The Acadiana Advocate 08-30-2026 by The Advocate

Remembering a titan of LSU athletics

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S u n d ay, au g u S t 30, 2026

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La. juvenile detention facility under scrutiny Concern raised after 5 guards arrested in 16 months

been arrested and charged with a crime that prohibits prison guards from engaging in sexual conduct with detainees. Lawmakers are now raising concerns about the number of arrests at the Acadiana Center for Youth BY MEGHAN FRIEDMANN in Bunkie. So, too, are criminal jusStaff writer tice advocates, who say the cases Over the past 16 months, five are indicative of a broken Ofﬁce of women who worked at a Louisiana Juvenile Justice system that fails juvenile detention facility have to protect youth and lacks appro-

priate oversight. When asked about the arrests, the OJJ, which manages juveniles who enter state custody for criminal convictions, said in a statement that it takes misconduct allegations seriously and investigates “inappropriate conduct between staff and youth in custody.” “Employees are placed on ‘no contact’ status during investigations, and violations of policies re-

garding Staff/Youth Relationships can lead to disciplinary action, including termination,” the statement says. Since May 2025, OJJ’s investigative unit has arrested 18 employees on criminal charges, according to the agency. The ofﬁce runs the Bunkie facility, which houses males, along with several other high-security detention facilities across the state.

ON THE FLY The Blue Angels perform over Lake Charles

Young offenders may stay in OJJ custody until they turn 21. The exact nature of the allegations against the women who worked in Bunkie remains unclear. All are facing malfeasance in ofﬁce charges in Avoyelles Parish tied to alleged inappropriate behavior toward youth in their custody, according to Charles Riddle,

ä See FACILITY, page 7A

Many Lafayette students lack stable housing More than 1,100 can get range of services BY JOANNA BROWN Staff writer

19.2%. That includes a decline of 18.6% in the New Orleans region; 20.1% in the Baton Rouge region; 17.2% in the Lafayette region; and 19.2% in the Shreveport region. Monthly reports from the Health Department also show that most of the removals were for procedural reasons, like failing to provide required paperwork or complete interviews. In November and January, for example, 81.2% of removals were for procedural reasons.

Around 28,000 students are enrolled this year in Lafayette Parish schools, representing a huge range of interests and talents, socioeconomic backgrounds, foundational experiences and future goals. The vast majority of those students also have one thing in common: They have a stable, secure address to go home to each night. But every year, some students live a different story. Last year, 1,107 children in the Lafayette Parish school system were enrolled as unhoused students, meaning they were living in shelters, hotels or motels, doubled up with another household because of economic hardship or housing loss, or in other unstable living situations. Some were unaccompanied youth. Others were living unsheltered, including in cars, parking lots or uninhabitable buildings. These students attend school across every grade, from pre-K and elementary school to middle and high school. Often, their teachers and principals don’t know that they are experiencing homelessness, according to Amy Fontenot, who is the federal programs manager for the Homeless Education Program at LPSS. She said all 46 schools in the system have unhoused students enrolled — some around 30 to 40 kids. “I always pride myself when a principal says, ‘Well, I must not have any homeless kids at my school. I’m not aware of any.’ Yes, you do have them actually, but we make sure they’re blending right in and doing their absolute best. “That is our goal. They’re not cutting up, they are not failing anything, they’re not causing trouble on campus. We do not want anyone to know who our students are — except the counselors, who are our ﬁrst line of defense when a kid is needing something,” said Fontenot, who manages a range of services and resources

ä See ACCESS, page 6A

ä See STUDENTS, page 7A

ABOVE and RIGHT: The Blue Angels perform during the Thunder over Louisiana air show at Chennault Airport in Lake Charles on Saturday. LEFT: Spectators look to the sky during the air show. STAFF PHOTOS By BRAD KEMP

Thousands lost food-stamp access in La. in past year Among those removed, most lost benefits for procedural reasons

declines than most states. Democrats and advocates for low-income people say the drop vindicates their concerns that the One Big Beautiful Bill Republicans passed last year will make people go hungry. But GOP leaders argue it’s proof that they are tackling abuse of the program, reining BY MARK BALLARD in its growing cost, and freeing people from Staff writer dependence on government. Louisiana Department of Health reports WASHINGTON — The number of people on food stamps plummeted over the past year after show the number of households in the SupRepublicans in Congress and the Trump Ad- plemental Nutrition Assistance Program deministration implemented more stringent creased from 396,857 in July 2025 to 320,603 requirements, and Louisiana saw steeper cases at the end of this June — a decline of

WEATHER HIGH 94 LOW 75 PAGE 6B

Business ......................1E Deaths .........................3B Nation-World................2A Classified .....................8D Living............................1D Opinion ........................4B Commentary ................5B Metro ...........................1B Sports ..........................1C

102ND yEAR, NO. 61

2A ● Sunday, August 30, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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FROM WIRE REPORTS

Far-right provocateur Yiannopoulos deported

British far-right commentator Milo Yiannopoulos was deported to the United Kingdom after his arrest by American immigration authorities, U.S. officials said Saturday. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said Yiannopoulos was returned to his home country Friday after being accused of overstaying after entering the U.S. legally in May 2019. An immigration judge issued a ﬁnal order of removal July 22 after he failed to show up for an immigration hearing, a Homeland Security spokesperson said. Yiannopoulos was arrested Thursday at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport in Louisiana and detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. “He chose to overstay his welcome in violation of our nation’s laws,” a Homeland Security spokesperson said in a statement. Yiannopoulos and his representatives did not respond to requests for comment, and he has not posted on the social platform X since Thursday. Yiannopoulos is a well-known champion of conservative causes and has frequently taken provocative public positions criticizing feminism, Islam and immigrants. He has been especially supportive of President Donald Trump’s aggressive immigration enforcement policy, aimed at people in the country illegally.

Scientists probe herpes virus in sardine deaths

JOHANNESBURG — Scientists in South Africa are investigating why masses of sardines have washed up dead or dying along parts of the country’s west and south coast — and if a herpes virus detected in the fish is responsible. The mass mortality of sardines this month has so far stumped the country’s Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, though scientists have come to at least one conclusion: it is the first time that the virus in question — pilchard herpesvirus, or PHV — has been identified in sardines off South Africa. PHV, which was linked to two mass sardine mortality events in Australia in the 1990s, can cause inflammation and thickening of sardines’ gills, which interferes with their oxygen uptake, according to the South African environment department. Sardines and pilchards are the same type of fish, with sardines being the younger, smaller ones. PHV is a fish virus and poses no known risk to human health, the department said, and its detection does not mean that healthy sardines caught commercially or canned sardine products are unsafe to eat.

Push to rename airport for Parton gets boost

A push by fans to rename Nashville’s airport for Dolly Parton appears to be taking ﬂight just days after the country music icon’s death. Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee and the CEO of the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority both came out in favor of the name change Friday. It’s expected to come up at the authority’s meeting next month. Long before 80-year-old Parton died Tuesday, fans in January 2025 started an online petition calling for officials to rename Nashville International Airport in her honor. It got renewed attention following Parton’s death, jumping to more than 155,000 signatures Friday. The change would make Parton the ﬁrst woman whose name adorns one of America’s 50 busiest airports. The governor said he’s already discussed the idea with representatives for Parton.

CORRECTION A story and headline in Saturday’s newspaper should have stated that District Attorney Hillar Moore ﬁled a bill of information formally charging former LSU player Richard Murphy in a crash that killed two people. The Advocate regrets the error.

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UKRAINE

Russian strike on warehouse kills 37 Attack is war’s deadliest this year

BY KATIE MARIE DAVIES, DAN BASHAKOV and VOLODYMR YURCHUK Associated Press

MYLA, Ukraine — A Russian drone struck a warehouse west of Kyiv that Ukrainian ofﬁcials say was storing shells, mines and other ammunition, sparking massive explosions and fires that swept through dozens of nearby homes and buildings and killing 37 people. The Friday night attack on the warehouse in Myla, a village in the Bucha district, was the war’s deadliest attack this year and came on the second of three days of nearly round-the-clock Russian strikes that have severely disrupted life in and around the Ukrainian capital. Attacks on the capital and, to a lesser extent, the rest of Ukraine have been nearly constant since Thursday. Kyiv officials say Russia builds up missile stocks and launches major attacks every few days, hoping to exhaust Ukrainian defenses through the sheer weight of numbers. The warehouse strike sparked fires that raced

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By DAN BASHAKOV

A destroyed car sits amid damaged buildings with a road sign showing the direction and distance to Kyiv and Zhytomyr on Saturday after a Russian attack struck a warehouse, followed by an explosion, in the village of Myla, Kyiv region, Ukraine. through homes and damaged at least 50 residential buildings, said Tymur Tkachenko, who heads the local regional military administration. He was later cited by local media as saying 34 of the people killed were residents of a care home for elderly and disabled people. More than 370 people were evacuated. The blasts rocked Myla, causing people to frantically seek cover. “At about 8 p.m., the drone hit a warehouse somewhere and then the detonation began,” Oleksandr Vodolaz, a village resident, told The

Associated Press. “No one knew that weapons were stored there.” As crews raced to get people to safety and extinguish blazes, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the attack as a “terrible situation” and said it appeared to be the result of “terrible negligence on the part of those who stored explosives right next to people.” He noted that Ukrainian law forbids the storage of ammunition close to people’s homes and said criminal proceedings had been opened.

“Those who allowed this to happen must be held accountable for their decisions,” the president said. In a social media post Saturday, Zelenskyy shed more light on the situation. “The first strike was on an ammunition storage site that definitely shouldn’t have been there — a Defense Forces storage facility. Shells, mines, other ammunition, and drones detonated.” Ukrainian Prime Minister Serhii Koretskyi didn’t specify what was in the warehouse, but he referenced a July attack on the

Kyiv suburb of Vyshneve that struck an ammunition depot, killing 22 people and triggering detonations and ﬁres that tore through nearby homes. “Unfortunately, we can already see that the terrible tragedy in Vyshneve did not become a lesson,” Koretskyi said. “In the ﬁfth year of a full-scale invasion, making the same mistakes is criminal negligence. And all those guilty, without exception, must be severely punished so that such situations do not happen again.” The 37 killed surpassed the 31 who died in a July 2 strike on Kyiv, which had been the war’s deadliest attack of 2026. Russia’s Defense Ministry said it hit a warehouse in Myla that was storing components and launch boosters for long-range drones. It also said it attacked the ports of Mykolaiv and Izmail, and a logistics center and warehouse facilities storing parts for Ukraine’s Flamingo cruise missiles in the Kyiv region. Russian strikes damaged homes and apartment blocks in the southern Kherson region on Saturday, killing two people and wounding 27 more, including a child, Oleksandr Prokudin, head of the region administration, said in a statement.

Nepal-China flood survivors reach safe areas Families await news of nearly 3,000 missing

BY VICTORIA MILKO and SHRISTI KAFLE Associated Press

NUWAKOT, Nepal — As rescue efforts in communities buried by catastrophic flash floods along the Nepal-China border entered their fourth day Saturday, authorities were still finding survivors and transporting them to safety. At relief centers, while some arrived, families of others waited anxiously for news of their loved ones as the death toll and the number of people unaccounted for continued to rise. After Nepali authorities updated their figures Saturday, the combined toll in Nepal and Tibet rose to 676 dead and nearly 3,000 people missing. Chinese authorities have reported seven deaths and more than 550 missing, while Nepal’s disaster agency said the death toll had climbed to 669 with 2,426 people

early morning, desperately ed homes. One boy walked out of the searching for news of missvillage carrying muddy san- ing loved ones. Many shuffled between the dals from his house. Another woman, Shoba Shretha, re- help desk and the hospital noturned to find Sweetie, the tice board, clutching photodog she was forced to leave graphs and scanning injured behind when the floods came. patients’ lists in the hope of Shretha sat on the ground finding them. petting her and feeding her Dil Maya Lama stood weepwater from a bottle. ing outside the help desk at At some point, relief coor- the hospital, searching for indinators cleared villagers, formation about her missing reporters and volunteers 26-year-old brother, a driver ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By RAJESH KUMAR SINGH from the entrance to Trishu- for a hydropower company li, as excavation equipment in Rasuwa. She had traveled Residents carry their belongings salvaged from their drove into the flooded village from Ramechhap, about 80 damaged homes filled with mud and debris on Saturday to dig. miles away. in Devighat, in Nepal’s Nuwakot district, following “I came here with the hope In Kathmandu, Nepal’s capital, relatives and friends that I might find him,” she Wednesday’s flash floods. gathered outside the main said. “There is no informamissing. his back to a medical tent. government hospital from tion about him.” More than 3,700 people Most arrived with nothing have been rescued in Ne- except the clothes they GET IN TOUCH were wearing. pal so far. About a dozen people In Nuwakot, one of the Customer Service: HELP@THEADVOCATE.COM or 337-234-0800 Nepali districts devastated emerged from another heNews Tips / Stories: NEWSTIPS@THEADVOCATE.COM by the floods, helicopters licopter. Soldiers carried Obituaries: 225-388-0289 • Mon-Fri 9-5; Sat 10-5; Closed Sun arrived loaded with boxes several babies who had Advertising Sales: 337-234-0174 • Mon-Fri 8-5 and bags of aid, including been evacuated. Classified Advertising: 225-383-0111 • Mon-Fri 8-5 clothes, instant noodles, The evacuees had been Subscribe: theadvocate.com/subscribe crackers and rice. Others brought from the nearby E-Edition: theadvocate.com/eedition returned from the flood-hit community of Trishuli. Archives: theadvocate.newsbank.com areas carrying survivors. As people were still leavAn older man was care- ing Trishuli, some village The Acadiana Advocate (USPS # 25-866) is published daily by Capital City Press, LLC at 203 W. Third St., Lafayette, LA 70501. Periodicals postage paid at Lafayette, LA ISSN 2643-7252 and additional mailing offices. fully helped off one he- residents were returning POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Acadiana Advocate, Circulation Accounting, P.O. Box 588, Baton licopter, while a soldier to see what could be salRouge, LA 70821. Newspaper carriers are independent contractors and not employees of Capital City Press. carried an older woman on vaged from their decimat-

Netanyahu condemns rioters after weeks of West Bank settler violence By The Associated Press CAIRO — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has spoken out after weeks of settler violence in the occupied West Bank and condemned the actions of a “handful of rioters.” Netanyahu condemned criminal acts by a rioters in the occupied West Bank that he said do injustice to the “law-abiding settler public.” His statement follows over two weeks of unrest in the town of Qusra, where settlers have surrounded several homes including one owned by a Palestinian American. In an unusually sharp statement, U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee referred to the settlers as “terrorists,” a word U.S. ofﬁcials usually reserve for Palestinian militants. Earlier on Saturday, Israel’s military and police said Israeli rioters arrived

in the Qusra area and violent clashes followed. They said dozens of rioters barricaded themselves in a Palestinian home while residents were inside. They said the groups were separated and rioters’ vehicles were conﬁscated. The Associated Press saw ambulances carry away injured Palestinians. Qusra Mayor Abdel Azim Wadi told the AP that two inhaled tear gas and two others were hurt when settlers threw stones. He said the house targeted was no longer under siege. “The actions of these violent extremists are a disgrace and stand in complete contradiction to the values of the State of Israel,” the foreign ministry said in a statement. The statements did not mention any arrests. Netanyahu’s government, the most ultranationalist and religious in Israel’s

history, has presided over a surge of settlement construction in the West Bank. Most of the international community views settlements as illegal, and Israel has been seeing an erosion of support in the U.S. Meanwhile, Israeli strikes and ﬁre in central Gaza killed three Palestinians and wounded others on Saturday, according to local health ofﬁcials. In Gaza City, two Palestinians were killed and another was wounded in an Israeli strike on a motorbike, according to officials at Shifa hospital. The Israeli military said it struck a “military operative,” without elaborating. Elsewhere, tank fire killed a farmer in the eastern part of Deir al-Balah, according to officials at Al-Aqsa Martyrs hospital, where the body was taken. The Israeli military did not immediately comment.

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6 months on, Iran’s leaders defying U.S. Iranian officials signal no tolerance for dissent

BY LEE KEATH and DAVID RISING

Associated Press

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — After six months of war, Iran’s leadership has coalesced around a hard core of military generals and clerics long entrenched in the ruling theocracy. They are ready for a potentially long confrontation with the U.S. and determined to prevent any unrest at home. It’s a far cry from President Donald Trump’s initial hopes of toppling the Islamic Republic and his subsequent claims that “regime change” had brought more compromising ofﬁcials to the fore. Iran’s new leaders evince little faith in any agreement with Trump — after coming under attack twice while holding talks — and they may be bracing for another assault once the U.S. replenishes its supplies of interceptors. They have also threatened to escalate the war as a continuing American blockade and Trump’s plans for new sanctions threaten to suffocate Iran’s already worsening economy. “If (Trump) wants to do something, we will retaliate in a seismic manner,” the new secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, Mohsen Rezaei, said last weekend. In a post on X, he said that “if the economic war continues, not a single drop of oil will be exported” from the Persian Gulf. Rezaei’s appointment came in a recent set of decrees by the supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, that formally set Iran’s new senior leadership, including

top military posts. Khamenei’s father and much of the highest echelons were killed in the bombing campaign launched by the U.S. and Israel on Feb. 28. Perhaps most telling was the newly named head of the Basij, the Revolutionary Guard’s volunteer street force, which played a major role in crushing January’s nationwide protests, when thousands were killed. That post went to Hossein Taeb, a hard-line cleric and longtime intelligence chief who led one of the first major crackdowns on protests, in 2009. His appointment is seen as a sign that the leadership is intent on preventing any new unrest as discontent over the economy spreads. The 56-year-old Khamenei has not been seen in public, or even appeared in video or audio, since Israeli strikes killed his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who had been Iran’s supreme leader for some 37 years. The younger Khamenei is believed to have been wounded in the strikes. His public absence could reflect the depth of security surrounding him, since he is likely in Israel’s sights, or the extent of his wounds. With the appointments announced Aug. 11 and 12, he has surrounded himself with longtime personal allies, like Rezaei and Taeb. They are “a clique of older senior officers who’ve served together over the last decades,” said Sascha Bruchmann, an analyst with the International Institute for Strategic Studies’ Middle East office in Bahrain. Rezaei, 71, led the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard during its formative years, through the entire 1980-1988 war with Iraq and until 1997. He has run for president as a hard-line candidate multiple times since 2009. Brig. Gen. Ahmad Vahidi, 68, was confirmed as head of

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By VAHID SALEMI

Motorbikes drive March 10 in a square in downtown Tehran, Iran, past a billboard depicting Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, center, handing the country’s flag to his son and successor, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, right, as the late revolutionary founder Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini stands at left. the Guard, where he has been acting commander since his predecessor was killed along with the elder Khamenei. Also confirmed in their posts were the acting commander of the Guard’s naval forces, Gen. Ali Ozmaei, and the military chief of staff, Gen. Ali Abdollahi. Bruchmann, who pointed out that Rezaei was Vahidi’s commander for many years, said the emphasis appears to be on ensuring unity. “It looks like internal cohesion, as in hard core people are being pulled into the inner circle,” he said. Homayoun Falakshahi, the top oil analyst for the global commerce information firm Kpler, wrote that the appointments of Rezaei and Vahidi show “greater influence for officials associated with a tougher stance.” Still, escalation is not inevitable, and Iran could find it difficult to “escalate enough to restore deterrence with-

out triggering retaliation that leaves it worse off,” he said. A ceaseﬁre deal reached in June quickly fell apart amid exchanges of strikes. Iran has demanded the release of billions in frozen assets as called for under the deal — as well as formal authority over the Strait of Hormuz. President Masoud Pezeshkian is one of the most prominent voices still calling for a negotiated solution. His allies argue Iran risks overplaying its hand by continuing the war as its economy suffers. “It would be better to bring the war to an end, since today we enjoy power and dignity and the entire world approved our victory, and the U.S. is hated,” Pezeshkian said last week. He has also defended the June ceaseﬁre deal against hard-liners’ accusations that it conceded too much. In contrast to ultra-hardliners who reject any talks, Rezaei has held out the pos-

sibility of a deal — if the U.S. backs down. On Monday, he told Pakistani mediator Gen. Asim Munir that the U.S. should “change its attitude and take practical action about implementing the conditions” of the ceaseﬁre deal. Tehran-based political analyst Ahmad Zeidabadi said there are “serious differences over the future path of the country.” Hard-liners oppose normalization with the U.S. because “their survival depends on the existence of conflict and hostility,” he wrote in the newspaper Hammihan, which backs Pezeshkian. So far there has been no sign of new protests even as Iranians ﬁnd it harder to afford basic staples. Taeb’s appointment as head of the Basij is a sign the leadership wants to preempt any potential unrest “before it even manifests,” Bruchmann said. “Putting someone from an intelligence background

in charge of the people that would do the crackdown makes sense,” he said. Taeb, a 63-year-old cleric, led the Basij when it played a key role in crushing mass protests that erupted against the 2009 reelection of hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Dozens were killed. Soon after, Taeb was named chief of the Guard’s intelligence apparatus. He led the agency for nearly 13 years until he was removed in 2022, reportedly in a shakeup after Israeli espionage successes. The Basij run a nationwide network of volunteers who maintain a presence in the streets, government ofﬁces and cultural centers, seeking to ensure loyalty and ideological purity for Iran’s theocracy. In the decree appointing Taeb, Khamenei ordered him to deepen the Basij presence in Iranian social life, use new technologies and “promote the Basij across the world against Zionist-American arrogance” — suggesting the group may begin to form links with Iran’s proxies abroad. The Basij boosted its presence during the war, and hard-liners have held nightly rallies in Tehran and other cities, drumming up support and intimidating any possible dissenters. It’s unclear specifically how Taeb will step up the force’s role, but in a recent speech he seemed to point to increasing control over society. He warned that U.S. pressure on the economy aimed to create divisions within Iran. “If the mosque becomes the center of the neighborhood, the nation will protect its unity, which will be a greater deterrent than any missile.” Keath reported from Cairo. Associated Press writer Nasser Karimi in Tehran, Iran, contributed.

Niger’s forces battle mutinous soldiers By The Associated Press

NTB SCANPIX PHOTO By AMANDA PEDERSEN GISKE

Presiding Bishop of the Church of Norway Olav Fykse Tveit lays flowers Saturday at the Palace Square in Oslo, Norway, to pay respects to Norway’s King Harald V.

NIAMEY, Niger — A group of soldiers in Niger rebelled against officers at a key military base and fired at sensitive locations in the capital, Niamey, in an apparent mutiny and threat to the country’s struggling junta, authorities said Saturday. Sustained gunﬁre and explosions were heard overnight into Saturday, including at Niamey’s main airport that houses the military air base and in a district where the presidential palace is located. Security forces were deployed to key locations. Since a coup in 2023, the impoverished West African country of more than 25 million people has severed ties with longtime Western

Norway’s new king pays tribute to his late father Turkish vessel late Friday from the hospiTens of tal. Across the country, thousands mourn churches and city halls

opened specially so people could light candles, and OSLO, Norway — King Haa- write their thoughts about kon VIII of Norway used the deceased king in condohis ﬁrst speech in his new lence books. role to eulogize his father, “It has been a powerKing Harald V, as ful and moving a loving parent and experience to see dedicated monarch the Palace Square a day after he died filled with people, at 89. flowers, messages “We are in mournof condolence, and candles. Thank you ing. At the same so much,” 53-yeartime, it brings old Haakon said, us comfort and Haakon VIII sitting on a wooden strength to know that so many are mourn- desk next to his father’s poring with us,” the king said trait and two white candles. “As king, my father repwearing a black suit as his speech was shown live on resented Norway and the public television. Norwegian people with After Harald V’s death on pride and joy, through visFriday morning, the crown its around the country, at prince became King Haa- events here at the royal palace, and while working on kon VIII immediately. He thanked the people for Norway’s behalf around the their outpouring of compas- world,” Haakon said. “I’m going to miss him. I’ll sion and remembered what a loving father and husband miss his laughter. His goodnatured way of dealing Harald had been. Tens of thousands of with people and situations,” mourners paid their re- he added, trying to hold spects, placing ﬂowers and back his tears as he vowed condolence cards outside to give everything for the the royal palace in Oslo, country in the future as its where the coffin arrived new king. By The Associated Press

freed after seizure by pirates, Somali officials say

BY OMAR FARUK Associated Press

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Turkish and Somali forces have freed the MV LUTUF, a Turkish vessel hijacked by pirates off the coast of the East African country, Somalia’s defense ministry said Saturday. The Cameroon-flagged vessel was hijacked on Aug. 17 in the Nugaal region of Puntland state. Four boats used by the pirates were destroyed and 14 alleged pirates were killed during the operation, the ministry said. The remaining pirates ﬂed the vessel, allowing the forces to take control of the ship. The operation was conducted under a defense cooperation agreement between Somalia and Turkey, aimed at strengthening maritime security, protecting Somalia’s coastline and combating piracy, it said.

security partners, turning instead to Russia. But the junta has been unable to stem jihadi violence and rampant killing of security forces, fueling unrest within the military, observers say. By Saturday afternoon, several analysts and two witnesses said the situation in the city remains tense. The whereabouts of Niger’s military leader, Abdourahamane Tchiani, who seized power following the coup, were not immediately clear. Niger’s Defense Minister Gen. Salifou Mody said a group of soldiers took some ofﬁcers hostage at the base and shot at “sensitive sites” in a “break with the discipline and military regulations.”

US Army Corps of Engineers

The Defense and Security Forces were able to “gradually regain control of these sites,” Mody said. Security forces were deployed around the airport and in the Plateau district, while a major road leading to Niamey was closed. Many residents remained indoors over safety concerns. The ruling military council, known as the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland, called for unity. “Our Defense and Security Forces are mobilized for the Defense of the Fatherland. Let us remain united, vigilant and supportive,” it said in a Facebook post. State broadcaster RTN stopped its live transmission for some time on Saturday

morning, but later resumed its broadcast. It is the third time this year that the base at the Diori Hamani International Airport has been attacked, after two earlier assaults by jihadi rebels. The airport is a strategic hub that hosts a Nigerien air force base as well as the headquarters of the joint Niger-Burkina Faso-Mali military force. All three countries are now under military rule, following a string of coups in Africa’s Sahel region, but are struggling with insecurity. The mutiny adds to pressure on the military authorities, which have been unable to contain deadly jihadi violence.

Public Notice

New Orleans District

NOTICE OF CHANGE IN PUBLIC NOTIFICATION PROCESS The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District (CEMVN) is modernizing its National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) public engagement process. CEMVN will discontinue mass physical mailouts of notices of availability (NOA) and 404 (b)(1) Public Notices in favor of an electronic approach to public notiﬁcation. Emails, press releases, social media, and website announcements will be used instead to notify the public and agencies of the availability of NEPA documents. To receive these email notiﬁcations, please provide your email address to mvnenvironmental@usace.army.mil. CEMVN will maintain a database of emails to ensure that interested parties receive notices when NEPA documents are available for review. If you would prefer to continue receiving hard copies of NOA and Public Notices, please provide your physical address to the email address above. Questions about the new process may also be sent to the email address above or mailed to: US Army Corps of Engineers, Attn. RPEDS, 7400 Leake Avenue, New Orleans LA 70118 Press releases can be found at: http://www.mvn.usace.army.mil/Media/ News-Releases/. Website announcements can be found at: https://www. mvn.usace.army.mil/Public-Notices/ Jason A. Emery, RPA Chief, Environmental Planning Branch Regional Planning and Environmental Division - South 504-862-2201

4A ● Sunday,August 30, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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Noncitizen voting claims fuel Trump’s midterm moves Push sets up potential result challenges

BY MIKE CATALINI and ALI SWENSON

Associated Press

The drumbeat by President Donald Trump and his allies about the perceived threats of voting by people who are not U.S. citizens is getting louder as the November election approaches. He is pushing to have the U.S. Postal Service send mail ballots only to voters veriﬁed as U.S. citizens. The Census Bureau promoted a dubious report about thousands of noncitizens voting in 2020, an election that the Republican lost to Democrat Joe Biden. Trump’s Department of Homeland Security is claiming without providing evidence that 250,000 noncitizens might be on the rolls in just four states. This week, the Republican candidate for governor in Maine confirmed an audio recording in which he said he plans to ask Trump’s border czar to send U.S. marshals and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to polling places in the state to ensure that only legal voters are casting ballots. Evidence of noncitizens voting is continuing to “pile up,” White House spokesperson Lauren Bis said when asked about the census report. In fact, voting by noncitizens is extremely rare and is punishable as a felony that carries the potential for deportation. Even so, opponents say the hyperfocus on the issue by Trump and his allies is setting the stage for legal challenges to outcomes he may not like during the midterms in which control of Congress is on the line. “Throw out these deceitful, deceptive claims as an excuse for disruptions,” said Alexandra Chandler, director of impact programs, free and fair elections at the nonpartisan Democracy Project. “You can deny the

Voters cast their ballots on Aug. 11 during the primary election in Windsor, Conn. results later.” The census report, which the president cited in a Truth Social post, said it found in a “beginning analysis” that 24,000 noncitizens voted illegally in 2020. It cited data from a commercially available voter file, which was checked against federal records. Experts say the methodology might have created false positives. For example, if a person’s name was linked to the wrong address or someone’s citizenship status had not been updated in a particular database. Details that typically would be included in such a report about error rates were missing, said Justin Levitt, a Loyola Marymount University law professor. Nevertheless, election experts say it could help generate distrust among certain voters during this year’s general election. “This is an empty manila folder that the administration will wave around when it says the elections were fraudulent, noncitizens vot-

ed,” Levitt said. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin’s July letter to California, Nevada, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, alleging that as many as nearly 250,000 noncitizens were registered in those states, was met with skepticism and requests for more information. “I have serious doubts about the reliability of your data and accuracy of your claims, since my ofﬁce has not shared our statewide voter registration list with DHS or any other federal agency or official,” California’s secretary of state, Democrat Shirley Weber, said in response. In New Jersey, Mullin’s department indicated as many as 35,000 noncitizens were registered. Shortly after the letter, the Democraticcontrolled state disclosed that about 6,600 noncitizens were improperly registered through its motor vehicle system in 2023 and 2024. Democratic Gov. Mikie Sherrill said those people answered “no” when asked

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By RUSTy JONES

whether they were citizens, but were registered anyway. The governor said her administration found that “fewer than 400” of them had voted and that it has begun replacing the vendor involved in the improper registrations. Pennsylvania’s secretary of the commonwealth, Republican Al Schmidt, said in a letter last week that DHS officials acknowledged during a recent meeting they did not have high confidence that the 14,576 people referenced in the initial letter were in fact noncitizens improperly registered to vote. He said federal officials said they would provide a methodology and that Pennsylvania officials were awaiting that information. Nevada Secretary of State Francisco Aguilar, a Democrat, said he did not understand the methodology the federal government used.

“All I can say is we have done significant work to make sure our voter rolls are as clean as possible,” he said. Messages from The Associated Press seeking comment from DHS were not immediately returned. The relentless attention on claims that noncitizens are marring elections in the United States comes as Trump continues to pressure Republican senators to pass a bill that would require people to show documented proof of American citizenship when they register to vote for the midterms, even though millions of people do not have ready access to such records. The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility, or SAVE America Act, has passed the GOP-led House but is stalled in the Senate, where even some members of the president’s party are skeptical of

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Wyoming governor requests probe into activity of DOJ monitors during primary BY MEAD GRUVER Associated Press

FORT COLLINS, Colo. — Wyoming’s attorney general is investigating how two U.S. Department of Justice officials monitored poll workers and observed voters in the state’s most populous county during the Aug. 18 primary, a spokesperson for Republican Gov. Mark Gordon said Friday. Gordon called the monitors’ behavior “a bit aggressive” and “irregular” in an otherwise routine meeting to confirm the election results in the mostly rural and Republican state. “I feel very strongly about the federal government coming Gordon in and taking our guns. I don’t like that. I don’t like the federal government coming in and taking our votes, either,” Gordon said at the meeting Wednesday. Gordon spokesperson Amy Edmonds on Friday confirmed the investigation by Attorney General Keith Kautz, who was appointed by the governor. Voting rights groups have raised concern about President Donald Trump’s Justice Department shifting priorities away from enforcing civil rights laws with respect to voting. Trump instead has directed federal prosecutors to search for fraud in the 2020 election, which he lost to Democrat Joe Biden. Trump has meanwhile been more assertive about influencing the department, including encouraging investigations of political opponents, in his second term. Approaching the end of his second and final term in of-

fice, Gordon has publicly expressed little if any previous criticism of federal polices under Trump. The monitoring happened in southeastern Wyoming’s Laramie County, home to the state capital, Cheyenne. The monitors arrived soon after polls opened at 7 a.m. on primary day and said they intended to interview voters while assessing compliance with federal civil rights and voting rights laws, Laramie County Clerk Debra Lee said in a statement. Lee said her office didn’t allow interviews to be conducted in polling places and denied the monitors permission to do so. The monitors questioned local officials about “the nature, length and timing of poll worker training,” Lee said. “Monitors requested training guides, asked how our new election equipment was acquired and wanted to examine our tabulators,” Lee said. Wyoming law allows only election observation by certified poll watchers who monitor registration and turnout, Lee said. “This was a poorly managed exercise and one that showed complete disregard for our state laws and administration of our elections,” Lee said in the statement. She said she hadn’t been notified the monitors would be in Laramie County. A Justice Department official in Washington told her the decision to send them was made on short notice and an email was sent to her but “may have gone to the wrong address,” Lee said. The Justice Department routinely sends monitors to

observe polling places or election offices, but they are not supposed to interfere with voting or election administration. The DOJ did not answer questions about the monitors Friday but referred to a primary day statement by Darin Smith, the U.S. attorney for Wyoming. He said monitors would be in the state “to ensure transparency, ballot security, and strict compliance with federal voting rights statutes.” “Voters deserve absolute confidence that their ballots are secure and their voices are heard without interference,” Smith said in the statement. “We are working alongside local officials to ensure every lawful vote is protected.” Appointed by the governor, Wyoming’s attorney general works mainly in the service of the executive branch and is not politically independent as in other states. No one, including Gordon, is asserting the monitoring influenced the election outcome, Edmonds said. “It’s really a fact-finding mission just to sort of figure out exactly what did happen,” Edmonds said. Trump’s fraud claims about the 2020 election have been amplified by Wyoming’s Republican secretary of state, Chuck Gray, who successfully ran in 2022 in part by showing a discredited documentary about those claims at campaign rallies across the state. Gray told Gordon at the elections meeting that his office “got an email,” but that was all the communication it had with the Justice Department about the federal officials. Wyoming law allows election observers, Gray said.

its provisions. Kathy Boockvar, former Democratic secretary of state of Pennsylvania who now runs a nonpartisan election security firm, said she viewed the administration’s release of the census report as part of a “doing everything it can” strategy to pass the legislation. Republican supporters say the bill would improve the integrity of elections, including the requirement to show a photo ID. Gathering the documents necessary to prove citizenship would be difficult for many would-be voters. A 2025 University of Maryland study estimates that 21.3 million people in the U.S. who are eligible to vote do not have, or do not have easy access to, documents proving their citizenship. Trump’s opponents say his raising the specter of noncitizens voting leading to fraudulent results is less about maintaining the integrity of elections than it is about him doing whatever he can so his party retains power in Washington after November. On Friday, the U.S. attorney’s office in Los Angeles used the arrest of a Honduran national on charges alleging he fraudulently registered to vote as a signal that more attention on the issue was coming for California, a state that has a handful of important U.S. House races in November. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said the arrest was “the first of many to come” while warning “there’s no telling how many noncitizens are currently registered to vote” in the state. “Trump is trying to lay the groundwork to reject the ’26 election,” said Colorado’s secretary of state, Democrat Jena Griswold. “He’s trying to destabilize both confidence and actual election administration. His efforts to destabilize election information, administration are not working.”

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Children and women freed by gang in Haiti U.N. urges swift action against lawless gangs

BY EVENS SANON and EDITH M. LEDERER

Associated Press

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — Six children and seven women were released by a gang in Haiti that had kidnapped more than 50 people after launching a deadly attack on a community near the capital, Portau-Prince, nearly a week ago, according to UNICEF. The United Nations children’s agency said late Friday that among those released are three children under the age of 2, a 7-year-old and two teenage girls. “This release offers a rare moment of hope amid the violence threatening children in Haiti,” said Yannig Dussart, UNICEF’s deputy representative in Haiti. “The Kenscoff abduction was not an isolated incident but another stark reminder of the scale and frequency of attacks on children

ACCESS

Continued from page 1A An analysis of the data by Invest in Louisiana, a Baton Rouge-based group that advocates for robust government social programs, found that 75% of all closed SNAP cases were procedural.“What concerns me is not the number by itself. It is that the state’s own records say most of these cases closed over paperwork rather than over eligibility,” said Tia Fields, a policy analyst for the organization who focuses on SNAP. “When people who qualify lose food assistance because a notice did not reach them, the state has not saved money. It has moved the cost to food banks, emergency rooms and school cafeterias.” The decline falls hardest on people with unstable housing, limited broadband, no reliable transportation and rotating work schedules, Fields said. Households participating in SNAP often cover multiple family members, including children. The Invest in Louisiana analysis of LDH statistics showed a 21.1% decline in the total number of individual SNAP participants from 805,633 to 635,406 between July 2025 and June 2026. That tracks with an Associated Press analysis of U.S. Department of Agriculture statistics that found a 21.5% decline in Louisiana enrollments over a slightly different 12-month period, from April 2025 to May 2026. The USDA data shows 5.7 million people lost their beneﬁts since May 2025 — a 13% decrease for all 50 states. Louisiana’s SNAP decline ranks 16th nationwide by USDA metrics. Regardless of how the stats were gathered and by whom, the decline is the largest Louisiana has seen since 1996. Of the roughly 170,000 people who lost food stamps, roughly 82,000 were children — a 23% decline, the second-most precipitous in the country — and about 90,000 were adults, many of whom are seniors or disabled and living on a ﬁxed income, Invest in Louisiana calculated. The impact of declining food stamp eligibility is

across the country.” UNICEF said it worked with community leaders to help secure the release of the women and children. It wasn’t immediately clear if they needed medical treatment, and whether there are more women and children being held. While individual kidnappings in Haiti are commonplace, mass abductions are more unusual. The outcomes vary: Some people are released without a ransom, while others are killed despite multiple ransoms being paid. Gangs killed at least 47 people during the attack late Sunday on Kenscoff, a once-peaceful farming community nestled in the hills above Haiti’s capital. A gang leader known as Izo 2 had threatened to execute all the hostages if police killed any gang members in their push to secure Kenscoff. Izo 2 leads an armed group in that area on behalf of and in coordination with other gang leaders including Izo, considered one of Haiti’s most powerful gang leaders. The recent attack sparked an

outcry Friday at an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council for swift deployment of the new U.N.-backed gang-ﬁghting force and action to rein in the lawless bands. Diplomats at the meeting called by the United States, Panama and Colombia expressed horror at the brutal attack. Luis Ruiz Massieu, the U.N. special envoy to Haiti, said the attack has generated “a new wave of public indignation across all sectors of Haiti’s society, as well as international partners.” Ruiz Massieu welcomed the decision by Haiti’s authorities to bring together the national police, armed forces and the gang suppression force to assess developments and coordinate plans. It was agreed that the gang suppression force would strengthen its presence in Port-au-Prince and that Haitian forces would reinforce their deployment in Kenscoff. But the U.N. envoy and many council speakers stressed the urgent need to strengthen international security support for Haiti.

more than just a skipped SNAP enrollment in Louisiana meal. SNAP eligibility plays into Enrollment in SNAP, also known as food the calculations of which stamps, fell by almost 20% in the past schools can offer children year in Louisiana. free breakfasts and lunches. And that automatic free 396,857 meal certification plays into the formulas that set 450,000 how much funding schools receive. Also, according to LDH, 300,000 SNAP beneficiaries use a debit-style card, known as the Louisiana Purchase card, to spend about $1.6 150,000 billion annually with 4,000 Louisiana retailers, many of whom are small family0 owned businesses.

A political battle Reductions to SNAP and other social programs like Medicaid are playing a major part in congressional midterm campaigns that will determine whether Democrats or Republicans control the U.S. House and Senate in 2027. The decrease is much faster than predicted by the Congressional Budget Ofﬁce last year when considering the impact of the new eligibility and recertiﬁcation standards imposed by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025. OBBBA is the Republicans’ signature legislation, on which not a single Democrat voted. Its features are being rolled out for SNAP this year and next. The new law increased the age of those who have to work to qualify for food stamps from 54 years to 64, and removed exemptions for veterans, 18-yearolds coming out of foster care, the homeless, certain disabled persons, parents with dependent children over the age of 14, non-U.S. citizens, along with others. States were limited in their ability to get federal permission to waive work requirements in areas with high unemployment. Since July 4, 2025, when the new SNAP standards became law, state and federal agencies have been developing the rules for what data is necessary for an applicant to prove eligibility, such as recent wage statements and proof of citizenship papers. Democratic candidates, generally, contend the decline was the inevitable outcome of OBBBA, which paid for tax breaks that mostly help the wealthy

U.S. Deputy Ambassador Jennifer Locetta said the United States “is resolved and as committed as ever to supporting Haitian-led security efforts to end gang terror.” She urged U.N. members to provide equipment and resources to enable the gang suppression force to deploy as quickly as possible — and to invest in jobs, infrastructure and other opportunities to provide an alternative path to joining a gang. Locetta noted that gang coalitions have publicly said they are seeking to prevent Haitian voters from electing their representatives in a future election and that “terrorists” can’t be allowed to take democracy hostage. “They cannot terrorize from the ends of rifles and from the comforts of toll stations — as they rob Haiti of their future,” she said, “We must protect civilians against these unconscionable acts.” Indrika Ratwatte, the acting assistant secretary-general for humanitarian affairs, told the Security Council that the Kenscoff attack forced more than 2,600

Total change -76,254 % change -19.21 320,603

July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June

2025

2026

Source: Louisiana Department of Health data

Staff graphic

Reasons for removal from SNAP Enrollment in SNAP, also known as food stamps, fell by almost 20% in the past year in Louisiana. Percent Reasons Numbers change 242,560

Procedural Income-based Other Client request

16,017

75% 5%

55,412

17%

7,963

2.5%

Source: Invest Louisiana analysis of Louisiana Department of Health data

Staff graphic

WHAT TO DO IF FOUND INELIGIBLE FOR SNAP 1. If your case was closed over paperwork, you can reapply. 2. you have the right to a hearing if requested upon notice of adverse action. 3. Update your address and phone number with LDH before anything else. A large share of closures trace back to a notice that never reached the person it was about. 4. Call 211, or contact your regional food bank for immediate food and for help getting the application back in. Sources: U.S. Reps. Troy Carter, D-New Orleans, and Cleo Fields, D-Baton Rouge. by cutting funds for social safety net programs like food stamps and health care. New work requirements, coupled with more veriﬁcation and recertiﬁcation procedures, are driving the drop in participation, Democrats argue. “What we are seeing in Louisiana is exactly what many of us warned would happen when this so-called ‘Big Ugly Law’ was passed. Make eligibility more com-

plicated, add work and reporting requirements, pile on more paperwork and bureaucracy, and people are going to fall through the cracks,” said U.S. Rep. Troy Carter, D-New Orleans. “For somebody living paycheck to paycheck, this is not some abstract Washington policy debate. This is what gets left out of the grocery cart.” Republicans argue that changes to SNAP weren’t

people to ﬂee their homes, many for the second or third time. He said people are traumatized, searching for missing relatives and uncertain about the future. Nearly 1.5 million people, 12% of Haiti’s population, are internally displaced, half of them children, he said. “Meanwhile, deportations to Haiti continue at scale,” Ratwatte said, referring to expulsions from the Dominican Republic and to the Trump administration’s push to remove Haitians living and working legally in the U.S. and others whose visas had expired or who had entered illegally. “In the first eight months of 2026, almost 200,000 people were forcibly returned, a 10% increase compared with the same period last year,” many arriving with nothing, he said. Calling violence especially toward women, girls and children “shocking,” he said the U.N.’s humanitarian partners “recorded over 5,500 incidents of genderbased violence, or about 30 cases per day, in the ﬁrst six months of the year alone.”

that dramatic and the expanded work requirement was not a chief cause for the decline. The enrollment drop is an effect of a successful effort to remove people who were fraudulently or improperly on the rolls, they say. House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Benton Republican who is campaigning for GOP candidates around the country, wouldn’t comment on SNAP enrollment declines. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, a Jefferson Republican who also is on the campaign trail, didn’t respond to a request for comment. But Johnson often repeats what he said in June: “Democrats will scream ‘cuts,’ but what they’re really defending is a wasteful program that discourages work, mismanages billions and traps people in dependency. Republicans are proud to defend commonsense welfare reform, ﬁscal sanity and the dignity of work.” Johnson points to administration figures that showed a 17% increase in SNAP enrollment since 2019, with spending surging 83% from $60 billion to $110 billion annually. The Cato Institute, a Libertarian think tank based in Washington, in an August commentary supported Johnson and GOP arguments writing that the decline “reﬂects states unwinding pandemic-era waivers and eligibility rules that kept caseloads elevated.”

Processing errors

gram — because of hiring freezes and high caseloads. LDH took over administering food stamps without electronic veriﬁcation tools for wages and shelter expenses, according to the document. Both issues are being addressed, according to LDH. The statistics are being collected to demonstrate the “payment error rate,” which, starting next year, will be used to help determine how much federal money will be contributed to individual states based on their success of lowering the frequency of mistakes. OBBBA created incentives for states to annually control overpayments, underpayments and payments to unqualiﬁed recipients.

Changes on the horizon SNAP in Louisiana is about to face another challenge: OBBBA also changed the amount the federal government contributes to a state’s total costs. Legally, the federal government pays 75% of the program, though lately the federal government was picking up 90% and sometimes all the costs — largely because of COVID pandemic policies. Starting Oct. 1, 2026, the federal government and the state will split the costs 50-50. With OBBBA’s change in the state-federal portions, along with the shifts of up to 15% of benefit costs to states with payment error rates above 6%, Louisiana taxpayers could be on the hook for roughly $282 million, according to a recently released analysis by Food Research & Action Center, a Washington-based antihunger group. U.S. Rep. Cleo Fields, who plans to run for his old state Senate seat after his district was redrawn to favor Republicans, noted that the state hasn’t budgeted for these expenses. “There are only three ways to cover it,” said Fields, D-New Orleans. “Raise taxes, cut other services like healthcare and education, or push more people off the program to get the numbers down. I have not heard state leaders give an honest answer, and families deserve one.”

The Louisiana Department of Health did not respond to questions about the SNAP decline, but forwarded a presentation on how the state agency is handling mistakes in administering the program. Louisiana’s error rate was 8.14% in fiscal year 2025, which is better than the national 10.6% average but enough to cost state taxpayers about $160 million more, according to the document. The presentation says clients cause about 45% of the errors, such as missing forms or missed interviews. About 55% were the result of agency mistakes. LDH’s PowerPoint presentation noted staffing Email Mark Ballard at shortages — about 200 open mballard@theadvocate. positions in the SNAP pro- com.

The Acadiana Advocate ● theadvocate.com ● Sunday,August 30, 2026 ● 7A

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STUDENTS

Continued from page 1A available to families who were identified as experiencing homelessness under the McKinney-Vento Act. McKinney-Vento is a federal law that requires all school districts to provide equal access to education, even if the student is unhoused and doesn’t have access to a utility bill or a ﬁxed residence. Those families are referred to Fontenot and her team of facilitators and social workers to determine whether they qualify for assistance. The program can help cover school uniforms, supplies and fees, assist families in applying for SNAP or SSI beneﬁts, and coordinate educational, medical and mental health services. The goal is to provide wraparound support that allows students to remain in school. “McKinney-Vento is very clear on what we are allowed to ask, and how invasive questions can be, and what we are allowed to verify,” said Fontenot, who explained that their first goal is to enroll students in school as quickly as possible. “I cannot call an apartment complex to verify that a family is claiming to be staying there with another family — because then they can lose that housing, and we never want to jeopardize someone’s household just because they’re helping someone else. “If someone says they’re

FACILITY

Continued from page 1A the district attorney there. He did not share details about the cases. Most of the women have pleaded not guilty to the charges, said Chad Guillot, whose law firm is representing three of the defendants. Guillot, who declined to provide further comment, is also the chief public defender for Avoyelles Parish. In a legal filing, one of the women — who is separately being sued by a detainee who claims she sexually assaulted him when he was 18 — said she believed the youth who filed that lawsuit fabricated the accusations to get released.

Details — and a lawsuit The first of the OJJ staffers arrested was Khy Winbush, 25, who was booked by the Avoyelles Parish Sheriff’s Office on May 9, 2025, according to court records. Winbush could not be reached for comment. Two weeks later, the agency arrested Keyana Nash, 32, the records show — and in August, it booked Regina Holmes, 30. They are both being represented by Guillot and have entered not guilty pleas, Guillot said. The most recent arrests occurred in March and July of this year. The women arrested, respectively, were Kailey Francis, 27, who did not comment when reached by a reporter, and Bianca Jones, who could not be reached. Jones was 32 when she was arrested, the court records show. In May, a male who had been held at the Acadiana Center for Youth sued the OJJ and Nash, the first staff member arrested. The lawsuit accused Nash of using beatings and disciplinary write-ups to force an 18-year-old into sexual acts. It says the assaults took place in a part of the dorm known as “the cut.” The suit further alleges the youth called the Prison Rape Elimination Act hotline to report the abuse but received no response — and that the signs for the hotline were removed after his attempts. The OJJ said it could not comment on specific ongoing litigation but that it adheres to PREA standards, conducts comprehensive background checks of employees and recently began requiring new hires to undergo psychological evaluations. In a June legal filing, Nash

STAFF PHOTO By LESLIE WESTBROOK

Students and faculty head to class as they start their school year in the brand-new Lafayette High School on Aug. 7. Around 3% to 4% of students enrolled in Lafayette Parish schools are unhoused and are eligible to receive support through the McKinney-Vento Act, which ensures equal educational access for homeless students. staying in a car, that’s a very, very tough situation that family is facing. I just had a family here, a mom and 8-year-old, sleeping in the car. It’s difficult to verify that, but that’s not our concern at this point. It’s getting a kid in school, and anything else will ﬂesh itself out along the way.” The deﬁnition of “homeless” is broader under McKinney-Vento than the one that the Department

of Housing and Urban Development uses to manage federal funding related to homelessness. The law recognizes that having somewhere to sleep does not necessarily mean a student has stable housing. For instance, a student living in a hotel because they lack an alternative would be considered homeless under McKinney-Vento, but not by HUD standards. “Everything hinges on

denied all allegations of sexual misconduct involving detainees. She also said the youth who was suing her was not the same person tied to the criminal allegations against her. Nash did confirm there was an area of the dorm known as “the cut,” where she said detainees would ﬁght. The Louisiana Department of Justice, which is representing the OJJ, disputed the allegations in court records and also argued it would not be liable even if misconduct did occur. The lawsuit, which was originally filed in the 19th Judicial District, has been moved to the Middle District of Louisiana, a federal court.

answer questions. Meanwhile, two advocacy groups said the allegations raise questions about how the OJJ handles youth in its custody. “The allegations coming out of the Acadiana Center for Youth are deeply disturbing,” the Louisiana Center for Children’s Rights, a New Orleans-based organization that represents children accused of crimes, said in a statement. “OJJ is the sole entity responsible for both incarcerating young people and overseeing the conditions where they are held, creating an inherent conﬂict of interest.” Gina Womack, executive director of Families and Friends of Louisiana Incarcerated Children, said having repeated misconduct allegations in the same system forces parents to ask “how many warning signs have been ignored and how many young people have been harmed before action is taken.” The concerns come while state lawmakers are already frustrated with another state agency that deals with youth, the Department of Children & Family Services. That agency has faced intense scrutiny over its handling of child deaths tied to abuse and neglect; last month, senators voiced skepticism after the agency said it had resolved problems with Child Protective Services case backlogs.

