The Acadiana Advocate 09-02-2026

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W e d n e s d ay, s e p t e m b e r 2, 2026

AG sues provider over drug costs

U.S., Iran trade strikes

SpaceX’s mega rocket Starship lifts off for a test flight from Starbase, Texas, on July 24.

ASSOCIATEd PRESS FILE PHOTO

Murrill claims Express Scripts driving up prescription prices

Hostilities flare up after a month without military action

BY MATTHEW ALBRIGHT Staff writer

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill has sued Express Scripts, adding another front to her campaign against the pharmacy benefit managers she blames for artificially driving up the price of prescription drugs.

Murrill’s latest lawsuit, filed Monday in the federal Eastern District court in Louisiana, names the company and an affiliate, Ascent Health Services, as defendants. It accuses Express Scripts of steering patients toward pharmacies it controls, restricting competition and scheming with a competitor to manipulate fees “Louisiana and reimbursements. families “Louisiana are working f a m i l i e s a r e harder than working harder ever to pay than ever to pay their bills, and their bills, and shouldn’t they shouldn’t they have to fight have to fight a profiteering a profiteering middleman just middleman to afford the just to afford medicine prescribed by their the medicine doctor,” Murrill prescribed by said in a news their doctor.” release. “PBMs have built a sysLIZ MURRILL, La. tem where they attorney general can profit from higher drug prices, squeeze pharmacies in our communities, and limit choices available to patients. Louisiana will not sit on the sidelines while Express Scripts and Ascent put profits ahead of people.”

Express Scripts oversees prescriptions for about 71% of Louisiana residents, the lawsuit says.

It is the benefits manager for Blue Cross Blue Shield Louisiana, the largest private health insurer in the state.

“Express Scripts works every day to improve health care outcomes and affordability,” the company said in a statement.

“While we remain focused on the thousands of clients and millions of Americans we serve, the State of Louisiana’s lawsuit is meritless and we will vigorously defend our ability to continue providing convenient access to medicines at the lowest available cost.”

ä See DRUG, page 7A

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How far will SpaceX launches reverberate?

BY BEN FINLEY Associated Press

HOW FAR AWAY WILL YOU BE ABLE TO HEAR SPACEX LAUNCHES?

WASHINGTON — The U.S. military hit targets in Iran on Tuesday and Tehran fired missiles at American sites in Jordan in response as hostilities flare once again in an intermittent war that has lasted more than six months. One U.S. strike hit a home hosting a wedding, killing five people and ONFLICT wounding dozens, CO local officials said. IN THE T The U.S. strikes MIIDDLE followed others AST on Sunday that EAST abruptly ended a month without military action and threatened to fully reignite a conflict that has spiked global oil prices and posed political problems for Republicans in November’s midterm congressional elections. The renewed fighting comes after President Donald Trump had appeared to pivot toward trying to bend Iran to his will through economic sanctions.

“If the failed Nation of Iran retaliates for this very justified attack, they will be hit again at a much harder and higher level, but it will not be the biggest attack of them all, that is waiting in the wings,” Trump warned on social media.

U.S. Central Command said the latest strikes were in response to Tehran trying to attack commercial ships and American forces in

MISSISSIPPI

ä See STRIKES, page 4A

Concerns raised about impact on residents, wildlife near Vermilion Parish facility

BY JOEL THOMPSON Staff writer

SpaceX’s planned aerospace facility is expected to bring major changes to Vermilion Parish, including new jobs, housing and infrastructure. It could also bring something residents may be less prepared for: rocket launches loud enough to be heard — and possibly felt — far beyond the coast.

SpaceX’s Starship, the company’s largest rocket, can produce noise levels approaching 140 decibels near the launchpad. For comparison, a commercial jet engine can produce roughly similar noise levels at

LOUISIANA A Vernon

Rapides

close range. But predicting what Louisiana residents might hear or feel farther away is much more difficult.

University of Louisiana at Lafayette physics professor Natalia Sidorovskaia, an acoustics specialist, said it is too early to know exactly how far sound and vibration from launches could travel.

“It’s a complex question, and there’s a lot of things we don’t know right now, like how they’re constructing their facility, which impacts what direction the sound will travel,” Sidorovskaia said. “Yes, things will shake.

ä See NOISE, page 7A

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Acadia

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St. Martin Iberville Ascension Lafayette

Vermilion

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St. James Assumption

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St. John Jefferson

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100 miles

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Temperature inversions 50-100 miles is where effects will not be heard, but can be sensed through light window shaking

20 miles

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20-mile radius is where foundation damage and window shattering can occur 20-50 miles is where low atmospheric rumbling can occur in specific atmospheric environments

ASSOCIATEd PRESS FILE PHOTO

Cars and residential buildings in Tehran, Iran, damaged in earlier strikes, remain in ruins as new attacks begin.

The Gulf Staff graphic

La. Supreme Court Justice Hughes faces new misconduct charges

BY JOHN SIMERMAN and ANDREA GALLO

campaign war chest to intimidate The Advocate | The Times-Picayune, its attorney and a private citizen he sued The Judiciary Commission of Louisi- over a letter she wrote to the newspaana released a new set of misconduct per. charges Tuesday against Supreme The misconduct case is now the third Court Justice Jefferson Davis Hughes against Hughes to come to public light.

III, accusing him of using his office and It also reveals new information about

Staff writers

WEATHER HIGH 90 LOW 76 PAGE 10C

Hughes’ history before the commission, which includes actions that date to 2004 and a previously secret agreement to resolve complaints related to his handling of a child custody matter in the 1990s in Livingston Parish.

According to the notice of hearing released Tuesday, the commission in 2004

“admonished you for acting beyond your judicial role as a neutral arbiter” in the case, for failing to recuse himself in a pair of family law cases, and for “engaging in inappropriate ex parte communications.”

ä See HUGHES, page 5A

Business ......................6A Commentary ................3B Nation-World................2A Classified .....................4B Living............................5C Opinion ........................2B Comics-Puzzles .....7C-9C Metro ...........................1B Sports ..........................1C

Hughes

102Nd yEAR, NO. 64

2A ● Wednesday, September 2, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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House passes short-term funding bill

BRIEFS

FROM WIRE REPORTS

Clancy jury goes home again without a verdict

PLYMOUTH, Mass. — Jurors in the Lindsay Clancy trial ended a fourth day of deliberations without a verdict Tuesday after earlier saying they couldn’t agree whether the Massachusetts mother is criminally responsible for killing her three young children.

Not long after arriving at the courthouse, the jury sent Judge William Sullivan a note saying they had been unable to reach a unanimous decision despite many hours of back and forth.

He told them to keep trying.

It was the jury’s first indication of an impasse in the closely watched trial that has focused on maternal mental health after childbirth, and which has stirred deep divisions among the public.

Clancy, a former labor and delivery nurse, doesn’t deny strangling her children but says postpartum psychosis led to her actions.

Prosecutors argue she knew what she was doing. Clancy, 36, has pleaded not guilty by reason of lack of criminal responsibility.

Clancy stared straight ahead as the jury entered in the morning to say they were at a standstill, then looked toward them as the judge spoke.

Sullivan told the jurors that he recognized it had been a long trial with more than 80 witnesses and 300 exhibits. “But because of that, I’m going to ask you to go back out,” he said.

They’re expected to resume deliberations Wednesday.

Stabbing victim worked for Bank of America NEW YORK — The woman killed in a random stabbing in Times Square was a Bank of America employee, the bank confirmed Tuesday. Police identified her and the attacker, who was killed in a confrontation with officers shortly after the rampage.

The woman who died, Erin Piacenti, 32, was one of two people who were stabbed Monday afternoon in the tourist and theater hub, a few blocks from Bank of America’s office tower in New York.

“We are shocked and deeply saddened by the tragic loss of our colleague,” the bank said in a statement.

The company didn’t immediately answer questions about the specifics of Piacenti’s work there.

The other victim is a 68-yearold man whose identity hasn’t been released. He was hospitalized, and there was no immediate update Tuesday on his condition.

Police identified the attacker Tuesday as Pamela Cisneros, 49, of Queens. Officers shot and killed her after the stabbing.

More than $560K in crypto for Hamas seized The FBI has seized more than $560,000 in cryptocurrency donations intended for Hamas, the Justice Department said Tuesday in announcing a disruption of financing for the militant group.

In addition to seizing cryptocurrency meant to support Hamas’ military wing, the department said that it had taken control of website domains and communication platforms used for fundraising and recruitment, and had obtained information about thousands of people who had contacted Hamas with a goal of giving money to the group.

“My message to Hamas is clear: your networks are not secure, your crypto is vulnerable, and we will not stop until your ability to wage war is defeated,” Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, said in a video statement announcing the operation.

According to FBI affidavits filed in connection with the seizures, Hamas began testing virtual currency fundraising in or around early 2019 through its Qassam Brigades, or military wing, and solicited donations on its Telegram channel and also used direct online fundraising.

Hamas officials bragged that the currency would be untraceable and their websites offered instructions for how to make anonymous donations, the affidavits say.

BY KEVIN FREKING Associated Press

ASSOCIATEd PRESS PHOTO By FRANCISCO SECO

Locals watch as firefighters work after a Russian drone attack struck a residential building in Kyiv on Tuesday.

Russia bombards Kyiv for more than 12 hours At least a dozen killed on 6th day of attacks

BY SAMYA KULLAB Associated Press

KYIV, Ukraine — Russia bombarded the Ukrainian capital for more than 12 hours overnight and into Tuesday, killing at least a dozen people in another aerial onslaught that authorities said was aimed at menacing civilians.

The strikes marked an unprecedented sixth straight day of heavy Russian attacks on Kyiv since Russia launched the full-scale invasion of its neighbor more than 41/2 years ago. The consecutive aerial assaults are designed to grind down civilians by disrupting daily life, Ukrainian officials have said.

The cruise and ballistic missiles, jet-powered drones, glide bombs and artillery salvos targeted Kyiv as well as eight other regions.

The strikes wounded more than a dozen people, including three children, just as millions of Ukrainian schoolchildren returned to classes Tuesday to start their fifth school year since the invasion.

The European Union’s top diplomat said Russia’s army is struggling to make progress on the front line and wants to scare off Ukraine’s Western backers with its air campaign.

“Russia’s war is becoming more ruthless and destructive, but it’s unfortunately not closer to ending,” EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said at a meeting of the bloc’s defense ministers in Ireland. “Russia’s army is bogged down on the ground, and that is why they are killing civilians from the skies.”

The latest attack struck civilian infrastructure and residential buildings in several districts of Kyiv, authorities said, with eight people killed in the city itself and four others in the surrounding region.

Six employees of state-owned railway company Ukrzaliznytsia were among those killed in Kyiv when a ballistic missile hit a depot and other property, company Chairman Oleksandr Pertsovskyi said in a social media post.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the dead included an Indian citizen.

Nearly 350 emergency workers were deployed in Kyiv and the surrounding region, Zelenskyy said.

The Russian Defense Ministry said its forces carried out a “massive strike” on Ukraine with “precision-guided weapons” and long-range drones. The assault

targeted facilities that manufacture and store weapons as well as military-related infrastructure, it said.

Ukraine’s air force said the attack began at 6 p.m. Monday, using ballistic, cruise and anti-radar missiles, as well as 218 drones and decoys. About a third of the drones were jet-powered, making them much harder to intercept than propeller-driven versions.

The main Russian targets were in the Kyiv and southern Odesa regions, the air force said in a statement.

The attack on the Odesa region on the Black Sea damaged civilian infrastructure and wounded one person, regional head Oleh Kiper said.

Two residential buildings were damaged, while a fire broke out at a textile factory. Russian forces also struck the Orlivka international ferry crossing on the border with Romania, he said.

Russia also shelled the northern Zhytomyr region, starting fires at an industrial facility and a warehouse, Ukraine’s Emergency Service said.

In the capital, first responders worked to clear rubble from damaged apartment buildings and free trapped residents.

Drone pilot helps find people after Nepal floods But hydropower tunnel searches are a challenge

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BY SHRISTI KAFLE and AIJAZ HUSSAIN Associated Press

KATHMANDU, Nepal — Drone pilot Manish Maharjan has helped rescue teams in Nepal find people missing after last week’s catastrophic floods, sometimes using speakers mounted on the devices to call out to or play music for those stranded on hillsides.

But the search for hundreds of workers believed to be trapped in power plant tunnels — now a major focus of rescue operations — presents an entirely different challenge, he said.

“We found tunnels were filled with mud like toothpaste in a tube,” Maharjan said.

“There was no hollow or empty space inside.”

Maharjan, who is also a filmmaker, joined the Nepal Army’s rescue efforts a day after the Aug. 26 flash floods, which have killed more than 1,000 people and left thousands missing in Nepal and Tibet.

“We used microphone speakers to call out to them. In some places, we even played songs and then waited for a response,” Maharjan said. “That worked in a few cases and helped us locate people.”

The torrent of water unleashed after a glacial collapse caused widespread damage to critical infrastructure, including roads, buildings, bridges and hydropower plants — in the latest sign of the growing risks across the rapidly warming Himalayas.

At least 900 workers are still missing from 12 hydropower projects buried under mud and debris. About 500 onof

WASHINGTON — The House passed a short-term measure Tuesday to fund the federal government into early December, a move designed to avoid a chaotic shutdown as lawmakers campaign for reelection.

Lawmakers needed to act before the fiscal year concludes at the end of September to avoid a funding lapse. They were determined not to bump up against that deadline during the campaign season following this past year’s historic shutdowns.

The House Johnson passed the bill by a vote of 370-48. The Senate has already overwhelmingly approved the measure, so it now moves to President Donald Trump’s desk for his signature.

“It gives the nation and our constituents certainty, certainty that the government will remain open, certainty that our service members will be paid,” said Rep. Tom Cole, the Republican chairman of the House Appropriations Committee.

A record 43-day shutdown occurred last fall when the two parties disagreed on renewing an expiring tax credit that lowers the cost of health coverage obtained through Affordable Care Act marketplaces. Then came the shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security, which lasted 76 days before lawmakers agreed to fund much of the department but not its immigration enforcement operations.

Lawmakers were wary of a repeat before voters go to the polls. They also blamed the other party for the recent impasses.

“We’re going to avoid the threat of another Democratic shutdown,” House Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters.

After the vote Johnson said the House delivered, despite those who doubted the Republican majority would be able to push past its own divisions and rally support.

PROVIdEd PHOTO

Filmmaker and drone pilot Manish Maharjan operates a drone at the Rashuwaghadi hydropower project in Rasuwa district, Nepal, on Monday.

them are believed to be trapped inside power plant tunnels.

Some workers in the tunnels managed to call for help when the disaster struck, according to Mohan Kumar Dangi, president of the Independent Power Producers’ Association. But it was unclear whether rescuers have had any contact with the trapped workers since the initial calls for help.

As time slips away, rescuers are finding it increasingly difficult to locate these missing people.

Maharjan, who has been operating thermal drones in the tunnels, said the searches were challenging because of their difficult access and the absence of any empty space.

“I can only fly drones in tunnels that are long and straight,” he said. “Once there are bends, turns or zigzags, it becomes much harder to operate and search effectively.”

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Carney fires back as U.S.-Canada trade war escalates Prime minister says ‘stop trying to be tough’

BY ROB GILLIES Associated Press

TORONTO — Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney told the Trump administration Tuesday to “stop doing memes, stop throwing shade and stop trying to be tough,” as he pushed back against a fresh wave of attacks from Washington.

Carney said U.S.-Canada trade talks could resume if Washington became serious about negotiations, but he also accused the United States of pursuing terms that he said could leave Canadian industries “gradually wound down in Canada and wiped out.”

“When the Americans stop doing memes, stop throwing shade and stop trying to be tough, and start being serious about having those discussions, we can have those

ASSOCIATEd PRESS PHOTO

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney addresses the media as he arrives at his office in Ottawa on Tuesday. discussions,” Carney said. “It’s not constructive, but that’s their democracy.”

His comments came during a fresh barrage from Washington since trade talks collapsed Aug. 21.

Trump has moved to rename Lake

Ontario “Lake America” and taunted Canada on social media, while U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Canada could not go “tit for tat” with an economy 13 times larger.

U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegs-

eth also mocked the Canadian military online, posting an image Monday of two female cadets at a British Columbia training center with the words “this is real” and a Canadian flag. Carney called the post “beneath their office.” The Pentagon stood by it Tuesday, saying, “The X post speaks for itself.”

Carney said the U.S. approach in the talks would have left Canadian industries effectively as subsidiaries of American companies or imposed terms under which they would be “gradually wound down in Canada and wiped out.”

“We’re not going to — of course, we’re not going to accept those terms,” Carney said.

The prime minister said Washington sought an “uncompetitive” deal for key industries, including autos, while pushing changes affecting French-language and cultural protections. He said any of those issues was enough to block an agreement.

Carney said Washington also sought limits on Canada’s future trade deals. “Canada is a sover-

eign state. We will strike free trade deals with the countries we wish to strike free trade deals,” he said.

He said there had been “mutually beneficial” elements of a deal before the talks broke down.

Carney was also buoyed by Monday’s Liberal sweep of three special elections, including a decisive win in Chicoutimi-Le Fjord, Quebec, where the Conservatives fell to third place. The victories brought the Liberals to 173 seats in the 343-seat House of Commons and reinforced Carney’s position as he confronts Trump over trade and Canadian sovereignty.

U.S.-Canada trade talks collapsed after the two sides failed to reach a deal, and Trump imposed 50% tariffs on roughly $20 billion in Canadian goods. Canada’s retaliatory tariffs on nearly $20 billion in U.S. goods are scheduled to take effect Sept. 8, with duties ranging from 15% to 50%.

Trump has repeatedly talked about making Canada the 51st U.S. state.

USPS whistleblower warns of possible failure

Citizenship and Im- voting by mail, even though ecutive order, Democrats and New mail ballot U.S. migration Services and the he has repeatedly used the civil rights groups sued and of the Social method to cast his own bal- eventually won a ruling from system could lead commissioner Security Administration to lot. He falsely blamed mail U.S. District Court Judge Indevelop state citizenship lists voting for his 2020 election dira Talwani in Boston barto issues and then required the Postal loss and has spent years ring implementation of the

BY NICHOLAS RICCARDI Associated Press

SALT LAKE TRIBUNE PHOTO

Tyler Robinson, left, charged in the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk, speaks with defense attorney Staci Visser as he attends a preliminary hearing Tuesday in Provo, Utah.

Judge to decide if suspect in Kirk killing to stand trial

BY HANNAH SCHOENBAUM and MATTHEW BROWN Associated Press

PROVO, Utah — A Utah judge was hearing arguments Tuesday about whether there’s enough evidence to put the man accused of killing Charlie Kirk on trial for aggravated murder, which could make him eligible for the death penalty.

The hearing in state court came after prosecutors in July spent five days presenting what they said was “overwhelming” evidence that Tyler Robinson, 23, killed the conservative activist while he was speaking at an open-air event on a college campus.

The defendant turned himself in a day after the shooting at Utah Valley University last September. He has not yet entered a plea, and his lawyers have not offered alternative theories for Kirk’s death. They’ve focused instead on blocking the case from proceeding to trial and trying to get the death penalty taken off the table.

Kirk’s parents, Robert and Kathryn Kirk, entered the heavily secured facility arm in arm before the hearing at the Fourth Judicial District Courthouse in Provo. Erika Kirk was seated beside them. The family stepped out during part of a prosecutor’s argument that

described the shooting.

A few local members of Charlie Kirk’s organization, Turning Point USA, arrived with signs expressing their support for Erika Kirk but were told by security that they could not have them on the court property.

District Judge Tony Graf has the option to send the case to trial on a lesser charge of murder, which carries a minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum of life in prison, said Steve Burton, director of the Utah Defense Attorney Association. Graf could also dismiss the charges against Robinson, in which case prosecutors could refile them.

A key factor in charging aggravated murder is whether the shooter knowingly created a risk of death to anyone else as he carried out the killing.

“Tyler James Robinson shot and killed Charlie Kirk because he disagreed with him, and he did it by firing a high-powered rifle into a crowd of over 3,000 people, which created a great risk of death that anyone would know about,” Ryan McBride, a prosecutor with the Utah County Attorney’s Office, told the court.

He noted that the bullet could have gone astray, ricocheted or passed through Charlie Kirk and struck someone else.

The U.S. Postal Service is poised to launch a hastily built, error-riddled computer system that could jeopardize the process of mail voting relied upon by one-third of all voters, according to a whistleblower statement released Tuesday by Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal.

The effort is part of the implementation of President Donald Trump’s executive order limiting mail voting and has been temporarily halted by a federal judge.

The ruling is being appealed by the administration and the directive may ultimately end up back before the U.S. Supreme Court.

The disclosure from the unidentified whistleblower contends that the Postal Service has been scrambling to try to build a complex system that would normally take a year or more in only three months, sometimes in defiance of the judge’s orders halting work. The goal is to have it ready for use in the midterm elections.

The disclosure contends that, due to the new procedures, a single scanning error in a batch of tens of thousands of ballot envelopes could prevent any from reaching voters. It details a system that election officials have already warned could not be implemented before the first mail ballots begin going out Friday in North Carolina.

“The Postal Service has designed a system to disenfranchise millions of Americans,” Blumenthal told reporters in advance of releasing the whistleblower information.

“This administration seems hell-bent on changing the framework on casting ballots in this country clearly for political reasons.”

Trump’s executive order, signed in March, directed

Service to send mail ballots only to voters who are on such a list. Ballot envelopes would have to comply with new Postal Service rules and include barcodes.

