The Times-Picayune 10-09-2025 by The Advocate

Together,wehave made tremendous progress Assessments todayare fair,equitable, andtransparent. Iagainask foryoursupport andyourvote.

ELECTIONISSATURDAY, OCT. 11

Last N.O. jail escapee captured in Atlanta

Convictedkiller Derrick Groves on the runnearly5months, officialssay

BY KASEY BUBNASH and MISSY WILKINSON Staff writers

After nearly five months on the run, convicted killer Derrick Groves was arrested Wednesday following astandoff with police in Atlanta, putting an end to asweeping, multiagency search forthe last of 10 inmates who broke out of the New Orleans jail in May Groves, 27, was taken into custody at 1p.m. at ahome on Honeysuckle Lane in southwest Atlanta, accordingtoDeputy U.S. Marshal Brian

PROVIDED PHOTO

Derrick Grovesistaken into custodyonWednesdayinAtlanta.

Fair.Hewas booked into Fulton County jail on acount of being a fugitivefrom justice, according to Fulton CountySheriff’s Ofﬁce jail records.

Standing outsidethe houseata news conference on Wednesday

afternoon, Atlanta Police Department Deputy ChiefKelley Collier said the arrest followed astandoff with law enforcement. An Atlanta SWAT team deployed “anumber of

ä See ESCAPEE, page 5A

Specialsession planschanging

Congressional mapfaces uncertaintimeline

BY TYLER BRIDGES Staff writer

State legislators appear to have dropped plans to redraw boundaries for Louisiana’ssix congressional districts when they convenein aspecial session on Oct. 23. Instead, they likely will only move back the election scheduletoensurethat

candidates for House and Senate elections nextyear won’thave to qualifyfor their races before the U.S. Supreme Courtissues its ruling in amuch-anticipated Voting Rights Act case. That ruling could lead to anew map, so lawmakers wantto make surethat candidate qualifying for theprimary electionswould occur afterward.

“Weare likely to address only theclosed primary dates and wait on the

ä See SESSION, page 4A

BY EMILYWOODRUFF Staff writer

Israel, Hamas agreeto pause fighting

Firstphase also wouldinclude release of live hostages

SAMY

MAGDY, SAM MEDNICK and AAMERMADHANI Associated Press

WASHINGTON Israel andHamas have agreed to pause ﬁghting in Gaza and release at least some hostages and prisoners in an agreement that was put forward by the Trump administration and would represent the biggest breakthrough in months in the devastating two-year-old war “This means that ALL of the Hostageswill be released very soon,and Israel will withdraw their Troops to an agreed upon line as the ﬁrst steps towardaStrong, Durable, and Everlasting Peace,” President Donald Trump wrote on social media. “All Parties will be treated fairly!”

IsraeliPrime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu said on social media, “With God’shelp we will bring them all home.” Hamas said it had agreed to adeal that will leadtothe endofthe warin Gaza, the withdrawal of Israeli troops, the entry of aidintoGazaand the exchange of prisoners forhostages.

Hamas called on Trump and the mediators to ensure thatIsrael implements allthe provisions of the deal “without disavowal or delay in implementation of what was agreed upon.”

Hamas plans to releaseall 20 living hostages this weekend, people familiar with the matter told The Associated Press, while the Israeli military will begin awithdrawal from the majority

ä See PAUSE, page 5A

The state of Louisiana has ﬁled afederal lawsuit challenging the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’sdecision to letabortionpills be sentthrough the mail, saying thechange violatesstate lawand putswomen at risk.

Thelawsuit, filed Monday in the U.S.District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, was brought by Attorney General Liz Murrill anda Louisiana woman named Rosalie Markezich, who alleged shefelt coerced to take pillsher boyfriend ordered. It argues that the FDAbrokefederal lawwhen it removed the requirement that the abortion drug mifepristone be given to patients in person by a certified provider At anews conference Wednesday, Murrill said reinstating the previous requirements “would probablyfixthisentire problem Theyrequire adoctor-patientrelationship. They require an ultrasound. Theyrequire an after-visit to ensure that the process has been …properly handled. They protect women.” Before 2021, the drug had to be takeninthe presence of aprovider in Louisiana. The in-person rule was suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic, then was made

MURRILL, page 4A

STAFF FILE PHOTO By PATRICK WALL

AttorneyGeneral Liz Murrill has filed alawsuit challenging the FDAover abortion pills beingsent through the mail.

STAFF PHOTO By CHRIS GRANGER

Media takephotos Wednesdayofthe displayatthe Louisiana State Police office in downtown NewOrleans showing the 10 capturedinmateswho brokeout of prison five months agoinNew Orleans.

Dolly Parton responds to health concerns

NEW YORK Dolly Parton “ain’t dead yet,” the country superstar said on social media Wednesday following public speculation about her health.

“There are just a lot of rumors flying around. But I figured if you heard it from me, you’d know that I was OK,” the 79-year-old singer said in a twominute video posted on Instagram. “I’m not ready to die yet. I don’t think God is through with me. And I ain’t done working ” Her post, which appeared on numerous of Parton’s social media accounts and her website, was captioned, “I ain’t dead yet.” Late last month Parton postponed her ﬁrst Las Vegas residency in 32 years, citing “health challenges.”

She was scheduled to perform six shows at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace for “Dolly: Live in Las Vegas” between Dec. 4 and Dec. 13 overlapping with the National Finals Rodeo. Her dates have been moved to September 2026.

She did not provide specific details at the time, writing, “As many of you know, I have been dealing with some health challenges, and my doctors tell me that I must have a few procedures. As I joked with them, it must be time for my 100,000mile check-up, although it’s not the usual trip to see my plastic surgeon!

In the new video clip shared Wednesday, Parton is seen sitting on a set speaking directly to camera, telling her audience that she’s about to record a few commercials for the Grand Ole Opry which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year 29-year-old charged in deadly L.A. wildfire

A 29-year-old man has been charged with sparking California’s deadly Palisades Fire, one of the most destructive wildfires in its history, authorities said Wednesday Federal officials said Jonathan Rinderknecht, who lived in the area, started a small fire on New Year’s Day that smoldered underground before reigniting nearly a week later and roaring through Pacific Palisades, home to many of Los Angeles’ rich and famous.

The fire that left 12 dead in the hillside neighborhoods across Pacific Palisades and Malibu was one of two blazes that broke out on Jan. 7, killing more than 30 people in all and destroying over 17,000 homes and buildings while burning for days in Los Angeles County Rinderknecht was arrested Tuesday in Florida and made his first court appearance Wednesday in Orlando on charges including malicious destruction by means of a fire, which carries a minimum sentence of five years in prison.

Dog helps a Fla. deputy find missing woman

DESTIN, Fla. — A dog named Eeyore turned into a rescuer, leading a Florida sheriff’s deputy to where a missing 86-year-old woman had fallen while walking him, bodycam footage shows.

The woman’s husband reported her missing on the night of Sept 25 after she didn’t return from her walk in their Destin neighborhood.

“She just takes that dog, but she never takes more than 10 or 15 minutes,” the worried husband told Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Deputy Devon Miller, according to the footage released Monday. Miller drove around the neighborhood until she spotted Eeyore in the middle of the road. The dog trotted up to the deputy who responded: “Hi! Where’s your mommy?”

The dog then led her to the nearby spot where the woman had fallen.

CORRECTION

A story in Tuesday’s edition about a judge dismissing a lawsuit by the Legislative Black Caucus against Attorney General Liz Murrill incorrectly identified the judge as Eboni Johnson-Rose. The judge was Tiffany Foxworth-Roberts. The Advocate | The Times-Picayune regrets the error

Comey pleads not guilty to federal charges

Case politically motivated, lawyers say

BY ERIC TUCKER, ALANNA DURKIN RICHER and MICHAEL KUNZELMAN Associated Press

ALEXANDRIA, Va. James Comey pleaded not guilty Wednesday in a criminal case that has highlighted the Justice Department’s efforts to target adversaries of President Donald Trump, with lawyers for the former FBI director saying they plan to argue the prosecution is politically motivated and should be dismissed.

The arraignment lasted less than half an hour, but it was nonetheless loaded with historical signiﬁcance given that the case has amplified concerns the Jus-

tice Department is being weaponized in pursuit of the Republican president’s political enemies and is operating at the behest of an administration determined to seek retribution.

Comey’s not guilty plea to allegations that he lied to Congress ﬁve years ago kick-starts a process of le-

gal wrangling that could culminate in a trial months from now at the federal courthouse in Alexandria, Virginia, just outside of Washington. Defense lawyers said they intend to ask that the case be thrown out before trial on grounds that it constitutes a vindictive prosecution and also plan

Three scientists win the Nobel Prize in chemistry

BY KOSTYA MANENKOV, STEFANIE DAZIO and CHRISTINA LARSON Associated Press

STOCKHOLM Three scientists won the Nobel Prize in chemistry Wednesday for their development of new molecular structures that can trap vast quantities of gas inside, laying the groundwork to potentially suck greenhouse gases out of the atmosphere or harvest moisture from desert environments.

The chairperson of the committee that made the award compared the structures called metal-organic frameworks to the seemingly bottomless magical handbag carried by Hermione Granger in the “Harry Potter” series Another example might be Mary Poppins’ enchanted carpet bag. These containers look small from the outside but are able to hold surprisingly large quantities within.

The committee said Susumu Kitagawa Richard Robson and Omar M. Yaghi were honored for “groundbreaking discoveries” that “may contribute to solving some of humankind’s greatest challenges,” from pollution to water scarcity.

Robson, 88, is afﬁliated with the University of Melbourne in Australia.

Kitagawa, 74, is with Japan’s Kyoto University, and Yaghi, 60, is with the Uni-

versity of California, Berkeley

The chemists worked separately but added to each other’s breakthroughs over decades, beginning with Robson’s work in the 1980s.

The scientists were able to devise stable atomic structures that preserved holes of specific sizes that allowed gas or liquid to flow in and out. The holes can be customized to match the size of specific molecules that scientists or engineers want to hold in place, such as water, carbon dioxide or methane.

“That level of control is quite rare in chemistry,” said Kim Jelfs, a computational chemist at Imperial College London. “It’s really efﬁcient for storing gases.”

A relatively small amount of the structure — which combines metal nodes and organic rods, somewhat like the interchangeable building pieces in Tinker Toys — creates many organized holes and a huge amount of surface area inside.

For instance, Jelfs said, a few grams of molecular organic framework may have as much surface area as a soccer ﬁeld, all of which can be used to lock gas molecules in place.

“If you can store toxic gases,” said American Chemical Society President Dorothy Phillips, “it can help address global challenges.”

Weakened Priscilla nears Baja peninsula

Jerry churns in the Atlantic

By The Associated Press

MIAMI Priscilla lost its hurricane status Wednesday as it churned up Mexico’s western Paciﬁc coast while Tropical Storm Jerry was expected to strengthen in the Atlantic on its approach to the Leeward Islands, forecasters said.

Priscilla approached major hurricane status Tuesday before weakening to a tropical storm a day later with maximum sustained winds of about

70 mph, the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said. The storm was bringing high surf and gusty winds to Baja California Sur, which was under a tropical storm watch from Cabo San Lucas to Cabo San Lazaro. Heavy rainfall and flash flooding were possible as the storm moves along Mexico’s Pacific coast and through the weekend in the Southwestern United States, forecasters said.

The storm was moving northwest at 8 mph. It was centered about 205 miles west-southwest of the southern tip of Baja

California, forecasters said. The hurricane center said the ﬂood risk was increasing from all the rain Priscilla was dropping as it headed further north. In the Atlantic, Tropical Storm Jerry had top winds of 60 mph. It was centered about 605 miles east-southeast of the northern Leeward Islands while moving west-northwest at 23 mph. Forecasters said Jerry was expected to strengthen gradually and could become a hurricane by the weekend The core of the storm is expected to be near or to the north of the northern Leeward Islands late this week or weekend

to challenge the legitimacy of the appointment of the prosecutor who filed the charges just days after Trump hastily appointed her to her position.

“It’s the honor of my life to represent Mr Comey in this matter,” one of Comey’s lawyers, Patrick Fitzgerald, a longtime friend who served with him in President George W. Bush’s Justice Department, said Wednesday

The indictment two weeks ago followed an extraordinary chain of events that saw the Trump administration effectively force out the prosecutor who had been overseeing the Comey investigation and replace him with Lindsey Halligan, a White House aide who previously served as one of the president’s former lawyers but had never served as a federal prosecutor The president also publicly

implored Attorney General Pam Bondi to take action against Comey and other perceived adversaries.

Less than a week after being appointed, Halligan rushed to file charges before a legal deadline lapsed despite warnings from other lawyers in the ofﬁce that the evidence was insufficient for an indictment. She sat at the prosecution table Wednesday

The two-count indictment alleges that Comey misled the Senate Judiciary Committee on Sept 30, 2020, when he was asked whether he had authorized any associate to serve as an anonymous source to the news media related to investigations of either Trump or 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton. Comey replied that he stood by earlier testimony that he had not given such authorization.

Joan Kennedy, ex-wife of senator, dies at 89

BY MICHAEL CASEY Associated Press

BOSTON Joan B. Kennedy, the former wife of Sen. Edward M. Kennedy who endured a troubled marriage marked by family tragedies, her husband’s inﬁdelities and her own decades-long struggles with alcoholism and mental health, died on Wednesday She was 89.

The former Joan Bennett, one of the last remaining members of a family generation that included President John F. Kennedy was a model and classically-trained pianist when she married Ted Kennedy in 1958. Their lives would change unimaginably over the next decade and a half. Brotherin-law John F. Kennedy was elected president in 1960 and assassinated three years later Brotherin-law Robert F. Kennedy served as attorney general

under JFK, was elected to the U.S Senate in 1964 and assassinated while seeking the presidency Her husband was elected to the U.S. Senate and became among the country’s most respected legislators despite initial misgivings that he was capitalizing on his family connections. But Ted Kennedy also lived through scandals of his own making. In 1969, the car he was driving plunged off a bridge on Chappaquiddick Island, killing his young female passenger, Mary Jo Kopechne. She stood by her husband through the scandal, but their estrangement was nearly impossible to hide by the time of his unsuccessful effort to defeat President Jimmy Carter in the 1980 Democratic primaries. They would later divorce.

Joan Kennedy struggled to ﬁt in to the high-powered family “Joan was shy and a really reserved person, and the Kennedys aren’t,” Adam Clymer, author of “Edward M. Kennedy: A Biography” said in 2005.

Joan Kennedy

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By FREDRIK SANDBERG

Chair of the Nobel Committee for Chemistry Heiner Linke, left, announces Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson and Omar yaghi, on screen behind, as the recipients the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, at the Nobel Assembly of the Karolinska Institutet, in Stockholm, Sweden, on Wednesday.

COURTROOM SKETCH By DANA VERKOUTEREN

Former FBI Director James Comey, second from left, stands during his arraignment at the federal courthouse in Alexandria, Va., on Wednesday.

Government shutdown grinds into week 2

Tempers flare as no end appears in sight

BY LISA MASCARO, MARYCLAREJALONICK and JOEY CAPPELLETTI Associated Press

WASHINGTON Tours at the Capitol have come to astandstill. The House is keeping its doors closed, while the Senate repeated its loopWednesday of failed votes to reopen thegovernment. President Donald Trump is threatening to mass ﬁre federal workers and refuse back pay for the rest

As the government shutdown entered asecond week, there’snodiscernible endgame in sight.

“Congress, do your damn job,” said Randy Erwin, president of the National Federation of Federal Employees, with other top union leaders nearthe Capitol.

No negotiations, at least publicly,are underway,but behind the scenes quiet talks are emerging.

Clusters of lawmakers, Republicans and Democrats, are meeting privately, searching for ways out of the impasse, which hinges on striking adeal for preserving health care subsidies.

Signs of discomfortare apparent: Military personnel and federalemployees are set to miss paychecks, ﬂights are being delayed at airports nationwide and federal programs are disrupted. Confrontations erupted at theCapitol.

Twodueling bills, one from Republicans and the other from Democrats, failed again in the Senate.

The Republicans whohave majority control in Congress

subsidies are set to expire at year’send.

Republicans say Congress can deal with the health insurance issue in the months ahead.

Democrats are ﬁghting to resolve the problemnow,as people are receiving notices of higher policy rates for the new year

Twoprominent Republicans, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia and Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri, have broken from theirparty,saying something mustbe done to help Americanspay for the coming health insurance rate hikes.

Alooselyformed collection of senators, Republicans and Democrats, have bantered about options for addressing the health insurance problem.

Some of them metover Thai food dinner

past the point of getting anything done.” Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., soundeda similarly sour note. “I’m an optimist, but wow arewenot making much progress,” Coons said.

But GOP Sen. Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma,who is close to Trump, said, “There’s always agroup talking,” While federal employees have often missed paychecks during shutdowns, Trumpis now threatening to do away withguaranteed back pay, whichwould be astark departure from what is normal The White House budgetofﬁce, underRussell Vought, arguesthe lawsaysback payis not automatic, andCongress would need to approve it

The union leaders warned Trump against using the federal workers as “political pawns” in the political brawl.

believe they have the upper hand politically,asthey fend off Democratic demands to quickly fund healthinsurance subsidiesaspartofany plan to end the shutdown.

HouseSpeakerMike Johnson appears so confident he is preparingtotakelive questionsfrom callers on CSPAN’s Thursday morning public affairs show

But so have Democrats dug in, convinced that Americans are on their sideinthe ﬁght to prevent thelooming health careprice spikes andblaming Trump forthe shutdown.

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer insisted it was Republicans who are “feelingthe heat.”

Tensions rose Wednesday to aboil.

Outside the speaker’soffice, Arizona’stwo Demo-

cratic senators who were demanding thatJohnson reopen the House to swear in Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva. She won aspecial election to the state’sTucson-area seat lastmonth andhas saidshe would sign on to releasing the ﬁlesonthe sextrafﬁckinginvestigations into JeffreyEpstein, but hasyet to be seated in Congress.

Johnson, facing adiminished GOP majorityonce the new Democrat takes ofﬁce, declined.

Ashort time later House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York was confronted by home state GOPRep.MikeLawler. He was demanding the leader’s support for aone-year extensionofthe expiring health care subsidies, as Democrats pushed for abetter deal. The

of Chicago.

National Guardlands in Illinois,ordersunclear

Pritzker,Trump tradebarbs over communication

CHICAGO Thegovernor of Illinois said Wednesday he’s still in the dark about where the Trump administration will send National Guard troops who have reportedto an Army training site southwest of Chicagowhere extra fencing and tarps have gone up to block the public’sview President Donald Trump, meanwhile, sent barbs from Washington, saying on social media that Gov.JBPritzker and Chicago’smayor,both Democrats,“shouldbeinjail” forfailingtoprotect federal agents duringimmigration enforcement crackdowns. Trump’sthreats tosend troopstoIllinoiswerefulﬁlled with the arrival this week of Texas National Guard members at aU.S. Army Reserve CenterinElwood.Theirexact role has not yet been publicly disclosed, though thepresident, contrary to statistics, has repeatedly claimed big cities run by Democrats are overwhelmed with crime. An immigration enforcement building outside Chicago has

also been the site of clashes between federal agents and protesters.

“The federal government hasnot communicatedwith us in anyway about their troop movements,” Pritzker toldreporters.“Ican’tbelieve Ihavetosay ‘troop movements’ in an American city, but that is what we’re talking about here.”

Ajudge will have arolein determining how many boots areonthe streets: There’sa court hearingThursday on a request by Illinoisand Chicago to declare the Guard deployment illegal. Elsewhere an appealscourthas scheduleda hearing the same day over the government’sdesire to send the GuardtoPortland, Oregon.Ajudge blocked that effort over the weekend.

AndinMemphis, Tennessee, theGuardcould arrive by Friday,though the number of troops is unclear. Republican Gov.BillLee has welcomed it, saying they could assist police.

The nearly 150-year-old PosseComitatus Actlimits themilitary’srole inenforcing domestic laws.However, Trump has said he would be willing to invoke theInsurrectionAct, which allows a president to dispatch active duty military in states that are unable to putdown an insurrectionorare defying

federal law

“This is about authoritarianism. It’s aboutstoking fear,” Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said.

Asked about Trump’swish to jail him, Pritzker in downtown Chicagoextended his arms and told MSNBC: “If youcome for my people, you come through me. So come and get me.”

Later Wednesday,a judge signaled that she planned to restrict federal agents from using certain crowd controltactics, suchastear gas, against peaceful protesters and journalists who have regularly gathered at aU.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Broadview

U.S. District Judge Sara Ellissaida detailed decision would likely comeThursday In Portland, months of nightly protests at aU.S.Immigration andCustoms Enforcementfacility continued Tuesday night. In June, police declared ariot, and there have been smaller clashes since then.

Kristi Noem, head of the Department of Homeland Security,said on Fox News thather agency would send “four timesthe amount of federal officers” if thecity did not boostsecurity at the ICE building andtakeother safety measures.

encounterquickly digressed.

“You shut the government down,” Lawler railed.

“You’re embarrassing yourself,” Jeffries retorted

At its core, thedebate is over thehealth care issue thathas tangled Congress for years, andinparticular, the Affordable CareAct, alsoknown as Obamacare, that Trump tried,and failed, to repeal and replace during his first term at the White House.

Congressincreased the federal subsidiesthat help people purchase private insurancepolicies on theAffordable Care Actexchanges during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The federal aid was popular,and it boosted ACA enrollmenttoa record 24 millionpeople.Those enhanced

Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine has offered her own plan for kickstarting talks. It involves re-opening the government now, but with a“commitment,” she said, to discussing the health care issue.

Another option ﬂoated by GOP Sen. Mike Rounds of South Dakota, aformer state governor,isatemporary extensionofthe subsidies, for one year,and then aphase out.

AndTrumphimself signaled he wasopen to negotiating with Democrats over their demands to save health care subsidies. Earlier this week, the president said that talks were alreadyunderway as he wants “greathealth care” for the people, only to shifthis tone hourslater to say the government must reopen ﬁrst.

“I’m pretty discouraged,” Rounds said Wednesday “My sense is that’sprobably

“And president, youbetter start obeying the Constitution,” Erwin said. Part of the reason the parties are so unwilling to budge from their positions is because their internal data is encouraging them not to cave.

Senate Democrats have been briefedoninformation suggesting theirhealth care messaging was resonating withvoters. Amemo from Senate Majority PACwas also circulated to House Democrats and campaigns nationwide on Tuesday, with aclear directive: hold the line.

Republicans, meanwhile, are sticking to their own playbook.A memo from the House GOP’scampaign arm urged candidates to focus on the shutdown’seconomic impact, including adistrict-level breakdown of who would be affected by agovernment shutdown.

BY MEADGRUVER

Associated Press

FORT COLLINS,Colo. Aformer Wyoming library director whowas ﬁredamid an uproar over bookswith sexual contentand LGBTQ+ themes that some people complained were inappropriate for youngsters and who sought their removalfrom youth shelves will be paid $700,000 after settlingalawsuit.

Terri Lesley was ﬁred as the library system directorinnortheastern Wyoming’sCampbell County in 2023, two yearsinto the book disputeatthe library in Gillette. Lesley sued last spring over hertermination and reached the settlement withcountyofﬁcials Wednesday “I do feel vindicated. It’s been arough road, but Iwill neverregret standing up for theFirst Amendment, Lesley said. Amajor coal-mining area

on the Western high plains, Campbell County is among themost conservative areas in one of the most conservative states. Public ofﬁcials there sided with the book objectors and violated Lesley’sFirst Amendment rights, Lesley claimed in her federal lawsuit against Campbell County,including its commission and library board.

The county deniedLesley’sclaims. Only Lesley’s performance —not the disputeoverthe books— played arole in her dismissal, the county argued in court documents.

Aprivate-practice attorney hired by the county forthe lawsuit, Patrick Holscher,and County Attorney Nathan Henkes didn’timmediately return phone messages Wednesday seeking comment.

The booksobjected to in Gillette included“This Book is Gay” by Juno Dawson,“How Do YouMakea

Baby” by Anna Fiske, “Doing It” by Hannah Witton, “Sex is aFunny Word” by Corey Silverberg, and “Dating andSex:A Guide forthe 21st Century Teen Boy” by Andrew P. Smiler “Wehope at least that it sends amessage to other library districts, other states, othercounties, that theFirst Amendmentis alive and strong andthat ourvaluesagainst discrimination also remain alive and strong,” said Lesley’sattorney, IrisHalpern. “These arepublic entities, they’re government officials, they needtokeepinmind their constitutional obligations.” Halpern and her firm,Rathod Mohamedbhai in Denver,have supported fired library employees elsewhere in recentyears. Underthe settlement agreement, Lesley is dropping her lawsuit, though aseparatelawsuit shehas filedagainst three individuals who contested the books will continue.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By JOHN MCDONNELL

Speaker of the House MikeJohnson, R-Benton., left, addresses the media alongsideHouse Republican Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain, R-Mich., and House Committee on Appropriations Chairman TomCole, R-Okla., on the eighth dayofthe governmentshutdown on WednesdayinWashington, D.C.

BYCHRISTINE FERNANDO Associated Press

ASSOCIATEDPRESS PHOTO By LAURA BARGFELD

Uniformed militarypersonnel withthe TexasNational Guard patch on patrol the U.S. Army Reserve Center on WednesdayinElwood, Ill., asuburb

LSUconsiders creating energy extensionservice

Unbiased mediator wouldbescience-based informationsource

BY DAVID J. MITCHELL Staff writer

Pumping and permanently storing carbon dioxide under vast stretches of Louisiana forestand farmland has triggered grassroots opposition, as the reality of more than 30 such proposed projects has taken hold over the past two years. Companies proposing to convert hundreds to thousands of acres of farmland intosolar farms have faced similar oppositionfrom pockets of rural Louisiana, including in the state’ssugar canegrowing regions. The “energy transition” that some officials andbusiness leaders say has arrived in Louisiana is bringing uncomfortable change andconflict to astate with nearly 125 years of historywith oil and gas. During arecent energy symposium, atop LSU executive floated the concept of having the state’s flagshipuniversity createa new cooperative extension service that could serve as an unbiased mediator and science-based information source on energy.The concept, however,may step into apotentially sensitive area for LSU, with some having previously raised concernsover whether the university has too close arelation-

SESSION

SupremeCourt ruling for thecongressional maps,” said Sen. Caleb Kleinpeter,R-WestBatonRouge.

Legislativeleaders have agreed that the Senate will take the lead in moving the main bill that they tackle during the upcoming special session. It willbeheardbythe Senate and GovernmentalAffairs Committee that Kleinpeter chairs, and he will likely sponsor the legislation.

Gov.Jeff Landry had more ambitious plans when he notiﬁed legislators two months ago that he planned to call them into aspecial session beginningonOct. 23. Then, he told them, he wanted lawmakerstopass anew congressional map contingent on the Supreme Court case.

The thinking was this: the Supreme Court on Oct. 15 isscheduled to hear achallenge toSection 2ofthe 1965 Voting Rights Act, the law that judges cited in ordering Louisiana to draw majority-Black

MURRILL

Continued from page1A

arrived

shipwith the carbon capture and energyindustries.

Themodel, according to the LSU executive, Robert Twilley,could be the LSU AgCenter’sand LSU Sea Grant’s decades-old cooperative extension services. TheAgCenter includes the popular Louisiana MasterGardener Program. Twilley,LSU vice president for research and economicdevelopment who formerlyled theSea Grantprogram,saidcreating a cooperative extension for energy would match atrend happening in some other land-grant universitiestoexpand extension services beyond agriculture.

Thecooperative extension services, which have themission of bringing new research to the pub-

congressional districts.

Landryand AttorneyGeneral Liz Murrill are siding with conservatives who wantthe court torule that Section 2isunconstitutional.

If the Supreme Courtagrees, the justices would likely issue a rulingthat would allow the Republican-controlledLegislature to revampthe current congressional map that elected four Republicans and two Democrats: U.S. Rep. Troy Carterand U.S. Rep. Cleo Fields. Anew map would likely eliminate theseatofeither Carter,whoseNew Orleans-anchored district stretches to Baton Rouge, or Fields, whose Baton Rouge-anchored district stretches to Shreveport

Landry wanted lawmakers to pass amap in the upcoming special session to have it ready to go into effect if theSupreme Court invalidatesSection 2.

But legislators have pushed back on that idea, telling Landry privately that theydon’twant to design anew map until after the SupremeCourt rules.

They have told the governor that theLegislature typically waits un-

lic, so the public can apply it, have aphysical presenceinall 64 parishes that could serve as the home for anew energy cooperative extension, Twilley suggested.

Combined with therecently formed LSUEnergy Institute, theeffort could tap into the university’sexpertise to addressthe multidisciplinary questionsenergy raises and, Twilley argued, fulﬁll an obligation that apublic research universityhas to serve as atrusted source of information.

Twilleytoldthe forum audience that early discussions have occurred, including an idea, as aﬁrst step, togive agentsan“Energy 101” class so they can ﬁeld some questions and direct people to more expert LSU sources.

tilapending court case is settled before trying to address it through legislation.

Landry didnot respond to an interview request Wednesday

Redrawing the congressional boundaries also presents aseries of landminesfor legislators because it is so personaltoboth the members of Congress andthe state legislators positioning themselves to run for those seats one day

No legislatorwants to pass anew map that upsets colleagues or powerful members of Congress if they can’tbesure the Supreme Court will mandate anew map.

Butwhile legislators don’twant to change the map in the upcoming special session, they are planning to change next year’selection schedule —onlytheyhaven’t settled on aplan yet.

Under alaw passed by theLegislature last year at Landry’sbehest, Louisiana’scongressional races in 2026 arescheduled toberun under theclosed primary system, not the jungleprimary that voters have grown accustomed to.Under the jungle primary,the top two ﬁnishers,regardlessofparty,advance

“The key part of the extension service is that people live in these communities,” Twilley said during the LSUEnergy Research Symposium on Friday.“That’sreally critical because they’re trusted individuals, andthey are trained in how to actually deal with being the informed, trusted agent.”

On Monday,Tara Smith, LSU executive associatevicepresident and directorofthe Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service at the LSUAgCenter,said she wasn’t aware of aformal plantoimplementthe idea.

Smith, whosat on the forum panel moderated by Twilley,said there would have to be “a lot of future discussions” at the “highest levels to make something like that happen.”

Among those challenges, according to Twilley,isﬁnding the people and money

At theforum, he ﬂoated the idea of theU.S. Department of Energy providing thedollarstoavoid the inevitable credibility questions industry funding might generate.

Other concerns existed for some State Sen. Bob Hensgens, R-Abbeville,who attended the forum and grew up in afamily of rice farmers, remarked on the credibility theagricultural extension service had with his grandfather Hensgens askedifhaving theextension services step intothe current “messy” energydebate would harm the trust people have put in theservices.

Greg Upton, executive direc-

to the runoff election, unless the highest vote-getterreceivesat least 50% of the vote.

Underthe jungle primary,candidate qualifyingtakes place no earlier than July,and the primary is not held until October or November

But under thenew system for thecongressional races, candidates would have to qualify in mid-January, anda partyprimary wouldbeheld in April. If no candidate received at least 50%,a second party primary would take place in May.The winnerineach party’sprimary would advance to the November general election ballot

Lawmakers want to push back candidate qualifying and the primaryelection dates to make sure the Supreme Court hasissuedan opinionbeforeJanuary.Legislative leaders arespeaking optimistically that they believe the high court will rulebefore midDecember becauseofthe need to do so before an election scheduled in another state.

But Secretary of State Nancy Landry,who oversees theelec-

torofthe LSU Centerfor Energy Studies who has spoken at some community forums to provideinformationoncarboncapture,has alreadyfaced criticism. Upton is also interim director of thenew Energy Institute.

ButSmithand another forum panelmember,Rex Caffey, an LSU natural resource economics professorand director of the Sea Grant marine extension, said they believe the cooperative model could stay above the fray

“Our stock and trade is to get involved in controversial issues and the way we protect ourselves is to bringscience-based information and to not take sides. Our motto is ‘be descriptive, not prescriptive,’” Caffeysaid.

Thecooperativeservices bring the data, Caffey added, and allow both sides to provide their point of view

“When you lose that objectivity you’ve lost the whole game and that’swhat we have to offer,”he added.

Smithaddedthatthere is an “interesting dynamic”happening between agriculture and industry as farmers are being approached about energy deals and have questions.

TheAgCenter extensioncan serve as an information source, but notmakerecommendations, fordecisions thatcould affect farmsfor generations, she said.

“So Isee it as just another discipline, if that makessense,” Smith said.

tion system,has warned lawmakers that moving back the qualifying periodand the party primary election dates is no simple matter

Landry has advised them that any revisedelection schedule hasto adhere to different federal and state lawsand can’tinterfere with scheduled local elections formayor,parish or city council or with local tax votes.

“We’ve been running different scenarios for legislators and the governor’soffice,” Landry said. “It’smore involved than they can imagine.”

There’sanother complication now,Landry noted.

“And we’re putting on an election at the sametime,” she said. Given the complications, it’spossible that legislators will have to reverse themselves and go back to theopenprimaryfor next year’s House and Senate elections. And it’s even possible that they won’t be able to redraw the congressional map and change the election schedule next year If they can’t, the current congressional mapwould remain in place foranother election cycle.

permanent in 2023. The complaint says the change has alloweddoctors and activists in states where abortion is legal to mail abortion pills to people in Louisiana, where almost all abortions are banned, except in some casesoffetal anomaliesor to save the life of the mother.The complaint cites data from theSocietyofFamily Planning estimating that more than 600 abortions each month in Louisiana now happen through the mail. The state’slawsuit claims theFDA’s policy waspolitically motivated and unlawful. It says the agency violated both the Administrative Procedure Act and the Comstock Act, afederal law that prohibits mailing items used for abortions. The lawsuit asks the court tooverturn the FDA’s rule and bring back the in-person requirement. Markezich, one of the plaintiffs, saidshe feltpressured by her boyfriend to takeabortion pills that weremailed from adoctor in California. She says she would not have been giventhe drugs if she had been required to meet with adoctor in person. Thecase follows asimilar challenge brought by antiabortiongroups that reached the U.S. Supreme Court last year but was dismissedbecausethe plaintiffs lacked standing.Louisiana’s lawsuit argues the state does have standing becausethe mail-order abortionsviolate its laws and lead tomedical costs for local hospitals.

up to ﬁve years in prison and a$5,000 ﬁne.Hospitals and pharmacies are required to keep the drugs in locked storage. Classifying them as controlled substances allows the state to moreclosely track how often they are prescribed.

This lawsuit targets mifepristone,whichcan be used alone to induce an abortion. If Louisiana wins, thecase could block the mailingof abortionpills. The FDA and the U.S. Department of Healthand Human Services have not yet responded publicly to the lawsuit.

Staffwriter Alyse Pfeil contributed to this report.

In 2024, Louisianalawmakers voted to make mifepristoneand misoprostol,the two drugs commonly used to induce abortions, controlled dangerous substances. It wasthe firststate in the country to do so. The law makes it acrime to possess either drug without avalid prescription,punishableby

Email Emily Woodruff at ewoodruff@theadvocate. com.

STAFF FILE PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

Solar farms are part of the ‘energytransition’ that some officials and business leaderssay has

in Louisiana.

canisters of gas” to force Groves to move through the house, Kelley said.

A Clayton County police dog eventually tracked Groves to the home’s crawl space, where he was apprehended. Kelley could not say how long Groves had been staying at the house or whether he knew its owner Georgia authorities also found 15 pounds of marijuana, a pistol and a riﬂe magazine there, Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill said at a Wednesday media brieﬁng.

Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams said no injuries were reported, and that Groves’ capture “brings long-awaited calm to victims, their families, the witnesses who testified, the assistant district attorneys who prosecuted him and the people of New Orleans.” Other people were in the house when Groves was booked officials said. Williams said his office will conduct a thorough investigation into anyone who may have aided Groves during his escape, but said it is too soon to address charging decisions. Darriana Burton, 29, a former Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office employee and girlfriend of Groves, was arrested in June on a felony count of conspiracy to commit simple escape after allegedly helping coordinate the jailbreak. “He obviously had some help,” Williams said at a Wednesday media briefing.

A Crimestoppers of Greater New Orleans tip helped lead to the arrest, said spokesperson Darlene Cusanza. The tipster will receive a $50,000 reward. Tips to Crimestoppers played a role in ﬁve of the 10 arrests, resulting in ﬁve rewards. Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson said Groves will be extradited to New Orleans, where he’s expected to face additional charges stemming from his escape. Murrill said she will see that Groves is prosecuted “to the full extent of the law.” Groves and nine co-defendants were each charged with one count of simple escape on June 30, according to Murrill’s press secretary, Lester Duhe Murrill said Wednesday that she will examine the possibility of upgrading that to aggravated escape, and that Groves will likely face charges in

PAUSE

Continued from page 1A

of Gaza. While many questions remain, the sides appear to be closer than they have been in several months to ending a war that has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians, destroyed most of Gaza and triggered other armed conﬂicts across the Middle East.

The war has sparked worldwide protests and brought widespread allegations of genocide that Israel denies Israel is more isolated than it has been in decades and bitterly divided over the failure to return the hostages. The Palestinians’ dream of an independent state appears more remote than ever despite recent moves by major Western countries to recognize one.

The deal was solidiﬁed in Egypt after days of negotiations centered on a Trumpbacked peace plan that he hopes will ultimately result in a permanent end to the war and bring about a sustainable peace in the region

The arrival of Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, and the president’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, on Wednesday at Sharm elSheikh for the peace talks, which were also attended by Qatar’s prime minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, was a sign that negotiators aimed to dive deeply into the toughest issues of an American plan to end the war Netanyahu’s top adviser, Ron Dermer, was also present for the talks.

