East BatonRougeParish will vote Saturdayonthree itemsthat are part of Mayor-President
budget woes
BY PATRICK SLOAN-TURNER Staff writer
East Baton Rouge Parishresidents
will see three separateitemsonthe ballotwhenthey walk into the votingbooth on Saturday,but it’s allpart of MayorPresident SidEdwards’ plan to fix the parish’sbudget woes —and it’sone of his first major political tests. The city is facingastructural budget
deficit.Edwards wantstotake some of the money currently dedicated to libraries, mosquito and rodent control and the Council on Aging and rerouteittothe parish general fund, giving him more flexibility to fix theproblem The vote has been in the works for months. What began as an effort to shift
aportion of thelibrary system’sfunding to the Baton Rouge PoliceDepartmenthas evolved into “Thrive,” which Edwards says is necessary to putthe parish on the right fiscal footing. Theword“Thrive”does notappear on voters’ballots. Instead, the 10-year measure is split up as propositions 1, 2 and 3.
See ELECTION, page 4A
GayleBensonbacks Saints GM Loomis
Ownerurges fans to be patientasteamrebuilds
BY JEFF DUNCAN Staff writer
New OrleansSaints owner GayleBenson issued her strongestpublic endorsement yet of general manager Mickey Loomis, calling demands for her to fire the football team’slongtime executive “ridiculous.”
During an exclusive interview with The Times-Picayune on Thursday,Benson strongly backed the Saints’ embattled
general manager,saying she holds him in “high esteem” and is “pleased” with hiswork.
“It may not be what the fans want to hear,but as far as firing Mickey Loomis, that’sridiculous,” Benson said. “(He) doesagreat job.”
Loomis has become alightning rod of fan criticism in the wake of the team’s slow start to the 2025 season. The team’s 1-8start wasthe franchise’s worst since 1980. At 2-8,the Saintsare tied with the New York Giants for the worst record in the NFC.
TheSaints, meanwhile, have lost 21 of their last 26 games,dating to last season,
and are on track to miss the playoffs for afifth consecutive year.It’sthe club’slongest postseason drought since the early 2000s.
“You don’tthink Mickey Loomisislosing sleep at night over all of this? He is,” Benson said. “It’shard.It’snot an easy job. It’s notlikehe’ssitting on hisbutt, not worrying about things.”
In his 24th season as the club’stop football executive, Loomis,68, is the longest tenured general manager in theNFL. His tenurehas included the most successful run in franchise history,including seven
BY CHRISTOPHER CARTWRIGHT Staff writer
AplannedRiverParishes Community College training center in Donaldsonville is moving closer to construction witha roughly $450,000 purchase of land for the new facility Located along La. 945, the new campus aimstotrain the future workforce forproposed industrial projectsinthe region, including a planned$5.8billion Hyundai steel mill. Louisiana Communityand Technical CollegeSystempaid around $454,000 last week for the 20-acresite,according to documents filedwiththe Ascension Parish Clerk of Court.
It is estimatedtoopeninlate 2027, Chancellor Quintin Taylor said Monday
“We’re taking everysingle communityonthe westbank andthe east bank intoconsideration,” he said, saying the center hopes to attract studentsfrom Ascension, Assumption, St. James, St. John the Baptist and Iberville parishes.
“Our hope is that they will flood this facilitysothat they get the training needed to go to work,” Tayloradded. “…Our goal in this is that we train local, we hire local, and that way we’re able to change the local communitiesbyinvesting in them and their education.” Taylor saidthe center’stotal cost
STAFF FILE PHOTO By HILARy SCHEINUK
Sid Edwards’ planto fixthe parish’s
STAFFFILE PHOTOBySOPHIAGERMER
NewOrleans Saints coach Kellen Moore,from left,poses with owner Gayle Benson and general manager Mickey Loomis on Feb.13atthe Saints practice facility in Metairie.
BRIEFS FROM WIRE REPORTS
Protesters arrested at immigration facility
CHICAGO Authorities arrested 21 protesters Friday and said four officers were injured outside a Chicago-area federal immigration facility that activists say functions as a de facto detention center and is plagued by inhumane conditions.
The Cook County Sheriff’s Office said most faced charges of obstruction, disorderly conduct, and walking on a highway One also faced a charge of mob action. Their ages ranged from 23 to 67.
The office said the four officers were injured while trying to redirect protesters off a roadway and back behind a barrier Two Broadview police officers and one Cook County Sheriff’s Police officer were taken to a hospital.
Just moments before the clash demonstrators were singing and chanting. Around 10 a.m., a large group, knowing they were going to be arrested, allegedly crossed the protest barrier and attempted to walk up toward the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility
Some protesters carried signs reading, “God’s Love Knows No Borders” and “God Demands Freedom.” Some of them prayed.
The crowd numbered about 300 before it began to disperse
Trump drops tariffs on beef, coffee, tropical fruit
WASHINGTON President Donald Trump signed an executive order Friday to get rid of tariffs on a broad swath of commodities, including beef, coffee and tropical fruits. It’s part of a response to pressure from consumers who complain prices are too high.
Trump slapped tariffs on most countries in April. He and his administration have been long insisted that tariffs don’t increase consumer prices despite economic evidence to the contrary
Record-high beef prices have been a particular concern.
Trump’s tariffs on Brazil, a major beef exporter, have been a factor
The executive order also removes tariffs on tea, fruit juice, cocoa, spices, bananas, oranges, tomatoes and certain fertilizers.
Bus crashes into bus stop, killing 3, injuring 3
STOCKHOLM A double-decker bus crashed into a bus stop in Stockholm on Friday, killing three people and injuring three others, police said.
Authorities were alerted to the crash at 3:23 p.m. on Friday
The vehicle rammed into the bus shelter on Valhallavägen, a street in the Swedish capital’s Östermalm district.
Police were treating the crash as “involuntary manslaughter” but were still investigating. It wasn’t immediately clear what the cause was.
Swedish news agency TT said police confirmed that the driver had been detained and would be questioned. The front of the bus appeared to be have been seriously damaged.
Emergency services said the vehicle — a regular city bus — was not in service and no passengers were on board at the time, TT reported.
Iran seizes tanker in strait, U.S. official says DUBAI, United Arab Emirates Iran seized a Marshall Islandsflagged oil tanker as it traveled through the narrow Strait of Hormuz on Friday, a U.S. official said, turning the ship into Iranian territorial waters in the first-such interdiction in months in the strategic waterway Iran did not acknowledge the seizure. The ship, the Talara, had been traveling from Ajman, United Arab Emirates, onward to Singapore when Iranian forces intercepted it, said the U.S. defense official, who spoke on condition of anonymity A U.S. Navy MQ-4C Triton drone had been circling above the area where the Talara was for hours on Friday observing the seizure, flight-tracking data analyzed by The Associated Press showed. The British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center separately acknowledged the incident, saying a possible “state activity” forced the Talara to turn into Iranian territorial waters.
FAA takes steps to restore flights
BY RIO YAMAT and JOSH FUNK Associated Press
The Federal Aviation Admin-
istration on Friday halved the number of flights that U.S. airlines must cut from their schedules at 40 airports as the country’s aviation system recovers from a shortage of air traffic controllers during the record government shutdown.
The agency said airlines will only have to cancel 3% of their flights beginning at 6 a.m. Saturday instead of 6%. Citing safety concerns, the FAA first ordered flights reduced at the busy airports on Nov 7 as absences mounted at air traffic facilities and airport towers. Controllers were among the federal employees who were required to work while going unpaid during the shutdown.
The number of cancellations peaked last Sunday at nearly 3,000
flights, about 10% of the ones scheduled, as a result of the FAA order combined with continued controller shortages and severe weather in parts of the country
The rollback comes amid improved staffing levels after the 43day shutdown ended Wednesday night, the FAA and Department of Transportation said, adding that they will continue to monitor the situation throughout the weekend and evaluate whether normal operations can resume.
Before the FAA released its updated guidance, airlines already seemed to be anticipating a change or a full rollback of the order By Friday afternoon, the flight-tracking site FlightAware was showing just 159 cancellations for Saturday And United Airlines, which had been posting several days’ worth of cancellations online in advance over the past week, didn’t list any
cancellations after Friday Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has repeatedly said safety metrics must improve before the order is lifted entirely
The FAA originally had a 10% target, but officials held off on further rate increases because they said more controllers were coming to work amid news that Congress was close to reaching a deal to end the shutdown.
The unprecedented order started with 4% cuts that later grew to 6%, leading to the cancellation of more than 11,800 flights between Nov 7 and Friday
Duffy hasn’t shared the specific safety data that prompted the cuts, but he cited reports during the shutdown of planes getting too close in the air, more runway incursions and pilot concerns about controllers’ responses. How long it will take for the avia-
Russian attack on Kyiv
kills 6, injures at least 35
BY HANNA ARHIROVA, SAMYA KULLAB and VASILISA STEPANENKO Associated Press
KYIV, Ukraine Russia unleashed a major missile and drone barrage on Kyiv early Friday, killing six people, leaving gaping holes in apartment buildings and starting fires as the sound of explosions boomed across the city and lit up the night sky
A pregnant woman was among at least 35 people wounded, Ukrainian authorities said.
Russia used at least 430 drones and 18 missiles in the nighttime attack, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
Friday’s aerial assault, which also targeted Odesa in the south and Kharkiv in the northeast, was mostly aimed at Kyiv where drones and missiles smashed into high-rise apartment blocks, according to Zelenskyy. It was “a specially calculated attack to cause as much harm as possible to people and civilians,” he said in a post on Telegram.
Moscow denies targeting civilian areas, with the Russian Defense Ministry saying Friday it carried out an overnight strike on Ukraine’s “military-industrial and energy facilities.” Ukrainian officials scoff at those claims, showing repeated damage to homes and public buildings.
The attack was the biggest on Kyiv in almost three weeks. Most recent Russian aerial attacks have aimed at electricity
infrastructure ahead of winter Ukraine used its American-made Patriot air defense systems to repel the attack and shot down 14 missiles, Zelenskyy said. The Ukrainian leader has pleaded with foreign supporters to send more of the sophisticated systems.
In the Odesa region, Russian drones struck a busy street on market day in Chornomorsk, killing two people and wounding 11 others, including a 19-month-old girl, regional military administration chief Oleh Kiper said.
Kyiv resident Mariia Kalchenko said it was a miracle she survived after her building was hit. “I didn’t hear anything, I just realized that my hair was on fire,” the 46-year-old volunteer rescue dog handler told The Associated Press.
She turned on her flashlight and saw her dog had moved away in fright. “I turned around and saw that there was no wall, and there was a neighbor’s apartment, the neighbor was screaming, there was no door, and the flames were going from the front door into the apartment,” she said.
Iryna Synyavska, 62, said three people were killed in two apartments next to hers. “My neighbor and his father were killed by the ceiling that collapsed. In the next door (apartment), an elderly woman lived there, she was over 80,” Synyavska said. “Her daughter was visiting her Her body was only just recovered because the walls fell down.”
Charlotte officials
vow to resist
looming immigration crackdown
By The Associated Press
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Officials and community leaders opposing a pending federal immigration crackdown in North Carolina’s largest city characterized it Friday as an invasion and urged Charlotte residents to protest peacefully and record agents’ actions from a distance.
“We are living in the strangest of times,” said Mecklenburg County Commissioner Susan Rodriguez-McDowell, the granddaughter and wife of immigrants. “A time when a felonious reality
TV personality is occupying the White House. Unfortunately, we have seen this movie before, and now they want to film an episode of Shock and Awe show here in our city.”
The gathering comes a day after Sheriff Garry McFadden confirmed that federal officials, whom he declined to identify, told him U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents would start an enforcement operation there by Saturday or early next week. The Department of
Homeland Security, which oversees CBP, won’t comment on future or potential operations
“We’ve seen what has taken place in other cities across this country when the federal government gets involved,” said state Rep. Jordan Lopez. “We have seen the undisciplined agents pointing weapons at unarmed civilians, the indiscriminate rounding up of civilians who are sleeping in their homes in the middle of their night in Chicago. We have seen the worst of law enforcement.”
Local and state officials say they have received no formal notification from President Donald Trump’s administration about a mission to Charlotte. But local organizations are training volunteers on how to protest and to safely document any attempts to perform a sweep, as well as informing immigrants of their rights.
Héctor Vaca, training and immigrant justice director for the group Action NC, said they’re reacting to an “invasion” and “racist campaign of terror” by the Trump administration.
tion system to stabilize is unclear
The flight restrictions upended airline operations in just a matter of days. Many planes were rerouted and aren’t where they’re supposed to be. Airlines for America, the trade group of U.S airlines, warned there could be residual effects for days.
Some experts predicted the problems could linger longer But airline executives were optimistic that flying could quickly return to normal ahead of the busy Thanksgiving travel week once the FAA order to cut flights is lifted. The nationwide shortage of controllers isn’t new, but the shutdown put a spotlight on the problem and likely made it worse.
Duffy said that by the end of the shutdown, 15 to 20 controllers were retiring daily and some younger controllers were leaving the profession.
Coach featured on Netflix series killed
BY MIKE CATALINI and HAVEN DALEY Associated Press
OAKLAND Calif. — Oakland’s celebrated former football coach John Beam, who was featured in the Netflix series “Last Chance U” that showcased his success with players others wouldn’t gamble on, died Friday, a day after being shot on the college campus where he worked.
Police arrested the 27-year-old suspect Friday Authorities said he knew the 66-yearold coach, and it was a targeted attack.
The shooting at Laney College rattled Oakland, with scores holding a vigil outside the hospital before he died. He was remembered as someone who would help anyone.
Authorities credited technology, specifically cameras at the college campus, private residences and on public transit, in tracking the suspect identified as Cedric Irving Jr Irving was arrested without incident at a commuter
rail station in Oakland just after 3 a.m. on Friday and police recovered the gun. He was being held at a local jail on charges of murder and carrying a concealed weapon, according to Alameda County’s inmate locator He is scheduled to be arraigned on Tuesday It wasn’t immediately clear if he had an attorney who could speak on his behalf. Irving’s brother, Samuael Irving, told the San Francisco Chronicle that he was stunned to learn of the arrest and that his brother excelled academically and athletically in high school. The brother said Cedric grew distant from the family in recent years after an argument with their father. Irving recently lost his job as a security guard after an altercation, his brother said, and then was evicted from his apartment.
The Netflix docuseries focused on athletes at junior colleges striving to turn their lives around, and Beam’s Laney College Eagles starred in the 2020 season. Beam gambled on players nobody else wanted. He developed deep relationships with his players while fielding a team that regularly competed for championships.
Beam
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By EFREM LUKATSKy
Rescuers work on the scene of a building damaged after a Russian attack Friday in Kyiv Ukraine.
Costumed protesters attend U.N. climateconference
BY ANTON L. DELGADO Associated Press
BELEM, Brazil Protesters in Pokemon costumes stomped around the United Nations climate conference on Friday to send amessage to Japan: end financing of coal and natural gasprojects across SoutheastAsia and other regions of the Global South.
The Stop Japan’sDirty Energy Plans protest aligned with the first of two thematic days with afocus on energy during the annual climate conference known as COP30,held thisyear in Belem on the edge of the Brazilian Amazon. Organizers of the protest said the investments are amajor blind spot for Japan, typically a regional voice in climate negotiations that often touts itself as adecarbonization leader in Asia.
Activists, including one dressed in aPikachu costume, protest Japan’s financing of coal and natural gasprojects during the COP30U.N.Climate
“Japan is actually delaying the fossil fuel phase-out across Asia” by funding energy projects, mainly liquefied natural gas developments, in countries such as Thailand, Malaysia,Indonesia and the Philippines, said Hiroki Osada with Friends of the EarthJapan, one of the protest organizers. The government-owned Japan Bankfor Interna-
tional Cooperation financed
$6.4 billion in loans for coal projectsand $874 million in loans for gas projectsfrom 2016 to 2024, according to a2025study by thePhilippines-based research and
advocacy organization Center for Energy,Ecologyand Developmentbased on public government and banking data. The bank, whichisJapan’smajor conduit of overseas aid, did not respond to
requests forcomment.
The Japan Delegation at COP30 responded to The Associated Press but declined to directly commentonthe claims madebyactivists.
Instead,Japaneseofficials said Japan’scooperation with Southeast Asian nations to achieve “decarbonization, economicgrowthand energy security simultaneously through varies pathways” was supported by those countries.
Apairofbobbing Pikachus
The protest centered on a pair of people wearing lifesized, inflatable Pikachu costumes who flanked ahandful of activists.
The event included activists from across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which is home to multiple Japanbacked fossil fuelprojects.
One banner read: “Don’tgas ASEAN.” Ian Rivera, national coordinator at PhilippineMovement for Climate Justice, led chants of “Only Pokemon, no fossil fuels” and “Sayonara fossil fuels.”
The bobbing Pikachus later visitedthe country pavilions of India, Indonesia and Malaysia to “to reveal how Japan is exporting its fossil agenda.”
“If GlobalNorth countries, like Japan, decide to double down on fossil fuel production and export, that is going to makeitimpossible for countries across the Global South to makethe just energy transition,”saidAmiera Sawas, head of research and policy at the Fossil Fuel Non Proliferation Treaty Initiative.
ThePikachu protest, a frequent one during recent summits, was sandwiched between other anti-fossil fueldemonstrations and came after aFriday morning demonstration blocked the main entrance to the conference and increased COP30 security measures. Earlier, activists hosted a “Kick Out the Suits” event demanding theremoval of fossil fuellobbyists, who environmentalists accused of undermining the negotiations.
A&M University System regents on Thursday required professors to receive approvalfrom the school president to discusssome race and gender topics, tightening rules months after a viral video of astudent confronting an instructor over her lessons threw the flagship campus into upheaval.
The new policywill apply to all12schools within the system, including at Texas A&M, one of the largest universities in the country
The new policy states that no academic course “will advocate race or gender ideology,ortopics related to sexual orientation or gender identity” unless approved in advance by acampuspresident.
The new policy appearsto be the first time that apublic university system in Texas has put in rules on what faculty can talk about in their classroom on thetopics of race and gender.Other university systems in Texas have also placed restrictions
BY MIKE STOBBE Associated Press
NEW YORK Researchers have reported what they believe is the first documented death from ameat allergy that can be triggered by tick bites.
A47-year-old New Jersey man died last year from alpha-gal syndrome, which in 2011 was first linked to bites from the Lone Star tick.
Thecasereport was published this week in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.The lead author was the Universityof Virginia’sDr. Thomas Platts-
on classroominstructionor have begun internal reviews of course offeringsfollowinga new statelaw
Critics ofthe new policy sayitwould impede the ability offaculty to teach, undermine academicfreedomand couldbea violation of First Amendment rights
“Itreallystrikes at the heart of what education means and what universities do,which is circulate the exchange of knowledgewithout fear of retaliation, without fear censorship,” saidRana Jaleel,chair of the American Association of University Professors’committeeon academic freedom
Various universitiesand their presidentsaround the country have come under scrutiny from conservative critics and President Donald Trumpadministration over diversity,equity and inclusion practices andtheir responses to campus protests.
Last month, Trump asked nine major universities, includingthe University of TexasatAustin,toagree to various provisions, including commitments to eliminaterace and sex from ad-
Mills, who led the 2011 paper that first linked Lone Star tick bites to themeat allergy. The new report tells of a healthyairlinepilotwho in the summer of 2024 wenton acampingtrip withhis wife and children. They had steak as part of alate supper.That was unusual —the man rarely ate meat. He woke up at 2a.m. with severe stomachpain, diarrhea and vomiting.Hegradually felt better,went back to sleep, and the next morning he feltwellenough to eat breakfast and walk 5miles. Twoweeks later, back
missions decisions and to promoteconservative views on campus.
The new policy defines “race ideology” as a“conceptthatattempts to shame aparticular race or ethnicity, accuse them of being oppressors in aracial hierarchy or conspiracy” or assigns “them intrinsicguilt based on the actions of their presumed ancestors or relatives.” The policydefines “gender ideology” as a“concept of self-assessed gender identity replacing anddisconnected from the biological category of sex.”
“The goal is transparent anddocument cocurricular review,not policing individual speech,” James Hallmark,vicechancellorfor theTexas A&MUniversity System’sOffice of Academic Affairs, told theregents.
Aspokesperson for the A&M systemdidn’timmediatelyreply to an email Thursday seeking comment on howthe policy would be implemented.
Regents alsoapproved a related policy saying faculty “will not introduce acontroversial matter that has no
home in New Jersey,he went to abarbecue, where he ateahamburger.About four hours later,hegrew ill. Ashort time after that, his son found him unconscious on the bathroom floor.The son called paramedics, but theman was declared dead that night at ahospital.
Theresearchers said blood tests revealedevidence of alpha-galsyndrome. Proof that it came from aLone Star tickisincomplete. The authors made the link based on astatement from the man’s wife, who had saidhe had12or13“chigger”bites around his ankles.
relationtothe classroom subject or teach material that is inconsistent with the approved syllabus.”
In approving the policy on race andgender topics, regentsdid not refer to September’s firing of Melissa McCoul, aseniorlecturer in the English department at TexasA&M University, after video was made public in whichshe arguedwith a femalestudent over gender identity beingtaught in a children’sliterature class. McCoul’sfiring cameafter political pressure from Republican lawmakers, including Gov.Greg Abbott.
Shortly after McCoul’stermination, Texas A&M’s thenpresident, Mark A. Welsh III, resigned. He didn’toffer areasonfor stepping down
but he andthe school had faced political pressure and criticism,including from Abbott, after the video was madepublic.
Leonard Bright, president of theAmerican Association of University Professors A&M chapter,said he believes McCoul’s caseopened the door forregents to put this policy in place.
“Our job is to teach facts, teach the truth, andif… we have to use alitmus test of whether or not it meets someone’sapproval,and it could be quite frankly their political approval, then we have no truth,” Bright, whois aprofessor at Texas A&M’s Bush School of Government andPublic Service, told the AP ahead of the meeting.
During Thursday’smeet-
ing, eight Texas A&M professors and instructors, includingBright, spoke against the policy,with many calling for McCoul to be rehired. TwoA&M professors spoke in favor of the policy,including Adam Kolasinski, with the Department of Finance, who said “academicfreedom does not mean you get to teach whatever you want.” Regent Sam Torn saidthe policy was being put in place to “make sure we are educating, not advocating.”
ATexas law took effect on Sept. 1that forbids Texas K-12 schools from teaching aboutsexualorientation or gender identity.The law does not apply to universities and other institutions of higher education.
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By FERNANDO LLANO
Summit in Belem, Brazil, on Friday
the city-parish “to help stabilizethe budget,” leaders say Proposition3— CouncilonAging
Proposition1—Library system
Currently,Baton Rouge’slibrary system collects 9.89ofits allotted 11.1 mills.
Amil is one dollar of tax on every $1,000 of assessed property value.
A“yes”vote would mean full collection of 11.1 mills but would rededicate 2.8 mills —estimated to be about $16.4 million annually —tothe cityparish’sgeneral fund. It would also take $52.4 million from thelibrary’s more than $100 million in savings to help pay down city-parish debt.
Proposition2—Mosquito Abatementand Rodent Control
If approved,this wouldrenewthe city-parish’s Mosquito Abatement and Rodent Control millageat1.0 mills. But it would rededicatehalf of thosefundsback to thecity-parish generalfund —about $2.9 million. It would also allocate $6 million from the agency’ssavings back to
A“yes” would renew the Council on Aging’sdedicated millageof2.25 mills, while rededicating 0.25 back to thecity-parish.
This would equate to about $1.45 millionofaddedfunding for thegeneral fund
More info
If all three measures pass, thecityparish says it will be able to better fund Stormwater Master Plan projectsand street maintenance, andalso help closethe abudget gap of more than $15 million for2026.
Both the local Democrat and Republican parties have endorsed Thrive, as have 11 Metro Council members, alongwiththe mayors of Central, Zachary and St. George. Some criticsoppose themeasure because it would redirect money away from agencies with dedicated funding, while others object to Thriveoverconcerns it could lead to higher propertytaxes for some residentsnext year
On election day, the polls areopen from 7a.m.-8p.m.
To find your polling location, go to geauxvote.com
Beloware thepropositionsonthe ballot in four Baton Rouge-area parishes: Ascension, EastBaton Rouge,Livingston and West Baton Rouge EAST BATONROUGE
PARISH
The three tax measures, branded as “ThriveEast Baton Rouge” by the mayor’s office, will together redirect money that currently goes specifically to the library, council on aging, and mosquito abatement to the parish’s general fund, whereEdwards says it can be moreflexibly spent andhelp paydowndebt. LIBRARYTAX REDEDICATION, EXTENSION (1 OF 3)
To rededicate from apublic library property tax $52.4 millionfor parishwide general purposes and further to extend and rededicate the 11.1-mill property tax for an additional 10 years, beginning in 2026 andgenerating $67,432,500 ayear, dedicating 8.30 mills of thetax for the public library system and 2.80 mills for parishwide general purposes.
MOSQUITOCONTROL TAX
REDEDICATION, EXTENSION (2 OF 3)
To rededicate $6 million of amosquito control property tax for parishwide general purposes, and further to extend and rededicate the tax at the rate of 1mill for10years, beginning in 2027, generating $6 million ayear, with 0.50 ofamillofthe tax formosquito and rodent control and 0.50 of a mill forparishwide general purposes.
COUNCIL ON AGINGTAX EXTENSION, REDEDICATION (3 OF 3)
To extend the 2.25-mill property tax, generating $13,668,750 ayear, for 10 years beginning in 2027 and to rededicate the proceeds so (A) 2.0 mills shall be used for the East Baton RougeParish Council on the Aging Inc.,orany successor program providing services for the elderly, and (B) 0.25 of amill forparishwide general purposes.
