Gov. Jeff Landryhas alaugh during anewsconference Wednesday announcing that the
will be playedinNew Orleans.
BY ANTHONY MCAULEY Staff writer
NewOrleans will host theCollege Football Playoff National Championship in January 2028, bringing the titlegamebacktothe Caesars Superdome and thousands of fans and national mediaattentionalong with it.
The matchup will capthe 2027 season and marks the second time the
BY MARK BALLARD and ALYSE PFEIL Staff writers
WASHINGTON —Congressional party leaders spent muchofWednesday,the first day of agovernment shutdown, pointing the finger at each other and saying they did not know just how long somegovernment services will remain closed.
Republican House leaders—Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Benton, and Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-Jefferson —spent muchofthe day talking to the media. But real action, or lack thereof, was in the Senate. The House last month passed aresolution, on alargely party-line vote,toauthorize government spending past the Sept. 30 deadline to Nov.21.
For thethird time Wednesdaymorning, theSenate rejected the “continuing resolution” on avote of 55-45. Sixtyvotes are needed for passage of financial instruments, and Republicans hold only 53 seats in the Senate.
“Weneed ahandful of DemocratstojoinRepublicanstoreopen the government andoncewedo that, then we can talk about the issues that Democrats are raising,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said before the vote.
See SHUTDOWN, page 7A
ä See HOST, page 7A
Superdomehas staged theCollege Football Playoff finale, the first being LSU’svictory over Clemsonin 2020. For acityrenowned for major sportingevents, festivals and conventions, the championship representsahigh-profile showcase as well as apotential boost to New Orleans’ tourism-driven economy On Wednesday,Gov.Jeff Landry, Allstate SugarBowl CEO Jeff Hundley and the other civic leaders were on hand at theSuperdome to announce thatNew Orleans’bid to host thegame was accepted. They called the gameanother opportunity to showcase thecity and state.
Leaderssay rules excessive, unnecessary
BY PATRICKWALL Staff writer
Roger Williams spent many long days in the state Capitol this year, taking time offworkand away
from his children to plead his case to lawmakers. He testified repeatedly that privatepreschools,like the one where he says hisdaughter was harmed by another student, must be better regulated.
But when Williamsreturned to the Capitol in August, it was to celebrate.
“Wedid it,” he told achild abuse
task force after the legislation he’d championed, Act 409, had been signed into law.“This law is not just words on paper —it’sa shield forLouisiana’schildren.”
The sweeping 32-page law regulates hiring and training, child supervision and abusereporting at day cares and preschools. It requires pre-Kprogramsatprivate
schools toobtain aday care center license —a lengthy process involving background checks and site inspections —and allows families to suefor damages if their children are abused at school.
Advocates like Williamstout the law,which thestate Legislature passed unanimously this year,asa major victory forchild safety and
school accountability. But critics callthe regulationsexcessive and unnecessary given private schools’ existing safety protocols and warn that tuition might rise to offset the costs of compliance, including extra teachers, background checks and facility upgrades.
ä See PRE-K, page 8A
Activists: Israeli navy intercepts aid flotilla
JERUSALEM Activists on board
a flotilla of vessels sailing toward Gaza said late Wednesday that the Israelinavyhadinterceptedthree of its boats as they approached the besieged Palestinian territory Israeli authorities said the activists on board, including Greta Thunberg, were safe and being transferred to Israel.
The Global Sumud Flotilla, composed of nearly 50 boats and 500 activists, was carrying a symbolic amount of humanitarian aid to Gaza. The Sirius, Alma and Adara boats were intercepted some 80 miles from the coast of Gaza, according to organizers who shared live positions of the flotilla. The group, which includes Nelson Mandela’s grandson, Mandla Mandela, former Barcelona Mayor Ada Colau and several European lawmakers, said it remained undeterred in its mission to break the Israeli blockade and bring aid to Palestinians 6 homes collapse into the Outer Banks surf
Six unoccupied houses along North Carolina’s Outer Banks have collapsed into the ocean as Hurricanes Humberto and Imelda rumble in the Atlantic, the latest private beachfront structures to fall as sea levels rise due to global warming
Five of the homes, once propped on high stilts, collapsed Tuesday afternoon in Buxton, a community on the string of islands that make up the Outer Banks, said Mike Barber, a spokesperson for the National Park Service. A sixth in Buxton collapsed overnight, the park service said on its website
No injuries had been reported Tuesday, the Cape Hatteras National Seashore said in a post on social media.
Oktoberfest reopens after bomb threat
MUNICH The Oktoberfest fairgrounds closed for several hours Wednesday as police conducted a security sweep of the famed beer festival due to a bomb threat by a suspect linked to an explosion across town in northern Munich.
Police in Bavaria, the state where Munich is located, said the suspect was believed to be a 57-year-old German citizen who, according to preliminary findings, had died by suicide near a lake in northern Munich.
The Oktoberfest grounds were reopened after police determined that the bomb threat linked to the suspect “was not confirmed,” Munich police said on the X platform.
The suspect, who had been living in the town of Starnberg south of the city had been carrying a backpack containing an explosive device, a Bavaria police statement said earlier
Hunter S. Thompson’s death to be reviewed
ASPEN, Colo. — Investigators in Colorado are reviewing the 2005 shooting death of journalist Hunter S. Thompson, which was ruled a suicide, authorities said. There’s no new evidence suggesting foul play Thompson’s death, but the Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office requested the review at the behest of Thompson’s widow Anita Thompson, the Sheriff’s Office and Colorado Bureau of Investigation said in a news release Tuesday St. Thérèse’s relics begin tour of U.S
ROYAL OAK, Mich. — The sacred bones of a much-loved French Carmelite nun began a tour of the U.S. on Wednesday at a parish named in her honor A reliquary containing some of St. Thérèse’s remains will be on display through Oct 8, before moving on to California Other stops on the tour, which runs into December are Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, Texas, Wisconsin and Washington D.C.
BY WAFAA SHURAFA, SAMY MAGDY and BASSEM MROUE Associated Press
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip Israel’s defense minister on Wednesday ordered all remaining Palestinians to leave Gaza City saying it was their “last opportunity” and that anyone who stayed would be considered a militant supporter and face the “full force” of Israel’s latest offensive.
At least 21 Palestinians were killed across the territory, according to local hospitals, as Hamas weighed a new proposal from U.S. President Donald Trump aimed at ending the war and returning the remaining captives taken in Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack that triggered it.
A senior Hamas official told The Associated Press that there are some points in the proposal that are unacceptable and must be amended, without elaborating.
He said the official response will only come after consultations with other Palestinian factions Around 400,000 Palestinians have fled famine-stricken Gaza City since Israel launched a major offensive last month aimed at oc-
cupying it, but hundreds of thousands remain, many because they cannot afford to leave or are too weak to make the journey to tent camps in the south.
“This is the last opportunity for Gaza residents who wish to do so to move south,” Defense Minister Israel Katz wrote on X. “Those who remain in Gaza will be (considered) terrorists and terror supporters.”
The road south was packed as Palestinians fled, with hastily loaded trucks and cars driving alongside people on foot carrying their belongings.
“We left barefoot,” Hussein alDel said. The Israelis “were striking at random, with no mercy for anyone. We left behind our food, our furniture, blankets, and everything. We left only with our souls,” he said.
At least seven people, including first responders, were killed when two Israeli strikes minutes apart hit a school sheltering displaced people in Gaza City, according to Al-Ahli Hospital, where the casualties were taken. Officials there said more than three dozen people were wounded.
Five Palestinians were killed later in a strike on people gath-
ered around a drinking water tank elsewhere in Gaza City, the hospital said. Shifa Hospital said a man was killed in a strike on his apartment. Strikes in central Gaza killed another eight people, according to Al-Awda Hospital.
Another strike hit a tent in the courtyard of Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in the central town of Deir alBalah, seriously wounding two people, according to hospital officials.
Earlier on Wednesday at the same hospital, dozens of people attended a funeral service for a Palestinian freelance journalist, Yahya Barzaq. He was killed Tuesday along with five other people in an airstrike while working for Turkish broadcast outlet TRT.
More than 189 Palestinian journalists and media workers have been killed by Israeli fire in Gaza since the outbreak of the war, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military on Wednesday’s strikes or the strike that killed Barzaq. Israel states it tries to avoid harming civilians and blames Hamas for their deaths, saying its militants are embedded in populated areas.
BY NINIEK KARMINI and EDNA TARIGAN Associated Press
SIDOARJO Indonesia Rescue workers continued to search on Wednesday for dozens of missing students suspected of still being buried under the rubble of a collapsed school in the province of East Java.
The death toll following the incident on Monday has risen to six, according to Yudhi Bramantyo, deputy chief of operations at the National Search and Rescue Agency
Five survivors were successfully rescued after a tunnel was dug at the base of the building to their location.
“Their conditions were better as they were detected yesterday They can communicate since yesterday while their bodies are covered by concrete. We have been able to provide food and drink support since yesterday,” Bramantyo said.
Rescuers are racing against the clock in the search for other survivors, with dozens of students still unaccounted for, he added.
The structure fell on top of hundreds of people at about 2:30 p.m. on Monday in a prayer hall at the century-old al Khoziny Islamic boarding school in Sidoarjo, on the eastern side of Indonesia’s Java island.
The students were mostly boys in grades seven to 12, between ages 12 and 18. Female students were praying in another part of the building and managed to escape, survivors said.
trapped below
“We hope that we can complete this operation soon,” Mohammad Syafii, head of Indonesia’s National Search and Rescue Agency, told reporters. “We are currently racing against time because it is possible that we can still save lives of those we have detected within the golden hours.”
In a sign of hope, rescuers pulled one boy out alive on Wednesday afternoon, loading him gently onto a stretcher to be taken to a hospital. His condition was not immediately known.
Of the approximately 100 injured, more than two dozen are still hospitalized, with many said to have suffered head injuries and broken bones, authorities said.
Death toll rises to 69 in Philippines
BY JOEAL CALUPITAN and AARON FAVILA Associated Press
BOGO, Philippines Rescuers used backhoes and sniffer dogs to look for survivors in collapsed houses and other damaged buildings in the central Philippines on Wednesday, a day after an earthquake killed at least 69 people and injured more than 200 others.
The death toll was expected to rise from the 6.9 magnitude quake that hit at about 10 p.m. on Tuesday and trapped an unspecified number of residents in the hard-hit city of Bogo and outlying rural towns in Cebu province.
Sporadic rain and damaged bridges and roads have hampered the race to save lives, officials said.
On Wednesday night, rescuers in orange and yellow hard hats used spotlights, a backhoe and bare hands to sift through the rubble of concrete slabs, broken wood and twisted iron bars for hours in a collapsed building in Bogo city No survivor was found.
“We’re still in the golden hour of our search and rescue,” Office of Civil Defense deputy administrator Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro IV said in a morning news briefing in Manila, the country’s capital. “There are still many reports of people who were pinned or hit by debris.”
The epicenter of the earthquake, which was set off by movement in an undersea fault line at a dangerously shallow depth of 3 miles, was about 12 miles northeast of Bogo a coastal city of about 90,000 people in Cebu province where about half of the deaths were reported, officials said.
The Philippine government is considering whether to seek help from foreign governments based on an ongoing rapid damage assessment, Alejandro said.
The United States, Japan, Australia and the European Union expressed condolences.
A story Tuesday misstated the name of one of mayoral candidate Helena Moreno’s supporters. His name is Kenny Young. The Times-Picayune regrets the error
Most rescues typically happen within 24 hours after such disasters, with chances of survival decreasing each day after. More than 300 workers continued to work to try and reach those who have been detected to be still alive and
Before Wednesday’s rescue, Syafii’s agency said at least six children were alive under the rubble, but the search has been complicated with the slabs of concrete and other parts of the building remaining unstable. Heavy equipment is available but is not being used due to concerns that could cause further collapse.
BY HALLIE GOLDEN Associated Press
JaneGoodall, the intellectual, softspoken conservationist renowned for her groundbreaking, immersive chimpanzee field researchinwhich she documented the primates’ distinct personalities and use of tools, has died. She was 91.
The environmental advocate became abeloved household name who transcendedgenerations through her appearances in documentaries and on television, as well as her travels to address packed auditoriums around the world.
TheJaneGoodall Instituteannounced the primatologist’sdeath WednesdayinanInstagram post According to the Washington, D.C.based institute, Goodall died of natural causes while in California on a U.S. speaking tour Her discoveries “revolutionized science, and she was atireless advocate for the protection and restoration of our natural world,” it said. While living among chimpanzees in Africa decades ago,Goodall documented them doing activities
previously believed to be exclusive to humans.Her observations and subsequent magazine and documentary appearances in the 1960s transformed how the world perceived not onlyhumans’closest living biological relatives butalso the emotional and social complexity of allanimals, while propellingher into the public consciousness.
“Out there in nature by myself, when you’re alone, youcan become part of nature and your humanity doesn’tget in the way,” she told The Associated Press in 2021. “It’salmost like an out-of-body experience when suddenlyyou hear different sounds and you smell different smells and you’re actually part of this amazing tapestry of life.”
She hadbeen scheduled to meet with studentsand teachers on Wednesdaytolaunchthe planting of 5,000 trees around wildfire burn zones in the LosAngeles area. Organizers learned of herdeathasthe event was to beginatEFAcademy in Pasadena, saidspokesperson Shawna Marino. The first tree was planted in Goodall’sname after a moment of silence.
“I don’tthink there’sany better way to honorher legacy than havingathousand children gatheredfor her,” Marino said. Goodall in her later years devoted decades to education and advocacy on humanitarian causes and protecting the natural world. In her usual soft-spoken British accent,she was known for balancing the grim realities of the climatecrisiswitha sincere messageofhopefor thefuture
From her baseinthe British coastal town of Bournemouth, she traveled nearly300 days ayear, even after she turned90, for public speeches.Between moreserious messages, herspeeches often featuredher whooping like achimpanzee or lamenting that Tarzan chose the wrong Jane.
Tributesfrom animalrights organizations, political leaders and admirers pouredinfollowing news of her death.
“I’mdeeply saddenedtolearn about the passing of Jane Goodall, our dear Messenger of Peace. She is leaving an extraordinary legacy for humanity &our planet,” said United Nations Secretary-GeneralAntonio
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By GEORGEWALKER IV
People demonstrateFridayabove Interstate40inNashville, Tenn., against the deployment of theNational GuardinMemphis.
BY ADRIAN SAINZ Associated Press
MEMPHIS, Tenn Defense Secre-
tary Pete Hegseth, Attorney General Pam Bondi and White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller on Wednesday ralliedmembers of afederal law enforcement task force that has begun operating in Memphis as part of PresidentDonald Trump’scrime-fighting plan for the city.
The officialsmet withTennessee Gov.Bill Lee, aRepublican who has supported the project, before touring astaging area for the Memphis Safe Task Force and then speaking to agroup of federal, state and local law enforcement officers and Tennessee National Guard members. Miller called the task forcean “all of government, unlimited support operation” that would make thecity“saferthanany of you could ever possibly imagine.” He predicted that “businesses and investment are going to pourin, and Memphis willbericher than ever before.”
“We’re not here to second-guess you,” Hegseth told them. “We’re here to have your back —toun-
leash you to do your jobssoyou come home safely.”
U.S.Rep.Steve Cohen, the Democrat who represents Memphis in Congress, saidhewas disappointed to learnaboutthe visit in themedia. In aletter to Hegsethand Bondi, he urged themtobemore collaborative and expressed concern about the “wartime rhetoric” coming fromthe Trump administration.
“Memphians are notenemies; they areAmericans,”Cohen said “They are entitledtoconstitutional rights, not their government working to ‘intimidate, demoralize,hunt andkill’ them. We are not atrainingground ortarget practice.”
Thetask force is partofalarger effort byTrumptouse National Guard troopsand surge federal law enforcementincities, particularly ones controlled by Democrats.
Following troop deployments in theDistrictofColumbiaand Los Angeles, hereferred to Portland, Oregon, as “war-ravaged”and threatened apocalyptic force in Chicago. Speaking Tuesday to U.S military leadersinVirginia, Trump proposed using cities as training grounds for the armed forces Bondi said in asocial media post earlierinthe day that the taskforce
has made more than 50 arrests over atwo-day period. More than 200 officers have been deputized, including personnel from immigration anddrug enforcement. They are serving criminal arrest warrants and teaming with state agencies on trafficstops.
Memphis should expect to seean increaseinwarrantenforcement, especially forviolent criminals, SupervisoryDeputy U.S. Marshal RyanGuay saidinanemail. The Marshals Servicewill releaseperiodicupdates that include arrest numbers, types of charges and participating agencies, he said.
Tennessee National Guard troops will help Memphis Police, Leehas said, but it is unclear how soon that will begin. Lee does notexpect morethan 150 National Guard members to be sent to Memphis The city hassaidthere will be no tanks, and the governor said troops will not makearrests or be armed unless local authorities request it. Memphis has experienced high numbers of violent crimes such as carjackings and homicides in recent years, but both Democratic andRepublicanofficials have noteddecreases this yearinsome crime categories.
ASSOCIATEDPRESS FILEPHOTO By JEAN-MARC BOUJU Jane
kisses Tess, afemale chimpanzee, at the Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuarynear Nanyuki, north of Nairobi,in1997. The celebrated conservationist died Wednesdayat91.
Guterres.
While first studying chimps in Tanzania in theearly1960s, Goodall was known for her unconventional approach.She didn’tsimply observe them from afar butimmersedherselfinevery aspect of their lives. She fed them and gave them names instead of numbers, which some sci-
entists criticized. Her findings were circulated to millionswhenshe first appeared on thecover of NationalGeographic in 1963 and then in apopular documentary.A collectionofphotosof Goodall in the field helped her and even some of the chimps become famous.
BY JOSHBOAK AssociatedPress
WASHINGTON President Donald Trump’sadministration, citing the government shutdown, said Wednesday it was putting aholdon roughly $18 billion to fund anew rail tunnel beneaththe Hudson Riverbetween New York Cityand New Jersey and an extension of the city’sSecondAvenue subway. The WhiteHouse budgetdirector,Russ Vought, said on Xthe step was takendue to the administration’sbelief the spending was basedonunconstitutionaldiversity,equity and inclusionprinciples.
In astatement, Trump’sTransportation Department said it had been reviewing whether any “unconstitutional practices” were occurring in the two massive infrastructureprojectsbut that the shutdown,which began Wednesday, hadforcedittofurlough the staffers conducting thereview.
The suspension of funds is likely meant to target Senate Democrat-
ic leader ChuckSchumer,ofNew York,whomthe WhiteHouse is blaming for the impasse. He said thefunding freezewould harm commuters.
“Obstructingthese projects is stupid and counterproductive because they create tens of thousands of great jobs and are essential for a strong regionaland nationaleconomy,” he saidonX
The spending hold was apreview of how the messy the politics of the shutdown could get, withVought later posting on Xthat$8billionin funding forgreen energyprojects in Democratic-ledstates would be canceled.The administration has shown awillingnesstouse its control of federal dollars to apply pressure on Democrats to reopen the government, withcommuters andthousands of jobs hanging in thebalance.
The agency working on the subway line said it was blindsided by the announcement. “For now, it lookslike they’re just inventing excuses to delay oneofthe most importantinfrastructureprojects in America,” read astatement from John McCarthy,policy chief andspokespersonfor the New York state-controlled Metropolitan Transportation Authority
BY MARK BALLARD Staff writer
WASHINGTON The U.S. Senate JudiciaryCommittee forwarded Wednesday the nomination of David Courcelle as the U.S. attorney forthe Eastern DistrictofLouisiana, based in New Orleans. The panelvoted 14-8withoutcommenttorecommend the full Senate confirm Courcelle as the lead federal law enforcement official for
13 parishes in southeast Louisiana: Assumption, Jefferson, Lafourche, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St.Charles, St. James, St.John the Baptist, St.Tammany, Tangipahoa, Terrebonne andWashington.
Agraduate of De La Salle High School,the UniversityofNew Orleansand LoyolaCollege of Law, Courcelle has aprivate law firm in Metairie. He represented two defendantsaccused of participating in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol by supporters of President Donald Trump
He is theformer parishattorney for Jefferson Parish and has served as Harahan’scityattorney Courcelle will join other Trump nominees awaiting a final confirmationbythe full Senate.
Email Mark Ballardat mballard@theadvocate.com.
BY DÁNICA COTO Associated Press
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Hurricane
Imelda barreled toward Bermu-
da on Wednesday as forecasters warned that it would swipe past the tiny British territory as a Category 2 storm. Heavy winds and rain were expected to start hitting the island and continue through Thursday, with Imelda forecast to pass near or over Bermuda late Wednesday night. A hurricane warning was in effect for Bermuda, a wealthy overseas territory with strong structures that have withstood powerful storms in previous years.
Imelda was located about 190 miles west-southwest of Bermuda. It had maximum sustained winds
of 100 mph and was moving eastnortheast at 22 mph, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami.
“This is a dangerous storm system that could bring destructive winds, heavy rainfall and significant coastal impacts,” said Michael Weeks, Bermuda’s national security minister Bermuda closed its public schools, government offices and international airport on Wednesday as it deployed 100 soldiers to secure infrastructure, clear roads and help at emergency shelters ahead of the storm.
Imelda is expected to drop up to 4 inches of rain across Bermuda and produce a dangerous storm surge that forecasters say could unleash flooding. Hundreds of customers
were without power ahead of the storm. The National Hurricane Center warned that the strongest winds may occur early Thursday morning after the center has passed Bermuda.
Deadly storm
Earlier in the week, Imelda pummeled the northern Caribbean, unleashing widespread flooding in eastern Cuba, where two people died.
In the province of Guantánamo, more than 18,000 people were evacuated, while in Santiago de Cuba, flooding and landslides cut off access to 17 communities where more than 24,000 people live, according to state reports. On Wednesday, more than 3,500
Force has long been engine of social change
BY GARY FIELDS Associated Press
WASHINGTON Historically, the U.S. military has been an engine for cultural and social change in America.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s vision for the armed forces he leads runs counter to that.
In comments Tuesday to hundreds of military leaders and their chief enlisted advisers, Hegseth made clear he was not interested in a diverse or inclusive force. His address at the Marine Corps base in Quantico, Virginia, verbalized what Hegseth has been doing as he takes on any program that can be labeled diversity, equity or inclusion, as well as targeting transgender personnel.
Separately, the focus on immigration also is sweeping up veterans.
For too long, “the military has been forced by foolish and reckless politicians to focus on the wrong things. In many ways, this speech is about fixing decades of decay, some of it obvious, some of it hidden,” Hegseth said. “Foolish and reckless po-
litical leaders set the wrong compass heading, and we lost our way We became the woke department, but not anymore.”
Hegseth’s actions — and plans for more — are a reversal of the role the military has often played.
“The military has often been ahead of at least some broader social, cultural, political movements,” said Ronit Stahl, associate professor of history at the University of California, Berkeley ”The desegregation of the armed forces is perhaps the most classic example.”
President Harry S. Truman’s desegregation order in 1948 came six years before the Supreme Court ordered school desegregation in the Brown vs. Board of Education case and, Stahl said, “that obviously takes a long time to implement, if it ever fully is implemented.”
Truman’s order was not a short progression through American society Although the military was one of the few places where there was organizational diversity, the races did not mix in their actual service. Units like the Tuskegee Airmen, the Navajo Code Talkers and the Buffalo Soldiers, formed in 1866, were segregated until the order opened the door to integrated units.
Women were given full status to serve in 1948 with the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act. There were restrictions on how many could serve and they were generally not allowed to command men or serve in combat. Before then, they had wartime roles and they did not serve in combat, although hundreds of nurses died and women were pilots, including Women Airforce Service Pilots, or WASPs.
The WASPs and Tuskegee Airmen were among the first groups this year to be affected when Hegseth issued his DEI order The Air Force removed training videos of the airmen along with ones showing the World War II contributions of the WASPs at the basic training base in San Antonio. The videos were restored after widespread bipartisan outcry over their removal.
Other issues over time have included “don’t ask, don’t tell,” the policy that allowed gay and lesbian service members to serve as long as their sexual orientation was not public. That was repealed during the Obama administration Women were allowed to serve on combat aircraft and combat ships in the early 1990s — then all combat positions after a ban was lifted in 2015.
Tenn. court sets execution date for state’s only
BY TRAVIS LOLLER
student.
woman on death row
Slemmer, 18, was stabbed and beaten by Pike and Tadaryl Shipp, Pike’s boyfriend, on the University of Tennessee’s Agricultural campus. They carved a pentagram into Slemmer’s chest, and investigators claimed Pike took a piece of the victim’s skull for a souvenir Shipp, of Memphis, was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole. Pike was also convicted in 2004 for trying to strangle a fellow inmate during a prison fight, which added 25 years to her sentence. Pike’s attorneys previously asked the state’s high court to commute her sentence based on her youth and “severe mental illness at the time of her crime.” Pike suffered physical and sexual abuse and neglect as a child, according to her attorneys. She also suffered from bipolar and post-traumatic stress disorders that were not diagnosed until years after her arrest. “With time and treatment Christa has become a thoughtful woman with deep
remorse for her crime,” a Wednesday statement from her attorneys reads. Tennessee began a new round of executions in May after a three-year pause following the discovery that the state was not properly testing lethal injection drugs for purity and potency
An independent review later found that none of the drugs prepared for the seven inmates executed in Tennessee since 2018 had been fully tested. The state Attorney General’s Office also conceded in court that two of the people most responsible for overseeing Tennessee’s lethal injection drugs “incorrectly testified” under oath that officials were testing the chemicals as required.
people remained evacuated in Guantánamo while crews began to repair damaged roads and bridges in the area. Meanwhile, authorities in Haiti said that one person is missing and two were injured following heavy flooding in the country’s southwest and northwest regions. Hurricane Humberto dissipated on Wednesday after passing west of Bermuda on Tuesday Its remnants were named Storm Amy by U.K. forecasters, who warn it will affect much of Ireland and the U.K. starting on Friday Beaches hit by dangerous swells Imelda and Humberto’s remnants were generating dangerous surf and deadly rip currents affecting beaches along the north
Caribbean, Bahamas, Bermuda and much of the U.S. East Coast.
At least five unoccupied houses along North Carolina’s Outer Banks collapsed into the ocean on Tuesday, according to the U.S. National Park Service, marking the latest private beachfront structures to fall into the surf there in recent years.
This Atlantic hurricane season marks the first time in 10 years that a hurricane hasn’t made landfall in the U.S. through the end of September, according to AccuWeather, a private U.S. weather forecasting company.
“This hurricane season so far is quite unique, with several close calls for the United States,” said Alex DaSilva, AccuWeather’s lead hurricane expert.
By The Associated Press
— The three people killed during a mass shooting last weekend at a waterfront bar in a southeastern North Carolina community have been identified as two out-of-state residents and a third who had recently moved to the coastal town.
City government released the names of the victims who died from Saturday night’s shootings at the American Fish Company in Southport, located about 30 miles south of Wilmington. Five others were injured City spokesperson ChyAnn Ketchum said late Wednesday it was her understanding that the five remained hospitalized.
The city identified those killed as Joy Rogers, 64, of Southport; Solomon Banjo, 36, of Charlottesville, Virginia; and Michael Durbin, 56, of Galena, Ohio. The names of those wounded weren’t released.
Soon after the shootings, authorities arrested Nigel Edge, a decorated Marine veteran, and charged him with three first-degree
murder counts along with five attempted-murder and five weapons-related assault counts. Edge, 40, remained held Wednesday in the Brunswick County jail without bond. His next court appearance is scheduled for Oct. 13. Authorities have said Edge piloted a boat close to shore, stopped briefly and opened fire at a crowd of vacationers and other patrons in what Southport Police Chief Todd Coring previously called a “highly premeditated” targeted
attack. An arrest warrant alleged that Edge used an AR-style rifle with a silencer and scope. Edge was arrested about a half an hour later after a U.S. Coast Guard crew spotted him pulling a boat from the water at a ramp on Oak Island, where he lives. The investigation remains active, and Southport police said Wednesday they were still seeking information from people who went to the bar Saturday or the day before.
BY DAVID R. MARTIN Associated Press
NEW YORK A massive brick chimney running 20 stories up the side of a New York City apartment building collapsed after an explosion Wednesday, sending tons of debris plummeting to the ground.
The falling bricks buried a sidewalk, landed on the playground of the public housing building and sent a cloud of dust billowing over the block in the Bronx, but amazingly did not injure anyone.
saster here,” said Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson at a news conference.
Mayor Eric Adams confirmed no injuries or deaths were reported in the collapse of the chimney, which rose up the side of the building from the boiler room.
Authorities learned of an explosion just after 8 a.m. and were trying to determine if there had been a gas leak.
The mayor noted that Oct. 1 is typically the first day that heating systems are turned on for the season.
One resident, Merlyn Olivo, said she was in her apart-
ment when she heard a large noise like a bomb.
“And the building was shaking a lot. I was so scared,” she said, feeling like it was “the end of the world.” Olivo heard another loud noise and then her sisterin-law, who lives across the street, told her to get out of the building because of the collapse outside. Luckily her daughters had left for school.
The mound of debris was littered with air conditioners, which appeared to have been ripped out of apartment windows by the falling bricks. NYC building residents escape harm in massive chimney collapse
“We avoided a major di-
BY ILLIA NOVIKOV Associated Press
KYIV,Ukraine Ukraine’s president and the U.N. nuclear agencyhead are sounding the alarm about increased safety risks at theRussiaoccupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in southern Ukraine, which lost its external power supply more than aweek ago as the war raged around it. Emergency diesel generators
are providing power for crucial cooling systems for the facility’s six shutdown reactors and spent fuel,and there is no immediate danger to Europe’sbiggest nuclear plant,according to International AtomicEnergyAgency Director-
General Rafael Mariano Grossi.
But“it is clearly not asustainable situationinterms of nuclear safety,” he said.
The backup generators have never neededto runfor so long,
according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy
“The generators and the plant were not designed for this,” Zelenskyy said lateTuesday,describing thesituation as “critical.”
Zaporizhzhia is one of the10biggest nuclear plantsinthe world, andits fate amid the fighting has caused fears of apotential nuclear catastrophe. Russian forces seized it days afterthe full-scaleinvasion of neighboring Ukraine beganon
SHINE OO
Men check for namesTuesdayonanofficially published eligible-voter list at award administrativeoffice in Naypyitaw, Myanmar
Minority claims decadesof oppression in Myanmar
BY EDITH M. LEDERER Associated Press
UNITED NATIONS Rohingya Muslimspleaded with the international community at the first United Nations high-level meeting on the plight of the ethnic minority to prevent the masskillings taking place in Myanmar and to help those in the persecuted group lead normal lives.
“This is ahistoric occasion for Myanmar,but this is long overdue,” WaiWai Nu, the Rohingya founder and executive directorof the Women’s Peace Network-Myanmar,told ministers and ambassadors from many of the U.N.’s193-membernations in the General Assembly Hall.
The Rohingya and other minorities in Myanmar have suffered decades of displacement, oppressionand violence, while seeing no action in response to determinations that they are victims of genocide, she said. “That cycle must endtoday,”Wai WaiNusaid.
Buddhist-majorityMyanmarhas longconsidered the Rohingya Muslim minority to be “Bengalis” from Bangladesh even though their families havelived in the country for generations Nearly all have been denied citizenship since 1982. In August 2017, attacks by aRohingyainsurgentgroup on Myanmarsecurity personnel triggered abrutal campaign by the military that droveatleast 740,000 Rohingya to Bangladesh. The militaryisaccused of massrape, killingsand burning villages, and the scaleofits operationled to accusations of ethnic cleansing and genocide from the international community, including the U.N. Myanmarhas been wracked by violence since the military oustedthe elected governmentofAung San Suu Kyi in February2021 and brutally suppressed nonviolent protests. That triggered armed resistance and fighting across the countrybypro-democracy guerrillas and ethnicminority armed forces seeking to oust the military rulers, including in western Rakhine state where tens of thousands of Rohingyas still live, many confined to camps. The UnitedStatesin2022 saidithad determined that
members of the Myanmar military committedcrimes against humanityand genocide against the Rohingya. U.N. refugee chief Filippo Grandi,who recently visited Myanmar,told the highlevelmeeting Tuesday that Bangladesh is now hosting close to 1.2million Rohingya refugees,and since fighting reignited in Rakhine in 2024 between the militaryand the Arakan Army,anadditional 150,000 have soughtsafety in the neighboring country TheArakan Army,the well-armed military wing of the Rakhine ethnic minority, whichseeksautonomy,now controls almost all of Rakhine state, Grandisaid,and thesituation of theRohingya there has not improved. They still face discrimination,the burning of their villages, exclusionfromwork, aban on moving freely, restricted education and health care and the threat of arrest, he said. “They are subjected to forced labor and forced recruitment” and“their lives aredefined everyday by racism and fear,” Grandi said.
Julie Bishop, theU.N. special envoy for Myanmar, said there waslittle sign that the political crisis could be settled, with no agreed ceasefire,pathway to peace or political solution.
Feb.24, 2022. Thetension around the nuclear plant’ssafety has added to broader concerns about thecourseofthe war, which shows no signs of ending after aU.S.-led effort this year to stop the fighting cametonothing. European leaders, spooked by recent violations of their airspace by unidentified drones and Russian warplanes, gathered Wednesday in Denmark for two summits centeredonsecurity,defense and the war in Ukraine. Zelenskyy blamed Russianartillery forcutting thepower line to
the Zaporizhzhia plant, but Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said it wasUkrainian shelling. Peskovtoldreporters Wednesday that it was “stupid to accuse the Russian side of shelling the plant it controls.”
The Vienna-based IAEA has been walking atightrope in the war,eager to maintain access to nuclear facilities andissuing warnings about the dangers without angering either side. Ukraine has four nuclear plants, though Zaporizhzhia is the only oneinRussian hands.