Trump expressed optimism earlier in the day by saying that he was considering a trip to the Middle East within a matter of days.

Yet another hint of an emerging deal came later in that event when U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio passed Trump a note on White House stationery that read, “You need to approve a Truth Social post soon so you can announce deal ﬁrst.” Truth Social is the

U.S. Marshals Service and the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Ofﬁce Fugitive Apprehension Team worked to bring the four-time convicted killer back into custody, according to ofﬁcials with OPSO. The Louisiana Bureau of Investigation also worked on the case, Murrill said.

“Trying to hide in Atlanta was a poor choice for Groves,” said Jim Joyner, U.S. Marshals Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force commander “The U.S. Marshals and state and local ofﬁcers assigned to the Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force are relentless at what they do.”

Groves and the other inmates escaped the Orleans Parish jail on May 16 after crawling through a hole in the wall of a cell. The infamous jailbreak spurred a sprawling manhunt that produced more than a dozen arrests, including that of jail maintenance worker Sterling Williams, who is accused of aiding in the escape.

Georgia connected to the drugs and guns. The Atlanta Police Department, the Fulton County Sheriff’s Ofﬁce,

Groves was the last fugitive to be found. Escapees Kendell Myles, Robert Moody, Dkenan Den-

president’s preferred social media platform.

The note prompted Trump to proclaim, “We’re very close to a deal in the Middle East.”

The war began with Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel that killed about 1,200 people, many of them civilians and took 251 hostage. Israel’s retaliatory military campaign has left tens of thousands of Palestinians dead, devastated Gaza and upended global politics. This would be the third ceasefire reached since the start of the war The first, in November 2023, saw more than 100 hostages, mainly women and children, freed in exchange for Palestinian prisoners before it broke down. In the second, in January and February of this year, Palestinian militants released 25 Israeli hostages and the bodies of eight more in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. Israel ended that ceasefire in March with a surprise bombardment.

A growing number of experts, including those commissioned by a U.N. body have said that Israel’s offensive in Gaza amounts to genocide — an accusation Israel denies. More than 67,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza and

nearly 170,000 wounded, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry

The ministry, which doesn’t differentiate between civilians and combatants but says around half of the deaths were women and children, is part of the Hamas-run government. The United Nations and many independent experts consider its ﬁgures to be the most reliable estimate of wartime casualties.

The ministry said Wednesday that the bodies of 10 people killed by Israeli strikes had been brought to local hospitals over the past 24 hours.

In the Gaza Strip, where much of the territory lies in ruins, Palestinians have been desperate for a breakthrough. Thousands fleeing Israel’s latest ground offensive in northern Gaza and Gaza City have set up makeshift tents along the beach in the central part of the territory sometimes using blankets for shelter Sara Rihan, a displaced woman from Jabaliya, said she was praying for an end to the war

“I hope we return to our places and homes, even if there are no homes,” she said “Our existence in our land is the biggest happiness for us.”

nis and Gary Price were arrested in the days following the escape, followed by Corey Boyd. Lenton Vanburen, Leo Tate and Jermaine Donald were arrested outside of New Orleans on Memorial Day Antoine Massey was arrested in Hollygrove on June 27. Groves is linked to the killings of four people in the New Orleans metro area. He was convicted in October 2024 of two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of attempted second-degree murder, and he has pleaded guilty to two counts of manslaughter in separate cases. Several attorneys involved in Groves’ criminal trial ﬂed the state with their families in the wake of his escape, saying they feared for their safety Before his escape, Groves had remained in jail for seven months awaiting sentencing and transfer to a state prison — a delay Murrill said made “no sense.” Conviction on second-degree murder carries a mandatory life sentence. “I think it’s bureaucracy and no sense of urgency built into the

system, and you can see where that took us,” Murrill said, adding that she understood Groves and Massey to be “ringleaders” in the jailbreak.

Besides his criminal past in the city, Groves’ history is also intertwined with that of another highprofile New Orleans case the murder of his grandmother, Kim Groves, ordered by corrupt NOPD cop Len Davis. In 1994, Kim Groves, a Lower 9th Ward resident, was shot to death outside of her home by hit man Paul Hardy after she ﬁled a police brutality report against Davis. Davis was given the death penalty for his involvement in the killing, though his sentence was commuted to life by former President Joe Biden in December 2024. Derrick Groves was born about three years after his grandmother’s murder Jillian Kramer and John Simerman contributed to this report.

Email Kasey Bubnash at kasey bubnash@theadvocate.com.

STAFF PHOTO By CHRIS GRANGER

Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson, right, whose department oversees the New Orleans jail, leaves with other law enforcement officials from across the region after a Louisiana State Police news conference Wednesday about the arrest of Derrick Groves, the last of 10 inmates caught after breaking out of prison five months ago.

PROVIDED PHOTO

Convicted killer Derrick Groves was arrested Wednesday following a standoff with police in Atlanta.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By EMILIO MORENATTI

Smoke rises following an Israeli military strike in the northern Gaza Strip on Wednesday.

BRIEFS

FROM STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

Stocks hit records

after brief stumble

Wall Street got back to rising on Wednesday, while the price of gold pushed further past $4,000 per ounce.

The S&P 500 climbed 0.6% a day after snapping a seven-day winning streak and set its latest all-time high. The Dow Jones Industrial Average edged down by 1 point, or less than 0.1%, while the Nasdaq composite rose 1.1% to its own record Trading has been relatively muted recently following the U.S. government’s latest shutdown The closure has delayed the release of several major economic reports that usually move the market. Stocks have been drifting without them or other signals to change expectations for cuts to interest rates by the Federal Reserve, one of the major reasons the stock market has surged since April.

Another force that’s pushed the market to records is the frenzy around artiﬁcial-intelligence technology

Advanced Micro Devices jumped another 11.4% to add to its rally from earlier in the week, when it announced an AI-related deal. AMD was the best-performing stock in the S&P 500.

Right behind was Dell Technologies, which piled more gains onto its own rally from Tuesday, when it talked up its growth opportunities related to AI. Dell rose 9.1% Poet Technologies climbed 17% and likewise added to its surge from Tuesday, when it said it raised $75 million in investment to accelerate its growth. The company sells high-speed optical engines and other products used in the AI systems market.

IRS to furlough nearly half its workforce

The IRS will furlough nearly half of its workforce on Wednesday as part of the ongoing government shutdown, according to an updated contingency plan posted to its website. Most IRS operations are closed, the agency said in a separate letter to its workers.

The news comes after President Donald Trump and Congress failed to strike an agreement to fund federal operations, and the government shutdown has entered its second week, with no discernible endgame in sight.

The agency’s initial Lapsed Appropriations Contingency Plan, which provided for the first five business days of operations, stated that the department would remain open using Democrats’ Inflation Reduction Act funds.

Now, only 39,870 employees, or 53.6%, will remain working as the shutdown continues. It is unclear which workers will remain on the job.

Doreen Greenwald, president of the National Treasury Employees Union, said in a statement that taxpayers should expect increased wait times, backlogs and delays implementing tax law changes as the shutdown continues IMF chief offers this advice: ‘Buckle up’

WASHINGTON The global economy is holding up better than expected despite major shocks such as President Donald Trump’s tariffs, but the head of the International Monetary Fund says that resilience may not last. “Buckle up,” Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said in a speech at a think tank Wednesday. “Uncertainty is the new normal and it is here to stay.” Her comments at the Milken Institute come on a day when gold prices hit $4,000 an ounce for the ﬁrst time as investors seek safe haven from a weaker dollar and geopolitical uncertainty and before the IMF and World Bank hold their annual meetings next week in Washington. Trump’s trade penalties are expected to be in sharp focus when global ﬁnance leaders and central bankers gather

Meme investment fund returns

BY DAMIAN J. TROISE AP business writer

NEWYORK A resurgence of meme stock interest has prompted the return of a one-stop fund for the volatile and quirky investments.

Roundhill Investments is launching a meme ETF, which is an exchange-traded fund consisting solely of meme stocks. Several of those stocks have ridden a wave of meme investment sentiment this year The move comes two years after the provider of ETFs closed the fund because of slumping interest. The new fund trades under

the “MEME” symbol.

Investors have been sporadically turning to meme stocks throughout 2025 in an effort to ﬁnd bargains amid a very pricey stock market.

The S&P 500 has had a busy year setting records. That has made it more difﬁcult for investors to ﬁnd stocks at lower prices that have potential for growth.

“Meme stocks started as a rebellion but have grown into a revolution,” said Dave Mazza, CEO of Roundhill Investments. “With MEME, we offer investors a tool to capture that power through an actively managed ETF that can ro-

tate quickly into the stocks dominating the conversation today.”

The biggest weight in the ETF is Opendoor Technologies, which has had a volatile year The real estate company’s stock was trading below $1 per share through early July, then surged above $3 that month as hedge fund manager Eric Jackson touted the stock on X. It fell back a bit, then gained more steam and closed above $9 on Tuesday

Other heavyweights in the index include Plug Power, which focuses on hydrogen fuel cell technology, and data center company Applied

Digital.

Meme stocks include companies with ﬁnancial prospects that appear dim, but then gain ground for no seemingly fundamental reason. The stock gains are often fueled by online forums.

The stocks are often the target of “short sellers,” or investors betting against the stock. That sometimes prompts other investors to start buying the stock in an effort to get the people betting against the stock to do the same in order to cushion their own losses. This starts a cycle that further boosts the stock price.

Is there an AI bubble? Financial institutions sound a warning

BY KELVIN CHAN and MATT O’BRIEN AP technology writers

LONDON Lingering doubts about the economic promise of artificial intelligence technology are starting to get the attention of financial institutions that raised warning flags this week about an AI investment bubble.

Officials at the Bank of England on Wednesday ﬂagged the growing risk that tech stock prices pumped up by the AI boom could burst.

“The risk of a sharp market correction has increased,” the U.K. central bank said.

The head of the International Monetary Fund raised a similar alarm hours after the Bank of England’s report.

Global stock prices have been surging, ﬁred up by “optimism about the productivity-enhancing potential of AI,” IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said.

But financial conditions could “turn abruptly,” she warned in a speech ahead of the organization’s annual meeting next week in Washington.

Is there an AI bubble?

“Bubbles obviously are never very easy to identify, but we can see there are a few potential symptoms of a bubble in the current

situation,” said Adam Slater, lead economist at Oxford Economics.

Those symptoms include rapid growth in tech stock prices, the fact that tech stocks now comprise about 40% of the S&P 500, market valuations that appear “stretched” beyond their worth and “a general sense of extreme optimism in terms of the underlying technology, despite the enormous uncertainties around what this technology might ultimately yield,” Slater said.

The most optimistic projections about the fruits of generative AI products foresee a transformation of the economy, leading to annual productivity gains that Slater says have not been seen since the reconstruction of Europe after World War II. At the lower end, economist Daron Acemoglu of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology has predicted a “nontrivial but modest” U.S. productivity gain of just 0.7% over a decade.

“You’ve got this incredibly wide range of possibilities,” Slater said. “Nobody really knows where it’s going to land.” Doubts about worth of top AI companies

Investors have closely watched a series of intertwined deals over recent months between top AI developers such as OpenAI, maker of ChatGPT, and the companies build-

ing the costly computer chips and data centers needed to power these AI products.

OpenAI doesn’t turn a proﬁt but the privately held San Francisco ﬁrm is now the world’s most valuable startup, with a market valuation of $500 billion. It recently signed major deals with chipmaker Nvidia, the world’s most valuable publicly traded company, and its rival AMD, and a $300 billion deal with tech giant Oracle for the buildout of future data centers.

The Bank of England didn’t name any speciﬁc companies but said that on “a number of measures, equity market valuations appear stretched, particularly for technology companies focused on Artiﬁcial Intelligence.”

The report said stock market valuations are “comparable to the peak” of the 2000 dotcom bubble, which then deﬂated and led to a recession. With tech stocks accounting for an increasingly large share of benchmark stock indexes, stock markets are “particularly exposed should expectations around the impact of AI become less optimistic.”

The bank outlined so-called downside risks, including shortages of electricity data or chips that could slow AI progress, or technological changes that could lessen the need for the type of AI infrastructure currently being built around the world.

Fed minutes: Most officials supported further rate cuts

BY CHRISTOPHER RUGABER AP economics writer

WASHINGTON Most members of the Federal Reserve’s interestrate setting committee supported further reductions to its key interest rate this year, according to minutes from last month’s meeting released Wednesday A majority of Fed ofﬁcials felt that the risk unemployment would rise had worsened since their previous meeting in July while the risk of rising inﬂation “had either diminished or not increased,” the minutes said. As a result, the central bank decided at its Sept. 16-17 meeting to reduce its key rate by a quarter-point to about 4.1%, its

ﬁrst cut this year Rate cuts by the Fed can gradually lower borrowing costs for things like mortgages, auto loans, and business loans, encouraging more spending and hiring.

Still, the minutes underscored the deep division on the 19-person committee between those who feel that the Fed’s short-term rate is too high and weighing on the economy, and those who point to persistent inﬂation that remains above the central bank’s 2% target as evidence that the Fed needs to be cautious about reducing rates. Only one official formally dissented from the quarter-point cut: Stephen Miran, who was appointed

by President Donald Trump and was approved by the Senate just hours before the meeting began He supported a larger, half-point cut instead.

But the minutes noted that “a few” policymakers said they could have supported keeping rates unchanged, or said that “there was merit” in such a step.

The differences help explain Chair Jerome Powell’s statements during the news conference that followed the meeting: “There are no risk-free paths now It’s not incredibly obvious what to do.” Miran said in remarks Tuesday that he thinks inﬂation will steadily decline back toward the Fed’s 2% target, despite Trump’s tariffs,

and as a result he doesn’t think the Fed’s rate needs to be nearly as high as it is. Rental costs are steadily declining and will bring down inflation, he said, while tariff revenue will reduce the government’s budget deficit and reduce longer-term interest rates, which gives the Fed more room to cut. Yet many other Fed officials remain concerned about stubbornly high inflation, the minutes showed. Jeffrey Schmid, president of the Federal Reserve’s Kansas City branch, said in a speech Monday that “inflation is too high” and argued that the Fed should keep rates high enough to cool demand and prevent inflation from worsening.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By MATT OBRIEN

Stargate, which has a data center complex in Abilene,

La.seeks endto$128M oilspill lawsuit

Murrill urgesDOJ to drop suit,says it harms energy industry

BY ALEX LUBBEN Staff writer

State Attorney General Liz Murrill has asked the federal governmenttodrop a$128 million lawsuit against insurance companies over the longest-running spill in U.S. history —leaking off Louisiana’scoast for 21 years and counting —arguing that the legal effort to recover costs harms the local energy industry

The lawsuit pertains to a spill that beganin2004, when Hurricane Ivan caused an underwater mudslidethat toppled aTaylor Energy— owned oil platform near the mouth of the Mississippi River.Since then, as much as 29,000 gallonsofoil per day have leaked from the site, according to federal estimates.

More than 20 years after the platform toppled, the spill is ongoing, though much of it is being captured by acontainment system

After settling alawsuit with Taylor Energy in 2021, thefederal government sued the oil company’sinsurers in 2024 seeking additional oil spill cleanup funds.

In aSept. 24 letter to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, Murrill argues that the lawsuit is at odds with President Donald Trump’s executive order on “unleashing American energy,” which calls for increasing domestic oil and gas production. She also contends that the litigationrelies on arguments that are “fundamentally contrary to well-settled insurance law.”

In her letter,Murrill said that the Department of Justice “ﬁled the lawsuit in question during the waning days of the Biden administration” and statedthat it

had“directly harmed”Louisiana’senergyindustry.

The Department of Justice did not immediately respond to arequest for comment.It fileda motiononMonday to stay the case due to the ongoing governmentshutdown, which was granted on Tuesday

ThePatrickF.Taylor Foundation, the Taylor family’s philanthropic organization,did not respond to a request for comment.

Continuedcosts for government

Taylor Energy had long downplayedthe extent of theleak and its responsibility for cleaningitup. In 2008, the company sold all of itsoil

andgas interests andset up afundtoclean up the spill. Thecompanycappednine of the25wells at the site of the spill, but argued that the remaining 16 were too risky to plug because they were covered withsediment mixed with oil.

In 2018, the federal government found thata substantial amount of oilwas still leaking from the site and ordered the company to stopthe spill. The company refused,and thegovernment hireda contractor to build an oil containment system around the site and sued Taylor Energy to recoup the costs.

Finally,in2021, the company settled with the federal government for $475 million

Butwiththe spill still underway,the federal governmentsued thecompanies that insured Taylor Energy in the Eastern District of Louisiana for an additional $128 millionplus interestin oil spill response costs.

As aresult of thespill, “the United States hasincurred andwill continue to incur removal costs,” thelawsuit states, andarguesthat the

French presidenttoname anew primeminister

BY SAMUEL PETREQUIN andJOHN LEICESTER Associated Press

PARIS French President

Emmanuel Macron said Wednesday that he will name anew prime minister in the next 48 hours, for now rejecting other options in the face of apolitical storm.

The naming of areplacement for outgoing Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, who abruptly resignedon Monday,will —atleast for now —move France away from the likelihood of snap legislative elections, another possibility that is available to the French leader but which could plunge the EuropeanUnion’ssecondlargest economy into even greater uncertainty

The announcement from Macron’sofﬁce of aprime ministerial appointment before the weekend came after Lecornu —atthe president’srequest—spent the two days after his resignation taking the temperature in Parliament, to see whether there was enough support in the powerful but fractured lower house to form anew government.

Lecornu concluded that there was, even though Macron’scamp and its allies don’thave amajority in the National Assembly and the French leader’sprime ministerial appointments, leading minority governments, have tumbled one after another in quick succession over the past year

The presidential statement said thatinthe wake of his talks with political parties, Lecornu determined that amajority of National Assembly lawmakers don’twantsnaplegislative elections and thatit’s“possible” that they could agree on a2026budget for France by the end of the year “On this basis, the president of theRepublic will name aprime minister with-

St.Tammany Council member to seek Bill Cassidy’sSenateseat

Mandeville resident joins crowded field

BY ALYSE PFEIL Staff writer

First-term St. Tammany Parish Councilmember

insurersare liable for those costs under the1990 Oil Pollution Act.

In 2022, the National Oceanicand Atmospheric Administration saidthatithad removed morethan 1million gallonsofoil from the siteofthe spill.

‘JobsinLouisiana’

Murrillsaidthat theDOJ should not seek oil spill cleanup funds from insurance companies under the 1990 law.She argues that theinsurersalready paid out claims forthe spill when it ﬁrst took place in 2004, and is notresponsible for costs incurred related to the spill since then.

Further,she said that since thelawsuit was ﬁled, insurance companieshaveindicated that they may stop providing oil spill coverage, which could limit oil productioninfederal waters off Louisiana’scoast.

“The continueddegradation of the insurance market for offshore energy operators threatens the economy, jobsinLouisiana, and critical oil productionfrom the U.S.offshore region,” she wrote in the letter

in 48 hours,” thestatement said,without ahintofwho Macron will choose.

Lecornusignaled that it won’t be himagain.

“I’m not chasing the job,” he said. “Mymission is ﬁnished.”

In an interview with broadcaster France Télévisionsbefore Macron’s announcement,the outgoing prime ministersaid his 48 hours of talks with allparties except those on the farleftand farright that refused negotiations had made progress and that“an absolute majority” of lawmakers don’tfor nowsee a needtodissolve the National Assembly, amove that backﬁredonMacron when he last didthat.

Lecornu said Macron’s centrist camp and itsallies in the Parliament, plus some opposition parties, could still come together to form anew government.

“There’samajoritythat cangovern,”Lecornu said “I feel that apath is still possible. It is difﬁcult.” The resultfromthe elections triggered byMacron’s stunningNational Assembly dissolution in June 2024 was ahung Parliament. No one group has enough lawmakers in the577-seat cham-

ber to form agovernment alone. Theensuing political deadlock has rattled investors, infuriatedmany votersand frustrated efforts to agree on abudget to tackle France’s mounting state deﬁcit and damaging debts. Without astable majority Macron’s minority governments have lurched from crisis to crisis,collapsing as they sought lawmakers’ support for unpopular cuts to public spending. Lecornu’sresignation on Monday morning camejust 14 hours after he’d named anew Cabinet the night before, with his fragile coalition shatteringinthe face of political and personal rivalries.

To buy more time to weigh his options, Macron then asked the39-yearold Lecornu— aclose ally whohad previously served as defense minister—to reach outagain to partiesin the National Assembly,to trytobuild consensusbehind France’snext budget, an urgent national priority Lecornu said the political parties he consulted all feel that agreement on

Kathy Seiden anno unc ed Wednesday sheisrunning for U.S. Senate, joining afield of several Republican candidates who hope to knockincumbent Sen. Bill Cassidy out of the race in aclosed party primary set for April.

“I’m running because Washington has lost touch with therealchallenges familiesface everysingle day,” Seiden said in astatementannouncing her candidacy

“As amother of four,I’ve livedthose struggles. We need aﬁghter who stands unapologetically for faith, family,and the American way of life.”

Seiden, 54, livesinMandeville. She grew up in Brusly,attendedEpiscopal High School in Baton Rouge and has abachelor’s degree from LSU in communications. Her campaign website lists her stance on adozen political issues that demonstrate her alignment with President Donald Trump’s “Make AmericaGreat Again” agenda: Christian faith, secure borders, opposition to abortion, support for gun rights, abelief that only twogenders exist, and support forRobert F. KennedyJr.’s “MakeAmerica

HealthyAgain” movement, among others.

As part of the campaign launch, Seiden sharedasixminute video titled “The Outsider” that is meant to be the ﬁrst in aseries that “captures her outsider journey,” according to her campaign announcement. In thevideo, Seiden saidthatsomeonewho is amother to four boys “is exactly what Washington needs right now.” She goes on to level a popular line of attack againstCassidy,saying that his 2021 impeachment vote to convict Trumpfor inciting an insurrection at theU.S. Capitol on Jan. 6thatyear “should disqualify youfrombeing a Republican United States senator.” In response to being called “another conservative Christian Biblethumper,” Seiden, in the video, says, “That’s exactly whoIam. That’sexactly what this nation needs right now.”

Along with Cassidy,major Republican competitors in the race include state Sen. BlakeMiguez, R-New Iberia, state Treasurer John Fleming and Public Service Commissioner Eric Skrmetta —all of whomare working to brandthemselvesashaving the strongest MAGA credentials.

Sammy Wyatt, chief compliance and investigation ofﬁcer at LSU Health Shreveport, is also running as aRepublican. U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow R-Baton Rouge, and state Rep. Julie Emerson, RCarencro,are also considering getting into the race. Email Alyse Pfeil at alyse.pfeil@theadvocate. com.

Seiden

PHOTO PROVIDEDByCOUVILLION GROUP

Lecornu, right, and France’sPresidentEmmanuel Macron talk at the end of an address by the president to army leaders in Paris in July

Officialssay evidence stilllacking that targeted boatscarried drugs

Administration says videoclips are‘hard evidence’

BY AAMER MADHANI, SEUNG MIN KIM, MATTHEW LEE and KONSTANTIN TOROPIN Associated Press

WASHINGTON TheTrump administration has yet to provide underlying evidence to lawmakers proving that alleged drug-smuggling boats targeted by the U.S. military in aseries of fatal strikes were in fact carrying narcotics, according to two U.S. ofﬁcials familiarwith the matter

As bipartisan frustration with the strikes mounts, the Senate was voting Wednesday on awar powers resolutionthat would require the president to seek authorization from Congressbefore further military strikes on the cartels. The military has carried out at least four strikes on boats that the White House said were carrying drugs, including three it said originated from Venezuela.Itsaid 21 people were killed in the strikes.

The ofﬁcials, who were not authorized to comment publicly about the matter and spoke on the condition of anonymity,said the administration has only pointed to unclassified video clips of the strikes posted on social media by President Donald Trump and Defense SecretaryPete Hegseth and has yet to produce “hard evidence’they were carrying drugs.

The administrationhas not explained why it has blown up vesselsinsome cases,while carrying out the typical practice of stopping boats and seizing drugs at other times, one of the ofﬁcials said.

The Republican administration, in aretroactive memo justifying one of the strikes last month, declared

ASSOCIATEDPRESS PHOTO By EVAN VUCCI

The Trump administration has yettoproduce ‘hard evidence’ thattargetedvessels were carrying drugs, officials say.

drug cartelstobe“unlawful combatants” and said the United States is nowinan “armed conﬂict” withthem.

Thedeclaration has raised stark questions about how Trump intends to use his war powers. It also has been perceived by several senators as pursuinga new legal framework to carryout lethal action andhas raised questions about the role of Congress in authorizingany such action.

Asked about the lack of underlying evidence provided to Congress, the Pentagon on Wednesday pointed to videos of the strikes, which do not conﬁrm the presence of drugs.

ThePentagon also noted public statements by Hegseth,includingasocial media post following the latestfatal strike in which he said, “Our intelligence, without adoubt, conﬁrmed that this vessel was trafﬁckingnarcotics, the people onboard were narco-terrorists, and they were operatingona knownnarco-trafficking transit route.”

Lawmakers have expressed frustrationthat theadministration is offering littledetail about how it came to decide the U.S.is in armed conﬂict with car-

tels or even detailing which criminal organizationsit claims as “unlawful combatants.”

Independent Sen. AngusKingofMaine said Wednesday that he and other members of theSenate Armed Services Committee, in aclassiﬁedbrieﬁng this week, were denied access to the Pentagon’slegal opinion aboutwhetherthe boat strikes adhered to U.S. law

His comments came at a confirmationhearingfor Joshua Simmons, atop legal advisertoSecretary of State Marco Rubio, to be theCIA’s next general counsel.

At thehearing, Simmons refused to say whether he hadpartaken in anydeliberations over the targeting of cartels in the Caribbean, saying any legal advice he gave Rubio or other U.S. ofﬁcials would’ve been conﬁdential.

AttorneyGeneral Pam Bondi was pressed at aSenate hearing Tuesday about what advice she’sprovided Trump to legally justifythe strikes. She said, “I’mnot going to discuss any legal advice that my department may or may not have given or issued at the direction of thepresident.”

ActivistsonGazaflotilla claimharsh treatment

BY MICHELLE GUMEDE Associated Press

JOHANNESBURG SixSouth African activists whowere detained by Israel while attemptingtoreach Gaza as part of an aid flotilla saidWednesday they were subjected to harsher treatmentthan other detainees because of SouthAfrica’s role in agenocide case against Israel.

Speakingafter their return, the activists,which include agrandson of Nelson Mandela, saidthey were singledout afterIsraeliguards noticed that theywere from SouthAfrica. TwoMuslim women among the group saidthey had their hijabs ripped off their heads and were forcedtostrip naked in front of Israeli soldiers.

Since 2023, SouthAfrica has led ahighlycontentiouscase in the United Nations’ top court accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza Mandla Mandela, grandson of South Africa’santiapartheidicon and first Black president, said the South African activists on the flotillawere “harshly dealtwith” because their country has confronted Israel over its actionsin Gazabylaunching the case at the InternationalCourt of Justice.

Their treatmentwas “becauseweare anation that dared through our government to take apartheid Israel to the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court andholdthemaccountable,” Mandela said.

South African activists Fatima Hendricks and Zaheera Soomar toldreportersatJohannesburg’s OR Tamboairport on their return that their hijabs wereforcibly removed from theirheads while they were detained by Is-

rael,whichdidn’thappen to otherMuslim female activists.

“Both of us were forced behind ascreen,our heads pushed against the wall andcompletely stripped nakedinfront of Israeli soldiers.Thisdid nothappen to other women,” said Soomar.“Whentheysaw our passports, this is how we were treated as South Africans.”

Israel’sForeign Ministry has denied any claims of mistreatment and noted that all activists were given the opportunity to voluntarily be deported without detention.Itsaid Wednesdayinresponse to the allegationsbythe South African activists that “all thelegal rightsof the participants in this PR stunt were andwill continue to be fully upheld. The liestheyare spreading are part of their pre-planned fake news campaign.”

The six South Africans wereamong some450 activists who were arrested as Israeli forces intercepted the GlobalSumud Flotilla,aﬂeet of 42 boats seeking to break Israel’s navalblockadeofGazaand delivera symbolic amount

of aidtoPalestinians in the famine-strickenterritory They were detained last week andbrought to Israel Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg was amongthe activists arrested. Thunberg and activists fromothercountries have also claimed they were mistreated by Israeli guards, claimsIsrael hasrejectedas“brazenlies.”

The Israeli military intercepted another flotilla earlyWednesday anddetained scores moreactivists on board. Mandla Mandela has previously been criticized over his alleged support for the Palestinian militant group Hamas andwas denied avisa to travel to the U.K. last year SouthAfricahas long been asupporter of the Palestiniancause dating back to when Nelson Mandela was president. Thecountryhas compared Israel’s treatment of Palestinians to the South African apartheidgovernment’s treatment of Black South Africansduring itsprevious period of racial segregation. Israel has rejected thatcomparison.

St.Tammany sheriffmay endcontracts Deputies wouldbepulledover financialdispute

BY WILLIE SWETT Staff writer

Come Jan. 1, theremight notbe

uniformed St. Tammany sheriff’s deputies stafﬁng the checkpointat the entranceofthe parish courthouse. Or at Parish Council meetings. Or at the Towers in Slidell. In another escalation of theskirmishes between St. Tammany Parish governmentand the criminal justice agencies it is requiredto

provide money to, alawyer for St.Tammany Sheriff Randy Smith toldParish

President Mike Cooper that at the end of the year, theSheriff’s Office will stop providing security at government buildings across theparish

“Weare sorry it has come to this, but yourinactions and inability to communicate have left us with no choice,” Smith’s

lawyer,Andrew R. Capitelli, wrote in an Oct. 6letter to Cooper The sheriff’s threat to terminate securitycontracts at parishbuildings is the latest barb in a yearslong legal battlebetweenthe parish and the sheriff over how much the parish has to pay to fund St.Tammany’sjail. Theparishhas in recent yearsstruggled to ﬁnd fund-

ing for many parts of its criminal justicesystem, including the jail, thejudges andthe District Attorney’sOfﬁce.

Themoney woes largelystem from the parish’srepeated inability to get voters to pass tax propositions that would provide revenue to cover those criminal justice costs. Votershave shot downsix proposals since 2016.

TheSheriff’s Office now suggestscutting security contracts as away to ﬁndfunds.“If money’sa problem, let’suse that towardthe jail,” Capitelli said in an interview

clears underbrush from around the abandoned DeGaulle

in Algiers on Wednesday. City officials say theywill resume demolitionofthe buildings.

DeGaulle Manor demolition resumes

Plan forAlgiers site is uncertain

BY SOPHIE KASAKOVE Staff writer

At the sprawling former DeGaulle Manor apartment complex in Algiers on Wednesday,an earthmover whirred back to life after nearly a year andahalf of silence.

Originally announced in May 2024, contracting issues stalled the demolition of the abandoned apartments, but city officials saidWednesday that the work is back on. But whileofﬁcialsare againcelebrating the demolition as the longawaited answertocomplaints by Algiers residents about DeGaulle Manor’sdilapidated condition, ques-

NewOrleans Code Enforcement Director AnthonyDavis, left, talks to the media gathered nextto theDeGaulle Manor in Algiers on Wednesday.

tionsabout the long-term future of the site remainunanswered. Contractorswill begin withasbestosabatement on the former450-unit

complexbeforedemolishing two and ahalfofthe remaining 12 buildings at the site by the end of the year,said AnthonyDavis, the city’s code enforcementdirector.The rest of the buildingsare slated to be demolished by theend of 2026, Davis said.

“Thisproject wassimplydelayed, it was never forgotten about,”Davis said. “As with any other project of this size andscope, you have scope creep that comes in.”

Thetotal costofthe demolition has doubled from initial estimates to $3.98 million, including more than $1 millionfor asbestos abatement, Davis saidataCityCouncil committee meeting last month. That cost will be fronted by thecity and then billed to landlord Josh Bruno, who is the

ä See DEMOLITION, page 2B

Incumbent,two challengersvie forN.O.DistrictDseat

Allthree candidates pledge to improveservices

BY JONI HESS Staff writer

NewOrleans District Dvoterswilldecide between awell-known incumbentand twochallengers who pledge to improve basic services and infrastructure woesin acity each has called “broken.” City Council member Eugene Green, business owner Leilani Heno and community activist Belden Batiste seek to represent adistrictthatencompasses Gentilly andportionsofNew OrleansEast, Lakeview, and the 7th and 8th Wards. Incumbent Green is vying fora second term in the Oct. 11 primary with acampaign platform centered on bringing more resources to community-facing nonproﬁts and underserved areas. Batiste, 51, is alongtime local activist and self-described “people’schampion” whouses socialmedia, City Council meetings, protests andother events as platforms to speak out on local issues. Amember of citizen activist group the New OrleansUnitedFront,Batiste has spoken out againstending the New Orleans Police Department’sfederal consent decree andin2022, he helped organize the failed efforttorecall MayorLaToya Cantrell from ofﬁce, months after running to unseat her in aprevious election. “I’m doing morethan any politician is ever doing because I’m always out there

Capitelli said the Sheriff’s Office would terminate a$112,000 contract for security at the TowersBuilding in Slidell, a$95,000 annual contract forsecurity at the Parish Government Complex near Mandeville and another contract for securityatthe St.Tammany Justice Center in Covington, all effective Dec. 31. “Wewillbehappy to assist the Parish transition to thenew security vendor of yourchoice,” Capitelli wrote.

Jefferson IG slams LeeSheng

Parish president blamed for finance department woes

BY LARA NICHOLSON Staff writer

Jefferson Parish’swatchdog is laying blame at Parish President Cynthia Lee Sheng’sfeet for the litany of problems thathaveplaguedthe finance department and caused the delay of multiple audits, thewithdrawal of the parish bond rating, and the freeze of nearly $2 million in grants.

JeffersonParish InspectorGeneral KimChatelain published a38-pageletterlast weeklambasting the administration, saying problems in the finance department had less to do with uncontrollable factorspreviously cited by Lee Sheng —like anationalaccounting shortage and surge in emergency grant funding —and moretodowith broader mismanagement and afailure to respond to rising problems sooner

BY ALEXLUBBEN Staff writer

ELECTION 2025 CITy COUNCIL

fighting for people when they stand on thesehardissues,”hesaid.

Batistecalledout anumberofqualityof-life issues he wantstoaddress that he believes have contributedtothe city’s population decline, such as public safety concerns andsoaringhousing andutility costs. Infrastructure challengesare another reason, he said, one that requires responsive leadership to hold contractors accountable when projects aren’tcompleted.

Batiste said addressing theroot causes of crime is rarely addressed by public ofﬁcials.Inresponse, he wants to createa youthcongress to engage young people andmore skilled job training opportunities. Batiste also wants to work with the

ä See SEAT, page 2B

The saltwater wedge is continuing to creep up the Mississippi River, but it isn’texpected to reach New Orleans or threaten its water supply The U.S. ArmyCorps of Engineers said that, thanks to abrief increase in the ﬂow of the river over the past week, the salt water waspushedback afew miles to just south of Myrtle Grove in Plaquemines Parish, where the agency is building an underwater sill to prevent the salt water from moving farther upriver Corps spokesperson Ricky Boyett said Wednesday that construction of the sill is nearly complete and will be ﬁnished by Sunday.The salt water is expected to reach the sill by Oct. 18. “Westill need rain in the river

leys,” Boyett said. “The sooner the better.”

Smith

LeeSheng Chatelain

STAFF PHOTOSByCHRISGRANGER

Abulldozer

Manor

Batiste Green Heno

Court: AG canrepresent La.indeath rowcase

Murrill hasstepped into post-conviction casesinvolving deathrow prisoners

BY JOHN SIMERMAN Staff writer

Louisiana Attorney General Liz

Murrillcan representthe state in capital post-conviction cases when the local district attorney requests it, the Louisiana Supreme Courtruled in thecase of Antoinette Frank, aformer New Orleans Police Department ofﬁcer whowas convicted 30 years ago in an infamous triple murder

The high court on Tuesday overturned aruling in May by Orleans Parish Criminal District Judge Kimya Holmes, who refused to allow Murrill’sofﬁce or the private attorneys she hired to represent the state in Frank’scase.

Murrill hassteppedintoa host of post-conviction cases involving death row prisoners since

Louisiana resumed executions this spring after a15-year hiatus. Thestate has expanded its menu of execution options to include nitrogen gas and electrocution.

In March,the state used nitrogengas for the ﬁrst time to kill Jessie Hoffman, who was convicted and sentenced to die for the 1996 abduction,rapeand execution-style slaying of 28-year-oldMary“Molly” Elliottinrural St.Tammany Parish. No additional death row inmates have been executed since then, though Murrill has pressed to speed their paths to the executionchamber.She has argued that many of the state’s56condemned prisoners have effectively abandoned theirpost-conviction claims by letting them languish.

Frank’scase at the invitation of District Attorney Jason Williams, whoina March 14 letter cited “the commonality of theissuesinthe various cases and the beneﬁtsofa united appellateresponse.”

defendant or trial court to question the scope of thatrepresentation where thedistrictattorney requested that theattorneygeneral enroll and represent the state,” thecourt wrote.

But Holmes found that Murrill hadsought the case, thatWilliamshadn’t recused from it andthat the state Constitution doesn’tallow theattorney general to run“point.”

Holmes found that“no provision in the law and LouisianaConstitution allows for the Attorney General’s participation in this case, and there is no causefor the Attorney General to assume the duties of the District Attorney in this case.”

