The Acadiana Advocate 10-17-2025

Governor calls for special session

Supreme Court case may affect election schedule

BY TYLER BRIDGES Staff writer

Gov. Jeff Landry on Thursday

called for a special legislative session to begin on Oct. 23 to adjust next year’s election schedule — because of a legal challenge to Louisiana’s voting map for Congress. But exactly what lawmakers will try to do remains unclear in part because stringent election rules limit the changes that the Secretary of State’s Office can allow them to make Whatever changes legislators agree on will likely have broad implications in determining which

areas of Congress the six members of the U.S House will represent.

“We’re waiting for legislation from the Governor’s Office since he issued the call,” said Senate President Cameron Henry R-Metairie “He hasn’t articulated yet which dates and what changes he wants. Once we have that, then we can begin the bill drafting for the session.”

Landry’s call, which establishes what issues legislators can consider in the session, contains a single item: “to legislate relative to the election code, election dates, election deadlines, and election plans for the 2026 election cycle, and to

provide for the funding thereof, if necessary.”

It does not ask legislators to redraw the congressional map on a contingency basis, as Landry had wanted them to do.

“We don’t want the Supreme Court to think we’re trying to step on their authority or influence their decision-making,” said state Rep. Beau Beaullieu, R-New Iberia, who chairs the House committee that will hear the election legislation. What’s driving the session and the uncertainty is a

Early College Academy earns state recognition

La. Senate race draws

Republican incumbent Cassidy leads in fundraising

BY ALYSE PFEIL Staff writer

There’s more than a year until Louisiana elects its next U.S. senator, but millions of dollars in campaign contributions are already pouring in. Sen. Bill Cassidy R-Baton Rouge, is facing a crowded field of fellow Republicans in the state’s new closed primary system, in which GOP candidates will all face off in an election to decide which single Republican will be on the ballot in November Campaign finance data shows Cassidy has $9.5 million in the bank, by far the most of any candidate in the race. But two other candidates, state Sen. Blake Miguez and Louisiana Treasurer John Fleming, each have more than $2 million.

“It’s kind of amazing that this money is being spent in a

BY ASHLEY WHITE Staff writer

The Early College Academy was named a 2025 Louisiana Blue Ribbon School by the state’s Department of Education.

The academy was one of eight schools statewide to be recognized for its outstanding academic performance and for making significant progress in closing student achievement gaps.

The prestigious National Blue Ribbon Schools program was overseen by the U.S. Department of Education for more than 40 years. The Trump Administration abruptly discontinued the program in August and encouraged states to fashion their own programs.

The academy allows juniors and seniors across the parish to earn a high school diploma and an associate degree through its partnership with South Louisiana Community College.

The school was the top-performing high school in the state when assessing scores from the state’s annual standardized test. The other Blue Ribbon schools are:

“This recognition is a testament to the incredible students, teachers and leaders at Early College Academy,” Lafayette Parish Superintendent Francis Touchet Jr said in a statement. “Their work represents the best of what public education can be — high expectations, strong relationships and a commitment to opportunity for every student.”

n Caneview Elementary, Iberia Parish

n Cecil Picard Elementary, Vermilion Parish n Haynes Academy, Jefferson Parish n Mulberry Elementary Terrebonne Parish

n South Live Oak Elementary, Livingston Parish n St. Dominic School, New Orleans Archdiocese

n St. Jude School, Baton Rouge Diocese.

“These schools have demonstrated a clear and consistent commitment to educational excellence,” Louisiana state Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley said in a

See RECOGNITION, page 5A

Veteran political pollster Jim Kitchens said the fundraising at this point in the race is noteworthy given that money is typically a crucial factor when two parties are vying for political control, like in swing state races.

“It’s kind of amazing that this money is being spent in a state which is obviously going to elect a Republican senator,” he said. “I don’t know of any viable Democrat who would get in and make this a race.” No Democrat has yet filed to run for the seat; party leaders have said they are still recruiting one. Democratic former Gov John Bel Edwards announced this week that he would not join the race.

The dynamic in the Louisiana Senate contest reflects the battle inside the Republican Party Kitchens said. “It’s a Republican war,” he said. Cassidy has $9.5 million in his campaign account

Eight schools named 2025 Louisiana Blue Ribbon Schools STAFF FILE PHOTO By BRAD BOWIE

Graduate Samuel Nunez greets School Board representatives as the Early College Academy holds commencement exercises in 2024.

STAFF FILE PHOTO By

U.S. prosecutors charge

Smartmatic in bribe case

MIAMI Federal prosecutors have charged voting technology firm Smartmatic with money laundering and other crimes arising from more than $1 million in bribes that several executives allegedly paid to election officials in the Philippines.

The payments, between 2015 and 2018, were made to obtain a contract with the Philippines government to help run that country’s 2016 presidential election and secure the timely payment for its work, according to a superseding indictment filed Thursday in a Florida federal court.

Three former executives of Smartmatic, including cofounder Roger Pinate, were previously charged in 2024 but at the time South Florida-based Smartmatic was not named as a defendant Pinate, who no longer works for Smartmatic but remains a shareholder has pleaded not guilty

The criminal case is unfolding as Smartmatic is pursuing a $2.7 billion lawsuit accusing Fox News of defamation for airing false claims that the company helped rig the 2020 U.S. presidential election in which Joe Biden defeated Donald Trump. Smartmatic in a statement denied the allegations. “This is again, targeted, political, and unjust,” the company said. “Smartmatic will continue to stand by its people and principles. We will not be intimidated by those pulling the strings of power.”

N.C. Republicans unveil new congressional map

RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina Republicans unveiled a new congressional map Thursday, officially entering the national redistricting battle as President Donald Trump pushes GOPcontrolled states to redraw their maps in his party’s favor ahead of the midterms. If enacted, the map could flip the 1st Congressional District in Republicans’ favor, ousting U.S. Rep. Don Davis, a moderate Democrat.

North Carolina’s map, which was redrawn in 2023, already heavily favors the GOP, electing 10 Republicans and four Democrats last year

The new map is an even more aggressive attempt to maneuver districts in Republicans’ favor and is likely to face legal challenges for racial gerrymandering, given that it affects the state’s historic “Black belt.” At President Donald Trump’s request, North Carolina Republicans proposed a new congressional map likely to pick up another seat for the GOP

The 1st District, which is currently located in northeastern North Carolina, would be redrawn to include several Republican-leaning counties along the coast.

Billionaire Ill. governor wins $1.4M in blackjack SPRINGFIELD,Ill.— It figures that a billionaire would win big in Las Vegas. Illinois Gov JB Pritzker reported a gambling windfall of $1.4 million on his federal tax return this week.

The two-term Democrat told reporters in Chicago on Thursday that he drew charmed hands in blackjack during a vacation with first lady MK Pritzker and friends in Sin City “I was incredibly lucky,” he said. “You have to be to end up ahead, frankly, going to a casino anywhere.” Pritzker, an heir to the Hyatt hotel chain, has a net worth of $3.9 billion, tied for No. 382 on the Forbes 400 list of the nation’s richest people. A campaign spokesperson said via email that Pritzker planned to donate the money to charity but did not respond when asked why he hadn’t already done so.

The Pritzkers reported income of $10.66 million in 2024, mostly from dividends and capital gains. They paid $1.6 million in taxes on taxable income of $5.87 million.

Pritzker is an avid card player whose charitable Chicago Poker Challenge has raised millions of dollars for the Holocaust Museum and Education Center The Vegas windfall was a “net number” given wins and losses on one trip, he said.

Trump confirms CIA is operating in Venezuela

BY AAMER MADHANI Associated Press

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump

confirmed Wednesday that he has authorized the CIA to conduct covert operations inside Venezuela and said he was weighing carrying out land operations on the country

The acknowledgment of covert action in Venezuela by the U.S. spy agency comes after the U.S. military in recent weeks has carried out a series of deadly strikes against alleged drug-smuggling boats in the Caribbean. U.S. forces have destroyed at least five boats since early September, killing 27 people, and four of those vessels originated from Venezuela.

Asked during an event in the Oval Office on Wednesday why he had authorized the CIA to take action in Venezuela, Trump affirmed he had made the move.

“I authorized for two reasons, really,”

Trump replied. “No. 1, they have emptied their prisons into the United States of America,” he said. “And the other thing, the drugs, we have a lot of drugs coming in from Venezuela, and a lot of the Venezuelan drugs come in through the sea.”

Trump added the administration “is looking at land” as it considers further strikes in the region. He declined to say whether the CIA has authority to take action against President Nicolás Maduro.

Trump made the unusual acknowledgment of a CIA operation shortly after The New York Times published that the CIA had been authorized to carry out covert action in Venezuela.

Maduro’s reaction

On Wednesday, Maduro lashed out at the record of the U.S. spy agency in various conflicts around the world without directly addressing Trump’s comments about authorizing the CIA to carry out covert operations in Venezuela.

“No to regime change that reminds us so much of the (overthrows) in the failed eternal wars in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya and so on,” Maduro said at a televised event of the National Council for Sovereignty and Peace, which is made up of

representatives from various political, economic, academic and cultural sectors in Venezuela.

“No to the coups carried out by the CIA, which remind us so much of the 30,000 disappeared,” a figure estimated by human rights organizations such as the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo during the military dictatorship in Argentina (1976-83).

“How long will the CIA continue to carry on with its coups? Latin America doesn’t want them, doesn’t need them and repudiates them,” Maduro added.

Speaking in English, Maduro said: “Not war yes peace, not war Is that how you would say it? Who speaks English? Not war, yes peace, the people of the United States, please. Please, please, please.”

Early this month, the Trump administration declared drug cartels to be unlawful combatants and pronounced the United States is now in an “armed conflict” with them, justifying the military action as a necessary escalation to stem the flow of drugs into the United States. Congressional reaction

The move has spurred anger in Congress from members of both major political parties that Trump was effectively committing an act of war without seeking congressional authorization.

On Wednesday Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said while she supports cracking down on trafficking, the administration has gone too far

“The Trump administration’s authorization of covert CIA action, conducting lethal strikes on boats and hinting at land operations in Venezuela slides the United States closer to outright conflict with no transparency, oversight or apparent guardrails,” Shaheen said “The American people deserve to know if the administration is leading the U.S. into another conflict, putting servicemembers at risk or pursuing a regime-change operation.”

The administration has yet to provide underlying evidence that the boats targeted by the U.S. military were in fact carrying narcotics, according to two U.S. officials familiar with the matter

U.S. commander overseeing strikes against boats will retire

By The Associated Press

WASHINGTON — The Navy admiral who oversees military operations in the region where U.S. forces have been attacking alleged drug boats off Venezuela will retire in December he and the defense secretary announced Thursday Adm. Alvin Holsey became the leader of U.S. Southern Command only in November, overseeing an area that encompasses the Caribbean Sea and waters off South America. These types of postings typically last between three and four years.

Holsey said in a statement posted on the command’s Facebook page that it’s “been an honor to serve our nation, the American people and support and defend our Constitution for over 37 years.”

In a post on X Thursday afternoon, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth thanked Holsey for his “decades of service to our country, and we wish him and his family continued success and fulfillment in the years ahead.”

Officials at the Pentagon did not provide any more information and referred to Hegseth’s statement on social media.

Madagascar coup leader to be quickly

sworn in as president

U.N. condemns takeover

By The Associated Press

ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar

The United Nations chief on Thursday condemned the military takeover in Madagascar as an army colonel who led the coup was set to be quickly sworn in as president just three days after announcing soldiers had taken charge. U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres “condemns the unconstitutional change of government in Madagascar and calls for the return to constitutional order and the rule of law,” his spokesperson said.

Col. Michael Randrianirina is due to be sworn in as Madagascar’s leader at a ceremony at the High Constitutional Court on Friday, according to a statement by the colonel, which he signed as the president of the “refounded” repub-

lic of Madagascar

Ousted President Andry Rajoelina fled the Indian Ocean nation off the east coast of Africa following the military rebellion, claiming his life was in danger His whereabouts are unknown.

Madagascar has been suspended from the African Union, which said it “totally rejects” the takeover

Randrianirina announced Tuesday that the armed forces were taking control after three weeks of deadly anti-government protests led mainly by disaffected young people, who have railed against government service failures, poverty and a lack of opportunities while accusing the elite of corruption and nepotism.

The protesters have mobilized under the title “Gen Z Madagascar” and their uprising echoed youth-led protest movements that have toppled leaders in Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

Alaska works to evacuate people in historic airlift

BY BECKY BOHRER and JESSE BEDAYN Associated Press

JUNEAU, Alaska One of the most significant airlifts in Alaska history is underway by helicopter and military transport plane, moving hundreds of people from coastal villages ravaged by high surf and strong winds from the remnants of Typhoon Halong last weekend.

The storm brought record high water to two low-lying Alaska Native communities and washed away homes, some with people inside. At least one person was killed and two are missing. Makeshift shelters were quickly established and swelled to hold about 1,500 people, an extraordinary number in a sparsely populated region where communities are reachable only by air or water this time of year

The remoteness and scale of the destruction created challenges for getting resources in place. Damage assessments have been trickling in as responders have shifted from initial search-and-rescue operations to trying to stabilize or restore basic services.

The communities of Kipnuk and Kwigillingok near the Bering Sea saw water levels more than 6 feet above the highest normal tide line. Some 121 homes were destroyed in Kipnuk, a village of about 700 people.

Leaders asked the state to evacuate the more than 1,000 residents from those villages, said Jeremy Zidek, a spokesperson with the state emergency management office.

About 300 evacuees were brought to Anchorage on Wednesday, about 500 miles east of the battered coastal villages, according to the state Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. People were being taken to the Alaska Airlines Center a sports and events complex with capacity for about 400, Zidek said.

Shelter space closer to home — in the southwest Alaska regional hub of Bethel was at capacity with the food supply “near depletion,” officials said in a briefing Thursday Cellphone service had been restored in Kwigillingok, the report said, and restrooms were again working at the school in Kwigillingok, where about 350 people had sheltered overnight Tuesday, according to a state emergency management statement.

“Damage to many homes is severe, and the community leadership is instructing residents not to reenter homes due to safety concerns,” it said.

Damage was also serious in other villages. Water, sewer and well systems were inoperable in Napaskiak, and the Coast Guard on Thursday was expected to arrive in another village to assess a spill of up to 2,000 gallons of waste oil.

In Kwigillingok and Kipnuk some homes cannot be reoccupied, even with emergency repairs, and others may not be livable by winter, emergency management officials said. Forecasters say rain and snow is possible in the region this weekend, with average temperatures soon below freezing.

The crisis unfolding in southwest Alaska has drawn attention to Trump administration cuts to grants aimed at helping small, mostly Indigenous villages prepare for storms or mitigate disaster risks. For example, a $20 million U.S. Environmental Protection Agency grant to Kipnuk, which was inundated by floodwaters, was terminated by the Trump administration, a move challenged by environmental groups. The grant was intended to protect the boardwalk residents use to get around the community, as well as 1,400 feet of river from erosion, according to a federal website that tracks government spending.

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ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By BRIAN INGANGA Protesters dance on top of a car during a protest calling for President Andry Rajoelina to step down Tuesday in Antananarivo, Madagascar

Bolton chargedwithmishandlingof files

Former national security adviser accusedofhaving topsecretinfo

BY ERIC TUCKER, ALANNA DURKINRICHER and MICHAEL KUNZELMAN Associated Press

GREENBELT, Md.— Former Trump administration national security adviser John Bolton was charged Thursday with storing top secret records at home and sharing with relativesdiary-like notes about his time in government that containedclassified information.

The 18-count indictment also suggests classified informationwas exposed when operatives believed linked to the Iranian regime hacked Bolton’semail ac-

countin2021 andgained access to secrets he had shared. ABolton representative told the FBI his emails had been hacked, prosecutors say,but did not reveal that he hadsharedclassified in formation through theaccount or that the hackers now had possessionofthis information.

onto from hisyearsingovernment.

The investigationinto Bolton,who served formore than ayear in President Donald Trump’sfirst administration before being fired in 2019 and emerging as an outspoken critic of the Republican leader,burst into public view in August when theFBI searched hishome in Maryland andhis office in Washingtonfor classified records he mayhaveheld

The18-count indictment, filed in federal court in Greenbelt, Md., setsthe stage for aclosely watched court case centering on a longtime fixture in Republicanforeign policy circles who becameknown for his hawkish views on American power and who afterleaving Trump’sfirst government emerged as aprominent and vocal critic of the president Though theinvestigation thatproduced the indictmentwas underway during the Biden administration andbegan well before Trump’ssecond term, the case will unfoldagainstthe backdropofbroaderconcernsthathis Justice Departmentisbeing weaponized to go after his political adversaries and to spare his allies from scrutiny

The indictment alleges

that Bolton “abused” his position as national security adviser by sharingmore than 1,000 pages of informationabout “his day-to-day activities” in his jobwith two peoplewho were related to him and who were not authorized to view them. He also is accused of illegally retaining at his Maryland home“documents, writings, and notes” related to national defense, including information thatwas classified up to the topsecret level, the indictment says. Agents during the August search seizedmultiple documents labeled“classified,” “confidential” and “secret” from Bolton’s office, according to previously unsealed court filings. Some of the seized records appeared to concern weapons of mass destruction, national “strategic communication” and the U.S. mission to the United

Nations, the filings stated. Questions about Bolton’s handling of classified information date back years. He faced alawsuit and aJustice Department investigation after leaving office related to information in a2020 book he published, “The Room Where it Happened,” that portrayed Trumpasgrossly uninformed about foreign policy

TheTrump administration asserted that Bolton’smanuscript included classified information that could harm nationalsecurity if exposed. Bolton’slawyers have said he moved forward with the book after aWhite House National Security Councilofficial, with whom Bolton had worked for months, said the manuscript no longercontainedclassifiedinformation.

