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Steel plant hearing draws big crowd Hundreds turn out to weigh in on proposed Hyundai facility

BY ANNAKATE FREELAND Staff writer

Hundreds of Ascension Parish residents and public ofﬁcials gathered Tuesday night to weigh in on the proposed air permit for Hyundai’s $5.8 billion steel manufacturing facility, with supporters touting the project’s economic potential and opponents raising concerns about air quality, jobs and its impact on the surrounding community. The nearly four-hour public hearing came just days before the plant’s groundbreaking. The pro-

posed air permit spans more than 2,100 pages. The public has until Sept. 15 to submit comments to the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality. Every seat in the Lemann Memorial Center in Donaldsonville was full. Many attendees wore shirts showing their support for the project, while members of the Good Neighbors Louisiana coalition wore blue as they voiced opposition to the permit. The planned $5.8 billion plant will be built on approximately 1,700 acres in the RiverPlex MegaPark near Modeste.

The facility, set to begin operations in 2029, is a collaboration between two South Korean manufacturing giants — Hyundai, the world’s third-largest automobile maker, and POSCO, the seventhlargest steel producer. The mill will supply Hyundai Motor Group’s automotive plants and other original equipment manufacturers across the U.S. As a result, every Hyundai vehicle assembled in America will be made with steel produced in Donaldsonville. Of all the public officials who

PHOTO By PATRICK DENNIS

Proponents, left, and opponents, right, wear their respective shirts at the ä See HEARING, page 7A air permit hearing for Hyundai Steel on Tuesday in Donaldsonville.

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Deputy: Warden ordered jail beatings cover-up Court filing details alleged abuse of handcuffed inmates BY PATRICK SLOAN-TURNER Staff writer

The top wardens at a Louisiana jail tried to orchestrate a cover-up after guards pepper-sprayed, handcuffed and beat subdued inmates with electric riot shields, a former deputy testified in federal court. Former Catahoula Parish Correctional Center Warden Jeremy Wiley and five other jail officials were indicted in May on a slew of charges related to the alleged brutality at the jail on Feb. 1, 2024. Wiley faces 13 counts of civil rights abuse along with Assistant Warden Gary Allen, former jail Col. William Savage and former Chief of Security James Wathen. All four entered not guilty pleas at their arraignments. Carl Michael Williamson, the jail’s former transportation director, pleaded guilty to a single count of civil rights abuse. Allen was also charged with witness tampering, while all five face additional counts of falsifying reports. On Aug. 19, former Deputy Chad Littleton pleaded guilty to conspiracy to violate civil rights. He says Wiley and Allen learned the FBI was investigating the incident and instructed him to cover it up by fabricating a report that omitted the assault of 13 inmates and pretrial detainees. Littleton had previously pleaded not

ABOVE: A cross is placed on the steeple of the new St. Luke’s Episcopal Church on Wednesday. The cross was one of the few items salvaged after a fire destroyed the church in February 2024. RIGHT: A crowd gathers to cheer and take videos from across the street as a cross is put in place. STAFF PHOTOS By PEARL SPURLOCK

ä See COVER-UP, page 7A

Talk of data center circulating in Livingston Parish BY GIGI LIMAN

power artiﬁcial intelligence computing is on its way, asserting that a deal has been made and that elected officials Rumors have started swirling about a have signed nondisclosure agreements data center potentially coming to Liv- to keep it hidden from the public. In response, Parish President Randy ingston Parish. In recent days, posts circulating on Delatte put out a video Tuesday saying social media have claimed that one of he had not signed an NDA and that there the centers used by tech companies to was “no data center project that I can

Staff writer

WEATHER HIGH 94 LOW 75 PAGE 6B

announce today.” But that doesn’t mean there might not be one in the future. A 691-acre commercial tract off La. 447 in Walker is on the market, and its broker is pitching it as a potential data center, Delatte said in an interview. “There has been a broker that wants to bring a data center in,” Delatte said.

“He doesn’t have a client yet, so he has to go through that process, and the client has to look to see if that can work for them.” Delatte said he supports the idea of bringing a data center to the property, contingent on the details.

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

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102ND yEAR, NO. 65

2A ■ Thursday, September 3, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

BRIEFS

FROM WIRE REPORTS

Pabst Blue Ribbon offers $20K to help find beer

Pabst Blue Ribbon wants its beer back, and it’s offering a reward to help that happen. Greig DeBow, the CEO of Pabst Brewing Co., said Wednesday that the company will pay up to $20,000 to anyone who provides new information that leads to the recovery of 1,602 cases of Pabst Blue Ribbon and non-alcoholic Old Milwaukee beer. The beer went missing Aug. 17 in Southern California. “I’m sure they look cool with a garage full of PBR,” DeBow said in a post on TikTok. “That’s actually not cool though. We want it back.” Police in Montclair, California, said the beer was stolen from a warehouse in two separate incidents on the same day. In the ﬁrst heist, about $45,000 worth of beer headed to Tucson, Arizona, was picked up but never delivered, according to police. An hour later, a “purported subcontracting company” submitted fake documents to pick up another $25,000 worth of beer, Montclair police said. Both thefts occurred on Aug. 17 at an Anheuser-Busch distribution center about 40 miles east of Los Angeles. All told, the thieves made off with 40,000 pounds of beer, Pabst said. Police estimated that the stolen beer was worth $70,000. DeBow said the company wants the beer to be returned by Sept. 9. Anyone with information is asked to email hotline@ pabst.com. The theft was one of several recent high-proﬁle food heists. Late last year, 40,000 oysters, lobster worth $400,000 and a cache of crabmeat all were stolen in separate incidents within weeks of each other in New England.

Turkish ship with 10 crew sinks after collision ISTANBUL — A Turkish cargo ship with 10 crew aboard sank Wednesday after a collision with a tanker off Istanbul, and there were no immediate signs of survivors, Turkish authorities said. A lifeboat and other debris belonging to the Tugberk Imamoglu have been found but there is no sign of the crew, the General Directorate of Maritime Affairs said in a statement. “There are 10 seafarers on board, including the captain,” Transport Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu said. “They are all Turkish. We can say that the sinking occurred rapidly in 11 minutes. No one has been found alive.” Two helicopters and 12 search and rescue vessels were searching the area. The ship collided with the Turkish-ﬂagged tanker Alsu in the Marmara Sea at 3 a.m., the statement said. An emergency signal was received from the Tugberk Imamoglu and the ﬁrst rescue craft reached the site 4:10 a.m. The vessel, which was carrying rolled steel, collided with the Alsu about 20 miles south of Silivri, a western suburb of Turkey’s largest city.

At least 22 killed in bus crash in Egypt CAIRO — At least 22 people, including Egyptians and Jordanians, were killed Wednesday in a passenger bus crash in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, authorities in both countries said. Twentyeight others were injured. The accident happened on a road linking the tourist resorts of Dahab and Nuweiba in South Sinai province, the Egyptian Health Ministry said in a statement. The ministry said it deployed 20 ambulances to the scene to transport the dead and wounded to nearby hospitals. It didn’t elaborate on the victims’ nationalities. The Jordanian Foreign Ministry said there were Jordanians among the casualties, without providing a toll. The Amman-based al-Mamlaka public broadcaster reported that 10 Jordanians were killed in the crash. It said the bus was bound for Amman from Cairo when it overturned on a road between Dahab and Nuweiba. The Egyptian health ministry didn’t elaborate on the causes, but local media reported that the bus overturned after one of its tires blew out.

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Congo Ebola deaths top 3,000

Outbreak spreading at unprecedented speed BY CONSTANT SAME BAGALWA and OPE ADETAYO Associated Press

BUNIA, Congo — Congo’s Ebola outbreak has killed more than 3,000 people out of more than 6,100 conﬁrmed cases, according to the latest government data from Wednesday, as the disease is spreading at an unprecedented speed, faster than efforts to track and slow it. Data from Congo’s Ministry of Health showed the outbreak has recorded 6,186 confirmed cases, including 3,007 deaths since it was declared a global health emergency in mid-May. It remains the fastestgrowing outbreak of Ebola ever. Jean-Claude Angwanzia, a resident of Bunia, said that he left Mambassa in the epicenter of Ituri province, because he didn’t feel safe. He said that he hardly saw health workers and infected

bodies were being mishandled, prompting safety concerns. “I had to ﬂee the area because of the danger looming over us,” he said. The pace of the outbreak is putting a strain on people’s lives. Papy Baraka, a public transportation driver in Bunia, has had to cut down on the number of passengers he picks up in his car. “The disease puts everyone at risk, and daily life has slowed to a crawl. We are afraid,” he said. Recent weeks have witnessed a surge in cases, with two new health zones affected last week in North Kivu, where the fatality rate is much higher than in the rest of the affected provinces. The virus has spread to six provinces. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control said Tuesday in a report that the efforts to contain the virus “remained below established

response targets” and the fast expansion of the disease across many health zones indicates “uncontrolled expansion of the outbreak.” The report said that the statistics show that most of the cases are “occurring outside known transmission chains” as a result of the percentage of conﬁrmed new cases coming from only between 15% and 20% of known contacts. Director-General of the World Health Organization, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said on Wednesday that there are chains of transmission the health authorities are not aware of. “Until every chain is found and broken, the epidemic will continue; And it will continue to pose a threat to DRC, its neighbors, and the region as a whole,” he said. Health workers are struggling under difﬁcult conditions and have gone on strike multiple times to

demand their pay. The disease has continued to spread rapidly for several reasons, including conﬂict in the eastern region of the country where the outbreak is concentrated, attacks on health workers, miners constantly on the move, and inadequate health infrastructure. The resumption of school in the middle of the outbreak has also raised concerns about transmission in classrooms. The World Health Organization said that the outbreak is on track to exceed the deadliest on record, West Africa’s regional outbreak between 2014 and 2016, which killed 11,000 people. The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that the outbreak is possibly three times larger than the number of cases recorded, as surveillance and contact tracing are still weak. Despite that, the outbreak has already become Congo’s deadliest Ebola outbreak.

Driscoll offers no reason for his exit

Any concerns were abArmy secretary sent from Driscoll’s post X late Tuesday night, says Wednesday on which was his ﬁrst public was his last day statement since the White

BY BEN FINLEY and MARY CLARE JALONICK Associated Press TIMES MEDIA LTD PHOTO By RICHARD POHLE

Britain’s King Charles III and Queen Camilla, accompanied by French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron and Prime Minister Andy Burnham and his wife Marie-France van Heel, view the Bayeux Tapestry exhibition at the British Museum in London on Wednesday.

Macron, King Charles III hail intertwined histories Bayeux Tapestry exhibit in London viewed as ‘precious symbol of trust’

BY JILL LAWLESS

Associated Press

LONDON — French President Emmanuel Macron and Britain’s King Charles III hailed the Bayeux Tapestry as a symbol of their countries’ intertwined stories as they visited the 1,000-year-old artwork Wednesday at its temporary home in the British Museum. The two heads of state viewed the embroidered depiction of the 1066 Norman conquest of England alongside new Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who is eager to restitch bonds between Britain and its European neighbors that have been frayed by Brexit. Charles praised the agreement between Britain and France that brought the priceless, fragile tapestry to London, and called its presence there “a precious symbol of trust at a time when trust seems sadly to be in short supply between nations.” Macron said during a reception at the museum that the artwork is “more than just a linen canvas bordered with wool. It represents a whole chapter of French, British and European history.” “The epic it tells bound our cultures, our histories and our destinies together,” the French president said. France loaned the embroidery, insured for $1.1 billion, for a 10-month exhibition that opens to the public on Sept. 10. It was spirited from France to London by road

and rail in a clandestine high-security operation in July, the first time since the 11th century that it has touched British soil. Burnham said that the tapestry’s return “is a landmark moment in the history of our two nations.” Macron and his wife, Brigitte Macron, had tea with the king and Queen Camilla at their Clarence House residence before traveling to the museum by royal Bentley to meet Burnham, the prime minister’s wife, Marie-France van Heel, and members of the teams that brought the tapestry from France to the U.K. They walked the length of the tapestry, displayed horizontally in high-tech cases, and stopped to examine several of its 58 scenes of combat, coronation and the suffering of ordinary people swept up in the last successful invasion of England. Stitched in wool thread on linen fabric, the artwork depicts events leading up to the Battle of Hastings in October 1066, when William, Duke of Normandy, defeated King Harold’s Anglo-Saxon army. The invasion ended Saxon rule and made William the Conqueror the first Norman king of England. Historians believe the tapestry was commissioned by Bishop Odo of Bayeux, William’s half brother, and was probably sewn by women in England — possibly nuns — before being taken across the Channel. It has spent most of the last millennium in the town of Bayeux in northwest France, apart from two short periods at the Louvre Museum in Paris. The loan was agreed after delicate diplomatic negotiations, and despite concern from some French cultural figures about the risk of moving the delicate cloth.

Tiger Woods pleads no contest to reckless driving charge BY DANIEL KOZIN Associated Press

STUART, Fla. — Tiger Woods pleaded no contest to a reckless driving charge and his driver’s license was suspended for five years Wednesday following a March rollover crash in Florida, where he initially was accused of driving under the influence. Woods, still one of golf’s most influential figures and as recognizable as any athlete in the world, has had a remarkable fall since winning the 2019 Masters for his 15th major. The first person of Black

heritage to win the Masters in 1997, his career has been derailed by multiple back and knee surgeries, car crashes and dependence on pain medication. He was arrested in March after his SUV clipped a truck and rolled over on its side on a beachside residential road near his home on Jupiter Island. A sheriff’s report said deputies found two pain pills in his pocket and he showed signs of impairment. He did a Breathalyzer test, which came out negative, but refused to take a urine test. He pleaded not guilty to the original DUI charge.

WASHINGTON — Dan Driscoll has announced that his last full day as U.S. Army secretary was Wednesday, but his social media post offered no explanation for why he is stepping down after 18 months as the service’s civilian leader. Driscoll is a friend of Vice President JD Vance and has good relationships with both Republicans and Democrats in Congress. But tensions with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have been widely reported, and some of Driscoll’s allies in the Army were ousted this year by President Donald Trump’s Pentagon chief. Driscoll spoke with Trump on the current state of the Army before he submitted his resignation this week, The Associated Press has reported.

House confirmed his departure Monday. Driscoll said it has been “the honor of a lifetime” to serve as Army secretary under Trump and Hegseth. Driscoll praised the soldiers, their families and the Army’s civilian workforce for helping “modernize and accelerate how the Army mans, trains, and equips the most lethal fighting force on the face of the earth.” “We could not have made the progress we did without the support of Secretary Hegseth,” he added. His exit comes as the U.S. military has returned to launching airstrikes against Iran after a lull in hostilities during the more than six-month-old war, leaving the nation’s largest ﬁghting force without top civilian or uniformed leaders who have been conﬁrmed by the Senate. It was not immediately clear who would fill Driscoll’s role at least temporarily.

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Carrier crew disembarks in Thailand EU struggles to find

effective response to failed drone attack

USS Abraham Lincoln docks after 260 days at sea

of sanctions on Russia over Germany blames the war in Ukraine, hitting Russia for incident more than 3,000 ofﬁcials, oli-

BY SAKCHAI LALIT, JINTAMAS SAKSORNCHAI and ANTON L. DELGADO Associated Press

THAILAND — The USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier, which spent nearly nine months at sea to support U.S. operations against Iran, docked at a port in eastern Thailand on Wednesday to give the crew of about 5,000 an opportunity for beachside rest and recuperation. The sailors and Marines aboard the nuclear-powered ship had not been on shore for more than 260 days, and reports emerged last month of deteriorating mental health among the crew as well as shortages of key food supplies aboard. The Navy downplayed any problems, and President Donald Trump commented that the Lincoln’s lengthy deployment was “not nearly long enough.” The Lincoln, launched in 1988 and as long as about three American football ﬁelds, made its way into the Laem Chabang port in Thailand’s Chonburi province Wednesday morning shortly after the destroyer USS Frank E. Petersen Jr., one of several ships in its carrier strike group, sailed past the area. Another, the guidedmissile cruiser USS Robert Smalls, headed to Map Ta Phut in neighboring Rayong province. The Lincoln’s crew members later debarked to spend their free time in nearby Pattaya, a seaside resort city that U.S. military personnel have frequented since the Vietnam War era.

The ship looks a bit worn Crew members were not immediately accessible to media, but the ship itself looked due for at least a new paint job, with large blotches of what appeared to be rust on the hull, especially just above the waterline and at the edge of the flight deck, where fighter aircraft and helicopters were parked. The U.S. Embassy said the ship has been deployed for a total of 286 days since November, and that Thailand was the ship’s ﬁrst full port stop in that time. Its total uninterrupted time at sea before Wednesday’s arrival was 264 days.

BY LORNE COOK Associated Press

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By SAKCHAI LALIT

Navy personnel walk on the deck of the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln as it arrives at the port in Laem Chabang, Chonburi, Thailand, on Wednesday. When asked about the carrier’s appearance, Capt. Dan Keeler, the Lincoln’s commanding ofﬁcer, replied that “it is normal for a long deployment and we’re not going to make further comments.” “It looks like what it is: a ship that’s been continuously at sea for 286 days,” Euan Graham, a defense expert at the Australian National Security College, told The Associated Press after reviewing photos of the ship. “And the Abraham Lincoln has been on a prolonged combat deployment, during which normal port calls were denied to it. “So it becomes a tempting symbol of the U.S. Navy’s strategic overstretch and fatigue,” he added. “However, what’s also notable is the impressive state of the air wing. So maybe the underlying story is also one of resilience under conditions of extreme stress.” The Navy had dismissed reports about sailors onboard struggling with mental health concerns. A Navy ofﬁcial said a sailor aboard the Lincoln went overboard in early August but the person was quickly recovered, treated by the ship’s medical department and transferred off ship for follow-up care. The official would not say whether it was considered a suicide attempt.

Local businesses happy In Pattaya, welcome banners hung outside restaurants and bars, and a local gem store touted its selfdescribed special deals. A giant LED sign in front of the city’s famous Walking

Street, a nightlife hub, features a welcome message with images of the Lincoln, as well as the Thai and U.S. ﬂags. Pattaya’s mayor, Poramet Ngampichet, said he expected the visit could generate about $3 million for the city. Once known mostly as a seedy city of bars and massage parlors offering sexual services, the city has in recent years toned down its act to become more of a family destination, with attractions such as theme parks and golf courses. Jaroon Kasemsantitham has run a beachside restaurant there for more than 30 years. He said September is usually the worst month for business, and 2026 had been especially bad because of the tourism slump triggered by the Iran war. The 66-year-old put up a welcome banner with a U.S. flag motif and a silhouette of a carrier, and the words “ALL WELCOME.” Politics was not what he cared to talk about, he told AP. “I’m doing business, so I want a lot of customers,” Jaroon said. “When we heard the news, we were excited. … I sent a video clip to my employees and said ‘Look, the Americans are coming.’ ”

Rendezvous with family Visitors to Pattaya on Wednesday included Shakeira Fairfax, the mother of a crew member, who traveled to Thailand to meet her daughter Jada. “I’m excited. I’m so full of emotion. I can’t wait to hold her. I can’t wait to snuggle up next to her,” said Shakeira, who hails from Paterson,

China presses U.S. for answers after a man dies in ICE custody BY RYAN J. FOLEY Associated Press

The Chinese government is pressing for answers after a Chinese man died hours after being taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in a U.S. territory. Lianyong Wei, 51, died Aug. 23 at a hospital in the Northern Mariana Islands, ICE announced in a news release Tuesday. Wei was arrested Aug. 21 by the Northern Mariana Islands Department of Public Safety on criminal charges stemming from an alleged assault on a family of five

at their home, according to ICE. He was taken into ICE custody the next day pending removal proceedings. ICE said a guard at the lockup in Saipan found Wei unresponsive during routine morning checks on Aug. 23. He was taken to a hospital emergency room, where he was pronounced dead after “life-sustaining interventions were initiated,” the agency said, noting that the cause of his death is under investigation. Wei entered the U.S. territory in February 2019 and was authorized to stay for two weeks, according to ICE. U.S. authorities began

removal proceedings in July 2026, and Wei’s next hearing had been scheduled for this month. The Chinese Consulate General in Los Angeles said it had been notified of Wei’s death. “We have expressed serious concerns to the relevant U.S. authorities over this incident and required a timely and thorough investigation into the cause of Mr. Wei’s death, notification of the findings, measures to prevent any recurrence of similar incidents, and assistance to the family of the deceased in handling the aftermath,” the consulate said in a statement.

Thousands in Spain protest border crisis BY JOSEPH WILSON, SERGIO RODRIGO and SUMAN NAISHADHAM Associated Press

CEUTA, Spain — The city of Ceuta, a tiny speck of Spanish territory perched on the northern African coast, normally celebrates its Sept. 2 annual ofﬁcial holiday largely ignored by the mainland. But not this year, after Ceuta became the epicenter of Spain’s worst border crisis in living memory. In lieu of festivities, tens of thousands of people took to the streets Wednesday across Spain to protest the ongo-

ing humanitarian crisis in Ceuta, demanding solutions and blaming Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez for his government’s handling of it. In Madrid, authorities said some 50,000 protesters turned out. After the demonstration ended, an Associated Press journalist heard shots and explosions. Spanish newspaper El País reported that police fired rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse crowds. There were significant turnouts also in Barcelona, Valencia and Seville. Waving Spanish ﬂags, demonstrators shouted “A united

Ceuta will never be defeated,” “Sánchez to prison” and “Invaders — go home!” referring to the thousands of migrants still in the city. The official organizer of Wednesday’s protests in Madrid and more than 200 other cities and towns was the nonpartisan Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces. But the protests were promoted by the PP and Vox, which is strongly against irregular migration. Spain’s minister of territorial policy, Ángel Víctor Torres, told Spanish National Radio that the protests were politically motivated.

New Jersey. She spoke to the AP outside Pattaya’s Hard Rock Hotel, where city ofﬁcials welcomed dozens of service members arriving by bus. She said her daughter, an entry-level seaman, ﬁnished basic training in October and shipped out for the Lincoln’s deployment in midNovember, later celebrating her 25th birthday on board. She said she worried most just after the U.S. launched its initial attack on Iran at the end of February and she was unable to connect with Jada for a while. “It was an uncertain time. It was a scary time. It was difficult — definitely difficult. But she has a support system. Her friends reached out to me. In fact, one of her good childhood friends is here as well,” she said. “It was a time for us to stick together and trust and believe that she would be OK.” Another carrier, the usually Asia-based USS George Washington, relieved the Lincoln in the Middle East in August. The Lincoln is heading home soon, said its commander, Capt. Keeler.

BRUSSELS — The European Union on Wednesday weighed how best to respond to an attempted drone attack at a German airport blamed on Russia but struggled to ﬁnd new ways to meet the challenge without resorting to military means. The German government said Tuesday that Russia was responsible for the failed attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport on Aug. 4 using a drone laden with explosives and announced it would shut down a Russian consulate among other measures. The nature of the incident and its attribution to Russia set a new benchmark. The drone was found near a Ukrainian cargo plane and the device was defused. The airport is a major international freight hub used for providing support to Ukraine. “It is clear that it has all the hallmarks of statesponsored terrorism. The question is: what do we do about this,” EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas told reporters before chairing a meeting of the bloc’s foreign ministers in Ireland. They discussed sanctions, visa restrictions and shutting Russian consulates, among other measures. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said France summoned Russia’s envoy to “protest strongly” and wants to impose sanctions on more of the Kremlin’s shadow ﬂeet ships. “We won’t allow an act of such gravity without consequences,” Barrot said. The EU has slapped almost two dozen packages

garchs and entities including banks, energy companies and drone makers. The EU was already preparing to impose more travel bans and asset freezes on another 1,600 people, Kallas said. Hundreds of ships making up the shadow ﬂeet illicitly shipping oil to fuel Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war effort have been targeted too. Russian diplomats have routinely been summoned around Europe, even expelled. Russia has sometimes seemed immune to such measures. The challenge is how to respond effectively without going too far. EU member nations, many of them NATO allies, remain cautious about being dragged into open conﬂict with nuclear-armed Russia. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the incident “marks a new escalation on European Union soil,” and that her services “are looking at ways to cut deeper into Russia’s war chest.” She did not elaborate. Germany insisted it was “not at war” but had become a “daily target” of the Kremlin’s hybrid campaign. Putin dismissed the allegations, saying Berlin wants to distract from its own failings and dissatisfaction among voters. Any proof being offered “has been planted,” Putin said. But German Foreign Minister Johan Wadephul said Berlin had carefully prepared its response “and now Russia must live with these consequences.” He called on Russia “to show that it is also ready for reasonable talks and negotiations, particularly regarding the situation in Ukraine.”

4A ■ Thursday, September 3, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

Iran targets Gulf neighbors in retaliation lll

Fighting escalates after American bombardment over weekend

crude oil, the international standard, has climbed to around $95, up more than 30% from the start of the war. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Iran will “continue to feel the squeeze” from the United States until it drops any nuclear weapons ambitions and ends support for armed groups in the Middle East. Iran has always insisted its nuclear program is peaceful.

BY DAVID RISING and SAMY MAGDY Associated Press

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Iran fired on U.S. allies in the Gulf early Wednesday following a night of American bombardment that Iranian state media says included a deadly strike on a wedding party. The latest violence came after a monthlong lull in fighting. The sixmonth war has led to a spike in oil prices, roiled the global economy and posed increasing political problems for U.S. President Donald Trump’s Republican Party ahead of November midterm elections. Fighting has escalated since the American military hit Iranian rocket launchers on an island in the Strait of Hormuz over the weekend, saying Iran was planning to use them to lay mines. Iran retaliated by firing missiles at American bases in Jordan that were intercepted. American military resources are stretched and political pressure in Washington is mounting, while Iran’s economy has been battered by sanctions and an American naval blockade. Iran’s currency hit another record low on Wednesday,

U.S. allies fend off attacks

TASNIM NEWS AGENCy PHOTO By MASOUD MOHAMMADI

Damage is seen at a building that Iranian media said was hit in a U.S. strike in Kuhestak, southern Iran, early Wednesday. with traders in Tehran exchanging 2.20 million rials for one U.S. dollar, a 10% hike from last week’s record. Neither side can continue indeﬁnitely between full-scale war and a truce, said Hamidreza Azizi, senior Iran analyst at the Crisis Group, an international think tank. “At some point, one of the sides may see a need to escalate in order to break this cycle,” he cautioned. “So that could bring the two sides to a point that they have been trying to avoid until now, which is a full-scale war.”

came as the standoff seemed to be shifting slightly more in the U.S. favor, with the price of oil hitting around $80 a barrel last month and Iranian leaders talking about growing economic hardships, said Sascha Bruchmann, an analyst with the International Institute for Strategic Studies’ Middle East office in Bahrain. “The U.S. is trying to reinstall some kind of confidence into the global oil markets … and the Iranians had to respond to that by reinserting insecurity and doubt,” Bruchmann said. Struggle focused on strait, oil Since the fighting resumed over The latest flare-up in violence the weekend, the price of Brent

Following the strikes on Jordan, U.S. Gulf allies Kuwait and Bahrain said they had also come under attack, without reporting any casualties. “You will soon see that Iran’s new strategy on the battleﬁeld, in diplomacy, and in confronting the economic blockade will shatter your foundations,” the recently appointed head of Iran’s powerful Supreme National Security Council, Mohsen Rezaei, said on X. In Iraq, where Iranian-backed forces are active, Kurdish authorities said they had intercepted 10 drones laden with explosives in the Irbil area. Iranian television reported that American bases in Irbil had been targeted. Israel’s military also said that Iran-backed Hezbollah ﬁred two explosive drones at its soldiers in southern Lebanon, without causing casualties. The U.S. Central Command said Tuesday’s strikes focused on Ira-

nian military targets, including air defense sites, radar systems and maritime assets.

4 killed, state media says One U.S. strike hit a home hosting a wedding in Kuhestak, a small coastal town overlooking the Strait of Hormuz, according to Iranian state media. Four people were killed — two women and two children, aged 4 and 16 — and at least 68 were wounded, the state news agency IRNA and state TV said Wednesday. Just after the strike, Ahmad Nafisi, the province’s deputy governor, told Iranian state television that five people were killed. There was no explanation for the change. Several heavy explosions shook Kuhestak, with fireballs that lit up the night sky, according to security camera footage carried by the semiofficial Fars news agency. Images from Iran’s semiofficial Tasnim news agency showed several hospitalized children being treated for injuries at a hospital in the nearby town of Minab, where a U.S. missile strike on the opening day of the war hit a primary school, killing more than 100 children. Footage from the Iranian Red Crescent showed rescue workers entering a damaged home in the wake of the strike. It showed a hole in the roof of one house in a neighborhood of densely packed homes.

Russian strikes kill 2 Former Tropical Storm civilians Edouard lingers over Texas Ukrainian Moscow, Kyiv threaten Heavy rains flood homes, roadways

to raise the stakes

BY HANNA ARHIROVA and BARRY HATTON

BY JAMIE STENGLE and LEKAN OYEKANMI

Associated Press

LIVINGSTON, Texas — Texas authorities rescued dozens of people from stranded cars, homes surrounded by floodwaters and an assisted living facility Wednesday as former Tropical Storm Edouard lingered over rural parts of the state and dumped nearly 2 feet of rain in some places. Heavy rains from the storm, which weakened into a tropical depression after making landfall Tuesday, were expected to threaten the eastern part of the state through Thursday morning, the National Weather Service said. Meanwhile, a burst of tropical weather persisted in the Pacific Ocean, where two hurricanes and a strengthening tropical storm were churning in open waters. In Texas’ hard-hit Hardin County, about 85 miles northeast of Houston, officials said flooding, downed trees and powerlines, debris, and power outages were still creating hazardous conditions. Between 18 inches and 20 inches fell in parts of the county over the last two days, the weather service said. The average local monthly rainfall for September is just 5.51 inches, said Nick Slaughter, a meteorologist with the weather service. Across the area close to the Louisiana border, schools and municipal offices were closed, and residents were told to stay home.

HOUSTON CHRONICLE PHOTO By BRETT COOMER

Chase Barfield walks to his truck as he takes belongings and his dogs away from floodwaters around his house in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Edouard near Honey Island, Texas, on Wednesday. Hardin County’s office of emergency management said Wednesday afternoon that 12 motorists had to be rescued after driving into flooded roadways, two people had to be rescued from a flooded home, about 10 structures were damaged by trees and thousands were still without power by late Wednesday afternoon. In Jefferson County, located about 80 miles northeast of Houston, the main concern was restoring power after trees and limbs were brought down during the storm, which had wind gusts up to 90 mph, said Robert Grimm, the county emergency management coordinator. About 22,000 customers in the county were without power as of late Wednesday afternoon, nearly half of the 50,000 util-

ity customers affected statewide, according to poweroutage.com. Grady Leger said that as the storm moved through Hardin County on Tuesday evening, a powerline went down by his home near Lumberton, and he could feel the vibration coming up from the ground. “Some blue and yellow, white sparks caught part of my dead tree on ﬁre,” Leger said. An assisted living facility was damaged in Hardin County, and 21 people were evacuated, according to Texas Parks and Wildlife, whose game wardens assisted. Photos from the agency showed some ofﬁcials wading in thigh-deep water in parts of the county. Edouard is expected to dissipate Thursday.

Scientists find huge 10-sided wave pattern swirling over Saturn’s south pole BY MARCIA DUNN AP aerospace writer

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Scientists have discovered an enormous 10-sided wave pattern in the icy ammonia clouds over Saturn’s south pole. The spinning, meandering decagon appears to be even bigger and more unstable than the hexagon of clouds around Saturn’s north pole that was spied by NASA’s twin Voyagers in the 1980s, the Spanish-led team reported Wednesday. This new jet stream formation popped up in the Hubble Space Telescope’s sights in 2023 after earlier observations came up empty. The researchers suspect the bizarre atmospheric phenomenon may have formed between 2017 and 2023, when Saturn’s south pole was tilted away from Earth and therefore out of view.

It could still be evolving, with a single side of the decagon already exceeding 10,000 miles. The findings are significant because it shows “the ‘unique’ hexagon is not as extraordinary as we thought,” lead author Agustin Sanchez-Lavega with the University of the Basque Country said in an email. The findings were published in the journal Science Advances. Although all of the solar system’s planets with atmospheres have wave-spawning disturbances, only Saturn churns them out looking like polygons, geometric shapes bounded by straight lines. Both sit on jet streams, but the hexagon is practically stationary whereas the decagon migrates eastward at a tame 6 mph. “Saturn still has the ability to surprise us,” the Uni-

versity of Leicester’s Leigh Fletcher said in a statement. He measured the wind in the decagon as part of the study using the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope in Chile. By comparing these two formations on opposite ends of Saturn, scientists can learn more about the weather patterns of giant gas planets, according to Sanchez-Lavega. “This is a highly interesting phenomenon that appears to be unique to Saturn, and we want to know why,” he said. Sanchez-Lavega wonders whether they might be related to the cyclones on Jupiter that are arranged in polygonal shapes. Improving views of Saturn’s southern hemisphere over the next several years should allow astronomers to capture more details of the decagon and perhaps solve “this intriguing atmospheric mystery,” he said.

KYIV, Ukraine — Russian aerial attacks overnight and during daylight Wednesday killed two civilians and wounded six in the central Ukrainian city of Dnipro, local officials said, while the Kyiv and Odesa regions bore the brunt of Moscow’s latest strikes. The air war between Russia and Ukraine has intensified as the conflict stretches into its fifth year following Moscow’s invasion of its neighbor. The front line in eastern and southern Ukraine remains largely deadlocked, and U.S. efforts to negotiate a settlement have yet to produce a path to peace. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy exchanged threats late Tuesday over what their next steps might be. Zelenskyy warned foreign airlines that flying in Russia is not safe because of Ukrainian longrange drone attacks, saying that “Russian airspace will effectively be closing.” The military pressure aims to compel Russia to accept peace negotiations, he said. Putin accused Zelenskyy of “state terrorism” and said: “We don’t negotiate with terrorists.” Putin’s comments got short shrift from Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation, a government body, which said the remarks were a flagrant

attempt by the Russian leader to shift the blame away from Moscow. “A state that itself unleashed this war, that daily commits terror against Ukrainian civilians and destroys cities, is again trying to portray itself as a ‘victim,’ ” the center said. Russian Transportation Minister Andrey Nikitin dismissed any travel concerns, saying authorities are constantly strengthening ﬂight safety. “We will not allow any signiﬁcant disruptions to civil aviation,” he told reporters, according to Russian news agency Interfax. At a late-night news conference at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Kyrgyzstan, Putin also addressed reports that the Ukrainian military had used British-made drones to strike inside Russia. Asked whether Russia would strike British military facilities if the U.K. government continues to provide Ukraine with weaponry, Putin declined to rule it out. With a small smile, he told reporters that is “a military secret.” China and North Korea, meanwhile, have provided military support for Russia, as has Iran in previous years. The Russian and Ukrainian leaders’ comments came as European officials weigh their response to the latest in what they say is Moscow’s campaign of continental sabotage and disruption aimed at weakening support for Ukraine. Germany on Tuesday blamed Russia for an attempted attack at Leipzig/ Halle Airport last month using a drone laden with explosives.

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The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Thursday, September 3, 2026 ■ 5A

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Xi visits Egypt as China seeks Journalist sentenced to deeper inﬂuence across Mideast 2 years for acting as an illegal agent for China

Diplomatic trip is Chinese president’s first to country in decade

American to also serve 36 months in supervised release

BY SAMY MAGDY

Associated Press

CAIRO — On the surface, Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Egypt this week is a run-of-themill opportunity for two countries to strengthen economic and diplomatic ties. But there is deep subtext to the meeting between Xi and President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi: China, the United States’ top global rival, is cultivating an extensive relationship with one of America’s key allies in the Middle East as it moves to expand its inﬂuence in the rapidly changing region. Xi aims to present China as a stabilizer in the region and contrast it with the United States, which for decades has been militarily entangled there — its six-month war with Iran being just the latest example. “China continues to build up its soft power reserves while the United States self-sabotages its own stock,” Amr Hamzawy, director of the Washington-based Carnegie Middle East Program, wrote in a paper earlier this year along with Kathryn Selfe, a former fellow at the program. Xi arrived on Tuesday evening at Cairo airport, which was adorned with Chinese and Egyptian ﬂags. El-Sissi and military guards greeted him on the tarmac with a redcarpet ceremony. In wide-ranging talks Wednesday, Xi said Cairo and Beijing should jointly oppose what he called “unilateralism and acts of bullying,” according to China’s state-run Xinhua news agency. The Chinese leader also called for the two countries to “work together for a more just and equitable global governance system,” Xinhua reported.

BY FU TING

Associated Press

AFP PHOTO By KHALED DESOUKI

Chinese President Xi Jinping, center, is welcomed by Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, right, at Cairo International Airport in Cairo, Egypt, on Tuesday.

in a decade, the ﬁrst time he has been in the region since visiting Saudi Arabia in 2022. El-Sissi has visited China multiple times in recent years. The leaders marked 70 years of diplomatic ties by publishing friendly opinion pieces on Tuesday in Egypt’s state-run newspapers. Xi wrote that Beijing and Cairo should “expand the scope of pragmatic collaboration” through development. El-Sissi lauded China’s investments in Egypt and reiterated Cairo’s support of China’s claim that Taiwan is part of its territory. Egypt views its growing relationship with China as a way to diversify its strategic partnerships. In 2023, Egypt was invited to join the BRICS bloc of nations, a grouping of major emerging economies that includes Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa and is seen as a counterbalance to Western-led institutions such as the G7. A year later, Egypt signed agreements with China to collaborate on its Belt and Road Initiative, a signature policy of Xi’s that seeks to build power and transportation infrastructure around the world. China has invested more than $10 billion in Egypt, building a Xi’s first visit to region since 2022 business hub east of the capital, Xi, who visited the Grand Egyp- Cairo, and an electric rail line for tian Museum near the pyramids industry in the Nile Delta. Annual of Giza, is on his ﬁrst trip to Egypt trade between the two countries is

estimated at $20 billion, according to government ﬁgures. Trade between the U.S. and Egypt was $15.7 billion in 2025. Egypt is a crucial partner in U.S. national security priorities in the region, and the countries’ leaders enjoy close ties.

Build bridges between nations In 2023, Beijing brokered a deal to reestablish diplomatic ties between Iran — its most important regional ally and oil supplier — and Saudi Arabia, a longtime U.S. ally. The agreement showcased China’s aspirations to compete with the United States for influence in the Mideast. Since then, ties between Riyadh and Tehran have frayed. Iran attacked Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries as part of its retaliation against the U.S. and Israel, which launched the war on Feb. 28. China has cast itself as a regional mediator in other ways. It has long advocated a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which is seen by the Arab world as a linchpin to regional stability. Shortly before Hamas militants attacked Israel in 2023 and launched the war in Gaza, Xi had hosted Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and announced a “strategic partnership” with the Palestinian Authority.

Judge blocks Trump’s new bid to curb birthright citizenship Supreme Court precedent cited in injunction

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BY REBECCA BOONE Associated Press

A federal judge has blocked President Donald Trump’s latest attempt to limit birthright citizenship, granting a preliminary injunction against an executive order that the administration said would target “birth tourism.” U.S. District Judge Deborah L. Boardman in Maryland on Wednesday issued the injunction until a classaction lawsuit brought by immigrant families and advocacy groups is resolved. “The Supreme Court has spoken: Children in the certified class are ‘citizens at birth,’ ” Boardman, appointed by President Joe Biden, wrote in Wednesday’s ruling. Birthright citizenship is guaranteed under current law for anyone who is born on U.S. soil, with a few exceptions. The law stretches back to 1868, when the 14th Amendment was ratiﬁed in the aftermath of the Civil War. But Trump has long wanted to end birthright citizenship, issuing a previous executive order declaring that children born to people who are in the United States illegally or temporarily are not American citizens. The Supreme Court struck down that attempt in June. In August, the president tried again with a narrowed executive order that appeared to restrict automatic citizenship for speciﬁc categories of people, including children born to adults with connections to foreign embassies or organizations or to anyone considered an “alien enemy” of the United States. The order defined birth tourism as someone who en-

WASHINGTON — An American journalist has been sentenced to two years in federal prison for acting as an agent of a foreign government within the United States, the U.S. Justice Department said. Thomas Weir Pauken II, 51, pleaded guilty earlier this year and is not planning to appeal, according to his defense lawyer, Charles Burnham. Pauken also was sentenced to 36 months of supervised release with no overseas travel, the department said in a news release on Tuesday. He was arrested in February. The case is the latest in a series of federal prosecutions involving people accused of working for the Chinese government without proper disclosure, as tensions between Washington and Beijing remain high. “Pauken betrayed his country for money” for supporting “Chinese Ministry of State Security (MSS) operations, recruiting, and gathering of sensitive information from potential assets,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg in the news release. Pauken worked as a journalist for various Chinese news organizations after moving to China in 2010, including state broadcaster CCTV. He most recently worked as an editor for Xinhua, China’s state news agency, a position he had held since 2024. “Mr. Pauken has accepted responsibility and respects the court’s sentence,” his lawyer said, adding that “as the government agreed in court, Mr. Pauken did not provide any classiﬁed information to the Chinese.” According to court documents, from at least 2019 until February 2026, Pauken worked at the direction of people he knew worked

for China’s government, including a person he met in 2017 identified as “Cathy.” “Cathy” told him the reports were read by Chinese President Xi Jinping, according to a Feb. 27 federal court affidavit filed by FBI Special Agent Timothy J. Healy. Pauken received at least $100,000 for his work with “Cathy,” the department said. In addition to writing reports, Pauken was also asked by “Cathy” to recruit people to provide classified information. In one case, Pauken was instructed to meet with a person identified in the affidavit as “Person 1” and provide the person a Samsung phone, a computer, and passwords for Signal and Telegram, as well as NetDisk. Pauken was stopped by Customs and Border Protection agents when he returned to the U.S. in January 2025. In interviews with CBP and FBI agents, Pauken said he was “80 percent sure” that the person who was seeking a job in the Trump administration would provide classified information to China, although Pauken advised the person not to, according to the affidavit. Pauken also told investigators that “Cathy” would usually pay for his trips to the U.S. through the years, and often wired payments to his wife’s bank accounts, the affidavit said. Pauken, a Texas native, used the alias of Tom McGregor when working as a commentator and writer at the request of his father, who shares his name and wanted to distance himself from his son’s work in China. The younger Pauken published two books under his real name, Thomas W. Pauken II. One was published in 2019 about U.S.-China relations and another in 2023 about Shenzhen, a city across from Hong Kong in mainland China. Pauken’s father was a former chairman of the Texas Republican Party in the 1990s and ran for governor more than a decade ago.

Earn 4.25% ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By ALEX BRANDON

President Donald Trump issued an executive order in August that appeared to restrict automatic citizenship for specific categories of people. A federal judge blocked that order on Wednesday, citing the Supreme Court precedent. ters the United States on a “nonimmigrant visa for the purpose of giving birth on American soil.” Birth tourism is already considered fraud and grounds to restrict a visa if someone seeks one specifically to obtain U.S. citizenship for a child. The order sought to deny citizenship to children born to adults who “engaged in a commercial transaction to purchase or access birthright citizenship,” and some families said they feared their children could be denied citizenship simply because they purchased airfare to come to the U.S. and got pregnant after they arrived. Families and organizations who sued over the birthright citizenship restrictions told the court that the executive branch has taken a broad view of who qualiﬁes as an alien enemy, sometimes relying on speculation or misinformation to make that determination. Others said they feared their children would be denied citizenship because a member of the parents’ extended family was connected to a gang in their home country, even though the parents were not gang members. Uncertainty surrounding

the order left them with confusion and fear, the families said. They were joined in the lawsuit by We Are CASA, the Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project and the Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection. The administration’s attorneys argued that the request to block the order was premature and said the federal agencies tasked with enforcing it would use “appropriate measures” to do so, relying on ofﬁcial guidance that hasn’t been issued yet. The judge rejected that argument. “No matter what the guidance says, the 2026 Executive Order commands agencies to deny citizenship documents to several broad categories of children,” Boardman wrote. “The White House must recognize it will not succeed in stripping children of their right to citizenship, evading binding court decisions or placing the president’s antiimmigrant agenda above the Constitution,” Shana Khader, legal director at We Are CASA, said in a prepared statement. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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8 Mich. newspapers to end print in December

MLive Media Group will stop printing its eight Michigan newspapers in December, the publisher said in a story posted on its website Wednesday. The final printed editions will be delivered Dec. 6, MLive Community President John Hiner said in the story. The eight publications will continue in digital formats, including MLive.com, the MLive app, online newspaper editions, social media and email newsletters, according to the company. They are Ann Arbor News, Bay City Times, Flint Journal, Grand Rapids Press, Jackson Citizen Patriot, Kalamazoo Gazette, Muskegon Chronicle and Saginaw News. MLive said more than 99% of its readers access its content digitally. The company also said digital and online news subscribers surpassed print subscribers this year. MLive said it does not publicly release its circulation numbers; however it did note that according to the Nieman Journalism Lab, it has more than 8 million monthly visits to its website. New York-based Advance Local owns MLive.com and consolidated its Michigan newspaper titles under the MLive umbrella in 2012. The newspapers date back more than 120 years.

Lake Ontario renamed on Apple Maps in U.S. CHICAGO — Apple has relabeled Lake Ontario to “Lake America” for U.S. users of its Maps app, following competitor Google days after President Donald Trump ordered a new name for the body of water amid his escalating trade war with Canada. As of Wednesday morning, Apple Maps displayed “Lake America” for U.S. users looking at the lake that sits between the state of New York and Canada’s Ontario province. Users outside of the U.S. still saw the Lake Ontario name. Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Wednesday. Earlier this week, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum told Fox that Trump had reached out to the company “directly” about the change. The president declared the new “Lake America” name last week — marking one of the latest provocations during his trade war with Canada that is now hiking tariffs on both sides of the border. His executive order on Friday directed the Interior Department to update the lake’s name in the U.S. geographic naming service. Trump cannot force Canada to also change the name of Lake Ontario.

