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S u n d ay, au g u S t 23, 2026

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SpaceX stirs real estate market Prospective buyers flocking to Vermilion

BY ADAM DAIGLE

Acadiana business editor

the data center gets built. Gov. Jeff Landry announced in July that Meta is expanding its investment at Hyperion to $50 billion, from $10 billion. The data center, whose massive computational capacity is designed to power Meta during the AI revolution, will now occupy ﬁve square miles and is scheduled to be fully operational in 2036. All of this is taking place in a

A 14-acre tract on the north side of Kaplan has sat empty for decades, despite being ready for development. Ricky LeBlanc and a business partner bought the property several years ago and proposed building 40 mobile homes there, but city officials rejected the plan. Nothing happened after that until LeBlanc got a call from the previous owner, longtime city engineer Gene Sellers, about six months ago that changed everything. “He said, ‘Did you hear anything about SpaceX?’” LeBlanc said. “I didn’t know if it was going to happen. He said, ‘It’s going to happen. There’s no doubt. Look, you’re going to have a hell of an opportunity.’” Now, with Gov. Jeff Landry expected to announce this week that SpaceX plans to build a multibillion-dollar spaceport in Vermilion Parish, LeBlanc said he has been contacted by multiple builders interested in developing 65 homes on the Landry property. Once details become public — Gov. Jeff Landry has called a news conference at 11 a.m. Tuesday — a deal could happen, he said. Even before an official announcement, the prospect of SpaceX coming to Vermilion Parish is beginning to stir the local real estate market. Earlier this week, two real estate agents announced sales involving buyers connected to the anticipated project. Vermilion is already the hottest market in Acadiana this year outside Lafayette Parish thanks to the new construction in the Maurice area. But now that likely will increase significantly, sources indicate, with dozens of speculative buyers expected to join the fray. “We’ve been getting a lot of activity on some properties that have been sitting for a little while,” said James Noel Jr., of Sunrise Realty in Abbeville. “When the news first broke, there was a few properties going on contract with some speculation with long closing dates. There’s a buzz around town for sure.” So far this year, 55 more homes have sold in Vermilion Parish than during the same period last year, according to data from Bill Bacque, of Market Scope Consulting. New construction sales have

ä See META, page 4A

ä See SPACEX, page 5A

BURSTING

AT THE SEAMS Meta data center packing hotels, new RV parks BY TYLER BRIDGES Staff writer

Jerry House needed a job. House had worked as a pipeﬁtter for 10 years in Texas, but after the plant shut down last year, he called a buddy who said the giant Meta data center being built in northeast Louisiana needed all kinds of skilled laborers. House went to a union hall, took a test to determine his ability and by Easter this year had a job working on one of the biggest construction projects in the “I hope to United States. House, 58, now works be here 50 hours a week and another lives at the Cotton three or Patch RV Park, a couple four years.” of miles from the data center, known as HyJERRy HOUSE, perion. Meta data It’s not a glamorous life. The RVs are stacenter construction tioned on a gravel lot that used to be a cotton worker field in an unincorporated community called Holly Ridge. The closest bars, restaurants and nighttime entertainment are at least 30 minutes away. But the money is very good. Workers said they are making 11/ 2 to 2 times as much as on their previous jobs but didn’t want to provide speciﬁcs.

STAFF PHOTOS By MICHAEL JOHNSON

Dunn Village, a recreation center where Meta data center workers spend their free time, features multiple recliners, sofas and televisions. TOP: A crane lifts material onto a building where crews are working on the Meta data center grounds in Holly Ridge in Richland Parish on Aug. 4. “I hope to be here another three or four years,” House said, sitting at a picnic table where workers who live at the RV park gather after quitting time to drink beer, socialize and order meals from a food truck. House joined thousands of fortuneseeking workers who are transforming rural Richland Parish, posing an extraordinary challenge of where to temporarily house all of them for what might only be a short-term gold rush as

Paralyzed at 18, Esponge now leads town of Delcambre

a training accident when he was had a drill sergeant who had some comMilitary drive pushes since 18. bat experience and recognized what had In 2009, following in the footsteps of happened and stabilized me,” Esponge mayor into public service his father who served for over 20 years, said. Esponge headed to basic training at Fort Known for his athleticism in high for his community Benning in Georgia. Fifteen days later, school, the realization was a bitter pill

BY JOEL THOMPSON Staff writer

Tipper Esponge once imagined a future running decathlons for the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and deploying to the Middle East with his National Guard unit. Instead, at 33, he runs a small town along the border of Iberia and Vermilion parishes. Esponge, the mayor of Delcambre, has been paralyzed from the neck down

WEATHER HIGH 99 LOW 78 PAGE 6B

he suffered his life-altering injury during a routine drill. “There was a big, huge mud puddle of water with individual lanes,” Esponge described. “You had to jump into the water and crawl underneath the barbed wire.” However, he was unaware that the pit was only 6 inches deep, and believing it to be much deeper, he dived in head ﬁrst, severing his spinal cord in the process. “The ﬁrst thing I remember realizing was that I couldn’t move. Thankfully, I

for him to swallow. “It didn’t really sink in at ﬁrst, going from being an athletic 18-year-old to not even being able to scratch my own nose,” Esponge said. “I was used to playing sports and bouncing back after an injury. I had joined knowing when I was done with basic training that my unit (would go) to either Iraq or Afghanistan and some part of me still thought I was going to deploy.”

ä See MAYOR, page 5A

Business ......................1E Deaths .........................2B Nation-World................2A Classified .....................8D Living............................1D Opinion ........................4B Commentary ................5B Metro ...........................1B Sports ..........................1C

Tipper Esponge, the mayor of Delcambre, overcame a spinal injury sustained during military training to become a dedicated public servant focused on community and economic development. PROVIDED PHOTO

102ND yEAR, NO. 54

2A ● Sunday,August 23, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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FROM WIRE REPORTS

Trump asks court to nix BBC’s bid for records

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has urged a federal judge to reject the BBC’s request for the court’s help in securing testimony and documents from three family members in response to his $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the British broadcaster. The BBC is trying to gain “politically-driven leverage” over Trump by serving subpoenas on daughter Ivanka Trump, son-inlaw Jared Kushner and son Donald Trump Jr., personal lawyers for the Republican president argued in a court filing Friday. U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Kuntz in Miami did not immediately rule on the dispute. Kuntz, who was nominated to the bench by Trump, inherited the president’s lawsuit from another judge less than a week ago. Court filings did not immediately specify a reason for the case’s reassignment. The previous judge has set a February trial date. In May, a process server working for the BBC tried to serve subpoenas on Ivanka Trump and Kushner at their residence but encountered Secret Service agents who said they were not authorized to accept it, according to the president’s lawyers. They said the process server also visited Trump Tower in New York several days later in a failed attempt to serve Donald Trump Jr. In a court filing last week, the broadcaster asked for the court’s permission to serve subpoenas on Trump’s family members by certified mail instead of in person. Trump’s lawsuit, filed in December, accuses the BBC of deceptively editing portions of the speech that he delivered near the White House on Jan. 6, 2021, when a mob of his supporters attacked the Capitol to stop Congress from certifying Democrat Joe Biden’s victory over Trump. The suit claims the BBC spliced together separate parts of Trump’s speech to intentionally misrepresent what he said.

Scores kidnapped from mosque in Nigeria

A number of people were kidnapped from a mosque in a spree of abductions at several villages in Nigeria’s north-central Niger state, police said Saturday. The assailants attacked a mosque in Kpenya village after attacks in a string of villages in the remote Borgu Local Government Area of Niger state Friday, police spokesperson Wasiu Abiodun said. Such attacks are common in Nigeria, where multiple armed groups operate, killing and kidnapping people for ransom. The groups sometimes clash in competition with each other. No group has claimed responsibility for the Friday attacks. Abiodun did not provide ﬁgures but said no lives were lost in the Friday attacks, and said the military was deployed to the area. Residents said scores of people were abducted, with some estimating between 60 and 80 people were kidnapped. A search for survivors was underway Saturday.

Donkey jumps into van in Germany, injuring 3

BERLIN — A donkey on the loose in northern Germany attacked two motorists by jumping into their van on Friday, kicking and biting them along with a third woman who tried to help restrain the aggressive equine, police said. The incident south of the coastal city of Cuxhaven came to an end as the animal’s owner intervened to secure the animal, Cuxhaven police said in a statement. Passersby noticed the donkey, whose name is Freddy, and a horse were running loose at a roundabout in the town of Holssel. The motorists tried to secure the donkey, which “became very aggressive” and jumped into the van. The 33-year-old woman who tried to help required hospital treatment, while the motorists sustained minor injuries, the police statement said. “The reason for the animal’s aggressive reaction is still unclear,” the statement said.

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U.S., Canada fall deeper into trade war Trump imposes tariffs as talks collapse and blame is spread

BY PAUL WISEMAN and ROB GILLIES Associated Press

WASHINGTON — The United States and Canada, historic allies along an undefended border, fell deeper into a trade war Saturday marked by angry recriminations and new tariffs that are expected to raise prices for products in both countries. Each side blamed the other for the collapse of negotiations in Washington late Friday, leading the U.S. to impose 50% tariffs on $20 billion worth of Canadian goods and Canada setting Sept. 8 as the start of its retaliatory penTrump alties. President Donald Trump’s import taxes will hit about 5% of what Canada ships to the United States every year, ranging from hockey sticks to tongue depressors. Prime Minister Carney said Ottawa would respond with targeted tariff protection for industries exposed to the new U.S. duties, including some steel products. He also mentioned the dairy, appliance, agricultural equipment, pulp and paper

CANADIAN PRESS PHOTO By PATRICK DOyLE

Prime Minister Mark Carney speaks about Canada’s response to new U.S. tariffs during a news conference on Saturday on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Canada. and electronics sectors. No further talks were planned. Whatever the eventual outcome, a loss of trust seems one of the earliest casualties. Carney accused Washington of using “economic integration as a weapon” and said “its signature was written in pencil.” Resorting to the language of battle, he said his country had been “attacked” by the new American tariffs. “You’re at war when you get attacked,” he said, adding that Canada had the reserves, resilience and plan to respond. But to Trump’s chief trade negotiator, Jamieson Greer, the U.S. was compelled to act after a year of

retaliation by its longtime partner. “We’ve said enough, and so we’ve taken countermeasures. Our interest is in protecting American workers and protecting American supply chains,” the U.S. trade representative told “Fox & Friends Weekend.” Carney said Canada had been willing to drop remaining retaliatory tariffs on steel, aluminum and autos if the U.S. substantially lowered its own, and to encourage provinces to restore U.S. alcohol sales. But he said Washington’s ﬁnal demands went too far. “They asked too much and offered too little,” Carney said.

Greer said the Republican administration was offering to cut tariffs on steel, autos and lumber, “things that are sensitive for them. And they’ve always had the best deal, and they still would have an even better deal, but they didn’t want that.” As a result, he said, “We’re moving forward with measures that respond to Canadian retaliation.” Carney said the U.S. added last-minute terms that would have reduced tariff relief for Canadian-made vehicles, restricted Canada’s ability to strike trade deals with other countries and weakened protections

for language, culture and sovereignty. He said such demands were “unacceptable.” The breakdown in negotiations marked a sharp reversal from two days earlier, when ofﬁcials from the two countries sounded as if they were headed toward a compromise. Ontario Premier Doug Ford, who leads Canada’s most populous province, praised Carney for rejecting the deal, saying it would have hurt Ontario’s auto, steel and manufacturing sectors. Ford urged Canada to use “every tool in our toolbox” to ﬁght the U.S. tariffs. The moves also call into question the future of a North American trade agreement covering the United States, Canada and Mexico that is crucial to industry in all three countries. Carney said the breakdown was “certainly not good news” for the review of that agreement and that the failed negotiations had given Canada “a new perspective” on what Washington wants from the broader economic relationship. The political impact will likely be even bigger than the economic fallout. The countries sold each other $880 billion worth of goods and services last year. The tariffs were initially supposed to kick in at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday. Trump extended the deadline for three days to allow talks to continue, but the countries could not reach an agreement in time.

Iran threatens neighbors against economic measures Mohsen Rezaei was named this month as part The hard-line new lead- of senior appointments er of Iran’s Supreme Na- widely seen as hardentional Security Council ing Tehran’s political and threatened Tehmilitary stance. ONFLICT His interview with ran’s neighbors CO IRIB is his most against joining IN THE T extensive public the new U.S. ef- MIIDDLE statement since fort to hurt Iran’s AST then. economy, and ac- EAST Rezaei said Iran cused the United States of increasing glob- would target oil-shipping al nuclear insecurity with routes out of the Persian Gulf — alternatives to months of war. “If (Trump) wants to do the Strait of Hormuz — something, we will retali- if neighbors join what he ate in a seismic manner,” described as the economic he said in an interview war against Iran. Those with the state broadcaster neighbors would be conthat aired Saturday. sidered enemies and “we By The Associated Press

will target their interests,” he said. President Donald Trump in the past week has vowed to increase Iran’s pain by imposing an “unprecedented” level of economic warfare and isolation. Iran has lived under sanctions for years. Rezaei said discussions with Oman, located on the other side of the strait, over management of it were ongoing, and said fees would be imposed. Iran asserted control over what was seen as an international waterway shortly after the U.S. and Israel attacked on Feb. 28.

Russian, Ukrainian strikes kill 10 a day after deadly mall attack BY VOLODYMYR YURCHUK Associated Press

KYIV, Ukraine — Russian drone and missile strikes killed at least seven people in Ukraine, officials said Saturday, while a Ukrainian drone attack on Russia’s Krasnodar region killed three people there. The attacks came a day after a Russian strike on a Ukrainian shopping center killed at least 16 people and wounded some 130. Moscow’s forces have recently intensified their ballistic missile attacks on Kyiv, exploiting Ukraine’s chronic shortage of U.S.made Patriot air defense interceptors, the sole weapon in its arsenal able to shoot down the missiles. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that one person was killed and another wounded in the latest attacks when ballistic missiles hit railway infrastructure in the capital, Kyiv, overnight. Russia’s Defense Ministry said that its forces had hit a locomotive depot. In a separate attack, local authorities said two people were killed Saturday afternoon in a Russian ballistic missile strike on the Kyiv region, which surrounds

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO

People embrace each other Friday near a burning mall after a Russian drone attack in Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine. the capital. Russian drone strikes also killed one person overnight in the Zaporizhzhia region, local ofﬁcials said Saturday, and a daytime attack killed three others and wounded 15. Zelenskyy said that three people were also wounded in an attack on a minibus in the regional capital, also called Zaporizhzhia. In Russia’s southern Krasnodar region, authorities said that three people, including two children, were killed and two adults were wounded in a Ukrainian drone strike. The latest attacks came a day after Russian drones struck a shopping center in the city of Kryvyi Rih in

central Ukraine. Dnipropetrovsk regional head Oleksandr Hanzha said in the early hours of Saturday that the death toll had risen to 16. Later on Saturday he said four people remain missing after the attack, which wounded a further 130. Kryvyi Rih is the hometown of Zelenskyy, who described the attack as a double-tap strike, in which an initial wave of drones hit the area followed by a second wave as rescue workers responded. The Ukrainian leader said the ﬁre, which spread across around 97,000 square feet, had been extinguished and rescue efforts were underway.

Rezaei also vowed to make changes to Iran’s diplomacy and bring new capabilities to what he called the next war. He warned the U.S. against sending more military personnel to the region, and said the U.S. had increased nuclear insecurity because countries see that participating in international monitoring efforts, as Iran has done, is no protection against attack. Meanwhile, the top diplomats for Egypt and Iran discussed efforts to bring

Tehran and Washington back to the negotiating table to settle the war, Egypt’s foreign ministry said. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty also discussed the Iranian-Omani talks, the ministry said. Araghchi briefed Egypt’s foreign minister about “Iran’s view of ongoing developments, the course of negotiations and their challenges,” the ministry said, without elaborating.

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Federal judge vacates visa processing policy Rule suspended processing from 75 countries

BY MICHAEL CASEY Associated Press

A federal judge in New York has vacated a Trump administration policy that suspended the processing of visas from 75 countries, including Afghanistan, Iran, Russia and Somalia, whose nationals the Trump administration deemed likely to require public assistance in the United States. U.S. District Judge Jeannette Vargas, an appointee of former President Joe Biden, set aside the policy Friday as “contrary to law and in excess of statutory authority.” Secretary of State Marco Rubio exceeded his authority by issuing the policy, which “runs afoul” of the Immigration and Nationality Act by mandating “the refusal of visas to eligible applicants without any basis

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By TIERNEy L. CROSS

Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrives on Aug. 11 at the Treaty Room at the State Department in Washington. A federal court ruled Rubio exceeded his authority in issuing a policy suspending the processing of visas from 75 countries. in law,” the judge ruled. Vargas said the policy also undermines the congressional requirement that puts consular ofﬁcers at the forefront of any visa decision. “Congress imbued these ofﬁcers with exclusive authority and discretion to

determine if an immigrant is eligible for a visa based upon review of speciﬁc and detailed criteria set forth in the statute,” she wrote. “The Policy, which categorically prohibits the issuance of immigrant visas based upon the nationality of the ap-

plicant, represents a direct abrogation of this statutory scheme.” The policy was challenged by two nonprofit organizations along with 11 individuals, including six whose family members had been refused visas. The remaining five are outside the country and had filed “employmentbased petitions” to come to the United States. “We welcome this ruling because, at its heart, this case is about keeping families together,” said Anna Gallagher, the executive director of CLINIC, a national nonprofit that provides training, resources, and support to a network of immigration legal service providers and was one of the plaintiffs. “Catholic social teaching calls us to uphold the dignity of every person and recognize the family as the foundation of society,” she said in a statement. “This decision affirms both those values and the rule of law, allowing families to once again move forward toward

reuniﬁcation.” Another plaintiff is African Communities Together, a Harlem-based nonprofit. One of its leaders called the ruling “a tremendous victory for the rule of law.” “This unlawful and racist ban caused immeasurable harm, cruelly keeping families and loved ones apart,” Diana Konate, deputy executive director for policy and advocacy, said in a statement. “Today, we are elated to tell our community members: this ban is no more.” President Donald Trump has imposed a growing list of immigration and travel bans mostly for people from Africa, Asia and Latin America. The State Department said Saturday that the Trump administration is “protecting the American people by upholding the highest standards of screening and vetting of visa applicants,” and that it would not comment on pending litigation. At the time the policy was issued, the State Department said it had instructed consular ofﬁcers to halt immigrant

visa applications from the 75 countries in accordance with a broader order in November that tightened rules around potential immigrants who might become “public charges.” Relying on Council of Economic Advisers data, the State Department said that more than 30% of households with immigrants from these countries received some form of public assistance. A separate notice sent to all U.S. embassies and consulates said that nonimmigrant visa applicants also should be “fully vetted and screened” for the possibility that they might seek public benefits in the United States. The cable, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press, noted several times that the applicant must prove they won’t apply for public benefits while in the U.S., and that consular officers who suspect the applicant might apply should require them to fill out a form proving their financial bona fides.

TikTok reaches settlement with DOJ Trump urges S.C. voters to elect Darline Graham in Republican runoff $400M deal settles suit over children’s privacy

BY BARBARA ORTUTAY

AP technology writer

TikTok has reached a $400 million settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice, ending a 2024 lawsuit alleging the company violated federal children’s privacy laws. The DOJ said Friday that TikTok will pay $300 million immediately and another $100 million after an order vacates an earlier consent decree against its predecessor company, Musical.ly. “This settlement is a major

victory for American children and parents,” said U.S. Associate Attorney General Stanley E. Woodward Jr. in a statement. “The Department’s priority is ensuring that children are protected online and that companies entrusted with their personal information meet their legal obligations. This resolution secures a substantial recovery while reinforcing the protections that families expect and deserve.” Since the DOJ’s lawsuit in 2024, TikTok has undergone major changes, most notably in the ownership structure of its U.S. arm. In January, the social video platform company signed agreements with major investors including Oracle, Silver Lake and

the Emirati investment ﬁrm MGX to form the new TikTok U.S. joint venture. Representatives for TikTok did not immediately respond to a message for comment Friday. The latest lawsuit focused on allegations that TikTok and its China-based parent company ByteDance violated a federal law that requires kid-oriented apps and websites to get parental consent before collecting personal information of children under 13. It also says the companies failed to honor requests from parents who wanted their children’s accounts deleted, and chose not to delete accounts even when the firms knew they belonged to kids under 13.

BY MEG KINNARD and DARLENE SUPERVILLE Associated Press

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. — President Donald Trump sought Friday to boost Sen. Darline Graham’s effort to win a full term, telling thousands of supporters that the ﬁrst step toward keeping her as their senator involves helping the political newcomer triumph in a Republican runoff next week. The Republican president also begged them to pretend that he’s on the ballot Tuesday — even though he is not — if that will help get them out to vote. Voters will decide Tuesday

whether Graham or Rep. Ralph Norman will be the Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate on the ballot in November. “You have to get out and vote,” Trump said about Darline Graham, who is serving out the remainder of the term of her late brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham, who died unexpectedly in July. “And we need every South Carolina patriot to go to the polls and vote for Darline Graham.” Trump nodded to the reality that Republican base voters lose interest in elections when he is not a candidate for ofﬁce, as is the case this year. Trump is serving

his second and ﬁnal term as president. “So what I really want you to do is pretend, please, that I’m on the ballot. Just come and vote. It’s so important,” Trump said. “So just say that I’m on the ballot one more time. You got to say it, and you got to come out and vote.” Trump, who encouraged Darline Graham to run and has given her his “complete and total endorsement,” called her to the stage as he neared the end of his remarks. “This is Trump country,” she declared before leading the crowd in chants of “U.S.A.”

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4A ● Sunday,August 23, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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STAFF PHOTOS By MICHAEL JOHNSON

Cars fill a parking lot at the south end of the Meta data center site as construction can be seen surrounded by rural farmland along La. 80 in Holly Ridge on Aug. 4.

META

highways that surround Hyperion. “There are 5,000 to 7,000 vehicles per day entering the site,” Harwell said. “They have an 18-wheel delivery every 90 seconds. We’re seeing 70 to 80 vehicle wrecks a month. Before, it was one.” Off-duty sheriff’s deputies police trafﬁc at nine different spots around Hyperion, given the early morning and late afternoon trafﬁc jams. Richland Parish never had a rush hour before. “It’s hard for the locals to get to and from their houses,” said former state Rep. Bubba Chaney, a Republican from Rayville. “I guess it’s one of the costs you have to endure.”

Continued from page 1A parish with only 19,500 residents according to a 2025 census estimate. Local ofﬁcials estimate that 8,000 to 10,000 workers are laboring to build it. Many of them live at several dozen newly created RV camps in Richland Parish that enterprising residents have established on plots of land, big and small, that they own. The Richland Parish Police Jury faced pushback after recently prohibiting residents from putting four or more trailers on their property without providing bathrooms and showers onsite. Out-of-towners have established several “man camps” where up to 800 workers live in fully equipped trailers with food halls, recreation centers and industrial-size washers and dryers. Security guards keep out unwanted visitors. Dunn Village, just off Interstate 20 near the town of Delhi, houses about 500 people in RVs and trailers. It begins serving breakfast every day to Meta workers at 4:30 a.m. in its food hall. Everyone has to show their meal card. One of the rules allows Meta workers at the dinner buffet to return for seconds but only after 7 p.m. While most of the workers are men, John Lauve, the co-owner of Dunn Village and another camp that has just opened, said both have areas for single women and married couples. Still others live in local motels and hotels that contractors are fully leasing. Younger workers tend to stay in group houses in Monroe, 30 minutes to the west on Interstate 20, or Vicksburg, Mississippi, an hour to the east. Both towns offer more nightlife. The tidal wave of workers has jacked up real estate prices in both Richland and Ouachita parishes. The Hampton Inn in Monroe, Ouachita’s parish seat, recently quoted a rate of $380 per night. A Hampton

Tough work The recreation center at Dunn Village, where workers spend their free time, features couches, recliners and amenities like a pool table. Inn in Baton Rouge typically costs about $120 per night. “I’m concerned about protecting rental rates in Ouachita Parish,” said Monroe Mayor Friday Ellis, who is encouraging the construction of more permanent housing. “You don’t want to price your own people out of Ellis living in their community.” Meta ofﬁcials say the data center will have about 1,000 permanent jobs once it’s fully operational.

Coming from all over Many of the laborers have come from neighboring states, especially Texas, and perhaps 50% of them are Hispanic, according to workers. Holy Tacos, a now-thriving joint in Rayville, 5 miles from Hyperion, invites patrons to stick a pin on a big wall map to mark where they are from. Nearly all 50 states are represented, with the biggest concentration of pins around Dallas, north and south Louisiana and western Mississippi. “We’re here to see how

much we can bring home,” said Austin, a roofer from Arkansas who declined to give his last name. Like other laborers, Austin has hopscotched around the country to work on big industrial projects. Those jobs typically lasted 10 weeks. “We’d knock it out, then go home,” Austin said, while consuming brisket and a Dr Pepper on a paper plate at the Cotton Patch RV camp. On this job, he has already earned enough money to pay off 75% of the mortgage on his farm in Arkansas. “As long as work needs to be done, I’ll be here,” he said. Austin’s most memorable job came in 2015 when he worked in North Dakota during an oil ﬁeld boom there. He lived in a man camp where fights over money and women were common. “The man camps were rough up there,” Austin said. By contrast, his RV camp in northeast Louisiana becomes quiet most nights by 8 p.m. because the laborers typically start work the next

day at 6 a.m., and no entertainment options beckon nearby. Free time on weekends for many workers means going home. “I’m away from my wife,” said Cooper, a project manager from Kansas City who was drinking a Miller Lite at a bar in Monroe’s called Enoch’s Pub. He declined to provide his last name. “I see her every two weeks. Every ﬂight out of Monroe is full.” Jeff Comben, a logistics coordinator who moved to Louisiana from Washington state and now lives at Cotton Patch, said he does laundry and shops for groceries on Sundays, the one day of the week he doesn’t have to work.

Cars flood the roads Richland Parish Sheriff Neal Harwell said the inﬂux of workers surprisingly has not increased crime. “Knock on wood,” Harwell said in his ofﬁce in Richland Parish’s five-story courthouse in Rayville. Harwell said his department is receiving 20% more 911 phone calls, but that’s mostly related to traffic accidents on the two-lane

ARK.

MISS.

Monroe roe

20 Shreveport

49 LA.

Jackson

Holly Ridge: Meta Data Center site Baton Rouge

10 Lafayette

Gulf of Mexico

New Orleans Staff map

brother Noel Garcia grew up in Honduras but came to Louisiana “because here we have opportunities that we can’t ﬁnd in other countries.” They worked on construction sites in New Orleans but came to Holly Ridge in July to work as roofers for higher pay. It’s not an easy life. They share a trailer just off La. 80 and rarely go out after Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested three of their friends two weeks earlier. Miranda drives to see his wife and son for a few hours every two weeks. Still, the two men are grateful for the work. “We can move forward and ﬁnd stability here,” said Miranda, noting that he has co-workers from Venezuela, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Peru and Costa Rica. “They’re from everywhere.” Billy Clay has long farmed cotton and corn on 420 acres that he owns in Holly Ridge. But he moved quickly to turn 10 acres into the Cotton Patch RV park after Meta arrived. Clay now has room for 120 RVs. Workers are responsible for bringing their own RVs and pay him $1,000 per month for the space and the electrical hook-up, water, Wi-Fi and garbage pick-up. Another RV park, called Boggy Bayou, has more than 100 RVs across the two-lane country road. “It’s going very well,” Clay said. “The Meta facility has made so many millionaires.” Asked if he is now one of those millionaires, Clay wouldn’t say.

Every day, throngs of workers pull their pick-up trucks at lunchtime into a gravel lot underneath a sign that reads “Holly Springs Food Park.” There, seven food trucks serve meals just off La. 183, across from Hyperion. On a recent day, Leah and Hannah Childers were waiting for their order to be ﬁlled from Street Eats, one of the food trucks. They stood under a canopy that provided shade in the 100-degree heat. Leah Childers is an electrician who works 58 hours a week. “A woman in a construction site is tough,” said Leah, who is 23 and is from Paris, Texas. “It’s a male-dominated ﬁeld. You don’t get taken seriously.” She added that her employer does treat its women equally. She and her sister live in Calhoun, an unincorporated area west of Monroe. With a 48-minute drive to work, Leah said, she wakes up at 4:30 a.m. each workday. For leisure, they visit Surge Entertainment, which offers games and family fun, in West Monroe, or Trapp’s, which has Cajun food and live music. The sisters drive home to visit family on weekends when they can. Email Tyler Bridges at Manuel Miranda and his tbridges@theadvocate.com.

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SPACEX

Continued from page 1A reached 123, approaching the 137 homes sold during all of 2024. A big reason is the activity in Maurice and its proximity to Lafayette. Now that demand could change, said Jim Keaty, owner of Keaty Real Estate, with the land closer to the SpaceX site being more in demand than land closer to Lafayette. “I don’t know what the demand is going to be because there’s a lot of land between Abbeville and Kaplan,” he said. “People own a lot of acreage that people could do something with instantly for construction purposes. If you can put an RV park and it’s not in a ﬂood zone, you might get $40,000 an acre. In Maurice, it’s worth $35,000 an acre of the stuff that’s selling.”

MAYOR

Continued from page 1A For years, Esponge threw himself into physical therapy, hoping he might eventually walk again. Eventually, he said, he had to accept that he would not. “When you finally get to that point, your frame shifts from ‘How am I going to ﬁx this?’ to ‘How am I going to live with this?’ ” Esponge found his answer: The same drive that once pushed him toward athletics and military service found an outlet in business and public service. After earning an MBA from UL, Esponge co-founded E&L Construction Group, a company that has worked on government and port-related projects. “The initial plan was we were going to do government contracting, working alongside the Army Corps of Engineers. We eventually realized there was a lot of opportunity with the Port of Iberia as well. We were really able to expand our reach into all kinds of work.” In 2019, Esponge entered public service. “My uncle was a member of the town council but was planning to move,” Esponge said. “At that time he encouraged me to run to ﬁll his seat. That’s where all this started for me.”

Keaty expects temporary housing, including RV parks and worker camps, to be among the ﬁrst developments to emerge as construction begins. He said the region does not have enough hotel rooms to accommodate what could be as many as 1,000 workers operating around the clock. Some landowners are getting unsolicited offers for property to put RV parks on, he said. Keaty said his company is already receiving calls from people looking to buy land. “It’s going to be like an army of ants,” he said. “Anywhere they can put somebody, I assume, is going to be in high demand.” The potential demand could also revive residential developments that have been approved but stalled because of weak demand. Noel said he has a 118-lot subdivision in Abbeville that has been ready for construction for about two years.

The Acadiana Advocate ● theadvocate.com ● Sunday, August 23, 2026 ● 5A

“It’s kind of been on pause wait- tween 2010 and 2020, census data ing on the market to correct itself,” shows. Prices for real estate, too, have he said. “This could be a huge market correction, you know what I increased signiﬁcantly. “They’ve literally changed the mean?” landscape economically,” Grove What to expect said. “(There are) goods and bads. What happens next in Vermilion But a lot of locals have been hurt by Parish is impossible to predict. But it. The cost of housing has doubled. Brownsville offered one possible I’d be lying to you if I told you I glimpse of how a massive SpaceX haven’t seen a change in the makeoperation can reshape a commu- up of our community and who can nity, bringing jobs, investment and afford to buy a house.” It wasn’t until 2018 or 2019, he renew residents while also driving up the cost of housing. called, when people started moving Just about everything changed in and buying houses near Starbase. when Elon Musk’s Starbase opened Yet the biggest surge came in 2021 just outside the south Texas city when Musk took to Twitter to ask over a decade ago, said Craig his millions of followers to move to Grove, a Realtor who has been in Brownsville. that market since before Starbase That one tweet, Grove said, arrived. ﬂipped the real estate market on Announced in 2012, the site em- its ear. “Houses that had been sitting for ployed more than 2,000 people by 2023. The population of Browns- four years sold overnight,” he said. ville increased by nearly 10,000 be- “It was insane. We had people com-

ing from Africa, Panama and faraway cities in the U.S. just buying whatever they could. People were buying sight unseen.” When rockets are launched at Starbase without any issues, residents hardly notice it, he said. That can change when something goes wrong. Grove recalled one launch several years ago when a SpaceX rocket exploded. The explosion shook his house, which is 25 miles from the launch site. It was major news, but within hours, Musk had made donations of $10 million to downtown Brownsville’s revitalization efforts and $2 million to Brownsville schools, he said. “Elon did a major PR move,” he said. “It was like he had it queued up. It did create a soft landing for the drama.” Email Adam Daigle at adaigle@ theadvocate.com.

a former employer of Esponge proﬁt people can get from doing during high school, is among those it commercially,” Esponge said. who praise Esponge’s tenure as “Much of what we sell here isn’t even locally harvested. It comes mayor. “He’s brought his business in- from other parts of the coastline, stincts and really moved us for- not Vermilion Bay.” Still, the town has shown resilward on some crucial projects,” said Stelly. “Something about him iency in keeping the traditional inis that he always has a ‘can-do’ at- dustry alive. “We still have people who go out in the bay to titude, and if he says he shrimp,” said Stelly. can’t do something, you “It’s about better believe there’s a giving back to “The community really puts a lot of effort into good reason.” this community holding onto it.” For Esponge, DelcamAs mayor, Esponge bre’s traditions are part that’s given so much to me.” has focused on infraof what makes the comstructure and economic munity worth fighting TIPPER ESPONGE, development, including for. mayor of efforts to support the He pointed to the anDelcambre local seafood industry. nual Shrimp Festival, The town has engaged which recently celein joint venture projects brated its 73rd year and draws visitors from across Louisi- with the Twin Parish Port Commission that help connect comana and beyond. But the industry at the center of mercial fishermen with larger that tradition has changed. producers. “We take those traditions like the The town is also in the midst of PROVIDED PHOTO Shrimp Festival very seriously,” a $12 million rehabilitation of its Tipper Esponge takes the oath of office as the mayor of Delcambre. Esponge said. “It’s what makes sewer system, a project Esponge Delcambre, Delcambre.” said is long overdue. Four years later, Esponge found show up for you when you need The Shrimp Festival, which re“Our sewers have been neglecthimself thinking about how Del- them the most,” he said. cently celebrated its 73rd year, of- ed for going on 30 years,” he said. He decided to run for mayor. ten brings in large and geographi- “It’s one of the most important cambre residents had rallied “The decision to run was sort of cally diverse crowds to the town. things I think we can do right now around him and his family after his injury, raising money to help a question of ‘How am I going to However, over time, shrimping to help better the community.” For Esponge, the work is perthem through the aftermath. He repay everything they’ve done for has declined in the community, its began wondering how he could re- me?’.” presence now being seen mostly as sonal. Since taking ofﬁce, the commu- a hobby or heritage-centered. “It’s about giving back to this turn the favor. “The threat of foreign imports community that’s given so much “Delcambre is a very tight-knit nity has continued to rally behind community. The community will him as it did in 2009. Homer Stelly, has really reduced the amount of to me.”

PUBLIC NOTICE TO LAFAYETTE PARISH CITIZENS Louis J. Perret, Clerk of Court and Chief Election Official for the Parish of Lafayette will hold five (5) meetings for persons interested in becoming certified to serve as follows:

COMMISSIONER

Wednesday, August 26, 2026 at 5:30 pm Thursday, August 27, 2026 at 10:30 am and 5:30 pm Wednesday, September 2, 2026 at 5:30 pm Thursday, September 3, 2026 at 5:30 pm Location: Lafayette Parish Courthouse 1st Floor, Jury Assembly Room Please attend one meeting that is at the most convenient time for you! This meeting is for those who have NEVER SERVED as an election commissioner. Pay is $200 per Election with required school attendance. QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED: 1. A Lafayette Parish registered voter who is able to perform the essential duties of a commissioner. 2. A seventeen (17) year old who is participating at a 12th grade level or has completed a 12th grade education 3. A qualified voter of this state or a registered voter of another state who is a student at an institution of higher learning in Lafayette Parish (Must provide student identification or fee bill showing current enrollment and a copy of his/her proof of voter registration) 4. Must not have been convicted of an election offense as defined in Chapter 10 of the Louisiana Election Code 5. Must not be required to register as a sex offender or child predator pursuant to R.S. 15:542. 6. Law enforcement officers shall not be eligible to serve. Please call our Election Department at 337-291-6368 if more information is needed.

PLEASE NOTE: CAMERA PHONES ARE NOT PERMITTED IN THE LAFAYETTE PARISH COURTHOUSE.

6A ● Sunday,August 23, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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LOUISIANA POLITICS Johnson, Scalise predict GOP win in congressional midterms WASHINGTON — Speaker of the House Mike Johnson and Majority Leader Steve Scalise — the two top Republicans in the U.S. House, who both want to keep those jobs — are barnstorming the nation to shore up GOP candidates in about two dozen states. Many campaign handicappers, pundits and bettors predict a Democratic wave will sweep Republicans out of power on Capitol Hill. Democrats need to ﬂip only Mark four seats. Ballard But, ever optimistic — and secure in their own races in Louisiana — both LSU grads are predicting Republicans will maintain the majority they’ve held in the House since 2023 and in the Senate since 2025. “This midterm election is going to be one unlike any other in the past,” Johnson, R-Benton, said Wednesday at a Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, rally called “Common Sense versus Crazy.” “I can tell you the energy on our side is incredibly high,” Scalise, RJefferson, said Thursday. “People understand, no matter where you go, that this is a contrast election. And the contrast between our party and the Democrats has never been sharper.” Last week, Scalise was in Iowa, Nebraska, Wisconsin and other Midwest states before shifting to the East Coast to campaign in South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee and New York. Scalise detailed for the Westside Conservative Club in Urbandale, Iowa, how the Republicans’ signature law, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act enacted last year, cut taxes and increased deductions. He recalled telling voters, many of whom are confused about the new law, about provisions like a

Trump announces Eastern District judicial nominees

President Donald Trump said last week that he will nominate Brad Kelley and Peter Mansfield as federal judges in Louisiana’s Eastern District. Kelly got his undergraduate and law degrees from LSU; Trump referred to him in his Truth Social announcement as a Capitol “Double-Tiger.” A Buzz U.S. Army veteran, STAFF he clerked for DonREPORTS ald Walter, a judge in the Western District of Louisiana, and served as chief counsel to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. He is currently a partner at Littler Mendelson, a multinational law firm. “The people of Louisiana can count on Brad to always protect their Constitutional Rights, and the Rule of Law,” Trump wrote. Mansfield has been an assistant U.S. attorney in New Orleans for more than 20 years and is currently chief of the Civil Division, Trump said in his announcement. He has a law degree from Ave Maria School of Law in Florida and an undergraduate degree from Fran-

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTOS

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-Jefferson, speaks to a crowd at the Salute to Liberty event hosted by U.S. Rep. Sheri Biggs, R-S.C., on Monday in Anderson, S.C. limit on taxing some overtime wages or a higher deduction for seniors. “You know, 70% of the people beneﬁting from it make less than $100,000 a year,” Scalise recalled saying, adding that Democrats would repeal the bill if they took the majority. Local coverage focused on Scalise’s prediction that, if incumbent Rep. Zach Nunn’s “opponent is somehow able to beat him, they bring socialism, Marxism to Iowa.” Johnson and Scalise say they won’t be undone by stubborn inﬂation, an unpopular war, a sitting president whose numbers are underwater, and voter confusion over the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. They contend voters see this Nov. 3 midterm congressional election as a contest between communism and common sense — a

ciscan University of Steubenville in Ohio. “The people of Louisiana are lucky to have a dedicated Public Servant like Peter join the Federal Bench,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. The Eastern District bench is expected to soon have two vacancies after Lance M. Africk took senior status, and Anna St. John was nominated to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. It was not immediately clear when Kelley and Mansﬁeld would be formally nominated. St. John is still on the Eastern District bench pending her conﬁrmation. Based in New Orleans, the Eastern District’s jurisdiction covers 13 parishes in southeast Louisiana.

State honors WWII POW who was La. native

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-Benton, returns to the House chamber in July. ﬁght, they say, for “the very soul of America,” which is enough for GOP voters to defy history and return Republican majorities for another two years. Scalise pointed to a series of elections in which young progressives ousted established Democratic elected ofﬁcials. The unex-

ing to an executive order by Gov. Jeff Landry lowering the ﬂags. He was captured, survived the 65-mile Bataan Death March, and was imprisoned at the Cabanatuan POW camp, where he died. Richard was buried in a mass grave. But his remains were recently recovered and returned this week to Louisiana to be buried alongside his parents, Landry wrote in the order. “His death in service to our country remains a solemn reminder of the price paid by those who fought for freedom, and the State of Louisiana honors him with the profound gratitude he deeply earned,” the order says.

Medicaid director picked for leadership institute

pected win last week in Florida of leftist state Rep. Angie Nixon over a venerable congressman to become the Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate prompted handicapper Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball to change its view of the race from a possible to nearly assured GOP win. Republicans have distinct advantages, including having redrawn more seats to favor GOP House candidates, and raising far more money than their rivals. That said, some Democrats are running strong. In solid red Texas, for instance, a scandal-plagued Republican faces a school teacher who studied at Presbyterian seminary, raising the possibility of a Democratic Lone Star senator for the ﬁrst time since the 1980s. In Iowa, the entire slate of GOP state and congressional candidates

Medicaid Executive Director Seth Gold was selected through a competitive, external review process to enter the 10-month program. He joins counterparts from Alaska, Illinois, Missouri, New York and North Carolina. “At a time of signiﬁcant change and growing complexity, Medicaid leaders play a critical role in ensuring that millions of people can access the care and services they depend on,” said Mark Larson, senior vice president at CHCS. “The Medicaid Leadership Institute provides directors with a unique opportunity to develop as leaders, gain new perspectives, and learn from peers facing similar challenges across the country.”

Louisiana launches new tourism campaign

The ofﬁcial in charge of Medicaid in Louisiana is one of six from across the country selected for the Louisiana is launching a new Medicaid Leaderout-of-state marketing camFlags ﬂew at halfstaff across Louisiship Institute, an paign, “Every Moment Feeds initiative by the Your Soul,” Lt. Gov. Billy Nungana on Thursday Center for Health to honor Gurnie esser announced last week at the Care Strategies “Tutie” Richard, a Louisiana Travel Summit in New that helps state Louisiana native Orleans. leadership teams who died in a POW Featuring an original song better operate the camp during World called “Louisiana” by Lafayette multi-billion-dol- Gold War II. native Sean Bruce, the campaign Richard Richard deployed will target regional drive-in marlar program that to the Philippines with the Army helps pay for healthcare for people kets and air travelers. Air Corps in 1941 at age 20, accord- with low incomes. “We are building upon our suc-

are facing farmers who are reliably conservative voters but now are angered at tariffs and high diesel prices, which polls show have moved Democrats out of their usual “also ran” status. The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter campaign analysts shifted their rating of these races from a sure Republican win to a toss-up prediction. “Republicans have an unmistakable ﬁnancial advantage that could revitalize their sagging candidates, but it may not be able to make up for the sizable voter enthusiasm gap that Democrats have on their side,” Cook Political Report wrote less than three months from the election. It’s not just House and Senate races. Democratic candidates for state legislatures scored surprising wins, including in the Pennsylvania district near where Trump survived an assassination attempt during the 2024 presidential election. And candidates supported by the hard-right House Freedom Caucus have been losing primaries at a regular clip. MS NOW television’s “Morning Joe” host Joe Scarborough, who had been a Republican congressman representing Pensacola in the 1990s, told Johnson Wednesday that the Republicans “got no message.” Scarborough pointed to last week’s news that investor worry over inﬂation and a $40 trillion debt has driven up bond prices to their highest level since 2008. “Mike Johnson did himself no favor by going, ‘Well, we would have had a good economy except for, well, this totally unnecessary war that we Republicans started,’” Scarborough said. Email Mark Ballard at mballard@theadvocate.com.

LOUISIANA OFFICE OF TOURISM

The poster is part of the state’s ‘Feed your Soul’ advertising campaign.

cessful Feed Your Soul brand and incorporating messaging with all the things that feed your senses here in Louisiana — our food, music, outdoors, history, culture, festivals and so much more,” Nungesser said in a news release. The state Ofﬁce of Tourism says 45 million people visited Louisiana in 2025, spending $19.5 billion. The tourism industry supports 225,600 jobs statewide, making it the state’s fourth-largest employment category, the ofﬁce said.

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The Acadiana Advocate ● theadvocate.com ● Sunday,August 23, 2026 ● 7A

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8A ● Sunday,August 23, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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EDUCATION A S K T H E E X P E RT S

La. librarian helps teens love reading Method helps pull students away from screens

Q&A WITH MAUREEN BARCLAy CAPTAIN SHREVE HIGH SCHOOL LIBRARIAN

BY MARIE FAZIO Staff writer

When picky readers walk into the Captain Shreve High School library in Shreveport, librarian Maureen Barclay uses a triedand-true method to help them find books that pique their interest. She rattles off a list of questions: What’s the last book you enjoyed? What movies do you watch? What TikTok videos? What do you do in your free time? “They start reading something, and it’s just like Netflix,” she said. “They get caught up, and once you get them started, they keep going. They keep reading, like they kept watching.” Barclay knows all too well how difficult it can be to get some students interested in reading. Recent national headlines have proclaimed that “The end of reading is here” and “Kids Rarely Read Whole Books Anymore. Even in English Class.” Only 14% of 13-year-olds said they read for fun, according to a U.S. Department of Education National Center for Education Statistics survey released in June. That’s a decline of nearly half since 2012. Researchers often point to several factors behind decreased rates of reading in schools, including increased screen use and, in the classroom, increased pressure to teach to standardized tests. The Times-Picayune | The Advocate spoke with Barclay, longtime librarian and classroom

Captain Shreve High School librarian Maureen Barclay teacher at Captain Shreve, about how she helps students buck those trends. The interview has been condensed and edited for clarity. Tell me a bit about yourself. This is my 21st year in education and at Captain Shreve High School. I started as a classroom English teacher and I moved to the library in 2018, largely because I had been working with the National Writing Project (a professional development network that focuses on writing) as a teacher consultant. Working as a librarian allowed me to reach more teachers and all the students in our school. As a librarian I serve about 1,400 students, helping students throughout the day and teaching research.

