Most Acadiana public school districts saw no change in their performance scores, according to state data released Thursday
Vermilion Parish one of the state’s top-performing districts, received an A letter grade. Acadia, Evangeline, Iberia, Lafayette and St. Mary parishes retained their B letter grades. St. Landry retained its C letter grade. St. Martin Parish dropped one letter grade to a C.
The scores are calculated using an accountability formula created by the state that measures success using a variety of data points, including state standardized test scores, growth on those tests and high school graduation rates.
This is the last year that accountability system will be in place. The new system, designed to be simpler and to reward success, calculates a score based on the percentage of students who meet each goal. It emphasizes student improvement on state tests over proficiency
ä See SCHOOLS, page 6A
La. officials back plan to increase Gulf oil fields
Proposal would bring millions of dollars into the state
BY MARK BALLARD Staff writer
officials. Trump’s plan will “boost domestic exploration and production in the Gulf of America and provide muchneeded predictability,” said House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-Jefferson. Under provisions Scalise inserted into the law, Louisiana will get a larger portion of the millions of dollars the federal government shares with states from the bids and royalty payments.
The 11th National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program, when enacted, would replace the existing five-year plan released under the President Joe Biden administration. The current five-year plan sharply curtailed development of oil and gas deposits in the Gulf and elsewhere as part of the former president’s efforts to address climate change. Trump proposes to hold 34 offshore oil and gas
ä See GULF, page 5A
energy from La. solar farm
to serve as lawn mowers
BY JOSIE ABUGOV Staff writer
A multinational energy company has completed construction of its first solar farm in Louisiana, a project outside Monroe that will generate enough electricity to power 17,000 homes and use a flock of 600 sheep as on-site lawn mowers.
Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, will buy the renewable energy, though the solar project is not directly tied to the massive artificial intelligence data center the tech giant is building in northeast Louisiana. The renewable
See SOLAR, page 6A
Second drone company to open in old tannery building
BY ADAM DAIGLE Acadiana business editor
A second drone company announced plans to locate inside the former reptile tannery building in Lafayette, a move that will create over 600 jobs. Drone Institute, which specializes in drone training and inspection services, will move into the building at 105 Dorset Ave., a $340,000 investment that will house its operations, data processing and pilot training, the office of Louisiana Economic Development announced. The company will be housed with DMR Technologies, which will oc-
cupy about 10,000 square feet of the 90,000-square-foot building that once housed The Reptile Tannery and the L.A. Frey and Sons plant. Combined, the two drone companies are expected to employ over 1,000.
“Drone Institute’s expansion in Lafayette reflects the growing momentum of Louisiana’s innovation economy,” LED Secretary Susan Bourgeois said. “Only a month after DMR’s announcement, this project strengthens our state’s position as a center for drone technology and highlights the role of Acadiana’s talent and expertise in shaping the future of advanced in-
dustry.”
Drone Institutes will manage its nationwide drone missions, train pilots and geospatial analysts at the site and develop advanced imaging tools that help industrial clients detect and prevent infrastructure issues. The Lafayette-based company has steadily expanded its workforce and capabilities to meet growing demand for aerial data and inspection services nationwide.
Construction is expected to begin by the end of the year and be complete by next summer Commercial operations will scale during con-
STAFF PHOTO By LESLIE WESTBROOK
A second drone company has announced plans to locate in the old reptile tannery building on Dorset Road.
STAFF FILE PHOTO By LESLIE WESTBROOK
Students head to class following morning assembly at Paul Breaux Middle School on Aug. 7, the first day of school.
Death toll reaches 33 in Israeli strikes in Gaza
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Israeli strikes in Gaza’s southern city of Khan Younis early Thursday killed five people, hospital officials said, bringing the death toll from airstrikes in the Palestinian territory over a roughly 12hour period to 33, mostly women and children. The strikes have been some of the deadliest since Oct. 10 when a U.S.-brokered ceasefire took effect.
The renewed escalation came after Israel said that its soldiers had come under fire in Khan Younis on Wednesday Israel said that no soldiers were killed and that the military responded with strikes.
Four Israeli airstrikes on tents sheltering displaced people in Khan Younis late Wednesday and early Thursday killed 17 people, including five women and five children, according to officials at Nasser Hospital In Gaza City two airstrikes on a building killed 16 people, including seven children and three women, according to officials at the Al-Shifa hospital in the northern part of the city where the bodies were taken
The Hamas militant group condemned the Israeli strikes as a “shocking massacre.” In a statement, Hamas denied firing toward Israeli troops.
Ex-congressional staffer accused of faking attack
EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP, N.J A former staffer for a Republican congressman claimed she was attacked by three armed men who tied her up, slashed her and scrawled an anti-Trump statement on her stomach, according to authorities But federal prosecutors are now accusing her of making the whole thing up and staging the bloody scene including hiring someone to cut her skin.
The 26-year-old woman, who worked for U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew, of New Jersey, made her initial court appearance Wednesday on charges that she conspired to perpetrate a hoax and made false statements to federal law enforcement
The woman and a friend staged the fake attack July 23 at a nature preserve in Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey, according to the U.S. attorney’s office.
The friend called 911 saying the attackers had a gun, knew the woman’s name and that she worked for Van Drew, a strong supporter of President Donald Trump.
Responding police found the woman lying in a wooded area with her shirt pulled over her head and her hands and feet zip tied, according to prosecutors. She had several cuts on her face, neck, chest and shoulder, while slogans criticizing Trump and Van Drew were written with black marker on her stomach and back.
The woman later repeated her claims about the attack while being interviewed by police and FBI agents, according to prosecutors. But authorities allege the story soon started to unravel when they searched the woman’s Maserati and found zip ties and duct tape inside.
Stepbrother suspected in cruise ship death
TITUSVILLE, Fla. — The 16-yearold stepbrother of the Florida high school senior who died this month on a Carnival cruise ship has been identified as a suspect in her death, according to court documents filed by his parents.
The disclosures — contained in motions filed in an ongoing custody dispute — offer the clearest public indication that federal investigators are scrutinizing a member of the victim’s own blended family
The documents show both parents acknowledging that their middle child identified in court only by his initials “T.H.” — is under FBI investigation in connection with the death of Anna Kepner, a high school cheerleader from Florida’s Space Coast. Her death aboard the ship has drawn international attention and remains shrouded in uncertainty. Neither the FBI nor Carnival has said publicly how Kepner died, whether a crime occurred, or what led agents to focus on the teen.
DHS says Charlotte crackdown continues
Sheriff said immigration operation was over
BY GARY D ROBERTSON and JOHN SEEWER Associated Press
RALEIGH, N.C. A federal immigration crackdown centered around North Carolina’s largest city of Charlotte appeared to be tapering off Thursday, local law enforcement leaders said, but a Homeland Security official insisted the arrests would not let up.
The North Carolina operation that began last weekend was the most recent phase of Republican President Donald Trump‘s aggressive mass deportation efforts that have sent the military and immigration agents into Democratic-run cities from Chicago to Los Angeles.
“The operation is not over and it is not ending anytime soon,” said Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin.
Both the local sheriff and police department said earlier in the day that the crackdown, which has resulted in hundreds of arrests, appeared to be over less than a week after it began Federal officials have offered few details about those arrested.
The confusion over the operation’s scope is not unusual during these largescale enforcement actions as federal officials in charge often provide few details about when and where agents will show up next.
Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden said in a statement that federal officials confirmed that the U.S. Customs and Border Protection operation known as “Operation Charlotte’s Web” had ended, but that agents would continue operat-
ing as they have in the past
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police posted on social media Thursday that it received “reliable information” that Border Patrol personnel involved with the operation had departed that morning.
But the Homeland Security spokesperson said federal agencies “continue to target some of the most dangerous criminal illegal aliens as Operation Charlotte’s Web progresses,” adding that about 370 people have been arrested over the past five days.
Federal agents are expected to descend next on New Orleans for operation “Swamp Sweep,” a monthslong crackdown in southeast Louisiana. As many as 250 federal troops could arrive as soon as Friday for the operation expected to kick off at the beginning of December
In North Carolina, agents — some heavily armed in tactical gear and unmarked vehicles — have carried out arrests in the Charlotte area and near the capital city of Raleigh.
Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles, a Democrat, said Thursday she was hopeful the enforcement operation was winding down.
“I’m relieved for our community and the residents, businesses, and all those who were targeted and impacted by this intrusion,” Lyles wrote on X. “As we move forward, it is essential that we come together — not as separate groups divided by recent events, but as one Charlotte community.
North Carolina Republican Party spokesperson Matt Mercer called the crackdown a success.
Homeland Security leaders have said they brought the large operation to North Carolina because of so-called sanctuary policies that limit cooperation between local authorities and immigration agents.
U.S., Russia draw up peace plan for war in Ukraine
Proposal includes big concessions from Kyiv
BY ILLIA NOVIKOV and AAMER MADHANI Associated Press
KYIV Ukraine — The U.S and Russia have drawn up a plan aimed at ending the war in Ukraine that calls for major concessions from Kyiv according to a person familiar with the matter, including granting some demands the Kremlin has made repeatedly since the full-scale invasion began nearly four years ago.
It was not clear what, if any, concessions the proposal asks of Russia. The same person confirmed that promises from Moscow of no further attacks are part of the framework. In other developments, Russia’s chief military officer, Gen. Valery Gerasimov, announced that Moscow’s forces had taken full control of Kupiansk in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region, although he also said that some Ukrainian troops remained in the city
The general staff for Ukraine’s armed forces denied Gerasimov’s claims and said that Kyiv’s forces remained in control of Kupiansk.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio and U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff have been quietly working on the peace plan for a month, receiving input from both Ukrainians and Russians on terms that are acceptable to each side, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed Thursday.
She declined to comment on details of the emerging proposal, but she said President Donald Trump has been briefed on it and supports it.
“It is a good plan for both Russia and Ukraine, and we believe it should be acceptable to both sides. And we are working hard to get it done,” Leavitt said.
The latest Trump administration push for peace has piled more pressure on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who is marshaling his country’s defenses against Russia’s bigger army, visiting European leaders to ensure they continue their support for Ukraine and navigating a major corruption scandal that has caused public outrage.
U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll was also in Kyiv on Thursday to give a new push to peace efforts and assess the reality on the ground in Ukraine Zelenskyy confirmed that he had met with Driscoll and “discussed options for achieving real peace.”
“Our teams of Ukraine and the United States — will work on the provisions of the plan to end the war We are ready for constructive, honest and swift work,” he wrote in a post on X.
Zelenskyy’s office also said in a statement that the Ukrainian president expected to talk to Trump in coming days about diplomatic opportunities.
As reports of the Russia-U.S. peace plan emerged, blindsided European diplomats insisted they and Ukraine must be consulted.
European leaders have already been alarmed this year by indications that Trump’s administration might be sidelining them and Zelenskyy in its push to stop the fighting. Trump’s at-times conciliatory approach to Russian President Vladimir Putinhas fueled those concerns, butTrump adopted a tougher line last month when he announced heavy sanctions on Russia’s vital oil sector that come into force Friday
Trump: Democrats’
video to troops
is ‘seditious behavior’
BY MEG KINNARD Associated Press
President Donald Trump on Thursday accused half a dozen Democratic lawmakers of sedition “punishable by DEATH” after the lawmakers — all veterans of the armed services and intelligence community — called on U.S. military members to uphold the Constitution and defy “illegal orders.”
The 90-second video was first posted early Tuesday from Sen. Elissa Slotkin’s X account. In it, the six lawmakers — Slotkin, Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly, and Reps Jason Crow, Chris Deluzio, Maggie Goodlander and Chrissy Houlahan speak directly to U.S. service members, whom Slotkin acknowledges are “under enormous stress and pressure right now.”
“The American people need you to stand up for our laws and our Constitution,” Slotkin wrote in the X post. Along with the Michigan senator, the other lawmakers appearing in the video are seen as possible future aspirants for higher office, who now, thanks to the video’s wide exposure, have elevated their own political profiles.
Trump on Thursday reposted messages from others about the video, amplifying it with his own words. It marked another flashpoint in the political rhetoric that at times has been thematic in his administrations, as well as among some in his MAGA base. Some Democrats accused him of acting like a king and trying to distract from the soon-to-be-released files about disgraced financier and sexual abuser Jeffrey Epstein.
With pieces of dialogue spliced together from different members, the lawmakers introduce themselves and their background. They go on to say the Trump administration “is pitting our uniformed military against American citizens.” They call for service members to “refuse illegal orders” and “stand up for our laws.”
Although the lawmakers
didn’t mention specific circumstances in the video, its release comes as the Trump administration continues attempts at deployment of National Guard troops into U.S. cities for various roles, although some have been pulled back, and others held up in court.
Troops, especially uniformed commanders, have a specific obligation to reject an order that’s unlawful, if they make that determination. However, while commanders have military lawyers on their staffs to consult with in helping make such a determination, rank-and-file troops who are tasked with carrying out those orders are rarely in a similar position.
Broad legal precedence holds that just following orders, colloquially known as the “Nuremberg defense” as it was used unsuccessfully by senior Nazi officials to justify their actions doesn’t absolve troops. However the U.S. military legal code, known as the Uniform Code of Military Justice, will punish troops for failing to follow an order should it turn out to be lawful.
On Thursday, Trump reposted to social media an article about the video, adding his own commentary that it was “really bad, and Dangerous to our Country.”
“SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR FROM TRAITORS!!!” Trump went on. “LOCK THEM UP???” He called for the lawmakers’ arrest and trial, adding in a separate post that it was “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH.”
Asked during a White House briefing on Thursday about the intent of Trump’s messages, press secretary Karoline Leavitt instead honed in on the Democrats’ message, which she posited “perhaps is punishable by law.” Leavitt went on to say that any incitement to “defy the chain of command, not to follow lawful orders” is “a very dangerous thing for sitting members of Congress to do, and they should be held accountable, and that’s what the president wants to see.”
U.S. Border Patrol commander at large Gregory Bovino takes a phone call on Monday in Charlotte, N.C.
Respectfor Cheney from Bush, Biden, past VPs
Trumpexcluded from funeral
BY CALVIN WOODWARD Associated Press
WASHINGTON They gathered at the Washington National Cathedral on Thursday —former presidents, vice presidents, sworn political foes and newfound friends
—inashow of respect and remembrance for Dick Cheney,the consequential and polarizing vicepresident who became an acidicscold of President DonaldTrump.
Trump, who has beenpublicly silent about Cheney’s death Nov.3,was not invited to the memorial service.
Twoex-presidents came:
Republican George W. Bush, who eulogized the man who served him as vice president, and Democrat Joe Biden, who once called Cheney “the most dangerous vice president we’ve had probably in American history” but now honors his commitmentto his family and to his values.
“Solid and rare and reliable,” Bush said at the service of his vice president, praising aman whose talent and restraint” exceeded his ego. “Smart and polished, without airs.”
Bush and others noted the understated demeanor of aman who nevertheless wielded great influence in government. “Above all,” Bush said, “I wanted some-
one with the ability to step into the presidency without getting distracted by the ambitiontoseekit.”
Among the eulogists, Liz Cheney,the eldest daughter, onlyobliquely addressed what amounted to afatherdaughter feud with the president —a manher dad had called a“coward” for trying to overturn his loss in the 2020 election
She spokeofher father’s conviction that when confronted with achoice between defending the country and apolitical party,the country must come first. “Bonds of party must always yieldtothe singlebond we share as Americans,”she said Liz Cheneyisaformer high-rankingHousememberwhoseRepublican political career was shredded by aMAGA movement angered by her investigationofthe Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the Capitol. Thursday, she chosenot to speak directly of Trump. She spoke of seeing clouds in the shape of angels just before her father died.
Moments before theservice began, figures of recent but now receded power mingled: Bushand Biden andtheirwivessitting in a row together, formerVice Presidents Kamala Harris and Mike Pence chatting side by side in their pew withAl Gore and Dan Quayle together behind them.
Bidengreeted Republican
Sen. Mitch McConnell, the former longtime Senate leader,and his wife, former labor and transportation secretary Elaine Chao. Behind them sat Democratic Rep.Nancy Pelosi, whospent time talking with anotherformer House speaker,Republican John Boehner.All gathered among thesoaring interior columns of the grand cathedral known as “a spiritual home for the nation.”
Others delivering tributes at Thursday’sfuneral were Cheney’slongtime cardiologist, Dr.Jonathan Reiner; former NBC Newscorrespondent Pete Williams, who was Cheney’s spokesman at thePentagon; and several of the former vice president’s
grandchildren. “I’m happy to report that Ihaven’t given many eulogies,” Reinersaid in his remarks. “Nobody wants a doctor who is great at funerals.”
Reiner recalled doctors tellingCheney decades ago, after the first of multiple heartattacks, that he should abandon hispolitical ambitionsthen. Yethekeptwinning elections as aWyoming congressmanfor yearsafter that.
Cheney,hesaid, was alwaysthe “calmest personin the room.”
Cheney had lived with heartdiseasefor decades and, after theBushadministration, with aheart trans-
plant. He died at age 84 from complications of pneumonia andcardiacand vasculardisease, his family said.
Trump’svice president, JD Vance, on stage at another event in the morning, was asked about Cheney and said: “Obviously there’ssomepolitical disagreements there but he was aguy who served his country.Wecertainly wish hisfamilyall thebest in this moment of grieving.”
Vance was also not invited to the funeral, according to a person familiar withthe details who wasnot authorized to speakpubliclyand spoke on condition of anonymity
The White House lowered its flags to half-staff after Cheney’sdeath, as it said
the lawcalls for, but Trump did not issue the presidential proclamation that often accompanies the death of notable figures, nor has he commented publicly on his passing.
The deeply conservative Cheney’s influenceinthe Bush administration was legendary and, to his critics, tragic. He advocated for the U.S. invasion of Iraq on the basis of whatproved to be faulty intelligence and consistently defendedthe extraordinary tools of surveillance, detention and inquisition employed in response to the Sept.11, 2001, attacks. Bush credited him with helping to keep thecountry safe and stable in aperilous time. After the2020 election won by Biden, Liz Cheney served as vice chairofthe Democratic-led special House committee that investigated theJan.6Capitol riot. She accused Trump of summoning the violent moband plunging the nation into “a moment of maximum danger.” For that, she was stripped of her Republican leadership position and ultimately defeated in a2022 Republican primary in Wyoming. In acampaign TV ad made for his daughter,Dick Cheney brandedTrump a“coward”who “tried to steal the last election using liesand violence to keep himself in power after the voters had rejected him.”
Investigators: CrashedUPS planehad cracks in engine mount
BY JOSH FUNKand ED WHITE Associated Press
Federal investigators
released dramatic photos Thursday of an engineflying off adoomed UPS cargo plane that crashed two weeks ago in Kentucky,killing 14 people, and said there was evidence of cracks in the left wing’sengine mount.
BY BRIAN SLODYSKO, ERIC TUCKER and ALANNA DURKIN RICHER Associated Press
WASHINGTON— The Justice Department is examining the handling of the mortgage fraud investigationinto Sen. Adam Schiff, including the potential involvement of people who claimed to be acting at the behest or direction of two Trumpadministration officials who have been pushing the probeof the California Democrat, according to adocument reviewed by The Associated Press. Federal authorities involved in the Schiff investigation in Maryland interviewed aRepublican congressionalcandidate on Thursday who has promoted themortgagefraud allega-
tions against the lawmaker and quizzed her about any communications she may have had with Justice Department official Ed Martin and Federal Housing FinanceAgency DirectorBill Pulte. The interviewcame afterthe woman received a subpoena seeking information aboutcommunications she may have had with people claiming to be working at thedirectionof Pulteand Martin.
Christine Bish,a real estate agent who is running for acongressional seat in California, told theAPthat she was prepared to speak to investigators abouther own yearslongefforttodrawattention to mortgages held by Schiff, who hashomes in Californiaand Maryland. But authoritiesinstead were focused on potential interac-
tions she hashad with Pulte and Martin, Bishsaid.
“I expected to be asked questions, alot of questions, about, ’How didyou come about investigating Adam Schiff and what wereyour findings?”Bishsaid. “What they wanted toknow wasif Iwas in communication with Ed Martin or Director Pulte —and Iwas not.”
Bish said she kept trying to return to the Schiff allegations, but that the officials “are trying to, in my opinion, investigate the investigators.”
The revelation that authorities areturning their attention to thehandling of the Schiff investigation is likely to bring fresh scrutinytothe already criticized pushbyPulteand Martinto investigate Trump political foes for mortgage fraud.
tailed inspection of key engine mount parts that had fractures. It still needed to complete nearly 7,000 more takeoffs and landings.Itwas last examined in October 2021.
“ItappearsUPS was conducting this maintenance within the requiredtime frame, but I’m sure the FAAis
Aseries of six photos showed therear of theengine startingtodetach before it flewupand over the wing as flames erupted. The next image shows the wing engulfed by fire as the burning engine fliesabove it. The last image shows the plane startingtoget airborne. Butthe MD-11planeonly got 30 feet offthe ground, the National Transportation SafetyBoard said, citing the flight datarecorder in its first formalbut preliminary reportaboutthe Nov. 4disasterinLouisville, Kentucky Three pilotsonthe plane were killed alongwith 11 more people on theground near MuhammadAli International Airport TheNTSBsaid theplane was not due yet for ade-
nowgoing to ponder whether that time frame is adequate,” former federal crash investigator Jeff Guzzetti told The Associated Press after reading thereport. It’snot clear whenthe cracksstarted to develop on the34-year-old plane and whether they could have been missed in thatearlier inspection. Another aviation expert, John Cox, described fatigue cracksas“normal wear andtear on an aircraft. He saida metal part, like the engine mount thatvibrates every time theplane flies, will eventually develop cracks. Cox noted it’sjust a questionofhow often those parts need to be inspected and what maintenance is required.