Advocatesfor deathrow inmates say none of those on death roware currently eligible to be killed, with their state post-convictionorfederal habeas corpus proceedings still pending. Murrill’soffice took over

On Tuesday,the state high court reversed her.Though it agreed to keep Frank’spetition for post-conviction relief alive, the Supreme Court found that post-conviction is more of acivil proceeding than acriminalone,and Holmes couldn’tstop Murrill from stepping in.

“There is no authority forthe

Fire department seeksfee renewalvote

Slidellmayor election overshadowing parcel levy

BY BOBWARREN Staff writer

The race for Slidellmayor has commanded most of the attention in St. Tammany Parishheading into Saturday’selection,but voters in Slidell and the surrounding area will also decidea parcel fee issue for the ﬁre department St. Tammany Parish’sFireDistrict No. 1isasking voters across aswath of the eastern side of the parish to renew a$39-per-parcel fee that generates around $1.3 million annually the department. The fee,which is imposed on all pieces of property that have a structure, was ﬁrst approvedby votersin2006and renewedin 2015 with 72% of voters saying “yes.”

The parcel fee and thespecial electionfor mayor are the lone

SEAT

Continued from page1B

Assessor’sOfficeonproperty tax freezes for the elderly and impose housing rent capsina city where people are “hurting everyday.”

Batiste said he has notreceived any endorsements. Green, 67,ownsalocal real estate and property management firm. He touts alengthy history of politicalengagement that drew him to public ofﬁce from his time as president of Harvard University’sBlack Student Association to heading the Economic Development division under former Mayor Mark Morial decades later Topofmind for Green is ensuring programslike University Medical Center’sSeedsofNola Trauma Recovery Center,which provides services for crime victims, have what they need to remain effective.Green said the councilshould allocate more money for victims, and that the center is akey part of the city’s crime prevention efforts.

Focusing on the positive work of the city’svaried nonproﬁts, Green wants to build on the council’sRecreation and Cultural Fund, established in 2022. The fund offers grants to organizations like the NAACP’s ACTSO program, which gives young people the opportunity to compete nationally in academics and other categories

“I’m pleased to have been in aposition to providethemwith support,” he said. “That’s going to be atop priority because I’ve seen so much success.”

Green said he wants to bring more investments to the Desire neighborhood, where he helped securecity funding forthe private Good Shepherd School Plans are also underwayinthat area for amultipurpose facility that will feature agrocery store, health clinic and ofﬁce space. Greenisendorsedbythe Alliance for Good Government, the United Teachers of New Orleans and the Independent Women’s Organization, amongothers. Heno, 55, owns aﬁtness com-

items on asmall St. Tammany ballot. Bill Borchert, aformer Slidell City Council member who became mayor when Greg Cromer resigned,and Randy Fandal,the city’spolice chief since 2016, are battling to serve the remainderofCromer’sterm thatruns through June 2026.

Voters in Wards 8and 9will vote onthe fee.Itwould be in addition tothe property tax that area residentspay each year for department costs.

Voters have approved 35 mills, but the property tax is currently leviedat 32.41 mills and the districthas said it wouldremainat that rate next year as well, said Chad Duffaut,chief of administrationfor the ﬁre district.

The parcel feecame about in thedays following Hurricane Katrina, which caused extensive damageacross St.Tammany that threatenedthe various agencies’ abilitytoraise revenue.

“The parcel fee is steady,”Duffaut said, notingthatit’sless dependent property values andthe

economy than property taxes or sales taxes.

He said having theparcel fee has made it easier for the ﬁre district to roll back the mills it collectsinmany years.

With 210 employeesand nine stations, Fire District No. 1isthe largest in the parish. There are around 108,000 residents in the district’sservice area.

“And that doesn’tinclude all thethrough traffic,”Duffaut said, noting that the Slidell area swells each dayaspeople drive in to work or shop.“You’re talking about alot of people.”

The parcel fee doesn’tappear to have generated any organized opposition, and Duffaut said he andFire ChiefChris Kaufmann have pushed the fee during meeting withgroups acrossthe area.

He said the fee is nothomestead exempt and is uniform fromproperty to property: Any parcel withastructure pays the same.

“This way everybody’sgot skin in thegame,” Duffaut said.

MEET THECANDIDATES

BELDEN BAPTISTE

Age55, Born in NewOrleans,Lives in New Orleans

HS,College,AdvancedEducation:

Graduated from Frederick Douglass High School

Currentjob,formerjobs: none reported Party, relevant political experience or campaign work: Democrat; New Orleans mayor2021; U.S. House LouisianaDistrict 2; Louisiana House of Representatives District 97

More info: www.beldenbatiste.com/

EUGENE GREEN

Age67, Born in NewOrleans,Lives in New Orleans

HS,College,AdvancedEducation:

Graduated from St.Augustine High School, bachelor’s degree in economics from HarvardUniversity; master’sdegree

Currentjob,formerjobs: business owner;led the Office of Smalland EmergingBusiness Development underformerNew Orleans Mayor

pany andspends timecoaching small-business owners outsideof work. She believes the city operates under abroken system that governsby“patchwork,”rather than permanent,solutions Theissues—pockmarked streets, crimeand the difﬁculties residentsand businessowners have getting basic things done, like obtaining city permits —impactresidents’qualityof life and deter newbusinesses fromsetting up shop in the city, she said.

“Wehave to ﬁx our infrastructureﬁrst. Forme, it’s aboutthe basics,” she said. As acouncilmember,Heno wouldprioritize an improved tracking system for cityservices —trash pickup, roadway projects and blight, for example. The system couldtrack certain metrics such as service delivery times, cost-effectiveness

Chief Justice John Weimer and Justice JohnMichael Guidrydissented, both saying that Murrill’s office filed the appeal too late Frank wasconvicted of one of themostnotorious crimes in modern New Orleans’ history: The slayings of fellow police Officer Ronald Williams II, alongwith 17-year-old Cuong Vu and 24-yearold Ha Vu at the Kim Ahn Noodle House in NewOrleans East. Her co-defendant, Rogers LaCaze, was removed from death row in a2019 deal with former Orleans Parish District Attorney Leon Cannizzaro, who now heads Murrill’scriminal division. Frankhas argued that alifetime of abuse at the hands of her father left hervulnerable to the influence of LaCaze, adrugdealer who sheclaims forced her to shoot the Vus. Until last year,there had been

little activity from either side in hercasesince2009, when Frank’s attorneys ﬁleda supplemental petition for post-conviction relief, alleging that egregiousactions by prosecutors andanineffective lawyerdeniedher afairtrial. The state neverﬁleda response. “I’mgrateful theLouisiana Supreme Court put to rest this frivolous claimregarding the Attorney General’s authority to defend these cases in state or federal court,” Murrill saidina statement. “This was another attempt by deathpenalty lawyers to delay these proceedings, and I’m glad the (court) shut it down.”

Matilde Carbia,anattorneywith the MwalimuCenter for Justice, which represents Frank and dozens of other death row prisoners in Louisiana, said the court’sruling didn’taddress the substance of Frank’spost-conviction claims, or Murrill’sargument that Frank waited toolong.

Holmes has set an evidentiary hearing on Frank’spost-conviction claimsfor theweekofDec 16.

Suspectdiedbysuicide on I-10,coroner says

BY MICHELLE HUNTER Staff writer

ANew Orleansman accused of shootingand killing aBrennan’s Restaurant sous chef during a Mid-Citycarjacking later died of aself-inﬂicted gunshot wound to the head, according to an autopsy by the JeffersonParish Coroner’s Ofﬁce.

Raymond Wells, 21, was pronounced dead Oct. 3, three days after Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Ofﬁce deputies found him wounded behind the wheel of astolen car on Interstate 10 in Metairie. Had Wells survived the injury, he would have been arrested and booked with first-degree murder in the death of 36-year-old Carl Morgan, officials with the New OrleansPolice Department have said.

DEMOLITION

Continuedfrom page1B

Mark Morial’s administration, head of NewOrleans East Business and Industrial Park; chief of stafffor former U.S. Rep.WilliamJefferson Party, relevant political experience or campaign work: Democrat; ran forLouisiana House of Representatives, District 97 in 2019 and 2014; ran for City Council AtLargeseat in 2014 More info: www.voteeugenegreen.com

LEILANI HENO

Age55, BorninNew Orleans, Lives in New Orleans

HS,College,Advanced Education: Graduatedfrom Abramson High School, bachelor’sdegrees in marketingand finance; master’s degree, Harvard University; master’s degree in Business Administration fromthe University of NewOrleans Current job,former jobs: business owner Party, relevant political experience or campaign work: ran forNew Orleans mayorin2021

and public satisfaction. It would serve as aguide for city budget decisions,she said. Heno saidthat thecity’spolicy to award infrastructure work to thecheapest bidder —astep oftenrequired by publicbid laws —contributes to project delays When unforeseen costs arise, it often falls on the city’sshoulders, shesaid. Instead, Heno said the city should addaccountability measures to firms’ contracts to hold theirfeet to the fire, such as consequences for misseddeadlines or incentives forfinishing on time. Heno said herNoParty affiliation means she’snot tied to “either side” of the political aisle. She is endorsed by theForum for Equality

Email Ben Myersatbmyers@ theadvocate.com

registered agent of the limited liability corporation that has owned theproperty since 2017. Bruno,who stood beside ofﬁcials at the podium on Wednesday,has insisted that the property is structurally sound and should be rehabilitatedratherthandemolished. The city issued an emergency demolitionpermit for thepropertyin June 2024, citing “imminent danger of collapse” conditions. Bruno, who did notgive an ofﬁcial statement at the news conference Wednesday, said in an interview that the property is under contract with adeveloper, the ORWO Family group, to rehabilitate theremainingstructures into amultiuseresidential and commercial development. Arepresentative of the development companydid not respond to arequest for comment.

Bruno said thatbydemolishing DeGaulle Manor, the city would be “wasting millions of dollars, taxpayermoney,and delaying development. …The buyer is under contract; the buyers are ready to close.” Bruno is currently embroiledinanumber of legal battles over other deteriorating propertiesunder his care and, most recently,over whatpolice said was an attempt to run downatenant in avehicle.

Council member Freddie King, whosedistrictincludes theproperty,saidthat he doesn’t“have many details” about the proposed redevelopmentplanbut saidheis “very open to having acommunity meeting with Algiers residents at the forefront to discuss whatthe potential plan may be.”

“But we are goingtomoveforward,”hecontinued. “Wedon’t have time for delays. We don’t have time for‘maybe’ —you see what that gives you.” Kelsey Foster,the former executive director of theAlgiers Economic Development Foundation whoisrunning to unseatKing in theOct. 11 District Celection, said she believes that failing to explore opportunities to rehabilitate the property rather than demolish it would be “irresponsible.”

“The city of New Orleanscannot afford a$4million demolition that taxpayers areunlikely to recoup anytime soon,” said Foster

Morgan was picking up his youngson from daycare at the Abeona House Child Discovery Center on Canal Street on the evening of Sept. 30 when New Orleans police say Wells approached him in aback parking lot.

Wells killed Morgan and stole his vehicle before fleeing the scene, authorities said. The NOPD tracked the car using license-plate recognition cameras, tracing it into Jefferson Parish. Jefferson Parish deputies found the stolen car stopped on the left shoulderofI-10’swestbound lanes, near the Bonnabel Boulevard exit. Editor’snote: The national suicide and crisis lifeline is available by calling or texting 988. There is also an online chat at 988lifeline. org.

“Rather than explore all viable alternatives, this decision appears drivenmore by Saturday’selection than by asound understandingof economic development policy and outcomes.”

JacksonKimbrell, who is also running for the council seat, said that he is “disappointedthat it’s taken so long” to pursue the demolition. He said that the city needstovet anypossible buyer to ensurethattheyare “reputable” andshould require anyredevelopment plantoinclude affordable housing.

“Weare in desperate need”of affordable housing, Kimbrell said.

EliotBarron,who is also running forthe seat, similarly raised an eyebrow at the timing, but said he supports the demolition. However, he saidhehopes the site is redeveloped with a“numberofunits similar to what wasthere before.”

As he walked past the overgrownsite on Wednesday —grass andtrees blocking muchofthe five-story cement building from view—Algiers resident Howard Greenwridge said he is glad to see the city addressing the “filthy” property

But he, too, questioned whether demolition wasthe best solution.

“They should remodel it. …It’s too much property to go wasted right there,” Greenwridge said. Email SophieKasakove at sophie.kasakove@theadvocate. com.

4: 4-3-8-7

5: 0-3-4-2-4

Frank

SALTWATER

Continued from page1B

Asaltwater wedge is the phenomenon of salt water moving up theMississippi River from the Gulfof Mexico when the river ﬂow decreases due to drought. The New Orleans metro area gets its drinking water from intakes in the Mississippi River.Salt water can damage municipal water systems and corrode pipes, causing lead to leach into supplies.

High levels of salt in drinkingwaterare also aproblem for vulnerable populations, including pregnant womenand those with liver or kidney conditions. While the wedge likely won’tprogress as far as it did in 2023, when it overtopped the sill and was projected to reach New Orleans, river levels will continue to drop overthe next month.

The river is now ﬂowing

IG

Continued from page1B

The letter goes on to further chide Lee Sheng for not having acorrective action plan or timeline as the parish pays $8.2 million to consulting firm Deloitte and Touche to bolster and restructure the department, which Chatelain called “an unsustainable solution” in an interview

Tuesday “The Parish’sunprecedented delay in producing timely audited ﬁnancial statements reflects more than isolated operational challenges; it signals systemic weaknesses in continuity,leadership stability,process documentation, and internal controls,” the inspector general wrote in her letter

The parish fell behind on its audits starting in 2022 and earlier this year lost its top-notch bond rating from twomajorcredit rating agencies.

The late documents have also caused the freezeof about $1.9 million in grants from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and the downgrade of the east bank’sstate water grade from “A” to “B,” according to Chatelain’sletter

LeeSheng responds

Lee Sheng said last week that the 2023 audit had been submitted, 15 months late, and the 2024 auditwould be submitted by March —atwhich point the parish can request to have its bond rating reinstated. The parish plans to be back on schedule for the 2025 audit.

She has previouslysaid the finance department struggled to keepupwith themillions of dollars in emergency financial aid after recent hurricanes and COVID-19,creating18 times the work without an increase in manpower

Lee Sheng also has attributed the late audits to heavy turnover,hiring dif-

FUNDING

Continued frompage1B

Legalhistory

St. Tammany’ssheriff and parish government, which each control their own budgets, have vastly different views on what they are obligated to budget for the parish’sjail, court records show The sheriff argues in a lawsuit ﬁled by the parish in 2022 that the parish is obligated to pay for almost everything associated with the jail, from the salaries of the deputies there to the food the staff serves. The parish, meanwhile, has contended its responsibilities are limited to paying to maintain the jail, as well as certain expenses associated with “parish prisoners,” meaning people with charges pending in St. Tammany Parish, as

at 215,000 cubic feet per second.That’sexpected to dropto160,000 cubic feet per second in the next month. TheCorpsneeds that flow to double —to 400,000cubic feet persecond,enough to washaway the underwater sill and pushsalt water back out into the Gulf Last month, theNational Oceanicand Atmospheric Administration reported that drought in the Ohio River Basin since early Augusthas contributed to low water levels in theMississippi. Normally,the Ohio River supplies abouthalf of the water in the lower Mississippi, but is currently contributing only about 8%.

Becauseofthe ongoing government shutdown, NOAAisnot providing updatesonhow drought is affecting water ﬂows on the lower Mississippi. The river is about 2feet 10 inches above sea level at the Carrollton gauge in NewOrleans,and it is projected to remain at about that depth for the next

ficulties and outdated accounting software that the parish is now transitioning out of with Deloitte’shelp. She added that theparish is contemplatingmajor organizational changes and its operating proceduresin hopes of preventing future issues.

LeeSheng said Tuesday she did not disagree with Chatelain’sletterand that her administration is “trying to turnitfor the better,” but declined to respondon Chatelain’s comments.

“These are matters of the utmost concern to theadministration,” Lee Sheng wroteina response tothe inspector general.“At the sametime, we believethe correctivesteps already underway —together with continuedoversight and support from our partners —places us on apath toward long-term stability.

Staffing issues

Theparish contracted Deloitte in May2024 to supplement accounting staffand transition to newsoftware at acost of $5,730,600 for aperiod of three years, althoughithas provedtobeaPandora’s box of inaccuratedatadating back decades formore than 800 grant projects, according to Lee Sheng, who was elected in 2020.

Chatelain’sletter highlighted the turnover of ﬁve accounting directors and four assistantaccounting directors since 2023, following the departure of an accountingoperations manager with 20 years in therole. Both roles are currently vacant.

It also noted that of 11 accountants hired in an 18-month period, eight of themleft thedepartment. Four of them transferred to other departments, and one later returned

Chatelain argued the turnovererodes institutional knowledge and raises red ﬂags regarding thefailure to retain employees,saying “all roadslead to management failures in the ac-

opposedtopeopleincarcerated inthe jailwho have charges pending federally or in other parishes. Ad hocJudge John Conery largelysidedwiththe parishina Februaryruling, andthe Sheriff’s Office has since appealed tothe 1st Circuit Court of Appeal in Baton Rouge. Capitellicontends the parish government is not taking care of maintenance andother jail expensesthat both the parishand the judge agreed it had to cover.Hesaysthat although the parishbudgeted $8.7 million forjailexpenses in 2025, the parish haspaid only$2.7 million for the first half of the parish’sfiscal year He also says theparish hasnot procured contracts for maintenance vendors like plumbers or electricians, leavingthe jail “in an unsuitable condition” and leading the Sheriff’s Officetosend prisoners to

month Climate change is projected to increaseextreme weather events in the Mississippi River Basin andleadtomore severe droughtsand ﬂoods. Before 2022, the Corps hadbuilt asill to prevent theupriver movement of salt water only three times: 1988, 1992 and 2012. It has now built the sill for four consecutive years. Lower PlaqueminesParish hasrepeatedly been on the front lines of the problem,having in previousyears providedbottled water to residents over the course of severalmonths. The Corps also brought in supplies on barges in 2023. The parish has more recently prepared for saltwater intrusion by putting infrastructure in place to pump suppliesdown from BelleChasseorbyprocuring reverse osmosis ﬁltration machines.

Email Alex Lubben at alex.lubben@ theadvocate.com.

counting department.”

Pricey contractors

Chatelainalsocriticized thereliance on Deloitte andraised concerns that theparishdoesn’thave a plan to wean off the pricey contractors. According to Chatelain, the parish has spent $4.17 million on Deloitte in just the ﬁrst year

She alsoclaimed that before the contractor was hired, “everyone inside the parish knew the accounting department was in astate of meltdown,” and that Lee Sheng“wouldn’tdoanything.”

“There is aculture of inaccessibility that creates gaps in communication and damages operations, and accounting happenedtobe acritical function that was harmed by it,” Chatelain said.

The parish increased the contract cap last month to $8.2 million and will likely have to raise it againbefore thework is done.

“We’regoing to dig our way outofit, andwe’re going to be better for it by the end,”Lee Sheng said. “While we’re in themidst of it, we’re going to make it better.”

Chatelain, taskedwith identifying waste, fraud and abuseinthe parish, has been at odds withthe Parish Council and president over the past year,after issuing aletter against abrewpub being built in Gretna using public dollars. Critics said she was acting politically on thematterbypublishing theletter without getting a responsefrom the subjects.

An outside lawyer hired to investigate Chatelain determined she acted within her power,although the councilhas enactednew rulesrequiring she provide aresponse period to subjects of anydocument before publication.

Chatelain will serveuntil 2030 as inspector general.

Email LaraNicholson at lnicholson@theadvocate. com.

jails elsewhere.

Conery found thejail was in poor condition and that “significantmaintenancehas been deferred.”

However,hefoundthe deterioration of thejail dates back to aperiod between 1998and 2021,whenthe sheriffwas responsible for jail maintenance per a contract with parish government. The Cooper administration said in astatement that theSheriff’s Office is being “uncooperative and unreasonable” and not providing it with documentation of how many people in thejail have charges pending in St. Tammany,anallegation Capitelli disputes “Since defeating the Sheriff’s Office in court for theirfailuretomaintain thejail as contracted, we have been attempting to work with thesheriff’s officetoremoveall contracts with them,” theparish said in astatement.

NewOrleans Area Deaths

Obituaries

Bell, Diana Bester,Joshua Boswell, Jo Coleman, Sandra Culotta Jr., Frank Cunningham, Joann Davis, George Ellison, Rosemary Flint, Barry Fritz,Robert Hampton, Celestine Hargrave Jr., Lorenzo Harris, Dorothy Johnson, Barbara Johnson, Janice Johnson, Ronald Kendrick, Damien LeBlanc, Ivy McCallonIII, Earl Monroe,Lucinda Mott, Bernice PerkinsSr.,Kevin Poche’Jr., Clayton Rabito,Janice Riley, Ryan Sanderford,Joanna Sardegna Jr., Nicholas Stewart,April Taylor,Corita Bester,Joshua Rene

EJefferson

Garden of Memories

DianaPierreBell, age76 entered eternalreston September 27, 2025 at Ochsner MedicalCenter. She wasprecededindeath byher husband Murry Bell Jr.,parents Cornelia and PaulPierre, Sr sister Glo‐ria Pierre,and brothers Bruce Pierre,Sr. andRicky Pierre. Sheleavestocarry onher legacy hersons Nolan Paul Lewisand NicholasPierreLewis, granddaughter Alexia Lewis,and brothers Paul Pierre, Jr.and Richard Pierre. Also survived by a hostofnieces, nephews, cousins andfriends.Family and friendsare invitedto attend thevisitationbegin‐ningat8:30a.m.followed bya FuneralMassofChris‐tianBurialfor 10:00 a.m. on SaturdayOctober 11, 2025 atBlessedSacrament St JoanofArc Catholic Church,8321 Burthe Street, New Orleans, LA 70118. Fa‐therCharles Andrus,Ofﬁ‐ciant.Interment:Private ArrangementsEntrusted ToEstelle J. Wilson Funeral Home, Inc. 2715 Danneel Street,NOLA70113. Infor‐mation: (504) 895-4903. To signonlineguest book pleasevisit www.estelle jwilsonfh.com

absurd,her deep listening andher wisecounsel.She hadtruestrength of character;she lived hercode. Shelived with integrity, courage, simplicityand kindness. She also faced thechallenges of life with quietstrength anddignity. Not astrangertolife's sorrows, she nevertheless wascommitted to livingin day tight compartments andfinding joyineach day, especially in therituals of everyday life. Sheinfused life's simple moments anddaily tasks with graceand beauty. Shetruly wasa"Steel Magnolia" Jo created agracious home with generous hospitality andalways delicious homemade meals and beautiful well-keptflower gardens.She especially lovedparties, celebrations andtraditional holidays. Hercontagiouslaugh herwarm smileand the lovely lilt of hersouthern accent will be remembered fondly.

Shewillbegreatly missed by all wholoved her. Jo wasraised in acloseknit,loving communityin Dekalb, Mississippi which she reflected on fondlyall herlife. Sheespecially lovedher years playing varsity andcollegebasketballwith herfriends and teammates.

Shewas thebeloved wife of Dr.H.Frank Boswell, Jr., "Bos", for 54 years. Together,theycreated alovinghomeinNew Orleans, La. Sheissurvived by threeoftheir children: H. Frank Boswell, III of Billings, Montana; Corinne BoswellDenegre and spouse Dr.JohnG.Denegre of Billings, Montana; and Lucy BoswellVarinand spouse Edward C. H. Varin of Hinsdale, Illinois; grandchildrenEleanore Grace Denegre and John Gayle Denegre,Jr. andConstance CorinneVarin.She was preceded in death by her son, Richard Jackson Boswell; herhusband, Bos; and herparents, Corinne andLukeAmacker.

McCallonIII, Earl Sanderford,Joanna Richardson FH Hargrave Jr., Lorenzo Poche’Jr., Clayton NewOrleans Boyd Family Monroe,Lucinda Mott, Bernice Charbonnet Bester,Joshua Harris, Dorothy Kendrick, Damien Coleman, Sandra

PerkinsSr.,Kevin

DW Rhodes

Flint, Barry

Hampton, Celestine

Estelle JWilson

Bell, Diana

Taylor,Corita

Gertrude Geddes

Coleman, Sandra Cunningham, Joann Stewart,April Greenwood

Fritz,Robert

Johnson, Barbara River Parish

HC Alexander

Sardegna Jr., Nicholas St Tammany

EJ Fielding

Rabito,Janice

West Bank

DavisMortuary

Johnson, Ronald Mothe

Culotta Jr., Frank Robinson FH

Johnson, Janice

Riley, Ryan

Joshua Rene’Besterde‐partedthislifeonSeptem‐ber 28, 2025, at theage of 23. Joshua wasbornonDe‐cember22, 2001 to Jimmie WatsonJr.,Chantel Wat‐son,and Robert Bester Joshua is survived by his wife, Kimberly Bester;sis‐ter,Jane' Smothers (Bran‐don); brothers,Justin Smothers(Destiny),Jere‐mie Francis, JimmieWat‐son III, JacobPacknett, and a host of Bester siblings Heisalsosurvivedbyhis niece,KaliyaniFrancis; nephew, Josiah Smothers; grandparents, Albert Fran‐cis,Janet Fobbs,and Eva Bester; aunt,Ashlee Hunter;godmothers, Lynette Henryand Duana Lawrence; specialfriend Reign andmanyother fam‐ily membersand friends. Familyand friendsare in‐vited to attend theHome‐going CelebrationService honoringthe life of Joshua BesteratGreater King Solomon BaptistChurch 3305 AudubonSt.,New Or‐leans,LA70125. on Friday October 10, 2025 at 11:00 am. Visitation at 10:00 am Interment: Mt.Olivet Cemetery, 4000 Norman Mayer Avenue,New Or‐leans,LA70122. Please signthe online guestbook atwww.charbonnetfuner alhome.com. Charbonnet Labat Glapion, Directors (504) 581-4411.

Boswell, Jo

Bettie Jo Amacker Boswell, "Jo", age 89, died peacefully at herBillings, Montanahome surrounded by herfamilyand devoted guardian, Beignet (family poodle). She died of natural causeson9/5/2025 Shelived arichand full life, with great passion, great intensityand great joy. Sheloved herfamily fiercelyand wasa loyal friendtopeople fromall walks of life. She hada sharp, organized mindand wasthe epitome of order andself-discipline. She graced ourlives with her wonderfulsense of humor and herappreciationofthe

Shewas an active member of several civic,charitable andsocialorganizations. Jo would notwish to be remembered, however for what shedid but for whoshe was andher devotion to herfamilyand those she loved. In lieu of flowers, please celebrate herlifebypassingonyourfavorite book to afriendand supporting yourlocal bookstore and libraryorplantinga favorite flower in herhonor Acelebration of life and memorial will be held at a later dateinNew Orleans at Trinity Episcopal Church Thefamilywould like to thank theRev.Melinda St Clair of St.Luke's Episcopal Church, RiverstoneHealth Hospice andher compassionate nurse,Michaela, andall thecaringstaff; herfirst beloved caregiver, Nancy (Synergy)and the devoted Cornerstone caregiversat theend of herlife.

Sandra Coleman, age71 was born on August 1, 1954 inNew Orleans, LA,en‐tered heavensgateon Thursday,October 2, 2025 She waseducatedinthe Orleans Parish School Sys‐tem.Sandrawas amember ofNew St.Matthew Baptist Church in NewOrleans,LA and laterjoinedMt. Gillion Baptist Church in Prairieville, LA in 2024. San‐dra wasthe loving mother ofHarry Coleman(Velvet) and HenryColeman Beloved sister of Deloris Smith (Gus), Mary Coleman Bates,Barbara C. PonderStokes, Dora,Shirley, Ronald, andPhilipCole‐man.She wasalsosur‐vived by nine grandchil‐dren, Jamie, Elrielle,Deja, Kelly,Harry,Jr.,Raven Akien,Sklar,Kenny Stoz, one great-grandchild Ezri, two godchildrenFelicia Ponderand Danielle Cruse and ahostofnieces, nephews,cousins,family and friends. Shewas pre‐ceded in deathbyher par‐entsSanders Colemanand MaryJefferson Coleman; her sixsiblingsJacqueline Coleman Davis, Francis Coleman Rhone, Leslie, Frank,Sanders ColemanJr. and TerryFranklin; andher two nephewsRaymond Bates,RonellBurbank,Sr., and BruceBurbank.Rela‐tives andfriends of the familyare invitedtoattend the CelebrationofLifeSer‐viceonSaturday, October 11, 2025 at Mt.Gillion Bap‐tistChurch,38280 Henry Road, Prairieville,LA70769 at 11:00 a.m. Visitation

Bell,Diana Pierre

✦ Thursday, October 9, 2025 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune from 9:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m.Interment Mount OlivetCemetery, 4000 Nor‐man MayerAvenue,New Orleans,LA70122. Youmay signthe guestbook on http://www.gertrudeged deswillis.com. Gertrude GeddesWillisFuneral HomeInc in charge (504) 522-2525.

FrankF.Culotta Jr a cherished lovedone,a dedicated worker,and a truefriendtomany, passedawaypeacefully on October 2, 2025, in Gretna LA, at theage of 72. Frank led alifemarkedbykind‐ness, loyalty, andanunde‐niablehumor that brought joy to allwho knew him. BornonDecember5,1952 inNew Orleans, Frankwas the sonofthe late FrankF Culotta,Sr. andGeraldine McCrossenCulotta.Frank attended Archbishop Shaw and OPerry Walker High School. Alifelongsports enthusiast, he played foot‐balland baseball with NORDinhis youth. For48 fulfillingyears,Frank workedwiththe NewOr‐leans BoardofTrade and later with theUSDA, em‐bodying theessenceofre‐sponsibilityand profes‐sionalism.His colleagues knewhim as agreat worker—reliable andre‐spectful—atruetestament tohis strong character. But beyondhis impressive ca‐reer,Frank wasknown for the warmth andlovehe sharedwithhis family. Frank’s greatest joycame fromspendingquality time withhis belovedfamily, particularlyduringthe hol‐idays.Hedelighted in gath‐ering around thetable for Thanksgiving, where his mouthwatering turkey be‐camea cherishedtradition thatbrought smilesand fullbellies.Additionally,he had apassion forthe gui‐tar,often dedicating hours tolearningnew songs, which filled hishomewith melodiesand happiness. A fierce NewOrleans Saints fan,Frank wouldeagerly watch thegames while en‐joyingpo’boysandwiches and thecompany of loved ones. Frank'spersonality shone brightly throughhis kindnessand hiscaring concern forothers. While hewas sometimesshy thisonlyaddedto his charm,ashealwaysmade anefforttoensurethose around himfeltvaluedand loved.His senseofhumor could lightupa room,and his eagernesstoembrace liferesonated in every‐thing he did. Frankissur‐vived by hislovelywife, Nataliya; hisdevoted daughters,KimberlyCu‐lotta (Jason)and KristiCu‐lotta;his caring stepchil‐drenOlgaScott andBog‐dan Zhabotin;cherished grandchildren,Jordan Andreànd Jackson Andre`; hisgreat-grand‐son,JaceAndre`; hissup‐portive sisters, KarenCu‐lotta Reganand Chermaine Culotta Cerniglia, along withmanyniecesand nephews.Eachofthem carries apiece of Frankin their hearts,and hislegacy ofloveand laughter will forever remain acomfort‐ing presence in theirlives His familyand friendswill gathertohonor hismem‐ory during avisitationon October 10, 2025,from 11:00 AM to 1:30 PM,fol‐lowed by aMassat1:30PM atHarvey- MotheFuneral Homes,LLC,located at 2100 Westbank Expy, Har‐vey,LA70058. As we re‐memberFrank F. Culotta Jr.,let us carryforward his spiritofkindnessand laughter, keepingalive the joyfulmoments shared and the love that he so gener‐ously spread throughout his life.Pleasevisit mothe‐funerals.comtoviewand signthe online guestbook

Cunningham, Joann

JoannCunningham, age 82, departed this life on Saturday,September 27,

2025, surrounded by her loved ones.Joann was bornonJanuary 15,1943,in Ferriday, LA.Joann at‐tendedMcCarty School Joann wasemployedbyLe PavillonHotel andseveral local daycares throughout her career.She wasa de‐voted parishionerofSt. David Catholic Church in the LowerNinth Ward for manyyears until 2005 whenshe wasdisplaced to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, following HurricaneKat‐rina. There, she was warmlywelcomedbythe Immaculate Conception Catholic Church family where shecontinued to worship faithfully until her passing.She leaves to cherish hermemory4 chil‐dren: James, Gerard,Dana and Danielle,3 bonus daughters,Eloise, Mary Louise, andWanda,over20 grandchildren,over20 great grandchildren and her 3god children.She is precededindeath by her parents,RevesterMelan‐con andSolomon McCoy, her love of over 20 years, EddieMyers,her sister Donna MarieRauls,her daughter “Hilda”Elaine Shorty, andher great grandson, JhaylenZaire Gibbs.Her grace, faith, and unwaveringlovefor her familywillremaincher‐ished in theheartsofall who knew her. Relatives and friendsofthe family are invitedtoattendthe MassofChristian Burial on Saturday, October11, 2025, atImmaculate Conception Catholic Church,1565 Cur‐tis Street,Baton Rouge, LA 70807 at 10:00a.m.Visita‐tionisat9:00a.m.until 10:00 a.m.,withholyrosary at9:30. Intermentisat SouthernMemorialGar‐densCemetery, 3012 Blount Road,Baton Rouge, LA70807. Youmay sign the guest book on http://www gertrudegeddeswillis.com. Gertrude Geddes WillisFu‐neral Home Inc.,incharge (504) 522-2525.

Davis, George'Potty'

George "Potty" Davis enteredinto eternal rest after acourageous battle with renal failure at his home. Alifelongresident of New Orleans,Louisiana. He is preceded in death by his parents, George Lewis Jr and Althea Davis,and one brotherLawrence Davis. He is survived by threesistersand one brother,Sonya (Enal) ClayDesmanglesofAntioch, California, NicoleClayRussell of Homestead, Floridaand Elnora Davis and Kenneth Davis of New Orleans, Louisiana.He leaves to mourn hispassing 21 nieces and nephews and 34 great nieces and nephews. An adoptedfatherinlove Herman Roberts and ahost of family members andfriends. Funeral Services will be held Saturday October11, 2025 at Zion Hill Missionary BaptistChurch, 1126North Robertson Street, New Orleans,LA70116. Visitation9:00 am- 10:00 am, Service10:00am. Burial Holt Cemetary 527 City Park Ave,New Orleans, LA 70119.