Why is reading important? Research tells us that a student who reads just 20 minutes a day is more likely to score in the 90th percentile on standardized tests. We have a schoolwide culture of reading, and we have a 100-million-word reading challenge this year where students and teachers can log too. So everyone is invested. What books do kids seem to be interested in? We see a wide range. It depends on the student and their background and interests. At Captain Shreve, we have a lot of students who are interested in mysteries and thrillers, just like the movies. If you’re a gamer, you’re going to like stories with a lot of action. We also have readers who only want to read graphic novels or students who will say, “The last book I ever read that I loved was ‘Diary of a Wimpy Kid.’” That means that they want books that are lighthearted, that are humorous, maybe that are a break from reality. One of my colleagues says, “Oh, they want a book snack.” We want to make sure that we have everything available that a reader could want, that they can see themselves in the books that we have to offer and that they have access to those books in a variety of ways. Our students prefer physical books. They really don’t gravitate to e-books; they don’t want screens for their pleasure reading. Do you have any tips for helping teens find pleasure in reading?

PROVIDED PHOTO

Researchers often point to several factors behind decreased rates of reading in schools, including increased screen use and, in the classroom, increased pressure to teach to standardized tests. First, collaborate with a school librarian because the school librarian is trained and is an expert in matching students with books that they will love. It’s the school librarian who is wellversed in young adult literature, which is completely different from being well-versed in British literature or American literature. That knowledge is crucial to matching students with books that they will love in this culture right now. I’ve learned that more and more across our state there is a school library, there are books in it, but there is not a trained librarian in that facility. In that case, reach out to your local public library. Could you walk me through an example of how you help a student find a book they’ll enjoy? That’s what we do all day, ev-

ery day. I call them picky readers, or non-readers. Maybe they haven’t ﬁnished a book since they were really little because they’re dyslexic or they’re addicted to screens. Or maybe they just fell out of love with reading. I usually ask if there’s something they watched recently that they really enjoyed. Are you into gaming? What do you do in your free time? Tell me about what you’re watching on TikTok? Did you ever read books like “Big Nate,” did you ever read “Diary of a Wimpy Kid”? Usually that student wants a graphic novel because they’re very visual, they have a short attention span, and graphic novels are great because they’re a gateway drug to reading. Email Marie Fazio at marie. fazio@theadvocate.com.

WE’RE ASKING EXPERTS ACROSS THE STATE HOW TO TACKLE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES FACING LOUISIANA SCHOOLS. HAVE AN IDEA? EMAIL PATRICK.WALL@THEADVOCATE.COM

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Sources: National park maintenance work sidelined Trump’s Freedom 250 has taken precedence

He added it could lead to “the deterioration of America’s gems” as things like sanitation upgrades and basic maintenance don’t happen. Congress during both Democratic and Republican presidencies has pushed to address the backlog. The bipartisan Great American Outdoors Act in 2020 included $6.5 billion for maintenance and repairs through 2025. A legislative extension is pending.

BY MATTHEW BROWN

Associated Press

BILLINGS, Mont. — The 250th anniversary of U.S. independence was just months away when National Park Service employees received a surprising directive from Washington: Maintenance projects approved for this year at sites across the nation were being relegated to a new “low priority” list. Work wanted by the White House was taking precedence, including repairs to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, according to documents obtained by The Associated Press and three officials from the park service and Interior Department who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment publicly. The reflecting pool repairs and other projects tied to President Donald Trump’s Freedom 250 initiative landed on a separate list for White House priorities, the documents show. Many of the administration-backed projects have advanced, though the reflecting pool repairs were botched. Meanwhile, almost all of about 1,500 maintenance and other projects on the low priority list as of last month are expected to go undone, the officials said. That will worsen a repair backlog at national parks that doubled over the last decade to more than $24 billion even as visitor numbers surged. The shelved projects, many already approved, span more than 200 sites and

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By JULIA DEMAREE NIKHINSON

Work continues Tuesday on the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington. range from roof repairs at Golden Gate National Recreation Area, to computer upgrades at Alaska’s Katmai National Park and bulk purchases of toilet paper and garbage bags at Yellowstone National Park. Because of their low priority designation and with the fiscal year ending on Sept. 30, it’s unknown when they will move forward unless park staff can find a workaround, two of the officials said. Park service employees “were told to not expect anything on the low priority list to be contracted,” one of the officials said. “The first priority was White House priorities,” the official said. “Anywhere that is 250th-related they would have been diverting resources, some it probably planned but a lot of it pushed by the

administration.” The Interior Department said many entries on the low priority list had been “misprioritized and were corrected.” It declined to say how many or which ones, or how much parks are spending on projects outside Washington. Agency ofﬁcials declined to answer questions about the reﬂecting pool.

Maintenance backlog The park service has a third list for “high priority” projects that includes more than 2,000 items, many with contracts awarded or in process, the documents show. “In any year, the National Park Service must prioritize projects most in need,” Interior spokesperson Katie Martin wrote in a statement. “The National Park Service

has not only been focused on beautifying the district for the 250th celebrations in our nation’s capital but has also been working on many deferred maintenance projects throughout the country.” The 1,500 low priority projects had a combined cost estimate of more than $400 million. Maine Independent Sen. Angus King, the ranking member of the Senate’s National Parks Subcommittee, said the administration’s pursuits around Washington “are more aesthetic than strictly necessary,” even as they siphon resources from sites elsewhere in the U.S. “I don’t object to setting priorities,” King said in an interview. “I object to the White House priority list being tacked onto the top of that pyramid.”

Trump as its employees navigate new realities. It lost at least one-quarter of its permanent workforce under Trump. Remaining employees have been ordered to revise exhibits that Trump said advanced “improper ideology,” and demolish the East Wing of the White House, which is under park stewardship, for the creation of a ballroom. Trump also reduced Bears Ears and Grand StaircaseEscalante national monuTesting agency’s mission ments in Utah as RepubliThe priority designations cans reshape public lands came from park service management. headquarters in Washington, according to documents ob- Contracting officers tained by AP and one of the Pressure to deliver on unnamed officials. administration demands The park service appears for Freedom 250 was comto be moving forward on at pounded by staffing cuts least $80 million in White that made it harder to exeHouse priorities, including cute contracts, the unnamed $52 million awarded, the officials said. documents indicate. Much Prior to Trump’s second of that work was champi- term, the parks had 275 cononed by Trump and Interior tracting officers. They’ve Secretary Doug Burgum, since been consolidated into such as the reflecting pool the Interior Department, repairs and the rehabilitation which nevertheless saw its of other parks in the capital contracting workforce drop with an eye toward the 250th more than 20%, public recelebrations. cords show. Trump announced his About $140 million has plans to paint the Reflecting been obligated or spent by Pool blue in April, aiming to the park service in Washaddress long-standing prob- ington, D.C., this year, aclems at the site before July 4. cording to public data. That But the $16 million initiative includes the reflecting pool faced immediate problems, work and the rehabilitation including peeling sealant of fountains across the disand a fierce return of green trict. algae. Interior spokesperson Not all of the administra- Martin said the Trump adtion’s priorities advanced: A ministration is eyeing dif$70 million line item for “turf ferent revenue sources maintenance” over five years for maintenance including at parks in the Washington, endowments and park pass D.C., area is among more sales. than $80 million in work Those sales rose more marked as “canceled” in the than $2 million, to $16.7 Interior Department data. million, in the first quarter The park service’s mis- of 2026 compared to a year sion has been tested under earlier, she said.

Kissinger, wife of Pope calls for dialogue over conflict Nancy Henry Kissinger, dies at 92 BY GIADA ZAMPANO and NICCOLÒ LUPONE Associated Press

SAN MARINO — Pope Leo XIV used a visit to the tiny landlocked San Marino and a major Catholic gathering in the Italian city of Rimini on Saturday to issue one of his strongest appeals yet against war, polarization and social division, urging believers to foster dialogue and friendship in a fractured world. Speaking to tens of thousands in Rimini, Leo warned against a culture that “rearms minds, words and nations” and argued that Christians must respond with mercy, encounter and a commitment to peace. He also delivered a message of encouragement to young Catholics, telling them they are “a sign that the future is promising, and not a threat!” Earlier, in San Marino, Leo addressed local authorities of the world’s oldest surviving republic and reﬂected on the legacy of Saints Marino and Leone, whom he credited with helping create a society rooted in freedom, mutual respect and community. The pope said the two saints translated the Chris-

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By ANDREW MEDICHINI

Pope Leo XIV greets faithful Saturday as he arrives at the 47th Meeting for Friendship Among Peoples in Rimini, Italy. tian message into “a new community and political model, strongly characterized by the Christian principles of freedom, mutual respect and communion” — a legacy that he said continues to shape the republic today. San Marino, a nation of about 35,000 people completely surrounded by Italy, traces its origins to the fourth century. It is governed by a 60-member parliament that elects two captains regent every six months to serve jointly as heads of state, a power-sharing arrangement designed to prevent the concentration of authority. Using the micro state as

an example, Leo argued that small political communities can offer lessons in public service and social cohesion at a time of growing division and distrust. Leo is the third pope to visit San Marino, after St. John Paul II visited in 1982 and Pope Benedict XVI came in 2011. The American pontiff praised a society “built on respect for one’s own freedom and that of others and above all on respect for the sacred Will of God.” He warned that modern societies face increasing threats from violence, social fragmentation and ideologies that put self-interest

ahead of the common good. “We live in a world wounded by many conflicts,” the pope said, citing growing violence, closures and fear of others. He urged Christians to respond through forgiveness, solidarity and concern for the vulnerable. Leo also described San Marino as a “laboratory of good politics” and called for public life to uphold the dignity of every human person “from conception to natural death” — language commonly used by Vatican officials and Catholic leaders when referring to church opposition to abortion and euthanasia. In 2021, San Marino voters approved a referendum legalizing abortion during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, overturning a decades-old ban. The referendum represented a significant change in law and public policy in a country with deep Catholic roots. While Leo did not directly address the referendum, he repeatedly stressed the need for political, social and economic systems to place human dignity at their center. He warned against models that present themselves as liberating but ultimately fail to serve the human person and the common good.

Congo receives over 16K doses of Ebola vaccine By The Associated Press BUNIA, Congo — Congo has received more than 16,000 doses of the Ervebo vaccine as the country grapples with the fastest Ebola outbreak in history, the country’s health minister said. The 16,250 doses arrived at the N’djili International Airport in the capital, Kinshasa, late Friday, as part of 70,000 doses expected from the World Health Organization and partners that were announced on Thursday. More doses are expected early next week. The current Ebola outbreak in Congo is caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus, which currently has no approved treatment or vaccine. It can spread easily and go undetected because

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By SEBASTIEN KITSA MUSAyI

Residents and frontline workers embark on Ebola outbreak awareness campaign on Friday in Beni, North Kivu province, eastern Congo. some of its symptoms are similar to other illnesses, such as malaria. The Ervebo vaccine is licensed to treat Ebola and has been effective in past outbreaks. The

WHO said it may provide some protection against the Bundibugyo virus. The latest outbreak, which has recorded 2,557 deaths out of the 5,375 confirmed

cases across six affected provinces, is spreading at an unprecedented rate and is on track to surpass the deadliest outbreak on record, which killed over 11,000 people across West Africa between 2014 and 2016. Data from the Africa Centre for Disease Control shows that transmission has not yet peaked and could reach three times its known rate. Efforts to contain the outbreak have been hampered by armed conﬂict between the government and rebel groups, which control key cities in the hot spot; attacks on medical personnel and facilities; an itinerant labor population and people displaced by the armed conﬂict; and a lack of critical infrastructure.

pick up the phone and get right through to the CEO. NEW YORK — Philanthropist Nobody keeps her waiting,” Nancy Kissinger, onetime philanthropist Judy Peaforeign policy researcher body said after chairing a and wife of former Secre- successful hospital charity tary of State Henry Kiss- event in 1989. Michael Bloomberg inger, has died. She was 92. — the billionaire She died Thursfounder of the day at her home in Bloomberg finanKent, Connecticut, Robert Johnson, cial-news empire, manager of the former New York property, told The City mayor and a Associated Press. friend of the KissThe cause of her ingers — said in a death was not dis- N. Kissinger social media post that Nancy Kissclosed. Johnson said she will be buried next inger “was a powerhouse to her late husband at Ar- of ideas and insights that lington National Cemetery she put to work throughat a later date. out her life in government The daughter of a New and philanthropy — and as York City lawyer, she met Henry’s most valued and Henry Kissinger while trusted adviser.” working for New York Gov. He added, “She was the Nelson Rockefeller. The ultimate diplomat — as couple wed in 1974. wise as she was discreet She was described by one — and I know how comproﬁler as a brainy, Blass- pletely Henry admired and bedecked blonde. She was loved her. Diana and I were often seen at high fashion fortunate to call her a dear openings and was a strong friend, and to see their expresence on the New York traordinary partnership in philanthropy scene. action over the decades. We “Nancy Kissinger can will miss her greatly.” By The Associated Press

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Envoy: Israel did not warn U.S. before Syria air strike BY ANDREW WILKS Associated Press

ISTANBUL — Israel did not warn the United States before it struck an air base in northern Syria this week, despite fears of an escalation with the U.S. and NATO ally Turkey, the U.S. special envoy to Syria said. Israel usually closely coordinates its military actions with the U.S., its key backer. Washington has tried to use this influence to moderate attacks as Israel carries out operations in Syria, Gaza and Lebanon. Tom Barrack, who also serves as ambassador to Turkey, said the attack on Tuesday on the Abu Duhur base could have been Israel “baiting the Turks … that was the serious and worrying part.” However, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz contradicted the U.S. envoy’s remarks about there being no warning, saying in a statement that Israel decided to alert senior members of the Syrian government. “Simultaneously, we transferred the intelligence reports to

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By RIZA OZEL

U.S. Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack speaks April 17 in a panel during the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Antalya, southern Turkey. the relevant authorities in the U.S.,” Katz added. In the wake of the strikes, which caused damage but no casualties, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the base was attacked because Syria was “on the verge of breaching” an agreement by allowing Turkish troops to deploy there. Barrack said it was likely that Israel had intelligence

suggesting Turkey may be bolstering its presence in the area and “a commander somewhere in the ﬁeld made a decision ‘We’re not going to let that happen’… What they didn’t do is tell us or Turkey.” He added that another possible reason for the attack on Abu Duhur, around 80 kilometers (50 miles) east of the Turkish border, was a miscommunication between the Israeli military and the coun-

try’s intelligence agency. “When they (the Turkish military) see these jets coming towards the border and they don’t know what the purpose, direction or intention is, they start to say ‘We’re going to have to scramble our own,’ ” Barrack said as he outlined how close Israel and Turkey came to direct confrontation. In 2015, Turkey had shot down a Russian jet over its Syrian frontier. The ambassador’s comments were published on X late Friday by Mario Nawfal, a LebaneseAustralian entrepreneur. Barrack also said Israel “still” occupies the Golan Heights in violation of U.N. resolutions, despite U.S. President Donald Trump’s 2019 proclamation recognizing Israeli sovereignty over the territory, reversing decades of U.S. policy. Katz, the Israeli defense minister, said the strike on the base was authorized after the “warning wasn’t heeded,” adding there were “clear intelligence reports” of Turkey’s intention to use the base “to harm Israel.”

He did not provide further detail. Barrack’s comments were “full of inaccuracies and positions that contradict” Trump’s position on the Golan Heights, the minister added. Two Syrian officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment publicly, said on Wednesday that a Turkish delegation had visited the air base in the northwestern province of Idlib a day before the air strike to review reconstruction work underway there. Israel had raised concerns about Turkish military activity at the air base but the U.S. concluded that was “not happening,” Barrack said. “The unintended consequence of a mistake could be really consequential,” he added. Turkey has been supporting Syria’s effort to rebuild its armed forces by training Syrian personnel and supplying equipment and logistical support. The two countries signed an agreement last year that formalized their

military cooperation. Turkish officials have repeatedly stated that Ankara does not consider Syria’s security separate from its own. Israel, meanwhile, has remained suspicious of the new authorities in Damascus, led by former Islamist insurgents. Syria’s interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa has said repeatedly that he does not want a conﬂict with Israel. Israel carried out hundreds of airstrikes around Syria after the fall of Bashar Assad’s government in late 2024. The Israeli military also seized control of a U.N.-patrolled buffer zone in southern Syria, which it continues to occupy. Turkey, which recently signed a defense pact with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, gave no indication that it would respond militarily to the Israeli strikes in Syria, but the incident added further strain to already tense Turkish-Israeli relations. Associated Press writer Ghaith Alsayed in Damascus, Syria, contributed to this report.

HONG KONG

Ex-vigil organizer strives to mark Tiananmen crackdown despite convictions BY KANIS LEUNG Associated Press

HONG KONG — Tang Ngokkwan still occasionally visits the places where Hong Kong once publicly remembered Beijing’s 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown. Though Tang’s fellow activists were locked up in prison, accused of inciting subversion, and an annual candlelight vigil they previously organized to mourn the crackdown’s victims vanished, the 58-year-old continues to personally and discreetly remember the event, which is a political taboo on mainland China.

At Victoria Park, where tens of thousands of people once gathered for the only large-scale public commemoration of the crackdown in China, Tang bowed on the eve of the anniversary and read off a list of the Tang victims in a low voice. He sometimes returns to two university campuses where commemorative sculptures once stood, even though most traces of their existence already have vanished.

Two of Tang’s former colleagues were convicted Friday under a Beijing-imposed national security law, facing a maximum prison term of 10 years. Their vigil organizing group also was found guilty. Governmentapproved judges ruled the pair had incited others to overthrow the leadership of China’s Communist Party through unlawful means. Many observers say the convictions were the latest case reflecting the decline in freedoms in the former British colony that returned to Chinese rule in 1997. But the Hong Kong government Saturday condemned “base-

less slanders” against the city, insisting that the court only considered the laws and evidence and that many rights and freedoms are not absolute. Tang told The Associated Press that the arguments in the verdict did not convince him and he felt wronged on behalf of those convicted. “After the alliance was convicted, I feel that whenever people bring up the alliance, there’ll be a sense of wariness around it,” he said. Tang was an ordinary young man when he joined a wave of people who marched in Hong Kong in support of Beijing’s student-

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led, pro-democracy protests in May 1989. When tanks rolled into the heart of Beijing on the night of June 3-4 to quell the protests, Tang didn’t sleep. Hundreds, possibly thousands of people, were killed during the crackdown. Shortly after the bloody event, some members of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, along with others sympathetic to the protesters, mobilized to help bring those wanted by authorities to safety. The group also ran the massive public candlelight vigil that attracted tens of thousands

of people annually for three decades. Tang says he feels a moral burden because he believes Hong Kong’s support might have left the students in a position with no easy exit in 1989. That kept Tang, who turned from a volunteer to a core member of the alliance, working behind the scenes for years. Authorities banned the annual vigil in 2020, citing risks to public health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Weeks later, Beijing imposed the security law, saying it was necessary for the city’s stability following massive protests in 2019.

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European fires expose, detonate buried bombs, mines Weapons from WWI, WWII increase danger in wildfire fight

BY SAM MCNEIL Associated Press

ELSENBORN, Belgium — The wildfires burning across Europe this summer have exposed a potentially deadly threat lurking beneath the blackened landscape: rusty bombs and mines from World War I and II that threaten crews responding to the flames. Some of the weapons have exploded in the intense heat. Blasts have been reported in France, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands, where a bomb-disposal team was dispatched to check a forest threatened by flames near a site of fierce fighting in the Limburg province in 1944. Fueled by climate change, the fires and explosions show that the continent’s “climatic luck” is running out, said Sarah Njeri, a peace and conflict scholar at London’s School of Oriental and African Studies. Steady temperatures and predictable rainfall once ensured that most buried weapons stayed dormant. “Climate change is now doing the work of unburying and reactivating what was previously stable,” Njeri said. Fires can ignite old munitions but can also burn away the scrub and brush that hides them.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By MARIUS BURGELMAN

Smoke rises from a field scorched by a wildfire on Monday near Waimes, Belgium. This wildfire season was supercharged by heavy rains in January that spurred vegetation growth, which became kindling when the summer heat arrived. Those temperatures, combined with drought conditions, low humidity and stiff winds, offered an ideal environment for fire, according to a study issued last month by the World Weather Attribution group. As they advanced, the flames moved over territory that has long been known to hold unexploded weapons, a lethal legacy that lingered long after the guns fell silent. In a forest in tinder-dry France, a massive wildfire outside the southwestern

city of Bordeaux uncovered a cache of what is believed to be World War II-era ammunition. In the eastern Belgian province of Liege, Gov. Hervé Jamar said “a few sporadic detonations” were recently heard and that emergency services were adapting to account for munitions buried in a fire area. He said no fire crews were in danger, but local media published photos of a firefighter handling a rusted bomb. During World War II, booby traps, bombs and mines were sprinkled throughout the province’s dense peatbog forest known as the High Fens. In the first four years after Germany’s surrender in 1945, the muni-

tions killed six civilians, said Bernard Collard, a local historian who runs the Truschbaum Museum near Belgium’s border with Germany that houses a collection of found objects from the war. “When you go into a forest like this, you are not sure where the explosives are,” he said. He remembers his father detonating a found bomb in a quarry. The ﬁre in the High Fens, which stretches across the border with Germany, is smoldering atop a muchbloodied battlefield where Nazis fought Allied troops. The Battle of the Bulge was fought in and around the High Fens. The ﬁre is even closer to

the sites of two lesser-known skirmishes along Elsenborn Ridge and in the Hurtgen Forest, which lasted 88 days and killed about 33,000 American and 28,000 German troops. Collard is authorized to scan with a metal detector the former battlefields, now forests, pastures and farmland. He has found mortar shells, machine guns, helmets, cigarette cases, and once, a human skeleton. “You never know what you might come across, and you shouldn’t take it lightly,” Collard said while standing in a field that was once a blood-soaked site. Nearby, blueberry bushes cover old foxholes, trenches and deep craters from artillery fire. He frequently works with the Belgian demining squad. “It’s part of our history. We live with it,” Collard said. Unexploded ordnance is even more dangerous around wildfires because heat can trigger the explosives, said Jonas Tepe, a spokesperson for North Rhine-Westphalia, just across the border in Germany. The Belgian Ministry of Defense said it receives requests from the region about every week to assist in disarming explosives, yet it does not consider the area a “hot spot” compared to elsewhere in Belgium. Such requests are even more common in the west, where farmers in towns such as Ypres — infamous for harrowing trench warfare in World War I — call the annu-

al tilling of the soil “ the iron harvest ” because it turns up so many war remnants. Every year across the nation, Belgium’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Destruction Service responds to more than 3,000 calls and disposes of 200 to 250 tons of munitions left over from both world wars. Drought has also helped to lay the past bare by shrinking rivers and lakes to reveal old weapons. In Slovakia, the Danube River fell and exposed two naval mines that police pulled out of the water and buried in a trench for a controlled demolition. Authorities in Hungary closed Budapest’s Margaret Bridge after a bomb dating from World War II emerged at its base in receding water. As the Rhine dried up, German authorities also found a WWII-era bomb. Christina Greene, a researcher at the University of Arizona who, with Njeri, wrote an article on Europe’s wildfires and unexploded ordnance risk, said “the legacy of war keeps creeping up” because of climate change. “It’s reliving the legacies of war and conﬂict in a way that we haven’t had to deal with in a while in certain places.” Associated Press writers Mike Corder in The Hague, Netherlands; Sylvain Plazy in Brussels; Angela Charlton in Paris; Kirsten Grieshaber in Berlin; and Stanislav Hodina in Prague contributed to this report.

Mexican ranchers prepare to resume livestock sales to U.S. Tight controls imposed over screwworm risk

SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE PHOTO By STEPHEN LAM

A teenager wades through a pool of water in a washedout section of a damaged road on Aug. 16 in Mountain View, Hawaii, after severe weather system went through the area.

Tropical Storm Moke heads toward Hawaii as winds strengthen By The Associated Press HONOLULU — Tropical Storm Moke advanced toward Hawaii on Saturday, likely bringing more heavy rainfall and strong gusts to the Big Island, where residents are still dealing with the aftermath of heavy ﬂooding and damaging winds from Hurricane Lala. Moke, which formed Friday in the Pacific Ocean, was located about 470 miles southeast of Hilo, moving west-northwest at 12 mph, as of 5 a.m. on Saturday in Hawaii. Maximum sustained winds were around 50 mph, the National Hurricane Center said. As with Hurricane Lala, the Big Island is expected to bear the brunt of Moke’s rain and heavy winds as it passes south of a direct hit late Saturday into early Sunday. Moke will then continue its westward path near the islands through early Tuesday, said Casey Oswant, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Honolulu. “There will still be impacts, especially to the windward and southeast sides of the Big Island, but it will probably be a little bit more limited than what we saw with Lala,” Oswant said. Lala downed trees, swept buildings off their foundations, damaged roads and bridges and left roads covered in mud and rocks. One storm-related death was reported. Rainfall predictions for

this weekend for the southeast and windward sides of the Big Island were 5 to 10 inches, with as much as 15 inches in isolated areas, Oswant said. Across the rest of the island chain, 1 to 2 inches of rain was expected, though parts of east Maui could see up to 4 inches, she said. There were no coastal watches or warnings in effect early Saturday morning, but people were urged to closely monitor the storm’s progress. The rainfall has the potential to cause dangerous rip currents, life-threatening ﬂooding and mudslides, especially in steep areas and places where the ground remains saturated, the center said. The northeast coast of the Big Island saw the heaviest total rainfall from Lala, at 43.54 inches, according to the weather service. About 9,000 customers on the Big Island remained without power Saturday, according to poweroutage.us. Hawaii Gov. Josh Green and other state officials held a news conference ahead of Moke, urging people to prepare by restocking food, medicine and other essentials. “There’s definitely tension in the air” at the thought of more rain in communities that ﬂoodwaters turned into rivers, said Tiffany Edwards Hunt, a teacher living in Keaau, on the east side of the Big Island. Associated Press writer Alexa St. John contributed from Detroit.

BY FABIOLA SÁNCHEZ

Associated Press

HERMOSILLO, Mexico — At daybreak, rancher Martín Alfonso Ibarra takes advantage of the cooler hours in northern Mexico’s desert to oversee the milking of his cows and tend to 16 prized calves. Soon, he hopes, they will be headed north to the United States as a yearlong ban on Mexican cattle imports comes to an end. The ban, imposed over concerns about a ﬂesh-eating parasite known as the New World screwworm ﬂy, dealt a blow to cattle and beef industries on both sides of the border, exacerbating a livestock shortage in the U.S. and hurting a Mexican ranching sector already weakened by drought and a cattle export business that generated $1.2 billion for Mexico last year. Now, the U.S. is set to resume livestock imports from Mexico beginning Aug. 24 at the Douglas, Arizona, border crossing, which borders Agua Prieta in Mexico’s Sonora state. If the reopening goes smoothly, the U.S. Department of Agriculture could allow imports through additional ports, though shipments will initially be subject to restrictions aimed at preventing the spread of the parasite — which has already crossed the border, with authorities battling cases in Texas and New Mexico. The screwworm gets its name from the maggots’ habit of burrowing — or screwing — into a wound, according to the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. Any warm-blooded animal, including wildlife, pets and occasionally even humans, can be infested. In Mexico, the screwworm outbreak was detected in November 2024 and has spread to 30 of the 32 states — most recently in Sonora, where the first case was reported Wednesday in the community of Munihuasa, near the borders with Chihuahua and Sinaloa, states where infections have also proliferated.

To date, Mexico has 1,969 active screwworm cases, which represent less than half of the infections reported a year ago, a decline that authorities say shows progress in containing the outbreak. Still, they acknowledge eradication will take time. Against that backdrop, Ibarra and thousands of other ranchers in the northern state of Sonora are preparing to resume live cattle exports. But optimism is tempered by new U.S. controls expected to slow shipments across the border. “This is not over yet,” said the 58-year-old rancher, adding that the export halt cut his income by 40% last year. According to the protocol defined by U.S. authorities, in the first week of reopening, only 700 cattle per day will be allowed through; this will rise to 900 in the second week and will gradually increase until reaching 1,300 cattle per day, veterinarian Arturo Ruiz, responsible for animal health for the state of Sonora, told The Associated Press. The new rules also require cattle to be fitted with radio-

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By FERNANDO LLANO

A veterinarian applies antibiotics to a calf’s injured eye during an inspection for export to the United States on Tuesday at a regional cattle ranchers’ association in Hermosillo, Mexico. frequency identification tags in their ears and screened by electronic readers and trained dogs. Officials from the U.S. Department of Agriculture will conduct the inspections before allowing the Mexican cattle to cross into Arizona, Ruiz explained. Mexico accepted the U.S. protocols, but the restrictions have frustrated some local ranchers. “We are at a complicated moment when we need authorities to think less politically and more technically and reasonably,” said Juan Carlos Ochoa, president of the Regional Livestock Union of Sonora, referring to tensions between the Mexican and U.S. governments when the ban was first imposed in May 2025.

Ochoa said the new U.S. restrictions would limit shipments and argued that a greater ﬂow of cattle across the border is needed to address supply shortages in both countries. Although both countries felt the effects of Washington’s decision, the impact was greater in the U.S., particularly for consumers facing record-high beef prices that led some to cut back on meat. Juan Carlos Anaya, general director of agricultural consulting ﬁrm Grupo Consultor de Mercados Agrícolas, said U.S. ranchers were unable to make up the supply shortfall, contributing to closures at some meatprocessing plants and hurting feedlot operations.

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12A ● Sunday,August 23, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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Comment sought on Port of Iberia project

nies continue to invest and expand maintenance dredging along as rial would be used to help nourish million in its Port of Iberia facility Plan would improve there. much as 57.5 miles of waterways. marsh and wetland habitat. and add 65 jobs while retaining 16 The work would involve three existing positions. The company The Corps said the environmenThe New Orleans district of the access through U.S. Army Corps of Engineers segments of the existing naviga- tal assessment will examine the manufactures unmanned surface released a draft environmental tion system: Freshwater Bayou potential effects of the project. vessels, patrol craft and other deepening of channel assessment Friday for the Port Canal, part of the Gulf Intracoastal A ﬁnding of no signiﬁcant impact maritime platforms used in secu-

BY KRISTIN ASKELSON Staff writer

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is seeking public comment on a proposal to deepen the navigation channel serving the Port of Iberia, a project aimed at improving access to the port as compa-

of Iberia project. The public comment period will run from Aug. 24 through Sept. 24. The proposal calls for creating a continuous 16-foot-deep navigation channel between the Port of Iberia and the Gulf. The project would include the initial deepening of 34 miles of channel and ongoing

Waterway and the privately constructed Commercial Canal. The proposal also includes replacing barge swing gates in the Freshwater Bayou Canal bypass channel, installing 3,650 feet of rock revetment south of the Freshwater Bayou Lock and relocating existing utilities. Dredged mate-

will not be signed until environmental review and compliance requirements are complete. The proposed deepening comes as the Port of Iberia continues to attract investment from manufacturers and maritime companies. Most recently, Gulf Coast Tactical announced plans to invest $6.1

rity operations. The new jobs are expected to pay an average annual salary of $80,000, according to Louisiana Economic Development. The port has also become home to E-Crane, a Belgian-founded

ä See PORT, page 2B

Fire damages scoreboard, wall at Moore Field

CRUSHED SUGAR

BY KEVIN FOOTE Staff writer

The left-field wall at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s Tigue Moore Field was damaged by fire late Friday afternoon. The wall is under construction in a project to move the outfield fences closer at Russo Park. No one was at the scene when the fire began. “The field at M.L. ‘Tigue’ Moore Field at Russo Park started in an area along the left-field fence after work crews had left for the day,” UL officials said in a statement. “We are thankful to our first responders from the Lafayette Fire Department who arrived quickly to limit any further damage to the facility. We are also grateful that no one was injured.” Likewise, the Lafayette PHOTOS By LEE BALL

16 acres in Broussard certified for economic development

Strong winds pushed sugar cane down in a ﬁeld along La. 14 in Iberia Parish on Saturday. A heavy thunderstorm swept across Acadiana on Friday shortly after 8 p.m. Electricity was out throughout the night.

BY ADAM DAIGLE

Acadiana business editor

Custom school uniforms more popular than ever BY MARIE FAZIO Staff writer

Anir Carter was determined to make an entrance on the first day at John F. Kennedy High School in Gentilly earlier this month. Not only was it her first day of senior year, it was also the first day back since Kennedy had merged with Carter’s old school, Frederick A. Douglass High School. She wanted to stand out. So Anir Carter enlisted the help of Mytrell Carter, a local designer known on Instagram as @trendzbytrell. The pair designed a custom look in Kennedy’s traditional blue plaid: shorts and a corset-style vest over a polo shirt, with plaid trim added to the sleeves and collar. She completed the look with a red beret and matching red socks. “I really wanted to be different and I was,” Carter said. “Walking in my senior year, it felt amazing.” New Orleans students have long added touches of personal style to school uniforms, which are required in nearly every public school in the city. But local seam-

STAFF PHOTO By ENAN CHEDIAK

Mytrell Carter sews fabric at trendzbytrell in New Orleans on Thursday. stresses and designers said custom uniform pieces have exploded in popularity this year, a surge fueled by social media and, to some extent, the mellowing of once-harsh charter school uniform policies. Mytrell Carter and other designers said they’re overwhelmed with

ä See FIRE, page 2B

orders from parents and students, which haven’t abated since the ﬁrst day of school. School leaders said they’ve noticed more students showing up in customized school uniforms than past years. And students said they’ve noticed an uptick among their peers, some

showing up the ﬁrst day with custom coats with puffed sleeves, socks with plaid ruffles or oversized hair bows. “I just felt like I was that girl,” Anir Carter said. “Like, couldn’t nobody tell me nothing about my outﬁt.” When charter schools proliferated in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, many gained a reputation for zero-tolerance enforcement of uniform policy, violations that could result in suspensions. Students were often suspended for minor misbehavior, such as dress code problems or being tardy to class or school, according to Recovery School District data cited by the Southern Poverty Law Center in a 2010 report. At the time, charter leaders said strict enforcement of rules would create order and a better learning environment. But over the years, after community pushback, some schools have mellowed their approach. Most charter schools still have strict uniform guidelines,

ä See UNIFORMS, page 2B

A 16.54-acre site in Broussard has been certified for development under the state’s certified sites program in coordination with One Acadiana’s Site Development Program. The site, referred to as the HAS Ltd. Business site, is just off U.S. 90 along North Bernard Road and is less than 5 miles from Lafayette Regional Airport. It offers a valuable opportunity for businesses seeking to locate or expand, One Acadiana officials announced. Officials with the city of Broussard, Lafayette Economic Development Authority, Entergy and SLEMCO joined in the announcement. The site is the 13th certified site in Lafayette Parish and the 37th in Acadiana. “Certified sites strengthen a community’s ability to attract new businesses and drive economic growth,” LEDA president and CEO Mandi Mitchell said. One Acadiana’s site development program is designed to increase the region’s portfolio of marketable, development-ready sites by certifying land within the nine-parish region through partnerships with local economic development partners, LED and landowners. Email Adam Daigle at adaigle@theadvocate.com.

2B ● Sunday, August 23, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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École Bilingue buys Mignon Faget building French immersion school working on master plan in N.O.

BY STEPHANIE RIEGEL Staff writer

A private French immersion school has purchased the longtime headquarters building of jeweler Mignon Faget at the corner of Magazine and General Pershing streets, a move that opens the door for the growing school to continue the expansion of its Uptown footprint. École Bilingue de la Nouvelle Orleans purchased the century-old building at 4300 Magazine St. for $1.65 million in a deal that was ﬁnalized Aug. 12, according to city property records. The building, originally a Hibernia Bank branch dating to the 1920s, backs up to the École Bilingue campus on Gen. Pershing. Mignon Faget, an iconic New Orleans jewelry brand named for its founder, has had its corporate ofﬁces in the building since 1997, shortly after it purchased the building. École Bilingue Head of School

Pierre-Loïc Denichou said no immediate changes are planned for the property. He declined to say whether Mignon Faget will lease the office space back from the school or move to a new location. “For now, everything is staying the same,” he said. Mignon Faget CEO Maghan Oroszi declined to comment. The purchase comes as École Bilingue, which was founded in 1998, is in the middle of a campus master-planning process. The school currently has 450 students in pre-K through eighth grade and has more than doubled its enrollment in the past decade. The school campus is located in a complex of buildings just off Magazine Street that were once home to St. Henry’s Catholic Church and School. The school closed in the early 1970s. The church closed shortly after Hurricane Katrina. French immersion schools have become popular in New Orleans in recent years, with ﬁve schools now offering programs that are taught almost entirely in French. École Bilingue is the only private, independent French school — the others are charter or public — and follows a French curriculum that

meets both French and Louisiana state standards. Denichou said the Magazine Street building presented an opportunity for potential expansion that was too good for the school to pass up. “We are always looking for what is best for our students and our footprint in the neighborhood we like,” he said.

Local legacy

zine that it leased. Now, that retail building, situated at the intersection of Peniston Street along one of the most desirable and increasingly priciest sections of Magazine Street, is in the process of being sold. Adam Marcus, a local investor who has owned the building since Mignon Faget moved in nearly 30 years ago, said the pending sale is unrelated to the sale of the headquarters building up the street. “It was just time for me to retire and sell,” said Marcus. He declined to identify the buyer except to say it is a local investor group. He said he does not know what the buyer has planned for the site, which is located in an area that has recently attracted trendy national retailers willing to pay top dollar for space on Magazine Street. Faget, now in her early 90s, turned over the reins of the company in 2024 to Orozsi, an architect, sculptor and designer who joined the team in 2010. Orozsi said the company had no updates to share on the store’s location.

Mignon Faget, founded in 1969, is one of the Crescent City’s beloved local brands. Faget, then a young designer, became known for celebrating her native New Orleans through jewelry and other creations inspired by local plants, architecture and cultural touchstones. The business was located on Dublin Street in the Riverbend for more than 25 years in a building that housed Faget’s studio on the second floor and a retail outlet on the ground floor. In the late 1990s, the offices relocated to the former bank building in the 4300 block of Magazine, which Mignon Faget purchased, and the Email Stephanie Riegel at flagship retail store moved to a stephanie.riegel@theadvocate. building in the 3800 block of Maga- com.

FIRE

Continued from page 1B

STAFF PHOTO By LESLIE WESTBROOK

University of Louisiana at Lafayette officials and firefighters assess the damage following a fire that destroyed the old scoreboard and caused damage to the outfield wall Friday at M.L. ‘Tigue’ Moore Field in Lafayette.

UNIFORMS

Continued from page 1B

ret adorned with a bow larger than her face, a double-pleated plaid skirt and monogrammed jacket. Other schools have stricter rules. InspireNOLA, which runs seven schools including Edna Karr High School, McDonogh 35 Senior High School and Eleanor McMain Secondary School, said in a July social media post that customizations and alterations of uniforms were not allowed. But Inspire CEO Jamar McKneely said the schools expect and welcome students, especially seniors, to show up on their first days in custom attire. But the schools do begin enforcing the uniform policy after the first day of school. According to InspireNOLA’s student handbook, uniform violations could result in minor infractions. McKneely said uniforms help cut down on bullying, puts students on equal playing fields and “allows us to focus on learning.” “We appreciate (first-day outfits), we celebrate them, then we go back to our uniform policy,” McKneely said. Sharon Clark, CEO of Sophie B. Wright Charter High School, said students generally comply with the school’s policy, which offers special sweaters for seniors, blue and yellow shirts for academic achievements and a special honor roll shirt that they can wear with jeans and tennis shoes on Fridays. Students who earn high scores on ACT or WorkKeys assessments are rewarded with not having to wear a uniform the entire year. “We’ve taken their need for uniform swag and incorporated it in standard uniform policy,” she said, “to give our students some differentiation and freedom.”

but discipline varies by school and network. About 17% of public schools across the country require uniforms and 37% enforce a strict dress code, according to the latest data from the Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics. “There was a time when we were much more strict about uniforms, and we’ve learned to listen to our families and the kids and the community,” said Read Irvin, a spokesperson for Collegiate Academies, which operates four New Orleans high schools. “Our priority is to have kids in school and learning.” Fairi Phillips also worked with Mytrell Carter to design a custom vest and tie for her first day of 10th grade at Warren Easton High School. She also got a matching gray plaid bag for essentials like lotion and lip gloss. Phillips’ mother, Janice Girod, said Warren Easton leadership told parents they couldn’t add trim to uniform shirts, so they ordered a vest and a few accessories from Carter instead. Phillips said administrators and teachers complimented her outﬁt. “I put it on for the first day of school and everybody loved it,” Phillips said. “It made me feel like my own person.” Destiny Lokey said she worked with designer Raqkisha Snowton last year to design custom uniforms for her youngest daughter’s first day of kindergarten at ReNEW Moton Lakefront. Social media photos of the look — which included a cap, vest, tie and socks with blue plaid Business is booming rufﬂes — went viral. Lokey said Moton doesn’t take isTwo decades ago, Mytrell Carter sue with the uniforms “as long as it’s commissioned a local seamstress school appropriate.” This year, she to make a pencil skirt and add plaid sent her daughter to school in a be- around the sleeves for her eighth

PORT

Continued from page 1B manufacturer of equilibrium cranes that established its Iberia Parish operation after searching for a port that could accommodate its needs. E-Crane Americas President Steve Osborne said the company considered several ports before choosing Iberia. “I visited a lot of ports because I knew we needed

to be in a port,” Osborne said during a recent demonstration event at the facility. “They had a long list of things you could not do if you moved into their port. It wasn’t until I discovered the Port of Iberia that I heard someone say, ‘You tell me what you need and we will do it.’ I was blown away.” The company has built eight floating cranes with a combined value of about $30 million at its Iberia Parish operation. The facility employs 12 people, with plans to add more workers

Fire Department said in a statement that “when firefighters arrived the fence banner and padding, grassy area, pine trees, and the old scoreboard was on fire. The fires produced a large plume of black smoke. “Firefighters extinguished the fire within 15 minutes. The fence banners, padding and old scoreboard sustained heavy fire damage.” The statement by the Lafayette Fire Department also said, “Fire officials determined a company was doing iron work on the metal fence using a cutting torch and welding. The employees left prior to the fire being noticed by the baseball coach. The coach and others attempted to extinguish the fire, but it spread quickly, likely due to the dry conditions. “Officials believe hot metal from the cutting torch likely ignited the pine needles and dry grass. The fire smoldered until eventually firing up. The fire was ruled an accident.” Email Kevin Foote at kfoote@theadvocate.com.