The online portal that is the subject of the whistleblower complaint is intended for states to deliver their lists of verified voters to the Postal Service.

The White House said the software buildout process is “neither complex nor unique” for the Postal Service because it already uses bulk mailing and intelligent mail barcodes for large customers. “Under President Trump, the federal government is working to ensure safe, transparent, and honest elections,” spokeswoman Lauren Bis said.

Trump has long opposed

spreading conspiracy theories about it. A report by the Brookings Institution published in 2025 found that mail voting fraud occurred in only about 4 cases out of every 10 million mail ballots cast.

Since returning to office, Trump has said Republicans should be “taking over” vote counting in Democratic areas and launched a sweeping attempt to reinvestigate the 2020 election, despite evidence that he lost fairly to Democrat Joe Biden.

Until Trump came out against mail voting in 2020, the system was used equally by both parties. Since then, it has become more common among Democratic voters.

More than 29% of all voters in 2024 cast their ballots through the mail.

After Trump issued his ex-

system before the November midterms. But without ruling on the legality of Trump’s order, the Supreme Court’s conservative majority last week found that was premature and overruled Talwani, momentarily clearing the way for its implementation.

On the night of Aug. 21, the Postal Service released a final rule outlining how it would implement the order.

It said it would only send mail ballots for states that got approval for the design of their envelopes and submitted a list of voters receiving them through the still-notactive online portal. That rule gave plaintiffs a chance to sue again, and Talwani on Thursday night issued a 14day restraining order against implementation of the measure.

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4A ● Wednesday, September 2, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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Woods plans to change not guilty plea in DUI case STUART, Fla. — Court documents showed Tuesday that Tiger Woods plans to change his not guilty plea in a DUI case stemming from a rollover crash in Florida.

In March, Woods’ Land Rover clipped a truck, rolled onto its side and the legendary golfer was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, officials said.

Woods had pleaded not guilty to driving under the influence in the case in Martin County circuit court, just north of Palm Beach County.

He is expected in court Wednesday morning for a plea conference hearing, according to a notice of the hearing posted Tuesday. No additional details about the nature of the plea change were released.

Woods was traveling at high speeds on a beachside residential road on Jupiter Island with a 30 mph speed limit when his Land Rover caused $5,000 in damage to

STRIKES

Continued from page 1A

Beach pharmacy from the start of the year through the end of March.

Woods, 50, is among the most influential figures in golf and is as recognizable as any athlete in the world. The first person of Black heritage to win the Masters in 1997, he has captivated golf fans with records likely never to be broken.

But his career has been derailed by multiple back and knee surgeries, car accidents and pain pill dependence.

Woods has been involved in four crashes over the years. In 2021, he survived a crash in Los Angeles that damaged his right leg so badly he said doctors considered amputation. In 2009, his SUV plowed into a fire hydrant and tree outside his home near Orlando, Florida.

He took a leave from the golf tour after the 2009 accident and again after the latest crash and has yet to return to tournament play.

Police body camera video shows golfer Tiger Woods sitting in an unmarked police vehicle as he speaks with law enforcement personnel following a car crash in Jupiter Island, Fla., on March 27.

ny was being held in Kuhestak in southern Iran, killing five people, including a child, and wounding at least 68 others, Ahmad Nafisi, Hormozgan Province’s deputy governor, told Iranian state television in a phone call.

“Make no mistake: these crimes will not go unpunished,” Ebrahim Azizi, chairman of the Iranian parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, said on X. U.S. Central Command is aware of the reports of civilian casualties, said Capt. Tim Hawkins, a spokesman. He noted that they “originated from Iranian state media.”

“The U.S. military never targets civilians, unlike the IRGC,” Hawkins said.

Iran also said it launched a drone attack at U.S. forces in Bahrain, but there was no immediate confirmation from that country.

Iran’s Armed Forces General Staff and its joint military command said the armed forces would deliver what they described as “crushing and devastating blows” against the United States. The state-run IRNA news agency cited

a statement by Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, which warned that the attacks have only strengthened the Islamic Republic’s resolve and tightened Iran’s effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of the world’s oil normally flows.

Explosions were reported across several southern Iranian coastal areas, including the port city of Bandar Abbas that is home to naval and air force facilities as well as Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz. Witnesses in Bandar Abbas told The Associated Press that the explosions were stronger than those on Sunday and said they saw smoke rising from the eastern part of the city on the strait.

Iranian state television said U.S. strikes hit a fishmeal factory on Qeshm Island and several civilian sites in Hormozgan province.

It said a fishing pier and a Ports and Maritime Organization tower in Sirik were among the locations struck.

State TV also reported that the U.S. military struck the civilian Jiroft Airport in central Iran’s Kerman province, saying a projectile struck an area outside the runway

and caused no casualties or damage to airport infrastructure.

Iranian state television reported that Tavanir, Iran’s electricity grid management company, said several parts of Hormozgan province’s power network had been struck. It said authorities were working to restore resulting outages.

The U.S. and Iran are both seeking control over the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway off Iran’s coast that is a vital oil shipping corridor. Tehran effectively closed it after the war began.

Oil prices have moved sharply higher this week with renewed clashes between Iran and the United States. Crude, already up about 7% this week, continued to rise following the strikes on Tuesday.

The price of crude has jumped more than 50% this year and it’s dragged the cost of gasoline upward with it. The cost for a gallon of regular gasoline in the U.S. ticked higher again overnight to $4.10, according to AAA. Last year at this time, a gallon cost $3.19.

Before military action began again, the Trump administration had argued that hitting the right economic target in a campaign

PHOTO PROVIdEd By MARTIN COUNTy SHERIFF’S OFFICE

of financial isolation would get Tehran to its breaking point. Now, strikes are renewing even as U.S. stockpiles of advanced interceptors have been diminishing and the war has been unpopular among many Americans.

A return to open conflict would be dangerous for the region, where Iran has targeted U.S. military bases and infrastructure in Gulf countries since the war began.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said earlier Tuesday, before the latest strikes, that the Islamic Republic is ready to return to the interim ceasefire deal reached with the U.S. in June if Washington does the same.

“If the U.S. returns to its commitments in the memorandum of understanding, the Islamic Republic of Iran will immediately reciprocate,” Iranian state media cited Pezeshkian as saying at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Kyrgyzstan.

The June interim deal called for an immediate ceasefire and started a 60-day period for negotiations aimed at reaching a wider agreement, but crumbled soon afterward.

SELF-SCH TO

ULE ED

SCAN

the Middle East. Trump offered an additional explanation, telling Fox News in a phone call that U.S. forces struck Iran’s radars.

“They tried to rebuild their radar because they can’t see anything,” Trump told Fox. “We waited until it was almost built and then we hit it.”

After the U.S. attacks started, Iran launched ballistic missiles at Jordan. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard claimed to have targeted a U.S. base along Jordan’s Gulf of Aqaba coast, according to Iran’s state television.

Jordan’s military said it shot down 10 of the missiles and the three remaining landed in unpopulated areas. Explosions that appeared to be interceptions of incoming air attacks were seen over Aqaba.

Iranian state media reported that the U.S. had bombed civilian sites along Iran’s southern coast and hit a civilian airport. A U.S. strike hit a home where a wedding ceremo-

the truck, according to an incident report. He managed to crawl out of the vehicle without any injuries and told a deputy that he was looking down at his phone and changing the radio station when he hit the truck.

Woods agreed to a Breathalyzer test that showed no signs of alcohol, but refused a urine test, authorities said. A sheriff’s office report said deputies found two pain pills in his pocket, and he showed signs of impairment. The crash was his fourth since 2009.

Woods has traveled outside of the United States to seek treatment at an inpatient treatment facility, according to court records.

In July, Judge Darren Steele approved an agreement in which prosecutors are allowed to review medical records related to Woods’ crash and arrest. The judge signed off on a similar agreement in May that grants prosecutors access to all prescription medication records for Woods at a Palm

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The Acadiana Advocate ● theadvocate.com ● Wednesday, September 2, 2026 ● 5A

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HUGHES

Continued from page 1A The current misconduct charges relate to Hughes’ actions in response to criticism 15 years later over the same matters.

The new case alleges Hughes failed to observe a high standard of conduct, failed to avoid impropriety and failed to be faithful to the law. The commission also alleges he used the prestige of his office to advance private interests, used campaign money for his sole benefit, engaged in conduct that brings the judiciary into disrepute and engaged in willful misconduct.

The commission, which investigates complaints against judges across the state and recommends discipline for them, scheduled Hughes to go before a hearing officer Oct. 12 at the Supreme Court. The 14-member body is appointed by a combination of judges, state lawmakers and the governor.

The notice of hearing was filed in May. Normally, judges have a month to respond before such allegations become public under rules set by the Supreme Court. Hughes asked for an extension until this week, which the court granted.

In the meantime, Hughes last month won a $300,000 verdict from an Iberville Parish jury in a defamation lawsuit he filed against The Advocate over a 2019 editorial regarding his handling of the same custody matter.

Hughes had sought $10 million.

In a brief response to the commission charges, Hughes called them “frivolous” and attached a copy of the jury verdict from the trial that ended last week.

He also accused the commission’s special counsel, Michelle Beaty, of leaking confidential information to an attorney for The Advocate | The Times-Picayune.

Hughes has filed a motion to recuse Beaty.

Hughes declined to comment Tuesday.

Custody case revisited Amid the child custody case in the ’90s, Hughes was the subject of a five-year FBI investigation and a misconduct probe by the commission. He also penned an unusual apology letter in 2004 to the child’s grandmother, Brenda Nicholson, whom he had jailed in the case.

The Advocate | The TimesPicayune reported on those long-hidden developments in 2019.

Hughes sued over an editorial that followed that reporting. The jury in the defamation case did not hear about the new misconduct charges, nor the commission’s most recent investigation into Hughes’ actions.

The judge in the defamation case also barred attorneys from referencing the 2004 Judiciary Commission investigation.

According to the commission, Hughes committed an ethical foul by acting as “both a litigant and counsel”

in separate lawsuits against The Advocate | The TimesPicayune and the citizen, Lara Venable, including his personally deposing witnesses. Venable had written a letter to the editor in the newspaper calling for more transparency around judicial discipline.

By personally questioning witnesses, Hughes “reasonably conveyed … that you were leveraging your position as a justice to gain a tactical or coercive advantage in private litigation,” the commission found.

The commission also cited Hughes for adding an attorney for the news organization, Scott Sternberg, as a defendant in his defamation suit less than a month after getting word that the commission had launched an investigation into a complaint Sternberg had filed against the justice. Sternberg declined to comment Tuesday.

“Any reasonable observer, and certainly an opposing party, would perceive your conduct as a judge leveraging his institutional position for personal advantage,” the commission alleged.

“Although judges may represent themselves in civil litigation without violating the prohibition against practicing law, they must still take care not to create the appearance of receiving favored treatment, to avoid exploitation of the prestige of office, and to prevent the erosion of public confidence in the integrity of the judiciary.”

ticipating in the Court’s review in the Collins case, in which you issued a dissenting opinion against Mr. Bienvenu’s client’s positions, only strengthened the appearance that you initially brought the defamation suit against her for a retaliatory or otherwise improper purpose,” the commission alleged.

The commission also alleged Hughes violated the state election code by bankrolling the two defamation suits with more than $50,000 from his campaign account, charging that it “amounted to a personal use of the funds for your sole and exclusive benefit.

Even if it weren’t a personal use of campaign funds, the commission alleged, “it constituted an abuse of the prestige of your office and created an appearance of impropriety” for what it described as retaliatory litigation.

The commission can recommend discipline of judges or justices of the peace to the Louisiana Supreme Court, up to removal from the bench.

As the notice released on Tuesday notes, Hughes also faced a misconduct investigation while serving on the state’s highest court over a 2019 incident.

In that case, the Judiciary Commission investigated allegations that Hughes paid a visit to the home of a Hammond political operative who said the justice offered him money to switch allegiances in the race for another Supreme Court seat.

Hughes admitted bringing disrepute on the judiciary when he met with former Hammond City Council member Johnny Blount on Oct. 30, 2019, though he denied offering the payoff.

Blount was supporting Will Crain in a runoff against 5th Circuit Court of Appeal Judge Hans Liljeberg for an open seat alongside Hughes on the high court.

In an affidavit, Blount said Hughes offered him $5,000 to switch his support to Liljeberg. He left this business card, saying “to call him if I decided to accept his offer.”

While Hughes said he did not offer Blount money, Hughes acknowledged telling Blount that he might find it more financially rewarding to back Liljeberg.

The Supreme Court in 2021 endorsed a “consent discipline” agreement between Hughes and the commission to publicly censure him over violations of several judicial canons.

Hughes also paid $2,000 to resolve the case. A Supreme Court spokesperson said at the time that he was unaware of any previous public discipline against a sitting justice.

The agreement between Hughes and the commission states that the payoff allegation was “unsubstantiated.”

Hughes, 74, was reelected to a 10-year term without opposition in 2018. He cannot run again under the state’s age cap of 70 for judges.

Text referenced in filings Venable’s attorney, David Bienvenu, filed a complaint against Hughes in 2022, according to the filings. The Judiciary Commission’s filings against Hughes make several references to his interactions with Bienvenu, who declined to comment Tuesday about the case.

Days after the Judiciary Commission contacted Hughes about the 2022 complaint, the Supreme Court justice texted Bienvenu, according to the filings.

“Hope you’re getting to bill this!” Hughes wrote in the text, according to the commission.

“The timing and substance of your unsolicited text reasonably caused Mr. Bienvenu to interpret your text as an act of intimidation,” the commission alleged.

Bienvenu went on to request recusals of Hughes from cases involving his clients while Hughes’ lawsuit against Venable was ongoing. In 2024, as Bienvenu filed a challenge to two candidates who hoped to run for election for a seat on the Louisiana Supreme Court, Hughes “suddenly and with no notice to Mr. Bienvenu” dismissed his defamation lawsuit against Venable.

Hughes then participated in arguments at the Supreme Court about the elections case that Bienvenu was involved in, and issued a dissenting opinion against Bienvenu’s clients.

“Your sudden willingness to dismiss your suit against Ms. Venable after three years of litigation for the apparent purpose of par-

Employee convicted of failing to report violations before killing

BY BLAKE LESCHBER Staff writer

An employee with an ankle monitoring company was convicted of a misdemeanor for failing to report monitor violations of a client who later killed his estranged wife in a murdersuicide in St. Francisville.

Deborah Shirley, an employee with Tupelo, Mississippi-based American Electronic Monitoring, pleaded no contest and was convicted on a negligent injury charge Thursday. District Attorney Sam D’Aquilla said Shirley will not face any jail time.

The conviction stemmed from a 2021 murder-suicide where Marshall Rayburn broke into Peggy Beasley’s home, fatally shot her and

then shot himself.

Rayburn was wearing an ankle monitor following his arrest for allegedly drugging and raping Beasley repeatedly during their 15year marriage.

He was arrested on Aug. 4, 2021, and booked into the West Feliciana jail. A few weeks later, Rayburn was released on bail and had a protective order against him. The order explicitly stated that he could not come within 100 yards of Beasley’s home.

For weeks after he was released on bail, Rayburn violated his release terms with multiple trips through Beasley’s St. Francisville neighborhood and to businesses in Livingston and West Feliciana parishes.

On the night of Sept. 20,

2021, Rayburn parked near Beasley’s home, wrapped duct tape around his ankle monitor and broke into the house, killing Beasley and himself.

Before the fatal confrontation, the GPS tracker registered his location every 30 seconds. AEM, however, never notified authorities of Rayburn’s violations, which could have led to his arrest before the killing.

“If you go somewhere you’re not supposed to be, the ankle (monitor) company is notified, and they’re supposed to notify the victim,” D’Aquilla added.

D’Aquilla said no one has really brought cases against ankle monitoring companies and employees in the U.S., making this a unique conviction.

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

DOW 52,766.88 -419.02 -0.79%

NASDAQ 26,099.77 -271.12 -1.03%

BRIEFS

FROM WIRE REPORTS

Stocks slip while Wall Street is under pressure

Stocks closed broadly lower Tuesday as another round of U.S. military strikes on Iran sent oil prices higher, stoking worries about stubbornly high inflation. A bond market sell-off deepened, putting more pressure on stocks.

The S&P 500 index fell 0.7%.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 0.8%, and the Nasdaq composite slid 1%. The major indexes have lost ground three days in a row.

The weak start to September follows a shaky but mostly positive month for Wall Street. Every major index notched monthly gains in August. The same worries continue to hang over Wall Street, though, including anxiety over rising prices, government debt, and the impact of global conflicts on the U.S. and the global economy.

Technology stocks were among the heaviest weights on the market.

Nvidia fell 1.5%, Amazon dropped 1.9% and Advanced Micro Devices gave up 2.4%. Their big market values tend to give them more influence over the broader market’s direction and their growth amid the artificial-intelligence boom has been heavily reliant on borrowing, which becomes more expensive as interest rates rise.

Much of the continued pressure being felt by Wall Street is coming from an ongoing sell-off in U.S. government bonds. The yield on the 10-year Treasury, which tends to impact mortgage rates, rose to 4.79% from 4.75% late Monday. It was as low as 4.2% at the beginning of 2026.

New Apple CEO takes over from Tim Cook Apple’s new CEO John Ternus takes the helm of the iconic tech giant on Tuesday, ending Tim Cook’s 15-year tenure during which the company’s value skyrocket to $4.6 trillion thanks to the iPhone’s enormous popularity.

The transition to a new CEO comes at a pivotal time for Apple. ArtifiTernus cial intelligence has unleashed the greatest upheaval within the industry since Steve Jobs unveiled the first iPhone in 2007.

Apple has gotten off to a rough start in AI after stumbling in its efforts to deliver new features built on the technology, as promised nearly two years ago.

Ternus worked on some of Apple’s signature products under Cook, including the Apple Watch, AirPods and Apple Vision Pro. He will headline next week’s launch of the latest iPhone at Apple’s Cupertino, California, headquarters.

U.S. job openings rise slightly as layoffs fall WASHINGTON — Employers posted slightly more job openings in July but the American labor market remained sturdy in the face of higher costs that are squeezing household budgets.

U.S. job openings ticked up to 7.27 million in July from a revised 7.18 million in June, the Labor Department reported Tuesday.

The department’s Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey also showed that layoffs fell. But so did the number of people quitting their jobs — a sign of confidence in their prospects. The report showed that gross hiring — before subtracting those who lost or quit their jobs — dipped to 5.1 million in July from 5.3 million in June.

The American job market is hardly booming, but it is ambling along despite an energy shock caused by the fighting with Iran that has squeezed family budgets.

So far this year, U.S. employers — companies, nonprofits and government agencies — added an average of 61,000 net jobs a month. The figure — which was dragged down by job losses in February and July — is unimpressive. But it’s an improvement on 2025, when job growth came in below 10,000 a month — the weakest hiring outside a recession since 2002 — as the lingering effect of high interest rates and uncertainty caused by Trump’s tariffs discouraged firms from hiring.

But if U.S. employers aren’t hiring much, at least they aren’t firing much either. The unemployment rate remains at a low 4.1%, and the number of people signing up for unemployment benefits has come in low week after week.

S&P 500 7,631.47 -54.67 -0.71%

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Will Chevron expand into Venezuela?

U.S. official says oil giant expected to make announcement

BY AAMER MADHANI and COLLIN BINKLEY Associated Press

WASHINGTON — Oil giant Chevron is planning to expand its operations in Venezuela, a U.S. official said Tuesday, just days after President Donald Trump announced an ambitious deal to develop the nation’s oil reserves and give the Pentagon a stake in the profits.

The official, who briefed reporters on the expected announcement, said the company’s officials and Energy Secretary Chris Wright are expected to visit Venezuela on Wednesday where the new investment will be formally unveiled. The official spoke on condition of anonymity under ground rules set by the White House for the call.

Chevron is the second-largest U.S. oil company and the only

ASSOCIATEd PRESS PHOTO

A man rides past an operating oil pumpjack Monday in Cabimas, Venezuela.

one with a major presence in Venezuela. Chevron did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The announcement comes after the White House confirmed on Monday it is partnering with North American Blue Energy Partners as part of President Donald Trump‘s push to tap into Venezuela’s oil industry.

The sweeping agreement has

been met with skepticism from analysts who say it will take years to revive Venezuela’s production. They have questioned whether Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodríguez has the legal authority to give the company 100-year rights over 17 oil fields with reserves of 65 billion barrels — and whether future Venezuelan or American administrations would overturn the agreement.

NABEP, owned by Venezuelan businessman Alejandro Betancourt, is already the second largest operator in Venezuela. The deal with the U.S. government would create a new company, where the Pentagon would take a 35% ownership stake, and the State Department would have the right to buy 20% of the oil produced at cost.

The U.S. administration sought to defend its decision to partner with Betancourt, who has faced criminal investigations for alleged money laundering in Spain and Switzerland, according to multiple media reports. No formal charges were ever filed. The official said that Betancourt was

vetted and the administration found that “no U.S. laws were violated.”

At the same time, the official described Betancourt as the only viable partner available for the job, saying that “you have to work with the factors that you have in place.”

The U.S. government is not investing money in the new company, the official told reporters, but its backing will help the company attract investment to ramp up production.

Analysts say that the deal seems certain to face legal challenges and potentially questions of legitimacy. The Trump administration negotiated the agreement with Rodriguez, who took power after the January military operation to capture Nicolás Maduro and spirit him to the United States to face federal narcoterrorism and drug trafficking charges.

