The Acadiana Advocate 11-20-2025

City Council eyes Mardi Gras panel

Lafayette parade route changes prompt debate

BY STEPHEN MARCANTEL Staff writer

The Lafayette City Council took a step closer to creating an advisory committee to approve changes

to Mardi Gras parade routes and events. The council successfully introduced an ordinance that seeks to create a nine-person Mardi Gras Activities Advisory Committee at

Tuesday night’s council meeting It also deferred a vote on a measure that would have provided space for the Lafayette Convention and Visitors Commission along the Jefferson Street parade route.

But the makeup of that committee and whether or not a parade would still be coming to Jefferson Street was part of a heated debate between council member Kenneth Boudreaux and Mayor-President Monique Boulet.

The debate centered on whether the council had authority to ap-

Supreme Court to hear La. coastal suit

$745M Plaquemines Parish verdict hangs in the balance

BY ALEX LUBBEN Staff writer

The U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on Jan. 12 in a high-stakes legal dispute that could have wider implications on dozens of lawsuits pitting Louisiana coastal parishes against oil companies over historic damage to the state’s wetlands.

“The obligation couldn’t be clearer. You have to restore the property back to its original condition. … That’s the law.

That’s what the marsh deserves.”

JOHN CARMOUCHE, attorney

At stake is a $745 million verdict, handed down in April by a jury in Plaquemines Parish. But the ruling could ultimately affect a range of cases involving billions in damages. The Supreme Court agreed in June to hear the case, but the date for arguments was only recently announced The case, Chevron U S.A. Inc. v. Plaquemines Parish, is one of dozens of lawsuits accusing major oil companies of violating coastal use laws and destroying wetlands. The issue the Supreme Court is taking up, however, does not have to do with land loss or pollution, but rather where the case should be heard

The lawsuits were originally filed in state court. Chevron, Exxon and other major oil companies have long argued that they belong in federal court, a jurisdiction that is seen as friendlier to the companies.

Chevron has argued that it was acting under federal contracts during World War II, when the oil and gas it extracted from Louisiana lands was used to produce aviation fuel for warplanes, and so the lawsuits belong in federal court. Lower courts have repeatedly rejected that argument.

The April trial was the first of 42 similar lawsuits, all led by Baton Rouge-based law firm Talbot, Carmouche & Marcello, on behalf

ä See COURT, page 4A

She’s first woman in St. Landry Sheriff’s Office history to do so

BY JA’KORI MADISON Staff writer

Deputy Kiley Krull had no idea her voluntary training would allow her to become the first female dep-

A rusted oil pipeline in the Bayou Gentilly oil field has been abandoned, according to lawyers representing Plaquemines Parish

companies.

prove or disapprove changes to Mardi Gras parade routes following an October announcement by Boulet that moved the route along Jefferson Street. The change caught some people, such as Boudreaux and his

ä See PANEL, page 4A

Comey case faces new hurdle

Department handling of grand jury under scrutiny

BY ERIC TUCKER and MICHAEL KUNZELMAN Associated Press

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The prosecution of former FBI Director James Comey hit another hurdle Wednesday as the Justice Department acknowledged a possible lapse in how the case was presented to a federal grand jury for indictment.

The concession risked further imperiling a politically charged prosecution already subject to multiple challenges and demands for its dismissal. It came during a hearing in which Comey’s lawyers asked U.S. District Judge Michael Nachmanoff to throw out the case on grounds that the government was being vindictive and as a separate challenge to Lindsey Halligan, the hastily appointed and inexperienced prosecutor who secured the indictment, is pending.

The revelation that the full grand jury did not review a copy of the final indictment is the latest indication of the Justice Department’s seemingly disjointed pursuit of a criminal case against one of President Donald Trump’s political enemies. Comey was fired by Trump in May 2017 while overseeing an FBI investigation into potential ties between Russia and Trump’s 2016 campaign. The two have been publicly at odds ever since, with Trump deriding Comey as “a weak and untruthful slime ball” and calling for his prosecution.

Concerns about the legal process came into focus earlier in the week

page 5A

uty in the history of the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office to earn the agency’s expert marksmanship badge. The badge is awarded to those who complete an advanced firearms course, which was created by training director Capt. Neil Whatley For Krull, a resource officer at North Central High School, the decision to push herself came from the responsibility she feels walking school hallways every day With school shootings becoming more common nationwide, Krull said she never wants to question whether she could protect her

STAFF FILE PHOTO By MATTHEW HINTON

in their lawsuit against oil and gas

St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Deputy Kiley Krull has earned an expert marksmanship badge.

PHOTO PROVIDED By KILEy KRULL Krull

Judge to proceed with contempt probe

WASHINGTON A federal judge Wednesday asked attorneys to identify witnesses and offer plans for how to conduct a contempt probe of the Trump administration for failing to turn around planes carrying Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador in March.

U.S District Judge James Boasberg in Washington said a ruling Friday by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit gave him the authority to proceed with the inquiry, which will determine whether there is sufficient evidence to refer the matter for prosecution.

On March 15, Boasberg ordered the aircraft carrying accused gang members to return to the U.S., but they landed instead in El Salvador, where the migrants were held at a notorious prison

The Trump administration has denied any violation, saying the judge’s directive to return the planes was made verbally in court but not included in his written order U.S. Justice Department attorney Tiberius Davis told Boasberg the government objected to further contempt proceedings.

Iran releases Marshall Islands-flagged tanker

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates Iran on Wednesday released a Marshall Islands-flagged tanker with all its 21 crew members, days after Tehran seized the ship without explanation, the vessel’s managers said. Tehran had no immediate comment on the release of the Talara, which marked the first ship seizure by Iran in months.

The Middle East remains tense after Iran’s 12-day war with Israel in June, and as concerns remain over the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program.

Cyprus-based Columbia Shipmanagement said the crew “are safe and in good spirits.”

It added that “no allegations were made against the vessel her crew and the vessel’s managers and owners.”

Ship-tracking data analyzed by The Associated Press showed the Talara traveling away from Iran.

The data also suggested Iranian authorities offloaded its cargo of high sulfur gasoil as the ship was traveling in ballast. The oil shipment website Tanker Trackers, citing satellite photos, said it appeared Iran offloaded its cargo on Tuesday, before letting it go.

Iran’s military seized the vessel Friday as it traveled through the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf through which 20% of all oil traded passes. The ship had been traveling from Ajman, United Arab Emirates, onward to Singapore.

BY MARGERY A. BECK

Associated Press

NASA unveils close-up pictures of visiting comet

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — NASA unveiled close-up pictures on Wednesday of the interstellar comet that’s making a quick tour of the solar system.

Discovered over the summer, the comet known as 3I/Atlas is only the third confirmed object to visit our corner of the cosmos from another star It zipped harmlessly past Mars last month.

Several NASA spacecraft there zoomed in on the comet as it passed just 18 million miles away. The closest the comet will come to Earth is 167 million miles in mid-December. Then it will hightail it back into interstellar space, never to return The comet is believed to be anywhere from 1,444 feet across to 3.5 miles across.

BY HUSSEIN MALLA, BASSEM MROUE and WAFAA SHURAFA Associated Press

SIDON, Lebanon The Israeli military carried out barrages of airstrikes in southern Lebanon Wednesday on what it said were Hezbollah sites, including weapons storage facilities, after a drone strike earlier in the day killed one person and wounded several others, including students on a bus

The new wave of strikes came a day after an airstrike killed 13 people in the Palestinian refugee camp of Ein el-Hilweh, the deadliest of Israeli attacks on Lebanon since a ceasefire in the Israel-Hezbollah war a year ago.

Israel’s military warned Wednesday it would strike targets in several villages in southern Lebanon, describing them as Hezbollah infrastructure, and called on people to move away from the locations. More than an hour later, strikes began in the villages of Shehour and Deir Kifa.

Israel’s military said Hezbollah was working to reestablish itself and rebuild its capacity in southern Lebanon, without providing evidence. It said the weapons facilities targeted were embedded among civilians and violated understandings between Israel

and Lebanon. Israel agreed to a ceasefire and withdraw from southern Lebanon last year and Lebanon agreed to quell Hezbollah activity in the area.

Earlier Wednesday, an Israeli airstrike on a car in the southern Lebanese village of Tiri killed one person and wounded 11, including students aboard a nearby bus, the Lebanese Health Ministry and state media said. Staterun National News Agency said the school bus happened to be passing near the car that was hit Israel’s military later said it killed a Hezbollah operative in the drone strike. Palestinian factions in Lebanon’s 12 refugee camps earlier this year began handing over their weapons to the Lebanese state. The government has said that it will also work on disarming Hezbollah, but Hezbollah has rejected it as long as Israel continues to occupy several hills along the border and carries out almost daily strikes.

A senior Lebanese army officer told The Associated Press that U.S. officials were angered by an army statement on Sunday that blamed Israel for destabilizing Lebanon and blocking the Lebanese military deployment in south Lebanon. The officer spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn’t authorized to

speak publicly

The latest Israel-Hezbollah war began Oct. 8, 2023, a day after Hamas attacked southern Israel, after Hezbollah fired rockets into Israel in solidarity with Hamas. Israel launched a widespread bombardment of Lebanon two months ago that severely weakened Hezbollah, followed by a ground invasion.

That war, the most recent of several conflicts involving Hezbollah over the past four decades, killed more than 4,000 people in Lebanon, including hundreds of civilians, and caused an estimated $11 billion worth of destruction, according to the World Bank. In Israel, 127 people died, including 80 soldiers.

Meanwhile, after Israel reported its soldiers were fired on in southern Gaza, health officials in the territory said Israeli strikes killed at least 25 Palestinians in one of the deadliest days in Gaza since the Oct. 10 ceasefire agreement took effect. Separately, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu traveled to a buffer zone in Syrian territory that Israel seized last year

On Wednesday Hamas condemned the Israeli strikes across Gaza City and Khan Younis, calling them a “shocking massacre.”

In a statement, the group denied firing toward Israeli troops.

First, second ladies visit troops’ families in N.C.

BY DARLENE SUPERVILLE Associated Press

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION NEW RIVER, N.C.

Melania Trump and Usha Vance took their first trip together, spending time in North Carolina on Wednesday with service members and their families to show appreciation for their service and sacrifice as the holidays approach.

The wives of President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, a former Marine, visited with military personnel, their children, and relatives at Camp Lejeune, the largest Marine Corps base on the East Coast, and Marine Corps Air Station New River

“Thank you for your service. My husband, the president, is sending best regards. We are both thinking of you,”

Trump told students at Lejeune High School, where 10 Marines stationed out front had saluted as their motorcade arrived.

The first lady added that she and the president always think of U.S. service members but “especially during the holidays” and wished students and teachers a happy Thanksgiving.

She spoke at a gymnasium, where the school was assembling 2,000 care packages for service members stationed far from home. Among the items included in each were dude wipes, handy-wipes marketed toward men, and jerky sticks.

Her speech came after Trump and Vance entered the classroom and met with students in an advanced placement research class from the Lejeune High “Devilpups” — recalling the Marine Corps’ “Devil Dog” nickname — for discussions about technological development and artificial intelligence.

Trump and Vance sat with four tables

of students with laptops, and listened to them deliver a presentation on electronic media affecting sleep and adolescent well-being, as well as a study on social media addiction and its impact on young people’s esteem and body image.

The students demonstrated how they used AI to generate videos as part of their presentation. The first lady could be heard asking one group how they used AI in school, and was seen nodding along as they chatted. The students described rules that kept them from using AI to improperly complete assignments.

Trump and Vance subsequently visited an elementary school, taking seats at separate tables that each had folders from the first lady’s child-focused Be Best initiative.

Trump told one of the girls she was “beautiful.” The youngster had a patriotic ribbon pinned to her light blue top, meaning she’s related to someone who is actively deployed. Vance later chatted and smiling as she talked to a teacher

Federal prosecutors on Wednesday charged a man with committing a terrorist attack for allegedly setting a woman on fire on a Chicago train.

Lawrence Reed was sitting at the back of a car on a Blue Line L train on Monday night when he approached a woman as she sat with her back to him, according to a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives arrest affidavit. Reed removed the cap from a plastic bottle, then doused the woman with what was believed to be gasoline, the affidavit said.

Israel’s military carries out strikes in Lebanon Woman set on fire on train in Chicago

The 26-year-old woman then ran to the back of the train car Reed ignited the bottle, approached the woman and set her on fire, according to the affidavit. Surveillance video showed Reed at a gas station about 30 minutes before the attack, filling a small container with gasoline, the affidavit says.

The federal charge against Reed, 50, of Chicago, carries a maximum penalty of life in prison.

Chicago outlets reported that Reed was disruptive during his first appearance in a federal court on Wednesday afternoon, including yelling over the judge that he wanted to represent himself and claiming that he was a Chinese citizen.

Reed shouted, “I plead guilty!” repeatedly as the judge tried to advise him of his rights, according to local news reports.

After the attack, the train the woman was on pulled into a stop downtown. Reed walked away and the woman stumbled out and fell on the ground, police said. She was taken to a hospital in critical condition with severe burns to her head and body, authorities said. Officials have not released her name. Chicago police said that when they arrested him Tuesday morning he made incriminating statements about the attack. He was wearing the same clothes as the man who attacked the woman on the train, according to the affidavit.

Reed carried out the attack “with the intent to cause death and serious bodily injury to one or more persons” on the train, the ATF investigator wrote. Chicago police did not answer questions Wednesday by The Associated Press on whether it had or would refer charges against Reed to state prosecutors, instead referring all questions to federal authorities.

Customer Service: HELP@THEADVOCATE.COMor337-234-0800 News Tips /Stories: NEWSTIPS@THEADVOCATE.COM

Obituaries: 225-388-0289• Mon-Fri9-5; Sat10-5;ClosedSun

Advertising Sales: 337-234-0174•Mon-Fri 8-5

Classified Advertising: 225-383-0111• Mon-Fri8-5

Subscribe: theadvocate.com/subscribe E-Edition: theadvocate.com/eedition Archives: theadvocate.newsbank.com

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By MOHAMMAD ZAATARI

Palestinian rescue workers check the scene where an Israeli strike on Tuesday night hit the Ein el-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp Wednesday in the southern port city of Sidon, Lebanon.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By MATT ROURKE

First lady Melania Trump, right, and second lady Usha Vance arrive in Richlands, N.C., on Wednesday en route to Camp Lejeune.

PHOTO PROVIDED By GIANLUCA MASI

The interstellar comet 3I/Atlas streaks through space, 190 million miles from Earth, on Wednesday. The image was taken from Manciano, Italy

Arrests top 250 in immigration crackdown

La. Republicans voice support for actions in N.C.

BY GARY D ROBERTSON Associated Press

RALEIGH, N.C. Federal agents have now arrested more than 250 people during a North Carolina immigration crackdown centered around Charlotte, the state’s largest city, the U.S Department of Homeland Security said Wednesday

protests.

About 100 people gathered outside a Home Depot store in Charlotte on Wednesday, where federal agents have been spotted multiple times since the surge started. Protest organizers briefly went inside the store with orange and white signs that read, “ICE out of Home Depot, Protect our communities.”

Arrests in Charlotte and the Raleigh area have created a chilling effect in immigrant neighborhoods — school attendance dropped, and small shops and restaurants closed to avoid confrontations between customers and federal agents.

Press and three people familiar with the operation. Around 250 federal border agents are set to descend on New Orleans in the coming weeks for a two-month immigration crackdown expected to begin in earnest on Dec. 1. Gregory Bovino, the Border Patrol commander tapped to head the Louisiana sweep, has been on the ground in North Carolina this week, leading the operation there as well.

The operation that began over the weekend is the latest phase of Republican President Donald Trump’s aggressive mass deportation efforts that have sent the military and immigration agents into Democraticrun cities — from Chicago to Los Angeles. Immigration officials have blanketed the country since January pushing detention counts to all-time highs above 60,000. Big cities and small towns across the country are targeted daily amid higher-profile pushes in places such as Portland, Oregon, where more than 560 immigration arrests were made in October The push to carry out arrests in North Carolina expanded to areas around the state capital of Raleigh on Tuesday, spreading fear in at least one immigrant-heavy suburb.

The number of arrests around Charlotte and beyond during what the government has dubbed “Operation

Charlotte’s Web” was about double the total announced by DHS officials earlier this week The department said in a statement that agencies “continue to target some of the most dangerous criminal illegal aliens.” Their targets include people living in the U.S. without legal permission and those who allegedly have criminal records.

Summers retreats from prominent public roles

BY KIMBERLEE KRUESI and HOLLY RAMER Associated Press

Former Treasury Secretary

Larry Summers retreated from his most prominent public roles Wednesday as he severed ties with OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT and other organizations over recently released emails showing he maintained a friendly relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.