Allegations stir concerns When told about the arrests at the Acadiana Center for Youth, some members of the state Senate’s Select Committee on Women and Children expressed worry about what was going on there. “I’m very concerned about this matter,” said state Sen. Regina Barrow, D-Baton Rouge. “It appears our children are experiencing an all-out attack by those who should be protecting them.” State Sen. Beth Mizell, RFranklinton, said lawmakers would put the issue on the agenda for next month’s committee hearing. That likely means OJJ staff will appear before lawmakers to

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whether the family is lacking a ﬁxed, regular and adequate nighttime residence,” said Fontenot. “If they don’t know whether they’ll be able to stay in that hotel past Saturday, that’s not ﬁxed and regular.” Elsa Dimitriadis, who is the executive director of the Acadiana Regional Coalition on Homelessness and Housing, said that unhoused minors and families with young children

perience homelessness as an adult, so we want to interrupt that cycle as early as we possibly can,” she said. “We do get calls 24 hours a day, and honestly, we just have a lot of unmet need in our community.” At the LPSS Homeless Education Program, the needs can change from day to day. It can mean keeping uniforms in every size on hand, arranging transportation for students in temporary housing or responding when a student is struggling at school. “I might have 10 cabs going today, picking up kids all over the place, getting them to school,” said Fontenot. “We’re calling on cabs, calling on agencies, trying to get the shelter on the phone. I don’t know what size kid or what grade-level kid is going to walk through the door in ﬁve minutes, so I need to have all of it. The law says immediate enrollment, full participation. It’s a lot of moving parts.” About 38 students in the program graduated last year with either a traditional diploma or a high school equivalency credential, she said. “I had the highest graduation rate that I’ve ever had before, and it’s not by accident,” said Fontenot. “This is a lot of work trying to keep kids from dropping out — but if they stay a student of the Lafayette Parish school system, we can still provide all of those wraparound services and get them to graduation.”

are particularly difficult to identify in the broader homeless population, making school-level intervention all the more critical for students who may otherwise fall through the cracks. “Homelessness is considered an adverse childhood experience, and we know that people who experience homelessness as a young Email Joanna Brown person have a pretty high at joanna.brown@ probability that they’ll ex- theadvocate.com.

Entergy hardens Louisiana’s grid to meet more severe weather with stronger infrastructure and modern technology

Entergy Louisiana, joined by local elected officials and community leaders, celebrated the launch of a major grid resilience project in Jefferson Parish with a ceremonial ribbon cutting, marking the beginning of a $270 million investment to strengthen the parish’s electric infrastructure and enhance reliability for customers.

By Amanda McElfresh | amcelfresh@theadvocate.com This article is brought to you by Entergy. Louisiana has avoided significant tropical impacts so operations like maintenance, service calls and emergency far this hurricane season, but as the state moves into the response. Field operations and construction planning peak of storm season, Entergy officials say a quiet start is personnel are in regular communication to ensure their no reason to become complacent. It only takes one storm to work doesn’t interfere with one another or cause unnecbring high winds and heavy rainfall. And, with Louisiana’s essary outages or other issues for customers. severeweather,dangerousstormscanariseatanymoment, “To prioritize the resilience plan work, we abide by our even if they are not tropical in nature. regulatorycommitmentswhichlistwhichprojectstakeplace For Entergy, the constant threat of severe weather in which years. We use cost-benefit analysis to establish is the reason for its year-round efforts thosecommitments,”Gremillionsaid.“As to strengthen Louisiana’s electrical we work through the priorities, we begin infrastructure, so it can better withstand with the projects that are most impactful impacts and return to normal operations and will have the largest benefits.” sooner if outages occur. Entergy is also using state-of-the-art Christopher Gremillion, Entergy vice modeling technology and simulation president of project delivery for capital tools to examine both historical events projects, says that despite the relatively and possible future scenarios. quiet 2026 Atlantic hurricane season “Wetakeallofoursystemdataanduse so far, Entergy acknowledges that more tools to model several different potential severe weather has driven the need for stormsituationsdependingonthestrength major infrastructure improvements. ofastormanditstrajectory.Thathelpsus So, as storms continue to increase in to formulate actual projects that we can frequency and intensity, outages can Entergy Louisiana President & CEO assess from a cost-benefit perspective,” better be prevented and power can be Phillip May reinforces Entergy’s Gremillion said. “These models also help commitment to strengthening critical restored quickly, ultimately leading to infrastructure across the state as part us determine how to shorten restoration cost-savings for customers. of Entergy Louisiana’s comprehensive times and determine which projects “Theweatherthissummerhasallowed grid resilience plan. are most feasible and would provide the ustocontinueourplannedresiliencywork most benefits.” without having to shift resources elsewhere or temporarily Entergy’s comprehensive resilience plan is built on stop projects. It means work has been able to continue on data-driven targeting, hardened infrastructure and the scheduled path,” Gremillion said. “When we can do predictive maintenance. Some components of the plan, work on blue sky days with clear weather, we are better much of which are already underway, include: able to be proactive and efficient, with lower cost impacts.” • Replacing older wooden utility poles with steel, Entergyisinthemiddleofabroadgridresiliencestrategy concrete or high-grade composite poles engineered across its entire four-state service area and has invested to withstand winds up to 140 to 150 miles per hour morethan$10billionduringthepastfiveyearstostrengthen • Rebuilding primary distribution feeders, neighborits transmission and distribution infrastructure. Projects hood lateral lines and high-voltage transmission range from stronger poles and reinforced substations to backbones, alongside targeted undergrounding of automated technology that can reroute electricity when select overhead lines problems occur. • Elevating or fortifying critical substation control In Louisiana alone, Entergy’s work accelerated after houses and deploying mobile substation units for the Louisiana Public Service Commission approved the rapid emergency deployment first phase of its five-year grid resilience plan in April • Installing smart grid devices that automatically 2024. Approximately 3,240 miles of power lines and isolate faults and reroute power to shorten outage nearly 62,000 structures are slated for upgrades. Once windows from hours to seconds fully implemented, the plan is projected to save nearly • Proactive tree trimming and hazard tree removal $1.2 billion in future restoration costs while producing a outside standard rights-of-way to prevent contact benefit-cost ratio of nearly 9-to-1. during high winds A particular focus is being made in New Orleans, where Louisiana residents can see much of this work happenEntergy New Orleans has committed $100 million in 2025 ing in their communities. Gremillion said more than 100 and 2026 to upgrade more than 3,100 structures across 63 contract partner crews are working on projects across projects to enhance reliability for customers across the the state, with another 20 to 30 focusing on New Orleans. city. The first phase of work in New Orleans is in progress “A lot of these crews are working along the roadways, so and scheduled to be completed by the end of this year. it is definitely visible and people can see the improvements Entergyhasalsoimplementednewtechnologytoreduce outageimpactsforcustomers.Today,nearly400self-healing being made,” he said. “The transmission and substation networks across the Entergy system allow for automated work may be a little harder for the public to see, based on detection of problems and the rerouting of electricity, often their location, but customers can rest assured that we are within seconds. In Louisiana, more than 256,000 Entergy making progress every day.” For Louisiana-specific project details by region and customers are supported by the self-healing technology, regular updates, visit EntergyLouisiana.com/Resiliency. including 42,500 customers in New Orleans. These upgrades, as part of the resilience plan, are taking For more information on Entergy New Orleans’ resilience place while Entergy is continuing normal day-to-day plan, visit EntergyNewOrleans.com/Energize/Reliability.

8A ● Sunday,August 30, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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

La. immersion program keeps French alive French educator sees benefit in schools

Q&A WITH VANESSA LEE

TEACHER IN LA.’S CODOFIL PROGRAM

BY ELYSE CARMOSINO Staff writer

Vanessa Lee moved her family from France to Vermilion Parish four years ago to teach for a staterun language program at Leblanc Elementary, bringing more than nine years of teaching experience to her Louisiana classroom. She also brought a native French speaker’s perspective that has become an important part of the state’s effort to preserve and expand use of the language. Lee is currently one of 150 French-speaking educators who have been brought to Louisiana through The Council for the Development of French in Louisiana, or CODOFIL. Founded in 1968, the program was created to keep the language alive after the number of Cajun French speakers in Louisiana began to dwindle. CODOFIL partners with the state education department to recruit native speakers to teach students through immersion programs — where students also learn their core subjects in French — that begin as early as kindergarten. Many of the program’s teachers come from France, but CODOFIL also hires educators from Canada, Belgium, Senegal, Morocco and other French-speaking nations, which Lee said helps students learn about cultural differences among francophone countries. “Our French speaking teachers add a lot of value to the immersion program, because we bring all of our cultural background,” said Lee, who teaches ﬁrst grade. “It’s a very interesting program.” Lee spoke with The Times-Picayune | The Advocate about why children beneﬁt from immersion

Vanessa Lee programs and about the cultural differences she’s encountered since moving to Louisiana. This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. Tell me about CODOFIL and how it works. Since it’s an immersion program, my kids learn English for a couple hours in the morning with my American colleague, and then from 10 until they go home at 3:15, they’re with me speaking only French. Not a word of English. The majority of CODOFIL teachers come from France, but they can be from other places as well, which is nice because they teach their students about different countries. One year, a student’s teacher might be from France, and the next they could be from Canada, so the student learns different cultures and traditions.

tween French and U.S. students? Discipline is big here. Kids in the United States are very polite. The first day of school was two weeks ago, and I got a few gifts from my students — a bracelet and a few cards. It was so sweet. The parents are also more involved. They send me messages to ask if we need anything. Especially that first year, I got messages from parents saying, “If you need anything, let us know.” Last year, my car kept breaking down, and one of my students’ dads was a mechanic, so he came to my house to fix my car. How do you approach teaching your students? I start the year speaking very slowly, and I have hand gestures PROVIDED PHOTO and posters and visuals that also help them understand. I teach them math, social studies and French immersion is very science in French, so their brains popular in Lafayette and New are completely immersed in a forOrleans, but it’s also popular eign language all day. in very small communities like When they go home, sometimes (Montegut) in Terrebonne Parthey want to speak French with their family, or they speak Cajun ish. What were your first impressions living in French with their grandparents. I like first grade because the U.S.? you can see so much progress It took time to understand the throughout the year. At the beginschool system, which is very different from in France. In France, ning, they’re like, “What’s she we don’t work on Wednesdays, talking about?” By the end of the and here you work from Monday year, they speak to me naturally. to Friday. We also get a two-hour It’s amazing. break for lunch in France. How do language immersion programs On my first day at my school in benefit students? Louisiana, I went to the cafeteria To learn any foreign language, with my kids, and we ate very you need to be immersed. It can’t quickly, and then I said, “OK, just be one hour per day or per where’s my break?” But you don’t week. get a break, you go back to your Our kids still take the LEAP test classroom and teach, so that was in English. At first we were like, hard. It takes a few weeks to “Oh, they’re going to struggle,” adapt. because they’ve learned their What are some of the differences becurriculum in French. But in fact,

they get higher scores than traditional education students. I think immersion programs make their brains stronger. I always compare it to going to the gym. You go to the gym to get more muscle. It’s the same with immersion programs. Your brain gets so strong. What challenges have you’ve faced since moving to the U.S.? It was a little easier for me to adapt because I understand English well, so I had no problem with the language, but that’s a big struggle for some new teachers. For me, the expectations at my school are very high. We have to submit lesson plans every Sunday, and we have a lot of meetings. Sometimes I’m at school from 7:30 to 5:30, so I spend a lot of time working. We also have observations twice a year, where somebody comes into your classroom and gives you a grade. It can be stressful, because I feel like I’m always under pressure. In France, we only get two observations our whole career. But I also find it very stimulating. I want to give the best of myself. What do you like best about teaching in the U.S.? The biggest reward is seeing my kids grow and have fun learning French. When they arrive in first grade, sometimes they understand what I say, but they don’t speak the language. By the end of the year, they’ve grown so much. They might not be fluent, but they can understand and speak French. Sometimes we go to the cafeteria and they want to sit next to me because they want to speak French with me.

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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The Acadiana Advocate ● theadvocate.com ● Sunday, August 30, 2026 ● 9A

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Ontario leader answers Trump’s order with giant sign President signed decree last week to rename Lake Ontario to Lake America

BY ROB GILLIES Associated Press

TORONTO — Ontario Premier Doug Ford answered President Donald Trump’s “Lake America” decree Saturday with a billboard-sized message on the Canadian shoreline: “Lake Ontario. Now and Always.” Wearing a Team Canada soccer jersey, Ford unveiled the sign near Grimsby, Ontario, and posed for photographs. The 24-by-12-foot sign stands on 6-foot legs, putting its top about 18 feet above the ground — roughly two stories high. The message is repeated in French. It was the latest show of deﬁance after Trump signed an executive order directing U.S. federal agencies to call Lake Ontario “Lake America.” After months of tariffs, threats to make Canada the 51st U.S. state and personal attacks on its leaders, the move has been met in Canada largely with ridicule. Ford said Trump was trying to rename the lake because Ontario and Canada

were “standing up for ourselves” and argued the name would outlast the president. “Long after President Trump is gone, it will still be called Lake Ontario,” Ford said in a video posted on social media. Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew compared Trump to an aging rock band trying to revive an old hit “You know when a rock band is really over the hill and you see them like in a casino playing some song from like 50 years ago. I think that’s the part of Donald Trump’s presidency we’re at now, Like he thought they had a real hit, a real golden oldie, with the Gulf of Mexico,” Kinew said, referring to Trump’s executive order renaming the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America. “And he’s trying to bring back that, and he’s trying to play the hits for his base. But I think everybody here thinks it’s a little sad and it’s not his best work.” The mockery was not limited to politicians. Canadian historian Robert Bothwell

CANADIAN PRESS PHOTO By KEITO NEWMAN

Ontario Premier Doug Ford unveils a sign for Lake Ontario on Saturday at Fifty Point Conservation Area in Grimsby, Ontario, Canada. was even more scathing. “The greatest country on earth takes this moron seriously?” Bothwell said. But Bothwell said the dispute was more serious than the jokes, arguing Trump’s broader aim was “to subordinate Canada and at best make it a colony, at worst absorb it

into the United States.” Nelson Wiseman, professor emeritus at the University of Toronto, said Trump “would like Canada to act like a vassal state, but it refuses to do so. That irritates him.” The dispute comes as relations between the longtime allies worsen over trade.

Negotiations collapsed last week, both governments accused the other of making late demands, and Canada announced retaliatory tariffs set to take effect next month. Trump’s order also came amid an escalating war of words with Ford. In an interview with The Associ-

ated Press earlier this week, Ford said Ronald Reagan would be “throwing up” over Trump’s tariff policies and “disgusted with President Trump.” Trump fired back by dismissing Ford’s comments as “bluster,” calling him Prime Minister Mark Carney’s “flunky” and mocking him as the “less charismatic, intelligent, and overall unimpressive brother” of the late Toronto Mayor Rob Ford. Trump continued promoting the new name Saturday, reposting a meme showing Canada geese with Trumplike blond hair firing rifles as they “protected” Lake America. Trump has repeatedly used maps to make political points. A “Gulf of America” map was displayed for a time beside the Resolute Desk in the Oval Ofﬁce, and Trump has posted images depicting Canada as part of the United States or as the 51st state. The name Lake Ontario comes from the Huron Indigenous people’s word “oniatarí:io,” which means “lake of shining waters.” The Canadian province of Ontario, founded in 1867, took its name from the lake.

Louisiana’s Democratic Party endorses candidates BY TYLER BRIDGES Staff writer

Louisiana’s Democratic Party on Saturday endorsed candidates in all six congressional districts, including in ﬁve races that Republicans are favored to win. The endorsements came after speeches by the various candidates to the 167-member Democratic State Central Committee, meeting at a union hall in Baton Rouge. All of the Democratic State Central Committee members voted on the candidates, unlike the Louisiana Republican Party, whose endorsements in recent days have been decided by its eightmember executive committee.

The Democratic endorsements include: n Lauren Jewett, a specialeducation teacher who lives in Metairie, for District 1, which includes suburban New Orleans parishes. She is challenging U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise, R-Jefferson. n U.S. Rep. Troy Carter, who lives in New Orleans, for District 2, which he has represented since 2021. His district is anchored in New Orleans and stretches up the Mississippi River to Baton Rouge. n John Day, a vice president of sales for Equip Kit who lives in Lake Charles, for District 3, which includes Acadiana. He is challenging U.S. Rep. Clay Higgins, RLafayette. n Conrad Cable, a farmer

from Farmerville, for District 4, which covers northwest Louisiana and stretches south to Calcasieu Parish. He is challenging Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Benton. n State Rep. Pat Moore from Monroe for District 5, which stretches from Monroe south to Alexandria and Hammond. U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow is vacating the seat to run for the U.S. Senate. n Lindsay Garcia, a social media entrepreneur from Walker, for District 6, which includes metro Baton Rouge. She is running for a seat that U.S. Rep. Cleo Fields, D-Baton Rouge, is vacating. The primary for the six congressional races will be on Nov. 3, with runoffs, if needed, in December. Democrats also voted to op-

pose Constitutional Amendment 4, which is also on the Nov. 3 ballot and would limit governors from serving no more than two terms. Un-

der current law, governors can serve two terms in a row, sit out a term and run again. If passed, the amendment might prevent former

Gov. John Bel Edwards, who served two terms, from running again. Whether it would is likely be settled by the courts.

Louisiana Blue Foundation’s The Angel Award 2026 honors community leaders making a difference for children

Trump cannot deport students for criticizing Israel, judge rules By The Associated Press SAN JOSE, Calif. — Citing the importance of the First Amendment, a federal judge in California says the U.S. government is unconstitutionally silencing critics of Israel’s war in Gaza and others as part of the Trump administration’s quest to deport noncitizens who it says disrupted college campuses while expressing their views. Judge Noël Wise, in a ruling Friday, delivered a victory for The Stanford Daily, the student newspaper at Stanford University, which has said some international students were afraid to speak out because of the deportation threat. “Freedom of speech is illusory if we are only ‘free’ to express complementary views about the government and its leaders,” the judge wrote. The decision largely piggybacks on findings from nearly a year ago by a U.S. district judge in Boston, who ruled that the Trump administration violated the Constitution when it targeted

By Amanda McElfresh | amcelfresh@theadvocate.com This article is brought to you by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana.

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By BEN MARGOT

A federal judge in California says the U.S. government is unconstitutionally silencing critics of Israel’s war in Gaza and others as part of the Trump administration’s quest to deport noncitizens who it says disrupted college campuses while expressing their views. people who are not citizens for deportation solely for supporting Palestinians and criticizing Israel. Wise wrote that the freedoms of speech and the press are “foundational to America’s enduring democracy.” The judge cited freespeech and vagueness ﬂaws that violate the First Amendment and Fifth Amendment as she struck down portions of the provisions that the federal government follows regarding deportations.

Wise cited retaliation in March 2025 by U.S. immigration authorities against people who engaged in speech supporting the Palestinians and against Israel’s actions — which a growing number of experts, including those commissioned by a U.N. body, have said amount to genocide. The judge also cited retaliation against people who were critical of Charlie Kirk after the Turning Point USA co-founder was assassinated last September.

Trump: U.S. enters deal with Venezuela to take control of 65 billion barrels of oil By The Associated Press WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Friday said the U.S. has entered an agreement with Venezuela to take control of 65 billion barrels of the South American country’s oil reserves. Trump in a social media post announced the agreement he said was negotiated by Secretary of State Marco

Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Venezuela’s interim President Delcy Rodriguez. “The United States of America has just entered into an Agreement with the Country of Venezuela on, THE BIGGEST OIL DEAL IN WORLD HISTORY!” Trump wrote. The Venezuelan government’s press ofﬁce did not

immediately respond to a request for comment. The announcement of the deal comes nearly nine months after the U.S. military at Trump’s direction carried out an operation to capture Venezuela’s president Nicolás Maduro and spirit him to the United States to face federal narcoterrorism and drug trafﬁcking charges.

For 32 years, the Louisiana Blue Foundation has honored everyday people across the state who are taking action to improve the lives of children in their communities. That tradition continues this year, with nine Louisianans selected as The Angel Award 2026 recipients. Each honoree will receive a $30,000 grant for the nonprofit of their choice and will be recognized at an Oct. 19 gala in Baton Rouge that will be livestreamed for anyone to tune in and celebrate the Angels. Michael Tipton, president of the Louisiana Blue Foundation, said the honorees differ in their backgrounds, hometowns and causes. The unifying factor is their willingness to become personally involved when they recognize an unmet need. “One thing that makes a difference in the lives of kids is having a caring adult who shows up, understands their challenges and helps them figure out how to navigate those,” Tipton said. “That is exactly what these Angels do.” The Angel Award 2026 honorees are: • Julia Bourgeois of Sulphur. Bourgeois co-founded Families for Inclusion after her son was born with spina bifida. She works to ensure children with disabilities have greater access to inclusive education, play and everyday experiences. • Tara Detiveaux of Houma. Detiveaux leads Hope Extreme, which provides holistic support to children and families in the same under-resourced community where she grew up. • Toccara Huckaby of Shreveport. Huckaby founded Girls Empowered for More Society (GEMS) to expand STEM, leadership and entrepreneurship opportunities for girls, including those in group homes and the juvenile justice system. • Terrence Jones of Lafayette. Jones founded Believe Institute, which invests in young people through scholarships, mentorship and hands-on workforce experiences. • Kristen Powers of Shreveport. Powers leads The Arc of Caddo-Bossier, which expands opportunities and support for adults and children with intellectual and developmental disabilities while strengthening services for families across the region. • Melanie Richardson of New Orleans. Richardson co-founded TrainingGrounds to give families access to early intervention, developmental screenings, resources and support during the earliest years of a child’s life. • Jordan Tabor of Baton Rouge. Tabor founded Rain Will Bring Flower Foundation after losing his 15-year-old son Owen to suicide. He works with schools and communities to increase awareness, reduce stigma and help young people and those around them recognize when support is needed. • Joey Vining of Houma. Vining founded Children’s Water Safety Awareness, which works to prevent childhood drownings by expanding water safety education and

access to resources such as swim lessons and life jackets across the Bayou Region. The Foundation also recognizes a Blue Angel each year, honoring a Louisiana Blue employee. This year’s recipient is Desiree Robertson of St. Gabriel, a senior communications strategist. Robertson co-founded Family First Youth Initiative, where she provides mentorship, resources and support to children to enhance their education, well-being and sense of belonging. “Something that stood out this year is that a lot of our Angels experienced a personal setback or tragedy, then took action to ensure that no other family had the same experience. There is a deep personal connection to a lot of the work they are doing,” said Chloe Wiley, senior program officer, Louisiana Blue Foundation. “Our Angels don’t seek the spotlight, but they are a bright spot in their communities. It’s always great for us to lift up their work and share their stories so more people understand their impact.” In addition to monetary grants and public recognition, The Angel Award recipients become part of a statewide network of previous honorees, supporters and stakeholders. Tipton said one common thread year after year is that collaboration can help Angels have an even broader impact. “They start by addressing problems they see affecting children in their neighborhoods, at their church or in their local schools. That often makes them realize there are other factors and systemic issues at play,” he said. “These Angels are not afraid to take on those problems as well and share what works. These are all scalable ideas that are grounded in making a tangible difference for families.” Wiley said Angels often come together to see how they can support one another. “That is one of the amazing byproducts of these awards,” she said. “We see so many collaborations and their work expands to other parts of the state.” All nine honorees will be celebrated during The Angel Award 2026 ceremony on Monday, Oct. 19. The event will be livestreamed beginning at 6:30 pm at www.facebook.com/ LaBlueFoundation. Nominations for The Angel Award 2027 will open that same day. “Every year after the ceremony, we hear that an Angel’s story inspired someone to support an organization or start a project of their own,” Tipton said. “These are really powerful examples of amazing people in Louisiana.” To learn more about The Angel Award or the 2026 honorees, visit www.facebook.com/LaBlueFoundation or www. labluefoundation.org. You can follow Louisiana Blue and the Louisiana Blue Foundation on social media to learn more about the 2026 Angels and see stories of the organizations and causes they support.

10A ● Sunday,August 30, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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LOUISIANA POLITICS

Murrill sues Snapchat, Discord over child exploitation BY ALYSE PFEIL

internet.” On Wednesday, Murrill said her ofﬁce’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force has found that predators speciﬁcally select Snapchat and Discord to communicate with minors online. She said investigators have found predators often “will move a child off a platform like Facebook or Roblox into an encrypted chat platform like Discord or Snap, and then they will continue to manipulate that child into doing things or threaten them.”

Staff writer

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill this week sued two tech companies, arguing their popular social media platforms enable child predators to easily exploit kids. The lawsuits against Snap Inc., the owner of the Snapchat social media app, and Discord Inc., which owns the Discord chat and communications platform popular with gamers, were announced the same week that tech giant Meta reached a deal with 48 states to adopt new safety features and pay out billions of dollars over claims related to social media addiction. Murrill’s lawsuits over Snapchat and Discord were filed in two separate suits in Livingston Parish in the 21st Judicial District Court on Wednesday. Tech and social media companies must take responsibility for the “chaos and havoc that they’ve wreaked and the harm that they’ve caused across our country with our children,” Murrill said during a news conference this week. Both lawsuits accuse the companies of giving false assurances that their platforms are safe for minors and allege they violated state laws related to negligence, unjust enrichment and unfair trade practices. In the lawsuit against Snap, the company that owns Snapchat, Murrill’s office accuses the company of a long list of wrongdoing: not reporting child sexual abuse material; failing to implement effective parental controls; misleading parents and kids about sex trafficking, gun and drug trafficking and sexual content; not implementing effective age verification methods; creating features that promote “compulsive use”;

Other tech lawsuits

STAFF FILE PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

Attorney General Liz Murrill said last week that tech and social media companies must take responsibility for the ‘chaos and havoc that they’ve wreaked and the harm that they’ve caused across our country with our children.’ and sending notiﬁcations to users who have disabled them. Snap did not respond to a request for comment. In a separate case, Louisiana says Discord knowingly allows predators to take advantage of the platform design to exploit kids. “Defendant has long known that its design and default settings enable Discord to be used to groom, exploit, trafﬁc, and sexually abuse minors,” the lawsuit

says. “Discord is not a platform that incidentally attracts predators. Defendant’s speciﬁc design choices make it easy for bad actors to locate vulnerable users, build trust quickly, and operate out of the public view.” Discord rejects those claims. “The lawsuit’s characterization of Discord does not reflect the platform we have built or the investments we have made in user safety,” a company spokesperson

said in a statement. “Our safety systems combine advanced technology and humanled investigations, alongside user reports to help identify accounts or spaces engaged in harmful activity, including exploitative and child sexual abuse materials.” The spokesperson said Discord looks forward to “collaborating with Louisiana in working toward a safer online experience for all users on Discord and across the

unclear who is providing the drug when ordered online and whether those parties are certiﬁed in the FDA’s Risk Evaluation and MitiSen. Bill Cassidy is accusing abortion pill manufacturers of not gation Strategy program. The Aid meeting their legal responsibiliAccess website also advertises prescribing mifepristone through ties to ensure compliance with 14 weeks of pregnancy — beyond Food and Drug Administration the 10-week limit set by the FDA. safety regulations, especially Cassidy says that Danco and when pills are sold online through GenBioPro told his committee third-party providers. A report issued Thursday by STAFF FILE PHOTO throughout its investigation that the companies have no role in Cassidy, chair of the Senate U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy ensuring that healthcare providHealth, Education, Labor and Pensions ComHe says that the Department of ers that prescribe mifepristone Justice should explore legal avmaintain compliance with FDA mittee, follows a requirements. Both Danco and monthslong invesenues to address willful noncomtigation into the pliance with safety requirements GenBioPro have links on their websites to Aid Access. three mifepristone and that the FDA should take imThe committee report also notes manufacturers: mediate action to reestablish an Danco Laboratoin-person dispensing requirement that since the Obama adminisCapitol ries, GenBioPro for mifepristone. tration removed a requirement Buzz “We are seeing that the exploand Evita Solutions. that providers report non-fatal STAFF The report calls adverse events to mifepristone sion in online sales of chemical REPORTS on legal and regula- abortion drugs has opened the makers, very few incidents have been reported. door to coercion and abuse of tory authorities to Drugmakers and congressiowomen,” Cassidy said in a statetake action. Republicans have rallied around ment. nal Democrats have pointed to safety concerns of medication Cassidy has not yet announced that scarcity of nonfatal adverse abortion since the Biden adminany coming legislative action or events as evidence of its safety. hearings on the topic. For example, from 2000 to the istration expanded mail-order The report uses the example 2016 change, Danco had reported access to the pill during the COof the website Aid Access, which roughly 4,000 nonfatal adverse VID-19 pandemic. Conservatives allows individuals to order events related to mifepristone, also argue mailing pills across but the company has only reportstate lines undermines state abor- mifepristone online without an in-person patient-provider relation restrictions. ed 150 non-fatal adverse events in Cassidy, who is leaving Conthe last 10 years, the report says. tionship. This sort of telehealth prescribing is allowed under the gress in January, accuses abortion pill makers of allowing third- Biden-era rules. The website was launched by a physician and party retailers to sell the drugs abortion-rights activist. without oversight and failing to But Cassidy’s report says it is report non-fatal adverse events. State health ofﬁcials have

given the University of Louisiana Monroe $2.1 million to expand its nursing program, part of a statewide push to address a shortage of doctors and nurses in rural areas. The money will be used to hire more faculty and purchase instructional resources like simulators, allowing the nursing program to add 20 stuGreenstein dents per semester. It will also allow the College of Health Sciences to offer a specialized concentration in ultrasound to its radiology technician degree. That new concentration is expected to start in Spring 2028. The grant will also help the university build a coordinating hub to place recent graduates in residencies at local hospitals. “By partnering with institutions like ULM, we can train more healthcare professionals in rural communities, create stronger connections to the places that need them most, and build a workforce that is sustainable for the long term,” said Health Secretary Bruce Greenstein. “Ultimately, this is about bringing better care closer to home and improving health outcomes for rural Louisianans.” The Department of Health

Cassidy targets abortion pill manufacturers

ULM gets grant to tackle nursing shortage

Louisiana is also part of a settlement announced Wednesday between Meta and 48 states over the company’s Facebook and Instagram platforms. That case, filed in federal court in California, dealt with social media addiction and the role Meta’s platforms played in undermining children’s mental health. Meta could pay up to $18 billion as part of the deal, and Louisiana will get at least $180 million over the course of nine years, according to Murrill’s office. Murrill said she wants that money to go toward law enforcement efforts combating child sex predators online, online safety education and mental health treatment and research. In August last year, Murrill filed suit in Livingston Parish against Roblox, a popular online gaming site, for allegedly failing to implement basic safety controls and not protecting children from predators. And in fall of 2024, Murrill also sued TikTok in Livingston Parish, saying the app is both harmful and addictive. On Wednesday, she said that case is moving toward trial, which is set for February. in recent years has made rural healthcare workforce shortages a top priority. A dearth of doctors and nurses in areas like northeast Louisiana has for years plagued hospitals and made it harder for patients to get regular preventive care, leading to worse health outcomes and higher healthcare costs.

Louisiana Lottery turns over $194M to schools The Louisiana Lottery transferred over $194 million to the state’s public school system during the ﬁscal year that ended July 1, the agency said in a news release this week. That’s about $7.2 million more than planned in the state budget, the release said. Overall, the lottery made $630 million in revenue. State law requires the lottery to transfer at least 25% of its revenue to the state, and the state constitution says the money is dedicated to the Minimum Foundation Program, the formula that sets the lion’s share of state funding for public schools. The rest of the revenue goes to prize winners, incentives for retailers that offer tickets, and operational expenses. Since its founding in 1991, over $5 billion has gone to the state treasury from the lottery, the release said.

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The Acadiana Advocate ● theadvocate.com ● Sunday,August 30, 2026 ● 11A

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Trump’s Greenland threats cast shadow on Iceland’s EU vote BY KWIYEON HA and BRIAN MELLEY

referendum that it had planned for next year. EU talk is nothing new in Iceland, which formally ended its previous effort to join the bloc in 2015, largely over concerns about what membership would mean for its rich fish resources. The hefty cod and haddock catches from the chilled Arctic waters around Iceland are central to the national identity too. Descendants of Vikings who settled in Iceland have lived off the sea for centuries. With much of the country’s economy geared toward its lucrative and well-managed fishing industry, fishing rights have been a talking point in the run-up to the referendum. Joining the 27-nation EU would require Iceland to be part of the bloc’s common fisheries policy that would allow Spanish, Dutch and other trawlers into its waters. The government has indicated it would seek a special arrangement, potentially a full opt-out from the policy. If the vote is approved, it would not be the final say for Iceland. Voters would then have to either approve or reject the membership agreement it negotiates. For many, Iceland’s national identity and ultimately its culture is on the ballot too. Iceland, which gained independence from Denmark in 1944, has a proud history of refusing to be pushed around by bigger and richer European nations. It even fought — and won — the so-called Cod Wars with Britain in the 1970s over its fishing grounds.

Associated Press

REYKJAVIK, Iceland — Voters in Iceland went to the polls Saturday to decide whether the country should resume long-stalled negotiations to become a member of the European Union, in the shadow of President Donald Trump’s threats to control nearby Greenland. The yes-or-no referendum question is simple enough for the 265,000 or so eligible voters: Should Iceland resume accession negotiations with the European Union? A yes vote would trigger negotiations with the EU’s executive branch, the European Commission, covering 35 areas, from the economy to human rights. Some supporters believe the European Union could offer protections if Trump ever made similar threats against Iceland. They also see economic stability in joining the bloc. If voters reject the proposal, that’s it, for a generation at least. Opponents have rallied around the threat EU membership would pose to Iceland’s rich ﬁshing stocks and the fact that Iceland already reaps benefits from being in the EU’s frictionless single market and the Schengen free-travel zone. Experts expect a close vote. More than 20% of voters cast early ballots in advance of election day, Iceland’s national broadcaster RÚV said. “This has been a tight race, extremely exciting,” said Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir, whose

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By MARCO DI MARCO

People with Icelandic flags attend an ‘Afram Island’ (‘Forward, Iceland’) rally opposing the resumption of European Union accession talks on Thursday at Austurvollur in Reykjavik, Iceland. platform was based in part on rejoining the EU, after she voted. “It’s lifted discussions about the EU, about Iceland’s place in the world, about our general geopolitical situation and status to a higher level.” When Trump talked about U.S. control of Greenland, particularly at the start of this year, he shifted the mood in Iceland, just 180 miles from the self-governing territory of Denmark, a longtime U.S. ally. Iceland is a NATO member, but nonetheless some of its citizens were particularly alarmed when Trump mistakenly named their country four times while speaking

about his designs on Greenland. Though Trump has indicated he won’t use force to seize Greenland, his interest doesn’t appear to have cooled. The underlying worry among many in Iceland is clear — if Greenland is seized, is Iceland next? The ensuing question is clear too: if yes, does EU membership provide a bulwark against any new Trump ambition in the North Atlantic? Iceland’s left-leaning coalition government, elected in 2024, certainly thinks so, and that’s largely why it moved forward with the EU

Backers of EU membership say it’s best for Iceland to get closer to its European neighbors to combat issues that don’t respect borders, such as climate change. They also say the euro would bring more stability than Iceland’s volatile króna currency and EU membership would lower inflation and interest rates. “Being in good connection and good relations with Europe is absolutely the best thing that Iceland has ever done and should continue,” Haukur Hallsson said after voting in favor of EU discussions. “Iceland should definitely look more to Europe than the White House at this moment.” Opponents say the current setup is just right and that Iceland already enjoys all the benefits of European integration without the sovereignty compromises that inevitably come with full membership. They say their vote in Europe’s Parliament would be small and they prefer to cut some of their own trade deals, such as one with China. Agust Hallvardsson said he voted against the measure because the independence of Iceland’s fisheries and agriculture is vital. “What’s happening in the EU is not to my liking,” Hallvardsson said. “It’s like a big burning ship. I think they need to, you know, put their things right before we join them. And I think we’re better off alone.” Melley reported from London. Pan Pylas contributed to this story.

Source: 2 LaGuardia air traffic controllers left work early before crash against the two controllers who left early — up to firing the pair, the government official said. The National Air Traffic Controllers Association said in a statement the union “is actively discussing these allegations with FAA leadership.” Experts and retired officials said leaving the airport early when a required break falls at the end of a shift is a common practice nationwide known as an “early shove.” The FAA is also in the midst of negotiating a new contract with the air traffic controllers union that the agency hopes will include an agree-

ment on a new scheduling model. The FAA said in a statement that the agency “is committed to holding employees accountable, and we will not compromise the safety or efﬁciency of the national airspace system.” Tom Lintner saw early departures repeatedly during his decades-long career at the FAA that included a stint as a LaGuardia controller before going on to oversee all air trafﬁc control investigations, but he said it shouldn’t be allowed to continue. “None of that excuses the issue about when you get paid for eight

hours, you’re supposed to be there for eight hours. Seven and a half doesn’t count,” Lintner said. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said this amounts to timecard fraud that won’t be tolerated. “The vast majority of air-trafﬁc controllers are great patriots — they show up for work, complete their full shift, and come back and do it all again,” Duffy said in a statement. “But when a small percentage of individuals take advantage of the American taxpayer, unfairly add additional work to their fellow controllers, and impact the airspace — we have no choice but to act.”

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Two air traffic controllers could be fired for leaving the tower at New York’s LaGuardia Airport about an hour early on the night that an Air Canada jet smashed into a fire truck crossing the runway, killing both pilots, according to a government official familiar with the investigation. The official was not authorized to publicly discuss the matter due to the ongoing National Transportation Safety Board investigation of the March 22 crash and spoke to

The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity Friday. Because the two controllers left work early that night, there were only two people left in the tower to direct an unusual flurry of flights while dealing with an emergency on another plane on the ground. The controllers who left could have provided crucial backup when the tower got busy if they had remained at the airport until the end of their shifts because they were scheduled to be there past when the crash happened, the official said. The Federal Aviation Administration is pursuing disciplinary action

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Records: Officials signed more NDAs Confidential agreements made with Tesla, Oracle

BY SAM KARLIN Staff writer

Louisiana Economic Development this month signed nondisclosure agreements with Oracle and Tesla, among other companies, records show. It’s not clear what the state may be discussing with the companies. Their NDAs with the state

are among hundreds that Gov. Jeff Landry’s administration has signed, some of which have led to announcements of economic development projects. SpaceX and Meta are among the companies the state negotiated with privately before inking deals for projects, with Meta building a massive data center in Richland Parish and an announcement last

cent NDAs with LED, the records showed. LED Secretary Susan Bourgeois week that SpaceX is planning the said in a brief interview Friday world’s largest spaceport on the that she could not comment on any Louisiana coast. potential project or negotiation. The new NDAs were among sev“Comments or stories about eral released Friday to The Times- these kinds of projects in this Picayune | The Advocate through phase put Louisiana at risk of losa public records request. Zurich ing those projects,” Bourgeois U.S., which runs an annual golf said. “I think it’s patently dangertournament in New Orleans, and ous and uncompetitive for us as a Colorado company called Origen a state to be having these discusCarbon Solutions also signed re- sions in the press right now.”

Landry has been adamant in defending the use of NDAs in economic development, insisting the state needs them to get a seat at the table and not to be outbid by other states. He’s said they are a critical tool for negotiating with companies. “You think I want Texas to steal my thunder?” Landry said in a media gaggle after the SpaceX announcement this week. “You think

ä See NDA, page 3B

Buc-ee’s founder favors red states Chain looking to open stores in ‘conservative, business-friendly’ places

BY ADAM DAIGLE

Acadiana business editor

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DOWNTOWN VIBE

Buc-ee’s will continue to open its super-popular convenience stores in conservative, pro-business states, founder Arch “Beaver” Applin said at a store opening recently. The growing company, which was granted a building permit earlier this month for its Lafayette location, recently opened a store in Benton, Arkansas. “When you ﬁnd a conservative, business-friendly state with a phenomenal workforce, it makes a difference,” Applin said at the store’s opening. “I’m starting to realize life is too short to try to build in places where people don’t appreciate what you’re bringing.” Applin spoke at the ribbon-cutting for the 74,000-square-foot store along I-30 southwest of Little Rock. Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders was also in attendance, and he lauded her efforts along with state government in getting the store established. “That idea of conservative, business-friendly, family-oriented concept works so much better if it trickles down from the very top,” he said. Buc-ee’s has opened stores in traditionally conservative-leaning

ä See BUC-EE’S, page 3B

SoLAcc names interim chief strategy officer BY JOANNA BROWN

TOP: The Vermillionaires entertain the crowd

Staff writer

during the Ragin’ Cajuns Downtown Alive! event at Parc Sans Souci on Friday. ABOVE: The crowd dances as the horn section of The Vermillionaires perform. RIGHT: Downtown Lafayette Unlimited kicks off the Ragin’ Cajuns Downtown Alive! BOTTOM RIGHT: Waren Tauzin, 4, zones out during his swing ride.

Police: Body found at Lafayette demolition site No identification on remains

and manner of death have not been determined, according to police. Construction workers conducting demolition at the former La Quinta Inn at 2100 NE Evangeline Staff report Thruway discovered the severely A severely decomposed body decomposed remains of a male was found at the site of a former Thursday afternoon, the Lafaymotel in Lafayette, but the cause ette Police Department said in a

news release. In the past, the hotel had been used as a living area for the unhoused. However, police said preliminary ﬁndings indicate the individual was not killed as a result of the demolition work. Authorities were unable to identify the person due to the ad-

vanced state of decomposition. The Lafayette Parish Coroner’s Ofﬁce is conducting an autopsy. The investigation is active and ongoing. Anyone with relevant information is encouraged to contact the Lafayette Police Department or Lafayette Crime Stoppers at (337) 232-TIPS.

Acadiana’s largest community college network has established a chief strategy officer position to advance high-priority initiatives and strengthen the organization’s relationships with regional partners. Kristi Anderson, who in 2022 was named the first chief strategy officer at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, has now been tapped as interim chief strategy officer for South LouisiAnderson ana Community College. She will join the college’s executive leadership team and Office of the Chancellor. A statement from SoLAcc chancellor Vincent June stated, “SoLAcc continues to grow, and with that growth comes an opportunity to be even more intentional about where we are headed and how we

ä See APPOINTMENT, page 3B

2B ● Sunday,August 30, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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THE GULF COAST Signs of hope emerge in Waveland years after Katrina BY POET WOLFE and MARTHA SANCHEZ Staff writers

Lining the walls of Renee Loranger’s bakery in Waveland, Mississippi, are photographs of Coleman Avenue hours before Hurricane Katrina washed over the strip, where live oaks and white picket fences stood alongside restaurants, churches and a lone saloon. Reminders of what the storm took away live beyond those photographs. Five years ago, when Loranger opened her bakery, Sugar Pop Co., she described the downtown street in one word: “quiet.” Recovery remained scarce, with few elevated homes scattered among grassy lots — evidence that time had stood rather still more than a decade after the storm. Some of those lots remain empty today. But standing alongside them are subtle signs of growth along the thoroughfare. As noon approached on a recent Friday, crowds filed into Rickey’s on Coleman for fried catfish and ciabatta sandwiches during lunch breaks, returning to a neighborhood fixture that reopened last fall after Katrina dismantled it. Farther down, near the beachfront, construction crews were building a new restaurant elevated on stilts and surrounded by sandpits and young palm trees. Nearby, a pier closed since Hurricane Zeta damaged it in 2020 is set to reopen for residents and fishermen. The gradual rebirth of Coleman Avenue points to a broader trend unfolding across the Mississippi Coast, as population growth, new developments and an influx of vacationers transform a region long stunted by Katrina’s destruction. To some business owners, its resurgence suggests that the rapid growth of tourism in nearby Bay St. Louis may be prompting more residents and entrepreneurs to look to quieter coastal towns like Waveland. Loranger was among the first

before the storm. Opening the restaurant on Coleman Avenue has given him liberties that are now harder to find in Bay St. Louis, where new developments continue to emerge and public parking spaces are often filled. “Bay St. Louis is at capacity,” he said. “The town’s full and there’s nothing else to build.” His Waveland restaurant, however, will feature 30 parking and off-street golf cart spaces. He plans to draw a diverse clientele to what he describes as the “main drag of Waveland,” offering towels, beach balls and sunscreen for those who want to go between the beach and his restaurant. Loranger also believes what’s driving people back to Coleman Avenue is that Bay St. Louis “is overpopulated, and we need another strip.” But beyond Mississippi Coast residents, she’s noticed customers traveling across state lines to her bakery, from STAFF PHOTO By DAVID GRUNFELD Louisiana to Alabama. She hopes businesses like hers and Genin’s A vacant foundation is across from City Hall on Coleman Avenue in Waveland, Miss. will create a snowball effect, with more shops lining Coleman as Trapani said. business owners to bet on the they did decades ago. eral government to rewrite rules But now some signs of hope are downtown strip in 2021, after Lacey Ulery, the general manabout building elevation and inthen-Mayor Mike Smith pubsurance. Now, most new construc- emerging. ager at Rickey’s, said a long line Shane Kowalski, a real estate snakes around the restaurant’s lished a bid for the building that tion along Mississippi’s immedientrance every Friday night, also houses Waveland’s Hurricane ate coastline must rise more than broker and appraiser, is selling a $1.55 million vacation rental pointing to “a shift happening” Katrina museum called Ground 20 feet above ground. property built in 2023. It has been along the Coleman strip. She said Zero. Opening Sugar Pop Co. on The dilemma has proved chalunder contract twice, he said, several factors are driving the Coleman Avenue was, at the time, lenging across the region, and clientele: the cult following the she said, “a leap of faith.” dozens of empty lots still line U.S. and both times fell through. But he said the listing is still attractrestaurant garnered before the But as more restaurants and va- 90. But many locals say building storm, social media and visitors has been especially difficult on cation rentals emerge, she feels ing interest from investors who Coleman Avenue, where the road believe they could make money if staying in nearby vacation rentmore secure. slants down toward the beach. “People remember how it used Coleman Avenue stages a comeals. For years, as Katrina remained back. to be on Coleman and the busiFear of flooding, Ulery said, fresh in locals’ minds, few chose was one reason she thinks it took “It would be a very good bet,” nesses on Coleman,” she said. to rebuild on Coleman Avenue decades for Coleman to begin Kowalski said. “This is kind of our main street, even as development surged in coming back. But now, people are so I think it’s just a matter of Restaurants return downtown Bay St. Louis, which beginning to realize it’s “a secret time.” sits at slightly higher elevation. hidden gem” near private beachThomas Genin, a restaurateur ‘A very good bet’ Others still own vacant lots on who owns The Blind Tiger and es and new restaurants. previously owned the building “It took over eight years to reMore than 20 years ago, Katrina Coleman but aren’t selling them. And city leaders suspect many that houses Rickey’s before sellmade landfall near the mouth of build the roads,” she said. “But commercial businesses do not the Pearl River at the Louisiananow I think we’re just ready.” ing it in September, is behind want to build high in the air and Mississippi border and sent the new seafood restaurant set force customers to walk up tall more than 20 feet of storm surge to open near the beachfront in Email Poet Wolfe at poet.wolfe@ stairs. through Waveland, flattening alseveral weeks. The building is theadvocate.com and Martha “Elevation has been the big on the same lot that was home to Sanchez at martha.sanchez@ most everything. hangup,” Waveland Mayor Jay the original Rickey’s restaurant theadvocate.com. The destruction forced the fed-

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Judge recused in dozens of cases after AG probe

The Acadiana Advocate ● theadvocate.com ● Sunday,August 30, 2026 ● 3B

State Police. Murrill’s office “It doesn’t make anything more efRoche oversaw grand Louisiana handles more than one in five cases in ficient by taking these cases. They efcourthouse, by its own count. fectively have to start all over from jury that indicted Murrill theUntil Friday, they were divided the beginning” under new judges, he

BY JOHN SIMERMAN Staff writer

The prosecution of 10 men accused of busting out of the New Orleans jail last year will be reassigned along with dozens of other cases handled by Criminal District Judge Leon Roche, under a recusal order Friday that affects more than 50 defendants prosecuted by Attorney General Liz Murrill’s office. Roche oversaw the Orleans Parish grand jury that indicted Murrill last month on 16 counts of malfeasance in office and public intimidation. The July 2 indictment accused her of crimes in threatening letters she penned in May to Roche top New Orleans officials, including Mayor Helena Moreno, District Attorney Jason Williams and five council members. As political tensions roiled, special prosecutor Laurie White dropped the charges. Murrill, though, has said she still aims to get to the bottom of the grand jury’s inquiry. Prosecutors under Murrill argued that Roche is biased and needs to be off every case her office handles. Murrill has criticized Roche for closing his Section “I” courtroom when the grand jury returned the indictment. The cases at issue Friday are among 545 that Murrill said her office is currently prosecuting in the criminal courthouse under a running agreement with District Attorney Jason Williams’ office related to arrests led by

among 12 district judges; now it’s 11 after the ruling from Criminal District Judge Benedict Willard that granted Murrill’s mass recusal request. Willard had previously granted Murrill’s request to recuse Roche in one case: the prosecution of jail janitor Sterling Williams for allegedly helping facilitate the May 2025 jail escape. On Friday, Willard addressed the remainder of the attorney general’s caseload in Roche’s court. “The attorney general has not shown any evidence to show Judge Roche would be anything less than fair and impartial,” Willard said. “But in the interest of justice involving all parties and based on the doctrine of efﬁciency … the motion to recuse will be granted in order that these cases move forward.” Roche wasn’t involved in Friday’s hearing. Several private defense attorneys and a representative for the Orleans Public Defenders asked Willard in court to reconsider. “We 100% agree that Judge Roche has not done anything that would warrant recusal. … They’re trying to judge shop,” said private attorney Chris Murell. He argued that because Willard found no bias or appearance of bias from Roche, “recusal is not appropriate.” Murell’s client, Jerry Davis, spent 40 years in prison before his murder conviction was vacated. He was seeking a ruling from Roche on whether he can tap the state’s Innocence Compensation Fund. Defense attorney Gregory Carter argued that reallotting the cases en masse to other sections will only delay them.

said. Assistant Attorney General Taylor Gray was poised to address the judge as well, before Willard interjected. “You might take victory away for yourself,” he cautioned. Gray stepped away from the dais. Some defense attorneys requested a stay to consider appeals. Willard said he would grant 30-day stays to anyone who wanted one. The decision will lighten a docket that Roche is set to turn over to a colleague, Judge Rhonda Goode-Douglas, at year’s end, in the musical-chairs fallout of the Legislature’s move this year to shrink the criminal court from 12 judges to nine. Her seat eliminated, Goode-Douglas took aim at Roche’s, which the Legislature spared. That prompted Roche to forgo defending his seat and instead challenge Judge Camille Buras. GoodeDouglas drew no opponents. Murrill recently said her office planned to file for mass recusals in Judge Simone Levine’s Section “A,” which also will be eliminated at year’s end, over comments Levine allegedly made recently from the bench. But Murrill said Friday that she has pulled back and has “no plan at this time to ﬁle” those motions. “The judge has expressed regret for her comments,” she said. Levine, who is now running against Judge Kimya Holmes, responded in a statement. “I remain committed to working with stakeholders to ensure criminal cases are handled properly, no matter the issue,” she said. “I indicated I did not want a docket management problem to hamper future court proceedings.”

NDA

Continued from page 1B I want other states to know what we’re working on?” Advocates for transparency have pushed back on them, arguing government officials should clue their constituents into deals that will affect them. “At some point, there should be a public process where these things get approved,” Steven Procopio, head of the Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana, said. “But it’s a tradeoff.” A database maintained by The Times-Picayune | The Advocate shows Landry’s administration has signed over 300 NDAs since taking ofﬁce. The NDAs span a range of companies, as well as state and local government ofﬁcials. The majority of the state Senate has signed an NDA, as have several key House members. Oracle is among several tech giants spending big on data centers across the country. LED has also signed NDAs with Google,

STAFF PHOTO By LESLIE WESTBROOK

A video of Elon Musk and Gov. Jeff Landry’s recent visit to Pecan Island plays during the announcement of plans to build a SpaceX spaceport on the Louisiana coast south of Pecan Island on Tuesday in Abbeville. Anthropic and Amazon, among others who are pursuing data centers. Landry and other top Republicans in Louisiana have welcomed data centers to the state, including the massive $50 billion data center by Meta in Richland Parish. Other companies are also building data centers in the Shreveport area, central

Louisiana and the greater Baton Rouge region. Tesla is run by Elon Musk, the billionaire who also runs SpaceX. The Tesla ofﬁcial who signed was Joshua Wheeler, head of lithium and recycling at the company, though it’s not clear what the NDA is about. Tesla and Oracle didn’t immediately respond to mes-

sages seeking comment. The Times-Picayune | The Advocate reported last week that a host of government ofﬁcials — including environmental regulators and state lawmakers — signed NDAs as part of the SpaceX deal Landry announced Tuesday. SpaceX is building a $100 billion spaceport in Vermilion Parish.

