The Acadiana Advocate 11-19-2025

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“It’s a sweet spot: lower premiums, help with the deductible, making the patient the informed consumer.”

U.S. SEN. BILL CASSIDy, R-Baton Rouge

Cassidy offers option for health insurance

With Affordable Care Act tax credits set to expire, Republicans considering other extension ideas

BY MARK BALLARD Staff writer

WASHINGTON U.S Sen. Bill Cassi-

dy’s proposal for covering the health care costs of millions of low-income workers and small businesses is gaining traction among the various proposals trotted out to address the Affordable Care Act health insurance — the key dispute in the historically long federal government shutdown.

Rather than simply extending enhanced tax credits that Democrats want and most Republicans oppose, the Baton Rouge Republican who chairs the Senate’s health committee would redirect the money into tax-free accounts. This would allow individuals to choose how the money

would be spent, he said.

Qualified beneficiaries could decide on their whether to purchase a less expensive policy and use the money to pay higher deductibles, copays and out-of-pocket expenses, Cassidy said in an interview “It’s a sweet spot: lower premiums, help with the deductible, making the patient the informed consumer,” Cassidy said. “If we’re able to take the amount of money going into the enhanced premium tax credit and put it into a Flexible Spending Account the rate you’re paying for your insurance does not have to change because what you’re doing is applying the enhanced premium tax credit to your deductible and to your copay.”

About 24 million working Ameri-

cans, and 293,000 in Louisiana, use the pandemic-era tax credits to cover the gap between cost of health care insurance policies on the Affordable Care Act marketplace and what they can afford.

Those subsidies are set to expire in six weeks, which would lead to an average doubling of policy prices and would force about 4 million people off health care insurance, according to the Congressional Budget Office, a nonpartisan arm of Congress that estimates financial costs of legislation. Still, Republicans have balked at the cost of the program, which they argue was supposed to be a temporary pandemic-era benefit.

See CASSIDY, page 6A

N.O. braces for Border Patrol sweeps

Details have not been finalized, sources say

BY JAMES FINN and LARA NICHOLSON Staff writers

Federal Border Patrol agents are poised to launch immigration sweeps in the New Orleans area, according to people familiar with the plans and local law enforcement officials, spurring anxiety among immigrants and blowback from some Democratic politicians.

Details, including the size of the Border Patrol deployment, where in the New Orleans area agents might operate and the timeline of their arrival,

have not been finalized, according to multiple people briefed on the plans who requested anonymity because the operation has not been publicly announced.

Still, signs that the metro area could see an infusion of federal agents as soon as late this week spurred frenzied reaction in recent days from officials, advocates and immigration attorneys.

One construction company owner has told Hispanic workers not to show up for work beginning on Friday for fear of immigration raids. New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick is set to discuss the operation this week with Border Patrol officials. They’re coming, so I am going to be a partner,” Kirkpatrick said on WBOK

Radio on Tuesday, adding that her officers would not conduct immigration arrests or question people about their immigration status.

Planning documents reviewed by The Associated Press show 250 Border Patrol agents are poised to focus on neighborhoods and commercial hubs throughout southeast Louisiana, the outlet reported Tuesday The agents plan to fan out across a region stretching from New Orleans through Jefferson, St. Bernard and St. Tammany parishes north to Baton Rouge and into Mississippi.

The revelations signal that the Trump administration has chosen the Crescent

See SWEEPS, page 8A

Higgins only

‘no’

vote on Epstein files

Release could hurt the innocent, congressman says

BY MARK BALLARD Staff writer

WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Clay Higgins, R-Lafayette, was the only representative to vote Tuesday against a bill forcing the Trump administration to release the complete investigatory records of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Higgins said in a statement that the documents’ release could endanger the innocent.

“As written, this bill reveals and injures thousands of innocent people witnesses, people who provided alibis, family members, etc. If enacted in its current form, this type of broad reveal of criminal investigative files, released to a rabid media, will absolutely result in innocent people being hurt,” Higgins said.

The House voted 427 to 1 to send the Epstein Files Transparency Act to the U.S. Senate for consideration. The rest of Louisiana’s House delegation voted in favor

A member of the House Oversight committee, Higgins said the panel has released 60,000 documents.

“That effort will continue in a manner that provides all due protections for innocent Americans. If the Senate amends the bill to properly address

See HIGGINS, page 8A

BY JOEL THOMPSON Staff writer

The Youngsville Police Department recently named a new assistant police chief, as former Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office Assistant Chief Kenny Duhon was sworn in by Youngsville Chief JP Broussard to the open position.

Duhon, who was born and raised in Youngsville, has a background in law enforcement that spans 42 years, 33 of which were spent in the Sheriff’s Office. Prior to his appointment, Duhon served as a captain with the Office of the State Fire Marshal. “Throughout his career, Duhon has demonstrated expertise,” the Youngsville Police Department

ä See YOUNGSVILLE, page 6A

Higgins

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By MARK SCHIEFELBEIN

Sen Bill Cassidy, R-Baton Rouge, chairs the Senate’s health committee.

ä Congress acts swiftly to send Epstein files bill to Trump. PAGE 3A

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By MATT KELLEy

U.S. Border Patrol agents expanded their immigration crackdown in North Carolina to include the Raleigh area as well as Charlotte. Story, page 2A.

Roblox steps up age checks, groups users

Roblox is stepping up its age verification system for users who want to chat with other players and implementing age-based chats so kids, teens and adults will only be able to communicate with people around their own age.

The moves come as the popular gaming platform continues to face criticism and lawsuits over child safety and a growing number of states and countries are implementing age verification laws.

The company had previously announced the age estimation tool, which is provided by a company called Persona, in July It requires players to take a video selfie that will be used to estimate their age. Roblox says the videos are deleted after the age check is processed. Users are not required to submit a face scan to use the platform, only if they want to chat with other users.

Roblox doesn’t allow kids under 13 to chat with other users outside of games unless they have explicit parental permission — and unlike different platforms, it does not encrypt private chat conversations, so it can monitor and moderate them.

While some experts have expressed caution about the reliability of facial age estimation tools, Matt Kaufman, chief safety officer at Roblox, said that between the ages of about 5 to 25, the system can accurately estimate a person’s age within one or two years.

Key Bridge collapse was ‘entirely preventable’

BALTIMORE Saying the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge was entirely preventable, the National Transportation Safety Board on Tuesday detailed breakdowns both on board the Dali container ship that crashed into it and a lack of a warning system that could have alerted the construction workers to drive to safety rather than plunge to their deaths on March 26, 2024.

“This tragedy should never have occurred. Lives should never have been lost,” Jennifer Homendy the NTSB chair, said before she and board members heard from staff who investigated the calamity that led to six workers’ deaths. “As with all accidents that we investigate this was preventable.”

NTSB staff said they discovered a loose signal wire that created “a precarious electrical connection” and led to the first of two power outages aboard the Dali as it was exiting the Port of Baltimore heading toward the Key Bridge. That left the crew unable to steer the nearly 1,000foot cargo ship away from the pier support that it ultimately struck.

They said that the ship was not equipped with infrared thermal imaging technology, which was widely used in the industry and could have identified such faults in the system.

Flush with cash? Solid gold toilet up for auction

NEW YORK Art collectors had a chance Tuesday to buy one of the world’s most lucrative latrines: a solid gold, fully functional toilet The piece, by Maurizio Cattelan — the provocative Italian artist known for taping a banana to a wall — went up for auction Tuesday evening at Sotheby’s in New York. The starting bid was expected to be the market value of the 223-pound, 18-karat-gold work, currently about $10 million. Cattelan has said the piece, titled “America,” satirizes superwealth.

“Whatever you eat, a $200 lunch or a $2 hot dog, the results are the same, toilet-wise,” he once said. Sotheby’s, for its part, calls the commode an “incisive commentary on the collision of artistic production and commodity value.”

ICE arrests expand through N.C.

More than 130 caught in sweep

BY GARY D ROBERTSON and TIM SULLIVAN Associated Press

RALEIGH, N.C. — Federal agents expanded their North Carolina immigration crackdown to the Raleigh area on Tuesday, the mayor of the capital city said, as Border Patrol officers carried on with their sweep of the state’s largest city, Charlotte

Speaking at a city council meeting, Raleigh Mayor Janet Cowell said there had been “confirmed sightings” of Border Patrol officers operating in Wake County, which includes Raleigh, and nearby Durham County, which includes the city of Durham. She said earlier that she did not know how large the

operation would be or how long agents would be present “I ask Raleigh to remember our values and maintain peace and respect through any upcoming challenges,” she said in an earlier statement.

Immigration agents arrested more than 130 people over the weekend in Charlotte, North Carolina’s largest city officials said Monday Federal officials have said the crackdowns will reduce crime, though leaders in both Charlotte and Raleigh said crime was down. The officials have also criticized the so-called sanctuary policies that limit cooperation between local authorities and immigration agents in a handful of jurisdictions.

Federal officials have given no information about activity in the Raleigh area. But in Cary a sprawling Raleigh suburb where officials say almost

20% of the population was born outside the U.S and the large Asian population tripled in the 1990s, fear spread quickly

The Chatham Square shopping center which is usually bustling at midday with workers eating at mom-and-pop ethnic restaurants, was quiet. Most of the restaurants — Mexican, Indian and Chinese among them were closed. Nearby, the often-full parking lot at an Indian grocery store was largely empty, and traffic inside was nonexistent

Esmeralda Angel’s family closed their restaurant, the Esmeralda Grill, to avoid any confrontations between customers and federal agents. At their separate grocery store, they were delivering items to customers who were avoiding going out in public.

The family businesses had scaled back to help their community, she

1 Israeli killed, 3 wounded in West Bank stabbing

Attack occurs as U.N OKs Trump’s Gaza plan

BY JULIA FRANKEL Associated Press

JERUSALEM — Palestinian attackers

stabbed an Israeli to death and wounded three more in the West Bank on Tuesday before being shot down by troops in the latest violence to rock the occupied territory, the Israeli military said.

The attack follows a spate of settler violence against Palestinians across the West Bank. Officials, including U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, have warned that such unrest could spill over and undermine the fragile truce in Gaza.

It came a day after the U.N. Security Council gave its backing to U.S. President Donald Trump’s blueprint to secure and govern Gaza. Hamas rejected the plan as other countries signaled excitement and readiness to help implement it.

The Israeli military said the stabbing took place at the Gush Etzion junction south of Jerusalem, a site of many past attacks by Palestinian militants.

Israel’s emergency rescue services said a 71-year-old man died of stab wounds at the scene. Three other people were hospitalized, including a woman in serious condition and a teenager in moderate condition. The military said Israeli troops then opened fire, killing two Palestinian attackers. The Palestinian Health Ministry later identified them as two 18-year-olds from the Hebron area.

Yaron Rosenthal, head of the regional council in the Gush Etzion settlement bloc, demanded Israel respond to the attack and provide more support for the area’s Israeli settlements.

“Terrorism is fueled by the hope of a state,” he said, connecting the violence to the Palestinian Authority and the reemerging push to advance efforts to secure Palestinian statehood.

Hamas did not claim responsibility for the attack, but in a statement called it “a normal response to the occupation’s attempts to liquidate the Palestinian cause,” vowing that Israeli aggression wouldn’t go unchallenged.

said, but knew it would hurt financially Family businesses had scaled back to help their community, she said, but knew it would hurt financially

“Taco Tuesday is the busy day for all of these restaurants,” Angel said of the weekly specials at many Latino eateries. “But I think everyone would rather close than operate.”

U.S. Rep. Valerie Foushee, a Democrat who represents part of Raleigh and some of its suburbs, said Tuesday that the deployment of federal immigration agents in North Carolina “is a profound abuse of power, a violation of civil rights and a stain on our democracy.”

The region’s South Asian community has grown dramatically in recent decades, including many people drawn to the Research Triangle region by high-tech jobs.

Israel strikes Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon

13 killed in drone attack

BY MOHAMMAD ZAATARI Associated Press

SIDON, Lebanon An Israeli airstrike on a Palestinian refugee camp in southern Lebanon on Tuesday killed 13 people and wounded several others, state media and government officials said It was the deadliest strike on Lebanon since a ceasefire in the Israel-Hezbollah war a year ago.

The drone strike hit a car in the parking lot of a mosque in the Ein el-Hilweh refugee camp on the outskirts of the coastal city of Sidon, the state-run National News Agency said

The Lebanese Health Ministry said 13 people were killed and several others wounded, without giving further details.

Hamas fighters in the area prevented journalists from reaching the scene, as ambulances rushed to evacuate the wounded and the dead.

An

Elsewhere in the West Bank on Tuesday, news network Al Jazeera’s local bureau chief Walid al-Omari said Israeli forces shot cameraman Fadi Yassin in both legs while he was covering a protest in the city of Tulkarem. The military did not respond to a request for comment Tulkarem has been a flashpoint throughout the year, with Israeli forces frequently carrying out incursions around the Nur Shams refugee camp, which they say is home to many militants. Civilians say the area has endured repeated raids, sieges and home demoli-

tions, prompting regular protests by Palestinians angry about operations pushing people from their homes

An Associated Press journalist saw soldiers fire into the air to disperse protesters and then shoot toward Yassin as he moved toward the camp entrance to film. The journalist later saw Yassin on the ground, injured and surrounded by Palestinians, including women and children, before he was carried by bystanders to an ambulance.

The violence came a day after Israeli settlers rampaged through the Palestinian village of al-Jab’a, torching homes and cars, drawing a rare condemnation from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other top Israeli leaders.

The United States, Israel and the Palestinian Authority praised the U.N. vote on Trump’s postwar Gaza plan. Hamas rejected it, saying the proposed security force would only help Israel maintain its grip on the territory

The resolution provides a wide mandate for an international force to provide security in war-devastated Gaza, approves a transitional authority called the Board of Peace to be overseen by Trump and envisions a possible future path to an independent Palestinian state. Netanyahu, who otherwise applauded the resolution, did not mention the pathway to statehood in remarks about the plans.

The plan calls for the stabilization force to ensure “the permanent decommissioning of weapons from non-state armed groups.” It authorizes the force “to use all necessary measures to carry out its mandate” in compliance with international law, which is U.N. language for the use of military force.

Hamas said Monday that the force’s mandate, including disarmament, “strips it of its neutrality, and turns it into a party to the conflict in favor of the occupation.” It said the resolution did not “meet the level of our Palestinian people’s political and humanitarian demands and rights.”

Over the past two years, Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon have killed scores of officials from the militant Hezbollah group as well as Palestinian factions such as Hamas.

Saleh Arouri, the deputy political head of Hamas and a founder of the group’s military wing, was killed in a drone strike on a southern suburb of Beirut on Jan. 2, 2024. Several other Hamas officials have been killed in strikes since then. Hamas led the Oct. 7, 2023 attack on southern Israel that killed about 1,200 people. That sparked Israel’s offensive on the Gaza Strip that killed tens of thousands of Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry

A day after the IsraelHamas war started, Hezbollah began firing rockets toward Israeli posts along the border Israel responded with shelling and airstrikes in Lebanon, and the two sides became locked in an escalating conflict that became a full-blown war in late September 2024.

The Israeli military said it struck a Hamas training compound that was being used to prepare an attack against Israel and its army It added that the Israeli army would continue to act against Hamas wherever the group operates. Hamas condemned the attack in a statement saying the strike hit a sports playground and denying that it was a training compound.

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ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By OHAD ZWIGENBERG

Members of Israeli security forces inspect the site of a ramming and stabbing attack near the West Bank Jewish settlement of Gush Etzion on Tuesday.

AP PHOTO By MAJDI MOHAMMED

An Al Jazeera cameraman is carried after being shot in the legs by Israeli soldiers during a protest by displaced Palestinians in the West Bank city of Tulkarem on Tuesday.

Epstein files to be released

Congress acts swiftly to pass bill Trump promises to sign

BY STEPHEN GROVES Associated Press

WASHINGTON Both the House and Senate acted decisively Tuesday to pass a bill to force the Justice Department to publicly release its files on the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein a remarkable display of approval for an effort that had struggled for months to overcome opposition from President Donald Trump and Republican leadership.

When a small, bipartisan group of House lawmakers introduced a petition in July to maneuver around Speaker Mike Johnson’s control of the House floor, it appeared a long-shot effort especially as Trump urged his supporters to dismiss the matter as a “hoax.”

But both Trump and Johnson, R-Benton, failed to prevent the vote. The president in recent days bowed to political reality, saying he would sign the bill And just hours after the House vote, senators agreed to approve it unanimously, skipping a formal roll call.

The decisive, bipartisan work in Congress Tuesday further showed the pressure mounting on lawmakers and the Trump administration to meet long-held demands that the Justice Department release its case files on Epstein, a well-connected financier who killed himself in a Manhattan jail while awaiting trial in 2019 on charges he sexually abused and trafficked underage girls.

For survivors of Epstein’s abuse, passage of the bill was a watershed moment in a yearslong quest for accountability

“These women have fought the most horrific fight that no

woman should have to fight.

And they did it by banding together and never giving up,” said Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene as she stood with some of the abuse survivors outside the Capitol Tuesday morning.