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTOByMATTROURKE
Former Presidents, front rowfrom left, GeorgeW.Bush, withLaura Bush; and JoeBiden, with Jill Biden, look on as ajoint services body bearer team arriveThursday with the casket of former Vice PresidentDick Cheneyatthe Washington National Cathedral in Washington.
Katoen Natie starts $25M BR expansion
Katoen Natie has started construction of a $25 million expansion of its North Baton Rouge Polymers Terminal, a move that will create 13 new jobs
The expansion of the operation is expected to add nine indirect jobs and retain the 29 current workers at the warehouse and distribution facility off Airline Highway, according to Louisiana Economic Development. The Belgian company has operated the plastics storage, packaging and distribution center since 2017. The expansion, scheduled to begin operations in a year, will involve building a 300,000-square-foot warehouse to store and repackage titanium dioxide. Titanium dioxide is a white pigment used in coating, plastics and other industrial applications.
To get Katoen Natie to expand its operations, LED offered the company incentives, including FastStart, the department’s workforce recruitment and training software, and a $200,000 performance-based grant for site infrastructure improvements.
U.S. home sales rise in October on lower rates
Sales of previously occupied U.S homes increased last month to the fastest pace since February as lower mortgage rates helped pull more homebuyers into the market.
Existing home sales rose 1.2% in October from the previous month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.10 million units, the National Association of Realtors said Thursday Sales climbed 1.7% compared with October last year
The latest sales figure topped the roughly 4.09 million pace economists were expecting, according to FactSet October’s home sales were likely limited by the federal government shutdown, which could have delayed some transactions that would have closed last month.
The national median sales price increased 2.1% in October from a year earlier to $415,200, an all-time high for any October on data going back to 1999. Home prices have risen on an annual basis for 28 months in a row
The U.S. housing market has been in a slump since 2022, when mortgage rates began climbing from historic lows.
Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes sank last year to their lowest level in nearly 30 years.
Verizon cutting more than 13,000 jobs
NEW YORK Verizon is laying off more than 13,000 employees in mass job reductions that arrive as the telecommunications giant says it must “reorient” its entire company
The job cuts began on Thursday, per to a staff memo from Verizon CEO Dan Schulman In the letter, which was seen by The Associated Press, Schulman said Verizon’s current cost structure “limits” the company’s ability to invest — pointing particularly to customer experiences
“We must reorient our entire company around delivering for and delighting our customers,” Schulman wrote. He added that the company needed to simplify its operations “to address the complexity and friction that slow us down and frustrate our customers.”
Verizon had nearly 100,000 full-time employees as of the end of last year, according to securities filings. A spokesperson confirmed that the layoffs announced Thursday account for about 20% of the company’s management workforce, which isn’t unionized.
Verizon has faced rising competition in both the wireless phone and home internet space — particularly from AT&T, TMobile and other big market players. New leadership at the company has stressed the need to right the company’s direction
Big swings keep rocking market
U.S. stocks drop sharply after erasing a morning surge
BY STAN CHOE Associated Press
NEW YORK Jarring swings keep rocking Wall Street, and U.S. stocks erased a big morning gain to drop on Thursday as the market remains skittish following weeks of doubts and erratic moves.
After initially soaring toward what seemed like its best day since
May with an early surge of 1.9%, the S&P 500 erased all of it and fell 1.6%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 386 points, or 0.8%, and the Nasdaq composite sank 2.2%.
The sharpest losses again hit what used to be the market’s biggest winners. Nvidia, cryptocurrencies and other areas that had soared with nearly relentless momentum, as traders feared missing out on more gains, forced the market lower Bitcoin dropped below $87,000, down from nearly $125,000 last month.
The market had been shaky com-
ing into Thursday largely because of twin worries: Nvidia and other superstar stocks caught up in the frenzy around artificial-intelligence technology may have simply shot too high, and the Federal Reserve may be done delivering the invigorating cuts to interest rates that Wall Street loves. Nvidia initially appeared to tamp down the worries about a bubble for AI stocks after reporting a big profit for the summer, along with a forecast for coming revenue that easily cleared analysts’ expectations. By delivering strong profits and indicating more are coming,
Nvidia can justify its stock’s price gains and make it look less expensive.
Given Nvidia’s forecasts, “it is very hard to see how this stock does not keep moving higher from here,” according to analysts at UBS led by Timothy Arcuri. They also said “the AI infrastructure tide is still rising so fast that all boats will be lifted.”
Nvidia jumped to an early gain of 5% but then dropped to a loss of 3.2%. Because it’s the biggest company in the U.S. market by value, Nvidia’s stock has more pull on the S&P 500 than any other company’s
Trump administration announces drilling off California, Florida coasts
BY MATTHEW DALY and MATTHEW BROWN Associated Press
WASHINGTON The Trump administration announced on Thursday new oil drilling off the California and Florida coasts for the first time in decades, advancing a project that critics say could harm coastal communities and ecosystems, as President Donald Trump seeks to expand U.S. oil production.
The oil industry has been seeking access to new offshore areas, including Southern California and off the coast of Florida, as a way to boost U.S. energy security and jobs. The federal government has not allowed drilling in federal waters in the eastern Gulf of Mexico, which includes offshore Florida and part of offshore Alabama, since 1995, because of concerns about oil spills. California has some offshore oil rigs, but there has been no new leasing in federal waters since the mid-1980s. Since taking office for a second time in January, Trump has systematically reversed former President Joe Biden’s focus on slowing climate change to pursue what the Republican calls U.S. “energy dominance” in the global market. Trump, who recently called climate change “the greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world,” created a
National Energy Dominance Council and directed it to move quickly to drive up already record-high U.S. energy production, particularly fossil fuels such as oil, coal and natural gas. Meanwhile, Trump’s administration has blocked renewable energy sources such as offshore wind and canceled billions of dollars in grants that supported hundreds of clean energy projects across the country
Even before it was released, the offshore drilling plan met strong opposition from California Gov Gavin Newsom, a Democrat who is eyeing a 2028 presidential run and has emerged as a leading Trump critic. Newsom pronounced the idea “dead on arrival” in a social media post. The proposal also is likely to draw bipartisan opposition in Florida. Tourism and access to clean beaches are key parts of the economy in both states.
The administration’s plan proposes six offshore lease sales between 2027 and 2030 in areas along the California coast. It also calls for new drilling off the coast of Florida in areas at least 100 miles from that state’s shore. The area targeted for leasing is adjacent to an area in the Central Gulf of Mexico that already contains thousands of wells and hundreds of drilling platforms.
The five-year plan also would compel more
than 20 lease sales off the coast of Alaska, including a newly designated area known as the High Arctic, more than 200 miles offshore in the Arctic Ocean.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said in announcing the sales that it would take years for the oil from those parcels to get to market.
“By moving forward with the development of a robust, forward-thinking leasing plan, we are ensuring that America’s offshore industry stays strong, our workers stay employed, and our nation remains energy dominant for decades to come,” Burgum said in a statement.
The American Petroleum Institute said in response that the announced plan was a “historic step” toward unleashing vast offshore resources. Industry groups have pointed to California’s history as an oil-producing state and say it already has infrastructure to support more production.
Sen. Rick Scott, a Florida Republican and Trump ally, helped persuade Trump officials to drop a similar offshore plan in 2018 when he was governor Last week, Scott and fellow Florida Republican Sen. Ashley Moody co-sponsored a bill to maintain a moratorium on offshore drilling in the state that Trump signed in his first term.
U.S. employers add surprisingly solid 119K jobs in September
BY PAUL WISEMAN AP economics writer
WASHINGTON U.S. employers added a surprisingly solid 119,000 jobs in September, the government said, issuing a key economic report that had been delayed for seven weeks by the federal government shutdown. The increase in payrolls was more than double the 50,000 economists had forecast Yet there were some troubling details in the delayed report. Labor Department revisions showed that the economy lost 4,000 jobs in August instead of gaining
22,000 as originally reported. Altogether, revisions shaved 33,000 jobs off July and August payrolls. The economy had also shed jobs in June, the first time since the 2020 pandemic that the monthly jobs report has gone negative twice in one year And more than 87% of the September job gains were concentrated in two industries: health care and social assistance, and leisure and hospitality
The unemployment rate rose to 4.4% in September, highest since October 2021 and up from 4.3% in August, the Labor Department said Thursday The jobless rate rose partly because 470,000 people entered the labor market — either working or looking for work — in September and not all of them found jobs right away The data, though late, was welcomed by businesses, investors,
“We’ve got these strong headline numbers, but when you look underneath that you’ll see that a lot of that is driven by health care,” said Cory Stahle, senior economist at the Indeed Hiring Lab. ”At the end of the day, the question is: Can you support an economic expansion on the back of one industry? Anybody would have a hard time arguing everybody should become a nurse.”
policymakers and the Federal Reserve. During the 43-day shutdown, they’d been groping in the dark for clues about the health of the American job market because federal workers had been furloughed and couldn’t collect the data. The report comes at a time of considerable uncertainty about the economy The job market has been strained by the lingering effects of high interest rates and uncertainty around Trump’s erratic campaign to slap taxes on imports from almost every country on earth. But economic growth at midyear was resilient.
ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By JENNy KANE
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum speaks in June during the annual Alaska Sustainable Energy Conference in Anchorage, Alaska.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement sent atransgender immigrant being held in Louisiana to Mexico despite amonths-old judge’sorder blocking her deportation there because she would be at risk of being torturedorkilled, according to court records.
Britania UriosteguiRios, 47, was removed fromLouisiana to Texas on Nov. 11, and then takenacross theborder to Mexico, according to alawsuit filed in federal court Monday by her attorneys.
An official for the Department of Justice admitted ICE removed Uriostegui Rios “inadvertently” andsaidshe wouldbeallowed back into the U.S. if she could makeittoa bordercheckpoint, according to emails filed withthe lawsuit.
ICE said it would takeher back into custody upon entry.Her attorneys hadrequestedthat she be released on an order of supervision, per theemails In court documents, legal advocates describe how Uriostegui Rios went into hiding after returning to Mexico and was terrified of making it backtothe border safely due to her gender identity
Oneadvocate stated that ICE deported Uriostegui Rios without her medications, identification,money or acellphone.
Lawyers for Uriostegui Rios described her case as an example of abroader problem as President Donald Trump’sadministration aggressively tries to ramp up deportations.
“If Defendants had not been caught by counsel red-handed, violating the judicial decree at issue, Britania would be just another
Much of the offshore activity is organized out of Port Fourchon, which has felt the impact from the lack of offshore lease sales, said Greater Lafourche Port Commission Executive Director Chett Chiasson.
casualty (the number of which at this juncture remains unknown) of amass deportation campaign running roughshod of the law at innumerable turns,” they said in thelawsuit.
The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, did not answer multiple questions about Uriostegui Rios’ case, including about howthe deportation occurred and why she was being detained.
Instead, in astatement, Tricia McLaughlin,the agency’s deputy secretary,emphasized Uriostegui Rios’criminalrecordand said the mix-up did not mean she would be allowed to stay in the U.S.
“The end result will be thesame —Rios will not be able to remain in theU.S.and will be removed,” McLaughlin said.
Uriostegui Rios would be sent to adifferent country,according to McLaughlin.
ergy interests,says the Gulf produces nearly 2million barrels of oil per day
In astatementincluded in the court filing,anICE official said Uriostegui Rios hadmultiple criminal convictions, including a2009 conviction of sexual solicitation anda 2023 conviction of assault with adeadly weapon.
Uriostegui Rios cametothe U.S. in 2003 and becamealawful permanent resident in 2012, according to the statement. Ajudge ordered her removed to Mexico on March 14 but simultaneously blocked that removal underthe Convention Against Torture, the official said.
It is common forimmigration judges to issue deferred removal orderswhen immigrants are at riskofbeing persecutedor harmed in theirhomecountry
The ICEofficialsaid the agency had tried to remove Uriostegui Rios to multiple thirdcountries, including Costa Rica, Honduras, Nicaragua and El Salvador.Costa Rica and Honduras both rejected theapplication,hesaid.
Uriostegui Rios’ case is the second prominent example in recent weeks of the federal government sendinga Louisiana ICEdetainee to another country after being ordered not to do so.
In October,officials put Chanthila Souvannarath on aplane to Laos the day after ajudge temporarily blocked his deportationbecause of his American citizenship claim. In court filings, government lawyers saidthey did not learn of the judge’sorder untilhours after they put him on the plane.
Souvannarath was taken to a Laos jail, according to his lawyers, whosaid in court documents that he is only abletocontactthem when he is occasionally allowed to borrow aguard’sphone. They have asked ajudge to order him returned to the United States.
Uriostegui Rios was detained by ICEinApril 2024 and sent to Winn Correctional Center,anICE facility in Winnfield, in June, according to court records.
lease sales between the years 2026 and 2031. His five-year plan also would open up waters off California and Florida, as well as in the Arctic.
The federalgovernment estimates 68.8 billion barrels of oil and 229 trillion cubic feet of natural gas are yet to be discovered on the outer continental shelf.
Environmentalists opposethe plan. Increased “drillingputs coastal economies, communities and wildlife at risk,” said Taryn Kiekow Heimer,ofthe Natural Resources Defense Council.
At aclimate conferenceinBrazil held by the UnitedNations, which called for aphaseout of fossil fuels, California Gov.GavinNewsom said his state opposes drilling off its Pacific coast and that any attempt to do so is “dead on arrival.
But Louisiana relieson oiland gas exploration and productionfor jobs and funds to counteract the state’sdisappearing marshlands
DRONE
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struction to support expanded data processing and flight operations. LED’sincentives package to secure the deal includes its comprehensiveworkforcedevelopment solutions, LED FastStart, and a $300,000 performance-based grant to assist in building renovation
“This new five-year plan brings back thecertainty we need to regain our energyindependence, strengthen our local economywith good-paying jobs and deliver more resources forour hurricane protection projects,” Chiasson added. Lafourche ParishPresident Mitch Orgeron, whose constituents include many in the energy industry,agreed, saying, “Weare set to receive millions more in revenuesharing dollars to protect andrebuild our coast for years to come.”
The Interior Department’sBureau of Ocean Energy Management reportedinSeptember managing 2,073 activeoffshore oil and gasleases covering about 11.2 million acres —productionthat accountsfor roughly 15% of the nation’sdomesticoil output.
The National Ocean Industries Association, aWashington-based trade association for offshore en-
costs. It is also expectedtoparticipate in thestate’sHigh Impact Jobs and Research and Development TaxCredit.
“Drone Institute is changing how we see the world from above,” company CEO GeorgeFemmersaid.
“Contrary to the trendofyoung tech companies leaving the state, Drone Institute has committed to Lafayette andLouisiana. This expansionallows us to build smarter drone systems and dataproducts
“A clear leasingschedule gives companies the certainty to invest, strengthenssupply chains,bolsters communities, andkeeps the U.S.competitiveina rapidly evolving global energy landscape,” said NOIA President Erik Milito.
“The Trump administration’s draft five-year offshore leasing plan puts Louisiana to work,” saidLouisiana Mid-Continent Oiland Gas Association President Tommy Faucheux. “President Trump is creating jobs, strengthening energy security and deliveringvital funding to restore Louisiana’scoastline.”
GNO Inc. President Michael Hecht added: “Not only will this plan solidify billionsineconomic impact, including high-wagejobs for our region over thenext five years,but it alsooffersthe stability this industry needs to continue to invest and grow for thefuture.
Public commentsabout Trump’s proposal will begin to be taken for 60 days once the plan is officially released on Monday
thatassist clientstowork safer, faster and with deeper insight.”
Thecompany will be astrategic partnerwith Scott-basedSoLA Drones, which will also partner with DMR at thesite, saidSoLA Drones President BruceBosworth.
Lafayette is an emerging hub for thedrone industry,said Mandi Mitchell,president andCEO of the Lafayette Economic Development Authority.
“LEDA’s efforts arecultivating the development of acomplete
DMR employs more than 500 people andbuilds its FieldRanger X50, a10-foot-by-10-foot device that can weigh220 pounds when its 13-gallon tank is full and fly for nine minutesona fully charged battery. It’s also another drone company opening in the Acadiana area. Others include logistics company Bluefliteand services company FlyGuys.
ecosystem in our community,” Mitchellsaid. “This clustering effectwillattract additionalsuppliers, service providers and talent to the region. Drone Institute’s decision demonstrates confidence in our workforce, business climate and commitment to supporting innovative industries in Lafayette Parish.”
Email Adam Daigle at adaigle@ theadvocate.com.
energy is part of Meta’sbroader sustainability goals, aspokespersonfor the company said. Meta has separately committedtobring an additional1500 megawatts of renewable energy to the grid through its contract with Entergy, the state’slargest utility
The 550-acre project called Lafitte Solar,located in Ouachita Parish 4miles south of Monroe, is the latest solar announcement in Louisiana tied to Meta. Electricity from the 100-megawattsite will start flowing to the regional grid by the end of the year.RWE Clean Energy,the U.S. subsidiary of the German-based energy company,is the developer “This is the culmination of al-
SCHOOLS
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As part of the change, most districts and schools would see achange in their performance scoresand letter grades. At the district level, most would receive the same letter grade, butAcadia, Evangelineand Iberia parishes would drop aletter grade.
High schools would take the largest hit, most of them falling at least one letter grade. Of the 32 highschools in Acadia, Evangeline, Iberia, Lafayette, St. Landry, St.Martin, St. Mary and Vermilion parishes, 26 would drop at least oneletter grade, according to simulated grades released by the state. The change likely meansthat high schools were relying less on their test scores and more on other data to earn higher school performance scores.
Here’s howeachdistrictperformed for the 2024-25 school year, how its schoolsperformed and what its simulated grade would be under the new accountability system.
LafayetteParish
n Current score:B,87.5
n 2024 score: B, 87.5
n Simulated score:B
Most Lafayette Parish schools kept their letter grade from the
most seven years of work,” said Cody Hoffman, project lead for RWE’sproject near Monroe. “It’s really great to see allthatwork come together.”
Earlierthis month, Metasigned adeal with another developer to build two large-scalesolar farms in rural Morehouse and Sabine parishes. The three projects will total 485 megawatts, enough electricity to power around 100,000 homes.
“Projects like Lafitte Solar are essential to achieving our clean energy goals while strengthening communities,”Amanda Yang, headofclean energy at Meta, said in aprepared statement.
Joe Holyfield,chairman of the Ouachita Parish Industrial Development Board, said the more than $100 million solar project positively impacted the local economy.The solar farm saw around
previous year. Four schools saw their letter grades improve. Most notably,Dr. Raphael Barancoand J.W. Faulk elementary schools each improved alettergrade to a C. Anew schoolingmodel, which broughtinhighlyqualifiedteachers and extended the school day through agrant,was rolledout at bothschoolsatthe start of the 2024-25 schoolyear,and early data showed learninggrowth.
Ossun Elementary also improved alettergrade to aB.Carencro Middle, which improved about 28 points, wentupa letter grade to aC Eightschoolssaw adecrease in their letter grades. Comeaux High andErnest Gallet Elementaryreceived aB;Charles Burke, Cpl. MichaelMiddlebrookand Evangeline elementaries received aC; AcadianMiddleand S.J.Montgomery Elementary received aD Paul Breaux Middle, which saw itsenrollmentnumber slashed in halfatthe start of the 202425 school year,dropped about 21 points andreceiveda D. The school’senrollmentdeclined when the Lafayette Parish School Board voted to move the Spanish and French immersion andgifted programstoother schools. Under the new accountability system, 13Lafayette Parish schools would see theirletter grades change ifthe new formula had been applied. That means about 1in3Lafayette Parish
“Sheep
CODyHOFFMAN, RWEprojectlead
150 construction jobs at its peak andisexpectedtogenerate$32 million in taxrevenue over its lifetime. Hoffman said thecompany cannot disclosethe duration of itspower-purchase agreement with Meta.
Property taxrevenue increased when the former agricultural land waschangedtoindustrialuse,
schools would see achange.
Three schools would see an increase in their letter grades:
n Alice Boucher Elementary 2025: D
AliceBoucher Elementary
simulated:C
n J.W.Faulk Elementary 2025: C
J.W.F au lk Ele mentary
simulated:B
n Martial Billeaud Elementary 2025: B
Martial BilleaudElementary simulated:A
Eleven schools wouldsee adecrease in their letter grades:
n AcadianaHigh 2025: B
AcadianaHigh simulated: C
n Broussard Middle 2025: B
Broussard Middle simulated: C
n Carencro High 2025: B
CarencroHigh simulated: D
n Carencro Middle 2025: C
CarencroMiddle simulated: D
n J. Wallace James 2025: B
J. Wallace James simulated: C
n Judice Middle 2025: B
Judice Middle simulated: C
n Northside High 2025: C
Northside High simulated: F
n Comeaux High 2025: B
Comeaux High simulated: C
n PaulBreaux Middle 2025: D
Paul Breaux Middle simulated: F
n Southside High 2025: A
Southside High simulated: B
Acadia Parish
n Current score: B, 78
n 2024 score: B, 80
n Simulated score: C
Holyfield said. He also observed workerswith the construction contractor,McCarthy,visiting local restaurants, hardware stores and other local businesses.
“They’ve been good partners in ourcommunity,” said Holyfield, whoattended aNov.13ribboncutting event for the project alongside solar developers and other local officials.
Butthe solar farm faced some opposition from nearby residents, Holyfield said, which the developersaddressed by installing barriers between housesand the solar farm.
“You’d probably rather look at a pretty fieldthan asolar farm,but you’ve also got to create energy for growth in our communityand all of northeast Louisiana,” Holyfield said.