Marchers seek to legalize immigrationstatus
BY EDGAR H. CLEMENTE Associated Press
TAPACHULA,Mexico Agroup of about1,200 migrantsset out walking before dawn in southern Mexico on Wednesday aiming for the capital where theyhoped to legalize their immigration status and find more work opportunities after alongfrustrating wait near the Guatemala border Cubans madeupthe majority of the migrants, but therewere also people from Honduras,Ecuador, Brazil and Haiti.
Unlikeearlier migrant “caravans”withagoal to reach the United States, Wednesday’sgroup andothers over the past year are tryingtocoerce Mexican authorities into speeding up the process for asylum and getout of southern Mexico where there arefew work opportunities Cuban migrant LosielSánchez andhis wife arrivedin
ASSOCIATEDPRESS PHOTOByEDGAR
Migrants unabletoformalizetheir legal status or receive asylum in Mexico leave Tapachula, Chiapas state, on Wednesday.
Tapachula, near the border with Guatemala, in November. Theyhad hopedtoget an appointment through aU.S. government app called CBP One that would allowthem to cross the U.S. border,request asylum and likely be paroled into the U.S. while that process played out.
However,U.S.President Donald Trump has ended that program, stranding tens of thousands of migrants whohad already been making their way toward the U.S.
border.Sánchez decided to stay in Mexico andseek asylum,but despite numerous visits to Mexico’sasylum agency,known as Comar, the couple still doesn’thave an answer about theirstatus. He said he was scammed by someoneclaiming to be alawyer who promised to help speed them through the process.
“Everything is expensive andI can’tpay rent,”said Sánchez, whohopes to have better luck in Mexico City
Gold prices soar to new records amid shutdown
NEW YORK As uncertainty deepens amid the U.S. government’s first shutdown in almost seven years, the gold frenzy continues to climb to new heights. The going price for New York spot gold hit a record $3,858.45 per troy ounce the standard for measuring precious metals — as of market close Tuesday, ahead of the shutdown beginning overnight And futures continued to climb on Wednesday, dancing with the $3,900 mark throughout the day.
Gold sales can rise sharply when anxious investors seek “safe havens” for parking their money. Before Wednesday, the asset — and other metals, like silver have seen wider gains over the last year, particularly with President Donald Trump’s barrage of tariffs plunging much of the world into economic uncertainty
Wall Street sets more records; bond yields fall
Stocks rose to more records on Wednesday, as Wall Street still doesn’t care much about the shutdown of the U.S. government, but yields sank in the bond market following the latest discouraging signals on the economy
The S&P 500 climbed 0.3% to top its prior all-time high, which was set last week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 43 points, or 0.1%, to its own record set the day before, while the Nasdaq composite rose 0.4%.
The action was stronger in the bond market, where Treasury yields dropped after a report suggested hiring may have been much weaker across the country last month than economists expected. Employers outside the government actually cut 32,000 more jobs than they added, according to the survey by ADP Research, with the Midwest taking particularly hard hits. What’s worse, the survey also revised down its numbers for employment in August, to a loss of 3,000 jobs from a previously reported gain of 54,000.
Walmart to remove artificial food colors
Walmart said Wednesday that it plans to remove synthetic food dyes and 30 other ingredients, including some preservatives, artificial sweeteners and fat substitutes, from its store brands sold in the United States by January 2027.
The move announced by the the nation’s largest retailer amounts to an acknowledgment that American consumers and the U.S. government under President Donald Trump are paying attention to what goes into packaged foods. Walmart said its goal would affect about 1,000 products, including salty snacks, baked goods, power drinks, salad dressings and frosting. Several of the ingredients on Walmart’s list, however, already are banned, not widely used or have not been used for decades.
OpenAI to partner with S. Korean chip giants
OpenAIandSouthKoreantech conglomerates Samsung and SK on Wednesday announced partnerships to provide chips and other solutions for Stargate, a $500 billion project aimed at building infrastructure tied to artificial intelligence. The announcements came after OpenAI CEO Sam Altman met with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Korean corporate leaders in Seoul. Lee hailed the partnerships as a major opportunity for South Korea’s semiconductor industry to solidify its role in AI and create more jobs. The partnerships commit Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix — the world’s two largest makers of memory chips — to accelerate their production of advanced chips to meet OpenAI’s increasing memory demands for the Stargate initiative, according to the companies’ statements.
Supreme Court declines Trump’s effort to remove her
BY MARK SHERMAN Associated Press
WASHINGTON The Supreme Court on Wednesday allowed Lisa Cook to remain as a Federal Reserve governor for now, declining to act on the Trump administration’s effort to immediately remove her from the central bank.
In a brief unsigned order, the high court said it would hear arguments in January over Republican
President Donald Trump’s effort to force Cook off the Fed board.
The court will consider whether to block a lower-court ruling in Cook’s favor while her challenge to her firing by Trump continues.
The high-court order was a rare instance of Trump not quickly getting everything he wants from the justices in an emergency appeal.
Cook will be able to take part in the remaining two Fed meetings in 2025, including the next meeting of its interest rate-setting committee in late October Separately the justices are
hearing arguments in December in a separate but related legal fight over Trump’s actions to fire members of the boards that oversee other independent federal agencies. The case concerns whether Trump can fire those officials at will. But a second issue in the case could bear directly on Cook’s fate: whether federal judges have the authority to prevent the firings or instead may only order back pay for officials who were wrongly dismissed.
Trump had sought to oust Cook before the September meeting of
the Fed’s interest rate-setting committee But a judge ruled that the firing was illegal, and a divided appeals court rejected the Trumps administration’s emergency appeal. A day after the meeting concluded with a one-quarter of a percentage point reduction in a key interest rate, the administration turned to the Supreme Court in a new emergency appeal.
The White House campaign to unseat Cook marks an unprecedented bid to reshape the Fed board, which was designed to be largely independent from day-today politics. No president has fired a sitting Fed governor in the Fed’s 112-year history
BY MICHELLE CHAPMAN AP business writer
The U.S. government is taking a minority stake in Lithium Americas, a company that is developing one of the world’s largest lithium mines in northern Nevada.
The Department of Energy will take a 5% equity stake in the miner, which is based in Vancouver It will also take a 5% stake in the Thacker Pass lithium mining project, a joint venture with General Motors. Thacker Pass is considered crucial in reducing U.S. reliance on China for lithium, a critical material used to produce the high tech batteries used in cellphones, electric vehicles and renewable
energy Both Republicans and Democrats support the project and narrowing the production gap. China is the world’s largest lithium processor U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said in a statement that the deal with Lithium Americas “helps reduce our dependence on foreign adversaries for critical minerals by strengthening domestic supply chains and ensures better stewardship of American taxpayer dollars.”
Thacker Pass is expected to produce 40,000 metric tons of battery-quality lithium carbonate per year in its first phase, enough to help power 800,000 EVs.
The equity stake in Lithium Americas is the latest example of the direct intervention by the Trump administration with private companies. The government is getting a 10% stake in Intel through the conversion of billions in previously granted gov-
ernment funds and pledges. The administration spent $400 million of taxpayer money in July on MP Materials stock to make the U.S. government the biggest owner in the Las Vegas rare earths miner.
Trump also made a deal with Nvidia and AMD to give the U.S government a 15% cut of revenue from selling certain chips to China.
Lithium Americas said Wednesday that it reached a nonbinding agreement in principle with the DOE to advance the first draw of $435 million on the federal loan
The DOE has agreed to defer $182 million of debt service over the first five years of the loan.
The White House and Canada’s
Lithium Americas seemed to be moving forward with the deal late last month, as both parties agreed on changes to an approximately $2.3 billion federal loan that could allow the project to move forward to extract the silver-white metal
used in electric vehicle batteries. GM has pledged more than $900 million to help develop Thacker Pass, which holds enough lithium to build 1 million electric vehicles annually
Dan Ives, an analyst with Wedbush, called Thacker Pass is a “massive opportunity” for the U.S. to reduce its reliance on China and other foreign adversaries for lithium.
“Despite having some of the largest deposits, the U.S. produced less than 1% of the global lithium supply but this deal helps reduce dependence on foreign adversaries for critical minerals strengthening domestic supply chains and ensuring better stewardship of American taxpayer dollars with lithium production set to grow exponentially over the coming years,” he wrote. Shares of Lithium Americas spiked more than 30% Wednesday
BY WYATTE GRANTHAM-PHILIPS AP business writer
NEWYORK It’s official: AOL’s dialup internet has taken its last bow AOL previously confirmed it would be pulling the plug on Tuesday writing in a brief update on its support site last month that it “routinely evaluates” its offerings and had decided to discontinue dial-up, as well as associated software “optimized for older operating systems,” from its plans. Dial-up is now no longer advertised on AOL’s website. As of Wednesday, former company help
pages like “connect to the internet with AOL Dialer” appeared unavailable and nostalgic social media users took to the internet to say their final goodbyes. AOL, formerly America Online, introduced many households to the World Wide Web for the first time when its dial-up service launched decades ago, rising to prominence particularly in the ’90s and early 2000s. The creaky door to the internet was characterized by a once-ubiquitous series of beeps and buzzes heard over the phone line used to connect your computer online —
along with frustrations of being kicked off the web if anyone else at home needed the landline for another call, and an endless bombardment of CDs mailed out by AOL to advertise free trials. Eventually, broadband and wireless offerings emerged and rose to dominance, doing away with dial-up’s quirks for most people accessing the internet today but not everyone. A handful of consumers have continued to rely on internet services connected over telephone lines In the U.S., according to Census Bureau data, an estimated
163,401 households were using dial-up alone to get online in 2023, representing just over 0.13% of all homes with internet subscriptions nationwide. While AOL was the largest dialup internet provider for some time, it wasn’t the only one to emerge over the years. Some smaller internet providers continue to offer dial-up today Regardless, the decline of dialup has been a long time coming. And AOL shutting down its service arrives as other relics of the internet’s earlier days continue to disappear
BY ANTHONY McAULEY, JEFF DUNCAN and TYLER BRIDGES Staff writers
The New Orleans Saints are planning to announce they have
finalized a long-term lease of the Caesars Superdome, ending a contentious negotiation with state officials with a deal aimed at keeping the team in the city
The deal between the Saints organization and the Louisiana Stadium and Exposition District, known
Continued from page 1A
“This is what winning looks like. This is what making New Orleans a championship city is all about,” Landry said. Hosting the national championship is typically a major economic driver for host cities. Academic studies and industry reports show that such events can generate hundreds of millions of dollars in economic activity, including spending by visiting fans on hotels, restaurants, transportation, and local attractions.
Los Angeles’ 2023 CFP title game was projected to bring as much as $225 million in total economic impact, while the 2024 game in Houston generated more than $330 million. Beyond immediate spending, the championship helps reinforce civic branding, boosts employment and benefits local vendors.
New Orleans saw that kind of boost from Super Bowl LIX in February, which drew tens of thousands of fans and earned the city broad praise from the NFL, national media and others for how well the event went off, especially coming so soon after the New Year’s Day terrorist attack on Bourbon Street.
A cornerstone of the College Football Playoff, which is the format used to crown a collegiate national champion since 2014, is its integration with the New Year’s Six bowl games, particularly the historic Allstate Sugar Bowl, which boasts a 91-year history as one of college football’s most celebrated classics.
The 92nd Allstate Sugar Bowl Football Classic, doubling as a CFP Quarterfinal, is scheduled for Jan. 1, 2026, at the Superdome. The Sugar Bowl, which is expected to be either a quarterfinal or semifinal annually in the modern CFP format, gives elite programs a path toward the national champi-
Continued from page 1A
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said the only reason the government shutdown is “because Republicans refuse to negotiate.”
“All Chuck Schumer needs to do is get over the tantrum that he’s having with the results of the election from November, and vote yes to keep the government open,” Scalise said Wednesday At issue is the resolution passed by House Republicans last month that authorized government functions at the same level of funding and without any policy changes attached a so-called “clean continuing resolution.” GOP leaders point out that, when the other party was in charge, the Democrats vilified Republicans who tried to use the shutdown deadline to press unrelated policy concessions onto a “clean continuing resolution.”
And now, Republicans say, the Democrats are doing the same thing: pressing for policy concessions that could wait until all the mechanisms for proper government functioning are in place.
Democrats counter they can’t trust the GOP to negotiate in good faith these days.
Democrats have a long list of health care demands, but the one most talked about is extension of Affordable Care Act premium tax credits that low income working people use to purchase health insurance — about 350,000 of whom live in Louisiana. That program expires in December
Unless the tax credits are extended, out-of-pocket premiums would increase from an average of $888 to $1,904 by 2026.
“We have until the end of the year to fix the ACA credit issue,”
as the Superdome Commission, is expected to be unveiled during a news conference on Thursday
State officials are expected to announce an official time and site for the news conference by Thursday
morning
Gov Jeff Landry on the sidelines of an event in the Superdome on Wednesday, confirmed that the lease was ready for his approval.
“I’m going to be back here tomorrow to sign the lease deal,” Landry said
The stadium lease deal, which is expected to run for 10 years and then give the Saints options to renew every five years through 2055, has been finalized for a couple of weeks, according to negotiators for the Saints and the state. But the sides needed extra time to finalize leases for other properties that were part of the larger deal, most notably the Benson Tower skyscraper Specific terms of the new deal
have not been released. The Saints’ current lease was negotiated in 2009 by Saints owner Tom Benson when Bobby Jindal was governor of Louisiana and Ron Forman was chair of the Superdome Commission. It is scheduled to expire in 2030. That deal included provisions such as a $5 million bonus for the Saints when the stadium is chosen to host a Super Bowl, as well as a 42% share of game day food and beverage revenues, a share of nonfootball event revenues, a share of the stadium naming rights, a piece of the parking revenue and rents from the Champi-
ons Square space. The standoff between the two sides had jeopardized New Orleans’ chances of hosting the 2031 Super Bowl because of a Sept. 17 deadline set by the NFL. If the city can’t bid on the 2031 game, scheduling issues would likely prevent New Orleans from hosting until 2038. The Saints have said owner Gayle Benson could seek approval for the city to bid on 2031 from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell when a new lease deal is completed.
Email Anthony McAuley tmcauley@theadvocate.com.
onship while turning the Superdome into a multigame epicenter of college football.
Still, the potential economic benefits from the games come with a price tag. Asked what the public contribution would be for the College Football Playoff Final, Hundley on Wednesday said it was premature to put a figure on it, since state appropriations can’t be made until the year of the event
“We have yet ahead of us to raise several million dollars to cover the promises that we made to the CFP,” Hundley said, with the Sugar Bowl itself guaranteeing the bid if support from the state, which has a major events fund, comes up short.
Hosting the championship in New Orleans in 2020 cost $13 million. Hundley said the cost has
“doubled since we last hosted,” a surge fueled by inflation and new CFP requirements such as paying for hotel rooms and community hospitality
The state’s contribution came in at $3.8 million for that game — less than organizers had hoped — and Hundley stressed that private industry must do more. Oil and gas firms, hotel operators and other large employers, he said, are the kinds of partners needed to shoulder the load.
With every decision in college football now including a financial component, Hundley said New Orleans must prepare now to stay in the game once contracts open back up.
“We don’t want to become an also-ran bowl that draws 30,000 fans,” he said.
Walt Leger president and CEO
of New Orleans & Company the city’s tourism marketing agency, said the bidding environment for marquee college football games has become so competitive that the Sugar Bowl can no longer be treated like just another annual event. The state’s major events fund was originally intended for one-time spectacles like the Super Bowl or Final Four, and the Sugar Bowl has traditionally received little from it. But with playoff and championship games now in constant rotation, that dynamic has shifted.
For the upcoming Sugar Bowl, the state allocated $500,000 out of its $16.4 million annual major events budget, compared with a request for $1.5 million.
“We’re going to have to keep evaluating throughout the community on how do we make sure that
we’re aligned in what we’re going after and have the funding necessary,” Leger said.
Beyond the gridiron, the Sugar Bowl Committee annually invests over $1 million into the community through sporting events, awards, scholarships and clinics. For the 2026 bowl game, the event received $500,000 from Louisiana’s Major Events Fund, administered by the Louisiana Economic Development agency, underscoring the championship’s impact both on and off the field.
The 2028 championship will be the 14th CFP title game, the fourth contested under the 12-team playoff expansion and the Superdome’s second turn as host of the CFP finale.
Email Anthony McAuley tmcauley@theadvocate.com.
Thune said, adding that Senate Republicans, at least, are willing to negotiate the issue after government reopens. Johnson spent much of this first day of the shutdown with a round of appearances with the media.
On the “Moon Griffon Show,” broadcast statewide from Lafayette, Johnson said Trump could use the shutdown to shrink the federal government.
“It does give an opportunity to eliminate bloated, unnecessary federal programs that we would like to vote down, but we never had the votes in the Senate to do. Now we have the moment,” Johnson said. Even as the shutdown began, its effects were still being worked out.
Social Security benefits are still being paid. Mail is being delivered.
The U.S. courts will remain open at least through Friday, Oct. 17. But it’s not clear-cut. Veterans Affairs medical facili-
ties are open. But the VA’s regional benefit offices are closed.
Commercial flights are still on, but the lines could get longer as air traffic controllers and Transportation Security Administration employees will be working without pay Louisiana schools have enough federal money to operate the entire school year, said Lexi Pritchard, deputy chief of operations in the state Education Department.
But one exception could be Head Start, the federally funded preschool program for children from low-income families. Most Head Start centers are fully funded for this month, but if the shutdown stretches into next month, that could potentially interrupt their funding, Pritchard said. Medicaid funding is not dependent on annual appropriations.
“Therefore, coverage for recipients and payments to providers generally continue during a shutdown,” said Louisiana Department
of Health spokesperson Emma Herrock.
Those who are eligible for food stamps through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program will receive benefits, and Louisiana will continue to administer the program following federal regulations, she said. The Louisiana National Guard won’t be conducting monthly drills, said Louisiana National Guard spokesperson Lt. Col. Noel Collins.
The Guard “remains ready to respond to state emergencies and all-hazards events” such as hurricanes, she said. But Gov Jeff Landry’s request to activate a thousand troops for crime patrols hasn’t been mobilized.
Due to the lapse of federal funding, national parks, monuments and museums “will remain closed to the public until further notice,” said Meredith Hardy, a National Park Service manager at Jean Lafitte National Historical Park
and Preserve, which operates multiple sites scattered across south Louisiana in the New Orleans and Lafayette areas, including Chalmette Battlefield, Chalmette National Cemetery, the Barataria Preserve, Wetlands Acadian Cultural Center, Prairie Acadian Cultural Center the Acadian Cultural Center and the New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park.
The Senate will be off Thursday but back to work on Friday The House has been out since Sept. 19 and won’t return until Monday Nevertheless, Democratic House members have been working on Capitol Hill.
But not for long. Rep. Cleo Fields, D-Baton Rouge, headed home to Baton Rouge on Wednesday night to work from his district.
“What should be happening is negotiation, but that’s not happening yet,” Fields said.
Education reporter Patrick Wall contributed to this report.
Less than a week after Williams spoke to the task force, Catholic school leaders appealed to the state board of education for waivers from some of the regulations, which took effect Oct. 1. Howard Davis, head of Providence Classical Academy, a Christian school in Bossier City, said he might file for an injunction to stop the law
“This is not fair to our schools,” he told the board. “It’s just ridiculous.”
Now, some private school supporters are urging lawmakers to delay the law’s enactment during a possible special legislative session this fall. State House Speaker Phillip DeVillier, R-Eunice, said lawmakers are still studying the issue.
“I’m really hopeful that we can address the concerns that we’re hearing from schools and dioceses,” he said.
For Williams, a major in the Army National Guard who was a driving force behind Act 409, the backlash to the law has been demoralizing.
“In my head, we did it, it’s over, we turned this horrible situation into a positive,” he said. “And yet, here we are.” Act 409 might not exist were it not for a disturbing discovery Williams made one afternoon in March 2024.
As his 3-year-old daughter was getting changed for gymnastics class, Williams said he noticed blood in her underwear The girl explained that a boy in her preschool class had touched her inappropriately, Williams said. Williams and his wife, a nurse anesthetist, took their daughter to the hospital and filed a police report. They also informed the school, Kehoe-France Southshore in Metairie, which conducted an investigation.
The couple also contacted the state Department of Children & Family Services and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office Both said the alleged incident fell outside of their jurisdiction, while the state Department of Education said it couldn’t intervene because pre-K programs at private schools were not licensed by the agency In August 2024, the couple sued the school, saying it failed to take proper safety precautions. The
lawsuit alleges that the girl’s preK classroom was understaffed and that 3-year-olds were sometimes allowed to use the restroom unsupervised, which is where the couple believes the incident occurred.
The school denied the allegations in court filings, saying it found no evidence that the alleged incident occurred at the school. It also said the school complied with all of the state’s staffing and restroomsupervision rules.
“We maintain comprehensive health and safety standards that meet or exceed state requirements, and our staff receive ongoing training to stay current with best practices in child safeguarding and education,” Kehoe-France Executive Head of Schools Tanya Price said in a statement, adding that protecting students is the school’s “highest priority.” Price said she cannot respond to specific allegations due to ongoing litigation, but that the school is prepared to “vigorously defend” its position in court.
Williams said the situation highlighted glaring gaps in state law In
January, he addressed a state task force on child abuse investigations, arguing that private schools like his daughter’s should face stricter safety standards.
“My daughter’s trauma could have been prevented,” he said, urging lawmakers to act. “We need your help.”
State Sen. Regina Barrow D-Baton Rouge, who led the task force, responded by sponsoring a bill in the legislative session earlier this year It required private school pre-K programs to be licensed, law enforcement to investigate allegations of abuse at schools and DCFS to assess the families of alleged child perpetrators. It also limited the number of children that day care or preschool staffers can supervise and said staffers must be nearby when children use the restroom
The Legislature passed the bill and Gov Jeff Landry signed it into law At the August task force meeting, Barrow marveled at the bill’s bipartisan support.
“Not one ‘no’ vote,” she said. “Everybody understood it and wanted to make sure that we got
this right.”
While lawmakers praise the new law, private school leaders have been sounding the alarm about what they say are its unintended consequences.
Some say it will bust their schools’ budgets to hire more teachers to meet new staffing requirements that took effect Oct.
1. Private school pre-K programs now must have one staffer for every 15 4-year-olds, down from 1 for every 20 students under the previous rules.
Last month, the state Education Department granted waivers requested by several Catholic schools, giving them an extra year to meet the new staffing rules.
Meanwhile, about 250 private schools with pre-K programs must apply for “early learning center” licenses by Jan. 1. The licenses, which standalone preschools and day cares already have, require state fire marshal and Health Department inspections and background checks for all staffers — even those who previously completed the process.
Mark Williams, Catholic school superintendent in the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, said he and his colleagues support the effort to bolster student protections. But he argued that the new mandates are redundant. His teachers already cleared background checks and were trained in child abuse reporting. Williams said the new requirements will cost his diocese an estimated $157,000 this fall, adding that because schools did not get any state funding to meet the mandates, they will have to pass the cost on to parents.
“It’s going to increase the tuition,” he said. “There’s no getting around that.”
Others say the day care regulations are ill-suited for pre-K programs embedded in schools.
Maria LaFleur principal of St. Catherine of Siena School in Metairie, said the entire school’s dismissal procedures will be disrupted because under the new rules, young children cannot be sent home with older siblings For pre-K students to leave their classrooms to attend enrichment classes like music or art or weekly Mass, they will now need signed permission slips, LaFleur said.
“We are being held to standards designed for day care facilities, not schools,” she said in an email.
“Catholic schools have a rich history of preparing students academically, and that’s being undermined.”
Still others argue that it’s unfair that the new licensing requirement only applies to pre-K programs in private schools, not those in public or Montessori schools, which received a carveout. The bill’s backers say the goal is to eventually include all pre-K sites.
Private school supporters have been relaying their concerns to Barrow, the bill’s author, while also asking lawmakers and Gov Jeff Landry to delay or amend the law Barrow and Landry’s office did not respond to requests for comment.
“We’ve got to make this right,” said Sister Carol Shively, superintendent of Catholic schools in the Shreveport diocese, during a recent private school advisory group meeting.
The recent pushback has dismayed Roger Williams, but he also sees a silver lining.
“This bill has made everyone so angry,” he said, “that everyone’s coming to the table now.”
Email Patrick Wall at patrick. wall@theadvocate.com.
BY MISSY WILKINSON and MICHELLE HUNTER Staff writers
The man who allegedly carjacked and killed afather picking up his child from aMid-City day care center Tuesday night was found shot in the head ashort time
later on Interstate10inthe stolen car,New Orleanspolice say RaymondWells, 21,isin“extremelygrave condition” at University Medical Center,according to DeputySuperintendentNicholas Gernon. Wells is being watched by anarmed guard. Should he recoverfromhis injury,hewillbe
booked intojail on acount of firstdegree murder
“Itwas atruly horriblesceneand ahorrible crime,” Gernon said. Gernon saidWells was“up to something”— breaking intocars or engaged in other criminal activity in the 3500 block of Bienville Street at around 5:13 p.m. when he was spotted by someindividuals, who he shot at,Gernon said. Thosepeople weren’tinvolved in thecrime and arecooperating with police. Police are examining casings to determine whether anyone returned Wells’ gunfire.Somevehicles were also shot, NOPD said. Wells allegedly fled from Bienville to the rear of the First Grace United Methodist Churchat3401 Canal St., where he carjacked and fatally shot the parent of achild attending AbeonaHouse,according to the church. NOPD officers tracked thestolen vehicle using automatic license plate readers. Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Officedeputiesgot notification at 6:30 p.m.ofa vehicle stoppedonthe left shoulderofthe westbound lanes of I-10, near the
MayorLaToyaCantrell
BY BEN MYERS Staff writer
For weeks, the discussion has been focused on how thecity will makeup for asignificant budget shortfall this year.OnWednesday,Mayor LaToya Cantrell shifted the conversation to 2026, and her financial projections were no brighter In her annual budget addressbefore the City Council, Cantrell said $200 million in cuts, coupled withnew taxes and fees, will be necessaryto get the city backinthe blackand to stay there. The mayor proposeda $1.59 billion spending plan, downfrom this year’s $1.77 billion budget, which is already
Duncan,Lombard viefor post
BY SOPHIE KASAKOVE
and JAMES FINN Staff writers
in ahole that no one is quite sure the depthof.
Cantrell pledgedtoavoid employee furloughs and layoffs for the remainder ofher term, despiteshrinking tax collections, evaporating federalgrants anddipsinother funding sources. But details of how an 11% cut in 2026 will impact city services won’tbecome any cleareruntil budgethearingsbegin on Oct. 14.
In her address, Cantrell forcefully outlined thecity’sneedtoraise $73 millionthrough new taxes andfees, including an increase in the sanitation fee, aproperty tax millage“roll forward,” anda half-penny sales tax
See BUDGET, page 3B
Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill criticizedclerk of criminal court candidate Calvin Duncan on Tuesday, after incumbent Clerk Darren Lombard accused Duncan of misleading voters last week about how his murder conviction was vacated. In aletter to Duncan on Tuesday,Murrill accused him of making statements about his exoneration that are “inaccurate and amisrepresentation of the proceedings that occurred.” “I request that you cease representing to the public that you were ‘exonerated’ to avoid further action fromthis office,” the letter concluded. Duncanwas fully cleared by ajudgeinAugust 2021 after servingmore than 20 years at theLouisianaState Penitentiary at Angolafor
See SUSPECT, page 3B
BY BLAKEPATERSON Staff writer
They lack funding from donors and endorsements from political powerbrokers. Outside of peopleintheirsocial circles, few residents even know whothey are.
Yeteach of the eight political outsiders vying to succeed Mayor LaToya Cantrell this October has committedtomaking agoofacampaign, and they’ve spent months trumpeting their own —often creative, sometimes outlandish —ideas forimproving New Orleans.
One candidate, Renada Collins, would create apublic ride-sharing service to compete with Uber andLyft. Another,Frank Janusa, would audit the city’sFinance Department and seek to collect whathesaysishundredsofmillionsof dollars in untapped sales tax revenue.Athird, Eileen Carter,wouldestablisha citywide internship program to pair high school students with small businesses. Anda fourth, Richard“Ricky” Twiggs, would try to purchase Entergy New Orleans and run the utility in-house.
Someappear to be treating the race as an exercise in democracy and have little expectation of actually getting elected.
BY JOHN SIMERMAN Staff writer
BY JAMES FINN Staff writer
Former Mayor Mitch Landrieu endorsed Helena Moreno in the race forNew Orleans’ mayoralseatWednesday,further strengthening the consensus front-runner’sbacking by political heavyweights. In avideo posted on social media, Landrieusaid he knows and likes all three major candidates forthe city’stop office Moreno, council member Oliver Thomas and state Sen. Royce Duplessis. Moreno,hesaid, “stands above the rest.”
“She’stough, she’ssmart, she knows what to do,” Landrieu says in thesegment,which he recorded in front of Jackson Square in the French Quarter “She includes everybody in the work that’sgoing to be important to the city going forward.”
Leadersinracefor mayormostlyagree on fixing coastal, environmentalissues
BY JOSIE ABUGOV Staff writer
Candidates in the fast-approaching election for New Orleans mayor shared plans Tuesday to tackle some of the city’smost pressing environmental challenges, including stormwater management, coastal restoration and saltwater intrusion.
The forum at the Universityof New Orleans struckacongenial tone comparedtorecentdebates, as the candidates mostly agreed on water and coastal issues.
The forum came at acritical time in the run-up to the Oct. 11 primary,four days into early votingand hours after the resultsofanew poll were released. The latest data shows City Council Vice President Helena Moreno hovering around the 50% threshold needed towin the race outright in the primary Meanwhile, state Sen. Royce Duplessis and New Orleans City Council member Oliver Thomas are vying to cut into Moreno’s double-digit lead and force aNov 15 runoff. The poll publishedTuesday,conducted by UNO’sSurvey Research Center,showsDuplessis earning 15%support and Thomas 13% support
‘Not aworkablesystem’
The three leading candidatesin
Continued from page1B
“My City Hall will have full transparency,”said Manny “Chevrolet” Bruno, abookstore manager and comedian who has run in every mayoral contest since2002 and counts Snake and Jake’sChristmas Club Lounge as his campaign headquarters. No patronage. I have nothing to hide, no friends to pay off. In fact, Idon’thave any friends at all.”
Others, however,have expressed frustration that their candidacies aren’tbeing takenmore seriously
“I’m along shot becauseI’m not abigshot,” said Joseph “Joe” Bikulege Jr., a first-time mayoral candidate and the ownerand operator of Le Bon Temps Roule on Magazine Street. “I get calls from pollsters asking who I’m supporting for mayor,and when Isay myself, they don’teven havemeon the list.”
Though theOct. 11 ballotincludesthe names of adozen mayoral contenders —including Arthur Hunter,who droppedout after qualifying —the race has been dominated by just three figures, allDemocrats andall established New Orleans politicos.
The presumptivefront-runneris City Council Vice President Helena Moreno,who hasmaintaineda 30-plus-point lead in publicly available polls. She has been trailed by District Ecouncilmember OliverThomasand stateSen. Royce Duplessis, who areboth jockeying for enough votes in the October primary to deny Moreno an outright win and forceher into aNovember runoff.
Some seek change
The leading candidates’ campaign accounts carry hundreds of thousandsofdollars in donations from residentsand businesses who believe in their candidacies. No lesser-known candidatecomes close to that tally. Yetthey have thrown in their hats in the race nevertheless. Some are running, they said, because of their own frustrations with City Hall.
Russell Butler,aretired construction manager,described the city’spermitting departmentas “completely nonfunctional.” He said electricians and plumbers charge extra to do workinNew Orleans because they don’twant to deal with the headache,and it seems the only way to move aproject forward is to show up at City Hall in person.
“It’svery slow and inefficient,” Butler said, adding that he’shad to travel to City Hall 15 times in the last three months to get the approvals necessary for ahouse he’s renovating.
Bikulege said that if he’s elected, he would “burn down” the current permitting system and start from scratch.
He said abusinesswanted to lease aproperty next door to his bar,but its ownerscouldn’tafford to pay full rent while theywaited
Candidates
the race all emphasized their plans forregional cooperationonwater quality risks.Moreno and Thomas offered similar ideas for ashared water plant for multiple coastal parishes asasafeguard against saltwaterintrusionthreatening the drinking supply.Duplessis, too, said thatthese water-related hazards “don’tknowparishboundaries.”
Drainage and stormwater issues were another recurring topic during the two-hour forum, withMoreno callingfor “more local control” of theembattled Sewerage &Water Boardand astormwater management feewith funding directed to aseparate agency.New Orleans residentshave long mountedcriticism against theagency over billing errors andstreet flooding, especially in recent years, as catch
basincleaning hasfailedtomatch the system’sneeds “It’s amess and it’s not aworkable governance system,” Moreno said. Candidates also lamented the loss of Louisiana’s biggest-ever coastal restoration project, the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion. The stateofficially canceled the $3 billion project earlier this summer,following amonthslong suspension and opposition from Gov. Jeff Landry.Coastal advocates argued that the large-scale diversion was needed to meet Louisiana’slandloss crisis, but government officials said the ballooning costswere too great.The commercial fishing industry also strongly opposeditdue to the damage it would cause to their
EILEEN CARTER
JOSEPH “JOE” BIKULEGE, JR.