Meanwhile, Harvard University reopened an investigation into connections between the former Harvard president and Epstein, and Summers appeared before an economics class that he teaches there

Regarded as a leading voice on the U.S. economy, Summers was also affiliated with multiple think tanks, research centers and media organizations, including The New York Times. Several of them confirmed that those affiliations have ended.

Harvard did not mention Summers by name, but the decision to restart the probe follows the release of emails showing that he was friendly with Epstein long after the financier pleaded guilty to soliciting prostitution from an underage girl in 2008.

“The University is conducting a review of information concerning individuals at Harvard included in the newly released Jeffrey Epstein documents to evaluate what actions may be warranted,” spokesperson Jason Newton said in a statement first reported by The Boston Globe and The Harvard Crimson.

The emails include messages in which Summers appeared to be getting advice from Epstein about pursuing a romantic relationship with someone who viewed him as an “economic mentor.”

“im a pretty good wing man, no?” Epstein wrote on Nov 30, 2018.

The next day Summers told Epstein he had texted the woman, telling her he “had something brief to say to her.”

“Am I thanking her or being sorry re my being married. I think the former,” he wrote.

Summers’ wife, Elisa New, also emailed Epstein multiple times, including a 2015 message in which she thanked him for arranging financial support for a poetry project she directs. The gift he arranged “changed everything for me,” she wrote.

“It really means a lot to me, all financial help aside, Jeffrey, that you are rooting for me and thinking about me,” she wrote.

New, an English professor emerita at Harvard, did not respond to an email seeking comment

Wednesday

An earlier review completed in 2020 found that Epstein visited Harvard’s campus more than 40 times after his 2008 sex-crimes conviction and was given his own office and unfettered access to a research center he helped establish. The professor who provided the office was later barred from starting new research or advising students for at least two years.

Summers said late Monday that he would step back from public commitments. His office said Wednesday that his plans include resigning from the board of directors of OpenAI.

Summers joined the OpenAI board in November 2023 as part of an effort to restore stability at the nonprofit and bring back its CEO, Sam Altman, after previous board members fired Altman days earlier

Other organizations that confirmed the end of their affiliations with Summers included the Center for American Progress, the Center for Global Development and the Budget Lab at Yale University

Federal officials have offered few details about those arrested. They’ve also remained quiet about the scope of the enforcement operations across North Carolina and where agents will show up next, keeping communities on edge.

The crackdown in Charlotte has been met with pockets of resistance and

Customers at a laundromat left behind their clothes in washers and dryers and haven’t returned after agents showed up at a Charlotte shopping center on Sunday, said David Rebolloso, who owns the business.

Just days after beginning the crackdown in North Carolina, Border Patrol agents were expected to arrive in New Orleans by the end of the week to start preparing for their next big operation in southeast Louisiana, according to documents obtained by The Associated

Louisiana Republicans voiced their support on Wednesday The chair of the state party, Derek Babcock, said it shows a commitment from Trump and Republican Gov Jeff Landry to “keeping our citizens safe.”

The head of the state’s American Civil Liberties Union chapter said they were compiling information to help people know their rights and coordinating with legal services and groups connected with the immigrant community

“We urge those with privilege and the opportunity to risk it to stand up for their neighbors and friends,” said Alanah Odoms with the ACLU of Louisiana.

Bipartisan bill aims to pay air traffic controllers during future shutdowns

Flight disruptions have inspired a rare act across the aisle

BY JOSH FUNK and RIO YAMAT

AP transportation and airlines writers

The flight disruptions during the record government shutdown that ended last week inspired a rare act of bipartisanship in Washington on Tuesday when congressional representatives from both parties introduced legislation that would allow air traffic controllers to get paid during future shutdowns.

The bill proposes funding salaries, operating expenses and other Federal Aviation Administration programs by tapping into a little-used fund with $2.6 billion that was created to reimburse airlines if the government commandeers their planes and they are damaged. The bill’s sponsors, which include four of the top Republicans and Democrats on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, hope that relying on the fund might make their bill more attractive than other proposals because it would limit the potential cost of dolling out paychecks.

U.S. Rep. Sam Graves of Missouri, the GOP chairman of the committee, said in a statement that the bill would help keep the traveling public safe during future shutdowns. The other sponsors include Democratic U.S. Reps. Rick Larsen of Washington and Andre Carson of Indiana, along with Republican U.S. Rep. Troy Nehls of Texas, who leads the aviation subcommittee.

“We all saw that the system can be vulnerable when Congress can’t get its job done,” Graves said. “This bill guarantees that

controllers, who have one of the most high-pressure jobs in the nation, will get paid during any future funding lapses and that air traffic control, aviation safety, and the traveling public will never again be negatively impacted by shutdowns.”

It’s not clear whether this bill or any similar proposals that have been floating around Congress since the 2019 shutdown — will have a chance to get approved before the next government funding deadline at the end of January

Nearly all the other proposals, including one from U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran of Kansas, would rely on the aviation trust fund that collects money from fees the airlines pay, and the Congressional Budget Office has given those bills a much higher price tag.

Fixes proposed, none approved

Over the years, lawmakers have tried a handful of fixes for a longterm solution to keep air traffic controllers and other essential aviation workers paid during funding lapses. The proposals often gained bipartisan attention, especially after the 35-day shutdown that ended in 2019 during President Donald Trump’s first term, but none made it over the finish line.

Moran’s bill, known as the Aviation Funding Stability Act, for example, is a recurring proposal in Congress that would allow the FAA to tap into the Airport and Airway Trust Fund. Lawmakers in both chambers have reintroduced versions of it over the years, including in 2019 and 2021.

The new bill introduced Tuesday would cut off the money if the insurance fund dips below $1 billion. But Transportation Committee staffers estimate that would still provide enough funding to keep FAA operating for four to six weeks.

Stretched thin during shutdown

The issue gets so much attention because of all the flight delays and cancellations that happen during a shutdown as more air traffic controllers call out of work The existing shortage of controllers is so severe that just a few absences in an airport tower or other FAA radar facilities can cause problems.

The controllers — and the FAA technicians who maintain the equipment they rely on — are expected to continue working without pay during a shutdown to keep flights operating. But as the shutdown dragged on this fall, more controllers began calling out of work, citing the financial pressures and the need to take on side jobs.

The delays got so bad that the government ordered airlines to cut some of their flights at 40 busy airports nationwide, in what the FAA said was an unprecedented but necessary move to relieve pressure on the system and controllers. Thousands of flights were canceled before the FAA lifted the order entirely and airlines were able to resume normal operations Monday

Why insurance fund was made

The fund that the bill introduced Tuesday would use was created years ago to pay for claims an airline might file if the government uses one of its planes for a military operation or other use. But that’s not common anymore. The last time a claim was made was after America’s withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. The fund has continued to grow as it collects interest. It was also used for an insurance fund at a time when airlines were having trouble getting any insurance coverage after 9/11.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By MATT KELLEy Protesters hold signs during the arrival of federal law enforcement Wednesday in Charlotte, N.C

constituents, offguard,he said.

“So, Kenneth, can Iformally apologize that Idid not call you personally? Idon’t know if the entire community should suffer for that,” Bouletsaid. “The feedback that Igot is that peopleof Lafayette don’tthink this is avery serious issue.”

The council has no purview over setting parade routes, said City-Parish Attorney Pat Ottinger at the previous meeting.

Boudreaux, referencing a 1999 ordinance that created an advisory committee, said it shows the council should have some say.The threepersoncommittee’spurpose wastomeetwithkrewes to discuss Mardi Gras activities in the parish and to make recommendationsto the council.

That original ordinance

Cajun Field

of coastal parishes. The lawsuits all claim that oil companiesdamaged wetlands and left behind pollution after drilling operations, in violation of state coastal regulations that went into effect in 1980.

“The obligation couldn’t be clearer,” attorney John Carmouchesaidduring opening statements in the Plaquemines trial. “You have to restore the property backtoits original condition. …That’sthe law.That’s what the marsh deserves.” The companies saythe lawsuits will unnecessarily hurt employment and energy production. They also argue that some of the operationsinquestionoccurred before alaw they are accused of violating took effect in 1980.

The parishes’ lawyers have said the decision will directly affect asubset of 11 “refinery cases” —suits where asingle company both produced and refined oil —but could indirectly influence all42coastallawsuits brought by six parishes and the state VicMarcello, aco-founder of Talbot, Carmouche & Marcello and one of the lead lawyers for the parishes,has emphasized that thehigh court willnot be deciding whether the oil companies caused environmental harm. Instead,hehas described

students.

“I’m protecting people’s children every day,” she said. “If anything ever happened, Iwant to know Ican protectthem. Youcan never be too prepared.” The qualification for an expertmarksmanship badge involves timed stages, movement andsimulated high-pressurescenariosdesigned to push deputies beyondthe standard requirements for law enforcement officers.

“It really challenges your ability to shoot effectively underpressure. Seeing that badge basically means hard work does pay off,” Krull said.

Krull’smotivation also traces back to herfather,

The committee mayhave nevermet since its creation because there was nevera need to do so,Boudreaux said. With Boulet’s route change, the committee was triggered and beganthe recommendation process.

“It’snot political at all for me. It’s about people,” Boudreauxsaid. “It’snot about when the last timeitwas used. Now it’s about it needs to be used, andit’sanordinance on our books.”

to send aletter to Boulet asking her to delay the proposed route forayear Creating acommittee isn’t something Boulet’sadministration opposes, she said. She said she hopesitcan be expanded to include other neighborhoodsinthe process and allow forthe public to be involved.

did not give the council any authorization power Thenewlyintroduced ordinance seekstoexpand that authority to thecouncil,according to adraft ordinance posted on theLafayette Consolidated Government’s website.

Rachel Godeaux, Boulet’s chiefadministrative officer, said that, to her knowledge, thecommittee has never met.Ottinger added that he

was not aware of the 1999 ordinance during thelast meeting.

“I don’tknow thelast time they presented tothe council to get approval on the parade route,”Godeaux said. “I thinkthere’s alot left to be desired in the (1999) ordinance. Ithink (Boudreaux) and Ispoke about who this approval actually relied with.Isitthe administration?The council?”

“(TheJefferson Street route) doesn’thave to happenin2026. If we’re really serious about getting it right and doing the right thing, we canall say, ‘You know,we identified all these things, let’s wait,’”Boudreauxadded.

At thelastmeeting, Boudreaux and council member Andy Naquin requested adelay in changing the route for next year to allow for more discussion. The council took no action.Boudreauxinstructed the council clerk

Thedraftedordinance only providestwo members to represent threeofLafayette’shistoric neighborhoods: LaPlace, McCombVeazey andFreetown-Port Rico.

“It’sacitywide event, so if we’re gonna open up the discussion, Iwant to see it open to the city,” Boulet said in an interview after the meeting. “Whichever route we land on is fine. I’mnot tied to one or the other.” Before Tuesday night’s meeting,Boudreaux posted acopy of amemo addressed to the administration on Facebook.

The memo,dated Nov.7, lays outeightinquiries, in-

theforthcoming rulingas “procedural” —focused entirely on jurisdictionand the reach of thefederal officer removal statute. “Thisisn’tabout the meritsofour claim,”hesaidin an earlier interview Still, even aprocedural decisionfromthe high court will be consequential If the justicesside with the companiesand find that the Plaqueminescase belonged in federal courtall along, a federal judgecouldbeasked

who has served in law enforcementfor two decades and setthe example she now strivestomatch. She entered thefield after workingindustrialjobs in Texas, brieflystudying medicalassisting and eventually realizingshe wanted to follow hispath

Krullstartedincorrectionsbefore movinginto the school resource officer division this year

Balancing that hard work with raising two children as asinglemother madethe accomplishmenteven more meaningful,she said.

“Being ayoung mom doing this alone, it’sanaccomplishment,” shesaid. “I hope my kids can look back one day and be proud of the things I’ve achieved.”

Her supervisor,Capt. Thomas Kimrey,a firearms instructor whotrained her throughout theprocess, in-

to revisitthe $745 million statecourt verdict. If they rule forthe parish,the decision would effectively green-light morecoastal trials in Louisiana state courts, potentiallyexposingoil and gas companiestobillions of dollars in additionaldamages.

The legal battle has stretched over more than a decade. Carmouche and his firm filed thefirst of their coastal lawsuitsin2013. Sincethen, both sideshave

tentionally didn’ttell her that no woman hadever completed the course.AccordingtoKrull, he wanted hertofocussolelyonperformance, not to be pressured because of the title. As Krull trained with asmall group of deputies every Friday for about amonth, she completed thecourse on herthird attempt.

“Some things don’tfall into your lap,” she said. “Set goalsand keep pushing. Just because you’re awoman doesn’tmean you can’tsucceed.”

Krull said she hopesher achievement encourages more St. Landry officers to pursue advanced firearms training, especially those working in schools or highrisk environments.

Email Ja’koriMadison at jakori.madison@ theadvocate.com.

repeatedly sparred over the proper venue forthe cases, and Carmouche’s firm has also pursued settlement negotiations with several oil companies.

Freeport-McMoRan settled for $100 million. Cameron Parish settled with oilcompanies for an undisclosed sum.Carmouche said that Shell had also settled for an undisclosed amount.

And though the Supreme Court hearing looms over the cases, Carmouche said that settlement discussions wereongoing.

“We’rediscussing witha couple of majors,” he said. “Inmyopinion, Ithink we’ll get aruling from the U.S. SupremeCourt sometime in March, April. Ithink they’re going to have to make adecision then.”

cluding the cost of the route change to the city,the cost of trimming over 90 cypress trees to allow the float to pass, howthe city plans to protect over $250,000 in recent plantings along JeffersonStreet andthe city’s liability for property damage to businesses. The expected costofall MardiGrasfestivities will exceed $400,000. The increased cost associated with the Jefferson Street change would be “nominal,” according to an internal memo sent to Boudreaux. Thebulkof spending goes toward public safety measures. Tree trimming is already aservice provided to the district andwould notbe accounted in Mardi Gras expenditures, according to the memo.New plantings would likely be protected by fencing, but discussions are ongoing. LCGliabilitiesand risk exposure to property damagetodowntown properties would not be any greater

The case also pits local Louisiana Republicans againstthe Trumpadministration —one of the only instances in which thestate has clashed openly with the White House. Louisiana has intervenedinthe cases, siding withthe parishes and Carmouche; the Trump administration —along with formerU.S. Attorneys General William Barr and Michael Mukasey —are backing the oil companies.

Finding money to salvage as much of Louisiana’seroding coast as possible will increasingly becomeachallengeinthe yearsahead, with proceeds linked to the 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon oilspill settoexpire by 2032. The state has lost roughly 2,000 square milesover the last century, andsea level rise linked to climate change is projected to worsen the crisis.

Confining the Mississippi Riverinplace withlevees set the crisis in motion, but oiland gas production has greatly contributedtothe problem Louisiana AttorneyGeneral LizMurrill hasvocally backed the lawsuits.

“Quite simply,Chevron chose profits over people and the law —and it continues to do so every day it refusesaccountability for itsactions,”she wroteina guest opinioncolumn for TheTimes-Picayune.“This is not controversial.”

STAFF FILE PHOTOBySOPHIA GERMER

Thelawsuit brought by Plaquemines Parish wasthe first of 42 similarsuits on behalfofcoastal parishes. The lawsuits all claim that oil companies damaged wetlands and left behind pollution after drillingoperations, in violation of state coastal regulations that went into effect in 1980.

Acadiana Forecast

YOUNGSVILLE

Council approves projects to improve walkability

MembersdiscussSugar Mill Pond infrastructure

BY JOEL THOMPSON Staff writer

The Youngsville City Council made the decisiontomove forward with several road projects last week,including thedevelopment of acrosswalk along EastMilton Avenue.

The crosswalk will be locatedalong the road’sintersection with Lake Crest Lane at theentrance to the Sugar Mill Pond mixed-use development. It was oneof manyproposed changestoroad signage and infrastructure in the Sugar Mill Pond area the council discussedonThursday Various measures for possible adjustments to road-striping and signageinthe neighborhood were put forward, including speed bars, speed bumps and four-way stops.

Concerns about the walkabilityofthe neighborhood were on theminds of several residents, many of whom urged fixesthat would be aimed at reducing the number of speeding violations in the neighborhood. In particular,residents whose children attended nearby AcadianaRenaissance Charter Academy were interested in the possibility of more pedestrian-friendly infrastructure in the neighborhood.

“Thekids in our neighborhood would love to walk to school, butit’sjust notsafe to do it,” one attendee said, speaking about the proposal. “As someone with children, I really like the idea of havingmore crosswalks.”

