The Advocate 10-25-2025 by The Advocate

BY MATTHEW ALBRIGHT and ALYSE PFEIL Staff writers

Gov Jeff Landry and the Louisiana Legislature are intervening to stop SNAP beneﬁts, otherwise known as food stamps, from being

Landry issues order over SNAP funds

halted on Nov 1 due to the federal government shutdown If Congress does not pass a bill to fund the federal government by the end of the month, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program will run out of money Nearly 800,000 Louisiana residents get

SNAP beneﬁts, according to October 2025 data from the Governor’s Ofﬁce.

Landry on Friday declared a state of emergency over the issue. In a news release, he said, “We should not allow our elderly, disabled, or children to go hungry.”

ä Democrats raise more objections over plans to move election dates. PAGE 6A

“Our social security net is supposed to help the most vulnerable, and we will try to accomplish this with today’s action,” he said. The executive order notes that Louisiana has a Revenue Stabilization Fund that the Legislature

can tap for emergencies with a two-thirds vote of each chamber It also notes that the Legislature is currently in Baton Rouge for a special session on election dates.

“We receive about $150 million a month from the federal

BY JOSIE ABUGOV Staff writer

Dave Williams has been to hundreds of seafood restaurants across the South over the past year and he isn’t hunting for the best shrimp po-boy or crawﬁsh étouffée.

From Texas to North Carolina

— and at more than 200 restaurants and three festivals in Louisiana — the commercial ﬁsheries scientist and his team have collected minuscule shrimp samples for a rapid genetic test The goal

is to determine whether the restaurant is serving local shrimp or foreign imports. It’s all part of Williams’ mission to help revitalize the Gulf of Mexico’s ailing coastal industry Williams, who does this work through his company SeaD Consulting, presented his findings to Louisiana shrimpers and seafood enthusiasts at the Louisiana Shrimp Festival and Shrimp Aid at the Broadside in Mid-City earlier this month. Attendees

BY MATT BRUCE Staff writer

Inside a Baton Rouge courtroom on Friday, the first domino fell in an emerging showdown over the national ban on capital punishment for juvenile offenders.

Citing a lack of authority to usurp federal law, 19th Judicial District Chief Judge Donald Johnson quashed a motion from the Louisiana Attorney General to reinstate the death sentence of a man who was a week shy of

ber 1992 carjacking. After the teens drove Gullett to a secluded construction site, Craig ﬁred several bullets into his head and body as he lay in a fetal position. Craig was convicted of first-degree murder, and a jury unanimously elected to condemn him to death in 1994. He remained on death row until 2005, when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled

Supreme Court reviews resentencing case ä See JUDGE, page 4A

administration has unleashed more rapid strikes in recent days against boats it accuses of carrying drugs.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered the USS Gerald R. Ford and its strike group to deploy to the U.S. Southern Command region to “bolster U.S. capacity to detect, monitor, and disrupt

illicit actors and activities that compromise the safety and prosperity of the United States,” Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said on social media. The USS Ford, which has ﬁve destroyers in its strike group, is now deployed to the Mediterranean Sea. One of its destroyers is in the Arabian Sea and another is

ä See CARRIER, page 7A

STAFF PHOTOS By JOHN McCUSKER

Jackie Baham has a close-up look at the live shrimp display on Oct. 18 during the Louisiana Shrimp Festival and Shrimp Aid at the Broadside in New Orleans.

BRIEFS FROM WIRE REPORTS

Kyiv seeks more Russia sanctions, missiles

LONDON Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday urged the United States to expand sanctions on Russian oil from two companies to the whole sector, and appealed for long-range missiles to hit back at Russia.

Zelenskyy was in London for talks with two dozen European leaders who have pledged military help to shield his country from future Russian aggression if a ceaseﬁre stops the more than three-year war

The meeting hosted by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer aimed to step up pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin, adding momentum to recent measures that have included a new round of sanctions from the United States and European countries on Russia’s vital oil and gas export earnings.

The talks also addressed ways of helping protect Ukraine’s power grid from Russia’s almost daily drone and missiles attacks as winter approaches, enhancing Ukrainian air defenses, and supplying Kyiv with longer-range missiles that can strike deep inside Russia. Zelenskyy has urged the U.S. to send Tomahawk missiles, an idea President Donald Trump has ﬂirted with.

The Ukrainian leader said Trump’s decision this week to impose oil sanctions was “a big step,” and said “we have to apply pressure not only to Rosneft and Lukoil, but to all Russian oil companies.”

U.S. wants to deport Abrego Garcia to Liberia

BALTIMORE The U.S. government plans to deport Kilmar Abrego Garcia to Liberia, and could do so as early as Oct. 31, according to a Friday court ﬁling.

The Salvadoran national’s case has become a magnet for opposition to President Donald Trump’s immigration policies since he was mistakenly deported to El Salvador, in violation of a settlement agreement. He was returned to the U.S. in June after the U.S. Supreme Court said the administration had to work to bring him back. Since he cannot be redeported to El Salvador, ICE has been seeking to deport him to a series of African countries.

Meanwhile, a federal judge in Maryland has previously barred his immediate deportation. Abrego Garcia’s lawsuit there claims the Trump administration is illegally using the deportation process to punish him for the embarrassment of his earlier mistaken deportation.

A Friday court ﬁling from the Department of Homeland Security notes that “Liberia is a thriving democracy and one of the United States’s closest partners on the African continent.” Its national language is English; its constitution “provides robust protections for human rights;” and Liberia is “committed to the humane treatment of refugees,” the ﬁling reads. It concludes that Abrego Garcia could be deported as soon as Oct. 31.

“After failed attempts with Uganda, Eswatini, and Ghana, ICE now seeks to deport our client, Kilmar Abrego Garcia, to Liberia, a country with which he has no connection, thousands of miles from his family and home in Maryland,” a statement from attorney Simon Sandoval-Moshenberg said.

Roadside bombing kills 3 officers in Pakistan

PESHAWAR, Pakistan A powerful roadside bomb struck a police vehicle Friday in a former stronghold of the Pakistani Taliban in the country’s northwest near the Afghan border killing a city police chief and two junior officers, officials said The bombing took place in the city of Hangu in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province as the officers were heading to a police station that had been attacked less than an hour earlier local police chief Adam Khan said. He gave no further details.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi condemned the attacks and blamed them on the Pakistani Taliban, which is a separate group but a close ally of Afghanistan’s Taliban, which returned to power in Kabul in August 2021 after the withdrawal of U.S. and NATO forces.

ISRAEL

Rubio tours center overseeing ceasefire

BY MATTHEW LEE and WAFAA SHURAFA Associated Press

KIRYAT GAT, Israel U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday toured a U.S.led center in Israel overseeing the Gaza ceaseﬁre, as the Trump administration worked to set up an international security force in the territory and shore up the tenuous truce between Israel and Hamas. Rubio was the latest in a series of top U.S. ofﬁcials to visit the center for civilian and military coordination. Vice President JD Vance was there earlier this week where he announced its opening, and U.S. envoys

Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law, were also in Israel.

Around 200 U.S. troops are working alongside the Israeli military and delegations from other countries at the center, planning the stabilization and reconstruction of Gaza. On Friday, an Associated Press reporter saw international personnel there with ﬂags from Cyprus, Greece, France, Germany, Australia and Canada

“I think we have a lot to be proud of in the ﬁrst 10 days, 11 days, 12 days of implementation, where we have faced real challenges along the way,” said Rubio.

He named the U.S. ambassador to Yemen, Steven Fagin, to lead the civilian side of the coordination center in southern Israel. The center’s top military ofﬁcial is Adm. Brad Cooper of the U.S. Central Command.

The United States is seeking support from other allies, especially Gulf Arab nations, to create an international stabilization force to be deployed to Gaza and train a Palestinian force.

Rubio said U.S. ofﬁcials were working on possible language to secure a United Nations mandate or other international authorization for the force in Gaza because several potential participants would require one before they can take part. He said many countries had expressed interest, and decisions need to be made about the rules of engagement

He said such countries need to know what they’re signing up for, including “what is their mandate, what is their command, under what authority are they go-

ing to be operating, who’s going to be in charge of it, what is their job?” He also said Israel needs to be comfortable with the countries that are participating.

Rubio met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday Israeli media has referred to the parade of American ofﬁcials visiting their country to make sure the ceaseﬁre stays on track as “Bibi-sitting.” The term, using Netanyahu’s nickname of Bibi, refers to an old campaign ad when Netanyahu positioned himself as the “Bibi-sitter” whom voters could trust with their kids.

In Gaza City, Palestinians who have been trying to rebuild their lives have returned home to rubble.

Families are scrounging to ﬁnd shelter patching together material to sleep on with no blankets or kitchen utensils.

“I couldn’t find any place other than here. I’m sitting in front of my house, where else can I go? In front of the rubble, every day I look at my home and feel sorrow for it, but what can I do?” said Kamal Al-Yazji as he lighted pieces of sponge to cook coffee in Gaza City.

His three-story house, once home to 13 people, has been destroyed, forcing his family to live in a makeshift tent He said they’re suffering from mosquitoes and wild dogs and they can barely afford food because their bank notes are so worn that shopkeepers won’t accept them

As Umm Muhammad al-Araishi walked in the Gaza City neighborhood where she lived before the war, she was looking for a familiar landmark, the Rantisi hospital. But the hospital and the buildings around it were heavily damaged by Israel — which had declared the area a “combat zone” — to the point where little was recognizable.

“I couldn’t ﬁnd the place, I didn’t recognize where my house is, I didn’t recognize the whole neighborhood,” she said.

Rubio said Friday that a conglomerate of up to a dozen groups would be involved in aid efforts in Gaza, including from the United Nations and other humanitarian organizations. However, he said there would be no role for the U.N. aid agency in Gaza, known as UNRWA

N.Y. AG pleads not guilty in mortgage fraud case

BY BEN FINLEY, ALANNA DURKIN RICHER and JENNIFER PELTZ Associated Press

NORFOLK, Va. — New York Attorney Gen-

eral Letitia James accused the Trump administration of using the justice system as a “tool of revenge” after she pleaded not guilty Friday in a federal mortgage fraud case the president pressed the Justice Department to bring.

James’ ﬁrst court appearance in Virginia sets the stage for a highstakes legal battle between the Republican administration and a longtime Democratic Trump foe who angered him with a major civil fraud case she brought against him. She’s accused of lying on mortgage papers to get favorable loan terms when purchasing a modest house in Norfolk, where she has family.

James is the third Trump adversary to appear before a judge this month on federal charges, amplifying concerns that the president is using the government’s law enforcement powers to seek retribution for his own legal troubles. Justice Department leaders have defended the cases and argue the Biden administration — which brought two indictments against him — was the one that weaponized the justice system. The attorney general left the courthouse

smiling to cheers from dozens of waiting supporters, who chanted, “We stand with Tish!” The indictment charging her with bank fraud and making false statements to a ﬁnancial institution, she declared, was about “a justice system which has been used as a tool of revenge and a weapon against those individuals who simply did their job and who stood up for the rule of law.”

“My faith is strong and I have this belief in the justice system and the rule of law, and I have a belief in America,” James said, adding, “There’s no fear today.”

The judge set a trial date for Jan. 26, James’ attorney, Abbe Lowell, told the judge the defense will seek to have the case dismissed, arguing that it’s a vindictive prosecution brought at the direction of the president.

James was indicted this month after the top federal prosecutor who had been overseeing the investigation was pushed out by the Trump administration and the president publicly called on Attorney General Pam Bondi to take action against James and other political foes.

Prosecutors allege that when buying the Norfolk home in 2020, James signed a standard document called a “second home rider” in which she agreed to keep the property primarily for her “personal use and enjoyment for at least one year,” unless the lender agreed otherwise

Trump ends trade talks with Canada over tariffs ad

BY WILL WEISSERT, SEUNG MIN KIM and ROB GILLIES Associated Press

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump announced he’s ending “all trade negotiations” with Canada because of a television ad sponsored by one of its provinces that used the words of former President Ronald Reagan to criticize U.S. tariffs — prompting the province’s leader to later pull the ad.

The post on Trump’s social media site Thursday night ratcheted up tensions with the U.S.’s northern neighbor after Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said he plans to double his country’s exports to countries outside the U.S. because of the threat posed by Trump’s tariffs. White House officials said Trump’s reaction was a culmination of the administration’s long, pent-up frustration about Canada’s strategy in trade talks.

Later Friday, Ontario Premier Doug Ford, whose province had sponsored the ad, said it would be taken down.

Ford said after talking with Prime Minister Mark Carney he’s decided to pause the advertising campaign effective Monday so that trade talks can resume. Ford said they’ve achieved their goal, having reached U.S. audiences at the highest levels.

“Our intention was always to initiate a conversation about the kind of economy that Americans want to build and the impact of tariffs on workers and businesses,” Ford said. “We’ve achieved our goal, having reached U.S. audiences at the highest levels.”

The U.S. president alleged the ad misrepresented the position of Reagan, a two-term president who remains a beloved figure in the Republican Party, and was aimed at influencing the U.S. Supreme Court ahead of a hearing scheduled for next month that could decide whether Trump has the power to impose his sweeping tar-

iffs, a key part of his economic strategy Trump is so invested in the case that he has said he’d like to attend oral arguments.

“CANADA CHEATED AND GOT CAUGHT!!!” Trump wrote on his social media site Friday morning. “They fraudulently took a big buy ad saying that Ronald Reagan did not like Tariffs, when actually he LOVED TARIFFS FOR OUR COUNTRY, AND ITS NATIONAL SECURITY Canada is trying to illegally inﬂuence the United States Supreme Court in one of the most important rulings in the history of our Country.” The ad was paid for by Ontario’s government, not the Canadian federal government. Ford, the premier, didn’t initially back down, posting Friday that Canada and the U.S. are allies “and Reagan knew that both are stronger together.” Ford then provided a link to a Reagan speech where the late president voices opposition to tariffs.

Ford had said the province plans to pay $54 million for the ads to air across multiple American television stations using audio and video of Reagan speaking about tariffs in 1987. Even though the ad will eventually be taken down, it’ll still run this weekend, including Game 1 of the World Series between the Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday night. Ford is a populist conservative who doesn’t belong to the same party as Carney, a Liberal. For his part, Carney said his government remains ready to continue talks to reduce tariffs in certain sectors.

Customer Service: HELP@THEADVOCATE.COMor225-388-0200

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By FADEL SENNA

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks with Israeli Brigadier General yaakov Dolf on Friday as he visits the Civil-Military Coordination Center in southern Israel.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO President Donald Trump speaks Thursday at the White House in Washington.

Explosives plantblast that killed 16 waschain reaction

Tennessee explosionfelt 20 milesaway

BY JONATHAN MATTISE and KRISTIN M. HALL Associated Press

McEWEN, Tenn. Amassive

blastataTennessee explosives plant that killed 16 people,leveled the building and was felt more than 20 miles away began in an area where workers used kettles to produce amixture of explosives and set off other explosives stored nearby, authorities said Friday Investigators stillhaven’t been abletoidentifythe remainsoftwo of thepeople killed in the Oct. 10 explosion at the Accurate Ener-

more, saidBrice McCracken, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ special agentin charge at the National Center for ExplosivesTraining and Research. In addition to locating victims’remains, the on-sitework involved removing and disposing of explosivesthat didn’tdetonateinthe blast

The next phase centers on ATFlabsand testing facilities, where investigators will try to determine what triggeredthe explosion, said Jamey VanVliet, ATF specialagentincharge in theNashville division.

proven, not guessed.”

From 24,000 to 28,000 pounds of explosives detonated that day, authorities said. The blast originated on the 15,000-square-foot plant’sﬁrst ﬂoor,near kettles used in the production of an explosive mixture for the commercial mining industry,McCracken said.

The building was primarily used to makeexplosives known as cast boosters typically amixture of TNT and RDX, or cyclonite, that is poured by hand into a cardboard tube, he said.

stays heated,” McCracken said. “And then they’re able to pull it outinapitcher andtheneach castishandpoured into the cardboard tube.”

Themainﬂoor also stored explosives near aloading dock,and castboosters were cooled on that ﬂoor before being packaged, he said. After theinitial explosion happenedinthose production kettles, investigators believe other explosive materials stored on the main floor also detonated, McCracken said.

getic Systems factoryin Bucksnort, an unincorporated community about 60 miles southwestofNashville, ofﬁcials said at anews

conference.

The delicate investigation at the site of the plant has concluded, but determining acause could take months

“Those results don’tcome quickly,” VanVliet said. “They comethrough time, care, andprecision.And that’swhat this community deserves: answersthat are

Explosives were mixed in kettles on the mezzanine levelbefore beingpumped intoheating kettles on the mainﬂoor,McCracken said.

“Everything is mixed up top andthenitpumps down into the lower ﬂoor,where it

During theinvestigation, authorities searchedanarea of about 500 acres, much of it dense withwoods, looking for evidence. The scene was turned back over to the company Thursday,McCracken said.

U.S. puts sanctionsonColombia’s president, hisfamilymembers

BY MATTHEW LEE and FATIMA HUSSEIN Associated Press

WASHINGTON The Trump administration imposed sanctions Friday on Colombian President Gustavo Petro, his family and amember of his government over accusations of involvement in the global drug trade,sharply escalatingtensions with the leftist leader of one of the closest U.S. allies in South America. The Treasury Department leveled the penalties against Petro; his wife, Veronicadel Socorro Alcocer Garcia; his son, Nicolas Fernando Petro Burgos; and Colombian Interior Minister Armando Alberto Benedetti.

Trump is takingstrongactiontoprotect our nation and make clear that we will not toleratethe trafficking of drugs into our nation.”

Themove ramps up a growing clash between the Republican U.S. president and Colombia’sfirst leftist leader,notably over deadlyAmerican strikes on alleged drug-carrying boats off South America.

attorney he said will represent him in theU.S.

“Combating drug trafﬁcking effectively for decades bringsmethismeasure from the government of the societywehelped so much to stopits use of cocaine,” Petro wrote on X. “Quite aparadox, but notone stepback and never on our knees.”

Petro “has allowed drug cartels to ﬂourish and refused to stop this activity,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in astatement. “President

This week, the Trump administration expanded its crackdown to theeastern Paciﬁc Ocean, where much of the cocaine from theworld’s largest producers, including Colombia, is smuggled. Andinanescalation of militaryﬁrepower in the region, the U.S. military is sending an aircraft carrier to the waters off South America,the Pentagon announced Friday. After the sanctions were announced, Petro named an

The U.S. last month added Colombia, the top recipient of American assistance in the region, to alist of nations failing to cooperate in the drug war for the ﬁrst time in almost30years. Following that decision, the State Department is “slashingassistance for Colombia,” spokesman Tommy Pigott said on social media. U.S. aidisexpected to be cutby at least20%, or roughly $18 million, according to aU.S. ofﬁcialwho spokeoncondition of anonymity to offer details thathave not been made public. Theamount was an estimateand could change.

By The Associated Press

WASHINGTON The Penta-

gon conﬁrmed Fridaythat it has accepted an anonymous $130 million gift to help pay members of the military during thegovernment shutdown,raising ethical questionsafter PresidentDonald Trump hadannouncedthata friend had offered thegift to defray any shortfalls.

While large and unusual, thegiftamounts to asmall contributiontoward thebillions needed to cover service member paychecks. The Trumpadministration told Congress last week that it used$6.5 billion to make payroll.The next payday is coming within the week, and it is unclear if the administration will again move money around to ensure the militarydoes not go without compensation. “That’swhat Icall apatriot,” Trump saidduring a WhiteHouse eventThurs-

day when he disclosed the payment from the donor

The president declined to namethe person, whom he called “a friend of mine,” saying the man didn’twant the recognition.

The Pentagon confirmed it had accepted the donation on Thursday “under its general gift acceptance authority.”

“The donation was made on the condition that it be used to offset the cost of Service members’ salaries andbenefits,”saidSean Parnell, chief spokesman for the Pentagon. “Weare grateful for this donor’sassistance afterDemocrats opted to withholdpay from troops.”

Congress is at astalemateoverthe government shutdown, now on track to become oneofthe longest federal closures ever,inits 24thday.NeitherRepublicans, who have control of the House and Senate, nor

Democrats, in the minority,are willing to budge in their broader standoff over health care funding.

Payment forservice members is akey concern among lawmakers of both parties as well as apoint of political leverage. The Trump administration shifted$8billion from military research and development funds to make payroll last week,ensuring that military compensation did not lapse. Butitisunclear if the Trumpadministration will be willing —orable —to shiftmoney again next week as tensions rise over the protracted shutdown. While the$130millionis ahefty sum,itwould cover just afraction of the billions needed for military paychecks.Trump said the donation was to cover any “shortfall.”

What’sunclear, however, is the regulations around such adonation.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By GEORGEWALKER IV

Flags and flowersare seen Fridayatthe entrance to Accurate Energetic Systems in McEwen, Tenn., after an explosion killed 16 people on Oct. 10

La.ranks last forMedicare, studyﬁnds

BY EMILYWOODRUFF Staff writer

Every day,the New Orleans Council on Aging ﬁelds about 30 calls from older adults trying to make sense of their Medicareoptions.Someneed help comparing plans during open enrollment, which began last week. Others are panicked over rising prescription prices and out-of-pocket costs while on aﬁxed income.

“The doctor prescribes amedicationthat’s$700. Your insurance pays $200. It mayaswell be $7,000,” said NancyGrossley aformer social worker who now answersthe phone at NOCOA and guides seniors through options several times aweekatinformation sessions.

Even with insurance, manyolder adultsare forced to make impossible choices.

“You do end up spending money on medication and doctors’ visits and procedures you can’treally

JUDGE

Continued from page1A

thedeath penalty unconstitutional forfelons who were underagewhen they committed their crimes Thehighcourt issued its landmark ruling in March 2005 in the Missouri case known as Roper v. Simmons. It overturned statutes in Louisiana and 18 other states that permitted executions for crimescommitted by 16- and 17-year-old offenders.

Louisiana AttorneyGeneral Liz Murrillisnow challenging the Roper decision using Craig’scase.

Johnson’sdenial of the motion to reinstate Craig’s death sentence was the first ruling in what could become along battle. Murrill intends to appeal the decision all the way back up to the Supreme Court.Todothat, thecase will have to wendits way through the 1st Circuit Court of Appeal and the Louisiana Supreme Court. Murrill’soffice has already acknowledged that neither of thosestate-levelreview courts has jurisdiction to overturn achallenge to federal law.Ifand when the Louisiana Supreme Court denies the state’sbid to reinvoke Louisiana’s right to put juvenile offenders to death, the state canfile awrit for U.S. Supreme Court review,

afford,” Grossley said. “But then youhave to afford it.”

Duringthisyear’sMedicare open-enrollment period, which continues throughDec. 7, advocates and new data suggest that Louisiana’sseniors face steep challenges accessing and affordingcare.

Thestate rankslast in thenation for how well Medicare serves its residents, according to the 2025 State Medicare Scorecard,anannual ranking from the Commonwealth Fund, which compares the 50 states and theDistrictofColumbia across 31 measures of access, quality,affordability and health outcomes.

Medicare is thefederal health insurance program for people 65 and older and for some younger people with disabilities or serious illnesses. In Louisiana, roughly 1 in 5peopleare Medicare enrollees, amountingtoroughly 940,000 people, accordingtoa2024 analysis from KFF

and justices can consider overturning the split decision thehighcourt imposed 20 yearsago Gullett, the victim, was returningtohis LSUdorm when Craigand three other teens carjacked himatgunpointthe night of Sept.14, 1992. The quartet forced Gullet backintohis Ford Bronco, and they drove around withhim for nearly an hour. Court records and trial testimony indicate Craigspearheadedthe armed robbery and abduction and terrorizedGullett during the ride.

The group of teens drove to asecluded construction site near Kenilworth Parkway, where Craig shot Gullett threetimesinthe head, then stood over him and ﬁred more bullets at him.

After thekilling, Craig joked aloud and bragged to his accomplices, telling them,“Itoldyou Iwas hard,” according tocourt records. Stateprosecutorsstressed that helater threatened the three teens who helped him carry out the carjacking and abduction

The Louisiana Supreme Court issued aseparate rulinginCraig’s case on Friday, sending the question of his paroleeligibilityback to an appellate courtto consider.State prosecutors and Craig’sattorney,John Michael Landis, have tangled foryears over whether he should ever have the right

David Radley,study author and asenior scientist at the CommonwealthFund, acentury-old nonproﬁt that works to improve health outcomes, said Louisiana’solder residentsface “a really tough situation.” They’re sickerand poorer than elderly people in mostother places.

“Louisiana is avery low-income state,” said Radley,pointing out that one-quarter of older adultsin Louisianaare below the poverty level, compared to 19% nationally “The cardsare stacked against beneﬁciaries in thestate.”

Nearly 7out of 10 seniors in Louisiana have three or more chronic healthconditions, according to the report, more than every state except Alabama. Androughly 1in 3Louisiana seniorsonMedicare received amedication considered unsafe for older adults—the highest rate in the nation.

The data also show that 6% of adults 65 andolderinLouisiana went without medical care due to

to go before aparole board.

Followingthe U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in the Ropercase, astate judge reduced Craig’sdeath sentence to life imprisonment withoutthe possibilityof parole,probation or early termination.

