The Acadiana Advocate 10-11-2025

LET’S DANCE

Crowd turns out for first day of Festivals Acadiens et Creoles

Food aid continuing for now

BY MARK BALLARD Staff writer

WASHINGTON — The Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program, commonly known as food stamps, will continue despite a government shutdown, officials say as long as the standoff doesn’t last into November. The U.S. Department of Agriculture receives money for SNAP a month in advance, according to its shutdown plan. But most of the department’s staff was sent home, which will cause delays in processing applications and verifying benefits.

ä See FOOD, page 4A

Haynes seeking new trial

BY KRISTIN ASKELSON Staff writer

Gary Haynes, the former Lafayette assistant district attorney who was convicted on federal bribery charges last month, on Thursday filed a motion for a new trial.

On Sept. 18, after hearing eight days of testimony and arguments, a 12-person federal jury unanimously found Haynes guilty on six charges related to a kickback scheme involving the pretrial intervention program he ran in the 15th Judicial District Attorney’s Office in Lafayette.

In Thursday’s motion, Haynes’ defense attorney, Todd Clemons, requested a new trial based on improper exclusion of evidence, improper admission of evidence, prosecutorial misconduct and statements and judicial bias. According to the motion, the jury should have been allowed to hear audio recordings that the defense says were favorable to Haynes; to hear evidence about co-defendant Leonard Franques’ wife’s corrections to her FBI statements; to hear about 15th Judicial District Attorney Don Landry’s “inconsistent statements”; and to hear recordings that allegedly contradicted evidence the government introduced. Clemons was not immediately available to comment on the motion.

U.S. District Court Judge David Joseph will consider the request for a new trial.

See HAYNES, page 4A

Firings triggered by shutdown begin

BY SEUNG MIN KIM and STEPHEN GROVES Associated Press

Employees at the departments of Education, Treasury Homeland Security and Health and Human Services, as well as the Environmental Protection Agency, were set to receive the notices, according to spokespeople for the agencies and union representatives for federal workers.

The aggressive move by Trump’s

WASHINGTON The White House budget office said Friday that mass firings of federal workers have started, an attempt by President Donald Trump’s administration to exert more pressure on Democratic lawmakers as the government shutdown dragged into a 10th day Russ Vought, the director of the Office of Management and Budget, said on the social media site X that the “RIFs have begun,” referring to reduction-in-force plans aimed at reducing the size of the federal government. A spokesperson for the budget office said the reductions are “substantial” but did not offer more details.

White House seeks to pressure Democrats Vought ä See FIRINGS, page 4A

Haynes

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By ALLISON ROBBERT

U.S. Capitol Police monitor the perimeter of the Capitol on Thursday as the government shutdown entered its ninth day.

STAFF PHOTOS By LESLIE WESTBROOK

Festivalgoers dance and enjoy the music of Zachary Richard during Festivals Acadiens et Creoles on Friday at Girard Park.

ABOVE: From left, Ben Berthelot, president and CEO of Lafayette Travel; Rodolphe Sambou, consul general of France in New Orleans; Laurent Bili, French ambassador to the United States; Lafayette Parish Mayor-President Monique Boulet; Charlotte Bazelaire, mayor of Namur, Belgium; and state Reps. Annie Spell and Julie Emerson react as links of boudin break during Friday’s opening ceremony of Festivals Acadiens et Creoles. LEFT: Zachary Richard performs during the opening night of the festival.

Trump visits Walter Reed for ‘semiannual physical’

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump had what he has described as a “semiannual physical” at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Friday

The visit, which the White House announced earlier this week, comes as Trump is preparing to travel to the Middle East on the heels of a ceasefire deal in the Israel-Hamas war White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt described it as a “routine yearly checkup,” although Trump had his annual physical in April.

Trump left the White House about 10:45 a.m. on Friday and returned to the grounds at 2:15 p.m., which was slightly ahead of schedule. He did not answer questions from reporters upon his arrival and the White House has not indicated when it would release results or more information about his exams.

The White House declined to explain why Trump was getting a yearly checkup at Walter Reed, which is in Bethesda, Maryland, six months after his annual exam. But in an exchange with reporters Thursday, the Republican president said it was a “semiannual physical.”

“I’m meeting with the troops and I’m also going to do a, sort of, semiannual physical, which I do,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. “I think I’m in great shape, but I’ll let you know.”

Russian strikes wound at least 20 in Kyiv KYIV Ukraine Russian drone and missile strikes wounded at least 20 people in Kyiv, damaged residential buildings and caused blackouts across swaths of Ukraine early Friday, authorities said. A child also was killed in separate attacks in the southeast of the country

In the heart of the Ukrainian capital, rescue crews pulled more than 20 people out of a 17-story apartment building as flames engulfed the sixth and seventh floors. Five people were hospitalized, while others received first aid at the scene, authorities said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Moscow of lashing out against Ukrainian cities in response to frontline failures in the east. “They can show nothing on the battlefield. All they can do is attack our power sector and attack our cities,” Zelenskyy told reporters late Friday.

Residents in a central Kyiv district that suffered one of the attacks described scene of chaos during the overnight strike Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko also described the attack as “one of the largest concentrated strikes” against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.

Ukraine’s national energy operator, Ukrenergo, reported power outages in Kyiv and the wider region, as well as in the Sumy, Kharkiv, Poltava, Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Cherkasy regions

Pope urges journalists to be bulwark against lies

VATICAN CITY Pope Leo XIV encouraged international news agencies on Thursday to stand firm as a bulwark against the “ancient art of lying” and manipulation, as he strongly backed a free, independent and objective press.

History’s first American pope called for imprisoned journalists to be released and said the work of journalists must never be considered a crime Rather, journalism is a right and a pillar upholding “the edifice of our societies” that must be protected and defended, he said.

“If today we know what is happening in Gaza, Ukraine and every other land bloodied by bombs, we largely owe it to them,” Leo said of journalists. “These extraordinary eyewitness accounts are the culmination of the daily efforts of countless people who work to ensure that information is not manipulated for ends that are contrary to truth and human dignity.”

Leo’s comments came in a speech to executives of international news agencies belonging to MINDS International, a consortium of leading agencies including The Associated Press.

In his five months as pope, the Chicago-born Leo has spoken out strongly on the need to protect freedom of expression and the rights of journalists.

pause in their war and the release of the remaining hostages.

Ceasefire in Gaza goes into effect

Thousands of Palestinians return to what’s left of their homes

BY ABDEL KAREEM HANA, WAFAA SHURAFA and MELANIE LIDMAN Associated Press

WADI GAZA, Gaza Strip Tens of thousands of Palestinians headed back to the heavily destroyed northern Gaza Strip on Friday as a U.S.-brokered ceasefire came into effect in a deal that raised hopes for ending the Israel-Hamas war All the remaining hostages were set to be released within days.

Questions remain over who will govern Gaza as Israeli troops gradually pull back and whether Hamas will disarm, as called for in U.S. President Donald Trump’s ceasefire plan. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who unilaterally ended a ceasefire in March, hinted that Israel might renew its offensive if Hamas does not give up its weapons.

The latest truce nevertheless marks a key step toward ending a ruinous twoyear war that was triggered by Hamas’ 2023 attack on Israel. The fighting has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians and displaced around 90% of the Gaza population of some 2 million, often multiple times. Many of them will find fields of rubble where their homes once stood.

The military confirmed the start of the ceasefire Friday and the remaining 48 hostages, around 20 of them believed to be alive, are to be released by Monday Palestinians said heavy shelling in parts of Gaza earlier on Friday had mostly stopped after the military’s announcement.

Netanyahu said in a televised statement Friday that the next stages would see Hamas disarm and Gaza demilitarized.

“If this is achieved the easy way — so be it. If not — it will be achieved the hard way,” Netanyahu said.

The Israeli military has said it will continue to operate defensively from the

roughly 50% of Gaza it still controls after pulling back to agreed-upon lines.

Meanwhile, the United Nations was given the green light by Israel to begin delivering scaled-up aid into Gaza starting Sunday, a U.N. official said. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss details not yet made public.

The aid shipments are meant to address severe malnutrition and famine conditions triggered by Israeli offensives and restrictions on humanitarian help. The International Criminal Court is seeking the arrest of Netanyahu and his former defense minister for allegedly using starvation as a method of war Israeli officials deny the accusations.

The aid will include 170,000 metric tons that have already been positioned in neighboring countries such as Jordan and Egypt as humanitarian officials awaited permission from Israeli forces to restart their work.

U.N. officials and Israeli authorities have engaged in a series of discussions in Jerusalem over the last 24 hours about the volume of aid humanitarian organizations can bring in and through which entry points.

U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told reporters Friday that fuel, medical supplies and other critical materials have started flowing through the Kareem Shalom crossing. U.N. officials want Israel to open more border crossings and provide safe movement for aid workers and civilians who are returning to parts of Gaza that were under heavy fire until only recently

In the past several months, the U.N and its partners have been able to deliver only 20% of the aid needed in the Gaza Strip, according to U.N. humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher

A steady stream of people, the vast majority on foot, crammed onto a coastal road in the central Gaza Strip, heading north to see what might remain of their homes. It was a repeat of emotional scenes from an earlier ceasefire in January Others headed to different parts of the Palestinian territory in the south.

19 missing, feared dead after Tenn. explosives plant blast

BY TRAVIS LOLLER Associated Press

McEWEN,Tenn.— A blast that leveled an explosives plant Friday in rural Tennessee left 19 people missing and feared dead, authorities said.

Humphreys County Sheriff Chris Davis said the blast at Accurate Energetic Systems, which supplies the military was one of the worst scenes he’s ever seen. He said multiple people were killed but declined to say how many, referring to the 19 missing as “souls” because officials were still speaking to family

“There’s nothing to describe. It’s gone,” Davis said of the building. The blast occurred about 7:45 a.m., Davis said, with aerial footage by WTVF-TV showing the smoldering hilltop facility and the burnt-out shells of vehicles.

People reported hearing and feeling the explosion from miles away The company’s website says it processes explosives and ammunition at an eight-building facility that sprawls across wooded hills in the Bucksnort area, about 60 miles southwest of Nashville Davis said investigators are trying to determine what happened and couldn’t say what caused the explosion. Emergency crews were initially unable to enter the plant because of continuing detonations, Hickman County Advanced EMT David

Stewart said by phone.

By Friday afternoon, there was no further danger of explosions, and the scene was under control, according to Grey Collier, a spokesperson for the Humphreys County Emergency Management Agency

Accurate Energetic Systems based in nearby McEwen, did not immediately respond to a phone message seeking comment Friday morning. Accurate Energetic Systems has been awarded numerous military contracts, largely by the U.S Army and Navy, to supply different types of munitions and explosives, according to public records. The products ranged from bulk explosives to land mines and small breaching charges, including C4.

Trump threatens new China tariff, tech export limits

BY JOSH BOAK and DIDI TANG Associated Press

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump said Friday that he’s placing an additional 100% tax on Chinese imports starting on Nov 1 or sooner, potentially escalating tariff rates close to levels that in April fanned fears of a global recession.

The president said on his social media site that he is imposing these new tariffs because of export controls placed on rare earth elements by China. The new tariffs built on an earlier post Friday on Truth Social in which Trump said that “there seems to be no reason” to meet with Chinese leader Xi Jinping as part of an upcoming trip to South Korea.

Trump said that “starting November 1st, 2025 (or sooner, depending on any further actions or changes taken by China), the United States of America will impose a Tariff of 100% on China, over and above any Tariff that they are currently paying.”

The announcement came after financial markets closed on Friday and risked throwing the global economy into turmoil. Not only could the global trade war instigated by Trump be rekindled, but import taxes being heaped on top of the 30% already being levied on Chinese goods could, by the administration’s past statements, cause trade to break down between the U.S. and China in ways that could cause growth worldwide to slump.

While Trump’s wording was definitive, he is also famously known for backing down from threats. Some investors began engaging in what The Financial Times called the “TACO” trade, which stands for “Trump Always Chickens Out.”

The prospect of tariffs this large could compound the president’s own political worries inside the U.S., potentially pushing up inflation at a moment when the job market appears

fragile and the drags from a government shutdown are starting to compound into layoffs of federal workers. The president also said that the U.S. government would respond to China by putting its own export controls “on any and all critical software” from American firms. The U.S and China have been jostling for advantage in trade talks, after the import taxes announced earlier this year triggered a trade war between the world’s two largest economies. Both nations agreed to ratchet down tariffs after negotiations in Switzerland and the United Kingdom, yet tensions remain as China has continued to restrict America’s access to the difficult-to-mine rare earths needed for a wide array of U.S. technologies.

Trump did not formally cancel the meeting with Xi, so much as indicating that it might not happen as part of a trip at the end of the month in Asia. The trip was scheduled to include a stop in Malaysia, which is hosting the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit; a stop in Japan; and a visit to South Korea, where he was slated to meet with Xi ahead of the AsiaPacific Economic Cooperation summit.

“I was to meet President Xi in two weeks, at APEC, in South Korea, but now there seems to be no reason to do so,” Trump posted. Trump’s threat shattered a monthslong calm on Wall Street, and the S&P 500 tumbled 2.7% on worries about the rising tensions between the world’s largest economies.

On Thursday the Chinese government restricted access to the rare earths ahead of the scheduled Trump-Xi meeting. Beijing would require foreign companies to get special approval for shipping the metallic elements abroad. It also announced permitting requirements on exports of technologies used in the mining, smelting and recycling of rare earths.

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ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By ABDEL KAREEM HANA

A displaced Palestinian girl carries a bag on her head Friday as she walks along the coastal road near Wadi Gaza in the central Gaza Strip, heading toward Gaza City after Israel and Hamas agreed to a

WTVF-TV PHOTO

Smoke fills the air and debris covers the ground Friday after a blast ripped through a military explosives manufacturing plant in Hickman County, Tenn.

Venezuelan opposition leader wins NobelPeace Prize

BY KOSTYAMANENKOV, REGINA GARCIA CANO and GEIR MOULSON Associated Press

OSLO,Norway Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday for her struggle to achieve ademocratic transition in the South American nation, winning recognition as awoman “who keeps the flame of democracy burning amid agrowing darkness.”

The former opposition presidential candidate is a “key,unifying figure” in the once deeply divided opposition to President Nicolás Maduro’sgovernment, said Jørgen Watne Frydnes, chair of the Norwegian Nobel committee.

“In the past year,Ms. Machado has been forced to live in hiding,” Watne Frydnes said. “Despite serious threats against her life, she has remained in the country,achoice that has inspired millions. When authoritarians seize power,it is crucial to recognize courageous defenders offreedom who rise and resist.”

“This is something that the Venezuelan people deserve,” Machado said in acall with the Norwegian Nobel Institute. “I am just part of ahuge movement. I’m humbled, I’m grateful and I’m honored not only by this recognition, but I’m honored to be part of what’sgoing on in Venezuela today.”

“I believe that we are very

close to achieving, finally freedom forour country andpeace for the region,” she said, adding that “even though we face themost brutal violence, oursociety has resisted” andinsisted on strugglingbypeaceful means.“Ibelieve that the world will now understand how urgent it is to finally,you know, succeed Maduro’s governmenthas routinely targetedits real or perceived opponents

Machado,who turned 58 this week, wasset torun against Maduro in last year’s presidentialelection,but the government disqualified her Edmundo González,who had neverrun for office before, took her place. The lead-up to theelectionsaw widespread repression, including disqualifications,arrests and humanrights violations The crackdown on dissent onlyincreased after the country’sNational Electoral Council, which is stacked with Maduro loyalists, declared him the winnerdespitecredibleevidencetothe contrary

Theelectionresults announced by theElectoral Council sparked protests across thecountry to which thegovernmentresponded with force that ended with more than 20 people dead. Theyalsoprompted an end to diplomatic relations between Venezuela andvarious foreign countries, including Argentina.

Machado went intohiding andhas not been seen in pub-

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILEPHOTO By ARIANA CUBILLOS Venezuelan oppositionleader María Corina Machado addresses supporters on Jan. 9 at aprotest against PresidentNicolasMaduroinCaracas, Venezuela, the daybefore his inauguration for athird term. Machado wonthe Nobel Peace PrizeonFriday.

lic since January.AVenezuelan court issued an arrest warrant for González over the publication of election results. Spain granted him asylum.

Morethan 800 peopleare in prisoninVenezuela for political reasons, including González’s son-in-law, Rafael Tudares, according to the human rightsadvocacy group ForoPenal.

Dozensofthose prisoners participated in Machado’s efforts last year.Some of her closestcollaborators, including hercampaign manager avoidedprison by sheltering for morethan ayear at a diplomatic compound in Caracas. They remained there

until May,when they fled to the U.S.

Early Friday in Caracas, some people heading to work expressed disbelief at the news of Machado’swin.

“I don’tknow what can be done to improve thesituation, but she deserves it,” said Sandra Martínez, 32, as she waited at abus stop. “She’s agreat woman.”

There was no immediate reaction from Maduro’sgovernment Venezuela’sambassador to the United Nations, Samuel Moncada,saidhedidn’t knowthe government’sreaction but thathebelieves Machado doesn’t deserve the prize.“She hasthe same

National GuardstandsdowninIllinois

credentials forthe Nobelof physics than for the peace Nobel,” he said.

Support forMachadoand the oppositioningeneral has decreased since the July 2024 election —particularly since January,when Maduro was sworn in fora third sixyear term anddisappointment set in.

Machado was included in Time magazine’s listof 100 mostinfluential people in April. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio wrote her entry, in whichhedescribed her as “the Venezuelan Iron Lady” and “the personification of resilience, tenacity, and patriotism.” In August 2024, Rubio,then

aU.S. senator, was among eight U.S. lawmakers who signeda letter to theNobel Committee supporting the nomination of Machadofor the prize. Machado becomes the 20thwoman to win the NobelPeace Prize, of the 112 individuals whohave been honored. There had been persistent speculation ahead of theannouncementabout thepossibility of the prize going to U.S. President Donald Trump, fueledinpartbythe president himself and amplified by this week’sapproval of his plan for aceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

Askedabout lobbying for andbyTrump, Watne Frydnessaid: “Wereceive thousands and thousands of letters every yearofpeople wanting to say what for them leads to peace.

“This committee sits in a room filled with the portraits of alllaureates,and that room is filled with both courage and integrity.Sowebase only ourdecisiononthe work andthe will of Alfred Nobel.” WhiteHouse spokesperson Steven Cheung said in apost on Xthat “President Trump will continue making peace deals around the world, ending wars, andsaving lives.” He added that “the Nobel Committee proved they place politics over peace.”

Trump congratulated Machado in aphone call, her campaign manager Magalli Meda confirmed to The Associated Press.

BY ADRIAN SAINZ and CHRISTINE FERNANDO Associated Press

MEMPHIS,Tenn. National Guard troops patrolled in Tennessee’ssecond-largest city for the first time Friday while soldiersinIllinois wereengagedonly in planning and training aftera judge handed aloss to the Trump administration and blockedtheir deployment to the Chicago area. At least nine armed Guard members began their patrol at the Bass Pro Shops located at the Pyramid, an iconic Memphis landmark, about amile from historic Beale Street and FedEx Forum, where the NBA’s Grizzlies play They also were at anearby tourist welcomecenter along the Mississippi River Wearing Guard fatigues and protective vests labeled “military police,” the troops were escorted by alocal police officer and posed for photos with visitors.