Bolton’sattorney Abbe Lowellhas saidthat many of the documents seized in

August had been approved as part of apre-publication reviewfor Bolton’sbook He said that many were decades old, from Bolton’slong career BoltoncriticizedTrump’s approach to foreign policy and government in his 2020 book, including by alleging that Trump directly tied providing military aid to the country’swillingness to conductinvestigationsinto Joe Biden, who wassoon to be Trump’sDemocratic 2020 election rival, and members of his family Trump responded by slamming Bolton as a“washedup guy” anda “crazy” warmonger whowould have led the country into “World War Six.” Trumpalso saidatthe timethat the book contained “highly classifiedinformation” andthatBolton“did not have approval” for publishing it.

Senate Dems reject government fundingbillfor 10th

BY STEPHENGROVES and MARYCLARE JALONICK Associated Press

WASHINGTON Senate Democrats rejected for the 10th time Thursday astopgap spending bill that would reopen the government, insisting they won’tback away from demands that Congress take up health care benefits.

The vote failedona51-45 tally, well short of the60 needed to advance with the Senate’sfilibuster rules.

The repetition of voteson the funding bill has become adaily drumbeat in Congress, underscoring how intractable the situation has become. It has been at times theonly item on the agenda for theSenatefloor,while House Republicans have left Washington altogether

The standoff haslasted over two weeks, leaving hundreds of thousands of federalworkers furloughed, even more without aguaranteed payday and Congress essentiallyparalyzed.

“As we are positioning as two sides that are seemingly dug in on this 16th day of a shutdown, realpeople are wondering is their government going tobethere for them?” said GOPSen.Lisa Murkowski of Alaska.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune again and again has tried to pressure Democrats to break from their strategy of voting against thestopgap funding bill.It hasn’tworked. And while

some bipartisantalks have been ongoing about potential compromises on healthcare, theyhaven’tproduced any meaningful progresstoward reopening the government.

“The Democratic Party is theparty that willnot take yes for an answer,” Thune, R-S.D., said in an angry speech on the Senatefloor He hadalso offered to hold alater vote on extending subsidies forhealth plans offered under Affordable Care Act marketplaces, but saidhewouldnot “guarantee aresult or an outcome.”

Democrats saythey won’t budge until they get aguarantee on extending the tax credits for the health plans. They warn that millions of Americans who buy their own health insurance— such as small-business owners, farmers and contractors —willsee largeincreases

when premium prices go outinthe comingweeks. Lookingahead to aNov.1 deadline in moststates,they think voters will demand that Republicans enter into serious negotiations.

Adeadlinefor subsidies

Democrats have rallied around their priorities on health care as theyhold out againstvotingfor aRepublicanbillthatwouldreopen the government. Yetthey alsowarnthat thetime to strike adeal to prevent large increases for many health plans is drawing short When they controlled Congress during thepandemic, Democratsboosted subsidies for Affordable Care Acthealthplans. It pushed enrollment under President Barack Obama’ssignature health care lawtonew levels anddrove the rate of

Military paychecksarriveontime

The Virginian-Pilot (TNS)

After two weeks of uncertainty,active duty military reportedly received their Oct. 15 paychecks.

About 1.3 million service members and thousands of activated National Guard members and reservists are expectedtoreceive their mid-month depositsbyWednesday. Homeland Security SecretaryKristi Noem confirmed thatCoast Guard members, who fall under her department, will receive their regular paychecks as well.

The Pentagon tapped $6.5 billion in unspent research and development funds from theprior fiscal year to cover thebill. Since the government shut down Oct. 1, service members, whoare deemed essential,have beenworkingwithout guaranteed pay

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Benton, said Wednesday that themeasurewas “a temporaryfix.” If theshutdownlasts through the end of October, militarymembers may not see their next check.

Otheressential federal workers continue to work without pay

uninsured people to ahistoriclow.Nearly 24 million people currentlyget their health insurance from subsidized marketplaces, according to health care research nonprofit KFF.

Democrats—and some Republicans— are worried that many of those people will forgo insurance if the price risesdramatically.While the tax credits don’texpire until next year,healthinsurers will soon send outnotices of the price increases.

Sen. Patty Murray,the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, said she has heard from “families whoare absolutely panickingabout their premiumsthat are doubling.”

“Theyare small-business owners who are having to think about abandoning the job theylovetoget employer-sponsoredhealth care elsewhere or just forgoing coverage altogether,” she

added.

HouseSpeaker Mike Johnson, R-Benton, this week called the COVID-era subsidies a“boondoggle.”

President Donald Trump has said he would “like to see adeal done forgreat healthcare,”but hasnot meaningfully weighed into thedebate.And Thunehas insisted that Democratsfirst vote to reopen the government before entering any negotiations on health care.

If Congress weretoengage in negotiations on significant changes to health care, it would likely take weeks, if not longer,towork out acompromise.

Appropriations billsvote

Meanwhile, Senate Republicans held avote to proceed to abill to fund the Defense Department andpossibly several other areas of government. This would have turned theSenate to Thune’s

Dream Address Awaits

priority of working through spending bills and potentially paved the waytopaying salaries for troops, though the House would have eventually needed to comeback to Washingtontovotefor a final bill negotiated between the twochambers. It would have potentially put acrack in Democrats’ resolve, but the vote on theprocedurefailed50-44 with Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto, John Fetterman and Jeanne Shaheen the only Democrats voting in favor

“This is politics. If anything was needed to demonstrate just howfundamentally uninterested Democrats are in supporting our troops and defending our country,just take alook at this vote,” Thune yelledon the Senate floor

“So many of you have asked all of us, how will it end?” Johnson said. “We have no idea.”

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTOSByJ.SCOTT APPLEWHITE

Senate MinorityLeader Chuck Schumer,D-N.y., left, and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D.,speakwith reportersWednesdayatthe Capitol in Washington about the struggle to end thegovernment shutdown.

legal challenge to the Voting Rights Act in aclosely watched case that the Supreme Court heard Wednesday.That act opened the door to lawsuits that have long pushed Southernstates like Louisiana to draw majority-minority voting districts.

In the case, agroup of nonBlack plaintiffs, Landry and Attorney General Liz Murrill are asking the court to overturn thesectionofthe Voting Rights Act that led the Legislature last year to create thecurrent congressional map thatadded asecond Black-majorityseat.

The map elected four Republicans: U.S. Reps. Mike Johnson, Steve Scalise,Clay Higgins and Julia Letlow, and two BlackDemocrats: U.S. Reps. Troy Carter and Cleo Fields.

Afavorable ruling by the court for the plaintiffs, Landry and Murrill could invalidate that map and require legislators to drawa new one.

Anew mapwould allow Landry and the Republicancontrolled Legislature to eliminate eitherBlack-majority district —orbothof them, amajor goal of conservatives and President Donald Trump.

The problem that confronts Louisianalegislators is that no one can be sure what the Supreme Court will decide and whenitwillrule.

To address those issues,

SENATE

Continued from page1A

as of Sept. 30, according to Federal Election Commission data.

So far this year he’searned about $2.6million in contributions, and he’scollected about $1.3 million from other political fundraising committees. That includes $1.75 million he raised in July,August and September alone, afigure his campaign announced in anewsrelease this week.

Contributors hail from every Louisianaparish,according to the campaign.

“Senator Cassidy continuestodominate this race, outraising every opponent combined whilebuilding unprecedented support across all 64 parishes,” Cassidy campaign manager Katie Larkin said in astatement.

State Sen. Blake Miguez is second to Cassidy in terms of money in the bank, with $2.5 million in his campaign account.

Miguez has drummed up over $2 million in contributions so far this year. He also bolstered his campaign with a$1million personal loan.

In asocial media post this week announcing the fundraising figures,Miguez said it represents “real Louisiana momentum powered by patriots who believe in faith,

RECOGNITION

Continued from page1A

statement.“It’sanhonor to recognize thehardworkand leadership of these students, educators and families.”

The LouisianaDepartment of Educationannounced the eight winners Thursday morning to recognize the eight schoolsithad nomi-

Landry and legislators are saying they wanttodelay theelection schedulefor congressional races to ensure that candidates qualify for their electionsonly after anew map is in place. In other words, they don’t want candidates to qualifyfor congressional races under one map and then discover that they have to qualify underadifferent map.That would force thecandidates to qualifyagain and throw the new election schedule out of whack

family,and freedom.”

His campaign said he’sgotten donationsfrom “nearly 6,000 Louisianians, includingfrom all 64 parishes.”

On Thursday,Miguez in a statement bashed Cassidy, saying that “D.C. is floating Bill Cassidy’s campaign.”

“He mightaswell stay in D.C. once we retire himfor good,” he added. Fleming’s campaignwar chest is close to Miguez, with $2.1 million stocked up as of September Flemingso farthisyear has earned about $480,000 in campaign contributions, buttressedby$2million in personal loans.

“I’ve got plenty of money to runon,” he said Thursday He added that, “Logistically we’re doing very well.”

“We’vegot over 10,000 signsacrossthe state,” Flemingsaid.“We’re well organized. We have over 200 volunteers.”

Fundraising can be important, but money isn’tthe only thing that matters in acampaign, Kitchens said.

These days, it probably costs about$4million to run an adequate statewide campaign in Louisiana, he said And,inaSenate race where multiple candidates are likely to clearthat threshold,a candidate’sability to connect with voters takes precedence,hesaid.

“It comes to point where money gets diminishingre-

nated for theNational Blue RibbonAward before the programwas shuttered

The school was also designated ablue ribbon school in 2019, becoming the first Lafayette Parish school to win therecognition in 10 years. Themagnethigh school wasone of seven recognized in Louisiana for 2019 and one of 362 nationally, according to aU.S. Department of Education release.

Underthe current scheduleadopted by legislators andLandry last year,congressional candidates will qualify for closed primary federal elections in midJanuary, and theneach party’sprimary will be held in April.

If no candidateineither party primary wins more than 50% of the vote, the top two finishers of that party will advance to aclosed party runoff in May.The winnersofthosesecond party primarieswill face offina

turns,” Kitchens said.

“I think this comesdown to amessaging campaign andwherethe votersare —and particularly where the voters areonDonald Trump,” he said.

LouisianaPublic Service Commissioner Eric Skrmetta is also running, but he hasn’t registered with theFederal Election Commission.

Asked for comment Thursday about his campaign,Skrmetta saidina textmessagethat,“all filings arehandled by the committee accountant.”

He didn’trespond to a question aboutwhenheanticipatesregisteringwith theFEC.

Sammy Wyatt, achief complianceofficer at LSU HealthShreveport, has about$7,000 in his campaign account.

He’sraised $94,000 in contributions this year and lent himself $120,000.

St.Tammany Parish Council member Kathy Seiden entered the race earlier this month.While she registered with theFEC on Oct. 1, her campaign fundraising data is not yet publicly available.

U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow, R-Baton Rouge, whoisrumoredtobeconsidering a Senate run, has $2.1 million in her House campaign account.

Email AlysePfeilatalyse. pfeil@theadvocate.com.

Since the award’sfounding in 1982, eight Lafayette Parish public schools have been recognized— Lafayette Elementaryin1983-84, ScottMiddle in 1984-85, Edgar Martin Middle in 198687, Woodvale Elementary in 1987-88, Broadmoor Elementary in 1989-90, L.J. Alleman Middle in 2009, Myrtle Place elementary in 2022 and Early College Academy in 2019 and 2025.

generalelection in Novemberthatcould includenopartycandidates as well.

ButSecretary of State Nancy Landry has advised lawmakers thatfederal and state laws limit the possible future dates for candidate qualifying and the elections. She has madepreliminary estimatesofkey dates dependingonwhenher office receives anew map ap-

proved by the Legislature and signed into law by the governor

If it’sbyDec. 20, then they can follow the current qualifyingand electionsschedule.

If it’sbetween Dec. 20 and Feb. 1, legislators could still havethe closed party primariesbut wouldhave to push back the first primary to May and the second one to June.

If it’sbetween Feb. 1and Feb.20, legislatorscould hold only one party primaryelection, meaning the winner would need only a plurality in that primary to advancetothe November general election. If her office receives the final mapafter Feb. 20, legislators would have to return to theopenor“jungle”primary system that eliminates the party primaries. Nancy Landryemphasized that her office is shortstaffednow because of adecision by Murrill to cancel her outside attorneys, so she said it’spossible that further research could change those dates somewhat. There’s anotheruncertainty: if legislators change the election schedule, would that apply only to thecongressionalelections or also to next year’s Senate race, in which Sen. Bill Cassidy is facing atough reelection challenge? Henry,who is supporting Cassidy,believes thechanges wouldapply to both, which could help Cassidy’schances. Many political observers believe that Cassidy faces an extremely difficult path under aclosed party primary system The special session must end by Nov.13, but by limiting it to asingle item, lawmakers hope to finishmuch earlier

Email TylerBridges at tbridges@theadvocate. com.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTOByCLIFF OWEN

Gov. Jeff Landry, center, leavesthe Supreme CourtonWednesdayafter the courtheard oral arguments in the case on drawing newcongressional district boundaries in Louisiana.

BRIEFS

FROM STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

Nestlé trims 16K jobs in cost-cutting campaign

Nestlé is cutting 16,000 jobs globally as the Swiss food giant cuts costs as part of its efforts to revive its financial performance

Nestlé, which makes Nescafé, KitKats, pet foods and many other well-known consumer brands, said Thursday that the job cuts will take place over the next two years. The Swiss company also said that it is raising targeted cost cuts to $3.76 billion by the end of next year, up from a planned $3.13 billion

It has been a turbulent year for the company, based in Vevey, Switzerland. Last month, Nestle dismissed CEO Laurent Freixe after an investigation into an undisclosed relationship with a subordinate.

Freixe had only been on the job for a year He was replaced by Philipp Navratil, a longtime Nestlé executive.

Shortly after Freixe was ousted, Chairman Paul Bulcke stepped down early Nestlé is also fighting a host of external headwinds like other food makers, including rising commodity costs and U.S. imposed tariffs. The company announced price hikes over the summer to offset higher coffee and cocoa costs.

Nestlé said Thursday that it will eliminate 12,000 white-collar positions in multiple locations The job cuts are expected to achieve annual savings of $1.25 billion by the end of next year

The company will cut 4,000 jobs as part of ongoing productivity initiatives in its manufacturing and supply chain.

Trump announces deal on fertility drug price

WASHINGTON Drugmaker EMD Serono will reduce the cost of a common fertility medication through a deal struck with the Trump administration, President Donald Trump said Thursday while also unveiling new federal guidance he said will encourage employers to offer fertility coverage. The new guidance will allow companies to offer fertility benefits separate from major medical insurance plans, like they do with dental and vision plans, Trump said.

The Oval Office announcement offers a first glimpse at how Trump plans to follow up on his executive order earlier this year aiming to reduce the cost of in vitro fertilization, a medical procedure that helps people facing infertility build their families. But it falls far short of his promise as a candidate to make IVF treatment free.

EMD Serono’s Gonal-f is among several drugs frequently used by patients going through IVF treatments — which involve using hormones to trigger ovulation, producing multiple eggs that are retrieved from the ovaries to be fertilized or frozen. The drugs can be expensive, often costing patients thousands of dollars for a single IVF cycle. Many patients trying to get pregnant through IVF go through more than one cycle.

Trump said the drug will be available at a discount on TrumpRx, a government website where patients will be able to buy drugs directly from manufacturers.

Waymos to deliver

DoorDash in Phoenix

DoorDash Inc. customers in the Phoenix area may have their orders delivered by a Waymo autonomous vehicle as part of a new partnership that will help keep the robotaxis busy when there’s a lull in demand from passengers.

Tests of the delivery service have started, with broader commercial operations planned for later this year DoorDash said Thursday in a statement. Alphabet Inc.’s Waymo cars will begin deliveries from DoorDashowned DashMart warehouses that act as fulfillment centers for convenience, grocery and retail goods from other brands

DoorDash said it plans to expand the number of participating merchants for autonomous delivery over time.

AI use increasing in cyberattacks

Microsoft says Russia, China using tech to escalate attacks on U.S.

BY DAVID KLEPPER Associated Press

WASHINGTON Russia, China, Iran and North Korea have sharply increased their use of artificial intelligence to deceive people online and mount cyberattacks against the United States, according to new research from Microsoft.

This July the company identified more than 200 instances of foreign adversaries using AI to create fake content online, more than double the number from July 2024 and more than ten times the number seen in 2023.

The findings, published Thursday in Microsoft’s annual digital threats report, show how foreign adversaries are adopting new and innovative tactics in their efforts to weaponize the internet as a tool for espionage and deception.

America’s adversaries, as well as criminal gangs and hacking companies, have exploited AI’s potential, using it to automate and improve cyberattacks, to spread inflammatory disinformation and to penetrate sensitive systems. AI can translate poorly worded phishing emails into fluent English, for example, as well as generate digital clones of senior government officials.

Government cyber operations often aim to obtain classified information, undermine supply chains, disrupt critical public services or spread disinformation. Cyber criminals on the other hand work

for profit by stealing corporate secrets or using ransomware to extort payments from their victims.

These gangs are responsible for the wide majority of cyberattacks in the world and in some cases have built partnerships with countries like Russia.

Increasingly, these attackers are using AI to target governments, businesses and critical systems like hospitals and transportation networks, according to Amy Hogan-Burney Microsoft’s vice president for customer security and trust, who oversaw the report. Many U.S. companies and organizations, meanwhile, are getting by with outdated cyber defenses, even as Americans expand their networks with new digital connections.

Companies, governments, organizations and individuals must take the threat seriously if they

are to protect themselves amid escalating digital threats, she said.

“We see this as a pivotal moment where innovation is going so fast,” Hogan-Burney said. “This is the year when you absolutely must invest in your cybersecurity basics.”

The U.S. is the top target for cyberattacks, with criminals and foreign adversaries targeting companies, governments and organizations in the U.S. more than any other country Israel and Ukraine were the second and third most popular targets, showing how military conflicts involving those two nations have spilled over into the digital realm.