District JudgeEboni Johnson Rose vacated that sentence in May2023and resentenced him to alife sentence that gave hima shot at parole. The Attorney General’sOffice appealed to the1st Circuit, and the East Baton Rouge-based appellate court dismissedthe state’s appeal in November 2024, determining they had no standing to review Johnson Rose’slawful ruling.

Six of the seven Louisiana Supreme Courtjudges disagreed in Friday’sorder, determining the state had a right to appeal Craig’sresentencing decision.They remanded thematter back to the 1st Circuit to review themerits of the state’sappeal.

“I’m grateful that the Louisiana Supreme Court afﬁrmed the State’sauthoritytoensurethat theworst criminals are held accountable,” Murrillsaidina statement Friday following thestate SupremeCourt’s order.“Our next step will be making that case to the First Circuit to guarantee that murderer Dale Craig never setsfoot on Louisiana streetsagain.”

cost, the highest rate in the country and nearly four times higher than Vermont’s1.6%. Younger people in Louisiana went without care even moreoften, at 17.5%.

While Medicare has driven huge improvements in access to coverage for older adults, it can’tfully makeupfor years of limitedaccess to care earlier in life.

“Sick45-year-olds become sick 65-year-olds,”Radleysaid. “Affordability is still amajor problem earlier in life,and those problems carry over once people reach Medicare.”

Louisiana’s poor performance in national Medicare rankings is a symptomofbroader,deeply rooted problems, not simply afailing of the program itself,according to researchers. Decades of poverty, low public-health investment and weak social supportshaveleft manyolder residents sicker and more vulnerable long before they reach retirement age.

“Wehave avery lowstarting

point in terms of resources, both personal and societal,” said Dr S. Michal Jazwinski, founding director of the Tulane Center for Aging.

Louisiana ranks within the top 10 nationally for Medicare spending per enrollee, depending on the program,according to aKFF analysis —yet outcomes remain poor.The state does notinvest as much in public health that might inﬂuence theoverallhealth of thepopulation —about $25 per person, among the lowest in the nation.

“Even though we’re spending more(on Medicare), we’re dealing with apopulation that’satgreater risk because of social determinantsofhealth—thingslikepoor housing, food insecurity,low education levels, and limited access to care,” Jazwinski said. At the senior center,it’snot uncommon forpeople to need help with transportation, affording groceries or keeping their lights on, Grossley said.

Chief Justice JohnWeimer issued adissenting opinion, noting the fact thatthe Attorney General’sOffice argued themerits of its appeal before the state Supreme Court in August “While the benefit of thewisdom of theappellatecourts is undeniably helpful, ultimately it is the obligation of this court to write the final chapter in the resolution of this matter,” Weimer wrote. “Exercising our plenary authority would serve the interest of judicial economy by disposingofa matter already briefed and argued before this court. On balance, it would be best in this matter not to remand to the appellate court as reviewofthe substantive underlying issues will inevitably be sought in this court. The timehas come to finally resolve allofthe issuesthis case presents without further delay.”

Email Matt Bruceatmatt. bruce@theadvocate.com.

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•“Patients reported amean88.9% improvementin back pain andbetterfunction. No patientrequired anyinvasivetherapies (e.g.epiduralinjections, surgery).”-AmericanAcademy of Pain Management

•“We thus submit that decompressiontherapy should be considered first, before thepatient undergoesa surgical procedurewhich permanentlyaltersthe anatomyand function of theaffectedlumbarspine segment.”-Journal Of Neuroscience Research

•“86%ofthe 219patientswho completedthe therapy reported immediateresolutionofsymptoms.”-Orthopedic Technology Review

•“Vertebralaxial (spinal) decompressionwas successfulin71% of the778 cases” -Journal of NeurologicalResearch

•“Good to excellentreliefin86% of patients with Herniateddiscs”- TheAmericanJournal of Pain Management

•“Decompression Therapyreporteda76.5% with complete remissionand 19.6%withpartial remission of pain anddisability” -Rio Grande Hospital, Department of Neurosurgery

At LeBlancSpineCenter, we utilizeadvanced, FDA-clearedtechnologythatisproventoeffectively

IcametoLeBlancSpine Centerbecause I hadbeensuffering with extremebackpainand legpainfor severalweeks.I hadtriedother treatments,massage, NSAIDs andTylenol, butI wasstillinpain.

Ibegan Spinal Decompressiontreatments andnow Ifeel100%improved! What Ilike most aboutmytreatment is that it is noninvasive anditeliminatedmypain. My treatmentappointmentsare notlong, and thetreatment is pain-free. Sincebeginning treatmentatLeBlancSpine Center, Iamnow able to do allofmypreviousactivitiesand work withoutpain. Ialsohavemorerange of motion.I wouldhighlyrecommend LeBlanc SpineCenter!

Dr.JohnBarksdale (Dentist) hometown -Baton Rouge,LA

alleviatepain.

It’s importanttonotethatnot everypatient is a candidatefor Spinal Decompression, whichiswhy we prioritize athorough individual assessment for each person whowalks throughour doors. Our high successrateinpainreliefstems from our commitment to only taking on patients whom we confidently believewecan help

Forthe next 7days, we areofferingaspecial “Decompression Evaluation”offer,atnocostto you! What does this offer include? Everything we normally do in ournew patientevaluations:

•Anin-depthconsultationabout your health andwellbeing wherewewilllisten. really listen .tothe detailsofyourcase.

•Acompleteneuromuscular examination

•Afullset of specializedX-rays(if clinically necessary)

•Athorough analysis of your exam andX-ray findings

Youwillsit with thedoctorone on onetogoover your x-rays,and you’ll gettosee everything first hand

At LeBlancSpine Center,weare honestwith our patients andwegivepersonalized attentionand analysis to each case. We trulyenjoy meetingwith patients to answer theirquestions andtohelp find outifSpinalDecompression treatments couldbe theanswertotheir pain

Thereisnochargeatall andyou don’tneedtobuy anything.You have nothing to lose by taking us up on this specialoffer andyou will getanswers to

what is causingyourpain. If youhaveseenour adsinthe past and have thoughtabout calling, don’thesitate. Youdon’t have to go on living in pain,missing outonactivitiesand otherpartoflifethatyou enjoy. Call us today!

I firstcametoLeBlancSpine Centerwith numbness in my arms andlegs. Iwas also experiencinglower back pain andneckpain. I hadbeensufferingwiththisfor over10years Ihad previouslytried oneepiduralinjection in my lowerbackand physical therapy, an I wasstillsuffering with thesesymptoms. Since beginning Spinal Decompressiontreatments, Ihavehad consistent improvement in my back condition, andIamnow 70%improved! Iam liftingwithout pain,sleepingbetter, andInow have theability to walk withouttiring! Iwould highly recommendDr. LeBlancand LeBlanc SpineCenter!

L. J. Dupuy

(College Baseball Coach) Hometown -Addis,LA

IcametoLeBlancSpine Centerbecause Ihad been sufferingwithseverepaininmylow back andlegs. My conditionwas very badand wasgettingworse.I hadpreviouslytried otherdoctors andmedication. Ibegan Spinal Decompressiontherapy treatments now70% improved! Ican nowtie my shoes, puton my clothes, do somecleaninginmyhome, andplay with grandchildren! I’ve also beensleepingbetter, and I’vebeenabletocommunicate with my family better BeforeIbegan treatmenthere, Iwasn’t able to do such things because Iwas in so much pain.WhatI like most aboutmycare at LeBlancSpine Center is thestaff-they are very sweetand professional.The visits that I’ve had are justgreat!Dr. Scottand Dr.Danatreat me like Iam theonlypatient they have-theyare very caring and supportive to me.Iwould recommendLeBlancSpine Centertoanyonewho needshelpwiththeir pain Ihavealready told severalpeopleabout theSpinal Decompressiontreatments- IT WORKS!

DebraEarl Hometown-Baton Rouge

Democratsobjecttoelectioncalendarchange

Housecommittee advances billsto delayprimaries

BY ALYSE PFEIL Staff writer

Democrats in the LouisianaLegislature on Friday continued to pressRepublicans on their plan to delay Louisiana’sspring primary elections by amonth, as the fate of the state’s congressional map hangs in the balance.

On thesecond day of aspecial legislative session, the House and Governmental Affairs Committee advanced two bills that would push all of Louisiana’sApril 18 elections backtoMay 16.

Rep. Beau Beaullieu, the New Iberia Republican who sponsored thosebills andisaleading ﬁgure in the session, said the state is preparing for the possibility that the U.S. Supreme Court could soon issue aruling in Louisiana v. Callais,

anationallywatched redistricting case.

There’sa chance that thejustices could rule the state’scurrent congressionalvoting map invalid.

“This is simplygiving us alittle

bit more time to be able to react,”

Beaullieu told his colleagues, referring to the anticipated Supreme Court decision.

ButDemocrats argued changing the 2026 primaries at this point

there areroughly two and ahalf monthsbeforecandidates areset to qualify —would be adisservice to thepublic.

“Instead of having voter integrity,wemay just have voter confusion,” said state Rep. Ed Larvadain III, D-Alexandria.

“I don’twant to deny people access to voting,” said Larvadain. “I want to make sure that everybody knows what therules are and the dates.”

“When you start changing dates, that’swhere you start the confusion,” he added.

Beaullieu argued that there was plenty of time to communicate thechange to voters.And he warned of the possibility that Louisiana could be forced to hold elections on amap the high court had ruled unconstitutional,which he argued could itself confuse voters.

State Rep. C. Denise Marcelle D-Baton Rouge, noted that two of Louisiana’ssix congressional districts aremajority-Black,and four

are majority-White. She asked Beaullieu, “Why would that be so harmfultopeople to be represented by thecurrent congressionaldistricts,” and “what is the harm”inhaving two African Americans in Congress?

Beaullieureiterated theissue is that apotential Supreme Court ruling invalidating Louisiana’smaps could add“to voter confusionand people not showing up to the ballotbecause themaps have been thrownout.”

And Rep. Candace Newell, DNew Orleans, accused Republicans of trying to compress the 2026 election calendar,“shortening thetime people have to make legal challenges” andrunning out the clock against judicial review.

“WhenI speaktothe citizens that Irepresent,I always tell them, ‘If you do not like what we do, sue the Legislature,’”Newell said. Beaullieu said he “vehemently” disagreed with that assertion. “We are giving moretime,” he said.

government for SNAP beneﬁts,”House Speaker Philip DeVillier,R-Eunice,said in an interview Friday DeVillier said he is sponsoring aresolution urging the Landry administration and theLouisiana Department of Health, which administers food stamps in Louisiana, “to take any means necessary” to ensure that SNAP cards are filled with beneﬁts in November

The proposal, sponsored by both DeVillier and Senate President Cameron Henry, asks the health department to first repurpose its own agency funds for November SNAP beneﬁts. The Legislature could then reimburse the health department from the Revenue Stabilization Trust Fund, DeVillier said DeVillier said he worked with officials fromthe

health department and from the Governor’sOffice to craft theresolution “I feel like they’re on board,” he said.

Themeasure wasunanimouslypassed bythe House on Friday DeVilliersaid heiswilling to use up to $150 million from the state savings account to ensure November SNAPbeneﬁts are funded.

However,onFriday afternoon, he said he was unsure whether thefederal government would reimburse Louisiana for those funds

In adiscussion on the House floor,state Rep.Jack McFarland, R-Jonesboro, and theHouse budget chair,said he thinks it’s“imperative” for theLegislature to ask the federal government for such areimbursement.

Landry’sorder refers to the ongoing lapse in government funding as the “Schumer Shutdown,” areference to U.S.Senate MinorityLeader ChuckSchumer,D-N.Y.Re-

publican leaders —includingU.S. HouseSpeaker MikeJohnson,R-Benton, and MajorityLeader Steve Scalise, R-Jefferson —have faulted Democratsfor not voting for abill to extend government funding at the current levels.

But Democratshave arguedRepublicanscaused the shutdown by refusing to negotiate with them on howtohandle the looming expiration of healthcare subsidies, which could leave millions of Americans with dramatically higher health insurance premiums.

With thegovernment shut down, manyfederal workers have been furloughed or are working without pay.Much of the national park systemshut down, lines have lengthenedatairports, and manyfederal agencies have stopped doing business, among other disruptions.

As of Friday,there was no sign that theimpasse would end anytime soon.

there maybe an importantgap in your healthcare coverage

That’s right.Asgood as Medicare is, it wasnever meanttocover everything. That means if you wantprotection, youneed to purchase individualinsurance.

Early detection canprevent smallproblems from becoming expensive ones.

The best way to preventlarge dental bills is preventivecare. The American Dental Association recommends checkups twice ayear.

dental health forgranted. In fact, your odds of having adental problem only go up as youage.2

the

STAFF PHOTO By JAVIER GALLEGOS

Louisiana state representatives linger after the House adjourned Thursdayonthe firstday of the special legislativesession.

sampled dishes like shrimp birria tacos and tempura-fried shrimp, while listening to live music and even watching a puppet show They also heard from Louisiana shrimpers, oystermen and people like Williams trying to preserve the livelihood. After a year of sampling restaurants across eight Southern states, Williams told the gathering that scores of restaurants in the region were falsely advertising their shrimp

“This is just the start, because we need to bring new life into our industry,” Williams said. “I’m a little bit of an evangelist.”

For years, shrimpers have struggled to compete against cheap foreign imports and an ongoing pattern of mislabeling According to the Food and Drug Administration, 95% of the seafood consumed in the U.S. is imported from other countries.

“This has been a massive uphill battle,” Kindra Arnesen, a shrimper in Venice, said on a panel at the New Orleans festival.

Louisiana’s coastal industry has suffered from price declines as the amount of imported shrimp has grown. Shrimp dockside value in the state has dropped from

CARRIER

Continued from page 1A

in the Red Sea, a person familiar with the operation told The Associated Press. As of Friday, the aircraft carrier was in port in Croatia on the Adriatic Sea.

The person, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive military operations, would not say how long it would take for the strike group to arrive in the waters off South America or if all ﬁve destroyers would make the journey

Deploying an aircraft carrier will surge major additional resources to a region that has already seen an unusually large U.S. military buildup in the Caribbean Sea and the waters off Venezuela.

The latest deployment and the quickening pace of the U.S. strikes, including one Friday, raised new speculation about how far the Trump administration may

around $4.50 per pound in the 1980s to around $1.50 per pound in 2022, when adjusted for inﬂation, according to Louisiana Fisheries Forward a collaboration between the state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and LSU.

In 2000, there were around 6,900 commercial shrimpers in Louisiana. Last year there were fewer than 1,400.

Williams’ genetic testing is backing up what many shrimpers have been saying for years — restaurants were falsely advertising imported shrimp as local shrimp and sometimes charging more for them.

For Williams, 65, the work is personal. The scientist, originally from a peninsula in southwest England and now based outside Houston, has been in the seafood industry since he joined boat crews at 14. Losing money can make the already dangerous profession even more risky, he said. As people struggle to make ends meet, they often let go of their deckhands and might enlist family members for assistance out on the water

“We also lost a lot of good friends,” he said while choking up.

Over the past year, SeaD surveyed two dozen restaurants in seven Louisiana cities from Shreveport to Houma. They found that areas closer to the coast are

go in operations it says are targeted at drug trafﬁcking, including whether it could try to topple Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

He faces charges of narcoterrorism in the U.S.

There are already more than 6,000 sailors and Marines on eight warships in the region.

If the entire USS Ford strike group arrives, that could bring nearly 4,500 more sailors as well as the nine squadrons of aircraft assigned to the carrier

Complicating the situation is Tropical Storm Melissa, which has been nearly stationary in the central Caribbean with forecasters warning it could soon strengthen into a powerful hurricane.

Hours before Parnell announced the news, Hegseth said the military had conducted the 10th strike on a suspected drug-running boat, leaving six people dead and bringing the death count for the attacks that began in early September to at

more likely to serve authentic shrimp. In New Orleans, only 13% of surveyed restaurants mislabeled their seafood. In Shreveport, 58% of restaurants were falsely promoting local shrimp. Compared to other states, Louisiana came out on top as having the highest rates of real Gulf shrimp, Williams said. Around 65% of surveyed samples across the state turned up domestic shrimp.

The Louisiana Shrimp Task Force, which reports to the state wildlife agency, hired the company to conduct the testing. SeaD releases its ﬁndings to the wildlife agency and enforcement authorities in the Louisiana Department of Health can view the data. The food tech company has received around $140,000 from the state over the past year Williams said.

SeaD’s work coincides with a law that recently took effect aiming to address the mislabeling problem.

As of Jan. 1, Louisiana restaurants are required to clearly state the country of origin of the shrimp and crawﬁsh that they’re selling. Restaurants in violation could face thousands of dollars in ﬁnes.

But Williams and others in the shrimping industry said enforcement in Louisiana at the restaurant level is “abysmal.”

The Health Department, which is responsible for ensuring compliance, did not respond to requests

least 43 people.

Hegseth said on social media that the vessel struck overnight was operated by the Tren de Aragua gang. It was the second time the Trump administration has tied one of its operations to the gang that originated in a Venezuelan prison.

“If you are a narco-terrorist smuggling drugs in our hemisphere, we will treat you like we treat Al-Qaeda,” Hegseth said in his post. “Day or NIGHT, we will map your networks, track your people, hunt you down, and kill you.”

The strikes have ramped up from one every few weeks when they first began last month to three this week, killing a total of at least 43 people. Two of the most recent strikes were carried out in the eastern Paciﬁc Ocean, expanding the area where the military has launched attacks and shifting to where much of the cocaine is smuggled from the world’s largest producers, including Colombia. Friday’s strike drew parallels

for comment. The Agriculture Department, meanwhile, is responsible for ensuring that the seafood from distributors and grocery stores is safe for consumption, said Mike Strain, agriculture commissioner

The agency is also responsible for verifying that imported seafood is properly labeled. Strain said the department has so far inspected 684 packages for mislabeling issues, found 23 instances of noncompliance and issued 18 stop orders.

Despite Williams’ concerns about enforcement, labeling laws appear to help. According to SeaD’s ﬁndings, states with these statutes, including Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi, are less likely to turn up mislabeled restaurant shrimp.

States without these laws, like Florida, fared far worse. The company’s genetic testing found that 96% of restaurants in the TampaSt. Petersburg, Florida, area were serving imported shrimp while implying their food was local.

When Williams and the SeaD team visit a restaurant to collect a shrimp sample, they only need a crumb of the crustacean for their patented RightTest device.

After boiling the speck of shrimp to separate its RNA from DNA, the scientists can determine whether the sample corresponds to a species of shrimp known as vannamei

to the ﬁrst announced by the U.S. last month by focusing on Tren de Aragua, which the Trump administration has designated a foreign terrorist organization and blamed for being at the root of the violence and drug dealing that plague some cities.

While not mentioning the origin of the latest boat, the Republican administration says at least four of the boats it has hit have come from Venezuela. On Thursday, the U.S. military ﬂew a pair of supersonic heavy bombers up to the coast of Venezuela.

Maduro argues that the U.S operations are the latest effort to force him out of ofﬁce.

Maduro on Thursday praised security forces and a civilian militia for defense exercises along some 1,200 miles of coastline to prepare for the possibility of a U.S. attack.

In the span of six hours, “100% of all the country’s coastline was covered in real time, with all the equipment and heavy weapons to

that is commonly farmed in Asia and South America but does not exist in the Gulf. After testing dozens of restaurants in a city the company publicizes the ones that do the “right thing,” Williams said.

Still, some restaurants are scared of what the company is doing, said Erik Nunley after a panel at the festival featuring shrimpers and policy advocates. As a chef and educator at Chefs Brigade, an initiative to connect the regional seafood and restaurant industries, Nunley said he works with shrimpers through the nonproﬁt but also recognizes the pressure that restaurants feel to acquire the cheapest products at the highest quality “I’m on both sides,” Nunley said. Restaurants may need to start bracing for more genetic testing. Williams wants to start verifying whether restaurants around the country are mislabeling oysters. Based on conversations with oystermen, Williams hypothesizes that fried oysters in more inland places are mislabeling their products.

“How many people outside I-10 are selling Louisiana oysters?” Williams asked members of the state’s oyster task force in October “You don’t know the answer to that.”

Email Josie Abugov at josie. abugov@theadvocate.com.

defend all of Venezuela’s coasts if necessary,” Maduro said during a government event shown on state television.

The U.S. military’s presence is less about drugs than sending a message to countries in the region to align with U.S. interests, according to Elizabeth Dickinson, the International Crisis Group’s senior analyst for the Andes region.

“An expression that I’m hearing a lot is ‘Drugs are the excuse.’ And everyone knows that,” Dickinson said. “And I think that message is very clear in regional capitals. So the messaging here is that the U.S. is intent on pursuing speciﬁc objectives. And it will use military force against leaders and countries that don’t fall in line.” Hegseth’s remarks around the strikes have recently begun to draw adirectcomparisonbetweenthewar on terrorism that the U.S. declared after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and the Trump administration’s crackdown on drug trafﬁckers.

IMTT seeks to expand tank farm

St. Rose facility faces some resident complaints

BY DAVID J MITCHELL | Staff writer

A large chemical and petroleum

tank farm in St. Rose is projected to play an integral part in a $4.5 billion “blue” ammonia complex proposed for St. Charles Parish, part of a wave of new industrial development.

But the tank farm, International Matex Tank Terminals, has become another flashpoint in a familiar conﬂict over heavy industries trying to coexist with fence-line Mississippi River communities.

In recent weeks, residents and activists, many of whom are already against the St. Charles Clean

Fuels complex, have opposed the renewal of a standard, ﬁve-year air permit for IMTT

Though the permit would cut emissions of volatile organic compounds by 10% as well as some toxic chemicals, it would also authorize four new refrigerated ammonia storage tanks for St. Charles

Clean Fuels and allow an 11% overall boost in toxic emissions. Those chemicals include the known carcinogen benzene and others with acute or chronic respiratory, neurological or suspected reproductive effects, like ammonia, methanol, cumene and n-hexane.

During a recent public hearing and in written comments, opponents have voiced concerns about new emissions from a facility they say has chronic, foul-smelling releases that cause migraines, breathing problems and other issues.

The new permit would also maintain authorization for 26 additional tanks that were embedded in air permits for at least the past 15 years, but never built.

SERVICE WITH A SMILE

Capital Area United Way Director of Communications & Marketing Charlie Champagne carries a tape measure while preparing the layout for the Capital Area United Way’s 38th annual Jambalaya Jam in front of an art installation at the downtown EBR Parish Library on Wednesday. The Jambalaya Jam will be from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday at North Boulevard Town Square and features over 50 participating cooking teams from 10 parishes. The art installation displays portraits of Baton Rouge residents and is the work of Inside Out Photobooth.

State Police looking for driver in hit-and-run

Louisiana State Police are asking for the public’s help in identifying the driver who struck and killed a pedestrian Wednesday in Baton Rouge, then ﬂed the scene. James Rasberry, 71, of Hodge, was walking along the southbound shoulder of Plank Road, just north of Hooper Road, at 1:45 p.m., when he was struck from behind by a vehicle. Rasberry suffered severe injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. Based on evidence gathered by State Police, it is believed the vehicle is a 2019 or newer Nissan Altima, with damage to the right front bumper area, including the headlight and side mirror

BY HALEY MILLER | Staff writer

To the frustration of some residents, West Baton Rouge will continue to have a part-time ﬁre chief, at least for now The West Baton Rouge ﬁre board agreed to revisit the contract with Fire Chief Butch Browning in a year, acknowledging a series of public comments protesting the absence of a full-time chief overseeing the department.

“Why not the fire department, the most important department there is, that’s gonna save your structure, save your family if you’re trapped in a ﬁre, that’s gonna show up in an ambulance to save your life?” resident Anthony Summers said at the meeting Thursday “Why not have a full-time leader?”

The board previously voted on the parttime classification and update of Browning’s contract in August. It had to revote this week after residents complained they were denied a public comment period at the last meeting. Before voting to amend the civil service classification plan, the parish maintained a job description for a full-time fire chief selected from an eligibility list of applicants who took a civil service exam. Browning was not on an eligibility list generated in 2021. Instead of hiring from that list, the parish opted to appoint Browning as a

River captain who sped to Luling ferry disaster dies

BOB WARREN | Staff writer

STAFF PHOTO By JAVIER GALLEGOS

just ran over the ferry,’ ” Maurice Wattigney said. Their tugboat was the ﬁrst to arrive at the scene of the overturned ferry “He said, ‘We could hear people screaming.’ But he said they were just working off sounds — they couldn’t see the people. And they didn’t want to run people over, so they had to be careful.”

Oct. 20 marked the 49th anniversary of the ferry disaster that claimed 78 lives and stunned a region that had grown up around the Mississippi River

But while he might not have spoken often about what he witnessed as an 18-year-old on that chilly morning, Maurice Wattigney said the Luling ferry disaster persisted in his father’s heart and mind, and became a cautionary tale during a maritime career that would ultimately take him to a leadership role in the New Orleans-Baton Rouge Steamship Pilots Association, known as NOBRA.

Capt. Louis M. “Toby” Wattigney Jr. died Oct. 12 while at his hunting camp in Yazoo City, Mississippi. He was 67. Maurice Wattigney said his father appeared to have suffered a heart attack.

Capt. Wattigney, a native of New Orleans and longtime resident of Belle Chasse, graduated from O. Perry Walker High School and attended classes at the University of New Orleans before joining his elder brother working on the river for Crescent Towing Maurice Wattigney said

FARM

Continued from page 1B

They also pointed to the fire the tank farm had in April 2023, the risk of reduced property values and the loss of nearby swampland valuable to preventing ﬂooding.