Meanwhile, in Illinois, Democratic U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth said they werebarred from visiting an immigration enforcementbuilding nearChicago. For weeks it’sbeen home to occasional clashes between protesters and federal agents

“What are you afraid of?” Duckworth told reporters, referring to the government. “You don’thide, you don’trun awaywhen you’re proud of what you’re doing.”

In Memphis, Mayor Paul Young, aDemocrat,said he never requested that the Guard come to his city But after President Donald

Trumpmadethe Sept. 15 announcement and Republican Gov.Bill Lee agreed, Young and others said they wanted thetask force to focus on targetingviolentoffenders rather than use theirpresence to scare, harass or intimidate the general public.

Police ChiefCerelyn “CJ” Davis said she hoped Guard personnel would help direct traffic and have apresence in “retail corridors,” but not be usedtooperate checkpoints or anything similar.

It was unclear how many Guard members wereon theground Friday or were expected to arrivelater.Lee previouslysaid troops would not make arrests and would notbe armedunlesslocal law enforcement officials request it.

Foryears, Memphis, whose populationexceeds 600,000, has dealtwith high violentcrime,including assaults, carjackingsand homicides. Whilethis year’s statistics show improvementinseveral categories, including murders, many acknowledge thatviolence remains aproblem.

Federal officials say hun-

dreds of arrests and more than 2,800 trafficcitations have been madesince afederal task force beganoperating in Memphis on Sept.29. Arrestcategories include active warrants, drugs, firearms andsex offenses, according to the U.S. Marshals Service.Four arrests have been madeonhomicide charges, the Marshals Service said.

Someresidents said the Guard is notwhatMemphis needs.

“Totally useless, worthless, notcalled for because the money thatthey’re gonna spend on that —ifthey would give it to us to let us do improvements in our city,”said Loretta Davis, whoemphasized that young people need moreoptions.

Friday’sdevelopment comes after U.S.District Judge AprilPerry blocked deployment of troops in the Chicago area for at least two weeks.

Theon-again,off-againdeployments stem from apolitical andlegal battle over Trump’spush to send the Guard to several U.S. cities. Hisadministration claims

crime is rampant in those cities,despite statistics not always supporting that.

If apresident invokes the Insurrection Act, they can dispatch active duty militaryinstates that fail to put down an insurrection or defy federal law.However,Perry saidshe found no substantial evidence that a“danger of rebellion” is brewing in Illinois during Trump’simmigration crackdown.

The court order offered a victoryfor Democratic officials wholead thecity and state and who have called the deployments unnecessary and illegal. Thereis“no place for the National Guard in the streetsofAmerican cities like Chicago,” Gov.JBPritzker said.

The orderinIllinois is settoexpire Oct. 23 at 11:59p.m.Perryset an Oct. 22 hearing to determine if it should be extended for another 14 days. Thefederal government is appealing.

The500 Guard members fromTexas andIllinois were mostly based at aU.S. Army Reserve Center in Elwood, southwestofChicago. A small numberwere sent to aU.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building in Broadview,the sitewere Durbin andDuckworth tried to visit Lt. Cmdr.TheresaMeadows, aspokeswoman for U.S. NorthernCommand, said soldiers were conductingplanningand training in Illinois but no “operational activities,”following the court order Ajudge this week ordered ICEtoremove afence around the building’sperimeter after Broadview officials said it blocked apublic street and caused problems for first responders. The fence was still up Friday afternoon.

Pentagon to build training facility for Qatari pilots in Idaho

BY KONSTANTIN TOROPIN Associated Press

WASHINGTON The U.S. military is moving forwardwith plans to builda dedicated facilityinIdaho to train pilots from Qatar, an important U.S. ally in the Middle East, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Friday Hegseth, whomadethe announcement during avisit by Qatar’sdefense minister,said the facility to be built at the Mountain Home Air Force Base would “host acontingent of Qatari F-15s andpilotstoenhance our combined training, increase the lethality,interoperability.”

The arrangement is not unusual. Pentagon officials noted that similar facilities have been setupfor other allies for decades, and the Idaho base already hosts a fightersquadron from Singapore.

But the news drew a sharp rebuke from close Trump ally and right-wing influencer Laura Loomer, whocalledthe plan “an abomination” and accused the Qataris of being associated with Islamic terror organizations.

“No foreign country should have amilitary base on US soil. Especially Islamic countries,” Loomer wrote in one of several social media posts just hours after Hegseth’sannouncement.

Although Loomer holds no formal position within the Trumpadministration, her online complaints have a history of achievingresults Hercriticismshaveled to thefiring of officials on the

National Security Council; Dr.VinayPrasad, theFood andDrug Administration’s vaccine chief; andGen. Tim Haugh, the head of theNational Security Agency Qatar would pay for the construction of thenew facility, adefense official said, speaking on condition of anonymity to provide information not publicly released. When askedfor more details, Hegseth’sofficesaidithad nothing to offerbeyond the secretary’s remarks. The announcement comes just days afterPresident Donald Trumpsigned an executive order vowing to use all measures, including U.S. military action,todefend Qatar,which hosts the biggest U.S. military basein the Middle East. Loomer also criticized that decision, writing “I don’twant to diefor Qatar Do you?” on social media However, she wasnot alone. The Wall Street Journal’s editorial board also questioned the pledge, writing that “this is adecision that can be andshould have been debated.” The small, gas-rich countryplayeda keyrolein negotiating the mostrecent ceasefire between Israel and Hamas aimed at ending the war in Gaza, as well as in several other key negotiations. Doha, the capital of Qatar,came under surprise attack from Israel last monthasmembers of Hamas were in the city last monthtodiscuss aceasefire.

Qatar also lavished a$400 million jumbo jet on Trump foruse as Air Force One.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By GEORGEWALKER IV

Members of National Guard patrol outsidea Bass Pro Shops on Friday in Memphis, Tenn.

budget office goes far beyond what usually happens in a government shutdown and escalates an already politically toxic dynamic between the White House and Congress. Talks to end the shutdown are almost nonexistent

Typically, federal workers are furloughed but restored to their jobs once the shutdown ends traditionally with back pay Some 750,000 employees are expected to be furloughed during the shutdown, officials have said.

Some leading Republicans were highly critical of the administration’s actions

“I strongly oppose OMB Director Russ Vought’s attempt to permanently lay off federal workers who have been furloughed due to a completely unnecessary government shutdown,” said Maine Sen. Susan Collins, the chair of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, who blamed the federal closure on Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski called the announcement “poorly timed” and “yet another example of this administration’s punitive actions toward the federal workforce.” She urged affected Alaskans to reach out to her office.

For his part, Schumer said the blame for the layoffs rested with Trump.

“Let’s be blunt: nobody’s forcing Trump and Vought to do this,” Schumer said. “They don’t have to do it; they want to. They’re callously choosing to hurt people the workers who protect our country, inspect our food, respond when disasters strike. This is deliberate chaos.”

The White House had previewed its tactics shortly before the government shutdown began on Oct. 1, telling all federal agencies to submit their reduction-in-force plans to the budget office for its review It said reduction-in-force plans could apply to federal programs whose funding would lapse in a government shutdown, are otherwise not funded and are “not consistent with the President’s priorities.”

On Friday the Education Department was among the agencies hit by new layoffs, a department spokesperson said. A labor union for the agency’s workers said the administration is laying off almost all employees below the director level at the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, while

FOOD

Continued from page 1A

The shutdown left some programs, such as Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children — commonly known as WIC — about to run out of money sooner But the Trump administration announced it would divert tariff dollars to continue providing vouchers for about 7 million low-income women to buy infant formula and other food. The tariff money is not part of the appropriations imbroglio that caused the government closure Tariffs imposed or increased by President Donald Trump to stimulate U.S manufacturing have collected about $190 billion so far The shutdown occurred

HAYNES

Continued from page 1A

Haynes is scheduled for sentencing by Joseph on Dec. 17. Three men have pleaded guilty to their roles in the bribery and kickback scheme.

Dusty Guidry, considered the architect of the schemes, was sentenced Oct. 1 to four years in prison.

fewer than 10 employees were being terminated at the agency’s Office of Communications and Outreach Notices of firings have also taken place at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency which leads federal efforts to reduce risk to the nation’s cyber and physical infrastructure, according to the Department of Homeland Security, where CISA is housed. The agency has been a frequent Trump target over its work to counter misinformation about the 2020 presidential election and the COVID-19 pandemic, and DHS said the layoffs were “part of getting CISA back on mission.”

because Republicans and Democrats in Congress couldn’t agree on a new appropriations bill, so authority to spend money expired Oct. 1. But, since it is the beginning of a new fiscal year, some policies automatically began. So the shutdown coincided with changes in how federal food assistance programs are administered.

One was the annual costof-living update that increased food stamp benefits. A family of four now will receive up to $994 per month — a $19 increase from last fiscal year’s maximum benefit. An average of 847,100 people received SNAP benefits monthly in Louisiana, or about 18% of the state’s population, according to the department’s 2024 numbers. Nationwide, the monthly average is about 42 million

Businessm en L eonard Franques and Joseph Prejean were also scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 1, but were granted a delay until Oct 21. Prejean entered a plea deal in December 2023, pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery He admitted he accepted payments from offenders to take classes from vendors like himself with the pretrial intervention program to clear their criminal records.

Federal health workers were also being fired, though a Department of Health and Human Services spokesman did not say how many or which agencies were being hit hardest. A spokesperson for the EPA, which also has unspecified number of layoffs, blamed the Democrats for the firings and said they can vote to reopen the government anytime.

An official for the American Federation of Government Employees, which represents federal workers and is suing the Trump administration over the firings, said in a legal filing Friday that the Treasury Department is set to issue layoff notices to 1,300 employees.

people, or about 12% of the nation’s population.

The Department of Agriculture has also reminded states to get their procedures in order by Nov. 1 for new work requirements mandated in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which became law on July 4.

The new rules raise the upper age limit for the requirement that able-bodied adults without dependents work at least 20 hours per week or participate in a work program. It now applies to people aged 59 to 65 years. If they don’t, then they will lose their food stamps after three months. There are exceptions, and states can apply for waivers in areas with high unemployment.

Email Mark Ballard at mballard@theadvocate. com.

Participating vendors split the money with Dusty Guidry, who worked in the pretrial program, and Haynes.

In January 2024, Franques pleaded guilty as part of a plea agreement to one felony count of conspiracy to defraud the United States. Staff writer Claire Taylor contributed to this report. Email Kristin Askelson at kaskelson@theadvocate. com.

the firings, calling the action an abuse

of power designed to punish workers and pressure Congress.

“It is disgraceful that the Trump administration has used the government shutdown as an excuse to illegally fire thousands of workers who provide critical services to communities across the country,” AFGE President Everett Kelley said in a statement.

Democrats have tried to call the administration’s bluff, arguing the firings could be illegal, and had seemed bolstered by the fact that the White House had not immediately pursued the layoffs once the shutdown began.

But Trump signaled earlier this week that job cuts could be coming in “four or five days.”

“If this keeps going on, it’ll be substantial, and a lot of those jobs will never come back,” he said Tuesday in the Oval Office as he met with Canada’s prime minis-

ter, Mark Carney Meanwhile, the halls of the Capitol were quiet Friday, the 10th day of the shutdown, with both the House and the Senate out of Washington and both sides digging in for a protracted shutdown fight. Senate Republicans have tried repeatedly to cajole Democratic holdouts to vote for a stopgap bill to reopen the government, but Democrats have refused as they hold out for a firm commitment to extend health care benefits.

Some Republicans on Capitol Hill have suggested that Vought’s threats of mass layoffs have been unhelpful to bipartisan talks on the funding standoff. And the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, Sen. Patty Murray, of Washington, said in a statement that the “shutdown does not give Trump or Vought new, special powers” to lay off workers.

“This is nothing new, and no one should be intimidated by these crooks,” she added.

Still, there was no sign that the top Democratic and Republican Senate leaders were even talking about a way to solve the impasse. Instead, Senate Majority Leader John Thune continued to try to peel away centrist Democrats who may be willing to cross party lines as the shutdown pain drags on.

“It’s time for them to get a backbone,” Thune, R-S.D said during a news conference. The Partnership for Public Service, a nonpartisan organization that tracks federal service, says more than 200,000 civil servants have left since the start of this administration in January due to earlier firings, retirements and deferred resignation offers.

“These unnecessary and misguided reductions in force will further hollow out our federal government, rob it of critical expertise and hobble its capacity to effectively serve the public,” said the organization’s president and CEO, Max Stier

The AFGE asked a federal judge to halt

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTOS By J SCOTT APPLEWHITE

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-Jefferson, left, and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-Benton, talk to reporters on Friday as the government shutdown begins its 10th day.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.y., speaks to reporters Friday.

Johnson cancels another week’s House session

Speaker keeps lawmakers away amid

BY LISA MASCARO

AP congressional correspondent

WASHINGTON Mike Johnson

is the speaker of a House that is no longer in session.

The Republican leader sent lawmakers home three weeks ago after the House approved a bill to fund the federal government. They haven’t been back in working session since And on Friday, his leadership team announced they won’t be returning next week either In the intervening time, the government has shut down. President Donald Trump began a mass firing of federal workers. And a Democrat, Adelita Grijalva, won a special election in Arizona but has not been sworn into office to take her seat in Congress.

“People are upset. I’m upset. I’m a very patient man, but I am angry right now,” Johnson said during one of his almost daily news conferences on the empty side of the Capitol.

“I’m doing our job. We passed the bill,” he said Friday, as he left the building. “It’s on the Senate. They’re the ones playing games All the questions need to be for them.”

The House’s absence is creating a risky political dilemma for Johnson. It’s test-

ing his leadership, his grip on the gavel and the legacy he will leave as speaker of a House that is essentially writing itself off the page at a crucial moment in the national debate

There are few easy choices on the schedule ahead. If the speaker calls lawmakers back to Washington, he opens the doors to a potentially chaotic atmosphere of anger uncertainty and his own GOP defections and divisions as the shutdown drags on.

But by keeping the representatives away going on a fourth week, lawmakers risk being criticized for being absent during a crisis — “on vacation,” as House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries puts it — as the military goes without pay and government services shut down.

Johnson’s initial strategy to avoid the government shutdown was a well-worn one — have the House pass its bill, leave town right before the deadline and force the Senate to accept it. Jamming the other chamber, as it’s often called. And it often works. But this time, it’s a strategy that is failing.

GOP senators have been unable to heave the House bill to passage, blocked by most of the Democrats, who are refusing to reopen the government as they demand health care funds for insurance subsidies that will expire at year’s end if Congress fails to act.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune R-S.D., has been

trying, repeatedly, to peel off more Democratic support But after having called a vote more than a half-dozen times to pass the House’s bill out of the Senate, not enough Democrats have signed on.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer is holding out for a deal on the health care issue.

Stalemated, quiet talks are underway, as small groups of lawmakers are privately trying to negotiate off-ramps.

Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska has proposed keeping the health care subsidies in place for the next two years while instituting changes to the program. Sen. Mike Rounds, R-

S.D., has a similar proposal, and GOP Sen. Susan Collins of Maine has shared with leadership her own six-point plan.

“We’re making progress,” said Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., who is close to the Republican president. “I think we’re kind of starting to get to a place.”

Not since then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat, sent lawmakers home at the start of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020 has the House been without its lawmakers for such an extended period of time outside of an August recess — but even then, leaders quickly stood up a new system of proxy voting as leg-

islative business continued.

In the Capitol’s empty halls, a few lawmakers linger They have been filming social media posts as they narrate the inaction. They have created viral moments, including GOP Rep. Mike Lawler’s confrontation with Jeffries. Some are simply giving tours to visiting constituents.

GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia has been among the most outspoken critics of her party’s stance, saying Congress needs to address the health care subsidies. And Grijalva is just trying to go to work. The representative-elect

won the special election to replace her father, veteran Rep. Raul Grijalva, who died earlier this year after his own career in Congress. Her arrival would shrink Johnson’s already slim majority to paper thin, and she has said she would sign onto the legislation demanding the release of the files pertaining to the sex trafficking investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, providing the last signature needed to force a vote. Democrats have clamored for the release of the Epstein files, looking to force Republicans to either join their push for disclosure or publicly oppose a cause many in the Republican base support. Johnson, whose majority is among the most narrow in modern times, has refused to swear Grijalva into office. The speaker has given shifting reasons for why he won’t allow Grijalva to take her seat, saying he’d do it whenever she wanted but also saying the shutdown needs to end first. He said it has nothing to do with the Epstein files.

As questions mounted over the House’s next steps, so did the speaker’s exasperation.

“The reason the House isn’t here in regular session is because they turned the lights off,” he said during Thursday’s news conference. “I’m trying to muster every ounce of Christian charity that I can, but this is outrageous.” He declined to say if or when the House would be called back to session.

Macron asks newly resigned French PM to try again to form government

By The Associated Press

PARIS French President

Emmanuel Macron on Friday reappointed Sebastien Lecornu as prime minister, just days after his resignation, asking him to try again to form a government and produce a budget in a bid to end the country’s political deadlock.

Lecornu’s reappointment followed days of intense negotiations and came less than a week after he resigned amid infighting in his freshly named government

France is struggling with mounting economic challenges and ballooning debt, and the political crisis is aggravating its troubles and raising alarm across the European Union. The appointment is widely seen as Macron’s last chance to reinvigorate his second term, which runs until 2027. Lacking a majority in the National Assembly to push through his agenda, Macron faces mounting criticism including from within his own ranks and has little room to maneuver

Macron’s office released a one-sentence statement late Friday night announcing the appointment, one month after the statement issued a month ago when Lecornu was initially named and four days after he resigned.

Lecornu said in a statement on social networks that he accepted the new job offer out of “duty.” He said he was given a mission “to do everything to give France a budget by the end of the year and respond to the daily problems of our compatriots.”

Morocco’s king addresses social injustices in speech as protesters demand reforms

BY SAM METZ and AKRAM OUBACHIR Associated Press

RABAT, Morocco King Mohammed VI on Friday urged elected officials to stop wasting time and fix social injustices, framing similar issues to those raised by Morocco’s youth-led protesters as questions of governance, rather than of the country’s broader vision.

The king’s short but charged address mirrored some of the grievances raised by Gen Z 212 protesters about regional inequalities and uneven development

but did not address the movement directly Morocco has been swept by demonstrations for almost two weeks, as young people have taken to the streets to demand better public services and increased spending on health and education.

The 62-year-old monarch — walking into parliament without the help of a cane he used for part of last year — implored its members to defend the country and tackle some of the grievances raised at the protests with a spirit of seriousness and responsibility

“Social justice is not a tem-

All those who join his new government will have to renounce ambitions to run for president in 2027, Lecornu said, adding that the new Cabinet will “incarnate renewal and a diversity of skills.”

“We must put an end to this political crisis that exasper-

ates the French, and to this bad instability for France’s image and its interests,” he wrote.

Lecornu abruptly resigned Monday, only hours after unveiling a new Cabinet that drew opposition from a key coalition partner The shock resignation prompted calls for Macron to step down or dissolve parliament again, as he did in June 2024. But they remained unanswered, with the president instead announcing on Wednesday that he would name a successor to Lecornu within 48 hours.

porary priority,” the King, Morocco’s highest authority, said in his speech before lawmakers dressed in traditional white djellaba robes.

“It’s a strategic direction to which every one must adhere, and a crucial challenge that should govern our various development policies,” he added.