Thecrosswalkwas onepiece ofa much larger discussion the council had surroundingplans to improve pedestrian infrastructure in Sugar Mill Pond. However, the city is looking for more input from residents beforemoving forward with any additional changes

Mayor Ken Ritter expressed adesire for the approval of roughly70% of theneighborhood’s residents before approving any of the proposed changes,and encouraged SugarMill Pond to host publichearingson the proposal.

Other residents in attendance suggested that recent increases in policepatrols in the neighborhood havean impact on the amount of speeding incidents and resulted in through traffic beingmore cautious. Sugar Mill Pond is amixed-use development, meaning that it hasbusinesses alongside its many residences, and receives alot of through-traffic from residents of other neighborhoods as aresult.

The city also approved two bids for construction projects along East Milton Road and an extension of Langlinais Road that would also see improvements to nearby Chemin Agreeable Road.

The city has not yet setadate for when these projects are set to begin construction.

ANGELS ON HIGH

ST.GABRIEL

Worker dies afterchemical exposure at La.refrigerant plant

BY DAVID J. MITCHELL

Staff writer

Twoworkers were sent toahospital and one of them laterdied after they were exposed earlyTuesday morning to hydrofluoric acid at the Mexichem Fluor Inc. refrigerant plant in St.Gabriel, company and state officials said. The incident, which the company called “an accidental chemical exposure,” happened about7:08a.m. Tuesdayatthe Mississippi River complex, Mexichem officials said The release was later contained.

“All other employees andcontractors were safelyaccounted for, andtherewas no environmental impact to the surrounding community,” Erick Comeaux, acompany spokesperson, saidina statement Wednesday. Louisiana DepartmentofEnvironmental Quality officialsconfirmed the death but referred questions aboutdetails to Louisiana State Police, which investigated the incident. Troopers didn’timmediately answer arequest for comment Wednesday.

Abusiness division associated with the eastern Iberville Parish complex previously had thename “Koura,” following aprevious rebrandingeffortthatwas phased

out earlier this year,but company officials saidWednesday the U.S. plant’slegal nameremains “Mexichem Fluor.”

The plant is part of OrbiaFluor& Energy Materials,aglobal company with headquarters in MexicoCity, Boston, Amsterdamand TelAviv Comeaux said Mexichem Fluor would conduct“athorough investigation” andcooperate fully “with all agenciesalsoinvolvedininvestigating this matter.”

“Wedeeply regretthatthisincident has occurred, and our thoughts andprayers arewiththese team membersand their families,” he said.

Second Mexichem worker hospitalized ä See PLANT, page 4B

On Wednesday the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry’s livestock brand inspectors arrested 58-year-old Richard P. Breaux in St. Landry Parish on awarrant for three counts of theftoflivestock. The arrest was aresult of an investigation by the department’sLivestock Brand Commission.Duringthe investigation, inspectorsdetermined that Breaux received eight head of livestock on three separate occasions between February andMarch andfailed to render properpayment to alocal livestockmarket in Allen Parish, as required by law.Following his

arrest, Breaux was transferred to Allen Parish and booked on the warrant. “The lawisspecific whendealing with the purchase of livestock,” Commissioner Mike Strain said. “The failure or refusal to pay for livestock acquired is acrime and aviolation of the theftoflivestock statute.”

The commissionwas assisted by the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office and the Grand Coteau Police Department.

Bail has not been set, and the livestock have not been recovered. The commission maintains a 24-hour Crimestoppers hotline at (800) 558-9741 forthe public to report thefts or other agriculturerelated crimes.

STAFF PHOTO By LESLIE WESTBROOK

Cleco employee Miguel Phillipsinstalls one of many Christmas light angels Wednesday along Main Street in Jeanerette.

OUR VIEWS

No reason for UL presidential search to be arushjob

Since its founding more than acentury ago, the University of LouisianaatLafayette has had atotal of sixpresidents.That’s correct, six men have ledthe university since it wasestablished 1898 as the Southwestern Louisiana Industrial Institute, through the 1960s, when itsname changed to the UniversityofSouthwestern Louisiana, to the present day as it is nowknown as UL Lafayette.

The story goes that Edwin Lewis Stephens,the university’sfirst president, planted the live oaks thatgrace itscampus in 1901.

While he may be adistant forefather, there are still many who recall UL leaderspast. Joel LafayetteFletcher,president from 1941 to 1966, led the universitythrough racial desegregation. Under the tenure of Ray P. Authement, president from 1974 to 2008, the university became nationally known as apowerhouse in computer science.And its latest president,JosephP Savoie, who served from 2008 untilthisyear, saw the university gain Carnegie R1 research institution designation

Allthatistosay,ULLafayettehas generally had long-tenured leaders who define the eras in which they serves —not just forthe university, but for the communityatlarge. That’s why it was so baffling to see the recentheadlongrush to install anew leader at UL Lafayette,reportedly without anational search or faculty or community input.

We are glad that the search process now seems to be on track after an outcry fromfaculty.But there is still cause for concern, as we do not have insight into the UL SystemBoard of Supervisors’ actions that ledtothe recent kerfuffle

It’s been aturbulent few months for the university.After audits uncovered financial mismanagement, aseries of personnel changesand cutbacksfollowed.

Savoie decided to step aside early,and Jaimie Hebert, provostand vice presidentofacademic affairs, was installed as interim presidentin July.

Last week, the board hastily called aspecial meeting, and some feared that they intended to name anew president of the university at that time. But faculty quickly mobilized andsenta letter to the board demandingthata transparent search be held.

After meeting in executive session forabout an hour,the board announced plans fora search committee. It also named Ramesh Kolluru,the university’svice president forresearch, innovation and economicdevelopment, whowas therumoredfront-runnerfor theposition,as interim president. Hebert returnstohis position as provost.

Some see the hand of Gov.Jeff Landry,aUL graduate, in all these machinations, butwhatever the case, nothing less than athorough and open search can now quell the distrust this whole episode has engendered UL Lafayette is at acritical juncture,and it should take the time to choose theright person to lead. Like its firstpresidentrealized,a university depends on planting seeds thatwill grow long into the future.

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

Gov.Jeff Landry has no business injectinghimself intoLSU affairs. From importing alive tiger from Florida to parade around at an LSU football game, tosuggesting that right-wing political activist Charlie Kirk —with no connection to Louisiana —have his statue built on campus to refusing to let former Athletic Director Scott Woodward do his job and hire thenext LSUfootball coach, Landry was out of line. Iwould say that Woodward had agood record at selecting winning coaches, including national championship winners —Kim Mulkey (women’s basketball),Jay Johnson (men’sbaseball) and Jay Clark (women’sgymnastics). Yes, thepayout for firing football coach Brian Kelly is large. However, what qualified coach will want to come

Another ceasefire in Gaza begins.

To use asaying from the early 1960s, Israel, with thehelp of America, has succeeded in bombing thepeople of Gaza back to theStoneAge. It’s a given that vengeance was deserved and had to be taken for the attack on Israel. The plan to rid Gaza of Hamas failed. Hamas was still standing tall and proud in green headbands at prisoner exchanges.

Housing and infrastructure have been reduced to piles of dust.Genera-

Ijust spent an extendedvisit with my son, who haslived in Portland, Oregon, fortwo yearswith his partner, who haslivedthere all of his life We hadsome heartfelt conversations. When Iaskedhim if he’d consider moving back here,heshook his head; his reason broke my heart. “Mama the worst thing youcan be in the South is Black,gay and effeminate.” He grewupinSouth Alabama. Over the years, he haslivedinOregon, built his own business and found his partnerof17years. He’s hada rough, sometimesalmost brutallife;the churchweattended could notwelcome him; he was mocked at school, by students andadministrators. He

to LSU, knowing that politics and a misguided governor’sremark can disrupt his entire program? Andthe larger question is, which of these winning coaches will choose to stay at LSU, knowing that their mentor and ultimate LSU fan, Scott Woodward, was unceremoniouslyfired simplydue to agovernor’swhim.Woodward could easily go to acompeting universitywhile bringing along these coaches. Landry’sunfortunate decision may have ripple effects farlarger than coming up with $53 million. Ihope the other LSU coaches, their student athletes and the next potential football coach will weather this storm and see thelarger picture of the greater LSU.

MAYLEE SAMUELS Baton Rouge

tionsoffamilies have been destroyed in the 60,000 victimsofthis tragedy There are always survivors and sympathizers. Generations of hatred have been created in this disaster.The children have no school to attend. While sittingaround campfires, forthey have nothing else, plans andwishes will be madefor the future, somegood and somevengefully and regrettably bad. It’sthe nature of the human beast.

NORMAN WARNOCK Stonewall

couldn’twaittoleave those places as a young adult In Portland,hehas cordialneighbors andfriends, employees, people he can trust and who trusthim. There’s acenter forLGBTQ+individuals who need support andacceptance. People don’t judgehim because he’s unique It breaksmyheart because Oregon is alongway fromhere. Butmaybe, here in the South, if we can remember that even LGBTQ+ people have mothershere whovery much hope their children can find homes andsupport without having to move across the country to find it.

PAMHARTMAN Denham Springs

In his column “Why did Democrats fight so long before caving?” on Nov. 17, Byron York accused the Democrats in Congress of “stubbornly play(ing) alosing hand as millions of Americans suffered” during the government shutdown. It astounds me that York can promoteour current healthcare system that leaves 41% of Americans in medical debt and over 8% of people without health insurance at all. The United States is the only wealthy industrialized nation without auniversal health care system The closest we have ever come to providing universal health care was with the Affordable Care Act. York seemstoproudly tout that “Republicans unanimously opposed the Affordable Care Act,” which provided an opportunity formillions of Americans to acquire health insurance. It is beyond ridiculous that in this country,ifa middle-class person needs to have expensive medical care, the solution is often to create aGoFundMe account to seek donations foraloved one’smedical care. Another option used around Louisiana is to have afundraising barbecue to help cover medical expenses. And thanks to our Republicans in Congress, this solution to medical debt is preferable, whereas in other wealthy countries, going to the hospital is sometimes free forresidents or $10 per day Fighting forAmericans to access affordable health insurance and access to medical care is honorable. If our current system is getting too expensive, then it is up to Congress to invest timeand energy in helping to create asystem that works forour country Americans should have access to affordable health care. In Louisiana, almost 50% of people are in poverty or close to poverty Universal health care could help create healthier families, workers and prevent medical debt that is burdening so manypeople here in Louisiana.

ALICE DEVALL Baton Rouge

President Donald Trump is spectacularly mercurial in economic policy decisions, but for now,Louisiana is benefitingfrom his latest policy effusions. Indeed, the state’s economy received two major boosts from the Trump administration inthe past 10 days, one related tocoffeeand one to energy production —although the first boost stems from Trump reversing one of his own, misbegotten policies.

COMMENTARY

ty in case, Lord forbid, of amajor war

The policy reversal involves Trump’sbizarre fetish for import tariffs. Every observer with an ounceof sense recognized that at least in the near term, U.S. consumer priceswould rise on just about every goodoritem subject to higher tariffs. Trump all along has insisted that foreigners,not Americans, actually pay tariffs,but of course, that’sjust factually incorrect. Now, though, with the average U.S. family paying $700 moresofar this year for “basic” items, arecent poll shows the public largely blamingthe tariffs of which the public disapprovesbya nearly two-to-one margin. The public is right. From astandpoint ofbasic economics, most of Trump’stariffsmake no sense. Granted, there can be two arguably good reasons for tariffs.One is to punish an unambiguous adversary by deterring demand from theotherwise large U.S. market for the adversary’s products. Even then, though, it helps to acknowledge that U.S. consumers are taking ahit in the name of thenation’s greater good.

The second reason that sometimes holds true, although nowhere near as often as tariff supporters insist, is to bolster adomestic industrywhosevery existenceiscrucial for national securi-

TURKEY DAY

Folks all overthe countryare opening up their homestofriendsand relatives forThanksgiving.Looks likethis Louisiana family has aspecial guest dropping in for the big feast —and he looks hungry!

The strangething is that ahost of Trump’stariffs have nothing to do with those two, sometimes-acceptable objectives. This is true, without question, with regard to large tariffs Trumpimposed earlier thisyear on imported coffee. Coffee surely is not an essential element of our national security apparatus, and the mainland U.S.features almost no domesticcoffee production to protect anyway.Almost nowhere in the country’s mainland is the climateright for growing the stuff.

Still, American consumers love coffee, and they clearly resent the19% single-yearprice hike on coffee caused almost entirely by Trump’stariffs.

That’swhy,asa clear political necessity,Trump on Nov.14abandoned his tariffs on coffee, along with those on bananas, tomatoes and other foods usedalmosteveryday in American home kitchens.

The removal of the coffee tariffs is doublygood news for Louisiana. Not only are Louisiana consumers likely to payless for our cups of joe going forward, but our job base should benefit significantly

This newspaper in thepast eight monthshas featured anumber of news andopinionpieces highlighting the importance of thecoffee trade in Louisiana, along with the damage done to it by the tariffs. Coffee comes through severalLouisiana portsand is an especially important commodity at the Port of New Orleans. In 2024, before the Trumpcoffee tariffs took effect, coffee was, by value, the fourth largest item imported in New Orleans, at slightly more than $1 billion.

In turn, coffee distributors and

roasters here provide thousands of direct jobsinLouisiana (1,600 in coffee production alone, not to mention retail positions),and of course, coffee plays ahuge role in thestate’sdining scene that is akeystone of the tourism industry Trump’sreversal, therefore, is great news for theBayou State.

Meanwhile, Trumpneeded no reversal in policies in order tohelp Louisiana’soil and gas industry.Hehas always been strongly pro-oil exploration.OnNov.11, that inclination bore fruit as theadministration released acall for energy-company bids for some80million acres in the central and western Gulf. The leases, worth hundreds of millions of dollars, result largely from new policies adopted in theso-called OneBig Beautiful Bill Act Trumppushed through Congress with a major assist from House Speaker Mike Johnson and Majority Leader Steve Scalise, bothofLouisiana. Even better,that samebill raises the amount of revenue from Gulf leases that flows directly to four coastal states, withLouisiana likely to get an extra $46 million per year.Combined with the added jobs from the new leases and related businesses that service theoil industry,and thetax revenues produced from those, this is obviously aconsiderable windfall for the whole state. Once by reversal, then, and once by design, Trump’smoves right now are good for Louisiana. Here’shoping the state’slawmakers and entrepreneurs bothcan find ways to make the most of these economic good tidings —before thepresident changes his mindagain. Email QuinHillyer at quin.hillyer@ theadvocate.com

DON’TFORGET! All entries must include your name, home addressand phone number.Cell numbers arebest. The deadline for all entries is midnight on Thursday,Nov.20. HappyThanksgiving,everyone! —Walt

Trumpian twists agoodturnfor economy Republicansare

So, what’sgoing on in this cartoon? you tell me.Bewitty,funny, crazy,absurd or snarky —just trytokeep it clean.There’s no limit on the number of entries. Thewinning punchline will be lettered into the word balloon and runon Mondayinour print editions and online. In addition, the winner will receive asigned print of the cartoon along with acool winner’sT-shirt! Some honorable mentions will alsobelisted.To enter,email entriestocartooncontest@ theadvocate.com.

In the 1967 film “Cool HandLuke, the “Captain” says to Luke(Paul Newman) “What we’ve got here is afailure to communicate.” The same could be saidof the Trump administration and Republicans in Congress.While they have much to brag about —from aclosed border,the deportation of undocumented immigrants and lower taxes —it’snot getting through to especially ayounger generation that seems enamored with socialism as we’ve recently seen with the election of democratic socialistMayor-elect Zohran Mamdani in New York Cityand the disastrous result of that economic philosophy in Oregon.

ment mentality.When we try to tell them why socialism doesn’twork, they seem to care only about “affordability.”

The generational divide means that younger people have not experienced what older generations have experienced. An example: My wife and Iare the same age. We have family members who were in the military.Welike the same music and recall the threat of nuclear war with the Soviet Union which was part of the Cold War. When we speak of such things we understand each other Younger people, especially those born after 9/11, know nothing of our experiences, nor have they similarexperiences of their own. They have led what we used to call“sheltered lives,” which has createdinthemanentitle-

Gas prices are down since the Biden administration (now averaging$3per gallon, but $4.73 on averageinCalifornia as of April 2025). Iwent grocery shopping last week and found prices have dropped on such basics as eggs, milk and bread.

Since January2021, overall prices rose22.7%, but wages rose only 21.8%. Inflation hit arecord high of 9.1% in June, 2022. Inflation was 3% for the 12 months ending in September2025, according to theBureau of Labor Statistics.

Whyisthisnot getting through?

Part of it hastodowith the failure to acknowledgethese facts by themedia, which never hesitate to blame Republicanswhen prices go up and the government closes. But alot of the failure by Republicans to get through to younger votersisbecause they are speaking a different language. Were Iaconsultant for the GOP I would develop several ads. Onewould show two women grocery shopping with alist that has in one column the pricesoffood during theBiden administration and the prices now.One woman saystothe other “Look how theprice of eggs has dropped. That’s notwhatweare hearing on the news.”