Age, Born, Lives: 64, bornin Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, lives Uptown HS,College,Advanced Education: Shaler High School;University of Central Florida,bachelor’sofscience in business administration
Current job, former jobs: owner and operator, Le BonTemps Roule; small-business consultant; previously worked at Westinghouse Corporation, Betz Laboratories,International Biochemical Party, relevant political experience or campaign work: No Party, no previous politicalorcampaign experience
MANNY “CHEVROLET” BRUNO Age, Born, Lives: 61, borninLos Angeles, California, lives in BayouSt. John HS,College,Advanced Education: University HighSchool in Los Angeles Current job, former jobs: bookstore manager,actor,comedian Party, relevant political experience or campaign work: No Party; candidatefor NewOrleans mayor, 2002,2006,2010,2014, 2017, 2021
RUSSEL J. BUTLER
Age, Born,Lives: 60,borninBaton Rouge, lives in the 7th Ward
HS,College,AdvancedEducation: Broadmoor High School in Baton Rouge
Current job,formerjobs: retired, constructionmanager Party, relevant political experience or campaign work: No Party, no previous politicalorcampaign experience
on City Hall to issue their occupationalpermit.Heended up offeringa tenanthalf offontheir rent and thechancetoexit their lease if they didn’tget the permit approved.
Collins’ own tipping point came after theCity Council in Decemberapprovedazoningchange that stymied the construction of a multifamilyhousing development across from theEnglish Turn subdivision on theWest Bank. She hadspoken to thedeveloper and plannedtomoveinonceitwas built. But after it was blocked, she began exploring amovetoDenver.
That isuntil God told her, “’Don’t run from the city —run for the city,’”she said Fighting fora hearing
Many of the candidates say they’vebeen unfairly relegated to the periphery of therace, pointing to forums that have limited candidate participation based on polling andfundraising numbers. Janusa, the only Republican in the race, has been one exception,partici-
Age, Born, Lives: 46, borninNew Orleans, lives Uptown
HS,College,Advanced Education: UrsulineAcademy
Current job,former jobs: business consultant, Carter Business Development; former social media manager for MayorLaToyaCantrell’s administration; former radio host, WBOK; previously worked in minority business enterprise certification for LMCSC, property management for HRI.
Campaign Website: eileencartermayor.com
Party, relevant political experience or campaign work: No Party; voting member of BlackOrganization for Leadership Development(BOLD)
RENADACOLLINS
Age, Born, Lives: 45, borninNew Orleans, lives in Mid-City
HS,College,Advanced Education: Destrehan High School
Current job,former jobs: executive director of operations, Impacting Potentials
Campaign Website: collinsforneworleans.com
Party, relevant political experience or campaignwork: No Party, no previous political or campaign experience
FRANKROBERT JANUSA
Age, Born, Lives: 74, borninNew Orleans, lives in Lakeview HS,College,Advanced Education: St.AloysiusSchool;Louisiana State University in NewOrleans, bachelor’s of science in accounting Current job,former jobs: certified
pating in aTimes-Picayune forum that included candidates polling higher than 5% as well as atelevision debate hosted by WVUE-TV andother forums alongside the leading candidates.
In response to being left out, thefringe candidates organized their own “Fresh Voices Forum” in August, inviting everyonesave elected officials. Janusa, acertified public accountant whoat74isthe oldest candidateinthe race, said he’sbeen to at least 46 events in thelast two months— includingthosewhere he doesn’tseem to be welcome. After he was denied achance to speak at aTogether NewOrleans candidate event in September,he rushed thestageand muscled his way into speaking. “This cityisovertaxed and overregulated, and we need servant leadership, nottop-down administration,” he said, before giving up themicrophone. Some underdogs have also thrown jabs at the more visible candidates. At an Urban League
businesses. In response, Duplessis called for collaboration with state officials in Baton Rouge andthe U.S. Army Corps of Engineers “to continue to make the case” for“what’snecessary to restore the coast.” Moreno said that “the future of the city depends on this critical project.”
Broadagreement
Responding to aquestion submitted online by aresident, Thomas andDuplessis denouncedthe controversial plantoreplace the lock on theIndustrialCanal.The project has garnered fierce opposition from residents in the Bywater, Lower 9th Ward and Holy Cross areas, who say the $4.7 billion plan will bring environmental disruption and displacement, among other concerns. Thomassaid as mayor,hewould want to “talk about amore viable option”other than the lock.
Duplessis came out moreforcefully against the project and said the lock expansion was something he “cannot support.”
Frank Janusa,the lone Republican on the ballot, stressed that his party affiliationwith Landry and President Donald Trump could help the citysecure state andfederal funding. The fourth candidate speaking at the forum,Janusa polled above 5% in arecent FOX8 poll.
Janusa, Thomas and Duplessis allanswered“yes” on aseries of
public accountant Campaign Website: janusaformayor.com
Party, relevant political experience or campaign work: Republican, no previous political or campaign experience
FRANKM.SCURLOCK
Age, Born, Lives: 63,borninNew Orleans, lives in West End HS,College,Advanced Education: SamBarthe School forBoys; Ecole Classique Current job,formerjobs: owner; Scurlock Entertainment Campaign Website: frankscurlockformayor.com
Party, relevant political experience or campaign work: No Party, mayoral candidate in 2017, presidential candidate in 2020, gubernatorial candidate in 2023
RICHARD “RICKY”TWIGGS
Age, Born, Lives: 34,bornin California, lives in Algiers HS,College,Advanced Education: Archbishop Shaw High School; University of Holy Cross, bachelor’s of science in psychology, master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling Current job,formerjobs: Clinical mental healthcounselor to teenagers; owner,The Twiggs Researchand Consulting Group Campaign Website: twiggsformayor.com
Party, relevant political experience or campaign work: No Party, no previous political or campaign experience ELECTION
of Louisiana forum that all candidates were invited to, Carter,a former social media manager for Cantrellwho went on to lead the failed effort to recall her from office,was among the mostforceful in criticizing the race’sfront-runner,Moreno. Carter arguedthatMoreno hadn’tdone enough in her role as thechair of the council’sEconomic DevelopmentCommittee to “deserve apromotion.” (Moreno, in arebuttal, said she was proud of her work on the BioDistrict and planned Lincoln Beach renovation while noting that theCityCouncil is responsible forappropriating funds and the mayorisincharge of operations.) Carter,the daughterofKen Carter,Louisiana’s first elected Black assessor, and the sister of former state Sen. Karen Carter Peterson said shewants to “reverse the exodus” of NewOrleans natives. At theUrban League debate, she appeared to target Moreno fornot being born in the city “Wehave hadeight years of a
rapid-fire questions, which included committing to furthering the city’sclimate goals, addressing the city’s sinking land,reducingupstream pollution in the Mississippi Riverand meeting regularly with environmentalexperts. (Moreno left the forum midway due to another commitment, but said she wouldshare herresponses on her campaign website; Duplessis arrived late due to another commitment.)
“Weall agree on these issues, but we’re not executing them,” Duplessissaid. “Andwe’re not executing on them because we don’thave the right leadership.”
Adding to the rapid-fire questions, Thomas noted theinequities in thecity’s flood risks, pointing to ahistory of racism that clustered Black residents in the lowest-lying neighborhoods and urging much more advanced hurricaneprotections.
The Tulane InstituteonWater Resources Law andPolicyorganized the forum alongside ahost of environmental groups, including the CoalitiontoRestore CoastalLouisiana the UrbanConservancy,the Water Collaborative and Restore the Mississippi River Delta.The event was moderated by Mike Smith, reporter at The Times-Picayune/Nola.com, and Robert Collins, professor of urban studies and public policy at Dillard University
Early voting polls will be open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 6p.m. through Oct. 4. To find your polling location, go to geauxvote.com Email Josie Abugov at Josie abugov@theadvocate.com.
non-New Orleanian running our city,” Carter said at the forum,referring to Cantrell, who wasborn in California and movedtoNew OrleanstoattendXavierUniversity.“Ibelieve we need aNew Orleanian running our city.” Moreno wasborninMexicoand moved to NewOrleans in 2001 to work as atelevision news anchor before being elected to the Legislature in 2010. (A Moreno campaign spokesperson, Todd Ragusa, said, “NewOrleansisthe only place Helena has ever called home.”) FrankScurlock,who is known forhis family’sinflatable party attractions business and his attempt to acquire the former Six Flags site, has dubbed Moreno, Thomas and Duplessis the “Three Blind Mice” in campaign advertising. He said he’d create acommittee inspired by Elon Musk’sDepartmentofGovernment Efficiency to look for ways to cut costs and raise funds.
Scurlock hascalledonCantrell to resign in the wake of her federal corruptioncharges,and at therecent arraignments of Cantrell and her former bodyguard, Jeffrey Vappie, he handed outcampaign materialand introduced himself to court staff.
Twiggs, amental health counselor who at 34 is the youngest mayoral candidate, saidhe’snot interested in political attacks. “More than ever,weneed ahealer and notanotherpolitician,” he said.
Twiggs is under no illusions that he hasashotatwinning theseat. His campaign has received less than$500 in outside contributions, he’s barely registered in the polls, and some of his proposed reforms (like abolishing the Sheriff’s Office or enacting a“mayoral takeover”ofthe school system) would likely require the blessings of the state Legislature.
Still, Twiggs said he’s running to bring attention to the city’s mental health crisis, which he argues is responsible forissues ranging from crimetohomelessness. Faced with an uphillbattle, he said he takes inspiration from figures like Joan of Arc —whose silhouette appears on hiscampaign material —tokeephimself motivated.
“She organized people and made doubtersintobelievers,” Twiggs said of the patronsaint of France. “I just feel likethat’swhat New Orleans really needs. We need a moment of liberation.”
Staff writer James Finn contributed to this report.
Email Blake Paterson at bpaterson@theadvocate.com.
Continued from page 1B
a murder he did not commit, according to court records, a national registry of exonerated individuals and Duncan’s campaign and recent memoir
In a statement Wednesday, Duncan said: “This city and this state have an ugly history of convicting innocent people and sentencing them to die in prison. I am one of those people. I fought for decades to prove my innocence. Now both the incumbent Clerk and Gov Landry’s Attorney General are misleading the public about my exoneration in what appears to be a coordinated attack.”
Lombard said in an interview Wednesday that he did not coordinate with Murrill’s office on the letter to Duncan.
Asked if he was concerned about the appearance of a state official getting involved in an election, Lombard said “no.”
The letter by Murrill a Republican who has intervened in New Orleans’ affairs repeatedly in recent months through letters and legal actions — comes as Lombard fights off a stiff challenge from Duncan. Campaign finance reports filed last month show that Duncan has far outpaced Lombard in fundraising, raising nearly $40,000 since July, while Lombard raised just $1,500, in addition to more than $12,000 on hand.
On Wednesday morning, the day after Murrill sent her letter, Lombard ratcheted up his own attacks on Duncan with a 70-page lawsuit filed in Civil District Court accusing Duncan of making false statements in violation of state election codes. Judge Omar Mason rejected Lombard’s request for a temporary restraining order Wednesday morning, citing the need for a timely hearing.
Murrill’s letter argues that Duncan’s conviction was “improperly handled” by the court and Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams’ office, claiming that Williams as a defense lawyer represented Duncan in his appeal for post-
Continued from page 1B
Bonnabel Boulevard exit. Wells was inside, suffering from a gunshot wound.
The Sheriff’s Office did not disclose whether Wells was in the vehicle’s driver’s seat. They are investigating every avenue to determine how Wells was shot
The New Orleans coroner will release the victim’s identity once family members have been notified.
“First Grace has always been a safe space, and the church coun-
Continued from page 1B
Landrieu’s endorsement, which came several days into early voting for the Oct. 11 primary, adds to the robust support Moreno has accumulated in the race. Her campaign war chest has exceeded $1 million for most of the past year, while she has held double-digit polling leads over her two main competitors. A series of other high-profile politicos have thrown their support behind her, including U.S. Rep. Troy Carter, D-New Orleans, former congressman Cedric Richmond and Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams
Continued from page 1B
Levine ruled She cited the cost to taxpayers as the reason for not sentencing Morris to more time behind bars.
“You have done this community wrong,” Levine said. “I do not want you to be an expense upon New Orleans, and jail time in my opinion on a nonviolent offender is an expense we should not be paying for an individual whose actions reek of arrogance and egotism and exceptionalism.”
Morris resigned in 2023 after five years at the helm of the Orleans Parish Communication District, which handles 911 and 311 calls in the city He’d also served as Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s choice to lead a violent crime task force.
Levine set a $500,000 sentencing bond for Morris, pending an Oct. 15 court date over restitution. She
conviction relief, which means he should have recused himself from Duncan’s case once Williams became district attorney The letter also said that Judge Nandi Campbell, who vacated Duncan’s conviction, had worked at Williams’ law
firm previously
In a statement Wednesday, Williams said Murrill’s claim that he had represented Duncan was “reckless and patently false.”
“Jason Williams has never represented Mr. Duncan at any point in his career,” the statement said.
“The letter repeatedly references a supposed ‘appearance of impropriety,’ yet it goes much further making inflammatory and harmful claims that are not grounded in fact, nor in the public record. This kind of rhetoric is not simply careless; it undermines the justice system.”
Asked to respond to Williams’ assertion that he had never represented Duncan, a spokesperson for Murrill provided court documents listing Duncan’s court appearances. The records show two dates on which court minutes describe Williams as being present in court on days when Duncan appeared In a text message, Williams said he was in court on the dates in question, “but I was representing a client in a separate and unrelated post conviction.” Duncan was represented by other attorneys in those appearances, Williams said.
Loyola University law professor
William Snowden said that Williams’ denial of having served as Duncan’s attorney “calls into question AG Murrill’s claims of ethics violations and improper conduct.”
Snowden said that Murrill’s threats to take action against Duncan were concerning.
“Mr Duncan does not have a current conviction — his conviction was vacated and in the United States, we do have a presumption of innocence until there is some form of jury verdict or some type of plea deal,” Snowden said. “She doesn’t have authority to make these types of threats for his representations of being an innocent man.”
Email Sophie Kasakove at sophie.kasakove@theadvocate. com.
cil will meet tomorrow night to discern any additional steps we need to take in the coming days,” Shawn Moses Anglim, church pastor, wrote Tuesday night, saying the child and their mother were with friends.
“I ask that you stop whatever you are doing and whomever you are with, please offer prayers for this family Ask that God surround them with comforting family and friends, and may they feel God’s loving presence in a thousand small ways.”
Anyone with information about the homicide may call Crimestoppers anonymously at (504) 8221111.
Landrieu said he was adding his name to Moreno’s list of backers Wednesday because “we’ve got to get this city back on track.”
Another former New Orleans mayor has issued an endorsement in the race: Former Mayor Sidney Barthelemy endorsed Duplessis in August when retired judge Arthur Hunter stepped out of the race and said he would back Duplessis Landrieu was a state representative and lieutenant governor before serving as mayor of New Orleans from 2010 to 2018. Later, he worked as a top adviser in former President Joe Biden’s White House.
Current Mayor LaToya Cantrell, who succeeded Landrieu, has not weighed in on who she would like to see hold the office next.
said the 1,000 hours of community service would include picking up roadside trash.
Levine and Morris’ attorney said Wednesday that prosecutors had offered Morris probation in a plea deal that he rejected. Last week, a jury of six took less than an hour to convict him on all charges over a collision he ultimately admitted he’d caused — first to a TV reporter and again last week from the witness stand.
Morris, 39, was found guilty on charges of malfeasance in office, insurance fraud, false personation of a peace officer and second-degree injuring of public records.
He was accused of falsifying records to avoid a drug and alcohol screen after the incident on the night of his birthday in May 2023, when his public vehicle hit another car on Elysian Fields Avenue about 10:30 p.m. Morris was accused of flashing his blue lights without authority after the wreck, filing a false insurance claim and
BY JOHN POPE Contributing writer
Eli Watson Tullis, a cotton trader and philanthropist who reigned as Rex, king of Carnival, in 1997, died at his Garden District home on Tuesday of complications from a stroke, according to his daughter Rachael Gambel. It was the day before his 97th birthday Tullis was part of a mini-dynasty of Rex royalty. His father, Garner Hugh Tullis, was Rex in 1935, and a daughter, D. Ashbrooke Tullis, was queen of Carnival in 1988. A sister, Malcolm McCullough Tullis, was queen in 1938, and a cousin, Eli Tullis Watson, reigned as Rex in 1927.
A lifelong New Orleanian, Tullis graduated from Woodberry Forest School, a boarding school for boys in Woodberry Forest, Virginia.
“He found guidance at Woodberry Forest, people who believed in him and pushed him to be a better person and steered him to the University of Virginia,” Gambel said, adding that he had “a lifelong passion” for both schools.
After finishing college, he followed his father into the cottontrading business.
His devotion to work was allout, said W Boatner Reily III, another longtime friend, in a 1997 interview “He has never been able to go to business lunches and things like that. He lives on the cotton market; he’s 100%
Continued from page 1B
increase targeting the service and tourism industries.
She said the proposals are “a real call to action.”
“We need revenue that is big. We need revenue that is going to truly meet us where we are in this moment. The nickel and diming will not work,” Cantrell said.
That comment recalls a phrase used by her former chief administrative officer, Gilbert Montaño, who told the council in May the administration was planning a series of “nickel and diming” measures minor increases to fees and parking rates, for example — to address an emerging budget hole.
The new costs to residents would almost certainly raise hackles from some, and it’s not clear what the council might move forward. Council member
Joe Giarrusso, the budget committee chair, said the council will wait for the results of the Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s review of city finances before considering any such moves.
Giarrusso also noted the upcoming municipal elections that will result in a new mayor and at least three new council members. The primary is Oct. 11.
“I am loath to do these things without having a conversation with everybody,” said Giarrusso, who is termed out and not running for office.
Increasing property taxes is a potentially explosive idea after a citywide reassessment two years ago led to a 17% increase in citywide property valuations and sparked immediate outcry from home and business owners
changing agency policy Morris portrayed his false reporting as an innocent mistake, telling the jury that he was sober and “would have happily” taken a drug and alcohol screen had he thought one was required.
Assistant District Attorney Corey Tassin argued that Morris should receive the maximum possible sentence. The malfeasance in office count carries the highest top sentence, at 10 years.
“Mr Morris did not, in fact, commit one crime. He committed four crimes. They were deliberate. They were intentional,” Tassin said.
Tassin said Morris lied to a TV reporter, the insurance company and to jurors, indicating he “has no remorse whatsoever.” He said that Morris had “ample opportunity” to plead guilty before a trial in which the jury “saw through his lies.”
Prosecutors presented no victim statements on Wednesday
absorbed.
The New Orleans Cotton Exchange was founded in 1871. After it closed in 1964, Tullis invested in other commodities, said his wife, Judith Talbot Helms Heumann Tullis.
In addition to supporting his prep school and college, Tullis was vice president of the New Orleans Aviation Board and a member of the Tulane University Board of Governors.
lieutenant, a member of the inner circle that plans Rex’s public and private activities.
In the latter role, his business experience was invaluable, former Medical Center Chancellor Neal Vanselow said in a 1997 interview “He kept us honest because he brought a tough business approach to a place that often went by academic rules of deferring decisions and not making tough financial decisions.”
Tullis started to rise through the Rex ranks in 1941, when he was a page to Charles E. Fenner, that year’s king.
In a 1997 interview shortly before his reign, Tullis recalled standing atop the king’s float with his fellow page, Edgar A.G. “Pepper” Bright Jr., and seeing a crowd so thick that the mules pulling the float could proceed no farther
“As far as I could see, all I could see were heads,” he said.
“I have never seen anything like it. Police literally had to squoosh the crowd back to move them.”
As a member of the Rex organization, Tullis was a longtime
reeling from massive insurance spikes. The council, in agreement with Cantrell, soothed the outcry at the time by agreeing to “roll back” the millage rates to avoid tax increases.
At the time, though, the city was flush with $388 million in federal pandemic aid that cushioned the city’s operating budget and fund balance. That money is now spent or spoken for, and city officials are bracing for an additional 20% reduction in other federal grant revenue.
The $24 monthly sanitation fee, meanwhile, hasn’t changed in 15 years, but twice-a-week service was cut in half after Hurricane Ida without any fee reduction. The Sanitation Department budget has exploded in the meantime — from $51 million last year to $71 million this year — to cover the rising cost of curbside waste.
An administration slide presentation did not specify how much Cantrell wants to raise the sanitation fee, but it listed a projected revenue increase of $19 million. That could amount to just a few dollars per month; the administration previously estimated a 50% increase would generate nearly three times that much.
Without a fee increase, the administration is now proposing a 26% cut to sanitation, reeling it nearly all the way back to last year’s level. The effects of such a cut on service aren’t clear, although more details will likely come out during three weeks of departmental budget hearings later this month.
Rethinking the Super Bowl
Meanwhile, the state auditor is examining the city’s books to come up with a concrete number for a deficit that needs to be made up next year The admin-
Morris’ attorney, Ralph Whalen, argued for probation.
“There’s no financial loss. There’s no physical harm. There are no victim witnesses here to tell you how this affected their lives, because it really didn’t amount to much,” Whalen said.
“This ordeal itself has been punishment enough for him, for any misdeeds that he may have done.”
Earlier, prosecutors played 3 minutes of a jail call on Wednesday in which Morris can be heard calling Levine the epithet for putting him in jail pending his sentence. Levine said the recording showed that Morris, even after his conviction, felt he was “above the law.”
Morris disputed that notion Wednesday as he pleaded with the judge for leniency.
“I didn’t mean that I’m sorry,” Morris said, adding that he felt “singled out” for jailing and would “move mountains to make sure I am never here again.”
“When I think of Eli, I think of tradition,” said Dr Stephen Hales, the krewe’s historian emeritus. “He valued history he valued the tradition, and he carried a lot of that into the room.”
Tullis also was an avid tennis player and golfer and a dancer who once joined Chris Owens on the stage of her French Quarter nightclub to dance the cha-cha
“He was in his element on the dance floor,” Gambel said. “It didn’t matter whether you could dance. He could lead, and the two of you would look like a fabulous couple.”
He was previously married to Mary Ferrell “Molly” Tullis Reily who died in 2012, and Deborah Beaird Tullis, who died in 2015.
Survivors include his wife, Judith Tullis, and three sons, Eli W. Tullis Jr of Boynton Beach, Florida; Garner H. Tullis of Seneca, South Carolina; and Wesley L.F Tullis of Colorado Springs, Colorado; three daughters, Molly T. Yoder of Raleigh, North Carolina; D. Ashbrooke Tullis of New Orleans; and Rachael T Gambel of Metairie; 17 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and a great-great-grandchild.
Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements, which are incomplete
istration has already reported a $73 million overrun in personnel expenses and a $31 million shortfall in local revenue, resulting in an anticipated general fund deficit of $104 million this year
The administration is also pointing to a $65 million deficit in the fund balance, which is the general fund surplus that rolls over from year to year The city started the year with a $205 cushion, including cash and expected revenue, but more than half that amount was built into this year’s budget and is otherwise being used to cover revenue shortfalls and cost overruns. The revenue shortfall is based on numerous factors, including new state sales tax exemptions on construction materials and rental cars. Officials also say they overestimated property tax compliance. Another reason is the disappointing returns from Super Bowl LIX, which may cause officials to rethink the city’s relationship with the National Football League.
The 2025 budget estimated nearly $15 million in Super Bowl-related local tax returns for the general fund, but the actual amount was only $8 million, according to the Cantrell administration. That was outweighed by $60 million in infrastructure spending before the game, on top of other security and public safety expenses, officials said.
“Is it time now to take another look at how we deal with these events in terms of their value to our community?” council member Oliver Thomas said, as Cantrell voiced agreement.
“Let’s be willing to show the governor and others this is what it costs us to roll over for you.”
Email Ben Myers at bmyers@ theadvocate.com.
Levine, who once worked for the Office of Independent Police Monitor, said she found the personation charge particularly egregious.
“We are a community that largely are scared of the police,” she said. “The concept that a public official can use their powers to pull an individual over and to make them believe that they are law enforcement, to terrorize them that’s my biggest concern. It may not be a huge crime in any other community, but it is an enormous crime in New Orleans.”
Levine told Morris that his contrition came too late, and that he’d tormented his staff at the communication district.
“You made their life miserable because you were scared they were going to reveal information to the Inspector General’s Office or to the media,” Levine said. “We would never be here if you’d done what you needed to do in the first place.”
Barnett-Comeaux, Shamarie
Boes,Charles Bourgeois, Beryl Canselo,Angela Cocchiara,John
Epherson, Willie Felix,Lydia Henderson, Ethel Imbornone,Barbara LaCour,Lorraine
Miller, Carrie MontgomeryJr.,Earl Parker,Herford
Prestridge,George RagasJr.,Edmond
Riegel,Olga
Riley, Isiah
Soule’,Lloyd
Wells,Betty
Williams,Geraldine
NewOrleans
Charbonnet
Soule’,Lloyd
DW Rhodes
MontgomeryJr.,Earl
Estelle JWilson
Wallace, Ellen
Wells,Betty
Lake Lawn Metairie
Boes,Charles Imbornone,Barbara
of Robert Comeaux. De‐votedmotherofTramandis Barnett, Quan (Daijonia) Barnett, ShaunBarnett, Deangelo Barnett, andTroy Barnett; stepmother of Robert Bakerand Aaron Comeaux. Treasured grandmotherofTramandis, Jr Tranaiyah, Tramaine Tyree, Tamari,Terrell,Lay‐lah, Trayvon, Shaquan, Quan,Jr.,Carter, Cartier, Deangelo,Jr.,Deangel,Se‐cret,and MilayahBarnett. Daughter of thelateBuford Barnett andDanuella Hamilton.Stepdaughterof thelateWesleyHamilton. Granddaughterofthe late Daniel SmithIII, Louisand LubertaDoptimore.Loving sister of Telisa (the late Kevin) Clark, Genese Bar‐nett, Rhonda (Tyrone) Brown, CarolynHamilton (Richard)Penwright,Nako‐mus(Wanda) Barnett, Alonquin Barnett, Wesley (Sharonda) Hamilton,Bu‐ford (Megan)Barnett, and thelateSheliaBarnett Aunt of thelateTyrone Hamilton.Niece of Alarice Gullage, Daniel (Gayle) Smith, MichaelDoptimore andthe late DoloresDopti‐more,and Veronica Harris Daughter-in-lawofDorothy Comeauxand thelateGer‐aldComeaux.Alsocherish‐ingher memories area host of nieces,nephews cousins, otherrelatives andfriends.Relatives and friendsofthe family, also pastors, officers,and members of Mt.Calvary In‐ternationalWorship Cen‐ter, Second St.JohnBaptist Church,and allneighbor‐ingchurches areinvited to attend theCelebration of Life at Mt.Calvary Interna‐tional WorshipCenter, 1600 Westwood Drive, Marrero, LA on Friday,October 3, 2025, at 10:00a.m. Apostle Terry Gullage, officiating. Visitation will beginat 9:00a.m. until servicetime at thechurch Interment: Green Street/Carrollton Cemetery-New Orleans, LA Arrangements by Davis Mortuary Service, 230 Mon‐roeSt. Gretna,LA. To view andsignthe guestbook please go to www.davismo rtuaryservice.com. Face MasksAre Recommended
LaCour,Lorraine Boes, Charles William
Riegel,Olga River Parish
PatrickH Sanders
Riley, Isiah St Tammany
EJ Fielding
Bourgeois, Beryl West Bank
DavisMortuary
Barnett-Comeaux, Shamarie
Canselo,Angela
Henderson, Ethel Robinson FH
Epherson, Willie Felix,Lydia
Miller, Carrie Parker,Herford RagasJr.,Edmond
Obituaries
Barnett-Comeaux, Shamarie
Shamarie BarnettComeaux, age61, entered into eternalrestatSlidell Memorial Hospital on Fri‐day, September19, 2025. Shewas anativeofNew Orleans, LA anda resident of Slidell, LA.Shamariewas aproud graduate of L. W. HigginsHighSchool.She wasemployedasa busdri‐verinNew Orleans, and adored by herstudents, becauseher smile bright‐ened everymorning com‐mute.Her talentasaninte‐rior designer was renowned, with atouch that transformedspaces into luxurious, breathtak‐ingretreats. Decorating re‐vealed hercreativespirit andher deep desire to bringbeautyand joyinto everycornerofthe world. Shamarie wasa beacon of lighttoher familyand community;her love and gracewillforever shinein theirhearts. Belovedwife
geois(Kimberly). Sheis also survived by hernine grandchildren, Jessica, Hunter (Emily)and John Paul Bourgeois, Katherine, Andrew andMadelineStur‐divant andCade, Gabrielle andAmeliaBourgeois,and hergreat-granddaughter, Eloise Bourgeois. Berylwas adevoted wife,mother, grandmotherand greatgrandmother. Sheenjoyed camping, reading, learning and sharingstories and spending time with her family. In lieu of flowers, donationscan be made to St Jude’s Children’s Hospi‐talinher memory.Rela‐tivesand friendsofthe familyare invitedtoattend theMassofChristian Bur‐ialonSaturday, October4, 2025 at 2:00 pm at EJ Field‐ingFuneralHome, 2260 West 21st Avenue,Coving‐ton, LA andthe visitation will beginat12:00 pm until servicetime. Intermentwill follow in PinecrestMemor‐ialGardens Mausoleum. E.J. Fielding FuneralHome hasbeen entrustedwith funeralarrangements. Please sign theguestbook at www.ejfieldingfh.com
John started his medical practice as ageneral surgeon in 1971 and practiced for over 40 years in Lake Charles, Louisiana. He enjoyed helping patients and their families and always respected and commended thenurses and medical staff with whom he worked. John moved to Shreveport,Louisiana,afterBonniedied.
John was adevout Catholicall his life and had astrong devotion to the Blessed Mother. He could be seenonhis dailywalks through theneighborhood praying the rosary. He was alife-long learner, a history enthusiast, and an avid reader. "Doc" was alwaysequippedwithsound advice and an inspiring tale forhis grandchildren. He taught through example. As atrue Sicilian, he appreciated agoodmeal (especiallyifsomeone else cooked), asugary dessert, and greatcompany John is survivedbyhis brother, JosephCocchiara; and hissister, Leanna Smith; his threedaughters and theirhusbands: Wendy and Randy Tannehill, Betsy and Paul Legendre, and Julie and MartyDeRouen;seven grandchildren: Dr. Katye Gayle and husband, Christopher Eldredge, TaylorLee and wife, Heather Lee, Father Andy DeRouen, Quincy Gayle, EllenGrimshaw, Emily Saltzman and husband, Hunter Saltzman, and AveryGrimshaw; seven great-grandchildren; two nieces; and numerous cousins.
Epherson,son,Ron Glass, sister,Alberta Brinston (BabyRuth).The staff at Davita Oakwood,the staff at Able Life,and members of theUSDA(GrainEleva‐tor) areall welcometoat‐tend.Predeceased by (2) brothers;Percy Epherson, Sr &Henry CharlesEpher‐son. Relatives& friendsof thefamilyare invitedtoat‐tend thecelebration of life servicewhich will be held on Saturday,October 4, 2025, at CrossCommunity Church locatedat3233 Ames Blvd,Marrero,La 70072. Thevisitationwill beginat9:30amand the servicewillbegin at 11am. Pastor Orin Grantofficiat‐ingand intermentwillfol‐lowatSoutheast Louisiana Veterans Cemetery on Monday October6,2025, at 12:30pm.Funeralplanning entrustedtoRobinson Family FuneralHome9611 La 23 Belle Chasse La 70037. (504) 208 -2119. For online condolencesplease visitwww.robinsonfamilyf uneralhome.com. Robinson Family FuneralHome, “Strivingfor Excellence” (504) 208-2119.
family, membersofSaint Joseph theWorkerCatholic Church,All Saints Catholic Church,PhiladelphiaMin‐istries,Evening Star Bap‐tist Church,UnitedStates Postal Service, L.B. Landry Classof1978, L.B. Landry alumni,TacoBell, and NatchezSteamboat arein‐vitedtoa mass of Christ‐ianBurialonFriday, Octo‐ber3,2025 at St.Josephthe Worker Church,455 Ames Blvd,Marrero,LA70072 at 10AM. Funeralserviceswill be officiated by Rev. Sid‐neyO.SpeaksIII. Visitation 8AM-9:45AM.Tribute starts at 8:45AM.Thisservice will be live streamed on St Joseph theWorkerweb‐site:(www.Stjworker church), Facebook (Saint Joseph theWorkerChurchMarrero),and YouTube(St Joseph theWorkerCatholic Church Marrero).Inter‐ment at Restlawn Park Cemetery andMausoleum 3540 US-90W Avondale,LA. Funeralplanningentrusted to Robinson Family Funeral Home,9611 LA-23, Belle Chasse,LA(504)208-2119. Foronlinecondolences please visitwww.robinso nfamilyfuneralhome.com.
Charles WilliamBoes, of Metairie,Louisiana,passed awayatthe ageof89on September 29, 2025. Anativeofthe Irish Channel, he spent his careerworking for The Times-Picayune for 32 yearsuntil hisretirement.Hespenthis free time enjoying LSU Baseball.
Charles was preceded in death by his parents, CharlesFrancisBoesand Geraldine BravenderBoes; sisters, Barbara Ann Boes and JoAnne Boes Holmgren; and brother, Raymond Francis Boes. He is survived by his sisters, GeraldineElizabeth Boes and Rose Ann Boes; threenieces and theirhusbands;and ahost of greatniecesand nephews. All are welcome to attend the FuneralMassat Lake LawnMetairie Funeral Home on Friday, October3,2025at11:00 AM, with visitation prior at 9:30 AM. Interment to follow at Lake LawnPark Mausoleum. The familyrequests masses in Charles' honor insteadofflowers.