“That’s what we did by fighting so hard against the most powerful people in the world, even the president of the United States, in order to make this vote happen today,” added Greene, a Georgia Republican. In the end, only one lawmaker in Congress opposed the bill. Rep. Clay Higgins, R Republican who is a fervent supporter of Trump, was the only “nay” vote in the House’s 427-1 tally The bill forces the release within 30 days of all files and communications related to Epstein, as well as any information about the investigation into his death in federal prison It would allow the Justice Department to redact information about Epstein’s victims or continuing federal investigations, but not information due to “embarrassment, reputational harm, or political sensitivity.”

Even before the bill’s pas-

sage Tuesday, thousands of pages of emails and other documents from Epstein’s estate have been released from an investigation by the House Oversight Committee.

Those documents show Epstein’s connections to global leaders, Wall Street powerbrokers, influential political figures and Trump himself. In the United Kingdom, King Charles III stripped his disgraced brother Prince Andrew of his remaining titles and evicted him from his royal residence after pressure to act over his relationship with Epstein.

Trump has said he cut ties with Epstein years ago, but tried for months to move past the demands for disclosure.

Still, many in the Republican base continued to demand the release of the files. Adding to that pressure, survivors of Epstein’s abuse rallied outside the Capitol on Tuesday morning. Bundled in jackets against the November chill and holding photos of themselves as teenagers, they recounted their stories

of abuse.

Another, Jena-Lisa Jones, said she had voted for Trump and had a message for the president: “I beg you, Donald Trump, please stop making this political.”

The group of women also met with Johnson and rallied outside the Capitol in September but have had to wait months for the vote.

Johnson kept the House closed for legislative business for nearly two months and refused to swear in Democratic Rep. Adelita Grijalva, of Arizona, during the government shutdown. After winning a special election on Sept. 23, Grijalva had pledged to provide the crucial 218th vote to the petition for the Epstein files bill. But only after she was sworn into office last week could she sign her name to the discharge petition to give it majority support. It quickly became obvious the bill would pass, and both Johnson and Trump began to fold. Trump on Sunday said Republicans should vote for the bill.

Yet Greene told reporters that Trump’s decision to fight the bill had betrayed his Make America Great Again political movement

Larry Summers steps down from public commitments

Epstein emails reveal friendship continued

BY KIMBERLEE KRUESI and RODRIQUE NGOWI Associated Press

BOSTON Larry Summers, the former president of Harvard University who once served as U.S. treasury secretary, says he will step back from public commitments after the release of emails showing he maintained a friendly relationship with Jeffrey Epstein long after the financier pleaded guilty to soliciting prostitution from an underage girl in 2008.

Summers did not detail exactly what stepping back would entail, saying in a statement that he would continue to teach and promised to “rebuild trust and repair relationships with the people closest to me.”

“I am deeply ashamed of my actions and recognize the pain they have caused.

I take full responsibility for my misguided decision to continue communicating with Mr Epstein,” Summers said.

However, the Center for American Progress, a progressive D.C.-based think tank, confirmed Tuesday that Summers was “ending his fellowship at CAP.”

A spokesperson for the Budget Lab at Yale also said Summers is no longer a member of the organization’s advisory group.

OpenAI the maker of ChatGPT, declined to say Tuesday if Summers was stepping down from its

board of directors, referring questions to Summers spokesperson Kelly Friendly who said she did not have anything to add “beyond his statement.” Summers joined the OpenAI board in November 2023, part of an effort to restore stability at the nonprofit and bring back its CEO Sam Altman after its previous board members fired Altman days earlier Summers’ announcement came just days after President Donald Trump posted on his Truth Social platform that he would ask the Justice Department and the FBI to investigate Summers’ relationship with Epstein, along with former President Bill Clinton and LinkedIn founder and Democratic donor Reid Hoffman. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi has since said she has ordered a top federal prosecutor to lead the investigation. Epstein killed himself in a Manhattan jail while awaiting trial in 2019 on charges he sexually abused and trafficked underage girls. Emails made public last week showed many in Epstein’s vast network of wealthy and influential friends continued to stay in touch long after his 2008 guilty plea. A 2019 email to Epstein showed Summers discussing interactions he had with a woman, writing that “I said what are you up to. She said ‘I’m busy’. I said awfully coy u are.” Epstein, who often wrote with spelling and grammatical errors, replied, “you reacted well.. annoyed shows caring. , no whining showed strentgh.”

Summers

Epstein

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By JULIA DEMAREE NIKHINSON

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga stands with some of Jeffery Epstein’s abuse survivors on Tuesday outside the U.S Capitol in Washington.

Trump, Saudiprincemeeting cloudedbycomments

President dismissesU.S intelligence he hadculpability in reporter’s killing

BY AAMER MADHANI Associated Press

WASHINGTON President

Donald TrumponTuesday

dismissed U.S. intelligence

findingsthat Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman likely had some culpability in the 2018 killing of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi as Trump warmlywelcomedthe de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia on hisfirst WhiteHouse visit in seven years.

The U.S.-Saudi relationship had, for atime, been sent into atailspin by the operation targetingKhashoggi, afierce critic of the kingdom. But seven years later,the dark clouds over therelationship have been cleared away.And Trump is tightening hisembrace of the 40-year-old crown prince, whohesaidisanindispensable player in shaping the Middle East in the decades to come.

Trump in his defense of the crown prince derided Khashoggias“extremely controversial”and said “a lot of people didn’tlike that gentleman.”

Prince Mohammed denies involvement in the killing of Khashoggi, who was a Saudi citizen and Virginia resident.

“Whether you like him or didn’tlike him, things happen,” Trump said of the internationalincident when asked about it by a reporter during an Oval Office appearance with Prince Mohammed. “But (Prince Mohammed) knew nothing about it. And we can leaveit at that. Youdon’thave to embarrass our guest by asking

ond collaboration withthe TrumpOrganization, the collection of companies controlled by theU.S. president’s children,inSaudi Arabia.

Trumppushed back on suggestions that there could be aconflictofinterest in his family’sdealings with theSaudis.

“I have nothing to do with thefamily business,” Trump said.

Trump’scomments about Khashoggi and defenseof his family’sbusiness in Saudi Arabia were blasted by human rightsand governmentoversight activists.

an effort to suppress internal dissent.

“President Trumphas Jamal Khashoggi’sblood on his hands,” said Raed Jarrar,advocacy director for DAWN, aU.S.-based group advocating for democracy and humanrights in theArab world that was founded by Khashoggi. Jarrar added, “Trump hasmadehimself complicit in every execution andimprisonment MBS has ordered since.”

aquestion like that.”

But U.S.intelligence officials determined that the Saudicrown princelikely approved the killing by Saudi agents ofU.S.-based journalistinside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul,accordingto U.S. findings declassified in 2021 at the start of theBiden administration.

Trump officials, during his first administration, refused to release thereport.

Prince Mohammedsaid SaudiArabia“didall the rightsteps”toinvestigate Khashoggi’sdeath

“It’spainfuland it’s ahuge mistake,” he said Trump, whosaid the two leaders have become“good friends,” evencommended theSaudi leader for strides made by the kingdom onhumanrightswithoutproviding any specific detail.

“What’shedone is incredibleinterms of humanrights and everything else,” Trump said.

President Joe Biden labeledthe oil-richkingdom a“pariah” stateinthe early days of his successful 2020 White House run.

After takingoffice, his administration made clear the president would avoid direct engagement with the crown prince.

Buteventually Bidendetermined thatfreezing out

theSaudis was not tenable as oil prices spiked following Russia’sFebruary 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Biden even paid avisit to Prince MohammedinJeddahin

July 2022 of that year to urge theprince and fellow membersofthe OPEC+ oil cartel to pump more oil to alleviate high gas prices.

The crown prince for his partannounced Saudi Arabia was increasing its plannedinvestments in the U.S. to $1 trillion, up from $600 billion that theSaudis announced theywould pour into the United States when Trumpvisited thekingdom in May

Echoing rhetoric that Trumplikes to use,the crown prince used themomenttoflatter the Republican leader by calling the U.S.the “hottest country on theplanet”for foreign investment.

“Whatyou’recreating is not about an opportunity today.It’salso about longterm opportunity,” Prince Mohammed said.

Trump’sfamily hasa strong personal interestin the kingdom. In September, London real estate developer Dar Global announced that it plans to launch Trump Plazainthe Red Sea cityof Jeddah.

It’sDar Global’ssec-

Humanrights groups say Saudi authoritiescontinueto harshly repress dissent, including by arrestinghuman rights defenders, journalists, and political dissidents for criticism against the kingdom. Theyalso note a surge in executions in Saudi Arabia that they connect to

Trump warmly received Prince Mohammed when he arrived at the White House Tuesdaymorning fora pomp-filled arrival ceremony that included amilitary flyoverand athundering greeting from the U.S. Marine band.

Technically,it’snot astate visit, because the crown princeisnot thehead of state. ButPrince Mohammed has taken charge of the day-to-day governing for his

father,King Salman, 89, who hasenduredhealth problemsinrecent years. Trumpshowed theprince the newly-installedPresidential Walk of Famethat features gold-framed images of past presidents along theWestWing colonnade anda photoofanautopen signing thename of Biden in place of theDemocrat’s official portrait. Later,Trump, with the first lady MelaniaTrump, welcomedthe crownprincefor formal dinner in the White House East Room The twonationsare also planning an investment summit at the Kennedy Center on Wednesday that will include the heads of Salesforce, Qualcomm, Pfizer,the ClevelandClinic, Chevron and Aramco, Saudi Arabia’s national oil and natural gas company,where even more deals with the Saudis could be announced.

Extending the ACA subsidies would cost about $35 billion per year

Cassidy said his plan could be put in place faster than proposals seeking to overhaul the ACA, also known as Obamacare, because the administrative apparatusis already in place.

“I think we canfigure that out about as easilyaswecan figure out what we would do if we just did astraight-out extension,” he said.

His plan isn’tquite what Democrats demand: to simply extend the tax credits, which expire Dec. 31.Nor is it what the Republicans want: no extension without significant changesto Obamacare, which the GOP has tried to strangle since inception in March 2010.

Other ideas are being floated, as many Republicans fear the political repercussions of so many voters experiencing such a dramatic hike in health care

YOUNGSVILLE

Continued from page1A

saidinarecent news release. “His vast experience in patrol operations, training, investigation, and leadership, combined with hisdeep rootsinour community,will be invaluable as we continue to serveand protectour growing city.”

Duhon addressed the Youngsville City Council several days afterhis appointment, saying: “The top priority for me will be up-todate training for police personnel and ensuring that we maintain quality growth and serve the needs of the city.”

Duhon also donateda nearly 100-year-old yearbook he receivedfrom his deceased mother to Mayor Ken Ritter’soffice to place in Youngsville’shistory museum. The yearbook is from

costs. Theplansrangefrom creatingareinsurance fund to cover beneficiarieswith preexistingconditions to a completeoverhaulofthe Affordable Care Act

Trumpvoicessupport

President Donald Trump agrees with parts of Cassidy’splan.

“The president and Iare united,” Cassidy saidSunday on CBS’“Face theNation.”

Trump onsocialmedia backed theidea ofthe billions of dollars “currently being sent to money-sucking insurance companies in ordertosave the bad health care provided by Obamacare, besentdirectly to the people.”

Trump did not mention Cassidy,who is running for reelection in 2026. He is opposed by atleast four conservatives contending they are more MAGA than the senior senator fromLouisiana.

Dr.Mehmet Oz, the administrator for the Centers forMedicare andMedicaid Services, which oversees the ACA, told CNN’s“State

the nowdefunct Youngsville HighSchooland datesback to 1930.

Duhon’sappointment did not come without controversy Prior to Duhon’sappointment,Broussard wasaccusedbythe Lafayettebased research group Citizens fora NewLouisianaof bypassing the Youngsville City Council in hisattempt to fill thevacant position. Thecruxof the contention wasthat the council did not itemizeanassistant chief’s salary in its appropriations forthe Youngsville Police Department. However due to other departures, Duhon’s salary will be paid out of the general appropriations given to Youngsville police, accordingtoRitter Ritterinsisted there was anything improper with Broussard’sappointment, “because we haveanelected chief, Iwant to givehim the

of theUnion” on Sundaythat the administration is open to all options.

“But we have some major flaws with theway these COVID-era subsidies were added,” he said.

Conservativesalso have been pushing asimilar-type plan beingpromoted by the conservative-leaning Paragon Health Institute that would redirect some of the ACA subsidies to individuals.

Complicatedpolitics

An extension of the pandemic-eratax creditswas the key point in the43-day federalgovernment shutdown.Democrats demanded an extension as acondition for reopening the federal government

As partofthe deal to reopen government last week, Senate Majority Leader JohnThune,R-S.D., committed to aSenate vote on the extension by mid-December

Most senators, including Cassidy,don’tthink Republicans will go for asimple extension. Louisiana’sother senator,John Kennedy, R-

full ability to makedecisions regarding his department. The council doesn’tneed to approveevery decision he makes.”

Youngsville,underthe Lawrason Act, has an elected chief of police, which subsequently givesthe chiefa widerlatitudeinfilling open positions within the departmentsolong as there areavailable funds appropriated by thecouncil.

Madisonville, recently told reporters“extendingthe statusquo is just putting fresh paint on rotten wood.”

Cassidy said he had hoped to holdahearingbeforethe endofthe month, but the Thanksgiving breakbegins at the end of the week and Congress will be out of town until Dec. 1. He haspitched his plan on the Senate floor, beforeSenate committees and at party gatherings.

Cassidy would need Republican and Democratic support to reach the 60-vote threshold to forward his legislation. He would present a bill focused on the subsidies in December,then offer his broader idea in 2026.

In the House, though many Republican representatives advocate an extension, Speaker Mike Johnson, RBenton, does not.Johnson says fraud, abuse andaffordabilityneed to be addressed along withthe extension.

As the pandemic wound down,millions of people gottheir jobs back andno longer qualified for Medic-

aid even though their employment did not include adequate healthinsurance.

The Biden administration expanded who could qualifyfor thetax creditsthat helped coverthe cost of the expensive policies.

Reacting to criticism that theywere beingfiscally imprudent, Democrats established an expiration date, Dec. 31, for the credits, which are paid directly to the insurance companies.

Rules also changed, allowing ACA marketplace access to working immigrants who areinthe country legally but have notyet acquired citizenship. Other lawsallowed states waive afiveyear waiting period to cover immigrant children, regardless of their status. Louisiana is 1of37states andthe DistrictofColumbia that chose the waiver

Whoqualifies?

Qualifying forthe tax credits and the amount of the subsidy is dependent on acomplexformula that

includesthe policychosen oversix incomeranges and the size of an individual household in comparison to the federal poverty level. Eligibility is for workers without accesstoaffordable insurance policies that range on the lower end with morecredits from 100% of poverty: $15,560 for one person, $32,150 for afamily of four,to$54,150 forahousehold of eight. Theupper level of eligibility with less subsidies is 400% of poverty,which amounts to $62,600 for one person,$128,600for afamily of four and $216,600 fora household of eight. Republicans want to see caps on those levels. Democrats want to extend the enhanced credits for at least three years. If leftunresolved, the governmentcould shut down again at the beginning of February

Email Mark Ballardat mballard@theadvocate. com.

City for what has emerged as asignature piece of its anti-illegalimmigration agenda: shock-and-awe raids in Democratic-led enclaves in which agents round up and detain hundreds of people, then move on to other locations.

The administration in recent weekssentBorderPatrol agents to Chicago and Charlotte, North Carolina—Democratic-led cities far afield of where the border-focused agency has historicallyoperated.

Border Patrol agents, who operate under the Department of Homeland Security’sCustoms and Border Protection arm, are known within federallaw enforcement for using more aggressive tactics than theircounterparts in Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The administration sent agents to those cities, both with large Hispanic immigrantpopulations, amid demand to ratchet up deportation numbers

The deployments in both cities have beenmet withprotests. In Charlotte, where theBorder Patrol arrived over the weekend, the agency arrested at least one American citizen.

“If Chicago and Charlotte are any example, they’re unlikelyto be received particularlyfondly by the population in New Orleans,” said Jeff Asher,aNew Orleansbased crime analyst.

Assistant DHS SecretaryTricia McLaughlinsaid in astatement that the agency does not discuss

HIGGINS

Continued frompage1A

privacy of victims and other Americans, who are named but not criminally implicated, then Iwill vote for that bill when it comes backtothe House,” Higgins said.

Amajority of the Househad signedonto adischarge petition to require House leadership hold a floor vote on the legislation House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Benton, allowed the vote before the discharge petition would have required it. Johnson argues that the House Oversight Committee already is vettingand releasing documents from the Epstein in-

“future or potential” operations.

“Every day,DHS enforces the laws of the nation across thecountry,” McLaughlinsaid.

On Tuesday,localofficials said they have receivedfew details aboutthe operation. Of morethan adozen officialsinNew Orleans and neighboring Jefferson Parish, which hasLouisiana’shighest concentration of Hispanic residents, none savefor Kirkpatrick saidthey hadcommunicated with Border Patrol about the planned operation.