A few also raised the specter of the Smitty’s Supply Inc. explosion and fire in late August near Roseland. Smitty’s storage tanks holding ﬂammable motor oil and other petroleum products were destroyed, spilling millions of gallons of oil into nearby ponds and the Tangipahoa River The spills are still being cleaned up. That ﬁre also sent oily soot 15 miles from the plant and forced temporary evacuations.

IMTT operates as a forhire liquid chemical storage hub for many of the plants in the region. Its 216 existing tanks hold 14.8 million barrels of crude oil, heavy fuel oil, vegetable oil, kerosene, biodiesel, naphtha and other chemicals on a site slipped between neighborhoods on either side, according to company ofﬁcials and state regulatory papers.

In operation since the 1920s, the tank facility has been owned by IMTT since the early 1980s, employs about 165 people and was St. Charles’s 10th-largest property taxpayer in 2023.

IMTT officials said the company only has specific plans to build the four ammonia tanks for St. Charles Clean Fuels if that project goes forward The clean fuels project is also still waiting on its state air and other key permits. The four tanks would hold 1.8 million barrels combined of ammonia. The naturally occurring chemical vital to animal and plant life isn’t carcinogenic, according to federal regulators. But it has a strong odor, can burn the skin, eyes and lungs at high concentrations and becomes flammable in extremely high-temperature situations.

The other 26 new tanks, which could hold another 2 million barrels, that are anticipated in the latest air permit aren’t tied to current construction plans but give IMTT the ﬂexibility to respond to the marketplace, company ofﬁcials said.

The ofﬁcials also pointed out the proposed permit limits reﬂect a potential to emit that includes all proposed and existing tanks. IMTT’s

to the

his father’s career was “amazing,” working up the maritime industry ladder.

“You got a guy who worked his way from being a deckhand to being president of NOBRA,” he said.

“He was a man of faith and loyalty,” Maurice Wattigney said “And perfection. He loved teaching, but he didn’t have any room for people who only did things halfway.”

Capt Wattigney was a steamship pilot with NOBRA for 30 years and was serving as its president at the time of his death.

“He was one of the best guys I ever worked with or had the pleasure to be around,” said Andrew Cooper, senior vice president at Crescent Towing and a longtime friend. “He had a talent to teach young mariners and solve problems on the river

actual emissions are far lower and have dropped in some cases

Operating with this renewal pending for more than four years, IMTT is pursuing the process about a year after the company withdrew a planned rezoning to create a buffer for a future storage facility on its vacant property across the river in Luling amid community opposition.

Carlin Conner, CEO of IMTT said the complex has taken a greener focus over the past ﬁve years and needs this renewal to remain competitive.

Conner said the company has shifted to renewable chemicals, has a community panel to inform residents, invested in lower-emitting tanks and has its own fenceline network of benzene monitors IMTT also has a new partnership with the Louisiana Environmental Action Network to install four community monitors, which are close to going online.

“We won’t stop looking for new ways to improve for the sake of our shared communities, our employees and the future economy This air permit gives us that ﬂexibility,” Conner said. “It lets us maintain normal operation of our existing units while positioning us to attract new customers in this constantly changing market.”

Ray Gregson, CEO of the River Region Chamber of Commerce, said IMTT’s logistics operation keeps other industries in the parish competitive.

“Here’s the bottom line: Renewing the permit supports a longstanding Louisiana-rooted employer that contributes to our economy, invests in our people and partners with others,” said Gregson, who is also president of the St. Charles Parish School Board.

Gregson spoke in his capacity as a chamber executive, he said, and not as an elected school ofﬁcial.

The vast majority of the few dozen people who spoke about the project Tuesday night at a middle school gym in St. Rose opposed the renewal. They pointed to what they alleged was IMTT’s lengthy track record of foulsmelling and disorienting emissions that enter homes and confront children waiting for the morning school bus.

About 70 reports of nonemergency air releases have been shared with DEQ since Jan. 1, 2020, including 15 this year, according to agency re-

You trusted everything he said.”

Wattigney held a multitude of leadership positions with NOBRA and other groups, and was chair of Gov Jeff Landry’s task force on navigation and safety for the Louisiana Ports, Waterways and Investment Commission.

The governor noted Wattigney’s death in a Facebook post Oct. 13, writing “Toby’s decades of service ensured the safety of countless vessels and the strength of our maritime industry.”

Maurice Wattigney said his father was especially proud of the work he did with the Rev Michael Champagne in 2024 on the Fete-Dieu du Mississippi, a “blessing of the river” and those who had lost their lives on it.

“That was one that meant

ports.

Many of them were odor complaints that follow-up DEQ investigators could not smell when they arrived on scene or could only detect light odors with measured chemical concentrations within health and safety ranges.

Living on Fourth Street next to IMTT, Erica Zeringue, 54, said she has grappled with chronic smells for years only to see DEQ ﬁnd nothing some time afterward. She opposed adding more chemicals, like ammonia.

“I have an 87-year-old mother at home that has to live and breathe this foolishness. I say, ‘No,’ to this plant,” she said.

Lawyers with the Environmental Law Clinic at Tulane, who represent a St. Rose resident, raised the environmental justice concerns of adding more chemical storage near ElkinsvilleFreetown. Emancipated slaves founded the historic post-Civil War community, which forms the old core of St. Rose next to IMTT

In written comments last month, the attorneys said this rich cultural heritage could be compromised if residents must move because of an accident or due to further environmental deterioration.

“The IMTT application fails to acknowledge the history or demographics of the community located just a few hundred feet from its property line,” the comments state.

Law clinic lawyers also called on DEQ to require IMTT to model the concentration of short-term air pollution and see if some projected toxic increases could exceed state standards.

They said the last time modeling happened in 2010, pollutant measurements for acute emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide weren’t required and many toxic emissions weren’t checked.

Sulfur dioxide is known to produce foul odors that are often the source of community complaints, DEQ has

BLOTTER

Continued from page 1B

Anyone with information about the crash or the driver’s identiﬁcation is asked to call Louisiana Police Troop A at (225) 754-8500.

Police: Man who stole truck booked

When Ascension Parish sheriff’s deputies stopped Jadavian Serf on La. 941 Thursday morning outside of Gonzales, he was still inside the construction work truck he reportedly stole from a store on Airline Highway First, the 29-year-old Baton Rouge man admitted that the vehicle, a 2023 Chevy Silverado, was not his. Then he let deputies in on why he was driving it.

ton Rouge construction contractor who asked not to be named, was told by The Advocate about Serf’s excuse, he had this to say

“How the f*** did that happen?” the employee asked.

“Why’d (Trump) have the key with him?” The employee had called police at 9 a.m. Thursday He told them he walked into the Fly By convenience store on Airline Highway; when he walked out with his breakfast five minutes later, his work truck was gone. A Baton Rouge police detective was able to locate the vehicle with the help of OnStar services, at which point deputies with APSO made contact with Serf. The truck was roughly 35 miles from the convenience store where it had been stolen.

a lot to dad,” Maurice Wattigney said.

In addition to his work on the river and his love of hunting, Capt. Wattigney also coached boxers, his son said.

“He loved boxing. He grew up with boxing,” Maurice Wattigney said.

In addition to his son, Capt. Wattigney is survived by his wife Catherine Kloor Wattigney; his brother, William Louis Wattigney Sr.; his granddaughter, Grace Wattigney; and numerous other family members.

A funeral Mass was said Tuesday at Holy Name of Mary Catholic Church in New Orleans. Memorial donations can be made in Capt. Wattigney’s honor to the Manresa House of Retreats in Convent or the Father Seelos Center in New Orleans.

said. Nitrogen oxide can cause respiratory problems.

In an interview, IMTT ofﬁcials said they weren’t required to do the modeling, but would do it if DEQ asked.

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

“Donald Trump signed an executive order for me to have it for the next 24 hours,” Serf told them, according to the warrant for his arrest.

When the truck’s legal driver an employee of a Ba-

According to the truck’s driver, the vehicle was missing for only a few hours. Serf was booked into the Ascension Parish jail as a fugitive, with BRPD issuing a warrant for him on a count of theft of a motor vehicle valued over $25,000.

FIRE CHIEF

Continued from page 1B

part-time chief, a move that some residents have argued creates confusion in the chain of command and does not align with the needs of a parish ﬁre department.

“We do need to work with you to set some sort of transitional period and work towards hiring a competent, qualified, full-time chief,” council member Brady Hotard said to Browning at the Thursday meeting.

Council member Kirk Allain said he appreciates the strides made by the department under Browning’s leadership The Property Insurance Association of Louisiana most recently gave the parish a 3 ﬁre rating, an improvement from the ratings of 4 to 7 in parts of the parish previously

Allain agreed that a fulltime position is necessary, but he said the 2021 eligibility list, when the parish attempted to fill that opening, wasn’t satisfactory “We, I think, as a whole fire board, want a full-time fire chief,” Allain said. “But I just think at the time, we did not have qualified candidates.”

As the council approved Browning’s contract, Hotard said he would like to see Browning and Parish President Jason Manola create a proposal for how many hours the part-time ﬁre chief should work each week.

“Leadership presence is so incredibly important, especially in a place like the fire department, so I want to make sure,” Hotard said. “I’m not saying you’re not there. I’m just saying it’s not in the contract, and I’d like it to be in the contract.”

STAFF FILE PHOTO

Boats and Coast Guard helicopters respond

Luling ferry disaster in October 1976. The George Prince ferry collided with a large tanker, overturning the ferry and claiming the lives of dozens of ferry passengers.

Bonnecaze, Eugene

ResthavenFuneral Home,11817 JeffersonHwy in BatonRougeat

2:30pm

Sugar, Patricia Lake Lawn Metairie FuneralHome, 5100 PontchartrainBlvd. in New Orleans, LAat 1pm

Williams,Thelma NewSunrise BaptistChurch, 966 MarylandAve.,PortAllen at 10:00am.

Carter,Dorothy Greater PhiladelphiaBaptistChurch at 10am Carpenter, Nellie Faye 'Nanny'

Fairchild,Sharon SealeFuneralHome, 1720 S. Range Avenue in Denham Springs, at noon.

Girod, Marvin

ResthavenGardens of Memory & FuneralHomeat11am.

Lewis, Charles OursoFuneral Home,13533 Airline Hwy.Gonzales,LAat10am.

Link, John Winnfield FuneralHomeat11:00am.

Randall Sr., Lonnie

AsburyUnitedMethodist Church 101 Live OakDrive in Lafayette, at noon.

Rose,Hannah St.Andrew theApostle Catholic Church,3101 Eton St NewOrleansat 9:00am.

Scott, Ethel Mount Hope BaptistChurch, 9654 Highway 10,Ethel at 11:00am.

SheltonJr.,James Greenoaks FuneralHome, 9595 FloridaBlvd.,Baton Rougeat2:00pm Simoneaux, Evelene Woodlawn MethodistChurchat 12:00pm Sims Sr., Lawrence CalvaryMethodist Church at 11:00am.

Nellie Faye Carpenter, 91, “Nanny”,a resident of Jackson, LA,diedonThurs‐day, October23, 2025. She was anativeofCorinth,MS andworkedfor East LouisianaState Hospital forovertwenty-ﬁve years. Therewillbea visitation on Sunday,October 26 2025 at theSecondBaptist Church of Jacksonfrom 9:00 am until funeralser‐vicesat11:00 am,con‐ducted by Rev. Clark Fooshee. Burial willbeat thechurchcemetery. She is survived by twosons: TommyLarry Sagely and wife Jean of Jackson, LA; Alan Perry Sagely andwife Eileen of Greensburg;one sister, Nila MaeDixon;nine grandchildren,eighteen

eleven great great grand children.She waspre‐cededindeath by herpar‐ents,Testerand Bertha Elam,son SteveWood threebrothers: Homer OrbieElam, AaronMcKin‐leyElam, andRufus Gene Elam,one grandchild,Mor‐ganChristine Sagely,and brother-in-law Wallace Dixon. Pallbearerswillbe ScottSagely, Perry Sagely II, JeremieSagely, Kyle Sagely,Bobby NationsIII, KolbySagely. Honorary pallbearer will be Bobby NationsJr. Shewas amem‐berofSecondBaptist church fornearly6 decadesand aproud quil‐terfor thesewinggroup that made blankets forthe VA homesand thosein need.Share sympathies memories,and condo‐lences at www.CharletFune ralHome.com.

Hilbun,Susan Margaret

Susan wasborn in Baton Rouge on September 11, 1970, anddiedatOur Lady of the LakeHospital on October 22,2025. She attended St. Thomas Moreschool andBelaire High School.

She is survived by her partner of 20 years Daniel Harris; her mother and stepfather Judyand Randy Anding of UnionCity, TN; her brotherGeraldHilbun of Center Moriches,NY; andnumerous cousinsand friends.

Susan is preceded in death by her father Philip Hilbun; abrother Justin Hilbun; andher maternal

Tommye Wall

There will no funeral service. Dispersal of her ashes will take place at a future date.

Hannah Marie Rose was born on September 26, 2007 to loving parents Tenisha Scott and Jeremy Rose in NewOrleans, LA. She passed away on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, at theyoung ageof18. She attended elementary school at St.Andrew the Apostle CatholicSchool and was a2025 graduateof Cabrini High School. She holds the Crescent record forthe javelinthrow, earning an athleticscholarship to Indiana Tech University.

Hannah was preceded in death by her maternal grandmother, Christine Jones Scott,maternal great-grandmother Sarah Jones, and paternal greatgrandmother Marion Jones, and is survivedby her parents, Jeremy Rose & Kimberly Bennette-Rose, and Tenisha Scott-Rhodes &LaShanthi Rhodes, brother Carter Rose, and grandparents Jeffery &Lisa Jo and Gaylin& Rhoda

Visitation is 9am-11am, October 25, 2025, at St Andrew theApostle CatholicChurch, 3101 Eton St,New Orleans,LA. Additionaldetails at HannahMarieRose.com.

Scott,Derrien Durell 'Phat'

DerrienDurellScott, bet‐terknown as Phat,was born March6,2008, to SheenaAdams andDerrick Scott, Sr.Hesadly de‐parted this life on October 16,2025. Derrienwas bap‐tizedinAugustof2024by Pastor Donald RayPatter‐sonatOne Accord Min‐istries. ‘Phat’ wasa Senior at Iberville AlternativePos‐itiveProgram forStudents. He beganworking as a PainterwithScott &Son Painting Contractor LLCat theage of 12.Derrien was ahard-working, quiet, funloving,yet humble young manwho lovedtoride4wheelers, ﬁshingand es‐pecially enjoyed‘sliding’ with hisfriends,but asking Everyone forgas money. Derrienissurvivedbyhis parents: SheenaAdams & DerrickScott, Sr.; siblings: DerrickScott, Jr (Armani) andDerrineyScott; his only nieceNalaniScott;

& Margie Scott; aunts: Jacqueline Miller,Wen‐dolynAdams (Eldrich), Ty‐nesiaThomas(Sam);un‐cles:ErnestAdams,Dou‐glas ScottJr.,(Cynthia),Ty‐ronne Scott(Troy), Mar‐shallGreen (Nordia) &Gar‐rick Scott, Sr.; Loving Aunts/GodParents:Karen Scott, Michelle James(Al‐fred Sr.),Devoted GodMother TiffanyVictorian;2 devotedcousins/God-sis‐ters:LariseBosley& Erielle Jones, devotedcousins: Eriennaand ErrayneJones &AlaciaAdams;a special friend,Keiarah Clarkand a host of otherfamilyand friends. Visitation will be Sunday,October 26th,from 12pm untilServicesat2:00 pm,North IbervilleCom‐munity Center,75700 Rosedale Rd., Rosedale LA 70772.Hewas preceded in deathbyhis grandfathers: Ernest White, Jr &Douglas Scott, Sr;uncle Gerald WayneScott; Aunt Brenda White; cousinsYiasia Adams& AsherJames,as well as ahostofother rela‐tives.

Rose, Hannah Marie

BUSINESS

BRIEFS

Coffee prices spike due to tariffs, poor weather

It’sgetting more expensivefor Americans to get their caffeine ﬁx.

Theaverage U.S. price of a pound of ground coffee hit $9.14 in September,a3%increase from the August average of $8.87 and 41% higher than in September 2024, according to U.S. government ﬁgures. Coffee prices havebeen increasing sharply since the start of this year

Consumer prices for foodpurchased for home use and away fromhome were 3% in Septembercomparedtothe same month ayear earlier,the U.S. Labor Department reported Friday.The consumer price index, which measures abroader sample of all coffee products, includinginstant coffee, showed U.S. coffee prices up 19% from September 2024 and flat compared to August.

Nikki Bravo, the co-ownerof MomentumCoffee in Chicago, raised prices by about 15% last week for lattes, cappuccinos and otherdrinks at her four locations.

Bravo said she is paying15% more for coffee beans compared to ayear ago and has started roasting more beans in-house to save money. She gets mostofher beans from Africa.

Other items also have gotten more expensive, such ascups and sleeves, she said. In addition, theminimum wage in Chicago roseJuly 1to$16.60 an hour.

EU accuses Meta, TikTok of breaching rules

BRUSSELS The European Union on Friday said Meta and TitTok had breached their transparencyobligations after an investigation that could result in billions of dollars in ﬁnes

The inquiry found both companies had violated theDigital Services Act, theEU’strailblazing digital rule book that imposes aset of strict requirements designedtokeep internet users safe online, including making it easier to reportcounterfeit or unsafegoods or ﬂag harmful or illegal content like hate speech, as well as aban on ads targeted at children.

The 27-nation bloc launched investigations in2024intoboth Meta and TikTok. They found thatthe companies did not allow easy access to data forresearchers. They alsofound that Meta’sInstagram and Facebook did not makeiteasy for users to flag illegal content and effectivelychallenge moderation decisions.

The inquiry found both Facebookand Instagram deployed “dark patterns” or deceptive interface designs for its protocol forﬂagging malicious content like child sex abuse or terrorist content. That led to akindofobfuscation, with the Commission saying it was “confusing and dissuading” and“may therefore be ineffective.”

Meta spokesperson BenWalters said the company disagrees with the ﬁndings but would continuetonegotiate with the EU over compliance.

Target eliminating 1,800 corporate jobs

Target said Thursday that it is eliminating about 1,800 corporate positions in an effortto streamlinedecision-makingand accelerate initiatives to rebuild the ﬂagging discount retailer’s customer base.

About 1,000 employeesare expected to receive layoff notices nextweek, and the company also plans to eliminate about 800 vacantjobs, acompany spokesperson said. The cuts represent about 8% of Target’scorporate workforce globally,although the majority of the affectedemployees work at the company’s Minneapolis headquarters, the spokesperson said. Chief Operating Officer Michael Fiddelke,who is set to becomeTarget’snext CEO on Feb.1,issued anote to personnel on Thursday announcing thedownsizing. He said further details would come on Tuesday, and he askedemployees at the Minneapolis offices to work from home next week

Social Security recipients geta boost

Recipients to get cost-of-living increase

BY FATIMA HUSSEIN Associated Press

WASHINGTON TheSocial Security Administration’sannual cost-of-livingadjustmentwill go up by 2.8% in 2026, translatingtoanaverage increase of more than $56 for retirees every month, agency ofﬁcials said Friday

The beneﬁts increase for nearly 71 million Social Security recipients will go intoeffectbeginning in January.And increasedpayments to nearly7.5 million people receivingSupplemental Security Income will begin on Dec. 31.

Friday’sannouncement was meant to be made last week but was delayed because of the federal government shutdown.

The cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, for retirees anddisabled beneﬁciaries isﬁnanced by payroll taxes collected from workers and

their employers, up to acertain annualsalary,which is slated to increase to $184,500 in 2026, from $176,100 in 2025

Recipients received a2.5% costof-living boost in 2025 and a3.2% increaseintheir benefits in 2024, after ahistorically large 8.7% benefitincreasein2023,brought on by record 40-year-highinflation.

Thesmallerincrease for2026 reflects moderating inflation.The agency will notify recipients of theirnew benefit amount by mailin earlyDecember.

Someseniors say thecost-of-livingadjustment won’t help much in their ability to pay fortheir daily expenses.Linda Deas,an80-yearold Florence, SouthCarolina, resident, said that “it does notmatch the affordability crisis we are havingright now.”

Deas,a retired information systems networkoperations specialist,moved to South Carolina from New York in 2022 to be closer to family.She saysher monthly rent has increased by $400 in the past two years. She listed other itemsthat have

become more expensive for her in thepasttwo years, including auto insurance andfood.“If youhave beenintothe supermarkets lately you will notice howprices are goingup, not down,” she said.

Deas is not alone in feelingthat costs aregetting out of control. Pollingfromthe AARP shows that older Americans areincreasingly struggling to keepupintoday’seconomy Thepoll states that only22% of Americans over age 50 agree that aCOLA of right around 3% for Social Security recipientsisenough to keep up with rising prices, while 77%disagree. That sentimentis consistent across political party afﬁliations, accordingtothe AARP In Deas’ case, theMIT Living Wage Calculator estimates that an adult living alone in Florence, South Carolina, would spendper year $10,184for housing, $3,053 for medical expenses and $3,839 for food.

AARP CEO Myechia Minter-Jordan said the COLAis“alifeline of independence and dignity, for tens of millions of olderAmericans,” but even with the annual inﬂation-

gauged boost in income, “older adults still face challengescovering basic expenses.”

SocialSecurityAdministration Commissioner Frank Bisignano said in astatementFridaythat the annual cost-of-living adjustment “is one way we are working to makesurebeneﬁts reﬂect today’s economic realitiesand continue to provide afoundation of security.”

EmersonSprick, theBipartisan PolicyCenter’sdirector of retirement and laborpolicy, said in a statement that cost-of-living increases “can’tsolve all the ﬁnancial challengeshouseholds face or all the shortcomings of the program.”

The latest COLA announcement comes as theSocial Security Administration hasbeen navigating almost ayear of turmoil, including the termination of thousands of workers as part of theTrump administration’sefforts to shrink the size of the federal workforce. Trumpadministration officials have also made statements they laterwalked backthatraised concernsabout the future of the program.

Inflationstays elevated

Butpricesrose less than feared last month

BY CHRISTOPHER RUGABER AP economics writer

WASHINGTON

U.S. inﬂationremainedelevated last month as gas prices jumped while the cost of rents cooled, painting amixed picture ofthe expensesconsumers arefacingina murky economy wheregrowthappears steady but hiring is slow

Consumer prices increased 3% in September from ayear earlier,the Labor Department said Friday, thehighest since January andupfrom 2.9% in August. Excluding the volatile food and energycategories, core pricesalso rose 3%, down from3.1%inthe previous month

On amonthly basis,price increasesslowed: Consumer prices rose 0.3% in September, down from0.4% theprevious month. Core inﬂation also cooled to 0.2%,from0.3%in August.

Theﬁguresshowthatinﬂation continues to rise more slowly than many economists expected when President Donald Trump imposed sweeping tariffsinApril. Some of thosedutieswerelater reducedaspart of trade deals, whilemanycompanies have only passed on part of the tariff cost to consumers out of concern that doing so would reduce sales. Businessesmay shift more coststoconsumers in thecoming months if the duties appearpermanent.

Thesmaller increase will come as abit of relief to Federal Reserve ofﬁcials, who have signaled that they will cut their key interest rate at their meeting next week for the second time this year.Yet inﬂation remains abovethe Fed’s 2% target,underscoring the high stakesofthe Fed’smoves

“Put simply,while inﬂation doesn’tappear to be accelerating,neither is it moving back toward target,”said Eric Winograd, chief U.S.economist at asset manager AllianceBernstein. “That will keep the Fed cautious rather than aggressive.”

Thedata for Friday’sreport was gathered before the government shutdown Oct. 1and was collected and compiled in the same way it is each month.

Report encouraging to markets

BY STAN CHOE AP business writer

NEW YORK U.S. stocks hit records on Friday after an update on inﬂation came in abit lesspainful than feared. The S&P 500 rose0.8% and topped itsprior all-time high, whichwas set earlierthismonth. TheDow JonesIndustrial Average rallied 472 points, or 1%,and the Nasdaq composite climbed1.1%. Both also set records. The data on inﬂation is encouragingbecause it couldmean less pain

Butprice datafor October isn’tbeing gathered because of the shutdown, andthe Trumpadministration suggestedFriday that the government won’tissue an inﬂation report next month. While some dataiscollected electronically,much of it is taken in person.

“Becausesurveyorscannot deploy to the field, the White House has learned there will likely NOTbeaninﬂation release next month for theﬁrst time in history,” the administration said in an emailed statement.

The report on the consumer price index was issuedmorethana week late because of thegovernment shutdown, now in its fourthweek. The Trumpadministrationrecalled some LaborDepartmentemployees to producethe ﬁguresbecause they areused to set the annual cost-of-livingadjustment for roughly 70 millionSocial Security recipients. On Friday,that increase wasset at 2.8% for 2026, equal to about $56 per month.

Gas prices jumped 4.1% just in September from theprevious month, amajor driver of inflation last month.Grocery prices rose 0.3%, lessthan in August, and are 2.7% higher than ayear ago.