Another ad would feature awoman filling up her car and telling her liberal, college-age son, “$3 agallon is cheaper than it was five years ago under Biden.”

People have moreoptions than ever when it comes to where to live, work and what to buy.Ifthe rent or housing prices are too high, one can always movetoaplace with no state taxes, cheaper food and gas and less expensive housing. Republicans should get off defense (andthe Epstein files) and notehow everything was more expensive under Biden. The cost of healthinsurance escalated because of subsidies created by “Obamacare.” Cheaper healthinsurance is available through independent organizations like Medi-Share and Samaritan’sPurse. These and other truths that prove thingsare getting better because of Republican policies, should be hammeredhome every day It should also be repeated that if Democrats return to power,the public can look to the recent past, thepresent in Oregon and the likely future in New York to see how liberal policies have failed. It shouldn’tbethat difficult to communicate.

Email Cal Thomasattcaeditors@ tribpub.com

“Votershave spoken, butwhatdid they say?” asks The Economist. Good question, and the magazine provides atrenchantanswer:“Democrats risk drawing the wrong lessons from one good day.Moderate governors offer abetter model than a charming socialist in New York.” The recent elections suggest two very differentpathwaysfor the Democrats: NewYorkers chose as mayor that “charming socialist,” 34-year-old Zohran Mamdani, who certainly galvanized voters —especially youngones— with hissmart andspirited campaign.

But the two moderate Democrats who won governors’ races— Abigail SpanbergerinVirginia andMikie SherrillinNew Jersey —providea more useful template for aparty hoping to win back control of Congress next year andthe White House in 2028.

Binyamin AppelbaumofThe NewYorkTimes interviewed another pragmatic governor of akey state, Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, and concluded: “Tuesday’selection results have supercharged the debate among Democrats about whether the road to political recovery runs toward the middle or the left. The reason the argument persists is not because the answer is unclear but because, for many Democrats, theclear answer is unpalatable. The party will not return to the White House, nor reclaim Congress, until it learns to embrace centrist politicians like Mr.Shapiro.”

That answer is “unpalatable” to the party’sleft wing because it harborsanalmost unlimited capacity for self-delusion. For years now, theyhave maintained thatthisisa liberal countryreadyto elect aleft-wing progressive as president, but that is plainly nonsense. Three reputable national polls —Gallup, Pew andYouGov —recentlysurveyedthe American electorate andreported remarkably similarresults. Averagingall of theirfindings produces this voter portrait: 35.3% conservative,34% moderate, 25.3% liberal. The center of gravity is slightly right of center. That’swhy President Trump has calledMamdani “oneofthe best things to everhappen to ourgreat Republican Party.” And the GOP is alreadyblasting out ads linking every Democrat to the mayorelect.

“I don’tthink there’sany question he will be on theballotnextNovember,”Rep.MikeLawler, a Republican who represents aswingdistrict north of NewYorkCity, told Politico.“This is something that will certainly playinNew York, but Ithink you’ll see it across the country.” Third Way, an organization that supports centristDemocrats,warns that Mamdani’s“policies and message, which are radical and politically toxic outside the deep blue confines of NewYork City,donot translate.” Agood example is his previous support for defunding the police, perhaps the most suicidal slogan in recent memory.He disavows it now,but the quote is out there —and in every Republican commercial. If some of Mamdani’spolicies are toxic, however,his strategic sense hasbeen brilliant. Aparty that got badly outclassed on social media by Republicans last year has alot to learn from ayoung digital native who dominated cyberspace.

“Democrats should seek to emulate his relaxed, hipand relatablestyle, his social mediasavvy and his laser-like focus on ahandful of simple,sticky promises voters could understand and remember,” said Third Way.

The successful Democrats all focused on one “simple,sticky” problem: therisingcostofliving. The exact issue thathelpedelect Trump is now dragging downRepublicans, and while the president is in denial, insisting thatprices are coming down, more clear-eyed conservatives are conceding the truth.

“Grocery prices are going up,” says GOP radio host ErickErickson.“Andnow Republicansare perversely doing the same thing Democrats did when they were in office with Joe Biden, saying, ‘No, actually,don’tbelieve your eyes at the grocery store, prices arecomingdown!’That’snot helpful to Americans who are feeling higher grocerycosts right now, which is actually happening. The Republicans have gotta figure this out.”

In refusing to confront the inflation issue, Trump is trying to distract votersbystressing crimeand immigration at home and peacemaking and saber-rattling abroad, but none of those policies affect voters every day.Prices do.

“Trumpneedstoditch the foreign policycrap and focus all his attention on the domestic economy,which is still not working for the majority of people,” writes Sean Davis, head of The Federalist, aright-wing website. “Right nowhelooks weak and rudderless. Be mad all you want, but it’sthe truth.”

So here’sthe winning formula for Democrats going forward: Combinea pragmatic focus on kitchen-table issues with arelentless andrelatable presence on social media. Old message. New megaphone.

Email Steven Roberts at stevecokie@gmail. com.

Steve Roberts

Cal Thomas

Quin Hillyer

N.O. Book Fest drawsbig names

KenBurns, Stacey Abrams, Salman Rushdie amongthose slated to appear

BY RICH COLLINS Staff writer

The fifth annualNew OrleansBook Festival at Tulane University willreturn March 12-15, bringing more than 100 authors —including some of the world’sbest known —toTulane’sUptowncampus.

The high-profile writers and thought leaders scheduledtoappear next year include filmmaker Ken Burns, politicianand voting rights advocate Stacey Abrams, novelist and essayist Salman Rushdie, and New Orleans-born author Clint Smith.

new high mark, organizers are expanding the event’s footprint and schedule.

sions, and anew outdoor music stage will showcase New Orleans artists.

As usual, the event will beginwitha keynoteaddress Thursday evening and continue will three full days of programming.

The Atlantic magazine returns as the fest’smedia partner and will send several of its writers to participate.

The complete list is online.

“Weare so excited to present the fifthchapter of this incredible festival and we aregrateful forthe readers, volunteers and supporters who make it possible,” said festival co-chairCheryl Landrieu, an author and the

Other presenters include: Kara Swisher,Andrew Ross Sorkin, Darren Walker,Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Tarriona “Tank” Ball, Jeff Koons, Emeril andE.J. Lagasse, JonMeacham,Viet Thanh Nguyen,Imani Perry andDax Shepard

formerNew Orleans first lady,inaTuesday phone interview

The free celebration of books and ideashas grown to become abig eventon the U.S.literary calendar, bringing attendees from all over the country for four days of author sessions, panels, book signings and family programming. After lastyear’sevent attracted roughly 18,000 people, a

Livingston libraryleaderchosen

Selection comesafter 2 yearsofturmoil

BY CLAIRE GRUNEWALD

Staff writer

The Livingston Parish Library Board approved hiring aMississippi librarydirector as its new system director and elected new board leadership after several gridlocked votes.

The libraryboard, in a6-4 vote, voted Tuesday to hire Na’Chel Shannon, currently library directorofthe South Mississippi Regional Library, following asecond publicinterview

The search for anew director came after the Livingston Parish president and the Library Board voted in July against renewing former library director Michelle Parrish’scontract.

Notably,Shannon lives outside the state and has not worked in the Livingston Parish library system. The library’sinterim director,Kyla RobertsonWebb, did not apply for the job. This is astark contrast from previous appointed directors,like

BLOTTER

Continued from page1B

Avoyelles assistant DA booked on DWI

An assistant district attorney in Avoyelles Parish was arrested and booked with DWI, according to abooking report from the Avoyelles Parish Sheriff’s Office.

The report shows 47-yearold Andrea Aymond, of Effie, was booked Nov.12on counts of firstoffense driving while intoxicated and careless operation.

The District Attorney’s Office websitelists Aymond as an assistant district attorney Bail details were not released.

Iberiaofficer accused of beating inmate

An Iberia Parish corrections officer has been terminated after accusationsthat he beat an inmate.

TheIberiaParishSheriff’s Office recently received in-

LOTTERY

TUESDAY,NOV.18, 2025

PICK 3: 8-4-2

PICK 4: 0-7-1-0

PICK 5: 6-4-7-0-3

MEGA MILLIONS: 5-10-23-27-30

MEGA BALL: 10

Unofficial notification, keep your tickets.

Parrish and herpredecessor Giovanni Tairov,who worked in Livingston Parish before theybecame directors.

Theother finalist was Leslie Sam,head librarian of Nunez Community CollegeinChalmette. Some members of thepublicraised concernsabout Shannon’slack of experience with Livingston Parish anda library systemthatismuch larger than her current one in Mississippi.

“It’s going from somebody who’sworking over 12 people to now over 150. That seems like apretty big jump thatI’m notsure this candidatewas necessarilypreparedfor,” said Bobby Green, aHolden resident.

Parish President Randy Delatte, using his ex officiostatus to vote, approvedthe hiringand defendedthe choice, saying he didn’tnecessarily have all the experience he needed when he startedin office. “I reallybelieve she wants to do better professionally,and to get that, she has to serve in this library,” Delatte said.

It is unclear whetherShannon has accepted the position offer, as shewas notpresent during the vote.

formation regarding an alleged batterycommitted on an inmate by adeputy assignedtothe Corrections Division, according to a statement from theSheriff’sOffice.

The investigationresulted in the arrest of Mikhael Hebert,28, whowas booked into the jail on counts of second-degree battery and malfeasance in office.

Followingthe investigation, Hebert’semployment with the Sheriff’s Office

Afternine nominations and seven votes, the libraryboard elected Jonathan Davis as the new board president, 6-4.

The board repeatedly nominated thesame people and kept ending up in a5-5 tie. Some people nominated even immediately withdrew the nomination.

Current President Jennifer Dorhauerwas votedtobecomevice president.

They will assume these roles in January

TheLivingstonParishLibrary Board turneddown a proposedcost-of-living pay increase for employees, despite the systemexperiencinghigh turnover rates the past twoyears.

Webb saidthe 3% costof-living adjustment would track next year’sprojected inflation rate.

“Essentially diminishing their wages in the coming year could lead toincreased turnover,” she said. “Weare seeing fairly tremendous turnover within our system.”

The library system’sturnover rate in 2023 was 17.3%, in 2024 it was 33.1%,and so far thisyear it is 25.6%, according to the library’shuman resource department

wasterminated,according to the statement issued Tuesday “Sheriff Tommy Romero emphasizes that theIberia ParishSheriff’s Officeis committed to maintaining the highest standards of professionalism, transparency,and accountability,” the statement read. “Any actions that compromise public trust or violatethe rights of individuals in our custody will be thoroughlyinvestigated and addressed.”

Thefestivalwill move presentations fromin-demand speakers to Tulane’s Devlin Fieldhouse —which can hold more than 2,000 people —while continuing to use McAlisterAuditorium, Dixon Hall, several other on-campus spaces and temporary tents. Theevent also will add aday as all the family-focused programmingmoves to Sunday “We’re happy that we had significant growth this year,” Landrieu said. “We’ve spent along time since starting from scratch to make sure everyone hasa good experience.”

Landrieu’steam is addinganew outdoor screen so overflow crowdscan see popular panels from afar There’sanincreased focus on fiction writers, including romance and fantasy writers, and moreprogramming that spotlights music and food.

Grab-and-gofood options will be available for attendees rushing between ses-

PLANT

Continuedfrom page1B

According to theU.S Environmental Protection Agency,hydrofluoricacid, which comes from hydrogenfluoride,can burn theskin and damage the lungs, eyes, nose and respiratory tract with exposure to heavy concentrationsofthe colorless gas.

Thechemical,whichhas apowerful odor,isone of strongestacids known and is used by Mexichem Fluortomakethe refrigerant 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane. It’sbeen used sincethe 1990storeplace older refrigerants, known as “chlorofluorocarbons,” in cars and other vehicles

The2026 Book Fest doesn’thave atheme, but there will be several panelsrelated to the250thanniversary of the signing of theDeclaration of Independence. Festivalco-chair Walter Isaacson’snew book on the topic, “The Greatest Sentence Ever Written,” was released this week.

Landrieusaidher team is able to produce the popular eventona shoestringbudget, thanks to authors willing to donate their timeand apartnership withthe Hyatt Regency New Orleans hotel, where many speakers and attendees stay

Email RichCollins at rich. collins@theadvocate.com.

that depleted the protective ozone layer in the upper layers of the Earth’s atmosphere.

Thechemical,whichisa “hydrofluorocarbon,” also has alower the greenhouse gas impact than older refrigerants but, according to the EPA, still has amuch higher impact than carbon dioxide and will be phased out in some uses by 2028.

Thecompany recently asked the state to modify its air permit, so it could adda line to make electrolyte for lithium-ion batteries, astate application says. Like the refrigerants theplantmakes,the lithium-based electrolyte will use hydrogen fluoride as afeedstock forits production.

STAFF FILE PHOTO By BRETTDUKE

People line up for an event at the 2025 NewOrleans Book Festival at Tulane University in NewOrleans. The fifth annual festival will returnMarch 12-15.

SPORTS

BY MATTHEW PARAS Staff writer

As he reviewed his team’soffense over the bye week, New Orleans Saints coach Kellen Moorefocused on moments he calls“situational football.”

He closely studied thered zone,anarea the Saints have struggled in this season. He looked at theteam’s rungame,which finally got on track in the last game before the break but largely has lacked explosiveness in 2025.

Moore found the exercise productive.

“There’salways all these little margins that hopefully we can improve on,” he said.

The self-scout also may have crystallized how Moore wants his offense toattack over the back half of the season

The first-year coach has fundamental beliefs about what his offenseshould looklike. He wants his players to play fast with tempo. He wants his quarterbackstotake “3s and layups,” which means deep shots and easy completions. He wants theoffensive line to be physical and control the trenches But over the first 10 games, theSaints haven’talways playedtothat standard. If anything, it seemed that Moore spentlarge chunks of the season figuringout howtoutilize his personnel. Some weeks, the Saints

BY KEVIN FOOTE Staff writer

UL coach MichaelDesormeauxcan’t even entertain theidea that playing well in Jonesboro, Arkansas, is tougher to do than in most Sun Belt road venues.

“You’ve gottohavementaltoughness to go play on theroad anywhere you go,”hesaid. “We’re not harping awhole lot on what the history of it is because it’sreally got nothing to do with our team and their team. It’s really irrelevant.”

TheCajunswillfind outhow difficult theroad tripis when theymeet the RedWolves at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Centennial BankStadiumonESPN.

TheCajuns are 30-22-1 all-time against Arkansas State, including 11-13-1inJonesboro. In the last 10 meetings,ULis4-6, including a37-17 loss twoyears ago in Jonesboro.

“Wejust have to handle thesetrips with maturity,”

BY TOYLOYBROWN III

Staff writer

Mike Nwoko didn’tsee his defenders as obstacles to scoring on Tuesday night.

The LSU center shruggedwhen faced with Alcorn State doubleteams. No matter what was thrown at him, he saw onething on the basketball court as he scoreda careerhigh 29 points.

“Baby food. That’sreally about it,” Nwoko said after his team’s107-81 win against Alcorn State. The 6-foot-10, 261-pound Mississippi State transfer made 12 of 15 field goals, all in the paint, and had nine rebounds and one turnover.Whatwas amazingtopoint guard DedanThomas was that Nwoko played just 19:52 in thegame

“For him to be able to do thatwithin under 20 minutes,it’sjust mind blowing to me,” said Thomas, who had 16 points and sixassists. “He’sjust such agreat dude to play with. He’sjust such agreat dude off the court. He just puts the work in, so I’m not surprised to see him having performances like this.”

Desormeaux said. “That team (in 2023) just didn’thave enough maturity to handle any type of success.”

That year,ULwas coming off an impressive road win over South Alabama. This time, the Cajuns (4-6, 3-3) are hoping to build on a42-39 homewin over Texas State.

“We’ve got to build off the momentum we’ve created thelast couple of weeks,” Desormeaux said.

UL enters thegamewithsevenplayers suspended becauseofa postgame altercationwithTexas State.

The secondary,with cornerback Courtline Flowers and safeties Tyree Skipper and Kody Jackson suspended, is particularlyaffected.

“Everyone’sgot to elevate theirgame,” Desormeaux said. “That’swhat Iexpect to happen.”

TheCajuns will be counting on redshirt freshman Lake Bates, redshirt senior Key’Savalyn Barnes and true freshman Steven Ranel to fill in.