He did not touch on the contrast near the heart of anger seen in the streets: stadiums related to the 2030 FIFA World Cup. Protesters have chanted slogans to decry them taking priority over investments that raise Morocco’s living standards.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By JOHN MCDONNELL

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-Benton, speaks Wednesday at a news conference on eighth day of the government shutdown at the U.S. Capitol in Washington.

BY JEFFREY COLLINS Associated Press

Astorm without aname was expected to bring flooding to theEast Coast from SouthCarolinatoNew Jersey and highwinds to New York City over the weekend

While the storm affecting the eastern U.S. wasn’t tropical, two other tropical storms were churning in the Atlantic Ocean on Friday,including Tropical Storm Jerry that dumped heavy rain on the northern Leeward Islands. There were rescues and one persondied after being swept away by water in the French territory of Guadeloupe, officials said. Twotropical storms were also in the eastern Pacific Ocean. Tropical Storm Priscilla dissipated into aremnant low,but what remained wasexpectedtobring heavy rain from coastal Mexico into the U.S. Southwest throughthe weekend.Flood watches were issuedfor parts of Arizona, California

andNevada. In the U.S., the unnamed storm sent seawater again into Charleston, South Carolina, where three dozens roads were closed as floodwaters reached well above ankles before receding. Fridaymorning’shigh tide reached 8.46 feet which was the 13th highest in more than acentury of recorded datainCharleston Harbor Tidal flooding also closed roads forafew hoursalong the Georgia and Florida coasts.

Nor’easter to bringflooding, high windstoEastCoast

The persistent, strong winds from the unnamed nor’easter and unusually high king tides, whenthe moon is closerthan usualto the Earth,had forecasters predicting more problems this weekend along the North Carolina Outer Banks, where aseries of stormsthat moved well offshore havedestroyed 10 houses inthe past month and breached dunes. The pilings of some homesin Buxton were already in the waves before the worst of the storm

Officials warned highway N.C. 12 on Hatterasand Ocracoke islands would likely have to close againbecause of ocean overwash.

The worst conditions will spread norththisweekend andinto the Columbus Day holidayonMondayasthe storm moves up from Florida.Forecasters warned peo-

ple on the shoresofDelaware andNew Jersey to prepare for major coastal flooding.

Ahigh wind watch was issued for parts of New York City and Long Island where forecasters warned gustsof up to 60 mph were possible Sunday Out in the Atlantic, Tropical StormJerry was pulling away Friday from the north-

ern Leeward Islands, but heavy rain continued.

In Guadeloupe, searchers found the body of aman inside acar that was swept away by floodwaters after scouring the area by boat, helicopter and twodrones. Eight people were rescued on board two boats, the government said.

“Pointe-à-Pitre is badly

affected andisstruggling to drain this water.Many places areflooded,”Thierry Devimeux,the island’sgovernment leader,toldradio station Guadeloupe La 1ère. Areas of Guadeloupe, Antigua andBarbuda and the DutchCaribbean territory of Saint Maarten saw as much as 8inches of rain, closing government offices and schools. Jerrywas centered about 750 milessouth of Bermuda and moving north-northwest at 15 mphwith maximum sustained winds of 50 mph. Wayupinthe northern Atlantic, Subtropical Storm Karenformed far from land, then lost its subtropical characteristics less than 24 hours later,the hurricane center said.

Asubtropical storm tends to have awide zone of strong winds farther from its center compared to atropical storm,whichgenerates heavier rains, according to theU.S.National Weather Service.

Twopowerfulquakesstrikeoff Philippines, killingatleast 7

BY JIMGOMEZ Associated Press

MANILA, Philippines— Two powerful offshore earthquakes struck the same region in the southern Philippines hoursapart on Friday with the first 7.4 magnitude temblorkilling at least seven people, setting off landslides andprompting evacuationsofcoastal areas nearby because of abrief tsunami scare. The second one had apreliminary 6.8 magnitude and also sparked alocal tsunami warningbyauthorities. It was caused by movement in the same fault line, the Philippine Trench at adepth of 23 miles off Manay town in Davao Ori-

ental province, Philippine Institute of Seismology and Volcanology chief Teresito Bacolcol said.

“The second one is aseparate earthquake, which we call adoublet quake,” Bacolcol toldThe Associated Press. “Both happened in thesame area but have different strengths and epicenters.”

Bacolcol and other authoritiesexpressed fears that the second nighttime earthquake could further weaken or collapse structures already undermined by thefirst one.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., facinghis latestnatural disasterafter arecentdeadly quake and back-to-back storms, said the potential damage was being assessedand rescue teams andreliefoperations were being prepared and would be deployedwhenit was safetodoso.

The first quake wascentered at sea about27miles east of Manay townand was caused by movement in the Philippine Trench at adepth of 14 miles,government seismologists said. At least seven people were killed, includingtwo patientswho diedofheartattacksata hospitalduring the first earthquake anda resident who washit by debris in Mati city in Davao Oriental, said Ednar Dayanghirang, regional director of the government’sOffice of Civil Defense.

BY FRANKLIN BRICEÑO

seventh president in less than adecade Friday,as38-year-old José Jerí took the reins of theshaken nation after Congress ousted widely loathed President Dina Boluarte in

alightning overnight impeachment. The young lawyer with scarce political experience, who just becamepresident of the Congress inJuly, said shortly after being sworn in early Fridaythat he would seek“reconciliation,” tackle Peru’s runaway crime and ensure

“neutrality” in elections when Peruvianselect anew president in April. Lawmakers hadset up a debate and impeachment trial late Thursday in the 130-member unicameral Congress after voting to accept four requests for a votetoremove Boluarte from office over what they

said was hergovernment’s inabilitytostem crime. Theyrequested that Boluarte come beforethem shortly beforemidnightto defend herself, but when she did not appear they immediately voted to oust her In short order,124 lawmakersvoted just past midnight to impeach Boluarte. There werenovotes against the effort, theninth attempt to remove her. The shocking turn of events camejust hours aftera man open firedata concertinthe capital, injuring five andinflaming anger over crime roiling the country Jerí’srapid ascension was allthe more surprising because in August he gave alengthy interview to Peruvian newspaper El Comercio in whichhesaidhe wouldn’t replace Boluarte if she were impeached because he believedin“presidentialinstitutionalityand we’resoclose to the end of herterm.”

Rayneveteran recallsWWIIrole

Interpreter celebrates his Cajunheritage

BY JA’KORI MADISON Staff writer

When the United States needed help from French speakers to win World WarII, agroup of Cajun soldiers answered the call They wereknown as the “Frenchies.”

These soldiers served as in-

terpreters for U.S. troops in Europe, using the Cajun French they learned at home tocommunicate with locals. Amongthe selected soldierswas PrigeonFontenot, who remembers it all. Fontenot, aRayne native who will turn 100 next month,isone of the few “Frenchies” still alive today

He grew up in ahouseholdwhere French was theonly language he heard. French was all he knew untilhestarted grade school, when teacherstoldFontenot he would have to learn English. For much of the 20th century,Cajun children in Louisiana were discouraged from

speaking their native language. According to theCouncil for the DevelopmentofFrench in Louisiana,Frenchwas banned from public schools for decades. Teachers often punished studentsfor using it,which left some feeling ashamed of their heritage. Data suggests thereare perhaps120,000 Frenchspeakersinthe state, down from about 1million 60 years ago. Of those,perhaps 20,000 speak CajunFrench, others traditional French Bornin1925 to Isaac and Regina Fontenot, Fontenot said growing up during the Great Depression on the family farm alongside three

siblings waschallenging.

“Wedidn’thave muchmoney,but we hadfood from the land,” Fontenot said. “Everybody worked.

That’sjust how it was.”

At 18, Fontenot was draftedinto the Army and joined the 9th Armored Division. He wasamong the first Americans to cross the Rhine Riverin1945 during the push toward Germany.While many in Louisiana, particularly in Acadiana, experienceda time when Cajuns were often discriminated against whenthey spoke French, thewar revived prideintheir

WALK OF THETOWN

Crowleyman rebooked on sexcrimes

CRIME BLOTTER Advocate staff reports

ACrowley man, who was previously jailed on charges of indecent behavior andcarnal knowledge of ajuvenile, has beenaccused of additional sex crimes and rebooked in Lafayette Parish, according to the LouisianaAttorney General’s Office. On Sept.29, 30-year-old Shequan Quimone Moore, of Crowley,was arrested and charged withtwo counts of computer-aided solicitation of aminor,two counts of indecent behavior with ajuvenile, production of childsexualabuse materials and carnal knowledge

La Niña’s return to impact Louisianahurricane season

Butmeteorologists sayemergence is notacause forpanic

BY KASEYBUBNASH Staff writer

La Niña, the climate pattern associated with an uptick in hurricane and tropical storm activityinthe Atlantic Ocean,isback again

TheClimate Prediction Center announcedThursdaythatweak La Niña conditions emerged in the Pacific Ocean in September and are expected to persist through the remainder of the Atlantic hurricane season,which endsNov.30.

Though La Niña is often bad news forthose livingonthe Gulf Coast and other storm-prone regions, local meteorologist Mike Efferson and LSU professor

andhurricane researcher Jill Trepanier said thelatest emergence is not acause for panic. It may be too late in theseason for the notorious climatepattern to bringany major impacts, they said. “Hopefully it won’tdotoo much to affect it at all,” Trepanier said. El Niñoand La Niña are two opposing climate patterns that disrupt normalwind andcurrent conditions in the Pacific Ocean, in turn impacting weather patterns across the globe.

El Niño and La Niña conditionscan last for months or several years, according to NOAA. They generally occur in acycle every twotoseven years, with transitional neutral periods in between, but they don’toccur on aregular schedule.

La Niña tends to promote the

ABOVEand LEFT: Kevin Blanchard, CEOatDowntown Lafayette,right, leads business owners, community leadersand other membersof thepublic on awalking tour of downtown Lafayette on Thursday in the first of aseries of walks to ‘dive into the history, progress, and opportunity of our city center,’ according to the Downtown website.

STAFF PHOTOSByLESLIE WESTBROOK

Police chiefaccused of discrimination

Lawsuitalleges he bypassed Black officers forpromotions

BY STEPHENMARCANTEL Staff writer

Alocal police association has accusedthe Youngsville police chief of racial discrimination after he allegedly skippedover twoBlack officers foralateral promotion The Oct. 8complaint, filed by the Professional Association of Law Enforcement Officers with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, alleges that Youngsville Police Chief

Jean Paul Broussard promoted aWhite officer to the rank of sergeant to fill a supervisory role in the department’sCriminal Investigation Unit, according to documents obtained by KLFY In doing so, Broussard skipped over two Black officerswith moreexperience and ignored customary procedures, according to the complaint. Broussard said he is working on astatement in response to the claims.Because of theongoing federal government shutdown, the Acadiana Advocate was

PROVIDED PHOTO

Prigeon Fontenot, center,a Rayne native and soldier during the Great Depression and WorldWar II, is pictured with hismom and dad, Regina and Issac Fontenot.

YOUNGSVILLE

ä See VETERAN, page 2B

Broussard

Videoreveals fireball at Smitty’s

Blazeresponse recordsshow

notification issues

BY DAVID J. MITCHELL Staff writer

At first, no one outside of the Quick WayGas Station in Roseland seemed to notice the fireball that began billowing in the distance from Smitty’sSupply But as the tower of fire rolled, shifted to black smoke and then backtoa roiling fire, adeparting pickup slowed to acrawl, newly obtained surveillance video shows. Onlookers later arrived outside of the station, an estimated 1,600 feet north of Smitty’s, watching the first moments of what would be amultiday blaze in late August.

Thefiredestroyed the longstanding lubricants plant and sparked acontinuing environmental disaster, first by air and later by water with spilled oilyrunoff. That runoff may have finally reached Lake Pontchartrain milestothe south, withan oil sheen reported following heavy rain on Oct. 6, though authorities have not yet confirmed it.

The surveillance video was released by State Police in response to apublic records request.Itistaken from the Quick Waystation on U.S. 51 and reveals the first moments of the Smitty’sfire on Aug. 22.

It is alsoforming akey piece of information in a civil accusation that the company failed to notify a key Louisiana State Police hazard hotline within the required hour,according to a State Police report.

The state report also reveals that Smitty’sofficials told State Policeand U.S Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigators on Aug. 26 that the fire startedinanaturalgas-fired boiler

The boiler heats thermal fluid used to heatlubricants in Smitty’sstorage tanks throughaclosed-loop system, akin to the way aradiator and the fluid running through it cool acar engine.

“Mr.Tate said that there was aflame emitting from the heating portionofthe boiler,and the source was natural gas. Mr.Tate said one employeeran to the

LA NIÑA

Continued from page1B

formationand intensification of Atlantichurricanes by reducing wind shear across the Caribbean Sea and tropical Atlantic Ocean. Wind shear can tear apart storms as they begin to form.

‘Kindoflucky’ MichaelLowry,aMiamibased hurricane specialist,

VETERAN

Continued from page1B

Cajun heritage and identity, according to Fontenot.

“When we got over there, theofficers realized we couldhelptalk to people in French,” Fontenotsaid. “That’swhen Ifelt proud to know it —proud to be Cajun.”

Spendingmost of hisdays in Europe with his fellow Frenchies,Fontenot said he remembers soldiers relying on him to translate with French villagers and guide troops throughunfamiliar terrain.Hementions even discovering acousin of his had also been enlisted. When thewar ended,Fontenot returned home to Rayne. He married, raised four sons and adaughter,and went back to farming.His daughter,Bernice, says she remembers the work ethic that wasinstilled in her “Healways told us to work forwhat we had,” she said.

“He never asked for much, just that we do our best.”

CHIEF

Continued from page1B

PHOTO PROVIDEDByLOUISIANA STATEPOLICE

A fireball emerges, background,top,from Smitty’s Supply Inc. about12:46 p.m.onAug.22, that marks the startof themassive fire that destroyedthe lubricants plant near Roseland. The imageistaken from surveillance videoata gasstation just north of Smitty’s

gas meter near theroad to shut it off,” the State Police report paraphrased Chad Tate,president of Smitty’s, as saying. “Other employees in thearea were notable to fight the fire,and it engulfed anearby storage tank. At thispoint, the fire quickly spread to other areas of the facility.”

Tate’saccount of where thefire began roughly matches what some employees told Tangipahoa 911 and TheAdvocate. In one recorded call, an employee reported to 911 that the fire was coming from an area near Cell 1, whichhe described asbeing near the blending area.

“Straight through the front gate,” the employee added for a911 dispatcher.

‘Firequickly spread’

Among the many activities at Smitty’s, the company’semployees blended additives into motor oils to the specifications of a variety of nationalbrands and bottled the product for shipment.

Tate toldinvestigators that the company that built the boiler was Fulton Boiler WorksInc.ofPulaski, New York, and thecompany that serviced theboiler locally was Brandon Services out of Jackson, Mississippi. Fulton officials didnot immediately respond to requests for comment Friday.A lawyerfor Brandon Services declined to comment Friday Troopers concluded the firebegan at aboilerfueled by natural gas and that the fire continued even after employeescut thesupply of gas

“The firespreadtonearby storage tanks. Any firefighting attempts by employees (were) noteffective as the

said LaNiñatends to bring its greatest impacts to the western half of the Atlantic, including the Gulf and CaribbeanSea. He said those regionsare alreadyseeing the lessenedwind shear and otherconditions characteristic of La Niña. But, he said, tropical systems have largelybeen unable to make it overtothe Gulf or Caribbeanso far this year.Avastmajority of this season’snamed storms have startedasseeds east of

fire quickly spread to other tanks around the facility,” the report states.

TheState Police report and collected private surveillancevideo stem from only one of several investigations into the fire, which wasn’tfully extinguished untilSept. 8. Otherinvestigations are being carried out by the Louisiana State FireMarshal’sOffice and theU.S.Occupational Safety and HealthAdministration.

The Marshal’sOffice was working Friday on an extensive list of questions aboutthe fire sent by The Advocate earlierthis week OSHA officials didn’tspeak about their investigation but respondedwithanautomatic email, citing the federal government shutdown. ATF officials didn’timmediately respond to arequest for comment on Friday

The massive fire near Roseland burned at least two fire trucks and sent a large,black plume over a rural corner of theparish, dropping soot on residents andrequiring a1-mile evacuation zone that ledto42 people staying in aparish shelter.The EPAhas said soot was reported 15 miles away from Smitty’s, while oily material ran off intothe Tangipahoa River No one was injured in the fire, but theState Police report said seven were treated at anearbyhospitalfor effects from theincident and later released.

Some residents have criticized Smitty’sand state officials for what they have claimed was alack of preparation for theimpacts of afire at Smitty’sand slow actionstostemthe release of potentially millions of gallons of petroleum productsintosurrounding wa-

the Caribbean,thenturned away from theU.S.and back out to sea.

If asystem were to make it to the Gulf or Caribbean, it would have plenty of fuel in the form of warm water and alack of shear.But, Lowry said, youneed a“spark.”

“I think this season we’ve just been kind of lucky,” Lowrysaid.

The real concern would come if La Niña conditions were to last into the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season,

words here andthere,” he said. “But they didn’tneed it as much. English took over everything.”

Still, he lightsupwhenhe hears Cajun French being spoken, whichreminds him of homeand of the community thatshaped him. These days, Fontenot lives in Crowley,where he enjoys visits from family and reflecting on the many chapters of hislife. In February of lastyear,hewas awarded aQuilt of Valorinrecognition of his militaryservice, agesturehonoring veterans for their sacrifice and courage.

ters. Gov.Jeff Landry has defendedthe efforts and cleanup.

Millionsofgallons stored

The lubricantsand plastic bottle plant had millions of gallons of motor oil, lube oil, mineral spirits,chain saw oil, gasoline,alkylate gas,glycol, urea, antifreeze, phosphoric acid and other chemicals and hydrocarbons, according to acompany inventory EPAhas shared.

911 recordings separately obtained by The Advocate showSmitty’semployees called TangipahoaParish’s emergency line in the fire’s first moments. But state right-to-know laws require facilities like Smitty’sto notify thehotline for State Police,which oftenleads theearly response to dangerous industrialfires and chemical releases.

Thesurveillancevideo of thefireball emerging from Smitty’s demonstrates the firestarted at 12:46p.m., troopers said, but the State Police hotline wasn’tcalled until three hours later

Statetroopers issued the violation Sept. 28. Intentional failures to notify the hotline can bring up to a $25,000 penalty, but troopers didn’treach that conclusion, citing Smitty’sunder adifferentpartofthe law and giving Smitty’sa warning letter Called for commentFriday, aSmitty’sspokesperson provided aletterthat Tate sent to StatePolice.

Dated Thursday,Tate’s letteracknowledged Smitty’s didn’tcall troopers within the required hour “as thecompany attempted to control theincident onsite and ensurethe safety of its employees.”

Tate noted local fire departments were called first and thenall other responding agencies.

“Smitty’sSupply would like it noted that our emergency response plan includesnotification of the LouisianaState Police immediately at the onset of an event,” Tate added.

Smitty’sofficials didn’t immediately respond to the narrative in the State Police report nor dispute 911 callers’ descriptionofwhere the fire seemedtothem to have started.

David J. Mitchell can be reached at dmitchell@ theadvocate.com.

whichLowry said does not look likely.The ClimatePredictionCenter saidThursdaythatneutral conditions are expected to return by March 2026.

“But we have seen moreof these La Niña patterns stick around in recentyears,” Lowry said, “so it wouldn’t be asurprising thing if it weretohappen.”