Trump’sdutiesare pushingupthe prices

forlower-and middle-incomehouseholds struggling with still-high increasesinpricesevery month.Even more importantly for Wall Street, it couldalsoclear theway forthe Federal Reserve to keepcutting interest rates in hopes of giving aboost to the slowing job market. Stocks hadbeenshaky in recent weeks following atremendous rally of 35% for the S&P500 from alow in April. Criticism grew that stocks becametoo expensive after their prices rose much fasterthan corporate proﬁts. Worries also ﬂared about potentially bad loans that banks made following aperiod of calm that mayhave encouraged too much risk-taking. And President Donald Trumprattled markets af-

of many goods: Furniturecosts jumped 0.9% last monthand are 3.8% moreexpensive than ayear ago. Appliance costs rose 0.8% just in September,though they are up only 1.3% from ayear earlier.Clothing prices increased 0.7% last month and shoes 0.9% though neither have risen that muchfrom last year

Economists estimate that tariffs areadding about 0.4 percentage points to annual inflation, atrend that they expect will likely continue until early next year.Akey question, however,iswhether that tariff bump will simply lead to aone-timeprice increase or cause amore sustained burst of inflation. For now,there are signs that underlying inflationtrends arecooling. For example, thecost of renting an apartment rose just 0.2% in September and 3.4% compared to ayear ago. The annual increasewas the smallest in nearly four years. Rental cost increases spiked sharply during the pandemic, but have now returned to pre-pandemic levels.

Still, business surveys suggest that many companies are still eating muchofthe cost of thetariffs, but may notbeable to do so indeﬁnitely

ter threatening much higher tariffs on China, the world’ssecond-largest economy. But stocks have rebounded each time,only to push higher.Banks have characterized the industry’s hiccups as just acollection of oneoffs, whileTrump is settomeet China’sleader, Xi Jinping, at aconference next week.

Andmost bigU.S. companies are reporting stronger proﬁts forthe latest quarter than analystsexpected, as is usually thecase. Ford Motorrevved12.2% higher to lead allcompanies in the S&P500 after theautomaker topped analysts’ expectations for proﬁt in the latest quarter.The companysaid its businessisrunning at the high end

of itsforecasted range for ﬁnancial performance this year which it set outinFebruary

Intel added0.3% after reporting aproﬁtfor the latestquarterthat blew past analysts’expectations. CEO Lip-BuTan creditedthe artificial-intelligence boom with “acceleratingdemandfor compute and creatingattractiveopportunities.” Google’sparent company climbed 2.7% after Anthropic announced an expansion worth tens of billions of dollars, through whichitwould increase usage of Google cloudtechnologies for its AI chatbot, Claude. Given itsmassivesize, Alphabet was oneofthe strongest forces lifting the S&P 500 index, along with other AI beneﬁciaries likeNvidia.

ASSOCIATEDPRESS PHOTOByCHARLIE RIEDEL

Aworker stocks adisplayofclothing recently at aSam’sClub in Bentonville, Ark.

OPINION

ANOTHERVIEW

WhiteHouse a treasuredsymbol, notaMarriott

When Louisiana Gov.HueyLong wanted anew governor’smansion, he tore down the old one and built a new one. He did it withoutgetting anybody’sapproval.

PerhapsPresident DonaldTrump was channeling Huey whenhebegandemolitionofthe EastWing of the White House to make room for anew 90,000+ square-foot, $300 million ballroom. Trump believes, as didLong, that he can do anything he wantswith theofﬁcial mansion. For Trump, areal estatedeveloper, this showy projecthas been adream. Beforehe setabout building the mammoth addition, he didn’tsecure approval from Congress, the National Capital Planning Commission, the CommissionerofPublic Buildings or the Fine Arts Commission. Usually,you can’ttouch historic buildings in Washingtonwithout running thegauntletofa strict review process.

Even the newtennispavilionbuilt during Trump’sﬁrst term hadbeen reviewed by the NCPC andthe Fine Arts Commission.

WhenTrump announced construction of the gigantic ballroom, historians and preservationistsgasped. It will be nearly twicethe size of themain 55,000-square-foot White Houseresidence itself —essentially the image you seeonthe backof$20 bills, with its grand portico and alternating pediments Trump assures us the new, hotel-style ballroomwill be beautiful. Its color and windows, he says, will match therest of the building.Whatno onesaid was that the East Wing’sdemolition would begin before construction plans were ﬁnalized or made public.Saidanadministration ofﬁcial: “The scope and sizewas always subject to vary as the projectdeveloped.”

Subject to vary?

Until wrecking balls swung this past week, therehad been remarkably little public discussionofthe project or serious questions asked. Forexample:Inacity with countless public andcommercialballrooms of every size, isyet another one really needed? And, if so,must it be built on the grounds of the White House? Such abig change to the scale and aesthetic of the White House complex will likely throwoff its architectural balance, proportionand unity.Itwill alsopose new security risks by vastly increasing atcertain times the number of guests, outside workers and suppliersallowed insideits electriﬁed, locked gates.

While donors, including Trump himself,are supposed to pay for the new facility —a niftyway to keep Congress outofit—wemust ask: Who willpay for long-term maintenance andrepairs? Oh, andwhat about parking? In D.C., there’snever enough parking

The White House is atreasuredsymbolofthe American nation. It’snot aMarriott. Itbelongstothe people, not to anyone person In defense of the project, presidentialcommunications director Steven Cheung said, “Construction has always been apartofthe evolutionofthe White House.” He’sright aboutthat, but his snarky commentsabout skeptics “clutchingtheir pearls” and “living in the past” tarnished his observation.

The story of the White House isarich one.The original executive mansion wascompleted in 1800. John Adams, the second president, was its ﬁrst inhabitant. Duringthe Warof1812, theBritish ransackedand burned it. Rebuilding tookthree years and cost,intoday’sdollars, about $8 million.

By the late 1940s, the White House was so worn, patched and structurally dangerous that it needed what renovatorscall a“full gut.” Then-president Harry Truman finally agreed whena leg of his daughter’s piano crashed through arotting second-floor ceiling Duringthe rebuild, which Congressapprovedand funded, the White House was dismantled. Trucks and tractorsrolled through mounds of debris and mud where graceful rooms oncestood. Remains were held together by anew concrete and steelframe. The cost of all this work was about$50 millionintoday’sdollars, afractionofthe cost of the newballroom Old moldings, ornamentations, flooring and mantels removed in the gutting— prized relics, all—weresupposed tobeput back in place. But plenty wereeither sold, given away or discarded. Historicpreservationists have learned to be suspicious of promises that are eventually ignored. After the Truman reconstruction, the White House wasstructurallysafer,but theinside was blander. It took asuccession of redecorations, especially the one overseen by first lady Jacqueline Kennedy,tobring back the historical magic.

What kind of magic willTrump’scolossal new ballroombring?

Ron Faucheux is anonpartisan political analyst, pollster and writer based in Louisiana.

Let’s

surroundingimmigration

Herbert Cannon, in his letter in the Oct. 13 edition, objects to apolitical cartoon focusing on issues of race in theU.S. and deplores the“disastrous immigration policy” of the previous administration. Several of his assertions raise questions.

Detaining people based solely on their looks or their race can quickly lead to aslippery slope of detention.The world learned (we hope) an important lesson about detaining people based on looks in pre-World WarIIEurope. Andwhat indignities did Native Americans, Asian and Italian immigrants and citizens endure, based on their looks, in the U.S. in earlier times?

Isuspect that Cannon would support theU.S. efforttospend $54 billion to greatly expand detention facilities and hire more ICE and border patrol agentsand more asylum ofﬁcers and immigration judges to reduce theyearslong backlog in cases to determine asylum eligibil-

ity; to end the “catch and release” policy; to increase the standard of evidence needed by immigrants to winasylum statusand to increase funding to interdict fentanyl and human trafﬁcking. Cannon mentions the high cost to U.S. taxpayers of the increased number of undocumented immigrants. He fails to mention that immigrants help grow theU.S. economy.In2016, immigrants added $2 trillion to U.S. GDP.In2018, immigrants paid about $459 billion in federal,state and local taxes.

Immigrants do not contribute to the“destruction” of theU.S. or to our tax burden. Immigrants contribute to rebuilding the U.S. and making the economy moreresilient. Andbythe way,the third paragraph of this letter describes the bill that Republican senators voted against in February 2024.

DAVID SABRIO NewOrleans

Congress memberstakeparty loyaltytoo far

When Bill Cassidy campaigned against Mary Landrieu for his Senate seat, he said again and again and again that she sided with President Barack Obama 97% of the time. If that was bad, what about the people who side withtheir party 100% of the time? We don’tneed people who side withtheir party 100% of the time.

Ipersonally like legislators that

My thanks to John Michael Lockhart for his powerful letter, “Teachings of Jesus are clear;so are Trump’sactions.” Toomany Louisianans did not read it or take his concerns seriously.But President Donald Trumphas now used insult, intimidation and reprisal to transform ademocracy into a dictatorship. His only real talent is dividing people and exciting hatred, even as he calls himself aChristian. The damage he has done to higher education, to medical research and climate studies is catastrophic. Our

show somegutsand vote sometimes for thepeople whoelected them and don’tjust bow to their party heads. This is not just Republicans or Democrats.

Let’sget rid of these 100-percenters, 97-percenters and all these high percenters and bring in legislators who think and vote forus.

MICHAEL PEARSON NewOrleans

children and grandchildren will be the ultimatevictims

Each week brings new enormities: suspending theright of free speech, invading “dangerous” U.S. cities and indicting former FBI directors. If redistricting in advance of 2026 preserves his control over government, he can play thebig Trumpcard: declaring himselfpresident again in 2028. From the White House, he is already passing out red hats touting that plan.

JOHN KENNEDY Baton Rouge

“The moral test of government is howittreatsthose in the dawn of life,the children; those in the twilight of life,the elderly; and those in the shadows of life, the sick, the needy, andthe handicapped.” (Hubert H. Humphrey, Education of aPublic Man: My Life andPolitics) Under The Big Beautiful Bill passedbyCongress this summer greatly reducing Medicaid, our government fails this moral test. The cuts over 10 years can adversely affect amillion and ahalf childrenand adults in Louisiana Forty-two percentofthe state’s childrenreceive health care through Medicaidfunding from LA CHIP (Children’sHealth InsuranceProgram). Four hundred thousand seniors and people with disabilities also receive support from Medicaid, including many nursing home residents.

Cuts to health careare said to be needed to reducewaste andabuse, which should always be agoal of government.

However,the necessary support for people dependent on Medicaidfor their health needs must be maintained. Providing health carefor Louisiana’s children, the elderly anddisabled is not waste. It is both morally andﬁscally responsible

Pleasecontact your congressionalrepresentativesasking that Medicaidsupport for Louisiana children, the elderly and disabled be fully funded.

RANDYL.EWING former state Senate president

Medicaid notmorally or fiscally defensible JusticeDepartment haslostall credibility

Isuggest the Department of Justice have aname change. The Trumpadministration should change its nametothe Department of Extortion and Political Retribution. Need Isay more?

JANNORTH NewOrleans

Ron Faucheux

EMBRACING BRUTALITY

onehit convincedTeGreen football wasn’t forhim.Now,he’sa toppassing target forLSu.

BY KOKI RILEY Staff writer

Ittook one hit for Trey’Dez Green’sfootball career to come to ascreeching halt.

Thespeciﬁcsare abit hazy— Green wasn’t even 10 yearsold —but the play involved him running into former LSU and current TCU safetyKylin Jackson. Once they collided, all Green remembers was how much it hurt

He winces as herecalls the moment.

“He just ran through me,”Green said.

From then on, Green madeuphis mind:Nomore football.

“Hesaid, ‘No, football is not for me, Mom.I’m not playing football,’ ”Green’s mother,Casondra, said.

ä See LSU, page 2C

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Green’s pledge did not last forever He returned to the sport ﬁve years ago and is now a top pass catcher for LSU, snatching 13 receptions for 193 yards and two touchdowns in the past two weeks.

This weekend, the sophomore tight end will try to lead LSU to an upset over No. 3 Texas A&M in Tiger Stadium (6:30 p.m., ABC).

“He’s been amazing,” LSU coach Brian Kelly said. “He’s just locked in, focused on taking care of his academics, and coming here every day with a great attitude about playing the game.”

Not only did Green return to football but the sport also has become his future. He’s a 6-foot-7 matchup nightmare for defenses, a weapon too big for safeties and cornerbacks and too fast for linebackers to handle.

Where he lacks in experience, he makes up for in athleticism. The latter trait has been obvious for any coach to see since his return to the gridiron.

“You could tell right away,” David Brewerton, Green’s football coach at Zachary, said. “This kid’s God-given ability is off the charts.”

Basketball ﬁrst

Casondra was convinced her son’s future was on a basketball court.

Green was a standout player. He could dunk by the time he was in eighth grade, played on the AAU circuit, and averaged 27 points and 11 rebounds per contest as a junior at East Feliciana.

But Darius Matthews, the football coach at East Feliciana, had plans of his own for the star athlete. He watched Green play basketball in middle school and high school and saw how well his skills could translate to the football ﬁeld.

“The way he attacked the ball and his physicality on the basketball court, I knew he could transition that to football,” Matthews said. “You’re going against kids who are 5-foot-11 5-foot-10 it’s hard to guard him.”

By the time Green reached high school, he was on board with the idea of strapping on the pads again. The person Matthews really had to convince was Casondra who still remembered the hit Jackson laid on her son and was well aware of

STAFF PREDICTIONS

REED DARCEY

TEXAS A&M 35, LSU 24

yes, LSU’s at home. yes, the game’s at night. And yes, the SEC is a parity league But it feels like this matchup is just a bad one for the Tigers who have serious deficiencies on both sides of their offensive line Only five FBS teams have more sacks this season than Texas A&M, which means that Garrett Nussmeier likely will have to manage quite a bit of pressure again The Aggies win and cover

ZACH EWING

LSU 26, TEXAS A&M 21

Wounded and cornered, the Tigers are sorely in need of one of the sport’s great home-field advantages Luckily that’s just what they’re getting They’re also getting a Texas A&M team that is 7-0 but also has escaped with one-score victories, including in its only two road games LSU’s O-line and Garrett Nussmeier’s pocket presence will be key against the Aggies.

the dangers of the sport.

Matthews, a distant relative of Green’s family, already knew Casondra. He would sit with her during Green’s middle school basketball games, trying to convince her that football was a sport she should let her son try again.

“I always told her, I said, ‘He’s a hell of a basketball player but he could be a great football player,’ “ Matthews said. “And me and her (would argue) she said he would never, ever play football I said, ‘Ma’am, if you give him just one chance, I think you will see the difference.’ ” Casondra ﬁnally gave in during Green’s sophomore year, allowing him to play on one condition: If he ever got hurt, he wouldn’t be allowed to play anymore.

“Trey’Dez says, ‘Mom, could you please just give me one chance? Let me try,’ ” Casondra said. “I said, ‘Well, OK. First time you get injured, that’s it. That’s a wrap.’ ” When Green showed up to his ﬁrst practice, Matthews had to call Casondra to make sure he was allowed to play

Green’s ﬁrst game at East Feliciana turned out the way Matthews expected it to go. He caught four touchdowns against Episcopal and was so dominant that he started receiving loads of recruiting interest the next day Houston offered him a scholarship immediately Then Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher called Matthews and said he thought Green was the next Calvin Johnson. LSU also reached out. None of it surprised Matthews.

“I told her I said, ‘Now ma’am, I want to tell you something. Now, the day after this first game, your phone will start ringing,’ ” Matthews recalled. “She said, ‘I don’t believe that. I don’t believe that.’ ”

Physicality

Brewerton didn’t know much about Green. He had heard of him but never watched him play and didn’t even know Green was joining the Zachary program until Green and Casondra knocked on Brewerton’s ofﬁce door the summer before the 2023 football season.

“I didn’t even know what he looked like,” Brewerton said. “And now you know he is 6-foot-7, so yeah, once he told me his name, introduced himself to me and everything, you see what everybody else sees, a big old dude walking through that door.”

It didn’t take long for Brewerton to ﬁgure out

SCOTT

RABALAIS

LSU 26, TEXAS A&M 24

To quote “Animal House” rush chairman Eric Stratton, this game absolutely requires a really futile and stupid gesture be done on somebody’s part. And I’m just the guy to do it. LSU will beat Texas A&M because it finds a way to get to a gettable Aggies defense making the second of three straight SEC road trips LSU goes to 21-1 in home night games under Brian Kelly, who fends off the wolves for now.

KOKI RILEY

TEXAS A&M 38, LSU 17

The Aggies allowed 40 or more points against Notre Dame and Arkansas, but don’t buy the narrative that this is a one-sided team According to ESPN, Texas A&M is top 20 in the country in offensive and defensive efficiency It also has

STAFF PHOTO By HILARy SCHEINUK

LSU tight end Trey’Dez Green pulls in a reception as South Carolina defensive back DQ Smith defends in the second half of their game on Oct. 11 at Tiger Stadium.

HILARySCHEINUK

STAFF FILEPHOTO By

Louisiana Tech defensive backJakariFoster breaks up apass in the end zone intended for LSU tight end Trey’Dez Green in the ﬁrst half of theirgameonSept. 6atTiger Stadium he had somethingspecial. The ﬁrst timethe ball was thrown to Green in aZachary practice, Brewerton watched in awe.

“He ran like a12-yard dig comingacrossthe ﬁeld, and the ball was thrown 2feet behind him,” Brewerton said. “And he never broke stride, and he stuck his right hand back behind his body,and caughtthat ball with one hand and kept running across the ﬁeld.

“And Iremember watching that going, ‘My goodness, that is super impressive rightthere.’ Butthen,whenIfoundout that he’s left-handed, it became even more impressive.”

By the end of his senior season at Zachary, Green had 53 receptions for960 yards and 12 touchdowns. In the state title game, which Zachary lost, he had eight catches for97yards andascore

He was adominantforce within Zachary’s spread attack. The only problem was that he wasn’tplaying tight end; he was awide receiver.Zacharydidn’tplaywitha tight end.

“Hewas an outside receiver.Ithink as he got more comfortable with our offense, we would bring him in from time to time and play some slot stuff,” Brewerton said.“We would motion him sometimes, get him on the other side of theformation, butitstillwas notliningupas atight end.”

The lack of exposure to the position made transitioning to tight end,and having to block

athletic defendersand be physical withplayershis own size or bigger,achallenge once he arrived at LSU.

Green had 13 catches for 101 yards and four touchdowns in his freshman season, buthis struggles as ablocker played apart in why he moved to wide receiver midway through that year

“I’m sure that was alarge transition for him at the collegiate level, especially in the SEC,” Brewerton said. “I mean, those tight ends, they’re expected to do afairamount of blocking, and you’ve got to be physical.”

Greensaid it took himafullseason to adjust to the physicality of theSEC. He neededthat time to embrace theanimalistic side of the game.

“(In) my freshman year,Icamein, (and) I wasn’tscared, but Idid what Ihad to do to get by,” Green said. “But nowit’sphysicality.I’m just giving it this year

“I feel like the team needs me to makeplays andneeds me to do alot of stuff within this offense. So (I’ve) just got to have my brother’s back and execute.”

Now Green fully accepts the brutalityofthe sport, afar cry from the kid who once quit playing peewee football.

“My mindset,” Green said, “is just different.”

Email Koki Riley at Koki.Riley@theadvocate.com.

LSUset to raisefootball season-ticketprices

BYKOKI RILEY

Staff writer

The LSU Board of Supervisors approved a measure Friday that would increase season-ticket prices at football games for the2026 season. Prices for tickets, according to the athletic department’sproposal, wouldincrease by up to $125. LSU estimates thehigherprices will provide more than $4.5 million in additionalrevenue. “LSU has carefully adjusted pricesbased on demand rather than applying an across-the-board increase,” LSU wrote in astatementtoThe Advocate, “ensuring they better align withthe market.” Season tickets in the Low West Box, LowEast Box and East Sideline willincrease by $125. Seats by the West Sideline1,2 and 3, EastSideline 2, North End Zone 1and 2, and SouthEnd Zone 1, 2and 3willcost an additional$100.

A$50 price increase will be made forseason tickets in the East Sideline 3and South 600Upper levelsections. Season ticketsinthe West Club section,East Suites, South Seats,Accessible Seating and South Club will cost $25 more nextyear “Price changes focusonareas with high renewal rates and high secondary market values,” the statementsaid.“LSUisnotchanginganypricingin the upper deck other than the Skyline Club, which

includes food and beverage in theticket price.

“Keeping upper deck season ticket pricesas they are currentlywill allow LSUAthletics to be more ﬂexible withindividual game prices and provides an additional option for fansto purchaseseason tickets at alower price point.”

Theboard also approvedseason parking pass pricing andtwo newpaidparking lots fornext season.

Combinedwith season parking pass revenue, LSUbelieves Friday’sproposal would increase its income by morethan $5 million. The athletic departmentalso raised season-ticket prices for the2025 season.

ParkingpassesinLots103,104,105,106,206 and Old Front 91and 2will cost $750. Passes in Lots101R, 401R and 412 will be $1,500, while season parking in Lot 308 will be $600.

Fans will be able to purchase season parking passes in thetwo new paid lots, Lot 403 or the Nicholson Garage, for $750.

“As it relates to parking, due to construction projects on campus,LSU Athletics has lost and will continuetolose paid season parking spaces in the upcoming seasons,” LSU’sstatementread.

“These proposed changeswill help LSU Athletics mitigate those losses and provide theabilityto be proactive with changes,instead of reactive.”

COLLEGE FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

No. 4Alab. (6-1) at S. Carolina(3-4), 2:30 p.m. No. 6Oregon (6-1) vs.Wisconsin(2-5), 6p.m. No. 7Geo. Tech (7-0)vs. Syracuse (3-4), 11 a.m. No. 8Ole Miss (6-1)atNo. 13 Oklah. (6-1), 11 a.m No. 9Miami (5-1) vs.Stanford(3-4), 6p.m. No. 10Vanderbilt (6-1) vs.No. 15 Missouri (6-1), 2:30 p.m. No. 11BYU (7-0) at Iowa St.(5-2), 2:30 p.m. No. 14 Tex. Tech (6-1) vs.Oklah. St. (1-6), 3p.m. No. 16Virginia (6-1) at UNC(2-4), 11 a.m. No. 17Tenn.(5-2) at Kentucky (2-4), 6:45 p.m. No. 18 S. Florida (6-1) at Memph. (6-1), 11 a.m No. 19Louisville (5-1) vs.Boston College (1-6), 6:30 p.m. No. 21Cincinnati (6-1) vs.Baylor(4-3), 3p.m. No. 22Texas (5-2) at Miss.St. (4-3), 3:15 p.m. No. 23Illinois (5-2) at Wash.(5-2), 2:30 p.m. No. 24Arizona St. (5-2) vs.Hou. (6-1), 7p.m. No. 25 Michigan (5-2)

Towson (3-4)atStonyBrook (3-4),2:30p.m.

(1-6)atVillanova (5-2), 2:30 p.m.

at West

(6-0), 2:30 p.m.

(2-5), 5p.m. SOUTH South Florida (6-1)atMemphis(6-1),11a.m.

St. (4-3) at OldDominion (4-3), 11 a.m. SMU (5-2)atWakeForest (4-2), 11 a.m. Syracuse(3-4) at Georgia Tech (7-0), 11 a.m. Virginia (6-1)atNorth Carolina(2-4), 11 a.m. San Diego (3-4)atDavidson (1-6), 11 a.m. Delaware St. (4-3)atNCCentral (5-2), noon St. Thomas (Minn.) (4-3)atStetson (3-5), noon SE Missouri (3-4) at Tennessee Tech (7-0),

Missouri (6-1) at Vanderbilt (6-1), 2:30 p.m.

Alabama (2-5)atAustinPeay(4-3),3 p.m. McNeese St. (2-5)atNicholls (1-6),3p.m. Texas(5-2) at Mississippi St.(4-3),3:15 p.m. Lamar (6-1)atNorthwesternSt. (1-6),4 p.m. Stanford(3-4) at Miami (5-1), 6p.m. Boston College (1-6)atLouisville (5-1), 6:30 p.m. TexasA&M (7-0) at LSU (5-2), 6:30 p.m. Tennessee (5-2) at Kentucky (2-4),6:45 p.m. MIDWEST Bowling Green (3-4)atKentSt. (2-5),11a.m.

Kansas St. (3-4) at Kansas (4-3), 11 a.m. Rutgers(3-4) at Purdue (2-5), 11 a.m. Presbyterian (7-0)atDayton (5-2), 11 a.m. Ohio (4-3)atE.Michigan (2-6), 11 a.m. UCLA (3-4)atIndiana (7-0),11a.m. Northwestern (5-2)atNeb. (5-2), 11 a.m. Morehead St. (3-5)atValparaiso (1-6),noon

THENATION

THINGS TO WATCHINWEEK9

OU AIMS TO STOP OLEMISSOFFENSE

Oklahoma leads the nationintotal defense, sacks, tackles for loss and opponent yards per play.The Sooners are secondin points allowed, surrendering just 9.4 per contest.The Rebels average 37.4 points per game and are eighth nationally with491.9 yards per contest. OU running back Tory Blaylock leads the Sooners with 391 yards rushing and 4.5 yards per carry.Ole Miss’ Dae’Quan Wright is third nationally among tight ends with 393 yards and leads the SEC with 20.7 yards per catch.