Russia, China and Iran have denied that they use cyber operations for espionage, disruption and disinformation China, for instance, says the U.S. is trying to “ smear ” Beijing while conducting its own cyberattacks.

Stocks drop on worries about banks

BY STAN CHOE Associated Press

NEW YORK U.S. stocks fell on Thursday, hurt by drops for midsized banks as worries flare about the loans they’ve made.

The S&P 500 slid 0.6% in its latest up-and-down day after erasing a morning gain. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 301 points, or 0.7%, and the Nasdaq composite lost 0.5%.

Zions Bancorp. tumbled 13.1% after the bank said its profit for the third quarter will take a hit because of a $50 million chargeoff related to loans made to a pair of borrowers. Zions said it found “apparent misrepresentations and contractual defaults” by the borrowers and several people who guaranteed the loans, along with “other irregularities.”

Another bank, Western Alliance Bancorp, dropped 10.8% after saying it has sued a borrower, alleging fraud. It also said it’s standing by its financial forecasts given for 2025.

Scrutiny is rising on the quality of loans that banks and other lenders have broadly made following last month’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection filing of First Brands Group, a supplier of aftermarket auto parts. The question is whether the hiccups are just a collection of one-offs or a signal of something larger threatening the industry

Thursday’s swings on Wall Street, where the Dow bounced from an early gain of 169 points to an afternoon loss of 472, fit the pattern of the week for stocks. They’ve been shaky since the end of last week, when President Donald Trump shattered a monthslong calm in the U.S. stock market by threatening much higher tariffs on China.

Thursday’s swoon erased an early morning gain driven by an encouraging signal about the artificial-intelligence boom.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. reported a bigger jump in profit for the latest quarter than analysts expected. Chief

Financial Officer Wendell Huang also said TSMC expects “continued strong demand for our leading-edge process technologies” going into the end of the year

That’s important for the U.S. stock market because TSMC is a critical player in the AI frenzy making chips for such companies as Nvidia. And Nvidia and other AI stocks have been central to Wall Street’s surge to records this year even though inflation is still high and the job market is slowing.

U.S. companies broadly are under pressure to deliver stronger profits after the S&P 500 surged 35% from a low in April. To justify those gains, which critics say made their stock prices too expensive, companies will need to show they’re making much more in profit and will continue to do so.

Hewlett Packard Enterprise

fell 10.1% after detailing longterm financial targets that some analysts found underwhelming. That helped overshadow a 4% gain for Salesforce, which unveiled a plan to deliver more than 10% in compounded annual revenue growth in coming years.

J.B Hunt Transport Services trucked 22.1% higher after the freight company breezed past Wall Street’s profit targets in the third quarter

In the oil market, crude prices swung lower after Trump agreed to meet with Russia’s Vladimir Putin in Hungary in hopes of resolving the war in Ukraine. The war has had the United States trying to cut off purchases of Russian oil.

In the bond market, Treasury yields dropped as investors herded toward investments considered safer The yield on the 10-year Treasury sank to 3.97%

from 4.05% late Wednesday Gold also rose in the hunt for safer investments. It climbed 2.5% to $4,304.60 per ounce, bringing its stunning gain for the year so far to roughly 63%. A report in the morning said manufacturing activity in the mid-Atlantic region is unexpectedly shrinking. It’s one of the few windows into the economy that the Federal Reserve has been getting recently as it tries to figure out whether high inflation or the weak job market should be the bigger concern for the economy

The U.S. government’s shutdown is delaying important updates on the economy, such as a weekly update on unemployment claims that typically helps guide Wall Street’s trading each Thursday A day earlier, an important report on inflation was also delayed.

Feds offer transmission line upgrade loan guarantee

Energy Department finalizes deal with company in Midwest

BY MATTHEW DALY Associated Press

WASHINGTON The Department of Energy said Thursday it has finalized a $1.6 billion loan guarantee to a subsidiary of one of the nation’s largest power companies to upgrade nearly 5,000 miles of transmission lines across five states, mostly in the Midwest, for largely fossil fuel-run energy AEP Transmission will upgrade power lines in Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Oklahoma and West Virginia to enhance grid reliability and capacity, the Energy Department said. The project, first offered un-

der the Biden administration, is meant to help meet surging electricity demand from data centers and artificial intelligence.

Ohio-based American Electric Power, which owns AEP Transmission, is one of the nation’s largest utilities, serving 5.6 million customers in 11 states. It primarily produces electricity from coal, natural gas and nuclear power, along with renewable resources such as wind and hydroelectric power Thursday’s announcement deepens the Trump administration’s commitment to traditional, polluting energy sources even as it works to discourage the U.S. from clean energy use.

Earlier this month, the administration canceled $7.6 billion in grants that supported hundreds of clean energy projects in 16 states,

all of which voted for Democrat Kamala Harris in last year’s presidential election. A total of 223 projects were terminated after a review determined they did not adequately advance the nation’s energy needs or were not economically viable, the Energy Department said.

The loan guarantee finalized Thursday is the first offered by the Trump administration under the recently renamed Energy Dominance Financing program created by the massive tax-and-spending law approved this summer by congressional Republicans and signed by President Donald Trump. Electric utilities that receive loans through the program must provide assurances to the government that financial benefits from the financing will be passed on to customers, the Energy Department said.

The project and others being considered will help ensure that Americans “will have access to affordable, reliable and secure energy for decades to come,” Energy Secretary Chris Wright said in a statement.

“The president has been clear: America must reverse course from the energy subtraction agenda of past administrations and strengthen our electrical grid,” Wright said, adding that modernizing the grid and expanding transmission capacity “will help position the United States to win the AI race and grow our manufacturing base.”

The upgrades supported by the federal financing will replace existing transmission lines in existing rights-of-way with new lines capable of carrying more energy, the power company said.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By RICHARD DREW

Trader Dylan Halvorsan works Wednesday on the floor of the New york Stock Exchange.

Trump says he’ll meet Putin in Hungary

BY AAMER MADHANI, SEUNG MIN KIM and CHRIS MEGERIAN Associated Press

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump is redoubling his efforts to end the war in Ukraine, announcing a second meeting with Russia’s Vladimir Putin one day before sitting down with Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House Trump’s announcement came shortly after finishing a call with Putin on Thursday A date has not been set but Trump said the meeting would take place in Budapest, Hungary, and suggested that it could happen in about two weeks.

“I believe great progress was made with today’s telephone conversation,” Trump wrote on social media. The two leaders previously met in Alaska in August, which

range Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine, something the U.S. president has publicly discussed, would “inflict significant damage to the relations between our countries.”

Trump was already scheduled to meet Friday with Zelenskyy, who has been seeking weapons that would allow Ukrainian forces to strike deeper into Russian territory Zelenskyy has argued such strikes would help compel Putin to take Trump’s calls for direct negotiations to end the war more seriously

after forging a ceasefire that could end the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, a diplomatic accomplishment that he celebrated with a whirlwind trip to Israel and Egypt on Monday

Ending the wars in Ukraine and Gaza was central to Trump’s campaign pitch last year, when he persistently pilloried President Joe Biden for his handling of the conflicts.

Waiting for Trump’s blessing is legislation in the Senate that would impose steep tariffs on countries that purchase Russia’s oil, gas, uranium and other exports in an attempt to cripple Moscow economically

did not produce a diplomatic breakthrough, a source of frustration for the U.S. leader who had expected that his longstanding relationship with Putin could pave the way to resolving a conflict that began nearly

four years ago. Yuri Ushakov, Putin’s foreign affairs adviser, said the Russian president initiated the call, which he described as “very frank and trusting.” He said Putin emphasized to Trump that selling long-

Russian barrage causes blackouts

BY ILLIA NOVIKOV Associated Press

KYIV, Ukraine Russia bat-

tered Ukraine’s energy facilities with hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles in its latest heavy bombardment of the country’s power grid, authorities said Thursday, as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy prepared to ask President Donald Trump at a White House meeting for more American-made air defenses and long-range missiles. Eight Ukrainian regions experienced blackouts after the barrage, Ukraine’s national energy operator, Ukrenergo, said. DTEK, the country’s largest private energy company, reported outages in

the capital, Kyiv, and said it had to stop its natural gas extraction in the central Poltava region due to the strikes. Natural gas infrastructure was damaged for the sixth time this month, Naftogaz, Ukraine’s state-owned oil and gas company, said. Zelenskyy said Russia fired more than 300 drones and 37 missiles at Ukraine overnight. He accused Russia of using cluster munitions and conducting repeated strikes on the same target to hit emergency crews and engineers working to repair the grid

“This fall, the Russians are using every single day to strike our energy infrastructure,” Zelenskyy said on Telegram. The Ukrainian power grid

been one of Russia’s main targets since its invasion of its neighbor more than three years ago. Attacks increase as the bitterly cold months approach in a Russian strategy that Ukrainian officials call “weaponizing winter.”

Russia says it aims only at targets of military value. Ukraine has hit back by targeting oil refineries and related infrastructure that are crucial for Russia’s economy and war effort.

Ukraine’s general staff said Thursday its forces struck Saratov oil refinery, in the Russian region of the same name, for the second time in two months The facility is located 300 miles from the Ukrainian border Moscow made no immediate comment on the claim.

Trump warns Hamas ‘we will have no choice but to go in and kill them’ if Gaza bloodshed persists

BY AAMER MADHANI Associated Press

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump on Thursday warned Hamas “we will have no choice but to go in and kill them” if internal bloodshed persists in Gaza.

The grim warning from Trump came after he previously downplayed the internal violence in the territory since a ceasefire and hostage deal between Israel and Hamas went into effect last week in the two-year war

Trump later clarified he won’t send U.S. troops into Gaza after launching the threat against Hamas.

“It’s not going to be us,” Trump said in an exchange with reporters. “We won’t have to. There are people very close, very nearby that will go in and they’ll do the trick very easily, but under our auspices.”

The president did not specify if he was speaking of Israel, but action by Israeli forces could risk violating terms of the ceasefire agreement.

The president’s shift in tone with Hamas was notable.

Trump said Tuesday that Hamas had taken out “a couple of gangs that were very bad” and had killed a number of gang members. “That didn’t bother me much, to be honest with you,” he said The Republican president did not say how he would follow through on his threat posted on his Truth Social platform, and the White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment seeking clarity.

But Trump also made clear he had limited patience for the killings that Hamas was carrying out against rival factions inside the devastated territory

“They will disarm, and if they don’t do so, we will disarm them, and it’ll happen quickly and perhaps violently,” Trump said The Hamas-run police maintained a high degree of public security after the militants seized power in Gaza 18 years ago, while also cracking down on dis-

sent. They largely melted away in recent months as Israeli forces seized large areas of Gaza and targeted Hamas security forces with airstrikes.

Powerful local families and armed gangs, including some anti-Hamas factions backed by Israel, stepped into the void. Many are accused of hijacking humanitarian aid and selling it for profit, contributing to Gaza’s starvation crisis.

The ceasefire plan introduced by Trump had called for all hostages — living and dead to be handed over by a deadline that expired Monday

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday that Israel “will not compromise” and demanded that Hamas fulfill the requirements laid out in the ceasefire deal about the return of hostages’ bodies.

Hamas’ armed wing said in a statement Wednesday that the group honored the ceasefire’s terms and handed over the remains of the hostages it had access to.

Trump previously said that the U.S. has “a lot of Tomahawks,” but on Thursday he said stockpiles were limited and may not have missiles to spare. “We have a lot of them, but we need them” he said. “I mean we can’t deplete for our country.”

Trump’s renewed focus on the war in Ukraine comes

Although there has been fragile progress in Gaza, Trump has been stymied by Putin, unable to persuade the Russian leader to hold direct talks with Zelenskyy Friday’s meeting with Trump and Zelenskyy will be their fourth face-to-face encounter this year After their initial Oval Office conversation devolved into recriminations, they’ve forged a more amicable relationship.

Though the president hasn’t formally endorsed it — and Republican leaders do not plan to move forward without his support — the White House has shown, behind the scenes, more interest in the bill in recent weeks. Senate Majority Leader John Thune on Thursday offered the most upbeat prospects yet for the bill, saying senators will consider it “in the next 30 days.”

However, Trump suggested that he wanted to tap the brakes.

“I’m not against anything,” he said. “I’m just saying, it may not be perfect timing.”

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By ALEXANDER ZEMLIANICHENKO

Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, gives a soccer ball to President Donald Trump at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki, Finland, on July 16, 2018.

Rallies planned across state Saturday

No

Kings event organizers working

BY CLAIRE TAYLOR Staff writer

Organizers of Saturday’s No Kings protests against President Donald Trump’s policies are expecting millions of participants nationwide, including thousands in Louisiana, with an emphasis on nonviolent and peaceful gatherings. Local protest leaders have been working on safety plans and training to de-escalate situations that

heat up, with a goal of peaceful, safe and defiant protests. No Kings rallies are planned Saturday across Louisiana, from New Orleans to Lake Charles, from Alexandria to Baton Rouge and from Shreveport to Monroe.

In Lafayette, a conservative city in a conservative state, more than 200 participants were registered on mobilize.us as of Thursday afternoon, said Aimée Dominique, Good Trouble 337 leader “I think we’ve got more reg-

on

istered officially than we had in June,” she said. Around 400 people protested in Lafayette in June for the first No Kings nationwide rallies that drew more than 5 million people across all 50 states.

Saturday’s event will be from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in downtown Lafayette at the point where Jefferson Street and Lee Avenue meet. The protest has competition

safety plans A No Kings Day Rally was held in downtown Lafayette on June 14. No Kings rally organizers in Lafayette expect hundreds at a protest downtown Saturday.

New rules proposed for St. Landry events

Age requirement considered for attendees

BY JA’KORI MADISON Staff writer

Attendees of trail rides and other big events in St. Landry Parish can expect new rules to take effect after recent incidents involving fights and soliciting activity, according to parish officials.

Parish President Jessie Bellard said he’s proposing a mandatory age requirement of 25 and older for attendees, as well as a strict no-soliciting policy at all event sponsored or hosted events The proposal has been given to trail ride and event organizers for review and feedback.

Bellard said the goal is to create a plan that protects both attendees and the longstanding cultural tradition of trail rides.

“We gave it to them to review and come up with their own ideas about safety and the well-being of the people who attend these events,” Bellard said. “The event itself isn’t the problem, it’s everything that happens around it.” Parish officials and trail ride organizations are expected to meet again in January to finalize the proposed rule changes. Bellard said the new guidelines are in response to multiple recent disturbances at parish venues, not just a single incident.

He said most of the trouble comes from people hanging out by their vehicles or the venue instead of being inside.

“At the last few events, we’ve seen a lot of activity happening outside the buildings,” he explained. “If people are not going inside to take part in the event, they’ll need to leave the grounds.”

Last week, a video circulating on social media showed a young man pulling out a gun and waving it in the crowd during

a “Why Play Trail Ride” event at the St. Landry Parish AgCenter

He emphasized that his goal isn’t to restrict or end trail rides but to make them safer and more manageable. The proposed rules would apply not only to trail rides but to any large gathering at parish facilities such as the Yambilee Building or the Ag Arena grounds, where most of these events take place. Under the proposal, organizers or sponsors who fail to enforce the new age and no-soliciting requirements could be prohibited from using the facilities in the future

Bellard also noted that officials are working to ease traffic congestion during large events by expanding parking access.

“I want to continue the culture and the tradition,” Bellard said. “But things are going to have to be managed better for it to continue. It’s becoming a public safety issue.”

Gulf Brew festival returns to Lafayette

Burn bans issued near La. border

Drought affects multiple parishes in Acadiana

BY STEPHEN MARCANTEL Staff writer

Burn bans have been issued up and down the Louisiana/Texas border, except in Calcasieu and the coastal Cameron Parish.

Several nearby parishes, such as Acadia and Vermilion, recently issued their own burn bans amid an abnormally dry period across most of the state, according to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. In Acadiana, Lafayette, Vermilion, St. Landry, Evangeline and parts of Acadia and St. Martin Parishes are in a moderate drought. Of those places, Lafayette and St. Martin Parish have yet to issue a ban on outdoor fires, according to Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry burn ban maps. As of Tuesday, 55% of the state was abnormally dry, with 21% in moderate drought. The drought encompasses mainly the Acadiana region and parishes surrounding New Orleans.

BY AIDAN McCAHILL Staff writer

In response to what officials say is an increase in campus violence during Tigers football games, LSU announced Thursday a stricter set of game day security measures for the remainder of the season, including the closure of a popular tailgating spot and prohibiting drivers without parking permits access to Highland Road. The crackdown comes after a shooting on campus sent two people to the hospital during last week’s game against South Carolina.

PROVIDED PHOTO By MARC SOBERS

FILE PHOTO By BRAD BOWIE

Samples of various beers are distributed by volunteers during Gulf Brew, presented by the Acadiana Center for the Arts, on Oct. 19, 2024, in downtown Lafayette.

FILE PHOTO By ROBIN MAy

ä See RALLIES, page 4B

ä See BURN BANS, page 4B

OPINION

Dredge spillhighlightsLNG megaprojectworries

The liquefiednatural gas industry gave us the impression that it was going to take care of our community here in rural Louisiana, and that is not the case.

Local fishermen in southwest Louisiana haven’tgot much help at all —none despite claims to the contrary by Venture Global. We are still trying to figure out how all these methane terminals are hurting the shrimp. Where did all the shrimp go?

And then on Aug. 4, 2025, tragedy struck because of Venture Global’s Calcasieu Pass 2 project, known as CP2. Now we have mud on top of all our problems.

Ray Mallet GUEST COLUMNIST

theweir,it’sbreached and is in the rivers andestuary too. Thecommunityisstill tryingtoassess the full damage Fisherfolkwere left with no answers and nolivelihood just as the shrimping season opened. There are only four to five inches of water left in theaffected canals. The sludge has already displacedthe shrimp and it suffocated crabsinthe pots. We don’tknowifthe remainingshrimp can navigate theslurry waters.