The former farmland will soon be transformed even furtherwhen
Underthe new accountabilitysystem’sformula, oneschool would see its letter grade increase and eight would see it decrease, which means about 5% of Acadia Parish schools would see achange.
Evangeline Parish
n Current score: B, 77.8
n 2024 score: B, 78.2
n Simulated score: C
Underthe new accountabilitysystem’sformula, oneschool would see its letter grade increase and seven would see it decrease, whichmeans nearly two in three schools would see achange.
Iberia Parish
n Current score: B, 81
n 2024 score: B, 80.4
n Simulated score: C
Underthe new accountabilitysystem’s formula, nineschools would see their letter grade decrease, which meansabout 40% of Iberia Parish schools would see a change.
St.LandryParish
n Current score: C, 72.9
n 2024 score: C, 87.5
n Simulated score: C
Underthe newaccountability system’s formula,three schools would see their lettergradesincrease and eight would seeitdecrease, which meansabout 37% of St. Landry Parish schools would see achange. That does notinclude thethree
aflock of around 600 sheep will arrive to graze around the solar panels. The project marks RWE’sfirst Louisiana development,but not its first time deploying the woolly mammal lawnmowers.
“Sheep arethe best animal that can do grazing amongst these solar panels,” Hoffmansaid. “Cows can damage the panels, goats will climboneverythingand chew on everything. Sheep are docile andcalm, andtheyjustlike to eat grass.”
Thesheep present agreener way to maintain the vegetation, which cangrowwildinthe north Louisiana climate.
“You can mow it,and it’s expensive, and you’re just burning gasoline and nobody likes it,” Hoffman said.
The sheep grazing will be managed by alocal contractor,the company said.
St.Landry Parish schoolsthat closed at the start of the 2025-26 school year
St.MartinParish
n Current score: C, 74.6
n 2024 score: B, 76.6
n Simulated score: C Underthe new accountability system’sformula, oneschool would see its letter grade increase and eight would see it decrease, whichmeans about half of St. Martin Parish schools would see achange.
St.MaryParish
n Current score: B, 84.6
n 2024 score: B, 82.9
n Simulated score: B Underthe new accountability system’sformula, oneschool would see its letter grade increase and14would seeitdecrease, which means about70% of St Mary Parish schoolswould see a change.
VermilionParish
n Current score: A, 91.3
n 2024 score: B, 90.3
n Simulated score: A Underthe new accountability system’sformula, six schools would see their letter grades decrease, whichmeans nearly one in three Vermilion Parish schools would see achange.
Contact AshleyWhite at ashley. white@theadvocate.com.
on ThursdayatRed
MAKING GAINS
RedLerille’s debuts expanded women’sgym, locker room with more growth to come
BYJOANNABROWN Staff writer
Whenayoung Mr.America winner named Red Lerille openedhis health and racquet club in Lafayette in 1963,it was the fulfillment of alifelong dream to help people get fit, stayactiveand find community
His dream grew bigger than anyone could have imagined.Over thedecades, Red’shas expanded with indoor and outdoor racquetcourts, pools, multiple workout areas, two cafes, anursery and kids’ workout space, and aparking lot for more than 700 cars. It’salwaysfull. Last month, Red’snewest expansion opened to members —a15,571-squarefoot,two-story, women-only gymand locker room. Thenew building fronts Doucet Road where aShop Rite convenience storeused tobelocated, and puts anew face on theLerillefamily’s philosophy —always pursue change and improvement.
It’squite achange for Red’sfemale members, who previously hadaccess to asmaller women-only gym and locker room. Thisimprovementcomes with rows of brand-new treadmills, ellipticals and other cardio machines, an open space for stretching and awhole floor
Newtreadmills are seen on Thursday in the newwomen’sgym at Red Lerille’s Health& Racquet ClubinLafayette.
of versatile weight training equipment.
Thenew locker room is larger,with expanded (and more private) shower space, alarger sauna andlongrows of counter space for cleaningupafter a workout.
Red Lerille diedinMarch at 88. An active presence in the club almost until
his death, Lerille’s family knew that the best way to continue his legacy was to continue building his vision. And that’s what they’ve done.
“We’re going tocontinue to do things the way he wanted,” said Mark Lerille,
ä See GYM, page 4B
Twoarrested
Twoarrests have beenmade in connection with areported attack on victim Dustyn Cope, who allegedhewas assaultedbyunknown individuals while walking home.
Tristan Frederick, 23, of Vermilion Parish, wasarrested Monday on one count of principal to second-degree battery Tynes Chaney,23, of Vermilion Parish,was arrested Wednesday on one count of seconddegree battery The incident occurred on Oct. 12 Cope, aLafayette resident, told The Acadiana Advocate he was walking home along University Avenue nearSt. Landry Street around2:45a.m. when a white four-door truck with four young
Staff report
TheAcadiaParishRiceArenawill be closed for at least two weeks as aproactive measure against equine herpesvirus, or EHV-1, according to astatementfrom the parish Police Jury While there are no confirmedcases, the PoliceJury announced the closure out of an abundance of caution after consulting state officials. The LSU School of Veterinary Medicinereported Wednesday it is treating horses from Texas confirmed for the virus. The arena will be undergoing full sanitization andadeep cleaning to reduce any potential risk to the equine community,according to thePolice Jury
EHV-1 is avirus that spreads among horses, typicallythrough contact with nasaldischargeand aerosol droplets, or fromcontaminated surfaces,according to LSU VetMed.The virus can severely affect horses, often leading to hospitalizationorpotentially death in severe
cases. Symptomsinclude nasal discharge, fever,enlarged lymph nodes, lethargy,and signs of neurological disease. Thebest way to limit the spread of the disease is to quarantine horses with potentialexposure and toclean and disinfect surfaces, according to experts.
The outbreak in central Texas has been linked to theWorld Championship Barrel Racing Finals in theWaco area Nov.5-9, according to anews release.
Officials say “a particularly aggressive”strainofEHV-1 wasconfirmed by veterinary clinics in Central Texas, and an investigation is ongoing.
“This virus can spread fast, it can be deadly,and the earliest signs are often so subtle they’re easy to miss,” Texas Agriculture CommissionerSid Millersaid.
“That’s whymonitoring your horses right now is critical. The quicker we identifya potential case, thebetter chance we have to protect not only our animals, but the entire Texas equine community.”
If you suspect ahorse may have EHV-1, officials recommend contacting aveterinarian to discuss treatment options.
Federal judge nominees advance
William Crain, Alexander VanHookget past Senate committee
BY MARK BALLARD Staff writer
WASHINGTON —The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursdayrecommendedthe full Senate confirm two Louisiana nominees forlifetime appointments to the federal bench.
Without discussion, the committee forwarded the nominations of state Supreme Court Justice William J. Crain, who wasnominated to sit in theEastern District headquartered in New Orleans, and Alexander C. VanHook, former acting U.S. attorney forthe Western District of Louisiana, to becomeafederal judge in that district,which sits in Lafayette,Shreveport, Monroe and Alexandria. Their nominations now will be put on the calendar forconsideration by the full Senate.
“My guess is they’ll be confirmed maybe after Thanksgiving, before they (the Senate)break for the holidays at the end of December,” said Carl Tobias, aprofessor at the University of Richmond School of Lawwho closely follows federal judicial nominations. “If not, it would be thenwhentheycomeback in early January.But Ithink they’llbeconfirmed pretty soon.”
That Democrats on the committee didn’t speak out Thursday against Crain came as something of asurprise.The committee hearing startedout withthe chair, Chuck Grassley,R-Iowa, and Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin, the highest-ranking Democrat on thepanel,sniping at each otheroverthe quality of judicialcandidateschosenby Republican President Donald Trump. Grassleysaida study showed that
It says processisan unlawfultaking of property
BY DAVID J. MITCHELL Staff writer
Acentral Louisiana group opposed to carbon capture and storage has asked astate judge in Baton Rouge to declare laws allowing companies to use private land forsuch projects an “egregious andovert trampling” of landowners’ state constitutional rights. In alawsuit brought Thursday, Save My Louisiana and several of its members leveled that accusation as they seek to block enforcement of state laws allowing carbon capture companiestocreate underground storage “units” on private land for carbon dioxide andother greenhouse gases. At anewsconference outside the Baton Rouge courthouse, retired U.S. Air Force Col. Mark T. Guillory,one of the named plaintiffs in Save My Louisiana, argued that the Legislature improperly gave those powers in away that doesn’t serve thepublic good “The Legislature is prohibitedfromcreating speciallaws for special people. Well, that’swhatthisis. It’s aspecial lawfor aspecial group of people,” said Guillory,aresident of RapidesParish. “Thisisnot autility
VanHook
STAFF PHOTOSByBRAD BOWIE
Mark Lerille, right, and Sarah LeBouef talk aboutfuture improvements
Lerille’sHealth& Racquet Club in Lafayette. Last monthRed’s newest 15,571-square-foot women-only gymand locker roomonDoucet Road opened to members. ä See ADVANCE, page 4B
National debt is thebiggest risk U.S. faces
What is the largest risk investors face today? The answer may be surprising. There are many possible answers: inflation, interest rates, high stock valuations, global warming, artificial intelligence and nuclear war All are certainly risks; however, Isuggest atwodimensional approach to risk, considering the probability as well as the severity of each risk. Take nuclear war,amajor risk since World WarII. The severity is high and could bring the end of civilization, butwhat is the probability? There are many opinions on this, but for the last 80 years it has remained in check, so the probability must be something less than 100%. There is one risk that has a 100% probability of occurring and aseverity that could bank-
David Thomas GUEST COLUMNIST
rupt the country That risk is the national debt Approaching $40 trillion, the interest expense alone is $900 billion per year, surpassing thenational defense as the highest discretionary budget item. Ironically,wemust borrow more money to pay the interest on the money we have already borrowed.
We do this by printing money, which Nobel Prize-winning economist Milton Friedman said is the majorcause of inflation. Friedman researched inflation back to the Romans who inflatedtheir currency,the silver denarius coin, by diluting thesilvercontent.Hardtopay your Roman legions with diluted denarius. Although with much larger deficits recently,the debt has been growing at 8% for 100 years. At
8%, the debt doubles every nine years, so at that rate, thedebt will be $80 trillion in nine years, $160 trillion in 18 years, etc. Assuming a5%interestrate, the annual interest expense on the debt will be $4 trillion in nine years, and $8 trillion in 18 years.
The total budget today is only $5.2 trillion, and we borrow an additional $1.8 trillion as deficit spending, which adds to the debt. Both political parties participate in thespending. Ourrecent deficit spending is particularly shocking.
According to theU.S. Treasury Department, from 2020-2025, the U.S. deficit spending was $12.4 trillion, which is larger than the spending for the Civil War, World WarI,World WarII, Vietnam, Korea, Iraq and Afghanistan wars in today’sdollars combined. At some point,the interestexpensealone for thedebt may re-
It’s time to end40years of race-based districting
quirethe entire budget, leaving no money for allthe othersocial services.The discretionary budget is only 40% of the total budget and ignores the entitlement programs of Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security andSNAP,which are 60% of the total budget. I always assumedthis debt would be aproblem for ourgrandchildren, but these numbers suggest otherwise.
The best analogyfor this situation is an insidious, fast-growing financial cancer.Unfortunately there is no financial chemotherapy.Itmeansthe country has to go underthe scalpel and cut spending in ordertocut the debt. It is ahard pill to swallow and political suicide for politicians to even touch this. We Americans have grown accustomed to the wasteful spending andwill vote them outofoffice.
Elon Musk stressedthe loom-
ing possibility of aU.S. bankruptcy with DOGE. He received severe backlash. The government shutdown was over an additional $1.5trillionofdeficit spending, which hadbeen removed from the budget, but some members of Congress wanted it added back in. The spending backlash gotmuchwider, shutting down the government. Glad60% of the senators finally came to their senses.
The probability of this risk is 100% because it is already here. The severity is mounting andwill go up each year until we admit it andreverse course,orface the consequencesofbankruptcy like the SovietUnionexperienced when it collapsedin1991.
David Thomasisaninvestment managementconsultantat EquitasCapital Advisors in New Orleans.
Sexual violence crisis is easing,but it’s notover
Jack
Park GUEST COLUMNIST
On Oct. 15, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral argument in Louisiana v. Callais. The Supreme Court has off-ramps that it can take to decide this case without reaching the constitutional question of whether Louisiana’scongressionalmap violates the 14th or 15th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution. Even so, future redistricting litigants are likely to raise it if the court does not address it in Callais. The Voting Rights Act was passed in 1965, but redistricting litigation like this case is the product of the 1980s in two significant ways. It remains mired in that decade, 40 years on. Change is needed.
First, in 1982, Congress amended the Voting Rights Act to add an “effects” test that has come to dominate redistricting litigation. These “effects” replaced astandard that required “intentional discrimination” fordistricts to be ruled invalid.
Second, in “Thornburg v. Gingles,” in 1986, the court set out athree-part test for identifying when amajorityminority district should be created.
The first of those factors is whether the minority population is sufficiently large and geographically compact to form amajority in asinglememberdistrict.
Those “Gingles” tests were then supplemented by a“totality of the circumstances” test consisting of seven “typical factors” and three factors drawn from case law.One such factor is the state’shistory of discrimination in the voting registration process, which Louisiana Solicitor General Benjamin Aguinaga observed the states “can never outrun,” even when minority voter participation is roughly equal to that of the majority Another “typical” factor that recurs every redistricting cycle is “the extent to which members of the mi-
noritygroup in the stateor political subdivision bear the effects of discrimination in such areas as education, employment and health, which hinder their abilitytoparticipate effectively in thepolitical process.”
None of these Gingles inquiry “factors” can be found in the Voting RightsAct
Even so, in the Allen v. Milligancase from Alabama in 2023, the Court rejected Alabama’sattempt to modify the Gingles standard.
ChiefJustice John Roberts, joinedbyJustices Elena Kagan, Sonia Sotomayor and Kentanji Brown Jackson, ruled thatAlabama’s position conflicted withthe court’s precedent.
Justice BrettKavanaugh, writing for himself on this issue, thought it was up to Congress to change theGingles standard. Even so, at the close of his opinion, Justice Kavanaugh suggested that even if race-based districting couldbeimposed in 1982, there should be alimit to its use.
Four justices dissented. Thomas, joinedinfull by Justice Neil Gorsuch and in part to differing extents by Justices Amy ConeyBarrett and Samuel Alito,criticized the “logically unbounded totality-of-the circumstances inquiry.”Alito,joined by Gorsuch, suggested thatthe case could be decided under Gingles, with reversal following
becauserace predominated in thedrawing of the second majority-minority district.
Twoyears later,inCallais, Kavanaugh asked Janai Nelson,lawyer for the Robinson parties, how long thecourt should continue to allow the “intentional useofrace,” observing that race-based remedies were“permissible for atime” but could not be “indefiniteand should have an end point.” Nelson twice asserted that there should not be atime limit
Gingles has been in effect for almost 40 years, and minorities arestill saidtolag themajority,even though race-based redistricting has been facilitated during that time.
That suggests thelack of acausal link between the creation of majority-minority districts andactual change. Maybe theissueispolitical, not racial.
The answer is to jettison race in redistricting. Interpret the first Gingles factor in arace-neutral way so that districts are drawn where people live. Some of those districts will be majorityminority,but race will have nothing to do withtheir creation.
Jack Park is an attorney who has participated in redistricting litigation in Alabamainthe 1990, 2000, and 2010 redistricting cycles.
Louisianaisseeing progress in the fight against sexual violence, but the latest data showwestill have along way to go.
According to theLouisiana Study on Violence Experiences across the Lifespan (LaVEX 2025), released this week by The Newcomb Institute, nearly half of Louisiana adults (47%) have experienced someform of sexual violence in their lifetime. That’sabout 1.7 million people —our friends, colleagues and neighbors. Onein10adults, or roughly 350,000 Louisianans, experienced sexual harassmentorassault in the past year alone.
Sexual violence in Louisiana mostoften takes theform of sexual harassment, but the moresevere forms —physically aggressive harassment, sexual exploitation and forced sex are not uncommon. In the past year alone, about 32,500 Louisiana women experienced sexual exploitation by being pressured or coerced into sex in exchange for money,housing or opportunities, and 18,000 womenwere forced into sex against their will.
There is, however,reason forcautious optimism. Since 2023, sexual violence has declined forboth women and men.Amongwomen, past-year rates fell from 17% to 13%; among men,from 14% to 8%. These reductions suggest that prevention education, workplace reforms, university initiatives and community advocacy may be beginning to makeanimpact. In the past decade, schools and workplaces across Louisiana have strengthened policies to prevent sexual misconduct. Universities have expanded Title IX compliance and survivor support. Advocacy and awareness campaigns have improved public understanding of consent and accountability Increased visibility of survivor voices and community action has also shifted social norms, reducing tolerance forharassment and exploitation.
Verbaland cyber sexual harassment, while theymay not involve direct physical contact, also cause serious emotional and psychologicalharm.
Taken together,these findings make clear that sexual violence is not asingle act,but aspectrum of behaviors that undermine safety,dignity and well-being across our state, especially for women and girls.
More than 6in10women in Louisiana report lifetime experiences of sexual violence, compared with 3in 10 men. While much sexual harassment occurs from strangers and in public places, severe sexual violence against women is mostoften committed by partners (48%) or acquaintances (51%), where severe sexual violence against men can often come from family members (27%). These findings challenge thecommon belief that sexual assault is mainly acrime of strangers. In Louisiana, it is far moreoften aviolation of trust —occurring in homes, workplaces and community settings.
The mental health consequences are serious.
Nearly half of women (48%) and 4in 10 men (38%) who experienced sexual violence reported symptomsofanxiety or depression. Suicidal thoughts were reported by 13% of womenand 7% of men, yet only asmallshare sought help. The silence surroundingthese experiences remains one of our greatest barriers to recovery and prevention.
Yetsustaining that progress will require confronting apersistent gap in how Louisiana invests in solutions. Much of the state’sviolenceprevention funding rightly supports domestic and intimate partner violence programs, but as noted above, sexual violence is not limited to intimaterelationships. Many survivors are harmed by acquaintances, family members or strangers.
Without dedicated attention and resources forthese formsofsexual violence, Louisiana’sprogress will stall. Prevention and support efforts must extend beyond the homeand into workplaces, schools and community spaces where these things occur
Sexual violence is not just acriminal or legal matter.Itisasocial and public health issue that affects mental well-being, economic stability and community trust.
Each act of harassment or assault leaves lasting damage, both forindividuals and forthe communities that surround them.Continued investment in prevention education, survivor support and mental health services will not only reduce harm but strengthen Louisiana’sresilience and stability
Progress is possible, as the LaVEX data show The challenge now is ensuring that Louisiana’scommitment to ending sexual violence keeps pace with the scope of the problem,and that every survivor,regardless of where or how they wereharmed, is seen, supported and safe.
AnitaRaj,a public health researcher basedinNew Orleans, is executive director of TheNewcomb Institute.
Anita Raj GUEST COLUMNIST
ASSOCIATEPRESS PHOTO By CLIFF OWEN
Louisiana Solicitor General Benjamin Aguinaga, right, joins Attorney General Liz Murrill as theyspeak withthe media after departingthe SupremeCourtonOct. 15 in Washington, D.C.
COMMENTARY
ISSUE OF THE WEEK THEEPSTEIN FILES
The sagaofconvicted sexoffender Jeffrey Epstein, whodied in prison, continues to have far-reaching implications as politicians face public pressure to release more information related to the case.While then-candidate Donald Trumppledged to release all the Epstein files if elected, hisadministration later changed course, dismissing the furor as ahoax.This week, the House advanced adischargepetition to force avote to require theJustice Department to releasethe files, winningsupportfrom somebreakawayRepublicans despite the president’s opposition.The measure passed theHouseoverwhelmingly after Trumpdropped hisobjections. Rep. ClayHiggins, R-Lafayette, was the sole no vote.The Senate sent the bill to Trump, whosigned it.What does this continued wranglingoverthe Epstein filesmeanfor Trump’spresidency and for both political parties? Here are two perspectives:
Case exposes divisions in unityof MAGA
He’sback!
Just when you might havethought we would not have the late child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein to talk aboutanymore, he plunged back into headlines —and hisformerclose friend and associate, President Donald Trump, was not happy about it. Epstein is asore subject forTrump and hisloyalists in Congress,but it wasnot always thus He was arrested in 2019 and charged with sex trafficking,but he died in asuspected suicide in prison while awaiting trial. Duringthe Biden interregnum, Trump supporters developed various conspiracy theories aboutEpstein and the Democratic administration’ssupposed efforts to hush up theJustice Department’s investigation, including suppressing an Epstein client list. After Trump was reelected, his attorney general, Pam Bondi, promised to publish the “list,” evenavowing that it was sitting on her desk. Then, when it became clear that anymeaningful release of files relating to the Epstein investigation would likely embarrass or even implicate Trump, MAGAwas forced to do an about-face.
was “almostnonexistent” between 2010 and 2019.
An exchange of particular interest was from 2011, in which Epstein wrote to Maxwell, “i want you to realize that that dogthat hasn’tbarked is trump.. VICTIM spent hours at my house withhim,, he has never oncebeen mentioned.” (Appalling punctuation is Epstein’s.) Maxwell replied, “I’ve been thinking about that...”
For his part,Trumppushed back, accusing Democrats of bringing up Epstein to “deflect”from their handling of the government shutdown.
Which brings us back to Massie’s petition, which as theHouse went into recess was one vote short to go through. For months, Speaker Mike Johnson held up swearing in a newlyelected Democratic member from Arizona, Adelita Grijalva, by keeping the House in recess, simply to prevent the petition from gaining its 218th signature.