Obituaries Donohue, Patrick Lege

ABBEVILLE Patrick Lege Donohue, 74, passed away on August 22, 2026, at his residence surrounded by family. Patrick was born in Abbeville on March 3, 1952, to John Paul Donohue and Marie Elise Lege Donohue. A lifelong member of St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church, Patrick was a faithful Catholic whose faith enriched him throughout his life. Patrick lived in the beautiful family home on South Main Street for nearly his entire life. He purchased the home from his parents with the love of his life, Rebecca Bordelon Donohue. Married in 1978, they raised their three children there and made it their own for the past 42 years. A proud 1970 graduate of Vermilion Catholic High School, where he was a three-sport letterman, Patrick earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics and Finance from the University of Southwestern Louisiana. During college, he was an active member of Kappa Sigma Fraternity, forming friendships that lasted a lifetime. A Certified Petroleum Landman, Patrick cofounded Angelle & Donohue in 1980 and remained devoted to the firm throughout his life. Known for his strong will, straightforward manner, and unwavering determination, he earned the respect and appreciation of clients over a career that persisted through the extraordinary highs and lows of Louisiana's oil and gas industry. That same perseverance sustained Angelle & Donohue through difficult times, and Patrick continued enjoying his work and helping his clients until the final chapter of his life. He was an active member of LOGA, LAPL, AAPL, and HAPL. He also succeeded his father as a Board member of Vermilion Corporation. Patrick loved golf and, in recent years, was a member of Oakbourne Country Club. Throughout his life, he traveled with family and friends to play great courses across our beautiful country. Patrick's life-long passion for duck hunting started and ended at Camp Blarney in Pecan Island. Privileged to hunt the same area for more than seven decades, his guests in the "back blind" included his father, siblings, children, grandchildren, and countless relatives and friends. The camp was a focal point for hunting, sto-

ries, laughter, and "makin' memories." We all wish we could have "one more" morning with him watching the sun rise and the ducks fall. To his grandchildren, Patrick was simply "Poppy," a role he treasured. He always showed up for his family—sporting events, performances, and all the ordinary moments in between. Patrick is survived by his beloved wife of 48 years, Rebecca Bordelon Donohue; daughters, Megan Donohue Breaux (Matthew) and Colleen Donohue Foreman (Khristopher); grandchildren, Claire Elise Breaux, James Andrew Breaux, and Willow Marie Foreman; and siblings, Elizabeth Gary, Patricia McIntyre, John P. Donohue, Jr. (Lory), Daniel Donohue (Kristi), James Donohue, Sr. (Susan), and Lise Kuhn (Allen). He was preceded in death by his son, Patrick Lege Donohue, Jr.; his parents, John Paul Donohue and Marie Elise Lege Donohue; and his brothersin-law, John Wesley Gary III and Reginald James McIntyre. A Mass of Christian Burial officiated by Reverend Louis Richard will be held at 10:30 AM on Monday, August 31, 2026, at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church. Patrick will be laid to rest at St. Mary Magdalen Cemetery. Visitation will be held at Vincent Funeral Home of Abbeville, 209 S. Saint Charles St., on Sunday, August 30, 2026, from 4:00 PM until 7:00 PM, with a eulogy at 6:00 PM followed by a rosary at 6:30 PM. Visitation will resume Monday from 8:00 AM until 10:15 AM, when the procession will depart for the church. Serving as pallbearers will be Daniel Donohue, James Donohue, Sr., Reginald McIntyre III, John P. Donohue III, James Donohue, Jr., and Allen Kuhn, Jr. Honorary pallbearers will be John P. Donohue, Jr., Allen Kuhn, Matthew Breaux, Khristopher Foreman, James Andrew Breaux, Alan Brown "Brownie" Fortier, and Keith Istre. Readers will be Wesleigh Gary Stewart and Margaret McIntyre VanRyckeghem. Gift bearers will be Claire Elise Breaux, Riley Donohue Harmon, and Lilia Elise Kuhn. The family would like to extend special thanks to Dr. Philippe Prouet, Dr. Perri Prellop, and Dr. Paulette Blanchet. All funeral arrangements are being conducted by Vincent Funeral Home - Abbeville, (337) 893 -4661.

The Advocate’s Obituary Department Labor Day Holiday Hours Due to the Labor Day Holiday, our offices will be closed Monday, Sept. 7th, 2026.

EARLY DEADLINES FOR OBITUARIES

BUC-EE’S

reports indicate. Yet the appeal got the OK from county commissioners to move forContinued from page 1B ward. In Benton, city officials states with several locations sold Buc-ee’s the land that in Texas and other Southern was listed at $2.25 million for $800,000, reports indistates. In Colorado, attempts at cate, in a deal that included opening a location near Colo- Buc-ee’s building a public rado Springs drew a packed road to a proposed RV park. Company officials dehouse of opponents during a Thursday town hall meeting, clined comment about an

anticipated opening date for the Lafayette store. It was recently granted a building permit by Lafayette Consolidated Government, but no visible progress has begun on construction. The Benton store opened after 16 months of construction, reports indicate. As part of the agreement with the Lafayette Economic Development Authority, the

company “shall use its best efforts” to complete the project within 36 months after all permits required to construct the facility are obtained. Construction on the Lafayette store should start fairly soon, LEDA president and CEO Mandi Mitchell said.

serve our communities.” “Dr. Anderson brings the strategic experience, regional knowledge and relationships to help us turn big ideas into action. She understands Acadiana, she understands the power of partnerships, and I am excited to have her at the table as we continue building what comes next for SoLAcc,” said June. Anderson’s previous roles have primarily been in higher education and academic health systems. At UL, she led initiatives focused on institutional strategy, part-

dent well-being. Before that role, she worked in graduate medical education leadership with the LSU School of Medicine, and taught at Tulane University School of Medicine and California Institute of Integral Studies. Anderson also previously served as scholar in residence at Dillard University, in the Minority Health and Health Disparities Research Center. “I have spent much of my career bringing people together at the intersections of education, healthcare and community, and these experiences have taught me that meaningful progress is always a shared effort,”

our area and is making a real difference in the lives of students and families throughout Acadiana. I’m honored to join the college, build on the relationships and momentum already in place, and contribute in the many ways I can to its continued success.” Anderson’s Ph.D. is in systemic studies from the University of LouisianaMonroe, and she holds a Master of Science in clinical exercise physiology from Louisiana State University and a Bachelor of Science in kinesiology from LSU. South Louisiana Community College serves approximately 12,000 students across Acadiana, with

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governance, lead- Anderson said. “SoLAcc has campuses in Lafayette, AbAPPOINTMENT nerships, ership development and stu- an incredible reach across beville, Crowley, Franklin,

Continued from page 1B

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Morgan City, New Iberia, Opelousas, St. Martinville and Ville Platte. Email Joanna Brown at joanna.brown@ theadvocate.com.

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OPINION T H E A D V O C AT E.C O M/opinions

OUR VIEWS

A generation of La. legends in Civil Rights Movement deserves our undying gratitude The recent death of civil rights leader Jerome “Big Duck” Smith reminds us that our state is home to many legends of the Civil Rights Movement whose names are fading from our memories far too fast. Perhaps it’s because, like Smith, they never boasted of what they achieved or demanded that we honor their courage with statues or street namings or edifices erected to glorify them. Mostly, they stood up against injustice when the times needed ordinary folks to stand up. They spoke out when speaking out could mean jail — or worse. Then having achieved the monumental change in society that we are the beneficiaries of today, most of them went on about their lives continuing to contribute to their communities — quiet heroes among us. Smith Smith was like that. His road to activism began in the 1940s when he sat down in a Whites-only section of a St. Claude Avenue streetcar in New Orleans. The story goes that an elderly Black woman intervened as the conductor threatened Smith with all kinds of dire consequences. She slapped him, dragged him off the streetcar and promised the conductor he would get a good thrashing later. But once they were out of sight, she hugged him with tears in her eyes and told him to never stop. He would go on to participate in Freedom Rides and sit-ins, sometimes being beaten or jailed with other protesters. Later, he would found the Tambourine & Fan Society to teach New Orleans children about their history and culture. He earned the nickname “Big Duck” because the children followed him around like ducklings. Smith was one man, but he showed how big an impact one person could have. So did a whole host of Louisiana activists from every corner of the state whose names many of us do not know. They organized bus boycotts in Baton Rouge and voting drives in Shreveport. They integrated police departments in Lafayette and fought for school desegregation in Lake Charles. They contributed to the struggle in any way they could and drew strength from one another. As we see the nation’s highest court seemingly want to leave core achievements of the era like the 1965 Voting Rights Act in the rear-view mirror, now is the time to reflect on the audacity of a generation who marched and picketed and strove to make our country live up to its founding ideals. It’s time to learn their names and thank them before their time with us has passed. If we are very lucky, we might be able to sit down and spend some time with one of these everyday heroes and hear their story. When we do, may it move something in us. When the times call for ordinary people to stand up and speak out against injustice, will we have their courage?

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR ARE WELCOME. HERE ARE OUR GUIDELINES: Letters are published

identifying name, occupation and/or title and the writer’s city of residence. The Advocate | The Times-Picayune require a street address and phone number for verification purposes, but that information is not published. Letters are not to exceed 300 words. Letters to the Editor, The Advocate, P.O. Box 588, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-0588, or email letters@ theadvocate.com.

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New N.Y. law tramples on religious freedom The Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne Mary Alphonsa established that the sisters “must make our guests glad exist to love patients in their Rosary Hill Home in the suburbs of New York they crossed the threshold that is to City as Christ himself. As assisted sui- be their last boundary. We must make cide goes into effect in Kathy Hochul’s them as comfortable and happy as if their own people had kept them and Empire State, that seems to mean: to put them into the very best bedcrucify him again. Day One for the euphemistiroom.” Their home offers palcally named Medical Aid in liative care to cancer patients Dying (MAID) law was Aug. 5. who have exhausted treatment It puts the Catholic nuns in an options or opted for none and impossible position: presenting are in ﬁnancial need. and participating in assisted The sisters believe assisted Kathryn suicide is evil, as the Catholic suicide as an option for their Jean patients. Church does. To participate in The Hawthorne Dominicans it would be evil and a scandal Lopez have a 42-bed nursing home — regardless of what New York where they provide free care for paState mandates. The Hawthorne Dominicans, along tients dying of cancer. They’ve been with three other groups of nuns, a in operation for 125 years since the community was founded by Rose Haw- Catholic bishop, a diocese and a Cathothorne Lathrop, the daughter of the lic healthcare system, pleaded with novelist Nathaniel Hawthorne. Rose New York to halt the implementation was a convert to Catholicism and took of the law and to declare it unconstituthe religious name Mother Mary Altional — or at the very least to exempt phonsa upon founding her community. them from the mandates in it that are simply impossible for them to follow. She started out with two rooms on The New York law goes beyond the Lower East Side of Manhattan. As the ministry grew and the Rosary Hill states well-known for their extremism Home was established in 1901, Mother on assisted suicide. Unlike California,

Oregon and Washington state, New York “requires doctors to afﬁrmatively raise assisted suicide with their terminally ill patients,” Becket indicates in its complaint. “New York’s religious exemptions are also among the narrowest in the nation.” Those aforementioned states also “allow religious healthcare providers and facilities to opt out of all participation in assisted suicide, if that is what their faith requires.” In New York under MAID, however, “[t]he many New York nurse practitioners, doctors, mental health professionals, hospitals, and care homes with religious or moral objections to participating in assisted suicide will have nowhere to go.” If America 250 means anything, it means nuns in New York cannot be coerced into participating in the evil of assisted suicide. Will the Empire State protect their religious freedom — and the freedom of patients and families who want their truly Catholic care — or punish them for serving God and the suffering with loving freedom? Email Kathryn Jean Lopez at klopez@ nationalreview.com.

When writers have second thoughts have had regrets after they sent us We’ve all done it — composed a a letter and asked us to withdraw it. harshly worded email to a friend or Sometimes they realize it could have colleague and then regretted it the repercussions for their job or their minute we hit send. Sometimes writing in the heat of the family, but most of the time, it’s just that they realize they wrote moment isn’t the best idea. out of rage and did not think I heard some advice a long it through. We always honor time ago that has helped me requests to withdraw letters. avoid damaging relationships But when we don’t have a huge with an ill-received email: Combacklog of letters, the request pose the email and then sleep can come too late. on it. Arnessa I always urge writers to take If you read it the next day and Garrett some time to sit with their still feel your sentiments are opinion before sending us a letwell and accurately expressed, then you can hit send. ter. Read more stories about the issue If you read it and realize that it could you care about. Are you sure you know be taken the wrong way, you have time all the facts? Look at the language you to change it. used. Does it reflect how you feel in the Words on a page can be interpreted cool light of day? more negatively than a similar mesI know sometimes it can be difficult to refrain from firing off a missive sage would in an in-person conversawhen the feeling strikes. But rememtion where you can look in a person’s eye and know they mean well. ber, letters, like all our content, have A few times, writers to the paper a long life online and do turn up in

searches. You want your published opinion to represent who you are and your belief system to any future readers. So before you hit send, make sure it does. Turning to our letters inbox for Aug. 20-27, we continue to get fewer letters than usual. On the one hand, that’s good, as we can get your letters published in a more timely manner. On the other, we have fewer opinions to publish. For the week, we received 32 letters. The Ten Commandments posters that recently went up in Louisiana schools were the top issue of concern, prompting three letters. No other topic got more than one. There’s lots of news happening in and around our state. Drop us a line if you have thoughts that you want to share. Arnessa Garrett is Deputy Editor | Opinion Page Editor. Email her at arnessa.garrett@theadvocate.com.

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COMMENTARY ‘Brink of War’ movie is one for the ages J.K. Simmons as Secretary of If you want to see a thoroughly State George Schulz do terriﬁc entertaining movie, no matter jobs of carrying this enwhat your politics are, go see “The Brink of War.” grossing drama on their If you want a great enshoulders, even if none of them quite captures the capsulation of the stakes look or voice of the real and drama of the Cold War, people they portray. go see “The Brink of War.” It helps that moviemakMore importantly for toQuin day’s purposes, if you want ers had access to the Hillyer to be reminded of the wonactual transcripts of the negotiations at Reykjavik derful value of individual and hewed very closely to them, liberty, tear down any walls in with only minor deviations that your way so you can go see “The added context and proper pacing Brink of War.” to the story. Most importantly, try to get One thing abundantly evident your children and grandchildren, from that actual dialogue is that your nieces, your nephews and Reagan saw human rights and your friends’ progeny, too, all to individual liberty as essential go see this ﬁlm. for the trust necessary for any The movie tautly depicts the arms agreement. This is where two days of the famous 1986 the teachable lessons come in nuclear-arms summit in Reykjavik, Iceland, when President Ron- for today’s younger generations who, surveys consistently show, ald Reagan and Soviet General take for granted both liberty and Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev began breathtaking discussions of the admirable American role in spreading it worldwide. nuclear arms reductions. It is a well-attested fact that Others can do formal movie Gorbachev wanted not to disreviews, but that’s not what this column is about — other than to cuss human rights, not at all, at say that Jeff Daniels as Reagan, that summit. Reagan repeatedly Jared Harris as Gorbachev and insisted on doing so, sometimes

against advice from his aides. To Gorbachev himself, Reagan notes how many Americans are immigrants from nations dominated by the Soviet Union, and says, “It will be easier to conclude agreements on various arms questions when public opinion is not angered by some events in the countries of their cultural heritage. … We both want peace, but how do we achieve it? How do we strengthen trust and reduce suspicion between our two peoples?” In another scene, when an aide says to Reagan, about Gorbachev, that “at least you have something in common, sir,” Reagan interrupts: “Yes, except for the fact that we disagree about free enterprise, freedom of speech — and freedom of just about any kind.” Two sentences later, after recalling World War II, he adds: “A system, no matter fascist or communist, that subjugates every citizen, denying them not just basic rights, but their God-given free will, is a threat not just to one nation, but eventually to all nations.” There’s also a pointed episode — I assume this is dramatic license,

not from actual transcripts, but either way, it’s wonderful — in which the Russians make fun of the Americans’ euphemism for the briefcase carrying nuclear launch codes, which we call the “nuclear football.” Schulz answers: “Yes, we humans do have a way of making the horriﬁc sound innocuous. For example, ‘gulag’ sounds so much nicer than ‘inhumane Siberian torture prison.’” This is not to say the movie lacks realistic nuance. Gorbachev gets in several adept zingers of his own, and an underlying decency and humaneness come through. He knows the Soviet economic system is failing and its technology is many years behind that of the United States. His concern isn’t just with military might: In a scene directly from the transcripts, Gorbachev seems genuinely aggrieved that the U.S. won’t even share the technology of their “milking machines” so the Soviet farmers can produce more dairy products to keep his people healthy. In another example of dramatic license, Gorbachev and his wife

Raisa talk in private about the ﬁrst day’s negotiations. Raisa says the country can’t afford to compete: “If we have to take the arms race into space, our people will starve.” That, too, is part of Reagan’s message, and it’s one that today’s socialist-approving youth don’t understand. As the real Reagan said, “Freedom and progress go hand in hand. Throughout the developing world, people are rejecting socialism because they see that it doesn’t empower people, it impoverishes them.” Reams of documentation, of course, attest that Reagan was right. But today’s students, with their smartphone (in)attention spans, won’t study documents. Movies like this, though, at least can start them thinking — and perhaps learning. Entire generations are on the brink of ignorance. Perhaps these historically accurate, on-screen theatrics can help win the war for their minds.

Email Quin Hillyer at quin. hillyer@theadvocate.com

A spaceport sounds cool, but is the cost too high? an interest in ramping up the freAdmit it: A spaceport sounds cool. quency to thousands of launches Spaceports are the stuff of sciper year. Starbase Louisiana aims to conduct as many as 30 launches ence fiction, installations born of per day. That would make the visions of George Luit the busiest launch site in cas, Gene Roddenberry the world. or Christopher Nolan. Not In the near term, those places on Earth, and cerrockets will carry Musk’s tainly not in Louisiana. Starlink satellites into orbit, That’s what makes the where they will provide SpaceX project in VermilFaimon internet services to customion Parish so seductive. Roberts ers. But as with any seducEventually, perhaps the rockets will ferry data tion, is it worth it? center components. Company and state officials Musk has also publicly stated certainly know how alluring it his intention to one day get to sounds. That’s why they leaned Mars, something that should have hard into the cosmic imagery been accomplished years ago. We at Tuesday’s SpaceX project anare, after all, more than a halfnouncement ceremony. century after the last of the moon Musk wasn’t there, but he appeared in a chummy video talking landings. Somewhere among the Skylabs and space shuttles, our to Gov. Jeff Landry about “makambition to venture farther into ing civilization interplanetary” the solar system faltered. Credit and the “serious tonnage” one to Musk for helping propel its would need to move to do so. revival. Landry went along. Of course, the project also “Today, Louisiana and SpaceX promises to deliver some benefits will give America the stars,” Landry said during the announce- here on the surface. According to official statements, around ment of Starbase Louisiana. Landry didn’t just cast the project $100 billion in capital investment, 3,000 new direct jobs and more in future terms, but also invoked than 8,000 construction jobs are the past, comparing the deal to headed for Vermilion Parish. the Louisiana Purchase. During the same video referWhen it comes to ambition, the astral rhetoric is justified: five enced above, another SpaceX launch sites, each with two pads, executive talked about how plus support facilities, all rethere were only a few places on the planet that had the qualities quired to blast a steady cadence SpaceX needed, including a coastof huge rockets into at least low Earth orbit. Musk has expressed al setting and a small population.

STAFF PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER

Gov. Jeff Landry speaks during the SpaceX announcement in Abbeville on Aug. 25. Seems like Louisiana was in a strong position to negotiate. But the state still gave up a lot. First, the state settled a coastal lawsuit with ExxonMobil that included acquiring the land from the oil company. Then the state turned around and sold 125,000 acres to SpaceX for about $100 million, roughly $800 an acre. The Legislature also passed bills aimed at incentivizing aerospace companies to come to Louisiana. Those incentives include exempting some company records from public-records law

and shielding the company from lawsuits. Like other industrial developments, SpaceX will also get plenty of tax breaks. Of course, key elements of the deal were negotiated under the shroud of nondisclosure agreements, including at least 20 signed by public ofﬁcials who were looped in on what Louisiana Economic Development called “Project Osprey.” Landry signed one, as did at least three legislators. At the federal level, the Trump administration has issued directives that may make it possible

for the company to build the project without having to pay heed to a raft of environmental protections, including provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act, the Endangered Species Act, the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act and the National Historic Preservation Act. That’s enough to worry even aerospace industry consultant Kimberly Siversen Burke, who works with Quilty Space, a Florida firm. “I think it’s great to get to Mars. I don’t think we need to destroy the Earth to get there,” she told this newspaper’s Alex Lubben. SpaceX executives have said not to worry. The company will invest in coastal restoration, they said. And they love to employ local people, they said, touting their efforts to employ Rio Grande Valley residents at their launch site in South Texas. They want, more than anything, to be good neighbors, they said. I want to believe it. Humans should be venturing farther into space. Every generation should be pushing the final frontier. To do so, we need spaceports, perhaps even here in Louisiana. But sacrificing transparency, accountability, environmental protection and probably billions in tax revenue on the celestial altar is not cool, not cool at all. Email Faimon A. Roberts III at froberts@theadvocate.com.

‘Big Duck’ was a civil rights activist, leader — and a dad Treme’s Jerome Smith was wellliked in his youth among those who knew him. He was a civil rights activist and leader. He was a Freedom Rider. He was a New Orleans community advocate. He fought to make life better for children. And he was a dad. As he grew and matured, he became enamored with children. At one point, his wife called him Big Duck because Will Sutton wherever he went, there were children following him, usually in groups, much like a brood or paddling of ducks staying close to Mother Duck because she’s the ﬁrst one they see after hatching, as their little minds imprint that sighting as a safe object. Children across the Treme neighborhood in New Orleans and beyond called Smith Big Duck because so many others did. His longer-time friends and colleagues called him Smith, Smitty,

Jerome ‘Big Duck’ Smith Roman Candle. Smith died Aug. 21 at 87. His wife was on point with the nickname she created, but she knew the real ducklings were his blood ﬂock. Two of Smith’s living daughters agree. “My dad mentored and was loved by children everywhere in the city,” Saidah Smith told me. “He worked 24/7, but it didn’t bother me because I understood the purpose, and still he made me feel extremely special.” “We had fun,” Ferrin Smith told me. “He’d take me everywhere.” Her father didn’t drive, “so Eric Waters would drive. … I’d always be in that backseat,” with Waters

driving, her dad in the front passenger seat. Waters was practically the Smith private driver. She said Waters drove “a white car with wings. I think it was a Thunderbird.” Smith relied on him regularly, and he took Ferrin where she needed to go when she was young. U.S. Rep. Troy Carter, D-New Orleans, has known Smith for decades. He watched his civil rights and community work, and counted on him for honest feedback while he was on the New Orleans City Council, in the Louisiana Legislature and since he’s been in Congress. “If our children needed something, he was going to ﬁght until somebody listened. That was Big Duck,” Carter said in a statement after Smith’s death. “It was never about Jerome. It was always about somebody else.” Smith’s children were there for much of his work, hearing about his youth civil rights and Freedom Rider days, watching him make modern-day history, ﬁghting for what’s right and making a way out of no way to elevate

people he didn’t think the city and others saw. His family lived that life with him, and his daughters don’t think many really understand the impact. His kids went everywhere with him. Second lines. Visiting masking Indians while dropping off supplies. Demonstrations. City Hall. It was a lot. Ferrin Smith remembers her pre-teen days when her parents got divorced. “I did have a rough time with that,” she said. In a way, Ferrin got a divorce, too, at points. When her children were old enough, they went to her dad’s day camp. She pulled them out. As Smith’s grandkids, it was too much pressure. Later in life, she moved from Treme to get away while still visiting. They grew apart, though they stayed in touch. Saidah Smith remembers seeing her dad at her elementary school unannounced. He didn’t have an appointment. He wasn’t there to see her or to check in with her teachers. Smith was there to see some of her colleague students,

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR ARE WELCOME. HERE ARE OUR GUIDELINES: Letters are published identifying name, occupation and/or title and the

some children with special needs. He brought them snacks, talked with them and made them smile. But he wouldn’t leave without seeing his sweet Saidah. As her dad suffered from a long-term illness, she was there for him. He was in pain, yet thinking about others. No matter what he was going through, she said her dad would always talk about helping others. During one of her last bedside conversations recently before he passed, he asked, “‘Saidah, what about the children? Who do I need to help?’” She cried. “My dad was larger than life to me,” she said. “He was my great love, my everything.” Smith helped many children and adults. He helped appointed and elected leaders make things right, giving them hell and speaking truth. Big Duck friends, fans and ducklings are grieving. His real ducklings are grieving like no one else. Email Will Sutton at wsutton@

writer’s city of residence. The Advocate | The Times-Picayune require a street address and phone number for verification purposes, but that information is not published. Letters are not to exceed 300 words. Letters to the Editor, The Advocate, P.O. Box 588, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-0588, or email letters@theadvocate.com.

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6B ● Sunday,August 30, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

lll

TODAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

A t-storm around in the p.m.

Humid; a stray p.m. t-storm

Humid with a stray t-storm

A t-storm around in the p.m.

A stray afternoon thunderstorm

HIGH

LOW

HIGH

94° 75°

LOW

HIGH

88° 74°

LOW

90° 74°

Beaumont 96/75 Port Arthur 94/76

Baton Rouge 92/77

Lake Charles 97/76

New Orleans 89/78 Houma 86/76

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

Hattiesburg 92/73

Alexandria 98/73

Lafayette 94/75

10s

20s

30s

40s

50s

HIGH

LOW

92° 74°

60s

70s

80s

90s 100s 110s

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

YESTERDAY

TODAY

READING 61 MAIN POLLUTANT Ozone

MAIN POLLUTANT Particulates

Sunrise today Sunset tonight Moonrise today Moonset today

SEP 4

City

Austin Boston Dallas Fairbanks Honolulu Las Vegas Louisville Miami Nashville

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

HIGH

11:35a 6:27a 6:00a 7:31a 1:14a 12:34a 2:22a

6:44 a.m. 7:33 p.m. 8:53 p.m. 9:03 a.m. NEW

FIRST

SEP 10

100 85 101 53 89 100 93 91 95

TODAY Lo

75 67 80 43 77 80 73 80 72

FULL

SEP 18

s pc s sh r s s t s

SEP 26

99 76 100 52 90 98 95 91 96

MODERATE

PRECIPITATION

95°/79° 92°/74° 84°/75° 100° in 1998 58° in 1906

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

LAST

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

LOW

Lafayette through 5 p.m. Saturday

Jackson 94/73 Many 98/72

HIGH

93° 75°

TEMPERATURE

Longview 101/74

-0s

LOW

Monroe 98/74

Shreveport 100/75

-10s

HIGH

92° 74°

The area of low pressure in the northern Gulf with a low chance of developing could bring a few isolated showers and storms today. Most of the rainfall will be over Southeast Louisiana. Expect a partly cloudy, hot and humid day with a light breeze and a few storms. Temperatures this afternoon will rise to the mid- to upper 90s. Heat index values could rise to 105 or higher. The UV index is at the very high level, so wear shades, the hat and apply the sunscreen.

MON. Lo

77 65 81 38 76 78 74 81 74

s pc s c r s s t s

FT.

LOW

0.00” 2.83” 5.86” 43.62” 43.28”

FT.

HIGH

0.4 6:50a 0.3 1.2 12:16p 0.8 1.8 10:16a 0.9 1.5 1:35a 0.8 0.8 7:04a 0.7 0.9 4:59a 0.8 1.0 8:06a 0.9

SOURCE: LOUISIANA DEQ AND AIRNOW.GOV

FT.

11:36p 6:22p 6:31p 8:38p 2:06p 12:35p 3:14p

LOW

FT.

0.5 5:33p 0.4 1.1 11:48p 0.9 1.7 10:13p 1.1 1.5 2:10p 0.7 0.9 6:10p 0.8 1.0 5:03p 0.9 1.1 7:12p 1.0

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 Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

City

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

1:16a 2:07a 3:00a 3:57a 4:56a 5:57a 6:57a

89 91 88 104 84 87 94 81 92

7:27a 8:18a 9:13a 10:11a 11:11a 12:12p 12:41a

TODAY Lo

78 76 74 79 70 73 75 71 77

1:39p 7:50p 2:30p 8:42p 3:25p 9:38p 4:24p 10:38p 5:25p 11:40p 6:27p ---7:28p 1:12p

t t pc t pc t s s t

GOOD

90 90 89 98 85 93 98 80 92

MON. Lo

76 76 75 81 70 73 78 68 78

t t pc t pc pc pc pc t

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

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

10.30 30.70 31.80 15.30 8.30 6.28 4.30

-1.60 +0.48 +0.50 +0.80 +0.50 +0.27 +0.40

22.55

-1.65

-1.44

-0.02

18 29 8

-0.80 51.43 1.73

+0.22 N.A. +0.12

13 15

2.24 0.82

-0.01 -0.09

47 34 29 20 12 6

13.92 9.31 7.67 6.24 3.60 2.66

+0.78 +0.60 +0.51 +0.35 +0.10 -0.09

data as of 7 a.m. Saturday

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SPORTS

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

UL interim AD not easing into ﬁrst month Frazier: ‘It’s been at 1,000 miles an hour every day’

BY KEVIN FOOTE Staff writer

One can imagine how interesting August has been for UL interim athletic director Trey Frazier. Former athletic director Bryan Maggard announced July 21 he was leaving the university to accept a job at Missouri. Frazier transitioned into the interim role from his deputy athletic director position with a background primarily as a fundraiser. For the last ﬁve weeks, the need to generate revenue is larger than ever but so are Frazier’s daily duties. “I feel like it’s been at 1,000 miles an hour every day,” Frazier said with a laugh. “There was a week there where it might have gone down to 750 miles an hour, but it’s been good.” Frazier is not approaching the role with the interim tag on his mind. “The only way I know to do it is act like it’s mine and every day try to do what I can to move this place forward in the best way possible,” he said. “I’m moving forward every day until somebody tells me to do something different. I’m hoping I can prove myself until I can have the role full time. “Until then, I’m going to keep doing what I think is best to support our team, our student-athletes and our coaches.” Frazier and his former boss have communicated a lot since Maggard’s departure. “At ﬁrst, I was texting daily, ‘Hey, what

S u n d ay, au g u S t 30, 2026

1Cn

There’s nothing stopping LSU from adding former pros at moment, and reports say SEC admits it

HOLDING COURT

ä See UL, page 3C BY JON BLAU Staff writer

STAFF PHOTO By BRAD KEMP

UL interim athletic director Trey Frazier speaks during fan day at Blackham Coliseum earlier this month. Frazier stepped into the interim role after Bryan Maggard’s departure in July.

Less than a week from kickoff against Clemson, there is nothing stopping LSU football from adding former professional athletes to its roster. As much was clear Friday when a Baton Rouge court amended its temporary restraining order to include the NCAA, Southeastern Conference and commissioner Greg Sankey as defendants, prohibiting the league from penalizing member institutions for adding ex-pros. It became doubly clear Saturday when one of the attorneys for the athletes, Darren Heitner, posted to social media that it is his “understanding” that the SEC and Sankey “will comply with all applicable court orders, including those in Louisiana.” Multiple outlets have conﬁrmed that the SEC communicated its intention to comply to the athletes’ attorneys. This doesn’t mean the SEC has rolled over completely, because the Baton Rouge eligibility case — which seeks a ﬁfth season of competition for a growing list of 40-plus athletes — is scheduled for a Thursday hearing on a pre-

LSU coach Lane Kiffin makes a note as his players run drills on Aug. 6 at the team’s practice facility. STAFF PHOTO By

BY MATTHEW PARAS Staff writer

ä See SAINTS, page 3C

ä See LSU, page 3C

MICHAEL JOHNSON

Wide receiver Means among Saints’ early cuts The New Orleans Saints have begun making cuts. Ahead of Sunday’s deadline for NFL teams to trim their rosters from 90 to 53 players, New Orleans has informed at least three players that they won’t be making the initial roster. That group includes wide receiver Bub Means, quarterback Hunter Dekkers and defensive tackle Kahlil Saunders. Of the trio, Means’ release is arguably the most noteworthy. The 25-year-old was seen as on the bubble, ﬁghting for a spot in a crowded wide receiver room that had been affected by injuries. But the Saints chose to move on from their 2024 ﬁfth-round pick, making him the second member of the draft class to no longer be in New Orleans. The Saints waived Means after an up-anddown camp for the third-year receiver. He

liminary injunction. Even if the plaintiffs are granted an injunction by Judge William Jorden, the SEC could seek to overturn the decision in a Louisiana appellate court. The league also could attempt to countersue in another jurisdiction, possibly at the federal level. For now, LSU can operate under the legal guidance issued in its home state, which shields against the SEC’s proposed penalties for adding ex-pros, including a ﬁne of 50% of a sport’s budget and a half-season suspension of the team’s coach. Friday’s order from the judge also prevented the NCAA from enforcing its rule against “ghost” transfers, which are athletes who enroll at a university without entering the transfer portal during the NCAA’s prescribed windows. The judge’s order applied to “all persons acting in concert or participating with” the NCAA and said “any SEC rule or proposed penalty” can’t be levied against the plaintiffs or “any member institution or coach for which the plaintiffs choose to compete” this season.

AP PHOTO By GERALD HERBERT

Saints wide receiver Bub Means pulls in a touchdown that was overturned on review during a preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Aug. 15. Means was cut by the Saints on Saturday.

Faulk loses debut at Southern vs. Alabama St. after promising start BY TOYLOY BROWN III Staff writer

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The first game of the Marshall Faulk era at Southern began with promise. Southern jumped out to a 14-3 edge and had a 17-13 advantage at halftime after entering as 19.5-point underdogs to expected Southwestern Conference powerhouse Alabama State. The coaching debut for Faulk started strong but ended in defeat as the Jaguars fell 30-17 to Alabama State in the inaugural Birmingham Classic at Legion Field. Southern (0-1) dropped its season opener for a fourth straight year and lost to the Hornets for the third consecutive time. Alabama State (1-0) ended the game on a 27-3 run. “We came out a little bit flat offensively,” Faulk said of the second half. “The guys, they played hard. You know, we just have to finish plays. We got to finish drives, and as good of a job as Alabama State did, we really put ourselves in some bad situations, some costly holding penalties. Just

different things that we always talk about that are drive killers.” It was fitting that Southern’s first bigtime play came from returning star Ckelby Givens. During Alabama State’s second drive, the graduate defensive end maneuvered around a lineman for a sack on third and 6. Givens’ availability was questionable until he was made eligible to play after being officially added as a plaintiff Thursday in the ongoing Louisiana eligibility lawsuit that granted more than 30 athletes a temporary restraining order. The Jaguars finally got the game’s initial first down on their third drive after a pass interference penalty by Alabama State at the 4:35 mark of the first quarter. That helped the Jaguars march 72 yards to the end zone. Their first score was courtesy of a 29-yard rushing touchdown by graduate tailback Mike Franklin with 3:25 left in the first quarter. After Alabama State’s Andrew Abu-Akel kicked a 44-yard field goal, Southern starting quarterback Christian Johnson made

ä See SOUTHERN, page 3C

2C ● Sunday, August 30, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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BROADCAST HIGHLIGHTS On TV

AUTO RACING 10 a.m. INDy NXT at Milwaukee Mile FS1 Noon NTT IndyCar: Milwaukee Mile 250 Fox CFL 6 p.m. BC at Ottawa CBSSN COLLEGE FOOTBALL 7 p.m. West Alabama vs. Tuskegee ESPN2 FISHING 7 a.m. Lowrance Bassmaster Elite FS1 GOLF 11 a.m. PGA: Tour Championship Golf 12:30 p.m.PGA: Tour Championship CBS 12:30 p.m.LPGA Tour: FM Championship Golf 3 p.m. Champions: The Ally Challenge Golf HORSE RACING Noon Saratoga Live FS1

5 p.m. Saratoga Live FS2 LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL WORLD SERIES 9 a.m. Consolation: Japan vs. Ohio ESPN 2 p.m. Championship: Curaçao vs. Nevada ABC MLB 11:15 a.m.Miami at Washington NBCSN 12:40 p.m.San Diego at Tampa Bay MLBN 2:10 p.m. Houston at N.y. Mets NBC 6:20 p.m. Cincinnati at Chicago Cubs NBC MEN’S SOCCER 8 a.m. Brighton & Hove Albion NBCSN 8 a.m. Brentford FC at Leeds United USA 10:30 a.m.Ipswich Town at Man. United USA 11:25 a.m.Como 1907 at Napoli CBSSN 1:40 p.m. Genoa at Lazio CBSSN WOMEN’S COLLEGE SOCCER 10 a.m. Colorado at Michigan St. BTN

IN BRIEF

FROM STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

WOMEN’S COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL 11 a.m. Wisconsin at Pittsburgh ESPN Noon Creighton vs. Southern Cal BTN 1:30 p.m. Kansas vs. Stanford ESPN 2:30 p.m. Texas vs. Nebraska FOX 5 p.m. UNLV vs. TCU FS1 WOMEN’S SOCCER 11:30 a.m.Bay at Washington ESPN2 SOFTBALL 7 p.m. Team Kilfoyl vs. Team Klinger MLBN TENNIS 11 a.m. U.S. Open ABC 2 p.m. U.S. Open ESPN2 3:30 p.m. U.S. Open ESPN 6 p.m. U.S. Open ESPN WNBA 2 p.m. Minnesota at Atlanta NBATV

TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP

Hovland surges to 1-shot lead

BY DOUG FERGUSON Associated Press

ATLANTA — Viktor Hovland finally got a little separation Saturday at the Tour Championship, and all he had to do was finish with six consecutive putts of 7 feet or longer for a 5-under 65. All that got him was a one-shot lead in a season finale very much up for grabs. Four of those putts were for birdie, two of them for par, all of them important going into a final round at East Lake where every shot can seem so important. Scoring has felt low. With some of the pins, it hasn’t felt easy. Rory McIlroy and Adam Scott each referenced similarities to Aronimink for the PGA Championship, where 28 players were separated by two shots midway through the third round. Only 29 players are at East Lake, and everyone is under par. Hovland rolled in a pair of 8-foot birdie putts at the end to put him at 15-under 195, one shot ahead of Tour Championship newcomer Ryan Gerard, who played bogeyfree for a 66. Scottie Scheffler (66) and Chris Gotterup (67), who have combined for five PGA Tour titles this year, were three shots behind at 12-under 198. They were joined by sentimental favorite, 46-year-old Adam Scott, and Ludvig Aberg. Both shot 65 in search of their first win this year. Also in the mix was Rory McIlroy, who had two bogeys, settled for par on the par-5 closing hole and still shot 63 to get within five shots. He was joined by Cameron Young, whose double bogey on the 10th hole set him back in a round of 68. “It’s pretty bunched up around 11- and 12-under par there,” Hovland said. “I mean, you’ve seen some 62s out there. You can

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jacksonville Jaguars acquired quarterback Quinn Ewers from Miami on Saturday in exchange for a sixthround selection in the 2028 NFL Draft. The move is pending a physical and likely means the end of backup Nick Mullens’ time with the Jaguars. Mullens was inconsistent throughout training camp and the preseason. If Mullens gets cut, it would save $1.2 million and count $1.3 million against the salary cap in dead money. The 23-year-old Ewers, who played collegiately at Texas, was originally drafted by Miami in the seventh round in 2025. He played in four games last season, making three starts, and completed 66.3% of his passes for 622 yards and three touchdowns.

Giants get DL Okoye from Ravens for ’28 draft pick

NEW YORK — Taking another step to improve their defensive-line situation, the New York Giants acquired CJ Okoye in a trade with the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday. Coach John Harbaugh conﬁrmed the Giants sent a 2028 seventhround pick to his old team for the 24-year-old from Nigeria. Okoye is the team’s latest addition in an offseason of change at the position since trading Dexter Lawrence to Cincinnati for the 10th pick in the draft. New York, which ranked second-worst against the run last season, also signed veteran defensive tackles D.J. Reader and Shelby Harris. After spending time with Jim Harbaugh’s Los Angeles Chargers out of the NFL’s International Pathway Program, Okoye joined John and the Ravens. He made 15 tackles in 13 games last season.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By MIKE STEWART

Viktor Hovland waits to putt on the first green during the third round of the PGA Tour Championship on Saturday in Atlanta. He took a one-shot lead into the final round on a crowded leaderboard. take it low. So it was nice to get a little bit of distance, especially from the group of guys that are around that number. They’re capable of shooting nothing tomorrow. So that gives me a little bit of a cushion for tomorrow. I’m still going to have to bring a nice, solid round.” At stake Sunday is $10 million to the winner, the largest ofﬁcial payoff in golf for a single tournament, and the FedEx Cup title that comes with a ﬁve-year exemption on the PGA Tour. Hovland won the FedEx Cup in 2023 when he steamrolled through a three-tournament postseason and won the last two. This might not feel the same if he were to win

on Sunday, though the Norwegian would happily leave town with two trophies. Hovland was at his best on the greens coming down the stretch — 11 feet for birdie on the 13th, 18 feet to save par on the 14th, 11 feet for birdie on the peninsula-green 15th, a 7-foot par putt on the 16th and his closing birdies. Gerard scrambled beautifully, especially on the back nine, birdied both par 5s and stayed in the game for a chance at his ﬁrst win this year, and possibly an easy decision to be a pick for the Presidents Cup. But it was a big test of patience waiting to a chance to attack. “Then when you do get that, try

to take advantage and step on the gas there a little bit,” he said. That’s what McIlroy did, starting out seven shots behind with little to lose. He ﬁgured he would need another round like 63 to even contemplate a fourth FedEx Cup title. He has been around for all the iterations of resetting points and starting strokes into the season finale. What he can’t recall is a trafﬁc jam at the top, or last place being at 3-under par. “It speaks to the standard of the golfers that are here,” McIlroy said. “But it also speaks to the slightly different test that we are getting after the redesign, as well.”

UNC opens Belichick’s 2nd season with win By The Associated Press DUBLIN — New North Carolina quarterback Billy Edwards threw for 232 yards, former LSU kicker Aeron Burrell kicked two field goals and the Tar Heels opened coach Bill Belichick’s second season with a 15-10 win over TCU on a rainy Saturday in Ireland for the Aer Lingus Classic. TCU didn’t score again after going up 10-3 on its first two drives. The Horned Frogs got the ball eight more times and were stopped on fourth-and-short deep in Tar Heels territory on their last two drives. The 74-year-old Belichick, who won six Super Bowls coaching the New England Patriots, was 4-8 in his college debut with the Tar Heels last year. That season began with a 48-14 home loss to TCU in prime time on Labor Day. “I’m just happy for the players. They’ve worked really hard,” Belichick said. “To have positive results back up that hard work reinforces it. I think they’ve been believing in what we’re doing, but I think this just gives everybody a little bit more belief, and we’ve just got to keep building.” The Tar Heels ran out the final 4:05 after new TCU quarterback Jaden Craig threw an incompletion when rolling left on fourthand-2 from the 10, when the Harvard transfer may have been able to run for a first down. Craig finished 20-of-32 passing for 175 yards. Jeremy Payne, who ran for 142 yards, was stuffed on fourth-and-1 from the 5 on TCU’s previous drive. “Looking back now, obviously, I wish we had kicked the two field

Jaguars acquire QB from Miami for 6th-round pick

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By PETER MORRISON

North Carolina coach Bill Belichick, center, and the Tar Heels celebrate after defeating TCU on Saturday in Dublin.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL ROUNDUP goals, but at the time, it makes sense to try,” TCU coach Sonny Dykes said. “When you’re not moving the football, you’ve got to try to get the ball in the end zone.” North Carolina had 10 points and 141 total yards in the first quarter with new offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino. The Tar Heels scored 10 points in the ﬁrst quarter only once last year but never had more yards. They ﬁnished with 322 total yards. TCU had scored at least 30 points in its past 10 season openers, which was the longest active FBS streak. No. 14 Southern Cal 42, San Jose State 26: In Los Angeles, Jayden Maiava passed for 286 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another score, and No. 14 Southern Cali-

fornia opened a season of high expectations with a victory over San Jose State. Trent Mosley caught seven passes for 118 yards and a touchdown in the Orange County product’s impressive debut for the Trojans, who showcased several promising newcomers in coach Lincoln Riley’s offense. Kayden DixonWyatt also caught a TD pass in his debut, while Riley Wormley and Shahn Alston rushed for their ﬁrst TDs. USC has College Football Playoff aspirations with a restocked roster around Maiava, who went 25 for 29 as the Trojans built a 35-3 lead heading into the fourth quarter at the Coliseum. Six of the 10 Trojans who caught a pass were making their USC debuts. “Really dominated the game there through three quarters,” Riley said. “A lot of exciting ball.

(Had) a lot of guys (in) their first games as Trojans make a lot of big plays out there.” Maiava began his third season as the Trojans’ starting quarterback by rushing for a score on the opening drive. Dixon-Wyatt caught a short scoring slant in the second quarter, and King Miller rushed for a TD and a 28-0 lead right before halftime. New USC defensive coordinator Gary Patterson’s unit mostly looked sharp until the fourth quarter, when new San Jose State quarterback Luke Weaver led three late touchdown drives against the Trojans’ backup defenders to tighten the final score considerably. Virginia 34, NC State 8: In Charlottesville, Virginia, transfer quarterback Beau Pribula dazzled in his Virginia debut as the Cavaliers drilled visiting North Carolina State at Scott Stadium. Pribula, who started his career at Penn State and played last season at Missouri, threw for 155 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another 110 yards, becoming the first Virginia quarterback to run for 100 yards in a game since Brennan Armstrong in 2022. Behind a balanced offense and stifling defense, the Cavaliers jumped out to a 17-0 lead headed into halftime. Virginia, playing without star linebacker Kam Robinson (knee), had no trouble containing CJ Bailey and the Wolfpack. It opened the game with a pair of three-andouts and then intercepted a tipped pass on NC State’s third possession. The Wolfpack never threatened. Bailey finished 12 for 23 for 84 yards and an interception.

Mets activate OF Soto from 10-day injured list

NEW YORK — New York Mets slugger Juan Soto batted second and served as the designated hitter Saturday after being reinstated from the 10-day injured list ahead of the team’s game against the Houston Astros. Soto returned to the last-place Mets after missing 31 games with a grade 2 strain of his left calf. The ﬁve-time All-Star landed on the injured list after battling the issue for about a week before he left a July 24 game against the Dodgers in discomfort. Soto, in the second year of a 15year, $765 million deal, is batting .283 with 21 homers and 52 RBIs in 84 games. He led the NL with a .947 OPS upon being injured.

Yin chips in for birdie on 18 for third-round lead

NORTON, Mass. — Ruoning Yin chipped in for birdie from just off the 18th green to take the thirdround lead Saturday at TPC Boston in the FM Championship. Yin also holed a 20-foot putt for birdie on the par-3 16th in a 4-under 68. At 12-under 204, the Chinese star had a one-stroke lead over South Korean players Sei Young Kim and Hyo Joo Kim. Yin has five LPGA Tour victories, winning twice in 2023 and three times in 2024. Sei Young Kim, the ﬁrst-round leader after a 64, rebounded from a second-round 74 with a 67. Hyo Joo Kim had a 70. She has two victories this season, the Founders Cup and Ford Championship. Somi Lee (70) and Jenny Bae (72) were tied for fourth at 8 under.

Transfer QB Castellanos added to Texas Tech roster

LUBBOCK, Texas — Transfer quarterback Tommy Castellanos was officially added to Texas Tech’s roster Saturday, a week before the season opener for the 12th-ranked Red Raiders. Coach Joey McGuire said the team always intended on having six QBs on the roster this season. Will Hammond, back from an ACL injury last October, is the starter. Castellanos played last year at Florida State after two seasons at Boston College. He began his college career playing ﬁve games as a freshman at UCF in 2022, the last in the American Conference Championship Game. Castellanos went undrafted in April before a tryout as a receiver with the Miami Dolphins during their rookie minicamp. He was never on an NFL roster.

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SAINTS

Continued from page 1C displayed strong chemistry with third-string quarterback Zach Wilson and was the team’s leading receiver in the team’s preseason opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars. But Means suffered a hamstring injury the next week in an outing against the Los Angeles Rams, which derailed his progress. It was another injury for Means, who missed his entire second season with an ankle injury, and his first campaign was also cut short with a similar issue.

Means had returned to practice in the lead-up to Friday’s preseason ﬁnale in Dallas, but he did not log a snap against the Cowboys. Even when healthy, Means fell behind in a competitive battle that saw Bryce Lance, Barion Brown and Kevin Austin take snaps ahead of him — not to mention Chris Olave, Devaughn Vele and Jordyn Tyson. Elsewhere, Dekkers had little shot of making the roster, but the Saints still like him as a developmental prospect. The left-handed quarterback made an appearance in New Orleans’ preseason opener, leading a two-minute drill that almost led to a comeback victory.

SOUTHERN

Continued from page 1C his mark. The Hutchinson (Kansas) Community College transfer’s first start for the Jaguars happened 90 minutes from his hometown of Montgomery. On third and 4 from Southern’s own 34-yard line, Johnson sprinted up the middle on a quarterback draw for 22 yards. A few plays later on third and 18, he slung a 41-yard pass on a deep crossing route to redshirt freshman Daejawn Smith, who was tackled at the 1-yard line. Johnson punched in the rushing touchdown to give his team a 14-3 advantage with 12:52 remaining in the second quarter. Alabama State quarterback Andrew Body helped his team get its first explosive play early in the second quarter. The reigning SWAC Offensive Player of the Year threw a 61-yard pass to redshirt sophomore Randall King, who broke multiple tackles while gaining 48 yards after the catch. He was pushed out of bounds on Southern’s 15-yard line. Junior running back Jamarie Hostzclaw took the next snap 15 yards for a touchdown as Southern led 14-10. Both Southern and Alabama State tacked on 33-yard field goals before halftime as Southern had a 17-13 lead. Body had an electric moment early in the third quarter. On first and 10 from his own 48-yard line, he rolled right and threw a 21-yard

Continued from page 1C is this? How do I do this?’ “ Frazier said. “Now it’s more on a weekly basis and sometimes that’s just checking in to see how things are going. “Bryan will be a mentor of mine for the rest of my career. We had a great relationship, and we’ll continue to stay in touch.”

New kind of leader Frazier quickly learned that being an athletic director is on a different level than acting primarily as a fundraiser. “I’ve already interacted with the coaches and I have great relationships with them,” Frazier said. “It’s just a different dynamic when you’re just trying to help them fundraise for a certain project versus really getting shoulder to shoulder with them in trying to ﬁgure out how to help their program be successful from a budget standpoint, from a travel standpoint and a processes standpoint and from recruiting. “It’s just a whole different level of communication and trust in those relationships.” The good part of the timing is these days a bigger part of an athletic director’s job in 2026 is raising funds in this era of revenue sharing and NIL. “Absolutely, that’s 100% true,” Frazier said. “We’ve got to grow resources here and we have done that over at least my period of four years since I’ve been here, but we’ve got to continue to do so because the university is still in a spot where we have to monitor our resources closely.”

Staffing issues UL is less than a week away from its season open-

PHOTO By APRIL BUFFINGTON

Southern coach Marshall Faulk looks on during a season-opening game against Alabama State on Saturday in Birmingham, Ala.

Dekkers floated on and off the practice squad last season, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if the same pattern repeated in 2026. Saunders wasn’t with the Saints long. The undrafted rookie out of Kentucky joined New Orleans on Aug. 12 amid the team dealing with injuries to its defensive line. Saunders appeared in all three preseason games, logging 65 defensive snaps. Not to be confused with former Saints starter Khalen Saunders, Kahlil Saunders also spent time in the offseason with the Miami Dolphins. NFL teams must set their initial 53-man rosters by 5 p.m. Sunday.

receiver and had his pass intercepted by Greg Mangle, who went down on the 6-yard line. Alabama State led the SWAC in picks with 15 a year ago. The turnover, which Johnson said was an “inaccurate pass,” led to an Alabama State drive that ended with a 31-yard field goal, giving the Hornets a 30-17 lead with 9:18 remaining. “We just have to do better riding the momentum wave,” Faulk said on Southern learning how to maintain a lead. “And making sure we do the things that’s necessary (to win).” In the first half, Southern’s quarterback threw for 100 yards and had only three incompletions along with nine carries for 69 yards and a touchdown. Johnson ended the game completing 17 of 27 passes for 174 yards. He was the team’s leading rusher with 81 yards on 14 attempts. Johnson hopes to do more with his arm going forward. “I don’t want to get people misconstrued on what type of quarterback I am,” he said. “Yes, I can run the ball, but I’m not a running quarterback. There’s a major difference. So definitely like to put the ball in the air some more next week and see how the outcome is.” Southern’s next game is 6 p.m. Saturday against Kentucky State, a Division II program, at A. W. Mumford Stadium.

pass to Kareem Keye. With six minutes remaining in the third quarter, Alabama State converted a fourth and 1 with Jareese Howard, who gained 4 yards. The Hornets went back to Howard to finish the job with a 3-yard carry into the end zone for a 20-17 lead with 5:30 remaining in the third quarter, its first lead of the contest. Alabama State then started its offense on the opposing 34yard line and enjoyed continued success running the ball. Body finished the job with a delivery on a fade route to King for a 9-yard touchdown, giving Alabama State a 27-17 lead with 2:29 remaining in the third quarter. To open the fourth quarter, Southern was at the opposing 32-yard line thanks to a pair of defensive penalties Email Toyloy Brown by Alabama State. John- III at toyloy.brown@ son then underthrew his theadvocate.com.

er against Lamar at 7 p.m. Saturday at Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium. Frazier hasn’t had to spend his entire summer trying to figure out where all the fans are going to sit, eat and drink once they enter the stadium like the last two years as renovations were taking place. The bad news is the department’s staff is still significantly smaller than in those seasons. “We’re still short-staffed on the support side,” Frazier said. “We have no event management staff right now. We have no marketing staff right now. So my big concern right now, it’s not about how we’re going to do it but who’s going to do it. We’ve got people wearing a bunch of different hats that are doing a good job. “It’s just when you’re doing something that you’re not necessarily the expert in, that can occasionally cause some issues. But hopefully, when the fans get here Saturday, they won’t see anything different and maybe even improved.” Some progress has been made in replenishing the department after more than 25% of it was cut to help the university deal with massive deﬁcits. “We’ve actually already been in the process of getting staff back on board,” Frazier said. “What we’ve done so far is prioritize our positions that interact with our student-athletes on a daily basis — whether that’s an assistant coach or a trainer or a strength coach, etc. — we’ve been working on those. We’ve already had 10 to 12 people start since the beginning of the ﬁscal year in July in those areas.” That doesn’t mean the department will be “back to normal” staffing-wise anytime soon, if ever. “Our next wave will be

starting to refill some of our external positions and our support staff from that standpoint,” he said. “That should happen kind of throughout the fall. I won’t say never, but we won’t get to where we were at some point anytime in the near future, but we’ll be into a much more sustainable model, where we can actually kind of grow some areas. That’s not necessarily with staff but in revenue generation hopefully by the end of his ﬁscal year.”