GUEST COLUMNIST

Adredging operation, permitted for 100,987,013 U.S. gallons of dredge over 10 weeks for the construction of CP2, spilled into waters just south of Big Lake in Cameron Parish. According to the permit, that’s20 million gallons of muck into our wetlands for two weeks. The overflow is not just in the bay and bayou behind

Venture Global claims thespill is “stopped and under control.”

But for those of us who said dredging disasters like this would happen, that’sno comfort. It’soysterspawning season and spat cannot attach where there is sedimentation. We already know it is impacting this year’s harvest.How will we know aboutnextyear? Theyear after that? Or will it change long-term shrimpmigration routes our families lived on forgenerations?

This accident is part of a patternofenvironmental violations which are ending thelivelihoods for those of us who live here. Immediate action must be taken on possible violations of theClean Water Act, which prohibitsunauthorized discharges of dredged or fill material into thewaters of theUnited States. If Venture Global wants

La., incarcerationhave long andtroubling past

In the final galleryofthe Historic New Orleans Collection’sawardwinning exhibition, “Captive State: Louisiana and the Making of Mass Incarceration,” visitors were asked to reflect and respond to thequestion, “If you could change Louisiana’s incarceration system, where would you begin?”

Nearly 2,000 visitors wrotean answer to the question and posted it on the wall, creating an evolving space for visitors to envision abrighter future.

Captive State is agroundbreaking public history project. It’sthe first public-facing projecttopresent athreecentury historical synthesis of incarceration in New Orleans and Louisiana witha focus on the connections between systems of slavery and mass incarceration.

—including the jarring price the state paysfor incarceration annually (over $1 billion), paired with the stories of people impacted by thesystemthat populated the galleries.

to liveuptothe imageit’s madeinthe news, we, the fisherfolk of Cameron, demandanimmediate investigation intothis disaster by theU.S. Army Corps of Engineers and theLouisiana Department of Environmental Quality,ahalt of dredging until containmentfailures are resolved, remediation of fisheries, compensation for fisherfolk

impacted and full public transparency including a public hearing to address these impacts and ongoing dredging.

CP2 is shaping up to be a sacrifice zone: an industry project that sacrifices communities, health, climate, local economies and justice forshort-term profit. But to speak plainly,Venture Global isn’tthe only com-

pany making money off our suffering; they aren’t the only ones to blame. No financial institution should invest in CP2. No insurance company should underwrite CP2. Our government must revoke or refuse to finalize any permits tied to this project. We need help. We need our government to protect fishing families and makes investments in renewables, and our communities need aseat at the table. We are fighting to survive while watching the oyster beds get covered in silt, the crabs and shrimpchoke and fisherfolk and our families get nosebleeds nightly from the pollution when working in the waters our parents and grandparents worked fordecades. We want to thrive! Let the marshes stay wild, give us back our safety and economy and let our communities breathe. We’re not being helped, but can we be heard?

Ray Malletisa chairman of theFisherfamily Advisory Councilfor Tradition&Stewardship

Alyssa Portaro is Founder and Director of Habitat Recovery Project.

Hope,humanityand healinginatimeofgrief

Anyone watching the news right now is grieving. Media coverage is saturatedwith storiesofdeath and tragedy —frommass shootings and war to violence in our own neighborhoods. Recent anniversaries of Hurricane Katrina and9/11have resurfaced painful memories while our community continues to mournliveslostinthe New Year’sDay BourbonStreet tragedyand thelong shadowofthe COVID-19 pandemic.

Additionally,the book pointsto other resources for scholars, advocates and othersinterested in learning more. Scores of citations, footnotes and abibliography are included, all designed to contribute to the existing scholarship on the history of incarceration in New Orleans and Louisianaand to helppeople consider howthey might change ourcurrent system.

Seiferth GUEST COLUMNIST

The exhibition, which closed earlier this year,was ahugesuccess for HNOC in many meaningful ways, including both visitation numbers (25,000), and the high levels of engagement demonstrated by the astonishing number of visitors who wanted to say something before leaving. For many,the stories and information presented in the exhibition werenew; for others the exhibition represented apublic telling of privately known truths

Both groups, however, oftenleft the galleries asking staffhow they could learn more, or if there were ways to preserve the stories in Captive State into the future.

The Captive State book, released Oct. 1, represents the institution’s commitment to continue sharing the history and stories presented in the exhibition that resonated with so many visitors. But it does more than just reprint on paperwhat thousands of visitorssaw in the galleries. The bookincludes updated 2025 data

The criminal legal system andpublic safetyare as relevant to New Orleanians, Louisianans and Americans as ever.Efforts toward criminal legal reform that had bipartisan nationwide support in the last decade have evaporated, andincarceration rates areonce again increasingwithout acorresponding drop in violent crime.

Just in New Orleans, thecity’s jail population hasincreased by over 400 people, representing a 40% increase, over this half decade. Rates for thoseserving sentences in thecustody of the LouisianaDepartment of Safety and Corrections have also increased over thepast fiveyears, with nearly one thousandmore people in prison today than in 2020.

In groundingthis contemporary reality in three hundred years of history and data,Captive State makes anecessary contribution to meaningful public discourseon what abrighter future for all can be.

EricSeiferth is acurator and historian with the Historic New Orleans Collection.

Due to social media, we’reexposed to far more information today than we werejust twenty years ago. The constant stream of news makes it nearly impossible to avoidthe sadness and heartbreak —often for families we’ve never met —who are suffering unimaginable lossamidtoday’sglobal turmoil. In the face of so much tragedy,how do we hold on to hope and stay positive,; not only for ourselves but for our children and grandchildren? As veteranfuneral directors, we are dedicated to guiding families through profound momentsofgrief and loss. Drawing on decades of experience,we would like to share insights and guidance to help navigategrief, whether personalorthis timeofshared culturalgriefthat we find around us. First, therole of community. Grief is meant to be shared. As human beings, we arewired to find comfort in connection. Mourning together allows us to process loss through shared support of friends, family and community. In times of loss, it is the people who gather around us thathelp us survive and eventually begin to heal.

comes through action. Whether attending a funeral, delivering aeulogy or sharing memories, participating in the rituals of grief helps us process our emotions. Personal acts of remembrance —such as printing photos, writing down memories or volunteering in the person’s name —can offer comfort and closure. Grief looks different for everyone, but engaging with it intentionally gives space to heal and evolve.

Second, the role of ritual. Rituals provide structure.Memorials,funerals and other ceremonies provide aspace to commemorate life and preserve memories. These shared momentsofremembrance allow us to be part of something greater than ourselves. Even smallgestureslike lighting acandle, telling astory or placing aflower can be profoundly meaningful, especially for children. We have aresponsibility to teach the next generation how to face death with dignity,empathy and understanding.

Third, the role of participation. Healing often

Fourth, the role of relationship. Loss changes relationships —not just with the person who has died, but with those still living. Sharing memories and stories can draw us closer,creating bonds through mutuallove and remembrance. Yetgrief can also create distance among us. In these moments, it’simportant to choose compassion over conflict. This is atime to set aside differences, to forgive and reconnect. Griefreminds us that life is too short to stay divided. Fifth, the role of hope. Hope allows us to reimagine life after loss. Is death the end, or adoorway to something beyond? Whatever our beliefs, hope helps us find meaning in suffering and points us toward whatisstill possible.

Many of us who work in the funeral profession live by the words of 19th century British Prime Minister William Ewart Gladstone: “Show me the manner in which anation or community caresfor its dead, and Iwill measure with mathematical exactness the tender mercies of its people their respect for the laws of the land and their loyalty to high ideals.”

As funeral directors, we strive to serve not just families, but humanity.Weencourage you to do the same within your own circles, neighborhoods and communities. Grieve as you must but grieve with intention. Honorthe lost by supporting the living. In aworld markedby recent tragedies, near or far,our capacity to care for one another is more vital thanever

DavidB.Eastland is afuneral director and manager at WestsideLeitz-Eagan Funeral Home and pastor of First Baptist Church of Harahan. Huey Campbellisa funeral director at WestsideLeitz-Eagan Funeral Home.

STAFF FILE PHOTOBySOPHIA GERMER

Ashrimpboat parks near the Cameron LNG plant in Cameron in 2022.

Alyssa Portaro

David B. Eastland GUEST COLUMNIST

Huey Campbell GUEST COLUMNIST

The historic peace dealbetween Israel and Hamas that led to aceasefire in the two-year-old warinGazahas been agoal sought by President DonaldTrump and his administrationsince he took office. It outlines a20-pointplan to achievestability in theregion. Since Hamas attacked amusic festival and residential areas in IsraelonOct. 7, 2023, killing more than 1,200 people, torturing some and takingscores hostage,Israel President Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to eliminate thethreatposed by Hamasinthe Gaza Strip.The ensuingwar has ledtothe deathsoftensofthousands of Palestinians.To achieve adiplomatic breakthrough, Trump and his envoys were able to do what seemed impossible: bring together leaders in the Arabworld to pressure Hamasand also convince Netanyahuthat the security of Israelwouldbeguaranteed.What lessons can be takenfromhow thedealcame together?Here are twoperspectives:

TheGonzo brilliance of Trump’sGazadiplomacy

The “ceasefire now” crowd finally got its ceasefire, althoughnot theway it hoped. Israel and Hamas agreed to stop the fighting in Gaza, while theterror group agreed to release all Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.

There’salways achancethe agreement falls apart. Still, it isn’t creating jubilation from allthe people who have been braying for Israel to end the war.There aretwo reasons —one is thatthe deal is favorable for Israel, and the other is that the deal’sarchitectisapresident of the United Stateswhom the fiercest advocates of aceasefirehate

If it holds, the agreement is the biggest victory yet for Donald Trump’s hyperactive, transactional diplomacy Alifetime of maneuveringfor advantage in the real estateand media worlds in New York City —searching for and using everyounce of leverage —was better preparation forhighlevel internationaldiplomacy than if Trump had spent alifetime on theSenate Foreign Relations Committee. Whereas “internationalopinion” believed we had to isolate andcut off Israel, Trump armed the Jewish state, bombed Iran and squeezed Qatar to bring Hamas to heel —and it worked. The dealisa tribute to avoiding the well-worn ruts of Middle East diplomacy As for Israel, it needed to find away out of aconflict that had become aPR disaster.Getting the hostages back was an important national goal, even if the exchange was lopsided (theseswaps always are). Meanwhile, Israel will pull back to an agreed-upon line, but still hold an estimated 53% of Gaza as asecurity buffer.Even if things eventually go south again, Israel has bought time by decimating Hamas andsignificantly diminishing the threatsfrom Iran and Hezbollah.

It is certainly true that Phase 2of the deal, which is supposed to disarm Hamas and establish atechnocratic Palestiniangovernment in Gaza, will be much more difficult to pull off.If it were to come to fruition, though, it

would betransformative for Israel’s security and forthe lives of Gazans. There will presumably be no speeches at Hollywood awards ceremonies crediting Trumpfor his peace-making. Among other things, there’stoo much cognitivedissonance in saying, “I think PresidentTrump is adangerous fascist —but appreciate how bound and determined he is to end conflicts around the world.”

Trump is agonzo version of standard U.S. foreign policy All American presidents want to makepeace in the Middle East, and all want, whether they say it or not, to win the Nobel Peace Prize. What’s differentabout Trumpishis methods,and his openness about seeking acall from the Nobel committee.

Ahallmark of his policymaking at its best is an unwillingness to take “no” for an answer,anunremittingsense of urgency anda creativity that is considered unrealistic or reckless by conventional metrics. We saw it during his first term with his success securing the border,with the historic achievement of Operation Warp Speed and withthe Abraham Accords.

“The reasonable man adapts himself to theworld,” George Bernard Shaw maintained, theunreasonable one persistsintrying to adapt the world to himself.Therefore, all progress depends on theunreasonable man.”

In this sense, Trumpisusefully unreasonable. Everyone around the world needs to be alittle afraid of him, while he is willing to talk to anyone or consider anything. Hisoptimism can be misplaced(theUkraine war was a tougher nut than he thought) and his highlypersonalized diplomacy can misfire (he got unnecessarily crosswisewith Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi), but he can also prove all hisdoubters wrong.

The Washington cliche is that there is no limit to the good you can do if you don’tcare whogetsthe credit.Trump shows, to the contrary,that sometimes there is no limit to the good you can do if youwant allthe credit Rich Lowry is on X, @RichLowry.

Credit forGazaceasefire goes to IDF, Netanyahu

“If you start to take Vienna, take Vienna.” —Napoleon Unminced words arenow required lest we flinch from acknowledging the stark —and for many people, unsettling —lessonofIsrael’sachievement since Oct. 7, 2023. The lessonis: Often military might does, and often only it can, make roomfor diplomacy

Primarycredit for theceasefire between Israel and thosewho still aspiretomurder it goes to the Israel Defense Forces. So, credit alsogoes to the prime minister who wielded the IDF with aproperly austereregardfor the opinions of mankind, Benjamin Netanyahu. Will the current ceasefireinthe two-year war be morethan merely this? If so,itwill be because on Oct. 7, 2023, Israel recognized that the necessary precondition for the cessation of warfare would also be sufficient:destruction of Hamas’ and Hezbollah’scapacity for waging war.The diplomats’ hour arrived after, and because of, the fighting by thosewho form the tip of Israel’sspear against unprovoked and wanton violence. Because of the mostly young men and women of the IDF

ported versions but one clear meaning: In large undertakings, avoid tentativeness. All wars end. The Hundred Years’ War, the Thirty Years’ War, the Seven Years’ War, and all others, before and since, ended. Some did so from mutualorasymmetrical exhaustion, some with differencesplitting negotiations. The war that paused and perhaps ended last week reminded the world that Israel has never known aday of peace, properly understood. Peace is more than the absence of violence. It is acondition where threats of violence are not the constant white noise of existence. Israel was attacked by nonstate actors, Hamas and Hezbollah, committedtothe destruction of the Israeli state, continuing acondition that preceded the Israeli state. Israel has always had, because it has earned it, U.S. support. It has never,however,been dependent on it. Centuries of hard experiences, culminating in Auschwitz, have taught the Jewish people the lethal risks of dependenceon others. Israel’sbirth was apost-Holocaust proclamation: “Never again!”

The U.S. Declaration of Independence acknowledges an obligation to have “a decent respect to the opinions of mankind” (emphasis added).Indecent respect occurswhen theopinions of mankind are not respectable, or when respecting them involves indecent consequences. To the Trump administration’scredit, the United States has enabled Israel’svictory by not restraining itsself-defense. U.S. policy has toooften restrainedUkraine since Russia attacked on Feb. 24, 2022.

Historians will assess if and when Israel has used disproportionateforce. The historians whoseconclusions will deserve most respect will be thosewho grapple with Israel’sOct. 7reality.Then it wascontiguous to an enclave under the thumb of organized sadistswho sheltered behind acaptive civilian population. Historians should begin with thebeginning —remembering the sexual and other violence recordedby Hamas body cameras on Oct. 7.

Historians will have to acknowledge that Netanyahu, who is responsible for his nation’ssafety,graspedthe nettle. He acted on Napoleon’saxiom, which has various re-

Netanyahu’spost-Oct. 7decision to destroy Hamas and Hezbollah wasthatIsrael shall never again have an occasion to say “Never again!” His use of violence has perhaps economized violence. The destruction of two enemyorganizations might mean,in subsequent years, fewer deaths than would otherwise have occurred on both sides.

For decades, U.S. officials belabored Israel with reasons why, in negotiations with bellicose enemies, it should “take arisk forpeace.” To one official, Netanyahu, referring to atranquil Washington suburb, replied, “You live in Chevy Chase. Don’t play with our future.” For Israel, as forUkraine since the dissolution of the Soviet Union, being has been risky.Israel has refused to trim its sails to accommodate gusts of critical opinions from people living comfortably at asafe distance from violence. Like Ukraine’sexample of fortitude, Israel’s is agifttoanonly intermittently resolute West.

EmailGeorge Will at georgewill @washpost.com.

Rich Lowry

President Donald Trumpshows asigned documentonMonday during aceremonyatthe Gaza International

George Will

Corpscompletes saltwatersill

MississippiRiver work finished in 12 days

BY ALEX LUBBEN Staff writer

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has completed the underwater sill built to prevent salt water from moving up the Mississippi River and threatening New Orleans’ watersupply

The Corps built the sill in 12 days and finished construction on Oct. 10, according to Corps spokesperson Matt Roe Thesill forms acontinuous barrier across the river near Myrtle Grove in Plaquemines Parish, 55 feet below the water’ssurface. The Corps expects it will successfully keep salt water from reaching thedrinking waterintakes upriver The saltwaterwedge,as the Corps calls it, forms when the river is low,asit currently is. That’sthanks to apersistent drought across the MississippiValley that is projectedtocontinue through at least the next month.

“Wecontinue to work closely with our state and local partners while measuring and calculatingthe location of the toe of the saltwater wedge and forecastriver conditions,”Roe said.

The Corps takes measures to prevent the salt water from moving upriver because New Orleans and surrounding communities gettheir drinking water from the river.Municipal water systems are not equipped to desalinate water,and salt water can corrode pipes and leach lead and other chemicals into the city’sdrinking water.The Corps said it doesnot have afinal cost for the construction of the sill because they may have to continue dredgingsediment to maintain it over the next severalweeks.

The salt water was pushed downriver afew miles due to heavy rain across the Mississippi Valleyinthe lastweek,and

FESTIVAL

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across Acadiana.

This years king and queen contestants are: n Sami Parbhoo

RALLIES

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from other events, includinghomecoming activities at the UniversityofLouisianaatLafayette.

Dominique said she thinks the rally may draw as many as the June No Kings protest,even with the competition.

“It’sgoing to be abig deal,” she said, “even in red Louisiana.”

Lynette Mejia, co-founder of Lafayette Citizens Against Censorship, is speaking at the protest because she believes“the most sacred right we have as Americans is the right to speakupand criticize our government.”