Onenameisdominating theLouisiana sportsscene du jour, and it’snot the name of Pelicans interim coach James Borrego. LaneKiffin. LaneKiffin. LaneKiffin. America’sfavoritegame show is now the Lane Kiffin Watch. Will he stay at Ole Miss? Will he leavefor LSU or Florida?Will his ex-wifefly to Hawaii to check out the local vibe there, just in case Kiffin scratches an itch to coach the Rainbow Warriors? Just kidding about Hawaii, but there’snokidding that the Kiffin obsession has reached afever pitch at LSU, Ole Miss andFlorida. It’sbubbled up to the point that everyone is dissecting every word Kiffin said in anothing burger of an interview Tuesday on “The Pat McAfee Show” on ESPN Samefor his answers —ornon-answers, or non-denial denials —about his future status at Ole Miss that Kiffin madeduring 11 squirmy minutes on Wednesday’sSEC coaches teleconference. It’sunderstandable why OleMiss wants to keep Kiffin, and why LSU and Florida

want to land him.He’savery good coach and an excellent offensive mind, one who has the Rebels on the verge of their first appearance in the College Football Playoff. Whether he will coach Ole Miss in the CFP and next season is the salient question. It’sadecision that has rippling implications forthe entire Southeastern Conference and possibly beyond. But the KiffinObsession Syndromeatthose three schools and among their fanbases has created atoxic byproduct. One fanbase is going to be delighted, but twoare going to be devastated and leftto feel less-than-worthy about their job vacancies. And that’stoo bad. That’swrong. Yes, Kiffinwill bring alot of credibility —along with heightened expectations —ifhechooses LSU But if he doesn’t, LSU fans shouldn’tfeel like the program is destined forfailure. Far from it.

Kiffinisclearly LSU’s top choice. That’s fine. There

STAFFPHOTO By BRAD KEMP

State on Thursday likethe

Scott Rabalais

AP PHOTO By RUSTy JONES

Saints coach Kellen Moore speaksduring a news conference after agameagainst the Carolina Panthers on Nov. 9inCharlotte, N.C.

BROADCAST HIGHLIGHTS

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL

Looking to break through

After years of coming close, Teurlings Catholic hopes this is season it wins it all

BY ERIC NARCISSE Staff writer

Teurlings Catholic is enjoying one of the best football seasons in school history

Not only have the Rebels won the District 4-4A championship and earned the No 2 seed in the LHSAA Division I select playoffs, but they did so while going 10-0.

It’s only the third time (1995 and 1982 were the others) the Rebels have gone undefeated in the regular season.

While those accomplishments are noteworthy the Rebels are hoping to do something for the first time — advance to the state final.

“I believe we have the right stuff to make a run,” first-year coach Michael Courville said.

The Rebels, who will host No. 18 Bonnabel at 7 p.m. Friday in the second round of the playoffs, have had several good teams fall short of reaching the Superdome.

In the 2022 and 2023 seasons under coach Dane Charpentier, the Rebels lost in the Division II select semifinals to Lafayette Christian, which was led by record-setting quarterback Ju’Juan Johnson.

Other state semifinal losses came in 2015 against St. Thomas More, 2010 against Edna Karr, 1999 against Karr, which later had to forfeit, and in 1992, Jake Delhomme’s senior year

Although its season didn’t end in the semifinals, it’s hard not to mention a quarterfinal loss by the 1982 Rebels. That team won its first 11 games and didn’t allow a point defensively, but fell 26-8 to powerhouse John Curtis in the Class 2A quarterfinals.

No one seems to be able to put their finger on what makes this year’s team so special.

“This year definitely feels different,” senior linebacker Jaxon Broussard said. “Obviously our record is different, and we have a different coach, but it is more than that It’s the just way we do things.”

Senior tight end A.J. Price said the players enjoy getting better each day

“I think it is in the way that we prepare and practice,” Price said. “It’s fun. It just seems like everyone is having fun out there. We go out there each and every day for practice, workouts, lifting or watching film and it’s fun. We’re going 100%, but it’s fun.”

Courville said the players and his coaching staff deserve the credit.

“The makeup of this team is a little different,” Courville said. “Those guys believe in what we are doing. We have quality football players who work really hard. Also, the smartest thing I could have done was hire Mike Richard as offensive coordinator And (defensive coordinator) Bart Vitte has done an unbelievable job. All of our assistants have gotten

the most out of the players.”

The Rebels understand the expectations.

“We feel a lot more support than we feel pressure,” Price said. “In the back of our minds, we know that we haven’t gotten there yet. Getting to the dome is on a lot of our minds, but that goes back to just how badly we want it. We know there’s pressure to get there.”

“We are always going to look for ways to get better, until we go all of the way,” Broussard said. “We are not looking ahead. We are taking things opponent by opponent and just staying focused.”

Email Eric Narcisse at enarcisse@ theadvocate.com.

Baseball standouts helping Erath shine

Unbeaten Bobcats have tough task in regional matchup

BY MIKE COPPAGE

Contributing writer

Football coaches often struggle with getting dual-sport athletes to participate.

That’s not how it is this year at Erath High School, however Coach Eric LeBlanc’s seniors, who helped the school’s baseball team to its best season in the spring, made a group decision to also play football

“We just all love the game and love the culture,” said senior running back/free safety Landon Lemaire, who has helped the Bobcats to their first 11-0 season and a No. 5 seed in Division III nonselect entering this week’s regional home game vs. No. 12 Union Parish

“We have that love for the sport.” Lemaire (5-foot-11, 175 pounds), who batted .375 for the state runner-up baseball team, plays free safety for the Bobcats (four shutouts in the past six games). He has an interception and numerous pass break-ups.

“Our defense has done really an amazing job,” Lemaire said “We have (four) shutouts. The teams that have scored didn’t score much.” Strength will meet strength when Union Parish (6-5) makes the trip from Farmerville in northeast Louisiana at 7 p.m. Friday

The Farmers, who have won three state championships and lost by single digits to No. 1 St. James in the 2024 semifinals, throw it more this year than usual, but

Erath running back Landon Lemaire breaks free for a big gain against St. Martinville on Oct 23 in Erath.

their identity remains a smashmouth team.

“We have that connection on defense,” Lemaire said. “If you look at the defense we have some really physical dudes that like hitting people. If you hit us in the mouth, we’ll hit you right back.”

LeBlanc informed his team this week about the rich history of the Union Parish program, which came to Vermilion Parish a few years ago and eliminated Abbeville in the Class 3A quarterfinals and St. Martinville in the semis.

“I’m not a shy coach as far as telling the kids where Union has been and what they’ve built there,” LeBlanc said. “It’s not a fear-factor thing We let them know matter of fact what they’re about to face, and the reasons why we have to do things precisely It’s a very good matchup.”

Union, which finished as state runner-up three consecutive years (2020-22), always assembles a tough schedule. The Farmers, who also lost to Calvary Baptist and reigning state champ Sterlington, began the year 0-3 with losses to Alexandria, Airline and undefeated North DeSoto.

“Honestly, the best thing for us was just finishing the regular season,” LeBlanc said. “We’ve been calling all the talk about going undefeated ‘rat poison.’ We need to get better every day

“We’ve done an awesome job The guys are great at practice. One factor is the leadership of our six captains.

“They’re always looking to get better, and they’re not shy about pushing people.” Lemaire, who also rotates with the running backs (43 carries, 309

AREA PLAYOFF SCHEDULE

All games kick off at 7 p.m. Friday

Nonselect

Division I No. 16 Westgate (7-4) at No. 1 Ruston (8-2) No. 9 Terrebonne (8-3) at No. 8 Southside (9-2) Division II No. 13 Cecilia (6-4) at No. 3 Lakeshore (8-2) No. 19 Opelousas (4-6) at No. 3 Belle Chasse (9-1) No. 15 Northwest (7-4) at No. 2 Iowa (10-0) Nonselect Division III

Select

Division I No. 14 Acadiana (8-3) at No. 3 St. Augustine (9-1) No. 10 St. Thomas More (8-3) at No. 7 John Curtis (7-2) No. 18 Bonnabel (8-3) at No. 2 Teurlings (10-0) Division II No. 17 Northside (6-5) at No. 1 St. Charles (9-1) Division III No. 16 Parkview Baptist (6-5) at No. 1 Lafayette Christian (9-1) No. 9 Catholic-NI (9-2) at No. 8 Bunkie (9-1) No. 10 Amite (8-3) at No. 7 Lafayette Renaissance (8-2) No. 18 DeLaSalle (5-6) at No. 2 Notre Dame (8-2) Division IV No. 16 Opelousas Catholic (7-4) at No. 1 Westminster (10-0) No. 9 St. Edmund (9-2) at No. 8 Covenant Christian (8-2) No. 20 Westminster-Lafayette (7-4) at No. 4 Catholic-PC (8-2) No. 11 Kentwood (7-4) at No. 6 Ascension Episcopal (9-1)

yards, five TDs), is one of the captains.

“There is a reason Landon has taken every snap at free safety the past three years,” LeBlanc said. “He’s the quarterback of the defense and one of the reasons we’ve set this record for wins.” Lemaire and his teammates have razor-sharp focus this week after getting upset in the second round at home last year by Loreauville.

“I feel pretty good, but the job isn’t over,” Lemaire said.

IN BRIEF FROM STAFF AND

Stanford uses big surge to pull away from Cajuns Stanford used a 14-1 run late in the first half and made 11 3-pointers to rout the UL men’s basketball team 93-66 on Tuesday night in Palo Alto, California.

UL (1-4) led 22-21 with 5:44 left in the first half before the Cardinal’s run gave it a 35-23 lead. Stanford (4-0) led 40-25 at halftime and was never threatened again. Freshman Joshua Lewis was a bright spot for the Cajuns Lewis scored 16 points on 8-of-14 shooting. Jaxon Olvera (15 points) and Dorian Finister (12 points) were the other Cajuns in double figures. Stanford was led by freshman Emeka Okorie with 26 points (three 3-pointers, 11 of 13 at the free-throw line).

Chisom Okpara contributed 22 points on 7-of-10 shooting from the field.

MLB’s deals with ESPN, NBC, Netflix total $800M ESPN and Major League Baseball appeared headed for an ugly separation after the network opted out of its rights deal in February Nine months later, it appears to be the best thing to happen to both parties.

ESPN has a reworked deal that includes out-of-market streaming rights while NBC and Netflix will air games as part of a new threeyear media rights agreement announced by MLB on Wednesday NBC/Peacock will become the new home of “Sunday Night Baseball” and the wild card series while Netflix will have the Home Run Derby and two additional games. The three deals will average nearly $800 million per year ESPN will still pay $550 million while the NBC deal is worth $200 million and Netflix $50 million.

Jets to start QB Taylor vs. Ravens; Fields is benched FLORHAM PARK, N.J Aaron Glenn said he thought the New York Jets’ offense needed a boost, so he made a switch at quarterback.

The coach confirmed Wednesday that Tyrod Taylor will start over Justin Fields on Sunday at Baltimore when the Jets (2-8) take on Lamar Jackson and the Ravens (5-5). The Jets are coming off a 27-14 loss at New England last Thursday night. Fields’ subpar play has been a major reason for the struggles of the passing offense, which ranks last in the NFL with 139.9 yards per game — 20 fewer than 31stranked Cleveland. Fields was 15 of 26 for 116 yards and a touchdown against the Patriots For the season, he has passed for 1,259 yards — an average of just 140 yards per game.

Falcons QB Penix to have season-ending knee surgery

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — The Atlanta Falcons’ season, already in a free fall, took another hit on Wednesday when it was confirmed that quarterback Michael Penix will have season-ending surgery to repair the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.

The Falcons announced Penix’s surgery plans two days after saying the 25-year-old would be placed on injured reserve and miss at least four games while awaiting a second opinion on the severity of the injury

The team said the second opinion confirmed that Penix has a partially torn ligament in the knee.

The loss of Penix leaves veteran Kirk Cousins as the starter for the remainder of the season as the Falcons (3-7) prepare to play at New Orleans on Sunday

Browns rookie QB Sanders to make his first NFL start

BEREA,Ohio Shedeur Sanders will make his first NFL start on Sunday in Las Vegas as the Browns turn to the high-profile quarterback while fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel recovers from a concussion.

Sanders replaced an injured Gabriel for the second half of last week’s 23-16 loss to Baltimore. It was a shaky debut as Sanders, who was drafted by Cleveland in the fifth round, completed just 4 of 16 passes with an interception. He also was sacked twice and fumbled once. Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said Wednesday that Gabriel remains in concussion protocol. Sanders will be the 42nd quarterback to start for Cleveland since 1999.

FILE PHOTO By LEE BALL

STAFF PHOTO By BRAD KEMP

Teurlings Catholic running back Ian Schwander flexes after scoring against St. Thomas More on Oct. 31. The second-seeded Rebels host No. 18 Bonnabel in the Division II select playoffs on Friday.

NWOKO

The Toronto native’s ferocious presence was felt from the onset. He had two of his four dunks within the first 60 seconds of the game. If there was a missed shot, he battled for it consistently, nabbing six offensive rebounds. The Alcorn State frontcourt bumped Nwoko’s body repeatedly to prevent him from posting, but it wasn’t enough of a disruption.

“Well, we knew he’s a challenge,” Alcorn State coach Jake Morton said. “He’s a beast right now We tried to double him midway through the second half; that didn’t work. We just couldn’t keep him off the boards, and we couldn’t keep him out of getting his position. Like I said, we tried doubling and that didn’t work.” LSU coach Matt McMahon is impressed by Nwoko’s scoring acumen.

“I think Mike’s been fantastic on the offensive end,” McMahon said. “Been really pleased with his skill level. He’s more skilled down in the post than we had anticipated coming in. He’s worked really hard in the player-development program. See him scoring jump hooks with either hand. And at the end of the day, 6-10, 260, and I thought he’s using his physicality in a great fashion there.”

Nwoko’s hook is a shot that he uses with both hands. The signature move has been in development since he was in high school and will continue to be used throughout the season.

“I know it’s an unblockable shot, and it’s just, you know it’s my go-to shot,” Nwoko said. “I’ve been working on it for so long. I rep it out every day So, you know, until they stop it, I won’t stop shooting it.”

Assembly Center

SAINTS

from page 1C

would be a spread-it-out, shotgunheavy team In others, New Orleans tried to be more under center and establish the run When it works, such changes can be portrayed as a versatile coach willing to adapt the game plan to an opponent. But when it doesn’t, the shifting can be perceived as the offense lacking a true identity

The final stretch will provide answers.

“Each team is different and what they’re really good at,” quarterback Tyler Shough said. “And obviously every team has to deal with moving pieces, so you’re trying to just week to week, really hone in on what you’re good at. And I think

BY KOKI RILEY and WILSON ALEXANDER Staff writers

LSU sophomore quarterback Michael Van Buren said Tuesday night he wants to stay on the team moving forward as the Tigers go through a coaching change

“I love it here in Baton Rouge,”

Van Buren said. “I love the place. I love Tiger Stadium. I just love everything about this place, and this is where I want to be. This is where I want to continue my career.”

With senior Garrett Nussmeier out of eligibility after this season, Van Buren is one of two scholarship quarterbacks on the roster who can return to LSU. The other is redshirt freshman Colin Hurley, who “took a leave for personal-related matters,” interim coach Frank Wilson said Monday Hurley missed the past two games against Alabama and Arkansas, but Wilson said his absence is temporary

LSU does not have a quarterback committed in the 2026 recruiting class It is expected to look for at least one quarterback in the transfer portal, which opens from Jan. 2-16.

Van Buren is in line to start for the second-straight game when LSU plays Western Kentucky at 6:45 p.m.

Saturday inside Tiger Stadium

Nussmeier did not play against Arkansas after aggravating an abdominal injury last week, Wilson said, and he is doubtful against Western Kentucky as of Wednesday morning.

In his first start at LSU, Van Buren completed 68% of his passes for 221 yards and one touchdown while rushing 10 times for 36 yards

RABALAIS

Continued from page 1C

in this cycle, and that includes James Franklin who just got hired by Virginia Tech. Kiffin has won at a high level at Ole Miss, bringing that program success it had not experienced since the late 1950s and early 60s under Johnny Vaught.

But if he doesn’t come, LSU fans should not plunge into depths of despair There are other good coaches out there. And the plain fact of most coaching searches is that the first choice is often not the one who’s hired.

Exhibit A: It’s not football, but Jay Johnson was not LSU’s first

continually, you know, (we’re) finding our identity

“Whenever you can have this thing you can hang your hat on — whether that’s running the ball or throwing the ball — that’s cool from a social-media standpoint, but at the end of the day, teams really want to hang their hat on winning and whatever that is going to be to get it done.”

Before the bye, the Saints might have settled on a new offensive direction. Without Rashid Shaheed, the deep threat who was traded to the Seattle Seahawks, the Saints went with heavier personnel groupings. They opted to run 11 personnel (three wide receivers, one tight end, one running back) at their lowest rate (49.3%) of the year In the nine games prior, the Saints deployed 11 personnel 71.5%, the third-highest rate in

in a 23-22 win over Arkansas.