The Venezuelan Constitution states that contracts of this kind with foreign governments must also be approved by the National Assembly, which did not occur.

Treasury chief pitches global financial literacy competition

BY FATIMA HUSSEIN Associated Press

ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Driven in part by his own experience with poverty as a child, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is pitching a financial literacy campaign to leaders of the world’s largest economies and suggesting an investment account program launched under President Donald Trump as a model.

As he hosted finance ministers from rich and developing nations in the G20, Bessent on Tuesday announced U.S. sponsorship for a competition called the “Financial Literacy Solutions Sprint.”

The competition is intended to discover and showcase “innovative technology- and dataenabled solutions” developed across the Group of 20 countries to strengthen financial literacy.

Four finalists will be pared to one or two winning teams and will be recognized during the annual meetings of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund in October in Bangkok.

Bessent points to the creation of Trump Accounts, a program that provides $1,000 in investment accounts to babies born during Trump’s second term, as a model other nations should follow. Treasury says roughly 7 million children are enrolled and 86% of participants

ASSOCIATEd PRESS PHOTO By GERALd HERBERT

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent speaks to reporters Tuesday at the G20 Finance Ministerial in Asheville, N.C. are from families earning less than $200,000 per year.

The secretary often talks about his humble beginnings in rural South Carolina, where he got his first jobs at age 9 as a busboy at a cafeteria and setting up chairs and umbrellas on the beach. His father, a real estate developer, had lost generations of Bessent family wealth by overleveraging his obligations.

One of Bessent’s first moves as Treasury secretary was to launch Financial Literacy Month to teach people the basics of building a workable budget, saving for the future and protecting themselves from scammers and fraudsters.

Critics of his efforts argue that the problem is less about people not knowing how to invest and more about them not having enough spare

income to do so.

About 7 in 10 U.S. adults say the country’s economy is “poor,” according to July polling from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. The finding underscores Americans’ continued unhappiness with the cost of living, which is being compounded by high gas prices due to the war in Iran.

“Americans can’t educate themselves out of their current financial crises, and it’s hypocritical for the Treasury Secretary to place the blame on ordinary Americans’ financial decisions when their struggles are the direct result of decisions that Scott Bessent himself has made,” said Julie Morgan, CEO of the Century Foundation, a left-leaning think tank focused on public policy research.

Social media firms trying harder to know which users are kids

BY BARBARA ORTUTAY AP technology writer

Of the child safety measures agreed to in Meta’s landmark legal settlement, no category contains more detailed requirements than its commitments on age assurance — and for good reason. No matter how well the protections work, they are of little use if Meta can’t tell which users are kids.

Determining which accounts belong to children is also the linchpin of child safety measures that other companies, including Google, TikTok, and Roblox, are ramping up as public and regulatory sentiment turns against them in the U.S. and other countries.

The Meta settlement — with protections the company says could become industry standards — will give the social media giant a year to refine its approach. But the options are limited, and improving age verification technology presents steep challenges, including navigating privacy implications not just for children but for adults who could have to prove they are over 18.

The $18 billion settlement resolves claims from state attorneys general that it hurt children’s mental health by deliberately designing its Instagram and Facebook platforms in ways that hooked

young people’s attention. The agreement announced last week with the Menlo Park, California, company involves 48 states plus the District of Columbia and U.S. territories.

In the offline world, people use government-issued IDs to prove they are over 18 or 21, whether they want to get into a club or buy cigarettes. While this technically works online too, many people are not comfortable giving a Big Tech company like Meta or Google access to their driver’s license or passport.

Meta accepts IDs to check ages, and promises to delete them within 30 days. Beyond IDs, though, a growing number of tech companies are using artificial intelligence to try to determine users’ ages. This is not true age verification. While AI can estimate a person’s age, often accurately, it can’t verify a person’s birth date.

Last year, Google began using an age-assurance system for YouTube that relies on AI to differentiate between adults and minors based on their watch histories. Meta does the same.

AI age checks use clues to determine how old someone is. On Instagram, this includes “contextual clues” such as posts about birthday celebrations or school, and things like which posts people like,

comment or linger on, who their friends are, as well as the times of day they log in. For instance, someone who is offline during school hours would likely be school-aged.

In a blog post last year, Meta said its AI also looks at photos people post for visual cues, including “height or bone structure, to estimate someone’s general age; it does not identify the specific person in the image.”

“By combining these visual insights with our analysis of text and interactions, we can significantly increase the number of underage accounts we identify and remove,” the company added.

Under the settlement, Meta agreed to strengthen its agechecking technology using its own tools, as well as third-party ones, with regular outside audits on how well it is working. The agreement also includes specific goals around false positive rates — that is, minors who are identified as over 18.

And if a user is identified as under 13 and kicked off one of its platforms, Meta will check the ages of their friends, too.

Identity verification companies like Yoti and Persona, which work with tech companies like Meta and Roblox, use video selfies people upload to estimate their ages.

The gaming site Roblox, which, unlike social media platforms, al-

lows kids under 13 to sign up, requires players to take a video selfie to estimate their age. Roblox says the videos are deleted after the age check is processed. Users are not required to submit a face scan to use the platform, only if they want to chat with other users.

Some users have reported inaccuracies, and some experts have expressed caution about the reliability of facial age estimation tools, especially for women or certain racial or ethnic groups. But Matt Kaufman, chief safety officer at Roblox, said last year that for people between about 5 and 25, the system can accurately estimate their age within one or two years.

Some websites and social media companies such as Meta have argued that age verification should be done by app store owners, such as Apple and Google, and not individual platforms. This would mean that app stores would have to verify their users’ ages before they allow them to download apps.

Unsurprisingly, Apple and Google disagree.

“Billed as ‘simple’ by its backers, including Meta, this proposal fails to cover desktop computers or other devices that are commonly shared within families. It also could be ineffective against pre-installed apps,” Google said in a blog post last year.

The Acadiana Advocate ● theadvocate.com ● Wednesday, September 2, 2026 ● 7A

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NOISE

Continued from page 1A How far exactly is a question of whether the infrasound produced by the launch couples with the marshland.”

Louisiana’s coastal marshes present another major unknown.

The complex mix of water, vegetation and sediment could affect how sound and vibration travel, making predictions difficult without site-specific research, Sidorovskaia said.

“Until we do research, anything we say is just pure speculation,” she said. “We need to ensure that we begin an environmental impact assessment so that we can compare the environment from before and after these rockets start launching.”

Observations and studies of launches at SpaceX’s Starbase facility near Boca Chica, Texas, have documented rocket noise traveling well beyond the immediate launch area.

Some reports have suggested launch noise can be heard roughly 20 miles away, while low-frequency sound and vibration from larger launches may travel much farther under certain atmospheric conditions.

Communities such as Pecan Island, Esther and Cow Island are within roughly 20 miles of the proposed Louisiana launch site, while Kaplan and Abbeville are just over 30 miles away.

Concerns about potential noise impacts have also surfaced near SpaceX’s existing launch opera-

DRUG

Continued from page 1A This week’s lawsuit is the latest action by Louisiana leaders against pharmacy benefit managers, which are companies that negotiate between drugmakers and health insurance plans to set medication prices and determine which drugs will be covered by insurance.

The companies say they negotiate lower prices for consumers, but Murrill, Gov. Jeff Landry and state lawmakers accuse them of doing the opposite.

Louisiana officials have argued that a handful of pharmacy ben-

tions. In South Texas, homeowners near the company’s Starbase facility have filed a civil lawsuit alleging repeated launches damaged their homes and compromised their structural integrity. The case is ongoing.

A law passed by the Louisiana Legislature, however, limits the ability of residents to bring certain civil lawsuits against qualified aerospace companies over

noise and other impacts related to launch activity.

Vermilion Parish Police Jury President Chad Vallo said the liability protections leave the parish with limited options for addressing potential noise concerns. He said he expects the impact on nearby residents to be minimal.

“We don’t have many nearby homes,” he said. “The nearest one is around 61/ 2 miles. People will

probably hear and feel things from time to time, but not anything that isn’t manageable.”

The Police Jury is scheduled to meet Wednesday for its first committee meeting since the SpaceX announcement.

Sidorovskaia highlighted certain techniques that companies like SpaceX can employ to mitigate sound travel distance.

“Making sure there’s vibration

isolation can do a lot. It’s not perfect, but it can help create a barrier between the industrial side and the residential side,” Sidorovskaia said. “It’s not only marshes that are affected by that either. It can help keep the birds from flying off or fish from leaving the shallow waters. These are things we have to start advocating for right now, as researchers and as concerned individuals.”

efits managers control the lion’s share of prescriptions and use that market power to drive up costs.

They also argue many of the managers have vertically integrated with pharmacies, allowing them to push independent drugstores out of the market and set contracts that benefit themselves.

PBMs have disputed these accusations, often blaming pharmaceutical companies for high drug prices.

Murrill in February agreed to a $45 million settlement in three lawsuits against CVS, which owns both the popular drugstores and one of the nation’s largest PBMs, Caremark.

Those lawsuits emerged after a high-profile battle in the Leg-

islature in 2025 over a bill that would have banned companies from owning both a PBM and pharmacies, but it ultimately did not pass.

This year, the Legislature passed several new laws aimed at PBMs, changing how they can charge service fees and setting higher reimbursement rates for independent pharmacies.

What the lawsuit alleges The lawsuit targets an agreement between Express Scripts and its competitor, Prime Therapeutics LLC. Prime Therapeutics bought a minority stake in Ascent, which Express Scripts created to handle price negotiations with drug manufacturers.

According to the Attorney

General’s Office, the companies said joining together to negotiate would give them more bargaining power to negotiate lower prices from drugmakers, but they also worked together to set higher fees — something the lawsuit calls “a naked price-fixing arrangement.”

In a statement, Prime, which is not a defendant in the suit, disputed that characterization.

“The agreement at issue has delivered billions of dollars in savings, lowered costs at the pharmacy counter, and maintained broad access to pharmacies for tens of millions of Americans,” the company said in a statement. “Rolling back those savings would mean higher costs for patients, employ-

ers, health plans and taxpayers who ultimately pay for prescription drugs.”

Murrill also alleges that the companies have misled insurers and patients that they are lowering drug prices, while in reality causing “drugs to cost more than they would in a properly functioning market.” And the lawsuit says Express Scripts limits when patients can get less-expensive generic drugs, conceals how much profit it makes and artificially suppresses payments to independent pharmacies.

The attorney general is asking a judge to order the companies to halt any anticompetitive behavior, impose a civil judgment and make the companies pay damages.

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KADN, KATC merge staffs, rebrand New ownership to launch unified identity Sept. 21

BY ADAM DAIGLE

Acadiana business editor Lafayette TV stations KATC and KADN have merged their news station staffs and rebranded their operations.

The stations, now owned by Gray Media, rebranded as “Acadiana News First” and include resourc-

es and talents of the two stations along with KLAF to offer a unified identity on all three channels, said Jim Parker, director of news for the Gray station group in Lafayette. Each station’s call letters will no longer be used.

The new format — which will include the evening newscasts aired on channels ABC 3, Fox 15 and NBC

15.2 at 5 p.m., 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. — will start Sept. 21. Its content can be found at acadiananewsfirst.com.

“So excited, can’t wait for the launch of Acadiana News First,” Parker said. “(It) will be the preeminent source for local news and information in our community, backed by the most experienced broadcast news team in the market.”

The merger came with no mass layoffs, Parker said. Two KATC reporters who recently had their contracts up for renewal opted to Parker resign for other jobs, and both positions will be filled, he said.

Former KATC Vice President and General Manager Sean

Trcalek is now GM of the combined business operations. Parker moved over from his previous VP/ GM role with KADN/KLAF. “By bringing these three legacy stations together, we are creating a powerhouse local news organization,” Trcalek said. “Our viewers will get the best of all three stations — more resources, broader coverage and their favorite local

ä See REBRAND, page 4B

Appeals court rules against Padilla

Former Sunset police chief must pay restitution

BY JOEL THOMPSON Staff writer

STAFF PHOTOS By LESLIE WESTBROOK

BIG LOAD COMING THROUGH

A 92-ton oversized load, stamped for Dow’s Fort Saskatchewan Path2Zero expansion project in Alberta, Canada, is hauled down Cameron Street on Tuesday in Lafayette. According to the Dow website, the project is a net-zero emissions expansion of the company’s ethylene and polyethylene plant in that city.

The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that former Sunset Police Chief Luis Padilla must pay $3,500 in restitution to the victim of a 2023 incident in which Padilla used unreasonable force.

Padilla was first ordered to pay the restitution by a United States District Court citing the Mandatory Victims Restitution Act, which requires the court Padilla to order restitution payments when certain conditions apply.

Application of the MVRA generally requires that the offense qualify as a crime of violence, which Padilla objected to in his appeal, citing jurisprudence stating that misdemeanor violations are fundamentally not crimes of violence.

In the initial district court ruling, Padilla pleaded guilty to depriving the victim of his constitutional rights through the use of unreasonable force while he was investigating a hit-and-run.

The victim was at one of the suspect’s homes but, according to court testimony, did not match the suspect’s description or pose an imminent danger to the officers.

Padilla pleaded guilty to depriving the victim of his constitutional rights through the use of unreasonable force.

Padilla is quoted as telling the victim at one point, “Let me show you how bad I am.”

Applying the MVRA, the district court ordered restitution for therapy the victim received after being diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder following the incident, which Padilla appealed.

The appeals court declined to remand the restitution order, stating that Padilla’s complaint had failed to satisfy an essential element

ä See APPEAL, page 4B

At 90, Lafayette’s ‘JB’ still has stories to tell — and no plans to slow down The south side of Lafayette is packed with heavy traffic, big box stores and million-dollar homes in River Ranch. But a young John Broussard, born in 1936 in the area, knew when company was coming. A car up the dust Herman kicked on a lone dirt road.

Fuselier Broussard remembers when electricity and indoor plumbing arrived in his neighborhood of Creole-speaking, farm families.

Before that, his family’s two-hole outhouse was considered luxury.

The Broussards were land owners from the $1,000 that Roman Green, John’s grandfather, gave to each of his children. Green refused to let them raise a family on nearby plantation land.

Broussard attended the school his grandfather founded, the Long Plantation School for Colored. Today, Green T. Lindon Elementary School in Youngsville carries part of his name.

“Twice a week, I would go to night school on my horse, Henry,” said Broussard. “When I traveled across the field, there was no Rue Louis XIV. “There was nothing but a trail.

I got sprayed by skunks a couple of times.”

Broussard, a public radio host for more than 30 years, shared his memories as he turned 90 on Aug. 26. Fans across the globe spend Saturday mornings listening to “JB” and “MC”, co-host Melvin Caesar, on their “Zydeco Sont Pas Sale’” program on KRVS 88.7FM. The station is located on the University of Louisiana at Lafayette campus.

Besides playing the greatest and latest zydeco music, the duo can slip in and out of English and

ä See FUSELIER, page 4B

John Broussard has been a public radio host for more than 30 years.

PROVIdEd PHOTO

2B ● Wednesday, September 2, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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

OUR VIEWS

Plunge in SNAP households adds to La. food insecurity When the One Big Beautiful Bill passed in 2025, we urged critics not to be too hasty in delivering judgments on what it means for Louisiana residents. But we did note that one measure we would be monitoring is its impact on the poorest and most vulnerable of our population.

By adding new work requirements and holding states accountable for errors, Republicans in Congress said the bill aimed to reduce waste and fraud in social safety net programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or food stamps.

It was expected that these tightened requirements would lead to some people getting kicked off the rolls, but still the goal was that people who needed food aid, especially children, would be able to access it. Now that new numbers are in, showing that the number of SNAP participants in the country and in Louisiana has declined much more than expected, there should be cause for concern.

In the U.S., 5.7 million people lost SNAP benefits since May 2025, a 13% decrease, according to the Department of Agriculture. Its metricts show at 21.5% decrease in enrollments in Louisiana, putting the state at 16th in the nation for the largest percentage drop in SNAP. Sata from the Louisiana Department of Health show the number of households receiving SNAP declined from 396,857 in July 2025 to 320,603 at the end of June — a 19.2% drop.

But since a household can include more than one person, the numbers are even more dire when you look at children in the state. Of the about 170,000 people who lost SNAP benefits, about 82,000 were children, according to an analysis by Invest in Louisiana, a Baton Rougebased nonprofit.

That means Louisiana had the second-largest decline in the nation for children’s SNAP benefits. The state hasn’t seen this level of decline in SNAP households since 1996.

If all this were due to a booming economy or rooting out fraud, that would be one thing. But all signs point to a more insidious reason for the precipitous drop. Invest in Louisiana found that 75% of the denials for SNAP benefits were due to procedural errors, like missing paperwork. Those issues fall hardest on people with limited broadband access, unstable income or no reliable transportation to go to interviews.

The One Big Beautiful Bill created penalties that will kick in next year for states that make overpayment or underpayment errors in administering SNAP. LDH said Louisiana’s error rate was 8.14% in fiscal year 2025, which could cost state taxpayers about $160 million more.

But there is no penalty for mistaken denials of SNAP coverage, creating a perverse incentive for states to deny and sort out the reasons later. LDH, in a PowerPoint presentation, acknowledged a staffing shortage and took over SNAP processing last year from the Department of Children and Family Services without electronic verification tools for wages and shelter expenses. Louisiana launched the “One Door” model, centralizing benefits and work assistance to needy families last year, and hopefully its continuing rollout will smooth out some of these issues.

But we note with concern that as SNAP rolls are plunging, we are also seeing federal cuts hitting food banks hard. Our state is one of the most food-insecure in the nation. Providing basic needs to help struggling families should not be a political issue. We must all work together to find solutions.

YOUR VIEWS

With AI, how much more intrusion are we supposed to tolerate?

SpaceX project represents a state of emergency for La. I am not in favor of SpaceX, the rocket launch project planned in Vermilion Parish, and here are some of my concerns.

NDAs: Why all the secrets if it’s such a good thing? The people of this state deserve to know what is created and produced on our land and in our waters. We weren’t asked!

I don’t believe SpaceX is “transformative” for our state. I believe it will pollute the air, water and food that we grow on our coastline, which will cause ill health as well as uprooting our culture in these remote areas.

I fear for the future of my children and their offspring, that they will not know the beauty of this place.

I am a resident of Lafayette, but my kids and family members have fished the shorelines of Louisiana and, in par-

ticular, Pecan Island and Rockefeller Refuge. Those will never be the same after the SpaceX project, and neither will be the culture we take pride in.

One has to ask: What is this about?

Money? Back room deals? I only see disaster for the place we call home.

I’m no wordsmith, but regrettably I feel sure that we, the people of Louisiana, need to wake up and vote for politicians who care and listen and are not opportunists.

I know there are thousands on social media declaring this a state of emergency, and I concur.

I paint the beauty of my home place: the marshes, the sky, the fish, the flowers, the birds... the natural world where we coexist!

AI is something I don’t know about.

I do know how to live. At 81 years old, there are too many lessons I’ve learned the hard way to be excited about something so big (apparently) and potentially so powerful. How much more intrusion am I supposed to tolerate?

It is logical that the more immoral and violent a society becomes, the more law enforcement is necessary.

As it is, every internet post and phone communication is an open window into our lives. Who is looking in? How many “cloud” entities are out there? Bank accounts, bills, lifestyle decisions are already in profiles stacked for years via those data mining programs lurking in the digital world.

Now, a new thing is upon us. What advancement in human history was not used by the nefarious for evil with frightening speed? Invent flight, and somebody starts dropping bombs.

This curmudgeon is in full rebellion. My past has been too successful for me to welcome this future without great trepidation.

I’m going fishing, doing some praying, hanging out at the pool and keeping my head on a swivel.

KATHLEEN DUMESNIL Lafayette

Here’s hoping SpaceX is committed to protecting coast It has been reported that the 130,000 acres in Vermilion Parish the state received in the recent ExxonMobil settlement for coastal restoration has been sold to SpaceX for $100 million, or approximately $800 per acre.

Is the sale of public lands to third parties without competitive public bidding permitted? Would this transaction be considered a private sale of public lands?

I understand the vital economic importance of this sale and assume it may have been covered by the agreements passed by the Legislature.

Hopefully, this sale of Louisiana coastal lands has bonded guarantees and commitments for coastal protection and restoration from SpaceX, a commercial third-party purchaser.

EDWIN S. PATOUT Lafayette

RON KELMELL Pearl River

Elected officials’ secret deals keep voters in the dark It’s bad enough that Congress avoids controversy when the speaker of the House refuses to call for a vote; now we must deal with a new way to keep us in the dark.

I am very concerned about this proliferation of nondisclosure agree-

Well-connected businessmen stand to profit from ICE contracts

ments. We citizens have put officials in office to represent us. How can we know their reasoning for positions they take if they are prohibited from telling us?

I must congratulate Gov. Jeff Landry and some well-connected Louisiana businessmen for getting in on some of that $75 billion from the “One Big Beautiful Bill” funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

It seems that there are massive profits to be had from each detainee ICE captures and delivers to the state. The excellent Times-Picayune | Advocate article on the “Louisiana Lockup” cited federal payments to Louisiana of between $275-$600 per detainee per day! (For reference, you can stay at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside for less than $200 per day.)

If ICE steps up its game, Louisiana and some well-connected businessmen will be in high cotton.

GLENN EVERETT Broussard

Politicians pushing the Ten Commandments? What a joke.

I got a big laugh out of the installation of the Ten Commandments in all Louisiana public school classrooms, as did many other people.

Moses and U.S. Rep. Mike Johnson promoting the Ten Commandments?

Give me a break!