Email Kasey Bubnash at kasey.bubnash@ theadvocate.com.

WarII.

“I’m thankful forthe life I’ve had,” he said. “I’ve seen alot, but I’mstill here, and I’m proud of whereIcome from.”

Email Ja’kori Madison at jakori.madison@ theadvocate.com.

unable to verify thatthe complainthad been filed with EEOC.

The two Black officers, Louvenia Landry and Reginald Mosely,were already police sergeants with five and sevenyears of experience with the YPD, respectively.The White officer, TimCotone, had twoyears of servicewiththe department andwas promoted to sergeant in early October, after whichhewas appointed to his supervisory role, according to the complaint. Arecent Facebook post by YPDsaidCotonehas been at the department forfour years and has 20 years of lawenforcement experience.

The complaint alleges that Broussard never spoke with Landry or Mosely aboutthe

BLOTTER

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of ajuvenile. Moore was booked into the Lafayette Parish Correctional Center at that time.

However,asthe investigation continued, additional victims wereidentified, which led to additional arrest warrants, according to the newsrelease.

Moore was rebooked into Lafayette Parish Correctional Center on Thursday on one additional charge of indecent behavior,two additional charges of carnal knowledge and10additional chargesofproduction of child sexual abuse material.

Additionally,Moore has a current active arrest warrant relatedtothe same investigation outofCalcasieu Parish, according to the release.

TheCalcasieu charges include trafficking of children for sexual purposes, indecentbehaviorand third-degree rape.

His Lafayette Parish bail is now $225,000.

TheCalcasieu Parish arrest warranthas abailof $3.1 million.

Body found in Westlake ditch

The Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office is looking for additional information on abody found Fridayina Westlake ditch.

Deputies from theCalcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office were dispatched around 11 a.m. Fridaytothe 200 block of Trousdale Road in Westlake in reference to a woman’sbody found in a ditch, according to anews release.

While it’sinthe preliminary stages of the investigation, theoffice is investigating the death as ahomicide.

“Identification of thewoman hasnot yetbeen made,” the 3:30 p.m.Friday release states.

Trousdale Road was reopened for traffic around 4p.m. Friday

The cause of death will be determined by the coroner

Anyone who hasany information or believes they mayhave seen anything suspicious, which includes a person or vehicle stopped in the area of TrousdaleRoad should contact the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office at (337) 491-3605 or submit an anonymous tiponthe Calcasieu Closewatch app or by calling Crime Stoppers at

supervisor position and that it “is unclear whether (Cotone) even meetsthe qualifications and possesses the requisite test scores to be promoted to the rank of Sergeant.”

Broussard also allegedly didnot follow customary practices in promoting Cotone.

Lateral promotions are typically offeredtoranking officers first, and newly appointedsergeants areusually placed on patrol before being assigned to a“specialized unit.”

The organization is asking for EEOCtoinvestigatethe claims further In August, aformer Youngsville policeofficer claimed his firing wasdiscriminatory after aYoungsville MunicipalPoliceCivil Service Board upheld his termination following a2023 crashthatlefthim injured and unable to return to work in his full capacity

(337) 439-2222.

Woman accusedof attempted murder

ALafayette woman is behind bars after trying to stab her sleeping boyfriend, according to police.

LatavieaOneil, 21, of Lafayette, is charged with attempted second-degree murder.Her bail is set at $50,000. Lafayette policesaidthey responded to acall to ahome on Ile Des Cannes Road near Ridge Road about 12:45 a.m Wednesday They said aman reported wakingtofind hisgirlfriend trying to stab him with a kitchen knife. The victim claimed he received cuts on hishands while trying to deflect the attack, and then locked himself in abathroom before calling 911, according to police.

The victim received treatment from emergency responders and was transported to ahospital, according to LPD.

Bicyclistkilled after being hit by van

Abicyclist was killed after getting hit by avan in St. Landry Parish, according to Louisiana State Police.

Troopers identified the bicyclist as Dallas Pitre, 68, of Opelousas. They said the crash occurred about 8p.m. Tuesday on U.S. 190 near Lawtell. Pitre was riding abicycle westinthe eastbound lane of U.S. 190 when a2020 Ford commercial van, traveling east, struckhim, according to State Police. Investigators said Pitre was notwearing ahelmet and died at the scene. The driver of the van was not injured, and impairment was not suspected, police said. The driver provided a breath sample that showed no alcohol, troopers said. A routine blood sample was collectedfrom Pitre for analysis.

Within his own family, Fontenot said thelanguage faded with time. His childrendidn’tgrowupspeakingCajun French theway he did. The same language that hadoncebeendiscouraged in classrooms became valuable on thebattlefield,but as decades passed, itsuse declined.

“I triedtoteach afew

Hisstory wasalso recently included in the2024 book “Frenchie”byhistorian and author Jason Theriot, which documents the experiences of Louisiana’sFrench-speaking soldiers during World

Postal traffic down after exemption ended

Postal traffic to the U.S is still down about 70% five weeks after the end of the “de minimis” exemption that spared low-value packages from duties, the United Nations postal agency said Friday.

Confusion has reigned since the U.S. ended the tariff exemption for packages worth less than $800 on Aug. 29. In September the Universal Postal Union reported 88 of its 192 member countries had suspended all or some of its postal services to the U.S. to have time to adjust their shipping procedures.

On Friday, the UPU said “only a handful” of those had resumed operations to the U.S.

The organization said traffic to the U.S. on Oct. 3 was down 70.7% compared with volume one week before the regulatory changes On Aug. 29, when the exemption ended, volume plummeted 81% from a week earlier. Since the exemption ended, purchases that previously entered the U.S. without needing to clear customs now require vetting and are subject to their origin country’s applicable tariff rate, which can range from 10% to 50%. While the change applies to the products of every country, U.S. residents will not have to pay duties on incoming gifts valued at up to $100, or on up to $200 worth of personal souvenirs from trips abroad, according to the White House.

U.K. watchdog targets Google’s role in ads

LONDON Britain’s antitrust watchdog on Friday labeled Google a “strategic” player in the online search advertising market, paving the way for regulators to force the company to change its business practices to ensure more competition in that market.

The Competition and Markets Authority said its investigation found that the U.S. tech giant has “strategic market status” because it has “substantial and entrenched market power in general search and search advertising.

It marks the first time the watchdog has issued the designation since new U.K digital rules took effect at the start of the year

The label doesn’t imply any wrongdoing. But the regulator said it means it has the power to consider using “proportionate, targeted” measures to make sure “general search services are open to effective competition” and that consumers and businesses are treated fairly Online search ads appear alongside results from Google’s search engine, usually tagged as “Ad” or “Sponsored” — versus online display ads, which appear on a company’s website. The CMA says Google accounts for more than 90% of the U.K.’s online searches, and more than 200,000 of the country’s businesses rely on Google search ads to reach customers.

Former election official buys Dominion Voting DENVER Voting equipment company Dominion Voting Systems, a target of conspiracy theories from President Donald Trump and his supporters since the 2020 election, has been bought by a firm run by a former Republican elections official, the new company announced Thursday The newly formed company, Liberty Vote, also vowed to follow the executive order Trump signed last spring seeking sweeping changes to election policies that multiple judges have put on hold for violating the Constitution. KNOWiNK, a St. Louis-based provider of electronic poll books that allow election officials to confirm voter information, announced the deal and the name change. In a possible nod to a groundless conspiracy theory that linked Dominion to the late Venezuelan dictator Hugo Chavez, the release highlighted that the company would become “100% American-owned.”

Market at worst day since April

Trump’s threats of tariffs shatter its calm

BY STAN CHOE Associated Press

NEW YORK A monthslong calm on Wall Street shattered Friday, and U.S. stocks tumbled after President Donald Trump threatened to crank tariffs much higher on China.

The S&P 500 sank 2.7% in its worst day since April. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 878 points, or 1.9%, and the Nasdaq composite fell 3.6%.

Stocks had been heading for a slight gain in the morning, until Trump took to his social media platform and said he’s considering “a massive increase of tariffs” on Chinese imports. He’s upset at

restrictions China has placed on exports of its rare earths, which are materials that are critical for the manufacturing of everything from consumer electronics to jet engines.

“We have been contacted by other Countries who are extremely angry at this great Trade hostility, which came out of nowhere,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. He also said “now there seems to be no reason” to meet with China’s leader, Xi Jinping, after earlier agreeing to do so as part of an upcoming trip to South Korea.

The ratchet higher in tensions between the world’s largest economies led to widespread drops across Wall Street, with roughly six out of every seven stocks within the S&P 500 falling. Nearly everything weakened, from Big Tech companies like Nvidia and

Apple to stocks of smaller companies looking to get past uncertainty about tariffs and trade

Levi Strauss dropped 12.6% for one of the market’s larger losses, even though it reported a stronger profit for

The market may have been primed for a slide. U.S. stocks were already facing criticism that their prices had shot too high following the S&P 500’s nearly relentless 35% run from a low in April. The index, which dictates the movements for many 401(k) accounts, is still near its all-time high set earlier in the week.

Critics say the market looks too expensive after prices rose much faster than corporate profits. Worries are particularly high about companies in the artificial-intelligence industry where pessimists see echoes of the 2000 dot-com bubble that imploded. For stocks to look less expensive, either their prices need to fall, or companies’ profits need to rise

Regions Center hits auction

Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office to handle bidding process

BY LIZ SWAINE Staff writer

The properties that make up the downtown Shreveport Regions Center — the historic 16-story Regions Building, the 25-story Regions Tower and the 1,000-space parking garage will go on the auction block Oct 29.

The Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office will be handling the auction of the buildings.

Things began to unwind publicly for the property, one of downtown Shreveport’s premiere high-rise office tower complexes, in 2024

On Aug 21, 2024, SWEPCO employees were dispatched to post printed notices in the building that power would be turned off the following “Monday or after.”

Tenants said they were caught off guard by the notices and were unaware that the property was more than six months in arrears on their SWEPCO payment

The Wilmington Trust National Association, representing the mortgage holder for the property had to advance $420,841.59 to bring the past due SWEPCO utility balance current.

Days later, the lender said it was notified that CenterPoint Energy had also sent a disconnect notice. Money was owed for water service and to the property’s security services provider, who stated that it planned to “vacate due to nonpayment.”

Three local companies including Gene Nims Builders, Storer Services LTD and Cowtown Materials Inc., also filed liens against the building’s owners for services owed.

Regions Bank, headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, sent out an alert to quell any confusion, noting that it did not actually own the property and was not responsible for paying utility bills.

On Sept. 18, 2024, Wilmington Trust Na-

tional Association filed a 420-page lawsuit in U.S. District Court to place the buildings’ owner, Plaza II Holdings LLC, into receivership.

The guarantors on the $38.25 million loan are Isaac and William Zev Hertz and Sarah Hertz Gordon William Zev Hertz is the chairman and CEO of Hertz Investment Group.

The Hertz Investment Group purchased the Regions property in September 1999 for nearly $25 million.

The Shreveport suit brought by Wilmington Trust and the lender, Ladder Capital Finance LLC, listed the nonpayment of bills as the tipping point that placed the building into receivership.

On July 31, a writ of seizure and sale was issued by the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Marvette Griffin, the director of the

Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office Civil Division, says the bidding will have to begin at two-thirds of the appraised value. Griffin said there are several things that could happen. If no one bids against the bank, they would get it and then determine what to do with it. A second party could purchase it, or the bank could offer a “no bid” which would bring the property back up for sale.

Other Hertz Investment properties, including the Hancock Whitney Center and 400 Poydras St in New Orleans, are also currently in default on their debt. The properties are now under the control of “special servicers” which effectively removes Hertz from day-to-day control.

In both cases, Hertz is in maturity default — meaning the company failed to repay the principal when the loans came due.

Officials discuss economic transformation deals

Business forum highlights La. investment opportunities

BY RICH COLLINS Staff writer

What a difference $65 billion makes.

That was the takeaway from a keynote presentation by Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Susan Bourgeois and Entergy Louisiana CEO Phillip May at the Tulane Business Forum on Friday who argued that a series of major investments portend a new era of economic swagger for the state. Before a crowd of about 500 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, Bourgeois pointed to the last 21 months of outside investment in Louisiana, led by the $10 billion Meta data center in north Louisiana and the nearly $6 billion Hyundai steel plant near Baton

Rouge, and said it’s time for Louisianans to believe in the state’s prospects again.

“We’ve been working hard to change the narrative,” Bourgeois said. “There’s been this feeling that we’re not good enough. We want to change that.”

Bourgeois said 58 announced projects could lead to 70,000 new jobs and lend credibility to the state in the eyes of future investors.

Other big projects announced or expanded since Bourgeois took on the role of the state’s biggest business booster in 2024 include liquefied natural gas projects from Woodside Energy and Venture Global, plus the CF Industries “blue ammonia” project in Ascension Parish. This month, Louisianabased electrical contractor MMR announced a $55 million expansion of its manufacturing capabilities in Lafayette Parish.

“We’re leveraging the state’s existing strengths in energy with new twists,” Bourgeois said.

Bourgeois said the Meta data center is creating opportunities

for existing businesses, like Monroe-based wholesaler Robertson Produce, which just landed a large contract to help feed hundreds of construction workers.

The comments from Bourgeois and May were part of a half-day business forum organized by the Tulane Association of Business Alumni that’s been an annual tradition for most of the last half century Panels jumped from subject to subject as the lawyers, engineers and accountants in attendance earned continuing education credits in between networking opportunities and a lunch.

Earlier in the day, three coffee industry insiders talked about how the Trump administration’s tariffs are making it more difficult and expensive but businesses are adapting.

Ryan McKinnon of Westfeldt Brothers, the New Orleans-based coffee importer, said that one side effect of the import taxes is his team is sourcing coffee beans from countries with lower tariffs — like

Mexico and Honduras — and moving away from places like Brazil, which has a higher tax.

”There will be some differences in taste profile, but you can get some that are very close,” McKinnon said.

Tulane University President Michael Fitts used a portion of his time to promote his school’s vision to expand its downtown campus, centered around the hoped-for redevelopment of the former Charity Hospital building, which has moldered since Hurricane Katrina. Fitts envisions a thriving downtown neighborhood, propelled by Tulane biomedical research and the companies it spawns as the catalyst for a revival of New Orleans’ struggling economy.

Later in the morning, Phelps Dunbar attorney Christopher Ralston participated in a presentation about how artificial intelligence can help law firms perform data discovery and other tasks. He said it’s essential that humans are monitoring the machines through every step of the process.

STAFF PHOTO By LIZ SWAINE

The two buildings and nearly 1,000-space parking garage that make up Regions Center in the 300 block of Texas Street in downtown Shreveport

ANOTHERVIEW

Pollingonthe shutdown,fat generals and troops in cities

Ron Faucheux

The last few weeks have been full of news. With the government shutdown, Middle East peacemaking, deportations of illegal immigrants, troops in U.S. citiesand grooming tips from the secretaryofdefense, we’ve seen aparadeofdevelopments And with them,arange of publicreactions —from hopeful to incredulous to outraged. It is the autumn of our discontent. Liberals in the media say President Donald Trump’sratingshave startedto plummet. Conservativessay Democrats aresounpopular they’re nearing extinction. But, as usual, neitherside is quite right.

Trump’saverage job rating is now44%.That’sbelow hismost recent election performance (49%) —which is always auseful point of comparison for anypresident —but his ratingisthe sameasitwas amonth ago(44%) and apoint higherthanitwas twoand three months ago (43%).

That’snot exactly aplummet.

And Democrats, restless and angry,are still politicallyalive. The latest nationwide polling average has them leadingRepublicans by nearly four pointsinsocalled“genericballot” tests inanticipationofthe 2026 midtermelections

That’s not exactly extinction.

During the early days of the government shutdown, the Economist/YouGov poll found that38% of voters approved of Trump’shandling of it. That compared to 34% for Republicans in Congressand 29% for Democrats inCongress

While Republicans do betterthanDemocrats, the truthisthat most voters are unhappy with the whole mess. If this latest shutdown had beena movie, Rotten Tomatoes would rate it somewhere between “War of theWorlds” and “Smurfs.” Thank goodness it’s football season Then thereisthe ongoing issue of using U.S. troops in American cities to,asTrump says,“maintainorder.”

On this, according to the Economist/YouGov poll, 41% of voters favor doing so and 52% oppose.The split is partisan: 79% of Republicans favor it, while only 25% of independents and 9% of Democratsdo. Thereisalso aracialdifference: 44%ofWhites, 27% of Hispanics and 17% of Blacks favor doing so.

On other issues, based on the latest Harvard-Harris poll, 56% of voters supportTrump’speace plantoend the Israel-Hamas conflict; that’sgoodfor him (thepoll was completedbefore apausein fighting andhostage release was announced Wednesday). However,58% oppose “making cost cuts to Medicaidprograms by adding work requirements for those up to 64 yearsold;” that’snot good for Republicans Trump’sbest issues are fighting crime, where hisapproval rating is 50%, and immigration, where he’sat 49%. His worst issues areeconomic, inflation— seen as the top issue in America —and trade and tariffs; he haslimp40% approval ratings oneach In the same survey,morevoters(52%) seeTrump as a“strong president” than asa “fascist dictator” (48%). Butstill,whatU.S. president wants to be seen asa “fascist dictator” by anybody,muchlessthanbynearly half of his country’svoters?

Finally,there is the issue of Pete Hegseth,the “secretary of war,” formerly and legally knownasthe secretary of defense. TheEconomist/YouGov survey finds that 38% of voters approve ofthe jobhe’sdoing and 45% disapprove. Nearly 7out of 10 Republicans approve, which means he’sholding mostofthe Trump base. Fewother voters are fans,however. Hegseth started abig commotion by saying fat generals and admirals have to go. While 37% of voters also seeflabby brass as aproblem, nearly 50%don’t. In fairness to Hegseth, though, a2023 study found that 68% of active-duty U.S. service members wereeither overweight or obese —soitisalegitimate issue. Hegseth’sother flap washis opposition to U.S. military personnel sportingbeards.Only 28% ofU.S. voters agreewithhim.While 42% of Republicans favor clean-shaven warriors, just 14% ofDemocrats and 21% of independents do. WonderwhatUlysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee would have to sayabout this? There youhave it,what Americans arethinking. As Britishnovelist J.B. Priestleyoncewrote, “Public opinion polls are rather like childreninagarden, digging things up all the time to seehow they’re growing.” Ron Faucheux is anonpartisan political analyst, pollster and writer based in Louisiana.

We’re losing ourreligionas politics uses language of faith

After theshooting of Charlie Kirk, Isat beside my father,apastor, as we watched the news unfold. I turned to him and asked, almost in disbelief, “How did we get here?” Somewhere along the way,webegan to mistakeour political loyalties for our faith. Instead of following theexample of Jesus —marked by humility, compassion and truth —we’ve allowed fear and division to takecenter stage. When party allegiance outweighs obedience to Christ, we’ve missed thepoint entirely Jesus never said, “They’ll know you by your votes.”Hesaid, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35). Yetthe toneof today’spolitics rarely reflects love. More often, it produces hostilityand exclusion —the very oppositeof what Paul described as the fruit of theSpirit:love, joy,peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

This is not just aproblem for Christians. When religion is weaponized for politicalgain, it endangers everyone —especiallycommunities already vulnerable to being scapegoated.

