BY KONSTANTIN TOROPIN and MICHELLE L. PRICE Associated Press
WASHINGTON The United States is sending about 200 troops to Israel to help support and monitor the ceasefire deal in Gaza as part of a team that includes partner nations, nongovernmental organizations and private-sector players, U.S officials said Thursday
The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss details that were not authorized for release, said U.S. Central Command is going to establish a “civilmilitary coordination center” in Israel that will help facilitate the flow of humanitarian aid as well as logistical and security assistance into the territory wracked by two years of war
The remarks provide some of
the first details on how the ceasefire deal would be monitored and that the U.S. military would have a role in that effort After Israel and Hamas agreed to the first phase of a Trump administration plan to halt the fighting, a litany
of questions remain on next steps, including Hamas disarmament, a withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and a future government in the territory
One of the officials said the new team will help monitor implementation of the ceasefire agreement and the transition to a civilian government in Gaza.
The coordination center will be staffed by about 200 U.S. service members who have expertise in transportation, planning, security, logistics and engineering, said the
BLOCK PARTY
U.S. sending 200 troops to Israel
official, who noted that no American troops will be sent into Gaza. A second official said the troops would come from U.S. Central Command as well as other parts of the globe. That official added that the troops already have begun arriving and will continue to travel to the region over the weekend to begin planning and efforts to establish the center
Two other senior U.S. officials who spoke to reporters on
Bollinger Shipyards to build Coast Guard icebreakers
Trump announces shipbuilding deal at White House
BY STEPHANIE RIEGEL Staff writer
President Donald Trump signed an agreement Thursday paving the way for Bollinger Shipyards to build four new icebreaker vessels for the U.S. Coast Guard, part of a
$6 billion deal that will support as many as 600 jobs at the company’s Houma shipyard. The agreement, still preliminary, is part of a larger pact between the U.S. government and Finland to partner on building 11 Arctic Security Cutters, a new class of medium-size vessels that can cut through Arctic ice while performing defense and research missions.
Trump has said he wants to eventually acquire 40 such vessels to protect U.S. security in the Arctic.
Trump announced the deal at the White House on Thursday afternoon with Finnish President Alexander Stubb following a meeting with Stubb Vice President JD Vance, several Cabinet members, Finnish officials and Bollinger Shipyards President and CEO Ben Bordelon.
“It’s going to be a great partnership,” Trump said of the deal. Under the terms of the deal,
ä See BOLLINGER, page 5A
RENDERING PROVIDED By BOLLINGER SHIPyARDS
Bollinger Shipyards in March won a nearly $1 billion contract from the Coast Guard to build the first heavy polar icebreaker constructed in the U.S. in nearly 50 years.
Trump on Columbus Day:
‘We’re back, Italians’
President Donald Trump
Thursday hailed the upcoming Columbus Day holiday, taking credit for returning its traditional focus as a celebration of Italian American pride.
“In other words, we’re calling it Columbus Day,” Trump said at a White House Cabinet meeting
“We’re back, Italians,” he added. “We love the Italians.”
In announcing the federal holiday, Trump portrayed his action as restoring the luster to a holiday that has become controversial in recent years
“Our nation will now abide by a simple truth: Christopher Columbus was a true American hero, and every citizen is eternally indebted to his relentless determination,” Trump said in a proclamation. He said he was restoring Columbus Day as a federal holiday, but its status has never actually changed.
Former President Joe Biden proclaimed Indigenous Peoples Day in 2021 to be recognized alongside Columbus Day in a nod to the devastating effect colonialism had on Native Americans who inhabited North America when Columbus arrived in 1492
Some cities and states also recognize both holidays or identify it solely as Indigenous Peoples Day, which Trump derides as a reflection of politically correct “woke” thinking.
Drake’s defamation suit against label tossed NEW YORK A federal judge tossed out a defamation lawsuit that Drake brought against Universal Music Group on Thursday, ruling that lyrics branding the superstar as a pedophile in Kendrick Lamar’s diss track “Not Like Us” were opinion
Judge Jeannette Vargas rejected the suit in a written opinion that began by citing “the vitriolic war of words” and saying the case arose “from perhaps the most infamous rap battle in the genre’s history.”
She said a reasonable listener could not have concluded that “Not Like Us” was conveying objective facts about Drake.
“Although the accusation that Plaintiff is a pedophile is certainly a serious one, the broader context of a heated rap battle, with incendiary language and offensive accusations hurled by both participants, would not incline the reasonable listener to believe that “Not Like Us” imparts verifiable facts about Plaintiff,” Vargas wrote
Filed in January, the lawsuit alleged that UMG published and promoted the track even though it included false pedophilia allegations against Drake and suggested listeners should resort to vigilante justice.
The lawsuit also alleged that the track tarnished his reputation and decreased the value of his brand.
Universal Music Group, the parent record label for both artists, denied the allegations.
Police pursue inflatable runaway pumpkin
PARMA HEIGHTS, Ohio The subject of an Ohio police pursuit took off down the road, a flash of orange in the darkness, but officers eventually caught up and grabbed the escapee: a runaway inflatable pumpkin as tall as them.
Body camera footage from the Parma Heights Police Department in northeast Ohio shows an officer struggling to grasp the floored gourd as he describes to a clearly amused colleague how he had chased it down early when it kept blowing away. “And when I went to grab it over here, it just took off,” he says. “I was pretty much in pursuit.”
After some more struggles attempting to deflate the decoration, multiple officers squished it into a police car
“I’ve never seen that before,” one can be heard saying of the Halloween inflatable packed tight in the back seat. Police said they then returned it to the home where it was displayed.
“Just another example of our officers going above and beyond, even for seasonal decor!” the department posted Wednesday on Facebook when it shared the case, which drew plenty of puns and quips from commenters.
N.Y. AG charged in fraud case
Trump aggressively pushed for James to be indicted
BY ALANNA DURKIN RICHER, MICHAEL R. SISAK and ERIC TUCKER Associated Press
WASHINGTON — New York Attorney General Letitia James was charged Thursday as part of a mortgage fraud investigation aggressively pushed by the Trump administration, becoming the latest foe of the president to be prosecuted by his Justice Department. James, who infuriated President Donald Trump by suing him and his company for fraud in a case that played out as he was running for office, was indicted on charges of bank fraud and false statements to a financial institution following a presentation to a grand jury in Virginia by a prosecutor who was hastily appointed last month amid
Trump administration pressure to deliver criminal cases against his adversaries. The indictment, two weeks after a separate criminal case charging former FBI Director James Comey with lying to Congress, is the latest indication of the Trump administration’s norm-busting determination to use the law enforcement powers of the Justice Department to pursue the president’s political foes and public figures who once investigated him. Both the Comey and James cases followed a strikingly unconventional paths toward indictment, with the Trump administration last month pushing out Erik Siebert, the veteran prosecutor who had overseen both investigations for months and had resisted pressure to file charges and replaced him with Lindsey Halligan, a White House aide who was once Trump’s personal lawyer but who had nev-
er previously worked as a federal prosecutor Halligan presented the case to the grand jury herself, as she did in the case against Comey, a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter In a lengthy statement James decried the indictment as “nothing more than a continuation of the president’s desperate weaponization of our justice system.”
“These charges are baseless, and the president’s own public statements make clear that his only goal is political retribution at any cost. The president’s actions are a grave violation of our Constitutional order and have drawn sharp criticism from members of both parties,” she added.
She called the decision to fire Siebert and replace him with a prosecutor who is “blindly loyal” to the president as “antithetical to the bedrock principles of our country,” and she said she stood by her inves-
tigation of Trump and his company as having been “based on the facts and evidence not politics.”
The indictment pertains to James’ purchase of a house in Norfolk, Virginia, in 2020. During the sale, she signed a standard document called a “second home rider” in which she agreed to various rules, including a requirement that she keep the property primarily for her “personal use and enjoyment for at least one year,” unless the lender agreed otherwise in writing.
Rather than using the home as a second residence, the indictment alleges, James rented it out to a family of three. According to the indictment, the misrepresentation allowed James to obtain favorable loan terms not available for investment properties.
Trump has been advocating charging James for months, posting on social media without citing any evidence that she’s “guilty as hell” and telling reporters at the White House, “It looks to me like she’s really guilty of something, but I really don’t know.”
Hungarian writer wins literature Nobel
By The Associated Press
STOCKHOLM Hungarian writer László Krasznahorkai, whose surreal and anarchic novels combine a bleak world view with mordant humor, won the Nobel Prize in literature Thursday for work the judges said upholds the power of art in the midst of “apocalyptic terror.”
ter of the apocalypse.” His work has echoes of other European writers who explored the absurd tragicomedy of existence.
Pope meets with Chicago union leaders,
BY NICOLE WINFIELD Associated Press
urges migrant welcome
ROME Pope Leo XIV urged labor union leaders from Chicago on Thursday to advocate for immigrants and welcome minorities into their ranks, weighing in as the Trump administration crackdown on immigrants intensifies in the pontiff’s hometown.
“While recognizing that appropriate policies are necessary to keep communities safe, I encourage you to continue to advocate for society to respect the human dignity of the most vulnerable,” Leo said.
The audience was scheduled before the deployment of National Guard troops to protect federal property in the Chicago area, including a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building that has been the site of occasional clashes between protesters and federal agents.
Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich, who accompanied the labor leaders, said that Leo was well aware of the situation on the ground. In an interview with The Associated Press, Cupich said that Leo has made clear, including in recent comments, that migrants and the poor must be treated in ways that respect their human dignity
“I really didn’t have to tell him much at all, because he seemed to have a handle on what was going on,” Cupich told the AP afterward. He said that Leo had urged U.S. bishops in particular to
“speak with one voice” on the issue.
Catholic leaders in the U.S. have denounced the Trump administration’s crackdown, which has split up families and incited fears that people could be rounded up and deported any time. The administration has defended the crackdown as safeguarding public safety and national security
“He (Leo) wants us to make sure, as bishops, that we speak out on behalf of the undocumented or anybody who’s vulnerable to preserve their dignity,” Cupich said. “We all have to remember that we all share a common dignity as human beings.”
Cupich said he was heartened by Leo’s remarks last week, in which the pope defended the cardinal’s decision to honor Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin for his work helping immigrants. The plans drew objection from some conservative U.S. bishops given the powerful Democratic senator’s support for abortion rights, and he ultimately declined the award.
Cupich was in Rome for Vatican meetings and also to accompany a group of Chicago schoolchildren who got a special greeting from Leo during his Wednesday general audience. The kids had staged their own “mock conclave” in school this past spring and footage of their deliberations went viral online as the real conclave unfolded in Rome. They arrived at the audience Wednesday dressed as cardinals, Swiss Guards and the pope himself.
‘Department of War’ rebrand hasn’t caught on
BY BRENDAN RASCIUS Miami Herald (TNS)
President Donald Trump rebranded the Department of Defense as the Department of War, but the name change hasn’t quite caught on — even among Republicans, according to a new YouGov poll.
In the survey, 72% of respondents said they are more likely to refer to “the part of the government that handles the military” as the Department of Defense, while just 18% said they’re more prone to describe it as the Department of War. Democrats were the least likely to embrace the change, with 90% favoring the branch’s defense title. Seventy-two percent of independents said the same.
A majority of Republicans, 55%, also said they would call it the Department of Defense, while 34% said they’d adopt the new title. This question revealed a slight gender divide, with 75% of women and
68% of men saying they would refer to the branch by its old name. Additionally, those who use the term Department of War were far more likely to approve of Trump’s handling of the military compared with those who use the term Department of Defense — 84% versus 27%.
The survey sampled 1,131 U.S. adults Sept. 30-Oct. 2, and it has a margin of error of about 4 percentage points.
It comes after Trump issued an executive order on Sept. 5 titled “Restoring the United States Department of War.”
In 1789, President George Washington signed legislation establishing the War Department which was only restyled as the Department of Defense in 1949, shortly after World War II.
But, while the president may refer to the branch as the Department of War, it would take an act of Congress to make the title permanent.
The Nobel judges said the 71-year-old author, whose novels sometimes consist of just one long sentence, is “a great epic writer” whose work “is characterized by absurdism and grotesque excess.”
“I am calm and very nervous,” Krasznahorkai told Radio Sweden after getting news of the prize, which comes with an award of more than $1 million.
The American writer and critic Susan Sontag once described Krasznahorkai as the “contemporary mas-
Zsuzsanna Varga, a Hungarian literature expert at the University of Glasgow, said Krasznahorkai’s novels probe the “utter hopelessness” of human existence, while also being “incredibly funny.” Krasznahorkai’s nearendless sentences made his work the “Hotel California” of literature — once readers get into it, “you can never leave,” she said. Krasznahorkai has since written more than 20 books, including “The Melancholy of Resistance,” a surreal, disturbing tale involving a traveling circus and a stuffed whale, and “Baron Wenckheim’s Homecoming,” the sprawling saga of a gambling-addicted aristocrat.
“Herscht 07769,” from 2021, is set in a German town riven with unrest. Written as a series of letters to then-German Chancellor Angela Merkel, it has one period in its 400 pages.
A group of children of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Academy of Chicago poses after attending the Pope Leo XIV weekly general audience Wednesday in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican.
BRIEFS FROM WIRE REPORTS
James
Krasznahorkai
Senators struggle to find wayforward
BY STEPHENGROVES,MARYCLARE
JALONICK and MATT BROWN Associated Press
WASHINGTON The consequences of agovernment shutdown setting in, senators labored Thursday to find away forward but found themselvesstruggling to overcome afundamental lack of trust between the two parties.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune on Thursdayafternoon
floated an “off ramp” to the government funding impasse, suggesting that he could hold alater vote on expiring health care subsidies if Democratswould first support astopgap spending bill to reopenthe government.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer quicklydismissed the idea. “It’snothing new,they sayit all the time. It doesn’tdoanything to make sure we get healthcare.”
The exchange showed how congressional leaders remain trapped in astalemate on the ninth day of the government shutdown despite the growing toll of federal closures. Government offices nationwide have shuttered, hundreds of thousandsoffederal employees havebeen furloughed and U.S. military troops and other government employees are on track to miss ascheduled payday Thune’s overturesuggested one possible path forward, but it was unclear how serious the offer was or whether it would lead to any real negotiations with Democrats. Still, pressure is growing on con-
gressional leaders to reach adeal as rank-and-filelawmakers grew anxiousaboutthe lack of progress on endingthe shutdown. President Donald Trump and Republicans have so far held to the stance that they will only negotiate on Democratic demandsaround health care benefits aftertheyvotetoreopen thegovernment. They also say Schumerisbeholden to the left wingofhis party and only staging the shutdown fight to stave off a primary challenge.
GOP jumpsonSchumer’s remark Schumer,D-N.Y., told Punchbowl News in aninterview that Demo-
crats were winning the shutdown fight,saying, “Everyday getsbetter for us.”
Republicans quickly seized on those comments, arguing it showed that the New York senator is approaching the shutdown with purely political motives
Thune stood on the Senate floor flankedbya posterprintedwith Schumer’swords.
“This isn’tapolitical game. Democrats might feel that way, but Idon’tknow anybody else that does,” said Thune, R-S.D. “The longerthisgoes on,the more the American people realizethat Democrats own this shutdown.”
Schumer,inhis ownfloorspeech, responded that it wasTrumpand Republicanswho are “playingwith people’slives.”
When handshakedealwon’t do
Democrats have insisted they can’ttake TrumporHouse Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Benton,at their word andtherefore need more than averbal commitment forany deal
“We’re in an environment where we need more than ahandshake,” said Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., who hasengagedintalks with Republicans.
Conflicts over spending power had already been raging before the shutdown as the White House pushed to assert maximum power over congressionally approved budgets. TheWhite Housebudget officehad canceled scores of government contracts, including cutting out the legislative branch entirely with a$4.9 billion cut to foreign aid in August through a legally dubiousprocessknown as a“pocket rescission.”
Thatenraged Democrats —and disturbed someRepublicans who criticized it as executive overreach. “I hate rescissions, to be honest with you, unless they’re congressionally approved,” said Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C.
Then,asthe governmententered ashutdown, Trump’sbudget directorRuss Vought laid out arguments that thepresident would have even morepower to lay off workers and even cancel pay due to furloughed
federal workers once the funding lapse is solved. Vought has also announced that the administration was withholding billions of dollars forinfrastructure projectsin stateswith Democratic senators whohave voted forthe shutdown. Consequences of long shutdown
The Senate failed, in a54-45 vote, to advance astopgap funding bill forthe seventhtimeThursday, and there has been no sign of significant progress to ending the impasse.
Lawmakersare now looking ahead to thedates when federal employees will miss apayday,nervous about both the financial implications forfederal employees and militarymembersand thepolitical blowback.
Active-dutymilitary troops would miss apaycheck on Oct. 15. As Johnson fielded questions on CSPAN Thursday morning, onecaller pleaded with him to pass legislation that wouldallow themilitary to get paid during the government shutdown.
Thewoman,identifiedasSamantha, said her husband serves in the military and that they “live paycheck to paycheck.”
She pleaded with Johnson to call the House back to Washington, saying, “You could stop this.” Johnson said he was sorry to hear about her situation, blamed Democrats forrefusing to pass the stopgapspending bill andadded, “I am angrybecause of situations just like yours.”
Troops will miss paychecksnextweekwithout endtoshutdown
BY BEN FINLEY Associated Press
WASHINGTON Heather Campbell lost her job work-
ing for afood bank over the summer because of federal funding cuts. Her husband serves as an officer in the Air Force, but now he’sfacing the prospect of missing his next paycheck because of thegovernmentshutdown.
If lawmakers in Washington don’tstep in, Campbell’s husband won’tget paid on Wednesday.Because the couple lacks the savings to coverall their expenses, they expect to survive on credit cards to pay the mortgage andfeed their three children, racking up debt as the political stalemate drags on.
“You’re asking us to put our lives on the line or the people we love to put their lives on the line,” said Campbell, 39,who lives outside Montgomery,Alabama, near Maxwell Air Force Base. “And you’re not even going to give us our paycheck. What?There is alot of broken trust there.”
The nation’sthird shutdown in 12 years is once againraising anxietylevels among service members and their families because
PROVIDED PHOTO Heather andDan Campbell of Alabama expect tosurvive on credit cards to paythe mortgage and feed their threechildren as the political stalematedrags on
thoseinuniform are workingwithoutpay.While they would receive back pay once the impasse ends,many military families live paycheck to paycheck. During previous shutdowns, Congress passed legislation to ensure that troops kept earning their salaries, but time is running outbefore they miss their first paycheckin less than aweek
“There are so manythings that Congress can’tagree on right now,” said Kate Horrell, the wifeofa Navy veteranwhose Washington, D.C.,company provides financial advice to military families. “I don’twant to as-
sume that they’re going to be able toagree on this.”
Unclearwhendealwillpass
Whenasked if he would support abill to paythe troops, President Donald Trump said, “thatprobably will happen.”
“We’lltakecare of it,”
Trump said Wednesday “Our military is alwaysgoing to be taken care of.”
Rep. JenKiggans, aVirginiaRepublican and former Navy helicopter pilot, has introduced ameasure to maintain militaryand Coast Guard salaries, and it has bipartisan cosponsors.
The House is closed for business until next week, leaving two daystotake action beforeWednesday’s payday. Missedpaychecks formilitary service members areamong themost serious pressure points in theshutdown, causing political pain for the lawmakers. Severalproposals have been floated for voting on stand-alonelegislation that would ensure no interruption in pay,but those are not expected to be broughtup for consideration, for now Aidnot enough forsome Supportisavailable for
military families through nonprofitsand charities. For example, some financial institutions are offering zerointerest loans, while each military branch has arelief organization.
ButCampbell said she and her husband in Alabama can’t apply forapaydayloan because they’re refinancing their house. They lack a substantial emergency fund because they were paying off student loans and moved several times in thelast few years to military posts. It wasoften challenging for hertofind steady workand child care.
“The opportunity to build up savings is really difficult on just one income,” Campbell said. “I don’tknowmany militaryfamilies that have a month’s worth of income set aside just in case,let alone multiple months’ worth.”
Jen Cluff, whose husband recently left the AirForce,
said her family was on a food aid program during the 2019 shutdown. But even the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, also known as WIC, which helps more than 6million lowincome mothers andyoung children,would run out of federal money within two weeks unless the shutdown ends, experts say Widereffects feared in military-heavy areas
Theeconomic impact will ripple through regions with large military footprints, like coastal Virginia,home to the nation’slargest Navy base and several other installations. The area’s 88,000 active duty service members andtheir familieslikely have pulledback significantlyonspending, said Rick Dwyer,executive director of the Hampton
Roads Military andFederal FacilitiesAlliance,anadvocacy group. “Think about service members whoare deployed right now around the world,” said Dwyer,who served in the AirForce duringprevious shutdowns. “They’re having to wonder if their families are going to be able to pay the rent, the child care bills, the car payments.”
