The Acadiana Advocate 08-05-2026

‘ITWOULD BE LIFE-CHANGING’

PecanIslandresidents reacttopotential SpaceX spaceport

Betty Cormier,who has worked foradecade at the Pecan

SpaceX spaceportmight changelife in the small community

BY ALEXLUBBEN and JOEL THOMPSON Staff writers

Betty Cormiertended the counter Tuesday at thePecan Island Food Store, aquiet storefront andgas station on La. 82 in the southern reaches of VermillionParish.

ä SpaceX earnings call offers no hints of Louisiana plans. PAGE 7A

Surrounded by marshland, wildlife preserves and hunting and fishing camps, it’sone of theonlyplaces to get food, fueland supplies for miles around. Butshe’s heard that that may not bethe casefor much longer SpaceX, billionaire Elon Musk’s commercial aerospace company,isin talks with thestate of Louisiana over a130,000-acre tract of land nearby that sources saythe company wants for launching rockets. Aspaceport would reshape this remote community on Louisiana’ssouthwestern coast, bringing potentially thousands of jobs but also construction, noise and other changes. Havingheard little from local and state leaders, Cormier andsome of her neighbors arewary

“Our store is not equipped to handle1,500 extra people,” she said. “There’salot of concern about whether

we can adapt.” In interviews,parishofficials have saidthey are enthusiastic about theopportunitiesSpaceXmight bring to aremote section of Louisiana’scoast, as are some landowners nearby.Atthe same time, othersinVer-

ä See SPACEX, page 7A

Entergyputs purchase of powerplant on hold

Questionsabout cost, data center mount

BY SAM KARLIN Staff writer

BY ALYSE PFEIL and MATT ALBRIGHT Staff writers

One of the world’slargest pornography sites sent aletter this week urging state officials across the country to reconsider ageverification regulations, butitreceived an icy response from leaders in Louisiana, which has one such law

“These laws do not workand, as aresult, have put your constituents’ children and adults’ personal data at risk,” saysPornhub’sletter,which is addressedtohundreds Porn

ä See PORN, page 5A

Facing questions frominvestors andregulators, EntergyLouisiana hasindefinitelypostponed proceedings in its controversial plan to buy aTexas power plant for $1.8 billion, saying it is working on aplan to lessen the costs to residents. Entergy on Monday asked ajudge to suspend the procedural schedule in the case,postponing ahearing that wasscheduled forSeptember.Entergytoldthe judgeitneeds additionaltime because of “complex and fact intensive issues in thecase,” in which Entergy is asking forpermission to buythe Cottonwood powerplant from aprivate equity firm Entergy spokesperson Brandon Scardigli said in a statement that the company needsadditionaltime to address “issues raised” by the Public ServiceCommission staff. The PSC regulates Entergy He also said Entergy is working with thePSC to “identify waystolessen the initialbill impactsofthe proposedCottonwood acquisition.”

“They’re going to have to go back to the drawing board and present a different case, would be my guess.”

MIKE FRANCIS, Public Service Commission member

It was not immediately clear what areworked version of thedealwould look like.But the move reflects mounting opposition to the acquisition, which hasput Entergy at the center of adebate over whether data centers will raise costs forresidents.

Aconsultant hired by the Louisiana Public Service Commission, Entergy’sregulator,testified earlier thissummer that the proposed acquisition would effectively mean residents would pay forenergy that’slargely only needed because of Meta’smassive north Louisiana data center.After The Times-Picayune |The Advocate reported about the testimony,Gov.JeffLandry issued an executive orderdemanding that data centerdevelopers pay fortheir own energy costs.

Iran,Omanworking

BY SAMY MAGDY, AAMERMADHANI and MATTHEW LEE Associated Press

CAIRO— Iran and the Gulf Arab stateofOmanhavemade progress toward adeal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, apotential breakthrough that could help wind down thewar in the Middle East, regional officials said Tuesday Under theemerging agreement, ships would enter the Persian Gulf throughanIranian-controlled route and exit through aroute controlled by Oman, with service fees charged forproviding security and preserving the maritime

environment, tworegional officials told The Associated Press. They said negotiations are still underway and that the final agreement could take adifferent form, with any deal linked to lifting the U.S. blockade on Iran’sports. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive negotiations unfolding behind closed doors. Anyagreementformalizing Iran’scontrol of the strait would mark asignificant strategicvictory for Tehran. For that reason, the U.S. could seek to block the deal by refusing to lift the blockade. The strait was an open internationalwaterway before the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran on Feb. 28.

ASSOCIATEd PRESS PHOTO By RAZIEH POUdAT

Regional officials saya dealbetween Oman and Iranto reopenthe Strait of Hormuz could help bring an end to thewar

STAFF PHOTOSByLESLIEWESTBROOK

Island Food Store, says shedoesn’t yetknowhow a

shehas cometoknowwell.

Wayne Miller,who raises showpigs in Pecan Island, says he is opposed to the SpaceX project.

Court: Feds wrong to terminate climate funds

WASHINGTON A divided federal appeals court on Tuesday said the Trump administration improperly terminated billions of dollars in funds to boost clean energy projects, handing a win to a coalition of nonprofits picked to run the Biden-era effort.

Climate United Fund and other nonprofits won’t have access to their funds immediately as the decision will be put on hold for several days giving the Environmental Protection Agency time to ask the Supreme Court to step in.

The judgement by the full U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia is a loss for the Trump administration in one of its earliest efforts to dismantle President Joe Biden’s campaign to reduce climate-warming greenhouse gases. The Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, commonly referred to as a “green bank,” is a $20 billion congressionally authorized program that provided money to nonprofits that would then make loans and invest in small energy projects, energy-efficient buildings and transportation.

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin accused Climate United Fund and other nonprofits picked to run the green bank of mismanagement and potential fraud. He froze billions that had been placed in a Citibank account for the program and then terminated their grants. The groups disputed any wrongdoing and sued, arguing the Trump administration broke the law and violated the Constitution by not spending money authorized by Congress.

Officials: Transmission tower sparked Eaton fire LOS ANGELES Sparks from an idle transmission tower owned by Southern California Edison caused the 2025 Eaton fire in the Los Angeles area that killed 19 people and destroyed more than 9,400 homes and businesses, Los Angeles County fire officials said in a report released Tuesday. It took firefighters nearly a month to extinguish the blaze, which scorched 22 square miles.

The Eaton fire burned at the same time as the wind-whipped Palisades fire. An AP analysis at the time showed both blazes torched more urban area than any California fire in decades

The Eaton fire was caused by electrical arcing on the utility’s out-of-service tower atop a ridge covered with dry fuel, the agency said in a statement When bare, uninsulated wires touch or come close together it can cause arcing, which is when electricity jumps through the air, producing sparks. The report said SoCal Edison was responsible for maintaining and operating its electrical lines and equipment “in a manner that would minimize the risk of catastrophic wildfire posed by them.”

Guatemala evacuates hundreds amid eruption

GUATEMALA CITY Guatemala remained on alert Tuesday after evacuating hundreds of people following an eruption the day before of the Fuego volcano, which is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire and one of Central America’s most active volcanoes.

The country’s disaster management agency said 659 people were evacuated from eight villages in the danger area and are being housed in nearby shelters. The eruption started on Monday morning, with videos showing clouds of gas and ash above the volcano as lava and pyroclastic flows roll down.

Claudinne Ogaldes, executive secretary of the Guatemalan disaster management agency said that about 10 more communities are expected to be evacuated throughout the day

Netanyahu pushes back on Gaza deal

Israeli leader says no withdrawal until Hamas fully disarms

BY WAFAA SHURAFA, SAMY MAGDY, IBRAHIM HAZBOUN and MELANIE LIDMAN Associated Press

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza City Prime Minister

Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday that Israel will not withdraw from its current lines in Gaza until Hamas has completely disarmed and pushed back on a recent deal announced by President Donald Trump.

Netanyahu’s remarks cast more doubt on the deal to disarm Hamas, which was seen as a potential breakthrough for ending the war It also marked a rare public display of friction with the Trump administration.

The agreement called for Hamas to begin disarming and for Israel to halt its strikes and begin withdrawing from the roughly 60% of Gaza it currently controls. It was based on an October ceasefire agreement that ended major military operations and brought about the release of the remaining hostages held in Gaza but has stalled on other fronts.

Netanyahu, who faces a tough battle for reelection in October reiterated his stance that disarmament should come first. He said Israeli forces would continue to “do whatever is necessary to protect themselves, our territory, and our citizens.”

The Trump administration “sent us a draft. We did not agree. It is not our draft. We sent our comments. This is our position,” Netanyahu said in a video posted on social media.

Mass funeral held in Gaza

Earlier on Tuesday, Palestinians gathered for a mass funeral of more than 100 bodies finally recovered from a deadly Israeli strike in Gaza in 2023. More than 300 people were killed on Nov 22, 2023, weeks into the war with Hamas, when warplanes flattened a residential block in Gaza City’s Sabra neighborhood.

Around 40 bodies were recovered soon afterward in a frantic scramble of rough tools and bare hands, but most were buried deep beneath the rubble. Reports of the high number of victims in one of the war’s deadliest attacks took days to reach the public in the chaos just before its first ceasefire.

Over the weekend, first responders dug through the destroyed buildings and recovered remains of 112 victims, including 40 children, according to the Civil Defense, a rescue agency operating under the Hamas-run Interior Ministry

It said 157 bodies still have not been found.

“The only crime of these martyrs was that they remained steadfast and resilient

in their homes, believing that these homes would protect them,” one relative, Taysir al-Hassayna, told The Associated Press following the funeral prayers.

For the missing, it’s “as if their bodies had evaporated without a trace.”

Recovery of remains

Only now are some bodies of people killed in the war’s ferocious early months slowly being recovered, as the fragile ceasefire allows such efforts to push ahead in parts of devastated Gaza.

Those discoveries have contributed to the war’s rising toll. The Hamas-led militant attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killed around 1,200 people and saw 251 taken hostage. Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed more than 73,377 Palestinians, including since the ceasefire, Gaza’s Health Ministry said.

At least 7,400 people have been reported by relatives to still be under the rubble, Zaher al-Waheidi, head of the ministry’s records department, told the AP The true number is likely thousands higher because in some cases entire families were killed in a single bombing, leaving no one to report the missing, al-Waheidi has said

The people mourned on Tuesday were from a residential block belonging to the Hassayna and Abu Sharia clan, and many were related. AP has identified at least 60 families across Gaza who lost 25 or more family members during the first three months of war

On Tuesday, the remains of the victims, wrapped in Palestinian flags, were laid in rows on the ground. Many were marked with photos, and flower petals were scattered around them all. Hundreds of people surrounded the bodies for funeral prayers, some standing on the rubble.

Following the prayers, people carried the bodies on stretchers along a narrow street lined by destroyed buildings and buried them in a nearby cemetery Deadly strikes continue

At least 1,252 people have been killed in Gaza since the ceasefire took effect, according to the territory’s Health Ministry

The ministry, part of the Hamas-led government, maintains detailed casualty records that are seen as generally reliable by U.N. agencies and independent experts. It does not give a breakdown of civilians and militants but says women and children make up most of the dead.

Israel says its strikes are against militants who endanger its soldiers, took part in the Oct. 7 attack or carry out other violations. Five Israeli soldiers have been killed since the ceasefire.

The U.S.-backed ceasefire agreement last October called for Hamas to be disarmed and for Israel to withdraw An International Stabilization Force was to be deployed, and an independent Palestinian administration was to oversee governance and reconstruction.

Trump administration revokes visa of Brazil’s ambassador to U.S.

BY MATTHEW LEE and MAURICIO SAVARESE Associated Press

An article Saturday detailing new laws taking effect in Louisiana misstated the act number of a law relating to the protection of restaurant workers. Act 342 enhances criminal penalties for assault and battery when the victims are employees in food and retail establishments. The Advocate regrets the error

WASHINGTON The Trump administration has revoked the visa of Brazil’s ambassador to the United States in retaliation for Brazil’s denial of visas last month for two American diplomats who sought to visit ahead of upcoming elections as well as Brazil’s stalling on approving President Donald Trump’s nominee to be ambassador in Brasilia. The State Department said the decision was a reciprocal response to Brazil’s actions and officials said the step had been delayed several times to give Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva room to back down, something he did not do.

Officials said, however that it could be quickly reversed if Brazil takes appro-

priate action and accepts Trump’s ambassadorial choice.

Trump has had a fractious relationship for some time with Lula’s administration, which has opposed him on numerous policies, particularly in the Western Hemisphere regarding Venezuela and Cuba. Their relationship also has been strained by Trump’s fondness for Lula’s first term successor and then predecessor Jair Bolsonaro, who is currently under house arrest, and his son Flavio, who is Lula’s main opponent in October election.

Lula has spared Trump himself from criticism and claims they liked each other when they first met at the United Nations Assembly General in September of last year The Brazilian leader has blamed Secretary of State Marco Rubio for some of the actions against his country

Blanche’s AG nomination clears critical hurdle

Senate panel advances bid after deal with GOP holdouts

BY ALANNA DURKIN RICHER and MARY CLARE JALONICK Associated Press

WASHINGTON — Acting

Attorney General Todd Blanche cleared a critical hurdle Tuesday in his bid to be confirmed to the post after swaying Republican holdouts on a Senate committee to advance his nomination for a floor vote.

The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 12-10 along party lines in support of the nomination of President Donald Trump’s former personal attorney who has aggressively pushed the Republican administration’s priorities since taking over from Pam Bondi in April.

The vote followed a deal struck late Sunday between Blanche and two Republican senators — John Cornyn, of Texas; and Thom Tillis, of North Carolina — who had been threatening to block his confirmation over the settlement of Trump’s lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service regarding the president’s leaked tax returns. The full Senate could vote later this week on Blanche’s nomination. If all Democrats oppose him, Blanche can only afford to lose two Republican votes if Sen. Mitch McConnell, of Kentucky, who was hospitalized after a fall, does not return before then. Cornyn and Tillis backed Blanche’s nomination after the Justice Department confirmed in writing that it wasn’t moving forward with a $1.8 billion fund to compensate Trump allies who believe they were prosecuted for political purposes, which the

administration announced as part of the settlement. After days of negotiations, Blanche issued an order Sunday evening confirming “beyond any doubt, that there is no Fund.” Democrats say Blanche’s order doesn’t go far enough to prevent the Trump administration from reviving the fund after the acting attorney general’s confirmation and have called for legislation to permanently bar it. The order also doesn’t stop the admi nistrati on from compensating Trump allies — including people who attacked the Capitol on Jan 6, 2021 — through a previously established process that allows people to file claims for damages if they believed they were wronged by the government. The fund “can easily be revived with a new order from the Department of Justice 15 minutes after Mr Blanche is confirmed as attorney general,” said Dick Durbin, of Illinois, the top Democrat on the committee.

Cornyn and Tillis had also pressed for clarification on a separate part of the settlement that would grant Trump and members of his family immunity from tax audits. Under the deal, the Justice Department clarified in writing that the tax audit immunity agreement applies only to claims open at the time of the settlement and does not protect Trump from examination of future tax filings. It also makes clear that only the parties that brought the lawsuit Trump, two of his sons, and the Trump Organization are covered by the tax agreement.

Cornyn said his reasons for backing Blanche go beyond the deal struck Sunday adding that he believes the Justice Department needs a “stabilizing force” at the helm.

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ASSOCIATEd PRESS PHOTO By JEHAd ALSHRAFI

Palestinians gather Sunday around a car struck in an Israeli military strike in Gaza City

Blanche

Kaycie Coffee shop owner

$1.6 billionfor Louisianabusinesses. Cateringfor 40 peopleused to be agood week.Now they hit400.And that’sjust thetacos.Fromcoffee shops to bustours,Meta’s RichlandParish investment is alreadypayingoff forbusinesses across Louisiana.

Preston Tour busoperator

Lindsay Food truckowner

Manaccused in Spokanefirequestionedpreviously

documentssay he waspartofprobe in

2other blazes

BY MANUEL VALDES, ED WHITE,MARTHA BELLISLE and GENE JOHNSON Associated Press

SPOKANE, Wash.

Aman charged with intentionally setting awildfire that’sdestroyed hundreds of buildings in and around Washington state’ssecond-largest city was questioned by law enforcement duringtwo fire investigationslast year, though he wasn’tcharged in either,court documents show Aaron F. Farinacci, of Spokane, was arrested Monday and booked on suspicion of first-degree arson in connection with the Old TrailsFire, the biggest of three blazes that have destroyed at least 700 buildings and forced tens of thousands of people from their homes. According to court records, he denied setting the fire. His bail was set at $1 million.

Authorities haven’tsaid what caused the other two

fires burning around Spokane.Nodeathshave been reported Farinacci, 37, served about adecadeinprison after killing his father in Arizona in 2010. Last year,authorities questioned him in two firerelated cases in Spokane, according to aprobable cause statement filed in Spokane CountySuperior Court. One involvedseveral “bussized” fires in an area near Farinacci’s apartment in

July 2025, police records in that case say.The other involvedawildfire in astate park that prompted evacuation notices the following month. In neithercase was he arrested.

Atip leadstoanarrest

On Saturday,Paul Child, 64, was driving with his grandsonalong some railroad tracks in his rural neighborhood northwest of Spokane He saw aman standing and

looking towardnearby trees.

About 10 minuteslater,as they were returning home, the man was still there

“He was bent over in the brush, actingnervous,” Child told The Associated Presson Tuesday.“Youget the feeling this guy’suptosomething.”

“No longer than10minutes after Igot home, my daughter says, ‘There’sa fire,’” Child recalled. “My first words were, ‘That SOBstarted a fire!’ It was the exact spot

where he was standing.”

