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Remembering a titan of LSU athletics SPECIAL COMMEMORATIVE EDITION INSIDE

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BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA

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

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La. juvenile detention facility under scrutiny

J A G U A R S

STINGING DEFEAT Southern drops season opener to Alabama State

Concern raised after 5 guards arrested in 16 months BY MEGHAN FRIEDMANN Staff writer

Over the past 16 months, ﬁve women who worked at a Louisiana juvenile detention facility have 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 in Bunkie. So, too, are criminal justice advocates, who say the cases are indicative of a broken Ofﬁce of Juvenile Justice system that fails to protect youth and lacks appropriate 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 regarding Staff/Youth Relationships can

ä See FACILITY, page 8A

Thousands lost food-stamp access in La. in past year

STAFF PHOTO By APRIL BUFFINGTON

Southern’s Michael Franklin breaks away from Alabama State’s Ta’Shaun Sims during Saturday’s game. Former NFL star Marshall Faulk’s coaching debut with Southern started on a high note, but ended in defeat as the Jaguars fell 30-17 to Alabama State in the inaugural Birmingham Football Classic Challenge at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala. Southern dropped its season opener for a fourth consecutive year and lost to the Alabama State Hornets for a third straight time. The Jaguars will play Kentucky State next Saturday in a home opener at A.W. Mumford Stadium.

Among those removed, most lost benefits for procedural reasons

ä SEE COMPLETE COVERAGE OF THE SOUTHERN GAME. PAGE 1C

BY MARK BALLARD Staff writer

about 250 feet long with equalsized gaps between them. The cost will be $51 million, fully funded by the federal government. Using 262,000 tons of stone,

WASHINGTON — The number of people on food stamps plummeted over the past year after Republicans in Congress and the Trump administration implemented more stringent requirements, and Louisiana saw steeper 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 in its growing cost, and freeing people from dependence on government.

ä See BEACH, page 6A

ä See ACCESS, page 7A

Project would protect Grand Isle’s fading beach along the Gulf More than 260,000 tons of rocks will be used for breakwaters breakwaters side of Grand Isle, each one

BY MIKE SMITH Staff writer

It may seem unlikely that piles of rocks off Grand Isle would touch off a debate about coastal protection, how

WEATHER HIGH 92 LOW 77 PAGE 8B

the nation prioritizes projects and the survival of a stormbattered community. But that was what culminated on Thursday, when Gov. Jeff Landry, U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise and ofﬁcials from Pres-

ident Donald Trump’s administration gathered in Louisiana’s only inhabited barrier island to announce a long-sought project. The project will build another three miles of rock

Business ......................1E Deaths .........................4B Opinion ........................6B Classified ..................... 2F Living............................1D Nation-World................2A Commentary ................7B Metro ...........................1B Sports ..........................1C

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

BRIEFS

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 roundthe-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

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. sparked fires that raced 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,” Olek-

sandr Vodolaz, a village resident, told The Associated Press. “No one knew that weapons were stored there.” Another local, Zhanna Kravchuk, said she had so many questions about what happened. “Why are weapons like this ... in warehouses and not on the front lines where they would help?” she said. 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.

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, families of missing people waited anxiously for news of their loved ones as the death toll and the number of people unaccounted for continued to rise. The combined toll in Nepal and Tibet rose to 691 dead and over 3,000 people missing after China’s latest update on Sunday. Chinese authorities reported 16 deaths and 546 missing, while Nepal’s disaster agency said late Saturday that the death toll had climbed to 675 with 2,498 people missing.

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 informaMore than 3,700 people his back to a medical tent. government hospital from tion about him.” have been rescued in Ne- Most arrived with nothing except the clothes they pal so far. GET IN TOUCH In Nuwakot, one of the were wearing. About a dozen people Nepali districts devasCustomer Service: HELP@THEADVOCATE.COM or 225-388-0200 tated by the floods, heli- emerged from another heNews Tips / Stories: NEWSTIPS@THEADVOCATE.COM copters arrived loaded licopter. Soldiers carried Obituaries: 225-388-0289 • Mon-Fri 9-5; Sat 10-5; Closed Sun with boxes and bags of several babies who had Advertising Sales: 225-388-0262 • Mon-Fri 8-5 aid, including clothes, in- been evacuated. Classified Advertising: 225-383-0111 • Mon-Fri 8-5 The evacuees had been stant noodles, crackers Subscribe: theadvocate.com/subscribe and rice. Others returned brought from the nearby E-Edition: theadvocate.com/eedition from the flood-hit areas community of Trishuli. Archives: theadvocate.newsbank.com As people were still leavcarrying survivors. An older man was care- ing Trishuli, some village The Advocate (USPS 363-040) is published daily in Baton Rouge and at additional mailing offices. Periodicals postage paid at Baton Rouge, LA. ISSN: 1061-3978. Capital City Press, proprietor. POSTMASfully helped off one he- residents were returning TER: Send address changes to The Advocate, Circulation Accounting, P.O. Box 588, Baton Rouge, LA licopter, while a soldier to see what could be sal70821. 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 rioters 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.

All home delivery subscription sales are non-refundable. Should you discontinue your subscription during term, the subscription will end with the expiration date on your subscription, and there will not be a refund of a prorated amount. Subscribers who purchased their subscription before Feb. 1, 2023 and wish to cancel can request a refund of a remaining balance at https://www.nola.com/app/forms/refund-request-form/. Refunds are considered on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of Capital City Press, LLC or its designee. All subscriptions purchased that include a special edition will have the special edition value deducted prior to any refund provided to subscriber upon cancellation of service. Standard subscription rates may be effective upon renewal. All standard subscriptions include digital access and e-Edition, a digital replica of the printed Advocate edition(s). The apps are free for tablets and smartphones. Smartphone apps may not be supported on all devices. The Advocate standard subscription rate is $80.89 per 4-week period, plus tax. The Acadiana Advocate standard subscription rate is $80.89 per 4-week period, plus tax. Standard digital subscriptions include e-Edition with the rate of $31.15 per 4-week period, plus tax starting 1/1/25. Special editions included in home delivery subscriptions are 1/30/26, 3/11/26, 4/15/26, 5/27/26, 7/8/26, 8/19/26, 9/30/26 11/26/26, 1/22/27, 3/10/27, 4/14/27, 5/26/27, 7/14/27, 8/18/27, 9/29/27 and 11/25/27 and are billed at $6.23 each. The Thanksgiving Day edition will be billed at your regular Thursday rate plus $6.23. To opt out of special edition delivery, email help@theadvocate.com or call 225-388-0395. By opting out of special editions you will not receive that day’s newspaper. Thanksgiving Day is not a special edition and opting out for that edition isn’t permitted. Prices shown are in U.S. dollars. Prices subject to change. Other restrictions may apply. We no longer provide credit for temporary delivery stops of 14 days or less. During a temporary delivery stop donations are made to our News in Education program. This program provides newspapers and digital access to schools across Louisiana. This program is paid for by sponsors and temporary stops so that students may use the newspaper for educational purposes in the classroom. During a temporary delivery stop of the print edition subscribers have unlimited digital access to theadvocate.com, nola.com and the apps for tablet and smartphone. Seasonal delivery times from August 2025 through February 2026 will extend to 8:00 a.m. on weekends. Subscribers may also choose to access our digital replica e-Edition of the printed Advocate, Times Picayune | New Orleans Advocate and Acadiana Advocate only. As a highly valued customer, we also value your privacy. All personal information collected by The Advocate will be used for administration and customer veriﬁcation; it may be used for promotional purposes in accordance with The Advocate’s privacy policy. Please refer to our policy located at https://www.theadvocate.com/ new_policy/ for information regarding the collection, use and disclosure of personal information. By providing your phone number and email address you agree that we can call or email you to conﬁrm delivery service, satisfaction and/or sales promotions as they may occur from The Advocate. The Advocate: 10705 Rieger Road, Baton Rouge, LA 70809 Mailing Address: P.O. Box 588, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-0588

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Public Notice

US Army Corps of Engineers New Orleans District

NOTICE OF CHANGE IN PUBLIC NOTIFICATION PROCESS

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.

Ontario’s premier answers Trump’s order with giant sign

Trump has repeatedly President signed decree last week to used maps to make political points. A “Gulf of America” rename Lake Ontario to Lake America map was displayed for a time

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 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 Associated Press earlier last 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.

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.

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

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

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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

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. 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 paramil-

itary 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 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 without triggering retaliation that leaves it worse off,” he said.

Niger’s security forces battle mutinous soldiers in capital By The Associated Press 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 lo-

cated. 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 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.” The Defense and Security Forces were able to “gradually regain control of these sites,” Mody said.

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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 ap-

proved 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 possibility 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.”

New BREC Superintendent presents a back-to-thebasics vision to build a stronger parks system

By Amanda McElfresh | amcelfresh@theadvocate.com This article is brought to you by BREC. Dr. Brooks Williams believes BREC has the ingredients of an exceptional park system. As he takes over as superintendent of the $115 million agency, his top priority is making sure those pieces consistently work together the way residents expect. That means focusing on fundamentals such as cutting the grass, repainting, repairing equipment and creating parks that are clean, attractive and welcoming – whether someone is out for a Monday morning jog, attending a weekend youth sporting event or enjoying nighttime views of the East Baton Rouge Parish sky. “BREC needs to set the tone for the capital region. When people visit a BREC location, they need to see that this is what East Baton Rouge Parish is about. If you walk into some of our parks now, they don’t say what we want this area to be. We have to change that,” Dr. Williams said. “We must refocus, recenter and get extremely good at what we are supposed to do. We can do a lot without adding more to the system. We have so many opportunities to reimagine and redesign what we already have.” A need for collaboration and consistency The BREC Commission unanimously appointed Dr. Williams as Superintendent earlier this year. Most recently, he was a City Manager in North Texas, where he led unprecedented economic growth, significantly improved employee retention and eliminated recurring budget deficits through strategic planning and operational excellence. Dr. Williams said that kind of success is only possible with multiple departments working together. It’s the same approach he plans to bring to BREC, which he said is unique for being a standalone system with its own budget, commission and personnel structure. “When we talk about activating a park, that means accessibility. That involves city and parish government because it involves sidewalks and thoroughfares,” he said. “If a park is next to a neighborhood or apartment complex that has code enforcement issues, we must work with the city. If we need to add cameras or police presence, that involves law enforcement. That is something I bring from my city manager mindset – the ability to look at the entire system. We are too compartmentalized right now, and that creates friction and potential breakdowns.” Dr. Williams said the result is a 170-location system where basic tasks are simply undone. “We get too distracted by the noise and what’s on social media. It’s not a bad thing that everybody has a voice. But, it can create situations where we are very reactive to quell those voices. We start trying to do everything instead of staying focused on our core purpose,” he said. “The result is that people don’t have consistent experiences across our system. If a person has a negative experience at one BREC location, the likelihood of them coming back is slim to none. But, if you execute on the things you are supposed to, the public will begin to trust and keep coming back.” Prioritizing accountability and execution Dr. Williams said BREC has talented employees, successful programming and creative ideas. The challenge is building a structure that can consistently execute those ideas while maintaining existing assets. “The most important project in front of BREC is not a

new building, attraction or park concept. It is building an organization that can reliably take care of what it owns, deliver what it promises and provide the level of service the public is already paying for,” he wrote in an introductory message. “Our ability to generate ideas has moved faster than our ability to consistently execute on them, operate them and maintain everything they create.” One of the first steps will be to divide BREC into geographic districts, with employees responsible for specific locations. The number of personnel at each site will depend on its size and services, but the overall goal is more dedicated full-time staffing and clearer accountability for conditions. In addition, Dr. Williams said he wants to develop a better system to handle unexpected problems rather than routinely pulling employees away from scheduled work and preventative maintenance. “My job is to make the structure work better, remove unnecessary obstacles, clarify responsibility and give employees the tools and authority to execute. Then, we must hold ourselves accountable for whether the result is actually improving,” he wrote. “We will make mistakes along the way. But we are going to be an organization that acts, learns, adjusts and keeps working, rather than one that becomes exceptionally good at explaining why something cannot be done.” Building on parks, programs and community connections Dr. Williams said he sees BREC’s portfolio of recreational and community offerings as its biggest strength. Locations offer everything from bike paths, green spaces, playgrounds and walking tracks to nature preserves, water features, golf courses, soccer fields, tennis courts and much more. “There is an incredible amount of opportunities for people to be involved with BREC. That is an asset for us,” he said. “We have to create an environment where people are clamoring to be involved.” That doesn’t necessarily mean adding new BREC assets. In his introductory statement, Dr. Williams noted that adding more features without a recurring funding plan and without proper maintenance of current assets would only lead to more problems. “We then find ourselves paying for new construction while older facilities continue to decline, and eventually both the old and the new compete for resources that were never sufficient to support them together,” he wrote. For Dr. Williams, moving to the Baton Rouge region has personal meaning. His wife’s family is from Louisiana, and he has always appreciated its pace, culture and sense of community. As a professional, he has spent more than two decades in local government, authored two books on public service, earned a Doctor of Public Administration from Liberty University and received his Lean Six Sigma certification, reflecting a commitment to continuous improvement and organizational excellence. As he leads BREC’s next chapter, he is ready to apply those experiences and skills. “One lesson I’ve learned from public service is that things are not always as bad as they seem,” he said. “We need to communicate with the public and draw clear lines about what we can and cannot do, and why that is the case. In the end, I want us to embrace what the public is saying and continue that healthy dialogue.”

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BEACH

scarce resources on projects that could be less beneﬁcial,” he said. “And it’s also a way of essentially maintaining face with the public that’s fundamentally putting up the money.”

Continued from page 1A they will close the gap between existing breakwaters on either end of the 7-mile island, with the aim of slowing beach erosion and helping strengthen the coastline against storms. The breakwaters will rise roughly 6 feet above the water’s surface, numbering up to 31 in total. Beyond being repeatedly hit by hurricanes, the vulnerable island is also facing the combined effects of subsidence and sea level rise, with water levels increasing at a rate of about 3 feet per century. It has all led to serious questions over the future of Grand Isle, which has a shrinking population but also a strong emotional pull for generations of southeast Louisianans who have spent summers there fishing, swimming and vacationing. Between 2000 and 2020, the population shrank from 1,541 to 1,005, census figures show, though it swells with visitors in the summer. Grand Isle Mayor David Camardelle grew tearful as he spoke of what he sees as the importance of the breakwater project and overall efforts to fight for the community’s survival. “All my people that live here — it’s amazing. They love this place, and that’s why we’re not going to stop fighting,” Camardelle said at the groundbreaking, held indoors at a town events center because of heavy rain. “And I’m telling you, as long as there’s one grain of sand to plant the American flag, we’re not going nowhere.” Work is set to begin soon and be completed by the peak of next year’s hurricane season, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which is overseeing the project.

‘Never say we can’t’ Construction was approved in an unusual way — and seemed to reflect Landry’s and the Louisiana delegation’s ties to the Trump White House. Typically, the Corps carries out a beneﬁt-cost ratio analysis for projects, and the result weighs heavily on whether they are ultimately funded. The analysis seeks to gauge projects’ economic beneﬁts in comparison to its costs. Adam Telle, the Army’s assistant secretary for civil works, said at

‘Rather have a house’

STAFF PHOTOS By ENAN CHEDIAK

Tate Pitre fishes for crabs by one of the existing breakwaters in Grand Isle on Thursday. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers plans to add 31 more.

André Cormier and Heather Olander walk the beach by one of the existing breakwaters in Grand Isle on Thursday. Thursday’s event that following a visit to Grand Isle a year ago, he returned to the Pentagon and asked how the breakwater project could be moved forward. He said he was told that the “the formula that we use in Washington is going to make it not viable,” later clarifying he was referring to the beneﬁt-cost ratio. “And within about two days, I signed the piece of paper that waived all of that so this project could get started,” Telle said to ap-

plause in the audience. Asked about that change later, Telle said he felt the initial analysis did not sufﬁciently take into account all the residual beneﬁts provided by Grand Isle. He mentioned the possibility of nearby shipping channels being clogged with sediment if the island washes away, as well as its role as a buffer for hurricanes and storm surge. He also noted that workers in nearby energy hub Port Fourchon use the island.

Whether rocks are the answer is another point of debate, though not among the island’s leadership, which has long pushed for them. Coastal advocates note that there are no such rocks in south Louisiana, and they must be brought from elsewhere. They are also being placed atop south Louisiana’s sinking soils, and, separately, there are concerns over hazards posed to swimmers along the beach. Kristi Trail, executive director of the Pontchartrain Conservancy nonproﬁt, said rocks should be used as a “last resort” since they are not natural to south Louisiana. She said restoring the beach and dunes seemed more appropriate. “It’s worth noting it doesn’t really create habitat,” Trail said. “It’s just that hard structure that’s not natural. Having something that creates a little bit more habitat could also be of value because it’s such a healthy ecosystem down there.” Corps project managers Amy Dixon and David Bradley say the existing breakwaters have worked, shielding the beach while allowing more sand in through the gaps between them. “We’ve seen the results of how they perform over here,” Bradley said. “It builds and maintains the beach. It’s an effective solution.” Dani Cortez, who lives on the island in the summers and can trace her family’s roots there to the 1930s, said she was relieved to hear the breakwaters were being built. A levee breach during 2021’s Hurricane Ida took out surrounding camps and damaged hers, which is an older building made of cypress, located along the Gulf side of the island. She said the breakwaters do pose swimming hazards, and beachgoers will have to be aware of that, but otherwise she felt the rocks were needed. “We would much rather have a house,” said Cortez, 42 and a mother of six who also keeps horses at her camp. “That’d be such a blessing because we’ve been waiting forever.”

“So it’s really about zooming out and understanding Grand Isle’s role beyond just this local area,” said Telle, who has visited Louisiana several times since taking office and was on a tour of the Gulf Coast last week. Landry concurred, and said he personally made the case to White House officials, arguing that the country had spent more money adding sand to the Grand Isle beach over the last 20 years than it would on the breakwaters. “We never say we can’t. We always say we can, and we will always find a way to make it happen,” Landry told the audience. There have long been complaints about how the Corps’ benefit-cost ratio works, and few Louisianans would turn down more resources arriving from Washington for coastal protection. But the way in which the Grand Isle decision was made raises questions, said Mark Davis of the Tulane Institute on Water Resources, Law and Policy. He called the benefit-cost calculation “more alchemy than chemistry, and there are limits to how far you can push it.” “But the important thing is we have those rules for a reason, and Email Mike Smith at msmith@ that is to keep you from misusing theadvocate.com.

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ACCESS

SNAP enrollment in Louisiana

Continued from page 1A Louisiana Department of Health reports show the number of households in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program decreased from 396,857 in July 2025 to 320,603 cases at the end of this June — a decline of 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. 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 secondmost 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 more than just a skipped meal. SNAP eligibility plays into

Total change -76,254

Enrollment in SNAP, also known as food stamps, fell by almost 20% in the past year in Louisiana.

% change -19.21

396,857

450,000

320,603

300,000

150,000

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 16,017

Income-based

Client request

55,412

Other

17%

7,963

2.5%

Source: Invest Louisiana analysis of Louisiana Department of Health data

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

the calculations of which schools can offer children free breakfasts and lunches. And that automatic free meal certification plays into the formulas that set how much funding schools receive. Also, according to LDH, SNAP beneficiaries use a debit-style card, known as the Louisiana Purchase card, to spend about $1.6 billion annually with 4,000 Louisiana retailers, many of whom are small family-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-year-olds 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 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-

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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 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

ly 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 Washingtonbased anti-hunger 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, DNew 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 shortages — about 200 open positions in the SNAP program — 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 Email Mark Ballard at mistakes. OBBBA created in- mballard@theadvocate. centives for states to annual- 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 Advocate

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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, Port-au-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 Ken-

FACILITY

Continued from page 1A 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. 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, 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

scoff abduction was not an isolated incident but another stark reminder of the scale and frequency of attacks on children 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

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 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.

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

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 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.

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 Allegations stir concerns being represented by Guillot When told about the arrests Email Meghan Friedmann and have entered not guilty at the Acadiana Center for at meghan.friedmann@ pleas, Guillot said. Youth, some members of the theadvocate.com.

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strengthen its presence in Portau-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. 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 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.

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

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without the scars and expense of back surgery... Local Doctors at LeBlanc Spine Center are helping Patients eliminate pain, without dangerous medications or painful surgery. For the next 7 days, we are offering a special Decompression Evaluation- at no cost to you!

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came to Dr. LeBlanc because I had been uffering with severe sciatica. The pain my low back and legs was so severe at I began staying home rather than tending sporting or social events. began Spinal Decompression eatments and since then, I am 70% mproved! I am feeling well enough and nergetic after working all day to cook, o household chores, attend functions, c. I have more mobility and I am not xhausted from the pain! The staff and octors here are wonderful. Everyone is o kind and friendly and will do whatever needed to decrease the pain. What ike most about my care at LeBlanc pine Center is THE RESULTS! I highly commend LeBlanc Spine Center due to e non-invasive treatment and results! s a matter of fact, I have recommended r. LeBlanc to people already. abrina Ruggiero ustomer Service Represenative/ surance Agent) ometown - Plaquemine, LA

I was suffering with lower back pain for years, and it was getting worse and worse. It was so painful that I could not function. I could not get out the bed without falling to the floor. I had tried orthopedic doctors, medication, scans, physical therapy- all to no avail. I came to LeBlanc Spine Center, and I started Spinal Decompression treatments in August…and I now feel 100% improved! I am now sleeping better, driving without pain, walking further – all of these activities I can now do, and I have energy that I only had when I was young. I am treated wonderfully by the staff at LeBlanc Spine Center. They are so polite and caring. Dr. Scott and Dr. Dana are unbelievably helpful. The treatment is not painful, and I enjoy the music while I am there too! If asked to recommend LeBlanc Spine Center, I would say that I am convinced that you will improve a big amount, if not 100%. Decompression therapy is the way to go! Ronnie Hebert (Civil Engineer) Hometown - Plaquemine, LA

I had been suffering with pain from herniated discs in my lower back. I could not stand for longer than 5 minutes without pain. I had tried epidural steroid injections and physical therapy in the past, but was still suffering. I have always been active and my back pain was affecting my lifestyle greatly. I came to LeBlanc Spine Center and began Decompression treatment..... and I am now 100% improved! I can do everything I did before my pain started, and my favorite part about this treatment is the results! I can do all of my daily activities without any pain. The doctors and staff here have also treated me great. I have recommended LeBlanc Spine Center to many people.....and will continue to do so! Mark Evans (Former High School Coach and Insurance Agent) Hometown - Baton Rouge, LA

I have been suffering with sharp painful back aches causing immobility for years but came here when my pain was more severe. I began Spinal Decompression treatments at LeBlanc Spine Center and I am now 80-90% improved! I can still do my hobbies and work with less pain than before, I am also sleeping better and I have more mobility. I feel so much better! The staff here is always caring, helpful, and accommodating. The doctors are always assessing and evaluating issues trying to find a solution. One of the best things I like about my care at LeBlanc Spine Center is that everyone is so caring and the attentiveness I receive! I would 100% recommend LeBlanc Spine Center, the staff is always nice and helpful. Dr. Scott and Dr. Dana have always been proactive and thorough when trying to find a solution! Cory Manuel (Project Management) Hometown - Gonzales, LA

Before coming to LeBlanc Spine Center, I suffered from lower back pain when standing and a constant dull pain in my lower left hip for nearly three years. I had CT scans, an MRI, and even tried physical therapy, which only gave me some relief. A friend recommended LeBlanc Spine Center, and I’m so glad they did. The doctors and staff are top-notchwonderful, competent, and genuinely interested in helping their patients. Since starting care, I’ve improved about 80%. I can now stand longer, walk, fish, and enjoy activities that were previously limited by pain. In fact, I’m even planning two vacations this year. Before my visits, I felt like my world was shrinking. LeBlanc Spine Center gave that world back to me, and I recommend them with enthusiasm. Leonard Kleinpeter (Retired government worker and owner of Southern Hydroseeders) Hometown - Baton Rouge, LA

10A ■ Sunday,August 30, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The 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

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By RUSTy JONES

Voters cast their ballots on Aug. 11 during the primary election in Windsor, Conn. 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 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 voted,” 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 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 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.

Louisiana’s Democratic Party endorses congressional 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 oppose Constitutional Amendment 4, which is also on the Nov. 3 ballot and would limit governors from serving no more than two terms. Under 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.

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

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Judge: Trump cannot deport students for criticizing Israel 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 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 free-speech 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. “Tomorrow, or perhaps

Norway’s new king pays tribute to his late father

even today, targets may include anyone in the United States who exercises their freedom of speech to simply express opinions the government does not like,” the judge in San Jose said. “This downward spiral is antithetical to our Constitution that recognizes our right to speak freely,” she added. “Here you can simultaneously hate the content of a person’s speech and love the country that cherishes the

freedom to allow it. Zealous protection of our Constitutional right to free speech is a provocative demonstration of our country’s powerful lack of fear.” The Justice Department did not respond Saturday to a message seeking comment on the decision. George Porteous, the editor-in-chief of The Stanford Daily, responded to the ruling by saying on X: “The reporters in our newsroom

shouldn’t have to fear that writing a story will result in their deportation. Today’s victory means they won’t have to.” Conor Fitzpatrick, an attorney with the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, which brought the lawsuit, praised the ruling. “In America, free speech doesn’t just belong to the people who say things the government agrees with,” Fitzpatrick said in a release.

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Tens of thousands mourn

NTB SCANPIX PHOTO By AMANDA PEDERSEN GISKE

Presiding Bishop of the Church of Norway Olav Fykse Tveit By The Associated Press lays flowers Saturday at the Palace Square in Oslo, Norway, OSLO, Norway — King Haakon to pay respects to Norway’s King Harald V.

VIII of Norway used his ﬁrst speech in his new role to eulogize his father, King Harald V, as a loving parent and dedicated monarch a day after he died at 89. “ We a r e in mourning. At the same time, it brings us comfort and strength to Haakon VIII know that so many are mourning with us,” the king said wearing a black suit as his speech was shown live on public television. After Harald V’s death on Friday morning, the crown prince became King Haakon VIII immediately. He thanked the people for their outpouring of compassion and remembered what a loving father and husband Harald had been.

Tens of thousands of mourners paid their respects, placing ﬂowers and condolence cards outside the royal palace in Oslo, where the cofﬁn arrived late Friday from the hospital. Across the country, churches and city halls opened specially so people could light candles, and write their thoughts about the deceased king in condolence books. “It has been a powerful and moving experience to see the Palace Square filled with people, flowers, messages of condolence, and candles. Thank you so much,” 53-year-old Haakon said, sitting on a wooden desk next to his father’s portrait and two white candles. “As king, my father represented Norway and the Norwegian people with pride and joy, through vis-

its around the country, at events here at the royal palace, and while working on Norway’s behalf around the world,” Haakon said. “I’m going to miss him. I’ll miss his laughter. His goodnatured way of dealing with people and situations,” he added, trying to hold back his tears as he vowed to give everything for the country in the future as its new king. “And that means — in the ultimate sense — being willing to risk everything, even one’s life, for Norway’s freedom and independence.” Haakon adopted the motto “All for Norway,” which dates back to his greatgrandfather. His wife became Queen Mette-Marit, while his oldest child, Ingrid Alexandra, became crown princess and heir to the throne.

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By Amanda McElfresh | amcelfresh@theadvocate.com This article is brought to you by The Baton Rouge Clinic.

While many adults visit the doctor when they are sick or experiencing symptoms, routine wellness visits can identify potential concerns before they become serious. Ideally, these appointments take place annually and give people a chance to discuss their overall health with a trusted provider. These visits can be part of a lifestyle centered on well-being – one that includes proper nutrition, physical activity, rest and social connections. Small, sustainable choices can add up over time, helping adults remain active, independent and engaged while supporting a better overall quality of life. Dr. Carlie Falgout and Dr. Tyler Theriot, who both practice internal medicine at The Baton Rouge Clinic, shared some key ways adults can take control of their health and live well at any age. Annual visits matter. Dr. Falgout said these appointments are the perfect opportunity to discuss and schedule appropriate cancer screenings, assess a person’s cardiovascular risk and determine if patients should have any updated vaccinations. At The Baton Rouge Clinic, the visits also include discussions on each patient’s diet, exercise and weight. There may also be lab work to measure blood sugar, cholesterol and other key health markers. The goal is to help patients be proactive about addressing potential problems before they lead to a reduced quality of life. “There are so many things that are silent until they are not,” Dr. Falgout said. Wellness takes work. “I think of wellness as an activity. You participate in wellness,” Dr. Theriot said. Movement is a crucial part of both mental and physical health, he said. Dr. Falgout added that a great goal for most adults is 150 minutes of moderate activity per week, with resistance training at least twice a week, or 75 minutes each week of high intensity activity. Dr. Theriot said studies have shown that even getting in activity on weekends or a couple of times a week can help people build muscle, have a stronger cardiopulmonary system, improve their mental health and reduce their risk of cognitive disorders later in life.

Make time for rest and balance. Dr. Falgout said adults should get seven to nine hours of sleep each night. When combined with physical activity, a healthy diet and proper stress management, people can see noticeable changes in how they show up in their daily lives. “They work really well together and depend on each other,” she said. “If you aren’t getting enough sleep, you won’t have the energy to exercise or be motivated to eat healthy. If you’re working out and eating well, you likely will sleep better.” Dr. Theriot added that he likes to see patients make time for family activities, social gatherings and discussions with others around shared interests. “All of that is very helpful,” he said. Together these habits can support better health and well-being at any age. Small, consistent choices can make a meaningful difference over time. The Internal Medicine physicians at The Baton Rouge Clinic are dedicated to creating strong relationships with patients in order to deliver exceptional care tailored to their speciﬁc needs. They are equipped to address many problems, from the common cold to chronic conditions, and are ready to collaborate with specialists to help treat patients who need advanced care. Visit https://batonrougeclinic.com/services/primary/ internal-medicine/ to learn more or schedule an appointment.