STAFF PHOTO By ENAN CHEDIAK

Janice Girod, left, helps Fairi Phillips, a student from Warren Easton High School, put on a custom uniform Thursday at trendzbytrell in New Orleans. grade year at Israel Augustine Middle School. But Katrina hit, and she never wore the uniform. Now Carter, who began sewing about four years ago, rents a studio space in an office building in New Orleans East. First the business started with alterations — usually making pants skinnier. Now she’s overwhelmed with custom uniform orders. “Trends always repeat themselves,” she said. She’s not the only one seeing a boom in business. Snowton was battling breast cancer when she took up sewing as a hobby. After photos of a custom uniform she made went viral on Instagram, where she’s known as @khapter_28_by_raqkisha, Snowton found herself with more orders than she could handle. She typically asks parents to purchase official uniforms in large sizes. She then uses the fabric to create several pieces, including ruffles for socks, large bows and bags to match a school’s plaid.

as it expands its operations. E-Crane plans to increase the amount of work performed at its Port of Iberia facility, including additional testing, tuning and potentially steel fabrication. “Louisiana has the workforce to support that,” Osborne said. “It’s trained in industrial tasks and marine operations, and this is the kind of workforce you can’t just ﬁnd everywhere.” The Port of Iberia project is intended to improve navigation between the port and the Gulf, potentially allow-

In previous years, uniform orders slowed down after the start of school. This year, Snowton said she’s still getting inquiries from students at schools in New Orleans and Baton Rouge. Evelina Harris, a designer known as @theyenvy_designs on Instagram, sewed a vest for her daughter to wear with her school uniform in 2022. She posted first-day-of-school photos and friends began to ask for their own custom looks. This year, she’s been inundated with orders from parents and students in New Orleans, Texas and New York. “I couldn’t keep up with the numbers,” Harris said. “I started in the beginning of June and I haven’t stopped yet, not one day off. ” She did, however, find time to sew an outfit for her daughter Dasani’s first day as a senior at John F. Kennedy High School: knee-length plaid shorts and a jacket with puffed sleeves. Dasani Harris loved the look. “It boosts your confidence level and it’s more school spirit,” she said.

ing larger or more heav- the U.S. Army Corps of Enily loaded vessels to move gineers Port of Iberia projthrough the system. ect page. Written comments on the draft environmental assessment must be postmarked LOTTERY by Sept. 24 and can be FRIDAY, AUG. 21, 2026 mailed to: U.S. Army Corps PICK 3: 1-8-1 of Engineers, Regional Planning and EnvironPICK 4: 8-2-1-8 ment Division South, New PICK 5: 4-9-8-1-4 Orleans Environmental MEGA MILLIONS: Branch, CEMVN PDS, 7400 1-25-34-48-57 Leake Ave., New Orleans, MEGA BALL: 24 LA 70118. The draft environmental Unofficial notification, assessment and supporting keep your tickets. documents are available on

Obituaries Jaubert, Constance 'Connie' Durio

Memorial services will be held on Monday, August 31, 2026, at 2:00 PM in La Chapelle de Martin & Castille for Constance "Connie" Durio Jaubert, age 82, who passed away on June 29, 2026. The family requests that visitation be observed on Monday, August 31, 2026, from 11:30 AM until time of services. Inurnment will be held in Calvary Cemetery in Lafayette with her beloved husband, James (Jim) Joseph Jaubert, II. Reverend Howard Blessing will officiate at the services. Survivors include her daughters, Michelle Esquivel and her husband, David, Nicole Hayes and her husband, Trey; her son, James (Jimmy) Jaubert III and his wife, Jamie; her twelve grandchildren and four great grandchildren; her sister, Jeanne Broussard; her sister-inlaw, Helen Gayle Jaubert Bellamy (Jay); and her brother-in-law, John Corbett Jaubert (Dorothy). Grandchildren are Zane Esquivel and Ezra Esquivel, Andree' Lair (Andrew) and her children Jack and Violet, Simone Dogie (Logan) and her children Liam and Callie, Hayden Ruffner and Trevor Ruffner, Elise Domingue, Luke Domingue and Dylan Domingue, Mason Jaubert, Elizabeth Jaubert and Evan Jaubert. She was preceded in death by her husband, James (Jim) Joseph Jaubert, II; her infant great -grandson, Lalo Esquivel; her parents, Juanita Muller Durio and Frederick Edwin Durio; and her dearest uncle, Wilhelm (Billy) Muller, Jr. Connie was a person of faith and dedicated to finding joy and positivity in life. She loved spending time with family and friends and researching the history of just about anything. Connie began her higher education journey at Francis T Nichols State College, where she met Jim. Connie, born in Crowley, LA, pursued her passion and followed family throughout Texas, Louisiana, and Tennessee. Together with Jim, she owned retail clothing establishments in Eunice and Crowley, LA; The Bargain Store and The Body Shop, later she worked as store manager for Montgomery Wards and then Dillards. Many lifelong friendships started as coworkers. Wherever they moved, she joined book clubs or garden clubs, explored local fabric shops and antiques stores. In Crowley, she joined the Beta Sigma Phi sorority. Connie enjoyed dancing, camping, traveling, sightseeing, estate sales, visiting historical homes, and beach watching. A special thank you is given to her caregiver, Sonya Vega, who shared Connie's love for pets and became more than merely her companion. Mass celebrating Connie's life was held on Monday, August 10, 2026, at 10:00 AM at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church in Austin, TX for family and friends made while living in Texas during this last move. Reverend Louis (Lou) Brusaitti officiant, Susanna Steigerwald -Orap pianist, Eric Carrero cantor, David Lara reader, Zane Esquivel and Emmerson Hidrogo presenting gifts. Honorary Pallbearers will be her grandsons, Mason and Evan Jaubert, Zane and Ezra Esquivel, Luke and Dylan Domingue, and Hayden Ruffner. View the obituary and guestbook online at www.mourning.com Martin & Castille Funeral Home DOWNTOWN, 330 St. Landry Street, Lafayette, Louisiana 70506, 337-2342311

The Acadiana Advocate ● theadvocate.com ● Sunday,August 23, 2026 ● 3B

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THE GULF COAST Get $25 all-you-can-eat catfish at seafood spot BY TIM THORSEN Sun Herald

PHOTOS By JACKSON RANGER/SUN HERALD

Elmore Wonsley, right, reacts as the crowd sings ‘Happy Birthday’ during a vigil for Nolan Wells at Greater St. John AME Church in Biloxi, Miss., on Wednesday.

Hundreds gather to remember Nolan Wells on his birthday

By The Sun Herald Wednesday was supposed to be Nolan Wells’ 19th birthday. Instead, hundreds of people gathered for a prayer vigil mourning the beloved Ocean Springs teen’s death and celebrating his life at Greater St. John AME Church in Biloxi. “As we celebrate what would have been his 19th birthday, I am reminded as a father of a 24-year-old son and the uncle of four nephews between the age of 20 and 24, how dangerous, precarious life can be for a young Black man in

America,” said Marc Morial, former New Orleans mayor and CEO of the National Urban League. After many speakers offered condolences to the family and urged for answers and justice after the teen’s death off Horn Island, his parents Christine and Elmore Wonsley spoke to the crowd. “This morning I had to ﬁght the urge to FaceTime you and sing my off-tune Happy Birthday song,” Christine Wonsley said. “I miss the warmth of your hugs, I miss hearing you say ‘I love you mom’, I miss everything about you.”

Marc Morial, CEO of the National Urban League, raises his fist as he gives a speech at Greater St. John AME Church in Biloxi on Wednesday.

A building in Gulfport that for more than 40 years was the home of Catfish Charlie is roaring back to life with a new restaurant. Catfish Cuevas, a Southernstyle seafood spot, has opened in the building that once housed the iconic Gulf Coast catfish buffet that closed in March. The new restaurant is the brainchild of the owners who formerly operated Lloyd’s Cabin seafood buffet in Perkinston. Owners said Catfish Cuevas won’t be buffet-style, but guests can expect all-you-can-eat catfish and whole catfish made with an original recipe. The grand opening was Thursday, and the restaurant will be open on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. The restaurant is adjacent to what is reportedly the largest rocking chair in the world. The menu includes all-youcan-eat catfish for $24.99 or chicken tenders for $20.99. Diners can opt for a whole catfish or filets, broiled or fried. Other food options include seafood platters, sandwiches and a plethora of side items.

Opening night was so busy the restaurant had to pause taking to-go orders, owners said on Facebook. “We are incredibly grateful for each and every person who has supported us along the way. Your love, loyalty, and encouragement have meant more than words could ever express, and we pray that you will continue to support us in this next chapter,” the post said. Catﬁsh Charlie, remembered by many for its crispy fried catﬁsh, coleslaw and buttermilk biscuits, will soon be revitalized under the new brand. Catfish Charlie opened in early 1980 and is named for the founder, Charlie Sinopoli, who opened the restaurant with his brother, Gary. Michael Sinopoli started working there with his father and uncle on weekends while continuing at his full-time job. He and Karen met at the restaurant, where she was also working. They helped keep the restaurant going for 10 years before moving to Washington state. They returned in March 2005, after Charlie died and Gary wanted to retire, and kept Catfish Charlie going another 21 years.

SUN HERALD PHOTO

Catfish Cuevas, a Southern-style seafood spot, has opened in the building that once housed an iconic Gulf Coast catfish buffet that closed in March.

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4B ● Sunday,August 23, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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As LIT moves forward, it’s time for obstacles to clear The Louisiana International Terminal, which would revitalize the state’s maritime economy, got an important green light last week as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers gave approval to key permits necessary for the construction of the project in Violet, about 17 miles downriver of New Orleans. For years, officials with the Port of New Orleans have argued that LIT is needed as the larger and larger container ships increasingly used to transport cargo today can no longer be handled at the current port because they can’t safely pass under the Crescent City Connection bridge. With this latest permit authorization, the focus now turns to preparing the site for construction. Building access roads and making the ground ready for heavy equipment could start as early as this fall, but even if all goes well, it could take until 2031 before the terminal is fully operational. We have supported the plan to construct the terminal as necessary to keep the state competitive for shipping traffic. So we are glad to see that the project is continuing to move forward. Significant hurdles remain. The project still needs to secure some financing, and strong public opposition in St. Bernard Parish has proved hard to satisfy. Three lawsuits in the courts seek to stop some aspects of the project. But when we look to the future, it’s easy to see what the port would give Louisiana rather than what it would take away. When complete, the LIT will span more than 600 acres with a container yard capable of holding more than 62,850 containers at any given time, according to planning documents. That would include 10 cranes capable of loading and unloading two “ultra large” container vessels at the same time. It would be a boon for the region, and the nation, as the Mississippi provides an important corridor for goods through the center of the country. A study by Greater New Orleans, Inc. puts the economic impact at $100,000 in new tax dollars per day and said that jobs at the port could increase by more than one-third. We applaud state leaders and economic development officials for making this project a priority. In particular, Michael Hecht, head of GNO, Inc, whom Gov. Jeff Landry tapped to move the LIT forward after years of little progress, and PORT Nola President and CEO Beth Branch have been tireless in their efforts to bring the project to fruition. It’s past time for everyone in the state to get behind a critical piece of infrastructure that will position Louisiana at the forefront of the global shipping economy. A rising tide lifts all boats, as the saying goes. We strongly believe that the LIT will be a beacon to draw more economic activity to our shores. And there’s no good reason not to support that.

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Discussing fertility and podcasting Monica Lewinsky has a podcast sky and Janney discussing religion, called “Reclaiming.” In a vast sea of even if the story Janney told was podcasts, hers stood out at the right distressing: She remembered havtime as she and the political ing been told by an instructor world hit upon the same genthat God was on the other side of a brick wall and it is her job eral topic: women’s fertility. to knock down the wall. Yikes. The White House press Imagine hearing that as a young secretary recently appeared person. God would look mean on Lewinsky’s podcast. Well, and unreachable. It’s no wonder the TV version of the press Kathryn that the actress pursued a less secretary, at least — Allison Jean traditional and more vibesJanney, who played that role Lopez based spirituality, as she went on “The West Wing.” Karoon to discuss. line Leavitt, Donald Trump’s But “Reclaiming” is in the news bereal-life — or what passes for it in this administration — press secretary, cause Janney and Lewinsky discussed recently announced she is stepping fertility, and, of course, because Rep. down to spend more time with her Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez made a two young children. And, at the same political news story and social media time, a certain left-wing congresshay out of her decision to freeze her eggs. person who may harbor presidential But the Lewinsky-Janney converambitions was sharing details of her experience with the egg-freezing pro- sation is helpful because neither of them is an ambitious politician. cess on social media. The host might understandably As Lewinsky and Janney talk about spend her entire life avoiding anyon the podcast, we often don’t know as much as we should about the most thing related to the White House fundamental, intimate things that — she even admitted that she only impact us the most. And that’s not all watched “The West Wing” once she fertility-related, of course. got to be friendly with Janney, for I, for one, was happy to hear Lewin- fear of intern jokes and, well, memo-

ries of that presidential culture. Janney and Lewinsky also discussed religion and the basic human longing to return to the eternal from which we were created. We learn about a Scientology info session (Lewinsky — and it was really for a friend) and doctorassisted ketamine therapy (Janney), and a joint desire for a silent weekend retreat (more like Monica will do it if Allison finds one — and I do have ideas for them! Probably more traditionally Christian than they are thinking, but it sounds like they have open minds). That’s probably the best thing about podcasts. We’re on our phones constantly, and sometimes we just happen upon people talking about something important, something that we may have been thinking about in our reflective moments — or hearing less reflective people argue about on social media. Sometimes, we find deep meaning and ideas that unite us in unexpected places — even from celebrities on podcasts. Email Kathryn Jean Lopez at klopez@nationalreview.com.

Regional issues rise to the fore of life. The saying used to go: Thank The newspaper’s individual newsGod for Mississippi, or we would be rooms put a strong focus on local relast in the nation on several porting, but as an organization, metrics. But recently, we are we are also committed to having seeing Gulf South states excel a broader focus on issues that in ways that would have been matter not only to our state’s unthinkable in the past. Espelargest cities, but to the entire Gulf Coast region. It’s no secret cially in education, Louisiana that there are many issues that and Mississippi in recent years Arnessa have topped the nation for transcend state boundaries — Garrett growth in scores. climate change, for example, or even surging prices for highIn addition, our economies in end real estate. this region are linked in myriad ways. There’s much that connects us as For many years, Louisiana and other a Gulf South region, and our news Gulf South states have shared similar content is including more and more of trajectories when it comes to growth those stories. We see interest in cover- and development. Major projects in Mississippi or Alabama can affect jobs age of criminal justice cases across in our state as well — and vice versa. the South. We know many of you have So we welcome letters and feedback relatives across the area or enjoy vafrom our readers across the Gulf cations in states adjacent to ours. So Coast. Our region has shared history, news from the region matters to you. traditions and culture that make us Louisiana is often compared to its neighbors — especially when it comes want to see more conversations across state lines. to education, poverty rates or quality

Turning to our letters inbox for the week of Aug. 6-13, we received 45 letters. The topic that drew the most interest was the ongoing debate over socialism and what it means. That prompted five letters. Next, we received two letters about Sen. Bill Cassidy’s vote to approve the nomination of Attorney General Todd Blanche. Then two letters on SpaceX’s reported plans to build a spaceport in Vermilion Parish. For the week of Aug. 13-20, we received 51 letters, but no topic overwhelmingly stood out. We received three letters about the ongoing fight between state officials and the city of New Orleans and three letters about President Donald Trump’s plans to build a ballroom at the White House. Arnessa Garrett is Deputy Editor | Opinion Page Editor. Email her at arnessa.garrett@theadvocate.com.

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COMMENTARY Imagine Michigan’s new hide-the-grades policy in a Wolverines practice This autumn, when the student- transition to academia. Thrashing athletes who compose the Univer- OSU would be fun, but first and foremost we are “investing sity of Michigan’s football in students’ well-being and team are girding their growth by fostering a culloins in preparation for Armageddon, aka the Ohio ture of connection and colState game, suppose some laboration — rather than freshman players make competition.” mistakes in practice. They Granted, the quoted George words miss blocking assigndo not sound like Will coach-speak from those ments, fumble handoffs, responsible for filling the run the wrong pass routes. Do we think Michigan’s coaches Big House, the nation’s largest stadium (capacity 109,901). The will respond therapeutically? words sound like what they are, If they emulate the university’s an emanation of today’s academic administration, the coaches will mind. soothe their freshmen by saying: They are from the official exGolly, to err is human, to forgive is to “curb the mental health planation of why, beginning in crisis unfolding among collegeautumn 2027, classes in Michiaged individuals.” It is unfolding gan’s College of Literature, Scieven among individuals who ence, and the Arts will be pass/ will not line up across the line fail for first-semester freshmen, of scrimmage from Ohio State’s who will be spared the stress of stress-inducing student-athletes. final letter grades. The grades As your coaches, our priority is to will be given but hidden. They allow you freshmen to “acclimate will not appear on transcripts. to the demands of college and alAnd they will not be factored into low intrinsic motivations to guide grade-point averages. The least surprising news from Ann Arbor, personally meaningful academic journeys.” So, we will not respond the self-described “Athens of the Midwest,” is that students like the to your mistakes with extrinsic new policy. motivations — e.g., criticism. The word “journey” (slathered We coaches are here to help you

by the university with the adjectival “personally meaningful”) is a favorite of people ﬂuent in academic jargon. It trips effortlessly off the tongues of academics who ladle up education as a college “experience,” a rudderless fouryear sail on a boundless sea of elective choices. The rhetorical goo celebrating “connection” and “collaboration,” and disparaging “competition” (an implicit reproach of “capitalist culture”?), has a practical as well as ideological function. A pass/fail ﬁrst semester will partially obscure an embarrassing aspect of today’s “college for all” culture: the proliferation of remedial classes for students whose high school “experience” left them ill-prepared academically. The Chronicle of Higher Education is a painfully accurate recorder of campus thinking. It reports that “teaching experts” say Michigan’s new policy addresses the question of how colleges can “offer constructive criticism during one of the most formative periods of a young adult’s life without crushing their” — yes, their — “spirit (or GPA) in the

process.” The Chronicle quotes one expert who thinks Michigan’s change could relieve undergraduates of “undue” pressure. But how much, if any, pressure is proper if competition is regrettable, and collaboration and cooperation are aspirations? And if the spirits of today’s presumptively fragile freshmen can be crushed by grading their work, will they mature out of this “formative” period by second semester? Or by senior year? Other universities have or have had variations of Michigan’s new policy. Johns Hopkins University abandoned its policy when, the administration said, it delayed “development of study skills and adaptation to college-level work.” But delay is obviously Michigan’s spirit-protecting intention. Linda Nilson, founding director (emeritus) of Clemson University’s Ofﬁce of Teaching Effectiveness and Innovation, says what often goes unsaid in academic discourse: the obvious. She says a pass/fail policy “demotivates students,” and “learning has got to be a little bit stressful.” Is it not possible that Michigan’s

postulated “mental health crisis unfolding among college-aged individuals” is a self-fulfilling diagnosis? Tell young people that their professors presume them to be crisis-afflicted, and young people might conform to authority figures’ expectations. And if “intrinsic motivations” are sufficient for learning, and are, as Michigan implies, somehow superior to dictated motivations, such as grades, supplied by professors, the university itself seems almost superfluous. Other than as an excuse for the football team. A president of the University of Oklahoma was presumably being droll when he said he wanted to make the university something its football program could be proud of. But say what you will about the football industry that has been grafted onto institutions of higher education, no one doubts that this industry is something that higher education is not very: serious about what it is there for. Email George Will at georgewill@washpost.com.

If schools must post Ten Commandments, let’s talk about them If there’s a silver lining to the appearance of posters outlining the Ten Commandments on schoolhouse walls across Louisiana this fall, it’s that they may be quickly fading into the figurative wallpaper. Gauging the initial reaction to the posters’ presence, this paper’s reportStephanie ers found little enthusiasm for or Grace even interest in the new incursion of religion into public classrooms, from kindergarten all the way up to college. Notably, they also found some STAFF PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER notes of skepticism from students A copy of the Ten Commandments, similar to the one pictured, is and educators who worry that the government mandate might required in Louisiana public school classrooms under a Louisiana state have the predictable effect of sug- law. gesting that there is a particular government-approved religion, U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, legal defense of the initiative, First Amendment to the U.S. Coninsist it will somehow make a big R-Benton, on one version of the stitution notwithstanding. difference in students’ lives. posters donated by the religious “It’s one of those if we’re going “Don’t kill or steal shouldn’t be conservative Louisiana Family Foto do one (religion), we’re going controversial,” Murrill admonto do all, type things. If we’re not rum, right alongside Moses. going to do all, then we shouldn’t They’re both lawgivers, get it? ished, adding that “Louisiana just have one,” one LSU student That may or may not work, as public schools should follow the sensibly said. the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal law” — which is pretty much the Supporters of the law, of course, stayed a lower court ruling finding government equivalent of saying say they’re doing no such thing, the law unconstitutional until the “because I said so.” Yeah, that’s not really anyway. Instead, they’re posters were put up, so more litisomething kids really respond to. attempting to sidestep constituBut back to her first point. gation is expected. No, those particular commandIn the meantime, supporters of tional concerns by arguing that the Ten Commandments informed the law led by Gov. Jeff Landry ments aren’t controversial, but and Attorney General Liz Murrill, Moses and Johnson aside, they the country’s legal history. That’s whose office OK’d the posters and are already laid out clearly in law. also the rationale for featuring a who has made much of her office’s If officials are genuinely worried photo of a modern-day politician,

about any confusion, it would make more sense to post the relevant sections of the Louisiana Revised Statutes — which also outline potential penalties that’d surely scare anyone on the fence straight. In the meantime, there’s a lot on the posters that doesn’t involve legality. Here’s where things could get interesting. Lower grade teachers are probably crossing their ﬁngers that their young charges won’t ask them about that four-syllable vocabulary word, adultery. But the commandments could actually spark some productive classroom discussion. It was reassuring to read in news coverage about students who embrace their own beliefs but also understand that those beliefs should not be imposed on classmates who were raised or believe differently. Good on them. As the school year gets going, perhaps the new posters might inspire some larger conversations about what the Constitution says about separation of church and state and how it’s played out over the years. For civics students, a great topic of study would be how and why the law mandating these posters passed in the ﬁrst place. The text itself presents other opportunities for teaching moments. If adultery is forbidden, then does it follow that it should be disqualifying for, say, elected leaders? Same question for bearing false

witness. And what should students think of the profusion of images of the current president, who has pasted his own face on government buildings, passports and even a coming, legally dubious Trump coin? Do they consider that a violation of the commandment against graven images, which generations of American leaders until now have understood as drifting toward idolatry? Please discuss. Also, what about all that coveting, of thy neighbor’s wife, his man or maidservant, his cattle? Here’s a perfect opportunity to delve into some unpleasant history of how both female spouses and slaves were once considered property, not materially different from farm animals. If they’re still allowed to talk about such things in school today. These posters might just offer a chance for our state’s students to learn a few things about the past and the present, and to develop some critical thinking skills. That’s deﬁnitely not the intent behind the law putting the commandments into schools. But given that they’re there, at least for now, it would be the best outcome. Even — no, especially — if Louisiana’s students learn to think critically about the people who make laws like these in the ﬁrst place. Email Stephanie Grace at sgrace@theadvocate.com.

Did ESPN’s Smith deserve the Thumbs Down award? In broadcasting, there’s something called a Q score. To put it simply, it measures brand recognition across various demographics, likability versus polarization and trust. The Q score is one of the most widely used tools in the broadcasting, digital and streaming worlds. ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith’s Q score is one of the best. There are reports about Q scores, but not usually from those who have the Will keys to the data. Sutton The scores are conﬁdential. But they matter. In most high-level compensation negotiations, employers make nice comments about the employee talent, but they aren’t effusive. While negotiating with Smith last year, ESPN Content President Burke Magnus called him a “bona ﬁde superstar.” “‘First Take,’ which is his primary assignment, is a juggernaut,” he added on a podcast, “from a relevance, reach and Q score if you will…” Smith is one of the nation’s most prominent journalists. The Na-

Stephen A. Smith

PROVIDED PHOTO

tional Association of Black Journalists gave him a Thumbs Down award at the group’s Atlanta convention. There was an uproar. NABJ President Errin Haines explained why Smith deserved it. Smith explained why he didn’t. NABJ summarized why Smith got the slap, saying it was based on a “recurring public pattern of disparaging public commentary directed at prominent Black women across politics, sports and media.” What does that mean? n Smith criticized Texas U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett for her style, saying she uses “verbiage and rhetoric for the streets.” n Smith criticized former ﬁrst lady Michelle Obama while campaigning for former Vice President Kamala Harris because she said voting for Donald Trump

was “a vote against us,” meaning women. He called the comments divisive and unfair. n Smith commented on a Super Bowl cameo appearance by tennis star Serena Williams as Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” played, questioning why a married woman would do that with a song that disses her ex, Drake. “If I’m married and my wife is going to join trolling her ex, go back to his a**, ’cause clearly you don’t belong with me,” he said. I’ve talked with a number of NABJ members, including those who live in Alabama, California, Florida, New York, Washington, D.C., and Louisiana. There are clear, deep divides about whether it was wrong to give Smith the award. There are those who love him, those who hate him. One called the award offensive. Another called it “an unforced error.” Yet another gleefully said it was well deserved. “I have no problem with NABJ publicly criticizing one of our own,” said Beverly White, a reporter friend who retired from NBC Los Angelese after more than 40 years. She said Smith “has been vicious in his criticisms” and the award was “more than

appropriate.” Another friend, Lance Washington, told me Smith “earned” the award. Smith let NABJ have it with a response on his own podcast for more than 40 minutes. Smith also went on conservative Sean Hannity’s Fox News show to defend himself. That upset White, Washington and others. “Accountability is not supposed to be comfortable,” Haines told NABJ Vice President-Digital Roland Martin on his daily newscast, “Roland Martin Unﬁltered.” During her comments at the convention, Haines said she’d welcome a conversation with Smith. Smith said NABJ should’ve called before last week. Jemele Hill, one of the most recognized sports journalists, said Smith is not above criticism. She recognizes his incredible success, yet has concerns about some things Smith has said. But she didn’t support the award decision or reject it. “It’s complicated,” she said. It is complicated. Hundreds of Black journalists have been weighing in on the NABJ-Smith drama, whether they are members or not. Many of them don’t know the history. The

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award was created and ﬁrst presented in 1989. I doubt most NABJ members, or anyone else, can name more than one, maybe two, of the other Thumbs Down awardees without a web search. No matter who they were, I think there were too many, weakening the impact. Some think creating the Thumbs Down award was a bad move. Some think it’s run its course and it’s time to eliminate it. I think it was a great idea and it should continue. I have two concerns: First, it’s better for NABJ to focus on one awardee, and no more than two. Second, my beloved organization should hold itself to the highest level of accuracy and integrity, being as speciﬁc as possible, documenting actions and fact-checking everything. More than a week has passed and we’re still talking about this. I hope the key stakeholders can agree to have a civil conversation. I hope Smith understands why many cheered. I know Smith and NABJ will learn from this, survive and thrive. Email Will Sutton at wsutton@ theadvocate.com.

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6B ● Sunday,August 23, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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TODAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

Hot; a p.m. thunderstorm

A t-storm around in the p.m.

Humid with variable clouds

Some rain and a thunderstorm

Humid; a stray p.m. t-storm

Some rain and a thunderstorm

HIGH

LOW

HIGH

99° 78°

LOW

HIGH

94° 77°

LOW

HIGH

High/low Normal high/low Last year’s high/low Record high Record low

Beaumont 99/76 Port Arthur 99/78

Baton Rouge 99/76

Lake Charles 99/78

10s

20s

30s

Houma 98/78

40s

50s

LOW

YESTERDAY

60s

70s

80s

Sunrise today Sunset tonight Moonrise today Moonset today

90s 100s 110s

FULL

AUG 27

City

Austin Boston Dallas Fairbanks Honolulu Las Vegas Louisville Miami Nashville

Shown are areas of precipitation and high temperatures for the day.

PRECIPITATION

98°/75° 92°/75° 85°/75° 102° in 2023 60° in 1956

TODAY’S TIDES Lake Pontchartrain (Tchefuncte River) Shell Beach South Point, Marsh Island Cypremort Point Grand Isle (Barataria Pass) Mississippi River (Southwest Pass) Wine Island

New Orleans 99/79

Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.

Hattiesburg 98/74

Alexandria 100/76

Lafayette 99/78

HIGH

90° 76°

Lafayette through 5 p.m. Saturday

Jackson 99/75 Many 100/74

LOW

93° 76°

TEMPERATURE

Longview 106/80

-0s

LOW

95° 78°

Monroe 102/77

Shreveport 104/80

-10s

HIGH

94° 78°

Another heat advisory has been issued for Acadiana because while temperatures will rise into the the upper 90s to low 100s, heat index values could rise to 111 or higher. We will remain under a major or extreme heat risk today as well. If you are working or playing outdoors, be sure to take frequent breaks, stay hydrated, find the shade and apply your sunscreen. Expect a few isolated storms this afternoon. Nothing in the tropics is a threat to the U.S.

24-hour total Month to date Normal month to date year to date Normal year to date

HIGH

5:08p 10:43a 5:07a 6:55a 6:55a 6:07a 8:03a

6:40 a.m. 7:41 p.m. 5:03 p.m. 2:12 a.m.

LAST

NEW

SEP 4

106 75 107 64 90 108 82 92 89

TODAY Lo

74 68 85 42 79 86 61 79 63

FIRST

SEP 10

s sh s c sh s s t s

SEP 18

105 82 107 60 90 107 82 92 88

MON. Lo

76 62 82 51 78 84 63 79 66

s s pc c r s pc t pc

FT.

LOW

0.92” 2.10” 4.38” 42.89” 41.80”

FT.

HIGH

0.8 4:37a 0.0 1.7 11:07p 0.0 2.0 6:18p 0.0 2.1 10:23p 0.3 1.4 6:34p 0.1 1.7 4:47p 0.0 1.8 7:36p 0.1

FT.

---------------

MODERATE

READING 56 MAIN POLLUTANT Particulates

MAIN POLLUTANT Particulates

SOURCE: LOUISIANA DEQ AND AIRNOW.GOV

LOW

---------------

FT.

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The solunar period schedule allows planning days so you will be fishing in good territory or hunting in good cover during those times. Major periods begin at the times shown and last for 1.5 to 2 hours. The minor periods are shorter. MAJOR MINOR MAJOR MINOR

Today 8:25a Monday 9:11a Tuesday 9:55a Wednesday 10:38a Thursday 11:21a Friday 12:05p Saturday 12:29a

City

New Orleans Orlando Philadelphia Phoenix Pittsburgh Raleigh St. Louis San Diego Tampa

99 91 84 112 73 87 83 84 89

2:13a 2:58a 3:43a 4:26a 5:10a 5:54a 6:40a

TODAY Lo

79 75 65 90 55 64 64 72 78

8:51p 9:35p 10:19p 11:01p 11:44p ---12:50p

t t t t t pc pc s t

TODAY

MODERATE

93 94 82 109 71 89 83 82 91

2:38p 3:23p 4:07p 4:50p 5:32p 6:16p 7:01p

MON. Lo

79 76 64 88 56 62 65 71 79

Weather (W): s-sunny, pc-partly cloudy, c-cloudy, sh-showers, t-thunderstorms, r-rain, sf-snow flurries, sn-snow, i-ice.

t t pc t pc s c s t

MISSISSIPPI Memphis Vidalia-Natchez Red River Landing Baton Rouge Donaldsonville Reserve New Orleans OHIO Cairo COMITE Near Olive AMITE Near Darlington Denham Springs Port Vincent TICKFAW Montpelier Holden ATCHAFALAYA Simmesport Melville Krotz Springs Butte La Rose Bayou Sorrel Morgan City

FLOOD STAGE

34 48 48 35 27 22 17

SAT. 24-HOUR STAGE CHANGE

12.20 22.70 24.10 8.90 4.80 3.32 3.20

+0.90 +1.61 +1.53 +0.46 +0.51 +0.03 +0.17

28.78

+0.48

-1.36

+0.32

18 29 8

-1.23 10.09 1.14

-0.02 +0.05 -0.02

13 15

1.44 0.72

+0.05 -0.10

47 34 29 20 12 6

8.80 5.43 4.04 3.91 2.80 1.47

+0.56 +0.23 +0.29 +0.09 none -0.05

data as of 7 a.m. Saturday

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Cajuns O-line O line ffeels healthy, rejuvenated UL OL Zay Alexander

BY KEVIN FOOTE Staff writer

STAFF FILE PHOTO By BRAD KEMP

The 2025 season was a challenging one for the UL offensiv ve line. Rarely did a Mon nday news conference occur without coach Michael Desormeaux reporting on an offfensive lineman’s injury situation. “There was literrally one day last fall where we had seven n O-linemen in the program that could pra actice,” said offensive line coach Steve F Farmer, whose Cajuns will open the season n Sept. 5 against Lamar at Our Lady of Lourrdes Stadium. The Ragin’ Cajunss currently have 21 offensive linemen on th he roster. “I mean, there we ere some days coach

If LSU’s season is memorable, Weis will play big part The story on new LSU offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr. — other than being the son of a famous coach like his boss Lane Kiffin — is that he has a photographic memory. While interviewing Weis over dinner back in 2015 when Kiffin was offensive coordinator at Alabama, Kiffin decided to put the want-to-be young coach to the test. “I’m like, ‘All right, I don’t buy into this photographic memory stuff,’ ” Kiffin told CBSSports.com in 2018. “I get my credit card and liScott cense and give them to him Rabalais for five minutes. “I start asking questions about what was on there. He knew everything. The next day, he still knew it.” Weis smiled and batted away the notion that he possesses some sort of sixth sense. “I don’t think I have a photographic memory,” he said Friday, meeting with media covering LSU for the first time. He does, however, remember the downtown Tuscaloosa restaurant where they met 11 years ago — a place called Chuck’s Fish that’s still there. And he impressed Kiffin enough to land his first big job as an offensive analyst on Nick Saban’s staff. “The job was on the line,” Weis said, “so I had to come through.” There was no question that Weis had the offensive coordinator job at LSU if he wanted it when Kiffin came here from Ole Miss. Now Weis has to come through for the Tigers this season as their offensive play-caller. Kiffin is credited with crafting an offense that was highly successful at Alabama and was the most productive offense in the FBS during his six seasons at Ole Miss. But Weis is a major part of that success. In fact, for all the focus on Kiffin and his retention of LSU defensive coordinator Blake Baker from Brian Kelly’s staff, Weis

ä See RABALAIS, page 3C

PJ (Burkhalter) and I were just trying to breathe life into each other,” Farmer said. The good news is Farmer is convinced the mental scars from last season are healed. “At no point has there been any hesitation from any of the guys,” he said. “I think that speaks volumes of who they are. Toughness is an all the time thing. We say that all the time in our room, it’s every day, all the time. It’s what puts hair on your chest as a man.” Even in the ﬁrst practice, there wasn’t a single player “afraid to get bumped or being on alert ... there’s been zero hesitation.” From a talent standpoint, Farmer likes what he’s seen. “It’s been a fun group to work with,” he said. It starts in the middle with the return of

redshirt junior Cooper Fordham at center, along with redshirt senior Kaden Moreau at left guard and redshirt junior Matthew Broussard at right guard. “Those two starting guards right now are having an elite camp,” Farmer said. “They’re really doing some things that I haven’t seen very often in my career as far as playing fast and recognizing things and communicating at a really high level while being physical day after day.” Fordham returns from an injury as the leader of the unit. “With Cooper, in case somebody’s wondering, he’s going to make a great coach someday whenever he decides football’s done

ä See CAJUNS, page 3C

NFL PRESEASON RAMS 34, SAINTS 0

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By RyAN SUN

Saints quarterback Zach Wilson, center, is tackled by Los Angeles Rams defensive back Alex Johnson, right, and linebacker Darryl Peterson during the first half of a preseason game Saturday in Inglewood, Calif.

Pocket pratfalls

Saints QBs struggle in franchise’s first preseason shutout since 2000 BY MATTHEW PARAS Staff writer

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Kellen Moore entered Saturday’s preseason game with a simple plan to evaluate the New Orleans Saints’ backup quarterback battle. Zach Wilson would start the ﬁrst half. Spencer Rattler would get the second. The order was a change in the status quo. The coach turned to Wilson to see whether the former 2021 second overall pick could carry his momentum from his impressive Saints debut a week ago. Perhaps Moore wanted to put some pressure on Rattler to see how the 26-year-old would respond to the threat of his backup job suddenly being in danger. Neither passed the test.

Wilson and Rattler each underwhelmed in Saturday’s ugly 34-0 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Issues across the board contributed to the one-sided drubbing, the franchise’s ﬁrst shutout loss in the preseason since 2000. New Orleans was undisciplined, tired and sloppy, leaving Moore as animated as the second-year coach has been on the sideline of his Saints’ tenure. The quarterbacks did little to ease those emotions. Here’s a closer look at the two quarterbacks’ performances and why the battle must continue for another week:

How Wilson performed This was Wilson’s best opportunity to steal a job that clearly had been Rattler’s for months. But the 27-year-old

ä See SAINTS, page 3C

Saints look lost in LA after long week

STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

LSU offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr. watches passing drills during preseason practice on Monday at the team’s practice facility.

The best thing about the New Orleans Saints’ trip to California is that it’s over. Yeah, coach Kellen Moore may like the work his team got in during joint practices in much cooler temperatures this week on the West Coast. But his Saints also took their share of L’s, including Saturday’s 34-0 preseason debacle against the Los Angeles Rams. “It was ugly,” said quarterback Zach Wilson, who got the start. Ugly was an understatement. Truth be told, there was plenty more ugliness in a costly week ﬁlled with losses.

Rod Walker Among the other losses? Saints owner Gayle Benson lost a half-million dollars, the amount of the check she has to write to the NFL after her team’s brawls with the Dallas Cowboys in Tuesday’s joint practice. The Saints also lost a few more key players to injuries, which has been

an ongoing theme of training camp. Moore is probably scratching his head, and not just because of the way the game Saturday played out. Does he want the regular season to hurry up and get here before more injuries pop up? Or does he want time to slow down so some of the walking wounded can heal and ﬁx some of the sloppiness that was on full display Saturday? The season opener is still three weeks away. The Saints have to survive one more preseason game Friday

ä See WALKER, page 3C

2C ● Sunday,August 23, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate H

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If Pels want respect, they must go earn it Respect is earned, not given. If the New Orleans Pelicans want the league ofﬁce and players around the league to respect them, they need to make them do so. There’s no need to complain about the NBA schedule that came out last week. And there’s no reason to be upset about what Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton said last week, which we’ll get to in a minute. The only way for a franchise that has won two playRod Walker off series in team history to change the narrative is to start winning. It’s as simple as that. The Pelicans’ schedule, which was announced last week, has just two games set to be broadcast nationally. Both of those games are during a January trip to Europe (France and England) against Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs. If the Pels weren’t playing in Europe and against Wemby, who knows if they would have even received two national games. There are four other teams that only have two national games. The Sacramento Kings, Milwaukee Bucks, Memphis Grizzlies and Brooklyn Nets. What do all those teams have in common? None of them made it to the postseason last season and none of them are expected to this season. Good teams get TV time. Bad teams don’t. Just ask the NFL’s Tennessee Titans, who weren’t awarded a prime-time game last season or this season despite drafting quarterback Cam Ward with the No. 1 overall pick in 2025. The Pelicans’ number of national games has dwindled over the years, going from 30 in 2019 when Zion Williamson was drafted to 18 games four years ago. Three years ago, they had 12. And 13 the season before that. Last season and this season, that number has been reduced to two. People who watch the Pelicans regularly know that talented

STAFF FILE PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER

New Orleans Pelicans forward Trey Murphy, left, and guard Jeremiah Fears, right, play defense as Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell passes the ball during a game March 21 at the Smoothie King Center. players like Williamson, Trey Murphy and Dejounte Murray along with promising rookies like Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen are good enough to be seen nationally. It’s up to them to convince the rest of the basketball audience. The Pelicans also have 16 backto-back games on the schedule, tied with four other teams (Nets, Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers and Dallas Mavericks) for most in the league. All NBA teams have at least 13 back-tobacks. So the Pelicans, one of the worst teams in the league the past two seasons, having just three more than that isn’t a big deal. The Pelicans also have the most stretches of three games in four nights in the league (27). One of the league’s most storied franchises, the Los Angeles Lakers, is second with 26. No, the NBA — despite Pelicans top executive Joe Dumars having worked in the league ofﬁce for three years — didn’t do the Pels any favors with the

schedule. And I imagine Dumars doesn’t want any favors. The Pelicans will have to get out of the mud by clawing and scratching their way out of their doldrums and into the spotlight. Now to Haliburton, the Pacers’ star player who missed all of last season while recovering from a torn Achilles suffered in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals. Haliburton will make his return this season. He expressed disappointment last week when he found out that his ﬁrst game back was not going to be at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indiana’s home arena. The NBA could have, and probably should have, given a player of Haliburton’s caliber (two All-Stars, two All-NBA selections and leading his team to the NBA Finals) his ﬁrst game back in front of his home fans. Instead, the Pacers open on the road in the Smoothie King Center against the Pelicans. Haliburton felt disrespected by them, then proceeded to disrespect the Pelicans in the process while speak-

ing on a podcast last week. “Think of a player you could compare to my level of basketball, someone who’s torn their Achilles tendon and been out for 16 months,” Haliburton said. “That wouldn’t be nationally televised, right? Do you think the game would be at home if it wasn’t being broadcast? Do you think that game should be in New Orleans? I looked at the schedule and thought ‘Wow.’ Nothing personal, my guy Trey Murphy is there. I love NOLA, but I was kind of shocked… but we’ll move on.” Pelicans, don’t move on. For the next two months, let it marinate that the NBA doesn’t ﬁnd you worthy to be on TV. Let Haliburton’s diss be fuel leading up to the Oct. 21 season opener. There’s no need to respond to Haliburton’s comments (or anyone else’s) before then. Let your play on the court do your talking. It’s the only way to get respect. Email Rod Walker at rwalker@ theadvocate.com.

Raffle offers sports fans chance to hit jackpot Annual Premier Season Ticket Raffle drawing is Aug. 30 BY ROD WALKER Staff writer

Kristi McKinney doesn’t consider herself an avid sports fan. But that didn’t stop her from entering last year’s Premier Season Ticket Rafﬂe held by the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation. “I had heard about it in years past, and it sounded like a fun thing to do,” McKinney said. “People were making fun of me because I’m not a huge sports fan. But I wanted to help the Sports Foundation. It was more of a charitable thing for me.” Turns out, McKinney’s name was pulled in the rafﬂe and she won the smorgasbord of season tickets. “First of all, I was in shock,” McKinney said. “I was excited. Like any prize, you don’t think you’re going to be the winner.” Now it’s time for someone else to win two season tickets to some of the top sporting events in south Louisiana. This year’s drawing will be held on Aug. 30. The winner will be announced on “The Final Play,” the Sunday night local

STAFF FILE PHOTO By DAVID GRUNFELD

New Orleans Saints fans smile and cheer in the second half of a game against the Arizona Cardinals on Sept. 7 at the Caesars Superdome. sports show on Fox 8. The winner receives a pair of season tickets to all of the following: New Orleans Saints regular-season games; New Orleans Pelicans regular-season games; LSU football, men’s and women’s basketball, gymnastics and baseball; Tulane football, men’s and women’s basketball, and baseball; LSU-New Orleans baseball and men’s and women’s basketball. The winner also receives two tickets to the New Orleans Bowl, the Allstate Sugar Bowl and the

PGA Tour’s Zurich Classic, as well as WWE’s Money in the Bank event. Raffle tickets are $100 each. Only 2,000 tickets will be sold. The money raised helps the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation’s efforts to bring major sporting events to New Orleans. Some of the recent events hosted in New Orleans were Super Bowl LIX in 2025 and the X Games in July. The Sports Foundation also assisted Legends Global in getting the Savannah Bananas base-

ball team to Caesars Superdome in March. “The raffle is a significant fundraiser for the Sports Foundation,” said Jay Cicero, president and CEO of the Sports Foundation. “It helps us with our business and supports our business of bidding upon and managing sporting events for the economic benefit of Louisiana. It’s much-needed operational fund support for everything that we do.” There is one change to this year’s raffle. In years past, the winner had to pay taxes on the tickets. That’s no longer the case. “The Sports Foundation will now pay the taxes on it,” Cicero said. “So the only expense to the winner is the money for the raffle ticket itself.” McKinney took her son to Tulane’s season opener last season. She also attended Saints and Pelicans games. “But gymnastics and LSU baseball were the highlights,” McKinney said. “And I really enjoyed the golf tournament.” McKinney’s advice to anyone considering entering this year’s raffle? “If you’re an avid sports fan, I would recommend it,” she said. To enter the raffle, visit gnosports.com/win.

Ohtani takes step toward return to Dodgers’ mound

LOS ANGELES — Shohei Ohtani faced teammate Will Smith in live batting practice on Saturday, but there’s no deﬁnitive timeline for the two-way superstar to return to pitching for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Wearing long sleeves, Ohtani threw 30 pitches under a blazing sun in 93-degree heat and ended the session by giving a thumbs-up. Among those looking on were pitching coach Mark Prior and president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman, fellow MVPs Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman, and some of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Ohtani hasn’t pitched in a game since July 3 because of lingering soreness in his left knee, which is his landing leg while pitching.

Brewers RHP Woodruff says surgery not needed

MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Brandon Woodruff says his latest shoulder injury won’t require surgery, a notable change of plans for a two-time All-Star who has dealt with multiple arm issues. This development creates at least a slight chance Woodruff could pitch again this season, though the prospect remains unlikely. Woodruff, 33, said he will play catch on Wednesday to begin a throwing progression. That represents a major departure from his initial expectations. He had indicated in mid-July that he would be undergoing anterior capsule surgery on his right shoulder. He had a similar procedure in October 2023 and didn’t pitch again until July 2025. The right-hander is 2-2 with a 2.98 ERA in nine starts this year.

Yankees DH Stanton strains calf running bases

NEW YORK — Giancarlo Stanton suffered another setback in his recovery from a strained right calf when he strained his left calf while running the bases earlier this week, putting his return to the New York Yankees by the end of the season in doubt. Stanton has not played since tweaking his right calf running between second and third base during New York’s 12-4 win at Houston on April 24. Stanton was nearing a return in mid-June when he felt soreness in his right calf while running the bases. The ﬁve-time All-Star and 2017 NL MVP has been plagued by injuries since being acquired from the Marlins in December 2017 and has not played a full season since 2018.

Serena, Alcaraz paired for doubles at U.S. Open

NEW YORK — Serena Williams will team up with Carlos Alcaraz to create a powerhouse mixed doubles pair in her return to the U.S. Open. The U.S. Tennis Association announced Saturday that Williams and Alcaraz had been given a wild card into the tournament. The mixed doubles main draw begins Tuesday, with the winning team sharing $1 million. It will be Williams’ first time playing at the U.S. Open since 2022. The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion returned to tennis this summer. Williams is not planning to play singles in New York.

Clark pulls away for 5-shot lead at Bellerive

ST. LOUIS — Wyndham Clark lost the lead with a double bogey on the first hole and then left everyone in his wake Saturday at Bellerive, making five birdies and an eagle in an eight-hole stretch and finishing with a 5-under 65 to build a five-shot lead in the BMW Championship. It was the second time this year Clark has led by at least five shots going into the final round. He had a six-shot advantage at the U.S. Open and held on to win by one for his second major. Rory McIlroy ran off three straight birdies late in the round and saved par from a bunker on the 18th for a 65. Patrick Cantlay birdied the 18th for a 66. They were tied for second, a position far more relevant to Cantlay. He is at No. 43 in the FedEx Cup and needs a high finish to be among the top 30 who advance to the FedEx Cup finale next week in Atlanta.

The Acadiana Advocate ● theadvocate.com ● Sunday, August 23, 2026 ● 3C

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WALKER

Continued from page 1C against those same Cowboys they couldn’t get along with last week. Then the real games begin, and the Saints will start their quest to try to get back to SoFi Stadium — site of Super Bowl LXI — on the second Sunday in February. The team in white jerseys Saturday, also playing their backups, is one of the favorites to get to the Super Bowl on their home field. Meanwhile, the team in black and gold is just trying to claw its way back into the playoff picture after missing out the last five seasons. Saturday didn’t really tell us much of anything about the 2026 Saints. Most of the guys who suited up won’t make much of an impact. For the second straight preseason game, Moore decided not to play any starters. Instead, he’s letting the work the starters get in joint practices suffice. That’s been the approach many NFL teams have adopted since the league reduced the number of preseason games from four to three in 2021. Tyler Shough looked sharp in the three joint practices against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Cowboys and Rams. I’d imagine Moore will let him and the other starters get a series or two in the preseason finale. But for now, the only thing we’ve seen from Shough during the preseason are his fiery pre-game speeches. “This week, we have elevated the standard of our team,” Shough said prior to Saturday’s kickoff. “We have laid the foundation of who we want to be. We have laid the foundation of where we’re going.” That foundation looked shaky in Saturday’s sloppy performance.

