The Advocate 10-24-2025

GOP election delay plan draws fierce opposition

Legislation would allow more time to possibly draw new congressional map

BY ALYSE PFEIL Staff writer

Six invited to apply for LSU post

Presidential search panel trims list of 30

The LSU Presidential Search Committee invited six potential candidates to apply to be the university system’s next president, including interim President Matt Lee and McNeese State University President Wade Rousse. Search firm SSA Consultants presented the committee with a list of 30 interested people, and arranged them into different levels of qualification At the end of Thursday’s meeting, the committee voted 11-4 to invite a half-dozen to apply, including Lee; Rousse; Julius Fridriksson, vice president of research at the University of South Carolina; Giovanni Piedimonte, vice president of research at Tulane; and Dr Robert Robbins, former president of the University of Arizona. A sixth person on the list whose name and background information remained confidential was invited to apply, should they publicly identify themselves by Wednesday, when interviews are scheduled. Opening the meeting, Chair Scott Ballard said the meeting marked “a pivotal moment in our process.”

session Thursday opposing a Republican plan to push the state’s closed party primaries from April to May The GOP effort is aimed at creating more time before the 2026 midterm election cycle to respond to a possible U.S. Supreme Court decision in a consequential voting rights case — and to allow state lawmakers to potentially draw a new congressional map with one or two fewer seats favoring Democrats.

Democrats in the Legislature don’t have the votes to stop the plan, but they spent hours asking pointed questions during a public vetting of the legislation in the Senate and Governmental Affairs Committee.

Sen. Gary Carter Jr D-New Orleans, fiercely criticized the plan. His questioning of First Assistant Secretary of State Catherine Newsome turned heated, and the senator appeared visibly frustrated. “If this bill were to pass, it interferes with Louisiana’s currently scheduled U.S. midterm elections,” he insisted angrily, after Newsome refused to agree with that

ä See ELECTION, page 6A

“Our discussion today will move us closer to the interview phase, where we’ll have the opportunity to engage directly with those whose leadership qualities and experiences align most closely with our priorities as a system,” he said. Christel Slaughter, president and CEO of search firm SSA

Beginning at 2:30 p.m. Saturday,

BY AIDAN McCAHILL Staff writer

After LSU officials announced heightened game day security measures last week, the school has released more details ahead of Saturday’s matchup against Texas A&M.

For the majority of fans, the biggest change will likely be traffic.

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO

STAFF PHOTO By JAVIER GALLEGOS

Rep. Rodney Lyons, D-Marrero, center, shakes hands with Rep Kendricks Brass, D-Vacherie, during the first day of the special legislative session at the State Capitol on Thursday.

Democrats in Virginia

launch redistricting push

Virginia Democrats Thursday said they will seek to redraw the blue-trending state’s congressional map to flip two or three Republican-held seats and counter President Trump’s push to hold Congress in next year’s crucial midterm elections.

Lawmakers would seek to pass a constitutional amendment necessary to open the door to redistricting ahead of the 2026 elections and converting the current 6-5 split to as much as a 9-2 Democratic edge in the state’s House of Representatives delegation

The push could help Democrats even the playing field as Trump pushes red state Republicans to grab as many Democratic seats as possible ahead of what is forecast as a difficult political year for the GOP.

State Sen. Scott Surovell, the Democratic majority leader, confirmed the redistricting plans, which would require the approval of both houses in the state legislature.

Former Democratic Rep Abigail Spanberger leads Republican Lt. Gov Winsome EarleSears by a healthy margin in polls of next month’s off-year race for Virginia governor Spanberger had previously said she was not planning to push the state to undergo mid-decade redistricting.

Mich. man threatened to kill Trump, feds say

DETROIT U.S. Secret Service agents have arrested a Michigan man and accused the former U.S. Air Force airman of threatening to kill President Donald Trump over the administration’s LGBTQ+ policies, according to federal court records unsealed Thursday Joshua Levi Young, 21, of Ishpeming, is accused of issuing several threats since January that called for the execution of Trump, including posts that read “Death to Trump,” “Death To POTUS” and “Kill the dictator.”

The case unsealed Thursday charged Young with threatening to kill and injure the president, and transmitting an interstate threat, both five-year felonies.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Maarten Vermaat ordered Young held without bond after a detention hearing Thursday in Marquette Secret Service investigators searched social media and found several threats posted on Instagram, Facebook and X this year

“I am going to kill Trump raise him from the dead and kill him again,” one Instagram post read.

“Death to Trump.” Public records led to Young as the author of the posts, Special Agent Adam Rogers wrote in the criminal filing.

Adams endorses Cuomo in NYC mayoral race

NEWYORK New York City Mayor Eric Adams endorsed Andrew Cuomo in the city’s mayoral election Thursday, throwing his weight behind a bitter rival he recently called a “snake and a liar” as the former governor tries to defeat Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani.

Adams, who dropped his own reelection bid last month, made the announcement while standing alongside Cuomo at a Harlem housing project, lashing out at Mamdani as a “snake-oil salesman” and the “king of the gentrifiers.”

He also alluded to his past battles with Cuomo “Brothers fight,” Adams said. “But when families are attacked, brothers come together.”

The endorsement comes after the former governor and mayor met Wednesday night — at Madison Square Garden for the New York Knicks’ opening game of the season — right after the city’s final mayoral debate. They were photographed looking chummy, fueling speculation of an incoming endorsement.

It’s not immediately clear if Adams’ endorsement will help Cuomo in the city’s November election.

Cuomo, a centrist, has cast himself as the only candidate who can beat Mamdani, a 34-year-old democratic socialist and state assemblymember who shocked the political establishment by soundly defeating the former governor in the June primary

Bills to pay federal workers fail

BY MARY CLARE JALONICK and KEVIN FREKING Associated Press

WASHINGTON — The Senate on Thursday rejected dueling partisan bills to pay federal workers during the government shutdown, with both Republicans and Democrats deflecting blame as many employees are set to miss their first full paycheck at the end of this week

With unpaid staff and law enforcement standing nearby, Republicans objected as Democrats proposed a voice vote on their legislation to pay all federal workers and prevent President Donald Trump’s administration from mass firings. Democrats then blocked a Republican bill to pay employees who are working and not furloughed 54-45.

The back-and-forth on Day 23 of the government shutdown comes as the two parties are at a protracted impasse with no signs of either side giving in. Democrats say they won’t vote to reopen the government until Republicans negotiate with them on extending expiring subsidies under the Affordable Care Act. Republicans say they won’t negotiate on the subsidies until Democrats vote to reopen the government. Trump is mostly disengaged and headed to Asia in the coming days.

The Republican bill by Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin would pay “excepted” workers who still have to come to work during the current government shutdown and any future shutdowns The bill would “end this punishing federal workers for our dysfunction forever,” Johnson said.

But Democrats say the legislation is unfair to the workers who are involuntarily furloughed and could give Cabinet secretaries too much discretion as to who gets paid.

Johnson’s bill is “nothing more than another tool for Trump to hurt federal workers and American families and to keep this shutdown going for as long as he wants,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said ahead of the votes.

The Democratic bills would have paid a much larger swath of workers as most federal workers are set to miss paychecks over the next week.

“It seems like everyone in this chamber agrees we should pay federal workers,” Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., said ahead of the vote. But because of the shutdown, “they are paying a price.”

As Congress is unable to agree

on a way forward, money for essential services could soon reach a crisis point.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Thursday that his message to air traffic controllers during the government shutdown is “come to work, even if you do not get a paycheck.”

Duffy said that air traffic controllers will miss their first full paycheck on Tuesday and that some are having to make choices to pay the mortgage and other bills, at times by taking a second job.

“I cannot guarantee you your flight is going to be on time. I cannot guarantee your flight is not going to be canceled,” Duffy said. Payments for federal food and heating assistance could also run out soon, along with funding for Head Start preschool programs, several states have warned.

Entire East Wing demolished for ballroom

BY DARLENE SUPERVILLE and JACQUELYN MARTIN Associated Press

WASHINGTON The entire White House East Wing has been demolished as President Donald Trump moves forward with construction of a ballroom, Associated Press photos on Thursday showed.

The East Wing, where first ladies created history, planned state dinners and promoted causes, is now history itself. The two-story structure of drawing rooms and offices, including workspace for first ladies and their staffs, has been turned into rubble, demolished as part of the Republican president’s plan to build what he said is now a $300 million ballroom nearly twice the size of the White House.

Trump said Wednesday that keeping the East Wing would have “hurt a very, very expensive, beautiful building” that he said presidents have wanted for years. He said “me and some friends of mine” will pay for the ballroom at no cost to taxpayers.

Trump allowed the demolition to begin this week despite not yet having approval from the relevant government agencies with jurisdiction over construction on federal property Preservationists have also urged the Trump administration to halt the demolition until plans for the 90,000-square-foot ballroom can go through the required public review process.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation said the review process, including time for members

at

of the public to comment on plans for the ballroom, would “provide a crucial opportunity for transparency and broad engagement — values that have guided preservation of the White House under every administration going back to the public competition in 1792 that produced the building’s original design.”

The Trust also expressed concern to the National Capital Planning Commission, the National Park Service and the Commission

of Fine Arts that the size of the proposed ballroom will overwhelm the Executive Mansion, which stands at 55,000 square feet “and may permanently disrupt the carefully balanced classical design of the White House.”

Both commissions have jurisdiction over changes to the White House. The park service manages the White House grounds and has a role in the process as several trees on the South Lawn have been cut down as part of the construction.

States that voted for Trump get disaster declarations

President taking longer to approve requests

BY GABRIELA AOUN ANGUEIRA Associated Press

President Donald Trump approved major disaster declarations for Alaska, Nebraska, North Dakota and the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe late Wednesday, while denying requests from Vermont, Illinois and Maryland and leaving other states still waiting for answers.

The decisions fell mostly along party lines, with Trump touting on social media Wednesday that he had “won BIG” in Alaska in the last three presidential elections and that it was his “honor” to deliver for the “incredible Patriots” of Missouri a state he also won three times.

The disaster declarations authorize the Federal Emergency Management Agency to support recipients with federal financial assistance to repair public infrastructure damaged by disasters and, in some cases, provide survivors money for repairs and temporary housing.

While Trump has approved more disaster declarations than he’s denied this year, he has also repeatedly floated the idea of “phasing out” FEMA, saying he wants states to take more responsibility for disaster response and recovery States already take the lead in disasters, but depend on federal assistance when the needs exceed what they can manage alone.

Trump has also taken longer to approve disaster declaration requests than in any previous administration, including his first, according to an Associated Press analysis.

The states approved for disaster declarations include Alaska, which filed an

expedited request after experiencing back-to-back storms this month that wrecked coastal villages, displaced 2,000 residents and killed at least one person. Trump approved a 100% cost share of disaster-related expenses for 90 days.

North Dakota and Nebraska will also receive public assistance for August severe weather, and the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe in Minnesota was approved for both public and individual assistance for a June storm that felled thousands of trees across its tribal lands.

Trump denied four requests, including Maryland’s appeal for reconsideration after the state was denied a disaster declaration for May flooding that severely impacted the state’s two westernmost counties.

Democratic Gov Wes Moore denounced the decision in a statement Thursday calling the final denial “deeply frustrating.”

“President Trump and his administration have politicized disaster relief, and our communities are the ones who will pay the price,” said Moore.

Trump also denied Vermont a major disaster declaration for July 10 floods after the state waited over nine weeks for a decision. The damages far exceed what some of the small towns impacted can afford on their own, said Eric Forand, Vermont’s emergency management director “It’s well over the annual budget or two years’ budget (of some towns), to fix those roads,” Forand said.

The other denials included an application from Illinois for individual assistance for three counties impacted in July by severe storms and flooding, and one from Alaska to rebuild a public safety building that burned in a July electrical fire.

The White House did not immediately respond to questions about why the states were denied.

Both agencies currently are closed because of the government shutdown. Trump installed top aide Will Scharf as chairman of the planning commission.

The National Park Service said in August, after the White House announced the ballroom project, that it had provided historic preservation guidance and support as part of a broader consultation process. It said final decisions are made by the Executive Office of the President.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By JACQUELyN MARTIN

Debris is seen

a largely demolished part of the East Wing of the White House on Thursday

Trumpbacks offplans forSan Francisco

Presidentwon’t send surgeof federalagents

BY TERRYCHEA and CHRISTOPHER WEBER Associated Press

ALAMEDA, Calif. President

Donald Trump said Thursday thathe’sbacking off a planned surge of federal agentsinto San Francisco after speaking to the mayor, as protesters gathered outside aU.S. Coast Guard base where they were located.

Trump posted on social media that Mayor Daniel Lurie told him Wednesday night that the city was making progress in reducing crime. Trump said he agreed to let San Francisco keep trying on its own.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents began arriving Thursday at Coast Guard Island in Alameda, California, to support federal efforts to track down immigrants in the country illegally.Several hundred people, many singing hymns and carrying signs saying, “Protectour neighbors” and “No ICE or troops in the Bay,” referring to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, gathered at the base around dawn.

Police used at leastone

flash-bang grenade to clear ahandful of demonstrators from the entrance as CBP

vehicles drove onto thebase. Organizersurged protesters to remain peaceful,asaline of Coast Guard officers in helmetswatched from just outsidethe entrance. Lurie said he received aphone callfromTrump Wednesday night in which the president told him he was “callingoff anyplans fora federaldeployment in SanFrancisco.” Luriesaid in

astatementthat Homeland

Security Secretary Kristi Noem “reaffirmed that direction” Thursday morning.

At an afternoon news conference, Luriesaidhewelcomes thecity’s “continued partnership” withthe Drug Enforcement Agency and other federal authorities to get illegal narcotics off thestreets and contribute to San Francisco’sfalling

crime rates. “But having the military and militarized immigration enforcement in our citywill hinder our recovery,” the mayor said. It was not clear if the president was canceling a National Guard deployment or calling off immigration enforcementbyCBP agents. At hisnews conference, Lurie said he could not clarify andcould only say what the

president had said.

California Gov.Gavin Newsom’soffice said on X: “Trumphas finally,for once, listened to reason.”

The SanFranciscoChronicle, citing an anonymous sourcewithknowledge of theoperation,reported Wednesday that more than 100 CBP andotherfederal agents would arrive this week. Lurie and Newsom,

both Democrats, condemned the move,saying it was meant to provoke violent protests.

Trumphas repeatedly said he plans to deploy National Guard troopstoSan Francisco to quell crime,but hasn’t offered atimelinefor doing so. His assertions of out-ofcontrol crime in the city of roughly 830,000 have baffled local and state leaders, who point to statistics showing that many crimes are at record lows.

Trump has deployed the Guard to Washington, D.C., and Memphis, Tennessee, to help fight what he saysis rampant crime. Los Angeleswas the first city where Trump deployed theGuard, arguing it was necessary to protect federalbuildings andagents as protesters fought back against mass immigration arrests. He hasalsosaidthey are needed in Chicago and Portland, Oregon. Lawsuits from Democratic officials have so far blocked troops from going out on city streets. Coast Guard Island is an artificial island formed in 1913, and the Coast Guard first establisheda base therein1926. The island is owned by the federalgovernment andis not open to the general public, so escorts or specific government ID cards are required forvisitors. The Coast Guard is part of the Department of Homeland Security,which also houses ICE andCBP

BY COURTNEY MCBRIDE Bloomberg News (TNS)

WASHINGTON— President Donald Trump said “the land is goingtobe next” in his campaign to haltthe flow of drugsinto theU.S. from Venezuela, the clearest indication yet that he’spreparing to broaden strikes that have so far been limited to targets at sea. Speaking to reporters at the White HouseonThursday, Trump

directed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to notify Congress of the administration’supcoming plans. He didn’tdiscuss targets, though, he has repeatedlysuggested he could order theU.S. militaryto escalate attacks byhitting cartel infrastructure on land.

“Theland is goingtobenext,”

Trump said.Turning to Hegseth, he added, “Pete, you go to Congress, youtell them about it. What are they going to do? Say, ‘gee, we don’t

want to stop drugs pouring in’?”

“The landdrugs aremuchmore dangerous for them,” Trumpsaid. “It’sgoing to be much more dangerous. You’ll be seeing that soon. So that’sthe way it is.”

Striking targetsonlandwould be amajor escalation in tensions withVenezuela.InSeptember,VenezuelanPresident Nicolás Maduro ordered indefinitedeployments of troops and assetsacross five states, expanding on his original mobiliza-

tion of 15,000soldiers, following the first of the U.S. boat strikes. He also urged Venezuelans to jointhe country’smilitia and ordered the armed forces to train civilians in weapons use. Earlier this week,Madurosaidthe government haddistributed about 5,000 Russian-made Igla-S anti-aircraft missiles, deploying them across “mountains, villages and cities” as part of key defense positions. Askedifhe’d declare war against

the cartels, Trump said he didn’t necessarilysee anyreasontodo so. “I think we’re just going to kill people that are bringing drugs into our country —OK?” he said. “We’re going to kill them, youknowthey’re going to be like dead.”

At the same event, Trump denied areport in The Wall Street JournalthatB-1 bombers flew near Venezuela —while remaining in international airspace —toramp up pressure on Maduro’sregime.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTOByNOAHBERGER

Protesters and vehicles block the entrance to Coast Guard Base Alameda shortly after acaravanofU.S.Customs and Border Protection personnel arrived on Thursday in Oakland,Calif.

of at least $7 million. Heat guard Terry Rozier was accused in aseparate scheme of exploiting private information aboutplayers to win bets on NBA games. The two indictments unsealed in New York create a massive cloud for the NBA —which openedits season this week —and show how certaintypes of wagers are vulnerable to massive fraud in the growing, multibilliondollar legal sports-betting industry.Joseph Nocella, the top federal prosecutor for the Eastern District of New York, called it “one of the most brazensports corruption schemes since online sports betting became widely legalized in the United States.”

“My message to the defendants who’ve been rounded up today is this: Your winning streak has ended,” Nocella said. “Your luck has run out.”

SECURITY

Continued from page1A

“The increased volume outside of campus is going to be more difficult to traverse,” he said.

Officials will be checking at five entry points into campus, diverting those without parking passes to free parking near River Road and Burbank Drive.

The university is also planning to add more police to itsusual team of 400 law enforcement officials,made up of LSU police, the BRPD, theEast Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office and State Police. However, LSU did not reveal the number of extra law enforcement officers it would add.

“Toprotect the operation-

GAME DAY TRAFFICRESTRICTIONS

HIGHLANDROADAND WEST PARKER BOULEVARD: Northbound trafficwill be diverted down West Parker Boulevard to Burbank Drive to free parking areas.

INTERSECTION OF SOUTH STADIUM DRIVE, EAST PARKER BOULEVARD AND WESTLAKESHORE

STREET: Westbound trafficwill be diverted to West Lakeshore DriveorParker across to Burbank Drive.

DALRYMPLEDRIVE AT STATESTREET: Westbound trafficwill be diverted to Highland Road, while northbound trafficwill be diverted to Aster and West Roosevelt streets and filter to RiverRoad.

HIGHLANDROADATWESTROOSEVELTSTREET: Southbound trafficwill be diverted ontoWest Roosevelt Street and filteredtoRiver Road.

SOUTHQUADDRIVE AT NICHOLSON DRIVE: Trafficwill likely be forced to turn around.

himself outside the stadium

Police also broke up a large crowd of partiers blocking Highland Road near Chimes— likelythe catalyst for traffic restrictionsfor theremainder of the season.

Another shooting occurred outsidethe LawCenterduringLSU’s previous home gameagainst the University of Florida.

sponsible for drawing large crowds to the area. He said it didn’thave permission to hold gameday events and is going through adisciplinary process. Lee declinedtoreveal the organization.

In addition to the recent shootings, Lee said the measureswerearesponse to an “overall sense of disorder that we have to tamp down on.”

Consultants, said the firm reached out to more than 30 people, with 17 of them at Southeastern Conference schools.

The meeting began at 1:30 p.m. and the final vote occurred around 5p.m. after alengthyexecutive session in which the committee discussed candidates.

When the committee returned, it ultimately voted for two motions. The first, an amended motion introduced by LSUBoard of Supervisors member James Williams, narrowed the field to require all potentialcandidates to identify themselves by Wednesday.Itnarrowly passed, 8-7

The second motion specifiedthe list of people the committee invited. Committee members Clarence Cazalot, Kenneth Schafer, Olivia Phelps and Daniel Tirone voted against it

Earlier at the meeting, two university professors urged the committee to prioritize candidates with strong edu-

al integrity of the security plans, we cannotdisclose specifics,” aspokesperson said Wednesday Those officers are expected to strictly enforce policies againstpossession of firearms and marijuana on campus. Thosecaught will be detainedand face possiblearrest,the university said. Policeare also expected to keep aclosereye out for underage drinking, unmanageable crowdsand “excessively loud or explicit music.”

cational backgrounds.

LSU Boyd Professor R. Eugene Turner,who studies oceanography and coastal sciences, urged the committee to select acandidate with astrongbackgroundin highereducation

“The new president must have arecord of significant,on-the-ground academic experience teaching and conducting research,” he said.

LSU Boyd Professor Suzanne Marchand, who teaches history,spoke in her individual capacitybut said her thoughtswere indicative of her fellow Boyd professors. She asked thecommittee to prioritize apresident with experience in research scholarship.

“In seeking out coaches for our sporting teams, we always look for persons of thehighestcaliber andwinning experience, no matter what part of thecountry they comefrom,”she said. “LSU’sresearch mission deserves that same commitment to expert experience and excellence.”

Thursday’smeeting saw significantly heightenedsecurity,withmembers of the

According to LSU Board of Supervisors ChairScott Ballard, fansshouldalso expect more surveillance drones on gameday

The crackdown comes after Gov.Jeff Landry called forincreasedsecurityfollowingaparticularly chaotic homecoming game day on Oct. 11. During the game against SouthCarolina,a shooting on campus sent two people to thehospital, while another man was arrested foraccidentallyshooting

During the initialannouncement of increased security last week, interim LSU President Matt Lee said law enforcement had traced two recent shootings back to UnityField,a popular tailgating spot among Black fraternities.

That field is now permanently closed for the remainder of theseason. Lee also said aspecific studentled organization was re-

“We’ve been fielding phone callafterphone callfrom familieswho areherethat expect apremier game day experience,” Lee said at the time. “They don’twant their children to be subjectedto firearm violence; they don’t want their children to walk through cloudsofmarijuana smoke; they don’twant their children to have to listen to unnecessarilyloudmusic that has explicit lyrics.”

BatonRougePoliceDepartment and East BatonRouge Parish Sheriff’s Office stationed outside, acheckpoint at thedoors andwristbands requiredfor attendees. At the previous meeting, multiple studentswere arrested in aconfrontation that began when onerefused to stop speaking when her time had finished.

Many of thesame students and alumni spoke at Thursday’smeeting, criticizing

the arrestsfrom the previous meeting and urging the committee to include the studentbodymoreinthe process.

ScottSonnier,a U.S. Navy veteran and current LSU student,said he protested and was arrested at the previous meeting because he felt it was vital to upholding American and universityvalues

“I didn’tdoitfor attention or outofanger,” he said. “I did it becausestaying silent

characterization.

“I don’tagree that it interferes with the congressionalelection, because that was your original question —and it doesn’tinterfere; it changes the dates,” Newsome emphatically responded. “Wecan administer it in Apriland May or May andJune with integrity.”

Five minutes later, SenatePresident Cameron Henry,R-Metairie, entered thecommittee room, looked at Carter,and quietly told himto“breathe, breathe.”

“You know,it’shardtobreathe,” Carter said to those gathered in the room. “Because those of us who live in America, those of us who liveinLouisiana …wehave greatrespect for our Constitution, we have great respect for our laws, we have great respectfor our democracy and how we elect our leaders.”

Carter said it is like achild “finding out that there is no Santa Claus.”

“I’m losing trust in oursystem,” he said.

Sen. Sam Jenkins, D-Shreveport, said Republicans were beingdisingenuous about the potential impact of pushingback the election

“Weshould not try to pass it off to the public that we are changing adate,” Jenkinssaid. “We’re putting into place aprocedure, aprocedure that couldvery much be complicated, convoluted,complex and could very much be infringing on voters’ participationinthe upcoming election.” Jenkins said changing the rules forjust one election “isverysuspect.”

He pressed Sen. CalebKleinpeter,the Port Allen Republican sponsoring thelegislation,repeatedly on this point. But Kleinpeter remained firm that it merely amounts toachange of dates

“Wechangelaws all the time,” he said.

“All we’re doing is preparing ourselves in case theSupreme Court comes back with acertain ruling,” Kleinpeter said. Jenkins insisted that lawmakers are“too doggone close” to the 2026 election cycle to make changes.

Later in the hearing, Carter asked Kleinpeter,“Do you think interfering with U.S. congressional elections is asign of integrity, Mr.Chairman?”

“Weare not interferingwiththe election,” Kleinpeter responded RetortedCarter: “Itsoundslike the rigging of an election.Itsounds like the first step in the process of howdowerig an election.”

The heatedexchange prompted the committee to recess briefly and reconvene.

U.S. Rep. Troy Carter,D-New Orleans, attended the hearing and addressed the committee, asking them to halt the special session

“Adjourn. Go home. Let’sdo something else. Let’swaituntil we have atrueproblem to fix,”the congressman said. “We’ve got two seats that reflect the demographicsofour great state,” he said of Louisiana’scongressional map, which has two majority-Black districts —one of which helped electhim. “I’d urge younot to doanything to tamper with that.”