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12A ■ Sunday, August 30, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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

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

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.

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

BY JOSH FUNK

AP transportation writer 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

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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The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Sunday, August 30, 2026 ■ 13A

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FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

2026

Know before you go:

• Campus opens 6am Gameday • Download your Tickets before you get to the Stadium • No Outside Food or Drinks • Parking: General Admission $30 enter on Swan or Mills Avenues | Reserved Parking enter on Harding

2026 Southern University Football Game Day Trafﬁc, Parking, and Stadium Rules

• General parking travelers must utilize Swan and Mill Street only. Parking is $30 per car.

Southern University Athletics urges fans to arrive early before kick-off for all Southern University home football games at A.W. Mumford Stadium to help with the ease of trafﬁc ﬂow.

Any decal entering the Mini Dome may be allowed to pass through the Mini Dome parking area if it is not Lot D to get their designated decal parking area. Trafﬁc onto campus by way of Swan Avenue will be able to get to Lots A, B, C, D, F, G, H, and I.

Drivers who park in the paid/reserve lots must have their hang tags visible on the vehicles or risk being towed and/or ticketed. Contraflow may begin earlier than designated if need be. Additional reserve parking will be available at the MLK Catholic Center. Call the SU ticket office at 225-771-3171 for details. Also, the areas on Isabel Herson Drive, near the Southern University Laboratory School, will be available for parking. General parking, which is $30, will only be made available on Saturday. Designated limited mobility parking areas will be available on a first come basis. Shuttles will be available in certain areas to bring fans to the stadium. Please see the Limited Mobility/Reserved Lot manifest for a complete list of lots and available shuttle locations.

Southern University Football Game Trafﬁc Plan ALL HANG TAGS MUST BE HUNG FROM REARVIEW MIRROR BEFORE ENTERING CAMPUS AND REMAIN VISIBLY DISPLAYED AT ALL TIMES. VEHICLES PARKED IN RESERVED PARKING LOTS WITHOUT DISPLAYING RESERVED HANG TAGS FOR THAT LOT WILL BE TOWED. There are a limited number of game day RV and tailgating spots available, call 225-771-3171 for more info. Individual vehicles will not be allowed to park in RV lots. All motor homes and ﬁfth wheelers must park in the areas designated for motor homes. If you will be towing a vehicle, you must purchase a parking permit for the vehicle and park it in the designated lot that corresponds to the permit.

Traffic on Campus during Normal Traffic Flow Traffic onto campus by way of Harding Boulevard. • The right lane of Harding Boulevard is for Decal Reserved Parking Lots A, B, C, D, G (Mini Dome and Stadium Parking), Tailgate Dome • The left lane of Harding Boulevard is for Decal Reserved Parking Lots, E, V, U and MLK • Game day bus parking should enter on Harding and proceed to E.C. Harrison Drive. Parking is $250 for all non-SU Alumni/ Booster Clubs.

Harding Blvd. Contra-flow Traffic • All lanes will be inbound. • Contra-flow traffic will start three hours prior to kickoff or earlier if necessary. For example, for a 6 p.m. kickoff contra-flow traffic will start at 3 p.m. Limited Mobility Bradford Hall and SU Police Station Parking

A.W. Mumford Stadium Policies

• No Alcoholic beverages from outside will be allowed inside A.W. Mumford Stadium • Southern University reserves the right to refuse the sale of alcoholic beverages • Fans Cannot Store Prohibited Bags & Items Near Stadium

•

So them University and -"i & M College Baton Rouge, LA 70813 A

All trafﬁc that is not going to a reserved lot must park in a general parking area.

Traffic onto Swan Avenue. • The grass area east of Isabel Herson Street. • The grass area north of the Southern Laboratory practice field. • The grass area north of Isabel Herson Street. • Traffic onto B. A. Little Dr. from Mills Avenue. • The grass area to the south of Mills Ave. and west of B. A. Little Drive. • The grass area to the south of Mills Ave. and east of B. A. Little Drive.

MILLS AVE General Admission $20 No exit & Re-entry

Trafﬁc onto campus by way of B. A. Little Dr. from Mills Avenue will be able to get to Lots A, B, C, D, F, G, H, and I.

Trafﬁc onto Harding Boulevard. • Bradford Hall Parking Lot • Human Resources Parking Lot • Parking lot on the Scott’s Bluff • Archives Parking Lot • Museum Parking Lot • Law Center Parking Lot • Mayberry Dining Hall Parking Lot • Army/Navy ROTC Parking Lot

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Entrances • All Unattended Items will be Removed & Discarded • Full details listed at www.gojagsports.com • All Persons & Items Entering are Subject to Inspection • No Re-entry - Anyone Leaving the Stadium Must Have a New, Unused Ticket to Re-enter • Tickets May Not be Re-sold on Stadium Premises & Surrounding Grounds (Including Parking Lots) • All Persons Must Have a Ticket for Admission - Regardless of Age (children under 2 years old do not need a ticket) • Smoking & Use of All Tobacco Products (Cigarettes, E-Cigarettes, Cigars, Pipes, Smokeless Tobacco, Snuff, Chewing Tobacco, Vapes, etc.) is Prohibited Everywhere on Southern University’s Campus • In all sports, access to the competition area shall be limited to participating student-athletes, coaches, officials, support personnel and properly credentialed individuals at all times. • At No time before, during or after a contest shall spectators be permitted to enter the field or playing surface. • Access to the field is reserved for participating student-athletes, coaches, officials, support personnel and properly credentialed individuals.

OVERTIME COACHES SHOW DATES:

THURSDAY’S 6:30 PM

9/3, 9/17, 10/1 10/29, 11/12, 12/3

Southern University Football Schedule The Faulk Effect Era Football 2026

September 5............ Kentucky State University..................................... 6:00 PM September 12.......... University of Houston ..........................................................6:00 PM September 19.......... Louisiana Christian University............................ 6:00 PM September 26.......... Jackson State University .....................................................6:00 PM October 3 ................. University of Arkansas – Pine Bluff.................. 6:00 PM October 10............... Prairie View A&M University.............................................2:00 PM October 24............... Texas Southern University..................................................2:00 PM October 31............... Florida A&M University ......................................................2:00 PM November 7 ............ Bethune-Cookman University ............................ 2:00 PM November 14.......... Alcorn State University ........................................... 2:00 PM November 28.......... Grambling State University................................................ 1:00 PM

14A ■ Sunday, August 30, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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

La. immersion program keeps French alive Q&A WITH VANESSA LEE

French educator sees benefit in schools

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 talking about?” By the end of the we don’t work on Wednesdays, year, they speak to me naturally. and here you work from Monday It’s amazing. to Friday. We also get a two-hour How do language immersion programs break for lunch in France. benefit students? On my first day at my school in To learn any foreign language, Louisiana, I went to the cafeteria you need to be immersed. It can’t with my kids, and we ate very just be one hour per day or per quickly, and then I said, “OK, where’s my break?” But you don’t week. Our kids still take the LEAP test get a break, you go back to your in English. At first we were like, classroom and teach, so that was “Oh, they’re going to struggle,” hard. It takes a few weeks to because they’ve learned their adapt. curriculum in French. But in fact, What are some of the differences be-

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 Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Sunday,August 30, 2026 ■ 15A

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Violent crime in U.S. fell at record pace in 2025 BY AMANDA WATFORD Stateline.org

Violent crime in the United States fell by an estimated 9.3% in 2025, marking the largest year-to-year decline in the national violent crime rate since the FBI began estimating crime in 1936, according to new national data. The estimated murder and nonnegligent manslaughter rate also fell 18.1%, to 4.1 killings per 100,000 people — tying the lowest rate recorded since national estimates began. The rate matches those recorded in 1955 and 1956, according to the FBI. The decline across major crime categories was broad. The estimated robbery rate fell 18.5%, aggravated assault fell 7.2% and rape fell 7.6%. Property crime also dropped sharply, declining 12.4% from 2024. Motor vehicle theft fell 22.7%, while burglary declined 15.8%. The FBI’s figures are based on reports of crimes submitted by law enforce-

TNS FILE PHOTO

Violent crime in the United States hit a decadeslong low in 2025.

ment agencies, meaning they do not capture offenses that aren’t reported to police. Participation in the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting program is voluntary, and agencies submit their data either through state programs or directly to the FBI. In 2025, 17,075 law enforcement agencies submitted data, covering 96.2% of the U.S. population. Every city agency with populations over a million submitted a full year of data.

Crime statistics can be affected by changes in reporting practices and public willingness to report crimes, particularly as trust in law enforcement and government institutions varies. An estimated 1.12 million violent crimes occurred nationwide in 2025, with the violent crime rate falling from 362.9 offenses per 100,000 people in 2024, to 327.6 per 100,000 in 2025. The ﬁndings largely align with other recent estimates. The nonpartisan Council on Criminal Justice, which analyzed crime trends in 40 large U.S. cities, found that 11 of 13 offenses it tracked, including homicide, declined in 2025. The sharp drop in homicides has persisted in 2026. Data analyzed by the council shows killings continued to decline through June across the cities it tracks, putting the nation on pace for another historic low. “The homicide drop is historic and crystal clear. But right now, what’s driving it

Families push states for more scrutiny of ‘hidden homicides’

autopsy when spe- ing the limited number of Domestic violence complete ciﬁc indicators of domestic autopsies, inconsistent death investigation practices and a are present. deaths overlooked, homicide The law was inspired by lack of coordination among advocates say the death of Joanna Lewis, law enforcement, medical

BY AMANDA WATFORD Stateline.org

Families who believe local officials prematurely ruled their loved ones’ deaths suicides or accidents — rather than investigating whether domestic violence played a role — are pushing lawmakers in a growing number of states to require additional scrutiny. Advocates call the deaths “hidden homicides” — killings they say may be staged to look like suicides, overdoses or accidents and then overlooked by investigators. Some advocates argue that requiring additional investigative steps could prevent potential evidence from being lost before a case is closed. This year, lawmakers in at least five states — Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York and Oregon — have considered legislation aimed at identifying homicides or unexplained deaths involving domestic violence that might otherwise be misclassified. All of the bills have stalled in legislative committees amid concerns over financial and administrative constraints, including requirements for law enforcement training. California in 2024 became the first state to enact a law addressing the issue when lawmakers approved Joanna’s Law, or Senate Bill 989, which took effect last year. The law requires police officers, in certain cases, to interview family members before determining the manner and cause of death and allows families to request a

whose family argued her death had been misclassiﬁed as a suicide. She had previously sought restraining orders against her husband, Mark Lewis, accusing him of domestic violence. Alliance for HOPE International, an anti-domestic violence advocacy organization that helped develop the legislation, said that case reflects broader concerns about how suspicious deaths involving intimate partner violence are investigated nationwide. The group has also helped families conduct independent investigations into their loved ones’ deaths. “We’ve come across some tremendous obstacles and have felt the pain and the frustration that family members have gone through,” said Gael Strack, co-founder of Alliance for HOPE International. The group would also like to help introduce similar legislation in Alaska, Arizona and Nevada. Advocates acknowledge that not every suspicious death involving domestic violence is a homicide, but argue certain circumstances should prompt investigators to slow down and ask additional questions. “In many of our cases, they make a conclusion on the manner of death within 30 minutes of arriving at the scene. They don’t know anything about the family, the relationship, the history,” said Casey Gwinn, co-founder of Alliance for HOPE International. Advocates point to several reasons they believe deaths can be misclassiﬁed, includ-

examiners, prosecutors and domestic violence experts. In many cases, advocates say, a death that appears to be a suicide is treated differently than a homicide investigation — meaning investigators may not conduct the same level of scene analysis, interviews or evidence collection. Families seeking answers also often face additional hurdles after a death is classiﬁed as a suicide or accident, some advocates say. They may struggle with obtaining police records, challenging a medical examiner’s findings or commissioning an independent investigation. Among those pushing for legislation is Kellee Harris of Oregon, whose daughter, Kelsey Harris, was found dead in her Linn County home in 2021 a week after she had reported that her boyfriend attempted to strangled her. Local authorities ruled Kelsey’s death a suicide. Harris says investigators failed to fully consider the circumstances surrounding her daughter’s death, including the recent strangulation report and the history of abuse she says occurred in the relationship. “I just think that they wanted me to go away,” Harris told Stateline, referring to local authorities. “It’s real easy to slap a suicide determination on a death, and then they don’t have to do anything else.” Linn County Sheriff Michelle Duncan told Stateline that her ofﬁce stands by its determination that Kelsey died by suicide.

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is about as clear as a glass of milk,” Adam Gelb, the council’s president and CEO, said in a statement. “Rates are falling in cities with very different public safety strategies, economic conditions, and political leadership,” Gelb said. “The consistency across the map should make us cautious about handing credit to any one leader, party, policy, or program before the evidence catches up.”

Experts say it is difﬁcult to pinpoint exactly what is driving the declines. Researchers have pointed to a range of possible factors, including the normalization of social activity after the pandemic, changes in policing and violence-prevention strategies, demographic shifts and the unwinding of the factors that contributed to the pandemic-era crime surge. The declines also began

before President Donald Trump returned to office in January 2025, making it difficult to attribute the national trend to policies implemented by his administration. Cities with populations between 500,000 and 999,999 recorded the largest drop in violent crime, at 15.3%, according to the FBI. Smaller cities also saw double digit declines in overall violent crime.

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Convenience, Conﬁdence, Connection: The Value of Virtual Consultations

By Stevie Cavalier Licciardi stevie.licciardi@theadvocate.com This article is brought to you by Gregory Ricks Total Wealth. “Technology amplifies relationships. It does not replace them,” said Gregory Ricks, founder, CEO, and wealth advisor at Gregory Ricks Total Wealth. When the COVID-19 pandemic brought much of the world to a halt, people across the globe felt the absence of everyday connections that had once been so familiar and accessible. Families, friends, co-workers, and students turned to technology as a way to bridge distance and preserve meaningful personal connections during an unprecedented crisis. In the years since, video call tools have proven their value well beyond social calls and remote seminars. They have changed how people access services across many areas of life, including wealth management. “Several years ago, we saw the need to provide a consistent level of service and advice regardless of location or circumstances,” Ricks said. “Virtual consultations allow us to offer greater convenience while maintaining our high standard of personalized service.” As virtual consultations become more common, individuals and families have more freedom to choose financial advisors who fit their needs, goals, and values—not just their ZIP code. Gregory Ricks Total Wealth is committed to providing clients with personalized service in the manner that best accommodates their needs, whether that is an in-person meeting or a virtual consultation. A New View Virtual consultations provide families with the opportunity to connect with their financial advisor at Gregory Ricks Total Wealth from the comfort of their home, granting greater flexibility when busy schedules, transportation challenges, or relocation make meeting in person less convenient. Clients can participate in virtual visits from anywhere in the United States using a computer, tablet, or smartphone with an internet connection. “We use secure, user-friendly video-conferencing platforms, and our team is happy to assist anyone who needs help getting set up,” said Ricks. Virtual consultations with Gregory Ricks Total Wealth follow the same general format as in-person meetings, maintaining a personal, thorough, and client-centered approach throughout the discussion. Meetings typically begin with a discussion of clients’ goals and concerns, include a review of relevant documents and portfolios in real time, and conclude with a summary of recommended next steps. Secure Access When meeting virtually with clients, wealth advisors at Gregory Ricks Total Wealth understand that

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security and privacy are paramount. The team uses encrypted communication platforms, secure document sharing, and follows established best practices for digital communication. Virtual meetings are scheduled for the same amount of time as in-person visits, and each of Gregory Ricks Total Wealth’s three office locations includes private meeting rooms equipped with up-to-date technology to support a high-quality virtual meeting experience while maintaining client privacy. “Our collaborative approach and experience help make every virtual meeting as meaningful as a faceto-face conversation,” said Ricks. “Whether meeting in person or virtually, a client’s case is still presented to the advisory board that meets every Friday, where we review each case together. We operate as one firm, with one unified voice.” Ever Evolving As technology continues to evolve, Gregory Ricks Total Wealth remains committed to adapting alongside families by supporting clear communication and offering up-to-date tools that make wealth management more accessible and interactive. “We are continually exploring ways to enhance our client experience,” said Ricks. “Advanced portal dashboards and more robust planning tools are already in development. Our goal is to give clients greater access to their financial information and insights in real time.” From the era of Around the World in Eighty Days—a novel that celebrated the transportation innovations of its time—to today’s instant video calls, technology has continually reshaped the way people connect, opening doors to new possibilities for meaningful communication. Virtual consultations reflect that evolution, making it easier for individuals and families to access personalized financial guidance wherever they are as they plan for the future. For more information on scheduling a virtual consultation with Gregory Ricks Total Wealth, visit https://gregoryricks.com/connect-with-us/ virtual-visit/. This article is meant to be general and is not investment or financial advice or a recommendation of any kind. Please consult your financial advisor before making financial decisions. For more detailed information, contact a financial advisor with Gregory Ricks Total Wealth. Investment advisory products and services made available through AE Wealth Management, LLC (AEWM), a Registered Investment Adviser. Investing involves risk, including the potential loss of principal. 4333375 - 8/26

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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.

An Excellent Education is Every Child’s Birthright Learn more at BRALLIANCE.ORG

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Sturgeon, ‘living fossils,’ may be older than thought — way older BY MAX REINHART The Detroit News

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By JEFF CHIU

A dragonfly rests on a plant at the Lake Merritt Dragonfly Habitat Garden in Oakland, Calif.

Unusual dragonfly swarms sweep across California

spring and early sum- tiny eggs in freshwater. Warm spring rains late mer, said Kathy Biggs, a After the eggs hatch, the likely fueled surge dragonfly expert and co- young dragonflies, called

BY OLGA R. RODRIGUEZ Associated Press

SAN FRANCISCO — Californians are spotting swarms of dragonflies flitting around parks, chasing mosquitoes in ponds and hunting flies on farms, a phenomenon experts say was likely fueled by unusually warm spring rains. Peter Veilleux, who owns a nursery in Oakland, said he started noticing the dragonflies — at one point spotting about 100 flying together — while walking his dog at a park near his house and around the city’s Lake Merritt. “It’s been amazing to see them,” Veilleux said, adding that he started seeing big groups of dragonflies in July. He was so awed by the sight that he posted about it on Facebook, asking if anyone else was seeing the formidable predators in such large numbers. Dozens of people commented about their own sightings in the San Francisco Bay Area and elsewhere in California. It is common to see dragonflies during the summer months, when they emerge from freshwater as flying insects. But this year’s large numbers are probably due to the warm monsoon storms that came through the state in

author of the book “Dragonflies of California.” She said most are likely wandering gliders, a highly migratory dragonfly that can appear in large numbers when conditions line up. Dragonflies, which can fly at speeds of up to 35 mph, use air pressure changes to help them fly great distances, Biggs said. “We could say that they’re surfing the pressure system, the monsoon,” she added. Joe Del Bosque said he noticed swarms of them earlier this month at his farm in Fresno County, flying 10 to 20 feet above him. “We do have them every year, but we had more than normal,” he said. Del Bosque said he was happy to see the flying hunters because they eat aphids, whiteflies and fruit flies that feed on his crops. The insects, along with ladybugs working on the plants, are excellent pest control because they eat tiny insects on the plants and larger winged ones, like adult aphids and moths, he said. “They are like little fighter jets,” Del Bosque said. “They zoom in for other insects and capture them in the air.” Dragonflies spend most of their lives wingless and underwater. Their life cycle begins after female and male dragonflies mate and the female dragonfly lays

nymphs, live underwater for at least six months and for up to ﬁve years for some species. They start hunting then and feed on mosquito larvae, tadpoles, and even other nymphs. Once they emerge from the water, they shed their skin and transform into four-winged insects that can move their forewings and hindwings independently. This allows them to ﬂy forward, backward, up and down, and hover perfectly in place. But their life as flying animals is short, lasting a few weeks or months. They spend it looking for new lakes, rivers and ponds, preying on tiny insects and attempting to repeat the cycle of life. “They’re super agile, super strong flying insects with really good vision, really good eyes, and really strong flight muscles, and they are voracious predators that are out there feeding on mosquitoes nonstop,” said Chris Grinter, senior collection manager of entomology at the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco. Grinter said dragonflies are among the most effective predators in nature, with more than 90% of their hunts ending successfully. “They can eat hundreds of mosquitoes a single day,” he said.

DETROIT — The Great Lakes may be home to some fish that were alive around the turn of the century. The 16th century. Findings by a team of researchers from Michigan State University, Michigan Technological University, and Michigan’s and Wisconsin’s respective departments of natural resources suggest that female lake sturgeon can live up to 427 years, while males can live up to 279 years. Scientists have long believed the species, an ancient group of fish from the Lower Jurassic about 200 million years ago, topped out at around 150 years. They are known as living fossils because their ancestors date to the time dinosaurs roamed, according to phys.org. The findings, published in April in the Journal of Fish Biology, would make lake sturgeon one of the longestlived species of vertebrates on the planet, rivaling the Greenland shark, which can live up to 400 years, according to National Geographic. They also provide new insights into lake sturgeon longevity that could help inform conservation strategies, population management and harvest regulations. The researchers used 44 years of existing data on five genetically distinct

TNS PHOTO

Findings by a team of researchers suggest that female lake sturgeon can live up to 427 years, while males can live up to 279 years. sturgeon populations found in ﬁve geographically separate habitats in the Great Lakes. After studying more than 1,200 ﬁsh, the team calculated each fish’s average annual growth and charted it by location and sex. They then used those models to estimate the ages of female sturgeon that measured 180 centimeters long, or nearly 6 feet, and males measuring a little over 5 feet, which are roughly average lengths for adults of most sturgeon species. Traditional methods of calculating sturgeon’s age rely on estimates based on survival in captivity or counting growth rings, or annuli, in structures such as fin spines. But the researchers said this method becomes less reliable as sturgeon age and growth slows, potentially underes-

timating true longevity. In the 1960s, an expert concluded that a 208-pound sturgeon caught in Ontario near the Minnesota border was 152 years old, according to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Some scientists have since questioned whether that was an extreme case. But the 2026 study found that the 152-year estimate was likely an underestimation, and that the fish was closer to middle age than old age. Using their alternative approach, the researchers estimated that the male sturgeon sampled for the study ranged in age from 90-279 years, while females ranged from 99-427 years old. The researchers stressed that the ages are statistical estimates rather than verified ages of any individual fish.

Academic gains give East Baton Rouge Parish schools renewed momentum to drive continued improvement By Amanda McElfresh, amcelfresh@theadvocate.com This article is brought to you by Baton Rouge Alliance for Students.

More students in EBR Public Schools are reading on grade level and academic proficiency is rising in core subjects – encouraging signs that years of sustained work are producing results across the district. Steven Procopio, president of PAR Louisiana and an alumnus of the Baton Rouge Alliance for Students’ CHANGEMAKERS program, said the early literacy gains stand out as particularly encouraging. “The improvements are fantastic,” he said. “If a child doesn’t have literacy skills, it’s very difficult for them to succeed in any subject. By focusing on that, I think the district has been able to move the needle quite a bit.” Results from the state literacy screener show 62 percent of EBR Schools’ students in kindergarten through third grade finished the 2025-26 school year reading on or above grade level, compared with 48 percent at the beginning of the year. Kindergarten students recorded particularly significant gains, with 64 percent reading on or above grade level at the end of the year, compared to 36 percent when the school year started. In addition, nearly every school demonstrated literacy growth during the academic year, while every grade level improved. Literacy is one piece of the district’s broader academic progress. Last year, EBR Schools’ students in grades 3-8 achieving Mastery or above on LEAP tests increased by 2 percentage points, compared with a 1-point increase statewide. Particular gains were seen in math, English language arts and science proficiency, all of which were near or above pre-pandemic levels. At the high school level, students improved in multiple courses, including Algebra I, Geometry, U.S. History and Civics. “This kind of improvement happens when everything and everyone comes together,”

Procopio said. “You have to have leadership that provides guidance and direction, and ensures that teachers are effective. The teachers and schools have to have the right resources. It takes a lot of people doing hard work every day.” The gains come after district leaders have enacted and enforced policies designed to expand student access to higher-performing schools, increase accountability and focus on student outcomes. Strengthening support for educators also continues to be a top priority. Earlier this year, the EBR School Board approved a budget that raises starting salaries for teachers with bachelor’s degrees to $56,000, simplifies its compensation structure and provides pay increases for other employees. Procopio said the district’s positive momentum should serve as a catalyst for continued improvement. He noted that there is still room for growth. For example, approximately 14,000 EBR students attend schools with D or F grades – a number that has been steadily declining but still remains substantial. And, EBR Schools is not yet among the state’s highest-rated school systems overall. “There are a lot of really good signs, but there is still work to be done. Things are moving in the right direction, and you don’t reach these big goals overnight,” he said. “If I were the district, I wouldn’t change course a lot or look for big magic tricks. It’s clear that what they are doing is working, and I hope we see early literacy and numeracy education continue to pay dividends. I hope the focus continues to be on student outcomes and quality teaching.” A pattern of sustained improvement over the long-term could have implications far beyond Baton Rouge classrooms. Procopio noted that numerous studies show students who receive a strong education have better job opportunities, less reliance on social services and are less likely to engage in criminal activity – all of which can lead to a stronger local economy and healthier community overall. “When you have a well-trained local workforce, that makes Baton Rouge more attractive for higher-wage jobs. The beneﬁts of those trickle down into other parts of the economy,” he said. “When people see that the quality of life is strong, they want to be here. It starts in the schools. Education is one of the strongest foundations to build on when you want society as a whole to improve.”

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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 pubager at Rickey’s, said a long line surance. Now, most new construc- emerging. 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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Calif. coast faces winter of big waves, erosion, flooding BY RONG-GONG LIN II Los Angeles Times

LOS ANGELES — A rare convergence of a powerful El Niño, super king tides and sea level rise spurred by climate change could menace California with record coastal ﬂooding this winter. Already, officials are observing higher tides than typical. Swells are eroding beaches, damaging parking lots and bathrooms, and even resurfacing long-buried coastal infrastructure. And that’s before El Niño even kicks into high gear. Jonathan Warrick, a research geologist with the U.S. Geological Survey, said that the climate pattern — commonly viewed as a rainmaker in Southern California — also turbocharges the sea. “There’s a phenomena during El Niños where the waters offshore California get warmer, and they actually rise up, up to a foot, sometimes more, higher than average,” he said. That may not seem like much, but it’s more than enough to wreak havoc on lower-lying homes and coastal infrastructure. Over the past 125 years, the average sea level in San Francisco Bay, for example, has already risen by about 1 foot — an increase experts link to human-caused climate change. “Folks who really think about coastal risks are very concerned that the singlehighest sea levels on record are quite possible this winter in California,” said Daniel Swain, a UC climate scientist. “And that is going to be a problem.” This pattern has happened before. During the “very strong” El Niños of 1982-83 and 1997-98, as well as the “strong” El Niño of 2023-24,

TNS PHOTO By ROBERT GAUTHIER/LOS ANGELES TIMES

cycles — the 18.6-year lunar node and 4.4-year lunar perigee tidal cycles — that “arise from small changes in the orbit of the moon” and affect its tide-generating force on ocean waters, according to Reinhard Flick, a researcher at the UC San Diego Scripps Institution of Oceanography. “We are near the peaks of those cycles this year. That means that around Christmastime, California will see some very strong king tides

that will superpose on the high sea levels caused by El Niño,” said Mark Merriﬁeld, director of the Scripps’ Center for Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation. The 4.4-year tide cycle also peaked during the 1982-83 El Niño, contributing to coastal flooding in California, according to a study published in the Journal of Physical Oceanography in 1985. The highest tides are expected to hit on Thanksgiv-

ing Day, Christmas Eve and Jan. 22. Should they coincide with winter storms, coastal erosion, flooding and damage are likely, Flick said. “It looks like around December we’re going to see some of the highest tides that we ever get in this geologic epoch. So we’re going to see tides, king tides, this year that are several inches higher than even the highest king tides of recent years,” Swain said.

High winds and rough seas didn’t deter beachgoers from enjoying a day at Zuma Beach in Malibu on Aug. 16. San Francisco Bay logged record monthly average sea levels. “The fact that our seas will be higher than average is a very concerning factor for coastal erosion and wave impact on cliffs and other structures near the coast, for coastal flooding,” Warrick said. That can be doubly true if El Niño lives up to its rainy reputation. Rain falling on land looks for a place to drain. “If the oceans are higher,” Warrick said, “then it’s harder for that water to get off the landscape.” El Niño, a climate pattern characterized by warmer ocean waters in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean, is already causing sea levels to rise off the coast of Latin America. That’s because ocean water expands as it heats. In June, NASA released a visualization showing sea levels were more than half a foot higher than baseline off the Pacific coast of Peru, Ecuador, Colombia and Panama. Now, “water levels are already half a foot to a foot above average” along much of the South American Pacific coast, Swain said. “Similarly, as we go up through

Central America and up the west coast of Mexico and into the Gulf of California, water levels are similarly now approaching or even exceeding a foot above average in this region.” For months, parts of the California coast have been experiencing a marine heat wave unrelated to El Niño. But “it is possible that the most recent heating off Southern California within the week of August 15th may ﬁnally be the result of some more direct warming due to El Niño drivers,” according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s marine heat wave tracker. “What we’re observing is actually tides that are ... 4 to 6 inches above predicted. And that’s quite a bit,” said Jeremy Smith, a coastal engineer with the California Coastal Commission. But what will be exceptionally bad timing for California’s coast is that, as El Niño’s full inﬂuence comes to bear, the king tides will be even higher than normal. Every year, California gets hit with those highest high tides roughly around the summer and winter solstices. But there are also longer

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Louisiana Blue Foundation’s The Angel Award 2026 honors Amid heat, sunhats appearing community leaders making in Athens at ancient sites a difference for children BY DEREK GATOPOULOS

Associated Press

ATHENS, Greece — Outside the Acropolis, a sea of hats bobs up and down the hill to the ancient site: straw boaters, Panama hats, baseball caps and bucket hats in the relentless heat. Hat racks are hard to miss in central Athens this summer. Kiosks and stores keep outdoor stands piled high as more tourists seek relief from the midday heat. The Acropolis drew about 4.6 million visitors in 2025, a record year for Greek tourism. Many spend hours in mid-90s temperatures with little shade. Even a carriage horse at the foot of the ancient monument has joined in, sporting a brown bucket hat with holes cut for its ears. “You need a hat. I’m already red as it is,” said Jack Yosif, an Australian tourist wearing a black baseball cap. “It’s a bit more of a common thing nowadays, and people are a bit more

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO

Tourists wearing hats take photographs on the rocky Areios Pagos Hill next to the Acropolis in Athens.

aware.” Scorching temperatures didn’t deter a record 38 million visitors last year, the most recent for which there is data. The combination of extreme heat and high demand for sites — which means not everyone can visit in the morning — is adding urgency to sun protection. Greek health campaigners have welcomed a growing awareness of the dangers of ultraviolet exposure and risk of heat stroke. Red

Cross volunteers at the Acropolis hand out kits with sunscreen, water, information leaﬂets and red caps. On nearby Syntagma Square, kiosk owner Konstantinos Mallios says hat sales have risen in recent years. His stylish and souvenir models run up to $24. Available elsewhere is semidisposable headgear: massproduced hats made using compressed paper pulp. And there are more ostentatious options. At her basement workshop, hatmaker Lisa Sarigiannidou turns straw braids into boaters using century-old presses and molds in a matter of minutes. “People’s attitudes toward hats have changed,” said Sarigiannidou, who was trained by her hatmaker father. “In the past, when a young woman tried on a hat and looked at herself in the mirror, she usually laughed. Now they try them on seriously … and they wear them straight out the door.”