Ashutdown contingency plan posted on the Pentagon’swebsite cites the use of funds to continue military operations from Trump’sbig taxand spendingcut bill. The Congressional Budget Office has said money appropriatedtothe Defense Department underthe new law could be used to pay active duty personnel. It was not clear if the funding would be used forthat. The PentagonsaidThursday that it could not provide information “at this time.”
By The Associated Press
Afederal judge partially blocked the Trump administration’sdeployment of National Guard troops to the Chicagoarea, but didnot detail specifics in herruling Thursday.
U.S. District Judge AprilPerry didn’tlay out details of any order or say what partof the request she was granting as she spoke from the bench in her crowded courtroom. She promised more on Friday
The lawsuit was filedMondaybyChicago and Illinois to stop thedeployments of Illinois and Texas Guardmembers. Some troops were already at animmigration building in the Chicago suburb ofBroadview when Perry heard argumentsonThursday. Perrysaidthe actions of the Department of Homeland Security are largely rooted in President Donald Trump’s“animus toward
Illinois elected officials.”She expressed skepticism of the federal government’s characterization of protests in Broadview
The city and state have called the deploymentsunnecessary andillegal,and Illinois Gov.JBPritzkerand local officialshave strongly opposed the use of the Guard. In a courtfiling, the city and state saidprotests at the temporary detention facility for U.S Immigrationand CustomsEnforcement in Broadview have “never come close to stopping federal immigration enforcement.”
Trump, meanwhile, has portrayed Chicago as alawless “hellhole”ofcrime despite statistics that show asignificant drop in crime in the city
U.S. Justice Department lawyer Eric Hamilton said in court that theGuard’smissionwould be protecting federal properties andgovernmentlaw enforcers in the field not“solvingall of crime in Chicago.” Judgepartially
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By J. SCOTT APPLEWHITE
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Benton, and the House GOP leadership deliver the Republican messageonthe governmentshutdown, nowinits ninth
IsraeliCabinet OKs‘outline’ of deal
BY SAMY MAGDY, MELANIELIDMAN and WAFAA SHURAFA Associated Press
CAIRO— Israel’sCabinet has approved the“outline” of adealto release hostages held by Hamas, Prime Minister BenjaminNetanyahu’soffice said early Friday,as topIsraeli officials debateda tentative deal to pause the devastating two-year war with Hamas
The approval is akey step in implementing aceasefire andthe exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump. The brief statement focused on the hostage release and made no mention of the other parts of Trump’splan Meanwhile, the Israeli military carried out more strikesinGaza, including one that reportedly left more than three dozenpeople trapped beneathrubble.
The broaderceasefire plan advanced by Trump’sadministration included many unanswered questions, such as whether and how Hamas willdisarm and who will govern Gaza. But the sidesappeared closer than they have been
in months to ending awar that has killed tens of thousandsofPalestinians, reduced much of Gazato rubble, brought famine to parts of theterritory andleftdozensof hostages, living anddead, in Gaza.
The war,which began with Hamas’ deadly attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, has alsotriggeredoth-
er conflictsinthe region, sparked worldwide protests and ledtoallegations of genocide.
Some 1,200 people were killed in the Hamas-led assault,and 251 were taken hostage. In Israel’sensuing offensive, more than 67,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza and nearly 170,000 wounded,
accordingtoGaza’sHealth Ministry,which doesn’tdifferentiate between civilians and combatants.
Even with the agreement hanging in thebalance, Israelistrikes continued, with explosions seen Thursday in northern Gaza. At least 11 dead Palestinians and another 49 who were woundedarrived at hospitals over the past 24 hours,Gaza’sHealth Ministry said.
Asenior Hamas official and lead negotiator madeaspeech Thursday layingout what he says arethe core elements of the ceasefire deal: Israel releasing around 2,000 Palestinianprisoners, openingthe border crossingwith Egypt, allowing aidto flow andwithdrawing fromGaza.
Khalil al-Hayya said allwomen and children held in Israelijails will also be freed. He did not offer details on theextent of the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
In theGaza city of Khan Younis, reactions to the announcementof aceasefire were relatively muted andoften colored by grief
“I am happy and unhappy.We have lost alot of peopleand lost loved ones, friends and family.We lost our homes,” said Mohammad
Al-Farra. “Despite our happiness, we cannot help but think of what is to come. …The areas we are going back to, or intending to return to, are uninhabitable.”
In TelAviv,familiesofthe remaining hostagespoppedChampagne andcried tearsofjoy after Trumpannounced the deal. In Jerusalem on Thursday,Sharon Canotcelebrated with some others. “Weare so excited this morning. We cried all morning,” shesaid. “It’s been twoyears that we are in horror.”
Under the terms, Hamas intends to releaseall living hostagesina matter of days, while the Israeli military will begina withdrawal from the majority of Gaza, people familiar with the matter told The Associated Press. Some 20 of the 48 hostages still in captivity are believed to be alive.
In ashort video posted by U.S Commerce SecretaryHoward Lutnick, Trumpwas seen speaking by phone to agroup of elated hostage families. “They are all coming back on Monday,” said Trump, whoisexpected to visit the region in the coming days.
At akey moment in talks, Trumprefused to take no forananswer
BY JOSEPH KRAUSS,AAMER MADHANI andMATTHEWLEE Associated Press
WASHINGTON— After months of gridlock, the IsraelHamas ceasefire in Gaza came together in amatter of days after adeft maneuver —orperhaps amisunderstanding —byPresident Donald Trump that boxed in the two adversaries. Either way,efforts to winddown the devastating war unleashed by Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel have seen abreakthrough, and the last 48 hostages about 20 of them believed to be alive —are set to be returned under the agreement announced Wednesday Major questions remain including overgovernance and reconstruction of aterritory that largely has been destroyed as well as whether Hamas will disarm —a key Israeli demand that the militants have not yet publicly accepted.
But it appears as though the fightingwillpause, because at acritical moment last week, Trump took Hamas’ very conditional response to his proposal as ayes.
Israelistrikeona U.S. ally
In early September,longrunningceasefire talksmediated by the U.S., Egypt and Qatar were at astandstill.
Hamas stuck to its position that it would only release the remaining hostagesin return for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners,a lasting ceasefireand afullIsraeli withdrawal from Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected those terms, saying the war would only end with Hamas’ surrender and the returnof all the captives, with Israel maintaining open-ended security control over Gaza.
On Sept. 9, explosions rocked Doha and smoke rose over the steel and glassskyline of Qatar’scapital.
ASSOCIATEDPRESS PHOTO OHAD ZWIGENBERG EinavZangauker,center,mother of Matan Zangauker,who is being held hostagebyHamas, reacts Thursday at aplaza knownasHostages SquareinTel Aviv,Israel, as she and otherscelebratefollowing the announcementthat Israel and Hamashaveagreed to the
Israel had carried out an airstrike on Hamas leaders andnegotiators as they had gathered to consider the latest ceasefire proposal in Qatar, aclose U.S. ally and mediator.The strike killed five lower-rankingHamas members and aQatari security forces member It infuriatedGulf Arab leaders and angered the White House. Trump quickly went into damagecontrol, seeking to reassure Qatar
Thestrike united Gulf Cooperation Council countries in away not seen since the bloc’s1981 inceptionasa counterweight to post-revolutionary Iran. It caused theseven GCC members,which include Saudi Arabia, Qatar andthe UnitedArabEmirates,torethinkwhathad been relatively moderate stances on Israel andled some to believe Israel was now abigger threat to regional security and stability thanIran, accordingto Arab diplomats familiar with conversationsatthe bloc’s last summit in Doha Such ashift could have had profound implications for the Trump administration’s anti-Iranpush, which relies heavily on being able to respond from two major
phase of apeace plan.
U.S.militarybases in Bahrain and Qatar.And it might have doomed thesignature diplomatic achievementof Trump’sfirst term: the Abraham Accords, in which Bahrain andthe United Arab Emirates normalizedrelationswith Israel.
Twoweeks afterthe Doha strike, Trump met with the leadersofeight Arab and Muslim nations on thesidelines of an annual gathering of world leaders at theUnited Nations that highlighted Israel’s growing isolation. The president said it was his “most important meeting.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Thursday that efforts“took aturn” at that meeting,with the U.S. building acoalition behind Trump’splan.
Aplanand an ultimatum
Trump unveiled his 20-point peace planless than aweek later —during Netanyahu’sfourth visit to theWhiteHouse this year
Trump dialedupQatari
Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and spoke to himbefore handing thephone to Netanyahu. Theprime minister read from awritten apology,expressing his regret
forIsrael violating Qatari sovereigntywith thestrike. In apress conferencein Washington after theSept. 29 meeting, Netanyahu said he had accepted Trump’splan.
RubiosaidTrump’snegotiatorsthen stepped up their efforts through intermediaries in Qatarand Egypt to get Hamas on board, while Trump held phonecalls and meetings withworld leaders.
The U.S. plan calls for Hamas to release all the remaining hostages within 72 hoursofthe ceasefire in return for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, to give up power in Gaza and to disarm. The plan essentially demanded Hamas’ surrender “Ifthis LAST CHANCE agreement is not reached, allHELL, like no one has ever seen before, will break out againstHamas,” Trump
wrote on social media.
Hours later,and ahead of schedule, Hamas submitted its response.
Acrucial move by Trump
Hamas reiterated itswillingness to releaseall hostages in exchange forPalestinian prisoners and to give up powertootherPalestinians.
But it said other elements of Trump’splan required more negotiation and offered nothing about disarming, a key Israeli demand.
The response wasclearly a“yes, but.” The U.S. and Israel could have taken it as a “no” and blamed Hamas for thefailure to reacha ceasefire on Israel’s terms, as they had in the past.
Butwhenthe Hamas response landed late Friday, Israel waslargely shut down forthe Sabbath, andTrump
wasfirst to respond.
“Basedonthe Statement just issuedbyHamas, Ibelieve they are ready for a lasting PEACE. Israel must immediately stop the bombing of Gaza,sothat we can get the Hostages out safely and quickly!” he wrote on his Truth Social site. If Trumpmisread Hamas’ response,noone was in any mood to correcthim —neither Hamas, which had sidesteppedhis ultimatum, nor Netanyahu, who would not want to be seen as spoiling the president’sdeal. In abriefstatement later that night, Netanyahu said Israel was preparing forthe implementation of the “first stage”ofTrump’splan—the release of hostages. It made no mention of the fact that Hamas hadnot accepted somekey demands.
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By ABDEL KAREEM HANA
Displaced Palestinians watch smokerise after Israeli military strikes Thursdayfrom the coastal road near Wadi Gaza, in the central Gaza Strip.
Limitedaccesstocollege savingsaccountsreturns
BY PATRICK WALL Staff writer
After thousands of Louisiana customers have been shut out of their state-run college savings accounts for more than aweek, state officials said Wednesday that limited access to theaccounts has been restored and that the money appears to be secure.
Theoutage, whichofficials said was caused by a“cyber incident,” has prevented customersfrom accessing about 88,000active savings accounts containing $1.8 billion,accordingtostate figures from last month. The accounts are part of Louisiana’s529 education savings account programs, known as STARTand K12 START, which help families save for college or private school tuition. During the system shutdown, students and familieshavenot beenableto
withdraw money from their accounts to pay tuition bills.
While scheduled withdrawals are still pending, customers now can at least check their balances as of Sept.26, before theoutage began, officials said Wednesday
“We’re pleased to saythat, as of right now,the 529 accounts are back up for viewing,” Louisiana Commissioner of HigherEducation KimHunter Reed told state lawmakers during an unrelated hearingWednesday.Reedalsosaid there is “no indication of unauthorized access tothe accounts or their funds” duringthe outage.
All Louisiana colleges anduniversities have been notified of the disruption, as have about300 out-of-state colleges where savings account holders are enrolled, Reed said.They have been asked to work with affected students who can’taccess funds needed to
troops would be doing.
condition of anonymity because they were not authorizedtopublicly discuss internal deliberations offered more details about forces from other countries and what U.S.
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knownasa“memorandumofunderstanding,” the new vessels will be built overseveralyears with the first icebreaker delivered by 2028.
Bollinger initiallysought to win the contractthrough ajoint venture with Edison Chouest Offshore.In June, Trump said during aNATOsummit that he planned to buy 15 icebreakers from Finland and in late July, Bollinger announced it had formed anew joint venture that included Finnish contractors Rauma Marine Construction and Aker ArcticTechnology as well as aCanadian shipbuilder, Seaspan Shipyards The new team, which won the
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Most of their appointmentshavebeenpeoplewho areright-leaning Christian conservatives,including pastors,some who wereless qualified than applicants passed over,such as people with library and teaching experience.
The current seat will be vacated Nov.30byErasto Padron, who works in cybersecurity and has missed several meetings this year and chose not to apply for reappointment.
Padronwas appointed in October 2022 to fillthe unexpired term of Landon Boudreaux, who resigned because of work conflicts. TheParishCouncil at that meeting chose Padron from 10 applicants, including two former university professors and aschool librarian
Members of the armed forces of Egypt, Qatar,Turkey andthe United Arab Emirates are expected to be embedded with the team of 200 U.S. troops, according to one of the officials. The American service members will integrate the multinational force and coordinatewith Israelidefense forces, theofficial said.
deal, will build six vessels for the Coast Guard, withanestimated price tag of $500 million each.
Four of the vesselswill be built at Bollinger’sHouma shipyard. The other two will be built in Finland.
The vessels will enable theCoast Guard to haveyear-round access to polarregions for national defense, maritime sovereignty,scientific research and search and rescue operations, Bollinger said.
They will have the abilityto break4feet of ice, travel 12,000 nautical miles and operateindependently for more than two months at atime.
Bollinger formed theteam to bid on thedeal earlier this summer at the request of theTrumpadministration.
Aseparate venture that includes different Canadian and Finnish companies will build the other five
On Tuesday,councilmember Bryan Tabor led the move to reopen the application process to replace Padron. Thetwo applications received by Tuesday’s meeting were from Rebekah Huggins and Steven Lazarus Huggins is aLafayette residentand hasbeen an attorney at TheGlennArmentor Law Corporation in Lafayette since 1996. Sheearned herlaw degree in 1993 from LSU and has been active in various law-related organizations in the area. Lazarus,alsoa Lafayette resident,isthe founder of Portfolio Options Perspectives. He was deputy director of Medicaid Managed Care with the Louisiana Department of Health from 2016-17 andhas master’sdegrees in health care management and finance. Lazarus also serves on the boards of The Extra Mile and Temple Shalom.
“Thisappointment has had the same application pro-
ces ti Melanie watch La Censor er aboveboard because body ham saying er procedure. ber not Tu Kenneth Joh vert
pay their bills. For now, account holders still don’thavefullaccesstotheir money.Deposits andwithdrawals thatwere scheduledtooccur after Sept. 26 have notyet been processed, and any new transactionsmust wait until thebacklog is cleared,Reed added. Current balances won’t be available until after thosetransactions are processed, officials said.
Officials also still did not say whether theoutage, which State Police andother agencies continue to investigate, was caused by acyberattack and if customers’ personal information was compromised.
“It’s an ongoing investigation, so we can’t provide more information thanwe’ve given at thistime,” said Elizabeth Bentley-Smith, deputy commissioner for finance and administration at the stateBoard of
The exact location of where U.S. troops will be positioned is something they will be workingtodetermine Friday,the other officialsaid
President Donald Trump, meanwhile, highlighted Adm.BradCooper,commander of U.S. Central Command, during aCabinet meeting at theWhite House on Thursday, saying he hadworkedalongside spe-
vessels at shipyards in Texasand Finland.
In astatement, Bordelon applauded thepresident for his “historic investment in America’s maritime industrial base.”
“Weappreciate the trust President Trump hasplaced in the skilledmen and womenofBollinger Shipyards and standready to begin construction on these critical vessels on dayone,” the statement said.
House Majority Leader Rep Steve Scalise, aJefferson Republican whosedistrict includes Bollinger’sLockport headquarters, called the deal “a great win” for Louisiana thatfurther cements the state’s reputationasaleader in America’sdomestic shipbuilding industry “I am proud to representthe only shipbuilder in theUnited States in
Regents, which oversees higher education.
The unexplained shutdownhas alarmed parents and students who have been unable to check their account balances or withdraw funds for more than aweek. They also have been unable to contact the Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance, which manages the savings programsand hasnot been able to answer calls or emails during thetechnology disruption.
“It’sbeen aweek sinceI’ve been able to login, so Ihaveno ideaifmymoney’seven there,” said Jamie Diamond, aparent in AbitaSprings whoput moneyina STARTaccount to help pay for her son’seducation at LSU.
Diamond said she could not reach LOSFAand has not received anynotification from the agency about the status of her account.
“Zero communication,” she said,
cial envoySteve Witkoff, Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. “Cooper —Ihear he’sbeen fantastic,” Trumpsaid.
Abreakthrough deal to pause the war in Gaza was reached Wednesday after the United States and mediators in the region pressured bothIsrael and Hamas to end the
Bollinger Shipyards that has the capability, capacity and expertise to begin construction on these critical vesselsonday onethatwill project Americanpower anddominance in theArctic,” he added.
Bollinger, which is thelargest privately owned shipbuilder in the U.S., hasalongstanding relationship withthe U.S. Coast Guard. Over the past four decades, it has delivered nearly 200high-performance vesselsfor the federal government, according to the company’swebsite.
In March,shortlyafter agreeing to a$1millionsettlementto resolve allegations of improper labor billing on adifferent Coast Guard contract, the company won a$965 millioncontract to build a largertype of heavy icebreaker for theCoastGuard called aPolar SecurityCutter
adding that her only sources of information have been the agency’s social media postsand news reports “Thatgivesmezero confidence.”
Rep. Kim Carver, R-Mandeville, said that agencies’ limited communication with customers during the outage created a“reputational risk” to the college savings program
“It’sagreat program.Wedon’t want people to lose confidence and look at other investments in the future,” he saidduringthe legislative hearing, urging state agencies to provide “open, transparent, frequent communication” with account holders.
UnderLouisiana law,any agencies or businesses that store people’spersonal data must notify affected individuals of asecurity breach “without unreasonable delay,” and no later than 60 days after abreach is discovered.
fighting thathas devastatedthe Gaza Strip, killed tens of thousands of Palestinians, sparked other conflicts and isolated Israel. That push sealed
Bollingerisone of thelargest employers in the bayou parishes, with access to more than 4,000 employees and 30 facilities worldwide. Founded by Bordelon’sgrandfather,Donald G. Bollinger,the company got its start building workboats during theboom years after World WarII. Donald “Boysie” Bollinger,alocal businessleader,philanthropist and well-known Republican megadonor with tiestoTrump, took over the companyand grewitinto ashipbuilding powerhouse withmultimillion-dollargovernmentcontracts. In late2014,BoysieBollinger sold the company to Bordelon, his nephew,and the owners of Edison Chouest Offshore. In the years since, Bordelonhas continued to grow the company, which has estimated annual revenues of morethan $1 billion.
La.seeks endto$128M oilspill lawsuit
AG urgesDOJ to drop suit,saysitharms energy industry
BY ALEX LUBBEN Staff writer
State Attorney GeneralLiz Murrill hasasked thefederal governmenttodrop a$128 million lawsuit against insurance companies over
the longest-running spill in U.S. history —leakingoff Louisiana’s coast for 21 years and counting arguing that the legal effort to recover costs harmsthe local energy industry. The lawsuit pertains to aspill
that beganin2004, when Hurricane Ivan caused an underwater mudslide that toppled aTaylor Energy-owned oil platform near themouth of the Mississippi River.Since then, as muchas29,000 gallons of oil per day have leaked from thesite, according to federal estimates.
GREEN THUMBS DELIGHT
More than 20 years after the platformtoppled, the spill is ongoing,though much of it is being captured by acontainment system.
After settling alawsuit with TaylorEnergy in 2021, the federal government sued the oil company’s insurers 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 orderon“unleashing American energy,” which calls for increasing domestic oil and gas
ABOVE:Julie Roy,left, andBecky Taylor browse the selection of ferns at Lafayette Parish Master Gardeners Fall PlantFest at the LafayetteParish Master GardenersAssociationDemo Beds at theIra Nelson Horticultural CenteronSaturday.The free eventfeatured aplantsale, guest speakers and more.
BELOW: PlantFest attendees browse the plants on Saturday STAFF
Mama’s to open in NewIberia
Restaurant known forSouthernfare
BY ADAM DAIGLE
Acadiana business editor
Popular Opelousasrestaurant
Mama’sFried Chicken will open aNew Iberialocation, operators announced.
Mama’s, which has two locations in Opelousas, is expected to open at 101 E. Admiral Doyle Drive by early next year,operator Ryan LaGrange said.
The building most recently houseda Louisiana Fried Chicken &Seafood location but for years was aHardee’srestaurant.