New Orleans Mayor-elect Helena Moreno,Jefferson ParishPresident Cynthia Lee Sheng, Kenner

Mayor Michael Glaser and most members of theNew Orleans and Jefferson Parish councils all said they have notbeenbriefedon plans for the operation. Some said they had learned of them through mediareports.

“Weabsolutely shouldbeinvolvedinthese conversations, or at leastreceivea briefing,”said state Rep.Matt Willard, an incoming at-large NewOrleans City Councilmember.“(Residents) will reach outtouswithquestions and frustrations. Currently, all Ican sharewith themiswhat has been reported by the media.”

New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s office, the Orleans Parish Sheriff’sOffice and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office didnot respond to requestsfor comment. Moreno saidinabrief statement that she had received “no info” on theoperation.

Kenner Police Chief Keith Conley, whose agency worksclosely with ICE through the287(g) partnership program, said Tuesday

vestigation.

During aspeech on theHouse floor, Johnson said Democrats were using the release “asa political weapon”totar President Donald Trump, who knew Epstein but hadnothing to do with thesexual assaults on underage girls. Formonths, Trump had opposed therelease of therecords,but he changed hismind over the weekendand backed the resolution. Trumpsaid Monday that he would signthe resolution, if approved by the Senate, and release therecords. Higgins later came to the House floor to supportaGOP effort removing DelegateStacey Plaskett, D-U.S.VirginIslands, from the Housecommittee on intelligence.

he hasreceived no information aboutthe operation.It’sunclear whether Border Patrol’ssweeps will remain withinNew Orleans or extend over the parish line into Jefferson, he said.

“The Kenner Police Department is readytosupport(Border Patrol), whatever the mission might be,” said Conley, whosecityhas the highest concentration of Hispanic residentsofany in Louisiana.

Kirkpatrick said her agency will “collaborate” withany federal agency that operates in the city Butshe emphasizedthatshe had “no control over whether Border Patrol will be here.”

An NOPD spokespersonconfirmed thatKirkpatrick hasa meeting scheduledfor this week with Border Patrolofficials but declined to provide further details about the meeting. Kirkpatrick noted that most immigration-related offenses arecivil, rather than criminal.

“Tobeinour country undocumented is illegal,” she said. “Tobe illegal is not criminal; this is civil. Sometimes we use illegal, and we assume (that’s) criminal. Police officers are not going to be asking anyone their nationalorimmigration status.”

Led by ahard-charging Border Patrol official named Capt.Gregory Bovino, theagency’srecent operations in Chicago and Charlotte yieldedhundredsofdetentions andblowback from some local officials over the agents’ tactics.

BorderPatrolwas thrustinto national headlinesbyits Chicago operation. Theagencyfaced accusationsthere of draconian tactics,

Plaskettexchanged texts with Epstein during a2019 hearing with Trump’sformer lawyer Michael Cohen.

Epsteinwas aresident of the Virgin Islands and aconstituent of Plaskett’satthe time. Representing aU.S. territory,Plaskettisa nonvoting member of Congress.

Higgins said, “She has crossed the threshold of reasonablesuspicion and therefore she would be investigated.”

TheHouse earlier hadfailedto censure Plaskett.

Aprominent financier,Epstein wasconvicted in 2008 of procuring achild for prostitution.Hedied by suicide in prison while awaiting trialin2019 on federal accusations that he trafficked dozens of under-

including agents rappelling from helicopters into ahousing complex. Dozens of peoplewerearrested but ultimatelynever accused of crimes,ProPublica reported. The operation launched in Charlotte this weekend netted at least 130 arreststhrough Sunday, according to DHS officials. More than 20,000 studentswere absent from Charlotte-Mecklenburg schools Mondayamidfears over immigrationraids, WBTV reported. Thesame day,DHS officials said agents arrested aman accusedof ramming aBorderPatrol vehicle during an immigration sweep. While it’sunclear how long that operation —dubbed “Charlotte’s Web” —will last, ABC News reported that the agency could shift its presence to New Orleans as soon as this weekend.

Conflicting reportssay theoperationinNew Orleanscould be called “SwampSweep,” which the AP reported, or “Catahoula Crunch,” which CBS News reported.

New Orleans presents an attractive destinationfor the administration’scrackdown, in part because it is aDemocratic city in a Republican-led state. Republican state leaders, including Gov.Jeff Landryand Attorney General Liz Murrill, have vocallysupported Trump’simmigration agenda, including theproposed Border Patrol operation.

Preparations have rippled across thecity in recent days.

Jose, aMexican-born construction company owner in the New Orleans area who asked to be identified only by his first name

age girls, some as young as 14 years old.

Epsteinhad associations with many prominent celebrities and businessmen, including former President Bill Clinton, former prince Andrew Windsor,aswell as Trump. His death spurred widespread conspiracy theories that he was murdered, that he kept alistshowinghehad traffickedgirls for powerful people, and that he was blackmailing some of those who used thegirls.

Untilelected to his second term as president, Trump pushed conspiracy theories that wereembraced by his supporters who claimed, without proof,thatEpstein was murdered to stop him

because he is in the process of applying for agreen card and fears retaliation, said he hasinstructed his 40 Hispanic workers to stay homebeginning Friday

Fear has gripped NewOrleansarea immigrant communities since federal authorities ramped up immigration enforcement in recent months. Chatter aboutthe impending BorderPatrol operationstook the anxiety to anew level among his workers, Jose said.

“Now everything is completely different,” the 22-year New Orleans resident said.

Rachel Taber,anadvocate and organizer with New Orleansbased immigrant advocacy group Union Migrante, saidimmigrants and their family members are contacting lawyers, giving people power-of-attorney in case they are detained and locating passports in the event they need to travel to reunite with family members.

While ICE oversees immigration detention sites and deportation operations, Border Patrol agents have been active in Louisiana since Trumptook office. In somecases, they have monitored homes and vehicles of people accused of reentering thecountry after having already been deported.The agents then detained the people following traffic stops, according to multiple affidavits filed in federal court. Agents from the FBI have also been redirected to immigrationrelated dutiesinthe NewOrleans region. FBIofficesare namedas operation bases forthe forthcoming operation in planning documents reviewed by theAP, the outlet reported.

fromblackmailing elite men whose names were in his client list.Conservative media figures claimedDemocratsdidn’twant the list to becomepublic because they would implicatehigh-ranking party officials.

While Bidenwas in office,nowFBI Director Kash Patel repeatedly condemned Democrats for not releasing the files, saying they contained the smoking gun linking elites to sex crimes with underage girls groomed by Epstein. Once in office, federal law enforcement leaders released atwopage report that stated the files contained“no credible evidence” that Epsteinwas murdered, his client list didn’texist, and he blackmailed no one.

Dismantling of Education

nation.

BY COLLIN BINKLEY Associated Press

WASHINGTON— The U.S. Education Department is handing off some of its biggest grant programs to other federal agencies as the Trump administration accelerates its plan to shut down the department.

The changes announced Tuesday represent amajor step forward for theadministration’sdismantling of the department, which has mainly involved cutting jobs sincePresident Donald Trump called for its elimination with an executive action in March.

Six new agreements signed by the Education Department will effectively move billions of dollarsingrant programs to other agencies. Most notable is one that will put the Department of Labor over some of the largest federalfunding streams for K-12 schools, includingTitle Imoney for schools serving low-income communities. Opponents have urged against such ashake-up,saying it could disrupt programs that support some of the nation’smost vulnerable student populations.

States rely on Education Department officials forexpertise that other agencies might not have, said Angélica Infante-Green, Rhode

Island’sK-12 education chief

“Peoplemight think it’sjust funding and giving them the money,but it’snot,” InfanteGreensaid in an interview

“It is about how to co-mingle some of the funds to educate achild. So if achild is in special educationbut is also amultilinguallearner and they’reinpoverty,how do youuse that to educate the child holistically?”

Department officialssaid theprogramswill continue to be funded at levels set by Congress.Theydid not say whether thechanges would bring further job cuts at the department, which has been thinned by waves of mass layoffs and voluntary retirement offers.

“The Trump Administration is taking bold action to breakupthe federal education bureaucracy and return education to the states,” Education SecretaryLinda McMahon said in a statement. “Cutting throughlayersofred tapeinWashington is one essential piece of our final mission.”

McMahon and her staff have spent monthshammering out the deals, which allowthe department to lop off large parts of its footprint withoutaction from Congress. It’sbeing done through formal agreements thatagencies often make with oneanother when their workoverlaps.

TheEducation Department tested the ideainJunewith adeal that moved adult education programs to Labor The new agreementstake it astepfurther andlay the groundwork for more.

Theaction leaves in place the Education Department’s $1.6 trillionstudent loan portfolio andits fundingfor students with disabilities, though McMahon hassuggested both would bebettermanaged by other federal departments. Also unaffectedisthe department’s Office for Civil Rights, which works with students and families who bring allegationsofdiscrimi-

Texasblocked from usingnew Housemap

BY JOHN HANNA Associated Press

Afederal court on Tuesdayblocked Texasfrom using aredrawn U.S. House map thattouched off anationwide redistrictingbattle and is a major piece of President Donald Trump’sefforts to preserve aslim Republican majority aheadofthe 2026 elections. The ruling is ablowto Trump’srushtocreatea more favorable political landscape for Republicans in next year’smidterms, at leastfor now.Texas

Gov.Greg Abbott vowed aswift appeal to the U.S. SupremeCourt and defended the map that was engineered to give Republicansfive additional House seats.

Butina 2-1ruling, apanel of federal judges in El Paso sided with opponents who arguedthatTexas’ unusualsummerredrawing of congressionaldistricts would harm Black andHispanic residents.

Thedecision was authoredbyU.S. District Judge Jeffrey V. Brown, who was nominated to the bench by Trump during

his first term. “The public perception of this case is that it’s aboutpolitics. To be sure, politicsplayeda role in drawing the 2025 Map. But it wasmuch more than just politics.Substantial evidence shows that Texasracially gerrymandered the 2025 Map,” the ruling states. The decisioncomes amid an widening national battle over redistricting. Missouri and North Carolina followed Texas with new mapsadding an additional Republican seat each

Under the new plan, Labor will oversee almost all grant programs that arenow managed by theEducation Department’soffices for K-12 andhighereducation.Along with the $18 billion TitleI program, thatincludes smaller funding pools for teacher training, Englishinstruction and TRIO, a program thathelps steer low-income students to college degrees. It will effectively outsource the department’s Office of Elementaryand Secondary Education and Office of PostsecondaryEducation, twoof the agency’slargest units. Twomajor roles of the postsecondaryoffice will remain with the Education Department:oversight of student loan policy andthe accreditationofcolleges for eligibility to receive students’ federal financial aid.

Feds OK Louisiana broadband plan

100% of state to be covered in ‘generational investment’

according to a Tuesday announcement.

ity, said in an interview Tuesday

BY JENNA ROSS Staff writer

The federal government has approved Louisiana’s plan for speedy internet, making it the first state in the country to get that go-ahead

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration announced its approval Tuesday of Louisiana’s proposal for $1.355 billion in Broadband, Equity, Access and Deployment funding, a highly debated, highly anticipated grant program. “This is a generational investment that places Louisiana at the forefront of America’s tech transformation,” Gov. Jeff Landry said in a statement

Panel rejects rezoning request

Roman-style entertainment complex proposed

BY STEPHEN MARCANTEL Staff writer

The Lafayette City Zoning Commission recommended that the City Council deny the request to rezone a property that could be home to a Roman-style entertainment facility called the Colosseum The 50,000-square-foot building in the 800 block of Verot School Road would offer live performances, several bars, and a pool hall, according to documents filed with the Lafayette Consolidated Government. But the idea didn’t strike a chord with commission members, who had already signaled they were leaning toward denying the request. Staff argued that the building would be an “intrusive use” on nearby neighbors, but said the owner could construct a normal pool hall or event center, which is permitted

Engine issues reported before crash

NTSB investigates Lafayette Parish fatal plane accident

BY STEPHEN MARCANTEL

Staff writer

A plane that crashed and killed three people in rural Lafayette Parish on Oct. 21 transmitted that it had unspecified engine issues. The pilot attempted the land at the Lafayette Regional Airport when the transmission to Air Traffic Control came in about 9 miles from the runway, according to a National Transportation Safety Board preliminary report.

The Raytheon Aircraft Company G58 departed from David Wayne Hooks Memorial Airport in Houston, Texas, and was bound for LFT when the engine issue may have begun.

But an examination by flight control systems and both engines revealed no mechanical issues

That funding could bring broadband to all businesses and households across the state by the end of 2027, Veneeth Iyengar executive director of the state Office of Broadband Development and Connectiv-

When Landry became governor in 2024, about 80% of the state was connected to broadband, Iyengar said. Today, about 90% is connected.

“What’s remaining is the most difficult to reach,” Iyengar said, because it’s the most rural. “But we have a plan that’s been approved by NTIA that will attack that once and for all The hope is that by the end of 2027, we will have achieved 100%, full universal coverage.”

A few rural leaders, including those in East Carroll Parish, have previously questioned whether the new plans for their communities — which have awarded contracts to satellite companies rather than fiber optic providers — will deliver fast and affordable service.

After rewriting the rules for the grant program, diverting some money from fiber to satellite, the telecommunication agency approved new plans from 18 states,

Feathered flight

Iyengar said Louisiana was the first state to complete all the steps of a three-step process This week, his office will meet with the 14 service providers that won grants. About 70% of awards will go to Louisiana-based companies. Iyengar expects “shovels in the ground at the end of this year.” Louisiana has led before in the effort to bring broadband to the country’s rural reaches.

Brown resigns from La. House

BY TYLER BRIDGES Staff writer

Chad Brown has resigned from the Louisiana House of Representatives to become the commissioner of the Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control under Gov Jeff Landry Brown, a Democrat, lives in Plaquemine and represented House District 60, which covers Iberville and part of Assumption Parish south of Baton Rouge, for about 10 years.

Brown’s colleagues said he had been looking for a landing spot, since his legislative career is scheduled to end in January 2028 because of term limits. Brown, an attorney, held senior positions at the Department of Insurance before his 2015 election to the House.

Brown did not respond to calls Tuesday

The agency’s website included a welcome greeting for him and said a biography will be posted soon.

been vacant since August, when Ernest Legier Jr., who had been appointed by then-Gov John Bel Edwards, resigned while facing questions about his oversight of the agency Legier returned to his previous position as a deputy commissioner

News of Brown’s new role was first reported by Jeremy Alford, managing editor of State Affairs Louisiana.

Brown represented a swing district that voted for Donald Trump in his three presidential elections but also voted for Edwards when he won reelection in 2019.

While Edwards was in office, Brown regularly voted with the Democratic governor In 2022, however, he voted with the Republican majority to override an Edwards veto on a controversial bill. The veto override meant that doctors could not prescribe puberty blockers, gender-transition surgeries or hormone treatment to children and teens.

Brown was known for having a friendly relationship with Landry During the 2025 regular legislative session, Brown sat beside Landry and testified in favor of a car insurance bill that the governor wanted lawmakers to approve over the objections of Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple. Legislators ultimately approved the measure, with Brown providing one of the yes votes.

Brown’s exit could lead to a spirited race for his seat.

Tobacco Control

ä See ENGINE, page 4B ä See PANEL, page 4B ä See PLAN, page 4B

In his new role, Brown is overseeing an agency under the Department of Revenue that issues alcohol permits, collects alcohol and tobacco taxes and has enforcement agents who target establishments with liquor licenses suspected of selling to underage youth, engaging in money laundering and peddling drugs. The commissioner’s position has

The Senate has one vacancy after Joe Bouie resigned to become chancellor of Southern University of New Orleans recently The open primary to replace him will be held on Feb. 7, with a runoff, if necessary, on March 14, just after the 2026 regular legislative session will have commenced Elections for the three House vacancies have not been scheduled but could be held on those same dates, the Secretary of State’s Office said Tuesday, if the resignations occur by Dec. 3. Republicans currently hold a 28-10 advantage in the 39-member Senate, and a 73-29 margin in the 105-member House. Legislator picked to head Alcohol and

“If you had the right Republican candidate, it’s possible for Repub-

licans to pick it off,” said John Couvillon, a Baton Rouge-based pollster and demographer For decades, White Democrats held a majority of the seats in the Legislature. But Brown’s departure leaves only four White Democrats: Jay Luneau, of Alexandria; Aimee Adatto Freeman, of New Orleans; Mandie Landry, of New Orleans; and Roy Daryl Adams, of Jackson. Brown’s departure leaves three Democratic vacancies in the House. Reps. Jason Hughes and Matthew Willard have both been elected to the New Orleans City Council and will move into their new positions in January

STAFF FILE PHOTO By JAVIER GALLEGOS Rep. Chad Brown, D-Plaquemine, left, speaks with Gov. Jeff Landry beside him. Brown has resigned from the Louisiana House of Representatives to become the commissioner of the Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control under Landry.

STAFF PHOTO By LESLIE WESTBROOK

A belted kingfisher takes flight from a cypress tree Thursday at Lake Martin in St. Martin Parish.