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

20A ■ Sunday,August 30, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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1Bn

BRPD plans to move Highland Road station Larger location would be downtown BY BLAKE LESCHBER

to city ofﬁcials. Mayor-President Sid Edwards said this week officials plan to Plans to relocate a police station move the Highland Road Police from Highland Road have more to Station — located at 2265 Highland do with improving facilities than Road, next to Splash Nightclub — any perceived safety problems in to a larger, undecided location downtown Baton Rouge, according downtown.

Staff writer

Edwards and Police Chief T.J. Morse say the change would not impact police coverage in the Old South Baton Rouge area. However, Metro Council member Carolyn Coleman — who represents District 10, including the Highland area — said if the proposal goes to the council, she will be “adamantly” against it. It would be the second BRPD

location downtown; an existing station on Third Street is about seven blocks from the State Capitol building. “I think downtown is gonna be extremely excited about it,” Edwards said. “We have a district down there that does a beautiful job now, but the whole thing is a better space and a better area.” Morse said the plan is not a re-

sponse to downtown being unsafe. Edwards said police have outgrown the Highland location, making a new location necessary. “The district (building) we’re in now is getting older; we need to be able to revamp it, and we have an opportunity where somebody wants to help us out with a bigger

ä See RELOCATE, page 2B

Danny Heitman AT RANDOM

Journal connects me with the traveler I used to be Like many empty-nesters in Louisiana, my wife and I often spend our vacation time visiting grown children who live out of state. The start of summer found us in California with our daughter, and in a few weeks, we’ll be going to Oregon to check on our son. But in the meantime, our empty luggage has reclaimed its roost on the top closet shelf, and we’re staying put a while at the close of another long August. I’m ready to embrace autumn, a time when we tend to think less about where we’re going than where we’ve been. The rituals of homecoming will soon arrive, nudging us to think about lessons learned in faraway places and how they’ve changed us as we return to familiar routines. “The Odyssey,” one of this summer’s Hollywood blockbusters, has resonated with millions of viewers because it touches on the ancient notion that remembering where we’ve traveled can deepen who we are. It’s in this spirit that I recently read a New York Times story urging readers to keep a travel journal when they go on the road. “There’s no one perfect way — or reason — to keep a travel journal,” journalist Jenna Schnuer pointed out. “But no matter how or why you do it, future you will probably be happy that you did.” Travel journals might seem like an old-fashioned thing now that we can easily document special moments with our smartphones. But while combing my bookshelves recently, I came across a travel journal that made me glad I had written about a long-ago trip. The slender brown pocket journal I brought to France on May 3, 1991, is a case in point. The date is carefully recorded on the inside cover, along with my return address in case it got lost. Seeing the inscription was like shaking

ä See HEITMAN, page 3B

STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

Members of the Woodlawn High School marching band wear their new uniforms on Thursday in Baton Rouge.

Fundraising efforts provide new marching band uniforms

Three Baton Rouge high schools will sport new livery when they take the field

BY CHARLES LUSSIER Staff writer

In time for the return of football season, marching bands at three Baton Rouge high schools are performing this fall in newly acquired uniforms, obtained thanks to a districtwide fundraising campaign launched a year ago. Glen Oaks and Liberty high schools un-

veiled their new uniforms on Aug. 4 when they performed at the back-to-school convocation for the East Baton Rouge Parish school system. They previously did not have uniforms at all. Meanwhile, Woodlawn High School’s marching band is sporting newer uniforms this fall that were donated by Sam Houston High School in Moss Bluff, just north

of Lake Charles. That public high school recently purchased its own new uniforms and no longer needed the ones it was using previously. The Baton Rouge fundraising effort, dubbed Band Together EBR, has raised more than $85,000 since it was launched last

ä See UNIFORMS, page 2B

Hillar Moore amasses large war chest for campaign DA faces challenger for first time since 2008

more in campaign donations this election cycle than in any previous race, putting his war chest in a similar league as multiple recent mayoral candidates. BY QUINN COFFMAN Moore has been district attorney Staff writer for East Baton Rouge Parish for Incumbent District Attorney 18 years, serving three six-year Hillar Moore has already raised terms, including unopposed re-

elections in 2014 and 2020. Before October 2025, when local defense attorney Ryan Thompson announced his candidacy, the only contested race Moore had been involved in was his ﬁrst, the 2008 election he won

ä See MOORE, page 3B

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

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Police: LSU student allegedly managed gambling operation

was arrested Tuesday on ing harassing phone calls and text vidual and his family and friends transactions from the Baton Rouge Suspect arrested on Rouge, counts of gambling, cyberstalking, messages after he lost one he began receiving harassing phone area and other states from Feb. 25, counts of cyberstalking, extortion, unlawful wagering, and could not pay. calls and text messages from 2025, to April 15, 2026. unlawful telephone communicaAn investigation of Contente’s The man said he was given a line someone using an alias, police said. extortion, other charges tions; harassment. Investigators were able to deter- CashApp account showed an addiof credit through an online casino

BY BLAKE LESCHBER Staff writer

An LSU student acted as a bookie, managing an illegal online gambling operation involving thousands of dollars and harassing those who could not pay their debts, according to authorities. Joseph Contente, 23, of Baton

On Jan. 16, the Louisiana State Police Gaming Enforcement Division responded to a complaint regarding alleged illegal gambling and more. In an interview with State Police, the person who ﬁled the complaint stated he was able to connect to a “bookie” identiﬁed as Contente. He said he placed multiple bets with Contente, and then started receiv-

called “The Vault.” Police say wagers were accepted through text messages, and subsequent collections and payments were through CashApp or Venmo. Screenshots showed the person lost a bet in December 2025 and asked Contente if he could delay the payment, which he agreed to, State Police said. At the end of the month, the indi-

mine that the phone number used by the individual was connected to similar incidents. A Venmo account conﬁrmed to belong to Contente showed a pattern of transactions indicative of illegal gambling, according to an arrest afﬁdavit. A further investigation showed he had received more than $167,000 of debit transactions and over $147,000 in credit

UNIFORMS

Continued from page 1B September. Previously, schools relied on school or band-level fundraising, but the cost of new uniforms can be steep. “The campaign is a multiyear effort with a goal of raising close to $500,000 to provide new band uniforms for high schools across the district,” said Jennifer Lightfoot, who is leading the initiative for the school system. “Outﬁtting one high school band costs approximately $45,000, so we anticipate continuing this campaign over the next few years.” Lightfoot is executive director of the Foundation for the East Baton Rouge School System, the district’s philanthropic arm. Amanda Martin, CEO of Studyville, a Baton Rouge-based tutoring company, kicked off the campaign by donating $25,000. Other large donors include the Baton Rouge Youth Coalition, Emergent Method and CSRS. McKinley and Northeast high schools are next in line to receive new band uniforms once the money is raised. The goal is to replace uniforms at all 11 high schools in the parish school system. “The uniforms do wonders for their self-conﬁdence and unity as a band,” said Stephen Gregory, director of Liberty High’s band. When Gregory arrived at Liberty in fall 2022, it had been years since the high school had a marching band. Formerly Lee High, the high school closed, relocated, was rebuilt, reorganized and in 2020 was renamed Liberty High. It relaunched

STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

Members of the Woodlawn High School marching band march to the beat by a drummer while wearing their new uniforms on Thursday in Baton Rouge. its football program in fall 2018. The new marching band began the daunting process of raising money to buy new uniforms. “It was going to take a long time if we had to do it ourselves,” Gregory said. The new blue and red uniforms arrived during the last week of

school in May. “The seniors were a little sad they didn’t get to wear them, even though they were ﬁtted for them,” Gregory recalled. The band doesn’t dress out for every game largely due to the heat. It will wear them next on Sept. 18 for Liberty High’s homecoming

tional estimated 100 transactions from Jan. 26, 2025, to April 10, 2026. Through the evidence, investigators believed they established a pattern of illegal gambling. Inmate records showed Contente was booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison on Tuesday and was granted a $25,000 bail. As of Friday, he was no longer at the facility, according to records.

parish School Board, has been helping with the district’s fundraising campaign. Soulé spoke Thursday at the Battle of the Bluff jamboree at Southern University — the district’s annual event kicking off the football season. She noted that some high school bands in Baton Rouge are wearing decades-old uniforms that are “well beyond their intended life span.” “We would never ask our football players to walk onto this field without proper uniforms,” Soulé said. “We shouldn’t expect the young men and women standing beside them to represent their schools without them either.” Soulé said marching bands bring something special to sporting events. “When the lights come on and our teams take the field, the band is right there with them,” she said. “They bring the energy. They bring the tradition. They bring the school pride.” They also can have a transformative effect on teenage musicians when it comes to discipline, preparation and teamwork. “Those lessons go far beyond music,” she said. The push for new band uniforms is part of a larger effort by the school system to improve the “high school experience,” an area where district leaders say Baton Rouge secondary schools have fallen behind their peers. Last fall, the school system sold $42 million in bonds to finance projects to upgrade local high schools, most of them related to school athletics.

game against Broadmoor High. Gregory said the students have to be reminded to really march in their new outﬁts. “We’re a marching band,” he said. “You have to pick up your legs. Use that stripe on that side (of the pants) and show what it’s for.” Email Charles Lussier at Emily Soulé, a member of the clussier@theadvocate.com.

RELOCATE

Continued from page 1B

space,” Morse said. Even though the physical location is moving, Morse and Edwards were ﬁrm that the number of patrols and services won’t decrease in the Old South Baton Rouge area. While Morse consistently says downtown is safe, he added the relocated station could help bolster safety in the area, especially during events and festivals where more foot trafﬁc is expected. “Part of the move we’d love to explore is to have a built-in command post,” Morse said. “It’s part of the district as well, so we can STAFF PHOTO By JAVIER GALLEGOS oversee all the festivals and special events that happen A pair of BRPD officers stand outside of Violet Nightclub on Thursday. in the downtown area.” “If it was up to us, it would ports the plan. Coleman Edwards couldn’t disclose from the Highland location. The mayor said it is too be as quick as we can,” Ed- said she is against moving an exact location for the new station due to pending deals, early to have a timetable on wards said. the station because it would but it would be about a mile when the move will happen. But not everyone sup- create a void in Old South

Baton Rouge. “We need to be proactive instead of reactive,” Coleman said. “You move that (location), then something happens where you’ve moved it from. Then you jump to go back and try to put the top on that pot, and it’s boiling over.” Old South Baton Rouge is between downtown and LSU, along Highland Road. Coleman said the police station is necessary due to crime in the area. Coleman does not think the age or condition of the building is a good enough reason to completely abandon the station. “There was some talk on the age of the building; well, Baton Rouge has a lot of aged buildings,” Coleman said. “In an aged building, do something with it. Clean up around it, paint it up, do whatever. But do not remove the police station on Highland Road; that is not something I would embrace.”

She said some constituents in the area have raised concerns with her that there wouldn’t be a constant police presence if the station moved. “When we look at that police station on Highland, we know it is definitely a (crime) deterrent,” Coleman said. “It is not a ﬁx-all, but it is deterring crime, and it’s needed there.” Coleman said she has made people in Edwards’ office aware of where she stands.

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

lll

Judge recused from cases after AG probe

is not appropriate.” cal-chairs fallout of the Legislature’s Roche oversaw Orleans Parish grand jury that indicted Murrill “recusal Murell’s client, Jerry Davis, move this year to shrink the crimi-

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 Roche accused her of crimes in threatening letters she penned in May to 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 Louisiana State Police. Murrill’s office handles more than one in five cases in the courthouse, by its own count. Until Friday, they were divided 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,

IN MEMORY OF THE LOST

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. “It doesn’t make anything more efficient by taking these cases. They effectively have to start all over from the beginning” under new judges, he 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 GoodeDouglas, at year’s end, in the musi-

nal court from 12 judges to nine. Her seat eliminated, GoodeDouglas 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.”

HEITMAN

When Danny Heitman came across a travel journal from his 1991 trip to France, he felt as if he were shaking hands with an earlier self. Heitman thinks travel journals are a good way to record trips for posterity.

Continued from page 1B hands with the person I used to be. I was in my 20s back then, an age when I was especially eager to nurse every thought. Little wonder that I had tried to make sure the journal stayed with me as I strolled around Paris. The journal offered lively glimpses into what life was like for a tourist 35 years ago. I couldn’t help noticing how many addresses and phone numbers I had recorded for reference, including the location of my lodging, Hotel Jardin des Plantes, at 5 Rue Linné. Before smartphones and GPS, travelers often needed notebooks and paper maps to ﬁnd their way. My travel journal had private musings, too, and many of them made me smile. “Ev-

STAFF PHOTO By DANNy HEITMAN erything is as old as heck,” I had scribbled one day after strolling along one of the city’s cobblestone streets. I was a young American shocked by the antiquity of Europe, but more importantly, I was open to wonder

and surprise. I hope I still am. We’ll see what happens when I ﬂy to Oregon soon with another travel journal in my pocket. Email Danny Heitman at danny@dannyheitman.com.

STAFF PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER

Participants name ancestors during the 21st Annual Katrina Commemoration along the Lower 9th Ward levee wall in New Orleans on Saturday.

MOORE

Continued from page 1B against Republican Dan Claitor. So far, Thompson has not submitted any campaign finance documents. Reached by phone last week, he said his team intends to file the next campaign finance report, due Oct. 5. Thompson did not respond to requests for an estimate of his campaign donations so far. In Moore’s first race, measured from Jan. 1, 2007, until the Oct. 4, 2008, election, he raised more than $526,000 in campaign funds against Claitor. In this year’s race, Moore has raised $789,770 from Jan. 1, 2025, through Aug. 5, when he officially qualified. That number has since increased, and with less than 90 days until the election, it continues to grow, Moore said. “I believe that on our latest filing that was due around two weeks ago, we reported income around $800,000 with $500,000 in the bank,” Moore said. “I just had a fundraiser this week and anticipate depositing over $100,000 more this week. I still have several fundraisers scheduled. I hope to raise at least $1 million total for the campaign.” If that goal is reached, Moore’s war chest will rival those of other Democrats that have recently run campaigns for parishwide offices. By the end of the Nov. 5, 2024, primary for mayorpresident, former state Rep. Ted James had reported more than $1.1 million in donations. A month later, Sharon Weston Broome finished her mayoral reelection campaign with over $1.2 million in reported donations. Now being challenged for

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the first time as an incumbent, Moore said this is the most active fundraising he has had to do for any reelection campaign. “In my mind, and in my campaign’s, I am running against myself, my reputation and the record of this office,” Moore said. “In 2014 and 2020, I was fortunate to be reelected without opposition. This year gives me the opportunity — and the responsibility — to go back before the voters, talk about what we have accomplished, answer questions about where we need to improve and make the case for where I want to take the office over the next six years.”

Donors

“What means the most to me is seeing people who supported me when I ﬁrst ran in 2008 still supporting me today,” Moore said. “That includes individuals from all walks of life and afﬁliations, including members of the legal community, business and civic leaders, law enforcement families, victims’ advocates and people from neighborhoods across the parish.” Moore’s campaign also reported multiple donations to the campaigns of candidates running for Baton Rouge judge seats, including for Jimmy Manasseh, Will Jorden and Winston DeCuir.

Ads and expenses So far, Moore’s largest single expense has been $25,000 for campaign consulting from DSPolitical, a Washington, D.C.-based advertising firm focused on political consulting for Democrats. The next largest single expense was to Echo Tango LLC, a Prairieville production company that Moore billed for “campaign consulting/creative design.” “The largest expenses are what you would expect in a parishwide campaign — voter communications, including media, yard signs, mail, digital communications and campaign materials, along with the professional and administrative costs associated with running the campaign,” Moore said. In his comments to The Advocate, Moore noted his distaste with both asking donors for money and being a “politician” in the traditional sense. “Unfortunately, in his world, it takes money to get your message through so many different media sources,” Moore said.

Moore has received a number of large one-time donations from business and community leaders in both Baton Rouge and beyond. Since the start of the year, he has received $12,000 donations — the maximum per person for this kind of race — from: n Stephen Squeri, CEO of American Express, and his wife, Tina Squeri n Eddie Rispone, founder of ISC Constructors and a 2019 Louisiana gubernatorial candidate n Tony Clayton, district attorney for 18th Judicial District Court and chair for Southern University Board of Supervisors n Art Favre, co-founder of Performance Contractors n David Arrighi, founder of GROUP Contractors n Jennifer Reilly, cofounder of City Year Inc. One of the campaign’s expenses was for a list of state attorneys from the Louisiana Bar Association. Many of Moore’s donors are law firms or individual attorneys. Clayton has been a donor Email Quinn Coffman for Moore since his original at quinn.coffman@ run. theadvocate.com.

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4B ■ Sunday,August 30, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

Obituaries Brignac, Lucille Keller

Lucille Mae Keller Brignac, 94, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, at Golden Age Nursing Home in Denham Springs. She was a native of French Settlement. Lucille retired from French Settlement Elementary School, where she served as secretary for many years. She was known for her kind heart, gracious spirit, and devotion to her family. She is survived by her sister, Netty Acosta of French Settlement; nephews, Reggie Favaron of French Settlement and Troy Favaron (Roger) of Baton Rouge; along with numerous other relatives and friends who will cherish her memory. Lucille was preceded in death by her beloved husband of nearly 50 years, Felix Brignac, Jr.; her daughter, Rhonda Ann Brignac; her son, Mark Joseph Brignac; her parents, Ferdinand and Louise Guitreau Keller; sisters, Carolyn Keller and Edith Keller; and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins. The family will receive friends at St. Joseph Catholic Church in French Settlement on Monday, August 31, 2026, from 10:00 am until noon., with the Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at noon. Burial will follow in the mausoleum. The family would like to extend special thanks to Lucille's cousins, Sandy Matherne and Cat Guitreau and niece, Sue Brown, who were always there for her in her time of need. Lucille was extremely grateful for their love, care, and kindness. Lucille will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by all who had the privilege of knowing her.

Collins, John 'Chip'

John "Chip" Collins, born March 18, 1960, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, went home to be with our Lord on August 18, 2026. He grew up in Baton Rouge and was a member of Winbourne Avenue Baptist Church, where his faith in God deepened and flourished. When he was 12 years old, he began studying Tae Kwon Do under Master Ki Yoon. The skills, discipline, and lifelong friendships he gained through martial arts remained an integral part of his life. John graduated from the LSU College of Engineering. He began his career with the Louisiana Department of Transportation, serving in various engineering positions. He later moved to Grand Island, Nebraska, where he served as City Engineer/ Public Works Director. He concluded his distinguished career with the City of Amarillo, serving as Utilities Director. He is survived by his wife, Sarah Collins; his parents, John Collins and Joni Sue Collins; his sister, Sharon Lee; and numerous nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins. He is preceded in death by his grandparents, his great grandmother affectionately known as Mama Ward and brother-in-law James (J. Hope) Lee, whom he dearly loved. John's life was marked by steadfast faith, dedicated service, and deep love for his family and friends. Whether through his work or the relationships he cherished, he touched the lives of many. While he will be greatly missed, his family finds comfort in knowing that he is now in the presence of his Savior and reunited with loved ones who have gone before him. Relatives and friends are invited to attend the funeral service at Resthaven Fu-

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neral Home, 11817 Jefferson Highway in Baton Rouge on Monday, August 31, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. A visitation will be held at the funeral home beginning at 12:00 p.m. Burial will follow at Resthaven Gardens of Memory. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Coulter Road Baptist Church in Amarillo, Texas, or Solid Rock Baptist Church in Grand Island, Nebraska. Family and friends may sign the online guestbook or leave a personal note to the family at www.resthavenbatonroug e.com

Derbes, Mary

Mary Howe Derbes, 84, a resident of Atlanta, Georgia, passed away on August 17, 2026. A funeral Mass will be held at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Atlanta on September 1, 2026, at 1 pm. Mary Howe Derbes was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, on June 18, 1942. She attended Academy of the Sacred Heart and then Maryville University in Saint Louis, Missouri, where she earned her bachelor's degree in English and Math. She obtained a master's degree in Literature from Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia.

(Bill) Hays, especially in Brumfield, Massachusetts. Their antique knowledge was extensive in furniture, art and silver. Well known in the region, Pat sold Victorian antique jewelry for many years. Another favorite pastime was traveling the world with Bill, and usually a group of friends, always ready for something new; seeing a solar eclipse in Australia, shopping in England, Scotland and China, barge cruising in France, visiting with Russian artists along the river, traveling by rail through Canada, or just enjoying the sights and dining in Italy. Pat and Bill were lifelong members of the Southern Yacht Club of New Orleans and enjoyed celebrating the 4th of July by decorating their houseboat, "The Starlight Express" for the annual parade. The Yacht Club was also the setting for numerous rowdy Super Bowl parties. Pat was a masterful party host for Christmas, Mardi Gras and Engagement parties in both New Orleans and Baton Rouge, where the couple settled after Hurricane Katrina. Pat is preceded in death by her husband, William (Bill) Auburn Hays, Jr. and daughter, Tracy Tooker Griswold. Family and friends would like to thank Pat's wonderful caregivers at St James Place; Shaneka Williams, Doretha Bond, Annette Grimes and Sarah Andalib. A memorial service will be held on Friday, September 11, 2026, at 1:00pm at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home, followed by a Celebration of Life reception at the Southern Yacht Club. In lieu of flowers, contributions to Hospice of Baton Rouge would be appreciated.

Hymel, Ralph

After earning her master's degree, Mary returned to New Orleans and taught at the Academy of the Sacred Heart. She later spent many years in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. In 1988, Mary moved to Atlanta and began a new career as a computer programmer for SunTrust Bank. Later in her career she was chosen to be a member of the team that developed the bank's first websites. Mary was an active member of her church parish everywhere she lived. Her faith was deeply meaningful to her, and she was an inspiration to those around her. Art was one of her passions. She was a gifted painter. Her work was exhibited at the Atlanta Artists Center and elsewhere throughout Georgia. She also served as a member of the Atlanta Artists Center's Board of Directors. Mary also worked in collage and was a member of the Atlanta Collage Society. Mary Howe Derbes is survived by her sister, Dorothy Howe Brooks (Reg Brooks), her children, Monica Derbes Gibson and Joseph Derbes, and her grandson, Max Gibson. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Marianne Louise Derbes, and brother, Jim Howe. An interment ceremony will take place on December 29, 2026, at Lake Lawn Metairie Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society.

Hays, Patricia Walt

Ralph Hymel, born in 1946, passed away on August 26, 2026, at the age of 80. Ralph proudly served his country in both the United States Air Force and the United States Marine Corps. Following his military service, Ralph began a longstanding career with Exxon, retiring after many committed years. He is survived by his loving, dedicated and caring wife, Marilyn Ryder Hymel; his children, Jeffrey Hymel (wife, Lisa), Michelle Hymel (husband, Sam Hunter) and Ashley Swanger (husband, Christopher); his stepson, Shane Baronet (wife, Courtney); and his stepdaughter, Cherie Morton (Beau Dicharry). Ralph also leaves behind his cherished grandchildren: Leilani and Dillon Swanger; Caleb, Juliet, and Delaney Baronet; Jordan Bishop (husband, John David); Madison and Reagan Morton. He is also survived by his siblings, James, Helen, Judy, Clyde, and Theresa. Ralph was preceded in death by his beloved first wife and the mother of his children, Valerie Moore Hymel; his parents, Dumas and Rita Landeche Hymel; and his brother, Kenneth Hymel. Ralph will be remembered for his quiet strength and deep love he shared with his family. His memory will live on in the hearts of all who knew and loved him.

Patricia (Pat) Walt Hays died peacefully at her home in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on August 14, 2026. Pat was born in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1939, and graduated from Ursuline Academy. Pat's parents were Ernest Joseph Walt and Naomi Anderson Walt. An exceptional needle worker, Pat co-owned Needleworks in New Orleans and taught numerous classes in needlepoint and knitting. This expertise and passion led to Pat accumulating an extensive collection of cross-stitched samplers from the 1700's and 1800's. One of Pat's particular joys was antiquing with her late husband, William

Relatives and friends are invited to attend the visitation on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, at Greenoaks Funeral Home, 9595 Florida Boulevard, Baton Rouge, LA 70815, from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. A funeral service will begin at 2:00 p.m., after which Ralph will be laid to rest.

Jensen, Susanne Maria

We are deeply saddened by the passing of Dr. Susanne M. Jensen, affection-

ately known as 'Dr. Sue' on August 27, 2026, at the age of 93. Dr. Sue was a kind and compassionate woman with a generous heart, and she will be deeply missed and forever cherished. She was born in Homburg, Germany, on September 27, 1932, the second daughter of Dr. Karl Dienhart and his wife Maria Dienhart. Sue grew up in Germany, educated at the University of Saarland (Saarbrucken), receiving both her B.A. and M.A. Sue received her Ph. D at the University of Bonn in Clinical Psychology and two minors in Philosophy and Psychopathology. While in Bonn, she won a Fulbright Scholarship, which led to an internship at the Nebraska State Hospital in Norfolk in 1959. While there, she met and married Dr. Richard Leland Jensen. While in Nebraska, she received a second scholarship in Clinical Psychology to intern at Southeast Louisiana Hospital in Mandeville, which brought her to the deep South. Following the completion of her internship, Sue remained in Mandeville as a staff psychologist, while also serving in the Department of Psychiatry at Tulane Medical School. This was the beginning of her journey to become a Southerner and a proud American citizen in 1971. In 1963, with the support of a state hospital grant and permission from the University of Bonn to complete requirements for her Ph. D, she travelled to Germany to receive minors in Psychotherapy and Psychopathology. She was very grateful to the late Dr. Edwin Timmons for his support. Sue conducted research regarding Group Psychotherapy and wrote her dissertation following the stringent requirements of the university which led to its eventual publication. In 1967, she joined the staff at LSU Mental Health Services, going on to become Clinical Director from 1975-1989 and served as a professor of psychology classes. Her work also included the training and supervision of Graduate students. While there, Sue introduced group therapy as a treatment modality. Group psychotherapy and the psychology of women were the two most important areas of clinical work during her career. While at LSU, she co-founded "The Phone," which became the Crisis Intervention Center. In 1990, she left LSU and began full-time private practice. Her experiences in private practice led to further personal development. She was deeply shaped by the people with whom she studied and worked. Her work as a clinical psychologist was rewarding for many years, and led to travels across the world, including Argentina, Australia, Austria, Egypt, China, Germany, Morocco, Russia, and the former Yugoslavia. In 1999, after serving as the keynote speaker of the World Council of Psychotherapy in Vienna, she began the North American chapter, serving as Chairwoman. In 2003, she was named Woman of the Year by the American Group Psychotherapy Association along with the creation of a scholarship for foreign born women in her name. She also received the 2016 Distinguished Psychologist Award from the Louisiana Psychological Association. She continued to serve her patients in private practice until 2023, when, with gratitude and sadness, she closed her private practice due to health reasons. As a reflection on her life, Dr. Sue wanted to be remembered as a European by birth; a Southerner by choice; and a Citizen of the World by compassion. She was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Richard L. Jensen; her parents, Dr. Karl and Maria Dienhart; her sister Gertrude D. Kronz and brother-inlaw, Herman Kronz. She is survived by her sons Markus Jensen, Christof Jensen (wife Lori), her grandchildren, Gabriella and Trevor Jensen, her sister Gabrielle D. Schneider, nephew Dr. Andreas Kronz, nieces Dr. Dorothee (Kronz) Matzig, Ulrike (Kronz) Kerssebaum, Julia Schneider, and Pam Schulz, many extended family members in Germany and the United States, and her companion of 20 years Dr. Richard Gaynor. She was grateful for the longtime and cherished friendship of Patricia Martina. The family would like to thank all of the caregivers who have provided much appreciated support dur-

ing the past 3 years. Visitation will be held from 4:00-8:00 pm on Thursday, September 3rd , at Rabenhorst Funeral Home at 825 Government St. On Friday, September 4th , the eulogy for Dr. Sue will be at 9:45 am, and funeral service at 10:00 am, at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church at 2250 Main St., with burial to follow at Green Oaks Cemetery at 12:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, the family requests a donation to Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church in Baton Rouge in her memory.