Yetinorder to end the government shutdown, Congress had to reconvene and Johnson had to swear in Rep.Grijalva.
Epstein’sresentment toward Donald Trump
There’snodoubt Jeffrey Epstein thought he was avery,very smart guy “He always thought he wasthe smartest person in theroom,” said one associate. Another said Epstein “thought he was smarter than the next guy.” In 2008, Epstein pleaded guilty to procurement of aminor for prostitution; his defense asked for leniency based on his “unique intellect.”
that Trumpwas living rent-free in Epstein’shead. “The emails suggest that Trumpremained afixation forEpstein,” CNNwrote, “as he’sfrequently mentioned numerous times over aspan of nearly adecade —including long after their friendship ended.”
The problem was thatahandfulofRepublicans did not wish to move along with their eyes averted. When the longsummer recess in Congress began in July, Rep. Thomas Massie, the maverick Republican of Kentucky,had almostadozen members of the House from his sideofthe aisle ready to sign on to adischargepetition that would allow the Epstein Files Transparency Actout of committee and onto the House floor for avote.
Things took aturn for theworse for Trump recently when Democratsonthe House Oversight Committee released more than 20,000 pages of Epstein’s emails, which were received from Epstein’sestate. The Democratic committee members highlighted several emails that mentioned Trump, and journalistsspent days poring overthe trovetogain insight into Epstein’sties to Trump andotherluminaries.
Among the insights revealed were that Epstein and his convicted associate,Ghislaine Maxwell, coordinatedtheir public response to a2015 lawsuit broughtbyan anonymous woman who later was revealed to be Virginia Roberts Giuffre. Giuffre died by suicideinApril2025. Maxwell told the JusticeDepartment this year that her relationshipwithEpstein
Meanwhile, theWhiteHouse leaned on thedissident GOP lawmakers, warning them that signing on to thedischarge petition would be “a very hostile act.” Among the Republicans who had broken from their usualMAGA loyalties before the recess were three famously conservative Republican women.
Thestalwarts were Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Nancy Mace of South Carolina and Lauren Boebert of Colorado, astaunchly conservative trio whosaid they saw theEpstein affair as too sordid to ignore.
Despite the administration’sbest efforts, which included corralling Boebert in ameeting in the White House Situation Room, the three Republican women held firm. The vote on Massey’sbill took place Tuesday
The “Epstein files” have emerged from thefoggyprecinctsofconspiracy theory and now raise genuine concerns about an administration that has not been shy about using thepowers of office to persecuteits political adversaries.
The allegations and victims deserve to be taken seriously —and so do abuses of power —regardless of which partyor which exalted dignitary is affected. The public has aright to see theEpstein files. EmailClarence Page at clarence47page@ gmail.com.
Someone withsuch high self-regard can become deeply disturbed if afriend or associate, or aformer friend or associate, achieves more, makes moremoney,and rises higher up society’sladder than the person who feels he is thesmartestguy in the room.ReadingthroughEpstein’semails released by Republicans on the House Oversight Committee, one gets the impression that Epstein wastroubled by thesuccess of his former friend Donald Trump, as he watched Trumptake a wildly improbable path from successful developer to television star to president of the United States. At the sametime, of course, Epstein was pleading guilty to sex crimes, struggling to recover,and then finding himself charged with even moreserious sex crimes. Suicide in a jail cell was in his future while Trump was in the White House.
By the way,remember when Elon Musk, breaking with Trump, breathlessly announced that Trumpwas “in the Epstein files?” Of course Trumpisinthe Epstein files; he’s all over this set of Epstein files because he wassodeeply in Epstein’shead. Trumpwill be in other Epstein files, too, because Epstein apparently could not stop thinking and talking about him
“President Trump’slong friendship with Jeffrey Epstein came to an apparent end in the mid-2000s,” wrote The New York Times.“But Mr.Epstein remained intently focused on Mr.Trump for years afterward, seeking to exploit theremnants of their relationship up until his arrest on federal sex-trafficking charges in 2019.” As Trumprose, the Times said, Epstein tried to regain statusby“casting himself as the ultimate Trumptranslator.” But the smartest guy in the room was fuming over the success of someone he feltwas so clearly inferior to himself.
“Your world does not understand how dumb[Trump] really is,” Epstein wrote to former Treasury secretary and Harvard president Lawrence Summersin May 2017, Trump’sfourth month in office. When, in July 2017, former Obama WhiteHouse counsel Kathryn Ruemmler wrote, “Trumpistruly stupid,” Epstein replied with aone-word answer: “Duh.” It would be an understatement to note
Finally,one problem with reading the Epstein emails today is that Epstein was, in the words of one recent assessment in The Atlantic, a“notorious liar.” It is reasonable to take Epstein’s statements of opinion at face value he appeared to really think Trumpwas dumb—but not his statements of fact. So when Epstein says that victim Virginia Giuffre“spent hours at my house with [Trump],” there’snocompelling reason to believe him.Giuffre, now dead, wrote abook that said no such thing about Trump, and she also testified under oath that Trump“didn’tpartake in any sex with us [and] never flirted with me.” Giuffresaid she never saw Trumpand Epstein together.She was asked, “Did you ever see Donald Trump at Jeffrey’shome?” and answered, “Not that Iremember.” In addition, she said she did not remember seeing Trump at Epstein’sisland, or his house in New Mexico, or his house in NewYork. So what to makeofit? First, even though he wasafriend of Epstein’sfor several years up to around 2004, there is still no evidence linking Donald Trump to any wrongdoing. And second, Trump is nevertheless everywhere in the Epstein files because Jeffrey Epstein was out of his mind with resentment toward aformer friend whonot only succeeded in business but becamepresident of the United States, even as Epstein raced toward ruin.
Byron York is on X, @Bryon York. Email himatbyronyork@yorkcomm. com.
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTOByROD LAMKEy
U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Kentucky,speaks during anewsconference regarding the release of the JeffreyEpstein files, on Capitol Hill on Sept. 3.
Clarence Page
Byron York
issue. These are private companies for private gain, and we’re saying that you’re violating the Constitution.”
Filed in the 19th Judicial District Court, the lawsuit was brought against the state, naming Gov.Jeff Landry and Dustin Davidson, secretaryofthe Department of Conservationand Energy,asdefendants in their official capacities.
Since being granted authority to do so by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in early2024, Davidson’sdepartmenthandles the permitting of carbon capture wells. It also regulates pipelines that begin and end inside the state’sboundaries.
Aspokesman for the departmentdeclined to comment Thursday,citing the pending litigation.
Canpropertybetaken?
Carbon capture and sequestration takes waste carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases that would normally be emitted into the atmosphere from fossil fuelbased industrial processes and injects them deep underground for permanent storage.
Proponents see this process as asafe way to cut emissions that contribute to climate change and rising average global temperatures. It also presents away for Louisiana’sfossil fuel-based industries to offer low-carbon products to increasingly important foreign markets.
Scientists say Louisiana’s sedimentary geology is perfect for long-term storage, with existing techniques already used to pump CO2 into the ground and push up oil and gas from depleted reservoirs.
But public oppositionhas emerged as projects to store potentiallytens of millions of tons per year in CO2 under rural central and western Louisiana —aswell as in parishes east and south of Baton Rouge —have begun cycling through early testing and state permitting.
These critics say the technology remains astill-
ADVANCE
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nominees from Trump’sfirst term operated on the bench productivelyand independently.Durbin counteredthat when Republicans took over in Januaryasthe majorityon thecommittee,theyvoted to end the decades-old practice of seeking the opinions of the American Bar Association, the nation’spreeminent professional legal organization. During thecommittee hearing in October,Democrats closelyquestioned Crain about contributionshis campaign accepted fromlitigants before his court and accused him of beingoverly favorable to the oil and gas industry in his rulings.
Crainreplied Louisiana elects its judges and campaign contributions are handledbyaseparate committee so that candidates don’tknow from whom the donations came. He added that his rulingsfollow the law
Thoughnothing wassaid for or against either nomineeinThursday’smeeting, Crain’snomination was forwardedonastrict party-line vote of 12-10
Tobias noted that Crain was atrial lawyer for 23 years, then ajudge on the state level for 16 years before being nominatedtothe federal bench.
“Democrats probably didn’t
unproven concept that could damage aquifers if leaks occurand create apublic safetyrisk through transport pipelinesthat could leak from the corrosive effects of CO2.
Thestate laws at issue allow companies to create “units” —ordefined swaths of land that canbetens of thousands of acres —for carbon storage.
Companiesmustget at least 85% of the landowners in the unit to agree to payments under alease deal and can thenforce the remaining landowners to acceptstorageleaseseven if they are opposed.
In practice, carbon storage companies and industries have used their ownland or focused storage areas under lands wheresingle, largeowners, such as timbercompanies, hold allora significant part of thestorage area. Companies have also looked to the state, such as the water bottoms under Lake Maurepas and state wildlife areas.
CO2storage uses tiny spaces, or pores, in rock layers thousandsoffeet below groundthat are often close to amile below most drinking water aquifers. Under state law, landowners hold these “pore spaces,” just as they do for what is on the surface.
This methodofcreating units mirrors alongstanding practiceinoil and gas drilling, but plaintiffs’ attorney W. Alan Pesnellargues the process still amounts to a condemnation that, unlike other governmenttakings, isn’treviewed by ajudge and isn’tfor apublic purpose, like aroad or bridge.
“In effect, that’s you taking my propertyfor use bythat private person because it’s his CO2 that’sstored there, notmine, notthe state’s, not anonprofit entity that does public work, but aprivate entity thatowns this gas, or liquid,” Pesnellsaid.
Earlierlawsuit
The lawsuit tries to draw adistinction with oil and gas units. It argues that, with those units, theoil andgas under someone’sproperty isn’ttruly owned by anyone until it’sbrought to the surface. These units are createdtoshare in profits from
think he was so bad that they could score points,”Tobias said. “So, as they say,they kept their powder dry for some other folks.”
Crain waselectedtothe Louisiana Supreme Court in 2019 after spending adecade as judge on thestate’s 1st Circuit Court ofAppealand on the22ndJudicialDistrict bench covering the communities on thenorth shore of Lake Pontchartrain.
ABogalusa native, Crain graduatedfrom LSU in 1983 then received his juris doctorate in 1986 from LSU’s Paul M. Hebert Law Center He practiced law for two decades before running for thebench.
VanHook was recommended on 16-6 vote.
“That’sapretty strong vote,” Tobias said. “He was a pretty strong candidate,ismy sense. He was acareer pros-
the sale of theoil and gas.
The lawsuit claims carbon captureunits arenot thesame: “This is thestate requiringlandowners to receive and storeadangerous chemical undertheir land for privateentities and pay for the same through tax creditsand subsidies.”
Lucrative federal tax credits,known by thetax code section name “45Q,” and somefederal loans and grants arehelping finance the storage projects.
The expropriationpower pipeline companies have to laynew CO2lines— it allow them to takeproperty for fair market valueafter court review —has also been ahot-button issue. Thoughthe lawsuitdoesn’t delve into those laws directly,Pesnell believesifa court accepts histheory of the law on storage units, a ruling could likely overturn those laws as well.
In the past session,legislators upped thepercentage required for the creation of storageunitsfrom 75% to 85% and made it harder for companies to useexpropriation power for CO2 lines, forcingthemtohavea court declare their pipelinesare for apublic purpose.
This isn’tthe first time statelaws or federal rules clearing the path for carbon capture in Louisiana have faced acourtchallenge.
The Deep South Center for Environmental Justice and other environmental groups sued theEPA in February 2024 after the agency rule granting the state primacy over carboncapture injection permits.
Alittle more thanayear later,inMay,the U.S. 5th CircuitCourt of Appeals threwout thecase on the grounds that the groups didn’thave standing to bring the suit because they didn’t have an “injury in fact” and their claims of injury were toospeculative.
The Save My Louisiana lawsuit has plaintiffs who live or own landinthe target area for carbon storage and carbon pipeline projects. Some of those named plaintiffs alsoclaim they were threatened with expropriation by storagecompanies if theydidn’taccept lease deals.
ecutor type andthatprobably served him well.”
VanHook spent 25 years in Shreveportasanassistant U.S.Attorney for the Western District of Louisianafocusing on public corruption, organized crime, drug enforcementprosecutions, money laundering,white-collar crime andasset forfeitures.
He becameacting U.S. AttorneyinJanuary and stayed in that capacity until Trump chose Zachary A. Kellerfor the position and later nominated VanHook for the federal bench.
He graduatedin1993 from Centenary College of Louisiana in Shreveport, then gothis lawdegreefrom the Paul M. Hebert LawCenter at LSU in 1997.
Email Mark Ballard at mballard@theadvocate. com.
Red’sson andlongtime health club employee —now manager and part-owner.“We’ve alwaysfocused on thefull family.Kids, mom, dad building spaces forthemto getwhattheyneed. This is for thewomen. We’re about to expand the coed workout area, which will give the kids’ gym more space. We’re always making these smallchanges, andthey compound intothese larger improvements.”
The original plan was to build an indoor tennis court, but that changed with the arrival of the COVID pandemic. When the Shop Rite location came on the market in 2022, theydecided to build anew women’sfacilitythere, which
BLOTTER
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menstopped beside him.He said he decided it wasbest to ignore them, put his headphones back in and continue walking.
“Then oneofthemjumped out and hit me from behind, Copepreviously told The Acadiana Advocate. “Before Icould react, he hit me in the face hard and it felt like a flash-bang went off.”
The attackers thendrove away,leaving him on the ground. Copesaid he was treated at ahospital later that day and suffered multiple facial fractures, ascratched cornea and abroken blood vessel in his eye.
Both suspectswere booked into Lafayette Parish Correctional Center
“These arrests reflect the dedicated work of ourinvestigators in pursuing justice for the victim,” said the LPD in anews release.
Police: One person shot, hospitalized
Lafayette Police investigating ashooting incident in the 300 block of Chalmette Drive
freed up space to redesign the women’slocker room.
Theold lockersand women’s weights area will become an expanded coed weight room, whichwas also always agoal of his father’s, according to Mark Lerille
“Red would always say, ‘This is abodybuilders’ gym,’ ”said Mark Lerille.
“Weight training is still the keytoproperlystayinginthe best shapeofyourlife.”
Construction will begin on theexpandedcoed weights space very soon, and Lerille is already thinkingabout improving the men’s locker room as well. At Red’s, improvements tend to snowball —always with the input of members, whohave strong opinions aboutthe gym.
Many havebeen working out at Red’s sincetheywere kids, andthe gym still has mem-
that left onepersonhospitalized
The incident occurredat 11:20 a.m. where onevictim was taken to ahospital. The extent of the victim’s injury is not known at this time. LPD investigators are currently on-siteworking to process evidence, interviewpotential witnesses, and determine the sequence of events.
Lafayette policeask that if anyone has information related to this incident,contact the Lafayette PoliceDepartment or Lafayette Crime Stoppers at (337) 232-TIPS (8477). You can also contact Lafayette Crime Stoppers by downloading the P3 TIPS Mobile App or by dialing 232-TIPS (8477) on your mobile device. All callers remainanonymous
Horsesstrollthrough
Abbeville Walmart
Aviral video surfaced this week of several horsesand their riders making their way inside an Abbeville Walmart. Shoppers at the Abbeville store on Sundaywere surprisedtosee horses trotting downthe aisles after atrail ride reportedly endedwith agroup of participants deciding to enterthe store on horseback.
bers who worked out with Red at theoriginal facility.
“Dad alwayssaid, ‘Remember,it’snot your money.Do right by the members’ money,’”Lerille said.According to Brady Lerille, Mark’sson and head of facilities at the gym, alot of the design decisions for the new gym space were made on the fly,with consideration from members on what would best serve theirneeds.
“It’sacommunity.It’sthe members who have built the atmosphere here,” saidMark Lerille. “It’sfour walls, like anywhere else in town, but they builtthe community With theirhelpand ourworkers, we have awonderful thing.Itmeans we don’thave to workashard.” Red Lerille’s Health &Racquet Club is located at 301 Doucet Road in Lafayette.
Abbeville Police Chief Mike Hardy told KADN the incident is connected to atrail ride at the RedBarninAbbeville. By the time officers arrived, he said, the group had already left the premises.
“Duringthe weekend,there wasa trail ride going on at the Red Barn in Abbeville,” Hardy said. “They went out in the country and they turned around, they comeback and, well, sometime Sunday sixto eight riders plus passengers said, ‘Let’sgotoride toward Walmart.’ And they rode their horsestoWalmart and actually walkedinside the door The horses withthe riders.” Police say no complaints were initially reported to the Abbeville PoliceDepartment at thetime of the incident. However,Walmart officials have since indicated they plan to pursue charges against those involved. Hardy confirmed that the investigation is progressing, with one individual already identified.
WEDNESDAY, NOV. 19, 2025
PICK 3: 1-3-5
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PICK 5: 4-6-2-9-8
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SPORTS
Cajunspulloff dramatic road win
2:26 left to play
Arkansas State reached the UL 2inthe finalseconds of the game after apass interference flag, but the Cajuns’ defense stopped the Red Wolves twice from the 2in thefinalsix seconds topreserve thewin.
BY KEVIN FOOTE Staff writer
JONESBORO,Ark.— Awild and woolly first half gave way to amore conventional secondhalf in UL’s 34-30 victory overArkansas State on Thursday at Centennial BankStadium.
Fortunately for the visiting Ragin’ Cajuns, they managed10pointsafter halftime to hold on for the critical road victory that pushed UL to 5-6 on the season
The Cajuns must now defeatUL-Monroe in next Saturday’s2 p.m. home game to earn bowl eligibility
UL’s offense punted from theASU 43 with
The first play was an incomplete pass over themiddle and the second was quarterback Jaylen Raynor stopped short on an option playonthe game’sfinal play
UL quarterback Lunch Winfield was18-of25 passingfor 147 yards and with no touchdowns or interceptions.Healsoran for 89 yards and two scores on 20 carries.
Bill Davis added57yardsand atouchdown on 11 carries, while Zylan Perry added 42 yardsand ascore on 12 attempts.
UL overcame getting 11 flags for 76 yards compared to one for 15 for the Red Wolves.
BY TOYLOYBROWN III Staff writer
Marquel Sutton catapulted for an offensive rebound after ateammate’smissed free throw
BY MATTHEW PARAS
Staff writer
Themostimpressivepartabout what theNew Orleans Saints did to Bryce Young is what theCarolina Panthers quarterback did next.
Last week against the Atlanta Falcons, Young threw for acareer-high 448 yards— seven daysafterthe Saints held him to 124 yards. NewOrleansalso heldits NFCSouthrival to just seven points, aseason-low “I feel like we had agreat plan,”Saints cornerback KoolAid McKinstry said. “Weunderstoodthe assignment. We had great energy.”
Defensive coordinator Brandon Staley said theperfor-
BY KOKI RILEY Staff writer
ä WKU at LSU 6:45
mance was his unit’sbest of theyear,and it was hard to argue otherwise. Before Carolina, the defense hadplayed well in spurts but occasionally looked overmatched.
TheSaints’ problems couldbeattributedtothe bumps and bruises that come with learning anew system, though it wouldn’ttell thewhole story.The qualityofopposition mattered, too.
The Saints have faced sixofthe league’stop 12 o by expected pointsadded (EPA) per play this seaso thatmeasures efficiency.The results haven’tbeen either.The SeattleSeahawks hung44points, 37 o were allowed by the defense.The Los Angeles Rams
ä Omaha at LSU 7P.M. FRIDAy,SECN+
The 6-foot-9 LSU forward dodged abox out of one UNO player on his right and then ripped the ball away as he soared above another UNO player from his left. Sutton was fouled as he crashed to the Pete Maravich Assembly Center floor and was rewarded with twofree throwsthat he made. The hustle play happened when LSU had a25-point lead with 10:47 left in the game. Sutton’smotor is nonstop. Coach Matt McMahon describes the Omaha transfer as a“warrior” forhow he “livesinthe gym” andplays so hard Sutton calls his will the “dog” in him.Early into his LSU (4-0) career,the fifth-year senior has been called upon to score and hustle as he is averaging 15.8 points, 9.8 rebounds and is shooting 42.3% from 3-point range. He plans on continuing the strong play when he faces his former team, Omaha (23), at 7p.m. Friday at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center
“It’sgonna be crazy, becauseIplayedwith mostofthose guys forthe past three years, and now Ihave to play against them,”Sutton said. “So it’sgonna be surreal, but I’m excited and ready to play ‘em.”
Last season, Sutton becamethe first Omaha player to earn SummitLeague Player of theYear honors andled theMavericks to their first NCAA Tournament berth after they were picked to finish eighth in the conference preseason poll.
LSUassistantcoach Jalen Courtney-Williams has been blown away by Sutton’ssingularfocustodowhateverittakes to win since he arrived on campus. “He is full throttleall day, everyday
LSU senior cornerback Mansoor Delane is playing through “a core muscle injury” that he’sdealtwith sinceWeek 4ofthis season, Delane told reporters this week. Theinjury hasaffected Delanetothe point where he was not supposed to finishlast Saturday’s game against Arkansas. The Virginia Tech transfer had to ask LSU secondary coach Corey Raymond to insert him back into the gamefor what turned outtobethe Tigers’finaldefensive possession. “I really was supposed to be out the rest of the game,but then Iwas like,‘Nah,’” Delane said. “‘They’re about to throw the ball. Ineed to be in there with the group.
I’m about to play in this game r We can’tlose this one.” Delane’sdecision to return pa the Tigers. He batted down qua Taylen Green’sthird-downpa up a48-yard field goal attempt missed. After the kickwas no LSU offense salted away the fin secure a23-22 win.