It is with heavyhearts thatweannouncethe passing of Rosemary BreauxEllison,at85, a long-time resident of New Orleans andnativeofDon‐aldsonville,La. Shepassed awaypeacefully at home onSunday, September28, 2025, surrounded by her family. Herstrength, com‐passion,and unwavering loveshapedour lives, and she will be dearly missed. A CelebrationofLifewillbe heldonSaturday, October 11, 2025, at St.Catherine of SiennaCatholic Church 421 St.Patrick St., Donald‐sonville, La.70346 with visi‐tationbeginning at 9:00 a.m., followed by theMass ofChristian Burial at 10:30 a.m

Flint, Barry Michael

Barry MichaelFlint passedawayatthe ageof 67onSeptember 24, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana after abrief illness. Barry isthe sonofthe late ThomasJames Flint, Jr.and TullosAbadieFlint. Barry is survivedbyhis wife,Patri‐cia BercyFlint, hischildren: ReginaFlintSimone(John) ofChicago, IL,BrandiFlint, BrittanyFlintDaniel(De‐Juan),stepchildren, Victor Despenza(Stephanie),and his specialnephew, Hous‐ton FlintofNew Orleans. Barry leaves histwo sis‐ters, Janice FlintDolliole (Kevin, Sr.) of NewOrleans and TanyaFlintColeman (Hugh)ofSpringBranch, TX; hisbrothers-in-law, Walter, Charles, Rowland, and Meloni;his sisters-inlaw,Marlene Bercy, Geral‐dinePichon, andShirley Thomas. Barry is also sur‐vived by hisaunts, Rose‐maryFlintVignaud,Agnes ElaineAbadieAugust, Iris FlotFlint, Yvonne Abadie Parker, andYvonne Price Abadie. Barry waspre‐ceded in deathbyhis beloved only brother, ThomasJames Flint, III. Barry’s legacy will live on through hisgrandchildren: Vittorioand Giovanni Si‐mone, Darius andKalecia Joseph, NyronFlint, Javonte Flint, CaiAllen,Do‐minique Brown, Victoria and Victor Despenza Jr.; two great-grandchildren: OliverDison,V andMoriah Pointer;a host of nieces, nephews,cousins,and friends.Barry wasa lifelongresidentofNew Or‐leans with ashort stintin Los Angeles, CA.Barry was a master latherer and builder andleavesbehind indelible remindersofthe workofhis hands. Barry’s lifewillbecelebratedon Saturday, October11, 2025 at9:00amatRhodesFu‐neral Home,3933 Washing‐ton Avenue,New Orleans. PastorUlyssesAbadie, III willbethe Ofﬁciant. Inter‐mentatMt. Olivet will im‐mediately follow.Family and friendsare invitedto attend. Arrangements by D.W.RhodesFuneralHome, New Orleans, LA.Please visit www.rhodesfuneral. com to sign theguestbook

Robert John Joseph Fritz,82, passedawayFri‐day,September 26, 2025, at his home in Houston, Texas,embracedbythe loveofhis family. Robert was born in NewOrleans onSeptember 28, 1942, to Josephand Eunice Fritz. He was alovinghusband,fa‐therand grandfatheran‐swering to many names. Roberttohis parents, sib‐lings,aunt,and cousins; Rob to hiswife; Dadtohis sons; Pere andPé-Pé to his grandchildren;and Bobto his friendsand co-workers One friend covereditallRobbyBob. Loving hisfaith and learning,Robertat‐tendedSt. Joseph Semi‐naryCollege,and Notre DameSeminaryearning a degreeinphilosophy. He proceeded to Loyola Law School graduating ﬁrstin his class, Magnacum Laude in 1969, then served asa lawclerk to Federal DistrictJudge FrederickJ R.Heebefrom1969 -1971 Pursuingthe academic as‐pectoflaw,Robertre‐ceiveda fellowship to Co‐lumbiaUniversityLaw School entering theJ.S.D Program,studyinga year eachinNew York,and Uni‐versité Catholique de Lou‐vain, Belgium. He returned toNew Orleanstoteach at LoyolaLaw School and there methis future wife Karen Sintes.Robert’sca‐reer turned to energy,lead‐ing to 38 yearsasin-house counsel forMobil Oil, ExxxonMobil, andVicePresident Legalfor Wood‐sideEnergy, Australia. Dur‐ing this tenure, he wasde‐lighted to sharethe experi‐ences of living abroad with Karen andtheir twosons spendingthree yearsin The Hague, Netherlands and Jakarta, Indonesia. Oncemore, returningto New Orleans, for12years, heand Karenrelocated to Houstonwiththe merger

of Exxon andMobil.Over

those many years, busi‐nesstook himtoLondon, Tokyo,Seoul,Perth,Astana Kazakhstanand places in between.Henever stopped relishing themanyexperi‐ences he had. An emeritus memberofthe Louisiana Bar Associationand the Texas BarAssociation, he genuinely enjoyedthe workofthe law. Robert was an enthusiastic opera fan,football fan and cheered forall teamswith a Manningonthem. He will berememberedfor the loveofhis faith,loveof learning, drywit,and the ability to seetothe heart ofanissue, even whenliv‐ing with theeffects of Alzheimer’s.Above all, he loved hisfamily. Thelesson hewantedtopassontoall heloved is life is aprocess ofbecoming. From birth forward,weare continu‐allylearningand growing until our finalmoments; and only at theend arewe complete. Life is acollec‐tionofworks,and Robert’s opusismasterful.Robertis survivedbyhis wife of 49 years,Karen Sintes Fritz, sons, John-PatrickMcGin‐nis FritzofLos Angeles, CA, and Andrew Sintes Fritzof Needham, MA;brother, JosephW.Fritz,Jr. (Pamela)New Orleans, and fourmuchloved grandchil‐dren. He is also survived by nieces, nephews, and cousins who held aspecial place in hisheart.Heis precededindeath by his parents,JosephW.Fritz, Sr.,Eunice McGinnis Fritz, brother,Kenneth P. Fritz, and sister,Elizabeth Fritz McConnell. Thefamily would like to thank Robert’scaregiver,Dawn Adams who broughtskill kindnessand humor to him inhis last year,and to Gen‐tivaHospice Care in Hous‐ton.Familyand friendsare invited to attend aVisita‐tionat1:00pmonFriday, October 10, 2025, at Im‐maculateConceptionJe‐suitChurch,130 Baronne Street,New Orleans, LA 70112, followed by afu‐neral Mass beginningat 2:00pm. Intermentwillbe atGreenwood Cemetery Wealsoinviteyou to share yourthoughts, memories, and condolencesonlineat www.greenwoodfh.com.In lieuof flowers, please con‐sider adonationin Robert’smemorytothe Alzheimer’s Association (alz.org) or acharity of yourchoice.

CelestineJohnson ParkerHamptonpassed awayonMonday, Septem‐ber 29, 2025 at theage of 80. Daughter of thelate EmmettHamptonand ThelmaHampton. Survived byGeraldParkerhusband, two daughters, Tuesday Johnson,Donna Mason; one son, KennethJohnson; goddaughter,Janet Marie Watis;sisters,Annonia Ter‐rell, Emma Hampton, Linda Anderson, Patricia George, LisaSwain;brothers, Emile Hampton, Lionel Hampton; one affectionate cousin GladysB.Brown as she calls hersister; grandchil‐dren, BrianBurbank,Jes‐sicaJohnson,Angela Mason,AlishaMason,Ken‐nethJohnson,TheoEzento; and 2great grandchildren, Jayla andJayden. Shewas precededindeath by her two brothers,Edmondand Leonard Hampton. Funeral ServicesatNew Hope Bap‐tistChurch, 1807 Reverend JohnRaphael Jr WayNew Orleans,LA70113 on Fri‐day,October 10, 2025 at 10:00 am ofﬁciatingPastor Rev.Jamaal Weathersby Visitationwillbefrom9:00 amto10:00 am.Final rest‐ing placewillfollowat ProvidenceMemorialPark & Mausoleumlocated at 8200 AirlineDrive Metairie, LA70003. Arrangements by D.W.RhodesFuneral Home, 3933 Washington Avenue,New Orleans, LA 70125. Please visitwww rhodesfuneral.comtosign the guestbook

LorenzoHargrave, Jr transitionedtohis Heav‐enlyhomeonMonday, September 29, 2025. He en‐joyed spending time with his familyand watching wrestling.Heleavesto cherish hismemory: his lovingmotherDoreen E. Washington, hisdevoted fatherLorenzo Hargrave Sr (Terry), sisters: Charlonda W.Cummings, J’Micah James (Marcus),Arianna Abdullah,and CalliL.Har‐grave,aunts:Thaedra W. Leonard (Jimmy), Aundrea Stratton(Kenneth) Robynetta Hargrave,and JamekaPowell, uncles: KelvinWashington(Tina), Louis Washington,Cartrell Hargrave(Jolynn),Moses Powell, Jr.and Preston Frank grandfatherWillie Hargrave, Sr., nephew Isaac L. CummingsIV, God‐motherYanette Powell and a host of lovedonesand friends.Relatives and friends of thefamilyare in‐vited to attend thefuneral service on Friday,October 10, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. at Oakland BaptistChurch, 825 Reverend RichardWil‐son Dr., Kenner,Louisiana; ReverendCharles Hurst, of‐ﬁciating. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. Interment willfollowatJefferson MemorialGardens,St. Rose, Louisiana. Richard‐son FuneralHomeofJeffer‐son,River Ridge, LA is in chargeofarrangements. www.richardsonfuneralho meofjefferson.com

Harris, Dorothy MarieSaddler

It is with greatsadness thatweannouncethe death of DorothyMarie Saddler Harris,who peace‐fully enteredintoeternal restonThursday,Septem‐ber 18, 2025, at theage of 86. Dorothywas abeloved motherand friend whose impactwillnever be for‐gotten. Allwho knew and loved DorothyMarie Sad‐dlerHarrisare welcometo attend theFuneral Service atMtMoriahB.C., 2407 LouisaSt.,New Orleans, LA 70117 on Friday,October, 10, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. Visi‐tationat09:00 am.Inter‐ment: Providence Memor‐ial Park,8200 AirlineDr., Metairie, LA 70003. Please signthe online guestbook atwww.charbonnetfuner alhome.com. Charbonnet Labat Glapion, Directors (504) 581-4411.

BarbaraJ.Johnson,a cherished matriarchand beaconofloveand gen‐erosity,passedaway peacefully on October3 2025, at theage of 84 in her nativecityofNew Orleans, Louisiana.BornonJuly31, 1941, to Alan Johnston and MiriamSerio Johnston, who predeceasedher.She was adevoted wife to her latehusband,Captain Joseph“Tuggy”Charles Johnson,withwhomshe shared64years of mar‐riage.She is also preceded byher dear daughter-inlaw,NicoleJohnson,and sisters-in-law, Barbara Benseland Mary Ro‐driguez.A proudalumof Mount Carmel Academy HighSchool,Barbara's ed‐ucation therelaidthe foun‐dationfor thethoughtful and caring person shewas Her Christianfaith wasa guiding lightinher life providing herwithstrength and solace throughout her journey.Barbara's love for her familyknewno bounds, andshe washap‐

piestwhensurrounded by her lovedones, especially duringthe mealsshe pre‐pared with greatcareand affection.Her kitchenwas not just aplace forcooking but ahaven of warmth and conversation, where bonds werestrengthenedand memoriesmade. Hergen‐erosity extended beyond her familyasshe wasal‐waysready to lend ahelp‐ing hand to friendsinneed. She wasa loving mother to her children,Capt. Christo‐pherJohnson (Judy),Capt. RobertJohnson,Stacy Johnson,and Capt.Carey Johnson (Greta), Barbara's legacycontinues through her loving grandchildren: Christopher Johnson (Madalyn),NicholasJohn‐son (Alexa), MeganBour‐geois (Ryan),Patrick John‐son,Bradley Johnson, and Laine Johnson. Thejoy of her life wasfurther multi‐plied by thelaughterofher great grandchildren, Cooper, Sophie,and Joseph. Relativesand friends areinvited to visit Greenwood FuneralHome, located at 5200 CanalBlvd., New Orleans, LA 70124, on Friday, October10, 2025, startingat9:00a.m.A Fu‐neral Mass will follow the visitationat11:00 a.m. The burialwillbeinGreenwood Cemetery. We also invite you to shareyour thoughts, fond memories, and condolencesonlineat www.greenwoodfh.com Your shared memories will helpuscelebrate Barbara’s lifeand keep hermemory alive

Johnson,JaniceMarie GilbertDeclouet

Janice Marie“Gilbert” “Declouet”Johnson born September 22, 1956, in New Orleans,Louisiana de‐partedthislifeFriday, Sep‐tember26, 2025. Born to Ethel Ruth Gilbertand Ed‐wardDeclouet, shewas the second eldest of ﬁve girls.Janicewas anativeof Belle Chasse,Louisiana where sheacceptedChrist atanearly ageand was baptized. SheattendedIs‐raelite BaptistChurch at thattime. Shewas agrad‐uateofO.Perry Walker HighSchool in 1974. Janice was aministerofmusic She enjoyedspreading the gospelinthe community and singingthe word of the Lord. Laterinlife, shebe‐camea member of Second Good Hope BaptistChurch under theleadershipofthe latePastorArthur WardsworthSr. where she was afaithfulmemberand enjoyed praising thelord through songs. Thoseleft tocherish hermemories are (4)daughters:Shon‐trell (Bryan), Rontrell (Greg), Jantrell (Johnathan),and Janeeka. (4) sons:Craig,Shawn, Jar‐ret Sr.(Antionette), and Phillip Sr.(3) sisters: San‐dra Tyson(Larry), Susan Anderson(Douglas),and VeronicaWard(Ronald)(1) aunt:Lille MaeWilliams(1) brother-in-law: Steve Turner. Also left to cherish are (16) grandchildren: Jar‐rettJr, Jariell, Dajonae, Terinae,Janae,Londyn, Paris,Endya,Joy,Lil Phillip, Antares,Kaidyn, Yasmin, Teiana, Deronn, andReign (4) furgrandbabies: Princeton,Stormi, Nola, and Pluto. (5)Godchildren: Akaila,Chad, Miz, Ronika, and Jamyrie. (5)GreatGrandchildren,(7) Nieces, (6) Nephews, Mother-inlaw:Ernestine Johnson, De‐voted friend Delores Hooker,and ahostofother relatives andclose friends. Janiceisprecededindeath byher (parents)Ethel Ruth Gilbert andEdwardDe‐clouet, (sister) Elizabeth Turner, (3)auntsClothilde Stevenson,Shirley Mae Williams,and LauraMae Lafrance,(1) UncleWalter Stevenson Sr.(2nephews) Courtneyand DjuanTurner, (niece) Shetifah King,and (Godchild)Corey Shannon. Relatives andfriends of the familyare invitedtoattend a homegoingcelebration atSecondGoodHopeBap‐tistChurch,800 Elmira St., New Orleans, La.70114 on Saturday, October11, 2025, at10am. Thevisitationwill begin at 8:30 am.A tradi‐tionalJazzprocessionwill followthe serviceat12 noon,withinterment in Lit‐tle Rock Cemetery in Belle Chasse.Repastimmedi‐ately followingthe burial atThe Croatian Houselo‐cated at 220 Croatian Way, Belle Chasse,La. 70037. Fu‐neral planning entrustedto RobinsonFamilyFuneral Home(504) 208-2119. For online condolences, please

Hargrave Jr., Lorenzo

Culotta Jr., FrankF

Hampton, Celestine Johnson Parker

Fritz, Robert John Joseph

Johnson,Barbara J.

Ellison, Rosemary Breaux

visitwww.robinsonfamilyf uneralhome.com.

Johnson,Ronald

Ronald Johnsonentered the KingdomofHeavenon Friday, September19, 2025 atthe ageof61. He wasa nativeofNew Orleans, LA and resident of Houston, TXfor thepast10years

Ronaldwas aproud gradu‐ate of O. Perry Walker Se‐niorHighSchool Classof 1982. Afterhighschool, he attendedSUNOand com‐pletedcertificationsto begin acareer in Prosthet‐ics andOrthotics.However, hefound histruefulfill‐mentwhenhemadea ca‐reer transition to Facilities Maintenance with Orleans ParishSchoolsand later withthe HoustonYMCA, a roleheloved andem‐bracedwholeheartedly. Lovinghusband of Shawn Jones-Johnson.His daugh‐tersfromhis priorunions, AleliaJohnson (PatriciaT Bartley)and AlairahJohn‐son (Chris Richardson). Grandfather of Destin Lee. Bonus father of Alacia Richardson, Ireion Wright Jamal Wright,and his bonus grandchildrenAa‐leyah andMalaysiaWright. Son of thelateHueyP Johnson andEthel Mae Johnson.Brother of LindaJ Drake,DeniseJ.Allen, CherylJ.Rivers, Donald Johnson (Velma), Lonnie Brister,Wanza Jackson, ReverendMichael Jackson, Hereina Johnson, andHuey P.Johnson,Jr. Preceded in death by hisgrandparents. Ronaldissurvivedbya hostofnieces, nephews, cousins,relatives,and friends.Relatives and friends of thefamily, also pastors,officers,and members of Rock of Ages Baptist Church,and all neighboring churches are invited to attend theCele‐bration of Life at Rock of AgesBaptist Church 6533 AcreRd. Marrero, LA.on Friday, October10, 2025,at 10:00a.m. Visitation will begin at 8:30a.m. until ser‐viceatthe church.Inter‐ment: Restlawn Park Cemetery-Avondale,LA. ArrangementsbyDavis MortuaryService,230 Mon‐roe St., Gretna,LA. To view and sign theguestbook pleasegotowww.davismo rtuaryservice.com.Face Masks AreRecommended

Kendrick,Damien 'Moonie'

Damien "Moonie”Kendricktransitionedtohis heavenlyhomeonFriday, September 26, 2025.He was born at Methodist hospitaltoYolanda Kendrickand Darral Kendrick(Kim).Damienwas a 2000 graduate from John McDonaldhighschool, Kendrickwas aMainte‐nance technician in zone 6 atsewerageand water board of NewOrleans,he alsoworkedatBud Wiser. Damiengavehis life to Christata young ageinSt. Augustine Catholic Church Heissurvivedbyhis par‐ents, Yolandaand Darral Kendrick(Kim),5 kids DamienJr. andDa'Mya Kendrick, Damien andDash McCoy,and JavonMorgan. Brother of DevonKendrick Sr. andDanyell McNulty. Grandsonofthe late Richard andDoris Kendrick and Esther B. Green.He alsoSurvivedbya host of aunts,uncles, nieces nephews,cousins,and friends of theentire6th ward. Damien will be re‐memberedfor hisdedica‐tiontofamilyand sporting the latesEmlineclothing. Familyand friendsare in‐vited to attend apublic wakethatwillbeheldon Friday, October10th2025, At4:00pmto6:00pmat CharbonnetFuneralhome. Following thefuneral ser‐vices at St.Peter Claver Catholic Church,1923 Saint Phillip St.New Orleans, LA 70116. On Saturday,Octo‐ber 11th, 2025 at 10:00am Visitationstartsat8:30am. Followinga Jazz Proces‐

sion.Interment;Mt. Olivet Cemetery, 4000 Norman Mayer Ave, NewOrleans, LA70122.

Brother Ivy LeBlanc, S.C. (née Joseph Ivy LeBlanc, Jr.) 1945 -2025-BROTHER IVY LEBLANC,S.C., 80, a Brother of the Sacred Heart and aresident of New Orleans,Louisiana, since 1972, passed into eternal life at theHospice and Palliative CareUnitat Ochsner Hospital in Jefferson, LA, on Friday, September 26, 2025. BrotherIvy was born JosephIvy LeBlanc, Jr., on September 5, 1945,in Baton Rouge,LA, to the late Joseph Ivy LeBlanc, Sr., of Breaux Bridge, LA, and the late Bridget Babin of Dutchtown, LA. He is survived by his sister,Mrs. NancyLeBlanc Guidry (Norman) of Baton Rouge, LA; his bloodbrother, David LeBlanc; and several nieces and nephews. He is precededindeath by his paternalgrandparents, Elegie and MaeRees LeBlanc, with whomhe was very close. As apre-novice, Brother Ivyentered the formation program forthe Brothers of the Sacred Hearton August 26, 1967, in Mobile, AL. He became anovice on August 14, 1968,at Belvidere,NJ, and he professedfirst vows in Metuchen, NJ, on August 15, 1969.His perpetualprofession took place in Bay St.Louis, MS,onJune 10, 1975, and in 2019,there was agreat celebration whenBrother Ivy marked the 50th anniversaryofhis first profession. Brother Ivypreparedfor hisyearsasa professional religious educatorbyearning three degrees:a Bachelor's degree in AccountingfromLSU,a Master's degrees in Educational Administration from Tulane University, anda Master's degreein Pastoral Ministryfrom LoyolaUniversity. During his 31-years in direct school ministry, Brother Ivy prefected at Catholic Boys' Home in Mobile,AL; taught and prefected at St. Stanislaus in BaySt. Louis, MS;and taught at McGill Institute in Mobile, AL. The majority of his educational ministry, however, was spent in New Orleans, LA on Elysian Fields Ave. at BrotherMartinHigh School. It was there thathe servedas teacher, Assistant Principal for Discipline,Principal, and President from 1972until 2000.Anicon in the Assistant Principal'soffice, Brother Ivy was wellrespected asa no-nonsense disciplinarianwho could balance firmness with compassion. As an administrator, he was agifted leader who blendeda deep appreciationofthe past with acreative, visionary eyealwayslooking towards the future. He demanded excellence from everyone,especially himself, and gave his allto provide aquality,Catholic, holistic educationalprogram for allinhis charge. Brother Ivy brought his wisdom and vision to bear on his leadershiprole in his religious community as well. Within the Brothers of the Sacred Heart, he served as provincialfor seven years, provincial councilor to seven provincials, adelegatetoevery legislativeassembly of the Province from 1973to2024, adelegatetothree general chapters in Rome, and as a member of manyprovince boards. With sound judgment and abackgroundin finances, he functioned as treasurerfor the Brothers of the Sacred Heart on both the province and world-wide Institute level. Agifted speaker and zealous promoterofthe charism of the founder, Brother Ivy made presentations to groups around the world and mentored future school leaders in it

Aquiet man with adeep spirituality, Brother Ivy managedhis job-related stress with practical outlets such as biking, running,working out, and watching sports on TV

Awakeand Mass of ChristianBurialwillbe held for Brother Ivy on Saturday,October 11, 2025, in the Conlin Gym at

Brother MartinHigh School (4401 Elysian Fields Ave., NewOrleans, LA 70122). Visitors are asked to use thegym entrance on St Aloysius Drive. The wake will beginat9:00 AM followedbythe Eucharistic Liturgyat11:00 AM. Areception willbeheldinthe Tomand Gayle Benson Student Mall immediately following theliturgy. Because of local festivities in Bay St. Louis, MS, on October11, Brother Ivy will be interred in theBrothers' cemeteryinBay St.Louis on Monday, October13, at 4:00 PM In lieu of flowers,donations can be madein Brother Ivy'shonortothe Brothers of the Sacred Heart Foundation(4600 Elysian FieldsAve New Orleans, LA 70122). Amass of christianburialwillbe held at 11:00 AM on 2025-10 -11 at Brother Martin High School, 4401 Elysian Fields Ave.

McCallonIII,

Earl R. McCallon III, known andloved as “Mac passedawaypeacefully Thursday,October 2, 2025 atthe ageof77. He was the belovedhusband of Jan NellFiegenschue McCal‐lon;fatherofBrian Michael McCallonand BrettDavis McCallon(Jennifer); and the grandfatherofMae Marie McCallon.Bornin New Orleans, LA to thelate Dr. Earl R. McCallon Jr.and MarjorieRichardsMcCal‐lon.Heisalsosurvivedby his sister,SharonMcCallon Cage(Roy).Mac attended St. Martin’s Episcopal School in Metairie before attendingLoyolaUniversity and graduating with aJuris DoctordegreefromTulane UniversityLaw School.He servedinthe U.SAir Force from1971 until 1972 during the VietnamWar.Hehad a successfulcareer as ape‐troleum landmanuntil his retirement. He wasactive withthe Tulane Greenback‐ers boostercluband the Deutsches Haus in NewOr‐leans,and attended First PresbyterianChurch in Hammond,LA. Relatives and friendsare invitedto attend theFuneralServices atGardenofMemoriesFu‐neral Home &Cemetery, 4900 AirlineDrive Metairie, LA70001 on Tuesday, Octo‐ber,14, 2025. Visitation will begin at 12:00 noon with servicesstartingat2:00 pmfollowedbyburial. In lieuof ﬂowers, please send donations to giving.tu‐lane.edu/athleticsor https://www.wyes.org/ support/. Online condo‐lencesmay be offeredat www.gardenofmemorie smetairie.com.

Monroe,Lucinda

LucindaMonroewas bornonApril 1, 1943, in New Orleans, Louisiana. She transitioned from her earthly life on Monday, September 22, 2025. Lu‐cinda waseducatedinthe New OrleansPublicSchool System, attendingMc‐Donogh 38, EdgarP.Har‐ney,and Booker T. Wash‐ingtonHighSchool.Lu‐cinda wasemployedand workedasa cook at the New OrleansFairgrounds. Her faith journeybegan as a member of Mount Ever‐est BaptistChurch in New Orleans andSt. John Divine Baptist Church where she servedasanUsher.Later she became adevoted memberofBeaconLight InternationalCathedral, where shewas baptized and knownasSisterMon‐roe.Uponjoining theFam‐ily of Light, shebecamein‐volvedinservice,begin‐ningasanUsher,serving asa Greeter andwiththe Hospitality Ministry,and her joywas displayed every time herdaughter Sharlinewould serve alongside her. Preceded in death by hermother, Dor‐thy SmithMonroe; siblings GenivaMonroe, James Monroe, (Dawud Yamini) David Monroe,Floyd Mon‐roe,and JohnnyGivens; her sons,Brian K. Monroe MackFredMonroe; daugh‐ter,SharlineA.MonroeSmith; andgrandson,

AaronA.Smith Sr.She leavestocherish hermem‐ory:SandraellaM.Bailey (Harold Jr.),Gwendolyn Monroe-Johnson(Willie), Willie Monroe (Nadia), Norma Monroe-Snowton (James),GregoryMonroe (Jessica),and Remonda Monroe-Johnson(Quincy); one sister-in-law, Donna Yamini; 28 grandchildren; a hostofgreat-grandchil‐drenand great-greatgrandchildren;nieces; nephews;and ahostof other loving relativesand friends.Familyand friends are invitedtoattend the Celebration of Life Service onFriday, October10, 2025, for 1:30 p.m. at TheBoyd FamilyFuneralHome, 5001 ChefMenteur Hwy.,New Orleans,LA70126. Visita‐tionwillbegin at 12:30 p.m. BishopDarrylS.Brister,of‐ﬁciating. Intermentwillfol‐low at Mount Olivet Ceme‐tery. Guestbook Online: www.anewtraditionbegins com (504) 282-0600. Don‐avinD.Boydand Linear BrooksBoydOwners/Fu‐neral Directors.

BerniceBaileyMott passedawayonSeptem‐ber 29, 2025, at theage of 80. AnativeofDes Alle‐mands andresidentofJef‐fersonParish. Shewas known forher love of cook‐ing andoutspoken person‐ality. Berniceworkedoff‐shore as acook forOtto Candies Inc. formany years andlater became the proud proprietor of Ber‐nice’sCafe’Restaurant. She is survived by herlov‐ing anddevoted children: AlfredCraig,Ron Christo‐pher(Terry Fleming) and TiffanyRichelle Mott (Mar‐cus Lee) of Hattiesburg, MS, grandchildren, Lynn Christopher Simmons (Brione)ofHouston,TX and Marcus Malik Leeof Hattiesburg,MSand greatgrandchildren,Blake and BlaiseSimmons of Hous‐ton,TX. Shealsoleavesto cherish hermemories, sib‐lings:Melba Rankin (Percy),Emily DianeHall, Lloyd Griffin, III(thelate Barbara), Bruceand Sonjia Griffin, Gail Howard (John), Louis Bailey,MaryJane Triche, Patricia Lewis, CherylPuryear (Nathaniel), Theresa Dabon, Easter Si‐moneaux andSonya Smith, aunts: GeraldineDorsey Hilland Marguerite Dorsey ofNew Jersey,godchildren: WilmaLucas,Donna Sim‐mons, AlineWilliamsEvers Kayla Morris-Garcia,An‐tionette Ardion andEmelda Blanco, herdevoted friend & companionJosephJones, bestfriendBarbara John‐son,a host of nieces, nephews,other relatives, friends andher grandpup‐pie,Jericho.She is pre‐ceded in deathbyher par‐ents, Violet H. Griffin (Lloyd, Jr.) andLesterBai‐ley,Sr.,siblings: Katherine FayeJohnson (Louis), BrendaHaynes, Beverly Simmons (Walter) and LesterBailey, Jr.Family, friends,members of Mt ZionB.C.-Ama, FirstBaptist Church of Paradis, Antioch B.C., DesAllemands,neigh‐boringchurches,friends & customers of JaeFlem Cafe’are invitedtoattend Bernice’s Celebrationof LifeService on Friday,Oc‐tober 10, 2025, for11:00 a.m.atMt. Zion Baptist Church,10867 RiverRoad Ama,LA. Visitation/view‐ing will beginat9:00a.m until servicetimeonly. PastorNichelle Burt-Con‐erly, officiating, andRev Sha’Teek A. Nobles,Host PastorofMt. Zion B.C. In‐terment will follow at Mt ZionBaptist Church Ceme‐tery, Ama. Live streaming willbeavailable on www facebook.com/people/MtZion-BC-Of-Ama/1000802 75269161/#and www facebook.com/theboyd familyfuneralhome/ Online Guestbook:www.anewtra ditionbegins.com(504)2820600. Linear BrooksBoyd and DonavinD.BoydOwn‐ers/FuneralDirectors

Army Staff Sergeant Kevin PerkinsSr.,65, passedawayonSaturday, September 27, 2025 at the New OrleansSoutheast Louisiana VA MedicalCen‐ter.Hewas born on March 20, 1960, in NewOrleans to Dolores (Cains)Perkins and thelateWilliePerkins Jr. AgraduateofBooker T. WashingtonSeniorHigh School,hefurthered his education at theUniversity ofNew Orleans. Kevin proudly served hiscountry beginning hismilitaryca‐reer at Fort Carson and serving with BatteryA,4th Battalion,61st ADA. He is survivedbyhis sons,Kevin Jr. (Jennifer) andTavaris K. (Michael);formerwife, Kim Phillips; mother,Dolores Perkins;sister, Adinas Perkins;one grandson, CarterHarper; anda host ofother relativesand friends.Hewas preceded indeath by hisfather, Willie PerkinsJr.;grand‐parents;and brothers, Brian Perkinsand Milton Ramsey. ACelebration of LifeService will be held in the Chapel of theRoses at CharbonnetLabat Glapion FuneralHome, 1615 St PhilipStreet,New Orleans, LAonFriday, October10, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. Visita‐tionat9:00a.m.Aninti‐mateinterment will follow ata laterdate. Please sign the online guestbook at www.charbonnetfuneralho me.com. Charbonnet Labat Glapion,Directors,(504) 581-4411.

Kenner,La. -Clayton A. Poche’Jr. departed this life and enteredthe gatesof HeavenonFriday, Septem‐ber 19, 2025, at theage of 81. Belovedhusband of the latePriscilla Poche’ andfa‐therofKaren A. Poche’ Clayton Poche’ III (Patrece) and Nicole V. Poche’.Also survivedby(6) grandchil‐drenand (11) great-grand‐children, ahostofnieces, nephews,other relatives and friends. He wasparish‐ioner of OurLadyofPer‐petualHelpCatholic Church in Kenner,La.,re‐tired from Avondale Ship‐pingYard, Avondale,La. Familyand friendsare in‐vited to attend aCelebra‐tionofLifeService on Fri‐day,October 10, 2025, for 11:00 a.m. at St.MaryMag‐dalen Catholic Church,lo‐cated at 6425 W. Metairie Ave.Metairie, LA 70003 The viewingisscheduled tobegin at 10:00am.Inter‐ment at Providence Memo‐

Mandeville,LA- Janice PedelahoreRabito, age 93, of Mandeville,Louisiana, passed away on Friday, October3,2025, at her home surrounded by her loving family. Shewas born on January 27, 1932, in NewOrleans,Louisiana, thedaughterofJoseph Earl Pedelahoreand Julia Akers Haight of New Orleansand Ponchatoula respectively.

Sheisprecededindeath by herdevoted husband of 69 years, Dr.Felix G. Rabito; andher brother, Joseph Earl Pedelahore. Sheissurvivedbytheir four children, Gia M. Rabito (SidBhansali), Felicia A. Rabito(William Ellison) Felix G. Rabito, Jr.(Mary Frances Slahetka Rabito) andMichael S. Rabito (RobinJermannRabito); six grandchildren, Katherine DiLeo(David Brand), AraEllison, Emily Ellison, Felix M. Rabito, JuliaRabito, andThomas Rabito; and manyextended familymembersand friends. Shewas agraduate of Eleanor McMain High School andSoutheastern Louisiana University, majoring in Biology. She workedasa medical technologist at Baptist and CharityHospitals fascinated by sickle cell research before meeting andmarryingher perfect partner, Felix Rabito. Janicejoined Felix on theirfamilyjourneytogether -supporting hisgrowing career and medical practice,creating an active andcelebratory homelife.She wasa devoted wife andmother and dear friendtomany. She wasknown for herimpeccably decorated andmaintainedhomesand gardens, hergourmet-level everyday meals andher rangeof delectable home-made cookies. Shewas alover of art andenjoy painting in oils andwatercolorspecifically. Shewas an avid golferand tennis player andvolunteered for avarietyofchurch,school and medical societies.She was known for hersensible and witty view of life andhad manyadmirers of all ages, stages andwalks of life. Wherever she went,she made an impression and a lastingfriend. The Rabito Familywould like to thank herteam of loving caregiversover theyears, specifically Shelena Gervais, Loyda Groff and Da'Jah Johnson. Relativesand friends are invited to attendthe memorial service on

LeBlancS.C.,Brother Ivy

Rabito, Janice Pedelahore

Earl R. 'Mac'

Mott, BerniceBailey

Poche’ Jr., ClaytonA.

See more DEATHS page

Times-Picayune makesthese endorsements in Saturday’s N.O. races

New Orleans voterswill go to thepolls Saturday to elect aslate of ofﬁcials to runthe city at this critical moment. Theprimary ballot includes contests for mayor,CityCouncil and othermajor ofﬁces.The Times-Picayune has endorsedthese candidates.

Mayor: Helena Moreno

This election season, we see acitythat’smore than ready to turn the page. We believe the candidate who’sgot thevision, experience and temperament needed to reviveNew Orleans’ fortunes is CityCouncil Vice PresidentHelena Moreno.

During her time in the stateLegislature and on the council, Moreno has repeatedly proven her pragmatism; her broad, detailedknowledge; hertalent in strategicallycrafting policyaimed at untangling complicated,entrenched problems; and —perhaps most importantly —her ability to buildsupport across political, racial andgeographiclines.

As atwo-term at-large council member,Moreno hasbeen at the center of numerous efforts to chip away at New Orleans’ challenges After Hurricane Ida, she pursuedmeasures to harden the grid and build microgridstogive people places to get relief in outages, while cobblingtogether funding to reduce theburden on ratepayers. She also points to thebuyout of residents in Gordon Plaza, asubdivision built atop atoxic landﬁll,asamong herproudestaccomplishments.

If elected, Moreno vows to get intothe weeds on infrastructure shortcomingsand to address the “lack of urgent coordination andcollaboration”among and within departments thatlifted temporarily ahead of this year’sSuper Bowl— proof, Moreno says, that solutions areinreach As mayor,wethink Moreno can positionNew Orleans for abrighter,more functionaland more prosperous future.

City Council at-large Division1:Matthew Willard

Our choice for this vacantcitywide seat is state Rep. Matthew Willard.

Willard leads the House’sDemocratic caucus aposition that demonstrates therespect of his colleagues. Yetdespitebeinginthe chamber’s minority,he’sbuiltasolid record on issues of local interest —hewrotethe lawbanning unpredictable estimated Sewerage &Water Board billing —and also statewide import, with aparticularfocus on measuresto help homeowners weather the property insurance crisis.

Willard told us that avoiding personality conﬂictsand sticking to thesubjectmatterhas been akey to his approach in Baton Rouge.That’san attitude thatwethink residents who’vewatched city government recentlywould welcome.

CityCouncil at-largeDivision 2: JP Morrell

WhenJPMorrell ran for this seat four years ago, he promised to make thecouncil more of an equal partnerinacity in which the mayor’s ofﬁce has historically called most of theshots He’sdelivered on that promise, with mostly positive effects.

Morrell has led long-running efforts to regulateshort-termrentals,aswell as efforts to aggressively oversee an administrationwith which thecouncil has increasingly battled.He said his proudest accomplishmentsare two voter-approved City Charter amendments, one that gives the council conﬁrmation power over top mayoralappointeesand another that gives the council and the public more time to vet the annual city budget.

If the voters send him back forasecond term alongside anew mayor,wehope Morrell will continue his crusade to makecitygovernment more transparent and more accountable

Other races: We know the ofﬁces of sheriff and Criminal District Court clerk are alsoimportant to the future of the city. We urge voters to look closely at the candidates, their histories andtheir platforms. Thisnewspaperhas done extensive reporting on the candidates, andwe hope this can offer aguidetovoters as they make theirchoices.

Kirk’s supportfor Israel should be remembered

As acommitted Jew,Iwould like to add adifferent perspectiveonthe life of Charlie Kirk. Onedoes not have to share Kirk’sparticular faith in order to appreciate the strength and sincerityofthat faith and how it motivated andenabled Kirk to accomplish so much at such a young age. Kirk did not just lift millionsofyoung people out of apathy and get them involved in thepolitical process;hetaught them that, ﬁrst of all, they needed to livetheir own lives with faith, joy,energy,goodness and courage. Kirk modeled these virtues in his own life, which will guide and inspire others for years to come. Kirk was, in addition to everythingelse, agreat friend of the Jewish people and of the world’s only Jewish state, Israel. At a time when so manyinthe world ﬁnd it convenient todefame and condemn Israel, turn truth and morality on their heads and deny fundamental truths about the3,500-year-old existence of

theJewish people, Kirk made it an important part of his mission to standupfor truth and defend bothIsrael and the Jewish people. He did so not only against detractors on theleft, but also, and most importantly, against the small but vocal group of bloggers and radio show hosts on the right who are attempting to rewritehistory and makethe Jews, once again, the world’s scapegoats. Kirk was not “far right.” He was atraditional values-based conservative. Andhewas not a narrow-minded religious bigot either.Hebelieved in the Christian faith, which has been at the center of western civilization for 2,000 years. Andhebelieved in thevision of America expressed in the Declaration of Independence and in the Gettysburg Address and in Martin Luther King Jr.’s“IHave aDream”speech,a vision we are constantly struggling to fulﬁll.

YIGALBANDER

Baton Rouge

Praise deserved formanagingtrafficonrails

On theevening of Sept.8, eastbound Amtrak Train 26 from New OrleanstoMobile, Alabama, was delayed by a malfunction of the Almonaster drawbridge. This malfunction delayed Train 26 for approximately an hour and ahalf. Train 26 resumed operation around 7:32 p.m.

At thesame time, the westbound Amtrak Train 25 from Mobile to New Orleanswas approaching from theMichoud area. Train 26 passed Train 25 in thevicinity of Paris Road around 7:53 p.m.

Meanwhile, southbound Train 19 was approaching New Orleans from New York, where it met up withTrain 25 on the New OrleansBack Belt around 8:09 p.m. in thevicinityofNew OrleansCity Park. Train 25 was allowed to proceed to Union Passenger Terminal ahead of Train 19, presumably because Train 19 was early,Train 25 was slightly behind schedule and Train 19

would need to cross theinterlock before heading on toUnion Passenger Terminal trackage. Train 25 arrived at theterminal at 8:29 p.m. and Train 19 arrived at theterminal at 8:30 p.m. This is mostlikely the ﬁrst time in themodern era when two passenger trains have arrived at the terminal within aminute of each other.Though theriders of theMardi Gras Service and the Crescent were probably unaware of the coordination and wherewithal of the Norfolk Southern Dispatch as well as the CSX Dispatch in bringing Train 25 as close to schedule as possible, dispatching of this caliber should be acknowledged and praised.