Senate Bill 1and Senate Bill 2ultimately passed the committeeona party-line vote

Gov.Jeff Landry in an interview earlier in the day Thursday said delaying the spring primary election is “about being responsible and responsive” to anySupreme Court ruling that may come down this year

Democraticoppositiontothe plan is politically motivated,he said.

“They want to trapusina 4-2 map,” Landry said, referring to Louisiana’sfour majority-White and two-majority Black districts. “This is pure politics.”

Louisiana “should notbetrapped in asituation” should aSupreme Court ruling allow the Legislature to redraw itscongressional map, he said.

“If theSupremeCourt does give us adecision by theend of the year,wecould quickly go into sessionand draw a5-1 mapifthat’s what the Legislature wishes to do.”

Louisiana Republicansplan to delay theApril 18 primary elections by one month and hold them on May 16 instead.

They would also delay by a month subsequent municipal general elections and possible primary runoffs for ahandful of closed partyprimary races, to June 27.

Next spring is when Louisiana is set to launchnew,closed party primaries forseveral offices —includingmostnotably U.S. Senate and U.S. House races —aswell as Louisiana Supreme Court, Public Service Commissionand the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.

Previously,primaries for those races were held in the fall. They were also jungle primaries, meaning all candidates competed againsteach other regardless of partyaffiliation, and voters could cast ballots for any candidate regardless of the party theyregistered with.

Statelawmakers are trying to buythemselves alittleextra time while the U.S. SupremeCourt mulls its decision in what many ex-

pect could be aconsequential case forvoting rights and redistricting.

Thecase, Louisianav.Callais, dealswith Louisiana’scongressionalmap and its two majority-Black congressional districts. Agroup of White voters challenged the map and asked the high court to deem one of themajority-Blackdistricts unconstitutional, saying that race should not be used as afactor during the redistricting process. There is achance the Supreme Court will issue an opinion this year,and its decision could create an opportunity forthe Legislature to draw anew congressionalmap ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

But there also is achance the Supreme Court delaysany decision until summer, or thatthe opinion does not create conditions for the Legislature to draw anew map

If the U.S. SupremeCourt mandates new maps for the congressional districts, Secretary of State Nancy Landry is estimating that she and her staff can meet the new qualifying and election schedule if they have those mapsbymid-January.Ifher officereceives those maps later,Landry and her staff are still trying to determine how that would affect next year’selection schedule.

Staff writer TylerBridges contributed to this report.

Email Alyse Pfeil at alyse.pfeil@ theadvocate.com.

Putindeploresnew sanctionsas‘unfriendly’

EU joinsU.S.in adding economic punishments

BY LORNE COOK Associated Press

the impact. The sanctions don’ttake effect foralmostamonth, until Nov.21, potentially giving Putin achancefor a change of heart.

Chris Weafer,CEO of the Macro-Advisory Ltd. consultancy,said “that’sawindow where they hope Russia will moreseriously engage,and if it does,thenthose sanctions could be suspended.”

“You can be sure that every oil buyer in Asia today is trying to find anything that floats that they can buy Russianoil before that sanction kicksin,”WeafertoldThe Associated Press from London. “And therefore, Russia will sell alot of oilinthe next 30 days, which probably will help the budget for afew months.”

Despite U.S.-ledpeace efforts in recent months,the war shows nosign of ending after nearly four years, and European leaders are increasingly concerned about the threat fromRussia.

BRUSSELS TheEuropean Union on Thursday heaped more economic sanctions on Russia, adding to U.S. President Donald Trump’snew punitive measures the previous day against the Russian oil industry.Russian President Vladimir Putin called Washington’smove an “unfriendly act” that could backfire by spiking global oil prices. The Americanand European sanctions areintended as part of abroadened effort to choke off the revenue and supplies that fuel Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, compelling Putin to negotiate an end to the war Speakingtoreporters in Moscow,Putin acknowledged that the “serious” U S. sanctions will have “certain consequences” for Russia, but maintainedthat they will not significantly impact its economy Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who has long campaigned for the internationalcommunityto punishRussia morecomprehensively forattacking his country,hailed the new restrictions. “Wewaited forthis. God bless, it will work.And this is very important,” Zelenskyy said in Brussels, whereEU countries attendinga summit announcedthe latest round of Russia sanctions.

Ukrainian forces have

struggled to stem slow but steady advances by Russia’s bigger armyalong aroughly 600-mile front line that snakesalongeastern and southern Ukraine. Almost daily Russian long-range strikes have taken aim at Ukraine’s powergrid before thebitterwinter, while Ukrainian forces have targeted Russianoil refineries and manufacturing plants. Energy revenue is the linchpin of Russia’seconomy,allowing Putintopour

money into the armed forces withoutworseninginflation andavoiding acurrency collapse.

Putinsaid he warned Trump thatanattempt to curb Russianoil exports will destabilizeglobal oil marketsand backfire against theUnited States. “A sharp reduction in the amounts of our oil and oil products sent to global marketswill lead to price increases,”he said, adding that consumers at U.S.gas stations will feel

He also noted that, unlike the European sanctions, the U.S. measures carry the threat of secondary penalties against anyone violating them.China and India are major importers of Russian oil.

The effectiveness of economic sanctions in forcing Putin’shand is questionable, analysts say. Russia’seconomyhas proved resilient so far, althoughitisshowing signs of strain.

The U.S. sanctions came after Trumpsaid that his plan for aswift meeting with Putin in Budapest was on hold because he didn’t want it to be a“waste of time.” It wasthe latest twist in Trump’shot-and-coldefforts to end the warasPutin refuses to budge from his demands.

Putindeplored the U.S. sanctions as an “unfriendly act” that would damage relations with Washington and said thatMoscow wouldn’t yield to pressure.

The newEUmeasures also target Russian oil and gas. They ban imports of Russian liquefied natural gas into the bloc, and add port bans on more than100 newships in the Russian shadow fleet of hundreds of aging tankers that are dodging sanctions. Thelatest sanctions bring the total number of such ships to be banned to 557. The measures also target transactionswithacryptocurrency increasingly used by Russia to circumvent sanctions; prohibit operations in the bloc using Russian payment cards and systems; restrict the provision of artificialintelligenceservices and high-performance computing services to Russian entities; and widen an export ban to include electronic components, chemicals and metals used in military manufacturing. Anew system forlimiting the movement of Russian diplomats within the 27-nation EU will also be introduced.

LithuaniasaysRussian military violated itsairspace

By The Associated Press

VILNIUS,Lithuania Russian military planes briefly violated Lithuania’sairspace Thursday evening, the Lithuanian president said,condemning what he called ablatant breach of the territorialintegrity of his European Union and NATOmember country Lithuania’sforeignministry planned to summon Russian Embassy representatives in the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius to protest theviolation, President Gitanas

Nauseda said in apost on thesocial mediaplatform X.

“This is ablatant breach of internationallaw and territorial integrity of Lithuania,” Nauseda wrote on X. “Once again, it confirms the importance of strengthening Europeanair defense readiness. There was no immediate comment fromMoscow Baltic nations already have been on heightened alert over neighboring Russia’saggressionon Ukraine. And in recent weeks, a series of mysterious drone inci-

dentsand airspaceviolationsby Russianwar planes have fueled concernsthatRussian President VladimirPutinmight be testing NATO’sdefensive reflexes.

The Lithuanian armed forces said in astatement that about 6p.m. local time on Thursday,two Russian militaryaircraft flew into Lithuanian airspace forabout 765 yards. The SU-30 aircraft and IL78 refueling aircraft flew away after roughly 18 seconds.

The Lithuanian armed forces believe themilitaryplanes might

have been conducting refueling exercises in the neighboring Russian exclaveofKaliningrad. TwoSpanishfighterjets, which had been doing NATO air policing missions, were scrambled andflew out to the area. Earlier on Thursday,Nauseda attendedasummit at the European Council building in Brussels where EU leaders endorsed aplan to ensure that Europe can defend itself against an outside attack by the end of the decade. The plan is dubbed Readiness 2030.

Alabama executes manwithnitrogengas

AnthonyBoyd helped burn a manalive in 1993 over adrugdebt

BY KIM CHANDLER

Associated Press

ATMORE, Ala. An Alabama man convicted of helping to burn aman alive in 1993 over a$200 drug debt was executed by nitrogen gas on Thursday Anthony Boyd, 54,was pronounced dead at 6:33p.m at William C. Holman Correctional Facility,authorities said. The execution was carried out by nitrogengas, amethod Alabama began using last year.Boyd was sentenced to death for his role in killing Gregory Huguley in Talladega County.Prosecutors saidHuguley was set

on fire after he didn’tpay for $200 worth of cocaine. Boyd used his final words to proclaim his innocence and criticize the criminal justice system. “I didn’tkill anybody. Ididn’tparticipate in killing anybody,” he said. “There can be no justice un til we change this system,” he continued. He saidhe wanted to express love to those who are still fighting, before closingwith, “Let’sget it.”

Theexecution appeared to take longer thanprior nitrogen gas executions.The state doesnot reveal the exact time the gasbegan flowing.

Aprosecution witness at Boyd’strial testified as part of aplea agreement and said that Boydtaped Huguley’s

Alabama AttorneyGeneral SteveMarshallsaidin astatement that the state “remains steadfast in its commitment to uphold the law and deliver justice for victimsand their families.”

“For morethan 30 years, Boyd sought to delay justice through endless litigation, yet he never once presented evidence that the jurywas wrong,” Marshall said.

Boyd had been on Alabama’sdeath row since 1995.

Alabama beganusing nitrogen gas last year to carry out someexecutions. The method usesa gasmask strapped over the inmate’s face to replacebreathable air with pure nitrogengas, causing the person to die from lack of oxygen.

tual adviser gave conflicting accounts of whathappened in the execution chamber

The Rev. Jeff Hood stood by Boyd as he died.Hewas also at thefirstnitrogengas execution.

feet together before another man dousedhim in gasoline and set him on fire. Defense lawyers said he wasata partyonthe nightHuguley was killed and the plea deal

Deadly crashinCalif.renewsfederal criticismofimmigrant truckdrivers

BY COREY WILLIAMS Associated Press

A21-year-old semitruck driver accused of being under the influence of drugs and causing afiery crash that killed three people on asouthern California freeway is in the country illegally,U.S.Homeland Security officials said Thursday

Jashanpreet Singh was arrested and jailed afterTuesday’s eight-vehiclecrash in Ontario, California, that alsoleft four people injured. He faces three counts of vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and driving under the influence causing injury,the San Bernardino District Attorney’sOfficesaid. Singh is scheduled for arraignment Friday.The district attorney’soffice said he does not yet have alawyer Singh, of Yuba City,California,isfrom India and entered the U.S. illegally in 2022 across the southernborder,Homeland Security said Thursday in apost on X. That revelation prompted Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to restateearlier concerns aboutwho should be able to obtain

commercialdriver’slicenses. Duffy and President Donald Trumphave been pressingthe issue and criticizing California ever since adeadly Florida crashinAugust was caused by an immigrant truck driver the federal government says was in thecountry illegally

The Transportation Departmentsignificantly restricted when noncitizens can get commercial driver’slicenses last month.

Duffy said this week’scrash wouldn’t have happened if California Gov.Gavin Newsom hadfollowed these new rules.

“These people deserve justice. There will be consequences,” he said in astatement Newsom’soffice responded thatthe federal government approved Singh’sfederal employment authorization multiple times and this allowedhim to obtain acommercial driver’slicense in accordancewithfederal law California’sHighway Patrol said in arelease that traffic westbound on Interstate 10,about 26 miles west of San Bernardino hadslowed about 1p.m.Tuesday when a tractor-trailer failed to stop, struckother vehicles and caused achain-reaction crash.

testimonywas unreliable.

Ajury convicted Boyd of capital murder during akidnapping andrecommended by avote of 10-2 that he receive adeath sentence.

Nationally,the method has nowbeen used in eightexecutions: seven times in Alabamaand once in Louisiana.

The state and Boyd’sspiri-

“This is theworst oneyet,” Hood said. “I think they are absolutelyincompetent whenitcomes to carrying out these executions.” He said Alabama hadpromised nitrogen wasa“quick, painless, easy form of execution andthis is by farnothing anywhere close to that.” Hood said he believed Boydplannedtotry to communicate throughleg movements. Hood said he believed “somelevel of consciousness, in my opinion, foratleast 16 minutes.” Alabama Corrections Commissioner JohnHamm said he believed Boyd’s shaking and other movements were involuntary

Songsand storiesfromBluebirdCafesongwriters: TimNichols,Lee Thomas Miller,and WendellMobley.

These Nashville hitmakerswrite songs forcountry musiclegends including: TimMcGraw, GarthBrooks, Chris Stapleton,Trace Adkins,RebaMcEntire, Jo DeeMessina, FaithHill,Brad Paisley, Brothers Osborne, George Strait,Jason Aldean, KennyChesney,CarrieUnderwood LukeBryan,Keith Urban, Alabama, Trisha Yearwood,RascalFlatts, and more

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By KIM CHANDLER

The Rev. Jeff Hood speaks at aprotest against the death penalty Wednesdayatthe AlabamaCapitol in Montgomery, Ala.

Boyd

Competingrallies fill streetsofBudapest

BY JUSTIN SPIKE Associated Press

BUDAPEST,Hungary— Hundreds of thousands of Hungarians filled the streets of Budapest on Thursdayincompeting demonstrations as supporters of the country’stwo main political movements staged mutual shows of strength before next spring’snational election.

The rival rallieswere a standoff betweennationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and his main political challenger,Péter Magyar,who looks set to present the longserving Hungarianleader with the most competitive ballot in his 15 years in power.

The election is due in April, but an exact date for the vote hasn’tbeen set.

Orbán’ssupporters gathered on abridge spanning the DanubeRiver on Thursday morning and beganmarching toward Hungary’stowering neo-Gothicparliament.

The rally,dubbed a“peace march” by organizers,came on Hungary’sOct. 23 national holiday,aremembrance of a failed anti-Soviet uprising in 1956 that was crushed by the Red Army Participants shouted slogans backing Orbán, and his message that foreign powers threaten to push Hungary into direct involvementin Russia’swar in Ukraine. At the front of the march, one large banner read: “Wedon’t want to die for Ukraine.”

Addressing the crowd in a speech riddledwithhostility for both Ukraine and the European Union —regular subjects of his ire —Orbán accused Kyiv’sEuropean backers of having brought the EU into the war,and of being willing “to send others to die.”

Orbán, considered Russian President Vladimir Putin’sclosest partner inthe EU, has consistently argued against Western supportfor neighboring Ukraine since Moscow launched its fullscale invasion on Feb. 24,

2022, and has maintained warm relations with the Kremlin while taking acombativeposture toward Kyiv.

The Hungarian leader also has vehemently opposed Ukraine’sambitionstojoin the27-nation EU and has arguedfor an immediate ceasefire in the conflict, though he hasn’taddressed what that might imply for Ukraine’s territorial integrityorEuropean security amid continuing Russian aggression

During hisroughly 40-minutespeech, Orbán said that Ukraine“haslong ceased to be sovereign, independent and is absolutely notself-sufficient.” He said he wouldsupport astrategic partnershipbetween the EU andKyiv,but thatUkraine “cannot be members either of our military or economic alliance. They would bring war,take our money and ruin oureconomy.”

Later in the day,throngs of supporters of opposition leader Magyar filled one of Budapest’scentral squares and adjacent avenues for their own demonstration —bothananti-government protest and ashow of support for Magyar andhis center-rightTisza party. Marchers shouted antigovernmentslogans, as well as “Russiansgohome!” arefrainfromHungary’s 1956 anti-Soviet rebellion anda modernreferenceto

many people’s viewthatOrbán has drawn the country too close to Moscow

One Tisza supporter,ZsanettKiss, traveled from Pápa in western Hungary to attend the march. She said she believed Magyar would be able to improve Hungary’sstagnate economy,but also to bring the country back to a moredemocratic path.

“I wanttheretobea change already in this country,and Ican say that I’ve hadenough, enough of the last 15 years,” she said.

Magyar, a44-year-old lawyer and former insider within Orbán’sFideszparty,burst into political prominence last year,and hasfocused his message on bread-and-butter issues affecting themajority of Hungarians: persistent inflation, poor health care and increasinglysalientallegations of government corruption —all sources of dissatisfaction that have plagued Orbán’sgovernment.

Speakingtothe crowdof his supporters thatfilled Budapest’ssprawling Heroes’ Square, Magyar accused Orbán of impoverishing the country by misusing public funds,and of turning Hungarians against one another

However,healsostruck an inclusionarytone, encouraging hissupporters to embrace their political opponentsfollowing next April’selection.

ASSOCIATEDPRESS PHOTOS By RUDOLF KARANCSI

Demonstrators takepartThursdayinarally organized by the opposition Tiszaparty during celebrations marking the 69th anniversaryofthe outbreak of Hungary’s1956 revolution against communist rule andthe Soviet Union in Budapest.

Pro-government demonstrators hold abanner reading ‘We don’twant to diefor Ukraine!’ in Hungarian on Thursday.

Ho

BRIEFS

FROM WIRE REPORTS

Musk hijacks Tesla call to vouch for pay plan

Elon Musk, the world’srichest person, spent the end of Tesla Inc.’searnings call pleading with investors to approve his $1 trillion pay package and blastingthe shareholder advisory firmsthat have come out against the proposal.

“There needs to be enough voting control to give astrong influence, but not so much that Ican’t be fired if Igoinsane,”Musksaid, interrupting his chief financial officer as themorethanhourlong call wrapped up.

It was classic Musk: Afiery end to what had otherwise been aho-hum call largelydevoted to Tesla’s artificial intelligence, humanoidrobotand self-driving initiatives. Shareholderswillvote on thepay packageatTesla’s Nov. 6annual meeting in Austin.

Tesla’searningsreport was largely disappointing, with profit missing estimates despite record vehicle deliveries. Operatingincomeplunged 40%inthe third quarter,reflectingongoing strains on an electric-vehicle business that’sbeing buffeted by changing U.S. policies

Costs are rising sharplyfor Tesla, with tariffstakinga more than $400 million toll on last quarter’sresults. Operating expenses soared 50%to$3.4billioninthe period. Proxy advisers Institutional Shareholder Services and Glass Lewis have recommendedthat investors reject the unprecedented payout to Musk, the value of which is dependent on Tesla reaching market value thresholds and operational milestones. ISS cited “unmitigated concerns” with the magnitude and design of the award, while Glass Lewis took issuewith itspotentialtodilute other shareholders’ ownership.

Mortgage rates at lowest level in more than ayear

Mortgage rates fell to the lowest level in more than ayear, easing affordability concerns for homebuyers.

Theaveragefor 30-year,fixed loans was 6.19%, downfrom 6.27% last week and thelowest since early October 2024, data from Freddie Mac show Falling rates have given house hunters more buying power, but demand has been constrained by affordability challenges. Plus, there’sanxiety over the economic outlook due to the ongoing government shutdown and President Donald Trump’stariff negotiations. Nearly 15% of purchase agreements in September were canceled, up from 13.6% ayear earlier,according to areport from Redfin. Deals are collapsing most often in SunBelt markets like Tampa, Florida, and San Antonio as buyers back out, often during the inspection period.

In September,new home sales rose 3.1% from the previous month to 716,416ona seasonally adjusted annualized basis, but remainedflat from ayear earlier,according to data from Zonda, which tracks newhome production.

Rivian to reportedly lay off more than 600 Electric vehicle makerRivian reportedly plans to layoff more than 600 workers as it looks to trim costs.

The Wall Street Journal reported Rivian plans to cut about 4% of its totalworkforce, which at the end of last year was nearly 15,000 people. The company is lookingto reduce costs as it is preparing to start production of alower priced crossover,known as the R2, and it facesstiff headwinds caused by economic uncertaintyand reduced governmentsupport for the consumer transition to EVs.

The Journal report cited unnamed people with knowledge of the matter

In September,Rivian held aceremonial groundbreakingtomark the start of verticalconstruction of its planned EV factory about an hour east of Atlanta. The factory and promised 7,500 jobs have been delayed for years as the company hasweathered supply chainissues andsteep financial losses, but the company has insisted it will build the plant and meet its jobs and investment promises.

Wall Street nearsrecordhigh

BY STAN CHOE Associated Press

NEW YORK U.S. stocksrose to thecusp of their records on Thursday,asthe S&P500 climbed0.6%and creptback within 0.2% of itsall-time high set earlier this month.

The DowJones Industrial Averageadded 144 points, or 0.3%, andfinished just below its own record setearlierthis week while the Nasdaq composite rose 0.9%.

Companiesinthe oil and gas business led theway,including gains of 1.1% for Exxon Mobil, 3.1% forConocoPhillips and 3.4% forDiamondback Energy

They rose with prices for crude, which leaped roughly 5.5% after President Donald Trump announced sanctions against Russian oilgiants Rosneft and Lukoil.

Also helping to drive thestock market higher were strong profit reportsfrom several big U.S. companies,asthe reporting season ramps up for theirprofits during thesummer.

Themajority are topping Wall Street’sforecasts, as is usually the case.

Dow jumped12.9%, andLas VegasSands rallied 12.4% after both delivered stronger earnings thananalysts expected. Teslashook offanearly loss to climb2.3% after reporting a weaker profit butalsostronger revenue for the latest quarter than analystsexpected.

The pressureisoncompanies broadly to deliver solid growth in profits. That wouldcounter criticism that theirstock prices shot too high following a35%

romp for the S&P 500 from alow in April. On thelosing end of Wall Street, Molina Healthcare tumbled17.5% after its profit for thelatest quarter fell well short of analysts’ expectations. CEO Joseph Zubretsky cited achallenging environment formedical costs, and insurers across theindustry havebeen warningabout rising medical costs throughout theyear IBM fell0.9%,despite reporting better profit andrevenue than analysts expected. Wall Street focused instead on weaker-than-expected results for itsRed Hat business, which provides open-sourcesoftware products. In thegold market, prices strengthened to halt asharp recent slide. The price for an ounce climbed 2% to $4,145.60 per ounce.

Manyofthe factorsthathave sent gold on itsmonumental rise are still around, including concernsabout the mountains of debt that the U.S. and other governments worldwide are amassing. The U.S. government’s gross national debt topped $38 trillion on Wednesday,and the worry is thata continued acceleration will only worsen inflation.

In the bond market, the yield on the 10-year Treasuryrose to 4.00% from 3.97% late Wednesday That was ahead of areport coming on Friday that will show howmuchinflation U.S. consumers felt during September.The report was initially due earlier this month but was delayed because of theU.S.government’s shutdown.

Oilpricesjumpafter sanctionsonRussia

BY MATT OTT Associated Press

WASHINGTON Oil prices spiked

Thursday after the U.S. announced massivenew sanctions on Russia’s oilindustry in an attempttoget Russian President Vladimir Putin to thenegotiating tableand end Moscow’sbrutal waronUkraine.

U.S. benchmark crude jumped 5.6% to $61.79 per barrel andanalystssay if the situation remains static, U.S. consumers will soon be paying more at the pump.

Patrick De Haan,head of petroleumanalysis forGasBuddy,said while it was difficulttopredictwith certaintybecause of the number of moving parts, consumers will likely seeabump in prices as early as next week, if not sooner

“We’ll probably start to see motorists be impacted by thesanctions at thepumpinthe next couple days and it might take five days for that to be fully passed along,” De Haan said, adding that the full impact also depends on whetherthe RussianorU.S. positions change.

“Russiawill feel pressure to come to the table in light of the new developments or President Trumpmay react when he sees oil prices rising to levels that become uncomfortable, so Idon’tthink this is going to be very long lasting,” De Haan said.

Oil prices have been relatively low for the past fewyears andlast week the cost for barrel of U.S. bench-

markcrude fell below $57, its lowest levelsince early2021. The price for abarrel of U.S. benchmark crude did rise near $79 abarrel early this year,just before President Donald Trumptookoffice,apricenot necessarily considered outrageously elevated by mostanalysts.

The broad, extended decline in oil prices pushedthe averagepricefor agallon of gas in the U.S. last week under $3 for the first time since December of last year,according to GasBuddy For much of 2025, inflation has been held mostly in check, partly due to cheaper prices at the pump. However,that could change quickly as higherenergy costs have a downstream effect on prices for virtually all products and services across industries.

“The impact to alot of Americans is that productsderived from crude,gasoline,diesel andjet fuel areall likely to seepriceincreases,” De Haan said.

The main reason oil and gas have stabilized at lowerlevelsthis year is that the group of countries that are part of the OPEC+ alliance of oil-exporting countries have continuedtoboost production.Earlierthis month, OPEC+ leaders announced they would raiseoil production by 137,000 barrels per day in November,the sameamount announced forOctober.The group hasbeen raising output slightly in aseries of boosts all year after announcing cuts in 2023 and 2024.

BYMATTO’BRIEN AP technologywriter

Clippy,the animated paper clip that annoyed MicrosoftOffice users nearly three decadesago,might have just been ahead of its time.

Microsoft introduced anew artificial intelligence character called Mico on Thursday, afloatingcartoon face shaped like ablob or flame that will embody thesoftwaregiant’s Copilotvirtual assistant and marks the latest attemptbytech companies to imbue their AI chatbots with more of apersonality.