Judge orders changes to Google’s digital ads A federal judge on Wednesday ordered Google to retool the system powering its monopoly in digital advertising, sparing the company from a wrenching breakup sought by the U.S. government. The initial two-page decision by U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema in Virginia marks the second time in a year that Google has received a reprieve from a Justice Department proposal to dismantle its internet empire. Meanwhile, what courts have described as the company’s anti-competitive practices have enriched Google’s corporate parent, Alphabet Inc., which has a market value of $4.11 trillion. After a judge declared Google’s ubiquitous search engine as an illegal monopoly in 2024, the Justice Department pushed for a penalty that would have required the company to sell its popular Chrome web browser. But it was rebuffed last September by another federal judge overseeing that case. Now Brinkema has also rejected the government’s argument that Google should be forced to sell parts of the technology underlying a byzantine system that generates a signiﬁcant portion of the company’s nearly $400 billion in annual ad sales.

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Huang urges G20 to speed AI adoption

Nvidia chief, whose company is at a central issue in the November alone” because of the country’s Nvidia CEO says the heart of the AI boom, likened midterm elections. At the same regulatory environment and protechnology to water, electric- time, a spate of security breaches, energy policy. ‘single worst outcome’ the Nvidia, the world’s most valuable ity and other utilities. “This is the where AI models escaped secure testing environments, has fueled company, is the leading provider of is to be left behind great equalizer.”

BY MAGGIE EASTLAND Bloomberg News (TNS)

Nvidia Corp. Chief Executive Officer Jensen Huang called on Group of 20 nations to accelerate their adoption of artiﬁcial intelligence as a way to enhance growth, urging the world’s largest economies to expand data centers and other infrastructure to support the emerging technology. “Every single country needs to build infrastructure so you can support your own local economy,” Huang said Wednesday at a tech event in North Carolina hosted by the U.S. for G20 members. The

Huang spoke during a fireside chat with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick at the event, where Trump administration ofﬁcials are pressing G20 members to adopt a set of guidelines for overseeing new technologies like AI. Dubbed the Carolina Principles, the document cautions nations against creating new regulatory bodies for AI while urging closer collaboration between governments and private industry to test emerging technologies. G20 delegates gathered in North Carolina this week against the backdrop of growing public opposition in the U.S. to data center construction that’s emerged

global calls for stricter oversight to ensure the safety of cuttingedge systems. In his remarks, Huang said that the “single worst outcome” for a country is “being left behind.” The Nvidia chief warned that could happen if the public and policymakers let fears about AI drive the conversation about the technology. “We have to make sure that we are balanced in talking about it,” he said, and focus on AI’s potential for boosting prosperity. Huang held out the U.S. as an example, saying Nvidia would “invest close to a trillion dollars into the United States infrastructure” over the course of “this year

AI accelerators, a key component for training and running artiﬁcial intelligence models. Last week the chipmaker projected sales growth of 70% for the next fiscal year, sending its shares on their biggest one-day rally since April 2025. In remarks to reporters, Huang also recommended that governments adopt narrow regulations for AI, saying that the responsibility for ensuring product safety should fall to companies rather than public ofﬁcials. On Tuesday, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, whose ventures have made an all-in bet on the technology, accused the European Union of “extraordinarily high” regulations.

Chevron confirms that it will expand operations in Venezuela Trump had announced an ambitious deal to develop the nation’s oil reserves

BY MICHELLE CHAPMAN and REGINA GARCIA CANO AP business writers

Oil giant Chevron confirmed that it will expand operations in Venezuela after President Donald Trump announced an ambitious deal to develop the nation’s oil reserves and give the Pentagon a stake in the profits. Chevron, the only U.S. oil company with a major presence in Venezuela, said Wednesday that it has been assigned additional acreage in the Orinoco Belt, where it has active operations. The company plans to invest more than $7 billion over the next five years, with the goal of more than doubling its current production to about 600,000 barrels a day. Venezuela holds the world’s largest proven reserves, totaling more than 303 billion barrels of crude oil, according to OPEC’s 2025 Annual Statistical Bulletin. Saudi Arabia is a distant second with 267 billion barrels. Yet because Venezuela’s energy infrastructure is severely degraded and the nation is operating under international sanctions, its daily production is just over 1 million barrels, compared with the 10 million to 11 million barrels that Saudi Arabia produces each day. The U.S. produces almost 14 million barrels per day. Chevron, the second-largest U.S. oil company, has had a presence in Venezuela since 1923. The White House confirmed Monday that it is partnering with North American Blue Energy Partners, NABEP, as part of Trump‘s push to tap into Venezuela’s oil industry. Yet the agreement has been met with skepticism from energy experts who say it will take years to revive Venezuela’s oil industry, which is in disarray after years of neglect. There are also questions about whether Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, has the authority to give NABEP 100year rights over 17 oil fields with reserves of 65 billion barrels — and whether future Venezuelan or American administrations would overturn the agreement. Venezuela’s constitution states that arrangements like the one that the United States an-

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By ARIANA CUBILLOS

A fisherman steers his boat on Lake Maracaibo in the oil-producing region of Cabimas, Venezuela, on Tuesday. nounced this week must be approved by the National Assembly, which has not happened, wrote Ian Vásquez, vice president for international studies at the Cato Institute. Trump has eyed Venezuela’s oil since the January capture of then-President Nicolás Maduro and has pressed to get U.S. businesses back into the country. “We have Exxon going in, we have Chevron going in. We have our big oil companies going in,” he said that same month. He suggested again on Monday that other U.S. oil majors were preparing for a return, though other than Chevron, there is no evidence of that. Exxon Mobil CEO Darren Woods said in January that Venezuela was “uninvestable.” An Exxon spokesman said this week that “nothing has changed.” The history of U.S. oil majors in Venezuela explains the hesitation. Venezuela nationalized its oil industry in 1976 and created the state-owned company Petróleos de Venezuela S.A. A second nationalization occurred in 2007, when President Hugo Chávez pushed foreign oil companies into state-controlled joint ventures and

seized the assets of companies that refused. Chevron agreed to a joint venture. Others, including Exxon and ConocoPhillips, refused, and Venezuela took their assets. Trump has said that the agreement with Venezuela would “substantially lower” gasoline prices in the U.S. However, analyst have repeatedly warned that Venezuela’s dilapidated oil infrastructure will require years of restoration work and tens of billions of dollars to resuscitate. “It could take 2 to 4 years to get new greenﬁeld facilities online in the Orinoco region,” Amy Jaffe, director of the Global Energy, Climate, and Sustainability Lab at New York University, said in an email. “Other places where there is no pipeline and other kinds of support infrastructure could take longer.” Meanwhile, the national average price for a gallon of regular gasoline jumped overnight to $4.12, according to the motor club AAA. That is 93 cents more than it cost at this point last year. Garcia Cano reported from Caracas. Associated Press writers Aamer Madhani and Collin Binkley in Washington contributed to this report.

Trump administration backs OpenAI in N.Y. Times copyright case Millions of articles ingested, processed by ChatGPT BY ALANNA DURKIN RICHER

Associated Press

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration is wading into a legal ﬁght between OpenAI and the New York Times, backing the ChatGPT-maker’s argument in a closely watched case over how it builds its AI technology by ingesting and processing millions of news articles. In court papers filed Tuesday, the Justice Department supported OpenAI’s argument that training its models on troves of writings found on the internet is protected by the “fair use” doctrine of copyright law. The Justice Department wrote

that “the creative possibilities and public beneﬁts” of training large language models on such content “far outweigh any competitive harm.” It told the court that siding with The New York Times and other publishers who argue OpenAI’s practice violates copyright law would thwart “creative and scientiﬁc progress while hindering American prosperity and economic mobility.” “The entire reason that AI models are rapidly reshaping the economy and national security is that they help people, including those working in creative fields, make things and get things done,” Justice Department attorneys wrote. The “creative benefits often overlap with national security interests,” the department added, because AI models can “help national security officials analyze and draw infer-

ences from (unprotected) real- pay fairly for the content that world facts such as those conveyed makes their products possible, as copyright law requires,” Graham in New York Times articles.” James, a spokesperson for the paTimes criticizes the U.S. position per, said in an emailed statement. The lawsuit, and the government’s involvement in it, are symp- Times says livelihood threatened toms of something happening all The Times sued OpenAI in 2023, over the world, particularly in re- arguing that the company was cent months: the rush to keep up threatening its journalists’ livewith the rapid rise of AI tools over lihoods by effectively stealing the past ﬁve years. In many cases, billions of dollars’ worth of their disputes about AI and its practices work, in some cases spitting out are winding their way through The Times’ material verbatim courts that still lack precedents — to people seeking answers from and in some cases language — to generative artiﬁcial intelligence match the subject matter. like ChatGPT. The threat to news The New York Times said publications became even more Wednesday that the administra- apparent when, in 2024, Google intion “is siding with a handful of troduced AI-generated summaries trillion-dollar AI companies at the at the top of online search results, expense of the countless American cutting off the advertising dolcreators whose work they stole.” lars that come when people click “Both AI and creators can thrive a link to the information’s original — AI companies simply need to source.

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Thursday, September 3, 2026 ■ 7A

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HEARING

Continued from page 1A spoke Tuesday, not one showed opposition. The hearing drew the support of parish ofﬁcials like Ascension Parish President Clint Cointment, Donaldsonville City Council member Charles Brown and Parish Council Chair Chase Melancon. Officials from other parishes also spoke in support, expressing their hope that the beneﬁts of the plant will spread to their area. St. James Parish President Pete Dufrense said industry covers much of the cost of government services in his parish. “If people think they can support their community without industry, you’re living in a dream. We service our residents, our seniors, our youth, our recreation, our school system, our Sheriff’s Office, all funded through ad valorem taxes paid for by industries. Without it, I don’t even know what we would do. I can’t even begin to imagine life without it,” Dufrense said. Plaquemine Mayor JB Barker showed support, talking about the indirect jobs and economic activity it will bring, including contractors, retailers, restaurants and small businesses. “Although this project will be located in Ascension Parish, an investment of this size does not stop at the parish or the city limit lines. Its impact will be felt throughout our region, including the city of Plaquemine,” Barker said.

‘Same song and dance’ The 17,000-acre industrial site is located off La. 1, stretching along more than 10 miles of river frontage. It is right in Modeste, sitting roughly 9 miles northwest of Donaldsonville. For some Modeste residents, the proposed industrial development represents more than economic growth. It also raises concerns

TALK

Continued from page 1A “I would surely try my best for that to happen for nothing else but the amount of money that would come in to improve the services that Livingston Parish needs,” Delatte said. The land, brokered by Reeder Capital Partners of Texas, had previously been pitched as a residential subdivision, then a garbage dump, then a Buc-ee’s. Earlier this year, it almost became a battery plant, Delatte said. The switch from residential to commercial zoning helped fuel the rumors about an AI facility coming to town, along with reports that a Livingston Parish Council member signed an NDA in 2025. Delatte pointed out the property would bring in around $140 million in annual property tax as a reason to back the data center idea. With that level of income, he said, residents could receive rebates on their Livingston Parish government taxes. Data centers also offer permanent technical jobs to surrounding residents once the facilities are up and running and construction jobs before then. Delatte said he has met several Livingston residents who commute to Richland Parish to work on

COVER-UP

Continued from page 1A guilty at his May arraignment to a handful of charges before recently taking a plea deal to a single conspiracy count. The defendants could not be reached for comment Wednesday. As part of his guilty plea, Littleton admitted that he and others used cruel and excessive force on 11 inmates and two pretrial detainees. Federal prosecutors say the 13 people had been housed in a cell with only six beds for several days and were protesting the jail’s overcrowded conditions when the assaults began. In a sworn statement, Littleton said the warden and the assistant warden ordered him and other officers to spray the demonstrators with pepper spray, handcuff them and bring them from the cell into

PHOTO By PATRICK DENNIS

David Hampton speaks in favor during the air permit hearing for Hyundai Steel on Tuesday at the Lemman Center Gymnasium in Donaldsonville. Hampton said he was ‘happy for industry coming here.’ about what could be lost as the community changes. Sherry White, 67, said she has lived in Modeste since she was 5 years old. “Our community is more than a location and an industrial map,” White said. “For generations, families on the west bank have built their lives there. Some families did not inherit wealth; they inherited land. They inherited a house that their parents and grandparents worked for. They inherited property that represents decades of sacriﬁces. The land is not real estate; it’s family history.” The hearing also drew residents from the surrounding area. Kenneth Woods, of Prairieville, said the project follows what he described as a pattern of industrial development that places a dis-

proportionate burden on minority communities, as more than 70% of the Modeste community is Black. “This sounds like another classic story of a Black community being forced to levitate their health, lungs, culture, traditions, the land in which they live, in exchange for proposed jobs. This is the same ole song and dance,” Woods said. Darryl Wiley, who attended the hearing as a representative of the Sierra Club, said he believes the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality would not fulﬁll its mission to “promote health, safety and welfare” if the permit is approved. Wiley said he is concerned that no comprehensive analysis has been done of emissions from all industrial facilities planned for RiverPlex MegaPark. He also raised

construction of a data center there. “To me, it’s a win-win,” Delatte said. “But I will listen to the will of the people.” He said he would hope to use additional revenue from the infrastructure project to increase pay for teachers and sheriff’s deputies, much like has been done in Richland Parish, where Meta is building a $50 billion Meta Hyperion center. Some teachers in Richland Parish will rake in an extra $50,000 in bonuses thanks to the sales tax boom brought in by Meta, according to the parish’s chamber of commerce. “It’s not fair for our teachers to make less money than surrounding parishes. It’s not fair for our law enforcement, people who risk their lives on a daily basis, to be making $37,000 a year,” Delatte said. A Livingston Parish center would have a lot of company in the state. Construction is underway on a $2.5 billion Hut 8 artificial intelligence data center in West Feliciana Parish. Amazon is building an $18 billion multicampus data center development that will span Caddo and Bossier parishes. Another $3.6 billion AI intelligence factory is planned for Rapides Parish. While data centers provide massive financial rewards to their communities, they can also impose burdens on nearby residents.

Concerns about the developments have largely focused on the massive amounts of water and electricity the centers require, which has led to increased energy and utility bills for nearby residents of existing centers. The facilities also emit loud, continuous noise that can seep beyond the private property. In June, Gov. Jeff Landry signed an executive order that places some restraints on the impact data centers can have on the cost of energy. Several parishes have attempted to enact proactive policies regulating data centers before they face a proposal. The Ascension Parish Council is moving to create new rules for how and where data centers could pop up across the parish, even though none have been proposed there, and the St. Charles Parish Council passed zoning and noise ordinances in June directed at future data center developments. Livingston does not have parish-speciﬁc ordinances, and none have been proposed, but council members reached for comment expressed caution about the prospect of a data center coming to town. “I think there’s a huge discrepancy between what it could be and what it is,” council member John Mangus said. “I’m willing to en-

the recreation yard. He says Wiley ordered the prisoners to identify leaders of the protest and then “began using an electrified riot shield and his body weight to shock and crush handcuffed prisoners who were lying on the ground,” striking them while they were still subdued by pepper spray. A few weeks later, Littleton reported to an office inside the jail, where Wiley and Allen told him they had learned that the FBI was investigating what took place in the yard, he testified. “Wiley and Allen ordered Littleton to write a report that omitted the assaults, and they further instructed him to backdate the report” to the date of the incident, prosecutors say. Over multiple years, jail supervisors and officers operated under an agreement to assault inmates and pretrial detainees that had been selected for interrogation or punishment, according to

Littleton. The agreement involved bringing weapons “such as electrified riot shields” with them, prosecutors say, as they took inmates to jail areas with no cameras to be assaulted and then falsiﬁed reports to omit the beatings. In a statement shortly after Wiley and others were indicted in May, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Louisiana Zach Keller called the facts of the case “a disgraceful abuse” of the trust placed upon ofﬁcers to “treat people in prison with dignity and respect.” At a May news conference, Catahoula Parish Sheriff Toney Edwards said he had suspended the employees — including Wiley — “until the matter is resolved by the courts.” The court has set a February trial date for the case. Email Patrick SloanTurner at patrick.sloanturner@theadvocate.com.

concerns about fine particulate matter, a mixture of tiny solid particles and liquid droplets in the air, and whether emission levels meet current U.S. Environmental Protection Agency standards.

‘Empty promises’ Jobs were one of the main topics discussed during the hearing. The plant is expected to bring roughly 1,300 new permanent jobs with an average salary of $95,000, along with 4,800 construction jobs at its peak and 4,100 indirect jobs. Donaldsonville native Tamikio Stroud, Hyundai’s external affairs representative, said she is a “reallife example” of the company hiring local. Stroud acknowledged “simply promising jobs is not enough” but said the opportunity for locals to

tertain it, but I can’t say I’m 100% for it.” “Right now, I’m for holding back,” council member Joe Erdey said. “I personally need more information, and we don’t have that yet.” Delatte said a deal would work only if residents’ water and utilities bills would be

compete for the jobs is coming. In February, work began on the River Parishes Community College Hyundai Steel Training Center. The center, located along La. 945, is expected to open in late 2027 and will train the workforce for proposed industrial projects in the region. Lifelong Modeste resident David Hampton, owner of 3M Solution Services, was recently hired by Hyundai. His Donaldsonville landscaping and services company now maintains approximately 16 acres of Hyundai property. “I do have a contract with Hyundai, so I am very happy about that for being a local to have the opportunity to work for them,” he said. But some residents said training opportunities alone do not guarantee residents will receive the jobs being promised. Glenn Price, president of the Sunrise Committee, an organization focused on governmental accountability, has been a part of the coalition demanding that Hyundai enter into a community benefits agreement, a legally binding contract where the developer promises speciﬁc improvements or rules. “You claim all these jobs are coming to our local area, but you refuse to put in writing how many of these jobs our locals will get,” he said. “We can’t trust you on that.” Ascension lawyer Adrian Alpay, who has represented several environmental groups who are against the project, said he does not believe the economic benefits will necessarily reach the communities surrounding the plant. “I feel that many of us know that Hyundai likely has no intention to give these jobs to anyone and the resulting inﬂux of cash that they’re gonna get from all this won’t be redirected to local communities either. We know the story. The residents of Donaldsonville and Modeste have heard these same empty promises for their entire lives,” he said.

protected. Data centers are increasingly using closedloop systems for water consumption, which recirculate water and limit additional usage. This type of system, which will be used by the Meta center in Richland Parish, would be necessary for a proposed deal to get

Delatte’s stamp of approval, he said. He added that he would want a hypothetical data center to furnish its own electricity. Whether that would ultimately be required would be part of the discussion if the proposal advances to that stage.

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Immigrant rights group seeks to Jury in Lindsay Clancy trial goes home after block use of federal databases Lawsuit alleges legal voters could be purged BY MICHAEL R. BLOOD AP political writer

LOS ANGELES — An immigrant rights group sued the Trump administration Wednesday to block the U.S. Department of Homeland Security from using federal databases that it alleged are being used to target naturalized citizens who are eligible to vote. The lawsuit, ﬁled in U.S. District Court in Washington on behalf of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, alleges that DHS and the U.S. Justice Department are interfering with fair elections by using inaccurate federal databases in an attempt to buttress allegations of voter fraud.

The federal government is engaging in an “attack on the freedom to vote,” Angelica Salas, the coalition’s executive director, said at a Los Angeles news conference. “This is voter intimidation.” The lawsuit — ﬁled on behalf of the coalition by the UCLA Voting Rights Project — becomes part of a swirl of legal moves that states, including California, have taken to fend off federal actions that threaten to create confusion during the midterms. “It’s not an accident the federal government is trying to interfere with the right to vote. ... They believe they can intimidate naturalized U.S. citizens,” said Xavier Becerra, the Democratic nominee for California governor who is acting as a senior adviser to the voting project. The lawsuit alleges that the ad-

ministration might be comparing voter rolls with undisclosed government databases. Those systems can include outdated information and be riddled with errors, it said, and could produce inaccurate results that disproportionately affect naturalized voters. “Comparing government databases to try and arrive at a list of noncitizen registrants has been shown to result in erroneous data,” the lawsuit said. “Congress has never authorized such activities and in fact has ... prohibited invasion of voter privacy through government data matches in this way.” The Trump administration has been targeting noncitizen voting to allege it could be a source of significant fraud during the midterm elections, even though actual voting by people who are not citizens is rare.

Kennedy Center disassembles ‘Blue’ sculpture BY JESSE BEDAYN Associated Press

The Kennedy Center took down a sculpture known as “Blue” Wednesday, the latest change to the cultural and performing arts center that stirred some pushback in President Donald Trump’s second term. The sculpture, a tall, blue stick ﬁgure poised in action — as if to kick a ball or, from a different angle, having just kicked one — was designed by sculptor Joel Shapiro and installed in 2019. The removal follows a longerrunning saga with the Kennedy Center, where the Trump-aligned board is ﬁghting in court for the right to plaster the president’s name on the historic institution. It falls within a broader effort to reshape Washington to Trump’s liking, including demolishing the White House’s East Wing to build a ballroom, a proposed triumphal arch near Arlington National Cemetery and a renovated golf course. Shapiro, known for breathing life into otherwise minimalist stick figures, described “Blue”

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By MARK SCHIEFELBEIN

Workers remove the sculpture “Blue” by artist Joel Shapiro on the grounds of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington on Wednesday. in a video posted to the Kennedy Center’s YouTube years ago as being “about action and risk and performance and energy. It’s a celebration of possibility.” Shapiro died in 2025, and “Blue” will no longer celebrate possibility at the Kennedy Center, though it may be reinstalled elsewhere through the Joel Shapiro and El-

len Phelan Foundation. “We are deeply grateful to Joel Shapiro for the years Blue has spent animating our campus and connecting visitors to his vision,” the Kennedy Center said in an emailed statement. “We are honored to have been stewards of his vibrant work and a part of his enduring legacy.”

ﬁfth day with no verdict Judge instructs deadlocked panel to continue deliberating BY MICHAEL CASEY and LEAH WILLINGHAM Associated Press

PLYMOUTH, Mass. — Jurors in the Lindsay Clancy trial went home without a verdict Wednesday following a ﬁfth day of deliberations and twice saying they can’t agree whether the Massachusetts mother is criminally responsible for killing her three young children. The jury will return again Thursday morning. The judge told them to keep deliberating Wednesday when they said for a second straight day that they were at an impasse — a sign there’s a growing chance of a hung jury and the trial ending without a resolution. Clancy, a 36-year-old former labor and delivery nurse, doesn’t deny strangling her children in the basement of their home in 2023. Her attorney argues that postpartum psychosis led to her actions, while prosecutors say she knew what she was doing when she killed Cora, Dawson and Callan Clancy, ages 5, 3 and 8 months. “I know it’s been a long day,” Judge William Sullivan said, “so at this point, what I’m going to do is, ﬁrst off thank you for your time and commitment to this case. I’m going to ask you to come back tomorrow morning.” Clancy stared at the jury with no expression when Sullivan earlier in the day explained to the courtroom that the jurors were at a standstill.

Judge tells jury to keep trying Sullivan told the jurors not to abandon their own convictions just to reach a verdict, but urged them to seriously consider opposing views and reassess their positions if appropriate. No one knows, he said, whether another jury would be “more intelligent, more impartial or more

competent to decide it than you are.” Elyse Hershon, a Boston criminal defense attorney and legal analyst, said, “The next time they say they are deadlocked or unagreed — that is usually the mistrial call.”

If there’s a mistrial Clancy’s livestreamed trial has generated intense interest, with reporters and spectators packing the courtroom. The case has also sparked deep public divisions over her culpability and the issues around maternal mental health after childbirth. Jurors have heard testimony from relatives and doctors about how Clancy’s mental health declined in the months before the killings and how her treatment included several medications and a short stay in a psychiatric hospital. Medical experts hired by the prosecution and the defense reached sharply different conclusions about her psychiatric state. If jurors ultimately can’t agree on a verdict, the judge could declare a mistrial. Prosecutors would then have to decide whether to put Clancy on trial again, drop the charges or try to negotiate a plea deal with her lawyer. If the jury decides Clancy was criminally responsible for her actions, it could convict her of either murder or manslaughter. If she is acquitted, a judge could still order her conﬁned to a mental health facility if an evaluation determines that she poses a danger to the public.

Woman charged with filming jury Dawn Light, 56, was arraigned on an intimidation charge Wednesday at the same courthouse as Clancy’s trial in Plymouth, south of Boston. Authorities say she ﬁlmed jurors leaving the courthouse a day earlier. Light, a retired nurse and Clancy supporter, told reporters she was there: “To see Lindsay. And I did see her. She was getting picked up by the van.” Her lawyer Jennifer White called it a “misunderstanding.”

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Clinic coming to Scotlandville BR General expanding to community center

BY ELLYN COUVILLION

vices to patients, who can walk in to see medical staff or make appointments online or with a Baton Rouge General will open phone call. The clinic is set to open in a medical clinic this fall in the Jewel J. Newman Community late October at the community center at 2013 Central Road. It Center in Scotlandville. The clinic will provide prima- will be open five days a week, ry care and mental health ser- from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday Staff writer

through Thursday, and 8 a.m. to noon on Fridays. The hospital has been providing care at the community center through biweekly stops of its mobile health unit. The clinic will replace those stops. The clinic represents a nearly $500,000 investment by Baton

Rouge General, according to East Baton Rouge Parish Metro Council member Anthony Kenney Jr., who represents Scotlandville. “Almost a quarter of Louisiana adults reported not having a primary healthcare provider, a relationship that is key to a person’s overall health, especially those with a chronic condition like high blood pressure, high cholesterol or diabetes,” Baton Rouge Gen-

eral said in a statement. Mental health continues to be a “major health need” in the region, too, the hospital said. “Louisiana has the secondhighest percentage of adults who experience frequent mental distress in the country, at just under 20%,” Baton Rouge General said. Email Ellyn Couvillion at ecouvillion@theadvocate.com.

Bluebonnet Boulevard complex sold for $62M The Waters now owned by Texas company

BY TIMOTHY BOONE Staff writer

CHASE YOUR OWN

TAILGATE

ABOVE: Michael Anderson with Boot Up streetwear adjusts his glasses while vending at Sweet Baton Rouge’s Ultimate Tailgate at Perkins Rowe on Saturday. BELOW LEFT: Danielle Hutchinson, left, and Hannah Louque with Fairy Garden Florals chat inside their booth at Perkins Rowe on Saturday. BELOW RIGHT: Mike Vivian steps to a line dance with his State Farm co-workers during the tailgate. STAFF PHOTOS By JAVIER GALLEGOS

A Dallas-area real estate firm has purchased an upscale Bluebonnet Boulevard apartment complex for $62 million. The Medve Group of Irving, Texas, bought The Waters at Bluebonnet complex in a deal that was filed Monday with the East Baton Rouge Clerk of Court’s Office. The seller was the Stoa Group, a Hammond company that develops apartment complexes. The sale price breaks down to nearly $131,360 per unit. The 324-unit complex, which has been renamed Bluebonnet Reserve, opened in 2025. Rents in the complex at 3445 Bluebonnet Blvd. range between $1,580 for an 837-square-foot one-bedroom, onebath unit and $2,045 for a threebedroom, two-bath unit. The sale continues Stoa’s trend of developing properties, then selling them. In 2022, the company sold the 336-unit Silver Oaks complex on Airline Highway in Gonzales for $76.9 million to a California real estate investment group. Earlier this year, Stoa sold a 348-unit Lafayette complex to an Atlanta firm for $64.8 million. The deal gives Medve Group four Baton Rouge-area complexes, joining Citiscape at Essen at 5010 Mancuso Lane, The Arts Apartments at Bluebonnet Place at 9989 Burbank Drive, and The Arts Apartments at Jefferson Heights at 8939 Jefferson Highway. Medve has five more complexes in Metairie, three in Lafayette and one in New Orleans.

BR man gets 43 years in 2024 shooting

21 arrested in drug bust at Amite strip club A drug bust at an Amite strip club led to the arrest of 21 people, following an investigation that spanned 14 months and inCRIME volved eight difagencies. BLOTTER ferent Those arrested staff at Butler’s Bar and reports Grill, also known as The Mansion Gentlemen’s Club, at 33125 La. 16 in Amite were picked up on a variety of counts, including possession of narcotics, possession of drug paraphernalia, illegal possession of firearms and aggravated flight from an officer, according to the St. Helena Parish

Sheriff’s Office. The bust was made at 2 a.m. Sunday, when St. Helena sheriff’s officials executed several warrants at the club. They were aided by sheriff’s offices from Tangipahoa, Livingston and East Baton Rouge parishes, along with officers from the Hammond Police Department, the 21st Judicial District Attorney’s Office, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Pike County (Mississippi) Sheriff’s Office. The club has been stripped of all its operating licenses by the State Fire Marshal’s Office, the Department of Health, and the Alcohol, Tobacco, and Control Agency.

Ofﬁcials said the club was a hot spot for the sale of illegal narcotics. “I would like to thank all involved for the countless hours put into this operation. Due to the hard, tedious work and plenty of patience, St. Helena Parish is a safer, cleaner place,” said St. Helena Sheriff Clay Chutz in a statement on Facebook. The investigation is ongoing and additional charges are pending.

No criminal charges filed in pedestrian fatality A man was killed when he was

hit by a car while attempting to cross the street Saturday afternoon, according to the Gonzales Police Department. Veronico Garcia, 44, was struck by a car around 3 p.m. Saturday at the 500 block of North Burnside Avenue. He was taken to the Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center with critical injuries and died. The driver of the car remained at the scene and cooperated with police. Following an investigation, police determined it was an “unavoidable accident” and criminal charges would not be pressed against the driver.

Authorities believe he likely acted alone

BY QUINN COFFMAN Staff writer

A Baton Rouge man who claims he was paid $2,000 to carry out a killing has been sentenced to 43 years in prison after pleading guilty to reduced charges of manslaughter and possession of a stolen ﬁrearm. But authorities now believe that 20-year-old Anthony Torregano Hayes likely acted alone in the 2024 shooting of 44-year-old Johnny Ray Green. Early reports that Hayes had been paid to carry out a hit were never independently

ä See SHOOTING, page 2B

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Jurors appear deadlocked in staged-crash trial Judge orders deliberations to continue

BY JAMES FINN Staff writer

A federal judge ordered jurors to keep deliberating Wednesday in New Orleans’ staged wrecks insurance fraud and murder case after they deadlocked on at least some of the charges facing two men accused of conspiring to kill an FBI cooperator. Chief U.S. Judge Wendy Vitter delivered the so-called “dynamite charge” to jurors Wednesday afternoon after they had spent nearly 24 hours deliberating without reaching a verdict in the trial of disbarred Kenner lawyer Sean Alfortish and Leon “Chunky” Parker. Alfortish faces a raft of fraud counts for allegedly orchestrating the staged collisions scheme, in which he’s accused of funneling bogus wrecks to his injurylawyer ﬁancée for litigation, plus murder-conspiracy charges tied to the 2020 killing of FBI cooperator Cornelius Garrison III. Parker is accused of pulling the trigger that killed Garrison. It was unclear which of the charges facing the two men caused the jury to deadlock. Around 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, Vitter brieﬂy pulled prosecutors and defense attorneys to a private sidebar in her courtroom to discuss a question she had received from the jury,

which she did not read in open court. Vitter then called jurors into the courtroom to deliver a directive she later conﬁrmed was an “Allen charge” — also referred to as a “dynamite charge,” or instruction to a deadlocked jury to keep working toward a verdict. “We received the note that you sent. I shared it with all counsel and the defendants,” Vitter told the jury. “They’ve asked me to give this further instruction: I’m going to ask that you continue your deliberations in an effort to agree upon a verdict.” Vitter then sent the jurors back to the jury room to continued deliberating. Afterward, she said from the bench that she issued the directive because nearly ﬁve days had passed since the jury began its deliberations. “The jury was given the case on Friday, Aug. 28,” she said. “It is now Sept. 2. (The jury) came back with this question. The court feels like after these many hours, the approved … Allen charge was appropriate to give.” The marathon jury deliberations, which are set to enter their fourth full day Thursday, follow a three-week trial in which prosecutors sought to convince the jury that Alfortish was culpable for a complex, overlapping web of crimes. He’s accused not only of white-collar counts for the alleged insurance scheme, but also witness tampering and murderconspiracy counts stemming from Garrison’s killing.

Deliberations drag on

tish and a third alleged co-conspirator, Ryan “Red” Harris. Harris was the first person arrested in the killing and quickly pleaded guilty to plotting the hit alongside his then-girlfriend, Jovanna Gardner, who acknowledged calling Garrison to lure him outside before he was shot. Harris testified that he planned the hit at Alfortish’s direction and enlisted Parker, an old family friend, as the triggerman. For his part, Harris admits to buying a pair of burner phones and coaxing Gardner to lure Garrison outside with a phone call moments before the shooting. Alfortish’s defense attorneys, Shaun Clarke and James Washington, homed in during the trial on a lack of direct evidence tying their client to the murder. An FBI location data specialist, Blake Downing, acknowledged under questioning that he was unable to confirm Alfortish, Parker and Harris all met before the murder to discuss the hit, as Harris alleged. Parker lawyers Stephen Haedicke and Richard Schroeder sought to discredit Harris’ trustworthiness. They unpacked a series of lies federal agents acknowledged Harris had told them during FBI “proffer” sessions and noted how Harris appeared to change his story on the witness stand regarding the destruction of one of the burner phones.

jury has only lodged a couple of questions — a wrinkle that trial bar veterans called unusual for a jury taking so long to deliberate. Late Tuesday, the jury asked Vitter its first question: They requested a map “of the greater New Orleans area.” Jurors are generally expected to rest their verdicts solely on material lodged as evidence, and Vitter rejected the request. By reconvening Thursday morning for a fourth full day of deliberations, the jurors reviewing Alfortish and Parker’s charges will place themselves among the longest-deliberating juries in recent memory in New Orleans’ federal court. The jury that weighed Motta’s case in March deliberated for just over five hours before finding her guilty. In 2014, a federal jury deliberated for six hours before convicting former New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin of corruption counts. New Orleans District Attorney Jason Williams in 2022 was acquitted of tax counts by a federal jury that deliberated for about 16 hours. A Washington, D.C.-area jury that convicted former Congressman Bill Jefferson of corruption in 2009 did so after deliberating for five days. The federal judge overseeing that case, however, repeatedly dismissed jurors early in the early afternoon.

The jury can fail to reach a verdict on some charges while still reaching a verdict on others. But in the staged wrecks case, which has drawn national headlines and commanded a vast amount of federal law enforcement resources, a hung jury or acquittal on any count Alfortish faces would strike a stunning blow to prosecutors and agents who spent years unraveling the case both before and after their star witness’ brutal murder. Prosecutors have sought to convince the jury that Alfortish — a disbarred attorney, former Kenner city judge and avid horseman — was the mastermind behind a complex, overlapping web of crimes. For years, prosecutors said he funneled staged wrecks for litigation to his ﬁancée, injury attorney Vanessa Motta, who was separately convicted in March of litigating bogus wrecks for big insurance payouts. They showed the jury thousands of pages of financial ledgers and called business associates, insurance defense lawyers and passengers in staged wrecks to the stand. Alfortish was accused of later ordering the hit on Garrison, a “slammer” who drove passenger vehicles in staged wrecks before he began cooperating with the FBI. In arguing their case of Garrison’s murder, prosecutors relied Few questions from the jury heavily on location data showing Juries can submit questions to Email James Finn at jﬁnn@ the movements of Parker, Alfor- judges during deliberations. This theadvocate.com.

Foosball champion set to defend her title SHOOTING

Continued from page 1B

Sullivan Rue, of Crowley, won women’s singles in 2025

Foosball players warm up before matches begin at the World Championship of Foosball 2026.

BY DOUG MacCASH Staff writer

A mellow clacking sound, once familiar in barrooms, bowling alleys and rathskellers across America, ﬁlled a ballroom in the Hyatt Regency Hotel on Loyola Avenue Wednesday morning. The World Championship of Foosball 2026 was underway. Foosball is a toy version of soccer, where players use handles attached to iron rods to cause miniature plastic ﬁgurines to kick a tiny ball toward mail slot-sized goals. The game was phenomenally popular in the 1970s, right up there with pool and pinball machines. Though foosball never disappeared, the fad faded over the years. But now, foosball is surging once more. Jennifer Smith, the World Foosball Tour director of operations, said she’s not sure of the reason for the renewed interest. Maybe people crave the social “connecting” and the “actual touching” of foosball, which is so much more physical than com-

STAFF PHOTO By DOUG MacCASH

puter games, she said. Or maybe ing home trophies when she was it’s nostalgia. “All of the wayback just 5 years old. In addition to scorstuff is coming back,” she said. ing goals, Rue currently works as an intensive care nurse in LafayStart with a Rue ette, according to her Facebook Smith said the 2026 Champion- page. During foosball’s heyday, casual ship, which continues through Sunday, is expected to attract players twisted and spun the han800 competitors who will vie for dles as best they could, hoping to $175,000 in prize money. Some of randomly whack the ball toward the competitors are “really, really, the goal. For some, it was as much really good players,” Smith said. a game of chance as skill. But stan“It’s mind blowing.” dards at the championship are conThe 2025 women’s singles foos- spicuously high. ball champion is Sullivan Rue, who hails from Crowley and is sched- Hooked on the game uled to defend her title this weekOn Wednesday morning, a quarend. Rue, who is in her early 20s, tet of players dueled with astonishcomes from a foosball family; both ing speed and ﬁnesse. They were of her parents are international able to juggle the pink rubber ball champions. In a YouTube video, between little plastic players, sideRue explained that she began tak- to-side and front-to-back. They

were even able to use one plastic player to dribble the ball in place, buying time before striking. Shots at the goal were so swift and violent that the ball became invisible. Occasionally it ricocheted off of the tabletop playing field and bounced away on the carpeted ﬂoor. Ron Newsom, 63, had traveled from San Antonio to compete in the championship. “The game has changed a lot,” since he began playing as a 20-something, Newsom said. Now, “if you can’t pass to your partner, or play zone defense, or catch loose balls,” you don’t stand a chance. Newsom’s 29-year-old son Dylan, a Navy corpsman (medic), who’d flown in from Annapolis, Maryland, for the championship, said he grew up watching his dad play on the family foosball table at their home. When he started touring to play in tournaments, he was “hooked on it,” he said.

The details To compete in the World Championship of Foosball 2026 costs between $25 and $80, depending on the category. Some competitions are free. Admission to watch the competition is free. For details, visit the World Championship of Foosball 2026 website.

Metairie jeweler accused of money laundering Officials say Savoie failed to turn over clients’ money

BY MICHELLE HUNTER Staff writer

The Jefferson Parish District Attorney’s Office filed charges against a Metairie jeweler accused of failing to turn over tens of thousands of dollars he received after authorities say he sold gold coins, diamonds, watches and other valuables for his customers. Ira Savoie, 71, was charged Aug. 25 with money laundering valued over $100,000 and seven counts of exploitation of the elderly, according to court records.

Investigators don’t believe that Savoie, of Savoie Fine Jewelry, still has the cash he allegedly received from the sales. Savoie told authorities he was tricked out of the money by con artists who fooled him with gift card scams, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office said. The Sheriff’s Office opened an investigation in early April after receiving a complaint from a victim who accused Savoie of theft, said Sgt. Brandon Veal, spokesperson for the department. As detectives began investigating, they identified at least eight victims. A 74-year-old man told investigators Savoie agreed to sell a 3.6-carat diamond from a ring he owned for $15,000. In January 2026, Savoie notified the man that the diamond had been sold and promised a check.

But the victim told investigators he never received any money or got the diamond back, the Sheriff’s Ofﬁce said. Savoie wrote a $20,523 check that bounced to a 75-year-old woman for whom he’d sold $20,523 worth of gold coins, bracelets and other items, according to court records. Detectives searching Savoie’s business identified another victim when they recovered his gold American Waltham Watch Co. pocket watch valued at $15,000. They returned the watch to the 65-year-old owner, who said Savoie owed him $10,500 for a diamond that had reportedly been sold, according to authorities. During questioning, Savoie confessed to selling the victims’ valuables but told detectives he’d fallen

victim to “several scams.” Savoie admitted following instructions to buy gift cards that he then provided to swindlers, according to authorities. Gift card scammers use a number of methods to siphon money out of victims, including posing as online romantic partners in need of quick cash or phony government officials urgently seeking payment of a fine, according to the Federal Trade Commission. The Sheriff’s Office didn’t provide any details about which version of the scam they suspect Savoie fell for. No information was available about why Savoie was charged with money laundering instead of theft. The Jefferson Parish District Attorney’s Office does not comment on open cases.

The Times-Picayune, Advocate staff recognized for work 4 first-place awards given for 2025 work

nalism in the southeastern U.S. The newspaper’s coverage of the 2025 New Year’s terror attack on Bourbon Street received ﬁrst place awards in categories Staff report for both breaking news and deadReporters from The Times- line disaster and crisis reporting. Picayune | The Advocate won The attack left 14 victims dead several awards in the Society of and dozens more injured. Professional Journalists’ 2026 The newspaper’s Green EyeGreen Eyeshades competition, shade wins include: n First place, breaking news which recognizes the best jour-

reporting: Staff, Bourbon Street terror attack coverage n First place, deadline disaster and crisis reporting: Staff, Bourbon Street terror attack coverage n First place, data-driven reporting: Jeff Adelson and Jillian Kramer, “Longing for Justice” n First place, courts, crime and the law reporting: Jillian Kramer and Jeff Adelson, “Longing for

Justice” n Second place, general news writing: John Simerman and Andrea Gallo, death penalty coverage n Second place, nondeadline disaster and crisis reporting: Staff, Bourbon Street terror attack coverage n Third place, public affairs and policy reporting: Mike Smith, “The River’s Reckoning.”

confirmed by detectives, according to East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney Hillar Moore. Green was found dead from multiple gunshot wounds outside his residence in the 3500 block of Brady Street the afternoon of Sept. 13, 2024. Witnesses told police that a man was seen fleeing on a bicycle while carrying a rifle. Hayes was arrested the following month after a Crime Stoppers tip from a family member identified him as the man on the bicycle. That person told police that when she confronted Hayes, he told her he had accepted $2,000 to kill Green “because he was struggling.” “There is insufficient evidence to prove that anybody paid the defendant,” Moore said in a statement to The Advocate. “At one point he said he’d been paid, but he later denied that on a jail call with his family and said that he was not paid. (Detectives) found no independent evidence of a paid hit either.” Moore said authorities believe Hayes was likely motivated to carry out the shooting because of a “personal argument” between him and Green. Hayes was sentenced on Monday to 40 years for manslaughter and three years for possession of a stolen firearm, to be served consecutively.

CORRECTION Due to a press production error, the wrong 2B was inserted into Tuesday’s Metro section. The correct page can be found online in our e-edition at theadvocate.com/eedition. The Advocate regrets the error.

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Funerals Today Jack, Jeannette

Greater Mount Carmel Baptist Church, 1414 Sora Street, Baton Rouge at 9:00am.

Luna, Lino

Ascension Catholic Church Donaldsonville, La. at 11am.

Musgrove, Lisa

Trinity Episcopal Church in Baton Rouge at 10:30am.

Niebuhr, Robert

St. James Place, 333 Lee Dr., Baton Rouge at 2pm.

Songy, Patsy

First United Methodist Plaquemine at 11:30am.

honoring Barbara's life will be held on Saturday, September 5, at Greenoaks Funeral Home, 9595 Florida Boulevard, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Visitation will begin at 9:00 a.m., with the memorial service following at 10:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Radio Bible Courses, PO Box 14916, Baton Rouge, LA 70898.

Diener, Mary 'Doreen'

ing at Clarity Hospice, St. Jude Children's Hospital, and Ronald McDonald House. Relatives and friends are invited to St. Gabriel Catholic Church on Friday, September 4 for a visitation at 9:00AM until a rosary at 10:30AM. A funeral mass will begin at 11:00AM. Burial will be held at Azalea Rest Cemetery on Monday, September 7 at 10:00AM.