Bourgeois, Beryl MarieJohnson
BerylMarie Johnson BourgeoisofLacombe,La, passedawayonTuesday, September30, 2025. She wasbornonNovember7, 1938 in NewOrleans,LAto thelateLeslie Joseph John‐sonand MarieOctavie Aime Johnson. Berylwas preceded in deathbyher husband,RodneyMatthew Bourgeois, Sr.She is sur‐vivedbyher children,Rod‐neyMatthew Bourgeois, Jr (Kim), Anne-Marie Bour‐geoisSturdivant (Nelson) andMarkEdwardBour‐
Angela AndrewsCanselo enteredeternal rest on Wednesday, September 24, 2025, at theage of 60 Shewas anativeand resi‐dent of Marrero, LA.Angela wasa former patientcare assistantwithWestJeffer‐sonMedical Center BelovedwifeofHebert Canselo, Sr.Lovingmother of Latoya N. Armand EmanuelAndrews,and LanceL.Andrews.Daugh‐terofBetty Turner Benand thelateLionel Andrews, Sr Stepdaughter of Wallace Benand Mary Andrews. Granddaughterofthe late Ezil Bibbs,AlmaLewis,Re‐becca Diggs Turner Sey‐more,and Nathaniel Turner.SisterofBuddy Newbold, Jr., Lionel An‐drews, Jr., andTessica An‐drews. Cousin of thelate ConnieColeman.God‐mother of thelateDrake Coleman, also survived by 8grandchildren,2 great grandchildren, anda host of nieces,nephews cousins, otherrelatives andfriends.Relatives and friendsofthe familyare in‐vitedtoattend theCele‐brationofLifeatDavis Mortuary Service, 6820 Westbank Expressway Marrero, LA on Friday,Oc‐tober3,2025, at 10:00a.m. Pastor CharlesMarsalis andMinisterAndrew Thomas officiating. Inter‐ment:WestlawnCemeteryGretna,LA. To view and sign theguestbook,please go to www.davismortua ryservice.com. Face Masks AreRecommended
Cocchiara, John Lucas
John Lucas Cocchiara died peacefully on September 28, 2025, at 86 yearsold.Hewas born on September 16, 1939, in New Orleans and was raised therebyhis parents Josephand Rose DiLeo Cocchiara. He attended Tulane University and Tulane University School of Medicine.Hemarried Bonnie Sue Harrisin1960.
AFuneral Mass willbe held on Friday, October 17, 2025 at 10:00 AM at the CathedralofSt. John Berchmans, Shreveport. Interment will be at Lake Lawn Park, NewOrleans on Monday, November 17, 2025 at 10:00 AM. A Memorial Mass willbesaid on Wednesday, November 26, 2025 at 1:30 PM at the Cathedralofthe ImmaculateConception, Lake Charles. In lieu of flowers,a donationcan be madetothe CathedralofSt. John Berchmans or another charity
Willie Lowry"Chief" Epherson,age 75,passed away on September19, 2025. He wasbornonDe‐cember 30,1949, andwas a lifelong resident of Mar‐rero,La. He accepted Christ andwas baptizedat an earlyage Willie,known as "Chief "graduated from AddisonHighSchool and also studiedatAlcorn StateUniversityinLorman MS.Heenjoyed taking fam‐ilyvacations andtalking abouthis time in theArmy. He wasthe sonofthe late Lester Epherson Sr.and Willie MaeEpherson. He leaves to cherish(4) chil‐dren,Vivianand Mitchell Epherson,Samueland Dal‐phineGlass. He also had (3)brothers, Willie E. Epherson,LesterEpherson Jr.(Muriel), Willie Fred Epherson Sr.(Mary)all of Marrero. La,(2) sisters, JosieWestofMarrero,La andRuthieEarls of Patti‐son, Ms.(19) grandchildren and(7) greatgrandchil‐dren anda host of nieces He leaves to cherish(4) children,Vivianand Mitchell Epherson,Samuel andDalphineGlass. He also had(3) brothers Willie E. Epherson,Lester Epherson Jr.(Muriel), Willie Fred Epherson Sr (Mary) allofMarrero.La, (2)sisters,Josie West of Marrero, La andRuthie EarlsofPattison, Ms.(19) grandchildrenand (7) greatgrandchildren and a host of nieces,nephews, relativesand friends. Willie wasprecededindeath by hisparents,LesterEpher‐sonSrand Willie Mae
LydiaAnn Felix departed this life andentered eter‐nalrestonFriday, Septem‐ber26, 2025, at theage of 64 at herhomeinHarvey, LA.She wasbornDecem‐ber3,1960, to herparents JessieMae andIsaac Felix Lydiagraduated from L. B. Landry in 1978 andcontin‐uedher educationatthe University of NewOrleans andthe University of LouisianaatLafayette Lydiawas afaithfulmem‐beratStJosephthe Worker Catholic Church where sheworkedwiththe HelpingHands Ministries andparticipatedwithdif‐ferent children ministries Heronlyplace of employ‐ment wasTacoBellwhere sheworkedfor 42 years. Shewas involved with the Westside Carnival Club for more than twenty years riding in theparades dur‐ingMardi Gras time.She also wasa NewOrleans Saints season ticket holder fornineteen years. Thede‐votedmotherofBrittany andMarquis Felix.Loving andPassionategrand‐mother of Braylonand Brylee Mickey.Sisterof Ivory, Tholover,Isaac, Terry,Christopher (Donna Lynn),LorraineElmoreand VereniaRoussell(Calvin). Relativesand friendsofthe
EthelT.Henderson,a re‐tirededucator, transi‐tioned to herheavenly home on Monday,Septem‐ber15, 2025, at theage of 95. Shewas anativeof Modeste, LA anda resident of Gretna,LA. Ethelre‐ceived herBachelorofArts Degree in Elementary Edu‐cation andher Master of Arts in Counseling and Guidance from Southern University of BatonRouge Sheretired from theJeffer‐sonParishPublicSchool System after 34 yearsofin‐spiringyoung minds. Ethel wasa faithfulservant and lifelong member of Thomp‐sonTempleCOGIC forover 70 years, making herthe eldest member of the church.She served in the local, district,jurisdic‐tional,and national church Shewillberememberedas abeaconinher family, church,and community, who made asignificant dif‐ference. Belovedwifeof thelateMervinHenderson Sr.Devoted mother of SonyaHenderson,Mervin Henderson, Jr., John A. Henderson, andAndrea Nikoi-Mabry. Loving grand‐mother of Dr.Vaneshette Henderson, Toya (Greg) Brown, Eld. Andre (Danielle)Powell, Alexan‐
derPowell, DeiNikoi AlexandraHenderson,Do‐miniqueHenderson,John MabryIII, Angelle Hender‐son, Esq.,GregoryAndrus, Brandi Andrus,and thelate Mervin HendersonIII. Great GrandmotherofImani Imari, Indya, Logan, Lan‐den, Benjamin,Jonathan, Gabrielle,Autumn, Izaiah, andthe late JarriusMalik Lofton.Daughterofthe late Willie andAnnie Thompson.SisterofElnora Brown, Marcus Thompson, andthe late Bishop Joseph S. (CarrieB.) Thompson, Willie Wesley (Helen) Thompson,Edward Thompson,Rosetta (Dr George, Sr.) Diggs,Annie Belle (Walter) Malloy,and Newton D. (Shirely W.) Thompson.Mother-in-law of Iris Hendersonand John MabryII. Sister-in-lawof Albert Henderson, Frances Henderson, ShirleyThomp‐son, andthe late Irene Thompson.Alsocherishing hermemoriesare ahostof nieces,nephews,great nieces,great nephews, cousins, otherrelatives andfriends.Relatives and friendsofthe family, also pastors, officers, and membersofThompson Temple COGICand all neighboringchurches are invitedtoattend the Homegoing Celebrationat Thompson Temple COGIC, 1515 WhitneyAvenue, Gretna,LAonSaturday, Oc‐tober4,2025, at 10:00a.m. Supt. KeithThornton, Sr officiating. Visitation will beginat8:30a.m until ser‐vice time thechurch.Inter‐ment:McDonoghville Cemetery-Gretna, LA. Arrangements by Davis Mortuary Service, 230Mon‐roeSt. Gretna,LA. To view andsignthe guestbook please go to www.davismo rtuaryservice.com. Face MasksAre Recommended
BarbaraAnn Cook Im‐bornone, age83, passed away in Carriere,Missis‐sippi on Sunday,Septem‐ber28, 2025. Barbarawas preceded in deathbyher parents, Henryand Claire PabstCook;her sister, JanieCook Brehm; andher brother, Henry“Skippy Cook,Jr. Sheissurvivedby herbeloved husband of 62 years, VincentJosephIm‐bornone, Jr.; herdaughter, ChristineImbornone Stouder(Kevin);her son Victor RaymondImbor‐none (Lori);her five grand‐children,Abigail Buchholz (Matthew), DevinCulley (Shelby),ShelbyAdourian (Nicholi),MargaretImbor‐none,and Victoria Imbor‐none;her nine greatgrandchildren, Natalie, Melanie, Valarie, Paisley, Mason, Kinsley, Brooks, Bentley, andKorbin; and numerous nieces and nephews. Barbarawas born in NewOrleans on September26, 1942 and was agraduateofMount Carmel High School.She wasa parishioneratSt. Rose De Lima Catholic Church in BaySt. Louis, MS Shewas alovingmother, grandmother, andgreat grandmother… shewillbe dearly missed. Relatives andfriends areinvited to attend theFuneralMassin thechapelofLakeLawn Metairie FuneralHome, 5100 PontchartrainBlvd. in NewOrleans,onSaturday, October4,2025, at 1:00PM Avisitationwillbeheldat thefuneral home begin‐ning at 11:00AM.The inter‐ment will follow theMass at Lake Lawn Park Mau‐soleum.Inlieuof flowers, please consider adonation in Barbara’smemorytothe SocietyofSt. Vincentde Paul,www.svdpneworle ans.org. To view andsign theonlineguest book, please visitwww.lakelaw nmetairie.com
LaCour,Lorraine Armagnac
Lorraine Louise Armagnac LaCour, anative of NewOrleans and aresident of Kennerafter
Hurricane Katrina,passed awaypeacefully on September29, 2025. She was 104 years old. She was predeceasedbyher husband of nearly 80 years, OwenJ.LaCour,Sr. Shewas the lovingand devoted motherofseven children: Judy L. Drez and her husband, Ron (and their children: Ron,Jr. (Allison); Kevin (Ann); Diane D. Barnett (Tom); and Craig(Amy)); the late O.J.,Jr.,and his wife, Sandy (and their children: Jay (Stacey), Greg (Yvette), Stephen (Sarah), and Jeffrey(Jackie)); Ronald andhis wife, Joanne (and their children: Kristie L. Broussard and Keith (Angelina)); Charlesand his wife, Jean (and their children: Mark(Ginger) and Julie L. Isch (Roberto)); Barryand his wife, Jenny, of New Iberia (and their children: GabrielleL.Heil (John) and Joey(Laura)); Edmund and hiswife Robin, of Dothan, Alabama (and his children: Eddie, Jr (Alice); Danny; Will; and Rachael);and Karen L. Puente and her husband, Mickey (and their children: Michael,Jr.;Andrew; James; and Madeline). She is alsosurvived by 42 great -grandchildren, two greatgreat-grandchildren, and numerous niecesand nephews. In additiontoher husbandand son O.J,she was predeceased by her parents,HenryE.Armagnac andMarcelinePetit Armagnac; her brothers, HenryV.Armagnacand Maurice D. Armagnac; and her sister,GloriaA Cacamo Lorrainewas adevout Roman Catholicand prayed the Rosarydaily. You knewyou were in good hands whenshe told you that she was moving you up to the top of her prayer list. In 1970, she became afounding member of the St. Michael Ladies' Guild, aspiritualclubdedicated to the cause of helpingand supporting the students of St. Michael Special School. Shewas a1937graduate of John McDonogh High School, foregoing ascholarship to college in order tohelpsupport her family. Shegrewupduringthe Depression, which undoubtedly prepared her for being the chief disciplinarianofher children and a tough taskmaster "Mumsy," as she was known to her grandchildren, was an avidreader, a keen bridge player,and an excellentdancer.Asthe matriarch of averylarge family, she held strong beliefs on many subjects and neverhesitated sharing those beliefs. She cherished her family and enjoyedfamilygatherings, especiallythose atwhich she was the center of attention, as she engaged everyone around her. Lorrainehad azestfor life; she was loved and will be missed Services willbeheldon Saturday, October4,2025, at St.AnthonyofPadua Catholic Church, 4640 CanalStreet, NewOrleans, withvisitation commencing at 10 a.m. followed by words of remembrance at 11:45a.m. and aFuneral Mass at noon. The celebrant of the FuneralMass willbeArchbishopGregory M.Aymond, assisted by Deacon Ronald J. Drez,Jr. Interment will follow at LakeLawn Park Mausoleum. In lieu of flowers,please considerthe offeringofMasses or making adonation in memoryof Lorraine LaCour to St. Michael Special School 1522Chippewa Street, New Orleans, LA 70130, https:// www.stmichaelspecialsch ool.com/support-smss or the AshleyCodeProject (forpediatric braincancer research),P.O.Box 24085, NewOrleans, LA 70184.
Miller,CarrieEncalade 'Momma Carrie'
Carrie “Momma Carrie” Encalade Miller wascalled to herheavenlyhometobe with theLordonSeptem‐ber27, 2025, at theage of 97. Shewas aresidentof Dalcour, Louisiana. She leaves to cherishher love andpreciousmemoriesher devotedchildren, Audrey M. (Ulysses, Jr)Banks Eddie(Shanna)Miller, Beatrice (Lester) Williams andHicks (Ashley) Miller;a
devotedgranddaughter, TrinaRodrigue; daughterin-law,PatriciaMiller; sonin-law,Joseph“Charlie” Francis; 19 grandchildren and20great-grandchil‐dren;a host of nieces, nephews, otherrelatives andfriends.She waspre‐cededindeath by herpar‐ents,Morrisand Victoria Taylor Encalade;her hus‐band,FreddieMiller, Sr.; herchildren, Carrie “Bert” Francis, FreddieMiller,Jr. Melvin Miller,and Allen Lewis, Sr.; siblings, Bernice Jiles, Joseph Schexnayder, AgnesEncalade, Louise Barthelemy,and Beulah Thomas.Momma Carrie’s life wasa beautifultesta‐ment to thepower of faith andstrengthoffamily. She cherishedher pas‐tor/nephew anddeeply lovedher church family. Oneofher greatest joys wasusing theAMAZING gift of singingGod blessed herwith. Hervoice moved theheartsofall who heard it;itwas her ministry! Though shemay no longer be with us in body,her spirit livesonthrough her familyand thelegacyshe left behind.Relatives and friendsofthe family, Pas‐tors,officers andmembers of BethlehemBaptist Church of Dalcour, LA,sur‐roundingchurches,em‐ployees of Plaquemines Parish School Boardand Fire Department,LCMC Health,UnitedStates Postal ServiceofPlaquem‐ines,Louisiana areinvited to attend theservice.A ChristianCelebration will be held at BethlehemBap‐tist Church,111 Bethlehem Lane,Braithwaite,LAon Saturday,October 4, 2025, at 11AM,Rev.Dr. Michael W. Jiles, Sr officiating. In‐terment: BethlehemBap‐tist Church Cemetery.258 Bertrandville Rd Bertrandville,LA. Final arrangements entrustedto Robinson FuneralHome, 9611 LA-23, BelleChasse, LA 70037 (504)208 –2119. Foronlinecondolences please visitwww.robinso nfamilyfuneralhome.com
MontgomeryJr.,Earl
Norman With sadnessweshare thepassing of Earl Norman MontgomeryJr.,onSep‐tember 18, 2025. Please visitwww.rhodesfuneral. comtoviewservice infor‐mation,signonlineguest‐book,sendflowers, and sharecondolences
Herford"Nutsie"Parker, age84, peacefully entered into thearmsofGod early Wednesdaymorning Sep‐tember 17,2025, whenhe heardGod whisper "Happy birthday my child,you may come on home". He was thebeloved father of Timo‐thyQ.Parker(Alethia), NorbertL.Allen(Leslie) andCapella Young-Mayo Darryl). Sonofthe late Isa‐iahand AlmediaParker. Herfordwas anativeof Vacherie LA.anda resident of Avondale LA.for many years. He is also survived by abrother Herbert Parker,his grandchildren Kyra Parker,JuVrelle Smart, Ka'Ron Allen, CoCo Williams,Davon Young and Todrel Young,nieces; Yvette Payne(Ferdinand) andYolanda Phoenix, nephew;DonaldEdgerson (Angel), longtime friends; JamesHowardand Lor‐raineMitchell(mother of hisson Timothy),aswell as ahostofgreat nieces andgreat nephews, cousins, otherrelatives andfriends.Herford wasa member of 2ndSalvation
Church in Bridge City,LA. where he gave hislifeto Christ.Helater became a member of St.JosephThe Worker Catholic Church in Marrero. He retiredfrom Avondale Shipyard after 30 yearsbut went back to work yearslater as asecu‐rity guardwithScheuering Security Serviceuntil Marchof2025. He waspre‐deceased by hisparents, Isaiah Parker Sr.and Alme‐diaParker, hissiblings; Se‐doniaParker, Isaiah Parker Jr.and Earl Williams,and hisgrandson; MichaelM.W Emery. Relativesand friendsofthe familyare in‐vitedtoattend thememor‐ialservice on Saturday,Oc‐tober4,2025 at Robinson Family FuneralHome9611 LA-23, Belle Chasse LA 70037 at 2PM. (504)2082119. Foronline condo‐lences please visitwww robinsonfamilyfuneralho me.com
GeorgeEarl Prestridge, Jr 61, of Pearl River, LA, passed away suddenly on Tuesday, September 16, 2025. Born in NewOrleans he grew up in St.Bernard Parish and attended St. Bernard High School
He was preceded in death by his parents, GeorgeEarl Prestridge, Sr and CarolynCantrell Perez; his stepfather, Leland Perez,Sr.;his stepmother Joy Beach Prestridge; his brothers, Paul Prestridge and Leland Perez,Jr.;and his nephew, Timothy Favre
He is survivedbyhis sisters, Patrice Jones (Chris) of Austin, TX, and Susan Prestridge of Perkinston MS; his brother, Chad Prestridge (Melanie) of Picayune, MS;and numerous nieces, nephews, and extendedfamily
Georgeworked as apipefitter and operator in the oiland gas industry before retiring.Hewas alifelong LSUTigersand New Orleans Saintsfan, loved MardiGras, and enjoyed playing pool,huntingand fishing with his dadand grandpa, cooking at his family's restaurant,and spending time with friends and family.Known for his booming laugh, generosity, and loyalty, he willbe deeply missed
ACelebrationofLife will be held at 10:00 AM on Saturday, October 18, 2025, at House of Refuge Church, Picayune, MS, withburial at NewPalestine Cemetery.
RagasJr.,Edmond Wilson 'Wes'
Edmond Wilson Ragas Jr."Wes",entered into eternalrestonFridaySep‐tember 26, 2025 at his home in Port Sulphur LA.at theage of 68.Hewas the sonofthe late Edmond Wilson RagasSr. andthe late AlbertineGibson Ragas. Belovedbrother of Olibra Magee(Jerry), Eric RagasSr. (Vanessa), Jonathan Ragas(Christy) John RagasSr. (Monica), andthe late Shelia Turner (Frederick deceased), Lori Ann Turner andDianne
AgnesRagas.Hewas a brother figure to Serena AnnGibson. He wasa fa‐ther figure to Cierra Gabriel. Devoteduncle of FrederickTurnerJr., Amanda Turner (Rob), ShannonMackey(Otis), Nelson C. Williams III (An‐gelle), Trevor S. Williams Sr.(Trekira),Jamie Scott (LionelJr.), JerilynMagee Rogers (Eric),MariahA Magee, Eric JamesJr. (Kris‐ten),Vania andEricJoseph Ragas, Albertine Stephens (Naquarius), BreckTurner (Jessica), VincentTurnerJr. CajuanaJackson,Jonathan Scott, KennethParker(Jas‐mine), DasiaRagas ,Devin Badeaux, Brittany Johnson (Robert) John Jr.and Blake RRagas.Wes wasa promi‐nent figure in thelives of hismanygreat nieces and nephewsand shared aspe‐cial bond with them all. He wasa retiredemployeeof Daybrook Fisheriesfor 30 yearsand wasa proudDal‐lasCowboys fan.Relatives andfriends of thefamily andemployees of Day‐brook Fisheries, areinvited to attend thefuneral ser‐vice on Friday October3 2025 at St.Patrick Catholic Church 28698 LA-23, Port Sulphur LA.70083. Thevisi‐tation will beginat9AM followed by an 11AMmass. Father Lawrence Murori will officiateand interment will follow in Barthelemy Cemetery in DiamondLA. Funeralplanningentrusted to Robinson Family Funeral home (5040 208-2119. For online condolencesplease visitwww.robinsonfamilyf uneralhome.com.
Olga Bandi Riegel,a lifelong residentofNew Orleans, died Sunday, September 28, 2025, after a lengthybattle with cancer Shewas 80 years old. Olga wasbornon Christmas Day, 1944 and wasa gift and ajoy to her dear parents,Olga Parlongue Bandi and Nicholas J. Bandi,who cherished theironly child andtaught hertoshare thegift of herbeing by always thinking first of the otherand leaving no one behind. "Bringa friend Bandi" became hernickname early on andinthe decades that followed, Olga lived up to that sobriquet, forgingdeep and abidingfriendships with many from diverse culturesand countriesand welcoming them all to her sweet home for delicious home-cooked meals, warmth, laughterand stimulating conversation. Neverwithouther trademark sunglasses, Olga embracedlifeand therich culture of hernative New Orleans. Sheloved the city'sDixielandJazz, R&B, festivals andneighborhood restaurants andcelebratedlifeasonlytrue NewOrleaniansknowhow-not just at Mardi Gras and JazzFest buteveryday of theyear.She waszanyand funnyand made many laugh
Olga attendedHoly Name of Jesus School and graduatedfromMercy Academy in 1962. Sheattended LSUfrom1962-1966, whereshe wasa proud member of ChiOmega sorority, andmade many lifelongfriends.She delightedraisingher three daughters and wasanactive volunteerattheir school, Academy of the SacredHeart,where she served as Mother's Club President. Shewas amemberofSt. Rita'sParish and several other religious, social andcivic organizations throughout heradult life. Shewas thrilledtobecome aNana whilestill in her50s and spentmany
years playinganactive roleinthe lives andcareof herseven grandchildren, wholoved herdearly and benefited from herwisdom andgenerosity. Sheispreceded in death by herparents. Sheissurvived by herloving husbandof60years, PhilipR Riegel;her daughters, Stephanie Riegel (Gregory Woolverton), TraceyKoch (David), andKristen Riegel (Jeff Thacher); seven grandchildren, Allison Woolverton,Madeleine Heyob (Ben), Michael Woolverton,Jon David Koch,Maggie Koch, Sarah Hook andChristopher Hook; andgreat-granddaughterCatherineHeyob.
Thefamilywould like to give special thanks to her caregivers andhelpers, whose compassion and attention made herfinal months more comfortable: Santa Gamez, Raquel White, KylaAlexander and TericaWashington. Visitation will be held from10-11 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 4, at St.Rita'sCatholic Church,2729 Lowerline St., followed by afuneral Mass at 11 a.m. Agravesideservice will be private In lieu of flowers, please considera donation to Second Harvest of Greater NewOrleans and Acadiana.
Deacon IsiahRileyen‐teredintoeternal rest on Monday September22, 2025. Husbandofthe late Yvonne Berry Rileyby first marriage andthe late DorothySanders Rileyby second marriage.Fatherof Isiah(Yvette)Riley, Rogers (Giselle)Riley, Randell (Gloria) Riley, Sr., Rodney (Nicole) Borden,Cynthia R. Sullen, Madeline R. Rose, Dianne Borden,and the late Shelia Rose andCliff Riley. He was theson of thelateMoses andClassie Jacobs Riley. Brotherofthe late AlbertaR.Gant, Leola R. Ancar, Rebecca R. Elli‐son, Olivia R. Mitchell, JamesRiley, ClassieR Washington,Moses Riley, Bernadette Riley, Vivian R. Ellison, andVirginiaR.Mc‐Call.Brother-in-lawof Yvonne Berry.Alsosur‐vivedbya host of grand‐children,great grandchil‐dren,great-great grand‐children,nieces, nephews, cousins, otherrelatives, friends, andhis Second BaptistChurch family. A native andlifelongresident of Algiers(Cutoff Commu‐nity), LA,age 93. Deacon Rileywas alifelongmem‐berofSecondBaptist Church.DeaconRileywas aman of greatfaith who lovedthe Lord deeply.His greatest desire in life was to touchthe livesofothers. Hislovefor hisfamilyand hischurch was thefounda‐tion of hislife. Relatives andfriends of thefamily also Pastors, Officers and MembersofSecondBap‐tist Church,Second Nazarene BaptistChurch, Asbury United Methodist Church andall neighboring Churches areinvited to at‐tend theFuneral Services at 10:00am on Saturday October4,2025, at Second BaptistChurch,2836 Sullen Place, Algiers, LA.Rev Andre' Singler, officiating. Visitation will be from 8:00am -9:50amONLY. In‐termentinMcDonogh Cemetery Gretna,LA. Final Arrangements entrustedto PatrickH.Sanders Funeral Home &FuneralDirectors LLC. 605 Main Street,
Park Memorial Cemetery andMausoleum (504)362-3091
If there’sone thing that Louisianans can take to thebank, it’s that the most recent floodwill not be the last.
So it would be really helpful if theycould count on something else: reliable and available flood insurance.
Yetonce again, the federal government, which writes the vast majority of flood policies inthe U.S., isn’tkeeping up its endofthe bargain. The government shutdown that began Wednesday alsomarkedthe expiration of the National Flood Insurance Program’sauthorization.
So what does this mean forthe morethan 400,000 Louisianans who rely on thiscoverage? In the immediate term, currentpoliciesremain in effect. But new policies can’t be written, existing policies up for renewal can’tberenewed andreal estate purchases in zoneswhere lenders require flood coverage can’t go through. And potentially,the expiration could limit the payment of claims.
If all this sounds familiar,it should Congress routinely letsthe flood insurance programlapse, or comes close. Duringthe past decade, it’spassed no fewer than 33 short-term authorization extensions. Onesuch extension was included in the short-term spendingbill that has fallen victim to thelarger partisan stalemate. Another,astandalonemeasure, is proposed but awaiting action
These frequent extensionsare largely the result of Congress kicking thecan down theroad as it contemplates the larger goal of reforming the program to make it less costly,moreactuariallysound and simply more fair
That it has largely failed on that frontis telling, for charting adifferent pathrequires grappling withhardquestionsabout how much andwhether government insurance shouldsubsidize those who live in areas proneto flooding, andhow to discouragebuilding in flood-prone areaswithout punishing longstanding communities where living with water is simply afact of life.
Theprogram’smostrecent reform, called Risk Rating 2.0,provedcontroversialand punishingly costly for many Louisiana homeowners. Some who are not required bylenders to carry coverage have dropped it,leavingthem vulnerable to the next disaster andlikely putting others on the hook for theirrecovery. That said, there has been some isolated good news lately. Residents of unincorporatedJefferson Parish and Livingston Parish recently becameeligiblefor rate cuts, as aresultoflocal flood mitigation measures. Propertyowners in Youngsville could now qualify fora break too, sincecity officials wererecently approvedfor the NFIP’svoluntary community ratingsystem. But thebigger issues surroundingthe flood insurance program’sfuture remain,evenasthe Trump administration’sdeeply concerning talk of scaling back or eliminatingFEMA, which runs the NFIP,raises new ones. Still, none of that means that Congress can’t minimize damage in the short runbyextending the program’scurrentprovisions onemore time. Or even better,itcould extend them indefinitely,which would not precludereformbut would minimize disruption inthe meantime. That,atleast,would keep Louisiana’songoing insurance challenges from gettingevenworse
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.
The Metro section of the Labor Day edition of The Times-Picayune featured an article proclaiming that the City of New Orleansfaces a$100 million budget shortfall for 2026. Given this dire situation, every costsaving option needs to be considered. Onewould be theelimination of the mandatory Disadvantaged Business Enterprise requirement in awarding city contracts. Doing so would bring
New Orleansinline with mostother cities and municipalities in the nation that award contracts to the lowest bidder that’scapable of doing the work. It will also ensure that NewOrleans citizens are getting thebest deal possible for their tax dollars. This would be particularly important if the decision is madeto rebid thecity’ssanitation contract. MICHAEL NUSSBAUM NewOrleans
to expand into greenspace
Why does Ochsner Medical Center need to build another monstrosity on one of the last remaining green spaces on the east bank of Jefferson Parish on land that is part of apublic park?
Idon’trecall any opportunity for the citizens to give input on this decision. This land on thecorner of Airline Drive and TomBenson Wayispart of the LaSalle Tract. Across thehighway sits theformer Capital Onebank building that is vacant and up for sale. Surely
Having just read Patrick Wall’sinteresting interview with Tulane’snoted researcher,Douglas Harris, headlined “N.O. schools radically remadeafter Katrina,” Isincerely hope that his responses before they were “condensed and edited” contained some clarification of the researcher’spublished comment that the charter school system is designed to “generate positive academic
Ijust cameback to Louisiana from a blessed JMJ Pilgrimage to Rome with others for the canonizations of Sts. Acutis and Frassati. We were so fortunate as pilgrims in this Holy Jubilee Year of the Catholic Church to walk through designated “holy door” church entrances and to receive eternal blessings. What ajoy it was also to join Pope LeoXIV,who has some familial connections to New Orleans, at ageneral audience and for the canonizations, especially as he was driven by after-
that would be aviable option instead of paving paradise to put up aparking lot. Council member Deano Bonano’soffice tells me theparish will net $5 million from this deal. Ithink that’sadrop in thebucket when you are destroying the tree canopy and our last green space.
As someonewho appreciates wildlife and the beauty of trees, I find this disappointing and sad.
CINDYDIMAGGIO Metairie
outcomes,” but not “critical thinking.” The interview concludes with quoting Harris saying rightfully that “there are lots of things that are unmeasurable in education.” Ihope he would agree that teachingstudents critical thinking skills is not one of those “immeasurable” things.
GERALD MURPHY
NewOrleans
wards in the popemobile within 10 feet of us. Subsequently,itwas truly ablessing to take some St. Francis Waywalks from Assisi back toward Rome. Itruly have learned from these holy adventures —and especially from the charism of St. Francis —that we are at acritical “turning point” in our everyday walks of life to ever more adopt the songassociated with Francis: “Make Me AChannel Of Your (Jesus’) Peace!” KEITH HORCASITAS Baton Rouge
Seeing, hearing andreading the pervertedjoy many people from the left have celebrated at the assassinationofCharlie Kirk is disgusting. The deflection of blame for this tragedy from Democrats andtheir propaganda mainstream media is hollow. Their constant labeling of President Donald Trump, Kirk andconservative people as Hitler, Nazis, fascists, deplorablesand everyphobe known to man over so many years hasfannedthe flames of hatred toward allconservatives.
Along with riots, death and destructionofproperty when events aredeemed justified by Democrats for suchbehavior,it appearsthatmurderisnow also justified by many on the left. Trump’stwo near-assassination attempts, Luigi Mangione’s allegedmurderofthe UnitedHealthcareCEO andnow the deathofCharlie Kirk. Chaos, lawlessness andanarchy are the outcomes as their words and actions aretoo oftencondoned without consequences.
The Democrat Party appears to have been infiltrated with evil. Theyare godless. Their quest for powerispursuedthrough lies andpropaganda while proclaiming theyknowwhat is best for you. Their leadership’sagenda is outoforderand counter to life, liberty andthe pursuit of happiness. No happiness can be found in their beliefsystem. Is it now irrational to support this party,whichismiserable and full of hate?Ipray Godtochange their hearts. Until that time, it may be time for sensible middleof-the-road Democrats to flee thatparty.The alternative is to at leastbecome independent, capable of thinking for themselves in whatisright and wrong. True hope andhappiness for the future is found with faith in Jesus, not in those who want to controlyour life
WADE PERRIN Marrero
On May 16, 2023, the Des Moines, Iowa, School Board hired IanRoberts to be its new superintendent. Roberts, the first African Americanever chosen to run the city’s schools, formally began the job on July 1, 2023. By the end of July,the board got some surprisingnewsabout their new superintendent. He had been named in a$250,000 settlementwith an ex-employee at his previous job as head of the Millcreek Township SchoolDistrict in Pennsylvania. Melody Ellington, the Pennsylvania district’shumanresources director under Roberts, claimedshe hadbeen subjected to “unlawful treatment.” The nature of thattreatment was notrevealed. Meanwhile, officials at the Des Moines board said Roberts’ problem was news to them. “Given the confidential nature of the settlement, thereis nothing that Des Moines public schools would have known about prior to the hiring of Dr.Roberts,” the board chair Teree Caldwell-Johnson, told the Des Moines Register.“For the same reason, this would not have been picked upby the search firm doingthe background check.”
arrestedRobertsand then issued this statement to the press: “Today,ICE Des Moines arrestedIan Andre Roberts, a criminalillegal alien from Guyanain possession of aloaded handgun, $3,000 in cash, and a fixedblade hunting knife. At the time of his arrest,Roberts was working as the Superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools despite being an illegal alien with a finalorder of removal and no workauthorization.”
ICE said Roberts “spedaway” when approachedbyofficers. Theyfound Roberts’ carabandoned in thewoods, andlaterlocated Roberts and arrested him. He remains in ICE custody
ICE said Roberts first entered the U.S. in 1999 on astudent visa and had a weapons possessioncharge against him from February2020. He never became apermanent legal resident or acitizen. He also did not leave. Even when he had theweaponscharge —that was apparently while he was running thePennsylvania school system— his illegal status did notcometopublic light
Then camethe final order of removal —deportation— in May 2024. Roberts said nothing to theDes Moines school board and continued in his role.
driver’slicense and aSocial Security card.” Norris referred frequently to “Dr. Roberts,”and therevelations caused some journalistsinIowa to take acloser look at his history.Itappears Roberts earned aB.A.fromCoppin State University,ahistorically Black university in Baltimore, in 1998. He earned amaster’sdegree from St. John’sUniversity twoyearslater.The Des Moines Registernoted that he “has claimed for many years” thatheearned adoctoral degree from Morgan State University,another historically Black university, but “a university spokesman [said] thatRoberts did not obtain adegree from the school, despite attending Morgan State from the fall of 2002 through the springof 2007.”