Copilot’scute new emoji-like exterior comes as AI developers face acrossroadsin how they present their increasingly capable chatbotstoconsumerswithout causing harm or backlash

Some have opted for faceless symbols, others like Elon Musk’sxAI are selling flirtatious, humanlike avatars and Microsoft is looking for amiddleground that’sfriendlywithout being obsequious.

“When you talk about something sad, you can see Mico’sface change. Youcan see it dance around and move as it getsexcited with you,”saidJacob Andreou, corporate vice president of product and growthfor MicrosoftAI, in an interview withThe Associated Press. “It’s in this effort of really landing this

AI companion that you can really feel.”

In the U.S. only so far,Copilot users on laptops and phone apps can speak to Mico, which changescolors, spins around andwears glasses when in “study” mode. It’salso easy to shut off, which is abig difference from Microsoft’s Clippit, better known as Clippy and infamous for itspersistence in offering advice on word processing tools when it first appearedon desktop screens in 1997.

“It was not well-attuned to user needs at the time,” saidBryan Reimer,a researchscientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology “Microsoft pushed it, we resisted it and they got rid of it. Ithink we’re much more ready for things like that today.” Reimer,co-author of anew book called “HowtoMake AI Useful,” said AI developers arebalancing howmuchpersonality to give AI assistantsbased on who their expected usersare Tech-savvy adopters of advanced AI coding tools may want it to “act much morelike amachine because at thebackend they know it’s amachine,” Reimersaid. “But individuals who are not as trustful in amachine are going to be best supported—not replaced —bytechnology that feels alittle morelike ahuman.” Microsoft, aprovider of work productivity toolsthat is far less reliant on digital advertisingrevenue than itsBig Tech competitors, also haslessincentive to makeits AI companionoverlyengaging in away that’s beentied to social isolation, harmful misinformation

and, in some cases, suicides. Andreou said the companion’sdesign is meanttobe“genuinely useful” and not so validating that it would “tell us exactly what we want to hear,confirm biaseswealready have, or even suck you in from atime-spent perspective andjust trytokind of monopolize and deepen the session and increase the time you’re spending with these systems.”

“Being sycophantic —short-term, maybe has auser respond more favorably,” Andreou said. “But long term,it’sactually not moving that person closer to their goals.”

Microsoft’sproduct releases Thursday include anew option to invite Copilot into a group chat, an idea that resembles how AI has been integrated into social media platforms like Snapchat, whereAndreou usedtowork, or Meta’sWhatsApp and Instagram. But Andreou said those interactions have often involvedbringing in AI as ajoketo“trollyour friends,” in contrast to Microsoft’sdesigns foran“intensely collaborative”AI-assisted workplace.

Microsoft’saudienceincludes kids,aspart of itslongtime competition withGoogle and othertechcompaniestosupplyits technology to classrooms. Microsoft also Thursday added afeature to turn Copilot into a“voice-enabled, Socratictutor” that guidesstudentsthrough concepts they’re studying.

Agrowing number of kids use AI chatbots foreverything —homeworkhelp, personal advice, emotional support and everyday decision-making.

ASSOCIATEDPRESS PHOTOByDAMIAN DOVARGANES

An animation shows aCopilot avatar called Mico floating around an abstract environment on Wednesday during apresentation at Microsoft’s Fall 2025 CopilotSessions event in Los Angeles.

Trumppardons high-profile cryptocurrency figure

BY WILL WEISSERT and ALAN SUDERMAN Associated Press

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump has pardoned Binance founder Changpeng Zhao, who created the world’slargest cryptocurrency exchange and served prison time for failing to stop criminalsfrom using the platform to move money connected to child sex abuse, drug trafficking and terrorism.

The pardon caps a monthslong effort by Zhao, a billionaire commonly known as CZ in the crypto world and one of the biggest names in the industry.Heand Binance have been key supportersof some of the Trump family’s crypto enterprises.

“Deeply grateful for today’spardon and to President Trump for upholding America’scommitment to fairness, innovation, and

justice,” Zhaosaidonsocial mediaThursday Zhao’spardon is the last move by apresident who has flexed his executive power to bestowclemency on political allies, prominent public figuresand others convicted of crimes.

White House press secret ary Karoline Leavitt announcedthe pardon in a statement and later told reporters in abriefing that the White House counsel’soffice “thoroughly reviewed” therequest. She said the administration ofDemocratic President Joe Bidenpursued “anegregiousoversentencing” in thecase, was “very hostile to the cryptocurrency industry” and Trump “wants to correct this overreach.”

Thecrypto industry has alsolong complained it was subject toa“regulation by enforcement” ethos under theBiden administration Trump’spardon of Zhao fits into abroad pattern of the his taking ahands-off approach to an industry that spent heavily to help him win the election in 2024.

His administration has dropped several enforcementactions against crypto companies that beganduring Biden’sterm and disbandedthe crypto-related enforcement team at the Justice Department.

Former federal prosecutor Mark Binisaid Zhao wentto prison for what “sounds like aregulatory offense, or at worst its kissing cousin.”

“Sothis pardon, while it involves the biggest name in crypto,isnot very surprising,” saidBini, awhite-collar defense lawyer who handles crypto issues at Reed Smith.

Zhao was releasedfrom prisonlast year after receivinga four-month sentence for violatingthe BankSecrecy Act. He was the first personever sentenced to prison time for such violationsof that law, which requires U.S. financial institutions to knowwho their customers are, to monitor transactions andtofile reports of suspicious activity.Prosecutors saidnoone hadever violated theregulations to the extent Zhao did.

Thejudge in the casesaid he was troubled by Zhao’s decision to ignore U.S. bankingrequirementsthatwould have slowed thecompany’s explosive growth.

“Bettertoask for forgiveness than permission,” was what Zhao told his employees about the company’sapproach to U.S.law,prosecutors said. Binanceallowed morethan 1.5 million virtual currency trades, totaling

nearly $900 million, that violated U.S. sanctions, including ones involving Hamas’ alQassam Brigades, al-Qaida and Iran, prosecutors said. “I failed here,” Zhao told the courtlastyearduring sentencing. “I deeply regret my failure, and Iamsorry.” Zhao hada remarkable path to becominga crypto billionaire. He grew up in ruralChina andhis family immigrated to Canada after the1989 Tiananmen Square massacre. He becameenamored with thetechindustry in college.Hefounded Binance in 2017.

In addition to taking procrypto enforcement and regulatory positions, the president andhis family have plungedheadfirst into making money in crypto.

Astablecoin launched by WorldLiberty Financial,a crypto project foundedby Trump and sons Donald Jr and Eric, received early sup-

port and credibility thanks to an investment fund in the United Arab Emirates using $2 billion worth of World Liberty’sstablecoin to purchase astake in Binance. Stablecoins are atype of cryptocurrency that are typically tied to the value of the U.S. dollar

Aseparate World Liberty Finance token saw ahuge spike in price Thursday shortly afternews of the pardon was made public, with gains that faroutpaced anyothermajor cryptocurrency,according to data from CoinMarketCap. Zhao said earlier this year that hislawyers hadrequested apardon. It is not immediately clear what impact Trump’spardon of Zhao mayhave for operations at Binance and Binance.US, aseparate arm of the main exchange offering more limited trading options to U.S. residents.

BY RENATA BRITO and MATTHEW LEE Associated Press

JERUSALEM U.S. Vice President JD Vance on Thursday criticized asymbolic vote in Israel’sparliament the previous day about annexing the occupied West Bank, saying that it amountedto an “insult” and went against theTrumpadministration policies Hard-liners in the Israeli parliament had narrowly passed apreliminary vote in support of annexing parts of the West Bank —anapparent attempt to embarrass Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while Vance was still in the country

The bill, which required only asimple majority of lawmakers present in the house on Wednesday,passed with a25-24 vote. But it was unlikely to passmultiple rounds of voting to become law or win amajority in the 120-seat parliament. Netanyahu, who is opposed to it, also has tools to delay or defeat it.

Before departing Israel, Vance also unveiled new details about U.S. plans for Gaza, saying he expectedreconstruction to begin soon in some “Hamas-free” areas of the territory.But he warned that rebuilding the territory after adevastatingwar, which began on Oct. 7, 2023, could take years.

“The hope is to rebuild Rafah over the next two to three years and theoretically you could have half amillion people live (there),” he said, referring to the Gaza Strip’ssouthernmost city.

That would account for about aquarter of theterritory’spopulation of roughly 2million, 90%ofwhom were displaced from their homes during the war.Out of every 10 buildings that stood in Gaza before the war,eight are either damaged or flattened. An estimatedcost

of rebuildingGazaisabout $53 billion, according to the World Bank, the U.N. and theEuropean Union

The Israeliparliament’s votehas stirred widespread condemnation,with more than adozen countries including Egypt, Qatarand Saudi Arabia —rebuking it in ajoint statement that called all Israeli settlements in the West Bank aviolation of international law

Netanyahu’soffice said in astatement thatthe “vote on annexation was adeliberate politicalprovocationbythe opposition to sow discord.”

Netanyahuisstruggling to stave off an early electionas cracks grow moreapparent betweenfactions in Israel’s right-wing parties,someof whom were upset over the ceasefire and thesecurity sacrificesitrequired of Israel.

Vancesaid that if the Knesset’svote was a“political stunt, then it is avery stupid political stunt.”

“I personally take some insult to it,” Vancesaid. “The policyofthe Trumpadministration is that theWest Bankwill notbeannexedby Israel.”

ThedeputyPalestinian ambassador to theUnited Nations, MajedBamya,told theU.N. SecurityCouncil on Thursday that Palestinians “appreciate the clear message” that the Trump administration has sentin opposition to annexation

While many members of Netanyahu’scoalition, including his Likud Party, support annexation, they have backed offthose calls since U.S. President Donald Trump said last monththat he opposessucha move

The Palestinians seek the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, captured by Israel in the1967 Mideast war,for a future independent state.Israeli annexation of the West Bank wouldall but bury

hopesfor atwo-state solution between Israeland the Palestinians —the outcomesupported by mostofthe world.

Analysts like Amichai Cohen, asenior fellow at the Israel Democracy Institute, say that a“de facto annexation of very large parts” of theWest Bankisalready underway,referring to the growing number of Israelis living in settlementsinthe Palestinian territory —even without any law supporting annexation.

Earlier thisweek, Vance announced theopeningofa civilian military coordinationcenter in southern Israel where around 200 U.S. troops areworking alongsidethe Israeli military and delegationsfrom other countries planning thestabilization and reconstruction of Gaza.

TheUnitedStates is seeking support from other allies, especially Gulf Arab nations, to create an international stabilizationforce to be deployedtoGaza and train aPalestinian force.

“We’dlike to seePalestinian police forces in Gaza that are not Hamasand that are going to do agood job, but those still have to be trained and equipped,” U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said before his trip to Israel.

Rubio met with Netanyahu on Thursday and, like other U.S.officialsthis week, struck atone of optimism aboutprogress thathas been madesince the ceasefire began, while noting thechallenges that lie ahead.

“No one is under any illusions. We’vealreadydone the impossible once and we intend to keep doing that,” he said.

Luneau says he won’t challenge Cassidy

Democrats still seeking a Senate candidate

BY TYLER BRIDGES | Staff writer

Will Louisiana’s Democratic Party field a viable candidate in next

year’s U.S. Senate election?

That question emerged Thursday after a second major Democrat passed on joining a crowded field of Republicans who are challenging the reelection bid of U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy It’s not clear which Democrat might step up. Democrats hoped it would be state Sen. Jay Luneau, of Alexandria, who during his 10 years in office, has been a forceful advocate for Democratic issues. But Luneau said no. “I just don’t think federal politics are what I want,” he said Thursday “It’s so partisan in D.C., even worse than here. That’s the thing I like least about serving in the Senate, the partisanship.”

Luneau’s announcement comes nearly two weeks after former Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards said he would bypass the race. Randal Gaines, who chairs the Louisiana Democratic Party, said he hasn’t given up on finding a candidate “We are in the process of recruiting a young candidate who can build a future and wants to take on a challenge,” Gaines said.

BUILDING BRIDGES

“We don’t have a deep bench.” Luneau said he considered making the race but decided that he faced a tough path to victory in a state where no Democrat has won

Work on May Street continues Sunday as part of the University Lakes project in Baton Rouge, which will replace a bridge and improve the road that runs between City Park Lake and University Lake.

Church to hold used wheelchair donation drive

Mobility aids sought for advocacy group

BY QUINN COFFMAN Staff writer

A local Baptist church in Baton Rouge will be collecting and restoring used wheelchairs and other mobility aids — all for donation to those in need in foreign countries.

The collection drive, hosted by Zoar Baptist Church, will be open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov 1, and is part of the Wheels of the World nationwide drive organized by disability advocates Joni and Friends. In addition to wheelchairs, residents are invited to donate canes, crutches and walkers as well.

“So many people have them just sitting in their attics and their garages,” said Dawn Megli, public relations specialist for Joni

Man declared fit for trial in killing

Sanity reports reveal no signs of mental illness

BY MATT BRUCE Staff writer

A Baton Rouge judge declared the man accused of fatally shooting a woman at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center as

mentally competent.

That means Roland Domino, 61, of Grosse Tete, is, for now, cleared to stand trial in the killing of Patricia Jackson, 58. According to police, he confronted Jackson as she was leaving work the afternoon of March 19 and shot her multiple times in the parking lot of the hospital off Essen Lane. A grand jury indicted Domino on charges of second-degree

murder and possession of a stolen firearm on July 26. If convicted of the murder charge, he faces a mandatory life sentence.

During a hearing Thursday morning at the 19th Judicial District Court, presiding Judge Tarvald Smith read portions of the sanity reports from the two doctors he appointed to evaluate Domino. New Orleans psychiatrist Dr Jose Artecona concluded that

Domino “is not currently exhibiting symptoms of a major mental illness” that could hinder him from having a fair trial. Dr Brandon Romano, a Baton Rouge clinical psychologist, found no signs of a mental disease or a psychological defect that prevented Domino from distinguishing between right and wrong at the time of the crime.

suspect to be arrested after hospital release

STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

Cassidy Luneau

Haynes’ law license suspended temporarily

Former Lafayette assistant district attorney was found guilty in bribery case

BY CLAIRE TAYLOR Staff writer

Gary Haynes, the former Lafayette assistant district attorney who was found guilty in two kickback schemes, has been temporarily suspended from practicing law.

The Louisiana Supreme Court granted a petition Oct. 17 by the Office of Disciplinary Counsel to

temporarily suspend Haynes’ law license “for threat of harm.”

A federal jury in Lafayette found Haynes guilty in September on two counts of use of a cellphone in interstate commerce in aid of bribery and on single counts of conspiracy to engage in bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds, bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds, conspiring to commit money laundering and obstruction of justice.

extent their roles in the kickback scheme. Haynes refused plea deal offers and chose to stand trial instead. He faces a sentence of 65 years in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000, or both. On Oct. 9, Haynes filed a motion for a new trial.

Haynes, 67, who attended an earlier version of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, became an engineer and worked in the oilfield before earning his law degree.

on personal injury cases. He also conducted business transactions and handled litigation for oilfield companies, he said.

Haynes, when he was in charge of the pretrial intervention program in Don Landry’s 15th Judicial District Attorney’s Office, conspired to allow criminal defendants into the program who weren’t qualified and direct them to businesses owned by Franques, who had a contract to provide online courses and rehab. Franques gave Haynes and co-conspirator Guidry some of the proceeds.

former secretary of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and Franques Montoucet and Guidry arranged for Franques’ business to obtain a contract to provide online hunting and fishing classes for the department and would share proceeds with the others, authorities said. Haynes is scheduled for sentencing on Dec. 17. Franques was sentenced Tuesday to a year in prison. Guidry was sentenced to four years.

Montoucet’s trial is set for May 11.

Three other people — Dusty Guidry, Leonard Franques and Joe Prejean entered plea deals with federal officials, admitting to some

In an audio recording from the FBI investigation, he said he maintained a general practice, focused

Guidry also got Haynes involved in a similar kickback scheme allegedly involving Jack Montoucet, the

Email Claire Taylor at ctaylor@ theadvocate.com.

Two New Orleans levee board members avoid being ousted

Allegations raised against commissioners behind closed doors

BY ALEX LUBBEN Staff writer

Two members of a New Orleans flood protection agency’s board managed to avoid being ousted from their seats on Thursday after the board’s new leader raised allegations against them behind closed doors.

South Louisiana Flood Protection Authority-East Board President Peter Vicari, who Gov Jeff Landry tapped to lead the board in July, called a special meeting to vote on whether to recommend that the governor remove Deborah Settoon and Randall Noel from the nine-seat board of commissioners that oversees the agency After a tense meeting, during which Noel and Settoon were excluded from a closed-door discussion where allegations against them were said to have been detailed, the board voted not to recommend their removal.

The recommendation to remove Settoon didn’t pass as the vote, which came in 3-3 with two abstentions, needed a majority The recommendation to remove Noel was voted down 4-2 with two abstentions. Settoon and Noel, who were appointed by Gov John Bel Edwards, voted against their own attempted removals.

Agency spokesperson Stacey Gilmore said she did not know why Noel and Settoon were excluded from the executive session to discuss their potential removal

“Whenever they’re talking about an employee, they’re supposed to be in the room,” Settoon said. “(Noel) and I were not afforded the same privileges as a

regular employee.”

Noel said he supported the agency’s mission of preventing another disaster of the scale of Hurricane Katrina.

Neither Vicari nor the agency’s staff attorney, Kirk Ordoyne, responded to questions about why they were excluded.

A year of turmoil

The effort to remove Settoon and Noel follows a year of turmoil on the board. Four board members resigned in March over changes Landry and his unofficial adviser Shane Guidry have pursued at the agency

The agency oversees the system of levees and pumps that protect the east bank in Orleans, Jefferson and St. Bernard parishes from hurricane storm surge flooding.

Settoon joined the board in 2023, and Noel joined in 2019. They are the only members of the board Landry has not appointed.

Lawmakers questioned why the agency was attempting to oust the two board members. State Sen. Kirk Talbot, R-River Ridge, said Vicari told him Wednesday that the vote would be postponed. State Rep. Stephanie Hilferty, R-New Orleans, said she would have attended Thursday’s meeting had she known the vote would proceed. Because the meeting took place behind closed doors, the allegations against Noel and Settoon have not been released publicly

Guidry has repeatedly made allegations of misconduct by the board, and has said that Attorney General Liz Murrill’s office has an open investigation into the agency

“This is really about, finally, under our governor, that levee board being a clean, well-respected, wellrun levee board,” Guidry said in an interview on Thursday “It’s been a cesspool, constantly.”

Guidry also suggested that there were legislators who were putting pressure on Murrill to keep her from releasing the findings of an

NEW ORLEANS

investigation.

Murrill said her investigation does not involve criminal allegations, and that she had not yet been briefed on its findings

“I have not been pressured by anyone to do or not do anything,” Murrill said. “At the appropriate time — after I have reviewed any information we obtained I will submit a report. The board can take whatever action it deems appropriate.”

Regional director hired

Board members also voted to approve a raise for Ordoyne, and to hire Jeff Williams as the agency’s regional director, the top staff position at the agency Williams had been serving as interim regional director since July, and his hiring ends a nearly yearlong period in which the agency has had no permanent director

The board has oversight of Ordoyne’s salary, and is supposed to approve any changes to his compensation Ordoyne’s $28,000 raise, bringing his salary to $205,000 per year was approved on July 7 under then-board President Roy Carubba, whom Landry appointed last year before replacing him as board president with Vicari in late July Ordoyne had been receiving the higher salary since then without board approval.

Guidry meanwhile, has supported the recent changes implemented at the agency, including the expansion of its police budget. The agency maintains a 50-officer police force that is primarily tasked with protecting levees, pumps and flood walls, and also provides general policing services to neighborhoods along the shores of Lake Pontchartrain.

In the interview, he said residents are going to be glad for the increased funding and police training when the city needs to respond to incidents like mass shootings, which he blamed on “crazy liberals,” using an expletive.

Official: DNA links man to sex assaults

Authorities seek additional survivors and witnesses

BY MISSY WILKINSON Staff writer

An alleged serial rapist and child molester’s DNA linked him to sex crimes spanning decades, authorities said in New Orleans on Thursday as they asked victims and witnesses to come forward.

“Your voice matters. Your information can help bring closure and long-overdue justice, not only for yourself, but for many others,” Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams said at a news briefing.

Lucien Jacob, 57, has been jailed in Jefferson Parish since June and

TRIAL

Continued from page 1B

“So my legal interpretation — not medical — is that Mr Domino is competent to stand trial,” Smith said after reading the sanity reports aloud in court Thursday Domino’s public defender did not object to the doctors’ findings but told Smith he would continue to closely monitor the defendant’s

is charged there with indecent behavior with a juvenile, along with four other men accused of lewd communications with a juvenile, according to court records.

Williams did not offer details about that arrest but said Jacob’s DNA linked him to multiple sexual assaults dating back decades through the FBI’s Combined DNA Index System, or CODIS.

“We now have credible belief that additional survivors and witnesses may still be out there,” Williams said. “We talk about a predator — we talk about somebody who has preyed upon an individual sexually those crimes tend to repeat.”

Standing with representatives from his office, the Kenner Police Department and the New Orleans Police Department, Williams declined to say how many “hits” the

mental health to determine if they need to readdress the status of his competency Investigators described the brazen, midafternoon shooting as a domestic dispute. According to reports from the Baton Rouge Police Department, Domino waited for Jackson in the parking lot by her car When she came outside, he argued with her and then shot Jackson multiple times, police said. Jackson died after being taken back into the hospital to be treated.

system generated from Jacob’s DNA. He said a collaboration among law enforcement agencies is needed to bring justice to cold cases.

“Predators don’t pay much attention to parish boundaries,” Williams said. “They drift in and out at different parishes, hurting people.”

Jacob’s past addresses included LaPlace, Metairie and New Orleans, according to a public records search. In July, he pleaded not guilty in Jefferson Parish to indecent behavior with a juvenile.

Jacob’s attorney could not be reached for comment Thursday

Survivors and witnesses may contact the NOPD’s Sex Crimes unit at (504) 658-5523 or call 911 to report Jacob.

Staff writer Michelle Hunter contributed to this report.

Co-workers told police Jackson had been receiving threats from a former partner and witnesses reported seeing a man who matched Domino’s description. Baton Rouge officers captured him hours later walking across the Mississippi River bridge carrying a handgun and threatening to kill himself.

The status of Domino’s relationship with Jackson at the time of the shooting is not clear, but court records show he shared at least two children with her

LUNEAU

Continued from page 1B

a federal election since then-U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu won reelection in 2008. She lost her seat to Cassidy in 2014. Luneau also did not relish the attacks any candidate would face.

“Politics are so dirty now,” he said. “Before, you were afraid someone would dig up some skeleton in your closet. Now you’re afraid they’ll make up a skeleton in an imaginary closet.”

Luneau, who has been the foremost advocate for trial lawyers and their injured clients in the

CHURCH

Continued from page 1B

and Friends. “I think they’d be thrilled to know that they could go to good use.”

The donations will be refurbished by inmates in voluntary and faith-based prison work programs, then donated to “low-resource” countries overseas.

“It actually gives men a lot of dignity to help others even while they’re serving their sentences,” Megli said.

Megli said the Wheels of the World program has refurbished over 246,000 chairs and other mobility aids since it began 30 years ago. These aids will then be donated to countries including Nepal, Zambia, Romania, the Philippines and the West Bank of Palestine.

“What’s unique about what we do is we distribute wheelchairs with physical therapists and with occupational therapists to make sure that everything is custom-

BLOTTER

Continued from page 1B

according to State Police. The deputy then returned fire, striking Blanchard. Blanchard and the original shooting victim were taken to a hospital with serious injuries. Falcon suffered minor injuries, and the deputy was uninjured.

Following the shooting, the Sheriff’s Office requested State Police to conduct an independent investigation, according to the release.

The investigation is ongoing.

Additional details will be released in coordination with the 23rd Judicial District Attorney’s Office when appropriate.

Police: Pedestrian killed by hit-and-run driver

Louisiana State Police are investigating the hit-and-run death of a pedestrian on Plank Road on Wednesday afternoon, according to a spokesperson.

James Rasberry, of Hodge in Jackson Parish, was walking along the southbound shoulder of the road, north of Hooper Road in East Baton Rouge Parish, when an unknown driver struck him and fled the scene, according to State Police. The 71-year-old died at the scene. Troopers continue to investigate and are working to identify the vehicle involved, according to State Police.

Victim ID’d, suspect arrested in fatal shooting

A man is in custody in connection with a fatal shooting Wednesday at the Villas at Stone Creek apartment complex, according to Baton Rouge police. Joshua Richardson, 23, turned

Senate, would not rule out possibly challenging Gov Jeff Landry when he runs for reelection in 2027.

“But I’m not actively seeking it,” Luneau said. “I’d love to have the job. But I don’t know if I can beat Jeff, and I don’t know if I would run against him. I don’t think he’s done a bad job overall.”

The major Republicans running against Cassidy are state Treasurer John Fleming, state Sen. Blake Miguez, Public Service Commissioner Eric Skrmetta and St. Tammany Parish Council member Kathy Seiden. Email Tyler Bridges at tbridges@theadvocate.com.

fitted,” Megli said. “Otherwise, you wind up with pressure sores or scoliosis. Sometimes an illfitting wheelchair can just cause more problems.”