Church,

Obituaries Jack, Jeannette B. 'Big Mommie'

Cheek, Barbara Turner

Barbara Cheek, a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother,and friend,passed away peacefully on Monday, July 6, 2026, at the age of 89. A native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Barbara lived a life defined by compassion and generosity. She graduated from Baton Rouge High School and Louisiana State University. She was known by all who met her for her warm spirit, thoughtful words, and genuine care for others. Her ability to make people feel valued was one of her greatest gifts. Above all, Barbara treasured her family. She was a devoted wife and wonderful mother whose love and guidance created a legacy. Her gentle nature and steadfast support touched the lives of those around her and will continue to be remembered by everyone fortunate enough to know her. Barbara had a strong faith and was active in Campus Bible Class, taught by Nick Kalivoda, where she enjoyed studying God's word and sharing fellowship with others. She was also an avid gardener who found great joy in nurturing and creating beauty through her love of plants and flowers. Throughout her life, Barbara generously gave her time and talents to the organizations she loved. She served as president of the Lanier Elementary PTA (lifetime honorary member of the Louisiana PTA and National Congress of PTA), Sherwood Forest Garden Club, and Serendipity social group. Whatever club or organization Barbara participated in, she took an active role and contributed with dedication and a servant's heart. Barbara was preceded in death by her beloved son, Johnnie Gerald Cheek; her husband, Edward Cheek; her parents, Johnnie James and Annie Laura Denham; her stepfather, Raymond Thomas; her brother, Johnnie James Jr. (Jane); and her sisters, Yvonne McRight (Buddy) and Gloria Warren (Albert). She is survived by her daughters, Kimberly Cheek Pickren (Gregory Pickren) and Laura Cheek Aguilar (Richard Aguilar); her grandchildren, Sage Pickren (Eric Dunheimer), Ryan Pickren (Rachel Pickren), John Aguilar (Hayes Aguilar), and Alexander Aguilar (fiancée, Tori Nunnally); and her great-grandchildren, Elise Dunheimer, Wesley Pickren, Enzo Aguilar, and Lochlan Aguilar. Barbara's legacy of faith, devotion to family, and compassion will continue through the many lives she touched. She will be deeply missed and forever cherished by those who knew and loved her. A memorial service

Mary "Doreen" Diener passed away peacefully at her home on August 31, 2026. She was blessed to have lived a full and wonderful life of 104 years. Doreen was born in Salford, England, and came to this country after the war. She was most proud of becoming an American citizen and loved her adopted country. Doreen was resilient and determined, and her family was her pride and joy. She was preceded in death by her parents, Frederick and Florence Leary; her husbands, Heinrich Diener and J. W. Sims; her sister, Muriel Lang; and her grandson, Jay Sims, Jr. She leaves behind to cherish her memory her children, Paulette Mayeux (Stephen Johnson), Jay Sims (Sharon), and Jackie Higdon (Sam); her grandchildren, Robin Annalore (Dr. Angelo), Marcy Brown (Joe), Randall Mayeux (Karen), Ryan Saucier, Jaime Leach, Caitlin Saucier, Jenny Brown (John Mark), and Kinnon Saucier; along with sixteen great-grandchildren and four great-greatgrandchildren.The family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to Pinnacle Hospice for the excellent care and compassion shown to Doreen and her family. Father Cleo Milano will be officiating a private family service.

Holliday, John Jennings

John Jennings Holliday, age 89, passed away on September 1, 2026. Born on July 9, 1937, in Lake Charles, Louisiana, John resided in Saint Gabriel, Louisiana. He worked at Dow Chemical, was an Eagle Scout, and served three years in the United States Marine Corps. John is survived by his spouse, Lillian Harelson Holliday; sons, Mark J. Holliday (Paula) and Christopher A. Holliday (Kathryn); daughters, Elizabeth H. Hoffmann (Jeff) and Lisa H. Summerville (Ernest); sister, Susan H. Young; 12 grandchildren; 11 greatgrandchildren and 1 step grandchild. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Bessie LaJune Y. Holliday; grandson, Holden Christopher Holliday; parents, James and Amy B. Holliday and brother-in-law, Warren L. Young. The family would like to send a special thanks to The Crossing at Clarity Hospice in Baton Rouge. Memorial contributions can be made to The Cross-

Jeannette Batiste Jack, affectionately known as "Big Mommie," was born June 1, 1925, in Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana. Jeannette was the youngest of fourteen children born to Olivia Bennett Batiste Jackson and Joseph Batiste. Jeannette married Oliver Jack Sr. in 1943. She and Oliver became the parents of four children, three sons and one daughter, and shared 48 years of marriage. Jeannette was a longtime member of Greater Mount Carmel Baptist Church. Jeannette worked at Southern University for more than three decades before retiring in July 1984. She also served her community through Meals on Wheels and the Girl Scouts. Her extensive service with the Order of the Eastern Stars included leadership as Worthy Matron, Grand Matron, and Grand Matron Emeritus. She was preceded in death by her husband, Oliver Jack Sr.; her daughter, Cherral Ann Jack Horton; her son, Arthur Van Jack Sr.; her parents, Olivia Bennett Batiste Jackson and Joseph Batiste; Lucien Jackson; and her siblings. She leaves to remember and celebrate her life: her two sons, Oliver Jack Jr. (Jacqueline) and Arnol Jack; eight grandchildren; fourteen great-grandchildren; and one great-greatgrandchild, along with her extended family and friends. Funeral services will be held Thursday, September 3, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. at Greater Mount Carmel Baptist Church, 1414 Sora Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70807. A funeral service will be held from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM on 2026-09-03 at Greater Mt. Carmel Baptist Church, 1414 Sora Street.

Jackson, Brenda Gail

Brenda Gail Ward Jackson left this Earth on July 5, 2026. She is preceded in death by her son Colin Lee Jackson and her parents Roy and Beulah Ward. She is survived by her husband, Jerry Jackson, her daughter, Minnie Jackson, her grandchildren Jest Jackson, his wife Courtnie, and their two children Rose and James, her granddaughter Piper Gail, her sister, Sherrie Morsey, and nephew, Matthew

Morsey. Brenda was born in November of 1950, in Evans, Louisiana. She loved reminiscing about her early years living next door to her "Granny" Minnie and "Grandpa" Andrew's farm and loved riding on her grandpa's buckboard wagon. During her elementary school years, her family moved to Baton Rouge, where she attended school beginning at Goodwood Elementary and graduating from Baton Rouge High School in 1969. Afterward, she got her degree in fashion design from Meadows-Draughon business school in New Orleans, where she lived with some of her best friends. She designed her own line of clothing called "Old Man Winter." When she returned to Baton Rouge, she was hired by D.H. Holmes to work in the display department-decorating the store and dressing the mannequins for display. She was so talented that people would buy the outfits straight out of the window displays she created. Her co-workers, Becky and Jay, told her about a man they had worked with that they had really liked-Jerry Jackson, a man who had been attending college in California on a percussion scholarship, but had come home when he received word that his mother was sick. Not being in college resulted in him being drafted into the Vietnam War. Her colleagues felt she would really like him. They had the same interests in music and fashion, and they encouraged her to write to him. As painfully shy as she was, she did. She began to write to him daily, and when he returned home from Vietnam, he spent the first few days with his family then went to finally meet Brenda. They had fallen in love through their letters over the course of the year, and he proposed on the Cardinal Trail of the Oakley Plantation, where John James Audubon lived. Three months after his return they were married in July of 1970, and were married for 56 years. Brenda was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. Her kindness, perpetual forgiveness, and even-temperament were her greatest virtues. She was a wonderful cook, decorated her home and yard beautifully and made every holiday and birthday amazing. She loved planning adventures and vacations on Dauphin Island and spending days and nights on their houseboat on Old River, and touring the Natchez Trace. She always said, "If you don't make a day special, it won't be." Her gentleness and kindness were well-known to all. She will be missed by all who knew her, and she will be forever in our hearts.

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Thursday, September 3, 2026 ■ 3B

Patin; 5 great-grandchildren, Aijah Phillips, Raegan Boudreaux, Ronald Boudreaux III, Antonio Phillips, Jr., and Ace Phillips; 7 godchildren; two sisters, Tena Herbert, Shirley Demasiliere; one brother, Keary Toussaint; brother-in-law, Maurice Williams, Jr., Raymond Williams, Dave Richardson, Jr.; and numerous nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

White, John Sidney

He was preceded in death by his parents, Irma Toussaint and Ralph Patin, Sr., his sister, Irma Theresa Richardson.

Inspired by the women in his supper club, "The Dirty Dozen" who wrote their own obituaries: "I like the idea, although I prefer to have it not in immediate use. Please keep it around and use it when it's appropriate." - John White

Kennedy Funeral Home is honored to serve the Patin Family. Lawanda D. Jasmin, Funeral Director in charge.

Stovall, Jerry Lane

Beloved husband, fa‐ ther, and friend Jerry L. Stovall went to be with his Heavenly Father on August 31, 2026, at the age of 85. Jerry is survived by his wife of 63 years, Judy. Jerry, a West Monroe na‐ tive, was a standout ath‐ lete in high school. He went on to earn All-Ameri‐ can football honors at LSU in 1961 and 1962, playing both sides of the ball, and was the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy in 1962. Stovall, a ﬁrst-round draft choice of the St. Louis Car‐ dinals, was a three-time Pro Bowl selection. After retiring from the NFL, Stovall went on to a coach‐ ing career at the University of South Carolina and LSU, culminating as head coach of LSU from 1981–1983. Dur‐ ing his tenure, Stovall led the Tigers to the 1982 Or‐ ange Bowl and was named the SEC and Walter Camp Football Foundation Coach of the Year. After football, Stovall served as the Athletic Di‐ rector of Louisiana Tech University and later as the CEO of the Baton Rouge Sports Foundation. Stovall, a devout Christian, was a longtime Bible study instructor and a member of the Malachi Men of First Presbyterian Church, a group that ministered to men incarcerated at An‐ gola State Penitentiary. Jerry was beloved by his family and will be deeply missed. Services will be held at First Presbyterian Church on North Blvd. Visitation will be from 10:00–11:30 a.m., with the funeral ser‐ vice beginning at 11:30 a.m.

John Sidney White, Jr. died in the early morning on August 23rd, 2026, at the age of 96. He is survived by his son, John III (Allison) and daughter, Mignonne (Bart); grandchildren Dylan (Erin), Grace, and Elise; greatgranddaughter Olivia; and brother, George. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mignonne; son, Yancey; his parents, John S. Sr. and Edith; and siblings, Arabelle and Hampden. He greatly loved them all. His express wish was not to list his occupation, memberships, activities, etc., feeling that his family, friends, and acquaintances know something about him; others would not be interested. Visitation will be held from 9AM to 11AM on Saturday, September 5th followed by a memorial service at 11AM at Rabenhorst Funeral Home, 825 Government Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70802. A special thank you to Southside Gardens Assisted Living and Hospice of Baton Rouge for their exceptional care. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Radio Bible Courses, Ltd., P.O. Box 14916, Baton Rouge, LA 70898.

Patin, Ralph

Ralph Anthony Patin, Jr. Visitation will be held on Friday, September 4, 2026, at 9am until Mass of Christian Burial at St. Michael Catholic Church, 6484 La44, Convent, La 70723. Interment in the church cemetery. Ralph "Coach P" Anthony Patin, Jr., departed this earthly life on Tuesday, August 25,2026. He was born on September 22,1944, to the late Irma Toussaint and Ralph Patin, Sr. He was a lifelong resident of Convent, Louisiana, and a faithful member of St. Michael's Catholic Church. He leaves to cherish his precious memories to his wife of 56 years, Doris Williams Patin; his children, Ralph Anthony Patin III (Nalinee), Shawn Christopher Patin, and Toi Monet Marie Patin; 4 grandchildren, KeRashawn Phillips (Antonio), Jamal Patin, Jasmine Patin, Starr

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How to place a Memorial Ad An “In Memory Of” ad, is a way to pay tribute to your loved one. This remembrance is often printed on the anniversary of a loved one’s death. The deadline is two days prior to the day you want your ad to appear. TO PLACE A MEMORIAL AD GO TO: obituaries.theadvocate.com, click submit an obituary and select create a memoriam.

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

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

OUR VIEWS

EBR School Board right to ensure contract transparency It was wise for the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board to implement some contract safeguards while the criminal charges against Superintendent Lamont Cole play out in court. Even if Cole is never convicted — and he is presumed innocent, of course — the specter of the public corruption accusations that he faces would cast a shadow over every step he takes until the case resolves. To briefly recap: Cole was indicted last month and charged with conspiracy to commit bribery, money laundering and malfeasance as part of a sprawling investigation into city-parish government. Charging documents allege Cole “agreed to accept bribes” in exchange for directing contracts toward a friend, who was also indicted. All of the allegations relate to his time on the Metro Council; none stem from his time atop the school system. After the indictment became public, most school board members expressed support and vowed to let Cole’s case work its way through the courts. It’s not hard to see why. Cole, who is halfway through a four-year contract, has earned high marks for his leadership of the parish’s schools. Under the new rules, every contract the school system enters into through July 2027 will be signed by both Cole and Deputy Superintendent Adam Smith. Smith is also charged with verifying each contract’s “policy compliance and proper authorization limits.” Smith is a good choice here: He has twice served as interim superintendent and is an experienced administrator with a long history in East Baton Rouge’s public schools. The board will also have all contracts executed since March 2024 audited by an outside firm. The resolution outlining the new measures had Cole’s support and the vote to approve it was unanimous, with one member absent. The resolution’s language took care to say it was not a statement on Cole’s case. It “does not constitute a disciplinary or prejudice action against the superintendent,” the resolution says. Nor does it “carry any finding of personal wrongdoing.” Cole’s legal troubles are not the fault of the board, the system employees or the students, and none of those should be punished by administrative paralysis while Cole manages his defense. At the same time, the system does bear a responsibility to ensure that system funds are being spent responsibly and that the public can have full confidence in its actions. By requiring that Smith sign contracts and conducting a thorough review, the system can root out any problems and affirm that it is a capable steward of taxpayer dollars. We have praised Cole’s tenure as superintendent and have cheered the improvements the system seems to be making. We would hate for what’s happening in a state district courtroom to hinder that momentum.

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

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

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YOUR VIEWS

LSU is standing up for its players, even when they are not stars

EBR School Board member needs a character-building ‘F’ On the one hand, one has to assume that East Baton Rouge Parish School Board member Patrick Martin is feeling the repercussions of failing to file his tax returns and subsequently throwing his wife under the bus for that error. Like Bill Clinton in 1998, I imagine Martin will be spending a bit of time sleeping on the couch. But on the other hand, he is getting off scot-free. Regardless of who made the mistake, Martin clearly broke the rules and should be disqualified from running for the School Board. Why should he be treated any differently from Judge Steven Tureau, who similarly failed to file his taxes and was

disqualiﬁed from the ballot by the Louisiana Supreme Court? It is especially poignant that a School Board member, of all people, should be able to weasel his way out of consequences for failing to follow the rules. Imagine if Martin were a student in one of the East Baton Rouge Parish schools he oversees, pleading to one of his teachers that the dog ate his homework. I think we would all hope that Martin would receive a ﬁrm, fair, character-building F on that assignment.

CATHERINE CARMICHAEL Baton Rouge

Don’t punish players for the broken football system Attacks on LSU football coach Lane Kiffin and programs giving waived NFL rookies another chance are aimed at the wrong target. Kiffin is defending young men being chewed up by a system run by adults. That is Saban-like leadership. Players trust advisers and chase the NFL dream, only to be discarded months later without playing a game. Then the NCAA and conferences close the college door. Meanwhile, these leaders allow high school players and families to be manipulated by the pay-for-play marketplace they built or permitted. Teenagers navigate agents, contracts and transfer inducements before playing a college snap. The adults profit, then blame the kids when bad decisions follow. College football granted extraordinary eligibility relief after the 2020 COVID season. Yet when this group seeks one final season, conference leaders suddenly discover rigid limits and “competitive balance.” If these players are qualified and eligible under the evolving rules, let them return. If college leaders oppose

STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

LSU head coach Lane Kiffin

second chances, make the rule prospective and absolute: No player may leave college early for the NFL. Otherwise, protect those who go undrafted or are waived before the season. Stop attacking coaches willing to ﬁght for players. Hold the adults who created this mess accountable.

STEVEN A. SCHEURICH Mandeville

Treatment of U.S. neighbors making America ‘grate’ again Dear neighbors across Lake Ontario and the Gulf of Mexico: Washington’s maﬁa Don has certainly made America, and our neighbors and allies, grate (our teeth) again by rewriting history and our once-good relations. Please remember that the U.S. pub-

A rash of court decisions over the past several years has established that the NCAA has been unfairly imposing arbitrary eligibility rules for decades, and finally, players have had enough. Revenue sharing for college athletes has put an emphatic end to pure amateurism; literally, schools are paying players to play. The latest fail by the NCAA was making the “five for five” rule regarding a fifth year of college eligibility starting with the class of 2022, but announcing it after players from 2022, who had already played four years of football, thought they had no choice but to try the NFL. As for SEC commissioner Greg Sankey, why didn’t he threaten suspensions and fines when Vandy let Diego Pavia play or when Ole Miss fought for Trinidad Chambliss to play, after they were both ruled ineligible by the NCAA and then went to court? It is hypocritical of Vandy and Ole Miss to vote to punish schools who play athletes who the courts say are eligible, because that is exactly what they are doing and have done. As for why LSU would allow those players to play, consider that It is harder to stand up for a principle, like fairness to college athletes, when you are not fighting for star players. The players in the lawsuits are just young men and women who want to be treated fairly and let the courts decide. They include men and women in various sports, not just football. When people ask why LSU would risk penalties and bad press for a backup football player, they should ask why the NCAA and SEC have turned a blind eye to star quarterbacks who got courts to let them break the rules and have only issued threats when someone fights for players who are not stars.

DANNIE GARRETT Baton Rouge

lic loves you and hopes you will be patient as we each eagerly await the prospect of relief in November 2028. A registered (but disgusted) Republican,

TOM HERTWIG Gonzales

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The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Thursday, September 3, 2026 ■ 5B

lll

COMMENTARY Which Republican will run to succeed Trump in 2028? Over the last year or so, President Donald Trump has sometimes pointed to Vice President JD Vance as his preference for the 2028 Republican presidential nomination. Sometimes he has spoken favorably of Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and sometimes of a Vance-Rubio “dream team.” Every now and then, Trump has referred to unspecified others who might emerge. Lately, we’ve had reports that two others, Byron Republican Sen. Ted York Cruz, R-Texas, and War Secretary Pete Hegseth, might be considering a move in 2028. (Cruz has said he is thinking about it, while Hegseth has denied any such intentions.) And now, Trump has said he expects there will be other candidates as well. In the Oval Office, Trump was asked whether he had seen reports that Hegseth is considering a run. “Could you see yourself supporting him?” a reporter asked. Trump praised the war secretary but stayed noncommittal on any presidential race. “I think he’s doing a fantastic job,” Trump said of Hegseth. “But it’s very early to talk about that. We have to get through the midterms first. I think he’s a very good guy, but I’ll bet there’s a lot of people considering it that you don’t know about. You probably have — you have a lot of people.” Trump did not elaborate. Was he saying that he knew of a lot of people considering it — information the public did not currently have? Or was he just guessing that there are a lot of possible candidates? In any event, it was quite clear that Trump envisions a 2028 Republican race that expands beyond Vance or Rubio, or Vance and Rubio. “It’s no secret that I want to be president,” Cruz said on a podcast recently. The Texas Republican described presidential ambition as “a bug that history has proved is rarely ended” and suggested that he has a permanent case of it. Without offering any support, Trump

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By ALEX BRANDON

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, right, speaks as President Donald Trump and Jennifer Hegseth listen during a meeting about military families in Washington. said of a Cruz run, “I think he might do that. He’s a talented guy.” Political veterans will remember that Cruz ran for the GOP nomination in 2016, when he hit a brick wall named Donald J. Trump. Cruz lasted longer than most of Trump’s GOP opponents and ended his campaign with a bitter tirade against Trump. He then pointedly refused to endorse the nominee at the Republican convention. Still, the voters have a way of turning a politician’s head around, and Cruz became a prominent supporter of President Trump, and has been so for the last decade. For his part, Hegseth denied the NBC News report that he “has told close friends and associates that he is considering a run for president in 2028.” NBC said that Hegseth and his wife, Jennifer, “have ﬂoated the idea of a presidential run for the past few months, believing he has some of the same attributes that have made Donald Trump popular with the MAGA movement.” “100 percent false,” Hegseth wrote

on X. “We told NBC that, but they just lie with anonymous ‘sources.’” NBC attributed some of the story to buzz surrounding Hegseth’s trip to Iowa to campaign for Republican midterm candidates. Beyond a brief and unsuccessful entry into a Republican primary for the Senate from Minnesota back in 2012, Hegseth has never run for anything. As Trump said, it’s very early. But it’s not too early to see that potential GOP candidates might view 2028 as 1) an enormously important race to deﬁne at least the initial post-Trump direction of the Republican Party, and 2) a race that should include more than one or two candidates. That doesn’t mean any other candidate beyond Vance or Rubio can gain traction. Perhaps they can’t. But at this point, who knows? The party isn’t locked into anything. If you can’t imagine the race moving beyond two men, perhaps you’re not imagining enough. Byron York is on X, @Bryon York.

Elites vary, depending on who you ask Is celebrity streamer Hasan Piker an For progressives dreaming of an elite? Is the president of Harvard just economic revolution (and beating back an ordinary working Joe? Or is it the Republican attacks on universities and reverse? Or is it the billionaires who mainstream media outlets), this might really run things? seem like heartening news: Their moWho, in other words, is the elite? ment has finally arrived! Lakshya Jain, In America’s populist era, everyone the Argument’s pollster, suggested that wants to believe they are the possibility in a recent newsletchampion of Jane Q. Public ter that argued the public is “far against the corrupt, self-dealing more aligned with the left-wing insiders who are running the theory of the elites, which incountry to suit themselves. dexes more heavily on economic Almost no one will cop to being power.” one of those insiders. ConservaThat’s certainly the theory of Megan ega tive legislators position themMcArdle every Democratic campaign ad I’ve seen this primary season, selves as plucky Davids standall of which seem to hit three ing up to the Goliath hive mind themes: fight Trump, make things afof left-leaning journalists, academics, activists and bureaucrats who exert a fordable for ordinary people and tax shadowy control over government and billionaires. But peering into the Argucorporations. The left is equally conment’s poll, I came away unsure that there is such a thing as systematic antivinced it’s the underdog but has been elite politics. Rather, I suspect that the having a bruising fight over whether only people truly obsessed with elites the hated elites should be defined as are other elites, and anti-elite politics the White male power structure or as is often intra-elite politics wearing corporations and the ultrarich. A poll of 3,000 registered voters con- glasses and a fake mustache. The poll’s most surprising finding is ducted in late July by the Argument, that voters don’t really have a clear a publication devoted to promoting sense of what the elites are up to. “The liberalism, suggests that people are electorate sees elites as believing in most receptive to the latter definition. everything that ordinary people don’t For those polled, billionaires count as elites, as do celebrities and maybe cor- agree with. To be elite is to be the opposite of the average American,” porate executives and politicians. ColJain wrote. For example, voters told lege professors and journalists don’t. pollsters that elites were mostly rich So were those of us who spent years complaining about the hard-left turn of people and business executives — and then said that elites were more likely elite institutions wrong? than other people to support nationalNot quite. I’d argue we were right — five years ago. America doesn’t have izing most American businesses. one elite but many, and at any given This is incoherent. But then, ordinary time, the public is hopping mad at voters are often incoherent in this way, some of them, but not necessarily the because most of them don’t pay attensame ones as they used to be. Right tion to politics, and even when they do, now, wealth looms larger than woke they’re often rooting for a team rather media, in part for the reasons I laid out than rooting around in policy detail. in my recent column: Collapsing public Though it’s now unfashionable to trust and a fragmented media environ- praise elites, this is why we need them. ment have greatly diminished the influ- A complex modern society cannot be run by a show of hands. The public ence of legacy journalism.

simply wants too many incompatible things, such as more spending, lower budget deficits and no new taxes on anyone except billionaires. Some group of people must be informed enough to understand that this is mathematically impossible and powerful enough to negotiate acceptable compromises. The public knows when illegal immigration seems to have gotten out of hand but not how immigration rules affect the price of produce. It knows that it wants less crime and a fair shake from the justice system but not why judges prevent juries from hearing certain kinds of evidence. It knows it wants safe planes, comfy seats with legroom, minimal travel delays and cheap tickets, but it does not understand the first thing about aviation safety or airline operations. Unfortunately, elites who do have strong opinions about such things have recently given in to the temptation to frame these questions not as disagreements over trade-offs but as a fight between the public and abusive elites. Some of that always happens in a democracy, of course, but not to the extent we’ve seen over the last 10 years. Elites are no longer merely sparring with each other; they are launching all-out attacks on the institutions that regulate elite power and make a functional democracy possible. If it gets them one inch closer to power, they will pack the courts, censor the press, limit academic freedom, use prosecutorial power to persecute political opponents or deny the legitimacy of election results. They will do it under the pretense that this is necessary to stop elites from oppressing the common people. I don’t know how much the public buys any of this. But I do know that as long as elites keep trying to sell it, we’ll keep tearing each other apart. Megan McArdle is on X, @asymmetricinfo.

Space and data projects could learn from children’s books When considering the data center in Richland Parish, beware of IT. When considering the SpaceX facility in Vermilion Parish, beware of IT. If the subject is carbon capture, or storage of nuclear waste inside offshore salt domes or, well, just about anything else, beware of IT. And while you’re at it, beware of joining the dwarfs. The references above are from children’s literature. In Madeleine L’Engle’s classic, “A Wrinkle in Time,” the great enemy, known as IT, was a giant, “disembodied brain. ... that pulsed and quivered, that seized and commanded.” And “IT was the Quin most horrible, repellent thing.” Hillyer The result of IT’s regime was that everybody thought in unison, acted in unison, so much so that even the children bounced their balls and skipped their ropes in perfect unison, while each house had exactly the same design and even the same number of flowers. Not a single person thought for himself. Then there were the dwarfs in “The Last Battle,” the final book of C.S. Lewis’ famed Narnia series. Thrown through a stable door that actually was a portal into heaven, the dwarfs could not be convinced that they were in anything but a dark, dank, disgusting barn. Offered the finest food and wine, they insisted they were being given hay and rotten turnip leaves and dirty water from a donkey’s trough. “Well at least there’s no Humbug here,” they said. “We haven’t let anyone take us in. The Dwarfs are for the Dwarfs.” Now, you ask, how does any of this apply to SpaceX or a Meta data center? Well, it applies the same way it does to almost any politicized controversy these days. Each side immediately chooses its own IT and quickly gives up all independent thought. And each side becomes so tribal and insular, like the Narnian dwarfs, that it denies even the best things about reality while insisting that the evil establishment is out to get them — out to fool them, out to cheat them. The Lion-Christ Aslan explains: “Their prison is only in their own minds, yet they are in that prison; and so afraid of being taken in that they can not be taken out.” In today’s politics, it seems, nowhere is there room for questions on either side. There’s no room for doubt. There’s no middle ground. So when the data center or the space pad gets announced, one side tells us the projects are such unmitigated blessings that we must abandon all transparency, forgo all questions, waive almost all regulations and oppositional legal options. We must all accept IT’s guidance, all bounce our balls in rhythm, all bow in uniformity. Or, if we follow a different IT, we must man our ramparts in unyielding opposition, try to block everything and, by gosh, refuse to be taken in. Promise us heaven on Earth, or at least enough jobs and education to seem like civic heaven, and we insist we’re being offered barnyard offal and by golly, our little band of dwarfs will retreat into fierce formation in our sad little corners. The pro-development side will cite the wisdom that the early bird gets the worm and that he who hesitates is lost. The antidevelopment side will say that haste makes waste and we should look before we leap. The truth, counterintuitively, is that all four maxims are correct: Too much delay and dithering can be disastrous, but so too can too much impulsiveness. To use other references from children’s fiction, when Gov. Jeff Landry requires so many officials to sign nondisclosure agreements and insists, with President Donald Trump, on bulldozing environmental reviews, it’s no wonder his opponents think he sounds like Kaa the Python (from “The Jungle Book”) hissing “Trust in me, just in me.” Yet the opponents often sound, annoyingly and counterproductively, like “The Boy Who Said No!” To both sides, we should say: Can we please find a way to “get to yes,” but still ask questions? Yes, we desperately need jobs in Richland Parish, but can we have more details on how the massive water needs will be met? Yes, we love reaching for the stars and love the idea of a $100 billion investment in Vermilion Parish, but how will you mitigate harms to fisheries or wetlands? Can we slow down just a little, without it meaning “stop?” Let’s emerge from our corners. Leave behind the rote groupthink of our side’s IT. We need no artificial intelligence to know that the space we now need is the space to get the details right. Email Quin Hillyer at quin.hillyer@ theadvocate.com

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

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6B ■ Thursday, September 3, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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TODAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

A t-storm around in the p.m.

A heavy t-storm in the p.m.

Humid; an afternoon t-storm

Humid with a stray t-storm

Humid; an afternoon t-storm

Some rain and a thunderstorm

HIGH

LOW

HIGH

94° 75°

LOW

HIGH

91° 75°

LOW

90° 75°

Beaumont 88/76 Port Arthur 87/76

Baton Rouge 94/75

Lake Charles 91/75

New Orleans 93/78 Houma 91/74

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

Hattiesburg 95/74

Alexandria 92/74

Lafayette 92/75

10s

20s

30s

40s

50s

HIGH

LOW

92° 74°

60s

70s

80s

90s 100s 110s

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

Sunrise today Sunset tonight Moonrise today Moonset today

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

HIGH

12:38p 6:35a 5:01a 6:37a 2:20a 1:37a 3:28a

6:42 a.m. 7:25 p.m. 11:31 p.m. 1:22 p.m.

LAST

NEW

FIRST

FULL

SEP 4

SEP 10

SEP 18

SEP 26

Atlanta Austin Boston Charlotte Chicago Dallas Denver Houston Las Vegas

96 101 79 98 92 91 89 88 95

TODAY Lo

75 77 67 74 74 77 61 76 74

s t t s t t s t s

96 93 82 98 90 90 90 92 97

FRI. Lo

74 74 63 74 74 78 63 76 73

t t s t t t t t s

FT.

LOW

YESTERDAY

TODAY

READING 54 MAIN POLLUTANT Ozone

MAIN POLLUTANT Ozone

MODERATE

PRECIPITATION

94°/74° 91°/72° 91°/73° 102° in 2000 59° 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

City

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

LOW

Baton Rouge through 5 p.m. Wednesday

Jackson 95/73 Many 91/71

HIGH

93° 75°

TEMPERATURE

Longview 92/74

-0s

LOW

Monroe 96/75

Shreveport 93/74

-10s

HIGH

92° 74°

Well, no tropical disturbance or flash flooding risk today; instead the heat becomes an issue for us once again. Today, we are under either a moderate or major heat risk. So expect a mostly sunny to partly cloudy, hot and humid day with a light breeze and isolated showers and thunderstorms. Temperatures this afternoon will rise to the mid-90s with heat index or “feels like” temps as high as 107 or higher. The UV index is at the very high level, so stay hydrated, wear your shades and sunscreen.

0.00” 0.00” 0.35” 44.47” 43.81”

FT.

HIGH

0.8 12:09a 0.1 1.9 7:21p 0.3 2.1 1:37p 0.0 1.8 5:34p 0.3 1.5 2:19p 0.1 1.8 12:51p 0.1 1.9 3:21p 0.1

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

FT.

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

SOURCE: LOUISIANA DEQ AND AIRNOW.GOV

LOW

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

FLOOD

FT.

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

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 4:52a 11:07a 5:21p 11:36p Friday 5:53a 12:08p 6:23p ---Saturday 6:53a 12:37a 7:24p 1:08p Sunday 7:50a 1:35a 8:21p 2:06p Monday 8:45a 2:30a 9:14p 3:00p Tuesday 9:36a 3:22a 10:03p 3:50p Wednesday 10:24a 4:11a 10:49p 4:36p

City

Los Angeles 82 Miami 92 Nashville 101 New york City 83 Philadelphia 92 Phoenix 100 St. Louis 98 San Francisco 72 Seattle 65

TODAY Lo

64 80 74 71 75 81 80 57 50

s t s t t s s pc t

GOOD

83 90 101 83 87 101 98 73 68

FRI. Lo

65 79 72 67 68 82 80 58 53

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

s t t pc pc t s pc sh

WED. 24-HOUR

MISSISSIPPI STAGE STAGE CHANGE Memphis 34 3.00 -1.84 Vidalia-Natchez 48 28.60 -1.07 Red River Landing 48 30.80 -0.70 Baton Rouge 35 15.20 -0.70 Donaldsonville 27 8.70 -0.40 Reserve 22 6.37 -0.30 New Orleans 17 4.80 -0.20 OHIO Cairo 40 16.07 -1.10 COMITE Near Olive 19 -1.47 +0.15 AMITE Near Darlington 18 -1.18 -0.05 Denham Springs 29 10.30 +0.11 Port Vincent 8 2.92 -0.02 TICKFAW Montpelier 13 2.51 -0.01 Holden 15 0.76 -0.03 ATCHAFALAYA Simmesport 47 14.02 -0.52 Melville 34 9.73 -0.21 Krotz Springs 29 7.83 -0.19 Butte La Rose 20 6.77 +0.07 Bayou Sorrel 12 4.20 +0.20 Morgan City 6 2.86 +0.16

data as of 7 a.m. Wednesday

ONE great state Scan to download

Scan to download

FOUR great apps

Scan to download

SPORTS

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

T h u r s d ay, s e p T e m b e r 3, 2026

1CN

Jaguars look to move forward

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

Final questions

Faulk doesn’t want SU thinking ‘bounce back’ BY TOYLOY BROWN III Staff writer

Marshall Faulk has moved on from the loss in his Southern coaching debut. He is now focused on what his team needs to do to improve for its next game. When he was asked about how Trey Holly can bounce back af- ä Kentucky St. ter averaging 2.5 at Southern. yards on 15 car- 6 P.M. SATURDAy, ries in a 13-point SWAC TV loss to Alabama State — the No. 2 team in BOXTOROW’s HBCU media poll this week — Faulk used the question to explain the mindset he’s stressing not only to Holly but also to his team. “(Do) not try to bounce back,” the Pro Football Hall of Fame running back said at Wednesday’s media availability. “Go out and play our best game. That’s what we’re trying to do. I don’t really look at it as a bounce-back (game). I just look at it as a chance to continue to move forward and get better.” That is Southern’s mission when it plays its home opener against Division II Kentucky State at 6 p.m. Saturday at A.W. Mumford Stadium. The last time Southern played a D-II program was Savannah State in 2024, which, like this season, was the home opener and the second game of the year after a season-opening loss. Against Savannah, which finished 5-5 that year, Southern won 42-10. Results from two years ago and the desire for Southern to earn its first home win since Nov. 16, 2024, aren’t noteworthy to Faulk. The Jaguars coach doesn’t feel a heightened pressure to snap the team’s five-game home losing streak. He instead feels an equal weight each time his team takes the field. “I feel pressure to get every win,” Faulk said. “Here’s the reality: When I played the game, I didn’t have any

STAFF FILE PHOTO

Fireworks erupt as LSU players take the field in Tiger Stadium in an undated photo. More fireworks are expected Saturday night when LSU hosts Clemson in the season opener for both teams.

As LSU’s opener nears, let’s try to tie up some loose ends

ä LSU’s Ausberry: College sports nearing financial ‘cliff.’ PAGE 3C

e’ve gone from months to weeks to days to hours away until LSU opens the

Lane Kiffin era Saturday night in Tiger Stadium against Clemson. Kickoff is officially at 6:30 p.m. on ABC, but as Kiffin said Monday, it will probably be closer to 6:49 p.m. Without a moment to lose, we figured it would be a good time to squeeze in a question-and-answer column before foot meets ball:

Scott Rabalais Will LSU continue its recent tradition of blockbuster season openers under Kiffin? It doesn’t sound like it. Believe it or not, this is LSU’s first home opener since 2020. The past five years LSU has opened at neutral sites or away, as with last year’s 17-10 win at Clemson. “This is a great matchup,” Kiffin said Monday. “I’m excited to be a part of it.” Well, maybe not that excited. From

2022-25, Kifﬁn’s Ole Miss teams opened with Troy, Mercer, Furman and Georgia State, winning by a combined average score of 60-6. “This is a really challenging opener,” he said. “Something we really haven’t been a part of. We made our schedules differently.” Maybe it’s Kifﬁn or maybe the ball was already rolling in that direction, but most of LSU’s openers will look quite different going forward. The Tigers open at home in 2027 against Northwestern State,

ä See RABALAIS, page 3C

Clemson’s ‘nobodies’ have plenty of juice BY JON BLAU

overcoming the odds against the bigger blue bloods of college football. He likes to play underdog, especially coming off a season where Clemson succumbed to the “rat poison” of expectations, ﬁnishing 7-6 with a roster ﬁlled with NFL prospects. It’s not surprising to hear Swinney tamp down expectations and hand out little to no praise of his players. But are they just a bunch of nobodies? Not quite. In fact, there’s enough talent there to give LSU a scare in its own stadium. Here’s why.

Staff writer

All preseason, Clemson coach Dabo Swinney has described his team in five words. “Just a bunch of nobodies,” he said all of August, with a sly grin on his face. If those words are taken literally, it should strengthen the confidence of the LSU faithful and Las Vegas oddsmakers heading into Lane Kiffin’s debut. LSU went into Clemson’s Death Valley just ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By JACOB KUPFERMAN a year ago, beating an ACC power with nine Clemson linebacker Sammy Brown reacts More complete defense NFL draft picks. This year, Clemson has to during last season’s game against LSU in make a return trip to LSU’s Death Valley, light Clemson lost a couple of top-35 picks along Clemson, S.C. those pro players and behind a first-year startthe defensive line in Peter Woods and T.J. Parker, but it’s possible Tom Allen has a better ing quarterback. It’s not as star-studded a team, but it’s wise During Clemson’s heyday, the colorful coach ä See CLEMSON, page 3C not to take Swinney completely at his word. talked all the time about “little ole Clemson”

ä See JAGUARS, page 5C

STAFF PHOTO By JAVIER GALLEGOS

Southern coach Marshall Faulk on Wednesday emphasized the importance of improving for Saturday’s matchup against Kentucky State. ‘I don’t really look at it as a bounce-back (game). I just look at it as a chance to continue to move forward and get better,’ he said.

For a decade, Wood’s job has been a snap for Saints Veteran specialist goes largely unnoticed, and that’s a good thing

BY ROD WALKER Staff writer

STAFF PHOTO By DAVID GRUNFELD

Saints long snapper Zach Wood snaps the ball during a training camp practice on Aug. 9 in Metairie. Wood is entering his 10th season with the team.

If things go according to plan, this will be the only time Zach Wood’s name appears in a story about the Saints this season. If you have kept up with the Saints’ oh-so-reliable long snapper, you know things typically go as planned. That’s why Wood is entering his 10th season with the Saints. He’s been around just as long as Alvin Kamara. Cam Jordan is the only teammate who has been in New Orleans longer. But unlike Jordan and Kamara, chances are you wouldn’t even recognize Wood if he walked pass

ä Saints at Lions. NOON SEPT. 13, FOX

you on the street. That’s how it goes when you’re playing the position that never gets mentioned unless something goes terribly wrong. “Every time I hear about long snappers, that gets said,” Wood said. “And that’s the truest thing ever. It would be nice to have a pat on the butt every now and then for having a great game. But if I’m never getting bothered at all, that’s ﬁne.” Long snappers don’t get much ink, but Wood deserves his. I can’t recall ever seeing him having a bad snap, although he assures me

it’s happened. “I’ve had bad snaps,” Wood said. “Hopefully not egregious enough for everybody to notice. But for me, I have a standard and if a snap is not that, I consider it a bad snap. I’ve had quite a few of those that I’m not super happy about.” Wood, who plays a position often taken for granted, doesn’t take his job for granted. He’s been a steady cog on a special teams unit that has had its share of turnover in recent years. The days when you could just pencil in Wood on the 53-man roster alongside punter Thomas Morstead and kicker Wil Lutz are long gone. The Saints will have their

ä See WOOD, page 4C

2C ■ Thursday, September 3, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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IN BRIEF

BROADCAST HIGHLIGHTS On TV 5 p.m. 6 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL UMass at Rutgers Akron at Wake Forest Colorado at Georgia Tech E. Illinois at Minnesota Ark.-Pine Bluff at Missouri

8 p.m. 8 p.m.

BTN ACCN ESPN NBCSN SECN

UAB at Illinois BTN Idaho at Utah ESPNU WOMEN’S COLLEGE SOCCER 5:30 p.m. Florida St. at Georgia ESPNU WOMEN’S COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL 7 p.m. Auburn at Wisconsin FS1 HORSE RACING noon Saratoga Live FS2

FROM STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

MLB noon Toronto at Cleveland 6 p.m. Boston at Baltimore 8:30 p.m. Athletics at Seattle TENNIS 10:30 a.m. U.S. Open 6 p.m. U.S. Open

MLBN FOX MLBN ESPN ESPN2

Koval explains departure from LSU Ukrainian center says roster addition led to move

BY REED DARCEY

Staff writer

Former LSU women’s basketball center Kate Koval said Wednesday in a statement that the Tigers’ decision to recruit a Russian player had a “deeply personal effect” on her. Koval, a junior from Ukraine, left the team on Aug. 23, nine days after coach Kim Mulkey announced that she and her staff had signed a 17-year-old Russian center named Anna Minaeva. Koval’s father is part of the Ukrainian military, and he “takes tremendous pride in defending his country against Russian aggression,” the 6-foot-5 center said in the statement. “For me,” Koval said, “this war is not distant or abstract. People close to me have been killed and wounded in Russian attacks, and places where I grew up and first began playing basketball have been destroyed by missile strikes. “The timing of this situation and the deeply personal effect it has had on me, my family and those we care about who continue to live through and ﬁght this war ultimately made me question whether LSU remained the right place for me.” Koval also said that she did not learn that LSU had decided to recruit Minaeva until after the transfer portal closed in April. She said her decision to leave the program was “not easy” and that she hopes that the NCAA will allow her to compete for a different team during the 2026-27 season. “While I understand and respect that roster decisions are a part of college basketball,” Koval said, “I have to remain true to myself, my values and my country. “I felt I had found a home at LSU, and I am incredibly grateful for my teammates who became family, as well as my coaches, staff, professors and the entire LSU community. I will always cherish the relationships, experiences, and memories I made there.” Mulkey told The Advocate in an interview on Aug. 17 that she talked to Koval before she started recruiting Minaeva. The

HENDERSON, Nev. — Kirk Cousins, as expected, will be the starting quarterback for the Raiders when Las Vegas opens its season Sept. 13 against Miami, coach Klint Kubiak announced Wednesday. Cousins ran the first-team offense nearly the entire preseason with rookie and No. 1 overall draft pick Fernando Mendoza working mostly with the second unit. The Raiders kept three quarterbacks; Aidan O’Connell returns for his fourth season. The Raiders signed Cousins, who enters his 15th season, to a twoyear deal with $20 million in guaranteed money. His previous club, the Atlanta Falcons, is responsible for $8.7 million this season. Cousins is 88-77-2 as a starter with Washington, Minnesota and Atlanta.

Vikings sign LB Van Noy to their practice squad

STAFF FILE PHOTO By HILARy SCHEINUK

LSU center Kate Koval, center, fights for control of the ball against Arkansas guard Bonnie Deas, left, and forward Maria Anais Rodriguez, right, on Jan. 29 at the PMAC. two met in a parked car outside Koval’s apartment complex, she said, and discussed Mulkey’s hope that Koval and Minaeva could become “ambassadors” for peace and kinship as teammates this coming season. The LSU coach thought the pairing could turn into an uplifting story. “I want you to understand I’m not here to ask you to change how you feel about Russia,” Mulkey said, recalling her conversation with Koval. “I’m just here out of respect for your family and out of respect for you to let you know. Because I know how personal it is for you. “Know that what I have to do in this business, I cannot make a decision to not recruit somebody that can help our program because of a conﬂict between two countries.” Koval, a former top-ﬁve national recruit, spent her freshman season at Notre Dame and her sophomore year at LSU. In 202526, she started 17 of the 35 games the Tigers played, averaging 8.3 points and 6.3 rebounds per con-

test while shooting 56% from the ﬁeld. In her statement, Koval said she “fully intended” to return to LSU for her junior season before the Tigers began recruiting Minaeva. Koval was expected to start at center in 2026-27. Now, Koval will need to obtain a waiver to play this season. NCAA rules do not allow players in any sport to leave one team and join another outside of a transfer portal window. An LSU spokesperson declined to comment for this story.

national prospects, according to ESPN rankings. Wilson Manyacka is a 6-foot2 wing from Maryland, while Banks is a 5-10 point guard from Washington, D.C. Either player could pair well on the roster with Bradley, the towering 6-5 center from Oak Grove, a small town in northeast Louisiana. She’s one of the highest-rated recruits the state has ever produced, and she’s been verbally committed to the Tigers since April. LSU’s home game against Clemson is one of the most highly anticipated season openers in Recruits on campus program history. ESPN’s “ColLSU commitment Caroline lege GameDay” is in town for the Bradley is visiting Baton Rouge matchup, which is set to kick off on Friday and Saturday alongside at 6:30 p.m. Saturday on ABC. two other high-profile recruits Banks and Wilson Manyacka from the 2027 high school class. are taking official visits around Mulkey and her staff also are the game, the source said. Bradhosting guards Ivanna Wilson ley’s visit is unofficial. Manyacka and Jezelle “GG” Banks, a program source con- Email Reed Darcey at reed. firmed Wednesday, around the darcey@theadvocate.com. first game of coach Lane Kiffin’s For more LSU sports updates, tenure as the LSU football coach. sign up for our newsletter at All three recruits are top-five theadvocate.com/lsunewsletter

Judge rejects NCAA bid to dismiss order Missouri DT Webb has been cleared to play this season

BY DAVE SKRETTA

AP sportswriter

Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz was in the midst of a 10-minute teleconference with reporters Wednesday when he learned that a St. Louis County judge had denied the NCAA’s motion to dismiss a temporary restraining order, clearing defensive tackle Sterling Webb to play for the 25thranked Tigers this season. The news came little more than 24 hours before the opener against Arkansas Pine-Bluff on Thursday night. Such is the chaotic nature of college athletics these days, with a multitude of cases slowly winding their way through the judicial system with rosters across the country in limbo as the season begins. “It looks like we’re ready to go!” Drinkwitz exclaimed, upon hearing the news of Webb’s availability from a reporter’s tweet. “You just wait for the tweets. That’s what you do. You (reporters) wait for injury reports to tell you who’s in and who’s out. We wait for tweets from judges to tell you who’s in and who’s out. What a system we have.” Webb was granted a temporary restraining in late July so that he could play a fifth season under rules that were recently adopted

Kubiak selects Cousins as Raiders starting QB

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By VASHA HUNT

Alabama offensive lineman Jaeden Roberts, left, blocks Missouri defensive tackle Sterling Webb, right, during a game on Oct. 26, 2024, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. by the NCAA. The new eligibility model allows five seasons of competition in a five-year period, beginning with an athlete’s fulltime enrollment or the academic year following their 19th birthday, whichever occurs first. But it was not supposed to include athletes who exhausted their eligibility under the old model after last season, and that has left those athletes challenging the plan in court.