After starting eight games at Mississippi State as a freshman last season, the plan was for Van Buren to redshirt this year behind Nussmeier Van Buren will burn the redshirt by playing against Western Kentucky, giving up an extra season of eligibility to get more snaps.

“I’m just focused on getting better,” Van Buren said. “Me going out there and getting those reps will make me a better football player, so that’s my main focus.”

Nussmeier doubtful Nussmeier is doubtful to play this Saturday against Western Kentucky, Wilson said Wednesday

choice to be its baseball coach to replace Paul Mainieri. Thenathletic director Scott Woodward first considered Florida coach Kevin O’Sullivan, as well as former Oregon State coach Pat Casey, and there was a faction of former LSU players who wanted him to hire Ole Miss coach and former LSU catcher/assistant Mike Bianco. But Johnson, who Woodward said was the best interview he ever had, got the job. The rest is college baseball history

Exhibit B: In late 2006, Alabama offered its job to Rich Rodriguez. He turned it down, opening the door for the school to pursue and land Nick Saban. The rest is college football history

Exhibit C: In 2016, Tom Herman chose Texas over LSU, and LSU

the league. With one less receiver on the field, the Saints saw the run game finally take hold. To seal the win, New Orleans literally ran out the clock over the final 7:35 with nine different rushing attempts before Shough knelt on three straight plays. Moore said the execution was what the Saints “want it to be,” adding there was a “much cleaner operation” that allowed them to avoid negative plays.

“It’s a deeply cathartic feeling when you can (run out the clock),” tight end Foster Moreau said. “We had some really big-time plays on that drive from all different people.”

If the game plan wasn’t a one-off, Moore said the heavier groupings also open up the play-action game and allow the offense to dictate matchups based on how the defense responds.

Nussmeier participated in some individual drills during Tuesday’s practice, but his abdominal injury still “hasn’t changed much since last week,” when the Tigers quarterback suffered a setback and sat out Saturday’s win over Arkansas.

“Those same issues are there for him,” Wilson said. “I would say he’s doubtful.”

Without Nussmeier, LSU will turn to Van Buren at quarterback. Wilson also provided an injury update on junior linebacker Whit Weeks who has missed LSU’s last four games with a bone bruise on his ankle.

A recurring issue for Weeks, Wilson said, has been the extreme

fandom fell into a serious funk. The school hired Ed Orgeron, appearing to settle for the coach who had his roots in Louisiana but was fired at Ole Miss. He was eventually fired at LSU, but not until after he led the Tigers to their greatest season ever in 2019. Herman is out of coaching. Should LSU hire Kiffin if it can get him? Yes. Do I think LSU will get Kiffin? Yes, in a Lee Corso “Close, close” nod over Florida. I don’t think after all this time leaving Ole Miss to twist in the wind with a contract extension there that he has yet to sign — that he can stay in Oxford. So my guess is he winds up in Baton Rouge or Gainesville.

But either school can win with someone else. Names we’ve heard

Moore won’t completely abandon his principles, but he is willing to tinker with his tendencies. Remember how often the Saints ran no-huddle to begin the season? That happens less frequently now New Orleans went from averaging 19 no-huddle snaps per game over the first four weeks to 10 such plays over the next six.

Moore suggested the shift was more based on the game’s situation than determining they weren’t working tempo is still an essential part of the offense, he said — but he noted that pushing the pace risked going three-and-out too often

“Seasons always take a lot of different paths, so you’ve got to be able to navigate some stuff from a personnel side or a schematic side,” Moore said. “Sometimes, there’s a humbling process associated with it, recognizing, ‘Hey, I

soreness he’s experienced after “pushing himself” at practice. The ailment is on the same ankle that Weeks dislocated during LSU’s win over Baylor in the Texas Bowl in January

“He wants to play,” Wilson said. “I think he has a chance to play.”

Drinkwitz mum on LSU Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz declined Wednesday to discuss whether or not LSU has approached his representatives about the head coaching job.

“I’m not going to make any comments about jobs,” Drinkwitz said on the SEC coaches teleconference. Drinkwitz, 42, referred back to his comments at a news conference Tuesday, when he told reporters that he “would not comment on message board chatter, tweets, sources. I’ve maintained with you and our team that my complete focus is on the task at hand.” No. 22 Missouri (7-3) plays No. 8

Oklahoma (8-2) at 11 a.m. Saturday When asked what makes a good job these days, Drinkwitz listed resources that match expectations, money for revenue sharing/thirdparty NIL and institutional alignment He also mentioned supportive fan bases, schedules and the ability to raise his young family

“I think every coach has a little personal feel for what is important to him,” Drinkwitz said. “For me, it’s really important that my family enjoys where they’re living and feels valued by the work that we do. And so for me, that’s going to

that LSU could turn to are Missouri’s Eli Drinkwitz, Tulane’s Jon Sumrall and possibly even Georgia Tech’s Brent Key Arizona State’s Kenny Dillingham, despite his pledge to stay at his alma mater, is another name gaining traction with the LSU opening. Someone will be named the LSU coach, hopefully, sooner than later If it’s Kiffin good for LSU. It means it has overcome a lot of off-the-field upheaval to make a major splash. If LSU hires another coach, it may not win the news conference the way Kiffin would. But the Tigers can still win big on the field. For more LSU sports updates, sign up for our newsletter at theadvocate.com/lsunewsletter

love this, but it may not be working the same way it has worked in a different place.’

“You’ve got to be able to adjust and find some different paths.” Moore indicated he’ll first look at the data to determine whehter a concept is working, and then dig into the film to see the specific issues. From there, he’ll either tweak the scheme, adjust the way he teaches it or abandon it all together

“I think you’re learning the whole season,” center Luke Fortner said. “There’s Week 16, Week 17, Week 18 (where) you’re like, ‘Man, I wish we had done more of this. We’re really good at it.’ But I think it’s definitely a season-long process.”

Email Matthew Paras at matt. paras@theadvocate.com

Continued

STAFF PHOTO By HILARy SCHEINUK

LSU center Mike Nwoko dunks the ball in the first half against Alcorn State on Tuesday at the Pete Maravich

STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

quarterback Michael Van Buren races from the pocket in the the third quarter against Arkansas on Saturday at Tiger

110carries,602 yards, 5.5avg,7TDs Bill

122carries,556 yards, 4.6avg,4TDs

JMUset for SBC titlegame; opponent TBA

BY KEVIN FOOTE Staff writer

All season,CoastalCarolinalingered as apossible foil to James Madisoninthe SunBeltEast race.

That is no longer the case after Georgia Southern’soffensive explosion ended the Chanticleers’ hopes with a45-40 upset. That allowed the Dukes to start making SunBelt title game plans.

James Madison is daydreaming about apotential College FootballPlayoff bid, butthe Dukes can’tslip up in atricky nonconference matchup with Washington State on Saturday TheCougars have an ordinary 5-5 record, but they have nearmissesina24-21 loss at Ole Miss anda22-20 loss to Virginia.

As for the Sun Belt West race, Southern Miss suddenly looks vulnerable. We’ll see how the Golden Eagles fare against South Alabama on Saturday and whetherTroy and/or Arkansas State can finish strong enough to pushthem.

1. JamesMadison

Records: 9-1 overall, 7-0 Sun Belt

Previousrank: 1

Last week: Defeated Appalachian State 58-10

This week:vs. Washington State noon Saturday (ESPN+)

10-win season if it wins out in the regular season and takes abowl game.

4. CoastalCarolina

Records: 6-4 overall, 5-2 Sun Belt

Previous rank: 3

Last week: Lost to GeorgiaSouthern 45-40

This week: at SouthCarolina, 3:15 p.m. Saturday (SEC Network)

7. UL

Records: 4-6 overall, 3-3 Sun Belt

Previous rank: 7

Last week: Open date

This week: at Arkansas State, 6:30 p.m. Thursday (ESPN)

Extrapoints:For those not especially impressed with the fourth quarter of UL’s 42-39 home win over Texas State, check out how those same Bobcats fared at Southern Miss aweek later in a 41-14 blowoutvictory.The recent goodwill for UL duringa twogame winning streak won’tmatter much if the Cajuns can’twin at Arkansas State. UL is down three regulars in the secondary because of the postgamefight against Texas State.

1atSouth Alabama W, 31-22

StateW,42-39

at Arkansas State6:30p.m

The forecast calls for a70% chance of rain on Thursday. That’s an interestingdevelopment because Arkansas State has fumbled 16 times and lost sevenwith 11 interceptions. By contrast, UL has 13 interceptions but has lost only twoofsix fumbles. Forcingturnovers is where UL’s hopes

Chancesare,ASU will bounce back after aturnoverfest in

loss to

and the Cajuns are

in the secondaryafter losing threekey pieces to suspensions. KevinFoote

Extrapoints: The Dukes are getting more explosive by the week. Quarterback Alonza Barnettcontinued his great season with 303 yards passing, but James Madison dominatedonthe ground in last week’sblowout of App State withseven rushing touchdowns.

2. Southern Miss

Records: 7-3 overall, 5-1 Sun Belt

Previousrank: 2

Last week:Lost to TexasState, 41-14

This week: at South Alabama, 2:30 p.m. Saturday (ESPN+)

Extrapoints: Suddenly,the path to theSun Belt championship game doesn’tlook as smoothfor Southern Miss. Texas State crushedthe Golden Eagles 41-14 on Saturday Yes, quarterback BraylonBraxtondidn’tplay after suffering an injury against Arkansas State, butbackupLandryLyddy still threw for 267 yards and ascore on 29-of-44 passing. Defensively, SouthernMissyielded 440yards, including 257 on the ground, and 25 first downs. South Alabama and Troy are left, but the Eagles seem to be heading in the wrong direction.

3. OldDominion

Records: 7-3 overall, 4-2 Sun Belt

Previous rank: 4

Last week: Defeated Troy 33-0

This week: at Georgia Southern, noon Saturday (ESPN+)

Extrapoints: TheMonarchs have to be kickingthemselvesfor the turnover fest against Marshall on Oct. 11. ODU may be the second-best team in theSun Belt, but that Marshall loss is haunting the Monarchs. ODU shellacked Troy by delivering nine sacks and outgaining the Trojans 503-138. The Monarchs still have achance at a

Continued from page1C

“It’sbeen different in practice this week,” Barnes said. “Sometimes Ijust watch Skip and seeing the things that he does. So now we’re getting more reps andwe’re very confident.

“I’ve been waiting on this moment. I’ve been tryingtotake every rep likeI’m astarter.”

The mission is to limit big plays after giving up 528 total yards against TexasState.

“A lot of the time, we’re beating ourselves,” Barnes said. “We’ve learned by mistakes, so now we know whatnot to do. It’s mostly just small things, working on the fundamentals.”

Barnes saidthe team is ready to rally for Skipper andtheir suspendedteammates.

“Now we’re playing forSkip

Extra points: Twovery bummed out teams will be playing in this game Saturday.Coastal blew its chance to play for the Sun Belt East titleafter getting beat at GeorgiaSouthern last Saturday, while the Gamecocks are sick after blowing a30-3 halftime lead at No. 3Texas A&M in what would have been ahuge upset. TadHudson split quarterback duties withSamari Collier for Coastal, butHudsonthrew 28 passes to six for Collier,who rushed for 69 yards and ascore.

5. Arkansas State

Records: 5-5 overall, 4-2 Sun Belt

Previous rank: 5

Last week: Open date

This week: vs. UL,6:30p.m. Thursday (ESPN)

Extrapoints: From week to week, there’sbeen no way of telling which Red Wolves team will show up. In their last game, Arkansas State endured aturnover fest to lose to Southern Miss 2721. One week earlier,the Red Wolves had two 100-yard rushers, but they haven’trun the ball well since then. Against Troy,the Arkansas State defense had nine sacks in a23-10 road win, then gaveup528 yardstoSouthern Miss. But the Red Wolves are still not out of the Sun Belt West race, so we’ll see how well they bounce back against UL.

6. Troy

Records: 6-4 overall, 4-2 Sun Belt

Previous rank: 6

Lastweek: LostatOld Dominion

33-0

This week: vs.GeorgiaState, 3p.m.Saturday (ESPN+)

Extrapoints: TheTrojans stay in the topsix for now,but Troy seems to be fading fast.The Trojans have tofigureout away to protectbackupquarterback GooseCrowder,who was11-of-21 passing for 98 yards and an interception while relieving injured starterTucker Kilcrease. Against ODU,Troy wassacked nine times for the second time this season and outgained 503-138.

as well,” Barnessaid. “Knowing how badly he wanted tofinishthe season with us,itwas upsetting. It kind of touched all of us. We’re playing for the guys who can’t come out with us.” It won’tbeeasy because the Red Wolves (5-5, 4-2) have aveteran quarterback in JaylenRaynor, whoULhad no answer for two years ago in Jonesboro before the Cajuns stymied him in a55-19 win in Lafayette lastseason.

“When he (Raynor)takes off and runs, you‘ve gotarealproblem,” Desormeaux said.

Raynor has completed 68.1% of his passes this season for 2,454 yards with 13 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He’salso rushedfor 354 yards and seven TDs.

He hastwo explosivetargets in Corey Rucker (51-656, 1TD) and Chauncy Cobb (63-634).

“When thegame’sonthe line andhe’sinthe two-minute (drill),I think youcan pretty muchsay he’s

like Georgia Southern would be an afterthought, the Eagles foiledCoastal Carolina’sbig plans with ahome upset over theChanticleers. TheEagles led 28-17 and 35-20 beforeholding off aCoastal comeback attempt. Georgia Southern flashed with 648 yards behind a262-yard rushing effortfrom OJ Arnold and 133 yards receiving from Camden Brown. TheEagles couldbeinfor ahigh-flying game against ODU.

11.South Alabama

Records: 3-7 overall, 2-4 Sun Belt

Previous rank: 13

Lastweek:Defeated UL-Monroe 26-14

This week: vs.Southern Miss, 2:30 p.m. Saturday (ESPN+)

Extrapoints: Down 14-0 in Monroe, the Jags scored 26 unanswered points to avoid another loss in league play.Did that win produce enough momentum to test Southern Miss on Saturday? We’ll see, butthe Jaguars didrushfor 200 yardsbehind KentrelBullock’s 85 yards and two scores. Defensively,South Alabamaallowed 182 yards, butthatwas against apedestrian Warhawks offense. Controlling the clock will be key against Southern Miss.

12.AppalachianState

Previous rank: 11

8. Marshall

Records: 5-5 overall, 3-3 Sun Belt

Previous rank: 8

Last week: Defeated Georgia State 30-18

This week: at Appalachian State, 1:30 p.m. Saturday (ESPN+)

Extrapoints: It wasn’tanimpressive win over GeorgiaState,but it worked.Quarterback CarlosDel Rio-Wilson wasstellar again with 321 yards and three touchdowns on 22-of-27 passing. He also ran for 97 yards on 17 carries while posting 489 total yards.Georgia State threw two interceptionsand lost afumble in the game. Marshall hada 32:33 to 27:27 edge in timeofpossessions but still didn’tcruiseover the last-place Panthers.

9. TexasState

Records: 4-6 overall, 1-5 Sun Belt

Previous rank: 10

Lastweek: Defeated Southern Miss 41-14

This week: vs. UL-Monroe, 4p.m. Saturday(ESPN+)

Extrapoints: The Bobcats showed they’re the mostexplosive team in the Sun Belt West with the demolition of Southern Miss. Texas State leaned moreonthe ground attack with 257 yards rushing. Quarterback Brad Jacksonthrewfor 192 yards and ascore on 14-of-17 passing, but Lincoln Pare rushed for 118 and Greg Burrelladded 95 The season is still awash, but that winhad to offersome consolation 10.Georgia Southern

Records: 5-5 overall, 3-3 Sun Belt

Previous rank: 9

Last week: Defeated Coastal Carolina 45-40

This week: vs.Old Dominion, noon Saturday (ESPN+)

Extrapoints: Just whenitseemed

elite,” Desormeauxsaid. “He’sled some winning drivesthis season He kind of thrives in the chaos a little bit.”

It’spossible UL will have to outscore the RedWolvestoprevail.

The Cajuns’ offensive numbers aren’tpretty yet, but they’re gettingbetter Quarterback Lunch Winfield (78134-6, 1,095 yds, 10 TDs) is also a threat to run with 502 yards and seven scores.

“Des is really leaning into the Lunch stuff andwhathecan do well,” associate head coach Jorge Munoz said. “We’re calling alot of that stuff andnot just with direct runs,but even throwing theball Ithink we’ve fine-tunedhow he sees the field andthe throws he can make.”