Laperouse, Susan

Susan Ann Dill Laperouse, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, teacher, businesswoman, and devoted Catholic, passed away at 4:30 p.m. on August 25, 2026, at Terrebonne General Medical Center. Born in 1946, Susan was the ﬁrst child of Ray and Marjorie Henry Dill. She graduated from St. Francis de Sales Girls School and attended Nicholls State College, where she earned a bachelor's degree in English Education, completing her degree requirements in just three years. While in college, she worked at the Houma Courier & Terrebonne Press as a lifestyle writer and editor, beginning a lifelong connection to writing, literature, and her community. Susan and Jude Laperouse met as children in grade school and became high school sweethearts. They married in 1966, while still students at college. Their youthful romance grew into a 60-year marriage marked by friendship, partnership, shared faith, family, travel, and a genuine enjoyment of life together. After graduating from Nicholls, Susan, for a short time, taught English at South Terrebonne High School and then at Vandebilt Catholic High School. She later earned a master's degree in theology from Loyola University New Orleans, combining her love of learning with the Catholic faith that was central to her life. Susan and Jude traveled extensively throughout the United States and abroad.

London held a special place in Susan's heart for its rich literary history and its connection to the writers and books she loved. Italy captivated her in another way, with its cultural, religious, and culinary heritage. Their travels became a treasured part of the life they shared. Susan also had an entrepreneurial spirit. She was a partner in two very successful local businesses, Memories of Yesterday, an antique boutique and the Christmas Place, which specialized in unique and exclusive holiday décor. Her creativity, energy, and appreciation for beauty were evident in all that she did. Cooking was another passion shared by Susan and Jude. When they moved into their current home, they remodeled and expanded the kitchen to include two stoves and two sinks—an unusually practical expression of how much they enjoyed cooking together. Susan's cooking became part of her family's story. Her lasagna was a favorite at family gatherings, and her soubise was legendary. At Christmas, she made her beloved "Jesus Birthday" cake, beginning a family tradition that continues today, two generations later. These were more than recipes; they were expressions of the love and hospitality with which Susan welcomed family and friends into her home. Susan's Catholic faith was equally woven into the fabric of her life. She was a member of the Altar Society, a past President of the St. Francis de Sales Parish Council and served as a lecturer at St. Francis de Sales Co-Cathedral. She was a Eucharistic minister at both the Cathedral and the hospital, bringing the Eucharist and comfort to those in need. As FOCCUS administrators, Susan and Jude also helped newly engaged couples prepare for marriage, sharing the perspective and wisdom gained from their own enduring marriage. Susan was preceded in death by her parents, Ray and Marjorie Henry Dill, and her brother, Stephen James Dill. She is survived by her beloved husband, Edward Jude Laperouse; her son, Edward "Ted" Jude Laperouse II of Baton Rouge and Dallas, Texas; her sisters, Christine Dill Forrest (Miles) of Houma and Nancy Dill Carroll of San Diego, California; her grandchildren, Lauren Laperouse and Alex Laperouse of Dallas, Texas; her sisters-inlaw, Roxanne Kearns Dill of Baton Rouge, Anita Helen Pearson of Houma, Mary Beth Vicari (Guy) of Houma, and Donna Sue Ortego (Rick) of Houma. Susan will be remembered for the richness of her life and the warmth

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with which she shared it. She loved literature and learning, faith and family, travel and cooking, and the simple pleasure of gathering people around a table. She built a successful business, taught generations of students, served her church and community, and created traditions that will continue long after her. Above all, Susan and Jude shared a remarkable journey that began in childhood and lasted six decades. The memories they created—from their early days in Houma to their travels around the world, from cooking together in their two-stove kitchen to celebrating Christmas with her "Jesus Birthday" cake—are part of the legacy she leaves to her family. Susan lived a life of curiosity, faith, love, service, and joy. She will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered. In lieu of ﬂowers the family requests donations be made in Susan's memory to St. Jude Children's Hospital or Terrebonne Churches United Food Bank. Visitation will be held on Monday, August 31 at St. Francis de Sales Cathedral from 9:00 AM until funeral time at 11:00 AM. Funeral Mass at 11:00 AM. A private burial will be held at a later date. Chauvin Funeral Home is charge of funeral arrangements.

Luna, Lino 'Luis'

Lino "Luis" Luna, age 87, passed away peacefully on August 27, 2026, at Thibodaux Regional Health System. He was a resident of Napoleonville, La and native of Donaldsonville, La. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, September 03, 2026 at Ascension Catholic Church in Donaldsonville, La. Visitation will be held from 9:00 am until 11:00 am, followed by a Christian mass and military burial. Born June 27, 1939, Luis was a proud veteran of the United States Army and a retired CF Industries employee after 22 years of dedicated service. He is survived by his two children, D'Lyn Bollinger (Craig), and Duane Luna (Gina); brother, Tony Luna (Martha); grandchildren, Taylor Bollinger, Austin Bollinger (Elise), Courtney Luna Richard (Chance), Carley Luna (Drew Hebert); great-grandchildren, Evelyn and Josie Richard; two expecting great-grandchildren, Baby Bollinger and Baby Hebert; step-grandchildren, Jacob Boyd (Stacy) and Shawn Boyd (Renee); and step-greatgrandchildren, Bree Boyd, Reese Boyd, Hunter Ponvelle, Rylan Boyd, Cohen Boyd. Luis was preceded in death by the mother of his children, Patsy Hebert Diez; parents, Jose and Olivia Ourso Luna; brothers, Jose Jr., Augustine, Frank, and Juan; sisters, Olivia Luna, Josephine Luna Marble and Luz Luna; and parents-in-law, Tobe and Doris Boudreaux Hebert. Luis enjoyed dancing, traveling, going to casinos with his friends, attending his grandson's baseball games and shopping with his daughter inlaw Gina. He especially enjoyed spending time with his great granddaughters, Evelyn and Joise who would always ask, "Let's go see Pa Pa Luis!" whenever they are at MeMe Gina and Pa Pa Duane's house. Luis courageously battled dementia for the past six years and is now at peace reunited with his parents, brothers and sisters in eternal life. The family would like to extend special thanks to the critical care nurses at Thibodaux Regional Health System, the residents of Foley Avenue along with Adrienne Davis, Gale and Sullivan Williams, and the many others who provided Luis with loving in-home care. We would also like to thank the staff at Audubon Nursing facility. Ourso Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Manning, Sue Beasley

Sue Beasley Manning, 83, of Many, Louisiana, passed away peacefully on August 25, 2026, surrounded by loved ones. Sue was born June 18, 1943, in Natchitoches, to Sybil Funderburk Beasley and Theodore Lealon Beasley. She earned her master's degree from Northwestern State University, raised her family in Baton Rouge, and settled on Toledo Bend with her husband, James. An only child, Sue grew up reading, riding horses with her father, and joining 4-H. In elementary school, she started a neighborhood book library, giving away every book she owned — she was, as it turned out, its only contributor. It was an early sign of the generosity she'd carry for life. Sue taught children in Honolulu, Houston, Natchitoches, and Brusly, and was a philanthropist for children's education worldwide. She had a zest for traveling the globe, always eager for the next place to explore. Sue had imagination, a rare wit, and a quiet strength that put people at ease — she never had to say a word for you to feel supported. She was entirely her own person. Losing her eyesight didn't stop Sue's love of reading; she turned to audiobooks, with help from Blind Services at the State Library of Louisiana, working through a story every day. She welcomed people as they were and gave freely — to family, students, causes, anyone who needed care. Neighborhood children knew her parting words: "Be sweet." Her faith was steady and central to who she was, shaping how she treated others. Sue is survived by her husband, James Howard Manning, of Many; her son, James Lealon Manning, of Florien; her daughter, Camille Manning-Broome (Devin Broome), of Baton Rouge; and three grandchildren, James Gerald Manning, Isaac James Broome, and Emerson James Broome. She will be missed tremendously. A funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, September 5, 2026, at Warren Meadows Funeral Home in Many, Louisiana, with Pastor Clayton officiating. Visitation begins at 1:00 p.m. Burial will follow at Antioch Church.

McComas, Cecile Blanchard 'Chee Chee'

Cecile "Chee Chee" Blanchard McComas passed away on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, at the age of 89. Relatives and friends are invited to celebrate Cecile's life on Monday, August 31, 2026, at St. Patrick Catholic Church, 12424 Brogdon Lane, Baton Rouge, LA 70816. All will be welcomed at 10:00 AM until Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 AM. Burial to follow at Resthaven Gardens of Memory. To sign the online guestbook, please visit www.resthavenbatonroug e.com.

daughters Becky and Laura and son Jerry for a glorious reunion. Born in Iola, Kansas on September 29, 1934, Dot spent her childhood in Fayetteville, Arkansas with her four brothers and two sisters. Her father was a pastor in the Church of the Nazarene, of which Dot and her late husband Neal were lifelong members. They were immersed in all aspects of church life until failing health prevented them from participating as actively. It was at church in Fayetteville that Dot met University of Arkansas engineering student Neal McGaugh, who was smitten by the tall brunette and brazenly pronounced on an early date that one day she would be his wife. He was very persistent and she finally accepted his proposal and made his prediction a reality. Neal's service in the Air Force brought them to Alexandria, LA where he served as an Industrial Engineer and Dot became a mother of four children and a homemaker. Later she would work in administration for the Rapides Parish and St. Charles Parish School Boards. Despite the challenges of caring for two handicapped daughters as well as her two sons, Dot always kept service to the Lord and to the church foremost in her life. She and Neal both served in multiple capacities in the church and shared a special passion for mission service. Dot and Neal went on mission trips abroad to Rwanda, Haiti and the Dominican Republic and were active in the Gideons and prison ministries. Dot was also a mentor to numerous young women in the church who had challenges in their lives, "adopting" them and helping guide them through their struggles into a life centered on Christ and the church. Dot had the soul of an artist and enjoyed painting and crafts. Her specialty was the making of exquisite porcelain dolls, from the painting of their faces to the making of custom clothes to fit their bodies. She was game to take on almost any artistic challenge with her keen eye, nimble hands and soft touch. She leaves behind a beautiful legacy of dolls for her family to cherish for generations to come. Dot loved to cook for her family, especially her two grandsons, whom she lived to see graduate from college and marry the loves of their lives. She was especially overjoyed a year ago by the birth of her great granddaughter, Molly. Although stricken by a major stroke 12 years ago, Dot fought to her last breath to live, filled with curiosity about what great adventure life would bring her way next. Dot was preceded in death by her husband Neal, daughters Becky and Laura, son Jerry and her parents and six siblings. She is survived by her son Michael, daughter-in-law and best friend Jane, grandsons Andrew (Krista), James (Lindsey) and great granddaughter Molly. Visitation will be at the First Church of the Nazarene, 9955 Old Hammond Hwy. on Tuesday, September 1 at 9 am, Memorial Service at 10 am. Interment will follow at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Ball, LA. In lieu of flowers, please make memorial donations to the First Church of the Nazarene, the Butterfly Wing of Baton Rouge Hospice or a charity of your choosing.

Moore, Lorraine Shallon McGaugh, Dorothy Orndoff

Dorothy Orndoff McGaugh (Dot) was called home by her Lord and Savior on Monday, August 24 with her family by her side. A devoted servant to the Lord and to her family, she joins her husband Neal,

Lorraine Shallon Moore, of Baton Rouge passed away peacefully on Monday, April 27, 2026. She was born in Chicago, Illinois on September 2, 1930. She married Gerhart (Gerry) Moore in 1952 in New Orleans, and together they had a busy life. They loved

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Sunday,August 30, 2026 ■ 5B

going out in their boat and traveling around the country in their mobile home, rock-hounding and attending gem and mineral trade shows. Lorraine worked for many years in the banking business. She was an early adopter of home computers and taught adult education computer classes. She was a proud member of the "Cajun Clickers". She was known for her lively and energetic personality. She was a world traveler with her friends. One of her favorite places to visit was Poland, the home of her ancestors. Lorraine became an expert genealogist, tracing both her family ancestors and her husband's. She was a regular member and active volunteer in Our lady of Mercy Church and St. Agnes. Lorraine is survived by her nieces Kathy Moore and Janice Moore, and nephews Bob Nardi and Christopher Moore. She had several friends to whom she was close, but her closest friend and guardian angel in her later years, was Carolyn (Gigi) Grimes. She was predeceased by her husband, Gerhart (Gerry) Moore, in 2003; and her beloved dogs Fagan 1 and Fagan 2 Lorraine will be buried at Port Hudson National Cemetery beside her beloved husband at 11:00AM on September 2, 2026. There will be a private informal gathering in her honor at 2065 Ferndale ave. on September 27, 2026 from 4:00PM to 6:00PM

created many treasured memories along the way. Annie is survived by her two sons, John and James Sanford; daughter-in-law, Melinda Sanford; grandchildren, Taylor, Connor, and Gabrielle; two sisters, Evelina Smith, and Mary Richard; and one brother, Mark "Bootsy" Higginbotham. She was preceded in death by her parents; two sisters, Clara Mae Burke and Benny Vautrot; and two brothers, Linton J. Higginbotham and Donald P. Higginbotham. Her family would like to express their sincere gratitude to her caregivers, Nancy Keller; Nancy's daughter, Fredricka; Kendricka Johnson; and all of Annie's "Caring Angels" for the incredible care, kindness, and compassion they gave her throughout the years. Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 5, 2026, at St. George Catholic Church, 7808 St. George Drive in Baton Rouge, followed by the Funeral Mass at 12:00 p.m. Inurnment will follow at St. George Catholic Church Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Caring Angels LLC, 6422 Red Rose Dr., Baton Rouge, LA 70817. Family and friends may sign the online guestbook or leave a personal note to the family at www.resthav enbatonrouge.com.

Porter Jr., Ricky B.

Truluck Jr., Mack Alec

baseball games and to visit his family near Charleston, S.C. every summer. He also made a tradition of taking her to see the Natchitoches Christmas Festival of Lights during the holiday season. Mack was preceded in death by his parents, Mack Truluck, Sr. and Jane Hart Truluck; his sister, Mardel Truluck Smith; and brother, Grier Truluck. He is survived by his sister, Mona Truluck of Baton Rouge; his daughter, Leigh Truluck Anderson (Rob Anderson) and granddaughter, Emma Anderson, of Little Rock, Ark.; niece Katy Truluck; nephews Matt Neely and Justin Neely; and grandnephew, Levi Neely; as well as a host of cousins and family in South Carolina, including Beth Truluck, with whom he was very close. As a former caregiver, Mack was very grateful to those who helped care for him in recent years, especially Tongal Humphrey of Little Rock. There will be a celebration of Mack's life on Saturday, September 19, at 2 p.m. in the Champions Club at Alex Box Stadium. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Lewy Body Dementia Association in Mack's memory.

Williams Jr., Robert

In Loving Memory Robert Williams Jr.

Robert Williams Jr., of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, passed away peacefully on August 26, 2026.

Ricky B. Porter Jr, of Baton Rouge LA passed peacefully on August 24th, 2026. Born July 1st, 1975, to Wilma Harris and Ricky Porter Sr. He attended Istrouma High School where he was a profound Basketball player. He was a long-time employee of both Fabricated Steel Products & Tony's Seafood. He loved detailing cars, manicuring yards, barbecuing, & music. Ricky is survived by his mother Wilma Porter Holmes; father Ricky Porter Sr; His son Tyrick B Porter, stepson Zachary D. Spears & their mother Kimberly Oxley, brother, Wilbert Porter; & sisters Chantel Porter-Wiley and Angela Riley.

Sanford, Annie Higginbotham

Annie Higginbotham Sanford, 89, passed away in Baton Rouge on August 10, 2026. Annie grew up in Gueydan and Church Point, Louisiana. She was the daughter of the late Iram and Mabel (Lyons) Higginbotham. After graduating as co-valedictorian of Church Point High School, she moved to Baton Rouge to attend Louisiana State University (LSU). While studying accounting at LSU, she met her first husband, the late George Edward Sanford Jr. Together, they had two sons, John Edward Sanford and James Lee Sanford. Annie was a devoted Catholic throughout her life, and her faith guided the way she lived each day. Her love for God could be seen in the kindness, generosity, and compassion she showed to others. More than anything, Annie lived her faith by example. She taught her family through her actions to trust in God, care for one another, and extend that same love and compassion to others. In addition to her devotion to the Lord and her family, Annie had a special place in her heart for those in need. Throughout her life, wherever she lived, she served the homeless and helpless in her community, offering kindness, compassion, and help to those who needed it most. Annie loved to travel and visited most of the National Parks across the United States. Wherever her travels took her, she would always stop to admire a waterfall and pick up a rock to add to her collection. These adventures brought her great joy and

"It was Halloween night, 1959 ..." If you knew Mack, you probably heard him says those words at least once. He loved nothing more than reciting the tale of LSU Heisman-winner Billy Cannon's famous Halloween night run against the Ole Miss Rebels, particularly to his granddaughter, Emma. The story was close to his heart because he had been at the game that night, selling concessions in the stands until he was caught watching the game and sent him home. He didn't leave, however, and he heard the famous run and joined in the cheering while sitting just outside the stadium. Stories and family (and LSU athletics) were important to Mack, who passed away August 17, 2026, in Little Rock, Ark., after a long illness. A devout Christian, he enjoyed golf, music and spending time with his many close friends, most of whom he had known since childhood. Known for his warm smile, Mack believed in living life with childlike enthusiasm, often ending his letters, notes and phone messages with the words, "Have fun!" Mack was born July 30, 1946, in James Island, South Carolina, but spent most of his life in Baton Rouge, La., where he graduated from Baton Rouge High School in 1964. He graduated from Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, La., in 1969. Mack returned to Baton Rouge after college and went to work at T.A.G. Industries, an air conditioning contractor and industrial balancing service provider, for more than 40 years. Mack worked under the company's head, Stanley Gray, with whom he had a close relationship until he ultimately took over the company. Mack met and married Sharon Pol of Baton Rouge and they had a daughter, Leigh. Though their marriage ended, they remained friends and raised Leigh together. Mack was a devoted father who enjoyed taking Leigh to LSU

He was born on October 7, 1946, to the union of the late Robert Williams Sr. and the late Marietta Roberson Williams. He graduated from Capitol Senior High School, attended Southern University, and later earned his master's degree. He proudly served his country in the Vietnam War and retired from BASF after 35 years of dedicated service. Robert was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Aerice Scott Williams; his parents, Robert Williams Sr. and Marietta Roberson Williams; his sister, Henrietta Williams; his paternal grandparents, Henry Williams Sr. and Della Taylor Williams; and his maternal grandparents, the Rev. Matthew J. Roberson and Adella Phillips Roberson. He leaves to cherish his memory his three sons, Robert Williams (Carrie), Ralph Williams (Gina), and Randall Williams; his grandchildren, Sade Brown (Ryan) and Justin Williams (Chelsi); his great-granddaughter, Nuri Brown; and a host of cousins, other relatives, and friends. A visitation will be held from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM on 2026-09-01 at Hall Davis & Sons Funeral Service , 9348 Scenic Hwy. A graveside service will be held at 11:00 AM on 2026 -09-02 at Louisiana National Cemetery, 303 West Mount Pleasant-Zachary Rd.

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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 exist to love patients in their Rosary sisters “must make our guests glad 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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ARNESSA GARRETT STEPHANIE GRACE WILL SUTTON QUIN HILLYER FAIMON ROBERTS

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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, Roman

Jerome ‘Big Duck’ Smith 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 pas-

senger 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, some children with special needs.

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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@ theadvocate.com.

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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MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

A t-storm around in the p.m.

Humid with a stray t-storm

Humid; a p.m. t-storm or two

Humid with a t-storm in spots

Humid; a stray p.m. t-storm

HIGH

LOW

HIGH

92° 77°

LOW

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88° 76°

LOW

92° 73°

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

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40s

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LOW

HIGH

LOW

92° 75°

YESTERDAY

Baton Rouge through 5 p.m. Saturday

Jackson 94/73 Many 98/72

HIGH

91° 74°

TEMPERATURE

Longview 101/74

-0s

LOW

Monroe 98/74

Shreveport 100/75

-10s

HIGH

92° 75°

The area of low pressure in the northern Gulf could bring a few showers and storms today. In fact, there’s a marginal risk of excessive rainfall that could lead to some measure of flash flooding forecast. Expect a partly to mostly cloudy, hot, humid and breezy day with scattered showers and storms. Temperatures will rise to the upper 80s to low 90s depending on the rain. The heat index values could rise to 105 or higher. Also, the UV index is at the very high level, so protect yourself. 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.

60s

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Atlanta Austin Boston Charlotte Chicago Dallas Denver Houston Las Vegas

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

96°/75° 91°/72° 81°/73° 100° in 1998 59° in 1992

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

PRECIPITATION

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

6:40 a.m. 7:30 p.m. 8:50 p.m. 8:59 a.m. NEW

FIRST

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89 100 85 87 89 101 88 98 100

73 75 67 71 73 80 63 76 80

FULL

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t s pc t pc s t t s

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91 99 76 92 90 100 85 95 98

MON. Lo

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t s pc pc sh s t t s

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0.00” 2.25” 5.97” 43.74” 43.06”

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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

READING 71 MAIN POLLUTANT Ozone

MAIN POLLUTANT Ozone

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

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Los Angeles 89 Miami 91 Nashville 95 New york City 83 Philadelphia 88 Phoenix 104 St. Louis 94 San Francisco 71 Seattle 68

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SPORTS

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

1Cn

Jags not in market for moral victories Faulk says team needs to learn how to ‘finish’

BIRMINGHAM,Ala. — You could mark down Southern’s 30-17 loss here Saturday to Alabama State as a moral victory. The packets of instant excuses — ready to serve, just add the right words and stir vigorously — were lying on the turf of legendary Legion Field for the Jaguars to pick up and put to use if they desired: n It was Southern’s first game under Marshall Faulk, as inexperienced as a head coach as he is famous. Scott n The Jaguars were comRabalais ing off a dismal 2-10 season in 2025, so the program is in a textbook rebuilding mode. n More than half this roster is transfers or true freshmen. n They were playing away from home against Alabama State, not an according to Hoyle road game, but still plenty daunting since the veteran Hornets are picked to win the SWAC East division. But Faulk and his players — quarterback Christian Johnson and defensive end Ckelby Givens — were having no such notions in postgame interviews. “Overall, for the majority of the guys, I was pleased with their effort,” Faulk said as the Southern and Alabama State bands continued their brassy postgame thrust and parry in the grandstands. “They played hard. But we have to finish plays, finish drives. We have to play smart football. And the No. 1 thing you cannot do is beat yourself.” For a long time Saturday afternoon, this

ä See RABALAIS, page 8C

PHOTO By APRIL BUFFINGTON

Southern quarterback Christian Johnson looks to make a throw against Alabama State during the season opener on Saturday at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala.

Promising start

But Faulk loses Southern debut as Jaguars drop fourth straight opener

BY TOYLOY BROWN III Staff writer

PHOTO By APRIL BUFFINGTON

Southern coach Marshall Faulk looks on during the season opener against Alabama State on Saturday in Birmingham, Ala.

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.

Reports indicate SEC knows it can’t stop ex-pros ... for now BY JON BLAU Staff writer

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 40plus athletes — is scheduled for a Thursday hearing on a preliminary 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

ä See LSU, page 5C

“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 big-time 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

ä See SOUTHERN, page 8C

WR Means, QB Dekkers among Saints’ early cuts BY MATTHEW PARAS Staff writer

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.

A day before roster cuts were officially due, the New Orleans Saints began trimming down their roster. The Saints released 11 players Saturday ahead of Sunday’s 5 p.m. deadline, moving on from a group headlined by a former fifth-round draft pick and a quarterback the team has been focused on developing. The Saints released wide receivers Bub Means and Ronnie Bell; quarterback Hunter Dekkers; cornerback Dalys Beanum; safety Elliott Davison; tight end Zaire Mitchell-Paden; edge rusher Garrett Nelson; defensive linemen Kahlil Saunders and Brien Taylor; tackle Xavier Truss; and edge rusher Malakai Williams. 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

ä See SAINTS, page 6C

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

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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

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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 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 California 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.

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

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Denham Springs holds off Walker comeback for jamboree victory

CAPITAL CITY KICKOFF

yellow Jackets’ defense comes up clutch in win BY CHARLES SALZER Contributing writer

STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

Catholic defensive lineman Jayden Vessell, front right, stands up University High running back Corbin Odell, left, at the line of scrimmage during the Capital City Kickoff on Friday at Memorial Stadium.

Catholic’s dominant duo wreaks havoc vs. U-High quarterback hurries. on their dominance as a duo along Defensive linemen multiple The duo also each had one sack the defensive line. Stokes knows and multiple tackles for loss. if he can’t get to the quarterback, Vessell, Stokes Defensive back Howard Beach Vessell is right there to make the picked off Kifﬁn in the end zone play. swarm Cubs QB Kiffin on fourth and goal. “I love him,” Stokes said. “It’s

Friday night’s jamboree between University High and Catholic High marked Knox Kiffin’s first football game played in Baton Rouge. He looked to get off to a fast start, but the matchup was overshadowed by a swarming Catholic defense, highlighted by defensive linemen Jayden Vessell and Jack Stokes. The two harassed Kiffin all game long, getting to the backfield for sacks and quarterback hurries. The Bears’ stout defensive front also stymied the Cubs’ running game. The Capital City Kickoff jamboree at Memorial Stadium ended in a 20-0 Catholic win after two dominant 12-minute halves by the Bears.

U-High was forced into multiple three-and-outs and failed to reach the red zone in the ﬁrst half. “All around, we did good,” Vessell said. “U-High, that’s a great team. We’re just happy we got out with the win.” Vessell and Stokes bounced off each other’s energy throughout the contest. “I love Stokes,” Vessell said. “Me and him both back there, I feel like we’re a dominant duo. We just practice every week and push each other. It helps us driving to make stats.” Vessell enters his senior season as one of the anchors of Catholic’s defense. The 6-foot-2, 230-pound edge is a three-star Oklahoma State commit. He’s worked this offseason to add weight and prepare for college. His growth was on display every rep, battling his way through the U-High offensive line.

Vessell the anchor

Stokes ready for role

Catholic’s swarming defense held the Cubs to just 88 total yards of offense in 24 minutes of action. Kifﬁn completed only three of his 10 pass attempts for 17 yards with one interception. Vessell and Stokes recorded

While Vessell enters his final high school season, Stokes is only a sophomore. The 6-3, 235-pound lineman is already garnering interest from FBS programs like Florida State and Vanderbilt. He echoed Vessell’s sentiments

BY JACKSON REYES Staff writer

amazing just seeing him be able to do what I can’t do in a position like that, and if he gets it, I’m just as proud.” Stokes gave credit to Vessell for helping him get better on the ﬁeld. “He’s been my role model for the past two years,” he said. “Him being older and having a bunch of offers, and being great at what he is. He’s just been a great role model and leader to me.”

Balanced offense After Catholic’s scrimmage against Southside on Aug. 20, coach Hudson Fuller said his team has a chance to be extremely balanced. Catholic put that into execution on its opening drive against U-High. The Bears scored three touchdowns. Quarterback Camden Estep found tight end Jude Chamberlain for two scores, including a 32-yard touchdown pass. Estep ﬁnished the game 7 of 14 for 81 yards. Catholic also found success running the ball with its three-headed backﬁeld of Jayden Miles, Justin Batiste and Greg Williams. The trio combined for 87 rushing yards on 17 attempts.

It was only one half of football, but Denham Springs and Walker both found positives in their jamboree contest Friday night at Wildcat Stadium. After falling behind by two scores, Walker picked up momentum and had a chance to tie the game in the closing minute. Denham Springs came up with the late defensive plays it needed to hold off Walker 17-10 in the abbreviated game. “One thing I love about a jamboree is that you get some quality work in,” Denham Springs coach Brett Beard said. “The defense had their back against the wall. Our DBs looked like they had some heavy legs at times, but they had to make a play, and that’s what they did.” One play the Yellow Jackets overcame was a pass interference penalty that gave Walker a ﬁrst down at the Denham Springs 21 with two minutes left to play. Walker quarterback Jayce Evans scrambled for 8 yards on first down, but the Yellow Jackets defense took over after that. Linebacker Gram Harris stopped Mike Garcia for a 5-yard loss on second down, and lineman Tyler Long sacked Evans for a 10yard loss on third down. JaDarrian Clark intercepted Evans on fourth down to end the threat. “Early in the season, getting in shape is part of it, but you have to overcome it, and JaDarrian did just that,” Beard said. On offense, Denham Springs struggled to move the ball consistently but ﬂashed its explosive

capabilities with wide receivers Trey Seals and Jaylen Williams. Quarterback Devin Kinchen connected with Seals for a 64-yard touchdown on the Yellow Jackets’ first play from scrimmage. The Jackets’ first offensive play of the second half also went the distance when Williams took an inside reverse 47 yards around right end for a touchdown. The score gave Denham Springs a 17-3 lead. After the kickoff, Walker moved inside the Denham Springs 30 with the help of an interference penalty. The Wildcats picked up their touchdown when Evans found Trent Sylve on a post route from 29 yards out. Walker’s final possession came after a defensive stop. The Wildcats took over at the Denham Springs 37 when pressure on Jackets punter Luke Wilson was too much for him to get off a kick. “The biggest thing is we competed well,” Walker coach Chris Harrell said. “There was a time where we kind of gave up on ourselves, and then we had a big play that gave us back some life. So that was the big thing to learn. We’ve got to have faith in ourselves.” Evans completed 8 of 14 passes for 88 yards. Walker picked up eight first downs and finished with 112 total yards. Denham Springs had four first downs and 180 yards of offense. Kinchen was 3 for 12 for 123 yards. On defense, freshman linebacker Derek Parker drew praise from Beard after he led the way with nine tackles. “He’s a kid we’ve been excited about for years watching him come up through junior high,” Beard said. “He plays football the right way, and you can see he’s got a chance to be a really special player.”