OUR VIEWS

School districts should prepare as AI tests limits of discipline

Aschool disciplinary case out of Thibodaux seems at once unfathomable and yet all too familiar: A13-year-old girl bullied by classmates was herself expelled when she lashed out and hitone of her tormentors. The twist here is that the girl was the victimof acampaign of harassment in which deepfake nude photos of herwere shared amongher classmates. Deepfakes are images generated by AI that are often indistinguishablefrom real images. In the Thibodaux case, the boy who created theimages was charged with10counts of disseminating explicit images of another person created by artificial intelligence, according to the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office.More students could be charged.

Bullying has long been aproblem that schools must wrestle with. But in the age of AI, we worry that teachers and administrators are not preparing for the onslaught of issues that this technology adds tothe mix. These deepfakes are easily created by any middle schooler with average tech skills using widely available apps, and the psychological distress they can cause before school officials have time to respond is very real.

That appears to be what happened on Aug. 26 at Sixth Ward Middle School in Lafourche Parish. The girl, whose name has not been released, reported the deepfake images toaguidance counselor and the principal of the school. Here’swhere the school and thedistrict could have made different choices had they had tools to understand truly what was going on —and to intervene before things got out of hand.

The principal did order the school resource officer to investigate, but meanwhile, the photo continued to spread. When the photo was shared on the school bus that afternoon, she lunged at and struck one of the group of around six boys who were passing it around. She was expelled from campus for at least 45 days. After her family appealed, she was allowed to return. District officials have defended the expulsion, and while some punishment may have been warranted, this was clearly excessive. And shamefully,there isnoaccount of what consequences, if any,were faced by the boys whoshared the photos.

The culture of “boys will be boys” is nothing new,ofcourse. Yet, these deepfake images can cause lasting injury,and schools would do well to take the problem seriously.That’s why we areencouraged that agroup of education leaders statewide is meeting on AI todiscuss how to disseminate best practices among districts, including how to teach students how to use these tools responsibly and ethically AI isn’tgoing anywhere, and we hope the next time adistrict faces asituationsimilarto the one in Thibodaux, it won’treact using the old playbook. As the sources and methods of bullying evolve, so must the policies to combat them.

LETTERSTOTHE EDITOR ARE WELCOME. HERE AREOUR

GUIDELINES: Letters are published identifying name, occupation and/or title and the writer’scity of residence

TheAdvocate |The Times-Picayune require astreet address andphone number for verification purposes, but that information is not published. Letters are not to exceed 300 words. Letters to the Editor,The Advocate, P.O. Box 588, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-0588, or email letters@ theadvocate.com.

TO SEND US A LETTER, SCANHERE

Blatantmedia bias in Israel hostagerelease coverage

MSNBC, CNN, BBC and other news media coverage of Israel’sreaction to theslaughter of 1,300 Israelis on Oct 7, 2023, and more recently on Oct. 1213 as the Israeli hostages were being released, was shameful.

As part of the ceasefire agreement, Israel released 2,000 Palestinians, including Hamas terrorists and murderers, in return for therelease of 20 living hostages and the bodies of those who died in captivity.OnOct. 13, as the Israeli hostages were being released, thenetworks equated the release of innocents with therelease of their captors, who had raped, tortured, burned alive and eviscerated 1,300 Israeli men, women and children on Oct. 7, 2023. The joyful reunion of the20 remainingIsraeli hostages with their families was juxtaposed withcoverage of celebratory scenes of reunions of the Hamas murderers with their families

To demonstratethe absurdity of this balancing act,just suppose theU.S.

captured the 9/11 terrorists whokilled 3,000 U.S. citizens. While they were imprisoned, we decided to release these murderers in exchange forU.S. citizens who were being held hostage by their terrorist counterparts in the Middle East.Given this example, can anyone imagine that coverage of the reunion of the U.S. hostages with their families would be “balanced” against scenes of the released terrorist murderers celebrating with their families. The release of the Israeli hostages and those who died in captivity is both heartening and heartbreaking. Their captors should be depicted as they are —killers without any moral compass. Israel eliminated/neutralized the scourge of the Middle East —Hamas, Houthis,Hezbollah and Iran —laying thegroundwork for peace. The media should recognize this truth with “no, ifs ands or buts.” That would be honest journalistic balance.

MAURYHERMAN NewOrleans

Cassidyour only hope to standagainst Trump

Sen. Bill Cassidy needs to stand up against thesuppression of free speech and against President Donald Trump’smanipulators, including his loyal supporters, who are playing this sick president intopronouncements, threatsand intimidations, promoting authoritarianism, fascism and even Naziism. He is our senator,and the only real voice we have in Louisiana. We pray that he may have the

Of all the cruel things that President Donald Trump and his administration have done, trying to “claw back” SNAPpayments that some states had sentout to SNAPrecipients strikes me as one of thecruelest. Now that the shutdown has ended, theimportant issue will be who controlsthe narrative of what happens next Will Trump win withhis narrative that everything in America is already affordable, so there is no need for help to citizenswithsoaring medical insurance costs andthat too many people already get SNAPbenefits,

strengthtostandupfor the ideals and values that we as Americans enjoy We fully recognize Trumpand his minion, Gov.Jeff Landry,are trying to primary Cassidy.I suggest that registered Democrats either change their registration to “NoParty” or Republican in order to thwart any such attempt.

DR. ROBERT E. TREUTING NewOrleans

so more cuts are needed? Or will Democrats convince enough Republicans in Congress to truly address the affordability crisis facing so many Americans. We are in the midst of whatmany economists call a“K-recovery.” The top 20% of Americans are doing very well, particularly the billionaires. The bottom 80% are not doing so well, particularly those poorestamong us. Whosereality will win the day? Time, and the 2026 elections, will tell the story LOU IRWIN NewOrleans

Showing that protecting taxpayers and protecting wildlifecan go handin-hand, Sen. John Kennedy recently led an effort in Congress to stop the government from spending abillion dollars on the biggest slaughter of birds of prey ever attempted on Earth. Sen. Bill Cassidy stood with him in supporting fiscal sanity and animal welfare. They both deserve great thanks. Last year,the Biden administration announced aharebrained scheme to cull nearly half amillion owls in West Coast forests at an estimated cost of $3,000 per bird —over abillion dollars in total. Why? To stop them from competing fornests with anearly identical, threatened owl that lives in the sameforests. If that sounds crazy,it’sbecause it is. Sen. Kennedy argued powerfully that it shouldn’tbefor the government to decide which owls can live and which owls must die. Sen. Cassidy voted with him,and even though their efforts were thwarted by environmentalists and their allies in Congress, history will prove them right.

Thank you, Sen. Kennedy,and thank you, Sen. Cassidy,for supporting him

ZACH BENNETT senior policycounsel Animal Wellness Action

Ithink if things werecalled by exactly what they are, rather than by misleading names (think Affordable Care Act, Inflation Reduction Act), it would be easier to makebetter choices. Changing the clocks twice a year is inconvenient and unhealthy There is no daylight saving. We are just shifting the timeofthe daylight. The days are shorter in winter and longer in summer.Let’sstop the nonsense of thinking we are really changing anything. Daylight shifting timewould be easier to dislike and discontinue.

MARYP.LUPO,MD NewOrleans

Landry

We have New Orleans MayorLaToya Cantrell. We have New Orleans Mayorelect Helena Moreno. Maybewehave New Orleans Mayor-wannabe Jeff Landry,too.

In aMonday interview on FoxNews, Louisiana’sgovernor seemed to speak on behalf of all residents in the city of New Orleansthe way he answered aquestion posed by“America Reports” host Sandra Smith: Will New Orleans welcome U.S.Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents —an apparent reference to the Border Patrol agents whoare reportedlyheadingour way?

“Absolutely,” the guv responded without ananosecond of apause.

“When ICE is ready,wecertainly welcome them to comeintothe city and be able to start taking someofthese dangerous criminal illegal aliens offof our streets, and we’ve got aplace toput them at Angola.” He was referencing Louisiana Lockup, an immigration-specific detention center he created at theLouisiana State Penitentiarywith the help of his old pal from their days in Congress, U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. The penitentiary,AKA Angola, and lockup,AKA Camp J, are part of anationwideimmigrationlockup system.

With the use of Freedom of Information Act requests, the ACLUfoundout earlierthisyearthat the Trumpadministration was up to no good as it pushed to expand immigration detention facilities with as much as $45 billion.Asthe ACLU said months ago, “including at facilities notorious for misconductand abuse.” Can we say Angola?

So NewOrleans is going to be used to fillthese cots? Feelstakeover-ish to me.

It wasn’t that longago that Landry said the State of Louisiana would help NewOrleans get out of itsend-of-theyear fiscal mess with LouisianaBond Commission approval only after using “all necessary measures tothoroughly review the city’sfiscal affairs and, if deemed necessary,appoint afiscal administrator.”

That feels like atakeover move to me. Fortunately,that move was averted with adeal to have the state’slegislative auditor monitor the booksconnected to a$125 million loan that the commission only approved.

During arecent interview on

WBOK’s “Good Morning Show,” which Ihost, thegovernor professed to know what’sgood for New Orleans.

“No governor has spent moretime in the city of New Orleansthan myself,” he said. “I’m working to trytomake the city of New Orleansa better,more hospitable place so we can attract peopleand businesses and folks can feel safe in that city.”

Landry and othersgive the impression that New Orleansisa crimeriddled city,unlike other partsofLouisiana. In reality,there are Louisiana cities and parishes with worse crime problems.

Now New Orleansmay be painted as even more dangerous, as the guv and hisfriendsinWashington argue that illegal immigrant criminals in New Orleans need to be picked up and locked behind bars in Angolabecause they’re the “worst of the worst.” But some are citizenswho haven’tcommitted crimes.

“People around Louisiana want their communities to be safe, irrespective of whether it’s criminal illegal aliens conducting violence or American citizens or Louisiana citizens,” Landry toldFox News. “If you go out there and break the law,we’re gonna put youinjail.”

Iagree, but why issue threats where there’snoevidence of problems?

Lastyear,the governor drew rebuke from many in New Orleanswhen his

people suggested that the way to fix all that bothers so manyNew Orleanians was for the state of Louisiana to take over the New OrleansSewerage &Water Board. Don’tremember? Look at thereport.

That felt like atakeover idea to me.

Time after time, Landry says things —and does things—that sure make it seem like he wants to takeover the state’sbiggest economic contributor So, when Ihad achance to ask thegovernor directly about that, Idid.

“Ohno, no, no. Ican promise you Ido not want totake over the City of New Orleans. Inever did. Iwant the city of New Orleanstofunction well …” Landry told me that even if the city needed afiscal administrator,it wouldn’tbehis choice; it would be up to theattorney general, thetreasurer and the legislative auditor “Even under theworst-case scenario, thegovernor can’ttake over the City of New Orleans, so Idon’tthink anyone has to worry about any of that if that’s what they’re concerned about,” he added. Maybe not.But he carries abig stick, and how he frames things matters. Should we believe him?

Yes—when he stops threatening the city,and startsacting less like apredator and more like apartner

Email Will Sutton at wsutton@ theadvocate.com.

Americansare going to geta little healthier

President Donald Trump cutdeals with the drugmakers Eli Lilly andNovo Nordisk to increaseaccesstoobesity drugs in amajor benefittoAmerican public health. The agreements are awinwin-win —good for consumers, good for the companies andgood for Trump.

One of the most irrational superstitions of ourtime is thatBig Pharma, which has long been routinely delivering near-miraculous therapeutics to extend andimprove our lives, is apublic enemy.Its latest breakthrough is aclass of so-called GLP-1 drugs thatmake it easierto lose weight, andtoavoid associated serious health problems, fromType 2diabetes to heart disease.

The basic dynamic of the Trump deals is thatthe companies will, through lower prices, expand their market share, thus generating more revenue. The companiesalso gettariff reliefand expeditedreviewfor select drugs.

Health andHumanServices secretaryRobertF.Kennedy Jr., the MAHA leader with a paranoid streak about modern medical advances,has been hostile to GLP-1 drugs, the most famous of which is Ozempic, sold by Novo Nordisk.

If everyone could do as many pushups and pullups as the hyper-fit 71-year-old Kennedy, perhaps we could turn ourback on GLP-1s. Certainly,RFK Jr.iscorrect that Americans should eat betterand work out more. But our body mass index hasbeen increasing for about 150 years, as we’ve made caloriescheaper and more abundant over time. As it happens, the things thatwelike to eatordrink thatare bad for us —fastfood,soda, chips, cookies— are cheap,convenient andtaste good

Evenifwemanagetoconvincepeople that theyshould eat more fruit, vegetables andlegumes, while taking aPeloton classevery day, noteveryone is going to do it as amatterof lifestyle constraints, individual preference or simple lack of willpower

There’s also the fact that once youput on weight, physiological changesmakeitmore difficult to shedit.

About 40% of Americans are obese. Wouldn’t it be great for them —and for American societyatlarge,whichspends roughly $170 billion ayear on obesity-related medical costs —if there were asafe, relatively convenient way for themtoslim down?

The election of Zohran Mamdani as New York City mayor set off—for his fanbase, anyway —greatexpectations of amore “affordable” city. But the democraticsocialist hasn’tevenbeen sworn in, and some of his marquee promises are already history Start with freebuses. For acity dependent on public transportation, free buses are anice idea but also abad idea.Fares pay for the buses,and even if youplug that hole with anotherrevenue source, free buseswould siphon ridersfromthe subways, in effect defunding them. Mamdani spun visions of thestate raising taxestocover the $700 million in lost fares or find the dough elsewhere. New York Gov.Kathy Hochul says she’snot interested in either notion. The governor’ssupport is essential: The Metropolitan Transportation Authority,which runs most of the region’smass transit, is astate agency Barring the unforeseen, thefree bus idea has left the terminal. Affordable housing? All opposed, raise your hands. Now define it ina New York (or San Francisco) context The cost of living in New York City has always been high. It’shighbecause the demand is intense and thesupply is limited for obvious reasons. It’s not Dallas or Omaha with prairies to sprawl into.It’sdensely built andmostly hemmed in by bodies of water At some point, people whowant cheaper housing or more space need to move to places that actually offer it. Generations of New Yorkers have done

that, with many moving back when their kids are grown. Even within theNew York metropolitan region, there are lower living costs than in thechoice partsofManhattan or brownstoneBrooklyn. Butthe Gen-Z professionals who power Mamdani demand thehot urban scenes while also fuming at the $20 their hip hangout charges for amartini. They should be mindful that Mamdanihas yet to propose government-run cocktail lounges. Also, there’snolaw against mixing drinks athome. It’snot true that therents only go up. They have historically dropped during crises: after the9/11 terrorattack, during the 2008 financial meltdown and very much in the COVID pandemic’s grip. Mamdani could createcrises, reducing demand for New York City. His attacksonthe New York Police Department have created fear of acrime wave. Andhis vows to raise taxes on al-

ready highly taxed rich residents could cause an exodus of businesses and with them, jobs from the city That said, building moreresidential unitswhere construction makes sense would be helpful. Butbulldozing cherished neighborhoods for apartment blocks is sure to clash with quality-oflife concerns. Thus, one of Mamdani’sproposals crashedfaster than the Hindenburg He wanted to build “affordable elderly housing” on acommunity garden in the Nolitaneighborhood. The Elizabeth Street Garden is an acre of greenery oddly placed statuaryand whimsical paths offering pastoral escape from the hardscaped streetsoflower Manhattan. Outgoing Mayor Eric Adams just swooped in and had thecity-owned land designated as parkland. That immediately removed the Elizabeth Street Garden out of Mamdani’sand thedevelopers’ easy grasp.

Agood measure of the public’sfeelings on the subject could be found in thecomments following aNew York Times article aboutAdams’ move. Usually,any mention of Mamdani instantly rouses his devoted army to defend their hero. This time, support for his plan was virtually nil. Why couldn’the leave one lousy green oasis in lower Manhattan alone?

Mamdani ripped theoutgoing mayor for making his housing project “nearly impossible.” And that raises hope among many longtime New Yorkers that agood number of the new mayor’s other plans will be impossible, and not “nearly.”

Froma Harrop on X@FromaHarrop.

Lo andbehold, here it is. The GLP-1sstarted outasa treatment fordiabetes and have explodedinpopularity as weight-loss drugs. Trump’sreflex to make it easierfor people to obtain Ozempic andthe like —while, not incidentally,boosting his reputation as the nation’s foremost dealmaker —isthe correct one. Drug pricing is complicated,but by expanding the sale of the drugs direct to consumers, the companiescan reduce prices. Meanwhile, Medicarewill do more to cover the drugs, also bringing down their cost.

According to Gallup, about 12% of Americansreporthaving usedaGLP-1 drug at some point forweight loss, astunning increasefrom about6%inearly 2024. Not coincidentally, Gallup is also nowshowing aslight dip in obesity

From2008 —whenthe polling organization regularly beganasking about weight —to 2022, the percentage of obese Americans increased by 14 percentage points, to nearly 40%

Where anynumberoffashionable diets and continual government exhortations for more physical exertionhavefailed(before RFK Jr., Michelle Obama wasurging, “Let’sMove!”), drugs to slowdigestion and reduce the urge to eat areworking. The percentage of Americans using GLP1s will inevitably keepgrowing, especially if prices continue to go down, if more oral GLP1s come online in addition to injectables, and if othermedical benefits of the drugs emerge. GLP-1s easily could match the saturationlevel of statins, the cholesterol-reducing drugs. By allmeans, we should all eat more arugula.Until then, we have found apharmaceutical path to alleviating an ongoing health crisis. Trump andthe drug companies are to be congratulated for their creative cooperationto make it available to more Americans.