“(Coach Raymond) was like, ‘If you can go,you can go. If youcan’t,you can’t.’ And Iwas just like, ‘Let’sdoit.’ Andthen when Iwent in the game, Iwas like ‘DJ (Pickett), PJ (Woodland), somebody get out.’
“I was taking medicine and I tingthings kick in and whatnot, up the wholetime,” Delanesaid
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STM defense faces John Curtis’ veer
BY KEVIN FOOTE Staff writer
For the No. 10-seeded St. Thomas More Cougars, it’s been a season of patience and steady growth.
Throughout that relatively unfamiliar process for the program, the defense has provided a reliable steadiness that’s propelled St. Thomas More to an 8-3 record heading into a 7 p.m. Friday road clash with No. 7 John Curtis at the Shrine on Airline in Metairie in the select Division I regional round.
“We had to have some pieces to come together for that to happen, and fortunately they came together,” longtime STM defensive coordinator Terry Tidwell said. “We’ve ended up being pretty steady. They’re not too up and down, pretty much the same level.”
The Cougars had to deal with losing a senior starter at inside linebacker, but sophomore Walker Pugh not only filled in but also has shined all season long
“The sophomore steps up and turns out to be the best inside linebacker we’ve had here in a couple of years,” Tidwell said “We saw him play freshman ball, and we knew he was going to be good, but just not that early “Just throwing him into the mix like that, I didn’t think he’d be able to do it.”
Pugh is the unit’s leading tackler at 125 total tackles with two fumble recoveries and an interception.
“He’s got a knack for angles to the ball and what’s happening around him,” Tidwell said. “He plays at a calm level. He’s never hooting and hollering. He’s calm, but he plays with intensity, so he’s able to diagnose plays much beyond a sophomore level.”
The other steadying force is the defensive front.
“Oh yeah, that’s where we live,” Tidwell said of his line, anchored by Conner McAtee, Cayden Dartez and Luke Bacon. “You can’t ask for a better defensive line than we have. They’re steady and they’re strong. They’ve got great mechanics as well.
“We got into every ball game and I tell them, ‘Look, if we own the line of scrimmage, we’ve got a chance.’ ”
The other constant for the Cougars is junior safety Landen Ortte, who is second on the team with 99 tackles.
AREA PLAYOFF SCHEDULE
guys coming in were upperclassmen, but they weren’t returning starters. They just had to show they could play.”
You just have to make a play when you have a chance at a negative play, and you can’t be foolish and jump offsides or cause penalties to make it easier for them.”
LSU soccer’s 2nd-round NCAA match postponed
The LSU soccer team’s secondround NCAA Tournament game on Thursday was pushed back a day because of the weather forecast in Nashville, Tennessee.
The Tigers (14-5-4) and Iowa Hawkeyes (12-4-4) now will play at 3 p.m. Friday at the Vanderbilt Soccer Complex. The winner will advance to take on the the survivor of Vanderbilt-Clemson, which was pushed back to 6 p.m. Friday, in the NCAA quarterfinals at 2 p.m. Monday in Nashville.
LSU thumped Houston Christian 4-1 Friday to start the NCAA Tournament with Sariyah Bailey, a freshman forward from Canada, leading the way with two goals.
LSU’s lone loss in the last 12 games came Vanderbilt in the SEC Tournament championship game, which was decided on penalty kicks.
Mariners set date to retire LHP Johnson’s number Hall of Fame left-hander Randy Johnson will have his No. 51 retired by the Seattle Mariners during a pregame ceremony on May 2, the club announced Thursday In June, the Mariners said Johnson’s No. 51 would become the fifth number retired by the franchise, joining Ken Griffey Jr (No. 24), Edgar Martinez (No. 11) and Ichiro Suzuki, who had his No. 51 retired this summer All MLB teams have retired Jackie Robinson’s No. 42. Johnson went 130-74 with a 3.42 ERA across 10 seasons with the Mariners.
“I’m happy that my contributions over the 10 years that I was there are being acknowledged now,” the 62-year-old Johnson said via Zoom in June. “It’s been a long time, that’s for sure.”
Baylor athletic director Rhoades resigns after leave
Baylor athletic director Mack Rhoades resigned Thursday, a week after he took a leave of absence for personal reasons.
Rhoades also stepped down last week from his role as chairman of the College Football Playoff selection committee.
No. 15 Northwest (7-4) at No. 2 Iowa (10-0)
Nonselect Division III No. 12 Union Parish (6-5) at No. 5 Erath (11-0) No. 20 Kaplan (7-4) at No. 4 Kinder (10-0) No. 10 Church Point (9-2) at No. 7 Loreauville (8-3)
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) Select Division II No. 17 Northside (6-5) at No. 1 St. Charles (9-1) Select 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) Select 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)
“We’ve got a great free safety,” Tidwell said “We knew that, and we knew we had a good group of outside linebackers who could play It’s just that some of the new
The secondary around Ortte was young as well, but Henry Chachere quickly solidified one cornerback spot with 30 tackles and two interceptions.
After faring well against good programs such as Neville, Catholic High, Westgate and Acadiana, Tidwell’s defense faces a different kind of challenge in John Curtis.
Like Acadiana, John Curtis has run the veer for decades with great success, but the Patriots still lean on the old-school version.
“What John Curtis is running is the true veer,” Tidwell said. “Acadiana is running the hard drive and a sweep and a quick inside trap. John Curtis is running inside veer and outside veer lead option, veer option, base option. It’s similar, but they run it differently.”
Tidwell said the key is to never let up.
“You’ve got to be very very disciplined,” he said. “They’re going to run it for four quarters. It doesn’t matter if they’re winning 75-0 or losing 75-0, they’re running it, so you’ve got to be there with them.
“You have to understand that you’re going to give up yardage.
The Patriots come into the contest 7-2 after losing two in a row 48-26 to Edna Karr and 55-28 to St. Augustine. Jacobi Boudreaux (104-785, 11 TDs) is the leading rusher while quarterback London Padgett has thrown for 923 yards and 10 touchdowns and run for 508 and six more scores.
“They don’t throw it a ton, but like Acadiana and teams that run the ball a lot, it can kind of catch you by surprise when you do throw and it becomes a big play,” Tidwell said. “We’ve got to be able to react in a hurry.”
STM counters with a productive passer in Cole Bergeron (182-35810, 2553 yds, 28 TDs), a top receiving threat in Christian Breaux (58-928, 13 TDs) and an improving running game led by Carter Melancon (77-465, 9 TDs).
The matchup brings together the two winningest coaches in state history in J.T Curtis and Jim Hightower
The winner will meet the Teurlings Catholic-Bonnabel winner in the state quarterfinals.
Lafayette Renaissance eyes first playoff victory
BY ERIC NARCISSE Staff writer
Four seasons ago, Lafayette Renaissance began its two-year probationary period to begin playing football in the Louisiana High School Athletic Association.
During that waiting period to become eligible for district and postseason accolades, the Tigers who were young and inexperienced — struggled in the win-loss category, finishing 0-7 in 2022 and 1-6 in 2023.
“It was really tough,” said Tigers senior receiver Ja’Courey Duhon, who was a member of both of those teams. “But it helped to build character within us.”
“The first two years were a crazy experience,” Tigers senior offensive lineman Brandon Cormier said. “We started off slow We didn’t have much success winning. But we just knew that we had to trust the process and keep working hard day in and day out.” If there is one thing Duhon and Cormier agree upon is that de-
spite the lack of success, quitting was never an option.
“When you love something as much as I love football, you stick with it,” Duhon said.
“You had to stick with it because we were a brotherhood,” Cormier said. “We were a family, and we were starting to build something. Even throughout the losses, we were learning things.”
Prior to last season, the Tigers made changes to the staff to bring in several new coaches with championship experience, headlined by Trev Faulk and Hunter Landry, to usher in a new era at Lafayette Renaissance.
The results have been impressive.
In two seasons with Landry as head coach, the Tigers have gone 15-6 and qualified for the playoffs both years that they’ve been eligible. Last season, the Tigers
finished 7-4 overall and were defeated 49-21 by Parkview Baptist in the bidistrict round of the Division III select playoffs.
“The kids have really bought in from the get-go,” said Landry,
whose Tigers are 8-2 on the year
“Since we got here, the kids have hit the ground running and learned how to win. They’ve put in a lot of time and effort through spring drills, spring practice, the summer and have done everything that we’ve asked them to do. It’s been remarkable, and it has led us to where we are right now.”
Where the Tigers are is a No. 7 seed that received a first-round bye and will now play host to No. 10-seeded Amite at 7 p.m. Friday in the regional round of the Division III select playoffs.
“Sometimes, the success we have had has been surprising,” said Duhon, who has 657 yards and 13 touchdowns on 37 receptions this season. “But then again, I think about everything we have been through and all of the hard work we have put in and it really isn’t that surprising We have put in countless hours trying to get better and learning how to win. It really has been amazing.”
Landry said the players’ desire to be good was instrumental in
their willingness to buy-in to what he and the coaching staff were implementing.
“(In those first two years), the kids were really young,” Landry said. “Now, the school is kind of increasing and growing pretty quickly and we are getting a few more kids out here. Those kids that were here before us bought in and they wanted the success. They wanted to be able to compete against some of the better teams in the area and be considered one of the better teams in the area. We were fortunate to have some pieces to build off of. I’m happy to see all of them having success on the field.”
With an opportunity to advance to the state quarterfinals, Cormier said winning a playoff game “would mean a lot.”
“It definitely would mean a lot to me because it shows that we are capable of making it far and can compete for a state championship,” Cormier said. “For the team, it’ll just open our eyes and show that we can do more than we actually think we can.”
Linda Livingstone, the school president, said in a letter Thursday that Rhoades had informed her of his decision to step away from his position at Baylor After Rhoades took his leave of absence, the school said it was investigating unspecified allegations against him. The status of that investigation, or if it is still ongoing, was not immediately clear after he left the job.
The school said last week that allegations against Rhoades did not involve Title IX, studentathlete welfare or NCAA rules violations.
Browns extend DE Wright’s contract by three years
Defensive end Alex Wright has agreed to a three-year contract extension with the Cleveland Browns on Thursday worth $33 million, including $21 million guaranteed. Wright, a third-round pick in the 2022 draft, is in the final year of his rookie contract. He is third on the Browns with three sacks and is tied for seventh with 23 tackles along with eight quarterback pressures. Wright missed most of last season after suffering a triceps injury
“He is a physical presence in the run game. He’s got great size. You know, some of our best plays on the edge are Alex taking on pullers and knocking tight ends back. And, those are things we really value,” defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz said.
Lee shoots 64 to open $4M quest on LPGA Tour
NAPLES, Fla. Somi Lee decided to change her putting grip to be like Lydia Ko and it paid off in a big way Thursday in the CME Group Tour Championship, where the South Korean opened with an 8-under 64 for a two-shot lead in the chase for a $4 million payoff.
Lee began to pull away when she went down one club to a 5-iron because of the warm conditions and set up an eagle on the par-5 17th.
Even so, she was two shots clear of former U.S Women’s Open champion Allisen Corpuz.
Jeeno Thitikul, the No.
STAFF PHOTO By BRAD KEMP
Teurlings
SCOREBOARD
Denver 1 (Jokic), New Orleans 1 (H.Jones)
Rebounds—Denver 41 (Watson 12), New Orleans 44 (Queen 9). Assists—Denver 35 (Jokic 12), New Orleans 25 (Williamson 5). Total Fouls—Denver 26, New Orleans 24. A—16,484 (16,867) College basketball State men’s schedule Wednesday’s games Southeastern 71, William Carey 45 Indiana State 60, Louisiana Tech 51 Thursday’s games None scheduled. Friday’s games Tulane vs. Utah State, noon Omaha at LSU, 7 p.m. Grambling at California Baptist, 7 p.m. Northwestern State at Grand Canyon, 8 p.m. UNO at Fresno State, 8 p.m. UL at Santa Clara, 9 p.m. Southern at San Jose St., 9 p.m.
Darryus McKinley didn’t get into great detail when setting individual goals for his senior season at Acadiana High.
In fact, his goals were fairly simple.
“I just wanted to be better than I was in the previous years,” said McKinley, who did not set specific statistical goals. “I wanted better stats than the previous years and just be the best version of myself.” But when it came down to what he wanted the Wreckin’ Rams to accomplish as a team, McKinley was a lot more specific. He wants to lead the Rams to the Division I select title game and play in the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans.
“That’s really important,” said McKinley, an LSU commitment who visited Ohio State last weekend for a recruiting visit. “Not just for me but for our team.”
Time will tell whether the Rams fulfill his team goal and make a run to the Dome, but there’s no doubt the 6-foot-3, 275-pound McKinley has elevated his performance from last year
“He’s having a pretty good year,” said Rams coach Doug Dotson, whose team will travel to face No. 3 St. Augustine at 7 p.m. Friday at Tad Gormley Stadium in New Orleans in the second round of the Division I select playoffs. “He’s a force on the D-line, and throughout the offseason we talked about during his reps constantly being unblockable, and I think he has kind of taken that approach this year
“When he wants to be unblockable, he really is. He’s hard to deal with. When he is at defensive end, he controls that whole side, and when
he’s at the three-tech, he’s pretty much unblockable inside He’s just a force.”
In 11 games this season, McKinley has recorded 48 tackles, 27 tackles for loss, 10 sacks 18 quarterback hurries and four forced fumbles en route to leading the Rams to an 8-3 record and the District 3-5A championship.
“He’s just got so many tackles behind the line, and that’s an offensive killer when you are getting tackles behind the line of scrimmage and now, you’re behind the sticks,” Dotson said. “You have to put two people on him because you can’t single block this guy.”
While he is pleased with his performance thus far, McKinley believes there is more to unlock.
“I feel like I have been way better this year than the previous years,” McKinley said. “But I also feel like I can play better (than I have) at times. But it is all about getting the win.”
Dotson said what makes McKinley so tough to block is his combination of size, speed and athleticism.
“It’s that rare combination of athleticism at his size,” Dotson said. “He’s 6-3, 275, and he can move like a skill guy That’s rare. In my 30 years, I’ve maybe had two or three guys like that. It’s a rarity that someone that big can move that well. Certainly, that’s what make him so special.”
Email Eric Narcisse
After a first half filled with wacky plays from both teams, the second half was more conventional.
UL’s defense forced two punts to open the third quarter and the Cajuns’ offense traveled 85 yards on 10 plays in 4:17 to grab a 31-27 lead with 6:29 left. It looked like Arkansas State would respond with a scoring drive of its own, but defensive end Jordan Lawson’s pressure on quarterback Jaylen Raynor on fourth-and-2 from UL’s 25 forced an incomplete pass and a turnover on downs.
The Cajuns promptly drove 42 yards on 10 plays in 4:55 to get a 50-yard field goal from Sterner for a 34-27 lead with 13:35 left to play
The Red Wolves scored for the first time in the second half with a 15-play, 69-yard drive in 6:55, but had to settle for a 24-yard Van Andel field goal and 34-30 deficit with 6:40 left to play
It was a crazy first half filled with game-changing plays.
UL’s first three drives were ruined by penalties and turnovers
Two flags on the first drive forced a punt and a holding call on the second one forced a second punt, which was shanked for 23 yards to set up a Clune Van Andel 21yard field goal and a 3-0 ASU lead with 9:12 left in the first quarter
On the ensuing drive, Niland Asberry’s sack of Winfield resulted in a fumble that defensive tackle Cody Sigler returned 27 yards for a score and a 10-0 Red Wolves’ lead at 7:50 of the opening period.
On UL’s fourth possession, Zylan Perry’s 75-yard touchdown run was called by a holding call for yet another Cajuns’ punt. That’s when the bad stuff began to turn for the Cajuns. Arkansas
State fumbled the 46-yard punt and Caleb Kibodi recovered it at the 18.
Four plays later, Perry scored from the 1 to cut ASU’s lead to 10-7 with 3:40 left in the first quarter
Then, on the first play after the kickoff, Maurion Eleam’s tackle of Devin Spencer was fumbled and Steven Ranel recovered.
That set up a 9-play 35-yard drive in 3:34, ending in a Winfield 1-yard TD run for a 14-10 lead eight seconds in the second quarter
The Red Wolves brought a bit of sanity back to the game with an 11-play, 60-yard drive in 4:16 settling for a 41-yard Van Andel field goal — to cut UL’s lead to 14-13 with 10:23 left until intermission
The Cajuns responded with an 8-play 41-yard drive in 3:26 that ended with a 41-yard Tony Sterner field goal for a 17-13 lead with 6:57 left until halftime.
The sanity was gone again, though, Chauncy Cobb returned the ensuing kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown and a Red Wolves’ 20-17 lead with 6:45 left until half.
So what does UL do next?
You guessed it, Ja’Corian Norris returned the ensuing kickoff 65 yards to the 33 to set up a Winfield 1-yard touchdown run for a 24-20 lead with 3:38 left. A 17-yard completion to Caden Jensen got UL to the 1
The Red Wolves kept the seesaw battle going with an 11-play 75-yard drive in 2:40 to claim the 27-24 halftime lead
NUSSMEIER OUT, WEEKS PROBABLE VS. WKU
LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier will not play Saturday night against Western Kentucky, interim coach Frank Wilson said. Nussmeier recently aggravated an abdominal injury,Wilson has said, and he did not play last week in a 23-22 win over Arkansas
“He will not participate,”Wilson said.“He will be out for the game.”
With Nussmeier out, sophomore Michael Van Buren will start for the second straight game.Van Buren went 21 of 31 for 221 yards and one touchdown against Arkansas. He also rushed 10 times for 36 yards
LSU plays Western Kentucky at 6:45 p.m. inside Tiger Stadium.
LSU linebacker Whit Weeks is “probable” to play against Western Kentucky,Wilson said Thursday.Weeks missed the past four games with an ankle injury. He did not practice fully Thursday and has continued to wear a walking boot, but Wilson said he does not feel as sore.
“He’s had a good week of practice ushering in and out and popping around,”Wilson said.“I thought he showed tremendous progress.”
DELANE
Continued from page 1C
that time, (in that) situation in the game, it was like, you knew they were going to pass the ball. And I felt like I couldn’t let my teammates down.”
Delane didn’t clarify whether the injury will require offseason surgery or how it will affect his draft preparation. Delane is a projected first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
He did say that it’s an ailment
he’ll have to address once the season is over
SAINTS
Continued from page 1C
34. The Buffalo Bills ended up with 31. Only one of New Orleans’ eight losses has come against a team currently under 500.
The Saints took their lumps early, but they believe they’ve benefitted from the slate “in a big way,” Staley said.
“(We’re) battle tested, for sure,” said Staley, who called the quality of competition “premium” through 10 games. “Our guys have gotten a really good taste of what it’s like to compete at the highest level.”
To Staley, the Panthers game was an example of the Saints putting it all together He was proud of the team’s tackling, specifically with how the defense eliminated space in the lead-up to the tackles. Staley said his players flourished at the point of attack, then had several players ready to pounce to stop the play Staley even called their tackling “elite,” a phrase the coordinator rarely has used in a news conference setting this year One game, of course, isn’t proof the Saints have turned around their defense. But quietly, the Saints are tied for 10th in fewest yards allowed per game. And, as pointed out by Fantasy Life’s Ian Hartitz, they’re the only NFL team this year to not allow a player to reach more than 100 yards receiving in a game. Some of that may be explained by opposing offenses not needing to push the pace when holding significant leads throughout
Jokic sees a bit of himself in Pelicans rookie Queen
BY ROD WALKER Staff writer
For anyone wondering how Derik Queen got that “Baby Jokic” nickname that’s displayed on his profile page on the Basketball Reference website, the answer came Wednesday night as he shared the court with Nikola Jokic himself.
While Jokic and the Denver Nuggets got the 125-118 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans, a 20-year-old rookie was showing off a similar skill set to arguably the best player in the world.
Queen stuffed the stat sheet with a career-best 30 points, nine rebounds, four assists, two steals and two blocked shots.
“That was an impressive first go at Jokic,” Pelicans interim coach James Borrego said.
Borrego anticipated the matchup before the game tipped off.
“He’s looked up to this guy for many years, and he’ll get a crack at him tonight,” Borrego said pregame. “It’s awesome going against the guy you have great respect for and you mimic your game after This can’t be a go out there and be in awe of this guy You’ve got to go out there and compete against him. You’ve got to go impose your will and be aggressive.”
Queen did just that, and Borrego wasn’t the only one impressed.
So was Jokic.
“He’s an amazing player,” Jokic said. “You can see some similarities (to me). I don’t want people
LSU
Continued from page 1C
every drill,” Courtney-Williams said “He treats it all like the rep that’s going to change his life. It’s so fun coaching dudes like that.”
While the path to Baton Rouge materialized after a dream third season at a mid-major, just as crucial to the 22-year-old’s journey was his time as an unknown high school player from Tulsa, Oklahoma, with a couple of junior-college offers.
His dad, Marques Sutton, informed his son that his journey wasn’t going to be seamless
ä Pelicans at Mavericks
7:30 P.M.FRIDAy KNGC
to see him and tell him he’s something like me. He’s a good enough player to have his own story.”
It’s a story that started unfolding last week with Queen’s breakout performance of 26 points, seven rebounds and four assists in a loss to the Portland Trail Blazers, but forget about that breakout performance. The real one came Wednesday against Jokic, the three-time MVP whom some have compared Queen’s game to. The way Jokic described Queen after the game, it almost sounded like Jokic was describing himself.
“He’s good,” Jokic said. “He has some moves. He’s definitely crafty He’ s unorthodox. He has great touch and a feel for the game. He’s really good. It’s good to see somebody different.”