I’m surprised that President Donald Trump’s likeness wasn’t on it since he has already portrayed himself as Jesus.

And whose Ten Commandments are they talking about? Jewish? Christian?

Plus, the picture I saw didn’t even look

like any Ten Commandments I had ever seen before.

The real laugh is that most of these legislators don’t even pay heed to these religious laws themselves.

How many of them lie, cheat, steal or commit adultery without ever a thought about it?

They almost all get caught eventually, yet here they are trying to tell the rest of us how to live.

Such a big joke on all of us.

ELENE MILLER Metairie

DAVE WHIDDON New Orleans

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COMMENTARY

Dolly Parton was gifted in song and storytelling The doctor who ushered the infant Dolly Rebecca Parton into the world in 1946 was paid with a sack of cornmeal.

Such was the transactional nature of health care for some around the Great Smoky Mountains in East Tennessee. Her father and mother had been 17 and 15, respectively, when they married, and could not have imagined how the world George would be their daughWill ter’s oyster.

But not immediately.

In “Ain’t Nobody’s Fool: The Life and Times of Dolly Parton,” Martha Ackmann writes that once a year, Parton’s father would measure his children’s feet with sticks that he took to town to buy shoes that did not fit. And Ackmann says that for country kids running barefoot most of the time, calamities were inescapable: “Once Dolly climbed over a fence and came down hard on something poking through the dirt: the sharp cutting blade of a plow. She nearly severed her toes.” Was she taken to a nearby hospital? No, there wasn’t one. “As Dolly’s older brothers and father held her down, her mother poured kerosene into the wound, packed it in cornmeal, and sewed up the wound with a quilting needle.”

Her family knew the old story of a cheerful preacher saying to a hardscrabble farmer, “This is a right nice place you and Lord have here,” and the farmer replying, “You should have seen the som’bitch when the Lord had it hisself.” Young Dolly was steeped in the ethic of self-reliance.

She was a savvy businesswoman even when getting started in Nashville’s music industry, which was not a lagoon of advanced thinking about the emancipation of women.

In 1974, she was 28 and starstruck when Elvis Presley expressed interest in meeting her and recording “I Will Always Love You,” which she had written.

But when Presley’s management insisted on at least half the rights to the song, she refused, the meeting was off, and she never met — never again wanted to meet — Elvis. But Ackmann reports that Parton said keeping the copyright to that one song made her enough money — perhaps $10 million — she could have bought Graceland, Elvis’ Memphis home.

Cinched into tight sequined gowns, wearing mountainous wigs and makeup seemingly applied with a trowel, she

ASSOCIATEd PRESS FILE PHOTO

dolly Parton arrives at the premiere of ‘Joyful Noise’ in Los Angeles in 2012. said people had no idea how expensive it was to make her look so cheap. A born aphorist, she also said: “The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you got to put up with the rain.” And: “I’m not offended by all of the dumb blond jokes because I know I’m not dumb … and I also know that I’m not blond.”

What she became was a genre-blending storyteller.

Saxophonist Charlie “Bird” Parker (1920-1955) was a genius who played on Manhattan’s West 52nd Street when it was the epicenter of jazz in the 1940s and 1950s. In “Country Music,” the companion book to Ken Burns’s documentary on this subject, writer Dayton Duncan tells this story: Some fellow musicians saw Parker feeding nickels into a jukebox to play country songs.

One said, “Bird, how can you play that music?” He replied, “Listen to the stories.”

Parton’s stories of humble origins and hard times disguised — usually — her steely pride. In 1977, she was interviewed by Barbara Walters, who asked her if “people like me” — meaning Manhattan sophisticates — would call Parton a hillbilly. Parton replied, “We were very proud people. People with a lot of class. It was country class, but it was a great deal of class.”

Americans have long since outgrown the sentimental insistence that theirs is a classless society. Indeed, perhaps more than ever before, American politics is about class distinctions. The most predictive fact about today’s politics is the “diploma divide”: Those with and those without college degrees vote — and think and feel — differently.

American resentments are less about the distribution of material wealth than about the allocation of status and respect.

Ackmann says that, as a child, Parton heard, early and often, this phrase: “Don’t get above your raisin’.” Meaning, don’t get too big for your britches.

Most of all, don’t forget where you came from.

In 1995, this daughter of an illiterate father started Imagination Library, which in participating states mails free books — more than 318 million so far — to children when they are born.

And every month thereafter, until they are 5, when they receive “Look Out Kindergarten, Here I Come!” The words “Here I come!” could have been the overture for the well-lived life that began 80 years ago.

Email George Will at georgewill@ washpost.com.

Few Democratic Socialists are blue collar Gordillo’s parents bought their Classic Labor Day imagery boy a Brooklyn townhouse now shows men wearing hard hats worth $1.4 million through a limand tough women in uniforms.

These are Americans who did ited liability corporation. During not build their muscles at a a gut renovation, Gordillo lived wellness club. in a rental apartment where he By contrast, actual photos of failed to pay rent. His landlord Froma the Democratic Socialists of tried to evict him.

Harrop America show seas of White Mayor Zohran Mamdani nevfaces belonging to college ertheless chose Gordillo as The graduates. The only work most of them Right Stuff to explain his plan for cityhave done with their hands is typing. owned grocery stores to the public. In But the DSA is run by leaders who pre- a local TV interview, Gordillo rejected tend otherwise, pushing forward candi- the bodegas’ complaints that their city-run rivals, unlike them, would be dates who play-act as tradespeople. paying no rent or property taxes — and Their costume party doesn’t seem that taxpayers would capitalize them to to fool actual blue-collar workers. In Democratic primaries, DSA candidates the tune of $70 million and also subsiroutinely trail behind traditional Dem- dize their prices.

Asked on a news show if he thought ocrats among this voting group — and that was fair to the bodega owners, by a lot.

These fake working folk are so trans- Gordillo responded that if they couldn’t compete with publicly owned stores parently phony, you wonder why even then “they shouldn’t be in business.” the left-wingers buy into it. The best By the way, Gordillo was never a explanations are they like the show, licensed electrician, but you guessed are young and lonely, and see radical that. He did, however, graduate from politics as a career path to being an Yale with an art degree. influencer.

The director of Mamdani’s Office This month’s proletarian-in-drag is to Protect Tenants is the inexplicable Gustavo Gordillo, chairman of New Cea Weaver. She famously described York’s DSA chapter. Before he was outed as privileged, Gordillo described “homeownership” as “a weapon of white supremacy.” It was subsequently himself as a child of struggling immigrants from Peru and as an electrician. revealed that Weaver’s mother lived in a $1.5-million home in Nashville, where It so happens that his father founded an engineering and consulting firm and the median single-family house is valowns two multimillion-dollar homes in ued at under $500,000.

Florida.

As implied earlier, real blue-collar

voters haven’t been taken in by these performances. In Michigan, the radical left candidate Abdul El-Sayed barely scraped a win in the Democratic Senate primary. Michigan doesn’t break down the primary vote by education, but a Detroit News poll taken before showed Democratic Rep. Haley Stevens ahead of El-Sayed among the noncollege-educated by 22 points.

In Maine, Graham Platner, the preppie who claimed to be an oysterman, won the Democratic primary to challenge Republican incumbent Sen. Susan Collins with DSA support. But confronted with an abuse-of-women charge too far, he had to drop out.

Which is just as well. Polls had Platner trailing Collins by 21 points among voters without a four-year college degree. His Democratic replacement, Troy Jackson, polls a bit better among this group but not well at all. A NYT/ Siena poll showed Collins leading Jackson by 18 points among voters without a college degree.

Wonder what the real oyster farmers are thinking.

The left ought to stop hating on Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman. He won a purple-state seat with 46% of the noncollege vote, a far higher number than Democrats normally get. Fetterman is one reason Democrats might win a Senate majority in the midterms. Not that the fringe cares.

It’s put-up or shut-up time for Essence in N.O. Kicking off the Essence Festival of Culture on July 2 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, Sundial Media Group CEO Kirk McDonald and New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno beamed as television cameras, content creators and influencers recorded the moment.

“For more than 30 years, Essence and the city of New Orleans have chosen one another very intentionally,” said McDonald, who oversees Sundial, events, forums and festivals, including Essence.

“I can tell you unequivocally that the city of New Orleans is prepared and we are ready for Essence Fest 2026,” Moreno said.

Neither said that this was the last Essence Festival under the existing, seven-year agreement. Neither said the agreement expires on Sept. 4. Neither said that this festival would get greater scrutiny because the 2025 event fell short of expectations, though I think it Will Sutton was wonderful despite the problems.

The focus was on working collaboratively to make the festival as good as it could be, and definitely better than last year’s event. And it was.

Negotiations have been more hard-nosed recently as those involved look for accountability and the right level of investment for the economic impact the city and Essence need to have in coming years. The 2027 Essence Festival of Culture is scheduled for the Fourth of July weekend from July 2 to July 5, 2027.

Scheduled. Not confirmed.

Let me say this: The agreement ends Friday.

We’re here for several reasons.

Essence and New Orleans have chosen each other for more than 30 years. There have been multiple agreements. None have led to divorce.

In a letter on behalf of the mayor’s Essence steering committee, City Attorney Charline K. Gipson asked Essence and Sundial to provide some specific business details. The letter references an Aug. 12 meeting with festival representatives. McDonald told me last week and again Tuesday that there hasn’t been a meeting with the steering committee, and festival organizers urgently want to meet.

Since the steering committee’s letter was received and Essence responded on Thursday, McDonald said a meeting is more likely. “We look forward to a conversation,” he said, “as soon as schedules allow.” At this point, McDonald said their team of high-level decision-makers should meet with “everyone in position who would have a role in inviting Essence back.”

Here’s a new twist: The steering committee said it’s considering a competitive bidding process to host a Fourth of July festival weekend event. That would mean the Essence-New Orleans marriage could come to an end and a new relationship, perhaps with a prenuptial agreement, would restart how the couple proceeds.

Or, maybe a new partner enters the picture.

Not quite divorce proceedings, but certainly acknowledging that the years together have been nice while pursuing clarification before moving forward with a new understanding — or agreeing to see each other in divorce court.

“We were surprised and disappointed,” McDonald told me, comparing the relationship to a long-term marriage. Imagine, he said, saying, “Why don’t we start dating other people to see where we stand?”

There’s been some talk about the Essence 365 proposal Sundial officials shared a few months ago. It included a request for $10-$12 million to support Essence making a substantial expansion beyond the annual event. McDonald said it has been characterized as “you guys pay us more money,” but it was a response to Moreno’s “very real, thoughtful challenge,” asking what year-round presence and support might look like.

People close to the festival and negotiations say things have changed. The city and state are in different financial shape, with the city digging out of a deficit and state politics not favoring New Orleans. With some different people involved, they’re asking why taxpayers should help fund a private company’s event.

By comparison, the city and the New Orleans Tourism and Culture Fund provided about $377,000 this year for the festival, and NOTCF provided about $90,000 each for the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and the French Quarter Festival, two nonprofits.

No one wants to see the end of what’s been a mid-summer tradition and a big economic boost for the summer doldrums. I can imagine Jay-Z and Roc Nation wanting a piece of the action.

But do we really expect Beyoncé to perform at Essence Festival?

For the sake of continuing a tradition with accountability and higher expectations, all affected parties need to put up or shut up.

Email Will Sutton at wsutton@theadvocate. com.

Froma Harrop is on X, @FromaHarrop.

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Major fee hike proposed for Carnival krewes

Groups would pay $10,000, $7,500 or $5,000

BY DOUG MacCASH Staff writer

The New Orleans City Council is expected to make Carnival krewes pay more to parade starting in 2027, after a new, three-tiered fee aimed at offsetting some of the city’s costs sailed through a council committee Monday.

The proposal, which was passed unanimously by the four-member Criminal Justice Committee, now heads to the full council for approval.

Under the ordinance, which could be voted on as soon as Thursday, large parades would pay the city $10,000, medium parades would pay $7,500 and small parades would pay $5,000 for permits.

The new fee structure represents a substantial increase over the longtime permit fees of $1,500, $1,000 and $750. But it is less than the two previous revenueraising plans that have been publicly discusses by city officials in recent months.

One would have called for a $25 fee per float rider.

The other, which would have charged $850 per float,

REBRAND

Continued from page 1B journalists working together on the channels they watch every day.”

It’s a move that many predicted would happen after Gray signed a deal to acquire the two Lafayette stations about a year ago. Gray, which had a station in every market but Lafayette prior to the acquisitions, bought KADN/KLAF from Allen Media Broadcasting and landed KATC in a swap with Scripps, which recently let go of 268 employees companywide.

The weekday evening newscasts will feature Jim Hummel and Jazmin Thibodeaux as anchors and with longtime Lafayette meteorologist Rob Perillo from KATC, Dan Romano from KADN and Beyanna Lewis from KATC for weather.

Thibodeaux has been senior reporter with KATC after she earlier worked at KADN for four years.

Newscasts will also air at 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. on Fox 15.

Scott Brazda and former KLFY “Passe Partout” anchor Caroline Marcello will anchor “Good Morning Acadiana” along with feature reporter Al Hebert and meteorologist Daniel Phillips.

would have cost larger krewes as much as $45,000.

Since krewes have already paid permit fees for 2027, the additional amounts will be subtracted from the new tax bills.

Monday’s proposal was conceived with input from krewe captains, according to Chuck Toney, the city’s director of intergovernmental affairs, who presented details to the committee. The simpler proposal was necessary to put the tax into effect by the next season, he said.

The proposed tax, dubbed the Carnival Gap Adjustment for Parades fee is meant to help City Hall pay for public safety and other costs related to New Orleans’ signature celebration.

A recent economic impact study by Tulane University economics professor Toni Weiss showed the 2023 Carnival season brought $900 million in “total fiscal benefit” as well as 3% of Orleans Parish’s gross domestic product.

The city annually spends more than $10 million for police, sanitation and other services during the 12-day official Carnival parading

It will air weekdays from 4:30 a.m. to 7 a.m. on all three stations and continue until 9 a.m. on Fox 15.

The “Midday with Darla Montgomery” broadcast will continue to air at noon on Fox 15 and NBC 15.2 but will eventually air on ABC 3 as well, Parker said.

Once the merger is complete, the staff will be housed in the current KATC building at 1103 Eraste Landry Road, Parker said.

KADN currently leases its office nearby.

Gray’s stations in Louisiana are among the mostwatched for news programming. It is known for its commitment to investigative reporting and a minimum wage for employees at $18 an hour.

A handful of staffers in Lafayette got a pay raise after the stations were acquired

by Gray, Parker said.

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season, Toney said.

But in May, Mayor Helena Moreno’s administration said it was dealing with a shortfall of $3.7 million.

The Gap Adjustment for Parades fee, which would raise $265,000 in 2027, is meant to cover some but not all of that loss.

“We’re not trying to put all that money on the backs of riders,” said City Council member Freddie King III, who led Monday’s committee meeting. “We understand that this is the greatest free show on earth. We’re just trying to chip away at this a little bit.”

The proposed new tax would cost smaller parades more per rider than larger parades. According to the city’s calculations, the highest tax tier would cost large krewes, those with 37 to 45 pull units, or floats, an average of $5.23 per rider. The second tier of krewes, with 28-36 pull units, would pay an average of $8.87 per rider, and the lowest tier, those with 14 to 27 units, would pay $14.44 per rider on average.

Together, all 33 krewes would pay an average of $6.64

STAFF FILE PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER

The Krewe of Iris parade rolls on St. Charles Avenue in New Orleans on Feb. 14. more per rider. The average parade rider spends $3,386 to ride, according to the city’s presentation Monday.

Oscar J. Rainey, the president of the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club and the co-chair of the Mayor’s Mardi Gras Advisory Council, said it may be a challenge for Zulu and the other parading groups to find the extra money to pay the gap fee.

But he’s pleased at how the

process of arriving at the current form and amount of the tax came about.

After lengthy discussions, he said, the krewes and the city “arrived at a true partnership.” For most, Rainey said, the simple three-tiered system was “more digestible.”

“It was a lot easier to bear in the September before Mardi Gras than $45,000,” he said.

The gap fee would be introduced into the city’s Mardi Gras code, with amendments written by King at the request of Moreno. The tax would continue at least through 2031.

At Monday’s meeting, no krewe captains spoke in opposition to the tax.

alleged error affected the fairness, integrity or public reputation of judicial proceedings.

Padilla argued that the court’s application of the MVRA “by its very nature” satisfied this element, as the MVRA is only applicable to crimes of

violence, which does not include Padilla’s misdemeanor charge.

In the appeals court’s decision, they point out that Padilla had initially been indicted with a felony, however, pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor charge following a plea deal.

In its ruling issued Tuesday, the appeals court wrote that proving statutory noncompliance was not sufficient to overturn the restitution order and that the district court had the discretion to apply a restitution order even if the MVRA did not apply.

schools. For 25 years, he worked for the federal government as county supervisor, becoming the first African American to hold the position.

He wasn’t welcomed with open arms.

“When I started working for the Department of Agriculture in 1965, imagine going to an office in Ville Platte,” said Broussard, an Army veteran who served in Germany. “People would say ‘What is this n***** doing coming to work here?

All he’s going to do is start some trouble.’

“But they would say it

in French, to my supervisor at the time. When they were introduced to me, I would greet them in French. The looks on their faces.”

Married to Marlene St. Julien for 64 years and the father of two sons, Broussard is retired and walks with a cane. But he keeps moving with occasional substitute teaching gigs, the radio show and a deckbuilding project under an oak tree in his backyard.

“My oldest son says, ‘Daddy, you realize how old you are? You got to be careful. Just don’t fall.’

“I work for 15 minutes, then I sit for 15 minutes. If I want to sit longer, I’ll relax and fight the mosquitoes.

“I’m not going to stop.

I believe once you stop, you’re giving up on life. I’m not one to give up on life.”

APPEAL

Continued from page 1B in overturning district court decisions on “plain error.” To prevail under plain-error review, Padilla had to show that the

FUSELIER

Continued from page 1B Creole in tales and friendly debates about goats, marriage, flowering pecan trees, sagging pants and whatever else comes to mind.

Broussard’s highly recognized voice was developed during a life of accomplishment in agriculture, community services, housing development, Creole culture preservation and teaching agri-science, wood shop and industrial arts in Lafayette Parish

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Herman Fuselier is executive director of the St. Landry Parish Tourist Commission.

A longtime journalist covering Louisiana music and culture, he lives in Opelousas. His “Zydeco Stomp” show airs at noon Saturdays on KRVS 88.7 FM.

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(225) 383-0111 Public Notices

Public Notices Successions

PUBLIC NOTICE --NOTICE Administrator for the Succession of Mary Fern Cobb Briggs gives notice of his intent to sell via private sale, the follow‐ ing: 1. The immovable estate home and property lo‐ cated at 311 Sunny Lane, Louisiana Lafayette, 70506, Being the same property acquired by Mary C. Briggs by Cash Sale from Jeanie Slay Mellinger dated April 29, 1994, recorded on May 2, 1994, under instrument no. 1994-00016195 of the public records of f i i

Public Notices Successions p Lafayette, Louisiana.; and 2. All movables within the estate home at 311 Sunny Lane, consisting of home furnishings, deco‐ rations, and kitchenware.

Any objections to the sale of the above prop‐ erty can be filed with the Judicial District 15th – Parish of Court Lafayette under probate docket number 20250640, pursuant to LA C.C.P. art 3282.

198202 Aug. 22 to Sept.

20, 30t $456.60 PUBLIC NOTICE --NOTICE Notice is given that the Executrix of the Succes‐ sion of Gerald E. Moss, Docket No. Probate 20260056B, 15th Judicial

Public Notices Successions

Employment

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* 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.

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with the sale to be in “as is” condition and subject to the further terms and conditions contained in the Residential Agree‐ ment to Buy and Sell, which is filed in these proceedings. h d i h

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p g The Order granting such authority may be issued after the expiration of seven (7) days from the date of the second publi‐ cation of this notice. Any opposition to this pro‐ d l b fil d

Public Notices Successions pp p posed sale must be filed within seven (7) days from the second publica‐ tion.

199456 Sept. 2, 10, 2t $68.24

District Court, Lafayette Parish, Louisiana, has pe‐ titioned in the aforesaid proceedings for the au‐ thority to sell the follow‐ ing described immovable property at private sale in accordance with the of Article provisions 3281, et seq. of the Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure for TWO HUN‐ DRED FORTY THOUSAND DOLLARS cash, to wit:

The Lafayette Parish Unincorporated Areas Floodplain Management, hereby gives notice of the Lafayette Parish’s intent to revise the flood hazard information, generally located at the northeastern corner of the intersection of Kaliste Saloom Rd & E. Broussard Rd. Specifically, the flood hazard information shall be revised along an unnamed lateral of Isaac Verot Coulee from a point approximately northwest of the intersection of Kaliste Saloom Rd. & E. Broussard Rd. to a point approximately at the end of Gumbo Rd.

That certain lot or parcel of ground, together with all improvements and all rights, ways, privileges, servitudes and appurte‐ nances thereunto apper‐ taining, situated in Sec‐ tion 10, Township 10 South, Range 4 East, Parish, Lafayette and being Louisiana, known and designated as Lot 9 of “MADISON LANDING, and bearing the municipal address of Grenadine Drive, 115 Lafayette, LA 70506.

As a result of the revision, the 1% annual chance floodplain shall be removed within the area of revision.

Maps and detailed analysis of the revision can be reviewed at the SPEC, LLC at 107 Nolan Rd, Broussard, LA 70518. Interested persons may call Clay Boudreaux, CFM at 337-291-8468 for additional information.