MIZZOU TO TEST HIGH-FLYINGVANDY Games often come down to the end in this series.The Tigers pulled out adouble-overtime winlastseason fortheir fifth straight victory and ninth in 10 gamesover Vanderbilt. Missouri is coming offanotherdoubleovertime win, thistime23-17 over Auburnlast week.Vanderbilt averages41.4 points agame, good foreighth nationally,with Missouri 12th, piling up 39 points.Vanderbilt will have to defend Tigers running back Ahmad Hardy, whoisthird in the countrywith 840 yards rushing

MEMPHIS, SOUTHFLORIDA TO CLASH No. 18 South Florida heads to Memphis in abattle of one-loss teams.The Tigers are coming offastinging upset at UAB. USF has averaged 55 points per game over three American Conference matchups and can allbut knockout the Tigers fromplayoff contention with awin.Eachteam can put up points, but Memphis has the better overall defense, allowing 335.1 yards pergame (40th in FBS). USF quarterback ByrumBrown has thrown for1,695 yards, 16 touchdowns and five interceptions.

An electronic billboard along I-10 near College Drive this week featured an enormous picture of Garrett Nussmeier’s head next to the words:“Trust the Team.”

The job of advertising is selling, but someonehas to be buying.

Kelly,with histeam’soffensive struggles andkey defensive injuries to players like linebackerWhitWeeks, placed a bigall-or-nothing bet and came up empty.

1. ALABAMA

Record: 6-1 overall, 4-0 SEC

Previous rank: 2

Last week: DefeatedTennessee37-20

Thisweek: at South Carolina, 2:30 p.m.

Saturday(ABC)

2. TEXASA&M

Record: 7-0 overall, 4-0 SEC

Previous rank: 1

Last week: DefeatedArkansas 45-42

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

3. GEORGIA

Record: 6-1 overall, 4-1 SEC

Previous rank: 4

Last week: DefeatedOle Miss 43-35

Thisweek: Idle

4. OLEMISS

Record: 6-1 overall, 3-1 SEC

Previous rank: 3

Last week: Lost to Georgia43-35

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

5. VANDERBILT

Record: 6-1 overall, 2-1 SEC

Previous rank: 8

Last week: DefeatedLSU 31-24

Thisweek: vs.Missouri, 2:30 p.m. Saturday (ESPN)

6. TENNESSEE

Record: 5-2 overall, 2-2 SEC

Previous rank: 6

Last week: Lost to Alabama 37-20

Thisweek: at Kentucky,6:45 p.m. Saturday (SECNetwork)

7. MISSOURI

Record: 6-1 overall, 2-1 SEC

Previous rank: 7

Last week: DefeatedAuburn23-17

Thisweek: at Vanderbilt,2:30 p.m. Saturday (ESPN)

8. OKLAHOMA

Record: 6-1 overall, 2-1 SEC

Previous rank: 10

Last week: DefeatedSouthCarolina 26-7

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

9. TEXAS

Record: 5-2 overall, 2-1 SEC

Right now,very few folks in these parts are trustingthe team at LSU. Twin rivers of gloom and doomcame together over Baton Rouge like an invisible conﬂuence this week, belying theblue skies that dominated the week which belied the freight train of rain expected here Saturday night.

It never rains in Tiger Stadium? Pure myth. Right now, it’smore like when it rainsit pours Twolosses in LSU’spast three gameshave pushed the Tigers’ season of audacious roster spending and sky-high expectations to apremature brink. Lose Saturday to No. 3Texas

A&M (6:30 p.m., ABC), and the No. 20 Tigers can write off yet another season as disappointing, again spent on the outside looking in at the College Football Playoff.

The pervasive pessimism outside the walls of LSU’smegamillion-dollar football complex wouldmake you think theTigers were 2-5 instead of 5-2. It’s an attitude that suggests Brian

There is still areasonable amountofconﬁdence inside LSU’sFootball Fortress.The Tigers believe they can still string together the ﬁve straight winsthey need toreach the CFP.That theseason can be saved from the heavystamp of a“Failure” label.

But to say that thefolks inside the programaren’thearing thecriticism would be afalse assumption

“They love you when you win, andthey hate you when you lose,” said safety Tamarcus Cooley,who will likely spend time Saturdaydefending talented A&M receiver KC Concepcion,his former teammate at NC State. “Wedon’tcare what outsiders think. They’re notinsidethisbuilding

“We’ve got to prove people wrong.”

No one has more proving to do than Kelly,certainly aware that histhree most recentpredecessors —Nick Saban, Les Milesand Ed Orgeron —all won national titles at LSU by their fourth seasonslike the one he’sinnow

“Some are saying I’m not gettingmyjob done,” Kelly said Monday.“Iget that.But we are working hard every single day to get our footballteam better.”

One way to do that,Kelly said on his radio show Thursday night,was to bemore physical.

“We’ve got to go hit people in the mouth,” he said. “And if you’re much morephysical, you’re going to makeupfor any of the small mistakes, right? We’ve got to play this game with adifferent demeanor and adifferent mindset

“There’sanother notch there that we haven’thit yet. We’ve got to hit it.”

It’sfair to ask where was this sense of urgency and demand for physicality before LSU lost at Vanderbilt last week. Better late than never probably doesn’tcut it for anyone.

ButLSU’sﬁrst seven games, whether in victory or defeat, can’tbechanged. The focus is on beating a7-0 Texas A&M team that has played thekind of complementary offensive and defensive football that Kelly has madeaplank for this season but so far has been an empty campaign promise. Now he’sindanger of being tripped up for thesecond straight week by aformer assistant coach. Vanderbilt’s Clark Lea was a defensive coordinator under Kelly at Notre Dame, succeeding A&M’sMike Elko.

All theanalytics seem to point towardthe Aggies getting their ﬁrst win in Tiger Stadium since joining the SEC in 2012 —since way back in 1994, actually.All except acouple. While LSUisanunimpressive 5-10 against ranked teams under Kelly,the Tigers are 20-1 in home night games on his watch. Andthe Aggies, facing thedemanding task of asecond straight SEC road trip, have

surrendered bushel baskets of pointsintheir tworoad games: a41-40 win at Notre Dame and last week’s45-42 track meet at Arkansas.

The Irish and theRazorbacks definitely have more prolific offenses than LSU, which along with North Carolina is the only Power Fourteam to not score 25 points in aPower Four game this season. What does LSUhave going for it? Talent, to be sure. And a bona fide serious home-field advantage. There is often magic in the night at Tiger Stadium That doesn’tmean afigtothe oddsmakers in Las Vegas, but considering they set A&M as only a21/2-point favorite going into this one indicates the thinking this could be agood spot for the Tigers. And that theAggies, after two close track meets on the road, may well find it tough to go undefeated.

Then again, Tiger Stadium could turn on LSU if the Tigers don’tplay well enough. We remember thequote of muchmaligned “Drop” linebacker Thomas Dunson from the late 1990s: “It’s like playing inside avolcano. Younever know if it’sgoing to erupt on you or the other team.”

If there can’tbetrust in this LSUteam, will there be faith that they will ﬁnd away?

“We’ve got to prove people wrong” may be apowerful battle cry. We’ll see if it’spowerful enough to carry the Tigers for 60 hard-fought minutes against Texas A&M.

Previous rank: 9

Last week: DefeatedKentucky 16-13

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

10.LSU

Record: 5-2 overall, 2-2 SEC

Previous rank: 5

Last week: Lost to Vanderbilt 31-24

Thisweek: vs.TexasA&M, 6:30 p.m. Saturday(ABC)

11.SOUTH CAROLINA

Record: 3-4 overall, 1-4 SEC

Previous rank: 11

Last week: Lost to Oklahoma26-7

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

12.FLORIDA

Record: 3-4 overall, 2-2 SEC

Previous rank: 12

Last week: DefeatedMississippi State 23-21

Thisweek: Idle

13.MISSISSIPPI STATE

Record: 4-3 overall, 0-3 SEC

Previous rank: 13

Last week: Lost to Florida 23-21

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

14.AUBURN

Record: 3-4 overall, 0-4 SEC

Previous rank: 14

Last week: Lost to Missouri23-17

Thisweek: at Arkansas, 11:45 a.m. Saturday (SECNetwork)

15.ARKANSAS

Record: 2-5 overall, 0-3 SEC

Previous rank: 15

Last week: Lost to Texas A&M 45-42

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

16.KENTUCKY

Record: 2-4 overall, 0-4 SEC

Previous rank: 16

Last week: Lost to Texas 16-13

Thisweek: vs.Tennessee, 6:45 p.m. Saturday (SECNetwork)

Scott Rabalais

STAFF FILE PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

DAUNTING TASK

BY TOYLOYBROWN III Staff writer

Saturday was as far into the future as Fred McNair was willingtodiscuss

DuringTuesday’s media availability,the newSouthern interim coach wasasked about his goals for the remaining five games. He said that preparing and winning the ﬁrst game is all that he’sthinking about.

“Wecan talk about that on down the line, McNair said about the rest of the season “Biggest thing for us is getting this ﬁrst one …make sure that we put them in the best position to be successful onthe ﬁeld during the course of the week, and, ofcourse, on Saturday.” Southern (1-6, 0-3SWAC) playsFlorida A&M (2-4, 1-1) at 4p.m. Saturday at A.W Mumford Stadium. The Jaguarshave lost

ä Southern statistics ä ToyloyBrown’sprediction

the last ﬁve meetings against theRattlers, with their last win coming in 2012.

To break thelosing streak,Southernmust getits offenseinorder.It’scomingoff scoringa season-low in a24-3 homecoming loss to Prairie View lastweekend. McNair’s team is last in the Southwestern Athletic Conference in points (13.1) and total yards pergame(285.4).

McNair said thatthe offense’simprovement is directly tied to hisquarterbacks.

Ashton Strother and Cam Ron McCoy have both shown ﬂashes, buteach hashad

turnovers at inopportune times. In the ﬁrst quarteragainst Prairie View,Strother fumbledthe ball at the opposing 24-yard line on afake handoff with running back Jason Gabriel.

Theteamalsocommitted costlypenalties.When it trailed 17-3 early in the fourth quarter,itreached the opposing 16-yard line. After apersonal foulpenalty,Southern was backed up to the 31-yard line fora ﬁrst and 25. That drive concluded with an interception in theend zone on third and 30.

“Wejust can’tget behindthe chains,” widereceiverDarren Morris said. “Wejust shoot ourselves in the foot, and if we take away those penalties, we can have apretty good offense moving forward.” Southern expected its offense to be led by

ä See SOUTHERN, page 7C

BY MATTHEW PARAS Staff writer

One of the leading candidates forMVP this year has played for four teams, eight head coaches and eight offensive coordinators across eight seasons in the NFL. Baker Mayﬁeld, in his third season with the TampaBay Buccaneers, has madea career of persevering.

Bucs at Saints. 3:05 P.M.

“You’ve got to be wired the right way to overcome it all,” Saints defensive coordinator Brandon Staley said. If twoyears ago wasThe Year of the Backup Quarterback, this NFLseason has been defined by The Second Chance Quarterback. Or in somecases, third and fourth chances. It’s not just Mayfield. Daniel Jones has revived his career with the Indianapolis Colts. Sam Darnold is thriving with the Seattle Seahawks, ayear after the former 2018 first-rounder finally broke out with the Minnesota Vikings. Mac Jones, labeled as abust, has kept the 49ers afloat with starter Brock Purdy sidelined. Their seasons can be seen as a lesson in patience. Darnold, like Mayfield, is in Year 8. Daniels Jones is in Year 7. Mac Jones is in his fifth season but is already on his third team.Their play serves as areminder that it can take alot of time forquarterbacks —orany player —todevelop fully That lesson is particularly relevant to the Saints this week as

Fulwiley’s role farfromsettled at LSU

S.C. transfer played at pointguard andonwing in Tigers’exhibitionwin

BY REED DARCEY Staff writer

It’sclear that LSU women’s basketball guard MiLaysia Fulwiley is one of the country’smost electrifying players. But it’sless certain where the star SouthCarolina transfer will ﬁt in with theNo. 5Tigers. Does she start? Does she comeoff the bench?

Those questions are less important than youthink to coach Kim Mulkey, whosaidThursdayafter LSU’sﬁrst exhibition game that she’sunsurewhich

one of her guards will assumeher team’slead ballhandling dutieswhen theregular season begins Nov.4

“I don’t know,” Mulkey said,“but it doesn’t matter to me. She’s gonna play.”

Fulwiley playedasa reserve Thursday in LSU’s 148-46 exhibition winover DivisionIIMississippi College, just like she did in all but three of the 77 games she appeared in across two seasonswithher hometown Gamecocks. Jada Richard, asophomore from Opelousas, started at point guard and used the opportunity to show that her gamehas matured since her freshman year

“(Richard’s) just acompletely different player,” Mulkey said. In 14 minutes, Richardscored nine points, grabbed four rebounds and,

crucially,assisted six ﬁeld goalswithout committing asingle turnover Fulwileydidn’tturn the ball over either, andshe made sure to make the mostofthe 15 minutes she played. Six LSUplayers sawmorerun thanshe did in the exhibition but only one (freshmanZaKiyah Johnson with 25 points) scored morethan Fulwiley’s17points on 7-of-12 shooting to pair with four rebounds, four assists and three steals. Fulwiley played both on the ball and on the wing, as Mulkey said she would when the Tigers began preseason practices on Sept. 23.

“(Fulwiley) andJada are gonna play together,” Mulkey said, “and it doesn’t matter.Itdoes not matter.You just want to be in that rotation of eight, and

ä See FULWILEY, page 10C

STAFF PHOTO By HILARy SCHEINUK LSU guard MiLaysiaFulwileylistens to coach KimMulkey during an exhibition againstMississippi College on Thursday at the PMAC. Fulwileyscored 17 pointsinLSU’s148-46 win.

STAFF PHOTO By JAVIER GALLEGOS

SoutherncornerbackXavier Franks prevents atouchdown pass intended for Prairie View wide receiverRodny Ojo last SaturdayatA.W Mumford Stadium. The Jaguars will trytoget backona winningtrack when theyhost FloridaA&M at 4p.m.Saturday.

Saints go with experience at center

BY MATTHEW PARAS AND LUKE JOHNSON Staff writers

The New Orleans Saints had several options to replace Erik McCoy after the center’s season-ending biceps injury

In the end, coach Kellen Moore decided to go with experience over youth.

Moore said he will turn to Luke Fortner instead of rookie Torricelli Simpkins Simpkins played center in the preseason and even started at right guard in Week 5, but he is an undrafted rookie who has been inactive over the last two games.

The Saints acquired Fortner in an August trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars, and the four-year veteran has 34 starts in his career.

“Luke at center, he’s done a really good job,” Moore said. “He’s played some good football I’m ﬁred up for him. And (we’ll) keep the continuity on the right side and the left side, and I think we’re trending well.“

Another option was moving right guard Cesar Ruiz to center, the position he played in college at Michigan. But doing so would have disrupted the continuity that Moore talked about along the O-line.

By turning to Fortner, the Saints can keep giving quarterback Spencer Rattler a veteran to work with. McCoy was instrumental in the Saints’ presnap protection plans, and Moore said the responsibilities won’t shift to Rattler with McCoy out. That puts the onus on Fortner and the rest of the line, but Fortner said he feels comfortable with the calls.

“Spencer’s doing a great job this year,” Fortner said. “As the year progresses, he’s getting more and more and ﬁguring more stuff out I’m going to jump in and do all I can and be loud and help him out.”

Injury report

For the first time this season, the New Orleans Saints don’t have any player listed as questionable or out on the injury report.

The Saints had perfect attendance in practice Friday, and Moore said that no one would be listed with a game designation ahead of Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers It has

SAINTS

Continued from page 5C

they prepare for Sunday’s game against Mayﬁeld and the Bucs. After quarterback Spencer Rattler’s worst game of the year a four-turnover, four-sack debacle against the Chicago Bears — coach Kellen Moore was repeatedly asked about the possibility of the team turning to second-round rookie Tyler Shough. Moore said the Saints were sticking with Rattler But the fact that the topic was even a conversation at all highlights how difﬁcult it can be to stay the course with a young quarterback, especially with another one waiting in the wings. Preaching patience is easier said than done.

“This quarterback position, sometimes it takes time,” Moore said. “They’re going to go through (adversity). This is an awesome opportunity for Spence. You deal with an adversity game and you get to respond. All these guys have gone through this You continue to develop these guys, and they’ll continue to grow.”

Last year, Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell created a stir when he said he believed that “organizations fail young quarterbacks before young quarterbacks fail organizations.” That sentiment seemed to resonate for many folks around the league.

Mayﬁeld and Darnold, after all, were teammates for the Carolina Panthers in 2022 and neither succeeded. The Patriots hired a former defensive coordinator to help run the offense in Mac Jones’ second season.

New Orleans Saints center Luke Fortner prepares to snap the ball to quarterback Jake Haener during warmups before a preseason game against the Denver Broncos on Aug. 23

been at least two seasons since the Saints went into a game with such a clear injury report although the team did place running back Kendre Miller (ACL) and McCoy on injured reserve earlier this week.

Otherwise, the Saints are healthy

“We’ve done some good stuff as far as making sure our guys are available during the games, heading into the week, as far as soft tissue stuff,” Moore said. “Just the way we train and practice, I think the guys have done an awesome job with the recovery and the rehab and all those sorts of things.”

The Buccaneers are dealing with several notable injuries.

Tampa Bay ruled out wide receiver Chris Godwin (ﬁbula), guard Luke Haggard (shoulder), outside linebacker Haason Reddick (ankle, knee) and running back Bucky Irving (foot, shoulder).

Defensive tackle Vita Vea is questionable after missing two prac-

tices this week with a foot injury

Moore on Martin

Moore spoke Friday about the recent death of former Tampa Bay running back Doug Martin, who was a former teammate of Moore’s at Boise State. Martin was 36 years old when he died and had been battling mental health problems, according to a statement released on behalf of his family

“Challenging situation, really sad,” Moore said “Doug was obviously a teammate of a bunch of ours during our Boise State days. it’s a challenging situation, just because you loved Doug. Such a good teammate, person, the joy he brought to everyone was really really special.”

Roster move

The Saints have been active on the waiver wire. They claimed tight end Zaire

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By JASON BEHNKEN Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield passes against the Saints on Jan. 5 in Tampa, Fla. Mayfield and the Buccaneers visit the Saints on Sunday afternoon in the Caesars Superdome

But eventually organizations have to act if the results aren’t changing Sure, it’s easy in hindsight to criticize the Cleveland Browns for trading Mayﬁeld, but they had only one playoff appearance in his ﬁrst four seasons — and they moved on to acquire Deshaun Watson, then viewed as one of the best quarterbacks in the league. The Giants spent six years with Daniel Jones and only made the playoffs once. Aren’t the results supposed to matter?

With Rattler, the Saints could and likely would argue that there hasn’t been enough of a sample size to determine his potential. Though he’s 1-12 as a starter, the 25-year-old has not started a full season’s worth of games. And the improvement that he’s made from Year 1 to Year 2 has been an encouraging enough sign that he deserves a

runway to see how much more he can grow

“Deserve” can be a funny word in NFL circles, though. It’s probably not a coincidence that the four second-chance quarterbacks thriving this year are all former first-rounders. There will be executives who always are willing to take a flyer on highly regarded prospects because of the traits that separated them in the draft process Rattler, a fifth-round pick, might not have that luxury, even with what he’s put on tape. Take a look at Sam Howell. A fifth-round prospect drafted two years before Rattler the former North Carolina quarterback started all 17 games in 2023 and led the Washington Commanders to a 4-13 record. Despite some positives from that season, the Commanders replaced him with

Report: LSU won’t have LB Whit Weeks vs. Aggies

LSU junior linebacker Whit Weeks will not play Saturday against Texas A&M, according to a CBS Sports report.

Weeks suffered a bone bruise on his ankle during LSU’s Week 5 loss to Ole Miss. He missed the Vanderbilt game with the injury, and coach Brian Kelly said Thursday that he hasn’t practiced this week. CBS Sports also reported that Weeks will likely return to the ﬁeld in two weeks when LSU travels to Tuscaloosa to face Alabama on Nov 8. Kelly said Thursday on his radio show that the Tigers would turn to sophomore Davhon Keys and redshirt freshman Tylen Singleton at linebacker Keys started against Vanderbilt and has played 279 snaps this season, while Singleton has played 11 snaps against SEC competition

LSU pitching coach

Yeskie gets new contract

LSU pitching coach Nate Yeskie has received a new contract that will keep him in Baton Rouge until the end of the 2028 season. The LSU Board of Supervisors approved a new deal for Yeskie on Friday, which, according to documents obtained by The Advocate, will pay him $470,000 in the ﬁrst year, $485,000 in Year 2 and $500,000 in the ﬁnal year of a deal that will expire in August 2028. Yeskie had signed a threeyear deal in 2023 that was worth $400,000 per year That contract was set to end in June.

Yeskie’s raise and extension come on the heels of coach Jay Johnson and assistant coaches Josh Jordan and Josh Simpson receiving new contracts in September

Mitchell-Paden from the Baltimore Ravens and waived running back Velus Jones in a corresponding move, the team announced Friday Mitchell-Paden, 26, appeared in six games for the Ravens this season and caught one pass for 3 yards. The 6-foot-5, 257-pound tight end had been with Baltimore since 2024 and also had stints with the Cleveland Browns. Mitchell entered the league as an undrafted free agent in 2022 after playing college football for Florida Atlantic and Notre Dame College. The Saints’ decision to release Jones comes days after they signed him to the active roster after Miller’s season-ending ACL injury

The move leaves New Orleans with only two running backs Alvin Kamara and Devin Neal — on the 53-man roster, but the team can also promote Audric Estime from the practice squad. Estime joined New Orleans this week.

Jayden Daniels, and Howell has since been traded three times to be a backup elsewhere. No one outside the Howell household is clamoring for the quarterback to start any time soon. But writing a player off comes with risk. That applies to any position, not just quarterback.

“You know how many times I didn’t get re-signed?” Saints linebacker Demario Davis said. “You know how many times I got traded? Maybe if they’d have waited a little a longer, they’d have saw a little bit more.”

Before joining New Orleans in 2018, Davis had two separate stints with the New York Jets sandwiched between a one-year stay with the Cleveland Browns that saw him then traded back to New York. He struggled in those stops but eventually blossomed into an All-Pro with the Saints.

Davis said when he thinks back to being a younger player, he wishes people had been more patient.

“You never know how it’s going to bloom or blossom,” he said.

He added that it’s hard to tell what a player can become until his ﬁfth year.

“You don’t make it to this level and not be able to play,” Davis said. “It’s in there. Why doesn’t it come out? Why doesn’t everyone seem to maximize their potential? (There) can be a lot of different situations. It could have to do with them. It could have to do with not ﬁnding the right ﬁt.

“But what you hope for everyone is that it eventually clicks.”

It did for Davis and Mayﬁeld.

The answer’s not yet known with Rattler

Email Matthew Paras at matt. paras@theadvocate.com

Niners to play without QB Purdy for sixth game Quarterback Brock Purdy will miss his fourth straight game and sixth in the past seven weeks for the San Francisco 49ers with a toe injury Coach Kyle Shanahan said Friday that Purdy was ruled out this week against the Houston Texans but will travel for the game as his condition has improved. Purdy skipped the past two road trips. Mac Jones will make his sixth start of the season in place of Purdy Jones is 4-1 as a starter, triggering a $400,000 incentive bonus for his contract by winning a fourth game. Jones will make an additional $100,000 every time he plays at least 25% of the snaps in a 49ers’ win. Jones leads the NFL with 280.8 yards passing per game

Rybakina earns final spot for WTA Finals in November

TOKYO Elena Rybakina clinched the last remaining spot for the WTA Finals by beating Victoria Mboko 6-3, 7-6 (4) in the Pan Pacific Open quarterfinals Friday She will face the Czech Republic’s Linda Noskova in the semifinals at the Tokyo tournament.

Rybakina moved ahead of Mirra Andreeva to take the eighth spot for next month’s WTA Finals in Saudi Arabia.

“It’s great to qualify and play some more matches, especially against top players,” Rybakina said. “Last week, I was focusing one match at a time and I knew that to qualify it’s going to take a long road.”

At the WTA Finals, Rybakina will join Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, Amanda Anisimova, Madison Keys, Jessica Pegula and Jasmine Paolini.

Government shutdown forces game to relocate

No. 1 UConn’s season opener against No. 20 Louisville in women’s basketball that was supposed to be played at Ramstein Air Base in Germany on Nov 4 has been moved to the Naval Academy because of the government shutdown. ESPN made the call to move the game. This was supposed to be the third time that the Armed Forces Classic was played at Ramstein and the first that featured two women’s basketball teams. The UConn men’s team played in the inaugural one in 2012 Texas A&M and West Virginia also played there in

STAFF PHOTO By BRETT DUKE

at the Caesars Superdome.

GAMEDAY

JacksonSt. stillatopSWAC

PASSING

Ashton Strother

58.8%, 429yards,TD, 2INTs

Cam’RonMcCoy

48.7%, 417yards,3TDs

RUSHING

Trey Holly

90 carries, 545yards,6.1 avg, 4TDs

Cam’RonMcCoy

34 carries, 165yards,4.9 avg, 2TDs

RECEIVING

Darren Morris

265yards,18.9avg,2TDs

15.4

MILLIGAN

Action in the Southwestern Athletic Conference resumes this weekend, and it hasn’tarrived withoutabit of drama. Aftera disappointing1-6 start, Southern ﬁredcoach Terrence Graves and promotedformerAlcornState coach Fred McNair to take on the job in the interim.