Queen shot 12 of 18 from the floor and became the first rookie in franchise history to score 30 points with at least five rebounds and two blocked shots in a game.
The Pelicans’ 13th overall draft pick also became one of just two rookies to have 30 points, nine rebounds, four assists, two blocks and two steals in 31 minutes or less in a game. Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs was the other one two seasons ago. Wembanyama did it in his 66th NBA game. Queen did it in his 15th game.
Even more impressive is that
out there,” Marques Sutton said. “They got these long legs, and they got to learn how to walk. That’s how it was for Marquel.”
Marquel Sutton became a starter on varsity as a junior, and his skill gap shrank once he started working with Ed Daniels, a former overseas pro and basketball trainer That helped lead to his breakout high school senior season, averaging 20 points, 12 rebounds, two blocks and three assists. But his season was cut short because of the COVID-19 pandemic. This ended any hopes of playoff success and squashed his potential chance of earning a late Division I offer
Queen is playing this well despite not going through training camp or playing in the preseason. He tore a ligament in his left wrist in a Summer League game in Las Vegas and missed all of the preseason. You wouldn’t have known it by the way he attacked the basket against Jokic. He also knocked down a 3-pointer, his second of the season.
Queen, who played at Maryland, had one 30-point game in college against Michigan Now he has his first one in the NBA. Is he surprised it came so soon?
“After I got a few games under my belt, I was like, ‘It’s kinda easy,’ “ Queen said.
Jokic was his usual dominant self, finishing with 28 points, 12 assists and 11 rebounds before fouling out with 2:44 remaining. Jokic had nine turnovers.
“Just a little bit of pressure on both ends,” Queen said about the matchup. “On the defensive end, trying to turn him over And on the offensive end, just going at him trying to get him in foul trouble.”
Queen really started paying attention to Jokic’s game last year
“When I got to college — because I knew I was going to get (to the NBA) I watched him a little bit more,” Queen said.
Jokic said he notices some similarities.
“I think I’m a little bit taller,” said Jokic, who at 6-11 is 1 inch taller “But I think there is that style. Crafty I can see it.”
Marquel Sutton drew inspiration from his grandmother, Dorothy Sutton-Jones, who is in her 45th year of working at American Airlines. The work ethic she still displays never prevented her from being a pillar for the family She actively helped raise Sutton and his siblings, and she taught them the value of love and faith in God.
Relentlessness is the Sutton way
Wilson Alexander
“It’s hard to rehab It’s more so like, just go (play) as much as you can,” Delane said. “It’s a hard little issue to deal with. I think it’s more mental for me. It’s just being able to fight through it, being able to play.”
Delane hopes he can stay on the field for the rest of the season.
“I’ll handle all that stuff with my agent,” he said. “And (now) working through some with the trainers right now, just putting myself in the best position (to play). But we have to see how it all plays out.”
Email staff writer Koki Riley at koki.riley@theadvocate.com
“If you’re waiting on the easy bus, I said, ‘You’re gonna be standing outside for years,’ ” Marques Sutton said. “ ‘Get on this hard bus. Learn how to deal with things when they’re hard.’ ”
Sutton is the epitome of a late bloomer in game and physicality He entered his freshman year at Will Rogers High School in Tulsa at 5-7. The younger Sutton grew to 6-2 at the start of his sophomore year, 6-5 as a junior and 6-7 as a senior
Along with having a slender frame that could be pushed around, he had to develop his skills. He played on the freshman and junior varsity teams his first two years.
“It’s just like a deer that was
One coach who saw Sutton was Bill Muse of Connors State. The 34-year Cowboys coach was impressed with his talent and grit.
Sutton committed to the Oklahoma junior college, which was about an hour from where he lived.
His tireless work ethic not only remained but also grew stronger as he had sights on making it to Division I. The blue-collar manner he played with is also a reflection of what he saw in the people in his life. He watched his dad raise two sons and four daughters as a single father for most of his life. Marques Sutton, 48, spent many nights working late throughout his kids’ lives, making a living as a professional barber at Tee’s Barbershop and as a barber instructor
Those examples and continued growth helped him average 16.6 points and 9.1 rebounds in his one season at Connors State. Extra seeds of motivation are still planted by his dad, who used to off him $20 for every dunk he achieved early in high school. Marques Sutton has since sent texts before college games that motivate and challenge his son to play with the same tenacity he had in Tulsa.
Muse is proud of Sutton’s dedication to getting better and stronger now in a sturdy 230-pound frame. His dad is pleased with how his son embraced his difficult path and achieved playing at the highest level of college basketball.
“He dealt with adversity ever since juco,” Marques Sutton said. “He didn’t cry about where he was at. He gutted it out. He said, ‘All I need is a chance, Dad, all I need is an opportunity I can show people what I can do.’ And that was the best choice that he could have made.”
group, Staley said it was a useful game for teaching the secondary how it needed to play The coordinator noted the little things their cornerbacks and safeties have done better of late, from using their eyes to playing with the right technique.
The secondary has established veterans such as Alontae Taylor and Justin Reid, but a trio of young players in McKinstry, rookie cornerback Quincy Riley and rookie safety Jonas Sanker also are coming on fast.
“Man, we’re just getting to know each other,” said McKinstry, a 2024 second-round pick “We’re knocking out those kinks. We’re building chemistry I feel like that’s important. Being able to play with your brother and not being able to play with a teammate, those are two different things.”
McKinstry said the defense took pride in facing top offenses early in the season, adding that the unit learned from each experience. The losses, he said, didn’t break the Saints.
Reid, in his eighth season, said the defense wants to test itself against the best.
“We’ve seen a lot of talented offenses,” Reid said. “We just get to use that experience to build, especially (having) so many young players getting valuable experience playing on the field, playing against these high-caliber offenses. As a defense, as a team, we continue to take strides week in and week out.
“We’re just continuing to build this thing the way we want to build it.”
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By RUSTy JONES
Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce young is sacked by Saints defensive end Carl Granderson and defensive tackle Nathan Shepherd during the first half of their game on Nov. 3 in Charlotte, N.C.
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‘There’s nothing like it’
World-renowned sopranoreturning to Louisiana
BY ROBINMILLER Staff writer
Returning home for aperformance definitely has benefits for Lisette Oropesa.
Of course, family takespriority,along with the food that can be found only in Louisiana. And then there’sthe humidity. Don’t knock it; Oropesa certainly doesn’t.
“Humidity is so good for the voice and the skin,” she said.
“Everything is so dry where I live in Madrid, and after growing up in humidity,the weather in Spain took some getting used to. So,Imiss Louisiana’sclimate onceina while. Iknowthat it seemsvery hot there, and Idon’talways like the heat, but at this time of year,Imiss Baton Rouge. This is when it’satits best —it’scool and sunny and clear and fresh. It’s just lovely.”
Butthat’snot allOropesa misses.
“I miss the coffee,” she said. “I miss the food. There’snothing likeit. Iget so spoiled by just going to the grocery store when Igohome. The fact that you can get all these chili sauces and Mexican foods that are properlymade. And then you come to Europe, and you can’t find it. They have atotally differentcuisine.”
ä See SOPRANO, page 6C
Mid City celebration
The28th annual White Light Night will take placefrom6 p.m.to 10 p.m. Fridayalong Government Street. The open-house style market event will feature ar t, livemusic,food andshopping .Presented by Mid City Merchants, the eveningisfamily-friendly and free. midcitymerchantsbr.org.
KennyNeal,
grandson Wyatt
Good Food Driveand concertthis
FORA GOODCAUSE
Well-known BatonRouge family puts
together food driveand aconcert to rallycommunity
BY JOHN WIRT
Contributing writer
Whenmembers of the National Beta Club chapter at Northwestern Middle School learnedthatthe cupboard at the Zachary Food Pantry was running low,theybegan asking their family membersfor donations.
FEEL GOOD FOOD DRIVE
Neal,the NealBrothers, Lil’ Ray Neal, Syreeta Neal, Rockin’ Mozart School,Scenic Highway, DJ Vonand the Juke Joint Juniors.
Because Wyatt plays bass with the Juke Joint Juniors, he’ll be part of Sunday’sthree generations of Neals on stage.
MERRY MATTERS
Beta Club memberWyatt Jackson-Neal called his maternal grandfather first. Their discussion gave Kenny Neal,the entrepreneurialpatriarch of theNeal familyofblues musicians, abigger idea —stage abenefit concertat his outdoor event venue, Nealville.
The Neals’ brainstorming comes to fruition with theFeel Good Food Driveand concert, happening from 1p.m. to 5p.m. Sunday at Nealville, 5251 Evangeline St., Baton Rouge. The price of admission is acanned or nonperishable food item.The
BY JUDYBERGERON Staff writer
Featuring KennyNeal, the Neal Brothers, Lil’ RayNeal, Syreeta Neal,Rockin’MozartSchool,Juke JointJuniors, Scenic Highway, DJ Vonand others l 1p.m. to 5p.m.Sunday l Nealville 5251 Evangeline St., Baton Rouge l Admission is acanned or nonperishable food item l Parking available in the lotacross fromNealville; parking will be directed as well.
Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank will be there to collect the food and accept monetarydonations through QR codes.
Performersatthe Feel Good Food Driveconcert include Kenny
Wyatt’soriginalgoal to collect food forthe Zachary FoodPantry expanded after his mother —singer andmusic educator Syreeta Neal— contacted theGreater BatonRouge Food Bank. Serving East BatonRouge Parish and10surrounding parishes, theFood Bank delivers food to 140 mostly faithbased agencies fordistribution. The need forfooddonations is great, said Elizabeth Delee, development coordinator at the Food Bank. “Our phones have been ringing offthe hook,” shesaid. “Demand
ä See FOOD DRIVE, page 6C
Yankovic
Oropesa
PHOTO By JOHN WIRT
his
Jackson-Nealand his daughter Syreeta Neal will allbeperforming at the Feel
weekend, representing three generations of the musical Neal family
FRIDAY
DUELING PIANOS —SPARKY
86: Jim Deggy’s Brick Oven Pizza&Brewery,Lafayette, 6p.m.
LATE BLOOMIN: Prejean’s, Broussard, 6p.m.
MELISSASINGS: Adopted Dog Brewing, Lafayette,6 p.m.
TROUBLE DOWN TECHE: Hideaway on Lee, Lafayette,8 p.m.
DAVID HERNY: Toby’s Lounge, Opelousas, 8:30 p.m
CLIFF BERNARD: The Barrel of Broussard, Broussard, 8p.m.
SADNEY AND FRIENDS: Artmosphere, Lafayette, 8p.m.
“MENOPAUSE THE MUSICAL
2”: Heymann Performing Arts Center, Lafayette, 7p.m.
ROUGE KREWE: Rock ’n’ Bowl, Lafayette,9p.m.
SATURDAY
CAJUN JAM: Moncus Park, Lafayette, 9a.m
SATURDAY MORNING JAM
SESSIONS: The Savoy Music Center, Eunice, 9a.m.
CAJUN JAM: TanteMarie, Breaux Bridge, 11 a.m.
CAJUN FRENCH MUSICJAM: Vermilionville, Lafayette, 1p.m.
NATIVE AMERICAN CULTURE DAY: Vermilionville, Lafayette, 10 a.m.
CAJUN BREAKFAST: Naq’s-nDuson, Duson, 6p.m.
AUDREY BROUSSARD: Charley
G’s, Lafayette, 6p.m
BARET FRITZ: Adopted Dog Brewing, Lafayette, 6p.m.
JON MELANCON: Buck & Johnny’s, Breaux Bridge, 6:30 p.m.
KIP SONNIER: SHUCKS!, Abbeville, 6:30 p.m.
LIVE MUSIC: TapRoom, Youngsville, 6:30 p.m.
MIKE BROUSSARD: Silver Slipper, Arnaudville, 7p.m.
DANCOOLIK &TREY BOU-
DREAUX: Whiskey &Vine, Lafayette, 7p.m
LAFAYETTE M.I.BRARYFUNDRAISER CONCERT!: Hideaway on Lee, Lafayette, 7p.m.
FOREST: The Barrel of Broussard,Broussard, 8p.m.
LEROYTHOMAS &THE ZYDECO ROADRUNNERS: Lakeview Park, Eunice, 8p.m.
STEVE RILEY &THE MAMOU
PLAYBOYS: La PoussiereCajun Dancehall, Breaux Bridge,
By The Associated Press
Today is Friday,Nov.21, the 325th day of 2025.There are 40 days left in the year
Todayinhistory: On Nov.21, 1980, 85 people died,most from smoke inhalation, after afire broke out at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. Also on this date: In 1920, on “Bloody Sunday,” the Irish Republican Army killed 14 suspected British intelligence officers in the Dublin area; British forces responded by raiding asoccer match, killing 14 civilians. In 1980, an estimated 83 million TV viewers tuned in to the CBS prime-time soap opera “Dallas” to find out “who shot J.R.” (The shooter turned out to be J.R. Ewing’ssister-in-law, Kristin Shepard.)
In 2017, Zimbabwe’s
FOOD DRIVE
Continued from page5C
is high because the need has grown significantly.”
The Food Bank, Delee added, is very excited about the Feel Good Food Drive at Nealville.
“In Baton Rouge, we’re in averyspecial place,” she said. “When the needis there, our community rallies around the cause. Thisis the perfectexample of that.
“I’m so proudofWyatt,” Kenny Neal said of his 13-year-old grandson. “He’s going out there and doing something that’sreally worthwhile.It’sa good cause. Of course, whenhecalled me, Iwas 150%onboard. And it could be the beginning of something big and annual.
That’swhat we need to do.” Kenny Neal joined forces with Wyatt for the food
Catch aperformancebySteve
8p.m. STONE MACHINEELECTRIC/LA PHANTOMS/GRAVE PROMISE: Freetown Boom Boom Room, Lafayette, 8p.m. POCKET CHANGE W/SOL ROSA: Artmosphere, Lafayette, 8p.m. OEUVAL CAJUN BAND W/BEAU THOMAS: Hideaway on Lee, Lafayette, 8p.m.
93-year-old president,Robert Mugabe, resigned;he was facingimpeachment proceedings andhad been placedunderhouse arrest by the military.His resignation ended a37-year rule beginning with Zimbabwe’s independence in 1980. In 2021, an SUV sped throughbarricades andinto marchers in aChristmas parade in the Milwaukee suburb of Waukesha,killing six peopleand injuring several others. Ajudge the followingyear sentenced Darrell BrooksJr. to life in prison without parole for his conviction on firstdegree intentional homicide and other counts. In 2022,NASA’s uncrewed Orion capsule reachedthe moon, whipping around the far sideand buzzing the lunarsurface on an orbit that broke the record for distancetraveledbya space-
drive and concert with one condition—his grandson must be theevent’s official producer.Wyatt’swork for theFeel Good Food Drive includeshosting the event contacting city officials and creatingapromotional flyer, as well as performing with theJukeJoint Juniors, theband associatedwith the West Baton Rouge Museum’s BluesAfter School program
Kenny Neal previously collected food donations for theFood Bank at the Neal Family &Friends Blues& Southern Soul Festival he presented for yearsinPort Allen.
“I always asked people to bring canned goods,” he said.“And then I’d pick up two or three barrels of canned goodsand deliver them to the Food Bank on Mondaymorning. Idid it for along time, so Wyatt was talking my talk right
CHARLES &WENDYTRICHE: Whiskey &Vine, Lafayette, 6p.m
DUSTIN GASPARD: Park Bistro, Lafayette, 6p.m
RORYSUIRE: SHUCKS!, Abbeville, 6:30 p.m.
JOSH TAYLOR: TapRoom, Youngsville, 6:30 p.m.
KEITH FRANK& THE SOILEAU
BAND: The Ruins Lounge, Lafayette, 7p.m
CAJUN JAM: Blue Moon Saloon,Lafayette, 8p.m
THURSDAY
COMMUNITY DRUM CIRCLE: Moncus Park,Lafayette, 6p.m
Compiled by Marchaund Jones. Want your venue’s musiclisted? Email info/ photos to showstowatch@ theadvocate.com. The deadline is noon FRIDAY for the following Friday’s paper
craft designed to carry humans.The mission marked the first time an American capsule visited the moon sinceNASA’s Apollo program ended ahalf-century earlier
Today’sbirthdays: Actor Marlo Thomas is 88. Basketball Hall of Famer Earl Monroe is 81. Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois is 81. Actor Goldie Hawn is 80. Republican Sen. John N. Kennedy of Madisonville is 74. Journalist Tina Brown is 72. Actor Cherry Jones is 69. Gospel musician Steven Curtis Chapman is 63. Musician Björkis60. Football Hall of Famer Troy Aikman is 59. Baseball Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr.is 56. Football Hall of FamerTV host Michael Strahan is 54. Actor Jena Malone is 41. Actor-comedian Ronny Chieng is 40. Pop singer Carly Rae Jepsen is 40.
there. And when Ipass by the Food Bankand seethat huge lineup, it’s amazing to seethat right in my town, Baton Rouge. So, we just want to help.”
Kenny Neal, amultiawardwinning and Grammy-nominated performerand recording artist, is the eldest of Shirley Neal and the late RafulNeal’s10musical children. Sharing is aNeal family tradition.
“Weget that from Raful and them,” Kenny Neal said. “When somebody came to visit the house, theycome in andeat. Idon’t care who came by,the doorswere alwaysopenand we were sharing. That comes from us being from abig family, too. Youhad to share when we were coming up. So, now we can share with the folks around us.”
Email John Wirt at j_wirt@ msn.com.
Longtime reader writes in with hint
Dear Heloise: I’m writing in today for my father; Iam his daughter.Myfather is not acomputer person and still reads the newspaper everyday withhis morning or afternoon coffee. He turns 91 this Dec. 1. He is an avid reader of your column, and as far back as Ican remember when growing up, my father would read your column, often reading them or sharing withfamily
sentially,the clamp is used to movethe toothpaste up the tube about ahalf inch as needed to get the toothpaste through the tube until it’sgone.”
Hints from Heloise
Just anote: Itried this idea on my lotion tube, and it worked, too! —Bob V. and Christine,inSanta Paula, California Bob and Christine, thank you for your hint and forbeing such loyal readers! —Heloise Onionpowderclumps
My dad approached me in arecent visit to see him and mymother,and he asked if Iwould assist him in submittinghis idea to “HintsWith Heloise.” Of course Isaid “yes,” then asked that he please explain his idea. The idea is very useful. Pleaseread below:
“I’msure that other people have this problem, so I am providing this idea that has assisted meand may assist others regarding plastic toothpastecontainers. It’shard to get plastic toothpastecontainers to last, especially past the last half of the tube.
Ihave been using a‘paper clamp’ from the dollar store that is wide enough to attach to the bottom of thetoothpaste tube. Es-
SOPRANO
Continuedfrom page5C
Oropesa will be home in Baton Rouge on Sunday as thefeatured soloist in Opera Louisiane’s“Opera Royale” concert. Theshow startsat5 p.m.inFirst Baptist Church of Baton Rouge, 529 Convention St. “Lisette is the No. 1sopranointhe worldright now,” said Paul Groves, the company’sgeneral director “I’ve known hersinceshe was 4, and in my 40 yearsof experience, she’sone of the most gracious singersand finest sopranos I’ve ever heard.”
Oropesa originally was set to share the stage with fellow soprano Susan Graham, whohad to cancel because of health reasons. Groves saidthe operacompany is looking for areplacement before the concert.
In the meantime, Oropesa is preparing for her spotlight, in whichshe’llsing title character Norma’s aria from Vincenzo Bellini’sopera “Casta Diva” and an aria from “I Puritani,” also by Bellini.
WEIRD AL
Continuedfrom page5C
The ’80s pop culture icon is known forhis parodiesof
Dear Heloise: How do I keep onion powder from clumping up and becoming solidified? —Steve M., in Little Rock,Arkansas Steve, add about 1teaspoon of uncooked rice to the shaker to absorb the moisture, then store it in a cool dark place. —Heloise To wear perfumeornot?
Dear Readers: We’ve received anumber of letters about whether or not to wear perfume. Some people say that it triggers amigraine; afew others say it does not, but it does makeamigraine more acute.
Fewer people wear perfumeinAmerica than they did acentury ago, but somepeople like to wear what they call their “signature scent.” Personally, Idon’twear perfumetoo often. Icertainly would never wear it in ahospital or anursing home, but I can understand how someone might enjoy amild spray So, if you wearperfume, you might wanttolightly spray acotton ball, let it dry,and then tuck it into your bra or shirt. It can be removed if it causes a problem —Heloise Avoiding snakes
Oropesa will be singing thepart of Elvirainthe Metropolitan OperaHouse’s production of “I Puritani” in December Sheperformed in Munich on Thursdaybeforeheading to Louisiana.
Born in New Orleans and growing up in Baton Rouge, she earned her bachelor’s degree in vocal performance from LSU, then won the MetOpera National Council Auditions, after whichshe enteredthe Lindemann YoungArtist Development Program and moved to New York.
Oropesa performedher first major role on the Met stageatage 22 as Susanna in “Le Nozze di Figaro.” She’s since sung in more than 140 performances and appeared in concert hallsthroughout the world. In between performances Oropesarunsmarathons. She’salready completed six races whileadvocatingfor health and fitness.
The lasttimeOropesa sang in Louisiana wasin 2023 with the New Orleans Opera in the Mahalia Jackson Theatre.