Volunteers with Joni and Friends can also accompany trips to these countries to assist the mission.

The program is meant to fill a gap for people who need a wheelchair but don’t have access to one. Joni and Friends estimates that in some countries less than 5% of those in need can get one. At the same time, over 75,000 wheelchairs are thrown away in the U.S. each year, according to the foundation.

Organizers said many families might have a wheelchair or aid remaining after a loved one has died.

“The idea that this thing that’s just sitting collecting dust can transform not just one but a couple of lives is really really neat,” Megli said.

Email Quinn Coffman at quinn. coffman@theadvocate.com.

himself in to authorities and was booked into the parish jail on a count each of second-degree murder and illegal use of a weapon. Richardson is accused of fatally shooting Robert Detiege, 38, after the two had an argument shortly after 5 p.m. Wednesday. The Villas at Stone Creek are located in the 11000 block of Longridge Avenue.

Two teens arrested after Maringouin shooting

The Iberville Parish Sheriff’s Office has arrested two teenagers in connection to a fatal shooting last week in Maringouin. Derion Rogers, 19, and DaQuan Causey, 17, were both booked into the Iberville Parish Prison on a count each of second-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder and armed robbery. Both are from Baton Rouge. The shooting happened Oct. 16 at the Ridgewood Apartment Complex. When officers arrived, they found two other teenagers had suffered gunshot wounds. Derrien Scott, 17, died as a result of the shooting. A 19-yearold was taken to a hospital and later released. Weapons were seized by deputies utilizing a search warrant.

LOTTERY

WEDNESDAY, OCT 22, 2025

PICK 3:

Haynes

NEWORLEANS

Motion seekstolimit Cantrell,Vappiecontact

Twohavepleaded notguilty,remain free on bond

BY JAMES FINN Staff writer

Federal prosecutors haveasked a judge to bar most contact between Mayor LaToya Cantrelland her formerpolice bodyguard as they await criminal trial, arguing that without theadditional conditions, the sitting mayor and heralleged paramour might continue“colluding” against the government. Prosecutors’ Oct. 15 filingdoes not detail any instances in which Cantrell and her former New Orleans Police Department bodyguard, JeffreyVappie, are accused of interacting since their Aug. 15 indictmentonwirefraud,conspiracy and othercorruption charges. Both Cantrell and Vappie pleaded not guilty and remain free on bail

In recent months,“evidence of their individual andcollective obstructiveeffortshas grown in scope and scale,” wrote Jordan Ginsberg, an assistant U.S. attorney for the New Orl ean s- based Eastern District of Louisiana, in the filing.

“Restrictingfuture unsupervised communications is significant to prevent theco-defendants fromcolluding further,”Ginsberg wrote, “and continuing their attemptsto undermine the judicial process.”

The 44-page August indictment accused Vappieand Cantrellofimproperlyspending about $70,000 in taxpayerdollars on aseries of romantic vacations, then lying, deletingevidenceand making false statements to agrand jury to cover up the allegedconspiracy Communicationbetween co-

defendants in federal criminal cases without attorneys present is generally viewed by defense attorneys as aliability to building strong defenses. Butitis unusual for prosecutors to request sucharestriction, said Walter Becker,a veteran whitecollardefense attorney and former federalprosecutor.

allegedly liedtothe grand jury and obstructed justice. Is there something else they maydo?”

her arraignment from contacting Vappie without lawyers present, among other witnessesonthe case.

Becker said he had not heard of prosecutorsmaking such arequest in his multidecadelegal career

The request seems to reflect prosecutors’ concern that the alleged conspiracy outlined in the indictment could continue ahead of the co-defendants’ trial, Becker added.

“They must have some evidence, or thought, that (the defendants) are going to do something to obstruct justice or commitanother crime,” Becker said. “They have

Attorneysfor Vappie and Cantrell did notimmediatelyrespond to phone calls Thursday Prosecutors in the JusticeDepartment’sNew Orleans outpost secured charges against Cantrell in August in theformofa superseding indictment in their ongoing prosecutionofVappie.The former police officer wasfirst charged in July 2024 with wire fraud and lying to an FBI agents as part of the same scheme.

At thetime,a judge approved prosecutors’ request to bar Vappie from communicating with some 30 witnesses in his case. But the judge approved modification of that order to allow Vappie to communicate with Cantrell, following ahearing whereVappie’slawyer argued that the mayor was “importantto” him andwould be by his side during “the greatest ordeal of his life.” Cantrell, though, wasbarred at

The differences in the twobond conditions creates an “illogical and untenable situation,” Ginsberg wrote in the filing. “In the current posture, Cantrell would violate her bond conditions if she and Vappie had unsupervised contact,” he wrote, “but Vappie would only be abetting his co-defendant’sbond conditions, not his own.”

The disparity could allow one defendant to “leveragethe incongruousreleaseconditions fortheir own benefit,” he added.

Magistrate Judge Donna Phillips Currault set ahearing on the request for Oct. 31. The co-defendants are scheduled to go to trial on Oct. 19, 2026, nine months after Cantrell is settoleave office.

Email James Finn at jfinn@ theadvocate.com.

Thursday MardiGrasparades in N.O. getearlier start

BY DOUG MacCASH Staff writer

Never mind Halloween. On Thursday,the New OrleansCity Council was already busywith Mardi Gras.

The council voted to start a string of parades early,togreenlight the expansion of an Uptown floatden, and to name an intersection after arenowned Black Masking Indian.

Mardi Gras is, of course, apassion in the Crescent City,amajor industry and abig part of its internationalidentity,soit’snever too soon to get down to Carnival business. The big party kicks off in just 74 days.

With three popular parades Chaos, Babylon and Muses —the Thursday night before Mardi Gras is one of the busiesttimes of the NewOrleans Carnival season.The downside is that sometimesthe long train of floats can drag into

theevening later than planned.

At City Hall on Thursday, the City Council voted unanimously, 7-0, to start the evening an hour earlier,inhopes of allowing the long procession to end at amore reasonablehour.Beginningin 2026, the trio of parades will kick off at 4:30 p.m. instead of 5:30 p.m.

It’shoped that the change will get float riders, marching bands, spectators and first responders home earlier

Themove was prompted in part by the Thursday beforeCarnival 2025, when the night’sproceedings were disruptedwith thebreakdown of an antique Chaos parade float that delayed the conclusion of thetrailing Muses parade into the wee hours.

At thesuggestion of theleadership of Chaos, Babylon and Muses, the City Council also agreed to changethe sequence of the three parades.In2026, thesequence will begin with Chaos, followed

by Babylon and ending, as usual, with Muses. In the past, the lineup began withBabylon, followed by Chaos andMuses.

Expandingden

The88-year-old Krewe of Hermes has used thehuge warehouse at 418-436 Sixth St.,near Tchoupitoulas Street, to store its floatssince at least the1970s.In June,the krewe leadership purchased an adjacent property in hopes of expanding the den.

On Thursday,the CityCouncil voted unanimously,7-0, to grant the venerable parading organization aconditionaluse permit to proceed withits plans. If all goes as intended, the krewe will demolisha yellow warehouseat2903 TchoupitoulasSt. in order to expand itsSixthStreet float storage space and create anew entrance.

In June,the Historic District LandmarksCommission approved demolition of the yellow

warehouse andapproved the concept for the new den’sdesign. The krewe also bought apurple warehouseat2901TchoupitoulasSt., whichhousesthe BananaManor rugstore. Thebuildingmay become akrewe museum andevent space.

Hermes’ conditionaluse permit andthe changestothe parade lineup were amongseveral issues voted on simultaneously Thursday as part of aconsent agenda Each proposal hadbeen previously discussed by the council. There wasnodiscussion.

An honorary intersection MonkBoudreaux,the beloved Big Chief of the Golden Eagles Mardi GrasIndiantribe, appeared at the meeting to accept aspecial honor. Council memberJPMorrellannounced that thecorner of Valence and Magnolia streets wouldhenceforth be namedfor the octogenarian Black Masking

Indian andrecording artist.

The “Big Chief Monk BoudreauxHonoraryIntersection” is near Boudreaux’shome, where he andhis fellow Golden Eaglesdebut their newsuits on Mardi Gras morning, continuing an age-old, entirelyunique NewOrleans tradition. The cornerwill eventually be marked with special signs. Instead of aflamboyantfeathered suit, Boudreaux wore a buckethat adorned with abeaded Mardi GrasIndianpatch as he sat in the centerofthe council chambers surrounded by asmall entourage. He smiledasheaccepted the praise of onecouncil member afteranother.

Afterward, Boudreaux said he was happy the City Council had honored him sooner rather than later. “I’mgladbecause at least theydidn’twaituntil Idied,” Boudreauxsaid. “Everybody else is dead when theyput their name on astreet.”

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Obituaries

Boudreaux, Gerald Warren'Pops'

Gerald Warren "Pops Boudreaux, 85, passed away peacefullyonOctober21, 2025. Alifelong resident of Plaquemine, Louisiana, he was born on November 25, 1939. He spent most of his life in Turnerville ("Old Plaquemine"),where he built deep roots and lifelong friendships. From ayoung age, Gerald displayed the strong work ethic that would define his life. He began working as anewspaperdelivery boy for the Iberville South, later as a stock boy at Roth's Grocery, and held many other jobs throughout the community.Hewas aproud graduate of St.John School, Class of 1957. Gerald served his country in the Army National Guard and later became aproud member of Local Union 198 Plumbersand Pipefitters. He was apipefitter by tradeand retired from Jacobs Engineering (UMC& JE Merit) after more than 35 years, where he worked "thewindow" as arecruiter, helping put thousands of skilled tradesmen to work. His dedication, fairness, and humor earned him the respect and affection of all who knew him. On October 19, 1963, Gerald married the love of his life, Sharon Kay Smothers Boudreaux, and together they shared 62 years of devotion, laughter, and family life. He was the proud father of four children, Brian Boudreaux (Edna), John Boudreaux (Pam), Pamela Boudreaux Boesch (A.C. Ferachi), and Victoria Boudreaux Bueche (Coan Jr.), who were his pride and joy.Hewas lovingly known as "Pops" to his grandchildren; Joshua (Jessica), Victor, Anastasia, and Nona (Jamie) Boudreaux, Brandon Walsh (Haley), Tristan, Seth, and Noah Boudreaux, Caleb Boesch and Carrie Grace Blanchard (Blake), Jacob Raffray, Angelle Bueche, Kaylyn Carville (Garrett), Sara Posey (Dylan), and Anna Raffray. Pops was also blessed with greatgrandchildren, Cayden and Cambree Posey, Jack and Maggie Carville, Reese and Callie Raybourn, Sophie and Beaux Walsh, and Anthony Blanchard, who brought endless joy to his later years. Gerald was precededindeath by his parents, Victor and Lucy Lambert Boudreaux; father and mother-in-law, Thomas and Maydell Parker Smothers;brother, Ridley Boudreaux; and beloved twin great-granddaughters, Caroline and Charlotte Carville. He is survived by his wife, Kay; children and grandchildren; brother, Robert Boudreaux; sister, Patricia

brother and sister-in-law, Tommie and Sandra Smothers; and countless family and friends who willforever rememberhis kind heart, laughter,stories, andlove Pops' laughterwas infectious, and his spirit unforgettable.Withhis white beardand twinklingeyes, he was oftenmistakenfor SantaClaus; acomparison that suited him perfectly. Alwayssmiling, jolly, and kind, he brought warmth whereverhewent. He cherished his family deeply, lovedhis community, and was happiestsurroundedbythe peoplehe loved. Pops instilled those same deeproots and values of hard work with his entire family; alegacy that willcontinue forgenerationstocome. Geraldloved to singtohis family and had aspecial song forhis great-grandchildren; each areflectionofhis love, humor, and joyinbeingtheir "Pops." He loved spending evenings playing cards with hisclose friends, sharing plenty of laughs and stories along the way. To know Pops wastolove himand to be loved by him was one of life's greatest gifts. Avisitation will be held at St. John the Evangelist CatholicChurch, PlaquemineonFriday, October 24, 2025, from9:00 AM until Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00AM, celebratedbyFather Martin Lawrence.Entombment willfollow at Grace Memorial Park,Plaquemine. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be madeto Iberville Parish Animal Shelter, 59815BayouRd, Plaquemine,LA70764. The family extends heartfelt gratitude to hislong-time physicians, Dr. GerardFalgoustand Dr. David Hastings, fortheir yearsof compassionate care and foralwaystreatinghim like family. Aspecial thank you also to Bridgeway Hospice for the comfortand kindness they provided during Pops' final days. Please sharememories onlineat www.wilbertservices.com

Carter, Dorothy M. 'Ms. McDade'

Dorothy M. Carter, "Ms. McDade" as she was affectionately calledisa retired educatorfor over 40 years in theEast BatonRouge School System.She was loved by generations of studentsand co-workers alike. As agraduate of SouthernUniversityand Columbia Teacher's College. She willforever berememberedfor hermany contributionstothe Chaneyville and Northeast High School aswellas Southeast MiddleSchool. VisitationwillbeOctober 25th at 9AMto11AMand the Serviceat11AMat GreaterPhiladelphia Baptist Church. The interment willbeOctober 27th at 11 AM at the Port Hudson National Cemetery.She'ssurvived by 3children, Julie Carter Spears, Lawrence Carter,II,M.D.(Lucretia) and JuanitaSanford (Roger) all of Zachary, Louisiana.Also, ahost of grandchildren and great- grandchildren. Shewas precededindeath by herhusband, Lawrence Carter. Arrangements by Richardson Funeral Home, Clinton, LA.

John A. Link, 67, of Baton Rouge, passedaway at his home on October16, 2025. He was alongtime employee of Deltech Corporation and the proud owner of Link's Electrical, known throughoutthe city forhis skill and hard work. ServiceswillbeheldatWinnfield Funeral Home with visitation from 8:00-11:00 a.m.,followedbythe service at 11:00 a.m. Hisfinal restingplace willbeSouthernMemorial.

Picard,RobertKeith

Our brother, Keith, passed away at his home in Scott,Louisiana.Hewas averykindand gentle soul and had agreat smile.Keith liveda 'robust' life, mostlyinLouisiana,althoughhespent 18 years in Maine and had fond memories of that time. He was an ironworker by trade. He lovedfishing and watching oldwesterns. He spent his youthinthe Livonia and Friscoarea. Preceded in death by our parents, Esther K. Picardand Jr. Picard, and survivedby sisterPatsy Picard and partner ChinkieCointment, brothers Billy Picardand wife Darlene, and Mack Picard, and abeloved aunt Dollie Hughes. As perhis wishes, aprivateceremony will be held at alater date.

DerrienDurellScott,bet‐ter knownasPhat, was bornMarch 6, 2008, to SheenaAdams andDerrick Scott, Sr.Hesadly de‐partedthislifeonOctober 16, 2025. Derrienwas bap‐tized in August of 2024 by PastorDonaldRay Patter‐son at OneAccord Min‐istries.‘Phat’was aSenior atIberville AlternativePos‐itive Program forStudents. Hebegan workingasa Painter with Scott& Son PaintingContractorLLC at the ageof12. Derrienwas a hard-working,quiet,funloving, yethumbleyoung man who lovedtoride4wheelers, fishingand es‐peciallyenjoyed ‘sliding’ withhis friends, butasking Everyonefor gasmoney Derrien is survived by his parents:SheenaAdams & Derrick Scott, Sr.; siblings: Derrick Scott, Jr., (Armani), and Derriney Scott; his onlyniece Nalani Scott; grandparents: Cora Adams & Margie Scott; aunts: JacquelineMiller, Wen‐dolyn Adams(Eldrich),Ty‐nesia Thomas (Sam); un‐cles: Ernest Adams, Dou‐glasScott Jr., (Cynthia), Ty‐ronne Scott(Troy), Mar‐shall Green(Nordia)& Gar‐rickScott,Sr.;Loving Aunts/GodParents:Karen Scott, Michelle James(Al‐fredSr.), DevotedGodMotherTiffany Victorian; 2 devoted cousins/God-sis‐ters: Larise Bosley &Erielle Jones,devoted cousins: Erienna andErrayne Jones & Alacia Adams; aspecial friend, KeiarahClark anda hostofother family and friends.Visitationwillbe Sunday, October26th, from 12pmuntil Services at 2:00 pm, NorthIbervilleCom‐munity Center,75700 RosedaleRd.,RosedaleLA 70772. He wasprecededin death by hisgrandfathers: ErnestWhite,Jr.,&Douglas Scott, Sr;uncle Gerald Wayne Scott; Aunt Brenda White; cousinsYiasia Adams &Asher James, as wellasa host of otherrela‐tives

Ethel was bornonOctober15, 1946, in White Castle, LA,tothe lateMr. and Mrs. Shirley Dennis. On October20, 2025, the AlmightyGod called the name of EthelDennisScott, and she answered, after having fought acourageousbattlewithillness. She was christenedand confirmed at Our Lady of Prompt SuccorCatholic Church in White Castle

Ethelwas adedicated member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in BatonRouge untilher health declined, at which time she joined her husband at Mount Hope Baptist Church in Ethel, LA Allservices willbeheld at Mount Hope Baptist Church, 9654 Highway 10 on October 25, 2025.Viewing will be at 10:00 AM, funeralservice at 11:00 AM followedbyInterment service.

Simoneaux, Evelene Robertson'Ev'

Evelene“Ev”Robertson Simoneaux departed this lifeonThursday,October 16, 2025, at herresidence in Belle Rose,LA. Shewas 80 a native of Napoleonville, LA. Visitation on Friday,Oc‐tober 24,2025, at Williams & Southall FuneralHome from2:00pmto4:00pm. VisitationonSaturday, Oc‐tober 25,2025, at Wood‐lawnMethodist Church from10:00am to religious servicesat12:00pm.Inter‐mentinthe church ceme‐tery. Arrangements by Williams &SouthallFuneral Home, 5414 Hwy1, Napoleonville,LA70390 (985)369-7231.To sign the guest book andoffer con‐dolences, visitour website atwww.williamsandsout hallfuneralhome.com

Lawrence Joseph Sims, Sr.,affectionatelyknown as“Mr.Sims" and"Belly", departedthislifeonSun‐day October12, 2025, at his residence in Thibodaux, LA. He was84, anativeof New Orleans, LA.Visitation onFriday, October24, 2025 atWilliams& Southall Fu‐neral Home,from6:00pm to8:00pm. Visitation on Saturday, October25, 2025 atCalvary Methodist Church from 9:00am to reli‐gious services at 11:00am. Intermentinthe church cemetery. Preceded in death by hisparents, RobertSimsSr.,and Velma Sims; sistersBarbara Carterand FrancesSims Thomas; brotherRobert SimsJr.;daughterAndrea Sims; stepsonAnthony Madison III; nephew Robert SimsIII; andniece Jamelia Griffin. Arrangements by Williams &SouthallFuneral Home, 1204 ClevelandSt. Thibodaux,LA70301.(985) 447-2513.Tosignguest book or offercondolences visitour websiteatwww

visit our website at www williamsandsouthallfune ralhome.com

Watson Sr., Lawrence James'Boss Hogg'

Lawrence JamesWat‐son,Sr.,affectionately known as "BossHogg" passedawaypeacefullyon Sunday, October19, 2025 at Chateau St.James Nursing HomeinLutcher,sur‐rounded by hislovingfam‐ily.Hewas 77.Visitingat KingDavid BaptistChurch, KingAvenue, Lutcheron Saturday, October25, 2025 from9:30a.m.until Reli‐gious Services at 11:00a.m conducted by Rev. Louis Watson. IntermentinSt, Michael's Cemetery in Con‐vent. Survived by hiswife, Darlene StewartWatson. Daughters,Alesha(Byron) Grow, KordiceWatson, ArieneLewis,and Ashley Woodland. Hissons, Lawrence(Tequitta)Wat‐son,Jr. andLance Wood‐land. Sister,Wilma Sue (George)Weber,Sr. Brother,Stanley Watson Sisters-in-law, Arlene Mc‐Donaldand Delores(Dar‐nell) Jones. Hisformer wife, Shelia Parquette. Also 9 grandchildren, 20 greatgrandchildren andnumer‐ous nieces,nephews cousins,other relatives and friends. Family mem‐bersare askedtowear black andcrimson red. Pre‐ceded in deathbyhis par‐ents, HandyCliftonWat‐son,and PearlHarrisWat‐son.Formerwife, Berralyn Blue Watson.Sister, Rose

Thelma Paul Goo

ThelmaLee Paul Williams departed this life on Wednesday, October15, 2025. Shewas 81, anative of Port Allen, LA. Visitation Friday October24, 2025 at Hall Davis &SonsFuneral Home, 1160 Louisiana Ave, Port Allen, LA 3:00pm to 5:00pm. Visitation Saturday, October25, 2025 at NewSunrise Baptist Church 966 Maryland Ave Port Allen, LA from 9:00am to ReligiousServicesat 10:00am. Arrangements by Hall Davis &SonsFuneral Home 9348 Scenic Hwy, Baton Rouge,LA70807. Afuneralservice will be held at 10:00 AM on 2025-10-25 at NewSunrise Baptist Church ,966 MarylandAvenue

Avisitation will be held from3:00 PM to 5:00 PM on 2025-10-24 at Hall Davis& Sons Funeral Services, 1160 LouisianaAvenue.

Doremus, Douglas Broadmoor UnitedMethodist Church at 10am.

Scott, Derrien Durell 'Phat'

Turner,Spencer Greater NewZionB.C 13410Elm St Norwood, LAat 12pm

Sims Sr., Lawrence Joseph

Keep electionsopenand trustthe people

As Louisiana’s lieutenantgovernorand, more importantly aproud Louisianan, I’ve seen firsthand how our state’s unique election system brings people together at atime when our country feels more divided than ever For nearly 50 years, Louisiana has done things differently.Wehold one open election for everyone, regardless of party.All voters and all candidates share the same ballot. It’s not some quirky local tradition —it’s one of the main reasons Louisiana has avoided the kind of bitter polarization gripping so much of America. Research backs that up.The Unite America Institute found Louisiana’sopen primary system leads to more meaningful participation, less ideological extremism

Billy Nungesser

and better results in government —especially in areas that matter most, likehealth and education. When elected officials aren’t catering to asmall group of party voters in closed primaries, they can focus on solving problems affectingeveryone. We’re far from perfect, but by many measures,Louisiana punches above itsweight. Ourelection system is a bigreason why Despite that success, some political insiders are trying to change it. During aspecial session in early 2024, the Legislature rushed through alaw that brings back partyprimaries for several major electionsstartingin2026. Under this new system, Republicansand Democrats will have separate primaries. No Party voterscan pick one party’sballot, but members of recognized third

Earlycancer detectioncan save lives

parties can’tparticipate at all. The change covers elections for Congress, theLouisiana Supreme Court, BESEand the Public Service Commission.

That’sa major shift from what Louisianans have known for nearly half acentury —trading simplicityand fairness for complexityand confusion.

Somefolks pushing this change say theopen system is a“relic of thepast,” and only party members should get asay in who runs. Imust disagree —respectfully but strongly.Webuilt Louisiana’s modernRepublican Party under theopen primary system.It worked because it forced us to talk to everybody,not just people wearing the same jersey.That’s how you earn trust in astate like ours.

The reason conservatives have astrong majority today is because we had to campaign

across every parish, every communityand every kitchen table. The open system madeusbetter candidates, better leaders and, ultimately,itmade Louisiana stronger Andlet’sbeclear —the people of Louisiana overwhelmingly agree.

Astatewide JMC Analytics poll earlier this year found 71% of voters favor the open primary system.That support crosses every political, regional and age line. Even among Republicans, 72% prefer the open system to just 20% whodon’t. That’snot aclose call; that’salandslide of public opinion What worries me mostisn’t just that closed primaries are unpopular,it’sthat mostpeople don’t even know the change is coming. That same poll found only 34% of Louisianans are aware of the new law; 65% are not. Imagine

the frustration when voters show up in 2026 and learn they can’t vote the waythey always have. Rolling out asystem mostpeople don’tunderstand will only create confusion, anger and mistrust. Why would we risk that when the system we already have works so well?

Louisiana’sopen primary puts voters first. It gives every citizen the freedom to vote forthe best candidate, not just the mostpartisan one. It keeps our leaders accountable to all Louisianans and it’shelped our state stay more united than manyothers in this divided time.

Let’sprotect the system that works. Let’skeep Louisiana’s elections open —and respect the will of the people whomake this state great.

Billy NungesserisLouisiana’s lieutenant governor

Every year that passes, Ivaluemygood health moreand more. Ihavedoneeverythingthe experts recommendto stay healthy.Iwork out fivetimes aweek, attend my annual physicals, followuponevery recommended screening and, thankfully,mywife prepares healthy meals forme. Untilrecently,mydoctors had never found anythingconcerning, and Ifeltconfident thatI was doingeverything possible to stay well —until asimple blood test changed everything Ihad the opportunity to take anew multicancer early detection blood test.I pursued this test not because Isuspectedanything waswrong,but becauseI’m passionate about advancing innovation and cancer detection for all. To my complete surprise,the test detected cancer in my kidneys, something none of my routine checkupshad revealed.

Because the test found thecancer in theearly stages, doctors wereable to act quickly.They confirmed the diagnosis,removed thecancer before it spread andspared me from what could have been years or even alifetime of grueling treatments or,worse, alate-stage cancer diagnosis with few treatment options.