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T H E A D V O C AT E.C O M | W e d n e s d ay, s e p t e m b e r 2, 2026

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Cajuns betting WR Wade ready to take next big step ä Lamar at UL. 7 P.M. SATURdAy, ESPN+ one point, he said Wade had 10 good

BY KEVIN FOOTE Staff writer

For three seasons, the UL football team has waited for the light to go off for junior wide receiver KeDarius Wade.

After getting in seven games with no receptions during his first two years in Lafayette, the native of Jackson, Mississippi, had two receptions for 25 yards in 11 games last season.

In 2026, it might be critical to the STAFF PHOTO By BRAd KEMP Ragin’ Cajuns that Wade fulfills his Wide receiver Kedarius Wade looks in a pass during practice on Aug. 25 potential.

Other than top target Shelton at the Cajuns’ practice fields.

Sampson, who has returned af-

Seamless transition

ter missing August camp with a bruised knee, the most productive receiver from a year ago is Landon Strother with 10 catches for 78 yards.

“It’s pretty exciting,” said Wade, whose Cajuns play Lamar at 7 p.m.

Saturday at Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium. “I can’t wait. Going against our first opponent is going to be exciting.”

With each weekly update from coach Michael Desormeaux during camp, he identified Wade as one of the top wide receivers. At

practices out of 11.

Assistant coaches and teammates echoed the praise.

“I feel like I had a pretty decent fall camp,” Wade said. “The improvement came from more of my preparation going toward practice more. It’s preparing for practices rather than waiting for it to come.”

For Wade, it’s more than just knowing the playbook.

“Instead of just sitting around all day for practice to come, I’m coming in and eating right,” he said.

“I’m sleeping right, and I come in at

ä See WADE, page 3C

C L E M S O N A T L S U • 6 : 3 0 P. M . S A T U R d A y • A B C

Room to grow

Clapp, Hill bringing players’ perspective to Saints’ coaching staff

BY LUKE JOHNSON Staff writer

Will Clapp has gotten a couple of odd looks since he changed his job title.

“I still get invited to some of the player get-togethers because my family is friends with all their families,” Clapp said. “Some of the rookies were weirded out the first time I was there, and it’s like, ‘No, I was one of you guys last year.’ ” This time last year, Clapp was a Saints offensive lineman who was staring down the end of his career. He suffered an injury just two snaps into the first preseason game that he knew would effectively end his career.

Now he is serving as the team’s assistant offensive line coach.

He is one of two Clapp coaches on staff who made the leap directly from playing to coaching — the most notable one being coach Kellen Moore, who went from player to offensive play-caller in two years. He’s also not Hill the only former Saints player on staff: Clapp’s ä Saints former teammate, Josh at Lions.

Hill, is also in his first NOON SEPT. 13, year as the assistant FOX tight ends coach after spending two years in different roles with the organization.

Clapp lasted eight seasons as a player after the Saints selected him in the seventh round of the 2018 draft. He always figured he would take a year off after his playing career ended and then figure out what to do. But last year changed things.

Offensive line coach Brendan Nugent has spent a lot of time around Clapp. He coached Clapp early in his career during his first stint with the Saints, then encouraged the Los Angeles Chargers to sign him in free agency.

He saw someone who not only knew how the game worked, but also how to translate ideas to his teammates.

“I used to joke with him years ago, like, ‘You’re going to coach when you’re done,’ ” Nugent said. “And he’s like, ‘There’s no chance, there’s no chance, there’s no chance.’ ” Nugent knew better. When Clapp got hurt, Nugent and run-game coordinator T.J. Paganetti approached him. “ ‘We want you to help out as much as you want to,’ ” Clapp recalled.

That turned into Clapp sitting in on meetings with Nugent, with the pair watching film together and Nugent asking Clapp for his opinion on things.

And when another former Saints player-turned-coach, Jahri Evans, left to join the Pittsburgh Steelers staff this offseason, the Saints felt they had a “no-brainer” replacement ready, Nugent said.

“He’s really, really smart. He’s really prepared. He works his tail off,” Moore

ä See SAINTS, page 3C

STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt, center, walks with tight end Trey’dez Green, right, at practice on Aug. 21 at the LSU practice fields. Green, a preseason All-American, is expected to be one of Leavitt’s main targets this season.

Green, Leavitt explain why they are excited about TE Wright’s possible addition

BY KOKI RILEY Staff writer

T

rey’Dez Green has a lot to smile about these days.

Last week, he was awarded the No. 7, a jersey handed out to the top playmaker (or playmakers) on the LSU football team. He also gets the chance to play in an offensive system that got Ole Miss to the College Football Playoff semifinals last year, and he will catch passes from a quarterback who led Arizona State to the CFP two seasons ago.

He’s excited to play football again, and he will get that chance when LSU hosts Clemson in its season opener Saturday at Tiger Stadium (6:30 p.m., ABC).

Green was chipper throughout his nearly 10-minute news conference Tuesday, probably for all of the reasons listed above. They weren’t the only things he was smiling about, though.

He can’t wait to play alongside his potential new teammate and fellow tight end

the former Ole Miss pass catcher has “It’s amazing to me. Even if it in the news quite a lot lately. Wright means less catches, less yards, been and 40-plus other athletes are seeking a I’m all about bringing this national preliminary injunction from a Louisiana judge that would allow him and his fellow championship back to Baton plaintiffs to return to college for a fifth Rouge. I had the chance to talk year of eligibility this season.

Wright’s decision to try to return to with (Dae’Quan Wright). It’s just school has become controversial, in large been going up; we just clicked part because he already had spent this ever since we met each other.” summer in the NFL trying to make the

TREy’dEZ GREEN, LSU tight end Dae’Quan Wright.

“It’s amazing to me,” Green said. “Even if it means less catches, less yards, I’m all about bringing this national championship back to Baton Rouge. I had the chance to talk with him. It’s just been going up; we just clicked ever since we met each other.”

Unlike Green, Wright is not a preseason All-American or household name, but

rosters of the Philadelphia Eagles and Cleveland Browns. After getting cut by their respective NFL teams, Wright, defensive tackle Zxavian Harris and cornerback Blake Cotton are attempting to join LSU. The preliminary injunction hearing in Baton Rouge is set for Thursday, but Wright and edge rusher Junior Tuihalamaka — who is also a plaintiff in the lawsuit but never signed with an NFL team this summer — already have begun

ä See LSU, page 3C

2C ● Wednesday, September 2, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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Cecilia rallies around coach’s family Champagne’s wife fighting rare form of breast cancer

BY ERIC NARCISSE Staff writer

God. Family. Football.

That’s the foundation for Cecilia coach Cody Champagne and his wife Jenny’s household.

And their faith has carried them through one of the most difficult times of their lives.

Jenny, a physical education teacher at Cecilia Primary, was diagnosed with invasive mucinous carcinoma, a rare type of breast cancer, on June 5.

“It was a little shocking,” Champagne said. “But I had like that gut feeling (something was wrong). I kind of knew when they said the mammogram was abnormal.”

Cody, who is in his second year as the Cecilia head coach, said he was “shocked” and in “disbelief” when he heard the news.

Telling their three children was the hardest part, Jenny said.

“You know, as a kid, hearing your mom has cancer, no matter what kind or where it is, it’s like the worst thing ever in their little minds,” Jenny said. “So, once I was able to tell my kids, it was a lot better for me.”

Not long after getting the diagnosis, Jenny said her faith kicked in. There wasn’t the question of “Why me?” Instead, she leaned into her faith and said “I know there’s a reason.”

“Immediately, I knew that there was a purpose (for this diagnosis),” Champagne said. “God has a reason for giving me this.

I may not ever know the reason, but there’s definitely somebody, somewhere that is going to benefit from me sharing my story.”

Jenny called her diagnosis “a great test of faith.”

“I have a very strong faith. God has carried me. I felt every single prayer carrying me,” she said. “I definitely couldn’t have done this

PROVIdEd PHOTO By MEAGAN ANdREPONT

Cecilia High football coach Cody Champagne poses with his family, from left, wife Jenny, daughters Jordyn (with dog Rex) and Alivia, and son Griffin. on my own. It’s definitely something supernatural. It’s easy to have faith when things are good, but I always wondered how it’s going to be when I was tested.

“That was a true test of my faith, and God has truly shown me that he’s walking right beside me, every step of the way.”

As were members of the community, who showed up in droves to offer assistance to the Champagne family.

“So, it has been overwhelming, the amount of people that have reached out, have sent a meal and have prayed,” Jenny said. “From the players asking to donate from

On June 16, less than two weeks after her diagnosis, Jenny had a double mastectomy.

“After the diagnosis, it was a waiting game,” Cody said. “You’re waiting for the surgery, and when it got closer to the surgery date, it got real for a second. That was a tough time because you don’t want your wife to go through those things.”

Although she had to have surgery, Jenny said “it was a very good prognosis.”

“It was (detected) early. It was stage one,” Jenny said. “It was really, probably the best-case scenario. If you’re going to get diagnosed with breast cancer, it’s the stage that you want to have.

“I didn’t have to have chemo. It didn’t reach my lymph nodes and that was a huge thing for me,” Jenny said. “Surgery was the first step for me, and now it’s treating with medication for the next five to 10 years, just depending on I guess the numbers and the levels.

I’ll do scans every three months, just to follow up and make sure it doesn’t come back somewhere else.”

With her cancer in remission, Jenny has returned to work and is looking forward to the football, cheerleading and dance seasons.

The Bulldogs open the football season at 7 p.m. Friday when they host Northside.

“I think this season is going to be a little more exciting, just because it’s going to give us some normalcy,” Jenny said. “You know, this summer wasn’t really a normal summer, after getting the diagnosis and going through all the doctors’ appointments and surgery.

“Football is something we do together as a family. The summer things were kind of chaotic, and we were all in different places.

We don’t miss a football game, so now football is going to be the thing that brings us all back together.”

their fundraiser to a cancer organization, to their parents telling us to let them know if we need anything, it really has been unbelievable the amount of support we have gotten.

“It’s truly special to be from a community like Cecilia, because everybody has your back.”

Being the town’s football coach certainly helped with the visibility but it also went beyond that.

“Just the amount of love and support we received throughout the whole summer from the community was amazing,” Cody said.

“The community really helped us Email Eric Narcisse at be able to get through all of this.” enarcisse@theadvocate.com.

Scheffler loves to win despite the added attention ATLANTA — Scottie Scheffler’s final act of the season was to sign his winning scorecard. After a few minutes to exhale, his wife and two sons having come into the room, he placed his cap over the fixed camera the PGA Tour now installs in previously private scoring areas. Content is king.

It wasn’t quite the level of Brian Harman smirking and shooting the bird at the camera last month in Minnesota, which made Doug Scheffler chuckle Ferguson and pump his fist.

Both were playful moments, and yet Sunday at East Lake shed a little light on Scheffler’s incredible staying power.

Scheffler loves what it takes to be the best player in golf, even the tedious work. He just doesn’t care for all the noise and fame that accompany greatness.

“I have a tendency to keep my head down and kind of stay in my own lane when I’m out there playing,” he said during the trophy presentation at the Tour Championship. “It’s really fun when you’re able to win and celebrate with the fans in moments like these, and have my family here.”

Still, his priority is to crush more than to engage. So he added somewhat apologetically, “I feel bad sometimes. I really do keep my head down and try to focus as much as I can. But I really do hear all the cheers, and I’m very thankful for all of them.”

The RBC Heritage at Hilton Head is reputed to be among the most chill tournaments on the schedule, the perfect place to decompress right after the Masters. During the pro-am that week, Scheffler said he felt a calmer vibe at Augusta National despite the enormous pressure,

Scheffler, however, has separated himself in a similar manner as Woods. His points average in the world ranking is more than double that of Rory McIlroy at No. 2. This is his 171st week in a row at No. 1 in the world. Woods holds the record with 281 consecutive weeks at No. 1. A milestone that for years looks untouchable is now at least thinkable.

Practice makes perfect There is not much drama with Scheffler, and he likes it that way. His obsession is such that he once said he had to force himself to find something other than golf to think about. Having two young boys have helped.

“Part of what’s great about golf ASSOCIATEd PRESS PHOTO By MIKE STEWART and part of what’s very frustratScottie Scheffler holds the trophy after winning the Tour Championship ing about golf is it’s kind of an endless puzzle you’re always on Sunday in Atlanta. trying to solve,” Scheffler said.

“I feel like in order to become Best comparison with Tiger mainly because of the space good at this game, you have to inside the ropes and spectators really enjoy the harder parts of (patrons) who cheer, not scream. it, the stuff that’s a little bit more Comparisons with Woods, just When he reached the ninth mundane.” like athletes in any sport across tee, fans at Hilton Head were For Scheffler, that would be the generations, are for pool halls screaming his name as he waited and podcasts. Scheffler brushed first 10 minutes on the stationfor the fairway to clear to tee off the inevitable moment of ary bike. Cardio work is not his off. Scheffler turned and smiled. passing Woods at No. 1 on the favorite. Neither is a cold plunge It’s part of the deal, and he PGA Tour career earnings list, at 5:30 a.m. “Do I want to go in knows that by now. a spot Woods held for nearly 26 there and freeze? No, but I do it,” But this extraordinary run of years. he said in January. dominance allows for specu“I wouldn’t really consider that Practice, however, doesn’t get a Tiger record being broken,” old. Neither does competing. lation about how long he can Scheffler said. “I think it just His caddie, Ted Scott, once keep it up as the attention gets shows one of the many effects he told of a round they played at brighter. Winning is hard. The had on the game of golf in a posi- Cypress Point early in 2025. trappings that come with it can Scheffler was returning from be exhausting. tive way.”

The way Scheffler showed up Woods never played for a prize slicing open his right hand when he tried to use a wine glass to seemingly every week — he fund of $10 million in his peak cut ravioli. He showed Scott finished first, second or third in years from 1997 through 2009. no mercy that day, prompting half of the 20 tournaments he Scheffler played for an average played — and then capped off purse of $19.25 million this year. the caddie to say, “Scottie don’t the season by winning two of the When it comes to money records, play games when he’s playing games.” three postseason tournaments it just isn’t a fair fight.

It’s all about getting the most was satisfying.

The real benchmark — 82 tour out of every day, from the cold It also makes him a shoo-in wins — is still a long way off. to be voted PGA Tour player of Scheffler has gone three straight plunge to the bike to the range to the first tee. Scheffler is relentthe year for a fifth straight time. years with three wins or more.

That would tie Tiger Woods for Woods went 10 out of 11 years less and it’s a matter of how long winning the most in a row. winning at least four times. he can keep up this pace.

Rams owner Kroenke set to add MLB franchise Angels

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Kroenke Sports and Entertainment has reached a deal to purchase controlling ownership of the Los Angeles Angels from Arte Moreno, expanding its sprawling empire of teams across every major U.S. professional sport with the addition of the beleaguered baseball club.

The company led by Stan Kroenke made the surprising announcement Tuesday, saying it expects to close the transaction in early 2027.

Major League Baseball, which must approve any sale, didn’t immediately comment on the news.

Kroenke’s company owns the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams, Premier League champion Arsenal, the NBA’s Denver Nuggets, the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche, Major League Soccer’s Colorado Rapids and SoFi Stadium.

Texans won’t extend contract talks with Stroud into season

HOUSTON — The Houston Texans won’t extend current contract negotiations with quarterback C.J. Stroud into the season.

General manager Nick Caserio said Tuesday that if the club can’t reach an agreement with Stroud before the Sept. 13 opener against Buffalo that it will pause all talks until next offseason.

Houston already picked up Stroud’s fifth-year option, meaning it has him under team control through 2027.

Caserio said at the start of training camp in late July that there was a chance the sides could come to terms on an extension but no deal appears to be imminent.

The 24-year-old Stroud is 28-18 and led the Texans to the playoffs in three seasons.

Romo pleads no contest, issues apology for actions

CBS NFL analyst and former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo has pleaded no contest to a charge of operating while intoxicated and has issued a statement apologizing for the actions that led to his July arrest.

Romo was arrested July 23 following a traffic stop as he was driving south on Interstate 43 in Wisconsin. CBS has since placed him on leave from his role as its lead NFL analyst.

According to Milwaukee County court records, Romo lost his driving privileges for six months and was ordered to complete an alcohol assessment program.

Romo also owes $834. An interlock device must be installed on any vehicle owned or operated by Romo or registered to his name.

Sky guard Diggins out for rest of season with injury

CHICAGO — Chicago Sky guard Skylar Diggins has been ruled out for the rest of the season because of a right knee injury.

Diggins hasn’t played since she scored 19 points in a 98-90 loss at Las Vegas on July 3. Chicago (1525) was eliminated from playoff contention on Aug. 23. It has four games left when the WNBA returns from its break for the FIBA World Cup. Diggins, a South Bend, Indiana, native who turned 36 on Aug. 2, had knee surgery in October. The former Notre Dame star aggravated the injury early in the season.

General manager Jeff Pagliocca said the team is prioritizing Diggins’ health.

Diggins signed with Chicago on the first day of free agency in April.

Padres promote catcher Salas from Triple-A

CINCINNATI — The San Diego Padres selected the contract of 20-year-old catcher Ethan Salas from Triple-A El Paso on Tuesday, making him the youngest active player in the major leagues.

If Salas appears behind the plate, he will be the youngest catcher in the big leagues since Ivan Rodriguez, who was 19 when he debuted with the Texas Rangers on June 20, 1991.

Salas, who signed with the Padres in 2023 for a record $5.6 million bonus as a top international prospect, has progressed quickly through their minor league system despite a back injury that caused him to miss most of the 2025 season.

The Padres’ top prospect batted .286 with seven home runs and 37 RBIs in 72 games this year at Double-A.

The Acadiana Advocate ● theadvocate.com ● Wednesday, September 2, 2026 ● 3C

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RB Estime keeps roster spot in perspective

BY LUKE JOHNSON Staff writer

This time a year ago, Audric Estime was looking for work after being cut by the Denver Broncos.

So he appreciates this week a little more after Saints he made the notebook New Orleans Saints’ 53man roster after an impressive training camp and preseason.

“It’s a testament to my preparation and my hard work and not taking anything for granted,” Estime said. “A lot of guys, this might not mean a lot to guys who have been in the league for a lot of years with big contracts, but it meant a lot to me.”

Estime led the Saints with 74 yards rushing on just nine carries this preseason, a big chunk of which came on a nifty 33-yard scamper down the left sideline in the finale against Dallas. He also caught all four of his targets for 16 yards with a long of 13.

Those performances validated what the Saints already had seen in Estime.

New Orleans offered him a lifeline in October after the Philadelphia Eagles released him from their practice squad. A few weeks later, Estime was in the lineup after injuries wrecked the Saints’ running back depth.

By the time the season was over, Estime led all Saints running backs in yards per carry (4.3) and turned in the best individual performance

New Orleans claimed cornerback Decamerion Richardson off waivers from the Las Vegas Raiders.

Styles, a fifth-round pick out of Ohio State, suffered a calf injury in an Aug. 22 preseason loss to the Rams.

The Saints kept Styles on their initial 53-man roster because if they had placed him on injured reserve earlier, the rookie would have had to sit out the entire season. Teams could also designate two players on cutdown day to return off injured reserve, but the Saints used those exceptions on rookie wide receiver Jordyn Tyson (hamstring) and linebacker Jaylan Ford (undisclosed).

Richardson, 25, spent two years with the Raiders, appearing in 27 games with seven starts. From Bossier STAFF PHOTO By BRETT dUKE City, the Louisiana native Saints running back Audric Estime scores a touchdown against the Jacksonville Jaguars played college football at Mississippi State. during a preseason game on Aug. 15 at the Caesars Superdome.

Richardson stands at 6-foot2 and ran a 4.34 40-yard dash “I think I showcased a given. of any Saints back in 2025, in the pre-draft process. ripping off a career-best 94 consistency,” Estime said.

“I made the 53-man roster, The Raiders took him in the yards and a touchdown on 14 “That’s one thing I wanted yes, it’s definitely a blessing, fourth round in 2024. carries against the Titans in to focus on this offseason, but don’t ride that too high,” being consistent every car- he said. “Because I’ve been Starters back Week 17.

That late-season momen- ry, every game. I feel like I on the lower end being reThe Saints saw two starttum appeared to carry over showed that at a high level leased. So try to stay in the ers return to practice Tuesmiddle and keep the main day as they started prepping to 2026. Even when Alvin Kama- this preseason.”

He feels blessed that the thing the main thing.” for Sept. 13 season opener ra was healthy, New Orleans against the Detroit Lions. included Estime as part of ankle injury he suffered Cornerback Quincy Riley its first-team offense rota- in the preseason opener Roster moves tion. His first carry of the against Jacksonville “wasn’t Lorenzo Styles is headed to in- (groin) and guard Cesar Ruiz preseason went for a 9-yard anything too crazy,” allow- jured reserve, and the New (ankle) participated in at touchdown. ing him to make a final state- Orleans Saints added anoth- least the individual portion of practice, which was the This summer, Estime said ment against Dallas. er cornerback in his place. he proved he can run inside Last year was a lesson to The Saints placed Styles only viewing period availand outside and that he has him. He was cut twice be- on the injured list Tuesday, able to reporters. NFL teams capable hands. But there fore he ended up finding knocking the rookie out for are not required to provide was one intangible he was his footing, and he doesn’t at least the first four weeks. an injury report until next glad he could show. intend to treat his spot like In a corresponding move, week, so the full extent of

the workload is not known.