The Acadiana Advocate ● theadvocate.com ● Sunday, August 30, 2026 ● 3C

Westgate, Jeanerette, Delcambre prevail NEAL MCCLELLAND Contributing writer

Two Iberia Parish schools who hope to end the season at the Superdome had impressive debuts in the Iberia Parish Sugar Cane Jamboree held over two nights. On Thursday night, Westgate destroyed crosstown rival New Iberia 37-0 in the Bayou Bowl. On Friday, Jeanerette followed with an 18-7 jamboree win over parish rival Loreauville. Both schools are expected to have successful seasons and make deep runs into the playoffs this year. WESTGATE 37, NEW IBERIA 0: Zyier Stokes returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown and added an interception return for a score to help Westgate cruise. The Tigers actually put the ball in the end zone ﬁve times in the ﬁrst half, three of which came via defensive touchdowns for a 31-0

LSU

Continued from page 1C A penalty couldn’t be issued against “any member institution or coach that competes against the plaintiffs” either, according to the judge’s order. LSU coach Lane Kifﬁn has commitments from multiple ﬁfth-year seniors who joined in the Baton Rouge case, including former Ole Miss starters Dae’Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris. Wright, a tight end, was on the Browns’ roster during the preseason. Harris, an All-SEC defensive tackle, was signed by the Saints in May but was held back by a foot injury and later released. Former St. John’s and UMass basketball wing RJ Luis, who previously signed a two-way NBA contract and played in Celtics preseason games, has been recruited by Will Wade to join LSU’s men’s basketball

it 100% is, you can’t raise more money if you don’t have people out there building relationships and selling our programs. “So that’s probably the next biggest thing. Then we have to get the (baseball) clubhouse completed and underway and a few other projects we need to get accomplished.” Frazier continues to explore different ways of raising money. One of those ways is using the new Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium as a destination for events. Nutrition for athletes “We just had two or three Another area that received events there last week in signiﬁcant cuts recently was the McElligott Club, and the nutrition opportunities we have high school events there this weekend and for the athletes. Some elements have been next,” Frazier said. “We’re restored but it’s still not still exploring potential conwhat it was. “It’s important,” Frazier said. “We have added some things back that we previously had. They may look a little bit different. We used to offer dinners right here in the Cox building. We’re still offering them but they’re going to be on campus in the student dining hall because there’s some cost saving for us there.” The ability to eat between meals is a similar scenario. “We’ve restarted our fueling station and nutrition area there,” Frazier said. “It’s still not what it once was in the frequency we used to have them, but that’s an area we’re going to have to keep working on and try to maximize the best we can.”

lead over the Jackets. “I had it in my mind that I was gonna take the ball all the way for a touchdown,” Stokes, a sophomore, said of the kickoff return for a score. “And on the interception return, I grabbed the ball and I thought I had an opening to take it all the way and it turned out that I did.” Westgate coach Ryan Antoine was pleased with his team’s performance, but he knows his players have a long way to go. “I thought we did well as a team, and I thought Zyier had a great game, especially with that kickoff return and interception return for touchdowns,” Antoine said. “But this was a dress rehearsal, and we still have a lot of things to clean up before we start the season at Liberty next week.” JEANERETTE 18, LOREAUVILLE 7: Destin Smith’s 50-yard touchdown run was the highlight of the ﬁrst half as Jeanerette scored twice in

the opening period against Loreauville and added a third touchdown in the second half to build an 18-0 lead before Wyatt Hazelwood made it 18-7 for Loreauville late in the game. “Destin Smith on offense and Ezra Phillips on defense, each had great games for us tonight,” Jeanerette coach C.C. Paul said. “I thought the heat played a factor tonight, but overall, we did well and I like where we’re headed going into the season.” DELCAMBRE 14, HIGHLAND BAPTIST 0: Rix Robin and Andre Gaudet each scored a touchdown for Delcambre in the Panthers’ win. “We made too many mistakes,” Delcambre coach Cory Brodie said. “We had two long touchdowns, plays called back. We dropped two interceptions, and we committed penalties. We have a lot to clean up and work on before we start against Hanson next week.”

team. Luis won an injunction on Monday against the NCAA. LSU isn’t the only SEC school adding ex-pros. Cole Hutson, an offensive lineman at Texas, has returned to the college ranks after participating in rookie minicamps in Dallas and Cleveland; he just received a temporary restraining order in his home state. Kentucky men’s basketball has accepted a transfer from former Missouri star Mark Mitchell, who participated in the NBA Summer League with the Denver Nuggets. Kifﬁn has been the most aggressive in bringing back fifth-year seniors. Along with Wright and Harris, the Tigers have added former Notre Dame defensive end Junior Tuihalamaka, who already has an active email address at LSU. The lawsuit ﬁled in Baton Rouge also states that former LSU edge rusher Jack Pyburn, who is currently with the Bucs, plans

to return to the Tigers if he doesn’t make an NFL team. He might stick in the pros, though, because Pyburn just had his second two-sack performance this preseason in Tampa Bay’s loss Friday to Jacksonville. LSU could also bring in former Utah cornerback Blake Cotton, who, according to the Baton Rouge lawsuit, has interest in a “Division I University in Louisiana.” The same was said about Wright, Harris and Tuihalamaka in this week’s court ﬁling. According to NCAA rules, LSU doesn’t have to set its final roster for the Clemson game until the Friday before the game, which is a day after the injunction hearing. The NCAA also mandates a ﬁve-day “acclimatization” period for new football players before they can practice and play in full pads.

certs or acts like that. That would probably be like once a year because they’re just such big, you know, but just to put together but we’re looking at that. So we are looking to get creative and ramp up our facility usage outside of game days.”

search and athletics are on the opposite ends of the spectrum on the university side,” Frazier said. “Dr. Kolluru is such a good person and loves the Cajuns that we became friends at our games and actually him and Bryan (Maggard) are good friends. “But now it’s a totally different dynamic and we’re getting to know each other better. We have a good relationship, and I think we see eye to eye in a lot of ways to what athletics can be and needs to be for the university. We’re both new to our positions, so we’re just learning as we go still.”

New president

Email Jon Blau at jon. blau@theadvocate.com

Another big part of Frazier’s ﬁrst month on the job is building a relationship with new UL president Rameish Kolluru, who took over that job in February after serving as the vice president for research, innovation and economic development. “Prior to me being in this role, we knew each other as a colleague, but we didn’t Email Kevin Foote at interact a ton because re- kfoote@theadvocate.com.

YEARS

11 teams. 6 conferences. 1 state.

Priority list The list of things Frazier knows must get done to keep the athletic department moving forward is seemingly endless, but there are a few on the front of his mind. “We’ve got to get staff on the external side,” he said. “If revenue generation is going to be a priority, which

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4C ● Sunday, August 30, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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Notre Dame downs Northside in jamboree Acadiana, LCA also impress in tune-ups BY ERIC NARCISSE Staff writer

It wasn’t as clean and efﬁcient as Notre Dame coach Lew Cook would have liked, but the Pios had good moments during the 74th annual Kiwanis Jamboree held Friday at Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium. Although they didn’t capitalize on their most impressive drive, the Pios moved the football through the air and on the ground en route to defeating the Northside Vikings 13-0 in the ﬁnal dress rehearsal before the regular season. Notre Dame’s opening drive covered 63 yards in 12 plays before stalling when Northside stuffed a running play on fourth and goal from the 2 for a loss of 3 yards. After a scoreless first half, the Pios found their footing, taking the opening drive 74 yards in four plays. Quarterback Parker Menard hit Julian Duhon for a 60-yard touchdown pass to put Notre Dame ahead 6-0. The Pios forced the Vikings into a three-and-out, and on the ensuing possession Notre Dame went 81 yards in seven plays to extend its lead to 13-0 on a 29-yard touchdown run by Menard. Menard finished 4-of-7 passing for 92 yards and a touchdown while rushing for 42 yards and a score on four carries. In the regular-season opener next week, the Pios will travel to Northwest while the Vikings play at Cecilia.

Acadiana 22, Teurlings 14 In arguably the most intriguing matchup of the two-day Kiwanis Jamboree, the Acadiana Wreckin’ Rams made enough plays on offense to defeat the Teurlings Catholic Rebels on Friday. The Rebels opened the scoring with an 8-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Austin Calandra to receiver Riley Dupuis for a 7-0 lead. The Rams responded with a

STAFF PHOTO By BRAD KEMP

Notre Dame quarterback Parker Menard hands the ball off against Northside during their game in the 74th Kiwanis Jamboree at Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium on Friday. seven-play, 63-yard drive that was ﬁnished off with a 1-yard touchdown run by quarterback Cohen DiBetta. The two-point conversion run by Dashun Lightfoot was successful and the Rams led 8-7. In the second half, the Rebels put together their most impressive drive, marching 70 yards in 12 plays. The drive was capped off by an 18-yard touchdown pass from Calandra to receiver Brewer Cain to put Teurlings back in front 14-8 with 7:16 remaining. After the two teams exchanged punts, the Rams regained the lead for good when Lightfoot broke loose for a 55-yard touchdown run to give Acadiana a 15-14 lead with 4:29 left. Teurlings turned it over on downs on the ensuing possession and the Rams took advantage, as running back Syrian Joseph ran for a 24-yard touchdown to extend Acadiana’s lead to 22-14. Offensively, the Rams were led by Lightfoot and Joseph, who combined to rush for 178 yards and two touchdowns. Lightfoot finished

with 108 yards on six carries, while Joseph had 70 yards on 11 carries. For the Rebels, Calandra was 12-of-24 passing for 103 yards and two touchdowns. Running back Spencer Meche rushed for 30 yards on six carries while catching three passes for 20 yards.

LCA 38, St. Martinville 7 Many people were eager to see how the Knights would look in their ﬁnal tune-up before the regular season. They didn’t disappoint. Lafayette Christian cruised to a win over the St. Martinville Tigers on Friday. The Knights scored on all six of their possessions, headlined by quarterback Ty Hills. He completed 7 of 11 passes for 91 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 58 yards and a touchdown in four carries. Hills’ touchdown passes were caught by Tristen Jones and Kaden Ledet, while Kyzer White and Kaleb Simon each had rushing touchdowns. Jude Fairchild made his lone ﬁeld goal attempt.

LRCA dominates; Rayne, Kaplan win tight games BY MIKE COPPAGE

Contributing writer

The Lafayette Renaissance Tigers scored all of their points in the first half, with senior quarterback Kennan Brown throwing touchdown passes to three different receivers and rushing for a score in a 28-0 win over host Erath in the Vermilion-Acadia Jamboree on Friday. On its ﬁrst possession, LRCA got 28 yards rushing on two carries from running back Keith Guillory and a 25-yard pass from Brown to Ashton Joseph, who had one of the TD catches. Brown called his own number from 10 yards out for a 7-0 lead. LRCA defensive end Trilon Francis intercepted the Bobcats on their next possession, and on third and 15 from the Erath 40, Brown connected with Kadyn Shelvin for another score. Brown, who also hit senior Brenden Miles with a scoring strike, turned it over to sophomore quarterback Carter Gobert in the second half. “I think it’s just the chemistry we have, talking with each other, getting together and doing all types of stuff,” Brown said of the connection with his receivers. “It led to this.” The LRCA defense, which was playing without linebacker Kaycee Sellers, was tough on an Erath offense playing without starting quarterback Landen DeRouen (foot). “Our defense is great,” Brown said. “Shoot, they’ve been working us all summer. I feel like they prepared us, and we prepared them.”

Dillon Bercier ran for the first touchdown for the Wolves and ﬁnished with 103 yards on nine carries. On their next drive, which only took three plays, Rayne added a 58-yard touchdown pass from Austin Goins to Syncere Smith. Goins and Bercier each tacked on a two-point conversion. Abbeville needed only four plays to march down the field and cash in on its opening possession. Junior quarterback Jacolby Campbell ran for 44 yards to set up LaBrahn Cormier’s 8-yard TD. Rayne defensive coordinator Stephen Lotief made the right adjustments after that, with Campbell rushing for 9 yards on his next seven carries.

Kaplan 17, Church Point 14

Mathiew Breaux kicked a field goal as time expired for Kaplan, which has been impressive in the preseason against Cecilia and Church Point under first-year coach Vinnie Bullara. The Pirates used 15 plays to march down the field and consume most of the second half. Aiden Hargrave began the drive with a 7-yard run and carried 4 yards on fourth and 3 from the CPHS 45. Quarterback Jayden Hargrave’s 21-yard pass to Jeremy Roy got the ball down to the Bears’ 20. The score was tied 7-7 at the end of the ﬁrst half. Church Point connected on a 54-yard TD pass from Grant Bertrand to Wesley Kirkpatrick, and the Pirates answered on an 8-yard run by Kane Hebert. Blathon Citizen, who combined with Daylon Leger for 112 yards rushing on 12 carRayne 16, Abbeville 8 ries, scored in the second half Daniel Lotief had to love what for Church Point. Jayden Harhe saw from the Rayne Wolves grave kept for a 1-yard Pirates as he prepares to make his ofﬁ- TD. cial debut as a head coach next Jayden Hargrave completed 3 week. of 4 passes for 60 yards, with Roy Trailing 8-0 at the half, Rayne catching two passes for 50 yards. scored on two straight posses- Aiden Hargrave and DeMaurion sions to defeat Abbeville. On Cormier combined for 117 yards fourth and 1 at the Abbeville 43, rushing on 16 carries.

SCOREBOARD Hole-in-one Johnny Higgns

Course: Cooper Mill Golf Club Hole: No. 8 Yardage: 155 yards Club: 7 Iron Witnesses: Les Bente, Billy Bloodworth, Gordon Bloodworth

MLB

Sunday

American League FAVORITE LINE UNDERDOG LINE Boston -116 at N.Y YANKEES -104 Seattle -131 at TORONTO +109 at CLE -182 Kansas City +152 at MIN OFF White Sox OFF Baltimore -142 at ATHLETICS +125 National League FAVORITE LINE UNDERDOG LINE Miami -113 at WASHINGTON -106 at ATLANTA -229 Colorado +187 Pittsburgh -117 at ST. LOUIS -103 at CHI CUBS -145 Cincinnati +121 Interleague FAVORITE LINE UNDERDOG LINE at TAMPA BAY -165 San Diego +138 LA Dodgers -165 at DETROIT +138 at MILWAUKEE-168 Texas +141 Houston -122 at N.Y METS +102 Philadelphia -193 at LA ANGELS +159 Consensus odds provided by Sportradar

Pro basketball WNBA Glance EASTERN CONFERENCE x-Indiana x-Atlanta x-Washington x-New York Chicago Toronto Connecticut

W 26 25 24 24 15 11 10

L 14 14 16 16 25 28 29

Pct GB .650 — .641 ½ .600 2 .600 2 .375 11 .282 14½ .256 15½

x-Minnesota x-Golden State x-Las Vegas x-Dallas Portland Los Angeles Phoenix Seattle

W 31 28 27 23 16 14 13 8

L 8 11 13 16 23 25 26 31

Pct .795 .718 .675 .590 .410 .359 .333 .205

WESTERN CONFERENCE

x-clinched playoff spot Friday’s Games

GB — 3 4½ 8 15 17 18 23

Portland 101, Atlanta 83 Indiana 111, Connecticut 91 Las Vegas 93, Toronto 73 Los Angeles 88, Washington 82

.533 .504 .471 .467 .449

— 4 8½ 9 11½

Houston Texas Seattle Athletics Los Angeles

W 68 66 64 53 52

L 67 69 71 82 83

Pct .504 .489 .474 .393 .385

GB — 2 4 15 16

Saturday’s Games

Boston 6, N.Y. Yankees 0, 1st game Detroit 2, L.A. Dodgers 1 Chicago White Sox 3, Minnesota 2 Toronto 4, Seattle 3 Kansas City 8, Cleveland 3 N.Y. Mets 6, Houston 2 Tampa Bay 7, San Diego 6 Boston at N.Y. Yankees, n, 2nd game Texas at Milwaukee, n Baltimore at Athletics, n Philadelphia at L.A. Angels, n

National League Atlanta Philadelphia Miami Washington New York Milwaukee Chicago St. Louis Pittsburgh Cincinnati

New York 85, Chicago 66 Toronto at Phoenix, n

Sunday’s Games

Minnesota at Atlanta, 2 p.m. Los Angeles at Seattle, 4 p.m. Golden State at Portland, 6 p.m. Connecticut at Dallas, 7:30 p.m.

West Division Los Angeles San Diego Arizona San Francisco Colorado

Major Leeague Baseball

W 84 77 68 66 64

Friday’s Games

American League W 80 76 74 66 66

L 54 59 61 69 70

Pct .597 .563 .548 .489 .485

GB — 4½ 6½ 14½ 15

Pct

W 81 72 72 55 52

L 55 60 67 73 75

Pct .593 .556 .504 .467 .444

GB — 5 12 17 20

L 51 59 69 71 72

Pct .622 .566 .496 .482 .471

GB — 7½ 17 19 20½

Pct .596 .533 .529 .407 .385

GB — 8½ 9 25½ 28½

L 55 63 64 80 83

Cincinnati 10, Chicago Cubs 8 Washington 9, Miami 2 L.A. Dodgers 2, Detroit 1 Tampa Bay 9, San Diego 4 Houston 3, N.Y. Mets 1 Atlanta 6, Colorado 4 Milwaukee 6, Texas 1 St. Louis 4, Pittsburgh 1 Philadelphia 5, L.A. Angels 3 Arizona 10, San Francisco 6

Sunday’s Games

Pro football

Boston (Suarez 5-3) at N.Y. Yankees (Warren 8-6), 12:35 p.m. Seattle (Gilbert 11-7) at Toronto (Scherzer 1-7), 12:37 p.m. Kansas City (Lugo 6-7) at Cleveland (Messick 10-8), 12:40 p.m. L.A. Dodgers (Glasnow 3-0) at Detroit (Valdez 8-9), 12:40 p.m. San Diego (Ray 11-7) at Tampa Bay (Rasmussen 14-5), 12:40 p.m. Chicago White Sox (TBD) at Minnesota (Matthews 8-8), 1:10 p.m. Texas (Rocker 5-10) at Milwaukee (May 6-8), 1:10 p.m. Houston (Pecko 0-0) at N.Y. Mets (Thornton 3-4), 2:10 p.m. Baltimore (Bassitt 5-4) at Athletics (Springs 3-12), 3:05 p.m. Philadelphia (Wheeler 10-5) at L.A. Angels (Kikuchi 0-4), 3:07 p.m.

W 80 75 68 64 60

Detroit 2, L.A. Dodgers 1 Pittsburgh 6, St. Louis 2 Chicago Cubs 17, Cincinnati 5 Arizona 7, San Francisco 1, 1st game N.Y. Mets 6, Houston 2 Tampa Bay 7, San Diego 6 Washington 5, Miami 4, 10 innings San Diego at Tampa Bay, 3:10 p.m. Texas at Milwaukee, n Arizona at San Francisco, n, 2nd game Philadelphia at L.A. Angels, n

NFL Glance

Sunday’s Games

East Division

Saturday’s Games

Miami (Junk 6-8) at Washington (Alvarez 2-6), 11:15 a.m. Colorado (Adams 0-0) at Atlanta (Mahle 5-10), 12:35 p.m. L.A. Dodgers (Glasnow 3-0) at Detroit (Valdez 8-9), 12:40 p.m. San Diego (Ray 11-7) at Tampa Bay (Rasmussen 14-5), 12:40 p.m. Texas (Rocker 5-10) at Milwaukee (May 6-8), 1:10 p.m. Pittsburgh (Ashcraft 13-5) at St. Louis (Liberatore 5-12), 1:15 p.m. Houston (Pecko 0-0) at N.Y. Mets (Thornton 3-4), 2:10 p.m. Philadelphia (Wheeler 10-5) at L.A. Angels (Kikuchi 0-4), 3:07 p.m. Cincinnati (Burns 14-3) at Chicago Cubs (Imanaga 8-9), 6:20 p.m.

L.A. Dodgers 2, Detroit 1 Kansas City 3, Cleveland 0 Tampa Bay 9, San Diego 4 Toronto 8, Seattle 1 Houston 3, N.Y. Mets 1 N.Y. Yankees 1, Boston 0 Milwaukee 6, Texas 1 Chicago White Sox 7, Minnesota 4 Philadelphia 5, L.A. Angels 3 Baltimore 4, Athletics 3, 10 innings

Central Division

Saturday’s Games

Central Division

63 67 72 72 75

Friday’s Games

Sports Betting Line

Tampa Bay New York Boston Baltimore Toronto

72 68 64 63 61

West Division

Odds

East Division

Chicago Cleveland Minnesota Detroit Kansas City

Thursday’s Games

Buffalo 28, Pittsburgh 27 Cleveland 37, New England 13 San Francisco 18, Las Vegas 12 L.A. Rams 20, L.A. Chargers 18

Friday’s Games

Baltimore 41, Washington 3 Atlanta 17, Miami 12 Carolina 16, Houston 13 Jacksonville 19, Tampa Bay 0 N.Y. Giants 23, N.Y. Jets 6 Cincinnati 30, Philadelphia 13 Green Bay 42, Arizona 38 New Orleans 27, Dallas 24 Seattle 9, Kansas City 9 Denver 34, Minnesota 6

Saturday’s Games

Detroit 25, Indianapolis 16 Chicago at Tennessee, n

College football Major scores Tursday’s games EAST

Delaware St. 41, Stony Brook 34 East Stroudsburg 27, Seton Hill 20 Grand Valley St. 38, Charleston (WV) 10 Maine 21, Towson 18 Slippery Rock 45, Minn. Duluth 43, 2OT Walsh 30, West Liberty 27

SOUTH

Austin Peay 35, Gardner-Webb 17 Carson-Newman 41, Tifﬁn 38 Cent. Arkansas 36, UT Martin 24 Chattanooga 24, West Georgia 10 Concord 41, Davidson 35 E. Illinois 28, Murray St. 14 Elon 42, Glenville St. 7 Furman 20, Anderson (SC) Trojans 3 Houston Christian 34, SE Louisiana 28 Kentucky Christian 44, Kentucky Wesleyan 24 Louisiana College 42, Northwestern St. 37 Nicholls 44, MVSU 10 Ohio Dominican 42, Morehead St. 40, 3OT Presbyterian 47, Virginia-Wise 37 Tusculum 42, Blueﬁeld State 7 UNC-Pembroke 21, Wingate 13 Valdosta St. 38, Emory & Henry 10 Virginia St. 44, Barton 17 West Florida 34, S. Illinois 31

MIDWEST

Augustana (SD) 63, Missouri Western 58

Black Hills St. 24, Sioux Falls 21 Cent. Oklahoma 59, Texas Wesleyan Rams 7 Concordia (St.P.) 38, Quincy 21 Emporia St. 36, Minot St. 30 Ferris St. 42, Pittsburg St. 14 Indianapolis 39, Marian University 7 Lindenwood (Mo.) 20, Charleston Southern 17 Mary 23, Rocky Mountain Battlin’ Bears 10 Michigan Tech 31, Bemidji St. 29 Minn. St. (Moorhead) 41, N. Michigan 19 North Dakota 42, LIU Brooklyn 21 Northern St. 42, Chadron St. 17 S.D. Mines 38, Drake 35 SW Baptist 63, William Woods Owls 6 SW Minnesota 10, Valley City St. 7 Saginaw Valley St. 48, McKendree 24 St. Thomas (Minn.) 15, Winona St. 9 W. Illinois 65, Northwestern (IA) Red Raiders 14 Wayne St. (Neb.) 21, Neb.-Kearney 20 Youngstown St. 43, Mercyhurst 10

SOUTHWEST

Fort Hays St. 35, Angelo St. 14

FAR WEST

CSU-Pueblo 44, Cent. Missouri 25 Minnesota St. 38, Colorado Mesa 14 N.M. Highlands 35, E. New Mexico 34 W. Colorado 52, West Texas A&M 21 W. New Mexico 62, Adams St. 45

Saturday’s games EAST

American International 17, Monroe Mustangs 3 Lock Haven 24, Shippensburg 16 Robert Morris 28, Wagner 7 W. Virginia St. 56, Chowan 24 WV Wesleyan 31, Post 13 Wheeling Jesuit 27, Thomas More 10

68-70-68—206 67-76-63—206 69-70-67—206 70-69-68—207 67-68-72—207

-4 -4 -4 -3 -3

Transactions Major League Baseball

American League BOSTON RED SOX — Reinstated RHP Garrett Whitlock from the 15-Day injured reserve. Optioned RHP Wyatt Olds to Worchester (IL). Recalled LHP Raymond Burgos from Worcester. NEW YORK YANKEES — Recalled RHP Brendan Beck from Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (IL). National League ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS — Elevated RHP Derek Law from Reno (PCL). Optioned LHP Kohl Drake to Reno. Recalled LHP Mitch Bratt from Reno. MIAMI MARLINS — Optioned LHP Patrick Monteverde to Jacksonville (IL). Recalled RHP Wikelman González from Jacksonville. NEW YORK METS — Reinstated LF Juan Soto from 10-day injured list. Optioned 1B Eric Wagaman to Syracuse (IL). PITTSBURGH PIRATES — Sent SS Konnor Grifﬁn on a rehab assignment to Altoona (AA). SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS — Recalled LHP Matt Wilkinson from Sacramento (PCL). Selected the contract of LHP Seth Lonsway from Sacramento. Optioned RHP Spencer Bivens to Sacramento. ST. LOUIS CARDINALS — Designated LHP Caleb Ferguson for assignment. Recalled LHP Brycen Mautz from Memphis (IL).

BASKETBALL

SOUTH

Erskine 37, Blueﬁeld South 20 Shorter 65, Andrew College Fighting Tigers 6

MIDWEST

Butler 27, Georgetown (KY) Tigers 23 Chicago 44, Chicago State Cougars 28 Davenport 32, Gannon 20 Dayton 43, Fairmont St. 20 South Dakota 59, CCSU 20 Upper Iowa 30, Jamestown Jimmies 13 Valparaiso 59, Lawrence 13

National Basketball Association MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES — Acquire Fs John Konchar and Cody Williams from Utah in exchange for SG Josh Green and cash considerations.

FOOTBALL

SOUTHWEST

North Carolina 15, TCU 10

FAR WEST

Southern Cal 42, San Jose St. 26 UC Davis 31, Portland St. 24

Golf TOUR Championship Saturday

At East Lake GC Atlanta Purse: $40 million Yardage: 7,440; Par: 70 Third Round Viktor Hovland 64-66-65—195 Ryan Gerard 65-65-66—196 Chris Gotterup 64-67-67—198 Scottie Schefﬂer 65-67-66—198 Adam Scott 66-67-65—198 Ludvig Åberg 65-68-65—198 Rory McIlroy 68-69-63—200 Cameron Young 70-62-68—200 Jacob Bridgeman 68-67-66—201 Sam Burns 66-68-67—201 Russell Henley 70-65-66—201 Min Woo Lee 62-73-66—201 Matt Fitzpatrick 66-67-69—202 69-68-65—202 Si Woo Kim Justin Rose 68-65-69—202 Wyndham Clark 67-69-67—203 Alex Fitzpatrick 68-68-67—203 Tommy Fleetwood 66-70-67—203 67-68-68—203 Tom Kim Collin Morikawa 64-67-72—203 Ryan Fox 66-68-70—204 Akshay Bhatia 65-69-71—205 Xander Schauffele 67-71-67—205 Gary Woodland 66-68-71—205

Patrick Cantlay Robert MacIntyre Hideki Matsuyama Kristoffer Reitan Alex Smalley

-15 -14 -12 -12 -12 -12 -10 -10 -9 -9 -9 -9 -8 -8 -8 -7 -7 -7 -7 -7 -6 -5 -5 -5

National Football League ARIZONA CARDINALS — Traded RB Corey Kiner to New England for a 2028 7th-round pick. ATLANTA FALCONS — Placed DB Darren Hall on injured reserve. Released DT Eric Johnson, LB Channing Tindall and G Brandon Walton. Waived WR Keelan Marion, DT Devonnsha Maxwell, LB Daveren Rayner, G Jaeden Roberts, TE Joshua Simon, DB Keidron Smith and T Andrew Stueber. BALTIMORE RAVENS — Waiving QB Austin Reid. Released WR Chris Moore. BUFFALO BILLS — Waived OLD Cade Denhoff, CB Jordan Dunbar, G Bruno Fina, ILB Theron Gaines, WR Mecole Hardman Jr., C Sincere Haynesworth, DL Zion Logue, CB D.J. Miller, S Wande Owens, WR Dante Pettis, LB Otis Reese, WR Quentin Skinner, TE Shane Zylstra. CAROLINA PANTHERS — Waived RB Miles Davis, DT Kyon Barrs, WR Elijah Cooks, DT Tywone Malone, TE Caden Prieskorn, WR Roc Taylor, T Ryan Hayes, WR Dan Chisena. GREEN BAY PACKERS — Signed TE Jonnu Smith. Released S Tra Fluellen. HOUSTON TEXANS — Released QB Brett Rypien, CB Stephen Hall, OT Caleb Johnson, RBs Deuce Vaughn and Owen Wright. LOS ANGELES RAMS — Waived LBs Tomon Fox, Monty Rice, Devean Deal, Nikhai Hill-Green. Waived DBs Alex Cook, Steven Gilmore, Al’zillion Hamilton, Alex Johnson, Nate Valcarcel. Waived TEs Rohan Jones and Dan Villari. Waived WR Tru Edwards, OT Bryce Henderson, DT Payton Zdroik. Placed QB Matthew Caldwell on injured reserve. MIAMI DOLPHINS — Waived CB Alex Austin, RB Coleman Bennett, T Kevin Cline, EDGE Seth Coleman-Lyles, TE Ethan Conner, LB Stephen Dix Jr., RB Donovan Edwards, DL Alex Huntley, S Louis Moore, DL Cam Rice, LB Jaheim Thomas and WR Theo Wease Jr. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS — Released RB Hassan Haskins. PHILLADELPHIA EAGLES — Released CB Ambry Thomas.

FAITH: Congregation works to give older church new life 4D

LIVING

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

S u n d ay, au g u S t 30, 2026

1dn

Jan Risher

The pursuit of the pop-tab purse I noticed a friend’s purse late last fall. It was a cute little bag that I couldn’t quite ﬁgure out. Then I got closer. It was made of pop tabs. Hundreds of them. Row after row, sewn together with silver thread. Actually, it was crocheted. The pop tabs and silver thread were intertwined to create a beautiful little purse which did not resemble a craft project in any way, shape or form. It was remarkably elegant. I loved the look of it. I loved the fact that it was made of items typically discarded. I was entranced. I learned that the purse came from Brazil and was made by fair-trade artisans. I ordered one. It ﬁnally arrived, and I began to use it. Given my phone, keys and other necessities, I regretted not ordering a slightly bigger version.

STAFF PHOTO By ROBIN MAy

Members of the Lafayette Shrimpettes marching group strut down Jefferson Street during the Pride Parade in downtown Lafayette on June 20.

From ponds to parades

STAFF PHOTO By JAN RISHER

This is the purse that inspired Jan Risher to begin collecting pop tabs.

Then I thought, “I bet I could make one myself.” I counted the tabs on the purse and made a rough guess that making that version took about 540 pop tabs. I estimated that I would need at least 850 of them to make a bigger version of the purse. Since my husband and I are obsessed with a particular canned brand of carbonated water, I thought, “I bet we can get there sooner than I’d think.” So I started saving my pop tabs — and highly encouraging my husband to do the same. Last fall, a dear friend gave me a set of 50-year-old drinking glasses. Each 16-ounce glass features a different iconic Louisiana newspaper front page. The set of glasses was released in 1975 to commemorate The Morning Advocate’s 50th anniversary. One glass in particular came to play a critical role in the pop tab collection process. It’s the one with the newspaper from the day after World War II ended. It has a giant “PEACE” across the top of the front page. Peace seemed like a good thing to work toward. Turns out, covering the bottom of a regular-size glass with pop tabs takes longer than one might expect. Turns out, saving hundreds of pop tabs is quite an act of endurance. It has basically become an aspect of my personality. When I see someone drinking or pouring from a can, I rely on what has become incredible restraint not to ask for the tab. Friends have caught on. Some of them are collecting them at their ofﬁces. They bring me little snack-size zippered plastic bags the way my cat used to bring me lizards. I rejoice a lot more about the pop tabs than I ever did the

ä See PURSE, page 6D

LAFAyETTE’S NEWEST KREWE IS ALL ABOUT WHIMSy, DANCING AND FRIENDSHIPS BY JA’KORI MADISON Staff writer

An idea spawned from shrimp, full of whimsy and a chance to build meaningful friendships, gave way to Lafayette’s newest dance krewe — the Lafayette Shrimpettes. The Shrimpettes dance their way through Mardi Gras celebrations, but dancing is only one part of what they do. The group, which danced its ﬁrst parade in June for the Pride parade, now has 73 members, including “Tail Shakers,” who dance, and the “Krill Crew,” who help build and support the krewe with costumes, logistics, transportation, hydration, and any other details required to get the krewe on the street. “Dance moves can be taught — but vibes can’t, and that’s what we’re all about,” said founder Lindsey Jenneman. The idea started with Jenneman, who was inspired by a friend dressed as a shrimp who was dancing inside a drum circle during a Krewe de Canailles event.

PROVIDED PHOTO

The Lafayette Shrimpettes Shrimperial Council is made up of Alex Laggner, from left, Stephanie Larriviere and Lindsey Jenneman.

She says the moment was silly, creative and unmistakably “so Louisiana.” It stayed with her. Jenneman, an artist, couldn’t let the idea go. She wanted someone to take the idea, grow it into a krewe and help bring it into the real world.

That person was Stephanie Larriviere, who Jenneman knew through a book club. “I just had the idea but wanted someone to grab it from me and be like, ‘So let’s take your huge idea and birth it and do it all together,’” Jenneman said. When Jenneman mentioned wanting to start a Mardi Gras dance crew, Larriviere immediately saw the possibility even though she wasn’t a dancer. Larriviere began helping by bringing in the logistics and organization, while her partner’s connection to a local brass band helped bring music into the vision. Jenneman brought the creative vision. Later, Alex Laggner, a marketer and friend of the women, helped turn that vision into a public identity, including creating the group’s Facebook presence and developing the aesthetic of the Shrimpettes. By March, the Lafayette Shrimpettes had ofﬁcially put the idea on social media for open auditions. The response was far bigger

ä See SHRIMPETTES, page 6D

Nominations open for Bright Lights Awards The 2026 Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities’ Bright Lights Award Dinner was held at Baton Rouge’s Capitol Park Museum. PROVIDED PHOTO

Staff report Since 1985, the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities’ Bright Lights Awards have celebrated the state’s deﬁning cultural leaders — from civil rights pillar Norman C. Francis, musician Michael Doucet to culinary icons Leah Chase and John Folse. “Every year we pause to shine a light on those who explore Louisiana’s past, reﬂect on our pres-

ent and imagine our future,” said Miranda Restovic, LEH president and executive Director, in a news release. “From legendary tradition-bearers and culinary icons to scholars and community leaders, our past honorees reﬂect the absolute highest caliber of civic and cultural achievement.” Public nominations are now open through Oct. 20 for the 42nd

ä See AWARDS, page 6D

2D ● Sunday, August 30, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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BOOKS

Exploring creole identity in La. Book dives into themes of colorism, queerness, self-expression during the Great Migration era

BY HILLEL ITALIE

BY JOY HOLDEN

AP national writer

Staff writer

NEW YORK — Book lovers this fall can look forward to a wealth of fiction, biographies, memoirs, poetry collections and topical nonfiction. Here are five upcoming works you’ll likely be hearing about.

“Meet Me in the Garden” by Nina LaCour, Flatiron Books, 390 pages “Meet Me in the Garden” is a historical journey of a Creole family over three pivotal decades — the ’40s, ’50s and ’60s — by Nina LaCour. The three Honoré sisters — Adele, Claire and Odette — and their families travel to Los Angeles along the Sunset Limited, a train that took many Creole Louisianans to California. Odette is the ﬁrst-person narrator and main character who struggles with her identity Review as she sacriﬁces her true self to appease social norms and family expectations. With Louisiana Creole roots, LaCour grew up and lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. She received her undergraduate degree from San Francisco State University and an MFA in Creative Writing from Mills College. Her young adult novels have been Junior Library Guild selections, ALA Best Books for Young Adults, and have been named among LaCour the best books of the year by multiple publications. Her debut adult novel, “Yerba Buena,” was chosen as a Book of the Month and gained acclaimed reviews. Inspired by her grandparents who came to Los Angeles from New Orleans during the Great Migration, LaCour has done extensive family research, from letters, personal interviews, documents and journals, which adds texture and intimate detail to the storytelling. She weaves these family tales into the lives of the book’s characters.

A journey of identity, self-expression “Meet Me in the Garden” features Odette’s closest cousin Delphine, who chooses another path from her Honoré family. Odette’s and Delphine’s lives are intertwined, although they separate at 18. The cousins’ futures diverge when Delphine falls in love with a White man, gets pregnant, moves to California and decides to pass as a White woman. She

5 notable books to read this fall

‘The Disappearers’ By Marlon James

Marlon James’ fantasy series “Dark Star” was a showcase for his extraordinary and boundless imagination. In “The Disappearers,” he returns to his native Jamaica and to the murderous reality of his Booker Prize-winning “A Brief History of Seven Killings.” The new novel, longlisted for the Booker, is framed around the horrifying beating in 1988 of eight gay men who had been rehearsing for a play. James weaves together humor, popular culture, compassion and some very hard experience. “I refuse to believe there is any lesson to be learned from suffering an atrocity,” James writes, “other than always be on guard for the ways people turn on you.” (Sept. 1)

‘American Scoundrel’

By Kai Bird and Susan Goldmark

breaks off contact with Odette, but their bond remains. Odette and her sisters maintain their Creole identities until the 1960s. Creole identity is a thread that continues throughout. Although the family lives in Los Angeles, they still cook Creole food and maintain their Catholicism. The novel is a beautiful investigation of the issues of a particular Creole woman in the midcentury — colorism, queer identity, sexuality, family dysfunction, grief, marital responsibilities, motherhood, artistic expression and autonomy. Skin color and societal expectations dictate many of the characters’ choices, although they have desires to transcend the limitations around them. The characters experience major growth through tragedy, dreams deferred and dreams realized. Odette is an artist who feels

deeply and is loyal to the end with her family. However, she does emerge as she ages into her own person. The book begins when she’s 18 and ends when she’s 39. She experiences the Jim Crow South, Los Angeles in the 1950s and the Watts Riots in the 1960s. LaCour ushers the reader through the internal monologue and personal development of Odette. LaCour’s prose is accessible, yet rich. Each character is memorable and complex. This immersive novel provides readers a chance to gain more understanding of the Creole Louisianans who pursued a new life in California during the Great Migration. Note: Nina LaCour will be at the Louisiana Book Festival in Baton Rouge on Oct. 31. Email Joy Holden at joy. holden@theadvocate.com.

Kai Bird is best known as the co-author with Martin J. Sherwin of “American Prometheus,” the biography of nuclear scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer that became the basis for Christopher Nolan’s Oscar-winning “Oppenheimer.” In “American Scoundrel,” he and Susan Goldmark (his wife) trace the inﬂuence of the late political operator Roy Cohn, from his early years as the top aide to Sen. Joseph McCarthy to his mentorship of a young Donald Trump. “American Scoundrel” draws upon government documents, archival material and dozens of interviews, including, to the authors’ surprise, Trump, who “answered our cold calls on his personal cell on several occasions,” Bird writes. Trump was “gracious, if not exactly forthcoming about his memories” and declined to meet in person, because, he told them, “I’m the president. I’m very busy.” (Sept. 1)

‘Switzy’

By Emma Cline Emma Cline has well established her mastery of inhabiting

the alienated mind, of dramatizing youthful transience, aspiration and deception, most famously in her celebrated debut, “The Girls.” In “Switzy,” longlisted for the Booker Prize, Cline gives us a retired businessman with failing mental capacity, en route to an assisted dying facility in Zurich. Cline breaks up the story into brief, affectless passages as a once-“Valuable Person” reckons with his memories and concludes that “He had always stayed on the surface. His whole life.” (Sept. 8)

‘Music Against the Night’ By yiyun Li

“Music Against the Night” is Yiyun Li’s sixth novel, and ﬁrst book since last year’s Pulitzer Prize-winning “Things in Nature Merely Grow,” her unsparing memoir about the suicides of her two sons. Li this time appears to have written a very different narrative — about a late 18th-century piano prodigy whose fame barely outlasted his lifetime and the orphaned wanderer-musician who makes the ill-fated decision to marry him. The novel is a story of music, but also a meditation on “the night,” death — parents, friends, children, everybody. “It is despair that one must not submit to,” Li writes, adding a dark, Shakespearean warning: “A child’s death can never feel neutral to a parent; a child’s death is a negation of time, which no longer has now and then, now and again, now and later, only now and now and now and now and now.” (Oct. 13)

‘Promise Me, America’

By former President Joe Biden Memoirs are often presidents’ best chance to deﬁne their legacy, although readers and critics may have different priorities, whether Richard Nixon and Watergate or Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky. Joe Biden will understandably want to focus on his defeat of Donald Trump in 2020, the passage of landmark legislation on green energy and the appointment of the ﬁrst Black woman to the Supreme Court. But the public will likely be seeking answers to more unwanted questions, notably the state of Biden’s health while he was in the White House, the backstory to his disastrous debate against Trump and his decision soon after to call off his reelection campaign. (Nov. 17)

Pulitzers, American Library Association launch touring exhibit BY HILLEL ITALIE AP National Writer

NEW YORK — Barbara Kingsolver, Percival Everett and Daniel Kraus will be among the authors and other Pulitzer Prize-winning artists and journalists participating in a 20-city touring exhibition jointly organized by the Pulitzers and the American Library Association. “Pulitzer on the Road: Prize — Winning Works That Inform, Empower & Inspire” will launch in October at the Chicago Public Library and the Dallas Public Library and

continue through May 2028, with stops at public libraries everywhere from Reading, Pennsylvania, to San Jose, California. Stops in the South include: n Dallas Public Library, Dallas, Texas: October-December 2026 n Sevier County Public Library System, Sevierville, Tennessee: January 2027 n Clayton County Library System, Jonesboro, Georgia: September 2027 n Lexington Public Library, Lexington, Kentucky: November 2027 n Opelika Public Library, Ope-

lika, Alabama: November 2027 n Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, Charlotte, North Carolina: January 2028 The exhibit will highlight more than a century of Pulitzer winners, whether such groundbreaking news reporting as the Pentagon Papers and the Watergate scandal, iconic photographs such as the AP’s “Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima,” poems by Sylvia Plath and Robert Frost, plays by Arthur Miller and Lin-Manuel Miranda or ﬁction by Toni Morrison and John Steinbeck.

Kingsolver, Everett and Kraus, all Pulitzer-winning novelists, will be making appearances, along with composer Gabriela Frank and Kingsolver photojournalist Jon Cherry among others. “Pulitzer on the Road was created to bring Pulitzer Prize-winning journalism and storytelling to communities across the country, showcasing the exceptional work that

has been honored since the prizes were ﬁrst awarded in 1917,” Marjorie Miller, administrator of the Pulitzers, said in a statement. Maria McCauley, Everett president of the American Library Association, said in a statement that the exhibit would create “opportunities for visitors to connect with the excellent prize-winning works that drive curiosity, conversation and civic engagement.”

THIS WEEK’S BESTSELLERS FROM PUBLISHERS WEEKLY HARDCOVER FICTION

1. “The Calamity Club” by Kathryn Stockett 2. “Yesteryear” by Caro Claire Burke 3. “The Butcher Legacy” by Alaina Urquhart 4. “Whistler” by Ann Patchett 5. “The True Meaning of Love” by Danielle Steel 6. “The Secrets We Hide” by Karin Slaughter 7. “The Unknown” by Riley Sager 8. “Daggermouth” by H.M. Wolfe 9. “A Parade of Horribles” by Matt Dinniman 10. “This Inevitable Ruin” by Matt Dinniman

HARDCOVER NONFICTION

1. “What to Cook When You Don’t Feel Like Cooking: Make It Fast” by Caroline Chambers 2. “Everyday Hallelujah” by Phil Wickham 3. “Cooking con Omi” by Omi Hopper 4. “God Doesn’t Relapse” by Matt Grace 5. “Regime Change” by Haberman/ Swan 6. “Call of Duty: Black Ops: Zombies” by Treyarch et al. 7. “The Day After” by Brian Tyler Cohen 8. “Strangers” by Belle Burden 9. “Courage Can Save US” by Rye Barcott 10. “Communion” by JD Vance

TRADE PAPERBACK

1. “Theo of Golden” by Allen Levi 2. “Dungeon Crawler Carl” by Matt Dinniman 3. “Carl’s Doomsday Scenario” by Matt Dinniman 4. “Verity” by Colleen Hoover 5. “Adversary to the Villain” by Hannah Nicole Maehrer 6. “Insatiable” by Leigh Rivers 7. “The Divorce” by Freida McFadden 8. “Death Row” by Freida McFadden 9. “Devil” by Sierra Simone 10. “Just for the Plot” by Meghan Quinn

The Acadiana Advocate ● theadvocate.com ● Sunday,August 30, 2026 ● 3D

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TRAVEL Find adrenaline-inducing rides at these amusement parks And don’t forget the side of nostalgia

Expedition opening on Aug. 19, the world’s ﬁrst immersive indoor roller coaster.

Dig World Grapevine, Texas

BY CHERÉ COEN Contributing writer

Back then, when summer arrived in New Orleans, children’s dreams turned to Lake Pontchartrain and Pontchartrain Beach. We weren’t thinking water, but rather the creaking wooden roller coaster known as the Zephyr, where excitement built as visitors rode through a dark cave only to hit sunlight ascending heavenward and then ﬂying down as if plunging into the lake. We loved it! Pontchartrain Beach amusement park only lives in our dreams now, as it closed in 1983. For those in Baton Rouge, Blue Bayou Water Park provides modern summer thrills. Throughout the Deep South, there are numerous amusement parks, so if you’re off on vacation within a day’s drive, we offer a few to choose from.

OWA Parks & Resort Foley, Alabama Visit OWA Parks & Resort in Alabama for its downtown shops, restaurants, theater entertainment and family-friendly activities such as glow-in-the-dark kayaking and pickleball. But don’t miss their latest feature in the amusement park section. Complementing OWA’s 23 theme park rides is Tropic Falls indoor water park, with more than 11 water slides, the Castaway Creek lazy river and Tuki’s Tower, a multilevel interactive playground with ﬁve kid-friendly slides and a massive 1,000-gallon dump bucket. It’s the country’s only indoor water park with a retractable roof and sidewall, allowing seamless access to the Big Water Bay outdoor waterpark with its 30,000-square-foot wave pool and the Coastal Curl surf simulator. Tropic Falls has won numerous

For amusement of a unique kind, check out the newly opened Dig World in Grapevine, where kids of all ages take the wheel of a variety of construction vehicles. Guests may drive a skid steer, ride high in a boom lift or dig with an excavator — many times with games to ﬁnish, like restoring busted plumbing. Little visitors may also race tyke-sized tractors on a course of hazardous debris or dig for treasure in the Mystery Mines. It’s the only construction-themed adventure park in Texas. PROVIDED PHOTOS

Visit OWA Parks & Resort in Alabama for its family-friendly activities.

Enjoy a variety of thrilling rides at Paradise Pier, located beside Margaritaville Resort Biloxi and overlooking Gulf waters. Don’t miss the Biloxi Tide Turner, a 180foot air-conditioned gondola-styled Ferris wheel. Visitors don’t have to be a hotel guest to ride the heart-racing Storm Surge or the S.O.S., which resembles being in a hurricane —as if we need to be reminded. Gentle rides are available for the smaller visitors — and maybe their grandparents.

accolades since debuting, including named to the “Top 3 Best Indoor Water Parks” in USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards and as one of Travel + Leisure’s “15 Best Indoor Water Parks in the U.S.”

swing at Pleasure Pier, looks harmless enough. The attraction is a slow-moving rotation of swings that move up a tower 230 feet above sea level. Once at the top, the ride provides spectacular views of Galveston and the Gulf while rotating around and around while your feet Six Flags dangle over the water. But, boy, does your heart race at Austell and Marietta, Georgia the top! Other adrenaline-producing It’s a fair drive to Georgia’s largest amusement park north rides are the Iron Shark Rollerof Atlanta off Interstate 20, with coaster, the Pirate’s Plung and the its water park another 45-minute Galaxy Wheel, but there are plenty drive. Six Flags Over Georgia in for small tykes and the less advenAustell offers 290 acres of amuse- turous as well. ment rides and Hurricane Harbor water slides, while Six Flags White Water on 69 acres in neighboring Tennessee Marietta features rides that range It’s a longer drive to the Smoky from giant water plunges to lazy Mountain towns in Tennessee, rivers and children’s attractions. where Dollywood and smaller Six Flags begins its weekends- amusement and “adventure” parks only hours this month with ex- await guests. The beauty of Gatlintended dates during the holidays. burg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville White Water closes Sept. 7. lies in their year-round fun. Anakeesta, an award-winning Pleasure Pier mountaintop adventure park, is located on top of a Gatlinburg Galveston, Texas mountain. The park offers advenThe Texas Star Flyer, a towering tures in the trees, an imaginative

Paradise Pier Biloxi, Mississippi

At Dig World in Texas, kids of all ages take the wheel of a variety of construction vehicles. children’s area and special events and exhibits during the holidays. In Sevierville, ride the Wild Stallion Mountain Coaster and Safari Hayride at SkyLand Ranch, fun in all temperatures. And, of course, there’s Dollywood with its amusement park rides, water park (which closes late September) and theatrical performances — not to mention seasonal displays. Don’t miss Dollywood’s new NightFlight

Coming soon Cannon Beach, McKinney, Texas Surfers living in North Texas won’t have to travel to California to satisfy their cravings. Construction is ongoing for the mixed-use, 35-acre Cannon Beach in McKinney which will feature a 3-acre surf lagoon. The complex will also include a lazy river, mineral hot springs circuit, full-service resort hotel, entertainment and more. A skateboard park, movie theater and other features are planned for later phases. It could open as early as 2027.