Defensively,the Red Wolves are hard to figure out. They’re giving up 26.5 points and 417.5 yards per game—compared to UL allowing 30 ppg and 409.6 ypg —but Arkan-

Records: 4-6 overall, 1-5 Sun Belt

Last week: Lost to James Madison 58-10

This week: vs. Marshall 1:30 p.m. Saturday (ESPN+)

Extrapoints: Things continue to go downhill for the Mountaineers. No one expected App State to beat James Madison, but the game wasn’tcompetitive at all. The Dukes outgained them 627146. Quarterback AJ Swann was 8-of-28 passing for 64 yards. The timeofpossession was 42:18 to 17:42.

13.Georgia State

Records: 1-9 overall, 0-6 Sun Belt

Previous rank: 14

Last week: Lost to Marshall 30-18

This week: at Troy,3 p.m. Saturday (ESPN+) Extra points: It seems abit futile to move the Panthers up aspot with an 0-6 Sun Belt record, but GeorgiaState is stillshowing more spunk than the bottom fourteams in theleague.The Panthers competed well against Marshallbefore losing last week, despite two interceptions and a lost fumble.Theycollected 21 first downs and 404total yards. TJ Finley threw for 251 yards on 25-of-39 passing with two interceptions and atouchdown.

14.UL-Monroe

Records: 3-7 overall, 1-5 Sun Belt

Previous rank: 12

Last week: Lost to South Alabama 26-14

This week: at Texas State, 4p.m. (ESPN+)

Extrapoints: TheWarhawks have abetter record than GeorgiaState,but this offense just doesn’thave any punch at all. It produced only 182 totalyards last week.Running back Braylon Reynolds did rush for 83 yards and ascore, but it wasn’t nearly enough. ULM was 1of9 on third down.

Email Kevin Foote at kfoote@ theadvocate.com.

sas State has 25 sacks and 53 stops behind the line. Munoz is really impressed with the Arkansas State defensive front.

“Their number 94 (Cody Sigler), he’s oneofthe most active interior linemen we’ve played this year,” he said. “He’srelentless. He plays hard forsix seconds, so we’re preaching to our guys that it’s easy to play hard on the first three seconds of the play, but we need to finish the second half of the play.The second three seconds is where we got to win.”

UL would like to control the clock with Winfield andrunning backs ZylanPerry (110-602,7 TDs) and Bill Davis (122-556, 4 TDs).

“Wekneweventually thedam hadtobreak forusoffensively,” Desormeauxsaid. “Nowwe’vegot to ride the wave.”

Email KevinFoote at kfoote@theadvocate.com.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By ROBERT SIMMONS

James Madison quarterback MatthewSluka divesfor atouchdown against Appalachian State on Saturday in Harrisonburg,Va.

Aquick, cozy pasta recipe perfectfor theseason

BY BETH DOOLEY

Aged Gouda makes acozy pastafor chilly November evenings. The dish emerges from the oven steaming andfragrant, urgingmetoplunge aspoon into the bubbling gooey mass. Though simple, its allureis roasted cherry tomatoes. Use whatever tomatoes you have on hand, but the tiny red and gold cherries in the market this time of year have the most spunk. For pasta, Ilike orecchiette or “little ears” in Italian;the concave shape is firm and springy and clings to the sauce. Cream cheese, whisked with milk, brings the dish together without having to make a heavier white sauce of flour and milk. Add apinch of red pepper flakes andgrated nutmeg toliven things up. The aged Gouda, nutty and sharp, gives the dishits depth and finish. Tomatoes, roasted into asticky,jammy-sweet-tart mess, add pops of color and tart-sweet taste. They can be prepared ahead then held ina covered jar in the refrigerator for several days. Double or triple the amount for achunky paste to keep on hand and ready to twist into spaghetti, dollop on fried eggs, smear on focaccia, fold into an omelet or whisk into mayonnaise. This simple recipe is what home cooks in Italy might call “cucina casalinga,” or home cooking. It’ssimplicity at its best, with just afew simple ingredients. Rich and satisfying, it’sjust the thing as night closes in and hungers rage. For acozy dinner,servethis with acrisp green salad and crusty bread.

Pasta With Roasted Cherry Tomatoes

Serves 4. Recipe is from Beth Dooley.This serves two very hungry people, four if you’re including acrunchy green salad or steamed vegetables and crusty bread. But feel free to vary the amount; it will keep several days in the refrigerator and is easy to reheat.

Kosher salt

1pound orecchiette

1. Bring alarge pot of salted water to aboil. Drop thepasta intothe water and stir.Cook the pasta until al dente and drain.

2. Preheat the ovento400 F. Line abaking sheet withparchment

3. Pour the milk into alarge pot, setover medium heat and bring to asimmer.Reduce the heat to low and stir in the cream cheese, whisking until blended. Add the Gouda and butter and continue cooking until smooth Season with red pepper flakes, nutmeg, and salt and pepper Add the drained pasta to the sauceand stir together.Cover and hold over low heatwhile the tomatoes roast.

4. Spread the tomatoes out on the baking sheet. Drizzle with the oil and sprinkle with salt. Roast until they are wrinkled and have shrunk and are very tender,about 15 minutes

5. Transferthe pasta to an ovenproofserving dish andarrange thetomatoes on top. Bake until the pasta is hot and bubbly Serve hot

Squash Soup Three Ways, Recipe 6C

BY APRIL HAMILTON| Contributing writer

Whether you are gathering with afew friends,hosting extended family or are an invited guesttogivethanks, this prep list is for you.

Irecall my mother doing it all every Thanksgiving, prepping abit hereand there during theweek,but mostofitwas done in the style of happy kitchen chaos on Thanksgiving Day. Icount my blessings that most of my late November days were spentwith mom, who ran the show until we said goodbye three years ago. Fora less hectic holiday, here’s

Citrus Salad

We serve this as apalate cleanser after our Thanksgiving dinner,then roll out the desserts. Make this up to aweek ahead. Stashing it in the back of the fridge keeps it from being sampled ahead of time. The cutting technique is called supreming.

6fresh red grapefruit

6fresh naveloranges

Small bunch of red grapes, rinsed and cut in half (optional)

1. Rinseand dry theorangesand grapefruit. Trim off their tops and bottomsusing avery sharp knife.

2. Set the fruits on end and carefully cut the skin fromthe flesh, beginning at the top and following the curves down. Rotate each fruit as you go, removing all the peel with abit of fruit clinging to it.

3. Cut out each section of the fruit by inserting theblade of the knife between theflesh andthe membranesonboth sides. Thewedges should come out easily,leaving only the membrane intact. As youcut,put allthe fruit sectionsintoa large bowl. Squeeze the juice out of all thefruit membranesand peels by hand into the bowl.

4. Store in airtight containers until serving time, up to 5days. Serve in small dishes or teacups, garnished with halved grapes if desired.

BY BETH DOOLEY TheMinnesota Star Tribune (TNS)

for atrue autumn soup. The thin-skinned Cucurbita is plush, earthy and just atad sweet.Delicious cubed and roasted or sauteed, whenbaked and pureed it becomes an especially versatile base for soup. Season it with curry spices,

FILE PHOTO By PATRICK DENNIS

Citrus Salad

The Minnesota Star Tribune (TNS)

Make-Ahead Turkey Gravy

Makes about 1quart.Iturnedto aduet of chef friends,Judy Allen and Valarie Carter, fortheir do-ahead gravyformula andgave it my bacon-infused twist. Please note when removing askillet in the oven, keep the handle covered witha kitchen mittsoasnot to accidentally grab the hot handle on thestovetop

2raw whole turkey wings (about 2pounds)

1tablespoon bacon grease

1largecarrot, peeled and cut intorough 1-inch lengths

1small onion, cut in half ½teaspoon peppercorns 2quarts water or alittle more if needed 1⁄3 cup pan drippings (from the roasted turkey wings)

1⁄3 cup all-purpose flour 1quartturkey stock

1tablespoon chopped fresh thyme Salt and freshly ground black pepper

1. Roast the turkey wings: Heat the oven to 425 F. Rub a10-inch cast iron skilletor roasting pan with abit of the bacon grease, thencoat the wings with the remainder

2. Placethe skillet in the ovenand roastthe wings until browned and crisp, about 1hour.

3. Remove the wings to a tall stockpot. Pour offthe drippings from theskillet into aheatproof measuring cup and refrigerate while you make the stock.

PATRICK DENNIS

By

FILE PHOTO

Make-Ahead Turkey Gravy

4. Add ½ cup of water to the hotskillet to deglaze and scrapeupthe bits with a wooden spoon. Pour this into the stockpot.

5. Makethe stock:Place the onion, carrotand peppercornsintothe tall stockpot with the turkey wings. Add thewater,making sure the whole wings are submerged (the wing tips mayneedto be separated so it is allcovered with water). Bringtoa boilover medium-high heat, then reduce theheat and simmer for one hour.

6. Press on the wingswith apotato masher to keep the wingsbelow thewater level. Continue to simmer for another 30 to 45 minutes or un-

til thestock has developed a rich flavor (taste aspoonful from time to time).

7. Remove from theheat and strain thestock through afine-mesh strainer into alargebowl or heatproof measuringcup. The goal is to have 1quart of rich stock.(Ipulled themeatoff theturkey wings and mixed with the cooked carrot for my dogs to share in thefeast during theweek).

8. Make the gravy: Heat the drippings in a10-inch cast-ironskilletovermedium heat until shimmeryand hot. Whiskinthe flour and cook theroux until toasted and golden, about 5minutes

9. Add the stock while whisking constantly.Let bubble afew minutes and season with fresh thyme, salt and pepper.Let the gravy cool in the pan,stirring occasionally before transferring to clean,wide-mouth Mason jars.

10. Cool completely in the refrigeratorbefore covering with the lids, labeling and freezing for up to 2months

One-Size-Fits-AllPie Crust

Makes 2disks forone double-crust pie or 2single-crustpies. Making pie dough is simpler than it sounds. Grating cold butter,then freezing it, makes it blend more easily into the flour.Ihave polled friendswiththe question, “What’s atreasured find in the back of your fridge (or freezer)?” and many have answered, “Homemade pie dough.”

8ounces cold unsalted butter

2½ cups unbleached all-purpose flour 1teaspoon granulated sugar

½teaspoon coarse salt

1⁄3 to ½cup ice water

1. Grate the butter usingthe large holes of acheese grater and freeze for up to an hour

2. Place the flour,sugar and salt in theworkbowlof afood processor and pulse a few times to combine.

HOLIDAY

Continued from page5C

Her silky gravy was the star of the feast but was the last to arrive at the table

Iamthis many years old before knowingthis can be done weeks in advance.

Mom’shigh-heat roasted turkey was massaged with bacon grease before hitting theoven.

To emulate this, Igive this treatment to turkey wings and turn them into her memorable gravy minus the chaos. Ifreeze it in wide-mouth Mason jars, leaving headroom for expansion, and put the jars into the freezer. Thaw overnight in the fridge, gently reheat into liquid gold and transfer into awarmed awaiting gravy boat. The double bonus is hav-

3. Addthe strands of frozen butter andpulseuntil the butter particles are the sizeofsmallpeas. Add 1/3 cup icewater and process for about 10 seconds, stopping themachinebefore the dough becomesasolid mass.

4. Check to see if there are drybits of flourand if so, add afew sprinklesofice water and pulse again.

5. Lay out two long sheets of plastic wrap on the coun-

ing homemade gravy to accompanya smoked or fried turkey —delicious but no drippingsfor gravy Thanksgiving would not be completewithout my family’s palate-cleansing citrussalad that can be prepped aweek ahead and refrigerated in Mason jars outofsight so no onedips into the treasure early

My momcould whittle the peels off abushelof citrus with hereyesclosed, then segment each orb with surgical finesse. No wonder they callthese gems supremes.These are thepetit filet ofthe citrus kingdom. My youngest daughter inheritedthis talent and keeps us suppliedeach season More blessings counted. Now for dessert and here is my confession —I once entered apie contest with ababy on my hip.After a mishapwith thehomemade

Squash Soup ThreeWays

ter.Turn the dough outonto one sheet of the wrap, pressing anyloose particlesinto themass of dough.

6. Dividedoughinhalf and roughly form each half into two disks, about an inch thick each, and wrap each in asheet of plastic wrap.

7. Wrap in heavy duty foil, label andfreeze for up to 2 months. Letthaw overnight in the fridge before rolling out for pies.

dough, Ibroke down and purchased apre-rolled crust which was detected by one of the judges. He wrote this on my judging sheet

Though my pie did not win, Iscored the confidence to makemyown piecrust happily ever after.Flour and cold butter meet and harmonize with justthe right amount of cold water worked in. Pat it into two disks, wrap securely,pop them into the freezer and roll it out on your terms Your canvas awaits— sweet potato, apple, pumpkin or pecan?

Holiday meals areintended to be happy,not hectic; they are often ablend of both. With sometriedand true tipsand recipes, some of the work can happen ahead, leaving time to enjoy thecompany and the blessings at the table.

Serves 4to6.Recipe is from Beth Dooley.Customize this basic squash soup withdifferent flavors depending on yourmood. These are just suggestions, feel freetoadd your own.

on, to taste.

Replacingthe pumpsofbottles

Dear Heloise: When acontainer stops pumping, I removethe pumpand replace it witha screw cap from another salvaged bottle. Then Istore it upside down. For shampoo, Iadd a little water and use it up until it’sgone. Everything gets used until thelast drop. —Dean Garrett, in Arizona Dishwasher pod problem

dishwasher detergent, and Ihaven’thad any problems since. —Michele, via email Peelinggarlic

1medium butternut squash (2¼ to 2½ pounds), halved lengthwise and seeded

3tablespoons oil of choice, such as coconut, olive or butter

¼cup chopped shallot

2cloves garlic, crushed 4cups vegetable or chicken stock, plus more if needed

Coarse salt and freshly ground blackpepper,totaste

¼cup whole milk Greek style yogurtorsour cream, for optional garnish

¼cup toasted pumpkin seeds, for optional garnish

2tablespoons chopped parsley, foroptional garnish

1. Preheat oven to 400 F. Line abaking sheetwith parchment paper

SOUP

Continued

3. In alarge heavy soup potset over medium heat, addthe oil or butter and sauté theonion and shallot until tender,about 3to4minutes. Scoop the squash out of the peel and add to the pot; no worries if someofthe peel ends up in thesoup. Stirin the stock and puree using an immersionblender.(Alternatively,work in batches and puree in astand blender and return souptothe pot.)

4. Season the soup with one of these flavor profiles:

n Curried Squash Soup: Stir in 1to2tablespoons curry powder,1 tablespoon honeyand 1tablespoon lem-

2. Brush thecut halves of the squash with some of the oiland place cut-side down on theparchment. Roast the squash until very tender and wrinkled, about 50 minutes to 1hour. Removeand allow to cool.

n Mexican Squash Soup: Stir in 1to2tablespoons Tajin seasoning, 1tablespoon agave or brown sugar,and 1tablespoonlime juice, to taste.

n Classic New EnglandStyle Squash Soup: Substitute ½ cup apple cider for ½ cup stock, stir in 1to2tablespoons pumpkin pie spices, 1tablespoon maplesyrup and ½ teaspoon apple cider vinegar,totaste.

5. Reducethe heat and simmer thesoup, stirring occasionally,for about 8to 10 minutes. Taste and adjust theseasonings.Garnish withsmall dabs of whole milk Greek styleyogurt or sour cream, toasted pumpkin seedsand chopped parsley

Dear Heloise: I, too, had an issue with dishwasher pods. Itried them in my portable dishwasher and found that the empty plastic pod stayed in the bottom of my dishwasher It was molded to thedrain. My hot water getsextremely hot, so Ithought that they would melt and dissolve.

Inever used them again and went back to powdered

By The Associated Press

Today is Thursday, Nov.20, the 324th day of 2025. There are 41 days left in the year

Todayinhistory: On Nov.20, 1910, Francisco Madero led arevolt against Mexican President Porfirio Díaz, marking the beginning of the decadelong Mexican Revolution.

Also on this date:

In 1945, 22 former Nazi officials went on trial before an international war crimes tribunal in Nuremberg, Germany (Almostayear later,the International Military Tribune sentenced 12 of the defendantstodeath; seven received prison sentences ranging from 10 years to life; three were acquitted.)

In 1947, Britain’s future queen, Princess Elizabeth, married Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, at

Dear Heloise: The easiest waytopeel garlic cloves is also thesimplest: Just put them in abowl of water.In5 minutes or less, both the outer andinnerskins will lift away often in just twoorthree pieces, leaving an intact, fresh clove. There’snobruising, breaking, microwaved edges, or shardsofskin to pickout Abonus: When dried off, the whole cloves will stay fresh foruptoaweek in ajar in the fridge. Any jar with aseal-type top works. Ireuse pickle jars and other similar jars. —A Reader, via email Suntan lotion stain

Dear Heloise: Ihave black

TODAYINHISTORY

Westminster Abbey

In 1969, Native American activists began an occupation of Alcatraz Island that would last 19 months before they were forcibly removed by federal authorities.