Recently events suchas journalists being denied access to the Pentagon unless they agree to be censored,people being denied visas because of their social media posts and professionals losing jobs or research funding because university administrators are afraid of government reprisals are frightening, Mejia said.

“That’sterrifying to me,” she said, “because once those freedoms are gone, they’re gone for everyone, Republican, Democrat or otherwise. I’m not going

BURN BANS

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another small bumpinthe river’sflow is projected in the next week due to heavy rain in the Ohio River Valley But Roe noted thatthe river isexpected to continue to drop over thenext month,fromits current flowof200,000 cubic feet per second down to 160,000 cubic feet per second. That will allow salt water to reach the sill around the end of October.

Thecurrentforecast doesn’tcall for the sill to be overtopped, or for the Corps to have to build the sill higher,asithad to in 2023 when the saltwedge nearly reachedNew Orleans’ water intakes

TheMississippi is about three feet above sea level at the Carrollton gauge in New Orleans and is projectedtostayatabout that height for the next month.

The Corps will keep an eye on the wedge until the river flows at 400,000 cubic feet per second, enough flowtoflush thesalt water back out into the Gulf and wash away the underwater sill.

This year marksthe fourthconsecutive year that theCorpshas hadto build thesill in theriver to prevent salt water from affecting municipaldrinking water supplies. Before 2022, it had only built the sill three times, in 2012 1992, and 1988.

Climate change is projected to increase extreme weather events, raising the likelihood of both severe droughts and floods,across the Mississippi River’s drainagebasin, which extends acrossall orparts of 31 states and two Canadian provinces.

Downriver communities in lower PlaqueminesParishare on the front line of anyissueswithsaltwater The Corps barged in supplies to parts of theparish duetoissueswithsaltwaterin 2023, and the parish hasprepared this year by procuring reverse osmosis filtration machines, which can filter salt from water

EmailAlex Lubben at alex.lubben@ theadvocate.com

n Stafford Barnet n JohnBuckelew n Karen King n Peggy Dersch n Alyson Schexnayder General admissiontickets are $40 for all-you-can-sip of 200 beers. VIP tickets, which are $100, allow access

to let that happen without speaking out.”

U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, aRepublican from Benton, has recently called the No Kingsrallies

“Hate America” and antiAmerican events. Trump andsomeRepublicans in Congress have equated theeventstoterrorism by violent radicals.

“There’snothing more American thansaying we have no kings and exercising our right to protest,”Leah Greenberg, cofounder of the Indivisible Project, said Thursday in an online news conference.

Founders builtthe United States as anationof laws on ideas and aspirationsofimperfect men who knew they never wanted amonarch, aking to rule again, said Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers.

“Thatiswhat the No Kings movementisrooted in,” she said. “America is about being abletofight over issues in apeaceful, nonviolent way.”

Th os ew ho su pport Trump’spolicies, Dominique said,probably can’t be swayed by millionsof Americans taking to the streets peacefully protesting what they see as authoritarianism

But, sheemphasized, the

This weekend brings a24% chance of rain, with an equal chance Tuesday.Those percentages dip into the teens and below until Oct. 27, when rains are expected again at 24% followed by a39%

TheLafayette region had seen more rain by September thanlastyear,according to National Weather Service data.But sinceJuly, rainfall hasbeenlowerthaninthe same period in 2024, putting theregion in aslight drought. Thereare chances of rain in Lafayette over thenext two weeks, according to the Weather Channel forecast

chance the following day

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ordered increased security ahead of LSU’snext home matchup against Texas A&M on Oct. 25.

“The governor is very engagedwith this,” said LSU BoardofSupervisors Chair Scott Ballard, who confirmed the two hadbeen in direct talks about beefing up security before Thursday’s news conference.

Hours after LSU’sannouncement, Southern University said it also would be tightening campussecurity aheadofthe school’shomecominggame this weekend.

Amongthe changesto LSUgame days, interim LSUPresidentMatt Lee announcedthe closure of Unity Field, where the majority of the school’sBlack Greek life tailgates.Officials are currentlyfencing off thefield, located near theintersection of HighlandRoad andSouth Stadium Drive.

Leesaidlaw enforcement had traced two recent shootings back to the tailgating spot. He also said aspecific student organization, which he declined to name, was responsible for drawing large crowdstothe area. He added the group did not submit an application to hold game day events andwas currently undergoing adisciplinary process.

“Webelieve most of the problemsthat we’ve experienced in the prior weeks are related to this well-definedplace,” he said during the news conference. “This isn’tabout race, this is about

to aVIP lounge and experiences.

Designated drivertickets are available for $25 and entitle ticket holders to nonalcoholic beverages from downtown restaurants.

Thefestivalruns from 1p.m. to 5p.m. Saturday

protests are notpartisan.

“If thereare any ordinary Republicansthatstill care aboutfree speech, please come,” Dominique said.“We want thesame things.”

Mejia agreed that Republicans should be protesting alongside Democrats on Saturdaybecause “noregime is permanent.”

She has seen online hatred toward protesters or people criticizing the Trump administration.

“Butthat’s OK,” Mejia said. “Theycan hate me if they wish.I’llstill be out there, speaking up and marching for their rights, too.”

Email Claire Taylor at ctaylor@theadvocate. com.

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place.”

Ballard also announced that partsofHighlandRoad wouldbeinaccessible to vehicles without parking permits, but didnot immediately give specifics.

“Werecognize this might present some immediate challenges,but it is alongterm strategy thatmust be done,” he said.

Ballard and Lee said the schoolwill alsoadd more law enforcementpersonneland surveillance technologylike drones to itsgame daypolice force. For major games, LSU’scampus can hold up to 200,000 people, and its 60-officer force expands to more than400 through partnerships with local and state agencies on game days.

“Wewill be adding to that,” Ballard said. “Think of many things,but alot more drones.”

Leedid not say how many more officers will be added.

Twoweeks ago, Landry called for federal activation of 1,000 National Guard troops in Baton Rouge and otherLouisianacities, but Lee saidthe university had not yet discussed bringing them in for game days.

“We’reworking right now with state andlocal lawenforcement agencies,” Lee said. “We’llsee howwetake it from there.”

It’sstill abetter situation than 2023, when abrutal drought struck much of Acadiana and the western part of the state. It brought astatewide burn banand the Tiger Island Fire, the largestwildfire in state history Overall, wildfiresinthe state burned more than 60,000 acres,with more thanhalf of that area fromthe Tiger Island Fire.

Ballard and Lee saidthe increased police presence would strictly enforce rules aboutmarijuanause,underagealcohol consumption, the carrying of firearmsand loud music with explicit lyrics.

“Individuals smoking marijuana will be detained, and those found in possession of illegalamountswill be arrested on the spot,”LSU clarified in anewsrelease. In addition to the recent shootings, Lee said the measures were aresponse to an “overall sense of disorder that we have to tampdown on.” He said more specific detailsonincreased security will be released over the next fewdays.

“We’vebeen fielding phone callafter phone callfrom familieswho areherethat expect apremier game day experience.” Leesaid. “They don’twant their children to be subjected to firearm violence. They don’twant their children to walk through clouds of marijuana smoke. They don’twanttheir children to have to listen to unnecessarily loud music that hasexplicit lyrics.

The impetus forSouthern’s announcementwas different. In astatement, Chancellor John Pierre said the new security measures are being implemented after a seriesofviolent andracially-

The drought also struck sugarcaneand crawfish operations in the Acadiana region. Farmers andthe state timber industrysuffered $1.7 billion in losses.

Email StephenMarcantel at stephen.marcantel@ theadvocate.com.

motivated threats weremade against historically Black collegesand universitiesacross the country in recent months. Southern, which has shut downits campus three separate times during the fall semester due to threats,said it plans to increase the amount of license plate readers on campus,employ moresurveillance drones, enhance campus checkpoint areas andinstall new“blue light” devicesthatpeoplecan use to contact campus police.

Email Aidan McCahill ataidan.mccahill@ theadvocate.com.

SPORTS

gotto do abetterjob’

together ago-ahead drive in the closing minutes.

BY LUKE JOHNSON Staff writer

In some respects, last week’sgame against the New England Patriotswas the best of the season for New OrleansSaintswidereceiver ChrisOlave.

He continued to be afocal point forthe Saintspassingattack, he finally hauled in an explosive play,henearly cracked the 100-yard mark for the first time thisseason There was some good to take away fromit.

An upset could turn UL’s season around

Unfortunately “Thedrops turned my game allthe way down,” Olave said.

Olavehad apairofcrucial dropsagainst thePatriots —one that would have been a somewhat difficult catch near the pylon in theend zone on third down,and another more routine play lateinthe game on second and 7asthe Saints were trying to put

That lastdrop set up athird down that NewOrleans did not convert. The Saints punted theballaway andnever gotitback in a25-19 loss.

Thursday,Olave addressed his performance for the first time since the game ended, and while he was happy with some aspects of theway he played,hedid not make any excuses forthe big moments where he came up short.

“Itwas tough, man,” Olave said. “You

There’sjust no way of understatinghow biganopportunity the UL Ragin’ Cajuns face with SouthernMissintown forSaturday’s4 p.m. homecoming game at Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium.

Let’sstart with the obviousreason.

The Cajuns are off to adisappointing 2-4, 1-1 start to the season andthe Golden Eagles are currently tied for first place in the Sun Belt West standings at4-2 and 2-0. As high amountain as it seems UL will need to climb to get some momentum back in this season, awin Saturday would do wonders to shift the negative mindset. It’svery possible, perhaps even likely,thatSouthern Miss is one of thetop three teams in the league. Soyes, it’sanawful position to need ahomecomingwin this desperately against ateam that good. But when you squander opportunities to beat Rice and Eastern Michigan and fall short against James Madison, you’vegot to make up that ground somehow.The only way to do it is to pull off an upsetthat doesn’tlook very likely on paper

It’llbeachallenge, butgamevs. Southern Miss couldbebig opportunity EvaluatingLSU

“We’ve got to do it now,” UL coach Michael Desormeaux said. “You don’t win this one, you’re leaving it up to chance, andyou need alot of help to get it done.”

Technically,it’spossible theCajuns could lose this game and run the table. Notone of the remaining five opponents —Troy, South Alabama, Texas State, Arkansas State and UL-Monroe —looks as potent as James Madison, Southern Miss or even Marshall at this point in theseason

The Golden Eagles are by far the most likely West Division team to lose fewer than two Sun Belt games. The tough thing is if UL loses this one, it would essentially be 21/2 games behind SouthernMiss with five to go Awin and UL is ahalf game up on Southern Miss and could be tied for first placeinthe

PASSINGGRADE

It’shard to believe, but faster than BarionBrown, the LSUfootball season has raced to the midway point.

The Tigers are ranked No. 10 in the country,just one notch below where they were picked in the preseason AP poll, are 5-1and 2-1 in the Southeastern Conference. Andyet,there is apalpable sense among LSU fans and across the college football landscape that the Tigers have underachieved heading into Saturday’sunexpected top-20 matchup at No. 17 Vanderbilt (5-1, 1-1) at 11 a.m. on ABC. Just how good —orbad —have the Tigers really been? We grade the Tigers and post their marks on our midseason report card.

QUARTERBACK: B Garrett Nussmeier’snumbers certainly haven’tbeen what they were through six games in 2024: 1,413 yards passing, nine touchdowns and five interceptions this season; 1,986 yards, 18 touchdowns and six interceptions through six games this past season. Clearly hampered by injuries (knee, abs, now ankle), Nussmeier hasn’t been himself but appeared to turn a corner in this past Saturday’s20-10 win over South Carolina. He has been one tough customer and should be commended for that. But, as his two interceptions against the Gamecocks

attest, his decision-making remains questionable at times andatleast one turnover per gamebyNuss has to be baked intothe LSUequation

RUNNING BACK: C Surprisingly,LSU has just 50 fewer net rushing yards compared to this point in 2024: 690 to740. But the Ti-

gers’ running gamefeels like much moreofananchor on the offense. Caden Durham has been adequate at best, and LSU has had to rely on converted quarterback Ju’Juan Johnson and receivers like Zavion Thomas and Browntohelp cover deficiencies. The run gamewas markedly improved against South Carolina, but is this trend or aberration?

WIDERECEIVERS: C+

LSU has adeep enough receiver corps to absorb aleader like Aaron

BY REED DARCEY Staff writer

BIRMINGHAM,Ala. Oneofthe LSU women’s basketball team‘s returning guards spent most of her timelastseason on the wing.

Now, Kailyn Gilbert is trying something new Coach Kim Mulkey said Wednesday at SECmedia days that the senior is playing

point guardinbitsofpreseasonpractices, as the No. 5Tigers try to figure out which guards will begin the year as theirnew primary ballhandlers.

“She wanted ashot at that,” Mulkey said. LSU hadtwo lead point guards last season. ShayeannDay-Wilsonstarted 21 games at that position,and Last-Tear Poa started 15. Both moved on after the year ended, leaving as part of aroster churn in which Mulkey and her staff brought in eight new players, and now theTigers are left with fourorfive guardswho canhandle the ball. There’sMiLaysia Fulwiley,the high-

profile transferfromSouth Carolina who’sgetting the first crack at thestarting point guard job. There’ssophomore JadaRichard. There’sDivine Bourrage, the highly rated freshman from Iowa. MikaylahWilliams can run the point in a pinch too, as she showed as asophomore, and now,socan Gilbert —the 5-foot-8 shot creator who hit two game-winning shots last season. “(Gilbert) won alot of ballgames forus late,” Mulkey said, “because she has an

STAFF

Saints WR Chris Olave AP PHOTO

STAFFFILE PHOTOByHILARy SCHEINUK

Bama, Tennessee feature potent offenses

KENNINGTON LLOYD SMITH III

Associated Press

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Playing for his third school in four years, Alabama receiver Germie Bernard needed just a few words to sum up the rivalry known as the “Third Saturday in October.”

“This is what you come to Alabama for,” Bernard said The sixth-ranked Crimson Tide and No. 11 Tennessee meet for the 108th time in one of the Southeastern Conference’s most stories series Saturday at Bryant-Denny Stadium, a showdown that includes league and College Football Playoff implications

Offenses are at the forefront of this iteration, with both teams coming in with momentum on that side of the ball. The Volunteers (5-1, 2-1 SEC) are outpacing their historic 2022 season through six games, averaging 48.2 points a game behind quarterback Joey Aguilar Fast starts have been UT’s

trademark, with the Vols having scored on their opening possession in every game this season — four touchdowns and two field goals.

In Tuscaloosa, quarterback Ty Simpson has emerged as a Heisman Trophy frontrunner He’s playing arguably the best football in the country completing 71% of his passes with 16 touchdowns and one interception. And with offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb calling plays, Alabama (5-1, 3-0) is averaging 38.4 points a game since its Week 1 loss at Florida State. The quarterbacks might need to do more with both team’s starting running backs banged up. Tennessee’s DeSean Bishop, who ran for a career-high 146 yards last week against Arkansas, is probable to play Alabama’s Jam Miller meanwhile, is listed as questionable.

Alabama is an 8 1/2-point favorite, according to BetMGM.

Can Tennessee take hold of rivalry?

A 15-year win streak under Nick Saban between 2007 and 2022 cre-

ated a lopsided advantage for Alabama, which leads the series 60-40-7. The Volunteers, though, are seeking back-to-back wins for the first time since 2003-04 as well as three wins in four years for the first time since 2003-06.

Secondaries could be strained

Alabama has one the top passing defenses in the SEC, a unit that allows 135.7 yards a game and ranks second in the league. But the Tide haven’t faced an aerial attack like Tennessee.

The Volunteers lead the SEC in passing, averaging 317.8 yards a game and are the only team in the league with three receivers ranked in the top seven in yards: Chris Brazzell II (536 yards, 7 TDs), Brandon Staley (431, 2 TDs) and Mike Matthews (416, 2 TDs).

On the other side, Tennessee will be short-handed again as star cornerbacks Jermod McCoy and Rickey Gibson are out. The Vols allow the most passing yards in the league (257.8) and now face Bernard and Alabama star Ryan

Williams.

Turnover margin is the key Tennessee’s defense is near the bottom in the SEC in yards (383.8) and points (29.3) but thrive in creating havoc. The Volunteers are first in the SEC and second nationally in sacks (26) and are third in the SEC in takeaways (11).

Tennessee forced four fumbles, recovered three, last week against Arkansas. Conversely, Alabama has turned the ball over just twice this season, the third fewest in the country

“We need to win the turnover battle, first of all,” Vols coach Josh Heupel said “(Simpson)’s been great with the football, really sound in his decision-making. You have to apply pressure to the quarterback. That’s a part of creating turnovers.

“You have to do a great job of matching out and making plays on the back end too, and we have to put our helmet on the football, get some punches too and try to knock it out that way.”

Yankees’ Volpe and Rodón could be out until May

BY RONALD BLUM AP baseball writer

NEW YORK Yankees star Aaron Judge won’t need surgery on his elbow but shortstop Anthony Volpe and left-hander Carlos Rodón had operations this week and could be sidelined until May.

Judge’s throwing was limited after the two-time AL MVP hurt the flexor tendon in his right elbow in July Manager Aaron Boone said Thursday an MRI after the team was eliminated last week showed

“no surgery is going to be needed.”

“He’ll take some time off and continue to do strengthening things and rehab and stuff, but felt like he finished the season in a pretty good place as we saw continued improvements,” Boone said. Volpe and Rodón are projected to start the season on the injured list and could be sidelined until May, Boone and general manager Brian Cashman said at their endof-season news conferences.

Volpe, the Yankees shortstop since 2023, had arthroscopic sur-

gery Tuesday with head team physician Dr. Christopher Ahmad to repair the labrum in his left shoulder Boone said Volpe can start hitting in four months but can’t dive on the shoulder for six months.

“The cleanup was more severe than the MRI result,” Cashman said.