Anything Moore may have liked in the joint practice Tuesday against the Cowboys and Thursday against the Rams didn’t translate to the game. There is a saying that it never rains in California. That obviously doesn’t include the puddle of penalty flags that fell all game long on the turf. The Saints were penalized 12 times for 96 yards. “It shows you the discipline and details (needed) for football,” Moore said. Saints players continued to fall, too. Running back Devin Neal and tight end Moliki Matavao left the game early with injuries, adding to a week that also sidelined Alvin Kamara (knee) and cornerback Quincy Riley (groin). The Saints lost defensive lineman Bryan Bresee (knee) for the season on the first day of camp and rookie receiver Jordyn Tyson (hamstring) is out for at least two months after getting injured in last week’s joint practice in Metairie against the Jags. Some of this sloppiness should have been expected. A team traveling 1,900 miles to have two joint practices and a game in a five-day span can take its toll. Moore didn’t make any excuses. “Regular season or preseason does not matter,” Moore said. “Those (games) aren’t the ones you want. That was a big-time missed opportunity for us.” The good news for the Saints is they don’t travel west of the Mississippi during the regular season. One of the most memorable scenes from this latest trip was a frustrated Erik McCoy tossing the helmet of a Cowboys’ player during one of Tuesday’s many brawls. If only McCoy could throw Saturday’s game away, too. Email Rod Walker at rwalker@theadvocate.com.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By CAROLINE BREHMAN

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Stetson Bennett lunges into the end zone to score a touchdown during the ﬁrst half of a preseason game against the Saints on Saturday in Inglewood, Calif.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By RyAN SUN

Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler runs past Los Angeles Rams linebacker Daniel Rickert during the second half of a preseason game against the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday in Inglewood, Calif.

SAINTS

Continued from page 1C

L.A. Rams 34, New Orleans 0 New Orleans L.A. Rams

First Quarter

0 3

0 17

0 7

— —

0 34

LAR — FG Mevis 26, 3:55.

Second Quarter

wasn’t nearly as sharp as he was in last week’s loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Against the Rams, Wilson completed 6 of 12 passes for 55 yards. And like Rattler last week, he committed a turnover that set up a touchdown for the other team. On his turnover, Wilson was picked off at LA’s 49-yard line by cornerback Al’zillion Hamilton. But the error seemed to be more about miscommunication with wide receiver Bub Means, one of Wilson’s favorite targets all summer. Wilson threw inside while Means cut outside, resulting in the easy takeaway. In these situations, Moore often says he wants to see how the quarterback bounces back. Wilson appeared to let the turnover affect his play after that. He was timid, for instance, on a 7-yard scramble in which targets Moliki Matavao and Bryce Lance were briefly open down the field. On that same drive, Wilson couldn’t capitalize on a fourth and 2 as his intended pass was knocked out of Kevin Austin’s hands. The turnover on downs led to another Rams touchdown, putting New Orleans in a 17-0 hole. To be fair, the deficit wasn’t just the fault of the quarterback. Flags plagued both sides of the ball. Rams backup quarterback Stetson Bennett feasted on rookie corners Lorenzo Styles and T.J. Hall. The Saints were outmuscled in the trenches. But trailing all game created

LAR — Bennett 1 run (Mevis kick), 10:22. LAR — Bennett 8 run (Mevis kick), 2:53. LAR — FG Mevis 26, :00.

Third Quarter

LAR — Cook 100 interception return (Mevis kick), 9:06.

Fourth Quarter

LAR — Hunter 12 run (Mevis kick), 3:41.

A — 71,206.

First downs Total Net Yards Rushes-yards Passing Punt Returns Kickoff Returns Interceptions Ret. Comp-Att-Int Sacked-Yards Lost Punts Fumbles-Lost Penalties-Yards Time of Possession

NO 13 293 26-105 188 1-22 4-91 0-0 20-35-2 1-8 4-45.0 2-1 12-96 28:12

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

LAR 28 405 30-151 254 2-15 1-25 2-103 27-43-0 0-0 2-48.5 0-0 7-60 31:48

RUSHING — New Orleans, K.Miller 6-22, Rattler 5-21, Chandler 6-21, Z.Wilson 4-19, Donaldson 3-15, Neal 2-7. L.A. Rams, Hunter 12-68, Waters 10-54, Simpson 3-10, Bennett 2-9, Presley 1-5, Connors 2-5. PASSING — New Orleans, Rattler 14-23-1-141, Z.Wilson 6-12-1-55. L.A. Rams, Bennett 19-310-181, Simpson 8-12-0-73. RECEIVING — New Orleans, Donaldson 4-51, Matavao 3-34, Moreno-Cropper 2-34, Lance 2-16, Welch 2-11, Austin 1-10, Chandler 1-10, Bell 1-7, Hardy 1-7, Mitchell-Paden 1-6, Means 1-5, Rechsteiner 1-5. L.A. Rams, Daniels 8-68, Bachman 4-48, Presley 4-35, Klare 4-12, Edwards 3-27, Scott 2-36, Villari 1-24, Waters 1-4. MISSED FIELD GOALS — New Orleans, T.Brown 39.

opportunities to throw the ball as much as possible, and Wilson didn’t take advantage. He squandered a classic two-minute drill with 2:31 left in the half, running just six plays before the Saints punted with 1:42 left. Wilson’s biggest missed chance on that series came on second and 3, when he fired at the feet of a wide-open Means in the middle of the ﬁeld.

CAJUNS

RABALAIS

with him,” Farmer said. “He’s an elite, elite student of the game.” Two players are coming back from season-ending injuries at the tackle spots. Sixth-year veteran George Jackson and first-year starter and redshirt sophomore Zay Alexander are expected to man those positions. “I’m really excited about Zay,” Farmer said. “He’s ﬁtting in at the left tackle spot for us. I think we’re going to be more physical there than we’ve been since I’ve been here, which is exciting. He’s also a presence in the run game. “With George, he’s put himself in a position to have a great year. He’s trimmed down a lot, and obviously he’s always been really athletic with his twitch.” The top reserves are expected to be Tulane transfer Jayce Mitchell, a 6-foot-3, 322-pound redshirt sophomore, as well as sophomore Jakoby Isom. Isom wasn’t expected to play much last season, but he was pressed into duty because of the rash of injuries before suffering a season-ending injury himself. “He’s had an incredible camp,” Farmer said of Isom. “He was a freshman last year and ended up playing five games for us. He’s playing fast like the other guys, especially when he’s in with the ones. It’s been really cool to see his growth.” Redshirt junior Andrew Martinez, who came to UL as a walk-on, also got many unexpected snaps at center last year because of the injuries. “Andrew has taken another step forward this year,” Farmer said. “Those eight guys are battling it out day in and day out. That kind of excites me, because we have a pair and a spare at all the positions.”

may be flying under the radar in terms of what he means for the Tigers’ chances of being a College Football Playoff contender in 2026. Well, under some radars. Not Kiffin’s. “I try to let coordinators do their job,” Kiffin said recently. “I have an overview of who we play and our overall philosophy.” That certainly applies to Baker, since Kiffin’s background isn’t defense, but also to Weis. The trust built from their one season together at Alabama, two seasons when Weis was Kiffin’s offensive coordinator at Florida Atlantic and the past four seasons when Weis served in that same capacity at Ole Miss is clear. “It frees me up so much,” Kiffin said during LSU’s first week of preseason camp. “I spent 30 minutes this morning on a call with this transfer/compliance thing, which is something I couldn’t have done a few years ago because there was an offense (staff) meeting. “The Charlie benefit is huge for our program.” The influences on the Weis playbook are numerous. There’s his father, Charlie Weis Sr., a longtime NFL offensive coordinator and head coach at Notre Dame when the Tigers beat the Fighting Irish in the 2007 Sugar Bowl. There was a year spent on Steve Sarkisian’s staff with the Atlanta Falcons in 2017 before Weis went to FAU. Then there is the Kendal Briles factor. Briles was the play-caller in 2017 during Kiffin’s first season at FAU, his uptempo “veer and shoot” offen-

Continued from page 1C

STAFF PHOTO By BRAD KEMP

UL center Cooper Fordham runs a drill during a preseason practice. Fordham is transitioning into a starting role with the Cajuns this season. Not all eight players are interchangeable, but UL continues to cross-train them. “I don’t like playing any of them just in one spot,” Farmer said. “I think there’s something to when you play tackle, and then all of a sudden you get bumped into the guard, you start ﬁguring out, ‘Hey, if the guard does this, it makes my life a lot easier.’ “I think Matt (Broussard) and Kaden (Moreau) have become better guards because of all the time we’ve spent playing them at center. I really do.” Farmer expects the unit’s more physical approach to help the offense in both the rushing and passing attacks. He also expects the passing game’s emphasis on employing higher-percentage throws

to elevate the physical play. “That’s allowing us to build maybe a little more physicality at the line of scrimmage and in pass pro, because you know, the ball’s coming out,” Farmer said. “That’s probably the biggest thing.” Talented 6-5, 318-pound freshman Michael Bowens is in the group of options for the fourth tackle spot. “He just has moments of being a freshman,” Farmer said of Bowens. “He’s heavy enough, he’s long enough, he’s strong enough. We’re just ﬁghting being a freshman. It’s nothing more than that. He’s going to be a great player here. It’s just a matter of when.” Email Kevin Foote at kfoote@theadvocate.com.

How Rattler performed At first, Rattler looked as if he were about to change the narrative. The third-year quarterback drove the Saints efficiently down the field, hitting Jalen Cropper for a 24-yard gain on one pass, drawing a 25-yard pass interference penalty on another. To open the second half, Rattler led the Saints inside the Rams’ 10-yard line, and they were just 6 yards away from scoring. Then Rattler threw a pick-six. Rattler’s interception was returned for 100 yards by Rams safety Alex Cook, marking yet another costly turnover for the former fifth-round pick. This always had been the rub with Rattler. He lost his starting job last year when he had six combined turnovers in back-to-back games. Against the Rams, Rattler’s pain wouldn’t end there. His next drive was eerily similar to his first — except it was running back Ty Chandler who produced the costly turnover when he fumbled at the 2-yard line, wiping out a 32-yard completion. The saving grace? The Rams fell on it and had nowhere to go. In the stat sheet, Rattler was more efficient than he was last week. His 6.1 yards per attempt was better than the 3.8 he mustered against Jacksonville. He spread the ball around to a variety of targets, good for 141 yards with a 60.9 completion percentage (14 of 23). But Rattler’s five series resulted in zero points. On the final series, Tanner Brown missed a 39-yard field goal — a perfect cap on a day when everything went wrong.

sive style making a big imprint on the Kiffin offensive attack. Weis added pro-style layers and run-pass options to the offense at FAU and later at Ole Miss — he spent two seasons in between at South Florida, where the offense scuffled by comparison. That created the offense that helped lead Ole Miss to an 11-1 regular season in 2025 under Kiffin and a trip to the CFP semifinals with Weis still calling the plays after accepting the LSU job. “It’s a really cool system,” Weis said. “I got to be at FAU for a little bit with Kendal Briles when he first got there. Got to learn when he was installing it with the offensive staff. A month or so. “It was so cool to see how different they saw the game. My dad was a pro-style guy, super NFL. Coach Kiffin was very similar at Alabama and at previous spots. It was cool when we got to see some of the wide split elements, the tempo elements that allow them to play really fast. Over time, we’ve molded this thing where there are some more pro-style concepts within it, but the bones still exist from that (Briles) system.” Weis is just 33, but if the LSU offense this season has success similar to what Ole Miss had — since 2022 the Rebels have ranked eighth, 13th, second and third nationally in total offense — he could be fielding multiple head coaching offers in a few months. He could find himself in a similar position to where Kiffin was with the LSU job this past November. “It speaks a lot to Charlie,” Kiffin said. “You’re doing that in the SEC. It’s why he’s so sought after.” Good bet Weis won’t be asked to take another memory test ever again.

4C ● Sunday, August 23, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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PREP FOOTBALL SEASON PREVIEW

Breaux Bridge

2026 SCHEDULE Date

Opponent

Sept. 4 Sept. 11 Sept. 18 Sept. 25 Oct. 2 Oct. 9 Oct. 16 Oct. 23 Oct 30 Nov. 6

Opelousas Catholic ST. MARTINVILLE Crowley Franklin ACADIANA RENAISSANCE CECILIA Carencro Beau Chene OPELOUSAS Livonia

PLAYERS TO WATCH Dakowen Celestine QB/FS, 6-3, 195, Jr. It’s going to take a supreme effort for Celestine to run the offense at quarterback and also patrol the secondary, but he’s built for it. “People are going to underestimate us, but we’re going to be a surprise team,” he said.

HOME GAMES IN CAPS

PAST FIVE YEARS 2025: 3-7 2024: 2-8 2023: 6-6 2022: 6-7 2021: 4-7

PROJECTED STARTERS Offense WR Nelson Borel (6-3, 195, Sr.)* WR Kai Lalonde (5-9, 165, Jr.)* LT Emmanual Watson (5-10, 225, Sr.) LG Joseph Roberts (5-11, 280, Sr.) C Jyric Lewis (6-0, 265, Jr.)* RG Kenyan Demonter (5-11, 270, Sr.) RT Christian Johnson (6-1, 215, Soph.) QB Dakowen Celestine (6-3, 195, Jr.) SB Noah Solomon (5-9, 170, Sr.)* SB Cruz Trail (5-11, 175, Jr.) FB Kyle Bonin (5-9, 175, Sr.) Defense DT Diego Leblanc (6-0, 175, Jr.) DT Brylon Thibeaux (5-11, 235, So.)* DT Kenyan Domonter (5-11, 270, Sr.)* LB Cruz Trail (5-11, 175, Jr.)* LB Destin Rabon (6-1, 185, So.) LB Hayden Guidry (5-11, 175, Sr.) CB Noah Soloman (5-9, 170, Sr.)* CB Cadin Joseph (5-8, 165, Jr.) SS Nelson Borel (6-3, 195, Sr.)* SS Rickey Gary (5-7, 160, So.)* FS Dakowen Celestine (6-3, 195, Jr.)* * RETURNING STARTER

COACHES Head coach: Tyler Pierce (5-15) Assistant coaches: Stephen Barrett (DC-DB /SB), Benjamin Gonzales (OC/ OLB), Luke Barras (OL/DL), Gabriel Cormier (RB/ILB), Jayveon Williams (SB/DB), Tyler Thibodeaux (OLB/WR), and Gabe Leblanc (DL/ OL)

PHOTO By MIKE COPPAGE

Breaux Bridge defensive leaders include, front row from left, Diego Leblanc, Marcus Batiste, Noah Solomon and Kenyan Demonter. Back row from left are Emmanuel Watson, Christian Johnson, Kai Lalonde and Dakowen Celestine.

Lafayette Renaissance for players. “This was a huge win, getting the big freshman group.” If Pierce can get four to five of his younger players to make contributions, that will help. The offensive line is inexperienced with the only returning starter (Jyric Lewis) at center. That means Celestine will have to create some things on his own, which he has the talent to do.

What we know

Of Breaux Bridge’s six offensive skill players, four are returning starters. One of the new starters, Dakowen Celestine, is not your average new starting quarterback. The 6-foot-3, 195-pound junior is a returning starter at free safety, the position he’s being recruited for in college. “That’s the biggest thing,” secondyear coach Tyler Pierce said of Celestine. “Getting the most dynamic player on your team the ball every Pierce play.” The Tigers, who are switching from the veer offense to the flexbone, also bring back starting receivers Nelson Borel and Kai Lalonde. “People are going to find out (Celestine) can actually throw it,” Pierce said. “We want to stretch the field but we also want to rely on our run game because with our numbers, we’re going to have to slow the game down because of two-way players.” One of the slotbacks, Noah Solomon, is another twoway returning starter. The other slot will be Cruz Trail, who is among seven returning defensive starters. “We love our fullbacks and slotbacks,” Pierce said. “We’re two to three deep at every position.” The defense, which is transitioning from a 3-4 to a 3-3-5 stack, has four experienced players in the secondary. That unit is led by Borel, a first-team alldistrict pick at linebacker last year who is moving to the “Dog” (strong safety) position “He has started since his freshman year and has a lot of experience on offense and defense,” Pierce said of Borel (6-3, 195).

How we see it

Last year, Breaux Bridge went 3-7 with a nondistrict win over Vermilion Catholic and district victories over Livonia and Beau Chene. The three wins were by a total of four points. Livonia and Beau Chene remain in District 5-4A, which retained Cecilia and Opelousas and added Carencro. Like most teams, Breaux Bridge adjusted its nondistrict schedule with reclassification. Opelousas Catholic, Crowley, Franklin and Acadiana Renaissance replaced Vermilion Catholic, Northside, NatchitochesCentral and Kaplan. The Tigers, who also play their yearly rivalry game with St. Martinville, open district play against league frontrunners Cecilia and Carencro. “Our whole goal is to keep building momentum,” Pierce said. “We have to be at top form entering district play.” Pierce has a goal of making the playoffs, which isn’t out of the question. He lives five minutes away from the Breaux Bridge campus and is determined to build a winner. “Everything I have and stand for is Breaux Bridge, other than my birth certificate which says Natchitoches,” Pierce said. “It’s all I think about, all day, every day.” In that vein, Pierce and his coaching staff, which returned intact, are determined to resurrect the What we don’t know program. The Tigers are a young group, with 22 freshmen on a 50-man roster. Pierce said he feels good about his first 22 “I want everybody in the community to be all in for players on the field but needs some youngsters to step up. Breaux Bridge High School again,” he said. “We want to get everyone back involved. It takes a while. It’s not an “It’s definitely a battle to get kids (to come out for overnight process building from the ground up.” football),” said Pierce, who is competing with area schools Lafayette Christian, Teurlings Catholic and

Nelson Borel WR/DB, 6-3, 195, Sr. A versatile defender his entire career, Borel can maneuver around the defense and quickly diagnose plays. He’ll line up at tight end and wideout on offense. “Nelson is a true Swiss Army knife when it comes to what the game plan calls for,” Pierce said. Noah Solomon SB/CB, 5-9, 170, Sr. Solomon, who led the team with three interceptions in 2025, is a calm, collected leader. The returning starter at cornerback emerged as an offensive threat late last season. “Noah will be a workhorse for us,” said Pierce, who lauded the senior’s work ethic. Cruz Trail SB/LB, 5-11, 175, Jr. An inspirational leader, Trail is an undersized linebacker who finds a way to get the job done. “He just keeps getting better and better,” Pierce said. “His size and speed increase every year.” Kenyan Demonter OL/DL, 5-11, 270, Sr. Demonter is the only lineman projected to go both ways, playing right guard on offense and tackle on defense. “I feel like we’re confident coming off our offseason grind, and we’re ready to attack the field,” he said.

Mike Coppage

SCOREBOARD Prep football Kiwanis Jamboree

Berchman’s Jamboree

Los Angeles Seattle

(At Clark Field, Lafayette)

Friday, Aug. 28

(At Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium)

6 p.m. — Northwood-Lena vs Berchman’s

6 p.m. — Cecilia vs Lafayette 7:30 p.m. — Breaux Bridge vs St. Thomas More 9 p.m. — Carencro vs Southside

(at Hoss Memtsas Stadium, Harvey)

Thursday, Aug. 27

Friday, Aug. 28

6 p.m. — Northside vs Notre Dame 7:30 p.m. — Acadiana vs Teurlings Catholic 9 p.m. — St. Martinville vs Lafayette Christian

North Vermilion Jamboree Thursday, Aug. 27

(At North Vermilion High) Gueydan vs North Vermilion (JV), 5:15 pm Vermilion Catholic vs North Vermilion, 7 pm

Sugar Cane Jamboree Thursday, Aug. 27

(at Acadiana Renaissance) 5:15 p.m. — Lake Arthur vs Hanson6:30 p.m. — Catholic-PC vs Ascension Episcopal{p7:45 p.m. — Catholic High-NI vs Acadiana Renaissance Sugar Cane Jamboree

Thursday, Aug. 27

(at New Iberia Sr. High)7 p.m. — Westgate at New Iberia

Friday, Aug. 28

6 p.m. — Highland Baptist vs Delcambre 7:30 p.m. — Jeanerette vs Loreauville Ascension Christian Jamboree

Thursday, Aug. 27

(at Ascension Christian) 7 p.m. — Westminster-Lafayette vs Ascension Christian

Welsh Jamboree Thursday, Aug. 27

(at Welsh High) 5:30 p.m, — Crowley vs Grand Lake

Thomas Jefferson Jamboree Friday, Aug. 28

5:30 p.m. — Westminster vs. Patrick Taylor

Odds

MLB

Golden State at Minnesota, 7 p.m. Atlanta at Los Angeles, 9 p.m.

FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG at TENNESSEE 3 4½ (37½) Seattle

Sunday

American League FAVORITE LINE Tampa Bay -118 at N.Y YANKEES -146 at HOUSTON OFF at KANSAS CITY OFF at TEXAS OFF National League FAVORITE LINE at PHILA -217 at MIAMI -166 at LA DODGERS -290 at ARIZONA -181 at MILWAUKEE -135 Interleague FAVORITE LINE at WHITE SOX OFF Cleveland -140 at BOSTON OFF Chicago Cubs -113 at SAN DIEGO -139 Pro basketball

UNDERDOG LINE at BALTIMORE -104 Toronto +119 Athletics OFF Detroit OFF LA Angels OFF UNDERDOG St. Louis Washington Pittsburgh Cincinnati Atlanta

Vermilion-Acadia Jamboree

5:30 p.m. — Rayne vs. Abbeville7 p.m. — Church Point vs. Kaplan 8:30 p.m. — Lafayette Renaissance vs. Erath

Joe Nagata Jamboree (At St. Edmund, Eunice)

Friday, Aug. 28

6 p.m. — Elton vs. St. Edmund 7:15 p.m. — Donaldsonville vs. Opelousas Catholic 8:30 p.m. — Iota vs. Sacred Heart-VP

LINE +169 +134 +235 +159 +110

UNDERDOG LINE N.Y Mets OFF at COLORADO +123 San Francisco OFF at SEATTLE -110 Minnesota +122

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Friday, Aug. 28

Minnesota 94, Washington 84 Chicago 73, Golden State 70 Toronto 82, Portland 79 Saturday’s Games Indiana at New York, 6 p.m. Connecticut at Los Angeles, 8 p.m. Atlanta at Phoenix, 9 p.m.

Sunday

Friday, Aug. 28

(At Erath High)

.333 18 .189 23½

Seattle at Dallas, 3 p.m. Indiana at Chicago, n Las Vegas at Toronto, n Washington at Portland, n

WNBA Glance

6 p.m. — Northwest vs. Beau Chene7:15 p.m. — Eunice vs. Opelousas 8:30 p.m. — North Central vs. Port Barre

24 30

Indiana Atlanta New York Washington Chicago Toronto Connecticut

W 24 23 22 21 15 11 9

L 13 13 15 15 22 25 26

Pct GB .649 — .639 ½ .595 2 .583 2½ .405 9 .306 12½ .257 14

x-Minnesota x-Golden State x-Las Vegas Dallas Portland Phoenix

W 31 25 25 21 15 13

L 7 11 13 16 21 23

Pct .816 .694 .658 .568 .417 .361

WESTERN CONFERENCE

GB — 5 6 9½ 15 17

Monday’s Games

Major League Baeball American League East Division Tampa Bay New York Boston Toronto Baltimore

W 76 73 69 64 62

L 52 56 59 67 67

Pct .594 .566 .539 .489 .481

GB — 3½ 7 13½ 14½

Chicago Cleveland Minnesota Detroit Kansas City

W 67 63 63 61 56

L 61 66 66 67 74

Pct .523 .488 .488 .477 .431

GB — 4½ 4½ 6 12

Houston Texas Seattle Los Angeles Athletics

W 65 64 61 51 49

L 64 65 68 78 80

Pct .504 .496 .473 .395 .380

GB — 1 4 14 16

Central Division

West Division

Friday’s Games

Baltimore 5, Tampa Bay 3 N.Y. Yankees 3, Toronto 1 Boston 6, San Francisco 4 Chicago White Sox 6, N.Y. Mets 4 Kansas City 5, Detroit 2 Houston 4, Athletics 0 Texas 2, L.A. Angels 1, 10 innings Cleveland 9, Colorado 1 San Diego 6, Minnesota 2 Seattle 6, Chicago Cubs 5, 10 innings

Saturday’s Games

Toronto 4, N.Y. Yankees 3 L.A. Angels at Texas, n. Tampa Bay at Baltimore, n Athletics at Houston, n

N.Y. Mets at Chicago White Sox, n Chicago Cubs at Seattle, n Detroit at Kansas City, n San Francisco at Boston, n Cleveland at Colorado, n Minnesota at San Diego, n

Sunday’s Games

Sports Betting Line NFL

St. Landry Parish Jamboree

(At Donald Gardner Stadium, Opelousa

12 7

x-clinched playoff spot Friday’s Games

Tampa Bay (Martinez 12-4) at Baltimore (Baz 4-13), 12:35 p.m. Toronto (Soriano 10-6) at N.Y. Yankees (Rodón 4-2), 12:35 p.m. Athletics (Perkins 2-9) at Houston (Javier 1-4), 1:10 p.m. Detroit (Valdez 8-8) at Kansas City (Lynch 4-4), 1:10 p.m. N.Y. Mets (McLean 9-8) at Chicago White Sox (TBD), 1:10 p.m. L.A. Angels (Klassen 2-1) at Texas (Quantrill 5-4), 1:35 p.m. Cleveland (Grifﬁn 14-4) at Colorado (Sugano 12-6), 2:10 p.m. San Francisco (Wilkinson 0-0) at Boston (Bennett 7-6), 2:15 p.m. Chicago Cubs (Imanaga 8-9) at Seattle (Miller 4-7), 3:10 p.m. Minnesota (Ober 7-4) at San Diego (Buehler 7-6), 3:10 p.m.

National League East Division

Milwaukee 4, Atlanta 1 Miami 4, Washington 2. St. Louis at Philadelphia, n N.Y. Mets at Chicago White Sox, n Chicago Cubs at Seattle, n Pittsburgh at L.A. Dodgers, n San Francisco at Boston, n Cincinnati at Arizona, n Cleveland at Colorado, n Minnesota at San Diego, n

Sunday’s Games

St. Louis (Leahy 10-4) at Philadelphia (Sánchez 16-4), 12:35 p.m. Washington (Kent 0-1) at Miami (Junk 6-8), 12:40 p.m. N.Y. Mets (McLean 9-8) at Chicago White Sox (TBD), 1:10 p.m. Cleveland (Grifﬁn 14-4) at Colorado (Sugano 12-6), 2:10 p.m. San Francisco (Wilkinson 0-0) at Boston (Bennett 7-6), 2:15 p.m. Chicago Cubs (Imanaga 8-9) at Seattle (Miller 4-7), 3:10 p.m. Minnesota (Ober 7-4) at San Diego (Buehler 7-6), 3:10 p.m. Pittsburgh at L.A. Dodgers, 3:10 p.m. Cincinnati (Abbott 6-8) at Arizona, 3:15 p.m. Atlanta (Mahle 4-10) at Milwaukee, 6:10 p.m.

Atlanta Philadelphia Miami Washington New York

W 75 71 65 61 58

L 55 58 64 69 71

Pct .577 .550 .504 .469 .450

GB — 3½ 9½ 14 16½

Pro football

Milwaukee Chicago St. Louis Pittsburgh Cincinnati

W 81 74 66 63 61

L 49 55 64 67 68

Pct .623 .574 .508 .485 .473

GB — 6½ 15 18 19½

Friday’s Games

Pct .605 .535 .527 .406 .391

GB — 9 10 25½ 27½

Central Division

West Division Los Angeles San Diego Arizona San Francisco Colorado

Friday’s Games

W 78 69 68 52 50

L 51 60 61 76 78

Milwaukee 2, Atlanta 1 Philadelphia 7, St. Louis 6, 10 innings Boston 6, San Francisco 4 Chicago White Sox 6, N.Y. Mets 4 Miami 3, Washington 2 Cleveland 9, Colorado 1 San Diego 6, Minnesota 2 Arizona 9, Cincinnati 0 Seattle 6, Chicago Cubs 5, 10 innings L.A. Dodgers 5, Pittsburgh 4, 10 innings

Saturday’s Games

NFL glance Thursday’s Games

Las Vegas 22, Houston 20 San Francisco 41, L.A. Chargers 17

N.Y. Jets 17, Pittsburgh 0 Carolina 34, Jacksonville 17 Green Bay 33, Denver 13

Saturday’s Games

Detroit 17, Washington 13 Atlanta 34, Indianapolis 6 Baltimore 13, Minnesota 3 Buffalo 31, Cleveland 7 L.A. Rams 34, New Orleans 0 N.Y. Giants 26, Miami 3 Chicago at Cincinnati, n Philadelphia at New England, n Kansas City at Tampa Bay, n Dallas at Arizona, n

Sunday’s Games

Seattle at Tennessee, 7 p.m.

Transactions Major League Baseball American League

MINNESOTA TWINS — Agreed to terms with RHP Ron Marinaccio on a minor league contract.

LOUISIANA INSPIRED: How three friends turned a conversation into a mission to serve their community 5D

LIVING

T H E A D V O C AT E.C O M

S u n d ay, au g u S t 23, 2026

1dn

Jan Risher

Sailing from Louisiana to Morocco and all the places between I’m planning a trip to Morocco — by ship from New Orleans — for next year. I had thought arriving there would mark my 50th country. It will not. And still, I count countries. Yes, it will take a long time to get there. Yes, that is a statement about the journey being the thing — not the destination. Counting has been on my mind lately, as we prepare to move back into our house after the fire and figure out what survived. I started keeping track of states when I was a kid. My country list started in 1992 when I went to Mexico, my second country. Truth be told, I had never flown on a plane until August 1987, after I drove a U-Haul truck to move across the country to Reno, Nevada. The trip home for Christmas was not up for discussion.

STAFF PHOTOS By ENAN CHEDIAK

A variety of religious themes are hidden throughout the Chauvin Sculpture Garden in Chauvin.

Hurricane Ida left a bayou town’s enchanting sculpture garden in ruins. Here’s how it was saved. PROVIDED PHOTO

Jan Risher in 1993 in the main square of S’tara L’ubovna, Slovakia, having a snowball fight with local students who were learning English.

I remember my best friend and college roommate telling me, “Someone told me that the first time you take off in a plane, you can’t help but smile.” Whoever told her that was right — I smiled. For the next five years, the only place I flew was home — with the exception of my first business trip. In 1988, I flew from Reno to Los Angeles. I remember walking into my hotel near the airport and seeing a lot of really tall guys. Like, really tall guys. I eventually learned they were the Detroit Pistons who were playing the Lakers in the NBA Finals. For a 24-year-old from small-town Mississippi, the experience felt otherworldly. During the next decade, my world got considerably larger. I moved to Europe and visited 10 more countries. I went to all sorts of places in the Caribbean. I visited six countries in West Africa. Once you’ve been to a dozen or so countries, you have to start being pretty deliberate about where you’re going next. For years, I thought I was at 44 countries. Then I went to India and Nepal. Then Scotland. Then Türkiye and Greece. I had used an app called Been to count countries since right around the time apps started. My country count stood, I believed, at 49. For the joy of a round number, I’ve been excited about getting to my 50th. One day, I visited the app and it said I had not been to 49 countries.

ä See PLACES, page 8D

BY VIOLET BUCARO Staff writer

CHAUVIN — When Hurricane Ida’s 150 mph winds ripped through this small Cajun town ﬁve years ago, dozens of statues in the Chauvin Sculpture Garden toppled, cracked and broke apart. Some were beCHAUVIN headed, others lost SCULPTURE limbs. A year later, GARDEN shoulder-high in tall Open daily from grasses, three re8 a.m. to 5 p.m., tired art professors their 70s meanat 5337 Bayouside in dered through the Drive in Chauvin l garden, wide-eyed (985) 594-2546 at the devastation. The sculptures were on their way to decaying into the banks of Bayou Petit Caillou. “When we came out, we all three looked at each other and said, ‘This cannot get destroyed. We need to ﬁgure out a way to keep this,’” said Greg Elliot, a sculptor and former Nicholls State University professor. The narrow garden looked “beyond repair,” said Dennis Siporski, who was a professor of ceramic

Amanda Voisin, left, and Megan Champagne, upper right, look at an hourglass made of old Crystal Hot Sauce bottles with Eliza and Rylee, lower left to right, at the Chauvin Sculpture Garden.

arts at Southeastern Louisiana University. The sculptures — more than 100 of them — sprung up here more than 30 years ago on a patch of land near the water in Chauvin, a small ﬁshing community of 2,500 people

ä See GARDEN, page 7D

Course seeks to ease conservation efforts Papyrus Conservation Summer Seminar student Shijin (Giada) Jiang examines a papyrus fragment at the University of Michigan on Aug. 6 in Ann Arbor, Mich.

AP PHOTO By MIKE HOUSEHOLDER

Seminar one of the world’s few on how to care for ancient manuscripts

BY MIKE HOUSEHOLDER

proceeding with the utmost care. After all, it most likely hadn’t been handled in a century — nor ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Shijin Jiang read for thousands of years. The Papyrus Conservation pulled the precision binocular headband magnifier over her Summer Seminar at the Univereyes and hunched down within sity of Michigan is the only one of a few inches of the ancient text its kind in the Americas, accordresting on a light board. ing to the university. And it’s one Using a pair of hand tools, Shi- of the few in the world designed jin carefully inspected the sheet ä See PAPYRUS, page 8D made from the papyrus plant, Associated Press

2D ● Sunday,August 23, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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Krewe of Gabriel welcomes new members at summer social Krewe of Gabriel members gathered by the hundreds to welcome their newest krewe members at a sizzling summer social on Aug. 8. Warehouse

Robert and Carrie Foard, Jaime Mendoza

535 was packed with guests who enjoyed a couchon de lait, delicious

Kris Wartelle

bites and a band that was hotter than the weather. The music by GPK

and Blueprint could get any crowd in a celebratory mood. Add to that, the Lafayette Police Department’s Mounted Patrol brought two of its

PHOTOS By KRIS WARTELLE

Jerry Greig, Jim and Jane Gauthier

fabulous horses to visit outside the event, which delighted many a horse lover. Gabirel members really do know how to put on a show. This party had all the good “end of summer” vibes you can imagine.

Nicole and Rees Gideon, Joan and Kent Fawcett

Members said turnout was even

Michelle and Shawn Walker

better than expected. As one member put it, so many people have been on vacation that they were anxious to get together with friends again. This

Matthew and Stephanie Oubre, Suzanne Bordelon

is also one last hurrah before the real

Joseph Maas, Scott Fadol

work begins. Preparations for the very early Mardi Gras season have already started. The work of Carnival kings and queens is endless, and this year will be no exception. We have to

Justin and Alaina Fodor Bryan and Christina Mosing

Caroline and Jace Quebedeaux

admit, we love seeing all the ladies and gentlemen of Gabriel at any event they host. They know how to blend the hard work of preparing

Carey and Richard Hotard

for the biggest event in Acadiana, making sure everyone has a good

Michael and Alaina Duhon

John Cook, Michael Doise

time. Congratulations to the 25 new members, and happy summer, Gabriel!

Brett Berard, Troy Hebert, Blaine Goodrich

TODAY IN HISTORY By The Associated Press Today is Sunday, Aug. 23, the 235th day of 2026. There are 130 days left in the year. Today in history: On Aug. 23, 1970, the Salad Bowl strike began, organized by farm labor leader Cesar Chavez; between 5,000 to 10,000 laborers walked off the job, leading to the largest farmworker strike in U.S. history. Also on this date: In 1305, Scottish rebel leader Sir William Wallace was executed by the English for treason. In 1775, Britain’s King George III proclaimed the American colonies to be in a state of “open and avowed rebellion.” In 1914, Japan declared war against Germany in World War I. In 1927, amid worldwide protests, Italian-born anarchists Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti were executed in Boston for the murders of two men during a 1920 robbery. (On the 50th anniversary of their executions, then-Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis issued a proclamation that Sacco and Vanzetti had been unfairly tried and convicted.) In 1939, Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union agreed to a non-aggression treaty, the MolotovRibbentrop Pact, in Moscow. In 2000, a Gulf Air Airbus crashed into the Persian Gulf near Bahrain, killing all 143 people aboard. In 2003, former priest John Geoghan, the convicted child molester whose prosecution sparked the sex abuse scandal that shook the Roman Catholic Church nationwide, died after another inmate attacked him in a Massachusetts prison. In 2011, a magnitude 5.8 earthquake centered near Mineral, Virginia, the strongest on the East Coast since 1944, caused cracks in the Washington Monument and damaged the Washington National Cathedral. In 2013, a military jury convicted Maj. Nidal Hasan in the deadly 2009 shooting rampage at Fort Hood, Texas, that claimed 13 lives; the Army psychiatrist was later sentenced to death. In 2020, a White police officer in Kenosha, Wisconsin, shot a Black man, Jacob Blake, seven times as officers tried to arrest Blake on an outstanding warrant; the shooting left Blake partially paralyzed and triggered several nights of violent protests. In 2022, a jury convicted two men of conspiring to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in 2020, a victory for prosecutors in a plot that was broken up by the FBI and described as a rallying cry for a U.S. civil war by anti-government extremists. Today’s Birthdays: Actor Vera Miles is 97. Actor Barbara Eden is 95. Ballerina Patricia McBride is 84. Singer-songwriter Linda Thompson is 79. Author and motivational speaker Rudy Ruettiger is 78. Actor Shelley Long is 77. Actor-singer Rick Springfield is 77. Noor al-Hussein (Queen Noor of Jordan) is 75. Film composer Alexandre Desplat is 65. Actor Jay Mohr is 56. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is 55. Actor Ray Park is 52. Actor Scott Caan is 50. Rock singer Julian Casablancas (The Strokes) is 48. Actor Joanne Froggatt is 46. Olympic gold medal swimmer Natalie Coughlin Hall is 44. Musician Lil Yachty is 29. NBA basketball player Devin Vassell is 26.

Voracious teen strains goodwill Dear Miss Manners: Our family is fortunate to have a beach house. The last couple of years, we have allowed our boys, ages 15 and 13, to invite friends for a week to 10 days. The ﬁrst year, we didn’t expect or ask for money to cover any of the Judith expenses. In one Martin friends’ case, the family sent the MISS child with no spending MANNERS money whatsoever. We covered all of his meals, drinks and entertainment. That summer, this friend ate us out of house and home. He ordered the most expensive dinner on a menu — which we allowed once, then nixed his future expensive orders. He ordered appetizers before his dinner at restaurants, and had total disregard for sharing the food at the house. He would eat it all if we didn’t monitor or stop him. This child has been friends with my son since kindergarten, so obviously he feels very comfortable being one of the family. However, he made me incredibly frustrated with his attitude of entitlement. Upon returning home, I mentioned

his impressive eating habits to his mother; she blushed and agreed that he eats a lot. Gentle Reader: If your hospitality is to continue, Miss Manners suggests you set some rules — for both the parents and the children. When you issue the invitation, tell the parents, “We would love to have Spencer join us for the week, but he will need some spending money. You may also want to send him with the snacks he prefers, since we may not have enough supplies on hand.” Once on vacation, tell Spencer the rule that if he is to act like one of the family, with all the advantages that entails, he must also take on the responsibilities. Treat him as you would your own children: expecting him to help with cleanup, limiting expensive treats, adhering to family rules and curfews, etc. You will be doing the boy a favor, and his parents as well. Surely, even with contributing to vacation expenses, it will be less expensive than having him home — and bored — for a week. Dear Miss Manners: Is it proper to send out children’s birthday party invitations with requests NOT to buy certain

gifts? I received an invitation that stated, “no Barbies, please.” I would not have bought one anyway, as I would have assumed a 6- or 7-yearold girl would have some already. What are your thoughts on this? Gentle Reader: Solicitations, recommendations or restrictions for presents should never be stated explicitly, and certainly not in invitations. Friends and relatives can be put to use, however, making suggestions when asked. If this host had an aversion to the doll, she could have spread the word to her intimates, who would then galvanize to tell the other guests. But it does make Miss Manners wonder what happened to inspire the rule, and what could be said to convey it. She imagines something like, “I guess Kennedy has thousands of them, and she keeps dismembering them and leaving the parts in unexpected places. Her mom is at her wits’ end.” Send questions to Miss Manners at her website, www.missmanners.com; to her email, dearmissmanners@ gmail.com; or through postal mail to Miss Manners, Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.

A deal-making system for vacation planning Dear Heloise: My husband and I used to argue over where we would vacation every year. In fact, it was the only thing that we about. Hints from argued We sat down Heloise and ﬁgured out a system, and it’s since stopped the annual ﬁght. One year, he picks the place we’ll go, and the next year, I pick the place. I told him that I had three stipulations: First, no camping trips; I refuse to live in a tent. I want a hot shower and a comfy bed. A second no-go was that we wouldn’t keep going to the same place every year. Four years had to pass before we went to a place that we had already been to. The third stipulation was that we wouldn’t

complain about the other’s choice; instead, we’d keep an open mind and make an effort to enjoy the place. We’ve been to many exciting places and made friends all over the world. It was the best decision we’ve ever made. — Paula and Chad G., in Tulsa, Oklahoma

Basement dampness Dear Heloise: My husband and I decided to remodel our basement and use it as a hobby/crafts/half-bath/extra TV room, where our teenagers and their friends can enjoy themselves or where we can gather as a family to watch movies. Since my dad had been a builder all his life and knew what to look for and how to do things, we asked him how we should test for dampness. There are kits that you can buy, but he likes an old-fashioned

method where we save plastic dry cleaning bags, cut them into 14-inch squares, and tape them to the walls. We taped all around the edges so that air couldn’t get in or out. After six days, we reached in to test for moisture on the plastic and the wall surface. We found dampness in only one part of the basement and took steps to seal off the wall to avoid any problems. This was 10 years ago, and we still have a dry basement. — Charlotte W., in Delaware

Using starch to apply fabric Dear Heloise: I was told that starch could be used to apply fabric to the wall. If so, how’s it done? — Cathy E., in Warwick, Massachusetts n Clean the wall(s) where you want apply the fabric. Make sure that the fabric is lightweight and smooth.

Remove all outlets that are covered by a switch plate. This isn’t an ideal project for velvet or other heavy fabrics. n Wash and iron your fabric panels, leaving a 1- to 2-inch excess on all sides. Temporarily pin or tack panels to the wall at the top. Then coat the wall by using a roller and putting liquid starch in a paint tray. Use a heavy coating of the starch, working in 3-foot sections. n Smooth out the fabric by using your hand or a squeegee to get rid of bumps and air bubbles. Once the entire panel is on the wall, roll the liquid starch onto the surface of the panel. After the fabric is saturated with starch, trim off the excess. — Heloise Send a hint to heloise@ heloise.com.

The Acadiana Advocate ● theadvocate.com ● Sunday,August 23, 2026 ● 3D

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AT THE TABLE

Cooking, freezing macque choux was a family ritual Contributing writer

Corn Macque Choux

Serves 4 to 6. Recipe is by Debra Broussard Taghehchian. 2 tablespoons vegetable oil 1 medium yellow onion, chopped medium dice 4 ears of fresh corn, shucked, washed and corn silks removed (cut corn off each ear, then scrape cob to collect juice) 1/2 green bell pepper, chopped medium dice 1. Place 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil in a 4-quart saucepan. 2. Layer the next ingredients in the order listed: onions, corn, green bell peppers, tomato, banana pepper, salt, red cayenne pepper and granulated garlic. 3. Cover with lid and cook on medium-high heat. Check every 5 minutes. Do not stir until you see that

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The morning dew was thick, and the summer heat was on the rise. “We are all going to be shucking corn this morning,” Momma said. “Gram and Lillian will help to make corn macque choux to put up in the freezer.” It was our yearly event of getting fresh, just-picked corn from the farmer a few miles down the road. Unlike corn of today that has been bred to resist becoming hard from the corn’s sugar turning to starch once picked, the corn we picked had to be processed on the same day — a day that was always a planned affair requiring coordination with the corn farmer, my whole family, Gram and Lillian, who worked with us. By this time in summer, our garden was producing tomatoes, green bell peppers and banana peppers in abundance. These vegetables would be needed to add to the macque choux, or as the old Cajun people called it, “maize tendre,” meaning tender corn. In my father’s youth, corn was grown on the farm, but it was used to feed farm animals. Some of the dried corn was, however, ground into cornmeal and used to make cush cush, a Cajun breakfast dish. It is most likely that the local Indians taught the Cajuns how to make this dish. In the early morning, Daddy and my two brothers went out to the cornﬁeld. The farmer and my dad broke the cobs off the stalks, and my brothers helped to load the whole back of the pickup truck with corn cobs. They then returned to the farm and the processing began. We were each given a task. Daddy stood at the back of the truck with the tailgate down. Using a cleaver and a cutting board, Daddy cut off both ends of each cob. He gave

them to my mom, my sister and me to shuck. My brothers then brought the cobs into the house. Gram and Lillian were in the house chopping tomatoes and peppers, getting ready to combine them with the corn. Once we ﬁnished shucking, Momma, my sister and I went into the house to wash the cobs. My sister and I then scrubbed each cob, using a vegetable brush to remove any corn silk that remained. Momma manned the stove, cooking the macque choux, while Gram and Lillian cut the corn off the cob. I always wanted to do that task, but they said I was too young. They used small, sharp knives to cut halfway through each kernel. They then scraped each cob with the blade of the knife to “milk the cob” — a technique that created a milky texture. Large Magnalite roasters were used to cook the macque choux. Once cooked, the corn was spread out on large trays and fans were set out to help quickly cool the corn so that it could be placed into plastic bags for the freezer. There was great satisfaction at seeing all the processed macque choux stacked in the freezer — a yearlong supply of corn for Sunday lunches, or as we around here call it, Sunday dinner. As you might imagine, an appreciation of food runs deep in my family. When you plant a seed, watch it grow, harvest its fruit and cook and eat it, you develop an appreciation for what you eat. Little food was wasted at our house. We all understood and had experienced the labor involved in getting food on the table. I encourage you to make this corn macque choux for “Sunday dinner.” Bake a good beef roast, make some fresh cooked rice and slice up some tomatoes and cucumbers. Celebrate life’s bounty.