ZACHARYCOMMUNITY SCHOOL SYSTEM TAX
To levya24-mill property tax, generating $8.4millionayear, for 20 years beginning in 2026, foradditional support for the system’s elementary and secondary schools, salaries and benefits, and building andequipment improvements. In no event shall the tax proceeds, together with anytax levied fordebt service, exceed 24 mills in anytax collection year.
SOUTH BURBANK CRIME PREVENTION ANDDEVELOPMENT
DISTRICT PARCEL FEE
To renew the annual $100 parcel fee for each residential or commercial structureand $25 per parcel for each unit in acondominium,residential, or commercial structurewith four or moreunits, forfouryears beginning in 2026, and generating $270,400 a
year forcrime prevention, enhanced
security,and creation of acrime-free
housing program
FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT 6
PROPERTY TAX
To renew the 5-mill property tax for nine years, beginning in 2026, with the tax generating $351,195 ayear for fireprotection purposes.
ASCENSION PARISH
WEST ASCENSION
DRAINAGE DISTRICT
TAXRENEWAL
To renew for10years the West Ascension Consolidated Gravity Drainage DistrictNo. 1property tax of 4.67 mills, generating $820,613 ayear, beginning in 2026 forequipment, special projects andother capital expenditures of the district.
LIVINGSTON PARISH
FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT 5
PROPERTY TAX
To levy a5-mill property tax, generating $950,000 ayear for20years beginning in 2026 forfire protection services, facilities andequipment.
FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT 8
PROPERTY TAXRENEWAL
To renew the 15-mill property tax, generating $299,000 ayear,for 10 years beginning in 2028, for firedistrict operations, facilities andequipment.
WEST BATONROUGE
PARISH
PARISHWIDE DRAINAGE TAX
RENEWAL
To renew the 7.2-mill taxproperty tax, generating $5.9 million ayear, for 10 yearsbeginning in 2026 formaintenance, operation andconstruction of drainage projects.
PARISHWIDE LIBRARYTAX RE-
NEWAL
To renew the 4.1-mill property tax, generating $3.3 million ayear, for 10 yearsbeginning in 2026, for maintenance, operating andcapital expenditures forthe libraryand its branches.
PARISHWIDE SCHOOL DISTRICT NO.3TAX
RENEWAL (1 OF 2)
To renew the 12-mill property tax, generating $9.4 million ayear, for10 years beginning in 2027 forsalaries and benefits of teachers andother school district personnel.
PARISHWIDE SCHOOL DISTRICT NO.3TAX
RENEWAL (2 OF 2)
To renew the 12-mill property tax, generating $9.4 million ayear, for10 years beginning in 2027 forsalaries and benefits of school employees.
PORT ALLEN CITY POLICE TAX
RENEWAL
To renew the 5.020-mill property tax, generating $285,000 ayear, for10 years beginning in 2026 formaintenance andoperating expenses of the City PoliceDepartment.
NFC South divisiontitles, nine playoff appearances andthe club’sonly Super Bowl title in 2009. But the Saints have struggled to replicate the success of the Sean Payton-Drew Brees era. They have notmadethe playoffs since Brees retired in 2020 and have seen theirwin totalsdecrease in each of thelast three seasons.
In defending Loomis, Benson listed several highlights of his tenure, including the hiring of Payton, the free agent signing of Brees and the historic NFLdraftclasses of 2006 and 2017.
“Mickeyisone of the longest-tenuredand most respected generalmanagers in the NFL. In 2006, he was the lone voice in our buildingtohireSean Payton,” Benson said. “When Iamasked to hold Mickey Loomis accountable, Ido. Notevery decision works out; theynever do I hold him in high esteem, and Iamvery pleased with what he has accomplished, acquired and is building.”
Benson’scomments camefour days after the Saints defeated the Carolina Panthers 17-7 at Bank of AmericaStadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. The win snapped a four-game losing streak andcame in rookie Tyler Shough’ssecondcareer start at quarterback.
“I’m very disappointed as everybody is, but we’re in arebuilding mode,” Benson said. “Mickey said this from the very beginning of theseason …Iunderstand how fans feel. Ireally do. And Ifeel bad for the fans, but we told everybodyinthe beginning, this wasgoing to be atough year,and it has been atough year.”
Email JeffDuncanat jduncan@theadvocate. com.
Connecticutgirlstarved to death, court recordssay
BY DAVE COLLINS Associated Press
An 11-year-old Connecticut girl was not given food in the two weeks leadinguptoher death last year and had often been restrained with zip ties, police say Her remains were found inside aplastic bin last month. Afew monthsafter her death, anotherchild impersonated her during avideo call with the state childwelfare agency,court records reveal Stunning details of Jacqueline “Mimi” Torres-Garcia’s death have emerged in recent weeks with the release of arrest andsearch warrants, alleging severe abuse and an attempted cover-up. The chief medicalexaminer’soffice last week issued an official determinationthat she died of “fatal child abuse with starvation.”
“No child should ever have to endure such suffering,” Paul Melanson, public safety director in Hartford suburb of Farmington, told reporters last month,adding the girl’sdeath has been difficult to comprehend and has taken an emotional toll on investigators.
On Friday,Jacqueline’s mother,Karla Garcia,29, and
RPCC
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will be around $30 million, funded via state appropriation bills.Hyundai,which plans to build amillnear the small community of Modeste, has been working with Taylor and the college to help design training specific to the mill
“We’ve worked in collaboration with Hyundai over the last six to eight months, specifically where we have developed, at avery high level, atwo-year associate degree that will lead to mechanical, electrical or advanced manufacturing,” he said. That training will build on the curriculum the college already offers, and Taylor emphasized that the center intends to prepareresidents for all industrial jobs, not justthe proposed steel mill.
“Wedidn’twant to train aworkforce to one specific industry,aka steel,” he said. “Wewanted to make sure that we had and trained people across adiverse industry entry point.”
Ronda Matthews, supervisor of careerand technical educationfor theAscension Parish School Board,called the training center “fantastic.” “Wewant to keep our citizens here,” she said. “We wantthemtohave agood living here, and Ifeellike this is amove, apositive move for the future.” Matthews helped bring similar classes to Donaldsonville High School, which now offers welding and other training to both students andadults. Once the center opens, high school students will likely have adual enrollmentoption withthe
twoothersarrested in the case made brief appearances in Torrington Superior Court. Garcia’slawyer entered not guilty pleas on her behalf to charges including murder and cruelty to achild.
Garcia’sex-boyfriend, Jonatan Nanita, 30, did notenterpleastosimilarcharges including murder. Garcia’s sister,Jackelyn Garcia, who is notcharged with murder, pleaded not guilty to cruelty to achild and othercharges
Thedefendants’ cases were continued toDecember
Lawyers for all threede-
campus.
“Wehavebeenworking with RPCC for several years,”she added.“It goes way back. We’ve had a fantastic partnership with them.”
Significant changes
The Donaldsonvillearea is at thecenter of massive economicinvestment, as multiple companies have announced planstobuild facilities there.
Beyond Hyundai’splans, CF Industries andthe Texas-based Ascension Clean Energy have proposed ammonia plants, and industrial gases and engineering company Linde announced plans for a$400 million airseparation unit to support the CF Industries facility
While local leaders and some residents have welcomed thenews, saying it will bringjobs and revitalizealong-neglected area, many people living near the sites havepushed back against the proposals over health and safety concerns. More recently, residentsexpressed shock anddismay after two former sharecroppercabins were torn down in an area planned for development. Those debates will likely emergeataLouisianaDe-
fendants, whoremaindetained on bail, declined to respond directly to the charges against their clients after the courthearings
“Obviously the allegations arehorrific and what happened to this child is horrific,” said Ioannis Kaloidis, a lawyer for Jackelyn Garcia. “Whatmyclient’sculpability is has yet to be determined.”
Thegirl’sbodywas found Oct. 8inaplasticbin that had been dumped at an abandoned house in New Britain, about 12 miles southwest of Hartford. Police believe
partmentofEnvironmental Qualityhearing for theproposedCFIndustriesplant on Nov.20inDonaldsonville.
Beyond corporateannouncements, thearea of south Donaldsonville is poisedfor large changes, beginning with thenew college campus. The training center land is adjacenttoproperty purchased earlier this year by the Prevost Memorial Hospital, andthathospital’s board is discussing plans to construct afacility on that site.
Meanwhile, the Ascension ParishPlanning Commission recently adoptedastrategic plan to guide development aroundDonaldsonville, focusing on areas south of the cityalong bothsides of Bayou Lafourche. Designed after asurvey and aseries of community meetings,the West Bank SmallArea Plan has identified potential sites for businesses and residents.
Officials are also discussing extending La.3127 through south Donaldsonvilleand up toward La.1, according to the small-area plan document Taylorsaidthe upcoming training center was an opportunity to ensure residents have access to jobsatthe Hyundai plant and beyond.
“I can’t stress enough how important it is thatthe community understands that this is theiropportunity,this is ourchance, to makesure that communities on the west bank have an opportunity to access these jobs,” he said.
“And so, while (Hyundai’s) plant won’tbeopen until sometime in ’29, ourgoal is to start training people as quickly as possible.”
Email Christopher Cartwright at christopher cartwright@theadvocate. com.
Jacqueline died more than ayear earlier,inSeptember 2024, when she lived with her mother and siblings in nearby Farmington. In arrest warrants, police said Karla Garcia admitted that she and Nanita stopped giving the girl food two weeks before her death, and that she, Nanita andJackelyn Garcia all mistreated her including using zip ties as restraints. Karla Garcia hasthreechildrenwith Nanita andtwo others, including Jacqueline, with another man. PoliceallegeNanita dumpedthe bin containing Jacqueline’sbody at the abandoned home lastmonth. Accordingtopolice,Karla Garcia told investigators that her daughter was “bad, she didn’tlisten,she didn’t respect them.” She also said during police interviews that Jacqueline was doing things she wasn’t supposed to, including hitting other chil-
dren, going into people’scars and having five boyfriends, an arrest warrant says. Police said Garcia initially toldthemshe believedJacqueline died after Nanita stomped on her head, after the girl pushed hermother down some stairs. But she confessed to the neglectand abuse after investigators told her the autopsy found no signs of physical injuries, the warrant says. Authorities said Karla Garcia kept her daughter’s remains in her home and took them with her when she moved back to New Britain earlier this year.In the summer of 2024, she had removed the girl fromthe local school system, telling officials herdaughter would be educated at home. When people asked where the girl was,she told them shewas staying with afriend or other relatives, police said.
In January of this year,
the Department of Children and Families responded to areportofpossible child mistreatment in the Garcia home involving Jacqueline’s sister,the agency said. A video call wasset up, and officials talked to agirl whom Karla Garcia claimed was Jacqueline, but police said it actually was another girl, possibly adaughter of one of Karla Garcia’sfriends. Thedepartmentsaiditis reviewing its dealings with the family.Officials said the agency hadprior contacts with the family,with the last onecoming in 2022 when it determined the children were safe.
Statelawmakers,including both Democratsand Republicans, are questioning the department’sactions. Concerns also have been raised about whether the state’s homeschoolinglawsneedmore child monitoring requirements.
HEARST CONNECTICUT MEDIA FILE PHOTO By DAVE ZAJAC
Amemorial for Jacqueline ‘Mimi’ Torres-Garcia, whose remainswerefound wrapped in plastic bagsand bedding inside aplastic bin in September,stands front of abuilding on Oct. 16 in New Britain, Conn.
Bondi: U.S. will investigateEpstein’s ties to Clinton
Trumpsays‘all arrows’point to Democrats
BY MICHAEL R. SISAK and JESSE BEDAYN Associated Press
NEW YORK Acceding to President Donald Trump’s demands, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said Friday that she has ordered atop federal prosecutor to investigate sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’sties to Trump political foes, including former President Bill Clinton.
cial giant JPMorgan Chase, which provided banking services to Epstein, and “many other people and institutions.”
“Thisisanother Russia, Russia, RussiaScam, with allarrows pointing to the Democrats,”the Republican president wrote,referring to special counselRobert Mueller’sinvestigation of alleged Russian interference in Trump’s2016 election victory over Bill Clinton’swife, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
For decades, Trump himself has been scrutinized for his closeness to Epstein —though like the people he now wants investigated, he has not beenaccused of sexualmisconduct by Epstein’s victims.
No accusationsofcrimes
Bondi posted on Xthat she was assigning Manhattan U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton to lead the probe, capping an eventful week in which congressional Republicans released nearly 23,000 pages of documents from Epstein’s estate and HouseDemocrats seized on emails mentioning Trump. Tr ump, who was friends with Epstein for years, didn’t explain what supposed crimes he wanted the Justice Department to investigate. None of the men he mentionedinasocial media post demanding the probe has been accused of sexual misconduct by any of Epstein’svictims.
Hours before Bondi’s announcement, Trumpposted on his Truth Socialplatform that he would ask her,the JusticeDepartmentand the FBI to investigate Epstein’s “involvement and relationship”withClintonand others, includingformer Treasury Secretary Larry Summers and LinkedIn founder andDemocratic donor Reid Hoffman.
Trump, calling the matter “the Epstein Hoax, involving Democrats, not Republicans,” saidthe investigation should also include finan-
AJPMorgan Chasespokesperson, PatriciaWexler,said the company regretted associatingwith Epstein “but didnot help him commit his heinous acts.”
“The government had damninginformation about his crimesand failed to share it with us or other banks,” shesaid. The company agreed previously to pay millionsofdollars to Epstein’svictims, whohad sued arguing that the bank ignored red flags about criminal activity Clinton has acknowledged traveling on Epstein’sprivate jet buthas said through aspokesperson thathehad no knowledge of the latefinancier’scrimes. He also has never been accused of misconduct by Epstein’s known victims.
Epstein pleaded guilty in Florida in 2008 to soliciting prostitution from an underage girl,but was spareda long jail term when the U.S. attorney in Florida agreed not to prosecute him over allegations thathe had paid many other children for sexual acts. After serving about ayear in jail and a work releaseprogram,Epstein resumed his business
Protest artrepresenting
‘I can’t take any more of this,’then-Prince Andrewwrote during Epstein scandal
BY BRIAN MELLEY Associated Press
LONDON As the man formerly known as Prince Andrew was drawninto the newssurrounding sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, he sought to distance himself from the scandal.
“I can’ttake any more of this,” asender identified in Epstein’scontacts as “The Duke” wrote to him in 2011, in oneof thousands of partlyredacted emails released Wednesday
andsocial life until federal prosecutors in NewYork revived the casein2019. Epstein killed himself while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. Summers andHoffman had nothing to do with eithercase, but bo th were mentioned in the documents released this week —a collection of emails Epstein exchanged with friends andbusiness associates in the years before his death. Nothing in the messages suggestedany wrongdoing on the men’spart, other than associatingwithsomeone whohad been accused of sex crimes against children. Summers, whoserved in Clinton’scabinet and is a former Harvard University
president, previouslysaid in astatementthat he has “great regrets in my life” and that “my association withJeffrey Epstein wasa major error of judgment.” Message seeking comment were left for Hoffman through his investment firm, Greylock.Hoffman bankrolledwriter E. Jean Carroll’ssexual abuse and defamation lawsuit against Trump.
After Epstein’ssex traffickingarrestin2019, Hoffmansaid he’d only had afew interactionswith Epstein, all related to his fundraising for MIT’sMedia Lab. He neverthelessapologized,saying that “by agreeing to participate in anyfundraising activity whereEpstein was present, Ihelpedtorepair his reputation andperpetuate injustice.”
Bondi, in her post, praised Clayton as “one of themost capable and trusted prosecutorsinthe country” and said
Fourteen yearslater, the former Duke of York has been stripped of all his titles, including the princeship bestowedat birth. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor —ashe’s nowknown— wasroyally demotedtwo weeks agobyhis brother, King Charles III, and faces eviction from themansion where he’slived rent-free near Windsor Castle.
The recent trove of documents has renewed the sexual assault allegations against MountbattenWindsorand undermined his denials that he ever met his accuser,Virginia Roberts Giuffre. Theyalso reveal some of the efforts made behind the scenes to attack her claims.
the Justice Department “will pursue this with urgency and integrity to deliver answers to the American people.”
Clayton, the chairman of theSecuritiesand Exchange Commission during Trump’s first term,took over in April as U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York —the same office that indicted Epstein and wona sextrafficking conviction against Epstein’slongtime confidante,Ghislaine Maxwell, in 2021.
Trumpchanges course
Trumpsuggested while campaigninglastyearthat he’d seek to open up the government’scase files on Epstein, but changed course in recentmonths, blaming
Mountbatten-Windsor, the secondson of the late Queen Elizabeth II, has vehemently denied all allegations by Giuffre, who took her ownlife earlier this year.But he did settle alawsuit out of court that reportedly paid her millions of dollars. When MountbattenWindsor’stiestoEpstein —who had been convicted of soliciting prostitution in Florida —werefirst reported in 2011, he was forcedtoresign as Britain’sspecial trade envoy The scandal, however resurfaced in 2019 when Epstein was arrested for asecondtimeoncharges of sextrafficking. Giuffre said she was 17 when she was trafficked to have sex with MountbattenWindsor
Democrats and painting the matter as a“hoax” amid questions about what knowledge he may have had about Epstein’syearslong exploitation of underage girls.
On Wednesday,Democrats on the House Oversight Committee released three Epstein email exchanges that referenced Trump, including onefrom2019 in whichEpstein said the president “knew aboutthe girls and asked Maxwell to stop. White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt accused Democrats of having “selectively leaked emails” to smear Trump. Soon after,Republicans on the committee disclosed a farbigger trove of Epstein’s email correspondence.
Bondi
Epstein
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By PABLO MARTINEZMONSIVAIS
President Donald Trumpand Jeffrey Epstein sits outsideBusboysand Poets restaurant in the U Street neighborhood of Washington on Thursday.
FLAGS FOR AWARENESS
Annie Porteous, left, and Madison Heath walk across the State Capitol lawn that is full of white flags while carrying signs for lung cancer awareness on Wednesday. The installation of 500 white flags, each representing five lives lost to lung cancer in Louisiana last year, was coordinated by the American Lung Cancer Screening Initiative at LSU in partnership with the LUNGevity Foundation
Input sought on direction of downtown BR plans
Master plan meeting is at 5:30 p.m. Monday
BY ELLYN COUVILLION Staff writer
Residents will have one more chance to share their thoughts and ideas for downtown Baton Rouge’s planning over the next decade at a meeting from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday at the Shaw Center for the Arts. It is the third and final public input meeting for Plan Baton Rouge III, the master plan under development for downtown Baton Rouge, according to the Downtown Development District. On Monday, planning staff will present how community feedback received so far “has shaped a cohesive vision and recommendations for Downtown Baton Rouge,” the district said in a news release. In meetings earlier this year, residents have asked for the Mississippi River to be more fun, accessible and walkable. Plan Baton Rouge III is being developed by Sasaki, an international planning and design firm contracted for the project. The Downtown Development District was created by the state Legislature in 1987 to generate funds and create policies that promote and enhance downtown to benefit the entire community The first two iterations of Plan Baton Rouge led to more than $3 billion in new investments across the central business district over the past two decades and construction of landmarks such as the Shaw Center for the Arts, the Hilton Baton Rouge Capitol Center, Rhorer Plaza and the Downtown Greenway
Suspect in stabbing death dies, police say CRIME BLOTTER staff reports
into oncoming traffic, crashing into another car then lit himself on fire, according to Baton Rouge police. Officers responding to a call in the 12000 block of Old Hammond Highway around 2:15 a.m. Thursday found Charles lying in a parking lot, suffering from life-threatening stab wounds. She was taken to a hospital, where she died during surgery At the scene, detectives learned that another crash had occurred a short distance away, where Heinrich, 28, was found burning inside his car Police said he set himself on fire after the crash. Responding officers were able to extinguish the fire and take Heinrich to a hospital with
ä See BLOTTER, page 2B
Email Ellyn Couvillion at ecouvillion@theadvocate.com.
BY QUINN COFFMAN Staff writer
BY TYLER BRIDGES Staff writer
Baton Rouge. He was 74. Baumann spent the final chapter of his career lobbying the Legislature for his own consulting firm, Hood Baumann & Associates, representing oil and gas companies. At the time of his death on Nov 6 from congestive heart failure, Baumann’s
STAFF PHOTO By JAVIER GALLEGOS
STAFF PHOTO By QUINN COFFMAN Baton Rouge police officers search a vehicle on Government Street that was believed to be used in a homicide and which led them on a pursuit the night of Nov. 7. The officers involved were being filmed for the reality TV series ‘On Patrol: Live.’
More girlstargetedinAIphotos, police say
2adults also deepfake
victims
BY PATRICK WALL Staff writer
Amid public uproar over the news that aLafourche Parish girl was expelled for hitting aboy who allegedly shared AI-generated nude photos of her,local officials sharednew details on Thursday about the case —including that seven additional girls were depicted in the explicitimages.
At least eight middle school girls and two adults were the subjects of the fake nude photos, which reportedly circulated on social media in August, said Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre and Lafourche Parish Schools Superintendent JarodMartin in ajoint statement Thursday.Theysaid their goal was “to correct rumors and misinformation.”
The Sheriff’s Office arrested one male student on 10 counts of unlawfullyspreading explicit images of another person created by artificialintelligence, and an additionalarrest against asecond person is possible, according to the statement.
Webre also said Thursday that social media posts about the case had “fueled hostility and provoked violent rhetoric” toward
Lafourche Parish school officials andadministrators at SixthWard MiddleSchool in Thibodaux, where boththe female victims and oneaccused perpetrator were students.Webre said his officeisinvestigating threatening messages directed at the district officials and school employees.
“Weabsolutely support everyone’sright to free speech and voicingtheiropiniononany given topic,” the sheriff saidina statement,“but threatsofviolence and harassmentare crimes that arenot protectedunderthe First Amendment.”
The newly released information —including theschool resource officer’sinitial incident report makesclearthatadults at Sixth Ward MiddleSchool took action afterlearning aboutthe AI-generated nudephotos, or deepfakes. However,the information also raises some questions about how school leaders handled the situation and whether they could have done more to prevent the altercation that led to thegirl’sexpulsion.
Disturbing fake photos reported
On the morning of Aug. 26, several girlstoldaschool counselor thatfake naked images of them were spreadingonsocialmedia, accordingto the incident report. Under Louisiana law,it’sillegal to create or distribute explicit deep-
fakes of minors. The school resource officer,who is adeputyinthe Sheriff’s Office, began interviewing students. Students’ parents were contacted “during thecourse of theday,” according to thestatement by Sheriff Webre andSuperintendent Martin.
Lawyersfor the girl who was expelled have alleged that the school did not allow her to call her father Aspokesperson for theLafourche Parish School District said Friday that school employees contacted thegirl’sfather and mother that day
During theinvestigation, the school resource officer was told thatmale studentsweresharing the images on TikTok andSnapchat,according to the report.
“Despiteeveryone’s best efforts” that day, thejoint statement said, investigators could not immediately track down the images or “evidence of theexistenceofthe images.” Webre and Martin added that there was “no indication of the potential forphysicalviolence and “no reason to consider delaying normal dismissal.”
Butthe incident report shows that the girls named three boys who they believed had created thefake nudes. Onewas acurrent SixthWard Middle School student, while the others were aThibodaux High School student anda middle schooler in another parish.
Despitehavingthatinformation before dismissal, the school apparently allowed at least one of the girls who reported the deepfakes to board aschool bus that afternoon with aboy accusedofsharing theimages. On the bus, the girl and twomale students struck the boy multiple times, officials said.
Gregory Miller,one of the attorneys for thefamily of the girl, said shewas expelledfromschool for more than two months after the bus altercation. He said the school could have askedthe boy’sfamily to pickhim up that afternoon,rather than allow him to ride the bus.
“It’s just outright incompetence,” he said.
Probeuncoversdeepfakes
Tanya Bolton, the school district spokesperson, acknowledged that “with the limited information availableatthe time,”the school did not attempt on Aug. 26 to separatethe girls who reported the explicit images from the boywho they saidwas sharing them.
Aspokespersonfor the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office, Capt. Brennan Matherne, said schooladministrators made the decisiontoallowthose students to ride the bus together
“They wereaware of the allegationsand hadtheir owninvestigation, parallel to ours,”hesaidinan email Friday
After astudent-recorded video of the bus attack surfaced on Facebook thatafternoon, commenters expressed“outrage” and demanded “that the students involvedinthe fight be held accountable,” Webre and Martin said.
Theysaidthe videoprompted lawenforcementtoobtainstatements aboutthe altercationand warrants to search phones and social media accounts for evidence. Theinvestigation into the bus incident ledauthorities to discover the AI-generated nude photos, theyadded.
“The focus of the criminal investigation then pivoted to the creationand dissemination of the pornographicimages,” the statement said.
At aNov.5meeting of the Lafourche Parish School Board, attorneys for the girl argued that expelling her for hitting aboy who wasallegedly sharing graphic images of her was unduly harsh.The boardvoted to uphold herexpulsion, but allowed her to return to school Monday washer first dayback sincethe Aug. 26 incident,her lawyers said.
“She’s trying to readjust,” Miller said, “but it’sbeenvery difficult.” Email Patrick Wall at patrick. wall@theadvocate.com.
UL to eliminate20civil servicepositions
Hundreds puton notice viaemail
BYASHLEY WHITE Staff writer
The University of Louisiana at Lafayette has started the process of eliminating about 20 civil service positions. The eliminationsare part of the 70-position eliminations announcedbyformer interim President Jaimie HebertinOctober, UL leadership told staff during a Friday morning town hall. Civil service employees areaffordedcertain protections under state law.Aspart of those protections, all employees who could be
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life-threatening injuries.