Rich Lowry is on X, @RichLowry.

STAFF PHOTO By JAVIER GALLEGOS

Gov. Jeff Landry, in background, listens as NewOrleans Mayor-elect Helena Moreno speaks during the Fiscal Review Committee meeting at the State Capitol last week.

Rich Lowry

Froma Harrop

Will Sutton

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO

Newyork City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, right, hugsSen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.

MacKenzieScott donates

$38M to Xavier University

College celebrates largestgiftin school history

BY MARIE FAZIO Staff writer

Thebillionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott, who has become amajor donor to Louisiana causes and historically Black colleges and universities in recent years, has given Xavier University $38 million, thelargest private donation in the New Orleans school’shistory

The unrestricted gift, announced Tuesday,isScott’s second major donation to Xavier,the country’sonly historically Black and Catholicuniversity,which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year while also dealing with financial pressures.

In 2020,Scott gifted$20 million to the school, which officials said would grow its endowment, expand needbasedscholarships and fund new faculty positions.

Xavier is in the third year of an ambitious $500 million fundraising campaignaimed at increasing student financial aid, improving campus facilities, expanding student support services and boosting faculty recruitment.

In astatement Tuesday, XavierPresident Reynold Verret said Scott’slatest “humbling and inspiring” gift would support those ef-

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The state’s broadband office wasfirst to win approval for its proposal under former President Joe Biden’s administration. Then, earlier this year,President Donald Trump’s administrationrevamped the program, removing apreference for fiber.Soitwas back to the drawing board. In August, the Connect LA office released its updated plan to spend $499 millionto connect households across the state, about $250 millionlessthan its previous proposal. Both Louisiana and the federal government have touted that savings. “After stripping away

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forts,including the push to make theuniversitymore affordable for students from diverse backgrounds

“Thisgenerous gift from MacKenzieScott fills us with profound gratitude,” Verret said. “Ms. Scott’sbelief in Xavier’s missionstrengthens our resolve to carry forward the legacy of Saint KatharineDrexel and preparefuturegenerationsto lead with truth, justice, and service.”

Theex-wife of billionaire Amazon founderJeff Bezos, Scott has pledged to give away half of her wealth during her lifetime. She has donated $19 billioninrecent years to nonprofits, universities and other institutions acrossthe country, including nearly $220 million toabout 50 organizations in Louisiana. The gifts,which requireno application and come with no strings attached, can be transformativefor the recipientsand the peoplethey serve.

Scott has reportedly given well over $700 millionto HBCUs this year,including $38 million to Spelman College in Atlanta,$63 million to Prairie View A&M State University in Texasand $80 million toHoward University in Washington, D.C. She also gifted $70 million to the United NegroCollege Fund, which will investthe money ina shared fund for nearly 40 HBCUs, whose endowments tend to be significantly smaller than those

burdensome rules and regulations and wasteful requirements, taxpayers will save billions in unnecessary costs,” U.S. Secretary of Commerce HowardLutnick said inastatement, “while connecting those in need to high-speed broadband through the full spectrum of broadband technologies.”

Butit’sunclear whether the savings will stay with states or be returned to the U.S. Treasury In aSeptember letter to Lutnick, Landry requested that leftover grant funds be spenton “state-ledinitiatives” in Louisiana that advance nationalgoals around artificialintelligence, educationand workforce training. Thestate hasnot yet heardback,Iyengar said

that would have impacted normal operations, according to the report.

The flight asked the ATC for adirect to LFT before crashinginafield near Carencro at 11 a.m. No transmissions were received between the request and the crash. Surveillance video recorded the airplane in a right spin, with asound consistent with an engine operating upon impact. The aircraft was destroyed and three people were killedin the crash. Officials were called to thescene, Sheriff’sOffice spokesperson Sgt. Chris

of predominately White institutions.

The money provides “a once-in-a-generation opportunity” for HBCUs to “build permanent assets that will support students and campuses for decades to come,” UNCF President and CEO Michael L. Lomax saidina statement.

The $38 million gift to Xavier comes at achallenging moment for the school, whichenrolls about 3,200 students. Last month, the university laidoff nearly 50 employees, or about 6% of the school’s workforce, citing federal funding cuts andpending changes to federal student financial aid.

Despite the layoffs, Verret has said that the school is on solid financial footing. Xavier was establishedin 1925 through the work of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament and MotherKatharineDrexel, who was later named asaint. It is known forpreparingstudentsfor medical professions, and historically it has sent more Black students to medical school than anyother U.S. institution.

Workinginpartnership with Ochsner Health, Xavier is establishing anew medical school that is slated to open in the coming years pending its accreditation. Scott’shistoric gift to Xavier,Verret said, “affirms who we are—and whoweare becoming —ata pivotal moment in our history.”

Manyresidents do not have access to reliable broadband for school. Louisiana gotapprovalfrom the federal governmentfor aplan for speedyinternet, which Gov.

Cormiersaidatthe timeof the crash,after awitness reported asmall plane circling the air, thencrashing down

near aroundabout at Gloria Switch Road and La. 93.

Thedeceased were identified as 58-year-old Bruce

BY DAVID J. MITCHELL Staff writer

An estimated 8-foot-long West Indianmanatee made an easygoing Monday afternoon cruise past waterside homes along the Amite River DiversionCanal in lower Ascension and Livingston parishes, attracting onlookers to the uncommonvisit.

The manatee wasone of threespotted by thepublic since Thursday in the Lake Pontchartrain Basin that state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries staff are trying to find and relocate before the water turns too cold, officials said.

Others were seen Sunday near MarinaRoadinChalmette and on Thursday next to theCausewayBridgenear Metairie, he said, and all are candidates to be relocated to Florida.

“Staff arecoordinating with (the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service), Florida Wildlife Commission, SeaWorld Orlando, Dauphin Island Sea Lab and Audubon Nature Institute to rescue these animals,” ChuckBattaglia,a wildlife department nongame zoologist, said in astatement.

Though the warm waters of southern Florida are awinter base for the threatened mammals, they can range as far north as Massachusetts and as farsouthwest as the GulfCoast, including Louisiana and occasionally Texas, according to theU.S.Marine MammalCommission.

Retired refinery worker Mike Robicheaux, who has lived on theDiversionCanal southofLa. 22 for eight years, captured the sole manatee on video chomping on water lilies along theshoreline between 1p.m.and 2p.m.

Monday

Robicheaux saidhis neighbor had spotted the creature first and shot him atext mes-

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under the property’scurrent CM-1 commercial mixed zoning.

“The scaleofthisdevelopmentand itsmaximum capacityisareason why we feel this use will not be compatible withthe surrounding land uses, especially residentialuses,”staff wrote.

The office hadreceived 11 calls, mostlyfrom residents of the nearby Harbor Lights neighborhood,opposing the entertainment facility.

Verduyn, of The Woodlands, Texas; 46-year-old Lydia Laws,ofSpring, Texas; and 42-year-old Justin Ramsey of The Woodlands, Texas. Verduyn was issued acommercial pilot’s license in October 2024.

FAAregistrant data identified the plane as a2006 Beechcraft G58 Baron, owned by AlignAviationin Woodlands, Texas. Its latest registration certificate was issued Sept. 11, suggesting a recent change in ownership. Justin Ramsey,who perished in the crash, was listed by theTexas Secretary of State’sOffice as theregistered agent for Align Aviation

Email StephenMarcantel at stephen.marcantel@ theadvocate.com.

sage. “He said, ‘Dude, we got a big manatee in the canal.’ I heard it andran outside,and it wasjust kind of swimming really,really slow,justgoing up thecanal,” he said.

Robicheaux, 69, said he and others tracked the manatee throughseveralbackyards stepping over boat docks as it headed north up thecanal alongthe shore.

Eventually,atthe urging of his brother,Keith, Mike Robicheauxwound up in his brother’sbackyard where Mike shot the video of the manatee feeding.

“I hurried up andgot down there, and Iwas like,‘Wow, thisissocool,’”hesaid

He said the manatee fed at his brother’sfor about10 minutes.

Kristi Trail, executive director of the Pontchartrain Conservancy, said manatees are spotted periodically in the brackish LakesMaurepas andPontchartrain, though the sighting on Monday in the diversion canal is alittle farther west anda little later in the year thanistypical.

“Butit’sbeen so warm and dry,I’m not surprised, you know,i.e., thetemperature of the lakehas not really cooled off,” Trailsaid. “A manatee is just like other marine life from outinthe Gulf coming to the lake,because it’san estuary and theyuse thatas nurseries andthey like the warm,shallow water.”

Battaglia said it’s notuncommon to see manatee duringthis time of year,evenin freshwater rivers, but when the weather does cool, most migrate back east

“Some individuals inexplicablywill lingerinLouisiana during cooler monthsand become cold stressed,” he said.

Manatees can die in colder waters. Accordingtothe federal mammal commission, prolongedexposure to wa-

Yury Remedio, the property owner,requested rezoning of the property from its current commercial mixed zoning to commercial heavy Remedio saidthatthe projectwas “years away”from completion. Remedio declinedtocomment.

The building would have a capacity of 3,600 peopleand require 331 parking spaces.

tertemperatures below65 degrees Fahrenheit can be lethal.

Robicheauxsaid he has seen amanatee in the canal before, probably twoyears ago. He said he contacted Wildlifeand Fisheries officials on Tuesday and they told him andhis neighborstokeep watch for the animal so it can be relocated.

Robicheauxsaid officials told himthe white coloring he saw on themammal was an indication of cold stress. Weighing as muchas2,200 pounds, manatees “feed on seagrass, algae andother vegetation in freshwater andestuarine systems in the southeastern United States,” accordingtothe commission Previously “endangered,” manatees hadtheir status improved to “threatened” by theU.S. Fish andWildlife Service in 2017 as populationshaveincreasedover thepast 30 years. Estimates from 2021 and 2022 put manatee populations in Florida at nearly 9,800, with about 4,630 living on the west side of thatstate,accordingtothe commission Boat strikesand thelossof warm water habitats remain major threats to these docile, slow-moving creaturesthat often float just below the water’ssurface.

Robicheauxsaid aboat strike is hismain concern for the manatee thathesaw Monday becausethe canal hasso much traffic. “Even though thisthing was swimming very close to the bank, you know,sometimes these boatscan come close to ourdocks,” he said.

Wildlifeofficialsurged residents to call thedepartment immediately about sightingsat(800) 442-2511 because delays makes it far more difficult to find manatees.

STAFF FILE PHOTO By LESLIE WESTBROOK Emergency personnel and investigators respond to the scene of aplane crash on Oct. 21 in apasture near the intersection of Gloria Switch Road and La. 93 north of Scott.

STAFF FILEPHOTO By TRAVISSPRADLING

Kevin Foote

maybe readyto carryload

So many thingshave happened to this UL Ragin’ Cajuns team, and it seems to get more difficult to make sense of it all week by week. Take the offense, for example. After the first three games, few could imagine the Cajuns heading to Arkansas State at 6:30 p.m. Thursday feeling like the offense has to carry the heaviestload to produce avictory

Yetall signs point in that direction for the Cajuns (4-6, 3-3 Sun Belt), who are still fighting for a bowl berth.

“Wehave to buildoff themomentum we’ve created thelast couple of weeks,” coach Michael Desormeaux said. “The offense, we’ve got to execute, movethe football and score points where every drive doesn’tfeel likeit’sa critical stop.

“So everyone’sgot to elevate their game.” Think about wherethis offense was and what it’sstill havingto overcome. After three weeks, there was an argument UL had the worst passing game in America.

Until the past two weeks, the offensive line seemingly lost one player for the seasoneach week. In all, nine linemen have missed games becauseofinjuries.

“There’sbeen yearshere that we haven’thad nine O-linemen that could even see the field and play,” Desormeaux said. “I mean, not many people can survive this.” Desormeaux saidhedoesn’t think the offensive line played all that well despite scoring 42 points against Texas State. With allthe newcombinations, consistency is missing.

“We’ve got alot of stuff we’ve got to get better at,” Desormeaux said. The problem is UL hasn’tbeen able to practice hard on those problem areas to ensure enough healthy bodies are ready toplay. Somewhere along the way, though, the offensehas become the strength of the team.

One obvious reason is the insertion of sophomore quarterback Lunch Winfield, who has been a fabulousleader

“The bigger the moment,the bigger he plays,” Desormeaux saidofWinfield. “If it was up to him, he’d have 40 carriesagame. We’re trying to limit those.” But even after Winfield’sheroics in the 54-51 double-overtime win over Marshall, the offense waslimited to 14 points at James Madison and 10 points at home against Southern Miss. Even in a35-23 loss at Troy,two interceptions turned that game in the Trojans’ favor But after 31 points at South Alabama and 42 againstTexas State,

Taking good with bad

BY KOKI RILEY Staffwriter

Afront-runner has emerged in theLSU football coaching search.

OleMiss coach Lane Kiffin, who is in the midst of leadingthe Rebels to apotential College Football Playoffappearance next month, hasbecome the centralfocus of LSU’ssearch, sources told The Advocate on Monday

The school alsosent aprivate plane to pick up Kiffin’s family in Oxford,Mississippi,onMondaysotheycould fly to Baton Rouge andtour the city.

LSUisn’t theonly school interestedin

Kiffin. He’sreportedlyatop targetfor Florida, and his family reportedly visited Gainesville, Florida, on Sunday.Kiffin also couldstay at Ole Miss, which is eager to retain acoach whoseled theRebelsto three consecutive 10-win seasons for the first timeinprogram history

ButifLSU wins thistightlycontested battlefor Kiffin’sservices, howwould he fit at LSU? Hereare the pros and cons of Kiffin taking the LSUjob.

Pro: Therésumé

Since he was hired at Ole Miss ahead of the 2020 season, Kiffin has led the Rebels to a54-19 record, two New Year’s Six bowl

JohnBeam sat in Soldier Fieldless than amonth ago like aproud father

And in away, he was New Orleans Saints defensive backRejzohn Wright was on one sideline, and Chicago Bears defensiveback Nahshon Wright was on theother

appearances andnearlya trip to theCFP last year if it weren’tfor alate-season loss to Florida.

OleMissisalmost alocktomakethe CFPthis year at 10-1. The Rebels beat LSUback in Week 5, earnedacritical road winover Oklahoma afew weeks later,and their only loss came to Georgia on the road by eight points.

Kiffin’s résumé before arrivingatOle Miss is spottier.Hehad amessy departure from Tennessee after just one 7-6 season, held amiddling 10-8 record in his last season and ahalf at Southern Cal

See KIFFIN, page 3C

BY REED DARCEY Staff writer

The LSUwomen’s basketball team doesn’ttake many 3-pointers.

It hasn’tsince coach Kim Mulkey took over in 2021, anditisn’tnow, with thefirst five games of the season in thebooks.

Butnoteam in the country is off to ahotter start from beyond the arcthan the No. 5Tigers (5-0), who are both taking and making more long-range shots thantheydid in each of the previous four seasons.

Through five games, LSU is shooting 47% from 3-point range —one of thekey reasonsitemerged from itswin at Tulane on Monday with thenation’stop scoring offense.

“It’snot anything that we’re doing differently,” Mulkey said.

While Beamisn’tactually the Wright brothers’dad, he’sbeen there for them ever since they no longer hadone.

Rejzohn and Nahshon’sfather was shot and killed in December 2017.

Rejzohn was still in high school at the time. Hisolder brother was playing at Laney College in Oakland, California, where Beam was the head coach.

“When our dad was shot and killed, thenext morning Beam

But the numbers look different. Maybe it’s merely ahot streak. An early-season mirage.

Or perhaps it’sasign this LSU team is abigger threat from 3-point range than each of the first four groupsthatMulkey puttogether during her tenure in Baton Rouge —and thus amore dangerous offensive team all together

The sample size is widening, and theTigers aren’tcooling off.

They’ve alreadydrained 40 3s on just 85 attempts. No Division Iteamthat hastaken morethan 80 shotsfrom beyond thearc is

converting thoselooksata higher rate. The nation’ssecond-most efficient 3-point shooting team (South Alabama) is making 43% of the shots it’staking from long range. LSU has hit at least six 3-pointers in all five games. “I mean,wepractice 3s the same waywehave since I’ve been here, since I’ve been coaching,” Mulkey said. “It might be just betterrecruiting, huh? Bringing in players that can shoot it.” Flau’jae Johnson is 12 of 19 from 3-point range.Mikaylah Williams

STAFF FILE PHOTO By BRAD KEMP

UL quarterback Lunch Winfield has led an offense thathas averaged 32 pointsin its past threegames.

STAFF PHOTO By HILARy SCHEINUK LSUguard Mikaylah Williams shoots over Charlotte’sTanajah Hayeslast Wednesday. Williams is 11 of 18 on 3-point shots.