“Weare committed to bring Mama’sSouthern hospitality to more of Acadiana,” LaGrange said. “Weget so many visitors
Earlyvotingturnout dismal in Lafayette
Saturday ballot includes twotaxes
BY STEPHENMARCANTEL Staff writer
Early voting on two local propertytax renewals in Lafayette ended on Oct. 4. Turnoutnumbers were low, with roughly3%ofregistered
voters, or 4,712 people, having already casttheir ballotsatthe polls, according todatacollected by the Louisiana secretary of state. Of those voters, slightly more Republicans cast ballotsatabout 42%. Absentee ballotsaccounted for2,850 votes cast
The two taxes on theSaturday ballotare property millages for the Lafayette Parish schoolsys-
tem and the BayouVermilion Dis-
trict. The taxes bring in $22.2 million and $2.1 million, respectively In the 2024 presidential election,morethandouble the numberofpeople showedupinthe firsttwo days of early voting Voting in the Lafayette mayor-
president’srace in October 2023 saw an early turnout of 11%.
While tax elections maynot be as eye-catching to voters as ageneral election, theyenable essential functions in the parish.
The school system tax voters arebeing askedtorenew has existed for50years. The money collected goes
BY DAVID J. MITCHELL Staff writer
TheEnvironmental Protection Agencyand U.S. CoastGuard will investigate whether an oil sheen has reached the mouth of the Tangipahoa River and Lake
Pontchartrainfollowing heavy rains earlier this week,the federal environmentalagencysaid, as cleanup effortspush ahead following theAugustexplosion and fire at apetroleum plant. The fireatSmitty’s Supply Inc. unleashed an extensive spill of petroleum products into private ponds andthe Tangipahoa River
PHOTOSByBRAD BOWIE
Mid-Breton sediment diversionproject canceled
Concerns raised over future coastalprojects
BY MIKE SMITH Staffwriter
The state hasofficially canceled another largescale plan to rebuild lost wetlands in southeast Louisiana through acontroversial sedimentdiversion, a long-expected move by Gov Jeff Landry’sadministration drawing sharply divergent reactions
The Mid-Breton Sediment Diversionwas tobebuilt on the east bank of the Mississippi Rivernear Wills Point, across from Delacroix. The aim was to address land loss in the area by mimicking the way the Mississippi built south Louisiana in the first place by channelingriver water and sedimentinto the Breton Basin.
It was meant to be acompanion project to the MidBaratariaSedimentDiversion, which was to be built
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Guard have spotted what appeared to be asheen at the river’smouth and in the lake.
EPAand Coast Guardofficials said in astatement Wednesday night that they could not go out on the water to verify those reports becauseofconditions on the river following heavy rain earlier in the week.
“The Coast Guard has recommended EPAresponders halt work on theriver due to dangerous conditions from recent rainfall,” the statement said. “EPAand the CoastGuard will investigate the reported sheen as soon as conditions improve, allowing operations to resume.”
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year-round telling us they wish we would open alocation in their town. So our team is excited to take this next step in expanding to New Iberia.”
The original Mama’s Fried Chicken opened on St. Landry Street in Opelousas
LAWSUIT
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production. She also contends that the litigation relies 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 statedthatit had “directly harmed”Louisiana’senergy industry
The Department of Justice did not immediately respond to arequest for comment. It filed amotion on Monday to stay the case due to the ongoing government shutdown, which was granted on Tuesday
The Patrick F. Taylor Foundation, the Taylor family’sphilanthropic organization, did not respond to arequest for comment.
Continuedcosts
Taylor Energy had long downplayed the extent of the leak and its responsibilityfor cleaning it up. In 2008, the company sold all of its oil and gas interests and set up afund to clean up the spill.The company capped nine of the 25 wells at the site of the spill, but argued that the remaining 16 were too risky to plug because they were covered with sediment mixed with oil. In 2018, the federal governmentfound that asub-
on the west bank of the river near Myrtle Grove. The state officially canceled that unprecedented$3billion project in July after having previously said it intended to abandon it eventhough it had broken ground in 2023 following years of studyand planning.
Some $619 million in funds relatedto the 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon spillhad already been spent on MidBarataria. Around $90 million in BP funds had previously been approvedfor MidBreton.Gordon Dove, chair of the state’sCoastal Protection andRestoration Authority,saidthe latest numbers he saw on moneyspent on the project amountedtoaround $70 million, though the total could now be more.
Dove said the state was working with trustees overseeing the BP funds in the hopes of earning interest from unspent money to recoup at least some portion of what has been spent while proposals for new projects are put forward.
Mid-Breton was to be about
In an interview Thursday, Jennah Durant,anEPA spokesperson, saidagency crewsaren’tlikelytobe able to return to thewater and test the area where the sheenwas reported until Sunday becausethe river water ishighand moving fast from the rain.She could not immediately provide details on why vessels were notcapableofthe task
Durant said people also spotted so-called “mousse,” or emulsified oilywaste, in the same area on Wednesday.She added that the sheenthatwas reportedwas mostly athinoilylayer that would behard to clean from the water Rain leadstoconcerns
Though the firsthours of the firehappened during a rainstorm, the subsequent weeks of the fire and clean-
in 1977. It has earned regional recognition for both highquality Southern fare and reliably friendly customer service.
Last year,one website ranked Mama’sthe 19thbest fried chicken restaurant in the United States. Mama’shas made donations and sponsored events locally over the years and plans to continuethose effortsinIberia Parish, said
stantial amount of oil was still leaking from the site and ordered the company to stop the spill. The company refused,and thegovernment hired acontractor to build an oil containment systemaround the site and sued Taylor Energy to recoup thecosts. Finally,in2021, thecompany settled with the federal government for $475 million. Butwith thespill still underway,the federal government sued thecompanies that insured TaylorEnergy in the Eastern District of Louisiana for an additional $128 million plusinterest in oil spill response costs. As aresultofthe spill, “theUnitedStateshas incurred andwillcontinueto incur removal costs,” the lawsuit states, and argues that theinsurers are liable forthose costs under the 1990 Oil PollutionAct In 2022, the National Oceanicand Atmospheric Administration said that it had removedmorethan 1 million gallonsofoil from
athirdsmaller than MidBarataria. Costsand strong opposition from commercial fishers as well as the twoparishes in the project area —St. Bernard and Plaquemines —contributedtoits demise. Mississippi Gulf Coast communities were also strongly opposedoverconcerns the fresh water and nutrients could reach as far as that area.
Dove saidinMay that the state was moving to cancel theproject. He confirmed Thursdaythat it had informed the Army Corps of Engineersthe state was withdrawing its application for project permits, adecision nowreflected on theCorps’ website.
He argued that theproject was unnecessary and too costly,saying new estimates of thetotal pricehad grown to $1.8billion. An earlier cost estimate hadput it at nearly $800 million.
He pointed to already existing natural and man-made diversions on theeast bank of theriver, including the Caernarvon Diversion at the
up have been through adry period, according tothe National Weather Service.
Alittle morethan ahalf inch of rain fell for the entire month of September ButonMonday, nearlya half inch of rain fell in Ponchatoula, with smaller amounts on Sunday and Tuesday Though imagesofoily wastehave been posted across social media,EPA officials said during anews conference last week that much of thefirefighting foam and oily waste that ran off from Smitty’sendedup in nearby private ponds that sit between Smitty’s and the river
Some ownersofthose ponds expressed concerns lastweek about the pace of waste removal and that a heavyraincould wash the waste into the river in the interim. But EPAofficials
“Family is at theheart of our business, which extends to our good neighborsin Opelousas,” she said. “Our mothershowedusthe importance of building strong relationships with the communityand those in it.”
Email Adam Daigle at adaigle@theadvocate.com.
the site of thespill.
‘JobsinLouisiana’
Murrill saidthat theDOJ should not seek oilspill cleanup fundsfrom insurance companies under the 1990 law.She argues that the insurers already paid out claimsfor the spill when it firsttook place in 2004,and is notresponsiblefor costsincurred related to the spill since then.
Further,she said that since the lawsuit wasfiled, insurancecompanieshave indicated thatthey may stop providing oilspill coverage, whichcould limit oil production in federal waters off Louisiana’s coast.
“The continueddegradation of the insurance market for offshoreenergy operatorsthreatens the economy,jobsinLouisiana, and critical oil production from the U.S. offshore region,” shewrote in the letter
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St.Bernard and Plaquemines Parish line,aswellasMardi Gras Passand Neptune Pass farther downriver.Healso noted land-buildingprojectsinthe same area using dredged sediment,including the LakeBorgne Marsh Creation project, thestate’s largest such project to date.
“You don’thave the money to do it, and you don’thave anyneed for it,”said Dove. “The BP moneywasn’t meantfor one project. That was never the intention.”
TheRestore theMississippi River Delta coalition, whichincludeslocal andnational conservation groups, called the cancellation “yet another devastatingblow to the future of our coast.”
“Wemust use all the tools in thetoolbox to restore our coast,” thecoalition, which hasworked foryears to have the diversions built,said in astatement. “The river is vital to our efforts. Canceling this project puts integral large-scale, sustainable coastalrestoration years,or even decades,further out of reach.”
discounted that possibility, saying they had protective damsand other measures in place, plus plentyofstorage space in the ponds to prevent an unintended overflow
In the Wednesdayreport, EPAofficials suggested the ponds not only had held up during therain but also were usedtostore runoff from Smitty’s
In trying to manage the “significant rainfall,”crews did“acontrolled release of stormwater from the Smitty’sSupply facility to move across theroad andinto the ponds adjacent tothe site.”
“EPAoperations crews confirmedrunoff was contained to the ponds anddid not reach theTangipahoa River,”the statement added TheEPA is in the midst of afederal government shutdown since early last week, but agency officials
toward the district’sgeneral fund and helps with operations andmaintenance, according to school officials. Thatincludesteacher salaries, transportation costs and utilitiesfor the district’s46 campuses, saidSchool Board member Roddy Bergeron at aLeague of WomenVoters panelinSeptember
The Bayou VermilionDistrict tax helps fund Vermilionville,the living history museum that attracts about 60,000 visitors each year,said districtManagingDirector Brady McKeller at thesame event. It also funds bayou operations that stop the Vermilion River from returning to itsformermonikerofthe most polluted body of water in North America.
If themillage renewalsfail, theywould be allowedtobe returned to voters one more time before the millages expire. Failure to secure voter approval would havedramatic impacts.
“Itwouldbefairlydisastrous,” said McKellar. “We
have said the cleanup work, primarily through afew hundred contractors, would continue and is funded.
CoastGuard officials in NewOrleans referred questionstothe EPAonThursday
Until the Wednesday report, agency officials had not previously indicated oily material fromSmitty’smay have reached the lake.
Governor defendscleanup
Residents living along the lower river near Lee’sLandingreported that in the first days after the fire started on Aug. 22, they saw black oily material flowing down the river before boom was in placeinthatarea, leading to speculation that some oily material mayhave reached the lake then.
Late last month and early this month, aMandeville
would have to make alot of cuts.”
For theschool system, the loss of $20millionwould mean aloss of about $440,000 percampus. The boardwould have to look at major cuts to areas such as staffing or nonrequiredcurriculum, Bergeron said. “Itwould be atremendous gut,” he said.
Early voting has closed for Saturday’selection. Polls are open from7 a.m. to 8p.m. on election day, when voters will need to report to their precincts.
Earlyvoting forthe Nov. 15 election is from Nov.1-8, excludingSunday,Nov.2 Allthree earlyvoting sites in Lafayette Parish will be open from 8:30 a.m.to6 p.m. Polls are open from 7a.m. to 8p.m. on election day. To find avoting precinct, see sample ballots, check voter registration or find other voting information, visit geauxvote.com.
To learn moreabout the Bayou Vermilion District millage, visitbayouvermiliondistrict.org.Tolearn more aboutthe school system millage, visit www.lpssonline com.
resident used his owndrone to show what he saidwas oily residue in the river,nearby ponds and Lake Pontchartrain and shared them on social media.
The first set of images of the river and ponds prompted Gov.JeffLandry to call for greater efforts by EPAto clean up. After speaking with agency officialsand others and getting commitments for more equipment, Landry defended the EPA’scleanup in asubsequent newsconference.
Themassive firenear Roseland burned at least two fire trucks and sent alarge, black plume over arural corner of the parish, dropping soot on residents and requiring a1-mile evacuation zone. The EPAhas said soot was reported 15 milesaway from Smitty’s. The fire was not extinguished fully until Sept. 8.
PICK 3: 2-4-8
PICK 4: 7-9-2-1
PICK 5: 2-7-9-4-9
EASY 5: 3-19-30-35-36
BRIEFS
FROM STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS
Wall Street’s feverish rally takes a break
NEW YORK Wall Street took a pause on Thursday as U.S stocks pulled back from record highs. The S&P 500 slipped 0.3% from its latest all-time high for just its second loss in the last 10 days. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 243 points, or 0.5%, and the Nasdaq composite edged down by 0.1% Gold also fell following its stellar rally this year, losing 2.4% to drop back below $4,000 per ounce, while Treasury yields held relatively steady in the bond market.
Dell Technologies sank 5.2%, but that only trimmed its surge since talking up its artificial-intelligence growth opportunities at an investment conference earlier in the week. The stock is still up nearly 11% for the week so far
That helped offset a 4.3% ascent for Delta Air Lines, which reported a stronger profit for the summer than analysts expected.
Delta also gave a forecasted range for profit during the year’s final three months whose midpoint topped analysts’ estimates. Its president, Glen Hauenstein, highlighted a broad-based acceleration in sales trends over the last six weeks, including for business travel domestically Such reports from companies are taking on more significance, offering windows into the strength of the economy That’s because the U.S. government’s shutdown is delaying reports that would clearly show how the overall economy is doing.
U.S. directly buys Argentine pesos
WASHINGTON The U.S. directly purchased Argentine pesos on Thursday and finalized a $20 billion currency swap framework with Argentina’s central bank, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a social media post. The intent is to provide assistance during the Latin American country’s economic turmoil.
Bessent has insisted that the Argentina credit swap is not a bailout. Last month, President Donald Trump stopped short of promising Argentina’s President Javier Milei a financial bailout.
Still, U.S. farmers and Democratic lawmakers have criticized the deal as a bailout of a country that has benefited from sales of soybeans to China, to the detriment of U.S. farmers.
Argentina is one of the biggest Latin American economies and the biggest borrower from the International Monetary Fund — its total outstanding credit as of Aug. 31 is $41.8 billion.
PepsiCo banking on new products
PepsiCo expressed confidence Thursday that new products — including protein-infused Starbucks coffee, low-sugar Gatorade and Doritos with allnatural ingredients — will boost flagging consumer demand in the coming year
Rapidly changing consumer preferences have dogged the maker of Frito-Lay snacks and Pepsi beverages PepsiCo said Thursday that its food business revenue fell 3% in North America in the third quarter
But PepsiCo Chairman and CEO Ramon Laguarta said Thursday that the company is moving quickly to cut underperforming products and reinvest in new ones, including a “NKD” line of Doritos and Cheetos with no artificial flavors or colors. Tostitos and Lay’s chips with no artificial dyes will soon be on sale in the U.S.
PepsiCo is already seeing good results from innovation on the beverage side. Pepsi Zero Sugar saw double-digit net revenue growth in the July-September period, the company said, while Mountain Dew sales got a boost from new flavors like Summer Freeze and Dragon Fruit. PepsiCo said its North American beverage revenue rose 2% in the third quarter
PepsiCo said its total revenue rose 2.6% to $23.94 billion in the July-September period
Canadian PM talks reviving pipeline
Carney discusses Keystone XL prospects with Trump
BY ROB GILLIES Associated Press
TORONTO Canadian Prime Minis-
ter Mark Carney raised the prospect of reviving the contentious Keystone XL pipeline project with President Donald Trump during his White House visit this week, a government official familiar with the matter said Wednesday
A Canadian company pulled the plug on it four years ago after the Canadian government failed to persuade then-President Joe Biden to reverse his cancellation of its per-
mit on the day he took office. It was to transport crude from the oil sand fields of western Canada to Steele City, Nebraska.
Trump previously revived the long-delayed project during his first term after it had stalled under the Obama administration. It would have moved up to 830,000 barrels of crude daily, connecting in Nebraska to other pipelines that feed oil refineries on the U.S. Gulf Coast.
The Canadian government official said Trump was receptive to the idea when it was talked about during their White House meeting Wednesday The official said Carney linked energy cooperation to Canada’s steel and aluminum sectors, which is subject to 50% U.S. tariffs. The official spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not
authorized to speak publicly on the matter
Carney mentioned building major projects and “unleashing Canadian energy” in a live video call with business leaders in Toronto on Wednesday
Biden canceled Keystone XL’s border crossing permit in 2021 over long-standing concerns that burning oil sands crude could make climate change worse and harder to reverse.
A spokesperson for South Bow Corp., the oil pipeline operator that owns the existing Keystone pipeline system, said they are not privy to the ongoing discussions between the Canadian and U.S. governments.
Carney is under pressure from the oil-rich province of Alberta to get a pipeline built.
Former Alberta Premier Jason Kenney said building a new pipeline to increase oil shipments to the U.S. Gulf Coast would be the cheapest, fastest and least complicated route for a major oil pipeline.
“Strategically this would increase, not decrease our dependance on the US export market. But it would be a brilliant judo move to find common ground with the Trump Administration, and help him to realize that the US benefits from and needs its privileged relationship to Canada, and access to our resources,” Kenney posted on social media.
“Played smartly, Canada’s cooperation could be strong leverage to push for reductions in Trump tariffs,” he added.
China outlines more export controls
Policy affects rare earths, technology
BY CHAN HO-HIM and JOSH FUNK Associated Press
HONG KONG China outlined new curbs on exports of rare earths and related technologies on Thursday, extending controls over use of the elements critical for many high-tech and military products ahead of a meeting in about three weeks between President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
The regulations announced by the Ministry of Commerce require foreign companies to get special approval to export items that contain even small traces of rare earths elements sourced from China. These critical minerals are needed in a broad range of products, from jet engines, radar systems and electric vehicles to consumer electronics including laptops and phones.
Beijing also will impose permitting requirements on exports of technologies related to rare earths mining, smelting, recycling and magnet-making, it said.
China accounts for nearly 70% of the world’s rare earths mining. It also controls roughly 90% of global rare earths processing. Access to such materials is a key point of contention in trade talks between Washington and Beijing.
As Trump has raised tariffs on imports of many products from China, Beijing has doubled down on controls on the strategically vital minerals, raising concerns over potential shortages for manufacturers in the U.S. and elsewhere It was not immediately clear how China plans to enforce the new policies overseas.
During a Cabinet meeting Thursday, Trump said he had yet to be briefed on the new rules but suggested that the U.S could stop buying Chinese goods.
ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO
China’s Ministry of Commerce outlined new curbs on exports of rare earths and related technologies on Thursday, extending controls over use of the elements critical for many high-tech and military products
“We import from China massive amounts,” Trump said “Maybe we’ll have to stop doing that.”
Neha Mukherjee, a rare earths analyst at Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, called the new export controls “a strategic move by China that mirror some of Washington’s new chip export rules.
“Most rare earth magnet manufacturers in the U.S., Japan and elsewhere remain heavily dependent on rare earths from China, so these restrictions will force some difficult decisions — especially for any company involved in military uses of rare earths because most of those export licenses are expected to be denied,” he said.
“The message is clear: if the U.S. and its allies want supply chain security, they must build independent value chains from mine to magnet,” Mukherjee said The new restrictions are to
“better safeguard national security” and to stop uses in “sensitive fields such as the military” that stem from rare earths processed or sourced from China or from its related technologies, the Commerce Ministry said.
It said some unnamed “overseas bodies and individuals” had transferred rare earths elements and technologies from China abroad for military or other sensitive uses which caused “significant damage” to its national security
The new curbs were announced just weeks ahead of an expected meeting between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in South Korea, that begins at the end of this month.
“Rare earths will continue to be a key part of negotiations
for Washington and Beijing,” George Chen, a partner at The Asia Group, said in an emailed comment. “Both sides want more stability but there will be still a lot of noises before the two leaders, President Trump and Xi, can make a final deal next year when they meet. Those noises are all negotiation tactics.”
The European Commission is also concerned about China’s new rare earth restrictions, spokesperson Olof Gill said Thursday
“The Commission expects China to act as a reliable partner and to ensure stable, predictable access to critical raw materials. We will assess these latest developments in this context I would also remind you of the important work the Commission is doing to diversify our sources of supply for critical raw materials,” he said.
Tesla probed after crashes involving self-driving feature
BY BERNARD CONDON and MATT OTT AP business writers
NEW YORK Federal regulators have opened yet another investigation into Tesla’s self-driving feature after dozens of incidents in which the cars ran red lights or drove on the wrong side of the road, sometimes crashing into other vehicles and causing injuries.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said in a filing that it is looking into 58 incidents in which Teslas reportedly violated traffic safety laws while using the company’s so-called Full Self-Driving mode, leading to more than a dozen crashes and fires and nearly two dozen injuries. The new probe adds to several other open investigations into Tesla technology that could upend Elon Musk’s plans to turn millions of his cars already on the road into completely driverless vehicles with a over-theair update to their software.