Iwas lucky enough to catch the cancerearly,but most people don’tfind out theyhave kidneycanceruntil it is already in advanced stages. Kidney cancerdoesnot fall under ameaningful screeningstrategy, makingitverydifficult to diagnose before it enters the late stages.Bythat time,itcan be much harder —and moreexpensive —to treat. Multi-cancer early detection gavemeachance to catch it early via asimple blood test, when it wasmost treatable. And today,I’m here to tellmystory because of it.

This experience has changed me. We all need to be advocatingfor access to early detectiontools,especially the promiseofMCED tests. These tools arerevolutionary, and Ihope to see aday when access to them will be guaranteed for those at the greatest risk of developing cancer. Once you’ve seen firsthand how powerful MCED can be, you realizehow many lives could besaved if we hadapolicy environment that ensured access. Today,Medicare only covers early screenings fora handfulofcancers, despite thefact that ageisthe single greatest risk factorand 59% of all new cancer diagnoses in the U.S. occurinindividuals 65 and older. This needstochange. Fortunately,Congress has areal opportunity to make this happen.The Nancy Gardner Sewell MedicareMulti-Cancer Early Detection Screening CoverageAct would allowfor meaningful Medicarecoverage of thesetests once they receive FDA approval,soseniors can have the chance to detect cancer early when it is most treatableand cost-effective. With bipartisan support already reaching ahistoric two-thirds majority in both theHouse andSenate, passing this legislation will ensure that coverage authorityisin place and prevent years of unnecessarydelay forpatients who could benefit from these breakthroughtests. The benefits go far beyondindividual patients. Cancer care costs billions of dollars each year,with muchspent on late-stage diagnosis, exceeding $245 billion by 2030. Investing in early detection can save lives,reducecosts and lessen the burden on families and ourhealth care system. Ioften think about what would have happened if Ihadn’t taken that test. Instead, Igot asecondchance. EveryAmerican deserves thatsame opportunity,and Congress hasthe power to make that happen.

Sidney Spear is acancersurvivor fromMadisonville

Trumptariffs protecting La. shrimpersfromcheap imports

It has been said that alie can travel around the world and back again while the truth is lacing up its boots.

Well, the truthabout Louisiana’sshrimping industry and its recent challenges can now be explained as a result of President Donald Trump’stariffs taking effect.

busted withthe implementation of Trump’srobust tariffs on imported shrimp. Tariffs help level the playing field by ensuring that imported shrimpdoes not have an unfair advantage over domestically harvested seafood.

Environmental activists have been eager toblame liquefied natural gas companies for asharp drop in shrimpprices. But, despite theclaims of activists,the drop in prices is not aresult of declining qualityorsupply of Louisiana’s product,oreven alack of skilled workers —far from it. Rather,it was the direct result of foreign producers, including Asia, flooding the market withcheaply farmed shrimp, often raised under conditionsthat would not meet American environmental or health standards

In 1980, theU.S. imported 250 million pounds of shrimp at an average price of $10 per pound. In 2022, the U.S. imported two billion pounds of shrimp and prices plummeted to just $4.30 per pound and kept dropping. The false narrative promoted by out-of-state climate activists that thedrop is due to theoil and gas industry in the Gulf is now being

Shrimpers say so themselves, andhave welcomed Trump’stariffs, including the recent 25%tariff on India —one of themaincountries sending cheap,low-quality shrimpour way and driving down prices.

Oneshrimper told alocal news outlet recently: “If they keep importing and importing, you’re steadily putting workers out of work here. Andgetting food from overseas, sooner or later,everything is going to be from overseas. And where does that leave the country?” He’sright. Maintaining aviable domestic industry brings benefits that far outweigh pennies added at thecheckout counter.Supporting local shrimpers meanssupporting local economies, preserving jobs and ensuring that the seafood on our tables is healthy,sustainable and traceable to responsible sources. Most importantly, it keeps alive the intricate web of culture, tradition and community that defines Louisiana. The energy industry’spresence

along the Gulf Coast has also been asource of partnership, mutual prosperity and stability formany of our fishing families. LNGfacilities, forexample, have becomeeconomic engines in Plaquemines, Cameron and Calcasieu parishes, creating thousands of jobs and supporting the consumer base forshrimpers and local businesses alike.

And with Trump’stariffs in place, while it will take timefor the impact of the tariffs to be felt fully,we are already beginning to see signs of prices moving back in the right direction toward where they were before the market wasflooded with imports.

Iurge every reader to consider the true cost of what’sontheir plate. Behind each pound of Louisiana shrimpisastory —ofhard work, of family,ofendurance through hurricanes and hardship. By supporting tariffs on imported shrimp and the growth and development of America’senergy industry,weensure that these stories continue, that our coastal communities remain strong and that Louisiana’slegacy as America’sseafood heartland endures forgenerations to come.

KevinFord is alifelong fisherman based in Louisiana and thehost of “Let’sGeaux Fishin’ withKevin Ford.”

Kevin Ford GUEST COLUMNIST

STAFFFILE PHOTO

Shrimp and fishing boats berthed at amarina in Port Fourchon.

COMMENTARY

Aspotted lanternfly flies past President Donald TrumpasheboardsAir

ISSUE OF THE WEEK TRUMP’S LEGACy

President Donald Trump has prompteda wide variety of responses.Supporters sayhis takingthe reins of government to makebold changesisnecessaryinthis moment. Critics point to his coarse style and willingness totramplerulesand norms long followedbyleaders of the nation.Though it’sstill earlyinhis second term, some wonder howhistory will evaluate this president. His achievements —likethe historic peace dealinGaza —havewon praise.But aprotestmovement has sprung up decrying Trump’sactions as those of atyrant. Here are two perspectives:

Learnthe lessonsabout presidents from history

People who are protesting and complaining that President Donald Trumpisbehaving like adictator apparently skipped history classes or took them at liberal universities where professorshave rewrittenthe subject to conform to their worldview.

Someone who is doing what history teachers used to do may surprise you. He is Mark Levin, who hosts a daily syndicated radioprogram and weekend programs on Fox News Channel. Watch and listenifyou are skeptical.

Last weekend, Levinreminded his audience that somewho areregarded as some of our best presidents did things far worse thanwhatTrumpis accused of doing.

Surprising reincarnation of Trumpasastatesman

Every now and then, President Donald Trumpsurprises us by acting statesmanlike, usually justbefore he doesn’t. Recently there was acase in point, as the president and Middle Eastern leaders gathered in Egypt to sign the Trump peace plan to end the war in Gaza.

Cal Thomas

Levin reminded us thatJohnAdams,one of America’s Founding Fathers, imprisoned several citizens under the Sedition Act, including four journalists. TheInsurrection Act was used by Thomas Jefferson, Andrew Jackson and Ulysses S.Grant (Grant put down the Ku Klux Klan in the South). These and other presidents used the military to achieve political and social objectives.

AbrahamLincoln “shut down pro-peace newspapers, or papersthought to be sympathetic to the Confederacy during the Civil War. He suspended habeas corpus Only Congress can do that.” Lincoln also “confiscated printing materials and sometimesimprisoned reporters, editors and publishers.” Woodrow Wilson, “a favoriteofthe Democrats, was aracist and abigot. He believed in eugenics.Healso passed the Espionage Act in 1917 and aSeditionAct in 1918, so opponents of Wilson were charged and imprisoned on ascale never seen in American history.” These included 2,000 people, 1,200 of whom were imprisoned, among them “the Socialist candidate for presidentofthe United States.” Franklin Roosevelt, saysLevin,“hada war against the press.” He establishedthe Federal Communications Commissionin 1934 and reducedthe length of broadcast radio licenses from three years tosix months to make sure they“abide(d)bythe policies of the government.” Levin notes FDR “appointed apolitical confidant to run the IRS. He would order this director to conduct auditsonpolitical

opponents and newspaper publishers.” He also “ordered the IRS to lay off ayoung congressman they were investigating (named)Lyndon Johnson.” Want more? “AtFDR’sdirection,” says Levin, “SenateDemocrats subpoenaed tens of thousands of telegrams from Western Union because they thought it was run by Republicans.” President Kennedy,says Levin, “appointed aloyalist to be IRS Commissioner and he would routinely read tax filings of political opponents,people...who were wealthy for thefun of it...and leak(ed) to Ben Bradley,” who wrote for Newsweek magazine and later became editor at The Washington Post.

Lyndon Johnson, says Levin,“used the IRS, theFBI, theCIA...and went after his politicalopponents, businesses, publishers. He spied on the Goldwater campaign andhad bugs by theFBI placed in the Goldwater headquarters.” Johnson also ordered the phones of Martin Luther King Jr.and other Black civil rights leaders to be bugged

Barack Obama, about whom so many say was free of scandal, had his Justice Department subpoena and seize “20 Associated Press phone lines used by 100 reporters,”says Levin, “and communications between reporters and the CIA.” Levinchronicled so manymore actions ordered by mostly Democrat presidents that taken together,orindividually,pale in comparison to President Trump’seffortsto upholdthe law.Levin calls Democrats the real authoritarians. “They’re theones who reject the outcomes of elections...they’re theones who seek to change the citizenry of this country because they don’tmuch like the way that we voteand that way they can pick up morecongressional seats...And if they can’tlet’sget rid of the Electoral College so only the11or12most populous states, almost all of which are Democrat, (will) control thecountry,and we’ll call it democracy.”

Probably no history teacher,ifthey get aroundtothe subject,calls any of those former presidents or today’sDemocrat party“dictators.”

Email Cal Thomas at tcaeditorstribpub. com.

History,meanwhile, is no friend to truces between generations-long antagonists. Palestinians and Israelis have been at odds since agroup of geniuses at the United Nations decided in 1947 that Palestine should share its land with Jews, thereby creating the state of Israel. This partition plan, though supported by Western countries as well as the Soviet Union, was opposed by Arab nations,six of which staged awalkout in protest during the GeneralAssembly vote(33-13). The rest, as they say,is well known. After Hamas was elected in 2006 to govern the Palestinian people, it devoted itself to creating aterrorist stateaimed at destroying Israel, amission realized in the horrors of the Oct. 7, 2023, invasion. And now, at last, adeclaration of peace?

In announcing the signing of his eponymous peace declaration, Trump was the president we’ve been waiting for He spoke eloquently and stayed on point He was deferential, humble and respectful toward leaders from Egypt, Qatar and Turkey,who had joined him for the signing. The war and the unforgettable images of men, women and children being kidnapped, raped and tortured were too much to bear for anyonewith an ounce of empathy.That the aftermath lasted two years, resulting in widespread starvation and the deaths of an estimated 67,000 Palestinians, is atestament to the power of hatred on one side and alust for justice on theother Biblical is theword that comes to mind. Miraculous is another,considering Trump’sachievement in ending the conflict. More than afeather in his cap, the peace declaration is agift to the Middle East and the world. Civilized people elsewhere might have abhorred the lengths to which

Israeli PrimeMinister Benjamin Netanyahu was willing to go to destroy Hamas, regardless of the cost to civilians and innocents. Americans surely know that under similar circumstances —our friends and children being murdered during a concert and entire families kidnapped from their homes —the United States would have done the same, only faster and with more shock and awe. It is almost too muchtohope for success in the coming days and weeks. We’ve seen this movie too many times. But Trump’s triumph in ending hostilities and articulating acooperative missionfor peace, security and dignity for all is historic. Before news broke of the declaration, Iheard myself saythat if Trump could end the war and get the hostages released, he deserved the Nobel Peace Prize. It’stoo late for this year,but past recipients have received the prize for muchless. Alas, Trump wasn’t15minutes into his speech when he morphed from Winston Churchill into Fidel Castro who was known for his meandering, hourslong stem-winders. As soon as Trump started pounding Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden, he lost muchofhis audience. What awaste of his greatest moment. Does his base still need to hate Democrats to keep the venom flowing? Democrats are not muchbetter.With few exceptions, many of them lauded the declaration while studiously avoiding mention of Trump. What utter childishness from adults who presume to lead. Trump remains the worst offender because we expect the most from apresident. He couldn’t pause his ego long enough to accept and enjoy his glory with humility,thereby bringing the world to its feet in admiration. For such times, Isuppose, we rely upon the mute button. But wouldn’titbe nice, instead, if someone could whisper in Trump’sear that genius is knowing when to stop. That might just appealto him.

Email Kathleen Parker at kathleenparker@washpost.com.

Kathleen Parker

SPORTS

IN THESPOTLIGHT

Can the LSU Tigers springwhatLas Vegas considers amild upsetonNo. 3 Texas A&M (the Aggies are favored by 21/2 points) on Saturday in Tiger Stadium?

Absolutely they can.LSU haslost two of its past three games, but they were on the road against rankedteams— as distasteful and unacceptable aslossesto Ole Miss and Vanderbilt may be around here.

To get the job done, LSU is going to have to get big-timeperformances out of these six playersand oneassistant coach:

GarrettNussmeier

Youcan’tdomuch to pinthe Tigers’ 31-24 loss at Vandyonthe LSUquarterback. He was 19-of-28 passing for 225 yards, twotouchdownsand no interceptions, earning an excellent quarterbackrating of 158.9. Theproblemwas he was running for his lifebehind his porous offensive line.Eventhe touchdownpasses he threw to Trey’Dez Green andZavionThomaswere under aheavy rush. Nussmeierneeds to do what he can to stayupright andstay

BY MATTHEW PARAS Staff writer

With a1-6 record, New Orleans Saints general manager Mickey Loomis has been an executive long enough to know that “everyone presumes”his team will be aseller ahead of the league’s Nov.4trade deadline.

ä Buccaneers at Saints, 3:05P.M. SUNDAy,FOX

away from turnovers. Helping LSU score touchdowns from the 1-yard line also would help.

Harlem Berry

The freshman is starting to live up to his billing as the nation’stop prep running back prospect.Yes, Caden Durham had moreyards rushing at Vandy than Berry —seven carries for 59 yards compared to 11 carries for 55 —but 51 of Durham’syards cameonone burst. Berry was better down after down. Considering that Durham still seemshobbled by his ankle, it will be up to Berry to give thestruggling running gamea chance to break out against the Aggies.

ers unless the deals are just too good to refuse,”hesaid.

DE CamJordan

BY REED DARCEY Staff writer

When theLSU women’s basketball team landed four of the nation’stop 35 recruits, it knew that it’d likely have to count on most of those signees early in their careers. On Thursday,one of those highly rated freshmen reassured the No. 5Tigers that she’d be ready foralarge role this season.ZaKiyahJohnson, afive-star forward from Kentucky,scored agamehigh 25 pointson12-of-14 shooting and grabbed 10 rebounds in a148-46 exhibition win over Division II Mississippi College —the first of two tune-ups LSU will play before itsseason tips offon Nov. 4.

“She’s agood player,”coach Kim Mulkey said.“She’salwaysaroundthe ball, and she goes and gets offensive rebounds.” Johnson didn’tstart the gameagainst the Choctaws. Instead, Mulkey slotted areturner and two newcomersnextto star guards Flau’jaeJohnson andMikaylah Williams in herstarting lineup. Sophomore Jada Richard ran the point. East Carolina transfer Amiya Joyner,a senior forward, played in the post next to sophomore Kate Koval —a6-foot-5 transfer from Notre Dame. MiLaysia Fulwiley,the star transfer guard from South Carolina, entered theexhibitionoff the bench halfway through the first quarter,then energized the Tigers with afew dazzling plays just like she did in the two seasons she

But Loomis made no declarationsabout howthe Saintswill approach the deadline,other than to say they’d evaluate each trade discussion on acase-bycase basis.

“I don’tthink we’reinthe business of trading away good play-

“Obviously,wehave been the subject of alot of rumors,” Loomis said in arecent radio interview with WWL.“Andwehave gottenafew calls about differentguys.”

If theSaints are open for business, they’ll seemingly have no shortage of suitors for key pieces on the roster

Let’stake alook at the Saints’ best trade assets —players who might receive offers too tempting for Loomis to refuse. We’ll also trytofinda comparable past deal to see what New Orleansmight receiveifitwanted to moveon.

Moving on fromJordan seems highly unlikely given what he means to the franchise, as well as cap complications that would come from moving his deal. There was apoint last season when thepass rusheradmitted to Sports Illustratedhehad wanted atrade, but he and the franchise have patchedthings

BY PATRICK MAGEE Staff writer

Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier was arrested Thursdayalong with Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups as partofan investigation into multiple illegal betting schemes that brought in millions of dollarsfor sports bettors and members of organized crime, authorities said. Rozier, who previously hadbeen cleared by the NBA on similar allegations after an investigation by the league, and Billups have been placed on leave from their teams, theNBA announced Thursday

While Billups and former NBA player DamonJones are charged with scheming with Mafia members to scam participants in card games, Rozier is alleged to have shared insider NBA information in

asportsbetting ploy that included irregularities during a2023 game against the New Orleans Pelicans.

The Department of Justice shared details Thursday of allegations involving seven NBA games that took place over thecourse of ayear starting in March 23, 2023. Atotal of six men are accused of involvement in the sportsbetting case.

Outside of Rozier andJones, bettorsEric Earnest, ShaneHennen, MarvesFairleyand Deniro Laster have beennamed as defendants in the alleged sports betting scheme.

PriortoaMarch 23, 2023, game between theCharlotte Hornetsand Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Rozier—who thenplayedfor the Hornets —is accused of tellingLasterthat he planned to claim he was injured and remove himselffromthe game

in the first quarter,according to the indictment.

The indictment states Laster, who is describedbyauthoritiesasa longtimefriend of Rozier’s, joined Fairley and Hennen in placing $200,000 in wagers on theunderon Rozier,meaning they expected the guard to underperform thebetting line on his statistics

Federal authorities say thebets deliveredtensofthousands of dollars in profits for the bettors. “Lastercollected thecash and drove thatnight to Rozier’shouse, where they countedthe profits together,”according to arelease from the Department of Justice.

The Pelicansdominated

STAFF FILEPHOTO By HILARy SCHEINUK

LSU edgerusher PatrickPayton,left,and linebacker Harold Perkins pressure Florida quarterback DJ Lagway in thesecond halfof the Tigers’20-10 win over the GatorsonSept.13atTiger Stadium

Scott Rabalais

STAFF FILE PHOTOByDAVID GRUNFELD Pelicans guard LonzoBall, left,and Pelicans center StevenAdams defend Charlotte Hornets guard TerryRozier during agame at the SmoothieKing Center on Jan. 8, 2021.

STAFF PHOTO By HILARy SCHEINUK LSUguard ZaKiyah Johnson drives the balldownthe courtpast Mississippi

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Rookie pitchers clickatright time

BY MIKE FITZPATRICK

AP baseball writer

NEW YORK Trey Yesavage and Roki Sasaki are barely babes in the woods when it comes to Major League Baseball experience.

That makes their postseason successeven more impressive.

Bothinthe minors last month, Yesavage and Sasaki aresuddenly two of the most important pitchers in the World Series asthe Toronto Blue Jays take on the reigning champion Los Angeles Dodgers beginning Friday night.

Neither one has turned 24 yet or appeared in morethan 17 bigleague games.

“It’sremarkable, really.You’re talking about abig stage,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said during the playoffs when asked about several rookies excelling this October.“Ithink players have kind of been developed alittle bit differently over the past handful of years, and I think that they probably exude alittle bit more confidence at a youngage.”

The 22-year-old Yesavage, a first-rounddraftpickbyToronto in July 2024 from East Carolina, rocketed through four minorleague levels this season. He struck out 160battersin98innings combined at Dunedin, Vancouver, New Hampshire and Buffalo before making his major-leaguedebut Sept. 15 with the Blue Jays in aheated pennant race.

“Every stop of the way,I learnedsomething new,” Yesavagesaid.

The right-hander from Pennsylvania went 1-0 witha3.21 ERA in three outings totaling 14 innings, then found himself on the mound againstAaron Judge and the New York Yankees as the No. 2starter in the Toronto playoff rotation.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By MATT ROURKE

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki reactsafter theDodgers defeated the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 1ofthe National League Division Series on Oct. 4inPhiladelphia.

ä Dodgers at Blue Jays. 7P.M. FRIDAy,FOX

Andifitworks, you go for it.”

“If you’re up there worried about thehitterand his talent,you’renot going to execute how you want to.”

fewest in postseason history for astarting pitcher facing elimination.His two playoffwins eclipse his total at Double-A and Triple-A combined.

Next,he’ll start Game 1ofthe World Series against the powerhouse Dodgers.

Back in spring training, hardly anyone anticipated Yesavage reaching themajorsthisseason, but much was expected of the 23-year-old Sasaki after his ballyhooed arrival from Japan.

Atantalizing starter in his home country,hebegan the season in Los Angeles’ rotation but struggled to adjust and throw strikes. Sasaki looked sadand teary-eyed in the dugoutafter arough Dodger Stadium debut, and he went 1-1 with a4.72 ERA in eight starts before landing on theinjured list in May witha right shoulder impingement

Afterall that hype, Sasaki almost became an afterthought. Five rehab starts with Triple-A Oklahoma City yielded unimpressive results —but then he came out of the bullpen twice in the minors and something clicked.

The right-hander finally rejoined the Dodgers on Sept. 24, made twoterrific relief appearances and quickly found himself closing playoff games, stabilizingasuspect LosAngelesbullpen with his 100 mph fastball.

“As astarter,I understand that there’salways ups and downs. So, Ikind of take that sameapproach with pitching as areliever,”Sasaki said through atranslator after saving Game 3ofthe NLCS against Milwaukee.

LSU LB Weeksdoubtful to play againstAggies

LSU junior linebacker WhitWeeks has not been able to practice this week and is doubtful for Saturday’s matchup against TexasA&M, LSU coach Brian Kelly said Thursday

The star linebacker has been dealing with abone bruise on his ankle sincethe Tigers’ loss to Ole Miss in Week 5.

Besides Weeks, Kelly confirmed defensive tackle Bernard Gooden and edge rusher Jimari Butler are probable on Saturday Gooden missed last week’s game against Vanderbilt witha bruised collarbone. Butler also sat out last Saturday’strip to Nashville due to an ankle injury Edge rusherGabrielReliford (rotator cuff) and offensive linemanTyreeAdams (ankle)are out forthe game.

Ex-LSU gymnastFinnegan in world championships

JAKARTA, Indonesia Former LSU gymnast Aleah Finnegan competed this week in the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships. Finnegan, 22, who completed her senior year at LSU in April, represented the Philippines as she did in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Finnegan competed Tuesday in Subdivision 7ofthe women’s qualification round. She finished second on uneven bars and third on balance beam, floor andvault, but did not advance to Thursday’sall-around final or any of the individual apparatus finals. The 2024 NCAA floor champion, Finnegan won43career individual events at LSU. Hereight perfect 10 scores is tied for fourth in program history

Report: USF women’s coachleaving for WNBA

TAMPA, Fla. SouthFlorida women’sbasketball coach Jose Fernandez, who ledthe Bulls to unprecedented successduring his quarter-century tenure, is leaving fora WNBA head coaching opportunity, reportedly with the Dallas Wings. Various media outlets were reporting Thursday that Fernandez, 53, was closing in on adeal to coach the struggling franchise, which fired first-year coach Chris Koclanes after a10-34 season. In astatement releasedbythe university,USF athletic director Rob Higgins called the news “a bittersweet moment forour program.” Michele Woods-Baxter,Fernandez’s assistant thelast17seasons,will serve as interim coach thisseason.

How didYesavagehandle such pressure?Featuring adominant splitterfrom his unusually high release point, he set afranchise postseason recordbystriking out 11 in 51/3 hitless inningstoearn a AL Division Series win.

“You’ve got to treat it like you’re in control andyou’re confident in your own stuff,”Yesavagesaid.

“You have to kind of look at what the stuff is doing in real time,” Schneider said. “Will this work?

Twoweekslater,apoised Yesavage escaped bases-loaded jams in consecutive innings by inducing double-playgrounders against Seattle in Game 6ofthe American League Championship Series. He took ashutout into the sixth inning of a6-2 win that extended Toronto’sseason. Yesavage’s three career regular-season appearances werethe

Sasaki has a1.13 ERA in seven Octoberoutings covering eight innings. He is thefirst pitcher to earn each of his first threecareer saves in the postseason sincesaves became an official statisticin1969.

“His growth has been certainly notlinear,”Dodgersmanager Dave Roberts said. “For himto kind of self-reflect,get healthy and put himself back on the radar for our2025 ball club speaks to his fight.”

BY BETH HARRIS AP sportswriter

Freddie Freeman is returning to his family roots whenthe Los Angeles Dodgers open defense of their World Series championship against the Blue Jays in Toronto on Friday

The All-Star first baseman’s parents are from the province of Ontario; father Fred is from Windsor and late mother Rosemary was from Peterborough, about 85 miles northeast of Toronto.

“Every time Igoback there,” Freemansaid,“Ifeela little bit closer to my mom.”

Freeman was born in the Orange County city of Fountain Valleyafter hisfamily relocatedto California because of his father’s work. He was 10 whenhis 47-yearold mother died of melanoma —the most dangerous type of skin cancerbecause of its ability to spreadtoorgans— in 2000. Freeman wears long sleeves under hisjerseyduring games as asilent tribute to her as well as to protect himself from the cancer that runs in the family

“I’d rather be hot for afew hours than go through chemotherapy,” he told ESPN in 2023.