East Feliciana 28, West Felciana 26 AREA JAMBOREE SCORES Denham Springs 17, Walker 10

Thursday’s scores

Friday’s scores

Belaire 6, Broadmoor 0 Madison Prep 39, Woodlawn 0 Tara 0, Northeast 0 Brusly 21, Episcopal 6 Dunham 27, Parkview Baptist 6 Central Private 27, Northlake Christian 0 Ponchatoula 31, Albany 6 Independence 17, Springﬁeld 0 Hammond 18, Live Oak 7 Westminster Christian 21, Ascension Christian 6 Plaquemine 19, North Iberville 6 Dutchtown 21, Prairieville 7

McKinley 8, Istrouma 6 Liberty 6, Scotlandville 0 Glen Oaks 22, Capitol 6 Ascension Catholic 44, White Castle 0 St. Michael 21, Riverside 14 Central 21, East Ascension 20 Central 21, St. Amant 14 East Ascension 14, St. Amant 13 St. James 21, Hahnville 7 Destrehan 26, Lutcher 7 Alexandria 35, Zachary 7 Catholic-BR 20, University High 0

Cubs star Crow-Armstrong continues NL MVP push BY JAY COHEN

Associated Press CHICAGO — Pete Crow-Armstrong turned two pregame conversations with Sammy Sosa into one of the best days of his career. Crow-Armstrong homered three times and drove in six runs on Saturday, adding to his case for NL MVP and powering the Chicago Cubs to a runaway 17-5 victory over the Cincinnati Reds. The All-Star center fielder had four hits and scored four times, delighting the crowd of 39,597 at Wrigley Field. “I think Pete’s having a wonderful season,” manag-

er Craig Counsell said. “It’s a lot of fun to watch. ... We’re lucky to be a part of it.” Crow-Armstrong, 24, saw Sosa in the lobby as he made his way into the ballpark, and the two talked again in the batting cage. Sosa, 57, was part of a pregame ceremony celebrating Chicago’s 150 years as a National League franchise. Crow-Armstrong said Sosa told him he wanted to see even more out of him. “He was like, ‘I want three out of you today. ... I need three,’ ” Crow-Armstrong said. “And sure enough, I don’t know what he passed down to me there.”

Crow-Armstrong continued his bid to unseat Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani as NL MVP after the Japanese slugger took home the honor each of the previous two years. Ohtani hasn’t pitched since July 3 because of left knee soreness and a right biceps injury. While Ohtani has been limited to designated hitter with Los Angeles, CrowArmstrong is one of baseball’s top defensive players. And he has turned into a consistent threat at the plate as well, batting .282 with 36 homers, 89 RBIs and 32 steals in 136 games. “Sometimes you feel it in

your bones that you got a day like today in you, and I did today,” Crow-Armstrong said. Crow-Armstrong hit a 435foot drive to right-center in the ﬁrst inning for his eighth career leadoff homer — all this season. He went deep again in the second, sending

a two-run shot off the foul pole in right. It was Crow-Armstrong’s ﬁfth multihomer game this season. “I think he can change the game in so many different ways,” teammate and former LSU star Alex Bregman said. “I think that one day it’s hit-

ting three homers, the next day it’s making three diving plays or just running down balls that nobody else can go catch out there in center field. Next day, it’s stealing third and the ball going in the left field and him scoring. It’s just so many different things he can do on a baseball field.”

YEARS

11 teams. 6 conferences. 1 state.

MONDAY•5PM ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By MELISSA TAMEZ

Cubs pitcher Daniel Palencia dumps Gatorade on Pete Crow-Armstrong after a game against the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday in Chicago.

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

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PRO BASEBALL LOUISIANA PROS

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL American League

Major league hitters Player Alex Bregman Dylan Crews Jake Rogers David Fry Hunter Feduccia Tommy White

State ties Pos Team (Organization) LSU 3B Cubs LSU OF Nationals Tulane C White Sox Northwestern St.1B Guardians LSU C Dodgers LSU 3B Athletics

G 132 85 46 72 79 35

AB 524 313 118 144 181 134

R H 75 132 43 69 16 21 16 26 20 44 15 36

2B 25 14 4 4 9 4

3B 1 1 1 0 1 0

HR 19 10 4 6 3 2

RBI 70 33 13 13 16 8

SB 3 8 1 0 0 0

Avg. .252 .220 .178 .181 .243 .269

OPS .753 .658 .616 .635 .674 .63

Minor league hitters Triple A

Name Drew Avans Jacob Berry Tre’ Morgan Hayden Cantrelle Julian Brock Carson Roccaforte Jake Fraley Josh Smith

Double A

Kyle DeBarge Jacob Burke Edgar Alvarez Taylor Young Jorge Corona Miguel Useche Colin Tuft Luke Hill

High A

Cade Doughty Kyle Walker Daniel Dickinson Ethan Frey Teo Banks Jared Jones

Single A

Connor Rasmussen Brady Marget Conner O’Neal

Rookie

Cardell Thibodeaux

State ties Pos Southeastern LF LSU 3B LSU 1B UL SS UL C UL OF LSU OF LSU 2B

Team Albequerque (Rockies) Omaha (Royals) Durham (Rays) Iowa (Cubs) Round Rock (Rangers) Omaha (Royals) Durham (Rays) Buffalo (Blue Jays)

G 96 86 60 92 62 120 7 2

AB 319 294 224 243 216 472 20 7

R H 53 65 45 72 31 59 42 55 31 44 83 120 2 4 1 0

2B 10 18 11 10 9 20 0 0

3B 2 0 1 5 1 5 0 0

HR 1 8 14 3 6 32 1 0

RBI 41 40 38 24 35 87 5 2

SB 25 19 1 23 3 26 1 0

Avg. .204 .245 .263 .226 .204 .254 .200 .000

OPS .584 .747 .845 .698 .657 .859 .654 .222

UL U-High Nicholls La. Tech La. Tech UNO Tulane Episcopal

SS OF 1B 2B C C C 3B

Wichita (Twins) Birmingham (White Sox) Knoxville (Cubs) Tulsa (Dodgers) Birmingham (White Sox) Knoxville (Cubs) Chesapeake (Orioles) Akron (Guardians)

107 76 97 64 52 76 82 64

411 268 307 226 172 258 271 217

65 48 47 48 27 47 48 50

87 64 58 75 40 72 60 57

21 14 15 14 5 13 14 17

1 2 1 1 3 1 5 1

12 5 10 6 8 12 13 13

45 25 39 34 23 45 41 49

33 15 1 15 1 7 25 13

.212 .239 .189 .332 .233 .279 .221 .263

.672 .675 .672 .910 .745 .854 .804 .921

LSU Rummel LSU LSU Tulane LSU

2B 2B SS OF OF 1B

Rome (Braves) Asheville (Astros) Wisconsin (Brewers) Asheville (Astros) Wilmington (Nationals) Greensboro (Pirates)

52 85 103 70 78 84

164 331 339 267 235 308

27 53 66 45 36 62

40 81 93 77 60 95

10 20 24 16 13 11

1 2 1 1 1 0

4 4 9 10 6 17

22 36 61 56 34 61

3 32 50 19 14 0

.244 .245 .274 .288 .255 .308

.705 .695 .857 .845 .731 .920

Tulane SS Tulane 1B Southeastern C

Columbia (Royals) Charleston (Rays) Ontario (Dodgers)

80 67 67

248 237 228

43 48 33

64 81 54

11 18 12

3 0 0

3 5 8

33 62 35

13 1 1

.258 .342 .237

.752 .919 .756

Southern

FCL Braves

.190

.65

Major league pitchers

Player Paul Skenes Seth Lugo Kevin Gausman Will Warren Aaron Nola Spencer Arrighetti Grant Taylor Jake Latz Brandon Young Gage Jump Hogan Harris Alex Lange Grant Anderson Jaden Hill Phil Maton Cade Gibson Jacob Waguespack Will Dion Paul Gervase Cam Sanders Tanner Rainey Kade Anderson

State ties LSU Centenary LSU Southeastern LSU UL LSU LSU UL LSU UL LSU McNeese St. LSU La. Tech La. Tech Dutchtown McNeese St. LSU LSU St. Paul’s LSU

Team Pirates Royals Cubs Yankees Phillies Blue Jays White Sox Rangers Orioles Athletics Athletics Royals Brewers Rockies Cubs Marlins Tigers Nationals Dodgers Orioles Tigers Mariners

G 27 27 27 26 27 19 51 47 22 17 61 50 49 35 31 33 24 18 4 19 5 1

GS 27 27 27 25 27 18 4 1 22 17 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 1

IP 145.0 150.1 150.1 127.0 143.0 95.1 68.1 59.0 123.1 88.1 57.1 51.2 53.1 29.2 27.2 38.1 31.1 34.1 7.2 21.1 6.2 5.2

W-L 9-11 6-7 7-11 8-6 5-10 7-7 6-2 3-1 9-3 6-8 3-2 2-7 3-3 0-2 0-1 2-1 1-2 1-1 0-0 1-1 0-0 0-0

SV 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 26 0 0 13 10 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0

H 121 161 149 135 151 76 48 27 123 87 52 50 38 27 34 40 17 30 7 15 1 5

ER 61 77 73 62 80 51 16 11 48 46 23 33 20 15 19 25 9 14 2 13 0 3

BB 41 47 41 45 49 54 24 18 45 42 36 27 21 17 16 19 11 9 5 14 6 2

SO 175 116 149 126 153 95 89 65 99 97 76 53 46 31 31 32 18 41 8 27 6 5

ERA 3.79 4.61 4.37 4.39 5.03 4.81 2.11 1.68 3.50 4.69 3.61 5.75 3.38 4.55 6.18 5.87 2.59 3.67 2.35 5.48 0.00 4.76

WHIP 1.12 1.38 1.26 1.42 1.40 1.36 1.05 0.76 1.36 1.46 1.53 1.49 1.11 1.48 1.81 1.54 0.89 1.14 1.57 1.36 1.05 1.24

State ties McNeese UL Tulane LSU Tulane Southeastern Tulane LSU LSU-Alexandria McNeese UNO McNeese

Team Buffalo (Blue Jays) Sugar Land (Astros) Louisville (Reds) Scranton St. Paul’s (Twins) Worcester (Red Sox) Buffalo (Blue Jays) Rochester (Nationals) Syracuse (Mets) Charlotte (White Sox) St. Paul (Twins) Sugar Land (Astros)

G 24 20 28 35 29 23 42 23 42 30 11 3

GS 24 18 7 0 11 0 0 2 0 0 0 0

IP 113.1 92.2 63.2 41.1 68.0 31.1 47.1 22.0 47.0 44.0 12.2 2.2

W-L 4-10 3-3 5-6 2-4 6-3 3-3 6-2 2-1 4-2 1-1 0-0 0-0

SV 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 4 0 3 0

H 136 78 76 36 83 27 40 24 33 38 8 1

ER 72 43 44 34 43 14 18 15 21 18 4 0

BB 34 42 25 26 30 22 22 2 25 15 1 2

SO 69 109 60 65 81 39 51 21 74 24 9 5

ERA 5.72 4.18 6.22 7.40 5.69 4.02 3.42 6.14 4.02 3.68 2.84 0.00

WHIP 1.50 1.29 1.59 1.50 1.66 1.56 1.31 1.18 1.23 1.20 0.71 1.13

St. Augustine LSU LSU ULM Tulane UNO Tulane

Midland (Athletics) 27 Chesapeake (Orioles) 20 Hartford (Rockies) 33 Chattanooga (Reds) 24 Chesapeake (Orioles) 28 Hartford (Rockies) 35 Amarillo (Diamondbacks)38

10 19 0 14 0 0 0

83.2 89.1 43.2 90.1 31.2 59.0 56.2

2-4 6-1 5-2 5-7 2-0 10-5 4-2

3 0 7 1 2 6 4

102 51 32 98 28 46 52

58 15 12 57 16 23 30

44 34 27 37 9 27 33

90 126 45 91 38 65 73

6.24 1.51 2.47 5.68 4.55 3.51 4.76

1.75 0.95 1.35 1.49 1.17 1.24 1.50

LSU UL La. Tech LSU Southeastern LSU La. Tech LSU LSU Tulane Tulane St. Amant

Spokane (Rockies) 33 Quad Cities (Royals) 38 Rome (Braves) 37 Everett (Mariners) 37 Hudson Valley (Yankees) 34 Tri-City (Angels) 14 Bowling Green (Rays) 29 Dayton (Reds) 10 Greenville (Red Sox) 20 Winston-Salem (White Sox)20 Wisconsin (Brewers) 25 Rome (Braves) 22

0 0 0 0 0 14 0 8 13 7 1 1

61.2 52.1 47.2 51.0 46.0 56.0 37.1 32.0 61.0 48.2 60.0 27.1

3-4 5-3 1-4 3-5 3-3 3-2 1-1 0-2 2-3 3-3 7-4 1-2

3 2 3 8 3 0 1 0 1 0 2 0

54 26 61 29 43 54 49 19 38 62 58 29

40 21 46 17 20 29 41 11 29 43 39 22

47 39 17 24 21 28 30 18 59 32 35 13

60 100 48 65 54 58 41 37 84 50 58 30

5.84 3.61 8.69 3.00 3.91 4.66 9.88 3.09 4.28 7.95 5.85 7.24

1.64 1.24 1.64 1.04 1.39 1.46 2.12 1.16 1.59 1.93 1.55 1.54

Tulane Southeastern Louisiana Tech LSU LSU La. Tech LSU Dunham

Columbia (Royals) 22 Tampa (Yankees) 11 Fredericksburg (Nationals)26 Daytona (Reds) 4 Tampa (Yankees) 11 Augusta (Braves) 28 Augusta (Braves) 25 Frederick (Orioles) 16

17 7 0 4 11 5 0 14

86.0 42.1 30.1 6.2 43.0 53.1 28.1 67.2

2-4 2-2 2-1 0-0 1-5 2-3 2-3 3-6

0 0 2 0 0 2 0 0

72 38 31 5 25 37 33 57

36 21 15 2 19 24 21 34

50 13 26 1 25 46 28 32

122 40 40 9 53 58 28 87

3.77 4.46 4.45 2.7 3.98 4.05 6.67 4.52

1.42 1.20 1.88 0.90 1.16 1.56 2.15 1.32

LSU

ACL Rockies

31.1

3-2

7.18

1.88

Minor league pitchers Triple A

Player Grant Rogers Jackson Nezuh Chase Solesky Eric Reyzelman Ricky Castro Kyle Keller Brendan Cellucci Cole Henry Brian Metoyer Aidan Anderson Eric Orze Bryan King

Double A

Kenya Huggins Anthony Eyanson Fidel Ulloa Beau Blanchard Keagan Gillies Nathan Blasick Tayler Montiel

High A

ustin Loer L.P. Langevin Jarret Whorff Christian Little Andrew Landry Chase Shores Jackson Lancaster Ty Floyd Jacob Mayers Dylan Carmouche Chandler Welch Blayne Enlow

Single A

Michael Lombardi Brennan Stuprich Sam Brodersen Luke Holman Thatcher Hurd Logan Forsythe Kade Woods Stephen Still

Rookie

Grifﬁn Herring

East Division

National League

Tampa Bay New York Boston Baltimore Toronto

W 80 76 74 66 66

L 54 59 61 69 70

Pct GB .597 — .563 4½ .548 6½ .489 14½ .485 15

Chicago Cleveland Minnesota Detroit Kansas City

W 72 68 64 63 61

L 63 67 72 72 75

Pct GB .533 — .504 4 .471 8½ .467 9 .449 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

Central Division

West Division

Friday’s Games

GB — 2 4 15 16

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

East Division Atlanta Philadelphia Miami Washington New York

W 80 75 68 64 60

L 55 60 67 73 75

Pct .593 .556 .504 .467 .444

Milwaukee Chicago St. Louis Pittsburgh Cincinnati

W 84 77 68 66 64

L 51 59 69 71 72

Pct GB .622 — .566 7½ .496 17 .482 19 .471 20½

Los Angeles San Diego Arizona San Francisco Colorado

W 81 72 72 55 52

L 55 63 64 80 83

Pct GB .596 — .533 8½ .529 9 .407 25½ .385 28½

Central Division

West Division

Friday’s Games

GB — 5 12 17 20

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

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 Milwaukee 5, Texas 3 N.Y. Yankees 9, Boston 2, 2nd game Baltimore at Athletics, n Philadelphia at L.A. Angels, n

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. Washington 5, Miami 4, 10 innings Milwaukee 5, Texas 3 Arizona at San Francisco, n, 2nd game Philadelphia at L.A. Angels, n

Sunday’s Games

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.

Sunday’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.

WILD CARD GLANCE American League New York Boston Cleveland Toronto Baltimore Texas Minnesota Seattle Detroit

W 76 74 68 67 66 66 64 64 63

L 59 61 68 70 69 69 72 72 72

Pct .563 .548 .500 .489 .489 .489 .471 .471 .467

WCGB +8½ +6½ — 1½ 1½ 1½ 4 4 4½

National League Chicago Philadelphia Arizona San Diego Miami St. Louis

W 77 75 73 72 68 68

L 59 60 64 64 68 69

Pct .566 .556 .533 .529 .500 .496

WCGB +4½ +3 — ½ 4½ 5

THIS DATE IN BASEBALL Aug. 30

1905 — Ty Cobb made his major league debut, hitting a double off Jack Chesbro of the New York Highlanders in the Tigers’ 5-3 victory. 1910 — Tom Hughes of the New York Yankees pitched a no-hitter for 9 1-3 innings before giving up a single to Harry Niles of the Cleveland Indians. The Yankees lost 5-0, with Hughes giving up seven hits in 11 innings. 1912 — Earl Hamilton of the St. Louis Browns pitched a 5-1 no-hitter against the Tigers at Detroit. 1916 — Dutch Leonard of the Boston Red Sox pitched a no-hitter against the St. Louis Browns for a 4-0 victory. 1918 — The New York Giants beat the Brooklyn Dodgers 1-0 in a game that took 57 minutes to play. 1941 — Lon Warneke of the St. Louis Cardinals pitched a 2-0 no-hitter against the Cincinnati Reds. Only three balls were hit to the outﬁeld. 1953 — In the opening game of a doubleheader, rookie Jim Pendleton hit three of the Braves major-league record eight homers in a 19-4 win over Pittsburgh. The Braves hit four more homers in the second game, an 11-5 win, to set a major-league record for a doubleheader. 1960 — Pete Runnels went 6-for-7 as the Boston Red Sox edged the Detroit Tigers in 15 innings of a doubleheader opener. Runnels added three hits in the second game. 1966 — Pete Rose homered from both sides of the plate to lead Cincinnati to a 6-4 win

over St. Louis. 1987 — Minnesota’s Kirby Puckett went 6-for-6 with four RBIs and connected for two homers and two doubles to lead the Twins to a 10-6 victory over the Milwaukee. 1999 — Edgardo Alfonzo of the New York Mets went 6-for-6 with three homers, five RBIs and a major league record-tying six runs scored in a 17-1 win over Houston. 2006 — Curt Schilling became the 14th pitcher in major league history to reach 3,000 strikeouts when he fanned Oakland’s Nick Swisher in the first inning of the Red Sox’s 7-2 loss to Oakland. 2015 — Jake Arrieta pitched the sixth no-hitter in the majors this season and second against the Los Angeles Dodgers in 10 days, leading the Chicago Cubs to a 2-0 victory. Arrieta struck out a season-high 12 — one off his career high and walked one. Arrieta got the benefit of a close call for the official scorer in the third inning, when Kike Hernandez reached on a fielding error by second baseman Starlin Castro. Hernandez hit a one-hopper at Castro, who tried to play it on the short hop as the ball bounced off him. The play was ruled an error but probably could have gone either way. 2020 — Chicago Cubs: For the first time in MLB history, all three starting outfielders, Ian Happ, Kyle Schwarber and Justin Heyward hit home runs. All three hit two home runs in a 10-1 win over the Reds, Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

Tampa Bay 7, San Diego 6

N.Y. Yankees 9, Boston 2

Milwaukee 5, Texas 3

San Diego

Boston

Texas

Note: For omissions and corrections to Louisiana Pros, please email the Advocate sports desk at sports@theadvocate.com

BOX SCORES Atlanta 2, Colorado 1 Colorado

Atlanta

ab r h bi ab r h bi McCarthy dh4 0 1 0 Baldwin c 4 0 10 Carrigg cf 4 0 1 0 Acuña rf 3 0 10 Goodman c 3 1 0 0 Olson 1b 3 1 10 Rumﬁeld 1b 4 0 1 0 Dubón ss 4 1 10 Norby 2b 3 0 2 0 Harris cf 4 0 22 Castro 3b 3 0 1 1 Albies 2b 2 0 00 Moniak rf 4 0 0 0 Yastrzemski lf 4 0 0 0 Beck lf 3 0 1 0 Riley 3b 2 0 00 Johnston ph 1 0 1 0 Smith dh 1 0 00 Ritter pr 0 0 0 0 Thomas ph-dh 2 0 0 0 Tovar ss 3 0 0 0 Veen ph 1 0 0 0 Totals 33 1 8 1 Totals 29 2 6 2 Colorado 000 001 000 — 1 Atlanta 000 000 02x — 2 DP_Colorado 1, Atlanta 2. LOB_Colorado 9, Atlanta 8. 2B_Carrigg (18), Harris (32). SB_Acuña (19), Riley (9). IP H R ER BB SO Colorado 0 1 1 Agnos 2 2⁄3 2 0 0 1 1 Frasso 1 1⁄3 0 0 Bernardino 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 Herget H,9 1 2⁄3 1 0 Hill L,0-3 BS,2-6 1 3 2 2 2 1 1 Romano ⁄3 0 0 0 0 0 Atlanta 1 2 6 Pérez 5 2⁄3 5 1 0 0 1 Suter W,2-2 2 1⁄3 2 0 Fuentes S,3-9 1 1 0 0 1 2 Hill pitched to 6 batters in the 8th. HBP_Pérez (McCarthy), Herget (Albies). WP_Frasso, Pérez. Umpires_Home, Ron Kulpa; First, David Rackley; Second, Manny Gonzalez; Third, Tom Hanahan. T_2:36. A_40,129 (41,149).

Washington 5, Miami 4 Miami Washington ab r h bi ab r h bi Stowers 1b 4 1 1 2 Abrams dh 5 0 0 0 Hernández lf 5 1 1 2 Ortiz 1b 5 0 2 0 Edwards 2b 5 0 0 0 Tena lf 4 1 0 0 Conine dh 3 0 0 0 Lile rf 3 1 1 0 Lopez ss 5 0 1 0 Crews cf 5 1 2 1 Marsee cf 4 0 0 0 K.Ruiz c 4 0 1 0 Sanoja 3b-rf 3 0 1 0 House 3b 4 1 2 1 Caissie rf 2 0 0 0 Vivas 2b 3 0 1 1 Jiménez ph-3b 1 1 1 0 Nuñez ss 4 1 0 0 Mack c 2 0 10 Ramírez ph 0 1 00 Navarreto c 1 0 00 Totals 35 4 6 4 Totals 37 5 9 3 Miami 000 000 400 0 — 4 Washington 004 000 000 1 — 5 E_Mack (8). LOB_Miami 9, Washington 8. 2B_Stowers (23), Lile (26), Vivas (10). HR_ Hernández (22). S_Jiménez (1), Vivas (3). IP H R ER BB SO Miami Alcantara 6 8 4 4 1 3 Ralston 1 1⁄3 0 0 0 0 1 Ekness 1 2⁄3 0 0 0 0 2 2 Petersen L,3-4 ⁄3 1 1 0 2 1 Washington Cavalli 4 0 0 0 3 8 Tolman 2 1 0 0 0 2 2 Cosgrove ⁄3 2 3 3 1 1 Lord BS,1-3 2 1⁄3 2 1 1 1 4 Ribalta W,1-2 1 1 0 0 0 2 HBP_Cavalli (Conine). ABS Challenge_Edwards (Strike-Overturned to Ball); Cavalli (Ball-Confirmed); Alcantara (Ball-Overturned to Strike); Conine (StrikeConfirmed); Ekness (Ball-Confirmed); Petersen (Ball-Confirmed). Pitch timer violations_Lord (pitcher); Hernández (batter). Umpires_Home, Edwin Jimenez; First, Erich Bacchus; Second, Chris Segal; Third, Laz Diaz. T_2:59. A_32,055 (41,376).

Tampa Bay

ab r h bi ab r h bi Tatis rf 5 1 1 0 Díaz dh 4 1 21 Crnnwrth 2b 5 0 1 1 Mateo pr-dh 1 1 0 0 Machado 3b 4 1 2 2 Aranda 1b 4 1 11 Bowen pr 0 0 0 0 Caminero 3b 3 1 1 1 France 1b 5 1 2 2 Hicks c 3 0 21 Merrill cf 4 0 0 0 Vilade ph 1 0 00 Campusno c 3 0 0 0 Piper c 0 0 00 Sheets dh 4 0 1 0 Simpson lf 4 0 21 Rengifo 2b 2 1 0 0 DeLuca rf 4 0 00 Bogaerts ss 1 0 0 0 Palacios 2b 3 1 00 Harris lf 4 2 3 0 Mullins cf 3 1 10 Walls ss 4 1 20 Totals 37 6 10 5 Totals 34 711 5 San Diego 001 002 300 — 6 Tampa Bay 101 001 40x — 7 E_Rengifo (7). DP_San Diego 1, Tampa Bay 0. LOB_San Diego 8, Tampa Bay 6. 2B_ Cronenworth (11), Díaz (22). HR_France (19), Aranda (17), Caminero (36). SB_Harris (5), Machado (4), Tatis (31). IP H R ER BB SO San Diego Buehler 5 7 3 3 0 3 Hart 1 0 0 0 0 1 Rodriguez L,3-3 BS,2-7 0 3 4 1 1 0 Morejon 1 1 0 0 1 2 Matsui 1 0 0 0 1 1 Tampa Bay Martinez 6 7 3 3 0 4 1 ⁄3 2 3 3 1 1 Cleavinger 2 Kelly W,6-3 1 ⁄3 1 0 0 2 2 Baker S,39-42 1 0 0 0 1 1 Buehler pitched to 1 batter in the 6th, Rodriguez pitched to 4 batters in the 7th. WP_Matsui. ABS Challenge_Campusano (StrikeConﬁrmed); Buehler (Ball-Overturned to Strike); Martinez (Ball-Overturned to Strike); Baker (Ball-Conﬁrmed). Pitch timer violations_Kelly (pitcher); Morejon (pitcher). Umpires_Home, Jansen Visconti; First, Tyler Jones; Second, Cory Blaser; Third, Andy Fletcher. T_2:43. A_25,621 (25,025).

New York

ab r h bi ab r h bi J.Jones dh 2 0 1 0 Grisham cf 4 1 00 Gasper ph-dh20 1 0 Rice dh 5 1 23 Rafaela cf 4 0 0 0 Ramos rf 2 0 00 Abreu rf 3 1 1 0 Bellinger lf 2 1 10 Contreras 1b2 0 1 1 García 1b 4 1 31 Durbin 3b 4 0 0 0 Chisholm 2b 3 1 0 1 Monasrio ss 4 0 0 0 Lombard ss 2 0 10 Sogard 2b 4 1 1 1 Rosario 3b 2 1 21 Wong c 4 0 1 0 S.Jones lf-rf 3 1 11 White lf 1 0 0 0 Wells c 4 1 12 Duran ph-lf 3 0 0 0 Caballero ss 4 1 2 0 Totals 33 2 6 2 Totals 35 913 9 Boston 001 000 010 — 2 New York 003 001 05x — 9 E_Abreu (9). LOB_Boston 7, New York 6. 2B_Abreu (31). 3B_Contreras (3). HR_Sogard (3). SB_Caballero (31), Rosario (2), García (5). SF_Chisholm (4), S.Jones (1). IP H R ER BB SO Boston 0 0 1 Gamboa 1 1⁄3 1 0 4 1 2 Bello L,5-7 4 1⁄3 5 4 1 5 0 2 Burgos 2 ⁄3 7 5 New York 2 1 1 4 Fried 3 ⁄3 3 1 De los Santos 1 1 0 0 0 2 1 ⁄3 0 0 0 1 0 Fulmer H,2 Blackburn W,7-2 1 0 0 0 0 2 Hill H,10 1 0 0 0 0 0 Headrick H,23 1 2 1 1 0 1 Beck 1 0 0 0 0 1 De los Santos pitched to 3 batters in the 5th. HBP_Bello (Ramos), Fulmer (Abreu). ABS Challenge_Fried (Ball-Conﬁrmed); Grisham (Strike-Overturned to Ball); Bello (Ball-Conﬁrmed). Umpires_Home, Nic Lentz; First, Vic Carapazza; Second, Edwin Moscoso; Third, Felix Neon. T_3:07. A_44,266 (47,309).

Milwaukee

ab r h bi ab r h bi Foscue 2b 3 0 1 0 Turang 2b 4 0 00 Carter ph-cf 2 0 0 0 Chourio lf 4 1 11 Seager ss 3 1 1 0 Bauers 1b 3 0 00 Langford lf 2 0 0 0 Contreras c 3 2 21 Nimmo rf 4 1 3 2 Mitchell cf 4 1 00 Duran cf-2b 4 0 1 0 Yelich dh 3 1 20 Burger 1b 4 0 1 0 Lara rf 4 0 22 Jansen c 4 0 0 0 Pratt ss 2 0 01 O’Hoppe dh 2 0 0 0 Hamilton 3b 3 0 00 Pederson dh2 0 0 0 Ortiz 3b 0 0 00 Freeman 3b 3 1 1 1 Totals 33 3 8 3 Totals 30 5 7 5 Texas 000 010 020 — 3 Milwaukee 210 000 20x — 5 E_Duran (6). DP_Texas 0, Milwaukee 1. LOB_Texas 7, Milwaukee 5. 2B_Yelich (22). HR_Freeman (1), Nimmo (14), Chourio (20), Contreras (13). SB_Nimmo (7), Yelich (11). SF_Pratt (7). IP H R ER BB SO Texas Quantrill L,6-5 6 4 3 3 0 8 Gray 1 3 2 1 0 1 Junis 1 0 0 0 3 2 Milwaukee Drohan W,7-5 5 6 1 1 1 6 Patrick H,10 2 1/3 1 2 2 1 1 Senzatela H,9 2/3 1 0 0 0 0 Megill S,25-27 1 0 0 0 0 0 HBP_Drohan 2 (Langford,Freeman). ABS Challenge_Bauers (Strike-Overturned to Ball); Contreras (Strike-Overturned to Ball); Drohan (Ball-Overturned to Strike); O’Hoppe (Strike-Conﬁrmed); Drohan (Ball-Conﬁrmed). Pitch timer violations_Junis (pitcher). Umpires_Home, Chris Conroy; First, Brennan Miller; Second, Austin Jones; Third, Ben May. T_2:36. A_36,895 (41,700).