BY DEBRA TAGHEHCHIAN

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1 Roma tomato, chopped medium dice 1 banana pepper, chopped medium dice (optional) 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon red cayenne pepper 1/4 teaspoon granulated garlic the corn has released its juices and the onions have begun to become slightly golden. 4. Stir the corn mixture and add water, approximately 1/4 cup at a time, if needed. 5. Cook, covered, for 10 minutes. 6. Taste for seasoning and adjust as needed.

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4D ● Sunday,August 23, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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BOOKS

Enjoy home reading with these 6 Louisiana children’s books

BY JOY HOLDEN Staff writer

School is back in session. With the return of early mornings comes the return of home reading time mandated by teachers. To help with book selection for home reading time, here are a few local books for children under the age of 10. “Boudin Boy Meets Cracklin’ Dog,” written and illustrated by Paul Schexnayder This bayou-based book picks up where “The Adventures of Boudin Boy” left off and tells the story of how Boudin Boy met his bayou buddy, Cracklin’ Dog. When Boudin Boy hears a cry for help, he runs “fast-fast at full blast” to rescue a tiny pup with a strong, quick kick. Using his swamp know-how and courage, Boudin Boy and his new friend Cracklin’ Dog outwit dangerous, wild hogs. Full of swampy illustrations, rhyme and alliteration, “Boudin Boy Meets Cracklin’ Dog” is a Louisiana celebration worthy of reading time. “Good Day, Louisiana Children’s Museum,” written by Shannon Kelley Atwater This board book takes you through a day of fun at the Louisiana Children’s

Museum in New Orleans. Follow along as the children in the book pretend to be a turtle, chef, veterinarian, boat captain and more. The illustrations featured throughout the book were created with help from museum guests. Each page includes drawings and color additions from real kids and their caregivers. “A Sprinkle of Library Fun: Let’s Get a Cookbook,” written by Stacey L. Dempsey and illustrated by Lexi Renard In this educational and interactive book, Amy and her pup, Charlee, go on an adventurous walk to the nearby library in search of a cookbook. This book encourages young readers to use their manners, share, exercise and accomplish a goal. It also introduces them to things they may see outside and at the library. For added fun, readers get to search for Charlee as he hides throughout the book. “Sweet Dreams: Poems and Paintings for the Child Abed,” written by Rick Telander and illustrated by his artist friends This anthology of bedtime poems is an easy-to-read collection in the fashion of Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic, “A Child’s Garden of Verses.”

Started when the author was sick in bed many years ago, this book is about caring for young boys and girls who must spend time in bed recovering. The 42 illustrations are unique for each poem and were created by Telander’s friends from four different countries. “Where Do Beignets Come From?” written by Erin Rovin and illustrated by Madi Hannan Another board book to cuddle up and read with the kids, “Where Do Beignets Come From?” creates a story of a coffee couple using love and ingredients to make their beignet children. The book is full of bright and colorful illustrations as the reader follows along with the recipe. A nice rhyme scheme gives a musical ﬂow to the reading. “Where Y’at, Jockamo?” written and illustrated by Madi Hannan In this colorful tale, Jockamo the puppy is on a journey to ﬁnd the best festivals in the state. The Australian Shepherd frolics from gumbo cook-offs to festival parades for his quest. Hannan is also the author of “Scrim on the Run” and “The Little Lost Alligator.” Email Joy Holden at joy.holden@ theadvocate.com.

Dan D anny H eitman Danny Heitman

Seeds of reading program will help students continue to grow Among the reading items on my nightstand this summer was The Atlantic magazine’s recent cover story, glumly titled, “The Age of Reading Is Over.” In a long article, staff writer Rose Horwitch cited a number of sobering statistics, including the news that only 2% of Americans read to a child on a given day. Obviously, the country has much to do in expanding its circle of readers, especially the young ones who can carry a culture of books into the next generation. That cause involves special urgency in Louisiana, which has historically ranked near the bottom for literacy. Luckily, this summer brought happier tidings about the future of reading. I work across the street from a public library, and in this vacation season as in others, I saw the parking lot swell with visitors. Many of the patrons were youngsters attending Louisiana’s summer statewide reading program. The theme of this year’s program, “Plant a seed, read!” was an apt reminder that engagement with books outside of school can be the start of something that continues to grow even after children return to school. It’s an encouraging thing to consider now that another school year has begun. Participation numbers across Louisiana for this year’s summer reading program are still being tabulated. But according to the State Library of Louisiana, which helps coordinate and support each year’s summer reading program in parish libraries, more than 430,000 children and teens attended summer reading programs at Louisiana’s local libraries last year. Public libraries hosted more than 11,000 different events and sessions statewide during the summer reading program in 2025. “Summer reading programs give libraries a structured way to fulﬁll their most essential purpose: connecting people with books and building the habit of reading,” State Librarian Meg Placke pointed out. Summer reading programs were a happy part of my Louisiana childhood when I was growing up, and I missed them when I got too big to participate. In recent years, though, many local library systems, including my own, have offered companion summer reading programs for adults. It’s a nice way to extend the fun — and a good reminder that if grown-ups want more children to read, we should model how it’s done. I tackled three books for this year’s program, starting with “A House in Flanders,” a charming memoir by Michael Jenkins about an eventful summer he spent at an old estate in Belgium. I followed with “Lark Rise,” the Flora Thompson novel inspired by her childhood in rural England. July ended for me with “Ordinary People,” Judith Guest’s novel about a family’s struggles to recover from a life-changing tragedy. What did I get for being a three-book reader this summer? A staff librarian gifted me with a new book bag, a pocket journal and, in a nod to this year’s theme, some seeds for my garden. The biggest reward? The reading itself, which no summer should be without. Email Danny Heitman at danny@dannyheitman.com.

THIS WEEK’S BESTSELLERS FROM PUBLISHERS WEEKLY HARDCOVER FICTION

1. “The Calamity Club” by Kathryn Stockett 2. “The Unknown” by Riley Sager 3. “Yesteryear” by Caro Claire Burke 4. “Whistler” by Ann Patchett 5. “The Lion & the Deathless Dark” by Carissa Broadbent 6. “Daggermouth” by H.M. Wolfe 7. “You’ll Be Sorry” by Lisa Gardner 8. “A Trade of Blood” by Robert Jackson Bennett 9. “The Amateur” by Chris Bohjalian 10. “The Country Road Murders” by Patterson/Lupica

HARDCOVER NONFICTION

1. “Regime Change” by Haberman/ Swan 2. “Welcome to Your Life” by Roland Orzabal 3. “Your Fellow Americans” by Peter Santenello 4. “You Can Do Beautiful Things” by Galey Alix 5. “How Lucky Am I” by Christian Watson 6. “Strangers” by Belle Burden 7. “Biological War” by Annie Jacobsen 8. “More, Please!” by Rachel Mansﬁeld 9. “London Falling” by Patrick Radden Keefe 10. “The Life-Changing Art of Self-Brain Surgery” by W. Lee Warren

TRADE PAPERBACK

1. “Adversary to the Villain” by Hannah Nicole Maehrer 2. “Theo of Golden” by Allen Levi 3. “Dungeon Crawler Carl” by Matt Dinniman 4. “Carl’s Doomsday Scenario” by Matt Dinniman 5. “Just for the Plot” by Meghan Quinn 6. “Death Row” by Freida McFadden 7. “The Divorce” by Freida McFadden 8. “The Widow” by John Grisham 9. “Kagurabachi, Vol. 8” by Takeru Hokazono 10. “Murdoku” by Manuel Garand

The Acadiana Advocate ● theadvocate.com ● Sunday, August 23, 2026 ● 5D

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LOUISIANA INSPIRED

Friends turn conversation into mission to uplift others Tournament raises awareness, brings community together

BY BRIANNA MEEKS

Contributing writer

The squeaks of sneakers echoed across the basketball court at Team Sportsplex in Baton Rouge on a recent Saturday as players took to the floor for “Hoops For A Cause,” a threeon-three charity basketball tournament. Basketball fans filtered in, paid the $10 admission fee and grabbed their Sour Punch candy from the concession stand before finding seats near the court. Teams came from all over the city to compete, but the purpose of the event was bigger than a win on the court. Baton Rouge residents Kirklan Parms, 21, Justin Collins, 22, and Erick Hitchens, 20, planned the tournament to unite the community, raise awareness about social issues, and donate to a charitable cause. The tournament was one of several community initiatives hosted by Built from Stone, an organization they founded. The men say they came together at a time when each was looking for a higher purpose. “We were each other’s help,” said Parms, who plans to attend Louisiana State University. A troupe dressed in black uniforms cheered on the players, while children joined in with their hands in the air and smiles on their faces. The group, Baton Rouge Hotties, made up of women ages 18 to 24, was created by Kaitlyn Gleason to bring the women together to dance and have a positive impact on the community. “People are not just doing the worst in Baton Rouge,” Gleason said. “There are good people like myself and the person that put this event together.” Organizers said they hoped to raise awareness as much as money. Proceeds from “Hoops For A Cause” were donated toward the legal defense of Karmelo Anthony, the African American teenager sentenced to 35 years in prison for stabbing a White teenager to death during an altercation at a school track meet in Texas. Anthony’s legal team has claimed the stabbing was in self-defense and that the stiff sentence was motivated by race. The family of the victim, Austin Metcalf, has denied those claims. Each team in the Hoops tournament was named after an individual whom organiz-

PROVIDED PHOTO

From left, Justin Collins, Kirklan Parms and Erick Hitchens are the organizers of ‘Hoops For A Cause,’ a three-on-three basketball tournament to raise money for charitable purposes. The tournament is among the community programs sponsored by Built From Stone, an umbrella organization the three men created to support the community.

jail. But for them to overcome it and come out of that situation and be like, ‘I’m better than that. I’m more than that. I have more to give.’ I love it,” said Johnson. Parms grew up in Scotland Square projects in Scotlandville, where his family could afford to pay rent. Even then, he was taught to look beyond his circumstances and believe he could accomplish what he set out to do. The foundation of Built from Stone began long before the organization had a name. Sitting side-by-side beneath the stairway at the LSU Student Union, the three founders laughed, looked at one another and occasionally paused to let someone else ﬁnish a memory before explaining how it all began. Parms and Collins met through mutual friends while they were in high school, but one conversation became a defining moment in their friendship. Collins recalled a time of uncertainty in his life, when he returned from Arkansas State University, where he had played Di‘I have more to give’ vision I football. After suffering a shoulder “To see him as a grown man and the things injury, he transferred to LSU. Parms encouraged Collins to trust what that he’s involved with now, I’m just so proud,” she said. “They could have been in God had in store for him and keep his head

ers say suffered from systemic injustice. But the event was more than a series of basketball games. Young men who needed professional attire for a job interview or new job also had access to free clothing through Threads to Thrive, a service project founded by Southern University student Elise Doomes. Individuals were also able to register to vote and get help with college applications and scholarships. “No matter if you came for the basketball, the cheering, the food or the clothes, you came for a reason and that’s because of what’s going on in the world right now,” said Corey Scott, a construction management student at LSU. Sitting on the bleachers watching the game, Parms’ mother, Danielle Johnson, recalled a time when her son was in elementary school and how everyone wanted to be in his presence. He was born with a birthmark on his face, and she told him he was special.

up. Collins said the conversation stayed with him. In the fall of 2025, another friendship began. Collins met Erick Hitchens while the two worked together at Zara clothing store in Baton Rouge. What started with Collins complimenting Hitchens’ army green GShock watch quickly turned into hours the men spent joking and exchanging ideas in Collins’ living room. Those conversations would eventually become the foundation of Built from Stone. They shared a common goal — creating opportunities for young people and encouraging them to dream beyond the expectations placed on them. “You don’t meet a lot of people with the same mindset,” said Parms. From there, their first project was to give back to St. Vincent de Paul, a nonprofit organization that provides food services and shelter in Baton Rouge. They passed out 40 boxes of pizza in October 2025. Growing up in the Glen Oaks neighborhood in Baton Rouge, Hitchens said his experiences inspired him to pursue a career in law and eventually create a space to speak up about issues in society; he is now majoring in political science at LSU. “I’m always inserting myself in rooms that may not look like I have a seat … but I’m gonna make my own seat,” he said. Collins’ mission was shaped by his own journey through football. After injuries changed the direction of his athletic ambitions, he said he wants young people to know success isn’t limited to sports. “Football was something that originally put eyes on me. Now, I use it to show young people that’s not the only route they have,” Collins said. Inspired by the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., Parms hopes to one day become mayor of Baton Rouge. He believes leadership begins with serving others. Growing up in Scotland Square fueled his passion for activism and community outreach, values he said remain at the core of Built from Stone. “I feel like stone is the strongest thing you can come across … from a solid core, unity, just the whole concept of being together,” Parms said. Meeks is a journalism student at Southern University. This story was reported and written with the support of the nonprofit Louisiana Collegiate News Collaborative, an LSU-led coalition of eight universities funded by the Henry Luce and John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur foundations.

Powering Progress A New Home for Discovery, Research and Collaboration at LSU

Shell Research Laboratories

Pictured L to R: Rob Stuart, LSU Real Estate and Facilities Foundation President & CEO; Wade Rousse, LSU President; Rochelle Touchard, Shell, Corporate Relations Regional Lead; Colette Hirstius, Shell USA, President; Lee Stockwell, Shell, General Manager, Carbon Capture and Storage North America; Krista Raney, LSU Foundation President & CEO; Robb Brumﬁeld, LSU College of Science Interim Dean

“The opening of the LSU Our Lady of the Lake Health Interdisciplinary Science Building is a testament to the power of partnership and what can be achieved when industry and academia come together around a shared vision.

Shell USA, Inc. committed $2.5 million to the Our Lady of the Lake Health Interdisciplinary Science Building as part of a $27.5 million investment in energy-related initiatives at LSU. Shell Research Laboratories offers advanced research environments to enable faculty and students to work together on complex, real world challenges.

We are proud to support a space where students, faculty and industry can collaborate to drive discovery, explore new frontiers and develop the next generation of scientists, engineers and energy leaders.” – Colette Hirstius, President, Shell USA

shell.us/louisiana | #PoweringProgress

6D ● Sunday,August 23, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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TRAVEL Historical Dallas neighborhood full of charm Trip also includes side of Sarah McLachlan

concert space. For dinner, we chose the Yard House, which served quality food in a lively environment. The Yard House has over 100 dishes BY JOY HOLDEN made from scratch daily, handStaff writer crafted cocktails and a massive selection of draft beer with 130 In the 1990s, I was a teenager taps. singing my heart out to Sarah I ordered the grilled chicken McLachlan with my friends in and avocado sandwich, which our cars. I wanted to go to Lilith included Swiss cheese, roasted Fair so badly, but I never got tomatoes, arugula and lemon bathe chance. McLachlan was a consistent soundtrack for me all sil aioli on a toasted brioche bun through college and early adultserved with house fries. The porhood. tions were large, and the flavors In May, I watched “Lilith The Texas Watermelon and Tomato were even bigger. It fueled me Fair: Building a Mystery,” the Salad from Garden Cafe in Dallas up for the concert. documentary about McLachlan’s After the meal, we walked to woman-led music festival in The Pavilion, which holds more PROVIDED PHOTOS gredients and high-quality fare. the 1990s, and I turned into that than 8,000 spectators and has teenage girl once again. The next Munger Place, a neighborhood located in Dallas, is full of prairie-style Out back is a lovely patio and the walls that can retract to create few days, all I listened to was restaurant’s garden, perfect for a an open-air space with additional craftsman houses built in the early 1900s. McLachlan’s comforting sounds. seating for 4,000 people. The stroll after the meal. So, on a whim, I looked up her Pavilion was sold out that night I ordered a special summer Sarah tour dates. with the walls up as Dallas was in salad — the Texas watermelon McLachlan The closest she would get to me the middle of a heat wave. and tomato salad — which was performing bright and refreshing. The salad this summer was Dallas, Texas. The lobby space is wide and on July My college roommate from roomy with many vendors, but included watermelon, cherry toBaylor lives in Dallas, so I texted what stood out the most to me 26 at The mato, red onion, cucumber, feta her: “I am coming to stay with and mint vinaigrette. The sweet- were the refillable water stations. Pavilion you, and we are going to see ness, the acidity and the saltiness Concert-goers can bring their in Irving, Sarah McLachlan together.” She combined to create quite a Texas- own water bottles and fill them Texas. was on board. The concert was in for free. sized celebration for my palate. two months. During the concert, the acousFor a taste of brunch, I also At the end of July, I drove from ordered one of Garden Cafe’s tics of the venue were sublime. Baton Rouge to Dallas on a Saturfamous biscuits and jam. The McLachlan sounded amazbiscuit was light and fluffy, with day morning. My drive clocked ing, and her band was fantastic. nice layers. The house-made in at around six and a half hours. There’s not a bad seat in The strawberry jam was the perfect I knew I was in Texas the minute Pavilion because of a shallow accent to the breakfast staple. I started seeing huge Texas flags incline and close proximity to the After some rest time and back- stage. everywhere. When I arrived, I entered a After the McLachlan concert, yard pool floating, it was concert neighborhood full of historic our roommate reunion was altime. prairie-style home community. my friend in her restored home, prairie-style homes. We drove from East Dallas Listed on the National Register most complete. I was sent off on there are short-term rentals I often associate Dallas with to Irving, which was about a of Historic Places, the neighborMonday morning with a homeavailable in the area on Airbnb. glitz and flashiness, but this pris- hood was planned with paved 20-minute drive. McLachlan’s For other options on where to made breakfast sandwich and stay, two historic boutique hotels show was at The Pavilion at the roads, electric streetlights and cardamom chai, and on cloud tine block of early 1900s homes are The Joule, and The Magnolia. Toyota Music Factory, an entersidewalks. nine the entire drive home. and leafy trees contrasted with Both hotels were constructed in Staying there for the weekend The weekend in Dallas surmy previous notions of the city. tainment complex with restauthe late 1920s. was like stepping back in time. Munger Place is located in East rants and multiple venues. prised me in more ways than one, On Sunday, we walked to The homes have expansive Dallas, which has historic archiThe Toyota Music Factory and I left with a greater affection porches and exquisite craftsman Junius Heights, an adjacent opened in 2017 but just underfor the city and a greater appretecture and cute places to shop detail. The area is ideal for walk- historical craftsman and Tudor and eat — a more understated went a grand renovation and ciation for friendship. neighborhood, to have brunch Dallas, which is my style. reopened in December 2024. The ing with friends and looking at at Garden Cafe. The cafe has a Founded in 1905, Munger Place houses. entertainment area includes 20 Email Joy Holden at joy.holden@ reputation for its fresh-grown in- restaurants and bars near the was and still is Texas’ largest Although I was staying with theadvocate.com.

TRAVEL TROUBLESHOOTER By Christopher Elliott

Rental’s bald tires blew out, and damage fees are charged Turo returned your $500 damage deposit and refunded the $304 cost of your rental. But it did not cover the towing or car service expenses, sticking to its policy on roadside assistance. I’m glad you got some of your money back. But there is a lesson here for everyone: Before you drive a rental car off the lot, check the tires. Turn the wheel so you can see the tread. If it looks worn, ask for a different car. And consider paying a little extra for roadside assistance. It might cost a little more up front, but it can save you a small fortune in the long run. Christopher Elliott is the founder of Elliott Advocacy, a nonproﬁt organization that helps consumers solve their problems. Email him at chris@elliott.org or get help by contacting him on his site.

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by its rules. “Guests have the option to purchase enhanced roadside assistance when booking their trip to reduce out-of-pocket costs like towing,” a Turo spokesperson told me. Still, charging you a $500 deductible for a tire that was clearly worn out seems wrong. You might have appealed this to an executive at Turo. I publish the names, numbers and email addresses of key customer service managers at Turo on my advocacy site, Elliott.org. I contacted Turo on your behalf. I shared your photos of the bald tires. Turo reviewed your ﬁle again. “After reviewing all available information related to this incident, we can conﬁrm the guest was fully refunded for the trip and any related damage charges,” the spokesperson said.

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was “preexisting” and that you weren’t responsible. Then, Turo’s claims department did a U-turn. An hour later, it told you the claim was reopened. Turo’s position was that while you weren’t “at fault,” you were still “ﬁnancially responsible.” How can you be responsible for damage you didn’t cause on a car that shouldn’t have been on the road? Turo says it reviewed the pretrip photos and decided the tire was in “good condition.” But standard walk-around photos don’t always show the inner tread wear. You were also stuck with a $1,680 bill for towing and a car service because you declined Turo’s roadside assistance. When you go off-platform for repairs or towing, you usually pay out of pocket. Turo’s terms are clear about that. If you want the company to pay, you have to play

one hour later, I received a second email stating that the claim had been reopened and that I was financially responsible. Turo charged my card $500 in damage fees. I’m out more than $2,000 for renting a car with bald tires. Can you help me get my money back? — Brent Marcelino, New Britain, Conn. Your Turo host should have given you a vehicle with safe tires. And if the tires were bald, you shouldn’t have to pay a dime for the blowout. But this case is a little complicated. Let’s look at what happened. You rented a 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLB-Class. You assumed the car was safe. But when the tire blew, you discovered the truth. You did the right thing by contacting Turo immediately. But then things went a little sideways. Turo initially agreed with you. It sent you an email conﬁrming that it had determined the damage

I recently rented a Mercedes SUV through Turo for a friend’s birthday trip to New Hampshire.While driving in the mountains at about 40 mph, the front right tire blew out. I called Turo immediately.A representative told me I could use their tow service for $199. Since I have been a AAA member since I was 16, it made no sense to pay extra Christopher for a tow, so I used AAA instead. Elliott AAA towed the vehicle to our vacation rental. The tow driver asked us to look underneath the vehicle. Both front tires were so worn that the metal threading was visible and protruding.The vehicle was unroadworthy. I had to pay $680 to tow the Mercedes back to Connecticut and $1,000 for a car service to transport my group home. I reported this to Turo.At first, the company said the damage was due to preexisting wear and that I was not responsible.About

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The Acadiana Advocate ● theadvocate.com ● Sunday, August 23, 2026 ● 7D

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STAFF PHOTO By ENAN CHEDIAK

Gary LaFleur points to an old photograph of Kenny Hill, the creator of the Chauvin Sculpture Garden.

GARDEN

Continued from page 1D in Terrebonne Parish about 20 miles southeast of Houma. The garden appears like a maze from a surreal Acadiana adventure movie or twisted fairy tale, populated by bizarre, lean figures: wide-winged angels, Jesus, musicians. Cowboys and Native Americans clinging to a 45-foottall lighthouse tower made of some 7,000 stacked bricks. Life-sized self-depictions of its creator, Kenny Hill, appear around every turn, in what seems to be his own version of a Nativity scene. To the right of the entrance, a blonde-headed, eyeless sculpture of Hill holds his own bleeding heart in the hands of his long arms. At his feet, a misspelled quote reads: “IT IS EMTY.” “He didn’t explain things a lot,” said Gary LaFleur, a bayou studies professor at Nicholls State University who heads Friends of Chauvin, the garden’s advisory board. “But it ends up being a blessing,” he said. “Everybody can take a different type of meaning from their visit.” The real-life Hill is from Springfield, in Livingston Parish. He abandoned the garden in 2000. Though his whereabouts are unknown, locals believe he is still alive. Among those who have worked to preserve it — and the academics who study folk art — Hill’s work is a prime example of “outsider art,” a style that is self-taught and often driven by the artist’s inner visions. After Hill left, Siporski contacted the Kohler Foundation, a Wisconsin-based nonprofit that focuses on art restoration. (And yes, with roots in Kohler Co., maker of plumbing fixtures.) The arts foundation soon purchased the abandoned lot and restored it into a public park within two years. It was its first large-scale preservation project outside of Wisconsin. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers helped reconstruct the site. Hill’s homemade house, which was ready to fall into the bayou, was demolished. The waterfront bulkhead was stabilized. Overgrown grass and banana trees were cleared, and a permanent gallery was built across the street. The garden was gifted by Kohler to Nicholls State, which has continued to preserve the site since 2002. The preservation project was not for money or recognition, said Terri Yoho, director of the Ruth Foundation of the Arts. It was inspired by the “inner gratification” that the late billionaire philanthropist Ruth DeYoung Kohler II found in supporting the arts and education, often projects that are unconventional. Yoho and Kohler agreed to invest $1 million. “Going back, it is a success story,” Yoho said. “It’s inspiring kids, young artists, families.” After Ida hit in 2021, the site fell into ruins. The garden flooded, sculptures shattered. Contractors estimated it would take nearly $500,000 to

PROVIDED PHOTO

One of the pieces damaged during Hurricane Ida in 2021

A variety of sculptures stand at the Chauvin Sculpture Garden in Chauvin.

Eliza, from left, Rylee and Colin look up after entering the lighthouse. repair, which neither the professors nor the university had. LaFleur called the Kohler Foundation. Although Ruth Kohler had died a year before the hurricane, her legacy fund has given hundreds of thousands to the Chauvin restoration effort, LaFleur said. No lawyers. No contracts. The work commenced with a written description and a handshake.

Bringing it back Elliott, a skilled sculptor, presented a master plan. “We were all pretty competent artists,” he said. “It’s just one of those things where the almost coincidence fell in place to make sure that it happened.” Using cranes, scaffolding and hoists, they drilled rebar into concrete and metal anchors into the ground. Then they repainted each sculpture. Suspended sculptures were secured and reinstalled. “I’d be damned if he didn’t do it,” Siporski said of Elliott’s plan. “If you would’ve seen what it took to do it, you would have said it was impossible to repair, and he did it all.” Kimberly Arp, a printmaker and former art professor at Louisiana State University who joined Elliott and Siporski in the effort, said he had never worked with concrete figures. A sculpture of a large eagle had face-planted into the ground, with loose rebar hanging out. Fixing it was one of the group’s biggest feats. “It’s kind of magnificent that it was able to get back to its original state,” Arp said. “We are probably most proud we overcame that and got it back up right and in place.” The work was finished in April, in time for the region’s annual “Blessing of the Fleet,” a tradition rooted in prayers for a successful fishing season. As for Hill, stories vary on whether he is aware of any of this. Some say he has been invited to come back and finish his work. “He just chose not to,” said Andrew Cuneo, who grew

STAFF PHOTO By ENAN CHEDIAK wood along the bayou. “You can kind of tell that it was made with whatever he had on hand, you know? But it was a sizable house that was right here,” Cuneo said, pointing between two oleander trees. In January 2000, Hill got an eviction notice. He had a week to vacate. With only the clothes on his back, Hill left his magical world behind without saying goodbye. “He literally walked away from the garden. People saw him walking down the road that day and offered him a ride. He said, ‘No, I’m walking,’ ” said LaFleur. Perhaps he walked all the way to Arkansas to be with his brother. He may be in Baton Rouge with family. But no one at the garden seems to know exactly where he is now. (No one seems to need to ﬁnd out either.) “This labor of love is a gift to the people on the bayou, but it’s a double back gift to me,” Hill said, according to a Vieux Carré STAFF PHOTO By ENAN CHEDIAK Courier newspaper clip from 1993. He hoped to “wake the brains of people looking at it.” One recent visitor, Amanda Voisin, said, “It looks like an outlet for a lot of pain.” At the same time, she said it is a great place to bring her kids to explore another world.

Beckoning visitors “It’s never been better,” Siporski said. Busloads of visitors have traveled from faraway places to see the sculpture garden — China, Denmark, Brazil. “It would take an hour to list all the places,” Elliott said. LaFleur occasionally guides visitors. One Sunday afternoon, wearing a baseball cap to shield his face from the sun, he walked with children and their mothers STAFF PHOTO By ENAN CHEDIAK who stopped by for a visit. He One of the many self-portraits of Kenny Hill stands at the sculpture crouched down to point to a hidden symbol. garden. Perhaps one of the most inA dark ash path twists through triguing sights of the garden up two houses down. the garden toward a flowered isn’t a sculpture. It is the layout Who was — or is — Kenny Hill? area. A group of tortured souls itself. From an aerial view, nine The artist is almost as enig- weep and crawl toward a rain- circles, some big, some small, matic as his creations, but this bow-colored road. Angels are are arranged in a particular ormuch is known, or believed to suspended above. der, like a map. Tiny versions “Every single person on this of the layout are sprinkled be known: Kenny Hill was born in the path is getting touched by an throughout the garden. 1950s, although documentation angel in some kind of way,” LaF“It’s for us to decide what it is missing. He was raised Pente- leur said. means,” LaFleur said. Some believe the symbol is the costal and left his wife and order of the planets or an kids before he moved to astrological prophecy. Chauvin, according to the Perhaps it’s the celestial artist docents and physialignment to a Second cal records. He began Coming, said local Madsculpting after the death of his mother, Dovey Hill, dison Scott, who works who loved rose bushes. as an artist docent. In the 1980s and into “A lot of people think the ’90s, he spent his free he was a weird guy that time building this other was building sculptures. world on the small lot I just think he was trying he rented. He used one to get through his life, STAFF PHOTO By ENAN CHEDIAK trying to get through his 5-gallon bucket of homemade concrete at a time. Gary LaFleur points to various artifacts at the struggles,” Scott said. Raegan Boudreaux, He used leftover, mis- nearby museum. who grew up down the matched paint from his friend’s paint store, metal mesh, Another sculpture depicts street, said that some of the iron rods and miscellaneous Hill stepping from darkness to kids she rode with on the school objects. Textured details came light, one leg painted black and bus believed that the sculptures from a fork or spoon. the other in color. Elliot said he would come to life at night. “The energy depends on In the middle of his garden, an thinks Hill is time-traveling to where you are. It is both heavy angel carries an hourglass made salvation. from two Crystal Hot Sauce “Some people say he was and peaceful,” she said. Siporski said that each time he bottle necks cut in half. Behind crazy. I don’t think so. It’s way her, there’s a sculpture of Hill too rational and thought out,” visits, he sees something new. carrying a large wooden cross. Elliott said. He is shackled to a boat anchor Hill built his house off the Email Violet Bucaro at violet. behind him. base of a trailer and collected bucaro@theadvocate.com.

8D ● Sunday,August 23, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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PLACES

Continued from page 1D The trouble started with Scotland. Originally, Been and I counted it separately, the way plenty of travelers do, because it feels separate — a different ﬂag, a different accent, an underdog identity that I understood, what with growing up in Mississippi. Hong Kong — same thing. Yes, it was previously a British colony. Then it was a Chinese special administrative region. It was never sovereign. I knew that. I counted it anyway. I’m not completely certain why lists like this matter. How accurately can geography be measured, but the honest number sits south of 49. The Hong Kong skyline Plenty of places are asterisked. Borders move. Unions dissolve. South Sudan did not exist until it down and come back 20 years 2011. Czechoslovakia does not later to ﬁnd the label gone. exist anymore. A person can visit Still, it existed. It was there — a destination in good faith, write so was the visitor.

Which brings me to Mary Pettibone Poole, a woman I may never be able to verify existed beyond a small 1938 book called “A Glass

about now. Yes, earlier versions of the saying existed. She likely didn’t say it first. But almost nothing else about her appears to have lasted. There’s no reliable biography or easy-to-find birth date. Strangely, I find that somewhat comforting and another reminder that permanence, as it turns out, is negotiable. As we prepare to unbox the things that apparently survived our house fire, we have no idea what we will find. The parallels to my country list are clear. I’ve spent a lot of my life keeping track of what I’ve seen. Now I’m about to find out what we still have. I am trying to rewire my brain not to care about how many countries I have visited. I am not there yet. STAFF PHOTO By JAN RISHER The trouble with counting is that eventually we have to decide what counts. Either way, here’s to Morocco. Eye at a Keyhole.” One line attributed to her is: “He who laughs, lasts.” Email Jan Risher at jan.risher@ I like that sentiment a lot right theadvocate.com.

PAPYRUS

Continued from page 1D to convey the best practices for conserving papyrus manuscripts, ancient texts written on rolls or sheets made from the papyrus plant. “If you touch this papyrus, you can feel the history,” said Shijin, a native of China who was among nine scholars from across the globe, including Ireland, Italy and the U.S., who took the 10-day course. Michigan’s Papyrology Collection covers texts and documents from 1000 B.C.E. to 1000 C.E. No institution on this side of the world has more of them, the Ann Arbor school said, giving the researchers access to a vast collection of ancient papyri. There are portions of the Homer epics, “The Odyssey” and “The Iliad,” writings by the philosopher Epicurus and the oldestknown copy of the Epistles of Paul. “Carrying on this tradition is an incredible responsibility, but it also is incredibly fun and rewarding, because there’s nothing I love more than getting people together from all over the world, sharing ideas, learning from each other,” said Marieka Kaye, who manages library preservation services for physical collections at the University of Michigan Library. Kaye said she tried to make “things comfortable and not scary, because a lot of people just feel terriﬁed working on these ancient things.” The seminar introduced the papyrologists and conservators to techniques in the treatment, storage and care of the ancient texts, as well as documentation practices. Papyrus and its ink can crumble, smear or break, so Kaye encouraged the students to carefully remove dirt, sand, salt and debris; use controlled moisture to soften folds and realign ﬁbers; and dry the papyrus slowly under light weight to prevent curling. The first seminar was held in 2012, and they have been held every two years since, except for the 2020 pandemic year. About 50 students total have taken part. “If we don’t train the next generations of conservators, this is a craft that is going to be lost,” said Giuliano Sidro, curator of Michigan’s Papyrology Collection. Michigan has so many papyrus manuscripts on hand that its researchers haven’t gone through them all. Some of the items were acquired, while others were exca-

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTOS By MIKE HOUSEHOLDER

University of Michigan Papyrology Collection curator Giuliano Sidro looks at fragments of the Epistles of Paul on Aug. 6 in Ann Arbor, Mich. vated, during university expeditions to the ancient site of Karanis, Egypt, from 1924-35. Francis Willey Kelsey, a Latin professor who died in 1927, was the driving force behind the establishment of the Papyrology Collection. He believed Michigan students studying the ancient world needed access not only to books, but to the tangible remains of antiquity. Today, the Kelsey Museum of Archaeology is a ﬁxture on the Michigan campus. Its collection represents one of the ﬁnest compilations of daily-life objects from Greco-Roman Egypt located outside of Cairo. “This is a place where you make discoveries, potentially every day, if you just go into the vault, pick out a box and open something up, and you start reading,” Sidro said. Of course, to make sense of it, one needs to be able to decipher Arabic, ancient Greek or Latin, and even Egyptian, one of the

earliest known written languages that is now extinct. A few of the seminar participants were able to read the papyri, including Arzak Mohamed, who reads Arabic, and Mauro Castiello, a papyrology doctoral student in Milan, who can translate ancient Greek and Latin. Kaye said she always tries to include a student from Egypt among the seminar participants. Mohamed, a postdoctoral fellow at Macquarie University in Sydney, had heard about the papyrus seminar for years and always wanted to attend. The 42-year-old mother of three is from Fayoum, Egypt, not far from Karanis. “Now, I can transfer this information from Michigan to Egypt and even in Australia,” she said. “I will be like the chain, connecting between the three countries.” “By saving this information, we can transfer the knowledge to the next generation,” she added.

Papyrus Conservation Summer Seminar instructor Marieka Kaye, left, inspects student Mauro Castiello’s papyrus fragment and provides him with feedback on his preservation work.

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Public Notices Bids/Proposals

PUBLISH DATES: 8/19/26, 8/23/26 DPR # 928641 197838-aug 19-23-2t $100.40

PUBLIC NOTICE --NOTICE TO BIDDERS Notice is hereby given that sealed bids will be received either electroni‐ cally at https://lafayet tecsdgovla.tylerportico. com/va/vendor-access/ registration or in the of‐ fice of the Purchasing Di‐ vision at the Lafayette Consolidated Govern‐ ment Building, located at 705 West University Av‐ enue, Lafayette, Louisiana, until 3:00 pm Central Time on the 3rd day of September, 2026 for the following: POLYMER SMOOTH COR DUAL WALL STORM SEWER PIPE RE-BID and will, shortly there‐ after, be opened and read aloud in City Hall lo‐ cated at 705 West Univer‐ sity Avenue, Lafayette, LA. Bids received after the above specified time for opening shall not be considered and shall be returned unopened to the sender. Bidders are encouraged to attend the bid opening virtually by using the following link https://us02web.zoom. us/j/82458218558? pwd=3MktITKl1lKbmmo GHnxmKvrokMNYiQ.1 Meeting ID: 824 5821 8558 Passcode: 123113 In accordance with Louisiana RS 38:2212. vendors may submit their bid electronically at the website listed above. Bidders wishing to sub‐ mit their bid electroni‐ cally must first be regis‐ tered within LCG Vendor Access at the website listed above. The regis‐ tration process can take some time; therefore, LCG recommends regis‐ tering days in advance of the time that bids are due. It is the sole respon‐ sibility of the bidder to ensure their bid is deliv‐ ered (whether electroni‐ cally via Vendor Access, in person, or via mail) to the Purchasing Division prior to the scheduled date and time of the bid opening. Vendors may request the bid package electronically from Thomas Metrejean at tg‐ metrejean@lafayettela. gov. Vendors submitting bids electronically are re‐ quired to provide the same documents as bid‐ ders submitting through the mail as soon as avail‐ able. Only a bid bond, certified check or cashier’s check shall be submitted as the bid se‐ curity. Electronic copies of both the front and back of the check or bid bond shall be included with the electronic bid. Bids must be signed in accordance with LRS Title 38:2212(B)5. A Cor‐ porate Resolution or Cer‐ tificate of Authority au‐ thorizing the person signing the bid is re‐ quired to be submitted with bid. Failure to sub‐ mit a Corporate Resolu‐ tion or Certificate of Au‐ thority with the bid shall be cause for rejection of bid. Copies of the bidding documents are available at the Purchasing Office located at 705 West Uni‐ versity Avenue, Lafayette, LA 70506. Tele‐ phone number (337) 2917187 (Attn: Thomas Me‐ trejean). Bidding docu‐ ments shall be available until twenty-four (24) hours before the bid opening date. Each bid shall be accom‐ panied by a certified check, cashier’s check or bid bond payable to the Lafayette Consolidated Government, in the amount of $500.00. If a bid bond is used, it shall be written by a surety or insurance company cur‐ rently on the U.S. Depart‐ ment of the Treasury Fi‐ nancial Management Service list of approved bonding companies which is published annu‐ ally in the Federal Regis‐ ter, or by a Louisiana domiciled insurance company with at least an A-Rating in the latest printing of the A.M. Best’s Key Rating Guide to write individual bonds up to ten percent (10%) of policyholders’ surplus as shown in the A.M. Best’s Key Rating Guide, or by an insurance com‐ pany in good standing li‐ censed to write bid bonds which is either domiciled in Louisiana or owned by Louisiana resi‐ dents. The bid bond shall be issued by a company licensed to do business in Louisiana and counter‐ signed by a person who is under contract with re‐ siding in this state. The certified check, cashier’s check, or bid bond shall be given as a guarantee that the bidder shall exe‐ cute the contract, should it be awarded to him, in conformity with the con‐ tract documents within ten (10) days. No bidder may withdraw his bid for at least fortyfive (45) days after the time scheduled for the opening of bids. Each bid shall be submitted only on the bid form provided with the specifications. Bids will be evaluated by the Purchaser based on the lowest responsible and responsive bid sub‐ mitted which is also in compliance with the bid documents. The Lafayette Consolidated Government reserves the right to reject any and all bids for just cause in ac‐ cordance with LA R.S. 38§2214.B. The Lafayette Consoli‐ dated Government strongly encourages the participation of DBEs (Disadvantaged Business Enterprise) in all con‐ tracts or procurements let by the Lafayette Con‐ solidated Government for goods and services and labor and material. To that end, all contrac‐ tors and suppliers are encouraged to utilize DBEs business enter‐ prises in the purchase or sub-contracting of mate‐ rials, supplies, services and labor and material in which disadvantaged business are available. Assistance in identifying said businesses may be obtained by calling 2918410. PURCHASING DIVISION Lafayette Consolidated

Bidders wishing to sub‐ mit their bid electroni‐ cally must first be regis‐ tered online with Lafayette Consolidated Government as a poten‐ tial supplier at the web‐ site listed above. Bidders submitting bids electron‐ ically are required to pro‐ vide the same docu‐ ments as bidders sub‐ mitting through the mail as soon as available. Only a bid bond, certified check or cashier’s check shall be submitted as the bid security. Electronic copies of both the front and back of the check or bid bond shall be in‐ cluded with the elec‐ tronic bid. Bids must be signed in accordance with LRS Title 38:2212(B)5. A Cor‐ porate Resolution or Cer‐ tificate of Authority au‐ thorizing the person signing the bid is re‐ quired to be submitted with bid. Failure to sub‐ mit a Corporate Resolu‐ tion or Certificate of Au‐ thority with the bid shall be cause for rejection of bid. Copies of the bidding documents except for Section C – “Standard Specifications for Roads, Drainage, Bridges and Other Infrastructure 2023 Edition” are available at the Office of Purchasing located at 705 West Uni‐ versity Avenue, Lafayette, LA 70502 upon payment of $405.58 per set, non-refundable. NOTE: NO CASH WILL BE ACCEPTED ONLY CHECKS OR MONEY OR‐ DERS MADE PAYABLE TO LAFAYETTE CONSOLI‐ DATED GOVERNMENT. Copies of Section “C” Standard Specifications for Roads, Drainage, Bridges and Other Infra‐ structure” 2023 Edition are available from the Public Works Department at 1515 E University Av‐ enue, Building A, Lafayette LA 70501. Bid Documents shall be available until twentyfour hours before the bid opening date. Questions relative to the bidding documents shall be ad‐ dressed to Heather hkestler@ Kestler at lafayettela.gov. Contractors are re‐ quested to attend a prebid meeting, which will be held on September 1, 2026 at 9:00 AM in the small conference room, Lafayette Consolidated Government, Public Works Administration Building located at 1515 East University Avenue, Lafayette, LA. Each bid shall be accom‐ panied by a certified check, cashier’s check, or bid bond payable to the Lafayette Consoli‐ dated Government, the amount of which shall be five percent (5%) of the base bid plus additive al‐ ternates. If a bid bond is used, it shall be written by a surety or insurance company currently on the U.S. Department of the Treasury Financial Management Service list bonding of approved companies which is pub‐ lished annually in the Federal Register, or by a Louisiana domiciled in‐ surance company with at least an A-Rating in the latest printing of the A.M. Best’s Key Rating Guide to write individual bonds up to ten percent (10%) of policyholders’ surplus as shown in the A.M. Best’s Key Rating Guide, or by an insurance com‐ pany in good standing li‐ censed to write bid bonds which is either domiciled in Louisiana or owned by Louisiana resi‐ dents. The bid bond shall be issued by a company licensed to do business in Louisiana. The certi‐ fied check, cashier’s check, or bid bond shall be given as a guarantee that the bidder shall exe‐ cute the contract, should it be awarded to him, in conformity with the con‐ d i hi

Public Notices Bids/Proposals y tract documents within ten (10) days. No contractor may with‐ draw its bid prior to the deadline for submission of bids. Withdrawal of bids thereafter shall be allowed only pursuant to LA R.S. 38§2214.C. Other‐ wise, no bidder may withdraw his bid for at least forty-five (45) days after the time scheduled for the bid opening of bids. Each bid shall be submitted only on the bid form provided within the specifications. The successful bidder will be required to execute per‐ formance and labor and material payment bonds in the full amount of the contract as more fully defined in the bid docu‐ ments. No contractors may withdraw his bid for at least forty-five (45) days after the time scheduled for the open‐ ing of bids. Each bid shall be submitted only on the bid form provided with the specifications. The contractor successful will be required to exe‐ cute performance and labor and material pay‐ ment bonds in the full amount of the contract as more fully defined in the bid documents. Bids will be evaluated by the Purchaser based on the lowest responsible and responsive bid sub‐ mitted which is also in compliance with the bid documents. The Lafayette Consolidated Government reserves the right to reject any and all bids for just cause in ac‐ cordance with LA R.S. 38§2214.B. Contractors or contract‐ ing firms submitting bids in the amount of $50,000.00 or more shall certify that they are li‐ censed contractors under Chapter 24 of Title 37 of the Louisiana Re‐ vised Statutes of 1950 and show their license number on the front of the sealed envelope in which their bid is en‐ closed. Contractors shall be licensed for the clas‐ sification of “HIGHWAY, STREET & BRIDGE CON‐ STRUCTION”. Bids in the amounts specified above which have not bid in ac‐ cordance with the re‐ quirements, shall be re‐ jected and shall not be read. Additional informa‐ tion relative to licensing may be obtained from the Louisiana State Li‐ censing Board for Con‐ tractors, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The Lafayette Consoli‐ dated Government strongly encourages the participation of DBEs (Disadvantaged Business Enterprises) in all con‐ tracts or procurements let by the Lafayette Con‐ solidated Government for goods and services and labor and material. To that end, all contrac‐ tors and suppliers are encouraged to utilize DBEs business enter‐ prises in the purchase or sub-contracting of mate‐ rials, supplies, services and labor and material in which disadvantaged businesses are available. Assistance in identifying said businesses may be obtained by calling 2918410. PURCHASING DIVISION Lafayette Consolidated Government PUBLISH DATES: 8/19, 8/23, 8/30 DPR 103843 197229 Aug. 19, 23, 30, 3T $227.13 PUBLIC NOTICE --NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS Notice is hereby given that sealed bids will be received either electroni‐ cally at https://lafayet tecsdgovla.tylerportico. com/va/vendor-access/ registration or in the of‐ fice of the Purchasing Di‐ vision at the Lafayette Consolidated Govern‐ ment Building, located at 705 West University Av‐ enue, Lafayette, Louisiana, until 2:00 PM Central Time on the 9th day of SEPTEMBER, 2026 for the following: AS-NEEDED INSTALLATION OF BACKFLOW PREVENTERS AND HOSE BIBS AT WATER/WASTE‐ WATER/ELECTRIC FACILITIES and will, shortly there‐ after, be opened and read aloud in a room lo‐ cated at 705 West Univer‐ sity Avenue, Lafayette, LA. Bids received after the above specified time for opening shall not be considered and shall be returned unopened to the sender. Bidders are encouraged to virtually join the bid opening via ZOOM using the follow‐ ing link: https://us02web. zoom.us/j/88608687802? pwd=4EGy1Mjwg5jlZjB y56YHzUsCrgok8R.1 Scope of Services: The scope of work shall con‐ sist of, but not limited to, the installation of back‐ flow preventer assem‐ blies, hose bib assem‐ blies, customer cutoff valves, and 1-inch ser‐ vice lines on an asneeded basis at waste‐ water facilities, as di‐ rected by LUS and identi‐ fied in individual Work Authorizations. In accordance with Louisiana RS 38:2212.