“The ultimate question is, ‘Does the software work?’” asked Seth Goldstein, a Morningstar analyst
with a “sell” rating on the stock.
Added money manager Ross Gerber, “The world has become a giant testing ground for Elon’s concept of full self-driving, and it’s not working.”
The probe comes as Musk, whose fortune as the world’s richest man derives partly from Tesla’s levitating stock, has promised to roll out hundreds of thousands of driverless taxis in cities around the U.S. by the end of next year
The new investigation covers 2.9 million vehicles, essentially all Teslas equipped with full selfdriving technology, or FSD, a misnomer criticized for lulling drivers into handing full control over to their cars. Tesla has argued to regulators and in court cases that it has repeatedly told drivers the system cannot drive the cars by itself and whoever is behind the wheel must be ready to intervene at all times.
In the new probe, regulators reported that many of the Tesla drivers involved accidents said the cars gave them no warning about the unexpected behavior
The agency behind the latest probe, NHTSA, opened an investigation last year into driver-assistance features in 2.4 million Teslas after several crashes in fog and other low-visibility conditions, including one in which a pedestrian was killed. NHTSA also opened an investigation earlier this year for a “summon” technology that allows drivers to tell their cars to drive to their location to pick them up after reports of several fender benders in parking lots.
Another investigation was launched by the agency in August looking into why Tesla apparently has not been reporting crashes promptly as required. That same month, a Miami jury found that Tesla was partly responsible for a deadly 2019 crash in Florida involving its Autopilot driver assist technology — which is different than full self-driving and must pay the victims more than $240 million in damages. Tesla said it would appeal the decision.
Money manager Gerber, a longtime Tesla investor who says he once was a big believer in the
company’s driver assistance feature, says the company should stop calling it full self-driving and admit the vision-only system using cameras on its cars needs to be supplemented with radar sensors and other hardware. Otherwise, regulators should force it to do that.
“They have to take responsibility for the fact that the software doesn’t work right and either adjust the hardware accordingly — and Elon can just deal with his ego issues — or somebody is gonna have to come in and say, ‘Hey, you keep causing accidents with this stuff and maybe you should just put it on test tracks until it works,’” he said. The FSD system under investigation is what is called Level 2 driver-assistance software that requires drivers to pay full attention to the road A new version of FSD was introduced earlier this week. The company is also testing a vastly upgraded version that does not require driver intervention, something that Musk has been promising to roll out for years.
OPINION
Artificial intelligence cansupercharge education
Artificial intelligence is poised to transform how we teach in classrooms acrossthe country and around the world, and Louisiana is leading the charge.
While much has been written about the potential pitfalls of AI in education, few have discussed just how beneficial AI will be in improving educational outcomes. From students just starting out in elementary schools to students at higher education institutions, AI can maximize their education to a level previously out of reach AI is not asubstitute teacher, nor can it replace teachers in the classroom. This fact is undeniable. But AI can allowteachers to do far more with their finite time Creating and grading assignments, for example, can consume substantialamounts of time for teachers.AIcan help reduce the
time needed to grade papers, allowing teachers to quickly turn aroundassignments and identify areas where additional instruction could be helpful. AI can further help teachers quickly create detailed andtailored lesson plans and assignments for students, allowing them to spend moretime teachingand less time planning aone-size-fits-all all lesson plan.
Another aspect of education where AI can be transformative is ensuringstudents in rural areas, likemanyofthose we have here in Louisiana, havethe same educational opportunities as their peers.
AI tools are being used by educators to create online courses, a previously highlytime-consuming and challengingtask. These tools are helpingstudentslearningonline in remoteregions to
Disasterreadiness also meanshaving aclear home title
September marked the peak of hurricane season. As we know,natural disasters can oftenlay bare both the vulnerability and strength of our city.They can alsoexpose areality impacting far too many in New Orleans andacross Louisiana: When a home has no clear title, recovery stalls and wealth slips away Heirs’ property often called “tangled title,” happens when homes are passed down informally without updating the deed. Under Louisiana law,many families end up owning aproperty “in indivision,” meaning multiple people share ownership of a property,but no one is recognized as the owner of record. Without clear title, it can be hard or impossibletoqualify for disaster aid or insurance, secure aloan to fix aroof or even prove the right to live in ahouse your grandparents paid off long ago
work collaboratively with their counterparts, takenotes and handle tasks previously only available to students receiving inperson instruction.
Oneofthe mostsignificant and promising applications for AI is in early reading. Teachers can rarely spend all their time on asingle student,even if that student is potentially struggling. In many cases, asingle teacher could be assigned 10, 15 or even more than 20 students at atime.
Yet, with thehelp of AI, teachers can improve their efficiency and help students catch up with individualized strategies and assignments.
They can further utilize AI as apractice reading partner for their students, apartner that can guide their reading progress with teacher supervision.
Training studentstomake the most of AI’sstrengthsalsoprepares them for success in the
workforcelater.While many AI toolsare intuitive andeasy to use, making the most of them requires knowledge,patience and practice. This is where AI can really make adifference in higher education. Whether it’shelping studentsresearch more efficiently by processing troves of datainablink of an eye or running simulations to give student researchersreal-time analysis and feedback, AI is acritical tool in thetoolbelt in academia and research Beyond helping academic researchers andexperts, AI is also helping to broaden fields traditionally limited to those with specific technical skills, such as knowledge of certaincomputer programming languages. AI cannot replacehuman coders, but it can allow people whodonot know how to code to produce limited segmentswithout prior knowledge or expertise, and in many
places, that limited assistance is enough to makewhat waspreviously impossible possible. There are countless places where alittle bit of AI can go a long way, and we are discovering moreevery day It is thus vital that we prepare students to be able to makefull use of these tools to supplement their weaknesses and build upon their strengths. Louisiana is boldly facing the future head-on, and we are not alone in doing so. But we must be mindful not to arbitrarily limit ourselves. Excessive red tape and well-intentioned but cumbersome regulations will only stifle our progress. Only by embracing AI in our education system can we make the mostof its potential.
Andrew Schwarzisa professorinLSU’sStephenson DepartmentofEntrepreneurship &Information Systems.
Hyundaiincentiveswould be better spenthereinLouisiana
than 20 other states. While the measure did not advance this session,the goal remains urgent:give families better optionstokeep property in the family and preventforced sales when aco-owner faces pressure. Adopting heirs’ property protections in Louisianawould modernize outdated rules andgive judges newtools to keephomes in the hands of those who live in them.
During this hurricane season, ourcall to action is straightforward:
n Forhomeowners: If you live in ahome withouta clear title —oryou’re not sure— reach out to local organizations, likePeople’sHousing+, Louisiana Appleseed or Southeast Louisiana Legal Services, that offer free or low-cost help. Completing awill today can spare yourfamily heartachetomorrow
As we saw with Hurricane Katrina 20 years ago, roughly 25,000 homeowners in New Orleans —13.5% of all applicants —wereinitially denied access to federally funded recovery aid because they lacked aclear title to their property.Today,nearly 175,000 families in the state have unclear property titles, which could result in widescale property and wealth loss.
The good news is we know what works. Over the past two decades, community organizationsand legal aid providers in NewOrleanshave helped residents complete wills and successions,clear title, safeguard homes and preserve wealth.
Policy matters, too. Earlier this year,state lawmakers introduced abill to adopt the Uniform Partition of Heirs Property Act, acommonsense reform that has helped protect families in more
n Forpolicymakers: Revisit heirs’ propertyprotections andstrengthen disaster-recovery rules so families with gooddocumentation aren’t shut outof aid.
n Forthe private and philanthropic sectors: Keep expanding supportfor title-clearing clinics, estate-planningservicesand homeowner education,and coordinate efforts so families can move from intaketoarecorded actwithout gettinglost between agencies. Preparednessismore than stocking supplies andfortifyingroofs.
It’smakingsurethe paper backbone ofahome —clear, legal ownership —can withstand whatever comes next. If we tackle heirs’ property together,the next generation will inherit not just thespirit of this city,but thehouses and stability their families worked so hard to build.
Alison Jorajuria is a managing director at JPMorganChaseand is the regional executive forall Chase branches in thestate
$600 million. That’sthe price tag on Gov.Jeff Landry’smassive taxpayer-funded incentive package to luremultinational corporations to our state. While details areunclear,and we thepeople were not treated to public disclosureofthe spending, this eyewatering giveaway is reported to be one of the largest publicly funded enticements for a single project in our state’shistory.This despitethe fact that Hyundai Steel —one of the intended corporatebeneficiaries —reported nearly $86 billion in profits lastyear.Hardly the sort of shop that needs an influx of cash from the taxpayers of America’spoorest state.
As usual, Landrytrotted out the same old rationale to justify sending taxpayers’ money to giant corporations: Abig government giveaway would “create jobs.” Since announcing the project from the WhiteHouse in March of this year, he has been all over our state touting it,asifluring mega-polluters to Louisiana was anew idea with economic promise.
Recently, thewhole world learned thetruth
An Immigration and Customs Enforcement raidinEllabell, Georgia, where Hyundai has been building an electric vehicle plant,resulted in the arrest of 475 people. More than 300 were SouthKorean nationals who had been brought in by thecompany So much for “job creation” for our communities. Louisiana is abouttosee history repeat itself. Only this time, we don’tneed to look back any further than when theraid happened. Hyundaihas alreadyshown us howitoperates in Georgia, and there is no indication that things will be any different hereinLouisiana. Landry wants to give hundreds of millions of dollarstoacompany that promises jobsitmay not deliver
Let’sbeclear.Despite the news about Hyundai’shiring of itsown people, our governor is still ready to rollout thered carpet. He has not uttered aword since theraid revealed the truth about employment at Hyundai. Louisiana cannot
afford anothercompanythatsells us adream of prosperity while leaving us with pollution and broken promises. In Georgia, construction of the plant was not even complete and already the company wasbringing in labor from overseas. We canexpect the same in Ascension Parish. We hear the same story every time acorporationwants to build hereinLouisiana, whetherit’sa plastics plant, apipeline or an ammonia facility.The only things discussed are the so-called benefits, while the costs —more wasted tax dollars, more pollution, more sickness— are never mentioned. Just think of allthe ways our taxpayer funds could be reinvested hereathome, creating jobs and raising thequality of life forall Louisiana residents.
Ourstate ranks 46th in opportunity, 48th in infrastructure and 50th in economicsoverall, according to U.S.Newsand World report. With $600 million in investment, we could build the infrastructure andprovide the influx of working capital that entrepreneurs need to makeithere in Louisiana andcreate jobs allalong the way From education andthe arts to professional services, health care and more, there are so many services Louisiana residents need.
Each presents an opportunity for growth.
If we want thatfuture,wehave to make it. We must stand up and payattentionright now. We cannotlet the news releases, ribboncuttings andpositive coverage fool us. We will always be promised new jobs andquickreturns on investment when ourhard-earned money is sent to anothercorporate interest, but we can’t let that distract us fromthe reality thatour money will be sunk into someone else’s project.They’ll keep the profits. We’ll be left with the mess. So whatcan we do? Thatpart is simple.Wecan callonLandry to endthis wasteful spending today He needstohear from every Louisiana taxpayer at his Baton Rouge mansion.
Our message is simple common sense:Ifyou have $600 million to spend on economicdevelopment, spend it on the Louisiana businessesthatcommittostaying in ourstate andcreating real jobs for Louisiana residents.
We’re notasking for much. Governor, areyou listening?
AshleyGaignardisanAscension Parish resident and founder of the communityorganizationRural Roots
STAFFFILE PHOTOByJAVIER GALLEGOS
Representatives fromHyundai Steel Louisiana receive around of applause from the audienceafter being recognized by Gov. Jeff Landry during the DonaldsonvilleChamber of Commerce meeting at the Lemann Center on Aug. 20.
ISSUE OF THE WEEK CONFLICT IN CHICAGO
President DonaldTrump has ramped up thepressureonmajor citiesasheseeks to carryout his policy of mass deportation. One of the latest flashpointsisChicago, where the administration is deploying National Guard troops to protect federalbuildings and personnel involved in immigration enforcement. In Chicago, protests have flared up in recent weeks, butIllinois Gov. JB Pritzker and ChicagoMayor BrandonJohnson, both Democrats, called thetroops unnecessaryand saythat Trump’sactions amount to an authoritarian takeover. Both sides are betting thattheyhavepublic support.Andthat could ultimately determinewhether Chicago’s strategytooppose Trump’stactics work. Hereare twoperspectives
‘ICE-freezones’and other obstructioninChicago
One of the main themes of thesecond Trump administration has been theexplosive collision between the president’s determination to enforcefederal immigration law and many Democratic leaders’ determination not to enforce federalimmigration law Conflicts have arisen across the country,ranging from peacefulprotests to violent protests to obstruction of immigration authorities’ work to attempted murder of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. The latest big fightisin Illinois, where the Democratic governor,who wants to be president, is fighting with PresidentDonald Trump, and the Democratic mayor of Chicago hasannounced anew tactic to nullify federallaw Chicago is already asanctuary city, meaning that it prohibits,orseverely limits, its law enforcement officers fromcooperating with federal law enforcement. It goes as far towarddefyingfederal lawas is possible. Now,Mayor Brandon Johnson has issued an executive order declaring Chicago an “ICE-free zone.”
less they are required to do so by acourt or federal law.”
Themessage is clear: If you are in the United States illegally,you will be safe in Chicago.
Tackling thewar against immigrationenforcement
DonaldTrump wanted an excuse to send National Guard troops to Chicago, andnow he’s gotit.
tions and businesses to do the same.
Mayor Johnson is, of course, standing arm-in-armwith Illinois Gov.JBPritzker another Democrat. Pritzker,alikely 2028 Democratic presidential candidate, is suing Trumpinafight over thedeployment of National Guard troops to enforce federal immigration law in Illinois, even as Johnson seeks to place obstacles in the way of such enforcement.
Byron York
“Today we are signing an executive orderaimed at reining in this out-of-control administration,”Johnsonannounced Monday.“Theorder establishes ICE-free zones.That means that cityproperty and unwilling private businesses will no longer serveasstaging grounds for [immigration] raids.” Johnson said he acted after reports that federal agents used ChicagoPublic Schools parkinglots,aswell as another city-owned parking lot,as“staging sites for federal immigration enforcementoperations.” This, Johnson said, violates “Chicago’s Welcoming City Ordinance.”
TheWelcoming Citylaw,passed in 2021, does three things,inthe words of an explainerposted by alocal officialactive in such matters,40thWard Alderman Andre Vasquez: “1) It prohibitsany city employee from asking aboutorassisting in the investigation of the immigration status of anyone, unless ordered to do sobythe court or federal law.2)Itpreventscity services from being denied to anyoneon thebasis of their immigration status. 3) It prohibits the Chicago Police Department from participating in or cooperatingwith federal civil immigration enforcement, un-
Onestriking element of this, especially for apolitician like Pritzkerwith national ambitions, is thata majority of Americanssupport deporting peoplewho are in the United States illegally,whether or not they have committed crimes beyond their obvious immigration violations. Anew Harvard CAPS-Harris poll, conducted by former Clinton pollster Mark Penn, asked two questions on the subject. The first was, “Doyou support or oppose deporting immigrants who are here illegally and have committed crimes?” The second was, “Do you support or oppose deportingall immigrants who are here illegally?”
Theresults were dramatic. Seventyeight percent of those surveyed supported deporting immigrants who are here illegally and have committed crimes —87% of Republicans, 77% of independents, and 69% of Democrats. Those are strong majorities. Then 56% supported deporting all immigrants who are here illegally —76% of Republicans, 54% of independents, and 36% of Democrats.
Andthisisnot afringe issue. When the Harvard CAPS-Harris poll asked what are the most important issues facing thecountry today,the top two, high prices and jobs, were economic, the third most important issue was healthcare, and the fourthmost important issue was immigration.
It’snot clear how this will ultimately be resolved. Democrats hope they can slow Trumpdown by stoking opposition to the processofenforcement. Butthe fact is, when he enforces federal immigration law,President Trumpisdoing what most Americanswant.
ByronYork is on X, @Bryon York
The Windy City in recent days has done its best imitation of Los Angeles, where resistance to ICE operations created thejustification for aGuard deploymentacouple of months ago. Illinois Gov.JBPritzker and ChicagoMayor Brandon Johnson hate the notion of theNational Guard in the streets of the city, but have failedtorally Chicago residents to do the one thing necessary to avoid the deployment —let federal officers do their job.
The word should have gone out long ago: Don’t riot outside ICE facilities. Don’tram cars into ICE vehicles. Don’t keep ICEofficers from making arrests. Don’t followICE vehicles in an attempttodisrupt operations. Don’tact as though the gestapo has descended on your city andcivil disobedience, or violence, is the only answer
Noneofthis should be abig ask. Instead, Pritzker andJohnson consider ICEoperations inherently out of bounds andhaveplayedinto the belief that something terrible is being done to Chicago. According to Johnson, “The president of theUnitedStates has declared war on thepeople of Chicago,” as if detaining people whohavenoright to live or work here is ahostile act against U.S. citizens.
Pritzker says that ICE needs “to get outofChicago.”
The resistance to ICE shows that we have created enclaves that, as far as their political leaders and asignificant elementofthe population is concerned, are supposed to be no-go zones for federal immigration enforcement. What should have been the exception —the defianceoffederal immigration law is nowconsidered the norm such that anydisturbanceofitisintolerable.
It’sbad enough that Chicago is a sanctuary jurisdiction, but Brandon Johnson just signed an executive order designating partsofthe city “ICE free zones.” The order purports to put city-owned property off limits foruse by ICE, and encourages local organiza-
Unless Johnson has found away to suspend the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution by mayoral fiat, this won’t stand. Under the Supremacy Clause, federal law takes priority over conflicting state and local laws, and state and local property aren’texempted. Otherwise, Gov.Orval Faubus could have deemed Arkansas state property off limits to federal officials and troops when he fought to stop the integration of public school by the feds in the 1950s. Johnsonsays“the right wing in this country wants arematch of the civil war.”Heapparently doesn’trealize that if we are in the run-up to anothercivil war,he’sinthe role of Jefferson Davis as an opponent of federal authority Now,there’snodoubt that Trump was hoping that ICE operations would engender resistance, but once the resistance has happened, he’sonsolid legal ground turning to the Guard. The president has what a1971 Office of Legal Counsel memo called the “inherent authority to use troops for the protection of federal property and federal functions,” and 10 U.S.C. 12406 provides for the mobilization of the Guard when the president can’tenforce the law with regular federal forces. While Trump loves the idea of troops in camouflage patrolling our big cities and Blue governors and mayors hate it, the role of the Guard is limited to protecting federal assets. The troops won’t, in and of themselves, move the needle on immigration enforcement or crime. In abetter world, there’d be broad agreement that federal immigration laws must be enforced, and cities with major crimeproblems would affirmatively seek federal assistance —offered, in turn, in acooperative spirit by the feds —totake on gangs and get illegal guns off the streets. This is not the world we live in. The legitimacy of federal immigration enforcement is under attack, and the federal government is acting to vindicate it.
Rich Lowry is on X, @RichLowry
Rich Lowry
ASSOCIATEDPRESS PHOTOByASHLEE REZIN
Pedestrians chant,‘ICE, Go home!’ as federal immigration agents walk in the River North neighborhood on Sept. 28 in Chicago.
Green pleased with Pelicans’ trip to Australia
connection
BY ROD WALKER Staff writer
The New Orleans Pelicans, fresh off their week-long stay in Australia, are still readjusting to the time difference.
Rookie guard Jeremiah Fears has been waking up at 4 in the morning and staring at the ceiling.
Zion Williamson, meanwhile, wakes up around 2 or 3 a.m. before falling back asleep three hours later
But the sleepless nights now are well worth it for what the team got out of getting to build chemistry almost 9,000 miles away in Melbourne, Australia.
The Pelicans held practice Thursday for the first time since their return late Monday night. “It was really good bonding time for our
whole group,” said Pelicans’ coach Willie Green. “I learned that they are all competitors in a basketball sense. They step on the floor and they want to compete. They play hard and they play for each other Off the floor, I saw some connectivity with our group growing together.”
The Pelicans went 2-0 in their exhibition games overseas, beating Melbourne United and then South East Melbourne Phoenix. Both opponents compete in the National Basketball League, Australia’s professional league. The Pelicans were the first NBA team to ever play in Australia.
The Pelicans got a chance to see koala
PATRIOTS AT SAINTS • NOON
TRIAL & ERROR
A look at how Saints coach Moore’s offense evolved in five games
BY LUKE JOHNSON Staff writer
Consider not only what happened in the second quarter last week when New Orleans Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler hit Rashid Shaheed for an 87-yard touchdown, but what happened before to set it up.