Walker

PROVIDED PHOTO

Saints defensiveback Rejzohn Wright, left, and his brother Nahshon Wright, right, flank John Beam, their coach at Laney Collegein California. Beam was shot on Thursday and died aday later

Highland Baptist wins historic title

Bears secure school’s first boys state title; girls place second

BY MIKE COPPAGE Contributing writer

Highland Baptist dominated the Division V state cross country meet Monday in Natchitoches, winning the boys competition and finishing second in girls.

The Bears placed first, second and fifth among boys performers to win by a 24-point margin over No. 2 Hackberry Tyler Blissett won his 13th state title (indoor and outdoor) with a time of 15:45. Teammates David Nowakowski (17:45.5) and Richard Nowakowski (18:13.8) were in the top five.

“It’s the school’s first state championship in a boys sport,” Highland coach Toby Blissett said.

“David’s race played out exactly as expected. He was projected to come in second and let other runners go out ahead, then made his way back to the front after the 2-mile mark.

“Tyler works really hard,” said coach Blissett, his father “He takes it extremely seriously, everything that goes into being an elite athlete, from rest to his diet and all the little things. He works extremely hard.”

Bears runners Henry Nicholson and Caden Lee were 21st and 37th respectively

PROVIDED PHOTO

The Highland Baptist boys cross country team won the school’s first state championship in a boys sport Monday in Natchitoches.

The Highland Baptist girls, who won state in 2022 and finished as runner-up last year, were led by Madalynn Salsmann and Ella Blake. Salsmann was second and Blake placed fourth as the Bears completed the meet 13 points behind winner St. Martin’s Episcopal.

“Ella ran well and finished about where we expected,” Blissett said.

“Madalynn had an incredible race and outperformed my expecta-

tions but not her ability She was due for a breakout race and had it yesterday.”

Among other girls runners, Basyn Boudoin came in 16th, Amelia Perrero was 23rd and Sophie Morris was 35th. Episcopal School of Acadiana and Ascension Episcopal placed third and fifth, respectively, in Division IV girls.

St. Thomas More and Teurlings Catholic were Nos. three and four

in Division II. Erath was sixth in Division III girls. Lafayette High was seventh in Division I boys. The Erath boys were sixth in Division III. Lafayette Christian was second in Division IV

The Division II boys were wellrepresented from the area with No. 2 STM, No. 4 Teurlings Catholic, No. 6 David Thibodaux and No. 7 Acadiana Renaissance placing well.

Texans QB Stroud won’t play Thursday vs. Bills

Houston quarterback C.J. Stroud is still recovering from a concussion and will miss a third straight game when the Texans host the Buffalo Bills on Thursday night.

Stroud returned to practice Tuesday for the first time since he was injured, but coach DeMeco Ryans said the short week didn’t leave enough time for him to be ready to play

The Texans also will be without safety Jalen Pitre, who will miss a third game also after suffering a concussion in the Nov 2 loss to the Broncos.

Davis Mills will start for a third week after leading Houston to wins over Jacksonville and Tennessee in the last two games to help the Texans (5-5) reach .500 for the first time this season.

Titans lose receiver Ridley to a broken right leg

The Tennessee Titans put wide receiver Calvin Ridley on injured reserve Tuesday after he broke his right leg on their first offensive play Sunday

The Titans signed James Proche from the practice squad to fill the roster spot. They also signed Lance McCutcheon and Kristian Wilkerson to the practice squad.

Ridley finishes his second season with Tennessee (1-9) with 303 yards receiving on 17 catches and no touchdown receptions. Ridley led the Titans with 1,017 yards receiving in 2024.

He caught a 13-yard pass from Cam Ward on the Titans’ first offensive play before being tackled by Azeez Al-Shaair and Calen Bullock. Ridley walked to the sideline where he rode a cart to the locker room with a broken fibula.

Antetokounmpo expected to miss a couple of weeks

Milwaukee Bucks coach Doc Rivers expects Giannis Antetokounmpo’s groin strain to keep the two-time MVP out for “probably two weeks.”

Team scores: 1. Jesuit, 29, 2. Brother Martin 93, 3. Catholic-BR, 105, 4. Parkway, 140, 5. Ruston, 171. Individuals: 1. Brady Monahan, Jesuit, 14:59.7. 2. Brennan Robin, Parkway 15:05.7. 3. Nick Accardo, Jesuit, 15:18.3. 4. Augustin Juneau, Catholic-BR, 15:20.9. 5. Jayden Williams, Airline, 15:25.6. 6 Shrey Shah, Dutchtown, 15:31.6. 7. Connor Fanberg Jesuit, 15:37.2. 8. David Quintana, Jesuit, 15:38.3. 9. Brayden Berglund, Mandeville, 15:44.6. 10. Nicholas Braud, Jesuit, 15:47.1. Division II

Team scores: 1. E.D. White, 87, 2. St. Thomas More, 93. 3. West Ouachita, 93. 4. Teurlings Catholic, 133, 5. Belle Chasse, 136. Individuals: 1. Barrett Richards, David Thibodaux, 15:38.1. 2. John Henry Fitzgerald, St. Thomas More, 15:48.6. 3. Emerson Cullen, David Thibodaux, 15:57.6. 4. Jack Kelley, West Ouachita, 16:00.0. 5. Joshua Guidry, South Lafourche, 16:00.9. 6. William Ledet, E.D. White, 16:07.8. 7. Jack Pattillo, Caddo Magnet, 16:09.7. 8. Liam Kelso, Vanderbilt Catholic, 16:09.9. 9. Matthew Plaisance, E.D. White, 16:24.6. 10. Aaron May, West Ouachita, 16:27.5. Division III

Team scores: 1. Episcopal, 39, 2. Newman 87, 3. Parkview Baptist, 91, 4. John Curtis, 139, 5. Erath, 163. Individuals: 1. Andrew Watts, Parkview Baptist, 15:55.8. 2. Maximos Tsolakis, Uni-

WALKER

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came and woke both of us up,” Rejzohn Wright recalls. “The rest is history.”

Rejzohn ended up following in his big brother’s footsteps and went to Laney, the beginning of a path that eventually led both of them to the NFL.

Beam was proud of his two former players, which is why he made to make the trip to Soldier Field on Oct. 19 when the Bears beat the Saints 26-14.

Little did Rejzohn know that would be the last time he’d ever see Beam, who was shot Thursday on the campus of Laney College and died a day later Now the Wrights have lost both a father and a father figure to gun violence.

Rejzohn reflected on both incidents Monday morning.

“That was a tough time,” Wright said about losing his father eight years ago. “So to have someone that I had never met to wake me up the next day and come get us and tell us he had our back for the rest of our lives, that meant everything. Then for him to actually have been there for us ever since. That’s a one-ofa-kind person.” If it wasn’t for Beam, Wright knows he wouldn’t have been sitting in the Saints’ locker room

versity Lab, 16:04.9. 3. William Foster Lambert, Episcopal, 16:06.1. 4. Logan Degruy Newman, 16:08.5. 5. Cooper Hunt, Parkview Baptist, 16:11.5. 6. Jacob HutchinsonJohnson, Episcopal, 16:23.6. 7. Mason Kelly, Episcopal, 16:31.0. 8. Dominik D’avignon, Sterlington 16:35.3. 9. Blake Bordelon, John Curtis, 16:35.5. 10. Aiden Grassmann, Episcopal, 16:45.8. Division IV Team scores: 1. Houma Christian, 87, 2 Lafayette Christian, 99, 3. Dunham, 112, 4. Avoyelles Public Charter, 125, 5. Country Day, 145. Individuals: 1. Talan Sievers, Lafayette Christian, 15:30.6. 2. Chimaobi Okechukwu, Westminster Christian, 16:31.9. 3. Luke Alexander, Cedar Creek, 16:38.1. 4. Jackson Soileau Sacred Heart, 16:43.1. 5. Lawson Juneau Avoyelles Public Charter, 16:46.6 6. Hudson Cormier, St. Thomas Aquinas, 16:48.0. 7. August Fesi, Houma Christian, 17:08.8. 8. Parker Gautreau, Lafayette Christian, 17:10.9. 9. Austin Siebeneicher, Menard, 17:13.8. 10. Zack Whitaker, Houma Christian, 17:17.7. Division V Team scores: 1. Highland Baptist, 60, 2. Hackberry, 84. 3. Plainview, 105, 4. Christ Episcopal School, 158. 5. Georgetown, 163. Individuals: 1. Tyler Blissett, Highland Baptist, 15:45.0. 2. David Nowakowski, Highland Baptist, 17:45.5. 3. Devin Murphy, Hackberry 18:04.5. 4. Kendan Maricle, Plainview, 18:09.0. 5. Richard Nowakowski, Highland Baptist, 18:13.8. 6. Omar Hijazi, St. Martin’s Episcopal, 18:15.7. 7. Carl Fortenberry, Mt. Hermon, 18:32.6. 8. Colton Crum, Harrisonburg, 18:45.2. 9. John Bickel, Simpson, 18:52.4. 10. Noah Clark, Christ Episcopal, 18:58.0

doing this interview Heck, he wouldn’t have been in any NFL locker room.

Wright missed three months of high school after his father was killed, but Beam gave him a chance. A last chance, which is fitting since Laney was the backdrop for the fifth and final season of the Netflix documentary “Last Chance U.”

There was one lesson that Beam taught Wright that always will stick with him.

“Just be humble,” said Wright, now in his second season with the Saints. “For me, it was to be humble and to understand that I wasn’t good enough at the time. I was good, but I wasn’t great. He always kept me grounded.”

The relationship with Beam was rock solid, despite the poetic liberty the documentary sometimes took. The documentary itself, though, was a good thing for Wright.

“It was a one-of-a-kind experience,” he said “I was 18 in a bad part of the world driving two hours every day to a junior college. It was unique. It put me out there recruiting wise.”

After his time at Laney, Wright played at Oregon State. He went undrafted in 2023 but ended up in training camp with the Carolina Panthers. They cut him at the end of camp, and the rest of that season was him working out for teams.

The Saints signed him after

Girls Division I Team scores: 1. Mount Carmel, 55. 2. St. Joseph, 89. 3. Ruston, 136. 4. Dominican, 176. 5. C.E. Byrd, 227. Individuals: 1. Grace Keene, Northshore, 17:21.7. 2. Stella Junius, Mount Carmel, 17:42.3. 3. Lucy Thomas, Baton Rouge High, 18:11.1. 4. Eden Dawsey, Ruston, 18:14.9. 5 Hannah Schneider, St. Joseph, 18:21.3. 6 Keira Melan, Dutchtown, 18:39.6. 7. Lucy Quintana, Mount Carmel, 18:40.1. 8. Ella Willoughby, St. Amant, 18:43.4. 9. Grace Schneider, Dominican, 18:53.3. 10. Lila Silk, Denham Springs, 18:55.2 Division II Team scores: 1. E.D. White, 61. 2. Academy of Sacred Heart, 64. 3. St. Thomas More, 86. 4. Teurlings Catholic, 120. 5. Willow School 157. Individuals: 1. Emma Aldana Huelga, Willow School, 18:28 0. 2. Abigail Leger, Teurlings Catholic, 18:57.3. 3. Leah Varisco, Academy of Sacred Heart, 19:08.9. 4. Mia Cestia, St. Thomas More, 19:12.6. 5. Caroline Molaison, E.D. White, 19:16.9. 6. Finley Buhler, Academy of Sacred Heart, 19:22.5. 7. Caroline Varisco, Academy of Sacred Heart, 19:28.9 8. Katie Guidry, E.D. White, 19:39.3. 9. Abby Mendoza, St. Thomas More, 19:41.2. 10. Jacklyn McMenamin, Hannan, 19:47.3 Division III

Team scores: 1. Parkview Baptist, 27. 2. Episcopal, 39. 3. Newman, 136. 4. Buckeye, 171. 5. Haynes, 201. Individuals: 1. Molly Cramer, Parkview Baptist, 18:19.5. 2. Neva Lambert, Episcopal, 18:33.6. 3. Georgia Theriot, Parkview Baptist, 18:44.3. 4. Lucy Cramer, Parkview Baptist,

the 2023 season. He was placed on injured reserve during the 2024 season after a toe injury but came back and made the team this season.

Wright has played in three games in 2025, with his playing coming on special teams.

But he believes his time is coming. Beam reminded him of that in Chicago.

“He told me to stay focused, stay in it,” Wright said. “He reminded me that I’m taking the steps that I need to become something in this league. Keep staying grounded and eventually it’ll come. Kinda like it did for my brother.”

His big brother currently has four interceptions, tied for fourth in the NFL. One of those four picks came in that game against the Saints with Beam watching. Another one came Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings, two days after Beam’s death.

“I gained an angel,” Nahshon told the media after Sunday’s game. “He was watching over me.”

Watching over Nashon and Rejzohn just like he promised he would on that life-changing morning in 2017. Beam cared about everyone. It’s why tributes from athletes such as Damian Lillard and Maxx Crosby flooded social media.

“Beam had connections everywhere,” Rejzohn said.

19:19.8. 5. Ada Mere, Episcopal, 19:42.8. 6. Lauren Bradford, Episcopal, 19:52.0. 7. Sophia Feritta, Loyola Prep, 20:09.0. 8. Sophie Nguyen, Newman, 20:45.5. 9. Brynlie Monistere, Parkview Baptist, 20:54.2. 10. Quinn Saucier, Parkview Baptist, 21:01.7. Division IV

Team scores: 1. Country Day, 75. 2. Louise McGehee, 106. 3. Episcopal School of Acadiana, 116. 4. Bell City, 146. 5. Ascension Episcopal, 177. Individuals: 1. Varenka Zhuk, Country Day, 18:19.9. 2. Sawyer Kaitlyn Hathaway, 18:30.8. 3. Mary Claire Leckert, Louis McGehee, 18:39.5. 4. Celia Adams, St. Thomas Aquinas, 18:46.9. 5. Bella Biggerstaff, Ascension Episcopal, 19:20.1. 6. Rachel Hill, St. Federick, 19:38.3. 7. Jiya Lodha, Episcopal School of Acadiana, 19:40.4. 8. Kaylee Siebeneicher, Menard, 19:48.0. 9. Colette Alvarado, Country Day, 19:55.4. 10: Sophia Acevedo, Anacoco, 20:00.1. Division V Team scores: 1. St. Martin’s Episcopal, 55. 2. Highland Baptist, 68. 3. Christ Episcopal, 99. 4. Pitkin, 122. 5. Evans, 132. Individuals: 1. Reese Jeane, Evans, 18:37.4. 2. Madalynn Salsman, Highland Baptist, 19:18.5. 3. Kate Ellzey, Florien, 19:21.8. 4. Ella Blake, Highland Baptist, 19:49.4. 5. Noah Watson, Christ Episcopal, 20:24.6. 6. Olive Diaz, St. Martin’s Episcopal, 20:46.4. 7. Juliet Whitaker, St. Martin’s Episcopal, 20:47.5. 8. Lydia Wisby, Pitkin, 20:55.1. 9. Nia Norton, St. Martin Episcopal, 20:57.6. 10. Tabitha Dry, Montgomery, 21.37.3.

Tulane coach Jon Sumrall spent time as an assistant at the University of San Diego and knew Beam from his time there.

“He had a heart for people,” Sumrall said. “He had a presence about him. He could be stern, but at the same time, loving and gentle. He had a really cool demeanor I was heartbroken. I still am.”

So are the Wright brothers. During the offseason, they would go back to Laney College and just sit and talk to the guy who was a father figure to them. They’d talk about everything from football to finances.

“He was just a super big part of our lives, even outside of just being a coach,” Rejzohn said. Rejzohn got the bad news Thursday during the Saints’ bye week as he was driving to Georgia. Funeral arrangements haven’t been finalized yet, but he is hoping to attend. He wants to be there for the Beam family just like the Beam family has been there for him.

“If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t be here,” Wright said. “He came and got us out of a funk.” Where would Wright be if it wasn’t for Beam bringing him to Laney?

“I don’t know,” Wright said. “But if we’re being honest, probably nowhere.”

Email Rod Walker at rwalker@ theadvocate.com.

Rivers discussed the injury Tuesday while speaking on the “Courtside with Gale Klappa” podcast. “I don’t know what grade it is, but I know it’s not a bad one, so that’s good news for us,” Rivers said. “But yet still, probably two weeks he’ll be out And we’ll see Hopefully less, but most likely in that area.”

The left groin strain caused Antetokounmpo to leave during the second quarter of the Bucks’ 118106 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday night.

Rivers said afterward that he believed the injury occurred earlier in the game.

Injured hamstring forces Alcaraz out of Davis Cup

Carlos Alcaraz will go another year without fulfilling his dream of winning the Davis Cup for Spain.

The top-ranked Alcaraz said Tuesday he’s heartbroken to withdraw from the Davis Cup Finals in Bologna, Italy, because of an injured right hamstring.

The decision was recommended by doctors, he said.

“I’m so sorry to announce that I won’t be able to play for Spain in the Davis Cup in Bologna,” Alcaraz said on X. “I have an edema in my right hamstring and the medical recommendation is not to compete.”

He was hurt during last week’s ATP Finals, where he reached the title match before losing to rival Jannik Sinner, and was diagnosed with muscle overload and swelling of his right hamstring.