JOHN ADRIANI JR. secretary, Louisiana Association of Railroad Passengers on behalf of JOHN SITA JR., president ANDREWC.LODRIGUSS, vice president LOUIS BANGMA, treasurer

Don’tbefooledabout whyTrump wantstoput troops in cities

Iamwriting in response to Anthony McAuley’sarticle suggesting that residents are so fedupwith NewOrleans’ crime problem that they might welcomefederal intervention to assist.

While everyone wants safer streets, Iam shocked that the newspaper is attempting to manufacture consent forafederal power grab. This is not about crime. It is about undermining conﬁdence in Black-led cities and getting people used to seeing troops on our streets. The boiled-frog metaphor is everywhere these days, but it rings true. We should be in the streets over what’shappening, but mostof us are checked out. None of this stops unless all of us say no, together

ALLISON MCCARROLL NewOrleans

Addedhurdles to get COVIDvaccine harm health of state’sresidents

This is in response to Fred Schwab’sletter “Getting COVIDvaccine is harder thanks to GOPnanny state.” My husband and Iare in our 60s and wanted to get the COVIDvaccine prior to traveling abroad. Igot aprescription from my doctor,arrived at Walgreens forthe scheduled shot, but wastold Icould not receive it because Iamunder 65.

Icontacted my physician, whoforwarded my prescription to CVS. Iwas given an appointmentfor the vaccine in Picayune, Mississippi. It wasalong drive to get ourselves vaccinated prior to our trip. Thankfully,wehave the meanstodoso. Unfortunately,most Louisiana citizens do not. Just another reason to leave this unhealthy state.

BETSY VEGA OPREA Mandeville

Christian politiciansneed to look at theirpriorities

Watching the members of Congress in both political parties willingly subordinate their morals, principles, values and beliefstothe requirements of their respective party leaders, I am reminded of aquestion and answer Iheard afew years back.

The question: Do you think it is possible to be agood Christian and be apolitician?

The answer: Ithink it is possible to be agood Christian and be apolitician, but it may not be possible to be apolitician and still be agood Christian. It depends on what comes ﬁrst. BO BIENVENU Prairieville

Left andright believeinNew Deal fable

22% of the workforce) were funded by taxes on food processors (raising more revenue than either the personal or corporate income taxes). These costs were passed on to consumers.

Progressives’retrospective aspiration for anew New Deal is shared by “national conservatives.” They, enthusiastic about the current administration, also believe government should comprehensively intervene in the economy, politically allocating capital (and therefore opportunity) toimprove on the rationality of free markets. But economist George Selgin’slatestbook refutes progressives’ triumphalist nostalgia for the New Deal. It thereby demonstrates that “national conservatives” are oblivious regarding the cautionary lessonsofFranklin Roosevelt’s experience. These kindred spiritson the left and right should read “False Dawn: The New Deal and the Promise of Recovery,1933-1947.”

Selgin mines amountain of scholarship to prove this: New Deal measures failed to achieve, and often impeded, recovery from the Depression. Roosevelt’smost constructive achievement, executed on his second day in ofﬁce, was the national bank holiday,ameasure incubated by his predecessor,Herbert Hoover This weeklong banking shutdown in 1933 largely arrested the economy’s contraction. Recovery,however,required adecade, and World WarII. TheDepression was, Selgin says, the ﬁrst economic crisisthe federal government tried to end by using all its resources. But the economy did not recover: It did not reach production consistent with full employment of the workforce until 1943.

At the end of the 1930s, the unemployment rate was 14.6%,higherthan the October 2009 Great Recession peak of 11%. Until World WarII, GDP was sometimes more than 30%, and never less than 20%, below its pre-Depression trend.

Directpayments to farmers (then

Crop-reductionprograms raised farmers’ incomes by raising prices consumers paid. Buttaking acreage out of production —prosperity through scarcity? —added 2million agricultural workers to the unemployed. Farm income in 1939 was still substantially below the 1929 level.

TheNew Deal’score idea was anon sequitur: In aDepression prices fall, therefore recovery would come if prices were forced to rise. Hence, the National Recovery Administration wrote (with business interests dominating the process) “codes of fair competition” cartelizing about 550 industries, outlawing competition that might lower prices. One manufacturer received this menacing letter:

“I feel sure that you will want to revise your prices so that they will bear acloser relation to those of your competitors [toavoid] an investigationtoascertain whether this price can be justiﬁed …such aprocedureis of course unpleasant and costly.”

TheNRA mandated cuts in employees’ weekly hours while forbidding cutsintotal pay.Sounemployment —as conventionally measured —declined, but largely because of such “work sharing.”

The1940s began as 1939 had: Seventeen percent of the labor force was completely unemployed or on work relief, adults were working 20% fewer hours than in 1929, industrial production was still 10% below the 1929 peak. FDR’sincessantregulatory ﬁdgets, and vocal hostilitytoward business, produced aclimateof uncertainty that paralyzed investing, until war came.

Thegovernment-centric mentality thatproduced theNew Deal produced apocalyptic forecasts of postwar distress from demobilized

industrial capacity andmanpower (10 million transitioning from militaryto civilian life). Instead, as government spending fell 40% in ayear,federal revenue soared and the unemployment rate plummeted as the private sector hummed.

Postwar political culture reﬂected this learning: The war had been won by capitalism’sprodigious productivity: Defenseindustries were not nationalized during thewar.And, Selgin writes, “thewar gave abad odor to anything that smacked of fascism, including theactivist managerial state.”

Lessons are, however,forgotten. Donald Trump’sadministration, ardently admired by “national conservatives,” is the most economically interventionistadministration —by this importantmetric, it is the most progressive administration —since theNew Deal.

The administration reportedly might give farmers, especially soybean growers, billions to replace thebillions they are losing because —who could haveanticipated this? —other nations,particularly China, have imposed retaliatorytariffs in response to Trump’sprotectionist spasms.

Having semi-nationalized U.S. Steel, the administration has forbidden, surelyfor political reasons, the closure of an Illinois plant that the company thinks it would be economically rational to close. Such systemic inefﬁciencies multiply,draining dynamismfrom theeconomy.But progressives and “national conservatives”should purrcontentedly: Anew New Deal is here.

History has been called an early warning system. Selgin’shistory warns us. So does this truism: What we learn from history is that we do not learnfrom history

Email George Will at georgewill@ washpost.com.

In little we trustinthe Middle East

Trust: “Reliance on the integrity, strength, ability,surety,etc., of aperson or thing; conﬁdence.”

Louisiana state government is enjoying a great beneﬁt, but at great ﬁscal risk —arisk state lawmakers should work quickly to mitigate

Anew study by Jennifer Butlerand Tony Woodliefof the State PolicyNetwork, acollectionofright-leaning state think tanks, shows thatofall the statesinthe union, Louisiana is the single most reliant on federal funds for its state government budget.

An astonishing 51.6% of Louisiana’s state budgetcomes from national government sources. The nationalaverage is much lower (but still toohigh), at 37%,and nota single otherstate even reaches the 50% threshold.

First, let’sbeclear on whatthis does and doesn’tmean

This is notthe same, hackneyed statistic aboutwhichstatessupposedly “give more money to the federalgovernment than they getback,” andwhichare vice versa

The originalproponent of that statistic, the late Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan, D-N.Y., abandonedthatmeasure severalyearsbefore he diedwhenherealized that so many shifting factors went into thatcalculation that it was like comparing apples not just to oranges but to baseballs or something equally unrelated. Instead, this is amuch more objective measurement, just taking the state budgetitself andexamining howmuchofitoriginatesfrom the feds.

On onehand, relying on the federal government for more thanhalf of state government spending is arather neat trick. It means the state is getting far more bang forits own bucks.

On the otherhand, this means Louisiana is living precariously.Ifthe federal faucet is turnedoff or even slowed down, Bayou State government isn’twell-positioned to take up the slack,and ourcitizens could ﬁnd themselves suddenly bereft of necessary services.

The current federal government shutdown may bring home thatreality sooner than later, although the results there aren’tplain to see yet.

Polls and simple observationsshow that Americans are placing lesstrust in institutions and individuals. AWall Street Journal story notes that the current government “shutdown” has raised the distrust level between the two parties and the president to new heights —or depths. Trust —orlack thereof —isalso an issue in the Middle East. The presidentisproclaiming peace in the region because Hamas hassaid it will agree to some of his 20 demands, which include therelease of theremaining hostages, livingand dead. Hamas has refusedto lay down their arms, or agree not to participate in afuture Gaza government. Hamas also wantsnearly 2,000terrorist prisoners released from Israeli jails, including convicted murderers. We’ve seen howpastbargains have gone with those who seek Israel’s destruction withmany returning to thebattleﬁeld. Hamas has neverliveduptoasingle agreement or voided its charter that calls for the destruction of Israel and killing Jews. Why shouldthey be trusted this time? No one knows whoisin charge of Hamas or whether they have the authority to speak for the entire terrorist organization after theirleadership has been wiped outbyIsrael’s attacks. Hamas is only one of several terrorist groups that are also untrustworthy and have given nosign theyare willing to abandon goals identical to those of Hamas After the partial agreementtosome of the 20 demands made bythe president and agreed to by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump told Israel to stopbombing Gaza. Imagine President Franklin Roosevelt agreeing to adeal that would stop thebombingofJapan andnot ﬁnish off Germany’s Naziregime. Instead, Roosevelt spoke of “total victory”over those twonations. British Prime Minister Winston Churchill echoed Roosevelt’sgoal. Speaking in theHouse of

Relatives and supporters of Israeli hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip carryposters with portraits of their lovedones during aprotest demanding their immediate releaseand calling foraceasefire in Jerusalem on Tuesday,the second anniversaryofHamas’ cross-border attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, which sparked theongoing war in Gaza.

Commons onMay 13, 1940, Churchill said: “You ask what is our aim. Ican answer in oneword: Victory.Victory at all costs. Victory in spiteofall terror. Victory however long and hard the road may be; for without victory there is no survival.”

Repeat that last part out loud: Without victory there is no survival. Then, as now,there are factions in theU.S. and Israel that favor negotiatingwith the enemy Hamasand its related groups are notonlythe enemy of Israel, but also the enemy of the U.S. and all “infidel” Western nations. Negotiations, instead of victory, would allow Hamas to liveand fight another day,guaranteeing more death anddestruction. SinceGazans elected Hamastorun their government, maybethey should hold aspecial election that could oust them from office. Not that Hamas would willingly give

up their political power,but it might reduce their legitimacy in the eyes of theworld.

In reference to thedefinition above, what has Hamas —orany of Israel’s enemies —done to demonstrate their integrity or why any confidence should be placed in them? The answer is nothing and anyone who believes adeal can be madewith thedevil is afool. A quoteattributed to writer Kayla Krantz says: “Never make adeal with the devil unless you’re prepared to lose.” Israel only has to loseonce and it is finished as the Jewish state. The president and Netanyahu should require that all 20 of their demands be met, or Israel should finish thejob Perhaps both. Otherwise, Hamas will survive and keep fighting. That’s the one thing they can be trusted todo.

Email Cal Thomasattcaeditors@ tribpub.com

At some point, though, with the federal government suffering fromagobsmacking $37 trillionindebt, the reckoning will comedue. By careful design or by some sort of ﬁnancial panic or collapse,the gusher of federal funds will slowtosomething closer to atrickle.

This is where the brief but insightful SPN report is quite helpful. It gives the following advicetostate lawmakers:

“Nowisthe time to hardwire policiesthat reducefederal dependency and strengthen resilience.Fortunately,several states are alreadytaking steps to revitalize federalism and ﬁscal independence —byrequiring legislative approvalfor federal funds, planning forpotentialfunding losses, increasing transparency around federalguidance, andlimiting judicial deferencetoagencies.”

SPN reports thatTennessee and Oregon, for example,“require legislative approval before agencies can even apply fororacceptcertain federal funds. This ensures elected representatives, notbureaucrats, weigh the costs and conditions.”

Meanwhile, Nebraska,Utah andOhio “require agencies to plan for the potentiallossof federal dollars, protecting budgets from suddendisruptions.”

And Oklahoma,Indiana andotherstatestake severalotherrecommendedsteps to ensure thatstatesare prepared both to understand the ramiﬁcations of federal policy changes andtobemoreself-reliant if federal funding becomes limited.

Part of this might mean tightening state government belts even further.Partmight mean ﬁnding newrevenue sources within the state

Part might involve planning fororderly, ratherthanhaphazardly spur-of-the-moment, slowdowns of state functions in unexpected circumstancessuchasanextended federal shutdown.

All of this will take careful legislating and wise administrative planning. None of it is the political equivalent of sexiness; in other words, it’snot likely to earn great attentionor public renown. It is, though, or at least should be,partofthe nuts and bolts of responsible public service.

Louisiana lawmakers and agency chiefs should payheed to the SPN report —and start reacting accordingly

EmailQuin Hillyer at quin.hillyer@ theadvocate.com

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By LEO CORREA

Quin Hillyer

George Will

Cal Thomas

withmeteorologist DamonSingleton

We continue to followJerry,and it appears Jerrywill remaina fish storm,passingjusteast of theLesser Antillesbefore making its way into thenorth-centralAtlanticregion. Locally afrontal boundarywill be passingthrough SoutheastLouisiana. There’sa smallchance it will bringafew passingshowers, but the more significant changewill be thedry airand slightly lowertemperatures. So,expect amostly sunnyand hot day, with alight breeze and afternoon temperatures in theupper 80s. Lower temperatures and humidity tomorrow

Saturday, October11, 2025, at 12:00 PM at Mary Queen of Peace CatholicChurch, 1501 West Causeway Approach, Mandeville, Louisiana, with visitation beginning at 11:00 AM. Interment willbeheld privately at All Saints Mausoleum, 5100 Pontchartrain Boulevard, New Orleans, Louisiana

DEATHS continued from St.ThomasCatholic Church located at 17605 Hwy.15, Point-Ala-Hache, LA70082. Thevisitationwill begin at 9a.m.followedby an11a.m.mass. Father Sampson Abduli will ofﬁci‐ate andinterment will be private.Funeral planning entrusted to Robinson FamilyFuneralHome(504) 208-2119. Foronlinecondo‐lences, please visitwww robinsonfamilyfuneralho me.com.

E. J. Fielding Funeral Home of Covington, Louisiana, is honoredtobe entrusted with Mrs. Rabito's funeral arrangements. Her familyinvites you to share thoughts, memories,and condolences by signing an online guestbook at www.ejfieldingfh.com.

Ryan Joseph Riley, affec‐tionately knownas"Poker Jay"or"Tip-Toe",entered intoeternal rest on Wednesday,October 1, 2025 in Braitwaite LA.He was 56 yearsold anda na‐tiveand lifelong resident of Point-Ala-Hache,LA. Ryan was born on August 18, 1969 andwas aproud grad‐uateofPhoenix High SchoolClass of 1989 Beloved sonofthe late BrendaCorninNarcisse and thelateHerman MitchellJr. Devotedhus‐bandofthe late Darlene WhiteRileyand father of the late Ryan RileyJr. Ryan leavestocherish hispre‐cious memories hisstepfa‐ther: Anthony"DeeDee" Narcisse,his stepmother: Rosemary"Red" Mitchell and hisdevoted siblings: JarredRileySr.,Irvin Riley Sr.,Navon Narcisse Sr Shanika Narcisse,Trenise Mitchell, RosettaRiley, Charlette Gabriel, and TiffanyMitchell. He is also survivedbyprecious granddaughter whomhe adoredRiley, andhis god‐daughterAndriyell Onidas aswellasseveral aunts, uncles, nieces,nephews, cousins,other relatives and devotedfriends.Rela‐tives andfriends of the familyare invitedtoattend the funeralservice on Sat‐urday, October11, 2025at

Sanderford,Joanne Basso

Joanne Basso Sander‐ford, age90, passedaway peacefullyonSeptember 28, 2025. Shewas born in Yonkers,New York,in1934 tothe late Joseph and Stella Recore Basso and was alifelongresidentof Metairie, Louisiana. Joanne attendedCazenovia Col‐lege in Cazenovia, New York, andlater became a ﬂight attendantfor Eastern Airlinesinthe early1950s She went on to teach grammarschool at St Catherine of Sienain Metairie. Joanne enjoyed studying theBible,garden‐ing,and spending time withher children and grandchildren.She was precededindeath by her beloved husband of 51 years,HughB.Sanderford Sr.;her brother, Joseph Basso Jr.; andher grand‐son,Michael Corcoran Joanne is survived by her children, Hugh Britton SanderfordJr. (Sheila) Beth Corcoran (David), RyanSanderford(Michelle),and AmyHutcherson; her grandchildren, Hugh Brice” Sanderford (Adele), ShelbyDabelich (John), Spencer Sanderford,Blake Sanderford, Stephen Cor‐coran (Meagan),and BergenSanderford; and her great-grandchildren, Hugh“Hughes”Sanderford and LucieSanderford. She is also survived by aniece

anda nephew.Relatives and friendsare invitedto attendthe funeralservices onFriday, October10, 2025, atGardenofMemoriesFu‐neral Home,4900 Airline Drive,Metairie, Louisiana 70001. Visitation will begin at9:30a.m., followed by a Catholic Mass at 11:00 a.m. A privateburialwilltake place immediatelyafter the services.Toofferon‐linecondolences,send ﬂowerstothe familyor plant atreeinmemoryof Joanne,pleasevisit www gardenofmemoriesmetairi e.com.

Nicholas C. Sardegna, Jr.,entered into heaven on September 23, 2025, at the age of 90, surrounded by his loving family. Loving husband of thelateJoy Tomlinson Sardegna,heis survivedbyhis daughters, ToniSardegna-Clement (Carey),Angie Sardegna Louque(Nolan),and Jen‐nifer Sardegna Atkinson (Shannon).Heisalsosur‐vived by hisgrandchildren, TaylorS.Robert(Justin), Megan L. Stamps (Jordan), Carly Clement, Cameron Clement,Rayna Sardegna, SaraLouque, Nathan Atkin‐son,fourgreat-grandchil‐dren, andhis sisters, Do‐lores S. Faucheux (late Daniel),Barbara S. Crespo (Sidney), SandyS.Simon (late Gorden), andGayle S. LeFevre,and ahostof nieces, nephews, andfam‐ily members. He is pre‐ceded in deathbyhis par‐ents, Nicholas Sardegna Sr. andEthel Madere Sardegna. Nick wasa de‐voted parishionerofSt. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church;hetaughtCCD for 25years;hewas involved inthe MenofManresa,and hesanginthe church choir.Hesaidthe choir was so importantinhis life, the“wordstothe mu‐sical prayerskepthim going,and he thinks the Lord must feel hislovefor

singingHis praise.” He servedhis countryinthe UnitedStatesArmyand re‐tired from ShellOil after 38 years.Hewillberemem‐bered as loving father, grandfather,brother,and friend. He will be greatly missedbyall who were blessedtoknowhim.The familywould like to thank the staff of HeartofHos‐picefor alltheir kindness and compassion during thisdifﬁcult time.Relatives and friendsare invitedto St. CharlesBorromeo Catholic Church,13396 River Rd., Destrehan, LA,on Saturday, October11, 2025 visitationwillbegin at 10 a.m with Memorial Mass tofollowat12p.m.Inurn‐menttofollowinthe church cemetery.Inlieuof ﬂowers, please consider makinga donation to the Alzheimer’s Association (Alz.org) or theAmerican Heart Association(Heart. org).

AprilRochelle Stewart age 44, native Terrebonne and resident of Gray,LA, passedawaypeacefully on FridaySeptember 19, 2025 She leaves to cherishher memories, herchildren; L’CyrianSmith,Isaiah, Eu‐cameron Stewart; andJe‐remyHester, Jr;her par‐ents, JacquelynWestbrook and MichaelReadomStew‐art (Ms. Diane);siblings, Kamanya Green,Gerhonda Stewart (Michael), Marissa Jones (WarrenJr) Tranika Owens,EugeneTriggs,Jr. and Lynette Brown(Samuel); grandchildren, Isaac Brown andKai’CionSmith; great aunts, DorothyHick‐man,RoseMaria and Gilbert Landry,Sr; 8god childrenand ahostnieces, nephews,cousins,family and friends. Sheispre‐ceded in deathbyher;sib‐lings,Michael Reginald Stewart andTawana Brooks; grandparents,Gen-

eiva Stewart Rice,George Readomand William, Jr and EllenMaize West‐brook.Relatives and friends of thefamilyare in‐vited to participateinthe Celebration of Life Service onSaturday, October11, 2025 at TheGrayPark, 3289 WestParkAve Gray,LA 70359 from 1:00 p.m. until 5:00p.m Privateburial. You maysignthe guest book on http://www.ger trudegeddeswillis.com Gertrude GeddesWillisFu‐neral Home,Inc in charge (985) 872-6943.

Corita LewisTaylor, age 96, enteredeternal rest on Thursday,September 25 2025. Daughter of thelate TerrenceLewis Sr.and Viola H. Lewis. Wife of the lateJessieJ.Taylor. She was also preceded in death by 5brothersand 5 sisters.MotherofMaryJ Rounds, UlyssesJoseph and ShirleyJ.Dorsey. Sister ofErnestS.Lewis of Springﬁeld, IL.Alsosur‐vived by 14 grandchildren, 25great-grandchildren,5 great-great grandchildren anda host of nieces

nephews, cousins, other relatives andfriends.Rela‐tives andfriends of the family, also pastors, ofﬁ‐cersand membersofThird RoseofSharonBaptist Church,Greater St.Peter Baptist Church,Fifth African BaptistChurch bothofEdgard, La Second Mount OliveBaptist Church ofDonaldsonville, La Mt Triumph BaptistChurch of St. JamesLa.,and Employ‐ees of Innophos Inc. of Geismar,LAare invitedto attend theCelebration of LifeService forCorita Lewis Taylor on Saturday October 11, 2025 for10:00 a.m.atThird Rose of SharonBaptist Church, 2132 ThirdSt.,New Or‐leans,La. 70113. Visitation from9:00a.m.until 10:00 a.m.service time.Rev KendrickC.Allen ofﬁciat‐ing.Interment:Young Cemetery, Edgard,La. For livestreampleasetype: @epicvisionproduction‐s2173. Arrangements en‐trusted to Estelle J. Wilson FuneralHome, Inc.,2715 Danneel Street,NOLA 70113. Information: (504) 895-4903. To sign online guest book,pleasevisit www.estellejwilsonfh.com.

Taylor,CoritaLewis

Sardegna Jr., Nicholas C.

Riley, Ryan Joseph

Stewart, AprilRochelle

Kellyon aquest for200th FBSwin

SPORTS

ä South Carolina at LSU 6:45 P.M. SATURDAy,SECN

deferredisnolesssignificant. Saturday against South Carolina (6:45 p.m., SEC Network), LSU coach Brian Kelly takes his second crack at his 200thcareer FBS victory,anamazing achievement by any careerstandard. Kelly,who willbe 64 later this month, had 118 career wins at Division II Grand Valley State to start hiscoaching career.He’scompiled 199 wins in FBS instopsatCentral Michigan, Cincinnati, Notre Dame and LSU, where he’s3312 including a24-19 loss two weeks ago at OleMiss. With all his winscombined, Kelly is the nation’s winningest active coach with 317. When it comes to FBS games,he is behind only Kirk Ferentz, who has207 career wins at Iowa since1999. By the way, aUSA Today article pegged Kelly as the nation’seighth highest-paid coach this season with $10.175 million It’sinterestingtosay that anotherbite at the200-win apple comes forKelly at an inflection point in his careerand his four-year tenure at LSU. At 4-1, Kelly’sheroes arestill rankedNo. 11 nationally and are still very much in the hunt for berths in the Southeastern Conference championship game and the 12-team College Football Playoff But given the rickety state of the LSU runninggameand concerns about quarterback Garrett Nussmeier’shealth, to say thereis lack of confidence in the Tigers to make it to

ä See RABALAIS, page 5C

STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL

LSU coach Brian Kelly reacts to apenalty call in the first quarter of agame against SoutheasternonSept. 20 at TigerStadium.

Tulanecenter Jack Hollifield was thefirst player to congratulate freshman Javin Gordon in the end zone when he scored his first career touchdown against Tulsa.

Holliﬁeld reached him almost as quicklyafter touchdowns No. 2and 3, too, lifting him off thegrounda couple of inches when he tied theGreen Wave record for scores by afreshman.

Three schoolsand fiveyears into hiscollege football career,Hollifield has learned to appreciate the significance of every positive moment. He remembersreaching16miles per hour on Appalachian State’sGPS measurements lastseason as he raced to the end zone after a64-yard touchdown pass.

“Going and celebrating, the reason Idothatisbecause it’s hard to score,” he said.“I’vebeen on teams where we haven’tscored alot,soevery timeyou get in thatbox,

you want to celebrate it as much as you can.”

Hollifield— aShelby,North Carolina, product who played at Virginia Tech for three seasons and at AppalachianStatein2024 —had notwon as much as he expected before transferring to Tulane in January.The Hokies went 16-21 in his timethere afterfinishing below.500 only once from 1993 to 2019. Appalachian State went 5-6 last season, failing to becomebowl eligible for thefirst timeinthe program’s 11 years in the FBS.

The Wave (4-1, 1-0) is bucking Holliﬁeld’scareer-long pattern entering Thursdaynight’sAmerican Conference home opener against East Carolina (3-2, 1-0), and he is abig reason forthat success. Taking over the center spot, he has been everything coach Jon Sumrall had hoped forand more.

Shaheedanswers Saints’ need forspeed aints for speed

BY MATTHEW PARAS Staff writer

“Watch out, media. RashidShaheed’s coming through!” Foster Moreau couldn’thelpbut crack ajoke during Wednesday’spractice when Shaheed’smomentum barreled the New Orleans Saints wide receiver toward a packofreporters after atight catch on the sideline. Shaheed smiled and shook his head.

“Don’tlisten to him, media,” Shaheed said. But, as thesayinggoes, there’sa grain of truthbehind everyjoke. Caseinpoint: Look at Shaheed’sperformance in Sunday’swin over the New York Giants. In his best outing of the year,Shaheed torched the Giants for an 87-yard touchdown and recorded the fastest speed —21.72 mph— on an offensive touchdown thisseason.He also made acrucial 8-yard catch on fourth and 5tohelp the Saints drain the clock late in the win. He also topped 100 yards for the ﬁrst time this season. The Saints hope the outing marks the start of an actual breakthrough forthe 27-year-old. BeforeSunday,Shaheed hada quiet start to the season. His targetswere down. His yards per catch were at aca-

reer low.Itwas hardly thestarthenor the Saintsexpected in acontract year The tide turnedSunday,somuchsothat Shaheed tweeted thatEASports should “ﬁx” hisspeedinits annual “Madden” video game. The video game franchise ranks Shaheed’s speed at 93. “He’sasfastasI’ve ever seen,” coach Kellen Moore said. Days earlier,Shaheed said he wasn’t worried about his production. The deep passing attack had yet to takeoff, but the wide receiver— who now leads the Saints in receiving yards with 228 —saidhehad to stay patient becausehe knewthe opportunities would come. Defenses alsowereplenty aware of the threat Shaheed possessed after lastyear Despitebeing limited to sixgames because of aseason-ending kneeinjury,

BY ROBMAADDI AP profootball

and

Scott Rabalais

Tulane offensivelineman Jack Hollifield runs aplayduring the second half of agame against Ole Miss on Sept. 20 in Oxford, Miss. AP PHOTO By VASHA HUNT

See TULANE, page 3C

JOHNSON

VOLLEYBALL

6 p.m. Purdue at Ohio State FS1 8 p.m. Oregon at Southern Cal FS1 * Taped

MITCHELLDyER

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By CRAIG

Portland Trail Blazers center yang Hansen poses for photos during the team’s media day on Sept. 29 in Portland, Ore.

NBA returns to China for ﬁrst time since 2019

BY TIM REYNOLDS AP basketball writer

The last time the NBA went to China, there was silence. They were two of the most awkward games probably ever played, a pair of preseason matchups between the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Lakers with some fans barely reacting to anything and no news conferences held afterward This time, it’s going to be different. Back to normal, it would seem.

The Nets and Phoenix Suns have made their way to the Chinese gambling hub of Macao for two preseason games one Friday, the other Sunday, and marking the NBA’s ﬁrst games played in China since 2019. There are two more games planned for next season in China as well

“I think it’s very important for us to be able to bring the live game experience, including live games, to as many fans of the NBA around the world,” NBA deputy commissioner Mark Tatum said “And there’s no doubt that China has one of the largest fanbases in the world — hundreds of millions of fans in China, 300 million people play the game of basketball in China, and our mission is to inspire and connect people everywhere through the game of basketball.” There was a time where it seemed uncertain if that connecting would still be possible.

A geopolitical rift was sparked by a tweet posted by Daryl Morey then the general manager of the Houston Rockets, now of the Philadelphia 76ers that was in support of antigovernment protesters in Hong Kong. China severed most ties with the NBA for some time, taking games off its broadcast channels, and the process of mending at least some fences took years. Even now, the games come at a turbulent time. There is trade friction between the U.S. and China, with both sides threatening sky-high tariffs on the others’ exports. And the NBA has long heard criticisms from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle — about not taking a stronger public stance about China’s human rights record.

“Much of the sports industry is based on relationships and we think sports plays a unique role in building community — not just in the United States but around the world and particularly at times of heightened division,” NBA commissioner Adam Silver

said. “Whether that division is domestically or globally there’s almost nothing else I can think of that brings together communities like sports does, and particularly a sport like basketball that is globally played, globally understood.

The Nets and Suns will play at Macao’s Venetian Arena, which is owned by the Las Vegas Sands Corp. — which is a casino operator there as well. Sands president and chief operating ofﬁcer Patrick Dumont is governor of the Dallas Mavericks, assuming that role after his family acquired the team

“Obviously, we know this is great for the Phoenix Suns and our community, our whole organization and the NBA,” Suns coach Jordan Ott said.

The Nets are owned by Joe Tsai, the chairman of Chinese tech giant Alibaba. And this NBA season comes with high hopes for a Chinese rookie: Yang Hansen, a 7-foot-1 draft pick who is expected to play a role for the Portland Trail Blazers this season.

He’s thrilled that the NBA is headed back there ﬁnally

China is an important market for the NBA, for obvious reasons. If the NBA’s numbers are right 300 million fans — that’s 300 million potential consumers in a basketball-crazed part of the world. The Blazers are already seeing how impactful that can be. This has been no secret for some time. Chinese fans love the NBA, plain and simple, and want more. San Antonio Spurs’ star Victor Wembanyama spent time in China this summer; if he was spotted on a morning jog, fans would sprint that way just to try to get a look at him. The Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James toured China this summer for the 15th time with Nike, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer saying, “There’s an unbelievable love and appreciation for basketball in Asia that’s always incredible to experience.”

Jimmy Butler toured China again as well, as did his Golden State Warriors teammate Stephen Curry who has long drawn massive crowds for his visits.

Suns guard Jared Butler, a former Riverside Academy standout, said he’s been looking forward to the trip. “I think it’s a beautiful thing just for the experience,” Butler said. “Me I’ve never been to China and I know a lot of guys haven’t been to China. So, experiencing something new with your guys is going to just be a bonding moment.”

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL

Ten area standouts making early case for All-Metro MVP

BY SPENCER URQUHART Staff writer

The high school football season has reached the halfway point of the regular season, and the New Orleans area has seen some outstanding performances through the ﬁrst ﬁve weeks.

From five-star recruits to dynamic passers and physical runners, there’s no shortage of players off to strong starts.

Multiple area quarterbacks have thrown for more than 1,000 yards, with several running backs and wide receivers having topped the 500-yard mark from scrimmage.

Below is list of 10 players from the New Orleans area who have stood out. These players would be candidates for awards such as All-Metro MVP if the season ended today

Richard Anderson

Edna Karr DL (Sr.)

A ﬁve-star recruit at defensive tackle, Anderson (6-foot-4, 350 pounds) has picked up right where he left off after receiving all-state honors for his outstanding junior season. Karr’s defense has been dominant, allowing only 41 points total, in the ﬁrst half of 2025 with Anderson leading the way as a pass rusher and run defender

Jacobi Boudreaux

John Curtis RB (Sr.)

Boudreaux (5-10, 190) emerged down the stretch last season as a junior and has been John Curtis’ lead running back this season. The senior has been a force on the ground for the high-scoring and unbeaten Patriots, recording 441 yards rushing on 44 carries and 10 touchdowns along with three catches for 55 yards and another score.

Vashaun Coulon

St.Augustine QB (Sr.)

Coulon (5-11, 175) has shaken off concerns about his size and taken the next step as St. Augustine’s quarterback in his second season as a starter The senior has thrown for more than 1,000 yards with double-digit touchdown passes through ﬁve games, displaying great chemistry with wide receivers Miguel Whitley and Ray’Quan Williams.

John Johnson

Edna Karr QB (Sr.)

Johnson (6-0, 180) lost his top three wide receivers from last season, but that hasn’t stopped him from shining as a senior in Karr’s ﬁrst ﬁve games. A Liberty commitment, Johnson’s remained dangerous with more than 1,000 yards combined passing and rushing and 16 touchdowns (nine passing, seven rushing).

Kenric Johnson

Riverside WR (So.)

The sophomore nicknamed “Boogie” has had a role on Riverside’s varsity team since middle school. He’s capable of playing wide receiver, running back and defensive back. Johnson (5-9, 157) has caught 32 passes for 518 yards and eight touchdowns and run for another 127 yards on 12 carries.

Brooks Monica

St. Charles LB (Sr.)

Monica is the senior leader of St. Charles’ defense and is averaging double-digit tackles at middle linebacker Monica’s unit has allowed six points or less in all but two games this season in what’s been a much-improved year for St. Charles (4-1) after starting 1-4 last season.

Jake Randle

Newman QB (Sr.)

Newman moved Randle, a Tulane commitment, from his customary running back position to quarterback. Randle (5-10, 190) has responded well to the change through Newman’s first four games as a dual-threat signal caller, rushing for 524 yards and nine touchdowns on 68 carries and throwing for 539 and four more touchdowns.

Easton Royal

Brother Martin WR (Jr.) A ﬁve-star recruit by several media outlets, Royal (5-11, 185) is a threat to score any time he touches the ball with his blazing 4.29-second speed. Royal, who has 30-plus Division I offers, more than 600 yards receiving with 11 total touchdowns.

Jaden Terrance

Rummel RB (Jr.) Terrance shares Rummel’s backﬁeld with senior Corryan Hawkins, but the junior has emerged as the team’s lead rusher Terrance (5-10, 162) has more than 500 yards rushing and ran for 221 yards and three touchdowns on 12 carries last week against Brother Martin.

Hudson Wright

Country Day QB (Sr.) Wright (6-0, 160) missed the ﬁrst two games of the season with a concussion. Since he’s returned, Country Day’s offense has averaged more than 50 points per game. Wright has thrown for more than 1,000 yards and 17 touchdowns in just three games, including a seven-TD performance against Patrick Taylor.

Staff writer Christopher Dabe contributed to the list.

Email Spencer Urquhart at surquhart@theadvocate.com.

WEEK 6 SCHEDULE

All games at 7 p.m. unless noted. Thursday’s games

District 9-5A Brother Martin vs. Edna Karr at Morris Jeff Rummel vs. Warren Easton at Gormley

NCAA approves single transfer window in football

The NCAA approved a single January transfer window in college football on Wednesday, a move that will allow coaches with high-stakes postseason games to focus more on matchups than player retention.

The Division I administrative committee approved the new window of Jan. 2-16. Bowl subdivision coaches voted unanimously to support the change during their American Football Coaches Association convention earlier this year

The new 15-day period replaces the current 20-day December period. Most teams now will be able to keep active players as they prepare for their biggest games. Last season, Penn State backup quarterback Beau Pribula entered the portal and missed his team’s run in the College Football Playoff.

Teen son of late boxer Gatti found dead by hanging

NEW YORK The teenage son of late boxing star Arturo Gatti was found dead on Tuesday by apparent hanging, much like his father was in 2009.

Arturo Gatti Jr “was found hanging in an apartment in Mexico,” according to Gatti’s former bodyguard, Chuck Zito. The younger Gatti was just 17. Zito on Wednesday announced the news “with a heavy heart” that Gatti Jr., himself a boxer, was discovered “the same way they found his father dead in an apartment in Brazil 16 years ago.”

Gatti Sr.’s wife, Amanda Rodrigues Gatti, found the retired athlete dead on July 11, 2009, in a condo they rented in her native Brazil, where they had been staying for a second honeymoon. He was 37 at the time of his death.

NCAA panel proposes sponsor logos on uniforms INDIANAPOLIS An NCAA committee has proposed a change to rules barring commercial logos on uniforms in a move that would clear the way for sponsor patches to appear on jerseys next year Under current rules, the only commercial logo permitted on athletes’ equipment or apparel during regular-season games is the logo of the equipment or apparel manufacturer If the Division I Administrative Committee’s proposal is adopted, schools could place two additional commercial logos on uniforms and pregame/postgame apparel during non-NCAA championship competition.

Also, one additional commercial logo would be permitted on equipment used by athletes.

Cardinals QB Murray sits out practice with foot injury

TEMPE, Ariz Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray didn’t practice on Wednesday because of a foot injury he suffered in a 22-21 loss to the Tennessee Titans on Sunday

Coach Jonathan Gannon said he would “take it day by day” with Murray’s health.

The team’s backup is veteran Jacoby Brissett, who has played in 89 games, including 53 starts over 10 seasons with the Patriots, Colts, Dolphins, Browns and Commanders.

Murray hasn’t missed a game since 2023, when he returned after missing roughly 11 months with a torn ACL. The two-time Pro Bowl selection is completing 68.3% of his passes for 962 yards, six touchdowns and three interceptions.

Sanders back at Colorado practice after procedure

Colorado coach Deion Sanders was back at practice Wednesday, a day after undergoing surgery related to his blood clots.