Backed up on their own 13-yard line on the first play of the drive, the Saints came out in 13 personnel — one running back, three tight ends and one wide receiver It’s a look the Saints did not use much early in the season, but had been leaning into more in recent weeks — especially in Week 4 against Buffalo, when they had two or three tight ends on the field at a season-high rate. Against Buffalo, the Saints ran the ball out of heavy personnel 12 times, ripping off several big chunks of yardage in the process. The Giants surely knew this and
BY KEVIN FOOTE Staff writer
UL senior wide receiver Dale Martin was happy after the Cajuns’ come-frombehind 54-51 double-overtime victory over Marshall on Sept. 27. But mostly, he was just tired and ready to take a nap.
“I was really happy, but it might not have looked like it, because I was tired,” Martin laughed “There were a lot of emotions, but I was more tired than anything. I was kind of exhausted from just playing hard and going 100% on everything I did. Much like Dalen Cambre in recent seasons, the reason why Martin doesn’t play more wide receiver is that he’s valuable on special teams. But with UL’s two leading receivers out
prepared for it. And that is when the Saints pulled the carpet out from under New York.
Rattler sold the play-action fake and sucked the defense in New Orleans only sent two players out on receiving routes, devoting as much as they could to protect Rattler and give him time With a clean pocket and the right defensive look, the young quarterback launched a perfect pass downfield for the Saints’ only offensive touchdown of the game.
It was just one play, but it illustrated something about head coach and offensive play-caller Kellen Moore, who in the course of five weeks has tweaked and tinkered with his offense and evolved it into something different than the one that took the field in the season opener against the Arizona Cardinals.
for the Marshall game, Martin started at wide receiver and all four special teams units. He literally ran over 1,000 yards in the game.
“Guys like that are what this thing is built on,” UL coach Michael Desormeaux said of Martin. “You talk about culture, and you talk about team and it still matters. When you have people like him, it’s a testament to that.”
During the week in practice, Martin was asked to fill in at the ‘X’ receiver spot to give teammates some rest during drills. The problem is, he did so well in relief
bears and kangaroos, but the main purpose of the trip was basketball. This was an opportunity for the team to get better Green likes what he saw “We had some guys who had some really good performances,” Green said. “Saddiq (Bey) was really good I thought Zion set the tone with his energy on both ends of the floor Defensively, collectively as a group, we were active in getting steals, deflections, blocking shots, and
BY REED DARCEY Staff writer
LSU devoted a large chunk of practice time for its pivotal matchup with South Carolina to something it didn’t do well enough last season: defending mobile quarterbacks.
The South Carolina Gamecocks can test the No. 11 Tigers (4-1) in ways that few other SEC teams can In the teams’ last meeting in 2024, quarterback LaNorris Sellers rushed for over 100 yards but missed the second half of the game with an injury. A different string of events could’ve led to a different outcome.
“We gave up explosive plays to them last year,” coach Brian Kelly said, “so we have to eliminate those.” Last season, LSU’s defense improved under first-year coordinator Blake Baker But it still surrendered more yards and points than all the top units in the SEC. It didn’t force enough turnovers. It gave up too many explosive plays. And, perhaps most glaringly, it struggled to corral quarterbacks who could run. Four SEC signal-callers picked up at least 50 yards on the ground against the Tigers in 2024. Three of those quarterbacks rushed for at least 75 yards, and two ran for over 100.
The problem defined two of LSU’s four losses.
Marcel Reed turned nine carries into 66 yards and three touchdowns in Texas A&M’s Oct. 26, 2024, win over the Tigers. Then, two weeks later, Jalen Milroe led his Alabama offense into Tiger Stadium and ran for 190 yards and four touchdowns, giving LSU the blowout loss that officially ended its hopes of sneaking into the College Football Playoff. In 2024, LSU and Mississippi State were the only two SEC teams to allow multiple runs of at least 70 yards. The Tigers gave up two — both to quarterbacks. Milroe broke off a 72-yard scoring run, and Sellers ran free for a 75-yard touchdown
AP PHOTO By SCOTT KINSER
South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers runs away from the Kentucky defense during the first half of their game on Sept. 27 in Columbia, S.C. Sellers rushed 14 times for 98 yards against the Wildcats.
STAFF PHOTO By DAVID GRUNFELD
Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler scrambles against the New york Giants during the first half of their game Sunday at the Caesars Superdome.
WR brightens up LCA
Senior two-way player making a difference on and off the field
BY ERIC NARCISSE Staff writer
Live, love and laugh.
That’s the mantra Lafayette Christian’s Draylon August adheres to, choosing to emphasize gratitude opposed to the trials and tribulations of life.
In his presence, no energy vampires are allowed.
“I don’t like bad energy,” said August, a wide receiver/defensive back. “I also don’t like seeing people sad and depressed all day So I do whatever I have to do to brighten up people’s day.”
Whether it’s telling jokes or pranking someone, August finds ways to serve as an uplifting voice.
“Off the field, I’m goofy,” August said. “I joke around a lot. I like to have fun. I’ll do whatever I need to do to make people laugh.”
August’s ability to alter the moods in a positive way is among the things the coaching staff loves about him.
“Man, he’s a funny kid,” said
BY ERIC NARCISSE Staff writer
St. Thomas More has been doing a lot of good things on defense.
That success starts up front.
Led by seniors Connor McAtee and Cayden Dartez, the Cougars’ front has been difference-makers.
“Our whole defensive line has had one heck of a season,” offensive coordinator Shane Savoie said. Dartez is a three-year starter and McAtee is a two-year starter who played a lot as a sophomore.
“These young men have been playing together for a while and every week they’ve been challenged,” defensive line coach Corey Arceneaux said. “There have been many weeks where we have been outsized, but they play with a lot of effort and technique. They play hard whistle to whistle and that has helped carry our defense.”
The defensive line has also enjoyed big contributions from Austin Pellerin Hayden Hemard and Luke Bacon.
Beau Chene (1-4) at Livonia (2-3)
at Gueydan (0-5)
Breaux Bridge (1-4) at Cecilia (1-4)
Natchitoches-Central (2-3) at Opelousas
(0-4) Pine Prairie (0-5) at Church Point (4-1) Iota (1-4) at Crowley (1-4)
Northwest (1-4) at Ville Platte (2-3)
Mamou (3-2) at Abbeville (1-4)
Eunice (2-3) at DeRidder (2-3)
DeQuincy (2-3) at Erath (5-0) Patterson (0-5) at Kaplan (3-2)
Franklin (2-2) at Catholic-NI (4-1)
Delcambre (4-1) at Loreauville (2-3)
Catholic-PC (4-1) at North Central (4-1)
St. Edmund (4-1) at Berchmans (1-4)
Highland (0-5) at Vermilion Catholic (1-4)
Westminster-Lafayette (3-2) at Vinton (3-2)
coach Matt Standiford, whose Knights will host Lafayette Renaissance at 7 p.m. Friday “He is one of the funniest kids that we have on campus. Off the field, he is always having a good time. He definitely enjoys his life. There’s no doubt about that.”
But when it’s time for football practice or game day August flips a switch.
“When Draylon steps across those white lines, it’s all business,” Standiford said.
“I can joke, laugh and clown around, but once the game comes around, I’m ready,” August said.
“It’s straight action.”
Spending much of his high school career waiting for an opportunity to make an impact for the Knights, August enjoyed a breakout game in LCA’s 55-48 victory over Central of Baton Rouge last week.
“I feel like I did pretty well,” he said. “I’ve been working on defense for about the past four weeks. I was shocked by having my first breakout game, but (the performance) is what I expect that from myself. I feel that if I touch it, then I should catch it.”
Playing both ways, August had five tackles and two interceptions, while also hauling a 21-yard touchdown pass.
“One of the things that Draylon has is his mental toughness,” Standiford said. “He’s not one of those receivers that’s a diva that wants the ball 25 times a game like you see in the NFL and things like
that. He just wants to win, and he wants to do whatever it takes for the team to be successful.”
The performance of the 6-foot2, 170-pound senior hasn’t been a surprise to the coaching staff.
“Draylon really came on strong toward the end of last year,” Standiford said. “He did a lot of really good things for us. He had a great offseason and summer leading up to this year He’s exceeded our expectations.”
August credits his parents — most notably his mother Vanity Ledet, a former star basketball player at Acadiana — for his competitive nature.
“I definitely got my competitive nature from my mom,” August said. “She was a baller.”
Although he is still flying under the radar as a college prospect, Standiford said August is a diamond in the rough.
“We think he has a shot to realistically play Division I football,” Standiford said. “It might end up being on the defensive side, but we think he can. He has some natural skill at that position I think he is one of the most under-recruited kids in our area and somebody is definitely going to get a steal come signing day.”
Dodgers reliever Scott removed from NLDS roster
LOS ANGELES Reliever Tanner Scott has been removed from the Los Angeles Dodgers’ roster for the remainder of the NL Division Series after undergoing a surgical procedure.
Scott was replaced by fellow lefthanded reliever Justin Wrobleski, who went 5-5 with a 4.32 ERA in 22 regular-season relief appearances and two starts. Scott has not pitched in the playoffs and would be ineligible for the NL Championship Series if the Dodgers advance, but could be restored for the World Series.
The team said before Game 4 on Thursday that Scott underwent surgical removal of an abscess from an infection on his lower body the previous night.
Spoelstra top pick to coach U.S. men’s Olympic team
Erik Spoelstra of the Miami Heat has emerged as the choice to become the next coach of the U.S. men’s basketball team for the 2027 World Cup in Qatar and 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, two people with knowledge of the situation said Thursday Spoelstra and USA Basketball have yet to finalize an agreement, said the people who spoke on condition of anonymity Such moves typically follow USA Basketball board of director meetings, and one of those is set for later this month. Spoelstra would be replacing Steve Kerr, who coached the Americans in the last Olympic cycle and led the team to a gold medal at the Paris Games. The U.S. men have won the last five Olympic gold medals, and Spoelstra was on the staff that won in Paris.
Sabalenka rallies to keep Wuhan win streak alive WUHAN, China — U.S. Open champion Aryna Sabalenka’s winning streak at the Wuhan Open rolled on to 19 matches when she beat Liudmila Samsonova 6-3, 6-2 Thursday to advance to the quarterfinals of the WTA 1000-level tournament. Top-ranked Sabalenka’s streak includes winning titles at Wuhan in 2018, ‘19 and ’24. No. 2-ranked Iga Swiatek also advanced, winning 7-6 (2), 6-4 against Belinda Bencic, the former Olympic champion.
In the late match, No. 3 Coco Gauff eased past Zhang Shuai 6-3, 6-2. Sabalenka will next play eighthseeded Elena Rybakina. Swiatek’s quarterfinal opponent is Jasmine Paolini Gauff next plays Laura Siegemund.
“They are students of the game,” Arceneaux said. “They watch a lot of film and they understand the scheme. They make plays and they’ve been together for four years and that makes a
big difference.” Considering the inexperience at linebacker, Savoie said it was vital to have the defensive line step up. Savoie isn’t surprised by the Cougars’ performance.
“It is always hard for us to say coming in if those units are going to be a strength,” Savoie said, “but we had an idea that the defensive line would be one of our better units. But they have been even better than we expected.”
The Cougars will look to turn in another stout defensive performance when they host Northside at 7 p.m. Friday in a District 4-4A game.
Vikings coach Jacarde Carter said he’s been impressed by what he’s seen on film of the STM defensive line and the defense as a whole.
“They are very good up front,” said Carter, whose Vikings are 4-1 and 2-0 in district. “They are relentless in their pursuit to the football. (Their defensive line) is fundamentally sound and scrappy.”
Savoie said that is a credit to Arceneaux and fellow defensive line coach Ray Martin.
“That position group is coached very well,” Savoie said. “Corey and Ray have done a tremendous job of teaching technique at the position.”
Fan suing Lakers star James for ‘fraud, deception’ LOS ANGELES A fan who spent hundreds of dollars on tickets to what he thought would be one of LeBron James’ final NBA games is looking to recoup the money in small claims court after it turned out “The Second Decision” teased by the Lakers superstar had nothing to do with his retirement. Andrew Garcia filed a claim Tuesday in Los Angeles County Superior Court that states that James owes him $865.66 because of “fraud, deception, misrepresentation, and any and all basis of legal recovery.” Garcia told The Los Angeles Times that he spent that amount for two tickets to the Lakers’ game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on March 31, 2026, thinking it would be the 40-year-old icon’s final game against the team that drafted him in 2003.
Reese first athlete to walk runway in VS fashion show NEWYORK Angel Reese is getting a pair of wings. The Chicago Sky star announced on Instagram that she will be walking in the upcoming Victoria’s Secret fashion show on Oct. 15. It will be the first time a professional athlete will walk the runway in the show
“Stepping into a dream: From Angel to a Victoria Secret ANGEL,” the 23-year-old Reese posted on Instagram.
The retailer posted a video on Instagram of the announcement showing the WNBA player in a pink robe, black lingerie and white feather wings.
“Angel Reese, welcome to the runway The first professional athlete angel…major is an understatement,” the post reads.
PHOTO By ROBIN MAy
Lafayette Christian’s Draylon August evades a tackle against Lafayette Renaissance on Sept. 12 at Carencro
PHOTO By BRAD KEMP
that he earned his first career start at receiver.
“He just kept making plays,” UL offensive coordinator Tim Leger said. “In the staff meeting, I said, ‘Coach, I’m not sure we shouldn’t start the guy He had the best week of practice.’
And coach (Desormeaux) said, ‘I’m glad you said it because I was going to tell you to do it.’
Not only did Martin start, but he caught the 24-yard touchdown that forced overtime with 16 seconds left in regulation
“I knew it was man, because the guy who was playing me pressed,” Martin said. “As soon as he motioned in, my guy got off of me and I knew I was first in the read.”
Different mindset
Once the Cajuns fell behind 34-17 midway through the third quarter against Marshall, and Lunch Winfield got his chance at quarterback, everything seemed to change for the Ragin’ Cajuns.
“I told our guys we had not at any point in the season except the other night in the second half, absolutely just laid it on the line,” Leger said. There wasn’t any more time to be nervous or fear of failure. It was give it everything you’ve got or live with the reality of being 1-4, 0-1
“It was like a moment of freedom of just like, ‘Hey, regardless of what happens, let’s play one play at a time as hard as we can. There just became a point where they pulled really hard for each other. They played really hard individually with no like, no thought of, ‘Well, I might get the ball.’ Nothing mattered but like doing their job at a really high level.”
The result was quite possibly the greatest comeback win in school history
“It was just absolute crash and
burning,” Leger added “I’m going to lay it on the line and whatever the hell happens just happens there’s freedom in that, man.”
Desormeaux gave the coaching staff the Sunday after the game off, but Leger went to the office to watch the game’s film and relive the experience.
“You could just feel it coming through the tape — just the guys trying really hard for their teammates,” Leger said. “It was really fun. It was one of the most enjoyable nights I’ve ever had on a football field, to be honest with you.”
Now comes the challenge of keeping that win streak alive against James Madison at 11 a.m. Saturday in Harrisonburg, Virginia.
Now what for Jacob?
Understandably so, much of the talk since UL’s double overtime win over Marshall has centered around quarterback Lunch Winfield’s memorable relief effort.
But also playing a huge role in the win was redshirt sophomore safety Collin Jacob, who delivered a team-high 14 tackles and half a sack off the bench.
“Yes, it’s a little different,” Jacob said of practice since his big game. “I’m getting a little bit more reps than I did before, rotating with the ones I’m capable of working with the ones, twos, threes all groups on a football field. My practice has been smooth.”
After watching the game’s film, however, there’s no doubt UL’s defense has plenty of improving to do moving forward.
“As a defense, we just need to lock in mentally ” Jacob said.
“We just need to look at something within ourselves — coming together as close as we can, because we’re going to need that for this game.
“We’re going to have to communicate pre-snap, during the play, after the play and just talking amongst ourselves.”
Email Kevin Foote at kfoote@theadvocate.com.
PELICANS
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being connected on the floor offensively, sharing the basketball, playing fast.” Jose Alvarado and Herb Jones who both dealt with injuries in Australia, went through a full practice on Thursday
“That was encouraging,” Green said. “We’ll see how they respond after practice.” While the Pelicans enjoyed the two victories, they were just as satisfied with how the fans there treated them.
“It was love,” Williamson said. “It’s always a privilege to see how far the game of basketball can take you. The Pels’ fan base out there was huge. It was love. I can’t say it surprised me. I didn’t know what to expect. An NBA team is down there, people are going to throw on NBA jerseys. But these people were Pels’ fans
LSU
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before he exited last year’s matchup with an injury late in the first half.
“You got to keep (Sellers) in the pocket,” Kelly said.
“Some of that is schematic. Some of that’s tackling. That’s where he’s deadly, so it’s a similar theme, though, if you look at the quarterbacks that we’re facing, a lot of that is gonna be carried over from week to week.” That’s something that LSU’s been
ESA off to strong start thanks to team chemistry
BY MIKE COPPAGE Contributing writer
Sara Robichaux is having as much fun as ever in her sixth season as Episcopal School of Acadiana volleyball coach.
Robichaux attributes that to an unusually strong camaraderie among the team and coaching staff, which is something that seems to come up when top volleyball teams are asked about their success.
“I’ve been telling the girls they have been one of my favorites to coach, especially here at ESA,” Robichaux said before Wednesday’s 25-11, 25-15, 25-9 home win against St Martinville.
“Their personalities are so fun. They thrive in the gym. There is no drama, no questions. They follow the game plan. They trust me and my assistants, and they trust each other.”
TheFalconsgraduatedonlyonesenior from last year’s team that lost to juggernaut Country Day in the Division V quarterfinals as a No. 9 seed.
“I definitely feel closer with my team than ever before,” said junior Avery Monica, an outside hitter and returning All-Metro selection who is nearing 1,000 career kills. “This is the strongest bond I’ve ever had with a team. No one is doing it for themselves. They’re doing it for each other.”
ESA (12-6), which is No. 4 in the power ratings, brought back another All-Metro selection in junior libero Scarlet Girouard, who served the final nine points of the first set
“Scarlet puts a lot of pressure on people when she’s behind the service line,” Robichaux said. “She’s exactly who you want serving in that rotation You can tell Avery and Scarlet get everybody on board. Their leadership is paramount.”
The Falcons have only two seniors in defensive specialist Camille Loughlin and middle blocker Kelsey Broussard. Camille Herrington moved from the middle to the right side where her “production has been fun to watch,” said Robichaux, who added Broussard has been putting balls away in key moments.
“We’re coming off a really good weekend at the Covenant Christian tournament,” Robichaux said. “We went 4-1 and had some really good wins. We want to keep that momentum going. We’ve been really good with serve and serve-receive, which has been our bread and butter.”
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“Their personalities are so fun. They thrive in the gym There is no drama, no questions. They follow the game plan. They trust me and my assistants, and they trust each other.”
SARA ROBICHAUX, Episcopal School of Acadiana volleyball coach
The only new starter is setter Kellen Giglio, who has been “running the offense exactly like we want,” said Robichaux. Outside hitter Lauren Conroy is described as “insanely fast.”
“Everyone trusts each other,” Robichaux said. “No one is trying to do too much or too little. They come in and work as hard as they can every day That’s all I can ask.”
Girouard served three aces in the final stretch of first-set points. St. Martinville (10-13, No. 14 in
is no stranger to calling plays at the NFL level. But part of it, too, is developing a better feel for his personnel and their strengths and weaknesses.
Division III) took a 3-0 lead in the second set on two aces from Ariyelle George, but the Falcons scored eight of the next 10 points. Girouard added another ace in the set and served ESA to five straight winning points and a 9-3 lead in the third set.
“Scarlet has been passing extremely well and doing a really good job serving,” Robichaux said. “She and Avery are both captains. Not only do they make a huge impact on the court, they also make a huge impact off the court by keeping everybody focused and morale right.”
Monica leads the team in kills and hitting percentage, often delivering a blistering shot after a Giglio assist.
“Avery is the engine that makes us go,” Robichaux said. “She is a key component in every facet of our system. She comes through with whatever we need.”
Email Kevin Foote at kfoote@theadvocate.com.
all the way, through and through.”
Now the Pelicans get to return to their fans back home. The Pelicans host their “Back to Basketball” event Friday at 6 p.m. The open practice at the Smoothie King Center is free to the public and will give fans a chance to see this year’s team.
“It’s going to be great,” Fears said. “Showing everybody what we’re capable of. Going out there competing. Roughing each other up a little bit, but at the same time continuing to keep learning and executing our sets and continuing to build our chemistry.”
The Pelicans wrap up their preseason schedule next week. They will play the Houston Rockets Tuesday in Birmingham, Alabama. Then they conclude the preseason Thursday at the Orlando Magic.