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The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Sunday, August 30, 2026 ■ 5C

SCOREBOARD Hole-in-one

Cincinnati 30, Philadelphia 13 Green Bay 42, Arizona 38 New Orleans 27, Dallas 24 Seattle 9, Kansas City 9 Denver 34, Minnesota 6

Johnny Higgins

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

Tennessee Tech 38, Monmouth (NJ) 14 Virginia 34, NC State 8 W. Carolina 45, E. Kentucky 21 Wofford 42, The Citadel 14

MIDWEST

Saturday’s Games

Butler 27, Georgetown (KY) Tigers 23 Chicago 44, Chicago State Cougars 28 Dayton 43, Fairmont St. 20 E. Michigan 28, Sacramento St. 17 N. Dakota St. 33, Jacksonville St. 7 S. Dakota St. 70, Stetson 7 SE Missouri 23, Indiana St. 21 South Dakota 59, CCSU 20 Valparaiso 59, Lawrence 13

Detroit 25, Indianapolis 16 Chicago 24, Tennessee 15

College football

Odds

Major scores Thursday’s games EAST

Sports Betting Line

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

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

x-clinched playoff spot Friday’s Games

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

W 26 25 24 24 15 11 10

WESTERN CONFERENCE

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

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

Saturday’s Games

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.

Pro football NFL Glance 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

GB — 3 4½ 8 15 17 18 23

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

Bryant 24, Stonehill 6 Lehigh 35, Holy Cross 10 Robert Morris 28, Wagner 7

SOUTH

Alabama St. 30, Southern U. 17 Alcorn St. 56, Miles 7 Campbell 49, ETSU 37 Florida A&M 20, Albany St. (Ga.) 7 Florida St. 34, New Mexico St. 17 Grambling St. 49, Clark Atlanta 7 Hampton 45, Va. Lynchburg 0 Mercer 23, East Texas A&M 15 Morgan St. 17, NC A&T 7 Norfolk St. 56, Winston-Salem 0 North Alabama 22, Samford 10 Richmond 35, Bucknell 14 SC State 87, Savannah St. 0 Stephen F. Austin 38, McNeese St. 27

SOUTHWEST

Ark.-Pine Bluff 35, Morehouse 15 Incarnate Word 76, Okla. Panhandle St. 14 Lamar 21, Abilene Christian 14 North Carolina 15, TCU 10 Texas Southern 42, NC Central 30

FAR WEST

Idaho St. 38, VMI 10 N. Arizona 34, E. Washington 27 Southern Cal 42, San Jose St. 26 Stanford 37, Hawaii 27 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 Si Woo Kim 69-68-65—202 Justin Rose 68-65-69—202 Wyndham Clark 67-69-67—203 Alex Fitzpatrick 68-68-67—203 Tommy Fleetwood 66-70-67—203 Tom Kim 67-68-68—203 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 68-70-68—206 Robert MacIntyre 67-76-63—206 Hideki Matsuyama 69-70-67—206 Kristoffer Reitan 70-69-68—207 Alex Smalley 67-68-72—207

FM Championship Par Scores Saturday

At TPC Boston Norton, Mass. Purse: $4.4 million Yardage: 6,533; Par: 72 Third Round Ruoning Yin 71-65-68—204 Sei Young Kim 64-74-67—205 Hyo Joo Kim 68-67-70—205 Jenny Bae 68-68-72—208 Somi Lee 66-72-70—208 Allisen Corpuz 68-67-74—209 Lauren Coughlin 68-71-70—209 Lindy Duncan 70-69-70—209 Nataliya Guseva 69-68-72—209 Jin Hee Im 70-70-69—209 Morgane Metraux 71-65-73—209 Na Rin An 72-72-66—210 Hae-Ran Ryu 68-70-72—210 Miyu Yamashita 65-70-75—210 Rose Zhang 72-68-70—210 Hye Jin Choi 72-66-73—211 Yan Liu 74-70-67—211 Brooke Matthews 72-69-70—211 Emily Pedersen 65-72-74—211

-15 -14 -12 -12 -12 -12 -10 -10 -9 -9 -9 -9 -8 -8 -8 -7 -7 -7 -7 -7 -6 -5 -5 -5 -4 -4 -4 -3 -3

Mao Saigo 72-70-69—211 Jeeno Thitikul 72-68-71—211 Lottie Woad 68-73-70—211 Ashleigh Buhai 70-71-71—212 Amanda Doherty 70-69-73—212 Aki Iwai 74-66-72—212 Megan Khang 73-69-70—212 Nanna Koerstz Madsen 73-71-68—212 Patty Tavatanakit 71-68-73—212 Hailee Cooper 72-68-73—213 Olivia Cowan 73-71-69—213 Karis Davidson 70-73-70—213 Nasa Hataoka 71-70-72—213 Minami Katsu 71-73-69—213 Gaby Lopez 68-72-73—213 Arpichaya Yubol 68-75-70—213 Laetitia Beck 72-71-71—214 Hannah Green 74-67-73—214 Charley Hull 71-70-73—214 MinJi Kang 73-70-71—214 Sophia Schubert 70-72-72—214 Suvichaya Vinijchaitham73-65-76—214 Yana Wilson 71-72-71—214 Anna Huang 69-70-76—215 Ariya Jutanugarn 75-67-73—215 Dongeun Lee 71-71-73—215 Anna Nordqvist 74-68-73—215 Linnea Strom 73-67-75—215 Ina Yoon 74-70-71—215 Pajaree Anannarukarn 73-70-73—216 Daniela Darquea 77-67-72—216 Isi Gabsa 73-69-74—216 Nelly Korda 72-72-72—216 Manon De Roey 72-72-73—217 Aphrodite Deng 73-71-73—217 Nastasia Nadaud 72-68-77—217 Dewi Weber 75-69-73—217 Aditi Ashok 71-71-76—218 Ana Belac 73-70-75—218 Robyn Choi 73-70-75—218 Wei-Ling Hsu 75-68-75—218 Carolina Melgrati 74-70-74—218 Ryann O’Toole 75-67-76—218 Kiara Romero 71-73-74—218 Chella Choi 70-72-77—219 Soo Bin Joo 71-73-75—219 Lucy Li 74-69-76—219 Paula Reto 74-69-76—219

-5 -5 -5 -4 -4 -4 -4 -4 -4 -3 -3 -3 -3 -3 -3 -3 -2 -2 -2 -2 -2 -2 -2 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 E E E E +1 +1 +1 +1 +2 +2 +2 +2 +2 +2 +2 +3 +3 +3 +3

16 2 4 12 4 6 11 6 4 10 7 5 10 7 4 8 7 7 7 8 7 7 10 5 5 7 10 5 7 10 7 12 3 6 10 6 6 13 3 5 11 6 5 11 5

Western Conference

52 45 42 56 37 39 35 40 34 33 31 49 28 36 26 32 25 32 25 28 24 36 24 34 21 25 21 30 20 30

W L T Pts GF GA Vancouver 13 4 4 43 47 18 Houston 12 7 3 39 30 26 Los Angeles FC 10 7 6 36 36 22 San Jose 10 8 4 34 39 33 FC Dallas 9 6 6 33 38 34 St Louis City 9 6 6 33 30 27 Minnesota United 8 7 7 31 30 31 Colorado 9 11 2 29 30 28 Real Salt Lake 8 8 5 29 34 32 Portland 8 9 4 28 38 37 San Diego FC 7 8 6 27 37 32 Seattle 7 9 5 26 24 29 LA Galaxy 6 8 8 26 27 32 Austin FC 5 10 6 21 26 40 Sporting Kansas City 4 15 3 15 20 53 NOTE: Three points for victory, one point for tie.

Saturday, August 22

Charlotte FC 3, D.C. United 1 Seattle 1, Cincinnati 1, tie Toronto FC 2, Miami 1 LA Galaxy 2, CF Montréal 2, tie Chicago 1, New York 1, tie Orlando City 2, Real Salt Lake 1 Nashville 3, Columbus 2 St Louis City 2, Houston 1 Philadelphia 1, Austin FC 1, tie Vancouver 5, FC Dallas 0 Portland 1, Los Angeles FC 1, tie San Diego FC 3, Colorado 0 Minnesota 5, San Jose 1

WTA Abierto Monterrey Results Saturday

At Club Sonoma Monterrey, Mexico Purse: $1,206,446 Surface: Hardcourt outdoor Results Saturday from Abierto GNP Seguros at Club Sonoma (seedings in parentheses):

Women’s Doubles

Championship Xu Yifan, China, and Maya Joint, Australia, def. Maia Lumsden, Britain, and Maria Kozyreva, Russia, 6-2, 4-6, 10-5.

ATP World Tour Winston-Salem Open Results

Sunday, August 30

New England at Columbus, 3:30 p.m. FC Dallas at St Louis City, 6 p.m.

At Wake Forest University Winston-Salem, N.C. Purse: $818,240 Surface: Hardcourt outdoor Results Saturday from Winston-Salem Open at Wake Forest University (seedings in parentheses):

Men’s Singles

Championship Ignacio Buse (3), Peru, def. Arthur Fery (4), Britain, 6-3, 6-2.

Men’s Doubles

Championship Petr Nouza, Czechia, and Neil Oberleitner, Austria, def. Nikola Mektic, Croatia, and Austin Krajicek (4), United States, 7-5, 6-4.

Soccer MLS Glance Eastern Conference

W L T Pts GF

New York City FC 1, New England 1, tie Atlanta 2, Sporting Kansas City 1 Saturday, August 29 Chicago 2, Seattle 2, tie Charlotte FC 2, Atlanta 0 Los Angeles FC 0, D.C. United 0, tie Miami 7, CF Montréal 1 Philadelphia 3, New York 1 New York City FC 1, Toronto FC 1, tie San Jose at Houston, 7:30 p.m. Vancouver at Sporting Kansas City, 7:30 p.m. Orlando City at Minnesota, 7:30 p.m. Cincinnati at Nashville, 7:30 p.m. Real Salt Lake at Colorado, 8:30 p.m. Austin FC at Portland, 9:30 p.m. LA Galaxy at San Diego FC, 9:30 p.m.

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).

The

CADILLAC Commute CAR CARE TIPS

Is an extended warranty actually worth it?

STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

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

LSU

Continued from page 1C

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.

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. 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 team. Luis won an injunction on Monday against the NCAA. LSU isn’t the only SEC school adding expros. 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 Email Jon Blau at restraining order in his home state. jon.blau@theadvocate.com

Join CJ PATTON from GERRY LANE CADILLAC as he breaks down how to choose the right extended warranty for your vehicle. Discover why matching coverage to your speciﬁc driving habits and ownership timeline ensures peace of mind against unexpected repair costs down the road.

CJ P AT T O N

anager General Ma

17 41 28 32 26 49 31 46 38 36 54 39 38 46 36

Sunday, August 23

Tennis

Saturday

-12 -11 -11 -8 -8 -7 -7 -7 -7 -7 -7 -6 -6 -6 -6 -5 -5 -5 -5

Nashville Inter Miami CF Chicago Charlotte FC New England Cincinnati New York City FC New York Toronto FC D.C. United Orlando City Philadelphia Atlanta CF Montréal Columbus

6C ■ Sunday, August 30, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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Cousins looks set to lead the Raiders BY MARK ANDERSON

AP sportswriter

HENDERSON, Nev. — Las Vegas Raiders coach Klint Kubiak still hasn’t announced a starting quarterback with the regular season two weeks away. However all indications are Kirk Cousins likely will be behind center when the Raiders open their season Sept. 13 against the Miami Dolphins. Cousins received the lion’s share of first-team snaps in training camp and was the starter in the two Las Vegas preseason games he played. He carries the experience of what will be his 15th NFL season as the Raiders bring along rookie and No. 1 overall draft pick Fernando Mendoza. All three drives Cousins quarterbacked this preseason ended in points — a touchdown and two field goals. “I just think he’s taking practice to the field,” Kubiak said Friday. “He’s led scoring drives. We would have loved to lead three touchdown scoring drives, so we’re not satisfied with field goals, and that’s an area that we need to improve at. But I see a guy that’s leading the offense.” Kubiak and general manager John Spytek have to decide whether to keep three quarterbacks when they cut the roster to 53 players on Sunday. Aidan O’Connell is in his fourth season, all with the Raiders, and he could be the first one onto the field should Cousins get injured or struggle. That would give Mendoza even more time to develop — if the coaches go that route. “We have three guys that are ready to play,” Kubiak said. “It’s going to be some hard decisions on who’s (No.) 1, who’s (No.) 2, and that’s not a decision that we have to make today. But those are discussions that are ongoing.” Mendoza ended his preseason by leading one of five drives to a field goal in Thursday night’s 1812 loss to San Francisco. He completed 7 of 14 passes for 57 yards against a fierce 49ers pass rush in which Mendoza also was sacked twice and intercepted once. The interception was a high throw to Jalen Nailor that bounced off his hands. “I thought it was an excellent throw,” Kubiak said. “(Mendoza) ripped it just like we asked him to on time. Yeah, it was a little bit high. Jalen’s got to make the play.” Now Mendoza could watch games from the sideline if Cousins enters the season as the starter, though Kubiak could pull a surprise and go with the rookie. It seems, either way, a matter of time before Mendoza takes over.

SAINTS

Continued from page 1C

AP PHOTO By JOHN LOCHER

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins hands off to running back Mike Washington during the first half of a preseason game against the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday in Las Vegas.

If this is Cousins’ offense, he said he took inspiration from what Tom Brady told the team early in camp. The seven-time Super Bowl champion quarterback and Raiders minority owner told the players they couldn’t simply go to practice and think that would be enough. “You’ve got to ﬁnd your edge within those practices, or post practice, or in the way you relate to one another,” Cousins said. “So there’s ways you’ve got to find edges, but it’s not just showing up to practice and doing your job because everybody’s doing that.”

Jeanty closer to return Kubiak didn’t say whether running back Ashton Jeanty would return soon after getting hurt in practice Sunday, but was optimistic overall. Jeanty couldn’t put weight on his right leg as he was helped off the ﬁeld. “He’s still on the mend and we’re still working to get him back,” Kubiak said. “We got another week to assess how he’s going to look going into this ﬁrst game, but we’re counting on him.” The running game won’t rest entirely on Jeanty. Rookie Mike Washington Jr. had a productive camp and averaged 7.3 yards in rushing for 168 yards in the preseason. “I think that they’re both going to prepare to play a lot of football and as these games unfold, you react to the game,” Kubiak said. “I think we got two guys that we’re really excited about. We got some younger guys that we’re really excited about, too.”

High praise for rookie coach Cousins said he sent Kubiak, in his ﬁrst season as head coach, a one-page memo of what he thought about organized team activities. The QB began by telling Kubiak it “was the most urgent and efﬁcient OTAs I’ve ever been a part of.”

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By SUE OGROCKI

Cleveland Browns linebacker Carson Schwesinger watches from the sidelines during a training camp practice on Aug. 1 in Berea, Ohio. He is the reigning NFL Defensive Rookie of the year.

Schwesinger went from walk-on to top rookie defender in the NFL BY ROB MAADDI

AP pro football writer Carson Schwesinger walked on at UCLA, was passed up in the ﬁrst round of the draft and ended up winning the AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award with the Cleveland Browns in 2025. He’s already being compared to Hall of Famer Luke Kuechly. “Every time you get referenced in the same breath as somebody you’ve looked up to and model your game after, it is obviously an honor,” Schwesinger said on AP’s “On Football” podcast. “I have only played one season, so we may have to chill out on that a little until I do a whole lot more to get to the level that he was at when he was playing. And I think just what he was so good at, I mean basically everything, but he’s known for his preparation and so I think that’s a big part of the linebacker position and that’s a really big part of what I want to be able to try and emulate when I go out onto the ﬁeld.” Fifteen defensive players were selected before the Browns chose Schwesinger with the first pick

of the second round in last year’s NFL draft. He became an instant starter for the Browns and had 156 tackles, 2 1/2 sacks and two interceptions in 16 games playing in defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz’s system. Mike Rutenberg has replaced Schwartz, who left after he didn’t get the head coach job that went to Todd Monken. “There’s always going to be adjustments year to year, even regardless of if there’s changes or not,” Schwesinger said. “Obviously with our style of defense, we still have a very similar style and that front’s going to go attack and you just have small changes here or there to really try and put the best rushing coverage together that work the best together.” The Browns traded two-time AP Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett to the Rams in June so they have a big void to ﬁll on a defense. “You can’t, obviously, replace a player of that caliber, but just this defense as a whole, the staff, every single player we have on there has really been able just to come to-

gether,” Schwesinger said. “We really believe in what we have here and what we’ve got going and the goal every day is to go out there and be the best defense in the NFL and I’m really proud with how this unit goes and attacks every day to get better.” Cleveland had the league’s fourth-best defense last season but still ﬁnished 5-12 mainly because the offense struggled behind Shedeur Sanders, Joe Flacco and Dillon Gabriel. Sanders went 3-4 in seven starts but lost to Deshaun Watson in the competition for the starting job in training camp this summer. “All the quarterbacks on our roster can run that offense and know what to do,” Schwesinger said. “As a defensive player, that’s all you can ask for is go out there and run the show on offense, right? And I think all those guys are capable of it. And defensively, our whole mindset is, if they don’t score, they don’t win anyway. So, we’ve got whole faith in whoever is out there. We know that, at the end of the day, we’re just gonna go out and do our jobs on the defense side of the ball and the offense will handle theirs.”

NFL PRESEASON ROUNDUP practice squad last season, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if the same pattern repeated in 2026. Likewise, the others who were cut faced long obstacles to make the roster — which could explain why they were ﬁrst cut Saturday and not Sunday. Beanum, who spent last year on the Saints’ practice squad, got hurt this summer and was waived Saturday with an injury designation, a source said. Davison was another cut from the secondary. The 24-year-old, entering his second year with the Saints, worked mostly with the third unit throughout the offseason. Mitchell-Paden also was with the Saints for a good part of last season, appearing in two games after he was claimed off waivers from the Baltimore Ravens. His odds of making the 53-man roster this year took a signiﬁcant hit when the Saints remodeled their tight end room by signing Noah Fant and drafting Oscar Delp. The same logic also could apply to Truss, whom the Saints picked up last August when they scooped him up from the Denver Broncos after cutdown day. This summer, Truss fell behind in a crowded offensive line rotation. Saunders, Taylor, Williams and Nelson were mid-camp additions who got significant preseason reps, but they were buried on the depth chart. The Saints’ roster now stands at 80 players. The team received an international player exemption for Irish kicker Charlie Smyth, allowing the Saints to carry 91 players throughout camp instead of the standard 90.

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-and-down camp for the third-year receiver. He displayed strong chemistry with thirdstring 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. His first campaign also was cut short by 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. The same goes for Bell, who had an inconsistent camp despite having flashes with Wilson. 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. Email Matthew Paras at matt. Dekkers floated on and off the paras@theadvocate.com

Dobbs makes case to be Goff’s backup by taking Lions on 3 TD drives in win BY MICHAEL MAROT AP sportswriter

INDIANAPOLIS — Josh Dobbs and Luke Altmyer went into the Detroit Lions’ preseason finale on what appeared to be a level playing field in the battle to back up Jared Goff. Now coach Dan Campbell has a decision to make. Dobbs, the veteran who signed with the Lions after Teddy Bridgewater retired earlier this month, made his strongest case yet Saturday by throwing two touchdown passes and taking Detroit on a late TD drive in a 25-16 victory over the Indianapolis Colts. “I thought Dobbs really played well today,” Campbell said, refusing to tip his hand on who he would select as the No. 2 quarterback. “I thought he really showed out and I just love his composure and conviction. He knows what he wants and we scored.” Incumbent starter Jared Goff did not throw a pass in Detroit’s three preseason games, allowing Dobbs and Altmyer to take center stage and essentially play to a draw through the first two preseason games. But Dobbs closed the preseason with his most impressive performance. He played the second and fourth quarters and finished 15 of 19 for 128 yards with no turnovers or sacks while executing the 2-minute drill perfectly at the end of the first half. He connected with Lucky Jackson on a 35-yard completion with 12 seconds left and found Tay Martin for a 2-yard score on the next play to give Detroit a 19-13 lead.

Altmyer played the first and third quarters, going 7 of 11 for 55 yards while taking the Lions on a 75-yard TD drive. He also threw an interception, lost a fumble and was sacked twice. “The first one was not his fault,” Campbell said, referring to the ball cornerback Sauce Gardner snared. “We had a bust outside and if we did that right, that guy wouldn’t have even been there. I don’t blame that on Luke. There was just a couple of times where he held it too long and we’ve talked about that. I’m not discouraged by it.” Indianapolis has its own backup competition. Anthony Richardson started along with the Colts’ starting offensive line and showed glimpses of what the Colts thought they were getting when they drafted with the No. 4 overall pick in 2023. He was largely on time and on point, going 7 of 10 for 80 yards with one sack while leading the Colts to two field goals for a 6-0 lead. Riley Leonard, in his second season, struggled in the second quarter despite taking the Colts on their first TD drive since Week 1 of the preseason. He was 3 of 7 for 48 yards but cost Indy a scoring chance when he was intercepted at deep in Detroit territory. “I thought Anthony had some good drives, for sure,” Steichen said. “I think made some good throws, did some good things. I think Riley did some good things as well, just, obviously, don’t want to turn it over there in the red zone. But I thought both of them did some good things.”

Detroit tied it with Traveyon Williams’ 1-yard TD run late in the first quarter. The Lions took a 13-6 lead on Dobbs’ 6-yard TD pass to Jackson Meeks midway through the second quarter. DJ Giddens tied it again at 13 on a 6-yard TD run before Dobbs hooked up with Martin for the go-ahead score with 8 seconds left in the half. Jacob Saylors carried 17 times for 100 yards for Detroit. Williams rushed nine times for 57 yards and added a 1-yard TD run in the fourth quarter. But Williams lost a fumble, one of four Detroit turnovers. BEARS 24, TITANS 15: In Nashville, Tennessee, Tyson Bagent gave the Chicago Bears just the offensive start to wrap up the preseason in winning style. Bagent connected with Zavion Thomas for a 97-yard touchdown on Chicago’s first offensive play and the Bears beat the Tennessee Titans 24-15 on Saturday night in a battle of mostly backups. “When Tyson starts the game like that, I think he had, what? One incompletion?” Chicago coach Ben Johnson said. “He was on fire. So you felt like our offense was really rolling when that happened.” With Caleb Williams watching from the sideline, Bagent completed his first seven passes for 155 yards helping Chicago (2-1) convert its first four fourth downs. Thomas, the Bears’ third-round pick out of LSU, also caught all five passes thrown to him for a gamehigh 140 yards — with his first easily his best.

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Sunday, August 30, 2026 ■ 7C

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OUTDOORS Sports kid’s paradise

CALENDAR THURSDAY

LA. WILDLIFE & FISHERIES COMMISSION MEETING: 9:30 a.m., Joe Herring Room, state Wildlife and Fisheries headquarters, Quail Drive, Baton Rouge. NATIONAL DEER ASSN. SUMMER SEMINAR: 6 p.m., state Wildlife & Fisheries headquarters, 2000 Quail Drive, Baton Rouge. NDA South Louisiana Branch event. State deer management, CWD update, habitat & deer survival. Preregistration requested. Email: emily.boyd@louisianalandbank.com

FRIDAY-SATURDAY

SECOND AMENDMENT TAX-FREE DAYS: State tax is exempted on a wide range of hunting equipment/items.

HUNTING SEASONS

DOVES: South Zone: Sept. 5-20; North Zone: Sept. 5-27.

ONGOING

STATEWIDE TOURNAMENT & ANGLERS RODEO/S.T.A.R.: Thru Sept. 7, Coastal Conservation Association’s summer-long ﬁshing event. Tagged redﬁsh, coastal/offshore species categories and youth division. CCA membership required. Website: ccalouisiana.com/star

LOTTERY HUNTS

PROVIDED PHOTO

Nathaniel Watts is among the youngest members in the Junior Southwest Bassmasters, yet he provided the top catch — five largemouth bass weighing 7.64 pounds — in the club’s August tournament at Doiron’s Landing in Stephensville. Watts, from Livingston, competes in the 7-10 age group, and he edged 11-14 age group angler Lane LeRay by less than one-half pound.

Hunting grounds

AROUND THE CORNER

Dove season completes ‘paradise’ claim; Second Amendment Tax-Free Days ahead BY JOE MACALUSO

the intersection of highways 71 and 492. The DeRidder field is on the south side of U.S. 190 east of Seth Cole Road As our summer’s last holiday, Labor and about 5 miles west of the U.S. 171 Day, nears, Louisiana outdoors gets to and Louisiana 27 intersection. You’ll need the appropriate licenses fulfill another part of what makes us along with completion of the federalThe Sportsman’s Paradise. Beginning Saturday, we will open a mandated, no-fee Harvest Information stretch of nine months Permit (HIP certificate). Notebook of almost continuous An early start hunting seasons. Yes, dove season opens in both South An unprecedented start to the bigand North zones. game hunting season came Saturday in Hand-in-hand comes the Friday- State Deer Area 2 and Sept. 12 in Deer Saturday Second Amendment Tax- areas 1 and 6. State deer managers are Free Days when state tax will not be allowing archery hunters taking to pricharged on a wide range of hunting vate lands inside chronic wasting disequipment. This exemption took a holi- ease management zones an early start. The season is open to taking antday for a few years but was reinstated last year and came with excitement lered bucks only and will not be open from both vendors and hunters. Just to the entire deer area — only to CWDnote, it’s only an exemption from state mapped zones — and not to wildlife taxes. Local taxes are up to the local management areas, national forest governing bodies. lands, national wildlife refuges or other If you haven’t been invited to an public lands. opening-weekend dove hunt, then WildThe mandate here is to know the CWD life and Fisheries has secured fields in zones, which can be found on the agenDeRidder (310 acres) and Colfax (260 cy’s website — wlf.la.gov — under CWD acres) for Saturday, along with hunting guidelines. opportunities on 11 wildlife manageAll CWD requirements will be in ment areas along with the Calcasieu place, notably that whole carcasses of Ranger District Vernon Unit in the deer taken in the CWD zone cannot be moved from the zone, although, as the Kisatchie National Forest. Here’s what you need to do: Go to the rules state, “Hunters may remove meat agency’s website — wlf.la.gov — and that is cut and wrapped or boned out, find the “dove fields” page where you’ll quarters or other portions of meat with find an access permit with a $10 fee for no part of the spinal column or head atadults (plus a “convenience” fee). Hunt- tached, antlers, clean skull plates with ers 17 and younger do not have to pay antlers, cleaned skulls without tissue attached, capes, tanned hides, finished the fee. You’ll need nontoxic shot No. 6 and taxidermy mounts and cleaned cervid smaller to hunt these fields — no lead teeth.” For more, email Brad Kennon: rkenshot! — and you can bring a retriever and use an ATV, but only if the fields non@wlf.la.gov are dry. Hunting begins one-half hour before sunrise, and you will be able to Henderson Lake drawdown access these fields beginning at 5 a.m. After rainfall caused delays, the The Colfax field is along the north side drawdown of Henderson Lake began of Louisiana 492 about 2 miles west of last week, and state fisheries managContributing writer

RECREATIONAL ALLIGATOR SEASON: Entries accepted through Aug. 30 in eight “harvest” zones running Oct. 1-31. Nonrefundable $50 application fee for each zone. Must be legal Louisiana residents, 16 and older and have hunter education certiﬁcate. If drawn, additional $25 Resident Alligator Sports Hunter License. Website: wlf. louisiana.gov/page/recreational-alligator-hunting WMA DEER/WATERFOWL YOUTH-ONLY HUNTS: Ages 10-17. Application deadline Aug. 31 for youth-only deer hunts; Sept. 30 for waterfowl hunts on Sherburne Wildlife Management Area. Application fee $8.50. See Wildlife & Fisheries lottery hunt webpage. Email David Hayden: dhayden@wlf.la.gov WHITE LAKE CONSERVATION AREA WATERFOWL HUNTS: Sept. 30 deadline for two youth-only hunts and 30 marsh hunts. $8.50 application fee. Youth hunters must have Hunter Safety certiﬁcate. Email Lance Ardoin: lardoin@ wlf.la.gov

ers are advising houseboat owners to “take all necessary precautions as soon as possible,” with water levels lowering between 2-4 inches per day. The drawdown is set to end Nov. 2. Access to the lake will be at private ramps on the lake’s southern levee, and ﬁsheries managers will apply herbicide to control the “overabundant aquatic vegetation.”

Big reward State and federal enforcement sections are investigating the killing of a bald eagle found at the intersection of Robert and Wilmer roads in Vermilion Parish late last year. Enforcement ofﬁcers have said they have “numerous” tips but need more information and are offering a reward of up to $20,000 for information leading to a conviction. Any information can be called into the 24-hour Operation Game Thief hotline at 800-442-2511. Killing a bald eagle is a federal offense and subject to a $5,000 ﬁne and one year in jail.