Webb, one of the Tigers’ most experienced players, has been practicing ever since he was granted the order, and he should play plenty against Arkansas Pine-Bluff in their opener. He’s made 11 starts and appeared in 25 games over the past two seasons. Nearly 400 athletes have sued the NCAA and other defendants, seeking additional eligibility and claiming the organization’s 5-in-5 rule is unfair because it excludes

members of the high school Class of 2022. More than 30 lawsuits, several of them in federal court, are in different stages of litigation. Some include a handful athletes who signed professional contracts, which prompted every Power Four conference and others in the Bowl Subdivision to ban pros from returning to college – leading to even more court ﬁlings. Drinkwitz has been among the coaches in multiple sports who have been vocal in their disdain for the state of college sports. “College athletics is not in a great place. I said this several years ago when we had announcement of conference changes in the middle of fall camp, and I said, ‘Who considered the student athletes?’ ” Drinkwitz said last weekend. “This stuff is not good for any student athlete. And it’s a direct reﬂection of our inability as leaders to come up with a plan.” Drinkwitz has been pressing for the Protect College Sports Act, a bill in the Senate that would give the NCAA some protection against the sort of lawsuits that are upending college athletics. But the bill remains weeks away from a potential vote. “If that if that bill has passed, this stuff is not happening right now,” he said, “because there’s a framework for what the future of college athletics looks like. And you know, (Texas A&M coach) Mike Elko said it a couple days ago, like, ‘The season’s kicked off, and we have no — we do not know what the rules are for eligibility.’ That’s embarrassing, man.”

EAGAN, Minn. — The Minnesota Vikings have signed 13-year veteran outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy to their practice squad, adding some needed depth and experience at the edge rusher position. Van Noy, who was a free agent after playing the last three seasons with the Baltimore Ravens, agreed to join the Vikings on Tuesday night after visiting team headquarters. That he’s on the practice squad now means little for his ultimate role, given teams may elevate two players per game to the active roster. Van Noy, who joins his ﬁfth team in seven years, has 57 sacks in 173 career regular-season games after playing primarily on the inside earlier in his career. He earned his ﬁrst Pro Bowl selection in 2024.

Quarterback Milton rejoins Cowboys practice squad

FRISCO, Texas — Quarterback Joe Milton rejoined the Dallas Cowboys on the practice squad Wednesday after losing his backup job to offseason pickup Sam Howell. Milton was waived Monday, a day before coach Brian Schottenheimer said the nod to be the No. 2 behind Dak Prescott went to Howell because of his overall command of the offense. Milton backed up Prescott in 2025, his second year in the league after the Cowboys acquired him in a trade with New England. The 26-year-old was much better in the preseason this summer than a year ago, throwing for 378 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions.

Braves OF Acuña fastest to reach 200 HRs and SBs

WASHINGTON — Ronald Acuña hit a three-run homer to become the fastest player in major league history to reach 200 home runs and 200 stolen bases, and the Atlanta Braves beat the Washington Nationals 9-0 on Wednesday. Acuña hit a drive to left-center in the seventh, his 14th of the season, to make it 6-0. He needed 904 games to reach the 200/200 club. Alfonso Soriano set the previous record at 929 games in August of 2006 while playing for the Nationals against the Braves. Acuña stole the 225th base of his career and 20th of the season, swiping second after his leadoff single in the sixth against Riley Cornelio (2-2), who struck out the next two batters.

Koivun added to American team for Presidents Cup

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — Jackson Koivun was added to the U.S. team for the Presidents Cup on Tuesday just three months after leaving Auburn, one of two newcomers captain Brandt Snedeker picked for an American team that hasn’t lost in 28 years. Koivun, who won the 3M Open in his third start as a professional and qualiﬁed for the PGA Tour postseason in just five tournaments, is the first player since Jordan Spieth in 2013 to start a year without a tour card and play in the Presidents Cup. “I’m just happy he took a chance on me. I’m going to give it my all,” Koivun said. Snedeker also took Presidents Cup newcomer Jacob Bridgeman, who won at Riviera this year.

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Thursday, September 3, 2026 ■ 3C

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Ausberry: College sports nearing financial ‘cliff’ BY KOKI RILEY Staff writer

Verge Ausberry stood at the front of the room and started telling stories. He talked about Michigan basketball’s Fab Five, and how the Wolverines’ basketball starting lineup from the 1990s, despite their fame, didn’t make any money off of their name, image and likeness. He told a story about Shabazz Napier, the former UConn point guard who told reporters during the Huskies’ 2014 national championship season that there were nights where he’d go to bed starving. He also discussed lawsuits, namely landmark cases that finally began paying the athletes, that pushed the college sports world to where it is today — on the verge of driving itself off of a financial cliff. “It’s not sustainable. The cliff is coming,” Ausberry, the LSU athletic director, warned the Baton Rouge Rotary Club on Wednesday. “And by December, if we don’t have any (new legislation) in place, we’re looking at football teams jumping from $50 million to $6570 million.” LSU is playing a leading role in the chaos that has enveloped college sports. The athletic department is spending upward of $62 million for the buyouts of former men’s basketball coach Matt McMahon and former football coach Brian Kelly, and that’s before factoring in the money LSU spent on luring Lane Kiffin to replace Kelly and Will Wade to replace McMahon. The Tigers reportedly are spending more than $40 million on their football team, and the men’s basketball program has spent aggressively in adding talent from overseas. LSU also has been active in

STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

LSU president Wade Rousse, left, and athletic director Verge Ausberry, right, hold a win bar as they introduce men’s basketball coach Will Wade during a news conference on March 30 at the PMAC. adding top transfer portal talent in women’s basketball and baseball, which also wasn’t cheap. “We can’t keep it up. We can’t sustain it,” Ausberry said. “A good football team today costs between $40 and $50 million. A basketball team, started at $12 million last year, is about $20 million (this year). A baseball team is pushing close to $10 million. A women’s basketball team is about $5 million.” That doesn’t include the legal battle set to take place in Baton Rouge on Thursday, which would determine the eligibility of multiple former NFL players looking to return to LSU for a ﬁfth year of school. Ausberry was reluctant to dive into the speciﬁcs of the case

SEC lays out its argument against ex-pros returning BY ZACH EWING AND JON BLAU

Staff writers

The Southeastern Conference has laid out its argument against exNFL players returning to college football. The SEC filed a brief Wednesday with a Baton Rouge court, which is slated to hold a hearing Thursday to determine whether athletes hoping to play a fifth college season receive an injunction against the NCAA and SEC, including multiple football players who signed contracts with NFL teams. The brief lays out the SEC’s argument on why it should be able to enforce punishments against schools and coaches who permit ex-pros to join their programs. “This case arises amid substantial uncertainty concerning rules governing college sports,” the SEC’s opposition to a petition for a preliminary injunction reads. “But the question presented as to the SEC is significantly narrower than the broader debate. It is whether the SEC can enforce and require its member institutions to comply with SEC rules.” That second sentence was bolded, underscoring just how critical selfgovernance has become for conferences after the NCAA’s antitrust vulnerabilities in court. A group of 30-plus athletes were granted a temporary restraining order against the NCAA in midAugust by Judge William Jorden. It granted Class of 2022 high school graduates, who were not given a fifth year of eligibility despite the NCAA modifying its rules to allow current athletes five seasons in five years, the go-ahead to return to the college ranks. In response, the SEC instituted penalties against schools that added athletes who were previously signed or rostered by pro leagues — the NFL, NBA and WNBA — including a fine equal to 50% of that sport’s budget, a suspension of a team’s coach for half the season and the revoking of a school’s voting on privileges on business matters. The plaintiffs’ attorneys argued the original temporary restraining order applies to the SEC because it works in concert with the NCAA. But the SEC argues it is not a “functionary” of the NCAA and did not coordinate on its implementation of penalties. “The Louisiana Supreme Court has expressly instructed that courts should not interfere with the internal affairs of a private association unless its proceedings have not been conducted fairly and honestly or its conduct is fraudulent,” the SEC’s Wednesday filing read. “Louisiana appellate courts have applied

the same principle specifically to reasonable eligibility rules adopted and disciplinary measures undertaken by athletic associations.” The SEC said it is “fostering fair competition” among its member schools by creating rules against former pros returning to college. “SEC member institutions have made roster manSankey agement decisions and conducted preseason practices under eligibility rules that did not contemplate an August influx of athletes returning from professional rosters,” the SEC’s filing continued. LSU isn’t the only SEC school attempting to add ex-pros, but Lane Kiffin and his program has been the most aggressive. Ahead of Saturday’s opener with Clemson, the Tigers have received commitments from former Ole Miss starters Dae’Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris, who signed with the Browns and Saints, respectively, in the preseason. They also may be adding former Utah cornerback Blake Cotton, another plaintiff who “intends to seek a roster spot at a D-I university in Louisiana,” according to the lawsuit. SEC commissioner Greg Sankey, who was added as a defendant to the plaintiffs’ lawsuit after the league’s penalties for using expros were announced, provided an affidavit Wednesday that said SEC school presidents voted 15-0 to support those punishments, with LSU president Wade Rousse abstaining. He argued that the SEC is not an agent of the NCAA. Yahoo Sports reported Wednesday that Sankey plans to appear in person Thursday and could testify. For now, the SEC is complying with the judge’s order, which prevents both the NCAA and the conference from enforcing its penalties against schools, including LSU, that would add fifth-year seniors and ex-pros outside of the NCAA’s designated transfer windows. But every signal from the SEC is that it’s not backing down. Tennessee chancellor Donde Plowman, president of the SEC’s executive committee, told ESPN on Tuesday that the league will enforce its rules regarding NFL players returning to college. A day later, ESPN obtained a letter from Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr to Sankey encouraging him to take “all measures available” to punish LSU if it added former NFL players, including suspending or expelling LSU from the SEC.”

or his thoughts on the matter, but he did say that LSU would “make sure to follow the SEC and NCAA rules.” All of it, combined with the drama that has been associated with Wade and Kifﬁn, has placed LSU front and center in the news since the end of last year. “Everyone is saying to me, ‘Hey Verge, every day you’re on TV,’ ” Ausberry said. “You’re supposed to be. You’re at LSU.” But free publicity alone won’t save LSU, the SEC and the rest of college sports from potential financial ruin. They need solutions to their economic reality, and Ausberry believes that two things must happen to ﬁx the situation. First, he wants an antitrust ex-

RABALAIS

Continued from page 1C UL-Monroe in 2028 and Tulane in 2030. The next opener resembling this one is 2029 against SMU in Arlington, Texas. More yawners, yes. Kiffin is thinking about more chances to ease into the season and work out some of the issues LSU must address under duress against Clemson. Is Sam Leavitt 100% ready to play after a Lisfranc foot injury sidelined him at Arizona State in November? I asked Leavitt on Tuesday whether he was going to be the same quick, elusive runner he was before his injury or more selective about taking off. “We haven’t played a game yet, so we’ll see,” Leavitt said with a grin. “No, I feel 100%. I’m ready to be a great player for this team. I feel I’m going to be the same player physically in every aspect, if not better.” A dual-threat quarterback is crucial to make the Kiffin/Charlie Weis Jr. offense run at full horsepower. In Kiffin’s six seasons at Ole Miss, the quarterback ranked second or third on the team in rushing while even accounting for sack yardage. With transfer Dilin Jones at

CLEMSON

Continued from page 1C defense in his second season as the Clemson defensive coordinator. A bust-prone secondary negated the talent Clemson had up front in 2025, finishing 120th nationally in pass defense at 251 yards allowed per game. But Swinney finally plunged into the transfer portal for some help. He grabbed Old Dominion’s Jerome Carter and Southern Miss’s Corey Myrick, who combined for 166 tackles and eight interceptions last season. Carter had 11 tackles in a season opener against eventual national champ Indiana. Clemson also added Penn State transfer Elliot Washington, who reportedly runs a sub-4.3-second 40-yard dash, to play corner opposite of Ashton Hampton, a 6-foot2, 205-pound junior who has, by all accounts, blossomed into a star in Allen’s secondary. There are unknowns at defensive tackle, but Clemson has multiple edge rushers who could cause fits for LSU. Will Heldt is a 6-6, 260-pound senior who led Clemson in sacks (7.5) and tackles for loss (15.5) last fall, and Jahiem Lawson, the brother of former NFL first-round pick Shaq Lawson, has matured as a redshirt senior.

emption that would prevent the NCAA, conferences or schools from getting routinely sued in court. Secondly, he’d aim to implement a one-time transfer rule that would allow athletes to enter the portal just once before they graduate. After graduating, they’d be permitted to enter the portal again. “And that would solve pretty much all of our problems,” Ausberry said regarding the transfer rule proposal. “… That would really help us with the transfer portal. If not, every year, you’re really re-recruiting your team (year over year), and what it does is drive the price up because you’re in a free market.” Both the antiturst exemption and the transfer rule are within

tailback, along with returners Harlem Berry, Caden Durham and others, can that much production be expected from Leavitt? Or will LSU have its ﬁrst 1,000-yard rusher at tailback since Tyrion Davis-Price in 2021? NFL draft analyst Todd McShay said recently that he believes Leavitt has a chance to “wind up being the best quarterback from this class.” That probably means more passing and less running. SEC teams are reportedly threatening to boycott games if LSU rosters players who returned from the NFL. What happens if they actually do? I don’t think that will ever happen, but if it did, they’d probably be subject to a forfeit. It would be kind of perversely poetic if LSU marched all the way to the SEC championship game on a string of forfeits. Is LSU the only school trying to do this? Certainly not. Dae’quan Wright, one of the players in the suit going before a local judge Thursday, said Ole Miss and South Carolina tried to recruit him. And On3.com reported Wednesday that multiple SEC schools are looking into adding players recently cut from NFL preseason rosters, proving that the top sport in the SEC is hypocrisy.

Linebacker Sammy Brown has 194 tackles, including 25 for loss, in his first two seasons. He’s a former multisport athlete who wrestled and played running back in high school. Again, there are major questions at defensive tackle, especially with redshirt senior Vic Burley likely suspended for the opener. It’s also questionable whether Kobe McCloud or Jeremiah Alexander step up to give Clemson the play it needs at linebacker next to Brown after Luke Ferrelli’s late jump to Ole Miss amid a tampering saga. That’s an especially massive question with 6-7 LSU tight end Trey’Dez Green in the fold.

Dynamic duo at WR It’s fair to question Clemson’s situation at quarterback, especially since freshman Tait Reynolds was able to push redshirt junior Christopher Vizzina to the wire. But it’s not like Vizzina has no weapons around him. Former top recruits T.J. Moore and Bryant Wesco are heading into their junior seasons at wideout. Moore emerged as a sophomore with 834 yards, and Wesco, with 537 yards, would have if not for a spinal injury suffered in Clemson’s seventh game. Both have the speed to take the top off of defenses, and they are

the Protect College Sports Act, a bill in the U.S. Senate that has yet to pass. Ausberry offered his support for the bill Wednesday, but he doesn’t fully endorse every aspect of the proposal. “We like the bill, we support the bill, the bill is good,” Ausberry said. “Do we want some amendments on the bill? We do. It would make it better for us, especially (among the) Power Four. “If we don’t get a bill, we won’t get anything. We don’t get antitrust … we just want antitrust so we can stop getting sued every 10 years.” What Ausberry did fully push up against was the idea of collective bargaining in college sports. For one, he’s unsure who the schools would specifically be bargaining with if the players unionized. More crucially, he doesn’t believe the players would want to bargain with the schools because of the large sums of money they’re already making. But whether the solution to these ﬁnancial problems is with collective bargaining, a bill in Congress or something else, LSU and the rest of the college sports world is still facing a ticking time bomb that is set to go off at the end of the year, when football programs across the nation will begin handing out more hefty contracts to players. It’s now up to Ausberry, administrators across the nation or politicians to stop the car before it ﬂies off the cliff. “Where do we stop this?” Ausberry said. “Where do we contain it? And that’s what we’re trying to control.” Email Koki Riley at koki.riley@ theadvocate.com. For more LSU sports updates, sign up for our newsletter at theadvocate.com/ lsunewsletter

What is Kiffin’s biggest concern about his team heading into the opener? Clearly it’s defensive tackle, where LSU appears likely to start a pair of true freshmen in Richard Anderson and Deuce Geralds. Talented freshmen, but freshmen nonetheless. “I feel things have settled down for the most part except for Dtackle,” Kifﬁn said. “We have a lot of guys doing good things in there — some old, some young — so we’ll rotate in there.” Going back to the players returning from the NFL thing, that’s clearly why he wants to add one of the plaintiffs, former Ole Miss defensive tackle Zxavian Harris, to the roster. It never rains in Tiger Stadium … so will it? As of this writing, there is a 75% chance of rain Saturday. The good news, at least from my weather app, is that said rain is expected early Saturday morning and then clear out. Looking like it will be in the low 80s and dry by kickoff. It does rain in Tiger Stadium, but supposedly not that often. According to WBRZ weather data, just 1% of LSU’s home games have been played in the rain since 1960. If that’s true, then I’ve attended all of them. I’d say on average there’s rain once a season, but hopefully not for Saturday’s game.

explosive enough in and out of their breaks to create separation. Clemson coaches also have raved about freshman Gordon Sellars, and Naeem Burroughs could emerge as a weapon in the slot. Clemson’s tight end room is probably deeper than LSU’s with Olsen Patt-Henry, Christian Bentancur and Logan Brooking. There are question marks on Clemson’s offensive line, which returns contributors such as Brayden Jacobs, Elyjah Thurmon, Harris Sewell and Collin Sadler. Sewell switched to center and the other three were banged up last year. It’s a more athletic offensive line than Clemson has had; there are just a lot of moving parts with Jacobs swinging out to left tackle, Sadler bumping out to right and a youngster — either Ronan O’Connell, Tucker Kattus or Easton Ware — at one guard spot. The backfield of Gideon Davidson and speedy SMU transfer Chris Johnson is talented enough to break one off. Vizzina has to be protected from Princewill Umanmielen’s rush, and Clemson has to establish a running game, which it struggled to do a year ago. But there’s a world where it happens. If it does, Clemson has playmakers to generate explosive plays. Even if Swinney is calling them a “bunch of nobodies.”

4C ■ Thursday, September 3, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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Falcons’ 4 QBs an ‘insurance policy’ Atlanta has not yet announced a starter for the position

BY CHARLES ODUM AP sportswriter

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Atlanta Falcons general manager Ian Cunningham said Wednesday the decision to open the season with four quarterbacks on the 53-man roster was “a little bit of an insurance policy.” The injury histories and performances of the top two quarterbacks, Michael Penix and Tua Tagovailoa, made that necessary for the Falcons, who open the season at Pittsburgh on Sept. 13. The Falcons haven’t announced a starting quarterback and also have Cooper Rush and undrafted rookie Jack Strand on their 53man roster at the position. When Tagovailoa was slowed at the start of training camp by lower back tightness, the Falcons signed Rush while Strand had an unexpected opportunity to work with the first-team offense. “What it did show, it wasn’t too big for him, you know, to come in and do what he did early on,” Cunningham said of Strand before adding the rookie from Division II Minnesota State-Moorhead “showed the ability to just progress and get better ever since.” Penix did not play in a preseason game as he continued his recovery from a left knee injury which ended his 2025 season. He was cleared to join team drills for the first time last week but was held out of the Falcons’ final preseason game at Miami on Friday night. Tagovailoa, who has a history of concussions, led a touchdown drive but lost a fumbled snap in Atlanta’s 17-12 win over the Dolphins. It was Tagovailoa’s second

BY JOHN MARSHALL AP sportswriter

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By BRyNN ANDERSON

Atlanta Falcons quarterbacks Michael Penix, center right, Jack Strand, left, and Tua Tagovailoa, right, run drills during training camp on Aug. 24 in Flowery Branch, Ga. fumbled snap in three preseason games — one from the shotgun and one under center. The turnovers by Tagovailoa may have played a role in Falcons ﬁrst-year coach Kevin Stefanski waiting to select a regular-season starter. The return to Miami last week provided a reminder that Tagovailoa was benched for the ﬁnal three games of his sixth season with the Dolphins last season after he set a career high with 15 interceptions. Cunningham confirmed on Wednesday there has been no decision on a starter. The Falcons were 3-6 in Penix’s nine starts last season as he com-

pleted 60.1% of his passes with nine touchdowns and three interceptions. In two seasons, the 2024 ﬁrst-round draft pick has 12 touchdown passes with six interceptions. If Penix starts at Pittsburgh, plays well and shows he is fully recovered from his injury, the Falcons could adjust their 53-man roster and proceed with three quarterbacks. The decision to carry four quarterbacks left the team with only Bijan Robinson and Brian Robinson at running back. Tyler Goodson is on the 16-player practice squad as the third running back. “I feel like that’s a little bit of

the roster gymnastics, right?” Cunningham said. “It’s four quarterbacks and two running backs. You have to sacrifice at some position. ... And it will probably change throughout the season. Just because we start with this 53 now, it may not be the same 53 that it is, you know, Week 18.” One of the Falcons’ most surprising roster cuts, defensive lineman Zach Harrison, was re-signed to the practice squad on Wednesday. The Falcons also signed defensive end Khalid Kareem and defensive back Jammie Robinson to the practice squad and released defensive back Cobee Bryant and defensive end Cam Sample.

Sabalenka powers into U.S. Open third round BY BRIAN MAHONEY AP sportswriter

NEW YORK — Aryna Sabalenka came to the U.S. Open struggling and in danger of losing the No. 1 ranking. She heads to the third round looking every bit ready for a threepeat. The top-seeded Sabalenka overwhelmed Polina Iatcenko 6-1, 6-1 in 53 minutes on Wednesday night, putting on a power-hitting display that made it seem her recent problems are in the past. “Happy with the level I played today, happy with the focus and happy to be through this match,” Sabalenka said. A number of players have only finished one match. Jessica Pegula was one, needing only 56 minutes to defeat Sofia Kenin 6-3, 6-1. Kenin, the 2020 Australian Open champion, beat Venus Williams in her first match. “To be out of there in under an hour, it doesn’t always happen,” Pegula said. “So I think I’m just going to take that one and run, I guess, until the next round.” No. 8 seed Ben Shelton followed Pegula on Ashe and beat Hubert Hurkacz 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 (3), 7-5, while No. 7 Daniil Medvedev raced past Sebastian Gorzny — except for a brief delay to protest the chair umpire’s decision to replay a point when two birds sat on the net — 6-3, 6-3, 7-5. Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz followed Sabalenka on Ashe.

Sabalenka feeling better Sabalenka is trying to become the ﬁrst player to win three in a row in Flushing Meadows since

WOOD

Continued from page 1C third kicker in as many seasons this year with Daniel Carlson replacing Charlie Smyth, who replaced Blake Grupe last season. The Saints are on their ﬁfth punter since Morstead left after the 2020 season. “I’ve gotten used to it,” Wood said. “Luckily the Saints do a good job of bringing good people in here. They aren’t bringing in guys who are hard to work with.” That doesn’t mean it’s easy to see kicking competitions in training camp play out. Carlson, signed by the Saints last week, ended up winning the three-man competition over Smyth and Tanner Brown. Smyth will remain on the practice squad while Brown is looking for a job after getting waived.

Pac-12 football returns after 4 years

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By ADAM HUNGER

Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus serves to Polina Iatcenko of Russia during the second round of the U.S. Open on Wednesday in New york. Serena Williams from 2012-14, but arrived after losing in the fourth round of her past three tournaments. She needs help to stay atop the WTA rankings even if she wins the title. She won 15 of 16 points on first serve in the first set and only dropped off a little in the second, finishing 21 for 28 in the match, against an opponent who is playing in her first Grand Slam tournament. “I think I struggled a little bit in the middle of the season. Once again, I’m not going to defend myself or explain why, what happened, but I’m happy with my level,” Sabalenka said. “I can definitely say that mentally I’m way stronger than I was in the middle of the season, and physically I also feel stronger. So I feel like I’m on my level of play.”

A four-day first round

“It’s really tough,” Wood said. “I’ve been in that position before. It’s really hard when its something you dedicate so much time to. These guys want this so bad. It’s something they’ve dreamed of their entire lives. But just because it doesn’t happen here doesn’t mean it won’t happen. Rejection is hard. Getting told no is hard. I feel for those guys and I never take it for granted.” Grupe was let go by the Saints last season before landing with the Indianapolis Colts. The Colts released Grupe this week before he signed with the New York Jets. “Being a kicker is something I don’t envy,” Wood said. “It’s a tough position. There are not a lot of opportunities. It’s not like you can go in a game and get a bunch of reps.” Wood knows a thing or two about competing for a job. It’s how his story in New Orleans began. The

Saints were desperate for a long snapper in 2017 after Jon Dorenbos was diagnosed with an aortic aneurysm right before the season started. Sean Payton brought in ﬁve players to try out for the position on a Friday afternoon, just three days before the season opener against the Minnesota Vikings. Wood won the job and has been the long snapper ever since. Since taking over, he’s been the steady piece for every kicker or punter who has auditioned. There is an advantage to having someone who can consistently snap the ball exactly where it needs to be. “For sure,” Saints special teams coordinator Phil Galiano said. Galiano followed up that response by knocking on the wooden podium, not wanting to jinx his long snapper. “The one thing about Zach is you can look at him and he keeps him-

When the U.S. Open switched to a Sunday start last year, it spread out the ﬁrst round over the ﬁrst three days, so Wednesday would have arrived with everyone playing in the second round had the weather cooperated. It hadn’t. Alex de Minaur, the No. 6 seed from Australia, said with all the juggling his match was moved twice from the court where he was originally scheduled. He finally started his U.S. Open on Wednesday on Court 11 and beat Italy’s Andrea Guerrieri 6-2, 6-2, 6-4. “It’s been a couple tough days. But I mean, these tournaments, it’s all about adapting and that’s the name of the game,” de Minaur said. “There’s too much to play for to let something like this affect you.”

Paula Badosa said she didn’t even know how to prepare for the resumption of her match against Daria Kasatkina, which was halted Tuesday with her one game from winning to set up a second-round match against No. 4 Coco Gauff. “I didn’t know if I was going to play just two points or six, or I don’t know how much, how many I play or one more set,” the Spaniard said Wednesday after finishing off her 6-1, 6-4 victory. At least she got through. No. 12 Rafael Jodar, the 19-year-old from Spain who came in after a strong summer, was routed 6-2, 6-1, 6-1 by Bu Yunchaokete of China when his first-round match was finally completed. “I knew it wasn’t going to be easy because I was waiting a lot yesterday and today as well, but it is what it is,” Jodar said. “We cannot control the rain, so it’s difficult for both players.” The first round was finally completed late Wednesday, a day when 25 men’s singles matches were scheduled to get the tournament back on track. Alex Michelsen pulled off an upset in one of them by ousting fellow American Brandon Nakashima, the No. 16 seed, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4. No. 7 Karolina Muchova, the Wimbledon runner-up, beat Katie Boulter 6-1, 6-0 to reach the third round, while No. 11 Marta Kostyuk got past 2017 U.S. Open champion Sloane Stephens 6-1, 7-5. No. 31 seed Leylah Fernandez set up a matchup of past U.S. Open runners-up against Pegula, with the winner to meet either No. 16 Sorana Cirstea or No. 19 Jasmine Paolini.

self in unbelievable shape,” Galiano said. “He takes great pride in that and keeping his body healthy. As long as he continues to do that, he can play a while.” Wood is listed at 6-foot-3, 255 pounds. That’s much lighter than the 283 pounds he carried on his frame as a defensive end at SMU. He’s 33 now. While that may be considered old in running back years, it’s an infant in long snapper years. San Francisco 49ers long snapper Jon Weeks is 40 and still going strong. “Jon has been slinging them for a long time,” Wood said. “He’s an animal.” Will Wood still be doing the same at 40? “I would love to play as long as these guys want to keep me here,” he said. Email Rod Walker at rwalker@ theadvocate.com.

The Pac-12, the self-dubbed “Conference of Champions” with athletic excellence going back more than a century, turned into the conference of ashes. A mass exodus of 10 schools in 15 months left the Pac-12 in tatters, dimming the future of a conference that was once the proud home of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Cheryl Miller, Tiger Woods, Jackie Robinson, Lisa Leslie, Jackie JoynerKersey and many more. League brass and the two remaining schools worked behind scenes to pull the conference out of a death spiral and now, more than four years since the first two schools left, the Pac-12 is back as something of a startup. “We’re literally launching a new league,” Pac-12 Commissioner Teresa Gould said. “We’ve been doing all the things that are already established in a traditional conference, but we wound ours down. So now we’re winding it back up and it’s a fun time.” The new version of this venerable old conference officially launched on July 1, when seven new members joined Oregon State and Washington State. The soccer, volleyball and cross-country seasons kicked off last month. Next gen Pac-12 kicks off in full force this week with the start of the football season. Newcomer Fresno State gets it started at No. 14 Southern California on Thursday night with all eight teams, capped by Washington State’s Apple Cup rivalry game against former Pac-12 member No. 17 Washington on Sunday. “It’s really exciting,” said Kirby Moore, the first-year Washington State coach and Washington state native. “Very few times do you get to be a part of history and be the first in the Pac-12 Conference coming back together.” There were plenty of doubts it would ever happen. The once-powerful conference jokingly became the “Pac-2,” but no one with remaining ties to the league was laughing as staff were laid off and the future looked bleak. There were lots of discussions and legalities to sort through over money for the former members as well as complications over new membership Within a few months, the conference began showing signs of life. The Pac-12 worked out a deal for Oregon State and Washington State to play Mountain West Conference schools for the 2024 season, with deals for other sports in separate scheduling agreements. Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State and San Diego State became the first new members in late 2024 after bolting the Mountain West. Utah State joined the Pac-12 not long after that and powerhouse Gonzaga gave the league a higher national profile by joining as a basketball-only member. Texas State’s addition in 2025 was the final piece, giving the conference an FBS-mandated eight football schools. “Things shifted very, very fast,” Gould said. There were still hurdles to clear. The Pac-12 and Mountain West became embroiled in legal wrangling over “poaching” fees and three of the conference’s new members filed a separate lawsuit over exit fees from the Mountain West. Both lawsuits were settled earlier this year. Gould and the Pac-12 also had to negotiate new media rights deals, a massive stumbling block under previous commissioners that, in large part, led to the exodus to other leagues. The Pac-12 worked that out by negotiating deals with CBS, USA Network and The CW, ensuring all its football games and many basketball games will be on linear TV — meaning no more fumbling through the channels to find “Pac12 After Dark.” As a Power Five (now Four) league, the conference would have had an automatic bid under the new 12-team format. Because the reimagined conference dropped into the Group of Six conference category, the trajectory to a playoff spot is no longer a straight line. The Pac-12 hopes to boost its CFP chances by scheduling “flex” games during the final week of the regular season, creating the best possible rematches to enhance its postseason chances. The Pac-12 spent four years searching for solutions to prevent the conference’s extinction. The result is an old conference with a new look and feel.

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Thursday, September 3, 2026 ■ 5C

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HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL

15 area players to watch in ’26 BY JACKSON REYES Staff writer

The high school volleyball season started last week with several top teams in action. Baton Rouge is home to some of the top volleyball talent in the state, and saw three schools (Parkview Baptist, Dunham and St. Michael) make it to state title matches last season. To get ready for the season, here are 15 area players to watch this season.

Mackenzie Chuilli, St. Joseph’s, Sr.

STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

Woodlawn High School running backs coach Logan Diggs works with his players during warmups before the Battle on the Bluff jamboree last Thursday at A.W. Mumford Stadium. Diggs, a former Rummel standout, played running back at LSU, Notre Dame and Ole Miss.

Turning the page Former Ole Miss, LSU RB Diggs begins coaching career at Woodlawn

BY JACKSON REYES

Staff writer

When Logan Diggs looked back on his college career, he didn’t expect his journey would include stops at Notre Dame, LSU and Ole Miss. One thing Diggs did know was that he always wanted to become a coach. The Boutte native and former Rummel running back is back in his home state to do just that. He graduated from Ole Miss in the spring, and he starts his coaching career at Woodlawn High School as the Panthers’ running backs coach. “Coach (Tramon Douglas) asked me if I wanted to help him out and coach his running backs,” Diggs said. “It was a no-brainer opportunity for me to start my coaching journey with somebody of his knowledge.” Inspired by countless coaches throughout his career, Diggs hopes to combine aspects he’s learned in his coaching journey.

Taking what he’s learned

the aspects of being a player’s coach with one that has a high knowledge of the game. “Just a coach that’s not just invested into the game, but investing into giving back to young men,” Diggs said. “That’s been my mindset of what actually made me want to be able to coach.” He credits coaches like Freeman, whom he’s stayed in contact with even after he left Notre Dame. Other coaches who have inspired him include former Notre Dame running backs coach Delan McCullough and current LSU running backs coach Kevin Smith.

Starting the process Diggs is taking the start of his coaching journey one step at a time. He wants to give back to the kids, but he’s still learning. Douglas said he’s been impressed with Diggs’ ability to practice what he preaches. “The ﬁrst thing I saw with him when we had our first offensive meeting, he brought his notebook, pen and paper, the same thing he tells his kids to bring to the (meetings),” Douglas said. “He’s willing to learn, and he wants to do his best.” Diggs joined the staff late in the offseason. Douglas announced the hire on Facebook on Aug. 22. “He’s in here every day, willing to learn and everything he’s learning and trying to transition over to coaching,” Douglas said. “I’m proud of everything he’s caught up to and what he’s able to explain to the kids.”

Diggs always tried to learn from those around him. It started at Rummel with coaches Nick Monica and Jay Roth and transitioned to coaches like Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman. “I’ve been around some really great people and smart coaches,” Diggs said. “For me, I’ve always wanted to be that coach that I’ve always wanted.” His passion is giving back and molding young players both on and off the football ﬁeld. Having just finished his college career, he knows what a good program Using his experience should look like. Across his three stops, Diggs Diggs said he wants to combine found one aspect of the game that

remained consistent from South Bend, Indiana, to Baton Rouge to Oxford, Mississippi. “Preparation is everything,” Diggs said. “You’ve got to be sharp mentally. That’s the most important thing I try to instill into these kids.” Douglas hopes that mentality can help Woodlawn, which ﬁnished 2025 with a 4-6 record and narrowly missed out on the playoffs. “I know that I can share my experiences with those kids and shine a light and give them a motivation that it can be done,” Diggs said. Douglas said he is excited to add Diggs to his staff. “They’re going to listen to us as coaches, but then when you have somebody that just played in the college football playoffs, played in the SEC,” Douglas said, “it grabs their attention.” Douglas knows Diggs can show his players what they need to succeed on Friday and get to the next level, especially in the era of NIL. “The kids are open-minded,” Douglas said. “They’re taking the knowledge and investment, and now we’re just trying to turn it into wins on Friday night.” Diggs made his coaching debut in Woodlawn’s jamboree against Madison Prep on Aug. 27 at A.W. Mumford Stadium. His coaching career may be just getting started, but he couldn’t contain his excitement for what he can do. “For me, the excitement comes from just them changing some of the little things from last week and seeing if they can be different players today,” Diggs said. “I’m just ready to see what they can do not only to the world, but to us as coaches.”

St. Joseph’s should be one of the top teams to watch this year in Division I, and Chuili is a big reason. An All-Metro choice last season, the 5-foot-3 libero finished 2025 with 471 digs, 50 assists and 32 aces.

state and All-Metro honors in 2025. A setter, Owens totaled 382 digs, 342 kills and 49 aces last year.

Julianne Arruda, U-High, So. The Cubs made it to the Division III quarterfinals last year behind a skilled squad that included Arruda. The 6-1 outside hitter was named to the All-Metro team after she had 349 assists, 270 kills, 195 digs and 50 aces.

Skylar Towner, St. Michael, Jr. The Warriors made it to the Division III state title game behind a talented roster. While the team graduated several key players, it does return the 6-foot Towner. The all-state and All-Metro middle blocker had 343 kills and 71 blocks in 2025.

Monet Temple, U-High, So.

One of the most exciting volleyball prospects in the state, the One of the standout players 6-3 Temple had a freshman year for the Gators last year, Frazier to remember with 351 kills, 207 earned All-Metro honors last digs and 56 aces. Temple earned season as St. Amant reached the All-Metro honors. second round of the Division I playoffs. The 5-5 outside hitter Zadi Huggins, Dunham, Jr. totaled 330 digs, 257 kills, 41 aces Dunham returns another excitand 30 blocks in 2025. ing player in Huggins. The 5-11 outside hitter was named to the Au’Brei McCoy, Dutchtown, Sr. all-state and All-Metro teams Another local school that made after she finished 2025 with 367 it to the second round of the play- kills, 244 digs and 68 blocks. offs, the Griffins will look to build on that with key players return- Yahni Olivier, Episcopal, Fr. ing like McCoy. The 5-9 middle The Knights finished 2025 with hitter was a member of the All- an appearance in the Division Metro team last year after she IV playoffs. Episcopal will look tallied 347 kills and 64 blocks. to build on that behind talented sophomore Olivier. The 5-9 outMckensie Chustz, EAHS, Sr. side hitter earned All-Metro honEast Ascension returns one of ors after she had 188 kills and 124 the most talented liberos in the digs. state in Chustz. The 5-5 senior, another All-Metro returnee, had Marin Price, Parkview Baptist, Sr. 365 digs, 71 aces and 50 assists The Eagles reached the pinnalast season. cle of high school volleyball after winning the Division III state Katerina Perniciaro, Prairieville, Jr. title in 2025. Parkview graduIn the school’s second year of ated several key members of last existence, Prairieville made the year’s squad but returns talented Division I playoffs. Skilled play- players like Price. The 6-2 outside ers like Perniciaro helped lead hitter was an All-Metro honorthe charge for the Hurricanes. A able mention member and will returning All-Metro player, the look to step into an even bigger 5-8 outside hitter totaled 257 kills, role this season. 233 digs and 60 aces last year.

Ally Frazier, St. Amant, Sr.

Katherine McDonald, Dunham, Sr. Dunham brings back one of the best rosters in the state after making it to the Division IV state title game last year, and BYU commitment McDonald, a 6-foot setter, helps lead the way. McDonald earned all-state and All-Metro honors last year after ﬁnishing with 1,028 assists, 262 digs, 134 kills and 95 aces in 2025.

Kennedi Owens, Dunham, Sr. Another talented player the Tigers, the 5-9 Owens earned all-

Peyton Shields, Live Oak, Sr.

Live Oak made it to the Division I select playoffs last year, and the Eagles return a talented squad, which includes Shields. The middle hitter was an All-Metro honorable mention member last season.

Alyssa Albert, Zachary, Sr. The Broncos continue to grow as a volleyball program after making the Division I playoffs in 2025. The team will look to rely on 5-5 setter Albert to help the Broncos’ climb in 2026.

PREP REPORT Football Week 1 schedule Thursday

Capitol at McKinley, 7 p.m. at Memorial Stadium Episcopal at Ascension Catholic, 7 p.m. Madison Prep at Jesuit, 7 p.m. Baker at Slaughter Community Charter, 7 p.m. North Iberville at Fisher, 7 p.m.

Friday

Albany at Denham Springs, 7 p.m. Belaire at Southern Lab, 7 p.m. Marksville at Catholic-PC, 7 p.m. Beau Chene at East Iberville, 7 p.m. Warren Easton at East Ascension, 7 p.m. Carrollton High (Georgia) at Catholic-BR, 7 p.m., at Memorial Stadium Rummel at University High. 7 p.m. Helix Mentorship Academy at Broadmoor, 7 p.m. Lafayette High at Live Oak, 7 p.m. Scotlandville at West Feliciana, 7 p.m. White Castle at Istrouma, 7 p.m. Thrive Academy at Northeast, 7 p.m. Westgate at Liberty, 7 p.m. at Olympia Stadium Acadiana at Central, 7 p.m. St. Amant at Woodlawn, 7 p.m. Assumption at Donaldsonville, 7 p.m. Ascension Christian at Ben Franklin, 7 p.m. Magnolia School at Dutchtown, 7 p.m. St. James at East St. John, 7 p.m. Prairieville at Hammond, 7 p.m.

JAGUARS

Northshore at Lutcher, 7 p.m. Dunham at Parkway, 7 p.m. Ponchatoula at Walker, 7 p.m. Zachary at Plaquemine, 7 p.m. Port Allen at Brusly, 7 p.m. East Feliciana at Lake Charles College Prep, 7 p.m. St. Michael at Loranger, 7 p.m. Tara at Glen Oaks, 7 p.m. Springﬁeld at Collegiate Baton Rouge, 7 p.m. Parkview Baptist at Parklane Academy (Mississippi), 7 p.m. St. John at South Beauregard, 7 p.m. Central Private at St. Thomas Aquinas, 7 p.m. Westminster Christian at Kentwood, 7 p.m.

Volleyball Tuesday’s results Ascension Christian 3, False River 0 (25-11, 25-10, 25-10) Central Private 3, Prairieville 0 (25-18, 25-19, 25-9) Live Oak 3, Doyle 0 (25-22, 25-19, 25-16) St. Amant 3, Ascension Catholic 1 (25-22, 20-25, 25-16, 26-24) Zachary 2, Vidalia 0 (25-3, 25-3) Episcopal 3, West Feliciana 1 (23-25, 27-25, 25-21, 25-18) Madison Prep 3, Liberty 1 (25-16, 18-25, 2511, 25-16) Plaquemine 3, Family Christian 0 (25-18, 25-9, 25-20) Brusly 3, Port Allen (25-10, 25-17, 25-12) Southern Lab 3, White Castle 0 (25-7, 25-7, 25-8)

information? And in the moments of the game, are they going to ﬁght?’ You don’t know that. And Continued from page 1C what I can’t do is I can’t go out there and affect the game.” While the former 12-year NFL pressure because I played the game. I was in the game. Now I’m star can’t play anymore, he has standing on the sideline, there’s made sure his team doesn’t overall pressure because you know look Kentucky State because of its it’s, ‘Did we do enough to get them D-II status. “Don’t you worry about that,” he ready? Did we give them enough

Zachary 2, Slaughter Community Charter 0 (25-9, 25-11)

Wednesday’s results University 3, Lafayette Christian 0 (25-20, 25-21, 25-20) St. John, Plaquemine 0 (25-16, 25-10, 25-8) Catholic High Pointe Coupee 3, Collegiate Baton Rouge 1 (25-8, 24-26, 25-19, 25-14) Lycee Francais at LSD, ppd, Southern Lab 3, Belaire 0 (25-12, 25-8, 25-15) Glen Oaks 3, White Castle 0 (25-8, 25-14, 25-13)

Thursday’s matches Parkview Baptist at Central, 4 p.m. Livonia at Liberty, 4 p.m. Prairieville at University Lab, 4 p.m. Doyle at Walker, 4 p.m. Northeast at Ascension Christian, 5 p.m. East St. John at Belaire, 5 p.m. Istrouma at Collegiate Baton Rouge, 5 p.m. St. Amant at Episcopal, 5 p.m. False River at LSD, 5 p.m. Live Oak at Port Allen, 5 p.m. Glen Oaks at Scotlandville, 5 p.m. Woodlawn at Slaughter Community Charter, 5 p.m. GEO Next at White Castle, 5 p.m.

Friday’s match St. Michael Tournament, TBA

Saturday’s match Parkview Baptist Tournament, TBA

said. “We don’t have the right to overlook anyone. You know, in this game we might be the underdog. A lot of these teams, they’ve been together. We don’t have a core yet, you know. “If you really want to know, in that (Alabama State) game, we were feeling out and ﬁguring out who the guys are we can count on and go to because it’s one thing in

STAFF FILE PHOTO By LESLIE WESTBROOK

Parkview Baptist outside hitter Marin Price, right, goes for a kill as E.D. White’s Chloe Thibodaux defends during the Division III state championship match on Nov. 13 at the Cajundome in Lafayette. Parkview won the match to claim the state title.

practice … this is the landscape of football in today’s world of the portal and bringing guys in.” Kentucky State, which went 9-3 last year, is coming off a 41-14 road win over D-II Central State. Southern junior linebacker Tay James said the Jaguars have no intention of looking down on anyone. “Kentucky State, they’re a wellcoached team just like we are,”

said the Jones College transfer who led Southern with nine tackles last game. “Only thing we got to do is just go out there and play our best. No matter if they’re D-II, D-I, D-III, whatever. “We still got to go out there and play our best.” Email Toyloy Brown III at toyloy.brown@theadvocate.com.