Police reported Friday afternoon that Heinrich had died from his injuries At the time of her death, Charles hadanactive protective order prohibiting Heinrich from coming into contact with her.A week before, on Nov.5,she had calledBaton Rouge police to report Henrich hadbeatenher.Hewas arrested the same day and booked into East Baton Rouge Parish Jail in connectionwith battery of adating partner.Two days later,he posted a$2,500 bail,according to records. Heinrichalso had out-of-state protective orders from six women Brusly man ID’din shootout, car chase
Aman who allegedly shot apolice officer and was wounded during aTangipahoa Parish shootout and car chase has been identified as 34-year-old Trey Ramey,of Brusly State Police said Rameywas in a 2016 Chevrolet Trax on U.S. 51 just outside of Independence around 3a.m. Wednesdaywhen he allegedly fled as aTangipahoa Parish
impacted are notified. Theuniversity then sends aplan to the state civilservice board, which ultimatelyapproves the plan and helps civil service employees find jobs within the state’s system that match their current skill set, when possible. Thereare about 390 civil serviceemployees at UL. They all received emails Thursday afternoonnotifyingthem their position could be eliminated. Thenoticewas sent as the University of LouisianaSystemBoard was appointing Ramesh Kolluru as the new interim president. Kolluru previously servedas the vice president of research. Hebert will return to his position as universityprovost.
Sheriff’s Office deputy attempted to stop himover anequipment violation.
Ramey allegedly opened fire duringthe ensuing chase, exchanging gunfirewith aTickfaw Police Department officer and wounding an Independence Police Department officer,accordingtoState Police.
Ramey proceeded to carjack two people,fleeing on U.S. 51 in their 2015 Toyota Camry before crashing the car and heading into a woodedareaon foot, accordingto StatePolice. Atrooper also fired at Ramey,though officials didn’tsay whether it was thetrooperorTickfaw officer whowounded him. Ramey was arrested about three hoursafter the initialtrafficstop and taken to ahospital, where State Policesaid heremained Thursday night. The Independenceofficer was treated at ahospital for agunshot wound to the leg, according to the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office.
Investigators later learned that Ramey had active warrants outfor his arrest. State Police said Ramey will be booked on those counts hitand run, careless operation of avehicle, filing false police reports andinjuring public records —and countsrelated to the Tangipahoa chase. Policesay theinvestigation is ongoing.
During Friday’stown hall designed to address facultyconcernsand questions,Chief Human ResourcesOfficerPaul Thomas apologized that the email came with little explanation.
“I got really focused on doing what was required: Sending out a notice to start aprocess,” Thomas said.“Ididn’t do what was necessary.The thing that was necessary was to makesure that you got themessage in away that makes sense to you, that took care of your questions, took careof your needs and didn’tscare you.”
The entireprocess, which started when employees werenotified about possible eliminations and concludeswhenaffected individuals receive anotification with a
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associateBaumannmostlywith LSU, whereheheaded the Center for Energy Studies and held other senior positionsuntil he retired from the universityin2007.
In his role at the center,Baumann established close working relationships with the oil and gas companies that played an important role in Louisiana’seconomy Legislators, business groups, public entities and othersusedthe center’s reportsand findings.
“Bob authored influentialresearch, advised governors and legislatures and shaped major debateswith acalm, steadyclarity thatmade even the mostcomplex oil and gas issues understandable,”said TylerGray, thenewly named director of LSU’sEnergy Institute and formerly secretary of theLouisiana Departmentof Conservation and Energy under Gov.Jeff Landry.“He was atremendous mentor to generations of students, colleagues and policymakers.”
ButBaumann wascapable of fielding issues beyond energy, as then-ChancellorJim Wharton recognized during the1980s.Baumann became part of Wharton’s
potential enddate, will take about four to six weeks, leaders said.
When Hebertwas appointed interim president in August, he announced a$25 million budget deficit. In the threemonths he served as interim, he said he worked to decrease that deficit to about $5 million through aseries of actions, including positioneliminations.
Therewere 56 noncivil service positions cut. Hebert alsoasked that each department reduce its budget by 10%and thatacademic affairs reduce itsbudgetby5%.
Kolluru said during Friday’s meetingthathemay askdepartmentstomakeevendeepercuts and is imploring department
inner circle as Wharton overcame resistance from LSU’sBoard of Supervisorstoinstitute more selective admission standards requiring highergrades and test scores. Previously,anyone witha high school diploma couldenter the university
Wharton also began sending Baumann to the State Capitol whenthe Legislaturewas in session to win more funding for the university Wharton “saw Bob as areal asset. He wasverygoodattalking withlegislators,” saidJim Richardson,aneconomics professor at LSU for decades.
That might have been asurprise to anyone after first hearing his northeastaccent. Baumann grew up in the New York City borough of Queens andgraduated from the UniversityofRhode Island. In 1974, he moved to Baton Rouge to do graduate studies at LSU in the wetlands and geography.Two yearslater,hebegan working at the university.Henever returned to the northeast.
“He ultimatelyfellinlovewith LSU and theBaton Rouge communityand thingshewas researching,” said his son Frank.
During his time at LSU, Baumann was especially close with Wharton but developed relationships with his successors as well.
leaderstostart evaluating where more cuts can be made. UL has been without apermanent leader since July,when Joseph stepped down ayear before his contract was settoexpire. The UL System Board, which oversees the university,announced during its Thursday meeting it wouldcreate apresidentialsearch committeetofind a leader.That decision cameasrumors swirledthatitwould bypass its ownrulesand appoint Kolluru president without asearch Atimeline has not yet been released forthe committee’screationorsearch process.
Email AshleyWhiteatashley. white@theadvocate.com.
“He was aconfidante, friend and adviser to multiple leadersinthe LSUsystem,”saidJay Dardenne, aformer lieutenantgovernor and state senator whoisa family friend.
Baumannissurvived by his wife,Brenda,and histwo sons, Frankand Kyle. They areholding acelebration of life for him on Sunday at hisoffice, 616 Spanish Town Road. With his long associationatLSU, he createdthe Robert H. BaumannFamily ScholarshipFund andseeded it with $50,000. Aportion of that money will provide a one-year scholarship grant each year to an outstanding student in thesciences. Anyone who wants to contribute to the fund can do so through the LSU Alumni Association, 3838 W. Lakeshore Drive, Baton Rouge, LA 70808. Email TylerBridges at tbridges@theadvocate.com.
BY COURTNEY PEDERSEN Staff writer
Just over aweek after McNeese State University President Wade Rousse was named as the next leader of Louisiana State University,an interim president has been named for the Lake Charles university
On Thursday, the University of Louisiana system named Senior Vice President of Student Affairs
Kedrick Nicholas as the interim president at McNeese State University during aspecial board
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knowledgeable and being able to expressthemselves in that way,” Morse said The BRPD members added to the show’sroster are Sgt. Jordan Lear,Cpl. Orlando Woodard and Officers Darnell Brown, Brett Usey Devon Johnson,Andrew Carlton, Anthony Nguyen and Christopher Coleman.
The Advocate got the chance to speak with Lear, Nguyen and Coleman about their careers and experiences.
How long have you been with the Baton RougePolice Department?
Lear: Started withBRPD in 2006 …but Iguess the total years as apolice officer that’slike 23 years
Nguyen: Almost six years coming in March.
Coleman: I’ve been employed by BRPD for about twoyears in January.I’ve got going on five years of experience in general. Where are you from?
Lear: Gramercy
Nguyen and Coleman: Baton Rouge, born and raised. Where do you normally patrol?
Lear: It depends on what thegoal is forthatday.In Special Investigations, what we look into is major crimes and vice offenses: when you think of narcotics, prostitution, gangs, machine guns.
Nguyen: Gus Young and North Foster areas,but pretty much everywhere in (BRPD’s) first district.
Coleman: Iwork on the southside of Baton Rouge in away,near LSU.Wegot Perkins,Burbank, Nicholson, Lee Drive, parts of Foster.Government is kind of a borderstreet.
Whydid you become apolice officer in the first place?
Lear: Just born into it. My dad was apolice officer; that’sall Ireallyknew. Becauseinasmall town,you didn’t have awhole bunch of thingstodothat didn’trequire college. Ididn’twant to go to college and spend moneywhen Icouldstart making money rightout the gate. So it kind of was afamily thing. Ijumped into it and been doing it eversince.
Nguyen: Iwas studying criminaljustice at BRCC, and then Iwent to LSU to study criminology.I was doing the TwoPlus Twoprogram to become alawyer But then Istarted, you know, toward professions and things like that.And Ifound law enforcement, started
meeting in Lafayette.
“Five, seven, 10 years ago, Inever would have thought Iwouldbesitting in this seat, not because of my abilities, but because my aspirations werenot that atthat time,” Nicholas said during the meeting. “I appreciate the board. Thankyou allsomuch for having this faith and vision aboutmethat
Nicholas
Ican keep things together at McNeese. I’m more than certain that Ican ”
delving into it, and found it was more of my speed
Nguyen said he especially enjoysbeing able to socialize with and give back to people in thecommunityhe grew up in.Maintaining these relationshipsispart of why he becamean officer
One recent call involved justspeakingwith ayoung woman who was depressed anddidn’tknow where else to turn, he said.
Another time, when Nguyen was responding to ahitand-run accident involving multiple vehicles, he wasrequired to translate Vietnamesefor an older man whose vehicle wasstruck.
Coleman: When Iwas about 9years old, someone broke intoour house, and Ilived (off Winbourne) in Baton Rouge at the time. Iremember theofficersthat pulledupand they wentto the house, the door was still open.
They hadtheir ClassA’s on,and they wereinImpalas atthe time. They got out and they were really professional.
Colemanrecalledthe officers saying “BRPD, makeyourself known,” as they wentinthe houseand cleared it, before telling Coleman and his momthey were goodtogo.
“Eversince then, Iwas like, ‘Man, Iwanttobelike thosedudes who wore that particular uniform,’”Coleman said.
Despitethat, he never really expected to be with BRPD.Speakingwithhis mom recently,Coleman described it to herasa“fullcircle moment.”
What made you want to be afeatured officerfor BRPD on ‘On Patrol: Live?
Lear: WhenI waswatching theshow, Ijustfeltthat I wanted to be apart of it. So Ican show the good things we do in Baton Rouge. We always hear all the bad. Historically,ifyou Google BatonRouge police,you’llfind all the bad things peopledid, butyou don’tsee thethousands of good things that people have done for every one bad.
Nguyen: So Iwasn’t(interested)atfirst. Idon’treally feel like Ineed toshowcase anything like that. But people started talking aboutthings, like they wantedtosee the other side of policing.
He added thatheappreciatesbeing able to show that policing isn’tjust seizing guns and drugs,but also has plentyofopportunities to supportregular people with
Nicholas was recommended for the position by Rousse, and the board unanimouslyvoted to appoint him.
Astatement from McNeese saysthat for more than ayear,Nicholas has servedassenior vice president and worked with the president on university efforts, budget management, external partnerships and relationships with governing authorities.
“Weare prepared as ateam to
their day-to-dayproblems
Coleman: Thelevel that we deal with people is one at a time for themost part. But if Icould deal with that one personand make that encountergood while it’s being recorded, then multiplepeople can see it at onetime. It’s likeyou’re affecting more than one personata time. So I’m talking to him or her, but these50,000 or however many people watching the show areactually watching, too.
How does havingthe cameraon changeyour job?
Lear: It’snodifferent.You gota body camera on you all the time, watching what we’re doing. We gotour Real Time CrimeCenter that’s able to watch us live,the chief can watch us live, so you’re notreally acting any type of way differentlythan youwould on anyother day.
Nguyen: Sometimes it’seasy to forget they’re there until they’re kind of in your face tellingyou,“Hey, go ahead and discuss what just happened.”Thenyou kind of take astep back andsummarize what just took place. So, it putsalot of things in perspective, because usually we’re just doing it and then we write thereport. He admitted, however,that as a“big dude,” he would like to get in afoot pursuit with asuspectduringone of his filmedshifts.
Coleman: Idon’tthink there’s any added pressure. In fact, Ithink it’skind of arelief, because to me, Ican only speak for myself, but when I’m at work,nomatter who’s watching, I’m doing the thing that Ithink is good for that particularsituation
Coleman addedthatheis also part of ayoungergeneration of police officers who were usedtowearing body cameras since basic training.
Whyshould our readerstune into ‘On Patrol: Live’?
Lear: Ithink people should watch the showsothey can getataste of what theBaton Rouge police actuallydo. We all hear stories on what the police do right, what the policedowrong. But when youtuneintothe show,you can actually seefor yourself andmakethatjudgment for yourself
Lear saidthatresidents can then feel moreinformed when theyspeak about BRPD.
Nyugen: Ithink it’s agreat opportunity to see thequalityofofficers that we have in this department, the diversity,the differentoutlooks on
continue themomentum that we have had, andthere will be no change to ourapproach.Wewill continuetofocus on therecruitment, retention and job placement of thestudents at McNeeseState University,” Nicholassaid at the Thursday meeting. “The strategic planthatwas developed under the Rousse administration will remain in place and will continue to be the catalystofour continued success.”
Before he was named senior vice president of student affairs in July 2024, Nicholas guidedaninstitu-
how officers handle it.Officers are just like everybody else.
Coleman: It’s not like runand-gun that people imagine from aTVshow, whereeverysingle callisthe craziest call in the whole world or stufflikethat. My reality is we deal with people’sworst
tional transition at the University of New Orleans during the 2023-24 academicyearasaspecial assignment from the University of Louisiana system.
Nicholasbegan his career at McNeese in 2005, servingina variety of roles, including dean of student affairs, dean of students, associate dean of students, director of campuslife and engagement, assistant dean of student services, coordinator of student activities and averification officer in the financial aid office, according to the university
days. So it’salot morepersonable than people might think. Youhavetoswitch roles from like acounselor to aperson chasing theactual bad guy
Coleman will be one new face in the spotlight this Friday and Saturday between 8p.m.and 10 p.m. on “On
Patrol:Live,” which airs on the Reelz network. Past episodes,including those fromNov.7and 8, which feature Sgt. Lear,can be streamed on Peacock.
Email Quinn Coffman at quinn.coffman@ theadvocate.com.
Brown, Joshua Douglas Avenue BaptistChurch
5265DouglasAve. at 11.00a.m
BrownPolk, Constance
Winnfield FuneralHome, 7221 Plank
Road,BR, LAat 11am
Davis, Doris
BrownFuneralHomeinLiberty,MS at 12pm.
Dudley,Allison FirstEmmanuelBaptistChurch at 11:00am.
Gathe, Ronald St.Francis Xavier Catholic Church 1120MyrtleWalk, BatonRouge,LAat 10am
OurLadyofPromptSuccorChurch in White Castle at 10am.
Stewart, Thomas
St.JoesphBaptist Church,58105 Captain TT HarrisStreet,Plaquemine, LAat 11am
Trahan,Valerie
St.Michael theArchangelCatholic Church at 12pm Wright Jr., Louis Hall Davis& Sons FuneralHome, BatonRouge at 11:00am.
AMass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 AM on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, at the St. John Catholic Church in Lacassine, LA for Mrs. Phyllis Ann Ardoin, 78, who passed away on Thursday, November 13, 2025, at her home in Ragley, LA.
Visitation will be held at the Matthews Funeral Home in Jennings, LA on Monday, November 17, 2025, from 3:00 PM until 8:00 PM with arosary recited at 6:00 PM. Visiting hours will resume on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, from 8:00 AM until her service at 10:00 AM. Reverend Jeffrey Starkovich willofficiate with interment to follow at the Lacassine Cemetery.
Mrs. Phyllis was born in Iota, LA on February 3, 1947, to the late Mr. Phillip Winters and Mrs. Jeanette LeBlanc Winters. Phyllis was married to Mr. Elroy Louis Ardoinfor 60 years. She lived as awife, mother and home maker. She embodied warmth and affection throughout her life and deeply cherished her family, friends and grandchildren. Beyond her devoted home life, Phyllis held azest for life where she loved fishing, sewing and playing bingo. Always enjoying atrip to the casino and making knownthat she was aproud LSU
Tigers fan. Phyllis willforever berememberedasa very lovingperson whose spirit willliveoninthe hearts of those she leaves behind.
Phyllis is survived by her husband, Elroy Louis Ardoin; son, Alton Ardoin (Kim);daughter, Colleen Matte(Greg); grandchildren, Kaleb Matte,Bryce Miller andAustinArdoin; sisters,Myra Wintersand Jennifer Beard
Sheispreceded in death by herparents,Phillip Wintersand Jeanette LeBlanc Winters and herson, Aaron Boyd Ardoin.
Pallbearerschosen to carry Mrs. Phyllis to her place of rest are AustinArdoin,KalebMatte, Bryce Miller, Ryan Pousson, Carl Chaissonand CarlWhittington.
Arrangements have been entrustedtothe Matthews Funeral Home JENNINGS,511 NCutting Ave Jennings, LA 70546
Darren Duane Bourgeois, born on November 13, 1962, passedawayon Sunday,November 2, 2025, at the ageof62, surrounded by his loving family. He was adedicated employee at Dow Chemical for44 years. He was amemberat MostBlessed Sacrament CatholicChurch. Darren alwayscherished time spent campingwith his wife, family &friends,creating memoriesaround the campfire. Hisfamilyconsiders him the most caring &lovingman. Darren was also an avid LSU fanand spent many yearsplaying the drums in Les Bouscru band with his brothers. Darrenissurvived by his wifeof18years,who was theloveofhis life, Rebecca Bourgeois;parents Ronald and MaryMessinaBourgeois; mother-in-law and father-in-law, Ernest and PandoraDubois; sons, Justin and Darren Michael; daughters, RachelBourgeois, LacieMadere(Gordon) and TannerAlise; brothers, Ronnie(Sharon), Jeff (Tina) and Danny (Daren); grandchildren, Brendon (girlfriend Sierra) and Breanna Bourgeois; Parker, Mason and AnnabelleMadere; brother -in-law, Todd Peterson and sister-in-law, Jada;Godchildren, Trey and Jeffrey Bourgeois;aswell as numerous aunts, uncles, niecesand nephews. He is precededindeath by his stepson, Dylan Alise, who Darren loved as his own son;sister-in-law, Patricia Bourgeois, and nephew, Patrick Bourgeois. We wouldliketothank allour family and friends fortheir prayers, love and generosity.
The family wouldalso like to give aspecial thanks tothe doctors, nursesand staffatBaton Rouge General, Our Lady of the Lake and Baylor St. Luke heart hospital in Houston, Texas.
Amemorialservicewill be held on November 16, 2025 at Serenity Events Center from 12-5PM ;familyand friends are welcome.
Aprivateservicewillbe held at Resthaven Garden of Memory.
Bobby RayCourtney was bornonApril 24, 1958, in BatonRouge to Alex and OliviaJingles Courtney.It is with greatsorrow and heavyheartsthatweannounce thepassing of our belovedhusband, father, brother, uncle and friend on November 5, 2025. Bobby was a1976 graduateof McKinley SeniorHigh School. He was employed with DOTD for30years and retired in October 2007. Baptized December 1983 as one of Jehovah's Witnesses, Bobby was adedicated and humble servant for over 40 years. Alover of Bible truths, he had asolid faith in theresurrection hope. (John 6:40) Bobby willbest be remembered for his contagious laugh and even moresofor his GREAT GENEROSITY and care forfamily,friends, and anyone in need. He leavestocherish his love and kindness his wife of 29 years, RuthThomas Courtney; twosons, Robert Paul Pondsand Mark Edward Thomas; five sisters Mattie Griffin, JoiShelton, Connie Gilmore,Rita(Albert) Young and Sheila(Keith) London; threebrothers, Larry Courtney, Alex Courtney Jr and Ronald(Brenda) Courtney; brother-in-law, Micah (Sheila) Thomas and asister-in-law, April Lynea Thomas. He was preceded in death by his mother and father, Olivia and Alex Courtney, twosisters, HelenJamesand Cathy Cable and one brother, Tonny Courtney.Torespect his stated wishes, there will be no funeral and/or memorial service. Service EntrustedtoHallDavis and Son. www.halldavisandson.com
DanielSr.,Danny
Danny Daniel, Sr anative of LakeCharles and resident of BatonRouge, passed away peacefully Wednesday, November 12, 2025 with hisbelovedwife of 44 years, Mary, and his faithful dog, Molly, by his side. An originalemployee of Moody Price when it was foundedin1955, Dan left thecompany before returning in 1967 to openthe company's first branch in Lake Charles and lateracquired thebusinessin 1985. Known for his dedication, generosity,and unwavering leadership,Dan guidedMoody Price throughdecadesofchallenges and growth. His commitment to his employees and community was unmatched,support-
ing causessuch as St.Jude Children's Hospital,Folds of Honor, and hisalma materCatholic High School. His influence continues to shapethe company's culture and values. He is survivedbyhis wife, Mary; daughters, DebbieFralixand Donna (Lee) Duplichan; son, Danny (Carol)Daniel Jr.; seven grandchildren; Justin Herpin, Adam (Lauryn) Herpin, Jill (Matt) Karam, Alec (Georgia) Daniel, Carol Ann (Blake) Savoie, Sara Daniel, Tripp Daniel; tengreatgrandchildren; brother, Doug (Paula) Daniel; and sister, Florence (Ben) Aiken. He is preceded in death by hisfather, Martin Daniel and mother, Eula Daniel. Dan'slegacy liveson throughhis family,the company he loved, and the countless liveshetouched.
Aprivateservicewillbe held Monday, November 17thfollowedbya reception at thehome of Danny and Carol Daniel from4:00 to 7:00. In lieu of flowers,please send donations to Folds of HonororSt. JudeChildren's Hospital.
Allison Jeanea' Dudley was bornJanuary 8, 1988 to Tonya Dudley& Derry Mitchell.She is thegranddaughter of EmilyDudley andCalvinand Debra Dudley. She was alifelong member of First Emmanuel Missionary Baptist Church in BatonRouge &a graduateofMcKinley Sr High. She entered intoeternal rest on Friday October 31, 2025. Allisonwas alight to her family and she willbe missed dearly. Servicesare November 15, 2025 at 11 AM at First Emmanuel Baptist Church.
TheLordcalledCamille ArnoldMenziehomeon November10, 2025. She was aresidentofBaton Rouge.Camillewas born onDecember13, 1927, in Woodhaven, Louisiana. She was preceded in deathby her parents, EdwinR.and GladysT.Arnold, hersister, JeanGilliam,her firsthus‐band, CharlesMiley, and her second husband Richard Menzie.She is sur‐vived by herstepdaughter, FlorieClaireWebb, her manyniecesand nephews, and ahostofdearfriends Camille acceptedGod’s gift ofeternal life offered through faith in Jesusthe Christ. Shewas afaithful memberofthe Campus Bible Classand supporter ofRadio BibleCourses,a nondenominational min‐istry of Christianlayper‐sons. Camilleloved our country andthe ideals and principlesonwhich it was founded.She believed in traditional values of mar‐riage,hardwork, honesty, friendship,loyalty,and
perseverance.A faithful wife, Camillewas devoted toeachofher husbands, separated only by deathin accordance with herwed‐dingvows. Shehad agen‐tle,quiet spirit.She was kind, considerate, andgen‐uinelyconcerned aboutthe well-beingofothers. Camille conductedherself withdignity andgrace.She was an inspirationto many. During hercareer, she worked in theaccount‐ing andbanking industries She enjoyed fishing, do‐mesticand international travel, particularly Mexico, and spending time with familyand friends. She was an avid fan of LSU football.While difficult to express in only afew words,the summationof the life of CamilleArnold Menzieis: Christian, pa‐triot,wife, sister,aunt, friend. Sheisnow in God’s lovingarmswhich is the destiny of allwho have placedtheir faith in Jesus for theremission of their sins. “For Godsoloved the world that he gave Hisonly begottenSon,thatwho‐everbelievesinHim should not perish buthaveever‐lasting life.” John 3:16.Visi‐tationwillbegin at 8:30 AM onSaturday, November 22, 2025, followed by amemor‐ial serviceat10:00 AM in the chapel at Greenoaks FuneralHome, 9595 Florida Boulevard,Baton Rouge. Memorialdonations may bemadetoRadio Bible Courses,POBox 14916, Baton Rouge, LA 70898 (www.rbcword.org). We ask that youpleasesign the online guestbook at www.dignitymemorial com.
November 13, 2025. She wasbornSeptember 28, 1931, in Smoke Bend, Louisiana. Faye wasa loving and devoted wife, mother,and grandmother.She wasa member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Denham Springs. As amilitarywife,she supported herfamilythrough many moves and challenges, later dedicating over 20 years as afoster grandparent, touching countless lives with her kindness andgenerosity. Sheissurvived by her children: Wayne(Marilyn), Craig (Marion), Lolette Knox (Perry), Colette Bals (Tony), Jeffrey (Beth), SerenaChaboude(Magnus), and RachelFussell; 19 grandchildren; 25 greatgrandchildren; 3greatgreat-grandchildren;and numerousnieces and nephews. Faye wasprecededindeathbyher belovedhusbandof56 years, SFC Joseph Mumphrey; and herdaughter, Geralyn Dean Visitation will be on Monday, November 17, 2025, at RabenhorstFuneral Home East, 11000 Florida Blvd,from5pm until8pm. Visitation will resume on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church 865 HatchellLn, Denham Springs, LA, from 11am untilMass of Christian Burial at 1pm. Committal will followatGreenoaks Memorial Park.
Courtney, Bobby Ray
Bourgeois, Darren Duane
Dudley,AllisonJeanea
Ardoin, Phyllis Ann
Menzie,Camille Arnold
BUSINESS
BRIEFS FROM WIRE REPORTS
U.S. drops reciprocal tariff on Argentine beef imports
WASHINGTON The Trump administration said it will drop a 10% tariff on Argentine beef imports and will quadruple the amount of Argentine beef that can enter the U.S. before imports reach a quota that triggers a 25% levy
The White House announcement comes despite criticism of President Donald Trump from lawmakers and ranchers last month over his plan to boost imports from Argentina in an effort to bring down beef prices for consumers.