In 1982, the University of California, Berkeley, football team defeated Stanford University by scoring atouchdown on alateral-filled kickoffreturn on the last play of the game, despite the Stanford marching band entering the field of play,thinking Stanford had already won.

In college football lore, the bizarre finish is often referred to simply as “The Play.”

In 1992, fire seriously damaged Windsor Castle, the favorite weekend home of Britain’sQueen Elizabeth II. In 2003, music producer Phil Spector was charged

interiors in my car.When I wear suntan lotion, it gets on the door and seats. I have tried everything, and nothing removes the stain. Any suggestions would be appreciated. —Donna, in Poland, Ohio Donna, use something absorbent, such as cornstarch, and apply alight sprinkling over the area to absorb the excess oil. Vacuum off the cornstarch and use aspray bottle with 1cup vinegar,ahalf teaspoon of liquid dish soap, and 2cups of water.Mix well and spray over the affected area. Let it sit for acouple of minutes, then wipe with a clean microfiber cloth. Repeat as necessary.Warning: Before you try anything, be sure to test it first in an inconspicuous place. —Heloise Sendahinttoheloise@ heloise.com.

with murder in the

ing of

at his California home. (Aftera first trialended with ahung jury in 2007, Spector was convicted of second-degreemurder in 2009 andsentencedto19 yearstolife;hedied in prisonatage 81 on Jan. 16, 2021.)

Today’sbirthdays: Actor Estelle Parsons is 98. Author Don DeLillo is 89. Comedian Dick Smothers is 87. Former President Joe Biden is 83. Broadcast journalist Judy Woodruff is 79. Musician Joe Walsh is 78. Actor Bo Derek is 69. Actor Ming-NaWen is 62. Rapper Michael “Mike D”

is 60. Actor-comedian Joel McHale is 54. Country singer Dierks Bentley is 50. Olympic gold medalwinning gymnast Dominique Dawes is 49. Rapper Future is 42.

Hints from Heloise

shoot-

actor Lana Clarkson

Diamond (Beastie Boys)

scoRPIo (oct. 24-Nov. 22) Interact as much as possible; network, share your thoughts and collaborate with people you find motivating and creative. Feed your mind, body and soul with new possibilities.

sAGIttARIus (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) Put together a budget before you agree to participate. Sharing expenses can help lower your overhead, but before you agree, be sure to get what you want in writing.

cAPRIcoRN (Dec 22-Jan. 19) Donating your time will offer unexpected returns. Someone you meet through an organization or group you fund or participate in will have a positive impact on your life and how you live.

AQuARIus (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Make necessary adjustments and keep moving forward. The less you have to do with others, the more you will achieve. Premature confrontations or conversations with someone you love will backfire.

PIscEs (Feb. 20-March 20) Adjust your agenda, explore unfamiliar places and assess your daily routine to ensure your life is functioning efficiently. Look inward and focus on being and looking your best.

ARIEs (March 21-April 19) Keep your thoughts to yourself. A positive change regarding how you handle your finances and health issues will encourage good results, less stress and stronger resilience.

tAuRus (April 20-May 20) If it's change you want, make it happen. Stop waiting for someone else to make the first

move. Set your sights on what you want and make a beeline for the path that will take you there.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) Learn, explore and eliminate dead weight. Lighten your load, sell off what you no longer need and take a deep breath. The freedom you gain from the choices you make will encourage you adjust your priorities.

cANcER (June 21-July 22) Effectivemoney management will put your mind at ease, and following advice to curb unhealthy habits will give you the stamina to take care of business. Make special plans with someone you love.

LEo (July 23-Aug. 22) Live and learn. Listen to your gut and rely on your experience and intuition to gain ground when unusual circumstances arise. Trust in your instincts and be ready to act fast.

VIRGo (Aug. 23-sept. 22) What you discover will change your perspective regarding your current lifestyle. A partnership looks promising, and a commitment will lead to a chance to use your skills in a manner suitable to a changing market.

LIBRA (sept. 23-oct. 23) Think twice before you promise too much or let indulgence tempt you. A change requires patience, research and time to weigh the pros and cons. When in doubt, take a pass.

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

FAMILY CIrCUS

toDAy's cLuE: J EQuALs K

CeLebrItY CIpher

beetLe bAILeY

Mother GooSe And GrIMM

LAGoon

bIG

Sudoku

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

Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer

THe wiZard oF id

BLondie

BaBY BLueS

Hi and LoiS

CurTiS

Bridge

By PHILLIP ALDER

Joan Konner,who inter alia has more than adozen Emmysfrom the National Academy of TelevisionArtsand Sciences,said, “Procrastination gives you something to look forward to.”

Procrastination when the dummy comes downisa good ideabecause it is beneficialtolookforwardtothe13tricks. Thisdealbenefits fromclear thinking at thebeginning.Southisinthreeno-trump. West leads his fourth-highest spade andEast puts up the king (denying the queen). Whatshould declarer do?

South’s auction —atakeoutdouble followed by aminimum no-trumpbid —showed agood 18 to 20 points. North bidthree no-trumpbecausehecounted an extra point for his five-cardsuit and expected his partner to be able to place the missing high cards based on the bidding.

South starts with only four toptricks: one spade,two hearts and one club. He can gettwo diamondand four club winners, but he will presumably have to lose thelead twice because East needs the club king forhis opening bid.

Declarer must let East win the first trick.Thissacrificesonespadetrick,but gainsnineinthelongrun.Southtakesthe third spade, plays aclub to dummy’sace (the king might dropsingleton), and concedes aclub. Here,East has no riposte.

wuzzles

If declarer takes trick one, then when East gets in with, say, the club king, he returns the spade six (higher of two remaining cards) and West plays his three to keep communication with his partner. Then the contract fails, the defenders taking threespades, onediamond and one club.

by NEA,Inc dist. By Andrews McMeel Syndication

Each Wuzzle is aword riddle whichcreates adisguisedword,phrase, name, place, saying, etc. For example: NOON GOOD =GOOD AFTERNOON

Previous answers:

INstRuctIoNs: 1. Words must be of four or more letters. 2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,”such as “bats” or “dies,” are notallowed. 3. Additional words made by adding a“d” or an “s” may notbeused. 4. Proper nouns,slang words,orvulgar or sexually explicit words are notallowed.

toDAy’s WoRD MEscALs: MEZ-kals: Colorless Mexican liquorsderived from various agaves.

Averagemark 21 words

Time limit 25 minutes Can you find26ormore words in MESCALS?

yEstERDAy’s WoRD —AFFEctED

©2025

marmaduKe

Bizarro

hagar the horriBle

Pearls Before swiNe

garfield

B.C.

PiCKles

BRIEFS

FROM WIRE REPORTS

Trade deficit falls as tariffs reduce imports

WASHINGTON — The U.S. trade deficit fell by nearly 24% in August as President Donald Trump’s sweeping global tariffs pushed imports lower

The Commerce Department said Wednesday that the gap between what the United States buys from other countries and what it sells them fell to $59.6 billion in August, from $78.2 billion in July

Imports of goods and services dropped 5% to $340.4 billion in August from July when U.S. companies were stocking up on foreign products before Trump finalized taxes on products from almost every country on earth. Those levies went into effect Aug. 7.

U.S. exports blipped up 0.1% in August to $280.8 billion. Trump, charging that America’s persistent trade deficits mean that other countries have taken advantage of the U.S., has overturned decades of U.S. policy in favor of free trade slapping double-digit tariffs on imports from most countries and targeting specific products with their own levies.

Still, the U.S. trade deficit is up so far in 2025, coming in at $713.6 billion through August, up 25% from $571.1 billion in January-August 2024. A drop in imports and the trade deficit is good for economic growth because foreign products are subtracted from the nation’s gross domestic product. GDP is the output of a nation’s goods and services.

U.S. to become a shareholder in EOS EOS Energy Enterprises Inc. is the latest public company that will have the U.S. government as a shareholder

The zinc-based battery manufacturer whose main factory is in Turtle Creek, Pennsylvania, said Tuesday that it signed an agreement with the U.S. Department of Energy to issue the government warrants vouchers to buy stock — for 570,000 shares

The Department of Energy can exercise the warrants anytime in the next five years and convert them into stock at a penny apiece. EOS’s current stock price is $13.48 a share.

The warrants will automatically be converted into shares after one year if EOS’s stock price tops $30 per share, or at the expiration date in five years regardless of the share price.

The company expects the market for long-duration — up to 12 hours — battery storage to grow rapidly in the coming years. DOE is among EOS’s major financiers. The government agency, under the Biden administration, approved EOS for a $303 million loan to expand its manufacturing capacity. The company has already received the first $91 million.

It announced last month that it would be building new production lines in a building in Marshall, Pennsylvania.

Ford recalls more than 200,000 Broncos

WASHINGTON Ford Motor Co. is recalling more than 200,000 Bronco and Bronco Sport vehicles because an instrument panel can fail, increasing the risk of a crash.

Federal auto safety regulators said that the instrument panel may not display at startup, leaving the driver without critical safety information

The recall includes 128,607 Ford Bronco Sports, model years 2025-26 and 101,002 Ford Broncos, also model years 2025-26, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Ford is not aware of any injuries caused by the instrument panel failure. Owners will be notified by mail beginning Dec 8 and instructed to take their vehicles to a Ford or Lincoln dealership to have the software updated. The NHTSA recall number is 25V540.

Nvidia earnings clear lofty hurdle

Upbeat forecast quiets AI bubble talk

BY MICHAEL LIEDTKE AP technology writer

SAN FRANCISCO Nvidia’s sales of the computing chips powering the artificial intelligence craze surged beyond the lofty bar set by stock market analysts in a performance that may ease recent jitters about a Big Tech boom turning into a bust that topples the world’s most valuable company

The results announced late Wednesday provided a pulse check on the frenzied spending on AI technology that has been fueling both the stock market and much of the overall economy since OpenAI

released its ChatGPT three years ago.

Nvidia has been by far the biggest beneficiary of the run-up because its processors have become indispensable for building the AI factories that are needed to enable what’s supposed to be the most dramatic shift in technology since Apple released the iPhone in 2007. But in the past few weeks, there has been a rising tide of sentiment that the high expectations for AI may have become far too frothy setting the stage for a jarring comedown that could be just as dramatic as the ascent that transformed Nvidia from a company worth less than $400 billion three years ago to one worth $4.5 trillion today

Nvidia’s report for its fiscal third

quarter covering the August-October period now seems likely to elicit a sigh of relief among those fretting about a worst-case scenario. The company’s stock price gained more than 4% in Wednesday’s extended trading after the numbers came out.

Nvidia earned $31.9 billion, or $1.30 per share, a 65% increase from the same time last year, while revenue climbed 62% to $57 billion.

Analysts polled by FactSet Research had forecast earnings of $1.26 per share on revenue of $54.9 billion. What’s more, the Santa Clara, California, company predicted its revenue for the current quarter covering NovemberJanuary will come in at about $65

billion, nearly $3 billion above analysts’ projections, in an indication that demand for its AI chips remains feverish.

The incoming orders for Nvidia’s top-of-the-line Blackwell chip are “off the charts,” Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said in a prepared statement that described the current market conditions as “a virtuous cycle.”

The results — and ensuring reaction — reflected the pivotal role that Nvidia is playing in the future direction of the economy — a position that Huang has leveraged to forge close ties with President Donald Trump, even as the White House wages a trade war that has inhibited the company’s ability to sell its chips in China’s fertile market.

Quarterly profit slide at Target

Sales slump expected to last through season

BY ANNE D’INNOCENZIO AP Retail Writer

NEW YORK Target’s third-quarter profit

tumbled as the retailer struggles to lure shoppers that are being pressed by stubbornly high inflation.

The Minneapolis company said Wednesday that it expects its sales slump to extend through the critical holiday shopping season

The company also announced that it’s planning to invest another $1 billion next year to remodel stores and build new ones, increasing the total cost for the makeover to $5 billion

Investors have punished Target’s stock recently, sending it down 45% over the past 52 weeks.

Turning around the 19% profit slide in the most recent quarter is the latest challenge for incoming CEO Michael Fiddelke, a 20-year company veteran who is replacing CEO Brian Cornell in February The handover arrives as the retailer tries to reverse a persistent sales malaise and to revive its reputation as the place to go for affordable but stylish products.

Comparable sales — those from established physical stores and online channels

— dipped 2.7% in its latest three-month period. That’s worse than the 1.9% drop in the previous quarter and the third straight quarterly decline.

Target’s troubles stand in stark contrast to rival Walmart, the nation’s largest retailer, which is thriving. Walmart reports on its most recent quarterly performance Thursday.

Target announced in October that it was eliminating about 1,800 corporate positions to streamline decision-making and accelerate company initiatives. The cuts represent about 8% of Target’s corporate workforce.

To pump up sales, Target is offering more than 20,000 new items, twice as many as last year, and it has lowered prices on thousands of groceries and other essential items.

“The environment around us continues to evolve, whether it’s shifting consumer demand, changing competitor dynamics, or broader macroeconomic pressures,” Fiddelke said on an earnings call Wednesday ”But let me be clear We are not waiting for conditions to improve. We are driving the change ourselves right now.”

With about 1,980 U.S. stores, Target has

Federal shutdown halted calculations

BY PAUL WISEMAN AP economics writer

WASHINGTON The Labor Department said Wednesday that it will not be releasing a full jobs report for October because the 43-day federal government shutdown meant it couldn’t calculate the unemployment rate and some other key numbers.

Instead, it will release some of the October jobs data — most importantly the number of jobs that employers created last month along with the full November jobs

struggled to find its footing since inflation caused Americans to curtail much of their discretionary spending.

Consumer boycotts since late January, when Target joined Walmart and a number of other prominent American brands in scaling back its corporate diversity equity and inclusion initiatives, have compounded the predicament.

Other headwinds are buffeting the entire retail sector For almost a year retailers have struggled to navigate President Donald Trump’s wideranging tariffs on imports and his immigration crackdown that threatened to shrink the supply of workers available to U.S. companies.

The just ended 43-day federal shutdown is expected to be another drag on an economy Government contract awards have slowed and many food aid recipients have seen their benefits interrupted, both of which can cut into consumer spending at places like Target.

Fiddelke told reporters that the company saw a weaker September but he said it was “tricky for us to isolate” the different factors behind that.

The retailer’s profit fell to $689 million

report, now due a couple of weeks late on Dec. 16. The department’s “employment situation” report usually comes out the first Friday of the month. But the government shutdown disrupted data collection and delayed the release of the reports. For example, the September jobs report, now coming out Thursday, was originally due Oct. 3. The monthly jobs report consists of two parts: a survey of households that is used to determine the unemployment rate, among other things; and the “establishment” survey of companies, nonprofits and government agencies that is used to track job creation, wages and other measurements of labor

in the three-month period ended Nov. 1, or $1.51 per share. Adjusted per share results added up to $1.78. That is better than the $1.71 that Wall Street was expecting, according to a poll by FactSet, but below the $1.85 per share the company earned in the same period last year

Sales fell 1.5% to $25.27 billion, just shy of analyst projections.

Sales gains in food and beverages were offset by continued weakness in discretionary goods, with anxious shoppers focused increasingly on buying essentials, even during the holidays.

For example, customers this year customers bought candy and costumes for Halloween, but spent less on decorations, said Rick Gomez, chief commercial officer for Target. Gomez thinks they will make similar tradeoffs during the winter holiday season.

“We think the consumer will prioritize what goes under the tree versus what goes on the tree,” he said.

Target also announced a partnership with OpenAI on Wednesday that will let users browse Target items through the tech company’s app ChatGPT When customers are ready to buy, they’ll be directed to the Target app.

market health. The Labor Department said Wednesday that the household survey for October could not be conducted because of the shutdown and could not be done retroactively. But it was able to collect the hiring numbers from employers, and those will come out with the full November report.

Wednesday’s announcement means the September jobs numbers will likely get extra scrutiny Thursday They are the last full measurement of hiring and unemployment that Federal Reserve policymakers will see before they meet Dec. 9-10. The jobs numbers have lately been contentious. After the July

jobs report proved disappointing, President Donald Trump abruptly fired the official responsible for collecting the data, Bureau of Labor Statistics Commissioner Erika McEntarfer McEntarfer herself was quick to say there was nothing suspicious about Wednesday’s announcement. “No conspiracy here, folks,” she posted on the social media site Bluesky “BLS was entirely shutdown for six weeks. Payroll data from firms can be retroactively collected for October The household survey cannot be conducted retrospectively This is just a straightforward consequence of having all field staff furloughed for over a month.”