Sanders had a procedure called an aspiration thrombectomy, which involves the left popliteal — located behind the knee — and tibial arteries. He appears on track to be on the sideline Saturday when the Buffaloes (2-4, 0-3 Big 12) host No. 22 Iowa State (5-1, 2-1).

On Tuesday night, in a video posted by Well Off Media, which chronicles the Buffaloes, Sanders and his medical team talked about the procedure that would clean out his arteries to prevent more clots. Sanders said it was his 16th surgery over the last few years.

“Same position,” Sanders said from his hospital bed “Never doubting God. Never stressing. Never second-guessing.”

GAMEDAY

American puts twoteams in Top25

BY GUERRYSMITH

Contributing writer

South Florida joined Memphis in TheAssociatedPress Top25this week,separating the American Conference even further from theother Group of Five leagues. TheTigers are 23rd and the Bulls are 24th while the Mountain West, Sun Belt, Conference USA and Mid-American have no oneinthe top 30.

The American Conference still has threeundefeated teamsin Memphis, Navy and North Texas. The only league withmoreisthe Southeastern Conference (four), and the only other one with three is the Big Ten.

At long last, this week features thefirst games between teams expected to ﬁnish in the top half of theAmerican,withThursday night’sclash between Tulane and EastCarolina followed by Friday night’smatchup of SouthFlorida and North Texas

Tulane 24, East Carolina 17: Howgoodare thePirates?Itis frankly unclear, buttheir numbers areindisputablystrongsince Blake Harrelltookoverasinterim coach midway through2024. Promotedto full-timecoach last November,he is 8-3, andEastCarolina ranksnearthe topofthe American Conference in offenseand defensethisseason. That said,the Tulane defensivelinetook over itsleagueopeneratTulsa and should be able to make thePirates one-dimensional whileharassing quarterback KatinHouser. Look for JonSumrall to keep hisperfect record intact when histeams outrushtheir opponents.

Guerry Smith

1. Memphis

Record: 6-0, 2-0 American Previous rank: 1

Last week: defeated Tulsa 45-7

This week: off

Extrapoints: TheTigers, theonly FBS team with sixwins, finally get an open dateafter trouncing Tulsa to ensure their 12th consecutive season of bowl eligibility.Theirstreak of 46 games with 20 or more points is the longest in thenation

2. Tulane

Record: 4-1, 1-0 American

Previous rank: 2

Last week: off

This week: vs.East Carolina, 6:30 p.m. Thursday (ESPN)

Extrapoints: Coach Jon Sumrall is 29-0 when his team outrushes its opponent. That bodes well for TulaneonThursday.Itaverages 205.8yardsrushing to thePirates’ 141.0. Thisisthe first of three weeknightgames in astretchof fourfor theWave that lasts all the way until mid-November

3. SouthFlorida

Record: 4-1, 1-0 American Previous rank: 3

Last week: defeatedCharlotte 5426

This week: at North Texas, 6:30 p.m. Friday (ESPN2)

Extrapoints: The Bulls, whohave notﬁnishedwith awinning conference record since 2017, can make their case as alegitimate contender this week. They are favored by only apoint against NorthTexas butown twovictories (Boise State, Florida) that dwarf anything the undefeated Mean Green has accomplished.

4. Navy

Record: 5-0, 3-0 American

Previous rank: 4

Lastweek: defeated Air Force 3431

This week: at Temple, 3p.m. Saturday (ESPN2)

Extrapoints: American offensive player of theweek Blake Horvath, the best passeratany serviceacademy in the option era, threwfor 339 yards and three touchdowns against the Falcons.

TULANE

Continued from page1C

Holliﬁeld made akey block on all three of Gordon’stouchdowns at Tulsa,pulling to his right and pushing linebacker William Alexander so far out of thepicture on the ﬁrst one that almost anyone couldhavescoredthroughthe gaping hole.

“He’sasmart, tough, dependable, reliable, consistent player,” Sumrall said of Holliﬁeld. “Wow,those areawesome things to sayabout a teammate.I justlove to have him on ourteam.He’sthe kind of guy that makeseverybody around him better. He’sa funguy to be around andagreat cultureguy.”

Sumrall loves to tell the story of how Holliﬁeld arrived in January with dreadlocksbut had them cut during aweekendofspringdrills because he saidhecould not hear the snap countduring practice.

“I’mlike,bro,why did youtake your dreadsoff, those arefreaking awesome,” Sumrall said. “You can’tpullthemback and keep them out of your ears? Whatare

WideoutEli Heidenrichset a school recordwith243 yardson eightcatches. The Midshipmen are dangerous.

5. East Carolina Record: 3-2, 1-0 American Previous rank: 6 Last week: off

This week: at Tulane,6:30 p.m. Thursday (ESPN)

Extrapoints: The Pirates jumped over North Texas even though both are comingoff open dates. Upon furtherreview,they beat Army 28-6 while the Mean Green edged the Black Knights in overtime. They rank high statistically across theboard andcan insert themselvesinto thechampionship picture by upsettingTulane.

6. NorthTexas

Record: 5-0, 1-0 American

Previous rank: 5

Last week: off.

This week: vs. South Florida, 6:30 p.m. Friday (ESPN2)

Extrapoints: One website proclaimed the game against South Florida may be the biggest of the year in aGroup of Five conference. Really? Although Drew Mestemaker is oneoffourFBS quarterbacks with10ormore TD passesand zero interceptions, North Texashas faced averylight schedule to this point.

7. Army

Record: 2-3, 1-2 American

Previous rank: 9

Last week: defeated UAB31-13

This week: vs. Charlotte, 11 a.m. Saturday (CBS SportsNetwork)

Extrapoints: Cale Hellums came off the bench to rush for three second-half touchdowns as reigning American champion Army notched itsﬁrstconferencewin. Hellumsand Dewayne Coleman have been going back and forthat quarterback for ateam still trying to ﬁnd itsidentity.

8. Temple

Record: 3-2, 1-0 American

we doing? It took awhile to grow those things. It tooknotimefor Hollifield to get comfortableatTulane.He loves New Orleans, which is quite thecontrast from Blacksburg, Virginia,and Boone,NorthCarolina, his rural first two college stops. He felt like he would getthe coaching he needed to step up to theNFL ayear from now

Andheispart of awinning team with aproductive offensive line Theleftsidealone hasﬁrst-team preseason All-American Conference selection ShadreHurst at guard andtalented redshirt senior Derrick Graham at tackle. RedshirtfreshmenReece Baker and ElijahBakerhaveheldtheir own on the right side alongwith sophomore Darion Reed andredshirt senior Jordan Hall in arotation.

Tulane averages 205.8 yards rushing —putting it on pace for the eighth-besttotalinschoolhistory and has allowed only six sacks.

“We’re doing areally good job,” Hollifield said. “We’re playing as aunit,and we still have alot of room to grow. We’reonlyﬁve games intothe season.”

Holliﬁeld’scalling card is his ath-

Previous rank: 13

Last week: defeated Texas-San Antonio 27-21

This week: vs. Navy,3 p.m. Saturday(ESPN2)

Extrapoints: Temple is the only FBS team that has not committed aturnover,and Evan Simon joins NorthTexas QB Mestemaker in the four-man group with at least 10 TD passes and zero interceptions. Thoseare heady stats for ateam that was 6-33 in theleague over the previous ﬁveyears

9. Texas-SanAntonio

Record: 2-3, 0-1American Previous rank: 7

Last week:losttoTemple 27-21

This week: vs.Rice, 6:30 p.m. Saturday (ESPNU)

Extrapoints: Blowing a14-3halftimelead at Temple was thelatest indignity for aprogram on an unexpected decline.Tabbed second in the league by Phil Steele’s magazine in the preseason, the Roadrunners are doing very little rightdespitehaving thenation’s second-leading rusher in Robert Henry

10.Florida Atlantic

Record: 2-3, 1-1American

Previous rank: 12

Last week: defeated Rice27-21

Thisweek: vs. UAB, 5p.m.Saturday (ESPN+)

Extrapoints: Western Kentucky transfer quarterback CadenVeltkamp is starting to meethis lofty expectations aftera slowstart. He threw for 290 yards andthree scoresinthe upset of Rice aweek after putting ascare into Memphis for threequarters.

11.Tulsa

Record: 2-4, 0-3American Previous rank: 9

Last week: lost to Memphis 45-7

This week: off Extra points: TheGolden Hurricane gets amuch-needed open dateafter beginning conference play againstNavy,Tulaneand

letic ability.Heplayed linebacker in high school fortwo state championship teams, was on astate championship basketball team and even ranhurdles, improving his footworktremendously.Sumrall recruited him when he waslinebackers coach at Kentucky before he signed with Virginia Tech as a projected tight end.

The Hokies moved him to offensive line after spring drills during hisfreshman year,but his primary role was on special teams in 2022 and 2023. After leaving for Appalachian State, he started all 11 games at center and was asecond-team All-Sun Belt pick.

First-team All-American Conference status is within reach.

“He’sastud, and the great thing about Hollifield is, No. 1hehas great leadership ability,” Tulane offensive line coach Evan McKissack said.“He owns all of the targeting (directing his teammates about whom to block before the snap) in our run andprotection, and he does atremendous job of getting our guys on the same page. He wants to work. He’sin here (the coaches’ ofﬁces) allthe time with me at night for an hour

Memphis (combinedrecordof 15-1). They will try to regroup as theschedule lightens up, but thatupsetwin against Oklahoma State was moretelling about the Cowboys thanTulsa.

12.Rice

Record: 3-3, 1-2American

Previous rank: 8

Last week: lost to Florida Atlantic 27-21

This week: at Texas-SanAntonio, 6:30 p.m. Saturday(ESPNU) Extrapoints: Losing at home to Florida Atlanticwas no way to become bowl eligible. The Owls have ﬁnishedbelow .500 for 10 straight years and face an uphill battle to end that ignominious streak. They will be underdogs in at least four of their remaining six games.

13.UAB

Record: 2-3, 0-2American

Previousrank: 11

Last week: lost to Army 31-13

This week: at Florida Atlantic, 5p.m. Saturday(ESPN+)

Extrapoints: The Blazers fell to 0-2 against the service academiesand still do not appear anywhere close to being relevant under third-year coach Trent Dilfer. They had their chances against Armybut didwhatlosing teams do, missing two ﬁeld goals and throwing acostly interception.

14.Charlotte

Record: 1-4, 0-2American Previous rank: 14

Last week: lost to South Florida 54-26

This week: at Army,11a.m. Saturday(CBSSportsNetwork) Extrapoints: Outscored 13657 in four games against FBS foes, the 49ers likely will ﬁnish 1-11. The lone win wasbyseven pointsagainst Monmouth. They deﬁnitely will be underdogs in everyremaining game andface apainful trip to Georgia in late November

or two hours understanding the game planbecause he’s theone that really dials it up.”

Holliﬁeldisamped up forEast Carolina because of theconnection to his home state. Linebacker Dameon Wilson, the Prates’ second-leading tackler,was an elementary school classmate and agoodfriend. LanceWare, who coached Shelby High to ﬁvestate championships, is the director of player personnel for East Carolina after serving as the Appalachian State tight ends coach last season

“I’m excited to play aCarolina team,”Holliﬁeldsaid. “I actually knowa good amount of dudes.” He wantstoshowthemwhat60 minutes of full-out football looks like. Tulane has been outscored 50-16 in the fourthquarterand has managed only 36 second-half pointsafter putting up 95 before halftime

“Wehaven’tﬁnished wellinany of theﬁve games we’ve played,” he said. “Weget alittle sloppy at theend andneed to focusonthe details to the very endand clean up the stuff that’snot going our way. That’sthe next step.”

Bohanon on Nov. 28 at yulman Stadium.The Tigers are No. 23 thisweek in

Eagles, Barkley aim to rebound vs. Giants

BY STEPHEN WHYNO AP sportswriter

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. Abdul Carter could not believe Saquon Barkley had only six carries in the Philadelphia Eagles’ most recent game, which was also the reigning Super Bowl champions’ ﬁrst defeat this season.

“I was shocked when I heard that stat,” Carter said. “I’m sure they’re going to come out and try to give him the ball.” No better time than the present, with the Eagles visiting Carter and the New York Giants on Thursday night.

Barkley is off to a slow start, averaging just over 50 yards through ﬁve games after approaching the single-season NFL rushing record last year He’s back at the Meadowlands to face his old team for just the second time.

Barkley torched the Giants for 176 yards and a touchdown in his anticipated return last October withthebackdropofleavinginfree agency and going to a division rival. Acknowledging he didn’t know whattoexpectthen,theemotionsof the moment have dissipated.

“It is what it is,” Barkley said.

“I’m just focusing on trying to get back on track and getting a big win in the NFC East.

Barkley, the 2024 Offensive Player of the Year after rushing for 2,005 yards on the way to helping the Eagles win it all, popped up on the practice participation report this week with a knee injury He downplayed it and said it had nothing to do with his performance or the loss to Denver on Sunday, which dropped Philadelphia to 4-1.

“Nothing I’m too worried about,” he said “Some general soreness, and I’m excited to go play.” The Giants know all about what

ä Eagles at Giants 7:15 P.M.

THURSDAy, PRIME

Barkley can do from him doing it for them in his ﬁrst six seasons in the league. Their pass rush has the potential to take over, but their rushing defense is among the worst in the NFL and will be tested in a major way

“He’s Saquon Barkley, great running back,” nose tackle Dexter Lawrence said “We’ve got to stop the run. We understand that.”

New York fell to 1-4 after committing ﬁve turnovers in a loss at New Orleans last Sunday Rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart had three of them: two interceptions and a fumble.

Dart is making his third professional start. He won his ﬁrst on Sept. 28 against the Los Angeles Chargers, but the Saints game brought him back to earth.

“This was my first loss in the NFL and, just being realistic, it’s not going to be my last,” Dart said.

“Trying to come back, identify the things I need to work on (while) at the same time being able to say things I did well and then try to carry those over to the next week.

Barkley and Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts downplayed the signiﬁcance of a meeting they held with receiver A.J. Brown after a tough offensive performance against Denver and declined to get into the speciﬁcs of what was discussed

Barkley described it more as a meeting among friends but said: “The focus was all about the team.”

“When you hear ‘players’ meeting,’ that’s like all hell’s breaking loose. It wasn’t that at all,” Barkley said. “But also that we’re teammates. We’re all friends. We’re just having a conversation.”

NFL

Continued from page 1C

could’ve won if not for a late interception.

It’s a quick turnaround and short week for the Jaguars after an impressive win. Some teams can let down in these situations. Jacksonville can’t afford to let up, especially with a trip to London to face the Rams coming up the next week.

Denver (3-2) went to Philadelphia on a short week of preparation after a lopsided win over the Bengals on a Monday night and stunned the reigning Super Bowl champion Eagles.

Down 17-3 in the fourth quarter, Bo Nix led the Broncos to a 21-17 comeback win and the defense stifled Saquon Barkley, Jalen Hurts and the rest of an inconsistent offense.

Now, they’re heading to London to face the NFL’s only winless team, the New York Jets

It’s another challenging travel week for the Broncos, who are tied with the Los Angeles Chargers in the AFC West. Sean Payton’s team can’t slip up against the woeful Jets, who have talent despite their 0-5 record.

Denver will play four of its ﬁve games after the London trip at home before a bye in Week 12. The Broncos host the Giants and Cowboys, visit the Texans, and then host the Raiders and Chiefs. They could be 8-2 going into a matchup against Kansas City if they take care of business and don’t overlook anybody That starts with beating the Jets.

New England (3-2) went to Buffalo and shocked the Bills on

Sunday night with Drake Maye leading a 23-20 victory The Patriots made it clear that Josh Allen and the Bills aren’t going to cruise to another AFC East title. They won’t be pushed around anymore, not with coach Mike Vrabel standing on the sideline.

Maye has been impressive in his second season and certainly looks like the franchise quarterback the Patriots have sought since Tom Brady left.

But that win over the Bills can’t be New England’s Super Bowl.

The Patriots have a favorable schedule the rest of the way Only two of their remaining games are against teams that currently have a winning record — Buccaneers in Week 10 and Bills in Week 15.

The Patriots head to New Orleans (1-4) this week and Tennessee (1-4) next before returning home to face Cleveland (1-4). If they want to challenge Buffalo for the division, they must defeat inferior teams.

Adapting to change

Baker Mayﬁeld is on his third offensive coordinator in three seasons with Tampa Bay and ﬁfth in four years, including his stints with the Panthers and Rams in 2022.

He has improved each season and is playing at an MVP level in 2025. Dave Canales spent one year as the Buccaneers offensive coordinator in 2023 and landed a head coaching job in Carolina.

Coen replaced him, Mayﬁeld had his best season and the Jaguars hired him to be head coach.

Josh Grizzard took over for Coen, and Mayﬁeld has elevated his game another notch as the Tampa Bay offense is averaging 27 points per game.

NFL

Young back at practice after missing 5 games

BY LUKE JOHNSON and MATTHEW PARAS Staff writers

After missing the first five weeks of the season with a calf injury, New Orleans Saints defensive end Chase Young practiced Wednesday Young was a late arrival at practice, entering roughly midway through the period of practice open to the media. The pass rusher injured his calf in the days leading up to the season opener against the Arizona Cardinals. Earlier this week, coach Kellen Moore defended Young after some criticism about how long his injury has kept him off the field, saying Young was doing everything in his power to return. It wasn’t the only positive injury news for New Orleans.

Right guard Cesar Ruiz, who missed last week’s game against the New York Giants with an ankle injury, returned to practice Wednesday afternoon in a limited capacity Ruiz suffered his injury against the Buffalo Bills in Week 4 when quarterback Spencer Rattler rolled into the back of his legs on a scramble. Undrafted rookie Torricelli Simpkins has ﬁlled in at right guard while Ruiz was out. The Saints have played with their preferred starting five along the offensive line for only 28 offensive snaps this season. Left guard Trevor Penning did not play in the ﬁrst three games while recovering from a turf toe injury, and right tackle Taliese Fuaga missed the Week 3 game against the Seattle Seahawks with knee and back injuries.

Safety Justin Reid, who left the Giants game in the ﬁrst quarter with a concussion, was also back at

SAINTS

Continued from page 1C

Shaheed’s speed changed games early on. He hauled in touchdowns of 59 and 70 yards in back-to-back contests to begin the year, and before the injury he had six catches of at least 20 yards.

Shaheed said he saw subtle ways in which opponents adjusted Safeties played even farther back, making it more difﬁcult for Shaheed to race behind them. And defenses rarely gave the Saints single-high looks since Chris Olave and Brandin Cooks also posed as speed threats.

But the Saints knew they still needed to get Shaheed involved.

With the lack of explosive plays, the coaching staff tried to feature Shaheed in other ways. In Week 4 against the Buffalo Bills, for example, Shaheed had two rushing attempts on jet sweeps He also saw an uptick in slant routes and hitches.

Still, through the first four games, Shaheed (25 targets) was targeted less often than Olave (43) and tight end Juwan Johnson (31).

“You’ve got to find ways to get

practice Wednesday

It wasn’t all good for the Saints.

Running back Alvin Kamara suffered an ankle injury during practice Wednesday Moore did not elaborate on the injury other than to say it happened in practice and that Kamara was limited.

The only player who was not present at Wednesday’s practice was cornerback IsaacYiadom (hamstring).

Hill as backup QB?

Moore was asked a simple question during Wednesday’s news conference: As the Saints look to expand Taysom Hill‘s role as he gets healthier, could that include him becoming the team’s backup quarterback?

“Yeah, it could,” Moore said “He’s done it plenty of times in his career before.”

The Saints now list Hill as a quarterback after having him at tight end the last few seasons. Hill’s actual position is more complicated than the title, given he plays a variety of roles — ranging from quarterback to receiver to running back to special teams ace.

Moore previously had said he expects Hill’s role to grow as he comes back from last season’s serious knee injury He played nine offensive snaps in Sunday’s win over the Giants.

Against the Giants, secondround rookie Tyler Shough served as Rattler’s backup even though Hill threw a 19-yard pass.

Moore’s answer leaves open the possibility the Saints could turn to Hill if Rattler was injured or benched, instead of Shough.

Asked whether a change could leave Shough inactive on game days, Moore shrugged and said

that he loved all three quarterbacks and added he wouldn’t worry about hypothetical “math problems” with the roster He downplayed the idea that a possible change was a reﬂection of Shough’s development.

“Tyler’s doing awesome,” Moore said. “We’ve got a good group going on right now.”

Hill was spotted wearing a quarterback wristband in Wednesday’s practice, and though one wasn’t visible on Shough’s arm band, Moore said Hill had a wristband “like all the other quarterbacks.” Rattler also wore one in the portion of practice open to reporters.

“He’s done a tremendous job,” Moore said of Hill “He can play quarterback for us, taking reps in that position, certainly plenty through the last couple weeks. He’s definitely available to be a backup quarterback.”

Player of the week

Kool-Aid McKinstry snagged his first and second career interceptions in the second half of the Saints’ 26-14 win against the Giants last week, and he was recognized by the league for his performance. McKinstry was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Week for the performance, with his two interceptions being part of five consecutive turnovers forced by the Saints. McKinstry, 23, became the first Saints player to be recognized as the NFC Defensive Player of the Week since Paulson Adebo in 2023. The last Saints player to win any sort of weekly honor was Bryan Bresee last year, who was recognized on special teams after a field goal block that secured a win against the Giants.

On the 87-yard bomb, the Saints got a favorable look when they fooled the Giants by deploying a formation that featured three tight ends and Shaheed as the lone receiver With Johnson motioning to Shaheed’s side pre-snap, the movement caused Giants cornerback Paulson Adebo to stay with the tight end, leaving Shaheed one-onone with a safety

He ran straight down the ﬁeld, faked as if he was going to break into a crossing route and then opened his hips to cut outside and break free. Touchdown.

“No, deﬁnitely not,” Shaheed said with a smile when asked whether anybody could catch him in that scenario.

him touches,” offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier said last week

“Obviously, people are going to play shell (coverage) and keep a roof on it You can’t force the ball downﬁeld.

It’s important to find ways to get Shaheed the ball underneath coverage in different ways, whether it be options, slants or quick outs, whatever it may be.” Sometimes, sticking to what worked works.

Funny enough, Shaheed admitted after the win he was initially nervous that he was going to be tripped up when running. He joked that he was worried he’d “lose respect” in the locker room and teammates would question his speed.

But then he had a question of his own. Did anyone happen to have the exact speed on his route? 21.72.

He nodded his head a few times.

“I’ll take it,” Shaheed said. “I’ll take it. I’m happy about that.”

STAFF PHOTO By DAVID GRUNFELD Saints wide receiver Rashid Shaheed catches an 87-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Spencer Rattler against the New york Giants on Sunday.

STAFF FILE PHOTO By JOHN McCUSKER

Saints defensive end Chase young runs down the ball carrier during training camp on Aug. 2 at the team’s practice facility young missed the first five weeks of the season with a calf injury.

AP PHOTO By CHRIS SZAGOLA

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, left, fakes a handoff to running back Saquon Barkley during their game against the Denver Broncos on Sunday in Philadelphia.

Holding all the cards

Las

OU’s ‘Dog Pound’ ready to chasedownManning

SoonersDLaimsto make life miserable againfor TexasQB

BY JIM VERTUNO

AP sportswriter

AUSTIN,Texas FloridachasedArch Manning to the point of exhaustion and left the Texas quarterback withenough bruises to make him ache for days.

Now comes Oklahoma, which leads the nation in sacks pergame.

The Sooners have battered opposing quarterbacks with the consistency of aticking clock that can strike midnight on just about any play Texas (3-2, 0-1 Southeastern Conference) and No. 6Oklahoma (5-0, 1-0) clash in their annual rivalry on Saturday in Dallas, and Texas’ ability to protect Manning or get him beat up again will likely swing the day Texas tackle Trevor Goosbysaid he’sready for aﬁght in thetrenches with aSooners’defensive front known as the “Dog Pound.”

“They’re an amazing defense Alot of stout guys,”Goosby said. “Try to cause alot of chaos.”

A fierce bite

The Oklahoma defensive front has been punishing quarterbacks all season. The Sooners have 21 sacks this season and average 4.2 per game, tied for best in the nation. Abig chunkofthose came against Auburn,when the Soonersbulled theirway to aschoolrecord-tyingnine sacks in a24-17 win. The exclamation pointwas R. Mason Thomas’ sack and safety with about one minute to play Thomas is one of three Sooners’ defensive linemen with at least three sacks in adeep rotation that keeps fresh bodies ﬂowing onto the ﬁeld. “You know,when they said ‘Dog Pound,’ we just started barking because we liked it because we some dogs,” said defensive lineman Gracen Halton, who has 11/2 sacksand twoquarterback hurries. “Everybody’sadog on our d-line. We re-

ally liketoeat.”

Sooners coach Brent Venables, whoiscallingthe defensive playsthisseason,loves it.With thatgroup up front, the Sooners have allowed theirfewest points through five games (36) since 1987. Venablesembraces the“Dog Pound” mentality

“I like the engagement. To me, thatsays there’sgreat ownership in that group,” Venablessaid. “If they named them something and they play like abunch of pansies, it wouldn’tbegood.”

Manningonthe run

The Soonersare eager to chase Manning, who was on the run all afternoon last week in the loss to Florida. The Gators sacked Manning sackedsix times and had him under pressure in seemingly every passing situation

Manningsaidthis week that game left him“pretty sore,” but he wasn’tinclined to publicly chide his offensive line that replaced four starters from last season’s College Football Playoff semiﬁnalists. Manning hasendured his own strugglesand criticism over poor play in his ﬁrst season as the fulltime starter Andhewas willing to take some of theblame for thepoor pass pro-

tection

“I think honestly,afew of those sacks, Icould avoidand getrid of it, switch protection,” Manning said. “Butwe’re going to play better than that. I’m fully conﬁdent of that.” Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said he expectsTexas to be better up front Saturday “Right now,we’re just not an experienced group, especially not an experienced group playing together.We’vegot to keep pushing those guys to be the best thatthey can be. Iknow there’smore in there. I know there’sbetter play in there,” Sarkisian said.

Manning’sday on the run exposedTexas’ biggest weakness, but it also proved thequarterback is tough enough totake alicking and keep grinding through a close game. He finished16-for29 passing with263 yards,two touchdowns and two interceptions against Florida. He also ran for a team-high 37 yards.

“Thatguy’sgot alot of courage; he’sgot alot of toughness. Ithink he gained alot of respect from his teammates Saturday,which is a great thing,” Sarkisian said. “Does he need to play alittlebetter? Sure. Do we need to play better around him?Noquestion.”

LSUWRAndersonlistedas questionable vs.South Carolina

BY REED DARCEY Staff writer

TwoofLSU’sinjured offensive

NCAA movescloser to allowing athletes to betonpro sports

BY DOUG FEINBERG AP sportswriter

The NCAA moved astep closer Wednesday to allowingathletes andathletic department staff members to bet on professional sports.

The Division Iadministrative committee approved the change, which must still be approved by Division II and III forittogointo effect. If approved by all three divisions, it would go into effect Nov 1.

“The administrative committee was clear in its discussion today that it remains concerned about therisks associated with all forms of sports gambling butultimatelyvoted to reduce restrictions on student-athletes in this area to better alignwith their campus peers,” said Josh Whitman, athletic director at Illinois andchairofthe committee.

“This change allowsthe NCAA, the conferences, andthe member schools to focusonprotecting the integrity of collegegames while, at the sametime, encouraging healthy habits forstudentathletes whochoose to engage in bettingactivities on professional sports.”

This doesn’tchange the NCAA rule which forbids athletes from betting on collegesports. The NCAA also prohibits sharing information about college competitionswith bettors. The institution also doesn’tallowadvertising and sponsorships of NCAA championships by betting sites.

Despite the potential change, thecommittee emphasized that it

LSU coach Brian Kelly talks with players on the sideline during a game against Southeastern on Sept. 20 at Tiger Stadium.

STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL

JOHNSON

doesn’tendorse betting on sports particularly forstudent-athletes.

“Division Imembers are actively workingtoderegulate NCAA rules where possible, and the Division IBoard of Directors remains focused on preserving rules that directly speak to the fairness of college sports competition and the academic successesofcollege athletes,” Virginia Tech president Tim Sands said.

“While NCAA members do not encourage student-athletes to engage in sports betting behaviors of any kind, the timing is right to modernize these rules by removingprohibitions against betting on professional sports and focusing on harm reduction strategies for behaviors that do not impact college sports directly.”

Thechangecomes as NCAA enforcement caseloads involving sports betting violations have increased in recent years. Last month theNCAA bannedthree men’scollege basketball players forsports betting, saying they hadbet on theirown games at Fresno State and San Jose State and wereable to share thousands of dollars in payouts.

The NCAA committeeoninfractions released ﬁndings from an enforcement investigation that concluded Mykell Robinson, Steven Vasquezand JalenWeaver bet on one another’sgames and/or provided information that enabled others to do so during the 2024-25 regular season; two of them manipulated theirperformances to ensure certain bets were won. The eligibility was permanently revoked.

RABALAIS

Continued from page1C

the CFP would be aconsiderable understatement. There are plenty who also question Kelly’swork ethic, determination and dedication. I would have thought he answered thatquestion by putting up $1 million of his own pay package in the offseason to help LSU gather the $18 million it spent in NIL money to put together this year’s roster. Kelly radiates aCEO vibe thatsays he hireshis staff and puts things on auto pilot while theymake the show happen. But Ican’timagine someone getting this far and still coaching in a demanding league like the SEC not having aﬁre that still burns inside.

Whenever Kelly retires, the clock will start on his inevitable enshrinement in the College FootballHall of Fame. Whether his resume will include aCFP national title won at LSU remainsthe riveting question. If not this year with this team,then when?

…There has been alot in the media about late LSU receiver Kyren Lacy and whether or not his driving contributed to afatal crash in Lafourche Parish in December

sions are drawn. But nothing will change the fact that aman named Herman Hall waskilled in the wreck, or that Lacy took his own lifeinApril after being pursued by police in Houston. Perhaps there could be some solace forthe Lacy and Hall families waiting at the end of all this, but that’sfar from clear in the moment.

…Saturday is the homecoming gamefor LSU, agame that will markahomecoming of sorts for LSU great DougMoreau, too. The former All-American tight end and kicker (1962-65) hung up his microphone before this season after 52 years as part of LSU football radio and television broadcasts. He will be recognized on the ﬁeld during the ﬁrst quarter of Saturday’sgame, according to LSU.

In addition to his timeon LSU radio and TigerVision, the school’sformer in-house pay-per-view network, Moreau played forthe MiamiDolphins from 1966-69 and was aBaton Rouge judge and district attorney from 1978-2009. Moreau was replaced by former Tigers and NFLfullback Jacob Hester as radio color analyst last season on atemporary basis and full-timestarting this season.

starters are on track to return to the field Saturday against South Carolina, but two others may sit out. Wide receiver Aaron Anderson is listed as questionable to suitup againstthe Gamecocks (6:45 p.m., SEC Network) on the Tigers’ first availability report of the week, which wasreleasedWednesday evening. LSU also said that starting left guard Paul Mubenga (ankle) was doubtful. Anderson left the Tigers’ Sept. 27 loss to Ole Miss lateinthe first half. CoachBrian Kelly hassaid he’s battling knee, toe andelbow injuries. Mubenga is dealing with ahighankle sprain.

PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON LSU widereceiver Aaron Anderson indicates a firstdownafter abig catchagainst FloridaonSept. 13 in TigerStadium

Theavailability report also indicatedLSU expectsbothrunning backCaden Durham(ankle) and right tackle Weston Davis (concussion) to play,asKelly said Monday Durhamsprained hisanklein LSU’sSept. 20 win over SoutheasternLouisiana, then sat out its loss to the Rebels the following week. Davis was injured in pregame warm-ups for that game. The Tigers alsolisted defensive tackle Ahmad Breaux as probable.

EmailReed Darcey at reed. darcey@theadvocate.com. For more LSU sports updates, sign up for our newsletter at theadvocate.com/lsunewsletter

Lacy’s attorney has been all over the media disputing Lacy’s alleged involvement in the crash. Louisiana State Police have defended theirreporting of thecrash that led to Lacy being accused of negligent homicide. Plenty of opinions have been swirlingabout.

IthoughtKelly’scarefully worded answer to aquestion about the case at his Monday news conference was aprudent response. “This is aprocess that takes time,” Kelly said. “I think Isaid back when this occurred that let’swait until all the information comes out. For us to make these universal statements early on, it just doesn’tserve anybody well.” Clearly there needs to be more investigation before any conclu-

…Not that LSU couldn’tbe upset by South Carolina on Saturday,but it certainly wouldn’t be in keeping with the history of this series. The Tigers hold alopsided 20-2-1 edge on the Gamecocks, having lost to South Carolina only once, 18-17 in 1994, since the Gamecocks won their ﬁrst meeting 7-6 way back in 1930. LSU’s.891 winning percentage against South Carolina is by farits best against any SEC rival. I’ll close with abit of trivia: LSU and South Carolina played to a20-20 draw in Columbia in 1995. It wasthe last tie in LSU history,asthe NCAA instituted overtime starting with the 1996 season. LSU has won eight straight meetings with South Carolina since, including last year’swild 36-33 victory in Columbia.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO

RICK SCUTERI

VegasAces center A’ja Wilson is fouled by Phoenix Mercuryforward DeWanna Bonner during the firsthalf of Game 3ofthe WNBA Finals on WednesdayinPhoenix.The Aces lead 2-0inthe best-of-sevenseries.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By ALONZO ADAMS Oklahoma defensivelineman David Stone sacksAuburnquarterback Jackson Arnold on Sept. 20 in Norman, Okla. The Sooners are tied for the NCAAlead with 4.2 sacks per game.

Tigers score9unansweredruns, forceGame5

BY DAVE HOGG Associated Press

DETROIT Riley Greene and Javier Báez homeredina four-run sixth inning, and the Detroit Tigers kept their season alive with a 9-3 win over the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday in Game4ofthe American LeagueDivision Series.

The Tigers forceda Game 5by winning at Comerica Park for the first time in morethan amonth They went 0-8 after TarikSkubal’s 6-0 win over the Chicago White Sox on Sept. 6, including Seattle’s8-4 win on Tuesday

The decisive game of the series will be FridayinSeattle,with Skubal facingGeorgeKirby of theMariners.

“One of the easiest and most exciting things Iget to do is hand the ball to the best pitcher in baseball,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said. “We’re getting on aplane across the country withalot of optimism because of Tarik Skubal.”

The Tigers’ nine runs are their most in apostseason game since

Detroit Tigers pitcher Will Vest celebrates after striking out Seattle Mariners’ RandyArozarena for the final out in Game 4ofthe ALDSon WednesdayinDetroit.

scoring 13 in Game 6ofthe 1968 World Series. After Detroit tiedthe game with three runs in theﬁfth, Greene gave theTigersa4-3 advantagewitha leadoffhomer off Gabe Speier in

thesixth. The 454-foot homer was the second-longest home run of Greene’scareer

“That felt great,” Greenesaidof his ﬁrst postseason homer. “I hadn’t hit aball like that in awhile.”

Spencer Torkelson followed with adouble and scored Detroit’s fifth run on Zach McKinstry’s single before Báez made it 7-3 with his sixth career postseason homer

GleyberTorres became thethird Tigers All-Star to homerwhenhe ledoff the seventh withashotto right before Báez’seighth-inning groundout broughtinDetroit’s ninth run

“They were able to gettoour bullpentoday,but those guys have bounced back allseason,” Mariners manager Dan Wilson said. “There’snobetter place to do that than back at home on Friday.”

Troy Melton, Detroit’sGame 1starter,pickedupthe win with three scorelessinnings of relief.

The ﬁrst 41/2 innings looked like another disasterfor the Tigers.

Casey Mize allowed one run while striking out six batters in the ﬁrst three innings, but he needed 54 pitchestodoit. Thatmay have played apart in Hinch’sdecision to send lefty Tyler Holton to the mound for thefourthinning.

The decision didn’twork. Holton faced three batters and left with the bases loaded and no one out. Hinch brought in setup manKyle Finnegan, whogot Victor Robles to ground into arun-scoring double playbefore J.P.Crawford poppedout

The Mariners gottoFinneganin theﬁfth. RandyArozarena led off with asingle,took secondona wild pitchand scored on CalRaleigh’s single— his seventh hit of theseries. Thatmadeit3-0,increasing the booing from an angry home crowd.

“I’ve heard boos my whole career, so Idon’tmind them,” Báez said. “That’sjust showing the passion of ourfans.”

DillonDingler’sRBI double got the Tigers on the board with one out in the fifth —the first run Detroit had scored against Mariners starter BryceMillerin231/3 innings. Speiercame in, but Jahmai Jones linedhis first pitchdown the leftfield line fora pinch-hit double to make it 3-2beforeBáez tiedthe gamewith abase hit.

Four-run ﬁrst inning keepsCubs’ chancesalive

BY JAYCOHEN AP baseball writer

CHICAGO Pete Crow-Armstrong hit atiebreaking two-run single and the Chicago Cubsavoided a sweep by holding off the Milwaukee Brewersfor a4-3 victory in Game 3oftheirNLDivision SeriesonWednesday Crow-Armstrong’stwo-out swing was part of afour-run ﬁrst inning for Chicago. Michael Busch kicked off the rally by becoming the first player in MLB history with multiple leadoff homers in a single postseason series.

The matchup of NL Central rivals is the first postseason series in which both teams scored in the first inning in each of thefirst three games. Game 4isonThursdaynight.