Child’sdaughter called 911 and he drove back to the spot where he’d seen the man, sheriff’s detective Michael Drapeau wrote in the probable cause statement. He gave apolice officer adescriptionofthe man he had seen —bald, white, wearing agreen shirt and carrying a backpack.

Aresponding sheriff’s deputy saw aman matching that description walking more than 1mile away anddetainedhim.Another deputy also responded, and Child showeduptoidentify the person in custody —Farinacci —asthe one he had seen in the area of the fire, the document states.

Farinacci hadabackpack anda fanny pack,inwhichhe had apack of cigarettes, waterproof matches anda butane lighter, it says. He told the deputies he didn’tstart the fire and he denied having been in the area where it started.Hewas wearing a green T-shirt that read, “who needs luck Ihave charm,” the detective wrote.

Thedeputies wereunaware of Farinacci’sprior fire-related contacts andthe

cause of the Old Trails Fire hadn’t been determinedyet, so they released him to continue working on evacuation efforts, Drapeauwrote. But the following day awildland fire investigator ruledout other possible causes,including sparks fromelectric wiresorpassing trains, andpolicearrested Farinacci on Monday

“As it happens in so many critical cases, it wascitizens whowerepayingattention to theirsurroundings,being aware andwilling to step up andsay something thatled to therelatively quickapprehension of Mr.Farinacci,” Sheriff JohnNowelstoldreporters. Child credited the heroic work of police and firefighters responding to the disaster,and said he hopes people who lost homes “can get some kind of peace of mind or alittle bit of comfort” from the arrest. Farinacci appeared in court Tuesday via video link from the jail and was represented by Colin Charbonneau,director of the Spokane County public defender’soffice. Ajudge set hisarraignment for Thursday

In-N-Out worker killed in shooting traveled to open stores

BY DAVE COLLINS and SARAH RAZA Associated Press

Oneofthe three people killed when agunman opened fire at an In-N-Out Burger had traveled to Idaho to help expand the restaurant chain.

AshleyGaribaywas on ateam tapped to train new employees, away from where she lived in Stockton, California. Herfamily said she loved her work and called her an “amazing, beautiful soul who loved living life.”

“She was adventurous, outgoing,smart anddriven,

never lettingobstacles get in herway,” herfamily said in astatement Tuesday.“She lit up aroom with her bright smile andalaugh thatwas contagious.” Police have not yet said what led thegunman,identified by police as 24-year-old Chad Williams,toopen fire Saturday afternoon at the Twin Falls restaurant. The attack ended when Williams shot and killedhimself.Police said they are confident Williams acted alone. Twin Falls police Lt.Steven Gassert said Tuesday

thatheexpectedmore details to be released later in the day.Hedidn’telaborate further Acandlelight vigil was plannedTuesdaynight at Twin Falls City Park, and policehaveopened acenter where those who were affected by theshooting could get support and request or collect personal itemsleft at the scene. Flags in the city will be at half-staff until next week. The In-N-Out location opened in lateJuly as part of theCaliforniachain’sIdaho expansion. Garibay gother first jobatone of the restaurants, and shedreamed

of one day managing one of the stores, her family said. She worked in Stockton and joined the traveling team in 2023, said family spokesperson Kristin Cole. Witnesses describeda chaotic scene in and around the Idaho restaurant as shots were fired. One customer told the AP she and her daughters were waiting inside when sheheardshots from thekitchen and an employeetoldher to getdown. Another woman and her mother were waitinginthe drive-thru line when they saw people running across theroad and workers bolt-

ing outofthe restaurant as aman directing traffic told them there wasashooter Aman who wasata stoplight near the restaurant described seeing aperson with an AR-style rifle emerge fromthe drive-thru anda man with apistol start firing toward the suspect. During theattack,anoffduty state trooper and a civilianfiredonWilliams, diverting him from the restaurant, police have said. Police haven’treleased the identities of any of the victims,but family and friends identified Garibay andChristopherClaunch as

amongthose killed.

OneofClaunch’sfriends, Garren Taylor,said Claunch completeda rehabprogram for alcohol abuseatRenaissance RanchRecovery Center in Rupert, Idaho, a couple of years ago and was immediately hired there. Taylor said Claunch, known to those close to himas “Toph,”dedicated his life to helping others get sober

“He helped hundredsof people,” Taylor said Monday “He was just agift to anyone he cameincontact with. It wasn’tabout the paycheck. His attitude was: ‘I getto help someone today.’ ”

BY HALLIE GOLDEN and JAKE OFFENHARTZ Associated Press

Family members of a Salvadoranman who died at aNew Jersey immigration jail are demanding an independent investigation into his death, alleging he was denied proper medical care inside afacility that has become aflashpoint for protests against President Donald Trump’simmigration crackdown.

The man, Edwin LopezCornejo, was hospitalized Saturday aftersuffering a “medical emergency” while being held at Delaney Hall in Newark, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. He died the same day His official cause of death will be released following

further medical examination, according to ICE, which has listedhis age as 41. Relatives said hewas 39. At anews conference Tuesday,distraught family members said LopezCornejo had complained he was notgettingregular access to his medications, which hetookfor diabetes high blood pressure and seizures. His mother,Maria Cornejo, said he called the daybefore his death to tell herhehad spokentoa doctor early Friday and had lost feeling in half his face and arm.

“My sonneeded medical attention, and he didn’t receive it,” Cornejosaidin Spanish.“He wasagood father.Agood son. Ahard-

working man. He didn’t harm anyone. Through tears, his 12-yearold daughter,Ashley Lopez, said the family knew his health had worsenedindetention.“Allofuswere worried about him,” she said. In their statement, ICE said Lopez-Cornejo “received proper medical care andwas seen by medical professionals” while in custody.Hehad been held at the facility since his arrest June 18, according to the agency, which accused him of entering the country illegally In all, at least 56 people havedied in ICEcustody during Trump’s second term. Hundreds of detainees across theU.S.havebrought lawsuitsaccusing immigrant detention facilities of failingtoprovide proper medical care.

ASSOCIATEd PRESS PHOTO By LINdSEy WASSON

Fromleft,homeowner Al Acosta, his son Louis Acosta, daughter Renee Stewart and son-inlawJamie Stewartlook throughthe remains of Al’shomeonMonday after awildfire hit the northern part of Spokane, Wash.

Entergy filed arebuttal in the case in late July,saying the company has been consideringbuying Cottonwoodfor years and that it’s not neededbecause of Meta’sdata center But the company has faced pushback from the PSC, where at least two members have suggested they will oppose the deal. Commissioners Eric Skrmetta and Mike Francis, both Republicans, indicated they would vote against the proposed deal, which would cost the average residential customer about $9 amonth more on their electric bill.

Francis said Tuesdaythathis stance hasn’tchanged andthathe expects Entergy to present areworked version of the deal.

“They’re going to have to go

STRAIT

Continued from page 1A

AU.S. official familiar with the negotiations said that any“temporary” routes established through the strait would not involve approvals by Iran or charges. The official, who was not authorized to comment publicly and spokeon condition of anonymity,said the U.S. remains committed to returning to the status quo in which “no party controls the lanes or the ability to transit through them.”

U.S. President Donald Trump is undermountingpressure to endan unpopular war that has driven up gas prices ahead of midterm elections and drawn down U.S. supplies of some munitions. In recent days, he has again whipsawed between threateningmassive strikes and voicing support for diplomatic efforts.

In an exchange withreporters on Monday,Trump reiterated his public stance that he’sopposedto tolling in the strait. “I’m not going to let them charge,” Trump said “Anybody’sgoing to charge, we’ll charge.”

Officialsconfirm progress

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said the

PORN

Continued from page1A

of state-level leaders. “If you truly intend to protect minors online, you must acknowledge the facts and introduce areal solution.”

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill, who received the communication, was not convinced.

“Not only willweNOT reconsider age verification for Pornhub’swebsite, butwe’re going to pursue evenmore accountability,”Murrillsaid in astatement on X.

State Rep.LaurieSchlegel, the Metairie Republican whosponsoredLouisiana’s age verification law and also got the letter,was similarly critical.

Schlegel called it “a desperate attempt” by the company to avoid taking responsibility for keeping minors off its platform. She noted the lobbying effortcomes as lawmakers in

backtothe drawingboard and present adifferent case, would be my guess,” Francis said. Commissioner Davante Lewis, who has also raised questions about the proposal, said investors asked himabout Cottonwood at a recentgatheringofregulatorsin Minneapolis.HesuggestedEntergy is getting “serious pushback” from investors, who are questioning whetherthe company will ever win approval. “I find it hard-pressed that this application will beapproved without fundamental changes to it,”

Lewissaid, adding that he hasn’t takenanofficial position on the deal

Scardigli, of Entergy,said the precedingwill continue on a“revisedtimeline.”

“During this period, Entergy Louisiana is also working with LPSCStaff and other parties to identifyways tolessen theinitial bill impacts of the proposed Cot-

tonwoodacquisition,” he said in a statement. “Because it is an existing facility option andavoids new construction costs,Cottonwood offers an opportunitytoadd existing dispatchable generation quickly that supports the power needs of ALL of our Louisiana customers, at afraction of the costfor anew build.”

Entergy’splannedacquisitionis beinglitigated beforeanadministrative law judge.Judges typically make arecommendation to either approve or reject such applications, and the PSC has thefinal say Entergy Corp. CEO Drew Marsh told investorsonarecent earnings call that while Cottonwood isn’t the“shiniest new plant out there,” buying it would be cost-effective for customers in thelong run.

He also said the company is working to “mitigate the impact” on ratepayers. “The biggest issue is atiming question,because the full plant

bilateral talkswith Oman are focused on “establishing safe inbound andoutboundshipping lanes,” routes that “uphold sovereign rightswhile also addressing thenational security considerationsofboth Iran andOman.”

“The final results of these negotiations will be announced once concluded,”headded, in remarks carried by Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency U.S. Secretary of StateMarco Rubio,speaking to reporters at the

is what’s available at the beginning of next year,and it’s forsale now,” Marsh said. “It’snot forsale at the ideal time when all these other customers are arriving, that aren’t data centers. And so we’re working through that and figuring outways that we can manage the risks, andwefeel confident we’ll come up with something.”

Theproposed acquisitionraised questions about whetherMeta was following aWhiteHouse pledge it signed promising to payfor its own power when building data centers. Meta spokesperson FrancisBrennan said at the timethat theanalysisbythe PSC consultant, LaneSisung, was “inaccurate speculation.”

“Meta pays itsown way,both for thepower and new infrastructure we use,” he said in June. “Our agreement with Entergy is built to guarantee we paythose costs,not Louisianans.”

Sisung’sanalysis raised ahost

State Department, said “there’s been progress madeinthose talks, butnot finality yet. We’re hoping that will happen very shortly.”

Rubio has previously ruled out anydeal that would give Iran controlover the strait, saying last monththat it would create a“very dangerousprecedent” for other partsofthe world.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessenttold CNBC that “there is a chance we may haveadeal today or tomorrow to open the strait and move towards amore normalized position in this conflict.”

Asked whether there would be tolls for movement through the strait,Bessent said:“Ithink it would be freedom of movement.”

The potential agreement between Iranand Omanwas first reported by The New York Times

Trump: This is Iran’s ‘lastchance’

Afifthofthe world’straded oil andgas transited the waterway beforethe war. Iranian attacks on ships have largely shut it down, causing aspike in the priceoffuel, fertilizer and other goods, and rattling economies far beyond the Middle East.

Trumpsaid Monday that the U.S.was in talks withIran,saying it was Tehran’s“last chance” to reach adeal and avoid another U.S. military escalation.

of problemswith the plan. Cottonwoodis22years old, has reliability issues that would require hundreds of millions in spending by Entergy to fix and wasacquired by aprivate equity firm afew years ago forfar less than Entergy is planning to buy it for.

And, he wrote, the need forpower exists “principally by the Metarelatedramp periodratherthanby general system load growth.”

The data center,one of the largestinthe world, hasbecomea flashpoint for anational debate over themassive infrastructure buildout to power artificial intelligence products.

Landry’s administrationhas signed nondisclosure agreements with Meta and other data center developers as part of abid to land the facilities. His administration also pushedthrough atax break for data centers that could give billions in benefits to tech giants like Meta and Amazon.

“The first phase is the opening of thestraits.The second phasewill be the denuclearization,” Trump said. “And that will take alittle while.” Iran has denied it is negotiating with the U.S., saying the talks are only with Oman.

The two sides reached an interim agreement in June to reopen the strait andlaunch60daysoftalks aimedatendingthe warand resolving the long-standing dispute over Iran’snuclear program.That agreementcollapsedoverescalating hostilities focused on the strait, and the deadline is around twoweeks away

Cargoshipreports strike

Meanwhile,a cargoship reported being“hitbyanunknown projectile” in the strait off the coast of Oman, the UnitedKingdom Maritime TradeOperationsCenter said, without providing further informationonthe ship, including what flag it was sailing under or whether it was carrying cargo.

Theshipsustained damage, according to British maritime security firm Ambrey,which did not elaborate.

In recent weeks, Iran hadrepeatedly attacked ships using aroute running close to Oman that is overseen by the U.S. military andintended to bypass Tehran’scontrol.

Congress are actively considering federal legislation such as the SCREEN Act, which would establish ageverification requirements forwebsiteswith sexual content.

Louisiana in 2022 passeda law requiringpornographic websites to digitally verify thatauser is older than 18 before viewing their content.

Supporters argued it was necessary to keep children away fromage-inappropriate content and safe from child predators. Opponents said it would violate users’ privacy throughthe collection of personal data and would pushyoung people away from more responsible sites that implementthe age checks tomore dangerous ones that don’t verify users’ ages. In its letter,Pornhubargued those concernsare beingrealized

“Dangerous websitesthat are breaking the law by refusing to implementany

kind of age assurance are benefiting from the law by winning traffic over from the compliant websites that have,” theletter states.

Thecompany argued a better solution exists and has been tested in theUnited Kingdom: Requiring companies like Apple and Google to enable parental controls, which block porn and other adultcontent, at thelevel of the operating system by default. Users would need to verify their age to disable those controls.

“This method protects minors withoutrequiring adults to surrender unnecessary personal information to multiplewebsites,” the letter states. “It also avoids creating systems that areeasily circumvented through tools like VPNs.”

Schlegel said she supports age verification measures that workatthe system or device level, butwhenit comes to pornography in particular,platforms themselves must takeaction.

ASSOCIATEd PRESS PHOTO By TIERNEy L. CROSS

SecretaryofStateMarco Rubio said Tuesdayofthe talks between Iran andOman that ‘there’sbeen progress made in those talks, but not finality yet.’

Chipotle pulls jalapeños from some restaurants

CHICAGO— Chipotle Mexican Grill said Tuesday that it had removedjalapeñosfrom some of its restaurants, afterdetermining the peppers could potentially be tiedtoa salmonella outbreak publichealth officials areinvestigating.

In abrief statement, Chipotle maintained that the “health and safetyofour guestsand employees is our highestpriority” —and that it was aware of authorities investigatingthe source of asalmonella outbreak impacting severalfood service retailers.

The company added that it had pulled the jalapeñosout of an abundance of caution and “replacedthem with product from different growers.”It didnot specify how many of its restaurants were impacted, or where the previous peppers had come from.

The Minnesota Department of Health on Tuesday confirmed that it was investigating asalmonella outbreak tied to several Mexican-style, quick-service restaurants —with jalapeños as the suspected source. Officialsidentified 110 cases in the state. Chipotle made up themajority of those where theywere able to reach impacted consumers foraninterview —who ate at the chain between mid-June and mid-July —but not all.

McDonald’sposts strong second-quarterprofit

McDonald’sposted astrong profitinits secondquarter andnamed anew head of the U.S. market with sales athome under pressure as many Americans grow increasingly cautious aboutspending.

Same-store sales, or sales at locations open at least ayear, edgedup0.8% in the U.S. That’s asharp slowdownfrom the 2.5% increase ayear ago, when the company hadabig win with a meal tied to “A Minecraft Movie.” Global same-store sales rose 1.3%.

CEO Chris Kempczinski said duringthe company’searnings call on Tuesday that the U.S. performance was partly hurt by inconsistent execution across its restaurants and marketing programsthat didn’tmeet expectations.

“Wedon’thave astrategy problem,”hesaid. “Wesimply didn’t execute at the level we needed to in the second quarter.” Another issue was apullback on thenumberofdigitaloffers that customers received, Chief Financial Officer Ian Borden said. Without those offers, customers either boughtless, or didn’tbuy at all. McDonald’s plans to address this by launching more digital offers nationally,starting next week. The company is also looking to send more personalized offerstoits most loyalusers, he added. Toyota reports hefty profitoncheapyen

TOKYO— Toyota reportedTuesday anearly doubling ofprofit for the fiscal first quarter as solid demand in the U.S. and Indiacombined with afavorable exchange rate to boost results.

The Japanese automaker, which makes the Prius hybrid and Lexusluxury models, recorded a$9.4 billion netprofit in the April-June period, up from$5.8 billion the same quarter the previous year Quarterly sales rose 10% year on year to $85 billion.

Acheap yen raises the value of overseas earnings for Japan’sgiant exporters like Toyota Motor Corp. The U.S.dollar was trading at about 145 yen during the fiscal firstquarter in 2025, butatabout160 yen for the same period this year.

