acre experimental forest garden in Bowie, Maryland

Creating a food forest

Just down the road from a private golf course, beyond a gate made of rough-hewn branches and chicken wire, lies a dense thicket of trees. A rustic fence, obscured by greenery, keeps deer from gorging on the smorgasbord of nuts, berries, and other fruits and edible plants growing in Smith’s forest garden.

“It is pretty wild, but it’s actually pretty organized, too,” said Smith, a landscape architect by training who has designed urban food forests for neighboring cities, including the one on Emerson Street in Hyattsville.

“You’re targeting different crops and trying to balance ecosystem restoration and food production, which I think we can do in the same piece of ground,” he added.

The property, which used to be a cornfield, is bursting with native food-bearing trees and shrubs, as well as non-native species that shouldn’t outcompete them. Some selections attract pollinators or help put more nitrogen back into the soil.

Smith said he focuses on planting what naturally flourishes in the area. Instead of trying to grow apple trees, which don’t always thrive in Maryland, he opted for persimmons.

“If it grows without any help, you know it’s going to produce well for you,” he said.

He also makes sure to plant in multilayered arrangements, mimicking a natural forest But, he cautioned, creating a food forest isn’t just about the plants.

“Some of my early mistakes in designing these spaces were just getting really excited about all the plants and then forgetting to leave any access for people,” he said.

Now, grassy pathways snake past leafy oaks; persimmon, pawpaw and native Chickasaw plum trees; and mulberry and blueberry plants. While the vegetation is dense, there are intentional sight lines that allow people roaming the forest to see through the lush trees and shrubs.

Similar principles can be used to design food forests in more urban areas.

In Hyattsville, Smith designed an open space with wide paths, creating clear sight lines and multiple ways to enter Visitors can take a break on benches scattered around the garden or seek shade under a pavilion.

Much of the food forest’s offerings are widely recognizable: pears, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries figs, pomegranates walnuts and pecans.

“I have a bit of a bias toward things that can be enjoyed raw for the urban food forests,” he said, adding that he tends to choose plants bearing fruits and nuts that people generally know are safe to eat

Reaping the benefits

On a recent August morning, Alden Kendall and his 2-year-old son explored the Emerson Street Food Forest together, sampling beach plums and sea kale

“We’re going to come back pretty regularly,” said Kendall, 40, a resident of New Carrollton, who hadn’t been to the edible forest

before His son, he said, “can get to see things change over the seasons, and we can gather things that we’re not able to grow ourselves.”

Lisa Nelson, 61, who lives in Greenbelt stopped by looking for figs and was excited to see that trees and bushes were identified with small metal signs. QR codes provide access to additional information about the plants, including when and what to harvest.

While it’s difficult to estimate how many visitors come to Emerson Street, Taft, the city arborist, said the well-picked trees could be a sign of growing awareness.

“I’m not seeing rotten fruit on the ground, so there’s evidence right there that people are actually utilizing the space, and it’s getting better and better,” she said.

The food forest’s benefits can also be gauged by the number of nonhuman visitors. Small butterflies and moths fluttered among the greenery, while birds chirped from inside thick treetops. Bumblebees and honeybees swarmed an anise hyssop, crawling all over the plant’s lavender stalks.

Beyond increasing people’s access to fresh food and nature, and serving as wildlife habitats, these forest ecosystems can sequester

carbon and help improve water quality according to the Forest Service.

“You can see photos of this place from when it was a cornfield and know that runoff has been drastically reduced and carbon is being accumulated in the soil,” Smith said of the Bowie food forest.

Maintaining an ecosystem

But to start a food forest and keep it going requires sustained attention, Smith said.

“There’s been a certain amount of people online claiming zero maintenance, which is totally wrong,” he said. “Even harvesting is a lot of work.”

Sometimes, 10 or 12 people will spend a couple of hours processing acorns, he said. More recently, it took several people more than an hour to pluck fox grapes off their stems.

In Hyattsville, Taft said crews mow and weed the food forest every two weeks. For each piece of fruit she took pleasure in finding on that August morning, there was an overgrown plant needing to be pruned or pulled that caught her eye.

“Oh, here’s a weed,” she said, bending down to pluck the errant plant. “I could spend a whole day here and not be done.”

PROVIDED PHOTO

Kenan Khatib, left, and Alexander Kalish co-founded Voices of Understanding

GREG KAHN/FOR THE WASHINGTON POST The food forest is open to everyone. Visitors are encouraged to bring their own scissors and basket.

GREG KAHN/FOR THE WASHINGTON POST Lincoln Smith has designed several food forests in the area.