This week: vs. Lincoln, 2p.m.Saturday

24 tackles, 5sacks

AUGUST

The premiermatchupofthe conference thisweek kicks off in Birmingham in the Magic City Classic between in-state rivals AlabamaA&M and Alabama State.

Extrapoints: Coach Tremaine Jackson continuestoassert his SWAC dominance with awin at Southern. This week, he asked fans to buy more homecoming tickets. There were complaints among fans who didn’twant to see Prairie View play Lincoln, awinless team that lost 90-0 to Idaho State in September, butJacksonsaidhecan only control future schedules.

4. Bethune-Cookman

bye of the season before thebig MagicCity Classic this weekend in Birmingham. Prepare for a high-scoring rivalry matchup, as Alabama A&M has the thirdranked offense in the conference, while AlabamaState has the No. 1 offense in the SWAC.

7. Grambling

Record: 4-3 overall, 1-2 SWAC

Previous rank: 7 Last week: 20-16 win at ArkansasPineBluff

This week: vs. Jackson State (in Las Vegas), 5p.m. Saturday

the mid-season turmoil in Baton Rouge, the Rattlers are not taking the Jaguars forgranted at all this Saturday 10.AlcornState

Record: 1-6 overall, 0-3 SWAC

Previous rank: 11

Last week: 33-28 loss at FAMU

This week: vs. Mississippi Valley State, 1p.m. Saturday

23 N. Carolina Cent.* L, 31-14

30 at Miss.ValleyState W, 34-29 SEPTEMBER 6Alabama StateL,30-7 13 at Fresno StateL,56-7 27 JacksonState L, 38-13 OCTOBER 11 at Bethune-CookmanL,45-14 18 PrairieViewL,24-3

PREDICTION

FLORIDAA&M 28, SOUTHERN 17: Southern’s offensemight show signs of newlifeinFredMcNair’s firstgame as interimcoach.However,thatwon’t be if Southern consistently gets illtimedpenalties andturnovers.It’s difficult to believethe Jaguarswill take abig enough leap from last week to beatapass-happyFlorida A&Mteamthathas historically beatenSouthernand is coming off awin

Here’swhere the Hornets, Bulldogs, Jaguars and therest of the conference, stand in the Week 9 SWAC power rankings:

1. JacksonState

Record: 5-1overall, 3-0 SWAC

Previous rank: 1

Last week: Bye

This week: vs. Grambling (in Las Vegas),5p.m.Saturday

Extrapoints: JSUheads to Las Vegas after abye week, still standing as thetop squad in HBCUfootball this fall. The bye also gave JacksonState some time to self-scout andget healthywith players who missed thebig showdown against No. 2Alabama State.

2. Alabama State

Record: 4-2 overall, 2-1 SWAC

Previous rank: 2

Last week: Bye

This week: vs.Alabama A&M (in Birmingham), 2:30 p.m. Saturday

Extrapoints: Hornets coach Eddie Robinson said all of his players came back from the bye week on time, which fallsinline with the disciplinestandard he’s set forthe program. ASU brings backa few injured players who were unavailableagainst No. 1Jackson State on Oct.11. Robinson is 3-0 in the MagicCity Classic.

3. PrairieView

Record: 5-2 overall, 4-0 SWAC

Previous rank: 3

Last week: 24-3 win at Southern

SOUTHERN

Continued from page5C

lone returning quarterback Jalen Woods. The redshirt sophomore hasn’t played since a34-29 win at Mississippi Valley State on Aug. 30 Woodswas hit in the helmet while sliding, causinghim to enter concussion protocol.

While he warmed up in full uniform with the team ahead of last week’sgame, McNair didn’tindicatewhether Woods —who also suffered aconcussion beforelast year’sSWACchampionship game —would be available to play Saturday.The team is prioritizing his full health before he plays again.

“When you have multi-concussions like Jalen Woods, you know,

Record: 3-4 overall, 2-1 SWAC

Previous rank: 4

Last week: Bye

This week: vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff

Extra points: Coach Raymond Woodie said histeam focusedon the fundamentals and basics of the game among other things they “need to get better at”inpractices during the bye week. BCU now hosts Arkansas-Pine Bluff for homecoming. Thetwo programs have notplayed each other in 20 years, and the Wildcats won both times (2004-05).

5. TexasSouthern

Record: 4-3 overall, 3-1 SWAC

Previous rank: 5 Last week: 61-10

winvs. Virginia University of Lynchburg

This week: Bye

Extrapoints: Texas Southern is on a four-game winning streak heading intoabye week. The Tigerslook to hold theirsecond-placespotin the SWAC West division standings behind Prairie View.Coach Cris Dishmansaid he’ll continue to comeinto his ofﬁce during the bye to get aone-up.

6. AlabamaA&M

Record: 4-3 overall, 1-2 SWAC

Previous rank: 6

Last week: Bye

This week: vs.Alabama State, 2:30 p.m. Saturday

Extrapoints: TheBulldogswere able to get healthy with their ﬁrst

it getskind of serious after about two or three,” McNairsaid. “So we’re going to keep our eyes on it. Ithink doctor (Jessica Robinson) has been doing agreat job of monitoring the situationwith him. Yougot to feel comfortable going back out there playing because, youknow,the next time may not be something that you canget up from.”

TheSouthern defensealso needstotightenup. FAMU is one of the best passing teams in the SWAC, led by redshirt sophomore quarterback RJ Johnson, who has thrown for 1,133 yards.

The Toledo transfer is also completing 64.1% of his passesand is theonlystartingquarterback in the conference without an interception. In the Rattlers’ most recent33-28 winagainst Alcorn State, Johnsonthrewfor aseason-

Extrapoints: Quarterback C’Zavian Teasett madehis return in Grambling’s20-16 win over ArkansasPine Bluffthispastweek. Thewin took longer than usualasitwas interrupted with aweather delay This week, the Tigers face the No. 1Tigers in Las Vegas forthe P&G Las Vegas Classic. Grambling upset JSU last season 41-20.

8. Arkansas-PineBluff

Record: 3-4 overall, 1-2 SWAC

Previous rank: 8

Last week: 20-16 loss vs. Grambling

This week: at Bethune-Cookman, 2p.m. Saturday Extrapoints: UAPB coachAlonzo Hampton said the key to awin this week starts with pressing Bethune-Cookman’sreceivers.

BCUhas the No. 2passing offense in the SWAC, averaging 252 yards agame. Hampton wants UAPB to keep aBCU offense off the ﬁeld thatleads the conference in time of possession.

9. FloridaA&M

Record: 2-4 overall, 1-1 SWAC

Previous rank: 9

Last week: 33-28win vs.Alcorn

State This week: at Southern, 4p.m. Saturday

Extrapoints: FAMU comes off a win highlighted by quarterback RJ Johnson’sbest performance of theseason. KickerDaniel Porto was also named theconference’sSpecialist of the Week. Coach James Colzie said despite

high 323 yards and atouchdown. He had at least three completions to four different receivers. The Southern pass defense has been lackluster all season. The team will have amore difficult time limiting air yards if safety Horacio Johnson,who wasapreseason All-SWAC ﬁrst-team selection, is unable to play. The Miami native missed last week’sgame after suffering an ankle injury againstBethune-Cookman on Oct. 11.

“Nothaving him hurts,” safety Herman Brister saidonOct. 14. “Tobehonest, (he’sthe) best player on defense in the secondary.So it hurts not having his leadership, not having his IQ. But at the end of the day,the young guys got to step up.”

Although thedefense didn’t have Johnson,aswell as standout

Extrapoints: Braves coach Cedric Thomas calledthe team’s loss at FAMU “a tale of two halves,” with theRattlersoutscoringAlcorn State 24-14 in the third and fourth quarters last weekend. Alcorn State now gets an opportunity to avoid falling into the bottom two of thepower rankings, hosting Mississippi Valley State this Saturday

11.Southern

Record: 1-6 overall, 0-3 SWAC

Previous rank: 10

Last week: 24-3 loss vs.Prairie View

This week: vs. FAMU,4 p.m.Saturday

Extrapoints: As the original “Air McNair” and brother of the late Steve McNair takesthe helm in Baton Rouge, Fred McNair gets aﬁve-game auditiontothe school of whyhedeserves to be the program’spermanent coach He coached Alcorn State to four SWAC East division championshipsand twoSWACchampionships in eight seasons.

12.MississippiValleyState

Record: 1-5 overall, 0-2 SWAC

Previous rank: 12

Last week: 49-0 winover Lincoln

This week: at AlcornState, 2p.m

Saturday

Extrapoints: Coach Terrell Buckleywas allsmiles on this week’s SWAC Media call and called his group “the 1-0 Mississippi Valley State.” This weekend’sMagnolia Bowl, based on the powerrankings, is MVSU’sbestchance to win a2025 SWAC game. Kicker Nina Schiks becamethe ﬁrst womanin program history to score points last week.

linebacker Vincent Paige, it did show somegrowth against Prairie View.The 24 points yielded were thefewestSouthernhas allowed this season.

“Wefelt like each and every game, we got better,and we just gonnacontinue to getbetter,” Brister said.

As importantasany scheme on defense or offense,Southern must believe it can bounce back from a nightmarish first seven games. Playersand their newcoach agree that overcoming mental hurdles starts with awin.

“It will boost our confidence tremendously,” Morris said. “Just to have us back on thewinning side and just ﬁnish the season off strong.”

Email Toyloy BrownIII at toyloy.brown@theadvocate.com.

STAFF FILE PHOTOByJAVIER GALLEGOS

Jackson Statequarterback JaCobian Morgan runs withthe ball against SouthernonSept. 27 at A.W. Mumford Stadium.

Central defense stymies Liberty

Wildcats get runaway win in 4-5A matchup

BY TERRY ROBINSON

Contributing writer

Practice was a lot more intense for the Central defense this week, and it showed Friday night.

The Wildcats entered their District 4-5A matchup against high-scoring Liberty allowing more than 33 points per game But the defense kept the Patriots scoreless for three quarters in a dominant 49-14 victory at Olympia Stadium.

“We came out fast and physical,” Central senior middle linebacker Jake Jarreau said. “We knew that this would be our game, where we would have to go out and show that we can dominate people. It made us practice harder We knew we had to bring our game up.” Central (6-2, 2-1) held the Patriots to a season-low in points while recording a pick-six and two sacks.

The Wildcats offense also stepped up its game, taking a 21-0 lead at halftime and blowing the contest open with a 21-point third quarter

Liberty (4-4, 1-2) entered the contest averaging 39 points per game including 52 points in a blowout victory a week earlier over previously unbeaten Zachary

“We just didn’t think we executed well at all,” Liberty coach Jimmy Zachery said. “Shoutout to Central. They brought it to us. They dominated in the trenches.”

The Patriots were held to 63 yards in the first half, most of that coming on the game’s opening drive.

On their second possession the Wildcats opened the scoring with

just 17 seconds in the first quarter on a 15-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Jacori Platt to Brody Diel. Central took advantage of favorable field position after Liberty went for it on fourth and 4 at midfield and was stuffed.

On the ensuing possession, Central blocked a Liberty punt to get the ball at the Patriots 45.

Six plays later, Max Gassiott lobbed a 1-yard touchdown pass to Keithon Womack for a 14-0 lead with seven minutes remaining in the half.

The Wildcats weren’t ﬁnished.

After forcing another Patriots punt, Central answered with a 72-yard scoring drive on only four plays. Womack capped the drive, gathering in a short pass from Gassiott and slipping down the left sideline for a 45-yard touchdown and the 21-0 Central lead with just over two minutes in the half.

After Liberty stalled on the ﬁrst drive of the third quarter, Central answered with a 3-yard touchdown pass from Gassiott to Brody Knapps to make the score 28-0.

A 50-yard interception return by Central junior linebacker Camden Rankin made it 35-0 before Liberty ﬁnally got on the scoreboard on a Zaiden Foster 3-yard run.

In the final quarter, Central added touchdowns by Diel and Tristan Rose, and the Patriots got a 37-yard touchdown run from Abednego Stephens to round out the scoring.

The Wildcats ﬁnished with 315 total yards. Gassiott and Platt combined for 17 of 22 for 210 yards passing. Womack had ﬁve receptions for 74 yards.

Foster led the Patriots with 26 carries for 140 yards and the touchdown.

Dunham defense continues its stingy tendencies in win over East Feliciana

BY WILLIAM WEATHERS

Contributing writer

If you’re looking for a trend that best illustrates The Dunham School’s red-hot football team, look beyond superstar quarterback Elijah Haven.

Haven enjoyed another spectacular evening with 328 yards passing and four touchdowns, but it was his defense that continued a recent trend of dominant play in Friday’s 42-0 home victory over East Feliciana in District 8-2A play

Dunham (7-1, 4-0 in 8-2A) has a defense that’s become healthier and posted its third shutout in four games Dunham has permitted two touchdowns in its last 20 quarters.

“It’s been us playing as a team,” said Dunham defensive lineman Eliot Trahan, one of 13 seniors honored before the game.

“It’s a struggle for every team not to play as an individual, and I feel like since the St. Charles game (27-21 loss on Sept. 19), we’ve harped on that. We’ve had some guys coming back from injuries We feel like a team again and we’re playing for each other, especially on senior night.”

that accounted for the ﬁnal score.

Washington, a South Alabama commitment, led Dunham with five catches for 135 yards and two scores. Kris Thomas (3-39) and Trevor Haman (3-64), a McNeese State commitment, both added TD receptions.

Dunham scored three touchdowns on drives that began in East Feliciana territory, with two of those turning into rushing scores from Beckett Wilson and Colin Pecue. The Tigers held East Feliciana (5-3, 3-1) to six ﬁrst downs and 118 total yards.

“The defense and special teams were great for us,” Dunham coach Neil Weiner said.

“We’ve had some guys coming back from injuries. We feel like a team again and we’re playing for each other, especially on senior night.”

ELIOT TRAHAN, Dunham defensive lineman

The best scoring opportunity for East Feliciana came near the end of the ﬁrst quarter. The Tigers drove 51 yards in 15 plays when quarterback Marcus Cannon stepped up in the pocket on fourth and 7 from the 8-yard line but threw incomplete into the end zone with 13 seconds to go.

Cannon passed for 91 yards with Kayden Wilson catching three passes for 19 yards.

ATTENTION CAPTURED

from

BY JACKSON REYES Staff writer

Zachary played with a chip on its shoulder Friday night against Woodlawn.

The Broncos were coming off a 52-31 loss to Liberty for their ﬁrst loss of the season Zachary (6-1, 2-1) responded with a 44-8 win over the Panthers. The defense held Woodlawn to just 168 yards of offense, including 5 yards rushing.

The Broncos also had two interceptions and forced a fumble.

“I’m really proud of our guys for buckling down,” Zachary coach David Brewerton said. “I was proud of the preparation we had this week.”

Zachary quarterbacks Willie Johnson and Michael Kirby combined to go 11-of-16 passing for 143 yards and three touchdowns. Receiver Trikoby Rheams caught two of the touchdowns.

Woodlawn (4-4, 1-2) scored its lone touchdown in the ﬁrst quarter after senior quarterback Cayden Randall found junior receiver Alonzo Luckett for an 80-yard scoring pass to tie the game.

Zachary relied heavily on the running game for its ﬁrst two touchdowns. The Broncos ran the ball seven times on an eight-play, 47-yard drive to strike ﬁrst after Tylek Lewis ran it in from the wildcat formation with a 2-yard score.

On the Broncos’ second drive, Lewis ran the ball ﬁve times for 57 yards. He ﬁnished the drive with a 4-yard score.

Woodlawn drove down the ﬁeld thanks to a 30-yard run by Randall after falling behind.

On fourth down, Panthers quarterback Ricky Mitchell heaved an errant pass that was picked off by Broncos corner Zakarri Hogan.

Late in the second, Johnson found an open Rheams in the middle of the ﬁeld. He cut to the left sideline and took it the distance for a 56yard touchdown.

He said one of his linemen was in the way and delayed the timing of the route initially “Willie just put it to where I could get it,” Rheams said about the play “I expected people

in my face, but I saw open ﬁeld and I just converted on it.”

Just before the break, Zachary scored again on an eight-play, 69-yard drive. Kirby found Ethan Kimmie in the corner of the end zone for a 17-yard touchdown to make it 30-8 at halftime.

Kirby found Rheams for a 56-yard gain to the Woodlawn 10 to start the third quarter Four plays later, Rheams caught a 5-yard touchdown to make it 37-8. The Zachary defense added one more score after senior linebacker Jace Mason picked off Mitchell and ran it back 48 yards to make it 44-8 with 3:37 left in the contest.

“It was really working my keys,” Mason said.

“I already knew he was going to throw the ball, so I just played hard. I broke on the ball.”

The Broncos close out the regular season with Catholic and Central with a district title still in play

“I just want to continue to do the things that have made us successful in the past,” Brewerton said. “That’s taking it one week at a time and making sure that we are doing all the things we have to do to prepare to play to what our standard is.”

ACHS sets tone on ﬁrst two drives

BY PATRICK WRIGHT Contributing writer

Haven provided all of the cushion the defense needed He completed 19 of 24 passes for 328 yards and four touchdowns to improve his season total to 39 and his career mark to 111. He passed for three touchdowns in the first half as the Tigers raced to a 28-0 halftime lead. The connection of Havento-Jarvis Washington worked for their second score of the game, a 23-yarder, with 10:43 to play and invoked a running clock after Andrew Bardwell’s sixth extra point

“When you get a chance to score, you’ve got to score,” East Feliciana coach Darius Matthews said. “Dunham’s a well-oiled machine and it’s hard to stop them.

When you get a chance to make plays, you’ve got to make them or they’ll punish you. That’s what good teams do to you.”

Dunham forced six punts, held on fourth down twice and didn’t allow East Feliciana to cross midﬁeld in the second half.

“We know what the goal is,” Trahan said. “The goal is a (state championship) ring in December We hold ourselves to a high standard.”

Ascension Catholic scored on its ﬁrst two possessions and kept North Iberville at arm’s length the rest of the way to defeat the Bears 50-28 in a District 8-1A showdown Friday night at Marcus Hill Stadium Ascension Catholic (6-2, 3-0) running back Trevin Simon scored on runs of 8 and 6 yards to cap the early scoring drives and give the Bulldogs a 14-0 lead with 2:05 remaining in the ﬁrst quarter That also would be the halftime score as the teams traded punts and turnovers for the remainder of the half.

“Credit to our defense,” Ascension Catholic coach Taylor James said “We knew it was going to be a dogﬁght. Not always are we going to jump out and score 30 in the ﬁrst half. We challenged our defense this week and told them they were going to need to win the game because of them And they were the reason why we were ahead at halftime.”

The second half featured big plays on both sides of the ball, but North Iberville (7-1, 2-1) never got

closer than 14 points.

The Bears forced a punt on Ascension Catholic’s ﬁrst possession of the second half and took over on their own 39 with a chance to cut into the lead.

That plan was thwarted on the ﬁrst play

Quarterback Justice Roy attempted a screen pass to the left, but Bulldogs defensive lineman Vaughn Blanchard intercepted the pass and rumbled to the Bears’ 4. As he was being tackled, Blanchard lateraled the ball to linebacker Kole Folse, who took it into the end zone.

“Coaches can sometimes take a lot of credit for things, but that was just dudes being dudes,” James said. “Blanchard read the screen really well and just made a football play As a coach, sometimes you hold your breath (when a player laterals) but it was a great play and it kind of broke the ice and got us rolling.”

Cy Landry added a two-point conversion run to give Ascension Catholic a 22-0 lead two minutes into the second half.

North Iberville answered with a 16-yard touchdown pass from Roy to BJ Melancon and a twopoint conversion to cut the deﬁcit back to 14 points, but the Bulldogs scored consecutive touchdowns to put the game out of reach. Landry scored on a 57-yard pass from Greg Fernandez. Then after a North Iberville punt, Josh Barber scored on a 4-yard run to put Ascension Catholic up 30-8 at the end of the third quarter Simon added two scores in the fourth quarter and ﬁnished with 201 yards and four touchdowns. North Iberville’s fourth quarter featured Jeremy Favorite touchdown runs of 80 and 82 yards and a Melancon kickoff return for a score.

“I was proud of our defense early on keeping us in it, but turnovers killed us offensively,” North Iberville coach Josh Gast said. “You turn the ball over that many times (three), it is going to be tough to stay in any game. Eventually their run game started clicking for them in the second half and we couldn’t ﬁnd an answer for 9 (Simon)”

Zachary bounces back

first loss to throttle Woodlawn

Zachary wide receiver Trikoby Rheams races to the end zone after making a catch in the second quarter against Woodlawn on Friday.

STAFF PHOTOS By MICHAEL JOHNSON

Zachary running back Tylek Lewis escapes the tackle attempt by Woodlawn defensive lineman Tyrus Gurney in the second quarter of their game on Friday in St. George. Zachary won 44-8.

PHOTO By PATRICK DENNIS

Denham Springs rollspastPrairieville

BY CHARLES SALZER

Contributing writer

There were plenty of key players for Denham Springs when it squared off with District 5-5A leader Prairieville on Friday,but none wasbiggerthanquarterback Da’Jean Golmond.

TheYellow Jacketsoffense was nearly unstoppable as Golmond threw for six touchdowns leading Denham Springs to a51-13 win.

The win puts Denham Springs (6-2, 3-1) in athreeway tie atopthe league standings with East Ascension and Dutchtown. Second-year programPrairieville (4-4, 3-2)saw its three-game district winning streak come to an end.

“Allthree facets werereally good tonight,” Denham Springs coach Brett Bear said. “Wehad ablocked punt, the defense was ﬂying around andthe offense was executing.

“Wedid have some penalties andgot behind the chains, but we made some big plays and got it back We’ve got some great players that are alot of fun to watch.”

No one had more fun than Golmond, who completed 16 of 22 passes for 311 yards. Five of his touchdown passes were 30 yards or longer,atotal that included a77-yard strike to histwin brother Da’Sean Golmond.

Denham Springs 51, Prairieville 13 TeamPrairievilleDS First Downs 823

23-134 34-150 YardsPassing 64 311 Passes (C-A-HI) 5-15-0 16-22-1 Punts-avg.4-29 1-23 Fumbles-lost 2-2 0-0 Penalties-yards4-40 8-65

SCORING SUMMARY Prairieville7006—13 Denham Springs103470—51

DSHS: Jonathan Bravo 24 FG

DSHS: Hayden Ray23pass from Da’Jean Golmond (Bravokick)

PHS: Skylar Kelly 49 run(Evan Usner kick)

DSHS: Da’Sean Golmond38pass from Da’J. Golmond (kickfailed)

DSHS: Trey Seals 30 pass from Da’J. Golmond (Bravo kick)

DSHS: Da’S. Golmond 77 pass from Da’J. Golmond (Bravo kick)

DSHS: Brenton Paul 7run (Bravo kick)

DSHS: Jaylen Williams 30 pass from Da’J. Golmond (Bravo kick)

DSHS: Da’S. Golmond 7pass from Da’J. Golmond (Bravo kick)

PHS: Hudson Dettman 31 pass from Kelly (pass failed)

Da’SeanGolmondalso caughtTD passesof38 and 7yards, giving him the ﬁrst three-touchdown game of his career.Intotal, he caught ﬁve passesfor 155 yards.

“Heknows where Iwant the ball,and Iknowwhere he wantstoput it,”Da’Sean Golmond said of his brother.“On my ﬁrst touchdown, if he had put it inside, it wouldhave been abreakup or apick,but he putitoutside and allI had to do was make one person miss.”

That ﬁrst touchdownwas a38-yarder in thesecond quarter.Before halftime, thepair hooked up again, this time for a77-yard TD that highlighted Da’Sean

Golmond’sspeed

He caught the pass near midfield and outran two defenders whoappeared to have an angle,giving the Jackets a37-7lead.

Da’Jean Golmond capped his team’s34-point second quarter with a30-yard touchdown pass to Jaylen Williams with13seconds left in the half.

The game was close for one quarter.The Yellow Jackets took theopening kickoff and moved to the PHS 7before stalling. Jonathan Bravokickeda 24-yard ﬁeld goal, and the Jackets later increased theirlead to 10-0onDa’Jean Golmond’s 23-yard scoring toss to HaydenRay

Prairieville answered with quarterbackSkylar Kelly’s49-yard touchdown run to pull within 10-7 before the game gotout of hand in the secondquarter. Kelly led the Hurricanes with 83 yards rushing but completed only5of15passes for64yards.

“Wehad some opportunities early,but we play with 23 sophomores and have maybesix seniorsout of the22starters,” Prairieville coach Mike Schmitt said “Tonight, the youth kind of came out. It gotawayfrom us, but Idon’t think we did agreat jobofcoaching, either.Itwas just oneof those nights, andit’spart of thegrowthofa youngprogram.”