The dollar is now trading at about 158 yen because ofa joint U.S.-Japan market intervention, which came lastweek, or in thefiscal second quarter

The favorable currency effectadded $2.2 billion toToyota’squarterly operatingprofit in the April-June period

The automaker is figuring the yenat160 to the dollar for the full fiscal year

THEADVOCATE.COM/news/business

BY STAN CHOE Associated Press

NEW YORK The U.S. stock market ralliedtorecords on Tuesday as profitskept piling up for companiesand as oil prices eased.

TheS&P 500 shot up 1.8%, and the main measureofWall Street’s health topped its prior all-time

high set acouple months ago. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 907 points, or 1.7%, to its own recordset the daybefore, while theNasdaq composite jumped 2.6% Despite worries about high inflation,the war in Iran, frustration withthe economy and apossible bubble in stock prices because of theboom in artificial-intelligence technology,Wall Street hit its latest apex and rewarded investors who remained patient because profits keep soaringfor companies. Stock prices tendtofollow thepath of corporate earnings over the long term.

Palantir Technologies helped lead the way and surged 29.5% afterCEO Alex Karp said its overallrevenue leaped 93% in what he called an “otherworldly” quarter.Besides reporting astronger profit for the spring than analysts expected, the AI company also raised its revenue forecast for the full year of 2026.

Caterpillar climbed 5.6% after the heavy-equipment maker likewise reported stronger profit and revenue than analysts expected. It wasthe first time Caterpillarmade morethan $20 billioninsales and revenue in aquarter,and CEO Joe Creed saidit’sseeing strong or-

der rates and agrowing backlog across its mainbusinesses.

Caterpillar is also benefiting from the AI boom through increased orders for turbinesused to power data centers, among other things. They’re the latest companies to deliverevenbetter profits forthe latest quarter than investors expected,following strongresults from Amazon, Microsoft and others. Comingintothisweek, companies in the S&P 500 index were on track to deliver growth of nearly 50% in earnings per share for the spring from ayear earlier,according to FactSet.

By The Associated Press

NEW YORK Big oilcompaniescontinue to bookmassiveprofits as fighting in Iran disrupts energy markets and sends oil and gasolineprices sharply higher Six of Europe’slargest oil companies posted combined first-quarter profits of $22 billion, more than 40% higher than lastyear.Profits at BP,based in London, more than doubledto $3.9 billion in the second quarter,the company said Tuesday

AndSaudi Aramco reported a44% year-onyear increase in second-quarter net profit that reached $32.69 billion, driven by higher crude oil, refined products and chemicals prices.

Thesupercharged performances from big oil in Europe and the MiddleEast follow reports of enormous profits from the largest U.S. oil drillers last week.

As the conflict has dragged on,high oil prices have driven up the cost of gasoline, jetfuel and diesel, which has led to higher shipping costs. In theWest, filling up the car or buying aplane ticket is costing consumersmore. But the situation in parts of Asia

BY PAUL WISEMAN AP economics writer

WASHINGTON— U.S. job openings fell slightly in June, but thelabor market continued to showresilienceinthe face of an economic shock from fighting in Iran and the closure of theStrait of Hormuz. Employers posted 7.36 million vacancies in June, down from 7.54 million in May,the Labor Department said Tuesday.The numbers were in line with economist expectations.Openings rose by 97,000 at warehouse,transportation and utility companies and 39,000 at federal government agencies.

aremoredire becausethe regiondepends more heavily on fuel exportedthrough the Strait of Hormuz. Fuel supplieshaverun low in some countries,leading to rationing and sporadic closures of schools andgovernmentoffices.

Despite oil prices falling to their lowest level in three weeksTuesday,big U.S. energy companies drew theire of PresidentDonald Trump, who criticized them this week for their outsized profits.

Trump said he’s nothappy with Chevron and Exxon Mobil, though energy prices skyrocketed only after the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran in lateFebruary,and the Strait of Hormuz was effectively closed offto tanker traffic.

About 20% of theworld’s oil typically flows through thestrait.

“Theymadetoo muchmoney,too much money,” Trump said Monday. “They ought to give some of thatback to the public, and they better cut the retail price.” Exxon Mobil on Friday reported that its second quarter profitsdoubled to $14.5billion, boosted by record diesel production.

Openings droppedatwholesalers andmanufacturers of nondurable goods. Layoffs were little-changed at 1.8 million, and the number of people quitting their jobs —asign of confidence in their prospects —rose slightly The gross number of people hired —beforesubtractingthose who quit or lost their jobs —rose slightly 5.3 million. But hiring is weaker thanit was in the jobs boom that followed pandemic lockdowns. Then, gross monthly hiring often topped 6million. Still, theU.S. jobmarkethas remained sturdy despite asurge in en-

The oil giant, based in Spring, Texas, brought in $116 billion in revenue, up 42%. Chevron, based in Houston, nearly quadrupled its profits to $12 billion and revenue jumped 56% to morethan $70 billion.

On Tuesday, theprice of U.S.crude oil fell 5.4%, or $4.36, to $75.98 per barrel. The sharp decline followed comments by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who told CNBCthat the U.S.and Iran “may have a deal today or tomorrow to open the Strait.” Oil prices forU.S. crude are downfrom around $92 abarrel in late July,but still more than 13% higherthanwhenthe conflict with Iran started.

Brent crude, the international standard, fell 4.9% to $83.87 per barrel.

Aresolution to the Iran conflict, which has lastedmorethanfive months, could giveoil shippersthe abilitytosendvesselsout of the Persian Gulf, where tankers of oil and other products have been trapped during the fighting.

Sharesofmajor oilcompaniesare up by around 20% to 30% this year,easily outpacing the 13% gains on the S&P 500.

ergy prices caused by theconflictin Iran, rebounding from a2025 slump. Before thewar in Iran, roughly 15 millionbarrels of Persian Gulf oil wereshipped each day through the Strait of Hormuz. The strait borders Iran, which has fired on ships attempting to transitthe passage. So far this year,companies, governmentagencies and nonprofits have added an average 92,000 jobs amonth. That is up from fewerthan 10,000 amonth last year —fewest outsidea recessionsince 2002 as employers held off on hiring becauseofhighinterest rates and uncertainty caused by President Donald Trump’sunpredictable eco-

nomic policies. Whenthe LaborDepartment releases its jobs report for July on Friday, it is expected to show job gains of 100,000, up from 57,000 in June. The unemployment rate is expected to have remained at alow 4.2%, accordingtoa survey of forecasters by thedata firmFactSet. In yearspast, 100,000 newjobs a month would have been mediocre. But Trump’simmigration crackdown andthe ongoing retirements of baby boomersmean that fewer people are competing forwork. So the economy doesn’tneed as many new jobs as it once did to keep the unemployment rate from rising.

BY STEPHANIE RIEGEL Staff writer

In an earnings call withWall Street investors Tuesday, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and histop executives discussed the growth and financial performance of the publicly tradedcompany’srocket, satellite and AI divisions. They didn’tmentionany plans for anew spaceportincoastal Vermilion Parish.

As previously reported, Gov Jeff Landry’sadministrationisin the final stages of negotiating a deal with SpaceX to build alaunch

SPACEX

Continued from page1A

milion, which has apopulation of about 60,000 people, are more skeptical.Around 5,000 people live in the remote area around Pecan Island where sourceshave told The Times-Picayune and The Advocate that SpaceX plans to build a launch site.

For months, many in Vermillion have heard the rumorsofamajor project involving aspace company, but there’sbeen little information shared so far from public officials. Gov.Jeff Landry’soffice has declined to comment about any potential launch site in Vermilion Parish. The company has declined to comment, but referredtoapost on X thatstates that the company needs more launch sites and that included amap of the area around Pecan Island.

Vermillion Parish President Chad Vallo said he expects to hear from state officials at some point,and he said he’sexcited for the jobs and potential economic growth. His office is in the process of reaching out to elected officials in Texas near SpaceX’s Starbase, the company’sflagship launch site, to find out about the impacts of the spaceport there.

“If it does come to fruition, it would be life-changing,” Vallo said, adding that he hopes that his grandson,who serves in the U.S. Navy,will be able to return to the area and get ajob with SpaceX.

“He could possibly be home and wouldn’thave to go find ajob somewhere else.”

Vallo said that to the extent he has heard from constituents, they support the project. Still, in interviews Tuesday,and during an online call organized Monday night by alocal opponent of any space development, some residents didn’tshare that view.Environmentaladvocates are concerned about how asite devoted to space launches could impact the coastal region that’s nestled between wildlife refuges.

WayneMiller, theassistant fire chief in Pecan Island, said he’sopposed to the project, as are many people he’sheard from. He’salso concernedabout the lack of

facility on a130,000-acre sitenear Pecan Island about 45 miles southwest of Lafayette.

Landry is expected to announce thedeal,which will bring thousands of jobs and commercial infrastructuretothe remote area, later this month.

On Tuesday’scall, Musk and SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell alludedtothe company’s plans to exponentially scale up the number of reusableStarship rockets it will blast into space carrying Starlink satellites. Eventually,Musk said, Starship payloads will also include compo-

nentsfor AI datacenters in space.

“I know this sounds nuts …we are going to land alot of tonnage on the moon,” he said. “We’re going to build factories on the moon.”

Buthedid not elaborate on what it will take to build enough new launchfacilities andincreasecapacity at existing facilitiesinBoca Chica, Texas, and Cape Canaveral, Florida, to attain those goals.

None of the Wall Street analysts that were allowed to ask questions followingthe company’spresentation pressedfor details on the topic, focusing instead on thecompany’sfinancial performance.

In arequestfor comment last weekend on the Vermilion Par-

ish deal, aSpaceX spokesperson referred to aprevious post from May on its platform X. “Weare constantly exploring to find viable sites to expand Starship operations in thefuture, both domestically andinternationally,” the company said in its social media post. Tuesday’s call wasthe first since SpaceX went public in June with an initial public offering that raised arecord-breaking $85.7 billion. In the months since, the company’ssharepricehas tumbled from itsmid-June high of $172 a share to $125 whenthe markets closed Tuesday

The company reported Tuesday thatitbrought in $7.8 billion in revenue in the second quarter,up92%

information.

“The state needs to open itsmouth and tell us what’s happening,” he said.

Aspaceport on theGulf Pecan Island isasmall communityalong astretch of wetlands about 45 miles southwestofLafayette.

Down theroadfrom the town, in an area called Freshwater City,isasmall stretch of filled-in marsh that SpaceX has indicated on social media that it mayacquire for its next spaceport

About 130,000 acres of wetlands around PecanIsland are owned by ExxonMobil, which acquiredthe land in 1958 when it bought Humble Oil, according to Jason Theriot, ahistorian and author of abook about thearea. Since then, the land has been managed by an entity called theVermilion Corporation, which oversees duck hunting there.

As part of asettlement withExxoninlawsuits alleging that the company damaged parts of Louisiana’s fragile coastline, the state is negotiating for SpaceXto receivecontrol of theland, either througha sale, longterm lease or other type of arrangement. The site is potentially aGoldilocks location for Musk’scompany. It’snear theGulf Intracoastal Waterway,ashipping channel that SpaceX may make useof. There’sabundant

natural gasnearby,which is needed for rockets. And there are few nearbyresidents to complain about the sonic booms —which, near SpaceX’slaunch site in Texas, have been strong enough to physically damage houses in the area.

Still, environmentalists are raising concerns about thepotential impact of the project on the naturalareas that surround it. The stretch of landSpaceX is lookingto acquireissituatedbetween the Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge to its westand an Audubon-owned site,the Paul J. Rainey Sanctuary, to its east. Both provide key habitatfor migratorybird species.

“AsSpaceX considers development in Vermilion Parish, we are concerned about potential impacts to sensitive habitats, wildlife, fisheries, air quality, local livelihoods and emergencyresponse timeswhenroads become congested,”said Alyssa Portaro, the executive director of theHabitat Recovery Project, aVintonbased environmental group. She called for conducting environmental studiesof the area to establish baseline data against which the impacts of the project can be measured.

‘Something’s happening’

SpaceX’sTexas launch site hasaffected the environmentthere.After one

of the landmark launches of Musk’sStarship rocket in 2023, conservationists canvassed the landscape for signs of environmentaldamage. The impact was clear Yellow egg yolk stained the ground where birds’ nests hadbeen the daybefore, according to The New York Times. None of the nine neststhat conservationists

from the sameperiod ayear ago. But during thesame period,the companyremainedunprofitable, losing $541 million on the heels of a $4.3 billion loss in the first quarter

Chief Financial Officer Bret Johnsontoldinvestors thevast majority of thecompany’s capital expenditures have been on its AI division, not its rockets.

Of $18.4 billionspent in thesecond quarter on capital projects, $15 billionwenttoAIinfrastructure.

“Weplantoinvest aggressively in the threeareas:Starship (rocket) development andproduction, Starlink (satellites), andAIcomputeinfrastructure,” Johnson said.

had been monitoring survived the launch intact.

Louisiana has passed legislation aimed at reducing anyliabilitiesfor SpaceX and other companies who want to launch rockets in the state. Anew law passed this spring aimed at shielding aerospacecompanies from lawsuitsoverthe impacts of anypotential launchsite, barringnuisance lawsuits from local governments or residents, as well as other legislation meanttolure commercial spaceflight companies to the state.

Pierre Miller, 64, an attorney who lives in New Orleansand whose family owns around 10,000 acres in coastal Vermilion, said he was open to theidea of SpaceX developing in the area. He said the area never recoveredfromHurricaneRitain2005 andcould use an economicshotinthe arm.

“I’m curious aboutitand excitedabout the possibilities,” he said. “I don’tknow why it can’tbecompatible with (existing recreational uses). They will need alot of empty space buffer.”

Regardless of their views on theprospect of aspace launch site, residents and landownerssaidtheywere

largely just seeking more information on what might be coming. And with alack of official information, questions have spread. Afew weeks ago, largewhiteXs appearedonanumber of streets in the area. During acall Monday evening organized by alocal opponent of the project, the markings becameatopic of speculation.

“Weall know something’s happening,” one Pecan Island resident said of the Xs, which brought guesses that they were visible fromsatellites.Others guessed that they were simply marking roads that would need to be widened.

Warren Winch, 79, aPecan Island native who has given airboat tours of the region, wasfocused less on what might be coming that what might no longer exist in the area if SpaceX arrives.

“If they putitwhere they say they are, at least I’ll have anice view of the launches,” Winch said. “WhatI worry about are my kids whoraise cattlefor aliving and other people who do shrimping andcrabbing to survive Most of them don’twant it and Ican only imagine what it’sgoing to look like for them.”

STAFF PHOTO By LESLIEWESTBROOK Some Pecan Island residentsspeculate that the white ‘X’onLa.

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Lafayette Transit lands nearly $3M

Federal funds secured for upgrades, new buses

BY KRISTIN ASKELSON

Staff writer

The Lafayette Transit System has secured nearly

$3 million in competitive federal funding to replace aging buses, upgrade maintenance equipment and continue modernizing public transportation in Lafayette Parish.

Lafayette Consolidated Government announced Tuesday that the transit system received $2.985 million in Federal Transit Administration grants administered through the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development. The funding was awarded

through the redistribution of unused federal transit dollars. Lafayette was one of only a few transit systems in Louisiana selected to receive the competitive grants.

The awards include $1.785 million through the Federal Transit Administration’s Rural Section 5339 Bus and Bus

Facilities Program, and $1.2 million through the FTA’s Section 5307 Small Urban Areas Program. The funding, combined with a required local match, will pay for:

n Replacing buses that have exceeded their service life

n Upgrading the compressed natural gas fueling facility

n Installing heavy-duty

vehicle maintenance lifts

n Modernizing the diesel fueling system.

Officials said the improvements are expected to increase fleet reliability, improve maintenance operations, reduce downtime and lower long-term operating costs.

The grants also build on the transit system’s ongoing fleet modernization effort. Five new 35-foot Gillig low-

FILL THE DANCE FLOOR

TOP: Members of the Luke Huval Band perform for Bal du Dimanche, or Sunday Dance, on Sunday at the Vermilionville performance center in Lafayette.

ABOVE LEFT: Paul and Joyce Matherne dance to the sounds of the Luke Huval Band during the event.

ABOVE RIGHT: A couple shares a laugh between dances at Bal du Dimanche.

RIGHT: Couples fill the dance floor as the Luke Huval Band performs. The Bal du Dimanche continues next week with Kevin Huval’s Cajun Creole Dance Band scheduled to play

Two children, adult injured in Monday fire

Lafayette firefighters responded to the blaze at Himbola Manor Apartment Complex

were on scene within four minutes. Crews entered the apartment, quickly contained the fire and immediately searched for the kids. Both kids were found in a bed-

room. Firefighters rescued both of them and began lifesaving measures. Acadian Ambulance medics arrived on scene, and the children were taken to a local hospital. The siblings, a 5-year-old girl and a 14-year-old boy are in stable condition, officials said. An adult neighbor living upstairs also suffered minor burns exiting her apartment while holding her infant child. She took herself to a local hospital to be evalu-

ated. The apartment sustained heavy fire damage. The fire also damaged an upstairs unit. Fire officials determined the fire originated on a sofa in the living room. Investigators believe the younger sibling was playing with a lighter on the sofa and ignited combustible materials. The fire was ruled an accident. Email Ja’kori Madison at jakori. madison@theadvocate.com.

floor buses recently entered service, with three serving Lafayette Transit System routes and two leased to the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. The buses include onboard Wi-Fi, digital passenger information displays, a ninecamera surveillance system, rear backup cameras, advanced driver-assistance

BY CLAIRE TAYLOR Staff writer

The malfeasance trial of former Lafayette Mayor-President Josh Guillory over an allegedly illegal spoil bank removal in St. Martin Parish has been delayed. Guillory was in court in St. Martin Parish on Monday where his trial was pushed back to Nov 16. In February, a St. Martin Parish grand jury indicted Guillory on four felony counts of malfeasance in office. He pleaded not guilty in May Guillory says he did nothing wrong and the charges are politically motivated. The charges are related to his administration’s 2022 removal of a spoil bank on the Vermilion River in St. Martin Parish without permits or permission from officials in the other parish.