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Public Notices Bids/Proposals

vendors may submit their bid electronically at the website listed above. Bidders wishing to sub‐ mit their bid electroni‐ cally must first be regis‐ tered within LCG Vendor Access at the website listed above. The regis‐ tration process can take some time; therefore, LCG recommends regis‐ tering days in advance of the time that bids are due. It is the sole respon‐ sibility of the bidder to ensure their bid is deliv‐ ered (whether electroni‐ cally via Vendor Access, in person, or via mail) to the Purchasing Division prior to the scheduled date and time of the bid opening. Vendors may request the bid package electronically from Dabne Dover at dabne‐ dover@lafayettela.gov. Bidders submitting bids electronically are re‐ quired to provide the same documents as bid‐ ders submitting through the mail as soon as avail‐ able. Only a bid bond, certified check or cashier’s check shall be submitted as the bid se‐ curity. Electronic copies of both the front and back of the check or bid bond shall be included with the electronic bid. Bids must be signed in accordance with LRS Title 38:2212(B)5. A Cor‐ porate Resolution or Cer‐ tificate of Authority au‐ thorizing the person signing the bid is re‐ quired to be submitted with bid. Failure to sub‐ mit a Corporate Resolu‐ tion or Certificate of Au‐ thority with the bid shall be cause for rejection of bid. Copies of the bidding documents are available at the office of Purchas‐ ing & Property Manage‐ ment, Attn: Dabne Dover (337) 291-8262 located at 705 W. University Avenue, Lafayette, LA 70506. Bid documents shall be available until twentyfour hours before the bid opening date. Questions relative to the bidding documents shall be ad‐ dressed to Dabne Dover dabnedover@ at lafayettela.gov or (337) 291-8262. Each bid shall be accom‐ panied by a certified check, cashier’s check, or bid bond payable to the Lafayette Consoli‐ dated Government, the amount of which shall be five percent (5%) of the base bid plus additive al‐ ternates. If a bid bond is used, it shall be written by a surety or insurance company currently on the U.S. Department of the Treasury Financial Management Service list of approved bonding companies which is pub‐ lished annually in the Federal Register, or by a Louisiana domiciled in‐ surance company with at least an A-Rating in the latest printing of the A.M. Best’s Key Rating Guide to write individual bonds up to ten percent (10%) of policyholders’ surplus as shown in the A.M. Best’s Key Rating Guide, or by an insurance com‐ pany in good standing li‐ censed to write bid bonds which is either domiciled in Louisiana or owned by Louisiana resi‐ dents. The bid bond shall be issued by a company licensed to do business in Louisiana. The certi‐ fied check, cashier’s check, or bid bond shall be given as a guarantee that the bidder shall exe‐ cute the contract, should it be awarded to him, in conformity with the con‐ tract documents within ten (10) days. No contractor may with‐ draw its bid prior to the deadline for submission of bids. Withdrawal of bids thereafter shall be allowed only pursuant to LA R.S. 38§2214.C. Other‐ wise, no bidder may withdraw his bid for at least forty-five (45) days after the time scheduled for the bid opening of bids. Each bid shall be submitted only on the bid form provided within the specifications. The successful bidder will be required to execute per‐ formance and labor and material payment bonds in the full amount of the contract as more fully defined in the bid docu‐ ments. No contractors may withdraw his bid for at least forty-five (45) days after the time scheduled for the open‐ ing of bids. Each bid shall be submitted only on the bid form provided with the specifications. The successful contractor will be required to exe‐ cute performance and labor and material pay‐ ment bonds in the full amount of the contract as more fully defined in the bid documents. Bids will be evaluated by the Purchaser based on the lowest responsible and responsive bid sub‐ mitted which is also in compliance with the bid documents. The Lafayette Consolidated Government reserves the right to reject any and all bids for just cause in ac‐ cordance with LA R.S. 38§2214.B. Contractors or contract‐ ing firms submitting bids in the amount of $50,000.00 or more shall certify that they are li‐ censed contractors under Chapter 24 of Title 37 of the Louisiana Re‐ vised Statutes of 1950 and show their license number on the front of the sealed envelope in which their bid is en‐ closed. Contractors shall be licensed for the clas‐ sification of “PLUMBING”. Bids in the amounts specified above which have not bid in accor‐ dance with the require‐ ments, shall be rejected and shall not be read. Additional information relative to licensing may be obtained from the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The Lafayette Consoli‐ dated Government strongly encourages the participation of DBEs (Disadvantaged Business Enterprises) in all con‐ tracts or procurements let by the Lafayette Con‐ solidated Government for goods and services and labor and material. To that end, all contrac‐ tors and suppliers are encouraged to utilize DBEs business enter‐ prises in the purchase or sub-contracting of mate‐ rials, supplies, services and labor and material in which disadvantaged businesses are available. Assistance in identifying said businesses may be obtained by calling 291-

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

8410. PURCHASING DIVISION Lafayette Consolidated Government PUBLISH DATES: 8/16, 8/23 DPR 1008123

8/14,

197056 Aug. 14, 16, 23 3T $203.97

PUBLIC NOTICE --NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS Notice is hereby given that sealed bids will be received either electroni‐ cally at https://lafayet tecsdgovla.tylerportico. com/va/vendor-access/ registration or in the of‐ fice of the Purchasing Di‐ vision at the Lafayette Consolidated Govern‐ ment Building, located at 705 West University Av‐ enue, Lafayette, Louisiana, until 10:30 AM Central Time on the 17TH day of September, 2026 for the following: HOMEWOOD PIPELINE REMOVAL and will, shortly there‐ after, be opened and read aloud in the Council Briefing Room located at 705 West University Av‐ enue, Lafayette, LA. Bids received after the above specified time for open‐ ing shall not be consid‐ ered and shall be re‐ turned unopened to the sender. Bidders are en‐ couraged to attend the bid opening virtually by using the following link https://us02web.zoom. us/j/87355893118? pwd=todnm1b53Ivim7C lbWNOW0NrEX1oBQ.1 Meeting ID: 873 5589 3118 Passcode: 038232 Scope of Services: The scope of the project con‐ sists of coordinating with utility owners to expose, safely remove and legally dispose of aban‐ doned or out of service pipelines and all associ‐ ated appurtenances, in‐ cluding excavation, shoring, dewatering, traffic control, and com‐ pliance with all applica‐ ble LCG specifications and safety requirements. Work also includes back‐ filling, compaction, sur‐ face and site restoration, erosion and sediment control, and submission of all required documen‐ tation. All work to be 75 completed within working days form is‐ suance of Notice to Pro‐ ceed. In accordance with Louisiana RS 38:2212. vendors may submit their bid electronically at the website listed above. Bidders wishing to sub‐ mit their bid electroni‐ cally must first be regis‐ tered within LCG Vendor Access at the website listed above. The regis‐ tration process can take some time; therefore, LCG recommends regis‐ tering days in advance of the time that bids are due. It is the sole respon‐ sibility of the bidder to ensure their bid is deliv‐ ered (whether electroni‐ cally via Vendor Access, in person, or via mail) to the Purchasing Division prior to the scheduled date and time of the bid opening. Bidders may re‐ quest the electronic bid package from Heather hkestler@ Kestler at lafayettela.gov Bidders wishing to sub‐ mit their bid electroni‐ cally must first be regis‐ tered online with Lafayette Consolidated Government as a poten‐ tial supplier at the web‐ site listed above. Bidders submitting bids electron‐ ically are required to pro‐ vide the same docu‐ ments as bidders sub‐ mitting through the mail as soon as available. Only a bid bond, certified check or cashier’s check shall be submitted as the bid security. Electronic copies of both the front and back of the check or bid bond shall be in‐ cluded with the elec‐ tronic bid. Bids must be signed in accordance with LRS Title 38:2212(B)5. A Cor‐ porate Resolution or Cer‐ tificate of Authority au‐ thorizing the person signing the bid is re‐ quired to be submitted with bid. Failure to sub‐ mit a Corporate Resolu‐ tion or Certificate of Au‐ thority with the bid shall be cause for rejection of bid. Copies of the bidding documents except for Section C – “Standard Specifications for Roads, Drainage, Bridges and Other Infrastructure 2023 Edition” are available at the Office of Purchasing located at 705 West Uni‐ versity Avenue, Lafayette, LA 70502 upon payment of $15.00 per set, non-refundable. NOTE: NO CASH WILL BE ACCEPTED ONLY CHECKS OR MONEY OR‐ DERS MADE PAYABLE TO LAFAYETTE CONSOLI‐ DATED GOVERNMENT. Copies of Section “C” Standard Specifications for Roads, Drainage, Bridges and Other Infra‐ structure” 2023 Edition are available from the Public Works Department at 1515 E University Av‐ enue, Building A, Lafayette LA 70501. Bid Documents shall be available until twentyfour hours before the bid opening date. Questions relative to the bidding documents shall be ad‐ dressed to Heather hkestler@ Kestler at lafayettela.gov. Contractors are re‐ quested to attend a prebid meeting, which will be held on September 1, 2026 at 10:00 AM in the small conference room, Lafayette Consolidated Government, Public Works Administration Building located at 1515 East University Avenue, Lafayette, LA. Each bid shall be accom‐ panied by a certified check, cashier’s check, or bid bond payable to the Lafayette Consoli‐ dated Government, the amount of which shall be five percent (5%) of the base bid plus additive al‐ ternates. If a bid bond is used, it shall be written by a surety or insurance company currently on the U.S. Department of the Treasury Financial Management Service list bonding of approved companies which is pub‐ lished annually in the Federal Register, or by a Louisiana domiciled in‐ surance company with at least an A-Rating in the latest printing of the A.M. Best’s Key Rating Guide to write individual bonds up to ten percent (10%) f li h ld l

Public Notices Bids/Proposals p p of policyholders’ surplus as shown in the A.M. Best’s Key Rating Guide, or by an insurance com‐ pany in good standing li‐ censed to write bid bonds which is either domiciled in Louisiana or owned by Louisiana resi‐ dents. The bid bond shall be issued by a company licensed to do business in Louisiana. The certi‐ fied check, cashier’s check, or bid bond shall be given as a guarantee that the bidder shall exe‐ cute the contract, should it be awarded to him, in conformity with the con‐ tract documents within ten (10) days. No contractor may with‐ draw its bid prior to the deadline for submission of bids. Withdrawal of bids thereafter shall be allowed only pursuant to LA R.S. 38§2214.C. Other‐ wise, no bidder may withdraw his bid for at least forty-five (45) days after the time scheduled for the bid opening of bids. Each bid shall be submitted only on the bid form provided within the specifications. The successful bidder will be required to execute per‐ formance and labor and material payment bonds in the full amount of the contract as more fully defined in the bid docu‐ ments. No contractors may withdraw his bid for at least forty-five (45) days after the time scheduled for the open‐ ing of bids. Each bid shall be submitted only on the bid form provided with the specifications. The contractor successful will be required to exe‐ cute performance and labor and material pay‐ ment bonds in the full amount of the contract as more fully defined in the bid documents. Bids will be evaluated by the Purchaser based on the lowest responsible and responsive bid sub‐ mitted which is also in compliance with the bid documents. The Lafayette Consolidated Government reserves the right to reject any and all bids for just cause in ac‐ cordance with LA R.S. 38§2214.B. Contractors or contract‐ ing firms submitting bids in the amount of $50,000.00 or more shall certify that they are li‐ censed contractors under Chapter 24 of Title 37 of the Louisiana Re‐ vised Statutes of 1950 and show their license number on the front of the sealed envelope in which their bid is en‐ closed. Contractors shall be licensed for the clas‐ “HEAVY sification of CONSTRUCTION”. Bids in the amounts specified above which have not bid in accordance with the requirements, shall be rejected and shall not be read. Additional informa‐ tion relative to licensing may be obtained from the Louisiana State Li‐ censing Board for Con‐ tractors, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The Lafayette Consoli‐ dated Government strongly encourages the participation of DBEs (Disadvantaged Business Enterprises) in all con‐ tracts or procurements let by the Lafayette Con‐ solidated Government for goods and services and labor and material. To that end, all contrac‐ tors and suppliers are encouraged to utilize DBEs business enter‐ prises in the purchase or sub-contracting of mate‐ rials, supplies, services and labor and material in which disadvantaged businesses are available. Assistance in identifying said businesses may be obtained by calling 2918410. PURCHASING DIVISION Lafayette Consolidated Government PUBLISH DATES: 8/19, 8/23, 8/30 DPR 1003846 197347 Aug. 19, 23, 30, 2026 3t $238.08 PUBLIC NOTICE --NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS Notice is hereby given that sealed bids will be received either electroni‐ cally at https://lafayet tecsdgovla.tylerportico. com/va/vendor-access/ registration or in the of‐ fice of the Purchasing Di‐ vision at the Lafayette Consolidated Govern‐ ment Building, located at 705 West University Av‐ enue, Lafayette, Louisiana, until 1:00 PM Central Time on the 17th day of September, 2026 for the following: JUDICE PARK FENCING and will, shortly there‐ after, be opened and read aloud in a room at City Hall located at 705 West University Avenue, Lafayette, LA. Bids re‐ ceived after the above specified time for open‐ ing shall not be consid‐ ered and shall be re‐ turned unopened to the sender. The bid opening will be available to attend via zoom. Attendance is not mandatory. The pass‐ code is 535529 and the in‐ vite link is https:// us02web.zoom.us/j/ 89579374099?pwd=OaF HYYAQ5dRbeMbYzXU Ga31yllGWul.1 The meeting will be at the time of the bid open‐ ing.

Scope of Services: The work to be performed in‐ cludes but may not be limited to the disassem‐ bly, removal and replace‐ ment of the Baseball Field fencing at Judice Park. All work to be com‐ pleted within 120 days from issuance of Notice to Proceed. In accordance with Louisiana RS 38:2212., vendors may submit their bid electronically at the website listed above. Bidding Documents are available to view only at the website. Bidders may request the electronic bid package from Keirston St. Amant at kstamant@lafayettela. gov Bidders wishing to sub‐ mit their bid electroni‐ cally must ﬁrst be regis‐ tered online with Lafayette Consolidated Government as a poten‐ tial supplier at the web‐ site listed above. Bidders submitting bids electron‐ ically are required to pro‐ vide the same docu‐ ments as bidders sub‐

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

mitting through the mail as soon as available. Only a bid bond, certiﬁed check or cashier’s check shall be submitted as the bid security. Electronic copies of both the front and back of the check or bid bond shall be in‐ cluded with the elec‐ tronic bid.

Public Notices Bids/Proposals pp and labor and material in which disadvantaged businesses are available. Assistance in identifying said businesses may be obtained by calling 2918410. PURCHASING DIVISION Lafayette Consolidated Government

Legal Notices

ELIZABETH LYNETTE MARTIN HAYES, and the southerly right-of-way of Coussan Rd, which is also the existing City of Lafayette corporate lim‐ its to a corner point, thence S16º39’23”E, a distance of approxi‐ mately 261.18’, along the easterly property line of ELIZABETH LYNETTE MARTIN HAYES, and the westerly right-of-way of Coussan Rd to a point,

Bids must be signed in accordance with LRS Title 38:2212(B)5. A Cor‐ porate Resolution or Cer‐ tiﬁcate of Authority au‐ thorizing the person signing the bid is re‐ quired to be submitted with bid. Failure to sub‐ mit a Corporate Resolu‐ tion or Certiﬁcate of Au‐ thority with the bid shall be cause for rejection of bid.

PUBLISH DATES: 8/19/2026, 8/23/2026, 8/30/2026 DPR 1003844

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

thence S14º18’23”W, a distance of approxi‐ mately 161.21’, along the easterly property line of ELIZABETH LYNETTE MARTIN HAYES, and the westerly right-of-way of Coussan Rd to a corner point,

Copies of the bidding documents except for Section C – “Standard Specifications for Roads, Drainage, Bridges and Other Infrastructure 2023 Edition” are available at the Office of Purchasing located at 705 West Uni‐ versity Avenue, Lafayette, LA 70502 upon payment of $20 per set, non-refundable. NOTE: NO CASH WILL BE AC‐ CEPTED - ONLY CHECKS OR MONEY ORDERS MADE PAYABLE TO LAFAYETTE CONSOLI‐ DATED GOVERNMENT. Copies of Section “C” Standard Specifications for Roads, Drainage, Bridges and Other Infra‐ structure” 2023 Edition are available from the Public Works Department at 1515 E University Av‐ enue, Building A, Lafayette LA 70501. Bid Documents shall be available until twentyfour hours before the bid opening date. Questions relative to the bidding documents shall be ad‐ dressed to Keirston St. Amant at kstamant@ lafayettela.gov.

Notice is hereby given that sealed submissions will be received in the of‐ ﬁce of the Purchasing Di‐ vision at the Lafayette Consolidated Govern‐ ment Building, located at 705 West University Av‐ enue, Lafayette, Louisiana, until 4:00 p.m. Central Time on the 22nd day of September, 2026 for the following:

thence N86º17’09”W, a distance of approxi‐ mately 531.05’, along the southerly property line of ELIZABETH LYNETTE MARTIN HAYES (200 Coussan Rd (Tract 1-A)), and the northerly prop‐ erty line of ELIZABETH LYNETTE MARTIN HAYES (217 Veterinarian Rd) to a corner point,

2026 ENVIRONMENTAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND REMEDIATION SERVICES

thence N72º44’40”E, a distance of approxi‐ mately 40.13’, N56º28’02”E, a distance of approximately 30.62’, N38º34’40”E, a distance of approximately 81.41’, N37º07’38”E, a distance of approximately 79.97’, N30º53’37”E, a distance of approximately 46.20’, N00º17’11”E, a distance of approximately 20.81’, N24º08’26”W, a distance of approximately 76.49’, N35º38’31”W, a distance of approximately 69.74’, N44º58’50”W, a distance of approximately 76.62’, along the westerly prop‐ erty line of ELIZABETH LYNETTE MARTIN HAYES (200 Coussan Rd (Tract 1A)), and the easterly cen‐ ter line along Ancois Coulee to a corner point,

Contractors are re‐ quested to attend a prebid meeting, which will be held on September 2, 2026 at 10:00 AM in the large conference room, Lafayette Consolidated Government, Public Works Administration Building located at 1515 East University Avenue, Lafayette, LA. Each bid shall be accom‐ panied by a certified check, cashier’s check, or bid bond payable to the Lafayette Consoli‐ dated Government, the amount of which shall be five percent (5%) of the base bid plus additive al‐ ternates. If a bid bond is used, it shall be written by a surety or insurance company currently on the U.S. Department of the Treasury Financial Management Service list bonding of approved companies which is pub‐ lished annually in the Federal Register, or by a Louisiana domiciled in‐ surance company with at least an A-Rating in the latest printing of the A.M. Best’s Key Rating Guide to write individual bonds up to ten percent (10%) of policyholders’ surplus as shown in the A.M. Best’s Key Rating Guide, or by an insurance com‐ pany in good standing li‐ censed to write bid bonds which is either domiciled in Louisiana or owned by Louisiana resi‐ dents. The bid bond shall be issued by a company licensed to do business in Louisiana. The certi‐ fied check, cashier’s check, or bid bond shall be given as a guarantee that the bidder shall exe‐ cute the contract, should it be awarded to him, in conformity with the con‐ tract documents within ten (10) days. No contractor may with‐ draw its bid prior to the deadline for submission of bids. Withdrawal of bids thereafter shall be allowed only pursuant to LA R.S. 38§2214.C. Other‐ wise, no bidder may withdraw his bid for at least forty-five (45) days after the time scheduled for the bid opening of bids. Each bid shall be submitted only on the bid form provided within the specifications. The successful bidder will be required to execute per‐ formance and labor and material payment bonds in the full amount of the contract as more fully defined in the bid docu‐ ments. No contractors may withdraw his bid for at least forty-five (45) days after the time scheduled for the open‐ ing of bids. Each bid shall be submitted only on the bid form provided with the specifications. The contractor successful will be required to exe‐ cute performance and labor and material pay‐ ment bonds in the full amount of the contract as more fully defined in the bid documents. Bids will be evaluated by the Purchaser based on the lowest responsible and responsive bid sub‐ mitted which is also in compliance with the bid documents. The Lafayette Consolidated Government reserves the right to reject any and all bids for just cause in ac‐ cordance with LA R.S. 38§2214.B. Contractors or contract‐ ing firms submitting bids in the amount of $50,000.00 or more shall certify that they are li‐ censed contractors under Chapter 24 of Title 37 of the Louisiana Re‐ vised Statutes of 1950 and show their license number on the front of the sealed envelope in which their bid is en‐ closed. Contractors shall be licensed for the clas‐ sification of “Highway Streets and Bridge Con‐ struction” or “Heavy Construction” or “Munic‐ ipal and Public Works Construction” or “Build‐ ing Construction; Spe‐ cialty: Fencing”. Bids in the amounts specified above which have not bid in accordance with the requirements, shall be rejected and shall not be read. Additional informa‐ tion relative to licensing may be obtained from the Louisiana State Li‐ censing Board for Con‐ tractors, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The Lafayette Consoli‐ dated Government strongly encourages the participation of DBEs (Disadvantaged Business Enterprises) in all con‐ tracts or procurements let by the Lafayette Con‐ solidated Government for goods and services and labor and material. To that end, all contrac‐ tors and suppliers are encouraged to utilize DBEs business enter‐ prises in the purchase or sub-contracting of mate‐ rials, supplies, services dl b d i li

197506 Aug. 19, 23, 30, 3t $238.26 PUBLIC NOTICE ---

and will, shortly there‐ after, be opened and the NAMES ONLY read aloud in the Office of Purchas‐ ing located at 705 West University Avenue, Lafayette, LA. Submis‐ sions received after the above specified time for opening shall not be con‐ sidered and shall be re‐ turned unopened to the sender. Sealed submis‐ sions may be hand car‐ ried or mailed to the ad‐ dress listed above. Submissions shall be ei‐ ther hand delivered or mailed in a sealed enve‐ lope to the address listed below. Submissions re‐ ceived after the ap‐ pointed time will be de‐ termined non-responsive and will not be opened. Respondents must sub‐ mit one original, five identical marked copies, one disc of the entire proposal, and one redacted copy if neces‐ sary. Submissions should be sent to 705 West Univer‐ sity Avenue, Lafayette, LA 70506 attention Heather Kestler. Copies of the RFP specifi‐ cations are available at the Purchasing Office lo‐ cated at 705 West Univer‐ sity Avenue, Lafayette, LA 70506. Telephone number (337) 291-8071 (Attn: Heather Kestler) and online at https://laf ayettecsdgovla.tylerpo rtico.com/va/vendoraccess/registration. RFP specifications shall be available until twentyfour (24) hours before the submission dead‐ line. No Vendor may withdraw his submission for at least ninety (90) days after the time scheduled for the opening of pro‐ posals. Each proposal shall follow the instruc‐ tions listed in the RFP re‐ garding submittal of their proposal. Proposals will be evalu‐ ated by the Purchaser based on the evaluation criteria outlined in the Request for Proposals. The Lafayette Consoli‐ dated Government re‐ serves the right to reject any and all proposals or any portions thereof, to waive informalities and to select the material that best suits its needs. The Lafayette Consoli‐ dated Government strongly encourages the participation of DBEs (Disadvantaged Business Enterprise) in all con‐ tracts or procurements let by the Lafayette Con‐ solidated Government for goods and services and labor and material. To that end, all contrac‐ tors and suppliers are encouraged to utilize DBEs business enter‐ prises in the purchase or sub-contracting of mate‐ rials, supplies, services and labor and material in which disadvantaged business are available. Assistance in identifying said businesses may be obtained by calling 2918410. Contractors or contract‐ ing firms submitting qualifications to perform work in the amount of $50,000.00 or more shall certify that they are li‐ censed contractors under Chapter 24 of Title 37 of the Louisiana Re‐ vised Statutes of 1950 and show their license number on the front of the sealed envelope in which their bid is en‐ closed. Contractors shall be licensed for the clas‐ sification of Hazardous Waste Treatment or Re‐ moval or (Specialty) Haz‐ ardous Materials Cleanup and Removal. Additional information relative to licensing may be obtained from the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

which is also the existing City of Lafayette corpo‐ rate limits and the point of beginning, all as shown on the attached incorporation map pre‐ pared by Lafayette City Parish Consolidated Gov‐ ernment - Lafayette Utili‐ ties System, dated May 6, 2026 entitled, MAP OF PROPOSED EXTENSION FOR CITY OF LAFAYETTE, LOUISIANA, CORPORATE LIMITS, LOCATED IN SEC‐ TIONS 11, 39 & 41, T9SR4E, 200 COUSSAN RD (TRACT 1-A) ANNEXATION - APPROX. 3.816 ACRES. Anyone desiring to be heard with reference to the proposed ordinance annexing said area shall notify the Lafayette CityParish Council Clerk. Anyone requesting such a hearing shall do so on the date at the time the ordinance is considered for ﬁnal adoption in ac‐ cordance with the regu‐ lar agenda published by the Lafayette City-Parish Council or in accordance with the notice of emer‐ gency meeting to con‐ sider such passage. LAFAYETTE CONSOLIDATED GOVERNMENT By /s/ Tim Patro Tim Patro Planner II 198372 Aug. 23 1t $32.62

Public Notices Successions

PUBLIC NOTICE --NOTICE Administrator for the Succession of Mary Fern Cobb Briggs gives notice of his intent to sell via private sale, the follow‐ ing: 1. The immovable estate home and property lo‐ cated at 311 Sunny Lane, Lafayette, Louisiana 70506, Being the same property acquired by Mary C. Briggs by Cash Sale from Jeanie Slay Mellinger dated April 29, 1994, recorded on May 2, 1994, under instrument no. 1994-00016195 of the public records of Lafayette, Louisiana.; and 2. All movables within the estate home at 311 Sunny Lane, consisting of home furnishings, deco‐ rations, and kitchenware. Any objections to the sale of the above prop‐ erty can be ﬁled with the 15th Judicial District Court – Parish of Lafayette under probate docket number 20250640, pursuant to LA C.C.P. art 3282. 198202 Aug. 22 to Sept. 20, 30t $456.60

PURCHASING DIVISION Lafayette Consolidated Government PUBLISH DATES: 8/20, 8/23, 8/30 DPR # 993650 197717 Aug. 20, 23, 30, 3t $125.07

Legal Notices

PUBLIC NOTICE --NOTICE

Reporting you can trust on stories that matter

A petition has been ﬁled with the City-Parish Council of the Parish of Lafayette and the CityParish President of the City of Lafayette in ac‐ cordance with the provi‐ sions of LSA-R.S.33:172, et seq., seeking to have the corporate limits of the City of Lafayette, Louisiana, extended so as to include therein the following described property, to-wit: Beginning at a point on the existing City of Lafayette corporate lim‐ its, said point is the northwesterly property corner of ELIZABETH LYNETTE MARTIN HAYES, the northeasterly center line of Ancois Coulee, and the southerly rightof-way of Coussan Rd,

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thence S86º39’50”E, a distance of approxi‐ mately 435.02’, along the northerly property line of

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10D ● Sunday,August 23, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate Legal Notices

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List of jurors randomly drawn and to serve for the term beginning on August 31, 2026: AARON, JAREDALLEN CHARLES ABLES, LESLEY ELIZABETH ABRAHAM, ALEXANDER C ACOSTA, ERIKA JUDITH MEDINA AGEE, COTTY FAYE ALAZKAWI, HAFIDH S ALBARADO, NANCY ALMAGUER, AIMEE ANGEL, JAHNEL JOSEPH ANGELLE, JONATHAN EMILE ANTOINE, MERVIN D ANTOINE, MERVIN D ARCENEAUX, TAITEN AUBREY ARMOND, REBECCA J ARNAUD, ANDREW H ASHMORE, ANDREW NOLAN ASMAR, SUZANNE MARIE ATES, LUTHER ALLEN AUCOIN, LINDA F AUGUST, KYLON TEREZ BABIN, DANE MICHAEL BABINEAUX, PAMELA SPELL BARDELMEIER, DOROTHY M BARES, DAVID J BARRAS, CLEMIRE JOSEPH BARTLEY, TERRENCE ISAREL BATES, JENNIFER ANN BATISTE, TIFFANY JILL BATISTE, NOEL BATISTE, ERIC JAMES BATISTE, LATRICIA GREEN BAUDOIN, LENNIS BAUDOIN, SCOTTY J BEASLEY, BRIAN ROSS BECKER, BRADY JAMES BECKHAM, SARAH ELKINS BELLEY, PAULINE T BELVEAL, EDGAR EVERETT BENNETT, RAMONA BRAY BENOIT, JAMES B BENOIT, KAREN BENOIT, MELINDA MECHE BERGERON, CATHY M BERNARD BERGERON, LAUREN SONNIER BERNARD, DEVIN DELHOMME BERNAT, HENRY AUGUST BERTRAND, MERYL AMES BLACKWELL, KIMBERLY MARIE BLANCHARD, AARON JAMES BLANCHARD, TRAVIS PAUL BLANCHARD, ANDREW KEEGAN BLUNDELL, MARIE EDMAE B BOAST, MYESHEA JENEA BODIN, ANDREW DALTON BOLES, NATHAN C BONIN, NICHOLE G BONNETT, RAYMOND E BONNETTE, GENCIE LANAE GUNNELLS BOOZ, JERIMIAH SCOTT BOUDREAUX, MARY M BOUDREAUX, ELIZABETH T BOUDREAUX, MARGARET DURIO BOUDREAUX, ROBERT P BOUDREAUX, LARRIONA RACHEAL BOUDREAUX, ROBERT P BOUDREAUX, GEORGIA M BOURQUE, BLAINE JOSEPH BOWMAN, CARROL W BOYDE, RONNIE BREAUX, LOGAN KEITH BREAUX, LOUIS PAUL BREAUX, JARVIS RENWICK BREAUX, MARY H BREWSTER, HUNTER TILLMAN BROOKS, JAMONDRE JAMON BROUSSARD, EDWARD J BROWN, QUARTELLA MARKEITA RENEE BROWN, REBECCA ANN BROWN, TYESHA M BRUNO, CRYSTAL DANIELLE BRYAN, SEAN PATRICK BRYAN, MATTHEW WALSH BURR, TRAVIS LANE BURRIS, GERD A CAMEL, BOBBIE HUBBARD CAMPBELL, BRIAN T CARRIER, LEIGH DAVID CARTER, JOSHUA RAMON CASTILLE, PAULA F CASTILLO, DIDIER CELESTINE, CLAUDE J CELESTINE, ERNEST CELESTINE, BRENT M CELESTINE, KAYLINE M CHAMBERLAIN, KEVIN PATRICK CHAPMAN, BREON CHANEA CHARGOIS, REWA CHESNUT, ELAINE CHESNUT, CAMERON JAMES CHIASSON, LISA F CHURCHWELL, CORENE LYNN CHUSTZ, DENISE RENEE HEBERT COBER, CATHARINE LOUISE CODINA, CHRIS M COLE, JOANN H COLEMAN, LAUREN TAYLOR COLLINS, AISHA LYNN COMEAUX, MICHELE B COMEAUX, KAYLEE RAE CONLEY, JACKLIN COOK, KEVIN ALLEN COOPER, TREBORIAN DAQUAN CORMIER, JOSEPH MILTON CORMIER, BRAYLAND ALLEN COX, AVERY WALKER CREDEUR, GARETH MICHEAL OLIVIER CREDEUR, LANCE JOEL CREDEUR, LANI MARIE CREDEUR, BRIAN JUDE CROCHET, NICOLE B ARDOIN CUNNINGHAM, ALBERT DWIGHT CUNNINGHAM, TRINA LYNN DARTEZ, JOSHUA JUDE DARVILLE, COREY D DEAN, RASHAAD KAAZAM DEAN, ANTOINE RASHAD DEGEYTER, GREGORY J DEGEYTER, CHRISTOPHER D DELAHOUSSAYE, TAYLOR RENNEE DELASBOUR, KEITHEN RAY DEMOUCHET, MCKINLEY JOSEPH ALFRED DERIGO, JERRY WILLIAM DEVILLE, PRISCILLA BOUTIN DEVILLIER, BLYTHE ALEXIA DIXON, JANEE LESHAY DOMAN, AARON ANAND DOMINGUE, TERRY JOSEPH DOMINGUE, BROOKE ANGELLE DORE, RYAN MITCHELL DORSEY, JAVON JAMES DOUGLAS, DANYELLE MARIE DUCOTE, ERIC PAUL DUCOTE, AUSTIN LEE DUHON, IMANI FAYE DUONG, TRACY XUAN DUPLECHINE, HALEY GRACE DURAL, TRAVIS SENTELLE DUREL, MARY M EDMOND, JALECIA LASHEY EDMOND, VANITY ARMISHIA ENLOE, PEYTON A EZULIKE, RACHEL ELIZABETH FADDIS, OLIVIA SUSAN FANGUE, RAEGAN P FELIX, CRYSTAL SHANELL FLUGENCE, PHILLIP M FOGLEMAN, HENRY OWEN FONTENOT, TYSON LONDARIAN FORRESTIER, KAREN S FRANCIS, TANYNA L FRANCIS, KEITH A

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FRANCIS, DANIEUL MONTELLE FRANCIS, BAYLON JOSEPH FRANCIS, TORIE TARELL FRANK, TARILYN VICKIE FREDERICK, KIMBERLY COX FREDERICK, WILLIAM CHASE FRUGE, MOZELLE T FRUGE, DAVID W FULTON, ADAM MITCHELL FUSELIER, RODERICK G FUSELIER, MARK BENJAMIN GARBARINO, JESSICA BLANCA GAUDET, ROSS ALLEN GAUTHIER, JAYDEN KEON GAUTREAUX, ELIZABETH B GEAREN, ANDREW CHAD GEE, KENNY GEISMAR, SHARON A GENESIO, KRISTEN ERICA GEORGE, DIANA GIBSON, OLIVIA LOUISE GIBSON, MICHAEL JOSEPH GIBSON, SHIRLEY A GOMEZ, JUAN GONSOULIN, VERNON W GONZALEZ, CESAR ENRIQUE GOODWIN, KEYLIE MADISYN GREEN, HALIE CATHERINE GREEN, LAUREN CARLISLE GREEN, CINDY L GREEN, PATRICIA T GREENE, ROBERT MICHAEL GRIFFIN, EDWARD J GRIFFIN, TYLER JACOB GRIFFITH, COLE ROLDON GROETSCH, EMILY GERDSEN GUAN, JIANHAO GUIDRY, RONALD JAMES GUIDRY, DAMIEN J GUIDRY, GAIL D GUIDRY, JILL S GUIDRY, ANNETTE T GUIDRY, DENNIS JAMES GUIDRY, JAMIE ALYSON GUILBEAU, CHRISTINE M GUILBEAUX, DARRYL KEITH HARDING, LYNORE RASCHEL HARRISON, PRECIOUS CHANQUELL HEBERT, RILEIGH SAGE HEBERT, CALVIN J HEBERT, ANN U HEBERT, ANNA KATARINA RISEN HEBERT, RYAN RENE HEBERT, TYLER CRAIG HEBERT, JUANITA J HEBERT, RYLON MICHAEL HEBERT, JEANNELLE RENEE HEBERT, CARLY MARYANN HEDLUND, CLAIRE NICOLE HENRY, SHAQUWANDA CHEW HERNANDEZ, TED L HERRMANN, BERNADINE L HICKS, BILLY RAY HILL, CHAD ANTHONY HILLMAN, GRANT MICHAEL HILSE, KENNETH L HITTER, DENISE CLAIRE HOFFMANN, GERALD LEE HOLLIER, JEREMY ALLEN HOOTON, CYNTHIA FRANCES JOHNSON HORN, MARJORIE CATHERIN VENABLE HUBBELL, CHRISTINA JAEB HUDSON, JASON C HUGGINS, CECILIA HUGHES, CLAIRE ELIZABETH HUVAL, VICTORIA VENESSA ISADORE, LARRY JAMES JACK, MASON TAJAQUE JACKSON, ABIGAIL MARGARET JENNEMAN, LINDSEY LA PORTE JILES, JALANI JAMAL JOHNSON, SUZANNE TAYLOR JOHNSON, JANE JOHNSON, WILMA RENEE JOHNSON, JARON MITCHELL JOHNSON, SYLVIA LENETTA JOHNSON, RYAN DANIEL JOHNSON, MACGEORGE R JOHNSON, SHAMARA B JOHNSON, SHEILA F JONES, BRYCE WILEY JOSEY, LISA STUTES KENNEDY, CONNOR JOSEPH KENNERSON, KHADIJAH JANIA MONTREAL KENNEY, MICHAEL E KIEFNER, MONICA A KINCAID, LOUIS SAMUEL KINDRED, NATHAN JOSEPH KING, JOHN CHARLES KNIGHT, JOHN DALE KREGER, RONALD ANTHONY KUNA, ROJA LABORDE, AVA KATHERINE LACOMBE, BLAKE JUDE LAGARD, JAELON LIONEL LAGRANGE, RONDASHA RAYHANTA LAMBERT, GWYNNE A LAMKIN, AVA ELIZABETH LANCLOS, TROYT DANIEL LANCLOS, STEFFAN WOLFE LANDRY, GAGE WARREN LANTIER, JENNIFER C LAPEROUSE, ROBYNNE S LATIOLAIS, CARROL LEBLANC, KAYLA MARIE LEBLANC, SARAH EVELYN LEBLANC, SELLECK THOMAS LEBLEU, LORETTA ANN LEE, MYLES BLADE LEE, ANTHONY LEGER, DONNA FAYE LEGER, JOEL JOSEPH LEGER, CHERLYN MARIE LELEUX, BRENNAN JAMES LEMALLE, FELIX EMMANUEL LEONARDS, LAUREN JOHNSTON LERILLE, AINSLEY CATHERINE LESTER, RANDY M LEWIS, DALENA JAVON LEWIS, ASHANTI SHAYE LONDON, HUNTER LEE LOWE, KALEM LANCE LYLES, JAMES ANTHONY LYNCH, LISA J MACK, REGINALD PATRICK MAGLORY, JOHNATHAN JAMES MANUEL, TOBY JOHNATHAN MANUEL, SHELBY DAVID MAPLES, WILLIAM MCCAMPBELL MARTIN, TIMOTHY DUANE MARTIN, MONIQUE ANN MATHEWS, ANGELA T MCCOY, TRISTAN NICOLE MCELDERRY, BRANDON JAMES MECHE, FRED A MELANCON, JULIANA PHILLIP MICHALK, ROBERT L MICHON, JASON CHRISTOPHER MILLER, BENJIMIN CLINTON MILLER, BONNIE M MIRE, SCOTTY PAUL MITCHELL, HUEY P MOLINS, ASHLEY RENEE MONCADA, BRANDON TAYLOR MORALES, THOMAS JOSEPH MORRIS, MELANIE H MOUTON, RAEKAYLA MIKEL MOUTON, KEIONDRA MALONE MOUTON, RACHAEL B MOYER, DREW T MOYER, ERIK DANIEL MUDGE, BRIAN MICHAEL MULLINS, MONICA C NAQUIN, SHANNON FULLEN

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NEWELL, JIAVONNA MARIE NEWTON, HENRIETTA NAOMI NEZAT, ALEXANDRA MACKENSIE NGUYEN, ANDY VAN NICKERSON, RICHARD D OBEY, JOYCE F OGBUAKU, JUSTIN PAUL ONEY, PATRICIA ANN ORDONEZ, ROBERT ORTEGO, CARLA VIZINAT ORTEGO, STEPHEN JUAN PADGETT, MARY KATHRYN PANTALEO, ANTHONY J PAPILLION, LANCE SCOTT PARIS, MEAGAN CECILE PARRY, JACQUELINE A PATEL, SUHAIL ADAM PEACHER, PATRICIA M PELLEGRAN, MORGAN ASHLEY PELLERIN, NICOLE E PENNY, ALEXIS VICTORIA PETE, ROBERT J PEVETO, HOLLIE MICHELLE PHETPHACHANH, THEBPHATHAY PICARD, RANDY P PILCHER, DAPHNE A PIPER, STEVEN MICHAEL PITRE, KEVIN LAMONT PLATT, WILLIAM TODD POE, JONATHON MICHAEL POMIER, WILFRED POOLE, CHARLIE MATTHEW PORTALIS, GUY A POTIER, BENJAMIN M POUSSON, CHERLYN A PRADO, RICKY RENE PREJEAN, QUINTIN JAVON PREJEAN, DARRELL D PRICE, RYAN LAWRENCE PUCKETT, KAYLA MARIE QUEBODEAUX, DUSTAN JAMES RANDLE, RYAN JERMAINE REED, AARON JOSEPH REED, PATRICIA A REED, SHIRLEY RICHARD, PATRICIA ANN RICHARD, MONTE LOUIS RICHARD, LAUREN EMILY RICHARDSON, ALLEN KEITH ROBERTS, JUDE MICHAEL ROBILLARD, ZOELIE SISTINE ROBIN, MARLENE ANN ROBINSON, CALVIN JAMES ROBINSON, TERRY MARCEL ROGERS, WHITNEY JAMES ROGERS, KOLBE AXEL ROLLINS, EDMOND CHARLES ROMERO, HAROLD J ROMERO, TAROL LYNN ROMERO, RENA SOPHIE ROMERO, REAGAN MARIE ROSSON, BILLY JOE ROUGEOU, HEATHER DAWN ROY, CHRISTIAN DANIEL GERARD ROYER, DANIEL ANDREW RUBIN, KENT RILEY RUBLE, BRYAN J SAM, RACHEL SAUNIER, MICHAEL M SAVOIE, DARREN PIERRE SCARCE, SHIRLEY R SCROGGINS, REBECCA FRANCES SEIDEL, MELISSA LILY SEMLER, NICOLE MARIE SHELTON, HAROLD LLOYD SHIEL, COURTNEY MICHELLE IRENE SIMON, LEO T SIMON, MIAN MIKAL SINEGAL, STANLEY SINEGAL, SHONDA FAYE SMITH, MARGARET G SMITH, TERRICA L SMITH, PATRICK HENRI SMITH, TRAVIS JERMAINE SMITH, AMANDA L SOILEAU SMITH, DEADRA S SOPHUS, TAMERA KIMORA SPHABMIXAY, MARSHA LYNN STANSBURY, KENNETH LEE STELLY, MICKEY DARTEZ STELLY, KENNEDY MARIE STEPHEN, KALYN BRIANNA STEWARD, SHANAY ROCKELLE STUART, MARY JEANETTE STUBBS, JASMINE SUGJONO, DIAN SUIRE, JARED GLENN SULLIVAN, THOMAS JAMES SULZBACH, JACOB J SWANSON, SUSAN ALBERTA TALBOT, LESLIE ALLISON TAYLOR, BARBARA ANN TEER, KARLA JENE THIBODEAUX, CHRISTOPHER LEE THOMAS, DONALD THOMAS, KERI RENE TILLMAN, BRANDON LEMAR TORRES, BRIAN LLOYD TOUCHET, DEVIN RAY TOUCHET, NOAH DUDLEY JOSEPH TRAHAN, SUE BROUSSARD TRAN, DODIE DECOUX TRAN, THUY THI THANH TRIMBLE, ALONDRA HUMANESLARA TUITE, MICHAEL P TYLER, JEREMY CORDELL VALENTINE, BOBBIE S VANDERBROOK, JOSEPH VANVICKLE, SUSANNA MARIA VERON, DIANE H VICTOR, AMELIA C VICTOR, DESMANI JAZAHARI VINCENT, JAGGER MATTHEW VINCENT, NICHLOS JAY VITAL, SHONDRIKA WILLIAMS VIZENA, DAVID HUGH WALDEN, WENDY STANSBURY WALKER, JONATHON JOSEPH WALKER, KYLE A WALLACE, DEDDRICK RACORDO WALTON, MARIE CECILE WARNER, TEARS MICKENS WASHINGTON, JOURDAN KAYJUAN DEON WATERS, BRYCE DYLAN WATTS, CAMERON MADISON WHITLEY, JUSTIN COLE WIGGINS, JOSHUA ALLAN WILLIAMS, MICHAEL T WILLIAMS, IMUNIQUE ALAZA WILLIAMSON, STEVEN MAXWELL WILSON, CARLEY NICOLE WINFREY, KENDRALYN TYREE WOOD, JEAN PIERRE WOODS, WILLIAM SONNY WOODS, NEVAEH ARMANI WRIGHT, KEVIN M YOUNG, TAYLOR MARAE YOUNG, SALLY LAHAYE YOUNG-MELANCON, LYLE KEITH ZATARAIN, JUANITA

196410-674613-aug 23-1t $ 529.20

TALKING BUSINESS How CEO Verret keeps Campus Federal ‘near the forefront’ 3E

ACROSS THE REGION Amazon’s third La. data center brings area investment to $18B 4E

BUSINESS T H E A D V O C AT E.C O M

S u n d ay, au g u S t 23, 2026

1En

Breathing

room

Hoda Kotb’s new wellness business, Joy 101, lands Ochsner partnership, launching festival in New Orleans BY RICH COLLINS Staff writer

Former “Today” show co-host Hoda Kotb tried her ﬁrst “breathwork” training session a few years ago on the advice of a friend — and she said the experience was transformative. “I followed the instructions, did the exercises, and suddenly I just exploded in tears from the stress relief,” she said last week during a phone interview. “The next time I arrived at work at my usual 4 a.m., it was like someone had taken a squeegee to my brain and got rid of the fog. It was like a magic trick.” Kotb’s experience with one of the fastest-growing practices in the wellness world proved so powerful that after she left “Today” last year to spend more time with her kids, her next big project was partnering to launch an app called “Joy 101,” a clearinghouse for “bite-sized” lessons from experts on breathwork, meditation, stretching and other activities designed to improve physical, mental and emotional well-being.