TRAVEL TROUBLESHOOTER By Christopher Elliott

Delta’s flight delay results in downgrade, unpaid hotel My bride of 53 years and I recently flew Delta Air Lines from Hartford, Conn., to Boise, Idaho.We had a 6 a.m. flight to Atlanta, so we woke up at 2 a.m. to ensure we had enough time for check-in. There had been a storm in Hartford. We pushed back from the gate at 6:10 a.m., but didn’t lift off until 7:15 a.m. Even with this delay, our connection in Atlanta looked doable. Christopher However, once we arrived in Atlanta, we Elliott waited 35 minutes for an open gate. Because of the wait, we eventually missed our 10 a.m. connection to Boise. Delta’s customer service was helpful, but there was no choice but to rebook us on the 8 p.m. flight to Boise.We received food vouchers, but the agent denied us any Sky Club participation because we did not qualify. Both of us are over 75 years old.The run

through the Atlanta airport, coupled with the 2 a.m. wake-up call, left us exhausted. The representative suggested utilizing Minute Suites in the terminal in order to rest. She told us Delta “might” reimburse us. We took her advice and crashed for two hours, which was enough to recharge our batteries. On the 8 p.m. flight, Delta downgraded us from the Comfort+ seats we bought to coach, as all Comfort+ seats were booked. I submitted a reimbursement request for the Minute Suites and a refund request for the Comfort+ seats through Delta.com.The site does not allow for any explanations, and the airline denied both requests. I am frustrated.The site offers no way to appeal or explain the circumstances of our age and the long delay. Can you help me get my money back? — John Fisher,Wethersfield, Conn. Delta should have refunded your seat downgrade automatically. It also should have been speciﬁc about whether it would cover your

stay at the Minute Suites. Let’s look at the downgrade first. You paid for Comfort+ and you flew in coach. That is a no-brainer. Under U.S. Department of Transportation regulations, if an airline downgrades you to a lower class of service, it must refund the difference in price. You don’t need to negotiate or fill out a complex form. It should be automatic. Delta’s rejection of your refund request for the seat difference suggests a glitch in its system or a reviewer who wasn’t paying attention. The Minute Suites expense is trickier. Airlines generally don’t cover hotel or sleep accommodations for weather-related delays. Your delay in Hartford was caused by a storm, and the late arrival of your aircraft meant a gate wasn’t available. Technically, that’s an

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“act of God,” and Delta’s contract of carriage — the legal agreement between you and the company — says it isn’t liable. The agent’s use of the word “might” was unfortunate. In the travel industry, “might” usually means “no.” If a representative suggests you incur an expense, get it in writing. Ask for a voucher right there at the counter. If they can’t give you a voucher, ask them to note the promise in your passenger record (PNR). Without that paper trail, you are at the mercy of an anonymous adjuster (usually an artiﬁcial intelligence) who sees a weather delay code and hits “deny.” You did the right thing by keeping your receipts and writing to the airline. When the automated system failed you, you could have escalated your complaint. I list the names, numbers and emails of the

Delta Air Lines executives on my consumer advocacy site, Elliott. org. A brief, polite email to one of them often fixes these glitches. I love the ending of this case. You contacted Delta’s executives on your own after finding the emails on my site. You politely pointed out the downgrade and the agent’s advice regarding the Minute Suites. The airline reviewed your case quickly. A representative followed up with instructions for securing the reimbursement for the Minute Suites and the refund for the seat downgrade. Delta also added 10,000 SkyMiles to both your accounts as a gesture of goodwill. Christopher Elliott is the founder of Elliott Advocacy, a nonprofit organization that helps consumers solve problems. Email him at chris@elliott.org.

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4D ● Sunday, August 30, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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FAITH

‘It needed a lot of love’

A congregation works to give an older church new life BY BOB WARREN Staff writer

As the Rev. Ben Cunningham walks around the open space of the Church of the Resurrection in New Orleans, he sees more than just a sanctuary soon to be ﬁlled with churchgoers. There are longer-range plans: A coffee area. A place for community to gather. Even a school. But for now, the major focus of Cunningham’s renovation energy is the sanctuary of the property that covers the block at the busy corner of Claiborne and Jefferson Avenues. The Church of the Resurrection, an Evangelical Presbyterian congregation, purchased the place in 2024 from the First Unitarian Universalist Church, which operates now from the Rayne Memorial UMC Chapel on St. Charles Avenue. Cunningham said the price for the approximately 20,000-squarefoot property, which includes the sanctuary, an auditorium and numerous other rooms, was $1.8 million. “We like to say there are houses in the neighborhood that go for that,” he said. “It’s a steal but it needed a lot of love.” The church has since embarked on a renovation project of the midcentury buildings. The purchase and renovation is being funded by an ongoing money-raising campaign, Cunningham said. “Everyone’s been very invested in the project,” he said. The church sanctuary dates to around 1951 when it was dedicated as First Evangelical Church, a German Protestant congregation. First Unitarian Universalist Church moved into the location in 1994. “First Evangelical Church” is still carved into the stonework above the church entrance. For Cunningham, 40, the purchase last year and ongoing renovation work represent a new chance for his congregation to grow. “The idea of planting a flag is

STAFF PHOTOS By ENAN CHEDIAK

Luke Crochet, with L. Laurent Construction and Restoration, walks through the sanctuary where renovation is underway at the Church of the Resurrection on Claiborne Avenue in New Orleans. Franklin Maldonado restores the lights in the church sanctuary.

very attractive to us. We had been dreaming of a church for a long time,” he said. Nationwide, the Evangelical Presbyterian Church says it has about 120,000 members in more than 600 churches. It describes itself as “evangelical in our zeal for the gospel, as well as evangelism, missions, and living obediently as followers of Jesus,” but “at the same time, we are rooted deeply in the Protestant Reformation.” Though Cunningham’s youth saw his family move to multiple states, he has Louisiana roots, having attended LSU. Later, he continued theological studies at Wheaton College in Chicago and Princeton Seminary. He and his wife moved to New Orleans in 2012 and he was ordained in 2014.

From living room to big church

moving to its current location, where the congregation has grown to some 600 people, he said. “People are spiritually hungry,” he said of the rapid growth. “They’re asking deep questions, looking for meaning.” Resurrection, he said, positions itself not only as a church for lifelong Christians, but also “for those who are still searching.” While excited for the new home, Cunningham said he and the congregation realize that, while important, the building is just a building. “The building is not the mission. The building serves the mission,” he said. Ashley Johnston, the church employee overseeing the project, said the property is being renovated in phases, led by architect Megan Bell of Bell Butler in New Orleans. Ibis Builders is handling construction. The first phase, which has been completed, was to modernize the auditorium, which is where the congregation now holds services. The church is currently in the midst of Phase 2, gutting and renovating the sanctuary. That work is expected to be completed this fall. Cunningham said he envisions Church of the Resurrection becoming a “neighborhood church,” while at the same time drawing members from across the wider metro region. “From a spiritual standpoint, it’s invaluable,” he said. “This is sanctuary, literally and figuratively.” He said the church has already hosted fish fries, put on a vacation Bible school this summer, stored supplies to distribute to the unhoused and offered tutoring. He also wants to “lean into faith and the arts” by sponsoring concerts and other performances. “Worship is the anchor of all we do, but worship is more than just a church service,” Cunningham said. Johnston said the congregation also loves the idea of preserving an older church. The project has been a bit of a crash course in construction for her. “But we have a talented group of people at our church,” she said. “And our architect has been amazing.”

The new church marks a huge step for Resurrection. In the early days, circa 2017, the congregation worshipped in the Cunninghams’ living room at their home in the Irish Channel, with 12 chairs gathered in a tight circle. Later, Resurrection rented worship space at the Felicity Church, Email reporter Bob Warren at also in the Irish Channel, before bwarren@theadvocate.com.

After centuries, the last Cochin Jews try to keep their history alive Community in India country. But the Cochin Jewish community’s complex history includes has roots dating back both religious freedom and internal divisions over class and colorcenturies ism. Hallegua is a Paradesi Jew, the

BY DEEPA BHARATH Associated Press

KOCHI, India — As the sun set over Kochi’s historic Jew Town neighborhood, Keith Hallegua donned a gray kippah and began a solitary walk to the synagogue at the end of his cobbled street. It was Shavuot, the Jewish holiday commemorating God giving the Torah to Moses. Hallegua reached the 458-year-old Paradesi Synagogue where he knew he would pray alone — without a minyan, the quorum of 10 males required for a communal service there. Hallegua is the synagogue’s last local congregant — the only Jew left in Jew Town. Across the city at the centuriesold Kadavumbagam Synagogue, Elias “Babu” Josephai remembered the “chukkunda” — fried dough balls his grandmother used to make for Shavuot. “It wasn’t much,” he said, wiping away tears. “But at that time, it was everything.” They ache for what’s already gone and work to preserve what’s left. In the 1950s, much of the Jewish community in Kochi (historically known as Cochin), a seaport on India’s southwestern coast, immigrated to Israel. They left behind their homes, synagogues and cemeteries, including those in Jew Town, which has long been the official name of the neighborhood.

Burden of being the last Jews Hallegua and Josephai stayed. Now they represent the ﬁnal chapter for the Cochin Jews who have lived peacefully — and without fear of antisemitism — for centuries alongside Hindu, Muslim and Christian neighbors. There are now fewer than 5,000 Jews in all of India, the world’s most populous

once-dominant group whose fairskinned, Sephardic ancestors from Spain and Portugal fled the Spanish Inquisition in the 16th century. They brought enslaved people with them, and their freed descendants, known as the Meshuchrarim Jews, were relegated to a lower social status and had to fight for religious equality. Josephai is a Malabari Jew. The group’s darker-skinned ancestors trace their roots back more than 2,000 years, to King Solomon’s time. They also faced past discrimination from the Paradesi community. While these divisions didn’t survive after the Cochin Jews migrated to Israel and elsewhere, the bitter remnants still haunt the community’s legacy. Though Hallegua and Josephai rarely meet, both are intensely proud of their ancient heritage. Josephai spent years resurrecting Kadavumbagam Synagogue, the last functioning Malabari house of worship. Services are rare; it’s up to Josephai to light the lamps and keep the prayers going, often alone. He weeps for the past, when the synagogue was filled with people, prayers and songs. “That will never come back,” he said. Hallegua is the last local member of Paradesi Synagogue, which now relies on tourists and visitors to have a quorum for services. “Quite often, I walk to the synagogue and I ask HaShem (God), why have you done this?” Hallegua said. “I never hear a response.”

Preserving history On a recent morning, tourists crowded the Paradesi Synagogue and Synagogue Lane, the street it anchors. Former homes are now occupied by spice warehouses and stores selling antiques and handicrafts. Historically, the Jewish

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By AIJAZ RAHI

Keith Hallegua, a Paradesi Jew, stands next to his dining table as his cat walks past at his home in the historic Jew Town neighborhood of Kochi, India. community played a major role in the spice trade in Kochi, a hub for black pepper, cardamom and nutmeg. The synagogue’s entryway leads to a main hall with blue and white Chinese porcelain tile ﬂoors. Nineteenth-century Belgian crystal chandeliers and colorful glass lanterns adorn the sanctuary. A carved teakwood Torah ark stands at the western wall facing Jerusalem. As in other Kochi synagogues, the women’s section is upstairs. Visitors slip off their shoes, in keeping with regional etiquette. Synagogue trustee M.C. Praveen says his life’s mission is protecting Cochin Jewish history. Praveen, a Hindu, spent his childhood in Jew Town, attending school with Hallegua’s family members, eating Shabbat dinners, playing cricket near the synagogue. “I want to make sure future generations know the history of this town and the people who lived here,” said Praveen, who seeks guidance from the community’s former residents and their far-ﬂung children. The connections transcend geography. Trustee Shulamit Kotzer, 55,

was born in Jew Town and spent vacations there after moving to Israel at age 2. She dreams of opening a hotel in the neighborhood. “I consider Cochin not a second home, but my home,” she said. Earlier this year, synagogue leaders opened a museum showcasing Kochi’s Jewish history. It features the settlement’s original deed: two copper plates bearing a Hindu king’s charter from 1000 CE granting the community religious freedom.

Preservation efforts Praveen is not the only non-Jew trying to ensure the community’s culture survives. Thaha Ibrahim, a Muslim, forged a profound connection with the late Sarah Cohen, one of the neighborhood’s Jewish matriarchs. He now runs her embroidery shop on Synagogue Lane. Cohen, or “Sarah aunty” as he calls her, taught him how to do Cochin Jewish embroidery. “I’m teaching my son to do this embroidery so he can continue Sarah aunty’s legacy,” he said. Ibrahim lights Shabbat candles on Fridays and closes his shop on

Saturdays. Muslim-Jewish tensions elsewhere in the world are not a deterrent, he says. “This is not about religion; it’s about human connection.” Across the city in Ernakulam, Josephai shoulders the preservation of Malabari Jewish heritage. The 12th-century Kadavumbagam Synagogue, which he saved after vandals destroyed it, is tucked behind the store where he sells aquarium fish and plants. The renovated interior features hand-crafted tile and a red-andgold Torah ark. Josephai is proud that people of different faiths helped him rebuild. A Muslim donated the lamps, a Christian gave a Ten Commandments plaque, a Hindu foundation paid for the chandeliers. An oil lamp hangs in front of the ark, its flame kept burning by Josephai. He also keeps the synagogue prayers going, a promise made to his grandmother after his siblings moved to Israel in 1972. “Every Jew has a dream that his last breath should be in Israel,” he said. “I believe my last breath should be inside this synagogue.” Josephai, 70, hopes a Jewish organization will take over the synagogue, along with the library and museum he is building. “Once I’m gone, there is no one who can tell these stories,” he said. “But this is our fate and that’s how it is.” Thapan Dubayehudi, a Malabari Jew who moved to Vienna in 2022, called Josephai “a one-man army” keeping the history alive. He remembers sitting with Josephai as they assembled and lit hundreds of lamps in the sanctuary during Hanukkah. “I’d carry that memory with me if God gives me 90 years of life,” he said. Keith Hallegua also stayed to fulfill family responsibilities. “Never did I ever think that I would be the last Jew in Jew Town,” said Hallegua, who remained to care for his brother and mother.

The Acadiana Advocate ● theadvocate.com ● Sunday, August 30, 2026 ● 5D

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LOUISIANA INSPIRED ‘You’re helping people at the worst time in their life. That’s rewarding for me.’

Man devotes himself to maintaining landmark cemetery

of a new mausoleum, overseeing properties for services and meeting with families, he stays busy. “And then tomorrow we get up and do the same thing all over again,” Herty said. He has stood near during the funerals of Al Copeland, Anne Rice, Tom Benson and Ruth Fertel, making sure the families’ wishes were honored. And, for each of those, he keeps details close to the vest. When asked about Rice’s funeral, he described it as “very private and small.” “Days afterward, we’d get people always coming out bringing stuff, and we still do, but not like it was. Not like I’d have to come out about every three or four days and just remove stuff,” Herty said quietly. That was all he had to say. He takes his responsibilities to families very seriously. “Some families you meet and you never forget who they are, and you see them and they become part of your daily routine,” Herty said. Over four decades, he has developed relationships with families and even buried members of the same family. “I hope that they can come here and enjoy their visits, not be afraid to come spend time, and know that things are being taken care of like they should be,” Herty said. New Orleans culture respects and honors cemeteries, Schoen said. People keep visiting because of that sense of legacy. That’s why the attention to detail is important. The cemetery, he said, is the “showpiece of New Orleans.” “It’s a very rewarding profession,” Herty said. “I enjoy it. If I didn’t enjoy it, I wouldn’t be here. It’s going back to helping people, and that’s the best way I can describe it. You’re helping people at the worst time in their life. That’s rewarding for me.”

BY JOY HOLDEN

Staff writer

When Jimmy Herty was 15, he took a two-week job mowing at St. Bernard Memorial Gardens in Chalmette. The two weeks ended. He stayed on — for nine years. That was 1973. “Somebody asked many years ago, ‘How do you know if this is for you?’ And I tell them, ‘Within a year, if you’re still here, you’re stuck,’ ” Herty said. “It reaches out and grabs you and doesn’t let go.” For the last 43 years, Herty has worked the grounds of the Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home & Cemeteries, which includes Metairie Cemetery, one of New Orleans’ STAFF PHOTOS By BRETT DUKE grandest and best-known cemeter- Jimmy Herty is manager of cemetery operations over the New Orleans markets for Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral ies. Home and Cemeteries. He’s been with the funeral home for 43 years. He started there in 1983 as maintenance foreman. Over the years, he progressed to cemetery manetery, built in 1949, are sister loca- despite the challenges. tions, sharing the same grounds. ager, to director of cemetery opMetairie Cemetery, which was Challenging yet rewarding erations, and then to manager of formerly a horse racing track, is cemetery operations over Metro Herty is quiet and reserved in the resting place of over 120,000 conversation — thinking before he New Orleans. people who were buried in vaults, speaks. His competent presence As Metairie Cemetery’s operaburied underground or whose cre- allows families to trust him during tions manager, Herty oversees its 127 acres. mated remains were placed in a extremely difficult times. “Well, it’s a tremendous chalHe also meets with the families mausoleum. who come to say goodbye to their It was entered into the National lenge, but it’s something I enjoy loved ones. Register of Historic Places in 1991. doing,” Herty said. “I enjoy the In a technology-driven age, In 2003, Forbes named Metairie aspect of meeting with families Herty has one of the most human Cemetery one of the 10 Most Inter- through this tough time, and a lot jobs: Tending to the details that esting Cemeteries in the World for of times after the service is over, I make a final resting place what it its unique historical significance meet with them, spend time with can be. Creating a sense of peace them. I did that this morning.” and beauty. and working with families in what Herty’s days begin at 6:30 a.m. Herty is in charge of all of it. can often be their most vulnerable “I want Jimmy to wind up being when he meets with his crews moments of grief. He goes about the one that’s acknowledged, and and sets out the schedule for the his job every day to make sure the Mardi Gras beads hang from a the fact that he’s responsible for all day. He has three different crews impressive structures and grounds this beauty we can incorporate,” that work under him, and even has statue at Metairie Cemetery. are protected and stay that way. Jerry Schoen, Lake Lawn’s com- some employees who have been Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral working with him for more than munity outreach director, said. Home opened in 1979 as the first etery. Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Through hurricanes, the heat and 30 years. funeral home in New Orleans to Home, Metairie Cemetery, built in humidity, Schoen said that Herty Herty keeps track of what’s going Email Joy Holden at joy.holden@ be built on the grounds of a cem- 1872, and Lake Lawn Park Cem- maintains the exquisite property on; between managing construction theadvocate.com.

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6D ● Sunday, August 30, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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POWERFUL WOMEN

Dolly Parton helped transform her hometown

BY KIMBERLEE KRUESI and DYLAN LOVAN Associated Press

SEVIERVILLE, Tenn. — Dolly Parton didn’t just sing lovingly about her Tennessee mountain home. She spent her life elevating an oftenoverlooked region to showcase what long inspired her music and sparked a tourism boom that forever changed those living against the backdrop of the Great Smoky Mountains. And it is because of that deep devotion that Parton’s death has been profoundly personal to rural Sevier County. To the world, Parton was one of the world’s bestknown country music stars. To her neighbors, she was Tennessee’s favorite daughter. “It hit me hard. It hit me really hard,” said James Gambrell, a former chef at

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By DyLAN LOVAN

James A. Gambrell, a former chef at Dollywood, touches the Dolly Parton statue in downtown Sevierville, Tenn., on Tuesday. Dollywood, the signature theme park that Parton opened decades ago after seeing families like hers unable to afford to go to Disneyland. “If it don’t affect you, then

something’s wrong,” Gambrell said of Parton’s death. Mourners flocked to a bronze statue of Dolly in the center of her hometown of Sevierville Tuesday night, exchanging stories

and shedding tears. The town is set in the hills of the Smoky Mountains just minutes from Dollywood. Many brought flowers and drawings and other tributes to the late singer. By Wednesday morning at Dollywood, the scent of cinnamon bread filled the air and long lines formed at a theater featuring biographical stories narrated by Parton. The park is closed Tuesdays, so Wednesday was the first chance for many to visit, including Carla Potts, who flew in from Seattle a few days earlier. “She just consistently spread joy and hope and light, really,” Potts said after entering the park. One of 12 children, Parton grew up in a two-room cabin with no electricity and no running water. In her music, she described life in East Tennessee as “peace-

ful as a baby’s sigh,” a place where “crickets sing in the ﬁelds nearby.” She moved to Nashville shortly after finishing high school, but she once joked to the Knoxville News Sentinel that she may be the “only person that ever left the Smoky Mountains and took them with her.” While the Smoky Mountains had long attracted outdoor enthusiasts to the region, Parton made a strategic decision to become co-owner of the amusement park in Pigeon Forge in 1986 and name it Dollywood. The park quickly became Tennessee’s most visited tourist attraction, with Parton often opening each new season with a performance and a parade. State ofﬁcials say Dollywood generates $1.8 billion each year and is the county’s largest employer. By the early 1990s, Par-

ton created The Dollywood Foundation with the goal of decreasing the high school drop out rate in Sevier County, which was hovering around 30%. David Wear, former mayor of Pigeon Forge, said he was in eighth grade when the Buddy Program launched with the promise that students and the buddies they were matched with would receive $500 to help cover college expenses for completing the program. “If you and your buddy made it through high school, The Dollywood Foundation would give money to those high school graduates,” he said. “I personally got the experience of her charitable giving.” According to the foundation, dropout rates eventually plummeted to 6% in Sevier County after the program was in place.

SHRIMPETTES Continued from page 1D

than founders Jenneman, Larriviere and Laggner expected. “We weren’t sure if other people were open to it,” Laggner said. “I mean, we are adults who are busy with either families or work, so we weren’t sure how many people would show up.” That philosophy also inspired the reasoning behind wanting to create a krewe: adults spend much of their lives working, raising children and checking off responsibilities. The Shrimpettes offer a place to step outside of that routine and be playful again. One Tail Shaker, Larriviere said, is someone she has known since childhood. “I didn’t know she was getting involved, trying out,” Larriviere said. “She kind of surprised me when she walked in. I was like, ‘What are you doing here?’ ” Now, she gets to see her longtime friend in a completely different way. For Jenneman, the group has become personal in another way: It has helped her reconnect with Louisiana. After living away for a few years, she said she needed something to make her fall in love with the place again. “This feels like just the biggest homecoming present that I could give to myself and others,” Jenneman said. “I’m ﬁnally back here. I can create in the state that I want to create in.” Laggner said the group has also given her something she needed: a place where she doesn’t have to be perfect. “I needed a lifeline, and wanted to be a part of something fun to be quite honest,” she said. The founders have watched similar transformations happen among members. They’ve seen longtime acquaintances

DRAKE MADISON BRAEDON PHOTOGRAPHy & THE ACADIANA QUEER COLLECTIVE

The Lafayette Shrimpettes marching group struts down Jefferson Street during the Pride Parade in downtown Lafayette on June 20. come out of their shells and watched friendships form between women who met only because they signed up for the Shrimpettes. Others have started spending time together outside of rehearsals, including one group that recently got matching tattoos. That may be the clearest indication that the Shrimpettes are becoming something more than just a dance krewe. The founders aren’t entirely sure what the organization will look like years from now. Their current group size is capped through Mardi Gras 2027.

Dancing Shrimpettes, called ‘Tail Shakers,’ pause for a mirror selfie during one of their biweekly dance practices.

They expect to hold tryouts again in April or May 2027. “I’d like to describe this ﬁrst year as laying the ‘glittery foundations,’ ” said Larriviere. For Jenneman, the Shrimpettes represent the philosophy that people shouldn’t need a reason to celebrate something to have fun or be happy. “I want people to love where they live,” Jenneman said. “We don’t need a reason to celebrate something — and that’s Louisiana and the Shrimpettes.”

PROVIDED PHOTO

Email Ja’kori Madison at jakori.madison@ theadvocate.com.

PURSE

AWARDS

lizards. Eventually, I ﬁlled the “PEACE” glass. I resisted using the “WAR” glass because I prefer to focus on things I would like to visualize for the world. I ultimately settled on the “Tigers bowl over Ole Miss” glass from 1959. Between that and peace, I ﬁgured the world could be a better place. If I’m not at home when I open a can, I drop the tab in my purse, an intermediary holding station until I can get home and unload the bounty into my commemorative glasses. I just counted 14 in my purse, which is more than the usual eight or nine. In early July, I hosted a “guess how many” game with friends on social media. I shared two photos of my tab collection — one in the glass and one in a pile on the table. At that point, I had 293. With guesses from 64 friends, Cherie Hebert in Lafayette won with her guess of 290. I’m planning to take her to lunch as soon as we are able to synchronize

annual awards, recognizing six distinct categories: n Lifetime Contributions to the Humanities n Documentary Photographer of the Year n Humanities Documentary Film of the Year n Humanities Book of the Year (Note early deadline of Oct. 9) n Light Up for Literacy n Best in Digital Humanities Awards for Humanist of the Year, Champion of Culture and the Chair’s Award for Institutional Support are nominated and chosen by LEH’s board of directors. All selected honorees will be publicly announced in January 2027. Winners will be celebrated in the pages of LEH’s 64 Parishes magazine and formally recognized at the annual Bright Lights Awards Dinner, co-hosted by the LEH and Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser in Spring 2027. Full nomination guidelines and category-speciﬁc requirements are available at www.leh.org. Note that Humanities Book of the Year nominations are due by Oct. 9.

Continued from page 1D

STAFF PHOTO By JAN RISHER

Jan Risher’s mother, Nelda Risher, and cousin, Ronda Squires Holden, helped count the latest tally of pop tabs collected in 2026. our watches. My last count, about four weeks ago, came to 494. On Tuesday night, my mom and cousin helped me count again. I was up to 793. I’ve done some mathematical

calculations and ﬁgured that each of the drinks we have contributed came in at $1.08. Granted, friends have contributed some of the pop tabs, but rough calculations have us investing at least $856.44 at this point, not to

mention the time and energy. Even so, I’m getting close. Now I just need to learn to crochet. Email Jan Risher at jan. risher@theadvocate.com.

The Acadiana Advocate ● theadvocate.com ● Sunday, August 30, 2026 ● 7D

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AT THE TABLE Discovering the joy in a simple cast-iron skillet Make steak au poivre and almond cake

Skillet Almond Cake

Serves 12-16. Recipe is adapted from the Swedish visiting cake in “Baking” by Dorie Greenspan.

BY KERRI WESTENBERG

13/4 cups sugar, plus a little more 3/4 teaspoon almond extract 13/4 cups all-purpose flour for sprinkling 14 tablespoons unsalted butter, 2 lemons, zest only melted and cooled (13/4 sticks) 3 large eggs Scant 1/2 cup sliced almonds 1/2 teaspoon salt 13/4 teaspoons vanilla extract

Contributing writer

I have long been passionate about cooking, and so, naturally, I have long understood that any serious cook owns a cast-iron skillet. Except for me. The need to season castiron pans, a task I thought was challenging, kept me from investing in this versatile kitchen essential. Then I browsed an estate sale, and there amid heaps of kitchen wares was the dusty old skillet that would transform my cooking: a well-seasoned 12-inch cast-iron workhorse priced at $16. It has rarely left my stovetop since, turning out perfect Bolognese sauce, shrimp curry and pancakes. I ﬁnally know from experience what makes these skillets so great. Heavy and dense, cast iron holds a steady heat, so it sears perfectly. It can also be popped into the oven to cocoon a dish in its warmth. Both recipes here highlight these qualities. Steak au poivre, with its peppercorn crust and smooth cognac ﬁnishing sauce, gets a crispy crust in my newfound treasure, and a no-fuss cake bakes beautifully. Because my pan came home with a few specks of rust, I learned right away that seasoning is no big deal. But it is necessary. To season your own pan, just scrub the pan with hot, soapy water — this is the one time soap is allowed — then dry it completely. A few minutes on a warm stovetop ensures the moisture is gone. Next, rub a thin layer of oil with a high smoke point, such as vegetable oil, over every surface, including the handle. Wipe off the excess with a paper towel and set the skillet upside down in a 450-F oven, with a sheet of foil or a baking sheet on the rack below to catch drips. Bake it for an hour and let it cool in the oven. Do that two or three times before you cook with a new pan, and repeat the process whenever the surface looks dull or food starts to stick. Once a pan is seasoned, skip the soap and don’t scrub too hard when cleaning. A little rinse with water is ideal. All those layers of oil help keep the pan performing optimally. The easy cleanup is just one perk of a castiron skillet. The biggest, though, is the joy — or at least, excellent meals — that it will deliver for years to come.

Steak au Poivre

PHOTOS By KERRI WESTENBERG

1. Preheat the oven to 350 the top and scatter with F and butter a seasoned 12- sliced almonds. Dust with inch cast-iron skillet. a little sugar. 2. In a medium bowl, 7. Place on the center blend the lemon zest with rack of the oven and bake the sugar. for 30 to 35 minutes. It is 3. Whisk in the eggs, one done when the top is goldat a time, until well blend- en and the edges are crisp. Because it lacks leavening ed, then whisk in the salt agents, the cake is dense and extracts. 4. Using a rubber spatula and the center will remain moist. or wooden spoon, stir in 8. Let the cake cool for the ﬂour. 5. Fold in the melted but- 5 minutes and then run a knife around the sides to ter. 6. Pour the batter into the loosen. Serve the cake diprepared skillet; smooth rectly from the skillet.

Steak au Poivre Serves 2. Recipe is adapted from “The Joy of Cooking.” 2 tablespoons peppercorns, a mix of several kinds 1 pound New York strip, about 1 inch thick 4 tablespoons butter, divided 1. Place peppercorns in a mixing bowl and crush with a pestle or the bottom of a bottle. 2. Dry the steaks and press the crushed peppercorns on both sides of the steak, then cover with waxed paper and let stand for at least half an hour. The peppercorn ﬂavor will penetrate the meat. 3. Put 1 tablespoon of butter and 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil in a cast-iron skillet and heat over high heat until the butter foam subsides. 4. Place the steak with its peppercorn crust in the pan and sear for about 4 minutes per side for medium rare. (To cook further, the seared steak can be ﬁnished in a

1 tablespoon vegetable oil 2 tablespoons minced shallots 1/2 cup beef stock 1 ⁄3 cup cognac 400F oven.) 5. Remove the steak to a plate and pour the fat out of the skillet. 6. Add 1 tablespoon of butter and the shallots to the still-warm pan to cook for one minute. 7. Return the pan to the heat and pour in the beef stock, stirring and scraping up any peppercorns or crust stuck to the pan, until reduced by half. 8. Add the cognac and boil for one or two minutes to evaporate the alcohol. Finish with the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter, stirring until it melts. 9. Top the warm steak with the cognac sauce.

Skillet Almond Cake

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8D ● Sunday,August 30, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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Hosting your own baby shower not uncouth

TODAY IN HISTORY By The Associated Press Today is Sunday, Aug. 30, the 242nd day of 2026. There are 123 days left in the year. Today in history: On Aug. 30, 1916, on his fourth attempt, British explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton rescued all 22 remaining crew members stranded for more than four months on Elephant Island in Antarctica after the sinking of their ship, the Endurance. Also on this date: In 1941, during World War II, German forces approaching Leningrad cut off the remaining rail line out of the city. In 1945, U.S. Gen. Douglas MacArthur arrived in Japan to set up Allied occupation headquarters. In 1963, the “Hot Line” communications link between Washington and Moscow went into operation. In 1967, the Senate confirmed the appointment of Thurgood Marshall as the first Black justice on the U.S. Supreme Court. In 2005, a day after Hurricane Katrina hit, floods covered 80% of New Orleans, looting continued to spread and rescuers in helicopters and boats picked up hundreds of stranded people. In 2021, the United States completed its withdrawal from Afghanistan, ending America’s longest war with the Taliban back in power as Air Force transport planes carried a remaining contingent of troops from Kabul airport. After watching the last U.S. planes disappear into the sky over Afghanistan, Taliban fighters fired their guns into the air, celebrating victory after a 20-year insurgency. In 2022, Mikhail Gorbachev, who was the last leader of the Soviet Union, and waged a losing battle to salvage a crumbling empire but produced extraordinary reforms that led to the end of the Cold War, died at age 91. In 2023, mutinous soldiers in Gabon proclaimed their republican guard chief the country’s new leader after placing the justreelected President Ali Bongo Ondimba under house arrest, alleging massive embezzlement was committed during his longtime rule over the oil-rich Central African nation. Today’s Birthdays: Investor and philanthropist Warren Buffet is 96. Actor Elizabeth Ashley is 87. Actor John Kani is 84. Cartoonist Robert Crumb is 83. Olympic gold medal skier Jean-Claude Killy is 83. Comedian Lewis Black is 78. Basketball Hall of Famer Robert Parish is 73. U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., is 66. Actor Michael Chiklis is 63. Actor Cameron Diaz is 54. TV personality/ journalist Lisa Ling is 53. Former MLB pitcher Adam Wainwright is 45. Former professional tennis player Andy Roddick is 44. Singer-songwriter Bebe Rexha is 37. Actor Sean Ryan Fox is 25. Singer Capri Everitt is 22.

Dear Miss Manners: My son and daughterknow who is worse: those who disdain in-law are expecting their ﬁrst child. I etiquette, or those who use it as a batterbroke the happy news to my best friend ing ram. by telling her she would soon reNo, she is not going after you, sad as she is to see the increasceive an invitation from them to their baby shower. ing number of people who invite Instead of being excited and others to honor them. You probcongratulatory, she huffed and ably knew of such occasions and said that expectant mothers were therefore concluded that this was not supposed to throw themselves acceptable. Judith a shower. She proceeded to give Of course etiquette evolves, and Martin a long list of those who, by rules an example of its changing for the MISS of etiquette, are allowed to throw better is the recognition that men MANNERS baby showers. also become parents and should Well, apparently we broke two be included in these celebrations. rules, because I’m hosting it at our house, But what is the reason for changing the which is also a no-no. In this day and age, old rule of friends honoring friends inI thought that it was appropriate for a stead of themselves? Fear that they may couple to throw their own shower. Consid- not? Or, as most people will interpret it, ering that my daughter-in-law is doing all greed? Either way, there is no excuse for the the planning and paying the bulk of the person you call your best friend. Friends expenses, I see no issue here. may or may not choose to honor their But my friend keeps telling me it’s friends, but they are not allowed to vilify uncouth, and that having men there only makes it worse. So I just wanted the opin- them. Especially when claiming to be betion of an expert who is not still living in ter practitioners of etiquette. the 1950s. Dear Miss Manners: I’ve dined with two difGentle Reader: Sigh. Miss Manners doesn’t ferent men lately — in nice restaurants,

not at fast-food chains — and each of them pushed food onto his fork with his finger. I just don’t know how to handle this, especially as each is a nice man who wants to continue a dating relationship. It would be a shame to stop seeing either of them because of poor table manners. How to handle this? Gentle Reader: Over just coffee? Which is probably too hot for them to stir with a finger? Miss Manners hopes that you do not have illusions about furthering romance by correcting a gentleman’s table manners. Not a good courtship technique. It’s not even an easy marital technique. The least offensive lesson Miss Manners can devise is to take one of those gentlemen to a really formal (so as not to say pretentious) restaurant as a great treat, and whisper beforehand that it is not the sort of place where one can eat with one’s fingers. It is not to be tried on a first date. Wait until you feel that the gentleman is worth the investment. Email dearmissmanners@gmail.com.

Understanding how coffee can affect health Dear Heloise: My husband hates coffee and asked me to switch to tea, but I don’t like tea. He says that coffee damages our health. Is this true? — Shelly J., in Little Rock, Arkansas Shelly, studies have been done on thousands of people to discover the effects of coffee on the human body, and for the most part, a consumption of about 3-4 cups a day (roughly 400 mg Hints from of caffeine) doesn’t harm Heloise people. In fact, coffee lowers the risk of premature death, Type 2 diabetes and heart failure. The beans also have antioxidant properties. Coffee only becomes dangerous if it’s drunk in excess, since it can disrupt your sleep or cause anxiety or acid reﬂux. — Heloise

Grocery store etiquette Dear Heloise: I work in a very large grocery store, stocking shelves and working in the back with incoming deliveries. I’m surprised every day by the sheer lack of common courtesy that I see as people shop for their supplies and groceries. After speaking with my fellow co-workers, I made a list of things that we wish shop-

pers would and wouldn’t do: n Please don’t let your children run through the aisles or go into the back of the store. There are so many things in the back that can seriously harm a child. n Please don’t ram your cart into another shopper’s cart. Just politely ask them to move their cart so that you can get around it. n If a sign says “15 items or less,” we’re asking folks to please stick to 15 items or less. Not a single item more. n If you grabbed a frozen item but decided that you don’t want it, leave it in a freezer, not on a shelf where it’ll thaw out. We’ll ﬁnd it and put it away in the exact section where it belongs. n Please, no expired or out-of-date coupons. n Please don’t ask the staff to keep an eye on your children while you shop. We’re a grocery store, not a babysitting service. — A Reader, via email

No more smelly towels Dear Heloise: My towels stink! They have a sour smell to them. Even after I’ve washed them, they still have a slight pungent odor that screams “unclean.” How do I get this smell out? — Eunice C., in Hollywood, Florida

Eunice, try washing fewer towels at a time. To remove the smell, wash your towels in hot water with your usual detergent and a half cup of baking soda added to the washing water. If you have hard water, use three-fourths of a cup of baking soda. After they’re washed, put them in the dryer immediately. Never let them sit in the washer for too long. If you want, you can use a dryer sheet to help with the smell. After bathing, you might try hanging the towels over the shower curtain rod or on a clothesline for them to dry faster. If you have a vent in your bathroom to remove moisture, be sure to turn it on after bathing or showering. This will reduce the humidity in the bathroom. — Heloise

Don’t let jeans fade Dear Heloise: My dark blue and black jeans fade too quickly. How can I keep them from fading for as long as possible? — Meredith M., in Beaverton, Oregon Meredith, ﬁrst, turn your jeans inside out. Use a mild detergent and cold water to wash them. You can let them air-dry overnight (this is my recommendation), or if you use a dryer, use a low heat setting. — Heloise Send a hint to heloise@heloise.com.

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

PUBLISH DATES: 08/27, 08/30, 09/06 DPR 1006213 198643 Aug. 27, 30, Sept. 6, 3t $172.47

.theacadianaadvocate.com Employment BUSINESS OPERATIONS

Positions Available: * Accounting * Bookkeeper * Account Coordinator * Finance * Payroll Officer * Sales Representatives * Customer Service * Business Admin Representative As part of our ongoing expansion, we are seeking part-time, work-fromhome candidates. The position offers a monthly salary of $1,300, in addition to benefits, and requires minimal time commitment. The role involves just 2-3 hours of internet access per week. Requirements: * Must be computer literate * Must have 2-3 hours of internet access per week * Must be efficient and dedicated Interested candidates may reach out via email at michelle.appliedit@gmail.com for further information

INDUSTRIAL Industrial Mechanic – Three (3) perma‐ nent full-time positions with Sterling Sugars, LLC in Franklin, Louisiana. In‐ stallation and scheduling of mainte‐ nance for state-of-the-art sugar fac‐ tory machinery. Selects the appropri‐ ate tools, machines, and materials to be used in the preparation of machin‐ ery work. Leads maintenance proce‐ dures. Maintains and repairs all sugar factory machinery and equipment. Fabricate and modify parts to make or repair machine tools or maintain indus‐ trial machines. Inspect machinery and equipment to locate damage, defects, or wear. Test sugar factory machinery to ensure proper functioning. Adjust equipment to ensure optimal perfor‐ mance using knowledge of the sugar industry. Two (2) years of verifiable ex‐ perience in the sugar industry in the job offered is required. No minimum edu‐ cation level is required. No training is required, and no training is offered for the position. There is no requirement that the employee must live on the em‐ ployer's premises, and this is not an op‐ tion for the permanent role. 40hrs/wk. Overtime hours will vary and are not guaranteed. Please send resumes or contact Mr. Jason Burke at Sterling Sugars LLC, 611 Irish Bend Road, Franklin, LA 70538 Tel: 337-828-0620 Fax: 337-828-1757 Email: dlange@sterlingsugars.com

ENGINEERING Cameron LNG. Principal Project Engi‐ neer. Hackberry, LA. Develop, review & monitor VSDS (variable speed drives) electrical systems technical integrity plans. 10% domestic travel req’d. Transportation Worker Id. Credentials req’d. Email resume to ewilliams@ cameronlng.com. Ref job 12129.33.7.

SUBSCRIBE TODAY Public Notices

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

PUBLIC NOTICE --NOTICE FOR PROPOSALS Notice is hereby given that sealed proposals will be received in the of‐ ﬁce of the Purchasing Di‐ vision at the Lafayette Govern‐ Consolidated ment Building, located at 705 West University Av‐ Lafayette, enue, until 10:00 Louisiana, a.m. Central Time on the 28th day of September, 2026 for the following: ELECTRICAL LINE MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR SERVICES and will, shortly there‐ after, be opened and the NAMES ONLY read aloud in the Ofﬁce of Purchas‐ ing located at 705 West Avenue, University Lafayette, LA. Proposals i d f h b

in observance of

LABOR DAY

And will be observing the following Early Deadline: Deadline: Display Ads Thursday 9/3 @ 3pm

Run Date Tuesday 9/8 Wednesday 9/9

(225) 383-0111

CATS RAGAMUFFIN & RAGDOLL KITTENS www.CatsByFrancy.com/kittens $1500up! Reg. Shots & Guaranty 337-230-3150

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

y p received after the above speciﬁed time for open‐ ing shall not be consid‐ ered and shall be re‐ turned unopened to the sender. Sealed proposals may be hand carried or mailed to the address listed above. Bidders are encouraged to call into the bid openings at the following link: https:// us02web.zoom.us/j/ 83411807944?pwd=8FK cmELx1p6ajqfLMkIOYmS O483YXP.1

p facilities on the overhead portion of the municipal power system. The Con‐ tractor or the Contrac‐ tor’s designated General Foreman shall have a minimum of ﬁfteen (15) years’ experience in the construction and mainte‐ nance of energized over‐ head electric distribution lines of at least 13.8kV and energized overhead transmission electric lines of at least 69kV.

Scope of Services: The scope of work shall con‐ sist of, but is not limited to, providing labor and equipment necessary for the maintenance, repair, and re‐ reconductor, placement of electrical f ili i h h d

THE CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT will be closed on NDAY, SEPTEMBER 7th MONDAY

As always, you may place your ad 7 days a week, 24 hours a day online at www.theadvocate.com or call Monday – Friday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Pets

Copies of the proposal speciﬁcations are avail‐ able to VIEW ONLY on the website at https://laf ayettecsdgovla.tylerpo rtico.com/va/vendoraccess/registration. Ven‐ dor may request an elec‐ tronic copy of the RFP by email to Dabne Dover at dabnedover@lafayettela. gov.

PUBLIC NOTICE ---

DEADLINE FOR QUES‐ TIONS: All questions re‐ garding this project must be submitted no later than noon 12:00 pm (CST) on 09/14/2026 to be con‐ sidered valid. All ques‐ tions must be submitted in writing to Dabne Dover dabnedover@ at lafayettela.gov. Proposals must be signed in accordance with LRS Title 38:2212(B)5. A Corporate Resolution authorizing the person signing the proposal is required to be submitted with pro‐ posal. Failure to submit a Corporate Resolution i h h l h ll

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

p with the proposal shall be cause for rejection of proposal.

g 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 company in good stand‐ ing licensed 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‐ check, cashier’s ﬁed 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.

Proposals shall be either hand delivered or mailed in a sealed envelope to the address listed above. Sealed proposals must be submitted one (1) marked Original, one (1) exact copy marked Copy, one (1) electronic copy in PDF format on disc or USB drive, and one (1) redacted copy marked Redacted. The Proposal Forms with rates needs to be submitted in a sep‐ arate sealed envelope clearly marked as such. Proposals received after the due date and time shall be returned un‐ opened to the vendor. Each proposal shall fol‐ the instructions low listed in the RFP regard‐ ing submittal of their proposal. Each proposal shall be accompanied by a certi‐ check, cashier’s ﬁed or bid bond check, payable to the Layette Govern‐ Consolidated ment, the amount of shall be which $100,000.00. If a bid bond is used, it shall be writ‐ ten by a surety or insur‐ ance company currently on the U.S. Department of the Treasury Financial Management Service list approved bonding of companies which is pub‐ lished annually in the Federal Register, or by the Louisiana domiciled insurance company with at least an A-Rating in h l i i f h

No vendor may withdraw his proposal for at least forty-ﬁve (45) days after the time scheduled for the opening of proposals. Each proposal shall fol‐ the instructions low listed in the RFP regard‐ ing submittal of their proposal. Proposals will be evalu‐ ated by the Purchaser based on the evaluation criteria outlined in the In‐ formation for Proposers. 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. Contractors shall be li‐

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

censed for the classiﬁca‐ of “ELECTRICAL tion WORK (STATEWIDE)” and the subclassiﬁcation of “ELECTRICAL TRANSMIS‐ SION LINE”. Proposals 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‐ Government dated strongly encourages the participation of DBEs (Disadvantaged Business Enterprise) in all con‐ tracts or procurements let by the Lafayette Con‐ Government solidated 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 disadvantaged which business are available. Assistance in identifying said businesses may be obtained by calling 2918410. PURCHASING DIVISION LAFAYETTE CONSOLIDATED GOVERNMENT

NOTICE TO BIDDERS Notice is hereby given that sealed bids will be received either electroni‐ cally at https://www.cen tralbidding.com or in the office of the Purchasing Division at the Lafayette Govern‐ Consolidated ment Building, located at 705 West University Av‐ Lafayette, enue, Louisiana, until 10:00 am Central Time on the 14th day of September, 2026 for the following: 2026 SALE OF SCRAP METAL MATERIAL 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 may attend the bid opening in person, but are highly encouraged to virtually join the bid openings via Zoom using the following https://us02web. link: zoom.us/j/82551940913? pwd=hpUOFr2za8U4yD6 CtwYX69NhOAd5yk.1 In accordance with Louisiana RS 38:2212. may submit vendors 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 An‐ toni Hoyte-Small at ahs‐ mall@lafayettela.gov. Vendors submitting bids are re‐ electronically quired to provide the same documents as bid‐ ders submitting through the mail as soon as avail‐ able. Only a bid bond, check or certified 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‐ Avenue, versity Lafayette, LA 70506. Tele‐ phone number (337) 2918263 (Attn: Antoni HoyteSmall). Bidding docu‐ ments shall be available until twenty-four (24) hours before the bid

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

opening date. Each bid shall be accom‐ panied by a certified check, cashier’s check or bid bond payable to the Lafayette Consolidated Government, the amount of which shall be five percent (5%) of the base bid plus additive alter‐ nates. 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 approved bonding of 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 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 quotation form provided with the speci‐ fications. 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 The documents. 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‐ Government dated strongly encourages the participation of DBEs (Disadvantaged Business Enterprise) in all con‐ tracts or procurements let by the Lafayette Con‐ Government solidated 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 disadvantaged which business are available. Assistance in identifying said businesses may be obtained by calling (337) 291-8410. PURCHASING DIVISION Lafayette Consolidated Government PUBLISH DATES: 08/27/26; 08/30/26 DPR: 1006212 198598 Aug. 27, 30, 2t $99.96

PUBLIC NOTICE --NOTICE TO BIDDERS Notice is hereby given that sealed bids will be received either electroni‐ cally https://lafayettecs dgovla.tylerportico.com/ va/vendor-access/ registration or in the of‐ ﬁ f h h i i

Public Notices Bids/Proposals g 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 21st day of September, 2026 for the following: AS-NEEDED FILCRETE RE-BID and will, shortly there‐ after, be opened and read aloud in the Office of Purchasing 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 may at‐ tend the bid opening in person, but are highly encouraged to virtually join the bid openings via Zoom using the following https://us02web. link: zoom.us/j/88109441928? pwd=NqsX2bTHQy1sbXo 8EEDaAhsD9JZhPB.1 In accordance with Louisiana RS 38:2212 electronic Bids may be submitted on Vendor Ac‐ cess (https://lafayettecs dgovla.tylerportico.com/ va/vendor-access/ registration). Bidders wishing to submit their bid electronically must first be registered within LCG Vendor Access at the website listed above. The registration process can take some time; there‐ fore, LCG recommends registering days in ad‐ vance of the time that bids are due. It is the sole responsibility of the bidder to ensure their bid is delivered (whether electronically via Vendor Access, in person, or via mail) to the Purchasing Division prior to the scheduled date and time of the bid opening. Ven‐ dors may request the bid electronically from Lay‐ cia Batiste at lbatiste@ lafayettela.gov. Official Bid Documents are avail‐ able on Vendor Access (https://lafayettecsdgov la.tylerportico.com/va/ vendor-access/ registration). For ques‐ tions related to the elec‐ tronic bidding process, please call Laycia Batiste at 337-291-7173. 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) 2917173 (Attn: Laycia Batiste). 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 h

The Acadiana Advocate ● theadvocate.com ● Sunday,August 30, 2026 ● 9D

lll

Public Notices Bids/Proposals y Government, the amount of which shall be five hundred dollars ($500.00). 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 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 quotation form provided with the speci‐ fications. 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 (337) 291-8410. PURCHASING DIVISION Lafayette Consolidated Government PUBLISH DATES: 08/24/2026; 08/30/2026 DPR 1008125 198276 Aug. 24, 30, 2t $105.98 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 2:00 p.m. Central Time on the 14th day of SEPTEMBER, 2026 for the following: 167118.5.5430 BATTERIES & UPS and will, shortly there‐ after, be opened and read aloud in a room lo‐ cated at 705 West Univer‐

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

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/85026249007? pwd=CaXfFJby4Dp00SZ b1p4L2DycEnynxO.1. Scope of Work: The scope of Work shall con‐ sist of all engineering, design, fabrication, test‐ ing, packaging and deliv‐ ery of a Batteries & UPS and its accessories and including manufacturer's field services at the Job Site. All Work shall be completed between July 1, 2028, and October 1, 2028. 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. Official Bid Doc‐ uments are available at Vendor Access (https:// lafayettecsdgovla.tyl erportico.com/va/ vendor-access/ registration). For ques‐ tions related to the elec‐ tronic bidding process, please call the office of Purchasing at 337-2918258. Bidders may re‐ quest the electronic bid package from Dabne Dover at dabnedover@ 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. Bidders submitting bids electronically shall in‐ clude all documents in one (1) combined PDF file with bookmark(s) and are required to provide one (1) hard copy through the mail. Bidders providing bids my mail, shall include one (1) hard copy with all documents in one (1) combined PDF file with bookmark(s) and are required to pro‐ vide an electronic copy in one (1) USB flash drive. SUBMISSION OF CONFI‐ DENTIAL, PROPRIETARY, OR TRADESECRET INFOR‐ MATION (SEE LA. R.S. 44:3.2(D) As a public entity, Lafayette Consolidated Government is subject to the Louisiana Public Records Law, which may require submissions of Bidders to be a public record. Pursuant to La. R.S. 44:3.2(D), Bidders who submit documents or information they be‐ lieve to be proprietary or trade secret must clearly mark each page or piece of information which is, in the Bidder’s opinion, proprietary or trade se‐ cret and must also sub‐ mit with such informa‐ tion a cover sheet that reads as follows in bold type: DOCUMENT CONTAINS CONFIDENTIAL PROPRI‐ ETARY OR TRADE SECRET INFORMATION A sample cover sheet with this statement is in‐ cluded with the bid docu‐ ments. La. R.S. 44:3.2(D) requires Lafayette Consolidated Government to make a determination as to whether a Bidders sub‐ mission is in fact propri‐ etary or trade secret in‐ f i i hi hi

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

y formation within thirty (30) calendar days of the Bidder’s submission.

pp labor and material in which disadvantaged businesses are available. Assistance in identifying said businesses may be obtained by calling 337291-8410.

p g documents are available at the Purchasing Ofﬁce located at 705 West Uni‐ versity Avenue, Lafayette, LA 70506. Tele‐ phone number (337) 2918262 (Attn: Dabne Dover). Bidding documents shall be available until twentyfour (24) hours before the bid opening date.