“There is a reciprocal tariff of 10% on Argentina. We expect that to be eliminated,” a senior White House official said in a briefing on new trade framework agreements with Argentina, Ecuador, Guatemala and El Salvador The agreements are expected to be signed within two weeks, the official said.
The duty-free amount for Argentina is currently 20,000 metric tons of beef, but the administration plans to boost that to 80,000 tons although the increase isn’t part of the framework agreement. When imports reach 80,000 tons, the 25% tariff would take effect.
The administration is also dropping the 10% reciprocal tariff on other items that can’t be produced in the U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said her department would “immediately expedite deregulatory reforms, boost processing capacity, including getting more locally raised beef into schools, and working across the government to fix longstanding common-sense barriers for ranchers like outdated grazing restrictions.”
Railroads’ shareholders support $85B merger
OMAHA,Neb Shareholders of Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern backed the railroads’ proposed $85 billion merger to create the nation’s first coast-to-coast rail network.
Roughly 99% of both railroads’ shareholders voted to support the largest rail merger in history Friday but the U.S. Surface Transportation Board must still approve it before the deal can be completed.
The merger has picked up the support of the largest rail union and hundreds of shippers, but chemical manufacturers and competing railroad BNSF have raised concerns about whether the merger would hurt competition and lead to higher rates.
The proposed merger announced this summer was designed to link Union Pacific’s vast rail network in the West with Norfolk’s rails that crisscross the Eastern United States. The combined railroad would include more than 50,000 miles of track in 43 states with connections to major ports on both coasts.
The STB will closely scrutinize the merger to determine if it can meet the very high bar the board established for railroad deals after previous consolidation in the industry led to massive backups and snarled traffic.
FDA adds warning to Sarepta gene therapy
WASHINGTON The Food and Drug Administration said Friday it will add a new warning and other limitations to a gene therapy for Duchenne’s muscular dystrophy that’s been linked to two patient deaths. The infused therapy from Sarepta Therapeutics will carry a boxed warning — the most serious type — alerting doctors and patients to the risk of potentially fatal liver failure with the treatment, the FDA said in a release.
The one-time therapy, Elevidys, has been under FDA scrutiny since the company reported the first of two deaths of teenage boys in March. Following a second death reported in June, the FDA briefly called for halting all shipments of the drug. But the agency quickly reversed course after facing pushback from patient families and libertarian activists close to President Donald Trump. Elevidys is the first U.S.-approved gene therapy for Duchenne’s muscular dystrophy, a fatal muscle-wasting disease that affects boys and young men. In addition to the boxed warning, the FDA is also limiting the drug’s approved use to patients who are 4 years old and up and can still walk. Previously the FDA had allowed the drug’s use in immobile patients, who generally have more advanced disease.
Walmart CEO announces retirement
Doug McMillon to leave at age 58, with successor named
BY ANNE D’INNOCENZIO Associated Press
NEW YORK Walmart CEO Doug McMillon, who turned America’s largest retailer into a tech-powered giant and spearheaded a period of robust sales growth since becoming chief executive in 2014, plans to retire early next year, the company said Friday in a surprise announcement.
John Furner, 51, the head of Walmart’s U.S. operations, will take over on Feb. 1, the day after McMillon’s retirement becomes effective, the company said.
Unlike Amazon’s Jeff Bezos or Tesla’s Elon Musk, McMillon isn’t a household name, but he has played a key role in the U.S economy. Walmart’s performance serves as a barometer of
consumer spending given its size and vast customer base. The company maintains that 90% of U.S. households rely on Walmart for a range of products, and more than 150 million customers shop on its website or in its stores every week.
Walmart, based in Bentonville, Arkansas, also is the nation’s largest private employer, with 1.6 million workers. That includes corporate personnel and people working for Sam’s Club, the membership warehouse-store chain that Walmart owns. Globally, Walmart employs 2.1 million people.
McMillon, a University of Arkansas graduate, started with Walmart in 1984 and became chief executive three decades later During his tenure as CEO, he invested heavily in employees
by increasing wages, expanding parental leave and launching a program for employees seeking advancement and education opportunities to earn certificates and degrees. Under his leadership, Walmart has been laser-focused on maintaining low prices while embracing new technology like artificial intelligence and robotics. McMillon also helped to improve the company’s reputation, softening its image as a ruthless low-price operator by personally connecting with hourly workers and committing to goals such as reducing the carbon emissions that cause climate change.
Furner started at Walmart in 1993, working as an hourly store associate in Bentonville. He has lived and worked in multiple coun-
tries, and served as president and CEO of the U.S. division of Sam’s Club before taking the same roles at Walmart U.S.
When McMillon became CEO, stores were messy, sales were stagnant and worker morale was low McMillon thought the company needed to increase pay and create pathways for hourly workers to advance in their careers. In 2015, Walmart announced a threeyear, $2.7 billion investment to increase wages and create new education and training opportunities. But when McMillon briefed investors that year and cut the annual sales forecast, investors weren’t happy, sending Walmart shares down and destroying $21.5 billion in market value in hours. The company gradually regained investors’ confidence with higher sales, new customers and greatly improved employee retention rates.
Opioid settlement promised
Judge says he will approve OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma’s latest deal
BY GEOFF MULVIHILL Associated Press
NEWYORK A federal bankruptcy court judge on Friday said he will approve OxyContin-maker Purdue Pharma’s latest deal to settle thousands of lawsuits over the toll of opioids that includes some money for thousands of victims of the epidemic.
The deal overseen by U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Sean Lane would require members of the Sackler family who own the company to contribute up to $7 billion over 15 years. The new agreement replaces one the U.S. Supreme Court rejected last year, finding it would have improperly protected members of the family against future lawsuits. The judge said he would explain his decision in a hearing on Tuesday
It’s among the largest in a series of opioid settlements brought by state and local governments against drugmakers, wholesalers and pharmacies. It could close a long chapter and maybe the entire book — on a legal odyssey over efforts to hold the company to account for its role in an opioid crisis connected to 900,000 deaths in the U.S. since 1999, including from heroin and illicit fentanyl.
Lawyers and judges involved have described it as one of the most complicated bankruptcies in U.S. history Ultimately attorneys representing Purdue, cities, states, counties, Native American tribes, people with addiction and others were nearly unanimous in urging the judge to approve the bankruptcy plan for Purdue, which filed for protection six years ago as it faced lawsuits with claims that grew to trillions of dollars.
Purdue lawyer Marshall Huebner told the judge that he wishes he could “conjure up $40 trillion or $100 trillion to compensate those who have suffered unfathomable loss.” But without that
possibility, he said: “The plan is entirely lawful, does the greatest good for the greatest number in the shortest available timeframe.”
The U.S. Supreme Court rejected a previous deal because it said it was improper for Sackler family members to receive immunity from lawsuits over opioids. In the new arrangement, entities who don’t opt into the settlement can sue them Family members are collectively worth billions, but much of their assets are held in trusts in offshore accounts that would be hard to access through lawsuits
This time, the government groups involved have reached an even fuller consensus and there’s been mostly subdued opposition from individuals. Out of more than 54,000 personal injury victims who voted on whether the plan should be accepted. just 218 said no. A
larger number of people who are part of that group didn’t vote.
Besides contributing cash, members of the Sackler family would formally give up ownership of the company
None have been on its board or received payments since 2018. Unlike a similar hearing four years ago, none were called to testify in this week’s hearing.
The company would get a name change — to Knoa Pharma — and new overseers who would dedicate future profits to battling the opioid crisis. That could happen in the spring of 2026.
Family members would be barred from involvement in companies that sell opioids anywhere in the world. And they would not have their names added to institutions in exchange for charitable contributions. The name has already been removed from museums and universities.
Business groups ask for pause in climate reporting laws
Emergency appeal sought in California
BY LINDSAY WHITEHURST and SOPHIE AUSTIN Associated Press
WASHINGTON The U.S. Cham-
ber of Commerce asked the Supreme Court on Friday to pause new California laws expected to require thousands of companies to report emissions and climaterisk information. The laws are the most sweeping of their kind in the nation, and a collection of business groups argued in an emergency appeal that they violate freespeech rights. The measures were signed by
Democratic Gov Gavin Newsom in 2023, and reporting requirements are expected to start early next year
Lower courts have so far refused to block the laws, which the state says will increase transparency and encourage companies to assess how they can cut their emissions. The Chamber of Commerce asked the justices to put the laws on hold while lawsuits continue to play out.
One requires businesses that make more than $1 billion a year and operate in California to annually report their direct and indirect carbon emissions, beginning in 2026 and 2027, respectively That includes planet-warming pollution from burning fossil fu-
els directly, as well as releases from activities such as delivering products from warehouses to stores and employee business travel. The Chamber of Commerce estimates it will affect about 5,000 companies, though state air regulators say it will apply to roughly 2,600. The other law requires companies that make more than $500,000 a year to biennially disclose how climate change could hurt them financially The state Air Resources Board estimates more than 4,100 companies will have to comply
“Without this Court’s immediate intervention, California’s unconstitutional efforts to slant public debate through compelled speech will take effect and inflict
irreparable harm on thousands of companies across the country,” the companies argued. Companies that fail to publish could be subject to civil penalties. ExxonMobil also challenged the laws in a lawsuit filed last month.
The state has argued that the laws don’t violate the First Amendment because commercial speech isn’t protected the same way under the Constitution. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission approved a rule last year requiring some public companies to report their greenhouse gas emissions and climate risks, but the agency paused the regulation amid litigation.
ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By STEPHANIE SCARBROUGH
Jen Trejo holds a photo of her son Christopher as she is comforted outside the Supreme Court on Dec. 4, 2023, in Washington, D.C.
OPINION
ANOTHERVIEW
Is democratic socialism the flip side of MAGA?
The Democratic Party is searching for something new —much like Republicanswere 10 yearsago.Republicans wanted atougher,more effective approach toward their enemies and abolder agenda that could ignite passion and capture power.Today,Democrats want the same.
When Donald Trump enteredthe 2016 presidential race and electrified Republican voters, party leaderswondered about the impact. Could he replaceRonaldReagan’ssunny conservatismwithhis ownbrandofcultpopulism?
Republican leaders were initially skeptical of Trump’s electability and staying power. But over time,Trump struck achord the party’sestablishment didn’tfully grasp. Since 2016, he’sleveraged his MAGA basetowin threepresidential nominations and twoelections. Hecurrently holds ahammerlock on the RepublicanParty,perhaps the tightest in American history How long it lasts remains uncertain.
Now,Democrats —frustratedwith their own party’sleadership and alarmed by Trump’sferocious exerciseofpower —are searching for generational, ideological and tacticalchange. Rather than move toward the center,aspragmatism might suggest,theyseemtowant something louder, bolder,more populist in appeal and more sharply defined
This renewed passion to fight sentlarge numbers of Democrats to the polls on Nov.4
But here’sthe seriousquestionDemocrats may be faced with:Will democratic socialism be forthem what MAGA has beenfor Republicans?
While most Democraticofficials scoff at theideathat their party might turn to socialisminany form, polls show they may not fully grasp what their ownvoter base really wants.
According to Gallup,nearly two-thirdsofDemocrats now have afavorable view of socialism —up16points since 2010. Democrats prefer socialismtocapitalism bya wide margin, 66%to42%. (As expected, independents andRepublicans are farless accepting.)
The latest Economist/YouGov poll finds that nearly6in10 Democrats would consider voting for asocialistcandidate. And perhaps more tellingly,only 10% ruleout thepossibility How voters define “socialism” is akey question. While meanings vary with political perceptions and intent, Merriam-Webster offers atechnicaldefinition: socialismis “anyofvarious egalitarianeconomic and politicaltheories or movements advocating collective or governmental ownership and administrationofthe means of productionand distribution of goods.” Democratic socialism,ascommonly used, refers to apoliticalphilosophy that seeks to achieve socialisteconomic goals through democratic means —elections,civil liberties and political pluralism Republicans have been trying to pin the “socialist” tail on theDemocraticdonkeyfor decades.But eventhe most liberal Democrats havemade apoint of rejectingthe label. In recent years, however,the tectonic plateshave begun to shift.
NewYork Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani —a selfdescribed democratic socialist —has quicklybecomea star among the national Democratic base.The Economist/ YouGov poll gives him a68% favorableratingamong all Democrats, with only8%unfavorable. Less than ayear ago,almost no one had heard his name. Other self-identified democratic socialists, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders and U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, command strong support among Democrats.This week, Seattle elected ademocratic socialistmayor, KatieWilson. Defeating the incumbentand the city’sestablishment, Wilson campaigned for affordable housing, help for thehomeless, climate action, ahigherminimum wage and new taxes aimed at businesses andwealthyhouseholds In the Economist/YouGov nationalsurvey,only 21%of Democrats say they’resatisfiedwith “the way democracy is working in the U.S.” Meanwhile,65% say thatina fair society,“there wouldbenobillionaires.” Amere 8% of Democrats believe government is “run for thebenefit of all the people,” while astriking 83% think it’s“mostly run by a few big interests lookingout forthemselves.” Together,these attitudescouldignite politicalcombustion within the Democratic Party Whether democratic socialism, or some variation of it becomes thepath for Democrats,asTrumpism wasfor Republicans, depends largely onwhathappens in 2026 and 2028 Lookingtofuture elections, Democratic leaders will be tempted to harness the fiery rhetoric and passion that come with aMamdani, withoutembracing the socialist label or the substance of its agenda. The really big question is whether their base will letthem.
Ron Faucheux is anonpartisan political analyst, pollster and writer based in Louisiana.
“This isn’tus” was the headline in theOct. 9edition of the newspaper on astoryabout theshooting of a sheriff’s deputy. It could be equally applied to our politics, namely tothe extreme, defamatory rhetoric that emanates from our political leaders and dominates the media. The two cases are not unrelated: Words have consequences, and they can be toxic. This rhetoric paints an inaccurate picture of the actual views of most Americans. According to multiple polls, we are in fact less divided than our leaders would have us believe. Agood example is in the field of religion. Arecent letter to the editor characterized Democrats as “godless,”whereas 58% of Democrats identify as Christian. In Congress,
thenumbers are even higher: 75% of the Democrat representatives and senatorssoidentify. On the liberal side, misperceptionsofevangelical Christians abound: 55% are estimated to believe that good Christians must support Republicans, whereas only 20% of evangelicals do so. According to aPew study this September,one can disagree about politics and still be agood Christian, according to 80% of the Christians polled. To be sure, Americans are less tolerant of opposing viewsthan they were 20 years ago. But 72% still believe that violence is never justified in pursuit of political goals. The solution is to lowerthe rhetorical temperature —and vote forcandidates who do so.
DAVID LINDENFELD member,BraverAngels Baton Rouge
As aproud graduateofthe UniversityofNew Orleans(bachelor of arts and master of arts degrees), I am not happy that the LSU system is takingover UNO. However,Idounderstand that financially,this is anecessary move. What is not necessary is for UNO’s school colors of blue and silver to be changed to LSU’scolors of purple and gold.
Iwas diagnosed with IgA nephropathy at 22 while serving in theArmy National Guard. For decades, Imanaged my condition with medication and regular visits to anephrologist. Butbythe time Iturned 50, my kidneys began to fail, and Ibegan dialysis.
At first,Iwas able to do peritoneal dialysis at home.
When COVID hit,everything changed. Ilost what kidney function Ihad left and had to switch tohome hemodialysis. Still, Iwould travel and camp with my machine because Ibelieve life doesn’tstop with kidney disease. Fortunately,Ireceived atransplant about ayear ago.
Butnot every patient is as fortunate. Many can’taccess treatment for thingslike anemia, severe itch-
The University of New Orleans still should be able to retain its own identity.Ialso hope that the LSU system willnot makewholesale changes at UNO,merely forthe sake of change. Ihope that the successful programsatUNO will continue to thrive.
REBECCA F. HALE NewOrleans
ing, phosphorous control or to managethe risk of infections. These complications can makelifeondialysis extremely difficult. Earlier this year,I had the opportunitytomeet with Speaker Mike Johnson’sstaffduring avisit to Capitol Hill to discuss this very issue.
I’m grateful fortheir timeand am hopeful thespeaker will help move theKidney Care Access Protection Act forward, whether as astandalone bill or as part of other bipartisan legislation later this year I’ve lost both my father and grandfather to this disease. Iknow what it looks like when people don’thave access.
We deservebetter,and this legislation is astep in the right direction.
KENNETH STEPHENS
Shreveport
Iwas thrilled and moved by the story about Sarah Watkins, the eighth grade English teacher at Worley Middle School in Westwego, whowas awarded the Milken Award forexcellence in teaching. Just afew days ago, my brother,sister,mom and I werereminiscing about the teachers from 50 years ago whoinspired us and madeus into the people we are today God bless Ms. Watkins, her fellow teachers and students, and congratulations! What she does is the mostimportant job in the world.
STEPHENMONROE NewOrleans
Look at what Trumpdoes, not what he says,on vaccines
The president and Ihave something in common. We both got flu and COVID-19 vaccinations this October Neither of us heeded the obstacles and swirling doubt around the shots by Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr Seemskinda like it’s“do as I say,not as Ido.”
FAYE LIEDER NewOrleans
Here’s where National Guard mightbeofuse
Maybe Gov. Jeff Landry should request President Donald Trumpsend the Texas National Guard to Baton Rouge to help protect LSU fans at homegames.
CLAUDETTE OSTER Baton Rouge
Nussmeierhad heismanTrophyand cFPaspirations entering his fifthseasonasanLSu Qb.Now he’s fighting just to stay on the field.
SE N SI S
GBY KOKI RILEY Staff writer
arrett Nussmeier stood on theoutskirts of the huddleashis replacementjumpedupand down in theheart of theflock.
This wasnot how thisyear was supposed to go for Nussmeier.The fifth-year LSU quarterbackand second-yearstarter cameback to school formomentslike this —aprime-timematchup on theroad against Alabama.
Butinstead of getting ready for thenext driveinagame that was still within reach —trailingby11inthe thirdquarter —Nussmeier found himself at adistance from the action,powerless as sophomore backup Michael VanBurenentered thegame. Nussmeier had been benched. ä See LSU, page 2C
“We knew there could be opportunities in the quarterback run game, and then at the back end, as they tried to bring closure to it, they would make it difficult to just sit in the pocket,” LSU interim coach Frank Wilson said last Saturday when asked why he decided to replace Van Buren with Nussmeier “And so we wanted to move (Van Buren) around and do some things We thought that he gave us a chance to do those things.”
Nussmeier hasn’t been officially replaced as the LSU starter, but to claim that his spot is in jeopardy may be an understatement. Wilson said Monday that LSU will play both quarterbacks Saturday against Arkansas (11:45 a.m., SEC Network).
Even if he trots out as the starter this weekend, Nussmeier’s season already has gone off the rails. After entering the year as a potential first-round pick and the top senior quarterback in the 2026 NFL Draft, he is last in the Southeastern Conference in average depth of target and second-to-last in yards per attempt among quarterbacks with at least 250 drop backs, according to Pro Football Focus.
He threw for more than 4,000 yards in his first season as a starter This year, Nussmeier hasn’t eclipsed 2,000 yards.
“He had a lot of hype coming into the year and there were a lot of people really looking forward to seeing how he would play this year,” said Jordan Reid, an NFL draft analyst at ESPN “I just think things really have come off the rails at LSU.”
The start of Nussmeier’s struggles began in the preseason, when an abdominal injury limited his reps leading into the season. The ailment lingered through the first five games and left Nussmeier unable to generate the torque he needed to drive
“They floated out there that he wasn’t hurting,” Reid said, “but clearly, you could tell that something was definitely hurting him throughout the season.”
An off week after LSU’s loss to Ole Miss in Week 5 allowed him to rest and recuperate, but a healthier Nussmeier didn’t translate into better results for the quarterback or his team.
The Tigers lost three of their next four games. They failed to score more than 20 points with Nussmeier at the helm of the offense — a garbage time touchdown with Van Buren at quarterback against Texas A&M got LSU to 25 points and he failed to throw for more than 260 yards in any contest as he attempted fewer passes downfield each game.
Before getting benched against Alabama last Saturday, Nussmeier’s average depth of target was down to 2.9 yards. He attempted just one pass over 20 yards downfield.
He has looked more and more conservative each game, to the point where it’s hurting the offense. One of the areas that scouts really loved about Nussmeier was that short memory where he would get over a mistake (and) come back firing. (That’s) not what we’ve seen from him this year.”
DANE BRUGLER, NFL draft analyst
STAFF PREDICTIONS
WILSON ALEXANDER
ARKANSAS 27, LSU 24
Arkansas has the worst defense in the SEC, but can LSU take advantage of that? The Tigers still have not scored more than 25 points against another FBS team. It’s hard to put trust in them to keep up with dual-threat quarterback Taylen Green, even though LSU has one of the best defenses he will face this season.
REED DARCEY
ARKANSAS 35, LSU 27
Don’t let the record fool you. The best unit that will take the field Saturday is the Arkansas offense If this thing turns into a shootout, then the Razorbacks will have the clear edge, especially because they have a mobile quarterback and know how to use misdirection The LSU defense still hasn’t proven it can stop that kind of offense.
“He has looked more and more conservative each game, to the point where it’s hurting the offense,” said Dane Brugler, an NFL draft analyst at The Athletic. “There’s a third down right before halftime against Alabama where he had the backside dig open. He just couldn’t find it, couldn’t pull the trigger He’s averaging a full yard less in yards per attempt this year.”
Multiple factors have contributed to Nussmeier’s struggles, including his sudden inability to make plays downfield with his arm. It starts with the LSU offensive line.
LSU lost four starters upfront to the NFL draft last offseason, and the Tigers’ lone returning starter, redshirt sophomore DJ Chester, lost his starting spot. They added two transfers center Braelin Moore and right guard Josh Thompson — but neither veteran has been able to mask LSU’s issues at tackle.
Redshirt freshman right tackle Weston Davis has allowed 26 quarterback pressures and four sacks this season, and he was benched during the second half LSU
SCOTT RABALAIS
LSU 31, ARKANSAS 28
I’m going out on a limb here believing that the Tigers can score 31 points on well anyone The Razorbacks have a potent offense, but remember that LSU won a dominant game in Fayetteville last year, 34-10 If Whit Weeks can give the Tigers anything, they may win by more Like two years ago, Damian Ramos’ late field goal is the difference
KOKI RILEY
ARKANSAS 35, LSU 17
Arkansas is a matchup nightmare for the Tigers The Razorbacks run the ball effectively and have a mobile quarterback and LSU has struggled defending offenses with both traits. Even more concerning is LSU’s inability to score points against anyone The Tigers have yet to drop more than 25 points against an FBS team in eight such games
STAFF PHOTO By HILARy SCHEINUK
LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier walks on the sideline after being pulled out of the game in the second half against Alabama on Nov. 8 at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
against Alabama. Redshirtsophomorelefttackle Tyree Adams allowed 11pressures before injuring his ankle against Vanderbilt. Adams hasn’treturned sinceundergoing surgery and has been replaced by freshman Carius Curne, who has given upfive pressures andtwo sacks over LSU’slast twogames.
These issues haveaffected Nussmeier’s aggressivenessasaplaymakerand internal clock in the pocket.
“One of Nussmeier’sbest qualitiesishis ability to navigate muddy pockets, but the constant pressure has just really diminished his trust in the protection,”Brugler said. “One of the areas that scoutsreally lovedabout Nussmeier was that short memory where he would get over amistake (and) come back firing. (That’s) not what we’ve seen from him this year.”
Combined witha runninggame that is second-to-last in the SEC in yards per game and his early-seasoninjury,Nussmeier’ssituation hasbecome untenablefor almostany quarterback to operate effectively in.
“Schematically,they’re doing alot of quick (throws), and then whenever you’re hurt or you don’thave thattrust in the scheme (and/ or your) offensive line, you’re going to getthe ball out much quicker than what you normally do just because you don’twant totake those hits,” Reid said. “So that’sprobably what’s going through his headright now in thisseason. He just wants to get the ball out to avoid turnovers, and then also to avoid those hits, especially with him being banged up.”
Scouts have told Reid that Nussmeier’s rough year has resulted in his draftstock
falling to themiddle rounds. ButbothBrugler andReidbelieve pre-draft events such as thedraftcombine andSeniorBowlcould go along way in determining where he eventually lands in the draft.
Strong performances at those showcases couldhelp separate Nussmeier’squalities as aprospectfrom asituation that played afactor in hiseventualbenching.
“LSU doesn’t have aquarterback problem,” Brugler said. “LSU hasanoffense problem, and that absolutely includesthe quarterback Butyou can’ttalk about Nussmeier’sstruggles without also talking aboutthe contributing factors around him.
“Too often,wethink aboutquarterbacksas superheroes. They should have thepower to make everything elsebetter on offense, and while thatcan be true to adegree —withespecially the Josh Allens and Patrick Mahomes of the world —the vastmajority of quarterbacks in the NFL (and) college football need help around them to succeed.”
Nussmeier had to be Batman or Superman to save theLSU offense. Butwhen he couldn’t be, the unitbrought himdown with it andleft the preseasonHeisman Trophy contender standing alone on the sideline,likelywondering what went wrong.
“I thinkthat we have notdonethe things necessarily best for us as an offense in amultitude of ways,” Wilson said, “and (Garrett’s) just one of many that have notplayedupto their desire or theirwantto.”