Rodón was operated on Wednesday by Los Angeles Dodgers head team physician Dr Neal ElAttrache to remove loose bodies in his left elbow and shave a bone spur He has eight weeks of no throwing Giancarlo Stanton, who didn’t make his season debut until June 16 because of right and left elbow epicondylitis, does not need surgery

“He’s in a pretty good place,” Boone said. “He’ll treat it and everything but nothing expected for Big G.”

Gerrit Cole, returning from Tommy John surgery in March, will throw lightly off a mound next week and could be available not far after opening day

New York has a record 27 World Series titles but none since 2009. After beating Boston in the Wild Card Series, the Yankees lost a four-game Division Series to Toronto.

“It’s just playing at the highest level at the most important time and you’ve got to maintain that and do that for the entire month of October,” said Boone, the manager since the 2018 season.

After losing to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2024 World Series, New York started the season 3520, slumped during a 25-34 stretch as its bullpen struggled, then closed 34-14 and lost the AL East to Toronto on a tiebreaker

“Could I have been more creative in some of the things that I could have done in those games in the middle of the season where we were a little short?” Boone asked out loud. Boone’s contract runs through 2027.

“He’s one of the better managers,” Cashman said “Because of our environment, he’s someone that can be second-guessed 10 million times over And I don’t care who you

FIFA announces over 1M tickets sold for World Cup

MIAMI More than 1 million tickets have already been sold for next year’s World Cup, FIFA said Thursday in its first update on numbers since the official start of sales began earlier this month.

The highest demand, as would be expected, was from buyers in the U.S., Canada and Mexico — the three nations that will play host to the tournament FIFA said people from 212 different countries and territories have already purchased, even though only 28 of the 48 spots in the field have been filled.

Rounding out the top-10 countries in terms of tickets purchased already: England, Germany, Brazil, Spain, Colombia, Argentina and France, in order, FIFA said. The tournament runs from June 11 through July 19.

Spurs forward Sochan to miss season opener

SAN ANTONIO Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan will miss San Antonio’s season opener at Dallas on Wednesday with a sprained left wrist.

Sochan was injured at practice Wednesday during a five-on-five drill as he neared a return from a strained calf.

Sochan injured his calf in August while practicing with the Polish national team. The calf injury forced him to miss the EuroBasket tournament as well as San Antonio’s preseason schedule.

San Antonio will also open the season without De’Aaron Fox, who is rehabilitating a strained hamstring. The Spurs said Fox and Sochan are both expected to return by the second or third game of the season.

Indiana, Cignetti agree on 8-year contract extension

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Indiana announced a new eight-year contract with coach Curt Cignetti worth at least $92.8 million on Thursday rewarding him for pushing the Hoosiers into national championship contention in just two seasons.

The school said the average annual compensation for Cignetti will be approximately $11.6 million and the contract runs through Nov. 30, 2033. Cignetti is 17-2 since arriving from James Madison, with his only losses coming last year against Ohio State and Notre Dame teams that ended up in the College Football Playoff championship game. The Hoosiers (6-0, 3-0 Big Ten) advanced to the CFP for the first time last year and are on that path again this season with a No. 3 national ranking that is the highest in program history

Lowry leads in New Delhi with McIlroy five shots back NEW DELHI Shane Lowry ran off five straight birdies on the back nine and then got up-and-down for birdie on the 18th hole Thursday for an 8-under 64, giving him a one-shot lead over Keita Nakajima in the DP World India Championship.

Rory McIlroy decided to leave the driver out of his golf bag at tight, tree-lined Delhi Golf Club. He had a collection of bogeys and birdies and settled on a 69 in the inaugural tournament.

put in that, that would be the same, whoever else would be there. I trust him. I think he’s a good man. I think he works his tail off.”

Among potential free agents, Cashman said the Yankees would like to retain Cody Bellinger “We’d love to have him with our team moving forward,” he said. Bullpen coach Mike Harkey and first base/infield coach Travis Chapman won’t return for 2026, assistant hitting coach Pat Roessler won’t be in that role and minor league hitting coordinator Jake Hirst will be taking that job. Cashman said third base coach Luis Rojas was given permission to interview for Baltimore’s manager opening and hitting coach James Rowson was allowed to interview for Minnesota’s manager job. Judge hurt his elbow making a throw at Toronto on July 22. The 33-year-old came back on Aug. 5 from a 10-day stint on the injured list caused by the strained flexor tendon in his right elbow and threw gingerly upon his outfield return on Sept. 5. He gradually built up arm strength.

Lowry returned from his Ryder Cup heroics at the Spanish Open last week by missing the cut. Another week into the closing stretch of the season seemed to suit him much better, particularly his iron play and putter

ITF to change name to World Tennis in 2026

LONDON The International Tennis Federation will change its name to “World Tennis” as of 2026.

The switch was ratified Thursday by member national tennis associations voting at the governing body’s annual general meeting.

“The change will provide a clearer identity that is more relevant to players, fans, partners and tennis stakeholders around the world, and brings the brand in line with a majority of sport’s most prominent global governing bodies,” the ITF said in a statement.

ITF president David Haggerty added: “World Tennis better reflects who we are today; the global governing body and guardian of tennis.”

Founded as the International Lawn Tennis Federation in Paris in 1913, the organization became the International Tennis Federation in 1977.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By VASHA HUNT

Alabama wide receiver Germie Bernard grabs a pass and runs it into the end zone for a touchdown against Vanderbilt during the first half of a game on Saturday in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Anderson sitting out this past game with an injury Overall, the Tigers have not been as explosive as needed or expected. Nussmeier’s health and a sluggish running game leading opponents to drop a ton of players into coverage has made it difficult for receivers to find space. There is room for optimism, however especially with the emergence of Thomas and Kyle Parker TIGHT ENDS: B

Trey’Dez Green, when healthy has arguably been LSU’s best player, with a catch radius that would make Tigers outfielder Derek Curiel envious. Bauer Sharp has been a productive addition out of the portal. It’s only really Green’s missing two games and a couple of Sharp bobbles

SAINTS

Continued from page 1C

take out a few plays, it was a great game, but those few plays were terrible. It’s a tough situation. A lot of opportunities that we’ve got to take advantage of, especially on my part. I’ve got to do a better job.”

Asked a follow-up question about how he’d grade the drops — whether they were “could have” plays or “should have” plays — Olave didn’t let himself off the hook.

“They’re all ‘should’ve,’ ” Olave said. “That’s how I look at it. I hold myself to a higher standard. Any ball that is in my radius, I feel like I should catch. If it touches my fingers or touches my hands, I’ve got to catch the ball.” That game, and the missed opportunities within it, have generated some conversation about Olave.

The Saints drafted Olave with the No. 11 pick of the 2022 NFL draft. He enjoyed two strong seasons to start his career, posting back-toback 1,000-yard campaigns. But multiple concussions

FOOTE

Continued from page 1C

West race if Troy loses in Monroe.

There’s just no undervaluing the opportunity this game presents There’s also the revenge factor in this matchup. The Cajuns might be the only team ever to lose a conference championship game and have two redemption games the following season after falling to Marshall 31-0 last December

The first possible one was Marshall, which the Cajuns beat 54-51 in doubleovertime for arguably the greatest comeback win in school history But with Marshall’s coach Charles Huff now at Southern Miss along with nu-

LSU

Continued from page 1C

ability to take you off the dribble in one-on-one. But (she) sometimes has to understand it’s not a one-on-one situation. Don’t turn the ball over.” Richard, the sharpshooting former Lafayette Christian Academy star, is LSU’s other returning reserve guard. Mulkey said on Sept. 23 that she’s the most “polished” true point guard on the roster — the one who’s spent the most time playing that position throughout her high school and collegiate career. Last season, Richard logged more than 10 minutes in only one of the 19 games that the Tigers played after the calendar flipped to 2025. The then-freshman drained just five of the 25 3-pointers she attempted across that stretch of play

But on Wednesday, Mulkey said that Richard has “impressed” her in preseason practices ahead of her sophomore year

that knock this group down a letter grade.

OFFENSIVE LINE: C It looks like I’m grading on a curve with this group, and maybe I am, but bear with me. The O-line struggled to run block until this past Saturday, but the pass blocking has been respectable. Nussmeier has had to throw away a few balls under pressure, but he’s only been sacked seven times (1.17 per game). Vandy will be a telling midseason exam for this group, which has fought through chemistry issues and multiple injuries.

DEFENSIVE LINE: B+ A much improved group with the addition of transfers Jack Pyburn, Bernard Gooden and Patrick Payton. Gabe Reliford (rotator cuff) is a big loss and Gooden (bruised collarbone) is questionable this week, so depth is being tested But this group, other than a handful of big runs, has

been a big improvement over past seasons.

LINEBACKERS: AThe Weeks brothers (Whit and West) have been rock solid, though Whit Weeks is questionable Saturday with what is presumed at this point to be an ankle injury Harold Perkins, though a bit quieter the last couple of games, has looked a lot like his old self from 2022. And when LSU has needed someone to fill in, Davhon Keys has been excellent.

DEFENSIVE BACKS: A+

LSU went hard in the portal and got stalwarts like All-American candidate Mansoor Delane at cornerback and AJ Haulcy and Tamarcus Cooley at safety Returnees like corner PJ Woodland and Dashawn Spears have also shined, and freshman DJ Pickett has shown an exceptional amount of upside. Without a doubt, the most improved group on the team.

limited him to just eight games last season, and he did not see the field after Week 9

He admitted Thursday that it has taken him some time to feel like himself after the way last season ended, and that he is just now feeling like he’s finding his groove as a player again

Through six weeks, only one other player Los Angeles Rams wideout Puka Nacua (65) has more targets than Olave (64). He is

merous coaches and 20-plus former Thunderin’ Herd players — this might be the actual revenge matchup

“I’d probably say a little bit of both,” UL defensive end Jordan Lawson said “(Southern Miss) is basically like Marshall 2.0 so I guess this is the real revenge game, if you want to call it that.” Plus, for longtime UL fans, every matchup with Southern Miss is essentially a lifetime redemption game. The Golden Eagles own a 42-12-1 all-time series lead, including 16-10-1 in Lafayette and 24-2 in Hattiesburg

“I think it was a good addition to the conference,” Lawson said. “They’re right down the road, they have a passionate fan base, and for me, I’m from Mississippi, so, you know I got a lot of

PROVIDED PHOTO By SEC LSU guard MiLaysia Fulwiley answers questions at SEC media days on Wednesday in Birmingham, Ala.

“The one thing Jada can do is she can shoot the ball,” Mulkey said, “score the ball from the perimeter She’s got the personality that you got Flau’jae (Johnson) over here, Mikaylah (Williams) over here, you could go crazy as a point guard because they’re so good, and they both want the ball.

“Jada has the personality to say ‘Hey I’m running this show.’ I like that.”

SPECIAL TEAMS: A-

The only slight knock here is that LSU’s return game has not been quite as explosive as hoped. The kickers have been on point: Damian Ramos (10 of 12 field goals, 17 of 17 extra points) has been solid and transfer punter Grant Chadwick (tied for second in the SEC with 48.0 yards per attempt) has been a stellar find.

COACHING: B

There’s a lot of criticism to go around on the offensive staff, from play caller Joe Sloan to O-line coach Brad Davis to Kelly himself. But, as we said at the top, LSU is 5-1 in the midst of a season-defining stretch, so that deserves some kudos for the brain trust. Defensively, coordinator Blake Baker and his assistants have been top-notch. If the Tigers do make the College Football Playoff, the defensive staff will be a major reason why

turned them into just 342 yards (24th), averaging only 8.8 yards per catch. Before hauling in a 53-yard catch on the first play of the game against New England, his season long was 17 yards.

His season high in receiving through the first five weeks was 59 yards, set against the Giants in Week 5. He nearly doubled that against New England, with six grabs for 98 yards. Still, he was left with a sour taste after the game, knowing that his drops could have played a key role in changing the outcome of what became the fifth loss in six tries for New Orleans.

Those plays have added an extra layer of motivation for this upcoming week’s game against the Chicago Bears.

clearly an important part of what the Saints want to do offensively

“It’s a heavy workload, but I’m ready for it at the end of the day,” Olave said. “That’s what I’ve wanted, that’s what I’ve prayed for, that’s what I’ve worked for since I’ve been here.”

The production hasn’t always matched the usage this season, though. Olave has caught 39 passes this season, which ranks seventh in the NFL, but he’s

people out there in the area that I’ll hear a little bit from if we lose and vice versa.”

Considering all of these factors, this would be the biggest win of the Desormeaux era. A win Saturday has the potential to turn this frustrating season – still faced with scary obstacles — into a triumphant one.

While it’s not like UL is playing a Power 4 juggernaut in an unwinnable scenario, the challenge is still quite steep.

Southern Miss has possibly the Sun Belt’s best quarterback in Braylon Braxton, its defense leads the league with 20 sacks, leads the league in interceptions and overall takeaways and sports one of the top three passing offenses.

It would have been difficult for UL to pick a worse homecoming opponent.

Richard is expected to run behind Fulwiley — at least to start the season. Fulwiley is taking on Mulkey’s “challenge” to play point guard at LSU, though the Tigers have plans to let her play on the wing as well.

In those situations, either Williams or Richard could run the point, with Flau’jae Johnson and Fulwiley on the wing. Mulkey has options.

“I would love to see MiLaysia really do some things with the ball in her hands at the point,” Mulkey said.

“She’s not had to do it at this level. She’s had bad days doing it, but she’s had great days. If we can just get her to an even-keel level to where she’s comfortable, I think those are three pretty special players on the perimeter.”

And there’s depth too, especially because Gilbert is trying to add new tools to her game.

“I don’t know, when we start the season,” Mulkey said, “if (Gilbert) will get much opportunity, but in practices she’s really handling the ball some.”

“For sure, especially waiting a whole week, you’ve got to wait seven days to play again,” Olave said. “Of course, it’s motivation. I’m just trying to prove myself right at the end of the day I’ve just got to take advantage of it and make the play when the ball comes my way.”

Email Luke Johnson at ljohnson@theadvocate. com.

The Cajuns, meanwhile, have a beat-up offensive line, two quarterbacks nursing injuries, a leading rusher in Zylan Perry coming back from an injury, the worst passing game in the league and are last in the Sun Belt in time of possession. For the upset to happen, something will have to change dramatically in several areas.

On the flip side, the Eagles’ defense giving up more than double the rushing yards James Madison did and Southern Miss won’t be nearly as dangerous if UL can somehow avoid turning the ball over

It’s not going to be easy, but if the Cajuns can put together their best performance at the right time, there will be light at the end of the tunnel for this season.

BY MIKE COPPAGE

Contributing writer

It wasn’t double-digit wins in the first two sets but a come-from-behind rally to claim the third that stood out to Division V No

1 Westminster Christian volleyball coach Keith Leon.

On Wednesday at home, Leon’s Crusaders won their fifth straight match, sweeping Lafayette Christian 258, 25-8, 27-25. WCA trailed 17-11 in the third set before coming back against an LCA team that had an eight-game win streak halted.

“I told the girls afterward that being down 16-10 or 17-11 and coming back and winning? That’s adversity,” Leon said. “We could’ve just sat down and gone to a fourth set. That’s what it’s about.”

Trailing 24-22 and 25-24, LCA staved off two set points, but setter Marley Green dropped a shot where no Knight could reach it, and Sophia Wiltz assisted Laila Gauthier for the final kill.

“We played a complete game across the board,” Leon said. “The first two sets, we were just on Their serve-receive was off. Our ball control was really good. If your ball control is good, everything else seems to work together.” Wiltz, who came into the match with a team-high 54 aces, dished out four as the Crusaders (27-7) marched to a 9-0 lead in the first set.

“Sophia is a pretty dominant server,” Leon said “If she’s on a roll, it’s hard to pick her up.”

WCA got a 15-4 run in the second set after LCA scored the first point. Libero Isabella Guy served on nine of the winning points and added to her season total of 35 aces. The junior dug out a rocket shot to keep the ball alive on the

match’s final point.

“She has a great little serve that just drops,” Leon said of Guy “She played a great defensive game today.”

Sophomore right-side hitter Sarah Abrams, sophomore middle blocker Londyn Pickney, freshman middle blocker Taylor Lazard, sophomore outside hitter Ana-Camille Melancon and Gauthier, the only senior, have combined for 750 kills. Gautier has a team-high 220.

“Everyone brings leadership and helps me out,” Gauthier said of being surrounded by underclassmen. “It’s a lot of slack taken off my back We play together as a team, like one big family, and even though we’re a small school, we’re strong. We come to play.” WCA has never held the No. 1 seed under Leon in the playoffs, finishing as runner-up to Country Day as a No. 2 seed the past three years.

“We’re better than before,” Gauthier said. “We’re more athletic and play together more as a team. When we do that, we can come out and win big games.”

LCA (20-11), which is No. 11 in the Division IV power ratings, won five straight points in the third set to lead 12-9 with senior Molly Benoit serving. Grace Alexander, a 6-foot senior, leads the Knights in kills, hitting percentage, aces and digs.

“Westminster played a good game, very clean and efficient,” Knights coach Bryan Barrett said. “It was a rough first two sets, but that’s part of the rebuilding process. We have a lot of younger kids getting seasoned. We’re getting better every game. You have to play teams like St. Thomas More, Teurlings Catholic and Westminster to be battle-tested.”

STAFF PHOTO By BRETT DUKE

Saints wide receiver Chris Olave can’t quite reach the ball as New England Patriots cornerback Marcus Jones defends in the fi rst half on Sunday at Caesars Superdome.

Clash of the titans

LCA, Notre Dame square off in District 6-2A showdown

BY ERIC NARCISSE Staff writer

Preseason expectations were vastly different for the Lafayette Christian and Notre Dame football teams.

The Knights, who were viewed as championship contenders, returned a wealth of talent and experience led by quarterback Braylon Walker and defensive back Luke Green.

The Pios, who graduated more than two dozen seniors, were viewed by many as a program that would endure growing pains.