Decades ago, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dredged the Vermilion River and deposited the spoil along the bank in St. Martin Parish During the night of Feb 21-22, 2022, a contractor hired by the Guillory administration removed about 6 feet off the top of the spoil bank in St Martin Parish and deposited it in Lafayette Parish without permission from the St. Martin Parish government or permits from the Corps.

St. Martin Parish officials say the spoil bank stopped the river from flooding some parts of the parish Guillory maintains that the project helps Lafayette and St. Martin Parish property from flooding by allowing water to be held in the Cypress Island Swamp when the river is high.

The spoil bank removal was one piece of a larger plan to improve drainage and reduce flooding in the wake of the disastrous 2016 flood in which hundreds of Lafayette Parish and Acadiana homes and businesses were flooded due to excessive rainfall over several days.

Guillory is charged with:

n Removing spoil banks along the Vermilion River without a Corps permit in violation of the federal Rivers and Harbors Act.

n Removing spoil banks along the Vermilion River without a Corps permit in violation of the federal Clean Water Act.

n Instructing employees to do work in violation of the U.S. and state constitutions and laws by removing spoil banks without permission of St. Martin Parish Floodplain administrator per two St. Martin Parish ordinances.

n Intentionally causing barges to be placed across the Vermilion River, a

Guillory

STAFF PHOTOS By BRAd BOWIE

It’sarare thing these daystohear goodnews about insurance rates in Louisiana. Solet us cautiously cheer signs that thedrastic,cascadingproperty insurance crisis of thepastfew yearsmay be easing

Business writer Stephanie Riegel’srecent reporting connected this welcome development to an important downstream effect: Themarketfor homesales in thesouthern partofthe stateisimproving, and real estateagentssay better affordability and availability of insurance is abig reason why.Commercialsales are doing even better than residential, Riegelalso reported. Prices are still subject to inflation, but importantly,the rate of premiumincreases has slowed on average to the lowest level in several years. According to thecommissioner of insurance’soffice, premium increases arebasically flat so far in 2026, after theyincreased4.6% last year,6.6% in 2024 and by double digits in 2023 and 2022

Fewcarriersare proposing rate increases this year,and ahandful have even filed for decreases. And newcarriers are coming into the market, although some are not writing many policies yet. Also, some bigger carriersthathad stopped writing are now dipping theirtoesback into the market

All this has given many homeowners more optionsand driven down reliance on the statebacked insurer of last resort.As of June, the Citizens’ rolls have dropped nearly 20% since 2022.

There are multiple factors at play here

One is that Louisiana hasnot been hitbya major hurricane since 2021,when Ida barreled through the New Orleans areaand stayedstrong well inland. That, and fewer storms elsewhere, allowed insurers to recover from severalyears of huge payouts. The reinsurancemarket,which backs up smaller companies, is thriving forthe samereason Government policieshavecontributedtoo Higher building standards and arecent focus on encouraging —and helpinghomeowners afford —fortified roofs havemade insuring homes here alessrisky bet.

Commissioner of Insurance TimTemplealso points to recent legislative policieshechampioned, which were designed to boost the free market and encourage competition.They include bills to make it more difficult to file excessive bad faith claims following catastrophic events, and to end alaw thatpreventedinsurers from dropping policyholders whohad been customers for three years without specific cause.

Noneofthis is to say that concerns over future rates and availabilitydon’tremain. And somefolks arestill seeingspikes. One big storm, or asequence of themlike we sawinthe years leading up to Ida, could reverse these positive developments.

“Overall, it’salittle bit better,” Temple said. “Wecan saythings are improving, but Iamcertainly not satisfiedwhere we are.” We aren’teither,but we’ll takeit. As we know from recent experience, this new trend is certainly better than the alternative.

LETTERSTOTHE EDITOR ARE

WELCOME. HERE AREOUR

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

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

TO SENd US A LETTER, SCANHERE

OPINION

In 1969, Secretary of Transportation John Volpe halted plans for an elevated expressway slicing through theFrench Quarter.That wasn’t sentiment —itwas Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, which required federal agencies to assess harm to historic places, consult withaffected communities and invitepublic comment before breaking ground.

That law is now being dismantled. AJuly 17, 2026 draft from theAdvisory Council on Historic Preservation would make avoiding harm optional, public comment discretionary and aproject’sforeseeable ripple effectsirrelevant. Mandatory tribal consultation would vanish, along with guaranteed notification for state and local governments. Even iconic cultural landscapes thinkthe Grand Canyon, not just buildings —could stop counting as “historic properties.”

Louisianahas moreatstakethan most.Its tourism economy—built on the French Quarter,plantation corridor and historic neighborhoods —depends on those places staying

recognizable. Preservation law has kept wrought iron balconies, shotgun houses and centuries-old street grids intact despiterelentless pressure to modernize. Strip away that protection, and you jeopardize both livelihoods and the sense of place that defines thestate.

Without Section 106, the fate of historic places restsonthe tastes of whoever holds power.Aleader who favors glass and steel over wrought iron could dismiss the French Quarter as an eyesore and clear the way for high-rises. The same logic applies to any landscape deemed to be in the way Section 106 did not block every bad idea, but it forced communication.Removethat requirement, and theonly thingprotecting the French Quarter or the Grand Canyon is whether those in charge happen to like them.

That’snot preservation —it’s whim. Everyone should be alarmed. SANDRA STOKES chair of advocacy,Louisiana Landmarks Society NewOrleans

After readingthe recentcolumn by accomplishedjournalistStephanieGrace, “Landryknows darn well that New Orleans is special,” and theopinionpiece by Mitch Landrieu, “New Orleansisn’t aLa. liability; it’s an asset,” Idecided to writethis letter Iama 78-year-old lifelong resident of New Orleans. Iproudly wear aT-shirt that says“Be ANew Orleanian wherever you are.” The slogan became popular among thediaspora of NewOrleans residents who movedtemporarily to other cities and states followingHurricaneKatrina Everyone Iknowsaidtheyfound no place quitelike NewOrleans, asingularly unique city So what does it mean to “Be aNew Orleanian, wherever youare”? It meanssharing andcelebrating ourculture, ourmusic,our food,our history,our neighborhoods, ourdiversity,our festivals andour resilience. The best thing aboutwhere we come from is us.Toquote Bob Dylan, “There are alot of places Ilike,but Ilike NewOrleans better.”

I’ve ordered anew T-shirtthat says “New Orleansthinks they’re Soooo Special.” I’ll wear it when Igoout to hear our music, eat our food,dance at festivalsand joina second-lineparadewhenever possible.

Nothing is too inconsequential or beneaththe notice of the egomaniac in the White House.

He’shad the name of Palm Beach International Airport —PBI changed to Donald J. TrumpInternational Airport,with theFAA-designated three-letter identifier now DJT.If/when thearch is built it will undoubtedly be named the Arch de Trump(that’ll show those ungrateful French people) or somethingsimilar, with his name on it. He wants the new Navy battleships, under construction, to be named after himself. He wants the U.S. Mint to produce adollar coin with his likeness (never been done for aliving person). He already has his signatureonour paper currency He wants to change the name of the200-year-old Penn Station to

TrumpStation.Hewanted his name on the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts (the SupremeCourt stopped that).

The new paint scheme on his billion-dollar gift airplaneisremarkedly similar to theone on his privately owned Boeing757, now being used by his sons (theprevious paint schemeonAir Force One airplanes was in use for 60-something years). When theballroom is finished, it’ll surely be known as the TrumpBallroom.Etc., etc. He has not yet tried to put his nameintothe Pledge of Allegiance. Butmaybe On theother hand, would we rather have Kamala Harris in the White House?

ROBERT RADELAT Baton Rouge

highlighting solutionsfor arefreshing spin on thenews

ELAINE HANEY NewOrleans Re: “Tulane’s water runoffproject helps city”; “‘WorldCup of cuisine’crowns winners.” Wow, apositive frontpage this morning (Monday, July 27, 2026). It wasrefreshing. Ihavethree previous front-page sections waitingfor me to go through. Even last night,I put them aside. Ididn’twanttobe brought down once morebyour inabilityto do well to others by following theGolden Rule that we learned growing up. It’s importanttohighlight thesolutions people are involved in. Give short shrift to retaliation (that seemstobeatthe forefrontmost of these days). So,good job Ialsoenjoy thenew smallersectionsin Sunday’sedition— Inspired,Business and Health.

Iknowthat“This is Louisiana Now” was an advertisement by LouisianaEconomic Development. However,itwas an excellent showcase of Louisiana andour possibilities.

BARBARA LYONS NewOrleans

In NolanWells’death, mayberaceisn’t theissue

war eating

It’s been more than amonthsince thelifeless body of Nolan Wells was found just off of Horn Island, Mississippi. Before the Fourth of July,most people outside of the Ocean Springs, Mississippi area didn’tknow hisname His death, and the mysterious circumstances before and after,have catapulted his name into the national consciousness. Far too little is known about what happened, how it happened and who, if anyone, is responsible. By far,the biggest accusations andassumptions have been focused on race.

After watching several interviews of Wells’ parents, listening to dozens of interviews with Wells family attorney Ben Crump, anationallyknown civil rights lawyer,and interviewing Crump on WBOK’sGood MorningShow,I’m notsosure this is about race. It may be, but there are too many questions.

n If the initial autopsy wascompleted,why haven’tthe resultsbeen shared with Crump’steam and the family?

“We’ve been informed that thestate of Mississippi autopsy hasbeen completed, but they have not divulged to us in any way what the findings of that autopsy are,” Crump toldme.

n There’sbeen afamily-requested autopsy,performed by Dr.Robert Mitchell Jr., aprominent,board-certifiedforensic pathologist andpresident of the National Medical Association. Cause of death? Undetermined.

n Were his airways andlungs waterlogged? “Wedon’tknow that,” Crump told me. “That’swhy we ain’tspeculatingonit.”

n If Wells did drown, what was thecondition of his body before he drowned? “Was he forced intothe water,” Crump asked, questioning what might have happened, “or did he go in unforced?”

There are so many questions. Who are these friends of Nolan’s and who are their parents?Why was cellphone content deleted?Why didn’t someone call in an emergency?Why didn’tanyone ask about Nolan when he went missing? Why hasn’t someone,

anyone, been arrested and charged?

These are not race issues. Black, White,Latino, Asian or other,any parent would want answers after losing achild in such circumstances. Crump noted that he fought for justice for the family of Shanquella Robinson, a young Charlotte woman who traveled to CaboSan Lucas, Mexico and died undermysterious circumstances.All of hertravel friends were Black.

Mexicoand Mississippi are different, though.

“In the past, things haven’talways happened for Black people like we felt they should in Mississippi when you look at theirhistory,” saidCrump Reconstruction provided freedom and opportunity to millions of formerly enslaved people with constitutional amendments and opportunities in business, law and politics. It was toomuch for many WhiteMississippians. Reconstruction was ended and, still, hundreds of Black people were lynched. On vacation from Chicago, Emmett Till was killed there. Mississippi was the laststate to removethe Confederateflag from its official state flag, in 2020. It’snatural to wonder about the role of race in this death. Nolan Wells was

Black. The friendswithhim that day were White. That doesn’tmean anyone was racist. It doesn’tmean nobody did anything racist.

“Wecontinue to say that we’re not casting any aspersions whatsoever,” Crump said on WBOK. “Wejust want thetruthofwhat happened. We want them to be transparent just like we’re being transparent.”

An audio recording of the Sea Tow emergency call was released by the stateofMississippi. It’sbeen diced, sliced, played fast,played slow and transcribed in attempts to decipher every word. Many have concluded that background voices clearly indicate thatNolan Wells was on the boat, not left behind as friends reported. It’snot the easiest thing, but we should hit pause on the race pedal, let Crump and team do their job keeping this matter in thepublic’sears and eyes, let them conduct their investigation and trust that local law enforcementwill do their jobs, realizing that every move will be dissected by the public.

Email Will Sutton at wsutton@ theadvocate.com. He’sonInstagram at @editorwillsutton

HowAmerica overcame Puritanvs. Cavalier divide

“If history were taught in the formof stories, it would never be forgotten.” attributed to Rudyard Kipling

An Iran war thatwas supposed to be brief, andthenwas supposedtobeover, is imposing an increasing price on Donald Trump’spresidency.

We’ve seen the second term of aRepublican administrationgothis waybefore. There aredistinct echoes of George W. Bush’sIraq War— the conflictthatTrump has long excoriated —inthe president’s predicament. Now,the Iran warisdifferent thanIraq. There is no ground invasion, no regime change, no occupation, no counterinsurgency

The casualties aren’t close to the same scale, andTrump hasbeenfighting Iran for months, whereas Bush was embroiled in Iraq for years (and so were his successors).

Yetthe political trajectory looks similar

Then, as now, an unpopular conflict is putting downward pressure on aRepublican president’sapprovalrating.

Mainstreampollsters routinely have Trump’sapproval rating below 40%, and some put it below35%;Fox News hashim at 39%, while CNN (34%)and AP (33%) are lower. At this juncture of Bush’ssecond term,his averageapproval rating was aroughly comparable 38%,although he hadfurthertofallasthe war continuedand the financial crisis hit. If the Iran war is not exacting nearly the same priceinblood and treasure as the Iraq War, it is inflicting adirect economic cost on Americansthatwasn’tpresent during the Iraq War.

It was often said of violent clashes in the streetsofthe U.S. in the 1960s,“The Vietnam war hascome home.” Well, the Iran war came home the first time the average price pergallonofgasoline went above $4

Trump would have much more leeway to engage in aprotractedoperation to bring Iran to heel if the public could, in effect, forget about the war for awhile,but there’sareminder everyday of what’shappening in the Strait of Hormuz on gasstationsigns acrossAmerica. In the CNN poll, 28% approve Trump’shandling of Iran, while 25%approve his handling of inflationand 21% his handling of gasprices These issuesare related.

Because the Civil War’sembers are as cold as winter,itissafe, and as fun as summer,torevisitNorthern and Southern cultural antagonisms that once shattered national tranquillity.So, if you readonlyone American historybookthis summer, shame on you, but make it DavidS.Reynolds’ “Two Ships.” It will, among other things, inoculate you against the mischievous novels of WalterScott. Reynolds, aCity University of New York historian, uses hissubtitle —“Jamestown 1619, Plymouth 1620, and the Struggle for the Soul of America” —toassert this: The White Lion, the ship that first brought slaves to Virginia, and the Mayflower, which brought to New England Puritans in flight from monarchical absolutism and Anglican bossiness, incubated two ultimately incompatible American futures.

Reynolds’ powerful demonstration is that his story —the symbolism of the twoships —isnot his.Itwas ubiquitous in American political rhetoricuntil, happily,itnolonger was, as the nation transcended old categories.

Like any binary applied to acomplex society,the two-ships division always obscured and distorted much. Still, Southerners, not without reason, came to regard the “Puritan North” as zealots persecuting heretics, conducting witch trials,regulating personal behavior and celebrating Oliver Cromwell’sbeheading of King Charles I, while lecturing the Southonits (obvious)sins Northerners came to disdain the “Cavalier South” for having imported the English aristocracy’spreferences for social hierarchy, the Church of England rituals and dissolute livingassociated

with leisure, gambling, lavish entertaining,dueling and other attributes of a society obsessed with feudal notions of chivalry and “honor.”

Only smallminorities in both regions, especially the 300 or so FFVs (First Families of Virginia), exemplified these traits. History’strajectory is, however, disproportionately influenced by such minorities.

Reynolds says the Cavalier culture rooted in Virginia had “virtually died out” by 1776, when the Revolution temporarily brought Northand South together. Distinctly non-Cavalier Virginians (Washington, Jefferson, Madison and others not notably religious) played leading roles.

But in 1820, the Missouri Compromise embedded slavery and sectionalism in the center of politics. Reynolds says two centuries of “Cavalier values of hierarchy and subordination” then reasserted themselves. And “the momentous juxtaposition of the twoships in antislavery speeches and writings” began anew

“Distortion,” Reynolds writes, “is intrinsictocultural memory.”Southerners remembered the Mayflower as laden with fanaticisms, including abolitionism. AMissourian responded, diagnosing “the Sir Walterdisease.”Mark Twain blamed the Scottish writer Walter Scott, whose romantic re-creations of the past (“Ivanhoe” and such) permeated Southern culture. Twain thought the “sham chivalries of abrainless and worthless long-vanished society” made Southerners cherish “bogus decorations” and ranks, doing “more real and lasting harm,perhaps, thanany other individual that ever wrote.”

He exaggerated somewhat. But many others chimed in. Abraham Lincoln’s Navy secretary,Gideon Welles, blamed the Civil WaronSoutherners who “studiedScott’snovels, and fancied themselves cavaliers” and “a superior and better race.”

Lincoln, to whom the nation was always ahouse undivided, avoided the Puritan-versus-Cavalier dichotomy. Many others embraced it.

The New York Herald, the nation’s most popular newspaper,said “the Puritanand the Cavalier …will always fight when theymeet.There is nothing in commonbetween thembut hate.”

Cavaliers, nourished by myths, disdained the materialistic North. Fortunately,they were ground down by the North’smaterial strength. There is much to be said for materialism undergirding anoble cause.