Email Koki Riley at koki.riley@theadvocate.com
Nussmeierdowngradedto questionable vs.Arkansas
BYWILSON ALEXANDER Staff writer
LSU quarterbackGarrett Nussmeier has been downgraded to questionable forthe Tigers’game Saturday against Arkansas, accordingtoanavailability report releasedFriday night by the SEC. LSU hosts Arkansas at 11:45 a.m. inside Tiger Stadium. If Nussmeier does not play,sophomore MichaelVan Burenwould make his first start at LSU. LSU ruled out junior linebacker Whit Weeks (ankle) and sophomore defensive tackle Ahmad Breaux. Weeks was tryingtoreturn after missing the past three games. Breaux(undisclosed)
COLLEGE
was added to theavailability report for the first time this week on Friday Interim coach Frank Wilson said Thursday that Nussmeier aggravated an injury at practice that day VanBuren transferred to LSU from MississippiState,where he made eightstartsasa freshman. He has completed 66.7% of his passes (18 for 27) for 224 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptionsinthreegames this season. He hasalsorushed15times for24yards andascore. VanBuren replaced Nussmeier in the second half of LSU’s20-9losslastweekendtoAlabama. He finished the game 5of11for 52 yards in his first significant action of the year
Saturday’s games TOP25 No. 1OhioSt. (9-0) vs.UCLA (3-6), 6:30 p.m. No. 2Indiana (10-0) vs.Wiscon. (3-6), 11 a.m. No. 3Texas A&M(9-0) vs.S.Car.(3-6), 11 a.m. No. 4Alab.(8-1) vs.No. 11 Oklah. (7-2), 2:30p.m. No. 5Geo. (8-1) vs.No. 10 Tex. (7-2),6:30 p.m. No. 6Ole Miss (9-1) vs.Florida (3-6), 6p.m. No. 8Texas Tech (9-1) vs.UCF (4-5), 2:30 p.m. No. 9ND(7-2) at No. 23 Pitt. (7-2), 11 a.m. No. 12BYU (8-1) vs.TCU (6-3), 9:15 p.m. No. 14Georgia Tech (8-1) at Boston College (1-9), 2:30 p.m. No. 15Utah (7-2) at Baylor (5-4), 6p.m. No. 16Miami (7-2) vs.NCState (5-4), 2:30p.m. No. 17USC (7-2) vs.Iowa(6-3), 2:30p.m. No. 18Michigan (7-2) at NW (5-4), 11 a.m. No. 20Virginia (8-2) at Duke (5-4), 2:30 p.m. No. 21 Tenn. (6-3) vs.N.Mex. St. (3-6), 3:15 p.m. No. 22 Cinci. (7-2) vs.Arizona (6-3),11a.m. No. 24JMU (8-1) vs.App. St. (4-5), 2:30 p.m. No. 25S.Florida (7-2) at Navy (7-2),11a.m. EAST CCSU(7-3) at Duquesne (5-5), 11 a.m. Penn (5-3) at Harvard(8-0),11a.m. R.Morris (3-7) at Mercyhurst (4-6),11a.m.
NewHampshire(6-4) at Bryant (3-7), 11 a.m. Air Force(3-6) at Uconn(7-3), 11 a.m.
LIU Brooklyn (4-6) at St. Francis(Pa.) (0-9), 11a.m. Stonehill (3-7) at Wagner (4-6),11 a.m. Yale (6-2) at Princeton (3-5),11a.m. Brown(3-5) at Columbia (1-7), 11 a.m. Davidson (2-8) at Marist(4-6), 11 a.m. Notre Dame (7-2) at Pittsburgh (7-2), 11 a.m.
Merrimack (3-7)atSac. Heart (7-3), 11 a.m. South Florida (7-2)atNavy(7-2), 11 a.m. Holy Cross(1-9) at Bucknell (5-5), 11 a.m. Towson (4-6)atAlbany(NY) (1-9),noon Cornell (4-4)atDartmouth (6-2), noon Fordham (1-9)atGeorgetown (5-5), noon Howard (4-6)atDelaware St. (7-3),noon Lehigh (10-0) at Colgate (4-6),noon Rhode Island(8-2) at Maine (6-4), noon StonyBrook (5-5)atVillanova (7-2), noon Georgia Tech (8-1) at Bos. Coll. (1-9), 2:30 p.m. SOUTH Morgan St. (3-7)atNorfolkSt. (1-9), 11 a.m. North Dakota (6-4)atMurraySt. (0-10), 11 a.m. ETSU (5-5)atW.Carolina(6-4), 11 a.m. UTSA(4-5) at Charlotte (1-8), 11 a.m. Monmouth (NJ)(8-2)atNCA&T (2-8),11a.m. VMI (1-9)atFurman (5-5), noon William &Mary (6-4) at Hampton (2-8),noon Bethune-Cookman (5-5)atJackson St. (7-2), noon Tennessee Tech (10-0) at Kentucky (4-5),
1p.m. Char. South. (4-6) at UT Martin(5-5), 1p.m. Lafayette (7-3)atRichmond (6-4), 1p.m. Utah Tech (2-8)atWest Georgia (7-3),
3:15 p.m. UNC (4-5)atWakeForest (6-3), 3:30 p.m. Liberty (4-5)atFIU (4-5),4 p.m. MVSU (1-8)vs. AlabamaSt. (7-2)atMobile Ala., 4p.m. Coastal Carolina(6-3) at GeorgiaSouthern (4-5), 5p.m. Florida (3-6)atMississippi (9-1),6 p.m. UT Rio Grande Valley (7-3)atMcNeeseSt. (4-6), 6p.m. Texas(7-2) at Georgia(8-1),6:30 p.m. Vir. Tech (3-6) at Florida St. (4-5),6:30 p.m. Kenne.
STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON
LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier rolls tohis left before making athrowfor atouchdownagainst Southeastern in the secondquarter on Sept. 20 at TigerStadium
THENATION
THINGS TO WATCHINWEEK12
Who, what andwhere to keep an eyeoninthisweek’sgames around thenation
TIDE SEEKSREVENGE VS.SOONERS
No.4Alabama stopped shortofcalling Saturday’sshowdown against No. 11 Oklahoma arevengegame, but theCrimson Tide players admittheyhaven’t forgotten last year’s outcome. The Sooners shocked the Tide 24-3 in Norman,Oklahoma That letdown surely will provide extra motivation for Alabama in the rematch.A lossSaturdayin Tuscaloosa wouldn’t derail Alabama’splayoff chances, but it could knock the Tide out of the SECtitle game in Atlanta. It’sa must-win game for OU and its playoff hopes.
RED-HOTIRISH LOOK TO FEND OFFPITT Pitt has won five straight behind freshman quarterbackMason Heintschel,which is why, regardless of the outcome at Acrisure Stadium this weekend, the Panthers (7-2) canearnaspot in the ACCtitle game by toppling No. 14 GeorgiaTech and No. 16 Miamitoend the regular season. Notre Dame (7-2) hasnosuchwiggleroom forthe CFP.A sevengame winning streak by an average of nearly four touchdowns has put the Irish back in the CFPmix, though another misstep likely leaves them on the outside looking in.
UGA, TEXASCLASH IN KEYMATCHUP Texashas an opportunity to strengthen its chances of aspot in the CFP on Saturday with awin against Georgia.The Bulldogs are ranked fifth in the AP Top25and CFP rankings, and they’re likelynext in linefor the first-round bye if atop-four team falters.The Longhorns are on afour-game winstreak, beating Oklahoma, Kentucky,Mississippi State and Vanderbilt in consecutiveweeks.The Bulldogs have become knownasa second-half team, but awin against aTexas team putting it togetheratthe right time will need astrong four quarters.
—AssociatedPress
Bigquestions,issuesahead of Arkansas game
The LSU-Arkansas game is here.
Don’tyawn, even thoughit’san11:45a.m kickoff.
Yes, it’strue, this matchuphas lost some of its luster.Though you can easily make theargumentthat youhave to have luster beforeyou can lose it.
It’sLSU, the biggest disappointment in college football west of Clemson,against Arkansas, theteam so desperate it called on once-disgracedcoach Bobby Petrino to be its interim after firing Sam Pittman Calling the Hogs to be the interim coach would have been preferable.
Scott Rabalais
Still, this game fairly bristles withstorylines. Let’sdive into afew: WhoshouldLSU startatquarterback?
Interim LSU coach FrankWilson said Garrett Nussmeier has worked as the starter all weekbut alsorevealed Thursday that Nussmeier reaggravated his abdominal injury in practice. Wilson hassaid Nussmeier will be the starter Saturday, though he will be closely monitored. According to an availabilityreport released Friday night by theSEC, Nussmeier has been downgraded to questionable for Saturday’sgame.
Let’smakeabig butreasonable assumption: Nussmeier has beenphysically compromised all year.You cantell by the velocity,orlack of it,onhis throwsin most of the Tigers’ games. Youcould seeit Saturday compared to thezip with which backup quarterback Michael VanBuren threw when he relieved Nussmeier in the third quarter And, unfortunately, playing behind this shaky offensive line and in thisshaky offense, Nussmeier looks likehehas lost some confidence.
Football is an unsentimental game, especially at this level. If Nussmeier isn’t 100%, LSU should start VanBuren.Heck, even if Nussmeier is fully healthy, LSU probably should start VanBuren. Hismobility and willingness to takeoff andrun gives the Tigers more options against a bad Razorbacks defense. That’s amajor considerationasLSU needstoscore plenty of points to keep up with Arkansas’Taylen Green-led offense.
Should VanBuren redshirt?
Wilson said VanBuren wants to play in LSU’sremaining games. He’salready playedinthree games this season, meaning he can only play in onemore (minus abowl game) and maintain his redshirt status. Atrue sophomore, if he redshirts he could play through 2028. There are reasonable argumentstobe made on both sides of whether VanBuren should play.Myfeeling is if he wants to play,play him.
VanBuren knows he faces amighty uncertain future with LSU’scoachingchange He may be the Tigers’ starter in 2026, he may again be the backup to someoneout of the transfer portal or hemay beback in the portal and playing somewhereelse Whatever the case, he can benefitfrom putting film out there for LSU’snext staff or another staff to watch And again, Iwould start him Saturday Wilson vs.Petrino
There are reports that this is the first Southeastern Conference game between in-
also made millions in NIL money to return this season, making him and other wellcompensated college athletes fairer game for criticism since they’re now basically professionals. ButNussmeier did return in 2025 and gave his all for the school and state he loves. Will he go down as one of the great LSUquarterbacks? No, but his kind of loyalty to aschool in this modern era deserves respect,not ridicule. What’s theattendanceSaturday?
It will be abeautiful day forapotentially ugly game, withtemperatures in the upper 70s for the very early kickoff by LSU standards. Given that it’shunting season and folks already have daytime plans and the Tigers have lost four of their past five in a lost season, I’ll put the actual attendance at 60,000.
terim coaches. That would be interesting if true,but the SEC office could not confirm.If they don’tknow,then it probably isn’t.
WhitherWhitWeeks?
The LSU linebacker was ruled out Friday from theArkansas game with that bone bruise onhis ankle he broke in theTexas Bowl, an injury that had kept him out of thepast three games. Wilson indicated that Weeks did some workthe past few days, but Ithink at this point we’re leaning more toward Weeks having played his last football forLSU this season. What may be the biggerquestion is whether he will return in 2026 since his NFL draft status may have beenhurt
Will Nussmeierget booed?
Isincerely hope not. Say what you will aboutNussmeier,and clearly he’sbeen the face of this disappointing LSU season. He’s
LSUwill announce amuch higher attendance because of ticketssold, but it won’t be apretty sight on the SEC Network. Just another example of the current diminished stateofLSU football. Does this game matter?
Youare only guaranteed 12 games a season. So, yes, everything matters. It’s important to try to win, and not just to retain The Boot, believed to be the heaviest trophy in college football. On the face of it, thegame will only determine whether LSU is bowl eligible. But who knows? Perhaps if LSUsecures awinning season (paired with awin against Western Kentucky next week) it convinces aprospective coach that he can turn things around here relatively quickly.Inother words, every little bit helps.
For more LSU sports updates, sign up for our newsletter at theadvocate.com/ lsunewsletter
Thisweek: at Missouri, 6:45 p.m. Saturday (SECNetwork)
14.SOUTH CAROLINA Record: 3-6overall, 1-6 SEC
Previous rank: 13
Last week: Idle
Thisweek: at Texas A&M, 11 a.m. Saturday (ESPN)
15.ARKANSAS
Record: 2-7overall, 0-5 SEC
Previous rank: 15
Last week: Idle
Thisweek: at LSU, 11:45 a.m. Saturday(SEC Network)
16.FLORIDA Record: 3-6overall, 2-4 SEC
Previous rank: 11
Last week: Lost to Kentucky 38-7 Thisweek: at Ole Miss, 6 p.m. Saturday (ESPN)
STAFF FILE PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON
LSUquarterback Garrett Nussmeier tries to outrun Ole Miss linebacker Suntarine Perkins on Sept.27atVaught Hemingway Stadium in Oxford,Miss. Nussmeier recently reaggravated an injury, and QB Michael VanBuren has said he wants to playinLSU’s remaining games
STAFF PHOTO By HILARySCHEINUK
LSU quarterback Michael VanBuren, right, and defensivetackle Bernard Gooden walk off the field after aloss to Alabama on Nov. 8inTuscaloosa, Ala.
SPORTS
ABRIGHT SPOT
BY TOYLOYBROWN III
Staff writer
Positives have been hard to comeby for Southern (1-9, 0-6 SWAC) thisseason, but interim coach Fred McNair does have one clear bright spot in cornerback LandonCarter.
The redshirt freshman has been aboon forthe Jaguars defense, which didn’t have an interception until Cartercame away with one in back-to-back games. Carter had apick returned to the end zone in last week’s35-17 loss at Alcorn State. He read the quarterback’seyes, jumped ahitch route, dodged atackle and returned it 46 yards. It was Southern’s first pick-six since 2022.
Tigers defeat FIUbut some playerssay it wasn’t theirtop effort
BY TOYLOYBROWN III Staff writer
Mike Nwokowas grateful for the win but not pleased with his team’sperformance.
“I’d give us aD-,”the LSUcenter said while grading his team’s 98-81 win over Florida International on Thursday at the Pete Maravich AssemblyCenter
The juniorMississippiState transfer got chuckles from point guardDedan Thomas andsmall forward MarquelSutton in the postgame news conference. Thomas said he would have given LSU (3-0) aC-and Sutton said aC in agamewhere LSU ledFIU (1-2) 43-38 at halftime.
Nwoko, who finished with a team-high 19 points on 6-of-7 shooting, defended his stance.
“I feel like we’re better than that,” Nwoko said. “Theyplayed Nebraska, and Nebraska beat them by,what, 30. Ithink we’re better than Nebraska,respectfully.So, you know,wegottajust look at the film. Ifeel likeitwas a bad performance.” TheTigers beat TarletonState
Ahead of Southern’sgame against Texas Southern (4-5, 3-3) at 2p.m. Saturday at A W. Mumford Stadium, McNair said his cornerbacks’splayisespecially excitingtosee fromawalk-onplayer.
“Always good to see those guys come in andcompete with thescholarship guys, too,” McNairsaid. “I told coach (defensive coordinator Henry) Millertoday, ‘Don’tbeafraid to playhim.You know, even though he’s awalk-on, he earned his
keep.’ So he’s probably gonna start this week at that corner position.
“So he done agreat job forusonthat side of the ball as farasthe picks and the pick-six he got. I’mgrateful to seethat.”
Teammates such as senior linebacker JamarloCampbell, who alsohad an interceptionlast week,are happy to seewhat Carter does in practice translate to the games. He even hasoffensive players taking notice
“He be doing it at practice,” wide receiverDarren Morris said. “Soitwasn’ta shocker.Wetoldhim on the sideline, ‘Just keep playing, keep doing what you’re doing. It’sgonna come your way.’ Andthe
and UNO by 36 and 35 points, respectively,intheir firsttwo games. Thomaselaborated on hisevaluation of thegame.
“Obviously,I didn’tplay my best game, either,” the junior UNLV transfer said.“Just some dumb turnovers.Just collectively as a
group, we just made bad mental mistakes.But,I mean,it’sgood to have thatearly in the season, get those kinks out. Justmove on to thenext game and we’ll be better.” Thomas had 15 points on 4-of-9 shooting with fiverebounds, six assists and three turnovers. Coach Matt McMahon, who
Pelicans fall to Lakers
N.O. losing streak growstofourgames
BY RODWALKER Staff writer
TheNew OrleansPelicans’ season of frustration continued Friday night.
This time, it came against ateam that has been athorn in the Pelicans’ side in recent years. The Pelicans fell to the Los Angeles Lakers 118-104 on Friday at Smoothie King Center.Itwas the seventh straight loss to the Lakers. The Pels’ last winagainst the Lakers came on Dec.31, 2023.
Not even another big scoring night from Trey Murphy was enough to get the Pelicanspast the Lakers and their trio of Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves andDeandre Ayton. Murphy,two nights after climbing to second place on the Pelicans’ all-time 3-pointers madelist, finished with 35 points. Murphy scored 22 of his points in the first half. He would’ve had 25 in thehalf, but abuzzer-beater at the end of the first quarter was overturnedafter videoreview Murphy,who passed Jrue Holiday on Wednesday and now trails only CJ McCollum on the all-timelist, made 3-of-7 3-pointers Friday.He helped the Pelicans keep pace with Doncic in the first half Doncic had20points andnine assistsinthe first half andfinished with 24 points, 12 assists and seven rebounds.
L.A. center Deandre Ayton finishedwith20pointsand 16 rebounds. Reaves scored 31.
The Lakers led 65-52 at the break. The Pelicans, who have struggled in thethirdquarter, were outscored by only 30-25. The Pelicans trailed by as manyas22 at one point in the third quarter, but cut it to 95-85 with8:58 in the fourth on aJose Alvarado 3-pointer.Alvarado’strey capped off a 10-0 run.
The Pelicans (2-10) have now dropped four straight games. They started the season on asixgamelosing streak. Friday’sgame wasthe Pelicans’ second NBACup pool playgame. The Pelslosttheir first game in Western ConferenceGroup Bto theLos AngelesClippersonHalloween.
That onewas decidedonaKawhi Leonard jumper at the buzzer This game against theother L.A. team wasn’tasclose.
spoke after his players on Thursday,said that he waspleased with how Thomas performed.
“Still apretty good night at the office,” McMahon said. “I think he hadour highest plus-minus. We were plus-22 when he was on thefloor tonight. So someareas, I know he wantstoget better,but overall, Ithought he did atremendous job for the team.”
When asked foraletter grade of his team’splay,McMahon flashed asmile and declined. However the fourth-year coach started his opening comments withhow he was gladhis team faced adversity He later explained how the outing was instructive.
“I’mglad we got tested,” McMahon said. “Obviously,don’twant to give up 81 points. So there’ssome areas we want to clean up. But overall, to score98, to live at the free-throw line the way we did, to handlesome of the adversity we faced there at the end of the first half, it was agood stepforward for us. And now,wecan getback in thepractice gym this weekend and get better.”
LSU went 30 of 34 from thefreethrowline. It was the mostfree throws made by LSU since McMahon became head coach.
EmailToyloy Brown III at toyloy.brown@theadvocate.com
The Pelicans were once again without Zion Williamson, who missedhis sixthconsecutive gamewith ahamstring injury. On Thursday,Williamsonwas cleared to resume on-courtactivities.But he hasn’tbeen cleared yet to play TheLakers,meanwhile,were without LeBron James (sciatica) The NBA’s all-time leading scorer has yet to suit up this season. But theLakers (9-4) have managed just fine without him
The Pelicans got aseason-high night fromrookiesDerik Queen andJeremiahFears.Queen recorded aseason-high10rebounds to go with nine points. Fearsrecordednine steals, one shyofChris Paul’sfranchise record. Fears also scored 19 points.
STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON
LSU forwardPablo Tamba battles Florida International forward Hamed Olayinka for areboundonThursday night in the PMAC. LSU won98-81 to improve to 3-0 onthe season.
PHOTO By STACIVANDAGRIFF
STAFF PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER NewOrleans Pelicans guard Jordan Hawkinsshoots a3-pointer against the Los AngelesLakers on Friday night in the Smoothie KingCenter
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Coastal AD reprimanded for berating CWS officials
INDIANAPOLIS The NCAA Division I Baseball Committee on Friday issued a public reprimand to Coastal Carolina athletic director Chance Miller for misconduct after Game 2 of the College World Series finals against LSU in Omaha, Nebraska, in June.
Committee members cited Miller for berating the NCAA national coordinator of umpires in a public setting and later NCAA staff in the hallways of Charles Schwab Field. It was the committee’s understanding Miller was frustrated by an umpire’s decision to eject coach Kevin Schnall and assistant Matt Schilling in the first inning against LSU on June 22.
Miller won’t be allowed to attend the first game of the next NCAA baseball regional in which his team plays.
LSU soccer cruises in NCAA opener
Staff report
No. 4 LSU’s defensive momentum from the SEC Tournament carried into Friday night’s NCAA playoff opener as the Tigers scored three second-half goals to defeat Houston Christian 4-1 at LSU Soccer Stadium and advance to the second round.
Sariyah Bailey led the charge with two goals — one in each half — while Gabbi Ceballos and Ida Hermannsdottir added secondhalf scores to secure the win LSU (14-5-4) extended its unbeaten streak to 12 matches (9-03), the longest in program history
The Tigers advance to face No. 5 Iowa, which defeated South Dakota State 1-0 in the opening round.
Friday’s victory marks LSU’s first appearance in the second round since 2022.
“We’re thrilled,” LSU coach
Sian Hudson said “This is just the second time in my tenure here to make the second round.
Any team you play in the national tournament has earned the right to be here, so all credit to HCU.
We probably should have put this game away a lot earlier than we did — that’s the big learning lesson tonight. Unbelievable turnout from the LSU fans.”
LSU dominated with 29 shots, including 10 on goal, while limiting the Huskies to just three total attempts.
Hudson noted that despite the victory, she was disappointed
the team didn’t capitalize more often.
Bailey opened the scoring in the 20th minute after slicing through the Huskies defense. Ceballos doubled the lead five minutes into the second half, but Houston Christian responded with 22 minutes left when Ella Remy found the back of the net — marking the program’s first NCAA Tournament goal.
“I’m so proud of our group,” HCU coach Nick Whiting said. “We got the goal to get back in the game. LSU’s a quality team, and they’re going to do well in the tournament I’m proud of our group for putting them under some pressure and helping make a name for ourselves as well.”
LSU sealed the victory with two goals in a 17-second span late in the match. Bailey scored her second with 10 minutes remaining, followed immediately by Hermannsdottir’s finish to put the game out of reach.
Hudson said the break before Thursday’s match will be good for her team.
“I’m expecting an incredibly difficult game against Iowa,” she said. “They’re a very blue-collar team, and they’re going to test us. They’ve been in the Top 20 for a couple of years and they won the Big Ten championship in 2023. I think getting a little break this weekend is huge physically and mentally — and we’ll be ready to go on Thursday night.”
Jefferson strives to get back in ‘savage mode’
BY DAVE CAMPBELL Associated Press
EAGAN, Minn. Justin Jefferson still draws constant double coverage. He’s made plenty of clutch catches this year The Minnesota Vikings continue to keep him as the heart of their entire offensive scheme.
Over the first half of the season, though Jefferson hasn’t been the same high-impact player His averages of 13.5 yards per reception and 76.2 yards per game are both career lows for the two-time AllPro wide receiver The transition to a developmental quarterback in J.J. McCarthy, and the five-game switch to Carson Wentz while McCarthy recovered from a sprained ankle has predictably been a factor But Jefferson acknowledged this week that he hasn’t felt like his usual self, smiling as he said he’s seeking to return to the “savage mode” he has previously played in.
“Just different things going on in my life,” Jefferson said, without elaborating when asked during his regular interview session with reporters why he’s been missing that extra edge. “Just wanting to get back to that kid phase of overly loving football and overly loving just being out there on Sundays and making the big plays and just being a part of this great organization.”
For all the route-running clinics he’s put on and highlight-reel catches Jefferson has produced, the relentless competitor in him has made just as much of an impact on the team over his six seasons During the third-to-last game of the 2023 season against Detroit with the playoffs nearly out of reach, Jefferson sprinted 20 yards to recover a fumble by quarterback Nick Mullens and keep a lastditch drive alive, a play that coach
Kevin O’Connell has frequently cited in his praise of Jefferson. Jefferson, too, has always been keenly self-aware. Without directly addressing the rare online criticism that went his way for a lackluster performance in the 2719 loss to Baltimore last Sunday he made clear the perception — fair or not — that he failed to give full effort to pursue the defenders after two passes to him from McCarthy were intercepted didn’t sit
well with him. He said essentially that the frustration with those plays going against the Vikings in another game in which the offense had substandard production overrode in those situations his instinct to immediately chase after the ball.
“Emotionally things get heated sometimes, and things weren’t going our way at that moment. Just wanting a better outcome and of course with the offense that we have, I feel like we should be playing better than we are,” Jefferson said.
Jefferson was on social media on Thursday when he spotted a post highlighting the anniversary of the one-handed catch he made on fourth-and-18 to help Minnesota win at Buffalo during the 2022 season after which he was voted as the Associated Press Offensive Player of the Year The highlight clip stirred in him that competitive desire to get back to “Year 3 Jets,” referencing his nickname and that award-winning 2022 performance.
“I love the job and I love being here with these guys and being here with this organization, so there’s definitely a lot of great things to be grateful for and to be happy about,” Jefferson said. “I’m just an ultra-competitor, and I hate to lose at the end of the day.”