Bids must be signed in accordance with LRS Title 38:2212(B)5. A Cor‐ porate Resolution or written evidence of au‐ thority authorizing the person signing the bid is required 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 upon request by contact‐ ing Purchasing & Prop‐ erty Management Divi‐ sion, located at 705 West University Avenue, Lafayette, Louisiana upon payment of Fifty Dollars ($50.00) per set, non-refundable, made payable to the Lafayette Consolidated Govern‐ ment. NOTE: NO CASH WILL BE ACCEPTED ONLY CHECKS OR MONEY ORDERS MADE PAYABLE TO LAFAYETTE CONSOLI‐ DATED GOVERNMENT. Bid Documents shall be available until twentyfour hours before the bid opening date. Questions relative to the bidding documents shall be di‐ rected to Dabne Dover by email at dabnedover@ lafayettela.gov. Within one (1) week upon receipt of the Invitation to Bid, Bidders are en‐ couraged to confirm in‐ tent to submit a bid by replying to the "Invita‐ tion to Bid" email sent by Dabne Dover (dabne‐ dover@lafayettela.gov). Bidders are requested to attend a non-mandatory pre-bid meeting, which will be held on August 31, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. CST in the Executive Conference Room at the LUS Opera‐ tions Center located at 1314 Walker Rd., Lafayette, LA 70506. Bid‐ ders unable to attend the pre-bid in person can at‐ tend by joining through ZOOM using the follow‐ ing link: https://us02web. zoom.us/j/87162729727? pwd=dYr8JwTutLFaw9A Jkwa9fdK6HcgZQq.1. Al‐ ternatively, a meeting in‐ vite can be forwarded to you via email by contact‐ ing Dabne Dover at (337) 291-8262 or dabnedover@ lafayettela.gov. No bidder may withdraw his bid for at least fortyfive (45) calendar days after the time scheduled for the opening of bids. Each bid shall be submit‐ ted only on the bid form provided with the speci‐ fications. The successful bidder will be required to execute performance and labor and material payment bonds in the full amount of the contract as more fully defined in the bid documents. In accordance with Pub‐ lic Bid Law, bids are valid for a period of forty-five (45) calendar days from the time of the opening of bids. Bids will be evaluated by the Owner based on the lowest responsible and responsive bid submitted which is also in compli‐ ance with the bid docu‐ ments. The Lafayette Consolidated Govern‐ ment reserves the right to reject any and all bids for just cause in accor‐ dance with LA R.S. 38§2214.B. 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 bidders and suppliers are en‐ couraged to utilize DBEs business enterprises in the purchase or sub-con‐ tracting of materials, supplies, services and l b d i l i

List of jurors randomly drawn and to serve for the term beginning on September 8, 2026: ABERNATHY, JODIE RAY ACREY, FORREST DENNIS ADAMS, JAYLON JAKYRIE ALBARADO, MARCUS PAUL ALLEMAN, PETER J ALLEN, KELLY LYNN ALLEYN, EDUARDO ANTONIO AMOS, RAMONA M ARCENEAUX, SHARON MARIE AYOUB, MICHELLE RAE BARBARO, LINDA S BARGEMAN, TAWANNA SHENAY BATISTE, ANASSA SYNNA BATTON, JANICE F BERNARD, ASHLI RENAE BESSE, SARAH BETH BEYNON, LOGAN CHASE BIENVENU, BRANDY LYNN BIRD, JACOB ROSS BOLAND, ABIGAIL OBRIEN BOUDREAUX, LACIE SHALOM BOUDREAUX, LANDON COLE BOURG, LINDA L BOUTIN, DEBRA M BOUTTE, CORIN LEE BOYKIN, KENDAL PAUL BREAUX, HEIDI BERNADETTE BROUGHTON, RYAN MICHAEL BROUSSARD, JOHN WILSON BROUSSARD, BRIDGET BROUSSARD, CHRISTOPHER BROUSSARD, AMBER NICOLE BROWN, JUDY BRUNO, KRISTINA MILLER BRUNO, MARGO MALVEAUX BRYANT, JACK AARON BRYANT, JERIT LANE BUCKLES, CAMERON SAMUEL BUCKLES, JOEL WILLIAM BULLARD, SAM F BURKHEISER, MICHAEL D BURNS, YVONNE BURTON, SHERIE B BYRD, STEPHEN C CALLAWAY, CURTIS J CAPELL, BRIAN WESLEY CENTRILLA, ALISON C CHARLES, ALBERT CITIZEN, BRANDI BREONE COCKERHAM, DONTORIA GAILYNN CONLEY, DIQUAN KEVIN CORMIER, BRITNEY LAUREN COURVILLE, ANGEL MAZURKIEWICZ COURVILLE, MAKIA MAZIE CRAIG, MELISSA WILHOIT CUNNINGHAM, TAMMY L DAVIS, DEVON DAMARCUS DEAL, MARISSA C DEAN, MARK ANTHONY DELONE, DEANGELO J DEVILLIER, WENDY DIESI, SARAH MICHELLE DUBROC, CONSTANCE DANIELLE DUCOTE, ANNIE LOUISE DUCOTE, JENENE DUFFY, KLARE REGINA DUGAS, CY MATTHEW DUGAS, CAFFERY J DUHON, RONALD J DUPONT, GEORGE P DUVAL, JESSICA QUEBEDEAUX DYKES, GARY T EL-KASSAS, SEWHEIR A ESCOBAR, MICHAEL

PURCHASING DIVISION Lafayette Consolidated Government PUBLISH DATES: 8-24-26; 8-30-26 DPR 1007046 198189 Aug. 24, 30, 2t $138.56

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 p.m. Central Time on the 25th day of September, 2026 for the following: TJ LABBE ELECTRIC GENERATING STATION AND HARGIS-HEBERT ELECTRIC GENERATING STATION REMOTE BREAKER RACKING DEVICE(S) AND REMOTE BREAKER CHARGE/CLOSE/TRIP DEVICE(S) and will, shortly there‐ after, be opened and read aloud in the Pur‐ chasing office 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 may at‐ tend the bid opening in person, but are highly encouraged to virtually join the bid openings via Zoom using the following https://us02web. link: zoom.us/j/85894083585? pwd=lchkYbHXyGgyP3m Jab2Xe3ODcIy2Yr.1

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 Dabne Dover at dabne‐ dover@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 d

the

Each bid shall be accom‐ panied by a certified check, cashier’s check or bid bond payable to the Lafayette Consolidated Government, the amount of which shall be five percent (5%) of the base bid plus additive alter‐ nates. 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 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. Bidders may submit re‐ quests for equivalent equipment to be ap‐ proved during the bid‐ ding phase at least two (2) weeks before the bid opening. 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 (337) 291-8410. PURCHASING DIVISION Lafayette Consolidated Government PUBLISH DATES: 08-28-26; 8-30-26 DPR 1007050 198593 Aug. 28, 30, 2t $106.84

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FALCON, KEN RENE FAMBROUGH, SARAH M FELIX, JENNIFER FEREICHY, DAIANINTA K FISHER, STACY MARIE FLEANDERS, FATUMA S FONTENETTE, JAMAAL P FORD, RAYNARD KENNETH FOSTER, ZOE JANAE FRANCHEBOIS, JESSIE RENEE FRANCIS, EDITH M FREDERICK, BRIANNA ROSE FRUGE, BRANDON JOHN GAUTREAUX, BARBARA H GILLUM, CLEMENTINE L GOFORTH, JEFFREY A GRAVLEY, ELIZABETH ALEXANDRA GREEN, MAJAYLE LADASHA GREER, LEIGHTON AUSTIN GUIDRY, ROXANN AUGUSTINE HADAD, NORA LABATUT HAMMOND, SCOTT ANTHONY HANKS, JAMIE NICOLE HARGRAVE, ALI MIKAL HARMON, KENDRIC BRANT HARRELL, HONOREA JNAI PERRY HARRIS, KENNETH RAY HARVEY, NANCY HELENE HAYES, RON ADDISON HEBERT, KALEB DAVID HELAIRE, TRAVIS E HERRING, PATRICK K HUNER, CHERYL BEATTY IBERT, FAYE L IMVRIOTIS, VALENTINI JACKSON, MATTHEW D KELLY, MARY S LAMB, STEPHEN EDWARDS LAMBERT, MICHAEL CHARLES LANDRY, TILLY RAE LANDRY, RACHEAL RAE LANDRY, ABIGAIL ROCHEL LANDRY, PEGGY KAYE LASALLE, BENJAMEN TODD LASKOWSKI, KATRINA MENARD LEBLANC, GRANT ROSS LEBLANC, CHANCE ANTHONY LEBLANC, WILLIAM JAMES LEGE, JERRY WAYNE LEGE, ANGELLE COMEAUX LEGER, JANIE LEE LEGER, CARLA ANN LEVERETT, DOYE D LEWIS, ALANA DEANETTE MALDONADOGARCIA, MARLYS K MALHIET, ELIZABETH G MANIATAKES, ALEX LEE MARCHESE, JASON MICHAEL MARK, MELISSA MARSHALL, RANDALL F MAYENBAILON, FRANCKISAIJOAB MCCLELLAN, SEAN D MCDONALD, DOROTHY G MCKENNIE, KEITH J MELANCON, MARIO BRUNO MENARD, DANIEL JUDE MENARD, RONNI MICHELLE MITCHELL, CANDRA RONDELL ADRIENNE MITCHELL, BILL T MOCEK, ISABELLE MARIE MONTGOMERY, MADISON CLAIRE MOUTON, TRAILON SHAQUAIL MURAM, PAVAN REDDY NARCISSE, SHEENA MARIE NAVARRE, BRUCE A NELSON, SWEPSON WRIGHT OTIS, VALINDA GAIL

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

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 2:00 p.m. Central Time on the 17th day of SEPTEMBER, 2026 for the following: 167118.5.5240 EMERGENCY STANDBY GENERATOR 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/83305564416? pwd=2OrmossxMHbZGKz xZf06nBkMT61TIT.1

Scope of Work: The scope of Work shall con‐ sist of all engineering, design, fabrication, test‐ ing, packaging and deliv‐ ery of a Emergency Standby Generator and its accessories and in‐ cluding manufacturer's field services at the Job Site. All Work shall be completed between July 1, 2028, and October 1, 2028 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. Official Bid Doc‐ uments are available at Vendor Access (https:// lafayettecsdgovla.tyl erportico.com/va/ vendor-access/ registration). For ques‐ tions related to the elec‐ tronic bidding process, please call the office of Purchasing at 337-2918258. Bidders may re‐ quest the electronic bid package from Dabne Dover at dabnedover@ 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. Bidders submitting bids electronically shall in‐ clude all documents in one (1) combined PDF file with bookmark(s) and are required to provide one (1) hard copy through the mail. Bidders providing bids my mail, shall include one (1) hard copy with all documents in one (1) combined PDF file with bookmark(s) and are required to pro‐ vide an electronic copy in one (1) USB flash drive. SUBMISSION OF CONFI‐ DENTIAL, PROPRIETARY, OR TRADESECRET INFOR‐ MATION (SEE LA. R.S. 44:3.2(D) As a public entity, Lafayette Consolidated Government is subject to the Louisiana Public Records Law, which may i b i i f

Public Notices Bids/Proposals y require submissions of Bidders to be a public record. Pursuant to La. R.S. 44:3.2(D), Bidders who submit documents or information they be‐ lieve to be proprietary or trade secret must clearly mark each page or piece of information which is, in the Bidder’s opinion, proprietary or trade se‐ cret and must also sub‐ mit with such informa‐ tion a cover sheet that reads as follows in bold type: DOCUMENT CONTAINS CONFIDENTIAL PROPRI‐ ETARY OR TRADE SECRET INFORMATION A sample cover sheet with this statement is in‐ cluded with the bid docu‐ ments. La. R.S. 44:3.2(D) requires Lafayette Consolidated Government to make a determination as to whether a Bidders sub‐ mission is in fact propri‐ etary or trade secret in‐ formation within thirty (30) calendar days of the Bidder’s submission. Bids must be signed in accordance with LRS Title 38:2212(B)5. A Cor‐ porate Resolution or written evidence of au‐ thority authorizing the person signing the bid is required 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 upon request by contact‐ ing Purchasing & Prop‐ erty Management Divi‐ sion, located at 705 West University Avenue, Lafayette, Louisiana upon payment of Fifty Dollars ($50.00) per set, non-refundable, made payable to the Lafayette Consolidated Govern‐ ment. NOTE: NO CASH WILL BE ACCEPTED ONLY CHECKS OR MONEY ORDERS MADE PAYABLE TO LAFAYETTE CONSOLI‐ DATED GOVERNMENT. Bid Documents shall be available until twentyfour hours before the bid opening date. Questions relative to the bidding documents shall be di‐ rected to Dabne Dover by email at dabnedover@ lafayettela.gov. Within one (1) week upon receipt of the Invitation to Bid, Bidders are en‐ couraged to confirm in‐ tent to submit a bid by replying to the "Invita‐ tion to Bid" email sent by Dabne Dover (dabne‐ dover@lafayettela.gov). Bidders are requested to attend a non-mandatory pre-bid meeting, which will be held on Septem‐ ber 9, 2026 at 10:-00 a.m. CST in the Executive Con‐ ference Room at the LUS Operations Center lo‐ cated at 1314 Walker Rd., Lafayette, LA 70506. Bid‐ ders unable to attend the pre-bid in person can at‐ tend by joining through ZOOM using the follow‐ ing link: https://us02web. zoom.us/j/81375404283? pwd=lafhfZ3oxH85vuy 7BXjPsRA3XIdbM9.1 Alternatively, a meeting invite can be forwarded to you via email by con‐ tacting Dabne Dover at (337) 291-8262 or dabne‐ dover@lafayettela.gov. No bidder may withdraw his bid for at least fortyfive (45) calendar days after the time scheduled for the opening of bids. Each bid shall be submit‐ ted only on the bid form provided with the speci‐ fications. The successful bidder will be required to execute performance and labor and material payment bonds in the full amount of the contract as more fully defined in the bid documents. In accordance with Pub‐ lic Bid Law, bids are valid for a period of forty-five (45) calendar days from the time of the opening of bids.

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

Bids will be evaluated by the Owner based on the lowest responsible and responsive bid submitted which is also in compli‐ ance with the bid docu‐ ments. The Lafayette Consolidated Govern‐ ment reserves the right to reject any and all bids for just cause in accor‐ dance with LA R.S. 38§2214.B. 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 bidders and suppliers are en‐ couraged to utilize DBEs business enterprises in the purchase or sub-con‐ tracting of materials, supplies, services and labor and material in which disadvantaged businesses are available. Assistance in identifying said businesses may be obtained by calling 337291-8410. PURCHASING DIVISION Lafayette Consolidated Government PUBLISH DATES: 8-26-26; 8-30-26 DPR 1007047 198413 Aug. 26, 30, 2t $139.42 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 10:00 AM Central Time on the 17TH day of September, 2026 for the following: JEFFERSON BOULEVARD ENHANCEMENTS 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 attend the bid opening virtually by using the following link https://us02web.zoom. us/j/83703678207? pwd=Ki8eNuGn6irKm8y Oay5jfb8i4DGmVH.1 Meeting ID: 837 0367 8207 Passcode: 802019 Scope of Services: The scope of the project con‐ sists of sidewalk im‐ provements, incidental drainage work, lighting, milling, asphaltic con‐ crete overlay and related work. All work to be com‐ pleted within 215 work‐ ing 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. 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‐ h l i bid

Public Notices Bids/Proposals p g y 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 $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

OWENS, RICHARD WINDELL PACHECO, MYRIAM ROSEE PEASE, TESSA KAY PERRY, BROOKE NICOLE PHAN, CHI CAO DUONG PHILLIPS, JENNIFER E PITRE, DONNA A PLAISANCE, ASHLEY MARIE PLUMBAR, ELNORA ORPHE POLEDOR, GLENDA J PREJEAN, CLARENCE G PRESSLER, CECELIA MERCEDES PUGH, SAWYER JOSEPH QUINTANA, TERESA CAROLLO RADER, CHRISTOPHER P READING, CHARLES WILLARD REAUX, PARKER WAYNE REDDEN, WENDI CHRISTICH REYNOLDS, RONALD CHARLES RICHARD, CHRISTOPHER RICHARD, DANIELLE PITRE RICHARD, LINDA B RICHISON, JOSHUA KETON RIDGE, BILLY D RIGGS, KENTRELL ANTHONY RAY SHELVIN RIVOIRE, RANDY GERARD RIZZUTO, NATALIE RACHELLE ROMERO ROBERTS, MARLON DEREL ROBICHEAUX, ALEX MATTHEW ROMERO, CHARLOTTE MARIE RUSSO, JAYME KATHERINE SAMPY, JOHN SARTEN, JEREMY TODD SAVELL, REGGIE ROLONDO SAVOIE, LAWRENCE F SEALY, MICHAEL JOSEPH SIERRA-RAMIREZ, JUAN RAMON SMITH, CASIE LEIGH STANDEFER, DANIELLE RENEE STELLY, MICHELLE D STINYARD, STEPHANIE KAI STOCKTON, LACEY BANANNO STOREY, WHITNEY RYAN STUTES, CLEBE O SULLIVAN, REGINA AMY TABB, JARED MICHAEL TAGHEHCHIAN, MATTHEW EHSAN TONCHE, JESUS TRAHAN, DONNA WYATT TRAHAN, SHANNON BECNEL TREADWAY, TRAVIS JAMES URFALI, YONATAN NETANYAHOO VANNOY, JONATHAN DAVID VARGAS, JACLYN VERON, LYNETTE M VILAVONG, BOUNTHIEM VILLA, ISRAEL MACARIO VILLA, LUIS ANTONIO VILTZ, ALEX VU, THIENQUANG WATSON, FREDERICK GEORGE WATSON, PHYLLIS B WILLIAMS, DERRICK LEE JOHN WILLIAMS, JACQUEKEYA F WILLIAMS, CHERELLY LAVON WILLIAMS, SHATONYA WILLIAMS, LENA M WINN, JOHNNY ZABOLIO, KIRK A ZERANGUE, JOHNNIE CONNAHAM

196733-675591-Aug. 30, 1t-1t $ 244.76

10D ● Sunday,August 30, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate Public Notices Bids/Proposals

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

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.

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

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 10:00 AM Central Time on the 24th day of September, 2026 for the following: LAFAYETTE CITY HALL RENOVATIONS-PHASE I RESTROOM RENOVATIONS 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/89777293799? pwd=BnFrKwz6UNUYASX 8LXTOCArStbBePI.1 Meeting ID: 897 7729 3799 Passcode: 256257

Scope of Services: The scope of the project con‐ sists of providing all labor, materials, equip‐ ment, supervision and services necessary to renovate the first and second floor restrooms within Lafayette City Hall. All work to be com‐ pleted within 180 work‐ ing days from the 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,

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 $147.42 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 be Documents shall 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 8, 2026 at 9:30 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 bid f j i

lll

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

g j y bids for just cause in ac‐ cordance with LA R.S. 38§2214.B.

g g 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.

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‐ i d b b i d

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 Kestler at hkestler@ 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%) 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‐

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

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‐ 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 $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. 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 d b di f

Public Notices Bids/Proposals g 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 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: 8/19/2026, 8/23/2026, 8/30/2026 DPR 1003844 197506 Aug. 19, 23, 30, 3t $238.26 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 24th day of September, 2026 for the following: I-10 GATEWAY CORRIDOR INITIATIVE 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/81534452172? pwd=WTJegG4gEhzykP6 um7GeOhfsQ0taot.1 Meeting ID: 815 3445 2172 d

Public Notices Bids/Proposals g Passcode: 308223 Scope of Services: The scope of the project con‐ sists of but is not limited to planting various tree specimens along the I-10 corridor. All work to be completed within 120 working days for 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 are available at the Office of Purchas‐ ing located at 705 West University Avenue, Lafayette, LA 70502. 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 8, 2026 at 10:30 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

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

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.

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.

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 “LANDSCAP‐ ING, GRADENING, AND BEAUTIFICATION”. 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: 8/27, 8/30, 9/6 DPR 999081 198644 Aug. 27, 30, Sept. 6 $212.34 PUBLIC NOTICE --REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS 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: 2026 ENVIRONMENTAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND REMEDIATION SERVICES 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.

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

Public Notices Meet/Hear/Min

PUBLIC NOTICE --AGENDA BOARD OF ZONING ADJUSTMENT *COMMUNITY DEVELOP‐ MENT AND PLANNING AUDITORIUM 220 WEST WILLOW STREET, BUILDING B THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2026 5:00 P.M. I. CALL TO ORDER II. APPROVAL OF ACTION SUMMARY Regular Meeting – August 13, 2026 III. NEW BUSINESS 1. CASE NO.: 2026-30-BOZ APPLICANT: Ravi Daggula LOCATION: 710 Jefferson Boulevard REQUEST: Variance of the landscaping and buffer requirements in an CM-2 (Commercial Mixed) zon‐ ing district. 2. CASE NO.: 2026-31-BOZ APPLICANT: Dow Drobish LOCATION: 208 Meridian Avenue REQUEST: Variance of the swimming pool setback requirement in a RS-1 (Residential Single-Fam‐ ily) zoning district. 3. CASE NO.: 2026-32-BOZ APPLICANT: Gregory Walls, Greg Walls Build‐ ing + Design, L.L.C. LOCATION: 1019 Lee Av‐ enue REQUEST: Variance of the building placement, building interface and parking area design re‐ quirements in a D (Down‐ town) zoning district. IV. OTHER BUSINESS None V. ADJOURNMENT *Alternate location: Town Hall Auditorium, 220 W Willow Street, Building C 198911 Aug. 30 1t $14.61

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

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TALKING BUSINESS Redeveloping one of

New Orleans’ biggest eyesores isn’t easy 3E

SPOTLIGHT Creator of coveted pillows expands with new collaborations 9E

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

S u n d ay, au g u S t 30, 2026

1En

CAN TULANE RESEARCHERS

‘CHANGE THE WORLD’?

STAFF PHOTOS By CHRIS GRANGER

Jackson Smith, a Tulane University chemistry doctoral student working on the Genesis Mission project, handles materials inside an oxygen- and moisture-free glove box filled with argon gas. The controlled environment allows researchers to safely work with chemicals that react with normal air.

Team hopes AI will speed up the search for one of science’s holy grails BY RICH COLLINS Staff writer

More than a century ago, a Dutch scientist named Heike Kamerlingh Onnes earned a Nobel Prize in physics by discovering the world’s ﬁrst “superconductor,” a material that can transfer electricity without heating up and losing energy. Since that breakthrough, researchers around the world have identiﬁed thousands of similar materials that have been instrumental in creating some of science’s modern marvels, in-

IDEAS &

INNOVATION

Members of Tulane’s Genesis Mission research team, led by professor Jianwei Sun, second from left, examine a 3D model of a known superconductor.

cluding MRI machines that use superconductor-powered magnets to create detailed images of the inside of the human body. The only problem with all of those materials? They have to be very, very cold to become superconductors, which is why finding one that works at higher temperatures has been one of science’s most elusive goals for years. Now, a team of Tulane University scientists is trying to prove that artificial intelligence can speed up that search and give the U.S. a boost in the global competition for AI-fueled scientific breakthroughs in the process. In July, Tulane physics professor Jianwei Sun and his team were among 278 awardees to beat out roughly

ä See RESEARCHERS, page 2E

$421M jury award against Blue Cross heads to La. high court BY STEPHANIE RIEGEL Staff writer

Nearly two years after an Orleans Parish jury rendered a $421 million judgment against Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana, ﬁnding the insurer shortchanged a New Orleans surgical hospital on thousands of reconstructive breast surgeries, the Louisiana Supreme Court is preparing to take up the landmark case. On Tuesday, the state’s high court is scheduled to hear oral arguments in the long-running litigation between St. Charles Surgical Hospital and Center for Restorative Breast Surgery, a privately owned surgical center, and the state’s largest insurer.

In October 2024, a jury ruled that Blue Cross committed fraud by authorizing some 7,800 surgeries from 2015-23 then paying only about 9% of the bills, on average. Blue Cross denied the allegations, arguing that because the hospital is not a member of its provider network, it had no contractual obligation to pay anything. Earlier this year, the Louisiana Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals overturned the jury award — the highest ever against Blue Cross and among the highest in the state’s history — and sent the matter back to the lower court for a new trial. Both sides in the dispute have since asked the Supreme Court to take up the matter. The hospital is

seeking to reverse the Fourth Circuit ruling and reinstate the original judgment. Blue Cross wants the case, which has been litigated twice before, to be dismissed altogether. The state’s insurance industry is closely eyeing how things play out. In a state known for large jury awards, industry experts say the nearly half-billion-dollar judgment — which, with interest, now tops $655 million, court documents show — could have a chilling effect on the market and potentially drive up premiums. “Louisiana already faces a property-insurance crisis,” the Louisiana Association of Health Plans

STAFF FILE PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

On Tuesday, the state Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments in the long-running litigation between St. Charles Surgical Hospital and Center for Restorative Breast Surgery, a privately owned surgical center, and ä See BLUE CROSS, page 2E the state’s largest insurer, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana.

2E ● Sunday,August 30, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

lll

RESEARCHERS Continued from page 1E

5,000 other applicants for a grant from Genesis Mission, a $5 billion multiagency federal initiative to use AI for scientiﬁc discovery. Two teams at LSU are also participating in the sprawling program created last November by the Trump administration, which earlier had cut funding for some university research. The Tulane team, which is partnering on the project with the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee, has nine months to spend $750,000 in a race to prove AI’s value to their work. At stake is a second phase of funding that could unlock as much as $15 million for Tulane in what’s become an increasingly competitive university research environment. Sun said a bigger incentive is the chance his team could help researchers get one small step closer to a groundbreaking discovery. “Finding a high-temperature superconductor would change the world just like the Copper Age or Iron Age did thousands of years ago,” he said during an interview with his team earlier this month. “I’m very excited about demonstrating that AI can accelerate this type of discovery.”

STAFF PHOTOS By CHRIS GRANGER

Finding the ‘holy grail’

Jackson Smith, a Tulane University chemistry doctoral student working on the Genesis Mission project, uses a torch to melt quartz tubing to make a In addition to their vital contri- container for high-temperature chemical reactions. A team of Tulane scientists is trying to prove that artificial intelligence can speed up the search bution to MRI machines, super- for superconductors and give the U.S. a boost in the global competition for AI-fueled scientific breakthroughs in the process.

conductors are used to improve the performance of particle accelerators used to study the building blocks of matter, and they can be found in some quantum computers and special power systems. In each scenario, these materials only function at temperatures colder than outer space or under pressure thousands of times greater than the deepest part of the ocean, which means engineers have to create expensive systems to maintain those conditions. The superconducting wires inside MRIs, for instance, are encased in a cryostat — essentially a fancy thermos — that’s filled with liquid helium to act as a coolant. These limitations are why the search for a superconductor that works in warmer conditions and in a lower pressure environment takes on such weight. “It would be like finding the holy grail of science,” said Daniel Straus, a Tulane assistant professor of chemistry and a member of Sun’s team. The thirst for a breakthrough was evident three years ago, when researchers in South Korea set off a frenzy among their fellow scientists — and Silicon Valley investors — by announcing they’d found a superconductor that was stable at room temperature. Ultimately, when attempts to reproduce the results failed, the discovery was declared a bust, and that team went back to square one. Scientists have, over time, found superconductors that work at higher temperatures than their predecessors from a century ago — but still nowhere near conditions found naturally anywhere on Earth. That breakthrough remains a dream that experts say could pave the way for superefficient power grids; tiny, hyperefficient electronics and motors; and even trains that run via “magnetic levitation.” It could also unlock advances in insanely complicated and powerful quantum computers that could, among things, make data centers obsolete. Straus said superconducting power lines could also make it possible to transmit electricity

BLUE CROSS Continued from page 1E

said in a “friend of the court” brief ﬁled in the case. “If this Court does not put an end to this litigation and dismiss (the case) once and for all, the State will be on the brink of a health-insurance crisis too.” James Williams, the hospital’s attorney, declined to comment. Blue Cross, in a statement, said, “Louisiana Blue has always been conﬁdent in its position and appreciated receiving the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal’s decision reversing the judgment. Throughout this process, we have remained fully committed to improving the health and lives of Louisianians by ensuring access to high quality, affordable care.”

Networks and contracts The upcoming hearing before the state’s high court is the latest installment in a yearslong legal battle between Blue Cross and the surgery center, which performs cutting-edge reconstructive surgical techniques on about 1,000 cancer patients a year, most from outof-state.

it takes to run these complicated algorithms from months to days, Straus said. Aron Culotta, a Tulane professor of computer science, believes the tools will make a “huge impact” as his team combs through curated repositories like the Inorganic Crystal Structure Database and the Cambridge Structural Database, which both compile details about the atomic structure of materials from more than a century of scientiﬁc research. “AI is good at sifting through lots of information and finding patterns,” he said. “There’s a lot of room to make the process faster and more effective while humans stay in control.” After identifying promising materials, the researchers will recreate them in Tulane’s labs by combining different chemical compounds and heating them in special furnaces. Then the most promising materials studied in Tulane’s labs will go for further study at Oak Ridge, which has highly specialized equipment for that purpose. “It is impossible to just use theory alone, like computations, to predict a new superconductor,” Straus said. “We have to make them and test them.” By next March, at the six-month mark of Sun’s project, the team hopes to show that AI was able to identify at least a handful of existing materials that have superconductive properties. “The goal is to demonstrate accelerated discovery, compressing what would normally take 10 or 20 years into that time,” Straus said. If second-phase funding is unlocked, Culotta said the team could scale up by looking for new materials that haven’t ever been studied and automating more of the process. “We’ve already got plenty of superconductors that require impractically low temperatures to operate,” he said. “Finding ones that function at higher temperatures is the ultimate goal.”

Smith uses a torch to melt quartz tubing to make a container for high-temperature chemical reactions.

Smith aligns a crystal for an X-ray diffraction measurement, a technique used to determine the structure of materials synthesized. over long distances with minimal energy loss, which means utilities could build nuclear power plants “in the middle of nowhere” so there’s less danger to people if there’s an accident.

‘The ultimate goal’ On a recent weekday afternoon, as thousands of undergrads strolled across Tulane’s campus in the sweltering heat, Sun’s team of chemists, physicists and computer scientists were gathered around a conference table on the second

Problems between St. Charles Surgical Hospital and the insurer began in 2007, when the hospital dropped out of the Blue Cross network because it felt its reimbursement rates were too low. Insurance companies create networks of doctors and hospitals, which agree to offer discounts in return for greater patient volume. Patients who go to providers outside of their network typically agree to pay higher out-ofpocket costs. In the years that followed, the hospital continued to treat Blue Cross patients because the surgeries were authorized by the insurance company. But the surgeons received only a fraction of the charges they billed, the hospital has said. Blue Cross countered that authorizing a treatment does not guarantee payment and that insurers do not have a set reimbursement rate that they pay out-of-network providers. Rather, they negotiate individual deals with brokers or employers. Blue Cross also argued that its actions do not constitute fraud, noting in court documents that it successfully defended two similar suits brought by St. Charles Surgical Hospital in federal court in the early 2010s.

ﬂoor of the Stanley Thomas Building, one of several that houses the university’s roughly 3,000-student School of Science and Engineering. Partners from the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, a high-tech research facility with its origins in the World War II-era Manhattan Project, joined the conversation via video conference. It was the Genesis Mission group’s ﬁrst “all hands” meeting, and by the end of the conversation, team members had signed

‘Elements of fraud’ The judgment in the complex case, tried over three weeks in Orleans Parish Civil District Court Judge Sidney Cates’ courtroom, came after less than two hours of jury deliberations. Among the many issues Blue Cross raised on appeal, besides arguing that the hospital failed to prove the fraud allegation, was that the trial court improperly instructed the jury about what constitutes fraud. A three-judge appellate panel in March agreed, ﬁnding that “the trial court’s jury instruction omitted … an essential element of a fraud claim … a legal error that was exacerbated by its submission to the jury of an inadequate jury form.” As a result, the panel ruled, “no weight should be afforded to the jury’s verdict.” Still, the Fourth Circuit said the case should be retried anyway because “the nature and magnitude of the underlying dispute at issue here make deciding the issues presented on a cold record impossible.”

Industry ramifications The hearing comes as employ-

off on a plan of attack for the coming months that capitalizes on their different areas of expertise as they compete to unlock a second tranche of funding. The first step will be for the team’s physicists and computer scientists to write algorithms that will sift through massive databases of existing materials to identify the ones that have the potential to be superconductors. “Instead of starting from scratch and saying, ‘How many oxygens am I going to put in this?’ we ﬁnd something that someone has made but didn’t report if it was a superconductor,” said Jackson Smith, a Ph.D. student of chemistry. “Based off of what AI says, we can narrow down the search faster with AI than with human eyes,” he said. But using computers to aid the search isn’t as simple as typing a question into a ChatGPT search box. Instead, the computer scientists and AI specialists have to create elaborate “quantum-mechanical simulations” that help predict how atomic and subatomic matter might behave. Logging into a stateowned “supercomputer” dubbed LONI (the Louisiana Optical Net- Email Rich Collins at rich. work Initiative) will cut the time collins@theadvocate.com.

ers around the state, who help cover the cost of health insurance for more than 40% of all people in Louisiana, are negotiating new benefits plans for 2027. Experts say they’re in for sticker shock. Insurance premiums for employer-sponsored health plans rose 15% on average in 2026 over the year before. Increases are not expected to be quite as steep in 2027, though they could top 10%. Insurance industry advocates have said the reinstatement of the near-record jury award in the Blue Cross case would scare away potential insurers and “cause expenses for the state’s existing

health-insurance plans to skyrocket,” according to the Association of Health Plans brief. “After all, why would a company choose to do business in a State where it cannot enforce its contracts?” the brief argues. “The result would be further-diminished competition in a State that already has one of the least competitive commercial health-insurance markets in the country. And it is Economics 101 that less competition leads to higher prices.” Email Stephanie Riegel at stephanie.riegel@theadvocate. com.

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

Developer feels ‘gratitude, relief’ as longtime eyesore comes down Q&A WITH BILL HOFFMAN

BY STEPHANIE RIEGEL Staff writer

PRESIDENT OF WOODWARD INTERESTS

Bill Hoffman didn’t set out to be a real estate developer. The president of Woodward Interests — the development firm behind the Four Seasons Hoffman Hotel and Residences and the Southern Food and Beverage Museum, among other — is a certified public accountant by training whose early career was spent at KPMG Peat Marwick. But Hoffman’s philosophy is “work hard to find something you enjoy doing and if you don’t enjoy it, find something else.” So, when he got bored with public accounting, he went to work for one of his clients. In the years since, he’s helped lead a dredging company and founded an oil and gas company. In 2011, he joined Woodward Design + Build, the construction arm of his friend Paul Flower‘s real estate and construction company. A few years later, he became president of the development side of the business, working alongside Flower to tackle some of the biggest projects in the market. In this week’s Talking Business, Hoffman talks about Woodward’s latest project — the planned transformation of the former Lindy Boggs Medical Center, now in the process of being demolished, the challenges of doing projects in New Orleans and why he spends so much of his time helping the local food bank.

can invest in here simultaneously to better spread out their costs over two or three years. But we do not have that backlog of projects. They’re just not here. The other thing is the public image. Certainly, the reduction in crime has been very positive, but that takes time to work its way through the national press for people to realize it. Also, we’re not growing. We need to increase our population. What about the political tensions between leaders of the city and the state? Is that affecting economic development from your perspective? STAFF PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER I don’t know anything Crews begin demolition on Lindy Boggs Medical Center in New Orleans after a news other than what I read, but it is not good for the image of conference Aug. 11. New Orleans. It is not good. If you were king, what would you Interview has been edited project that can maintain couple of years ago. There is itself for years to come. for length and clarity. a little bit of a bright spot in do to get big projects done? I’d work towards projects What did it feel like to finally begin We hope to have all that that it looks like insurance that are beneficial both for taking down the former Lindy Boggs accomplished by the time market is stabilizing — a the citizens and the develthe water retention is done Medical Center? little — but it is still a chalThe overwhelming feeling — roughly 12 months from oper and look for win-win lenge on the financing side. now — so we can get right was one of gratitude and situations. I’d also make it Why is that? to financial closing. Once relief — gratitude for all One reason is the econom- easier to get through perthe cooperation mitting and regulations. ic environment, we received from “Things are still as challenging as they were nationally, with Permitting issues is a constant key stakeholders complaint we hear. Is it better under interest rates rea couple of years ago. There is a little bit of and relief that maining high. The the Moreno administration? a bright spot in that it looks like insurance other is this city. we were finally It is still a challenge. It market is stabilizing — a little — but it is taking down the It still has work to has gotten better under the bricks, that this do to attract capi- current mayor because her still a challenge on the financing side.” was happening. tal from outside to people are responsive. They BILL HOFFMAN, president of Woodward Interests When will we see may not always have the inside the city. work on the second What is the problem? answers, but they return phase — the mixed-use your calls. That’s different There are two building atop the underground water the construction starts it than what we had before. challenges. One is New retention system? will take another two years And that is key to business Orleans is a small to midWe have been working or so to construct the new because everything is time sized market by national on the plans for over a building. standards so when you go to sensitive. If you can’t get a year now. We have several This is such a major, positive depermit in a timely fashion, a national lender or equity different versions of apartit can hold you up and push velopment for the city. Do you think it player, they typically have ment layouts with retail and signals that it is getting easier to do not invested in New Orleans you out of a competitive commercial development in this city? before because of the size of position. parking. We have to finalize You took on the challenge of chairthe market. So they’re lookThings are still as chalthem, redo the economics and make sure it is a viable ing the board of Second Harvest of ing for other projects they lenging as they were a

Greater New Orleans and Acadiana at a time when the food bank was ensnared in the archdiocese’s unpopular bankruptcy case. How’s that working out? As I have gotten older, I have had the opportunity to get involved in other activities around the city and Second Harvest has certainly been one of those and, also, Catholic Charities. And the reason is because the needs are great. Feeding those who are food insecure — we now have 1 in 5 in south Louisiana who experience food insecurities and, in our city, it is 1 in 4. So it’s a basic necessity and being able to help address it is very worthwhile. It’s kind of the same things with Catholic Charities. It’s a way to give back. Has Second Harvest weathered the church bankruptcy successfully? I think it is fair to say that while the bankruptcy proceedings were going on, there was a cloud over Second Harvest around whether it was going to have to contribute to the settlement. In the end, nothing was ever asked of us and Second Harvest didn’t have to contribute. Once that became public knowledge, those who were giving before and had stopped during the settlement talks started giving again. And this year, we will end up feeding about 480,000 people and distributing between 40 million and 42 million pounds of food across south Louisiana. Email Stephanie Riegel at stephanie.riegel@ 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 30, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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ACROSS LOUISIANA

Shreveport ﬁlm center aims to return to ‘core mission’ BY LIZ SWAINE

Staff writer

Few business models include a movie theater, a full restaurant and bar, and an educational component, all with the overarching goal of creating economic development through ﬁlm. That has been the model of Robinson Film Center for its 18 years in business on downtown Shreveport’s Texas Street. The twoscreen, independent nonproﬁt that depends on memberships, sponsorships, grants and community input and support to survive, has, along the way, attracted a loyal following of movie lovers.

PROVIDED PHOTO By PRIZEFEST

Viewers prepare to watch one of the slates of Film Prize films at Robinson Film Center in Shreveport.

Time for a change The film center’s cafe, Abby Singer’s Bistro, is going to be leased to a third party. “It comes down to focus and skill sets,” said Wendell Riley, executive director of the ﬁlm center. A theater and a restaurant “live on opposite ends of the spectrum,” he said. Chef Niema DiRiley Grazia, the “Beat Bobby Flay” winner who has been the executive chef at the ﬁlm center for two years, will run and manage the cafe, determine the menu and hours of operation. And after 18 years as Abby Singer’s, the cafe is going to be rebranded. “It will be rebranded under a new name, but we want to give Niema the opportunity to make that announcement on her own time,” said Riley.

More focus on film The film center traces its roots back to 2002, when local filmmakers, teachers and arts advocates started discussing opening an art house theater in Shreveport. A few years later, the film industry took off in Shreveport, after Hurricane Katrina shut down filming in New Orleans. Producers

STAFF PHOTO By JILL PICKETT with, ‘I didn’t know that you do that kind of stuff.’ And that’s where, that signals to us, that we really needed to do a better job of putting that messaging out to the community,” he said.

The Robinson Film Center in Shreveport, which includes a movie theater, full restaurant and bar, has spent 18 years aiming to create economic development through film and depends on memberships, sponsorships, grants and community input and support to survive. Along the way, it has attracted a loyal following of movie lovers.

ago. He came from jobs directing media and external relations at LSU Shreveport and before was a producer at Moonbot Studios. Spinning off management of the bistro, he said, will allow his staff and him to “do even more for northwest Louisiana and Shreveport.” “This is an opportunity for us to sort of reengage with the community,” he said. “And I don’t mind saying that, in the past few years, we have certainly felt like we could have done a better job of creating a more welcoming environment for our patrons, taking care of our members more, making them feel like a part of a strong STAFF PHOTO By JILL PICKETT community of ﬁlm lovers.”

Abby Singer’s Bistro has been renovated, including new seating. The restaurant is located above the Robinson Film Center. who wanted to take advantage of the generous tax incentives offered by the state in an attempt to lure moviemaking shifted gears and relocated north. Some of the movies and TV shows filmed in the city around that time included “True Blood,” “W.” and “Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo

Bay.” The ﬁlm center opened in 2008 and started screening a mix of independent films, foreign movies and classic features. The ﬁlm center said it has a $2.8 million impact on the local economy and sells 32,000 tickets annually. Riley took the reins four years

Returning to ‘RFC experience’

“One of the things that we’re really looking at is getting back to the RFC experience, like, what is the experience that people have when they walk through the door?” Riley wants customers to know that the theater is finalizing the schedule for replacing the seats in both theaters. The film center is wasting no time in reengaging customers. In just the next few weeks, the theater has planned a Heels and Reels outing, is bringing back its popular Cover to Credits book club with “Jurassic Park” and has scheduled screenings of “Face/ Off,” “Selma” and “Sunset Boulevard.” Riley said to expect even Pushing academic offerings more to come. “Yes, we are a nonprofit,” he The ﬁlm center’s strong set of academic offerings has been lost in said. “Yes, we don’t always have everything else they do, said Riley, the things that we need, but that doesn’t mean that we are not aland changing that is his top goal. “People often come here, and ways trying to optimize our offerwhen they see summer camps ings for people that walk through happening, or they see ﬁeld trips, our doors.” they’re always surprised and impressed and they say, ‘Wow.’ And Email Liz Swaine at liz.swaine@ then they quickly follow that up theadvocate.com.

Gallagher introduces new approach to high net worth risk management amid today’s complex insurance landscape By Amanda McElfresh amcelfresh@theadvocate.com

two decades combined,” she said. “Everybody has experienced increasing prices, no matter where you are. Our only options for a This story is brought to you by Gallagher. long time were to tell clients to or years, personal insurance for af- increase their deductibles, limfluent families has been relatively it some coverage or drop some straightforward – find a trusted carri- coverage altogether. It was about er, renew policies annually and rest assured making the price more palatable that homes, vehicles and other valuable as- at the expense of protection.” Now, Gallagher has a first-of-its-kind solusets are protected if disaster strikes. tion: The Private Client Signature Captive. But, that approach has become increasingly difficult in recent years as more fre- The industry’s first and only multi-member quent natural disasters, rising reinsurance captive, it is designed exclusively for high net costs, changing underwriting standards and worth clients and offers unparalleled flexievolving property values have transformed bility, control and transparency. Through the multi-member captive, clithe high net worth insurance marketplace. ents gain access to elite residential property, In response, Gallagher has become involved contents and valuables coverage backed by in more detailed planning, more client cusan A.M. Best A++ (Superior) carrier. Gallaghtomization and more in-depth discussions er has partnered with Artex Risk Solutions, about the long term. “I think sometimes people see a tenden- its subsidiary for alternative risk and capital, cy in personal insurance lines to paint with to empower individuals to collectively ina roller brush. At Gallagher, we take a finer sure their assets while benefiting financially, look so each client can be properly covered. through impactful premium return, from faWe are very nuanced about tailoring cover- vorable claims performance. Gallagher Private Client Signature Capage to fit each person,” said Betsy Clement, tive members will share a defined managing director of Private Client portion of risk while unlocking at Gallagher. “We tell our clients our the potential for annual distrigoal is to make sure they are still butions of up to 40 percent of covered five or 10 years from now, property insurance premium. even if it is a difficult market. We That means members will have a want to develop programs that can unique opportunity to recapture grow with them and stick by them underwriting profits and experieven if they have a claim. We focus ence a captive solution that has a lot on the future, not only what is traditionally not been available Betsy Clement best in this moment.” to private clients. “The response from clients has been very A first-of-its-kind personal captive positive. They are happy that this is finalfor the modern risk environment ly an option,” Clement said. “Many clients According to Gallagher’s 2026 Private Cli- are business owners who are used to seeing ent State of the Market report, catastrophic captives for commercial coverage and have weather events including hurricanes, floods wondered why there hasn’t been a captive and wildfires; litigation trends and regula- option for personal insurance. This has been tory pressures have reshaped the personal something they have clamored for over the insurance industry. While some stability is past several years.” returning, insurers remain far more cautious Clement emphasized that the Gallagher than even a few years ago, placing greater Private Client Signature Captive is designed emphasis on detailed underwriting, risk mit- for a specific subset of clients who meet igation and long-term planning. certain criteria, including spending at least Clement said the result has often been $100,000 annually on insurance, having two limited options for clients. or fewer claims in the last five years and who “We have seen more change overall in are comfortable losing a security deposit in the last four to five years than in the last the worst-case scenario.

“Clients who are a good ﬁt for this captive are also very proactive with risk management and take excellent care of their properties. They are comfortable carrying a higher deductible and taking on a bit of risk in exchange for potential rewards not available through traditional insurance arrangements,” Clement said. “They may lose their security deposit, but in the best case, they recover the deposit, up to 40 percent of their premium, and investment income. They need to be comfortable with that risk-reward exchange.”

A personalized, data-driven approach to protecting what matters most

The Gallagher Private Client Signature Captive is being offered at a time when high net worth individuals are responding more than ever to natural disasters and other modern threats. Among recent research ﬁndings: • 83 percent of high net worth individuals plan to increase insurance protection against uncontrollable risks such as severe weather • 91 percent of high net worth individuals have expressed concern about the impact of climate change on their property • Cybersecurity is one of the top concerns about affluent families as fraud, cyberattacks and data breaches become more common Those concerns are not unfounded. There were at least 58 individual billion-dollar events in 2025, with at least 28 of those events occurring in the United States and seven that topped $10 billion. “Because we are seeing so many of these events, Gallagher is using predictive data to help us explain risk to both carriers and clients,” Clement said. “If a client has a high exposure to wildﬁres or hurricanes, we talk to them about how they should prepare in case a disaster heads their way. Our advis-

ers are always talking to clients about what keeps them up at night. We allocate more funds and resources toward their biggest concerns and away from the things they are less worried about.” According to Gallagher, these disasters also mean that investments in mitigation, documentation and program design are no longer seen as optional enhancements, but rather as prerequisites for maintaining access to quality coverage in constrained markets. While capacity is available, assembling a cohesive coverage program requires greater discipline and market navigation. Clement said one of Gallagher’s biggest strengths, especially in the current marketplace, lies in building and maintaining strong relationships with carriers. “We are selective about who we work with, and once we are in a partnership, we put our best foot forward. We have very good relationships with underwriters, which allows us to know the best terms from the carriers and invest in those relationships,” she said. That same level of collaboration and communication extends to clients as well. “I think our Claims Advocacy team sets us apart, particularly our internal team that only handles private client claims,” Clement said. “It’s a high level of involvement whether it’s a minor fender-bender or a total loss of a multimillion dollar home. We have a specialized claim advocate who walks with the client throughout the entire process. I think we go a level deeper on the claim response side.” Gallagher (NYSE: AJG) is one of the world’s largest insurance brokerage, risk management and consulting ﬁrms. As a community insurance broker and trusted local consultant, we help people and businesses move forward with conﬁdence. With more than 70,000 people around the globe, we’re connected to the places where we do business and to every community we call home. We manage risk with customized solutions and a full spectrum of services, help foster thriving workforces, and hold ourselves to the highest ethical standards to help clients face every challenge—that is The Gallagher Way. For more information, visit privateclient.ajg.com.

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The Acadiana Advocate ● theadvocate.com ● Sunday, August 30, 2026 ● 5E

LOUISIANA WELCOMES

FROM THE BAYOU TO THE BEYOND STARSHIPS. LAUNCHING IN VERMILION PARISH.

LEARN MORE AT OPPORTUNITYLOUISIANA.COM/SPACEX

6E ● Sunday,August 30, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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NATION & WORLD

Parents weigh higher education

preschool to age 25 — Survey shows from comes at a time when the traditional four-year college path payment is facing more scrutiny. Consider an elevator installer, an HVAC technician or a strategies vary plumber.

BY TIM GRANT

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (TNS) For parents looking at the rising cost of college, there’s a reality that keeps some of them up at night: 71% expect to take on debt to help their children pay for higher education. Nearly half — 46% — expect to use education loans. Another 21% of parents say they may turn to credit cards or cash advances. Eleven percent of parents anticipate borrowing against their savings, while 9% say they will likely tap the equity in their homes. “When it comes to funding their children’s future, families can face tough decisions,” said Chris McGee, chair of the Washington, D.C.-based College Savings Foundation. “While savings may not cover everything, we know that every dollar saved is debt avoided.” For all the talk about whether college is still worth the price, the debt parents are willing to shoulder suggests that families still believe the answer is yes. The College Savings Foundation’s 20th annual State of Higher Education Savings survey found 84% of parents say higher education is a good investment in their children’s future. But what parents consider “higher education” is changing. The survey of 1,000 parents in their 20s, 30s, 40s and early 50s — whose children range

Skilled workers in those fields can earn solid six-figure incomes without spending four years in college — and those jobs bring a sense of security in that they are way harder for artificial intelligence to replace. As the cost of college climbs and AI reshapes the whitecollar workforce, many parents have wondered whether a bachelor’s degree is still the automatic ticket to a better future that it once was. “Parents see the value of higher education, especially as they embrace skilled professions for their children, from HVAC to healthcare technicians,” McGee said. “As the workforce shifts to keep up with AI, career and technical schools and certifications will play a big role in higher education of the future.” Ninety-three percent of parents plan to help fund their children’s postsecondary education, according to the survey. But more parents are being open-minded about what higher education looks like. The menu of possibilities has broadened to include not only four-year colleges and universities, but also other forms of education and training that can lead directly to a career. “As the workplace changes dramatically over time, the very best way to prepare for it is through ongoing education and skills building,” McGee said. Still, the traditional fouryear college experience isn’t

POST-GAZETTE/TNS FILE PHOTO By ALEXANDRA WIMLEy

Incoming students walk through campus while attending an orientation on the campus of Pennsylvania Western University in California.

More than half of the 93% of parents who plan to help pay for their children’s education say savings is their primary funding strategy, according to the survey. Roughly one-quarter expect grants, scholarships or other forms of direct financial aid.

disappearing from parents’ radar. More than half — 53% — of parents anticipate their children will attend traditional four-year public and private colleges, while 12% say their children will attend two-year programs like community college. A cumulative 13% say their children will go for career and technical schools, certiﬁcations and apprenticeships. The willingness to consider other career paths comes at a time when student debt has become one of the biggest ﬁnancial burdens facing U.S. households. For families trying to avoid being part of the $1.8 trillion student loan debt pile, community colleges and other skills-based education paths generally cost far less than four-year colleges. Technical schools, certifi-

cates and apprenticeships can prepare students for immediate placement in the job market without them starting their adult lives under a mountain of student loan debt. For parents who still believe higher education is worth the investment, the next question is how will they pay for it? More than half of the 93% of parents who plan to help pay for their children’s education say savings is their primary funding strategy, according to the survey. Roughly one-quarter expect grants, scholarships or other forms of direct ﬁnancial aid. The College Savings Foundation pointed out a generational ripple effect from 529 plans — a savings tool created three decades ago to encourage families to save for education. The survey found that 41%

Working What’s

in Greater New Orleans business

of parents said that money from a 529 account helped pay for their own education. And among those parents, 77% said that experience has motivated them to use a 529 plan for their own children. “Today we are seeing the benefits of Congress’ vision 30 years ago to encourage savings through 529 plans,” McGee said. “By expanding their use to a variety of career and technical training, we are fueling a more competitive workplace.” The College Savings Foundation is a nonprofit trade organization that advocates for state-run 529 plans and the financial services industry that manages them. The state 529 plans allow families to put money into tax-advantaged accounts and withdraw it tax-free when it’s used for qualified educational expenses.

with Michael Hecht President & CEO GNO Inc.

Good News on Homeowners’ Insurance For the better part of a decade, GNO, Inc. has partnered with state and federal officials to try to lower homeowners’ insurance rates. Our effort to lower rates even went international - GNO, Inc., Commissioner Temple, LED Secretary Susan Bourgeois, and others traveled to meet with Lloyd’s of London to discuss ways to reduce exposure and lower rates for homeowners. This work, combined with a recovering reinsurance market, is paying off: • • • • • •

Premium growth has nearly stopped, with annual increases essentially flat so far in 2026, down from 4.6% in 2025, 6.6% in 2024, and double digits the two years before that Fewer carriers are asking for more money: only four have filed for rate increases this year, down from 27 last year and 50 in 2024. Nine have filed for decreases 21 new carriers have been licensed to do business in Louisiana over the past three years, seven of them in 2026 alone. Homeowners who used to get two or three quotes can now get six or seven Commercial real estate rates are down about 30% on average, according to Ben Albright of the Independent Insurance Agents of Louisiana Fortified roofs have grown to roughly 14,000 statewide, among the fastest-growing counts in the country Citizens, the state’s insurer of last resort, has seen enrollment drop nearly 20% from its 2022 peak, down to roughly 114,000 policies as of June

Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple points to two main drivers of this improvement. First, Temple, GNO, Inc., and others successfully advocated for regulatory reform. Our reform package curbed excessive bad faith claims, eliminated rules that scared away insurers, and funded new incentives for fortiﬁed roofs. Second, the reinsurance market that backs most Louisiana carriers has recapitalized after several storm-free years, pushing global catastrophe reinsurance prices down 16% year over year as of June, the steepest annual drop in 25 years. We are seeing the results on the ground: home sales in Greater New Orleans rose 10% in the ﬁrst half of 2026 over the same period last year, a rebound

You can read more from Biz New Orleans here

brokers tie directly to easing insurance costs. Site selectors and company executives routinely cite insurance costs as a factor in location decisions, which makes a healthier market relevant well beyond individual homeowners. The work continues. At the federal level, GNO, Inc. leads the Coalition for Sustainable Flood Insurance, a national coalition it founded in 2013 that now counts more than 900 member organizations, pushing for reform and reauthorization of the National Flood Insurance Program ahead of its September 30 deadline. GNO, Inc. also built an online resource for homeowners trying to navigate the improving market: the Louisiana Insurance Discount Guide walks through wind mitigation credits, FORTIFIED roof discounts, the $10,000 tax credit, and grant programs available at the state, parish, and federal level, including up to $35,000 in city-funded roof grants for eligible New Orleans homeowners. Visit gnoinc.org/insure.