Cloaking ideology in the language of faith is not only misleading, it does violence to the gospel itself

That’swhy it felt especially disheartening when my own reflections on this subject were censored on social media, even as farharsher rhetoric is allowed to circulate unchecked. We cannot afford to silence voices calling for love while amplifying voices thatthrive on fear and hate.

The gospel is not right-wing or leftwing. It is the radical, upside-down kingdom where power is service and love is the greatest command. Maybe thereal question isn’tjust “How did we get here?” but “Where do we go from here?”

NADRA MCKEE

Picayune,

Mississippi

Nation’s topleaders areout of step with military

I’m an avid reader of your Opinions page, and one of my opinions is that you have done an excellent service in selecting letters that accurately reflect the mood of the country

Twoletters recently written by militaryveterans in particular questioned the credentials and experience of the secretary of defense. Fastforward to therecent “school assembly” of the top military brass in America. They were invited from all points across the globe to hear an overly political rant by thepresident

and secretary of defense. It wasa sad spectacle by weakpoliticians. Kudos to the generalsand others who sat in theaudience stoically and without aword to be said. The longest militarytradition outlined in theConstitution of the United States says that the military cannot be involved in domesticpolitical affairs. Youwould think acommander-inchief and defense secretary would know that. Genuine leaders do know that, pretenders don’t.

CHARLIE FRENCH Metairie

HeyWho DatNation! Wherey’atlately?

Asea of San Francisco fansfilled thebottom bowl of the Superdome, rooting for their team, when they played theSaints in September.How embarrassing for true Saints fans, theBuddy D. fans, theWho Dat Nation! How unthinkable to thelegions of Saints fans who bought their tickets with the intention of cheering on their team, their brothers in arms. Whatblasphemytothe fans of NFL Sundays past who religiously

cheered their Saints on, winorlose (mostly lose)! Those fans would patiently,yet enthusiastically,root forrebuilding teams and encourage them on. And when the team’smanagement and coaching seemed too pitiful to endure, the fans still came to the games withpaper bags over their heads in protest. Where Dem Who Dats?Or, are they NotDats?

GEORGE CAWLEY NewOrleans

Insteadofraids, make penalties strongerfor employers of undocumented

Recently,Supreme Court Associate Justice Brett Kavanaugh spoke on behalf of ICE using common sense indicators, such as working in jobs commonfor undocumented immigrants (e.g., landscaping, construction and day labor) as ameans of rounding up those suspected of being undocumented.

In the same time period, the U.S. House of Representatives passed House Bill 3486. This bill criminalizes being an undocumented immigrant in the United States, specifying long —even life —prison sentences. Irespect the right of the United States to provide reasonable paths to citizenship, control the issuance of work permits and to patrol our borders. However,Isee two problems with this bill: Justice Kavanaugh makes it plain that undocumented workers can be found at job sites. That suggests Americans are hiring them. What are the penalties for employers hiring undocumented workers? Also, we already have the highest rate of incarceration in the developed world. Are we now going to increase that number by rounding up people looking for work?

MARCIA B. COOKE

NewOrleans

During shutdown, Congress needsto work forits pay

House Speaker Mike Johnson constantly says that they can’t negotiate with Democrats until the lights are back on. One simple, underreported fact reveals what aridiculous lie that is: Congress is still being paid. The lights are still on in the only part of the federal government that can get the rest of the government back to work. The Republicans are refusing to do their jobs, but they are still taking their paychecks. TEDHANSEN Zachary

GAMEDAY

LSouTh cAroLinA AT LSu • 6:45 P.m. SATurdAy • Secn

SU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier and South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers don’t possess many similarities as players, but they entered the 2025 season with something in common.

Both were highly regarded prospects for the 2026 NFL Draft. For Nussmeier, his calling card is his ability to make throws into tight windows and fearlessness as a passer. Sellers’ dominant traits are his size, strength and speed.

Their profiles were enticing enough for Dane Brugler, a national NFL writer covering the NFL draft for The Athletic, to place both in the top 10 of his preseason draft rankings

“If it were a perfect world, yeah, I’d love to be able to keep my draft rankings and draft opinions to myself until we had all the evidence,” Brugler told The Advocate recently “My job is to kind of be very transparent with my process. And so over the summer, these are my rankings. This is how I see these guys, based on my own evaluations and based on (how) NFL teams see these guys.”

Qbs Sellers, nussmeier were hot names on nFL draft boards entering the season. now they are trying to rebuild their value. ä See LSU, page 2C

LSU GAMEDAY

BROADCAST INFORMATION TEAM SCHEDULES

South Carolina at LSU

6:45

LSU

South Carolina

LSU

Continued from page 1C

Good or bad, preseason expectations often don’t match reality For Sellers and Nussmeier, neither quarterback has had the season they wanted heading into Saturday’s matchup between LSU and South Carolina in Tiger Stadium (6:45 p.m., SEC Network).

“I think we have all this build up to the season,” LSU coach Brian Kelly said Monday. “We have all this time to read and think about who the best is, and everybody’s got to get their shout out as to who the best quarterback is, and sometimes that’s just not realistic.”

What’s gone wrong for Nussmeier is relatively straightforward: He hasn’t been healthy

The fifth-year senior has dealt with a torso injury since the preseason, an injury that has lingered through LSU’s opening five games. Nussmeier has declined to comment on the ailment, but Kelly believes that LSU’s off week helped him properly rest and recover “He’s feeling better and better,” Kelly said. “We didn’t do a lot with him last week. We wanted to use that as a recovery week for him.”

STAFF PREDICTIONS

ZACH EWING

LSU 27, SOUTH CAROLINA 21

Unless Garrett Nussmeier’s injury has been more bothersome than anyone let on, it’s hard to imagine more than incremental offensive improvement Still, the sky is not falling after a single loss. The Tigers are in the playoff chase, and we’ve passed three years since LSU lost to anyone in Death Valley other than Alabama. It’s hard to imagine South Carolina being the one to break that streak.

REED DARCEY

LSU 24, SOUTH CAROLINA 17

The LSU defense couldn’t defend mobile quarterbacks last season Now it feels like it can blend scheme and talent to corral LaNorris Sellers and shut down the South Carolina offense — the only unit in the SEC that’s rushing for fewer yards per game than the Tigers are The Gamecocks need more talent around Sellers. LSU just needs to figure out a way to slow down pass rusher Dylan Stewart

Nussmeier has refused to use the injury as an excuse for his play, but according to Pro Football Focus, his average depth of target has dropped by nearly 2 yards from last season, despite LSU upgrading its speed at wide receiver

“I mean, clearly, he’s not 100%,” Brugler said. “The ball, when it comes out of his hands, it just doesn’t have the same life.

“That’s part of playing football, right? I mean, how many players NFL (or) college are operating at 100%? It’s just you have to be able to play through it. And so far this year, he hasn’t been able to. And that’s been a bummer to see, because coming into the year, for a lot of teams, he was a top-ranked senior in this class.”

Brugler believes that Nussmeier’s injury has had a domino effect on his play Besides the discomfort he’s shown in throwing the ball, Brugler said Nussmeier’s decision-making may have been altered because of the ailment.

“(If) the injury is affecting your physical ability mentally (you) think, ‘OK, I need to speed up my process ...’ ” Brugler said. “And so it does create a little bit of uncertainty about how much is the injury affecting not just his ability to fire strikes but (also) to read out his progressions, to move in the pocket, to do all the different things that we know he’s capable of.”

SCOTT RABALAIS

LSU 26, SOUTH CAROLINA 16

Both teams need a big SEC win. Both are coming off bye weeks. Both have looked underwhelming. LaNorris Sellers is a huge danger and is talented enough to upset the Tigers virtually on his own. But the bet here is that the LSU offense will do enough and the defense will bend but not break enough for the home team to grind out a crucial victory to begin a difficult October stretch

KOKI

RILEY

LSU 20, SOUTH CAROLINA 13

Despite having Heisman-contending quarterbacks heading into the year, both of these offenses have fallen flat South Carolina has struggled to protect LaNorris Sellers and run the ball For LSU, Garrett Nussmeier’s torso injury has affected his play and the Tigers have failed to run the ball efficiently. Expect a low-scoring affair, but LSU should win thanks to its home crowd and swarming defense

STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier fires the ball across the field during a game against Ole Miss on Sept 27 at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Miss.

AP PHOTO By JOHN RAOUX Texas quarterback Arch Manning looks to make a pass under pressure during the second half of a game against Florida on Oct. 4 in Gainesville, Fla.

AP PHOTO By SCOTT KINSER

South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers runs the ball against Kentucky during the second half of their game on Sept 27 in Columbia, S.C

The perception is Sellers also has struggled to live up to similarly highexpectations. South Carolinais3-2,and Sellers is now along shot for the Heisman Trophy (his odds of winning are +10,000onFanDuel sportsbook heading into the weekend).

However,Brugler has no major qualms with Sellers’start to the year.Hehasn’tbeen perfect,but Bruglersaid NFL scouts feel better about Sellers now thanthey ever did aboutformer Florida quarterback and top-5 pick Anthony Richardson when he was drafted.

“He is one of the strongest quarterbacks, if not the strongest quarterback, I’ve ever evaluated. And it’snot justthat,” Brugler said. “He’s big (but) he can also run with just about anybody elseon the field. Andsothatcombination is really rare, but he alsohas a powerarm.

“Sometimes he puts alittle bit too much on it. (He) needs to develop achangeup, needs to develop better touch.The placement can be alittle bit better. But Imean, every single tape that he has from this year,there are throws that make you sit up in your seat and go,‘OK, yeah, that’sthe top-10 pick that we’ve been waiting to see.’

Neither quarterback has been perfect, but the lack of major strides has been influenced by the subpar circumstances surroundingSellers and Nussmeier

The South Carolina offensive personnel has struggled. No quarterback in theSoutheasternConferencehas faced ahigher pressure rate than Sellers, according to PFF.The Gamecocks also have been the worst rushing team in the SEC, averaging 2.9 yards per run

LSUontape.

“You need to have complementary football if youwant(Nussmeier) to be aproductive quarterback,”Brugler said. “Andthey just don’t have that.”

These external factors —the offensive line, theplay-callers, thecoaching, etc. —are what make thequarterback position dependenton theplay of others around it, Brugler said.

“I think people hear that and their immediate reaction is, ‘Oh,we’re making excusesfor thequarterback.’ Imean,that’sjust nottrue,” Brugler said. “Like you have to look at the whole situation. Samething withArchManning in Texasright now. The offensive line is terrible. There’sno run gamenow

Youneed to have complementary football if you want (Nussmeier) to be aproductive quarterback. And theyjust don’thavethat. Ithink people hear that and their immediate reaction is,‘Oh, we’re making excuses for the quarterback.’I mean, that’s just nottrue. Youhavetolook at thewhole situation.”

DANE BRUGLER, National NFL writer for The Athletic

“Obviously,atthe start of the season, you’ve got alot of new faces,” South Carolina coach Shane Beamersaid, “startingtwo true freshman receivers, starting atrue freshman offensive guard right now.Sothere’sa lotofnew faces andyoung players around him.” LSUhas facedsimilarproblemswithits run game and offensive structure around Nussmeier.Only South Carolina is averaging fewer yards per rush, and Nussmeier has needed to get the ball out quicker than he did last season in part because the Tigers have five newstarters on the offensive line

The Tigers’ issues in the run game,particularly,have made them much easier to defend, a reality that is clear to Brugler when he watches

“Is Arch playing below what we expected?Absolutely.But you’reputting way too much on the quarterback’sshoulders when you’re not getting enough help fromthe other positions.”

Plentyofwords have been spilledover Nussmeier and Sellers’ starts to the year Thesame goes for Manning, Penn State quarterback Drew Allar, Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik and avarietyof draft-eligible quarterbacks.

Butthis week will mark only the halfway point of the regularseason for LSUand South Carolina. Alot can happen between now and through the endofthe year,meaning that thefinal wordonNussmeier and Sellershas not been written Brugler still believes Sellers is afirst-round prospect and that Nussmeier likely would be picked in thefirst two rounds if thedraft were today

“When we have draft discussions aboutplayers, when there are still games to be played, we’re going to have updated evidence that helpsshape these scouting reports,” Brugler said. “People just need to understand, you have to keep an open mind, because thingswill change.”

Patience. It’salso avirtue Kelly preaches when it comes to Nussmeier’sseason.

“Let’ssee how this thingplays out. We’vegot abig stretch of games in front of us. Whatever your narrative is on our quarterback, so be it,” Kelly said. “You earn what you getineverything youdoinlife,but there’ssomuchinfront of us.”

Email Koki Rileyat Koki.Riley@theadvocate.com.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

7p.m. No. 21Arizona St. (4-1)atUtah (4-1), 9:15 p.m. No. 22IowaSt. (5-1)atColorado (2-4), 2:30 p.m. No. 25Florida St. (3-2)vs. Pittsburgh (3-2), 11 a.m. EAST Charlotte (1-4) at Army(2-3), 11 a.m. Mercer(4-1) at Princeton (2-1), 11 a.m. Mercyhurst (2-4) at Wagner (1-4), 11 a.m. Lehigh(6-0) at Columbia(1-2), 11 a.m. Bucknell (4-2) at Lafayette (4-2), 11:30 a.m. Howard (3-2) at Sacred Heart (4-2), noon

Va.Lynchburg(0-1)atMorgan St. (2-4), noon St. Francis (Pa.) (0-5)atDuquesne (3-3), noon

Maine (2-4) at Merrimack (3-3), noon

Richmond(3-3) at Colgate (2-3), noon S. Connecticut (0-0)atDelaware St. (3-3), noon

NewHampshire(3-3)atRhode Island (4-2), noon

Yale (2-1) at Dartmouth (2-1), 12:30 p.m.

Monmouth (NJ) (4-1)atTowson (3-3),1 p.m.

CCSU(3-3) at RobertMorris (1-4), 1p.m.

Nebraska(4-1) at Maryland (4-1), 2:30p.m. Northwestern (3-2)atPenn St. (3-2), 2:30 p.m. Old Dominion(4-1)atMarshall (2-3), 2:30 p.m.

2p.m. Lincoln University (CA) (0-2)atAlcorn St.(0-5),2p.m. NC Central (4-2)atFloridaA&M (1-3), 2p.m. VMI (1-4)atETSU (2-4), 2:30 p.m.

Alabama St. (4-1) at Jackson St. (4-1), 2:30 p.m.

Virginia Tech (2-4)atGeorgia Tech (5-0), 2:30 p.m.

Appalachian St. (3-2) at Georgia St. (1-4), 2:30 p.m. Tennessee Tech (5-0) at Charleston Southern(1-5),3p.m. Cent. Arkansas (2-4)atNorth Alabama(1-4),3p.m. Arkansas (2-3)atTennessee(4-1), 3:15 p.m.

AustinPeay(4-2) at E. Kentucky (2-3), 5p.m.

UAB(2-3) at FAU(2-3), 5p.m.

IllinoisSt. (3-2)atMurray St. (0-5), 6p.m.

Georgia (4-1)atAuburn(3-2), 6:30 p.m.

MIDWEST UCLA (1-4)atMichigan St. (3-2), 11 a.m. Alabama (4-1)atMissouri(5-0), 11 a.m. Miami (Ohio)(2-3)atAkron (2-4), 11 a.m. Ohio St. (5-0)atIllinois(5-1), 11 a.m. Toledo (3-2)atBowlingGreen (2-3), 11 a.m. UCF (3-2)atCincinnati (4-1), 11 a.m. South Dakota (3-3)atIndiana St. (2-3), noon N.

STAFF PHOTO By HILARySCHEINUK

LSU coach Brian Kelly exchangeswords withquarterback Garrett Nussmeier in the second half of a game against Florida on Sept.13atTiger Stadium.

THENATION

THINGS TO WATCHINWEEK7

MIZZOU FACESSERIOUS TEST VS.TIDE

Missouri hasn’t beaten Alabama in football since 1975. But if the No. 14 Tigers are serious about potentially making the College Football Playoff, then beating the eighth-rankedCrimson Tide on Saturdayiscritical. The Crimson Tide features the SEC’smost prolificpasserinTy Simpson, wholeadsthe league with 1,478 yards through the air to go with13 touchdown passes and just one interception. The Tigers counter with the SEC’stop rusher in Ahmad Hardy, whohas 730 yardsand nine touchdowns on the ground thisseason.

UNBEATEN DUCKS, HOOSIERS BATTLE No.3 Oregon (5-0, 2-0 BigTen) hosts No.7 Indiana(5-0, 2-0) on Saturdaywith both teams coming off byes. Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza has thrown for1,208 yards with 16 touchdowns and just one interception. On the other side is Dante Moore, whohas thrown for1,210 yards and 14 touchdowns with one interception. Indiana CB D’Angelo Ponds is expected to returnafter missingthe Iowa game with alower body injury. Pondshas 11 tackles,including10solo, and an interception.

AUBURN COULDPLAYSPOILER VS.UGA Auburn’soffense ranks last in SECplayin most categories and willtry to getright against Georgia, which has woneight in arow in the series and needs avictoryto maintaina clear path toward the CFP.Both defenseswill have their hands full withdualthreat quarterbacks. Gunner Stockton has six TD passes for Georgiatogoalong with five more rushing Jackson Arnoldhas five of each forAuburn. Arnoldwas sackedninetimes in his return to Oklahoma, and the Tigers have allowedan SEC-leading 21 sacks through five games 2 1 3 —AssociatedPress

SouthCarolinagameis‘D-Day’ forLSU

There was acountdown to “D-Day”inthe Baton Rouge State-Times newspaperfor amonth before LSU’s1966 season opener against South Carolina.

As Paul Dietzel amusingly observed, the“D” wasn’tfor DeWittClinton, the 19th-century politician who built theErie Canal. The “D” was for him and his return to Tiger Stadium in his first game as the Gamecocks coach.

1. OLEMISS

Record: 5-0 overall, 3-0 SEC

Previous rank: 1

Last week: Idle

Thisweek: vs.Washington State,11:45 a.m. Saturday(SECNetwork)

2. ALABAMA

Record: 4-1 overall, 2-0 SEC

Previous rank: 2

Last week: DefeatedVanderbilt 30-14

Thisweek: at Missouri, 11 a.m. Saturday (ABC)

3. TEXASA&M

Record: 5-0 overall, 2-0 SEC

Previous rank: 3

Last week: DefeatedMississippi State 31-9

Thisweek: vs.Florida, 6p.m. Saturday (ESPN)

4. GEORGIA

Record: 4-1 overall, 2-1 SEC

Previous rank: 4

Last week: DefeatedKentucky 35-14

Thisweek: at Auburn, 6:30 p.m. Saturday (ABC)

5. LSU

Record: 4-1 overall, 1-1 SEC

Previous rank: 5

Last week: Idle

Thisweek: vs.South Carolina, 6:45 p.m. (SECNetwork)

6. OKLAHOMA

Scott Rabalais

Dietzel marchedfrom LSU to Army after leading the Tigersto victory in the 1962 Orange Bowl and the 1961 SEC title. The feeling of being jilted never left smoldering Tigerfans, who bitterly remembered Dietzel sayinghewould never coach anywhere else after leadingLSU to the1958 national championship. For Dietzel’ssuccessor and former assistantCharles McClendon,the game was a must-win after coaching forfour yearsin theshadow of his successful, erudite and telegenic former boss McClendon shook off Dietzel’sshadow with a28-12 victory, deeply meaningful to himand his legacy at LSUperhaps— the Tigers’practice facility is namedfor McClendon, their winningest coach ever,but LSU has nothing named for Dietzel—but not hugely impactful in terms of LSU’s 1966 season. The Tigers finished 5-4-1 with 21-point losses to the two top-10 teams they faced, Florida and Alabama.