“Actually,werehearsed in BatonRouge,then brought
megahits by artists of the last four decades, from Madonna to TaylorSwift.His hits include “Amish Paradise,” “Eat It,” “Like aSurgeon,” “Smells Like Nirvana,” “Word Crimes” and the
Dear Heloise: Another method that Jan M., in Moline, Illinois, can use to keep snakes off her property is to buy somepowdered sulfur from afeed store. She can put it in something like agunny sack and drag it around the perimeter of her home. It will repel snakes. When Iwas aleader of a girl’scamping group, Ialways kept aplastic bag of the powdered sulfur in my glove compartment with a powder puffinit. When the girls and Igot out of the car and into the country, we’d dust our ankles with it to prevent chigger bites. Thanks forall the helpful hints in your column! Charlotte R., viaemail Sendahinttoheloise@ heloise.com.
it to NewOrleans,” she said. “Itwas aconcert of four singers. But it’sbeen awhile since I’ve performed in Baton Rouge. It was in 2016 at the River Center.” The thought of her last performancesparks asuddenthought.Oropesa has recordeda CD sinceher last Louisiana show.The title, “Lucia di Lammermoor,” was released on Oct. 31. Oropesa has sung the lead role in Gaetano Donizetti’s opera several times in her career.It’sapartshe truly loves, and she was joined by three other principal singers in recording the opera,accompanied by the Orchestra and Chorus of the Teatro Massimo Bellini di Catania.
“I just received abox of new CDs in the mail,” Oropesa said. “I wonder if Paulwould be open to aCD signing after the concert?” And what is Groves’ reaction?
“I thinkthat wouldbe wonderful,” he said in a later conversation.“Ilove the idea.”
Riley& the Mamou Playboys at La PoussiereCajun Dancehall, Breaux Bridge, at 8p.m Saturday.
scoRPIo (oct. 24-nov. 22) Getout and meet and greet. Social eventswill broaden your outlook and help you connect with upwardand mobile individuals. Stop sitting back when you have so much to offer.
sAGITTARIus (nov. 23-Dec.21) It's necessary that the changesyou wish to make start and stop with you. Stay on top of your budget,stick to the rules and set aroutinethat contributes to ahealthy lifestyle.
cAPRIcoRn(Dec. 22-Jan. 19) How you proceed will depend on the type of impact you want to have and how much time and effort you want to contribute. Put timeaside for personalgain,growth and self-improvement.
AQuARIus (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) You'll face oppositionand interference. Take this as asigntorethink your current position andwhere yousee yourself heading. It's time to let go of what's no longer working foryou and move on.
PIscEs (Feb. 20-March20) Use your intelligence andyour ability to follow through to pursue your dreams. Monitor every move; set abudget, time and place to launch your plans. Putemotions aside
ARIEs (March 21-April 19) Apply yourself, concentrateonlearning and gain insightintosituationsand pursuitsyou want to explore.Thoughts followed by actions will leadtosatisfaction, peace of mind anda new lease on life.
TAuRus (April 20-May20) Timing, organization and keeping things small are
in your best interests. Clearingyour space will have an emotional impact on how you feel about yourself and your future.
GEMInI (May 21-June 20) Stop secondguessing yourself and follow through. Too much information can lead you down the wrong path. Hit the reset button, take adeep breath and start again.
cAncER (June 21-July22) Thelessyou have hanging over you, the easier it will be to have fun. Consider what makes you happy and follow the path most likely to put asmile on your face.
LEo (July 23-Aug. 22) Ahands-on approach will get you where you want to go. Put your energy where it counts, and do not hold back. Play to win, and success will be yours. Set aside differences when unity is essential.
VIRGo (Aug. 23-sept.22) Atouch of genius, imagination and alittle class will help you outshine any competition you encounter. Your persistence and patience can help you adjust to whatever comes your way.
LIBRA(sept. 23-oct. 23) Share your feelings, thoughts and considerations with people who can broaden your awareness, but don't expect others to do the work for you. Put your desires to the test.
InstructIons: Sudoku is anumber-placing puzzle based on a9x9 grid with several given numbers. The object is to place the numbers 1to9inthe empty squaressothat each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once. Thedifficulty level of theSudoku increasesfrom Monday to Sunday.
Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer
nea CroSSwordS
TimeS CroSSword
THe wiZard oF id
BLondie
BaBY BLueS
Hi and LoiS
CurTiS
By PHILLIPALDER
Darin Weinberg, aresearch sociologist, said, “It matters notwhetheryou win or lose; what matters is whether I win or lose.”
That is agood mantra for everybody, although no onewins all of the time.
In bridge, winning and losing tricks in theright order is often important. In this deal,after the most common auction of all,Southisinthreeno-trump.Westleads afourth-highest heart four. How should declarer play?
South has five top tricks: fourspades andoneheart.Healsoseemstohaveseveral establishabletricks: one or two in hearts, one or twoindiamonds and three in clubs. Whatcould go wrong?
Well, the original declarer, expecting the opening lead to be away from the king, played low from the board. He planned to win with his jack, drive out the club ace and coast home with at least oneovertrick.However,Southwassadly disappointed. East produced the heart king, thenaccurately shifted to the diamondfour.
When declarer drove out the club ace, West returned his seconddiamondand Easttook four tricks in the suit for down two. Now let’s try winning the first trick andplaying on clubs. What happens?
The contract succeeds. South has four spades,oneheartandthreeclubs.IfWest leads back either red suit, declarer gains aninth trick there. And if West returns a black suit, South plays aheart
EachWuzzleisa
word game
InsTRucTIons:
ToDAy’sWoRD
Averagemark26words
Timelimit
by NEA, Inc., dist.ByAndrews McMeel Syndication
loCKhorNs
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garfield
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mallard
PROCEEDINGSOFTHE LAFAYETTE CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF THE CITY OF LAFAYETTE, STATEOFLOUISIANA, TAKEN AT AREGULAR MEETING OF NOVEMBER 18, 2025 HELD AT 705 W.
UNIVERSITY AVENUE, LAFAYETTE, LA.
ATTENDANCE
COUNCIL:Kenneth P. Boudreaux (Chair,District 5), Liz W. Hebert (Vice-
Chair,District 3), Elroy Broussard(District1), Andy Naquin (District 2) and Thomas Hooks (District 4)
ABSENT:None
COUNCIL STAFF:Joseph Gordon-Wiltz (Clerk of the Council), Jeremy J. Swiney (Associate Clerk for Legislative Affairs) and Cindy Semien (Assistant Clerk for Legislative Affairs)
ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF: Monique B. Boulet (Mayor-President), Rachel Godeaux (Chief Administrative Officer), Karen Fontenot (Chief Financial Officer), Patrick S. Ottinger (City-Parish Attorney), Paul Escott (Assistant City-Parish Attorney), Christina Dayries (Chief of Staff), Michael Soileau (Director,LFT Fiber) and Tammy Luke (Director,CommunityDevelopment and Planning)
(5:33:00) CALL TO ORDER
Chair Boudreaux called the Regular City Council Meeting of November 18, 2025 to order
AGENDA ITEM NO. 1: Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance
The Chair called upon Councilmember Naquin to cite an invocation and upon Councilmember Broussardtolead the Pledge of Allegiance.
WELCOME AND CHAIR ANNOUNCEMENTS
Chair Boudreaux made the following announcements:
•Item #5, JR-040-2025, Community Development and Planning is requesting an amendment to substitute the MOU with the adjusted MOU;
•Item #21, introduction of CO-129-2025, will be pulled fromthe in globo vote, for separate vote and discussion, per Councilmember Naquin’srequest;
•Wished CAO Rachel Godeaux ahappy birthday which she celebrates on December 1st.
AGENDA ITEM NO. 2: COUNCIL ANNOUNCEMENTS No Council Announcements weremade.
•Thanked voters and Councilmembers for their support on the recent millage renewals;
•Dayries introduced Brayln Batiste, new criminal justice committee employee for LCG;
•Item #11, is just one (1)example of howshe is looking for ways to honor those who have served;
•Invited everyone to attend the groundbreaking for the E. Broussard and Robley Drive roundabout on November 19, 2025;
•Encouraged participation in Parcsgiving 2025 food drive;
•Therewill be aDowntown Business Roundtable, hosted by LFT Fiber on November 20, 2025;
•Saturday,November 22, 2025 is ahousehold hazardouswaste day for city and parish residence;
•Therewill be schedule adjustments for multiple LCG services next week due to Thanksgiving and Acadian Day.Schedule adjustments include, but arenot limited to, garbage pickup and the compost facility;
•Wished everyone ahappy and safe Thanksgiving;
•Recapped her recent trip to France whereshe found adeep love for our community
JOINT RESOLUTIONS
AGENDA ITEM NO. 4: JR-039-2025
Ajointresolution of the Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council requesting assistance of the Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health to engage and negotiate with Managed CareOrganizations to establish reimbursement pathways for ambulance transport directly to Behavioral Health Facilities, motion to adopt by Naquin, seconded by Hooks, and the vote was as follows:
YEAS: Broussard, Naquin, Hebert, Hooks, Boudreaux
NAYS: None
ABSENT:None
ABSTAIN: None Motion to adopt wasapproved.
Dayries provided background and additional details to the ordinance.
One (1) citizen signed in, in support of the resolution, but did not wish to speak.
AGENDA ITEM NO. 5: JR-040-2025 Ajointresolution of the Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council authorizing aMemorandum of Understanding between Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government (“LCG”) and upLFT Capital Access, motion to adopt by Hebert, seconded by Broussard.
Amotion to amend to substitute the MOUwith an adjusted MOUby Naquin, seconded by Hebert, and the vote was as follows:
YEAS: Broussard, Naquin, Hebert, Hooks, Boudreaux
NAYS: None
ABSENT:None
ABSTAIN: None Motion to amend wasapproved.
The Chair then called for avote to adopt, as amended, andthe vote was as follows:
YEAS: Broussard, Naquin, Hebert, Hooks, Boudreaux
NAYS: None
ABSENT:None
ABSTAIN: None Motion to adopt, as amended, was approved.
Broussardinquired as to how these services differ than that offered at the Taylor Center
Luke clarified that the MOU is to recognize the current partnership and that the services arethe Taylor Center services with the assistance of the LPTFA.
REPORTAND/OR DISCUSSION ITEM
AGENDA ITEM NO. 6: LFT Fiber Presentation
Michael Soileau led the Council through apresentation covering the following: •State of Business; •Management Structure; •Bythe numbers; •Industry Performance; •2025 Business Results; •Accomplishments Highlights; •Employee Experience; •Revenue, Finance, Compliance Overview; •Financial Highlights;
•2026 Finance KPIs(Key Performance Indicators);
•Expense Highlights; •Engineering KPIs –Baseline;
•Current year goals, in progress or near completion;
•Product Innovation; •Technical Operations and Construction; •KPIs and Accomplishments; •Operations 2026 Focus; •Customer Experience; •Marketing and Sales; •2026 Focus; and •Community EngagementHighlights.
ORDINANCES FOR FINAL ADOPTION
AGENDA ITEM NO. 7: CO-123-2025 An ordinance of the Lafayette City Council amending the Lafayette Development Code so as to reclassify Case No. 2025-10-AZON Pontiac Point to Louisiana Avenue, and Surrey Street to East Simcoe Street Administrative Rezoning, located generally north of Louisiana Avenue, east of Park Avenue, and south of East Simcoe Street; 1000, 1002, 1002 1/2 ,1102 &1106 East Simcoe Street, 229, 307, 313, 319, 323, 401 &407 Surrey Street, 1007, 1011, 1017, 1018, 1019, 1020, 1023, 1024 &1026 Eighth Street, 1012, 1014, 1018, 1024, 1025, 1026, 1030, 1035 &1050 Ninth Street, 800 Block, 803, 805, 807, 809, 903, 905 &907 Louisiana Avenue being rezoned from CH (Commercial-Heavy) to MN-2 (Mixed-Use Neighborhood) and 1000 Block (1), 1000 Block (2), 1006 &1008 East Simcoe Street, 217 Surrey Street, and 1046 Ninth Street being rezoned from CH (Commercial-Heavy) to CM-2(Commercial Mixed), motion to adopt by Naquin, seconded by Herbert, and the vote
was as follows: YEAS: Broussard, Naquin, Hebert, Hooks, Boudreaux
NAYS: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None Motion to adopt was approved.
Luke stated that allcitizenconcerns wereaddressed, per Boudreaux’s inquiry
DEFERRED TO DECEMBER 16, 2025
AGENDA ITEM NO.8:CO-124-2025 An ordinance of the Lafayette City
Council amending the Lafayette Development Code so as to reclassify the property of Case No.2025-20-REZ 520 SouthMagnolia Street Rezoning, located generally north of Tenth Street, west of South Magnolia Street, and south of Louisiana Avenue; being rezoned from RS-1 (Residential Single-Family) to MN-1 (Mixed-Use Neighborhood), motiontoadopt by Hebert, seconded by Broussard.
Amotiontodefer to December 16 was offered by Naquin, seconded by Hebert, and the vote was as follows: YEAS: Broussard, Naquin, Hebert, Hooks, Boudreaux
NAYS: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None Motion to defer to December 16 was approved.
Luke stated that the rezoning is needed as the business was closed in excess of 12 months, losing their grandfathered status.
Boudreaux inquiredupon opposition to the rezoning Naquin shared concerns with the possible hoursofoperationsina predominately residential area.
Boudreaux requested adeferral to allow CommunityDevelopment and Planning timetoaddress the Council’s concerns with the applicant and to allow timefor an amendment to be drafting limiting the possible hours of operations.
AGENDA ITEM NO.9:CO-125-2025 An ordinance of the Lafayette City Council amending the Lafayette Development Code and the official map of the City of Lafayette, providing for the annexation of additional land into the corporate limits of the City of Lafayette, Louisiana, Case No.202521-REZ 100 Block Tarpon Street Annexation, located generally north of Archangel Drive, west of Harvest Drive, and south of Vieux Orleans Circle; and assigning azoning classification of RS-2 (Residential Single-Family) (District 4), motiontoadopt by Naquin, seconded by Hebert, and the vote was as follows:
YEAS: Broussard, Naquin, Hebert, Boudreaux
NAYS: Hooks
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None Motion to adopt was approved.
Hooks, Luke, Godeaux and Boudreaux discussed the current annexation approach and the possibility of reevaluating said approach.
AGENDA ITEM NO.10: CO-126-2025 An ordinance of the Lafayette City
Council amending the Lafayette Development Code and the official map of the City of Lafayette, providing for the annexation of additional land into the corporate limits of the City of Lafayette, Louisiana, Case No.2025-23REZ 204 Sweet Rita Lane Annexation(Lot 5-A), located generally north of Cassandra Lane, east of the Youngsville Highway,and south of Sweet Rita Lane; and assigning azoning classification of RS-1 (Residential SingleFamily) (District 4), motiontoadopt by Hebert, seconded by Broussard, and the vote was as follows:
YEAS: Broussard, Naquin, Hebert, Boudreaux
NAYS: Hooks
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None Motion to adopt was approved.
AGENDA ITEM NO.11: CO-127-2025 An ordinance of the Lafayette City Council amending Ordinance No.O-236-2017 of the Lafayette CityParish Council to provide veterans residing in Lafayette Parish with a25% discount on weekday green fees at the municipal golfcourses, namely: Jay &Lionel Hebert Municipal, Les Vieux Chenes, and theWetlands, motion to adopt by Naquin, seconded by Hebert, and the vote was as follows: YEAS: Broussard, Naquin, Hebert, Hooks, Boudreaux
NAYS: None
ABSENT:None
ABSTAIN: None Motion to adopt was approved.
Naquin thanked Boulet for bringing this forward.
Boulet noted that this is asmall but important gestureand that active duty play for free.
AGENDA ITEM NO.12: CO-128-2025 An ordinance of the Lafayette City Council to amend Section 82-111 “Generally,”ofArticle III, “City of Lafayette Sales and Use Tax,” Division 3, “Exemptions and Exclusions” of Chapter 82, “Taxation” of the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government Code of Ordinances to exempt from local sales and use taxes levied by the City of Lafayette as to repairs and maintenance performed on aircraft at Lafayette Regional Airport, motiontoadopt by Broussard, seconded by Hebert, and the vote was as follows: YEAS: Broussard, Naquin, Hebert, Hooks, Boudreaux
NAYS: None
ABSENT:None
ABSTAIN: None Motion to adopt was approved.
JOINT ORDINANCES FOR FINAL ADOPTION
AGENDA ITEM NO.13: JO-059-2025 Ajoint ordinance of the Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council amending the FY 25/26 operating budget and adjusting manning tables of the Lafayette CityParish Consolidated Government by increasing Fund 6070’suse of Prior Year Fund Balance in the amount of $904 and appropriating within the Office of Finance &Management, motion to adopt by Naquin, seconded by Hebert, and the vote was as follows: YEAS: Broussard, Naquin, Hebert, Hooks, Boudreaux
NAYS: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None Motion to adopt was approved.
AGENDA ITEM NO.14: JO-060-2025 Ajoint ordinance of theLafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council authorizing the Lafayette Mayor-President to enter into an agreement between the Lafayette CityParish Consolidated Government and the StateofLouisiana Department of Transportation concerning bridge replacements for StateProject No H.015511 (E. MartialAve. over coulee), StateProject No.H.015514 (Sarah Dee Pkwy over coulee) and StateProject No.H.015515 (Andover Road over Indian Bayou Lateral), motiontoadopt by Naquin, seconded by Hebert, and the vote was as follows: YEAS: Broussard, Naquin, Hebert, Hooks, Boudreaux
NAYS: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None Motion to adopt was approved.
AGENDA ITEM NO.15: JO-061-2025 Ajoint ordinance of the Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council amending the FY 25/26
operating budget of the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government by authorizing the transfer of $111,600 in CommunityDevelopment Block Grant (CDBG)funds within the CommunityDevelopment and Planning Department to Lafayette Public Trust Finance Authority for deferred maintenance at Uptown Lofts, motion to adopt by Broussard, seconded by Naquin, and the vote was as follows: YEAS: Broussard, Naquin, Hebert, Hooks, Boudreaux
NAYS: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None Motion to adopt was approved.
AGENDA ITEM NO.16: JO-062-2025 Ajoint ordinance of the Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council amending the FY 25/26 operating budget of the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government by authorizing the transfer of $120,000 in CommunityDevelopment Block Grant (CDBG)funds within the CommunityDevelopment and Planning Department to Faith House, Inc. for domestic violence shelter improvements, motion to adopt by Hebert, seconded by Naquin, and the vote was as follows: YEAS: Broussard, Naquin, Hebert, Hooks, Boudreaux
NAYS: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None Motion to adopt was approved.
One (1) citizen signed in, in support of the ordinance, but didnot wish to speak.
City Council andthe Lafayette Parish Council amending the FY 25/26 operating budget of the Lafayette City-Parish ConsolidatedGovernment by authorizing the transferof$175,000 in Community Development Block Grant(CDBG) funds within the Community Development andPlanning Department to Lafayette Habitat for Humanity for improvements to their Housing Construction Center, motion to adopt by Naquin, seconded by Hebert, andthe vote was as follows:
YEAS: Broussard,Naquin, Hebert, Hooks, Boudreaux
NAYS: None
ABSENT:None
ABSTAIN: None Motion to adopt was approved.
Broussard recognizedthatHabitatfor Humanity does alot for the community but questioned$175,000 for awarehouse
Lukestatedthatitisa competitive process for project ready projects. Melinda Taylor stated thatthe building is usedfor morethanjust storage of construction materials it also housesthe tool library,will be utilized for classes andneeds afull HVAC fix.
AGENDAITEM NO. 18: JO-064-2025A joint ordinanceofthe Lafayette City Council andthe Lafayette Parish Council amending the FY 25/26 operating budget of the Lafayette City-Parish ConsolidatedGovernment by authorizingthe transferof$90,000 in Community Development BlockGrant(CDBG) funds within the Community Development and Planning Department to SterlingGrove Housing Development,Inc for improvements to Ed Washington Place Apartments, motion to adopt by Naquin, seconded by Hebert, andthe vote wasasfollows:
YEAS: Broussard,Naquin, Hebert, Hooks, Boudreaux
NAYS: None
ABSENT:None ABSTAIN: None Motion to adopt was approved.
Lukestatedthatthe property is HUD fundedand CDBG funds areused for non-profits, perHebert’s inquiry
AGENDAITEM NO. 19: JO-065-2025 Ajoint ordinanceofthe Lafayette City Council andthe Lafayette Parish Council authorizing the Lafayette Mayor-President to enterinto aCooperative Endeavor Agreementwith the State of Louisiana andthe Road Home Corporation DBA Louisiana Land Trust for the purpose of participatinginthe Louisiana Watershed Initiative Mitigation Buyout Programasadministered through the State of Louisiana Office of Community Development –Disaster Recovery for the purpose of mitigating repetitive loss structures near Graham Brown Memorial Park, motion to adopt by Naquin, seconded by Hebert, andthe vote wasasfollows:
YEAS: Broussard,Naquin, Hebert, Hooks, Boudreaux
NAYS: None
ABSENT:None ABSTAIN: None Motion to adopt was approved.
Godeauxclarified thatthe originaldetention pond project didn’t meet requirements so this is away to assistwith existing funding.
DaneDeCuir,Grants Coordinator,statedthata public meeting with area residence will be held.
AGENDAITEM NO. 20: JO-066-2025A joint ordinanceofthe Lafayette City Council andthe Lafayette Parish Council amending the Lafayette City-Parish ConsolidatedGovernment Code of Ordinances Chapter 34, “Environment,” Article IV,“Noise Control,”Section 34-370, “Enforcement andPenalties” to hold persons who own, manage,operate or otherwise control property responsible for noise violations, motion to adopt by Naquin, seconded by Hebert, andthe vote wasasfollows: YEAS: Broussard,Naquin, Hebert, Hooks, Boudreaux
NAYS: None
ABSENT:None ABSTAIN: None Motion to adopt was approved.