The Vikings host Chicago this Sunday
Eagles keep winning despite Brown’s frustrations
BY ROB MAADDI Associated Press
Commentary
A.J. Brown is right that the Philadelphia Eagles need to fix their offense. His constant complaining isn’t helping the situation, though Brown has made it clear through cryptic posts on social media and public comments that he’s not happy with his role. It hasn’t been a distraction to the team yet. There was drama surrounding Brown last season when veteran pass rusher Brandon Graham said on his radio show that Brown and Jalen Hurts had a damaged relationship It didn’t stop the Eagles from winning the Super Bowl. And, they’ve continued winning. The Eagles are 7-2. They beat the Chiefs, Buccaneers Vikings and Packers on the road They beat the Rams at home. All were impressive victories. Some were ugly But wins are wins. They’re in position to become the first NFC East team to win consecu-
tive division titles in two decades. But the goal in Philadelphia is to repeat. Anything less than another Super Bowl parade on Broad Street wouldn’t be considered a success. That’s why Brown is frustrated. He sees the offense underachiev-
ing. He knows it won’t be good enough to win important games in January unless the Eagles can get on track.
“It’s not that I don’t care about winning, all I care about is stats, no,” Brown told reporters on Wednesday “It’s been week af-
ter week, sometimes we’re not contributing, we’re not doing our job on offense. You can’t just keep slapping a Band-Aid over that if you expect to win later in the year You think you’re just going to go to it at the end of the year? It’s not going to happen. It’s not going to happen.
“Last year, what it was, thank you for the ring, but it’s a new season. They adapted. We have to adapt and we have to continue to get better and find new ways. That’s where the frustration comes in. Because it’s not about winning, you guys I want to win, yes. I want to help contribute as well. Do our thing on offense as well. I think that’s fair.” Brown only has 31 catches for 408 yards and three touchdowns. He has caught one or two passes in three of the eight games he’s played. Brown is an elite receiver who has been a second-team All-Pro three straight seasons. Hurts and first-year offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo simply have to find ways to get him more involved in the offense. Playmakers need the football.
Grant shoots 63 for share of lead at The Annika
BELLEAIR, Fla. — Linn Grant shot a 7-under 63 on Friday for a share of the lead with Grace Kim in The Annika. Defending champion Nelly Korda made a big move with a 63 of her own, while Kai Trump improved by eight strokes and still finished a distant last.
Kim had a 66 to join Grant at 9-under 131 at Pelican Golf Club. Kim won the Evian Championship in France in July for her first major title and helped Australia win the recent International Crown. Trump is the granddaughter of President Donald Trump. Playing on a sponsor exemption, the high school senior followed an opening 83 with a 75. At 18 over, she was last in the 108-player field by six strokes.
Hadwin leads at windy Bermuda Championship
SOUTHAMPTON, Bermuda Adam Hadwin held onto the lead Friday in the windy Butterfield Bermuda Championship in a late bid to retain full PGA Tour playing privileges, shooting a 5-under 66 at Port Royal to take a one-shot advantage into the weekend.
Hadwin is 147th in the FedEx Cup standings, with the top 100 next week after the RSM Classic keeping their tour cards for next year The 38-year-old Canadian, a PGA Tour winner and two-time Presidents Cup player, missed the FedEx Cup playoffs for the first time in his tour career Hadwin had an 11-under 131 total after opening with a 65. Chandler Phillips (64) and Braden Thornberry (65) were tied for second. Max McGreevy (64) and Noah Goodwin (67) were 9 under
Auger-Aliassime reaches ATP Finals semifinals
TURIN, Italy Felix Auger-Aliassime beat two-time champion Alexander Zverev and claimed the last spot in the semifinals of the ATP Finals on Friday The Canadian’s reward? Carlos Alcaraz, who is fresh from claiming the year-end No. 1 ranking after winning all three of his group matches.
The eighth-seeded Auger-Aliassime won 6-4, 7-6 (4) to join Jannik Sinner in advancing from the Bjorn Borg group. Earlier Sinner completed a sweep of his roundrobin matches by dispatching already-eliminated Ben Shelton 6-3, 7-6 (3).
Sinner will next face seventhseeded Alex de Minaur The final is on Sunday
FSU freshman LB back on campus after getting shot
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida State freshman linebacker Ethan Pritchard, who was shot in the back of the head following the team’s season opener in August, is expected to attend the Seminoles’ home finale Saturday Pritchard rang a bell and got a standing ovation while being released from Brooks Rehabilitation in Jacksonville on Thursday He returned to Tallahassee on Friday and visited with teammates and coaches from an electric wheelchair Pritchard, a four-star recruit from Sanford, Florida, was “not doing anything wrong” when he was shot outside an apartment complex on Aug. 31 near Tallahassee, authorities said. He was dropping off an aunt and a child following a family party when he was attacked in what officials said was a case of
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By ABBIE PARR
Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson reacts after missing a pass on fourth down during a game against the Ravens on Sunday in Minneapolis. Jefferson’s yards per catch and per game are down this season.
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By ABBIE PARR Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J Brown walks off the field after a win over the Minnesota Vikings on Oct. 19 in Minneapolis. Brown has been vocal about the Eagles’ underperforming offense.
BY RASHAD MILLIGAN and TOYLOYBROWN III Staff writers
As allSouthwestern Athletic Conference football programs have three or fewer regular-season gamesremaining, thehaves and the have-nots are established. AlabamaState, Jackson State and PrairieVieware clearly the best teamsinthe SWAC,but only two teamscan play in the SWAC championship game. For Alabama State to makethe game, Jackson State would havetolose one game andthe Hornetswould have to win out. For Prairie View to miss the championshipgame, the Panthers would have to lose their final two games and Grambling would have to win its final two games.
Listed below are thisweek’s SWAC power rankings before Week 12 games kick off.
1. AlabamaState Record: 7-2 overall, 5-1 SWAC
Previous rank: 1
Last week: 42-24 win vs.Texas
Southern
This week: at Mississippi Valley State,4 p.m. Saturday
Extra points: Alabama State continued its winningwaysinthe conference at home againstTexas Southern with backup quarterbackTe’Sean Smoot under center for theinjured Andrew Body. Because of ashoulder injury,Bodyis still rehabbing and doesn’thave a timetable to return to action.
2. JacksonState Record: 7-2 overall, 5-1 SWAC
Previous rank: 2
26 catches, 492yards,18.9avg,4 TDs
Malachi Jackson
17 catches, 245yards,14.4avg,TD
DEFENSE
Elijah West
63 tackles Herman Brister
49 tackles Jamarlo Campbell
44 tackles, 2sacks
SCHEDULE
AUGUST
Last week: 42-3 winatMississippi Valley State
This week: vs. Bethune-Cookman, noon Saturday
Extrapoints: TheTigers return to Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium afterbeing away from home for more than amonth for amatchup withBethuneCookman. JSU has won four of its last five matchups against the Wildcats. Freshman quarterback Jared Lockhart completed 21 of 27 passesfor 241 yards and two touchdownsin hissecondcareer start last week.
Saturday
Extrapoints: Grambling was half of the story of the SWAC this past weekendasthe Tigers gotinto an on-field altercation withBethuneCookman. Grambling coach Mickey Joseph defended his team’sactions in the postgame news conference and said his team won’t toleratedisrespect.OnMonday,Joseph apologized for his initial comments on the SWAC media call.
5. Bethune-Cookman
Record: 5-5 overall, 4-2 SWAC
Previous rank: 5
Last week: 31-23 lossatGrambling
7. Alcorn State
Record: 4-6overall, 3-3 SWAC
Previous rank: 7
Last week: 35-17 winvs. Southern
This week: vs. Grambling, 2p.m.
Saturday Extra points: TheBraves came out on top in ashowdown against Southern andinterim coach Fred McNair, whooncewas the head coach at Alcorn State, to improve to .500 in theSWAC. AlcornState nowfaces aGrambling team that theBraves have beaten the last two seasons.
8. TexasSouthern Record: 4-5overall, 3-3 SWAC
Previous rank: 8
Last week: 42-24 loss at Alabama State
10.Alabama A&M
Record: 4-6 overall, 1-5 SWAC
Previous rank: 10
Last week: 48-5loss vs. Prairie View
This week: vs. FAMU,2 p.m.Saturday
Extrapoints: The Bulldogs’ disappointing season continuedafter Prairie View went on a48-0 run to embarrass AlabamaA&M at home.Now,AAMU looks to earn its first victory ever over FAMU. Theprogram is currently0-4 alltimeagainst the Rattlers.
11.MississippiValleyState
Record: 1-8 overall, 0-5 SWAC
Previous rank: 11
Last week: 42-3 loss vs. Jackson State
23 N. Carolina Cent.* L, 31-14
30 at Miss.ValleyState W, 34-29
11 at Bethune-CookmanL,45-14 18 PrairieViewL,24-3 25 FloridaA&M L,
PREDICTION
Texas Southern32, Southern
24: Southern will have onelast chance to earn its firsthomewin
Theteamshouldpossess prideto give 17 seniorsa finalvictory at A.W. MumfordStadium.But Texas Southern hasbeenabetterteam in everyphase compared to the Jaguars. In eightgames,Southern haslostbyatleast 17 points.Any growth is probably notenoughtowin on Saturday
Toyloy BrownIII
SWAC STANDINGS
3. PrairieView
Record: 7-3 overall, 5-1 SWAC
Previous rank: 3
Last week: 48-5 win at Alabama
A&M
This week: vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 2p.m.Saturday
Extrapoints: CoachTremaineJackson said that despite arough road trip to Huntsville, Alabama, the Panthers wereable to shake off a slow start against AlabamaA&M and come away with aconvincingvictory. Onemore win and the Panthers are in the SWAC title game, but Jackson just wantsto focus on UAPB, which leads the SWAC with 11 interceptions.
4. Grambling
Record: 7-3 overall, 4-2 SWAC
Previous rank: 4
Last week: 31-23 winvs. BethuneCookman
This week: at Alcorn State, 2p.m.
SOUTHERN
Continued from page5C
results speak for itself.”
Carter,who went to Plaquemine High School,will be needed once againagainst aTexas Southern team hungry for awin after losing its last two conteststoAlcornState and AlabamaState.
“Texas Southern, they gotalot of talent on theirteam,” McNair said. “Offensive-wise,they’re huge upfront.Got abig offensive line. They got agood running back, and they sling the ball around alittle bitfrom the standpoint of passing. Defensive-wise, they are very tough. Youknow, they’llplay coverageand those front seven guys again, they’re going tobetoughtohandle.”
One of the players at thetop of Southern’sscouting report is junior running back Athean Renfro, who has the second-most rushing yards inthe Southwestern Athletic Conferencewith 808. The5-foot-9, 225-pound tailback is only1yard behind Southern’sTrey Holly.
Texas Southern will keyon the Jaguars’ground game, which had been astrength but wasneutralized last week.The
This week: at Jackson State, noon Saturday Extrapoints: Backup quarterback Timmy McClaincameintothe game and completed 15-of-18 passing attempts for 224 yards and atouchdown for the Wildcats. This week,the team regroups to face Jackson State. Coach Raymond Woodie saidhis team will need to focusondetails against oneofthe conference’stoughest opponents.
6. FloridaA&M
Record: 4-5 overall, 3-2 SWAC
Previous rank: 6
Last week: 31-28 win at ArkansasPineBluff
This week: at Alabama A&M,2 p.m Saturday Extrapoints: The Rattlers havewon three of their last four games. This week, FAMU faces Alabama A&M, ateam it hasn’tlosttointhe four matchups since 2021. FAMU quarterback RJ Johnson,the second-leading passerinthe SWAC, completed 17 of 25 passes for 235 yards,two touchdowns and an interception vs. UAPB.
Jaguars mustered only74yards rushing on 28 attempts. Holly, an LSUtransfer,stood on the sidelines forthe majority of the second half against Alcorn State because he’s“alittle bangedup,” McNairsaid.
With abanged-up Holly andno Mike Franklin, who is outfor the season after having Lisfranc surgery on his foot, Southern’srunning back room will be tested. One player whocould be used more heavily is Barry Remo. The sophomore had eight rushes for24yardslast week
“I thought Remo came in, did a great job forusthis past week,” McNairsaid. “He ranthe ball very hard. Hada keythird down there, third and long, and we hand the ball offtohim,and he did agreat job of getting the first down.”
The TexasSouthern rundefense is ranked sixth in the SWAC in conference play,allowing 171 yards rushing pergame. TheTigers also have ahardhitting safety in DaylanBooker, asophomore, who is tiedfor first in the conference in forced fumbleswith three
No matter howwellSouthern runs the ball, it will need competent quarterback play. McNair, whostarted the year as the team’squarterbackscoach and
This week: at Southern, 2p.m. Saturday
Extrapoints: TexasSouthernhas cooled down from the four-game winning streak that cametoan endonOct. 18. Coach Cris Dishmanacknowledgedthatthe program didnot achieve its goal of playing in the Celebration Bowl and is now focused on building toward asuccessful 2026 season.
9. Arkansas-PineBluff
Record: 3-6overall, 2-4 SWAC
Previous rank: 9
Last week: 31-28 loss vs. FAMU
This week: at Prairie View,2 p.m.
Saturday Extrapoints: UAPB coach Alonzo Hampton attributed theteam’s three-point loss to thelack of stopping FAMU on theRattlers’ threefourth-down conversion attempts.Healso believes his team needstoreach 100 yards rushing each game to be successful. This week, the Golden Lions face PrairieView, aprogram they have beaten just four times in the last 15 matchups.
then became the co-offensive coordinator and play-caller,said the offense goes as farasthe quarterbacks take it.
“It starts with my room,that’s the quarterback room.And we have to be more consistent,” McNairsaid. “Theguys, they understand that, too, because some of the things they’redoing on the fieldisnot taught in the room So I’mvery, veryparticular aboutwhat Iteach in the room, andthenwegoonthe field, we gottoexecute. Theyknow that Iholdthemaccountable forthe things they do on the field. So it is avery tough room, and it’sa
Thisweek: vs. Alabama State, 4p.m. Saturday
Extrapoints: Coach Terrell Buckleyleft Saturday’s blowout loss to Jackson State satisfied with his team’s effort in agamethat includedanearly injurytostarting quarterback Josh Brown. The DeltaDevils now face another SWAC heavy hitter in Alabama State. Mississippi Valley State has lost itspastthreegames against the Hornets.
12.Southern
Record: 1-9 overall, 0-6 SWAC
Previous rank: 12
Last week: 35-17 loss at Alcorn State
This week: vs. Texas Southern, 2p.m. Saturday Extra points: If the Jaguars don’t beat Texas Southern this weekend, it’llbethe first time since 1949 that Southern has gone winless at homefor an entire season. McNair said he’s experienced “a lotofsleepless nights” trying to figure out how to get the team motivated and fix its issues.
verytough to coach in that room and they have to just believe in what we teach them and do the things that we askthem to do on the field.”
Last week, Ashton Strother completed 14 of 31 passes for 168 yards and no interceptions The junior had only two completions out of 11 attempts in the second half.
Acomplete performance will be required if the Jaguars want to avoid finishing the season without ahome win since at least 1949. Email Toyloy Brown III at toyloy brown@theadvocate.com.
STAFFFILE PHOTOByJAVIER GALLEGOS Prairie
THE VARSITY ZONE
RB duo powers Zachary past Salmen
With dominant 48-15 win over Spartans, Broncos advance to second round
BY JACKSON REYES Staff writer
Two plays into Zachary’s firstround playoff game against Salmen, junior running back Jeremy Patton set the tone. He took a handoff and rocketed through the middle, leaving defenders in the dust for a 47-yard rushing score to give the Broncos a lead they’d never give up. Patton and his teammate, junior Tylek Lewis, combined for six rushing touchdowns with both scoring three each. Their monster performances led Zachary (7-3) to a 48-15 win over Salmen.
“I thought our O-line played well,” Broncos coach David Brewerton said “Each back had three rushing scores tonight. I’m pleased with that.”
The Broncos will head on the road to take on Denham Springs (8-2) in the second round of the Division I nonselect playoffs next week.
“It’s good,” Patton said about carrying the run game’s momentum into next week. “It’s coming.
You can believe that.”
Zachary held Salmen to 98 yards rushing on 45 attempts. The Broncos running backs totaled 186 yards on 28 attempts.
“Working on the run game,”
Gales’ big plays help Brusly coast to playoff victory
Panthers run away from Albany in Division II win
BY CHARLES SALZER Contributing writer
Just like turning in a winning performance when he’s sprinting in track, Brusly’s Patrick Gales made sure his team pulled away from Albany in the first round of the Division II nonselect playoffs.
Gales scored three touchdowns, two in the second half that showcased his speed, and sixth-seeded Brusly ran away from Albany as it took a 42-6 win Friday night at Brusly The win moves Brusly (10-1) into the regional round where it will host District 6-4A rival West Feliciana, which defeated Bossier 49-6 on Friday Brusly won 2113 at West Feliciana on Oct. 17.
“This was a week of great practices with my brothers, and I want us to go as far as we can,” said Gales, a Nicholls State commitment. “We went through blood, sweat and tears this summer, and I wanted to give it all for them.”
a fumble returned for a TD and produced two field goals.
“We’re nowhere near perfect, but in all three phases we were complementary,” Brusly coach Hoff Schooler said. “We were explosive offensively and our first-tea, defense has been incredible all year and we even scored a touchdown.”
In the first half, Albany dominated the time of possession, but the scoreboard belonged to Brusly The Hornets held the ball for more than five minutes after taking the opening kickoff, but stalled at the BHS 27.
Brusly responded immediately with Vincent finding Darion Bennett on first down for an 82-yard catch-and-run touchdown. The Panthers stretched their lead to 15-0 in the second quarter with Gale’s 2-yard TD run finishing off an eight-play 62yard drive.
“This was a week of great practices with my brothers, and I want us to go as far as we can. We went through blood, sweat and tears this summer, and I wanted to give it all for them.”
PATRICK GALES, Brusly running back
Gales had touchdown runs of 2 and 41 yards, his only carries of the game. He also caught four passes for 58 yards, a total that was capped by a 26-yard touchdown reception late in the third quarter Brusly quarterback Drake Vincent completed his first six passes, and finished the game 11 for 16 for 214 yards and two touchdowns.
Brusly also stepped up defensively and on special teams. The Panthers held No. 27 Albany (4-7) scoreless until late in the fourth quarter while special teams blocked a punt, had
Lewis said about the running back’s performance. “Nobody can stop us.”
Later in the first quarter, a Zachary sack on third down forced Salmen to punt from its own 7. The punt went 27 yards, setting up the Broncos at the Salmen 34. On fourth down, senior quarterback Michael Kirby fired a pass to junior Trikoby Rheams for an 18-yard gain and a first down.
Lewis dove over the pile from the wildcat formation for a 1-yard score two plays later to make it 14-0 in the first quarter
Salmen failed to pick up a first down on either of its first two drives. Midway through the second, the Spartans drove inside the Zachary 5, but the Broncos held Salmen to a field goal after allow-
ing just 3 total yards on three consecutive plays inside the 5.
Late in the second quarter, Zachary reached the Salmen 1, but a Lewis fumble conceded the possession to Salmen.
Salmen failed to move the chains after taking over on offense. The Spartans attempted a fake punt and got stuffed after gaining just 2 yards to give Zachary the ball back at the Salmen 19.
The Broncos moved closer with a pass interference call, then Patton burst through the middle for a 9-yard touchdown to make it 21-3 at the break.
Zachary recorded five sacks in the first half. The Spartans found disaster on their first drive of the second half. A bad snap went over the punter’s head on fourth down for a 29-yard
loss to give Zachary the ball at the Salmen 10. Lewis capitalized on the second play of the drive with an 8-yard rushing touchdown.
Salmen saw another punt go awry after senior defensive
MONSTER NIGHT
Late in the half, Albany put together another lengthy possession. Trailing 18-0, the Hornets had a chance to cut into Brusly’s lead before halftime. Instead, Brayden Ray scooped up a fumble and returned it 38 yards to the end zone.
Albany held the ball more than 17 minutes in the first half, but trailed 25-0 at the half.
“People say this is the first round of the playoffs, but for us that was last week. This was like the second round for us,” said Albany coach Travis Mikel, whose team defeated Bogalusa last week to earn its spot in the playoffs. “We’re trying to change things around here.”
Albany was led by senior Jonah Groab who rushed for a game-high 102 yards. The Hornets’ touchdown came on a one-handed catch by Eli Miller off a throw by quarterback Jake Milton. Brusly stopped Milton on a two-point try, leaving the Panthers with a 42-6 advantage.
Parkview RB Franklin rushes for nearly 400 yards in tight win
BY WILLIAM WEATHERS Contributing writer
Parkview Baptist sophomore running back Marquise Franklin never had approached such an outing before.
After the Eagles were locked in a tie at halftime, they continued to feed Franklin. He responded with the performance of a lifetime in Friday’s 42-28 victory over D’Arbonne Woods in the first round of the Division III select playoffs.
Franklin established career-highs with 396 yards rushing and six touchdowns on 32 attempts, helping No 16 Parkview Baptist (6-5) advance to next week’s regional round at No. 1 Lafayette Christian Academy
“It felt great,” said Franklin, whose previous best was over 200 yards and four touchdowns against Port Allen. “The O-line is the head of the offense. I rely on them, and I trust the scheme, and everyone was on the same page.”
Franklin cracked the 100-yard barrier in the first quarter and 200-yard mark by halftime His 5-yard score on his team’s first series of the third quarter coupled with Gavin Higgins’ fifth of six extra points, expanded the Eagles’ lead to 35-28.
Parkview, which won for the fifth time in six weeks and rushed for 464 yards, forced its second straight punt of the third quarter, and Franklin was back in the end zone for the sixth time on a 4-yard score for a 42-28 lead at the 4:22 mark.
“We talked about getting to a position to get in control of the game, and that two-score lead was critical,” Parkview coach Devin Ducote said.
Parkview limited No. 17-seeded D’Arbonne Woods (6-5) to 86 total yards on 23 plays in the second half, and defensive back Nash Newsome came up with the game’s lone turnover with an interception of quarterback Daltin Albritton on fourth down at the Eagles’ 43.
“They did a good job of making adjustments, came out that second half and brought it to us,” said D’Arbonne Woods coach David DeMoss, whose team had 409 total yards. “We just came out flat, and they were the better team in the second half.”
The two teams combined for 590 yards of offense and scored on eight of 10 possessions with the Timberwolves tying the game at 28-28 on Thorne Stripling’s 6-yard run with 52 seconds left before halftime.
The Eagles showed off their quick-strike ability, averaging 2.8 plays on their four firsthalf touchdowns — all courtesy of Franklin. His 58-yard touchdown over the right side on the final play of the first quarter made it 2114, but D’Arbonne Woods scored twice in the last four-plus minutes to tie the game for the fourth time.
Albritton was one of his team’s three 100yard rushers with 18 carries for 133 yards and two touchdowns. Ethan Thrash added 110 yards on 10 attempts, and Stripling had 100 yards and two touchdowns on 18 attempts.
Parkview scored on its fourth straight series in the first half with Franklin scoring over the right side from 6 yards away on first down with 2:48 to go before halftime.
“It’s nice,” Franklin said. “I love what the O-line’s doing and we’re just having fun out there.”
PHOTO By PATRICK DENNIS
Parkview running back Marquise Franklin, right, breaks free for a long gain as D’Arbonne Woods’ Hayden Mejia defends in a Division III select playoff game on Friday at Parkview Baptist.
THE VARSITYZONE
De La Salle running back Eamon Williams leaps out of atackle attempt by Episcopal defensiveback Drew Hebertfor a first-quartertouchdowninaDivision III select playoff game on FridayatMemorial Stadium.
De La Sallepunishes Episcopalinfirsthalf
BY RICH LOUP
Contributing writer
Visiting De La Salle broke out for 32 first-half points andcruised to a45-14 Division III select bidistrict playoff victory Friday night.
Alericq Valentine threw threetouchdown passes, and Robert Lewis rushed for 90 yards and ascore forNo. 18 seed De La Salle(5-6).The Cavaliers advancedtothe bidistrict round to faceNo. 2Notre Dame, which receiveda bye through the bidistrict round.
Episcopal quarterback
Zach Hu threw two scoring passes in the fourth quarter,Malcolm Juban had 61 yards receiving and Taj Callahan rushed for 50. But the 15th-seeded Knights (5-6) were undone by the dominant first half by De La Salle.
The game was marred by a15-minute delay with 21 seconds remaining in the third quarter when starting defensive back Bryson Houser was injured on a passing play.Houser was taken off the field on a stretcherasa precaution, De La Salle coach Graham Jarrott said after the game.
Play resumed with arunning clock in thefourth quarter
De La Salle scored on five of its first six possessions before halftime, and its defense turned back Episcopal (5-6) on three different fourth-down plays. Already ahead 7-0after Lewis’ 18-yardTDrun, De La Salle stoppedEpiscopal on fourthand 1fromthe Knights 31. On theensuing series, De La Salleshookoff two penalties,and Eamon Williams’ 22-yard run pushed thelead to 13-0 with 2:22 remaining in the opening quarter That quick turnaround cemented the Cavaliers’ wire-to-wire control of the game
“I thoughtour defense played outstanding,” Jarrott said. “Wewere very worried about their offense. Our starting defense really shut them out and really handled them pretty well. So Iwas veryproud of ourdefensive physicality upfront.”
Episcopal was without starting wide receiver Jeremy Mitchell,who missed the game with the flu.Without oneofhis offensive stalwarts, coach Travis
Bourgeois felt his team had to takesome risks in aplayoff game.
“Weknewwewere going to have to take some chancesonfourth down,” Bourgeois said. “Weknew we were going to have to extend adrive,steal apossession. Thelineofscrimmagewas the difference in theball game.”
AnotherEpiscopal drive ended on aturnover on downs at the De La Salle 33. Valentine’s1-yard touchdown passtoNoah Rogers completed a67-yarddrive for a19-0 cushion with 7:21 to go in thefirst half.