6C ■ Thursday, September 3, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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Clippers lose 5 ﬁrst-round picks; owner suspended NBA also hits Leonard with $700K penalty in sweeping salary cap circumvention case

BY BETH HARRIS AP sportswriter

LOS ANGELES — The NBA imposed a sweeping punishment against the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday for violating salary cap circumvention rules, suspending owner Steve Ballmer for one year, fining the team $30 million and forcing it to forfeit five first-round draft picks. Also, two-time NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard was hit with a $700,000 penalty, president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank was banned for six months and team president of business operations Gillian Zucker was suspended for one year. The Clippers will give up one first-round pick in each draft from 2029-2033. The league came down hard on the organization after a nearly yearlong investigation led by an outside law firm. The Clippers had said multiple times that they had done nothing wrong and expected to be exonerated. “I think that we’re going to be in the clear,” Leonard said in April, “so I’m not stressing it.” At the same time, Frank said, “If you know Steve and know Steve’s integrity, you know there’s nothing to it. We believe and we’ve very confident we’re on the right side of this.” The team maintained that stance Wednesday. “We vehemently reject the NBA’s findings, which are the result of a heavily biased investigation seeking to justify a predetermined narrative rather than facts and evidence,” the team said in a statement. “What the league told

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By RyAN SUN

Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer sits on the sideline before a game against the Chicago Bulls on March 13 in Inglewood, Calif. Ballmer was suspended one year and the Clippers were fined $30 milliion and forced to forfeit five first-round draft picks for violating NBA salary cap rules. us privately differs from what it announced today publicly, and they have not held themselves close to the standard Commissioner (Adam) Silver set at the start of this investigation to ensure its fairness and accuracy.” The Clippers said they will “now fight just as hard to demonstrate our innocence. We intend to vigorously challenge these findings and penalties through every avenue available to us and look forward to an ethical and impartial arbitration process.” The league said it and the players’ union agreed to confirm the penalties as final and binding on all parties. It said the outside law firm continues to receive information involving the investigation, and the league “will consider further action as appropriate.” “I am deeply disappointed by the flagrant violations of our rules and by the Clippers’ institutional and leadership failures that led to this misconduct,” Silver said in a statement. “The severity of the penalties reflects the seriousness of the violations.”

The NBA began investigating in September 2025 whether a $28 million endorsement contract between Leonard and Aspiration Fund Adviser LLC — a company that ﬁled for bankruptcy last year — broke league rules, following a report by journalist Pablo Torre. Earlier this year, Aspiration cofounder Joseph Sanberg was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to defrauding investors and lenders of at least $248 million. The Clippers released a letter from Ballmer’s attorney David Kelley to Silver in which he described the investigation as “a witch hunt” and the subsequent penalties as a “gross injustice.” Kelley accused Silver of not keeping his promises that the investigation would be governed by due process and fundamental fairness as well as the burden being on the league to prove any violations through evidence. “League counsel has acknowledged in our discussions that the league does not believe there was an agreement between the Clip-

pers and Aspiration to funnel money to Kawhi Leonard. League counsel also agreed with the Department of Justice, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and a federal judge that Mr. Ballmer was a victim of Joe Sanberg’s fraud — not a participant,” wrote Kelley, a partner in the ﬁrm O’Melveny and Myers. “Mr. Ballmer’s reputation has been irreparably damaged as he now ﬁnds himself embroiled not only in this heavily biased investigation, but in civil litigation, the Aspiration bankruptcy proceeding, and more,” Kelley wrote. Kelley wrote that no league rule prohibits team personnel making introductions to both sponsors and vendors in response to player requests. “Retroactively punishing the Clippers for violating a rule that never existed is hardly consistent with due process,” Kelley wrote. The league said Ballmer knowingly sought to help Leonard obtain off-court income deals, approved a business deal that he knew was a precondition for Aspiration to enter into an endorsement contract with Leonard, and for failing to create conditions under which his team followed league rules. “I accept full responsibility for lapses in judgment by people within my inner circle and regret the distraction this situation has caused the fans and my family,” Leonard said in a statement issued through his new agent, Harrison Gaines. The NBA said Leonard, through his former business manager and uncle Dennis Robertson, “violated the circumvention rules by pressuring the Clippers to assist him in obtaining off-court income opportunities, successfully obtaining those opportunities, and failing to reimburse payments by the Clippers for personal expenses.” “I entered into my contract with the Clippers as well as the agreements in question in good faith,

fully committed to fulfilling my obligations and with no knowledge of any intent on anyone’s part to circumvent the salary cap,” Leonard said in his statement. The league said Ballmer was suspended for “knowingly seeking to help Mr. Leonard obtain off-court income opportunities,” among other issues. Leonard’s trade to the Toronto Raptors has been on hold pending the outcome of the investigation. The Raptors had said they still want Leonard, and he apparently is just as eager to return to the team where he won an NBA title and was Finals MVP in 2019. “As I return to Toronto, I am focused on what I can control, closing this chapter, and moving forward with a clean slate,” Leonard said in his statement. The Clippers and their personnel will be under a compliance and monitoring program by the league for five years and Robertson was banned from doing business with NBA teams for five years. The league penalized Frank for his involvement with the impermissible endorsement arrangements and for approving impermissible expenses incurred by Leonard and his family. Zucker was banned for being primarily and directly culpable for the illegal endorsement arrangements and for lying to investigators. Both will lose their salaries during their bans. It’s not the first time the Clippers have run afoul of NBA rules under Ballmer, who bought the team for $2 billion in August 2014. They were fined $250,000 a year later for violating rules against offering unauthorized business or investment opportunities to players during their courting of free agent DeAndre Jordan. A presentation to him improperly included a $200,000-per-year deal with luxury carmaker Lexus. Ballmer, 70, was CEO of Microsoft from 2000 to 2014.

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 PITTS. 3 3 (41½) Atlanta Chicago 2½ 2½ (47½) at CAROLINA Baltimore 3½ 3½ (48½) at INDIANA. at CINCINNATI 3½ 3½ (50½) Tampa at TENNESSEE 2½ 1½ (39½) NY Jets at DETROIT 7 7 (49½) N.O. Buffalo 1½ 1½ (44½) at HOUS. at J’VILLE 7½ 7½ (40½) Cleveland at LAS VEGAS 3½ 3½ (40½) Miami at CHARGERS 10½ 10½ (46½) Arizona at PHILA. 4½ 4½ (45½) Washington at MINNESOTA 1½ 1½ (45½) Green Bay 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 KENN. ST. 21½ 22½ (51½) W. Georgia at BUFFALO 27½ 18½ (48½) Albany at DELAWARE 30½ 28½ (55½) Merrimck at WAKE FOR. 22½ 24½ (48½) Akron at UCF 38½ 42½ (58½) Beth.-Cook. at GA. TECH 7½ 6½ (50½) Colorado at MISSOURI 50½ 54½ (61½) 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 2½ (56½) San Jose St. at PURDUE 30½ 36½ (56½) Indiana St. at GA. ST. 26½ 28½ (62½) NC A&T at KANSAS 40½ 41½ (54½) LIU Post at OKLAHOMA 40½ 41½ (51½) UTEP at MICH. ST. 10½ 10½ (47½) Toledo at USC 23½ 21½ (51½) Fresno St. Miami (FL) 22 24½ (47½) at STANFORD

Saturday

FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG at UCONN 21½ 19½ (52½) Lafayette at SYRACUSE 27½ 33½ (56½) New Hamp. at B. GREEN 1½ 2½ (48½) Tarleton St. at J. MADISON 6 6 (50½) Liberty at NEBRASKA 23½ 23½ (46½) Ohio at HOUSTON 18½ 20½ (49½) Oregon St. at ALABAMA 26½ 27½ (52½) East Car. at INDIANA 40½ 40½ (55½) N. Texas at ARMY 37½ 36½ (50½) Bryant at W. VIRGINIA 17½ 21½ (56½) C. Caro. at PITT 15½ 16½ (48½) Miami (OH) at OHIO ST. 50½ 50½ (56½) Ball State at S. CARO. 34½ 36½ (54½) Kent State at IOWA ST. 30½ 29½ (52½) SE Mo. St. at KENTUCKY 27½ 23½ (62½) Y’town St at AIR FORCE 23½ 28½ (58½) Duquesne at TEMPLE 12½ 14½ (51½) Rh. Island at GEORGIA 48½ 47½ (54½) Tenn. St. at CHARLOTTE 17½ 20½ (46½) Citadel at UTSA 27½ 28½ (59½) UTRGV at AUBURN 7 7½ (59½) Baylor at N. DAK. ST. 35½ 41½ (57½) Fordham at NAVY 30½ 30½ (50½) Towson at CINCINNATI 7½ 7½ (49½) B. College at DUKE 9½ 7½ (51½) Tulane at OREGON 24½ 24½ (51½) Boise State at TEXAS 30½ 29½ (59½) Texas State at TENNESSEE 47½ 46½ (66½) Furman at APP. STATE 22½ 19½ (53½) Maine at PENN ST.23½ 24½ (52½) Marshall Oklahoma St. 12½ 13½ (59½) at TULSA at IOWA 30½ 31½ (44½) N. Illinois at ARKANSAS 40½ 40½ (63½) N. Alabama at SO. MISS 23½ 20½ (50½) Alcorn State at OLD DOM. 41½ 40½ (52½)Norfolk State at COLO. ST. 3½ 3 (46½) Wyoming at S. ALABAMA 14½ 12½ (52½) Southeastern at S. FLORIDA 12½ 14 (52½) Fiu at M. TENN. 25½ 20½ (59½) Murray St. at KANSAS ST. 41½ 40½ (54½) Nicholls at UTAH ST. 23½ 13½ (62½) Idaho State at J’VILLE ST’ 20½ 20½ (54½) E. Kentucky at VANDY 35½ 29½ (60½) Austin Peay at TEXAS A&M 38½ 40½ (53½) Mo. State at GA SOUTH. 26½ 25½ (51½) Charle. So. at TEXAS TECH 41½ 42½ (59½) Ab. Christian at RICE 21½ 22½ (47½) HCU at TROY 17½ 16½ (54½) Sam Hou. at MEMPHIS 10½ 11½ (52½) Ark. St. W. Mich. at MICHIGAN 26½ 27½ (48½) at MISS. ST. 28½ 28½ (54½) UL-Monroe at LSU 11½ 10½ (50½) Clemson at VA. TECH 47½ 55½ (62½) VMI at LA. TECH 40½ 44½ (55½)N’western St. at FLORIDA 26½ 26½ (59½) Fau at N’WESTERN 15½ 13½ (46½) S. Dak. St. UL 17½ 20½ (48½) Lamar at MARYLAND 41½ 45½ (56½) Hampton

at BYU 47½ at N. MEX. ST. 23½ at ARIZONA 29½ at S. DIEGO ST. 40½ UNLV 1½ at ARIZ. ST. 42½ at NEW MEX. 12½ at SACR. ST. 32½ W. Kentucky 3 UCLA 1½

Sunday

51½ 28½ 31½ 40½ 3 43½ 10½ 37½ 1½ 1½

(61½) Utah Tech (52½) Mercyhurst (58½) N. Arizona (62½) Port. St. (56½) at HAWAII (52½) Morgan St. (46½) C. Mich. (56½) MVSU (52½) at NEVADA (53½) at CAL

FAVORITE at WASH. at NOT. DAME at OLE MISS

OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG 21½ 23½ (50½) Wash. St. 20½ 20½ (47½) Wisconsin 6½ 6½ (55½) Louisville

FAVORITE SMU

OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG 2½ 3½ (53½) at FLA. ST.

Monday

Major League Baseball Thursday

American League FAVORITE LINE Toronto -111 at HOUSTON -166 Boston -126 Tampa Bay -126 at SEATTLE -210 National League FAVORITE LINE at PITTSBURGH -162 Milwaukee -115 at LA DODGERS -300 Interleague FAVORITE LINE Miami -121

UNDERDOG at CLEVELAND White Sox at BALTIMORE at TEXAS Athletics

LINE -110 +134 +108 +108 +176

UNDERDOG LINE San Francisco +136 at CHICAGO CUBS -107 St. Louis +235 UNDERDOG at KANSAS CITY

LINE -100

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

Tuesday’s games

Pct .593 .564 .507 .472 .450

GB — 4 12 17 20

W 86 78 69 68 67

L 53 61 70 72 73

Pct .619 .561 .496 .486 .479

GB — 8 17 18½ 19½

W 82 74 73 58 54

L 56 67 67 82 86

Pct .594 .525 .521 .414 .386

GB — 9½ 10 25 29

Tampa Bay 6, N.Y. Mets 2 Cincinnati 4, San Diego 3 Washington 9, Atlanta 5 Miami 6, Kansas City 3 Pittsburgh 13, San Francisco 12 Milwaukee 9, Chicago Cubs 4 Colorado 4, Baltimore 2 Philadelphia 7, Arizona 1 St. Louis 13, L.A. Dodgers 8 Cincinnati 7, San Diego 3 Atlanta 9, Washington 0 Arizona 1, Philadelphia 0 Colorado 6, Baltimore 5, 11 innings N.Y. Mets 10, Tampa Bay 4 San Francisco 5, Pittsburgh 4, 10 innings Miami 8, Kansas City 6 Milwaukee at Chicago Cubs, n St. Louis at L.A. Dodgers, n

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

San Francisco (Tidwell 0-1) at Pittsburgh (Jones 2-6), 11:35 a.m. Milwaukee (Henderson 9-2) at Chicago Cubs (Gausman 8-11), 6:15 p.m. Miami (Alcantara 13-8) at Kansas City (Wacha 8-8), 6:40 p.m. St. Louis (Mathews 1-2) at L.A. Dodgers (Skubal 8-7), 9:10 p.m.

Thursday’s games

Pro football NFL schedule Week 1 Wednesday, Sept. 9

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

Tampa Bay New York Boston Baltimore Toronto

W 83 79 75 69 69

L 56 60 65 71 71

Pct .597 .568 .536 .493 .493

GB — 4 8½ 14½ 14½

Chicago Cleveland Minnesota Detroit Kansas City

W 73 70 67 63 62

L 66 69 72 75 78

Pct .525 .504 .482 .457 .443

GB — 3 6 9½ 11½

Houston Texas Seattle Athletics Los Angeles

W 71 69 66 54 53

L 69 71 74 86 86

Pct .507 .493 .471 .386 .381

GB — 2 5 17 17½

Tampa Bay 6, N.Y. Mets 2 Cleveland 6, Toronto 1 Miami 6, Kansas City 3 Seattle 9, Boston 6 Minnesota 15, Detroit 2 Texas 8, Athletics 5 Chicago White Sox 5, Houston 1 Colorado 4, Baltimore 2 N.Y. Yankees 7, L.A. Angels 3

Wednesday’s games

Athletics 9, Texas 2 Colorado 6, Baltimore 5, 11 innings Seattle 8, Boston 3 Toronto 11, Cleveland 0 N.Y. Mets 10, Tampa Bay 4 Houston 2, Chicago White Sox 0 Miami 8, Kansas City 6 Chicago White Sox at Houston, n N.Y. Yankees at L.A. Angels, n

Thursday’s games

Los Angeles Arizona San Diego San Francisco Colorado

L 57 61 69 75 77

Wednesday’s games

American League

Tuesday’s games

Milwaukee Chicago St. Louis Pittsburgh Cincinnati West Division

W 83 79 71 67 63

GB — — 2 2 11 15 16

Major League Baseball

West Division

Atlanta Philadelphia Miami Washington New York Central Division

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

No games scheduled.

Central Division

East Division

L 14 14 16 16 25 29 30

This week

East Division

National League

W 26 26 24 24 15 11 10

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

Boston (Bennett 9-6) at Baltimore (Young 9-3), 6:15 p.m. Miami (Alcantara 13-8) at Kansas City (Wacha 8-8), 6:40 p.m. Tampa Bay (McClanahan 10-6) at Texas (Quantrill 6-5), 7:05 p.m. A’s (Ginn 9-8) at Seattle (Anderson 0-0), 8:40 p.m.

Toronto (Soriano 11-7) at Cleveland (Bibee 5-14), 12:10 p.m. Chicago White Sox (Castillo 4-10) at Houston (Brown 4-3), 1:10 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

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

College football 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. UL-Monroe at Mississippi St., 6:30 p.m. Lamar at UL, 7 p.m.

National schedule Thursday’s games

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.

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.

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.

SOUTH SMU (0-0) at Florida St. (1-0), 6:30 p.m.

Friday’s games

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.

Monday’s game

Tennis U.S. Open results Men’s singles

First round Botic Van de Zandschulp, Netherlands, def. Jan Choinski, Britain, 6-3, 6-1, 7-6 (5). Yunchaokete Bu, China, def. Rafael Jodar (12), Spain, 6-2, 6-1, 6-1. Zachary Svajda, United States, def. Daniel Altmaier, Germany, 6-3, 6-1, 6-7 (5), 6-2. Alex de Minaur (6), Australia, def. Andrea Guerrieri, Italy, 6-2, 6-2, 6-4. Second round Alex Michelsen, United States, def. Brandon Nakashima (16), United States, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4. Daniil Medvedev (7), Russia, def. Sebastian Gorzny, United States, 6-1, 6-3, 7-5. Daniel Merida, Spain, def. Andrey Rublev (23), Russia, 6-7 (3), 6-2, 6-4, 6-4. Arthur Rinderknech (26), France, def. Jaume Munar, Spain, 7-6 (4), 6-2, 7-5. Ben Shelton (8), United States, def. Hubert Hurkacz, Poland, 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 (3), 7-5.

Women’s singles

Second round Taylor Townsend, United States, def. Taylah Preston, Australia, 6-1, 6-1. Jasmine Paolini (19), Italy, def. Lucrezia Stefanini, Italy, 6-4, 6-1. Leylah Fernandez (31), Canada, def. Mananchaya Sawangkaew, Thailand, 6-4, 6-1. Diana Shnaider (15), Russia, def. Karolina Pliskova, Czechia, 6-1, 7-6 (4). Jessica Pegula (3), United States, def. Soﬁa Kenin, United States, 6-3, 6-1. Sorana Cirstea (16), Romania, def. Diane Parry, France, 6-2, 7-5. Marta Kostyuk (11), Ukraine, def. Sloane Stephens, United States, 6-1, 7-5. Karolina Muchova (7), Czechia, def. Katie Boulter, Britain, 6-1, 6-0. Kamilla Rakhimova, Russia, def. Oksana Selekhmeteva, Russia, 6-3, 6-0.

Transactions Major League Baseball

American League ATHLETICS — Designated LHP José Suarez for assignment. Selected the contract of RHP Geoff Hartlieb from Las Vegas (PCL). BOSTON RED SOX — Recalled LHP Raymond Burgos from Worcester (IL). Optioned RHP Jedixson Paez to Worcester. CHICAGO WHITE SOX — Reinstated RHP Davis Martin from the 15-day IL. Optioned RHP Tanner McDougal to Charlotte (IL). KANSAS CITY ROYALS — Reinstated 2B Michael Massey from the 7-day IL. Designated LF Drew Waters for assignment. NEW YORK YANKEES — Sent RHP Clarke Schmidt on a rehab assignment to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (IL). TAMPA BAY RAYS — Reinstated RHP Grifﬁn Jax from the 15-day IL. Optioned RHP Alex Cook to Durham (IL). National League ATLANTA BRAVES — Designated LHP Hayden Harris for assignment. Optioned RHP Blake Burkhalter to Gwinnett (IL). Selected the contract of RHP Elieser Hernández from Gwinnett. NEW YORK METS — Reinstated RHP Justin Hagenman from the 60-day IL. Optioned RHP Dylan Ross to Syracuse (IL). WASHINGTON NATIONALS — Designated LHP Tom Cosgrove for assignment. Reinstated RF James Wood from the 10-day IL. Optioned LF Andrew Pinckney to Rochester (IL). Recalled RHP Riley Cornelio from Rochester.

BASKETBALL

NBA NBA — Forfeited five first-round draft picks and fined the L.A. Clippers $30 million for salary cap circumvention rules. Suspended L.A. Clippers owner Steve Ballmer and president of business operations Gillian Zucker one-year for salary cap circumvention rules. Suspended L.A. Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank six-months for salary cap circumvention rules. Fined Toronto Raptors F Kawhi Leonard $700,000 for his connection with the violations. CLEVELAND CAVALIERS — Signed C Khalifa Diop to a contract.

FOOTBALL

NFL ATLANTA FALCONS — Signed DEs Zach Harrison and Khalid Kareem and S Jammie Robinson to the practice squad. Released DE Cameron Sample and DB Cobee Bryant from the practice squad.

LIVING

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

Gazpacho makes for satisfying vegetarian dinner

T h u r s d ay, s e p T e m b e r 3, 2026

1dN

Orzo Pasta Salad with Chicken Sausage, Zucchini and Tomato | PHOTO BY LIZ FAUL

BY LINDA GASSENHEIMER Tribune News Service (TNS)

When I saw the fresh summer vegetables at the market, a simple Gazpacho dinner came to mind. This classic chilled soup can be blended until silky smooth or left chunky for more texture. I prefer the chunky version because it’s hearty enough to serve as a satisfying vegetarian dinner. Simply chop the vegetables into small pieces, a task that takes just a few minutes, then stir everything together. With no cooking required, this refreshing summer meal is ready in minutes.

TNS PHOTO By LINDA GASSENHEIMER

Chunky Gazpacho

Yields 2 servings. Recipe is by Linda Gassenheimer. 2 cups low-sodium tomato juice 2 cups diced ripe tomatoes, about ¼-inch dice ¾ cup diced red onion, about ¼-inch dice 1 cup diced cucumbers skin on, about ¼-inch dice 1 cup diced green bell pepper, about ¼-inch dice 1 cup reduced-sodium canned great northern beans, rinsed and drained 1 small Haas avocado, skin removed, flesh cut into 1-inch pieces 2 teaspoons olive oil 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar Salt and freshly ground black pepper 1 cup croutons 2 tablespoons sour cream 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil leaves 1. Place tomato juice, tomato, onion, cucumber, green bell pepper, beans and avocado into a large bowl. Remove 1 cup of the ingredients and puree them using a food processor or emersion blender until mostly smooth. Return the puree to the bowl. 2. Add the olive oil, balsamic vinegar and salt and pepper to taste. Mix all together. 3. Divide between two large bowls. Add croutons and 1 tablespoon sour cream to each bowl. Sprinkle basil on top. NUTRITION INFO PER SERVING: 499 calories (35 percent from fat), 19.5 g fat (3.8 g saturated, 10.0 g monounsaturated), 7 mg cholesterol, 17.8 g protein, 70.7 g carbohydrates, 16.9 g ﬁber, 158 mg sodium.

To-goFood Simple, savory dishes do double duty Orzo Pasta Salad with Chicken Sausage, for dinner and Zucchini and Tomato packing a lunch

Serves 6-8. Recipe by Liz Faul.

At the grocery store last week, I saw all the brightly colored lunch boxes displayed with snap lid containers, cueing memories of the many packed lunches that I made for my kids during their school years. Liz Faul After my kids left for college a few years ago, it took some time to fall into a new, slower rhythm with cooking and discover again what I wanted to eat, which always fell on the proverbial back burner in the past. But I’ve come to realize that the skills I learned packing nutritious yet convenient lunches over the years don’t have to go to waste: during busy weeknights, making a meal that can easily be packed into my next day’s lunch is an everyday delight. Last week, inspired by a meal I had at a friend’s home this summer, I made salmon

ä See TO-GO, page 2D

2 cups orzo pasta 1 teaspoon salt (plus more for seasoning) 2 tablespoons olive oil (divided) 4 links of chicken sausage (I used chicken, spinach and feta sausage) 1 onion (diced)

2-3 zucchini (cut into small pieces) 1 pint cherry tomatoes ¼ cup fresh basil leaves (chopped) ¼ cup fresh Italian parsley ¼ freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese ¼ cup toasted pine nuts (optional)

1. Bring a medium pot of water to a boil and add salt and the orzo pasta. Boil the pasta uncovered for about 8 minutes. Then drain the water and pasta into a colander. Let sit while you prepare the vegetables and meat to add to the pasta. 2. Cut the sausage into bitesize pieces. Add to a pan, then add olive oil and the sausage. Let the sausage cook until lightly brown on both sides. Once the sausage is cooked, turn off the heat and let the sausage sit until the vegetables are cooked. 3. In a medium pan, over medium-high heat, add the diced onion and zucchini. Stir the on-

ion and zucchini over medium heat until the vegetables lose ﬂuid and begin to turn golden brown. Add the sliced cherry tomatoes, and stir the tomatoes into the vegetable mixture. Once the tomatoes soften, add the freshly chopped basil leaves and parsley leaves. Stir the herbs into the vegetables. Turn the heat off. 4. In a large serving bowl, add orzo pasta, cooked sausage and cooked vegetables and gently stir together. 5. Serve the pasta with the grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese and toasted pine nuts for a salty, crunchy garnish.

Salmon with Herb Butter ä Rice with Fresh Dill and Lemon MORE RECIPES ää Broiled Cucumber,Tomato and Onion Salad ä End-of-Summer Succotash 2D

Soak up savory beef flavor with ramen noodles Beef with Ramen Noodles

BY LINDA GASSENHEIMER Tribune News Service (TNS)

Ramen dishes have become a favorite for quick, satisfying meals, and this recipe comes together in just minutes. Unlike traditional pasta, which is made from hard durum wheat, ramen noodles are made with softer wheat flour, giving them a tender texture that readily absorbs the flavors of the sauce they’re cooked in. You can find ramen noodles made with rice flour or, they may be labeled as soft Chinese noodles. Either works with this dinner. If

TNS PHOTO By LINDA GASSENHEIMER the only ramen available comes packaged with soup seasoning, simply discard the ﬂavor packets and use the noodles for this recipe. HELPFUL HINTS: n Rice noodles can be used.

n Any quick cooking beef can be used instead of tenderloin. n Any type of grater can be used for the ginger such as a microplane or box grater.

Beef with Ramen Noodles

1. Cook noodles according to package instructions. Remove from heat, drain 4 ounces ramen noodles to and run cold water over make 1½-cup cooked noodles them to keep them sepa2 tablespoons low-sodium soy rate and set aside. sauce 2. Mix soy sauce, vin2 teaspoons rice wine vinegar egar, beef broth and brown 1 cup reduced-sodium beef broth sugar together in a small 2 tablespoons brown sugar bowl, stirring to dissolve 2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger the sugar. 2 crushed garlic cloves 3. Heat ½ tablespoon oil 1 tablespoon sesame oil, in a large skillet over medivided use dium-high heat. Add the ¾ pound grass fed beef meat and saute 3 minutes. tenderloin cut into ½-inch pieces Remove to a plate. 2 cups snow peas 4. Add the remaining ½ 1 cup sliced red bell pepper tablespoon oil, fresh ginger, 4 sliced scallions garlic, snow peas and red Yields 2 servings. Recipe is by Linda Gassenheimer.

bell pepper to the skillet. Cook about 1 minute. Add the sauce mixture and bring to a simmer for 3 minutes. 5. Return the meat to the skillet and mix into the sauce. Add the cooked noodles and toss well. Divide between two dinner plates and sprinkle scallions on top. NUTRITION INFO PER SERVING: 619 calories (27 percent from fat), 18.4 g fat (5.8 g saturated, 6.9 g monounsaturated), 84 mg cholesterol, 47.8 g protein, 66.3 g carbohydrates, 4.6 g ﬁber, 669 mg sodium.

2D ■ Thursday, September 3, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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Education starts in the home

PHOTO By LIZ FAUL

Broiled Salmon with Herb Butter served with Rice with Fresh Dill and Lemon; and Cucumber, Tomato and Onion Salad

of making excuses. It’s so Dear Heloise: Education begins at home! I recently frustrating to always hear encouraged all the parents the “teacher” excuses. I love your column of teenagers in our and read it daily! — rural community to Michelle, in Axtell,Texas teach the kids three Michelle, I’ve albasic hand signals when they’re riding ways believed that their ATVs or bikes education starts at on/near the roadhome. This goes for Hints from hygiene and table way. Lots of kids Heloise manners, too. By ride them in the the age of 5, every rural country areas and on the back roads. The child should be able to write their name, recite feedback from parents their address and phone was astounding in the fact number, know their colors, that the general response was: “They don’t teach this and count to 20. Rememin driver’s education.” ber, you’ll never leave Ugh! Children and teenbehind anything of greater importance than your chilagers do not need to learn everything from teachdren. — Heloise ers. Parents should look Damaged clothing fibers it up and teach them the three basic hand signals at Dear Heloise: Wringing home! It’s so simple to enout wet clothes ruins the sure a bit of safety instead ﬁbers. This stresses the

Broiled Salmon with Herb Butter of the oven. Set the oven to broil (I used the highest setting). 2. Line a rimmed baking sheet with tin foil. Place the salmon filets skin-side down on the baking sheet. Drizzle olive oil over the salmon and 1. Place an oven rack to a rub it into the filets. Sprinkle high level in the oven so it each filet with salt and pepis about 6 inches below the per. If using, put ½ tablebroiler element at the top spoon of herbed butter on

top of each salmon ﬁlet. 3. Gently place the prepared salmon filets under the broiler and broil for 6-8 minutes. Watch closely because high-heat broilers can burn the top of the filets quickly. The tops of the salmon ﬁlets are done when they look lightly browned and the fish flakes easily with a fork.

Rice with Fresh Dill and Lemon Recipe by Liz Faul. the heat up to medium-high and cover. Bring the rice to a boil. Then turn the heat down to a simmer and put the cover on the pot. Let the rice simmer on low heat. 2. After 30 minutes, check to see if the water has all been absorbed. Then fluff 1. In a small pot with a lid, the rice with a fork. It should add the salt and rice. Turn be fluffy and tender when

2 cups water 1 teaspoon salt 1 cup long grain rice 1 tablespoon lemon juice 2 teaspoons lemon zest 4 tablespoons finely chopped fresh dill (or substitute fresh parsley) 1 tablespoon olive oil

it’s done. Turn the heat off and let the rice cool. 3. Add the lemon juice, zest and freshly chopped dill. Mix the lemon and herbs into the rice. Drizzle with olive oil and serve. Note: If you have leftover rice, this is a great way to zhuzh it up and use it for another meal.

Cucumber, Tomato and Onion Salad Serves 6. Adapted from Samin Nosrat’s Salad-e Shirazi recipe published in the New York Times. 2 pints of cherry tomatoes (cut tomatoes into small pieces) 3 cucumbers (peeled, seeded and cut into small pieces) ½ red onion (diced) 3 tablespoons chopped fresh Italian

parsley (and/or basil, dill, mint) 3 tablespoons extravirgin olive oil 1 teaspoon red wine vinegar 2 tablespoons lemon juice Salt and pepper (to taste)

1. In a large bowl, add the chopped cherry tomatoes, peeled and chopped cucumbers, diced red onion and freshly chopped herbs. 2. In a small bowl, add the olive oil, vinegar, lemon juice and salt and pepper. Whisk until combined to form a bright, tangy vinaigrette for the salad. 3. Stir the vinaigrette into the salad. Taste and adjust the seasoning with salt or a bit more lemon juice if needed. Serve at room temperature.

End-of-Summer Succotash Serves 4-6. Recipe is by Liz Faul. medium heat, add the chopped onion and garlic. Stir until aromatic (don’t let the garlic brown). 2. Add okra and saute for 5 minutes, or until tender. Add the zucchini and cook for 3- 4 minutes. Then add the corn and the precooked lima beans. 3. Stir all the vegetables together and let their ﬂavors meld. If the pan gets dry, add about 1/4 cup of vegetable stock or water to add steam and refresh the vegetables. Then add the sliced cherry tomatoes and fresh parsley and stir for about 2 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste 1. In a large pan over and serve.

Continued from page 1D served with a Persian tomato and cucumber salad and dill-infused rice. I had forgotten how much I liked fresh dill; the sharp, aromatic herb cut through the richness of the ﬁsh perfectly, bridging the gap between a hearty dinner and a reviving midday meal. My friend generously packed me a serving to go, which I had for lunch the next day. This lunch was memorable. Honestly, I craved it all summer, so I decided to make it myself. Here are a few cooking tips that may help when you try this dish at home. If you don’t have enough salmon left over to pack for lunch, a tin of smoked salmon is a great substitute: it packs the same savory punch with zero additional stove time.

By The Associated Press Today is Thursday, Sept. 3, the 246th day of 2026. There are 119 days left in the year. Today in history: On Sept. 3, 1783, representatives of the United States and Britain signed the Treaty of Paris, which officially ended the Revolutionary War and recognized U.S. sovereignty. Also on this date: In 1861, during the Civil War, Confederate forces invaded the border state of Kentucky, which had declared its neutrality in the conflict. In 1894, the United States celebrated the first federal Labor Day holiday. In 1935, Sir Malcolm Campbell became the first person to drive an automobile more than 300 mph, speeding across the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah. In 1939, Britain, France,

Australia and New Zealand declared war on Germany, two days after the Nazi invasion of Poland; in a radio address, Britain’s King George VI said, “With God’s help, we shall prevail.” In 1943, Allied forces invaded the mainland of Italy during World War II, the same day Italian ofﬁcials signed a secret armistice with the Allies. In 1976, America’s Viking 2 lander touched down on Mars to take the ﬁrst close-up, color photographs of the red planet’s surface. In 1999, a French judge closed a two-year inquiry into the car crash that killed Princess Diana, dismissing all charges against nine photographers and a press motorcyclist, and concluding the crash was caused by an inebriated driver. In 2019, Walmart said it would stop selling ammunition for handguns and

short-barrel riﬂes, and the store chain requested that customers not openly carry ﬁrearms in its stores; the announcement followed a shooting at a Walmart store in Texas that left 22 people dead. In 2025, a picturesque electric streetcar that is one of Lisbon’s big tourist attractions derailed and crashed in the Portuguese capital, killing 15 people and injuring 18 others. Today’s birthdays: Singermusician Al Jardine (The Beach Boys) is 84. Filmmaker Jean-Pierre Jeunet is 73. Rock guitarist Steve Jones (The Sex Pistols) is 71. Actor Steve Schirripa (TV: “The Sopranos”) is 68. Author Malcolm Gladwell is 63. Actor Charlie Sheen is 61. Filmmaker Noah Baumbach is 57. Actor Garrett Hedlund is 42. Olympic gold medal snowboarder Shaun White is 40. Model-actor Kaia Gerber is 25. Actor Jack Dylan Grazer is 23.

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1-2 tablespoons olive oil 1 Vidalia onion (finely chopped) 3 cloves of garlic (diced) 8 small okra, sliced into bitesize pieces 2 zucchini, cut into small pieces 6 ears of corn, husked, kernels removed (or 1 pound frozen corn kernels, defrosted) 1 pound fresh or frozen lima beans (defrosted and pre-boiled/ cooked) ¼ cup of vegetable stock (or water) 1 pint of cherry tomatoes, halved 2 tablespoons freshly chopped parsley (or fresh basil) Salt and pepper to taste

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TODAY IN HISTORY

Yields 4 servings. Recipe by Liz Faul. 4 salmon filets 2 teaspoons olive oil 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon freshly cracked pepper 2 tablespoon herbed butter (I used garlic and herb butter by Kerrygold)

fibers and causes them to wear out faster. The oldfashioned wringer washers actually compressed the garments between two rollers to squeeze the water out. I wash items by hand, squeeze them out, and let them drip out before moving them to a drying rack. — Ann, via email Ann, there are some things that need to be laid flat and pressed with a dry towel so that excess water can be removed. Things such as delicate undergarments and sweaters do well with this method. Wringing out fabrics may remove a lot of water, but you’re correct when you say that it damages the fibers. — Heloise

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PHOTO By LIZ FAUL

End-of-Summer Succotash

Orzo is another great base for a multipurpose meal. It is a rice-shaped pasta and equally as versatile: its small shape allows it to hold on to ﬂavors without getting soggy. It’s one of my favorite pastas for this reason, and I like to use it to make a light yet satisfying one-dish meal that mixes in chicken sausage, zucchini, garden tomatoes and fresh herbs. If you can make it to a local farmers market, get the last of the ripe red garden tomatoes. Farm fresh tomatoes are a blessing to savor for as long as they last. This dish may taste even better the next day. A splash of olive oil or a squeeze of fresh lemon juice bring all the savory, roasted ﬂavors right back to life. For a seasonal vegetarian option, try making an end-of-summer succotash. This dish is made with lima beans, corn, okra, zucchini, tomatoes and fresh herbs.

You can still ﬁnd these ingredients in local farmers markets, or bags of these ingredients in the freezer section of the grocery store. But if time permits, I think that adding freshly shucked corn in succotash makes a big difference. This is a great dish, because you can vary the ingredients based on your taste preference. Sometimes, I add bell pepper and cayenne to add some spice. If you don’t have lima beans, try substituting black-eyed peas. It really is a great vegetable medley that can be used as a side dish or eaten over rice as a full meal. It’s a very versatile dish to serve at dinner and plan on saving some for lunch. Liz Sullivan Faul is a registered dietitian nutritionist who enjoys cooking and sharing meals with her friends and family.

THINKING

OF SELLING? A home evaluation is a great place to start

addressbatonrouge.com DRE#01901536 This website is a marketing and information program that sends all inquiries to state-licensed real estate professionals.

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zodIAC VIRGo (Aug. 23-sept. 22) Pay attention to detail. Jumping into something will have its pitfalls. Question everything, and listen to your inner voice. Fend for yourself, and do what feels right. LIBRA (sept. 23-oct. 23) Relax, gather your thoughts and take time to rejuvenate and pamper yourself. Distance yourself from drama, and give yourself a chance to breathe and to sort through any confusion or difficulties you are experiencing. scoRPIo (oct. 24-nov. 22) Give yourself a chance to live, learn and experience new people, places and pastimes. Engage in what brings you joy and makes you think. Look at controversial situations from a distance. sAGIttARIus (nov. 23-Dec. 21) Listen to suggestions, but do what makes you happy. Problems with those you associate with will lead to emotional differences and a change of heart. Put your energy into how you earn your living. cAPRIcoRn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Take care of paperwork that's about to be outdated. Negotiate with those you do business with, and don't be afraid to ask for and get what you want in writing. AQuARIus (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) You'll be tempted to overspend by trying to make someone you love happy. Offer affectionate gestures instead. Going into debt if you don't have to will lead to regret. PIscEs (Feb. 20-March 20) Take a back seat and watch the world go by. Taking a break will give you time to think

and to consider what's next for you. Put your energy into self-awareness and finding your bliss. Choose practicality. ARIEs (March 21-April 19) Do things your way. Use your ingenuity and discipline to ensure that whatever project you take on has your signature. What you do will help you gain momentum and recognition. tAuRus (April 20-May 20) Focus on what you know you can deliver. Put your energy toward finishing what you start and presenting and marketing your skills and achievements personally. GEMInI (May 21-June 20) Say less, listen more. Truth and facts matter, and getting it right the first time will help you get what you want. Reach out to those in key positions. If you gather information, an opportunity will come your way. cAncER (June 21-July 22) Keep your plans to yourself. Changes at home or to your personal life require secrecy. Focus on how you can make your surroundings and lifestyle more convenient. LEo (July 23-Aug. 22) Keeping a steady pace will get you to the finish line. Take pride in what you do, and give credit to those who help you along the way. Partnerships look playful and fruitful if you maintain equilibrium. 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

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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: A EQuALs s

Mother GooSe And GrIMM

SherMAn’S LAGoon FAMILY CIrCUS

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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

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Bridge By PHILLIP ALDER Brigham Young said, “Silence may be golden, but can you think of a better way to entertain someone than to listen to him?” Can you think of a better way to find the best opening lead than to listen to the bidding? Look at the West hand and the auction in today’s diagram. What should West lead against four spades? When the opponents are cruising toward a game or slam, pay attention. In particular, work out how many points each player has. And sometimes you will also know the distribution of at least one opponent’s hand — as in this deal. North announced five hearts, four clubs and three spades; his hand had 3-5-1-4 (or perhaps 3-5-0-5 or even 3-6-04) distribution. He also promised extra strength, usually 15 or 16 high-card points. With a minimum, he would have raised one spade to two spades. South showed game-invitational values with three-card heart support. Then, when he preferred four spades to four hearts, he indicated five spades. Given that dummy is very short in diamonds, leading that suit has little appeal. (Yes, it works if East wins the first trick and shifts to a low club.) A trump is too

garfield

Pearls Before swiNe

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passive. The opponents have bid quite strongly, so it is probably right to lead actively. That means choosing the club jack. East takes dummy’s queen with his ace and returns the suit. Then the defenders can take two clubs, one diamond and one heart for down one. © 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 — tAMBouR: TAM-bore: A drum beaten with the hands or some

Bizarro

marmaduKe

implement. Average mark 16 words Time limit 30 minutes Can you find 25 or more words in TAMBOUR? yEstERDAy’s WoRD — VIntAGE vain vane vang vegan vein vent vine vita naive native nave

neat tang tine tinea ting tinge agent ante anti gain gait

gate gave gent giant give given gnat eating

loCKhorNs hidato Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer

today’s thought “Whoever despises the word shall be destroyed: but he that fears the commandment shall be rewarded.” Proverbs 13:13

Read the Bible. Believe the Bible. Apply the Bible. G.E. Dean

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

Announcements 2025 Big Trailer vin#16v1u1310s2411218 was towed from 9530 Dawnadele ave. Baton Rouge LA 70816, on November 25, 2025. It was placed in storage at: 9695 Hooper Road Hooper Road Car Care Baton Rouge LA 70818 If not claimed within the next 30 days application for title will be applied for. 199622-Sept 3-4, 2t $130.24 Ajooni Petroleum LLC d/b/a Smart Fuel Stop is applying to the Ofﬁce of Alcohol and Tobacco Control of the State of Louisiana for a permit to sell beverages of high and low alcohol content at retail in the Ascension Parish at the following address 14448 Highway 73, Prairieville, LA 70769. Business Name: Ajooni Petroleum LLC DBA: Smart Fuel Stop Members: Sandeep Singh Multani & Surinder Singh 199529 Sept. 3 1t $95.98 Anyone knowing the whereabouts of JESSIE M. WALLACE AND YES, WE BUY HOUSES CASH, LLC., OR NEXT OF KIN, please contact John A. Obebe, Attorney At Law, 10126 Springbrook Avenue, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70810or call (225) 9248000. 199272-Sept 1-3, 3t $111.10 ANYONE KNOWING THE WHEREABOUTS OF THE HEIRS OF ROY JOSEPH NICKENS, PLEASE CONTACT AMANDA MARIONNEAUX, A. MARIONNEAUX LAW, LLC, AT 23615 RAILROAD AVENUE, PLAQUEMINE, LA 70764 OR AT (225) 385-5189. 199547-Sept 3-5, 3t $96.40

I AM APPLYING to the Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control of the State of Louisiana for a permit to sell alcoholic beverages of high and low alcohol content at retail in the Parish of Iberville at the following address: DG Louisiana, LLC d/b/a Dollar General Store #31658 for the premises located at 62700 Bellview Highway 75 Plaquemine, LA 70764. /s/Zachary Brining, CEO 199571 Sept. 3 1t $92.74 LOST PROMISSORY NOTE: Anyone knowing the whereabouts or having possession of one (1) certain Promissory Note originally in favor of Nationstar Mortgage LLC executed by Antoine L. Jackson, dated August 26, 2013, in the original loan amount of $120,884.00, please contact Elizabeth Crowell Price by mail at 1505 N. 19th Street, Monroe, LA 71201 or by phone at 801-355-2886. 199359-Sept 3-5, 3t $212.02 Advertising Looking to promote your services or find a new hire? Deliver your classified message statewide for as little as $265 per week through the Louisiana Press Association’s Classified Network. Pre-payment required. To learn more, email advertising@lapress.com or call 225-344-9309. Miscellaneous End your tax worries today. Let us make your tax problem our priority. Scared, stuck with high tax amounts? Our A+ tax professionals can help. Call for a FREE consultation. Call Priority Tax now 1877-249-9376. We Buy Houses for Cash AS-IS! No repairs. No fuss. Any condition. Easy process: Call, get cash offer and get paid. Call today for your fair cash offer: 1-225-545-1983. Struggling with debt? If you have over $15,000 in debt we help you be debt free in as little as 24-48 months. Pay nothing to enroll. Call

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PUBLIC NOTICE --ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS Sealed bids will be re‐ ceived for the State of Louisiana by the Coastal Protection and Restora‐ tion Authority, 150 Ter‐ race Avenue, 4th Floor Conference Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70802 until 2:00 P.M., Tuesday October 6, 2026. ANY PERSON REQUIRING SPECIAL ACCOMMODA‐ TIONS SHALL NOTIFY THE COASTAL PROTECTION AND RESTORATION AU‐ THORITY OF THE TYPE(S) OF ACCOMMODATION RE‐ QUIRED NOT LESS THAN SEVEN (7) DAYS BEFORE THE BID OPEN‐ ING. FOR: Humble Canal Hydrologic Restoration Project Cameron Parish, Louisiana PROJECT NUMBER: ME-0011 Complete Bid Documents for this project are avail‐ able in electronic form. They may be obtained without charge and with‐ out deposit http://coastal.la. from gov/resources/rfps-rsiqscontracts/bids/. Printed copies can also be ob‐ tained from: COASTAL PROTECTION AND RESTORATION AUTHORITY (CPRA) 150 Terrace Avenue Baton Rouge, LA 70802 Attn: Kayla Causey E-mail: cpra.bidding@la.gov Phone: (225) 342-7308 Fax: (225) 800-5599 All bids shall be accom‐ panied by bid security in an amount of five per‐ cent (5.0%) of the sum of the base bid and all al‐ ternates. The form of this security shall be as stated in the Instructions to Bidders included in the Bid Documents for this project. The successful Bidder shall be required to fur‐ nish a Performance and Payment Bond written as described in the Instruc‐ tions to Bidders included in the Bid Documents for this project. A NON-MANDATORY PRE-BID CONFERENCE WILL BE HELD at 1:00 PM on Tuesday, September 15, 2026 at 635 Cajundome Blvd., Lafayette, LA 70506 Contact Brent Bouy at (337)482-0682 if assis‐ tance is needed for the Non-Mandatory Pre-Bid Conference. It is the responsibility of all potential bidders to visit the Project Site to assess the location, lo‐ gistics, and site condi‐ tions prior to bidding. Bids shall be accepted from Contractors who are licensed under LA. R.S. 37:2150-2192 for the classification Heavy Con‐ struction or Dredging d i l l ifi

Public Notices Bids/Proposals g g and/or Specialty Classifi‐ cation: Coastal Restora‐ tion & Habitat Enhance‐ ment. In accordance with LA. R.S. 37:2165(C), anyone objecting to the classification must send a certified letter to both the Louisiana State Li‐ censing Board for Con‐ tractors and CPRA at the address listed above. The letter must be received no later than ten (10) working days prior to the day on which bids are to be opened. Bidder is required to comply with provisions and requirements of LA R.S.38:2212(B)(5). No bid may be withdrawn for a period of forty-five (45) calendar days after re‐ ceipt of bids, except under the provisions of LA. R.S. 38:2214. The Owner reserves the right to reject any and all bids for just cause. In ac‐ cordance with La. R.S. 38:2212(B)(1), the provi‐ sions and requirements of this Sec‐ tion; and those stated in the bidding documents shall not be waived by any entity. When this project is fi‐ nanced either partially or entirely with State Bonds or financed in whole or in part by federal or other funds which are not readily available at the time bids are received, the award of this Con‐ tract is contingent upon the granting of lines of credit, or the sale of bonds by the Bond Com‐ mission or the availabil‐ ity of federal or other funds. The State shall incur no obligation to the Contractor until the Con‐ tract between Owner and Contractor is fully exe‐ cuted. Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority is a participant in the Small Entrepreneurship (SE) Program (the Hudson Ini‐ tiative) and the VeteranOwned and Service-Con‐ nected Disabled VeteranOwned (LaVet) Small En‐ trepreneurships Pro‐ gram. Bidders are encouraged to consider participation. Informa‐ tion is available from Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority or on its website at http://www.coastal.la. gov/. STATE OF LOUISIANA, COASTAL PROTECTION AND RESTORATION AUTHORITY MICHAEL HARE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 198539 Aug. 27, Sept. 3, 10, 2026 3t $199.21

g j y bids for just cause. In ac‐ cordance with La. R.S. 38:2212(B)(1), the provi‐ sions and requirements of this Section; and those stated in the bidding documents shall not be waived by any entity.