There’snoapparent personal animosity between LSU coach BrianKelly andSouth Carolina’sShane Beamer.The focus for both Kelly’sTigers and Beamer’sGamecocks is squarely between the sidelines, not between the ears.

The second annual 12-team College Football Playoff derby means alot more teams can dream for alot longer of being in position to vie for the national championship. As we near this season’shalftime festivities, there are at least twice as many teams with legitimate aspirations of making it into theCFP than there are CFP slots.

But eventually,alot of dreams collapse. The outsiders will look in on thebig party that they weren’tgood enoughtobeinvited to experience. The pressure to be part of the in crowd is enormous, much more than the pressure McClendon felt to beatDietzelnearly 60 years ago.

LSU and South Carolina are two of those teams. Neither has wowed thecollege football worldtothis point— LSU’s17-10 win over South Carolina’smuch-loathed upstate rival Clemson doesn’tlook as epic as it did at first. Still, mathematically,4-1 LSU and 3-2 South Carolina are very much in the CFP mix.

STAFF FILE PHOTO

Long after their emotional showdown in 1966, Paul Dietzel, left, and Charles McClendon talk at a1989reunion for LSU’s 1961 SEC championship team.

Aloss to LSU on Saturday in Tiger Stadium (6:45 p.m., SEC Network)would probably push the Gamecocksintothe elimination zone. Aloss for the No. 11-ranked Tigers on Saturday would leave them needing to run the table to have arealistic chancetostay in the CFPpicture. Saturday’scontest begins arelatively brief but intensely importantthree-game October slate for LSU. The Tigers go on the road to face No. 20 Vanderbilt —literally LSU’stoughest road game against the Commodores since the 1940s —thencome home to face No. 5Texas A&M. The Tigers can go 3-0 in October and set up an enormously meaningful November with aCFP berthhanging in the balance when LSUgoes to Alabama and Oklahoma. They could possibly afford to go 2-1, but the “1” had better not be against the Gamecocks. It’simpossible to see LSUlosing at home to South Carolina and then being able to take down Vandy (strange as that sounds) and Texas A&M. If LSUgoes 1-2 this month?Forget it. It may bepossible for ateam from the SoutheasternConference to sneak intothe

TV HIGHLIGHTS

CFP with a9-3 record, but no team wants to count on that. Just ask the2024 Gamecocks.

The Tigers have held steady as a 91/2-point favorite most of the week. Rightly so. SouthCarolina is adangerous team with its preseason All-SEC quarterback in LaNorris Sellers and atalented defender in linebacker Dylan Stewart. These two teams played an absolutely wild gamein Columbia, South Carolina, last year,with LSUrallying from a17-0 second-quarter deficit to edge the Gamecocks 36-33. Sellers got knocked out of that gamehalfway through, and it’s plausible to say that if he’d played theentire game, theTigers would have lost Butthis gameisinTiger Stadium,where LSUhas only lost twice under Kelly AndSellers doesn’thave the sametalent around him as he did on last year’steam that just missed out on aCFP bid. We will find out quickly Saturday night if LSUquarterback GarrettNussmeier is finally healed up and if the Tigers can find apulse to their running game. LSU has had an off week since its 24-19 loss at Ole Miss to get healthy,get right and get moreproductive, as Kelly has stressedhis offense must If you’d said before theseason that LSU would be 4-1 at this point, it would generally have been an acceptable start, with the expectation that the loss would have been at Clemson, of course. The Tigers still have all their goals in front of them, but gettingthere starts with amust-winSaturday night This LSUteam’sown version of “D-Day” is here.

For more LSU sports updates, sign up for our newsletter at theadvocate.com/ lsunewsletter

Record: 5-0 overall, 1-0 SEC

Previous rank: 6

Last week: DefeatedKentState 44-0

Thisweek: vs.Texas, 2:30 p.m. Saturday (ABC)

7. TENNESSEE

Record: 4-1 overall, 1-1 SEC

Previous rank: 7

Last week: Idle

Thisweek: vs.Arkansas, 3:15 p.m. Saturday (SECNetwork)

8. MISSOURI

Record: 5-0 overall, 1-0 SEC

Previous rank: 10

Last week: Idle

Thisweek: vs.Alabama, 11 a.m. Saturday (ABC)

9. SOUTHCAROLINA

Record: 3-2 overall, 1-2 SEC

Previous rank: 11

Last week: Idle

Thisweek: at LSU, 6:45 p.m. Saturday(SEC Network)

10.FLORIDA

Record: 2-3 overall, 1-1 SEC

Previous rank: 14

Last week: DefeatedTexas29-21

Thisweek: at Texas A&M, 6p.m. Saturday (ESPN)

11.VANDERBILT

Record: 5-1 overall, 1-1 SEC

Previous rank: 9

Last week: Lost to Alabama 30-14

Thisweek: Idle

12.TEXAS

Record: 3-2 overall, 0-1 SEC

Previous rank: 8

Last week: Lost to Florida 29-21

Thisweek: vs.Oklahoma, 2:30 p.m. Saturday (ABC)

13.MISSISSIPPI STATE

Record: 4-2 overall, 0-2 SEC

Previous rank: 12

Last week: Lost to Texas A&M 31-9

Thisweek: Idle

14.AUBURN

Record: 3-2 overall, 0-2 SEC

Previous rank: 13

Last week: Idle

Thisweek: vs.Georgia, 6:30 p.m. Saturday (ABC)

15.ARKANSAS

Record: 2-3 overall, 0-1 SEC

Previous rank: 15

Last week: Idle

Thisweek: at Tennessee, 3:15 p.m. Saturday (SECNetwork)

16.KENTUCKY

Record: 2-3 overall, 0-3 SEC

Previous rank: 16

Last week: Lost to Georgia 35-14

Thisweek:

STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

LSU coachBrian Kelly argues withanofficial after acall in the fourth quarter of the game against South Carolina on Sept. 14, 2024, at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia,S.C. LSU won36-33.

SPORTS

REALITYCHECK

BY KEVIN FOOTE Staff writer

HARRISONBURG, Va The bye week is over andsoare thegood-time feelings from adouble-overtimewin against Marshall.

It’snow time for the UL Ragin’ Cajuns to face possibly their biggestchallenge left on the schedulewithan11a.m. Saturday kickoff at James Madison on ESPN2.

There are several areas the Cajuns must focus on to pull off abig upset over the preseason SunBeltfavorites,

especially considering the week began with UL as a20.5-point underdog.

“It’sa good football team, but we have alot of opportunities to go out and go fix some issues that we’vehad earlier in theyear,”ULcoach Michael Desormeaux said. “Wecan go play areally good team on the road and try to do

that better than we’ve done it so far.”

When playing theDukes (4-1, 2-0), it’s all about the running game.

James Madison averages 241.6 yards rushing agame, which ranks No.10nationally.Ondefense, the Dukes allow only79.8 yards rushing agame, which ranks No. 12 nationally

“Yeah,there’s some pretty unique looks,”Desormeaux said of the James Madison defense. “They do alot of it with thesamepersonnel,too,which is hard. Sometimes when teams will change personnel …soyou kind of know what’s coming. They jump in and

outofthings,theystem in andout of things, too, which makes it difficult.”

For redshirt sophomore offensive lineman Matt Broussard, the film study hasexposed him to some new formations.

“I haven’tseen it, not that Ican recall,” Broussard said. “They play their linebackers at 4yards. It’s all real, real close. And they’ve done agreat job this year

“Their linemen play about like ayard off the ball so they can move, do more

BY LUKE JOHNSON Staff writer

Late in the fourth quarter against the NewYorkGiants, there was New Orleans Saints cornerback KoolAid McKinstry putting the whole picture together. As the seconds on the play clock ticked down,McKinstry surveyed the field and digested whathesaw He noted the down and distance, thetime remaining in the game, who he was lined up across from and wherehefitwithin the offensive formation. He quickly processed what the Giants had been trying to do, and most importantly,what they were likely to do next.

McKinstry thought it would beanin-breaker route Sure enough, Giants receiver Beaux Collins tried to beat McKinstry inside, but he had no chance. McKinstry out-leveraged Collins and beat him to the ball for an athletic, leaping interception.

Thiscollection of informationand acting uponit, defensive coordinator BrandonStaley said,isan exampleofMcKinstry playing thegamewithinthe game. And this is what hasthe Saints excited about McKinstry’spotential

“Allthose things go into playingthe gamewithin the game and being able to anticipatebetter,”Staley said.“That’s what youwantfor anyplayer, but particularly ayoung player —tonot react allthe time. For them to feel like they’re theaggressor,they’renot absorbing what is coming at them.”

Lastweek against the Giants, theSaints finally saw the version of McKinstry they envisioned when they selected him withthe No. 41 pick last year McKinstry endedconsecutive drives withinterceptions —the first and second picks of his career —and snuffed out New York’slast, best chance at making a gameofitwhen he played withperfect technique to knockdowna pass to Theo Johnsoninthe endzone late in thefourthquarter

Alvin Kamara’slocker is right beside Blake Grupe’s, so he knows better than anyone how tough this season has been for the kicker

The twoteam captains forthe NewOrleans Saints talk often. “The sucky part about being a kicker in the NFL is everybody alwayssays, ‘You’ve got one job, just to kick,’ “Kamara said. “When you miss akick, it’sthe end of theworld and they are calling for your job. But that dude’sgot alot of s*** to him.I don’tknow if the fans pay attention, but he’s definitelylike amaster of his craft, andhe’sreally passionate about what he does and he takes pride in himself.He’skicking himself morethan the fans, a coach, anybody.” Grupe has madejust 10 of 15 field goalsthis season. His 66.7% on field goals ranks dead last in theNFL. The league average is 83%. He missed one field goal in each of the first three games,

then responded by making both of his attempts in aloss to the Buffalo Bills. But in last week’s victory over the New York Giants, he missed 2of6 attempts. The distance on his five misses this season is 37, 40, 46 and two 52-yarders. Those are almost considered chip shots in today’sNFL.

“He’sbattling through this,” Saints coach Kellen Moore said. “Everyone goes through challenging situations in the NFL. Our job is to rally him,rally the group. Ithink he’sgoing to respond to it really well. Ihave a lot of confidence in his ability to respond to this.”

There hasn’tbeen one common factor in the misses. There was one in the opener that he admits he rushed because the play clock was winding down. And there was one last weekthat special teamscoordinator Phil Galiano said the ball wasleaning too much on the hold when Grupe kicked it. So the entire operation —the snap from Zach Wood, the hold from punter Kai Kroeger and the kick —all play apart.

STAFF PHOTO By BRAD KEMP

UL quarterback Lunch Winfield is tackled by Marshalldefensivebacks MarvaeMyers, left, andTaShawn Jeterduring the Cajuns’54-51 double-overtime win on Sept. 27 at Our LadyofLourdes Stadium. After an open date, the Cajuns returntoSun Belt Conferenceaction Saturdayagainst James Madison.

STAFF PHOTO By DAVIDGRUNFELD

Saints cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry, center celebrates withteammates after his second interception against the Newyork Giants on Oct. 5in the Caears Superdome.

Rod Walker

Gurzi, Carencro rout Lafayette High

BY KEVIN FOOTE Staff writer

The game began with a pretty encouraging drive for the Lafayette High Mighty Lions, a 10-play, 45-yard drive in 4:08, only to turn it over on downs at the Carencro 27. Little did they know the avalanche of scoring that was about to engulf them.

On Carencro’s first play from scrimmage, quarterback Carson Gurzi began his record-breaking night with a 73-yard touchdown pass to Chantz Babineaux.

That was the Golden Bears’ first explosive play of a night full of them on their way to a 63-7 road victory over the Lions on Thursday

“They played a completely different front than we were expecting tonight,” Carencro coach Gavin Peters said. “We kind of changed our game plan early on and took advantage of it, and that’s why we threw the football the way we did.”

Gurzi and the passing game were certainly up to the quick strategy change to Lafayette High’s five-man front.

In the three quarters he played, Gurzi completed 19 of 22 passes for a school-record 412 yards and four touchdowns for the Bears (4-2), breaking Babineaux’s 2023 mark of 394 passing yards.

“That’s great,” the sophomore said of the record. “I didn’t even know that. I give total credit to all the coaches in our program and all the players. I mean, it’s not just me that’s grown.

“I’m the one that gets to show it, but the offensive line has grown in a lot of ways. You know, all the receivers have gotten tremendously better, our connection has grown in so many ways. It’s unbelievable.”

On Carencro’s second drive, Gurzi connected with Kydan Davis for 25 yards and then Kendrick Bernard for 26 to set up Khylen Taylor’s 3-yard TD run.

Then Gurzi completed passes of 9 and 17 yards to Babineaux to set up his own 3-yard TD run for a 27-7 lead. That drive was set up by Babineaux’s first interception of the night.

The second one came on the next drive, this one being a picksix from 27 yards out for a 35-7 lead with 10:01 left in the second quarter

“To be honest, I’m not really tired,” Babineaux said of playing both ways. “I feel like I had a lot more in me. I’m just hoping to help the team the best way I can.”

The former quarterback has developed quite a connection with Gurzi.

“Carson is a great young man,” Babineaux said. “He’s got a lot more in him. He’s a great person off the field and a great person on the field. He does stuff the right way, and he’s only a sophomore.”

Babineaux has five receptions for 138 yards and two scores, in addition to his two interceptions and pick-six. He has six interceptions this season.

“We’ve grown in so many different ways from last year,” Gurzi said. “Starting as a freshman and him being a junior (last year) and mixing in some different things with me going in in different packages, and working all offseason.

“That’s all what it is. That’s what this is. This is why me and him

have the great connection that we have and get to go out here and put great numbers up on the scoreboard,” Gurzi said.

Gurzi also has a pretty good connection with senior Kendrick Bernard, who caught a 91-yard touchdown pass from Gurzi midway through the second for a 42-7 lead.

Bernard finished with three receptions for 139 yards and one touchdown.

“That kid is something special,” Gurzi said of Bernard. “He knows exactly when to sit in the zone. He knows exactly how to get open a hundred times. He’s great. KB’s great.”

While it was a night of fancy offense, Carencro’s defense improved as well after that first drive, limiting Lafayette High to 13 first downs, 109 rushing yards and 71 passing.

“We’ve got to tackle better,” Peters said. “I think that’s still our issue. We’re in the right spots. We just got to do a better job of tackling.”

The only real issue for the Bears was getting 16 penalties for 181 yards.

“Judgment calls or judgment calls, right? We’re all human,” Peters said of the 16 flags. “But the self inflicted penalties, you know, the unsportsmanlikes and late hits out of bounds, things of that nature that was the first time we’ve had those issues.”

Chicago chaplain Sister Jean dies at 106

CHICAGO Sister Jean — born Dolores Bertha Schmidt on Aug. 21, 1919, then taking the name Sister Jean Dolores in 1937 — became one of the most talked-about personalities during that 2018 NCAA Tournament. She did countless interviews and even was celebrated with a bobblehead in her likeness.

Health issues caused Sister Jean to step down from her role with the university in August, though the school said she remained as an adviser in the final months of her life. Sister Jean — born Dolores Bertha Schmidt on August 21, 1919, then taking the name Sister Jean Dolores in 1937 — became one of the most talked-about personalities during that 2018 NCAA Tournament. She did countless interviews and even was celebrated with a bobblehead in her likeness.

Schumaker takes over as Rangers manager

ARLINGTON, Texas Skip Schumaker is taking over as manager of the Texas Rangers after nearly a year in an advisory role that allowed him to watch, be around and learn everything about the team.

Schumaker’s formal introduction came a week after the Rangers not surprisingly named the 2023 National League Manager of the Year as Bruce Bochy’s replacement. He got a four-year contract through the 2029 season.

Texas was the first of the eight major league teams with a managerial vacancy to fill its opening. The Rangers didn’t go far or take long to do so, never going outside the organization to interview anyone else.

Ex-Celtics star Pierce arrested on DUI charge

LOSANGELES Former NBA player Paul Pierce was arrested Tuesday night on suspicion of driving under the influence on a Los Angeles highway after he was found asleep behind the wheel, state police said. California Highway Patrol officers responded at about 10:40 p.m. to an unrelated car crash involving multiple vehicles on the northbound lanes of U.S. Highway 101, closing four of the six lanes to investigate, the agency said in a press release.

When they reopened the lanes about an hour later, they saw a Range Rover SUV stopped in the road, south of the crash. Officers saw Pierce asleep at the wheel and “noticed signs of alcohol impairment” so they conducted a DUI investigation, the press release said.

Former Boston Red Sox outfielder Greenwell, 62, dies BOSTON Mike Greenwell, an outfielder who played 12 seasons with the Boston Red Sox and finished second in the 1988 American League MVP voting, died Thursday, his wife said. He was 62.

The Boston Globe reported in mid-August that Greenwell had medullary thyroid cancer Tracy Greenwell told WINK, a radio station in Lee County, Florida, that her husband died in Boston.

Lee County Manager Dave Harner also announced Greenwell’s death on the county government’s social media account.

NICK FONTENOT

Contributing writer

Even after hanging 52 points on Sam Houston on Thursday, Southside coach Jess Curtis walked off the field “aggravated.”

The Sharks couldn’t have scripted a worse start On the second play from scrimmage, a fumble gave the Broncos a short field, and they cashed in fast. After a threeand-out, Sam Houston marched right back down for another touchdown, leaving Southside in a 14-0 hole before the seats in the stands were full.

“I want us to play a clean four quarters of football,” Curtis said.

“We’re growing a lot, and the team’s bought into what we’re building here, but we’ve got to stop shooting ourselves in the foot. Those things have to get cleaned up.”

Once the Sharks settled down, they answered the adversity Southside erupted for 52 points, including 242 yards and three rushing touchdowns from Justin Williams, in the 52-28 victory Quarterback Parker Dies rushed for 171 yards and two touchdowns and threw for 87 yards and a touchdown.

Dies rushed for 171 yards and threw for 87 yards and a touchdown.

As a team, Southside collected 29 first downs and ran for 488

yards. The Sharks outgained Sam Houston 518-145 in the blowout.

“It’s hard not to be happy with 52 points,” Curtis admitted. “We’re growing, and our offense is really starting to hum. When we’re not getting in our own way, we’re tough to stop.”

Curtis praised Dies, the junior quarterback who’s quickly becoming the heartbeat of the offense.

“Parker’s a warrior,” Curtis said. “He takes the game over when he wants to. He’s a terrific athlete, and he had some big runs tonight. He wanted the football and he executed our plan perfectly.”

The win moved Southside to 5-1, but Curtis said he isn’t interested

in pats on the back. He’s made deep playoff runs before at his previous coaching stops and he said he’s made it clear that’s the standard now at Southside.

“We have done nothing here,” Curtis said “We have not won state championships here We need to come and prove who we are. We want to play in December here.

“We want those semifinals runs and hopefully get to New Orleans. The buy in is big and the kids are working their tails off. We love what we did tonight, but there’s those little things that keep rearing their head that if you don’t fix it, come playoff time, you’ll be going home.”

In 1987, Greenwell emerged as Boston’s full-time left fielder, taking over the position previously occupied by three MVPs Ted Williams, Carl Yastrzemski and Jim Rice — who would later become Hall of Famers.