The Knights (5-1, 1-0 District 6-2A) have lived up to their billing while earning a No. 2 ranking in the LSWA Class 2A poll while the Pios (5-1, 1-0) have surprised some with a No. 5 ranking in the same poll.

“You know, when you lose 28 seniors, (people) automatically think there is going to be a letdown,” Notre Dame coach Lewis Cook said. “When you have that many guys taking up a lot of the positions and not very many of the younger guys are getting to play you come in with a lot of questions to be answered.”

The Pios have largely answered those questions.

“I think we were under the radar,” Cook said. “I even had a coach tell me, ‘Everybody’s talking about after that group (of 28 seniors is) gone, Notre Dame is going to be down. Well coach. Y’all aren’t down.’ ” What’s been equally impressive is the level of competition the two teams have faced.

LCA’s five wins have come against teams with a combined 20-10 record, while the Pios’ wins have come against opponents that are a combined 19-11, including two reigning state champions.

“If you count the jamboree, our opponents’ combined record is 3012,” LCA coach Matt Standiford said “It has really been a good test for us, and it has been good

because you don’t have to worry about taking a week off mentally because you have to be prepared every single game. If you’re not, then we’ll get a performance like we had against Shaw (LCA’s only loss).”

The two teams will renew acquaintances when the Pios host the Knights at 7 p.m. Friday at Gardiner Memorial Stadium in Crowley

“Notre Dame is one of those schools like (St. Thomas More) and Teurlings, they are never going to be bad,” Standiford said “They definitely have some talent. I’ve been really impressed with their offense.

“Typical Notre Dame, you get tough, hard-nosed defense with kids flying around the football. And you definitely see that. But their offense can be really explosive.”

One of those explosive players is running back Joachim Bourgeois, who has rushed 98 times for 761 yards and scored eight touchdowns.

“(Bourgeois) can flat out fly,”

Standiford said of the 5-foot-8, 165-pounder “He’s tough. For a small kid, stature-wise, he runs big. He plays the game like he is 6-foot, 200 pounds. He very rarely goes down on the first tackle at-

tempt, so we have to make sure we have 11 dudes going to the football because we can’t afford to have any broken tackles.”

Standiford knows a thing or two about explosive offenses with players like Walker and running back Caiden Bellard. Walker has run for 648 yards and seven touchdowns on 78 carries. Bellard has a team-high 773 yards on 120 carries and nine TDs.

“It doesn’t matter where they are on the field, (Walker) can pull it down and score from anywhere,” Cook said. “That’s scary You just hope that you have enough people in the right spots to slow him down a little bit.”

The key might be winning the turnover battle.

“The five games we have won, we have won the turnover battle,” Standiford said. “And the one game we’ve lost, we didn’t.”

The Key for the Pios will be sustaining drives against a stout defensive unit.

“They always say the best defense is a good offense,” Cook said. “We have to limit their possessions. You have to score, limit their possessions and limit the big plays.”

Email Eric Narcisse at enarcisse@theadvocate.com.

Peebles doing it all for Blue Gators

Senior called team’s ‘Swiss Army knife’

BY ERIC NARCISSE Staff writer

In sports, it’s been said that a player’s best ability is their availability.

While that may be true, for a Class 1A football program a player’s versatility could be his nextbest attribute. It’s common for Class 1A players to cross-train at multiple positions and start both ways.

While it may not seem like a big deal that Ascension Episcopal’s Preston Peebles plays several different positions, coach Jay Domengeaux will tell you it is.

“The big thing about Preston is he’s really a versatile kid,” said Domengeaux, whose Blue Gators will host reigning Division IV select state champion Vermilion Catholic at 7 p.m. Friday “He is one of those guys that you have as a backup at every single position.”

A senior three-year starter Peebles starts at tight end on offense amd plays linebacker on defense. On special teams, he is the backup punt snapper, the backup punter and he plays on other special teams units. Last year, he was the backup quarterback.

“He gives us some depth at linebacker,” Domengeaux said. “He’s got a good savvy about him. He has a good understanding of what he sees from the opposing team He’s a really valuable football player and a great kid.”

Peebles has helped the Blue Gators get off to a 6-0 start for a second consecutive season. He said he enjoys being called a “Swiss Army knife” for Ascension Episcopal.

“It’s really fun,” he said. “I like to know what everyone’s job is and what everyone is supposed to do because it helps me to understand the play more.”

“The big thing about Preston is he’s really a versatile kid. He is one of those guys that you have as a backup at every single position.”

JAy DOMENGEAUX, Ascension Episcopal coach

Domengeaux said having Peebles’ versatility at tight end has been as important as having him play multiple positions.

“His versatility at tight end in and of itself is a positive because we use him in a tight set,” he said. “But he’s also effective as a flex guy He does a good job of blocking up front and he does a good job of running routes whether he is in tight or in a flex position. We ask him to do a couple of things from the tight end position that may be more prone to an H-back spot being off the ball, but he is still affective in doing it.”

Domengeaux said Peebles has been everything they thought he’d be.

“The expectation was for him to be exactly what he has been for us,” Domengeaux said. “We expected him to be a playmaker on offense when he gets the opportunities and to be a good calming source on defense. He’s also been a leader and Preston is one of those guys that leads by his presence and the guys around him gravitate to that.”

Peebles’ focus is to continue to do whatever the team needs.

“I expected a lot from us coming into the season because we had a lot of guys coming back from last year,” he said. “Everybody has been stepping up and playing well. We’ve been playing fast and physical and that’s been our motto. We have been hitting all of our goals so far but this week is a big week.”

Email Eric Narcisse at enarcisse@theadvocate.com.

Teurlings defense playing huge role in undefeated season

BY MIKE COPPAGE

Contributing writer

Numbers don’t lie when it comes to the Teurlings Catholic defense.

The undefeated Rebels have held five opponents to 15 or fewer points. Division III select No. 2 Notre Dame scored 20 against the Rebels in its only loss.

Last week, the unit posted its first shutout against Rayne even though the starters were out of the game in the second quarter of a 64-0 win.

“Our twos and threes came to play,” coach Michael Courville said of the backups. “That’s the type of stuff I’m most proud of The whole team got in on both sides of the ball and played to the same standard.” The defense was so dominant

that Rayne only had one first down and 21 total yards.

“The biggest thing is our senior class,” Courville said. “We have 30 kids who want to win and play ball for each other They make my job really fun.”

Senior ends Andrew Fruge and Jack Snyder, the third- and fourth-leading tacklers, give the Rebels a stopper on each side Snyder has 37 tackles with a sack, three tackles for loss and a safety Fruge has 41 tackles, a team-high six stops for loss and a fumble recovery

“Andrew has been unbelievable,” Courville said. “Jack Snyder has impressed me by playing at a higher level that wasn’t quite expected. They give us two good-sized athletes who are a good 1-2 punch.”

Linebackers Jaxon Broussard and Carter Macha are the leading tacklers, combining for 96 stops (three TFL). Each has a forced fumble. Macha has an interception and a fumble recovery

“The linebackers have been really good,” Courville said. “We can put Fruge’s hand on the ground (at end) or stand him up at outside linebacker He and Jack can really run. They’re very explosive with great getoffs.”

Senior linebacker Seth Miller and junior Karter Deculus, who can play safety or linebacker, are tied for fifth on the team with 39 tackles. Miller has a second-best four tackles for loss.

“Seth started all of last year and has really come on,” Courville said. “Karter is a leader He’s an

alpha.”

The Rebels who have allowed less than 100 yards passing per game, have 25 tackles for loss and seven takeaways.

Junior Kaden Chavis has two of the unit’s three interceptions Macha forced a fumble that defensive back Jacob Dean returned 50 yards for a spark after a 14-0 deficit at Notre Dame

“I would nominate all 11 guys on defense for player of the week,” Courville said. “I’m happy with the defense. (Coordinator) Bart Vitte has done a phenomenal job. The offense is getting a lot of shine. When you’re having a good season, time flies by It’s hard to believe it’s Week 7.”

The Rebels (6-0, 3-0 District 4-4A) play the first of three consecutive home games at 7 p.m.

Friday against North Vermilion (0-6, 0-2).

The next two games are huge with former coach Dane Charpentier coming to town as an assistant with East Ascension, followed by the league showdown against St Thomas More, which handed the Rebels their only regular-season loss last year

“We’re living out the vision of the program that Sonny Charpentier built,” Courville said of the Rebels coach during his playing days as a linebacker. “The kids have bought in and are playing hard. We’ve had a great start. It couldn’t have gone much better.”

The Rebels are No 4 in the Division I select power ratings. The other schools in the top six are all from the New Orleans Catholic League.

STAFF PHOTO By ROBIN MAy

Lafayette Christian quarterback Braylon Walker will lead a potent Knights offense against Notre Dame on Friday in Crowley.

Back on the prowl

BR neighborhood revivescommunity celebration this weekend

BY JUDYBERGERON Staff writer

The giant block party thatwas onceOgden Park Prowlis making its return on Saturday

The Ogden Park Civic Association, artists, musicians andMid City businesseshave pooled efforts to revive the annualneighborhood party that hasn’ttaken place since theCOVID pandemic. It’sadouble celebration from 1p.m. to 5p.m. as the neighborhood eight blocks bordered by Government Street, North Boulevard, SouthAcadian Thruway and Ogden Drive —alsoismarking its 100th anniversary.

“Weput out anotice where neighbors can host an artist or a makerora vendor,” saidProwl committee member Jeff English. “And so as ahost, youjust let them set up in your yard, supply them electricity if theyneed it, and kind of just help them.” More than 100 creativeswill be selling jewelry,paintings, food items like jellies andjams, and all manner of art. They’ll be set up in front yards alongBeverly,Bedford andHearthstone drives between Government Street and North Boulevard

STAFF FILE PHOTO

Ford Lambertholds an umbrella, leading asecond-line including, background, from left, Remy Babin, Clark Lambert, Niles Babin and AnthonyBailey, kicking off thestartofthe OgdenPark Prowl in 2017.

The three streetswill be blocked off to vehicular traffic during Prowl hours. Visitors are encouraged to park at Catholic HighSchool, 855 Hearthstone Drive, with some overflow spots, if needed,at Baton Rouge Magnet High School, 2825Government St.

“We’ll have some foodvendors who will be here, ourgood neighbors like Elsie’sPlate & Pie, Simple Joe’s, they’regoing to have something set up at their businesses,” English said. Add Mestizo, Barracuda Tacos, pizza, sweets and snowballs. But what’saparty without music? Three stages, oneon each street, with local bands and singers, including Baton Rouge Music Studios, Ashley Orlando, The Acousticrats andmore. Other activities, including thosefor kids, are:

ä See PROWL, page 6C

3times thelaughs

Comedienne, author and Netflix star Leanne Morganwill bring her signatureSouther nchar mand hilarious storytelling to the Raising Cane’sRiver Center Performing Ar ts Theatre for shows at 4p.m. and 7p.m. Saturdayand 7p.m.Sunday. Ticketsstart at $54. ticketmaster.com.

LIVING

HBY JUDYBERGERON

Staff writer

ave that Halloween getup ready?

Betterhurry because the 10/31 Consortium’s annual Fifolet Halloween Festival&Paradeistwo weeksearly this year,happening on Saturday in downtown Baton Rouge. Costumes, floats, bands and dancekreweswill fill theparade routeat4 p.m. As in past years, the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank truck will lead theparade, collectingfood donationsdirectly from the crowd.

Theparadestarts at Government at St. Philip streets, traveling along RiverRoad, turning right on ConventionStreet, left on North SeventhStreet,left on Main Street, left on North Fifth Street, right on Laurel Street ending at River Road.There aretwo partyzones, one family zone andone no-scare zone on the route. Other Fifolet events wrapped around theparade include: n Halloween Ball, 8p.m. Friday, LodCook LSU Alumni Center,3838 W. Lakeshore Drive. Thereare costume and table decorating con-

Costumes and candygalore fill the atmosphere during the Fifolet Halloween Parade as it rolls through downtown Baton Rougein2024.

tests, food and drinks, and music by Petty Betty.Attire is costume or creative formal. Tickets start at $48.

n Fifolet 5K andPumpkin Run, 9a.m. Saturday,from Riverfront Plaza, 300 River Road. Welcome, national anthem, blessing of the festival,royal courtintroduction. Race fees startat$20.

events ä See HALLOWEEN, page 6C

n Arts Market, 10 a.m. Saturday,along Riverfront Plaza. Shop, snack and soak in the Halloween spirit. n Awards Brunch, 10 a.m.Sunday,The Woman’sClub, 259 T.J. JemisonBlvd. Afull breakfast buffet, bottomless mimosas and

STAFFFILE PHOTOByJAVIER GALLEGOS

FRIDAY

BACH LUNCH FEATURING

SWEET CECILIA: Parc San Souci, Lafayette, noon

LIVE MUSIC: Cane River Pecan Company Pie Bar, New Iberia, 5 p.m.

CHALAN THIBODEAUX: Prejean’s, Broussard, 6 p.m.

JULIE WILLIAMS: Charley G’s Lafayette, 6 p.m.

KIP SONNIER: Naq’s-n-Duson, Duson, 6 p.m.

THE DAP DUO: Adopted Dog Brewing, Lafayette, 6 p.m.

FRIDAY NIGHT JAMS: City of Scott, 6 p.m.

THE CAST: SHUCKS!, Abbeville, 6:30 p.m.

RIVER SMOOTH DUO: Buck & Johnny’s, Breaux Bridge, 6:30 p.m.

THE JOHNSON BROTHERS

BAND: Silver Slipper, Arnaudville, 7 p.m.

MAJOR HANDY BLUES BAND: Whiskey & Vine, Lafayette, 7 p.m.

T MONDE ALBUM RELEASE: Hideaway on Lee, Lafayette, 8 p.m.

MICHELLE MALENTINA: Sunday’s Soda Fountain, Lafayette, 8 p.m.

FOREST: The Barrel of Broussard, Broussard, 8 p.m.

GULF BREW: Acadiana Center for the Arts, Lafayette, 1 p.m.

SEMC PRESENTS VOODOO KING RECORDS TAKEOVER: Artmosphere, Lafayette, 1 p.m.

CAJUN FRENCH MUSIC JAM: Vermilionville, Lafayette, 1 p.m.

WAYNE “BLUES” BURNS BAND: Bayou Teche Brewing, Arnaudville, 4 p.m.

CASEY COURVILLE: Adopted Dog Brewing, Lafayette, 6 p.m.

CHEAPER THAN THERAPY TWO~O FEATURING DARYL & JENNIFER KAYE: Naq’s-nDuson, Duson, 6 p.m.

COWBOY KEN: Prejean’s, Broussard, 6 p.m.

ALYSSA MCMURAY: Charley G’s, Lafayette, 6 p.m.

BROKEN MEAUXJO: The Ruins Lounge, Lafayette, 8 p.m. LVVRS: Rock ’n’ Bowl, Lafayette, 9 p.m.

JOHNNY MATKS: Toby’s Lounge, Opelousas, 8:30 p.m.

SATURDAY CAJUN JAM: Moncus Park Lafayette, 9 a.m.

SATURDAY MORNING JAM

SESSIONS: The Savoy Music Center, Eunice, 9 a.m. CAJUN JAM: Tante Marie, Breaux Bridge, 11 a.m.

TODAY IN HISTORY

By The Associated Press

Today is Friday, Oct. 17, the 290th day of 2025. There are 75 days left in the year Today in history:

On Oct. 17, 1989, a magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck northern California, killing 63 people and causing up to $10 billion worth of damage.

Also on this date:

In 1777, British forces under Gen. John Burgoyne surrendered to American troops in Saratoga, New York, in a turning point of the Revolutionary War.

In 1931, mobster Al Capone was convicted in Chicago of income tax evasion; he would be sentenced to 11 years in prison, fined $50,000 and ordered to pay back taxes. Capone was released in 1939.

In 1933, Albert Einstein arrived in the United States as a refugee from Nazi Germany.

In 1979, Mother Teresa of India was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

In 1989, Game 3 of the World Series was canceled as the Loma

RORY SUIRE: SHUCKS!, Abbeville, 6:30 p.m.

CHAD ARNAUD & KERRY

FABRE: Buck & Johnny’s, Breaux Bridge, 6:30 p.m.

ERIC LEGER: Silver Slipper, Arnaudville, 7 p.m.

LIVE MUSIC: Pat’s Atchafalaya Club, Henderson, 7 p.m.

MATT GARY TRIO: Whiskey & Vine, Lafayette, 7 p.m.

NIK PARR & THE SELFLESS LOVERS: Hideaway on Lee, Lafayette, 8 p.m.

Prieta earthquake struck Northern California just 30 minutes before the game was scheduled to begin at Candlestick Park in San Francisco; the game would eventually be played 10 days later

In 2024, Israel announced its forces in Gaza killed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, a chief architect of 2023’s Hamas-led attack on southern Israel in which militants abducted 251 people and killed some 1,200 others, prompting Israel’s retaliatory war that has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians in the small coastal strip. Today’s birthdays: Singer Gary Puckett is 83. Actor-musician Michael McKean is 78. Astronaut Mae Jemison is 69. Country singer Alan Jackson is 67. Film director Rob Marshall is 65. Animator-filmmaker Mike Judge is 63. Reggae singer Ziggy Marley is 57. Actor Wood Harris is 56. Musician Wyclef Jean is 56. Golf Hall of Famer Ernie Els is 56. Singer Chris Kirkpatrick (’N Sync) is 54. Rapper Eminem is 53.

Actor Matthew Macfadyen is 51.

Actor Felicity Jones is 42. Singersongwriter Nikki Lane is 42.

WEEKEND’S FAIRS AND FESTIVALS

THROUGH NOV. 7

FANFARE: various days and times, Southeastern Louisiana University, Hammond. The university’s annual fall festival of the arts, humanities and social sciences is marking its 40th season as the university itself is in its yearlong 100th anniversary celebration. Music events, theatrical productions, lectures, dance concerts, Day of Latino Culture and more. For complete schedule, go to https://www.columbiatheatre.org/ fanfare.