All bids shall be accom‐ panied by bid security in an amount of five per‐ cent (5.0%) of the sum of the base bid and all al‐ ternates. The form of this security shall be as stated in the Instructions to Bidders included in the Bid Documents for this project. The successful Bidder shall be required to fur‐ nish a Performance and Payment Bond written as described in the Instruc‐ tions to Bidders included in the Bid Documents for this project. A NON-MANDATORY PRE-BID CONFERENCE WILL BE HELD at 10:00 AM on Wednesday, September 16, 2026 at 635 Cajundome Blvd., Lafayette, LA 70506. Contact Brent Bouy at (337) 482-0682 if assis‐ tance is needed for the Non-Mandatory Pre-Bid Conference. It is the responsibility of all potential bidders to visit the Project Site to assess the location, lo‐ gistics, and site condi‐ tions prior to bidding. Bids shall be accepted from Contractors who are licensed under LA. R.S. 37:2150-2192 for the classification Heavy Con‐ struction and/or Spe‐ cialty Classification: Coastal Restoration and Habitat Enhancement. In accordance with LA. R.S. 37:2165(C), anyone ob‐ jecting to the classifica‐ tion must send a certi‐ fied letter to both the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors and the CPRA at the ad‐ dress listed above. The letter must be received no later than ten (10) working days prior to the day on which bids are to be opened. Bidder is required to comply with provisions and requirements of LA R.S.38:2212(B)(5). No bid may be withdrawn for a period of forty-five (45) calendar days after re‐ ceipt of bids, except under the provisions of LA. R.S. 38:2214. The Owner reserves the right to reject any and all bid f j

Interested candidates may reach out via email at michelle.appliedit@gmail.com for further information.

LOCATION District Wide STARTING SALARY $72,607 - $88,987 Range based on teacher salary plus coaching supplement. Actual pay level will depend on verified years of experience. APPLICATION PROCEDURE Anyone interested in being considered for this position should submit an ap‐ plication @ www.ipsb.net JOIN OUR TEAM

All IPSB employees must pass a crimi‐ nal records check. The Iberville Parish School System is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

LOCATION MSA West Middle/High Academy

APPLICATION PROCEDURE Anyone interested in being considered for this position should submit an ap‐ plication @ www.ipsb.net JOIN OUR TEAM DEADLINE FOR APPLYING Until filled or September 8, 2026 All IPSB employees must pass a criminal records check. The Iberville Parish School System is an Equal Opportunity Employer

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When this project is fi‐ nanced either partially or entirely with State Bonds or financed in whole or in part by federal or other funds which are not readily available at the time bids are received, the award of this Con‐ tract is contingent upon the granting of lines of credit, or the sale of bonds by the Bond Com‐ mission or the availabil‐ ity of federal or other funds. The State shall incur no obligation to the Contractor until the Con‐ tract between Owner and Contractor is fully exe‐ cuted. Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority is a participant in the Small Entrepreneurship (SE) Program (the Hudson Ini‐ tiative) and the VeteranOwned and Service-Con‐ nected Disabled VeteranOwned (LaVet) Small En‐ trepreneurships Pro‐ gram. Bidders are en‐ couraged to consider participation. Informa‐ tion is available from Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority or on its website at http:// www.coastal.la.gov/. STATE OF LOUISIANA, COASTAL PROTECTION AND RESTORATION AUTHORITY MICHAEL HARE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 198489 Aug. 27, Sept. 3, 10, 2026 3t $194.92 PUBLIC NOTICE --Advertisement for the American Press Request for Qualifications The Airport Authority of Airport District No. One, Calcasieu Parish re‐ quests proposals from qualified, interested firms to provide profes‐ sional Architectural and Engineering Services. The project will consist of furnishing all services required to supplement the Authority in the pro‐ vision of design, bidding, and construction admin‐ istration services related to its Capital Improve‐ ment program at the Lake Charles Regional Airport. For a copy of the Request for Statements of Qualifications, inter‐ ested firms should send a request to rfp@flylch. com reference RFQ ENG2026. Proposals will be ac‐ cepted until 3:00 p.m., CST on September 30, 2026, addressed to: Courier/Hand Delivery: Mr. Heath Allen, CM Executive Director Lake Charles Regional Airport 500 Airport Service Boulevard, Suite 104 Lake Charles, Louisiana 70607 P: (337) 477-6051 Mail Delivery: Mr. Heath Allen, CM Executive Director Lake Charles Regional Airport

BAKER Lady Diana's Sale: Women's clothes,shoes,furniture,accent pieces, kitchenware. Cash only! Don't miss out. All items must go!

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

Baton Rouge Rental APARTMENT 3060 N. Acadian Thrwy (Wtr/Swr Pd) 1BR/1BA, Rent $500, Dep $100 225-357-6436

MARINE

STARTING SALARY $71,094 - $83,608 Range based on teacher's salary schedule plus Factor 1.175

BATON ROUGE Garage sale Lots of things, knickknacks, households items, tool boxes, Christmas items, and more! 9165 Redbud St, Baton Rouge. 9/04 7am-2pm and 9/05 7am-12pm.

DEADLINE FOR APPLYING Until filled or September 3, 2026

EDUCATION NOTICE OF VACANCY Applications are being accepted for the following position(s): School Counselor

Free Free to good homes. Mix of Pug and Frenchie . 10 weeks old. $0.00 225-308-1361 Lilbitsmum05@aol.com

AND RESTORATION AU‐ THORITY OF THE TYPE(S) OF ACCOMMODATION RE‐ QUIRED NOT LESS THAN SEVEN (7) DAYS BEFORE THE BID OPENING.

COASTAL PROTECTION AND RESTORATION AUTHORITY (CPRA) 150 Terrace Avenue Baton Rouge, LA 70802 Attn: Shabrion Hawkins E-mail: cpra.bidding@la.gov Phone: (225) 342-7310 Fax: (225) 800-5599

Requirements: * Must be computer literate * Must have 2-3 hours of internet access per week * Must be efficient and dedicated

2 month old Boerboel *Reduced! 2 month old female Boerboel needs energetic and stable home $1,000.00/negotiable 225-206-4635 Laceytrinette@gmail.com

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

Complete Bid Documents for this project are avail‐ able in electronic form. They may be obtained without charge and with‐ out deposit from http:// coastal.la.gov/resources/ rfps-rsiqs-contracts/ bids/. Printed copies can also be obtained from:

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.

NOTICE OF VACANCY Applications are being accepted for the following position(s): Athletic Trainer/Teacher

NOW HIRING Galleyhands Night Cooks

APARTMENT AREA 5 1BR $600, 2BR $700 Tigerland. $500 Deposit. 225-475-1737

Must hold TWIC card, pass drug test & physical. 985-851-0727 or email:

APARTMENT 655 North St Subsidized Efﬁciency Apartments cpabr.org 225-383-5551 TDD/TTY 711 RELAY

personnel@sontheimeroffshore.com

Merchandise 3 CEMETERY PLOTS GreenOaks Cemetery, Section 3, Lot 40-1, 5, 6. Please Make an Offer. 914671-1546 or beharmeyer@gmail.com HOUSE CEMETERY PLOTS Roselawn Memorial Park. North St. Baton Rouge 2 plots. North Portion 267 Section B Graves 5-6 with Monument Privileges $5700 obo. Peaceful Burial Site (225) 485-0860

3017 Chippewa St. 3BR 1BA Rent $800/mo $300/dep 225-357-6436

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

HOUSE Baker: 3BR/1.5BA, 1440 sqft, front porch, carport, backyard $1050/month $500/deposit. No Pets. Call 225-329-7911

PETS • SUPPLIES • SERVICES • OBITUARIES • LOST & FOUND

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

PROJECT NUMBER: CS-0049

EDUCATION

* Accounting * Bookkeeper * Account Coordinator * Finance * Payroll Officer * Sales Representatives * Customer Service * Business Admin Representative

PLACE YOUR PET SERVICES INFORMATION IN THE PET SERVICES DIRECTORY TODAY! • IT IS FAST AND EASY! • CALL 225-383-0111

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

Cameron-Creole FOR: Freshwater Introduction Cameron Parish, Louisiana

COMMUNICATIONS Positions Available:

Garage Sales

Pets / Pet Services Directory

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

(225) 383-0111

Employment

PUPPIES For Sale! Adorable! 1/2 Pomeranian 1/2 Chihuahua $200, Full Blooded Toy Poo‐ dles $500 228-669-0077 TEACUP POODLES MALTIPOOS POMS YORKIES Miniature and Toy Goldendoodles UTD. S/W Please Call 504-259-2222

MOBILE HOME 1, 2 & 3 BR mobile homes, $675 & up 6061 Plank Rd. CALL 225-978-4653 ROOMS FOR RENT Furnished Rooms. $125/wk. $500/mo. 225-933-7560

Automotive Auto Dealerships are NOT WELCOME TO CALL ME

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

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

P.O. Box 5820 Lake Charles, LA 70606 To run: September 3, 2026 Thursday, September 10, 2026 Thursday, September 18, 2026 (S) Heath Allen ___________________ Heath Allen, Executive Director 198278 Aug. 27, Sept. 3, 18, 2026 3t $746.84

PUBLIC NOTICE --Advertisement Request for Qualifications The Airport Authority District No. One, Cal‐ casieu Parish (here‐ inafter LCH) seeks State‐ ment of Qualifications (SOQ) from qualified in‐ terested firms to provide development and man‐ agement of financing, planning, administration, and design services re‐ lated to its capital im‐ provement program at the Lake Charles Re‐ gional Airport (LCH). The selected consultant will be expected to furnish all services required to sup‐ plement the Authority in the undertaking and planning related to its program. For a copy of the Request for State‐ ments of Qualifications, interested firms should email Heath Allen, Execu‐ tive Director at rfp@ flylch.com reference RFQ PLN-2026 Proposals will be ac‐ cepted until 3:00 p.m., CST on September 30, 2026, addressed to: Courier/Hand Delivery: Mr. Heath Allen, CM Executive Director Lake Charles Regional Airport 500 Airport Service Boulevard, Suite 104 Lake Charles, Louisiana 70607 P: (337) 477-6051 Mail Delivery: Mr. Heath Allen, CM Executive Director Lake Charles Regional Airport P.O. Box 5820 Lake Charles, LA 70606

To run: Thursday, August 27, 2026 Thursday, September 3, 2026 Thursday, September 10, 2026

(S) Heath Allen ____________________ Heath Allen, Executive Director 198275 Aug. 27, Sept. 3, 10, 2026 3t $629.13 PUBLIC NOTICE --Nunez Community Col‐ lege will receive bids until 2:00 PM (CST) on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, and thereafter publicly opened for Grass Maintenance. There will be a Pre-bid meeting on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, at ( ) d

Public Notices Bids/Proposals p 9:00 AM (CST). Manda‐ tory site visits will be conducted on Wednes‐ day, September 9th and Thursday, September 10th. Additional informa‐ tion may be obtained by contacting Wendy Frazier in the Purchasing Depart‐ ment, Nunez Community College, 3710 Paris Road, Chalmette, LA 70043 (504) 278-6475. wfrazier@ nunez.edu. Please refer‐ rence 40015_NUNEZ_GM‐ S2026. Evidence of authority to submit bid shall be re‐ quired in accordance with R.S. 38:2812 (A) (1) (c) and/ or R.S. 39:1954 (C) (2) (d). AA/EEO 199603-SEP 3-7-14-3T $317.17 PUBLIC NOTICE --The Interlocal Purchas‐ ing System (TIPS) has posted procurement so‐ licitations at www.tipsusa.com for the following categories: The Interlocal Purchas‐ ing System (TIPS) has posted procurement so‐ licitations at www.tipsusa.com for the following categories: 260901 Audio Visual Equipment, Supplies, and Services 260902 Permanent Modu‐ lar Buildings JOC 260903 Industrial and Fa‐ cility Equipment, Chemi‐ cals, Supplies, and Ser‐ vices 260904 Books, Library, and Educational Materi‐ als 260905 National Mainte‐ nance, Repair, and Oper‐ ations (MRO) Supplies and Related Services The proposal is due and will be opened on Octo‐ ber 16th, 2026, at 3:00 pm local time. Call 866-8398477 for problems with web‐ site or questions. 198727-sept 3-10-2t $245.34 PUBLIC NOTICE Visit Baton Rouge is issu‐ ing a Request for Propos‐ als from qualiﬁed com‐ panies or organizations for the management and daily operations of the Raising Cane’s River Cen‐ ter Complex. The Re‐ quest for Proposals doc‐ ument can be picked up at Visit Baton Rouge lo‐ cated at 359 Third Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70801 or will be emailed upon re‐ quest. Please direct questions to Jill Kidder at jill@visitbatonrouge.com. Responses to the Re‐ quest for Proposals must be emailed to jill@visitba tonrouge.com no later than 5:00 p.m. CST, Mon‐ day, October 5, 2026. 199554 Sept. 3, 4, 8, 2026 3t $49.15

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225-388-0111 Public Notices Conservation

PUBLIC NOTICE ---2CAILLOU ISLAND FIELD 26-299 and 26-300 LEGAL NOTICE STATE OF LOUISIANA, DE‐ PARTMENT OF CONSER‐ VATION AND ENERGY, BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA. In accordance with the laws of the State of Louisiana, and with par‐ ticular reference to the provisions of Title 30 of Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, a public hearing will be held in the Hearing Room, 1st Floor, LaSalle Building, 617 North 3rd Street, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, at 9:00 a.m. on TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2026, upon the application of HILCORP ENERGY COM‐ PANY. At such hearing the De‐ partment of Conserva‐ tion and Energy will con‐ sider evidence relative to the issuance of Orders pertaining to the follow‐ ing matters relating to the 22-E Sand, Reservoir A and 22A-22F Zone, Reservoir A, in the Cail‐ lou Island Field, Terre‐ bonne Parish, Louisiana. 1. To dissolve the exist‐ ing reservoirwide prora‐ tion unit for the 22-E Sand, Reservoir A, cre‐ ated by the Office of Per‐ mitting and Compliance Order No. 411-DD-1, ef‐ fective March 1, 1971, as shown on the plat sub‐ mitted with the applica‐ tion. 2. To create a single reservoirwide water in‐ jection proration unit for the 22A-22F Zone, Reser‐ voir A, designated as CI 22A-22F RA SU, for the ex‐ ploration for and produc‐ tion of oil, gas and con‐ densate, as shown on the plat submitted with the application. 3. To establish rules and regulations governing a program of pressure maintenance by water injection into the 22A-22F Zone, Reservoir A. 4. To find that since the reservoir underlies a sin‐ gle lease, it is unneces‐ sary to force pool and in‐ tegrate the unit area herein established or to provide for participation in the oil, gas and con‐ densate produced there‐ from. 5. To designate Hilcorp Energy Company as op‐ erator of the proposed reservoirwide unit. 6. To grant a single unit allowable for the CI 22A22F RA SU and to permit the operator of the unit to produce said unit al‐ lowable from any well or wells completed in the reservoir unitized herein, which in the operator’s opinion, will efficiently and economically de‐ plete the reservoir. 7. To establish that in order to provide flexibil‐ ity in locating additional wells which are drilled to, completed in or re‐ completed in the 22A-22F Zone, Reservoir A, the proposed unit should be exempt from the spacing provisions contained in Statewide Order No. 29-E. 8. To find that, except to the extent contrary to the order granted by the Department of Conserva‐ tion and Energy in con‐ nection with the hearing held on this application, the provisions of Order No. 411-DD-1, effective March 1, 1971, shall re‐

Public Notices Conservation

main in full force and ef‐ fect. 9. To consider such other matters as may be perti‐ nent. The 22A-22F Zone, Reser‐ voir A is hereby deﬁned as that stratigraphic equivalent of the oil, gas and condensate bearing zone encountered be‐ tween the measured depths of 8,920’ and 9,140’ (electrical log mea‐ surements) in the Hilcorp Energy Company(for‐ merly Texaco, Inc.)-SL 301 Terrebonne Bay No. 373 Well (SN 208623), lo‐ cated in Township 23 South, Range 19 East. Plats are available for in‐ spection in the Depart‐ ment of Conservation and Energy in Baton Rouge and Lafayette, Louisiana. http://dnr.louisiana.gov/ conshearings All parties having inter‐ est therein shall take no‐ tice thereof. BY ORDER OF: DUSTIN H. DAVIDSON, SECRETARY DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND ENERGY Baton Rouge, 8/31/26;9/3/26 L lck

IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, IF YOU NEED ASSISTANCE AT THE HEARING, PLEASE CON‐ TACT THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND ENERGY, P. O. BOX 94275, BATON ROUGE, LA 708049275 IN WRITING WITHIN TEN (10) WORKING DAYS OF THE HEARING DATE. 199556 Sept. 3, 2026 $74.50 PUBLIC NOTICE ---3LAKE BARRE FIELD 26-301 LEGAL NOTICE STATE OF LOUISIANA, DE‐ PARTMENT OF CONSER‐ VATION AND ENERGY, BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA. In accordance with the laws of the State of Louisiana, and with par‐ ticular reference to the provisions of Title 30 of Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, a public hearing will be held in the Hearing Room, 1st Floor, LaSalle Building, 617 North 3rd Street, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, at 9:00 a.m. on TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2026, upon the application of HILCORP ENERGY COM‐ PANY. At such hearing the De‐ partment of Conserva‐ tion and Energy will con‐ sider evidence relative to the issuance of Orders pertaining to the follow‐ ing matters relating to the Upper R-1 Sand, Reservoir F, in the Lake Barre Field, Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana. 1. To authorize the ap‐ proval of a cyclic injec‐ tion project (Huff and Puff) for the operation of the Hilcorp Energy Com‐ pany (formerly Texaco)LB U29 No. 38 Well (SN 226667) by method of en‐ hanced recovery known as cyclic injection project under R.S.30:5(D). 2. To ﬁnd that the cyclic injection project will not drain any area of the reservoir different from that being drained by the project well prior to initi‐ ation of the project, and h h j ill

Public Notices Conservation p j that the project will not otherwise adversely af‐ fect other owners having rights in the same reser‐ voir in which the appli‐ cant proposes to con‐ duct cyclic injection. 3. To find that said reser‐ voir boundary encom‐ passes the maximum area which may be effi‐ ciently and economically drained by one well uti‐ lizing cyclic injection. 4. To find that the ap‐ proval of a cyclic injec‐ tion project shall not cause any change or al‐ teration in the reservoir boundaries, tract partici‐ pations or other aspects. 5. To confirm Hilcorp En‐ ergy Company as the op‐ erator of the proposed cyclic injection project. 6. To consider such other matters as may be perti‐ nent. The Upper R-1 Sand, Reservoir F was defined in the Office of Permit‐ ting and Compliance Order No. 662-G, effective June 28, 1968. A plat is available for in‐ spection in the Depart‐ ment of Conservation and Energy in Baton Rouge and Lafayette, Louisiana. http://dnr.louisiana.gov/ conshearings All parties having inter‐ est therein shall take no‐ tice thereof. BY ORDER OF: DUSTIN H. DAVIDSON, SECRETARY DEPARTMENT OF CON‐ SERVATION AND ENERGY Baton Rouge, 8/31/26;9/3/26 L lck

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Thursday, September 3, 2026 ■ 7D

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8D ■ Thursday, September 3, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate Public Notices Conservation

2. To create a single drilling and production unit for this zone and to force pool and integrate all separately owned tracts, mineral leases and other property inter‐ ests within the unit so created. 3. To designate Magna Operating, LLC as opera‐ tor of the MA 7B-10 Zone, RA SUA. 4. To provide that any fu‐ ture wells drilled to the MA 7B-10 Zone, Reservoir A, should be located in accordance with the pro‐ visions of LAC 43:XIX.1901 et seq. (Statewide Order No. 29E). 5. To provide that the Secretary of the Depart‐ ment of Conservation and Energy may reclas‐ sify the reservoir by sup‐ plemental order and without the necessity of a public hearing should such reclassiﬁcation be warranted, based on evi‐ dence furnished to the Department of Conserva‐ tion and Energy. 6. To consider such other matters as may be perti‐ nent. The MA 7B-10 Zone, Reservoir A is hereby de‐ ﬁned as being that gas and condensate bearing zone encountered be‐ tween the measured depths of 15,655’ and 16,480’ in the Watson Oil Corporation-Sun Oil Fee No. 1 Well, located in Sec‐ tion 63, Township 15 South, Range 11 East. A plat is available for in‐ spection in the Depart‐ ment of Conservation and Energy in Baton Rouge and Lafayette, Louisiana. http://dnr.louisiana.gov/ conshearings All parties having inter‐ est therein shall take no‐ tice thereof. BY ORDER OF: DUSTIN H. DAVIDSON, SECREATRY DEPARTMENT OF CON‐ SERVATION AND ENERGY Baton Rouge, 8/31/26;9/3/26 L lck

IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, IF YOU NEED ASSISTANCE AT THE HEARING, PLEASE CON‐ TACT THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND ENERGY AT P.O. BOX 94275, BATON ROUGE, LA 70804-9275 IN WRITING WITHIN TEN (10) WORK‐ ING DAYS OF THE HEAR‐ ING DATE. 199557 Sept. 3, 2026 1t $62.78 PUBLIC NOTICE ---5GREENWOOD-WASKOM FIELD 26-303 thru 26-305 LEGAL NOTICE STATE OF LOUISIANA, DE‐ PARTMENT OF CONSER‐ VATION AND ENERGY, BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA. In accordance with the laws of the State of Louisiana, and with par‐ ticular reference to the provisions of Title 30 of Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, a public hearing will be held in the Hearing Room, 1st Floor, LaSalle Building, 617 North 3rd Street, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, at 9:00 a.m. on TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2026, upon the application of EX‐ PAND OPERATING, LLC. At such hearing the De‐ partment of Conserva‐ tion and Energy will con‐ sider evidence relative to the issuance of Orders pertaining to the follow‐ ing matters relating to the Haynesville Zone, Reservoir A, in the Green‐ wood-Waskom Field, Caddo Parish, Louisiana. 1. To permit said appli‐ cant to drill, designate and utilize one cross unit horizontal well as an al‐ ternate unit well for HA RA SUA, HA RA SUJ, and HA RA SUS, at the loca‐ tion and in the general manner shown on the plat submitted with the application, or at any other legal location within such units, in ac‐ cordance with LAC et seq. 43:XIX.4307 (Statewide Order No. 29S), and in lieu of an alter‐ nate unit well approved by Office of Permitting and Compliance Order No. 270-MM-158, effective March 21, 2023. 2. To find that the pro‐ posed alternate unit well is necessary to effi‐ ciently and economically drain a portion of the Haynesville Zone, Reser‐ voir A, underlying HA RA SUA, HA RA SUJ, and HA RA SUS, which cannot be so drained by any exist‐ ing well within such units. 3. To provide that with re‐ spect to horizontal wells drilled to the Haynesville Zone, Reservoir A, within or to serve HA RA SUA, HA RA SUJ, and HA RA SUS, where the horizon‐ tal portion of the well is cased and cemented back above the top of the Haynesville Zone, Reser‐ voir A, the distance to any unit boundary and ff ll( ) h ld

Public Notices Conservation y y any offset well(s) should be calculated based on the distance to the near‐ est perforation in the well and not based on the penetration point or terminus. 4. To permit the unit op‐ erator of HA RA SUA, HA RA SUJ, and HA RA SUS to produce the unit allow‐ able for each of said units from either the unit well, any alternate unit well, or from any combi‐ nation thereof, at its dis‐ cretion. 5. To find that unit pro‐ duction from the pro‐ posed cross unit alter‐ nate unit well should be allocated to each of the units from which it pro‐ duces in the same pro‐ portion as the perforated length of the lateral in each such unit bears to the total length of the perforated lateral as de‐ termined by an “asdrilled” survey per‐ formed after the pro‐ posed cross unit alter‐ nate unit well is drilled and completed, except that the proportion of unit production associ‐ ated with the perforated length of lateral located within 330’ of the com‐ mon unit boundary be‐ tween HA RA SUA and HA RA SUJ should be allo‐ cated equally between said units, and that unit production should con‐ tinue to be shared on a surface acreage basis. 6. To provide that all op‐ erations on and produc‐ tion from the perforated length of lateral located within 330’ of the com‐ mon unit boundary be‐ tween HA RA SUA and HA RA SUJ should be consid‐ ered operations on and production from each of the separate tracts within said units and under the terms of each of the mineral leases or other mineral rights af‐ fecting said tracts, re‐ gardless of the locations of the perforations within 330’ of the com‐ mon unit boundary be‐ tween said units. 7. To continue in full force and effect, except to the extent contrary herewith, the pertinent provisions of Order No. 270-MM, effective June 19, 2007, and all applica‐ ble Statewide Orders. 8. To consider such other matters as may be perti‐ nent. The Haynesville Zone, Reservoir A was defined in Order No. 270-MM, ef‐ fective June 19, 2007, and redefined as to HA RA SUS in Order No. 270-MM19, effective May 19, 2009. A plat is available for in‐ spection in the Depart‐ ment of Conservation and Energy in Baton Rouge and Shreveport, Louisiana. http://dnr.louisiana.gov/ conshearings All parties having inter‐ est therein shall take no‐ tice thereof. BY ORDER OF: DUSTIN H. DAVIDSON, SECRETARY DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND ENERGY Baton Rouge, 8/31/26;9/3/26 S lck

IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, IF YOU NEED ASSISTANCE, PLEASE CONTACT THE DEPARTMENT OF CON‐ SERVATION AND ENERGY AT P.O. BOX 94275, BATON ROUGE, LA 70804-9275 IN WRITING WITHIN TEN (10) WORKING DAYS OF THE HEARING DATE. 199560 Sept. 3, 2026 1t $84.79 PUBLIC NOTICE ---6HESTER FIELD 26-306 LEGAL NOTICE STATE OF LOUISIANA, DE‐ PARTMENT OF CONSER‐ VATION AND ENERGY, BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA. In accordance with the laws of the State of Louisiana, and with par‐ ticular reference to the provisions of Title 30 of Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, a public hearing will be held in the Hearing Room, 1st Floor, LaSalle Building, 617 North 3rd Street, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, at 9:00 a.m. on TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2026, upon the application of T & L OIL PRODUCTION. At such hearing the De‐ partment of Conserva‐ tion and Energy will con‐ sider evidence relative to the issuance of Orders pertaining to the follow‐ ing matters relating to the MA-1-Lower Ruther‐ ford Zone, Reservoir A, in the Hester Field, St. James Parish, Louisiana. 1. To rename the MA-2Lower Rutherford Zone, Reservoir A as the MA-1Lower Rutherford Zone, Reservoir A, said pro‐ posed unit designated MA-1-L RUTH RA SUA and to redeﬁne the MA-1Lower Rutherford Zone, Reservoir A, as set forth below.

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Public Notices Conservation

Public Notices DEQ Permits

Public Notices Conservation

2. To extend to the MA-1Lower Rutherford Zone, Reservoir A, Sand Unit A, all pertinent provisions of the order issued for the MA-2-Lower Ruther‐ ford Zone, Reservoir A under Docket No. 24-53. 3. To confirm T & L Pro‐ duction as operator of the proposed MA-1-L RUTH RA SUA. 4. To designate the T & L Oil Production-JW Stone No. 1 Well, SN 255541, lo‐ cated in Section 12, Township 11 South, Range 5 East, as the unit well. 5. To consider such other matters as may be perti‐ nent. The MA-2-Lower Ruther‐ ford Zone, Reservoir A was previously defined as the equivalent of that oil, gas and condensate bearing zone between the electric log depths of 10,930’ and 12,690’ in the Trice Petroleum Com‐ pany-Canal Bank & Trust No. 1 Well (SN 70504), lo‐ cated in Section 83, Township 11 South, Range 5 East and is hereby renamed as the MA-1-Lower Rutherford Zone, Reservoir A and re‐ defined as being the oil, and condensate gas bearing zone encoun‐ tered between the depths of 10,695’ and 12,690’ in the Trice Petro‐ leum Company-Canal Bank & Trust No. 1 Well (SN 70504), located in Section 83, Township 11 South, Range 5 East. A plat is available for in‐ spection in the Office of Conservation in Baton Rouge and Lafayette, Louisiana. http://dnr.louisiana.gov/ conshearings All parties having inter‐ est therein shall take no‐ tice thereof. BY ORDER OF: DUSTIN H. DAVIDSON, SECRETARY DEPARTMENT OF CON‐

SERVATION AND ENERGY Baton Rouge, 8/31/26;9/3/26 L lck

IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, IF YOU NEED ASSISTANCE AT THE HEARING, PLEASE CON‐ TACT THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND ENERGY DIVISION AT P.O. BOX 94275, BATON ROUGE, LA 70804-9275 IN WRITING WITHIN TEN (10) WORKING DAYS OF THE HEARING DATE. 199558 Sept. 3, 2026 1t $63.35

Public Notices DEQ Permits

PUBLIC NOTICE --PUBLIC NOTICE LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY (LDEQ) SYNGENTA CROP PRO‐ TECTION, LLC – ST. GABRIEL PLANT FINAL HAZARDOUS WASTE OPERATING PER‐ MIT RENEWAL The LDEQ, Ofﬁce of Envi‐ ronmental Services, has made the decision to issue the Hazardous Waste Operating Permit for Syngenta Crop Pro‐ tection, LLC, P.O. Box 11, St. Gabriel, Louisiana 70776 for the St. Gabriel Plant. The facility is lo‐ cated at 3905 Highway 75 in St. Gabriel, Iberville Parish. Under this Hazardous Waste Operating Permit, Syngenta Crop Protec‐ tion, LLC will continue to operate ﬁve hazardous waste storage tanks (4402-F, 4403-FA, 4403-FB,

4403-FC, and 4403-FE) and three container stor‐ age areas (Waste Con‐ tainer Warehouse, Out‐ side Container Storage, and Truck Unloading). Additionally, Syngenta Crop Protection, LLC pro‐ posed two storage tanks (4403-FF and 4403-FH) for hazardous waste man‐ agement. The final permitting ac‐ tion and related docu‐ ments are available for review and copying (all documents copied will be subject to a $0.25 charge per copied page) at the LDEQ, Public Records Center, 602 North 5th Street, Baton Rouge, LA. Viewing hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday (except holidays). The available informa‐ tion can also be ac‐ cessed electronically on the Electronic Document Management System (EDMS) on the DEQ public website at www.deq. louisiana.gov. An additional copies of this action may be re‐ viewed at the Iberville Parish Library – East Iberville Branch, 5715 Monticello Drive, St. Gabriel, Louisiana 70776; City of St. Gabriel, 5035 Iberville Street, St. Gabriel, LA 70776; Iberville Parish Council, 58050 Meriam Street, Plaquemine, Louisiana 70764; and LDEQ-Capital Regional Office, 602 North Fifth Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70802. In accordance with Revised Louisiana Statutes (La R.S.) 30:2024, the Permittee may file with the secretary a re‐ quest for a hearing no later than thirty (30) days after the notice of the ac‐ tion is served. Under La. R.S. 30:2050.21, any per‐ son aggrieved by a final i i

Public Notices DEQ Permits gg y permit action may ap‐ peal to the Nineteenth Judicial District Court within 30 days after the notice of the action has been given. Previous notices have been published in The Advocate and Plaquem‐ ine Post South on June 25, 2026. Inquiries or requests for additional information regarding this permit ac‐ tion, should be directed to Amber Fowler, LDEQ, Waste Permits Division, P.O. Box 4313, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-4313, phone (225) 219-3068. Persons wishing to be in‐ cluded on the LDEQ per‐ mit public notice mailing list, wishing to receive the permit public notices via email by subscribing to the LDEQ permits pub‐ lic notice List Server, or for other public partici‐ pation related questions should contact the Public Participation Group in writing at LDEQ, P.O. Box 4313, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-4313, by email at DEQ.PUBLICNOTICES@LA. GOV or by phone at (225) 219-3035. Permit public notices in‐ cluding electronic access to the issued permit and associated information can be viewed at the LDEQ permits public no‐ tice webpage at http:// www.deq.louisiana.gov/ public-notices and gen‐ eral information related to the public participa‐ tion in permitting activi‐ ties can be viewed at http://www.deq. louisiana.gov/page/thepublic-participationgroup. All correspondence should specify AI Num‐ ber 2367, Permit Number LAD 053 783 445-OP-RN-4, and Activity Number

Public Notices DEQ Permits

PER20250008. Scheduled Publication Date: Thursday, Septem‐ ber 3, 2026 (Advocate and Plaquemine Post South Newspapers) 199172-SEP 3-1T $444.49

Legal Notices

PUBLIC NOTICE Discovery Schools hereby reports that each school listed below has taken all action required by law for the adoption of its budget for ﬁscal year ending June 30, 2027. Including public no‐ tice of availability for public inspection and holding a public hearing h b f d i

Legal Notices

g p g thereon before adopting its budget. Discovery Health Sci‐ ences Foundation, Inc. Kenner Discovery Health Sciences Academy, Dr. John Ochsner Discovery Health Sciences Acad‐ emy and Baton Rouge Ochsner Discovery Health Sciences Acad‐ emy 3837 Loyola Drive, Ken‐ ner, LA 70065 Discovery Schools do not discriminate in the ren‐ dering of services to/or employment of individu‐ als because of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, veteran status or any other characteristic pro‐ tected by law. 199548 Sept. 3, 2026 1t $130.06

PUBLIC NOTICE --Early Notice and Public Review of a Proposed Activity in a Floodplain/Wetland To: All interested Federal, State, and Local Agen‐ cies, Groups, and Individ‐ uals This is to give notice that the Livingston Parish Government (LPG) under 24 CFR Part 58 has deter‐ mined that the following proposed action under the Community Develop‐ ment Block Grant-Mitiga‐ tion (CDBG-MIT) program is located in the 100-year floodplain/Federal Flood Risk Management Stan‐ dard (FFRMS) riverine floodplain/wetland and LPG will be identifying and evaluating practica‐ ble alternatives to locat‐ ing the action within the floodplain/wetland and h i l i

PUBLIC NOTICE The Livingston Parish Council will conduct a public hearing for all persons or their representatives desiring to be heard on the assessment of real and personal property as assessed by the Assessor in accordance with the fair market or use valuation. Said public hearing shall begin on September 8, 2026, at the office of the Livingston Parish Council located in the Governmental Building at 20355 Governmental Boulevard, Livingston, Louisiana, and shall end on September 22, 2026. Persons wishing to protest should do so orally or by certified letter before the close of business on September 3, 2026. On September 10, 2026, at the hour of five o’clock (5:00) p.m., the Livingston Parish Council shall meet for the purpose of certifying the assessment lists, together with any changes in connection therewith.

NOTICE OF SPECIAL ELECTION Pursuant to the provisions of a resolution adopted by the Board of Commissioners, acting as the governing authority (the “Governing Authority”), of the Fire Protection District No. 8 of the Parish of Livingston, State of Louisiana (the “District”) on April 7, 2026, NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that an election will be held within the corporate limits of the District on Tuesday, November 3, 2026 (the “Election”) and that at the Election there will be submitted to all registered voters in the District qualified and entitled to vote at the Election under the Constitution and Laws of the State of Louisiana (the “State”) and the Constitution of the United States, the following proposition to-wit: PROPOSITION (RENEWAL) Shall Fire Protection District No. 8 of Livingston Parish, Louisiana (the “District”) renew the levy and collection of a special tax of fifteen (15) mills (an estimated $299,083 reasonably expected at this time to be collected from the levy of the tax for an entire year) on all the property subject to taxation in the District for a period of ten (10) years, beginning with the year 2028 and ending with the year 2037, for the purposes of maintaining and operating the District’s fire protection facilities, for purchasing fire truck’s and other fire-fighting equipment and paying the cost of obtaining water for fire protection purposes, including charges for the hydrant rentals and services? The Election will be held at the following polling places situated within the District, which polls will open at Six O’clock (6:00) a.m., and close at Eight O’clock (8:00) p.m., in accordance with the provisions of La. R.S. 18:541, to-wit: PRECINCT 00/15 (in-part) 00/18 (in-part) 00/18A 00/22 (in-part) 00/34 00/43

POLL PLACE NAME/LOCATION Killian Voting Precinct – 28284 La Hwy 22 – Springfield French Settlement Elem School – 15810 La Hwy 16 – French Settlement French Settlement Elem School – 15810 La Hwy 16 – French Settlement Livingston Parish S. Branch Library – 23477 La Hwy 444 – Livingston French Settlement Village Hall – 16015 La Hwy 16 – French Settlement French Settlement Elem School – 15810 La Hwy 16 – French Settlement

The polling places set forth above are hereby designated as the polling places at which to hold the Election, and the Commissioners-in-Charge and Commissioners, respectively, shall be those designated according to law. Notice is further given that a portion of the monies collected from the tax described in the Proposition shall be remitted to certain state and statewide retirement systems in the manner required by law. The Election will be held in accordance with the applicable provisions of Chapter 5, Chapter 6-A and Chapter 6-B of Title 18 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, as amended, and other constitutional and statutory authority, and the officers appointed to hold the Election, as provided in this Notice of Election, or such substitute therefor, as may be selected and designated in accordance with La. R.S. 18:1287, will make due returns thereof to said Governing Authority, and NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN that the Governing Authority will meet at its regular meeting place, 15160 LA Hwy 16 - French Settlement, Louisiana, 70733, on February 2, 2027, at Six-Thirty O’clock (6:30) p.m., and shall then and there in open and public session proceed to examine and canvass the returns and declare the results of the Election. This Governing Authority reserves the right to postpone the date and time set forth above for the canvass of the returns (without any further publication of notice of the change in the date, time and/or location). All registered voters of the District are entitled to vote at the Election and voting machines will be used thereat. The estimated cost of the election as determined by the Louisiana Secretary of State is $1,700. THUS DONE AND SIGNED, on this, the 7th day of April, 2026. FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NO. 8 OF THE PARISH OF LIVINGSTON, STATE OF LOUISIANA By: /s/ Brian Baum, President By: /s/ Mary Day, Secretary

The following Resolution was offered by Council Member Dunn and seconded by Council Member Murphy: RESOLUTION A Resolution providing for canvassing the returns and declaring the result of the special election held in the City of Baker, State of Louisiana (the “City”), on Saturday, June 27, 2026, to authorize the levy and collection of a ten (10) mill ad valorem tax for a period of ten (10) years, beginning with the year 2027 and ending with the year 2036, for the purpose of providing funds for salaries for third engine personnel and increasing salaries and benefits for all employees of the Fire Department of the City who are members of the Municipal Fire and Police Civil Service System; and further providing for other matters in connection therewith. BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Baker, State of Louisiana (the “Governing Authority”), acting as the governing authority of the City of Baker, State of Louisiana (the “City”), as follows: SECTION 1. That the Governing Authority does now proceed in open and public session to examine the official certified tabulations of votes cast at the special election held in the City on Saturday, June 27, 2026 (the “Election”), said tabulations having been prepared and certified by the election officials serving at the designated polling places, and the Governing Authority does now further proceed to examine and canvass the returns and declare the result of the Election. SECTION 2. That a Proces Verbal of the canvass of the returns of the Election shall be made and that a certified copy thereof shall be forwarded to the Secretary of State, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, who shall record the same in her office; that another certified copy thereof shall be forwarded to the Clerk of Court and ex-officio Recorder of Mortgages in and for the Parish of East Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana, who shall record the same in the Mortgage Records of the Parish of East Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana; and that another copy thereof shall be retained in the archives of the Governing Authority. SECTION 3. That the result of the Election shall be promulgated by publication in the manner provided by law, after receipt from the Secretary of State’s office of the actual cost of holding the Election, as required by La. R.S. 18:1292(B)(2). SECTION 4. This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon adoption. This Resolution having been submitted to a vote, the vote thereon was as follows: YEAS: Collins, Dunn, Murphy, Vincent, Young NAYS: None ABSENT: None

The Advocate 8/27/26 & 9/3/26

197324-677109-aug 27-sept 3-2t $ 812.50

Notice is hereby given of the availability of federal funds through the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) U.S. Department of Justice for the FY 2026 STOP Violence Against Women Formula Grant Program The total amount available is $217,984 If interested in this competitive opportunity, complete a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOI) to submit your proposal. This form is located on the Capital District Law Enforcement Planning Council, Inc. website at: https://cdlepc.com/available-funds/ For questions and additional information contact: DAWN HAWKINS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR CAPITAL DISTRICT LAW ENFORCEMENT PLANNING COUNCIL, INC. dawn@cdlepc.com 225-667-1503 The deadline for submitting a Notice of Intent (NOI) is: 10 AM - WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2026 199469-683715-Sept. 3-1t $ 69.10

ATCHAFALAYA BASIN LEVEE DISTRICT P.O. Box 170 Port Allen, Louisiana 70767-0170 Phone (225) 387-2249 Email: info@abldla.com NOTICE Sealed bids will be received by the Board of Commissioners for the Atchafalaya Basin Levee District, in its office in Port Allen, Louisiana, up to 4:30 p.m. Monday, October 5, 2026 for the following equipment and miscellaneous items for sale as is, where is with no warranties, expressed or implied: Lot #1 – 2019 John Deere R15 Rotary Cutter – 4,063 hours – Tag #1538 – Minimum Bid $4,500.00 Lot #2 –2019 John Deere R15 Rotary Cutter – 4,383.2 hours – Tag #1542 – Minimum Bid $4,500.00

198822-681677-sep 3-10-17-24-4t $ 4,505.00

CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAKER, STATE OF LOUISIANA

Publication Dates: Livingston Parish News 8/27/26 & 9/3/26

Lot #3 – 2015 Chevy Silverado (Needs Motor) – 196,972 miles – Tag #1465 -Minimum Bid $1,500.00 ABSTAIN: None WHEREUPON, this Resolution was declared to be adopted by the City Council of the City of Baker, State of Louisiana, on this, the 14th day of July, 2026. /s/ Darnell Waites Darnell Waites, Mayor

/s/ Dr. Charles Vincent Dr. Charles Vincent, President of the Council

/s/ Rochelle Dunn Rochelle Dunn, Council Member

/s/ Desiree Collins Desiree Collins, Council Member

/s/ Robert Young Robert Young, Council Member

/s/ Cedric Murphy Cedric Murphy, Council Member

Lot #5 – 1997 Ford 7740 (Blade Tractor) – hours unknown – Tag #948 – Minimum Bid $3,000.00 Lot #6 – 2007 International Dump Truck 7400 SBA 6X4 (Cracked Block) – 181,761 miles – Tag #1201 - Minimum Bid $10,000.00 Lot #7 – 5 Office Chairs (rolling) – Minimum Bid $30.00 Lot #8 – 5 Office Chairs (rolling) – Minimum Bid $30.00 Lot #9 – 5 Office Chairs (rolling) – Minimum Bid $30.00 Lot #10 – 5 Office Chairs (rolling) – Minimum Bid $30.00

STATE OF LOUISIANA PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE

Lot #11 – 5 Wood Frame Chairs – Minimum Bid $30.00

I, the undersigned Clerk of the City Council of the City of Baker, State of Louisiana, acting as the governing authority of the City of Baker, State of Louisiana (the “Governing Authority”), do hereby certify that the foregoing constitutes a true and correct copy of a Resolution adopted by the Governing Authority on July 14, 2026, providing for canvassing the returns and declaring the result of the special election held in the City of Baker, State of Louisiana (the “City”), on Saturday, June 27, 2026, to authorize the levy and collection of a ten (10) mill ad valorem tax for a period of ten (10) years, beginning with the year 2027 and ending with the year 2036, for the purpose of providing funds for salaries for third engine personnel and increasing salaries and benefits for all employees of the Fire Department of the City who are members of the Municipal Fire and Police Civil Service System; and further providing for other matters in connection therewith. I further certify that this Resolution has not been amended or rescinded. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have subscribed my official signature and the impress of the official seal of the City Council of the City of Baker, State of Louisiana, on this, the 14th day of July, 2026.