Swiatek stunned by Paolini at Wuhan Open WUHAN, China Iga Swiatek was knocked out of the Wuhan Open on Friday in a straight-set defeat to Jasmine Paolini — a player the Wimbledon champion had never previously lost against Paolini powered her way to a 6-1, 6-2 victory over the second-ranked Swiatek in a quarterfinal that was over in 65 minutes.

It was the Italian’s first victory over Swiatek in their seventh meeting with Paolini having previously won only one set — and secured her a semifinal spot against the third-ranked Coco Gauff

“Finally I won a match,” the seventh-seeded Paolini said. “I’m super happy about my level. Just feels amazing.”

Paolini has a much better record against Gauff, having triumphed over the American in their past three meetings.

STAFF PHOTO By BRAD KEMP

Carencro quarterback Carson Gurzi runs with the ball during his record-breaking performance in a 63-7 road win over Lafayette High on Thursday

PASSING

Daniel Beale

50.0%, 385yards,1TD, 4INTs

Leadersaim to breakawayfrom field

BY KEVIN FOOTE Staff writer

It’s time for therubber to meet the road in the Sun Belt Conference football race.

Thus far,James Madison and Old Dominion have shown clear signs theyare thetop two teams in the league. Arkansas State and Georgia Southern had chances to salvage theirlofty preseason expectations. One succeeded, and one failed. The UL Ragin’ Cajuns have not looked like the team thecoaches picked to win the West Division …until the last quarter-and-a-half against Marshall. This weekend, theCajunshavea chance to prove themselves at James Madison.

1. JamesMadison

Records: 4-1overall, 2-0 Sun Belt

Previous rank: 1

Last week: Defeated Georgia State 14-7

This week: vs. UL,11a.m. Saturday (ESPN2)

Extra points: TheDukes being tied 7-7going into the fourth quarter against Georgia State —ranked last in this poll last week —raises some questions. For now,let’s explain it by Georgia State being placedway too low.Thee were 26 combined flags for 214 yards. Neither team got to 300 total yards. The Panthers rushed for only 37 yards, and JMU threwfor only 74.

2. OldDominion

Records: 4-1overall, 1-0 Sun Belt

Previous rank: 3

Last week: Defeated Coastal Carolina 47-7

This week: at Marshall, 2:30 p.m. Saturday(ESPN+).

Extrapoints: The days of calling Old Dominion adarkhorse are over.The Monarchs are alegitimatecontender and maybe even the team to beat. We’ll find outa lot moreabout ODU over the next two weeks at Marshall and then at James Madison. The winover CoastalCarolinawas dominant,as the Monarchs outgainedthe Chanticleers 619-189. ColtonJoseph threw for 315 yards andfour TDs.

Last week: Lost at Northwestern, 42-7

This week: at Coastal Carolina, 6p.m. Saturday (ESPN+)

POWERRANKINGS

JAMES MADISON 27, UL 17: There’s toomuchtoovercomefor theCajuns in this one. TheDukes aregreat at

3. Southern Miss

Records: 4-2overall, 2-0 Sun Belt

Previous rank:4

Last week: Open date

This week: Defeated Georgia Southern 38-35 on Thursday

Extra points: Southern Miss led3514 in the third quarter and hung on forakey road win over Georgia Southern.Jeffrey Pittmanrushed for 140 yards andtwo scores while quarterback Braylon Braxton remained productive with237 yards passing andtwo scores. Thejuryis still out on whether the Eagles are as good as theirrecordindicates.

4. TexasState

Records: 3-2overall, 0-1 Sun Belt

Previous rank: 2

Last week: Lost at Arkansas State, 31-30

This week: vs. Troy,7 p.m. Saturday (ESPN+)

Extrapoints: Perhaps more credit goes to Arkansas State, but the Bobcats did lose to astruggling squad.Theygot five sacks and a greatgamefrom QB BradJackson,who threwfor 230 yards and a score and ran for 131 and atouchdown. TexasStatealsogot 105 yards and two scores from running back Lincoln Pare, yetlost with seven seconds left on the clock.

5. UL-Monroe

Hisdual-threat potentialisthe bigwild card.Still,itwould requireUL’sbest defensiveeffortand offensivegameof theseasontopulloff theupset

Records: 3-2overall, 1-0 Sun Belt

Previous rank: 5

CAJUNS

Continued from page5C

(blitzes).”

The Dukes defense doesn’thave one or two stars whom offenses can game-plan for

“When you turn on the tape, you don’tfeellike, allright, that one guy canwreck the whole day,” UL offensive coordinator TimLeger said. “They just play so good together that theymakeitreally hard on you. It’s impressive to watch. It really is.

“They do remind me of when we first got here and App State had the really gooddefenses,and everyyard washard to get. If youdo get past the second level, your big gainsare 8yards.”

Making things even tougher for UL is that leading rusher Zylan Perry isn’texpected to play,giv-

14-7

This week: vs.AppalachianState, 2:30 p.m.Saturday (ESPN+)

Extrapoints: We learned pretty emphatically UL-Monroe is not setuptocompete against Power Fourcompetition, but that doesn’t mean much in Sun Belt circles as longthe Warhawks can continue to playwell against league foes. CoastalCarolinahas been struggling mightily,soawin this week is well within UL-Monroe’sgrasp.

6. UL

Records: 2-3overall, 1-0 Sun Belt

Previous rank: 6

Last week: Open date

This week: at James Madison, 11 a.m. Saturday (ESPN2) Extrapoints: There is no way to knowatthis point howsignificant of aturnaround Lunch Winfield’sperformance against Marshall wasfor theCajuns. Visiting James Madison on Saturday isn’t exactly ado-or-die scenario for UL.IfWinfield is healthy enough to evaluate, it could provide a glimpse into the offense’sceiling against an elite defense.

7. AppalachianState

Records: 3-2overall, 0-1 Sun Belt

Previous rank: 9

Last week: Defeated Oregon State 27-23

This week: at Georgia State, 2:30 p.m. Saturday (ESPN+) Extrapoints: The Mountaineers have been all over theplace. It’s been aquarterback carousel at times,and just when you think AppState mightbemuchbetter than expected,apoor performance follows.The Mountaineers justedged winless OregonState. J.J. Kohl finished with 218 yards passing and ascore behind ahuge gamefrom receiver Davion Dozier (4-140, 1TD).

8. Troy

Records: 3-2overall, 1-0 Sun Belt

Previous rank: 10

Last week: Defeated SouthAlabama31-24 (OT)

This week: at Texas State, 7p.m.

ingStevenBlancoa greaterload andpotentially giving UL fans their first glimpse of true freshman Darrell Smith.

“He’sa little moreofaslasher,” Desormeauxsaid of Smith. “He kind of remindsmea littlebit of (ex-Cajun) Emani Bailey —that type of build and running style.”

The other big issue is Lunch Winfieldwill make his first start at quarterback forthe Cajuns. Against Marshall, he relieved Daniel Beale and led the Cajuns to six straight scoring drives for thecome-from-behind victory Winfield rushedfor 129 yards and three touchdowns and passed for125 yards and twomore scores.

“I thinkthe fact that he’sgotten in there andgotten his feet wet andhe’sinthe flowofthe game, Ithink that all helps,”Leger said.

“You do things to build to his strengths —some of the de-

Saturday (ESPN+)

Extra points: We maynot have learnedmuchabout the two teams in Troy’s31-24 overtime winover SouthAlabama, but the winboosted the Trojans in these rankings. QB Tucker Kilcrease displayed big-playpotential with203 yards passingand twotouchdowns, and 102 yards rushing and another score. The Trojans will face an angry Texas State squad on the road this week. Awin would say alot.

9. Marshall

Records: 2-3 overall, 0-1 Sun Belt

Previous rank: 7

Last week: Open date

This week: vs. Old Dominion, 2:30 p.m. Saturday (ESPN+)

Extrapoints: With the way Old Dominion is playing,noone is expecting theThunderingHerd to win outright. Taking the Monarchstothe wirewould even say alot for one of the mostunknown teamsinthe league.After abye week, we’re about to find out how much the one that got away in Lafayette last weekend has affected Marshall’s mindset.

10.ArkansasState

Records:2-4 overall, 1-1 Sun Belt

Previous rank: 13

Last week: Defeated Texas State, 31-30

This week: Open date

Extrapoints: Arkansas State may have saved its season with agamewinning score with seven seconds left to nip TexasState.Now the RedWolves get abye week to tune up before travelingtoSouth AlabamaonThursday.The Arkansas Statedefense gave up 519 total yards but got enough stopsdown the stretch to win. Jaylen Raynor threw for 248 yards and two TDs.

11.Georgia State

Records: 1-4 overall, 0-1 Sun Belt

Previous rank: 14

Last week: Lost to James Madison

signed runs andthings like that,” Desormeaux said. “We’re going to lethim go pay within the offense. We still have to throwthe ball. We’ve still got to makequick throws,nakeds,take shots —all thethingswe’ve got to do.”

On the flipside,the UL defense is allowing 179.8yards rushing per game. James Madison has fivebacks with at least 120 yards rushing, and that doesn’tinclude quarterback AlonzaBarnett,who has gained 140 this season.

“Wehave to stop the run to get himtothird down andthenbe successful to getoff thefieldon third down,” UL linebacker Jake St. Andre said. “Weknow against ateam like this that they want to run theball, and we have to take it as achallenge. Everybody on the defenseshowup, tackle,run our feet and shut that down.” Wayne Knight leadsthe way with 436 yards and four touch-

Extrapoints: The Panthers lost their Sun Belt opener to fall to 1-4, but when you’re tied 7-7withthe Sun Belt preseason favorite after three quarters, that’sa positive sign especially when the other three losses aretoOle Miss,Vanderbilt andMemphis. Georgia State outgainedthe Dukes212-74 through the air but couldn’tstop the run with JMU rushing for 211 yards.

12.South Alabama

Records: 1-5 overall, 0-2 Sun Belt

Previous rank: 11

Last week: Lost to Troy,31-24 (OT)

This week: Open date

Extrapoints: It’s going to be along, frustrating bye week forthe Jaguars. It’ll be aprocess of surveying all of the near-misses South Alabamahas endured, largely because of penaltiesand turnovers. There’snomore room for error forthe Jaguars.

13.Georgia Southern

Records: 2-4 overall, 0-2 Sun Belt

Previous rank: 8

Last week: Open date

This week: LosttoSouthernMiss 38-35 on Thursday

Extrapoints: Much like Arkansas State against Texas State, the Eagles had agreatopportunity to salvage their recent slide with atop contender in town. Georgia Southern fell just short,cutting its deficit to three after trailing 35-14 in the third quarter Thursday

14.Coastal Carolina

Records: 2-3 overall, 1-1 Sun Belt

Previous rank: 12

Last week: Lost to OldDominion, 47-7

This week: vs. UL-Monroe, 6p.m. Saturday (ESPN+)

Extrapoints: The record seems like it would indicate the Chanticleers shouldn’tberankedatthe very bottom of these rankings, but none of Coastal’sbox scores have been kind to the Chanticleers. They get another chance to reverse the trend with the Warhawks in town.

downs on 61 carries.

“You can stop it four or five times, andthenwhentheypop thesixthone for55yards, that’s aproblem,” Desormeaux said. “We’ve gottoplay aphysical brand of football to be able to win the gameonthe road.”

The defense could see more playing time for redshirt sophomoresafety Collin Jacob.

“He played great,” Desormeaux said of Jacob againstMarshall. “He’searned alot of trust. He’s aguy who has been trending up since probably last fall.” Jacobcameoff thebench to lead the Cajuns with 14 tackles against Marshall.

“I’m ready to go, whatever it may be,” Jacob said. “I just love to be around the ball. Iloveto tackle.”

Email KevinFoote at kfoote@ theadvocate.com.

STAFFFILE PHOTOByBRAD

SCOREBOARD

NYG_Skattebo 4 run (McAtamney

1:19 ThirdQuarter NYG_Skattebo 1 run (McAtamney kick), 7:56 Fourth Quarter NYG_Skattebo 1 run (McAtamney kick), 9:41 A_81,564.

Fumbles-Lost

Penalties-Yards

Time of Possession

INDIVIDUALSTATISTICS

RUSHING_Philadelphia, Barkley 12-58, Hurts 7-13, Dillon 1-2. N.Y. Giants, Skattebo 19-98, Dart 13-58, Singletary 3-10, Tracy 4-6. PASSING_Philadelphia, Hurts 24-33-1-283. N.Y. Giants, Dart 17-25-0-195, Wilson

“We’re working with some things, especially on the hashes and some things with the laces,” Kroeger said. “We are talking through what would be best. Sometimes, those kind of things happen and like anything else, we watch the film and we work through it. There has been a lot of communication between Blake, Zach and I. We feel we have a good plan moving forward on everything.”

Their next chance to right the ship comes Sunday in the Caesars Superdome when the Saints (1-4) host the New England Patriots (3-2). Four of Grupe’s five misses have come in the Dome. The other one came outdoors at Lumen

Field in Seattle

“Right now, Blake is going through a little bit of adversity,” Galiano said So we’re going to figure out a way that we are going to overcome this adversity

It was, without question, the best game of his career He was rewarded for his efforts with NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors. Now he’s looking to carry that momentum forward

“It’s just something to build off,” McKinstry said Sunday’s game against the Giants was only the 20th NFL game McKinstry has played in. He turned 23 years old less than a week before that performance. As uneven as his performance sometimes has been both this season and last, the Saints saw a bright future for him even before his breakout game.

“We think highly of him,” coach Kellen Moore said. “He’s going to be a tremendous corner for us for a long time.” Like most young players especially those with credentials such as McKinstry,

Chris Conroy; Second, Ryan Blakney; Third, Edwin Moscoso; Right, Will Little; Left, Mike Estabrook. T_3:03. A_41,770 (41,363). College football Thursday’s games

SOUTH Kennesaw St. 35,

I do know this: If you’re going to feel sorry for yourself, you have no chance at overcoming adversity.”

The most surprising part of Grupe’s woes is that they have come on the heels of

game but also loves it That is a great starting point.

one of the most impressive training camps we’ve ever seen from a kicker. Grupe missed just one kick throughout training camp and the preseason. The miss came on a day when it just happened to start raining at the team’s practice facility right as he was kicking. He was so good that I predicted Grupe would make the Pro Bowl this season.

So to see that success not transfer over into the regular season is shocking.

“It’s surprising to me, him and everyone,” Galiano said. “We all go through some tough times. He’s in the middle of some adversity I believe in him, and he’s going to battle through it.”

In the NFL, teams often move on from kickers who are struggling. Look no further than Atlanta. The Falcons parted ways with long-

time kicker Younghoe Koo after just one game this season. And it would be an easy move for the Saints considering they already have another kicker, Charlie Smyth, on their practice squad.

But the Saints aren’t looking at making a move.

“We’re not going to make a change for the sake of making a change right now,” Galiano said. “We believe in him, and I think he’s going to come out of it and weather the storm.”

Grupe’s teammates believe he will snap out of it, too.

“He’s a talented kicker,” Kamara said. “You don’t want to make any premature decisions based off a couple small mistakes. I can think of a million players that you could have wrote off early and they wouldn’t have been who they were.”

The only way to silence the criticism is for Grupe to consistently start seeing his kicks sail through the uprights. Galiano often shows his special teams players different highlights of them having success. One of the ones he’s shown Grupe is the preseason game in August against the Denver Broncos. Grupe made all three field goals that day, including a 56-yarder “I could see his swagger,” Galiano said. “I told him this is the version of you that we have to get back. This is who we all believe in, and we know who you are and this is what we need back.” The Saints need it. More importantly, Grupe needs it.

Email Rod Walker at rwalker@theadvocate.com. “We think highly of him. He’s going to be a tremendous corner for us for a long time.”

a consensus five-star recruit who earned All-America honors at Alabama McKinstry won by virtue of his talent for much of his life before he got to the NFL

But pure talent will get players only so far in a league filled with former five-star recruits and college All-Americans So it makes sense that when McKinstry reviewed his performance against the Giants, he credited the work he did on the margins leading up to the game.

“It made me realize how important the little things are,” he said

In McKinstry, Staley sees a gifted player who has some important traits. He’s a gifted young player who not only understands the

Elevating McKinstry from an idea to a fully realized impact player requires refining all those small details that separate the good from the great.

“You’re playing against the best of the best, and it’s just like this,” Staley said, holding his fingers an inch apart, “all the time, every play, every week. He understands he can play that game within the game if he really studies, really works at it.

“Your talent is taking you a long way and you can overcome some of the margins when you’re younger and you’re above the competition, but when you get here and everything’s tight, those little things are going to make the difference. He’s really investing in that. He’s still got a long ways to go, but he’s the right guy to be coaching.”

Email Luke Johnson at ljohnson@theadvocate.com.

STAFF PHOTO By DAVID GRUNFELD

Saints kicker Blake Grupe is consoled by punter Kai Kroeger after missing a field goal against the Arizona Cardinals on Sept 7 at the Caesars

TerryRobinson FAITH MATTERS

Resource Fair helpsmothers, families in theBRarea

The challenges of motherhood helped birth anew ministry for Victoria Brock. The 28-year-old Zachary mother said the birth of her son two years ago broughta mixture of joy and fear,which ultimately led her on arenewed walk with God andset her on apath to serve others.

“There was alot of fear because this is the best thing I’ve everdone, having my son, Brock said of being afirst-time mom. “The fear really made me feel overwhelmed because Ididn’twant just to do it, I wanted to do it well.” Instead of rejoicing in anew season of life, Brock found herself experiencing an overwhelming feeling of isolation and financial strain, as her autosalesman husband was the family’ssole meansof income during her extended maternity leave.

“There are so many people who struggle in silence, andI really feel like that’swhere the devilcan getyou —whenyou feel like you’re in the dark and you feel isolatedfrom notjust Christ, but from other people who are struggling just like you, and alot of people are,” said Brock, who is amember of Baker Church of the Nazarene. Yet, through all the struggles, Brock held onto herfaith

“I felt like the only thingthat could change would be some serious spiritual intervention from God,” she said. “When you’re pregnant, your connection to God is so intense, forme at least. Just the idea thatGod has blessed me to put somebody’sspirit in me.” She also felt blessed to still have asafety net in her family and friends.

“My husband is agreat man,” she said. “I cannot truly imagine what womenare going through who do not have that support system or accessto family members.”

The revelation led Brock to found 2The People, afaithbasedorganization to support mothers and families. It is based on the words of Jesusin Matthew 18:20: “For where two or three are gatheredinmy name, there am Iwith them.” Brock said she began envisioning the concept for 2The People more than ayear ago, but it wasn’tuntil earlier this year that she found the courage to bring the vision to life.

“All of this is God,” shesaid “This is definitely aseed that God planted, and Iamagardener.Everything thatwe’re doing is just ordained andled by God. This is his vision, andI think he wants us to know that we’re not alone.” For six months, 2The People hasbeen planning its first major outreach. The free “Plugged In” Community Resource Fair willbeheld 10 a.m. to 2p.m. Saturday at Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church, 185 Eddie Robinson Sr.Drive, Baton Rouge.

“I felt like Ineededtocreate something where women could come and get some resource help from some nonprofitsin the community.Weactually are going to have aprayer room where we will have pastors and ministers who are going to be waiting to pray with anybody who wants to have

PROVIDED PHOTOByROB SCHLEGEL

Baton RougeBallet Theatre’syouth Ballet companyperformed the‘Galop’ from ‘Giselle’ during its added performance,‘Lagniappe,’which opened its 2025-26season, marking its65th anniversary.