There was more. It turns out Roberts left two other settlementsinhis wake in Pennsylvania. Both of them, one for $87,500and the other for$66,000, went to school officials demoted by Roberts. Alltogether,Roberts left the Millcreek system on the hook for $403,500inlegal settlements. His new employers in Des Moines knew nothing about it.
Des Moines school officialswerein forafar bigger surprise lastFriday, whenthey learned that Roberts, who came to the United States from Guyana sometime in the 1990s, was in the U.S illegally and had,infact, receiveda final order of deportation last year.The board learned that from Immigration andCustoms Enforcement agents who
The rapid series of events left school officials frazzled. They stressedthat they relied on asearch firm to find Roberts when they were seeking anew superintendent in 2023. They thought Roberts was totally legit.“No one herewas aware of any citizenship or immigration issuesthatDr. Roberts may have been facing,” boardChairwoman Jackie Norrissaid afterthe news became public. Norris pointed to the I-9 form, aU.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services document in which aprospective employee verifies to anew employer that he is authorized to workinthe U.S. “We can tell you that on his I-9, he stated he wasa citizen,”Norris said, “and he provided two forms of verification —a
With Halloween just afew weeks away, did youeverwonder what thesecreepy charactersdothe rest of theyear? So,what’sgoingoninthis cartoon? you tellme. Be witty,funny, crazy, absurd or snarky —just trytokeep it clean. There’snolimit on the number of entries.
All this raises questions about why board membersknew so little about their superintendent. In her remarks, Norris, aformer topaide to first lady Michelle Obama who is now running for the Democratic nomination for senatorfromIowa, perhaps inadvertently hinted at areason. With his engaging personality and flamboyant dress —one article described Robertsin“amaroon three-piece suit,candy cane stripedbow tie and matching Nike Air Force One sneakers” —Roberts,the first black superintendent in the school board’s history,simply bowled people over.“He sparkedjoy in our kids,and an excitement in our kids,” Norris said. “This is an individual who brought alot of enthusiasmand vibrancy to ourcommunity.”
Finally,despite it all, despitethe lies, the deportation order, the gun, the evading police and more, Norris seemed positive about Roberts. “Two thingscan be true,” she toldreporters. “It is possible that you may not be acitizen, but you are still agood human being.”
Byron York is on X, @Bryon York. Email byronyork@yorkcomm.com.
The winning punchline will be lettered into the word balloonand runon Monday.Inaddition, the winner will receivea signed print of the cartoon alongwith acool winner’sT-shirt! Some honorable mentions will also be listed. To enter,emailyour entries to cartooncontest@theadvocate.com. DON’T FORGET! All entries mustinclude your name, home addressand phone number.Cell numbers are best.The deadline for all entries is midnight on Thursday. Send in your punchline treatsand win! Good luck! Walt
Ahiss overwhelmed theroom. We were on astage at LincolnCenter,talking about Kansas. And if theaudience walked in wanting me to be theenemy Ihad just inadvertentlyconfirmed that Iwas. All it took was aword.
The event was the screening of adocumentary based on the Thomas Frank bestseller “What’s the Matter with Kansas?” We’d justwatched apart of it focusing on George Tiller,the lateterm abortion doctor who was murdered in 2009 on aSunday in the church he regularly attended It was acruel, cowardly,evilact.I was the token pro-lifer onthe panel discussing all things Kansas in theBig Apple, and, as far as those gathered were concerned, Ihad just played to type. Iused the m-word. Murder Had youpointedthis out to me,I would have, in all innocence, been bewildered by my offense. Fellow panelist Joe Conason, who wroteacolumn for Salon.com and was known to be close to Billand Hillary Clinton, came to my defense.
proper wordtouse was “assassination,” because it had been a“political” murder.It was still amurder.Itwas evil. Evil seemed the most important thingtoacknowledge.
Can we at least agree that murder is murder and evil is evil? Ifeel similarly in the wakeofCharlie Kirk’smurder
Theman is dead because he hadthe audacity —the fortitude—togooncollege campuses andencourage young people to think and debate.
Former prime minister of the United Kingdom Theresa May is getting a nationwide hiss-like reaction for insisting that the assisted-suicide bill the House of Commons passed this summerisabout suicide. It is medically prescribeddeath. Iwonder if those blasting May would prefer,instead of callingitassisted suicide, just going ahead and calling it murder,asdoctors are beingrecruited to do harm as a matterofprotocol.
beasts, nothing morethan our base desires and usefulness as objectsfor others. Assisted suicide buys intothese lies. Is there anything more precious than ahuman life? Andaninnocent, vulnerable, weak human life at that?
“She didn’tmean anythingbyit,” is what Irecall him saying,sternly and chivalrously.Iquickly learned that the
Iwould easily go along with that classification,because it gets away from the lie that assisted suicide is mercy andmakes it clearer that it is actually abandonmentand elimination. Thedevil wants us to believe we are
Only God knows what miracles can happen when given time. There may be reconciliations that happen at a hospital bedside, where nothing much can be done except to make peace and prepare for theend. So, call it suicide. Or —don’ttwist my arm—certainly murder will cover it, too. Charlie Kirk was murdered. As was George Tiller.Both killings were wrong. Both were evil. Call them assassinations. That’s fine. Just don’ttry to justify them or water them down Evil was done. Let us uniteinrallying against it. Period. Murder is murder. Medically assisted suicide is not only suicide, but murder.Topretend otherwise is to devalue life and justify evil Even when it’swell-intentioned, it’s murder.It’ssuicide. To not acknowledge that is deadly —and to morethan just individual lives.
Email Kathryn Jean Lopez at klopez@ nationalreview.com.
Reporter Tyler Bridges’ excellent Sept. 28 news obituary for longtime Louisiana politician Louis Lambert brought back a flood of memories. It also served as areminder that tiny amounts of votes can change history in major ways. Lambert served either in the state Senate or on the Public Service Commission for 30 of the 32 years between 1972 and 2004, leaving arecord of old-style populism. For now,let’sleave to others any assessment of his lawmaking legacy.What remains most remembered about Lambert, and what is so vivid in my own mind, was his doubly-excruciatingly close race for governor in 1979. In arace with six major and three minor candidates, Lambert appeared to have missed ageneral election runoff by 1,149 votes behind then-lieutenant governor Jimmy Fitzmorris, with then-U.S. Rep. Dave Treen, the race’sonly Republican, another 14,000 —or1%—further ahead in first place. Somehow,though, when the machines were opened, Lambert’stiny deficit turned into a2,506-vote margin aheadof Fitzmorris, putting Lambert in the runoff. As Louisiana wasn’texactly known forhonest elections at the time, the switch in the vote count in Lambert’sfavor led to awidespreadbelief that skulduggery was involved. Fair to Lambert or not, those suspicions haunted him in the runoff against Treen, who was vying to be the first Republican to win astatewide election in more than 100 years.
Voter registration and behavior backthen stacked the odds heavily against Republicans. It took all those suspicions, plus the endorsements for Treen by all four of the othermajor candidates, plus acareful “ballot security” program on Treen’sbehalf led by then-Democratic state Rep. Ben Bagert, plus aspirited statewide system of phone banks operated by Republican women, to push Treen past Lambert in the runoff by only 8,557 votes. The margin wasjust seven-tenths of 1%.
The closeness of the race led to perhaps the strangest, most somber “victory party” I’ve ever seen. Worried that the runoff vote margin would evaporate the wayFitzmorris’ margin had disappeared in the primary,Treen seemed to take forever to show up at his own putative celebration and then, in atone befitting an undertaker,saidit “appeared” he had wonand that he “hoped” the margin would hold. He quickly left the podium and left the crowd deflated. It was not an auspicious start to his notably well-meaning but politically doomed governorship.
That election, both open primary and runoff, is where the “every vote counts” mantra wasobvious. There probably wasn’tasingle politically savvy analyst, then or now,who believes Treen would have defeated Fitzmorris if Fitzmorris rather than Lambert had made the runoff. Then it would have been Fitzmorris, amoderate, business-friendly Democrat, rather thanthe Republican Treen who would have been tasked with handling an oil-economybust that hobbled the state’seconomyfor four years.
Would flamboyant former Gov.Edwin Edwards have so easily wonacomeback over Fitzmorris —or, for that matter,over Lambert —ashedid over Treen? Or would the Democratic Party get blamed for the rottenstate economy, thus setting up adifferent Republican four years later for awin? And how would those political reverberations have played outinsubsequent years? Would the stage still have been set for the unexpected rise of national Ku Klux Klanleader David Duke,orthe nightmare of the 1991 Duke-Edwards runoff?
And if Treen had lost that race, he still would have remained in Congress, where he wasa rising star.Would his own political future, ironically,have benefited from aloss for governor?
On the other hand, would anyone else have notched some of Treen’sgubernatorialachievements, including the creation of the Department of Environmental Quality,workers’ compensation reform and an improved code of criminal procedure?
All of these “what if” questions arise because the 1979 primary would have resulted differently with the switch of just asingle voter per precinct statewide, and the runoff result would have changed with aswitchofbarely more than two voters per precinct.
As for Lambert, he brushed himself off from his bitter 1979 loss and spent most of the next 25 years in elective office, and —despite his Democratic populism —served while state Senate president pro tem as a“team player” for Republican Gov.Mike Foster.The legislative work was an honorable capstone to three decadesofpublic service.
In addition to the truism that every vote counts, there are lessons in Lambert’scareer: Bitter defeats need not be the last word, and constructive collaboration is possible across political lines. Those are not bad lessons to be taught by just one voter in every precinct. EmailQuin Hillyer at quin.hillyer@ theadvocate.com
with meteorologist Damon Singleton
DEATHS continued from LabatGlapion,Directors (504) 581-4411. online guestbook please visit www.estellejwilsonfh. com
Laplace, LA 70068. 985-3591919. “Providing Care & Comfort is OurHighest Mission
Soule’,Lloyd Tennyson
LloydTennysonSoule’ transitionedtohis heav‐enlyhome, on Monday, September 22, 2025. Lloyd was born on August 6, 1932 inNew Orleans, Louisiana tothe late Lloydand Anita Soule’. He marriedthe love ofhis life,Katherine Isidore and from this union three childrenwereborn, Sonja Bridges,Kerry Soule’,and ShellyBurrle. Lloydworked for theFederal Government General ServiceAdminis‐tration.Heretired from there after twenty-seven years.Heleavestomourn his wife of sixty-nine years, Katherine I. Soule’;chil‐dren, SonjaBridges (Earl) Kerry Soule’,ShellyBurrle (Randall) andtwo bonus daughters,Beverly BaileySiesserand RhonaAlexisJones;two grandchildren, Casey Howard,Blair Porter (Geno); twonephews,Gre‐goryand Glen Soule’; brother-in-law, Claude Isidore (Annamae)and a hostofcousins,nieces, nephews andfriends.Fam‐ily,relatives andfriends are invitedtoattenda Massofthe Resurrection atCorpusChristi-Epiphany Catholic Church,2022 Saint Bernard Avenue,New Or‐leans,LA70122onSatur‐day,October 4, 2025 at 10:00 AM.Visitationat9:00 AM. IntermentatMount OlivetCemetery, 4000 Nor‐man MayerAve NewOr‐leans,LA70122. Please signthe online guestbook atwww.charbonnetfuner alhome.com.Charbonnet
Wallace, EllenM
EllenM.Wallace,transi‐tioned on September23, 2025. Shewas born in Napoleonville,La. on No‐vember27, 1936 to thelate Doidy Lang Sr.and thelate Ethel Dabney Lang.Atthe age of nine,Ellen movedto New Orleans, La.withher aunt andasa child, shede‐voted herlife to Christ and was baptized at an early age.She finished school and worked severaljobs throughoutthe yearswith her last employment being atOchsner MedicalCenter MainCampusinhouse‐keeping. Sheisprecededin death by herlatehusband Percy WallaceSr.,one son GeraldWallace,one daugh‐ter ShannonWallace,two grandchildren Alvinand TontanishaWallace,three brothersSylvester,Harri‐son,and WhitneyLang, two sistersBernice Reid and Martha Gray.She is survivedbyone sonPercy Wallace Jr four daughters Earline Wallace, Troylynn Hayes,Latonya Handy, and Catherine Wallace, one brother DoidyLangJr.,one sisterEthel Hurst, grand‐children, great-grandchil‐dren, great-great grand‐childrenand ahostof nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Relativesand friends of thefamilyare in‐vited to attend theCele‐bration of Life Services on FridayOctober 3, 2025 at RockofAgesBaptist Church,2515 Franklin Av‐enue,New Orleans, La 70117. Visitation from 9:00 a.m.until 10:00a.m.Fu‐neral Services for10:00 a.m.Rev.JonathanEverett, Sr. officiating. Interment: ProvidenceMemorialPark Cemetery, 8200 AirlineDr. Metairie, La.70003 ArrangementsEntrusted ToEstelle J. WilsonFuneral Home, Inc. 2715 Danneel Street,NOLA70113. To sign
Betty Marshall Wells en‐
tered eternalrestonFri‐day,September 26, 2025 She wasbornonFebruary 14,1935 in NewOrleans,La. She wasthe firstchild of MarthaB.and John G. Mar‐shall,Sr. Sheleavesto mourn herpreciousmemo‐ries, herdaughters,Gail Marie Collinsand Sandra Ann McLauren,her grand‐children, andgreat grand‐children, onebrother,John G.Marshall(Bernice),and a host of loving familyand friends.She is preceded in death by herson,Michael Wells andsister, Marilyn Johnson.Betty wasedu‐cated in thepublicschool system, attendingR.T Danneel Elementary,be‐foreenteringprivate school at GilbertAcademy and graduatedfrom GaudetEpiscopal Senior HighSchool.She attended SouthernUniversityin Baton Rougefor oneyear in1952. Betty metthe love ofher life,AndrewL.Wells and they were marriedin New OrleansonDecember 23rd, 1954. Ms.Betty was affectionately knownasa joyfullady, full of life and laughter, who devotedher lifetohelping others.She lived life to thefullest and loved herchurch,Rayne Memorial, andher jobat Ochsner Clinic Foundation for over 41 years. Sheleft her home at 4:30 every morning,tomakesureshe was theretoshowpatients where to go fortheir surgery.She wasa bright spotineveryone'sday, witha bigsmile,aninfec‐tious laughand so helpful topatientsand theirfami‐lies. Sheloved whatDr. Alton Ochsnersaid, "You are nottreatingdisease, but people". Thousandsof patientsbrought Ms.Betty pins from theirtravels far
Hurricane Imelda movedoverBermuda and furtherawayfrom the UnitedStates. There are no othertropical systems currently activeand none expected over the next fewdays. Otherwise locally,expect partly cloudyskies and the heat to continue.Temperaturesthis afternoon will rise to the lowtomid-90s. Winds will be more easterly so dewpoints will rise and the humidity will be more noticeable.Rain chances todayare also on the rise at 20 to 30%, so scatteredrain is possible.The UV Indexis“very high.
andwidetopin on the jacketshe wore everyday In fact, Shereceivedso many, shehad to retire at least 14 jackets, they be‐camesofull. Thehospital displayed allofthemina large glasscasefor allvisi‐torstosee theloveso manysharedwithMs. Betty.MsBetty's smile and personality litupa room She wasfamousall over the city forthe warm greetingshe gave patients and theirfamilies.People would greet herbynamein stores, businessesand restaurants.She hadno ideawho they were,but theyall knew her. She loved to dancea jigand had herfavoritefoods, suchasa friedporkchop po-boy, redbeans with sausage,and friedshrimp po-boy. Betty's strong faith got herthrough many chal‐lengesinher life.She walkedwiththe Lord and found greatpeace with Him.She will be missedby all who knew andloved her."TheLordismylight and my salvation".Family and friendsare invitedto attenda tributeand fu‐neral service, fora lady who trulytouched thelives ofeveryoneshe came in contact with.Service will beheldonThursday Octo‐ber 2, 2025 for10:00 a.m. at Rayne Memorial United Methodist Church,3900 St Charles Ave. NewOrleans, La. 70115. Interment: Provi‐dence Memorial Park Cemetery, 8200 Airline Drive Metairie La.70003
ArrangementsEntrusted
ToEstelle J. Wilson Funeral Home, Inc. 2715 Danneel Street,NOLA70113. Infor‐mation: (504) 895-4903. To signonlineguest book pleasevisit www.estelle jwilsonfh.com
Tucker Choctaw CommunityCOVID/ EmergencyReliefFacility (CERF) Building,and a Celebration of Life funeral mass on Saturday, October 4, 2025, at 11 a.m. at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in theTucker Choctaw Communityin Philadelphia, MS.Burial servicesimmediatelyfollow.
It is with deep sadness that the familyannounces thepassing of Mrs. GeraldineBillie Williams, a member of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, whopresently resides in NewOrleans,LA. Mrs. Williams peacefullyenteredintoeternal rest on Sunday, September28, 2025, surroundedbyloved ones followingher heroic battle with acute respiratory distress from systemic scleroderma.
BornNovember 20, 1951, in Philadelphia, MS,Mrs. Williams wasthe second childand eldest daughter of nine children of the late Pauland Kathleen Chickaway Billie of the Tucker Choctaw community. Following theIndian Relocation Actof1956, the Billie familymoved to Chicago,IL, whereshe completed hersecondary education.Whilein Chicago,she workedasa clerktypist for theU.S Department of Interior at theBureauofIndian Affairs. Thereafter,the Billie familyreturnedtothe Tucker Choctaw community whereshe workedasa Pre-SchoolTeacherat Tucker ElementarySchool.
Mrs. Williams briefly attended Cullman Collegein Cullman, AL whereshe met theHonorableByron C. Williams, herhusbandof 52 years. Mrs. Williams completed herundergraduate degree in 1981 in Business Education at the University of MontanaMissoula, MT.After graduation,Mr. andMrs. Williams relocatedtoNew Orleans, LA whereshe began heremploymentand subsequentretirement as aFederal Deputy Clerk at theU.S. District Court-EDLA after 36 years of employment.
Shewas preceded in death by herparents and hersister,DarleneBillie Adams.
Sheissurvivedbyher
devotedhusband, the HonorableByron C. Williams of NewOrleans LA, andtheir four children andfamilies: Dr. PowtawcheNeengay Williams-Valerino (Orlando); Ta-Shina KathleenWilliams-Ramirez (Jose' IV); Byron Craig Williams, Jr., Esq. (Sisy); and, Tahlako Billie Williams (Lisette). Sheis lovingly remembered by hersix grandchildren: Nitakallo, Carter, Taloa, Tabokah, Jose V, and Nashoba. Sheisalso survivedbybrothers: Robert Billie (Cathy); Howard Billie (Patricia); Randy Billie (Michelle); PaulRay Billie (Maria); AndrewBillie (Sally) andsisters: Shirley Billie andBrendaBillie Bernard.
In lieu of flowers, the familyrequestsdonations or contributions to be made to theGeraldine Billie Williams Early Childhood Education Scholarship Fundthat will support Tucker Community Choctaw members who are pursuinga degree in early childhood education. Your donations or contributions canbemailed to GeraldineBillie Williams Scholarship FundP.O. Box 8111 or 2051 Canton St NewOrleans ,LA70182. Youcan also send donationsorcontributionsat thepayment application below:
https://venmo.com/cod e?user_id=24294336044728 32385
BY LUKE JOHNSON Staff writer
Foster Moreau chose two words to describe what it felt like returning to the practice field with his New OrleansSaintsteammates this week.
“Deeply cathartic,”hesaid
It has been along road back from atornACL thatended Moreau’s2024 season in the fourth quarter of agamewithzeropostseason implications.
It’ssometimes easy to think about injuries such as the one Moreau suffered in football terms —how the surgery went, howmuch timehe’ll be forced tomiss, what is he like when he returns to practice
But there are life things to consider,too. Think abouthow theinjury occurred: Late in the fourth quarter of what would end up being the Saints’ 12th loss of the season, Moreau wascatchinga shallowpassand turning upfieldonly to have aTampa Bay Buccaneers defenderhit the side of hiskneewith the crown of his helmet
Less than twominutes remaining in his finalgameofthe season,and hislife plans changed in an instant.
“You make alot of calls;you cancel alot of trips,” Moreau said.“Youtell best friends that have just hadtheir newborn childrenthat you’re not going to be able to meet them. There’salot of weightthat obviouslygoes intothe people around youaswell. Like, OK, my girl’soffseason is canceled. My mom’sgot to help me out around the house.
ä See SAINTS, page 4C
It’sall hands on deck, because with like 108 seconds leftinthe 2024 season, Iget ahelmet to theoutside of the knee on a five-step out route, and my offseason is canceled It’sbrutal, and that partofsports is one of the hardest parts.” FOSTERMOREAU, Saints tight end
BY GUERRYSMITH
Contributing writer
Tulane offered no official prognosis for injured linebacker Dickson Agu after Wednesdaymorning’sopen-week practice, but coach Jon Sumrall confirmed he wasin foralengthy recovery after beingcarted off the field at Tulsa on Saturday with anoncontact leg injury Agu, the Green Wave’sleading tackler with 36 through five games,felltothe turf while chasing quarterback Baylor Hayes in the second quarter of a31-14 victory to open American Conference play.His absence will reduce what wasa four-player rotation for twospots to three, with SamHowardand Chris Rodgers starting and Makai Williams spelling them Howard, asenior co-captain whowas second on the team in tackles ayear ago, made aseason-high seven stops against Tulsa to raise his total to 25. Rodgers and Williams, apair of juniors, each registered asack. It wasthe first of Williams’ career,while Rodgers was credited with half of asack last season. Sumrall has mentioned Williams, whoentered Saturday with 14 career tackles, as a viable contributor sincespring drills, and he will be counted on heavily the rest of the way in Agu’sabsence. His sack cameona blitzwhenhewentinuntouched from the outside and got to Hayes in ahurry “I feel real comfortable,” Williams said. “The coaches trust me andmyteammates trust me. My best strength is my agility and speed. Ican go sideline to sideline and track somebody down.” Agu, aredshirt sophomore from Geismar, is apre-med major and the son of doctors in Louisiana. He had double-digit tackle totalsinconsecutive games against South
ä See TULANE, page 5C
N.O. needsto step up if it wantstostayin
BY REED DARCEY Staff writer
LSU won’t neglect its rushing offense. Coach Brian Kelly made sure to mention that concern as well on Wednesday,when he explained why the Tigers are devoting aconsiderable portionoftheir open date to their ailing passing attack.
first time New Orleans has hosted thegame
ä See DUNCAN, page 3C
“Everybody wantstotalkabout the run game,” Kelly said. “I getit.”
ButGarrett Nussmeierisasecond-year starter whothrewfor over 4,000 yards last year. LSUbrought back his leading receiver,his favorite field-stretcher and his uber-athletic sophomore tight end, then paired that trio of weapons with two transferwideoutswho had alreadyproven they could excel in the SEC. The moves could’ve created adeeper,more dynamic offense, butonly if theTigers playedto their strengths.
“And that’s our skill players and our quarterback,” Kelly said. “So, the problem for us more than anything else is we have not been eliteinthe passing game, and so that’sbeen ahuge focus this week.”
The run game wasalways an area of concern.LSU finished the2024 season ranked last among SEC teams in rushing offense, then lost four starters on the offensive line. The Tigers hired arun-game coordinator to Kelly’sstaffand retained sophomore tailback Caden Durham, but questions about that facet of the offense lingered into the preseason. The passing struggles, on the other hand, are new Last year,only eight FBS teamsthrew for more yards than LSU. Nussmeier’s yardage total (4,052) ranked fifthnationally,and his touchdowntally (29) finished 10th.Healsohelped theTigersconvert third downs at one of the six highest rates in the country —quite the accomplishmentfor an offense that lacked areliable rushing attack. Now things are different, in part because Nussmeier is still battling an injury that Kelly described Wednesday as an abdominal strain. This season, LSU ranks 80th in scoring offense, 90th in total offense and 46thin passing offense.
BY MARK ANDERSO AP sportswriter
LAS VEGAS Not only does Phoenix await the Aces in the WNBA Finals, but so does history
Las Vegas has the opportunity to become champions for the third time in four years, a feat surpassed only by the Houston Comets, who won the league’s first four titles in 1997-2000
ä Mercury at Aces.
7 P.M. FRIDAy, ESPN
The second-seeded Aces, who won championships in 2022 and 2023, open the best-of-seven Finals by hosting the No. 4 Mercury on Friday
But minutes after getting past No. 6 Indiana 107-98 in overtime on Tuesday night, coach Becky Hammon wasn’t ready to think about the potential history the Aces can make.
“I haven’t thought about it,” Hammon said. “We’re just trying to make it through a quarter at a time.
“Look, we have a special group here. I’m not surprised that they’re here because I know who they are. I know how they’re built.”
The Aces beat the Mercury in three of their four meetings this season, including both in August when Las Vegas was in the midst of compiling its 16-game winning streak to close the regular season
It’s tied with the second-longest streak in league history with the 2014 Mercury
The Aces are making their fourth Finals appearance in six years. They lost to Seattle in the COVID-19 bubble Finals of 2020, but then defeated Connecticut in 2022 and New York in 2023, securing both clinching victories on the road. In defeating the Liberty, the Aces became the first team since Los Angeles in 2001-02 to win backto-back titles.
Then this year, A’ja Wilson became the first four-time MVP She was key to lifting the Aces out of a rut with that late charge in the regular season.
“When you’ve been in the trenches and you really don’t know what is the problem or you don’t know what’s wrong, you’re trying to figure out answers,” Wilson said. “At the beginning of every season we write out our goals and our goals are always to win a championship. That’s everybody But to get there, the road, we weren’t expecting it to look like it is.
“It definitely does feel a lot different than the ones before.”
BY ROD WALKER Staff writer
The toughest part of the New Orleans Pelicans’ trip was the flight.
It took about 20 hours for the Pelicans to set up shop over 9,300 miles away in Melbourne, Australia. They left New Orleans on Sunday. Due to the 15-hour time difference, they arrived in Melbourne on Tuesday
As the Pelicans adjust to the time difference, this trip can also be an opportunity for the players to adjust to each other
There are plenty of new faces on this year’s roster, which is why this trip can help a team looking to bounce back from a rough 2024-25 season.
Joe Dumars, hired in April as the Pelicans’ executive vicepresident of basketball operations, is responsible for adding all the new pieces to the roster
“Usually trips like this are great for bonding,” Dumars said. “It’s a new group here now and a lot of new faces. So it’ll probably be really good in terms of that.
The first trip out is 20 hours, so that’s a long time to bond.”
Dumars will get his first glimpse of his team Friday You’ll have to wake up early to get your first glimpse.
The Pelicans will play Melbourne United at 4:30 a.m. Friday and will be broadcast on Gulf Coast Sports Network and NBATV It is one of two games they will play against teams from the National Basketball League, a professional basketball league in Australia. On Saturday night (11 p.m., GCSN), the Pelicans will
play South East Melbourne Phoenix. Both games will be played at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne.
It will be the first time an NBA team has played in Australia.
In years past, teams from the NBL have come to the United States to play preseason games
So now the NBA is returning the favor
“It’s a credit to the NBA and them being intentional about making the game as global as possible,” said Pelicans’ head coach Willie Green. “Australia is one of those countries where we’ve seen a number of good basketball players. They are excited about the game there and we are excited to go there and compete.”
There have been several Australian players to make it to the NBA in recent years, including Luc Longley Patty Mills, and former Pelicans’ guard Dyson Daniels.
Before the team’s departure, Green didn’t offer any insight into which players would play and how many minutes they would play But he wants to see his team play with the same intensity that it played with last week in Metairie at the start of training camp.
The trip isn’t all about just basketball, though.
The NBA, the NBL and the Pelicans will also conduct NBA Cares community outreach initiatives and lifestyle events there That includes a fan night.
“I’m looking forward to experiencing a different country,” Green said. “I haven’t been there
before, so I’m looking forward to the fan engagement, the fan interaction. We are excited to have this opportunity.”
The Pelicans are making sure to have some fun with this trip as well. Some of the shenanigans began even before the Pelicans arrived down under The veteran players had the rookies dress as if they were going on an Australian safari.
“I think it’s the only way to set the trip up right,” said Pelicans guard Jordan Poole in a social media video on the team’s website. “Good on them for wearing them.”
After the two exhibition games in Australia, the Pelicans return to the United States for their final two preseason games. They will play the Houston Rockets on Oct. 14 in Birmingham, Alabama. Two nights later, they’ll play on the road against the Orlando Magic.
The regular season opener is Oct. 22 when the Pelicans make the short trip to Memphis, Tennessee, to play the Grizzlies.
But first on the schedule is this game in Australia, where the team and coaches look to build some chemistry on and off the court.
“That’s one of the things we look forward to with trips like this,” Green said. “Just getting to see another side to our players, our staff You want to come out of this with a good connection and some bonds with your guys.
We are going to go and continue to work hard and compete, but we are going to try to enjoy it as well.”
Email Rod Walker at rwalker@ theadvocate.com.
BY DOUG FEINBERG AP basketball writer
Napheesa Collier is more than just a WNBA star who is critical of her league and its leadership
The Minnesota Lynx player is a vice president of the players union, which means she will be sitting across from WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert at the negotiating table ahead of an Oct 31 deadline to reach a new collective bargaining agreement.
If that doesn’t cause enough tension, Collier is also a co-founder of Unrivaled, a three-on-three women’s basketball league that plays in the winter and features WNBA stars. That could give her additional leverage to try to press the WNBA as talks unfold.
As an executive on the negotiating team, Collier will have a loud voice in the room when inperson negotiations between the two sides continue. She was at the face-to-face meeting at All-Star weekend in July that included dozens of players There have
been meetings since, but players haven’t really been able to attend because they’ve still been in season.
“We’re working hard to make sure that we are putting ourselves in the best position to negotiate for what we think is fair,” Collier said. “We have a lot of meetings internally to make sure we’re on the same page and we’re all lockstep for this. Just making sure we’re super aligned.”
There also is the trust fac-
tor During her comments at an end-of-season media session this week, Collier revealed conversations that were to remain private that she had had with the commissioner in February That could undermine trust that is often needed to carry out negotiations.
For all the faults that Collier cited in her prepared comments Engelbert has delivered on many of her promises since coming into the league in 2019. She will have added six expansion teams by 2030 and secured a major new media rights deal for
the next decade that will bring in more than $2.2 billion Engelbert also had the league pay for a full charter flight program this season that the players hope will be added to the new CBA to address concerns about issues ranging from safety to travel time. The commissioner has said all along that the league is hoping for a transformational agreement that includes significantly increased player salaries and benefits There’s little reason for Collier’s remarks to detract from that goal.
Players across the league backed Collier either on social media or at Game 5 of the WNBA semifinals series between Las Vegas and Indiana that the Aces won in overtime. WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson said she was appreciative of Collier and the union for standing up for
Wembley Stadium to host Arizona State, Kansas Arizona State and Kansas will play in the first college football game at London’s Wembley Stadium next year
The Big 12 Conference announced Wednesday that the Sun Devils and Jayhawks will meet in the Union Jack Classic on Sept. 19. It will be the league’s third game in Europe over two seasons. Iowa State opened this season with a 24-21 victory over Kansas State in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic in Dublin on Aug. 23. TCU will face North Carolina in the same event to open next season.
Wembley Stadium, one of the world’s most iconic sports venues, hosted its first NFL International Series game in 2007. Kansas will be the designated home team for the Big 12 game there next season.
Rockies GM Schmidt steps down after terrible season
The Colorado Rockies announced Wednesday that it was parting ways with general manager Bill Schmidt and starting an immediate search for his replacement.
The Rockies emphasized looking at external candidates to break out of a losing cycle that’s seen them miss the playoffs the last seven seasons. The Rockies finished 43119 this season, narrowly avoiding the distinction of being the worst team since baseball adopted a 162game schedule in 1961.
The mark still belongs to the 2024 Chicago White Sox (41-121). Schmidt has been with the Rockies since 1999 when he became the director of scouting, steadily working his way up as the fourth GM in team history in 2021. He never had a winning season while in charge.
Dolphins bring back WR Wilson after Hill’s injury
The Miami Dolphins placed receiver Tyreek Hill on season-ending injured reserve Wednesday and brought back veteran receiver Cedrick Wilson Jr Hill posted Wednesday morning that he had successful surgery to repair multiple damaged ligaments in his left knee. The five-time AllPro suffered the injury after making a catch in the third quarter of Miami’s win over the New York Jets on Monday night Hill caught 21 passes for 265 yards and a touchdown in his four games this season. Wilson, who began his career in Dallas, started four games for the New Orleans Saints last season. Wilson played for the Dolphins in 2022-23 but made just three starts. He caught 34 passes with 432 yards and three touchdowns.
NASCAR fines Hocevar $50k after endangering officials
NASCAR fined Carson Hocevar $50,000 on Wednesday for putting safety officials in danger during the Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway The penalty was listed under a behavioral violation and was for Hocevar revving and spinning his tires while safety workers attended to his car after he spun the No. 77 Chevrolet. The Spire Motorsports driver was involved in an incident late in Sunday’s race when he spun on the backstretch.
He had flat tires and was unable to get the car rolling again. Hocevar had a shot at a top-10 finish before he was involved in some late race incidents including a part of the sixth caution when Hocevar spun in an 11-car crash on a restart. Hocevar ended up finishing 29th.
the players. “I’m grateful to have those type of people to be able to continue to speak up for us,” Wilson said after the Aces advanced to the WNBA Finals. “I’m going to ride with Phee always. Obviously, she’s a business girlie and she has her own stuff going on, but moving forward, we’ve gotta continue to stand on business as we talk about this CBA negotiation.”