PGA Tour golfer Perez first this year to join LIV Golf

Victor Perez of France is the first player this year to leave the PGA Tour for Saudi-funded LIV Golf, with the league announcing Tuesday he will join the Cleeks.

Perez had joint membership on the PGA Tour and European tour with three European tour titles. He played only the French Open this year among tournaments that were not on the PGA Tour schedule. His best finish was a tie for ninth in the RBC Canadian Open. He replaces Frederik Kjettrup, who was relegated out of LIV Golf by not finishing in the top 48 on the points list.

Perez, who is No. 108 in the FedEx

is 11 of 18. MiLaysia Fulwiley —the South Carolina transfer who shot just 26% from beyond the arclast season —is8of20(40%) after she drainedfive 3s in LSU’swin over Charlotte last Thursday

Even freshman guard Bella Hines has contributed to the hot start. She’shit a3infourofthe fivegames, which means she’ll enter the Tigers’ next matchup Thursday at home against Alcorn State (7 p.m., SEC Network+) with seven long-range makes on 12 attempts.

Last season, LSU didn’thit its 40th3-pointer until its ninth game Dec. 1. This team hit thatmarkinthe fourth quarter of just the fifthgame

“Wedon’thave just oneshooter,” Fulwiley said.“I feel like everybody on our team are shooters, and we gotalot of depth, and that gives us more confidence to shoot it because we know that our post player is gonna grab the rebound if we miss, andwecan shoot again.”

In its road win over theGreenWave, LSU needed two late free throwstoscrape past thecenturymark for the fifthgame in arow,matchingthe SEC record for consecutive 100-point games thatits nationaltitle team set in 2022

TheTigerswon by 30 points,but theydidn’tbludgeon Tulane like they did their first fouropponents

The Green Wave, for instance, lost the last three quarters by only seven total points after it fell behind by 23 points at the end of thefirst quarter.Tulanealso grabbed 15 offensive rebounds —the fourth-most LSU has allowedaregular-season nonconference op-

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the offense might be readyto lead the charge against Arkansas State.

Desormeaux admitted hewasn’t envisioning the ability to score this many points after theMissouri game on Sept. 13.

“This year has been kind of crazy,” Desormeaux said. “There’s really no blueprint withall the things that have happened

“Last year,itwas very clear protect the football,the offense willbe really efficient, eat up a lot of clock and score pointswhen you get in the scoring area.”

This year,it’sabout hopingthe offensive line is healthy enough to lean on the running game, and also hope Winfield and receiver Shelton Sampson can spin some magic. After aslow start and numerous injuries, Sampson hastransformed himself into the No. 1 receiver UL envisioned with24

Wednesday.

ponent to pull down in theMulkey era.

The Tigers still won withease, in part because they drained three of thefive shotsthey took from beyond the arc in thedecisive first quarter

“There’s not aperimeter player that we have that is uncomfortable from the 3,” Mulkey said, “and Isit hereand Ireally have to think,‘We don’thave one perimeter player that the3isnot in their range.’ Look, they come offthe bench,and they’re goingtojackit.”

catches for 442 yards and five scores.

“I’m glad mentally he wasable to stay in thefight and stay in stay in themix for usbecausewejust livein aworld whereeverybody’s so quick to judge what’shappening whenwegot no ideawhat’sgoing on behindclosed doors and behind the scenes,” Desormeaux saidofSampson. “I mean, allthis kid’sdone since he’s gothere hasworked smile on his face, great teammate …he’sbeennothing but great.”

Even better,afew other targets have emerged during for theCajuns.

Charles Robertson has only 10 catches for 182 yards and ascore, but he’s hadthe two season-savingcatches on third down.

Also, Landon Strother had some keythird-down grabs against Texas State, andtight end Caden Jensen’s touchdown grab coming off an injury makes the offense even more potent.

“Having him back is huge, and hopefully this weekwecan keep building some confidence in him,” Desormeaux said of Jensen.

Assuming the offensive line doesn’ttake any more hits, the running back room also looks rejuvenated with Bill Davis (122-556, 4 TDs)and Zylan Perry (110-602, 7 TDs)getting their secondwind.

“Our running backs are running incredibly hard, you know,especially with an offensive line that you got so manymoving parts in,” Desormeaux said. “They’re maximizing the yards, they’re making people miss, and they’re running through contact

“They’re also playing really hard without the ball. We’re blocking down thefield in the perimeter ” It’spossible UL’s shorthanded defense will perform better against aveteran Arkansas State offense. Last year,Kody Jackson stepped up in abig way after Tyree Skipper suffered an injury, so it’s possible thenewcomers will perform.

Butifnot, the offense may be ready if ashootout is necessary Email KevinFooteatkfoote@ theadvocate.com.

KIFFIN

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—after leading theTrojansto10 wins in Year 2—and posted an abysmal 5-15 recordinlessthan two years as the Oakland Raiders head coach.

But if you believe in Kiffin’s reinvention —first as theoffensive coordinatoratAlabamaand then as the head coach at Florida Atlantic before arriving in Oxford —thenhis recent track record suggests he canleadLSU to national championship-level heights.

Con: High school recruiting

Under Kiffin, Ole Miss has not landeda top-15 high school recruiting class in the nation, according to the 247Sports Composite’steam rankings. The Rebels’ highest ranking is 16th, amarker theyhit with their2025class. Ole Miss’2026 classiscurrently 20th in the nation.

Under Kiffin, theprogram instead has landed most of its top talent through the transfer portal, adding top-five portalclasses in each of thelast four seasons and the No.1class in 2024. But even if the portal always will be acritical part of LSU’sroster-building approach, tapping into the school’suber-talented recruitingbase in Louisiana is an essential aspect of the job. That base is alsowhy Kiffin mayhaveaneasier time recruitinghigh school talent in Louisiana than in Mississippi, where the Rebelshavetoshare the state with Mississippi State and—in comparison to Louisiana —pull from arelatively shallower pool of players. Kiffindoes have atrack record of signing top-10 recruiting classes while coaching in a state that hasaplethora of talented high school players. He delivered top-three recruitingclasses at USCin2010and 2011 before signing atop-10class in 2012.

Pro: Finding, developing QBs Kiffin’strack record of developing quarterbacks andoffenses may be second to none,atleast at the collegiate level. At Ole Miss, Kiffin turned Matt Corral into an NFL draftpick, helped Jaxson Dart become a first-round selection this year and is on the verge of making the CFP with Trinidad Chambliss —a transfer fromDivision II Ferris State. Kiffin also coached Matt

Barkley at USC, won anational championship with JakeCoker at Alabama and helped develop Jalen Hurts during his freshman year at Alabama in 2016.

Even though those quarterbacks werenot Heisman Trophy winners or top-10 picks, Kiffin’s schemeconsistentlygot the best outofeach player. Ole Miss has been withinthe top 30 in thecountry in scoring every season under his leadership. USCaveraged better than 31 points percontest, and Alabama scored more than 35 points agame each year he led those offenses.

Con: Possible wait,pay

Much of the debate around Kiffin’scandidacy at LSU, Florida or elsewhere revolves around whether that team would have to wait forOle Miss’ CFP run to end before hiring him. According to multiple reports, that may notbethe case, as Ole Miss reportedly hastold Kiffin he must decideonwhether he’s taking the LSU or Florida job before theRebels’ next game against Mississippi State in the Egg Bowl on Nov.28. Kiffindenied that assertion on Tuesday

EvenifKiffindecidestocome to LSU before Ole Miss’ last game, the Tigers probably will have to sign him to amassive contract, one that couldmake him the highest-paid coach in college football. Sources have told The Advocatethat LSUiswilling to pay whatever it takes to bring in thecoach it wants, butquestions remain as to howa big contract forKiffin could affect LSU’sability to spend on its own roster

Pro: Kiffin’sfamiliarity

LSUsenior associate athleticdirector of football administration Austin Thomas worked with Kiffin at Ole Miss fortwo seasons as the program’schiefofstaffand sports administrator (2022-23). Additionally,Kiffin has worked alongside LSU assistant general manager Kevin Bolden,who was at Ole Miss forthreeseasons (2022-24) as the Rebels’ coordinator of recruiting strategy

If LSU hires Kiffin, and Thomas and Boldenstaywiththe program, the Tigers mayhave aleg up when it comes to putting together theirroster for the 2026 season and beyond.

Staff writers Wilson Alexander and Scott Rabalais contributed to this report

STAFF PHOTO By HILARySCHEINUK

guard MiLaysiaFulwileycelebrates after hitting a 3-pointer against Charlotte last

MACY’S THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE

Stars set to shine at holiday event

BY MARK KENNEDY Associated Press

NEW YORK Ciara, Foreigner, Lil Jon, Kool & the Gang Busta Rhymes, Mickey Guyton and Teyana Taylor will feature in this year’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, which will also cement “KPop Demon Hunters” as a pop culture phenomenon with appearances by the movie’s singers on the ground and cute characters in balloons overhead.

An eclectic group of stars — from ballet dancer Tiler Peck to YouTube’s “Hot Ones” host Sean Evans — will join the annual holiday kickoff, highlighted by Audrey Nuna, EJAE and Rei Ami of HUNTR/X, the fictional girl group at the heart of the Netflix K-pop hit. The trio are behind the film’s soundtrack, which hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and recently went platinum. Two characters from the movie — Derpy Tiger and Sussie — will join the parade lineup as a mid-sized balloon and the adorably named balloonicle

The parade will begin at 8:30 a.m. on Nov 27 in all time zones and will feature 32 balloons, three ballonicles, 27 floats, 33 clown groups and 11 marching bands all leading the way for Santa Claus. The familiar TV hosts Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb and Al Roker from the “Today” show will return on NBC and Peacock. More stars will be announced later

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By JULIA DEMAREE NIKHINSON

The Snoopy balloon soars down Sixth Avenue during the 2024 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Broadway will be represented by cast members from “Buena Vista Social Club,” “Just in Time” and “Ragtime,” while the Radio City Rockettes will be there and some serious athletes — threetime U.S. national champion figure skater Ilia Malinin and U.S Paralympian Jack Wallace.

Every year, spectators line up a half-dozen deep along the route to cheer the floats, entertainers and marching bands. Last year, more than 31 million people tuned in on NBC and Peacock, up 10% from the previous year and marking the biggest audience ever for the parade. This year, four new featured character balloons will debut, including Buzz Lightyear, PacMan, Mario from Super Mario Brothers and a 32-foot-tall balloon onion carriage featuring eight characters from the world of “Shrek.” Ahead of next year’s 100th anniversary of the parade, organizers are also including balloons from previous marches, including Rainbow trout, the Happy Hippo Triple Stack, Wigglefoot and Freida the Dachshund.

FLAVOR IN EVERY DETAIL

Lafayette welcomes new spot for high-end Italian dining, thanks to local restaurateurs

IBY JOANNA BROWN Staff writer

f you’re a fan of rustic lasagna, silky cacio e pepe, tender steaks or homemade cannoli that melts in your mouth, Lafayette’s newest Italian restaurant has a seat for you However it’s best to reserve it ahead of time.

Cugino, a restaurant focused on classic Sicilian-Italian dishes, opened in the former Tchoup’s Midcity Restaurant a month ago after a full renovation of the bar and dining spaces The result is an intimate, high-end dining experience that fills up quickly for lunch or dinner After all, Lafayette has known for decades now that when it comes to food from Gene Todaro, it’s best to sit up and pay attention.

Todaro founded another local Italian restaurant, Marcello’s, more than 40 years ago. That experiment in high-end dining — led with chefcrafted dishes and expert sommeliers — remains one of Lafayette’s top nights out, where every detail is crafted with quality in mind.

Todaro, with partner Hunter Moody, has created similar vibes at

Cugino. After years of opening restaurants in New Orleans and Baton Rouge, the Lafayette native (by way of Sicily) wanted to return home and take on another challenge. He sold Marcello’s Lafayette to local restaurant group Southern Hospitality Kitchens in 2021, and felt it

was time to make a new mark on Lafayette’s celebrated dining scene. “I’ve done Italian food for many years, but this is more Sicilian cuisine. People say, ‘What’s the difference?’ ” Todaro said “Sicilian is

ä See CUGINO, page 6C

Co-owners Gene Todaro, left, and Hunter Moody sit at the bar of Cugino.

STAFF PHOTOS By BRAD KEMP

Shift lead server Samantha Boudreaux carries a tray of food to be served at the new Italian restaurant Cugino, in the former Tchoup’s Midcity Restaurant space, in Lafayette.

CUGINO

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more of apeasant cuisine. That just means it’ssimpler, and it hasthe flavors everyone looks for.Ihave cousins in northernItaly,and every time Ivisit them, the one thing they want from me is my recipes. Even though their food is good, they like theextra flavorofSicilian cuisine.”

He says that one of Cugino’stop-selling dishes so far is the “Veal Norma,” abreaded veal cutlet with eggplant, pine nuts,ricotta salata, marinara and spaghetti. It is named for Siciliancomposer Vincenzo Bellino, who wrote the opera “Norma” in 1831.

“Every time he went to the theater to perform, he stopped at arestaurant and askedthemtofixhim pasta with eggplant, pine nuts and several other things. Ihappened to have it in Catania, where Bellini was born, and decidedtointroduce it to Lafayette.”

Todaro’spartnership with Hunter Moody brings afresh, meticulously choreographed energytothe restaurant. Moody,alongtime restaurateur in his own right, is no stranger to thebustle of the hospitality world. He previously owned aSonny’sBBQ franchise in Baton Rouge, then worked as adistrict manager for Chicken Salad Chick before settling back

Aplate of porkcheek ragu over polenta is servedupatCugino.

home in Lafayette to manage River Ranch eateries Pour, Romacelli and Ninety9 Bistro.

Even with these bona fides, Moody says that opening Cugino with Todaro has been something extra special.

“I met him about ayear ago, and he liked thework Iwas doingand howImanage arestaurant.I was ina place where Iwas readyto own again,and Ithought,‘If Ican createaconcept with Mr.Gene, our odds of success goway up.’

“Weattracted some of the best peopleintowntocome work with us, like our head chef,Mal Tossell, andsous chef Eddie Jacobs. We’ve embarked on ajourney together as agroup, and we pour our heartsout.Just

amonthin, the response we’ve gotten from thecommunity is something Gene and Ididn’tevenexpect. I think what’s happened here is our food is very good. Our service is really good.And the atmosphere just ties it together.”

Cugino is open at 117 S. College Road, Lafayette, on Wednesday and Thursday from 11 a.m. to 2p.m., and 5p.m. to 9p.m. Weekend hours start Friday from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., Saturday from 5p.m. to 9:30 p.m., and Sundayfrom 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The restaurant is closed Monday and Tuesday

Email Joanna Brown at joanna.brown@ theadvocate.com.

simple

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The dish also came with aside of rice, so the whole meal wasn’ttoo heavy but was still fulfilling. It felt like amidday pick-me-up

Ileft with afull bellyand a to-go box with leftovers,a two-for-one deal.

—Maddie Scott, features reporter

Rolled sandwich

n Roly Poly,1004 CoolidgeSt., Lafayette

I’m not sure why sandwiches are so often even tastier once they’ve been rolled. Pinwheels, burritos, wraps —something about the way the ingredients wrap around the sandwich tends to bring everything together in anew and exciting way,evenwhen you’re eating something pretty

PARADE

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This half-sized, wrapped andgrilledsandwichfrom Roly Poly in Lafayette’sOil Center hit all the right notes. Thehickory cristo had smoked turkey,swiss and briecheese, spinach, tomatoes andmushrooms, with spicy honey mustard for dipping. It’s an elevated turkey sandwich in alittle rolled-up package that came in theperfect size for lunch. The menu is extensive, so Roly Poly can wrap prettymuchany sandwich you want,just theway you wantit.

—JoannaBrown, staff writer

Pork bowl n Barracuda Taco Stand,2504 Government St., Baton Rouge

I’ve indulged in many tacos in the warm ambiance at BarracudaTaco Stand But Ididn’tevenknow they had bowlsonthe menu until

Lack of leadership makes fora confusingworkplace

Dear Miss Manners: Iworkat anonprofit that prides itself on being all-volunteer,with no boss. Decisions aremade at monthly meetings.Having worked 35 yearsat ajob withbosses, I understand that dynamic better With this volunteer group, it seems everyone is in charge, and personal feelings areexpressed frequently.When adecision is made outside of amonthly meeting, Iwill either abide by it or note thatweneed to bring it up at the next meeting. Any advice for dealing withemotional co-workers when you don’twant to proceed as they have told you to,and thereisnoboss to ask? Ibelieve the understanding is that we areall

friends. While Iconsider some of the volunteers friends, others Idonot. Can you clear up my thinking?

afriend recommended I tryit. It came with rice, beans, pickled red onion, guacamole, shredded cabbage, cilantro, cotija cheese and achoice of meat.Ichose pork. Beinghalf Cuban, Ihold high standards for pork, but to be honest,Iwas impressed by the tenderness of the meat. It was shredded, juicy and flavorful. The next best part was thepickled red onions. Crunchy and tangy.Itwas also nice to indulge in guacamole and not have to pay afew bucks extra for it, like manybowl-centric establishments do. Overall, it was avery solid meal, and I’ll be ordering it again. Now,it’syour turn. Try thebowl, tell your friends that, yes, Barracuda does also have bowls, and your friends will thank you.