You can read more from the NOLA.com here

A greater choice for business

gnoinc.org

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The Acadiana Advocate ● theadvocate.com ● Sunday,August 30, 2026 ● 7E

TECHNOLOGY

Las Vegas startup develops water process Lab turns desert air into hydration

BY TODD DEWEY

Las Vegas Review-Journal (TNS) It sounds like an illusion from a Las Vegas magic show. Watch as we pull water out of thin air. But it’s not a trick. Las Vegasbased WAVR Technologies can actually turn air into water. The tech startup that spun out of University of Nevada, Las Vegas is commercializing atmospheric water harvesting systems that extract water directly from the air — even in desert environments at humidity levels as low as 10%. The biomimetic inspiration for the technology came from an Australian tree frog that stays hydrated by absorbing water and moisture directly through its skin. “Like the tree frog is able to drink from the air by attracting moisture through its skin into its salty body, we have developed a synthetic version of the frog skin,” WAVR cofounder and CEO Rich Sloan said at the company’s lab in suburban Las Vegas. “And it performs just like the frog, and we can absorb ambient moisture through the membrane into the body of our product. “But we continue to evolve the technology. Every few months, we have a new generation of technology. These guys are truly brilliant. So we’ve moved past this.” Yiwei Gao, WAVR’s chief technology ofﬁcer, co-founded the company with Sloan and Jeremy Cho, Gao’s professor at UNLV. They patented the device during Gao’s doctoral project. When WAVR launched in 2024, it was producing only a few milliliters of water a day. But now it produces up to 20 liters of water per day per unit. Sloan projects the company to produce 10,000 gallons of water per day per unit by the end of 2027. “We’re scaling the technology very rapidly,” said Sloan, a serial entrepreneur. “We envision really

LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL/TNS PHOTO By MARLEy BARBOEISEL

yiwei Gao, right, and Rich Sloan are co-founders of Las Vegas-based WAVR Technologies, which is commercializing atmospheric water harvesting systems that extract water directly from the air — even in desert environments at humidity levels as low as 10%. large systems. A 10,000 gallon per day system ﬁts in about the size of a shipping container.” Sloan explained WAVR’s system for turning air into water in the simplest terms. “It has a special way of soaking up moisture that is in the air, even when it’s dry outside, in almost magical levels of productivity,” he said. “And then we have a hot process on the back end that makes it into a steam. Which then condenses into pure water. “And it’s a continuous operating system 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.” The startup is raising a total of $4 million, including $1.25 million in investments received so far, and has booked $975,000 in revenue. It has received grants from the National Science Foundation and WaterStart, as well as investments from Desert Forge Ventures, a Las Vegas-based venture capital fund that launched last year and is led by former UNLV president Len Jessup.

“WAVR is solving one of the most urgent challenges facing the American West: reliable access to water,” said Jessup, managing partner of the fund. “Their technology is uniquely capable of operating in the most water-stressed environments, and WAVR is exactly the type of team we had in mind when we launched the fund.” Desert Forge Ventures made its very ﬁrst investment into WAVR of $500,000 last year and recently signed a term sheet to lead the seed round for the company with an additional $250,000 investment. The investment by Desert Forge will qualify WAVR for matching funds of up to $1 million from Nevada’s Battle Born Growth Escalator fund. Battle Born Growth, Nevada’s State Small Business Credit Initiative, matched the original investment of $500,000 in 2025. “WAVR is a great example of what can happen when we take a different approach to traditional economic development and help move an innovative technology

from the laboratory to development and towards commercialization,” said Karsten Heise, Governor’s Ofﬁce of Economic Development senior director of strategic programs and innovation. “That’s really a main role of our Innovation Based Economic Development division, to identify promising technologies and to turn those into companies by helping to create the necessary conditions for them to grow right here in Nevada. “WAVR shows the impact that kind of targeted support can have to address key challenges unique to Nevada such as water scarcity.” According to groundbreaking research led by Cho at UNLV, the ﬁrst 30 feet of the Clark County atmosphere holds enough water to cover the region’s daily consumptive water use. “But you would never think that because it’s so dry here,” Sloan said. “Las Vegas is ground zero for water stress. So there is no better place to develop a solution to the problem than the place where the

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problem is the worst.” While WAVR hopes to ultimately help solve the world’s water challenges, it is focused first on solving industry’s water needs. “And (artificial intelligence) data centers are at the top of the industry list,” Sloan said. The proliferation of AI data centers has sparked concerns across the country over the massive amount of water needed to cool them. WAVR, which produces reverse osmosis grade water, aims to solve that problem. “We want to make machines that make that water at the point of use,” Sloan said. “So instead of being solely dependent on municipal water, we can give you an alternative source of water and give you a path to zero dependency on municipal. That would be huge.” The company also has created a separate loop in its device that strips out more than 95% of the electricity that otherwise would be required. Sloan said it might take decades for the technology to make a meaningful impact in refilling Lake Mead. But he can see Las Vegas someday producing a meaningful amount of its own water from the air. “The ultimate evolution of this is we’re able to attract industries and know that they have the water that they need, so that it doesn’t threaten the water that we’re already counting on from Lake Mead,” he said. “We want to build a success story that is special for this ecosystem. The second thing is it would be great for it to be a big financial win. We want to build what’s called a unicorn company, meaning it surpasses a billion dollars in value one day. So we’re very ambitious. “The third thing is the impact level, which is we want, over the life of this company, to add billions of gallons of water to the human use cases. If we achieve some variation of those goals, there will be a lot of benefits created for humanity.”

8E ● Sunday,August 30, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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BUSINESS BRIEFS

Broussard property joins certified site program A 16.54-acre property 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 five 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. This is the 13th certified site in Lafayette Parish and the 37th in Acadiana. One Acadiana’s site development program is designed to increase the portfolio of marketable, development-ready properties by certifying land within the nine-parish region through partnerships with local economic development partners, LED and landowners.

Japanese steakhouse closes after 15-year run A Japanese steakhouse in Lafayette has closed after its lease was apparently not renewed, records show. Tokyo Japanese Steakhouse, 3511 Ambassador Caffery Parkway, posted on its marquee the word “Closed” this week without mentioning anything on its social media page. According to court records, the restaurant’s lease likely ended. The lease it signed with the previous owner, Equity One, in 2011 included a five-year lease that expired Aug. 31, 2016 with two options to extend another five years. Texas-based Gulf Coast Commercial Properties bought the building in 2019. Tokyo Steakhouse moved into the building after The Tilted Kilt closed there following a twoyear run. It housed a Bennigan’s for years until the company filed for bankruptcy in 2008, archives show.

BUILDING PERMITS Issued Aug. 19-25

Commercial alterations

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New commercial

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Broussard; description, warehouse addition to existing ofﬁce; applicant, Wesley Swain; contractor, Rise Construction; $1.1 million.

Commercial demolition

GYM: 1879 W. Pinhook Road, description, interior demolition of former Ofﬁce Depot location for Planet Fitness; applicant and contractor, TJL Builders; $5,000. OFFICE: 111 Stonemont Road, description, none listed for future site of Bagels!; applicant and contractor, 7 Construction; $5,000.

New residential

724 BAYOU TORTUE ROAD, BROUSSARD: Lafayette Design Build, $600,000. 277 HUTCHINSON ROAD, DUSON: Andries Builders, $362,375.

It’s often tempting to chase high-flying stocks. But they can be vulnerable to sharp drops when the stock market swoons. If you’re worried about a possible market pullback or ecoMotley nomic recession, Fool parking money in a solid exchangetraded fund may help you sleep better. (An ETF is a fund that trades like a stock.) One way to take on less risk — while still expecting respectable returns over the long term — might be the Vanguard Morningstar Value ETF (NYSEMKT: VTV). This ETF tracks the CRSP U.S. Large Cap Value Index, which assesses factors such as price-tobook and price-to-sales ratios to determine which stocks seem undervalued. Vanguard is known for low fees, and this ETF’s tiny expense ratio (annual fee) of 0.03% means you’ll pay $3 annually for every $10,000 you have invested in it. Over the past five and 10 years, this ETF has averaged annual gains of around 12.5%. It’s also a respectable dividend payer, recently sporting a dividend yield of 1.9%. The fund’s “beta” of 0.69, meanwhile, reflects low volatility:

145 VFW ROAD, DUSON: Schumacher Homes of Louisiana, $535,375. 104 GOLDEN EYE DRIVE: GSL Homes, $755,750. 4945 LANDRY ROAD, DUSON: Platinum Homes, $406,500. 102 ARAGO COURT: Tippet LLC, $697,750. 201 BLUE COVE DRIVE: Legendary Contractors, $678,875. 113 ST. ANASTASIA ST., BROUSSARD: DSLD, $106,560. 104 ST. CASIMIR COURT, BROUSSARD: DSLD, $120,780. 106 ST. CASIMIR COURT, BROUSSARD: DSLD, $106,560. 109 ST. CASIMIR COURT, BROUSSARD: DSLD, $146,280. 104 ST. JOHN BOSCO ROAD, BROUSSARD: DSLD, $100,920. 105 ST. CASIMIR COURT, BROUSSARD: DSLD, $128,460.

If the overall market dropped by 10%, this fund might drop by only 6.9%. The ETF holds more than 300 stocks, including Micron Technology, JPMorgan Chase, Johnson & Johnson, ExxonMobil and Walmart. (The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends the Vanguard Morningstar Value ETF.)

Fool’s School: Beware of cold calls and texts Cold calls have been a menace for decades, and now many of us receive cold texts or emails, too. All are unsolicited communications from strangers, urging us to take some action — most often financial ones, perhaps involving stocks or cryptocurrencies. It’s often best to just ignore these, hanging up and/or blocking them, but if you’re tempted in any way, remember these red flags: n Low risk, high reward: If you’re being promised big financial gains with little risk, that’s a case of something being too good to be true. If it was such a great deal, no one would be trying to push it on anyone else. If you’re being offered “insider” tips, know that it’s against the law to spread or act on true insider information. n Aggressiveness or urgency: If you’re being pushed hard to act now, that’s a bad sign. Some cold callers may even try to scare you into

106 ST. JOHN BOSCO ROAD, BROUSSARD: DSLD, $94,680. 101 ST. CASIMIR COURT, BROUSSARD: DSLD, $146,280. 108 ST. JOHN BOSCO ROAD, BROUSSARD: DSLD, $111,060. 105 ST. JOHN BOSCO ROAD, BROUSSARD: DSLD, $100,920. 111 ST. ANASTASIA ST., BROUSSARD: DSLD, $99,360. 108 SPRING MEADOWS DRIVE, BROUSSARD: AM Design, $226,622. 118 SPRING MEADOWS DRIVE, BROUSSARD: AM Design, $226,622. 601 WHISPERING MEADOWS DRIVE, BROUSSARD: AM Design, $226,000. 104 CONSERVATORY ST., BROUSSARD: South Louisiana Custom Homes, $600,000. 109 RETREAT ST., BROUSSARD: South Louisiana

action, perhaps by threatening to put a lien on your property or to notify some authority about an alleged issue. It’s generally best to take your time thinking through ﬁnancial decisions; don’t let a stranger push you to act. n Colorful language: Don’t fall for it if you’re told you’ve been “specially selected” or are among some “lucky few” to have a “oncein-a-lifetime” opportunity. Other red ﬂags include “guaranteed,” “sure thing,” “can’t lose” and “is going to triple in value!” If you receive a cold call, tell the caller to put you on their “do not call” list. If you take names and notes during the call, you can report anything shady to the Securities and Exchange Commission and other agencies. Visit sec.gov/ investor/pubs/coldcall.htm for an overview of what cold-callers should and shouldn’t do, and where you can report offenders. You can also get on the National Do Not Call Registry by visiting donotcall.gov or calling (888) 3821222. When seeking possible investments, stick to trusted sources and avoid any that come to you unsolicited from strangers. They may well be scams that can cost you a lot.

Custom Homes, $500,000. 111 RETREAT ST., BROUSSARD: South Louisiana Custom Homes, $495,000. 409 LONG CYPRESS LANE, YOUNGSVILLE: Francez Builders, $300,000. 411 LONG CYPRESS LANE, YOUNGSVILLE: Francez Builders, $300,000. 413 LONG CYPRESS LANE, YOUNGSVILLE: Francez Builders, $300,000. 216 JAGGED GROVE LANE, YOUNGSVILLE: Rajun Cajun Construction, $220,000. 218 JAGGED GROVE LANE, YOUNGSVILLE: Rajun Cajun Construction, $220,000. 221 JAGGED GROVE LANE, YOUNGSVILLE: Rajun Cajun Construction, $220,000. 317 MASTERMIND BLVD., YOUNGSVILLE: DSLD, $110,100.

someone who started investing early and retired a millionaire. I did the same thing, socking money away for more than 40 years. It was a bit rough in the early years, but it was worth it. My nest egg is now in the seven figures, and I can buy, do or go to anything. Fortunately, I already did all that I wanted through my profession. I have no urge to explore the world now or to buy expensive things I don’t really need. My daughter has just entered the workforce. Next year, I’ll show her what I did, so she can decide what path she wants to follow for the next 40-plus years. — C.C., via email Many of us don’t have 40 years of investing left, but quite a few of us do. Even those in their 40s could live another 40 or 50 (or more) years, keeping some portion of their long-term money in stocks. If we can get young people we care about started in investing in their 20s or 30s, we can really set them up for a comfortable future. And it can all be as simple as regularly adding money to one or more low-fee, broad-market index funds, such as an S&P 500 index fund, for decades. Do you have a smart or regrettable investment move to share with us? Email it to tmfshare@fool.com.

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The Acadiana Advocate ● theadvocate.com ● Sunday, August 30, 2026 ● 9E

SMALL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

B. Viz Design moves to new site, unveils 2 collaborations Creator of coveted pillows has eye out for next generation BY GRACE MAYER

Staff writer

Since Rebecca Vizard launched B. Viz Design from her home in the rural Louisiana Delta more than 30 years ago, the designer’s coveted pillows made from antique tapestries have been featured in national magazines and found their way onto sofas in luxury homes around the world. Along the way, B. Viz Design has grown from Vizard’s part-time gig into a thriving small business with four seamstresses, two retail locations — one in her tiny hometown of St. Joseph in Tensas Parish near Natchez, Mississippi, the other in New Orleans — and an e-retail operation. Now, Vizard is expanding with a new, larger location in New Orleans on Magazine Street and a partnership with Baton Rouge gallery owner Ann Connelly, a longtime friend since college, who will put together artwork displays for the store’s walls. With the expansion, Vizard also is passing on more of the business, and her craft, to the next generation: Her daughter and executive director of sales and business development, Sarah Vizard, and Laurin Beard, atelier manager and director of business development, will largely oversee the store’s daily operations and design work. Beard will also man-

adorn her pillows are carefully cut from aged fabrics, such as velvet caftans, then hand sewn onto the pillows. “When you get a textile, it kind of gives you the history of that whole country,” Vizard said, pointing out the intricacies of a black and white thread used to outline the designs on the Suzani jackets she sources from designers in Bukhara, Uzbekistan, and sells in her shop. That craftsmanship, and the materials, is partly why the price tag for her pillow’s ranges from $425 to $4,800. In addition to international clients and other interior designers, B. Viz Design regularly attracts parents of Tulane students to the store. Vizard’s work has also inSTAFF PHOTO By CHRIS GRANGER spired copycats, knockoffs made from lesser materials. Laurin Beard, left, and her sister Ansley Beard, right, help Sarah Vizard place decorative Vizard isn’t phased by the pillows on a shelf at a new store that will feature both B. Viz Design New Orleans Atelier and imitations. Sistership Antiques on Magazine Street in New Orleans. “I have people who try to copy me, but no one can age and curate a line of an- dren’s boutique on Magazine could make, and I said how catch up with the amount of tique furniture, Sister Ship Street, was her first buyer, many do you need?” Vizard inventory I have,” she said, referring to a 400-squareAntiques, that B. Viz Design and later JCPenney and Dil- said. It was a turning point for foot studio in her home will carry. lard’s became customers. At “It’s very important that her peak, Vizard was book- the young designer, whose packed floor to ceiling with pillows gained the attention textiles collected over the we stay in front of the ing orders for 10,000 pairs. younger generations, and I Later, a mentor helped di- of interior designers and years. think Sister Ship Antiques rect Vizard’s artistic ambi- magazines, including Vogue, is going to bring that to the tions. In the 1990s, she start- Southern Living and Veran- Same street, new store table,” Rebecca Vizard said. ed making pillows, while jug- da, which helped grow her The new storefront on “And B. Viz Design and Ann gling interior design projects name recognition and the Magazine, just down the Connelly Fine Art will bring for friends. One day, while in business. street from the original, douthe people that already know New Orleans, she showed Still, she intentionally bles B. Viz Design’s existing about us to the table.” some of the pillows to the stayed small and kept over- space to 1,600 square feet, late Gerrie Bremermann, head low, selling directly which will enable it to ramp From paint to fabric who managed Bremermann to customers in the emerg- up production and move one Before Vizard became Designs, an interior design ing online marketplace and of the four seamstresses, all known for her pillows, she studio and antique shop on at Bremermann’s store. In currently based in St. Jospent several years find- Magazine Street. Bremer- 2016, she opened her first seph, to New Orleans. “It will be a quicker proing her signature style and mann told Vizard she had brick-and-mortar in St. Joniche. In the 1980s, after found her calling — and seph. A second location on cess,” Sarah Vizard said. graduating from Tulane Uni- started carrying the pillows Magazine Street in New Or- “The pillows have been leans came three years later. trickling in and kind of flying versity, she dabbled in other in her own store. The business took off a few Today, the brand makes out, so we’ll be able to kind projects, first making paintsplattered socks then hand- years later, after her pillows around 300 pillows per year, of keep that process rolling a painted baby shoes shortly were spotted by a buyer for each meticulously sewn and little more efficiently.” Beard, alongside her sister after having Sarah. They Neiman Marcus at a market crafted by Vizard’s team of seamstresses. The ornate Ansley, will run the antiques quickly became a hit among in Dallas. “He asked me how many I filigree and braiding that side of the business, which retailers: Mignon, a chil-

will partly focus on collecting more recent vintage designer pieces and 20thcentury designs in hopes of appealing to a younger clientele. “Our pillow clients are people my age who are designing their fabulous home,” said Beard, who’s worked with B. Viz Design for three years. “We are adding pieces that feel a little bit more fresh and approachable for people in their 30s and 40s.” Baton Rouge gallery owner Connelly will bring her own signature to the space by crafting several European-style Salon walls, which will consist of a mixture of contemporary art pieces captured in antique frames — all available for sale to customers. Over the years, she’s cultivated a robust portfolio of local artists from south Louisiana, whose work she’ll take turns displaying in the store space. For Connelly, this move positions her clients’ art work closer to her New Orleansbased clientele. “It’s tremendous to have people who really love and are immersed in the business and that will carry it forward,” Connelly said. “We have a chance to keep passing it down.” Having three collections under one roof is important to the partners. Staying on Magazine Street with a second-generation business is, too, they said. “We’re very lucky to be in this really special block that is all local businesses that are making things by hand, and maintaining that tradition of keeping Magazine street shops special and unique,” Beard said. Email Grace Mayer at grace.mayer@theadvocate. com.

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10E ● Sunday,August 30, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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The AI Question Louisiana Businesses Should Be Asking Most conversations about AI still start with the wrong question. Instead of asking which jobs AI will eliminate, the more useful question is the inverse: What do we not want AI doing? What will AI make us need more of? And what jobs will AI bring into existence that don’t exist today? For Louisiana businesses, the answer will shape how they hire, develop talent and define where human expertise adds the most value. The shift, from substitution to augmentation, is what Gallagher’s 2026 AI Adoption and Risk Benchmarking Survey is exploring across the world’s leading businesses. Of the 1,200 global decision-makers surveyed, 63% have operationalized AI across part or all of their operations. Additionally, 82% report a positive revenue impact, and 86% say AI has improved workforce productivity. The adoption wave is real, and it’s accelerating. The human-first strategy behind the numbers What’s less visible in the headlines is how deliberately businesses are managing the human side of this transition. 85% of business leaders surveyed have introduced specific measures to protect employees’ jobs as part of their AI rollouts. Roughly one-third are creating new specialist roles — chief AI officers and data scientists — to bring that expertise in-house.

Getting the risk side right AI adoption that moves fast without governance introduces liability that most standard policies weren’t written to cover. “As AI becomes part of how a business operates, the risk proﬁle shifts in ways that aren’t always obvious until something goes wrong,” says Sylvester. “Understanding that risk before deployment — not after — is what puts a business in a defensible position.” The businesses that are managing this well treat AI as a governed process, not just a technology upgrade. That means assessing where AI touches sensitive decisions and maintaining human oversight at the points where it matters most.

That distinction is already shaping how businesses operate.

“AI works best when it ampliﬁes human judgment rather than bypasses it,” says John Farley, Managing Director, Cyber Liability practice, Gallagher. “The risk discipline and the human element aren’t in tension — they’re the same commitment.”

“AI handles the repetitive, the routine and the time-consuming,” says Joey Sylvester, Area Senior Vice President, Cyber practice, Gallagher, Baton Rouge. “That frees people for work that still requires a human: negotiation, mentoring, ethical judgment, creative problem-solving and high-stakes decision-making in situations that don’t follow a script.”

For Louisiana businesses, the question now is how to build the conditions for AI to deliver — and to make this a practice that can stay the course.

The evidence bears this out: A study of more than 5,000 customer support agents found that AI assistance increased productivity by 15%, measured by the number of issues resolved per hour, with the largest gains among less experienced staff.1 The better AI gets at routine work, the more valuable people become at the work that requires human judgment. Louisiana is not sitting this out These survey findings reflect a shift that Louisiana is already undergoing. And the state’s universities are building the workforce infrastructure to sustain it. LSU’s College of Engineering has launched an AI capstone course — a final, project-based class that pairs computer science students with industry sponsors to solve real-world problems using AI — alongside a first-of-its-kind digital twin certificate for professionals in construction, manufacturing and energy. A new bachelor’s degree in artificial intelligence is also in development.2 The message from academia is the same one businesses are learning: The goal isn’t to replace skilled people — it’s to make them more capable. Brynjolfsson, Erik, et al. “Generative AI at Work,” Oxford University Press,

“You need to be building skills, confidence and trust to enable the workforce to be using AI on a day-to-day basis so that it’s embedded into workflows,” says Sonya Poonian, Director, AI Transformation, Gallagher. “Only then will you reach the inflection point where you can unlock that longer-term ROI.” To connect with Gallagher’s Louisiana team, visit ajg.com/louisiana.

Let’s face the future together.

Joey Sylvester, AIGP Area Senior Vice President

4 Feb 2025. “LSU Engineering Gets Louisiana Prepared for Digital Transformation at Work,”

LSU, 4 Mar 2026.

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SPECIAL COMMEMORATIVE EDITION • THEACADIANAADVOCATE.COM • SUNDAy, AUGUST 30, 2026

Remembering a titan of LSU athletics SKIP SK KIP BERTMA KIP BERTMAN MAAN 1938 - 2026

2I F Sunday, August 30, 2026 F The Advocate F The Times-Picayune F The Acadiana Advocate

1938 SKIP

BERTMAN 2026

Remembering the many stories from the career, life of a legend BY SCOTT RABALAIS | Sports columnist

The main scoreboard at Alex Box Stadium honors legendary LSU baseball coach Skip Bertman after his death on Friday, Aug. 14, 2026.

My assignment for our Skip Bertman commemorative section was to write a column full of stories about the man, the coach, the administrator. The legend. Eighteen years he spent as the LSU baseball coach. Seven more as athletic director. Eight hundred and seventy victories. Five national championships. Eleven College World Series trips and 16 NCAA Tournament appearances. How to choose from among all of that, a virtually infinite treasure trove that spanned from Detroit, where he was born in 1938, to Miami Beach, where he grew up, to LSU and even to the Olympics, where he coached the U.S. team to a bronze medal in 1996? If Skip were here, he would surely encourage me to do my best, the way he inspired so many over the years. That or he’d look over my shoulder and roll those expressive eyes of his at what I came up with. Here are a few stories about a man who, among his many other traits, was a master storyteller:

One of Bertman’s favorite anecdotes was about the catcalls he dealt with in his early LSU days. “I’d hear from the stands, ‘Hey, Bertram!’” Skip said. “I was ‘Bertram’ for about eight years. I’d hear, ‘Hey Bertram, we’re one point down.’ I’d turn around and say, ‘They’re not points, they’re runs.’” Actually, it wasn’t a fan who first called him “Bertram.” It was none other than the great Mickey Mantle. In 1970, while baseball supervisor for the Miami Beach parks department, Bertman got the Yankees legend to give a baseball clinic. Mantle, who had clearly been out in South Beach the night before, had trouble hitting off the first pitcher Bertman put out there, so Skip went to the bullpen for Miami coach Ron Fraser. Mantle promptly hit a home run.

“This guy’s a little better, Slip Bertram!” Mantle yelled. Soon, every coach in the Miami area was calling Bertman by his new Mantle mantle. “Oh, all the coaches loved calling me that,” he said.

Bertman could take a joke. About 1986 or so, LSU was at Tulane for a midweek game. In the late innings, Skip went out to the mound to change pitchers. His daughter Lisa, who died in 2012, was a student at Tulane at the time. On the way back to the dugout, Bertman looked up and saw someone holding a big white sign that read: “Even Skip’s kid doesn’t go to LSU!” “Now that was pretty good,” Bertman said with a laugh during a 1996 TV interview with former Advocate writer Lee Feinswog.

Bertman’s near clairvoyant baseball knowledge was legendary. On Easter Sunday 1999, during the one season I was The Advocate’s LSU baseball beat writer, Skip and I were on the field alone at Tennessee after the Tigers lost two of three to the Volunteers. “The season’s over,” Skip said. I didn’t understand what he meant, considering there were about six weeks left in the regular season. “This team,” Skip said, “can’t get to Omaha.” That 1999 team had its faults, but it also had pitching ace Kurt Ainsworth, an All-American and a first-round draft pick by San Francisco. But sure enough, Bertman was right. LSU made it to the super regionals in that first year of the expanded 64-team NCAA Tournament but lost to Alabama. A year later, though, LSU beat Stanford for its final College World Series title on Skip’s watch.

STAFF PHOTO BY PEARL SPURLOCK

Angeles Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda, but one that fit Bertman as well: “The difference between possible and the impossible lies in a man’s determination.” It seemed impossible to build a baseball dynasty at LSU, until Bertman did it.

Most coaches and athletes remember the losses more than the wins. Bertman was no different after his final LSU team was eliminated 7-1 by Tulane in Game 3 of the 2001 super regional at Zephyr Field in Metairie. “I guess you could write he did OK,” Bertman said. “But see the asterisk. He lost at the end.” Before the super regional, Bertman told then-Tulane coach Rick Jones his team might beat LSU, but not to expect to win the College World Series in the Green Wave’s first trip there. “Coach,” Jones told Bertman, “I’ll take that chance.” When Tulane eliminated the Tigers, Bertman asked Jones whether he could speak to his Green Wave players. “We go out behind home plate and he says, ‘I’ve been to Omaha 18 times (with LSU and Miami),’” Jones said. “The fences are shorter, but (Jake) Gautreau, you can reach them. The bases are 90 feet apart, but Andy (Cannizaro), you can steal them. And Barth (Melius, one of the team’s top pitchers), you can baffle them.’” As he left, Bertman walked past then-Tulane assistant coach Jim Schlossnagle, now coaching at Texas. “He told Schloss, ‘You’ve got no chance,’” Jones recalled with a laugh. “And he was right.” Tulane went 1-2.

Bertman agreed to become athletic director before his final season as baseball coach ended. His nomination drew unanimous approval from the LSU Board of Supervisors, which was battling with LSU President Mark Emmert over who would get the job. Voting against Bertman, then LSU board chairman Ronald Anderson said, would be like voting against God. Out of baseball for the first time since he was a teenager, Bertman spent the next seven years coaching LSU coaches. “It was a dream come true,” thenLSU gymnastics coach D-D Breaux said. “He held everyone to the same standard of excellence he held himself to. He’d tell me, ‘You do what I tell you to do and you’ll be on top.’ “Everyone who spent time in his hula hoop gained from it. You walked away smarter, more joyful. He was an extraordinary person.”

In 2009, LSU opened its current Alex Box Stadium, a project that likely wouldn’t have happened without Bertman’s determination to upgrade the program from its former Depressionera ballpark. Four years later, LSU decided to name the field for Bertman, who insisted the stadium remain, like the old one, named only for Alex Box, the first LSU athlete to die in combat in World War II. They did put a plaque in the LSU clubhouse, attributed to longtime Los

When Bertman retired as athletic director in 2008, I asked him what he wanted his legacy to be. In one of the all-time great understatements, Skip said: “I think I left the baseball program much better than I found it, and I think I left the athletic department much better than I found it. That’s important to me. The people here deserve the best. I had a great time.” No greater than the time you gave everyone else, Skip.

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SKIP BERTMAN TIMELINE

Former LSU baseball coach, athletic director had an unprecedented run in Baton Rouge BY KOKI RILEY Staff writer Former LSU baseball coach and athletic director Skip Bertman had an unprecedented tenure at LSU, leading the baseball program to its first five national championships before serving as athletic director for seven seasons. Here’s a full timeline of Bertman’s time at LSU, from the time he was hired as LSU’s baseball coach in 1983 until his death on Friday, Aug. 14, at the age of 88.

APRIL 25, 1983 — Bertman was hired

as LSU baseball’s second-ever full-time baseball coach after serving as Miami’s associate head coach since 1976, helping the Hurricanes win a national title in 1982.

MAY 23, 1985 — LSU makes the NCAA

Tournament for the first time under Bertman and for just the second time in program history. It was the Tigers’ first of 16 appearances in the tournament under Bertman. LSU played two games in the NCAA Central Regional in Austin, Texas, losing to Houston 11-4 before bowing out of the tournament a day later to Lamar in a 4-3 loss.

MAY 30, 1986 — LSU reached the

College World Series for the first time in program history. It was the first of 11 appearances the Tigers made in Omaha under Bertman. LSU went 1-2 in the World Series that season, losing to Loyola Marymount 4-3 in its first-ever CWS game before beating Maine 8-4 and falling to Miami 4-3. That season also marked the first time Bertman won the National Coach of the Year Award and the first time LSU became SEC

champions under his command.

SEPT. 28, 1988 — The United States

takes down Japan 5-3 in the Gold Medal game at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. Bertman served as the pitching coach, and LSU legend Ben McDonald was also on the team.

would take another nine seasons before LSU would return to the mountaintop of college baseball.

history. By Mainieri’s third season, he led LSU to a sixth national championship in 2009.

MAY 11, 2001 — Bertman’s No. 15 is retired at Alex Box Stadium just weeks before his coaching career came to an end.

JULY 4, 2006 — Bertman is inducted into the College Baseball Hall of Fame after leading the Tigers to five national championships, 11 College World Series appearances, six SEC Tournament titles and seven SEC regular season crowns.

JUNE 8, 1991 — For the first time ever, LSU won the College World Series. The Tigers took down Wichita State 6-3 to claim Bertman’s first of five national championships at LSU. LSU had made the World Series in four of the previous five seasons before finally winning it all in 1991.

MAY 12, 2001 — Baton Rouge mayor

JUNE 12, 1993 — LSU wins its second

JUNE 3, 2001 — Bertman’s final game as LSU baseball’s head coach is a 7-1 loss to Tulane in the super regionals. His assistant, Smoke Laval, took the job following Bertman’s departure. During his time as head coach, Bertman won six National Coach of the Year awards, seven SEC Coach of the Year awards and owns the highest winning percentage in SEC history (.724). His career record was 870-330-3.

national title in three years by taking down Wichita State again in the final, winning 8-0. The Tigers became just the fifth program to win two titles in a three-year span, joining Southern Cal, Stanford, Texas and Arizona State.

AUG. 2, 1996 — Bertman, as the head coach, leads Team USA to a bronze medal at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. He led a roster that included LSU infielders Jason Williams and Warren Morris. JUNE 7, 1997 — LSU takes home back-to-back national championships, becoming the first program to accomplish the feat since 1988, when Stanford won consecutive titles. Southern California and Texas are the only other programs to have won backto-back national championships. JUNE 17, 2000 — Bertman wins his fifth national championship in 10 seasons at LSU. The Tigers took down Stanford 6-5 in the final, capping off a baseball dynasty in Baton Rouge. It

Bobby Simpson announced that the city will name the stretch of road connecting Nicholson Dr. with River Rd., next to the original Alex Box Stadium, after Bertman. Simpson also declared that day as Skip Bertman Day in Baton Rouge.

AUG. 6, 2001 — Bertman officially

begins his tenure as LSU’s athletic director, replacing Joe Dean, who had served in the role since 1987.

JUNE, 2002 — Bertman was inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame alongside eight others. JULY 27, 2003 — The American Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame inducts Bertman, just over two years after his coaching career came to a close. JUNE 27, 2006 — Bertman hires Paul

Mainieri to replace Laval and become the 25th head coach in LSU baseball

JUNE 2008 — Bertman retires as

athletic director after seven years in the role. LSU won nine national championships under his tenure as athletic director. He hired four coaches that went on to win national championships, including Mainieri, Les Miles (football), Dennis Shaver (men’s and women’s track and field) and Chuck Winstead (golf).

SEPT. 9, 2011 — Bertman gets inducted

into the LSU Athletics Hall of Fame alongside Seimone Augustus, Wendell Davis, Suzette Lee, Lloyd Peever and Carl Maddox.

MAY 17, 2013 — The field at Alex

Box Stadium is officially named after Bertman, four years after the new Alex Box Stadium first opened in February of 2009. The old Alex Box Stadium had been LSU’s home from 1938-2008.

SEPT. 13, 2019 — A statue of Bertman

is unveiled outside of Alex Box Stadium. The structure features Bertman leaning on a dugout railing as the centerpiece of the “Legacy Plaza.”

AUG. 14, 2026 — Bertman dies at

the age of 88 as one of the greatest college baseball coaches of all time and arguably the most important figure in the history of LSU athletics.

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LSU ﬁgures, dignitaries comment on Skip Bertman’s impact NOLA.com | Staff report

So many people use words like GOAT (greatest of all-time), but Skip truly was the GOAT. He was the greatest of all time, and I was just lucky enough to call him, not only my boss, but a dear friend.

Paul Mainieri

LSU baseball coach from 1995-2006

The word legend is often used to signify the greatness of a person, but in sports being a legend isn’t measured by the trophies you collect. Those are just symbols of accomplishments. A legend is a person who changes a standard forever, and that is what Skip Bertman did. He took something ordinary and made it extraordinary. Most importantly, he left his players and those he touched better than he found them. His goal was to impact the scoreboard of life. Louisiana will dearly miss him!

Jeff Landry

Louisiana Governor

Skip Bertman was (simply) the best. His impact on College Baseball will live on forever. I feel so blessed to have had him as a coach and a mentor. He meant so much to so many. I will miss you, Coach.

Mike Bianco

Ole Miss coach, who played for Bertman and served as an assistant coach for him at LSU

I’m so blessed to have been a small part of the juggernaut that Skip Bertman built. Skip changed my life. He taught me lessons that I still carry with me and pass on to others today. I’ll never forget getting on the bus after we won the 2000 Natty in Omaha and Skip greeting each of us personally. It was an incredible feeling, but more than that, it put into perspective what we had just accomplished. That was Skip — he made everyone around him believe they could accomplish something special. RIP Skip. There will never be another.

Ray Wright

Few people have had a greater impact on LSU than Skip Bertman. As the greatest college baseball coach of all time, and later as our Athletics director, Skip developed a championship standard and culture still guide us today. Personally, he was a dear friend, mentor and advisor, and I’m forever grateful for the trust and faith he placed in me to serve this institution. I will continue to honor Skip by leaning into the lessons he taught me every day. Our thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones at this time.

Verge Ausberry LSU athletic director

An outﬁelder for Skip Bertman’s last championship squad in 2000

He had different ways to push your buttons and motivate you. He was a guy who would tear us down at times to build us up. You don’t understand it when you’re 19 or 20 years old. You don’t understand all the stuff you’re going through. But as you get older, you realize, ‘That’s why he did that, and that’s why he did that.’ You start to figure it out a little bit.

Skip’s impact can be measured by far more than just five College World Series titles and seven SEC Championships. It can be seen in the success of his players both on and off the field. As athletic director, he oversaw one of the most successful eras in the history of our institution. Angela and I join the LSU family in expressing our heartfelt condolences to Coach Bertman’s family, his players and his countless friends. His legacy will live on forever here at LSU.

Ben McDonald

Wade Rousse

Former LSU pitcher

LSU president

By far the greatest part of being the baseball coach at LSU the last five years is the relationship I was able to build with the greatest college baseball coach of my lifetime, Skip Bertman. The mentorship, and most importantly, the friendship we built is easily one of the best, most rewarding, and special relationships I have ever had. What an honor it has been to sit with, talk baseball with, smile with, and laugh with Coach. Coach Bertman was so far ahead of his time while leading the LSU Tigers, and as a young coach just starting my journey, I watched, studied, and admired his incredible skills of leading, motivating, teaching, coaching, and ultimately cultivating what became ‘The Powerhouse’ of College Baseball. Being able to share the 2023 and 2025 National Championships with Coach Bertman watching is something I wouldn’t trade for the world. The impact he made and legacy he has left on the state of Louisiana and college baseball is beyond remarkable and will never be duplicated. I love you Coach, I will miss you, and will continue to work every day in a manner that I know would make you proud.

Jay Johnson

LSU baseball coach

There are finite numbers that can quantify Skip Bertman’s coaching success. Wins, titles, All-Americans. What cannot be measured is the personal impact he had on so many lives, including mine, through his wisdom, his instincts, his compassion, and his humor. He changed lives. His legacy will last across Louisiana, college baseball and countless players and friends and their families for generations.

Herb Vincent, SEC associate commissioner

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Captain America: For Morris, playing for Skip at Olympics was special bonus BY KOKI RILEY Staff writer

Before the age of NIL, the transfer portal and courts granting players extra years of eligibility, there was Warren Morris. Morris spent only four seasons (199396) playing for LSU under legendary coach Skip Bertman, who died last Friday at the age of 88. But, before Morris started his professional baseball career, he actually played for six Bertman-managed teams. Bertman was the head coach of Team USA for the summers of 1995 and 1996, and Morris — an LSU legend in his own right, who blasted a walk-off home run over Miami in the College World Series final in 1996 that clinched LSU’s third national title — played on both national teams. “I may be the only person that he’d probably coached (who) basically played six seasons for him,” Morris told The Advocate. Jason Williams was the only other Tiger on the 1996 national team, but he did not play for Team USA the summer before. Morris was LSU’s only player on the 1995 team that participated in games across the country ahead of the Atlanta Olympics the next year. Morris, therefore, had a front-row seat to all things Bertman during the mid-1990s. His familiarity with the legendary coach and his tactics gave him a perspective on Bertman that his Team USA teammates, many of whom had little to no experience playing under him, weren’t as used to. For example, before every game, Bertman would tell a story to his team, with each tale ending in a lesson he thought they needed to learn that day. One story would be about a marathon runner at the 1961 Olympics, while another touched on astronauts and the camera they shot with on the moon.

It was a period of his career For Morris, this was Skip being Skip. But his teammates that Morris will never forget. had never experienced “I get goosebumps thinking anything like it before. about running out on that field “I can remember those guys for the first time,” Morris (being) like, ‘Oh my gosh,’” said, “and taking the field Morris said. “‘It’s almost like and you’ve got USA on your we get a movie before the chest and the whole crowd’s game.’ chanting USA. I mean, that’s “They weren’t used to that, just something special I’ll because every other coach never forget.” I’ve ever played for before Preparing players to a game, they’re kind of like, perform in front of 50,000+ ‘Alright, guys, let’s go get fans, with the expectations of them,’ and that’s it. But he put a nation on their shoulders at more into it, and I think they a home Olympics, would’ve liked that.” been a daunting task for Bertman would also have any coach. But to Morris, his Team USA players do Bertman was the same coach STAFF PHOTO BY ALEX BRANDON visualizations, having them with Team USA as he was with LSU baseball player Warren Morris donates his home run bat that he used create a mental image in their to clinch the 1996 College World Series to Joe Dean, LSU athletic director, LSU. heads of what success would before a game with Coach Skip Bertman, center, on June 20, 1996. Bertman even used the look like for them on the field. same signals he had at LSU This was a normal practice at with Team USA, despite game 11-6, and Morris remembers his LSU, where the mind’s eye was a crucial teammates being in awe of the number the fact that his third base coach was part of Bertman’s coaching philosophy. of fans in attendance that day at Alex Mississippi State coach Ron Polk. Some of Morris’ teammates believed Box Stadium. “We’re going to play Mississippi State that the mental imagery work was next year… so he’s going to know our “The crowd was into it, it (was) loud,” hoky, but most of them bought into the Morris said. “I just remember some of signals,” Morris said. “But (Bertman) concept. Tennessee pitcher R.A. Dickey those guys from California were like, didn’t care. He just kept the same ones.” — who went on to win a Cy Young Bertman’s decision to not change ‘Man, is it seriously like this for every Award nearly two decades later — was up his signals ultimately didn’t cost game?’ I said, every game.” so enthralled by Bertman’s teachings him. LSU won two more national Team USA played 42 games in the that he implemented his visualization championships under Bertman, summer of 1995, then 40 games the techniques into his routine after his including the next season in 1997. next year, including the Olympics. The time with Team USA. The Bertman way resulted in five Americans went 7-2 in Atlanta, winning For the two years Bertman was the national championships and a 71-11 head coach of the national team — he the bronze medal by taking down record during his time as the head was also the pitching coach on the Nicaragua after falling to Japan in the coach of Team USA. What was the point 1988 national team that won the Gold semifinals. of doing anything differently? Morris played a big part on both Medal in Seoul — they played in games “I think (the players) really latched all around the country prior to the teams, hitting .361 with five home runs onto (him)…,” Morris said. “I can’t in 41 games in 1995 before mustering remember one guy that was like, ‘Ah, Olympics. Most of them were held at Team a .327 average with eight homers in 32 I’m doing it my way.’ They were all good USA’s training ground headquarters games the next summer. Williams also players. He’s not trying to change your in Millington, Tennessee, but one of led the Americans in batting average batting stance or anything like that. the scrimmages was played in Baton with a .417 mark in 1996, hitting five “But just as far as the thought process Rouge a month before the Olympics. homers and posting a .479 on-base and (everyone) being all on the same Team USA faced Australia and won the percentage. team, I mean, it was the LSU way.”

THE INNER CIRCLE OF LSU BASEBALL

We Love You, Skip. Ivan and Jennifer Cabrera, Janice and Billy Guitreau, Luke, Richard and Susan Lipsey, David Thornton, and Sharon Pol

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Tigers give legendary coach ﬁtting sendoff in ﬁnal game at old Alex Box Stadium BY PETER FINNEY The Times-Picayune Editor’s note: This piece by legendary columnist Peter Finney originally published in The Times-Picayune on June 13, 2008, following the final game played at the old Alex Box Stadium in Baton Rouge.

Skip Bertman had watched LSU’s baseball Tigers wallop their way into the College World Series, defeating UC Irvine by the football score of 21-7 in the final game played at 70-year-old Alex Box Stadium. “I looked at all those screaming fans in yellow shirts and I wept,” said a former coach just as old as the ballpark that served as the home field for five NCAA championship teams. Bertman couldn’t help thinking back to the day in 1983 when he was at Alex Box for the first time, an assistant at Miami being recruited to take over the Tigers. “LSU was playing Alabama,” he said. “I vividly remember counting the crowd. I remember stopping at 348.” On Monday, Bertman was part of a crowd of 8,173 that lifted the total attendance for the three-day super regional beyond 23,000, which, Skip recalled, “was 2,000 more than we drew for my second season at LSU.” At the moment, Bertman cannot imagine anyone happier than a 70-yearold who has just put a heart attack behind him and gone on wearing a milewide smile. “I’m happy for two reasons,” he said. “I’m happy for the best fans in college baseball, for sending the season total beyond 200,000. And I’m happy for the players, for Coach Paul Mainieri and his staff, for the way they’ve made this the most memorable season I can remember. “Let me say this. I can’t predict what’s

going to happen in Omaha. I do know I never took a younger team to the World Series. I also know what this group did to get there, winning 25 of its last 26 games, has been miraculous.” So has the Bertman legacy, the five skins on the wall he leaves behind. • In 1991, it was Chad Ogea, later a World Series pitcher with the Cleveland Indians, beating Wichita State in the championship game. • In ‘93, it was Todd Walker coming up with an MVP performance at the plate and Brett Laxton fanning 16 Wichita State players in the finale. • In ‘96, it was Warren Morris’ No. 1 contribution to the CWS highlight reel, his dramatic two-out, two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth to beat Miami 9-8. • In ‘97, it was shortstop Brandon Larson playing MVP ball for the long-hitting club that outscored Alabama 13-6. • In 2000, down by three runs to Stanford in the eighth inning, it was homers by Blair Barbier and Jeremy Witten that helped tie it up, followed by Brad Cresse’s winning single. This kind of success was responsible for a number of things. For a bar in Omaha named “Bourbon Street.” For a supermarket in an Omaha suburb stocking Manda sausage, a cookout favorite for LSU zealots. For Tigers zealot Charles Lessard being introduced to the Nebraska State Legislature, a moment Lessard remembered this way: “It was neat. There I am dressed in purple and gold waving to all these people in suits and ties.” Those Tigers visits also were responsible for cupid’s arrow bringing together Doug Cosman of Baton Rouge and bride-to-be Pam of Omaha, who tied the knot during the ‘97 World Series,

quick exit in the doubleelimination tournament, it was like a circus leaving town. The tents came down and the cookouts stopped. As a Nebraska state trooper put it: “When LSU’s not here, you see one motor home and a thousand fights. When LSU’s here, you’ve got 100 motor homes and a great party.” “In a way,” said John Collins, a charter member of Bertman’s Coaches Committee, “Skip wound up making college baseball a way of life in Omaha as much as he did in Baton Rouge.” Collins, who’ll be following the Tigers to STAFF PHOTO BY MARK SALTZ Rosenblatt Stadium for LSU baseball coach Paul Mainieri, left, and athletic director Skip the 10th time, was among Bertman hug after the game against UC-Irvine in the NCAA Super the audience of 645 that Regional in Baton Rouge on June 9, 2008. attended Bertman’s home opener in ‘84. and delayed their honeymoon until after “A lot of the fans the championship game. The wedding didn’t dig baseball,” he recalled. “They reception was at Barrett’s Barlycorn, questioned pickoff plays, questioned an Irish pub where a guy named Stinky when the batter took a pitch. Some tends bar. showed their football mentality by Whenever the Tigers were in CWS calling the umpires ‘refs.’” contention, you’d find Stinky making That’s why, as he looks back to the repeated calls to Alex Box to check on beginning, Collins feels the Tigers’ the team’s progress. With LSU flags surprising baseball run was perfectly flapping in the breeze outside, Barrett’s timed, a fitting farewell to the man Barlycorn became a haven for LSU who launched the ship, whose duties as fans. athletic director will officially come to When he was asked if the purple-and- an end at the end of the month. gold memorabilia might scare off fans Keep in mind those duties included from competing schools, Stinky said: the recommendation of Les Miles as “I sure hope so. All we want are those the football coach three years ago and, free-spending, long-staying people this school year, included overseeing a from Cajunland.” program that sent 19 of 20 varsity sports Omaha baseball historians came to into postseason play, an LSU record. realize whenever an LSU team made a Take a bow, Mr. Bertman.

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Honoring a Louisiana Legend Skip Bertman's legacy will forever be part of LSU and Baton Rouge. A champion, a mentor, an inspiration to generations. Thank you, Coach. You will be deeply missed. Gerry Lane Enterprises

u o , y S k kip! n a h T Skip Bertman didn't just coach LSU baseball — he built something that changed Baton Rouge forever. From a standing start in 1984, he turned Alex Box Stadium into the loudest, proudest place in college baseball and brought home five national championships along the way. He taught a generation of Tigers how to win, and he taught the rest of us how to show up for them. At Manda, we've had a front-row seat to that pride for years, and we've loved every bit of it. Skip's energy, his swagger, and his belief in what LSU could be still run through this program today. Thank you, Skip, for the memories, the championships, and for showing all of us what Tiger pride really looks like.

WE’RE PROUD TO HAVE BEEN ALONG FOR THE RIDE,

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Looking back on 5 CWS championships 1991 COLLEGE WORLD SERIES

By this point, Skip Bertman had already built LSU into a baseball powerhouse; the Tigers had been to Omaha three of the previous four seasons and had reached the semifinals twice. But they hadn’t yet gotten over the hump, with Bertman memorably remarking that his players enjoying the hotel swimming pool in 1989 was a sign the team was just happy to be there. That all changed in 1991, and in fairly undramatic fashion: LSU went unbeaten in eight NCAA tournament games and outscored its College World Series opponents 48-15 in four games and setting CWS records for home runs (nine), runs per game (12), slugging percentage (.603) and fielding percentage (.993 with just one error). Catcher Gary Hymel, a Baton Rouge native, hit four of the homers. In the championship game, LSU jumped to a big lead against Wichita State and held on 6-3 behind the pitching of Chad Ogea.

THE BIG MOMENT

Facing Wichita State ace Tyler Green, who was the No. 10 pick in the Major League Baseball Draft that week, LSU used Armando Rios’ tworun home run in the second inning to build a 4-1 lead.

WHAT SKIP SAID

“I’ve always believed that anything you vividly imagine, ardently desire, sincerely believe and enthusiastically act upon must, absolutely must, come to pass.” (from Bertman’s autobiography, “Skip: The Man and the System.”)

SCORES FROM OMAHA May 31: LSU 8 Florida 1

June 2: June 5: LSU 15 Fresno State 3 LSU 19 Florida 8

June 8: LSU 6 Wichita State 3

1993 COLLEGE WORLD SERIES After failing to reach Omaha in 1992, the Tigers entered the ’93 season as the consensus No. 1 team in the country. But the season was no pleasure cruise — LSU committed 125 errors, a school record, lost three early games and had to fight through the losers bracket of the regional to make it back to the College World Series. Once there, LSU flashed a flair for the dramatic. The Tigers rallied from a 7-2 deficit to beat Texas A&M but lost to Long Beach State on a late Gauchos rally, setting up a winner-take-all semifinal two days later. Long Beach again had LSU on the ropes, but this time, the Tigers rallied to win 6-5. They again faced Wichita State in the final. Brett Laxton, the national freshman of the year, shut out the Shockers with 16 strikeouts and gave Bertman and the Tigers a second national title.

THE BIG MOMENT

Bertman’s teams had a never-say-die attitude, and the ’93 title run is a great example. Armando Rios and Todd Walker each had a huge hit in a comeback win over Texas A&M, but they weren’t done yet. Down 5-3 going to the bottom of the ninth of the elimination game against Long Beach, Rios tied the game with a two-run double and scored the winning run on Walker’s walk-off single. The long, dramatic game set up a quick turnaround for the next day’s championship, but LSU rode momentum to an easy victory.

WHAT SKIP SAID

“The most important thing about that team was its tenacity and belief. We didn’t get as much sleep the night before as you’d like, but the adrenaline rush carried us through.”

SCORES FROM OMAHA June 4: LSU 7 Long Beach State 1

June 6: LSU 13 Texas A&M 8

June 9: Long Beach State 10 LSU 8

June 11: LSU 6 Long Beach State 5

June 12: LSU 8 Wichita State 0

1996 COLLEGE WORLD SERIES Everyone remembers Warren Morris’ legendary home run to beat Miami — Bertman’s former team — in the championship game for LSU’s third national title. But the setup to the moment is worth re-telling, too. LSU was 0-4 against Florida that season but beat the Gators twice in Omaha. Then against Miami, the Tigers fell behind 2-0 early and 7-3 in the sixth inning. LSU got two in the seventh inning and two more in the eighth, with Nathan Dunn’s RBI single scoring Morris to tie it 7-7. Miami retook the lead 8-7 in the top of the ninth, setting up Morris’ heroics in the bottom of the inning. Morris, meanwhile, had missed most of the season with a broken hamate bone in his right hand. He hadn’t hit a home run all season, but, as the CBS broadcast noted early in the game, the Tigers were 21-0 with him in the starting lineup.