Freeman holds dual U.S.-Canadian citizenship,and he choseto play for his mother’shomecountry in the World Baseball Classic in 2023 and 2017.

“I was 8years old and we were

at an Angels game,” Freeman told ESPN. “I was eatingpopcorn and the Canadian national anthem is playing and I’m sitting. (Then)it felt like someone just ripped me up. It felt likeIwas just hanging anditwas my mom(whopulled me out of my seat).It’sthose little things that Iremember.”

There’susually an envelope waiting in Freeman’s locker in Toronto, too.

“It’s always like athird cousin has found photos in their garage and they bring themtome,” he said.

Freeman’sfather will be on hand at Rogers Centre for Game 1, just as hewas last year at Dodger Stadium.That’swhenthe younger Freemangavehis dadand Dodger fans alifelongmemory, belting a walk-off grand slam in the Series opener

Ajubilant Freeman ran over to find his dad in the front row and they touchedthroughthe protective netting. He wasnamed Series MVP after the Dodgers defeated the NewYorkYankees for their eighth world title.

Freemancarriedthe Dodgers last fall, especially against the Yankees. His struggles in these playoffs have been offset by outstanding startingpitching. He is batting .231 with one homerun and five RBIsinnine postseason games. His 11 strikeouts in 39 atbatsare higher thanhis playoff career average. “He’scertainlyseeing some really good pitching,” manager

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By ASHLEy LANDIS Los Angeles Dodgers first basemanFreddie Freeman walks on the field withhis father,Fred Freeman, before agameagainst the San Francisco Giants on June 18, 2023, in Los Angeles.

Dave Roberts said. “He’scertainly not pleased withperformance up to this point, but everytime he gets in thebox,I feelgood.I expect him to really have anice Series.”

The Dodgers are back in the WorldSeries for the fifth time in nine years.The Blue Jaysare appearing forthe first time since winningback-to-back titles in 1992 and ‘93. “When youhaveawhole coun-

try that’sbehind oneteam, that’spretty amazing,” Freeman said.“To just seethe city come together and get to experience so much jubilation, it’sanexcitingtime.” Freeman was afavorite amongCanadian fans during his World BaseballClassic appearances. “I’m notsosurethe Blue Jays fans will be cheering formethis time around,” he said.

WRs McLaurin, Samuel practice for Commanders

ASHBURN,Va. Wide receivers Terry McLaurinand DeeboSamuel returned to practice forthe Washington Commanders on Thursday, but coach Dan Quinn confirmed that quarterback JaydenDaniels will miss theteam’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs.

McLaurin sat outthe past four games after injuring his quadriceps muscle on acatch in Week 3, while Samuel missed Sunday’s4422 loss to the Dallas Cowboys with aheel problem that had bothered him for awhile but hadn’tprevented him from playing until now Afterpractice,Samuelsaidthe heel was “kind of nagging alittle bit last week”but was “not an issue” on Thursday Untilthisprolonged absence, McLaurin had appeared in 72 consecutive regular-season games for the Commanders; he hadn’tmissed one since late in the 2020 season.

Hardaway adds longtime NBA assistant to staff MEMPHIS,Tenn.— Memphis coach Penny Hardaway added longtimeNBA assistant Roy Rogersasanassistant to fill out his staff forthis season. Hardaway also brought in Josh Townsend as the Tigers’ new directorofscouting in additions announced Thursday Rogers was afirst-round NBAdraft pick in 1996 by thethen-Vancouver Grizzlies out of Alabama. He spent the past four seasons as an assistant coach for the PortlandTrailBlazers. He also hasbeenanassistant with the Clippers, Chicago, Houston, Washington,Brooklyn, Detroitand Boston. This willbeRogers’ first time coaching in the college ranks. He joinsa staff that includes Mike Davis andJermaine Johnson. Hardaway also added Darrell Brown Jr.asdirector of player development and KristanKelly as director of basketball operationsthissummer

Yesavage

BlitzcracksRattler forfirsttimein2025

BY LUKE JOHNSON AND MATTHEW PARAS Staff writers

The New Orleans Saintspicked abad time to struggle against the blitz.

The Chicago Bears blitzed Spencer Rattler on eight of his 36 drop backs last week, according to Next Gen Stats. Four of those eight resulted in negative plays, with Rattler throwing two interceptionsand taking two sacks.

Now consider the fact thatPro Bowl center Erik McCoy was lost for the season against the Bears, then consider who is comingtotown this weekend.

Under the direction of head coach and defensive play-caller Todd Bowles,not only do theTampa Bay Buccaneers send extra pressure at one of the highest rates in the NFL, they are highlysuccessful when they do.

“Continuous stress on youmentally,”Saintscoach Kellen Moore said. “Just from athreat of pressure, a threat of multiple looks.(Bowles is) going to apply aton of pressure on you…and he’snot afraidtobe aggressive, challenge youina lot of situations.

“There’snot alot of easyyards. You’ve got to earn everything.”

The Buccaneers have blitzed opposingquarterbacks on 34% of their drop backs this season, the sixth-highest rateinthe NFL, per Next Gen Stats. They are pressuring quarterbacks on 52.1% of their drop backswhen blitzing, which is the highest rate in the NFL.

Though he did connect on two explosive passes against Chicago blitzes,Rattlerhad extended troubles against extra pressure for the first time this season. Going into that game, he had completed 32 of 46 attempts for 305 yards with three touchdowns and zero interceptionsagainst the blitz, good for a109.4 passer rating.

To bounce back against Tampa Bay,Rattler will have to do so without McCoy

“You hate to see Erikgo down, but we’ve got Luke (Fortner),who’s played alot of games… we trust him,” Rattler said.“Justseeing pressures, communicating —our communication has got to be great. We’ve got to be hot afew times this game, so we’ve got to get ourcom-

SAINTS

Continued from page1C

up. Still, CBS Sports insider JonathanJones mentioned Jordan as apossibletrade candidate,which is why he’son thislist. What the Saints could get:There’s no greatprecedent for trading 35-year-old pass rushers, but 32-year-oldZa’Darius Smith and a2026 seventh-round pick fetched a2025 fifth-round pick and a2026 sixth-roundpick in last year’sBrowns-Lions trade. The Saints love their seventhfor-a-sixth swaps, so maybe that’sthe range. But then why even do it?

WR BrandinCooks

Cooks knows athing or two abouttrades, as he’sbeen dealt four times in his eight-year career.With only 127 yardson14 catches, the wide receiver may not be an obvious candidate to be dealt, but the NFL Network reported he is among the list of Saints “expected to be or have been the subject of trade calls.” Dealing Cooks would free up playing time for Devaughn Vele, who has somehow played only 103 snaps since the Saints acquired him in August for a fourth- and seventh-round pick. Whatthe Saints could get:Cooks isn’tlikely to fetch the same level of compensation he did when he was last traded in 2023, with the Cowboys sending afifth- and sixth-round pick to the Texans. But the last few deadlines have featured several teams giving up alate-round pick to take aflyer on areceiver,such as the Detroit Lions sending asixth-round pick to the Cleveland Browns in 2023 for Donovan Peoples-Jones.

GDillon Radunz Teams arealways lookingfor interior line depth, which explains whyRadunz wasnamed by the

pletions, we’ve got to get the ball out when they’re pressuring.”

Injury report

Three players missed practice forthe Saints on Wednesday Aday later,they were all back.

Chris Olave (ankle), ChaseYoung (illness) and AlontaeTaylor (personal) returned to practiceThursday, easing concerns aboutthe possibility ofthemmissing Sunday’s game.

Olave was listedaslimited,while Young and Taylor were fullparticipants.

TheSaints also had near-perfect attendance for the afternoon session, with defensive tackle Davon Godchaux (rest) the only player who sat out. The Saints have rested Godchaux on most Thursdays this season as part ofa maintenance plan.

Tight end JuwanJohnson (neck) no longerworea rednoncontactjersey after doing so Wednesday,but he wasstill listed as alimited participant.

FaithinGrupe

TheSaints have remained steadfast in their commitment to BlakeGrupe,and that didn’tchange

NFL Network as someoneto watch for theSaints. Signedto aone-year deal this offseason, the27-year-oldstarted thefirst twogames at left guardbefore Trevor Penning returned to the lineup. Even if Radunz draws interest, the Saints might notbe able to part with offensive line depthafter Erik McCoy’sseasonending injury

What the Saints could get: New Orleans’ deal for tackle Asim Richards servesasa template. The Cowboys included Richards anda 2028 seventh-round pick fora2028 sixth-round pick.

LB Pete Werner

Arethe Saints already preparing for lifewithoutWerner? Overthe last twoweeks, the Saints have taken the linebacker off the field so that rookie Danny Stutsman could play afew series. TradingWerner would be the logical next step —ifthe Saintscan get somethingfor him. Theysigned him to athree-year,$22.5 million extension last season, so trading himwould result in $1.7millionin dead money this season and then leave almost$5.8 million on the books next season because of his signing bonusand recent restructures. The fifth-year linebacker hasn’t had along history of production: His two sacks thisyear are acareer-high.

What the Saints could get: Last year, theSeattle Seahawks tradedlinebackerJerome Baker anda 2025 fourth-round pick and acquired linebackerErnest Jones from the Tennessee Titans. The Saints unlikely would want aplayer at the same position, but the draft capital could set anice precedent.

LB Demario Davis

Such amove would make sense only if the Saintswant to help Davischase aring. At 36, Davis is still playing arelatively high level of football, and the San Francisco 49ers have amassive

McNair detailsapproach forSouthern’slast5games

BY TOYLOYBROWN III Staff writer

Aday after Terrence Graves’ firing by Southern, interim coach Fred McNair wasasked whathe would like to do differently

“Win some games,” McNair saidwitha smattering of chuckles from thoseinattendance at Tuesday’snews conference.

The program’s new leader said winning is the remedy that will ease the tension when ateam loses five straight games. Getting Southern (1-6, 0-3SWAC) on an upward trajectory is his sole focus.

“I’m gonna embrace the opportunity,dothe best thatIcan, put my best foot forward and press on to finish up very strong here at the end of the season,” said McNair, who had been the co-offensive coordinatorand play-callersince Sept. 9. “Wegot five games left, and we start withFAMU on Saturday.”

Southern’sbiggest struggles have been on offense with the team last in the SWAC in points (13.1) andtotal yards per game (285.4). In the last game Graves coached, the Jaguars scored a season-low in their 24-3 homecoming loss to Prairie View McNair,who will continue calling plays in collaboration withthe offensive staff, said the team’sbiggest issues are getting behind the chains and not executing the plays that are called.

“Weshoot ourselvesinthe foot,” he said. “This previous game,wehad adrive going and we fumbled. We hadanother drive going, and we get apersonal foul. And it’shard forany play-caller to go second and 20 and second and 21. Idon’t carewhatleague you’re in,secondand 21 is atougher decision than being in second down and 3orsomething of that nature. Now the playbook is open.”

after thekickermissed along attemptlastweekagainst the Bears.

Grupe pushed his lone attempt wide right of the uprights from 53 yards out, but when asked about whether there was any growing concern after the miss, special teams coordinator Phil Galiano said“we’re exactly where we were after theNew England game” when Grupe went 4for 4. Theconditions were far from ideal in Chicago, playing on awet surface withstrong gustsofwind. Galiano said thediscussion about that onemissed chance would be different had it not been for Grupe’sfive previous misses this season.

“You go outthere in Chicago and it’s53(yards) and the wind gusts right before thefield goal happened, youbrush it off,” Galianosaid. “But becauseof the prior misses beforethat, it’s going to be discussedmore. But we’recomfortable with where he’s at.”

Grupe is now 14 of 20 on fieldgoal attemptsthis season. Three of his six misses have comefrom 50-plus yards.

need at linebacker with All-Pro Fred Warner (ankle) done for the season. Areunion with former coach Sean Payton in Denver also could be agood fit.But unless Daviswants out, or some team offers aking’sransom,the two-time Pro Bowler likely will stay put.

What theSaintscouldget: Like with Jordan, there aren’talot of trades for 36-year-old linebackers. But let’slook at thelast trade between the49ersand theSaints.In2021, the SaintssentKiko Alonso to the 49ers in exchange for Kwon Alexander and aconditional fifth-round pick. Would aconditional fourthbe enough?

CB AlontaeTaylor

Taylor’sname popped up in a recent ESPN articlewiththe Buffalo Bills, SeattleSeahawks and Dallas Cowboys listed as potential fits. The 26-year-old is in acontract year, so if theSaints can’tfinalize an extension, it would make sense to gauge the market and geta return beforehedeparts. Jeremy Fowler of ESPNwrote the Saints would consider moving on if they received astrong offer.Trading Taylor would hurt the secondary this season.

What the Saints couldget:The generous haul that New Orleans received for Marshon Lattimore last year is probably unrealistic. ButTaylor likely would qualify as acompensatory free agent, which would still put his cost somewhere between athird- or fourth-round pick. TheChiefs received athird-round pick and swapped seventh-rounders when they traded L’Jarius Sneed to the Tennessee Titans. The Saintsalso traded Bradley Roby for athird and asixth in 2022.

DE Carl Granderson

Anonymous leagueexecutives told The Washington Post that this year’sdeadline will center on pass rushers.Ifthat’sthe case, will teams comecalling on Granderson?His 41/2 sacksrank15th

Southernathletic director Roman Banks chose McNair to lead theprogram for the rest of the season because of his experience during eight seasonsleading Alcorn State (2016-23). With the Braves, he amassed a47-33 record, leading them to four SWAC East Division titles andtwo SWAC championships (2018 and 2019). He also earned SWAC Coach of theYear honors twice. McNair came to Southern in 2024 as the tight ends coach and thenstarted this season as the quarterbacks coach. Banks said he expects the Jaguars to be reinvigoratedby the change. He also saidMcNair will have “full autonomy to address his staff the way he wants to.”

McNair said he is going to build off of the foundation Graves created and push the players harder

“Just makingsurethe young men understand what they have to do in terms of the course of practice and the course of doing the processof the game,” McNair said. “Not making mistakes,executing, you know,being on time for things, notbeing late. That’s somethingthat coach Graves emphasizes allthe time. We’re just gonna pressthe button a little bitharder.”

in theNFL, though he’scooled offinrecentweeks andhas a quarterback pressure rate of only 10.7%. Granderson’splayingtimehas dipped since Chase Young’sreturn. Also working in his favor,Granderson is durable. He hasn’t missedagame since 2022. Whatthe Saints could get: The pricetag for pass rushers varies greatly. Young was dealtfrom the Washington Commanders to the49ers in 2023 for aconditional third-roundpick. Washington also received asecond-round pick from theBears forMontez Sweat. ButGranderson doesn’thave their athleticism, perhaps putting his range somewhere between the Young deal andlast year’sdeal for Za’DariusSmith (a 2025 fifthand a 2026 sixth).

WR Rashid Shaheed

Like Taylor,Shaheed is in a contract year.Anexcellent deep threat, Shaheed’sspeed should attract many teams. Hisstats per gameare alittle downthis season, though he still has shown explosiveness. Shaheed would make sense for clubs such as the Seattle Seahawks (withformer Saintscoordinator Klint Kubiak),Kansas City Chiefs and Pittsburgh Steelers. What the Saints could get: The Saints’ package for Vele —afourth and aseventh —seems like areasonable comp forShaheed. But the fan base might erupt if the Saints couldn’tget more thanthat, given they’re already frustrated with howlittle Vele hasplayed. Philadelphia’sdeal for Jahan Dotson might be abetter deal: The Commanders sent the wide receiver and a2025 fifth to Philadelphia in exchange fora2025 fifth and two seventh-rounders.

RB AlvinKamara

Kamara has madeitclear he doesn’twanttobetraded, threatening to retire if he is dealt. And Loomisislikely to respect that

Thequarterbackswillacceptthe lion’sshareofthe responsibility forthe difficulty in scoringpoints, said McNair, who was astar quarterback at AlcornState andinthe Arena Football League. On Monday, he had ameeting with the position group, reminding the quarterbacksabout howmuch they holdthe team’sdestiny in their hands, especially for AshtonStrotherand Cam’Ron McCoy,who’ve playedthe most.

“I told them it starts with us as quarterbacks, it starts in that room,and that’sthe biggest thing,” McNair said. “Weare the guys with the ball in our hand 100% of the time, and we have to make thebestdecisions forour offense as possible.And sometimes we don’tdothat.

“Both Ashtonand Cam, they understandthatnow.Sowejust got to get those guys on cue just to communicate things.”

When asked whether he views the last five regular-season gamesasanaudition to become the next Southern coach, McNair saidhe’ssolelyfocused on winning the next football game. That gameisagainstFlorida A&M at 4p.m. Saturday in A.W Mumford Stadium McNair borrowed aquote fromformerArkansas coach HoustonNutt to explain what he wants to happen for the rest of the season “Whenyou’re winning, you’re having fun,” he said. “When you’re having fun, you win.”

wish, given the running back’simpact on the franchise. But if things weretosomehow change, or the Saints decided to be ruthless and deal Kamaraanyway, it’s easy to see the running back having several suitors.

Kamara is averaging only 3.6 yards per carry and isn’tnearly involved in the passing gameashe once was, but he’d be astrong fit forany of thethree contenders in the AFC West.

What the Saints could get: ApostcardfromHawaii? Kamara said that he’d drink piña coladas from abeachsomewhereifhewere traded. That probably doesn’thelp his trade value. The league perceptiononrunning backsisalsohard to factor,but the Eagles sent a fourth and aseventh to the Detroit Lions two yearsago forrunning back D’Andre Swift and aseventhround pick.

WR ChrisOlave Extendhim or tradehim? The Saints face afascinating crossroads with Olave. While he has another year on his contract, Olave confirmed there have been conversations about anew deal. Buthe also said the Saints have kept him informed about apossible trade. Olave looks like he’srounding into form, and he’slikely the Saints’ mostvaluable asset.

Trading Olave would hurt in the short term, particularly as the Saints evaluate their quarterback situation. But plenty of teams could use areceiver,and Olave might be the best oneonthe market.

Whatthe Saints couldget: The Lattimorehaul —athird, afourth and asixthfor Lattimore anda fifth —iscertainly onetowatch.But the ChicagoBearsalso gave up a second-round pick afew years ago forChase Claypool.Thattrade was ahuge bust forthe Bears, but New Orleanswouldn’tbeblamedfor seeking something similar, even with Olave’slengthy injury history

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By ERINHOOLEy

NewOrleans Saints quarterback Spencer Rattlergets hit by Chicago BearssafetyKevin Byard on Sunday in Chicago. Rattlers struggled against the blitzing Bears defense.

McNair

Brusly receiver Patrick Gales makes acatch overMcKinley defensiveback

Keith Kombacher during the second quarter on Thursday at Broadmoor High School. The Panthers won 39-0.

STAFF PHOTO By

MICHAEL JOHNSON

THE VARSITYZONE

Brusly blanks McKinley

BY JACKSON REYES Staff writer

Brusly High School made the most of McKinley’sspecial teams blunders to put points up in ahurry and run away witha win.

Mishandled punts by McKinley in the first half led to Brusly drives that started at the McKinley 27-, 12- and 4-yard lines. Theshort drives led to quick touchdowns in a39-0 win.

With the win, Brusly (7-1,5-1) stayed in the District6-4A hunt. Quarterback Drake Vincent finished 11 of 22 passing for 183 yards. He threw three touchdown passes and had one interception.

“Special teams, we take alot of pride in it,” Brusly coach Hoff Schooler said. “It changes the game pretty quickly.Wetreat it like another defensive down.”

McKinley (2-6, 1-5) amassed just 73 total yards. The Panthers averaged 2.2 yards per play

“Wedid agood job tackling,” Schooler said. “The guystonight were locked in on tackling the football. We ask alot of them, andthey were locked in tonight.”

Brusly forced apuntaround midfield on McKinley’sfirst drive

BHS: DrakeVincent 13 pass to Reggie Riley (Alfredo Jurado kick)

BHS: Robdrick Covington19run (Covington run)

BHS: Vincent 12 pass to Riley(Jurado kick)

BHS: Jurado 34 field goal BHS: Covington 4run (Jurado kick)

BHS: Vincent6pass to Patrick Gales (Jurado kick)

ThePanthers began at their own 23 and began to move the ball after Vincent completedpassesofnine and 13 yardstoget near midfield.

Running back Robdrick Covington later rippedoff a37-yardrun to set Brusly up in the red zone. Vincent found Reggie Rileyona screen pass for a13-yard touchdown to go up 7-0 with 5:54 left in the game.

ThePanthers forced athree and out and then blocked the punt to get the ball at the McKinley27.

Covingtonripped off an 8-yard run, thenscored on a22-yard run to makeit15-0 late in the first quarter

Another mishandled McKinley punt gaveBrusly possession at the McKinley 12. The Panthersscored in one play after Vincent found Riley on another screen pass, this onefor 12 yards to make it 22-0 with 9:47 left in the first half.

Alfredo Jurado added a34-yard field goal to make it 25-0. Another McKinley punt ended in disaster after thekickwentlow andhit their own player’sback and landed inside the McKinley 5. Covington scored one play later to makeit32-0 at halftime. McKinleyopenedthe third with aBraylen Thomas interception after theball got tipped by his teammate.Brusly defensive back RylandJohnson gotthe ball back for his side withaninterception three plays later With arunning clock, Brusly then ranan11-play,80-yard drive thattook up nearly 12 minutes. Thedrive ended withVincent finding Patrick Gales on aslant for a6-yard touchdown to make it 39-0. “I like to saythey’re easy to throwto,” Vincent said about his receivers. “I have alot of skill out there. They’rejustreally good players.”

FOUNDATION

BY JACKSON REYES Staff writer

Earlier in the season, Prairieville High School’sfootball team led against East Ascension, but theSpartans began to build momentum.

Hurricanes coach Mike Schmitt knew his team needed to makeaplay when senior defensive back Braylon Williams approached him

“Williams just said, ‘Coach, we got you,’ ”Schmitt said.

It wasn’tthe first timeSchmiit heard aplayer utter those words, but this meantmore. It was arealization that the culture he set outtobuild wascoming to fruition. His team had his back like he had theirs.

Prairieville would go on to win 44-27 over East Ascension on Oct. 10. On Wednesday,the week of their game against Denham Springs, Schmitt sat in his office, overlooking the team’sfootball stadium. He pointed to awall that was once just an open door, with an open view of the team’s new field.

To see aprogram built from scratch just twoyears ago show signs of areal culture was amomenthe’d never forget.

“That’sjust areally neat feeling that you don’tget,” he said. That aspect has played abig part in the team’s turnaround this year.After a2-8 finish in theschool’sfirst year of varsity play,Prairieville is 4-3 and 3-1 in District 5-5A play

Creating aculture

When the school opened and theteam wasstarted last year, Schmitt andhis coaching staff needed to set the standard.

The challenge? He didn’thave asenior class to emulate what he asked them to do.

“Wehave 1,000 students who are freshmen and sophomores,” Schmitt said. “Our senior class is only 270 this year.The numbers are just young all across theboard.”

The coaching stafftook up the responsibility of telling their team how things should be done. The task wasn’talways easy, Schmitt said, with unfamiliarity between thecoaches and players.

The Hurricanes began their second season 1-3. Despite the three losses, Schmitt could tell his team wasclose to breaking through.

Prairieville notched its first district winofthe season with a 28-23 victory over Walker.Then, the Hurricanes shocked East Ascension. In their latest game, Prairieville held on to downLive Oak 32-28.

Ford has enjoyed the support from the community,who’ve supported them through their first twoseasons.

“It was great seeing them, all the cheers and all the cheerleaders cheering forus,”Ford said. “Now they gettosay,touchdown, touchdown this year.I love it.” Junior quarterback Skyler Kelly has been another key piece behind the team’s success.

“Itfeels good to earn respect,” Kelly said. “But we need to maintain that respect and keep proving other people wrong that don’trespect us yet.”

While his team’s improvements have led to wins, Schmitt has seen the mostgrowth off the field.

“Last year,itwas really like the old saying, ‘herding cats,’ ” Schmitt said. “Everybody had their own way of doing things.” In the school and program’s first year in 2024, there were challenges in instilling aculture of creating not just better athletes, but better people. In 2025, he’sseen major growth in the little details like attendance to practice and keeping their lockers clean.

Building relationships

For Schmitt, being afootball coach is alifestyle.

“Wewash clothes, we get up early,we’re constantly around young people,” he said. “A kid has an issue, we’ve got to go deal with it, no matter what. It really is alifestyle that you lead.”

Part of that lifestyle showed in the team’s Week 7win over Live Oak. The wincame aday after he attended the funeral services of his mother,Anna. She was 80. Although he missed Thursday, he was still with the team fora majority of the week.

BY JACKSON REYES Staff writer

Heading into Week 8ofthe regular season, teams are jockeying for better positions in the district standings and power ratings. Here’swhat to know about five big games with district-standing implications.

ZacharyatWoodlawn

The Broncos will look to get back on track this week after asurprising 52-31 loss to Liberty at home. Zachary (5-1, 1-1) wasthe lone unbeaten team in District4-5A before the loss, but now findsitself behind Catholic (5-2, 2-0) in the district title race.

The Panthers (4-3, 1-1) will try to build on their 45-15 win against Scotlandville. Woodlawn has failed to find consistency,withall three of losses coming by double figures PrairievilleatDenhamSprings

The Yellow Jackets’ high-flying offense will be tested against a Prairieville team on the rise.