WEEK 8FOOTBALLREPORT

Holy Savior 32 Lafayette Christian 52, Welsh 14 Lafayette Renaissance 51, Lake Arthur 0 LakeCharles College Prep 26, Westlake14 Lakeshore38, Loranger 14 Lakeside 66, Ringgold 20 Leesville 47, Washington-Marion28 Lena Northwood 72, Lakeview 0 Loreauville 40, New Iberia Catholic 28 Loyola Prep54, B.T. Washington 26 Mandeville 27, Ponchatoula 0 Mansﬁeld 56, Winnﬁeld 22 Marksville 48, Vidalia 6 McDonogh #35 42, Carver 26 Neville 38, Ouachita Parish 37 Newman 55, Sarah T. Reed 14 North DeSoto 62, Woodlawn (SH) 12 NorthlakeChristian51, St. Thomas Aquinas0 Northwest 40, Mamou 0 Ouachita Christian 35, Mangham 14 Parkway 45, Captain Shreve42 Patrick Taylor28, Thomas Jefferson 21 Pickering 29, Pine Prairie 6 Pointe Coupee Catholic 52, St. Edmund50, OT Pope JohnPaul40, Independence 8 Port Barre19, Oakdale 14 Rayville 22, Beekman 17 RedRiver 34, Many6 Richwood 34, North Webster 6 Riverdale 42, West Jefferson7 Riverside Academy47, Central Catholic 7 Rummel 24, Holy Cross 3 Sacred Heart 49, North Central 0 Saint Paul’s38, Northshore14 Salmen 35, Slidell 21 Sam Houston 56, New Iberia 32 Shaw49, Discovery 0 Slaughter 33, Baker 7 South Lafourche 48, Morgan City12 St. Amant 55, LiveOak 52 St. Charles Catholic 19, Belle Chasse 7 St. James 51, Donaldsonville 7 St. Martin’s23, West St. John 20 St. Mary’s28, LaSalle 6 St. Thomas More56, RHS8 Sumner 41, Pine 14 Terrebonne 49, H.L. Bourgeois 0 TeurlingsCatholic 64, East Ascension 29 Thibodaux62, McMain 0 Tioga 49, Peabody 6 Union Parish 32,

BY RONALD BLUM Associated Press

TORONTO— Addison Barger

launched the ﬁrst pinch-hit grand slam in World Series history,Alejandro Kirk added atwo-run homer in anine-run sixthinning and the Toronto Blue Jays overwhelmed thedefending champion Los Angeles Dodgers 11-4 in the opener Friday night.

“That’s theepitome of our offense,” saidBlue Jays third baseman Ernie Clement, who laced atiebreaking single in the sixth. “It’sa collective effortand everybody just doing their job.”

Daulton Varsho started Toronto’s comebackfrom a2-0 deﬁcit with atwo-run drive in the fourth off twotime Cy YoungAward winner BlakeSnell.

“I’ve faced him before plenty of times.He’sobviouslydominated me,” Varsho said. “It’s one of those guys where you’ve gotto getyourbestswingoff and whatever happens, happens.”

The longball barrage was fitting as theFallClassic returnedtoToronto for the ﬁrst time since1993, when Joe Carter hit the second walk-off homer to end a

World Series. And in an unusualtie to thatnight 32 years ago, Varsho is named after Darren Daulton, the Philadelphia Phillies catcher Mitch Williamswas throwing to when Carter connected. ShoheiOhtanihit hisﬁrst Series home run for the heavily favoredDodgers, seeking to become the ﬁrst repeat championsincethe New York Yankees took three titlesinarow from 1998-2000. Los Angeles was trailing by nine when he went deep off Braydon Fisher for atwo-runshotinthe seventh, his fourth homer in two games.

Fans angry thatOhtani spurned the Blue Jays to sign a$700 million contract with theDodgers in December 2023 chanted: “Wedon’t need you!” when he came to the plate in the ninth.

“Don’tpoke the bear,” Toronto pitcher Chris Bassitt said.

Game 2inthe best-of-seven series is at Rogers Centre on Saturday night.

“They bring it every night,” Clement said, referring to Blue Jays fans. “The last fewmonths, honestly, they’ve been selling this place out and giving us a ton of energy.We’re lucky

to have these fans.” Playing after aone-week layoff following its National League ChampionshipSeries sweep,Los Angelestook a2-0 lead against 22-year-old rookie Trey Yesavage on RBI singles by Kiké Hernándezinthe secondand Will Smith in the third. Yesavage madehis fourth postseason start —one more than hisregular-season career total. At 22 years, 88 days old he became the second-youngest pitcher to start aWorld Series opener behind Brooklyn’sRalph Branca at 21 years, 267 days in 1947 at Yankee Stadium Yesavage made somekey pitches during his four innings, leaving thebases loaded in the second by retiring Ohtani on agroundout andstranding arunner at third thenextinning when he struck out Max Muncy Seranthony Domínguez got the win with 11 3 hitless innings. Varsho’s homer was the first off Snell by aleft-handed hitter since Juan Soto connected for theYankees on June 2lastyear.Snell gave up acareer-high five hits on changeups and allowedfive runs, eight hits and three walks in five-plus innings.

ACHS: Trevin Simon 8run (Mike Blanchardkick)

ACHS: Simon 6run (Blanchardkick)

ACHS: Kole Folse 4INT return(Cy Landry run)

NIHS: BJ Melancon 16 pass from Justice Roy(JeremyFavoriterun)

ACHS: Landry57pass from Greg Fernandez (Simon run)

ACHS: JoshBarber 4run (Blanchard kick)

NIHS: Melancon 73 kick return(pass failed) ACHS: Simon 6run (kick failed)

NIHS: Favorite 80 run(Aiden Melancon pass from Favorite)

ACHS: Simon 4run (Blanchardkick)

NIHS: Favorite 82 run(no kick attempt) Dunham 42, East Feliciana 0 TeamEFDunham First Downs 620 YardsRushing 34-69 22-127

YardsPassing 49 328 Passes(C-A-HI) 4-9-0 19-24-0 Punts-avg.6-29.2 0-0 Fumbles-lost 0-0 1-1 Penalties-yards5-45 2-29 SCORING SUMMARY EastFeliciana0000—0 Dunham141477—42

DHS: KrisThomas 18 pass from Elijah Haven(Andrew Bardwell kick)

DHS: JarvisWashington 43 pass from Haven(Bardwell kick)

DHS: Beckett Wilson 5run (Bardwell kick)

DHS:

Toronto’s Addison Barger watches his grand slam against the Los AngelesDodgers during the sixth inning of Game 1ofthe World Series on Friday in Toronto.

AP PHOTO By FRANK GUNN

Wemby, Spurs’ size too

much for Pels in OT loss

BY GUERRY SMITH

Contributing writer

Zion Williamson drove to the basket for an emphatic dunk over 7-foot-4 San Antonio Spurs center

Victor Wembanyama on the opening possession Friday night, igniting the Smoothie King Center crowd in a matchup of franchise cornerstones.

The rest of the home opener did not play out the same way for Williamson or the size-challenged New Orleans Pelicans, who lost 120-116 in overtime to the Spurs while Wembanyama nearly recorded a triple-double before fouling out with 4:17 left in the extra session.

After Williamson missed a free throw that would have given the Pelicans the lead with 12.2 seconds left in regulation and Wembanyama was nowhere close on a baseline turnaround at the buzzer, Wembanyama gave San Antonio a lead it would not relinquish in overtime by spinning past rookie Derik Queen for a dunk at the start of overtime. He picked up his sixth foul on the next possession, but Queen hit only one of two free throws, and the Spurs put it away without Wembanyama, getting clutch 3-pointers from Devin Vassell and Julian Champagnie. Wembanyama finished with 29 points, 11 rebounds and nine blocked shots. Williamson tried to match him with 27 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists.

New Orleans played without starting center Yves Missi, who sprained his right ankle at Memphis on Wednesday, and also remained without power forward

Karlo Matkovic, who is out with lower back spasms.

Lacking any experienced size, the Pelicans began with the 6-foot-7 Saddiq Bey as their nominal center, and the Spurs took advantage. Reserve center Luke Kornet, who averaged 6.0 points for the Boston Celtics last season, scored 12 in the ﬁrst half on 5-of-5 shooting for the Spurs. San Antonio outrebounded New Orleans 59-45. After trailing by nine late in the third quarter, the Pelicans scored 11 points in a row spanning the end of the third and the start of the fourth to go up 89-84.

Five different players scored

during the spurt. Queen and Williamson hit a pair of free throws as the bookends. Jordan Hawkins had a one-handed jam on a fast break. Rookie Jeremiah Fears got an easy lay-up on a backdoor cut. Trey Murphy hit a 3. Wembanyama was a wall inside all night, stufﬁng Williamson twice on one possession soon after the initial dunk. He answered Williamson’s power jam with a soft dunk 15 seconds later, added another one on an alley-oop less than two minutes into the game and drove for two more early in the second quarter after faking 3-point attempts.

Pels sign veteran big man Jordan

BY ROD WALKER Staff writer

New Orleans Pelicans coach Willie Green and NBA veteran center DeAndre Jordan spent two seasons as teammates with the Los Angeles Clippers. Now the two of them will share a coach/player relationship.

The Pelicans signed Jordan to a one-year deal Friday The deal is reportedly worth $3.6 million, according to an ESPN report.

Jordan is in his 18th NBA season His addition helps ﬁll a void for the Pelicans, who have three post players (Kevon Looney, Yves Missi and Karlo Matkovic) dealing with injuries.

Jordan spent the previous three seasons with the Denver Nuggets. Last season, he averaged 5.1 rebounds and 3.7 points in 12.3 minutes per game. He won an NBA championship with Denver in 2023 and made one of the All-NBA teams three straight years from 2015-17. But he’s 37 now and has spent his more recent years being more of a leader in the locker room.

“I think we are just taking it a day at a time,” Jordan said Friday “I know what my role has been the last couple years and it will continue to be that way Be a great locker room presence. A

SCOREBOARD

STATE FOOTBALL CAPSULES

Hattiesburg, Miss. ONLINE: ESPN+ RECORDS: ULM 3-4, 1-2 Sun Belt; Southern Miss 5-2, 3-0

RANKINGS: Neither team is ranked. SERIES: Southern Miss leads 6-3 LATESTLINE: Southern Miss by 13½ N0TES: ULM looks to rebound in conference play after falling to Coastal Carolina and Troy in consecutive weeks ... ULM RB Braylon McReynolds leads the team with 437 yards rushing. ... USM QB Braylon Braxton, one of 20 Marshall transfers on the roster, has passed for 1,710 yards and 14 TDs with four interceptions. The Golden Eagles have won three straight games and ﬁve of their past six. McNeese State at Nicholls State WHEN: 3 p.m. Saturday WHERE: John L. Guidry Stadium (12,800) Thibodaux ONLINE: ESPN+ RECORDS: McNeese 2-5, 1-2 Southland; Nicholls 1-6, 1-2 RANKINGS: Neither team is ranked. SERIES: McNeese leads 32-17

locker room leader And when my number is called, be ready to play.”

When his number is called, it’ll be by his old teammate.

Jordan had to correct himself when talking about his new coach.

“Willie coach Green has done an amazing job here, and I’m excited to be able to continue our relationship here,” Jordan said. “With player and coach, there is deﬁnitely a hierarchy there and I respect that more than anybody.”

This is the eighth different team he’s played for since being drafted in 2008.

“Everybody runs the same stuff,” Jordan said. “It’s just different terminology So I’m just trying to get acclimated to what they want to do here on both sides of the basketball.”

Jordan is best known for his starting role with the Clippers from 2010-18 as part of “Lob City” alongside point guard Chris Paul and power forward Blake Grifﬁn. Jordan made the Western Conference All-Star team in 2017.

“He’s a great addition to this team,” Green said. “A veteran who has done it right throughout his career. Those guys like DeAndre really mold some of the younger players.

“He still has basketball left in him. I remember a few games last year when they didn’t have centers and he stepped in big time. Double-doubles. He takes care of himself. He brings a lot on and off the ﬂoor.”

Jordan

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By PETER FOREST

San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama throws down a dunk during overtime against the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday at the Smoothie King Center

Journeyof faithleads

Lutheran pastor to BR

Achange of heart and a heartfelt conversation with his mother helped shape the Rev Aquilino “John” Perez’s journey from Catholic seminarian to pastor of two Lutheran churches in Baton Rouge.

About seven yearsago, Perez completed his studies at a Catholic seminary with plans to become amissionary priest When his outlook and theology began to shift, he called on his mother,who had raised him in the Catholic Church, to share what was on his heart.

“Her exact words to me were, ‘As long as you ﬁnda church that is Christ-centered, it doesn’t matter to me,’” he recalled. Perez, 31, eventually found his spiritual home in the EvangelicalLutheran Church in America, one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States.

“There was an emphasis on grace with the ELCA, which really caught my attention,” he said. Since taking on the role of pastor of the Lutheran Church of Our Saviour and St. Paulon Oct. 1, the Texas native has discovered older yet welcoming congregations with distinct cultures, as well as avibrant city offering plenty for young singles like himself.

“There are people here (at the churches) that are my age, maybe alittle older,and others signiﬁcantly older than myself with children and families,”he said. “My initial thought was, am Igoing to be able to relate to these folks, and Ihave found the answer to be surprisingly yes.” Of the city,Perez said he’s inspired by the youthful energy,particularlyatLSU and Southern.

“It’sgood to be around people my age and see that side of the community as well,” he said “Sometimes, you have to look for the signs of life. Here, this city has apulse.” Growing up in asmall town in Texas near Austin, Perez attended acommunity college for two years after high school. He studied pre-med in preparation for nursing school. The death of his stepfather marked apivotal moment in his life, prompting him to consider seminaryand the priesthood.

“It really shed light on where my heartwas,” he said.“There was an inkling that said, ‘Hey, have you thought about going to seminary?’ At 19 years old, Ihad no idea whatthat was, so Iwent and talked to the parish priest, and he said, ‘Are you serious?’” Perez was serious, spending three years at aCatholicseminary in Iowa, where he earned abachelor’sdegree in philosophy.When it came time to take the next step toward the priesthood, he found himself at acrossroads.

“I started growing out and expanding. That’swhere I found myself faced with, ‘Do I stay in the churchordoI leave the church,’”hesaid.

Theological differences— particularly regarding women’saccess to the sacraments and issues of race —pulled him in anew direction. Missionwork in acoed community and teaching English to people from Vietnam, Latin America

‘The little book festivalthatcan’

AS BOOK FEST TURNS100,ORGANIZERS LOOK TO COVEREVERyONE’SINTERESTS

BY JOYHOLDEN Staff writer

TheLouisiana Book Festival is

celebrating 100 years of the State Library of Louisiana with 236 featured participants, including authors,moderators, programs and activities. This year marksthe 21st annual book festival, and the literary fun will take place 9a.m. to 4p.m. Nov.1indowntown Baton Rouge in and around theState LibraryonFourth Street.

Led by Jim Davis since itsinception, thebook festival has anew director at thehelm, Robert Wilson, director of Louisiana Center of the Book. Wilson hasworkeddiligently at the festival since it began with Davis.

LouisianaCenter for theBook is one of 56 afﬁliates of theCenterfor theBookinthe Library of Congress. The Louisiana Center for the Book plans and promotes the LouisianaBook Festival and its programs.

Statelibrarian Meg Placke says the team at Center for the Book does remarkable work.

“Up until this year,I’ve kind of always been thesecond in command,”Wilson said, “but Jim and I worked soclosely together,itwas really more of aco-directorship. It’s been apassion of mine for a

long time. Ireally enjoy promoting thebooks, reading the authors and letting kids and adultsknow that readingcan be fun. That’s abig part of what the Louisiana Center for theBook is. Basically,our goal is to promotebooks.”

Anew plan forthe festival

Duetoaspecial legislative session, which began Oct. 23 and must endbyNov.13, therewillbenoprogramsinthe Capitol this year.

Other than the change in scen-

ery,Wilson said the festival will continue as it hasinthe past,with the locus at the State Library and spreading out in tents along the grounds. To compensate forlosing therooms at theCapitol,the State Librarywillopenrooms on every ﬂoor and add tents outside.

The Capitol Park Museum will also hold somepanels, as wellas the Bienville Building. Forafestivalthat’sall about

BYMADDIESCOTT Staff writer

The Louisiana Book Festival features many activitiessurrounding the State Library of Louisiana.

PROVIDED PHOTOS

Festivalgoers browse the Cavalier Book Tent at the 2024 Louisiana Book Festival

connection, Placke and Wilson are appreciative of their stateagencyneighbors who have been accommodating with the changes in location for the festival.

Visitors should be on the lookout for the cooking demonstration tent with Marcelle Bienvenu and Celeste Gill, the Young Readers Young Readers Pavilion, the Cavalier House book tent and the Children’sAuthor Tents.

“We’ve got me alittle bitof every something for everybody,” Wilson said.

What to look forin2025

The festival hosts writing workshops, known as “WordShops,” emphasizing both the craft and the business of writing on Oct. 31

The workshops are availablefor both novice and advanced writers, as well as anyone who enjoys books and good conversation. Tickets can be purchased at louisianabookfestival.org/ events/wordshops/.

The schedule for WordShops includes:

n Does Your Writing Smell?The Power of “The Fifth Sense” presented by Julie Kane from 9a.m. to noon

n “Building aWriting Career,” presented by Michele Filgate from9a.m. to noon

n “The Great Character Surrender,”presented by Kionna Walker LeMalle from 1p.m. to 4p.m.

n “Selling Your Story: Strategies from aTop-Selling Literary Agent,” presented by Jesse Byrd from 1p.m. to 4p.m.

The Louisiana Writer Award winner,poet Julie Kane, alongtime friendof the festival, will be honored at noon, and hercollectionof poems, “Naked Women” will be available for purchase.

RUSH

Continued from page1D

Feb 10. Other locations on the tour include Boston, Orlando and Tallahassee.

PROVIDED PHOTO

The Louisiana Book Festival offers workshops, known as ‘WordShops,’emphasizing both the craft and the business of writing.

Wilson highlighted afew of the authors and panels he’s looking forward to this year,noting that the festivalhas astrongshowing of biographiesand memoirs, spooky books, music history books, mystery,romance, true crime, children’sbooks, Louisianahistory,poetry andnovels.

Afew titles hesaystolook for include:

n “Dr.Werthless: He Studied Murderand Nearly Killed theComics Industry” by Harold Schecter, agraphic novel about Dr.Fredric Wertham.

n “Soggy like Cush Cush” by Karly Pierre, achildren’s bookthatcelebratesCreole culture andthe love of a grandparent and agrandchild n LouisianaReaders’ Choicewinner K-2 “Acorn WasaLittle Wild”byJen Arena and honor book, “Anglerﬁsh: Seadevilofthe Deep” by Elaine M. Alexander n LouisianaReaders Choice winner for Middle Grades, “Swim Team”by Johnnie Christmas and honor book, “Camp Scare” by Delilah S.Dawson

n “Everythingbut Typical: Inﬂuential Neurodivergent People WhoHaveShaped theWorld” by Margeaux

The first wave of tickets was available for purchase starting Tuesday through theFan Club membership presale, which can be joined onlinefor $50. General ticket sales begin at 10 a.m. Fridaythrough Ticketmaster Alimited numberofstudent tickets will be available for

Weston

n “Twice Around aMarriage” by Robert Olen Butler

n “The River is Waiting” by Wally Lamb

n “InHumana: An American Healthcare Story” by JeremyWhite and “The Youngest Bee: ALouisiana Story of Sisterhood, Strength, &Alzheimer’s” by Virginia Evans

n “Preserving theLegacy: Creating The National World WarIIMuseum”byGordon H. “Nick” Mueller

n “Pinchback: America’s First Black Governor” by Nicholas Patler

n “StompOff, Let’sGo: The Early Years of Louis Armstrong” by Ricky Riccardi

Hospitality andwarmth are thefoundation of the Louisiana Book Festival, and despiteits size, the festival is aplace where many authors love to return to and readerslook forwardtoeach year

“Other festivals arebigger,but we always hear that people get morepersonal interactions with panelists and programs,”Wilson said. “Weare the little festival that can.”

Email Joy Holden at joy holden@theadvocate.com.

$30 at select tour locations. Katelyn Tarver andStephen Kramer Glickman, also known as Jo andGustavofrom theshow,will join the band as special guests on thetour.Every song from every episode will be played at each performance.

By The Associated Press

Today is Saturday, Oct. 25, the 298th day of 2025. There are 67 days left in the year

Todayinhistory:

On Oct. 25, 1929, former Secretary of the Interior

Albert B. Fall was convicted of accepting bribes in exchange for oil field leases at Teapot Dome in Wyoming and the Elk Hills and Buena Vistaoil fields in California. As aresult of the“Teapot Dome Scandal” Fall would become thefirst U.S. Cabinet member to be imprisoned for crimes committed while in office.

Also on this date: In 1760, Britain’sKing George III succeeded his late grandfather,George II. In 1859, radical abolitionist John Brown went on trial in Charles Town, Virginia, for his failed raid at Harpers Ferry.(He was convicted and later hanged.)

In 1962, during an emergency meetingofthe U.N. SecurityCouncil, U.S. Ambassador Adlai E. Stevenson II demanded that Soviet Ambassador Valerian

TODAYINHISTORY

Zorin conﬁrm or deny the existence of Soviet-built missile bases in Cuba. Stevenson then presented the council with photographic evidence of the bases, a key momentinthe Cuban missile crisis.

In 1983, aU.S.-led force invaded Grenada at the order of President Ronald Reagan, whosaid the action was needed to protect U.S. citizens there.

In 1986, in Game 6of the World Series, the New York Mets rallied forthree runs with twoouts in the 10th inning, defeating the Boston Red Sox 6-5 and forcing aseventh game; the tiebreaking run scored on Boston ﬁrst baseman Bill Buckner’serror on Mookie Wilson’sslow grounder.(The Mets went on to winGame7 and the Series.)

In 1999, golfer Payne Stewart and five others were killedwhentheir Learjet lost cabin pressure, flew hundreds of milesoff course on autopilot, and crashed in afield in South Dakota. Stewart was 42.

In 2002, Democratic U.S. Sen. Paul Wellstone, of

Minnesota, was killed in aplane crash in northern Minnesota along with his wife,daughter and ﬁve others, aweek-and-a-half before the election.

In 2022, Rishi Sunak became Britain’sﬁrst prime minister of color after being chosen to lead the governing Conservative Party Today’sbirthdays: Actor Marion Ross is 96. Author Anne Tyler is 84. Rock singer

No photos on social mediafor me,please

Dear Miss Manners: Ioccasionally enjoy having lunch at arestaurant with agroup of longtime friends. All is well until the time comes when they want to take agroup photo, which, of course, gets posted on Facebook.

Idonot post on social media. Idonot want my life, in words nor photos, posted. So Iquietlysay I’ll back out of camerarange, as Idon’twant apicture of me posted online.

these looks? And justasbad, how do Irespond topeople who post my photo without permission?

are being rude, not you.

Judith Martin MISS MANNERS

Iget looks like I’m fromanother planet. How do Irespond to

Gentle reader: Move to Dubai. Apparentlythere, youmust ask for permission before taking aphoto. Good mannerswould dictate thesame in our country, but since it is not punishable by law,noone adheres to it. Miss Manners is working on that.

In the meantime, ignore the looks andask yourfriends to take down the photos. It is they who

Dear Miss Manners: After afriend pointed out how often Italk over other people, I’ve been working to reininthis bad habit.Inmypersonal life, this has gone well.

At work, it’sbeen harder.I’m frequently in meetings where a colleague is so long-winded, or so far off-topic, that if someone doesn’tinterrupt and redirect them, we aren’table to ﬁnish the business at hand. Almostasoften, theperson running themeeting is in arush and moves on from atopic too quickly before I’ve gotten theinformation

Ineed. Here, if Idon’tinterrupt andask them to back up, Ihave to schedule another meeting to follow up, which is annoying for everyone. Assuming in both cases the speaker doesn’tpause, ask questionsortake abreath, how can I help guide these conversations without interrupting?

Gentle reader: Youcould raise your hand. Although abit schoolishand annoying, it will getthe point acrosswithout actual interruption. Or youcould preempt those speakersprone to reciting monologues by asking if there

Unsticking grassfromlawnmower

Dear Heloise: Ispray cooking oil on my lawn mower blades to keep grass from sticking to them. Idon’tuse motor oil since it can kill my grass if it drips on thelawn.

Dan W.,inTennessee

Adiostoappliances

will be time for questions afterward. But Miss Manners does not entirely object to asking to schedule another meeting. While inconvenient, it has the advantage of likely only having to occur once to be effective.

Sendquestions to Miss Manners at herwebsite, www missmanners.com; to her email, dearmissmanners@gmail.com; or through postal mailtoMiss Manners, Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City,MO 64106.

RELIGION BRIEFS

sign stating: “It still works, and it’syours for free.” By morning of the next day,it’sgone! —Latrice W.,Koontz Lake,Indiana

Hints from Heloise

Dear Heloise: Idiscovered that if Ihave something that’sstill serviceable and still of value, such as an old dishwasher or dryer,Ican put it out at the curb with a

Dear Harriette: Imoved into anew apartment building recently,and while Ilove the location and my unit, I’ve been having atricky time with one of my neighbors. They frequently leave passive-aggressive notes about noise, even when I’m careful to keep my music low and avoid loud activities. Sometimes the notes feel exaggerated or unfair,and it’sstarting to

MATTERS

Youngblood scam

Dear Heloise: Thereis anew scam in town: infusing plasma from ayoung person’s blood into an older person as away to treat Alzheimer’sdisease, memory loss and almost anything related to aging. It’sabout as effective as snake oil. Since

the Food and Drug Administration has warned the public about this scam, there are fewer companies trying to push this bogus treatment, but some still persist. Do not fall for this scam —Frederick,in LosAngeles

Fatcat vs.skinnycat

Dear Heloise: Ihaveafat cat anda skinny cat. Iseparate them at mealtimes so that they can’tsee each other But Ihaveanopen kitchen, andthere’sonlyone out-ofthe-way place to feed them.