(SEAL)

Lot #4 – 1996 Ford 7740 (Blade Tractor) – hours unknown – Tag #913 – Minimum Bid $3,000.00

/s/ Angela Canady Wall Angela Canady Wall, Council Clerk

In accordance with La. R.S. 18:1292(B)(2) the actual cost of holding the election was $2,107.69.

Lot #12 – 5 Wood Frame Chairs – Minimum Bid $30.00 Lot #13 – 5 Wood Frame Chairs – Minimum Bid $30.00 Lot #14 – Big Board Room Wood Table – Minimum Bid $50.00 Lot #15 – Stack of Old Tin – Minimum Bid $30.00 All bids will be publicly opened and read at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 6, 2026 during the Equipment Committee Meeting. The right is reserved to reject any and all bids and to waive informalities. Bidders must submit payment in the form of cashier’s check or money order made payable to Atchafalaya Basin Levee District. The successful bidders must pay for and remove the equipment within 7 days of receiving their award letter, or the item will go to the next bidder. Bidder is responsible for all notary fees for title transfers. It is mandatory that all bids are submitted on forms provided by the Atchafalaya Basin Levee District, otherwise bid will be considered null and void. Bid forms are available at the Atchafalaya Basin Levee District, (525 Court Street) P.O. Box 170, Port Allen, Louisiana 70767, telephone number (225) 387-2249. All Bids should be marked in bold print “Sealed Equipment Bids.” The equipment is available for inspection from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Monday - Thursday at the ABLD Ravenswood Shop, 9348 Hwy. 77 Spur, Fordoche, LA 70732. Kristy Jewell Secretary

199288-683254-Sept. 3-1t $ 205.18

Tommy Thibodeaux President 199466-683709-Sept. 3, 10-2t $ 106.58

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Thursday, September 3, 2026 ■ 9D

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Legal Notices

PROCES VERBAL

01/036

PROCES VERBAL AND PROCLAMATION OF THE CANVASS OF THE VOTES CAST AT THE SPECIAL ELECTION HELD IN THE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE, STATE OF LOUISIANA ON SATURDAY, JUNE 27, 2026.

01/037 A

BE IT KNOWN AND REMEMBERED that on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, at four o’clock (4:00) p.m., in the Council Chambers, City Hall, Third Floor, Room 348, 222 St. Louis Street, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, its regular meeting place, the Metropolitan Council of the Parish of East Baton Rouge and City of Baton Rouge, acting as the governing authority of the Parish of East Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana (the “Parish”), and being the authority ordering the special election held in the Parish, on Saturday, June 27, 2026, with the following members present: Council Members:

Laurie Adams, Denise Amoroso, Carolyn Coleman, Cleve Dunn, Jr., Rowdy Gaudet, Twahna P. Harris, Dwight Hudson, Darryl Hurst, Anthony Kenney, Aaron Moak, Brandon Noel, Jennifer Racca There being absent: None. did, in open and public session, open the envelope containing the official tabulations of votes cast at the said special election as prepared and certified by the East Baton Rouge Parish Clerk of Court, and did examine, count and tabulate such votes, and did examine and canvass the returns of the said special election, there having been submitted at said special election the following proposition, to-wit:

01/037 B 01/038 A 01/038 B 01/039 01/040 01/041 A 01/041 B 01/042 A 01/042 B 01/043 01/044 01/045

PROPOSITION Shall the Parish of East Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana (the “Parish”) be authorized to continue to levy and collect a 9.50 mills ad valorem tax (the “Tax”) (an estimated $59,573,265 is reasonably expected to be collected from the levy of the Tax for an entire year), for a period of ten (10) years, beginning with the tax collection for the year 2026, and annually thereafter, to and including the year 2035, and shall the proceeds of the Tax (after paying reasonable and necessary expenses of collecting and administering the Tax) be used entirely and exclusively for the purpose of maintaining and operating the public library system of the Parish and its branches, and improving services, acquiring land and constructing new library facilities, title to which is and shall be in the public, and shall the avails or proceeds of the Tax to be administered by the East Baton Rouge Parish Library Board of Control, in the manner required by law?

01/046

Pursuant to the requirements of La. R.S. 18:1285, a Notice of Special Election was published in The Advocate on the following dates: Thursday, April 30, 2026, Thursday, May 7, 2026, Thursday, May 14, 2026 and Thursday, May 21, 2026. The Notice of Special Election has been attached hereto as Exhibit A and the Proof of Publications has been attached hereto as Exhibit B, in accordance with the requirements of La. R.S. 18:1293.

01/050

There was found by said count and canvass that the following votes had been cast at the said special election FOR and AGAINST, respectively, the proposition as hereinabove set forth at the following polling places, to wit: WARD/ PRECINCT LOCATION 01/001 Fire Station #12, 555 Government Street, Baton Rouge 01/002A Melrose Elementary School, 1348 Valcour Drive, Baton Rouge 01/002B Melrose Elementary School, 1348 Valcour Drive, Baton Rouge 01/003 South Blvd. FLAIM, 802 Mayflower Street, Baton Rouge 01/004 New St. John Missionary Baptist Church, 1455 South Street, Baton Rouge 01/005A Alaska Street Recreation Center, 3014 Alaska Street, Baton Rouge 01/005B Alaska Street Recreation Center, 3014 Alaska Street, Baton Rouge 01/006 Greater New Bethel Baptist Church, 110 S. 19th Street, Baton Rouge 01/007 The Dufrocq School, 330 S. 19th Street, Baton Rouge 01/008 Catholic High School, 855 Hearthstone Drive, Baton Rouge 01/009 Sherwood Middle Magnet School, 1020 Marlbrook Drive, Baton Rouge 01/010A Park Elementary Medical Academy, 2680 Bogan Walk, Baton Rouge 01/010 B Park Elementary Medical Academy, 2680 Bogan Walk, Baton Rouge 01/011 Cadillac Street Park Recreation Center, 6117 Cadillac Street, Baton Rouge 01/012 A McKinley Senior High School, 7600 Boone Avenue, Baton Rouge 01/012 B McKinley Senior High School, 7600 Boone Avenue, Baton Rouge 01/013 City-Parish Office Building, 1755 Florida Street, Baton Rouge 01/014 A Belfair Montessori Magnet, 4451 Fairfields Avenue, Baton Rouge 01/014 B Belfair Montessori Magnet, 4451 Fairfields Avenue, Baton Rouge 01/015 A Greater New Guide Baptist Church, 3445 Fairfields Avenue, Baton Rouge 01/015 B Greater New Guide Baptist Church, 3445 Fairfields Avenue, Baton Rouge 01/016 Community School For Apprenticeship Learning, 1555 Madison Avenue, Baton Rouge 01/018 Community School For Apprenticeship Learning, 1555 Madison Avenue, Baton Rouge 01/019 Rosenwald Learning Center, 2611 Dayton Street, Baton Rouge 01/020 A Belaire High School, 12121 Tams Drive, Baton Rouge 01/020 B Belaire High School, 12121 Tams Drive, Baton Rouge 01/021 Rosenwald Learning Center, 2611 Dayton Street, Baton Rouge 01/022 Evangeline Fire Station #3, 3142 Evangeline Street, Baton Rouge 01/023 Delmont Elementary School, 5300 Douglas Avenue, Baton Rouge 01/024 Seelos Hall-St. Gerard Church, 5249 Maple Drive, Baton Rouge 01/025 Seelos Hall-St. Gerard Church, 5249 Maple Drive, Baton Rouge 01/026 Belfair Montessori Magnet School, 4503 Winbourne Avenue, Baton Rouge 01/027 Istrouma High School, 3730 Winbourne Avenue, Baton Rouge 01/028 Belfair Montessori Magnet School, 4503 Winbourne Avenue, Baton Rouge 01/029 Istrouma High School, 3730 Winbourne Avenue, Baton Rouge 01/030 EBR Readiness Elementary School, 1645 N. Foster Drive, Baton Rouge 01/031 A Brookstown Middle Magnet Academy, 4375 E. Brookstown Drive, Baton Rouge 01/031 B Brookstown Middle Magnet Academy, 4375 E. Brookstown Drive, Baton Rouge 01/032 A Dr. Martin Luther King Community Center, 4142 Gus Young Avenue, Baton Rouge 01/032 B Dr. Martin Luther King Community Center, 4142 Gus Young Avenue, Baton Rouge 01/033 Independence Recreation Center, 7505 Independence Blvd., Baton Rouge 01/034 A Goodwood Special Education Center, 6550 Sevenoaks Avenue, Baton Rouge 01/034 B Goodwood Special Education Center, 6550 Sevenoaks Avenue, Baton Rouge 01/035 Westdale Middle School, 5620 Claycut Road, Baton Rouge

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Legal Notices Melrose Elementary, 1348 Valcour Drive, Baton Rouge EBR Virtual Academy, 241 Edison Street, Baton Rouge EBR Virtual Academy, 241 Edison Street, Baton Rouge The Dufrocq School, 330 S. 19th Street, Baton Rouge The Dufrocq School, 330 S. 19th Street, Baton Rouge Westdale Heights Magnet, 2000 College Drive, Baton Rouge Catholic High School, 855 Hearthstone Drive, Baton Rouge Trinity Episcopal School, 1823 Stanford Avenue, Baton Rouge Trinity Episcopal School, 1823 Stanford Avenue, Baton Rouge Southdowns Elementary School, 2050 Hood Avenue, Baton Rouge Southdowns Elementary School, 2050 Hood Avenue, Baton Rouge Highland Elementary School, 280 Sunset Blvd., Baton Rouge LSU Laboratory School, 45 Dalrymple Drive-LSU Campus, Baton Rouge Eva Legard Center, 408 E. Polk Street, Baton Rouge LSU Laboratory School, 45 Dalrymple Drive-LSU Campus, Baton Rouge McKinley Senior High School, 7600 Boone Avenue, Baton Rouge McKinley Senior High School, 7600 Boone Avenue, Baton Rouge BR Center for Visual and Performing Arts, 2040 S. Acadian Thruway, Baton Rouge BR Center for Visual and Performing Arts, 2040 S. Acadian Thruway, Baton Rouge LaSalle Elementary School, 8000 LaSalle Avenue, Baton Rouge LaSalle Elementary School, 8000 LaSalle Avenue, Baton Rouge Arlington Academy, 6125 Winbourne Avenue, Baton Rouge Dr. Leo S. Butler Community Center, 950 Lorri Burgess Avenue, Baton Rouge Broadmoor Elementary School, 9650 Goodwood Blvd., Baton Rouge Broadmoor Elementary School, 9650 Goodwood Blvd., Baton Rouge Broadmoor High School, 10100 Goodwood Blvd., Baton Rouge Broadmoor High School, 10100 Goodwood Blvd., Baton Rouge Villa Del Rey Elementary School, 9765 Cuyhanga Parkway, Baton Rouge Christa McAuliffe Center, 12000 Goodwood Blvd., Baton Rouge Christa McAuliffe Center, 12000 Goodwood Blvd., Baton Rouge Glasgow Middle School, 1676 Glasgow Avenue, Baton Rouge BREC Milton Womack Recreation Center, 6201 Florida Blvd., Baton Rouge Interdenominational Faith Assembly Church, 5050 Greenwell Street, Baton Rouge Interdenominational Faith Assembly Church, 5050 Greenwell Street, Baton Rouge FLAIM Magnet School, 4510 Bawell Street, Baton Rouge Sherwood Middle Magnet School, 1020 Marlbrook Drive, Baton Rouge Sherwood Middle Magnet School, 1020 Marlbrook Drive, Baton Rouge Belfair Montessori Magnet School, 4503 Winbourne Avenue, Baton Rouge Arlington Academy, 6125 Winbourne Avenue, Baton Rouge EBR Readiness Elementary School, 1645 N. Foster Drive, Baton Rouge EBR Readiness Elementary School, 1645 N. Foster Drive, Baton Rouge Westdale Middle School, 5620 Claycut Road, Baton Rouge Westdale Heights Magnet, 2000 College Drive, Baton Rouge BREC Perkins Road Community Park, 7122 Perkins Road, Baton Rouge BREC Perkins Road Community Park, 7122 Perkins Road, Baton Rouge St. Francis Xavier School, 1150 South 12th Street, Baton Rouge Highland Elementary School, 280 Sunset Blvd., Baton Rouge Highland Elementary School, 280 Sunset Blvd., Baton Rouge Park Forest Elementary School, 10717 Elain Drive, Baton Rouge Park Forest Elementary School, 10717 Elain Drive, Baton Rouge Twin Oaks Elementary School, 819 Trammel Drive, Baton Rouge Twin Oaks Elementary School, 819 Trammel Drive, Baton Rouge Cedarcrest-Southmoor Elementary School, 10187 Twin Cedars Avenue, Baton Rouge Cedarcrest-Southmoor Elementary School, 10187 Twin Cedars Avenue, Baton Rouge University View Academy, 3113 Valley Creek Drive, Baton Rouge University View Academy, 3113 Valley Creek Drive, Baton Rouge Tara High School, 9002 Whitehall Avenue, Baton Rouge Tara High School, 9002 Whitehall Avenue, Baton Rouge Magnolia Woods Elementary School, 760 Maxine Drive, Baton Rouge Magnolia Woods Elementary School, 760 Maxine Drive, Baton Rouge Brightside Fire Station, 3150 Brightside Drive, Baton Rouge St. Mark United Methodist Church, 6217 Glen Oaks Drive, Baton Rouge St. Mark United Methodist Church, 6217 Glen Oaks Drive, Baton Rouge Park Forest Middle School, 3760 Aletha Drive, Baton Rouge Park Forest Middle School, 3760 Aletha Drive, Baton Rouge LaSalle Elementary School, 8000 LaSalle Avenue, Baton Rouge Drusilla Lane Park Recreation Center, 2546 Drusilla Lane, Baton Rouge Drusilla Lane Park Recreation Center, 2546 Drusilla Lane, Baton Rouge BREC Flannery Road Park Recreation Center, 801 S. Flannery Road, Baton Rouge BREC Flannery Road Park Recreation Center, 801 S. Flannery Road, Baton Rouge Park Forest Middle School, 3760 Aletha Drive, Baton Rouge Park Forest Middle School, 3760 Aletha Drive, Baton Rouge Northdale Academy, 10755 Cletus Drive, Baton Rouge Northdale Academy, 10755 Cletus Drive, Baton Rouge

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Cadillac Street Park Recreation Center, 6117 Cadillac Street, Baton Rouge BREC Howell Place Gym, 7717 Howell Boulevard, Baton Rouge BREC Howell Place Gym, 7717 Howell Boulevard, Baton Rouge Scotlandville Middle Magnet School, 9147 Elm Grove Garden Drive, Baton Rouge Scotlandville Middle Magnet School, 9147 Elm Grove Garden Drive, Baton Rouge Twin Oaks Elementary School, 819 Trammel Drive, Baton Rouge Twin Oaks Elementary School, 819 Trammel Drive, Baton Rouge Labelle Aire Elementary School, 12255 Tams Drive, Baton Rouge Forest Community Park Recreation Center, 13900 S. Harrells Ferry Road, Baton Rouge Forest Community Park Recreation Center, 13900 S. Harrells Ferry Road, Baton Rouge Forest Community Park Recreation Center, 13900 S. Harrells Ferry Road, Baton Rouge EBR Readiness Middle School, 10337 Elm Grove Garden Drive, Baton Rouge EBR Readiness Middle School, 10337 Elm Grove Garden Drive, Baton Rouge EBR Readiness Middle School, 10337 Elm Grove Garden Drive, Baton Rouge EBR Readiness Middle School, 10337 Elm Grove Garden Drive, Baton Rouge Glen Oaks Park Elementary School, 5656 Lanier Drive, Baton Rouge 1st Presbyterian Church of Scotlandville, 1246 Rosenwald Road, Baton Rouge Crestworth Elementary School, 11200 Avenue F, Baton Rouge Crestworth Elementary School, 11200 Avenue F, Baton Rouge Villa Del Rey Elementary School, 9765 Cuyhanga Parkway, Baton Rouge Department of Public Works East Lot, 1505 Central Thruway, Baton Rouge Wedgewood Elementary School, 2330 Aspenwood Drive, Baton Rouge Wedgewood Elementary School, 2330 Aspenwood Drive, Baton Rouge Parkview Elementary School, 5660 Parkforest Drive, Baton Rouge Parkview Elementary School, 5660 Parkforest Drive, Baton Rouge F G Clark Activity Center, 163 Southern University Place, Baton Rouge F G Clark Activity Center, 163 Southern University Place, Baton Rouge Progress Elementary School, 855 Progress Road, Baton Rouge Progress Elementary School, 855 Progress Road, Baton Rouge Brightside Fire Station, 3150 Brightside Drive, Baton Rouge Lake Sherwood Village, 4101 Plaza Tower Drive, Baton Rouge Lake Sherwood Village, 4101 Plaza Tower Drive, Baton Rouge Independence Recreation Center, 7505 Independence Blvd., Baton Rouge Independence Recreation Center, 7505 Independence Blvd., Baton Rouge LaSalle Elementary School, 8000 LaSalle Avenue, Baton Rouge Glasgow Middle School, 1676 Glasgow Avenue, Baton Rouge Wildwood Elementary School, 444 Halfway Tree Road, Baton Rouge Glen Oaks Park Elementary School, 5656 Lanier Drive, Baton Rouge Glen Oaks Park Elementary School, 5656 Lanier Drive, Baton Rouge Impact Charter School, 3750 Harding Street, Baker Impact Charter School, 3750 Harding Street, Baker Brownsfield Volunteer Fire Station, 6850 Kent Drive, Baker Baker Municipal Center Auditorium, 3325 Groom Road, Baker Zachary High School, 4100 Bronco Lane, Zachary Northeast Elementary School, 13801 Pride Port Hudson Road, Pride Northeast Elementary School, 13801 Pride Port Hudson Road, Pride Gas Utility District 1, 10633 ZacharyDeerford Road, Zachary Gas Utility District 1, 10633 ZacharyDeerford Road, Zachary Gas Utility District 1, 10633 ZacharyDeerford Road, Zachary Park Ridge Performing Arts Academy, 5903 Groom Road, Baker Park Ridge Performing Arts Academy, 5903 Groom Road, Baker Foster Road Baptist Church, 11333 Foster Road, Baton Rouge Foster Road Baptist Church, 11333 Foster Road, Baton Rouge Sharon Hills Elementary School, 6450 Guynell Drive, Baton Rouge Brownfields Elementary School, 11615 Ellen Drive, Baton Rouge Brownfields Elementary School, 11615 Ellen Drive, Baton Rouge Baker High School, 3200 Groom Road, Baker Baker High School, 3200 Groom Road, Baker Northwestern Middle School, 5200 E. Central Avenue, Zachary Northwestern Middle School, 5200 E. Central Avenue, Zachary GEO Prep Baker School, 5300 Bentley Drive, Baker Glen Oaks High School, 6650 Cedar Grove Drive, Baton Rouge Glen Oaks High School, 6650 Cedar Grove Drive, Baton Rouge Baker Town Hall, 3325 Groom Road, Baker Baker Town Hall, 3325 Groom Road, Baker Zachary Elementary School, 3775 Hemlock Street, Zachary Zachary Elementary School, 3775 Hemlock Street, Zachary Baker Municipal Center Auditorium, 3325 Groom Road, Baker Baker High School, 3200 Groom Road, Baker Rollins Place Elementary School, 4488 Rollins Place, Zachary Alternative Center At Beechwood, 2555 Desoto Street, Baton Rouge Alternative Center At Beechwood, 2555 Desoto Street, Baton Rouge Merrydale Elementary School, 6700 Rio Drive, Baton Rouge Merrydale Elementary School, 6700 Rio Drive, Baton Rouge

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10D ■ Thursday, September 3, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate Legal Notices 02/024 02/025 A 02/025 B 02/026 02/027 A 02/027 B 02/028 02/029 02/030 A 02/030 B 02/031 02/032 02/033 02/034 02/035 02/036 A 02/036 B 02/037 02/038 03/001 A 03/001 B 03/002 A 03/002 B 03/003 A 03/003 B 03/004 A 03/004 B 03/005 03/006 A 03/006 B 03/007 A 03/007 B 03/008 03/009 A 03/009 B 03/010 03/011 03/012 A 03/012 B 03/013 03/014 A 03/014 B 03/015 A 03/015 B 03/016 03/017 A 03/017 B 03/018 A 03/018 B 03/019 A 03/019 B 03/020 A 03/020 B 03/021 A 03/021 B 03/022 03/023 A 03/023 B

Legal Notices

Alsen BREC Recreation Center, 601 Old Rafe Mayer Road, Baton Rouge Park Ridge Academic Magnet School, 5905 Groom Road, Baton Rouge Park Ridge Academic Magnet School, 5905 Groom Road, Baton Rouge Grace Baptist Church, 4626 Rush Drive, Zachary Sharon Hills Elementary School, 6450 Guynell Drive, Baton Rouge Sharon Hills Elementary School, 6450 Guynell Drive, Baton Rouge Northwestern Middle School, 5200 E. Central Avenue, Zachary Zachary High School, 4100 Bronco Lane, Zachary Forest Heights Elementary School, 7447 Sumrall Drive, Baton Rouge Forest Heights Elementary School, 7447 Sumrall Drive, Baton Rouge Baker Town Hall, 3325 Groom Road, Baker BREC Church Street Park, 3210 Church Street, Zachary Gas Utility District 1, 10633 ZacharyDeerford Road, Zachary Copper Mill Elementary School, 1300 Independence Blvd., Zachary Rollins Place Elementary School, 4488 Rollins Place, Zachary Zachary Branch Library, 1900 Church Street, Zachary Zachary Branch Library, 1900 Church Street, Zachary BREC Church Street Park, 3210 Church Street, Zachary Copper Mill Elementary School, 1300 Independence Blvd., Zachary BREC Jackson Community Park, 12250 Sullivan Road, Baton Rouge BREC Jackson Community Park, 12250 Sullivan Road, Baton Rouge Cornerstone Fellowship, 9611 Blackwater Road, Baker Cornerstone Fellowship, 9611 Blackwater Road, Baker Woodlawn Baptist Church, 5805 Jones Creek Road, Baton Rouge Woodlawn Baptist Church, 5805 Jones Creek Road, Baton Rouge BREC Highland Road Park, 14024 Highland Road, Baton Rouge BREC Highland Road Park, 14024 Highland Road, Baton Rouge Audubon Baton Rouge School, 7800 Innovation Park Drive, Baton Rouge Central Middle School Gym, 12656 Sullivan Road, Baton Rouge Central Middle School Gym, 12656 Sullivan Road, Baton Rouge BREC Cedar Ridge Recreation Center, 13300 Cedar Ridge Avenue, Baton Rouge BREC Cedar Ridge Recreation Center, 13300 Cedar Ridge Avenue, Baton Rouge North Sherwood Forest Park Recreation Center, 3140 N. Sherwood Forest, Baton Rouge St. Alphonsus Catholic Church, 14040 Greenwell Springs Road, Greenwell Springs St. Alphonsus Catholic Church, 14040 Greenwell Springs Road, Greenwell Springs Lutheran Church of Our Savior, 3555 Jones Creek Road, Baton Rouge Fire Station, 11010 Coursey Blvd., Baton Rouge Riveroaks Elementary School, 950 Fontainbleau Drive, Baton Rouge Riveroaks Elementary School, 950 Fontainbleau Drive, Baton Rouge Jefferson Terrace Elementary School, 5601 Upton Drive, Baton Rouge Central Middle School Gym, 12656 Sullivan Road, Baton Rouge Central Middle School Gym, 12656 Sullivan Road, Baton Rouge Shenandoah Elementary School, 16555 Appomattox Avenue, Baton Rouge Shenandoah Elementary School, 16555 Appomattox Avenue, Baton Rouge Woodlawn Middle School, 14939 Tiger Bend Road, Baton Rouge Westminster Elementary School, 8935 Westminster Drive, Baton Rouge Westminster Elementary School, 8935 Westminster Drive, Baton Rouge Greater Baton Rouge Association of Realtors, 14101 Perkins Road, Baton Rouge Greater Baton Rouge Association of Realtors, 14101 Perkins Road, Baton Rouge New Rising Sun Baptist Church, 16444 Highland Road, Baton Rouge New Rising Sun Baptist Church, 16444 Highland Road, Baton Rouge Ben Burge Park, 9350 Antigua Drive (at Elvin Drive), Baton Rouge Ben Burge Park, 9350 Antigua Drive (at Elvin Drive), Baton Rouge Southeast Middle School, 15000 S. Harrells Ferry Road, Baton Rouge Southeast Middle School, 15000 S. Harrells Ferry Road, Baton Rouge Woodlawn High School, 15755 Old Jefferson Highway, Baton Rouge Wildwood Elementary School, 444 Halfway Tree Road, Baton Rouge Wildwood Elementary School, 444 Halfway Tree Road, Baton Rouge

Legal Notices

p the potential impacts on the ﬂoodplain/wetland from the proposed ac‐ tion, as required by Exec‐ utive Orders 11988 and 11990, and in accordance with HUD regulations at 24 CFR 55.20 Subpart C Procedures for Making Determinations on Flood‐ plain Management and Protection of Wetlands. The proposed project lo‐ cation is at 19306 Grantham Road, 20450 Texas Street, 29300 S. Magnolia Street, and 29131 S. Range Road, Liv‐ ingston, Livingston Parish, Louisiana. The project will continue con‐ crete channel lining along Little Colyell Creek from Frost Road to S. Range Road with channel bed width of 10' and 2.5:1 side slope; continue con‐ crete channel lining along the west side ditch of S. Magnolia Street from Texas St to the con‐ ﬂuence with Little Colyell Creek; channelize the creek from S. Range Road to approximately 350’ downstream of the Grantham Rd crossing with channel bed width of 15’ and 3:1 side slope; upgrade the Texas Street culvert from a single CMP to a double rein‐ forced concrete box cul‐ vert (5’ x 5’); upgrade the S. Magnolia Street cul‐ vert from a double CMP

Legal Notices

to a double reinforced concrete box culvert (6’x 6’); upgrade the S. Range Road bridge from a dou‐ ble-span 40-foot bridge to a triple-span 60’ bridge; upgrade the Grantham Road crossing from a single-span bridge to a double rein‐ forced concrete box cul‐ vert (10’ x 8’) with associ‐ ated temporary access road. The proposed site is approximately 10 acres, the project would impact 10 acres of FFRMS floodplain considering temporary work space, and would permanently impact 6 acres of FFRMS floodplains. Impacts to wetlands would be negli‐ gible, and the proposed project is anticipated to be covered under an ex‐ isting Nationwide Permit. Existing natural and ben‐ eficial functions of the are floodplain/wetland floodwater storage and conveyance. Project pur‐ pose is to reduce flood‐ ing by increasing stormwater conveyance. There are three primary purposes for this notice. First, people who may be affected by activities in the floodplain and those who have an interest in the protection of the nat‐ ural environment should be given an opportunity to express their concerns d id i f i

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Legal Notices North Sherwood Forest Park Recreation Center, 3140 N. Sherwood Forest, Baton Rouge North Sherwood Forest Park Recreation Center, 3140 N. Sherwood Forest, Baton Rouge Central High School, 10200 E. Brookside Drive, Baton Rouge Central High School, 10200 E. Brookside Drive, Baton Rouge Bellingrath Hills Elementary School, 6612 Audusson Drive, Greenwell Springs Bellingrath Hills Elementary School, 6612 Audusson Drive, Greenwell Springs Cedarcrest-Southmoor Elementary School, 10187 Twin Cedars Avenue, Baton Rouge Cedarcrest-Southmoor Elementary School, 10187 Twin Cedars Avenue, Baton Rouge Fairwood Branch Library, 12910 Old Hammond Highway, Baton Rouge Fairwood Branch Library, 12910 Old Hammond Highway, Baton Rouge Westminster Elementary School, 8935 Westminster Drive, Baton Rouge Westminster Elementary School, 8935 Westminster Drive, Baton Rouge Tanglewood Elementary School, 9352 Rustling Oaks Drive, Baton Rouge Tanglewood Elementary School, 9352 Rustling Oaks Drive, Baton Rouge Westminster Elementary School, 8935 Westminster Drive, Baton Rouge Westminster Elementary School, 8935 Westminster Drive, Baton Rouge Eastside Volunteer Fire Station, 15094 Old Hammond Highway, Baton Rouge Baringer Road Park Recreation Center, 7401 Baringer Road, Baton Rouge Baringer Road Park Recreation Center, 7401 Baringer Road, Baton Rouge St. George Fire Department Admin Office, 14100 Airline Highway, Baton Rouge St. George Fire Department Admin Office, 14100 Airline Highway, Baton Rouge Bluebonnet Regional Library, 9200 Bluebonnet Blvd., Baton Rouge Bluebonnet Regional Library, 9200 Bluebonnet Blvd., Baton Rouge Bluebonnet Regional Library, 9200 Bluebonnet Blvd., Baton Rouge Cornerstone Fellowship, 9611 Blackwater Road, Baker Woodlawn Middle School, 14939 Tiger Bend Road, Baton Rouge Jefferson Terrace Elementary School, 5601 Upton Drive, Baton Rouge BREC Highland Road Park, 14024 Highland Road, Baton Rouge BREC Highland Road Park, 14024 Highland Road, Baton Rouge Jones Creek Regional Library, 6222 Jones Creek Road, Baton Rouge Jones Creek Regional Library, 6222 Jones Creek Road, Baton Rouge North Sherwood Forest Park Recreation Center, 3140 N. Sherwood Forest, Baton Rouge Shenandoah Elementary School, 16555 Appomattox Avenue, Baton Rouge Shenandoah Elementary School, 16555 Appomattox Avenue, Baton Rouge Ben Burge Park, 9350 Antigua Drive (at Elvin Drive), Baton Rouge Ben Burge Park, 9350 Antigua Drive (at Elvin Drive), Baton Rouge Woodlawn High School, 15755 Old Jefferson Highway, Baton Rouge Woodlawn High School, 15755 Old Jefferson Highway, Baton Rouge Bellingrath Hills Elementary School, 6612 Audusson Drive, Greenwell Springs Crosspoint Baptist Church, 14965 Airline Highway, Baton Rouge Crosspoint Baptist Church, 14965 Airline Highway, Baton Rouge St. George Fire Department Admin Office, 14100 Airline Highway, Baton Rouge St. George Fire Department Admin Office, 14100 Airline Highway, Baton Rouge Mayfair Laboratory School, 9880 Hyacinth Avenue, Baton Rouge Mayfair Laboratory School, 9880 Hyacinth Avenue, Baton Rouge Louisiana School For The Deaf , 2888 Brightside Drive, Baton Rouge Louisiana School For The Deaf , 2888 Brightside Drive, Baton Rouge Drusilla Lane Park Recreation Center, 2546 Drusilla Lane, Baton Rouge BREC Perkins Road Community Park, 7122 Perkins Road, Baton Rouge BREC Perkins Road Community Park, 7122 Perkins Road, Baton Rouge Woodlawn Middle School, 14939 Tiger Bend Road, Baton Rouge Woodlawn Middle School, 14939 Tiger Bend Road, Baton Rouge Department of Public Works East Lot, 1505 Central Thruway, Baton Rouge BREC Mayfair Park, 655 S. Sabine Drive, Baton Rouge BREC Mayfair Park, 655 S. Sabine Drive, Baton Rouge

Legal Notices

p and provide information about these areas. Com‐ menters are encouraged to offer alternative sites outside of the floodplain, alternative methods to serve the same project purpose, and methods to minimize and mitigate project impacts on the floodplain. Second, an adequate public notice program can be an im‐ portant public educa‐ tional tool. The dissemi‐ nation of information and request for public comment about the floodplain can facilitate and enhance Federal ef‐ forts to reduce the risks and impacts associated with the occupancy and modification of these special areas. Third, as a matter of fairness, when the Federal government determines it will partici‐ pate in actions taking place in the floodplain, it must inform those who may be put at greater or continued risk.

p j y also be reviewed from 7:30 AM to 5:00 PM at the address above. Com‐ ments may also be sub‐ mitted via email at tsoileau@elosenv.com.

y No. 001, Serial Number 254500. The injection well will be located in Section 008, Township 07N, Range 12W, Zwolle Field, Sabine Parish, Louisiana.

Date: September 3, 2026

The injection zone is pro‐ posed to be at 3,000 feet to 3,600 feet.

Written comments must be received by Tim Soileau on behalf of LPG at the following address on or before September 21, 2026: Tim Soileau, 607 W. Morris Aveneu, Ham‐ mond, LA 70403 and (985) 662-5501 Attention: Tim Soileau, Environmental Scientist. A full descrip‐ tion of the project may l b i d f

Legal Notices

198938-sept 3-1t $484.70 PUBLIC NOTICE In accordance with the laws of the State of Louisiana and the partic‐ ular reference to the pro‐ visions of LA R. S. 30:4, and the provisions of Statewide Order No. 29-B as amended and adopted by the Office of Permit‐ ting and Compliance of the State of Louisiana Ensight IV Energy Management, LLC 333 Texas Street, Suite 1919 Shreveport, LA 71101 318-213-1097 is hereby applying to the Office of Permitting and Compliance, Engineering Division for a permit to dispose of by means of a salt-water injection well, which will be identified as: Blakey etal 8 SWD Well i l b

All interested parties are hereby given an opportu‐ nity to submit written comments no later than ﬁfteen (15) days from the date of this publication. Identify the well when corresponding. Direct comments to: Ofﬁce of Permitting and Compliance Engineering Division P.O. Box 94275 Baton Rouge, LA 708049275 Re: Comments for SWD Application 199552 Sept. 3, 2026 1t $198.97 PUBLIC NOTICE --LEGAL NOTICE STATE OF LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND

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03/076 ABSENTEE

Legal Notices

Bluebonnet Highlands Clubhouse, 10557 Bluebonnet Blvd., Baton Rouge Audubon Baton Rouge School, 7800 Innovation Park Drive, Baton Rouge Zoar Baptist Church (Building D), 11848 Hooper Road, Baton Rouge Lutheran Church of Our Savior, 3555 Jones Creek Road, Baton Rouge Jefferson Terrace Elementary School, 5601 Upton Drive, Baton Rouge Jefferson Terrace Elementary School, 5601 Upton Drive, Baton Rouge Central High School, 10200 E. Brookside Drive, Baton Rouge Greater Baton Rouge Association of Realtors, 14101 Perkins Road, Baton Rouge Bluebonnet Highlands Clubhouse, 10557 Bluebonnet Blvd., Baton Rouge Bluebonnet Regional Library, 9200 Bluebonnet Blvd., Baton Rouge St. John’s United Methodist Church, 230 Renee Drive, Baton Rouge Woodlawn High School, 15755 Old Jefferson Highway, Baton Rouge Crosspoint Baptist Church, 14965 Airline Highway, Baton Rouge Mayfair Laboratory School, 9880 Hyacinth Avenue, Baton Rouge Louisiana School For The Deaf, 2888 Brightside Drive, Baton Rouge Louisiana School For The Deaf, 2888 Brightside Drive, Baton Rouge Great Hearts Harveston School, 11801 Bluebonnet Blvd., Baton Rouge Southeast Middle School, 15000 S. Harrells Ferry Road, Baton Rouge Eastside Volunteer Fire Station, 15094 Old Hammond Highway, Baton Rouge Southeast Middle School, 15000 S. Harrells Ferry Road, Baton Rouge Southeast Middle School, 15000 S. Harrells Ferry Road, Baton Rouge The Claiborne At Baton Rouge, 9511 Creekview Drive, Baton Rouge Great Hearts Harveston School, 11801 Bluebonnet Blvd., Baton Rouge Great Hearts Harveston School, 11801 Bluebonnet Blvd., Baton Rouge

268

133

116

120

149

179

137

146

137

128

109

138

119

108

121

117

136

109

15,724

9,269

The polling places above specified being the only polling places designated at which to hold the said special election, it was therefore shown that there was a total of 47,895 votes cast FOR the Proposition and a total of 26,679 votes cast AGAINST the Proposition, as hereinabove set forth, and that there was a majority of 47,895 votes cast FOR the Proposition as hereinabove set forth. THEREFORE, the Metropolitan Council, acting as the governing authority of the Parish, did declare and proclaim and does hereby declare and proclaim in open and public session that the Proposition as hereinabove set forth was duly PASSED by a majority of the votes cast by the qualified electors voting at the said special election held in the Parish on Saturday, June 27, 2026. THUS DONE AND SIGNED at Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on this, the 12th day of August, 2026. /s/ Ashley Beck Ashley Beck, Council Administrator

/s/ Brandon Noel Brandon Noel, President Pro Tempore

EXHIBIT A NOTICE OF SPECIAL ELECTION (On file with the Metropolitan Council) EXHIBIT B PROOF OF PUBLICATION (On file with the Metropolitan Council) PROCLAMATION I, BRANDON NOEL, the undersigned President Pro Tempore of the Metropolitan Council of the Parish of East Baton Rouge and City of Baton Rouge, the governing authority of the Parish of East Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana (the “Parish”), do hereby declare, proclaim and announce the result of the special election held in the Parish on Saturday, June 27, 2026, as ascertained by the canvass of the votes cast at the said election, made by said Metropolitan Council, acting as the governing authority of the Parish, and assembled at their regular meeting place, the Council Chambers, City Hall, Third Floor, Room 348, 222 St. Louis Street, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, at four o’clock (4:00) p.m., which canvass showed the following result upon the proposition submitted at the said election, to-wit: PROPOSITION Shall the Parish of East Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana (the “Parish”) be authorized to continue to levy and collect a 9.50 mills ad valorem tax (the “Tax”) (an estimated $59,573,265 is reasonably expected to be collected from the levy of the Tax for an entire year), for a period of ten (10) years, beginning with the tax collection for the year 2026, and annually thereafter, to and including the year 2035, and shall the proceeds of the Tax (after paying reasonable and necessary expenses of collecting and administering the Tax) be used entirely and exclusively for the purpose of maintaining and operating the public library system of the Parish and its branches, and improving services, acquiring land and constructing new library facilities, title to which is and shall be in the public, and shall the avails or proceeds of the Tax to be administered by the East Baton Rouge Parish Library Board of Control, in the manner required by law? There was found by said count and canvass that there was a total of 47,895 votes cast FOR the Proposition and a total of 26,679 votes cast AGAINST the Proposition, and that there was a majority of 47,895 votes cast FOR the Proposition as hereinabove set forth, all as described and set out in the above Proces Verbal. THEREFORE, in accordance with the result of the canvass of returns and the action of the Metropolitan Council of the Parish of East Baton Rouge and City of Baton Rouge, acting as the governing authority of the Parish, I, BRANDON NOEL, the President Pro Tempore of the Metropolitan Council, do hereby declare, proclaim and announce the said Proposition as hereinabove set forth to have been duly PASSED by a majority of votes cast by the qualified electors voting at the said special election held in the Parish on Saturday, June 27, 2026. THUS DONE AND SIGNED at Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on this, the 12th day of August, 2026. /s/ Ashley Beck Ashley Beck, Council Administrator

/s/ Brandon Noel Brandon Noel, President Pro Tempore 199321-683340-sep 3-1t $ 1,521.88

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ENERGY BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA DOCKET NO. PL 26-015 In accordance with the laws of the State of Louisiana, and with ref‐ erence to the provisions of Title 30 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, as amended by Act 16 of the Extraordinary Session of 1973, being Chapter 7 of Title 30, and particularly Section 542(a) of said Act, a public hearing will be held in the La Belle Room located on the first floor of the LaSalle Office Building, 617 North 3rd Street, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, at 9:00 o'clock a.m. on October 6, 2026, upon the application of TRANS LOUISIANA GAS PIPELINE, INC.. At such hearing the Sec‐ retary will consider evi‐ dence relative to the is‐ suance of an order upon the application of TRANS LOUISIANA GAS PIPELINE, INC. for the abandon‐ ment of natural gas pipeline facilities in the Parish of Jefferson, State of Louisiana, pursuant to La. R.S. 30:555(B) and LAC 43:XI.503. A copy of the applica‐ tion is on file with the

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Department of Conserva‐ tion and Energy and may be examined during nor‐ mal business hours and is posted online at https://www.dce. louisiana.gov/page/ hearing-commentcalendar. Comments and views regarding the application should be directed in written form to the ad‐ dress below or electroni‐ cally to info@LA.gov and are to be received not later than 5:00 o'clock p.m., October 5, 2026. Oral comments will be received at the hearing but should be brief and not cover the entire mat‐ ters contained in the written comments. If ac‐ commodations are re‐ quired under the Ameri‐ cans with Disabilities Act, please contact our ofﬁce at (225) 342-5505 within ten working days of the hearing date. Di‐ rect comments to: Dustin H. Davidson Secretary Post Ofﬁce Box 94275 Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70804-9275 RE: Docket No. PL 26-015 All parties having inter‐ est in the aforesaid shall take notice thereof.

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BY ORDER OF: __ _ _________________ Steven M. Giambrone, Director 199670 Sept., 3 2026, 1t $30.35 PUBLIC NOTICE --Notice is hereby given that Vinton Harbor and Terminal District has ap‐ plied for a 401 Water Quality Certiﬁcation to clear, grade, dredge, and place spoil to construct an access drive, barge slip, and barge unloading facility. The Vinton Drainage Canal will be dredged for the barge slip, stone surfacing will be performed on the edge of the Canal, and a 600 linear foot sheet pile bulkhead will be con‐ structed along the Canal. In addition, a 60' x 60' concrete platform for a crane will be con‐ structed. Material dredged from the canal will be placed on the op‐ posite side of the Canal. Work will occur off Johnny Breaux Road and Vinton Canal Boat Launch Road near Vinton in Calcasieu Parish. Vin‐ ton Harbor and Terminal District is applying to the i i f

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pp y g Louisiana Department of Quality, Environmental Office of Environmental Services for a Water Quality Certification in accordance with statu‐ tory authority contained in the LAC 33:IX.1507.A-E and provisions of Section 401 of the Clean Water Act. Comments concerning this application can be filed with the Water Per‐ mits Division within ten days of this notice by ref‐ erencing WQC 260721-01, AI 252048 to the following address: Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality Water Permits Division P.O. Box 4313 Baton Rouge, LA 70821-4313 Attn: Water Quality Certifications Comments may be sub‐ mitted by email to DEQWaterQualityCertifica‐ tions@la.gov. A copy of the application is available for inspec‐ tion and review at the LDEQ Public Records Center at 602 North Fifth Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70802, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The available information can also be accessed electronically on the Electronic Docu‐

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Thursday, September 3, 2026 ■ 11D

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MINUTES CITY COUNCIL MEETING CITY OF BAKER PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE STATE OF LOUISIANA COUNCIL CHAMBERS 3325 GROOM ROAD, BAKER, LOUISIANA 70714 www.youtube.com/@bakerforward August 25, 2026 - 6:00 p.m. The City Council of the City of Baker, Louisiana, met in regular session on August 25, 2026, with the following members in attendance at the meeting: MAYOR Darnell Waites COUNCIL MEMBERS Desiree Collins Rochelle Dunn Cedric Murphy Robert Young ABSENT Dr. Charles Vincent CALL TO ORDER – Mayor Waites presided. The invocation was given by Council Member Murphy. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Council Member Young. ***Public comment shall be observed before a vote is taken on any agenda item. Such comments shall not exceed 3 minutes and shall be confined to the agenda item and any proposed disposition thereof.*** DISPOSITION OF THE MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING The motion was made by Council Member Dunn, seconded by Council Member Murphy to approve the minutes of the meeting held on August 11, 2026. The mayor called for public comments or questions. Vote was called for. YEAS: Collins, Dunn, Murphy, Young NAYS: None ABSENT: Vincent ABSTAIN: None The motion passed with a vote of 4-0. RECOGNITIONS 1. Introduce Dr. Erica Palin of Lane Baker Clinic (Mayor) The mayor introduced Dr. Erica Palin who will be working at the Lane Baker Clinic on Groom Road. Dr. Palin provided information on her background and experience as well as an overview of the services to be provided once the clinic has opened. PLANNING AND ZONING MATTERS RESOLUTIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS NEW BUSINESS 1. Introduce Ordinance 2026-28, an ordinance to amend the Code of Ordinances of the City of Baker by adding a new article to Chapter 27, Zoning, to establish the Baker Commercial Corridor Overlay Zoning District (CCO); providing for purpose, applicability, boundaries, development plan review, prohibited uses, lot and bulk standards, design standards, landscape and buffer requirements, additional design review standards, administration, severability, and an effective date (Mayor) The mayor read a portion of the title of the ordinance and provided a brief synopsis as well.

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The mayor called for public comments or questions. The motion was made by Council Member Murphy, seconded by Council Member Young to adjourn the public hearing/meeting. YEAS: Collins, Dunn, Murphy, Young NAYS: None ABSENT: Vincent ABSTAIN: None The motion passed with a vote of 4-0. The mayor stated they needed to adopt Ordinance 2026-27. The motion was made by Council Member Murphy, seconded by Council Member Young to adopt Ordinance 2026-27. The mayor called for public comments or questions. Vote was called for. YEAS: Collins, Dunn, Murphy, Young NAYS: None ABSENT: Vincent ABSTAIN: None The motion passed with a vote of 4-0. ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS Administrative Officer Angela Machen announced that Goodwill now has an office in the City of Baker on Highway 19 at Charlie’s Place. She stated this is a result of the mayor’s efforts to have more services readily available to the citizens of Baker. She introduced Scottie LeBlanc, Vice President of Mission Services at Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Louisiana, and Jodee Daroca, President and CEO at Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Louisiana, who provided an overview of the organization’s long-term goals for the area, as well as services being provided to the Baker community. The mayor recognized President of the City Council Rochelle Dunn, as well as outgoing President Council Member Cedric Murphy. The mayor announced DEMCO lighting upgrades continue and they plan to begin the next phase by the end of the week. The upcoming phase will see upgrades completed in council District 3. ANNOUNCEMENTS/COMMENTS 1. District 2 announcements (Dunn) Council Member Dunn thanked everyone who helped make the “Batter Up, Baker” community softball game held Saturday, August 15, 2026, a tremendous success. She thanked all the sponsors, vendors, participants, as well as everyone who came out and supported the event. Council Member Collins stated District 3 hosted the “Mental Health and Mingle” workshop on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, at Jefferson Street Park and it was an amazing experience. She said they plan to make it a monthly event that provides an opportunity for people to share a meal and talk around a communal table. Mental health counselors participated in the event. Council Member Collins thanked everyone who worked to ensure the event was successful. She commended the “Hope in our Midst” program held recently aimed at listening to residents in an attempt to stop violence in the community. She stated the Elvin Howard, Sr. Pancreatic Cancer Advocacy Foundation held a symposium and encouraged everyone to visit their social media for more information on pancreatic cancer.