Nearly every player not on a rookie contract will be a free agent this offseason, hoping to cash in on a potential giant leap in the league’s salary structure. Free agency usually has taken place in January, with players meeting with teams and able to sign in February Players have been able to work out and get treatment for injuries at their former team’s facility in the offseason before becoming free agents. In a worst-case scenario where owners decided to lock out the players or the players decided to go on strike, those courtesies would go away
FIFA VP resists Trump over changing World Cup cities
U.S. President Donald Trump was reminded Wednesday that FIFA, not any government, ultimately decides which cities will host 2026 World Cup games. Trump’s comments last week were in response to a question about World Cup cities that oppose his immigration and crime crackdowns. Trump suggested last week he could declare cities “not safe” for the 104-game soccer tournament next summer and alter a detailed hosting plan that FIFA confirmed in 2022. It includes NFL stadiums near New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco. The 11 U.S. host cities, plus three in Mexico and two in Canada, are contracted with FIFA which would face significant logistical
Hezly Rivera competes on floor during the U.S Gymnastics Championships on Aug. 10 at the Smoothie King Center Rivera, a gold medal winner in the Paris Olympics, won’t be able to compete in the world championships in late October because of an ankle injury.
BY SCOTT RABALAIS Staff writer
USA Gymnastics held its team selection event for the upcoming world championships Tuesday and Wednesday in Crossville, Tennessee, but LSU commitment and Olympic gold medalist Hezly Rivera was not part of it.
Rivera, who won the all-around title and three other events in August at the U.S. Gymnastics Championships at the Smoothie King Center, rolled an ankle in practice for the selection event and had to withdraw.
“I wanted to share personally that I recently rolled my ankle,” Rivera posted Friday on Instagram. “After talking it through
with my doctor and coaches, I’ve decided the best thing right now is to sit out of the Worlds Selection Camp. I’m definitely bummed about the timing, but I’m excited to cheer on my teammates and Team USA from home.
“My focus is on recovery and coming back stronger in 2026.”
Rivera, 17, who won team gold as the youngest member of the U.S. squad at the 2024 Paris Olympics, declined to give a timetable for when she will begin competing for LSU when asked at the U.S. championships in New Orleans. Speculation has been that she will defer until after the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The world championships are Oct. 19-25 in Jakarta, Indonesia.
BY HOWARD FENDRICH AP tennis writer
Roger Federer leads the list of nominees announced Wednesday for the International Tennis Hall of Fame’s class of 2026. He was the first man to win 20 Grand Slam singles titles and ushered in an era of unprecedented greatness with younger rivals Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. Other nomineess are Juan Martín del Potro the 2009 U.S. Open champion and 2016 Olympic silver medalist and Svetlana Kuznetsova, a winner of two major singles titles (2004 US
Continued from page 1C
since the CFP expanded to a 12-team tournament format in 2024, but it hosted the CFP title game after the 2019 season and the BCS national title game every four years between 1999 and 2011. The national champion was crowned here numerous other times in de facto title games when the topranked team played in the Sugar Bowl.
“Everything about New Orleans makes this the perfect destination for a big event,” said Rich Clark, the executive director of the College Football Playoff.
“It’s a destination city It has great accessibility. People can walk everywhere. The food. The hospitality People want to come here. And we’re excited to bring our game here and have that opportunity to raise our championship to the next level.” New Orleans has been a college football hotbed since the Sugar Bowl started in 1935. The Sugar Bowl, along with the other “Big Six” bowls in Atlanta (Peach), Dallas (Cotton), Los Angeles (Rose), Miami (Orange) and Phoenix (Fiesta), has been a mainstay in the rotation for national championship games Since 1934, no other bowl has hosted as many national championship teams as the Sugar Bowl’s 29. Since college football officials created a title game in 1998, New Orleans has hosted five championship games The 2028 game will be the sixth. When and if we land a seventh one, remains to be seen. The competition to host the game is more intense
Open and 2009 French Open) and two major doubles titles
With a terrific forehand and serve, an attacking, allcourt style and footwork that helped make everything seem so effortless, Federer won 103 trophies and 1,251 matches in singles, totals surpassed among men only by Jimmy Connors in the Open era, which began in 1968.
Federer finished five seasons at No. 1 in the ATP rankings, spent a record 237 consecutive weeks in that spot, led Switzerland to the 2014 Davis Cup title and teamed with Stan Wawrinka to claim
than ever In addition to the other Big Six markets, non-traditional markets like Indianapolis, Houston, Las Vegas, Nashville and Tampa have elbowed their way into the mix As the demand has increased, so has the asking price from the CFP
If New Orleans wants to stay in the game, city, state and corporate leaders will have to work hand in hand to make it happen.
That’s why Sugar Bowl CEO Jeff Hundley spent several minutes Wednesday making an impassioned pitch to the local and regional business community for support. The price tag to stage the event has doubled from the $13 million required in 2020, Hundley said. The Sugar Bowl had to invest $6 million from its reserve fund to make the event go. They invested a similar amount in 2020. In the 12 years of the playoff, no other bowl organization in the country has used so much of its own money to land the game, Hundley said
“The fact of the matter is, the dollars and cents just mean way more than they ever have in the history of the game,” Hundley said. “If the funds are there, we’ll have a long and strong role in the future of college football. And if they aren’t, we won’t. We don’t want to become an ‘also-ran’ bowl with 30,000 fans here.”
The reality is that major college football has become big business. The advent of revenue sharing with college athletes and Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) policy has generated a greater demand for resources than ever Every level of the college football food chain is stressed, including the bowl system. New Orleans can no lon-
‘We wanted to get back to our roots’
a doubles gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
At the height of his powers, Federer reached a record 10 consecutive Grand Slam finals from 2005-07, capturing eight titles in that span; he extended that dominance by making 18 of 19 major finals into 2010. There also were streaks of 36 quarterfinals in a row and 23 straight semifinals.
Federer, an ambassador for the game who often spoke in English, French and Swiss German at news conferences, played his last match at Wimbledon in 2021. He was a month shy of 40 at the time.
ger rely solely on its intrinsic charm and time-honored reputation as a big-event town to lure future CFP title games. The Superdome and French Quarter are great and everyone loves them, but they only go so far in the grand scheme of things. The state and business community will need to step up if New Orleans wants to remain a player in the college football title game business.
There’s an argument to be made about how much support is enough. Let’s hope state officials are willing to make a contribution to the CFP title game from the major event fund similar to the $7 million and $3.5 million given to the help land the LIV Golf tournament event in New Orleans next June and the 2025 U.S. Bowling Congress (USBC) Open Championships in Baton Rouge this summer, respectively
Officials say the 2020 CFP title game and Sugar Bowl combined to produce a $500 million economic impact for the region, including $50 million in direct tax revenue.
Economists might argue that number, but there’s an obvious prestige factor and economic benefit to hosting the game. Otherwise, there wouldn’t be so much competition from other cities to host them. Las Vegas reportedly anted up to $40 million to host the 2027 CFP title game.
“We’ve always fought above our weight class, and we will always have to fight above our weight class if we want to stay there,” Hundley said.
New Orleans has a decision to make. Do we want to be a championship city? Or an also-ran to Atlanta, Nashville and Las Vegas?
BY SPENCER URQUHART Staff writer
St. Charles Catholic was known as a physical football team under former coach Frank Monica, something that hasn’t changed since the legendary coach retired in 2021.
Last year proved challenging for St. Charles, which started 0-4 and ended in the second round of the playoffs after previously appearing in five straight state championship games.
The Comets appear back on track this season after starting 4-0 with a revamped coaching staff on offense.
St. Charles coach Wayne Stein took on a new role as the offensive play-caller and brought in former Country Day coach Chris Chetta as his offensive coordinator Stein previously served as the Comets’ defensive coordinator under Monica before taking over as head coach.
“I took over the offense after last year,” Stein said. “I wanted to get back to our roots to what we did with coach Monica to put our kids in the best position for success. Coach Chetta coaches the offensive line, and we’re aligned on what we want (the offense) to look like.”
The shift on offense has resulted in St. Charles scoring 27 points or more in all four games. The Comets were able to avenge losses from last season against Newman, Dunham and De La Salle.
St. Charles had several new starters last year but returned seven starters on both offense and defense in 2025 along with its kicker
“I’d say the biggest thing has been experience,” Stein said. “We lost 17 starters from that three-year run (2021-23), so there was a big experience gap. We’re now winning the games we lost year.”
Senior running back Skyler Edwards has averaged more than 100 yards rushing per game and has scored at least two touchdowns every week as the lead running back.
Edwards missed the first half of last season because of injury but has been healthy in 2025, recording 524 yards rushing on 111 carries and eight touchdowns along with six receptions for 83 yards and a score.
“The things I can do, I really can’t do without my (offensive) line,” Edwards said. “It’s a big help from them, and I just get it done.
Having a lot of returning guys (on offense) helps with the chemistry and makes it easier to understand each other.”
St. Charles also returned starting quarterback Landree LeBlanc. The junior has improved significantly by cutting back on turnovers He has thrown just one interception and is a threat to run when needed.
“We’re trying to play to (LeBlanc’s) skill set this year,” Stein said. “We’ve asked him to take care of the football and command the offense. Now that he’s started to do that, the offense has flourished.”
“I’m starting to get a little better with my feet,” LeBlanc said. “I tried to work on that in the offseason a lot. Just keep getting better with my mechanics and everything.” Senior linebacker Brooks Monica leads the defense and is the team’s leading
tackler The Comets have allowed six points or less in all but one game, which they made up for with a pair of pick-sixes against Dunham five-star quarterback recruit Elijah Haven in a 27-21 win.
“We returned some good players on defense,” Stein said.
“Brooks Monica has had 15-plus tackles every week. We’re solid at all three levels.”
St Charles will put its undefeated record on the line Friday against 3-1 St. James, the Division III nonselect state runner-up last season. The Comets have three nondistrict games left before district play begins in Week 8 against Belle Chasse.
“Our schedule never gets easier,” Stein said. “We could be 4-4 real quick if we don’t stay focused (St. James) has one of the most electric receivers in the state in Jakias Villanueva and is solid on defense. Whoever takes care of the football and makes the most plays on third down will win.”
BY SPENCER URQUHART Staff writer
McGehee continued its strong start to the volleyball season with a decisive victory over Ursuline at the 18th annual pink game held at Ursuline McGehee won 25-14, 25-14, 25-11 in three sets. Ursuline kept the sets close early on, but McGhee was able to come away with the sweep on a Wednesday night dedicated to breast cancer awareness. McGhee (14-3) went on an 8-0 run to end the second set, which included two kills from junior Kylie Buford. McGhee had 30 kills as a team with junior Kylie Buford and senior Campbell Banta leading the way
“It was a great team effort,” McGehee coach Val Whitfield-Dunn said. “We have great leadership with our junior and our senior captains Kylie (Buford)
has been a tremendous athlete for us the last three years She can set, she can hit, an all-around player.”
Buford finished with a McGhee-best 13 kills, with Banta finishing with six kills. Buford also had two blocks, which was second on the team behind seventh grader CeeCee Birden, who had three blocks and four kills.
“I’m just so proud of my teammates,” Buford said.
“Controlling the first ball, the first contact and keeping the ball in play (was key),” Whitfield-Dunn said.
“Our motto is defense wins games, and I thought we served the ball well tonight.” Ursuline’s Chloe Cordova finished with a team-high three kills along with a block. Belle Holley had two kills and four blocks for Ursuline (7-7), and Emma Dunkin finished with two kills and three blocks.
“(The pink game) is a very important cause and is rooted in tradition,” Ursuline coach Olivia Boudreaux said. “It’s raising awareness for one of our own, and I think it’s very important to keep that tradition going.”
“I give my energy for my teammates. When my teammates are doing well, I do well. When they aren’t doing well, I try to pick them up to show them that there’s a way to win Just pushing them forward.” McGehee get off to an early 5-1 lead in the third set as Buford delivered three kills. McGhee senior Indiahh Grant finished with five kills and a block, and Livie Montgomery delivered two kills and two aces. McGhee had a 7-0 run in the first set and a 6-0 run to close out the opening set, and capped the victory with a 4-0 run to end the third and final set.
Email Spencer Urquhart at surquhart@ theadvocate.com.
BY MATTHEW PARAS and LUKE JOHNSON Staff writers
Months after he evaluated quarterbacks for this year’s NFL draft, New Orleans Saints coach Kellen Moore recalled how impressed he was with Jaxson Dart’s football intellect. Moore said he was “blown away” by how much the Ole Miss prospect grasped, calling him one of the top quarterbacks in the class But when on the clock at No. 9 last April, the Saints bypassed Dart — preferring to take tackle Kelvin Banks. Dart went No. 25 to the New York Giants instead. And when the Saints took a quarterback in the next round, they selected Tyler Shough.
“I think that there’s always a chip on your shoulder any time that something like that happens,” Dart told reporters Wednesday Dart said he’s “excited” to face the Saints when the two teams meet Sunday at the Caesars Superdome. The rookie, too, is coming off his first professional win — a 21-18 upset over the Los Angeles Chargers in Dart’s debut no less.
Despite the chip on his shoulder, Dart said there’s “no place” he’d rather be than New York But there was a time the 22-year-old perhaps thought he was headed to the Saints.
“I felt like my visit with them went good,” said Dart, who said he met with the franchise “multiple times” and formed a good relationship with the team’s coaching staff.
“So, you kind of have thoughts in your head during the draft of what
options are really realistic, and I definitely felt like that was a place that could have panned out.
“But things didn’t work out that way.”
On draft night, Moore said the Saints said “felt good” about not picking a quarterback in the first round. He said the team had discussions about trading back in the first round but chose not to pursue any such deal. The Giants, by contrast, traded the 34th overall pick, the 99th and 2026 third-round selection to jump up to No. 25 after taking pass rusher Abdul Carter at No. 3. It is not known if the Saints would have drafted Dart over Shough had he been available in the second round. But the Saints said they believed investing in the trenches was more important at No. 9 and they were more than happy to draft Shough, who has yet to start a game.
“He’s going to be a really good quarterback in this league,” Moore said of Dart.
More absences
On a day when Taysom Hill and Foster Moreau practiced for the first time since last season, their returns were arguably overshadowed by those who were absent.
Saints guard Trevor Penning (ankle) and tight end Juwan Johnson (ankle) did not participate in Wednesday’s session, while defensive end Chase Young (calf) and guard Dillon Radunz (toe) were again listed as DNPs. Moore had already ruled out guard Cesar Ruiz days earlier for Sunday’s game against the New York Giants.
And on Wednesday Moore again
ruled out Young meaning he’ll miss his fifth straight game.
Even though the team made the unusual move to declare the pass rusher out days before kickoff, Moore said Young did not suffer a setback with his rehab.
The injuries required New Orleans’ coaching staff to get creative along the offensive line.
While undrafted rookie Torricelli Simpkins filled in for Ruiz like he did over the weekend in Buffalo, Asim Richards a swing tackle took snaps in place of Penning. Richards has played in two games this season, but did so at right tackle.
The third-year pro hasn’t taken a snap on the interior in a regular-
BY HOWARD FENDRICH AP national writer
ASHBURN, Va. — Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels was medically cleared by team doctors and practiced on Wednesday after missing two games with an injured left knee, then declared: “I plan on going out there on Sunday.”
Daniels wore a brace on his knee during practice, something he said he doesn’t love but will do during a game if needed.
“He’s definitely chomping at the bit to get going,” coach Dan Quinn said.
Washington (2-2) plays at the Los Angeles Chargers (3-1) on Sunday
Asked whether he expects to play, Daniels responded: “I guess we’ll have to see Sunday.” And when a reporter wanted to know whether Daniels might wear a brace against the Chargers, he broke into a wide smile and replied: “I guess we got to see on Sunday.”
Daniels said he thought he was ready to get back on the field the past two weeks, but it wasn’t until this past weekend that Washington’s medical staff thought he looked like he was back to being himself
Another bit of good news for the injury-hit Commanders arrived on Wednesday: Starting right guard Sam Cosmi began his 21day practice window after starting the season on the physically unable to perform list Cosmi tore the ACL in his knee during the playoffs last season, when Daniels led the club to the NFC title game.
Daniels, last season’s AP Offensive Rookie of the Year, got hurt in the fourth quarter of
Continued from page 1C
“Like, it’s brutal. It’s all hands on deck, because with like 108 seconds left in the 2024 season, I get a helmet to the outside of the knee on a five-step out route, and my offseason is canceled. It’s brutal, and that part of sports is one of the hardest parts.”
But Moreau never doubted he’d be back where he was Wednesday, chatting with reporters about his return to the football field. He said he “wasn’t working for nothing.” The time away allowed him to get closer to people, including Taysom Hill, who about a month before Moreau’s injury,
star, watches during warmups before a game
Raiders on Sept 21 in Landover, Md.
Washington’s 27-18 loss at the Green Bay Packers on Sept. 11 and has not played since — or even been able to go through everything in practice with teammates.
The QB has been working on his own, including this weekend while the team was in Atlanta for a game, and did return to practicing in a limited fashion last week.
Without him, the Commanders went 1-1 while starting Marcus Mariota at quarterback, beating the Las Vegas Raiders 41-24 in Week 3, then losing to the Atlanta Falcons 34-27 in Week 4.
“As a competitor you want to go out there and help your teammates any way possible,” Daniels said. “Being sidelined these past couple weeks, it was super tough.”
Quinn declined to offer any
suffered a torn ACL of his own.
Both Moreau and Hill have spent the 2025 season to this point on the Physically Unable to Perform list, or PUP list. Moreau called Hill his “PUP brother” and appreciated having someone else around to ease the path back to the field
When practice concluded Monday, Hill broke the team down. It was Moreau’s turn on Wednesday
“You’re in the training room every day for eight and a half months,” Moreau said “It’s brutal, because rehab is just pain dosing. It’s, ‘Hey we’re going to be careful with you. But how much can you take before your knee says, hey, you need to stop?’ And that’s tough. That’s brutal for anyone.
“But, I mean, I’m extremely,
sort of specific updates before practice about other injured players, such as wide receivers Terry McLaurin and Noah Brown or tight end John Bates. The three of them sat out the game at Atlanta.
“All are trending up,” Quinn said.
McLaurin, who missed training camp while negotiating a new contract, injured his quadriceps muscle on a catch against Las Vegas and missed every practice last week.
The 2024 second-team All-Pro is Washington’s best receiver, and Quinn previously gave McLaurin’s status as “week to week.”
In two personnel moves Wednesday, Washington signed wideout Robbie Chosen to its practice squad and put defensive end Javontae Jean-Baptiste on injured reserve with a torn pectoral muscle that needs surgery
fairly compensated, and I’m extremely grateful to be here
We broke the team down today, and it’s like like we don’t realize how blessed we are.” Eventually though, the questions do come back around to football. If Moreau had his way, he would make his debut this Sunday against the New York Giants. He also understands that by that point he will have practiced just three times since January of this year He views every practice rep as if it’s an entire day of the training camp he did not get. If he blows a rep, that’s essentially blowing a day of practice. He and Hill have tried their best to acclimate their bodies to football, but it was not really possible in their situation both because of the league’s PUP
turf toe.
Johnson’s absence, meanwhile, was also a mild surprise. The tight end played 60 snaps — 89.6% — against the Bills, although he was evaluated in the team’s medical tent after taking a hard hit in the first quarter
The Saints had a total of 11 players on the injury report. Six were listed as limited: Hill, Moreau, wide receiver Trey Palmer (ankle), safety Justin Reid (knee), defensive line John Ridgeway III (shoulder) and cornerback Isaac Yiadom (hamstring).
Ridgeway practices
season game since Week 1 of the 2024 season — when he played just one rep.
The Saints elected to use Richards over Luke Fortner, the interior lineman who they acquired in August from the Jacksonville Jaguars in exchange for defensive tackle Khalen Saunders.
Penning missed practice days after making his season debut, following more than a month-long absence due to turf toe. The former 2022 first-round pick was seen in a walking boot after the game, but smiled and told reporters that it was precautionary Moore confirmed Penning’s injury was new and not a re-aggravation of his
After he missed the first four games on injured reserve with a pectoral injury, the Saints opened the 21-day practice window for defensive tackle John Ridgeway Ridgeway whom the Saints acquired in a trade with the Washington Commanders last year, practiced with the team Wednesday for the first time since suffering the injury in the team’s second preseason game. He played 13 games in New Orleans last season as a rotational player, recording 15 tackles and one pass defended while playing 28 % of the defensive snaps. Davon Godchaux has handled the majority of the Saints’ defensive tackle snaps. Vernon Broughton, since placed on injured reserve, and Khristian Boyd have also taken snaps on the defensive interior New Orleans now has three weeks to bring Ridgeway back on the active roster
Email Luke Johnson at ljohnson@theadvocate.com.
Longtime friends Nacua, Warner clash again when Rams host 49ers
BY GREG BEACHAM AP sports writer
INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Fred Warner has embodied the San Francisco 49ers and their hard-hitting defensive style to Puka Nacua for the Rams receiver’s entire adult life.
That’s because Nacua was still in high school when he first got to know Warner, who played three seasons at BYU alongside Kai Nacua the older brother of Los Angeles’ star wideout — before he joined the Niners to begin a career that’s now in its eighth season. With the latest edition of this lively California rivalry kicking off Thursday night, Nacua knows he might have to take some punishment from the four-time All-Pro linebacker to keep the Rams (3-1) on their hot start.
The NFL’s leading receiver welcomes the challenge and the competition whenever he faces Warner and the 49ers (3-1).
“For me, it takes me back home,” Nacua said with a grin “I remember watching young Fred Warner out there playing with my older brother and being like, ‘Hey, I know that guy That’s the guy I’ve seen in the locker room.’ Those are some of the moments that immediately (come to mind) with the Rams-49ers, and now some of those moments where I’ve been at the bottom of the pile and Fred Warner was like, ‘Yeah, Puk.’ It’s just competitive.”
Warner has nothing but praise for his former teammate’s kid brother lauding Nacua’s blocking acumen and his trademark eagerness to seek out and even initiate contact.
Warner even gave advice to Nacua before the 2023 draft, in which Nacua famously went to
rules and because of what their bodies could actually take. Moreau feels good, but he doesn’t know exactly what that means because it hasn’t really been put to the test yet. He has to clear both physical and mental hurdles to get back to the field on Sundays, but he has to prepare as if it is going to happen immediately It’s a weird middle ground to occupy “I have to anticipate playing as soon as possible,” Moreau said.
“That’s what I have to do, right?
That’s my job. And so knowing that makes it extremely difficult. But after today, I felt great. And I was really, I was really enthusiastic about the performance.”
Email Luke Johnson at ljohnson@theadvocate.com.
ä 49ers at Rams, 7:15 P.M.THURSDAy, PRIME
the Rams with the final pick of the fifth round as the 20th receiver chosen. Warner expected Nacua to be an NFL player but he acknowledges that “nobody could have seen this type of success that he’s seen. Only he knows that.”
“A big part of it as a young player is having the confidence of knowing that you belong,” Warner added “I think that’s really just the start of it all. Because just speaking from experience, when I came in, it was so overwhelming playing against guys that I’d watched on TV for so long and it’s like, ‘Do I really belong?’ For him, I think from Day One, he was out there and had back-to-back to back games with 10-plus receptions and was a guy that Matt Stafford could rely on. That spoke to his preparation level and he’s continued to obviously stay humble and find ways to get better in his game.”
Nacua tops the NFL after making 42 receptions for 503 yards in the Rams’ first four games, including a late TD catch in the Rams’ 27-20 comeback victory over Indianapolis last week Nacua had 13 catches for a career-high 170 yards.
Nacua came to national attention in his first meeting with the 49ers two years ago, when he caught an NFL rookie-record 15 passes for 147 yards in his second career game. The Niners somewhat limited Nacua in their most recent matchup, holding him to a mere eight catches for 97 yards last December — but one of those was a 51-yard reception to set up the goahead field goal in the Rams’ 12-6 win.
PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON
BY KOKI RILEY Staff writer
LSU coach Brian Kelly described rumors claiming that injured
fifth-year quarterback Garrett Nussmeier needed surgery as “misinformation” before also saying that his abdominal strain has been a “slow heal.”
“Those (rumors) are not based on any facts,” Kelly said. “They’re quite silly,actually,and Iknow youhavetoask thequestion,so I’m certainly not throwing you under the bus for asking it, because people want to know,but this is misinformation.”
Kelly said Nussmeier suffered atorso injury during preseason camp, an issue thathas lingered into the regular season, andKelly said afterthe Tigers’ win over Florida that it was aproblem that wouldn’tresolve itself until LSU’s open date this week.
Kelly reiterated asimilar message in ateleconference with reporters on Wednesday
“Yeah, early on, he had an AB strain, not acore injury,interms of acore injury that we deal with,” Kelly said. “And it’s been slow to heal, but as Ihad mentioned, he’s on the backside of that, and he’s getting rest this week.
“He’ll be theGarrett Nussmeier that he needs to be as we get into the very difficult partofour schedule.”
AgainstOle Miss, Nussmeier completed 21-of-34 throwsfor 197 yards. He threw an interception andseemed hobbled throughout theafternoon. As aresult, the Rebels had over 200 more yards of offense and Nussmeier was outplayedbyFerrisState transfer and Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss. LSU’snext matchup isn’tuntil Oct. 11 when it’llhost South Carolina.That’swhenwe’ll see if Nussmeier has healed to the point where he can lift the Tigers’ offense back into amore competitive state.
“Weknew coming to this bye week that this was going to be the time for us not to be pushing him,”Kelly said. “Thisis where
LSU
Continued from page1C
downfield (34).Healsocompleted only three of the 13 passes of at least 20 yards that he attempted in gamesagainst Clemson,Florida and Ole Miss. Through his first five starts of 2024, Nussmeier threw for331 yards per game and threw 15 touchdowns.
This season, he’sthrown only seven touchdowns, and he’saveraging just 232 passing yards LSU isn’tsustaining drives either.Its offense picked up only 10 of the 36 third downs it faced in its three games against power-conference opponents. Each night, the Tigers’ average third-down distance was at least 7yards. They could lean on their passingattack to convert those chances last season. Now they’re struggling to find the same success.
“The details of the passing game have to be better,” Kelly said, “and that is from acoaching standpoint and aplaying standpoint. We just need tobe
he could really,truly be thebest versionofhimself.”
Anderson is banged up
LSU redshirt junior wide receiver AaronAnderson is dealing with toe, knee and hipailments, Kelly said on Wednesday Kelly addedthat he’d likely be able to play if LSU hada game this week,but having an off week insteadshouldhelpAnderson fully recover from his bumps and bruises.
“I thinkmodernmedicine will gethim readyfor the SouthCarolina game,” Kelly said,referencingthe Tigers’ nextgame on Oct. 11.
Besideshis aforementioned injuries, Andersonalso suffered an elbow strain during the first half of theTigers’ 24-19 defeat to Ole Miss this past weekend. He eventually triedto play through the injury by wearingabrace on his right elbow.Anderson leads the Tigers in receiving yards despite the injury.He has23catches for 305yardsafter leading LSU in catches last season
Ahealthy Anderson can help spark an offense that has struggled through the first five games of theseason.LSU is just 10 of 36 on third downagainst its Power Four opponents this year —Florida,Clemson and Ole Miss.
Durham makingprogress
Kelly is optimistic that sophomore running back Caden Durham will return for the Tigers’ next game against SouthCarolina on Oct. 11, Kelly said on Wednesday “He wasbetter today,” Kelly said, “much better.”
Durham missed the Tigers’ matchupatOle Missthis past weekendwith an ankle injury he suffered during the first half of their victory over Southeastern Louisiana the week before. In his stead, LSU turned to freshman Harlem Berry, junior KalebJackson and sophomore Ju’Juan Johnson.
Berry led LSU in carries and yards with seven rushes for 22 yards.Johnson had six rushes for 18 yards, while Johnsonhad one 10-yard rush
LSU’soffense struggled to run
better there.” This week,LSU will have to work on its passing offense largely without Nussmeier takingon-fieldreps. The fifth-year senior is focusingon“mental work” in the open date, Kelly said, so he doesn’tput toomuch strain on his injured abdominal muscles. He’s watching film andrehearsing live-game scenarios on theprogram’svirtualreality headsets “There’sanumberofdifferent waysfor usto build on what he needs to do on a play-to-play basis,” Kelly said, “without having him out there throwingthe ball 100 times.”
BY MARKLONG AP sportswriter
GAINESVILLE, Fla. Texas’ Arch Manning and Florida’sDJLagway opened the season as Heisman Trophy hopefuls, even considered front-runners by some.
Thehighlytoutedquarterbacks with TV commercials,endorsement deals and probably as much name, imageand likenessmoney as anyone in college were supposed to be the next great ones at their schools.
Can’t-missprospects? Sophomore superstars? Future firstround NFL draftpicks?
the ball without Durham in the lineup. The Tigers averaged just 3.1 yards per carry,not including lostsack yardage. They had just 57 rushing yards on 22 carries.
Through five games, LSU is 119thinthe country in rushing yards per game, averaging3.56 yards per carry
Offensivelineinjuryupdates
LSU redshirt sophomore offensive lineman Paul Mubenga suffered ahigh ankle sprain andredshirt freshman offensive lineman Weston Davis sufferedaconcussion and afractured noselastSaturday at OleMiss, Kelly saidWednesday Mubenga suffered his ailment during the third quarter and was replaced by redshirt freshman Coen Echols at left guard. Echols and Mubenga have battled for thestarting spot at left guard throughout theseason.
“We’re going toplay it day by day,” Kelly said. Davis suffered his concussion during pregamewarmups and wasreplaced by freshman Carius Curne at right tackle. Kelly added on Wednesday that he believes Davis will work his way through theconcussion protocol before LSU’snext game againstSouth Carolina on Oct. 11.
Curne came intothe game as theTigers’ backup at thepositionbecause redshirt sophomore DJ Chester, who replaced Davis to start the second half of LSU’swin over Southeastern Louisiana, was suspended for the first half of the Ole Miss game for targeting.
The violationChestercommittedcameinthe second half, automatically triggering a first-half suspension for the Tigers’ next game at OleMiss. Eventhough Chester was available in thesecond half, Curne was the Tigers’ right tackle for all 62 of their offensive snaps, according to Pro Football Focus.
Curne allowed just one quarterback pressure on Saturday, while Echols didn’tsurrender any,according to PFF
Email Koki RileyatKoki Riley@theadvocate.com
game could bring oneortwo of those defenders closer to the line of scrimmage, whichwould open up more opportunitiesfor Nussmeier to throw down the field. The problem, of course,isthat LSU’s rushing attack has not posed such athreat
“The
details of the passing game have to be
better and that is from acoaching standpoint and a playing standpoint. We justneed to be better there.”
BRIAN KELLy, LSU coach
Oneofthe situations Nussmeier could evaluate is one in which opposingdefenses drop seven or eight players into coverage, whichKelly hassaidishow Ole Miss defended LSU 85% to 90% of the time. An effective ground
Untilitdoes, the Tigers will use the breaks in their schedule to finetune theirpassing attack, so their offense can pose agreater threat to the six SEC defenses left on their schedule.
“It doesn’tmean we’renot working on getting better in the run game,” Kelly said. “We’re working diligently there. Butmy pointbeing,our passing game hastobemuch moreexplosive thanithas been up to this point.”
Email Reed Darcey at reed. darcey@theadvocate.com. For more LSU sports updates, sign up for our newsletter at
and astrained leftcalf.
The layoff proved costly, with Lagway looking anywhere from rusty to lost. His mechanics have improved with each start, but his confidenceremains awork in progress.
“Wejust need alittle spark and it’sgoing to set ablaze,” Lagway said.
Lagway has thrown for690 yards, with five touchdowns and sixinterceptionsthis season Three of the TDs cameinavictory against Long Island, and five of the picks came in aloss at LSU. He also threw for 61 yards at Miami in his last game.
Amonth into the season,Manning andLagway are twoofthe mostdisappointing players in the Southeastern Conference, prompting some to wonder if their performancewill ever match their pedigree.
Manningand Lagwaywill share thespotlight Saturday when the ninth-ranked Longhorns (3-1) open SEC play at reeling Florida (1-3 0-1) in the Swamp. It’s amatchup thatfeatures the nation’stop QB recruit in 2023 (Manning) andthe topQBrecruit in 2024 (Lagway).
Both are searching forbetter resultsafter four starts in 2025.
“Eventuallyitisgoing to pop,” Lagway said. “And when it pops, it is going to be hard to stop. Iwill tell you that right now.”
Manning, the nephewofretired NFL stars Peyton and Eli Manning and the grandson of family patriarch Archie Manning, has nine touchdown passes, five rushing scores and three interceptions. But 10 of those TDs cameagainst San Jose State and winless Sam Houston State. He completed 17 of 30 passes for 170 yardswith atouchdown and an interception in a14-7loss at then-No. 3Ohio State in the season opener.Hehas looked more comfortable since but playing in front of 90,000 at raucousFlorida Field andagainst astoutdefense offer huge tests forthe New Orleans native.
“I’m looking around the country at thehigh-profile players, Idon’t know if anyofthemare living up to what everybody said they were supposedtobe,”Texas coachSteve Sarkisian said.
Lagway was supposed to save Florida. He went6-1 as astarter as afreshman and hoped to carry that success into his second season. Buthespent the better part of seven months rehabbing various injuries, including core-muscle surgery,a sore throwing shoulder
Continuedfrom page1C
Alabama and Duke.
“It (Agu’sinjury) givesussomething to play for,” Williamssaid. Every week we have some type of motivation,but now it’sthe whole season we are doing it forour brother.”