Their return was a good sign for the Saints after the team had been hit hard by injuries throughout training camp. Riley suffered a groin injury during an Aug. 18 practice against the Dallas Cowboys that was expected to keep him out several weeks. Ruiz hurt his ankle days later in a joint practice against the Los Angeles Rams.

The Saints also saw defensive lineman John Ridgeway (foot) and linebacker Chris Rumph (ankle) return.

The Saints were still missing Kamara (knee), defensive end Cam Jordan (hamstring), Styles (calf) and tight end Oscar Delp (hamstring).

Estime also was not seen in the viewing window.

Number talk A couple of Saints players have some new digits.

Kicker Daniel Carlson, who joined the team late in camp and ended up beating out Charlie Smyth and Tanner Brown for the starting kicker job, switched from No. 48 to No. 10.

Edge rusher Anfernee Jennings switched to No. 33, which he wore at Alabama, and quarterback Zach Wilson is now wearing No. 11.

Defensive lineman Colby Wooden is wearing No. 50 and offensive lineman Mason Murphy is in No. 74 after the Saints claimed them off of waivers.

Email Luke Johnson at ljohnson@theadvocate.com.

SAINTS

Continued from page 1C

STAFF PHOTO By BRAd KEMP

UL wide receiver Kedarius Wade takes part in practice on Aug. 25 at the Cajuns’ practice fields. The Cajuns host Lamar in their season opener on Saturday night.

WADE

Continued from page 1C night and watch film and also in the morning. When I wake up now, I’m mentally preparing myself for the day.”

No longer is the 6-foot-4, 200-pound speedster “bored with the little things.” He understands that’s how you reach the next level.

“I’m just playing more consistently,” said Wade, who had his jersey number changed from No. 87 to No. 9. “Last year, some days I come out, you just never knew what you were getting out of me. This year, I feel like it’s more consistent.

Like, I’m in the right spot where I’m supposed to be there. I’m making the plays I’m supposed to make.”

That increased focus began on the first day of preseason camp when learned about Sampson’s injury. As the most experienced wide receiver, the focus shifted

to Wade to step up.

“I just feel like I can go out there and do whatever’s needed,” Wade said. “I just want to do whatever it takes for us to win.

“There’s always somewhere to improve. I feel like when the time comes, if (Sampson) is not ready, I can go out there and step up.”

Wade’s consistency began to improve in the spring when offensive coordinator Tim Leger trained him in the “Z” position.

“I just decided to take on the new challenge and keep working and just prepare myself for what’s next,” he said.

Brushing up on the fundamentals is always needed.

“Right now, it’s about catching the ball, being involved in the blocking game, stickling my nose in there when I needed to, to dig out that safety and making a play downfield when the ball comes my way ... or even the small plays when I need to.”

Also a part of that process is building a working relationship with quarterback Lunch Winfield.

“Lunch and I came in as freshmen together,” Wade said. “So we were always together throwing it, like during the team period or scout periods when we had those during the summer. And during the spring, whenever we had extra time, we’d get together with all the receivers to work on our connection with each other.”

Beginning Saturday, the days of wondering when his opportunity is going to come are over.

“It’s very exciting,” Wade said. “When you’re younger, you’re always thinking, ‘Man, when is it going to be my time?’ But now, I feel like I’ve prepared myself to be ready for that time. So now I’m just ready for the season to start so I can showcase what I’ve been working on.”

Email Kevin Foote at kfoote@theadvocate.com.

said. “And for those offensive linemen, any time you get a couple guys who have played in those positions relatively recently and can lean on those experiences, it’s great.”

Center Erik McCoy and left guard David Edwards can attest to that.

Clapp was one season into his professional career when the Saints drafted McCoy in 2019. They spent four seasons together as teammates, counting last year.

“Even when he was a player, he was a guy that coached people up,” McCoy said. “And then from a seeing the game standpoint, even as a player, he was years ahead. That’s been really beneficial for me just to have him as a brain to tinker with.”

Edwards only spent one season with Clapp, with the Buffalo Bills in 2024, but he gained an appreciation for the way Clapp explained things.

“What’s really cool is his ability to connect as a coach and as a player to guys and tell the truth,” Edwards said. “He knows what it should look like, feel like. … He’ll tell you straight up, ‘Hey, what do you think about doing it this way?’ There’s so much in line play in football that you can clean up, it’s never perfect, so having him as a coach and resource has been nothing but awesome.”

Hill took a different path to his current role. He retired from the NFL after eight seasons in 2020, and he did what Clapp thought he’d do, taking some time off and spending it with his family. But where Clapp wasn’t necessarily sure he’d get into coaching, Hill always figured he’d find a way back into the game.

That started with the Saints, when he joined the pro scouting department under pro personnel director Michael Parenton.

He spent some time there seeing the game from a different angle, but last season he started to inch closer to the field, where he

LSU

Continued from page 1C practicing with the team.

Green, quarterback Sam Leavitt and linebacker Whit Weeks all reiterated the same thing coach Lane Kiffin said Monday. Kiffin asked the players on the leadership committee whether he should bring in these former NFL players/ fifth-year seniors, and they gave him unanimous approval.

“We all were nothing but excited for the opportunity to bring guys in and help us win some games,” Leavitt said. “I don’t really know why there’s such an issue with it. It’s their fifth year; everybody gets five years in college.”

Wright, who played for Kiffin the previous two seasons at Ole Miss, won’t need much of an acclimation period when it comes to picking up the offense.

STAFF FILE PHOTO By BRETT dUKE

Saints offensive assistant coach Will Clapp looks on during a training camp practice on July 31 in Metairie.

could take a more hands-on approach.

“It’s been great,” Hill said. “I’m just excited about the direction of everything, the people in the building, it’s a good match as far as organization, coaching staff.”

Moore was thrilled to add Hill to his mix, saying his career path — an undrafted free agent who carved out a useful role in his eight-year career — is a “great example” for the current roster.

Both Hill and Clapp bring more youth to the Saints’ staff — Hill turned 36 this summer, and Clapp is still a few months shy of his 31st birthday — which, along with their playing résumés, helps them relate to current players.

Hill still has a few teammates around from his eight seasons in New Orleans, and Clapp obviously spent plenty of time in the locker room with a healthy portion of this year’s roster. Their time as players doesn’t automatically lend their voice authority, but it does help when the guys they are coaching know they’re speaking from experience.

“It’s like when I played for Dan Campbell, same thing,” Hill said.

“He understood the little nuances that are, not overlooked, but seen in a different light.”

According to Leavitt and Green, Wright wouldn’t get in the way of Green’s production.

The potential addition of Wright could make LSU much more difficult to defend with both of them on the field at the same time.

Leavitt believes that having two strong pass catchers at tight end — Wright had more than 600 receiving yards last season — will force defenses to make tough decisions on how to defend LSU’s attack.

“I think there’s a lot of things we can do there. Just getting in different personnel (packages), how’s another team going to match you?” Leavitt said. “Are they going to stay in nickel (five defensive backs) or go to base (four defensive backs and seven linebackers/defensive linemen)?

Then you get mismatches in the run game, in the pass game. So (there’s) so many other things you can do.”

On a personal level,

Green already has enjoyed working with Wright, who has taught Green a few tricks when it comes to playing the position.

“You’ve got a complete tight end right there,” Green said about Wright.

“By him knowing the offense and everything, he’s been teaching me a lot of little techniques and just been teaching me stuff that I didn’t even know.”

It’s easy to see why Green has kept smiling this preseason. His grin will grow even wider if a court allows Wright to join him on the field.

“You got (these) two bigbody players on the field that can stretch out and play receiver roles, but can also be a complete tight end and block,” Green said. “So the defense really never knows if we’re running the ball, if we’re passing the ball, because we do everything.”

Email Koki Riley at koki. riley@theadvocate.com.

4C ● Wednesday, September 2, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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Area rich with talented defensive backs

Here are 15 players to watch during this season

BY MIKE COPPAGE

the charge in the secondary from his safety position. At 6-foot-2 and close to 200 pounds, Ortte has a The secondary is the last line of linebacker’s size and mentality defense, with many teams regu- when it comes to stopping the run, larly using five defensive backs which he’ll have the opportunity to take advantage of their roster’s to do frequently against district athleticism and guard against the rivals Southside and Acadiana. deep pass.

Here are 15 defensive backs to Shadon Lee, Westgate watch in the Acadiana area.

Lee is another multisport standout for the Tigers, excelling in Zyier Stokes, Westgate basketball and in track, where he A sophomore ranked No. 8 in nabbed the Outstanding Male Aththe state by Prep Redzone, Stokes lete honor at the district meet. The scored a long touchdown in the Ti- long-armed 6-foot junior is listed gers’ shutout win over New Iberia as a cornerback but frequently in the jamboree. The lockdown lined up at free safety in the scrimcornerback recently reeled in his mage against Slidell. first SEC offer from Ole Miss.

“They like my work ethic and abil- Markez Davis, Northwest ity to go hard,” Stokes said of colFor a cornerback, Davis has unlege coaches. usual length at 6-4. He committed to LSU as a defensive back after Franky Frank, Cecilia leading Northwest in receiving A four-year starter, Frank played last year. He’s part of a huge senior an instrumental role on Cecilia’s class for the Raiders and is also state championship team a couple among the best basketball players of years ago. The Northwestern in the state.

State commit attributed his success to hard work and focus. “We Cayden Brown, have youngsters stepping up in the Westminster Christian secondary,” he said. “The juice is to the sky.”

Brown is ranked among the top 50 sophomores in the state. Last Kyan Batiste, Catholic-NI year, he averaged over 6 yards Batiste is a sophomore with tre- per carry as a change of pace mendous athleticism who earned from running back Kyle Horde. first-team all-district honors last This season, Brown will shine in a year as a cornerback for a Divi- secondary that graduated a trio of sion III select quarterfinal team. ballhawks.

He qualified for the Class 2A state track meet in four events. He’ll Kyle Savoy, Lafayette High also play receiver while moving to Savoy paced the Mighty Lions a rover position on defense and is in tackles as a junior safety, rackranked among the top 25 players ing up six solo stops and six assists in Louisiana. with a forced fumble in a win over Sam Houston. The three-year startLanden Ortte, St. Thomas More er has lined up at free and strong STM should have one of its bet- safety and will be a key piece for ter defenses with Ortte leading a team that could surprise in 2026.

Contributing writer

Sky Ryan, Lafayette Christian Ryan is healthy after injuries derailed his junior campaign. He started 13 games as a freshman, including the state championship, and is part of an experienced defense that didn’t allow a touchdown in the jamboree against St. Martinville (scored on special teams). He has recent offers from Lamar and Nicholls State.

Jaymien Zenon, Lafayette Renaissance The 5-10, 180-pounder helped the Tigers hold Erath scoreless in the jamboree and will have a chance to make a big impression this week when Lafayette Renaissance travels to powerhouse Edna Karr, which alternated two quarterbacks in last week’s 48-7 jamboree win over Slidell. “We’re playing high-level schools known for sending people to college and are ready to show what we have,” he said.

STAFF FILE PHOTO By BRAd KEMP

St. Thomas More safety Landen Ortte, shown trying to tackle Cecilia’s Kaden Chavis, Teurlings Catholic Braylon Calais, is among the top defensive backs in the Acadiana area.

Chavis is also a baseball star who helped the Rebels to two state titles as an outfielder. An LSU-Eunice commitment on the diamond, he returned an interception for a touchdown in last year’s 64-29 win over East Ascension. The Rebels went undefeated last year, with Chavis intercepting two passes in the first six games that saw the defense allow less than 100 passing yards per game.

Jazavion Briggs, Abbeville Briggs might be the most versatile player on this list. The menacing 6-2 junior could line up anywhere from end, outside linebacker or safety on defense while playing tight end on offense.

Kadyn James, Loreauville

Nysir Jackson, Jeanerette

The 6-foot, 170-pounder led the Tigers to the district title by totaling 38 tackles, two interceptions, 10 passes broken up and two forced fumbles. He made firstteam all-district and added 402 receiving yards with two touchdowns.

Jeanerette doesn’t have many players go both ways, a rare tactic for a Class 1A program, but Jackson will play receiver. He makes the calls in the secondary for coach CC Paul and is effective at free safety or CB, in addition to being a weapon in the return game.

Others to watch: Rahim Alem (WestDakowen Celestine, gate), Karter Deculus (Teurlings Catholic), Tre Hebert (Vermilion Catholic), Breaux Bridge Kaleb Tezeno (Opelousas Catholic), A rangy 6-3 junior free safety, Sport Gros (Ascension Episcopal), Celestine is the quarterback of Zion Batiste (Lafayette Renaissance), the Tigers’ defense, as well as the Austin Adams (Ascension Episcopal), signal-caller for their flexbone Jonathan Armstrong (Southside), Chance offense. Coach Tyler Pierce de- Paddio (Lafayette Renaissance), Trisscribes Celestine as “dynamic.” ten Jones (Lafayette Christian)

SCOREBOARD Odds NFL Sept. 9

FAVORITE at SEATTLE

OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG 4½ 3½ (44½) New Eng

FAVORITE at LA RAMS

OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG 3½ 3½ (48½) San Fran

Sept. 10

Sept. 13

FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG at PITT 3 3½ (42½) Atlanta Chicago 2½ 2½ (47½) at CARLN Baltimore 3½ 3½ (47½) at IND at CINCINNATI 3½ 3½ (50½)Tampa Bay at TENNESSEE 2½ 1½ (39½) NY Jets at DETROIT 7 7 (50½) N. Orleans Buffalo 1½ 1½ (44½)at HOUSTN at JAX 7½ 7½ (40½) Cleveland at LAS VEGAS 3½ 3½ (40½) Miami at CHARGERS 10½ 10½ (47½) Arizona at MINNESOTA 1½ 1½ (45½) Green Bay at PHILA 4½ 4½ (45½) Washingtn Dallas 2½ 2½ (48½) at GIANTS

Sept. 14

FAVORITE at KC

OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG 2½ 2½ (43½) Denver

College Football Thursday

FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG at RUTGERS 30½ 29½ (51½) UMass at KENNSW ST 21½ 23½ (51½) West Ga at BUFFALO 27½ 18½ (48½) Albany at DELAWARE 30½ 28½ (55½) Merrimack at WAKE FRST 22½ 24½ (48½) Akron at UCF 38½ 42½ (59½) Beth-Cook. at GA TECH 7½ 6½ (50½) Colorado at MISSOURI 50½ 54½ (60½) UAPB at MINNESOTA 43½ 42½ (51½) E. Illinois at UTAH 35½ 34½ (57½) Idaho at ILLINOIS 27½ 27½ (54½) UAB

Friday

FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG at E MICH 4 3 (56½)San Jose St at PURDUE 30½ 35½ (56½) Indiana St at GA STATE 26½ 28½ (63½) NC A&T at KANSAS 40½ 41½ (54½) LIU Post at OKLAHOMA 40½ 41½ (51½) UTEP at MICH STATE 10½ 9½ (47½) Toledo at USC 23½ 21½ (51½) Fresno St Miami (FL) 22 24½ (47½) at STANFD

Saturday

FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG at UCONN 21½ 19½ (57½) Lafayette at SYRACUSE 27½ 33½ (56½) N. Hamp. at BOWL GRN 1½ 2½ (48½) Tarleton St at JAMES MAD 6 6½ (50½) Liberty at NEBRASKA 23½ 23½ (46½) Ohio at HOUSTON 18½ 20½ (49½) Oregon St at ALABAMA 26½ 27½ (52½) E. Carolina at INDIANA 40½ 40½ (55½) N. Texas at ARMY 37½ 36½ (50½) Bryant at WEST VA 17½ 20½ (56½) Coastl Car at PITT 15½ 16½ (48½)Miami (OH) at OHIO STATE 50½ 50½ (56½) Ball State at S CAROLINA 34½ 36½ (53½) Kent State at IOWA STATE 30½ 29½ (53½) SE Mo. St at KENTUCKY 27½ 23½ (62½)Yngstwn St at AIR FORCE 23½ 28½ (58½) Duquesne at TEMPLE 12½ 14½ (51½) Rh.Island at GEORGIA 48½ 47½ (56½) Tenn.State at CHARLOTTE 17½ 20½ (46½) Citadel at UTSA 27½ 28½ (59½) UTRGV at AUBURN 7 7½ (59½) Baylor at N. DAKOT ST35½ 40½ (56½) Fordham at NAVY 30½ 30½ (52½) Towson at CINCINNATI 7½ 7½ (49½)Boston Coll at DUKE 9½ 7½ (51½) Tulane at OREGON 24½ 24½ (51½)Boise State at TEXAS 30½ 29½ (59½) Texas St at TENNESSEE 47½ 46½ (66½) Furman at APP STATE 22½ 18½ (53½) Maine at PENN STATE 23½ 24½ (52½) Marshall Oklahoma St 12½ 13½ (59½) at TULSA at IOWA 30½ 31½ (44½) Nor.Illinois at ARKANSAS 40½ 40½ (63½)N.Alabama at SO. MISS 23½ 20½ (50½) Alcorn St at OLD DOMIN 41½ 40½ (52½) Norfolk St at COLO. ST 3½ 3 (46½) Wyoming at S. ALABAMA 14½ 12½ (52½)Southestrn at S. FLORIDA 12½ 13½ (52½)Florida Int’l at MID. TENN 25½ 20½ (59½) Murray St at KANSAS ST 41½ 41½ (54½) Nicholls St at UTAH STATE 23½ 13½ (62½) Idaho St at JAXSTATE 20½ 20½ (54½) Eastern Ky at VANDERBILT 35½ 29½ (60½)Austn Peay at TEXAS A&M 38½ 40½ (53½)Missouri St at GA SOTHRN 26½ 25½ (51½)Char. Sthrn (59½) Abiln Chr at TEXAS TECH 41½ 42½ at RICE 21½ 22½ (47½)Houstn Chr at TROY 17½ 16½ (53½) Sam Hstn at MEMPHIS 10½ 11½ (52½) Ark. St at MICHIGAN 26½ 27½ (48½) W.Mich at MISS. STATE 28½ 28½ (54½) UL Monroe at LSU 11½ 10 (50½) Clemson 47½ 55½ (62½) VMI at VA TECH at LA TECH 40½ 44½ (55½) NW State at FLORIDA 26½ 26½ (59½)Fla Atlantic

at NRTHWSTN 15½ at LOUISIANA 17½ at MARYLAND 41½ at BYU 47½ at N. MEX ST 23½ at ARIZONA 29½ at S. DIEGO ST 40½ UNLV 1½ at ARIZ STATE 42½ at N MEXICO 12½ at SACRMT ST 32½ Western Ky. 3 UCLA 1½

Sunday

12½ 20½ 45½ 51½ 28½ 31½ 40½ 2½ 43½ 10½ 38½ 2½ 1½

(46½)S.Dakota St (48½) Lamar (56½) Hampton (61½) Utah Tech (52½) Mercyhrst (58½) Nor. Ariz (61½)Portland St (56½) at HAWAII (52½) Morgan St (46½) Cent. Mich (56½) MVSU (52½) at NEVADA (53½) at CAL

FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG at WASHNGTN 21½ 23½ (51½) Wash. St at NOTRE DAME20½ 20½ (47½) Wisconsin at OLE MISS 6½ 7 (55½) Louisville

Monday

FAVORITE SMU

MLB

OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG 2½ 3 (53½) at FLA ST

Wednesday

American League FAVORITE LINE at TEXAS -166 at BOSTON -138 Toronto -126 Detroit -115 at HOUSTON -135 N.Y Yankees -169 National League FAVORITE LINE San Diego -145 Atlanta -160 Philadelphia -137 at PITTSBURGH -155 Milwaukee -164 at LA DODGERS OFF Interleague FAVORITE LINE Baltimore -150 at TAMPA BAY -167 Miami -112

UNDERDOG Athletics Seattle at CLEVELAND at MINNESOTA Chi. White Sox at LA ANGELS

LINE +134 +113 +102 -107 +109 +137

UNDERDOG LINE at CINCINNATI +119 at WASHINGTON +127 at ARIZONA +113 San Francisco +126 at CHICAGO CUBS +134 St. Louis OFF UNDERDOG at COLORADO N.Y Mets at KANSAS CITY

LINE +122 +133 -110

Pro basketball EASTERN CONFERENCE

W 26 26 24 24 15 11 10

L 14 14 16 16 25 29 30

Pct .650 .650 .600 .600 .375 .275 .250

GB — — 2 2 11 15 16

W 31 29 27 24 16 15 14 8

L 9 11 13 16 24 25 26 32

Pct .775 .725 .675 .600 .400 .375 .350 .200

GB — 2 4 7 15 16 17 23

W 82 78 75 69 68

L 55 60 63 69 70

Pct .599 .565 .543 .500 .493

GB — 4½ 7½ 13½ 14½

W 72 69 66 63 62

L 65 68 72 74 76

Pct .526 .504 .478 .460 .449

GB — 3 6½ 9 10½

W 70 68 64 53 53

L 68 70 74 85 85

Pct .507 .493 .464 .384 .384

GB — 2 6 17 17

WESTERN CONFERENCE x-Minnesota x-Golden State x-Las Vegas x-Dallas Portland Los Angeles Phoenix Seattle x-clinched playoff spot

This week

No games scheduled.