Football season? Louisiana football legends and Pro Football Hall of Fame members Kevin Mawae and Rickey Jackson are among nine former NFL players ﬁshing in Monday’s inaugural Bassmaster Randy Moss Hall of Fame Pro-Am bass tournament set on the St. Lawrence River in upstate New York. The one-day event pairing former players with touring pro anglers is being held following the Bassmaster Elite tournament. Mawae, LSU’s All-America center, will fish with Robert Gee, and New Orleans Saints great Jackson’s fishing partner is John Garrett. Other former football players in the ﬁeld are Randy Moss, Calvin Johnson, Kellen Winslow, Ronde Barber, Joe Thomas, Dave Robinson and Robert Brazile.

SEPT. 9 — BUGS & BEERS: 6:30 p.m., Skeeta Hawk Brewing, 455 N. Dorgenois St., New Orleans. Casual fly tying. Open to public. Email A.J. Rosenbohm: ajrosenbohm@ gmail.com. Website: neworleansflyfishers.com SEPT. 10 — JUNIOR SOUTHWEST BASSMASTERS MEETING: 7 p.m., Seminar Room, Bass Pro Shops, Denham Springs. Boys and girls age-group bass tournaments for ages 7-10, 11-14 and 15-18 anglers. Call Jim Breaux, 225-772-3026. SEPT. 11 — GBRFB SPORTING CLAYS SHOOT: 7:45 a.m. check in, Bridgeview Gun Club, 1365 Mike Cazes Road, Port Allen. Benefits the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank. Sponsorships available. Four-shooter teams. Website: brfoodbank.org/scc

FISHING/SHRIMPING

SHRIMP: Fall inshore season open statewide except for Breton/Chandeleur sounds; all outside waters open. OPEN RECREATIONAL SEASONS: Private recreational red snapper (through Aug. 30 & Sept. 4-7); gray triggerfish; flounder; lane, blackfin, queen and silk snappers and wenchmen among other snapper species; all groupers except closed for goliath and Nassau groupers in state/ federal waters. CLOSED SEASONS: Recreational/commercial greater amberjack (recreational season runs Sept. 1-Oct. 13); bluefin tuna; gag (Sept. 1-30 season), goliath and Nassau groupers in state/federal waters.

LDWF UPDATES

SPECIAL CLOSURE: Sept. 2-9 until noon daily, Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge (controlled alligator harvest). CLOSED: Hope Canal Road/boat launch (Maurepas Swamp WMA, levee construction); Reserve Relief Canal Boat Launch by order of Corps of Engineers (Reserve Relief Pump Station construction) with alternate launch locations at Pete’s Landing, the Akers boat ramp and Bonnet Carré Spillway boat launch. DRAWDOWNS: Saline Lake (through Oct. 5); Iatt Lake (through Oct. 5); Clear-Smithport Lake (through Nov. 16); Lake Bistineau (through Nov. 30); Henderson Lake (through Nov. 2); Cheniere Lake (through Nov. 15); Chicot Lake (Sept. 8-Jan. 4); Grand Bayou Reservoir (Sept. 8-Jan. 4); Vernon Lake (Sept. 15-Jan. 5).

FISHING RESULTS Jr. SW Bassmasters STEPHENSVILLE—Age-group results from the Junior Southwest Bassmasters-Denham Springs’ August tournament held from Doiron’s Landing with anglers, their hometowns (when available), number of bass weighed in parentheses (5-bass limit), total weight in pounds and bigbass winners: 15-18 Age Group: 1, Landin Sholty, Denham Springs (5) 5.61 pounds. 2, Blake LeRay, Brusly (1) .96. 3, Aiden Giluso, Hammond (1) .84.

Big Bass: Sholty, 1.47 pounds. 11-14 Age Group: 1, Lane LeRay, Brusly (5) 7.29. 2, Ryder Owens, Denham Springs (3) 5.45. 3, Reid Leonard, Walker (3) 4.61. Big Bass: Owens, 3.38. 7-10 Age Group: 1, Nathaniel Watts, Livingston (5) 7.64. 2, Kase Nobile, Livingston (2) 3.35. 3, Blake Harper, Livingston (1) 3.21. Big Bass: Harper, 3.21. Adult Division: 1, Randall Richardson, Denham Springs (5) 9.33. 2, Matthew Watts, Livingston (5) 8.61. 3, Ron LeRay, Brusly (5) 7.29. Big Bass: Richardson, 2.23.

With stars injured or struggling, U.S. Open feels truly open again BY BRIAN MAHONEY

Sabalenka’s summer swoon

NEW YORK — Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner made last year’s U.S. Open feel like two weeks of killing time until the inevitable. They had separated themselves from everyone else while meeting in the French Open and Wimbledon ﬁnals. It seemed a foregone conclusion they would make it three in a row, which is exactly what happened. With the No. 1-ranked Sinner sidelined, Alcaraz only returning now to defend his title after missing four months and Novak Djokovic perhaps ﬁnally showing his age, the U.S. Open once again feels, well, open. Just don’t confuse that with meaning easier. “It’s the same conversation,” American player Frances Tiafoe said. “Still got to beat seven guys however way you slice it.”

The women’s side has its own questions, with two-time reigning U.S. Open champion Aryna Sabalenka losing in the fourth round at Wimbledon and both hard-court tournaments she played since, putting her hold on No. 1 in jeopardy. The top spot in the rankings could be in reach for multiple women, and so is the trophy at the final major tournament of the year, with No. 3 Jessica Pegula saying “there’s not one or two super dominant players where you feel like they have to lose in order for you to have a chance.” “It seems to me like maybe more open in a way, just because ... there’s more chances,” added Pegula, who lost to Sabalenka in the 2024 final and last year’s semifinals. Play begins Sunday, with Pegula in Arthur Ashe Stadium’s opening match and Djokovic leading off the night session before Venus

Associated Press

Williams, at 46, faces Soﬁa Kenin.

Up for grabs Alcaraz gets one more day to prepare. He has been sidelined since April with a right wrist injury, deciding last week he was ready to return at the tournament where he has won two of his seven Grand Slam titles. The most recent was at the Australian Open, but he went out not long after. Alexander Zverev won the French Open for his ﬁrst major title, lost to Sinner in the Wimbledon ﬁnal, then became the No. 1 seed in Flushing Meadows when Sinner determined the knee injury that has kept him out since that victory wasn’t fully healed. “It’s been a couple of months now where it’s been pretty similar: a lot of uncertainty, some of the top players, they’re kind of injured or they’re not playing. This is a little bit of the same, so we have seen lot of different players stepping

AP PHOTO By yUKI IWAMURA

Carlos Alcaraz returns during a mixed doubles match at the U.S. Open on Tuesday in New york. ä U.S. Open. 11 A.M. SUNDAy, ABC

up and a lot of different opportunities being up for grabs,” Alex de Minaur, the No. 6 seed from Australia, said. Daniil Medvedev, the 2021 U.S. Open champion, pointed at players

such as Zverev and Arthur Fils as players who know there’s an opportunity they don’t want to waste. “For them, they’re probably thinking about it, not in a bad way, but they’re like, we have a better chance without Jannik and maybe Carlos not 100% yet,” the No. 7-seeded Medvedev said. Djokovic exited the Cincinnati tournament in his first match due to an unspecified health problem that bothers him in the heat. That could make it hard for the 24-time Grand Slam singles champion to make another run in New York at 39. Elena Rybakina, who beat Sabalenka in the Australian Open final, Pegula and No. 4 Coco Gauff are all in pursuit of the No. 1 ranking. Sabalenka could lose it even if she becomes the first player to win three straight U.S. Opens since Serena Williams from 2012-14. “I’ll try to do my very best, and we’ll see what happens with the end of this tournament,” Sabalenka said.

8C ■ Sunday, August 30, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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ALABAMA ST. 30, SOUTHERN 17

THREE AND OUT: SCOTT RABALAIS’ THREE THINGS FROM SOUTHERN’S SEASON-OPENING LOSS

PROMISE, THEN PAIN The Jaguars led 14-3 in the second quarter, and a potential upset hung in the hot August air over Legion Field. It turned out to be a mirage, though, as the Hornets outscored them 27-3 after that for a 30-17 victory. There was much to like about Southern’s effort, including a well-conceived offense and a disruptive defensive front. But it ended up as another double-digit loss for Southern, like eight of its 10 defeats in 2025.

RUNNING START Fittingly for Southern’s first game under its new coach, a Pro Football Hall of Fame running back, the Jaguars’ opening touchdown came on the ground: a nifty 29-yard run off left tackle by Mike Franklin. Quarterback Christian Johnson (14 carries, 81 yards, one touchdown) gave the Hornets plenty of trouble in the first half with his scrambling and designed runs. But eventually the holes closed up on the Jaguars’ Go-Go offense, which was shut out after halftime.

GIVENS GIVES PLENTY Star defensive end Ckelby Givens got cleared to play Thursday when his name was added to the lawsuit of players seeking a fifth year of eligibility in a Louisiana court. Givens didn’t start and definitely played only a fraction of the snaps, but he made his presence felt with a sack and another tackle for loss. It was a positive sign for the former SWAC defensive player of the year that he can contribute much more going forward.

RABALAIS

Continued from page 1C game was up for grabs like a tipped pass that could be intercepted or miraculously caught. No miracles for the Jaguars, though. After raising eyebrows across the SWAC by taking a 14-3 lead early in the second quarter and holding on for a 17-13 halftime advantage, Southern’s Go-Go offense was a no-show in the second half, unable to score again. The offense spent the final two quarters cornered by an ever more suffocating Alabama State defense. Down 27-17 early in the fourth, the Jaguars had a blue and golden chance to get back in it. But Johnson, the quarterback who bravely passed and ran Southern into its early advantage, threw a touch too far inside for wide receiver Daejawn Smith and got intercepted by cornerback Greg Mangle at the Hornets’ 6. There was 14:53 left showing on the clock but the game was essentially over. “I wear it heavy,” said Johnson, a junior college transfer who accounted for 255 of Southern’s 335 total yards: 174 passing, 81 rushing with a touchdown. “I made sure all the guys know there will be better things from my position, to push the ball downfield and get more scores, for sure.” The Southern defense started out like a giant fly swatter against the Hornets offense. Led by alleverything defensive end Ckelby Givens — cleared to play Thursday after he joined the lawsuit of athletes seeking a fifth year of eligibility before a Baton Rouge court — Southern’s defensive front was all over Alabama State quarterback Andrew Body early on and got plenty of penetration to stuff the run as well. But as the game wore on and the Southern offense stopped putting points on the board, the defense wore down. Frequently going uptempo, the Hornets had 11 “chunk plays” (15 or more yards passing, 10 or more yards rushing) to seven for Southern. Ten of those Alabama State plays came after Southern went up 14-3, as the Hornets stung the Jaguars by a 27-3 margin from then on. “We didn’t execute well,” said Givens, who had a sack and tackle for loss in limited action. “We have to tackle better. Teams can’t go uptempo if we stop them.” So how does one quantify this defeat for Southern? There were some things, promising things, for Jaguar Nation to rally behind. The offense looked balanced and, for at least a half, fairly crisp. Johnson, a junior college transfer, will likely grow into his role as a passer and scrambler. The defense showed some real spirit, and the prospect of Givens playing more as he rounds into playing shape is something for Southern to be optimistic about. Faulk exudes confidence that he will get things fixed and help the Jaguars field a more competitive team. All that said, a loss is a loss. And for Southern, the defeats are stacking precipitously high. The Jaguars are now 2-12 going back to their blowout loss to Jackson State in the 2024 SWAC championship game. Ten of those losses now have been by double digits. As a first-year coach, Faulk doesn’t own that nightmare of embarrassment and frustration. But its his job to turn things around. Southern exhibited signs of real progress Saturday, indications that this can be at least a respectable, if not championshipcontending, season. As Faulk said, the Jaguars have to finish and play smart, leaving no room for moral victories buried inside another lopsided defeat. The gap between winning and losing is small. But it is a river that once again the Jaguars, despite their improvements, were unable to cross.

PHOTO By APRIL BUFFINGTON

Southern running back Trey Holly runs with the ball against Alabama State on Saturday in the Birmingham Classic at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala.

SOUTHERN

With six minutes remaining in the third quarter, Alabama State converted a fourth Continued from page 1C 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 lawsuit that granted more than 30 athletes end zone for a 20-17 lead with 5:30 remaining in the third quarter, its first lead of the a temporary restraining order. The Jaguars finally got the game’s initial contest. Alabama State then started its offense on first down on their third drive after a pass interference penalty by Alabama State the opposing 34-yard line and enjoyed conat the 4:35 mark of the first quarter. That tinued success running the ball. Body finhelped the Jaguars march 72 yards to the ished the job with a delivery on a fade route end zone. Their first score was courtesy of to King for a 9-yard touchdown, giving Alaa 29-yard rushing touchdown by graduate bama State a 27-17 lead with 2:29 remaining tailback Mike Franklin with 3:25 left in the in the third quarter. To open the fourth quarter, Southern was at first quarter. After Alabama State’s Andrew Abu-Akel the opposing 32-yard line thanks to a pair of kicked a 44-yard field goal, Southern start- defensive penalties by Alabama State. Johnson then underthrew his reing quarterback Christian ceiver and had his pass interJohnson made his mark. The cepted by Greg Mangle, who Hutchinson (Kansas) Comwent down on the 6-yard line. munity College transfer’s Alabama State led the SWAC first start for the Jaguars in picks with 15 a year ago. happened 90 minutes from The turnover, which Johnhis hometown of Montgomson said was an “inaccurate ery. pass,” led to an Alabama On third and 4 from SouthState drive that ended with a ern’s own 34-yard line, John31-yard field goal, giving the son sprinted up the middle Hornets a 30-17 lead with 9:18 on a quarterback draw for remaining. 22 yards. A few plays later “We just have to do better on third and 18, he slung a riding the momentum wave,” 41-yard pass on a deep crossFaulk said on Southern learning route to redshirt freshing how to maintain a lead. man Daejawn Smith, who “And making sure we do the was tackled at the 1-yard things that’s necessary (to line. Johnson punched in the win).” rushing touchdown to give CHRISTIAN JOHNSON, In the first half, Southern’s his team a 14-3 advantage Southern quarterback quarterback threw for 100 with 12:52 remaining in the yards and had only three insecond quarter. completions along with nine Alabama State quarterback Andrew Body helped his team get its first ex- carries for 69 yards and a touchdown. Johnplosive play early in the second quarter. The son ended the game completing 17 of 27 passreigning SWAC Offensive Player of the Year es for 174 yards. He was the team’s leading threw a 61-yard pass to redshirt sophomore rusher with 81 yards on 14 attempts. Johnson hopes to do more with his arm goRandall King, who broke multiple tackles while gaining 48 yards after the catch. He ing forward. “I don’t want to get people misconstrued was pushed out of bounds on Southern’s 15on what type of quarterback I am,” he said. yard line. Junior running back Jamarie Hostzclaw “Yes, I can run the ball, but I’m not a running took the next snap 15 yards for a touchdown quarterback. There’s a major difference. So definitely like to put the ball in the air some as Southern led 14-10. Both Southern and Alabama State tacked more next week and see how the outcome is.” Southern’s next game is 6 p.m. Saturday on 33-yard field goals before halftime as against Kentucky State, a Division II proSouthern had a 17-13 lead. Body had an electric moment early in the gram, at A. W. Mumford Stadium. third quarter. On first and 10 from his own 48-yard line, he rolled right and threw a 21- Email Toyloy Brown III at yard pass to Kareem Keye. toyloy.brown@theadvocate.com.

“I don’t want to get people misconstrued on what type of quarterback I am. Yes, I can run the ball, but I’m not a running quarterback. There’s a major difference.”

DE Givens produces in ﬁrst game back BY TOYLOY BROWN III Staff writer

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Ckelby Givens’ first practice as a player this offseason was 10 days ago. Up until then, the Southern star defensive end was serving as a graduate assistant, primarily assisting defensive line coach Kyle Kramer. Less than two weeks later, Givens was back to what he’s accustomed to at Southern: pressing opposing backfields. The 6-foot-2, 245-pound edge rusher had a strong season debut in the Jaguars’ 30-17 loss to Alabama State at Legion Field on Saturday. He ended the game with four total tackles and the Jaguars’ only sack. “I felt great,” he said. “Sadly we didn’t have the outcome that we wanted, but I was just happy to be out there, honestly. Hopefully, next week it’ll end with a (win).” Givens’ return to Southern for a fifth year was fully set Thursday after being officially added as a plaintiff in the ongoing Louisiana eligibility lawsuit that granted more than 30 athletes a temporary restraining order. His return was monumental for the Jaguars’ ceiling, as he led the Southwestern Athletic Conference in tackles for loss and sacks in 2024 and 2025. His first appearance Saturday came on third and 10 during Alabama State’s first drive. His next appearance was a third-and-6 play on the next drive, and he showcased the dominance opposing coaches usually gameplan to limit. Givens wrestled around the opposing lineman tasked with blocking him. Before Alabama State quarterback Andrew Body could step into the pocket, Givens tackled his hips. When asked whether that moment took some weight off him, Givens said he didn’t need it to. “It really wasn’t any pressure,” the Shreveport native said. “I was just happy to be playing, honestly. And so you know, I had limited reps this week, and so hopefully my reps will go up as I get in more and more shape since I didn’t go too far. Count, but I mean, I don’t think I felt much pressure.” He said he didn’t feel any rust, and coach Marshall Faulk was pleased with Givens’ performance despite the Jaguars overusing him. “He played too many plays for me,” Faulk said with a chuckle. “The game started, it started to flow, and things happen, and you watch him make plays. I believe we should have had him on more of a pitch count. I would have liked to have charted that and kind of paid attention to it, but they tempoed us a bit, and it’s hard to get guys in and out when you have that. “But listen, man, Ckelby is Ckelby. He’s gonna make plays. It only gets better from here.” When asked how good of football shape he is in, Givens said he feels “good.” “I mean, he just adds (so) much to the defense,” Southern starting quarterback Christian Johnson said. “In the second half, they started running the ball to his side because he’s a very big pass threat. But you know, there’s a bunch of guys around him too, so it’s great to have him back.” The Southern defense was stout in the first half when it took a 17-13 lead into the break. In the second half, Alabama State was able to break tackles and hit on some chunk plays on the ground. Givens expressed confidence in what he and his team will be able to accomplish this season. “My expectations for myself is just being me, just being Ckelby,” he said. “Just doing what Ckelby does. And for the team, I want to win the championship, of course.” Email Toyloy Brown III at toyloy.brown@theadvocate. com.

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

LOUISIANA INSPIRED: Meet the man who devotes himself to maintaining N.O.’s Metairie Cemetery 5D

LIVING

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

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

1dn

Jan Risher

Mesmerized by a pop-tab purse and the quest to make it 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 MILLER

Baton Rouge artist Brandon Lewis’s 2025 painting, ‘Crescent City of Bones II,’ feature his signature style of silhouetted figures.

ART SOUL

ä See PURSE, page 6D

STAFF PHOTO By JAN RISHER

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

Brandon Lewis shares a legacy of stories with his viewers, who make them their own BY ROBIN MILLER

Nominations open for Bright Lights Awards 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 present and imagine our future,” said Miranda Restovic, LEH president and executive Director, in a news release.

ä See AWARDS, page 6D

Staff writer

hances are that Gladys Lewis’ everyday life of faith and family won’t be memorialized in movies, television or even books. But Baton Rouge artist Brandon Lewis is defying those odds. He’s working on a book featuring his paintings, all celebrating not only his Grandmother Gladys’ stories but those of others who have inﬂuenced his life along the way. And the paintings? They’ve been featured in shows throughout Baton Rouge in the last few years, each narrating a chapter of the artist’s family’s rural Black experience. So, why wouldn’t their stories be told in pop culture media?

“They are just everyday family stories that would usually get lost in history,” Lewis said. “And I’m not going to let that happen. I’ve started writing short stories to go with my paintings, but my paintings tell their stories.” The characters in Lewis’ paintings attend church, dance, visit and play music. Brides and grooms prepare to jump the broom, women in hats mourn in funeral lines and the elderly reminisce about the days they could dance the Jitterbug. And in one particular painting, the characters clearly represent Lewis as a child bidding farewell to Grandmother Gladys before she departs for Heaven. Lewis’ work was featured in a solo exhibition earlier this

ä See LEWIS, page 6D

PROVIDED PHOTO FROM BRANDON LEWIS

Baton Rouge artist Brandon Lewis

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

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COMMUNITY

PROVIDED PHOTO

Greater Baton Rouge Civic Associations PROVIDED PHOTO

STEM & Robotics Center Livingston Parish Public School leaders held a groundbreaking ceremony to officially commence construction of a new classroom and administrative building at the Denham Springs High School STEM & Robotics Center. Shown are, from left, Steve McLin, McLin Construction; Jodie Wilson, LPPS maintenance supervisor; LPPS Assistant Superintendent Bruce Chaffin; Denham Springs School Board member Cecil Harris; DSHS Principal Wes Howard; DSHS STEM & Robotics Center Director Mike Simmons; LPPS Superintendent Jody Purvis; Denham Springs School Board members Jeff Frizell and Brad Harris; and Michael Buturla, Domain Architecture.

Groundbreaking held for STEM & Robotics Center expansion Livingston Parish Public School System leaders broke ground today on a new classroom and administrative building at Denham Springs High School’s STEM & Robotics Center, creating additional learning space for a program that now serves 850 students. Three new classrooms, a front administrative office, a small-group meeting room, storage and bathroom space will be part of the $2.4 million addition on a campus that was born out of the devastating 2016 flood. The STEM Center sits on the site of the former Southside Elementary campus, which suffered extensive damage during the 2016 flood. Most of the school was beyond repair and

ultimately demolished, but one portion of the campus remained — a new cafeteria and classroom building that had just opened days before the ﬂood. That building was restored and used as the core of the Denham Springs STEM Center, which opened during the 2019-20 school year. The STEM & Robotics Center houses classes and extracurricular projects in engineering, robotics, video and digital production. The new classrooms will house engineering and robotics classes currently taught in the facility’s large gymnasium, as well as a new process technology program aligned with the job requirements of local chemical plant operators. Construction on the project is expected to be completed in summer 2027, with the facility opening for the 2027-28 school year.

Greater Baton Rouge Civic Associations cutline: Commemorating the 10th anniversary of the flood of 2016, the Federation of Greater Baton Rouge Civic Associations hosted its 2026 Stormwater Summit at the Main Library on Aug. 13. The Summit focused on weather patterns, flood risk evaluation and resilience, and comprehensive flood protection in the Capital Region. Shown are, from left, are Mayor-President Sid Edwards; Paul Sawyer, chief advisor, Amite River Basin Commission; Sherry Guarisco, president, Federation of GBR Civic Associations; Steve Oivanki, 2026 Stormwater Summit chairman; Bob Jacobsen, PE, Flood & Environmental Hydrology; and Jay Grymes, state climatologist.

PROVIDED PHOTO

BR Ikebana Chapter 42 Members of the BR Ikebana Chapter 42 recently held a board meeting for the new officers for 2026-27. Shown are, from left, Zoe Magee, Suzanne Nadler, Kay Callander, yuko Kimura and Diana Tong.

Boyfriend loses job, wants to move in

PROVIDED PHOTO

Greater BR State Fair Hall of Fame On Aug. 19, the Greater Baton Rouge State Fair honored three longtime volunteers by naming them the latest members of the fair’s Hall of Fame. The three were named at the fair’s annual volunteer appreciation dinner at the Mockler Beverage Assembly Hall. Pictured from left, Cliff Barton, Gertie Feldman and Vince Giaccone.

COMMUNITY GUIDELINES The Community column runs Sundays in the Living section and accepts submissions for news of events that have taken place with civic, philanthropic, social and religious auxiliary organizations, as well as academic honors. Submissions should be sent by noon Monday to run in the upcoming Sunday column. Because of space limitations, organizations that meet monthly or more are limited to one photo per month. If submitting digitally, we prefer JPG files 300KB or larger. If taking a photo of a group, have them stand or sit shoulder-toshoulder. If more than six people are in the photo, arrange them on multiple, distinct rows. Avoid strong background light sources. We prefer emailed Community column submissions to features@theadvocate.com.We also accept submissions by mail at P.O. Box 588, Baton Rouge LA 70821.A phone number must be included.

Dear Harriette: A few months back, my boyfriend was laid off. He’s done his part to manage ﬁnancially, but emotionally he’s been rather down, and it’s put a lot of pressure on our relationship and me. With less to do, he wants more of my attention and to spend more time together. Unfortunately, my schedule and responsibiliHarriette ties haven’t Cole changed. I SENSE AND try to encourSENSITIVITy age him to put his energy into looking for new opportunities. He recently proposed that we move in together. I disagreed, reminding him that his employment status, and hence stability, is unpredictable. I don’t think it’d be smart for either of us for our expenses to grow. A week or so passed, and he came to me with a new idea: He should move in with me. I currently live at home with my parents! I turned him down immediately, and he accused me of trying to leave him in his darkest hour. Honestly, at this point, he might be right. It feels like he’s spiraling, and I

don’t know how to help. Is there anything I can do to get my boyfriend and our relationship back on track? — Hard Times Dear Hard Times: Losing a job can be unsettling in so many ways. It can create desperation and draw out some of the worst qualities in people. It can also be a time for couples to come together and get stronger and to ﬁgure out a way forward as a team. You need to decide what you want in this relationship. Is your boyfriend your “through thick and thin, better or worse” kind of partner? If he is, then your role should be to rally with him and do everything you can to get him back on track. That does not mean you have to move in together. But it does mean you should do all in your power to help him regain conﬁdence and stability. If you are not ready or interested in doing that, own up to your feelings and let him know. He may feel abandoned, but it’s better for him to know where you stand so he can be clear about his support system. Dear Harriette: I am a college student, and I am extremely active on my campus. I serve on multiple college

boards and hold several positions. Lately, my friends have been turning to me with any and all issues related to school. I don’t mind helping, but when I’m with my friends, I don’t necessarily want to think about work. I am constantly getting texted questions about policy, or people wanting inside information. I have to tell my friends they can’t know certain things due to confidentiality, or that I don’t even know why certain things happen. Is there a way for me to politely tell my friends to stop treating me like a handbook and more like a friend? I don’t want to ruffle any feathers. — Busy Student Dear Busy Student: Yes, create boundaries. Tell your friends that when you are hanging out, you are off work. You can laughingly tell them that office hours are closed. If they persist, push back, reminding them that you cannot disclose some things about school policy and, more, you want to be able to let your hair down. That means you don’t want to have to think about any of that stuff after hours. Email askharriette@ harriettecole.com.

The 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.

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

PROVIDED PHOTOS

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.

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

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Brandon Lewis’ 2024 painting, ‘The People Could Fly.’

LEWIS

Continued from page 1D year at the Gallery at the Manship Theatre in the Shaw Center for the Arts. He’s now in talks with the Louis Armstrong House Museum in Queens, New York, for a showing of his work. His work is also represented by Ferrara Showman Gallery in New Orleans.

His family’s influence He gives his family full credit for his life’s work. “I was able to sit at these people’s feet and just soak up so much of their stories, because we have a rich oral history tradition within our family,” the Baton Rouge artist said. “I would listen to all these stories from great-uncles and great-aunts when we would travel on Saturdays to Clinton, Ethel and Jackson, Louisiana, where many of our family members lived.” He was just a child in those days, traveling with his mom and grandmother to the East Feliciana Parish countryside, where he listened, knowing the stories weren’t just random tales passed down by word of mouth. They were his history — his family’s legacy. And Lewis believes his resulting artwork from this legacy is a gift from God. Grandmother Gladys asked God in her prayers to bless this gift. But Lewis also knows the gift reaches beyond his artistic ability — it’s a gift meant for sharing with others. The proof for this is in how so many people relate to his work by way of their own family stories, which is why he paints all of his characters in silhouettes. “They don’t have faces, because I believe that it gives the viewer the op-

Brandon Lewis’ 2026 painting, ‘Boy, Bring ya Tail, Happily Ever After Ain’t Gonna Start Itself.’

PURSE

Continued from page 1D 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

STAFF PHOTOS By ROBIN MILLER

portunity to attach his or her own story to the piece,” Lewis said. He appreciated the number of people who have approached him saying how much a picture reminds them of their mother, grandmother or aunt. “Like Michelangelo, I very seldom do fashion model size figures, because that’s not reality,” he said. “That’s not where I come from. I come from a family of people that were various sizes, various shades.” So, when painting the diversity of his own family, Lewis believes, in a sense, that he is painting everyone’s families. “I think all of our families are like that,” he said. “By not putting a face on it, it becomes relatable to anyone who sees the painting, whether they’re Black, White, Asian — it does not matter.”

dio door open for other artists. And while Lewis works to keep Scott’s “pass it on” legacy alive, he’s passing it on through his own work. “Some of my pieces have fabric in them,” Lewis said. He explained that the fabric comes from his ancestors — his grandparents, his greatgrandparents and Ms. Mary who lived across the street. “Those people have passed on, and this is my way of celebrating them and telling them thank you for the sacrifice,” he said. “And this is my way of having pieces of them in places where some of them never stepped foot in.” For example, one painting, titled “Bag Lady,” includes pieces from clothing that once belonged to Lewis’ Brandon Lewis’ 2022 painting, ‘Before I Say Farewell.’ The painting grandparents and greatdepicts a young boy bidding goodbye to his elder. grandmother. “That piece sold a Gladys loaded him into her Lincoln Town couple of years ago,” he said. “It’s Started at age 3 now in Los Angeles, and to think that Car and drove him to Hobby Lobby. “She told a lady working there, ‘My a painting with fabric that, one time, Lewis didn’t know any of this when he drew his ﬁrst picture. How could he? baby wants to paint. What does he need was worn on the backs and shoulders He was only a 3-year-old preschooler to paint?’ ” Lewis said. “They tossed all of men and women on whose shoulwho had been tasked with drawing a kinds of stuff into the basket, and when ders I stand hangs in a place of honor we came home, my grandmother put on the West Coast, well, there’s no bumblebee. “That was the assignment, and no one some newspaper down on her dining better way of showing my gratitude at home knew how to draw,” Lewis said. room table and told me to paint.” to them.” He did, and he’s never stopped paint“And my grandmother told my mother, Which brings him back to his Grand‘Well, let’s see if he can do it. Ask him ing. mother Gladys. to draw.’ They looked down at the paShe died 10 years ago, and Lewis disLewis would become a student of loper, and there, indeed, was a bumble- cal art teachers Therese Knowles and covered something special in her jourbee. And ever since then, my gift was Geeda Dave and eventually majored nal while cleaning out her bedroom. in art and history at the University of “She wrote, ‘God, you have given nurtured.” my child a gift. Please allow it to make Lewis began drawing on everything. Louisiana at Lafayette. He taught art for 10 years at Baker room for him,’ ” Lewis said. “That was If a stray envelope, receipt or letter was left on the kitchen table, it was High School before moving on to the in 1995. So, for me, my work is so much embellished with an original Brandon LSU Museum of Art, where he was cu- bigger than myself. And her prayers Lewis drawing. rator of education and public programs. turned into paint. They turned into “And my family really got behind Today, at age 39, Lewis is director of something that I can actually touch. So me,” he said. “My great-grandmothers, the Louisiana Endowment for the Hu- if I don’t owe it to anyone else, I owe it my paternal grandmother, my maternal manities’ Helis Foundation John Scott to her and those others who have since grandparents, great-aunts and uncles, Center, which celebrates the “pass it passed on who had that belief.” my mother — they all nurtured the gift. on” spirit of late New Orleans John T. To see more of Lewis’ work, visit They were always bringing drawing Scott through organizing art and educa@_blewis on Instagram. tablets, crayons, colored pencils, what- tional programs for the public. ever they thought made art.” Lewis declared at age 9 that he wanted Passing it on Email Robin Miller at romiller@ to start painting, so his Grandmother Scott was known for keeping his stu- theadvocate.com.