THEFLOOR IS THEIRS

BatonRouge Ballet commemorates its 65th season by ‘bringingballettoBaton Rouge’

BY ROBIN MILLER Staff writer

Baton RougeBalletTheatre has commemorated quite afew landmarks on its timeline in recent years.

Theyear 2022 marked30years since the first staging of “The Nutcracker —A Tale From the Bayou,” an original Louisiana renditionof Pyotr IlyichTchaikovsky’sclassic Christmas ballet In 2024, that ballet’s creators, Molly Buchmann and Sharon Mathews, retired after 48 years as the company’sco-artistic directors. That ledtothe 2024-25 season with the company moving forward with newco-artisticdirectors Rebecca Acosta andJonna Cox.

Entering it 65th year

Now the company has begun its 65th year by adding afourth performance to its regular season.

Baton RougeBalletTheatre has turned 65 in thenew season, and Acosta and Cox are moving forwardintothe next 65 yearswith planstogive company dancers more performance opportunities.

“We’ve started outthe season

Baton RougeBallet Theatre kicked off its 2025-2665thanniversary season with ‘Lagniappe,’featuring companydancers in contemporary and classical dances, including soloist Alli Welch in ‘Let It Be’ choreographed by Shannon Johnson Grayson.

withanew opportunity for our dancers by adding the new concert, ‘Lagniappe,’ to our season,” Cox said. “Wealso did this by trying anew venue in Baton Rouge

Rêve Coffee Labopens

Rêve Coffee Lab opened astand in the back of The Parker Barber at 2544 Government St., Baton Rouge.

Baton Rouge Magnet High School’s auditorium —which wasn’tas costly and kept our tickets at very affordable prices.”

The addeddance concert combined classical and contemporary works, along with aperformance by guest artist and company alumnus Adrienne Simmons.

“Butitwas just atest this year to see how it goes,” Cox said. “It wasachallenge forour dancers because we hit the ground running in August when we’re usually easing into ‘The Nutcracker.’

This year,weshowed up in August in full throttle preparing for‘Lagniappe.’

Hundreds throughthe years

BatonRouge BalletTheatre was founded in 1960. Though they don’thave an exact number,Cox and Acosta agree that hundreds of dancers have danced as members of the company through the years. Today,approximately 25 professional dancers make up the company’smembership, while 30 school-age dancers dance with the company’sYouth Ballet.

ä See BALLET, page 10C

BY MADDIESCOTT Staff writer

In aspace that’ssmall but mighty,RêveCoffeeLab has opened acoffee stand on GovernmentStreet in Baton Rouge. At 2544 GovernmentSt., next to Barracuda Taco Stand and in the back of The Parker Barber, the specialtycoffee shop business opened in early September and it’shere to stay,according to the Baton Rouge location’sgeneral manager Eric Schoonmaker “We’re getting to know the spot,” Schoonmaker said about the softopening. “Wejustmade amonth.” Thestand is currently open 8a.m. to 5p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, but Schoonmaker hopes to extend the hours starting next week to Thursday through Sunday.Ifnot next week, it’ll be real

Brock

STAFF PHOTO By MADDIE SCOTT

St. Francis Episcopal holds garage sale

St. Francis Episcopal Church, 726Maple St., DenhamSprings, will hold its annual garage sale from 7a.m. to 3p.m. Friday-Saturday,Oct. 17-18. Find clothing, toys, home décor,tools, housewares, and more. Proceeds will benefit the mission and ministry of the church.

St. Francis also invites the community to its worship service at 10 a.m. on Sundays.

For more information, call (225) 665-2707 or visit www.stfrands.org.

Fill-a-Truck for St. Vincent de Paul

Residents can help fill the St. Vincent de Paul truck and support those in need from 8a.m. to noonSaturday,Nov.1,atSt. John the Baptist Church, 4826 Main St., Zachary They will be accepting donations of:

n Furniture

n Working appliances

n Lamps

n Pots and pans

n Household items

n Gently used clothing

n Baby items

n Shoes

n Coats

n Bedspreads and sheets. Mattresses andbox

springs will notbeaccepted. All items must be packedin boxesorplastic bags.

AnnualFamily &Friends Service

Nathaniel Bapti st Church, Highway33, Centreville, Mississippi, invites thecommunity to its annual Family &Friends Service.

The eventwill takeplace at 2p.m. Sunday, Oct. 26. The guest willbethe Rev.Derrick Williams, of the New Pilgrim Baptist Church.

Free parentingclass at Eden Park Branch

Eden Park Branch Library,5131 Greenwell Springs Road, Baton Rouge,willconduct afree, in-person parenting class for parents and caregivers on Mondays Oct. 13, 20 and 27.

Class time is 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

This three-part class will offer practical discipline tools, help one better connect with their child, manage stress and build healthyroutines.

“It’sperfect for first-time parentsoranyone looking for fresh strategies and support,” according toa news release. The classes are open to all.

TODAYINHISTORY

By The Associated Press

Today is Saturday, Oct. 11, the 284th day of 2025. There are 81 days left in the year

Todayinhistory:

On Oct. 11, 1991, Anita Hill accused Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas of sexual harassment in testimony before the Senate JudiciaryCommittee; Thomas denounced the proceedings as a“hightech lynching” and was confirmed on Oct. 15 by a 52-48 vote.

Also on this date: In 1906, the San Francisco Board of Education ordered the city’sAsian students segregated into their own school. (The order was later rescinded at the behest of President Theodore Roosevelt, who in exchange promised to curb future Japanese immigration to the United States.)

In 1968, Apollo 7, the first crewed flight of the Apollo program, was launched with astronauts Walter Schirra Jr., Donn F. Eisele and R. Walter Cunningham aboard. In 1984, Challenger astronaut Kathryn D. Sullivan became the first American woman to walk in space as she and fellow Mission Specialist David C. Leestma spent 3½ hours outside the shuttle. In 1987, the AIDS Memo-

MATTERS

Continued from page9C

prayer,”Brock said.

The resource fair will feature more than 40 community organizations, state agencies, individual vendors, giveaways and afree lunch. Workshops will cover topics such as self-care, healthy eating housing programs and résumé-building.

“It’snot just aresource fair,it’saccess to health, and hopefully,helpsomebody change courseif they’renot going down the best road,” she said. “We’re really trying to touch every aspect or as many as we can, so that everybody who comes here can get as much of what they need as possible.” Apivotal moment confirmed Brock’scalling: when afriend of afriend lost her baby due to complications that maybe could have been prevented. Brock said that tragedy was too much to ignore and strengthened her passion

Eating themightycarrot

Dear Readers: Carrots are one of my favorite vegetables, and you can do so much with them. Carrots have a sweet,nutty flavor, and they are also a great source of antioxidants, vitamin C, vitamin Aand potassium.Research shows that adaily consumption of carrotsorcarrot juice helps lower cholesterol, improves vision, and booststhe immune system —Heloise Keepingcoffeehot

longer when it’spoured into amug that’salready heated. —Jenny, in Texas Veggie hint

rial Quilt was first displayed during the Second National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights on the National Mall In 2002, former President Jimmy Carter won theNobel Peace Prize for hisand TheCarter Center’swork to resolve international conflicts and advocatefor human rights. In 2017, the Boy Scouts of America announced that it would admitgirls into the Cub Scoutsstartingthe following yearand establish anew program for older girls based on the Boy Scout curriculum. In 2021, Jon Gruden resignedascoach of theLas Vegas Raidersfollowing reportsabout messages he wrote yearsearlierthat used offensive terms to refer toBlack people,gays andwomen; Gruden later filed alawsuit, still pending, against theNFL and Commissioner Roger Goodell, alleging a“malicious and orchestratedcampaign” to destroy his career Today’sbirthdays: Former U.S. Defense Secretary William Perry is 98. Actor Amitabh Bachchan is 83. Singer Daryl Hall(Hall andOates) is 79. Sen.Patty Murray,D-Wash., is 75. Actor David Morse is 72. Football Hall of Famer Steve Young is 64. Actor Joan Cusack is 63. Actor JaneKrakowski is 57. RapperMCLyteis55.

to serve those in need.

“It was just an example of not havingaccess to the rightknowledge or information,” she said.“If everybodyaround is sort of used to strugglingthe same way,then nobody knows that it’sbetteron theother side. If she had known that, maybe the baby mayhave survived In addition to leading2 ThePeople andworking full-time at the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission, Brock is workingto assist families in other ways —asavolunteer doulawith Mary’sHands Network

“I’m excited to be in the birthing room,”Brock said. “If you can bring joy andpeace to themom, then youbring joy and peacetothe household. What could be more spiritual than bringing life into the world?” Formore information on theresource fair,call 225-252-6687 or email 2theppl@gmail.com. Contact Terry Robinson at terryrobinson622@ gmail.com

Dear Heloise: Just abrief hint:Ifyou keep veggies in a plastic bag, be sure to puncturethe bag with tiny holes first before placing it in the refrigerator Otherwise, the vegetables will get soggy from the moisture. —Jennifer M., in Gulfport, Mississippi Tiptaker?

Dear Heloise: Ihate cold coffee, so when apot is brewing, Iplace my coffee mug that is filled with water in themicrowave and heat it for 1minute, then pour the water out. It helps to keep thecoffee warm for alittle

Dear Heloise: My husband and Ipaid for our meal at arestaurant with agift card. The waiter then told us that the card only had a penny remaining on it!We believed thewaiter took a nice tip with thebalance

that was on the card. Advise your readers to know the balance on their card before they use it. You can call the customer service number on the back. We learned too late. —A Reader, via email Cubist

Dear Heloise: Ifreeze coffee and softdrinks in my ice cube trays; this way, my drinks never get watered down. —Ann V.P.,inLubbock, Texas

Allhailasale

Dear Heloise: Now is agood timetolook forsales in the brick-and-mortar stores, but did you know that stores keep the sales racks in the back of the store?

There’sareason forthis: Youmust walk past the brand-new merchandise

that is all pretty and fresh to get to the discount bin, which is usually picked over If you’re not shopping for current, in-season clothes and styles, parade past the new stuff and go find abargain. —EllieR in Pennsylvania Bandage debacle

Dear Heloise: My kids often get scrapes and scratches when they’re outside while playing, so Iusually clean the area and cover it with an adhesive bandage. The problem comes when Iremovethe bandage. To make it easier on all of us, Iwait until bath time, and the water soaks the bandage off without any fuss. —Glenda D., in Carlsbad, New Mexico

Send ahinttoheloise@ heloise.com.

Baton

BALLET

Continuedfrom page9C

“Dancers are chosen by audition,” Acosta said. “And alldancersmustreaudition for their spots every year Balletisdefinitely very unique,and it’s very specific.Weusually start outwith areally large YouthBallet group,and then by the time they have reached theend of their time withBRBT,that number usually dwindles.”

“Being part of the ballet company is verytimeconsuming,”Cox added. “It’s very rigorous. Idon’twant to say, ‘Onlyifyou survive,’ but in away,that’s true because it’sjust very demanding. It’sa commitment.”

Acosta and Cox speak from experience. They, alongwith Associate ArtisticDirector ChristinePerkins,were once company members. Perkins’ daughter is now amember and is dancing the coveted partof theSugar PlumFairy in this year’s production of “The Nutcracker.”

Speaking of “The Nutcracker,” Acostaand Cox are planning to restagethe production with the exact choreography and staging created by theirpredecessors Thedancers willbeaccompanied by the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra Dec. 20-21 in theRaising Cane’s River Center Performing Arts Theater,240 St. LouisSt. The show will be preceded by the Land of the Sweets Nutcracker Tea, achildren’s event, at 2p.m.Nov.30, in theLod Cook AlumniCenter at LSU. Meanwhile,adult patrons will have achance to attend aparty and sit in on a

RÊVE

Continuedfrom page9C

soon, he said. “Now that we’re in October, I’m going to start pushing for four days aweek, but all thatcomes withstaffing,” Schoonmaker said. “I’m pulling (in) some guys from my Willow Grove spot.”

In addition to expanding hours, Schoonmaker also wants to add some tables and

preview performance at the Night at theNutcracker fundraiser at 6p.m. in the River Center Theater

“They’ll be able tosee our dress rehearsal, and hors d’oeuvres will be served,” Acosta said. “Ticketswill be $150.”

Then comes the spring, when the company hosts the Houston Ballet II for two performances at 2p.m. and 8p.m. March 28 at theManship Theatre in theShaw Center for the Arts, 100 Lafayette St.

Theseason ends with a finale performance of “Rapunzel” at 7p.m. April 17, in the River Center Theater, immediately followed by a 65th anniversary reception in aprivatehome.

chairs to the space, which is about 750 square feet. The stand can make anythingwith espresso, he said, and it also offers pour-overs, matchaand select pastries madein-house at the Willow Grove location off Perkins Road Schoonmaker’sbarber told him about the vacantspace, formerly D’sGarden Center,thatclosedabout ayear ago. After asuccessfultrial run of apop-upinMarch Schoonmaker decided to

In between, the ballet company willparticipate in competitions and host summer danceintensive classes, while the Youth Ballet embarks on its annual summer library tour Forthe future

Going forward, Acosta and Coxhopetocontinue hosting guest companies during their dance seasons.

“But we have to look at the cost and go from there,” Cox said. They also hope to boost the ages of its dancers.

“There’sanebb andflow in dance, in studio life,” Cox said. “Inthe ‘90s, when Christine and Iwalked through these doors, we werepart of an adult professionalgroup.

make it official and start paying rent at the location. Schoonmaker,born and raised in Baton Rouge, has worked with Rêve Coffee Lab for five years and said he’sready to do more, hence the stand. “That’skind of the cool thing with Rêve,” Schoonmaker said. “Wehave alot of equipment andaccess to alot of high-end gear.Wealways have something in our back pocket that we can use forstuff like this.”

Right now,the bulk of our dancers are high school dancers. We don’twant to limit ourselvesasbeing ahigh school leveldance group.”

If Acosta and Cox need advice in how to achieve this goal, theydon’t have to look far.Buchmann andMathews areowners of theDancers’ Workshop, where the ballet company meetsand rehearses, and are often there.

“They’re still very much around,” Cox said. “And I feel like we’re definitely celebrating amilestone in bringing ballet to Baton Rouge.” For moreinformation, visit batonrougeballet.org.

Email RobinMillerat romiller@theadvocate. com.

Rêve Coffee Labpurchases beans directly from farmers across the world. One of Schoonmaker’sgoals is to raise awarenessabout specialty,quality coffee and what it actually is. On Oct. 3,he was manning the stand whilesipping a light to medium roast called Ethiopia GeraEstate.

“My goal while working in specialty coffee is to provide that knowledge to Baton Rouge, just so people know quality,” Schoonmaker said.

Hints from Heloise

PROVIDED PHOTOByBATON ROUGEBALLET THEATRE

RougeBallet Theatre’s2025-26 company of professional dancers.

PROVIDED PHOTO

Amember of the ‘Nutcracker —A Tale from the Bayou’ performs the ChineseDancefor the audience at the Baton RougeBallet Theatre’sLand of the Sweets Tea. This year’stea takes place Nov. 30 at the Lod CookAlumni Center

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) Take an active role in deciding how you useyour time andreach your goals. Achange to where or how you live will boost your morale and encourage you to put yourself first.

SCORPIO (Oct.24-Nov.22) Keep your plans secret until you have everything in place. Focus on moneyand abide by the rulesand regulations.Spend time with someone you love and strengthen the bond you share.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) It's time to discard what's no longeruseful, freeinguptimetopursue positive change and become the best versionofyourself. Call on your emotions for honest answers, assessments and solutions.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Anew look, pastime or surroundings will awaken the spirit within and pointyou in apositive and exciting direction. Romance someone you loveorpursue someone new if you're single.

AQUARIUS (Jan.20-Feb.19) Invest more time, effort and money into doing and being your best. Engage in events that canhelp you connectwith people who are heading in asimilar direction.

PISCES (Feb.20-March 20) Emotions will surface. Try not to overreact. Verify facts and give othersthe benefit of the doubt. The best way to deal with controversy is to speak the truth and ask for the same in return.

ARIES (March 21-April 19) Innerconflict requires your attention before you tackle matters that include others.

Change begins with you. Choose what excites you most andwalk away from situations that suffocateyou.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) Useyour energy wisely. When anger mounts, engage in aphysical activity to dissipate aggression. Worry less and establish what brings you the most pleasure.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) Embrace a chance to learn, travel or unitewith someone you love to spend timewith. Explore the possibilities of using your talents to fit what's marketable and sparks your interest.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) Think big but do only what'snecessary. Participate in achallenge thatgetsyou moving andhelps youdiscover the possibilities available to you. Opportunity is within reach; seize the moment.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) Putting your energy to good usewill make adifference and prompt you to feel good about who you are and what you contribute. Expect to enrich your life through thepeople you meet and the offers you receive.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Initiate aconversation that fosters positive change. Keep your emotions groundedand your eye on what you want to achieve. Activities or events that require discipline and energy will offer positive affirmation

The horoscope, an entertainment feature, is not based on scientific fact. ©2025 by NEA,Inc dist. By Andrews McMeel Syndication

FAMILY CIrCUS

CeLebrItY CIpher For better or For WorSe

SALLYForth

beetLe bAILeY

GooSe AndGrIMM

bIG

Sudoku

InstructIons: Sudoku is anumber-placingpuzzle based on a9x9 grid with several given numbers. Theobject is to place the numbers1to9 in the empty squares so that each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once. Thedifficulty level of the Sudoku increases from Monday to Sunday.

Puzzle Answer

THewiZard oF id

BLondie

BaBY BLueS Hi and LoiS

Bridge

BY PHILLIP ALDER

Thebridgeplayedinapairtournament canbesomewhatartificial.Itisnolonger just trying to make or break acontract, but it is also working to scorebetter than theother players with your cards. Thiscan result in making closepenalty doubles, especially when the opponents arevulnerable, or taking risks for overtricks

This dealwas originally played afew years ago. After West opened one spade andEast responded one no-trump, South thoughtaboutatwo-spadeMichaelsCueBid, showing at least 5-5 in hearts and aminor. But that would have forced his side to the three-level, and he had a sixth heart. So he reasonably overcalled twohearts. When Westdoubled, though, South sensed that he wasinabad contract. (Thiswouldhave gone down two or three, minus 500 or 800.) So South ran to three clubs. Then East, whohad two wonderful aces, decided to try for the magicplus 200 on apartscore deal.

However, it is allright making sharp penalty doubles; you had also better know what to lead. Which card should West select?

There is an excellent guidelinehere. If your side has the balance of high-card power, the opponents will be trying to score tricks withtheir trumps. So the more rounds you can extract, the better. The only winning lead is atrump. Suppose South takes it in his hand and plays his spade. West wins and shifts to a low diamond to give his partner the lead foranother round of trumps. In theory, nothing else works. ©2025 by NEA, Inc., dist. By Andrews McMeel

Syndication

wuzzles

Each Wuzzle is aword riddle which creates adisguised word, phrase, name, place, saying, etc. For example: NOON GOOD =GOOD AFTERNOON

Previous answers:

word game

InstRuctIons: 1. Words

toDAY’s

Averagemark

Time

Can youfind

thought

you

marmaduKe

Bizarro

hagar the horriBle

Pearls Before swiNe

garfield

B.C.

PiCKles

hidato

mallard