Broussard expressed concerns overproperty owners not being citedand only receiving warnings.
Boudreauxstatedthatthe ordinancewill provide the PoliceDepartment with atool when landowners arenot cooperative.
INTRODUCTORYORDINANCES
Boudreauxremindedeveryone thatItem#21 will be addressed separately afterthe in globo vote Amotion to introduceagenda items 22-30, in globo, wasoffered by Naquin, seconded by Hebert.
22. CO-130-2025 An ordinance of the Lafayette City Council amending the FY 25/26 operatingbudgetofthe Lafayette CityParish ConsolidatedGovernment by increasing revenues in the amount of $22,155.25 received from the Federal Bureauof Investigation “FBI” andappropriating within the Lafayette Police Department.
23. CO-131-2025Anordinanceofthe Lafayette City Council amending the FY 25/26 operatingbudgetand adjusting manning tables of the Lafayette City-Parish ConsolidatedGovernment by using Prior Year Fund Balance in the amount of $6,364 to provide funding for asalary adjustment for aProgrammerAnalyst within the Communications Department.
24. CO-132-2025Anordinanceofthe Lafayette City Council amending the FY 25/26 operatingand capitalbudgetofthe Lafayette City-Parish ConsolidatedGovernment by increasing revenues in the amount of $200,000 andappropriating within the Communications Department.
25. CO-133-2025 An ordinance of the Lafayette City Council amending the FY 25/26 operatingand capitalbudgetofthe Lafayette City-Parish ConsolidatedGovernment by increasing reimbursement revenues from State of Louisiana Facility Planning andControl for Johnston Street Revitalization: Safety Street andSidewalkImprovements; Broadband andUtility Hardening, Planning andConstruction Project No. 50-MF7-2501 in the amount of $3,425,000 andaccounting for the required match of $1,166,667 andappropriating within the Public Works Department.
26. CO-134-2025 An ordinance of the Lafayette City Council declaring the E. ButcherSwitchRd. Bridge Replacement Project apublic necessityand authorizingthe acquisition of the necessary rights-of-way, immovable property andotherproperty rights requisite to the construction of said Project,eitheronan amicablebasisorthrough the proper use of the expropriation process, if necessary
27. CO-135-2025Anordinanceofthe Lafayette City Council declaring the Bellevue Plantation Rd. Bridge Replacement Project apublic necessityand authorizing the acquisition of the necessary rights-of-way, immovable property andotherproperty rights requisite to the construction of said Project,eitheronan amicablebasisorthrough the proper use of the expropriation process, if necessary
28. CO-136-2025Anordinanceofthe Lafayette City Council adopting the Use andRentalPolicyfor the MoorePark soccer fields andestablishing rentalfees anda player fee.
29. CO-137-2025Anordinanceofthe Lafayette City Council authorizing the Lafayette Mayor-President to enterinto a Cooperative Endeavor Agreementbyand between the City of Lafayette, Lafayette Youth Soccer Association,Inc.and La Krewe Rush, LLC concerning the soccer fields at MoorePark.
30. CO-138-2025
December 2, 2025, seconded by Hebert, and the vote was as follows:
YEAS: Broussard, Naquin, Hebert, Hooks, Boudreaux
NAYS: None
ABSENT:None
ABSTAIN: None
Motion to defer to December2,2025 was approved.
Naquin recommended adeferral of introduction to allow additional time in case therewas aconflict with CO-138-2025.
Godeaux and Boulet stated that they see no need for adeferral but also see no time issues with the deferral.
Boudreaux and Boulet then discussed, in depth, CO-138-2025, O-31999, the Lafayette Mardi Gras Activities Advisory Committee, and the parade route.
JOINT INTRODUCTORYORDINANCES
Amotion to introduce agenda items 31-32, in globo, was offered by Naquin, seconded by Broussard.
31. JO-067-2025 Ajoint ordinance of the Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council authorizing the Lafayette Mayor-
NOTICE
The LafayetteCity Council and the Lafayette Parish Council each met in Regular SessiononNovember 18, 2025 and adopted the following ordinances:
ORDINANCENO. JO-059-2025
AJOINT ORDINANCE OF THELAFAYETTE CITYCOUNCIL AND THE LAFAYETTE PARISH COUNCIL AMENDINGTHE FY 25/26 OPERATING BUDGET AND ADJUSTING MANNING TABLES OF THE LAFAYETTE CITY-PARISH CONSOLIDATED GOVERNMENTBYINCREASINGFUND 6070’S USE OF PRIOR YEAR FUND BALANCE IN THE AMOUNT OF $904 AND APPROPRIATING WITHIN THE OFFICE OF FINANCE& MANAGEMENT
BE IT ORDAINED by the Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council, that:
SECTION 1:The FY 25/26 operating budget is hereby amended by increasing Fund 6070’suse of Prior Year Fund Balance in the amount of $904 to adjust the manning tables and increasing the hourly pay rate of one (1) Clerk III position from $18.4100 to $18.8200, as recommended by Civil Service.
SECTION 2:This adjustment to the manning tables shall be as reflected in any pertinent documents which areattached hereto and made apart hereof and filed in the Office of the Clerk of the Council.
SECTION 3:All ordinances and resolutions, or parts thereof, in conflict herewith arehereby repealed.
SECTION 4:After first having been adopted by amajority of the authorized membership of both the Lafayette Parish Council and the Lafayette City Council, this joint ordinance shall become effective upon signatureofthisjoint ordinance by the Lafayette Mayor-President, the elapse of ten (10) days after receipt by the Lafayette Mayor-President without signatureorveto, or upon override of aveto, whichever occurs first. ** ***
ORDINANCENO. JO-060-2025
AJOINT ORDINANCE OF THE LAFAYETTE CITYCOUNCIL AND THELAFAYETTE PARISH COUNCIL AUTHORIZING THE LAFAYETTE MAYOR-PRESIDENT TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE LAFAYETTE CITY-PARISHCONSOLIDATED GOVERNMENTAND THESTATEOFLOUISIANADEPARTMENTOFTRANSPORTATION CONCERNING BRIDGE REPLACEMENTSFOR STATEPROJECTNO. H.015511 (E. MARTIAL AVE. OVER COULEE), STATEPROJECTNO. H.015514 (SARAH DEE PKWY OVER COULEE) ANDSTATEPROJECT NO.H.015515 (ANDOVER ROAD OVER INDIAN BAYOU LATERAL) BE IT ORDAINED by the Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council, that:
WHEREAS,pursuant to the provisions of Title 23, United State Code, “Highways,” as amended, funds have been appropriated out of the Highway Trust Fund to finance improvement projects under the direct administration of theStateofLouisiana Department of Transportation and Development (hereinafter referred to as “DOTD”); and WHEREAS,LafayetteCity-Parish Consolidated Government (hereinafter referred to as “Entity”) has requested an appropriation of funds to finance aportion of the Project as described herein; and
WHEREAS,ifapplicable, the Project is part of aTransportation Improvement Program (TIP), serving to implement the area wide transportation plan held currently valid by appropriate local officials and the Metropolitan Planning Organization (hereinafter referred to as “MPO”) and developed as required by Section134 of Title 23, U.S.C.; and
WHEREAS,the Entity grants access within the project limits to DOTD andall necessary parties required to complete the Project; and
WHEREAS,Federal Funds havebeen appropriated to finance improvement projects under the direct administration of DOTD; and
WHEREAS,DOTD is agreeable to the implementation of the Project anddesires to cooperate with the Entity as hereinafter provided; and
WHEREAS,the Entity is required to attend the mandatory Qualification Core Training and to adheretothe Local Public Agency (LPA) Manual.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHERORDAINED by the Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council, that:
SECTION 1:All of the aforedescribed Whereas”clauses areadopted as part of this ordinance.
SECTION 2:The Agreement between the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government and the State of Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development outlining planning and programming responsibilities for federal-aid highway assistance, attached and made a part hereof, is hereby approved
SECTION 3:LafayetteMayor-President is hereby authorized to enter into the Agreement in substantially the same form as is attached hereto Furthermore, the Lafayette Mayor-Presidentishereby authorized to sign any and all other documents and take any and all other actions in connection therewith.
SECTION 4:All ordinances and resolutions, or parts thereof, in conflict herewith arehereby repealed.
SECTION 5:After first having been adopted by amajority of the authorized membership of both the Lafayette Parish Council and the Lafayette City Council, this joint ordinance shall become effectiveupon signatureofthis joint ordinance by the Lafayette Mayor-President, the elapse of ten (10) days after receipt by the Lafayette Mayor-President without signatureor veto, or upon an override of aveto, whichever occurs first. ** ** *
ORDINANCENO. JO-061-2025
AJOINT ORDINANCE OF THELAFAYETTE CITYCOUNCIL AND THE LAFAYETTE PARISH COUNCIL AMENDINGTHE FY 25/26 OPERATING BUDGET OF THE LAFAYETTE CITY-PARISHCONSOLIDATED GOVERNMENT BY AUTHORIZINGTHE TRANSFEROF$111,600 IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENTBLOCK GRANT (CDBG)FUNDS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ANDPLANNING DEPARTMENT TO LAFAYETTE PUBLIC TRUSTFINANCEAUTHORITY FORDEFERRED MAINTENANCE AT UPTOWN LOFTS BE IT ORDAINED by the Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council, that:
SECTION 1:The FY 25/26 operating budget of the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government is hereby amended by transferring
President to execute the Intergovernmental Agreement by and between the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government and the Governor of the StateofLouisiana and the local governments relative to the redesignation of the Lafayette Metropolitan Planning Organizationasthe Acadiana Metropolitan Planning Organization and its governance. (Mayor-President)
32. JO-068-2025 Ajoint ordinance of the Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council amending the FY 25/26 operating budget and adjusting manning tables of the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government by increasing the use of PriorYear Fund 101 fund balance by $1,288 and increasing the use of prior year fund 105 fund balance by $541 to implement an increase in the salary of the elected judges of the City Court of Lafayette, Louisiana to correspond with astatewide
NAYS: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None Motion to introduce, in globo, was approved.
authorized membership of boththe Lafayette Parish Council and the Lafayette City Council, this joint ordinance shall become effective upon signatureofthis joint ordinance by the Lafayette Mayor-President, the elapse of ten (10) days after receiptbythe Lafayette Mayor-President without signatureorveto,orupon override of aveto,whichever occurs first. *** **
ORDINANCE NO. JO-062-2025
AJOINT ORDINANCE OF THELAFAYETTE CITY COUNCILAND THE LAFAYETTE PARISH COUNCILAMENDING THEFY25/26 OPERATING BUDGET OF THELAFAYETTE CITY-PARISH CONSOLIDATED GOVERNMENT BY AUTHORIZING THE TRANSFER OF $120,000 IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG) FUNDS WITHIN THECOMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND PLANNING DEPARTMENT TO FAITH HOUSE, INC. FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTER IMPROVEMENTS
BE IT ORDAINED by the Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council, that: SECTION 1:The FY 25/26 operating budgetofthe Lafayette CityParishConsolidated Government is hereby amended by transferring $120,000 in CDBG funds within the Community Development &Planning Department to the Faith House, Inc., aLouisiana non-profitcorporation(the “Grantee”). Fundswill be used by the Grantee to make improvements to their domestic violence shelters.
SECTION 2:The transfer of fundsshall be contingent upon completion of an environmental review and the FindingofNoSignificant Impact, as reached in accordance withHUD environmental review regulations.
SECTION 3:The Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council do herebyauthorizethe Lafayette Mayor-President, or her designee, to conduct all negotiations, execute and submit all documents, including but not limited to applications, agreements, amendments, payment requests, memorandaofunderstanding and so on,which maybenecessaryfor the completionofthe aforementioned project.
SECTION 4:This transfer of fundsshall be as reflected in any pertinent documents which areattached hereto and made aparthereofand filed in theOffice of the Clerkofthe Council. TheLafayette Mayor-President, or her designee, is herebyauthorized to amend the operating budgetwithin the grant period by transferringany unexpended appropriated balances into or outofsalaries and benefits line items and all other expense line items in ordertoexpend the total awardamount in accordance withthe CDBG regulations.
SECTION 5:All ordinances and resolutions, or partsthereof,inconflict herewithare herebyrepealed
SECTION 6:After firsthaving been adopted by amajorityofthe authorized membership of boththe Lafayette Parish Council and the Lafayette City Council, this joint ordinance shall become effective upon signatureofthis joint ordinance by the Lafayette Mayor-President, the elapse of ten (10) days after receiptbythe Lafayette Mayor-President without signatureorveto,orupon override of aveto,whichever occurs first.
ORDINANCE NO. JO-063-2025
AJOINT ORDINANCE OF THELAFAYETTE CITY COUNCILAND THE LAFAYETTE PARISH COUNCILAMENDING THEFY25/26 OPERATING BUDGET OF THELAFAYETTE CITY-PARISH CONSOLIDATED
GOVERNMENT BY AUTHORIZING THE TRANSFER OF $175,000 IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG) FUNDS WITHIN THECOMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND PLANNING DEPARTMENT TO LAFAYETTE HABITATFOR HUMANITY FORIMPROVEMENTS TO THEIR HOUSING CONSTRUCTION CENTER
BE IT ORDAINED by the Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council, that: SECTION 1:The FY 25/26 operating budgetofthe Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government is herebyamended by transferring$175,000 in CDBG funds within the Community Development &Planning Department to Lafayette Habitat for Humanity,a Louisiana non-profitcorporation (the “Grantee”). Fundswill be used by the Grantee forimprovements to their Housing ConstructionCenter,which will support the constructionof affordable single-family housing units forlow-income households.
SECTION 2:The transfer of fundsshall be contingent upon completion of an environmental review and the FindingofNoSignificant Impact, as reached in accordance withHUD environmental review regulations.
SECTION 3:The Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council do herebyauthorizethe Lafayette Mayor-President, or her designee, to conduct all negotiations, execute and submit all documents, including but notlimited to applications, agreements, amendments, payment requests, memorandaofunderstanding and so on,which maybenecessaryfor the completionofthe aforementioned project.
SECTION 4:This transfer of fundsshall be as reflected in any pertinent documents which areattached hereto and made aparthereofand filed in theOffice of the Clerkofthe Council. TheLafayette Mayor-President, or her designee, is herebyauthorized to amend the operating budgetwithin the grant period by transferringany unexpended appropriated balances into or outofsalaries and benefits line items and all other expense line items in ordertoexpend the total awardamount in accordance withthe CDBG regulations.
SECTION 5:All ordinances and resolutions, or partsthereof,inconflict herewith areherebyrepealed
SECTION 6:After firsthaving been adopted by amajorityofthe authorized membership of boththe Lafayette Parish Council and the Lafayette City Council, this joint ordinance shall become effective upon signatureofthis joint ordinance by the Lafayette Mayor-President, the elapse of ten (10) days after receiptbythe Lafayette Mayor-President without signatureorveto,orupon override of aveto,whichever occurs first. ** ***
ORDINANCE NO. JO-064-2025
AJOINT ORDINANCE OF THELAFAYETTE CITY COUNCILAND THE LAFAYETTE PARISH COUNCILAMENDING THEFY25/26 OPERATING BUDGET OF THELAFAYETTE CITY-PARISH CONSOLIDATED
GOVERNMENT BY AUTHORIZING THE TRANSFER OF $90,000 IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG) FUNDS WITHIN THECOMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND PLANNING DEPARTMENT TO STERLING GROVEHOUSINGDEVELOPMENT,INC., FORIMPROVEMENTS TO ED WASHINGTON PLACE APARTMENTS BE IT ORDAINED by the Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council, that: SECTION 1:The FY 25/26 operating budgetofthe Lafayette CityParishConsolidated Government is hereby amended
COMMENT(S) FROM THEPUBLIC AGENDAITEM NO. 33: Comments from the public on anyothermatter(s) not on this agenda.
Jacob White stated thatthe
(8:18:00)
Therebeing no furtherbusiness to come beforethe Council, Chair Boudreauxdeclared the RegularMeeting adjourned. /s/ Joseph Gordon-Wiltz JOSEPH GORDON-WILTZ, LAFAYETTE CLERK OF THE COUNCIL
167682-585508-nov21-1t
$740.25
DBA LOUISIANA LAND TRUST FOR THE PURPOSE OF PARTICIPATING IN THE LOUISIANA WATERSHED INITIATIVEMITIGATION BUYOUT PROGRAM AS ADMINISTERED THROUGH THE STATEOFLOUISIANA OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT –DISASTER RECOVERY FOR THE PURPOSE OF MITIGATING REPETITIVE LOSS STRUCTURESNEAR GRAHAM BROWNMEMORIAL PARK
BE IT ORDAINED by the Lafayette CityCouncil and the Lafayette Parish Council, that: WHEREAS,Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government (LCG) applied for, and was conditionally awarded, $4,000,000 forthe Brown Park Floodplain Restoration and Preservation Project through the Louisiana Watershed Initiative (LWI); and WHEREAS,itwas determinedbythe LCGDepartment of Public Works that the initial proposedproject of additional detention pond construction is unfeasible; and WHEREAS,itwas determinedbyPublic Worksand the LCG Administration thatthe LWIBuyout Programisthe solefeasible option for use of these funds; and WHEREAS,The LWIBuyout Programprovides mitigation assistance to acquireinterests in property,including the purchase of structures in the floodplain,todemolish and/or remove the structures, andtomaintainthe use of the Property as open space in perpetuity in order to protect and preserve natural floodplain values.
NOW,THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHERORDAINED by the Lafayette CityCouncil andthe Lafayette Parish Council, that:
SECTION 1:The Lafayette City Counciland Lafayette Parish Council hereby authorize the Lafayette Mayor-President to enter aCooperative Endeavor Agreementwiththe State of Louisianaand the Road Home Corporation doing business as Louisiana Land Trust (LLT) forthe purpose of participating in the LWIBuyout Program, as administered through the State of LouisianaOffice of Community Development –Disaster Recovery (OCD-DR).
SECTION 2:Grant funds areprovided under HUD’sCommunity DevelopmentBlock Grant –Mitigationprogramthrough OCD-DR’s Louisiana Watershed Initiative.
SECTION 4:The LWIBuyout Programwill be used forthe acquisition of properties within the scope of the Brown Park Floodplain Restoration andPreservation Project. Participationofhomeowners in thisprogramis voluntary SECTION 5:Under thisagreement, costs will be incurredbyLLT for acquisitionand demolition of real property located in the floodplain,and reimbursed by OCD-DR directly.LCG will not receive direct funding,but instead will receive ownershipofthe fully mitigatedproperty from LLTasa resultofthisprogram.
SECTION 6:The Lafayette City Counciland the Lafayette Parish Councilhereby authorize the Lafayette Mayor-President, or her designee, to conduct all negotiations, execute andsubmitall documents, includingbut not limited to applications, agreements, amendments, payment requests, memoranda of understanding andsoon, which maybenecessaryfor the completionofthe aforementionedproject
SECTION 7:All ordinances and resolutions, or parts thereof, in conflict herewith arehereby repealed.
SECTION 8:After first having been adopted by amajority of the authorizedmembership of both the Lafayette Parish Counciland the Lafayette City Council, thisjoint ordinance shal become effective upon signatureofthisjoint ordinance by the Lafayette Mayor-President, the elapse of ten(10) days after receipt by the Lafayette Mayor-President without signatureorveto,orupon override of aveto,whichever occurs first. *** **
ORDINANCE NO. JO-066-2025
AJOINT ORDINANCE OF THE LAFAYETTE CITY COUNCIL AND THE LAFAYETTE PARISH COUNCIL AMENDING THE LAFAYETTE CITYPARISH CONSOLIDATEDGOVERNMENT CODE OF ORDINANCES CHAPTER 34, “ENVIRONMENT,” ARTICLE IV,“NOISE CONTROL,” SECTION 34-370, “ENFORCEMENT AND PENALTIES” TO HOLD PERSONS WHO OWN, MANAGE, OPERATE OR OTHERWISE CONTROL PROPERTY RESPONSIBLE FOR NOISE VIOLATIONS
BE IT ORDAINED by the Lafayette CityCouncil and the Lafayette Parish Council, that: WHEREAS,the Lafayette City Counciland the Lafayette Parish Council desiretoamend the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government Code of Ordinances, Chapter 34, Environment,” Article IV,“Noise Control,” Section34-370, Enforcement andpenalties”toholdpersons who own, manage,operate or otherwise control property responsible for noise violations. NOW,THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHERORDAINED by the Lafayette CityCouncil and the Lafayette Parish Council, that:
SECTION 1:All of the above Whereas”clauses areadopted as part of thisordinance. SECTION 2:Section34-370 Enforcement andpenalties”ofArticle IV, Noise Control,” of Chapter 34, Environment”ofthe Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government Code of Ordinances is hereby amended and supplemented by creating and enacting subsection (h) to read in itsentirety as follows: “(h) Any person who owns, manages, operates or otherwise controls property shallbeheld responsible and punished under subsection (f), wherea majorviolationofthisnoise control code, or any minor violation of thisnoise control code not corrected in accordance with an enforcementdocument, hasoccurred.” SECTION 3:All ordinances or resolutions, or parts thereof, in conflict herewith arehereby repealed. SECTION 4:After first having been adopted by amajority of the authorizedmembership of both the Lafayette Parish Counciland the Lafayette City Council, thisjoint ordinance shallbecome effective upon signatureofthisjoint ordinance by the Lafayette Mayor-President, the elapse of ten(10) days after receipt by the Lafayette Mayor-President without signatureorveto,orupon override of aveto,whichever occurs first. ** ** * /s/ Joseph Gordon-Wiltz JOSEPHGORDON-WILTZ LAFAYETTE CLERK OF THECOUNCIL