There will be no updates on the status of other injured players until early next week as Tulane prepares fora Thursday night home game on Oct. 9against East Carolina but wide receiver Garrett Mmahat practiced Tuesday and Wednesday Mmahat, aformer walk-on from Brother Martin who arrived at Tulaneasa quarterback, wasinline to start the season opener before a leginjury sidelined him for the first five games. Sumrall said last week he wasontrack to return against East Carolina.
Good bye
Sumrall’s mottofor theminiopen date is don’tget by,get better, butthe gap between games itself should help Tulane (4-1, 1-0) as it prepares forthe heart of theconference schedule.
TheWavehas severalhobbling playersafter the Green Wave went five straight weekswith no breather
“It’s huge,” offensive linecoach Evan McKissacksaid of the break.
“Derrick Graham got hurt against Duke on the second play.Shadre Hurst is bangedup. We’vedefinitely dealt with and battled with some injuries over the first five games.”
Tulane will not practice Thursday or Friday before beginning
CoachBilly Napier respondedby getting Lagway consecutive days of 11-on-11workduring Florida’s off week in hopes of getting him caught up.
“I see the look in (his) eye,” Napier said. “We’re trying to do our best for him in termsofcreating an environment where he can continue to getback in his rhythm. That’sthe most important thing right now.”
Texas is a7-point favorite for its firstgameinGainesville since 1940, an indication oddsmakers believe Arch Manningcan do something Uncle Peyton failed to do in twovisitswith Tennessee (1996, 1998). Eli won his only game at Florida Field with Mississippi in 2003. More recently, the Swamp hasrattled anumber of young QBs. The list includes Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart (2024), LSU’sGarrett Nussmeier (2024), Auburn’sBoNix (2019), LSU’s Joe Burrow (2018) and Missouri’sDrew Lock (2016).
None of them were Heisman contenders at the time. Odds for Lagwayand Manning have dropped significantly in the last month, with BetMGM Sportsbook now listing Lagway at 300-1 (opened at 18-1) and Manning at 20-1 (opened at 6-1). The best they can hope for Saturday is avictory and somevindication after early season slipups. “College footballplayers aregetting critiquedand criticizedmore nowthantheyeverhaveinthe past,” Sarkisian said. “Thisisadifferent erathatwe’rein, andIthink that we’ve gottodoa great job as coaches of —I don’twant to say shelter —but we got to protect our guys because they’re not pros yet.
“We’vegot to do areally good job of putting them in the right mental space to where they’re still enjoying playing the game of football withtheir college football teammates. …They need to play football and not workfootball.”
regulargame-week preparation forEast Carolina (3-2, 1-0) on Saturday
“Our priority right now is just recovery,” Williams said. “It feels good to getthe time off, but we still have to stay focused on the things at hand.”
Historymade
For the first timesince joining the American Conference in 2014, Tulane had two players of the week in selections by the league office. Lineman Santana Hopperwas named defensive playerofthe week after making four tackles for loss —matching the most by an American Conference player this season —with 11/2 sacks to go along with aseason-high six stops against Tulsa.
Alec Clark was named special teamsplayer of the weekafter averaging 44.5 yards on eight punts, placing fiveofthem inside the Tulsa 12. The duo joined kicker PatrickDurkin (Sept. 1) and quarterback Jake Retzlaff(Sept. 15) as players of the week this year Additionally,running back Javin Gordon made the honor roll after rushing for three touchdowns, joining Matt Forte and Orleans Darkwa as the only Wave freshmen with three in agame. Lagniappe
The 12 penalties for 104 yards Tulane racked up against Tulsa lowered it to atie for 116th out of 136 FBS teamsinaccepted penalties pergame (8.0) and 120th in penalty yards pergame (75.2). TheWave’s205.8 yards rushing per game puts it on pace for the eighth-highest totalinschool his-
BY JOE REEDY AP sportswriter
CLEVELAND WhenChaseDeLauter walked outtoright field forthe seventh inning of Game 2ofthe AL Wild Card Series, the Guardians outfielder looked up to the upper deck of Progressive Field. That was the moment whenDeLauter was finally able to reflect on amemorable big league debut.
After dropping the first flyball hit to him, DeLauter ended up making the defensive play of the game as Cleveland beat theDetroit Tigers 6-1 on Wednesday to send the best-of-three series to adeciding game on Thursday
“Just unreal emotions the last couple days, and then we come out here and get awin and get tokeep playing ball,” said DeLauter,who turns 24 on Oct. 8. DeLauter was the firstCleveland player to make his big league debut in apostseason game. After telling him he would be on the wild card roster on Monday,manager Stephen Vogt told DeLauter there was agood chance he would be in the lineup on Wednesday Even thoughplaying DeLauter might’ve been considered arisk, Vogt noted it’snot any different from what the team has done all season.
“Wedon’tliketouse the gamble word aroundhereright now. It’s taking ashot. He’sone of our best players in the organization,” Vogt said. “We’ve pushed the envelope all year.Why stop now?”
Selected 16th in the 2022 amateur draft, DeLauter hit .278 with five homers and 21 RBIs in 34 games at Triple-A Columbus. He
likely would have been up at some point during the regular season, but was sidelined by injuries for much of this year
It wasn’t a great start though.
DeLauter started the game in center field and dropped ahigh fly hit by Detroit’sGleyberTorres during the first inning. He had atough time initially tracking the ball on asunny afternoon before moving acouple stepstohis right. The ball poppedout of his glove when he tried to haul it in near the middleofhis body.
It was onlyDeLauter’sseconderror after nearly 272 innings playing center field in theminors.
The gaffe put runners on first and second with no outs,but TannerBibee struck outthe next three hitters to end thethreat.
“When that ball hit theground Iwas in shambles right away.I meanyou never want that to happen. Anybody,any situation, especiallyinaplayoff game,” DeLauter said. “I played the sun wrong. I mean, Ikind of letthe ball get into the middle of it and wasn’tableto getitout of it until thevery last second and unfortunately Ididn’t comedown with theball.”
Left fielder Steven Kwan said DeLauterwas putinatough spot with thesun,swirling winds in the outfieldand the stakesofthe game.
Bibeeapproached DeLauter in thedugout to give him apat on the back and somereassurance.
“It doesn’tmatter because Ifeel like even if that run did score, it wouldn’thave mattered because it’sjust ahard play.And one of those things where I’m going to have your backand eventually, you’re going to getmyback as
well.And literally,itcamea little earlier than expected,” Bibee said.
Three innings later,DeLauter came up withthe defensive play thatmight have ended up saving theGuardians’ season.
DeLauter fielded Javier Báez’s hit and made apinpoint throwto thirdbase, where Zach McKinstry was taggedout by José Ramírez. McKinstrywas originally ruled safe, whichwould have put Detroit on top 2-1, but avideo review overruled the call, which took one run offthe board and left it 1-1.
Vogt credited replay coordinator Gunnar Wilhelmyfor the quick decision to make areplay challenge.
DeLauterthought thethrow beat therunner but wasn’tsure thecall would be overturned.
“I didn’tlove that therewasn’t awhole lot of room for that to be turned over,but when they turned it over it was areally cool feeling,” he said.
DeLauter went 0for 2atthe platebut drew awalk in his first plate appearance in the second inning. He fellbehind0-2 in the count beforebeing walkedafter an eight pitch at-bat.
He hit aline drive to center field in the seventh inningthatmost days would have droppedfor a hit. But it got caught in the wind before Detroit’s Parker Meadows was able to snag it.
“Just his resilience to fight againstadversity.Something like that happens early,but Imean the at-bats he had after that, clearly that had no effect on him,” infielder Daniel Schneemann said. “You couldn’ttell if he was nervous or not.He’ssuper even keeled and so Ithink that says alot about him.”
ByThe Associated Press
NEW YORK JazzChisholm zipped all the way home from first base on Austin Wells’ tiebreaking single in the eighth inning, and the New York Yankees extended their season Wednesdaynight witha 4-3 victoryoverthe Boston RedSox in Game 2oftheir AL wild-card series. Unhappy he was left out of the starting lineup in the opener, Chisholm also made acritical defensive playatsecondbase that helped the Yankees send the best-of-three playofftoadecisive Game 3onThursday night in the Bronx. In the latestchapter of baseball’s most storied rivalry,the winner advances to face AL East champion Toronto in abest-of-five Division Series beginning Saturday Ben Rice hit an early two-run homer and Aaron Judge had an RBI single for the Yankees, who got three innings of scorelessrelief from their shaky bullpen after starter Carlos Rodón putthe first two batters on in theseventh Devin Williams worked aonehit eighth for the win, and David Bednar got three outs for his first postseason save Trevor Story homered anddrove in all three runs for the Red Sox, who won the series opener 3-1 on Tuesday night behind ace lefty Garrett Crochet.
PADRES 3, CUBS 0: In Chicago, Manny Machado hit atwo-runhomer, Mason Miller dominated again and San Diegobeat Chicago to send their NL wild-card series to adecisivethird game. Jackson Merrill hitanearly sacrifice flyasSan Diego avoided eliminationafterlosing 3-1 on Tuesday.DylanCease struck out five in 32/3 innings beforehanding the ball to his team’shard-throwingbullpen. Thefinaleofthe best-of-three series is backatWrigleyField on Thursday
Theplayoff-testedPadresare looking for arepeat of 2020, when they dropped Game 1inthe wildcard roundbefore advancing with
twostraight victories against St. Louis. Machadoalso homered in Game 2ofthat series. Chicago finishedwithfourhits. Thefranchise is making its first appearance in the playoffs in five years, and it hasn’tadvanced since it eliminated Washington in a2017 NL Division Series. SanDiego jumped in fronton Merrill’sflyball to right off Andrew Kittredge in the first,driving in Fernando Tatis Jr The Padresaddedtwo more runs on Machado’s404-foot drive to left off Imanaga in the fifth. Tatisreached on aleadoff walk and advanced on asacrifice ahead of Machado’s12thcareer playoff homer
x-Thursday: Cincinnati (Abbott 10-7) at Los Angeles, 8:08 p.m. (ESPN) Cleveland 6, Detroit 1 Detroit Cleveland ab rhbi abrh bi Meadows cf 50 10 Kwan lf 41 10 Torres 2b 40 10 Valerarf2 11
(2), Kwan (1), Schneemann (1). HR —Valera (1), Rocchio(1), Naylor (1). IP HRERBBSO
Mize 31 11 21
10 00 1
BY LINDAGASSENHEIMER
Tribune News Service (TNS)
Icame across bottled sangria at the market and was inspired by its fruity,spiced notes perfect for pairing with tender pork loin chops. The sangria adds asubtle depth of flavor that complements the savory richness of the meat. To round outthis early fall dinner,orzo, ariceshaped pasta,issimmered with broccoli florets,makinga quick, colorful side dish If sangria is not available, here’sasimple substitutethat mimics some of the sangria flavor.Mix 1cup red wine with 2teaspoons ground cinnamon and ¼cup orange juice.
Sangria Pork Chops
Yields 2servings. Recipe is by Linda Gassenheimer
2teaspoons olive oil
2(6-ounce) boneless pork loin chops 1cup sangria
2teaspoons cornstarch
2tablespoons honey
2teaspoons grated fresh ginger (1 tablespoon ground ginger can be substituted) Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1. Heat oil in askillet over medium-high heat and add chops. Brown chops 4minutes, turn over,cover the skillet with alid andcontinue to brown second side 4minutes. Ameat thermometer should read 145 F. 2. Remove chops to aplate. Mix 1tablespoon sangriawith cornstarch. Set aside.
3. Pour the remaining sangria into the skillet, increase theheat anddeglaze the skillet by scraping up the brown bits on the bottom. Add honey andginger Stirtocombinethe honeywith thesangria.Add the cornstarch mixture and stir until thesauce thickens for about 2minutes.
4. Slice the pork chops anddivide in half. Place on two dinner plates. Spoon sauce on top.
NUTRITION INFO PER SERVING: 406 calories (22 percent from fat), 10.0 gfat (2.0 gsaturated, 3.8 g monounsaturated),96mgcholesterol, 40.9 gprotein, 27.4 g carbohydrates, 0.6 g fiber, 156 mg sodium.
Yields 2servings. Recipe is by Linda Gassenheimer
3ounces orzo, about ½cup
1½ cups broccoli florets
3teaspoons olive oil Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1. Fill asaucepan three-quarters full of water and bring to aboil.
2. Add orzo and boil 8minutes. Add the broccoli and continue to boil 2minutes. The orzo should be soft. Boil aminute longer,if needed.
3. Drain and toss with the oil andsalt and pepper to taste. Place on the dinner plates with thepork chops and sauce.
NUTRITION INFO PER SERVING: 233 calories (29 percent from fat), 7.6 gfat (1.1 gsaturated, 3.3 g monounsaturated), no cholesterol, 7.4 gprotein, 34.3 gcarbohydrates, 2.6 g fiber,17mgsodium
Butternut Squash Soupwith Curry,Coconut and Apple
Serves 4.
2tablespoons olive oil
1shallot, peeled and diced 1onion, diced 1leek, thinly cut and diced (white partonly) 2garlic cloves, chopped 1piece of fresh ginger (about 1inch), peeled and diced 4cups roasted butternut squash (fresh or frozen) 1apple, cut into cubes 3cups chicken broth (or
vegetable stock for avegan version) 2teaspoons curry powder ½teaspoon cayenne (optional, if you likemore spice) 1teaspoon salt 1(14-ounce) can of coconut milk (shakewell; reserve some for garnish) 1lime (juiced) 1⁄3 cup roasted pumpkin seeds (or the reserved butternut squash seeds) 1tablespoon chopped cilantro
1. In alarge heavy pot over medium-high heat, addolive oil, shallots, onion, leek (optional), garlicand ginger. Stir these aromaticvegetables andherbs until soft,but do not brownthem.
2. Add the roasted butternut squash and apple into the onion mixinthe pot and stir until combined. Nextadd the chicken stock (orvegetable stock). Stir in thecurry powder cayenneand salt.Pourinhalfofthe canof coconut milk and stir until combined.
3. Turn off the heat and let the squash mixture cool.Ifyou have an immersive blender, use it to blend the souptoasmooth creamy texture. Alternatively,pourthe butternut squashsoup into ablender and blend until smooth. Depending on the size of your blender,you may need to workinbatches. Blend allofthe ingredientstogether until smooth.
4. Ladle soup into bowls and garnish witha drizzle of theremaining coconut milk, toasted pumpkin (and/or squash) seeds, chopped cilantro and asqueeze of limejuice.
Despite thesummertimetemperature, Iwas happy to find a farmer fromMississippi with a table full of acorn squash at the farmers market last week. These dark green ribbed squash looked to be artistically adorned with orange hearts. The farmer helped me select thebest fresh squash to enjoy the first taste of fall for dinner.Hetold me that he would have butternut squash the following week, so Imarked my calendar to go back. Butternut squash is an autumn treat with asweet, nutty flavor that makes it an ideal ingredient for asatisfying soup. After making twomeals with fall squash, Iwas reminded of the first timeI tried spaghetti squash. Long ago, when my children were preschool students, their teacher did alesson on this large yellow squash that excited
them so much that we tried it at home. We learned that spaghetti squash is called “spaghetti” because when you bake it, the flesh naturally separates into thin strands that resemble pasta. So it is ahealthy vegetable alternative to pasta that is perfect for people looking foralowcarbohydrate or glutenfree meal
Skillet Moussaka, Recipe 2D
All three of these squash —acorn, butternut and spaghetti —are prepared the sameway Once you cut them in half,simply scoop out the seeds and stringy parts, brush the insides with olive oil, season with salt and pepper and bake them, flesh side down, for about 30-45 minutes. Once baked, the sky is the limit on how to use these fall flavors in avariety of savory meals. Try
Serves 4. ROASTED ACORN SQUASH:
2acornsquash (cut each squash in half)
2tablespoons olive oil
1teaspoon salt Fresh ground pepper GROUND TURKEY AND BEAN FILLING:
1tablespoon olive oil
1pound lean ground turkey (omit meatfor avegetarian version)
1teaspoon chili powder
Serves 4.
FOR THE SQUASH:
1teaspoon garlic powder
1teaspoon dried oregano
½teaspoon cumin
½teaspoon smoked paprika
½teaspoon salt Ground pepper
1can of black beans (drained and rinsed)
1cup of cooked brown rice
GARNISH: Toasted pumpkin seeds Crumbled queso fresco cheese Dash of hot sauce of choice (optional)
1. Preheat the ovento 400 Fand line alarge bakingsheet withparchment paper or tin foil.
2. Carefully cut the acorn squash in half with asharp chef’s knife. Use aspoon to scrape out the seeds and stringy parts (you can save the seeds to roast). Place the squash halves upside on the baking sheetand drizzlewith olive oil, salt and pepper Turn thesquash over to roast, cut side down. Usea fork or paring knife to cut asmall slit in the squash skin.
3. Place the prepared squash on the baking sheet in theovento bake for about 30 minutes or until thesquashisfork-tender
on the inside. Remove the squash from theoven.
4. While the squash is roasting, make the filling: In alarge pan, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil on medium-high heat.Add the ground turkey and completely cook through, breaking up themeat to a crumbledtexture. Next, add the spices and stir into the meat.Add the drained black beans and cooked brown rice. Stir the mixture together.Add salt and ground pepper to taste.
5. Fill each squash half with themeat, bean and rice mixture. Garnishwith crumbled quesofresco and toasted pumpkin seed.Add adash of hotsauce for extraspice.
2spaghetti squash
GARNISH:
2teaspoons
Toasted pine nuts (optional)
1. Preheat the oven to 400F.Prepare abaking sheet with parchment paper or tin foil. Place the de-seeded spaghettisquash halves fleshside up on thesheet and drizzle with olive oil. Add salt and pepper to each half. Flip the squash over and place flesh side down on the baking sheet. Bake for 30-45 minutesoruntil the fleshside isfork-tender
2. Remove the spaghetti squash from the oven. Let cool slightly,then use afork to gently scrape the insides. The squashwill look like strings of pasta. Add the pasta-like squashtoaservingbowl
Continued from page1D
BY ANNETTE SISCO Staff writer
Early Partners early learning center is inviting the community to its annual fall festival on Oct. 4, celebrating five years in operation anda newset of classrooms. Fall Fest, running from 10 a.m. to 2p.m. at Early Partners, will feature food from Boucherie, frosé and other drinks, andlive music withRobin Barnes&the Grateful Dads, thecenter’s parent band. New OrleansSilent Disco
will organize afamilyfriendly silentdisco, and other hands-on kids events will be offered, according to areleasefromEarly Partners. An on-site immunization clinic offering standard childhood vaccines, along with RSV and flushotsfor kids, will be hosted by Manning Family Children’sHospital. At 10:45 a.m., the center will hold aribbon-cutting ceremonyfor theclassroom expansiontoinclude remarks from local community leaders andtours
for visitors. The expansion is anew model of hybrid indoor-outdoor earlylearning for the center,which already holds manyclasses outdoors.
Early Partnersisanonprofit, Reggio-inspired preschool for children from 1 to 5years old, focusedon data-driven preparation for kindergarten.
Early Partners is located at 1377 Annunciation St. Admission to FallFestis free.
Email Annette Siscoat asisco@theadvocate.com.
Dear Heloise: Regarding funeral flowers, Iwas a funeral director for over 40 years and can tell you that nursing homes and hospitals do not want any flowers that even remotely look like they came from a funeral (for obvious reasons). Idid not have thetime or vehicle to transport them elsewhere after the ceremony.Tohire someone would have been an added expense. Iwould always suggest donations in lieu of this as an alternative. —BarbaraAnn Condon, formerlyofCondon Funeral Home, in Kearny,New Jersey
Openingbottles
gets leftand right confused sometimes. But she doesn’tconfuse clockwise and counterclockwise. So, try remembering clockwise is lock-wise; to open it, you’ll have to turn it counterclockwise.
Ialways enjoy your column! —Mike S.,inBatonRouge
Travel suggestions
picture of our row number, and last of all, Itake apicture of our license plate. If something happened to us on a flight, heaven forbid, people would have no idea how to find our car in alarge airport parking lot without these photos. —D.S., in Omaha, Nebraska Shutting offwater
3. In alarge heavy pan over medium-highheat,add oliveoil and cherry tomatoes. Stir the tomatoes in the hot pan for about 5minutes Addfreshly chopped garlic and fresh Italian parsley, salt and pepper.Cook down until the tomatoes meld with theherbs.
baking an acorn squash and filling it with asouthwestern rice stuffing. Or make butternut squash soup extra tasty by adding apple, curry and coconut milk. And last but notleast, spaghetti squashworkswell as apasta substitute underatomato sauce with garlic and herbs. Like pumpkins, you can save squash seedstoroast until golden.Add alittle salt to theseedsand use them to add acrunchy textureto soups, salads and meals. It may not actually feel
4. Add the tomato sauce to aserving of spaghetti squash. Garnish withgrated Parmesan cheese and toasted pine nuts.
like fall in Louisianafor a little while longer,but these autumnal tastes help to usher in anew season.
Liz Sullivan Faul is a registered dietitian nutritionist whoenjoys cooking and sharing mealswith her friends and family
Serves 6-8. Recipe is adapted from “HungryHappens: Mediterranean”byStella Drivas.
FORTHE MOUSSAKA: 1medium Globe eggplant or 1 pound FairyTale eggplants, cut into bite-sized chunks Fine sea salt
4tablespoons extravirgin olive oil, divided
1poundbabypotatoes, halved
½teaspoon paprika
Freshly ground black pepper
1medium sweet onion, diced 4garlic cloves, minced
2tablespoons tomato paste
1pound ground lamb
½teaspoon cinnamon
¼teaspoon allspice
Freshly ground black pepper
1(28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
1teaspoon honey
2tablespoons chopped parsley FOR THE BECHAMEL:
4tablespoons unsalted butter
6tablespoons all-purpose flour Pinch of ground nutmeg Fine sea salt
1⁄3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Chopped freshparsley,for garnish
1. Place chopped eggplant on aclean dish towel andif usingGlobe or similar eggplants, sprinkle lightly with salt to draw out moisture. (Fairy Tale doesnot haveto be salted because it is not bitter.) Let sit for 15-20 min-
Continued from page1D
action in one pan. Instead of being sliced and roasted, the eggplant and accompanying baby potatoes are cubed and sauteed in a heavy pan with alittle olive oil until fork-tender The veggies are then tossed right in the pan with the meat sauce, and the whole thing is popped into
utes, then blot away all the surface moisture.
2. Preheatawide, deepovenproof pan over medium heat until hot. (I used a12inch,cast-iron skillet.)Swirl in 1tablespoon oil then add potatoes, paprika, saltand a few grinds of pepper to taste.
3. Cook,stirringoften, until the potatoes are lightly browned, 8-10 minutes. Transfer potatoes to aplate.
4. Swirl 2tablespoons olive oil into the pan and add eggplant.Saute, stirring often,until brownedand just fork-tender,8-10 minutes. Transfer eggplant to plate with potatoes
5. Swirl the remaining 1 tablespoonolive oilintothe pan, add onion and saute until soft andtranslucent, about4minutes. Stir in garlic andtomato paste.
6. Addground lamb and cook until it’s no longer pink, breaking into crumbles, about 5minutes
7. Stir in cinnamon, allspice, ¾teaspoon saltand pepper to taste. Pour in tomatoesand bring to aboil. Turn down heat andcook uncovered until sauce thickens, 12-15 minutes.
theoven under ablanket of rich andcreamy bechamel. Adusting of gratedParmesan makes for acheesy, goldencrust. The result is adish that’s suitable for weeknights when you’ve got alittle extra time for meal prep (it’sreadyinabout2 hours) or when you get asudden cravingfor something heartythat shines alight on ground lamb. Iused Fairy Tale eggplant,atear-shaped, palm-
8. Stir in honey andparsley.Taste and adjust seasoning as needed, then remove pan from heat
9. Push meat sauce to one side of thepan andadd potatoes/eggplant mixture. Nudge the ground meat over the top of the veggies so they are mostly covered.
10. Preheat oven to 400 F, then make bechamel.
11. In medium saucepan overmedium heat,meltthe butter. Stirin flourand stir untila smooth pasteforms, about 1minute.
12. Gradually stir in milk and increase heat slightly to bring mixture just to aboil, then turn down the heat and stir constantly until it thickensenough to coatthe back of aspoon.Season with nutmeg andsalt to taste.
13. Ladle the bechamel evenly over themeat and sprinklewith Parmesan (I didn’tuse all the sauce.) Transfer pantothe oven and bake themoussaka until golden brown on top, 25-30 minutes.
14. Remove from oven and let rest for 30 minutes. Slice and servewarm, garnished with parsley
sized cultivar streaked with purple and white that’s known for itstender skin, lack of seeds and captivating name. But deep purple Globe eggplant or Italian eggplant will also work well. Whatever variety you choose, make sure you select firm and glossy eggplants that are free of bruises. This dish easily serves 6, and reheats well. It will makeyour kitchen smell awesome!
Dear Heloise: To thelady who mixes up left and right when trying to open lotion bottles, my wife also
Dear Heloise: Iread the letter from Georgia N. regarding hints on what to do when traveling. Ihave an additional suggestion: When my husband and Itravel, we always take apicture of the pickup station close to where we park our car.Then Iturn around and take apicture of our car from the station to show the direction it’sparked in. Ialso take a
Dear Heloise: Areader suggested turning off your mainhouse water supply before going on vacation. This is only if you have forced air heating. If your furnace is awater basedboiler system (hot water baseboards, radiators, etc.), it automatically feeds water from your mainsupply.Ifitcan’tget the water, it could overheat and cause a fire. —Mark Rust, viaemail
Sendahinttoheloise@ heloise.com.
Learning to say‘I’ve got this’at work,‘No,thank you’ at home
Dear Annie: Irecently started anew job at asoftware company,and for the mostpart, Ireally like it. The work is interesting, my co-workers are friendly,and the company culture is agood fitfor me. The only issue is my manager.She has ahabit of micromanaging just about everything Ido. She insists on reviewing emails before Isend them, stands behind me while I’m working, and often corrects me on tasks I’ve already been trained on and feel confident doing. Idon’tthink she’sbeing unkind. If anything, Ithink she’strying to be helpful and make sure everything is done right. Butitmakes me feel like she doesn’t trust me or my abilities, which is frustrating. I want to do well and show that I’m capable, but Ialso don’twant to overstep or come across as ungrateful,
By
especially since I’m still relatively new How can Iask formore independence and space to grow without sounding like I’mpushing back against her leadership? —Trying to Breathe
Annie Lane DEAR ANNIE
Dear Trying: That’s atricky line to toe, especially as anew hire. But tricky doesn’tmean impossible; it just meansyou need to choose your wording carefully Next timeshe’shovering, ask if you can take full ownership over the task at hand. Frame it as wanting to grow in your role, not push her out. If you deliver consistently,she should loosen her grip. If she doesn’t, it might be time foramore direct conversation.
DearAnnie: My teenage sonjust gothis driver’s license,and ever since, my parents have been offering him money to run
Today is Thursday, Oct. 2, the 275th day of 2025. There are 90 days left in the year
Todayinhistory: On Oct. 2, 1967, Thurgood Marshall joined the U.S. Supreme Court as its first African American justice; he would serve on the bench for 24 years until his retirementin1991.
Also on this date:
In 1919, President Woodrow Wilson had aserious stroke at the White House that left him paralyzed on his left side.
In 1942, theRMS Queen Mary,anocean liner carrying thousands of American soldiers as aconverted troop ship during World WarII, accidentally rammed andsank the escort ship HMS Curacoa in theNorth Atlantic, killing over 300 crew members aboard the Curacoa.
In 1944, German troops crushed the 2-month-old Warsaw Uprising, during which aquarter of amillion people were killed.
In 1970, one of two chartered twin-engine planes flying the Wichita State University football team to Utah crashed into amountain near Silver Plume, Colorado, killing 31 of the 40 people on board.
In 2006, an armed milk truck driver took agroup of girls hostage in an Amish schoolhouse in Nickel Mines, Pennsylvania, killing five of them and wounding five others before taking his own life.
In 2016, HallofFame baseballbroadcaster Vin Scully signedoff forthe last time, ending 67 years behind themic forthe Dodgers as he calleda 7-1loss to theGiantsinSan Francisco. In 2018, U.S.-based journalist Jamal Khashoggi, acritic of Saudi Arabia’s
errands for them. On one hand, Ithink it’sgood he’s learning responsibility.On the otherhand, Ifeellike they’re taking advantage of him because he never says no Last week, they had him driving across town three times in one day,and he came homeexhausted. I don’twant to step on my parents’ toes, but Ialso don’twant my son to feel pressured to be their chauffeur.How do Istep in without creating family tension? —Concerned Mom Dear Concerned: Rather than step in, teach your son the magic of apolite “no.” If he doesn’twant to run errands —ortake the money —all he has to say is, “Sorry,I can’ttoday.” Your parents will survive the disappointment, and your son will gain avaluable skill: setting boundaries forhimself
Send yourquestions forAnnie Lane to dearannie@creators.com.
government, waskilled by Saudi Arabian officials at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey In 2020, stricken by COVID-19, President Donald Trumpwas injected with an experimental drug combination at the White House before being flown to amilitary hospital, where he wasgiven Remdesivir,anantiviral drug. Today’sbirthdays: Film critic Rex Reed is 87. Singersongwriter DonMcLean (“American Pie”) is 80. Fashion designer Donna Karan is 77. Actor Avery Brooks is 77. Photographer Annie Leibovitz is 76. Singer-actor Sting is 74. Actor Lorraine Bracco is 71. R&B singer Freddie Jackson is 69. Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Ressa is 62. Singer-songwriter Gillian Welch is 58. Actortalk show host Kelly Ripa is 55. Actor Efren Ramirez is 52.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-oct. 23) Take pride in what you do, and you'll gain the respect and trust of those you deal with today. A change to your routine will enhance how you spend your time and encourage you to pursue new experiences.
ScoRPIo (oct. 24-nov. 22) Be careful how you handle friends, associates and lovers. Keep an open mind and give others the same freedom you expect in return. Stop spinning your wheels; it's time to evolve.
SAGIttARIuS (nov. 23-Dec. 21) Limitations are lessons; don't waste time. Take responsibility for your happiness, and you'll discover ways to diversify and make the most out of whatever comes your way.
cAPRIcoRn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Listen, dissect and adjust. You have more choices than you realize, and once you head in the right direction, you'll gain momentum. Acceptance and release will give you the courage to do what's best for you.
AQuARIuS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Check documents, sign agreements, set priorities and take care of business. Use your insight and imagination to initiate the changes that bring you happiness.
PIScES (Feb. 20-March 20) Give yourself a nudge. Invest time and money in achieving a lifestyle that satisfies your soul. Be brave, say no when necessary and take responsibility for your life.
ARIES (March 21-April 19) Engage in pastimes that bring you joy. Volunteer to
help organizations that address matters of concern. Give back to your community, and you'll connect with people who share your values.
tAuRuS (April 20-May 20) You may want to reflect before making a move or settling for something that doesn't thrill you. Look around and consider how you can use your skills more diversely.
GEMInI (May 21-June 20) A change of plans will bring value and hope into your life. Explore the possibilities, and research how you can use your skills and experience to earn extra cash.
cAncER (June 21-July 22) Effective money management will be beneficial. Consider selling items you no longer need. A lifestyle change help you get back on track and encourage you to reset your priorities.
LEo (July 23-Aug. 22) Stop fretting and start doing what makes you happy. Life is simple when you don't complicate matters. Rethink your past and consider what you'd do differently.
VIRGo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Make what you do count. Don't live someone else's dream when you have your own to pursue. Participate in events that offer insight into something that excites you.
The horoscope, an entertainment feature, is not based on scientific fact. © 2025 by nEa, inc., dist. By andrews mcmeel syndication
InstructIons: sudoku is anumber-placing puzzle based on a9x9 grid with several given numbers. Theobject is to place the numbers 1to9 in the empty squares so that each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once. Thedifficulty level of thesudoku increases from monday to sunday.
Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer
By PHILLIP ALDER Bridge
Wilson Mizner, a playwright, raconteur and entrepreneur who died in 1933, said, “Not only is a good listener popular everywhere, but after a while he gets to know something.” A good listener at the bridge table is popular with his partner, but less so with his opponents. And he immediately gets to know something.
Yesterday, I recommended not being deaf to the auction. This deal is another example. South gets into four spades after East opens three clubs in the third position. West starts off with three top hearts, East playing high-low to show his doubleton, then discarding the club king (top of touching honors as he cannot win the trick). West shifts to a low club. How should South continue?
When entering the auction after an opponent opens with a pre-empt, assume partnerhassixorsevenhigh-cardpoints ThatmakesSouth’sfour-spadeovercalla slight overbid. If he had settled for three spades,whichwouldhavebeenanunderbid, North would probably have raised because he had so many trumps.
West thought about sacrificing in five clubs, but was dissuaded by the unfavorable vulnerability. Note that five clubs doubled should go down three, minus 800. South won the fourth trick with his club ace and cashed the spade ace.
Now he had to find the diamond queen to make his contract. The bidding gave the answer. West had already shown up with five hearts to the ace-king-queen-jack. If he had had the
word riddle which creates a disguised word, phrase, name, place, saying, etc. For example: nOOn gOOD = gOOD aFTErnOOn
Previous answers:
word game
InStRuctIonS: 1. Words must be of four or more letters.
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.
Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer
ken ken
InstructIons: 1 Each row and each column must contain the numbers 1 thorugh 4 (easy) or 1 through 6 (challenging) without repeating. 2 The numbers within the heavily outlined boxes, called cages, must combine using the given operation (in any order) to produce the target numbers in the top-left corners. 3 Freebies: Fill in the single-box cages with the number in the top-left corner. HErE is a
FinanceNew
10,2025. RFPs areavail‐able on theBoard’s web‐site,https://bolcd.com/ BoardMeetings?Selecte dTabID=3 158746-SEP18-OCT6 $84.76 andFleet Electrification.