“Collectively as a unit, the camaraderie is there,” Williamson said. “The chemistry is there. I look forward to how the season is going to go.”
trying to figure out how to do for a year Baker said in August that his unit was implementing some schematic changes that could help the Tigers better contain mobile quarterbacks. There are ways, he said then, to give his defenders more tools to succeed against those kinds of offenses LSU, according to Kelly, also has “better players” on that side of the ball. Per Pro Football Focus, no Tiger has stopped more run plays this season (13) than Harold Perkins, the star linebacker who missed the last eight games of last year with a torn ACL. LSU’s next two leading
In Week 1, the Saints operated almost exclusively out of the shotgun formation, running 89.9% of their offensive plays out of that look. Though they skewed heavily toward the passing offense against Arizona, throwing the ball a season-high 47 times, the Saints only called three play-action passes — two of which were RPOs and not true play action.
By the next week, against the San Francisco 49ers, New Orleans had a nearly 50-50 pass-run split something they’ve kept up every week since with the exception of a blowout loss to Seattle The Saints’ rate of plays in the shotgun formation has steadily fallen as their usage of heavy offensive formations has increased. Moore has consistently worked more play-action into his play calls, something he pointed out as a failure from his own Week 1 effort.
“This is a new team, so we’ve been just playing around with different things, seeing what works and what doesn’t,” running back Kendre Miller said.
The Saints’ offense has evolved over the first five weeks of the season. Part of this is trial and error on the part of Moore, who
run tacklers are transfers — edge rusher Jack Pyburn (10) and safety AJ Haulcy (9). Statistically the Tigers have one of the nation’s 15 best rushing defenses. But they’ve also faced only two true mobile quarterbacks so far LSU held Clemson’s Cade Klubnik to just 25 rushing yards in Week 1, then let Ole Miss’ Trinidad Chambliss pick up a more respectable 71 yards in Week 5 — on 14 carries. Sellers will test LSU the same way “When you’re playing great quarterbacks,” LSU transfer
Tight end Jack Stoll witnessed Moore’s ability to shift his offense to his players’ strong suits last season when he was with the Philadelphia Eagles Moore had a perhaps undeserved reputation as a pass-happy play-caller, but when he got to Philadelphia, he saw what he had in Saquon Barkley and a mauling offensive line and he adjusted.
The Eagles had one of the NFL’s better collections of high-end receiving talent, but they won a Super Bowl on the strength of their run game.
“Kellen always does a good job of matching his personnel,” Stoll said. “That’s what I’ve seen throughout my time with him; he does a good job of knowing what he has and he rolls with what he’s got.”
As this season has progressed, Moore has again shifted the offensive focus toward the ground game. In the last two weeks, the Saints have run the ball on 52.3 and 48.4 % of their offensive plays, producing two of their better offensive performances in the process. He incorporated more zone running schemes, more motion and heavier personnel.
edge rusher Jimari Butler said, “they kind of know how to manipulate your rushes. We got to stay disciplined as a group.”
Like LSU, South Carolina has struggled to sustain drives this season. It ranks 14th among SEC teams in passing offense, 16th in rushing offense and 12th in thirddown offense. Only two league quarterbacks have been sacked more times than Sellers, who has already finished with negative rushing yards twice once in the Gamecocks’ loss to Vanderbilt and again in their loss to Missouri. Sellers left the game against the
“(I’m) getting a better feel for guys and how we can best utilize them,” Moore said. “Every game plan is going to be a little bit different. I feel like guys are starting to find some continuity, some flow, some rhythm.”
New Orleans certainly is not a finished product. Through five weeks, the Saints rank 26th in Expected Points Added per play and 18th in offensive success rate Its offense ranks 27th in scoring (18.4 points per game) and 24th in total offense (307.4 yards per game). Even though the Saints won their first game of the year last week, they did so by scoring just one offensive touchdown.
But the offense will continue to evolve as the season progresses, with Moore seeking key areas to improve. For instance, their offensive statistics would be better if the Saints could solve their issues in the red zone, where they rank 29th in touchdown percentage (41.2 %).
Figuring out that problem is next up on the coach’s checklist.
“I’ve got to do a better job,” Moore said. “We’ve got the guys, they’re doing a good job I’ve got to find a way to get us in more sequential flow there and put ourselves in positive situations.”
Email Luke Johnson at ljohnson@theadvocate.com.
Commodores with a concussion. But now he’s healthy, and he rushed 14 times for 98 yards the last time South Carolina took the field, when it beat Kentucky 35-13 on Sept. 27.
“He’s a quarterback with great talent,” Kelly said. “He makes plays outside the pocket down the field. We’ve got to avoid the big chunk plays that are not scripted, so he’s a major focus of what we’re doing this week.”
Email Reed Darcey at reed. darcey@theadvocate.com. For more LSU sports updates, sign up for our newsletter at
STAFF FILE PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER
Pelicans forward Zion Williamson scores as Detroit Pistons center Isaiah Stewart plays defense during the second half of a game on March 17 at the Smoothie King Center
PHOTO By MIKE COPPAGE Episcopal School of Acadiana volleyball coach Sara Robichaux addresses her team during Wednesday’s sweep against St. Martinville.
ARITZY AFFAIR
The Louisiana Art& ScienceMuseum’s 40th annual gala,“Puttin’ on the Ritz, ACentennial Celebration,”from 7p.m. to 11 p.m. Fridaywilltakeattendees back in time to the Roaring Twenties when the trainstation housing themuseum wasbuilt. Food,dancing,auction and more. Tickets are $55.05 and up. bontempstix.com.
LIVING
Playing next
If youlikethese tracks from ‘The Life of aShowgirl,’ trythese Taylor Swiftsongs
BY MALIA MENDEZ Los Angeles Times (TNS)
For better or worse, The Life of aShowgirl,” Taylor Swift’s12th studio album, is unlike anything the megastar has done before. On the 12-track album, which dropped last week to mixed critical reception Swift is uncharacteristically risquéand, for possibly the first time, indulges her inner theater kid without reservation. In thatsense,muchofthe pop record is daringly new Still, on each track aresonic echoes from the 14-time Grammy winner’s decadesspanning discography—from the verve of “Reputation” to the romantic whimsy of “Lover.” Swifties are surely playing “The Life of aShowgirl” on repeat. But if that gets abit tiresomeafterthe 13th time, here is alistofSwiftsister songs to try instead, based on your favorite track from the new album (Some song pairings are based on sound, while others are based on shared themes.)
‘The Fate of Ophelia’
“Showgirl’s” opening track has asultry groove and low pulsethatcould easily be the soundtrack to aflirtynightcap or the series finale of adark comedy
Find the same alluring melody with an extra dash of spice in “I CanSee You,”avault track from 2023’s“Speak Now (Taylor’sVersion).” And for bonus points, head to the music video for adose of the Swift-signature theatricality dripping from “The Life of aShowgirl.”
‘Elizabeth Taylor’
This allusive trackboasts the album’smost sweeping chorus,anchored by Swift’s mesmeric alto and amasterfully orchestrated rhythm that uses moments of quiet to its advantage.
“Reputation’s” slow-burn hit “Don’tBlame Me” follows a similarplaybook, using akiller choral backing to achieve the same hymnal quality that complex vocal layering creates on “Elizabeth Taylor.” Plus, both songs share asecret weapon: Swift’sirresistible enunciation of theword “baby.”
‘Opalite’
An immediate inductee into Swift’s“Glitter GelPen” song Hall of Fame, “Opalite” is for dancing around your kitchen with aglass of orange wine in hand.
ä See PLAYING, page 6C
Former cafe owner Marian Pickettcan’t stop themusic.See whereshe is bringing
thesoundsnow
BYJOHNWIRT Contributingwriter
Twenty-three years after she closedM’s Fine andMellow Café, ahaven for jazz and folk music on downtown’sThird Street,Marian Pickettisback in the music business.
Happening on Thursday,Oct. 23, at the Mid City Ballroom, the Jeff Gardner Nola Nova 3isthe next offering in Pickett’snewly launchedMiss MPresents performing arts series.
Pickettpresidedover M’sFine and Mellow Caféfrom1993 to 2002. Arestaurant andbar,the business was most importantly amusic venue. Pickett even squeezed agrand piano into the small space, oneworthy of the world-class jazz pianists shepresented. M’smusic menu alsofeatured
Marian Pickett, former owner of M’s Café, shows a20-year-old M’sCafé T-shirtather home.
such singer-songwritersasthe late Spencer Bohrenfrom New Orleans,British singer-songwriter Martin Simpson and, several months before his song, “Lullaby,” hit theTop 10, Shawn Mullins. Pickett’sopen-mindedbook-
ing policy likewise gave astage to musicians at the beginning of their careers. Thenand now,they addressedher as “Miss M.”
“I chosethe name Miss MPresents because all the young people who played at my little cafe called me Miss M,” she said. “Tome, it’s aterm of endearmentand respect. It feels good to hear it, and it feels good to be apart of this new endeavor.”
Pioneering the listening room conceptinBaton Rouge, Pickett’s cafe preceded such later venues as Henry Turner Jr.’sListening Room,JohnBurns’ Dyson House and Chris Maxwell’sRed Dragon Listening Room.
“M’swas ahuge inspiration,” Maxwell said. “I would never have started theRed Dragon if shehadn’t closed in theaftermath of 9/11.”
ä See MISSM, page 6C
ListeningRoomFilmFestaskingfor
Staff report
The4th Annual Listening Room Film Festival is seekingentries forits December eventinBaton Rouge. This year’sdates are Dec. 5-7 and12-14. “TheListening Room Film Festival’sfocusisonmusic and entertainment drivenfeatures, documentaries, shorts and music videos, with an emphasison performers, music and filmmakers from the Southeast area, although otherfilm genres submit-
tedwill be considered,”anews release states. The filmswill be followed by question-and-answer sessions. Industry panels withprofessionals and executives are also apart of the presentations, along with musical performances.The festival, presented by Henry Turner Jr.’sListening Room Museum Foundation, will be bothphysical and virtual. Local, regional, national and international films will be considered and reviewed by aselection committee. Entriesmust have
beencompleted between January 2022 and September 2025 and be enteredbyOct.31. F eatures can be up to 90 minutes,shortsupto30minutesand music videos up to 15 minutes. Submissionscan be emailed to listeningroomfilmfestival@ gmail.com. For entry guidelines, tickets andmoreinformation,visit htjmuseum.orgorcall(225) 8029681. The venue is located at 2733 North St. “The festivalwas founded by music entrepreneur Henry
Turner Jr.togive new and establishedfilmmakers aplace to screen their films and play their music in acomfortable environment,” according to anews release. “Itfocuses on people who are pioneers or influencers in the entertainment industry,aswell as the performers andactorsin the films andmusicians who providedmusic soundtracks.” Sponsors to date are Louisiana Lottery,Cutting Edge NOLA,
STAFFPHOTOSByJAVIER GALLEGOS
Marian Pickett has recently launched her MissM Presents performing arts series at Mid City Ballroom in Baton Rouge.
TNS PHOTO By CHANDAN KHANNA For better or worse, ‘The Life of aShowgirl,’Taylor Swift’s 12th studio album, is unlike anything the megastar has done before.
FRIDAY
BACH LUNCH FEATURING SYD-
NEY AND THE SAMS: ParcSan Souci, Lafayette,noon
LIVE MUSIC: CaneRiver Pecan
CompanyPie Bar, New Iberia, 5p.m
ZACHARYRICHARD: 50 ANS DE RÉVEILLE: GirardPark, Lafayette, 5:30 p.m.
BURRIS: Adopted Dog Brewing, Lafayette, 6p.m.
MARLON G: Prejean’s, Broussard, 6p.m.
LIVE MUSIC: Jim Deggy’s, Lafayette, 6p.m.
LIVE MUSIC: Naq’s-n-Duson, Duson, 6p.m.
LIVE MUSIC: Charley G’s, Lafayette, 6p.m.
FRIDAY NIGHT JAM: La Maison de Begnaud, Scott, 6p.m.
CHARLES ANDWENDYTRIO: Whiskey &Vine, Lafayette, 7p.m.
CHRIS BREAUX: Silver Slipper, Arnaudville, 7p.m
PLAYING
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Fuel thatinfectious joy with the most twirl-worthy —and arguably most underrated— track of Swift’s career,“SweeterThan Fiction.” Swift released this shimmering tune in 2013 for the “One Chance” film soundtrack, and true to its title, it is sweet as apeach. Honorarymention: If youprefer atambourine to asynth, try “Lover” B-side “Paper Rings,”perhaps more suitable for kick-stepping than spinning but nonetheless another “Opalite” lookalike.
‘FatherFigure’
The natural choice here would be “The Man,” another song wherein Swift adopts amasculine persona to prove just what aboss she is. But Ihave no more sage advice than to head to George Michael’soriginal “Father Figure” (1987), which recentlygot a streaming boost after beingfeatured in the2024 erotic thriller “Babygirl.” Swift used an interpolation of Michael’ssong in her trackofthe same name— with agleefulsign-off from the late singer’sestate.
“When we heard the track we had no hesitation in agreeingtothisassociation between two great artists and we know George would have felt the same,” George Michael’sestate wrote last week on his official Instagram.
‘EldestDaughter’
It doesn’tfeel entirely fair to compare these two —especially given one of them has Phoebe Bridgers and the other one has the line “I’m not abad b****,
MISS M
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Indeed, Pickett ended her first eraasamusic-promoter,she said, “because people quit going out” after the terrorist attacksonSept. 11, 2001.
James Fogle, co-owner of the Mid City Ballroom, began lobbying Pickett to return to music whenhis performance venue opened eight years ago.Their association datestothe first days of M’sFine and Mellow Café, where he performed many times, in bands, duos and solo, collectedcover charges at the door and emceed open mics.
“I totally appreciated what she was doing back then,” Fogle said. “We’re diverse at the ballroom now, but I’d like to do more jazz and blues and singer-songwritersand folk music. M has got millions of contacts from doing all that kind of thing, and I’d love to bring that stuff back.”
“I couldn’thave abetter playing ground than Mid City Ballroom,” Pickett said. “It’sagreat listening room, avenue that was beggingfor me to come there.”
PLAYBOYS: La PoussièreCajun Dancehall, Breaux Bridge, 8p.m.
LIVE MUSIC: The Barrelof Broussard, Broussard, 8p.m.
THE RENEGADE BAND: Toby’s Lounge, Opelousas, 8:30p.m.
CHUBBYCARRIER: Rock ’n Bowl, Lafayette, 9p.m.
SATURDAY
DONNY BROUSSARD BAND: Fred’s, Mamou, 8a.m.
CURLEY TAYLOR &ZYDECO
TROUBLE: Buck &Johnny’s, Breaux Bridge, 8a.m.
VARIOUS ARTISTS: Girard Park, Lafayette, allday CAJUN JAM: Moncus Park, Lafayette, 9a.m.
SATURDAY MORNING JAM
SESSIONS: Savoy Music Center,Eunice, 9a.m.
CAJUN JAM: TanteMarie Breaux Bridge, 11 a.m.
CAJUN FRENCH MUSIC JAM: Vermilionville, Lafayette,
and this isn’tsavage”
but“Eldest Daughter”and “NothingNew (Taylor’s Version)”sharethe same grief for ayounger self that awomaninher 20s knows best If you need agood cry, these twoare here for you.
‘Ruinthe Friendship’
Speakingof debilitating nostalgia, this one might feel abit outofplace in this album’s universe, but it’s a heartrending gemnonetheless.
Forasimilar remorseful trip into thepast, minus the boppy bass line, try “WeWereHappy,” avault track from “Fearless (Taylor’sVersion)”about young love lost
‘ActuallyRomantic’
While this alleged Charli XCXdisstrackmay be morescathing than usual for Swift, the singer is no stranger to shade, as evidencedin“Reputation” Bside “This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things”—a perfect pairing for“Actually Romantic.”
In both songs, Swift is unapologeticallypetty,offeringher foes ametaphorical bouquet of flowersthick with thorns. These tracksaren’teveryone’sspeed, but every misfit has its fans.And in the case of “Actually Romantic,” NickiMinaj seems to be one of them.
‘Wi$hLi$t’
Showcasing this album’s gentler side, “Wi$h Li$t,” which Swift saidmay be her personal favorite,isa tendertribute to her fiancé Travis Kelce, backed with ethereal synthsounds and soft vocalization from a clearly smitten showgirl.
“I just wantyou”isalso themission statement of “Glitch,”a short and sweet popnumber from2022’s
Initially,Pickett intends to produce two events amonth, ideally afolk show anda jazz performance. She’snot in it to make money.
“Luckily,” shesaid with a laugh,“Iwas not in it for the moneybefore either.”
At the ballroom, Pickett wants to re-create theatmosphere of M’sFine and Mellow Café via low lights and tables covered with classy tablecloths. Seating capacity is about 100.
“It is work, especially setting everything up inthe beginning,”she said.“Ilook forward to the time when I’m only booking the shows. AndIhope this time around Iknow what I’m doing.”
Because she’srecruited anine-member board of directors, all of them friends, Pickett won’tbe going it alone this time
“I was on my own before,” sherecalled.“Many aday it was just me drowning in something so muchbigger thanme. The board members are there to help me at things I’mnot so good at. They’re jumping in like crazy,and it’smaking allthe difference.”
Maxwell plans to help, too, by spreading the word about Miss MPresents shows to his Red Dragon
ROCKIN’ BOOGIE: La PoussièreCajun Dancehall, Breaux Bridge, 8p.m
“Midnights.”Turn this one on, and in no time you’ll find yourself swaying side to side, daydreaming about thelove you never expected but can’timagine letting go.
Honorarymention: For amore upbeat option,gofor “Gorgeous,” abubblegum-pop anthem justasswoonworthy as the aforementioned tracks.
‘Wood’
This raunchy disco track hadjaws dropping across the globeuponits release, and for good reason
While notashigh on shock factor,Swift’s“I Think He Knows,” alesserknown track from “Lover,” is equally dancy and down bad. On top of that, it’s famouslyset at aperfect strutting pace. What more could you ask for?
‘CANCELLED!’
This is thesecondsong in Swift’soeuvre featuring atitle with an exclamation point (we’ll gettothatlater), andit’snot thebest one. But if youlike the dark energySwift hasgoing on here, you can get plenty more of it in herlive rock ‘n’ roll versionof“We Are Never EverGetting Back Together,” whichshe pulled out for the 1989 WorldTour and hasn’tplayed since. Here’shoping the country crossover artist has another genre hop in her ‘Honey’
True to itstitle, “Honey” is awelcome salve for some of this album’smore sour numbers andsharesstriking sonic similarities with Swift’sbestsongadorned with an exclamation point, “‘Slut!’
The “1989 (Taylor’sVersion)” vault track,like “Honey,” usesaname-calling motiftopaint arosy portrait of herromantic
audience.
“I love what she did beforeand hope she can gain an audience,” he said. “Baton Rouge needs what Miss Mhas to offer.”
Music has been part of Pickett’s life since her childhood in Vicksburg, Mississippi. Her music-loving motherwas aclassical pianistand piano teacher
“Our motherknew not to teach my siblings and I herself,” Pickett said. “She sent us to the best teacher in town. She knew we wouldn’t listen to her.”
Before Pickett moved to BatonRouge in 1977,she made sure the cityhad a music scene. Prior to opening M’sFine andMellow Café, she worked as acirculation districtmanager for The Advocatefrom1979 to 1992.
Music proveda lifelong calling. Sherevelsmostof all in in-person musical performance.
“I cherish most alive musicperformance, especially when it’slike being in the room with them,” she said. “And that’swhatMid City Ballroomisgoing to become for our shows.”
Email John Wirt at j_wirt@ msn.com.
SAMSPHAR: CharleyG’s, Lafayette, 6p.m.
STOP THE CLOCK COUNTRY
LIVE MUSIC: The Barrel of Broussard, Broussard, 8p.m
THE MOJOES: Toby’s Lounge, Opelousas, 8:30 p.m.
TERRANCE SIMIEN: Rock ’n’ Bowl, Lafayette, 9p.m
SUNDAY
VARIOUS ARTISTS: Girard Park,Lafayette, all day
GLENN ZERINGUE: Whiskey& Vine,Lafayette, 11 a.m.
LIVE MUSIC: Tante Marie, Breaux Bridge, 11 a.m.
BRUNCH WITH MARCUS
ELIZONDO: Artmosphere, Lafayette, noon LE BALDUDIMANCHE—DON FONTENOT&FRIENDS OF LOUISIANA: Vermilionville, Lafayette, 1p.m
partner. Neitherislyrically complex, but if “‘Slut!’ ”is any indication,“Honey” is sure to wind up atrue fan favorite.
‘The Life of aShowgirl’ (featuring Sabrina Carpenter’
Finding asongthat sounds like “The Life of a Showgirl” is atall order,if not an impossible one.
So fora theme-based pairing, tryfellow album closer “Clara Bow,” which capsoff the originaledition of “TheTortured Poets Department” (2024) with amournful commentary on the constant churn of young female stars.