Valentine’s secondtouchdown strike, a38-yarder after Williams eluded a tackler in theflat and raced down theleft sideline, made it 26-0 with 1:12 remaining before halftime.
JaydenPollard’s44-yard interception return to the Episcopal 3inthe final minute of the half set up a 3-yard touchdown runby Charles Irvin to give De La Salle a32-0lead with 23 seconds to go.
Valentine’s third touchdown passwas a3-yarder to Garen Lewis,and Malakhi Jackson returnedan interception 75 yards for theCavaliers’final score.
St.Michael overpowers Loranger
BYCHRIS CHAPPLE
Contributing writer
The scoreboard and stadium lights flashed red and white five times after St Michael scoredtouchdowns in its first football playoff home game on campus. No. 9St. Michael scored 21 points in the third quarter and overpowered No 24 Loranger 35-12 Friday night in aDivision II select bidistrict playoff game. This is the first season for St. Michael’snew artificial turf field, and coach Zach Leger said it was meaningful to get the victory “We’re very blessed to have this field,” Leger said “Watching this stadium get built meant so much to our students, faculty and alums. It’sagreat feeling to finally get awin on campus in our backyard.” It was thesecond playoffwin in school history.
The Warriors won ahome playoff game at Olympia Stadium in 2023.
St. Michael (8-3) travels to No. 8E.D.White next week for aregional game. Loranger finishes 4-7. Nathan Contine rushed for two touchdowns, junior CJ Levingston had arush-
ing and receiving touchdownand sophomore quarterback Boogie Levingston passed fortwo touchdowns to pacethe Warriors.
St.Michael led7-6 at the half as Contineopened the scoringwith a2-yard run with 3:15 left in the first quarter.Loranger quarterbackCooper Flanagan tossed a7-yard TD to Tydarrius Hollandinthe secondquarter,but thePAT was missed St. Michael scored on its first four possessions in the second half. TheWarriors put togetherdrives of 75, 84, 90 and 43 yards. JohnnyMcCarty caught a 73-yard TD pass from BoogieLevingstontoput the Warriors up 14-6 with10:54 remaining in the third quarter. CJ Levingstoncaught atipped pass and ran 64 yardsfor a21-6leadwith 2:26 left in the third quarter.St. Michael’sMcCarty intercepted Flanagan with four seconds remaining. Then CJ Levingstonscored on a90-yard runonthe last play of the third quarter for a28-6 lead St. Michael’s defense stopped Loranger on fourth down to set up afinal fourplay,43-yarddrive. Contine
DivisionIIselect No. 12 Kennedy 55, No.21Douglass 0 Friday’sgames Nonselect DivisionIV East Feliciana 44, Delcambre 6 Elton 36, LaSalle 14 Ferriday58, Northeast 0 Grand Lake61, Montgomery12 Homer 21, Franklin 20 Jonesboro-Hodge 44,North Central 20 Logansport44, Varnado 0 North Iberville 53,Arcadia6 Vinton 28, DeQuincy0 Welsh38, LakeArthur 23 West St. John 50,General Trass (LakeProvidence) 6 West St. Mary 28,Basile 22 DivisionIII Church Point 42, North Webster 7 Donaldsonville 18, Westlake0 Erath 56, Bogalusa0 Kaplan 33, Pine 18 Loreauville 28, Ville Platte 6 Mansfield 42,Winnfield12 Many35, RedRiver 27
St. Michael 35, Loranger12 Division I Acadiana 29, Carencro21 BrotherMartin17, Liberty Magnet 16 Captain Shreve61, Hammond 21 Jesuit 46, McDonogh 35 7 Rummel 24,
Cross0 Saint
56, Pineville 7 St. Thomas More41, Lafayette 7 Saturday Division II select No. 22 Livingston Collegiatevs. No. 11 Carver at PanAmerican, 7p.m. Brusly 42, Albany6 TeamAlbanyBrusly First Downs 11 10 YardsRushing 39-88 13-65
YardsPassing63214 Passes (C-A-HI) 7-12-1 11-16-0
Punts-avg.4-22 1-33
Fumbles-lost 1-1 3-1
Penalties-yards4-30 5-40
SCORING SUMMARY Albany0006—6 Brusly718170—42
BHS: Darion Bennett 82 pass from DrakeVincent(AlfredoJurado kick)
BHS: Patrick Gales2run (Robdrick Covington run)
BHS: Jurado 32 FG
BHS: BraydenRay 38 fumblereturn (Jurado kick)
BHS: Gales 26 pass from Vincent (Jurado kick)
BHS: Gales 41 run (Jurado kick)
BHS: Jurado 26 FG AHS: Eli Miller 27 pass from Jake Milton (run failed) De La Salle 45, Episcopal 14
DHS: Williams 38 pass from Valentine (Rogers kick)
DHS: Charles Irvin III 3run (kick failed)
DHS: Garen Lewis3passfromValentine (Rogers kick)
DHS: Malakhi Jackson 75 interception return (kick failed) EHS:MalcomJuban 25 pass from Zach Hu (Trace Macias kick)
9passfromHu (Maciaskick)
scored on a14-yard run with 6:09 remaining.
“Wecame out in the third quarter and executed our brand of footballand took care of business,”Leger said. “We’vegot good athletes at key positions and like spreading the ball around. The Levingston brothersare something and they’reyoung. We got good defensive performances from Champ Williams, Jackson Samson, Payton Dawson,Aiden Horton and Mason Graves up front. Many others played well.”
CJ Levingston rushed twice for93yards and caught six passesfor 127 yards. Contine added 73 yards rushing on 13 carries. McCartyhad three catches for 88 yards. Boogie Levingston completed 13 of 19 passes for 240 yards.
SkylerMorgan ledLoranger with 97 yards on 19 carries. Hollandhad five catchesfor 77 yards.Holland alsohad an interceptioninthe end zone in the second quarter
Loranger’s last score came with4:22 left in the game as Tajh Hills caught a5-yardpass from Flanagan.
STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON
Dunham beats Curtis, earns shot at redemption
BY JACKSON REYES Staff writer
Dunham is never afraid of a comeback.
The Tigers trailed 1-0 in their Division IV volleyball semifinal match against No.
4 John Curtis on Friday after dropping the first set 2514, but Dunham wouldn’t be down for much longer at he Cajundome in Lafayette
“We put ourselves in situations to come back all the time,” Dunham coach Meagan Herrington said. “If we’re in that situation, then you just battle. ‘Why can’t we take this set? Why can’t we take the next one?’ “ Dunham rolled through the second set, 25-14, to tie the match. Herrington said she made some lineup adjustments heading into the second set and reminded her team that it had been in this position before.
The Tigers won the third and fourth sets by scores
of 25-23 and 25-21, respectively
The fourth set was tied 2020 before the Tigers closed it out with a 5-1 run
Herrington said the match against John Curtis felt like a great turnaround from the match against Notre Dame in the quarterfinals.
“Notre Dame was so scrappy defensively and John Curtis was a really strong offense,” Herrington said. “We had to mentally switch gears, and I think that we handled that really well.”
Herrington called it an honor to be back in the state championship match after making it to the title game last season.
Kennedi Owens led the team in kills with 15 and seven blocks. Senior Isabelle Richardson had nine kills and seven blocks.
“This game was probably one of the hardest games that we’ve played all season,
both mentally and physically,” Richardson said.
She called it an emotional battle with the two teams familiarity both on and off the court.
Dunham defeated John Curtis when the Patriots were the No. 1 seed in last year’s quarterfinals, 3-2.
Richardson said there were nerves in the first set, with Dunham playing not to lose.
“We had to shift our mentality in playing to win instead,” she said. “We just started playing like us. Stopped playing scared When we play like us, we can beat any team.”
Richardson will graduate from Dunham early, so she called the title match her last big event with her team and school.
“Being able to be here in this kind of environment with my best friends of my life,” Richardson said, “it’s the greatest experience.”
St. Michael, Parkview win to set up final showdown
BY JACKSON REYES Staff writer
On the second day of the volleyball state tournament, the Division III semifinals saw two Baton Rougearea schools book their trip to the title match at the Cajundome in Lafayette.
The Division III title game will pit No 1 St Michael (39-2) and No. 3 Parkview Baptist (33-9) against each other
St. Michael 3, Haynes 1
St. Michael took a 2-0 lead to begin its semifinal match against No. 4 Haynes
The Yellow Jackets won the third set 25-13.
St. Michael led 14-6 midway through the fourth set before Haynes tied it 20-20.
The two sides began to go point for point, with neither side finding the two-point advantage needed to seal the set. Finally, St. Michael senior Brynnan Kuber tipped the ball over to an empty spot on the court for a 26-24 win in the fourth set to send her side to the title game.
“I don’t even have the words,” St. Michael coach Latashia Wise-Jackson said after her team’s win. “All I can say is that we give all the glory to God.”
Senior Isabella Bravata led the team in kills with 14 and nine digs. Junior Skylar Towner tallied nine kills and four blocks.
Wise-Jackson told her team that Haynes, the reigning state champion, wouldn’t go away, and she was proud of the way the Warriors fought back after dropping a set.
“This team fought like hell for each other, for their school,” Wise-Jackson said “I couldn’t be more proud of their accomplishment.”
Parkview 3, Hannan 1
The Eagles led 20-13 against Hannan in the fourth set while looking to close out the match and make it to the championship game. The Hawks refused to bow out and went on a 6-1 run to trail 21-19. Parkview Baptist responded and led 24-21, just one point away from closing out the match. Hannan responded with three straight points to tie it.
Eagles senior Jana Thymes recorded a kill to put her side in front, but the Hawks answered with a point of their own.
The two sides went point for point until an errant Hawks’ spike went out and sent Parkview Baptist to the title game with a 28-26
SCOREBOARD
STATE COLLEGE FOOTBALL CAPSULES
Grambling leads 20-11 LATEST LINE: Grambling by 1½ N0TES: Grambling will be without 18 players Saturday thanks to a SWAC suspension following a halftime brawl with Bethune-Cookman last Saturday, a 31-23
GSU win. BCU got nine
Southland at home while the Demons are searching for their first SLC win of the season. ... NW State has lost nine straight after winning their season opener. ... In last year’s game, the Colonels limited the Demons to 46 yards of total offense. ... Nicholls
N.Y.
Fields 15-26-0-116, I.Williams 0-1-0-0.
Maye 2534-0-281.
N.Y.
M.Taylor 4-30, Ruckert 4-23, Metchie 3-45, Hall 2-6, A.Mitchell 1-10, I.Williams 1-2. New England, Diggs 9-105, Henderson 5-31, Hollins 4-64, Henry 4-45, Douglas 3-36. MISSED FIELD GOALS — New England, Borregales 45.
fourth-set win to give the Eagles the victory Eagles coach Allison Leake said the initial feeling after the marathon set was relief.
“I don’t know if either side would’ve had much left for that fifth set,” Leake said.
“As a coach, when you get to that point, there’s not a whole lot you can do. The kids are going to have to play.”
Parkview Baptist won by set scores of 25-20, 23-25, 26-24, 28-26. The match also avenged the Eagles’ 3-2 loss to Hannan in the semifinals last year “I’m so proud of our kids for continuing to fight back,” Leake said. “We refused to lose more than wanting to win.”
PHOTO By ROBIN MAy
Dunham’s Isabelle Richardson, left, and Kennedi Owens block a John Curtis shot during their Division IV semifinal match on Friday at the Cajundome in Lafayette.
Iconic Fleurde LisPizza officially returning
Landmark eatery
couldreopeninspring
BY JANRISHER Staff writer
Fleur de Lis, an iconicBaton Rouge pizza place that originally opened in 1946, is on track to reopen in spring2026, according to Sydney Duhe, studio manager for Tiek Byday,the restaurant design and architecturalfirm workingon the project.
“Things are going well. They are progressing. We are finishingfinal details on construction drawing,” Duhesaid.
The spot, which previously only took cash and checks, announced it was closing over the FourthofJuly weekend in 2022, after 76 years in business.
FleurdeLis,known fortheir square pizzas, was among Baton Rouge’soldest restaurants.
The news caused shock among its loyal fans and created awave of nostalgia for many,particularly for their Round the World Pizza (anchovy, Italian sausage, mushroom, pepperoni, salami, onions— no free substitutions).
“Fleur de Lis has been such abig part of Baton Rouge,” Duhe said. “At this time, we are working to hit thedeadlines we’ve set to keep the project on track.”
The Fleur de Lis pizza building at 5655 Government St. sold in June for $1.1 milliontoBig HornRiver LLC. Carl Batson, of Big Horn River,said the group planned to bring back the landmark Baton Rouge restaurant with “the same funky vibe” andits iconicsquare-style Roman pizza pie.
Fleur de Lis pizza sold for$1.1 million, new owner to bring it back with ‘same funky vibe’
The longtime Baton Rougepizza restaurant originally wasput up forsale in March 2023 with an asking price of $4.5 million,whichincluded the 1,800 square-foot building, the 1.13-acre lot, the name of the business, equipment, furnishings and the Fleur de Lis recipes. Moredetails are on hold until construction getsmoving,according to Duhe.
Email Jan Risher at jan.risher@ theadvocate.com.
Asign for Grant Construction stands outside Fleur de Lis Pizza, 5655 Government St., in Baton Rouge.
MARCHING INTO HISTORY
BY KEITH SPERA Staff writer
Of allthe leaders on the field during LSU game days, Catherine Mansfield is probably the least banged up at this point in theseason.
“Noinjuriesyet,” she reports. “Sometimes a little bit of asoreshoulder. But other than that, I’m on the top of my game.”
Mansfield is the LSU Tiger Marching Band’sdrum major Duringthis turbulent, challenging LSU football season, she and the 325 bandmembers she leads have done theirbest to fireupfans.
“I feel abit of that pressure, but alot of it is self-imposed,” said Mansfield, 21.
“People are going to watch me closer but are rooting me on more. They see that thedrum major is alittle different, but they’re allfor it, forthe mostpart It’sbeen avery positive overall experience.”
Learning to ‘march adot’
Along the way,she’smade history
In theTiger Band’sentire 132 years, she is only its fourth femaledrum major
Growing up in Metairie,Mansfield learnedpiano at age 5, then flute. She chose St.Mary’sDominicanHigh School, in part because it is one of the only all-girl schoolsinthe NewOrleans area with amarching band. By hersenioryear,she was Dominican’s drum major.
Marching Band drum major Catherine Mansfield leads the 325 instrumentalists, Golden Girls and Colorguard membersontothe TigerStadium field Oct. 25 before the startofthe Tigers’ game against the Texas A&MAggies
STAFF PHOTO By MADDIE SCOTT
By The Associated Press
Today is Saturday,Nov 15, the 319th day of 2025. There are 46 days left in the year
Todayinhistory:
On Nov.15, 1864, late in the U.S. Civil War, Union forces led by Maj. Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman began their “March to the Sea” from Atlanta; the campaign ended with the capture of Savannah, Georgia,on Dec. 21.
Also on this date:
In 1777, the Second Continental Congress approved the Articles of Confederation.
In 1806, explorer Zebulon Pike sighted the mountain now known as Pikes Peak in presentday Colorado.
In 1939, President Franklin D. Roosevelt laid the cornerstone of the Jefferson Memorial in Washington, D.C.
In 1959, four members of the Clutter familyof Holcomb, Kansas, were found murdered in their home. (Two men were later convicted of the killings and hanged in a case made famous by the Truman Capote book“In Cold Blood.”)
In 1966, the spaceflight of Gemini 12, the final mission of NASA’s Gemini program, ended successfully as astronauts James A. Lovell and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin Jr splashed down safely in the Atlanticafterspending four days in orbit.
In 1969, aquarterof amillion protesters staged apeaceful demonstration in Washington against the VietnamWar
In 2012, the Justice Department announced that BP hadagreed to plead guilty to araft of charges in the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill and pay arecord $4.5 billion, including nearly $1.3 billion in criminal fines.
In 2019, Roger Stone, alongtime friend and ally of President Donald Trump, was convictedof all seven counts in afederal indictment accusing him of lying to Congress, tampering with awitness and obstructing the House investigationinto whether Trump coordinated with Russia during the 2016 campaign.The president commuted Stone’s40-month sentence days before Stone to report to prison and fully pardoned him in December 2020.
In 2022, the worldpopulation reached8billion, based on United Nations projections. Today’sbirthdays: Singer Petula Clark is 93. Actor Sam Waterstonis85. Classical conductor Daniel Barenboim is 83. Pop singer Anni-Frid “Frida” Lyngstad (ABBA) is 80. Fashion designer Jimmy Choo is 77. Actor Beverly D’Angelo is 74. Former “Tonight Show” bandleader Kevin Eubanks is 68.Actor Jonny Lee Miller is 53. Actor SeanMurray is 48. Golf Hall of Famer Lorena Ochoais44. Actor Shailene Woodley is 34. NBA All-Star KarlAnthony Towns is 30
and the Aggies at LSU
MARCHING
Continued from page1D
“I’m really glad Iwent there,”she said. “It’swhat enabled me to continuemy musicjourney.”
Other than Mardi Gras parades, Dominican’sband mostlyperforms inconcert settings or at volleyball and basketballgames.After earning aspot in the LSU Tiger Marching Band as a freshman, Mansfield hadto learn how to “march adot” —play music while marching in apattern on the football field.
“It was awhole new world. Most of my peershad come from co-ed public high schools in Louisiana,and they’d beendoing that for years. It was alot to catchup with,a lotofskills to learn.”
Her sophomore year,she was named co-leader of the TigerBand’spiccolo section. Ahead of her junior year,she tried out for drum major,but ended up as the piccolo section’ssolo leader
She resolved to audition for drum major again her senioryear.
TheGolden Band From Tigerlandnamed its first female drum major, Kristie Smith, in 1999.MindyHebert Aguillard followed in 2000, then Mary Bahlinger Motesin2014
That scant track record didn’tdiscourage Mansfield.
“Comingfromaplace like Dominican, whereit’svery muchbywomenfor women, Iwas used to an environment that’sdedicated to uplifting girls. Iwas usedtowomenin leadership. Coming to LSU… Ididn’thave any reason to think Icouldn’t do it.”
Theweeklong band audition assessed both technical andsubjective skills
“It’saholisticanalysis of you as amember of the band and as aleader,” Mansfield said.“They’re looking at what your peersthink of you.” Being one of only two fe-
“I trytoupliftgirls and women in the marching band space. There is room for them.”
CATHERINE MANSFIELD
male candidates auditioning forthe 2025-26 drum major “couldfeel isolating. But Ihad alot of support from within the band, andfrom my family andfriends. ”
Feedingoff fanenergy
Theadrenalineis“pretty crazy” whenshe leads the band down Victory Hill through agame daygauntlet of cheering fans to Tiger Stadium.“It’s honestly hard to not just black out and forget all of it ”
During theexcitement, she must maintain militarylike precision.
“Everything is calculated down to thesecond. I’m tryingtomake sure I’m going the right speed so we getto the bottom of the hill at the right time, and the team can start walking down at the right time. It’sa big production.”
Themusiciansare “at attention”onthe walk, not reacting to the crowd. “We’re not supposed to be looking(to the side), wavingor smiling at family.You have to look straightahead and be all business.”
Thegameitself involves “a lot of moving pieces.”
During timeoutsand other pauses, Mansfield mostly selectswhat the band plays. Aclassic rock fan, she’d love to insert Led Zeppelin’s “Immigrant Song” intothe playlist
She hastobe“very intune to what’shappening on thefield and the energy in the stadium. That dictates what we’re going to play in thatmoment.Myfriends will yell suggestions from theirspot in thestands,and the directors will give input. Butmostlyit’smecontrollingwhat theband’splaying “I don’thave alot of time
to turn my brain off. It’s mentally exhausting, but fun and exciting, because we sound good.”
She says it’s“definitely easier forustofeedoff theenergy from the crowd whenit’sabigger game. It’s notaseasytobehyped when half thestadium has left already in thefourth quarter.”
Butwhen theTiger Stadium lightssync up withthe marching band’smusic and thestudent section is rocking, “it’sreally funtobeat thehelm of that energy.”
Asharedcamaraderie
During the halftime show, Mansfield is the equivalent of an orchestra’sconductor, signaling tempo andmeter changes. The musicians, dancingGoldenGirls and colorguard members who can’tsee her takecues from thedrumline.
“It’sbasically me and the drumstrying to lock in with each othersonoone gets lost andthe sound doesn’t tear.Thatcan happenifthe wind players are going at adifferent speed than the drums. We have to make sure everyone knowshow fast we’re going.”
The TigerBandlogs 90-minute rehearsals Tuesdays through Fridays duringfootball season. For home games, they rehearse again on gamedays.
The entire band typically travels to one away game per season; this year,itwas Ole Miss. For other away games, only 100 musicians makethe trip.
“It can be discouraging when we bus allthe way to an opposing stadium andthe outcome(of the game) isn’t so great,” Mansfield said.
“But at the end of the day we always have agood time
performing, andwe’rethere foreach other
“We’reall therebecause of ashared interest. We all went throughthe same thing to be in the group.”
She’ll miss that camaraderie after she graduates this spring as an art history major witha double minor in Italianand business administration. She plans to pursue amaster’sdegree at adifferent university
But she hopes moreyoung womenfollowinher drum major footsteps.
“I’d love to see amore diverse group representing the band in the future.We have tons of qualified people from every walk of life.
“I trytouplift girlsand womeninthe marching band space. There is room forthem.”
Email KeithSpera at kspera@theadvocate.com.
STAFFPHOTO By HILARy SCHEINUK
Drum major Catherine Mansfield conducts The Golden Band from Tigerland on the field before the Oct.25kickoff of the football game between the Tigers
Is it proper to pick up pastries?
When tightening nuts andbolts
tighty, lefty-loosey ideaever started.Are you looking at thetop or thebottom of the nut or boltwhen youuse it,and howdoyou know?
Chuck Smoley,inSiouxCity,Iowa
Judith Martin
MISS MANNERS
Dear Miss Manners: Agenteel, proper tea at atraditional hotel requiresone to sit demurely at atable toodiminutive for any other posture, while awaiting the arrival of the scones, cream and jam. These are followed by the finger sandwiches, then by miniature pastries, whilst sipping from cups of tea before,during and after each course.(Only thesimper is missing, but one is generallytoo busy to bother.) While sharing such an interlude with acouple of my female friends,we each broke our scones with our fingers. Then, holding amorsel of scone, we applied and spread gobs of cream and jam withspoons and knives, respectively, then lifted them to our lips and enjoyed. The finger sandwiches were also picked up, lifted to thelips and eaten.
Nowthe tricky part: theminiature pastries, each consumable in two daintybites or three delicate nibbles. My friends made their choices,placed pastries on plates andproceededtodissect creamfilled puff pastrieswith fork and knife,conveying themorsels to thelips with the fork. Alone among thethree of us, Ilifted pastry to lips using my fingers and heldeach successively smaller remainder until all was consumed. (I promise youIdid not lick my fingers clean when finished. Mostly.)
While this is not amajor etiquette question, it’s been eatingatmefor some time. Did Imakea faux pas? Or was Icorrect?
Gentle reader: Passably. The attemptathistorical food porn, lessso. Butentertaining, nevertheless. Dear Miss Manners: Ihave embraced ahobbythat is seeing aresurgence among young people: knitting. But I’m concerned it may be impolite to knitinthe presence of others.
For instance, is knitting while riding on atrain with acompanion acceptable? How about while visiting intimates’ homes, while they are engaged in their own activities —such as cooking, but still chatting? How about knittingin apublic place, such as acoffee shop? When an acquaintance approaches, may Iresume knitting after awarm greeting?
Although knitting is a rather mindless activity, allowing talking but interrupting eye contact,Iam concerned others may be jealousthat Ihave afun activity if they do not.
Gentlereader: Is this not why knitting circles were invented?
Trains, coffee shops and thehomes of intimates who are similarly occupied seem toMiss Manners acceptable situations in which to break out the yarn. Not so much for formal settings like weddings, funerals or coronations.
Email questions to dearmissmanners@gmail com.
Newhobby causes complaints
Dear Harriette: Istarted making pottery as anew hobby,and Ilove it, but my roommate keeps making jokes about how messy it is. She calls it a“mud factory” and even moves my supplies around without asking, which makes it hard for me to focus or enjoy my work. At first, I tried to laugh it off and tell myself it’sharmless teasing, but it’sstarting to get under my skin. Ilook forward to pottery as away to relax and express myself, and I feel like Ishouldn’thave to feel embarrassed about something that brings me joy The tension has started to affect our overall living environment. Sometimes I catch myself avoiding my own hobby just to keep the peace,which makes me feel resentful and frustrated. I’ve tried dropping hints about needing space and respect, but my roommate doesn’tseem to take it seriously.Idon’twant to start arguments or make our apartment uncomfortable, but Ialso don’twant to give up something that’simpor-
tanttome. How can Iset boundaries with my roommate in away that feels firm but fair,and keep apositive and friendly livingenvironment? —HobbyGoneWrong
Dear HobbyGoneWrong: Where are you doing your pottery? This is likely your roommate’sproblem. Pottery is amessy hobby that generates alot of dust. It is typically something people do in astudio,garage or other enclosed area that is away from living space. If you have your wheel set up in acommon area, your roommate is probably uncomfortable with that,and justifiably so. Find aplace in your home that is separate from her —even if it is in your personal bedroom. The only drawback there is thatyou really don’twant to breathe in that dust when you are sleeping. If you have an outdoor area, put it there.