Pro baseball MLB glance American League East Division

Tampa Bay New York Boston Baltimore Toronto Central Division Chicago Cleveland Minnesota Detroit Kansas City West Division Houston Texas Seattle Athletics Los Angeles

Monday’s games

N.Y. Mets 3, Tampa Bay 2 Boston 9, Seattle 8, 10 innings Minnesota 11, Detroit 1 Texas 8, Athletics 1 Houston 6, Chicago White Sox 3 Baltimore 2, Colorado 1 L.A. Angels 10, N.Y. Yankees 1

Tuesday’s games

N.Y. Mets at Tampa Bay, n Toronto at Cleveland, n Seattle at Boston, n

Denver at Kansas City, 7:15 p.m.

College football National schedule Thursday’s games

Wednesday’s games

Athletics (Lopez 5-4) at Texas (Bradford 0-3), 1:35 p.m.

Baltimore (Rogers 9-9) at Colorado (Sugano 12-8), 2:10 p.m.

Seattle (Miller 4-8) at Boston (Sandoval 1-3), 3:10 p.m.

N.Y. Mets (Hagenman 0-0) at Tampa Bay (McClanahan 10-6), 5:40 p.m.

Toronto (Cease 9-5) at Cleveland (Cantillo 9-7), 5:40 p.m.

Detroit (Anderson 4-5) at Minnesota (Kremer 2-5), 6:40 p.m.

Miami (Pérez 7-10) at Kansas City (Cameron 9-8), 6:40 p.m.

Chicago White Sox (Martin 9-6) at Houston (Wesneski 4-1), 7:10 p.m.

N.Y. Yankees (Schlittler 12-6) at L.A. Angels (Detmers 4-8), 8:38 p.m.

National League East Division Atlanta Philadelphia Miami Washington New York Central Division Milwaukee Chicago St. Louis Pittsburgh Cincinnati West Division Los Angeles San Diego Arizona San Francisco Colorado

Monday’s games

WNBA glance x-Atlanta x-Indiana x-New York x-Washington Chicago Toronto Connecticut

Detroit at Minnesota, n Miami at Kansas City, n Athletics at Texas, n Chicago White Sox at Houston, n Baltimore at Colorado, n N.Y. Yankees at L.A. Angels, n

W 82 78 69 66 62

L 56 60 69 74 76

Pct .594 .565 .500 .471 .449

GB — 4 13 17 20

W 85 78 68 67 65

L 53 60 70 71 73

Pct .616 .565 .493 .486 .471

GB — 7 17 18 20

W 82 73 73 57 52

L 55 65 66 81 86

Pct .599 .529 .525 .413 .377

GB — 9½ 10 25½ 30½

San Francisco 7, Atlanta 3 N.Y. Mets 3, Tampa Bay 2 San Diego 5, Cincinnati 0 Washington 6, Miami 3 Chicago Cubs 17, Milwaukee 3 Baltimore 2, Colorado 1 Philadelphia 2, Arizona 1

Tuesday’s games

N.Y. Mets at Tampa Bay, n San Diego at Cincinnati, n San Francisco at Pittsburgh, n Atlanta at Washington, n Miami at Kansas City, n Milwaukee at Chicago Cubs, n Baltimore at Colorado, n Philadelphia at Arizona, n St. Louis at L.A. Dodgers, n

Wednesday’s games

San Diego (Mize 5-8) at Cincinnati (Williamson 2-3), 11:40 a.m.

Atlanta (Holmes 9-5) at Washington (Kent 1-2), 12:05 p.m.

Baltimore (Rogers 9-9) at Colorado (Sugano 12-8), 2:10 p.m.

Philadelphia (Painter 3-8) at Arizona (TBD), 2:40 p.m.

N.Y. Mets (Hagenman 0-0) at Tampa Bay (McClanahan 10-6), 5:40 p.m.

San Francisco (Roupp 8-13) at Pittsburgh (Chandler 6-9), 5:40 p.m.

Miami (Pérez 7-10) at Kansas City (Cameron 9-8), 6:40 p.m.

Milwaukee (Misiorowski 14-5) at Chicago Cubs (Peterson 7-7), 6:40 p.m.

St. Louis (TBD) at L.A. Dodgers (Yamamoto 12-8), 9:10 p.m.

Pro football NFL schedule Week 1 Wednesday, Sept. 9

New England at Seattle, 7:20 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 10

San Francisco vs. LA Rams at Melbourne, Australia, 7:35 p.m.

Sunday, Sept. 13

Baltimore at Indianapolis, noon NY Jets at Tennessee, noon Buffalo at Houston, noon Cleveland at Jacksonville, noon New Orleans at Detroit, noon Chicago at Carolina, noon Tampa Bay at Cincinnati, noon Atlanta at Pittsburgh, noon Arizona at LA Chargers, 3:25 p.m.

Green Bay at Minnesota, 3:25 p.m.

Washington at Philadelphia, 3:25 p.m.

Miami at Las Vegas, 3:25 p.m.

Dallas at NY Giants, 7:20 p.m.

Monday, Sept. 14

EAST Umass (0-0) at Rutgers (0-0), 5 p.m.

SOUTH Akron (0-0) at Wake Forest (0-0), 6 p.m.

Merrimack (0-1) at Delaware (0-0), 6 p.m.

Bethune-Cookman (0-0) at UCF (0-0), 6 p.m.

West Georgia (0-1) at Kennesaw St. (0-0), 6 p.m.

Colorado (0-0) at Georgia Tech (0-0), 7 p.m.

MIDWEST Ark.-Pine Bluff (1-0) at Missouri (0-0), 7 p.m.

E. Illinois (1-0) at Minnesota (0-0), 7 p.m.

UAB (0-0) at Illinois (0-0), 8 p.m.

FAR WEST Idaho (0-1) at Utah (0-0), 8 p.m.

Friday’s games

MIDWEST San Jose St. (0-1) at E. Michigan (1-0), 5:30 p.m.

Indiana St. (0-1) at Purdue (0-0), 6 p.m.

LIU Brooklyn (0-1) at Kansas (0-0), 7 p.m.

Toledo (0-0) at Michigan St. (0-0), 7 p.m.

SOUTHWEST UTEP (0-0) at Oklahoma (0-0), 7 p.m.

FAR WEST Fresno St. (0-0) at Southern Cal (1-0), 8 p.m.

Miami (0-0) at Stanford (1-0), 8 p.m.

Saturday’s games

EAST Lafayette (0-0) at Uconn (0-0), 11 a.m.

New Hampshire (0-1) at Syracuse (0-0), 11 a.m.

Bryant (1-0) at Army (0-0), 11 a.m.

Coastal Carolina (0-0) at West Virginia (0-0), 11 a.m.

Miami (Ohio) (0-0) at Pittsburgh (0-0), 11:30 a.m.

Lehigh (1-0) at Georgetown (0-0), 11:30 a.m.

Rhode Island (1-0) at Temple (0-0), 1 p.m.

Towson (0-1) at Navy (0-0), 2:30 p.m.

Marshall (0-0) at Penn St. (0-0), 2:30 p.m.

Hampton (1-0) at Maryland (0-0), 7 p.m.

SOUTH Liberty (0-0) at James Madison (0-0), 11 a.m.

East Carolina (0-0) at Alabama (0-0), 11 a.m.

Kent St. (0-0) at South Carolina (0-0), 11:45 a.m.

Youngstown St. (1-0) at Kentucky (0-0), noon Gardner-Webb (0-1) at Wofford (1-0), 12:30 p.m.

Tennessee St. (0-1) at Georgia (0-0), 2 p.m.

The Citadel (0-1) at Charlotte (0-0), 2:30 p.m.

Auburn (0-0) vs. Baylor (0-0) at Atlanta, 2:30 p.m.

Furman (1-0) at Tennessee (0-0), 2:30 p.m.

Maine (1-0) at Appalachian St. (0-0), 2:30 p.m.

Alcorn St. (1-0) at Southern Miss. (0-0), 4 p.m.

Tusculum (0-0) at ETSU (0-1), 4:30 p.m.

Norfolk St. (1-0) at Old Dominion (0-0), 5 p.m.

FIU (0-0) at South Florida (0-0), 6 p.m.

E. Kentucky (0-1) at Jacksonville St. (0-1), 6 p.m.

Austin Peay (1-0) at Vanderbilt (0-0), 6 p.m.

Sam Houston St. (0-0) at Troy (0-0), 6 p.m.

Arkansas St. (0-0) at Memphis (1-0), 6 p.m.

VMI (0-1) at Virginia Tech (0-0), 6:30 p.m.

FAU (0-0) at Florida (0-0), 6:45 p.m.

MIDWEST Tarleton St. (1-0) at Bowling Green (0-0), 11 a.m.

Ohio (0-0) at Nebraska (0-0), 11 a.m.

North Texas (0-0) at Indiana (0-0), 11 a.m.

Ball St. (0-0) at Ohio St. (0-0), 11:30 a.m.

SE Missouri (1-0) at Iowa St. (0-0), noon Fordham (0-1) at N. Dakota St. (1-0), 2:30 p.m.

Boston College (0-0) at Cincinnati (0-0), 2:30 p.m.

N. Illinois (0-0) at Iowa (0-0), 3:15 p.m.

Illinois St. (1-0) at W. Illinois (1-0), 6 p.m.

W. Michigan (0-0) at Michigan (0-0), 6:30 p.m.

S. Dakota St. (1-0) at Northwestern (0-0), 7 p.m.

SOUTHWEST Oregon St. (0-0) at Houston (0-0), 11 a.m.

UT Rio Grande Valley (1-0) at UTSA (0-0), 2:30 p.m.

Texas State (0-0) at Texas (0-0), 2:30 p.m.

Oklahoma St. (0-0) at Tulsa (0-0), 2:45 p.m.

North Alabama (1-0) at Arkansas (0-0), 3:15 p.m.

Missouri St. (0-0) at Texas A&M (0-0), 6 p.m.

Abilene Christian (0-1) at Texas Tech (0-0), 6 p.m.

Houston Christian (1-0) at Rice (0-0), 6 p.m.

East Texas A&M (0-1) at Stephen F. Austin (1-0), 7 p.m.

FAR WEST Duquesne (0-0) at Air Force (0-0), noon Boise St. (0-0) at Oregon (0-0), 2:30 p.m.

Wyoming (0-0) at Colorado St. (0-0), 5 p.m.

Idaho St. (1-0) at Utah St. (0-0), 6 p.m.

N. Iowa (0-0) at E. Washington (0-1), 6 p.m.

Utah Tech (0-1) at BYU (0-0), 7 p.m.

Mercyhurst (0-1) at New Mexico St. (0-1), 8 p.m.

N. Arizona (1-0) at Arizona (0-0), 8:30 p.m.

Portland St. (0-1) at San Diego St. (0-0), 8:30 p.m.

UNLV (0-1) at Hawaii (0-1), 9 p.m.

UC Davis (1-0) at San Diego (0-0), 9 p.m.

Morgan St. (1-0) at Arizona St. (0-0), 9 p.m.

Cent. Michigan (0-0) at New Mexico (0-0), 9 p.m.

MVSU (0-1) at Sacramento St. (0-1), 9 p.m.

W. Kentucky (0-0) at Nevada (0-0), 9:30 p.m.

UCLA (0-0) at California (0-0), 9:30 p.m.

Sunday’s games

SOUTH Ole Miss (0-0) vs. Louisville (0-0) at Nashville, Tenn., 6:30 p.m.

MIDWEST Notre Dame (0-0) vs. Wisconsin (0-0) at Green Bay, Wis., 6:30 p.m.

FAR WEST Washington St. (0-0) at Washington (0-0), 3 p.m.

Monday’s game

SOUTH SMU (0-0) at Florida St. (1-0), 6:30 p.m.

State schedule

Saturday’s games

Tulane at Duke, 2:30 p.m.

Southeastern at South Alabama, 6 p.m.

Texas Wesleyan at McNeese St., 6 p.m.

Central St. (Ohio) at Grambling, 6 p.m.

Kentucky St. at Southern, 6 p.m.

Nicholls State at Kansas St., 6 p.m.

Clemson at LSU, 6:30 p.m.

Northwestern St. at Louisiana Tech, 6:30 p.m.

Louisiana-Monroe at Mississippi St., 6:30 p.m.

Lamar at UL, 7 p.m.

Tennis U.S. Open Results Tuesday At The USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center New York Purse: $5,438,400 Surface: Hardcourt outdoor Men’s Singles First Round Flavio Cobolli (5), Italy, def. Francisco Comesana, Argentina, 3-6, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.

Taylor Fritz (9), United States, def. Darwin Blanch, United States, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4.

Mattia Bellucci, Italy, def. Zsombor Piros, Hungary, 6-4, 6-2, 6-0.

Francisco Cerundolo (24), Argentina, def.

Filip Misolic, Austria, 6-4, 6-3, 7-5.

Dane Sweeny, Australia, def. Corentin Moutet, France, 7-6 (4), 6-4, 3-0, ret.

Jan-Lennard Struff, Germany, def. Camilo Ugo Carabelli, Argentina, 6-4, 6-3, 6-3.

Tristan Schoolkate, Australia, def. Nishesh Basavareddy, United States, 7-6 (4), 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.

Lorenzo Musetti (13), Italy, def. Arthur Fery, Britain, 6-3, 6-3, 7-5.

Women’s Singles First Round Madison Keys (22), United States, def. Alina Korneeva, Russia, 7-5, 6-4.

Eva Lys, Germany, def. Gabriela Knutson, Czechia, 6-3, 6-3.

Elena Rybakina (2), Kazakhstan, def. Thea Frodin, United States, 6-3, 6-2.

Yuliia Starodubtseva, Ukraine, def. Ella Seidel, Germany, 6-2, 6-2.

Anna Bondar, Hungary, def. Lucie Havlickova, Czechia, 6-3, 6-3.

Mirra Andreeva (5), Russia, def. Janice Tjen, Indonesia, 6-2, 6-2.

Maria Sakkari (32), Greece, def. Robin Montgomery, United States, 2-6, 7-5, 6-2.

Yulia Putintseva, Kazakhstan, def. Belinda Bencic (12), Switzerland, 4-6, 7-5, 6-3.

Elise Mertens (23), Belgium, def. Kaitlin Quevedo, Spain, 6-4, 6-4.

Oleksandra Oliynykova, Ukraine, def. Reese Brantmeier, United States, 6-4, 6-4.

Anastasia Potapova (24), Russia, def. Darja Semenistaja, Latvia, 6-2, 6-2.

Transactions NFL ATLANTA FALCONS — Placed LB JD Bertrand on injured reserve. Signed LB Josh Woods from the practice squad to the active roster.

CAROLINA PANTHERS — Placed OL Brady Christensen on injured reserve. Signed LB Bobby Okereke. Signed LB Tyrel Dodson and DT Anthony Goodlow to the practice squad.

WASHINGTON COMMANDERS — Signed T Esa Pole, TEs Joshua Simon and Jack Westover and CB Isaac Yiadom to the practice squad.

THE BEST THINGS WE ATE THIS WEEK

LIVING

STAFF PHOTO By LAUREN CHERAMIE

Moroccan braised lamb shank from The Colonel’s Club in Baton Rouge

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

|

W e d n e s d ay, s e p t e m b e r 2, 2026

5Cn

Staff digs deep to find big flavors in pairings Staff report

Moroccan braised lamb shank

n The Colonel’s Club, 2857 Per-

kins Road, Baton Rouge

If you’re aiming to go big with an order, may I suggest the braised lamb shank from The Colonel’s Club?

I ordered this dish for my birthday dinner, and I was so satisfied with myself for picking it. The dish features spinach goat cheese polenta, pistachio gremolata and harissa braised demi-glace. Alone, each of the elements are splendid, but combined, it’s magic.

The demi-glace, or brown sauce, has a nice smoky kick to it, which pairs well with the lamb that fell off the bone.

Paired with the polenta, the dish is light yet hearty with a nice umami flavor profile.

— Lauren Cheramie, deputy features editor

KOK Wings & Things offers loaded fries and wings catering options.

Gameday grub

PROVIdEd PHOTO

Beef pho from Pho Home in Lafayette

Beef pho and dumplings

n Pho Home, 120 Curran Lane,

Lafayette

I really enjoyed Pho Home because they offer an all-day combo special for anyone who wants a sample of it all. The popular combo special includes an appetizer, a large noodle soup or entree and a drink for $23.

For my appetizer, I went with the chicken fried dumplings, which were fried to perfection.

For my entree, I had the beef pho that had various meats in it, including ribeye steak, brisket and beef meatballs. Not only was the combo special a deal I couldn’t pass up, but everything tasted great. The portions were enough that I even had some left over to take home.

— Ja’Kori Madison, features reporter

Elevate your tailgating experience with Acadiana area meal packages

BY JA’KORI MADISON Staff writer

Football season has officially kicked off, and that means gathering with friends and family, cheering on your favorite team, and, of course, good food.

Whether you’re at home hosting or heading to the tailgate, having a quick food spread can make game days easier.

We’ve rounded up seven readyto-serve tailgate packages from a variety of Lafayette restaurants.

Most meals require pre-orders and are ready to serve when picked up — making it easy to spend less time cooking and more time enjoying the game.

Some restaurants also offer delivery, but calling ahead is required.

Tea and bang bang shrimp

n Dumpling & Bao, 6212 Siegen

Johnson’s Boucanière

Lane, Baton Rouge

The peach oolong tea at Dumpling & Bao comes in a beautiful, heavy teapot with a plate of accoutrement including lemon wedges, sugar and honey. The peach flavor is delicious, and the warm temperature is soothing. It elevated an already phenomenal meal, and now, I’ll have to order the tea every time I go.

I also ordered some fried rice and my usual favorite (soup dumplings), but the bang bang shrimp dish was a hit in particular. The shrimp is fried in a crispy batter, placed on a bed of lettuce and drizzled with sauce. Yum. I keep returning to Dumpling & Bao because the service is friendly, the atmosphere is immersive, and the food is packed with flavor while also being very affordable. For two diners, I’m able to order about three dishes and a round of tea for $50 to $60. Not too bad at all.

— Maddie Scott, features reporter

PROVIdEd PHOTOS

n 1111 St. John St.

Known for its boudin, smoked

smoked meats for tailgates.

Everything is cooked to order, so orders must be placed at least 72 hours in advance. The restaurant offers a build-your-own buffet method, allowing customers to decide how much they need.

Meat options include boudin for $9.55 per pound, pulled ribs for $24.80 per pound, country-style ribs for $24.80 per pound, sliced brisket for $33.60 per pound and chopped brisket for $33.60 per pound.

Sides are available by the pint, with each pint serving about four people. Options include green beans for $5.80, coleslaw for $7, homemade mac and cheese for $8, Johnson’s Boucanière has potato salad for $8.80, baked beans barbecue smoked country-style ribs for $8.80, jambalaya for $9.60 and available for catering orders. cornbread dressing for $9.60.

Orders are pickup only and can sausage, tasso and other Cajun spe- be placed by calling (337) 269-8878. cialty meats, Johnson’s Boucanière Visit johnsonsboucaniere.com for offers a variety of barbecue, speä See TAILGATING, page 6C cialty sandwiches and slow-cooked

BUTTER BELIEVE IT

Paris gets a boutique devoted to butter Owner of Le Butter Shop, Erwan Leo, poses in his first shop devoted entirely to butter in Paris, France, on Tuesday.

AP PHOTO By CHRISTOPHE ENA

BY NICOLAS GARRIGA and THOMAS ADAMSON

family producers in Brittany, the Loire Valley and northern France.

Associated Press France eats around 18 pounds PARIS — The contradiction of of butter per person a year, so the trim Parisian and the butter says the agriculture ministry.

It’s among the most in the world. croissant now has a storefront.

Le Butter Shop, billed as Paris’ Yet the home of Chanel and Dior first boutique devoted entirely keeps an obesity rate well below to butter, opened last month a the average for wealthy nations short walk from the Eiffel Tower ä See BUTTER, page 6C — with 30 varieties from small

6C ● Wednesday, September 2, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

lll

Treating a stain for the first time

Ton’s downtown offers pasta salad with shrimp as a catering option.

PROVIdEd PHOTO

the drain area. We’ve tried Dear Heloise: My go-to magic erasers in multiple solution for ink stains is strengths so as not to damhairspray. Simply spray the ink spot, let age the finish, but to it soak for a few no avail. minutes, then wash Any help would be the item as usual. greatly appreciated; When treating a we just moved in stain for the first a few months ago, time, I never put and this is our guest Hints from bathroom. — Kate L., the item in the Heloise in Winston-Salem, North dryer, as heat will set the stain. InCarolina Kate, take a gentle oxstead, I air-dry the item and repeat the process if alic acid, or make a paste necessary. — Hede H., in Keno- out of baking soda, a little hydrogen peroxide, and sha, Wisconsin water; then apply this to A clear view the affected area. Let it sit for about half an hour.

Dear Heloise: Early in July, Rinse with warm water, a reader suggested using and using a sponge, scrub shaving cream to easily the area with a circular clean eyeglasses. My tip motion. — Heloise is similar; I use a small amount of foaming soap on Fans don’t cool rooms each lens right from the pump bottle. It rinses off Dear Heloise: I just learned easily and leaves the lens something very interestspotless with just a tising from our HVAC guy: Fans do not cool rooms; sue. I find that this is even they work by cooling the easier than using shaving body. So, if no one’s in the cream. — Rich C., in Richmond, room, the fans are serving Virginia no purpose and are just Fiberglass stains gobbling up energy. This surprised me, so I Googled Dear Heloise: We hung it. He’s correct. our somewhat-wet bathWe used to leave our ing suits on the shower fans on all the time when bar above our fiberglass it was hot, but now we tub/surround, and they make sure to turn them dripped, causing a light blue and yellowish color on off, just like the lights, the wall of the tub down to when we leave the room. —

TAILGATING

By The Associated Press

specific menu items available for catering.