Denham Springs (5-2, 2-1) was 2-2 at the midway point of the season, but has since won three straight. Behind quarterback Da’Jean Golmond and running back Brenton Paul, the offense has averaged 48.7 pointsper game in the past three weeks.

The Hurricanes (4-3, 3-1)have pieced together one of the more impressive turnarounds this year after a2-8 finish in Year 1ofthe program’s existence. Prairieville has won its past three and is tied for first in District 5-5A.

Awin would put the team in positionfor adistricttitle, with the Hurricaneshaving already won the head-to-head gamewith East Ascension (5-2, 3-1).

ACHS at NorthIberville Abattle of the top two teams

Allgames7p.m.unlessnoted. Thursday’s scores Plaquemine 47, Tara 8 Southern Lab 12, Kentwood 8 Madison Prep 50, Collegiate Baton Rouge 0 St. John 49, East Iberville 14 Brusly 39, McKinley 0 Amite 35, Albany0 Episcopal 40, Northeast 14 Statewide Abbeville 12, Kaplan 7 Airline 41, Natchitoches Central 21 Amite 35, Albany0 Carencro66, Sulphur 34 Centerville 28, Hanson Memorial 21 Delhi 62, Block24 Ehret 41, East Jefferson30 Erath 45, St. Martinville 0 Jonesboro-Hodge 40, PlainDealing 0 Kennedy 27, Livingston Collegiate 0 NotreDame 28, Jennings 12 Oak Grove 13, Ferriday6 Patterson 42, Berwick 6 Plaquemine 47, Tara 8 St. John 49, East Iberville 14 St. Louis 17, South Beauregard7

in District 8-1A Friday night has North Iberville hosting Ascension Catholic.

NorthIberville (7-0, 2-0) has yet to lose agame, butwill have itsrecord tested against the Bulldogs.

ACHS (5-2, 2-0) is thereigning district champs and ran all over St. John last Thursday after senior Trevin Simon had aschool-record 519yards rushing. He is among thestate’sleaders with 1,879 yards and 25 touchdowns.

The Bears’defense is only allowing 20.4 pointsper game, but they will have theirhands full against Ascension Catholic (37.7 ppg)

East Feliciana at Dunham Fewteams havebeen able to slow down Dunham on its path toward aDistrict 8-2A title. The Tigers (6-1, 3-0) and star quarterback Elijah Haven arelighting up defenseseach week Dunham is scoring 47.9 points pergameand hasonly scored less than 40 points once.

The team challenging them this week isEast Feliciana (5-2, 3-0).

The Tigers fell to Donaldsonville, 20-6, last week, but remainun-

Sterlington 54,Bastrop 6 Vinton 27, Rosepine0 Young Audiences 28,Haynes Academy24 Friday’s games Ascension Catholic at North Iberville Broadmoor at Belaire Capitol at Livonia Catholic-PC at St. Edmund Central vs.Liberty at OlympiaStadium Donaldsonville at St. James East Ascension at Teurlings Catholic East Feliciana at Dunham Helix MentorshipatGlen Oaks Lutcher at A.J.Ellender Parkview Baptist at UniversityHigh Port Allen at St. Michael Prairieville at Denham Springs Scotlandville vs.Catholic at Memorial Slaughter Charter at Baker St. Amant at Live Oak ThriveAcad.atCentral Private Walker at Dutchtown West Feliciana at Istrouma White Castle at Ascension Christian Zachary at Woodlawn

blemished in district play

It will likely be up to EastFeliciana’s offense to keepupwith Dunham.

“That unit has scored at least 30 pointsinthree games this year CentralatLiberty

The Patriots arecoming off an impressive 52-31 victory over Zachary to moveto4-3, 1-1. The winendsa stretch whereLiberty lost three of its past four games. Liberty put up 672 yards of offense in thewin. Quarterback Brice Preston hadfour rushing touchdowns and 133 yards on nine attempts.Healso threw two touchdown passes. Receiver Conner Nairn had five catches for 147 yards and caught both scores. Running back Zaiden Fosterran for 335 yards on 35 attempts and one touchdown.

The Patriots face Central (5-2, 1-1),which fell to Catholic 57-28 last week. The Wildcatsare averaging 36.4pointsper game, but the defense is allowing 33.1pointsper game. This matchup could offer plenty of fireworks.

“They didn’tknow me, and they didn’tknow our coaches,” Schmitt said. “That’sbeen the process with developing that.”

This year,heand his staffhave tried to give the kids whoare doing things the right waythe leadership roles to take on and help the underclassmen without tellingthem outright.

He’sstarted to see that from his senior class, and it slowly trickled downtothe other classes.

Oneofthose seniors is defensive lineman Gabriel Ford. For him,the opportunity came naturally since he’shad to be arole model for his younger siblings.

He’senjoyed being part of the team and seeing its gradual improvement each week.

“It surprised me at first, for sure, with this record now compared to last year,” Ford said.

“It’s amilestone. We’re going to keep growing and Ican’twait.”

“I didn’twant to ever not be around the boys,” Schmitt said. “I didn’tmiss apractice. Ididn’t miss much time.” {p dir=”ltr”}He credited his coaching staffand administration, whohandled things in the little timehedid miss.

“The one thing Iwanted to makesure that we showed the young men was that, hey,you’re going to have hardships in your life,” he said. “But you still have responsibilities, and you still have things that you can do to help them.”

Schmitt said being there with the team was away to get it off his mind. The team also showed love and care in response and signed acard fortheir coach.

“For them to be able to reciprocate that back,” Schmitt said. “Then come together on aFriday night, come back and winagame. It’s apretty emotional thing, and it’sjust another testament of how us coaches intertwine our lives with our players.”

STAFFFILE PHOTOByMICHAEL JOHNSON Prairieville coachMikeSchmitt congratulates his players after a touchdown against ThriveAcademy Sept. 6inPrairieville.

Pelicans need to give fans somethingtobelieve in

The New Orleans Pelicans tip off their 2025-26 home schedule Friday night with amarquee matchup. The San Antonio Spurs and Victor Wembanyama come to town,fresh off the French big man’sspectacular 40-point, 15-rebound masterpiece against theDallas Mavericks on Wednesday night It’ll be the first game of any kind at the Smoothie King Center for this new iteration of thePelicans.

“I definitely look forward to playing at the crib,” forward Zion Williamson said Wednesday night after thePels’ 128-122 losstothe Grizzlies in Memphis, Tennessee. “I hope the city comes out (and) brings the energy,because we’re looking to put on ashow and have fun.”

One could argue the Pelicans need to put on ashow.After slogging through ademoralizing, injury-plagued 21-61 campaign ayear ago, the club desperately needs afast start to generate enthusiasm and regain theconfidence of its fan base.

Team officials overhauled the roster and basketball operations in the offseason with the intent of reversing the team’s downward trajectory.The opening loss to Memphis didn’thelp matters, but the Pels playedwithout Dejounte Murray,Kevon Looney and Karlo Matkovic because of injuries but were competitiveuntil the end.

That’sall new director of basketball operations Joe Dumars is asking of this team —atleast for now

Jeff Duncan ä Spurs at Pelicans, 7P.M. FRIDAy,WAFB

Champions Square entertainment complex. It also likely will include an enticing fringe benefit: another NBA All-Star Game for New Orleans.

Dumars, Williamson and the rest of the Pels don’tneed any extra pressure to win, but asuccessful season would make things easier for team officials to get things done in Baton Rouge.

Heaven knows, local sports fans could use something positive to cheer about.

The football season hasn’texactly been one to celebrate so far The Saints are 1-6 and headed for another losing season, their fifth consecutive without aplayoff appearance.

LSU is winning, but not nearly as muchasfans would like or expect. The Tigers are foundering in Year 4ofthe Brian Kelly era and many fans are flummoxed.

Tulane is sitting at 6-1 and remains alive in the College Football Playoff hunt, but the Green Wave has not looked nearly as dominant as year’spast. Tulane is winning, which is atribute to coach Jon Sumrall and his staff, but it won’t be for long unless it starts playing considerably better on both sides of the ball.

Effort is agreat place to start.

But obviously,itneeds to lead to wins at some point. The Pelicans can’tafford another lostseason

Not while Williamson is still in his prime This is Year 7ofthe Zion era.

“If we play as hardaswecan play every night, we’regonna get enough wins where we’regonna be happy,”hesaid before thestart of camp. “I expect our team to playhard every night. Iexpect no less and Iwill accept no lessfrom them.”

So far,sogood.

“Zionhas been great,” Dumars said. “I feel good about how everyone has cometogether to try to right the ship here and get us

The former Duke standout has made twoAll-Star Games but has yet to play in asingle playoff game. It’s past timefor him, and the Pelicans, to start realizing his vast potential. This season pretty much revolves around him, his health and his matured mindset.

LSU edgerusher Patrick Payton, left, and linebackerHarold Perkins

the second half of the Tigers’20-10 win over the Gators on Sept.13atTiger

RABALAIS

Continued from page 1C

DJ Chester

It will help Berry and Nussmeier’scause if Chester can actually block some people, giving time for Nuss to throw andfor the running backs to find some holes. Chester has become the poster child for all that ails the LSU offensive line, and that is to asizable degree unfair.All the junior from Conyers, Georgia, has done is whatever the LSU coaches have askedhim to do. That includes giving up his starting center position to Virginia Tech transfer Braelin Moore. Instead he has started at guard, spelled Moore when he was injured and now is filling in for an injured Tyree Adams at left tackle. Maybe it’sa mistake for LSU to put him there, though the coaches are banking on his experience. Chester may be miscast in this role, but you can’tsay he isn’tgiving it his all.

Harold Perkins

The fourth-year linebacker had one of the worst games of his career at Vandy.Perkins recorded four tackles, but he repeatedly

took badanglesatmobile Commodoresquarterback Diego Pavia, allowinghim to break containment time and again. With fellow linebacker Whit Weeks likely sidelined again withanankle injury,Perkins’ role in trying to corral another shifty quarterback, Marcel Reed, will be critical to the Tigers’ hopesofvictory

AaronAnderson

Tight endTrey’Dez Green (five catches for agame-high 74 yards at Vandy) likely will be atop target for Nussmeier.Same for Barion Brown (five catches for 40 yards). ButAnderson needs to round back into form after an injury-hampered stretch. Anderson is still LSU’sleading receiver in yards with 323 on 24 catches, but he made onlyone grab for 18 yardsatVandy andhas yet to score atouchdown.Both of those numbers need to go up against the Aggies

PJ Woodland TexasA&M has astellar pair of receivers in Mario Craver and KC Concepcion whohave piled up nearly1,200 yards and 10 touchdowns. That said, they’re still unlikely to test LSU’sstellar cornerback Mansoor Delane very much. That means more pressure andtargets on theother side for

Woodland and freshman backup

DJ Pickett. The departure of little-used corner Ashton Stamps, aformer starter,tothe transfer portal makes Woodland’splay morepivotal.

BlakeBaker

Yes, offensive coordinator Joe Sloan needstosharpenhis play calling (didwesay theTigers need to cash in for atouchdown when they gettothe 1?). But there is going to be just as much or more on Baker’sdefense. The Aggies have been prolificon offense thisseason,scoring 31 or more points in every game except a16-10 winagainst Auburn. No one reasonably expects theLSU offense to go madfor 38-40 points;20-25 points would be more the Tigers’ style.That means it’svitally important for the defense to hold the Aggies in the20s for LSUtoeven have achance. With or without Weeks(likely without), Baker’s unitmust cutdown on thebad angles, leaving the middle of the field open for Reed to run and cover ateam that certainly will test theTigers moredownfield than Vandy did.

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

headed in the right direction.” Zionand the Pels need abig year for aless conspicuous reason.

Pelicans governor Gayle Bensonand Gov.Jeff Landry will begin negotiations soon on along-term lease extension at the Smoothie King Center

The deal is expected to include plans to renovate the arena and re-engineer and reimagine the

LSU

Continued from page1C

spent with her hometown Gamecocks.

Williams found an early rhythm. She drained each of her first field-goal tries, then finished hernightwith16points andseven assists on 6-of-10 shooting. Alongwith LSU’s other guards, Williams also madesure to involve the two newcomers in the frontcourt.Joynermuscled her way to 15 points and 7rebounds. Koval used her height and length to score 14 points and pull down 10 rebounds. All five of theTigers’ freshmen playedatleast10minutes,except for Grace Knox, the forward who fouled out late in the third quarter after scoring only four points. Butnone of them looked more comfortable than ZaKiyah Johnson —the 6-foot wing who’s beginning her career as apost player Johnson checked in to the game at 5:48 markofthe first quarter,then quickly scored her first points. First, she grabbed a rebound off thedefensive glass anddecided she’dstarta fast break herself.After aspin move, adrive down the lane and aeuro stepthrough contact, Johnson bankedina layup over asmaller Mississippi College defender

“As soon as Igot on the court,” Johnson said, “it felt right. Ifelt like me. Ifelt like Ialways do when Istep on the court, and (my teammates) help alot.”

Like never before, the Pelicans have achance to capture the market, to engage the casual New Orleans sports fan and deliver some much-needed hope and optimism. Likewise, Zion has achanceto become the face of NewOrleans sports, delivering on the mantle Drew Brees ceded to himseveral years ago when he retired. The opportunity is there if Zion and the Pelicans can take advantage of it.

Email JeffDuncan at jduncan@ theadvocate.com.

Johnson also worked from the post.

Aquickseal on the lowblock positioned her to receive apass from Williams, then take one power dribble into an open righthanded layup. Johnsonalso scored pointsin transition,suchasthe first-quartersequenceinwhichshe ran down the floor in time to collect aquick no-look dish from Fulwiley. That fast-break chance, likemany others throughout the night, turned into an easy bucket forLSU

“I did not, probably,realize,” Mulkeysaid, “that(Johnson) could get her shot off that quick. Idid not realize that she would comeoff that board with arebound andtake off like aguard Ilikedit. Ihaven’t seen thatin practice. Those were some things that were different than what I’ve been seeing in practice.”

The Tigers scored 30 points offMississippi College’s25turnoversand added22points on the fast break. Overall, they converted 68% of theirshots andassisted 29 of their 58 field-goal makes. The Choctaws shotjust 25% from the field.

Fulwiley finished with 17 points, 4assists and4reboundsafter she converted 7ofher 12 field-goal triesand 2ofher six3-point attempts. Flau’jae Johnson had a quieter night. She tallied only eight points on 4-of-7 shooting. LSUnextwill host itssecond and final exhibition contest at 7p.m.next Thursdayagainst Langston. Itsfirst regular-season opponent is Houston Christian.

ROZIER

Continued from page1C

action.Brandon Ingram delivered atriple-double of 30 points, 11 reboundsand 10 assists to lead the way for the home team.

The Associated Press reports thatposts still available online from the day of the game show that some bettors expressed angerwith sportsbookswhen

LSUcoachKim Mulkeylooks on against Mississippi Collegeinan exhibition game on Thursday at the Pete Maravich AssemblyCenter

it became clear that Rozier was not going to return to the game. Many of those posts said it appeared something “shady” had taken place related to prop bets on his stats in the Pelicans game. The NBA said it is cooperating with the investigation. “Wetake these allegations with theutmostseriousness,and the integrity of our gameremains our top priority,” the NBAsaid in astatement.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTOByBRANDON DILL

Pelicans forwardZion Williamson handles the ballagainst Memphis Grizzlies forward Olivier-Maxence Prosper in Memphis, Tenn.

STAFF PHOTO By HILARy SCHEINUK

HEAR THE STORIES

Join explorer, author and Emmy-nominated host Josh Gates(“Expedition Unknown,” “Destination Truth”) for “AnEvening of Ghosts, Monsters, and TalesofAdventure!” at 7:30 p.m. Saturdayatthe Raising Cane’s River Center Theatre for Performing Arts. $54$107. ticketmaster.com.

THINGS TO DO THIS WEEKEND

8p.m.Thursday, Oct. 30 l Raising Cane’sRiver Center Theatre for Performing Arts, 240 St. Louis St , BatonRouge l $46.10-$110.40 l theatre.raisingcanesrivercenter com andblackberrysmoke.com

Theswaggering, inexactnatureof Blackberry Smoke ‘It’snot perfect,’ but‘it’s

BY JOHN WIRT Contributing writer

Blackberry Smoke, that swaggering rock band from Atlanta, willcelebrate its 25th anniversary next year

“It’ssurreal to stand back and see it as 25 years,” said singer, guitarist and principal songwriterCharlie Starr. “It doesn’t feel that long. Time slips away from you.” Aquarter century into Blackberry Smoke history,Starr believes the band has another 25 yearsinit.

“When we get on stage and hit aG chordtogether, we allgrin, he said. “Like, ‘OK. This is what keepsuscomingback.’ It’sthe thrill of this ridiculous music that we play.” In the Southern rock line of succession of Lynyrd Skynyrd, the Black Crowes and Georgia Satellites, Blackberry Smoke comes to the Raising Cane’s River Center Theatre for Performing Arts in Baton Rouge on Thursday,Oct. 30. The band’s fall tour overlaps the Nov.14 release of its 22-song compilation album “Rattle, Ramble& Roll: The Best of BlackberrySmoke, Volume One.”

CELEBRATE THE ARTS

Fall Fest For All, which also marks20years of the ShawCenter Center for the Arts, will take place from 11 a.m. to 7p.m.Sundaywith events in and around the center.Featuring livemusic, an artmarket, food vendors, and performances,the fest is free. artsbr.org/ fall-fest-for-all.

MEET AT THE ZOO

BREC’s annual family Halloween happening Boo at the Zoo continuesat the Baton RougeZoo from 9:30 a.m. to 4p.m.Saturdayand Sunday. The party includesmeet and greets with princess characters, face painting, pumpkin patch and more. brzoo.org

BY JUDYBERGERON Staff writer

Watch aglassblower create somethingbeautiful.

Pet friendly farm animals

Take awhirl in ahelicopter

Those attractions and awhole lot more are in storefor visitorstothe GreaterBaton Rouge

StateFair,which opened Thursday and runs through Sunday, Nov.2

Hot Glass Academy from Americus, Georgia, is afirsttimer at the fair

GREATER BATON ROUGE STATEFAIR

Now-Sunday, Nov. 2 l 5p.m.10 p.m. Monday-Friday; noon10 p.m. Saturdayand Sunday l Airline HighwayPark/Fairgrounds, 16072 Airline Highway l Children under48inchesenterfree every day l gbrsf.com

FRIDAY-SUNDAY: $15 admission, $35 ride wristbands

Building on its “best of” release, the band has plans for its 25th anniversaryin2026.

“I can’tdivulge it yet, but it’ll be something special,” Starr said. Formed in Atlanta in 2001, Blackberry Smoke built its audience throughprolifictouring and performances and recordings that don’tcrave perfection Starr calls the latter imperfect quality “that wobble.”

“I’ve playedwith people in other situations who were stiff,” he said. “They didn’t have the swagger.Once you findpeople who have the swagger,you stick with them. That’swhat keeps our band together.It’snot perfect, butinour kind of music, you don’tlook for perfection.A little wiggle happens. It’sspecial.”

ä See SMOKE, page 2D

“Every day of thefair, they’ll be doing glass blowing demonstrations and talking about glass blowing and actually producing items while they talk,” said fair president andCEO CliffBarton “Something we’ve never had before. And it’s kind of aneat thingtowatch.”

Cheramie Farms in Cut Off will be hauling in amini horse, minicow,mini donkey,sheep, goats, apig, ducks, geese, atortoise and akangaroo for the pettingzoo.

Chubby Carrier will bring on the zydeco/Cajunsounds from 6:30 p.m. to 8p.m.Sunday.

“It’sthe first time for them, too, andwe’rekind of excited about that,” said Barton. “Our other big new thingiswehave a company that’sgoing to be selling helicopter rides.”

Fly Bama will be offering 3-to-5-minuterides, affording passengers aview of all the

MONDAY,WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY: $10 admission, $15 wristbands, $5 admission with The Advocate coupon $2 TUESDAY: $2 admission, $2 per ride,some$2food specials, $25 wristbands

fun from above. This is one of the few events not included with regularadmission, Barton pointed out.

SLUdedicates

The midway, afair mainstay, will be operated by MitchellBrothers Amusements. | PROVIDEDPHOTOS

THROUGH NOV. 2

GREATER BATON ROUGE STATE

FAIR: 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Monday-Friday and noon to 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.

NOW 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

FRENCH FOOD FESTIVAL: Bayou Civic Club, 307 Fifth St., Larose French/Cajun cuisine, live music, dancing and entertainment, folk life exhibit and midway rides. https://www.bayoucivicclub.org/

SATURDAY-SUNDAY

BOO AT THE ZOO: 9:30 a.m. to 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/.

SATURDAY

YELLOW LEAF ARTS FESTIVAL: Commerce Street at Burnett Road,

FILE PHOTO By FRANCES y. SPENCER

Jewelry artist Christy Barrett shows her one-of-a-kind pieces

Oct. 26, 2024, during the yellow Leaf Arts Festival. This year’s event is Saturday in St. Francisville.

St. Francisville. Artists, musicians, writers, actors and poets can enjoy exhibits from over 40 artists and craftspeople along with live music and art activities. artsforallwestfeliciana.com/event-details/yellowleaf-art-festival.

BREWS ARTS FESTIVAL: 217 E. Thomas St., Hammond. Sip on your pick of 65-plus craft beers, peruse the arts market and dance to live music. hammondarts.org/brewsarts-festival.

ANNUAL SWEET DOUGH PIE FESTIVAL: 231 Burleigh Lane, Grand Coteau. The public judges the sweet dough pie contest, and many pies are available for purchase. cajuntravel.com/events/sweet-doughpie-festival.

SUNDAY

FALL FEST FOR ALL: 11 a.m. to

7 p.m., in and around the Shaw Center for the Arts, 100 Lafayette St. Live music, arts market, food and family fun. Free. artsbr.org.

CITY OF GONZALES FALL FEST: 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Price LeBlanc PACE Center, 2824 St. Anthony Ave Gonzales. Free activities, music and food.

TODAY IN HISTORY

By The Associated Press

Today is Friday, Oct. 24, the 297th day of 2025. There are 68 days left in the year

Today in history:

On Oct. 24, 1945, the United Nations formally came into existence as the Charter of the United Nations, ratified by 51 nations took effect. The date is now observed as United Nations Day Also on this date:

In 1537, Jane Seymour, the third wife of England’s King Henry VIII, died 12 days after giving birth to Prince Edward, later King Edward VI.

In 1861, the first transcontinental telegraph message was sent by Chief Justice Stephen J. Field of California from San Francisco to President Abraham Lincoln in Washington, D.C.

In 1929, a massive sell-off at the opening bell of the New York Stock Exchange led to chaos as stockbrokers couldn’t keep up with trade requests. Though the market recovered some losses by the end of the day, “Black Thursday” marked the beginning of the Wall Street Crash of 1929.

In 1931, the George Washington Bridge, connecting New York City with New Jersey, was dedicated. It was the world’s longest suspension bridge at the time.

In 1952, Republican presidential candidate Dwight D. Eisenhower vowed to go to Korea as he promised to end the ongoing conflict there. (Eisenhower would indeed visit Korea in December, after winning the election but before his inauguration.)

In 2002, authorities arrested

John Allen Muhammad and teenager Lee Boyd Malvo near Myersville, Maryland, in the Washington-area sniper attacks that killed 10 people and wounded three that month (Malvo was later sentenced to life in prison. Muhammad was sentenced to death and executed in 2009.)

In 2003, a British Airways flight from New York to London marked the final commercial flight of the supersonic Concorde jet.

In 2012, Hurricane Sandy roared across Jamaica and headed toward Cuba on its way to the eastern United States; what became known as Superstorm Sandy was a combination of the hurricane and other storms that struck New York and surrounding areas, killing 147 people, 72 in the eastern U.S. In 2024, the owner and manager of the cargo ship Dali agreed to pay more than $102 million in cleanup costs to settle a federal government lawsuit stemming from the 2023 collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge. The Dali had crashed into a supporting column, destroying the 1.6mile span and killing six members of a roadwork crew

Today’s birthdays: Rock musician Bill Wyman is 89. Actor F. Murray Abraham is 86. Actor Kevin Kline is 78. Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., is 71. Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., is 69. Actor B.D. Wong is 65 English soccer manager and former star midfielder Wayne Rooney is 40. Singer Monica Arnold is 45. Fashion designer Zac Posen is 45. Singer-rapper Drake is 39. Actor Ashton Sanders is 30. NBA All-Star Jaylen Brown is 29. Actor Hudson Yang is 22.

FRIDAY

($15 admission/$35 ride wristbands)

n 6 p.m., Mutton Bustin’ and Stick Horse Rodeo

n 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., Kings of Neon (glow party/dance music)

SATURDAY

($15 admission/$35 ride wristbands)

n 9:30 a.m., “Dress Your Goat” contest

n 10 a.m., Junior Dairy Goat Show

n Noon, Junior Poultry Show

n Noon, Junior Rabbit Show

n 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Children’s Pumpkin Decorating Contest

STATE FAIR

n 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., Lee Serio Band (classic rock, blues/soul)

n 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., I-10 Bound Band (swamp pop/country)

SUNDAY

($15 admission/$35 ride wristbands)

n Noon, Junior Beef Show

n 1 p.m., High School Volunteer Award Winners Ceremony

n 3 p.m., Lego Extravaganza

n 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Script Flipper Pres (Christian/ gospel), n 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., Chubby Carrier (zydeco/Cajun)

Continued from page 1D

The helicopter liftoff area will be located on what was the old stage area, down the hill behind the food court. It will be roped off and set up to ensure safety, which will also include constant monitoring, Barton said. On the subject of security, the fair maintains a clear-bag policy making an exception for diaper bags. Security will be screening fairgoers at the gate for weapons.