IDEAS &

INNOVATION

ä See KOTB, page 2E

ABOVE: Former ‘Today’ show co-host Hoda Kotb has begun a new venture, and it has led her back to New Orleans. ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO

LEFT: Kotb in a partnership launched Joy 101, an app pproviding ‘bite-sized’ lessons ffrom experts on breathwork, meditation, stretching and other activities designed to im mprove physical, mental and emotional well-being. PROVIDED IMAGE By JOy101

State economists eye bids on Gulf Coast drilling leases BY IANNE SALVOSA Staff writer

Companies bid nearly $83 million for the right to drill for oil in Gulf waters off the coast of Louisiana, a sign that demand may be steadying even though the continuing war with Iran is keeping oil prices high. The sale volume of the recent lease deal is slightly concerning, said Loren Scott, a retired LSU economist. Prior sales ﬁve or six years ago generated more than $120 million. Scott said he expected sales similar to or higher than that level because of the support the Trump administration has for fossil fuels, the resumption of a lease sale schedule that was discontinued during the Biden administration and reduced royalty rates. “The prospect for really strong growth in the Gulf is not quite there,” he said.

The $83 million also suggests the offshore industry is not declining either but staying steady, he said. The sale earlier this month was the third out of 30 mandated by the One Big, Beautiful Bill backed by President Donald Trump. Trump’s reinstatement of the leasing schedule restores the limit for drilling deals that was in place since the 1950s. The Biden administration discontinued the lease schedule and allowed only three sales over five years. “Everything is a lot more certain,” Scott said. Certainty is a key tenet in the oil and gas industry, so companies can gauge their investments. From the point of the lease sale to producing oil can take about a decade, the time between dedicated to exploration of the area, construction and determining if there even is oil beneath the surface.

The ﬁrst lease sale in December drew more than $300 million from 148 bids. But the March sale saw activity plunge to $47 million from 38 bids. The recent sale may be where the sale volume settles, said Tommy Faucheux, president of Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association, an energy industry group. “I think now what we see is companies getting their stride,” Faucheux said. Greg Upton, executive director of the LSU Center for Energy Studies, said the December volume could have been boosted by “pent up interest” since there had been few lease sales. The energy sector employs more than 306,000 in the state, according to a 2025 economic impact study conducted by Stephen Barnes, an

PROVIDED PHOTO By HESS CORP.

Experts say that activity or job levels for Gulf Coast oilfield service companies won’t have dramatic upswings or downswings in the ä See DRILLING, page 2E near future as the industry remains steady.

2E ● Sunday,August 23, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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How much would you spend to extend your dying pet’s life? Simba stopped chasing his squeaky toys. He wouldn’t run after the tennis ball or play our evening game of hide-and-seek. These were the ﬁrst signs that our nearly-14-year-old shih tzuYorkie mix’s health was failing. The decline came fast. Late last year, during a routine checkup, the vet detected a heart murmur in Simba and recommended a cardiac ultrasound. “How much will that cost?” I asked my husband, who had taken Simba to his appointment. “Does it matter?” he said. “How much are you willing to spend to keep him alive?” My husband said the scan and assessment could be about $1,000. In an attempt to inject levity into a heartbreaking situation, I said, “Well, Simba’s had a wonderful life with us.” “You’re joking, right?” my husband asked, genuinely concerned. Despite my affection for Simba, I did debate internally how far we should go to extend his life — and at what cost. We opted not to purchase pet insurance years ago. The policies my husband and I reviewed didn’t cover wellness exams, vaccines or dental cleanings. They also wouldn’t cover preexisting conditions. For us, there were so many ﬁne-print conditions and exclusions that

Michelle Singletary THE COLOR OF MONEy

we were concerned pet insurance wouldn’t pay off in the end. Now, facing steep vet bills, I was worried about our little guy and our budget. What if the specialist recommended an expensive heart surgery? We have the savings for a big bill, but at almost 14, Simba is already at the average life expectancy for his small breed. I’ve gone back and forth about whether it’s cruel to take that into account. Paying for an animal’s treatment is a difficult choice, made even harder when you’re making life-and-death decisions for a companion who can’t tell you what they want. Where do you draw the line between comfortable end-of-life care and costly medical interventions? The decision to treat a pet is especially difficult for families already struggling financially. Higher prices for gas, groceries and utilities make it hard to justify spending their savings on their pet’s vet bills.

A 2025 poll by Gallup and PetSmart Charities of pet owners found that more than half of them — 52% — have declined recommended veterinary care or skipped a visit entirely, often citing ﬁnancial concerns. Lower-income households earning $60,000 or less struggle most with basic affordability, while higher earners are more likely to forgo treatments they don’t consider worth the cost. A third of pet owners earning $90,000 or more have skipped care because it was too expensive. A second Gallup and PetSmart Charities poll of veterinarians released in early 2026 found that nearly all veterinarians, 94%, said their clients’ budgets sometimes or often prevent them from following through with recommended treatment. Then there are owners who go into debt for their pets. In a 2024 LendingTree survey of nearly 2,000 Americans, 37% of pet owners reported doing this. In most cases, it was because of a medical emergency. When a co-worker heard about Simba, she reached out with her own story about facing a health crisis affecting her 9-year-old rescue dog. The border collieGreat Pyrenees mix, Gracie, needed emergency abdominal surgery to remove a mass. “Where do I draw the line both

on what I’m willing to put her through to give her a chance and on what I can afford?” she asked. Without knowing whether her pet insurance, which cost her about $1,600 annually, would reimburse her, she put the $10,000 bill on a credit card. Thankfully, her plan covered 80% of the surgery’s cost. We took Simba to see the specialist late last year. A few months later, in April, he became lethargic and began coughing constantly. After several more visits and X-rays, his condition had worsened. He has chronic heart disease that has progressed to congestive heart failure. He’s now on a regimen of cardiac medications. Some days Simba is like his healthier self, dropping his yellow tennis ball at my feet, ready to play fetch. Even then, he can only manage a round or two of the game. Other days, he’s listless and just wants to curl up at my feet. My husband and I are fortunate to have a ﬁnancial cushion that allows us to give Simba the best care possible. But we care about his comfort, too: We’ve agreed not to pursue extraordinary measures at the expense of his quality of life. Here’s what I can say if you ﬁnd yourself in the situation we are in now.

If you decide to pay for care with a credit card, make a plan to pay off that debt. Get help from a nonprofit credit counselor who can help you work the new expense into your budget. You can find a counselor through the National Foundation for Credit Counseling at nfcc.org or by calling (844) 865-2828. If you have a hard-stop spending limit for whatever reason, it doesn’t mean you love your pet any less than someone who is willing to take on significant debt. Choosing not to pursue aggressive, high-cost interventions for a pet can be a humane decision that prevents prolonged medical trauma and suffering. If you have a healthy pet, start saving now before a crisis hits. You can self-insure or purchase a pet insurance policy, but be sure to shop around and read every plan’s fine print. I’ve spent much of my career advising people to live within their means and avoid unmanageable debt. Yet I know how hard it is to focus only on the numbers when your pet is the one suffering. Watching Simba snooze contentedly in the sun, I know keeping him comfortable is worth every dollar we’ve spent. Email Michelle Singletary at michelle.singletary@washpost. com.

KOTB

DRILLING

Now, a little more than a year after unveiling the platform, Kotb and her Joy 101 co-founders — including her longtime friend and former WWL-TV anchor Karen Swensen — are announcing plans to scale up. And New Orleans features prominently in those plans. On Thursday, the startup announced a partnership with Ochsner Health that will provide all of the health system’s roughly 40,000 employees access to Joy 101’s content. Kotb and Swensen also announced this week that next year New Orleans will be the site of their company’s biggest-ever event, called “Joy Fest.” Contributors to Kotb’s startup include Harvard University’s “happiness” professor Arthur C. Brooks and designer and HGTV personality Joanna Gaines, among dozens of other experts and household names, but Kotb also relied heavily on her New Orleans connections, forged during her 1990s stint as an anchor at WWL, to get the project off the ground. Saints and Pelicans owner Gayle Benson, for instance, is one of the venture’s investors. Now, with this week’s announcements, she’s leaning further into those ties. “All roads lead to New Orleans, and that’s the way it’s worked for me my whole career,” Kotb said. “That’s why hardly a day on the ‘Today’ show went by where somebody didn’t hold up a Who Dat sign outside the window.”

economist at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. The industry contributed $25.5 billion to the Louisiana economy via direct, indirect and induced impacts. Oil and gas extraction is the second largest share of jobs employing more than 28,000, the first spot notched by chemical and plastic manufacturing. Experts say that activity or job levels for local oilfield service companies won’t have dramatic upswings or downswings in the near future as the industry remains steady. The continuation of regularly scheduled Gulf lease sales indicates stability and will likely mean Louisiana will still have an “all of the above” energy strategy, that incorporates traditional sources like oil, nuclear and renewable sources such as solar or wind power. The oil and gas industry in Louisiana is in a mature state, said Barnes, executive director of the Blanco Public Policy Center, and though sweeping federal policies on oil extraction may be eye-catching, their effects on the industry’s presence tend to be muted due to long periods between policy enactment and drilling activity. “Policy can accelerate or slow the pace of any one piece, and we’ve seen significant swings recently, especially at the federal level,” Barnes said. “But the underlying economics point toward diversification over time.” As of Tuesday, oil was priced at nearly $86.50 a barrel, according to figures from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. That’s up nearly 34% from the same time a year ago, when oil was trading at nearly $64.60 a barrel. But despite the price jump caused by the war with Iran, Gulf drilling activity is holding steady. There are currently 38 oil rigs operating off the Louisiana coast, according to data from energy technology company Baker Hughes. That’s just slightly up from 36 at this time last year. “It’s important to sustain the level we have right now,” Barnes said of the oil industry activity. With the war in Iran straining oil from the Middle East, companies’ attention may turn toward liquefied natural gas as an alternative, he said. The Gulf Coast already leads the country in LNG export capacity and more investment is on the way in Cameron Parish. Barnes said the Gulf Coast could also see more refinery investment as a result of damage caused by the war to petroleum processing facilities in the Middle East. “It does move the needle,” he said.

Continued from page 1E

PROVIDED PHOTO

Kate Spies, from left, Noel yerington, Hoda Kotb, Karen Swensen and Annorelle Nevarez pose for a photo at Cannes Lions, an international marketing, media and advertising conference, in June. All five are members of the Joy 101 team. meditation, breathwork, positivity, movement, personal growth and longevity. Users can upload details about their age, stress levels, goals and time constraints to receive custom programs and checklists. The company hasn’t released a current subscriber count, but last September, one of its investors, CapStone Holdings, reported the startup signed up 5,000 paying customers in its first week of operation while securing $2 million in brand partnerships. Kotb has leveraged her trademark warmth and good cheer to grow that number by making regular

leagues. In addition to the multipronged media approach, Kotb is prioritizing in-person events. “Being with people is what lights me up and makes me come alive, so we had to have experiences where people can look each other in the eye,” she said. Massive marketplace Last year, Kotb appeared at a free retreat for New York Kotb stepped away from her City public school teachers, “Today” co-anchor role in Janufollowed by a paid event in ary 2025 and unveiled Joy 101 February in Scottsdale, Arizoabout five months later. Now, instead of showing up na. Next up is a fall retreat at at Rockefeller Center at 4 a.m. a Ritz-Carlton hotel in Amelia every day, the veteran anchor Island, Florida. Tickets startoversees the new company’s ing at $3,300 are on sale now. growth strategy Plans for Joy Fest and about 20 mostly “All roads lead to New Orleans, and that’s next year in New remote employees the way it’s worked for me my whole career. Orleans are still from a second-floor coming together, office above a bank That’s why hardly a day on the ‘Today’ show but Kotb said she i n We s t c h e s t e r went by where somebody didn’t hold up a expects between County, just north 1,500 and 2,000 peoWho Dat sign outside the window.” of New York City. ple to attend. Gaines, the HGTV Swensen said she HODA KOTB d e s i g n e r, g a v e and Kotb were inthe place a maspired by another jor makeover before Joy 101 appearances on the app, intro- longtime New Orleans-based moved in. ducing experts, delivering pep gathering as they chose the loKotb gets help from Sw- talks and offering personalized cation. “Hoda and I remember the ensen, who lives in New Or- messages. Since the launch, she’s also first Essence Fest, the original leans’ Lakeview neighborhood, and several other co-founders, focused on bringing Joy 101’s ‘party with a purpose,’ and we watched them grow,” she said. including her sister Hala Kotb. content to new places. In January, she launched the Together, the partners are fine tuning a strategy to compete mobile interview show “Joy New Orleans connections in the $6.8 trillion — yes, that’s Rides” on Joy 101’s YouTube Kotb’s Joy 101 collaborators trillion with a “T” — global channel, which already has include many prominent nawellness industry, which has more than 200,000 subscribers. tional figures, like neurosciengrown 35% since the pandemic In June, she launched the “Joy tist Wendy Suzuki, a professor as interest in health and well- 101 with Hoda Kotb” podcast, at New York University; and being has increased worldwide. talking to experts about how Maria Shriver, the journalist, One of their more established to find happiness during major former California first lady and competitors in the app space life changes and challenges. member of the Kennedy famis Calm, a 14-year-old digital Both shows bring in sponsor- ily. The startup’s co-founder wellness company valued at $2 ship revenue. and executive chair is Mike billion. Kotb published the book Xenakis, one of the founders After a free trial, Joy 101’s “Jump and Find Joy” last year. of the successful technology members pay about $17 per She also hosts live “happiness company Open Table. month or a $100 annual fee to hours” online that sometimes But Joy 101 has a lot of New access content about sleep, feature her former TV col- Orleans connections as well, all

tracing back to Kotb’s stint at WWL from 1992 to 1998. Former New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees and Grammy-winning musician Jon Batiste — two New Orleans icons — are advisers. And because of relationships like this, Swensen believes the city is the perfect place to kick-start the venture’s ﬁrst “enterprise” partnership, selling bulk subscriptions at a discount. She and Kotb met Ochsner CEO Pete November several months ago to successfully pitch the idea, with help from Benson, who said the app “gives people practical tools they can use every day.” Swensen said Joy 101’s bitesized exercises make sense for the fast-paced environment of a healthcare system that’s also the region’s biggest private employer. “People are encouraged to use it on the clock because it gives a moment to recharge and refocus,” she said. “We want to help people in highstress, high-performance environments perform better.” Now Kotb, Swensen and their partners and investors are hoping the Ochsner deal will lead the way for more companies in more cities to buy in — but Kotb said she wants the growth to happen organically. “I don’t know where we’ll wind up in the end, but I believe it will be a great place because we’re helping people,” Kotb said. “Karen is my best friend and one of the smartest people I know, and to bring in Gayle, Drew and Jon into the equation, it all makes sense. We’re going to go where the energy ﬂows.” Email Rich Collins at rich. collins@theadvocate.com.

Workforce impact The predictability of the lease sales will have impacts reaching far beyond big industry, Faucheux said. With predictable sales comes predictable jobs, he said, because people can count on offshore energy jobs being available in about 10 years from the recent sales. “It is a reminder for us that not only is the industry strong, but that we have now created another decade of opportunity for kids,” Faucheux said. Most of offshore energy production is serviced out of Port Fourchon in Lafourche Parish, which leases waterfront space to companies that provide services like vessel cleaning or repairs, powering the Gulf drilling that provides 15% of U.S. crude oil. Progress in the offshore energy sector is contingent on the concurrent growth of infrastructure to support it, he said. Ensuring Port Fourchon’s channels are dredged to proper depths and permitting new pipelines is necessary to support the industry, he said. “We’re headed in the right direction,” Faucheux said. Email Ianne Salvosa at ianne.salvosa@ theadvocate.com.

The Acadiana Advocate ● theadvocate.com ● Sunday, August 23, 2026 ● 3E

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TALKING BUSINESS A S K T H E E X P E RT S

Nearing $1B in assets, credit union is not done growing Staff writer

Q&A WITH JANE VERRET

Campus Federal Credit Union CEO Jane Verret has her eyes set ahead of the curve. The financial services industry is constantly changing, she says, with developing technologies, fluctuating interest rates and evolving customer needs. As the credit union has grown from about $150 million in assets when she joined the company in 1997 to nearly $980 million in assets today, she’s positioned Campus Federal “near the forefront” to find ways to increase efficiency and access to members while being cautious about their investments. Campus Federal was founded in 1934 and serves LSU faculty, staff, students and members of alumni associations. In 2023, the credit union opened a branch on Siegen Lane in Baton Rouge with a hub for mortgages, lending options and business services. An Airline Highway branch is set to open by the end of the year, replacing the Long Farm Village location. The southernmost part of East Baton Rouge and Ascension parishes is becoming a hot spot for bankers, targeting the area due to Ascension’s burgeoning business opportunities like Hyundai’s steel mill. The credit union says it has more than 44,000 members and operates 11 branches in Baton Rouge, New Orleans and Shreveport. Campus Federal’s accessibility and community connections set them apart, Verret said. “It’s a challenge because Louisiana is a takeaway market in banking,” Verret

We can help you with that, too, and we’re here to tell you about the path forward when that happens. Making it an educational process has relieved some fears and some nerves about the interest rate environment. You said people who were waiting are getting into it now. What changed? They’re running out of patience. It’s just realizing that life goes on, and there are options regardless of how things seem at that moment, and rates seem really high to us because they’ve been so low for so long. I’d love to talk now about your LSU roots and partnerships. Can you tell me what that relationship looks like today? We do a lot of ﬁnancial literacy training for students, for faculty, for staff. We sponsor and support a lot of events on campus and try to stay as plugged into that community as possible. We have ambassador groups on each of those campuses, and they are really telling us what needs we can meet for people who are in the LSU community. They are singing the praises of Campus Federal to their co-workers and to new people that come to campus. They’re really great conduits of information for us to know if something’s going wrong with a product or if there’s something that people don’t like about something that we’re doing. I was reading in Forbes that Gen Z is really starting to use credit unions more so than banks, and this might be par for the course for you guys

BY IANNE SALVOSA

CEO OF CAMPUS FEDERAL CREDIT UNION

STAFF PHOTO By PEARL SPURLOCK

CEO Jane Verret has positioned Campus Federal Credit Union ‘near the forefront’ of the financial services industry to find ways to increase efficiency and access to members while being cautious about their investments. said. “Some people view it as a commodity, so positioning yourselves to be unique and to provide a unique service is a difﬁcult challenge.” In this week’s Talking Business, Verret discusses banking industry trends, Campus Federal’s LSU roots and banking with Gen Z. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. How have banking standards changed over time? Banking is a complicated business because people expect all the latest and greatest with technology and ease of access and convenience from a digital standpoint, but they also like to have a location close to them where people can be the expert and give them advice. We’ve tried to evolve

both with where we put our physical locations for convenience, and also with the digital technologies. It’s an expensive proposition to do both at the same time. But doing the things we’ve done digitally makes it so much easier, and we’ve really focused on are what technologies are the most important for making our lives easier of our members. Does it make it easier on your employees as well? It does. They have to adapt, of course, to the changes, but it allows them to be those problem solvers when a member comes in. What have you noticed in terms of lending trends? It’s been interesting watching people’s reaction to the rate environment

changing. Are they going to go up? Are they going to go down? Should we wait to make a purchase? I think for a little while, while rates have been a little bit higher, most consumers we’ve seen hold off, and we saw lending kind of pull back a little bit to say, “Oh, I don’t. I’m going to wait. They’re going to come down. Then I’ll buy that house. Then I’ll buy that car. Then I’ll do whatever.” But we’re seeing the people who were waiting now going, “I’m going to get into it now.” We explain to them how they can go ahead and buy that house, get that mortgage and how refinancing in a few years if rates do go down is not that difﬁcult.

since you have the LSU connection. But have you noticed a strengthened need from that demographic? Definitely. That group looks for meaning. The things that the credit union offers that are more based in doing the right thing for people really resonates with that group, and it’s great to see that happening because our ability to gain new members as students come onto campus has greatly changed as things have evolved. Once upon a time when I ﬁrst started at the credit union, we would set up tables in the union every August, and students would come in and open their accounts as part of their cometo-campus process, and then it got to where they don’t need that anymore because they can bank electronically with Mom and Dad’s bank in Kalamazoo, Michigan, or wherever they’re coming from, all across the nation, all across the world. That made it a little more challenging. How do we make them know that they can and should bank with us because we’re right here? Being creative in how we tell our story, making sure our website is good and says who we are and what we offer, has become even more meaningful because they’re looking and they want to bank with someone that has similar values or supports things that they care about. It’s really changed the way we approach that group. Email Ianne Salvosa at ianne.salvosa@ theadvocate.com.

$2.8 billion in customer savings. And that’s just the beginning. Over the next 20 years, Entergy Louisiana customers will see $2.8 billion in bill savings from Entergy data center service agreements under our Fair Share Plus pledge. Our Fair Share Plus pledge protects existing customers and ensures data centers pay their fair share for the power they use. Customers across the state will also see economic beneﬁts, including millions in new community investments and tax revenues, new jobs, and stronger local infrastructure. We’re committed to powering the families and businesses we serve – today and for future generations – while keeping energy affordable and reliable for all. Learn more at Entergy.com/DataCenters/Louisiana. A message from Entergy Louisiana, LLC © 2026 Entergy Services, LLC. All rights reserved. Not paid for at customer expense.

4E ● Sunday,August 23, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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ACROSS THE REGION

Amazon plans third northwest Louisiana data center Shreveport announcement delayed by lawsuits BY LIZ SWAINE Staff writer

Amazon Web Services announced plans to build a third data center in northwest Louisiana, bringing its total investment in the area to $18 billion. The new west Shreveport data center at Resilient Technology Park will join two facilities already under construction: one in Bossier Parish near Benton, the other in Caddo Parish near Blanchard, each costing an estimated $6 billion. “We’re growing here because of our confidence in the region’s infrastructure, workforce and leadership,” said Keith Klein, AWS director of data center supply solutions. The west Shreveport data center was set to be announced in February by Gov. Jeff Landry, along with the other projects. But it was pulled from the event STAFF PHOTOS By JILL PICKETT after a lawsuit filed by three Caddo Parish residents created enough Keith Klein, Amazon Web Services director of data center supply uncertainty to warrant a delay. solutions, speaks during an economic development announcement The three residents claimed the Tuesday at Government Plaza in Shreveport. Amazon is planning a city “violated its constitutional and statutory obligations” when the third data center in northwest Louisiana. The new west Shreveport data City Council voted to overturn the center at Resilient Technology Park will join two facilities already under Metropolitan Planning Commis- construction: one in Bossier Parish near Benton, the other in Caddo sion’s denial of a Special Use Per- Parish near Blanchard, each costing an estimated $6 billion. mit for the proposed data center. Though the lawsuit is still working “We’re growing here because of our confidence in the region’s its way through the courts, AWS infrastructure, workforce and leadership.” was confident enough with the outcome to move forward. KEITH KLEIN, Amazon Web Services director of data center supply solutions “It’s still pending, it’s on appeal,” Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux North Louisiana Economic Partsaid. “We’re just very confident construction jobs will be created, in the result. Of course, it’s their Klein said. nership CEO Justyn Dixon said judgment, it’s their billions of dolThe permanent jobs will be for the permanent jobs will be paying skilled trades like electricians, 150% of the statewide average, or lars.” HVAC, network specialists, engi- $90,000. New center, new numbers “I think that checks the box, and neers, operations managers and that’s what it’s about. It’s about The third campus will add to the security professionals. “These are jobs with competitive jobs, folks,” he said. 250 jobs to the northwest LouisiMore than half the subcontracana AWS jobs total, bringing the pay and comprehensive benefits,” total to 750. An estimated 2,250 said Klein. tor and vendor contracts award-

Matt VanderZanden, CEO of STACK Infrastructure, which is developing the centers for AWS, said ‘this project will pay for and construct all of the infrastructure needed to support the development.’ ed so far had gone to local firms, said Matt VanderZanden, CEO of STACK Infrastructure, which is developing the centers for AWS. Residents of the neighborhoods near Resilient Park have shown up in number at City Hall and community forums to share their concerns publicly. VanderZanden gave a nod to community concerns when he said the firm has reduced the overall development footprint by 14% making sure to preserve more green space and natural buffers around the campus. Documents filed with the Shreveport Metropolitan Planning Commission show plans are for more than a 1 million-square-foot data center and a 104,000-square-foot office building in the 313-acre technology park. “As noted previously, this project will pay for and construct all

of the infrastructure needed to support the development,” said VanderZanden, referencing a variety of water improvements. AWS will cover all expenses for new infrastructure and upgraded needed to power operations at the facility. “We’ve worked closely with SWEPCO to ensure the grid is prepared for future demand, and that the cost of serving our facilities are not passed on to ratepayers,” he said. Dixon said businesses already in northwest Louisiana are uniquely positioned to play a role in data center infrastructure. “We have multiple companies that play in that data center ﬁeld,” Dixon said. “You know, we recruited SLB out to the old GM plant with 600 plus jobs, and they build systems for data centers. We have Fibrebond, just bought by Eaton. They provide power systems for data centers. We have Gordon Inc. We have Module x. These are all companies that right now, you know, work with data centers, so we have a supply network built in already.”

The timeline is tight The construction of the west Shreveport data center is going to be a fast build. “We expect the first building to come up quick by the middle of next year, by mid-2027,” said VanderZanden. All ﬁve buildings will be completed by 2028. Susan Bourgeois, Louisiana Economic Development secretary, said speed to market is what is driving the whole push toward data center construction and the AI industry. “So we at the deBourgeois partment are trying to become, more than anything, making sure that there aren’t barriers in the way of the private sector investing and creating jobs because speed is what matters to them most,” she said.

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The Acadiana Advocate ● theadvocate.com ● Sunday, August 23, 2026 ● 5E

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INNOVATION FINDS A HOME IN LOUISIANA

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6E ● Sunday, August 23, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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NATION & WORLD

Chuck E. Cheese reinvents itself with a new era of play “If you have not been in a Chuck E. Cheese in the last four years, you have no idea what today’s Chuck E. Cheese is.”

BY ZOE KOLENOVSKY

The Dallas Morning News (TNS) Everyone knows Chuck E. Cheese. For newly minted CEO Scott Drake, that’s been a blessing and a curse. The Irving, Texas-based kids’ entertainment giant has an undeniably iconic brand identity. The eponymous mouse behind the pizza-and-arcade-games empire has been a household name for decades. And with 550,000 birthday parties a year, the company has a good reason to call itself the “birthday capital of America.” But as Drake likes to say, “If you have not been in a Chuck E. Cheese in the last four years, you have no idea what today’s Chuck E. Cheese is.” That’s because the company has been undergoing a total refresh. It’s invested millions in renovating its hundreds of U.S. locations and has implemented revamped pricing packages designed to meet families where they are. These initiatives are all intended to maximize customer value, and Drake said the company has seen an incredible boost in sales as a result. It couldn’t have come at a better time. Almost seven years ago, Chuck E. Cheese was in the hole. In its annual financial report for fiscal year 2019 (the last time one was filed publicly), Chuck E. Cheese’s parent company CEC Entertainment reported losses of $28 million. The following year, the COVID-19 pandemic forced families to stay home, strangling revenues across industries that relied on in-person customers. The party powerhouse was hit hard. In June 2020, CEC Entertainment filed for bankruptcy. Chuck E. Cheese’s fiscal woes trace back even further than its Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2020. It had been carrying a debt burden of close to $1 billion for years after private equity firm Apollo Global Management Inc. took CEC Entertainment private in a leveraged buyout. That debt, first reported at

SCOTT DRAKE, CEO of CEC Entertainment

CHICAGO TRIBUNE/TNS PHOTO By BRIAN CASSELLA

The animatronic band performs in 2017 at Chuck E Cheese in Chicago’s Lincoln Park. The Irving, Texas-based kids’ entertainment giant has an undeniably iconic brand identity. The eponymous mouse behind the pizzaand-arcade-games empire has been a household name for decades. $998 million in the company’s annual financial filing for fiscal year 2014, had only diminished by $76 million five years later. Drake was no stranger to tricky corporate finances. He’s been balancing the books at major players in the North Texas business scene for decades, having previously led financial planning teams at Farmer Brothers Coffee Co., GameStop and 7-Eleven. “I’m usually that person. I’m coming in, and I’m restructuring,” Drake said. “I’m either peeling off parts that don’t make sense, I’m adding parts that could make sense, or I’m finding cost savings and avenues and all of that kind of creative destruction to save money or make operations better.” But when he got to Chuck E. Cheese, he found that things were already running pretty smoothly.

A huge part of the company’s business is games — Drake says Chuck E. Cheese operates more video games than anyone in the world. And in almost 50 years, it has gotten good at it. There’s a technician based in almost every store to step in when games break down and minimize lost play time, keeping efficiency scores up. Employees are also highly knowledgeable. When Drake was first getting acquainted with the business before taking the job, he visited several locations almost “Undercover Boss”-style to get the lay of the land. Drake came away from his backgrounding with the impression that Chuck E. Cheese’s workforce was talented, tenured and efficient. He also felt that the leadership team was incredibly strong. All in all, Chuck E. Cheese was

presenting a foundation that Drake could work with. But it also meant he had to get creative if he wanted to shore things up even further. Step one was to revamp the brand. As Drake put it, “We’ve got to ﬁx the box before we invite people in.” The company spent $350 million on revamping all its U.S. stores — an investment that was made possible by the debt restructuring in 2020. Much of the focus was on modernizing operations. It did away with physical tickets that kids have to keep track of after they win a game, digitizing the process with Play Passes and Play Bands. It also built large video walls in every store to stream kid-friendly content alongside an interactive dance ﬂoor, making it easier for the team to craft narratives

around a certain party theme or update decor for holiday seasons, while opening an opportunity for partnerships with brands like Kidz Bop and the Harlem Globetrotters. Step two was to drive trafﬁc. As a self-proclaimed “numbers guy,” Drake turned to the data for answers. Throughout the company’s history, customers have tended to visit a Chuck E. Cheese location once or twice a year, on average. Drake immediately saw that building the frequency of those visits would be “an enormous ﬁnancial unlock.” In 2024, the company rolled out new membership models to incentivize families to come more often. It relaunched a revamped summer fun pass, which now gets families two months of unlimited gameplay and visits plus discounted food for $54.99. Previously, the most passes Chuck E. Cheese had ever sold in a year was 75,000. In 2024, it sold over 400,000. Folks are now coming in between 14 and 18 times a year, on average. Drake noted that the company’s traditional customer makes less than $100,000 a year — a cohort that has had less wiggle room in their wallets lately as the rising cost of living eats away at their disposable income. So, Chuck E. Cheese has leaned into being “the treat down the street.” “Normally they would go to the beach for the weekend, or they would go to an amusement park for a few days. They’re like, ‘Hey, we can’t get away and spend those bigger amounts of money, but we want to go do something for the kids,’ ” Drake said. “Chuck E. becomes that getaway.”

LOOKING BEYOND:

Jones Walker on Representing Louisiana’s Construction Industry Leaders Pt. II

Beyond Blueprints. Few industries depend on such a vast array of raw materials and high-tech products, or have such complex business relationships among suppliers, designers, vendors, or contractors as the construction industry. Jones Walker’s Construction Team helps clients from across the industry manage all of these moving parts. We understand the complex dynamics between — and the unique priorities of — industry participants and craft solutions that minimize disputes, manage risks, and help keep projects moving from conception to completion. Our clients’ projects are equally diverse and include major infrastructure, manufacturing facilities and plants, hospitals, marine facilities, and airports, as well as the products and services necessary to complete such facilities.

Protecting the Bottom Line When Construction Disputes Turn into Claims Owners occupy a position in construction disputes because they bear the ﬁnancial burden and risks of project failure. Unlike contractors who move on, owners live with the results for years. Claims may come from contractors, subcontractors asserting liens, or third parties alleging injury or property damage, often long after completion.

Chris Cazenave

Private owners enjoy ﬂexibility but face exposure, while public owners operate under strict rules providing protections — in either case, a prompt response is critical. Enforcing notice requirements, preserving documents, and relying on contracts, insurance, and indemnity provisions give owners a defense, while contract enforcement and early strategy protect business interests. Jones Walker is proud to help lead the way for Louisiana’s construction industry as it navigates a complex legal environment.

William H. Hines Managing Partner bhines@joneswalker.com 504.582.8000

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The Acadiana Advocate ● theadvocate.com ● Sunday,August 23, 2026 ● 7E

TECHNOLOGY

Feeling sick? More people are asking AI what to do BY GIRI VISWANATHAN

The Minnesota Star Tribune (TNS) While traveling to Portland, Peggy Dahl developed a cough so bad it left her gasping for breath after each bout. Far from her doctor, and with a sneaking suspicion of bronchitis, the Minneapolis resident turned to ChatGPT. This wasn’t the first time she had used the artificial intelligence chatbot as a medical sounding board. During a visit to her daughter in Georgia, the chatbot had correctly flagged symptoms of a urinary tract infection. On the Portland trip, ChatGPT ruled out bronchitis and urged her to find a professional. An X-ray at a nearby urgent care soon confirmed a case of pneumonia. Without ChatGPT, Dahl said, she probably would have delayed getting treatment. “It was really good,” Dahl said. “It just talks to you like your best friend.” Like Dahl, 29% of American adults say they use AI tools or chatbots for health information each month — nearly double the number two years ago, according to June survey data from the health research firm KFF. Medical experts see helpful and harmful outcomes from AI in consumer health. A health chatbot could provide clarity and more individualized guidance to patients. However, early research suggests an overreliance on AI could pose privacy risks or prevent people from seeking care when needed. “There’ve been many technological innovations in healthcare in the last few decades, but this is by far the fastest adoption of anything I’ve seen,” said Dr. Andrew Olson, a physician and professor at the University of Minnesota who has studied artificial intelligence in health care. A decade ago, Olson said, patients were searching for symptoms on Google. Now, he sees AI tools loaded on their personal devices in the exam room. Some of the systems are designed to ex-

GETTy IMAGES PHOTO By OLIVIER MORIN/AFP

Medical experts see helpful and harmful outcomes from artificial intelligence in consumer health. A health chatbot could provide clarity and more individualized guidance to patients. However, early research suggests an overreliance on AI could pose privacy risks or prevent people from seeking care when needed. plain diagnoses, evaluate symptoms and inform patients, so they come to appointments with questions. Tech companies are looking to cash in. Earlier this year, OpenAI and Amazon both launched healthfocused chatbot features for uploading medical records, test results and fitness tracker data. In June, Microsoft announced a partnership with the Mayo Clinic to develop its own health-focused AI product. Those AI models can be “empowering” when they distill dense medical data to provide accurate personalized information, triage new injuries and clarify obscure medical terms, said Martin Michalowski, an AI-focused researcher at the University of Minnesota’s School of Nursing.

But he’s wary of the limitations: Models like ChatGPT work by predicting the most likely next words in a sentence based on the texts used to train them, not by holistically generating knowledge about a topic. And he advises patients to be cautious about providing data to a chatbot they might not be comfortable sharing publicly. Besides privacy concerns, the medical results so far have been mixed. One study testing OpenAI’s ChatGPT Health model found it underdiagnosed emergency cases about half the time. Last month, a Florida pastor sued OpenAI, claiming ChatGPT led him to delay care for a critical blood clot in his lungs. Olson shares the concern that patients might blindly trust tools not designed for healthcare. He’s wary of bias in chatbots that agree with

whatever a user suggests, even if it’s not medically accurate. But he’s also optimistic about new uses for AI in the clinic, especially when it can help patients better understand their own health or decide whether to make a long drive to a hospital. “I think we should encourage people to advocate for their own health,” Olson said. “You should look stuff up. And then you should talk about it with your healthcare provider.” When lawyer Marc Berris started feeling brain fog, he thought his clinical depression was getting worse. Swapping antidepressants didn’t change his symptoms, and his primary care doctor was stumped. But an AI tool ﬂagged an important caveat. The 57-year-old from

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suburban Minneapolis had recently seen other specialists who’d prescribed the drug topiramate for weight loss, and they hadn’t warned him that brain fog was a possible side effect. He brought this AI-powered theory to his primary care physician, who helped him swap topiramate for a GLP-1 medication. Soon after, Berris’ brain fog lifted. Since then, he’s used ChatGPT to build workout plans and ﬁnd recipes to manage the nausea that can accompany the drugs. “What I think (AI) is doing is creating more informed patients,” Berris said. “Even if the information that I get through an AI tool is not spot-on, it’s at least getting me to ask the right questions of my providers.” Berris doesn’t think ChatGPT will replace his doctor anytime soon. He still trusts providers with a traditional medical school education over a machine learning model, he said. But other patients are embracing AI to make healthcare decisions. Bryan Hayes, 62, has accumulated a lot of healthcare data over nearly a decade of dabbling in the DIY longevity movement known as biohacking. Before, each test result was locked behind its own patient portal; now he has AI pore over his blood work, MRI results and lung scans together. Hayes used Anthropic’s Claude tool to build his own website, themed after the science fiction novel “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy,” where he could upload and store his results. Hayes feeds in new data, and the website uses a Claude-powered agent named “Eddie” to analyze it and provide recommendations. When he brought his AI-generated health report to a cardiologist to obtain a prescription for an uncommon cholesterol medication, he said the physician was intrigued. “In 30 years, he had not ever seen anything quite like that,” Hayes said.

8E ● Sunday,August 23, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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BUSINESS BRIEFS

Hampr announces leadership changes

Hampr, the on-demand laundry service platform launched in Lafayette, announced changes to its leadership as Laurel Hess has moved into the role of founder and president of the company. The company announced Brandon Brahms is now CEO, Kris Triplett is chief technology ofﬁcer along with its acquisition of SoCal Laundromats as a way to make a scalable laundry network. Hampr launched a commercial laundry facility in Los Angeles last month and will open another in San Diego. “This marks a pivotal moment

for Hampr and the broader laundry industry,” Hess said. “We’ve built a powerful demand engine, and now, by pairing that with infrastructure, we’re able to fully realize the potential of this model.” Hampr, which still maintains a headquarters in Lafayette, operates a platform that powers ondemand laundry services across 20 states and serves residential and commercial clients through a decentralized network.

will open a third local restaurant in Carencro. Owner Umair Abbasi announced on social media the business would move into the former Dickey’s BBQ space at 109 Wallace Broussard Road, Suite 100, next to the Super1 Foods store. It’s unknown when the building became vacant. Blazin’ Hot Chicken, based in Lake Charles, ﬁrst opened in 2024 at 1011 E. University Ave. in Lafayette and is now open in the former Wendy’s at 1240 Albertson Parkway in Broussard. The fast-casual eatery was founded by Abbasi and Adil Ali Blazin’ Hot Chicken, which has three years ago specializes in two locations in Lafayette Parish, Nashville, Tennessee-style hot

Nashville hot chicken spot to open in Carencro

chicken and others items. It also advance economic growth and inhas a Baton Rouge location. vestment throughout the parish. The position offers a starting pay of $125,000 that could be increased based on experience. Candidates from St. Landry ParOfficials in St. Landry Parish are ish or the Acadiana region are seeking a CEO for its economic preferred or those who are willdevelopment offices following the ing to relocate within six months death of Bill Rodier in June. of their start date. The St. Landry Parish Economic Applications can be sent to sledand Industrial Development Dis- search@gmail.com and must be trict has begun the hiring process received by Oct. 15. Formed in 1997, the St. Landry for the next economic development ambassador for the parish, Parish Economic Development ofofficials said. fice is a self-funded agency govThat person will work with busi- erned by a 17-member board with ness leaders, elected officials, nine appointed by the St. Landry site selectors, regional partners Municipal Association and eight and community stakeholders to by parish government.

St. Landry seeks CEO of economic development

ACADIANA INBOX Larry Lanclos as vice president and commercial relationship m a n a g e r, Tyler Pierret as commercial Lanclos portfolio manager and Ami Snell and Kelsey Breard as commercial credit analysts. Lanclos has more than two decades of business and consumer banking leadership experience with Cadence Bank, Business First Bank and St. Martin Bank & Trust. He will partner with commercial clients to deliver First Horizon Bank named customized lending and

Kristy Doucet-Touchet has been hired as senior administrative officer at Catalyst Bank. DoucetTouchet has more than 20 years of experience Doucet-Touchet in human resources, talent management, organizational strategy and leadership development. She has held leadership roles with Acadiana and Louisiana human resource management organizations.

Fool’s School: Debit vs. credit cards

If you have debit or credit cards or are considering getting one or the other, read up on their differences and their pros and cons. As you might know, when you pay with a debit card, the payment is taken directly from Motley your bank account. If Fool the payment exceeds what’s in the account, you could face an overdraft fee. With a credit card, whatever you charge on

BUILDING PERMITS

tor of family office services for Family Office Partners, a boutique multifamily office and independent advisory platform headquartered in Lafayette. Mok will help lead the firm’s approach to coordinate the complex financial lives of affluent families, working across investment management, tax strategy, estate planning, transaction advisory and broader family office needs. Family Office Partners specializes in serving entrepreneurs, private business owners, family offices and ultra-high-net-worth famiJason Mok was named direc- lies.

financial solutions that support long-term growth. Pierret has experience in treasury management, financial analysis and commercial banking. He will assist in assessing risk and managing the bank’s commercial loan portfolio. Snell will underwrite and analyze commercial loans and support relationship managers and business clients. Breard will analyze commercial loan requests and assist in managing commercial client relationships through ongoing credit support and financial analysis.

it is tapping your line of credit. You can pay your monthly credit card bill in full each month (and you should!); if you don’t, interest starts accruing, increasing the balance you owe. Using debit cards doesn’t help you build a credit history or affect your credit score, and they typically offer no rewards. They have no annual fees and no interest rates, but not much fraud protection. They do let you withdraw cash from your bank’s ATMs with no fee. Credit cards, on the other hand, often offer fraud protection, along with rewards in the form of points, miles or cash back. Their interest rates are

often quite high — recently averaging nearly 24%, per LendingTree.com — but they generally offer strong fraud protection. Some good credit cards charge annual fees, and you may need a high credit score to qualify for them. (Note that how you use your credit card(s) can boost or lower that credit score; paying bills on time, for example, can beef up your score.) Some credit cards provide additional warranties or insurance on items you buy beyond what the manufacturer or retailer offers. To learn more about credit cards, visit the “Personal Finance” nook at fool.com.

Issued Aug. 12-18

Commercial alterations

RESTAURANT: 809 Albertson Parkway, Broussard; description, commercial remodel Laredos Cantina and Grill; applicant, LaHacienda; contractor, C4 Capital; $500,000. CHURCH: 415 Robley Drive, description, none listed for Holy Cross Catholic Church; applicant and contractor, Braniff Construction; $649,221. HOSPITAL: 1214 Coolidge St., description, renovation to CT room at Ochsner Lafayette General Medical Center; applicant, MBSB Group; contractor, The Lemoine Co.; $773,184. OFFICE: 2000 Kaliste Saloom Road, description, interior tenant improvement for Cetera Financial Group; applicant, Ackal Architects; contractor, Gleason Ledet Construction; $300,000.

New commercial

OFFICE: 1340 S. Richfield Road, Duson; description, new field office for Central States Water Resources; applicant, The Sellers Group; contractor, Rudick Co.; $3.1 million. UTILITY: 120 W. St. Mary Blvd., description, gravity sewer upgrades for downtown sewer project; applicant, Domingue, Szabo & Associates; contractor, NCMC; $1.6 million. RETAIL: 801 Foreman Drive, description, Grab N Geaux store; applicant, Jas Singh; contractor, Singh Petro Solutions; $1 million.

New residential

203 NEWTOWN DRIVE: Manuel Builders, $287,125. 205 NEWTOWN DRIVE: Manuel Builders, $289,375. 106 MANSFIELD ST.: Manuel Builders, $307,750. 802 W. WILLOW ST.: Valentine Commercial Construction, $162,625. 307 HIDDEN MEADOWS DRIVE: DSLD, $433,250. 105 NEWTOWN DRIVE: Manuel Builders, $305,875. 112 CHARSKI COURT: DSLD, $253,000. 110 CHARSKI COURT: DSLD, $233,250. 113 BEXLEY COURT: DSLD, $326,750. 504 OCEANS BLVD., YOUNGSVILLE: Level Construction & Development, $221,910. 112 GRAND MANOR DRIVE, YOUNGSVILLE: CJS Custom Builders, $1.2 million. 105 SAFFRON CIRCLE, YOUNGSVILLE: Rajun Cajun Construction, $995,000. 107 BRIAR WAY, YOUNGSVILLE: Milton Hebert Construction, $500,000. 102 AUTUMN ROW, BROUSSARD: DSLD, $189,131. 100 AUTUMN ROW, BROUSSARD: DSLD, $111,060. 101 HEIRLOOM ROW, BROUSSARD: DSLD, $189,461. 300 CYPRESS FALLS DRIVE, BROUSSARD: DR Horton, $141,404. 202 SILVER STAR COURT, BROUSSARD: McLain Homes, $170,000.