Much later,the South —and, regrettably,the nation —experienced yet another resurrection of Cavalier-cumWalter-Scott sentimentality.In1936, Margaret Mitchell’smagnolia-scented novel “Gone with the Wind” becamean instant sensation. This was one year after aCavalier in spirit, the Virginian editor Douglas Southall Freeman, published, to critical acclaim and commercial success, another slab of Southern sympathy: the final twovolumes of his Pulitzer Prizewinning four-volume biography of Robert E. Lee.

Then, as now,and as ever,the nation needed one of Mark Twain’sinoculations against nonsense. The antebellum South like slavery itself, was in essence monarchical —the divine right of sometorule others. And Huckleberry Finn understood: “All kings is mostly rapscallions.” Reynolds’ twoships, whose voyages through the nation’smemory lasted more thantwo centuries, have sailed far over history’shorizon. Good riddance. One measure of our national progress is thatbothhave been supplanted as national emblems by araft on ariver,carrying neither aPuritan nor aCavalier, just Huckand Jim Email George Will at georgewill@ washpost.com.

Trump wants his presidency to matter.So, ratherthanbeing content with doing whatever he could at the margins to lower prices,he went for big, legacy-defining initiatives —tariffs andthe Iranwar —that raised prices. In so doing, he forfeitedhis signature issue of economicstewardship. In the latest Fox News poll, 33% approve of his handling of the economy and67% disapprove.

Whenthe memorandum of understanding was signedwith Iran, Trump boasted about how, by reopening the strait, it would avoid greater economicdistress; he said he didn’t want to be anotherHerbert Hoover.Now,the strait is basically closed again. Absent another deal,he’sfaced with the choice of escalation or an ongoing low-level conflict, neither of which is going to be palatable to the public

The CNN poll found thatnearly threequarters of Americans think Trump hasn’t paid enough attentiontothe country’smost pressing problems. The fact is thatIranwasn’t apriority for the public and there was no attempt by the White House to make it oneuntil afterithad alreadylaunchedthe war.

The same way Bush’ssuccess toppling the Talibancreated the predicate forthe IraqWar, Trump’sstunning capture of NicolásMaduro made it easiertobelieve that the Iran war would be acakewalk.

The idealistic establishment Republican and the “AmericaFirst” populist both got lured into overestimating the efficacy of American military power.

We still don’tknowhow Iran will end. Perhaps Trump will manage asatisfactory conclusion, andhehas more room to bounceback up againpolitically thanBush did afteryearsof the Iraq War.

Still, the next Republicanpresident to launch major military operations would be well servedtobemoreprudent and mindful of worst-case scenarios than were either of his two otherwise very different GOPpredecessors.

RichLowry is on X, @RichLowry.

STAFF PHOTO By CHRIS GRANGER

Attorney Ben Crumplistens as the Rev. Al Sharpton speaks about Nolan Wells duringamemorial service celebrating Wells’ lifeatCenter Pointe Church in Ocean Springs, Miss., on July 20.

Will Sutton

Rich Lowry

George Will

Judgehears argumentstorestrict clothing

BY BLAKE LESCHBER

Staff writer

ABaton Rouge judge Tuesday heard arguments on a motion to restrict spectators from wearing pink to the trial of the first suspect accused of raping Madison Brooks

This decision is onepartof ahighly anticipated trial for the first of four being tried for the alleged rape of 19-yearold LSU student Brooks in 2023, after which she was fatally struck by acar

Judge Gail Horne Ray will make adecision on the motion Thursday —less than two weeks before 21-yearold defendant Desmond Carter’strial will begin.

The Motion to Prohibit Prejudicial or Intimidating

Spectator Displays was filed at the end of June and sought to keep spectators from wearing pink clothing or attire that references Brooks to restrict potentiallyinfluencing jurors. However,the state has since pushedback on this motion, saying it’s“unreasonable.”

Pink is the color of the Madison BrooksFoundation, which Brooks’ mother, Ashley Baustert, founded The organizationworksto “advocatefor the safetyof young adults.”

Defense attorneyCaitlin Fowlkes claimed members of the public wearing coordinated clothing could prejudice the jury against Carter and undermine the presumption of innocence.

“In fact, abouta week

after Ifiled this motion, (Baustert) postedonFacebook, encouraging people to attendthe trial and wear pink,” Fowlkes said during themotion hearing Tuesday Fowlkes referenced multiple Facebook postsby Baustert bothinthe hearing and in the motion. These posts encouraged supporters to attend court events, wearingpink clothes and “Madi stickers.”

Assistant District Attorney Sonya Cardia-Porter, in awrittenresponseto themotion, pushed back on Fowlkes’ claim, saying the posts “demonstrate victim advocacy ratherthan aplot to intimidate thejury.”

“The social media posts… are calls for peaceful sup-

GRANT

Continued from page1B

technology and improved accessibility features

Five additional buses are expected to arrive in early 2027. Once those vehicles are delivered,Lafayette Transit System will have added 14 new buses as part of a

Lafayette Transit System passengersare seen at the RosaParks Transportation in 2024 in Lafayette. Thetransit system received $2.985 millioninFederal Transit Administration grants for upgrades and newbuses. LOTTERY

MONDAY,AUG.

Unof

keep your tickets.

$9.6 million fleetmodernization effort. Officials said Lafayette Consolidated Government has invested about$12 million in federal and local fundinginthe transit system overthe past three years.

Mayor-President Monique Bouletsaidthe investment will help improve reliability while supporting the region’stransportation needs.

Transit and Parking Manager Michael Mitchell said the funding will allow the system to replace aging equipment andimprove service for riders.

More information,including real-time bus tracking, is available at ridelts.com.

Email Kristin Askelson at kaskelson@theadvocate. com.

port,” the response stated “The (posts) share informationabout court dates being open to the public, inviting anyone interested to ‘attend,’ ‘wear pink’ and ‘pray.’

Fowlkes countered that clothing is communicative to ajury andevenpointed outthe prosecutors were wearing pink nail polish during the hearing, claimingthe state endorses the message —although the prosecutors denied thatthe nail polish was an intentional choice.

“It’sthe basis of whydefendantswho are incarcerated arenot able to wear jail clothing during atrial; it is communicative,” Fowlkes said. “At thatpoint, they’re no longer spectators;they are now involved in the trial.”

In acited 1966 Supreme Court case, Sheppard v. Maxwell, thecourtruled

that adefendant’sright to afair trialwas violated by a“carnival atmosphere” in the courtroom, which deprived the defendant of “judicial serenity and calm” he wasentitled to. Another cited 1965 case found that televisioncameras prejudiced juries as well.

Cardia-Porteralso called themotion “overly broad, vague and unenforceable,” and raised concerns regarding the First Amendment rights of spectators. Additionally, thestate wrote that it supports the court being able to instruct the jury “in clear and unequivocal terms” to disregard any attire from the gallery

Carter is charged witha count of first-degree rape and third-degree rape. He wasone of four men in a vehicle with Brooks when

prosecutors allege she was sexually assaulted aftera night of heavy drinking. Aprevious motion from Fowlkessought to have Carter’sfirst-degree rapecharge quashed over claims the statute was unconstitutionally vague andwritten in away thatFowlkessaidcriminalizes allgroupsex.Ray dismissedthe motion, but admitted the rape law was “sloppily written.” Afirst-degree rape chargecarriesa mandatory life sentence in prison withoutthe possibilityofparole. Ray waspreviously recused from the cases before the state SupremeCourt returnedher to preside over the trials in May.Among prosecutors’ complaints wasthe fact that Ray’s son is aconvicted rapist. Carter’strial is scheduled to begin on Aug. 17.

BY HALEY MILLER Staff writer

TheLSU health sciences centersinShreveport and New Orleans have officially joined the flagshipinstitution as branch campuses, theuniversityannounced Tuesday

Themerger was approved by LSU’s accrediting agency, the Southern Associationof Collegesand SchoolsCommission on Colleges, at its June boardmeeting. It cements theuniversity’splan to operate as an “integrated research enterprise,” arelease from the universitysaid. “The workhappening ev-

ery day on LSU’s flagship campus in Baton Rouge is complementary to thatof ourresearch-intensive centers across the state, and thisdesignation recognizes that,”ChancellorJim Daltonsaid.

“While we areunified as asingle institution, we also recognize and respect thespecialized work occurring acrossLSU’sresearch,instructional,and patient caresitesand value the benefits that an appropriatedegree of operational autonomy providestothe state.”

Themove is part of the university’songoing reorganization to unifythe main campus in Baton Rouge, the LSUAgCenter,the health sciencescenters and the Pennington Biomedical Research Center so they act as oneresearch entity.Some lo-

cal advocates in Shreveport have expressed hesitation about the plan, saying they fear losing independence. University administrators argue themerger will help LSU attain atop-50 ranking in theNational Science Foundation Higher Education Research and DevelopmentSurvey,anannual census of theuniversities that spend the mostonresearch. The ranking depends on combining research dollars across campuses, they say Ateam of commission reviewers will visit LSU this fall to evaluate the implementation, per the release. LSU awaits approval for its reorganization from the U.S. DepartmentofEducation and will receive final authorization at the accreditor’sDecember meeting, the release said.

STAFF FILEPHOTO By LESLIE WESTBROOK

Cajuns report forcampwithlistofpriorities

BY KEVIN FOOTE Staff writer

The UL Ragin’ Cajuns reported forcamp Tuesday with thefirst football practice session coming Wednesdayinpreparation forthe season.

No one knows what’sabout to takeplace. Everyone around the program got aclear reminder a year ago how aseason can depart from perceived expectations,but there was definitely ahandful of themesbetween the coaches and players who spoke Tuesday Gottodobetter

Multiple players said it after the Cajuns finished 6-7 in 2025: “We’re

a6-7 football team until we prove otherwise.”

Finishing 6-7wasn’t as badasit could havebeen last season when youfactorinjuries, but it’salong wayfrom the program’s goals.

Onceagain, the Cajuns failed in abowl game with a20-13 loss to Delaware in theVenturesBowlin Mobile, Alabama.

“There’s an urgency that inherently comes with it when you fall short like that,” special teams coordinator Mike Giuliani said.

“That feeling that you have does not leave you.

“Wewanttorepresent theWest in the Sun Belt championship game and win that game. We were close, butwehaven’tgottenitdone. Ev-

Work in progress

With five practices under their belts, the Saints area little more than halfway through the initial installationphase of training camp. They will havecompleted the entire playbook by the timethey scrimmage against the Jacksonville Jaguars in a joint practice nextweek.

It’sstill relatively early in the preseason process, but six practices have provided enough evaluation time to develop some observationsofthis 2026 edition.

The vibes have been excellent so far. The execution …not so much. Unless, of course, you’re afan of stingy defense.

My earlythoughtsand observations as

Tigers coachneeds key questionsansweredbefore season starts vs.Clemson

BY JON BLAU Staff writer

Lane Kiffin knows LSU is under amicroscope, and he loves it.

“The expectations that everybodyin the media has that we’re supposed to be this greatteamright away,that’san awesome challenge,” Kiffin saidatSEC media days. “You want to talk about getting uncomfortable? That does it. Expectations make you uncomfortable

“They make you not be abletojust go through motions in any aspect of your program.” For the next month of preseason camp, there has to be an urgency to everything the Tigers do, because their chances of meeting sky-high expectations wouldbedisastrously reducedbyaSept. 5losstoClemson in Tiger Stadium.

eryone in the building knows that.”

UL’s last bowlwin came in 2021. Stayinghealthy

It’shard to point fingers at injuries. Most of it is bad luck.

Butafter strugglingthrough a barrage of injuriestothe offensive line, staying healthy goes to the top of the list.

“Obviously,that’sreally important,” said Mark Hocke, UL’s director of athletic performance. “This is notasoftsport. Football isn’tfor everybody.It’saviolent sport. That’spart of the game. You’re going to have injuries, so we have aplan year round to be

Staff report

Lafayette native Robby Albarado, who claimed 5,222 career victories as ajockey,died Tuesday at the age of 52 in Sarasota Springs,New York,after undergoing aheart procedure last week, according to multiple outlets

Ken McPeek, a trainerwho employed theretired jockey as an exercise rider confirmed Albarado’s death to WKYT-TV, the Paulick Reportand Horse Racing Nation.

we enter Week 2oftraining camp

Earlystandouts

The best players I’ve seen so far,inno particular order,are Chase Young, KoolAid McKinstry,Erik McCoy,Juwan Johnson and Kelvin Banks.

These five players have stood out, both

Here are some questions Kiffin needs answered as practice opens Wednesday Howis SamLeavitt’s foot? This one could be sorted out really quickly

in the quality and consistency of their play

Still waiting

Among the veteran players I’d like to see more from are Zach Wilson, Kendre Miller,Noah Fant, Anfernee Jennings and Tyree Wilson. Sean Payton used to say he didn’tneed to see it all the time from veterans, but he needed to see it at some point. That’swhere Istand with each player in this group.

Gettingtheir kicks

Veteran Ryan Wright is amassive

If Leavitt is fully healed from fall foot surgery— which also required apin to be takenout in the spring —then he should drop back and roll out with easewhen practice starts.

If he’s limited in any way,the question lingers. And it’sa big question.

Kiffin’soffenses at OleMissthrived with dual-threat quarterbacks; the Rebels’ quarterbacksaveraged 524 yardsrushing per season during Kiffin’ssix-year tenure.

It’smoredifficult fordefenders to play the run if they don’tknow when aquarterback might pull it. If defenses arebeing gashed, they have to load the box and quarterbacks face simpler coverage schemes with fewer disguises.

Leavittrushed for443 yards in his first season at Arizona State and was on pace for 568 last year untilafoot injurysidelined him. Forcomparison,Garrett Nussmeier

“It’sbeen atough day,”McPeek told thePaulick Report. “Robby was agreat friend, andthere was nobody better on ahorse than Robby Albarado. He needs to be in the hall of fame.” Albarado, who retired in 2021, underwenta procedureinSaratogalast week to place astent near his heart to deal with ablockage beforebeing discharged fromthe hospital. McPeek told the Daily Racing Formthat he apparently died in his sleep.

The2020 Preakness Stakes proved to be one of the greatest moments in the career of Albarado, who road Swiss Skydiver to victory.Asanexercise rider, he worked with horses such as 2024 Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan and2024 Kentucky Oakswinner Thorpedo Anna.

“Saying goodbye to someone who left us too soon is extremely difficult,” Churchhill Downs Racetrack president Mike Anderson said in astatement. “TheChurchill Downs family is saddened by this devastating lossand we extend our deepestcondolences to his family and numerous friends.”

FellowLafayette native Brian Hernandez Jr., who was Mystik Dan’s jockey at the2024Kentucky Derby, toldThe Times-Picayune in 2024 that he listed Albarado as being among his role models. In 2016, Albaradowas on the verge of his5,000thvictory when he spoke abouta career thatspanned nearly three decades

“You have alot of wisdomand knowledge about racing now,” he said that year.“Physically,I’m able to do what I was 20 yearsago. People who were 20 years ago, like valets,comeuptome andsay,‘Man, you’re ridingthe best I’ve seen you since you’ve been here.’ Iusedtowin five aday here, and they never said that.”

Trainer Kellyn Gorder praised Albarado forhis approach as ajockey

“I’vealwaysbeen abig fan of Robby’s,” GordertoldThe Advocatein 2016.“He hardly ever makesa mistake, andherides hard and wins for me alot. Oneofthe things Ireally like abouthim is he can give you alot of input after arace that actually helps.” In 2008, the jockey founded the Rob-

STAFF PHOTO By dAVId GRUNFELd

Saints quarterback Tyler Shough looks for areceiver during atraining camp practice on MondayinMetairie.

STAFF FILEPHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON LSUquarterback Sam Leavitt, right, walks to thehuddle duringspring practice on March 26 at the LSU practice facility. Thehealthof Leavitt’sfoot from fall surgerywill be akey question in preseasoncamp

STAFF PHOTO By BRAdKEMP

UL defensivecoordinatorJim Salgado emphasized cuttingdownonbig plays when talking to thethe media on TuesdayatRusso Park.

Jeff Duncan

Albarado

LB White pushes for starting role

BY DANA GAURUDER Associated Press

ALLEN PARK, Mich. — Devin White

finished last season as the NFL’s third-leading tackler He’s still no lock for a starting job with his new team.

The 28-year-old former LSU player had a career-high 174 tackles — a franchise record — for the Las Vegas Raiders last season. A free agent after the season, he was still available until the Detroit Lions, in need of depth at linebacker, signed him to a one-year contract on Saturday

“It’s a great opportunity and I don’t want to let it pass me by,” White said after Tuesday’s practice.

With Jack Campbell, who signed a four-year, $81 million contract extension this offseason, entrenched at middle linebacker, White will look to push for a starting job at one of the outside spots. Derrick Barnes started all 17 games last season, but White could compete with Malcolm Rodriguez for the weakside job.

Rodriguez suffered a torn ACL in November 2024 and was limited to seven games last season Rodriguez left Tuesday’s practice early with an ankle injury Rookie linebacker Jimmy Rolder, a fourth-round pick, is expected to miss several more weeks with a hamstring injury

White says he’s ready for whatever role the team has in store for him.

“They control all the depth chart things and whenever it’s handed to me to go in, I just run in there as fast as I can so (the coaches) won’t put somebody else in,” he said. “That’s all I’m trying to do. I just feel if I keep doing that and just stay humble, my role will increase and I’ll get better and better within the defense to help these guys make plays.”

The fifth overall pick of the 2019 draft, White spent his first five seasons with Tampa Bay He signed with Philadelphia in March 2024, but never played a snap for the Eagles before he was

detroit Lions linebacker devin White runs after practice at the team’s training camp,

Sunday.

released. He then hooked on with Houston and had a limited role with the Texans.