So, Iwenttoacraft store andgot aslab of foam anda coupleoffoam blocks. With glue andduct tape, Icreated abarrier that Ican put between the cats’ dishessothat the skinny onedoesn’t feel intimidated by the fat one. It’s simple to remove and store out of sight when mealtime is over.Now I’mlooking forward to having both cats at the proper weight. —Arlene, inAnaheim,California

Send ahinttoheloise@ heloise.com.

‘I’m Proof’women’s conferenceset

prayerand how to achieve it; how to “practice the presence” of God; how to pray with devotion; and the basic principlesofintercessory andhealing prayer. The retreat will include timefor practice of the techniques and discussion.

DeGravelles is archdeacon of the Episcopal DioceseofLouisiana whose ministries have included work with the incarcerated, those in addictions recovery and the homeless. He also works with the Episcopal School of BatonRouge,where he often teaches service learning and community impact. He also leads worship at the Rosedale church.

Continued from page1D

make me anxious every time Imove around my apartment.I don’t wanttostartaconfrontationorcreate hostility,but Ialso don’twanttoconstantly tiptoearound my own home or feel guilty for simply living my life. I’ve considered introducing myself in person to smooth things over,but I’m nervous that couldbackﬁreand make the tension worse. Ialso worry

sitioninthe church.

and Africa broadened his view of the church.

“I guess that really pushed the envelope to expand my theology that really does include people of all nations and all walks of life,” he said. “I started questioning things and started wanting to move in another direction.” His next direction took him back home to Texas, where he worked several years in nonproﬁt and social work and started attending an ELCA church. Word spread about his seminary experience, and he was soon elevated to aleadershippo-

“That really igniteda sparkinmetogoback to seminary,” he said This time,heattended a Lutheran seminary in Chicago for three years before taking an internship in Kingwood, Texas, to pursue acall. Abishopapproached him about considering amove to pastor in Baton Rouge.

“I was alittle hesitant at ﬁrst,” Perez said.“But something moved around in my heart and said just look at the paperwork, and Ibegan to read about Our Saviour and St.Paul. …I went throughthe process with them, and we liked each other well enoughthat we got to the votingand had two unanimous votes.”

Perez’spastoralcareis

thatthe building management won’ttake my side if it escalates, and Idon’twant this situation to affect my enjoyment of my new home. Ijust want toﬁnd away to coexistpeacefully without feeling like I’m walking on eggshells everyday.How can Ihandle this situation in acalm, respectful way that sets boundaries, preserves my peace and prevents further passive-aggressive behavior? —NoMore Notes

Dear No More Notes: If you know where thenotes are

shaped by John 10:11: “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for thesheep.”

“It just speaks tome,” he said. “When Jesus said somethingabout thehired hand is not theshepherd. When thewolf comes, he abandons the sheep and runs away.Hesays the good shepherd stays and carries theﬂock. Andno matter what, he will lay down his life for theﬂock.”

Just as thegood shepherd guards theﬂock, Perez said true ministers are called to boldly confront the issues that are harmful to God’s people. Justice is acentral theme of Perez’scalling, whether it’satOur Saviour (3555 Jones Creek Road), St.Paul (2021 Tara Blvd.)or

coming from, consider leaving anote for that person saying you are making an effort to be mindful of your environment,and you would appreciate it if they would stop with the notes. If you don’tknow who it is, leave anoteonyour door for themstating the same and suggesting that you hope you twocan live harmoniously as you love your new home.

Send questions to askharriette@ harriettecole.com.

throughout thecommunity Perez said we are called to embrace immigrants, strangers, outsiders and all who may be different.

“The Christian message is welcome those people. Be there for them. Love them as you love yourself,” he said. “Everybody belongs here. Idon’tcare who you are, where you come from or where you’re going in life. If you approach the church, Iamthe pastor here, so I’mthe pastor for anybody who walks through those doors.

For more information, lcosbr.org or stpaulbr.com.

ContactTerry Robinson at terryrobinson622@gmail. com.

The ﬁfth annualRunning to My Rescue: “I’m Proof” Women’sConferencewill take placeFriday-Saturday Oct. 31-Nov.1,atthe N-Joy Event Center, 3330 Woodcrest Drive, Baton Rouge. This empowering twoday gathering, hosted by Lashonda Bazile,celebrates the strength andresilience of womenwho are “living proof” of what Godcan do The weekendwill feature inspiring speakers, worship, empowering activities, vendor shopping and fellowship. Admission ranges from freeto$55.20, andrefunds are available up to seven days before the event. For more information, visit eventbrite.com.

Deacon leads retreat in Rosedale

Deacon Charles deGravelleswillleada spiritual retreat from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday,Nov.1,atthe Episcopal Churchofthe Nativity, 15615 Laurel St., Rosedale. Theretreat will explore effective techniques to deepen one’sspiritual life. The event is free, open to the public andwill include lunchafter thepresentation. Topics willinclude community prayerversuspersonal prayer: how to get the most outofeach; whyinterior silence is so important in

Those planning to attend are asked to RSVP by contacting deGravelles at Charlie.degravelles@ gmail.com.

WorshStep at Spoga Fitness Center

Join Bobby Earl for Worsh Step from 6:45 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. Wednesday at Spoga FitnessCenter,811 C MFagan Drive, Hammond.

“Thisunique eventblends ﬁtness and faith, morethan just aworkout, it’sworship in motion. Sweat, praise andconnect withGod and others through joyful movement,” anewsrelease states. For more details, visit eventbrite.com.

scoRPIo (oct.24-Nov. 22) Refuse to let others temptyou with lavish plansthat have little to no chance of panning out. Followyourheartand nurture what matters most to you. Physical improvements will boostyour confidence and energy.

sAGIttARIus (Nov.23-Dec.21) Share feelings and resolve issues. Stick to the facts andavoid overreactive responses. Don't be too quick to use your credit cardortoparticipate in a joint venture.

cAPRIcoRN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Be open to discussions and listen to the ideas that others present. Understanding the potential downfalls of asituation will help you make wise choices.

AQuARIus (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Rethink your strategy and consider your options. Stick close to home and dedicate more time and effort to personal growth and development. Know your worth.

PIscEs (Feb.20-March 20) Put your emotions aside and refuse to let anyone play mind games or manipulate you. Ask direct questions, stick to your morals and ethics, andbewilling to go it alone.

ARIEs (March 21-April 19) Explore thepossibilities of afriendship, partnership or mentorship. Dig in and find out all you can about someone or something of interest. Networking will lead to interesting prospects.

tAuRus (April 20-May 20) You'll gravitate toward unique individuals, pur-

WonderWord

suits and practices. Making achange at homeorinyour lifestyle can help you moveinadifferent direction.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) Channel your energy into something worthwhile. Protect and nurture your relationships, anddon't takeanyone or anything for granted. Focus on self-improvement and health.

cANcER (June 21-July 22) Size up your budget, expenditures and what it will take and cost to reach your goals. Ease stress by creatinga plan that helpsyou avoid making poor choices or falling for scams.

LEo (July 23-Aug. 22) You'll face opposition at home and at functions you attend. Verify information and be willing to walkaway when red flags pop up. Funnel your time, money and effort into personal growth.

VIRGo (Aug. 23-sept. 22) You can expand your interests quicklyifyou avoid interference from negative people or those unlikely to take risks. Communicate with experts and learn all you can without revealingthe truenature of your inquiries.

LIBRA(sept.23-oct. 23) Read,research and find remedies for what ails you. A change of scenery will provide clarity to your vision.

By Andrews McMeel Syndication

FAMILY CIrCUS

Celebrity Cipher cryptograms are created from quotations by famous people, pastand present. Each letter in thecipher stands for another.

toDAy'scLuE: VEQuALsK

CeLebrItY CIpher

For better or For WorSe

beetLe bAILeY

GooSe And GrIMM

Sudoku

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

Yesterday’sPuzzle Answer

THewiZard oF id

BLondie

BaBY BLueS

Hi and LoiS CurTiS

By PHILLIP ALDER Bridge

RobertByrne, an author and expert on billiards (not thechess player), said, “Nobody ever committed suicide while reading agood book, but many have while trying to write one.” Some bridge players metaphorically commitsuicidebymaking aplaythat kills their contract when they couldhave kept it alive by doingsomething different —and should have worked thatout with careful analysis.

In today’s deal, South puts himself into four spades. West leadsthe heart eight because his partnerbid the suit twice. East wins with hisace and returns the heart queen. What should declarer do? It would have been sensible for South to rebid three no-trump, not four spades. AssumingWestisgoing to lead aheart, that would give South nine top tricks. In four spades, given that dummy has theclub king, there seem to be 10 top tricks:six spades, oneheart, one diamond and two clubs. So perhaps South thinks that he can take thesecond trick with his heart king,draw trumps, and claim. However, drawingtrumps would be delayed because Westruffs the heart king. If Westreturns atrump, thecontract is dead. Or if,say, West shifts to a diamond,South will winand play aheart. Now Westmust ruff high andlead his last spade —surely nottaxing playsto find. The bidding marksWestwith a singleton heart. So South should playa low heart, not his king, at trick two. And if East persists with athird heart,South plays low again. Withdeclarer’s 10th winner safe, the contract rolls home. Stop to consider thealternatives. ©2025 by NEA, Inc., dist.

By Andrews McMeel Syndication

wuzzles

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

Previousanswers:

word game

INstRuctIoNs: 1. Words must be of four or more letters. 2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed. 3. Additional

toDAy’sWoRD EstRoNE: EH-strone: Anatural hormone used to treat estrogen deficiency. Average mark 24 words

yEstERDAy’s WoRD —MELoDEoN

Timelimit 55 minutes Can youfind 45 or more words in ESTRONE? meld

today’s thought

is there salvation in any other: forthere is none other nameunder heaven given among men,whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:12

loCKhorNs

Thereisonly one waytoHeaven. Jesus is thatway.— G.E. Dean

marmaduKe

Bizarro

hagar the horriBle

Pearls Before swiNe

garfield

B.C.

PiCKles hidato

MINUTES CITY COUNCILMEETING CITY OF BAKER PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE STATEOFLOUISIANA COUNCILCHAMBERS

3325 GROOM ROAD, BAKER, LOUISIANA70714 www.youtube.

com/@bakerforward October 14, 2025 -6:00 p.m.

TheCity Council of the City of Baker,Louisiana, metin regular session on October14, 2025, with the following members in attendance at the meeting: MAYOR Darnell Waites

COUNCILMEMBERS DesireeCollins RochelleDunn CedricMurphy Dr.Charles Vincent RobertYoung

CALL TO ORDER –Mayor Waites presided.

Theinvocation was given by CouncilMember Murphy

ThePledgeofAllegiancewas ledbyCouncilMember Vincent *** Publiccomments will be allowedon all agenda items.Such comments shallnot exceed 3minutes and shall be confined to the agenda item andany proposed disposition thereof.***

DISPOSITIONOFTHE MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING

The motion wasmadebyCouncilMemberVincent, seconded by Council Member Young to approvethe minutes of the meeting heldonSeptember 23,2025.

The mayor called forpublic commentsorquestions.

Vote was called for YEAS: Collins, Dunn,Murphy, Vincent, Young NAYS: None

ABSENT:None ABSTAIN: None

The motion passedwithavoteof5-0

RECOGNITIONS

1. Recognize Mrs. Sarah Holliday James (Mayor)

Themayor recognizedcancer survivor Mrs. Sarah Holliday James.

Aproclamation honoringMrs. James was read.

Theproclamation declaring October 2025 Breast Cancer Awareness Month in the City of Baker was read

The motion wasmadebyCouncilMember Vincent,seconded by Council Member Murphy to accept theproclamation

YEAS: Collins, Dunn, Murphy,Vincent, Young NAYS: None

ABSENT:None ABSTAIN:None The motion passedwithavote of 5-0.

The mayorpresented Mrs. James with the proclamation and aCity of Baker medallion.

2. Recognize theBakerHighSchoolSymphony of Soul Band forplacing 3rdinthe Small Band Division at SouthernUniversity’sHigh School Battle of theBands (Collins) Council Member Collins recognized theBaker High SchoolSymphony ofSoul Band forplacing 3rdinthe SmallBand Division at Southern University’s High School Battle of the Bands.

3.Recognize October as ADHD Awareness Month(Collins) CouncilMemberCollins recognized October as ADHDAwarenessMonth She provided an overview of ADHD and explained thatitmanifests itself differently in everyone. CouncilMemberCollinsstressed that people living with ADHD arenot alone.

4. MirandaGeorgetown-Riley–MagnoliaRose Foundation(Collins) Council Member Collinsasked Miranda Georgetown-Riley,the Magnolia RoseFoundation,tospeak.Mrs. Rileyprovided an overview of the foundation, itsmission andgoals, and asked that everyone support their endeavors. She announced the 4th AnnualMagnoliaRose Foundation Ball“Gatsby Gala” is beingheldSaturday,November 1, 2025, from8:00 p.m. to Midnight at the Baker MunicipalAuditorium. Mrs. Rileystated the ballhelps fund free play datesfor autistic,exceptional, and neurotypical kidstolearnabouteachother’sdifferences in funand safeenvironments.

5.Introduce JeremyJackson –Fireand Police Civil ServiceBoard (Murphy) Council MemberMurphyintroduced JeremyJackson who was recently appointed to theFireand Police CivilService Board.

6. IntroduceDenise Williams –Fireand Police Civil ServiceBoard (Murphy) Council Member Murphyintroduced Denise Williams who was recently appointed to theFireand Police Civil ServiceBoard. PLANNING AND ZONINGMATTERS

RESOLUTIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS

1. Proclamation declaringOctober 2025 Pastor and ClergyAppreciation Month in theCityofBaker (Murphy) CouncilMemberMurphy asked that this agendaitembetabled until the next meeting

The motion was made by Council Member Dunn, seconded by Council Member Vincent to table this agenda item

The mayor called forpublic commentsorquestions Votewas called for YEAS: Collins, Dunn, Murphy,Vincent, Young

NAYS: None

ABSENT:None ABSTAIN:None The motion passedwithavoteof5-0

2. Proclamation declaringOctober 2025 Breast Cancer Awareness Monthinthe City of Baker (Vincent) Thisagenda item was addressed earlier in themeeting

3. Proclamation declaringOctober 2025 DomesticViolence Awareness Month in theCityofBaker (Vincent) CouncilMemberVincent asked that this agendaitembetabled until the nextmeeting.

The motion wasmadebyCouncilMemberVincent, seconded by Council Member Murphy to table this agenda item

The mayor called forpublic commentsorquestions.

Vote was called for.

YEAS: Collins, Dunn, Murphy,Vincent, Young

NAYS:None ABSENT:None ABSTAIN:None The motion passedwithavoteof5-0

Newlyelected 19th Judicial District Judge Vicky Jonesintroducedherself, thanked everyonefor theirsupport in the recent election,and saidshe looks forwardtoservingthe Baker community

NEW BUSINESS

1. IntroduceOrdinance 2025-6,regulations regarding automobilerepair work andoil changesinresidential and subdivisionareas and to provide forother matters regarding to the same(Mayor)

The motionwas made by CouncilMember Murphy,seconded by Council MemberDunn to introduce Ordinance2025-6

The mayor called forpublic commentsorquestions.

Vote was called for. YEAS: Collins, Dunn, Murphy,Vincent, Young NAYS:None ABSENT:None ABSTAIN:None

The motion passedwithavoteof5-0

2. Change November 25, 2025 and December23, 2025 councilmeeting dates (Mayor)

Themotion was made by CouncilMemberMurphy,secondedbyCouncil

MemberDunn to change the date of the November 25, 2025 council meetingtoTuesday, November 18 2025,and change thedateofthe December23, 2025 council meeting toTuesday December16, 2025

Themayor called forpubliccommentsorquestions.

Votewas called for YEAS: Collins, Dunn, Murphy,Vincent,Young NAYS: None

ABSENT: None

ABSTAIN: None

The motion passed with avoteof5-0.

3. Schedule aworksession to discusssetbacksfor new development (Dunn)

The motion was made by CouncilMemberDunn, secondedbyCouncil Member Murphy to schedule aworksession to discusssetbacksfor new developmenton Monday, January 12, 2026, at 5:00 p.m.

The mayorcalled for public comments or questions.

Vote was called for YEAS: Collins, Dunn, Murphy,Vincent,Young NAYS: None

ABSENT: None

ABSTAIN: None

The motion passed with avoteof5-0.

4. Schedule aworksession to discusstirebusinessordinance (Vincent)

The motion was made by CouncilMemberVincent,secondedbyCouncil MemberMurphy to schedule aworksession to discussa tire ordinance on Monday November 17, 2025, at 5:00 p.m.

The mayorcalled for publiccommentsorquestions.

Vote was called for YEAS: Collins, Dunn, Murphy,Vincent,Young

NAYS: None

ABSENT: None

ABSTAIN: None

The motion passed with avoteof5-0.

PUBLICMEETING

ANNOUNCEMENTS/COMMENTS

1. District 2announcements(Dunn)

CouncilMemberDunn announceda District 2committee meetingwillbe held on Wednesday, October 15, 2025 in the Civic Room of the Municipal Auditoriumat5:00p.m. She thanked the mayorfor the workbeing done at theparkonN.Magnolia, saying the projectisgoing well. Council Member Dunn said the renamingceremonyheld at the cemetery in honor of Pete Heine was wonderful and commendedthe mayorand hisstaff.

CouncilMemberVincent thanked Council Member Collins for the Eiffel Tower keychain she gave council members. Council MemberVincent presented his colleagues withcards containing keychains from Peru and Columbia,and recounted some of the highlightsofhis recent trip to South America.Hethanked the city for cutting thegrass in the ditch nearthe bridgeonSprucewood. He also thanked the Public WorksDepartment for cutting the limbsatMr. Robert’shouse on Felicity.Council Member Vincent said the ditches on Thomas Road still needtobecut, as well as theditch on MorvantnearAmerest

Council MemberCollins acknowledgedthe Baker ChamberofCommerce for hosting theirannual banquet. She remindedeveryone of the recreational activities available in the CityofBaker.She invited everyone to join her for the District 3walks which beginat5:00. Council Member Collins announcedTrunk or Treatwill be held on Friday,October 31, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. She said the Baker Fire Departmentiscurrently offeringfree smokedetectors and installation for interested residents. She announced the ElvinHowardPancreaticCancer5Krun willbeheld on Saturday November 8, 2025. She announcedBaker HighSchool’shomecoming is Friday,October 24, 2025. Council Member Collins announcedthe Baker FreshMarketwill be held on Saturday,October 25, 2025. Shethanked the mayorand his stafffor the LED lights on GroomRoad. She announced CenterWell on GroomRoadishosting atailgate partyfor seniorson Wednesday, October15, 2025 at 1:00 p.m. Council MemberCollins stated she represented the CityofBaker on her recent trip to Paris, saying she attendedameeting and left informationfromBaker with thoseinParis Shethanked everyone for their prayersand support.

CouncilMemberYoung stated that he and the mayorwill be meetingwith abreakfastplaceinGonzales aboutthe possibilityofopening alocation in theCityofBaker.Hethanked the clerkfor providinghim withinformation regarding security lights from Entergy.Council Member Young thanked everyone who checkedonhim during and after his hospital stay

CouncilMemberMurphy said he is thankful for the workthat has been doneonLavey Lane. He encouraged everyone to tell their clergy and pastorsthat they areappreciated,asOctober is Pastor and Clergy Appreciation Month.

APPOINTMENTSTOBOARDSAND COMMISSIONS

ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS

The mayorcommended the Public WorksDepartmentfor theirhardwork and dedication while repairing amajor water leakthat affecteda huge number of residents.

CouncilMemberVincent askedifresidents weremadeawareofthe situation and resulting activity The mayorsaiditwas disseminated on GovDeliveryand reiterated the importanceofeveryone in the community utilizing this invaluable tooltostay informed. The mayorsaidthat communication is vital, that it is imperativethat everyone communicate with one another CONDEMNATIONS

REPORTSONBOARDSAND COMMISSIONS

1. Planning andZoningCommission 2. Annexation ReviewCommittee

3. EconomicDevelopment Team

4. HeritageMuseum/Related Committees

5. ABC Board

6. Other Special Committees

a. Buffalo Festival

b. PrayerBreakfast

c. StrategicPlanning Committee

d. Citizens Advisory Board to Law Enforcement

e. Main StreetDistrict Committee

ADJOURN

The motion was made by Council MemberMurphy,secondedbyCouncil Member Dunn to adjourn.

The mayorcalled for public comments or questions.

Vote was called for YEAS: Collins, Dunn, Murphy,Vincent,Young

NAYS: None ABSENT: None

ABSTAIN: None The motion passed with avoteof5-0.

CITYOFBAKER PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE STATEOFLOUISIANA

I, Angela CanadyWall, certify that IamClerkofthe Council for the City of Baker,Louisiana, and that the aboveand foregoing is acopyofthe minutes of aregular meetingofthe Councilfor the City of Baker,Louisiana held on October14, 2025.

Angela CanadyWall, LCMC Clerk of Council MINUTES

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS NORMAN E. “PETE”HEINE MEMORIALGARDENS

The City Councilofthe City of Baker, Louisiana, sittingasthe Board of Commissioners for Norman E. “Pete”Heine Memorial Gardens, met in regularsession on October14, 2025, withthe followingmembers in attendanceatthe meeting: COMMISSIONERS DesireeCollins Rochelle Dunn Cedric Murphy

Dr.Charles Vincent Darnell Waites

Robert Young

CALL TO ORDER –Commissioner Waitespresided.

CommissionerDunn stated the name of the cemeteryneeds to be changedonthe minutes, as it is no longerHillcrest Memorial Gardens, but Norman E. “Pete” HeineMemorialGardens.

DISPOSITION OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING

The meetingwas calledtoorder andthe motion wasmade by CommissionerWaites, seconded by Commissioner Murphy to approve the minutes of themeeting held on September 23,2025.

Commissioner Waitescalledfor public comments or questions.

Vote wascalledfor YEAS: Collins, Dunn,Murphy,Vincent, Waites, Young NAYS: None

ABSENT:None

ABSTAIN: None The motion passedbyavote of 6-0.

PUBLIC NOTICE

NEW BUSINESS

OTHERNECESSARY BUSINESS

1. MonthlyBusiness Report

2. Other Reports

3. Items Requiring Action

ADJOURN There wasnootherbusiness to come beforethe commission.The motion wasmade by Commissioner Waites, secondedbyCommissioner Murphy to adjourn.

Commissioner Waitescalledfor public comments or questions.

Vote wascalledfor YEAS: Collins, Dunn,Murphy,Vincent, Waites, Young NAYS: None

ABSENT:None

ABSTAIN: None

The motion passedbyavote of 6-0.

CITY OF BAKER PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE STATEOFLOUISIANA

I, Angela Canady Wall, certify thatIamClerk of the Council for the City of Baker,Louisiana, andthatthe above andforegoing is acopy of the minutes of aregularmeetingofthe Board of Commissionersfor the Hillcrest Memorial GardensheldonOctober14, 2025.

Angela Canady Wall, LCMC Clerk of Council MINUTES BOARDOFCOMMISSIONERS BAKER CONSOLIDATEDUTILITIES SYSTEM CITY OF BAKER PARISHOFEASTBATON ROUGE STATEOFLOUISIANA

3325GROOM ROAD BAKER, LA 70714 October14, 2025

The City Council of the City of Baker, Louisiana, sittingasthe Board of Commissionersfor the Baker ConsolidatedUtilities System,met in regular session on October14, 2025, withthe following members attending: COMMISSIONERS DesireeCollins Rochelle Dunn Cedric Murphy Dr.Charles Vincent Darnell Waites Robert Young

CALL TO ORDER –Commissioner Waitespresided.

DISPOSITION OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING

The meetingwas calledtoorder andthe motion wasmade by Commissioner Waites, seconded by CommissionersDunn/Vincent to approve the minutes of themeetingheldonSeptember23, 2025.

Commissioner Waitescalledfor public comments or questions.

Vote wascalledfor YEAS: Collins, Dunn,Murphy,Vincent, Waites, Young NAYS: None

ABSENT:None

ABSTAIN: None

The motion passedbyavote of 6-0

PUBLIC NOTICE

NEW BUSINESS

OTHERNECESSARY BUSINESS

1. MonthlyBusiness Report

2. Other Reports

3. Items Requiring Action

ADJOURN

There wasnootherbusiness to come beforethe commission.The motion wasmade by Commissioner Waites, secondedbyCommissioner Dunn to adjourn.

Commissioner Waitescalledfor public comments or questions.

Vote wascalledfor YEAS: Collins, Dunn,Murphy,Vincent, Waites, Young NAYS: None

ABSENT:None

ABSTAIN: None

The motion passedbyavote of 6-0

CITY OF BAKER PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE STATEOFLOUISIANA

I, Angela Canady Wall, certify that IamClerk of the Council for the City of Baker,Louisiana, andthatthe aboveand foregoing is acopy of the minutes of aregularmeetingofthe Board of Commissionersofthe Baker ConsolidatedUtility System heldonOctober14, 2025.

Angela Canady Wall, LCMC Clerk of Council