The mayor called for public comments or questions. Discussion regarding the proposed ordinance was held.

APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS

The motion was made by Council Member Collins, seconded by Council Member Dunn to introduce Ordinance 2026-28.

CONDEMNATIONS

Vote was called for. YEAS: Collins, Dunn, Murphy, Young NAYS: None ABSENT: Vincent ABSTAIN: None The motion passed with a vote of 4-0. The mayor asked for a motion to adjourn the meeting so that the Public Hearing could be called to order. The motion was made by Council Member Dunn, seconded by Council Member Murphy to adjourn. YEAS: Collins, Dunn, Murphy, Young NAYS: None ABSENT: Vincent ABSTAIN: None The motion passed with a vote of 4-0. PUBLIC MEETING The public hearing was called to order by Mayor Waites. The mayor stated they would conduct a public hearing to consider, discuss and review setting forth the adjusted millage rates, and roll forward to millage rates not exceeding the maximum authorized rates. CALL TO ORDER 1. Invocation 2. Pledge of Allegiance PUBLIC HEARING 3. Conduct a Public Hearing to consider, discuss and review setting forth the adjusted millage rates, and roll forward to millage rates not exceeding the maximum authorized rates Anetra Boykin read the title of the ordinance. The mayor called for public comments or questions three times. 4. Public Comment There were no public comments or questions. ADJOURN 5. Adjourn Public Hearing The motion was made by Council Member Dunn, seconded by Council Member Murphy to adjourn. The public hearing was adjourned. PUBLIC MEETING 1. Adopt Ordinance 2026-26, an ordinance to set forth and designate the adjusted millage rate (Mayor) (Introduced 8/11/2026) The mayor read the title of the ordinance. Anetra Boykin read a portion of the ordinance. The mayor called for public comments or questions.

REPORTS ON BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS 1. Planning and Zoning Commission 2. Annexation Review Committee 3. Economic Development Team 4. Heritage Museum/Related Committees 5. ABC Board 6. Other Special Committees a. Buffalo Festival b. Prayer Breakfast c. Strategic Planning Committee d. Citizens Advisory Board to Law Enforcement e. Main Street District Committee ADJOURN The motion was made by Council Member Dunn, seconded by Council Member Murphy to adjourn. The mayor called for public comments or questions. Vote was called for. YEAS: Collins, Dunn, Murphy, Young NAYS: None ABSENT: Vincent ABSTAIN: None The motion passed with a vote of 4-0 CITY OF BAKER PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE STATE OF LOUISIANA I, Angela Canady Wall, certify that I am Clerk of the Council for the City of Baker, Louisiana, and that the above and foregoing is a copy of the minutes of a regular meeting of the Council for the City of Baker, Louisiana held on August 25, 2026. ____________________________________ Angela Canady Wall, LCMC Clerk of Council

MINUTES BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS NORMAN E. “PETE” HEINE MEMORIAL GARDENS CITY OF BAKER PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE STATE OF LOUISIANA 3325 GROOM ROAD BAKER, LA 70714 August 25, 2026 The City Council of the City of Baker, Louisiana, sitting as the Board of Commissioners for Norman E. “Pete” Heine Memorial Gardens, met in regular session on August 25, 2026, with the following members in attendance at the meeting: COMMISSIONERS Desiree Collins Rochelle Dunn Cedric Murphy Darnell Waites Robert Young

The motion was made by Council Member Murphy, seconded by Council Member Dunn to adopt Ordinance 2026-27. The mayor called for public comments or questions. The motion was made by Council Member Murphy, seconded by Council Member Dunn to adopt Ordinance 2026-26.

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The motion was made by Commissioner Waites, seconded by Commissioners Collins/Murphy to accept the financial report. Commissioner Waites called for public comments or questions. Vote was called for. YEAS: Collins, Dunn, Murphy, Waites, Young NAYS: None ABSENT: Vincent ABSTAIN: None The motion passed by a vote of 5-0. 2. Other Reports 3. Items Requiring Action ADJOURN There was no other business to come before the commission. The motion was made by Commissioner Waites, seconded by Commissioner Murphy to adjourn. YEAS: Collins, Dunn, Murphy, Waites, Young NAYS: None ABSENT: Vincent ABSTAIN: None The motion passed by a vote of 5-0. CITY OF BAKER PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE STATE OF LOUISIANA I, Angela Canady Wall, certify that I am Clerk of the Council for the City of Baker, Louisiana, and that the above and foregoing is a copy of the minutes of a regular meeting of the Board of Commissioners for the Norman E. “Pete” Heine Memorial Gardens held on August 25, 2026. _________________________________ Angela Canady Wall, LCMC Clerk of Council

MINUTES BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BAKER CONSOLIDATED UTILITIES SYSTEM CITY OF BAKER PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE STATE OF LOUISIANA 3325 GROOM ROAD BAKER, LA 70714 August 25, 2026 The City Council of the City of Baker, Louisiana, sitting as the Board of Commissioners for the Baker Consolidated Utilities System, met in regular session on August 25, 2026, with the following members attending: COMMISSIONERS Desiree Collins Rochelle Dunn Cedric Murphy Darnell Waites Robert Young ABSENT Dr. Charles Vincent CALL TO ORDER – Commissioner Waites presided. DISPOSITION OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING The meeting was called to order and the motion was made by Commissioner Waites, seconded by Commissioner Murphy to approve the minutes of the meeting held on August 11, 2026. Commissioner Waites called for public comments or questions. Vote was called for. YEAS: Collins, Dunn, Murphy, Waites, Young NAYS: None ABSENT: Vincent ABSTAIN: None The motion passed by a vote of 5-0. PUBLIC NOTICE NEW BUSINESS OTHER NECESSARY BUSINESS 1. Monthly Business Report Finance Director Mary Sue Stages submitted a financial report. The motion was made by Commissioner Waites, seconded by Commissioner Dunn to accept the financial report. Commissioner Waites called for public comments or questions. Vote was called for. YEAS: Collins, Dunn, Murphy, Waites, Young NAYS: None ABSENT: Vincent ABSTAIN: None The motion passed by a vote of 5-0 2. Other Reports 3. Items Requiring Action ADJOURN There was no other business to come before the commission. The motion was made by Commissioner Waites, seconded by Commissioner Dunn to adjourn. YEAS: Collins, Dunn, Murphy, Waites, Young NAYS: None ABSENT: Vincent ABSTAIN: None The motion passed by a vote of 5-0. CITY OF BAKER PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE STATE OF LOUISIANA I, Angela Canady Wall, certify that I am Clerk of the Council for the City of Baker, Louisiana, and that the above and foregoing is a copy of the minutes of a regular meeting of the Board of Commissioners of the Baker Consolidated Utility System held on August 25, 2026. _________________________________ Angela Canady Wall, LCMC Clerk of Council

ABSENT Dr. Charles Vincent

The mayor called for public comments or questions. Vote was called for. YEAS: Collins, Dunn, Murphy, Young NAYS: None ABSENT: Vincent ABSTAIN: None The motion passed with a vote of 4-0.

CALL TO ORDER – Commissioner Waites presided.

2. Adopt Ordinance 2026-27, an ordinance to set forth and designate the adjusted millage rate and roll forward to millage rate not exceeding the maximum authorized rate (Mayor) (Introduced 8/11/2026) Anetra Boykin read a portion of the ordinance.

Commissioner Waites called for public comments or questions.

DISPOSITION OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING The meeting was called to order and the motion was made by Commissioner Waites, seconded by Commissioner Dunn to approve the minutes of the meeting held on August 11, 2026.

Anetra Boykin read Section 1 of the proposed ordinance.

Vote was called for. YEAS: Collins, Dunn, Murphy, Waites, Young NAYS: None ABSENT: Vincent ABSTAIN: None The motion passed by a vote of 5-0.

The mayor called for public comments or questions.

PUBLIC NOTICE

Anetra Boykin stated they were still in the public hearing.

NEW BUSINESS

The mayor called for public comments or questions.

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OTHER NECESSARY BUSINESS 1. Monthly Business Report Finance Director Mary Sue Stages submitted a financial report.

Council Member Young asked that people be mindful when scheduling and if at all possible avoid scheduling events for the same time. He stated he attended the symposium hosted by the Elvin Howard, Sr. Pancreatic Cancer Advocacy Foundation, an organization he has faithfully supported for years. Council Member Young said he plans to begin his birthday celebrations this weekend while watching the Cowboys beat the Saints. Council Member Murphy thanked the mayor and Public Works for completing projects in Chaleur subdivision and Buffwood. He said his constituents are extremely happy.

The mayor called for public comments or questions.

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199478-683733-sep 3-1t $ 831.60

12D ■ Thursday, September 3, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate Legal Notices

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ment Management Sys‐ tem (EDMS) on the LDEQ public website at www. deq.louisiana.gov.

Rouge Parish is hereby empowered, authorized and directed to enter the said tax on the Tax Roll for the year 2026, and the Sheriff of East Baton Rouge Parish, State of Louisiana, be and he is hereby fully authorized to collect the same.

199549 Sept. 3, 2026 1t $247.45

PUBLIC NOTICE --NOTICE OF SPECIAL ELECTION Pursuant to the provi‐ sions of a resolution adopted on May 13, 2026 by the Metropolitan Council of the Parish of East Baton Rouge and City of Baton Rouge (the “Metropolitan Council”), acting as the governing authority of the Parish of East Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana, NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a special election will be held in the Parish of East Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana on TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2026, and that at the said election there will be submitted to all registered voters of the Parish of East Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana, qualiﬁed and entitled to vote at the said election under the Constitution and laws of the State of Louisiana and the Constitution of the United States of America, the following proposition, to-wit: PROPOSITION (MILLAGE RENEWAL) Shall the Parish of East Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana (the “Parish”) be authorized to renew the levy and collection of a .50 mills ad valorem tax (the “Tax”) (an estimated $3,135,435 is reasonably expected to be collected from the levy of the Tax for an entire year), for a period of ten (10) years, beginning with the tax collection for the year 2027, and annually there‐ after to and including the year 2036, and shall the proceeds of the Tax (after paying reasonable and necessary expenses of collecting and admin‐ istering the Tax) be used entirely and exclusively to provide funds to pur‐ chase, maintain and op‐ erate machinery, facili‐ ties and equipment nec‐ essary and useful in the eradication, abatement or control of mosquitoes, other arthropods of pub‐ lic health importance and rodents, title to which shall be in the public, and maintaining and providing for ade‐ quate administrative and support staff in connec‐ tion therewith? The said special election will be held at each and every polling place in the Parish of East Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana, which polls will open at six (6:00) o’clock a.m., and close at eight (8:00) o’clock p.m., in compliance with the provisions of Section 541 of Title 18 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, as amended (La. R.S. 18:541). The polling places at the precincts in the Parish of East Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana are hereby designated as the polling places at which to hold the special election, and the Commissioners-inCharge and Commission‐ ers, respectively, shall be those persons desig‐ nated according to law pursuant to Section 1286(A) or Section 1286.1, as the case may be, of Title 18 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, as amended. In accordance with La. R.S. 18:1285(A)(1)(a)(v), the estimated cost of holding the election will be $85,300.00. A portion of the monies collected from the Tax shall be remitted to cer‐ tain State and statewide retirement systems in accordance with the pro‐ visions of Subtitle 1 of Title 11 of Louisiana Re‐ vised Statutes of 1950, as amended (La. R.S. 11:82). The said election will be held in accordance with the applicable provisions of Chapter 5, Chapter 6 and Chapter 6-A of Title 18 of the Louisiana Re‐ vised Statutes of 1950, as amended, and other con‐ stitutional and statutory authority supplemental thereto, and the ofﬁcers appointed to hold the said special election, as provided in this Notice of Special Election, or such substitutes therefor as may be selected and designated in accor‐ dance with law will make due returns thereof to the Metropolitan Council, and NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN that said Metropolitan Council will meet at its regular meet‐ ing place, the Council Chambers, City Hall, Third Floor, Room 348, 222 St. Louis Street, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on WEDNESDAY, DECEM‐ BER 9, 2026, at FOUR (4:00) O’CLOCK P.M., and will then and there in open and public session proceed to examine and canvass the returns and declare the result of the special election. All reg‐ istered voters in the Parish of East Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana are entitled to vote at said election and voting machines will be used thereat. THUS DONE AND SIGNED at Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on this, the 13th day of May, 2026. /s/ Brandon Noel President Pro Tempore ATTEST: /s/ Ashley Beck Council Administrator 199315- SEP 3-10 17-24-4T $286.64 PUBLIC NOTICE --ORDINANCE 2026-26 AN ORDINANCE TO SET FORTH AND DESIGNATE THE ADJUSTED MILLAGE RATE FOR ALL GENERAL PURPOSES FOR THE YEAR 2026 ON ALL TAXABLE PROP‐ ERTY WITHIN THE COR‐ PORATE LIMITS OF THE CITY OF BAKER, LOUISIANA The Mayor and Council of the City of Baker, Louisiana met in regular session live in Council Chambers at 3325 Groom Road in Baker, LA and live streamed on YouTube, Tuesday, the 25th day of August 2026, and with a proper quo‐ rum being there and then in attendance and de‐ clared that a public hear‐ ing was in session to consider the adoption of the following ordinance which was read in full and submitted to a vote for adoption.

SECTION 2: That the Clerk of Council for the City of Baker, Louisiana shall forward one certiﬁed copy of this ordinance to each the Assessor of East Baton Rouge Parish and the Sheriff of East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana. This ordinance having been submitted to a vote; the vote thereon was recorded as follows: YEAS: Collins, Dunn, Mur‐ phy, Young NAYS: None ABSENT: Vincent ABSTAIN: None This ordinance was intro‐ duced on the 11th day of August 2026, at the regu‐ lar meeting of the Baker City Council held live in the Council Chambers at 3325 Grom Road in Baker, LA and live streamed on YouTube and, after proper notiﬁcation to the public, a public hearing and public meeting was scheduled to be held on August 25, 2026. And the ordinance was declared adopted on the 25th of August 2026, at the regular meeting of the Baker City Council held live in the Council Chambers at 3325 Grom Road in Baker, LA and live streamed on YouTube ATTEST: /s/Angela Canady Wall, LCMC, Clerk of Council /s/Darnell Waites, Mayor 199479-SEP 3-1T $42.84 PUBLIC NOTICE ---

Public Notices Meet/Hear/Min

WBR Public Notices

/s/ Ben Necaise Ben Necaise, Superintendent

STATE OF LOUISIANA PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE

WBR Legal Notices

STATE OF LOUISIANA PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE

I, ASHLEY BECK, certify that I am the duly quali‐ ﬁed and acting Council Administrator of the Met‐ ropolitan Council of the Parish of East Baton Rouge and City of Baton Rouge, the governing au‐ thority of the Parish of East Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana.

p presented by Adrian Daigle, Director of Fi‐ nance. There were no alcoholic beverage permits appli‐ cations presented.

I, the undersigned Super‐ intendent of the Zachary Community School Board (the “Governing Author‐ ity”), acting as the gov‐ erning authority of the Zachary Community School System, Parish of East Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana, do hereby certify that the foregoing constitutes a true and correct copy of a resolu‐ tion adopted by the Gov‐ erning Authority on July 14, 2026, providing for canvassing the returns and declaring the result of the special election held in the Zachary Com‐ munity School System, Parish of East Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana (the “System”), on Satur‐ day, June 27, 2026, to au‐ thorize the levy and col‐ lection of a not exceed‐ ing twenty-four (24) mills ad valorem tax on the as‐ sessed valuation of all property subject to taxa‐ tion therein for a period of twenty (20) years, be‐ ginning with the tax year 2026, and annually there‐ after, to and including 2045, to be used entirely and exclusively for the purpose of providing ad‐ ditional support to the public elementary and secondary schools within the System and for any of its lawful school purposes, includ‐ ing paying the salaries and benefits of school system personnel; and providing for other mat‐ ters in connection there‐ with. I further certify that this resolution has not been amended or rescinded. IN FAITH WHEREOF, wit‐ ness my official signa‐ ture and the impress of the official seal of said Zachary Community School Board on this 14th day of July, 2026. /s/ Ben Necaise Ben Necaise, Superintendent

RESOLUTION

(SEAL)

A resolution providing for canvassing the re‐ turns and declaring the result of the special elec‐ tion held in the Zachary Community School Sys‐ tem, Parish of East Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana (the “System”), on Satur‐ day, June 27, 2026, to au‐ thorize the levy and col‐ lection of a not exceed‐ ing twenty-four (24) mills ad valorem tax on the as‐ sessed valuation of all property subject to taxa‐ tion therein for a period of twenty (20) years, be‐ ginning with the tax year 2026, and annually there‐ after, to and including 2045, to be used entirely and exclusively for the purpose of providing ad‐ ditional support to the public elementary and secondary schools within the System and for any of its lawful school purposes, includ‐ ing paying the salaries and beneﬁts of school system personnel; and providing for other mat‐ ters in connection there‐ with.

In accordance with La. R.S. 18:1292(B)(2) the ac‐ tual cost of holding the election was $2,234.65.

SECTION 1. That the Gov‐ erning Authority does now proceed in open and public session to exam‐ ine the official certified tabulations of votes cast at the special election held in the System on Saturday, June 27, 2026 (the “Election”), said tab‐ ulations having been pre‐ pared and certified by the election officials serving at the desig‐ nated polling places, and the Governing Authority does now further pro‐ ceed to examine and canvass the returns and declare the result of the Election. SECTION 2. That a Proces Verbal of the canvass of the returns of the Elec‐ tion shall be made and that a certified copy thereof shall be for‐ warded to the Secretary of State, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, who shall record the same in her office; that another certi‐ fied copy thereof shall be forwarded to the Clerk of Court and ex-officio Recorder of Mortgages in and for the Parish of East Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana, who shall record the same in the Mortgage Records of the Parish of East Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana; and that an‐ other copy thereof shall be retained in the archives of the System. SECTION 3. That the re‐ sults of said special elec‐ tion shall be promul‐ gated by publication in the manner provided by law, after receipt from the Secretary of State’s office of the actual cost of holding the said spe‐ cial election, as required by La. R.S. 18:1292(B)(2). SECTION 4. This resolu‐ tion shall take effect im‐ mediately upon adop‐ tion. This Resolution having been submitted to a vote, the vote thereon was as follows: YEAS: Mr. Ryan Talbot, Mr. Marty Hughes, Mr. Kenneth Mackie, Ms. Laura Freeman, Dr. Crystal London, Mr. David Dayton, Dr. Elecia Lathon NAYS: None ABSENT: Dr. Tracey Tay‐ lor-Jarrell, Mr. Andrew Gaines WHEREUPON, this Reso‐ lution was declared to be adopted by the Zachary Community School Board, Parish of East Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana, on this, the 14th day of July, 2026. /s/ Andrew Gaines Andrew Gaines, President ATTEST:

ORDER PAGE REPRINTS ANYTIME

NOW THEREFORE, be it ordained by the Mayor and Council of the City of Baker, Parish of East Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana, as follows, to wit: SECTION 1: The rate of taxation to defray the expense of City Government and to meet the estimated ex‐ penditures for the cur‐ rent ﬁscal year, on all taxable property real and personal within the cor‐ porate limits and bound‐ aries of the City of Baker, Louisiana is hereby ﬁxed and levied at 5.27 mills on the dollar of assessed evaluation and the As‐ sessor of East Baton

Legal Notices

The following resolution was offered by Mr. Marty Hughes and seconded by Mr. Ryan Talbot:

BE IT RESOLVED by the Zachary Community School Board (the “Gov‐ erning Authority”), act‐ ing as the governing au‐ thority of the Zachary Community School Sys‐ tem, Parish of East Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana (the “System”), as fol‐ lows:

133932-SEP 3-1T $105.90 PUBLIC NOTICE --The resolution was thereupon signed by the President Pro Tempore and attested by the Council Administrator, and declared to be adopted. The resolution provides as follows: RESOLUTION NO. 59531 A RESOLUTION PROVID‐ ING FOR CANVASSING THE RETURNS AND DE‐ CLARING THE RESULT OF THE SPECIAL ELECTION HELD IN THE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE, STATE OF LOUISIANA ON SATURDAY, JUNE 27, 2026, FOR THE PURPOSE OF AU‐ THORIZING THE CONTIN‐ UATION OF THE LEVY AND COLLECTION OF A 9.50 MILLS AD VALOREM TAX TO BE USED ENTIRELY AND EXCLUSIVELY FOR THE PURPOSE OF MAIN‐ TAINING AND OPERATING THE PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM OF THE PARISH AND ITS BRANCHES, AND IMPROVING SERVICES, ACQUIRING LAND AND CONSTRUCTING NEW LI‐ BRARY FACILITIES, FOR A PERIOD OF TEN (10) YEARS, BEGINNING WITH THE TAX COLLECTION FOR THE YEAR 2026, AND ANNUALLY THEREAFTER, TO AND INCLUDING THE YEAR 2035; AND PROVID‐ ING FOR OTHER MATTERS IN CONNECTION THERE‐ WITH. BE IT RESOLVED by the Metropolitan Council of the Parish of East Baton Rouge and City of Baton Rouge (the “Metropolitan Council”), acting as the governing authority of the Parish of East Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana (the “Parish”): SECTION 1. That this Met‐ ropolitan Council does now proceed in open and public session to open the envelope containing the official tabulations of votes cast at the special election held in the Parish on Saturday, June 27, 2026, for the purpose of authorizing the contin‐ uation of the levy and collection of a 9.50 mills ad valorem tax, for a pe‐ riod of ten (10) years, be‐ ginning with the tax col‐ lection for the year 2026, and annually thereafter, to and including the year 2035, (after paying the reasonable and neces‐ sary expenses of collect‐ ing and administering the tax, if any), to be used entirely and exclu‐ sively to provide funds for the purpose of main‐ taining and operating the public library system of the Parish and its branches, and improving services, acquiring land and constructing new li‐ brary facilities, to be ad‐ ministered by the East Baton Rouge Parish Li‐ brary Board of Control, in the manner required by law, said tabulations having been prepared and certified by the East Baton Rouge Parish Clerk of Court, and this Metro‐ politan Council does now further proceed to exam‐ ine, count and tabulate such votes and to exam‐ ine and canvass the re‐ turns and declare the re‐ sult of the election. SECTION 2. That a Proces Verbal of the canvass of the returns of said spe‐ cial election shall be made and that a certified copy thereof shall be for‐ warded to the Secretary of State, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, who shall record the same in her office; that another certi‐ fied copy thereof shall be forwarded to the Clerk of Court and Ex-Officio Recorder of Mortgages in and for the Parish of East Baton Rouge, who shall record the same in the Mortgage Records of the Parish; and that another copy thereof shall be re‐ tained in the archives of the Metropolitan Council. SECTION 3. That the re‐ sults of said special elec‐ tion shall be promul‐ gated by publication in the manner provided by law, after receipt from the Secretary of State’s office of the actual cost of holding the said spe‐ cial election, as required by La. R.S. 18:1292(B)(2). SECTION 4. This Resolu‐ tion shall take effect im‐ mediately. This Resolution having been submitted to a vote, the vote thereon was as follows: YEAS: Laurie Adams, Denise Amoroso, Carolyn Coleman, Cleve Dunn, Jr., Rowdy Gaudet, Twahna P. Harris, Dwight Hudson, Darryl Hurst, Anthony Kenney, Aaron Moak, Brandon Noel, Jen‐ nifer Racca NAYS: None ABSTAIN: None ABSENT: None Done, approved and adopted on this, the 12th day of August, 2026. By: /s/ Ashley Beck Council Administrator

STORE.NOLA.COM

lll

By: /s/ Brandon Noel President Pro Tempore

I further certify that the above and foregoing is a true and correct copy of an excerpt from the min‐ utes of a meeting of said Metropolitan Council held on August 12, 2026, providing for canvassing the returns and declaring the result of the special election held in the Parish of East Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana on Saturday, June 27, 2026, for the purpose of authorizing the continua‐ tion of the levy and col‐ lection of a 9.50 mills ad valorem tax to be used entirely and exclusively for the purpose of main‐ taining and operating the public library system of the Parish and its branches, and improving services, acquiring land and constructing new li‐ brary facilities, for a pe‐ riod of ten (10) years, be‐ ginning with the tax col‐ lection for the year 2026, and annually thereafter, to and including the year 2035; and providing for other matters in connec‐ tion therewith. IN FAITH WHEREOF, wit‐ ness my ofﬁcial signa‐ ture and the impress of the ofﬁcial seal of said City of Baton Rouge and Parish of East Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana, on this, the 12th day of August, 2026. /s/ Ashley Beck Ashley Beck, Council Ad‐ ministrator (SEAL) In accordance with La. R.S. 18:1292(B)(2) the ac‐ tual cost of holding the election was $44,728.26. 199323-sep 3-1t $110.62

Public Notices Meet/Hear/Min

PUBLIC NOTICE --NOTICE The Iberville Parish Gov‐ ernment will be sitting as Board of Review for ap‐ peals on September 22, 2026 at 6:15 p.m. or im‐ mediately following the Public Hearing scheduled for 6:00 p.m. Appeals by taxpayers must be sub‐ mitted in writing (with any supporting docu‐ ments), either by certi‐ fied mail to Iberville Parish Government – Board of Review, P. O. Box 389, Plaquemine, LA 70765, or hand delivered to the Iberville Parish Council at the Council Of‐ fice at 58050 Meriam St., Plaquemine, LA, no later than September 15, 2026. Appeal forms may be ob‐ tained through the Iberville Parish Asses‐ sors’ Office or online at www.latax.state.la.us/.

Announcements: • The Senior Round-Up will be on Thursday, Au‐ gust 20, 2026 from 9:00 am until 1:00 PM • Nightmare on Court Street is tentatively scheduled for October 18th With no further business coming before the coun‐ cil, the meeting was ad‐ journed at 7:57 PM _____________________ a/ Terecita Pattan, Mayor _____________________ a/ Rose A. Roche’ Munici‐ pal Clerk 199532-SEP 4-1T $54.97

Public Notices Nat Res Coastal

PUBLIC NOTICE --NOTICE the Louisiana De‐ partment of Conserva‐ tion and Energy, Ofﬁce of Permitting and Compli‐ ance (OPC) has received the following applica‐ tion(s) for a Coastal Use Permit (CUP) in accor‐ dance with La. R.S. 49:214.21 et seq., and the rules of the Coastal Man‐ agement Program. Appli‐ cations for coastal use permits may be in‐ spected at 617 North 3rd Street, Room 1078, Baton Rouge, LA or on the OPC webpage at: https://www.dce. louisiana.gov/page/ coastal-managementpublic-notices. Copies are available, costs apply. Written comments are solicited from the public and must be re‐ ceived within 25 days of the date of this notice. Comments must be up‐ loaded directly to our electronic record through the OPC web‐ page or mailed to: OPC Administrator, Kyle Balkum, P.O. Box 44487, Baton Rouge, LA 708044487. All comments must contain the appropriate CUP number and the commenter's full name and contact information. Below are the referenced application(s): ************ CUP NUM‐ BER: P20260639 Name: Louisiana DOTD 1201 CAPITOL ACCESS ROAD BATON ROUGE, LA 70802 Attn: Randi Eames Loca‐ tion: Lafourche Parish, LA; Lat.: 29-35-35.7N, Long 90-28-9.6W; Larose, LA; Lafourche Parish; (see plats for other loca‐ tions) Description: LDOTD is proposing to re‐ place a total of three bridges near Larose, LA located in Lafourche Parish along LA 308: over Lebreton Canal; bridge over Scully Canal; and bridge over Valentine Canal. The bridges will be closed during con‐ struction and trafﬁc will be rerouted via signed detour routes. 199653 Sept. 3, 2026 1t $20.91

PUBLIC NOTICE --OFFICIAL PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE – RE-ZONING THE TOWN OF BRUSLY, LOUISIANA ORDINANCE NO. 6 OF 2026 NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to LA R.S. 33:4724 and 33:4726 to all citizens and all other in‐ terested persons that the Town of Brusly Zoning Commission has held and the Town Council of the Town of Brusly will hold Public Hearings to obtain views regarding the following re-zoning request: Request: Re-Zoning From C-1 (Light Commercial) To R-4 (Multifamily Residential) Property Address: 102 N. LaBauve Avenue, Brusly Property Owners: Kyle Paul Thibodeaux, Ryan Clifton Fabre, Brad K. Fabre A PUBLIC HEARING was held by the Town of Brusly Zoning Commis‐ sion relative to the rezoning request. Date: WEDNESDAY, Au‐ gust 26, 2026 Time: 6:30 P.M. A PUBLIC HEARING will be held by the Brusly Town Council relative to the re-zoning request. Date: MONDAY, Septem‐ ber 14, 2026 Time: 6:30 P.M. All hearings will be con‐ ducted in the Council Chambers of the Brusly Town Hall, 601 South Vaughan Drive, Brusly, Louisiana. The proposed re-zoning application is available for inspection at Town Hall during regular ofﬁce hours.

Publish in The Advocate (Baton Rouge) three (3) times: August 27, 2026; September 3 & 10, 2026. 198137-aug 27-sept 3-103t $98.95

WBR Public Notices Meet/Hear/Min

PUBLIC NOTICE Notice is hereby given that the West Baton Rouge Parish Council will meet as the Board of Re‐ view at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 24, 2026 at the Governmental Building in Port Allen, Louisiana to hear any and all protests from tax‐ payers on their 2026 as‐ sessment(s). The Board of Review shall consider appeal of any taxpayer desiring to be heard that has filed a protest at least seven (7) days prior to the final Board of Re‐ view meeting. Protests shall be filed in person at the Parish Council Office or by certified mail. Tax‐ payers must comply with R.S. 47:2321 et Sec and 47:2301 et Sec in order for the Board of Review to consider any protest.

John R. “Randy” Sexton Assessor, Parish of Iberville Published: September 3, 2026 & September 10, 2026 198022 Sept. 3, 10, 2026 2t $54.08 PUBLIC NOTICE --REGULAR MEETING OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL CITY OF PORT ALLEN, LOUISIANA WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 2026 The Municipal Council of the City of Port Allen, Louisiana met in regular session on Wednesday, August 12 2026, in the Council Chambers at Port Allen City Hall. Mayor Pattan called the meeting to order at 5:30 PM. The pledge of alle‐ giance was recited. Council members pre‐ sent were Mrs. Joseph, Ms. Gordon, Mr. Hubble, Ms. King, Mr. Payne. There was a quorum pre‐ sent. A motion was made by Ms. Gordon and sec‐ onded by Ms. King to ap‐ prove the minutes of the regular meeting held on July 8, 2026. A roll call vote was as follows: Yeas: Mrs. Joseph, Ms. Gordon, Mr. Hubble, Ms. King, and Mr. Payne; Nays: none; Abstain: none; Absent: none. The motion passed. A motion was made by Mr. Hubble to introduce an ordinance relating to the Office of Marshall for the City of Port Allen. The motion failed for lack of a second. Mayor Pattan requested a vote from the council to amend the agenda to add the current financial report. A roll call vote was as follows: Yeas; Mrs. Joseph, Ms. Gordon, Mr. Hubble, Ms. King, Mr. Payne: Nays; None: Ab‐ stain; no one; Absent; no one. Motion passed. A motion was made by Ms. Gordon and sec‐ onded by Mr. Payne to hire Barnell Williams as a Resource Officer at Step/Grade 112/B. A roll call vote was as follows: Yeas; Mrs. Joseph, Ms. Gordon, Mr. Hubble, Ms. King, Mr. Payne: Nays; None: Abstain; no one; Absent; no one. Motion passed. A motion was made by Ms. Gordon and sec‐ onded by Mrs. Joseph to enter into executive ses‐ sion to discuss pursuant to La. R.S. 42:17((A)(1) to discuss Chief Mitchell’s recommendation regard‐ ing the professional com‐ petence and disciplinary action of a police officer. A roll call vote was as follows: Yeas; Mrs. Joseph, Ms. Gordon, Mr. Hubble, Ms. King, Mr. Payne: Nays; None: Ab‐ stain; no one; Absent; no one. Motion passed. A motion was made by Ms. Gordon and sec‐ onded by Mr. Hubble to resume the public meet‐ ing of the council. A roll call vote was as follows: Yeas; Mrs. Joseph, Ms. Gordon, Mr. Hubble, Ms. King, Mr. Payne: Nays; None: Abstain; no one; Absent; no one. Motion passed. A motion was made by Mr. Payne and seconded by Mrs. Joseph t accept the recommendation of Chief Mitchell regarding the professional compe‐ tence and disciplinary action of a police officer. A roll call vote was as follows: Yeas; Mrs. Joseph, Ms. Gordon, Mr. Hubble, Ms. King, Mr. Payne: Nays; None: Ab‐ stain; no one; Absent; no one. Motion passed. A motion was made by Ms. Gordon and sec‐ onded by Ms. King to ap‐ prove the purchase of a motorcycle and to begin the initial phase of traffic division for the Police De‐ partment. A roll call vote was as follows: Yeas; Mrs. Joseph; Ms. Gordon, Mr. Hubble, Mrs. Joseph, Ms. King, Mr. Payne: Nays; no one; Absent; no one. Motion passed. A update was given on the property set for con‐ demnation at 451 Harry Brown Street. The financial update was d b d i

WBR Public Notices Meet/Hear/Min

Christopher P. Guerin, CLA West Baton Rouge Assessor 198675 Sept. 3, 18, 2026 2t $50.04 PUBLIC NOTICE --WBR NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING: CONDEMNA‐ TION Pursuant to Parish Code Chapter 109-42 “Derelict Structures”, the follow‐ ing properties have been condemned by the Parish President. Address: 12429 SECTION RD. PORT ALLEN LA 70767 (File #26-0039) Owner: ORA LEE DAVIS Legal Description: LOT IN NE/4 SEC 24 T6S R10E MEAS 75' X 210' TAKEN FROM THE PROP OF M MATTHEWS JR 7C-6CB87 E159 A PUBLIC HEARING will be held by the West Baton Rouge PARISH COUNCIL to ratify the condemnation order. The owner of the structure may appeal the decision of the Parish President by appearing at this meeting of the PARISH COUNCIL to show cause why the structure should not be condemned. Date: Thursday, Septem‐ ber 10, 2026 Time: 5:30pm Public hearings will be held at the West Baton Rouge Parish Govern‐ mental Building, 880 N. Alexander, Port Allen, LA 70767. 195157-AUG 27-SEP 10 $228 PUBLIC NOTICE --WBR NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING: CONDEMNA‐ TION Pursuant to Parish Code Chapter 109-42 “Derelict Structures”, the follow‐ ing properties have been condemned by the Parish President. Address: 4153 MULATTO BEND RD. PORT ALLEN LA 70767 (File #26-0052) Owner: LILLIE L & LOUIS THOMPSON C/O JULIA TYLER Legal Description: LOT 25 TOURNOIR SD 50-17CB128 E6 A PUBLIC HEARING will be held by the West Rouge PARISH Baton COUNCIL to ratify the condemnation order. The owner of the structure may appeal the decision of the Parish President by appearing at this meeting of the PARISH COUNCIL to show cause why the structure should not be condemned. Date: Thursday, Septem‐ ber 10, 2026 Time: 5:30pm Public hearings will be held at the West Baton Rouge Parish Govern‐ mental Building, 880 N. Alexander, Port Allen, LA 70767. 195159-AUG 27-SEP 10 $223

WBR Public Notices Sheriff Sales

SHERIFF’S SALE BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. VS. THE OPENED SUCCES‐ SION OF JOSEPH HENRY, JR. AND BARBARA H. HENDERSON AND THE UNOPENED SUCCESSION OF SPENCER HENRY

WBR Public Notices Sheriff Sales

DOCKET NO : 49924 18TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT WEST BATON ROUGE PARISH STATE OF LOUISIANA By virtue of a Writ of Seizure and Sale, di‐ rected by the Honorable The Eighteenth Judicial District Court, for the Parish of West Baton Rouge, in the above enti‐ and numbered tled cause, I have seized and proceed to sell by public auction, on the front steps of the West Baton Rouge Courthouse, 850 8th Street, Port Allen, Louisiana on WEDNES‐ DAY, OCTOBER 7, 2026 at 10:00 A.M., the following described property, to wit: THAT CERTAIN PIECE OF GROUND, together with all the buildings and im‐ provements thereon, and all the rights, ways, privi‐ leges, servitudes, appur‐ tenances and advan‐ tages thereunto belong‐ ing or in anywise apper‐ taining, situated in that subdivision located in the PARISH OF WEST BATON ROUGE, STATE OF LOUISIANA, known as SUGAR MILL PLANTATION SUBDIVISION, 5TH FILING, and being more particu‐ larly described on the of‐ ficial map of said subdi‐ vision recorded at Plat Book 6, Page 158, Entry #2939 in the office of the Clerk and Recorder for the Parish of West Baton Rouge, Louisiana, as LOT TWO HUNDRED SIXTY FIVE (265) of said subdi‐ vision, said lot having such measurements and dimensions as are indi‐ cated on said map, said lot being subject to each servitudes and restric‐ tions as are more fully shown on said plat of survey and as are on file and of record in the Of‐ fice of the Clerk and Recorder for the Parish of West Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Municipal Address: 3954 Olivia Drive, Addis, LA 70710 Terms of Sale: Cash to the highest bidder WITH benefit of appraisement and according to law. Attorney for the Plaintiff: LOGS Legal Group, LLP, 3510 N. Causeway Blvd., Suite 600, Metairie, LA 70002, (504) 831-7726

WBR Public Notices Sheriff Sales

By virtue of a Writ of Seizure and Sale, di‐ rected by the Honorable The Eighteenth Judicial District Court, for the Parish of West Baton Rouge, in the above enti‐ tled and numbered cause, I have seized and proceed to sell by public auction, on the front steps of the West Baton Rouge Courthouse, 850 8th Street, Port Allen, Louisiana on WEDNES‐ DAY, OCTOBER 7, 2026 at 10:00 A.M., the following described property, to wit: One (1) certain lot or par‐ cel of ground, together with all the buildings and improvements thereon and all the rights, ways, privileges, servitudes and appurtenances thereunto belonging or in anywise appertaining, situated in the Parish of West Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana, in that sub‐ division known as West‐ side Village, and desig‐ nated on the official plan of said subdivision on file and of record in Map 1, Folio 73 of the office of the Clerk and Recorder for the Parish of West Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana, as Lot Number Thirty Eight (38) of said Westside Village Subdivi‐ sion, said lot measuring eighty (80') feet front on Avenue G, and by such other dimensions as shown on the official plat. Municipal Adress: 1014 AVENUE G, PORT ALLEN, LA 70767 Terms of Sale: Cash to the highest bidder WITH‐ OUT benefit of appraise‐ ment and according to law. Attorney for the Plaintiff: The Law Offices of Her‐ schel C. Adcock, Jr., 13541 Tiger Bend Road, Baton Rouge, LA 70817, (225) 756-0373 Judicial Advertise‐ ment(s) will appear in THE ADVOCATE on the date(s) of: SEPTEMBER 3, 2026 and OCTOBER 1, 2026. JEFF BERGERON, SHERIFF PARISH OF WEST BATON ROUGE BY: ANGIE DELAUNE, CIVIL DEPUTY $59.75

Judicial Advertise‐ ment(s) will appear in THE ADVOCATE on the date(s) of: SEPTEMBER 3, 2026 and OCTOBER 1, 2026.

Reporting you can trust

JEFF BERGERON, SHERIFF PARISH OF WEST BATON ROUGE BY: ANGIE DELAUNE, CIVIL DEPUTY $60.77

on stories that matter

SHERIFF’S SALE WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CA‐ PACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE OF CIM TRUST 2025-NR1 VS. KENNY GEROME BUTLER, A/K/A KENNY G. BUTLER, A/K/A KENNY BUTLER AND SAMANTHA SCOTT BUTLER, A/K/A SAMAN‐ THA S. BUTLER, A/K/A SAMANTHA BUTLER

SUBSCRIBE TODAY

DOCKET NO: 51200 18TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT WEST BATON ROUGE PARISH STATE OF LOUISIANA

Louisiana Department of Conservation and Energy COASTAL USE PERMITS NOT REQUIRED OF ACTIVITIES EXEMPT FROM PERMITTING AND/OR CORPS AREA OR GENERAL PERMIT NAME CLOUD CONNECTOR, LLC CITY OF KENNER PLAQUEMINES PARISH GOVERNMENT HILCORP ENERGY COMPANY ST. TAMMANY PARISH GOVERNMENT KINDER MORGAN ET CRUDE OIL TERMINALS, LLC PACE LANDFILL, LLC JOHNSON, TODD T.T. 104, LLC

PARISH TERREBONNE JEFFERSON PLAQUEMINES CAMERON ST. TAMMANY JEFFERSON ST. JAMES IBERIA CALCASIEU JEFFERSON

CUPNO P20250113 P20260646 P20260672 P20260688 P20260704 P20260711 P20260713 P20260715 P20260727 P20260736

COENO MVN-2025-00133-WB

Louisiana Department of Conservation and Energy PERMITS ISSUED WITH CONDITIONS TO MINIMIZE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS NAME DOW CHEMICAL CYPRESS INTERSTATE PIPELINE, LLC FUGRO USA LAND, INC. HIGH BAR OPERATING COMPANY, LLC LOUISIANA DOTO TEXAS PETROLEUM INVESTMENT CO CRESCENT LOUISIANA MIDSTREAM, LLC MILLER ENGINEERS & ASSOCIATES, INC. PANTHER OPERATING COMPANY, LLC HARVEST MIDSTREAM THIRD COAST INFRASTRUCTURE, LLC COLUMBIA GULF TRANSMISSION SHELL PIPELINE COMPANY LP HILCORP ENERGY COMPANY HILCORP ENERGY COMPANY PLAQUEMINES PARISH GOVERNMENT -COASTAL ZONEMANAGEMENT DOMMINGO, JENNIFER ENTERGY LOUISIANA LLC MOEM PIPELINE, LLC ST. CHARLES PARISH DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS TERREBONNE PARISH CONSOLIDATED GOVERNMENT PLAISANCE, BRIAR TERRACON CONSULTANTS, INC.

PARISH ASSUMPTION CALCASIEU CAMERON CAMERON CAMERON IBERIA JEFFERSON LAFOURCHE PLAQUEMINES PLAQUEMINES PLAQUEMINES PLAQUEMINES PLAQUEMINES PLAQUEMINES PLAQUEMINES PLAQUEMINES

CUPNO P20260553 P20260322 P20250472 P20250731 P20260561 P20250225 P20260680 P20260682 P20230262 P20240258 P20250636 P20260356 P20260438 P20260544 P20260595 P20260609

COENO

ST. BERNARD ST. BERNARD ST. BERNARD

P20250905 P20260665 P20260678

MVN-2026-004 75-EMM

ST. CHARLES

P20260312

MVN-2002-00349-EPP

TERREBONNE TERREBONNE VERMILION

P20190886 P20260477 P20260653

MVN-2019-01224 WPP MVN-2026-00443-BV

MVN-2020-00500-WBB MVN 2025-00790 WB MVN-2025-00806-WFF

MVN-2023-004 73-EDM MVN-2025-007 43-EPP MVN-2026-00457-WLS MVN-2026-00533-WB MVN-2026-00453-WLS MVN-2026-00513-WB

Louisiana Department of Conservation and Energy PERMITS APPLICATIONS WITHDRAWN NAME DODGE, DAISY SHELL PIPELINE COMPANY LP VENTURE GLOBAL LNG

PARISH ORLEANS TERREBONNE CAMERON

CUPNO P20260151 P20260003 P20250932

COENO MVN-2026-00361-EMM MVN 2012-01572-WB

WITHDRAWN DATE 08/24/2026 08/24/2026 08/25/2026

Louisiana Department of Conservation and Energy LOCAL CONCERN PERMIT APPLICATIONS NAME HALL, JAMES HALL, JAMES HALL, JAMES LABOVE, SHANNON SALAZAR, DANIEL CORAM, BENJAMIN BIG CREEK INVESTMENTS, LLC BIG CREEK INVESTMENTS, LLC HAYNIE, JOHN BAMPB BENOIT, KRIS GC CHURCHILL, LLC QUINTANILLIA, EVER MORGAN, DAVID WOODLANDS BORROW PITS, LLC FONTAINE, DARREN LENDLE, JENNY PICOU, THOMAS 199569-684009 Sept. 3, 1t $ 205.80

PARISH CAMERON CAMERON CAMERON CAMERON CAMERON CAMERON CAMERON CAMERON CAMERON CAMERON CAMERON JEFFERSON JEFFERSON PLAQUEMINES PLAQUEMINES PLAQUEMINES ST. CHARLES TERREBONNE

CUPNO P20260693 P20260695 P20260696 P20260698 P20260717 P20260718 P20260725 P20260726 P20260730 P20260733 P20260744 P20260714 P20260735 P20260697 P20260700 P20260712 P20260706 P20260705