The Raiders took a flier on him last offseason and White set the franchise record for most tackles in a single season. However, his deficiencies in pass coverage made him expendable.

The only guarantee he’ll get with the Lions is a chance to earn a regular role.

“It’s all about competition,” defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard said. “We have the chance to acquire somebody that we feel like can come in, whether that’s push to start or push guys in the room to make them better ”

Campbell hopes to get Gibbs back

Atlanta running back Bijan Robinson agreed to a three-year contract extension through the 2030 season, worth up to $75 million, with $51 million guaranteed, according to Spotrac. com. That could speed up the process for the Lions to get AllPro Jahmyr Gibbs’ contract situation settled and get him back in uniform.

Gibbs, who has two years left on his current deal, is sitting out practices.

“It’s certainly not going to hurt,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said of Robinson’s agree-

ment. “Look, I’m anxious to get Gibbs back out there. Every day that goes by that’s another day that you feel like you miss with him and getting him out here with the guys and him doing his part. But there again, it’ll get done when it gets done.” Gibbs was on the field on Tuesday wearing a long-sleeved shirt, sleeveless hoodie and dark shorts while chatting with the Lions’ running backs and wide receivers as they went through drills. Gibbs, who was second in the league in total touchdowns with 18 last season, spoke briefly to reporters Monday but wasn’t made available Tuesday

Ohio State, Oregon are 1-2 in preseason coaches poll

The Associated Press

Ohio State and Oregon hold down the top two spots and the Southeastern Conference has five of the top 10 teams in the USA Today preseason coaches football poll released Tuesday

The Buckeyes received 38 of the 72 first-place votes and were well ahead of the Ducks, who got six first-place votes. No. 3 Georgia received seven first-place votes, No. 4 Texas got two and No. 5 Notre Dame five.

CFP adds Appalachian St. AD to selection committee

IRVING, Texas Appalachian State athletic director Doug Gillin has been appointed to the College Football Playoff selection committee. CFP executive director Rich Clark made the announcement Tuesday, naming Gillin as the replacement for former UL AD Bryan Maggard. Maggard recently became the deputy athletics director/chief operating officer at Missouri.

Gillin has spent the last 12 years at App State, overseeing the football program’s multiple conference championships and the No. 20 spot in the final 2019 CFP rankings.

Gillin served on the NCAA Division I Football Oversight Committee between 2020 and 2023 and was previously the deputy director of athletics at Missouri from 2012-15.

Williams sisters are playing together ahead of U.S. Open

MASON, Ohio The Williams sisters are back on track to playing doubles tennis ahead of the U.S. Open.

Serena and Venus Williams are set to take part in the Cincinnati Open, which begins next week. Organizers announced Monday they had received a wild-card entry into the doubles field. They last played a doubles match together at the 2022 U.S. Open. It is their first time teaming up in the hard-court tune-up tournament in Mason, Ohio.

The Williams sisters received a wild-card entry to play doubles at Wimbledon, but an injury to Serena prevented that from happening. They have won 14 major titles and three Olympic gold medals in doubles play

U.S. men to kick off World Cup with 4 home matches

ATLANTA — The U.S. men’s national team will kick off the next World Cup cycle with four matches over 11 days on home soil.

The friendlies include games against Peru, Chile, Mexico and Canada in U.S. cities that didn’t host World Cup action this summer

The Americans will face Peru on Sept. 26 at Inter.co Stadium in Orlando, Florida. Three days later, they will host Chile at Energizer Park in St. Louis. The US-Mexico rivalry resumes Oct. 3 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. And the finale against Canada follows three days later at Allianz Field in St. Paul, Minnesota. All four matches will be broadcast on TNT HBO Max, Telemundo, Universo and Peacock.

The Associated Press preseason Top 25 poll will be released at noon Eastern on Aug. 17.

Defending national champion Indiana was No. 6 with 14 firstplace votes and was followed by Miami, the team it beat in the College Football Playoff championship game. Texas A&M, Oklahoma and Mississippi rounded out the top 10. Texas Tech, at No. 12, was the highest-ranked of four Big 12 teams in the poll. The SEC, with nine, had the most ranked teams. LSU was ranked No. 13. No teams from a Group of Six conference were in the Top 25. Ohio State went 12-0 in the 2025 regular season before losing to Indiana in the Big Ten championship game and to Miami in the first round of the CFP The Buckeyes return a Heisman Trophy finalist in quarterback Julian Sayin, one of the nation’s top receivers in Jeremiah Smith and an experienced offensive line.

Texas.

Sooners seeking production from tight ends

BY TIM WILLERT Associated Press

NORMAN, Okla. — Oklahoma

leaned on an elite defense to reach the College Football Playoff in Brent Venables’ fourth year as coach. Much of that defense returns, but the Sooners will need more production from their running backs and tight ends to make a return trip

Oklahoma is looking to boost production from the tight end position heading into fall camp, which begins Wednesday, and Venables has added former NFL All-Pro Jason Witten to his coaching staff to help spark improvement.

Witten inherits a mix of veterans and young players, including transfers Hayden Hansen (Florida) and Rocky Beers

(Colorado State).

“We’re a part of the run game.

Being the guy who’s usually at the end of the line of scrimmage you’re an extension of the offensive line,” Witten said Tuesday “That’s a tough battle, going against defensive ends and linebackers in this conference. When the ball gets to us we’ve got to be able to seal gaps, we’ve got to set the edge, we’ve got to create lanes.”

Last season, Oklahoma finished 13th in the Southeastern Conference in rushing (118.5 yards per game), with a per carry average of 3.54 yards Witten said Sooner backs

struggled to create “explosive runs,” those plays that gained 12 yards or more.

“Obviously the teams that are having success on offense, they’re able to get that,” he said. “And that’s a combination of a lot of things. The line’s got to get them to the second level, the receivers got to block on the perimeter, the runners got to make somebody miss sometimes, you got to have good steam. But the tight end’s usually a big part of that.”

Witten brings “instant credibility” to the position, Venables said.

“Experience doesn’t get you there as quickly as being an experienced teacher,” Venables said. “He’s got a natural skill set when it comes to teaching the game, how he thinks He’s very

bright but he’s able to be an effective communicator with the guys.”

Hansen, a fifth-year senior who played three seasons for the Gators, brings size (6-foot8) and experience to the position group.

“He’s like an encyclopedia,” Hansen said of Witten. “When you’ve played 17 years you know exactly what works, what doesn’t work You know all these little secrets that no one really knows unless you’ve played 17 years in the league.

“I felt like a freshman again learning from this guy and everyday is just something new He points out things that I’ve never thought twice about. When you go and you implement the things he tells you see results almost instantly.”

Preakness date for 2027 set to be revealed on Wednesday ANNAPOLIS, Md. — The date of the 2027 Preakness Stakes is set to be revealed on Wednesday by Maryland Gov Wes Moore and the Maryland Jockey Club. There has been speculation about the Preakness moving back from two to three weeks after the Kentucky Derby to get more horses from the Triple Crown opener to run in the second leg Golden Tempo became the second Derby winner in a row and third in five years not to take part But the Belmont Stakes staying on the first Saturday in June for next year could extend the troubles of the condensed calendar for at least one more Triple Crown season. The return of the race to Belmont Park is set for June 5, as part of a new 3-year-old championship series.

Royals activate shortstop Witt after 2 weeks on IL

KANSAS CITY Mo. The Kansas City Royals activated All-Star shortstop Bobby Witt from the injured list on Tuesday after he missed two weeks with back tightness. “He’s done a great job working to get back, communicating with the medical department and getting himself in a good spot that we feel comfortable,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said before Tuesday night’s game against Minnesota. “We’re very happy to have him back.”

A three-time All-Star, Witt leads the American League with 30 stolen bases. He is batting .279 with 13 homers and 39 RBIs in 94 games.

Witt was in the

ASSOCIATEd PRESS PHOTO By PAUL SANCyA

in Allen Park, Mich., on

ASSOCIATEd PRESS FILE PHOTO By GARETH PATTERSON Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith runs the ball against Miami during the second half of the Cotton Bowl on dec. 31 in Arlington,

Witten

2026 SCHEDULE

Carencro

PAST FIVE YEARS

2025: 6-5

2023: 9-3

2022: 9-3 2021: 5-7

PROJECTED STARTERS

Offense

WR Khylen Taylor (5-9, 196, Jr.)

WR Hayden Monroe (6-3, 225, Jr.)

TE derace James (6-3, 195, Jr.)

LT Kelvin Helaire (6-1, 185, Sr.)

LG Gaven Joseph (5-6, 247, Sr.)

C Mason Roger (5-9, 260, Sr.)

RG Eddiel Robles (5-7, 187, Jr.)

RT Joel Claiborne (6-4, 226, Sr.)

QB Carson Gurzi (6-1, 213, Jr.)

RB Cardaye Batiste (5-6, 165, Sr.)

RB da’Marion Green (6-1, 222, Sr.)*

Defense

dE Kelvin Helaire (6-1, 185, Sr.)

dT Shawn Labbe (6-3, 285, Soph.)

dT Haeven Batiste (5-7, 200, Jr.)

LB Hayden Monroe (6-3, 225, Jr.)

LB derace James (6-3, 195, Jr.)

LB dmauri Fisher (5-11, 209, Jr.)

LB daylan Peak (6-0, 173, Sr.)

CB Roland Bruno (5-5, 160, Sr.)

CB Jermany Arceneaux (5-8, 190, Sr.)

FS dentrell Morrison (5-9, 145, Sr.)

SS Caden Robinson (5-11, 175, Sr.)

* RETURNING STARTER

COACHES

Head coach: Gavin Peters (19-12).

Assistant coaches: Joey dwyer (OC); derrick Franchak (OL); Ronald Roy Jr (RB); dylan Romero (WR); Mitch Vidrine (OA); EricTolivour (WR); Jordan Romero (LB); Isaiah Mallet (secondary); Kobie Pettis (dC); Rashad Onezime (secondary); RyanTabb (dL); Kyle Seibold (dC)

What we know

The Golden Bears bring back possibly the area’s best quarterback in junior Carson Gurzi.

No one is questioning Gurzi’s raw skills, so the next level for him is greater team achievements.

“I think the next step for Carson is leading his team to championships,” Carencro coach Gavin Peters said. “The expectation a year ago was to reclaim the pride and respect for Carencro football, and I feel we did that by competing for the district championship in the last two weeks. We fell short, but we were in that position.

“Carson has broken records and he’s established in the state. Everybody’s got respect for him individually The only thing left is for him to lead us to championships the next two years.”

With last year’s veteran receiving corps now gone, Gurzi will be spending August camp getting familiar with his new targets.

Having tight ends Derace James and Hayden Monroe should provide early stability.

“This year, we’re going to have to be more of a collective group,” Peters said of the receiving corps. “We don’t have that one tier-one weapon like (former Carencro standout) Chantz Babineaux.”

Peters said the freshman class has several future receiving stars, but it’s unclear if any can be ready this season.

Up front, returning offensive linemen Gaven Joseph and Mason Roger should help ease the offense through the transition.

What we don’t know

The truth is, there’s a lot the Bears don’t know heading into camp.

The first issue came in June when returning alldistrict offensive tackle Mister Finney (6-foot-6, 306 pounds, junior) suffered a season-ending knee injury

That left a hole on the offensive line, which will likely make running the ball more of a challenge.

The injury also forced senior Kelvin Helaire (6-1, 185) into being yet another two-way performer for the Bears.

“Losing Mister hurts for sure,” Peters said

“In the spring, I really thought we were going to have the ability to control the line of scrimmage, which we haven’t been able to do the last couple of years because of our lack of size I still think we’ll be able to control the line better this year.”

Also, the staff was hoping for Finney to be a force on the interior of the defensive line with Shawn Labbe (6-3, 285, junior).

The receiving corps is another area in need of answers. All of Gurzi’s consistent targets from last season are gone. Eli Cornelius (6-1, 165), who moved to the area in July, is expected to help in that area as well as in the secondary

Gurzi will also have three new starters on the offensive line in front of him to add to the unknown.

Defensively, the Bears only return two starters.

“I think we’re going to be very athletic on the edges,” Peters said.

Getting a transfer from West Brook High (Beaumont, Texas) in junior Dmauri Fisher should help at linebacker

“He reminds me of some of the great linebackers that I’ve coached here in the past, like Dylan Smith, an all-state linebacker when we won state in 2020,” Peters said of Fisher How we see it

Despite having to play many of its stars both ways and searching for new targets in the passing game, one other big offseason change for Carencro should help in that process.

The Bears moved down to District 5-4A and will be playing more teams that also have to play many of their top players both ways — not something you find much in District 3-5A.

“We’re in a new neighborhood now,” said Peters, who will now be playing teams like Cecilia, Breaux Bridge and Opelousas. “We’ve got new neighbors. We’re in a neighborhood now where we can afford the cost of living.”

Consequently, if the Bears can stay reasonably healthy this season, don’t be surprised if they can end their district title drought this fall. No Carencro team has won a district championship in any sport since 2019.

Kevin Foote

SCOREBOARD

Carson Gurzi QB, 6-1, 213, Jr. True leader and quarterback in every sense.Led the area with 2,986 yards passing and 32 touchdowns last season and now hopes to lead new faces on offense.

Derace James TE/LB, 6-3, 195, Jr. With all the newcomers at wide receiver and a key injury on offensive line, James is expected to provide solutions at tight end, in addition to playing linebacker

Hayden Monroe WR/LB, 6-3, 225, Jr. The Bears’offense lost a lot of production at receiver a year ago,and Monroe is one of the key replacement options.He also hopes to lead the defense’s pass rush aspirations.

Dmauri Fisher LB, 5-11, 209, Jr With only two returning starters on defense,the Golden Bears will be counting heavily on Fisher’s ability to cover the field.The transfer from Beaumont,Texas, could pay dividends for Carencro this fall.

Khylen Taylor WR, 5-9, 196, Jr. One of the better athletes on the squad, the Bears will be counting onTaylor to provide some new solutions in the passing game for Gurzi.

STAFF PHOTO By KEVIN FOOTE

Carencro offensive standouts from left, Khylen Taylor, derace James, Carson Gurzi, Gaven Joseph and Mason Roger

Demand forLSU ticketsleads to steepprices

BY SCOTT RABALAIS Staff writer

If you haven’tsecured LSU football tickets for the upcoming season be prepared to payasteep price —atleast for the marquee games in Tiger Stadium this fall.

Intense interest in the Tigers brought about by the arrival of coach Lane Kiffin and aroster that reportedly costupwards of $40million to build and an exciting schedule led to an unprecedented demand for seasontickets earlier this year.The school sold outofits compliment of more than 71,000 season tickets, with athletic director Verge Ausberry saying there was arecord waiting list of 44,000 as well That leaves single-game tickets throughLSU or secondary websites like StubHub or Vivid Seats, with many of those tickets commanding ahigherpricetag for the best games.

Like the ticket resellers, LSU

CAJUNS

Continued from page1C

more proactive.”

Hocke said playersgothrough abattery of tests “that allows us to be more proactive and maybe catch some things on the front end.” Still, “you don’ttrain gladiators by pillow fighting,” so the plan is to be “more calculated, intentional, working with the athletic training staff.”

From aconditioning standpoint, Hocke said progress was made since the end of last season

“We’ve had alot of personal records,” he said. That includes 73 players in the powerclean, 67 in the bench press, 68 in the squat and a3%increase in team top speed “45 players hadtop speedPRs and39jump heights in just an eight-week window,” Hocke said.

‘Nobig plays’

Defensive coordinatorJim Salgado didn’trun from the obvious. UL’s opponents averaged6.0 yards per play last season, much more thanthe offense’s5.2 yards per play In his second year as coordinator,there were more big plays allowed than in his firstseason.

“Yeah, that first meeting one of our expectations is no big plays,” Salgado said. “That should not happen. That’ssomething we stressed the entire offseason, because if you went and looked at Year 1and then Year 2, it’sthe opposite. We had to fix that in the spring.”

KIFFIN

Continued frompage1C

totaled minus-153 yards rushing in five years at LSU.

Kiffin will demandmore from his quarterbacks in the run game, and Leavitt can deliver,if healthy.Ifhe’smovingaround well and he’swell-synched with a revamped receiving corps, Clemson has more to worry about in Week 1.

Howare trenches shapingup?

Even if Leavitt is 100%, theTigers need aline to keep him there. Jordan Seaton, the preseason All-SEC honoree, is agiven at left tackle. Braelin Moore and Aliou Bahseem reliable at center and right guard. But that leaves two pretty big question marksatleft guard and right tackle.

Bo Bordelon appears to be in the running for one spot, but the fifthyear senior played just 11 snaps last season. Weston Davis lined up at right tackle all spring,but his redshirt freshman campaign was uneven.

There are other options. Devin Harper,asophomore, is one of four players who followed Kiffin from Ole Miss to LSU. Heonly played 72 snaps as afreshman but 57 came at right tackle. LSU also brought in Baylor’sSean Thompkins, who has five starts at tackle. The sooner LSU can identify a best five, the better,because the Tigers’ line needs to buildasmuch

has had “dynamic pricing,” a term for prices that fluctuate depending on demand, for at least five years, according to athletic ticketmanager Brian Broussard. This season, that has led to premium prices forLSU’s biggest games: Sept. 5against Clemson, Sept.26againstTexas A&M, Nov. 7against Alabama and Nov 14 againstTexas.There are still much lowerpricedtickets for LSU’sother threehomegames: Sept. 12 against Louisiana Tech, Oct. 3against McNeese State and Oct. 17 against Mississippi State.