The biggest stories in business, delivered to you every weekday

The Acadiana Advocate ● theadvocate.com ● Sunday, August 23, 2026 ● 9E

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ONE BIG QUESTION

What nonprofit do you support and why? BY GRACE MAYER

Staff writer

Company executives are often vocal about the corporate milestones they’ve achieved — from reaching higher revenue figures, growing their employee headcount and landing new clients or projects to investing in major expansions. They’re typically more circumspect about discussing the charitable causes and nonprofit organizations they support through financial contributions and volunteer hours — behind-the-scenes work that plays a big role in shaping and reflecting a company’s culture and mission. For this month’s One Big Question feature, we asked business leaders from across south Louisiana: What nonprofit organization or cause does your company support and why? Their answers underscored their commitments to the many worthy FILE PHOTO By JOHN McCUSKER organizations doing difficult and Periodically on Sundays, New Orleans artist and musician Nesby Phips has been hosting Reset at Sunset often unglamorous work, and events at Breakwater Park on the lakefront. The focus is on Black mental health, bringing people together to served as a reminder of the valuable role corporate support can watch the sunset, eat, dance and relax, before the start of the week. play in our communities. space to local non- effort as a tremendous way for our The organization also offers Responses have been edited for classes that help students prepare length and clarity. profits around the employees to engage with and give for ACT and SAT tests. country, selected back to their local communities. ANGELICA RIVERA As a board member for the orby the local execuCEO, president and co-founder, ganization, I get to see the numtives working out JARRETT COHEN Colmex Construction, New Orleans of our 200 offices CEO, chief investment officer ber of students we impact each around the country. and founder, JECohen & Co., As a Latina-founded company, I year. There are many kids who go New Orleans Our company’s like to focus my company’s non- through the program who go on to Reilly corporate office profit efforts on graduate from high school and get Our philanthropy at JECohen has also selects one nationwide non- evolved over the years, and lately lifting the Latino into good colleges. We also support YouthForce profit to support each year, which I’ve focused on donating to indicommunity up. We donate to Ecco NOLA, which has an internship in the past has included Dolly Parviduals and comCommunity Cen- program for rising high school se- ton’s Imagination Library and the munity events. Make-A-Wish Foundation. One of the local ter, a nonprofit niors. This year, our company picked events we donate For the last two years, Colmex that supports high to is called Reset at schoolers, first- Construction has hosted interns Ronald McDonald House, which Sunset, led by Nesgeneration college through the program. One of our is receiving free ad space through Rivera students, their par- goals is to expose them to career our company, and several of our by Phips, a local paths in the construction industry. 4,000 employees are participating rapper and artist. ents and immigrants. in volunteer opportunities through Cohen This is a commuThe nonprofit specifically offers the nonprofit’s local operations. programs that help high school- SEAN REILLY nity wellness event Our goal is to help these nonprof- Phips hosts at Lake Pontchartrain ers navigate and apply for college, CEO and president, Lamar scholarships and financial aid, Advertising, Baton Rouge its advertise their initiatives and where anybody in the community which can be especially challengEach year, our company gives missions so they can attract vol- can gather for a free picnic, meet ing for some students due to their away tens of millions of dollars’ unteers, personnel and donations. other people in the community and worth of free advertising billboard We also see this companywide listen to music. immigration status.

For the last two years, he’s hosted the event around six times each year. He creates the vibe, organizes it, sets the date, and he also pays for and provides food from a local chef and security, because the event has grown to include hundreds of attendees. The goal is to promote happiness and wellness. New Orleans is called the Big Easy, but it’s not the easiest place to live, when you think about the infrastructure, the wages, all these things that compound on top of people’s lives. You need to reset with friends and loved ones.

JOHN WOODARD

Vice president, Stirling Properties, Covington

We’ve had a long relationship with Ochsner Health and their leadership, and they’ve consistently been an organization we donate to each year. This year, we’ve committed $50,000 to Ochsner’s annual Moonlight & MiraWoodard cles Gala, which is on par with how much we typically donate to that event each year. We also donate to a number of other health care causes, including the American Cancer Society and Hogs for the Cause, an annual barbecue and music festival that raises money for kids who have pediatric brain cancer. We focus a lot of our giving on these types of causes because we have many employees and family members who have been helped by the work that these nonproﬁts do. Our donations also extend across all the markets we work in. Last year, we donated over $275,000 across all our markets, which includes Mississippi, Louisiana, Georgia and Florida. This year we’re on track to donate $125,000 in stewardship giving for this year. Email Grace Mayer at grace. mayer@theadvocate.com.

10E ● Sunday, August 23, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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Why Louisiana? The Risk and Reward Behind a $32 Billion Data Center Push

In less than 18 months, Louisiana has transformed from virtually no hyperscale data center presence to hosting three of the largest projects in the country, led by major digital leaders. A $10 billion campus in Richland Parish,1 a $12 billion investment across Caddo and Bossier Parishes,2 and a $10 billion River Bend facility in West Feliciana Parish1 represent a combined $32 billion commitment that places Louisiana at the center of the national data center boom. Construction is now underway. Developers chose Louisiana for good reasons. The state’s industrial

With conﬁrmed projects now spread across the northwest, northeast

contractors have spent decades building reﬁneries, chemical

and southeast of the state, underwriters are watching how that

plants and LNG facilities — complex, high-stakes work at scale.

geographic concentration accumulates across their books.

This expertise transfers directly to data center construction, and

Power and water draw are legitimate community concerns. Data

it’s a meaningful edge. Louisiana contractors are already building

centers consume both at a scale that strains local grids and utility

data centers across the country because they’re among the best

capacity. Some Louisiana power companies are already planning

at this type of work. Siting a project in the state keeps that talent

upgrades to support the new demand. Longer term, on-site

close, resulting in faster project delivery and tighter cost control.

generation, including small modular reactors, may reduce grid

Site selection also reﬂects a clear-eyed insurance calculation. Two of the three major projects sit in North Louisiana, near the Arkansas border. Locating away from the Gulf Coast hurricane corridor materially changes the underwriting math.

dependency for future builds. These aren’t unsolvable problems. But they need to be part of the project plan from day one.

Building success: What it takes to get it right Done right, projects of this scale bring lasting returns. The tax revenue will ﬂow into Louisiana communities over decades, into

“

These facilities are in North Louisiana because it’s more affordable to secure the coverage and limits required — it’s an insurance decision as much as a location one.

”

Troy Wagener, Area Executive Vice President, Gallagher

education, infrastructure and economic development, well beyond what direct employment from a data center operation alone would deliver. Louisiana moved early in this cycle and secured a strong position. Getting that right starts before ﬁnancing closes, with construction risk, supply chain exposures, power strategy and operational coverage all aligned from day one. That includes parametric triggers for business interruption — coverage that activates without a

The risk picture in Louisiana

physical loss — which matters when a grid failure or supply chain

Louisiana’s broader property and casualty market, by Wagener’s

delay can cost millions before a single claim is ﬁled.

current read, is stable. The insurance market is absorbing an

Gallagher’s Data Center Solutions team works with developers,

unprecedented volume of high-limit construction requests as data

contractors and operators across the full project lifecycle. To

center builds accelerate nationwide. Excess liability and commercial

connect with our Louisiana team, visit AJG.com/louisiana.

automobile liability for contractor ﬂeets — already under pressure in large construction programs — face genuine capacity constraints when a single site is worth $10 billion to $15 billion. In Louisiana speciﬁcally, those pressures are sharper: commercial automobile liability rates for construction rank among the highest in the country, and excess liability capacity for large industrial programs is genuinely constrained. That friction shows up in pricing, deductibles and what carriers will actually put on the table.

Troy Wagener

Area Executive Vice President

Scan the code to connect with us.

Climate perils compound that scrutiny. North Louisiana avoids the worst of the Gulf Coast hurricane corridor, but major storms still push wind and rain well inland. Inland ﬂooding and severe convective storms are live perils across all three project locations.

1“Louisiana’s Growing Data Center Pipeline,” BIZ Magazine, 3 Mar 2026. 2“Amazon Selects Louisiana for $12 Billion Data Center Campuses in Major U.S. Expansion,” Louisiana Economic Development, 23 Feb 2026.

AJG.com/Louisiana | The Gallagher Way. Since 1927.

The Acadiana Advocate ● theadvocate.com ● Sunday, August 23, 2026 ● 1S

Acadian.com/Membership

1.800.256.JOIN (5646)

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Annual enrollment ends

Friday, September 11.

Renew or join today.

2S ● Sunday, August 23, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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In 1971, Acadian Ambulance’s founders, Roland Dugas, Richard Sturlese and Richard Zuschlag proposed a membership subscription model that would support the company’s service. The model was based on a similar ambulance membership program that Zuschlag recalled from his home state of Pennsylvania. Acadian’s ﬁrst membership drive enrolled 8,400 members. The support of our members has been a cornerstone of Acadian’s success. The program supports numerous community service projects, including free standby service for area high school football games, fairs, festivals and other special events. The membership program also helps our company stay at the forefront of emergency medical care with the most advanced equipment and training in the industry.

Acadian member benefits include: • 30% discount on billed ambulance charges. • Enrollment in our Savings Network, offering thousands of discounted products & services.1 • Save 10% on monthly monitoring rates of Acadian On Call medical alert systems. • Receive a free doorbell camera with the purchase of a monitored security system through Acadian Total Security.2 • Exclusive access to the Member VIP phone line for specialized customer service and billing assistance. This service is provided by a third party vendor. Offers and services are subject to change without notice. Acadian Ambulance Service is not an agent of Abenity, provides no warranties related to the services provided by Abenity and hereby disclaims any liability with regard thereto. 2 Subject to terms and conditions. Call 855-222-3426 for more information.

Annual enrollment ends Friday, September 11. Renew or join today. Acadian.com/Membership 1.800.256.JOIN (5646)

The Acadiana Advocate ● theadvocate.com ● Sunday, August 23, 2026 ● 3S

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2026-2027

Members Membership rship s Program

Providing emergency medical service for 55 years Since 1971, Acadian Ambulance‘s membership program has operated under adherence to strict state and federal requirements. The goal of the Acadian membership program is to provide benefits to members when they use the ambulance service. Currently, 65% of our members are 62 years of age or older and are Medicare recipients. We also have a large number of members who are simply in need of convalescent care and protection in emergency medical situations. We credit much of our success over the years to our membership program.

Support your community The Acadian Membership Program supports the community service projects of Acadian Ambulance, such as our free standby service for area high school football games, fairs and festivals.

Enjoy exclusive benefits with Acadian Membership: Discounts on billed ambulance charges. Income insurance Exclusive access to specialized customer service and billing assistance with our VIP phone line. Savings on thousands of discounted products and services from local and national businesses through our Savings Network.* Receive a free doorbell camera with the purchase of a monitored security system through Acadian Total Security.** Savings of 10% on monthly monitoring rates for Acadian On Call medical alert systems.

This program also helps Acadian stay at the forefront of emergency medical care with the most advanced equipment and training in the industry. Members also have the option of donating to the Helping Hand Fund. Established in 1986, the fund assists indigent persons in need of EMS care through contributions from membership enrollees.

Receive quality patient care Acadian Ambulance provides compassionate and skilled medical care. Our mission is to improve the lives of our patients, customers, and employees through our innovative spirit and diverse company divisions. We are nationally accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services Ambulance stations are strategically positioned throughout our service area Our Communication Center is a model for the nation using GPS tracking of ambulances Every medic is rigorously trained in the latest procedures Every ambulance carries the most advanced life-saving technology * This service is provided by a third party vendor. Offers and services are subject to change without notice. Acadian Ambulance Service is not an agent of Abenity, provides no warranties related to the services provided by Abenity and hereby disclaims any liability with regard thereto. **Subject to terms and conditions. Call 855-222-3426 for more information.

Annual enrollment ends Friday, September 11. MyAcadian.com/Membership 1.800.256.JOIN (5646)

4S ● Sunday, August 23, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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Chef cooks with intention PAGE 3

DISCOVERy | INNOVATION | LIVING WELL

HEALTH

LOUISIANA

N O L A.C O M & T H E A D V O C AT E.C O M

S U N D AY, AU g U S t 23, 2026

Molly Kimball 1N

A1C test tells us more than glucose level Dr. Curtis Chastain, a boardcertiﬁed internist practicing at FMOL Health in Baton Rouge, joins this occasional series of columns from Louisiana doctors sharing topics for patients of all ages, including prevention, wellness tips and everyday strategies to help people stay healthy.

STAFF PHOTO By LESLIE WESTBROOK

Stella Furby, right, and her mother, Erin, talk about a dress that would help conceal Stella’s differing shoulder heights caused by spinal curvature. The walker Stella used during recovery from the spinal fusion surgery she had last year stands nearby.

ON THE ROAD TO HEALING

How one La. teenager decided to have surgery for a curved spine — and what happened next BY MARGARET DELANEY

Staff writer

Stella Furby’s back pains and aches started when she was 13. In her annual checkup before another season of school sports began, her primary physician in Lafayette noticed curves in her back and ordered Xrays immediately. Her long limbs made her a great swimmer, according to her mom, Erin Furby. “I just thought it was swimming aches and pains,” her mom said. “I just thought her body was tired from all the swim meets. I feel terrible that we didn’t notice it.” At that point, when Stella bent over, there was already a visible hump on her back. When she sat up straight, as much as she

was able, her shoulders settled at different heights. The scans of her spine showed a complete curve from the neck down, an Scurve. Scoliosis is diagnosed if there is greater than a 10-degree curve of the spine in the coronal plane, or the perspective when facing another person or patient head on. Stella’s spine curved from 18 degrees to the right at the top of her spine, 43 degrees to the left at the center of her spine and 52 degrees to the right at the bottom of her spine. “We don’t really know why this occurs,” said Dr. Patrick Farmer, a pediatric orthopedic surgeon at Ochsner Health and Stella’s doctor.

ä See SPINE, page 2X

PROVIDED PHOTO

Stella Furby, center, recovers in the hospital after her spinal fusion surgery in 2025. Her mother, Erin, is behind her.

A patient came in for his annual checkup feeling ﬁne. No complaints. No symptoms. Just the kind of man who shows up every year because he knows he should. DR. His fasting gluCURTIS CHASTAIN cose came back at 114. That’s not DOCTOR SAyS normal, but it’s not diabetic either. It falls in that uncomfortable middle ground where many people get mislabeled and leave the ofﬁce with a diagnosis they may not actually have. So I ordered a different test, one most people have heard of but few truly understand: the hemoglobin A1C. Here’s the part that matters. Your red blood cells live for about 120 days, and sugar in your bloodstream attaches to their surface as they circulate. The more sugar present, the more sugar attaches. An A1C test measures exactly that — how much sugar has been riding along on your red blood cells over the past four months. Think of it like investing. If a stock is trading at $35 today, is that a good price? You have no idea without context. It could be up from $20 last month, or down from $60. A smart investor doesn’t make decisions based on a single day’s price. They look at the 90-day trailing average — the trend, not the snapshot. That’s exactly what an A1C does for your blood sugar. A single fasting glucose reading is one moment in time. It’s affected by many variables like stress, poor sleep, or even the coffee you had on the way to the lab. It tells you what your blood sugar was doing at 7:42 on a Tuesday morning. Nothing more. The A1C tells you what your blood sugar has been doing for the past four months. You cannot cheat it with one good morning. You cannot fool it by skipping breakfast. It sees through all of it. My patient’s A1C came back at 5.4. That’s completely normal. The elevated fasting glucose was simply noise, not disease. He didn’t have diabetes. He didn’t have prediabetes. He had one borderline number

ä See DOCTOR, page 2X

Expert cancer care close to home ochsner.org/CCA

Elizabeth LeJeune, MD | Hematology Oncology

2X ● Sunday,August 23, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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Exercise, good music, conversation set healthy example Group at Metairie yMCA aims to stay ‘Fit 4 Life’

BY MARGARET DeLANEY Staff writer

Three mornings a week, eight exercisers lay out black yoga mats in a circle in a mirrored exercise room at the YMCA in Metairie. They place long-backed chairs at their individual setups along with tension bands that will go around their ankles, knees and thighs throughout a 50-minute workout class. Stretches begin promptly at 6:30 a.m. with Patt Smith 73, giving instruction over chatter about many things: the parking woes at doctors’ ofﬁces. A particularly harrowing display at church the previous Sunday in which a churchgoer fainted and got blood on the altar’s newly-installed carpet. The latest New York Times Wordle solutions. And a long, thoughtful consideration about the right word for someone who speaks multiple languages. It’s a polyglot, said Linda Walker, solving it for the group. “The boys like to chat all the way through class,” said Walker, 72. “It helps us get through it.” Walker taught high school science for 27 years in Jefferson and St. Charles parishes. In her retirement, she worked in the advocacy center for nursing homes in New Orleans. Now she’s a member of three gyms in the city and never misses a workout day. “I do something every day,” Walker said. “I like the workout. I like the people.” The need to continuously exercise as the body ages is no myth. Some form, any form, of daily movement is key to staving off both physical and mental issues

STAFF PHOTO By MARGARET DeLANEy

Linda Walker stretches using a chair in a 6:30 a.m. Fit 4 Life class at the yMCA in Metairie. that come with getting older. “Study after study after study shows that humans need to be active,” said Dr. Andrew Gottschalk, a primary care sports medicine physician at Ochsner Andrews Sports Medicine Institute. “At what age does that go away? It doesn’t.” Physical and strength decline naturally starts around age 35, but working out at any age slows this loss. Data shows that adults doubling or tripling moderate exercise recommendations, between 300 to 599 minutes weekly, lowers mortality risk by 26% to 31%, according to a 2024 study in the

American Medical Association. This class at the Y is just one example of how to do that. Building and maintaining muscle mass helps the body continue to move. Learning knew workout skills activates the brain and staves off dementia. Stretching and holding poses increases and sustains balance. “It also feels good,” Gottschalk said. “There is this positive feedback loop where we’re doing the body good. We’re increasing longevity, and not just how long you live, but the quality of that life.” While listening to The Beatles, Smith walks the Fit 4 Life class through toe-taps from left to right,

years,” one class-goer said. “That’s not nearly as long as some others here.” Carl Batura once led the class himself from 1989 to 2000 at the original YMCA location behind East Jefferson Hospital. When the Y didn’t have a home for a few years, Carl Baturataught the class at Lafreniere Park in Metairie. “I’d bring my boombox. There was mostly men in the class then, but it was the same kind of class,” Batura said. “(Patt’s) a good instructor, takes a lot of time to show new people how it goes.” He just completed renovation of an in-house recording studio featuring an 83-inch television and a pair of khaki-colored recliners after a ﬂood destroyed everything but the walls in his former ofﬁce. On the side, Batura records himself reading novels, news clips and magazines for WRBH Reading Radio, a 24/7 station for the blind and hearing impaired. While setting up his new suite, a member of his family accidentally dropped a drill on his foot. “I fell, but I saved the wine,” he said. “All the balance work in this room came to fruition.” Smith took over the classes at the Y 15 years ago and since then, the crew have formed a routine tradition that matches their workouts to their playlists: n Tuesdays at 6:30 a.m. they listen to soft rock while working on their core strength. n Thursdays at 6:30 a.m. they listen to The Beatles and stretch their joints. n And Fridays at 6:15 a.m., they listen to hard rock while strength training with weights. “I’m more fit than I would be without it,” Batura said. “I came for the balance exercises, I stayed for The Beatles.”

stepping sideways in a lunge around the room with a resistance band around the upper thighs, squats over long-backed chairs for support, leg raises and stretches, full-body sit-ups, varying straightarm and elbow planks for two minutes and calf raises. “The calves are the second heart of the body,” she said. “It’s the way the blood gets to the lower half of the body.” Many have been repeat customers to Smith strengthening session over the decades at the YMCA, although she teaches 19 classes each Email Margaret DeLaney at week in the New Orleans area. margaret.delaney@theadvocate. “I’ve been coming for eight com.

SPINE

DOCTOR

“We’re pretty convinced that there’s a genetic component to (scoliosis) because it does tend to run in families.” This all started after Stella grew 41/ 2 inches in one year. Growth spurts, especially quick ones, are often the trigger for scoliosis to become visible, according to Farmer. “We hope that it gets noticed after growth spurts in the primary care ofﬁce because usually at that point it’s not so bad that we can start treating it non-operatively,” Farmer said.

on one morning that, without the A1C, might have followed him into his medical record for years. This distinction matters more than people realize. In many ofﬁces, a single elevated fasting glucose gets stamped as “prediabetic” without any conﬁrmatory tests. Patients leave with a label, and sometimes a prescription that they don’t actually need. That label affects how they’re coded in insurance systems, how they’re rated by life insurance companies and the conversations that happen at every future appointment. More importantly, it affects how patients see themselves. One number almost changed my patient’s morning. But the A1C told the truth. If your fasting glucose ever comes back borderline, ask your doctor about checking your A1C before accepting any diagnosis. The single blood glucose rarely tells the whole story. But the trend always does.

Continued from page 1X

Choosing surgery Scoliosis is a 3D deformity of the spine that does not simply affect the spine from front to back or side to side. There’s a rotational piece to it as well. Treatments for scoliosis largely depend on severity of the curvature and the age of the patient. Curves under 20 degrees are typically monitored for both progress and pain. The ﬁrst step for most patients with curves between 20 and 45 degrees is to wear a brace. These braces are typically worn up 23 hours a day to physically correct the curve of the spine. For Stella, now 17, it was unbearable. “There was a little heat sensor (on the brace) so they could tell if I was wearing it,” she said. “But I never wore it.” Little black hash marks on the straps of the brace indicated how tight it needs to be to progress in her treatment. The brace sat underneath her chest and had a hole on one side where her rib “was completely sticking out,” Furby said. “Her ribs had nowhere to go.” Her smushed rib cage impacted how much the caged bones could grow as well as the development of her lung. Stella was often shortwinded as a result, and could not walk Cookie, her chocolate Maltese. “It felt like torture,” she said. For severe cases, with scoliosis curves over 45 degrees, surgical interventions are highly considered. “Those studies have been done. Those studies demonstrate that curves over 45 degrees typically get worse as someone gets older, usually at about a half a degree to a degree per year,” Farmer said. “The general feeling is that if we take care of those curves at a younger age at a smaller curve magnitude. One, we’re preventing progression. Two, we’re hopefully providing folks with a better quality of life as they get older.” Stella was more than eager to get in line for surgery. Her sloped shoulders had become an insecurity. Her mom

STAFF PHOTOS By LESLIE WESTBROOK

Stella Furby and her mother, Erin, talk about Stella’s recovery at their home following spinal fusion surgery in Lafayette.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU

Stella holds her dog Cookie. The Furbys show the back brace Stella wore before her spinal fusion surgery. had started to sew alternate strap lengths for dresses to homecomings and dances. “I always wanted the surgery,” Stella said. “I knew it was the only thing to make me really conﬁdent, feel better, at 100%. There was nothing else I thought would make me feel better in life than ﬁxing what was my biggest insecurity at the time.” Last year, Stella had spinal fusion surgery. Lasting 10 hours, it connected the vertebrae in her spine with two titanium rods and 21 screws.

appointments to help her regain mobility, like tying her shoes and carrying a backpack between classes. While she’s not back in the water swimming competitively, Stella is preparing for prom and a few more dances this year, with lots of dresses that show off her shoulders. “They all fit beautifully,” Furby said. “Her confidence is something that you can’t put a price on. As much as you want your daughters to have great confidence, it really has to come from them.”

She made TikToks while she was in the hospital recovering. “She found humor in the silliest things, like trying to take her hands off the walker,” Furby said. Stella came home from the hospital after four days, recovering in her father’s recliner, covered in blankets and pillows watching and rewatching her favorite movies (“The Bee Movie” and “White Chicks”) while cuddling Cookie. Now that her spine is “one big bone,” Farmer said, Stella is navi- Email Margaret DeLaney at gating her ﬁnal year of high school margaret.delaney@theadvocate. with afterschool physical therapy com.

The Louisiana Health section is focused on providing in-depth, personal accounts of health in the state. This section looks at medical innovations, health discoveries, state and national health statistics and re-examining tried and true methods on ways to live well. Health editions will also profile people who are advancing health for the state of Louisiana. Do you have a health story? We want to hear from you. Email margaret. delaney@theadvocate. com to submit health questions, stories and more.

The Acadiana Advocate ● theadvocate.com ● Sunday,August 23, 2026 ● 3X

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Eat Fit Live Fit

Molly Kimball RD, CSSD

B R O U G H T TO YO U BY

– Eat Fit Inspiring Stories – From Oaxaca to Louisiana: Chef Gabriel Balderas cooks with intention

alk into one of Chef Gabriel Balderas’ restaurants and everything feels natural, almost effortless. The spaces are warm and beautifully designed. The food is thoughtful without feeling fussy. Conversations aren’t rushed. Neither are the meals. Everything simply feels ... right. Spend a little time talking with Chef Gabriel, though, and you begin to realize none of it happened by accident. “There has to be a reason,” he said during a recent conversation for the FUELED Wellness + Nutrition podcast. “There has to be a need. We have to have a greater motive.” This philosophy touches every decision he makes.

A Childhood Surrounded by Food

Gabriel grew up in the rainforest of Oaxaca, Mexico (pronounced wah-HAHkah), where his childhood playground was also a pantry. “I grew up climbing guava trees, mango trees, tamarind trees and getting avocados and oranges,” he said. “Everybody prepares their own food. They process their own ingredients. So that was my upbringing.” Oaxaca is known for its extraordinary biodiversity and heirloom ingredients, including corn, beans, cacao, peppers and vanilla varieties that families have continued growing for generations. Gabriel calls it “the cradle of food.” “For me, as someone who cooks, who has a passion for ingredients and traceability of ingredients — where my food comes from — that’s paradise.”

full conversation. “It was an adjustment period,” he said. “I think everybody goes through a culture shock.” He began working in restaurant kitchens around age 17, first in Nashville, Tennessee and later in Birmingham, Alabama. The restaurants became more than a career. They became the place where he learned a new language, sharpened his craft and met the woman who would become his wife, Brooke. He worked in the kitchen. Brooke supervised the front of the house. “At first, we didn’t really get along,” he said with a laugh. Gabriel described restaurant culture at the time often meant the front and back of the house blamed one another when things went wrong. “The front of the house would say, ‘You guys are so slow.’ We’d say, ‘Your people make a lot of mistakes.’” Somewhere along the way, those debates became conversations. A year later, they were married. Today, Brooke is his business partner as well as his wife. Her influence is woven throughout the design and feel of their restaurants.

Why Shreveport?

Gabriel was preparing to move to New Orleans to help lead the kitchen of another restaurant with the company – but Katrina

Building a Life in a New Place

At 16, Gabriel moved to the United States with his older brother. He knew basic English, but not enough to hold a

changed those plans and he was sent to Shreveport instead. He stayed in Shreveport and within 18 years, he and Brooke raised four children, built two acclaimed restaurants and became deeply invested in the community. Earlier this year, Gabriel returned to Oaxaca to open his third restaurant, Papalotl (pah-pah-LOHTL), which means “butterfly.” Alongside the restaurant is something less familiar to most Americans — a food lab, what he first described as a “center of origin.” It’s where ingredients are transformed so every part has a purpose. “We have the idea of utilizing 100% of the ingredients, not having any waste,” he said. An orange becomes juice, pulp, citrus oil and eventually citrus salt. Native cacao becomes chocolate, drinks, savory dishes and more. Even the reclaimed wood tables in his restaurants, many hand-built by Gabriel and his team, reflect the same philosophy. “We’re intentional with the things we make.”

Molly Kimball, RD, CSSD, is a registered dietitian with Ochsner Health and founder of Ochsner’s Eat Fit nonproﬁt initiative. For more wellness content, tune in to Molly’s podcast, FUELED Wellness + Nutrition, and follow @MollykimballRD and @EatFitOchsner on social media. Email nutrition@ochsner.org to connect with Molly or schedule a consult with her team.

Brittany Strickland Photography

The Lesson Behind the Experience

Talking with Balderas always leaves me thinking about how often we mistake something that feels effortless for something that came easily. Whether it’s a remarkable meal, a beautiful space, a meaningful career or a strong relationship, the things that feel most natural are often the result of countless thoughtful decisions no one else ever sees. To hear the full interview with Chef Gabriel Balderas, tune in to Molly’s podcast, FUELED Wellness + Nutrition.

BY THE NUMBERS

NEARLy 2 OUT OF 3 KIDS REGULARLy CONSUME CAFFEINE Between August 2021 and August 2023, 62.6% of youth consumed caffeine on a given day. The top five sources of caffeine consumed by youth included both food and beverage items, including sweet bakery products and soda, according to data released in July from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Caffeine consumption in youth can disrupt sleep patterns and habits, increase

levels of added sugar and affect growing cardiovascular systems. On average,American children consumed 19.4 mg of caffeine on a given day, with the mean intakes increasing with age: 5 mg for ages 2 to 5; 12 mg for ages 6 to 11; and 30.7 mg for ages 12 to 19, according to CDC data. Caffeinated products are increasingly available to youth while guidelines for safe levels of caffeine

intake are based on adults. age group. The American Academy For children ages 2 to 11, of Pediatrics discourages sweet bakery products were caffeine consumption for kids. the top sources of caffeine However, Canada does have at 28.1% of total caffeine some basic guidelines.They intake, followed by flavored recommend the following milk (17.4%), candy (16.3%), daily limits on caffeine: soda (11.7%) and tea Ages 4 to 6: 45 mg, about a (9.6%). half cup of coffee; Among youth ages 12 to Ages 7 to 9: 62.5 mg; 19, soda (20.3%) and sweet Ages 10 to 12: 85 mg; bakery products (19.1%) and adolescents: 85 to 100 were the top sources of mg. caffeine, followed by tea The top sources of caffeine (14.6%), coffee (14.0%) and consumed by youth varied by candy (10.7%).

Caffeine consumption The mean caffeine intake on a given day among youth ages 2 to 19 in the U.S. from August 2021 to August 2023:

IN MILLIGRAMS

30.7 19.4

12 5 Ages 2 Ages 6 Ages 12 Total to 5 to 11 to 19 (avg.) Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Staff graphic

Study: Threat of mold-associated illnesses may be underappreciated BY MIKE STOBBE Associated Press

NEW YORK — A first-of-its-kind U.S. study suggests invasive mold infections may be an underappreciated — and potentially deadly — threat. The researchers detected about 450 cases in Atlanta-area hospitals over five years. About a third of the patients died in the hospital. The findings, published this week by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, come from an attempt to better gauge how common these kinds of illnesses are. The government does not require doctors to report the illnesses. “It’s kind of the first time we’ve had an estimate like this,” said the CDC’s Dr. Jeremy Gold, the study’s senior author. And it’s important to understand it now, because the problem may grow in the future, he added. Mold exposure is a recurring problem in the wake of hurricanes, floods and other natural disasters influenced by climate change, researchers have found.

“I agree that the frequency of fungal infections will likely increase with climate change,” said Dr. Jeffrey Jenks, an infectious disease researcher at Duke University. Meanwhile, there’s a growing population of older people who are more susceptible to such illnesses, Gold said. Invasive mold diseases are rare infections caused by certain species. Most people who get infected inhale mold spores, but they can also enter the body through cuts or wounds or from contaminated medical equipment. The spores don’t cause health problems for most people, but they can be life-threatening to some, including the elderly, cancer patients and others with weakened immune systems. Previously, CDC researchers ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By ALEX BRANDON estimated more than 15,000 hos- Mold grows in 2007 on the walls of a home damaged by the floodwaters pitalizations a year could be tied from Hurricane Katrina in the Gentilly area of New Orleans. to invasive mold disease. To better understand how common cases might be at a local ics to look for potential cases from nowed the number down to about level, the research team worked 2020 to 2024. 450 by ruling out patients who with four Atlanta-area hospitals They initially identiﬁed nearly may have had signs of exposure and their afﬁliated outpatient clin- 1,000 potential cases, but win- but didn’t qualify as having inva-

sive mold disease. The researchers found that hospitals can expect to see 3 to 5 cases per year for every 100 inpatient beds. The rates were higher at larger academic hospitals that tend to see more complicated illnesses. Most patients had impaired immune systems or — in a number of cases — were weakened after falling sick from COVID-19. Mold exposures can occur in hospitals or other healthcare facilities, but the study did not try to determine where each patient was ﬁrst exposed, Gold said. It’s hard to generalize what was seen in the Atlanta area to other parts of the country where mold may be more or less of a problem, he said. But it should give hospital administrators at least a rough idea about whether the number of cases they see is what might be expected or whether it’s an outbreak, Gold added. Jenks called the study’s findings “valuable,” but said “seeing results from similar studies done in different parts of the United States would be helpful.”

4X ● Sunday, August 23, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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Your health is our primary care

Ochsner Lafayette General provides compassionate, personalized care for every stage of life. From your child’s well visits and teen sports physicals to managing chronic conditions, our experienced primary care team is here to support your family’s health journey. With same-day and next-day appointments and more than 70 physicians and advanced practice providers from Lafayette to Lake Arthur, we make it easy to get the care you need when you need it. Call 337-571-1111 to schedule your appointment today.

SUNDAY, AUgUSt 23, 2026

CURTIS / by Ray Billingsley

SLYLOCK FOX / by Bob Weber Jr.

GET FUZZY / by Darby Conley

HAGAR THE HORRIBLE / by Chris Browne

ROSEBUDS / by Supr Dee

MOTHER GOOSE AND GRIMM / by Mike Peters

ZIGGY / by Tom Wilson

SALLY FORTH / by Francesco Marciuliano & Jim Keefe

ZITS / by Jerry Scott and Jim Borgman

PEARLS BEFORE SWINE / by Stephan Pastis

wonderword

scrabble grams

word game

directions: Make a 2- to 7-letter word from the letters in each row. Add points of each word, using scoring directions at right. Finally, 7-letter words get 50-point bonus. “Blanks” used as any letter have no point value. All the words are in the Official SCRABBLE® Players Dictionary, 5th Edition.

instructions: 1. Words must be of four or more letters. 2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are 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 words are not allowed.

For more information on tournaments and clubs, email NASPA – North American SCRABBLE Players Association: info@scrabbleplayers.org. Visit our website: www.scrabbleplayers.org. For puzzle inquiries contact scrgrams@gmail.com. Hasbro and its logo SCRABBLE associated logo, the design of the distinctive SCRABBLE brand game card, and the distinctive letter tile designs are trademarks of Hasbro in the United States and Canada. ©2026 Hasbro. All rights reserved. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

cryptoquote AxyDLBAAxR iS LONgFELLOW One letter stands for another. in this sample, A is used for the three L’s, x for the two O’s, etc. Single letters, apostrophes, the length and formation of the words are all hints. Each day the code letters are different.

AnsWers to ALL PuZZLes Are on inside BAcK PAGe

todAY's Word — neuritis: nu-RYE-tis: Inflammation of a nerve. Average mark 44 words Time limit 60 minutes Can you find 58 or more words in NEURITIS?

Sudoku

ken ken instructions: 1 - Each row and each column must contain the numbers 1 through 4 (easy) or 1 through 6 (challenging) without repeating. 2 - The numbers within the heavily outlined boxes, called cages, must combine using the given operation (in any order) to produce the target numbers in the top-left corners. 3 - Freebies: Fill in the single-box cages with the number in the top-left corner.

instructions: Sudoku is a number-placing puzzle based on a 9x9 grid with several given numbers. The object is to place the numbers 1 to 9 in the empty squares so that each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once. The difficulty level of the Conceptis Sudoku increases from Monday to Sunday.

hidato directions: Complete the grid so that numbers 1–132 connect horizontally, vertically or diagonally.

AnsWers to ALL PuZZLes Are on inside BAcK PAGe

Los angeLes Times sunday Crossword puzzLe — Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis “generaTion X” By yiJing CHen aCross 1 Purple or green herb 6 Discovery org. 10 “Bye-bye!” 15 Electronic music duo __ Punk 19 Skybox setting 20 North __ Sea: Kazakh lake 21 Finnish tech giant 22 Finnish currency 23 Cowboy boots, saddles, etc.? 25 Linen-lined outerwear? 27 Feed adequately 28 Drama produced in a recording studio 30 Birds associated with the Egyptian god Thoth 31 Part of BTW 33 South, south of the border 34 Broccoli part 35 Child’s complaint to Father Time? 42 “So helpful!” 46 Wee bits 47 Backless slippers 48 “Pretentious? __?” 49 Roman moon goddess 50 Get ready 51 Entourage 52 Transparent layer in the eye 55 Swine 56 Unit of corn 57 “I need to install brighter lights later”? 60 Reacted to a chill 62 Fragrant chain 63 Unwanted giveaway? 64 D-backs, in box scores 65 Not in favor 69 Printer supply 70 West Indies

country also known as the “Island of Spice” 74 Produce, as an egg 75 “Unfortunately, yes” 80 Common finds in a salmon smokehouse? 84 Mender’s target 85 Furisode sash 86 Field with a trolley problem 87 Decided 88 Window shade 89 Howler with four legs and teeth 91 Having four sharps 92 Bad look 93 Start of a religious title 94 In hot water? 97 Country known for its devotion to a General Mills cereal? 99 Currency of Vietnam 100 Kung __ tofu 101 Sargasso Sea fish 102 Bert’s favorite bird, on “Sesame Street” 105 Doozy 110 Icelandic saga 114 Charon? 116 High-strung Latin ruler? 118 Father 119 All fired up 120 “Can’t argue with that” 121 Comic-Con event 122 Name in a Chinese American dish 123 Superhero who says, “For the honor of Grayskull!” 124 Some tennis shots 125 Gave one’s word down 1 Softball clubs

2 Geographic region 3 Exchange heated words? 4 Certain closeup 5 Cantopop star Andy 6 Cabbage variety called “big white vegetable” in Chinese 7 Three-time AL MVP in the 2000s 8 South Asian wrap 9 Palo __, California 10 Mass arrival 11 Grinding tooth 12 “All right” 13 Jam 14 Dish served in a sizzling skillet 15 __ point 16 Arctic seabirds 17 Available for a meeting 18 Kiddos 24 Grade before grades, for short 26 Lie for, say 29 Trident-shaped letters 32 Possesses 34 Waxes, maybe 35 “Holy cannoli!” 36 Marine Corps cry 37 Ultrasound targets 38 Be theatrical 39 Can’t-miss activity 40 Otherwise 41 Oracle 42 Like favorite jeans 43 Schoolkid 44 “One Piece” medium 45 Pilsner, for one 48 Pluck 51 Green gem 52 Stage signals

53 Like last month’s deals 54 Discordant, musically 57 Badger 58 Fallingwater architect Frank __ Wright 59 Polynesian carving 61 Converse rival 66 Spot 67 Chef’s collection 68 Speedy fish

goren Bridge

70 Exhibits brilliance 71 K9 of “Doctor Who,” for one 72 Cast out 73 Like postmarathon muscles 76 French brother 77 “This is not a __!” 78 Exodus mount 79 Eye-related 81 Mattress choice 82 Fillet’s lack

wuzzLes

83 Peak 88 Cutter with four legs and teeth 90 Ships overnight, in a way 92 Wearing 47-Across, perhaps 93 Expected 95 [And it’s gone!] 96 Some belly buttons 97 GoPro product 98 Spanish “but”

100 Less polluted 102 Furtive “C’mere!” 103 “For real?” 104 Greek wrap 105 Mammoth 106 Like some LAX flights 107 Roman emperor after Claudius 108 Wormlike larva 109 Holiday precursors 111 James Bond’s first movie foe

112 Trail cam regular 113 Soap Box Derby rod 115 Cry of exasperation 117 __ and downs

super Quiz

Careful timing

Take this Super Quiz to a Ph.D. Score 1 point for each correct answer on the Freshman Level, 2 points on the graduate Level and 3 points on the Ph.D. Level.

North had a terrible problem in the auction. His partner had shown a preference for hearts over spades, but he had not promised any high cards, or any particular length in hearts. North bravely gambled and bid a slam. South had a reasonable hand and the slam had play, but it required careful handling. Declarer must anticipate bad splits after an opponent pre-empts. If the trumps split 4-0, South would need a 3-2 split in spades. A 5-0 spade split can probably not be handled, but there are chances against a 4-1 split. South ruffed the opening club lead in dummy and tested the trumps by cashing the ace. When both opponents followed suit, South cashed the ace of spades and led a diamond to his ace. He led his remaining spade toward the dummy. West could not gain by ruffing, so he discarded a club. Dummy’s king of spades won the trick and South then ruffed a spade with the queen of hearts! Had he ruffed with the nine, West could have over-ruffed and led another heart, leaving South a trick short. South ruffed a diamond in dummy and now ruffed

SUBJECT: CANADA (Example: How many provinces are there in Canada? Answer: 10.) FRESHMAN LEVEL 1. What is the capital city of Canada? Answer________ 2. Which province has the most people? Answer________ 3. What is at the center of the Canadian flag? Answer________ 4. What three oceans border on Canada? Answer________ 5. What is the most populous city in Canada? Answer________

a spade with the nine of hearts. West over-ruffed and led a club, but the spades were now established. South ruffed in dummy, drew the last trump, and claimed his slam. Good work! Tannah Hirsch welcomes readers’ responses sent in care of this newspaper or to Tribune Content Agency inc., 2225 Kenmore Ave., Suite 114, Buffalo, Ny. 14207. E-mail responses may be sent to gorenbridge@ aol.com. © 2026 Tribune Content Agency

ANSWERS TO ALL PUZZLES ARE ON NEXT PAGE

GRADUATE LEVEL 6. Name the only country larger than Canada by area. Answer________ 7. What is the national anthem? Answer________ 8. Canada’s government is not headed by a presi-

dent but by a _____. Answer________ 9. In addition to its provinces, Canada has three _____. Answer________ 10. What is Canada’s smallest province? Answer________ PH.D. LEVEL 11. Who was the first prime minister of Canada? Answer________ 12. For what does “NAFTA” stand? Answer________ 13. What is the name of the one major league baseball team in Canada? Answer________ 14. Which province extends farthest to the east? Answer________ 15. What is the name of the large island off the coast of British Columbia? Answer________

zodiaC VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Pay attention to detail, and engage in activities that enrich your life. An active lifestyle will lead to better choices, less stress and fewer illnesses. Spend more time and effort doing the pastimes you enjoy most. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) Move forward cautiously. The right move will lead to happiness and prosperity; the wrong one will lead to regret. You’ve got time to do your research, so don’t let anyone pressure you into taking a leap of faith. SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) Divvy up what’s on your agenda, and rearrange your plans to ensure you

get time for self-care. Taking care of matters that reduce stress will make you aware of what’s best for you. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) Put more time and effort into your home, relationships and learning how you can improve your life and daily routine. A chance to network will help you recognize an opportunity you didn’t realize was feasible. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Pay attention to detail when dealing with money, health and contracts, and you’ll figure out how to maintain a budget and enjoy what life has to offer. Be patient.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) If you look for the good in everything and everyone, you’ll prosper. An unusual opportunity to fulfill your professional dreams looks promising. Don’t buy into someone else’s plans. PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) Participate in events that get you moving, engaging and meeting new people. Explore what’s available to you and how you can take advantage of situations that develop. ARIES (March 21-April 19) Discipline versus impulse will sum up your day. If you let your emotions lead the way, you’ll probably face setbacks

and regret. Take time to address the pros and cons of every situation before you make a move. TAURUS (April 20-May 20) Be brave, not gullible. Critique every choice before you launch your next move. Dedicate more time and effort to self-improvement and realizing what’s best for you and your budget. GEMINI (May 21-June 20) You can’t buy love. A change of heart will coax you into bringing about personal and lifestyle changes. Check your finances before you commit to or buy into something that may stretch your budget.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) Emotional situations will mount if you or someone close to you withholds information. Be forthright, and if you are suspicious of what someone is telling you, be blunt. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) Live and learn. How you address love and personal incentives will determine the outcome. Rise to whatever occasion brings you the most joy. The horoscope, an entertainment feature, is not based on scientific fact. © 2026 by NEA, inc., dist. By Andrews McMeel Syndication

dustin / by Steve Kelley & Jeff Parker

Answers to puzzles super quiz 1. Ottawa. 2. Ontario. 3. A (red) maple leaf. 4. Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Arctic Ocean. 5. Toronto. 6. Russia. 7. "O Canada." 8. Prime minister. 9. Territories. 10. Prince Edward Island. 11. Sir John A. Macdonald. 12. North American Free Trade Agreement. 13. The Toronto Blue Jays. 14. Newfoundland and Labrador. 15. Vancouver Island. SCORING: 24 to 30 points — congratulations, doctor; 18 to 23 points — honors graduate; 13 to 17 points — you’re plenty smart, but no grind; 5 to 12 points — you really should hit the books harder; 1 point to 4 points — enroll in remedial courses immediately; 0 points — who reads the questions to you?

Cryptoquote Answer Saturday's Cryptoquote: Friends, sun, sand and sea, that sounds like a summer to me. — Unknown

word GAme Answer nest niter nurse etui unit unite unrest unset untie urine ursine user rein rent resin rest rinse

rise risen rite ruin runt ruse rust inert insert inset insure inter inure iris tern tier tine

tinier tire tries trine triune true tune tuner turn sent sine sire siren site snit stein stern

stir stun suer suet suit suite sure

sudoKu Answer jumble Answer

Crossword Answers

jeFF mACnelly’s shoe / by Gary Brookins & Susie MacNelly

sCrAbble Answers

FoXtrot / by Bill Amend

wuzzles Answers

Ken Ken Answers

hidAto Answers