As Swift and Carpenter say,“Youdon’t know the life of ashowgirl, babe, andyou’renevergonna wanna.”
Honorarymention: For another Swift track aboutthe pitfalls of fame, try “The Lucky One,”off 2012’s “Red.”
JAZZ: Feed n’ Seed, Lafayette, 6p.m.
PRENDSCOURAGE: Hideaway on Lee, Lafayette, 8p.m.
MONDAY
PATRICIO LATINO SOLO: Cafe Habana City, Lafayette, 11 a.m.
Today is Friday,Oct. 10, the 283rd day of 2025. There are 82 days left in the year
Todayinhistory: On Oct. 10, 1973, Vice President Spiro T. Agnew, accused of accepting bribes, resigned his office and pleaded no contest to one count of federal income tax evasion. President Richard Nixonsoon after appointed Congressman Gerald Ford to replace Agnew.Nixon resigned in 1974 amid the Watergate scandal and Ford succeeded him.
Also on this date:
In 1845, the U.S. Naval Academy wasestablished in Annapolis, Maryland, with an inaugural class of 50 students.
In 1911, Chinese revolutionaries launched an uprising that led to the collapse of the Qing (or Manchu) Dynasty and the establishment of the Republic of China.
In 1935, the George Gershwin opera “Porgy and Bess,” featuring an all-Black cast, opened on Broadway, beginning arun of 124 performances.
In 1964, the Summer Olympics began in Tokyo, the first Summer Games to be telecast around the world. In 1966, the Beach Boys’ single “Good Vibrations,” written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love, was released by Capitol Records.
Today’sbirthdays: Actor Peter Coyote is 84. Entertainer Ben Vereen is 79. Actor Charles Dance is 79. Author Nora Roberts is 75. Rock singer David Lee Roth is 71. Country singer Tanya Tucker is 67. Actor Julia Sweeney is 66. Actor Bradley Whitford is 66. Football Hall of Famer Brett Favre is 56. Actor/TV host Mario Lopez is 52. NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr.is51.
LIBRA (sept. 23-oct. 23) Shake things up and set yourself free. Make choices that leaveyou in aflexible position with no one to answer to. Committo yourself and what matterstoyou most, and satisfy your soul
scoRPIo(oct. 24-nov. 22) Dedicate more time and thought to howyou want to grow and pursue your dreams. Mapping out aplan will give you the strength and confidence to reach your goal
sAGIttARIus (nov. 23-Dec. 21) Change is favored, but it'suptoyou to make it happen. Disciplineisthe keytogetting what you want. Updating your look will boostyour confidence.
cAPRIcoRn (Dec.22-Jan. 19) Keep life simple;avoid temptation, excess and indulgent behavior. Let conversations and hands-onhelp motivate youtodo what's right and to give back to your community.
AQuARIus (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Ignorewhat isn'tgoing your way, and focus on travelingthe road that offers hope, opportunityand fun. Change begins with you, so focus on what mattersmost.
PIscEs (Feb. 20-March 20) Takeadvantage of an opportunity to socialize or discuss prospects. Personal gain is within reach if youmove swiftly to take advantage of an opportunity.
ARIEs (March 21-April19) Let your imagination take you on amagic carpet ride. Embrace creativity and allthe activities and endeavors that bringyou joy.
Socialize, share your thoughtsand make plans.
tAuRus (April 20-May 20) Reach out, do your partand make adifference. A combination of brainand brawn will helpyou redesign how to take careof pressing issues. Acommitment will help stabilize your life andease your mind.
GEMInI (May 21-June20) Listen, learn andapplywhatyou discover to your everydayroutine. Embrace interactions withthose who challenge your thinking and offer alternatives to how you liveand approach life.
cAncER(June21-July22) Put your financial mattersinorder and your mind at rest. Work with institutions to implement changesthatensure thesafety of your investments and person LEo (July 23-Aug.22) Learntolaugh at yourself andmishaps. Angersolves nothing, but positive solutions will paint youasa leader andfriend. Be open, follow the rules and make adifference.
VIRGo (Aug. 23-sept.22) Short trips, reunions, conversations andgetting your health and financial affairs up to date will make you feel good. Sign up for an event or plan to socialize with peoplewho motivate you.
Celebrity Ciphercryptograms are created from quotations by famous people, past and present.Eachletter in thecipher stands for another.
toDAy'scLuE: cEQuALs F
FAMILYCIrCUS
CeLebrItY CIpher
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 boxcontains the same number only once. The difficulty level of the Sudoku increases fromMonday to Sunday.
THewiZard oF id
BLondie
BaBY BLueS
Hi and LoiS
By PHILLIP ALDER
Yesterday, Istressed considering your options at trick one. Hereisanother example. If South planscarefully, he hasagood chance to make hiscontract. Butifheplowsforwardthoughtlessly,he willprobablyfail.Southisinfourspades. Westleadstheclubking,andEastsignals withhis jack.Whatshoulddeclarer do?
Ithink North should have made atakeoutdoubleoveroneclub.True,thedouble might have resulted in his side’s playing in a4-3 major-suit fit,but it would have been more flexible than onediamond. Then, South’s one-spade advance was forcing forone round.
South has four potential losers: two hearts, one diamond and one club. But if diamonds are splitting 3-2, he has10 winners: five spades,four diamonds andone club. How might he losefour tricks first? Only if East gains the lead to push aheartthrough. So,attrickone, South must play low, letting West hold the trick. If declarer takes the first trick, whenWestgetsinwithhisdiamondking, he will continue with alow club, giving Easttheleadfortheheartshift.Notethat WestknowstodothisfromEast’scareful playofthe club jack at trick one. Play the top of touchinghonors whenyou cannot win atrickondefense.
South takes West’s club continuation, draws trumps ending in his hand, and plays alow diamondtodummy’s jack. Then, because dummy has no side entry, declarer continueswith alow diamond to his queen After that, he cruiseshome.
Each Wuzzle is awordriddle which creates adisguised word, phrase, name, place, saying,
Forexample: NOON GOOD =GOOD AFTERNOON
Previous answers:
InstRuctIons: 1. Words must be of four or more letters. 2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed. 3. Additional
yEstERDAy’s WoRD —DIstInctIon
toDAy’sWoRD ARcHAIsM: AR-kee-ih-zem: Theuse of diction or style from an earlier or more primitive time Average mark 19 words Time limit 40 minutes Can you find 32 or more words in ARCHAISM? diction
loCKhorNs
marmaduKe
Bizarro
hagar the horriBle
Pearls Before swiNe
garfield
B.C.
PiCKles
Bids
by
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q shall not bewaived by anypublicentity. TheLafayette Public School System strongly encourages thepartici‐pation of minority busi‐ness enterprisesinall contractsorprocure‐mentslet by theBoard forgoodsand services To that end, allcontrac‐tors andsuppliers are encouraged to utilizemi‐nority business enter‐prises in thepurchaseof sub-contractingofmate‐rials, supplies, andser‐vicesinwhich minority ownedbusinessesare available. LAFAYETTE PARISH SCHOOL SYSTEM Kristie Sam Purchasing & Procurement Coordinator PUBLISHDATES: October3,2025 October10, 2025 161117-oct3-10-2t $60.94
thepro‐visionsand requirements of this section, those stated in theAdvertise‐ment forBids, andthose requiredonthe bidform h ll b i d b
PROCEEDINGS OF THE LAFAYETTE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING OF THE PARISH OF LAFAYETTE, STATEOFLOUISIANA, TAKEN AT AREGULAR MEETING OF OCTOBER 7, 2025 HELD AT 705 W. UNIVERSITY AVENUE, LAFAYETTE, LA.
ATTENDANCE
COUNCIL:ABRubin (Chair,District 5), Donald Richard(Vice-Chair District 2), Bryan Tabor (District 1), Ken Stansbury(District3)and John Guilbeau (District 4)
ABSENT:None
COUNCIL STAFF:Joseph Gordon-Wiltz(Clerk of theCouncil), Jeremy J. Swiney (Associate Clerk for Legislative Affairs) and Cindy M. Semien (Assistant Clerk for Legislative Affairs)
ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF:Monique B. Boulet (Mayor-President), Rachel Godeaux (Chief Administrative Officer), Karen Fontenot (Chief Financial Officer), Patrick S. Ottinger (City-Parish Attorney) and Paul Escott (Assistant City-Parish Attorney)
(4:32:00) COMMENCEMENT
Call to order Chair Rubin called the Regular Parish Council Meeting of October 7, 2025 to order
AGENDA ITEM NO. 1: Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance
The Chair called upon Councilmember Stansbury to cite the invocation and called upon Councilmember Guilbeau, to lead the Pledge of Allegiance.
WELCOME AND CHAIR ANNOUNCEMENTS
Chair Rubin made the following announcements:
•IntroItem #20 –PO-049-2025 –Finance requested an amendment to remove page seven (7) of the ordinance submission, which was inadvertently included.
•Wished Brian Smith, Drainage Director ahappy birthday which he celebrated on October 6th.
•Wished Pat Ottinger,City-Parish Attorney ahappy birthday which he will celebrate on October 12th.
•Stated that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and urged all women and men to seek early detection.
AGENDA ITEM NO. 2: COUNCIL ANNOUNCEMENTS No Council Announcements weremade.
a. Budget-to-Actual Comparison of Major Parish Funds –August 2025 Preliminary
Boulet noted that the monthly Budget-to-Actual Comparisons areto comply with statewide auditing procedures.
b. Audit Findings Update –September 2025
Boulet noted that they arerequired monthly to give an update to the Louisiana Legislative Auditor on the report findings.
Boulet announced that Festivals Acadiens et Creoles is this weekend. She stated that Lafayette will be hosting the French ambassador and the acting mayor of acity in Belgium.
Boulet confirmedthat the closing date for taking applications for the Lafayette FireChief is October 16th. She urged all who areinterested to visit the LCG website for moreinformation.
Boulet noted that the University of Louisiana at Lafayette’shomecoming is October 18th and that LCG will be hosting atailgate at the game. She invited all to the tailgate.
Boulet indicated that the 400 Gayle Road Ribbon Cutting will be October 20th at 1PMinCarencro.
Boulet announced that LCG hosted Colonel Scotty Autin of the Corps of Engineers and discussed all of the current projects with him.
RESOLUTION
AGENDA ITEM NO. 4: PR-022-2025 Aresolution of the Lafayette Parish Council ordering and calling aspecial election to be held in the Parish of Lafayette, State of Louisiana, to authorize the continuationofa special tax therein, making application to the State Bond Commission, and providing for other matter in connection therewith, motion to adopt by Guilbeau, seconded by Richard, and the vote was as follows:
AGENDA ITEM NO. 5: JR-036-2025 Ajoint resolution of the Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council certifying that Lafayette Parish will comply with the requirements of the State of Louisiana Off-System Bridge Replacement Program, motion to adopt by Stansbury, seconded by Guilbeau, and the vote wasasfollows: YEAS: Tabor,Richard, Stansbury,Guilbeau, Rubin
NAYS: None
ABSENT:None
ABSTAIN: None Motion to adopt wasapproved.
REPORTS AND/OR DISCUSSION ITEMS
AGENDA ITEM NO. 6: Energy Efficiency Program –LouisianaPublic Service Commission, District 2 Commissioner Jean-Paul Coussan announced that he represents 905,000 people and that his seat covers 13 parishes. He provided an overview of the Public Entities Energy Efficiency Program and stated that it is managed directly by his office.
AGENDA ITEM NO. 7: LPSS Update by Superintendent Francis Touchet Francis Touchet, Jr Lafayette Parish School System Superintendent, informed the Council about the latest developments concerning LPSS. Touchet’sannouncements: -Voting day of the special election for millage renewal of7.79 mills is October 11th. -Invited all to the Superintendent’sGumbo Cook-Offthat is being held October 17th. -2026-2027
-Prairie
-All
will be removed.
PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE Apetitionhas been filed with theCity-Parish Councilofthe Parish of Lafayette andthe CityParish Presidentofthe City of Lafayette in ac‐cordance with theprovi‐sionsofLSA-R.S.33:172, et seq.,seekingtohave thecorporate limits of theCityofLafayette Louisiana, extended so as to includetherein the followingdescribed property,to-wit: Beginningata point on theexistingCityof Lafayette corporatelim‐its, said pointisthe westerly property corner of LEORATHIBEAUX & HERBERTJOSEPHMOU‐TON(ESTATE), thenorth‐westerly property corner of ALICEGASPARD FORE‐MAN(ESTATE), andthe southeasterlyproperty of HAMILTON PARC SUB‐DIVISION LLC, thence N36º55’E, adis‐tanceofapproximately 120.00’,along thenorth‐westerly property line of LEORATHIBEAUX& HER‐
BERT JOSEPH MOUTON (ESTATE),and thesouth‐easterly property line of HAMILTON PARC SUBDI‐VISION LLC, whichisalso theexistingCityof Lafayette corporatelim‐itstoa corner point, thence S46º45’E, adis‐tanceofapproximately 100.00’,along thenorth‐easterly property line of LEORATHIBEAUX& HER‐BERT JOSEPH MOUTON (ESTATE),and thesouth‐westerly property lineof HAMILTON PARC SUBDI‐VISION LLC, whichisalso theexistingCityof Lafayette corporatelim‐itstoa corner point, thence S36º55’W, adis‐tanceofapproximately 120.00’,along thesouth‐easterly property line
cordance with theregu‐laragendapublished by theLafayette City-Parish Councilorinaccordance with thenoticeofemer‐gencymeetingtocon‐sidersuchpassage LAFAYETTE CONSOLI‐DATEDGOVERNMENT By /s/Tim Patro TimPatro PlannerII 162025-OCT10-1T $38.06
-Broadmoor Elementary,Ernest Gallet Elementary and Westside Elementary will all receive an additional wing. 41 classrooms will be built between these schools. -French immersion will be extended at Myrtle Place Elementary. Touchet explained that his priority is to cut out the waste and to build
infrastructure. He noted the number one (1) corevalue is safety
ORDINANCES FOR FINAL ADOPTION
AGENDA ITEM NO.8:PO-044-2025 An ordinance of the Lafayette Parish Council authorizing the Lafayette Mayor-President to enter into a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement and Act of Donationbyand between Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government and Parish of Acadia concerning the donation of asurplus 2003 tanker fire truck, motionto adopt by Guilbeau, seconded by Richard, and the vote was as follows:
YEAS: Tabor,Richard, Guilbeau, Rubin
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Stansbury
ABSTAIN: None Motion to adopt was approved.
AGENDA ITEM NO.9:PO-046-2025 An ordinance of the Lafayette Parish Council authorizing and directing the Lafayette Mayor-President to execute and submit the “Temporary Housing and Shelter Assistance Program Waiver of Land Use/Permitting Form” in accordance with La. R.S. 29:726(F)(3)(b)(iii)(aa), motiontoadopt by Richard, seconded by Tabor,and the vote was as follows:
YEAS: Tabor,Richard, Guilbeau, Rubin NAYS: None
ABSENT: Stansbury
ABSTAIN: None Motion to adopt was approved.
ANNOUNCEMENT OF VACANCY ON BOARDS/COMMISSIONS
AGENDA ITEM NO.10: Avacancy will exist on the Lafayette Convention and Visitors Commission for afour-year term effective 01-01-2026. Applicants must reside in the unincorporated area of the Parish of Lafayette. Individuals wishing to submit aresume for the above volunteer vacancy must be aregistered voter and aresident of Lafayette Parish. Yearly ethics training for all appointees is required as is financial disclosure under certain circumstances. Resumes aretobeforwarded to Joseph Gordon-Wiltz, Clerk of the Council,P.O.Box 4017-C,Lafayette, LA 70502 or emailed to BCLafayette@LafayetteLA.gov no later than noon, Tuesday October 21, 2025 with appointment(s) to be made at the Tuesday November 4, 2025 Regular Meeting of the Lafayette Parish Council Resumesubmissions arepublic record.
CONSIDER APPOINTMENT(S) BY THE COUNCIL, AS AWHOLE, TO BOARDS/COMMISSIONS
AGENDA ITEM NO.11: Appointment of to the Lafayette Parish Library BoardofControl fora five-year term effective 12-01-2025.
Tabor made amotiontore-advertise the announcement and defer the appointment to November 4th, and the vote was as follows:
YEAS: Tabor,Stansbury,Guilbeau
NAYS: Richard, Rubin
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
Motion to re-advertise the announcement to November 4th and defer the appointment to was approved.
*This appointment will be reannounced at the November 4th meeting and will be voted on at the December 2nd meeting.
Rebekah Huggins, applicant for the appointment, introduced herself to the Council
MelanieBrevis stated that it seems suspicious that the Council would want to delay this appointment. She described that this appointment has had the same process and application time as all other appointmentsin the past.
AGENDA ITEM NO.12: Appointment of Todd Varisco to the Lafayette Parish Waterworks District SouthBoardfor a five-year term effective 1101-2025. Applicants must reside within the district boundaries. Richard nominated Varisco, and the vote was as follows:
AGENDA ITEM NO.13: Appointment of Randal L. Hebert to the Lafayette Parish Waterworks District North Boardfor a five-year term effective 1201-2025. Applicants must reside within the district boundaries. Richard nominated Hebert, and the vote was as follows:
HEBERT: Tabor,Richard, Stansbury, Guilbeau, Rubin
NAYS: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
Randal L. Hebert was appointed.
AGENDA ITEM NO.14: Appointment of RobertA.Marceaux, Jr.to the Lafayette Parish Waterworks District North Boardfor a five-year term effective 12-01-2025. Applicants must reside within the district boundaries. Richardnominated Marceaux, and the vote was as follows: MARCEAUX: Tabor,Richard, Stansbury, Guilbeau, Rubin NAYS: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
RobertA.Marceaux, Jr.was appointed.
APPOINTMENTS BY COUNCIL MEMBERS, MAYOR-PRESIDENT AND/OR ANY OTHER DIRECT APPOINTING AUTHORITY
AGENDA ITEM NO.15: Bryan Tabor,District 1, appointed HaroldPorter to the City-Parish Recreation Advisory Commission fora 4-year term effective November 1, 2025.
AGENDA ITEM NO.16: Bryan Tabor,District 1, appointed David Anderson to the Lafayette Advisory Commission on CrimePrevention for a4-year term effective July 1, 2023.
AGENDA ITEM NO.17: Monique B. Boulet,Mayor-President, appointed Shelly Fontenot to the Lafayette Animal Care Center Advisory Boardfor a 4-year term effective October 1, 2025.
INTRODUCTORY ORDINANCES
The Chairreminded allthat Item #20 was pulled for separate vote and discussion.
Amotion to introduce, in globo, items 18, 19 and21was offeredbyTabor, seconded by Stansbury.
18. PO-047-2025 An ordinance of the Lafayette Parish Council approving the permanent change of the polling place for Precincts 038, 041, &042 to Lafayette High School as authorized by andinaccordance with the applicable provisions of the Louisiana Election Code,La. R.S. 18:1, et seq., andauthorizing the Lafayette Mayor-President to enterinto anyand allcontracts, necessary,incidental, convenient,ordesirable to make the change permanent.
19. PO-048-2025 An ordinance of the Lafayette Parish Council amending the FY 24/25 operatingbudgetofthe Lafayette CityParish ConsolidatedGovernment by adjusting the manning tables to adjust salaries in the District Attorney’sOffice, NonSupport Division, to be reimbursed100% by the District Attorney’sOffice, Non-Support Division, through the State of Louisiana,Department of Family andChildren Services.
21. PO-050-2025 An ordinance of the Lafayette Parish Council declaring the Ridge Road at RueduBelierRoadIntersection Improvements Project andthe Ridge Road at South Domingue Road Intersection Improvements Project apublic necessity andauthorizingthe acquisition of the necessary rights-of-way, immovable property,and otherproperty rights requisite to the construction of said projects, eitheronanamicablebasisor through the proper use of the expropriation process if necessary The Chair thencalledfor avote to introducethe ordinances (items 18, 19 and21),inglobo, and the vote was as follows:
YEAS: Tabor,Richard,Stansbury,Guilbeau,Rubin
NAYS: None
ABSENT:None
ABSTAIN: None
Motion to introduce, in globo, was approved.
AGENDAITEM NO. 20: PO-049-2025Anordinanceofthe Lafayette Parish Council amending the FY 24/25 operating&capitalbudgets of the Lafayette City-Parish ConsolidatedGovernment to provide for adjustmentsofrevenue andappropriation estimates, motion to introduce by Tabor,secondedbyRichard Amotion to amendtoremove page seven(7) of the ordinancesubmission whichwas inadvertently included, wasmade by Guilbeau,secondedby Stansbury, andthe vote wasasfollows: YEAS: Tabor,Richard,Stansbury,Guilbeau,Rubin
NAYS: None
ABSENT:None
ABSTAIN: None Motion to amend was approved.