“Sheriff’s deputies will provide security every minute that we’re open, and then even after we close in the evening, they’re there until the crowd is dispersed,” Barton explained. “And we also have first responders on staff all of the working hours of the fair. We try to pride ourselves as being a safe family environment.”

Even though the fair endured two days of rain during last year’s run, it still attracted between 40,000 and 45,000 people. A volunteer pool of 75-100 people work the festival over its 11 days, Barton, who’s marking

SMOKE

Continued from page 1D

Starr cited examples of classic rock bands that wobble their rock ’n’ roll.

“To me, the Rolling Stones are the definition of that,” he said. “They can be awful, but it’s still great. The Grateful Dead, same thing.”

No-nonsense songwriting is another Blackberry Smoke attribute. Starr’s early years in Atlanta inspired his realistic lyrics.

“I’ve never been good at abstract lyrics,” he said. “I could never be Bob Dylan. I was fascinated with the songwriting of a few guys I played with before we formed Blackberry Smoke Tommy Rivers and Chris Edmonds. I saw these great Atlanta guys writing songs up close. At one point, Chris said, ‘Write about what you know That’s when it’s real.’ Every time I write, I hear ‘write about what you know.’ ” Beginning with 2012’s “The Whippoorwill” album, Blackberry Smoke’s honest lyrics and wobbling music brought much music chart success. The band has placed five albums in the Top 10 of the Top Country Albums chart, two of them at No. 1. The group’s albums entered other charts, too, with last year’s “Be Right Here,” for instance, debuting at No. 1 on Billboard magazine’s Current Rock, Current Country and Americana/

MONDAY ($10 admission; $15 wristbands; $5 admission with The Advocate coupon. Sponsors: The Advocate, Lamar Advertising)

TUESDAY

$2 Tuesday ($2 admission; $2 per ride; some $2 food specials; wristbands, $25)

WEDNESDAY ($10 admission; $15 wristbands; $5 admission with The Advocate coupon. Sponsors: The Advocate, Lamar) n 6:30 p.m., Oyster Shell Painting Event

THURSDAY, OCT. 30

($10 admission; $15 wristbands; $5 admission with The Advocate coupon; plus, buy 1 ride; wristband for $30, get 1 free. Sponsors: The Advocate, Lamar) n 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Meet the

FRIDAY, OCT.

his 53rd year as a volunteer, said. A separate entity, the GBRSF Foundation, disperses fair profits back into the community throughout the year in the form of grants, scholarships and sponsorships. The fair has raised almost $5 million since 1987 for programs involving children, families and quality of life. Here are a few more insider tips and highlights from the president: n Wear comfortable shoes and clothing because there’s a lot of walking.

n Most of the grounds are handicapped accessible, including the entry, food court area and attractions center

n The midway area is accessible, although the asphalt is a bit uneven, so use care.

n There are more 4H agricultural shows this year than in recent years, including beef, dairy, goat, poultry and rabbit contests.

n The mutton busting children’s rodeo has returned after several years, and there also will be stick horse racing.

n Check out the pumpkin, oyster shell and maracas decorating sessions.

n The fair will honor 51 high school students for their volunteer activities during a ceremony on Sunday Baton Rouge Mayor-President Sid Edwards will present each with a certificate and a check.

n Don’t miss the eighth annual Lego competition for kids 7-13

What they can build with a random pile of Legos in 45 minutes is “just amazing.”

For more details, visit gbrsf.com.

Email Judy Bergeron at jbergeron@theadvocate.com.

Folk charts.

Blackberry Smoke’s sustained popularity means the band is now part of Georgia’s great musical history That legacy includes Little Richard, Otis Redding and James Brown from Macon; R.E.M., the B-52’s and Widespread Panic from Athens; Ray Charles and the Allman Brothers Band from smaller towns; and many stars from the Atlanta hip-hop scene.

“That would be an honor to be mentioned alongside some of those names,” said Starr, whose home-state influences include the Atlanta Rhythm Section, the Georgia Satellites, the Black Crowes and Drivin N Cryin. Starr and his bandmates — guitarist Paul Jackson, bassist Richard Turner, keyboard player Brandon Still and new drummer Kent Aberlen — will be celebrating the band’s silver anniversary with-

out a founding member Original Blackberry Smoke drummer Brit Turner died last year from cancer at 57 years old.

“Brit did not want to stop,” Starr said. “He played until he couldn’t play anymore. He was having trouble holding his drumsticks, but still playing beautifully That speaks to his love for doing this.” Turner helped bring the band’s new drummer aboard, letting Aberlen shadow his performances with Blackberry Smoke during his final year of life.

“The day came where Brit couldn’t do it anymore,” Starr said. “But any time I hear the music that we recorded with Brit playing drums, I see him with my ears. I hear his laugh and I see his great big smile. He was my best friend.”

Email John Wirt at j_wirt@msn. com.

PROVIDED PHOTO By ANDy SAPP

Blackberry Smoke

FRIDAY

FLORIDASTREET BLOWHARDS

BUSKING: Downtown Starbucks, 11:30a.m.

THE MIXED NUTS: LiveAfter Five, Rhorer Plaza, 5p.m.

ROCKIN’ ROUGE: T’Quilas, Zachary,6p.m.

BRITTANY JENKINS: Galvez Seafood, Prairieville, 6p.m.

FLOYDBROWN BAND FEATUR-

ING JODYMAYEUX: El Paso, Denham Springs, 6p.m

CHRIS OCMAND: BLDG 5, 6p.m.

LUIS MARIANI: Court To Table, 6p.m

ARNETT HAYES: Stab’s Restaurant, 6p.m.

BO BURKESDUO: Crowne Plaza, 6p.m.

KAITLYN WALLACE: Le Chien Brewing Co., DenhamSprings, 6:30 p.m.

THE LEE SERIO BAND: T’Quilas, Denham Springs, 6:30 p.m.

BACKLIT STEREO: On the Half Shell, Prairieville, 7p.m.

ERIC BASKIN: BayesOyster Bar, 7p.m.

MATT TORTORICH: The Edge Bar at L’Auberge, 7p.m.

ACOUSTICRATS: The Brakes Bar, 7p.m.

CHRIS LEBLANC: Bin 77, 7p.m.

DENTON HATCHER: 18 Steak at L’Auberge, 7p.m

LAUREN LEE BAND: Acadian Festival, Plaquemine, 7p.m.

KINGS OF NEON: GreaterBaton Rouge State Fair, 7:30 p.m.

PINKTOOTH/BETTER LATE

THAN NEVER/ KILLING BUGS: BrickyardSouth, 8p.m.

BUBBAPLAUCHÉ: Riverbend Terrace II at L’Auberge,8 p.m.

KEVIN GATES —THE AMILIO TOUR: Raising Cane’s River Center Arena, 8p.m.

HENRYTURNER JR. &ALLSTARS: Henry TurnerJr.’s Listening Room,8 p.m.

DONE FORTHE WEEKEND/ LEECHY/COFFINWOLF ULTRA/ WIND DUMMY: MidCity Ballroom, 8p.m

PIVOTAL: Phil Brady’s, 8p.m.

WILDLIFE: Coop’s on 621, Gonzales, 8p.m.

BLUE CRAB REDEMPTION: Court To Table, 8:30 p.m.

DANCE MUSIC: American Legion Post 38,9p.m.

JOHN FOSTER: Acadian Festival, Plaquemine, 9p.m.

JOHN RUIZJR.: The Vineyard

9p.m THE MOLLYRINGWALDS: L’Auberge Event Center, 9p.m.

ASHLAND CRAFT/SOUTHLAND: The TexasClub, 9p.m.

BRIAN &THE BANDITS: FatCat Saloon, Prairieville, 9p.m.

THOMAS CAIN: Murphy’s, 9:30 p.m.

TITANIUM RAIN: IcehouseTap Room, 9:30 p.m.

SPANK THE MONKEY: The Edge Bar at L’Auberge,10p.m.

2DOMESTIC 1IMPORT: Squeaky Pete’s, 10 p.m.

SATURDAY

ERIC BASKIN: Watermark Hotel, 10 a.m.

JOSIE MENARD: Leola’s Café, 11 a.m. LA SOUTHBOUND: Acadian Festival, Plaquemine, noon

BLUEGRASS GOSPELFESTIVAL: Sidney HutchinsonPark, Walker, 1p.m.

PANTS PARTY: LSU Tiger Fan Zone, 1:30 p.m.

ROCKIN’ MOZARTSTUDENTS: Acadian Festival, Plaquemine, 3p.m.

SHANE MADERE TRIO: Fred’s on the River, Prairieville, 3p.m

THELEE SERIO BAND: Greater BatonRouge State Fair, 4p.m.

CONNOR MARTIN: Central City,5p.m.

IAN WEBSTER DUO: Sullivan’s Steakhouse, 5:30p.m.

PAPO YSON MANDAO: Pe-

PROVIDED PHOTO FROM JOHN FOSTER MUSIC

Rising country singer and ‘American Idol’runner-up

John Foster,ofAddis, heads home to performatthe Acadian Festival at Bayou PlaquemineWaterfront Park in Plaquemine at 9p.m Friday

dro’s,DenhamSprings,6 p.m.

JOSHUAMAGEE: BLDG 5, 6p.m. KEEPIN’ TIME BAND: T’Quilas, Denham Springs,6p.m.

EDDIE SMITH: El Paso,Denham Springs, 6p.m.

FLORIDASTREETBLOWHARDS: Curbside Burgers, 7p.m.

PERIQUE: The BrakesBar, 7p.m.

CHRISLEBLANC BAND: The Edge BaratL’Auberge, 7p.m.

PETERSIMON: 18 Steak at L’Auberge,7 p.m I-10 BOUND BAND: Greater Baton Rouge State Fair, 7p.m

FAIR PLAY: Acadian Festival, Plaquemine, 7p.m.

JOSH GATES —ANEVENING OF GHOSTS,MONSTERS, AND TALES OF ADVENTURE: Raising Cane’s River Center Theatrefor PerformingArts, 7:30 p.m

BUBBAPLAUCHÉ: Riverbend Terrace II at L’Auberge, 8p.m. THE LANSFORDS: Henry Turner Jr.’s ListeningRoom, 8p.m. THE DRUNK UNCLES: FatCat Saloon, Prairieville, 9p.m.

BLUE CRAB REDEMPTION: Murphy’s,9:30p.m.

BRENT ARMSTRONGTRIO: BrickyardSouth, 10 p.m.

SUNDAY ERICWHITFIELD: Crowne Plaza, 11 a.m

ROBERTCALMES: Cocha, 11 a.m

CHRISLEBLANC: On theHalf Shell, Prairieville, 11a.m.

FEST FORALL: ShawCenter for the Arts, 11 a.m.

JUSTIN BURDETTE TRIO: Superior Grill MidCity,11a.m

JOHN AUTIN/ROB TORME: Jubans, 11 a.m.

PHOEBE KOONTZ: Leola’s Café,11a.m.

JOVIN WEBB: RedStickSocial, noon BLIND AMBITION 2.0: Acadian Festival, Plaquemine, 2p.m.

SCRIPT FLIPPER PRESENTATION: Greater Baton Rouge State Fair, 3:30p.m.

JOSIE MENARD: Icehouse Tap Room, 4p.m.

SONGWRITER SUNDAYS: La Divina Italian Cafe, 5p.m.

DAUZATST. MARIE/BREAK SIGNAL: BrickyardSouth, 5p.m.

THE JEFF BAJON PROJECT: PizzaByronz, 5:30p.m.

JUSTIN CORNETT: Acadian Festival, Plaquemine, 6p.m. RED STICK RHYTHMS: Main Library at Goodwood,6p.m.

KENNY NEAL: TheEdge Bar at L’Auberge,6:30p.m

CHUBBYCARRIER: GreaterBatonRouge State Fair, 6:30 p.m.

DRUNKEN BLUJAY PRESENTS

MURDER BALLADS: Mid City Ballroom, 7p.m

OPEN MIC JAM: FatCat Saloon,Prairieville, 7p.m

MONDAY

ACOUSTICRATS: Phil Brady’s, 6p.m

AMBER RAE DUO: Superior Grill MidCity,6 p.m.

TAKAAT, SLOWHOLE, &GRATITUDE JAR: Mid CityBallroom, 8p.m

TUESDAY

JOSIE JAMES: Bin 77, 5:30 p.m.

TREY MORGAN: Superior Grill MidCity, 6p.m

EDDIE SMITH: On the Half Shell, Prairieville, 6:30 p.m.

WEDNESDAY

CHRIS LEBLANC: Mason’s Grill, 5:30 p.m.

AMANDAJOHESS: BLDG 5, 5:30 p.m.

RACHAEL HALLACK &ERIC

CANTRELLE: Superior Grill MidCity, 6p.m

LSU JAZZ BAND: Classic Vinyls, 6p.m

VICTORIA LEA: On the Half Shell, Prairieville, 6:30 p.m.

KIRK HOLDER: Bin 77, 6:30 p.m.

SONGWRITERS OPENMIC W/ HEATH RANSONNET: Coop’s on 621, Gonzales, 7p.m

ANDYPIZZOTRIO: Hayride

Scandal, 7:30 p.m.

SUNNY SWEENEY: Manship Theatre, 7:30 p.m.

OPEN MIC JAM: O’Hara’s Irish Pub, 8p.m

THURSDAY

DON POURCIAU &KONSPIRACY: Pedro’s, Denham Springs, 6p.m

SHANNON DYER: T’Quilas, Denham Springs, 6p.m

KYBALION: El Paso, 6p.m

JEFF BAJON PROJECT: Superior Grill MidCity, 6p.m

ERIC WHITFIELD: Thai Kitchen

6p.m

PRESS1FOR ENGLISH: Rock N Rowe,PerkinsRowe, 6p.m

CAMPYLE: Bin 77, 6:30 p.m.

CLAYTON SHILLING: On the Half Shell, Prairieville, 6:30 p.m.

ASTRINGS SPOOKTACULAR:

Main Library at Goodwood, 7p.m

T-BOY&JUST US: Swamp Chicken Daiquiris,St. Amant, 7p.m

BEN BELL &THE STARDUST

BOYS: The Brakes Bar, 7p.m

THE BISHOP ELLIS TRIO: Hayride Scandal, 7p.m THE NASHVILLE HITMAKERS: Manship Theatre, 7:30 p.m.

HENRY TURNER JR. &ALLSTARS: Henry Turner Jr.’s Listening Room, 8p.m

BLACKBERRYSMOKE— RATTLE, RAMBLE AND ROLL TOUR

2025: Raising Cane’sRiver Center Theatrefor Performing Arts, 8p.m

CHRIS LEBLANC: The Vineyard,8 p.m.

CHRIS ALLEN: IcehouseTap Room, 8p.m

BLUES JAM: Phil Brady’s, 9p.m OUTLYING

FRIDAY KEEPIN’ TIME BAND: Charlie’s Lounge, Addis, 8p.m

SATURDAY

YELLOW LEAF ARTS FESTIVAL: St.Francisville, 10 a.m.

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

Robin Roberts, with university President WilliamS.Wainwright and hiswife, Misty,sees the newbroadcast media center named in her honor forthe firsttime.

ROBERTS

Continuedfrom page1D SLUUNIVERSITy MARKETING &COMMUNICATIONS PHOTOByRANDyBERGERON

cardboardfanswaved briskly throughout the audience.

“What agreat day for our beloved Southeastern,” university PresidentWilliam S. Wainwright began.

Wainwrightdescribed Roberts, 64, as one of the mostrespected and accomplishedbroadcasters in the industry,rising through theranks to present spot at ABC News. She’s also been named to Forbes World’s 100 Most Powerful Women, and is one of Time magazine’s100 most influential people.

“And due to hergenerosity and her love of her alma mater,weare thrilled to cut aribbon today on the Robin Roberts BroadcastMedia Center,”Wainwright continued. “Through Robin’s expression of love and support, future generations of broadcast journalism graduateswillthrive and therefore strengthen their families, strengthen their communities, strengthen theireconomies, but of mostimportance, strengthen humanity.”

Roberts made asizable donationtothe project which was also paid for through state capitaloutlay funds. The newcenter adds 33,000 square feet to the80,000-square-foot academicbuilding, featuring three broadcastmedia studios —a newsroom, afilm studioand amultimedia studio.

During herremarks, Roberts talked of her first broadcastingjob as sports director/on-air personality at WFPR/WHMD in Hammond while astudent and stand-out on the Lady Lions basketball team.

“You haven’tlived until youscratch alittleMerle Haggard on a100-wattradio station in Hammond, America,”she said, laughing.

“This building is stellar. It is beautiful. It exceedsall my expectations,” Roberts said. “… Icould never have imagined what is behind us right now.But what is most

important, everyone who’s gonna walk through those doors, the teachers that are in there waiting foryou (thestudents) to help you because youare rooted to rise.”

She described the legacy wall located in thecenter’s lobby.It’sadisplayoutlining Roberts’ life, from growing up in Pass Christian, Mississippi, to radio andTVjobsonher way to ESPN and eventually ABC.

“And you will see on the wall,there arethree quotes

One is from Sally-Ann (Roberts, her sister and retired WWL-TV co-anchor): ‘Don’t let fear keep you from your destiny.Don’tlet fearkeep you from your destiny,’ shesaid. “And mine saying, ‘Dream big, but focus small.’ And then the last quote on the wall from our dear mother —‘Everybody has agift. Discover yours and share it with the world.’And I’msograteful that Ihave been allowed this opportunity to share a gift with my Southeastern family.”

One-on-one with Roberts

As shestood in the new center’s state-of-the-art multimedia studio after the ribbon cutting, Roberts took the relatively unfamiliar spot on the other side of themic fielding questions from ahandful of Hammond, Baton Rouge and NewOrleans media.

The Advocate was given timefor afew brief queries to the woman of the hour

Iknowyou’revery, very proud of this media center in your name.How much input in the specifics of building itself did youhave?

It wasareal team effort. And because Ihave worked in this industry for anumberofyears, they did want my input. But at the end of theday,this is forthe university.They know what’s best for their students, what is best to get them prepared.

Ihave to tell you, at first I waslike, don’tput my name on the building. Andthey’re like, what? I’m like, no, it’s not about me.And then my team was like, areyou crazy? So Iwas appreciative, very appreciative of how much they allowed me. But

thecontractor,the architect, the university,they get all the praise, especially the teachers. They knew what they needed best.

You’vementioned your challenges in the broadcast field when you were first starting out, but what are the challenges in TV news today? The challengestoday, which, it is very disheartening. Ilove our profession. I’mvery proud to be ajournalist, as I’msure you are. It hurts my soul thatwe have lost the trust of the American public and for various reasons. And of all theaccolades that Ihavereceived, the one that means themost was when Reader’sDigest named me Most Trusted News Person. (She tears up.) Because without trust, you don’thave anything with the public. Andsothe challengesare, and also with local stations, newspapers, we’rebeing replaced in many ways. And so it’s finding away to embrace thenew technology and the new ways of getting across the information But at the end of the day storytelling is storytelling No matter if it’sprint, no matter if it’s on television, radio, what have you. And Ihopethatthe American public would know that afree press is so vital for their well-being.

Afew years agoyou told us that your dream interviewwould be with Oprah, which you have since done, of course. Is there anyone else still on that dream list?

The one that Iwish, and he’s no longerwith us, is Nelson Mandela. That was the interview that Ireally wanted. And primarily to talk to somebody whowas wronglyjailed foraslong as he was. And to leave imprisonment, not wanting retaliation, butreconciliation. And Ireally wanted to speak to him, because I think so many timeswhen we get angry,nomatter what hashappenedtous, we wanttolash out, and for this mantogolike, no, no, no,no, notretaliation, reconciliation.

There’sthat dreaming big.

Email Judy Bergeron at jbergeron@theadvocate. com.

sCoRPIo (oct. 24-nov. 22) Plan asocial outing that fulfillsyour needs.Whether youenjoycreating something new or getting together with friends, the more you engage in things you enjoy doing, the more growth you'llexperience.

sAGIttARIus(nov. 23-Dec. 21) An emotional plea will serve you well. Provide facts that help others understand your actions. Achange is apparent,but it's up to you to believe and trust in yourselftoensure your initiatives come to fruition.

CAPRICoRn (Dec.22-Jan. 19) Protect your reputation and well-being. Refuse to let anyone put you in acompromising position. Focus on finishing what you start, and you'll gain respect and opportunities.

AQuARIus(Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Listencarefully, and you'll figure out what others are willingtodofor you. Achange at home appears promising and is likely to bring peace of mind.

PIsCEs(Feb. 20-March 20) Live, learn and enjoy what lifeoffers. Socializing will offer insight into the pitfalls and gains that come with change. Expect conversationstocreateanemotional tug-of-war.

ARIEs (March 21-April19) You are overdue for achange. Whether it's an emotional, financial or lifestyle transformation, beginning theprocesswill put your mind at ease and help you recognize the potential it offers.

tAuRus (April 20-May 20) Establish a realistic budget and scheduletoprevent

conflicts and stress. Useyour energy wisely and refuse to let anyone take advantage of your skills without giving back.

GEMInI (May 21-June 20) Market yourself for success. Apassionate conversation about howyou utilizeyour skills and how strongly you feel about achieving your goals will capture the attention of someone who can offer valuable insights.

CAnCER (June 21-July 22) When opportunity knocks, open the door. Participation is the path to new beginnings. Abracing and can-do attitude will serve you well. Protect against injury or illness.

LEo (July 23-Aug.22) Tread carefully Socializing or networking can lead to arguments and emotional conversations that trigger old wounds. Put your energy into nurturing and protecting meaningful relationships.

VIRGo (Aug. 23-sept. 22) Erratic behavior will come back to haunt you. Consider your choices and be mindful of what others expect from you. Bide your time to avoid making amistake.

LIBRA (sept. 23-oct.23) Sticking to the facts, what's feasible and atimetable you can work with will protect you from criticism and stressful situations. Self-improvement, personal growth and making time for someone you love are necessary.

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

FAMILYCIrCUS

Celebrity Cipher cryptograms are created from quotations by famous people, pastand present. Each letter in the cipher stands foranother.

toDAy'sCLuE: EEQuALs V

CeLebrItY CIpher

beetLe bAILeY

Mother GooSe And GrIMM

Sudoku

InstructIons: Sudoku is anumber-placing puzzle based on a9x9 grid with several given numbers. Theobject is to place the numbers 1to9 in the empty squares so that each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once. Thedifficulty level of the Sudoku increases fromMonday to Sunday.

Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer

THe wiZard oF id

BLondie

BaBY BLueS

Hi and LoiS CurTiS

By PHILLIP ALDER Bridge

GeorgeEliot said, “Keep true, never be ashamed of doing right; decideon what you think is right and stick to it.”

(Bythe way, what was George Eliot’s real name?) That is an excellent attitude to adopt in almost everything, including bridge.In today’s deal, South is in three no-trump. West leadshis fourth-highestdiamond, andEast putsupthe 10. What is theright line of play for declarer?

The auction is astraightforward Staymansequence, withSouth’s two-spade rebid denying four hearts.

Southstarts with eight top tricks: one spade, two hearts, onediamond (given the first trick) and four clubs. For the ninth winner, it looks so natural to take the spade finesse.But when it loses (as it is bound to do in abridge lesson or newspapercolumn),Eastreturns adiamond and thedefenders take five tricks: one spade and four diamonds.

South has to establish aninth trick without letting East on lead.Sodeclarer must play on hearts. He leads aclub to the dummy, then runs the heart jack through East.

Here, thefinesse wins and Southhas hisninth winner.But even if the finesse had lost,Westcouldnot lead another diamond without concedinganextra trick to South. Always think about the danger

hand —the opponent you do not want on lead.

GeorgeEliot’s real name was Mary Anne Evans.She used amalepen name because she believed she would be treated more seriously. In the19th century, women authors were (incorrectly)thoughtonlytowritelighthearted romances.

©2025 by NEA,Inc., dist.

By AndrewsMcMeel Syndication

Each Wuzzle is aword riddle whichcreates adisguisedword,phrase,name, place, saying, etc. For example: NOON GOOD =GOOD AFTERNOON

Previous answers:

word game

InstRuCtIons: 1. Words mustbeoffour or moreletters. 2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed. 3. Additional words made by adding a“d” or an “s” may not be used. 4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed.

toDAy’sWoRD MELoDEon: muh-LOH-dee-un: Asmall reed organ.

Averagemark 27 words

Time limit 40 minutes

Canyou find 38 or more words in MELODEON?

yEstERDAy’s WoRD —LoBByInG

nobly gibbon glib glob goblin

today’s thought

“And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.”Acts 5:42

wuzzles

loCKhorNs

marmaduKe

Bizarro

hagar the horriBle

Pearls Before swiNe

garfield

B.C.

PiCKles

hidato

mallard fillmore