“Yeah,I’m going to tell our guys it’s theﬁrstinningevery inning tomorrow,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “I thinkthat’sour best formula right nowoffensively.” Jake Bauers rallied Milwaukee with an RBI single in the fourth and aleadoff home run in the seventh. He started at ﬁrst base in

place of Andrew Vaughn, whohit athree-run homer in the Brewers’ 7-3 victory in Game 2onMonday night.

Milwaukeeloaded the bases in the eighth, but Brad Keller escaped the jam when he struck out Bauers on afoul tipona97.1 mph fastball. Keller then retired the side in order in the ninth for the save.

“He’sgot agreat fastball. He got it by me,” Bauers saidofKeller

Looking to sweep their way to the franchise’sﬁrst triptothe NL Championship Series since2018, Milwaukee jumped in front in the ﬁrst

With runners on ﬁrst and second with one out, William Contreras hit amile-high popup that Busch lost in the sun before it landed in the inﬁeld for asingle. Sal Frelick followed with asacrificefly off Jameson Taillon.

Chicago got the run right back when Busch drove afull-count cutter from QuinnPriester deep to right-center, delighting the crowd of 40,737 at Wrigley Field. It was the ﬁrst baseman’s teamhigh third homer of the postseason.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTOByNAM HUH

ChicagoCubsplayers celebrate after Game 3ofthe NLDS against the Milwaukee Brewers on WednesdayinChicago.

Busch saidhehad to move on right away after themiscue with the popup in the top of theﬁrst.

“Just triedtoreset,” he said. “It’s alonggameand there’sa lot of outs, and just triedtore-

mind myself just to have agood at-bat.”

Asingle by Nico Hoerner andwalks forKyle Tucker and Ian Happloaded the basesfor Crow-Armstrong, who chased

SCOREBOARD

Detroit at

(Best-of-7)

Vegas2,Phoenix0 Friday,Oct. 3: Las Vegas 89, Phoenix 86 Sunday, Oct. 5: Las Vegas 91, Phoenix 78 Wednesday: Las Vegas at Phoenix, n Friday: Las Vegas at Phoenix, 7p.m. (ESPN) x-Sunday:Phoenix at Las Vegas,2 p.m. (ABC) x-Wednesday, Oct. 15: Las Vegas at Phoenix, 7p.m. (ESPN) x-Friday, Oct. 17: PhoenixatLas Vegas, (ESPN) Major League Baseball Postseason glance x-if necessary (Best-of-5) American League DivisionSeries Toronto 2, New York 1 Saturday: Toronto 10,New York 1 Sunday: Toronto 13,New York 7 Tuesday: New York 9, Toronto 6 Wednesday: TorontoatNew York, n x-Friday: N.Y. at Toronto, 7:08 p.m. (FOX)

Second, Chris Conroy;Third Ryan Blakney; Right, MikeEstabrook; Left, Edwin Moscoso. T—3:13. A—40,737 (41,363) Detroit 9, Seattle 3 Seattle Detroit ab rh bi ab rh bi

Arozarena lf 51 10 Carpenter rf 50 00 Raleigh c3 011 Torres 2b 31 21

Rodríguezcf4 000 Keith dh 40 00

Polanco 2b 40 00 Greene lf 41 11

Naylor 1b 42 30 Torkelson 1b 41 20

Suárez 3b 40 10 McKinstry 3b 42 31

Canzone dh 10 11 Dingler c3 111

Garver ph-dh00 00 Meadows cf 10 00

Raley ph-dh2 000 Jones ph 11 11

Roblesrf2 000 Pérezcf2 110

Crawford ss 40 10 Báez ss 41 24

Totals

Priester with aliner to right. Happ made it 4-1whenheran homeonawild pitch from Nick Mears. The 23-year-old Crow-Armstrong is batting .227 (5 for 22) with 11 strikeouts in six games in hisﬁrst postseason. But the All-Starcenterﬁelderalso hit a keyRBI single offYuDarvish in aclinching3-1 victoryoverSan Diego in thewild-cardround.

“I’m pretty fortunate in acouple of these elimination games to just have pretty nice opportunities in front of me with guys on base,and Ithink that makes this job just alittlebit easiersometimes,” Crow-Armstrong said. It was arough homecoming for Priester after abreakoutperformance this season. The 25-yearoldright-hander,who grew up in the Chicagoarea, threw39 pitches,21for strikes “Veryfrustrating.Very frustratedwith thatfirst inning, the only inning,” Priester said. “Command wasn’tgood. My stuffwasn’tcoming out the way Iwanted it to and ultimately it falls on to me to make an adjustment.”

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By PAUL SANCyA

Spices add earthy depthto chicken

BY LINDAGASSENHEIMER Tribune News Service (TNS)

Chicken seasoned with cinnamon, cumin and turmeric creates afragrant, savory Moroccan-inspired dish. The turmeric not only infuses the chicken with awarm golden hue but also adds an earthy depth to the ﬂavor

It’sserved with pearl couscous which is also called Israeli couscous. Its small, round, pearl-likegrains are slightly larger and chewier than traditional couscous, making them an ideal companionto the aromatic chicken.

Helpful hints:

n Minced garlic can be found in the produce section of the market.

n Aquick way to chop cilantro is to snip the leaves from thestems with ascissors.

Moroccan Chicken

Yields 2servings. Recipeisby Linda Gassenheimer

2teaspoons olive oil

3/4 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast (1-inch pieces)

1cup thinly sliced onion

1teaspoon turmeric

2teaspoons ground cinnamon

3teaspoons ground cumin

3teaspoons minced garlic

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

2cups, no-salt-added, diced tomatoes with their juice

4cups washed, ready-to-eat spinach

2tablespoons chopped cilantro

1. Heat oil in anonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and brown on all sides,for about 2to3minutes Remove from skillet to aplate.

2. Add the onion, turmeric, cinnamon, cumin, garlic, salt and black pepper to taste and diced tomatowith juice tothe skillet. Cook 5minutes, stirring during that time.

3. Return chicken to the skillet along with the spinach. Stir just until the spinach wilts, about 1minute.

4. Divide between 2dinner plates and sprinkle chopped cilantro on top.

Nutrition info per serving: 354 calories (27 percent from fat), 10.7 gfat (1.8 gsaturated,3.9 gmonounsaturated), 126 mg cholesterol, 43.9 gprotein, 23 4 gcarbohydrates, 9.4 gﬁber,162 mg sodium.

Couscous

Yields 2servings. Recipeisby Linda Gassenheimer

11/4 cups water

3/4 cup pearlcouscous

2teaspoons olive oil

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

1. Bring water to aboil. Stir in couscous. Reduce heat to medium, coverwith alid and simmer 10 minutes.

2. Drain, add oil and saltand pepper to taste. Serve on the dinner plates with the chicken

Nutrition info per serving: 120 calories (37 percent from fat), 5.0 g fat (0.7 gsaturated, 2.2 gmonounsaturated), no cholesterol, 2.9 gprotein, 15.8 gcarbohydrates, 0.9 gﬁber,1mgsodium.

MAGIC MOMENTS

As October unfolds in New Orleans, the city transformsintoaplayground of enchantment where history and mystery intertwine.

Stuffed Mirliton

Makes 6to8servings.

6mirliton(chayotes)

2tablespoons butter

2tablespoons vegetable oil

TheFrench Quarter pulses with energy as families stroll along thestreets, children’s eyes widening at thefestive metamorphosis takingplace around them. Wrought-iron balconies showcase Halloween ﬁnery —purple lights dance among Spanish moss, while grinning jack-o’-lanterns peer down. Shopwindows display voodoo dolls, ornate masks, and vintage Halloween ephemera that captivatechildren, pointingattreasures that blur theline between celebration and themacabre.

Pumpkin Crisp recipe, 2D

ä See BELTON, page 2D

Go aheadand

BYBETH DOOLEY

The Minnesota Star Tribune (TNS)

Dinner is different with thearrival of autumn. Afternoonshadows lengthen, theair eventually chills and we turn away from the grill and toward thestove. In agloriousfarewelltosummer, theharvest is at its peak. Stroll the farmersmarketaislespiled high with acollision of seasons—the brilliant tomatoes, glossy eggplant,deepgreen kale andearly cauliflower,broccoli, cabbage, carrots, beets and potatoes.Aren’t we all hungry for more substantial comfortingfare— thesoups, stews, curries? Celebrate the bounty with vegetable-forward dishes. Take cauliﬂower: Often underappreciated,

2cups chopped onions

1/4 cup slicedgreen onions

1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper

2tablespoons Creoleseasoning

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Boil whole mirlitons in a pot of water until fork-tender Removemirlitons from water and let cool.

3. Melt 2tablespoons of butter in aheavy pan and add oil. Add onions, green onions, and bell pepper and fryuntil soft. Add Creole seasoning and garlic in the last few minutes.

4. Cut mirlitons in half and remove the large seed in center.Carefully scoop out pulp. Leave the shells of the mirlitons about half an inch thick; set aside. Add pulp to onions and green pepper mixture, cook forabout 15 minutes over medium heat.

5. Add 1cup of breadcrumbs, basil, thyme, hot sauce, salt and pepper.Add shrimpand ham and cook for 5additional minutes.

6. Fill shells with mixture and sprinkle with remaining breadcrumbs. Dotwith the 4tablespoons of butter and bake until breadcrumbs are browned, about 20 minutes.

heap spices on cauliflower

it’s extremelyversatile andcompliant.Blanched or steamed, cauliflower retains its mild cabbage-y nuttyflavors, readytobeboldly seasoned withhot chiles and warm Indianspices or swathed in alush herb-scented cream Tryroasting it on asheet pan until deep brown with sweetly crisped edges,inviting ashower of shavedParmesan anddash of lemon. Or combine thesetwo techniques by pan-roasting cauliflower in butter and oil thencover andsteam it until tender and creamy.Season generously for a hearty side dish, or when paired with beansand served on rice or tangled in pasta, it makes asimple, satisfying vegetarian dinner

ä See CAULIFLOWER, page 2D

PHOTO

MONICA BELTON

TNS PHOTO By LINDAGASSENHEIMER Moroccan Chicken

Stuffed Mirliton, left, and Pumpkin Crisp

Kevin Belton

Visitors thinkartwork is overpriced

Judith

Martin

MISS MANNERS

Dear Miss Manners: Iamaﬁne artist, withastudio attached to my home. Friends and visitors often ask to see the studio, and Iam happy to oblige Sometimes, avisitor will ask howmuch aparticularpiece costs. This puts me on the spot. Iusually say,“Well,I would normally charge $300 for thatpainting, but with my ‘friends and family’ discount, Iwould charge $150.”

On afew occasions, I’vehad avisitor who looks aghast and murmurs something to the effect

of,“Ididn’tthink it would be so expensive.”

Miss Manners, Idonot know howtorespond! Ihave already halved the price(which is never outlandishtobegin with), and am now made to feel I’m being greedy or unreasonable. My reactionhas beenastrained smile and somebreezy comment about how the piecewas particularly timeconsuming, etc.,but by thenthe atmosphere haschanged, and is difﬁcult to undo

Am Ibeing rude? Should Ihave declinedtodiscuss prices in this context? Isuspect my guest has beenrude by implying my work is notworththe (discounted!) price.How can Ihandle this situa-

tion morepolitely in the future?

Gentlereader: Although the studio is adjacent to your home, you keep it separatefor areason (less paint in theyogurt). Miss Manners wonders if your guestsneed morespace between their slightly impertinent question and the implied sales pitch of your answer: They may have asked theprice out of mere curiosity

Either tell them you have not yet set aprice, or,ifyou think they are serious about apurchase, tell them that you would sell it to acommercial dealer for $300 —with an emphasis on the word “commercial” that invites them to ask afurther question.

Dear Miss Manners: Ibeg for guid-

ance on the proper etiquette with one’scutlery at hotel buffet breakfasts. While there are abundant clean plates, the protocol seemstobethat one has but a single set of cutlery

Perhaps this is to shameone into avoiding gluttonous behavior

However,when moving from bacon and eggs to toast or mufﬁns, how should one get aclean knife? The knifeand fork disappear in the hands of the waitstaff. Asking for new ones is rarely met with agraciousresponse from the (admittedly busy) servers.

Gentlereader: Is this atrick question,Miss Manners wonders?

Onegets anew knifeand fork by requesting them,ananswer

BELTON

Continued from page 1D

In City Park, the annual Ghosts in the Oaks event transforms ancient trees into awonderland of gentle frights.

The Garden District welcomes families with grand homes embracing the season —heirloom pumpkins line marble steps, while tasteful wreaths adorn doors that have witnessed generations of Halloweens.

The “Cities of the Dead” become educational opportunities during daylight hours. Restaurants serve gumbo, dark as the night and complex as the city’s history,laden with andouille sausage and okra that speak tothe cultural crossroads that is New Orleans cuisine.

Halloween brings the Krewe of

Pumpkin Crisp

Makes 8to10servings

FILLING

1can (15 ounces) pumpkin puree

3/4 cup granulatedsugar

1/4 cup brown sugar

2eggs

1teaspoon vanillaextract

11/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon salt

1can (12 ounces) evaporated milk TOPPING

1cup all-purpose flour

3/4 cup old-fashionedoats

3/4 cup brown sugar

1teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 cup chopped pecans

Booparade, andinneighborhood parks, community Halloween festivals offer bobbing for apples alongside food booths servingmirliton stuffedwithspiced

1/2 cup butter,melted

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and lightly grease a9-by13-inch baking dish.

2. In alarge bowl, whisktogetherthe pumpkin puree, sugars, eggs, vanilla, spices, salt and evaporated milk until smooth Pourintothe dish.

3. In aseparate bowl, combine the ﬂour,oats, sugar, cinnamon, andpecans. Add melted butter and stir until crumbly.Sprinkle over the ﬁlling.

4. Bakefor 45 to 50 minutes untilset and golden brown. Let cool before serving and serve with either icecream or whippedcream.

shrimp,the local squashcarved into spookyfaces before being ﬁlled withsavory delights. Andatmyhouse, for friends and family who bring theirtrick-

or-treaters, there are homemade treats andsustenance in the form of stuffedmirliton and pumpkin crisp thatcan be eaten while visiting or easily packed to go.

October in New Orleansoffers adults and children amagical moment when culinary heritage, spiritual traditions, andcelebration intertwine to create experiences that engage every sense and plant the seedsfor alifetime of appreciation for this unique American treasure.

Kevin Belton is resident chef of WWL-TV and hastaught classes in Louisiana cooking for 30 years. The most recentofhis four cookbooks, “KevinBelton’s Cookin’ Louisiana: Flavors from the Parishes of thePelican State,” waspublished in 2021. Email Chef at chefkevinbelton@ gmail.com.

that does not depend on whether those previously supplied were madedirty by yourself or an unnamed third party As to whether the staffisspending breakfast judging you, she cannot say forcertain, but suspects they have better things to occupy their thoughts —such as when this meal service is ﬁnally going to be over

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

Continued from page1D

At themarket, you’llfind white, purple,green andgolden cauliflower. Allare equally delicious and can be used interchangeablyinany dish. Just note that thepurple cauliflower, whencooked, may turn amuddy blueishtogray;the goldand green will retaintheir color.The colored varieties containafew morenutrients andantioxidants than thewhite, andtheir flavors are abit richer,sweeter andnuttier Cauliflowerofall colors can standupinvibrantcurries of warmcumin andzingy ginger sparked withlemon,fresh cilantro andmint.Nomatter how youdress cauliflower,know it can takethe pan’sheat andbold flavors. Don’t hold back.

Pan-RoastedCurried Cauliflower Serves 4to6.Recipe is from Beth Dooley.Cauliﬂower screams forcurry withplenty of cumin and ginger.This is the kind of one-pan dinneryou can put together in 20 minutes. Serve withriceand anicecrispsalad on theside 2tablespoonsvegetable oil

1tablespoon unsaltedbutter

1headcauliflower (about 11/2 pounds), cored and broken into florets Coarse salt and black pepper 2to3tablespoons curry spice blend,or more to taste

1teaspoon ground cumin

1(1-inch) piece fresh ginger,finely grated

3cloves garlic,chopped 1jalapeño pepper,seeded and finely chopped 1(15-ounce)can or 11/2 cups cooked garbanzo beans,rinsed and drained 1tablespoon fresh lemon juice,to taste Rice or pasta,for serving Choppedcilantro and mint,for garnish Lemon wedges,for garnish

1. Film alargesaute panor cast-iron skilletwiththe oiland set over medium-high heat.

2. Whenthe oilbegins to ripple, addthe butter andmelt, then add thecauliﬂower. Stir andcook untilthe cauliﬂowerbegins to color, about3to5minutes.

3. Season withsaltand pepper, lowerthe heat andadd thecurry, cumin, ginger,garlic and pepper. Stir well then addthe beans. Covertosteam thecauliﬂower until tender, about3 moreminutes.

4. Servewithriceorpasta garnishedwiththe choppedcilantro andmint,and lemon wedges

TODAYINHISTORY

Dear Heloise: Iread your hints about green grassand feel like Ihave to warn people about “regular watering.” Ithink most of the country is suffering from drought conditions. Water has become aprecious commodity, and I’d prefer to have regular showers rather than green grass. Our grass goes dormant in the summer and becomes abeautiful green in the winter.Please don’twastewater! —MaryG., in Oregon Mary,when all else fails, there are all kinds of ground cover these days. Youcan use gravel, rocks, cactus, fake grass and more to replace grass. —Heloise Sunday dueday

Icontacted the company on its website’s live chat and explained my situation. The representative could not have been nicer.Hewaived the fee (happy customer!) but let me know that thepayment isrequired by midnight E.T. on the due date (regardless of the day of the week thatitlands on) in order for it to be considered on time. —Julie W., in NewBraunfels, Texas Julie, companies may have different policies on Sunday payments, but I’m glad your situationworkedout well! You can also set up automatic bill payments with the company or through your bank. —Heloise Best phoneaccessory

Dear Heloise: Possibly the greatest cellphone and tablet accessory ever is the gooseneck phone or tablet holder

Youcan sitonthe couch or bed, adjustthe holder to exactly where you want it to be, and watch avideo or comfortably chat on the phone hands-free. I love it!And they are cheap (less than $20). No more cellphone elbow or text neck! —JohnnyT., in Ohio

Elicit vs.illicit

Dear Heloise: What’sthe difference between the words “elicit and “illicit”? They sound similar —James J.,inHouston James, good ear! These words are called homophones because they sound so similar but have different meanings.“Elicit” is a verbmeaning to draw out. For example, the comedian is trying to elicit laughter from his audience. “Illicit”isanadjective meaning illegal or forbidden. An example: She could be arrested for selling illicit copies of those books —Heloise Send ahinttoheloise@heloise. com. Don’twaste

By The Associated Press

Today is Thursday,Oct. 9, the 282nd day of 2025. There are 83 days left in the year

Todayinhistory: On Oct. 9, 2009, President Barack Obama wonthe Nobel Peace Prize for what the Norwegian Nobel Committeecalled “his extraordinary efforts to strengthen internationaldiplomacy and cooperationbetween peoples.”

Also on this date:

In 1910, acoal dust explosion at the Starkville Mine in Colorado left 56 miners dead.

In 1962, Uganda won independence from British rule.

In 1963, amega-tsunamitriggered by alandslide at Vajont Dam in northern Italy destroyed villages and caused approximately 2,000 deaths.

later went on exhibition at several museums worldwide In 2010, adrill broke through into an underground chamber where 33 Chilean miners had been trapped for more than two months.

In 2012, former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky was sentenced in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, to 30 to 60 years in prison following his conviction on 45 counts of sexual abuse of boys.

Dear Heloise: Ihad acard payment due on the 9th of the month; this was aSunday. Iassumed that Icould make the payment on Monday.Wrong! I incurred alate fee.

This thing is incredible. It clamps ontoawooden armrest or bookshelf, and it has an adjustable,ﬂexible gooseneck thatgrabs and holds on to your device.

In 1992, the highly visible Peekskill Meteorite streaked through Earth’satmosphere for hundreds of miles over the U.S. Northeast before asmall chunk of it crashed into the trunk of aparked car in Peekskill, NewYork. The car,a bright red 1980 Chevrolet Malibu,

Today’sbirthdays: Musician Nona Hendryx is 81. Musician Jackson Browne is 77. Actor Robert Wuhl is 74. TV personality Sharon Osbourne is 73. Actor Tony Shalhoub is 72. Actor Scott Bakula is 71. Actor-TV host John O’Hurley is 71. Football Hall of Famer Mike Singletary is 67. Jazz musician Kenny Garrett is 65. Film director Guillermo del Toro is 61. Singer PJ Harvey is 56. Film director Steve McQueen (“12 Years aSlave”) is 56. Golf Hall of Famer Annika Sorenstam is 55. Musician Sean Lennon is 50. Actor Brandon Routh is 46. Author-TV presenter Marie Kondo is 41.

PHOTO By MONICA BELTON

Pumpkin Crisp

Hints from Heloise

LIBRA (sept. 23-oct. 23) Put your energy into getting things done on time and to the best of your ability. Choose to do what's best for you, rather than trying to fit in or please someone else. Stick close to home

scoRPIo (oct. 24-nov. 22) Participate in events, and you will gain experience. Visiting a place that stimulates your mind and encourages you to learn something new will be a bonus. Opportunity is within reach.

sAGITTARIus (nov. 23-Dec. 21) Organize your schedule and get your house in order. Tidy up, prepare to host an event, or make a lifestyle change, commitment or move. Keep your money and possessions in a secure location.

cAPRIcoRn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Establish your expectations and be open with friends, associates and family. Investing time and money in yourself and what you want to achieve will help you fulfill your dreams.

AQuARIus (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Invest time and money in your health, wealth and personal life. A change to your living arrangements will offer comfort, convenience and ease. Let go of the past.

PIscEs (Feb. 20-March 20) You have options. Stop worrying about what others do and set your sights on what you want. A commitment will come easily if it's written in the stars.

ARIEs (March 21-April 19) Let your actions send a message to onlookers and friends alike How others respond will

show you what's possible and how to go about putting your plans into motion.

TAuRus (April 20-May 20) A positive turn of events will position you for success. Don't hesitate to reach out to those who can help you. Send out your resume. Ask, and you shall receive.

GEMInI (May 21-June 20) Set your sights on learning something or exploring new places, people or pastimes. Those you encounter will meet your expectations, and so will the possibilities and suggestions that follow.

cAncER (June 21-July 22) Don't secondguess yourself or defer to someone else due to a lack of confidence on your part. A passionate presentation or conversation can have a profound impact that influences how someone feels about you.

LEo (July 23-Aug. 22) Emotions will fluctuate depending on how and with whom you spend your time. Domestic issues will arise that divert attention to home improvements, relocation or maximizing the use of your space for profit. It will be necessary to set a strict budget.

VIRGo (Aug. 23-sept 22) Communication is the key to receiving the help you need to meet your deadlines. Be wary of people who offer too much and fall short. Put time aside to rejuvenate.

FAMILY CIrCUS

CeLebrItY

beetLe bAILeY

Mother GooSe And GrIMM

SherMAn’S LAGoon

Sudoku

InstructIons: sudoku is anumber-placing puzzle based on a9x9 grid with several given numbers. The object is to place the numbers 1to9inthe empty squares so that each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once. The difficulty level of the sudoku increases from monday to sunday.

Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer

BaBY BLueS

By PHILLIPALDER

J. William Fulbright, aSenatorrepresentingArkansasfrom1945to1975,said, “We must dare to think ‘unthinkable’ thoughts.Wemustlearntoexplore all theoptionsandpossibilitiesthatconfront us in acomplex and rapidly changing world.”

Atthebridgetable,themore“unthinkable”thoughtsyouhaveandanalyze,the more likely you are to succeed.Inthis deal,South is in six spades.West leads theclub ace.

After ruffing in thedummy,how should declarer continue?

When Southopened with avulnerable pre-empt,Northwonderedaboutagrand slam. Butnot knowing how to find out if his partner had the diamond king or a diamond singleton, he took the practical shot at sixspades.

South begins with 11 toptricks: seven spades, one heart,one diamond and two club ruffs in thedummy. The hunt is on fora12thwinner South should play atrumptohis hand and ruff his last club on the board. But what then?

One possibility is also to eliminate the hearts,thentohopeforluckindiamonds. Butthat should not work here.

In fact, the contract is guaranteed. Afterthe club ruff, aspade to theking andthesecondclubruff,declarershould return to his hand with aspade and run the heart 10. Here it loses to East’s queen, but what can East do?Whatever he returns concedes atrick. And even if West couldcover the heart 10 with the queenorking, Southwould win with dummy’s ace, then run theheart jack, discarding adiamond from his hand (unless, of course, East covered with the other heart honor).

Each Wuzzleisa word riddle whichcreates adisguised word, phrase, name, place, saying etc. Forexample: nOOn gOOD =gOOD aFTErnOOn

Previous answers:

word game

InsTRucTIons: 1. Words must be of four or more letters.2.Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed. 3.

or sexually explicit words are not allowed.

ToDAy’s WoRD DIsTIncTIon: dih-STING-shun: An accomplishment that sets one apart.

Average mark 19 words

Timelimit 35 minutes

Can you find 27 or more words in DISTINCTION?

yEsTERDAy’s WoRD —PETARD

today’s thought “The thiefcomes not, butfor to steal, andtokill, and to destroy: Iamcome that they might have life, and that they might have it moreabundantly.” John 10:10

Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer

Areyou

marmaduKe

Bizarro

hagar the horriBle

Pearls Before swiNe

garfield

B.C.

PiCKles

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.

GramS 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

Scrabble

Get fuzzy

jump Start

roSe

DuStin

Drabble Wallace the brave

luann

received viaemail sub‐mission to theProcure‐mentDepartmentfor the Orleans Parish School Board (“OPSB”or“the District”)at2401 West‐bendParkway,Suite 5055, NewOrleans Louisiana 70114 until 11:00 A.M. (CST)onTues‐day, October28, 2025. Specificationsand quali‐ficationsare found in the RFP documentsand may beobtainedbyvisiting the District’s websiteat www.nolapublicschools com. Allquestions re‐garding this RFPshall be directedtothe Executive DirectorofProcurement atprocurement@nol apublicschools.com. TheDistrictwillhost a Virtual Pre-Proposal meetingtobeheldon Friday,October 10, 2025, at 11:00 A.M. (CST). The Virtual link canbefound below: Register in advancefor thismeeting: https://us06web.zoom us/meeting/register/hwC wTwCORX28CnEsMsEttg Afterregistering,you will receive aconfirmation email containing infor‐mationabout joiningthe meeting. TheDistrictreservesthe right to reject anyorall Responses to Requestfor Proposalwheneversuch rejection is in itsbestin‐terestinaccordancewith law.The provisions and requirementsofthisad‐

Themotionwas made by CommissionerSlaughter Themotionwas sec‐onded by Commissioner Murphy To approveCUPAB-6-25 (BigMamaBodega) Proposedrestaurantto serve liquor/alcoholic beverages on Tract17-A1ofthe Robert Flanders

Tract,

Street.

LORA W. JOHNSON, LMMC, MMC

CLERK OF COUNCIL

PUBLICATION DATE: October 9, 2025 NOCP 8680

OFFICIAL NOTICE CAL. NO. 35,266 EXHIBIT A COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT BETWEEN

THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS AND ORLEANS LEVEE DISTRICT POLICE DEPARTMENT

COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT BY AND BETWEEN

THE CITYOFNEW ORLEANS AND BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS FOR THE SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA FLOOD PROTECTION AUTHORITY-EAST BANK ORLEANS LEVEE DISTRICT POLICE DEPARTMENT LAWENFORCEMENT MUTUAL AID AND MOBILIZATION

THIS COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT (the Agreement”) is entered into by and between the City of New Orleans, represented by LaToya Cantrell, Mayor (the “City”), administered through the New Orleans Police Department, represented by Anne Kirkpatrick, Superintendentof Police (“NOPD”), and the BoardofCommissioners for the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority-East Bank, represented by Clay A. Cosse, President (“SLFPA-E”), administered through the Orleans Levee District Police Department (the OLDPD”), represented by Joshua T. Rondeno, Superintendent of Police (the Participating Agency”). The City and the Participating Agency may sometimes each be referred to as a“Party,” and collectively,asthe Parties.” The Agreement is effective as of the date of execution by the City (the “Effective Date”).

RECITALS

WHEREAS,the City is apolitical subdivision of the State of Louisiana; and WHEREAS,the SLFPA-Eisa political subdivision of the State of Louisiana and alevee district pursuant to Article 7, Section 38 and Section 38.1 of the Constitution of Louisiana; and WHEREAS, the Participating Agency is the law enforcement body of the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority East (SLFPA-E), headquartered in the City of New Orleans in the State of Louisiana;

WHEREAS,pursuant to Article 7, Section 14(C) of the Louisiana Constitution of 1974, and related statutes, and Section 9-314 of the Home Rule Charter of the City of New Orleans, the City may enter into cooperative endeavors with the State of Louisiana, its political subdivisions and corporations, the United States and its agencies, and any public or private corporation, association, or individual with regard to cooperative financing and other economic development activities, the procurement and development of immovable property,joint planning and implementationofpublic works, the joint use of facilities, joint research and program implementation activities, joint funding initiatives, and other similar activities in support of public education, community development, housing rehabilitation, economic growth, and other public purposes;

WHEREAS,this Agreement applies to all SLFPA-E and the Participating Agency facilities and flood protection structures throughout the entirecity of New Orleans. This agreement also applies to all of the NOPD’spolice districts including all levees, waterfronts, and bridges fully incorporated by reference in the attached map;

WHEREAS,the OLDPD is the law enforcement agency for the SLFPA-E and the police officers of the Participating Agency areduly commissioned as police officersinaccordance with the provisions of La. Rev.Stat. 40:1379.1, the terms of which arehereby fully incorporated as is set forth herein in extenso;

WHEREAS,pursuant to La. Rev.Stat. 40:1379.1, the Participating Agency officers have the right to carry concealed weapons and to exercise the power of arrest when discharging their duties on all streets, roads and rights-of-way throughout the City of New Orleans;

WHEREAS,Louisiana law,specifically,La. Rev.Stat. 38:326, authorizes the Participating Agency officers to discharge its police to exercise the power of arrest as peace officers, according to law,within the area of their jurisdiction as provided herein; and, if specifically requested by the Chief Law Enforcement Officer of the NOPD;

WHEREAS,the cooperative endeavor created between the Participating Agency and the City herein has been requested by Superintendent of the NOPD Anne Kirkpatrick and SLFPA-E Superintendent of the OLDPD Joshua T. Rondeno, herein; WHEREAS,therehas been aclose working relationship between the NOPD and the Participating Agency in the function of law enforcement, which each of the parties hereto desiretocontinue;

WHEREAS,each party hereto has the power,authority and responsibility to provide police and law enforcement protection and services within its respective boundaries in order to fulfill their respective obligations;

WHEREAS in consideration of the foregoing, the City and the Participating Agency desiretoaccomplish avaluable public purpose of providing mutual aid to each other in the form of certain law enforcement services as set forth herein to protect the public peace and safety and preserve the lives and property of the people;

WHEREAS,the City has determined that the reasonably anticipated tangible and intangible benefits to the City to be derived from this Agreement, including increased police presence and protection, increased citizens’ sense of well-being, reduced crime and crime rates, as well as the tangible benefits to the City outlined herein, areequivalent to or exceed the value of the City’s obligations containedtherein.

NOW THEREFORE,the City and the Participating Agency,each having the authority to do so, agree as follows:

ARTICLE I- OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES

A Obligations of the Participating Agency.The Participating Agency will, only upon request by an NOPD district commander or designee and in accordance with the request guidelines set forth herein, and in accordance with the Agreement’sterms and conditions:

1. Provide NOPD with law enforcement assistance within the Boundaries as requested (provided the Participating Agency determines it is reasonably able to so provide said requested services) to include, but not be limited to, dealing with civil disturbances, large protest demonstrations, aircraft disasters, fires, natural or manmade disasters, sporting events, concerts, parades, escapes from detention facilities and incidents requiring utilization of specialized units, as is permitted by law.For purposes of this Agreement, the “Boundaries” will consist of all eight NOPD Districts, including all levees, waterfronts, and bridges.

2. Provide NOPD with law enforcement assistance as requested (provided the Participating Agency determines it is reasonably able to so provide said requested services) in dealing with any violation of Louisiana statutes including, but not limited to, investigating homicides, sex offenses, robberies, assaults, burglaries, larcenies, gambling, motor vehicle thefts, drug violations, accidents involving motor vehicles, providing backup services during patrol activities and participating in inter-agency task forces and/or joint investigations, as is permitted by law;

3. The Participating Agency will send acopy of all completed criminal investigations to NOPD; the Participating Agency reports all NIBRS crimes to the FBI;

4. If the Participating Agency has completed the initial investigation and NOPD has not arrived on the scene the Participating Agency will provide all requested information to responding NOPD officers; the Participating Agency officers shall determine the initial signal for all item numbers received on their behalf; the Participating Agency will be allowed to conduct ajoint investigation on all crimes occurring on the Participating Agency property or at SLFPA-E flood protection structures;

5. When acting upon the request of NOPD, pursuant

NOPD district station. the Participating Agency will be entitled to retain acopy of any such reports, summons, and/or citations for its records. the Participating Agency shall utilize the same report, summons and/or citation forms as NOPD. Any evidence, property,report, summonses or citations submitted by the Participating Agency shall be submitted in compliance with current NOPD policy and procedures, copies of which will be provided by NOPD to the Participating Agency in connection herewith. If thereisanincident when both the Participating Agency and NOPD areonthe scene that results in an internal NOPD investigation of the actions of the Participating Agency officers, the Participating Agency will be promptlynotified and allowed to participate in NOPD’sinternal review

8. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the City assumes liability for all actions taken by the Participating Agency while acting upon request by an NOPD district commander or designee and in accordance with the request guidelines set forth herein, and outside of their ordinary territorial jurisdiction as set forth in La. Rev.Stat. 38:326;

9. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Participating Agency shall remain under the direction and/or supervision of appropriate the Participating Agency supervisor in accordance with the Participating Agency’spolicies and guidelines; nothing contained herein shall impose the duty of direction and/or supervision of any the Participating Agency officer upon the NOPD;

10. Recordkeeping. All parties agree to keep all such business records related to, or arising out of, this Agreement as wouldbekept by a reasonably prudent law enforcement agency for aperiod of six (6) years after the termination of this Agreement;

11. Right to Audit; Access. Upon receipt of reasonable notice and as often as the City may reasonablydeem necessary,the Participating Agency shall make all data, records, reports and all other materials relating to this Agreement availabletothe City for examination and copying

B Obligations of the City.The NOPD will:

1. Provide law enforcement assistance and services to the Participating Agency as requested, provided NOPD determines it is reasonablyable to so provide said requested services;

2. NOPD dispatcher will provide the Participating Agency with aNOPD item number when requested via NOPD radio by the Participating Agency ranking officers; this will allow NOPD the opportunity to respond to the scene if deemed appropriate by NOPD;

3. In requesting the assistance of the Participating Agency pursuant hereto, NOPD shall, if possible, specify the number of the Participating Agency officers and types of equipment required, whereand to whom such officers aretoreport, and whereand to whom the equipment should be delivered;

4. Perform all administrative activities necessary and required by any and all rules and regulations applicabletoNOPD for the administration of the provision of law enforcement services pursuant to this Agreement;

5. Provide electronic access to EPR; provide hardware/softwareand electronic access to DigiTicket;

6. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, NOPD officers assigned within the Boundaries as apart of their normal assignments will continue to exercise their duties and obligations including handling routine police functions including, but not limited to, responses to service calls, routine patrols, investigations of complaints, etc., all trafficwork, special events coverage, undercover/stakeout work and any follow-up investigations including, but not limited to, investigations involving vice, rapes and homicides; NOPD shall advise the Participating Agency of any all investigations occurring within the Participating Agency & SLFPA-E facilities and flood protection structures.

C Law Enforcement Assistance Request Protocol

1. To invoke assistance under the provisions of this Agreement, the district commander or designee from the requesting party shall be required to contact the district commander or designee of the responding party by telephone, in writing or email.The responding party may request such information from the requesting party as is necessary to confirm the emergency situation and to assess the types and amounts of assistance that may be provided.

2. Each member of the NOPD and the Participating Agency shall maintaina cooperative and professional relationshipwith each other.Each of the parties hereto will engage in and coordinate problem-solving strategies in connection with the law enforcement services provided hereunder.The parties will not assume administrative or other tasks intended for the specificrespective agency

ARTICLE II -COMPENSATION

Thereisnocompensation component to this Agreement at this time; however,nothing contained herein shall prohibit the parties from modifying the Agreement in the futuretoinclude compensation in accordance with the parties’ mutual agreement.

Both the City and the Participating Agency shall be responsiblefor the compensation of its respective employees for the performance of services hereunder in accordance with its ordinary and routine business operations.

ARTICLE III -DURATION

A Term.The term of this agreement shall be for three (3) years from the Effective Date.

B Extension.The City can opt to extend the term of this Agreement provided that the City Councilapproves it as amulti-term cooperative endeavor agreement and that additional funding, if required, is allocated by the City Council

ARTICLE IV -TERMINATION

A Termination for Convenience.Either party may terminate this Agreement at any time during the term of the Agreement by giving the other party written notice of its intention to terminate at least thirty (30) days beforethe intended date of termination.

B Termination for Cause.Either party may terminate this Agreement immediately for cause. If the challenging party prevails in achallenge to atermination for cause, the termination for cause will be deemed to be atermination for convenience effective thirty (30) days from the date that the original written notice of termination for cause without the requirement of notice.