(“FNO”)herebyissues
Requestfor Qualifica‐tions(RFQ) seekingqual‐ified firmstoprovide ser‐vicesinthe following categories: General Counsel, Bond Counsel (Single-Family andMulti‐family),Special Counsel (PILOT,Sustainable En‐ergy SalesTax Exemption), Low-Income HousingTax Credit Counsel, Munici‐palAdvisors, Marketing andPublicRelations,and Compliance andMonitor‐ing. Proposal DueDate: Re‐sponsesacceptedonan ongoingbasis through May29, 2026, by 4:00PM (CST) To obtain acopyofthe Requestfor Qualifica‐tion/Proposal please visitour website at Http://financenola. org/who-we-are/opportu nities/. 159941-sept 25-oct2-2t
(TTY:711) 8 a.m. to 8p.m.daily,7 days aweek (Oct–Mar) andMonday–Friday (Apr–Sep) 160412-oct 2-1t $122.91 y 35,253 and Cal.No. 35,254. Asummary of theseBud‐gets is listed below. Public hearings,which thecharter states shall notbegin sooner than the fifthbusinessday afterthe firstpublication of this notice,willbe held in theCouncil ChamberofCityHallbe‐ginningonTuesday,Oc‐tober14, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. Copies of thePro‐posedBudgetordinances shallbeavailable from theOffice of theClerk of Council. TheBudgetwill be availableonthe City’s websiteatwww.nola. gov/next/mayors-office/ topics/budget/ ESTIMATEDREVENUES 2026 TAXES $486,757,569 LICENSES &PERMITS $75,661,776 INTERGOVERNMENTAL $891,349,372 SERVICECHARGES $102,440,463 FINES& FORFEITS $11,839,117 MISCELLANEOUS REVENUES $24,290,810 OTHERFINANCING SOURCES$78,129 TOTALREVENUE
/nolalibrary @nolalibrary
Main Library
219 Loyola Avenue (504) 596-2570
Algiers Regional Library
3014 Holiday Drive (504) 596-2641
Alvar Library 913 AlvarStreet (504) 596-2667
Central City Library
2020 Jackson Avenue,Suite 139 (504) 596-3110
Children’s ResourceCenterLibrary 913 Napoleon Avenue (504) 596-2628
Desire /FloridaSatelliteLocation 3250 Industry Street
East New Orleans Regional Library 5641 Read Boulevard (504) 596-0200
Cita Dennis Hubbell Library 725 Pelican Avenue (504) 596-3113
Rosa F. Keller Library and Community Center 4300 South Broad Avenue (504) 596-2660
Dr.Martin Luther King, Jr.Library 1611 Fats Domino Avenue (504) 596-2695
Milton H. Latter Memorial Library 5120 Saint Charles Avenue (504) 596-2625
Norman Mayer Library 3001 GentillyBoulevard (504) 596-3100
Mid-City Library 4140 CanalStreet (504) 596-2654
Nora Navra Library 1902 Saint Bernard Avenue (504) 596-3118
Nix Library 1401 SouthCarrollton Avenue (504) 596-2630
REACH Center
2022 St.Bernard Avenue,Building C (504) 256-6983
Robert E. Smith Library 6301 Canal Boulevard (504) 596-2638
Explore natural connections between language and music throughsinging
The NewOrleans Public Library offers storytimes forchildren frombirth to age 5atall of our locations. Visit nolalibrary.org/early-literacy formore information.
Imagine andplay with Library-provid toys, dress-up clothes, puppets, and more.For children ages 2–5 and theirfamilies.
This month’s themes include:
•Let’sPlay Pizzeria
•Let’sPlay ConstructionZone
•Let’sPlay Science Lab
•Let’sPlay Camping
•Let’sPlay with Puppets
•Let’sPlay Ice Cream Shop and more!
Visit nolalibrary.co/playtime or scan the QR code to get times and locations.
Dance,wiggle,and stretch as we use musicand movement to practice early eracy skills. This program is designedf childrenages 2– 5and their caregivers.
Mondays in October from 5pm –5:30pm Mid-City Library
Families looking for awelcoming and comfortable space for neurodivergent children can join us for inclusive and interactive sensory play and exploration activities.
Register at nolalibrary.co/sensory-play
Saturdays in October from 10:30am –12pm
Rosa F. Keller Library &Community Center
•YayoiKusama Infinity Pumpkins
Visit nolalibrary.co/STEAM for times and locations.
Beginner andexperienced players are welcome at Chess Club.Each session includes instruction as needed but focuses on playing. Forages 6–12.
Wednesdays in September from 4pm–5pm Algiers Regional Library NixLibrary
Thursday,September 4and 18 from 4pm–5pm Cita Dennis Hubbell Library
COMMUNITYARTMAKING BY WHOLE VILLAGE ARTTHERAPY*
Makeart and enjoy community at this event where all are welcome.Drop-in between 12 pm and4pm. All art materials are provided.
Saturday,October 11 from 12pm –4pm East New Orleans Regional Library
MA WI Up fun dinner 6t Re math-work Tu fro Ro DI EN FA Tiempo Ac merienda time families and Re help We fro Central WA CO ST Meet ter bo free Or Saturda from1pm –2:30pm Mid-CityLibrary Central CityLibrary Saturday,O from 11am –12pm Norman Mayer Library
WEST AFRICAN DANCECLASS*
Learn Africandance movements, techniques,history,and folklore with Director Myienie Caesar,certified from the RepublicofGuinea
Tuesdays in October from 6pm –7:30pm REACH Center
THECREATIVERETREAT WRITE. CREATE.IDEATE.*
Dedicate time to your artistic and creative practice, surrounded by BIPO creative community.Thisintentional space is designed for Black, Indigenous, andPeople of Colortodevelop and dedicate focused time to their creative projects,whether that’swrit ing, drawing, building pitch decks, or planning businesses.
Register at nolalibrary.co/creative-retreat.
Saturdays in October from 10am–12:50pm REACH Center
AUTHOR NIGHT:AMANDA JONESINCONVERSATION WITH MEGAN HOLT
THAT LIBRARIAN: THEFIGHT AGAINST BOOK BANNINGINAMERICA
Part memoir,part manifesto,it’sthe inspiring story of aLouisiana librarian who found herself at the center of a vicious defamation campaign after speaking out against book censorship in libraries.
Thursday,October 2 from 5:30pm –6:30pm Norman Mayer Library
JUMP-STARTING YOUR WRITING: POETRY WORKSHOPWITH BRAD RICHARD*
Get started writing or refreshyour writing practice with activities designed to surprise your imagination and makeyou think in new ways. Bring aplayful spirit to your poetryorany kind of writing
Discover the joyofcreating your own miniature ecosystem as you learn to design and assemble beautiful terrariums with NOLA Artist Incubator.
Register at nolalibrary.co/terrariums.
Thursday,October16 from 11am–12pm Nora Navra Library
AWARENESSMONTH CRACKTHE CASE &PROTECT YOUR SPACE Dr.Golden Richard, cybersecurity expert andLSU professor,leads ahands-on digital mystery. Follow strange clues, uncover hidden files, andsharpen your cybersecurity skills.
Tuesday,October 28 from 4:30pm –6:30pm Algiers Regional Library
Five stages will sit on the Mississippi River in downtown Old Gretna along Huey P. Long Avenue featuring Amanda Shaw, Natasha Bedingfield, Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue, Sam Hunt, Rockin’ Dopsie Jr. and the Zydeco Twisters, and Collective Soul from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday. Tickets start at $45. gretnafest.com.
The annual salvo by Krewe de Pink in the fight against cancer includes chocolate sweet bites and savory selections, Champagne and a silent auction at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at the Schoen Mansion, 3827 Canal St. A competition includes both judges and people’s choice awards and a chance to visit the Sweet Survivors. Tickets start at $60. krewedepink.org.
The two-day industry show and consumer appreciation event celebrates the lifeblood of many at the Pontchartrain Civic and Convention Center at Williams Boulevard at Lake Pontchartrain in Kenner with displays, barista demonstrations, a children’s area, music and classes. Friday is trade and industry day and Saturday is consumer day — both from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets start at $20. nolacoffeefestival. com.
A special “friends and family” performance is open to the public Saturday when the “Barbies” a capella vocal group previews their talents for a competition. The local Sweet Adeline singing ensemble will compete in its first Harmony Classic in Ohio later in the month The performance will be at 3 p.m. at the UNO Performing Arts Center’s recital hall on St. Anthony Avenue at the lakefront campus. crescentcitysoundchorus.com.
Maestro Matthew Kraemer takes the baton and Boris Karloff takes the screen at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Roussel Hall on Loyola University’s campus when the symphony provides the live musical score for the 1930s black and white version of the classic monster movie by James Whale. The film is the blood-chilling story of Dr. Frankenstein and his creation based on the Mary Shelley novel. Tickets start at $35. lpomusic.com.
The Lagniappe section is published each Thursday by The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate. All inquiries about Lagniappe should be directed to the editor. LAGNIAPPE EDITOR: Annette Sisco, asisco@theadvocate.com
COVER DESIGN: Andrea Daniel
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Victor Andrews, Ian McNulty, Keith Spera
GET
Submit events to Lagniappe at least two weeks in advance by sending an email to events@theadvocate.com.
“Thriller” flashmobs and other events are planned throughout October as the city celebrates Halloween’s spooky season. Photo by Sophia Germer. Story by Victor Andrews on Page 6.
TwoNew Orleans restaurants that have been magnets for high-profile recognition notched anothermajor accolade this week with the inaugural North America’s 50 Best Restaurants list
Dakar NOLA (3814 Magazine St., 504-4939396) and Emeril’s Restaurant (800 Tchoupitoulas St., 504528-9393) both made the list,which was unveiled Thursday night during aceremonyatthe Wynn Las Vegas resort and casino.
Dakar NOLA, No. 6, was named “the best restaurant in the SouthUSA” in one of the night’sspecial awards. Emeril’swas rankedNo. 30.
Dakar NOLA was created by chef Serigne Mbaye, initially as apop-up serving communal meals, giving a
modern vision of the chef’s Senegaleseheritage.
He and business partner EffieRichardson turned this intoatasting menu restaurant in 2022.
Emeril’s, therestaurant Emeril Lagasse first opened in 1990 as ashowcasefor his “new New Orleans”cuisine, has been reinvented as atasting menu restaurant, runby his son E.J. Lagasse as chef and coowner
Themenu is an ode to New Orleans and Louisiana flavors, and the restaurant’sown history,now calibrated to the standard of the finestglobal cuisine.
NorthAmerica’s50Best Restaurant rankings were determined through an assessment by apanel of anonymous
STAFF FILEPHOTO By CHRISGRANGER
E.J.Lagasse, right, is chef and co-owner at Emeril’s, which wasrecently ranked No.30onNorth America’s50Best Restaurant’slist.
North American hospitality industry experts.
The newlist comes from the 50 Best brand, whichsince 2002 hasmade its World’s50BestRestaurants list. In more recentyears, it’sbeen adding regionallists around the world to showcase more restaurants.
It also hasparallelglobal and regionallists forbars, andNew Orleans hasshowedwellinthis category too. Earlierthis year,two NewOrleans bars made the North America’s50 Best Bars list for2025.
Jewel of the South (1026 St. Louis St., 504-265-8816) in the FrenchQuarterwas rankedNo. 4onthe list, netting the title of “Best Bar in the South USA” for the third consecutive year The Uptown lounge Cure (4905 Freret St, 504-302-2357) roundedout the top50for the continent at No.50.
EmailIan McNulty at imcnulty@ theadvocate.com.
The Broadway in New Orleans season returns to the august auditorium of the Saenger Theatrewitha Tony-winning best musical about ateen whose body is turning her into an old woman before she even has a chance toexperience much of life at all.
In “Kimberly Akimbo,” the lead character has a circle of family and friends who are faced with their own unique challenges as well, from alcoholism, crime, unrequited love to just dealing with life
In NewJersey.
But David Lindsay-Abaire’splay, paired with Jeanine Tesori’smusic, offers insights, humor and some life-affirming concepts as Kimberly faces life andits ups and downs.
The show,recommended for ages 13 and up, looks at optimistic Kimberlyand her friendswho are all in lovewith each other(but not in the same setup), acriminalaunt, apossible lifeofcrime and a soundtrack of singable songs certainto keep the action moving along.
The show runs at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Oct. 11, plus 2p.m. Oct. 11 and 1p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Oct. 12. Ticketsstart at $30 for the theater at 1111 CanalSt. saengernola.com.
Blush andbashful
Now is not the time to “curl up and dye” because Shelby,Truvy, Ouiser and the gang will be coming to Slidell Little Theatre for “Steel Magnolias” openingOct. 10
RobertHarling’splay, based on his own family story,focuses on acadre of Louisiana women who, together as a“hair” force, face life’smajor moments, from weddings and childbirth todeathand grief.
Set in Truvy’shome-based beautyshop, the women support and lean on each other as viewed through thelens of Shelby’s life. There’s“laughter through tears” asthe showrunsthe gamut of emotions
Karen Shields directs with Kylie Ritter as Shelby,April Christian as Truvy,Beth Harris as Clairee, Abby Mayfield asOuiser,Jessica Daigle as M’Lynn and Leslie Masling as Annelle.
The show,at2024 Nellie Drive, runs at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2p.m. Sundays through Oct. 19. Ticketsstartat $20. slidelllittletheatre.org.
AnnMorrison, whoonly recently joined the show, will takethe titlerolein ‘Kimberly Akimbo’ when it opens the Broadwayin NewOrleans season at the Saenger Theatre.
PROVIDED
MARCUS
Beth Henley’stale of attempted redemption, messy families and beauty pageantspositively drips with charm in “The MissFirecracker Contest,” afun romp through small-town goings-on opening Oct. 11 at 30 by Ninety Theatre in Mandeville.
The story focuses on Carnelle, her reputation in shreds, as she attempts the ultimate fixer for all-things-woe in the South —win apageant. With her family having issues of their own and nothing turning out as it should, their futures come into focus and things don’tseem quite so bad.
Tonya Lagman directs,with Rachael Knaps as Carnelle, joined by Addison Fitzmorris, Lindsey Andry,Casey Jones, Allen Bryant and Emily Murray.
The show runs 8p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2:30 p.m. Sundays,through Oct. 26. Tickets start at $20. The theater is at 880 Lafayette St., Mandeville 30byninety.com.
On stagethisweek, Oct. 2-8
“FRANKENSTEIN”: 7:30 p.m. Thursdays
through Mondays through Oct. 17; Lafitte Greenway at 436 N. Norman C. Francis Parkway.The NOLA Project’s “crazed genius” of the pen, Pete McElligott, breathes new life into the story by Mary Shelley,who probably did not imagine Dr.Frankenstein and his monster would generate too many laughs, but she never metPete. The show is outdoors and bringing chairs or blankets is recommended. Tickets start at $20, with premier seating included at $55. nolaproject.com.
“THE LEHMAN TRILOGY”: 7p.m.Thursdays to Saturdays and3p.m.Sundays through Oct. 19 plus 1p.m.Oct.18; Le Petit Théâtre du VieuxCarré, 616 St. Peter St. Threeactorsplaythe rolesthatspan generations andrecounts the history of a family of Southern dry goods merchants who become oneofthe greatest success andfailure stories of recent financial timeswith cataclysmic losses in the financialsectors. Tickets start at $35. lepetittheatre.com.
EmailVictor Andrews at vandrews@ theadvocate.com.
PRESENTS
OCTOBER 17-19 SPANISHPLAZA
GALACTIC FEATURING
IRMAJELLYERICA&MAGGIE
DUMPSTAPHUNK DUMPSTA PLAYS SLY
CYRIL NEVILLE CELEBRATES 50 YEARS OF THE WILD TCHOUPITOULAS
FUNKY METERS 2.0 THE HEADHUNTERS
TONY HALL & THE NEW ORLEANS SOUL STARS
TRIBUTE TO JAMES BROWN FEATURING FRED WESLEY
JONCLEARY&THEABSOLUTEMONSTERGENTLEMEN
GEORGE PORTER JR & RUNNIN’ PARDNERS
MISSISSIPPIRIVERREVIVAL ERICAFALLS&FRIENDS
BIG SAM’S FUNKY NATION WITH JELLY JOSEPH
NEW ORLEANS SUSPECTS WITH JENNIFER HARTSWICK
BIG GO
BY VICTOR ANDREWS
Staffwriter
It’spositively frighteninghow much fun stuff is happening around NewOrleans for Halloween. Well, this is supposed to be one of the world’sspookiest cities, especially in theUnited States. Go figure.From familyfriendly frights to blood-curdlingbacchanals, it’stimetoget down with theboo and freak out abit.
Here’sa sampling of some of the sensational scary selections sure to makethe most of ahaunted Halloween.
And this doesn’tevencover the spooky displays that can found aroundthe city,from skeleton shows to light frights andother home-grown spectacles.
Twoscarysectorsinthe greater metroareaare already open and will continue in full swing during theseason, withvarious schedules into November. THEMORTUARY HAUNTED MANSION,4800 Canal St., is acreep-tastic castle of gloom and doom. “Origins of Evil” is the haunting refrain for the season that runs various days through Nov.8.Ticketsstart at $30 and mustbe purchased for specifictimes at themortuary.net.Another macabremenagerie, NEW ORLEANSNIGHTMARE,319 Butterworth St., in Elmwood runs various evenings through Nov.8and features agaggle of grisly ghouls and faintinducing frights, plus aduet of barsand activities.Tickets start at $25. neworleansnightmare.com.
In aslightly different vein, DELAPORTE MANOR combines the eerie thrills of ahaunted house withthe challenge of an escape room inside aformer funeral home, 1152 Camp
St. The attraction is open through Nov.8.Nonrefundable timed tickets startat$38. Visit delaportemanor.com. Want some fright and funny combined? Justintime for the season of scares comes “FRANKENSTEIN,” the NOLA Project’s live outdoor performance of anew comedy by PeteMcElligott. Running various days at 7:30 p.m.Thursday through Oct. 17, this riff on the classic tale of stitch witcherygone amuck will be outside on the Lafitte Greenway Station, 436 N. Norman C. Francis Parkway.Tickets start at $20. nolaproject.com.
The Krewe of Krampus, a scaryselection of souls that know how to party, presents SWAMPUSRETURNS:SUSTAINABILITY ON PARADE at 7:30 p.m. Thursday.The Halloween-themed walking parade focused on sustainability, creativityand communitystarts at Armstrong Parkonthe north side of the French Quarter,rolls through the Vieux Carré and end at Ursuline and Chartres streets.Look for lots of walking groups and fun throws but no plastic and no corporate
commercialism. swampusreturns.org.
GHOST IN THE OAKS:MONSTER MASH AT CITY PARK,acostumed celebration in the Carousel Gardens Amusement Park with activities and entertainment from 5p.m.to9 p.m. Oct. 16-19, includes anew trick-or-treat path, unlimited rides on such thrillers as the Ladybug roller coaster and the venerable carousel. Advance tickets are required and start at $25. neworleanscitypark.org.
Audubon Zoo’s BOOATTHE ZOO is three days of family fun in the light of day that includes trick-or-treating, photo ops, a haunted house and achance to help the zoo and Manning Family Children’shealth care facility.Costumes are encouraged for the entire family, and strollers, wagons and wheelchairs are welcome. Hours are from 10 a.m.to 5p.m., with the last entry at 4p.m., Oct. 17-19 at 6500
Magazine St. Tickets start at $12 for members. audubonnatureinstitute.org.
History comes back to life Oct. 17 and 24 at the Cabildo
on Jackson Squarefor GHOSTLY GALLIVANT2025 —SAINTS ANDSINNERS OF LOUISIANA. Entry is every 20 minutes from 5p.m.to 8p.m. as the ghoulish gavotte reveals the secretsofthose who once meandered through the streetsofthe fair city. Ticketsfor the toursstartat $30. friendsofthecabildo.org. The adults-only BREWS AND BOOS at CityParkisagrownup good timethat features unlimited rides in theAmusement Park, plus open beer bars. There’sa VIPoption that
ABOVE: The MortuaryHaunted Mansion on Canal Street is open through November.
STAFF FILE PHOTOBy JOHN McCUSKER
LEFT: The Carnival-style KreweofBoo! parade is Oct. 25.
STAFF FILE PHOTOBy MATTHEW PERSCHALL
includes afull bar and seating in Storyland plus treats. Costumes are encouraged for this fundraiser for thepark thatruns from 8p.m. to 11 p.m. Oct. 24-25. Tickets startat$40. neworleanscitypark.org. New Orleanians would drop dead if there wasn’taparade for aholiday. KREWEOFBOO!, the Carnival-style processionoffrightfully fun floats processes through theFrench Quarterand theWarehouse Districtat6:30 p.m. Oct. 25 withbands,marching clubs
and unique throws. The parade is the culmination of ahost of events that starts with a ROYAL LUNCHEON at 11:30 a.m.Oct. 24 at Galatoire’sRestaurant, followed by a JAZZ SECOND-LINE PARADE to Pat O’Brien’sfor Happy Hour and ending Friday with apre-parade party at the Toulouse Theatre. Oct. 25 starts with the 2-mile ZOMBIE RUN at 9a.m.inthe Warehouse Districtatwhich participants will have to dodge the Big Easy
ä See HALLOWEEN, page 8
BY ANNETTE SISCO Staff writer
Fans of Morgus the Magnificent will celebrate the wacky New Orleans TV mad scientist at the third annual “WYES Presents Morgus Madness” on Oct. 17 to raise money for the public television station.
PROVIDED PHOTO
Morgus the Magnificent
Morgus was a staple of New Orleans television beginning in 1959, presenting schlocky horror movies from a lab bubbling with strange chemicals and ominous electrical currents.
The local icon was created and portrayed by Sid Noel Rideau, who died in 2020. His daughter Natalie Rideau will be a part of the WYES celebration.
The ghoulish gala will feature music from The Consortium of Genius, a mad science-themed rock band. Tickets include wine, beer and food from a host of local restaurants and other businesses.
Participating businesses include: Katie’s, Byblos Mediterranean Grill, Dooky Chase, Two Tony’s, Sun Ray Grill, Junior’s on Harrison, Zuppardo’s Family Market, Martin’s, Sala Nola, Theo’s Neighborhood Pizza, G’s Grill at Monkey Hill Bar, Swiss Confectionery, Baker Maid, New Orleans Ice Cream Co., Casa Nola Limoncello, Opelousas Chicken & Seafood, Vaucresson’s Creole Café, Liuzza’s by the Track, Beachcorner Bar & Grill, Cafe Navarre, Ember Indian Cuisine, Ralph’s on the Park, Angelo Brocato, Blue Line Sandwich Co., Coca-Cola Bottling Company United and more
Costumes are encouraged, with prizes for best “Morgus” show character, best couple and most creative homemade costume
The event is at 7 p.m. at WYES, 916 Navarre Ave., in New Orleans Tickets are $45 with a VIP table experience for eight at $1,200 For tickets and information, visit wyes.org.
In other Morgus news, on Oct. 25, WYES will air “An Evening with Sid Noel: Recollections of a Mad Scientist,” for the first time. The film features Noel in character as Morgus, as well as his reflections on the Morgus story, his life and career.
Continued from page 7
Roller Derby’s Zombie Killers (costumes encouraged) Festivities culminate with the official afterparty MONSTER MASH at 8 p.m. at The Metropolitan. kreweofboo.com.
A trio of galas get touched by the gods for Halloween New Orleans 2025 to benefit Project Lazarus, marking 42 years of the celebratory philanthropic fun. THE PARTHENON BALL at 7 p.m. Oct. 24 will turn Gallier Hall, 545 St Charles Ave., into the state Greek temple. The black tie-optional event includes entertainment, “ambrosial delights” and a silent auction. On Oct. 25, The Fillmore inside
The 30th annual Memnoch Ball, celebrating the characters of books by Anne Rice, is Oct. 31.
FILE PHOTO By STEVEN FORSTER
the Caesars casino will become OLYMPUS AFTER DARK with a costume review at 10 p.m. and a host of nationally known entertainment. And on Oct. 26, see the rise of the sea god on POSEIDON’S VOYAGE on the riverboat City of New Orleans. The event begins at 2 p.m. with a tea dance, music and more, followed by a second-line through the French Quarter. Tickets vary, starting at $105. halloweenneworleans.com.
Nell Campbell, the original “Columbia,” will be the featured attraction at the 50th anniversary tour stop for ”THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW” on Oct. 29 at the Mahalia Jackson Theater for the Performing Arts. The showing includes a shadow cast, audience participation (“I see you shiver with antici...”) nd a costume contest. So jump to the left and grab starting at $49. mahaliacksontheater.com.
A ‘shadow cast’ will recreate the action from the original film when ‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show’ plays Oct. 28 at the Mahalia Jackson Theater for the Performing Arts.
PHOTO
The Friends of the Cabildo is hosting its annual Ghostly Gallivant Oct. 17 and 24, revisiting the ghosts of Louisiana’s past.
ILLER” FLASHMOBS will be taking over the city on Halloween in a series of secret performances throughout Orleans. Led by Ken“Kynt” Bryan, the groups perform Michael Jackson’s megahit for creepy, unexpected good fun. flashmobneworleans.com.
Need to move those feet?
On All Hallows’ Eve itself, the devotees of the paranormal novelist deity gather for the 30th anniversary Anne Rice Vampire Lestat Fan Club MEMNOCH BALL and “Gathering of the Coven.” Attend The Capital Ballroom, 210 Baronne St., for “a night of revelry, ritual and rapture,” including performances, food, a silent auction to benefit Save Our Cemeteries, costume contest and mementos. A dress code will be strictly enforced; tickets for the 7 p.m. gala start at $393.46. eventbrite.com.
Email Victor Andrews at vandrews@theadvocate.com.
PROVIDED
More than 80 items from the illustrious Tiffany &Co. will be on display at a French Quarter gallery that include some of the iconic windows and even arevolver engraved with silver.
M.S. Rau will open “Treasures of Tiffany: Icons of American Design” on Oct. 25.
Known for signature jewelry and glass work,the New York-based family company also produced lamps, paintings and decorat items as well as silver service and mor
One of the highlights of theexhibit will silver ewer,orpitcher,owned by Abraham Lincoln. Another will be asix-panel win dow with amermaid motif, as well as aSmith &Wesson revolver with silver Tiffany& Co. Paris grips.
Jewelry will also figure prominently in the exhibit, which highlightsthe exacting
tails and familiar aspects of thecompany
“The Tiffany dynasty represents the pinnacle of American artistry,” stated Bill Rau, thirdgeneration owner of M.S. Rau.“Charles Tiffany revolutionized luxury craftsmanship with Tiffany &Co. —abrand so iconic that it’sstill world-renowned today.His son, Louis Comfort Tiffany,transformed fine and decorative arts with stunning innovations that were, and still are, in aclass all their own. This exhibition illuminates Tiffany’sprofound impact on art and design that can still be felt today.”
22 Royal St. through Jan. 3. formation on the visit msrau.
LEFT: ASmith &Wesson revolver fully engraved with silver Tiffany&Co. Paris grips
ABOVE: Jean Schlumberger’semblematic ‘Bird on aRock’ brooch
BY KEITH SPERA Staff writer
After what was a relatively slow spring and summer for major concerts in New Orleans, the fall calendar is filling up.
The newest addition? The Jonas Brothers will bring their “JONAS20: Greetings From Your Hometown” tour to the Smoothie King Center on Dec 6. Opening acts for the show include Jesse McCartney and Franklin Jonas.
Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Thursday via Ticketmaster.com.
The Smoothie King Center also recently announced that it will host
the 10th anniversary of hometown rap star Lil Wayne’s Lil WeezyAna Fest on Nov 1. The event was held at Champions Square for its first few years, then in 2019 moved to the grounds of the UNO Lakefront Arena for one year.
In 2024, Lil WeezyAna Fest was held at the Smoothie King Center for the first time. That show featured a reunion of the Hot Boys and sold out well in advance.
No special guests have been announced yet for the 2025 Lil WeezyAna Fest.
After recently hosting rocker Hozier for a full house, the Smoothie King Center has several more big shows
on tap.
They include “Uncle” Charlie Wilson on Oct. 3; New Orleans-born nihilistic rap duo the $uicideBoy$’ hometown “Grey Day Tour” stop on Oct. 11; two sold-out NBA Youngboy shows on Oct. 19-20; and Paul McCartney on Oct. 29. The Caesars Superdome sold out a Chris Brown gig on Oct. 16.
The Smoothie King Center’s run continues with two sold-out Billie Eilish shows on Nov. 7-8; Brandy and Monica on Dec. 5; and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra on Dec. 17.
Email Keith Spera at kspera@ theadvocate.com.
BY ROBERT LLOYD Los Angeles Times (TNS)
In the eight-episode miniseries “Black Rabbit,” Jason Bateman and Jude Law play brothers Vince and Jake Friedkin, respectively, who long before the story begins were partners in a rock band, the Black Rabbits — successful enough that Vince is recognized in a bar (but not so successful that the fans can remember his name, or the name of the band).
More recently, they had been partners in a far downtown Manhattan restaurant, also called Black Rabbit, though Vince’s level of current participation is muddy (At one time, he ran the upstairs bar.) It isn’t a comedy, in spite of Vince’s Michael Bluth-like habit of dropping ironic quips into stressful situations.
The setting brings to mind “The Bear” — which is a comedy — as does its young genius chef, Roxie (Amaka Okafor); the New York Times is planning a review and New York magazine is putting her on the cover We see that the restaurant, which has a VIP floor upstairs for horrible rich jerks, is a hit because the place is packed, and because there’s a lot of shouting in the barely pictured kitchen, but food, barely shown or talked about, is not really on the menu here.
Jake is more interested in property and expansion — he has an inside track to lease the Pool Room, a real-life space in New York’s fabled Four Seasons Hotel, and he wants Roxie to run the kitchen and Estelle (Cleopatra Coleman), who is in a relationship with his old friend Wes (Sope Dìrísù) — now a
mega successful musician, a co-owner of the Black Rabbit and a jealous guy to design it. From camera angles and cutting, it’s clear that Vince and Estelle are attracted to one another, but as Law and Coleman have no particular chemistry, it feels more stated than felt. But it’s important.
Vince, meanwhile, is living out west, looking like he’s ready to audition for a late-life Dennis Wilson biopic and trying to sell some valuable old coins. When he’s set up and robbed in his car, he winds up running over one of the thieves — twice. Whether by writerly intention or inattention, this will be no more of an emotional issue for Vince than it will have anything to do with the rest of the story, apart from sending him back to NYC, where he is $140,000 in the hole over gambling debts. Whenever he’s not in actual danger (which is a lot of the time), he’s weirdly happygo-lucky.
Jake has a well-to-do ex-wife, Val (Dagmara Dominczyk), who seems nice, and a son, Hunter (Michael Cash), taking dancing lessons. They all get along fine, though Jake battles that most common of TV paternal ailments, Busy Dad Syndrome. (He does better than most.) Vince has an adult daughter, tattoo artist Gen (Odessa Young), who is not especially glad to see him back in town. Their safety will become a chip in the series’ central business, which sets Vince, and ultimately Jake, against vaguely defined mobster Joe Mancuso (Oscar-winning deaf actor Troy Kotsur, from the film “CODA,” in one of the series’ more layered performances); his sweaty idiot caricature of a wannabe tough guy son, Junior (Forrest Weber); and Junior’s less-than-efficient minder, Babbitt (Chris Coy), who is occasionally sort of likable, albeit one feels bad for sort of liking him. In the small world these characters inhabit, Mancuso was close to the brothers’ dysfunctional family back in Coney Island. But business is business.
Like most every streaming drama nowadays, “Black Rabbit” opens with a flash forward to a more exciting part of the story — here, a robbery and shooting at a crowded party — before dialing back to a calmer chronological beginning. This lets the viewer know that, though there is going to be exposition for a while, things will get crazy eventually. And they very much do, including sexual assault, murder and bad management.
Jake, chasing his Pool Room dream, has his own money troubles, and the brothers’ needs will clash as one scheme after another to set things right goes wrong and their relationship rockets between heated arguments and brotherly reminiscence. It’s too easy to stop listening to the arguments, which tend to go long and not lead anywhere, but there is some relief (and nice writing) as regards the reminiscence. Still, though later episodes will reveal an early event that might explain something about Vince, it’s not enough to make one care especially what happens to them, except to worry which innocent bystanders, including the Black Rabbit staff, will be hit by shrapnel when things go boom.
A large secondary and sometimes confusing cast comes in and out to propel and complicate matters, but it’s really all about the brothers. As Vince, Bateman — who also directed the first two episodes, efficiently, with “Ozark” co-star Laura Linney helming the second two — leavens an exasperating character with his innate likability. He’s a fine actor, but he’s also Jason Bateman, America’s sweetheart. By contrast, as the tense, excitable Jake, Law doesn’t generate much warmth, or make you believe he’s actually capable of opening a high-class midtown restaurant (The funky but chic Black Rabbit was Vince’s vision.) That may be the idea, of course. And he does love his brother.
There are only so many ways this story can go, and it does indeed go to one of them, though it’s so likely by the
STARRING: Jude Law, Jason Bateman, Cleopatra Coleman, Sope Dìrísù
RATING: TV-MA
HOW TO WATCH: Netflix
time we get there that it doesn’t deliver much of an emotional charge. An epilogical montage, in a complete tonal turnaround, plays like an homage to the opening of Woody Allen’s “Manhattan,”
cut to Rodgers and Hart’s “I’ll Take Manhattan”; its only purpose seems to be to make you less bad than you might have otherwise felt. (Hey, Katz’s Delicatessen!) So thanks?