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 our watches. My last count, about four STAFF PHOTO By JAN RISHER weeks ago, came to 494. On TuesJan Risher’s mother, Nelda Risher, and cousin, Ronda Squires Holden, day night, my mom and cousin helped count the latest tally of pop tabs collected in 2026. helped me count again. I was up to 793. tabs takes longer than one might plastic bags the way my cat used I’ve done some mathematical to bring me lizards. expect. calculations and figured that I rejoice a lot more about the Turns out, saving hundreds of each of the drinks we have conpop tabs is quite an act of endur- pop tabs than I ever did the liztributed came in at $1.08. Grantards. ance. ed, friends have contributed Eventually, I filled the It has basically become an some of the pop tabs, but rough aspect of my personality. When I “PEACE” glass. I resisted uscalculations have us investing at see someone drinking or pouring ing the “WAR” glass because I least $856.44 at this point, not to from a can, I rely on what has prefer to focus on things I would mention the time and energy. become incredible restraint not Even so, I’m getting close. like to visualize for the world. I to ask for the tab. Now I just need to learn to ultimately settled on the “Tigers Friends have caught on. crochet. bowl over Ole Miss” glass from Some of them are collecting 1959. Between that and peace, I them at their offices. They bring figured the world could be a bet- Email Jan Risher at jan. me little snack-size zippered risher@theadvocate.com. ter place.

AWARDS

Continued from page 1D “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 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.

The 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.

PHOTOS By KERRI WESTENBERG

Steak au Poivre

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 Advocate

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BOOKS

ä For area book events, go to

WWW.NOLA.COM/ENTERTAINMENT_LIFE/ 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 Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Sunday, August 30, 2026 ■ 9D

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First Tuesday comes to Denham Springs

On Sept. 1, First Tuesday will celebrate four years of bringing businesses, volunteers and nonprofits together to serve the community, and mark the milestone by officially expanding into Denham Springs, Louisiana, its second FYI BR First Tuesstaff day locareports tion. Nearly 200 volunteers are expected to serve across Greater Baton Rouge and Denham Springs during the September service day. The celebration comes as First Tuesday reaches another major milestone: Since its launch in September 2022, 3,912 volunteers have contributed 24,862 hours of service, creating an estimated $770,000 in community impact. The official launch of First Tuesday’s second location will begin with volunteers gathering for breakfast at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church before serving at Launch Therapy Center. The Denham Springs expansion has been championed by Todd Pettavino of Precision Structured Cabling, a First Tuesday supporter since day one, who saw an opportunity to bring the model into his own community.

Farm Fête presale tickets available

Big River Economic and Agricultural Development Alliance, also known as BREADA, is inviting the community to secure their spot at its annual fundraising culinary event Farm Fête for $30 off. Limited-time $95 presale pricing is available before tickets increase to $125 on Sept. 1. The annual fundraiser has sold out the past two years. Farm Fête, which will take place from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Sept. 24 at Main Street Market, will transform downtown Baton Rouge into a celebration of local food, agriculture and community. The evening will bring together the region’s top chefs, local farmers, craft beverage partners, musicians, artists and food lovers for an experience inspired by the Red Stick Farmers Market. Local restaurants, including Bergeron’s City Market, Chef Celeste Gill, Chow Yum, City Club of Baton Rouge, Cocha, Cozy Griddle, Eliza Restaurant & Bar, Eloise Market & Cakery, Houmas House, Josephine’s Italian Bistro, Louisiana Crave-A-Ball, Mestizo Louisiana Mexican Cuisine, Sapor Indian Fusion and Vivian’s Rotisserie & Grill, will create tasting dishes featuring fresh ingredients

from Red Stick Farmers Market farmers. The celebration also features live music on multiple stages from John Gray Jazz and Ashley Orlando, craft cocktails, wine, beer, coffee and more from Blend, Community Coffee, Crescent Crown, JT Meleck Distillers, Oxbow Rum Distillery and Uncorked Wines. BREADA’s popular Date Night for a Year Raffle gives one lucky winner the chance to enjoy 12+ unique dining experiences at some of Baton Rouge’s favorite restaurants, creating an unforgettable year of local food adventures. Raffle tickets are $20 each. Raffle and event tickets can be purchased online at qtego.us/l/farmfete/tickets/event-tickets. They also can be purchased at any Red Stick Farmers Market and inside River & Roots Coffee at Main Street Market.

U-High students join First Tuesday efforts September’s celebration will also include the First Tuesday Club at University Laboratory School, where students are organizing a school-wide food drive beneﬁting the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank. The student-led effort demonstrates another part of First Tuesday’s growing impact: introducing young people to the idea that serving their community

can become a regular part of their lives rather than something reserved for a special occasion.

Scotlandville library reopens after work The East Baton Rouge Parish Library’s Scotlandville Branch reopened to the public on Aug. 20 following a major renovation and expansion project. While some ﬁnishing work remains, patrons can visit the branch and enjoy more than 24,000 square feet of updated spaces, technology and amenities. The expanded Children’s Room features interactive technology, tactile learning opportunities and a dedicated programming space. Teens now have their own collaborative work and study rooms. The updated adult area includes additional work and study spaces, a Makerspace and a conference room. The branch now includes a dedicated Black Heritage area, which encompasses approximately 1,080 square feet and provides space for the Library’s Black history collection and exhibits. Above the entrance hangs a mural based on the work of Randell Henry, a local artist and Southern University professor who has taught and mentored many artists in the Scotlandville community. The Scotlandville Branch

is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Prom Macabre is coming Oct. 30 The clubs are gone, but the music lives on. On Oct. 30, Big in Baton Rouge Productions and the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge present Prom Macabre: A Dark Retro Celebration, a one-night reunion of the south Louisiana club scene that shaped a generation of dancers, DJs and night owls across the ‘80s, ‘90s and early 2000s. The night will be headlined by DJ Prep, a ﬁxture of Louisiana nightlife since the mid-80s, whose residencies ran through The Kingﬁsh, Shelter, T.Trax, Luna and Gridlock. He returns to spin deep cuts in a dark cloud of ‘80s retro, breakbeat, dark wave, techno and trance.

Living Waters has affordable rooms and houses for rent.

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 best-known 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 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

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By CAMDEN HALL

A makeshift memorial honors Dolly Parton in front of her statue in Sevierville, Tenn. 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 “peaceful 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. “We had Great Smoky Mountains National Park since the ’30s, and Gatlinburg was a huge destination for years, but Dollywood helped the county take that next step,” said Amanda Marr, a member of the Sevierville Chamber of Commerce. By the early 1990s, Parton 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

Opening the evening is Sariah Storm & The Mysteries, performing spooky witchy originals and dark covers. A costume contest runs through the night, with the best masculine and feminine costumes crowned Prom King and Queen. Fanciest dark attire encouraged. Prom Macabre will begin at 8:30 p.m. at the Cary Saurage Community Arts Center at 233 St. Ferdinand St. The event is for those 21 years old and up. Party snacks are provided. Tickets are available now on Eventbrite in three tiers: $25 for students and artists; $35 for general admission with a cash bar; and $50 for an open bar all night. To purchase tickets, visit eventbrite.com/e/ big-in-baton-rouge-the-artscouncil-br-present-prommacabre-w-dj-prep-tickets-1998131387769. For more information, visit biginbatonrouge.com/ prom-macabre/.

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.”

Please call our office for more information at 225-356-7142

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10D ■ Sunday,August 30, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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.

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Hosting your own baby shower not uncouth 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.

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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 Advocate

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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.

Mugs, shirts, hats, posters, books. Something for everyone at the Advocate Store!

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The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Sunday, August 30, 2026 ■ 3E

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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 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. But, that approach has become increas- tion: The Private Client Signature Captive. ingly 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 in more detailed planning, more client cus- contents and valuables coverage backed by tomization and more in-depth discussions an A.M. Best A++ (Superior) carrier. Gallagher 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 Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Sunday, August 30, 2026 ■ 5E

LOUISIANA WELCOMES

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

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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

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TECHNOLOGY

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

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 Advocate

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PEOPLE IN BUSINESS Staff report South Louisiana businesses and nonprofit groups recently announced the following promotions, new hires and resignations.

Baton Rouge John Walters has been brought on as a partner with the lobbying ﬁrm Devise Strategy Group. Walters most recently worked as vice president of external affairs for LSU. Before that, he led government affairs for Chevron across 13 states. Ben Manry has been promoted to chief lending officer of Pelican Credit Union. M a n r y, w h o worked as a Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions examiner, will oversee the credit Manry union’s business and consumer lending, mortgage and member solutions departments. Cassidy McFarland has been hired as chief financial ofﬁcer of Neighbors Federal Credit Union. McFarland previously spent 18 McFarland years with the credit union, starting as a teller and eventually becoming its vice president of treasury. He later had leadership stints with Essential

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Credit Union and his own account- spent eight years with CMC Corpoing practice. rate Solutions. Breazeale Sachse added two new attorneys to the law firm’s Baton Rouge office. Alec Keane, who had a previous career in pro sports front Keane offices, is now a commercial litigation associate. David Peterson, the former Land & Natural Resources/Environmental section chief for the Louisiana Department Peterson of Justice, is now of counsel to the 75-attorney firm.

Thornton

Davis

Stirling announced the hiring of three new members of its Baton Rouge advisory team: Travis Thornton, a former Baton Trussell Rouge ﬁreﬁghter and current chair of the St. George Chamber of Commerce; Alexis Davis, a former agent with Century 21; and Spencer Trussell, who

pecting 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 priceto-book 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,

previously worked as chief lending ofﬁcer at Lakeside Bank.

New Orleans Deidre Deculus Robert has been hired by Loyola University New Orleans as general counsel and director of government affairs starting Sept. 1. Robert has previously worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Louisiana Robert Department of Transportation and Development and the Southern University system. Most recently, she was president and CEO of Build Baton Rouge.

Kosky

Pelitere

Chaffe & Associates announced the hiring of a trio of new analysts as the investment banking firm reaches Karl a new record headcount. Taygan Kosky and Collin Pelitere joined the business valuation team, while Michael Karl joined Lisa Cooks has been promoted to the corporate ﬁnance group. executive director of the New Orleans Workers’ Across Louisiana Center for Racial Craig Howat has been hired as the Justice. executive direcCooks has tor of the River worked for the Parishes Convennonprofit since tion, Visitors and 2013, having been Tourist Commisits administration sion. Howat previand finance direcously worked for Cooks the New Orleans tor before being Saints, St. Charles named interim executive director. Howat Parish Public Schools and the Blue Williams announced the St. Charles Parish hiring of two associate attorneys Parks & Recrewith experience in trucking litigation at its Metairie ofﬁce: Abby ation Department. Unsworth, whose practice focuses on insurance defense, and Austin Dorene Gothreaux Lanier, whose practice includes has been hired as premises liability, construction Gothreaux southwest Louisilaw and business formation and ana market presitransactions. dent for Catalyst Bank. Gothreaux

Do you have personnel changes to share or other ideas for our business coverage? Drop us a line at biztips@theadvocate. com.

recently sporting a dividend yield of 1.9%. The fund’s “beta” of 0.69, meanwhile, reﬂects low volatility: 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.)

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.

My Smartest Investment: 40 years to achieve I read in your newspaper feature about

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

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Jones Walker added five new attorneys to its Lafayette ofﬁce, including two new partners, Tommy Smart and Steve Lanza, from Truxillo the boutique Acadiana ﬁrm Onebane. David Fink, Mark Oliver and Doug Truxillo have been brought on special counsels. Smart, Lanza and Oliver joined the corporate practice group, while Fink is part of the litigation practice group and Truxillo is part of the maritime practice group.

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Louisiana’s real estate market is riding a wave of large-scale projects and shifting economic forces. Across the state, infrastructure development remains strong, driven by petrochemical expansion and a surge in artiﬁcial intelligence (AI) projects — including Amazon’s data center campuses in Caddo and Bossier parishes. Manufacturing is gaining momentum in Ascension Parish, with major investments such as Hyundai Steel’s $5.8 billion ultra-low-carbon steel plant and NEMO Industries’ $3 billion AI-driven pig iron facility.

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The 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 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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NEWLY UPDATED! 6726 PINE ISLAND AVE. Forest Heights S/D Off Mickens Rd, 3BR 2BA, with Central H/A Freshly Painted Int./Ext. New Ceramic Flooring thru out & New Kit Countertop Enclosed Screen Patio, Rear Dbl Carport with Storage Shed & Fenced backyard Call Charles for Your Showing 225-266-4078 Roy Carter Realty 225-357-6436

COMMERCIAL PROPERTY Selling Business only not building. Don't have enough workers to run. Has great potential in Reeve's shopping center. Has all equipment needed to boil crawﬁsh, fry seafood plates amongst other foods with warmer in front. Asking price 50k negotiable and rent is needed to negotiate with landlord. Call or Text Steve 225-341-9235

MOBILE HOME 14'X74', 3BR/2BA Asking $2000. With Storage Shed $2500. Must move from Site. Call 225-802-5069

HOUSE 11839 Stan Ave., 3BR 2BA, fenced yard, C/H/A, w/d hookup, Attached carport $1300/mth/dep (225) 3561756 please leave message.

WOODGATE 333 E WOODGATE CT. BATON ROUGE, LA 70808

HOUSE 5756 Adam Street. 2BR/1BA. $650/month $450/deposit. Call 225-328-2886 HOUSE Baker: 3BR/1.5BA, 1440 sqft, front porch, carport, backyard $1050/month $500/deposit. No Pets. Call 225-329-7911 MOBILE HOME 1, 2 & 3 BR mobile homes, $675 & up 6061 Plank Rd. CALL 225-978-4653 ROOMS FOR RENT Furnished Rooms. $125/wk. $500/mo. 225-933-7560

OPEN SUNDAY 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM

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$560,000.00 4 bedroom, 3 bath in highly desirable WOODGATE subdivision. Exceptional curb appeal, mature landscaping, high ceilings and beautiful hardwood floors. Custom built-ins add charm while providing plenty of practical storage. Private brick courtyard. BRAND NEW ROOF & HVAC installed in August 2026, providing peace of mind for years to come.

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$257,400.00 Come discover the EXTRAS that this 5 bed/3 bath, oneand-a-half story home tucked in Buffwood neighborhood has to offer YOU! The outstanding exterior amenities include a .70 acre lot providing great space for outdoor entertainment, active pets, or for an avid gardener; a 24 x 26 workshop/storage building; an 11 x 34 covered patio and a landscaped open patio. A must see place to call HOME!

RATES REPORTED AUGUST 6, 2026

WEEKLY BATON ROUGE AREA

MORTGAGE RATES

Rate column provided by Liberty Mortgage Information Service • Call 225-361-6565 to have your company added to “ad”

JUDE BRIDWELL

HANCOCK WHITNEY

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DIRECT ACCESS: www.theadvocate.com CLICK HOMES >> THEN MORTGAGE RATES Quotes above are based on loan amount equal to or above $200,000 • Conventional loan max is $484,350; Jumbo loans exceed $484,350• NQ - No Quote • Special programs include BA (Balloon), B (Bond), CS (Construction), CV (Convertible), J (Jumbo), LL (Lot Loan), RD (Rural Development) • Quotes are not guaranteed and are subject to change daily • Info provided by LIBERTY MORTGAGE INFORMATION SERVICE - 225.361-6565 • Points listed do not include Origination Fee (normally 1% of loan amount) • Rates quoted are for 30 day lock • For additional information on mortgage programs, call the lender.

classifieds.theadvocate.com Search Search& &Place PlaceAds AdsOnline Onlineatatclassifieds.theadvocate.com classifieds.theadvocate.com* Call * Call -Friday Us Monday-Friday 8AM-5PM at 225-383-0111 8AM-5PM at 225-383-0111

Announcements Anyone knowing the whereabouts of any heirs to the Unopened Succession of Gilbert M. Roberts, please contact Alexis Tukes, Esq. at (225) 326-7365. 198889-8/29-30-31-3t $77.50 Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Brock A. Facione, please contact Alexis Tukes, Esq. at (225) 326-7365. 198892-8/29-30-31-3t $62.80

NEWS 24/7 ON

Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Erika Alexander and/or Tawanda Hope Alexander, please contact B. Kyle Kershaw, Attorney at Law, 212 Laurel Street, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70801, telephone number (225) 336-9600. 199009-8/29-30-31-3t $92.20

Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Marshall Ray Tapp, please contact attorney Melanie Newkome Jones at (225)344-2200. 198861-Aug 28-30, 3t $67 Anyone knowing the whereabouts of NATHAN ROUBIQUE, please contact William Hunter D’Aquila, at the Ofﬁce of the Public Defender, 308 East Main Street, New Roads, Louisiana 70760, or call (225) 6389083. 199072-8/29-30-31-3t $94.30

Join Our Nursing Team For a complete list of opportunities and beneﬁts, visit BRGeneral.org/Careers or call Human Resources for more information at 225-381-6464.

BRGeneral.org/Careers THE CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT will be closed on NDAY, SEPTEMBER 7th MONDAY 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

Anyone who knows the whereabouts of Abdulrahman Zeitoun, please contact Attorney Dean Esposito at (225) 412-3521. 198844-Aug 29-31, 3t $67

Employment BUSINESS OPERATIONS

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT ON 9/9/2026 ON OR AFTER 10:00AM UHAUL WILL BE OFFERING FOR SALE UNDER THE JUDICIAL LIEN PROCESS BY PUBLIC AUCTION TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER THE FOLLOWING STORAGE UNITS. A SALE WILL BE HELD AT HAMMOND UHAUL CENTER 1915 S.W. RAILROAD AVE. HAMMOND, LA., FOR THE PURPOSE OF SATISFYING A LANDLORD'S LIEN ON THE CONTENTS OF STORAGE UNIT. CONTENTS CONSIST MAINLY OF HOUSEHOLD ITEMS. TERMS OF THE SALE WILL BE CASH. TENANTS NAME AND RM. NO. ARE AS FOLLOWS: ELORA THORN RM. 617 MATTRESS, SOFA SET; KAYLA HARRY RM. 544 PIGGY BANK, DUFFLEBAG; JAYLA AUGUSTINE RM. 2153 BED SET, KIDS ITEMS; VANESSA SPERAS RM. 550 TOYS, LAMPS; ALANZA SIBLEY RM. 311 GAME CHAIR, SOFA SET; LLOYD BUMGARDEN RM. 2131 DRESSER, TOTES; ANDREANA SAMPSON RM. 2147 GAMING CHAIR, KIDS ITEMS; JUSTIN DAVIS RM. 415 TABLE SCOOTER; MIKE LONG RM. 1555 TOTES, KITCHEN ITEMS.

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

199199-AUG 30, 1T $181.30

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EDUCATION NOTICE OF VACANCY Applications are being accepted for the following position(s): School Counselor LOCATION MSA West Middle/High Academy STARTING SALARY $71,094 - $83,608 Range based on teacher's salary schedule plus Factor 1.175 APPLICATION PROCEDURE Anyone interested in being considered for this position should submit an ap‐ plication @ www.ipsb.net JOIN OUR TEAM

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DEADLINE FOR APPLYING Until filled or September 8, 2026 All IPSB employees must pass a criminal records check. The Iberville Parish School System is an Equal Opportunity Employer

EDUCATION NOTICE OF VACANCY Applications are being accepted for the following position(s): Athletic Trainer/Teacher LOCATION District Wide STARTING SALARY $72,607 - $88,987 Range based on teacher salary plus coaching supplement. Actual pay level will depend on verified years of experience. APPLICATION PROCEDURE Anyone interested in being considered for this position should submit an ap‐ plication @ www.ipsb.net JOIN OUR TEAM DEADLINE FOR APPLYING Until filled or September 3, 2026 All IPSB employees must pass a crimi‐ nal records check. The Iberville Parish School System is an Equal Opportunity Employer. ENGINEERING Process Engineer sought by Nucor Steel Louisiana LLC for the Convent lo‐ cation. Candidate must have a Bach's or foreign equiv deg in Chemical or En‐ ergy Engg & 3 yrs of exp in dsgng, ana‐ lyzing, & optimizing efficient chemical processes for combustible & hydro‐ gen-rich gas streams utilizing energy, kinetics, & heat transfer principles. Must have exp in: Analyzing hydrogenrich gas systems & dvlpg thermody‐ namic simulations to establish equilib‐ rium variances for decarbonization strategies. Dvlpg digital twin models of Tenova HYL technology for Direct Re‐ duction Iron (DRI) making processes utilizing Aspen Plus, Aspen HYSYS, & ProMax. Leading systematic identifica‐ tion of HAZOP risks associated w/ methane reformers, HYL reduction re‐ actors, gas handling systems, CO/H cir‐ cuits, pressure vessels, heaters, & aux‐ iliary systems. Reviewing & ensuring compliance of complex chemical con‐ ditions for critical thermal eqpmt, pres‐ sure vessels, fire systems, & gas han‐ dling in accordance w/ int'l codes/standards ASME, TEMA, & API. Up to 20% int'l & domestic travel reqd for meetings, trainings, & consulta‐ tions w/ other divisions/factories. Re‐ spond to: https://jobs.nucor.com/ or send resume to Attn: HR, 9101 Louisiana Hwy 3125, Convent, LA 70723.

Pets / Pet Services Directory PETS • SUPPLIES • SERVICES • OBITUARIES • LOST & FOUND

MARINE NOW HIRING Galleyhands Night Cooks Must hold TWIC card, pass drug test & physical. 985-851-0727 or email:

personnel@sontheimeroffshore.com

MARKETING Digital Marketing Coordinator (Baton Rouge, LA) to dvlp & execute digital mktg campaigns; create digital mktg materials; analyze performance metrics & mktg data; prep analytical reports & recommendations; & support digital communications. Req: Bach deg in Biz Admin, Mktg or rel & 1 yr same/rel exp. Resumes: EFCU Financial Federal Credit Union: mimi@efcufinancial.org.

Merchandise Classic Ranger Fishing Boat 115 hp motor, trolling motor $15,000.00 225933-9262 jimwalzak49@att.net

Garage Sales BATON ROUGE ESTATE SALES Graywood Estate Sale Sensational Estate Sale 11915 Parkbrook Dr 70816 Fri-Sun 9am-4pm Mon 9am-2pm BATON ROUGE WAREHOUSE SALE $5 & less AUG 28-30 6665 Complex Dr. F9-4 S8-3 SU12-3

Automotive DOMESTIC TRUCKS 2021 Chev. LT Crew Cab Z71 Diesel 28k miles, Like new, 985-252-8060

Auto Dealerships are NOT WELCOME TO CALL ME

PLACE YOUR PET SERVICES INFORMATION IN THE PET SERVICES DIRECTORY TODAY! • IT IS FAST AND EASY! • CALL 225-383-0111 AKC long hair miniture Dachshunds Shots and wormed $800.00 985-2220577 rio.remi@yahoo.com DOGS AKC Rottweiler puppies. 2 females. $500 each, with papers. 225-284-2027 225-577-3982

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

(225) 383-0111

GENERAL HELP The Diocese of B.R. Child Nutrition Pro‐ gram is seeking FT school Cafeteria Mgrs., Cooks, & Porters. HS Diploma or Equiv. and BG Check req. Apply at www.cnpbr.org/employment

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

Mia's GoldenDoodles 6-11-26 3M/2F Vet Chkd, $800 SERIOUS INQUIRIES ONLY!! CASH ONLY! 5043077786 5045411098

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WBR Public Notices Meet/Hear/Min

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PUBLIC NOTICE ---

PUBLIC NOTICE --The Louisiana Ofﬁce of State Parks is requesting proposals for a PublicPrivate Partnership pro‐ ject to design, construct, and operate a high-qual‐ ity recreational vehicle campground and related amenities. For more in‐ formation go to opportu‐ nitiesinlouisiana.com. 192994-jul 2-aug 31-t

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WBR NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING: CONDEMNA‐ TION Pursuant to Parish Code Chapter 109-42 “Derelict Structures”, the follow‐ ing properties have been condemned by the Parish President. Address: 12429 SECTION RD. PORT ALLEN LA 70767 (File #26-0039) Owner: ORA LEE DAVIS Legal Description: LOT IN NE/4 SEC 24 T6S R10E MEAS 75' X 210' TAKEN FROM THE PROP OF M MATTHEWS JR 7C-6CB87 E159 A PUBLIC HEARING will be held by the West Baton Rouge PARISH COUNCIL to ratify the condemnation order. The owner of the structure may appeal the decision of the Parish President by appearing at this meeting of the PARISH COUNCIL to show cause why the structure should b d d

y not be condemned. Date: Thursday, Septem‐ ber 10, 2026 Time: 5:30pm Public hearings will be held at the West Baton Rouge Parish Govern‐ mental Building, 880 N. Alexander, Port Allen, LA 70767. 195157-AUG 27-SEP 10 $228 PUBLIC NOTICE --WBR NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING: CONDEMNA‐ TION Pursuant to Parish Code Chapter 109-42 “Derelict Structures”, the follow‐ ing properties have been condemned by the Parish President. Address: 4153 MULATTO BEND RD. PORT ALLEN LA 70767 (File #26-0052) Owner: LILLIE L & LOUIS THOMPSON C/O JULIA TYLER Legal Description: LOT 25 TOURNOIR SD 50-17CB128 E6 A PUBLIC HEARING will be held by the West Rouge PARISH Baton COUNCIL to ratify the condemnation order. The owner of the structure

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may appeal the decision of the Parish President by appearing at this meeting of the PARISH COUNCIL to show cause why the structure should not be condemned. Date: Thursday, Septem‐ ber 10, 2026 Time: 5:30pm Public hearings will be held at the West Baton Rouge Parish Govern‐ mental Building, 880 N. Alexander, Port Allen, LA 70767.

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Visit jobs.nola.com today to see job listings in Baton Rouge, New Orleans and surrounding areas.

4F ■ Sunday,August 30, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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Why you need dental insurance in retirement. Many Americans are fortunate to have dental coverage for their entire working life, through employer-provided benefits. When those benefits end with retirement, paying dental bills out-of-pocket can come as a shock, leading people to put off or even go without care. Simply put — without dental insurance, there may be an important gap in your healthcare coverage.

When you’re comparing plans ...  Look for coverage that helps pay for major services. Some plans may limit the number of procedures — or pay for preventive care only.  Look for coverage with no deductibles. Some plans may require you to pay hundreds out of pocket before benefits are paid.  Shop for coverage with no annual maximum on cash benefits. Some plans have annual maximums of $1,000.

Medicare doesn’t pay for dental care.1

Previous dental work can wear out.

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Even if you’ve had quality dental work in the past, you shouldn’t take your dental health for granted. In fact, your odds of having a dental problem only go up as you age.2

Early detection can prevent small problems from becoming expensive ones. The best way to prevent large dental bills is preventive care. The American Dental Association recommends checkups twice a year.

Treatment is expensive — especially the services people over 50 often need. Consider these national average costs of treatment ... $274 for a checkup ... $299 for a filling ... $1,471 for a crown.3 Unexpected bills like this can be a real burden, especially if you’re on a fixed income.

1 “Medicare & You,” Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 2025. 2 “Aging changes in teeth and gums”, medlineplus.gov, 4/17/2022. 3 FairHealth, Inc. National average dental fees. Data current as of July 2025; subject to change.

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TODAY

SPECIAL COMMEMORATIVE EDITION • THEADVOCATE.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.

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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

Right care. Right team. Right away. ochsner.org/EndCancerBR

David Osafo, MD

Scott Sonnier, MD

2X ■ Sunday, August 30, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The 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

The Tunica-Biloxi Rural Health Clinic is located in Marksville.

STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

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 as- state, but we can have preset for healthcare,” Chase cision impacts locally that said. “Maybe we’re not big leverage those federal proenough to cover the whole grams.”

The 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

Louisiana: 90.3%

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%;

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.

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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 con- bringing biology-led methodology quick hits of dopamine (through circle going.” scrolling) it’s not going to learn how tinue scrolling because our brain to families. and reward system is hijacked by “Therefore, if you are being fed to maintain that focus over the lonThe slot machine effect this 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.

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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.

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