—Maddie Scott, features reporter

Six new floats will also debut this year,including from Holland America Line, Lego, Lindt chocolates, “Stranger Things” and abunch of whimsical sheep trying to gettosleep courtesy of Serta. Some of thestars on hand will beDebbieGibson, Drew Baldridge, Matteo Bocelli, Colbie Caillat, GavinDeGraw,Meg Donnelly, Christopher Jackson, Darlene Love, Roman Mejia, Taylor Momsen, Calum Scott, Shaggy,Lauren Spencer Smith and LuísaSonza. The marching bands will hail from SouthCarolina, California, Texas, Arizona, New Hampshire, Mississippi, Alabama, Pennsylvania and Santiago,Panama. The New York Police Department’s marching band will also join.

By The Associated Press

Gentle reader: Your thinking appears to Miss Manners to be clear,except, perhaps, in holding out hope of any decisions coming out of such an organizational arrangement. Once you have done your best to accommodate or defer decisionsby-fiat of individual co-workers, the only remaining question is how to deal with the emotional outbursts. As providing counseling is presumably not a requirement for volunteering at your nonprofit, Miss Manners recommends atriage approach based on your own astute observation that

these are co-workers, not friends. The first class of outburst —whichwewill name “Can Icallyou an ambulance?” is foroutbursts in whichyou would be required to intervene if they happened with astrangeratabus stop The secondclass —“I’m so happy/sorry/interested to hear that. Now, what do you think we should do about this aspect of theproject?” —isfor everything else, as youattempt to steer things back toward work. The final class —“Excuse me, Ithink Sophie needs somehelp over there with the label making” —isfor fleeing when all attempts to get things back on topic have failed.

Sendquestions to Miss Manners at herwebsite, www.missmanners.com.

forthe first timeasthey began their summitinGeneva.

Today is Wednesday, Nov.19, the 323rd day of 2025. There are 42 days left in the year

Todayinhistory:

On Nov.19, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln delivered theGettysburg Address at the dedication of anational cemetery at thesite of theCivil War battlefield of Gettysburg in Pennsylvania.

Also on this date: In 1959, Ford Motor Co. announced it was halting production of the unpopular Edsel.

In 1969, Apollo 12 astronauts Charles Conrad and Alan Bean madethe second crewed landing on themoon.

In 1985, President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail S. Gorbachev met

In 1998, Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr testified before the House Judiciary Committee during impeachment hearings against President Bill Clinton. (The full House approved two articles of impeachment against Clinton that December; Clinton waslater acquitted in a Senate trial).

In 2017, Charles Manson, the cult leader behind the murders of actress Sharon Tate and six others in Los Angeles in 1969, died in a California hospital at the age of 83 after nearly a half-century in prison.

In 2022, five people were killed and 25 injured when ashooter opened fire at an LGBTQ+ nightclub in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

TheAmerican RedCross ofLouisiana is hereall year.

Local support. Local impact. TheAmerican RedCross in Louisiana serves4.65millionresidentsacrossall64parishesandextendshopeto communitiesacrossthenationandaroundtheworld.Whenyousupportyour localRedCross,youmakeadirectimpactinyourcommunity Poweredbygenerosity. TheRedCrossisnotagovernmentagency.Wearea501(c)(3) nonprofitthatreliesonthepowerofvolunteersandthegenerosity ofdonorstocarryoutourhumanitarianmission. RedCrosssupportersprovideabeaconofhope.Fromhelping duringdisasters,toprovidinglifesavingtrainingandsupporting militarycommunities,theRedCrossistherewhenhelpcan’twait.

STAFF PHOTO By JOANNA BROWN Hickorycristo half rolled sandwich from Roly Poly in the Oil Center in Lafayette

STAFF

PHOTO By MADDIESCOTT Pork bowl fromBarracuda Taco Stand

Judith Martin MISS MANNERS

STAFF PHOTOSByBRAD KEMP

One of the dinning areas at the newItalian restaurant Cugino in Lafayette

sCoRPIo (oct. 24-nov. 22) Change begins with you. Socialize more with people who enjoy the same pastimes. Travel, companionship and embracing what motivates you will not be in vain.

sAGIttARIus (nov. 23-Dec. 21) High energy is the best way forward. Don't count on outside help or empty promises. Focus inward and take advantage of an unusual opportunity that crosses your path.

CAPRICoRn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) When opportunity knocks, open the door. Mix business with pleasure, and you'll discover a unique path that allows you to turn something you love doing into a profitable venture.

AQuARIus (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Think, and follow through. Knowing when to act will be the determining factor today. A unique plan, discipline and hard work are the keys to your best path forward.

PIsCEs (Feb. 20-March 20) Don't let anger rule when accomplishment will hit the jackpot. Happiness begins with you, the choices you make and how you execute what you know and do best.

ARIEs (March 21-April 19) Pay attention to financial and health matters. Keep your plans quiet until you have everything in place, and you'll face less interference throughout the day.

tAuRus (April 20-May 20) Take the initiative to do everything by the book. Dealing with institutions, government

agencies and authority figures will eliminate worry and uncertainty.

GEMInI (May 21-June 20) A change in direction will catalyze a host of new beginnings Interaction equals opportunities and insight into how to utilize your skills to refresh your image and lifestyle.

CAnCER (June 21-July 22) It's up to you to initiate what you want. Take the steps to create the scenario that encourages you to move forward with pride and joy. A healthy lifestyle will help you look and feel your best.

LEo (July 23-Aug. 22) Be careful what you say and do. Participating in events may backfire if you are too vocal regarding your beliefs and opinions. Put your energy toward something meaningful.

VIRGo (Aug. 23-sept. 22) An adjustment to how you handle your work and your associates will prove enlightening and rewarding. Socializing, networking or reconnecting with someone from your past will deliver benefits.

LIBRA (sept. 23-oct. 23) Look for opportunities, and you will discover something of interest. A change of location can help you use your attributes to gain confidence.

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

FAMILY CIrCUS

Celebrity Cipher cryptograms are created from quotations by famous people, past and present. Each letter in the cipher stands for another.

toDAy's CLuE: J EQuALs W

CeLebrItY CIpher

For better or For WorSe

peAnUtS

zItS FrAnK And erneSt

SALLY Forth

beetLe bAILeY

Mother GooSe And GrIMM SherMAn’S LAGoon

bIG nAte

nea CroSSwordS

Sudoku

InstructIons: Sudoku is anumber-placing puzzle based on a9x9 grid with several given numbers. Theobject is to place the numbers 1to9 in the empty squares so that each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once. Thedifficulty level of theSudoku increases from Monday to Sunday.

Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer

THewiZard oF id

BLondie

BaBY BLueS

Hi and LoiS

CurTiS

By PHILLIP ALDER Bridge

Jim Boren was a humorist and writer on “bureaucratese,” in which he poked fun at what he called “the vacuumental thinking and idiotoxicities of Washington.” He said, “I got the bill for my surgery. Now I know why those doctors were wearing masks.”

Some bridge players would benefit from being allowed access to a bridge doctor, who would explain how to keep a contract alive.

In this deal, South is in three no-trump. West leads a low club and East puts up hisjack.HowshouldSouthplantheplay? What would the doctor recommend?

In the auction, South considered rebidding three diamonds to show his six-card suit and game-invitational values. But he had two solid club stoppers and knew that usually nine tricks are easier to win than 11. (Note that five diamonds goes down, declarer losing one spade and two hearts.)

South seems to have nine top tricks: one spade, six diamonds and two clubs. However, that lead is annoying because it has cut declarer’s communication with the dummy. If he takes the first trick and cashesdummy’sdiamonds,hecannotget back to his hand. What would a doctor do?

The only chance is to duck the first trick, letting East win with his jack. If he does what most players would do, he will lead back a club. This allows South to win with his king and cash the ace, discarding both of dummy’s annoying diamonds. After that, South takes

By Andrews McMeel Syndication

Previous answers:

word game

slang

or

toDAy’s WoRD — AFFECtED: uh-FEK-ted: Caused a change in someone or something.

Average mark 24 words

Time limit 35 minutes

Can you find 30 or more words in AFFECTED?

yEstERDAy’s WoRD — DIssuADEs

wuzzles

loCKhorNs

marmaduKe

Bizarro

hagar the horriBle

Pearls Before swiNe

garfield

B.C.

PiCKles

hidato

mallard fillmore

Stocks drop after another jarring day

The U.S. stock market fell following another jarring day on Tuesday, as worries keep dogging Nvidia, bitcoin and other Wall Street stars that their prices shot too high.

After quickly sliding to a morning loss of 1.5%, the S&P 500 clawed back nearly all of it before sinking again. It finished with a fall of 0.8% and pulled further from its all-time high set late last month. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 498 points, or 1.1%, and the Nasdaq composite sank 1.2%.

Nvidia was again the heaviest weight on the market, and its drop of 2.8% brought its loss for the month to more than 10%.

That’s a steep enough fall that Wall Street has a name for it: a correction.

What Nvidia does matters disproportionately to savers’ 401(k) accounts because its immense size means it’s the most influential stock on Wall Street. It singlehandedly steers the direction of the S&P 500 some days, after fervent demand for its artificial-intelligence chips helped it briefly top $5 trillion in total value.

Other high-flying areas of the market have also been struggling lately Bitcoin’s price briefly fell below $90,000 in the morning, down from nearly $125,000 last month. It later recovered some of its losses and climbed back toward $93,000.

Microsoft partners with Anthropic, Nvidia

Microsoft said Tuesday it is partnering with artificial intelligence company Anthropic and chipmaker Nvidia as part of an AI infrastructure deal that moves the software giant further away from its longtime alliance with OpenAI Anthropic, maker of the chatbot Claude that competes with OpenAI’s ChatGPT, said it is committed to buying $30 billion in computing capacity from Microsoft’s Azure cloud computing platform.

Nvidia will also invest up to $10 billion in Anthropic, and Microsoft will invest up to $5 billion in the San Francisco-based startup

The joint announcements by CEOs Dario Amodei of Anthropic, Satya Nadella of Microsoft, and Jensen Huang of Nvidia came just ahead of the opening of Microsoft’s annual Ignite developer conference.

“This is all about deepening our commitment to bringing the best infrastructure, model choice and applications to our customers,” Nadella said on a video call with other executives, adding that it builds on the “critical” partnership Microsoft still has with OpenAI.

Honda recalls 256,600 Accord Hybrid vehicles

Honda is recalling more than 256,600 of its Accord Hybrid vehicles across the U.S. due to a software error that may result in sudden loss of drive power According to documents published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the recall covers certain Honda Accord Hybrids between the 2023 and 2025 model years. The error may cause part of these cars’ internal software to reset while driving, increasing the risk of crash or injury To address the error Honda dealers will reprogram the software free of charge. The NHTSA’s recall report noted that owner notification letters are scheduled to go out on Jan. 5 but a spokesperson for American Honda confirmed Tuesday that the improved software is available now Drivers can see if their specific vehicle is included in this recall and find more information using the NHTSA site or Honda’s recall lookup. Impacted Accord Hybrid owners may also contact Honda’s customer service at (888) 234-2138.

Honda estimates that 0.3% of the 256,603 Accord Hybrids it’s recalling have the issue, which impacts the vehicles’ integrated control module central processing unit the NHSTA’s recall report notes.

BY MICHELLE CHAPMAN AP business writer

A widely used Internet infrastructure company said that it has resolved an issue that led to outages impacting users of everything from ChatGPT and the online

game, “League of Legends,” to the New Jersey Transit system early Tuesday By noon, Cloudflare said its engineers no longer saw some of the issues plaguing its customers, but that they were continuing to monitor for any further problems. Other platforms that experienced outages Tuesday included the social media site X, Shopify, Dropbox, Coinbase and the Moody’s credit ratings service. Moody’s website displayed an Error Code 500 and instructed individuals to visit Cloudflare’s web-

site for more information. New Jersey Transit said parts of its digital services, including njtransit.com, may be temporarily unavailable or slow to load. And New York City Emergency Management said there are reports city services are being impacted by the outage. The city is continuing to monitor for disruptions. In France, national railway company SNCF’s website has been affected. The company warned customers that “some information and schedules may not be avail-

able or up to date Our teams are working to restore these services as quickly as possible.”

Cloudflare, based in San Francisco, works behind the scenes to make the internet faster and safer, but when problems flare up, “it results in massive digital gridlock” for internet users, cybersecurity expert Mike Chapple said. While most people think there’s a direct line between their digital device and a website, what actually happens is that companies like Cloudflare sit in the middle of those connections, he said.

2008: “‘It is better to buy than compete.’ True to that maxim, Facebook has systematically tracked potential rivals and acquired companies that it viewed as serious competitive threats.”

BY BARBARA ORTUTAY AP technology writer

SAN FRANCISCO Meta has prevailed over an existential challenge to its business that could have forced the tech giant to spin off Instagram and WhatsApp after a judge ruled that the company does not hold a monopoly in social networking.

U.S. District Judge James Boasberg issued his ruling Tuesday after the historic antitrust trial wrapped up in late May His decision runs in sharp contrast to two separate rulings that branded Google an illegal monopoly in both search and online advertising, dealing regulatory blows to the tech industry that for years enjoyed nearly unbridled growth.

The Federal Trade Commission “continues to insist that Meta competes with the same old rivals it has for the last decade, that the company holds a monopoly among that small set, and that it maintained that monopoly through anticompetitive acquisitions,” Boasberg wrote in his ruling. “Whether or not Meta enjoyed monopoly power in the past, though, the agency must show that it continues to hold such power now The Court’s verdict today determines that the FTC has not done so.”

The federal agency had argued that Meta maintained a monopoly by pursuing an expression CEO Mark Zuckerberg made in

During his April testimony, Zuckerberg pushed back against claims that Facebook bought Instagram to neutralize a threat In his line of questioning, FTC attorney Daniel Matheson repeatedly brought up emails — many of them more than a decade old — written by Zuckerberg and his associates before and after the acquisition of Instagram.

While acknowledging the documents, Zuckerberg has often sought to downplay the contents, saying he wrote the emails early in the acquisition process and that the notes did not fully capture the scope of his interest in the company But the case was not about the acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp more than a decade ago, which the FTC approved at the time but about whether Meta holds a monopoly now Prosecutors, Boasberg wrote in the ruling, could only win if they proved “current or imminent legal violation.”

The FTC’s complaint said Facebook also enacted policies designed to make it difficult for smaller rivals to enter the market and “neutralize perceived competitive threats,” just as the world shifted its attention to mobile devices from desktop computers.

Meta said Tuesday’s decision “recognizes that Meta faces fierce competition.”

“Our products are beneficial for people and businesses and exemplify American innova-

tion and economic growth. We look forward to continuing to partner with the Administration and to invest in America,” said Jennifer Newstead, chief legal officer, in a statement. The social media landscape has changed so much since the FTC filed its lawsuit in 2020, Boasberg wrote, that each time the court examined Meta’s apps and competition, they changed. Two opinions to dismiss the case — filed in 2021 and 2022 — didn’t even mention popular social video platform TikTok. Today, it “holds center stage as Meta’s fiercest rival.”

Quoting the Greek philosopher Heraclitus, “that no man can ever step into the same river twice,” Boasberg said the same is true for the online world of social media as well.

“The landscape that existed only five years ago when the Federal Trade Commission brought this antitrust suit has changed markedly While it once might have made sense to partition apps into separate markets of social networking and social media, that wall has since broken down,” he wrote.

Emarketer analyst Minda Smiley said Meta’s win “is not necessarily surprising considering the lengths it’s gone to in recent years to keep up with TikTok.”

“But from a regulatory standpoint, Meta is far from out of the woods: next year, major social networks will face landmark trials in the U.S. regarding children’s mental health,” she added. “Still, today’s win is surely a boost for the company as it battles criticism and questions over how its massive AI spending will ultimately benefit Meta in the long run.”

BY IANNE SALVOSA Staff writer

Plastipak Packaging said it will spend $53.8 million to expand its Rapides Parish manufacturing facility, a move that will create 15 jobs. The company will add 200,000 square feet to its Pineville plant, a move that will add warehouse space and possibly up to five production lines. The project will add

company has had a plant in Pineville since the early 2000s. Plastipak makes packaging for household brands such as CocaCola, Tide, Pepsi, Roundup weed killer and Febreze. The additional production lines will include molds, labeling and printing, and conveyor and compression systems. Plastipak also plans to update their existing production lines to expand the use of recycled plastic to make operations more sustainable and efficient, according to a release. Plastipak will use LED FastStart,

the department’s workforce recruitment and training team, for the expansion. The company will also use the state’s industrial tax exemption, an 80% property tax abatement on new investments, and the Quality Jobs Program, a cash rebate for up to 6% of annual gross payroll of new jobs.

LED Secretary Susan Bourgeois will visit Plastipak as part of her Driving Louisiana Opportunity tour to garner feedback from businesses on their challenges and needs.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By JEFF CHIU

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg speaks during a Nov. 5 event at the Biohub Imaging Institute in Redwood City Calif.