The Chair thencalledfor avote to introduce, as amended, andthe vote was as follows:
YEAS: Tabor,Richard,Stansbury,Guilbeau,Rubin
NAYS: None
ABSENT:None
ABSTAIN: None Motion to introduce, as amended, was approved.
JOINT INTRODUCTORYORDINANCES
Amotion to introduce, in globo, items 22 thru 25 was offeredbyGuilbeau seconded by Tabor
22. JO-052-2025A joint ordinanceofthe Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council amending the FY 24/25 operating budget of the Lafayette City-Parish ConsolidatedGovernment to provide for adjustments of revenue andappropriation estimates.
23. JO-053-2025A joint ordinanceofthe Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council amending the FY 24/25 operating andcapitalbudgets of the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government, recognizing revenues in the amount of $5,000,000 received from the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD), appropriating within the Traffic, Roads, andBridges Department, TrafficEngineering Division, authorizing the Lafayette Mayor-President to execute contractswith the Louisiana Department of Transportation andDevelopment (DOTD) for the Project (H.016577) LA 733 (E. Broussard)@ VincentRoadRoundabout anddeclaring the project apublic necessity, authorizingthe acquisition of the necessary rights-ofway, immovable property andotherproperty rights requisite to the construction of said project, eitheronanamicablebasisor through the proper use of the expropriation process, if necessary.
24. JO-054-2025 Ajoint ordinanceofthe Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council declaring the Veterinarian Road Bridge Replacement Project apublic necessityand authorizing the acquisition of the necessary rights-of-way, immovable property andotherproperty rights requisite to the construction of said project, eitheronanamicablebasisorthrough the proper use of the expropriation process, if necessary.
25. JO-055-2025 Ajoint ordinanceofthe Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council providing for the abandonment of a ten(10’)foot utility servitude on Lot E-127-A andE-127-B of the BoisDeLafayette,Inc.Subdivision,located at 700 and702 East Bayou Parkway
The Chair thencalledfor avote to introducethe ordinances (items 22 thru 25),inglobo, andthe vote was as follows: YEAS: Tabor,Richard,Stansbury,Guilbeau,Rubin NAYS: None ABSENT:None ABSTAIN: None
Motion to introduce, in globo, was approved.
COMMENT(S) FROM THEPUBLIC
AGENDAITEM NO. 26: Comments from the public on anyothermatter(s) not on an agenda No Comments from the Public weremade.
(5:19:00) ADJOURN
There being no further business to come beforethe Council, Chair Rubin declared the RegularMeeting adjourned.
/s/ Joseph Gordon-Wiltz JOSEPH GORDON-WILTZ, LAFAYETTE CLERK OF THE COUNCIL
162156-567174-oct10-1t
PROCEEDINGSOFTHE LAFAYETTE CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF THE CITY OF LAFAYETTE, STATEOFLOUISIANA, TAKEN AT AREGULAR MEETING OF OCTOBER 7, 2025 HELD AT 705 W.
UNIVERSITY AVENUE, LAFAYETTE, LA.
ATTENDANCE
COUNCIL:Kenneth P. Boudreaux (Chair,District 5), Liz W. Hebert (Vice-
Chair,District 3), Elroy Broussard(District1), Andy Naquin (District 2) and Thomas Hooks (District 4)
ABSENT:None
COUNCIL STAFF:Joseph Gordon-Wiltz (Clerk of the Council), Jeremy J. Swiney (Associate Clerk for Legislative Affairs) and Cindy M. Semien (Assistant Clerk for Legislative Affairs)
ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF:Monique B. Boulet (Mayor-President), Rachel Godeaux (Chief Administrative Officer), Karen Fontenot (Chief Financial Officer), Patrick S. Ottinger (City-Parish Attorney), Paul Escott (Assistant City-Parish Attorney) and Warren Abadie (Public Works Director)
(5:31:00) COMMENCEMENT
Call to order
Chair Boudreaux called the Regular City Council Meeting of October 7, 2025 to order
AGENDA ITEM NO. 1: Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance
The Chair called upon Councilmember Naquin to cite an invocation and upon Councilmember Hebert to lead the Pledge of Allegiance.
WELCOME AND CHAIR ANNOUNCEMENTS
Chair Boudreaux made the following announcements:
•Item #9 –CO-106-2025 –LUS requested an amendment to adjust the salary amount in the title of the ordinance and replace the budgetary revision.
•Item #10 –CO-107-2025 –A technical amendment was requested to reflect the author of the ordinance as Community Development andPlanning, rather than the Police Department; the ordinance itself is unaffected.
•Item #16 –Cajundome Commission Appointment –a request was made to defer the direct appointment to the October 21st Council meeting.
•Wished Brian Smith, Drainage Director ahappy birthday which he celebrated on October 6th.
•Wished Pat Ottinger,City-Parish Attorney ahappy birthday which he will celebrate on October 12th.
AGENDA ITEM NO. 2: COUNCIL ANNOUNCEMENTS
Boudreaux invited Carol Jones to speak on behalf of the residents at and around 2830 Louisiana Avenue.
Jones thanked the Council and Mayor-President for helping to get the trash bins for each resident. She stated that the residents arevery appreciative as the previous garbage issues heavily impacted the community
Broussardinvited Reggie Guillory,employeeofSenator Cleo Fields to speak on behalf of Fields’ office. Guillory announced that he is looking forwardtoworking with the Council and serving the citizens of Lafayette.
a. Budget-to-Actual Comparison of Major City Funds –August 2025 Preliminary Boulet noted that the monthly Budget-to-Actual Comparisons areto comply with statewide auditing procedures.
b. Audit Findings Update –September 2025
Boulet noted that they arerequired monthly to give an update to the Louisiana Legislative Auditor on the report findings.
Boulet announced that Festivals Acadiens et Creoles is this weekend. She stated that Lafayette will be hosting the French ambassador and the acting mayor of acity in Belgium.
Boulet confirmed that closing date for taking applications for the Lafayette FireChief was October 16th. She urged all who are interested to visit the LCG website for moreinformation.
Boulet noted that the University of Louisiana at Lafayette’shomecoming is October 18th and that LCG will be hosting atailgate at the game. She invited all to the tailgate.
Boulet explained that the LUS South Gravity Lift Station groundbreaking will be October 16th at 10 AM at 1909 Johnston Street. Boudreaux reminded that tonight is National Night Out at the Martin Luther King Center.Heexplained that it is to celebrate public safety and first responders.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
AGENDA ITEM NO. 4: Kavin Broussard
v. Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government, et al Civil Docket No. C-2024-1510-J 15th Judicial District Court Lafayette Parish, Louisiana
Ottinger explained why it is appropriate and responsible for the Council to enter into executive session regarding this matter
Motion to enter into executive session by Naquin, seconded by Broussard, and the vote was as follows:
YEAS: Broussard, Naquin, Hebert, Hooks, Boudreaux
NAYS: None
ABSENT:None
ABSTAIN: None Motion to enter into executive session was approved.
Motiontoreturnfromexecutive session by Hebert, seconded by Broussard, and the vote was as follows:
YEAS: Broussard, Naquin, Hebert, Hooks, Boudreaux
NAYS: None
ABSENT:None
ABSTAIN: None
Motion to returnfrom executive session was approved.
Motiontoaccept the recommendation of Risk Management and the City-Parish Attorney; to make appropriate budgetary adjustments, and authorize the City-Parish Attorney to execute and deliver appropriate andnecessary settlement documents, in connection therewith by Hebert, seconded by Naquin, and the vote was as follows:
YEAS: Broussard, Naquin, Hebert, Hooks, Boudreaux
NAYS: None
ABSENT:None
ABSTAIN: None
Motion to accept recommendations was approved.
RESOLUTION
AGENDA ITEM NO. 5: CR-016-2025 Aresolution of the Lafayette City Council approving the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development sponsored Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan and establishing safety performance targets for the Lafayette Transit System, motion to adopt by Hebert, seconded by Naquin, and the vote was as follows: YEAS: Broussard, Naquin, Hebert, Hooks, Boudreaux
NAYS: None
ABSENT:None
ABSTAIN: None Motion to adopt wasapproved.
JOINTRESOLUTION
AGENDA ITEM NO. 6: JR-036-2025 Ajointresolution of the Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council certifying that Lafayette Parish will comply with the requirements of the State of Louisiana Off-System Bridge Replacement Program, motion to adopt by Hebert, seconded by Broussard, and the vote was as follows: YEAS: Broussard, Naquin, Hebert, Hooks, Boudreaux
NAYS: None
ABSENT:None
ABSTAIN: None Motion to adopt was approved.
REPORTAND/OR DISCUSSION ITEM
AGENDA ITEM NO. 7: LPSS Update by Superintendent Francis Touchet Francis Touchet, Jr Lafayette Parish School System
-A new school will be built behind J.W.Faulk.
-Currently working to remove allportablebuildings at all school grounds.
Broussardnoted that thereiscurrently aproblem with the parking area for drop-offs at Truman. Touchet ensured that he will have safety workers go out to address the concern.
Naquin announced that the tax renewal is very important and will help to maintainand improve the schools; in turnimproving property values. He further explained that he is enjoying the progress that is being made in the school system.
Boulet stressed that it is critical that the schoolboardtax renewalspass.
ORDINANCES FOR FINAL ADOPTION
AGENDA ITEM
NO.8:CO-105-2025 An ordinance of the Lafayette City Council declaring the Ridge Road at Rue du Belier Road Intersection Improvements Project and the Ridge Road at SouthDomingue Road
Intersection Improvements Project apublic necessity and authorizing the acquisitionofthe necessary rights-of-way,immovableproperty,and other property rights requisite to the construction of said projects, either on an amicable basis or through the proper use of the expropriation process, if necessary,motiontoadopt by Naquin, seconded by Hebert, and the vote was as follows:
YEAS: Broussard, Naquin, Hebert, Hooks, Boudreaux
NAYS:None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None Motion to adopt was approved.
AGENDA ITEM NO.9:CO-106-2025 An ordinance of the Lafayette City
Council amending the FY 24/25 operating budget and adjusting the manning tables of the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government by using PriorYear Fund Balance in the amount of $1,144 for salary adjustments within the Utilities Department, motion to adopt by Hebert, seconded by Naquin.
Amotiontoamend to adjust the salary amount in the title of the ordinance and replace the budgetary revision was made by Naquin, seconded by Hebert, and the vote was as follows: YEAS: Broussard, Naquin, Hebert, Hooks, Boudreaux
NAYS: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None Motion to amend was approved.
The Chairthen called fora vote to adopt,asamended, and the vote was as follows: YEAS: Broussard, Naquin, Hebert, Hooks, Boudreaux
NAYS: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None Motion to adopt, as amended, was approved.
AGENDA ITEM NO.10: CO-107-2025 An ordinance of the Lafayette City Council authorizing and directing the Lafayette Mayor-President to execute and submit the “Temporary Housing and Shelter Assistance Program Waiver of Land Use/Permitting Form” in accordance with La. R.S. 29:726(F)(3)(b)(iii)(aa), motiontoadopt by Hebert, seconded by Naquin.
Amotiontomake atechnical amendment to reflect the author for the ordinance as Community Development and Planning, rather than the Police Department;the ordinance itself was unaffected; was made by Naquin, seconded by Hooks, and the vote was as follows: YEAS: Broussard, Naquin, Hebert, Hooks, Boudreaux
NAYS: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None Motion to amend was approved.
The Chair then called fora vote to adopt,asamended, and the vote was as follows: YEAS: Broussard, Naquin, Hebert, Hooks, Boudreaux
NAYS: None ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None Motion to adopt, as amended, was approved.
ANNOUNCEMENTS OF VACANCIES ON BOARDS/COMMISSIONS
AGENDA ITEM NO.11: Five (5) vacancies exist on the Transportation Policy Committee (the governing boardfor the Metropolitan Planning Organization) effective immediately Applicants must be either 1) local elected officials, 2) officialsofpublic agencies that administer or operate majormodes of transportation in the metropolitan area, including representation by providers of public transportation.
AGENDA ITEM NO.12: Avacancy exists on the Keep Lafayette Beautiful Committee forthe remainder of an unexpired two-year term thru 11 30 2026.
AGENDA ITEM NO.13: Avacancy exists on the BoardofZoning Adjustment for the remainder of an unexpired five-year term thru 06 30 2029.
Individuals wishing to submitaresume forthe above volunteer vacancies must be aregistered voter and aresident of Lafayette Parish. Yearly ethics training forall appointees is required as is financial disclosureunder certain circumstances. Resumes aretobeforwarded to Joseph Gordon-Wiltz, Clerk of the Council,P.O.Box 4017 C, Lafayette, LA 70502 or emailed to BCLafayette@LafayetteLA.gov no later than noon, Tuesday,October 21, 2025 with appointment(s) to be made at the Tuesday,November 4, 2025 Regular Meeting of the Lafayette City Council. Resumesubmissions are public record.
CONSIDER APPOINTMENT(S) BY THE COUNCIL, AS AWHOLE, TO BOARDS/COMMISSIONS
AGENDA ITEM NO.14: Appointment of Cindy Randazzo to the Heymann
Performing Arts Center and Frem F. Boustany Convention Center Board for afour-year term effective 12-01-2025. Hebert nominated Randazzo and the vote was as follows:
Sean Primeaux, applicant for the appointment, announced that he has an architectural background and he will help to ensurethat the center continues to serve as aspace whereart and culturethrives. Primeaux stated that he looks forwardtocontributing to its ongoing careand improvement.
AGENDA ITEM NO.15: Appointment of Sean R. Primeaux to the Heymann
PerformingArts Center and Frem F. Boustany Convention Center Board for afour-year term effective 12-01-2025. Naquin nominated Primeaux, Hebert nominated Mark Thomas, and the vote was as follows:
PRIMEAUX: Broussard, Naquin, Hooks, Boudreaux
THOMAS: Hebert
NAYS: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
Sean R. Primeaux was appointed.
APPOINTMENT BY COUNCIL MEMBERS, MAYOR PRESIDENT AND/ OR ANY OTHER DIRECT APPOINTING AUTHORITY
AGENDA ITEM NO.16: ULL President Dr.Jaimie Hebert appointed Dr E. Joseph Savoietothe Cajundome Commission for an indefinite term effective September 19, 2025.
Motiontodefer the directappointment to October 21st by Naquin, seconded by Hebert, and the vote was as follows:
YEAS: Broussard, Naquin, Hebert, Hooks, Boudreaux
NAYS: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None Motion to defer the directappointment to October 21st was approved.
Gordon-Wiltzexplained that the ULL President’s office reached out to the Council office hours beforethis meeting to request adeferral. He further noted that ULL is seeking to appoint Dr.Jaimie Hebert.
INTRODUCTORYORDINANCES
Amotiontointroduce agenda items 17 thru 27, in globo, was offeredby Naquin, seconded by Hooks.
17. CO-108-2025
located generally north of Darbonne Road, east of Tolson Road, and south of Raspberry Lane;and assigning azoning classification of RS-1(Residential Single-Family) (District 4)
18. CO-109-2025 An ordinance of the Lafayette City Council amending
19. CO-110-2025 An ordinance of the Lafayette City Council amending the Lafayette Development Code so
the
of Case No. 2025-19-REZ 400 BlockofCroft Row Rezoning, located generally north of DunveganCourt, west of CullodenLane, andsouth of Driftwood Street;being rezoned from RS-1(Residential Single-Family) to RM-1(Residential Mixed).
20. CO-111-2025Anordinanceofthe Lafayette City Council amending the FY 24/25 operating&capitalbudgetofthe Lafayette City-Parish ConsolidatedGovernment to provide for adjustments of revenue andappropriation estimates.
21. CO-112-2025Anordinanceofthe Lafayette City Council authorizing the Lafayette Mayor-President to enterinto an Actof Depositonbehalfofthe Lafayette PoliceDepartment of mounted horse RIO to Senior CorporalDavidStanley(PoliceHorse).
22. CO-113-2025Anordinanceofthe Lafayette City Council amending City Ordinance Nos. CO-037-2023, CO 034 2021, and CO-038-2023toclarify the authority grantedtothe Department of Finance to make administrative revisions to the operating andcapitalbudgets of Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government relatedtoNTIA Grant, EDA-NewIberia Grant, and EDA-Jennings Grant.
23. CO-114-2025AnordinanceoftheLafayetteCityCouncilamending the FY 24/25 operatingbudgetand adjusting the manning tables of the Lafayette City-Parish ConsolidatedGovernment to make various personnel adjustments per Civil Service recommendation within the Communications Department.
24. CO-115-2025Anordinanceofthe Lafayette City Council declaring the St. John Street Sidewalks Project apublic necessityand authorizingthe acquisition of the necessary rightsof-way,immovable property andotherproperty rights requisite to the construction of said project, eitheronanamicablebasisor through the proper use of the expropriation process, if necessary.
25. CO-116-2025Anordinanceofthe Lafayette City Council declaring the South BeadleRoadSidewalks Project apublic necessityand authorizingthe acquisition of the necessary rightsof-way,immovable property andotherproperty rights requisite to the construction of said project, eitheronanamicablebasisor through the proper use of the expropriation process, if necessary.
26. CO-117-2025Anordinanceofthe Lafayette City Council authorizing the Lafayette Mayor-President and/or the Director of Utilitiestoaccept the sub-award of agrantunderthe Section 40101(D) GridResilienceFormula GrantProgram, authorizing acost matchfor said grant in the amount of $3,982,500,and amending the FY 24/25 capitalbudgetofthe Lafayette CityParish ConsolidatedGovernment by transferringthe sum of $2,057,500 from RetainedEarnings Reserve to the Copper Overhead Line Rehabilitation,Wood Pole Improvements, and Distribution Automation/Feeder Restoration Projectswithin the UtilitiesDepartment.
27. CO-118-2025 An ordinance of the Lafayette City Council authorizingthe Lafayette Mayor-President to execute the Amendment No. 5tothe Wholesale WaterAgreementbetween the Lafayette City-Parish ConsolidatedGovernment andthe City of Broussard,Louisiana
The Chair thencalledfor avote to introducethe ordinances (items 17 thru 27),inglobo, andthe vote wasasfollows: YEAS: Broussard,Naquin, Hebert, Hooks, Boudreaux NAYS: None ABSENT:None ABSTAIN: None Motion to introduce, in globo, was approved.
Item #24 –MilesMattquestioned the plans for the St John Street sidewalk project. He explainedthathewas not awarethatany design workwas going to happen. Mattrequested thatLCG involvesthe stakeholders located on St. John Street
BouletexplainedtoMattthatthe project is to bring walkability and connectivity to downtown.
Abadie stated thattheyare at the beginning of the conceptualstage.He notedthathis department will engage with property owners along the stretch of St. John Street
Greg Walls signed in but passed his turntospeak.
JOINT INTRODUCTORYORDINANCES
Amotion to introduceagenda items 28 thru31, in globo, was offeredby Naquin, seconded by Hebert.
28. JO-052-2025A joint ordinanceofthe Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council amending the FY 24/25 operating budget of the Lafayette City-Parish ConsolidatedGovernment to provide for adjustments of revenue andappropriation estimates.
29. JO-053-2025A joint ordinance of the Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council amending the FY 24/25 operating andcapitalbudgets of the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government, recognizing revenues in the amount of $5,000,000 received from the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD), appropriating within the Traffic, Roads, andBridges Department, TrafficEngineering Division, authorizing the Lafayette Mayor-President to execute contractswith the Louisiana Department of Transportation andDevelopment (DOTD) for the Project (H.016577) LA 733 (E. Broussard)@ VincentRoadRoundabout anddeclaring the project apublic necessity, authorizing the acquisition of the necessary rights-ofway, immovable property andotherproperty rights requisite to the construction of said project, eitheronanamicablebasisor through the proper use of the expropriation process, if necessary.
30. JO-054-2025 Ajoint ordinanceofthe Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council declaring the Veterinarian Road Bridge ReplacementProject apublic necessityand authorizing the acquisition of the necessary rights-of-way, immovable property andotherproperty rights requisite to the construction of said project, eitheronanamicablebasisorthrough the proper use of the expropriation process, if necessary.
31. JO-055-2025 Ajoint ordinanceofthe Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council providing for the abandonment of a ten(10’)foot utility servitude on Lot E-127-A andE-127-B of the BoisDeLafayette,Inc.Subdivision, located at 700 and702 East Bayou Parkway
The Chair thencalledfor avote to introducethe ordinances (items 28 thru 31),inglobo, andthe vote wasasfollows:
YEAS: Broussard,Naquin, Hebert, Hooks, Boudreaux
NAYS: None
ABSENT:None
ABSTAIN: None Motion to introduce, in globo, was approved. (6:55:00) ADJOURN
Therebeing no furtherbusiness to come beforethe Council, Chair Boudreauxdeclared the RegularMeeting adjourned.
/s/ Joseph Gordon-Wiltz
JOSEPH GORDON-WILTZ, LAFAYETTE CLERK OF THE COUNCIL