Off The Hook

n 101 Liberty Ave.

Don’s Seafood

n 4309 Johnston St.

Don’s Seafood offers several options for feeding a crowd, with orders available for pickup. Orders must be placed at least 24 hours in advance.

An appetizer tray with fried catfish, fried shrimp, crab fingers and onion rings, served with tartar and cocktail sauce, is $90 and serves 10 to 15 people. A fried catfish tray with Louisiana catfish and tartar sauce is $80 and also serves 10 to 15 people.

A gallon of gumbo, étouffée or bisque, served with rice and bread, is $90 and serves eight to 10 people.

Other options include 40 meat pies for $55 and 40 boudin balls for $55.

A gallon of red beans, served with rice and bread, is $60 and serves eight to 10 people.

For more catering options, visit donsseafoodonline.com or call (337) 981-1141.

Joey’s Lafayette

n 503 Bertrand Drive

Joey’s Lafayette has a variety of cold appetizers, salads and hot food selections available through its everyday catering menu.

Orders require a 24-hour notice and are pickup only.

Call (337) 237-3661 to place a catering order. A full menu is available on the restaurant’s Facebook page.

The catering menu includes hummus dip with fresh vegetables, sun-dried tomatoes, kalamata olives, feta and pita for $74.98,

Naughty squirrels Dear Heloise: My daughter has a bird feeder on a pole and had a problem with squirrels. She installed a slinky over the pole, and it prevented the pesky critters from climbing it. — A Reader, via email

Plastic produce bags Dear Heloise: For the hints regarding opening plastic produce bags, don’t use these bags at all! Buy your produce, place it in your cart, and upon arriving home, place it in the reusable bags that bread, tortillas and rolls come in.

No need to remember your cloth/mesh produce bags while shopping. Let’s not leave our children’s children in a plastic-infested world! — Rhonda C., Skamania County Fire District 4 Secretary, in Washington Send a hint to heloise@ heloise.com.

TODAY IN HISTORY

Continued from page 5C

Off The Hook offers a variety of Cajun-inspired dishes that can be ordered for pickup or delivery. Orders must be placed at least one hour in advance and paid for ahead of time.

Options include Southern catfish for $45 for 25 pieces or $80 for 40 pieces; Gulf shrimp for $55 for 3 pounds, serving 12 to 14 people, or $85 for 5 pounds, serving 18 to 20 people; and a po-boy tray with eight 7-inch poboys for $75.

Wrap trays with shrimp, chicken or a combination include 10 wraps, cut in half, for $75. Crawfish étouffée, serving 10 to 12 people, is $100. Sides and other options include fries for $35, serving 15 to 20 people, as well as hush puppies, boudin balls and more.

Orders can be placed by calling (337) 534-4148, through the Off The Hook app or online at offthehook. com.

Annie, in Montana Annie, here in Texas, ceiling fans are found in every home. They sort of stir the air and keep it moving. While this cools off a room and makes it less stuffy, it also stirs up dust and pet hair. Just something to think about!

— Heloise

PROVIdEd PHOTO

Off The Hook has shrimp and catfish platters available for catering orders. serving 16 to 20 people.

Charcuterie options featuring smoked tasso, prosciutto, salami, pepperoni, brie, havarti, pepper jack, cheddar, dried figs and dates, fresh berries, grapes and crackers range from $29.98 for four to six people to $180.98 for 20 to 22 people.

Finger sandwiches with assorted meat options are available for $45.98 for 50 pieces or $74.98 for 100 pieces.

Hot appetizers and heatand-serve sides, including macaroni and cheese and green bean casserole, are also available.

KOK Wings and Things

ranging from $70 to $150 depending on the size.

More options on their main dish menu include small pasta salads for $50 or $125 for a large, fried catfish with 40/50 pieces for $120 and fried shrimp with sauce for $120.

Catering orders are pickup only and require advance notice. Orders should be placed one week in advance by emailing eat@tonsdowntown.com or calling (337) 769-3404. Prices are subject to change and tax will be added to all catering orders.

A full menu is available at tonsdowntown.com.

Taco Sisters

n 405 E. University Ave.

n 3902 Johnston St.

Known for its wings, sauces and chicken fingers, KOK Wings & Things offers several options for feeding a tailgate crowd.

Orders must be placed 24 hours in advance and can be ordered online for pickup or delivery.

A 50-piece boneless wing order is $51.99 and serves about 10 people, while 50 breaded wings are $62.99. A 100-piece order of boneless or breaded wings is $100 and serves up to 20 people.

Customers can choose their wings and sauce or a dry rub.

Medium pans of fries are $11.99, while large pans are $18.99. Loaded fries are available for an additional $6.

Fish sliders are available in 15 pieces for $39.99 or 30 pieces for $54.99. A 25-piece boneless wing order with fries is $44.99, or $47.99 for breaded wings.

Orders can be placed online at eatkok.com. Delivery options can be chosen at checkout for a fee.

Taco Sisters offers freshmade tacos, burritos, bowls, salads and house-smoked meats with Cajun-inspired flavors.

Orders require 48 hours’ notice, with pickup and delivery available. Customers can order through EZCater or by calling (337) 234-8226.

Each Taco Sisters catering order includes a choice of up to three proteins, flour, whole-wheat or gluten-free tortillas, lettuce mix, Sisters Secret Sauce, cheddar cheese, pico de gallo, green chili rice, black or refried beans and a choice of extra fixings and sauces.

Protein options include brisket, chicken, ground beef, pork, tuna or shrimp.

Party platter options include wrap trays for $95 with brisket, fish or shrimp, or $85 with chicken, pork, beef or veggie. A Fiesta Summer Salad is $50 and serves 15 to 20 people, with shrimp available for an additional $40 or chicken for $25.

Burrito boxes are $85 for 10 burritos and include beans, cheddar cheese, green chili rice, green onions and a choice of sauce.

Enchilada trays include 20 enchiladas for $75 with shrimp or brisket, or $65 with pork, ground beef or veggie.

For more options, visit tacosisters.com or call (337) 234-8226.

Ton’s Downtown

n 500 Jefferson St.

Ton’s Downtown offers a variety of trays and platters for tailgates and other gatherings, including chicken salad sandwiches, mixed deli meat sandwiches, poboy trays and fried chicken sliders with hot honey.

The fried chicken sliders are $75 for two dozen sandwiches. Baked turkey, baked Email Ja’kori Madison ham and beef lasagna are at jakori.madison@ also available, with prices theadvocate.com.

promote learning in such fields as math and science.

In 1963, Alabama Gov. Today is Wednesday, George C. Wallace preSept. 2, the 245th day of 2026. There are 120 days vented the integration of left in the year.

Tuskegee High School by Today in history: encircling the building On Sept. 2, 1945, with state troopers.

Japan formally surIn 1969, in what some rerendered in ceremonies gard as the birth of the inaboard the USS Missouri in ternet, two connected comTokyo Bay, ending World puters at the University War II. of California, Los Angeles, Also on this date: passed test data through a In 1666, the Great Fire 15-foot cable. of London began, which In 1998, a Swissair MDwould destroy more than 11 jetliner crashed off 13,000 homes and hunNova Scotia, killing all 229 people aboard. dreds of additional strucIn 2005, four days aftures, including St. Paul’s Cathedral, over the ensuter Hurricane Katrina, a National Guard convoy ing three days.

In 1789, the United States packed with food, water Treasury Department was and medicine rolled into New Orleans. established.

In 2013, on her fifth atIn 1864, during the Civil War, Union Gen. William T. tempt, U.S. endurance Sherman’s forces occupied swimmer Diana Nyad Atlanta. became the first person to In 1935, a Category 5 swim from Cuba to Florida hurricane slammed into without using a shark cage. the Florida Keys on Labor In 2018, a huge fire enDay, claiming more than gulfed Brazil’s 200-year400 lives. old National Museum in In 1958, President Rio de Janeiro, as firefightDwight D. Eisenhower ers and museum workers signed the National Deraced to save historical fense Education Act, which relics.

In 2019, a fire swept a provided aid to public vessel carrying recreationand private education to

BUTTER

Continued from page 5C — 14%, compared to an average of 19% for the developed countries that make up the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

At the new boutique, customers taste by the spoonful before buying anything from a 10-gram pat to a 2.2-pound block: the classics, then shallot, pepper, seaweed, wild garlic, fine herbs and lemon with green pepper.

At the sweet end: vanilla, raspberry, strawberry and chocolate.

“Most people don’t expect to like a raspberry butter or to like chocolate butter,” said owner Erwan Leo, 34.

“And when they try it, this is where they’re just like, ‘Oh wow, OK.’” Leo, who also runs a winetasting business, said butter should be used like wine, to make a meal better — “the goal isn’t to get drunk.”

Tourists, locals are curious Mehreen Himayat, 25, and Salman Bin Ehsan, 27, of Dublin, Ireland — a country known for its rich golden butter — saw videos of the shop at home in Dublin, Ireland, before traveling to France.

“We came here just to taste the butter,” Bin Ehsan told The Associated Press.

Alexandra Incolano, a 36-year-old who lives near Paris, came to the shop with a specific mission.

“I’m getting married on Saturday and I’m going to have a cheese centerpiece,” Incolano said. “I saw on Instagram that they had lots of great butters and I thought it could be a little something extra for my guests, a little surprise.”

The reputation of French butter is also attracting visitors who work professionally with food.

“I know that there’s some of the best butter in France, but I’ve never tried any,” said Aleksandr Balaban, a 31-year-old Estonian chef working in Norway. “I work in Norway; they really like salted butter, and my friend asked me to bring him some French butter as well.”

The French butter paradox Leo said the secret to savoring fatty butter is to be like Parisians: Walk a lot, and practice moderation.

“We don’t go beyond four tartines a day,” he said, referring to a French openfaced sandwich.

Tasting butter works like tasting wine, he said: “You have to grab your spoon, you put it on your palate, on your tongue, it has to melt a little bit, and then the flavors are going to start coming one by one.”

“The Italians choose olive oil; we choose butter,” Leo

al scuba divers that was anchored near an island off the Southern California coast; the captain and four other crew members were able to escape the flames, but 34 people who were trapped below died.

In 2024, an attempted jailbreak in Congo’s main prison left at least 129 people dead, including some who were shot by guards and soldiers and others who died in a stampede at the overcrowded penitentiary in Kinshasa.

Today’s birthdays: Former United States Olympic Committee Chairman and former Major League Baseball commissioner Peter Ueberroth is 89.

Football Hall of Famer Terry Bradshaw is 78.

Basketball Hall of Famer Nate Archibald is 78. Actor Mark Harmon is 75. Tennis Hall of Famer Jimmy Connors is 74. Football Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson is 66. Former British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is 64. Actor Keanu Reeves is 62. Boxing Hall of Famer Lennox Lewis is 61. Actor Salma Hayek is 60. R&B singer K-Ci is 57. Electronic music DJ/producer Zedd is 37.

said. “We learn how to master it.”

Neighborhood supermarkets give butter a vocabulary: beurre doux, demi-sel and beurre salé, sometimes studded with salt crystals.

Bakers fold it into croissants; cooks whisk it into sauces.

Butter is the fat of France’s dairy-producing north and west, and of Brittany above all.

Salt preserved it before refrigeration, and Brittany’s exemption from the gabelle, France’s old salt tax, kept Breton butter salted as much of the country went unsalted.

The legacy lives on in crêpes, salted caramel and kouign-amann, whose Breton name means “butter cake.”

Leo’s producers churn from selected cows and higher-fat milk; an extra 2 or 3 percentage points, he said, “really makes a huge difference.”

The tiny shop has drawn crowds through social media and now has a staff of four.

“From day one, it’s been crazy,” Leo said. “Most people come in with wanting to try one or two butters, they end up trying 25 butters because they’re just so curious.”

Next up: a croissant-flavored butter, and perhaps violet.

“This is limitless,” Leo said.

The Acadiana Advocate ● theadvocate.com ● Wednesday, September 2, 2026 ● 7C

lll

FrAnK And erneSt

roSebUdS

zItS

zodIAC VIRGo (Aug. 23-sept. 22) Your timing is essential. Refuse to let pressure push you to make a premature move. Do your homework. Put your energy into expanding your knowledge and gaining experience.

LIBRA (sept. 23-oct. 23) A change at home will lift your spirits. Refuse to let extra energy stir up anxiety and disagreements with loved ones. Focus on progress and putting your house in order. scoRPIo (oct. 24-nov. 22) Watch, wait and sum up what's happening before you engage. Refuse to let emotions take over and lead to regret. Follow the path that allows you to immerse yourself in creative endeavors. sAGIttARIus (nov. 23-Dec. 21) Keep your life simple, be a good listener and don't rock the boat. Too much of anything will lead to trouble. Focus on home, inner growth and having a healthy lifestyle. cAPRIcoRn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Pay attention to money matters and subscriptions you no longer use or want. Focus on bringing money in, not letting it slip through your fingers.

AQuARIus (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) A long-overdue change is waiting for your goahead. Refuse to let emotions stand in your way or lead you astray. Put your heart and soul into what you want.

PIscEs (Feb. 20-March 20) Attending networking events or getting together with people who share your interests will be rejuvenating and offer food for

thought. Consider an idea that allows you to use your skills in a different industry.

ARIEs (March 21-April 19) Taking a creative approach will help broaden your scope and encourage you to step outside your comfort zone. What you embrace will resonate with people who have something to contribute. tAuRus (April 20-May 20) Having consideration for others will help you gain respect you need to get things done properly and on time. Giving a pep talk or taking the initiative to lead others will boost your confidence.

GEMInI (May 21-June 20) Change begins with you. Research and fill your head with ideas and solutions. Take a step forward with the intent of making a difference. Change your social circle to reflect your beliefs. cAncER (June 21-July 22) Tidy up. Tuck things away, and clear your house and your mind of all the clutter. Take pressure off yourself so you can reclaim your freedom. Allow yourself the time to use your imagination.

LEo (July 23-Aug. 22) Be receptive to different lifestyles, new beginnings and shedding negative influences from your orbit. Change begins with you, and your happiness is your responsibility.

Learn from the past.

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

For better or For WorSe WonderWord

peAnUtS

SALLY Forth

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

toDAy's cLuE: E EQuALs K

Mother GooSe And GrIMM

SherMAn’S LAGoon FAMILY CIrCUS

dooneSbUrY

8C ● Wednesday, September 2, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

CurTiS

Hi and LoiS

lll

Sudoku InstructIons: Sudoku is a number-placing puzzle based on a 9x9 grid with several given numbers.

The object is to place the numbers 1 to 9 in the empty squares so that each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once. The difficulty level of the Sudoku increases from Monday to Sunday.

Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer

BaBY BLueS

BLondie

THe wiZard oF id

nea CroSSwordS

La TimeS CroSSword

The Acadiana Advocate ● theadvocate.com ● Wednesday, September 2, 2026 ● 9C

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B.C.

Bridge

By PHILLIP ALDER Kin Hubbard, a journalist and humorist who died in 1930, said, “Everything comes to him who waits, except a loaned book.”

I assume he means that if you lend someone a book, you will never get it back. I agree with that. However, the word “except” applies to this deal. What should West lead against four hearts?

East opened with a weak two-bid, showing a respectable six-card suit and 6-10 high-card points. Then, after South overcalled three hearts, West raised spades, applying the Law of Total Tricks. With nine trumps, bid to the nine-trick level.

However, in this instance, it was perhaps not the best choice. It effectively pushed North into bidding four hearts.

And if West had then bid four spades, he would have given the opponents a fielder’s choice — double or bid higher.

Here, though, he allowed the prevailing vulnerability to keep him quiet.

There was a strong case for jumping straight to four spades over three hearts, to pressure North. And pressured him it would have. He might well have gone to five hearts.

Now to West’s lead. It is normal to select partner’s suit — except when you have an ace-king holding in an unbid side suit. Here, West should definitely lead the club ace. East will signal with the

garfield

Pearls Before swiNe

hagar the horriBle

eight, starting a high-low (an echo) with his doubleton. West will cash the club king and lead a third round. East will ruff it and the diamond ace will defeat the contract.

Note that after a spade lead, declarer will ruff his low spades in the dummy, draw trumps and lose only three tricks. © 2026 by NEA, Inc., dist. By Andrews McMeel Syndication

wuzzles Each Wuzzle is a word riddle which creates a disguised word, phrase, name, place, saying, etc. For example: NOON GOOD = GOOD AFTERNOON

PiCKles

Previous answers:

mallard fillmore

word game InstRuctIons: 1. Words must be of four or more letters. 2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed. 3.

Additional words made by adding a “d” or an “s” may not be used. 4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed.

toDAy’s WoRD — VIntAGE: VIN-tij: A season’s yield of grapes or wine from a

Bizarro

marmaduKe

vineyard.

Average mark 20 words Time limit 35 minutes Can you find 30 or more words in VINTAGE? yEstERDAy’s WoRD — QuAcKERy quack quake quark quay query urea acre aery cake

care crake creak creaky cure ecru race rack racy

rake ruck yare year

loCKhorNs hidato Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer

today’s thought “Justice and judgment are the habitation of your throne: mercy and truth shall go before your face.” Psalms 89:14

God is good and God is holy. G.E. Dean

10C ● Wednesday, September 2, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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TODAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

MONDAY

Humid with a t-storm in spots

Humid; a stray p.m. t-storm

A heavy t-storm in the p.m.

Humid; a stray p.m. t-storm

Humid with a t-storm in spots

A t-storm around in the a.m.

HIGH

LOW

HIGH

90° 76°

LOW

HIGH

92° 75°

LOW

90° 74°

Beaumont 88/77 Port Arthur 86/77

Baton Rouge 93/75

Lake Charles 89/76

New Orleans 91/77 Houma 89/74

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

0s

Hattiesburg 95/74

Alexandria 91/73

Lafayette 90/76

10s

20s

30s

40s

50s

LOW

HIGH

LOW

93° 75°

YESTERDAY

TODAY

REAdING 32 MAIN POLLUTANT Ozone

MAIN POLLUTANT Ozone

Lafayette through 5 p.m. Tuesday

Jackson 96/75 Many 87/73

HIGH

91° 73°

TEMPERATURE

Longview 91/76

-0s

LOW

Monroe 96/75

Shreveport 93/75

-10s

HIGH

91° 76°

Well, what’s left of Edouard is spinning over eastern Texas this morning and is bringing more rain and flooding potential to that area. In Acadiana, we are under a marginal risk of excessive rainfall that could lead to some measure of flash flooding this afternoon.

So expect a partly cloudy, hot, humid and breezy day with scattered showers and thunderstorms. Temperatures this afternoon will rise to the low to mid-90s with heat index or “feels like” temperatures up to 103 or higher.

60s

70s

80s

90s 100s 110s

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

Sunrise today Sunset tonight Moonrise today Moonset today LAST

SEP 4

City

Austin Boston dallas Fairbanks Honolulu Las Vegas Louisville Miami Nashville

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

84°/76° 91°/74° 90°/75° 101° in 2000 57° in 1915

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

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

HIGH

11:52a 6:04a 5:29a 12:34a 1:30a 12:51a 2:38a

6:45 a.m.

7:30 p.m.

10:45 p.m.

12:16 p.m.

NEW

FIRST

SEP 10

Hi

99 72 96 51 90 94 98 91 101

TODAY Lo

78 65 78 29 77 73 76 79 73

FULL

SEP 18

W

pc c t pc sh pc s t s

SEP 26

Hi

THU.

97 76 92 49 88 95 99 90 99

GOOd

PRECIPITATION

Lo

77 66 78 44 75 74 78 81 75

W

t t t r sh s s t s

FT.

LOW

0.19” 0.19” 0.20” 43.98” 43.88”

FT.

HIGH

0.7 --- --1.7 3:30p 0.4 1.9 12:36p 0.1 1.6 3:27a 1.5 1.4 12:58p 0.2 1.6 11:35a 0.3 1.7 2:00p 0.3

FT.

--- ----- ----- --7:07a 1.7 --- ----- ----- ---

SOURCE: LOUISIANA dEQ ANd AIRNOW.GOV

LOW

FT.

--- ----- ----- --4:18p 0.3 --- ----- ----- ---

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 Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday

City

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

3:57a 4:56a 5:57a 6:57a 7:54a 8:49a 9:40a

Hi

91 90 79 102 91 99 99 78 90

10:11a 4:24p 10:38p 11:11a 5:25p 11:40p 12:12p 6:27p ---12:41a 7:28p 1:12p 1:39a 8:25p 2:10p 2:34a 9:18p 3:04p 3:26a 10:07p 3:54p

TODAY Lo

77 76 73 82 72 76 80 65 77

W

t t pc s t pc s s t

GOOd

Hi

93 90 90 101 90 99 99 79 89

THU. Lo

77 76 74 81 68 75 81 67 79

W

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

FLOOD STAGE

34 48 48 35 27 22 17

TUE. 24-HOUR STAGE CHANGE

4.70 29.60 31.50 15.90 9.10 6.67 5.00

-2.18 -0.76 -0.30 none none -0.13 none

40

17.17

-1.09

19

-1.62

-0.11

18 29 8

-1.13 10.19 2.94

-0.12 -0.26 +0.31

13 15

1.60 0.79

-0.11 -0.07

47 34 29 20 12 6

14.54 9.94 8.02 6.70 4.00 2.70

+0.14 +0.29 -0.09 +0.25 +0.20 -0.08

data as of 7 a.m. Tuesday

t t t s t pc s s t

Forecasts and graphics, except for damon’s Outlook, provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2026

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

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