“Wehave become more aggressiveinthat space in the past few years,” Broussard said. “With this year’shome schedule and program changes …the market is higher than what we’ve seen the pastfew seasons for certain games.”

Here’sabreakdown of ticket prices throughLSU’sathletic ticket websiteasofTuesday afternoon:

In other words,the secondary must reduce the coverage busts.

“Ifyou don’tcommunicate,you can’t play,”Salgadosaid. “You’re not going to be successful. Ithink our guys have come along wayfrom Year 1towhere we areright now going into the season. That’s another thingthatexcites me as acoach.”

Backsnot thequestion

It’s easy to see why somewould question theCajuns’ running back room. After all, last year’stwo leading rushers Bill Davis and ZylanPerry transferred.

Askany of thecoaches or players aboutthat possible and there’s no hesitation

Thegroup has an inside rusher in StevenBlanco, an precision option in Darrel Smith and an explosive one in JJ Garner

“I thinkthat group hasbeenvery mature for ayoung group of guys,” coach Michael Desormeaux said.

Thedefense doesn’tforesee a drop-off.

“I don’tsee arunningback problem at all,” senior defensive tackle Fitzgerald West said. “Yes, we lost Bill and we lost Zylan, but we have anew Bill and anew Zylan trust me. Idon’tsee any running back problems.”

Tight endCaden Jensen agrees.

“Yeah,Idon’tsee aquestion mark in that room at all,”hesaid.

“I see an exclamationpoint,because we’vegot guys in that room.

“It starts with coach (Marquase) Lovings,the running backs coach. He hasset theexpectation in that room.”

Hidden high priority

Most focus on offensive ball car-

cohesion as possible, especially coming off of aseason where LSU wasn’tevenamong thetop 120 rushing offenses nationally Whereisthe defensivedepth?

LSU looks well-stocked at acouple of positions defensively Whit Weeks, T.J. Dottery and Davhon Keys form afantastic trio at linebacker.DJPickett andPJ Woodland are atalented cornerback duo, and Boise State transfer Ty Benefield is aprojected NFL draft pick supporting Tamarcus Cooley andDashawnSpears at safety

But there are questions at cornerwith Aidan Anding sidelined by an Achillestear. Ja’Keem Jackson, aformerFlorida transfer whoplayed 84 snaps lastseason, andMichael Turner,mostly aspecial teamscontributor,are next up unlessfreshman Havon Finney is ready Defensive end doesn’tappear especially deep following Gabriel Reliford’sACL injuryinthe spring. Tennessee transfer Jordan Ross, ajunior who has yet to realize his five-star billing, and five-star freshman Lamar Brown could aid Princewill Umanmielen. Butdoes anyone else emergeto create competitive depth? Thereseems to be enough for asolid 11,but adefense playing opposite Kiffin’stempooffense needs ample rotational pieces to notwear out at the end of games. Howmanyfreshmenare ready?

Speaking of Brown and Finney,

Clemson: Ticketsfor LSU’sseason opener were priced on its site from $175-700 based on location. The cheapest ticketsfor Clemson’sfirst visit to Tiger Stadium were in the east and west upper decks,with themost expensive seats being for the first two rows labeled as obstructed-view seats on the lower west sideline behind the LSU bench.

LouisianaTech: Prices ran from $20 in the upper reaches of Tiger Stadium to $150 in thelower bowl for apair of seats on the west side at thenorth 30-yard line.

TexasA&M: Tickets on LSU’s site started at $145 and went to $550. The latter were primarily for obstructed-view seats on the first tworows of the west sideline, but also would get you aprimesingle ticket on thewest side at thenorth 25-yard line about 30 rowsup.

McNeese State: The cheapest price range for any LSU game, with tickets going from $20-$100. The best available seats were on the

riers, pass rushersand maybethe secondary in termsofkey areas of emphasis entering camp.

One of the biggest questionsthe Cajuns need answered beforethe regular season is athird tight end.

That may sound like an exaggeration. After all, youhave your starter in Jensen and the back half of the 1-2 punch in senior Brock Chappell.

“Brock and Iare really close, outside of the facilitiestoo,” Jensen said. “Wetalk alot about football. We need to becomedominant in the run game andinthe passing game.”

But the other chore is helping a thirdoption develop.

“Yes and the coaches have told us that it’swide open,” Jensen said.

The options include sophomore Teddy Gawlik, redshirt freshman Quandre Coates and redshirt freshman Khristian Mackintrush.

“WeviewTeddy as an olderguy,” Jensen said. “He’s been in the tight end room for awhile.”

Why is it so important?

Because if athird tight end doesn’tarise, theoffense will be limited.

“You would see aturntoward more ‘11’ personnelwith only two tight ends and then athird receiver,” offensive coordinator Tim Leger said.

In other words, it would limit the options for the offense.

“So yes, it’s one of the challenges going forward here to see who can step out and establish themselves in that room,” Leger said.

Email KevinFooteatkfoote@ theadvocate.com.

they aren’tthe only first-year playerswho couldearn substantial roles in preseason camp.

DeuceGeralds, amidyear enrollee, was taking first-team snaps at defensive tackle in spring. The 6-foot-1, 280-pounder isn’tall that big, but he hasanexplosiveness thatcould createheadaches for interior blockers.

He’s accompanied by five-star Richard Anderson, who stood 6-3, 360 pounds in high school but appears to have slimmed down following asummer in LSU’s strength and conditioningprogram. He’s apotential gap-plugger How prominently do Geralds andAnderson feature in the defensive tackle rotation rather than veteran options Dominick McKinley,Malik Blocton and Stephiylan Green?

ReceiverCorey Barber andoffensive lineman Brysten Martinez were also top10recruitsattheir respective positions in the 2026 class. Do they,orany number of highly ratedLSU freshmen,prove theyare readytocontribute immediately?

Footballisadevelopmental game, so it shouldn’tbeexpected that freshmen outshine upperclassmen. Butthere are sometimesoutliers, and Kiffin might need acouple to emerge if his first LSU team is going to meet its potential.

EmailJon Blau at jon.blau@ theadvocate.com

ALBARADO

Continuedfrom page1C

westsidenear the north 5-yard line, 11 rows up. Mississippi State: Tickets for LSU’s most inexpensive Southeastern Conference home game ran from $40-300, the latter again for obstructed-view seats on the bottom twosideline rows.

Alabama: Like TexasA&M,LSU is hostingBama for the second straight year because of changes necessitatedbythe SEC’snew nine-game scheduling format. Since Alabama isn’tone of LSU’s three permanent opponents, this will be the last game in the annual series between the Tigers and Crimson Tide dating to 1964. Tickets were going for $225-700, withasingle seat 45 rows up on the east goal line going for $650.

Texas: TheLonghorns cometo TigerStadium for the first time since 1953. That and being led by quarterback Arch Manning coupled with sky-high expectations made this LSU’spriciest ticket on arange of

DUNCAN

$260-750. The latter price would get you asingle ticket on the east 15-yard line, row 55.

Broussard said most of the single tickets available this season werepartofreturned visiting team ticket allotmentsortickets not eligible for season ticket sales.

By comparison, mosttickets on sale Tuesday for LSU home games on StubHub went from $17 for east upper deck tickets for the Louisiana Tech game to a somewhat inexplicable $2,258 for seats near the south 5-yard line on the bottom of the west side upper deck.

Tickets for the Clemson game on StubHub ran from $224-1,300, from $152-1,624 for Texas A&M, from $263-1,713 for Alabama and $250-1,135 for Texas.

For more LSU sports updates, sign up for our newsletter at theadvocate.com/lsunewsletter

He is noticeably more comfortable and confident in his approach. He looks and sounds like aguy ready for abreakout campaign.

upgrade in the punting game, where his powerful right leg will be aweapon. He also has shownexcellent touch on placement punts inside the 10. Meanwhile, kickers Charlie Smyth and Tanner Brown have been lights-out in the placekicker competition. Both have strong legs and the ability to make kicks from 60-plus yards. Their consistency has also been excellent in camp.

Iexpect this competition to be determined during preseason games, and by the looks of things, it figures to go down to the wire. Whoever wins the job will have earned it.

The kicking game has gone from aweakness to apotential strength.

Howthe backsstack up

Much has been made about the pairing of Alvin Kamara and Travis Etienne in the backfield. The plan is to use camp to determine how the staff wants to deploy the duo this season.

So far,Etienne has taken the bulk of the first-team reps on early downs, with Kamara getting the first call on third down and in passing situations.

This feels like an evolving process, but I’ll be surprised if it’s aKamara-Mark Ingram-like 50-50 split when all is said and done.

The depth chart behind the top two is crowded with contenders.Devin Neal, Audric Estime, Ty Chandler and C.J. Donaldson have all shown flashes of playmaking ability,but this feels acompetition that will be determined by special-teams performance.

Still, there’sdecent depth here, especially if Miller can stay healthy

Team’s conditioning is excellent

Coach Kellen Moore said the team knocked the annual precamp conditioning test “out of the park,” and it’sshown. The team’s improved speed is noticeable at practices.

Several players reported to camp with stronger,streamlined physiques, including McKinstry,Godchaux and Chris Olave.

Moore’ssecond team is notably leaner and faster than his first. And that’sallowed them to zip through Moore’shigh-tempo practices.

Many have finished early so far in camp.

ChaseYoung is abeast

Continued from page1C by Albarado Foundation, which helpedunderprivileged kids in theLouisville, Kentucky, area. “WhenIwas ayoung kid

The veteran edge rusher is the best player on the roster —and it’snot even close. He opened Tuesday’spadded practice by pancaking Banks in one-on-one pass rush drills. He continued to dominate in team drills, stuffing arun by Etienne on first down and stopping him on adump-off pass in the left flat ashort time later

Defensive coordinator Brandon Staley has asked Young to be more of aleader this year, and he has embraced the role.

Igrew up in avery poor area,” Albarado told BloodHorse.com in 2008.“Igot acouple of chances froma few people whohelpedmein racing —and if Ican make achangelikethat in someone’slife, thenthat’swhat I’m looking forward to.” Albaradorecorded his

Shough’s passingisonpoint

Tyler Shough has experienced aso-so start to camp, in part because he hasn’thad much help around him. Shough has impressed teammates and coaches with his leadership skills off the field and his arm talent on it.

Justin Reid remarked on how catchable Shough’spasses are, noting his ability to feather the ball and reduce the torque when needed. It’sasubtle skill, and Shough seems to have mastered it.

He knows how to match his throw to the receiver’sroute. When areceiver drops one of his passes, it’srarely because he has thrown aworm-burner into their feet.

Shough’scompletion percentage has been down so far,but it’snot because of the accuracy of his passes.

Stillwaiting on theoffense

Somewhat predictably,the Saints offense has been awork in progress so far as the unit works key additions Etienne, Fant, Jordyn Tyson and David Edwards into the mix. With so many new moving parts, aslow start is understandable. But the Saints focused their offseason on adding explosive playmakers this offseason, and the big plays have been few and far between so far.Worse, the unit has been plagued by sloppiness. Dropped passes, errant snaps and shoddy blocking have conspired to derail too many drives.

On the bright side, the offense did flash some big-play potential in Tuesday’spadded practice. Spencer Rattler hit Barion Brown for along pass, and Kamara ripped off anice run up the middle. Otherwise, the big offensive plays have been rare.

It’searly.There’snoreason to hit the panic button, especially when you consider that defenses are generally ahead of offenses at this stage of camp. But at some point, we need to see better,more consistent execution from this offense.

Runningonempty

Full disclosure: The Saints have had just one padded practice, so the evaluation here is limited. T hat said, the rushing attack has been tepid at best. Kamara and Neal had big-play runs on Tuesday,but those have been the exceptions, not the rule, so far in camp. There just hasn’tbeen alot of room to run, which might say more about the Saints’ improved run defense than anything else. Time will tell. The joint practice session next week against the Jaguars, who had the top-ranked run defense in the league last season, will be agood gauge.

Email Jeff Duncan at jduncan@ theadvocate.com.

first win in 1990 at Evangeline Downs in Opelousas and gradually built areputation as oneofthe best jockeysinthe nation. He won hisfirst Triple Crownracein2007 aboard Curlin in the Preakness. Curlin was named Horse of the Year in 2007 and2008. Albarado finishedhis career with earnings of $221,560,458 over 34,113 mounts, according to Equibase.

Attack of the code

Forsome, so-called ‘SkynetDay’came tooclose to sci-fi aftera rogueagent hacked into startup

BY LAURIE KELLMAN and LINDSEY BAHR Associated Press

To be fair,James Cameron did warn us. Long before OpenAI brokeout of its test corral and hacked into Hugging Face, before theinternetand Sam Altman were even born,Cameron wroteascreenplayabout an autonomousartificialintelligence system that triggersanuclear apocalypse. That system, “Skynet,” was solidly science fiction —and, for its day,pure speculation. But four decadesafter it appearedin“The Terminator,”it looks more like aforecast of the “unprecedentedcyberincident” in which arogue artificial intelligence systemhacked into another AI company on itsown Cue “Skynet Day,” the new shorthandfor July 22,2026, when real-life AI sent achill around theworld by learning and acting in ways its creators did not anticipate For many,the moment recalled the instantin“Aliens” (also written by Cameron)when the xenomorphqueen learnsto use an elevator. Or when the “Jurassic Park’s” velociraptors

ä See AI, page 6C

to arobot for the promotion of his new film ‘Terminator 3, at the 56th Film Festivalin Cannes, France, in 2003. Fast forward to 2026, and an AI agent went rogue, sparking fears of ‘Skynet day’ come true.

Maybe as youwalked outofthe first Ice Waterround, it hityou Maybe it wasa door that opened —orone that didn’t. Maybe it wasn’t until the next year when youwereonthe other side of the process. It could have been amoment standing in ahallway,waiting, that youcan still describe in detail yearslater. We’reinviting readers who went through sorority recruitment recently or decades ago —totell us about

TOASTTO ACLASSIC

Howdid theold fashionedbecomeLafayette’s favorite cocktail?Thisspotstarted it all.

BY JOANNABROWN Staff writer

If you’re going out to eat in Lafayette,one drinkisa standard on signaturecocktail menus and happy hour specials: the old fashioned.

Made with whiskey,bitters and sugarorsimple syrupover ice then garnishedwitha cherry and orange peel —it’sa simple drink that hits all the right notesfor a special night out— very smooth, with thesugar andbitters nicely balanced against the warmth of the whiskey.Ittastes great on apatio or in acocktail bar,making the old fashioned an ideal beverage to celebrate with—something Acadiana loves to do.

One of Lafayette’s most popular restaurants has madethe old fashioned their bar standby for over 90 years now. Don’s Seafood makes theirold fashionedwith asugar stick thatslowly meltsinto the drink as you stir and sip, and the bartenders say that it’sDon’smost popular drink, by far “It’s become partofthe culture of Don’s, and almost like asymbol of Lafayette and ourculture,” said bartender Shelby Adams. “We

The old fashioned cocktail from don’sSeafood in Lafayette, mixed above, comes with asignature sugar

keep it really simple —the sugar stick that we do is different from other places,and it’s become one of the thingswe’re known for

“Buttruly,it’sjust the culture of Don’s.It’snot just about an old fashioned. That’s theproduct,but we’re really selling community and asmile and aplace to come together to relax after along day.”

Old fashioneds are quick to serve, and go downeasy,sothey are ahit at bustling bars andeaterieswhere peoplegather in largegroups and lingeroverthe occasion. That’s true of the bar and lounge area at Don’s, which tends to be full almost every night of the year,and other Lafayette spots like Hideaway on Lee —where the old fashioned is a popular$5happy hour cocktail or Pamplona Tapas Bar,where an old fashioned is the perfect choice for slowly sipping while engaging in conversation and tapas. The inventionofthe oldfashioned might be creditedtoKentucky bourbon drinkers in the 19th century,but over the decades Acadiana has embraced the drink as oneofits own, alongwith other whiskeycocktails, like the traditionalNew OrleansSazerac. With two oldfashionedoptions on the menu —the classic, and a

ä See COCKTAIL, page 6C

AP FILE PHOTO By PATRICK GARdIN

Arnold Schwarzenegger poses next

STAFF PHOTOSByJOANNA BROWN

stick to sweeten the drink

TODAYINHISTORY

Pleaseholdyourapplause

Dear Miss Manners: Iwent to the symphony,which I’ve done for many years now Iknow that proper symphony etiquette is to refrain from clapping between movements. However,itseems to me that many symphony attendees are not aware of this rule. This has given rise to arather awkward situation: About half the audience knows the rule and does not clap, and the other half does clap —so inevitably there is rather weak and half-hearted applause between movements. Should symphonies try to educate their patrons on the rule with an announcement at the beginning of the concert? Or should we decide this rule has outlived its usefulness and applaud between movements the way we applaud each scene at the opera?

clappingbetween movements, she choosestobelieve that it is still viable, but that it is easy to forgiveanaudience member so caught up in the emotion of theperformance as to momentarily forget it.

By The Associated Press

Today is Wednesday, Aug. 5, the 217th day of 2026. There are 148 days left in the year

Dear Miss Manners: I am recoveringfrom afairly bad cold that Isuspect Icaught during my last hair appointment. While getting my hair washed,several workers were coughing and sneezing around me. Iget all thevaccines and wear masks on planes, but it is hard to wear amask during ahaircut.

ShouldIevenmention this suspicion the nexttime I’matthe salon? If so, what to say without sounding accusatory?Itseems folks have forgotten thelessons from thepandemic.

Gentle reader: The announcement couldgoafter the one about what to do if the theater is overrun by period instrumentalists.