FRIDAY-SUNDAY

BOUCHERIE & BALLOON FESTIVAL:

4:30 p.m.-11 p.m. Friday, noon11 p.m. Saturday, and noon-6 p.m. Sunday, 9690 Airline Highway, Sorrento. Presented by the Sorrento Lions Club, the festival offers music, vendors market, cooking competitions, tethered balloon rides and balloon glow. Festival admission is by donation. https:// boucheriefestival.com/.

INTERNATIONAL RICE FESTIVAL: 303 N. Parkerson Ave., Crowley. Festivalgoers can participate in a rice-eating contest, the Crowley High 5K Run Walk and the fiddle and accordion contests. ricefestival.com.

ROUGAROO FEST: 5 p.m..-10 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday, and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. South Louisiana Wetlands Discovery Center, 86 Valhi Blvd., Houma. The free family-friendly festival with a spooky flair celebrates the rich folklore that exists along the bayous of southeast Louisiana. Live music, cultural activities, children’s activities, Cajun food and the Krewe Ga Rou parade. https://rougaroufest.org/.

SATURDAY

BATON ROUGE MAKER FAIRE:

10 a.m.-4 p.m., Main Library at Goodwood, 7711 Goodwood Blvd.

This year’s focus is filmmaking, celebrating all the makers who create movie magic behind the scenes. Live film score and screening, live stunt demonstrations, animatronics seminar, panel of local filmmakers, green screen and costume activities and writers room simulation. Free. batonrouge. makerfaire.com.

FALL FESTIVAL AT THE FARM: 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Lazy L Farms, 30060 Peak Lane, Walker. Games, s’mores, animal feedings, photo area and more. $20; children 5 and younger, free with purchase of adult ticket. https://bit.ly/FallFarmFest25.

The hot-air balloons of WDJD and Pigasus float in the evening sky while giving tethered rides at the Boucherie & Balloon Festival in Sorrento in 2022.

OGDEN PARK PROWL: 1 p.m.-4 p.m., along Beverly, Bedford and Hearthstone drives between Government Street and North Boulevard, Baton Rouge. Free neighborhood party featuring artists, vendors, music and kids’ activities. https://www opprowl.org/. ACADIA MUSIC FEST: Percy Brown Road, Thibodaux. This one-day music event welcomes local and national artists to the stage while festivalgoers can enjoy Southern food and arts and crafts. acadiamusicfest.net.

CITY OF CENTRAL’S FEST: 4 p.m.8 p.m., 14150 Grand Settlement Blvd. Live entertainment, kids’ activities, games, local vendors, food trucks, Shop the Square. https:// www.cityofcentralchamber.com/.

SUNDAY THE FEAST ON THE LEVEE: 11 a.m.6 p.m., St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 402 S. Kirkland Drive (River Road), Brusly. Food, music, bingo, auctions, music and children activities. Free admission.

OCT. 23-NOV. 2

GREATER BATON ROUGE STATE FAIR: 5 p.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Friday and noon-10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Airline Highway Park/ Fairgrounds, 16072 Airline Highway. Lego Extravaganza, carnival midway, petting zoo, live music, roaming entertainers, food and more. gbrsf.com.

GENO DELAFOSE & FRENCH

ROCKIN’ BOOGIE: Lakeview Park, Eunice, 8 p.m.

HIGH PERFORMANCE: La Poussiere, Breaux Bridge, 8 p.m.

TOMMY G AND STORMY

WEATHER: Toby’s Lounge, Opelousas, 8:30 p.m.

KROSSFYRE: Rock ’n’ Bowl, Lafayette, 9 p.m.

SUNDAY

GLENN ZERINGUE: Whiskey & Vine, Lafayette, 11 a.m.

LIVE MUSIC: Tante Marie, Breaux Bridge, 11 a.m.

CICO’S SONGWRITING CIRCLE: NUNU Arts & Culture Collective, Arnaudville, noon

TRAVIS MATTE & THE KINGPINS: Cypress Cove Landing, Breaux Bridge, 3 p.m.

1ST BLUE-EYED SOUL REVUE (TRIBUTE TO OTIS REDDING): Pat’s Atchafalaya Club, Henderson, 4:30 p.m.

SINGER/SONGWRITER OPEN

MIC: Adopted Dog Brewing, Lafayette, 4 p.m.

RUSTY METOYER: Rock ’n’ Bowl, Lafayette, 5 p.m.

MICHALIS: Charley G’s, Lafayette, 6 p.m. SAX IN THE CITY FEATURING DEE LUCAS & THE DAVE MOUTON EXPERIENCE: The Brass

Room, Lafayette, 7 p.m.

CAJUN JAM: Bayou Teche Brewing, Arnaudville, 2 p.m.

MONDAY PATRICIO LATINO SOLO: Café Habana City, Lafayette, 11 a.m.

AUDREY BROUSSARD: Charley G’s, Lafayette, 6 p.m.

BLUEGRASS JAM: Cité des Arts, Lafayette, 6:30 p.m.

TUESDAY

TERRY HUVAL & FRIENDS: Prejean’s, Lafayette, 6 p.m.

JAZZ TRIO FEATURING PAUL

TAUSSIN, DION PIERRE & TAYLOR TEAGUE: Charley G’s, Lafayette, 6 p.m.

ROB SAXY: Whiskey & Vine, Lafayette, 6 p.m.

WEDNESDAY

DULCIMER JAM: St. Landry Visitor Center, Opelousas, 10 a.m.

ALYSE YOUNG: Park Bistro, Lafayette, 6 p.m.

JOSH LEBLANC TRIO: Whiskey & Vine, Lafayette, 6 p.m.

TAPAS FEATURING J. JOHR: Charley G’s, Lafayette, 6 p.m.

LEIF MECHE: The Tap Room, Youngsville, 6:30 p.m.

CAJUN JAM: Blue Moon Sa-

loon, Lafayette, 8 p.m.

OPEN JAM HOSTED BY ZACH

EDWARDS: Gloria’s Bar & Grill, Lafayette, 8 p.m.

THURSDAY

VILLAGE BEATS: West Village, Scott, 5 p.m. PAUL TAUSSIN: Charley G’s, Lafayette, 6 p.m.

THAT BAD JAZZ TRIO: Whiskey & Vine, Lafayette, 6 p.m.

RORY SUIRE: Buck & Johnny’s, Breaux Bridge, 6 p.m.

COMMUNITY HOUR — COMMUNITY DRUM CIRCLE: Moncus Park, Lafayette, 6 p.m.

TROUBADOUR: SHUCKS!, Abbeville, 6:30 p.m.

MAJOR HANDY: Hideaway on Lee, Lafayette, 8 p.m.

AVATAR — THE LAST AIRBENDER IN CONCERT: Heymann Center, Lafayette, 7:30 p.m.

Compiled by Marchaund Jones. Want your venue’s music listed? Email info/ photos to showstowatch@ theadvocate.com. The deadline is noon FRIDAY for the following Friday’s paper

haunted house actor Drew

Gate haunted house experience in Baton Rouge

HALLOWEEN

Continued from page 5C

bloody marys, and awards presentations. $48. For details and more information, go to 1031consortium.com.

This festival is the largest Halloween party in the city by far, but there are plenty of other events, scary or otherwise, all this month. Don’t see your Halloween event listed? Email the info to red@ theadvocate.com.

THROUGH SATURDAY, NOV. 1

n ST. FRANCIS EPISCOPAL CHURCH

PUMPKIN PATCH: noon-5 p.m. Sundays; 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday, and 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, 726 Maple St., Denham Springs. Variety of pumpkins, photo opportunities and pumpkin bread.

THURSDAYS-SUNDAYS

THROUGH SATURDAY, NOV. 8

n 13TH GATE HAUNTED ATTRACTION:

6:30 p.m.-11:30 p.m., 832 St. Philip St. Journey through 13 nightmarish realms in the 40,000-square-foot house, where your worst fears come true and anything can happen. Plus, Flashlight Fright Nights, Nov. 7-8. $35, general admission; $75, VIP https://13thgate.com/#dates.

SATURDAY

n DISCOVERY DAY: SPOOKY SEASON:

10 a.m.-2 p.m., Capitol Park Museum, 660 N. Fourth St. Discounted museum admission ($5; free for children 6 and younger) for a fun, hands-on Rougarou craft inspired by Louisiana’s legendary swamp creature. https://louisianastatemuseum.org.

n SPOOKY ONCE UPON A TIME:

4 p.m., 225 Theatre Collective, 7338 Highland Road. A family-friendly improv show. $12, includes snack. 225theatrecollective.com.

PROWL

Continued from page 5C

n A performance by Refuge Aerial n Activities from Beyond Gymnastics n The East Baton Rouge Parish Library bookmobile n Crafts n Face painting. English and his family have lived in Ogden Park since 2019 and will be hosting the Companion

THURSDAY-SATURDAY, OCT. 23-25

n FRIGHT NIGHT WITH 225 THEATRE COLLECTIVE: 7:30 p.m., 7338 Highland Road. A night of horror scenes and monologues. Ages 15 and older only. $15. 225theatrecollective.com.

SATURDAY-SUNDAY AND SATURDAY, OCT. 25

n CORN MAZE WEEKENDS: 9 a.m.-4

30 p.m., LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens, 4560 Essen Lane. In addition to the maze, there are sunflower fields (weather dependent), a pumpkin patch, petting farm, gargantuan games, corn crib, spook-tacular playground, temporary tattoo parlor, hayride, hay mountain and picnic area with local snack vendors. $17.50, general admission (ages 13 and older); $15, youth (ages 3–12), and free, children 2 and younger. Tickets are presale only, and will not be offered at the gate. Also, Night Maze 6 p.m.-9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25 only, $25; free, children 2 and younger. https://www.lsu.edu/ botanic-gardens/events/cornmaze. php.

SATURDAY-SUNDAY AND OCT. 25–26

n BOO AT THE ZOO: 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m.

(last entry at 4 p.m.), BREC’s Baton Rouge Zoo, 3000 Zoo Circle (via 13350 La. 19). Festive activities, live entertainment and seasonal treats. Highlights include: Photo opportunities, princess and character meet-and-greets, face painting, entertainment in the plaza, animal enrichments, pumpkin patch and treats, costume extravaganza and The Children’s Village. Regular admission applies. https://brzoo.org/.

WEDNESDAY n “THE ADDAMS FAMILY” TOURING SHOW: 7:30 p.m., Raising Cane’s River Center Performing Arts Theatre, 240 St. Louis St. Musical comedy for the whole family. $60 and up. https://raisingcanesrivercenter.com.

Alliance and some of its dogs for potential adoption. The annual free event is one of the things that drew the English family to the neighborhood, which he describes as “very diverse and welcoming, and kind of funky.” The Prowl is happening the same afternoon the 10/31 Consortium’s Fifolet Halloween Parade rolls downtown; English is viewing that positively

“With the beautiful weekend ahead and our event starting at 1 p.m. and the parade at 4 p.m., we hope that people will be able

SUNDAY, OCT. 26

n HAINTS, HAUNTS, & HALLOWEEN: 2 p.m.-4:30 p.m., LSU Rural Life Museum, 4560 Essen Lane. Step into the charm of an old-fashioned country fair with storytelling, a cake walk, games and trick-or-treating across the museum grounds. Costumes encouraged; families of all ages welcome. Ages 0–3, free; ages 4–11, $6; Ages 12 and older, $12. https:// www.lsu.edu/rurallife/events.php.

TUESDAY, OCT. 28

n BATS & BREWS: AN EVENING OF CONSERVATION, CRAFT BEER & CREATURES OF THE NIGHT: 6 p.m.8 p.m., LSU Hilltop Arboretum, 11855 Highland Road. Presented by the Friends of Hilltop Arboretum, participants can enjoy craft beer while learning about Louisiana’s most fascinating nocturnal neighbors. $15, students, Friends of Hilltop, and Louisiana Master Naturalist members; $20, general public. lsu. edu/hilltop.

WEDNESDAY-THURSDAY, OCT. 29-30

n FAMILY FRIGHT NIGHT: 7:30 p.m., Louisiana Art & Science Museum’s Irene W. Pennington Planetarium, 100 S. River Road. Featuring the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra as part of the Concerts in the Cosmos series. $40-$60. brso.org.

THURSDAY, OCT. 30

n “SPIRITS OF LOUISIANA”: 6:30 p.m.9:30 p.m., Old State Capitol, 100 North Blvd. Celebrate like it’s 1975 for the building’s 175th anniversary Tastings from local distillers, food by Heirloom Cuisine, live music, photo booth, curated silent auction, and wine toss. $90. https://louisianaoldstatecapitol.org/. Email Judy Bergeron at jbergeron@theadvocate.com.

to make a day of it and enjoy both events,” he said.

English explained that the gathering started out as somewhat of a neighborhood garage sale, then artists got involved and it grew into this much larger event.

“We really love the neighborhood and kind of want to give back with a cool event for the Baton Rouge community,” he said.

For the latest information, visit opprowl.org.

Email Judy Bergeron at jbergeron@theadvocate.com.

STAFF FILE PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

FILE PHOTO By PATRICK DENNIS

Longtime

Cothern strikes a scary pose before the doors open for patrons at the 13th

PROVIDED PHOTO By HUNTER ROMERO

Catch the trio Sweet Cecilia at this week’s Bach Lunch at Parc San Souci in Lafayette at noon Friday. The concert is free.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-oct. 23) Actonyour own behalf and enforce practicality. Don't over- or underestimate situations or people. Take nothing forgranted, do what's necessary and collect your prize

ScoRPIo(oct. 24-nov. 22) Complete every task.Loose ends will ruin your downtime, causing emotional trauma andunnecessary costs. Undertaking acreative project, interacting with children or aromantic adventure will soothe the soul.

SAGIttARIuS (nov. 23-Dec. 21) Keep your thoughtstoyourself until you have a failproof plan in place. Conversations will offerinsightsinto possibilities Aim to love who you are, what youdo and where youare heading.

cAPRIcoRn (Dec. 22-Jan.19) Verify everything youhear before passing information along. Your reputation will suffer if youare too quick to judge or trust someone. Avoid taking unnecessary risksthatcan lead to ill health or injury

AQuARIuS (Jan. 20-Feb.19) Embrace change,put your bestfoot forward and let yourcreativity lead the way. A newlook, passion or attitude can help youdevelop resilience to move forward withfresh ideas and avision.

PIScES (Feb. 20-March 20) Set yourself up forsuccess. Think innovatively, use your cashwisely and interact with people who stimulateyourcreativity. Your happinessdepends on the choices youmake, notonappeasing others.

ARIES(March 21-April19) Giveyour all and reap high returns. Let your imagination take precedence, and you'll find ways to prosper.Successcomes from organization and afrugal lifestyle.

tAuRuS (April 20-May 20) Mixed emotions will be awarning to askquestions and decipher what's real and what's fake. Truth and acceptance arewhere opportunitiespresent themselves.

GEMInI (May 21-June 20) Initiating aconnection with someone well-informed will encourage you to up your game by pointing youinthe right direction. Be open and receptive to what others reveal.

cAncER(June 21-July22) Mix business with pleasure, and you'll gain insight into how to ahead. Adisciplined attitude will be admired and respected. A lifestyle or domestic change is agood investment.

LEo(July23-Aug. 22) Invite change, and it will help you gain perspective regarding the best way to move forward.Refusetolet emotions interfere when principles or expenditures are an issue.

VIRGo (Aug. 23-Sept.22) Let your emotions stir things up. Whenyou face multiple choices,you'll findaway to figure out what's bestfor you. Simplicityand a minimalistattitude will pay off.

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

Sudoku

InstructIons: Sudoku is anumber-placing puzzle based on a9x9 grid with several given numbers. The object is to place the numbers 1to9inthe empty squares so that each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the samenumber only once. The difficulty level of the Sudoku increases from Monday to Sunday.

Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer

By PHILLIP ALDER Bridge

Vinoba Bhave, an Indian advocate forhuman rights who died in 1982, said,“Innumerable actions are going on through us all the time.Ifwestarted counting them, we should never cometo an end.” Luckily,itisnotthattoughatthebridge table. But the more counting you do, the betteryouwillplay.Intoday’sdeal,South is in fourhearts. West leads thediamond king. East overtakeswith his ace and returnsadiamond. West wins with his jack and cashes the diamondqueen, East discarding the club two. Now West shifts to adeceptive spade nine. Howshould declarer continue? Note South’s balancing jump overcall. This is no longer weak, as it would have been in the second seat.Itisintermediate,showing arespectable six- or seven-card suit and some 14-16 high-card points. The hand will typically contain seven playing tricks (winners) South has lost three tricks, his book. He must play the trumpsuit without loss. In normal circumstances, he would finesse through East. Butwhenever an opponent opensthe bidding and you buy thecontract, always count up thehighcard points. Here, North and South have acombined 24 points. East hasalready produced four, the diamond ace. That leaves at most 12 for West, yetheopened

wuzzles

thebidding.Hemusthavetheheartking.

(Alternatively, if East had had thatking, he would have had seven pointsand would nothavepassed over his partner’s opening bid.)

So declarer should win trick fourand play ahearttohis ace. When theking luckily drops, Southcan claim ©2025 by NEA, Inc dist.

By Andrews McMeel Syndication

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 must be of four or more letters. 2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,”suchas“bats” or “dies,”are notallowed. 3. Additional words made by adding a“d” or an “s” may notbeused. 4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are notallowed.

toDAy’S WoRD BRAcKEn: BRAK-en: Alarge coarse fern.

Average mark 24 words Time limit 45 minutes

Can youfind38ormorewords in BRACKEN?

yEStERDAy’S WoRD—PARoLE

loCKhorNs

marmaduKe

Bizarro

hagar the horriBle

Pearls Before swiNe

garfield B.C. PiCKles