THE BIG MOMENT

With two outs, Morris jumped on the first pitch, a breaking ball over the inner half of the plate that he turned on and sent screaming toward the right-field corner. At first, it didn’t look like it had the height to clear the fence and would merely be a dramatic game-tying hit. Instead, it found the front row for a 9-8 win and became the first — and to this point, the only — walk-off home run in the final game of a College World Series.

WHAT SKIP SAID

“It’s like, “What can happen now? What’s next? This is the greatest championship I’ve ever been associated with, including the gold medal in Korea and three other national championships. This team is special. We have some great guys and some tremendous talent. We were picked No. 1 in a couple of polls and had pressure. They handled it. We had injuries. They handled that. I didn’t always make the right moves. They handled that and still trusted me. This is the most exciting thing to ever happen to me because of the way the game unfolded.”

SCORES FROM OMAHA

June 1: June 3: LSU 9 Wichita State 8 LSU 9 Florida 4

June 6: LSU 2 Florida 1

June 8: LSU 9 Miami 8

The Advocate F The Times-Picayune F The Acadiana Advocate F Sunday, August 30, 2026 F 11I

1938 SKIP

BERTMAN 2026

1997 COLLEGE WORLD SERIES

2000 COLLEGE WORLD SERIES

While no one argues that Bertman built one of college baseball’s greatest dynasties at LSU, this marked the lone instance the Tigers earned back-to-back CWS titles under his watch.

Bertman’s squads were remarkably consistent throughout his 18 years as LSU coach, and there was no drop-off at the end of his run. The 2000 season provided his final College World Series title before he decided to step away and become LSU athletic director following the 2001 campaign.

There are also few who will push back when you label the ‘97 Tigers as Bertman’s most powerful squad.

After sweeping through Texas, Southern Cal and Florida State on the way to the championship game, Stanford gave Bertman’s squad quite the test in the finale.

The “Gorilla Ball” era was at its peak with Bertman stocking his lineup with power bats.

The Cardinal held a 5-2 lead and were five outs away from a championship when the LSU onslaught began as three seniors - Brad Cresse, Blair Barbier and Jeremy Witten - came up with the big hits to propel LSU to a 6-5 win for the championship.

LSU hit 188 home runs as a team to set a single-season Div. I record which still stands. Third baseman Brandon Larson led the way with 40 - the fourth most in a single season by a Div. 1 player as he was one of nine Tigers to hit double-digit homers.

It was senior receiver Trey Hodges who allowed the Tigers to mount the late rally, throwing four scoreless innings while allowing two hits and striking out four. He was named the CWS Most Outstanding Player, picking up a pair of wins and a save in Omaha.

LSU rallied past Rice 5-4 in the opener in Omaha before dispatching of Stanford in back-to-back games to set up the championship game rematch against the same Alabama team that beat the Tigers in the title round of the SEC Tournament.

THE BIG MOMENT

LSU avenged that 12-2 loss by trouncing the Crimson Tide 13-6 at Rosenblatt Stadium.

When Barbier, a senior catcher, stepped to the plate with Ryan Theriot standing on second and the game tied 5-5, he was mired in a 1-for-12 slump in Omaha. On a 1-0 pitch, Barbier yanked a ball through the hole and into left field to allow Theriot to beat the throw home and set off the celebration in Omaha.

THE BIG MOMENT

After Warren Morris finished off a CWS title with a home run in Omaha the year prior, Danny Higgins got the championship game started with a solo homer to set the tone for a decisive win over the rival Crimson Tide. Higgins also added a two-run single in a six-run first inning as the party started early for the LSU faithful with a 9-0 lead after two innings.

WHAT SKIP SAID

May 30: LSU 5 Rice 4

June 1: LSU 10 Stanford 5

June 4: LSU 13 Stanford 9

“They just won’t give up. Of all the national championship teams, this is the best one. I visualized Brad getting a hit in the ninth. But I had him hitting a homer. This stuff really works. It’s a belief system. It’s really important.”

SCORES FROM OMAHA

“We were the SEC conference champions this year, not Alabama. We showed them that we’re No. 1.”

SCORES FROM OMAHA

WHAT SKIP SAID

June 10: LSU 13 Texas 5

June 12: June 15: LSU 10 Southern Cal 4 LSU 6 Florida State 3

June 17: LSU 6 Stanford 5

June 7: LSU 13 Alabama 6

Honoring SKIP BERTMAN

Louisiana’s Favorite Son, Beloved LSU Coach, and

BASEBALL LEGEND

Skip Bertman sharring his famous “Hold the Rope” m metaphor with employees at Shell Norco during ng in 2016. a safety meetin

Some coaches win games. Some build programs. Some become legends.

And a select few are among the greatest of all time. That was Skip Bertman. Bertman’s legacy extends far beyond championships, trophies, and Hall of Fame honors. He was a visionary, a teacher, and a leader whose lessons applied as much to life as they did to baseball. What made Bertman special was his ability to inspire people to believe in themselves and in a larger vision. Whether he was speaking to players, fans, business leaders, or employees, he consistently hit a home run with a simple message: success begins with vision.

During a visit with Shell employees in 2016, Bertman shared many of the same principles that guided his championship teams. He spoke about the importance of discipline, teamwork, perseverance, and staying focused through life’s challenges– values that are just as important in the workplace as they are in the ﬁeld. Bertman believed success is earned one pitch, one play, and one day at a time. He encouraged people to recognize their own potential. “There is only one of you,” Bertman once said. “No one can take your place.” For generations of LSU players, fans, and Louisianians, Skip Bertman was more than a coach. He was a mentor, motivator, and ambassador for the university and the state he loved. The celebration of his life’s work and enduring legacy will never end. There will only be one Skip Bertman and no one can ever take his place.

shell.us/louisiana | #PoweringProgress

Celebrating a Life THAT CHANGED THE GAME We join the LSU family and Baton Rouge in celebrating the life and legacy of Coach Skip Bertman: a champion, a leader and a Louisiana legend. He trusted, challenged and inspired those around him, and in doing so became a model for leadership that extends far beyond the diamond. He raised the bar for LSU, Baton Rouge and Tiger fans everywhere. We’re proud to celebrate Coach Bertman’s remarkable life and a legacy that inspires us to keep holding the rope for one another.

fmolhealth.org/lsu

Healthiest way to order fried chicken 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 30, 2026

Molly Kimball 1N

Night owls may risk heart problems later in life

STAFF PHOTOS By MICHAEL JOHNSON

Clinic Director Carl Doug Phillips checks the blood pressure of a patient in August at the Tunica-Biloxi Rural Health Clinic in Marksville.

‘OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE’ Tunica-Biloxi Tribe’s Rural Health Clinic becomes community resource

BY MARGARET DELANEY Staff writer

MARKSVILLE — When COVID-19 isolated Americans, health ofﬁcials of the TunicaBiloxi Tribe of Louisiana knew they needed to work faster. The tribe had established a need for rural health clinic just a year before the pandemic pushed community health needs — like vaccinations and clinical care — to the surface. “We knew we didn’t have the experience or expertise in hand to address (COVID),” said tribe chair and CEO Marshall Pierite. So, the tribe hired a chief medical officer, Dr. Arthur Webb, who was previously based in Washington, D.C., to Pierite organize vaccination efforts with tribe members. “He had other experience dealing with Native Americans,” Pierite said. “He’s the one actually started planting the seed for a clinic.” Pierite was born just six miles north of Marksville in Avoyelles Parish, the central city where many Tunica-Biloxi Tribe members live. When he was 10, his father spoke a prophecy over him, saying that he would one day lead many populations of the tribe.

Nurse Jill Calhoon talks with Lead Clinic Nurse Kayla Laborde at the clinic. He was elected as chair in 2018. “It really was a passion of mine to make sure that I stay connected,” he said. After serving in the U.S. Marine Corps, Pierite’s ﬁrst role with the tribe was as a healthcare clerk where he would drive members who did not have transportation to various health appointments.

“Our healthcare vision was born because of the lack of adequate healthcare not only to our tribal community and our families, but the overall healthcare extended to nontribal communities in the area,” Pierite said. “This is how this clinic came to fruition.”

ä See CLINIC, page 2X

This is a column in a series from Dr. Olivia Ragusa, a primary care physician at Baton Rouge General, sharing insight on a variety of health topics for patients of all ages, including prevention, wellness tips and everyday strategies to help individuals and families stay healthy. If you do your best work after dark, you’re not alone. Some people DR. naturally feel more OLIVIA alert and producRAGUSA tive at night. But DOCTOR SAyS new research suggests that being a night owl may come with a health trade-off, particularly for women as they get older. Let’s break down the latest research: A large, long-term study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association followed more than 320,000 adults ages 39 to 74 who did not have known cardiovascular disease when the study began. Participants identified themselves as morning, intermediate or evening types based on their natural sleep-wake preferences. The results were eye-opening. People who identified as evening types had a 79% higher risk of overall poorer health compared with those in the intermediate group. The link was even stronger among middle-aged and older women. So, what does your preferred bedtime have to do with your heart? The answer may have a lot to do with your circadian rhythm. This is your body’s internal 24-hour clock that helps coordinate sleep, hormones, body temperature, metabolism and other important functions. Ideally, your internal clock is synchronized with your daily routine. But when your sleep schedule is consistently out of sync with your body’s natural rhythms, it can create what we call circadian misalignment. That matters because your circadian rhythm does much more than tell you when it’s time to sleep. It helps regulate cardiometabolic functions, like blood pressure, blood sugar, insulin sensitivity and how your body processes food. It also plays a role in inflammation and the release of hormones involved in appetite, stress and metabolism. When those rhythms are repeatedly disrupted over time, it may contribute to metabolic problems and increase cardiovascular risk. Of course, being a night owl doesn’t automatically mean you’re going to develop heart disease. Our sleep preferences are influenced by biology, age, lifestyle and other factors. And

ä See DOCTOR, page 3X

Our team gets you back to yours Learn more or schedule an appointment at ochsner.org/lafayetteortho.

Alex M. | Knee Surgery Patient

Christopher Tosino, DO | Sports Medicine

2X ● Sunday, August 30, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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Research: Reprogramming immune system reverses diabetes BY KARL HILLE

The Baltimore Sun (TNS) Scientists designed selfpolicing T cells to stop the immune system from attacking insulin-producing cells in mouse trials, suggesting a way to reverse diabetes. People with Type 1 diabetes rely on supplemental insulin to survive as their immune system destroys their body’s insulin-producing cells. Clinical trials from the Medical University of South Carolina reversed newly diagnosed Type 1 diabetes in mice by reprogramming the immune system to protect insulin-producing cells. Lead researcher Hongjun Wang said the experimental therapy uses adult stem cells derived from donated umbilical cords to help repair tissue and control immune activity, even after the onset of diabetes damages

GETTy IMAGES PHOTO

Scientists designed self-policing T cells to stop the immune system from attacking insulin-producing cells in mouse trials, suggesting a way to reverse diabetes. those tissues. “While insulin injections are lifesaving, they cannot stop immune attacks, and they do not prevent longterm complications,” Wang told SciTechDaily.com.

“This study suggests a new way to treat Type 1 diabetes by addressing the root cause — immune system dysfunction — rather than just managing blood sugar.” Insulin is essential for

regulating blood sugar and helps cells absorb it for energy, according to the National Institutes of Health. The disease affects about 1.7 million American adults, or 1 in 20 people with diabetes.

Diabetes causes damage from high blood sugar levels that can harm the heart, kidneys, nerves, eyes, feet and teeth. It also contributes to high blood pressure and cholesterol problems. Symp-

toms include increased urination, feeling very thirsty or hungry — even after eating — blurred vision, fatigue, sores that do not heal, frequent infections and unexplained weight loss. The success of the new treatment depends on diagnosing diabetes early, before the body’s insulin-producing cells are wiped out. After treating mice, the researchers reported an increase in protective T-regulatory cells and a drop in active attacking cells. These results continued long after the stem cells ﬁnished their work and disappeared from the body. They published their work in the journal Molecular Therapy last month. The NIH approved a human trial for 60 participants aged 18 to 40 who are within their first six months of a Type 1 diabetes diagnosis. That trial will begin in February.

STAFF FILE PHOTO By BRAD BOWIE

Marshall Pierite, chair of the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe, walks through the museum located within the Marksville Historic Native American Site in May 2023 in Marksville.

STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

Health Director Cameron Chase stands inside at the clinic.

CLINIC

Continued from page 1X They opened the doors to the Tunica-Biloxi Rural Health Clinic in 2021, on Tunica Drive in Marksville. The Tunica-Biloxi Tribe has roughly 1,200 to 1,500 total enrolled citizens spread across the United States. About 40% of these members, between 500 and 600, live in Louisiana, primarily on or near their reservation in Avoyelles and Rapides parishes. American Indian and Alaska Native populations experience notable health disparities, including an average life expectancy of 70.1 years, the lowest of any U.S. racial or ethnic group, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. After COVID rates settled, the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe looked to the future of the approved clinic to potentially address the high rates of chronic conditions like diabetes and elevated uninsured rates. In 2024, American Indian and Alaska Native adults were 36% more likely than U.S. adults overall to have diabetes.

Building the team Cameron Chase, the rural clinic’s health director, was recruited in 2020 from a tribal epidemiology center with the United South and Eastern Tribes, a national organization serving 33 tribal nations. “As the COVID pandemic started to fade away, the clinic started to grow. We realized that there was an opportunity to serve our local community,” Chase said. “A rural healthcare swamp.” In the first three years open as a clinic, 72% of patients they treated were uninsured. Part of the resourc-

es they provide at the clinic include bridging the access to care, with social workers and licensed counselors on staff. Chase’s ﬁrst hire was Carl Doug Phillips, a nurse practitioner from Alexandria who has a background in behavioral health. A friend, and tribe member, from his college days at Loyola University in New Orleans gave him a call after he graduated in 2020. “He said that the tribe needed someone maybe once a week to come out to Marksville,” Phillips said. “They were thinking about starting a clinic and outpatient care.” Phillip’s drove up to Tunica Biloxi and never left. The pair worked together to begin the clinic from ground zero — establishing working relationships with health partners in the area, recruiting members of the health staff, building trust with the tribe community at large. “We lean on each other a lot,” Phillips said. Their current plan is to grow slowly and steadily over the next few years. The team is looking to expand in women’s health, cardiology, dermatology, podiatry, musculoskeletal treatments and nutrition. “As much as we want to go full speed ahead, we have to do it right,” Chase said. “We can’t overbuild and overpromise, especially when we’re talking about healthcare.” To build their relationship with their community, the pair visits the casino four minutes down the road to speak to potential patients. They outreach at back-toschool bashes in middle and high schools, sometimes a backpack with the clinic’s logo on it will get adults in the door. “A lot of healthcare depends on a trusting relationship,” Chase said. “And that

STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

The Tunica-Biloxi Rural Health Clinic is located in Marksville. relationship takes time.”

Finding the experts In 2024, Dr. Ghyass Rizk, a Syrian-born endocrinologist with a 35-year career running his own practice in Lafayette, announced his retirement. Rizk fell in love with Lafayette in the summer of 1994 and never left Acadiana. Many patients in the region, including tribe members who were also patients at the Tunica-Biloxi Rural Health Clinic, bemoaned his departure. Chase and Phillips got to recruiting. “It didn’t take much convincing,” Chase said. Rizk now works part-time with the clinic, focusing on diabetes and thyroid management for patients, as well as access to insulin and diabetes medication. “It’s more common between American Indians,” Rizk said. “Some tribes they say between 25% to 50% have diabetes.” Growing the infrastructure for tribe members was always the goal, but now that the health clinic is established, the tribe is expanding to serve its non-Native community as well. “We’re not a health system that’s been established for 30 or 40 years. We didn’t open our first clinic until 2021,” Cameron Chase said. “We’re focused on the other parts of the bottom line: What is the impact on the community? What is the environmental impact? What is the personal impact for the patients and our personnel, our staff?” The tribe opened a location off-reservation available to the community in September. Their patient volume has more than tripled since then. “We’re not here for charity. We’re an asset. That’s

PROVIDED PHOTO

From left, Cameron Chase, health director; Vicky Alvarado, patient services coordinator; Jill Calhoon, LPN; Dr. Ghyass Rizk, endocrinologist; Kayla Laborde, RN, lead clinic nurse; Carl Doug Phillips, PMHNP-BC, FNP-C, clinic director; Chelsea Smith, FNP-C; Marshall Pierite, Chairman and CEO of Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana, pose for a photo.

STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

The Tunica-Biloxi Rural Health Clinic features eagle artwork from local artists throughout the facility from the waiting room to exam rooms. where our team, even if we’re Native or not, we can utilize the sovereignty, selfdetermination and skill sets

of the tribe to be that asset for healthcare,” Chase said. “Maybe we’re not big enough to cover the whole

state, but we can have precision impacts locally that leverage those federal programs.”

The Acadiana Advocate ● theadvocate.com ● Sunday,August 30, 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

The healthiest way to order fried chicken (yes, really)

y husband and I have fried chicken every once in a while, usually around football season for a tailgate, Mardi Gras or sometimes just because. Whenever I tell someone we picked-up Popeyes, the reaction is almost always the same: “Wait...you eat fried chicken?” Absolutely! Just not very often. That’s the thing about the big picture of whole-body wellness. If there are foods you truly enjoy – fried chicken included – they can easily ﬁt into an overall healthy lifestyle, whether it’s on the way to afterschool sports practice, a tailgate or simply trying to get something on the table during a busy work week. It’s not about perfection or avoiding these foods entirely. It’s about enjoying them once in a while and knowing when a few simple changes can make a surprisingly big difference. But ﬁrst, a reality check. Traditional fried chicken has a reputation for being one of the least healthy fast-food choices around, and for good reason. A single Popeyes chicken breast contains 620 calories, 1,780 milligrams of sodium and 17 grams of carbohydrate. Add a thigh, a leg and a biscuit, and you’re looking at more than 1,500 calories, nearly 4,000 milligrams of sodium and almost 80 grams of carbohydrate – about the same amount of carbohydrate as six slices of white bread. It’s not about never having fried chicken. It’s about knowing when a better option is available on the menu. And fortunately, there are some surprisingly good alternatives.

carbohydrate. Compare this with a threepiece order of Popeyes Classic Tenders: 390 calories, 35 grams of protein, 1,700 milligrams of sodium and 25 grams of carbohydrate. Strip for strip, Blackened Tenders have about half the sodium and more than 90% fewer carbohydrates. When Popeyes ﬁrst introduced these, I thought there was no way the nutrition facts could be accurate. The tenders were still being deep fried, so how could they possibly have nutrition numbers that were essentially the same as grilled, skinless chicken breast? I was skeptical enough that we actually sent them to an independent lab for analysis. Sure enough, the published nutrition facts were spot on. Here’s why: When chicken is fried at high temperatures without breading, the meat itself absorbs very little oil. Most of the extra calories, fat, carbohydrates and sodium in traditional fried chicken come from the breading, which absorbs the oil and carries that salty, carbohydrate-rich coating. Remove the breading and you’ve removed the biggest nutritional hit while keeping the ﬂavor and protein.

Raising Cane’s Naked Chicken Strips

If Raising Cane’s is your go-to, most locations can fry the chicken strips without the breading – just ask for them “naked.” Because this is an off-menu item, nutrition information isn’t published, but

the same principle applies: removing the breading dramatically reduces the calories, carbohydrate, fat and sodium while still keeping the protein and ﬂavor.

you’re really after, there’s still a way to make it a little better. Savor a bite or two of that crunchy coating – because let’s be honest, who doesn’t love that crispy goodness – then pull off the remaining breading and skin. You’ll still get the ﬂavor while leaving behind the extra sodium, carbs and calories. One question I hear often is about white meat vs. dark meat. The answer is that they’re pretty similar, nutritionally. Dark meat contains more myoglobin, the iron-rich protein that gives it its darker color. Both are nutritious choices while the biggest factor is removing the breading and the skin.

Chick-ﬁl-A Grilled Nuggets

Chick-ﬁl-A’s grilled nuggets are another excellent option, especially for busy afternoons when kids are heading straight from school to sports practices or other activities. These grilled nuggets are high in protein, low in carbohydrate and easy to pair with their fresh fruit or kale salad for a balanced meal.

If You’re Craving Traditional Fried Chicken

When Convenience Is the Priority

If traditional fried chicken is what

If your goal is simply getting dinner on the table after a busy day, don’t overlook rotisserie chicken. Pull off the skin, add a bagged salad or frozen vegetables and you’ve got dinner in minutes. The best nutrition advice isn’t about saying no to fried chicken forever. It’s about enjoying it when it’s worth it and recognizing when an easy swap lets you have your chicken and still feel good about the choice.

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.

Popeyes Blackened Tenders

A three-piece order of Popeyes Blackened Tenders has just 170 calories, 28 grams of protein, 860 milligrams of sodium and just 2 grams of

BY THE NUMBERS

LA., U.S. VACCINE EXEMPTIONS CLIMB FOR KINDERGARTNERS The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released vaccination coverage data for the 2025-26 school year in August, showing a decline for all reported vaccines from the previous year. The CDC reports that overall vaccination rates among kindergartners remained high, over 92% for MMR, DTap, Polio, Hep B and varicella vaccines. Exemptions from one or more vaccines among U.S. kindergartners was at 4.2%, increasing from 3.6% for the 2024-25 school year.Vaccine exemptions rose in 41 states and Washington, D.C. In Louisiana, vaccination nonmedical exemption rates continued its climb, reaching its highest peak since the 2011-12 school year: n 0.6% of Louisiana kindergartners were exempt from vaccine requirements under nonmedical reasons for the 2011-12 school year; n 0.5% in 2012-13; n 0.7% in 2013-14; n 0.6% in 2014-15; n 0.6% in 2015-16; n 0.7% in 2016-17; n 1% in 2017-18; n 1.1% in 2018-19; n 1.3% in 2019-20; n 1% in 2020-21; n 1.1% in 2021-22; n 2.1% in 2022-23; n 2.7% in 2023-24;

DOCTOR

Continued from page 1X sometimes work, family responsibilities or other demands simply don’t allow us to follow our ideal schedule. The good news is that small changes can help bring your daily routine more in line with your body’s natural clock. Try to go to bed and wake up at roughly the same time

n 3% in 2024-25; n and 3.8% in 2025-2026. Vaccination coverage for MMR (measles, mumps and rubella), DTap (diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis), polio and varicella decreased in more than half of states. The CDC said there were approximately 280,000 kindergartners attending school in 2025-26 without documentation of completing the two-dose MMR vaccine. In Louisiana, more than 4,800 kindergarten students (9.2%) did not receive the two-dose MMR vaccine. These states had the highest percentage of kindergarten students who received the MMR vaccine: n West Virginia with 98.9%; n Connecticut with 98.6%; n Maine with 98%; n New york with 97.7%; n Mississippi with 97%; n Rhode Island with 96.7%; n Maryland with 96.6%; n Massachusetts with 96.5%; n California with 95.7%; n New Mexico with 95.1%; n D.C. and Tennessee with 94.4%; n and Alabama with 94.3%. These states had the lowest percentage of kindergarten students who received the MMR vaccine: n Idaho with 75.2%; n Wisconsin with 85.1%; n Minnesota with 85.7%;

each day, including weekends. Your body responds well to predictable routines. If you’re currently going to bed very late, try moving your bedtime earlier by 15 to 30 minutes every few nights to gradually shift your schedule. Your eating schedule matters too. Try to avoid making your largest meal — or snacking — right before bedtime. And don’t overlook movement! Regular physical activity

is one of the best things you can do for your heart, and getting active during the day can also support better sleep at night. You don’t have to become a 5 a.m. person to protect your heart. The goal isn’t to completely change your personality or natural sleep preference. It’s to create a routine that gives your body enough consistent sleep and helps keep your internal clock and daily schedule working together.

Kindergarten MMR vaccines The percentage of kindergarteners in each state who recieved the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine for the 2025-2026 school year. 97% or more

94%–96.9%

91%–93.9%

88%–90.9%

Less than 88%

N/A

National average: 92.4% WA S H . WASH. MON T. MONT.

V T. VT.

N.D. N.D. MINN. MINN.

ORE . ORE. I DA H O IDAHO W Y O. WYO.

U TAH UTAH

C O L O. COLO.

CALIF. CALIF.

A RI Z . ARIZ.

N.M. N.M.

N.Y. N.Y.

MICH. MICH. N E B. NEB.

NE V. NEV.

I O WA IOWA

PA . PA. IL L . ILL.

K A N. KAN.

OK L A . OKLA.

M O. MO.

IND. IND.

OHIO OHIO W.V. W.V.

VA . VA.

K Y. KY.

R .I. R.I. CONN. C ONN. N . J. N.J. DE L . DEL. MD. MD.

N .C . N.C.

T ENN. TENN. A RK . ARK.

S .C . S.C. MIS S. AALA. MISS. L A.

TE X AS TEXAS

ME . ME. M A S S. MASS.

W IS. WIS.

S.D. S.D.

N.H. N.H.

GA. GA.

L A. LA.

A L A SK A ALASKA

FL A. FLA. H AWA I I HAWAII

Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

n Utah with 87.2%; n Arizona with 87.4%; n Colorado with 87.7%; n Oklahoma with 87.8%; n Ohio with 88.1%; n New Hampshire with 88.2%;

Louisiana: 90.3% Staff graphic

n North Dakota with 88.5%; n Florida and Iowa with 88.9%; n and Georgia with 89.1%. Both Kentucky and Montana did not have data available with the CDC on kindergarten vaccination rates for MMR.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU 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 reexamining 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.

4X ● Sunday, August 30, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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HEALTH NOTES

‘Resilience room’ supports workers at North Oaks Health BY MARGARET DELANEY

Staff writer

North Oaks Health in Hammond opened a “resilience room” for employees in August, creating a dedicated space where team members can recharge and “manage the physical and emotional demands of working in healthcare.” “Our employees devote themselves every day to caring for our patients and community,” said Michele K. Sutton, the President and CEO of North Oaks Health. “Supporting their well-being is both a responsibility and a strategic priority.” The room includes massage chairs, yoga mats and soothing nature sounds to promote relaxation and reduce stress.

La. doctor gets grant to help teens with ADHD Dr. Jeffrey Keller at LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center and Sara Seifert with Minnesota HealthSolutions received the National Institutes of Health’s Small Business Innovation Research award to develop an innovative digital health platform that will help parents support teen- Keller agers with attention-deﬁcit/hyperactivity disorder as they learn to drive. Teen drivers with ADHD represent one of the highest risk groups for motor vehicle crashes. The digital smartphone-based platform will help parents, physicians and teens work together to build safer driving habits The Phase I SBIR award of $353,306, funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, supports the collaboration between Pennington Biomedical and Minnesota HealthSolutions. Researchers will work closely with parents and teens throughout the development process to ensure the platform meets the needs of families. The project is expected to conclude in spring 2027.

PROVIDED PHOTO

North Oaks Health offers nutritionally balanced, chef-prepared meals for $3 in the cafeterias at North Oaks Medical Center and North Oaks Rehabilitation Hospital. study, participants should: n Be a man or pre-menopausal woman, n Be 18 to 42 years of age, n Have a BMI between 23 to 35. Compensation of up to $1,255 is offered for completion of the study. For information: www.pbrc.edu

Tulane study looks at bats and viruses

Researchers at Tulane University, with collaborators at Stanford University and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, found that the world’s largest family of bats has two distinct copies of the genes that produce antibodies, the specialized proteins that help the immune system recognize and ﬁght infections. Every other known mammal has only one such set. The discovery opens new avenues for understanding the evolution of immunity and how animals respond to disease. “We think this discovery is an important piece of the puzzle,” The EAT2 research study will said Hannah Frank, associate prolook at the changes that occur in fessor of ecology and evolutionfat tissue as a result of weight gain ary biology at Tulane University (and weight loss) and the effects School of Science and Engineeron health. ing and corresponding author of To qualify for this research the study. “It doesn’t fully explain

Pennington researches launches fat tissue study

why bats are such effective viral reservoirs, but it reveals a level of immune variety we didn’t know existed and gives us an entirely new direction to explore.” Understanding how bats coexist with viruses without becoming ill may eventually help scientists better understand immune responses across species and improve strategies for preventing disease.

Ouachita renews contract with Acadian Ambulance Acadian Ambulance will continue providing EMS service to Ouachita Parish and the cities of Monroe and West Monroe. In July, the Ouachita Parish Ambulance Advisory Committee reviewed the three proposals and unanimously recommended renewing a contract with Acadian Ambulance. With the Ouachita Council of Governments acceptance of the recommendation on July, a new contract will take effect by the end of the year, with no gap in services.

prepared meals for $3 in the cafeterias at North Oaks Medical Center and North Oaks Rehabilitation Hospital. Available to everyone, nourished by North Oaks Health offers a budget-friendly choice for anyone looking for nutritious, balanced meals. The menu features nine rotating meals, with breakfast and lunch options available on weekdays and lunch on weekends. Every meal has at least 10 grams of protein, at least 3 grams of ﬁber and no trans-fat. Menus will rotate quarterly and initially include an everything bagel breakfast wrap, berry nut yogurt bowl, chicken Parmesan with vegetables and pasta, chimichurri beef and brown rice bowl, shrimp and peanut chili crisp noodle bowl, shawarma chicken bowl, grilled Thai beef salad, fresh fruit Cobb salad and a spring greens and grain bowl.

Tulane study eyes kidneys, immune defenses

Researchers at Tulane University uncovered details about how immune cells in the kidneys rebuild themselves after being deNorth Oaks Health will now of- pleted, offering new insight into fer nutritionally balanced, chef- the body’s natural repair process

North Oaks Health will provide $3 healthy meals

and laying the foundation for future therapies for kidney disease. The study, led by Xuebin Qin, professor of microbiology and immunology at the Tulane National Biomedical Research Center, appears in the journal Cells. The research focused on kidneyresident macro- Qin phages, immune cells that serve as the kidney’s ﬁrst responders. In healthy kidneys, these cells remove dead tissue, monitor for infection and help coordinate healing following injury. Until now, scientists understood relatively little about how this network is restored after those macrophages are lost. Rather than simply replacing missing cells, Qin and the team found that kidney cells and macrophages engage in an intricate molecular conversation that guides the rebuilding process. “Understanding how the kidney naturally rebuilds its immune system after injury is essential if we hope to develop therapies that improve recovery,” Qin said.

La. Medicaid director named leadership fellow Seth Gold, Louisiana Medicaid executive director, is one of six directors in the country chosen to participate in the Medicaid Leadership Institute, a national initiative led by the Center for Health Care Strategies. The program, an initiative of the National Medicaid Leadership Center, helps directors and their leadership teams build the skills, knowledge and networks needed to lead their agencies and advance key policy priorities. Gold was selected through a competitive external review process to participate along with ﬁve other directors from Alaska, Illinois, Missouri, New York and North Carolina. During the 10-month program, fellows gain skills in critical areas, including leadership development, communication skills, relationship-building, strategic thinking and team development. Health Notes is an occasional listing of health happenings around Louisiana. Have something you’d like to share? Contact us at margaret. delaney@theadvocate.com.

Researchers eye what ‘infinite scrolling’ on phones does to brains BY CAMILLA FOSTER Tribune News Service

LONDON — We all know how easy it is to get hooked on scrolling, but what does this endless scrolling actually do to our brains? We asked experts to explain the psychology behind the habit. “Our brain’s prefrontal cortex is where the core of our inhibition control sits and infinite scrolling is particularly a problem with teenagers because the prefrontal cortex is not fully matured for most people until their mid-20s,” says Matteo Parissi, registered and chartered forensic psychologist and head of psychology at Cygnet Hospital Harrow in the UK. “Therefore, teenagers and adolescents are a bit more vulnerable when it comes to their ability to stop infinite scrolling.” Interactions on social media also trigger a rush of dopamine. “Dopamine is a chemical messenger which is central in how our brain’s reward system works. We get dopamine in order to get motivated and when we’re feeling pleasure,” explains Parissi. DREAMSTIME PHOTO “Teens often get triggered and hiThe so-called infinite scroll has become such a fixture of social media that our dopamine receptors have come jacked by the social reward of likes that they get on social media, which to expect it, writes Parmy Olson. is essentially a metaphor of peer feedback that keeps this dopamine see what we want to see, we contin- bringing biology-led methodology quick hits of dopamine (through circle going.” scrolling) it’s not going to learn how ue scrolling because our brain and to families. reward system is hijacked by this “Therefore, if you are being fed to maintain that focus over the lonThe slot machine effect mechanism.” an algorithm of negativity, your ger term because you just haven’t He highlights how unlike books, brain will begin to rewire accord- practiced it. Parissi highlights how the core “If you’re not using that ability to mechanism of infinite scrolling is there are no natural stopping points ing to the stimulation that it’s given, with social media. similar to slot machines. so you will become much more neg- focus longer, it won’t develop that “In books, there are natural stop- ative in your outlook. ability.” “Our brain does not know when the next rewarding piece of content ping points where your brain will “It’s a very simple mechanism. will appear, so each swipe while ask, ‘Should I read another chapter?’ The nerves, the thinking patterns Increases stress and anxiety scrolling has the possibility of get- However, the issue with scrolling is that get stimulated get entrenched, “One of the key traits we’ve that we don’t have any of that, unless and the ones that don’t begin to pe- evolved to have is to perpetually ting a reward,” he explains. scan our environment for any po“For our brain, this is quite detri- we decide to self-initiate this inhibi- ter out.” mental because, from a dopamine tion or put limitations in place.” tential threats and dangers, and Impacts on focus perspective, the anticipation of when you’re in the world of doomEntrenched neural pathways getting rewarding content mat“There’s quite a lot of correlated scrolling, you’re being fed so many ters even more than the rewarding “If you stimulate certain thinking evidence that suggests that young- things to have to worry about, and content itself, and this is the reason patterns, certain neural pathways, er generations are becoming less your body can’t differentiate bewhy this behavior persists. the brain will rewire accordingly,” and less able to hold focus for a long tween them,” highlights Warley. “For example, when we’re scroll- explains Sarah Warley, neurophysi- period of time,” says Warley. Being alert puts your body into a “If you think about the brain as fight-or-flight state. ing on Instagram and the content is ological psychologist and founder “This triggers high cortisol stress only mediocre and we don’t really of BeBright, a digital platform a muscle, if you’re only giving it

levels, high adrenaline and makes you feel alert because you expect something negative to happen, and your body feels primed for that,” says Warley. “Stress is ﬁne when it comes in bursts; it has a functional purpose, but if it’s there 24/7 because of what you’re consuming, then you will get absolutely worn out emotionally. You’ll become much more anxious and are likely to have a much more negative outlook on the world.”

Tips to overcome n Recognize that progress won’t happen overnight: “It’s important to understand that it’s not just going to happen overnight. You’re not going to go from a pattern of addictive scrolling to suddenly doing things that are healthier for you,” says Warley. “However, you can gradually get there if you just chip away at it little by little until it’s gone.” n Start small: “If you spend hours doomscrolling every day, it might be helpful to reduce your scrolling time by 10 minutes everyday to start with and then gradually increase this to 15 minutes and then 30 minutes,” suggests Warley. n Avoid going on your phone as soon as you wake up: “The ﬁrst thing many people do when they wake up is check their notiﬁcations, open social media and start scrolling,” says Parissi. “Instead of hijacking and bypassing the fact that our body biologically is wired to have a gradual wake-up time, I would recommend waking up to natural light. “It’s better to gradually build up and reach the peak of our activity to midday, rather than immediately open a world of endless videos as soon as you wake up.” n Carve out time for fun activities and get outdoors: “Think about all the fun things that you can do together as a family, such as a board game, to replace some of that scrolling time,” advises Warley. Going for a walk in nature is one of the things that you can do that’s incredibly effective at reducing your stress levels and cortisol levels, recommends Warley.

The Acadiana Advocate ● theadvocate.com ● Sunday, August 30, 2026 ● 5X

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Back-to-school success starts with healthy habits, Ochsner Health experts say

By Amanda McElfresh amcelfresh@theadvocate.com

sometimes they can’t express it, so it comes out as anger, less focus and problems with schoolwork or personal interactions,” Dr. This story is brought to you Pullin said. by Ochsner Health. Parents can help kids establish a healthy sleep schedule by keeping consistent bedFor many families, the back-to-school times and wake-up times, including on weekseason is marked by fresh supplies, full ends, and building a calming routine to end calendars and reunions with friends and the day that might include a bath or shower, teachers. Despite the excitement, the re- reading and preparing clothes or a backpack turn to the classroom is one of for the next day. the biggest transitions children Proper nutrition is also crucial for and parents face all year. While kids of all ages, as regular meals and these changes can mark the besnacks support growth, concentraginning of long-lasting memotion, energy and learning. Dr. Pullin ries, it can also create stress said practical breakfast options inthat affects children’s physical clude eggs, whole-grain toast, yogurt, health, emotional well-being fruit and nut or seed butters. Snacks and academic success. like cheese, whole-grain crackers with “I think it takes about a hummus or yogurt with fruit can proCourtney Gunn, PhD vide lasting energy. month to iron out the dePsychologist tails and adjust to that year’s “One of my biggest suggestions is to Ochsner Baton Rouge school schedule. Sometimes avoid processed foods. Those tend to it takes a little trial and erlead to a big spike and a big crash,” he said. ror,” said Courtney Gunn, PhD, psychologist, “Food is fuel for our brains. When kids don’t Ochsner Baton Rouge. “I tell parents to give have the right fuel, they don’t function as themselves and their kids some grace be- well. It’s great when parents involve their cause there will be challenges. You have to children in choosing and preparing food. be patient with kids as they They are more likely to eat items they adjust, and patient with yourhelp select, while parents can still guide self as well.” balance and variety.” Justice Stafford, PysD, Another key to a successful school CMPC, licensed sport psycholyear lies in limiting screen time to no ogist, Ochsner Andrews Sports more than two hours per day across all Medicine Institute in New Ordevices. Dr. Gunn said this is ideally a leans, encourages families to family activity with parents modeling respond to the obligations of the habits they expect from their kids. the current school That can mean establishing device-free year rather than reJustice Stafford, PysD, CMPC times and places within the home, parLicensed Sport Psychologist ticularly during mealtimes and in the lying on what has Ochsner Andrews Sports Medicine worked in the past. Institute in New Orleans hours before bedtime. “See how the Parents can help kids create healthy moments present boundaries within their online behavior, themselves in terms of schedule and routine, Dr. Gunn said. For example, children who then figure out how to best manage those are old enough to use social media should for everyone,” she said. “Last year’s expecta- know they can mute, unfollow, block or tions may not work this time around.” report users who make them uncomfortable, and parents and kids together can Daily habits set the stage review privacy settings, location sharing for long-term success and followers. While many parents focus on an ideal first “It’s important for parents to pay attenweek, healthy routines that can be sustained tion not only to how much time their child is throughout the school year are built through online, but the sites they are visiting and the small, consistent habits, said Todd Pullin, kinds of communications they are having. MD, pediatrician, Ochsner Health Center – Parental controls can help you monitor that Eunice. Adequate sleep is a core part of that and still let kids have protected fun online,” routine because it supports attention, learn- she said. “Social media is not automaticaling, memory, mood, behavior ly harmful, but teens need support in and physical health. Children recognizing when it affects their mood, ages 6 to 12 generally need nine confidence, sleep or participation in to 12 hours of sleep each night, everyday life.” while teens generally need eight to 10 hours. Building confidence and “If kids don’t get enough identity beyond sports sleep, their brains don’t work For student-athletes, the beginning properly. We see that as adults. of the school year signals the start of If we are tired, we don’t practices, games, conditioning and Todd Pullin, MD perform as well. Kids Pediatrician travel. Dr. Stafford said sports can have experience that too, but Ochsner Health Center – Eunice multiple benefits for kids, including

better physical health, lasting friendships with teammates and the opportunity to build self-confidence and discipline. The key is to balance athletics with other activities. “Kids should also focus on rest, friendships and school – things that have nothing to do with competition. When a student-athlete’s entire identity is tied to their sport, every mistake can feel overwhelming. That’s why they need mental breaks and nonsports activities to reduce the pressure and build their self-worth beyond their performance,” Dr. Stafford said. When the time comes for a game, tryout or important practice, it’s normal for kids to feel some nervousness. In fact, those emotions can help some kids feel more alert, prepared and focused. But nerves and stress can turn harmful if they last for an extended period of time and affect multiple aspects of a child’s life. “Some signs parents can look for include increased irritability, mood changes, trouble sleeping, changes in appetite, trouble concentrating, declining grades and overall withdrawal. Sometimes, stress shows up as perfectionism. A child may appear to be doing well, but they are overwhelmed and struggling to find their place,” Dr. Stafford said. “That’s why communication and engagement are so important. Parents know their children best. A meaningful change from a child’s typical behavior is often more important than any single symptom.” Youngathletesoftenputpressureonthemselves to earn a starting position, impress coaches, avoid mistakes or meet expectations about scholarships and future opportunities. Dr. Stafford said parents can unintentionally increase that pressure when conversations revolve around statistics, playing time or winning. Instead, the conversation should focus on progress and areas where a child says they need support. “You want to make sure the focus is not always on the outcome of the game and reinforce that they are meant to have fun. Remind them what they enjoy about the sport and why they started playing. Look at what they did well and how they have improved,” Dr. Stafford said. “You can make space for feeling their emotions while letting them know their identity is not rooted in wins and losses.” Making time for rest, recovery and connection While schedules and routines can give families a reliable structure and consistent expectations, setting aside time during the week for impromptu activities, general downtime and rest can be just as beneficial for a child’s physical and emotional health. “For student-athletes, recovery time supports concentration, emotional regulation, physical recovery and long-term performance,” Dr. Stafford said. “Parents can help by protecting unscheduled time and avoiding the expectation that every free moment should be used for training.”

I tell parents to give themselves and their kids some grace because there will be challenges. You have to be patient with kids as they adjust, and patient with yourself as well.

Courtney Gunn, PhD Psychologist Ochsner Baton Rouge

Dr. Gunn said casual physical activities like walking, biking or an afternoon at the playground can help kids release stress and excess energy. Creative art projects are also beneficial, since they can be done without rules or an expectation of a certain outcome. Dr. Gunn said kids are more aware than ever of the importance of emotional well-being and sometimes ask their parents about seeing a mental health professional. “The stigma of mental illness is not as intense as it used to be, but some people still consider it taboo or worry that their child will talk about their family in therapy. We provide a lot of education to both parents and children about what therapy looks like. It’s to help the child better understand themselves and develop tools to function better,” she said. Whether or not a child is seen by a mental health professional, Dr. Gunn said parents can always support their well-being and make them feel comfortable asking for help. Those include regular conversations about emotions, friendships, school and social media, plus modeling a positive lifestyle. “Children benefit when adults model balance, healthy boundaries and self-compassion rather than expecting constant productivity or achievement,” she said. “Don’t overbook yourself or your kids. Give them praise and encouragement for putting forth effort. Kids won’t always win the game or be at the top of their class, and that’s okay. It’s not about perfection. Let them know you love them and want them to do their best. When kids feel that from you, they will be OK.” While every family’s routine looks different, Ochsner Health experts agree that a successful school year isn’t about perfection. Instead, small, consistent habits – from getting enough sleep and eating nutritious meals to making time for rest, open conversations and play – can help children build the confidence and resilience they need to thrive in the classroom, on the field and at home.

Ochsner Health is the leading nonproﬁt healthcare provider in Louisiana, Mississippi and across the Gulf South, delivering expert care at its 47 hospitals and more than 370 health and urgent care centers. To learn more about how Ochsner empowers people to get well and stay well, visit ochsner.org.

6X ● Sunday, August 30, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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Your comeback starts here

Alex M. | Knee Surgery Patient

Alex’s return to the ﬁeld was far from ordinary. Supported by Ochsner Lafayette General’s elite orthopedic care—from Dr. Brian Etier’s surgical expertise to performance-focused therapy—he stepped back under center with conﬁdence. This season, he led Teurlings Catholic High School to 11 wins and proved he’s one of the state’s best players. Learn more or schedule an appointment at ochsner.org/lafayetteortho.

SUNDAY, AUgUSt 30, 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 — PArodied: PARE-ohdeed: Made a silly imitation of. Average mark 42 words Time limit 60 minutes Can you find 59 or more words in PARODIED?

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 “as per usuaL” By zHouQin BurniKeL aCross 1 Draw of a dim sum cart 6 Space balls? 10 “Sesame Street” basics 14 Zipper alternative 19 Mushroom with a pitted cap 20 Home of the Nazca Lines 21 Coachella aesthetic 22 Fit to eat, to Muslims 23 Bonus for never giving up? 26 __ acid 27 Part of a play 28 Fusses over, with “on” 29 Some contract negotiators 30 Nursery arrival 33 Win the heart of 35 Flight board stats 37 Quick meeting? 38 Actor Simu 39 Big spender? 42 Recliner part 44 Ibiza, por ejemplo 45 Like draft beer 47 Totally stoked 48 UFO engineers 50 Blue-roofed breakfast chain 53 Symbol of resistance 56 Tick away 58 Device that might buzz during a night out? 61 Kitchen coverups 63 Just slightly 65 Disc golf obstacle 66 Blueprint deet 67 Spearheaded 68 Actor Sheridan

70 Cause for a blessing 72 Key below ~ 74 Legal addendum? 75 Think piece? 77 “This Is Us” director Ken 79 Trade show 81 Spoiled 83 Elaborately embroidered falsehoods? 86 “Buck-a-shuck” delicacy 88 “Tropic Thunder” actor Nick 89 Gooey lump 90 Sock end 91 Dining hall offerings 94 Swahili for “lion” 96 Washington Spirit player Morgan 99 Mollusk often pan-seared 101 Green light for a lunar expedition? 105 Baton Rouge sch. 106 Hip-hop’s Salt-N-__ 109 Loads and loads 110 Mean 111 Gave the onceover 112 Virtual persona 114 Nonglossy lipstick option 116 Blissful spots 118 Starbucks size 119 People who pack picnic lunches? 124 Fizzled out 125 Slushy treat 126 Singer India.__ 127 Vibe 128 Great balls of fire 129 Fuse together 130 Give conditionally 131 Canary feed down 1 Electric violin

hookup 2 Orange sushi topping 3 Hockey great Bobby 4 Like a bad breakup 5 Sir __ Guinness 6 Anxietyreducing feature of some tests 7 Double-check, in a way 8 Garment once called a corseletgorge 9 Optical effects caused by ice crystals 10 Help in a burglary 11 Girl who lost her sheep 12 Morally pure 13 Vegan milk option 14 Deep carpet 15 Tells all 16 Dress shape 17 Trousers 18 Wade clumsily 24 Zigs or zags 25 Color similar to salmon 29 Org. 30 Yawn-inducing 31 Light as can be 32 Special offers at a body shop? 34 Nintendo virtual personae 36 Bit of moisture 39 Intellectual stickler 40 Secular 41 Great Plains people 43 Settle elsewhere, casually 46 Gathering for chile lovers? 49 Nokcha or sencha 51 __ fade: haircut with shaved

sides 52 Sculling tool 54 Noisy migratory birds 55 Curved 57 Mil. mind game 58 [Not my error] 59 None of the above 60 Smiles brightly 61 Square up 62 Pascal of “The Last of Us” 64 Folk

goren Bridge

instrument 69 Gracefully refined 71 Clearasil rival 73 Gotham City hero 76 Power source for a warp drive in “Star Trek” 78 Offline, online 80 “Away from work” letters 82 Casting need 84 Promotional sample

wuzzLes

103 Molar cover 104 Enter via cracks 106 Covers a lot of ground? 107 Special occasion 108 Bear in a bamboo forest 111 Lauder of cosmetics 113 Lends a hand 115 Pranked with Charmin 117 D.C. ballplayers 119 “That’s the guy!” 120 Minecraft block

121 Lowest sudoku number 122 Casting need 123 Soon-to-be alums

super Quiz 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.

Miracle in the cards? Brazilian World Champion Gabriel Chagas was South in today’s deal. We’ve given a simplified auction. The actual auction was much longer. It was brilliant, nuanced, and brimming with modern science. They arrived at the same stupid contract. Chagas had to assume that the heart finesse was working, quite likely from the bidding, but that was only 12 tricks. He needed to find a miracle in the cards to get a thirteenth trick, and he found one! He won the opening spade lead, perforce, and began to run his club suit. This was the position with one club remaining: NORTH ♠8 ♥AQ8 ♦J ♣ Void WEST EAST ♠Q ♠ Void ♥K64 ♥ 10 9 5 ♦K ♦ Q 10 ♣ Void ♣ Void SOUTH ♠ Void ♥J3 ♦A8 ♣2 Chagas led the two of clubs and discarded the spade from

85 Lyft alternative 87 “You got that right!” 90 Take for a spin, perhaps 92 Come up short 93 Tater 95 Hog with tusks 97 Strike down, biblically 98 Corundum, for one 100 Hackathon participant 102 Pulpy refuse

SUBJECT: ONE-SYLLABLE

6. S, 6

FOOD WORDS

Answer________

Provide one food word

7. P, 5

(no drinks) that starts with the given letter and has the given number

Answer________ 8. R, 4

of letters. Alternative

Answer________

answers may be pos-

9. B, 5

sible. (Example: N, 3.

Answer________

Answer: Nut.)

10. P, 4 Answer________

FRESHMAN LEVEL

dummy. East could not discard a diamond so he let go of a heart. Now the lead of the jack of hearts gave Chagas three heart tricks whether West covered or not. Great bidding pays off!

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

1. T, 4

PH.D. LEVEL

Answer________

11. F, 4

2. S, 4

Answer________

12. M, 4

3. C, 4

Answer________

13. F, 5

4. B, 4

Answer________

14. E, 3

5. C, 6

Answer________

15. P, 3 Answer________

ANSWERS TO ALL PUZZLES ARE ON NEXT PAGE

GRADUATE LEVEL

zodiaC VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Be smart, observant and patient. Choose what and who you advocate for and why. Personal integrity and growth will unfold if you are happy with the decisions you make. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) Embrace change. Refuse to let anger surface or others intervene. Pick and choose who gets to sit at your table. The sky is the limit if you are willing to act and do what makes you happy. SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) Funnel your thoughts and actions instead of casting your fate to the wind and taking on the impossible. Know your limitations and your strengths, and act

accordingly. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) Put your plan in place. Home improvements that make your life easier are favored, and investing more time and money into lifestyle and achieving the happiness you desire will bring you peace and self-satisfaction. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Face your demons, recognize your purpose and start the process of eliminating what’s dragging you down. Refuse to let anger rear its ugly head when your energy is best directed toward self-improvement. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Pay atten-

tion to spending and taking better care of yourself and your finances. Rethink how you use your skills and earn your living, and you’ll find an interesting chance to bring in extra cash. PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) A little socializing will boost confidence, enthusiasm and your ability to march toward new beginnings. Communication will help you sort through your differences. ARIES (March 21-April 19) Look for an outlet or adventure, and enjoy the ride. How you use your skills will determine what you choose to pursue next. A financial gain will help

you select a path that satisfies your soul. TAURUS (April 20-May 20) Set your sights on whatever piques your enthusiasm. Following your heart and fulfilling your desires will help channel your energy in a direction that offers freedom. Be true to yourself. GEMINI (May 21-June 20) Life choices are best addressed sooner rather than later. Conflicting feelings will cause confusion, making it necessary to reach out to experts and redesign how you move forward. CANCER (June 21-July 22) Taking a pause will give you the time and

space to view the outcomes. Put your ego aside and consider how others will fare from the decisions you make. Talks will reveal the impact you have. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) Look at the big picture before you act. Researching and testing your theories or plans will offer insight, allowing you to make necessary changes before you make a move. 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. Tart. 2. Soup, sage, salt, seed, slaw, sole, spud, stew. 3. Cake, corn, chip, chow, clam, crab. 4. Bean, beef, beet, bran, buns. 5. Cheese, cloves, chives, crepes. 6. Squash, shrimp, sweets. 7. Peach, prune, prawn. 8. Rice, ribs, roll. 9. Bread, beans, broth. 10. Pear, plum, pork, peas. 11. Fish, figs, flan. 12. Meat, mint. 13. Fruit, fries. 14. Egg, eel. 15. Pea, pie. 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: It's a magical world, Hobbes, ol' buddy … Let's go exploring! — Calvin, "Calvin and Hobbes"

word GAme Answer paid pair paired pare pareo pear period pied pier pore pride pried prod adder adore aero aide

aired aped aper arid radio radioed raid raided rapid read reap redid redo repaid repo ride ripe

road roadie rode rope oared odder opera dado dare dead dear diaper dido died diode dire doer

dope dopier drape dread dried drip drop idea

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