Forgive Miss Manners; she has aheadache from trying to scan aQRcode for the playbill in the absence of aprinted program. This is also why she was unable to verify if the symphony has already acted on your advice about aprinted etiquette lesson —many have. As to the rule against

Gentle reader: That there is no national consensus on what was learned from the pandemicmay beone of the few things thecountry can agree on.

But theetiquette around employees exposingcustomers to more mundane illnesses in commercial establishments is thesame as it was before: Express your concernsprivatelyto theboss so as not to single out or embarrass individual employees.

Dear Miss Manners: When did

it become appropriate for people to inject astatement proclaiming their religious beliefs, withanair of superiority, into conversations that are not specifically about religion?

Icannot count the times Ihave heard “I’ma Christian,and …” in the middle of acompletely unrelated discussion. We could be talking about purchasing car tires, and this happens. Idon’tneed to know their beliefs. Furthermore, this statementhijacks themeaning of the word “Christian.

Gentlereader: Etiquette has long recommended against injecting politics or religion into general conversation because of the strong feelings they engender

We have lately seen the consequences of disregarding the former rule. As to when the latter practice began, Miss Manners is not a theologian, but she believes Christian proselytizing dates at least as far back as Saint Paul—although not as acredential for judging tires

Send questions to Miss Manners at her website, www.missmanners. com; to her email dearmissmanners@gmail com; or through postal mailtoMiss Manners, Universal Uclick,1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.

BEST

Continued from page5C

fresh, and each slider was full with smoky flavor

My meal came with atrio of barbecue sauces:a sweet one, avinegarone and a spicy one.Inmyopinion, BRQ’ssweet sauce is one of the best in the city. Dipping the sliders into the sweet sauce was adelight. The Brussels sprouts had a nice char on them and were glazed to perfection.

—Joy Holden, features reporter Malatang

n Tiger Tang, 7064 ASiegen Lane, Baton Rouge

Tiger Tang just soft opened in Siegen Village, and I’d neverhad Szechuan food up until this point. I knew it was going to be spicy,and it sure was,but not in an overpowering way like Ianticipated.

STAFF PHOTO By JOANNA BROWN Muhammaraand pita wedges fromPamplona Tapas Bar in Lafayette

It’sabuild-your-own-bowl sort of place, so Ichose bok choy,two different types of mushrooms,onion, seaweed knots,noodles,ricecake, beefand pork belly.There are eight differentbroths, andthe OG Mala Tang broth sounded like agood placetostart. This bowl wasdeliciously spicy while elevatingthe flavors ofeach ingredient. The broth was savory and comforting,and Iparticularly loved theseaweed knotsand beef. Ialso tried some mango fruit tea, and

COCKTAIL

Continued from page5C

“Victorian Old Fashioned” with rye whiskey —Don’s Seafood has played amajor role in keeping the tradition going for decades. “1934 is when we opened up and started making them, and so far as Iknow, it’sbeen the same recipe ever since,” according to Don’sSeafood bartender Allen Landry Jr.“Allof Lafayette moves alot of

bourbon becauseofthat. It’s just agood cocktail that everybodyremembers drinking with their grandfather,and alot of people come to Don’swith their grandfather.” Check out these Acadiana restaurantsand barsfor theirtakeona classic old fashioned: n Don’s Seafood, 4309 Johnston St., Lafayette

n Lizzie’s, 105 E. Main St., New Iberia n Pamplona Tapas Bar,631 Jefferson St., Lafayette n Hideaway on Lee, 407 LeeAve., Lafayette

Todayinhistory:

On Aug. 5, 1962, South African anti-apartheid activist Nelson Mandela was arrested on charges of leaving the country without avalid passport and inciting workers to strike; it was the beginning of 27 years of imprisonment.

Also on this date:

In 1864, during theCivil War, Union Adm. David G. Farragut led his fleet to victory in theBattle of Mobile Bay,Alabama. In 1936, Jesse Owens, of theUnited States, won the 200-meter dash at the Berlin Olympics, collecting thethird of his four gold medals

In 1953, Operation Big Switch began as prisoners taken during theKorean Warwere exchanged at Panmunjom In 1957, themusic and

Continuedfrom page5C

figure out how to open a door.Orthe sequence in which theself-awareHAL 9000 reads the astronauts’ lips and decides to kill them in “2001: ASpace Odyssey.”

That one came out in 1968

Have we learned nothing since then?

Those movies merely envisioned howpeople looking to make money or buildpower woulddrive technology forward —until it becomes self-aware, strategic and highly problematic for humanity. The question all along hasbeen Frankensteinian: What if it breaks out?

So far,slo-mo government offerslittle protection from the light-speed progress of AI.The U.S. DefenseDepartment is rapidly accelerating itsuse of AI.Humanity can’teven agree on whether and which guardrails are needed to rein in rogue agents. To thecontrary, people aremarveling at the wonder of AI and snapping up itsbenefits, despite the risks to jobs,mental health, the balance of war and peace —and, potentially humanityasweknow it Thefutureisnow

dance show “American Bandstand,” hosted by Dick Clark, made its national network debut, beginning a 30-year run on ABC.

In 1962, Marilyn Monroe, 36, was found dead in her Los Angeles home; her death wasruled aprobable suicide from “acute barbiturate poisoning.”

In 1964, U.S. Navypilot Everett Alvarez Jr.became the first American flyer to be shot downand captured by North Vietnam; he was held prisoner until February 1973.

In 1974, the White House released transcripts of subpoenaed tape recordings showing that President Richard Nixon and his chief of staff, H.R. Haldeman,had discussed aplan in June 1972 to use the CIA to thwart the FBI’sWatergate investigation; revelation of the tape sparked Nixon’sresignation.

In 2010, 33 workers were trapped in acopper mine in northern Chile after a tunnel caved in (all were

rescued 69 days later). In 2011, the sun-powered robotic explorer Juno rocketed toward Jupiter on afive-year quest to discover the secret recipe formaking planets. (Juno reached Jupiter on July 4, 2016.)

In 2024, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, whohad ruled Bangladesh for15 years, fled to India after weeks of student-led protests in which morethan 800 people werekilled and about 1,400 were injured. Today’sbirthdays: Country music songwriter Bobby Braddock is 86. Pop singer Samantha Sang is 75. Actorsinger Maureen McCormickis70. Rock musician Pat Smear is 67. Author David Baldacci is 66. Actor Janet McTeer is 65. Basketball Hall of Famer Patrick Ewing is 64. Actor Mark Strong is 63. Directorscreenwriter James Gunn is 60. Actor Jonathan Silverman is 60. Actor Jesse Williams is 45. Actor/singer Olivia

Arnold Schwarzenegger tells heroineSarah Connor that “Skynet” goes online on Aug. 4, 1997. “Human decisions are removedfrom strategic defense,” he says. “Skynet begins to learn at ageometric rate.” At 2:14 a.m. on Aug. 29

—Judgment Day— the network becomes self-aware and launches an attack on Russia to provoke acounterstrike on the United States. Three billion lives are lost.

Thatwould have been 29 years ago next month if it hadhappened. Andthroughout sequelsand spinoffs,the central theme is humans versus aworld-spanning network of machines.

thecold temperature provided agreat cooling sensation in between the heated bites.

I’m excited to return in thefall and winter —Maddie Scott, features reporter

Tapas

n PamplonaTapas Bar, 631 Jefferson St Lafayette

Tapas, small plates, appetizers —Ilove them all, largely for the ability to shift between flavors without getting overwhelmed. For alight dinner at Pamplona Tapas Bar,Iwent for afresh arugula salad with aplate of Muhammara, a spread made from peppers, almonds and pomegranate molasses that creates atangy and spicy flavor profile. With the bold flavors of the Muhammara, abitter arugula salad with pops of apple and orange slices, manchego cheese, almonds and aquince vinaigrette was the perfect accompaniment.

—Joanna Brown, staff writer

n Cafe SydnieMae, 140 E. BridgeSt., Breaux Bridge

n Social Southern Table & Bar,3901 JohnstonSt., Lafayette n Whiskey& Vine,507 W. Pinhook Road,Lafayette n Vestal, 555 Jefferson St., Lafayette

n POUR Restaurant &Bar, 605 Silverstone Road,Lafayette

n Bon Temps Grill, 1211 W. Pinhook Road,Lafayette

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

In what OpenAI saidwas the first-everincident of its kind, an advanced AI model escaped its“sandbox” to the internet and used stolen credentials to break intothe serversofHugging Face.It wasatold-you-so moment for researchers who had warned foryears that the technology could poseanexistentialthreattohumanity Others said the moment was awarning that underscored the need for strongerAIdefensive engineering. Either way,the breakout was widely considered a cautionary tale aboutthe risks of uncontrolled AI.

“Yesterday, as we huddled around our computersreading thereport, Itold the team to “remember this moment”asthe first true AI safety incident,” Logan Graham,head of Anthropic’s Frontier Red Team, posted on Xafter it happened.

Generative AI is growing so fastthatgovernment andevaluationsystems are struggling to keep pace withthe technology.Countries around the world are cobbling together their own laws, some conflicting. The technology was adopted by nearly 53%ofthe world’s population in three years, faster thanthe spread of the PC or theinternet, according to astudy released this year by Stanford University ‘Skynetiscoming’ —sortof To be clear,the “Skynet” of the“Terminator” movies is not at hand.

Thosefilms begin witha self-aware militarycomputer network thatviews humanity as athreat. In a bid for self-preservation, “Skynet” sends an army of cyborgs designed to resemble humans back in time to assassinate resistance fighters.Inthe second film, the Terminator, played by

It’sunlikely that Cameron was actually ringingawarning bell the way, say,director Kathryn Bigelow tried to do with last year’snuclear weapon film, “A House of Dynamite.” Legend has it thatthe ideafor “The Terminator” started with Cameron suffering afood sicknessinducedfever dream, not a premonition about AI.

‘The Terminator’realized Anytime AI oversteps our comfort level, it raises the alarming question of who, or what, really controls our lives.

For many,aworld with machines in charge can be hard to imagine withoutmoviesand booksand theirsometimes prescient visions. See: “The Matrix,” “ExMachina” and“Minority Report” for some of the many sci-fi takes on the perils of machines. Or dive deeper,into Philip K. Dick’s 1968 novel, “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?” It’sanexploration of what it means to be human in the ageofmachines —and the basis for the 1982 film “Blade Runner.” But “The Terminator” franchise wields outsize influenceovermore than culture.The very title is real-world shorthand for technology’sroleindeciding who lives and who dies —and how the military should respond to any truly autonomous attacks.

“I think the weaponization of AI is the biggest danger,” Cameron said in an interview on CTV in 2023. “You have no ability to de-escalate.” The real world offers several examples of technology and military policy coming uncomfortably close to “Terminator” imagery Israel’suse of AI in its recent warsmark aleading

instance. In early 2021, it launched Gospel, an AI tool that sorts through Israel’s vast array of digitized informationtosuggest targets for potential strikes. It also developed Lavender,which uses machine learning to filter out requested criteria from intelligence databases and narrow down lists of potential targets, including people. Lavenderranks people between 0and 100 based on howlikelyitisthey area militant,anintelligence officer whoused the systems toldThe Associated Press. The Israeli military says its analysts useAI-enabledsystemstohelpidentify targets but independentlyexamine them together with highranking officers to meet international law,weighing military advantageagainst the collateral damage. For some, the revelation —and the death toll in Gaza after the Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023, attacks on Israel came tooclose forcomfort to the kill lists of science fiction. “Wellguys, Skynetis Here and its has apleasant name (Lavender),” snarked one Redditor Not quite —but “Terminator” terminology is so familiar to the masses that U.S. officials sometimes use it to frame the ethical debate around the military uses of AI. The conventional red line would be crossed, it seems,whenhumans play no role in AI targeting and killing.

Astate or otheractor could use autonomousweapons to inflict lethal force on its enemies, military officials allow.That would mean amachine,asthenVice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen.Paul Selva described it in 2016, “like aTerminator that adds incredible amountsofcomplexity with no conscience to what happens on thebattlefield.” What would comenext, he called“the Terminator conundrum,” the problem of technology that can make life-or-deathdecisions and execute them before people have agreed on the law or the rules.

“Skynet” andits cyborgs remain in the fictional realm.But in the fast-movinglandscapeofAIdevelopment, the ethical and moral questions raised by “The Terminator” are more relevant than ever “The Skynetproblem,” Cameron said in a2024 video, “is an actual thing.”

STAFF PHOTO By MAddIESCOTT

Build-your-own malatang from TigerTang

Judith Martin MISS MANNERS

Holt is 29.

ASSOCIATEdPRESS FILEPHOTO By GOdOFREdO A. VÁSQUEZ

Sam Altman, center,and OpenAIPresident Greg Brockman, right, arrive at the U.S. districtCourtinOakland, Calif., on April30.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) Refuse to let a sensitive situation explode. Listen, take your time to respond and refuse to let anyone bait you into a discussion that will lead to tension or personal or financial loss.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Pay attention in order to avoid getting into impossible situations. Take a moment and learn from experiences that you wish you could go back and change. Rely on your memory.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) Enjoywhatlifehas to offer. Don't labor over what you cannot change, but embrace what delights and excites you. You owe it to yourself to appreciate who you are and what you have to offer.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov 22) Set high standards and refuse to buy into someone else's lifestyle Emotions will be difficult to disguise, so keep your distance from people you don't trust. Play your cards close to your chest and maintain control.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) Don't go overboard when it comes to your livelihood and professional affiliates. By directing your attention to pastimes and people you enjoy hanging out with, you will enrich your life and spark ideas.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Lessons learned will be your saving grace. Use your intelligence and foresight to guide you when dealing with those who don't share your beliefs. Entitlement can lead to trouble.

AQUARIUS (Jan 20-Feb. 19) Embrace change and do your best to fulfill your

dreams,hopesandwishes.Yourstrength lies in your ability to make your own opportunities and to see them to completion.

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) Be careful not to make a snap decision you regret Look at the specs and figure out what's doable. Use your experience and intelligence to navigate your way forward. Don't be fooled by someone's charm.

ARIES (March 21-April 19) Trust your instincts, not what others tell you to do. Change begins with you, not someone else invading your thought process and dictating the outcome. It's up to you to pay attention to detail.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) Being disciplined and sticking to rules, regulations and what's in your best interest will take precedence over someone using pressure to push you in a direction that's better for them than you.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) Formulate a plan, research and put your heart and soul into improving your lifestyle. Refuse to let outside influences cost you or lead you in the wrong direction. Focus on doing what's best for you.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) Money and emotions will lead to trouble. Don't buy into somethingyoucannotafford.Avoidjoint ventures or trying to keep up with someone. Life and friendships aren't races.

The horoscope, an entertainment feature, is not based on scientific fact. © 2026 by NEA, Inc., dist. By Andrews McMeel Syndication

FAMILY CIrCUS

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

TODAy'S CLUE: K EQUALS D

CeLebrItY CIpher

beetLe bAILeY

Mother GooSe And GrIMM

Sudoku

InstructIons: Sudoku is anumber-placing puzzle based on a9x9 grid with several given numbers. The object is to place the numbers1 to 9inthe empty squares so that each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once. Thedifficulty level of the Sudoku increases from Monday to Sunday.

Yesterday’s PuzzleAnswer

THe wiZard oF id

BLondie

BaBY BLueS

Hi and LoiS

CurTiS

BY PHILLIP ALDER Bridge

JohnStuartMill,a19th-centuryBritish philosopher and economist, said, “The only freedom whichdeserves thename is that of pursuing our owngood in our own way,solong as we do not attempt to deprive others of theirs, or impede their effortstoobtain it.”

At the bridge table, though, it is your jobtoimpede your opponents’efforts to obtainyour downfall. In this deal, how shouldSouththwartthedefense’sefforts todefeatthreeno-trumpafterWestleads his fourth-highest diamond?

Thereisa strong case for North’s raising one no-trump to three no-trump, eschewing Stayman.Hehas ahighhonor in hisdoubleton andextra high-card strength. Even if North uncoversa 4-4 spade fit, game in that strain might fail due to,for example, abad trump split when there are nine winners in notrump.

Southstarts witheight top tricks: three hearts, one diamond and four clubs. The ninth winner will come fromspades. But playing on that suit will give thelead back to the defenders and maybe they can run the diamond suit.

The Rule of Seven recommends holdingupthediamondaceforoneroundand taking the second trick. Here, though, thatisfatal. West gets in withhis spade ace and cashes three diamond tricks.

Ifthediamondsare4-3,Southisalways safe. Butifthey are5-2,what is the layout?

Surely East has honor-doubleton because West would have led theking from K-Q-J-x-x Southshouldwin thefirst trickwith dummy’sdiamond ace to block the suit.

©2026 by NEA,Inc., dist.

By Andrews McMeel Syndication

Each Wuzzle is awordriddlewhich creates adisguised word, phrase, name, place, saying, etc. For example: NOON GOOD =GOOD AFTERNOON

Previous answers:

word game

InsTRucTIons: 1. Words must be of fourormore letters. 2. Words that acquire fourletters by the addition of “s,”such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed.3 Additional words made by adding a“d” or an “s” may not be used. 4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit wordsare not allowed

ToDAY’s WoRD IMPRoBITY: im-PRO-bih-tee: Indecency.

Average mark16words

Timelimit 35 minutes

Can you find 27 or morewords in IMPROBITY?

YEsTERDAY’s WoRD —DEFRAYs

wuzzles

loCKhorNs

marmaduKe

Bizarro

hagar the horriBle

Pearls Before swiNe

garfield

B.C.

PiCKles

hidato

mallard fillmore

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