Dear Harriette: Ihave friends, but Idon’tfeel like Itruly connect with them or have astrong bond like you see in the movies. We hang out and have fun, but something is missing —like theydon’t really get me on adeeper level. Isee other people who seem to have soulmate-type friendships, where they can talk about anything and fully trusteach other,and I
can’thelp but feel jealous. I wonder if I’mdoing something wrong or if Ihaven’t metthe right people yet. How do Ibuild more meaningful friendships thatfeel genuine and lasting? Itry to open up more, but sometimes it feels like others aren’taswilling to go there emotionally.It makes me question if I’m expecting toomuch from my friendships or if Ijust haven’tfound people who align withme. Iwant to feel seen and supported, not just have surface connections. Sometimes Ifind myself pulling back because Idon’t want to seem needy or overly emotional. Ijust wish Iknew how to createfriendships that feel real and mutually fulfilling. —Shallow DearShallow: Deep friendships grow over time— sometimes years. Youwill be lucky to have one or two in alifetime, and that’sOK. Ratherthan searching for something that maynot be there right now,get to know the friends you have better and notice your synergies. Lifeisnot the movies. Just be yourself and get closer to people naturally.Let it take however long it takes to blossom.
Email askharriette@ harriettecole.com.
Dear Heloise: Concerning the righty-tighty, lefty-loosey confusion, I’mfrom the old school when clocks were round and had 12 digits on them. To tighten anut or bolt, you would just turn thenut or bolt in a clockwise direction. To loosen, you turn it in a counterclockwisedirection.
The only exception to this is if abolt has an “L” stamped on it. If it has the “L,” you do thereverse of theabove. It stands for lefthand threads. Inever could understand why the righty-
Revival slated at Freeman Baptist Freeman BaptistChurch, 4628 La. 955, Ethel, invites the public to “Oh! Give Thanks Revival” at 6:30 p.m.Monday and Tuesday Monday’ssession will be led by theRev.Geoffrey Sykes, Greater New Hopeand St. MaryBaptist churches. The Rev. F.B. Mitchell, Zion Hill Baptist Church, Mendenhall, Mississippi, will lead Tuesday Unitarian Church to hostadvocacyevent
n 18135E.Petroleum Drive, SuiteJ,BatonRouge, (225) 408-0092
n 14790 WaxRoad, Suite 110 BatonRouge, (225) 4270099
Hebert’s SpecialtyMeats
This spothas atraditional turducken stuffed with pork and cornbread dressing for $104,whichfeeds up to 25 people. There’salso amini turducken (that feeds 10-15 people) for $90 and threeturducken sausage links for $12.
At $89.95, this turducken at Day’scomes stuffedwith either cornbread dressing or boudin.Itcomes frozen and must be defrosted fortwo to three days.Cooking time is four hours, and it serves 1214 guests.
Allorders must be prepaid and placed before Nov.24.
Day’sSmokehouse and
Cursivewriting
Dear Heloise: Over 70 years ago, when Iwas alittle girl, my mother,mysister and Ilived with my mother’s parents. My grandmother thought Ineeded to know how to write my namebefore Istarted school, so she taught me how to write it in cursive of course. At this time, we learned how to write in cursive in the first grade. It would be auseful skill forparents and grandparents to teach
RELIGION BRIEFS FROM STAFFREPORTS
turing the art of Jennifer Carwile 4p.m.Sunday Through apowerful collection of art pieces, Carwile will take attendees on atour of the East Baton Rouge ParishPrisonand sharefirsthand about the conditions she witnessed and why she advocates fornew,morehumane facilities.
“The Case to Replace: Art About Our Failing EBRParish Prison” is free.
Free parenting class at EdenParkLibrary
children nowthat it is no longertaught in school.The children would have an advantage in their work lives. —Patricia Roberts, in Bellaire,Texas Readingnewsprint
DearHeloise: There is asolution for those of us who have trouble reading newsprint. Check your subscription to see if you can add an online version of their print edition at no charge or for alowcost extra charge. Then you can read it with magnification on your computer or mobile device. It has been very useful forme. —Lois,via email
Sendahinttoheloise@ heloise.com.
Classes will be held from 5p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Thursday and Nov. 24.
Thisclass is perfect for first-time parents or those seeking afresh approach. Topics include: n Practical discipline and behavior strategies n How to better connect with your child n Stress management and healthy routines n Understanding developmental stages. The classoffers supportive,hands-onguidanceto strengthen parenting skills and bring more peace at home. All sessions arefree and open to the public.
Feel moreconfident in your parenting journeyby joining an in-person parenting class at Eden Park Branch Library,5131 Greenwell Springs Road, Baton Rouge.
Specialty Meats, 35770 La. 16, Denham Springs, (225) 271-8709
Bergeron’s Boudin and CajunMeats
Bergeron’s sells turduckens stuffedwithboudindressing, seafood dressing or cornbread dressing. Customers must call and place their order before Nov.21tojoin the list. It comes raw or frozen This spot has six locations across the state, and theclosestone to BatonRouge is in
Port Allen. Bergeron’sBoudin and Cajun Meats, 760 La.415, Port Allen, (225) 338-0921
Tramonte’s
For$129.99,folkscangraba turducken stuffedwith cornbread dressing. Turduckens mustbeheated andare available for pickup from 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. on Thanksgiving day.Orders can be made in person or on thephone. Tramonte’s, 12451 Jefferson Highway, BatonRouge,(225) 751-7665
scORPIO (Oct. 24-nov. 22) Look for opportunitiesand take advantage of what you discover. Ask questions and apply information directly to what interests you. Patience, focus and discipline will help you achieve your goal
sAGITTARIus (nov.23-Dec. 21) Domestic issues will require thought and change. Let your heart choose and your head dictate the most suitable waytomove forward. Move forward, do what's best for you and don't look back.
cAPRIcORn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Put your emotional energy into learning, discovery andfiguring out what's bestfor you. Consider how to present whoyou are, what you can do and howyou can benefit others
AQuARIus (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Refuse to let insecurity set in or someone's criticism standinyourway.It'stime to prop yourself up and to make the adjustments thatboostyour energy and confidence. You've gotplentytooffer.
PIscEs (Feb. 20-March 20) Anger, laziness and negativityare the enemies.Engage in social events and carry yourself with poiseand apositiveattitude. You'll attract attention, support and new relationships.
ARIEs (March 21-April 19) Achange of plans or direction will encourage you to speak up and participate. The people you connect withwill be instrumental in helping you move toward greater opportunity.
TAuRus (April20-May 20) Your heartand your head won't be on thesame page.
Try to channel your energy into selfimprovement, learningnew skills and taking better careofyourself and your surroundings.
GEMInI (May 21-June 20) You'reinthe zone andreadytoact. Listencarefully andaddress issues with charm,and you'llattract positive feedback that allows you to shine and win favors.
cAncER (June 21-July 22) Be open to suggestions and to trying somethingnew and exciting. Your participation will open doorstonew faces and uplifting pastimes that give you something to look forward to.
LEO (July23-Aug. 22) Alifestylechange will clear theway to better health,fitness and friendships. Be open and honest regarding your feelings andintentions, andyou'llresolveany unanswered questions
VIRGO (Aug.23-sept. 22) Refusetolet anger or ego standinyour way when an opportunity is apparent.Don't miss out because you can't letgoofthe past. Embrace new beginnings withapositive attitude.
LIBRA (sept. 23-Oct. 23) Put morethought into howyou can utilize your skills, talents andexperience to fortify your future. Laboring over somethingyou cannot control is wasteful; put your energy where progress is possible.
Celebrity Cipher cryptogramsare created from quotations by famous people, pastand present. Each letter in the cipher stands for another.
TODAy's cLuE: HEQuALs J
CeLebrItY CIpher
For better or For WorSe peAnUtS
And erneSt
SALLYForth
beetLe bAILeY
Mother GooSe And GrIMM
LAGoon
bIG nAte
Sudoku
InstructIons: Sudoku is anumber-placing puzzle based on a9x9 gridwith 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’s Puzzle Answer
THe wiZard oF id
BLondie
BaBY BLueS
Hi and LoiS CurTiS
By PHILLIP ALDER Bridge
Joyce Cary,anEnglish novelist who died in 1957, said, “The will is never free —itisalways attached to an object, apurpose. It is simply theengine in the car —itcan’tsteer.”
At the bridge table, surprisingly often onedefender cansteerhis partner in the right direction.The problem is that somedefendersprefertobackseatdrive, ignoringtheirpartners’signalsandheading downtheir ownside roads —and letting defeatable contracts make.
In this example deal, how should the defenders play to beat four hearts?
After Eastopened one diamond, that Southhandwasstrongenoughforatakeout double followed by aheart bid. But South reasonably decided that his short spades made an initial double dangerous. (Yes, it was unlikely to backfire, but one heart would be the majority expert choice these days.)Then, when North raised hearts, South had an easyjump to game.
First,Westmustleadthediamondfour, his partner’sbid suit. Eastwins with his queen and cashes the diamond ace. West discards theclub two,denying interest in that suit. East takes the diamond king, West pitching the spade three to saythat he does not have the spade ace.
Each Wuzzle is aword riddlewhich creates adisguised word, phrase, name, place, saying, etc. For example: NOON GOOD =GOOD AFTERNOON
Previous answers:
InsTRucTIOns: 1. Words must be of four or more letters. 2. Words that acquire four letters by the additionof“s,”such
WORD GREATLy: GRATE-lee: Very much.
Averagemark
Timelimit
loCKhorNs
marmaduKe
Bizarro
hagar the horriBle
Pearls Before swiNe
garfield
PUBLIC NOTICE TheLouisiana Depart‐ment of Culture, Recre‐ation& Tourism, Office of StateParks is issuing a Requestfor Information (RFI)tosolicit anyand all projectideas to addor improvecabins, cot‐tages, andother lodging facilities at anypark within theLouisiana StateParkSystem. The objectives in soliciting informationare to pro‐mote theState Parks mission, achieveproper balanceofpreservation andutilization of State ParksPropertieswhile becoming more finan‐cially self-sustaining, andbetterserve the needsofcitizensand of visitors to Louisiana throughcollaboration utilizingPublicPrivate Partnerships.The RFI packet,which includes a timeline,instructionsfor proposal submission andselection criteria,is available at http://www opportunitiesinlouisiana. com. It mayalsobe picked up between9 a.m. and4 p.m. weekdays at theOffice of StatePark, CapitolAnnex, Third Floor,1051 NorthThird Street,Baton Rouge, LA i l
g 70802. Written Proposals must be received by StateParks at this ad‐dressnolater than 4:00 p.m. CT on Friday,Janu‐ary30, 2026. StateParks will continue itscommit‐ment to ensure allpro‐jectspromote ourmis‐sion statement, have community support, and supportoflocal and stateelected officials. StateParks also commits to notproceed with any projects that will be detrimentaltothe local communityorany local business.All inquiries concerning theRFI should be submittedin writingtothe IssuingOf‐ficer, BrettSandifer, at bsandifer@crt.la.gov 163877-OCT27-NOV27 $603.88
PUBLIC NOTICE CITY OF ZACHARY WORKSHOP City CouncilChamber 4700 Main Street October28, 2025 5:30 p.m.6:30 p.m. A. CALL TO ORDER MayorMcDavid called thecalledthe workshop to orderat5:40p.m on Tuesday, October28, 2025, at theCityof ZacharyCouncil Cham‐bers,4700 Main Street Zachary, La
B. INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Invocation by Council‐womanLandry Pledge of Allegiance by Councilman Graves C. OPENING PROCEDURES 1. ROLL CALL MAYOR DavidMcDavid COUNCILMEMBERS Brandy Westmoreland (arrived at 5:43 p.m.) John LeBlanc– District 2 AmbreDeVirgilio–District 3 JamesGraves– District 4 Jennifer Landry –District 5 NEWBUSINESS: TheCouncil of theCityof Zachary, LA held awork‐shop this date fordiscus‐sion andfor questions regardingCouncil Clerk position andtodiscuss Ordinance2025-18, ElectedOfficialsSalaries.
Aworkshopisanopen meeting, wherenoitems except thosethatappear on theAgendafor the meetingmay be dis‐cussed. No vote canbe takenina workshop meeting. ADJOURNMET Themeetingwas adjournedat6:30p.m ATTEST: K Burdette Acting Clerkof City Council CITY OF ZACHARY PARISH OF EAST BATONROUGE STATEOFLOUISIANA
DavidMcDavid,Mayor I, KarenBurdette,do hereby certifythatI am thedulyappointed
CoastalRe‐sourcesManagementAct of 1978, as
(Louisiana R.S. 49:214.21214.41),and therules and regulations of the l For the Meeting of Mayorand Council City of Zachary,LA Council Chambers, 4700 Main Street Tuesday,October28, 2025, 6:30 P.M.
A. CALL TO ORDER Mayor McDavid called the meeting to order at 6:40 p.m., on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, at the Zachary City Hall located at 4700 Main Street, Zachary,LA.
B. INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The Invocation and the PledgeofAllegiance was carried over from the previous meeting.
C. OPENINGPROCEDURES
1. ROLL CALL MAYOR David McDavid COUNCIL MEMBERS Brandy Westmoreland –District 1 John LeBlanc– District 2 AmbreDeVirgilio –District 3 James Graves –District 4 Jennifer Landry –District5
2. READING OF CITY POLICY RELATIVE TO OPEN MEETINGS
Beforeproceeding with the meeting, Mayor McDavid read astatement into the recordregarding the Open Meetings Law,and citizens’ right to participate in public meetings. The statement sets forth general rules of conduct of the public meeting and outlined the process through which acitizen can have items placed on the Council agenda. Acopy of the rules is available at City Hall, Mayor’sOffice or by calling the Clerk of the City Council. The rules will also be available at every Council meeting.
3. CHANGES/ADDITIONS TO AGENDA The motion was made by Councilwoman Landry
The motion was seconded by Councilwoman DeVirgilio
To approve amending to the agenda items O1 CODE ENFORCEMENT
1. Subpoenas for Junk Vehicles and Junk Properties and O2 CODE ENFORCEMENT
b. Aubrey Roberts spoke to address government shutdown and growing food insecurity in Zachary due to an upcoming SNAP crisis. She proposed starting apilot food assistance program at NorthwesternElementary,and asked for the city’ssupport to ensurenochild in the community goes hungry.
2. Hardship Waivers
3. Other Variances
4. Exceptions to
Mr.Stephens noted that four (4) needed to be served, and he was not able to make service on them, they will be on the nextlist.
b. Subpoena Issuance Follow up Review of properties and vehicles subject to subpoena for code violations; and consideration of authorization to issue subpoenas for junk vehicles andjunk properties as defined under the City Code. The motion was made by Councilwoman Landry The motion was seconded by Councilwoman DeVirgilio To table 5516 Rush Drive to the November 25, 2025 regular meeting giving owner extension. Owner Delores Lopez was present at meeting.
Mr.Stephens added the following addresses have been removedand areincompleted status: 4637 AveG, 4719
g Coastal ResourcesPro‐gram.Applicationfor the proposed work maybe inspectedat617 North 3rdStreet,Room 1078, BatonRouge,LAoron theOPC webpageat: http://dnr.louisiana.gov/ index.cfm?md=pagebui lder&tmp=home& pid=591. Copies maybe obtained upon payment of cost of copying. Writ‐tencomments, including suggestionsfor modifi‐cationsorobjectionsto theproposedworkand statingthe reasons thereof, arebeing so‐licitedfromthe public Comments must be re‐ceived within 10 days of thedateofpublication of this notice.The sole rea‐sonfor notallowingex‐tensionbased upon pub‐liccomment shallbethat therehas been achange in theconditionsofthe area affected by theper‐mitsince thepermitwas originally issued.Com‐mentsshouldbeup‐loaded to ourelectronic record,but maybe mailed,faxed or emailed to thedesignatedOPC Reviewer.All comments must containthe appro‐priate applicationnum‐berand thecommenter's full name andcontact in‐formation. OPC, P.O. Box 44487, BatonRouge,LA 70804-4487, Phone: (225) 342-3781, Email: taylor ross2@la.gov,OPC Re‐viewer:TaylorRoss, CUP NUMBER:P20230787 (Ex‐tended)Name: Cameron Parish GravityDrainage District No.4,c/o K&M ProjectServices, Llc1000 CountryClubRoadLake Charles, La 70605 Attn: MitchThomasLocation:
To approve the post of Council Clerk jobdescription by Councilwoman DeVirgilio with the starting salary range at $18,000 per year,with the post being open for fourteen (14) days.
To approve receiving Council Clerk applications from the posting, as they come in and the applications being sent via email to the City Council, and to set aworkshop for November 25, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. 30 minutes prior to the regular November 25, 2025, Council meeting.
1. ReceiveMinutes of the Regular meeting of October 06, 2025, of the Planning Commission and the Minutesofthe Regular meeting of October 06, 2025, of the Zoning Commission.
The motionwas made by Councilwoman Westmoreland
The motionwas seconded by Councilman DeVirgilio
To receive Minutesofthe Regular meeting of October 06, 2025, of the Planning Commission and the Minutes of the Regular meeting of October 06, 2025, of the Zoning Commission.
a. FP-2-25 (Brook Hollow,2nd Filing) —Rehearing (council en banc) regarding the request for the Acceptance of Final Plat forLots 83-93, 99-117, 138-145, 168-173 &33, Tracts CA-6, CA-7, P-3, P-4, &Lot 7-A-1 of the Brook Hollow, 2nd Filing, as developed &built on property located at 3600-3700 Rollins Road, Zachary, La 70791. The PUBLICHEARING was opened at 7:23 p.m. Christopher Maestri, 9345 InterlineAve. Baton Rouge, LA 70809 (MR Engineering &Surveying), was present to speak in favor of the final plat.Therebeing no one else to speak in favororagainst the final plat the PUBLICHEARING was closed at 7:25 p.m.
The motionwas made by Councilwoman Westmoreland
The motionwas seconded by Councilman LeBlanc
To approve FP-2-25 (Brook Hollow,2nd Filing) —Regarding the request for the Acceptance of Final Plat forLots 83-93, 99-117, 138-145, 168-173 &33, Tracts CA-6, CA-7, P-3, P-4, &Lot 7-A-1 of the Brook Hollow, 2nd Filing, as developed &built on property located at 3600-3700 Rollins Road, Zachary, La 70791.
1. Receive accountspayable for September 2025 and the natural gas bill when it is received. The motionwas made by Councilwoman DeVirgilio The motionwas seconded by Councilwoman Westmoreland
To receive accounts payable for September 2025 and the natural gas bill when it is received.
1. Public Hearing and Adoption of Ordinance 2025-18 ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THECITYOFZACHARYTOAMEND §§2-199, 2-200 AND2-201 OF THECODE OF ORDINANCESFOR THECITYOFZACHARYTOPROVIDE FOR THESETTING AND ADMINISTRATION OF SALARIES FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS WITHIN THECITYOFZACHARYAND FOR OTHER MATTERS IN FUTHERANCE OF THIS PROVISION
The PUBLICHEARING was opened at 7:29 p.m. Donald Charlet, 1161 Memorial Square, Zachary,LA70791, was present to speak in favorofamending the ordinance. Therebeing no one else to speak in favororagainst the Ordinance, the PUBLICHEARING was closed at 7:33 p.m. The motionwas made by Councilman Graves The motionwas seconded by Councilwoman Landry
To revise The Adoption of Ordinance 2025-18 ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THECITYOFZACHARY TO AMEND§§2-199, 2-200 AND2-201 OF THECODE OF ORDINANCESFOR THE CITY OF ZACHARY TO PROVIDE FOR THESETTING AND ADMINISTRATION OF SALARIES FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS WITHIN THECITYOFZACHARY ANDFOR OTHER MATTERS IN FUTHERANCE OF THIS PROVISION. To keep the Mayor’ssalary the same and same languageand to raise the Chief of Police salary from $93,000 to $95,000 starting annual salary,and to raise the City Council salary to $17,000
with a $19,000 cap and City Council the ability to participate in the City of Zachary insurance plan.
YEAS: Graves, Landry
NAYS: Westmoreland, LeBlanc, DeVirgilio
ABSENT: None
ABSTAINED: None (Motionfailed) The motionwas made by Councilwoman DeVirgilio The motionwas seconded by Councilman LeBlanc To table The Adoption of Ordinance 2025-18 ORDINANCE
IN FUTHERANCE OF THIS PROVISION to the November 10, 2025 regular Council meeting. YEAS: Westmoreland, LeBlanc, DeVirgilio,Graves
NAYS: Landry
ABSENT: None
ABSTAINED: None
CameronParish, LA;, Lat. 29-47-27.50 N, Long.9307-23.69 W; Section31, 32 T14S R07W;Description: Performmaintenance dredging along3,953 lin‐earfeet of drainage lat‐eral.Approx. 2,016 cy of material will be exca‐vated andspreadto a maximumheightofsix inches beside the drainage lateral. *OPC, P.O. Box44487, BatonRouge,LA708044487, Phone: (225) 3423781, Email: taylor ross2@la.gov,OPC Re‐viewer:TaylorRoss, CUP NUMBER:P20230825 (Ex‐tended)Name: Cameron Parish GravityDrainage District No.4,c/o K&M ProjectServices, Llc1000 CountryClubRoadLake Charles, La 70605 Attn: MitchThomasLocation: CameronParish, LA;Lat 29-48-19.49N,Long. 93-0927.03W;Section 19, 20 T14S R07W;Section 25, 26 T14S R08W; Description: Perform maintenancedredging along16,063 linear feet of drainage lateral. Approx 5,514 cy of material will be dredgedand spread next to thecanal to a maximumheightofsix inches 166775-nov15-1t $32.92
DeVirgilio
Kleinpeter askedBerg‐eron to presentthe fi‐nancialreport. Bergeron presentedthe budget-toactual report forthe first twoquartersof2025. Underold business, Bergeron gave an update on thegeneratorwhich is expected to arrive mid-August Undernew business,
add andrevise the definitions of family,nationalbrand/chainand single-family attached.
P. CONDEMNED BUILDINGS –PUBLIC HEARINGS OR OTHER ACTION REGARDING BUILDINGS BEING CONSIDERED FOR CONDEMNDATION The City AttorneyMrs. Wilson reported thatthe condemnation board recently addressed about 10 properties andissued seven neworders to condemn houses. Manycases involve absenteeordeceased owners, requiring curator appointments. The city is now workingwith Mr.Mastersontoclear abacklog of properties awaiting demolition, with one house already being demolished in late September.
Q. REPORTSFROMDEPARTMENT HEADS
R. DISCUSSION OF BUSINESSNOT ON AGENDA (No Action May Be Taken UnlessDeclared an Emergency) CouncilwomanWestmorelanddiscussedwith City Council recycle bins being issuedtoeveryone in their districts. CouncilwomanLandry said next Tuesday,November4,2025, at 6:00 p.m. will be RetailStrategiesmeeting andDistrict#5quarterly meeting will be thatsameday at 5:00 p.m. ChiefofPolice, DarrlyLawrencespoke about the “Connect Zachary” Zachary residents andbusinesses will soon be abletoshare security camera footage with the Zachary PoliceDepartment as part of its newConnect Zachary program. The program will be tested on city buildings beforeitisrolledout to the public. Ms. Anna Clara Gayle, 1211 Olde Oaks Dr.spoke regarding ADA compliance(Blind/Visually impaired) for the Council agenda hyperlinks adding adescriptive line link.
S. LITIGATION 1. Request to go into Executive Session of the Council andthe Mayor pursuant to La.R.S. 42:17(A)(2) with regard to specificcivil litigation matter-Marlon Jackson v. City of Zachary, U.S. Middle District of Louisiana,No. 25-899-JWD-SDJ. The motion wasmade by CouncilmanLeBlanc
The motion wassecondedbyCouncilwomanDeVirgilio
To approve request to go into Executive Session of the Council andthe Mayor pursuant to La.R.S. 42:17(A)(2) with regardto specificcivil litigation matter-Marlon Jackson v. City of Zachary, U.S. Middle District of Louisiana,No. 25-899-JWD-SDJ.
Request to come out of Executive Session of the Council andthe Mayor pursuant to La.R.S. 42:17(A)(2) with regard to specificcivil litigation matter-Marlon Jackson v. City of Zachary, U.S. Middle District of Louisiana,No. 25-899-JWD-SDJ.
The motion wasmade by CouncilwomanWestmoreland
The motion wassecondedbyCouncilmanLeBlanc
To approve request to come out of Executive Session of the Council andthe Mayor pursuant to La.R.S. 42:17(A)(2)with regard to specificcivil litigation matter- Marlon Jackson v. City of Zachary,U.S. Middle District of Louisiana,No. 25-899-JWD-SDJ. YEAS: Westmoreland, LeBlanc, DeVirgilio, Graves, Landry
NAYS: None
ABSENT:None
ABSTAINED: None (Vote was unanimous)
2. Request for authorization for Mayor to enterinto Special Counsel Contract for counselinthe matter- Marlon Jackson v. City of Zachary,U.S. Middle District of Louisiana,No. 25-899-JWD-SDJ.
The motion was made by CouncilwomanWestmoreland
The motion was seconded by CouncilmanLeBlanc
To approve request for authorization for Mayor to enterinto Special CounselContract for counselinthe matter-Marlon Jackson v. City of Zachary,U.S. Middle District of Louisiana,No. 25-899-JWD-SDJ.
Karen Burdette Acting Clerk of City Council CITYOFZACHARY PARISH OF EASTBATON ROUGE STATEOFLOUISIANA CERTIFICATION
KarenBurdette DavidMcDavid,Mayor Acting Clerk of the City Council CITY OF ZACHARY PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE STATEOFLOUISIANA
I, KarenBurdette, do hereby certify thatIamthe duly appointedand acting Clerk of the City Council for the City of Zachary, Parish of East Baton Rouge,Louisiana
Ifurthercertify thatthe above andforegoing is atrueand correctcopy of the minutesofthe regularmeeting of the Mayor andCouncil of the City of Zachary,Louisiana,heldonTuesday,October28, 2025, aproper quorum being there andthenpresent.
KarenBurdette, Acting Clerk of the City Council
Baton RougeWeather
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