SUNDAY, September 21, 2025

CURTIS / by Ray Billingsley

SLYLOCK FOX / by Bob Weber Jr

GET FUZZY / by Darby Conley

HAGAR THE HORRIBLE / by Chris Browne

MOTHER GOOSE AND GRIMM / by Mike Peters

ZIGGY / by Tom Wilson

ZITS / by Jerry Scott and Jim Borgman

SALLY FORTH / by Francesco Marciuliano & Jim Keefe

PEARLS BEFORE SWINE /byStephan Pastis

directions: Make a 2- to 7-letter word from the letters in each row Add points of each word, using scoring directions at right. Finally, 7-letter words get 50-point bonus. “Blanks” used as any letter have no point value All the words are in the Official SCRABBLE® Players Dictionary, 5th Edition.

word game

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

todAY's Word — disciPLine: DIS-ihplin: Prescribed conduct or pattern of behavior

Average mark 48 words

Time limit 60 minutes

Can you find 62 or more words in DISCIPLINE?

ken ken

instructions: 1 -Each rowand each column must contain thenumbers 1through4 (easy) or 1through6 (challenging) without repeating 2 -The numbers within the heavily outlinedboxes, called cages, must combine using thegiven operation (inany order)toproduce the target numbersinthe top-left corners. 3 -Freebies: Fillinthe single-boxcages withthe numberinthe top-left corner

instructions: Sudoku is anumber-placing puzzle based on a 9x9 gridwith several given numbers. The object is to placethe numbers 1to 9in theempty squares so that each row,each column and each 3x3 boxcontains the same number only once. The difficultylevel of the Conceptis Sudoku increases from Monday to Sunday

directions: Complete thegridso that numbers 1–132 connect horizontally, vertically or diagonally

Sudoku

Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis

super Quiz

Concise bidding

Today’s deal comes from the mind of South Florida’s Richard Pavlicek, a great American player, teacher, and writer It was played,accordingtoPavlicek,ata tournamentintheNorthPole.The players were all local residents, but from two different factions that did not always get along and did not speak the same language. South intended to bid two clubs, Stayman, but the opponents thought he bid seven clubs. The director was called and he ruled thatsevenclubswasthefinalcontract. The fact that he was from thesamefactionasEast-Westhad nothing to do with his ruling.

South won the opening heart lead with his 10 and led the 10 of diamonds to the jack and queen. He crossed back to his hand with a heart to the queen and led the 10 of spades to the jack and queen. So far, so good. South led a heart to his ace and led the nine of diamonds, winning the trick. The nine of spades was next, also winning the trick. Declarer now led a club to dummy’s nine and won that trick also! He cashed the ace of spades and the ace of diamonds with both opponents

following suit to everything. He ruffed dummy’s last spade with the king of clubs as both opponents under-ruffed. Dummy had to take the last two tricks with the ace-jack of clubs and the grand slam rolled home! A beauty!

Tannah Hirsch welcomes readers’ responses sent in care of this newspaper or to Tribune Content Agency inc., 2225 Kenmore Ave., Suite 114, Buffalo, Ny 14207. E-mail responses may be sent to gorenbridge@ aol.com. © 2025 Tribune Content Agency

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Trust your instincts and follow through. Connect with like-minded people who can contribute to your plans. Forward thinking and physical action will carry you to the finish line. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) Charm, intelligence and following through with your plans will lead to lifestyle changes. Embrace today with vim and vigor, and you’ll make progress.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) Be a role model, play by the rules, do your best and help those falling behind.

Smile brightly and refuse to let anyone coax you into a heated debate.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) Initiate change and move forward. Evaluate your situation and incorporate activities that bring you the most joy into your everyday routine Dismiss negativity and replace it with a can-do attitude.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Let your heart guide you. Listen, be patient and precise, and press forward with issues that require your attention. Show concern, but don’t pay for other people’s mistakes.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Put your energy behind your quest for success. Invest time into getting ahead. Upgrade your skills and qualifications to stay current with developments in your sector PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) Draw on people you know can help you out or introduce you to someone who can. Time is on your side, and observation and listening to others will help you make better choices.

SUBJECT: STARTS WITH “FRI.” Each answer is a single word that starts with

tions. Overreacting, taking on too much or making unrealistic promises will lead to trouble.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) Focus on who you are, how you present yourself and what you have to offer Get out, market your attributes and charm those you encounter on your mission to explore new possibilities.

ARIES (March 21-April 19) Direct your energy wisely. Get your facts straight before you make accusa-

Take this Super Quiz to a Ph.D. Score 1 point for each correct answer on the Freshman Level, 2 points on the graduate Level and 3 points on the Ph.D. Level.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) Reconfigure your schedule to ensure that your day runs smoothly Don’t expect everyone to agree with you or to prioritize you.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) Attend a reunion, lecture or trade show that enables you to connect the dots. Once you feel confident that you have your information straight, you’ll be able to make moves.

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

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) Size up situations and make your mark. Take the initiative and make the most of yourself. Speak from the heart, and you’ll dazzle those you want to get to know better

goren Bridge

Answers to puzzles

1. Fridge. 2. Frigid. 3. Friend. 4. Friar.5.Frisk 6. Friction. 7. Fringe. 8. Frighten.9.Frisky 10.Frigate. 11. Frivolous. 12. Frieze. 13. Fritters. 14. Frizzy.15. Frill.

SCORING: 24 to 30 points —congratulations, doctor; 18 to 23 points—honorsgraduate; 13 to 17 points —you’replenty smart, but no grind; 5to12points —you really shouldhit the booksharder;1point to 4points —enroll in remedial courses immediately; 0points who reads thequestions to you?

Of course Italk tomyself. Ilike agoodspeaker, and Iappreciateanintelligent audience.— Dorothy Parker

Crossword

jeFF mACnelly’sshoe/ by Gary Brookins &Susie MacNelly

FoXtrot/ by BillAmend