ARTICLE V- INDEMNITY

A.Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in La. Rev.Stat. 38:2195, the City shall defend, indemnify and hold harmless the Participating Agency and SLFPA-E, its agents, officers, insurers, administrators, directors, employees, volunteers and representatives, individually and collectively,fromand against any and allclaims, demands, suits, losses, expenses or liabilities (including attorneys’ fees and costs of defense), resulting from any negligent or intentional act or omission or negligent or intentional operation of work of the NOPD, its agents, servants or employees, while engaged upon or in connection with the services required or performed by the NOPD under the terms of this Agreement, or in the NOPD’sperformance of, and/or failuretoperform its obligations under this Agreement. Such indemnity obligations shall not be limited by the insurance provisions of this Agreement, as the parties intend and agree that the City shall be fully responsiblefor liabilities assumed, regardless of the presence or absence of insurance.

B. The Participating Agency and SLFPA-E shall defend, indemnify and hold harmless the City, its agents, officers, insurers, administrators, directors, employees, volunteers and representatives, individually and collectively,fromand against any and all claims, demands, suits, losses, expenses or liabilities (including attorneys’ fees and costs of defense) resulting from any negligent or intentional act or omission or negligent or intentional operation of work of the Participating Agency,its agents, servants or employees, while engaged upon or in connection with the services required or performed by the Participating Agency under the terms of this Agreement, or in the Participating Agency’sperformance of, and/or failure to perform its obligations under this Agreement.

C. In the event of aclaim for indemnification pursuant to this Agreement, the indemnifying party shall have the right to controlthe defense and settle any claim, subject to the consent of the indemnified Party,such consent not to be unreasonablywithheld.

ARTICLE VI -INSURANCE

the City

B Acknowledgment of Exclusion of Worker’sCompensation Coverage.the ParticipatingAgency expressly agrees and acknowledges that it is an independent contractor as defined in La. R.S. 23:1021 and as such, it is expressly agreed and understood between the parties hereto, in entering into this services agreement, that the NOPD shall not be liable to the ParticipatingAgency for any benefits or coverage as provided by the Workmen’sCompensation Law of the State of Louisiana, and further,under the provisions of La. R.S. 23:1034, anyone employed by the Participating Agency shall not be considered an employee of the NOPD for the purpose of Workers’ Compensation coverage. Likewise, the Participating Agency shall not be liable to the NOPD for any benefits or coverage as provided by the Workmen’sCompensation Law of the State of Louisiana, and further,under the provisions of La. R.S. 23:1034, anyone employed by the NOPD shall not be considered an employee of the Participating Agency for the purpose of Workers’ Compensation coverage.

C Acknowledgment of Exclusion of Unemployment Compensation Coverage.Neither the Participating Agency nor anyone employed by SLFPA-E shall be considered an employee of the NOPD for the purpose of unemployment compensation coverage, which is expressly waived and excluded. Neither the NOPD nor anyone employed by the NOPD shall be considered an employee of the Participating Agency for the purpose of unemployment compensation coverage, which is expressly waived and excluded.

D Waiver of Benefits.The Deputized Officers will not receive from the City any sick and annual leave benefits, medical insurance, life insurance, paid vacations, paid holidays, sick leave, pension, nor Social Security for any services rendered to the City under this Agreement. ARTICLE IX -NON-DISCRIMINATION

A Non-Discrimination in Employment.With regardtoany hiring or employmentdecision made in connection with the performance of this Agreement, including without limitation employment, upgrading, demotion,transfer,recruitment, recruitment advertising, layoff, termination,rates of pay or other compensation,and selection for training including apprenticeship, both parties:

1. Will not discriminate or retaliate, in fact or in perception, against any employee or person seeking employment on the basis of race, color,national origin, religion, creed, culture,ancestral history,age, gender,sexual orientation, gender identity,marital or domestic partner status, physical or mental disability,orAIDS- or HIV-status;

2. Will take affirmative action to ensure compliance with this section;

3. Will follow all State of Louisiana laws and Civil Service Rules of the Department of State Civil Service regarding all solicitationsor advertisements for employment;

B. Non-Discrimination. In the performance of this Agreement, both parties:

1. Will not discriminate or retaliate, in fact or in perception, on the basis of race, color,creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, gender,sexual orientation, gender identity,domestic partner status, marital status, physical or mental disability,or AIDS- or HIV-status against: any employee of either the NOPD or; any employee of any person working on behalf of the NOPD; or any person seeking accommodation, advantages, facilities, privileges, services, or membership in all business, social, or other establishments or organizations operated by the Participating Agency or SLFPA-E.

2. Will comply with and abide by all federal, state, and local laws relating to nondiscrimination,including

the NOPD. Any attempted subcontract made without the prior written consent of the NOPD shall be null and void ab initio ARTICLE X–FORCE MAJEURE

A Event.Anevent of Force Majeure will include any event or occurrence not reasonably foreseeable by the City at the execution

Through art, performan food and more, the cult of this Asian country celebrated at the New Museum of Art from to 4 p.m. Saturday. Costumes, following guidelines, are encouraged. Tickets start at $10. noma.org.

japan festabita fall fest games in the garden do ss do ss do miss

After Dark kicks off two days of events at 5 p.m. Friday with entertainment including Anders Osborne at the Abita Springs Trailhead, 22044 Main St. Festivities continue from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday with three stages of entertainment, a harvest market and kids’ activities. Tickets start at $20. abitafallfest.com.

Longue Vue House and Gardens’ annual fundraiser dating to World War II supports lifelong learning programs at the historic home. The allages event, which will honor Leona Tate as a changemaker in education, starts at 4 p.m. Tuesday at 7 Bamboo Road. Tickets start at $150. longuevue.com.

don’tmiss don’tmiss don’t miss

gumbofestival

For food, contests, kingsand queens, beverages, carnival rides, artsand crafts, and big servings of entertainment in honor of the state’sroux-based culinary treasure, visit theWestwegoFarmers & FisheriesMarket, 484 Sala Ave., from 6p.m.to 10 p.m. Friday,noon to 10 p.m. Saturday and noon to 8p.m.Sunday.Admission is $5, withrides $30pay oneprice.thegumbofestival.com.

worldodditiesexpo

“Prepare yourself for an experience likenoother”asvendors, performances, workshopsand speakers takeover the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center from 11 a.m. to 7p.m. Saturday and Sunday.There’seven tattoooptions available. Tickets start at $20. worldodditiesexpo.com.

ABOUTLAGNIAPPE

The Lagniappe sectionispublished each Thursdayby The Times-Picayune |The New Orleans Advocate. All inquiries about Lagniappe shouldbedirected to the editor.

LAGNIAPPE EDITOR: Annette Sisco,asisco@theadvocate.com

COVER DESIGN: Andrea Daniel CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Victor Andrews, Matt Haines, Chelsea Shannon, Dean N. Shapiro, Keith Spera

GETLISTEDINLAGNIAPPE

SubmiteventstoLagniappe at least twoweeksin advance by sending an email to events@theadvocate.com.

ON THECOVER

Don your ﬁnest alpine wear for Deutsches Haus’ annual Oktoberfest, featuring German brews, music and ... dancing chickens? PhotobyMichael Democker.Story by Matthew HainesonPage 8.

music music music

WHEREY’ACHT10THANNIVERSARY

Keith Spera SOUND CHECK

It’sabig week in New Orleans with afree blues festival, ahometownarena concert by an underground rap duo and two shows by a legendary jazz-fusion band.

Email Keith Spera at kspera@theadvocate com

SATURDAY,THE BROADSIDE

In 2015, Eric Rogers brought together fellow New Orleansmusic veterans, most fromthe alt-rockcommunity,who shared his love of Steely Dan and other “yachtrock”hitmakers of the1970s and ’80s. They dubbed themselves Where Y’acht —anod to both their hometown and the genre —and started playing.With arepertoire that spans Steely Dan to Michael McDonald to Kenny Loggins to Hall &Oates, Where Y’achthas logged hundreds of shows over the past decade, recreatingyacht rock recordings baked intothe collective cultural consciousness.

In addition to Rogers, thecurrent lineup includes Darcy Malone,Adam Campagna, Leo DeJesus, KhariAllen Lee, CorySchultz and JonHenry.They’ll be joined by past members of theband and other special guestsfor a10thanniversary celebration Saturday at theoutdoorBroadside on North Broad Street.They’ll play twosetsstarting at 8p.m. Tickets are $20.

CRESCENT CITY BLUES& BBQ FESTIVAL

FRIDAY-SUNDAY,LAFAYETTE

SQUARE

Thefree Crescent City Blues & BBQFestival takes over Lafayette Square downtown this weekend with amix of local and touring ues-based acts.It’sone of the ee events produced by thenonproﬁtNew OrleansJazz &HeritageFoundation with proceeds from Jazz Fest.

The event eases into the weekend with atwo-act sampler Friday.Powerhouse singer Sierra Green &the Giants open the festival at 5:30 p.m. Startingat7p.m., south Louisiana guitarist and singer TabBenoit closes out eningday with his brand blues ’n’ boogie.

and, at 5:45 p.m., Meters guitarist Leo Nocentelli.

The St. Charles Ave. Stage kicks off at noon Saturday with Eric Johanson,followed by Jontavious Willis, Carolyn Wonderland and, at 7p.m., Devon Allman’sBlues Summit featuring the Devon AllmanProject, Larry McCray,Jimmy Hall and Sierra Green

On Sunday,the CampStreet Stage opens at 11 a.m.with the Tyron Benoit Band,followed by JoyClark, HubbyJenkins and Vasti Jackson ﬁlling in for his uncle Little Freddie King, after King was injured in abicycle accident.

On Saturday,the festival exnds to two stages. The Camp reetStageopens at 11 a.m.with lfeJohns,followed by MemShannon he Membership, Ed Wills &Blues 4$ale

$UICIDEBOY$

SATURDAY,SMOOTHIE KING CENTER

The duo $uicideboy$ sprang from acorner of NewOrleans music farremoved from traditional sounds. Scott Arcenaux Jr., better knownas$crim —namesake of New Orleans’ famous runaway dog —and his cousin Aristos “Ruby da Cherry” Petrou introduced themselves in 2014 via Soundcloud. Their style of rap is farremoved from the braggadocious bling and polished hooks of morecommercial hip-hop; it’soften grimy, abrasive and apocalyptic, with elements of trap-metal. Lyrics trafﬁc in hopelessness, death, depression, drugs, suicide and addiction. Arceneaux struggled foryears with opioid addiction (he has reportedly been clean and sober since 2019). Petrou has wrestled with depression.

The St. Charles Ave. Stage opens Sunday with Mia Borders followed by the TopNotes featuring Ernie Vincent.Startingat4:30 p.m., Cindy Cashdollar, BrianMitchell and the Woodstock All-Stars are joined by special guest Sonny Landreth.Finally,91-year-old Homer native BobbyRush shutsdown the fest starting at 7p.m. with his voice, guitar,harmonica and showmanship.

Their ﬁrst release wasanEP called “Kill Yourself Part 1.” They named their 2018 full-length debut “I Want to DieinNew Orleans.” Local references from St. Bernard to Carrollton to the 7th Ward abound, but not in amanner that tourism ofﬁcials would market. Their latest album is “Thy Kingdom Come.” Overall, the duo’s songs have been streamed billions of times.

Since 2019, $uicideboy$ has embarked on asummer tour dubbed “Grey Day.” The 44-date “Grey Day Tour” 2025 concludes with a hometown concert at the Smoothie King Center on Saturday.Night Lovell, Germ —both of whom are signed to $uicideboy$’sG*59 Record$ —and Joeyy are also on the bill. Tickets start at $66.

Rush

Devin Allman

Where y’acht

music music music

OTHERNOTEWORTHYSHOWS

THURSDAY

Long-running jazz fusion band Yellowjackets plays the ﬁrst of twoconsecutive nights at the New OrleansJazz& Blues Market on Oretha Castle Haley Blvd. Tickets start at $25 (half-price tickets areavailable with promocode NOJ25).

Traditional New Orleansjazz clarinetist Dr.Michael White’sLiberty Jazz Quartet is at Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $35.

Kermit Ruffins &the Barbecue Swingers swing out at Chickie WahWah as part of aseries dedicated to thefondly remembered Donna’sBar &Grill; tickets are $20.

FRIDAY

Jazz fusion band Yellowjackets is back at the New Orleans Jazz &Blues Market for the second of two nights Barcelona-born pianist,composer and multi-instrumentalist MarinaAlbero plays afree show at 5p.m.atSnug

Harbor. Steve Lands,the New Orleansbased trumpeter who has performed with everyone from the Preservation Hall Jazz Band to PJ Morton and Maroon 5, celebrates the release of his new “Rearranging thePlanets” album. Backed byaneight-piece band, he’ll perform atSnug Harbor at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $35.

At theBroadside’sindoor Pavilion, Americanasinger-songwriter Dave Jordan hostsa“SwampSessions”tribute to JohnPrine featuring Rurik Nunan, Chris

Mule’, Lynn Drury, Dave Pomerleau,Trevor Brooks, James Hausman, Jacob Tanner and John Fohl Tickets are $20.

Cowboy singer TylerHalverson brings his “More HeartsThan Horses” tour to Chickie WahWah. Tickets are $20 plus fees.

SATURDAY

Jazzsaxophonistand singer Grace Kelly,who was amember of the “Late Show with Stephen Colbert”house band alongside Jon Batiste, is at the New

Orleans Jazz &Blues Market at 7p.m. Tickets start at $25 (half-price tickets are available with promo code NOJ25). Big Chief Bo Dollis Jr.& the Wild Magnolias play afree show at Tipitina’sstarting at 9p.m

Guitarist Papa Mali,sousaphonist Kirk Joseph and drummer DonaldMagee join forces at Chickie WahWah starting at 10 p.m. Tickets are $15.

SUNDAY

Blues guitarist and singer Mr.Sipp plugs in at the New Orleans Jazz & Blues Market at 7:30 p.m.Tickets start at 7:30 p.m

Snug Harbor hosts afree “Nickel-aDance” afternoon show at 3p.m. featuring vocalist Thais Clark.At7:30 p.m and 9:30 p.m., modern jazz bassist James Singleton and keyboardist Brian Haas team up at Snug Harbor; tickets are $30.

TUESDAY

Americana singer Paul Thorn and his band hold court at Chickie WahWah. Tickets are $40 plus fees.

music music music

Crescent City Chamber Music Festival marks 10th year

BY DEAN M. SHAPIRO

Contributing writer

In August 2016, the Crescent City Chamber Music Festival made its debut in the New Orleans cultural arts scene Today, a decade later, the festival is still going strong, celebrating its 10th anniversary Friday through Oct 19 with seven free concerts in four venues in the Garden District and Uptown New Orleans

Commemorating its milestone season, the festival’s theme, “Novelty and Nostalgia,” reﬂects the host organization’s commitment to paying tribute to the musical ensembles that have performed with them since the beginning, as well as welcoming new participants, according to violist Luke Fleming, the festival’s founder and artistic director

“We’re going to celebrate our past festival successes with nostalgic performances from fan favorites like the Escher Quartet and the Manhattan Chamber Players, who have been with us since the very beginning,” said Fleming. “But we are also adding quite a bit of novelty to the mix.”

As an example of “novelty,” Fleming said this year’s program will feature the New Orleans debut of award-winning Canadian jazz vocalist Caity Gyorgy and her longtime partner and pianist, Mark Limacher, performing alongside the Manhattan Chamber Players.

‘Soldier’s

Tale’ with a star narrator

Another highlight of this year’s festival will be New Orleans actor Bryan Batt narrating Igor Stravinsky’s hourlong 1918 musical drama “The Soldier’s Tale” on the festival’s sixth day

As the story of a soldier who encounters the devil, the performance will also feature Fleming as the soldier and his wife, cellist Abigail Monroe, as the devil.

As in years past, the festival will offer a mix of recent contemporary material as well as classics from master composers like Mozart, Vivaldi, Mendelssohn, Schubert and Brahms.

The repertoire will also include two new pieces composed by pianist Seth Grosshandler, who will be performing on them. Several members of the New Orleans-based Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra will team up with the out-of-town ensembles on se-

free

the

The Manhattan Chamber Players will take part in the free chamber music festival again in 2025.

PROVIDED PHOTOS

concert featuring Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante and Vivaldi’s Gloria with the Manhattan Chamber Players, members of

Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra and the Trinity Episcopal Choir is set for 7 p.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church as part of the 10th annual Crescent City Chamber Music Festival.

Luke Fleming, founder and artist director of the Crescent City Chamber Music Festival, will perform in the festival’s production of the 1918 musical ‘The Soldier’s Tale.’

Batt

music music music

lected pieces.

ABachelor of Music summa cum laude graduate from LSU, Fleming also holds the degrees of Doctor of Musical Arts, Artist Diploma and Master of Music from New York City’sprestigious Juilliard School of Music. He also holds aPostgraduate Diploma with Distinction from the Royal Academy ofMusic in Londonand is the artistic director and violist forthe Manhattan Chamber Players, of which he was one of the founding members Home again

Fleming founded the festival while livinginNew York City,and he recently moved back to New Orleans, where he spent much of his early youth. His mother,Callie Crawford, was alongtime minister at the Rayne Me-

Jazz duo CaityGyorgyand Mark Limacher will perform with theManhattan Chamber Players during the Crescent City Music Festival.

morial United Methodist Church, where many of the festival’s concerts have been performed, and which be hosting threeofthis year’s concerts.

“Weare immensely indebted to all the people who support the festival,” Fleming

said. “Thankfully,wehave a lot of individual supporters, ranging from contributions of $20 to $500 or $1,000. We have two organizations without which we absolutely could not do what we do. They are theNew Orleans Theater Association and the Mike and Lynn Coatney Family Foundation. We areespecially grateful to them.”

Reﬂecting on the 10 years sincethe festival began, Fleming noted, “Wehave come along way sincethen. We startedout withjust threefreeconcerts and now we’redoing seven.

“Westarted out withsix artists and now we have 38, and morethan half of them arelocally based.

“We’rebringing in alot of great actsand we areexcited about our futurehereinNew Orleans.”

CRESCENT CITY CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL

Free public concerts Friday through Oct. 19; full schedule and details at crescentcitychambermusicfestival.com.

FRIDAY: Mozart’sSinfonia Concertante and Vivaldi’s Gloria with the Manhattan Chamber Players, members of the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestraand the Trinity EpiscopalChoir; 7p.m. (preconcert talk, 6:30 p.m.) at Trinity EpiscopalChurch,1329 Jackson Ave.

SATURDAY: Jazz duo CaityGyorgy, vocals, and Mark Limacher, piano, with the Manhattan Chamber Players; 7:30 p.m. (preconcert talk, 7p.m.) at Dixon Concert Hall, Tulane University campus.

MONDAY: Mendelssohn’s Octet and Schubert’sCello Quintet with the Manhattan Chamber Players and New Orleans’ Lott Quartet; 7:30 p.m. (preconcert talk, 7p.m.)

at Rayne Memorial United MethodistChurch, 3900 St. CharlesAve.

WEDNESDAY: Special beer ﬂights withclassical music pairings; 7p.m. at Urban South Brewery, 1645 Tchoupitoulas St.

OCT.16: The Escher Quartet; Seth Grosshandler’s Dances for String Quartet; Mozart’s String Quartet in Dmajor; Schubert’s String Quartet No. 14 in Dminor, “Death and theMaiden”; 7:30 p.m.(preconcert talk, 7p.m.) at Rayne Memorial United MethodistChurch.

OCT.17: Stravinsky’s“ASoldier’s Tale”(Bryan Batt, narrator; Luke Fleming and Abigail Monroe, othervoices) withthe Manhattan Chamber Playersand members of theLouisiana Philharmonic Orchestra; 7p.m. (preconcert talk, 6:30 p.m.) at TrinityEpiscopal Church.

OCT.19: Escher Quartet and friends; Seth Grosshandler’s Trio for Clarinet, Cello and Piano; Chris Rogerson’s String Quintet; Brahms’ String Quintet in Gmajor; 4p.m. (preconcert talk, 3:30 p.m.) at Rayne Memorial United MethodistChurch.

events events events

craft Dedicatedto the

Oktoberfest sells more beer than almost any other event in New Orleans

BY MATTHEW HAINES Contributing writer

Deutsches Haus opens its gates Friday for its annual Oktoberfest. During the festival’s three-weekend run, an expected 24,000 New Orleanians will come to celebrate by dressing in their ﬁnest Alpine gear, shimmying to the chicken dance and consuming an extraordinary amount of food and drink.

“If past years are an indicator, festivalgoers will eat a modest 2 tons of German sausage, 2,000 pounds of German potato salad, 5,625 soft pretzels and 1,000 German pizzas,” said Cathy Olivier, Deutsches Haus public relations and social media committee member, as she listed off just a few of the many popular food items available at Oktoberfest.

Attendees will toast the event with 5,000 shots of schnapps. And, of course, they’ll gulp an inordinate amount of German beer

“Our beer distributor told us that the only two New Orleans festivals that sell more beer than us

ä See OKTOBERFEST, page 10

Festgoers come from all over for Deutsches Haus’ annual grounds, lured in by the food, music and, of course,

PHOTO By SHAWN FINK

A wooden beer keg waits for the traditional tapping to open Oktoberfest celebrations at Deutsches Haus along Bayou St. John in New Orleans. This year’s three-weekend event kicks off Friday.

OKTOBERFEST

4 p.m. to 11 p.m. Fridays and 1 p.m. to 11 p.m. Saturdays through Oct 25 Deutches Haus, 1700 Moss St., New Orleans

Malcom Ziegler holds up some bratwurst he cooked for Oktoberfest at Deutsches Haus. A festival of this magnitude doesn’t come together overnight. A variety of sausages — delivered from a butcher in Wisconsin — is ordered well in advance of the celebration.

FILE PHOTO By SHAWN FINK annual Oktoberfest. Organizers say they expect 24,000 visitors on the cultural center’s , the beer

FILE PHOTO By SHAWN FINK

The Oktoberfest flag waves alongside the Louisiana, U.S. and German flags outside Deutsches Haus.

STAFF FILE PHOTO By CHRIS GRANGER

events events events

OKTOBERFEST

Continued from page 8

are Jazz Fest and French Quarter Fest,” Olivier said. “Our Oktoberfest beats out every other local festival in beer consumption.”

A festival of this magnitude doesn’t come together overnight. But what many attendees do not realize is that within a few short days of the doors closing on last year’s Oktoberfest, the festival’s leadership began planning this one.

“The food and the music. The wine and the beer. The schnapps and the many individual booths,” said Brian Huber, who served as Deutsches Haus president from 2019 to 2022 and now coordinates Oktoberfest. “When we open those gates on Friday, it’s the culmination of many long hours of work by many amazing, generous people.”

Year’s worth of work

“In the days and weeks after one Oktoberfest is completed, we’ll gather the committee leaders and the leaders of the different booths and try to understand what went well and what could have been improved,” Huber said. “That’s where planning for the next year begins.”

The team at Deutsches Haus, primarily composed of volunteers, has been putting on Oktoberfest celebrations for decades. Huber, who remembers attending celebrations with polka music as a child with his German-American grandparents, said he began attending Oktoberfest in New Orleans in 2006 In 2012, he and his wife volunteered to work the festival’s entrance.

“By the next year, I was pouring beer at the festival, and the rest is history,” he said. “But, truthfully, even though I’ve been involved for a while, lots of guys have been volunteering for far longer than me.”

With all of this experience, the team has Oktoberfest down to a science. Not many changes were needed this year, and organizers said that is a good thing. Consistency, for example, means that returning guests will know exactly where to go to ﬁnd their favorite style of beer or type of sausage.

Nothing is perfect, however, and Huber said team members will always have suggestions on how to improve the fest.

The planning for Deutsches Haus’ next Oktoberfest begins the day after this year’s Oktoberfest. And organizers say they couldn’t do the event without the army of volunteers to set up, serve and cook food, and repair infrastructure.

An accordion player performs during the Deutsches Haus Oktoberfest.

“The schnitzel press was a big one this year,” Huber said. “In the past, we had a bunch of guys, covered in flour, hammering thousands of schnitzels one at a time by hand until they were flat. Now, the machine flattens them faster and more uniformly, making it easier to fry the schnitzel with more consistency.”

During a festival in which 7,000 schnitzels will be consumed, efﬁciency is key. That, Huber said, makes purchasing new equipment like the schnitzel press, as well as a deluxe electric fryer, well worth it.

“Whatever money we make from the year before,” he said, “we’ll always invest a portion of that into improving our operation the next time.”

An army of volunteers

In the months after each Oktoberfest, the leadership team at Deutsches Haus checks off a long list of to-dos. This includes signing contracts for large equipment rentals such as stages, tents and portable freezers.

They also have to book music. While the house band, made up of 13 local members — Huber included, on trumpet — is easier to schedule, national acts such as Alex Maixner and the Klaberheads both had to be booked by January to ensure they could perform at this year’s festival.

Beer orders are placed in March, and a variety of sausages — delivered from a butcher in Wisconsin — must also be ordered well in advance.

By early summer, the cook team is testing recipes and even beginning to prepare food for the festival.

“This year, we’re doing German meatloaf as a specialty,” said volunteer Mike Larkin, who has been involved with Oktoberfest since 2005 and organizes the food tents. “We prepared 72 whole loaves for the ﬁrst weekend alone, and that is extremely time and labor intensive.

“We began putting the loaves together in June, and then seal them up really well and freeze them until fest time when we prepare the mushroom gravy to cover them. It’s a huge undertaking.”

Larkin said none of it would be possible without volunteers.

He has 64 volunteers on his mailing list, most of whom show up regularly throughout the year, either to cook or for “work parties,” during which they repair older infrastructure.

Recently, they gathered to repaint approximately 80 high-top tables where guests can eat and drink.

“Most of us are retired military guys,” said Larkin, who commanded a security force in the Army for more than 30 years. “If you watch us plan and prepare for Oktoberfest, it honestly feels like a ﬁve-part military operation. We love this festival, and our mission is to make sure you have the perfect spoonful of German potato salad.”

Festival time

Now, just days before the festival begins, the ﬁnishing touches are being put on a year’s worth of work.

A group of 15 women have gathered weekly since spring to create more than 1,000 ﬂoral headbands and wreaths to sell at Oktoberfest. Meanwhile, stationed in a booth nearby, the Ladies Auxiliary is completing work on 300 large gingerbread cookies and 120 full cakes.

Stages are being constructed, tents are being erected, and food deliveries are being processed and stored. One group of volunteers is preparing the outdoor kitchen, while another is battering schnitzel in panko and breadcrumbs.

“We want this to be the best schnitzel you’ve had in your life,” Larkin said. “That’s what we’re aiming for.”

Huber has a goal, as well: Whether you come to Deutsches Haus during Oktoberfest or you enter the Haus for a meal or a drink any Tuesday through Sunday during the rest of the year, he hopes you get a speciﬁc, German feeling.

“We call it gemütlichkeit,” he said. “It’s a warm feeling of community you get when you are surrounded by friends.

“That is the point of Deutsches Haus and all the work we put into Oktoberfest. Our hope is that you’ll notice the festival is overﬂowing with that gemütlichkeit.”

FILE PHOTO By DINAH L. ROGERS

FILE PHOTO By MICHAEL DEMOCKER

food food food

portal Openinga

Tucked away on the sideofapopular New Orleans-based eyewear store is anew restaurant with a name linked to ahistoric French Quarter eatery thatoccupied thebuilding nearly 100 years ago.

Among the items rotating on Patula’smenu are meatballs with Moroccanspices and yogurt, from left, Shrimp Colomboand asalad featuring smoked pork jowl, egg,and blue cheese dressing.

Patula uses time andspace to craft acozyFrenchQuarter cafe with inspiringbites

Walking through the alcove-like porte cochere on the side of theﬂagship Krewe location, thespace opens uptoPatula,a cafe with small platesand more, opened by chef Robert Tabone late last year.

Tabone was looking for apermanent space after operating Wood Duck,a long-standingpop-up at Anna’sbar in the Bywater.Hedeveloped arelationship with the Krewe team after catering someofits events and liked therestaurant space they were seeking to ﬁll at 619 Royal St. Open for less than ayear,the quaint spot with adreamy patio has recently been getting attention from foodies and inﬂuencers alike. Tabone said he lovesthe outdoorspace just as much as the people whosit out there for dinner and cocktails.

“Sometimes I’ll come here on Tuesday,when we’re closed, and I’llget a little coffee and I’ll read abook, and it’svery,very nice. Iwould encourage everyone to do that. Not on Tuesday, though,” Tabone said.

Under the name Patula, Tabone has continued toexplore hisculinary talents by creating new dishes andserving inspired bites and entrées in asmall, relaxed cafe-style operation.

“I really want people to feel like they

Aporte cochere on RoyalStreet opens up onto Patula’spatio.

could just hang outhere andkind of spread outinthe courtyard andsoak up the sun, andit’sarestaurant, but Iwanted to havethat, loungy feel we’relike, youdon’tfeel like you’re being rushed outofhere,” he said.

The restaurant’sname honors the establishment that occupied the space in 1933, the Southern Marigold. Because it was the Marigold in the French Quarter and “patula” is the second word in the scientiﬁc name forthe French Marigold,derivedfromthe Latinword “patulus,” meaning “spreading out,” Tabone decideditﬁtperfectlyfor his restaurant’sname.

Nearly acentury ago, Southern Marigolddiners could expect generalSouthern cuisineand dinnerfor $1.50, according to the 1938 New Orleans City Guide. At thetime, the restaurant was one of a kind, serving food unlike anyother restaurant in the French Quarter

“This place is unique in New Orleans, in that absolutely no French or Creole dishesare served,” the guide reads. Patulaguests, however,can expect innovative takes on dishes, presented in both small plates andfull entrées. Tabone hasmost of his dishespriced under$28. The pricerange at Patula is less than the cost of dinneratthe Southern Marigold, basedonthe ConsumerPrice Indexfrom the U.S.Bureau of Labor Statistics, which indicates that $1.50 in 1938 would be equivalent to just over $34 in 2025.

Tabone’s standard menu also features sandwiches, salads andfusion-style snacks.

Some of the offerings are staples, while others, such as themushroom toast, are seasonal. Tabone said the fungi dish will soon be replaced with pumpkin polenta or something of an autumnal ﬂavor.

“We’realways looking at, like,what’s available,what’sfresh, andlike,what we’re excited about, andwhatwecan showpeople that maybe they don’tget everyday or haven’tthought aboutina while,”Tabonesaid.

Keeping themenusmall andsimple allows Tabone andhis team to develop specialsthattheycan reﬂect on and reﬁne.Overthe summer, Patula began holding supperclub dinners to add ashareddining experienceand also highlight some of thedishestheyhave perfected.

“Somebody hasanidea, andwe’ve maybe workshopped it on acouple of specials. Andthenfor asupperclub, it’s like,this is theﬁnaliteration or themost polishediteration of this ideathatwe’ve been working through,”Tabonesaid.

These dinners offeranopportunity to experienceaprix-ﬁxe meal that’s carefully crafted withdishesincluding ingredientslike ﬁzzy fermented cantaloupesorsmoked pork jowlfrom pigs whose main dietconsistsofpecans, which fall from atreeatahomestead in Mississippi.

Tabone’s food experimentation is most evident in thespecials. Still, even in some of thedishesonthe standard menu, Tabone maintains acreative approach,asseen in thesimple dish of meatballs, where he usesMoroccan spices andyogurt withhis tomato sauce.

“Webasically took acoffeeshop-style of kitchen andare cranking, Iwould say, maybe notﬁne dining, but much higher-endfood outofitthanpaninis andheating up danishes,”Tabonesaid.

Email Chelsea Shannonatcshannon@ theadvocate.com.

STAFF PHOTOSByCHELSEA SHANNON

Chelsea Shannon

Tabone

FRIDAY,NOVEMBER 7

SYDNEYAND WALDABESTHOFF SCULPTURE GARDEN

PATRON PARTY | 7PM–8PM | GARDEN PARTY | 8PM– 11 PM

stages stages stages

VarlaJeanMermanreturns with Chappell Roan show

Stormy weather heads to localstagesasa story about ahorriﬁc hurricane comes to JeffersonParish and the theatrical experience Varla Jean Merman blows into town.

Strap yourselves in.

‘Champagne makesmedrowsy’

Billed as a“deliriously unhingedevening of comedy, song and sequins,” renowneddragchanteuse

Varla Jean Mermanreturns to the Crescent City with anew show that takes on chart-topping songstressesin amost Varla way.

“Varla Jean is the DrowsyChappell Roan” featuresthe rouge-tressed “feminomenon” who feels the “Pink Pony Club” performer has “beenrippingher off.”Intypicalstyle, Varla takes aimatRoan, DuaLipa, Sabina Carpenter,Billie Eilishand MileyCyrus in an attempt to makeher own markonthe charts.

“Good Luck, Babe.”

The show is ablend of live vocals, parody performances, camp and witty repartee swathed in eyepopping costumes.

The onstage persona ofJefferyRoberson, Varla has appeared in ﬁlmsand ontelevision, as well as Broadwayand national touring companies andmorethan 30 solo shows around the globe,including Carnegie Hall and the Sydney OperaHouse.

The show will be at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 17-18atCafé Istanbul, 2372 St. Claude Ave. Ticketsstartat$30.Visit brownpapertickets.com

GreatOctober Storm

In 1893, ahurricane smashed into the Louisiana GulfCoast thatwould eventually kill anestimated 2,000people. This wasbeforestorms werenamed, butithas become knownasthe Great October Storm.

CheniereCaminada was aﬁshingcommunity in Jefferson Parish west of Grand Isle that borethe brunt of the deadly storm. More than770 people, or about half of theisland’smulticultural population, were killed, and the community was left uninhabitable

Many of those who sought refuge after the stormwere early residents of Westwego, andthatcity will host aplay by aNicholls State University professor about the events.

“As Long asthe Earth Lasts” will be performedinconjunctionwith the Nicholls Players

WrittenbyJohnDoucet, “Tant que Durera la Terre”isbased on historical narratives and legends passed down by the survivors, including his great-great-grandfather,John Frederique Rebstock.

Doucet will present apre-show talk about thehur-

An upcoming showby VarlaJean Merman is a blendoflive vocals, parody performances, camp and witty repartee swathed in eye-popping costumes.

PROVIDED PHOTO

ricane, one of the most deadly in U.S. history.

The show is at 7:30 p.m. Fridayand Saturday,Oct 17-18, and at 2p.m. Sunday,Oct.19, at JPAS’sWestwegoPerforming ArtsTheatre, 177 Sala Ave., in Westwego. Ticketsstartat$29. Visit jpas.org

Anew chapter

Crescent City Stage will pause production of the holiday highlight “A Christmas Carol” as theprofessionalacting company focuses on long-termsustainability.

Ofﬁcials notethe theatrical community facing the three-pronged issue of “reduced arts funding, limited venue availabilityand smaller post-pandemic audiences.”

“We’reproud of what we’ve built over the past threeyears,”said artistic director Elizabeth Elkins Newcomer.“Afterproducing nine shows at Loyola’s Marquette Theater,our next step is to establisha permanent home forour work.”

Newcomer said thecomanywill focusonﬁnding apermanenthome for productions andexpanding the growing list of offerings at the Magazine Street studio.

“The studio allows us to deepen oureducational mission andconnect withthe community in new ways,” Newcomer said. “It’sa steppingstonetoward apermanent theater thatsupports artists, tells meaningful stories, and reﬂectsour vibrant city.”

Producing executive director Michael A. Newcomer noted, “We’reforging new partnerships to sustain our work. Securing apermanent home is our toppriority, ideally in Orleans Parish, but we’re exploring alloptions.”

Visit crescentcitystage.com.

Email Victor Andrews at vandrews@theadvocate. com.

IN PRODUCTION

“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 lifeinto thestory by Mary Shelley,who probably did not imagine Dr. Frankenstein and his monster would generate too manylaughs, but she never met Pete. The show is outdoors and bringing chairs or blanketsisrecommended.

Tickets start at $20, with premier seating included at $55. nolaproject. com.

“KIMBERLYAKIMBO”:

7:30 p.m.through Saturday,plus 2p.m. Saturday and 1p.m. and 6:30 p.m Sunday; Saenger Theatre, 1111 Canal St.Broadway in New Orleans season opener about ateen whose body is turning her into an old womanwith acircle of family and friends who are faced with their own unique challenges as well, from alcoholism, crime, unrequited love to just dealing with life. Tickets start at $30. saengernola.com.

“THE LEHMAN TRILOGY”: 7p.m. Thursdays to Saturdays and 3p.m. Sundays through Oct. 19 plus 1p.m. Oct. 18; Le Petit Théâtre du Vieux Carré, 616 St. Peter St. Three actors play the roles that span genera-

tions and recounts the history of afamily of Southern dry goods merchants whobecome one of the greatest success and failure stories of recent ﬁnancial times with cataclysmic losses in the ﬁnancial sectors. Tickets start at $35. lepetittheatre.com.

“THEMISS FIRECRACKER CONTEST”: Opening 8p.m. Saturdays and running 8p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2:30 p.m. Sundays through Oct. 26; 30 By Ninety Theatre, 880 Lafayette St., Mandeville. The story focuses on Carnelle, her reputation in shreds, as she attempts the ultimateﬁxer forall-thingswoeinthe South —win a pageant. 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. Tickets start at $20. 30byninety com.

“STEEL MAGNOLIAS”: 7:30 p.m.Fridays and Saturdays and 2p.m. Sundays through Oct. 19; Slidell Little Theater,2024 Nellie Drive, Slidell. Acadre of Louisiana women,together as a“hair” force, face life’smajor moments, from weddings and childbirth to death and grief.There’s“laughter through tears” as the show runs the gamut of emotions. Tickets start at $20. slidelllittletheatre.org.

Victor Andrews

Doucet