Issuu

SAVE 31 ¢

SAVE $ 23 3

SAVE up $ 18 to 3

When You Buy 2

— ONLY —

SANDERSON FARMS VALUE PACK

Pick up a premade donation bag or drop non-perishable food items into the red barrel near the exit.

Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast

visit rouses.com for more weekly ad specials!

THE

$ 76 LB

SAVE up $ 98 to 2

— ONLY —

BAKING SIZE

Large Russet Potatoes

68 ¢ LB

PREFERRED

PARTNER

When You Buy 2

— ONLY —

52 OZ

Fairlife Milk

— ONLY —

2/$

8 - 10 OZ BAG

Cheetos or Fritos

ACADIANA

Prices good at all Lafayette, New Iberia and Youngsville stores September 16th - September 23rd, 2026.

ADVOCATE

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

F r i d ay, S e p t e m b e r 18, 2026

$2.00X

UL starts new school year with fewer students

Enrollment drops 2.5% amid ambitious plan that calls for significant growth BY KRISTIN ASKELSON Staff writer

STAFF PHOTOS By AdAM dAIGLE

Troy Romero, left, of MacLaff, and Vincent June, chancellor of South Louisiana Community College, walk past a sign outside the Rocket Fizz store along Broad Street in downtown Chattanooga.

Taking notes

Acadiana leaders visit Tennessee to learn how a downtown aquarium helped transform one Southern city

BY ADAM DAIGLE

Acadiana business editor CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — It started with a strange idea from a student in a class taught by a Chattanooga professor: Put an aquarium in a park along the Tennessee River. “Everybody thought he was crazy, just like they thought (the teacher) was crazy,” said Bruz Clark, president and treasurer of the Lyndhurst Foundation in Chattanooga. But enough people believed in the idea to make it happen. When the Tennessee Aquarium opened in 1992 after $45 million was raised in private funding, the city and its leaders celebrated. The idea came from Stroud Watson, a professor whose vision for downtown Chattanooga is now regarded by many as a turning point in the city’s transformation. Nearly 35 years later, downtown is a vibrant district that draws residents, businesses and visitors. “Our downtown was an eyesore, and it was embarrassing,” Clark said. “Downtowns are the economic engine of any place, and ours had deteriorated, particularly on the riverfront. Today it’s a great place to take your family.” Clark and others discussed the city’s emergence with about 80 members of the Acadiana delegation as part of the ﬁrst day of One Acadiana’s Leadership Exchange trip. The city of just under 200,000 resi-

WEATHER HIGH 93 LOW 69 PAGE 16C

Editor’s note: This story is part of our coverage of Chattanooga’s downtown revitalization. Business editor Adam Daigle is reporting from Chattanooga while participating in One Acadiana’s Leadership Exchange, a three-day program that brings Acadiana business and community leaders to cities to study approaches to economic development, workforce development, infrastructure and urban revitalization.

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s enrollment fell 2.5% this fall, with 398 fewer students than a year ago — putting the university below the enrollment baseline for a 10-year plan that calls for substantial growth. UL enrolled 15,702 students in fall 2026, compared with 16,100 degree-seeking students in fall 2025. Undergraduate enrollment fell 1.6% to 13,602, while graduate enrollment declined 7.6% to 2,100. The university’s fall 2025 enrollment had increased 2.78% from fall 2024, meaning this year’s decline essentially erased that one-year gain. The decline comes as UL continues efforts to cut costs and stabilize its finances. President Ramesh Kolluru was appointed last year after former President Joseph Savoie stepped down as the univerKolluru sity faced a $50 million deficit. Since then, the university has eliminated three vice president positions, reduced spending and restructured operations. Kolluru later warned the UL system board that the university could face a worst-case $26 million deficit in fiscal 2027. In August, however, he said it had begun the new fiscal year with a $3.6 million surplus and a balanced budget.

ä See UL, page 4A

La. to compete for NASA’s new U.S. Space Academy in N.O. BY STEPHANIE RIEGEL Staff writer

Miles Huff, right, director of the Office of New Chattanoogans, speaks to a group from Acadiana during a walking tour of the city Wednesday. dents at the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains is similar to Lafayette in many aspects, but its downtown has multiple hotels, a new stadium for its minor league baseball team and a 16mile riverwalk that is within walking distance of the aquarium. In the past ﬁve years, downtown —

which has a considerably larger footprint than Lafayette — has had 40 projects totaling more than $584 million in investment. That includes nearly 650 hotel rooms and more than 1,000 residential units.

ä See VISIT, page 4A

Fresh off announcing that Elon Musk’s SpaceX will build a massive spaceport in coastal Vermilion Parish, Louisiana is planning to compete for a new national space academy for the U.S. Space Force that would be located in New Orleans. President Donald Trump, in late August, issued an executive order calling for the establishment of a space academy, similar to the existing military academies for the Army, Navy and Air Force. Last week, NASA invited interested states to begin the application process. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, a Metairie Republican, is leading the effort with Gov. Jeff Landry’s administration and GNO Inc., the regional economic development organization, to win the project for Louisiana and, speciﬁcally, for the New Orleans area.

Business ......................6A Commentary ................3B Nation-World ................2A Classified ..................12C Living............................7C Opinion ........................2B Comics-Puzzles .. 9C-11C Metro ...........................1B Sports ..........................1C

ä See NASA, page 4A

102Nd yEAR, NO. 80

2A l Friday, September 18, 2026 l theadvocate.com l The Acadiana Advocate

BRIEFS

FROM WIRE REPORTS

Military: F-16 crashes during training; pilot safe DETROIT — An F-16 fighter jet from Texas crashed in rural Michigan during a routine training exercise on Thursday, and the pilot ejected safely, a military spokesman said. Sgt. Derek Gutierrez, a public affairs specialist with the 149th Fighter Wing, said the pilot was receiving medical treatment at a local hospital. Gutierrez declined to release details about the pilot’s identity or any injuries, citing military policy. The plane was participating in training exercises at a National Guard base in Alpena, about 190 miles north of Detroit. The jet was one of several F-16 aircraft from Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, taking part in the Michigan training exercises, Gutierrez said. The military began ﬂying the ﬁrst F-16s in 1979. There have been at least 14 “Class A mishaps” involving F-16s since 2000, according to the Air Force Safety Center. The Class A mishap designation is generally used when the damage totals more than $2 million, when an aircraft is destroyed or when a service member is killed.

lll

Grand Canyon flood death toll rises Remains identified as missing hiker

By The Associated Press GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK, Ariz. — Human remains found in the Grand Canyon this week were those of the last remaining person missing after the deadly ﬂash flooding in late August, the victim’s wife said Thursday. The discovery of Timothy Allen Smith brought the death toll to three from ﬂooding that devastated the Phantom Ranch area at the canyon bottom and damaged the water pipeline serving the South Rim. Smith, 53, was a pilot from western Wyoming's Star Valley. His remains were found Monday near Crystal Rapids on the Colorado River that runs through the canyon. The remains of Smith's two backcountry companions, Brent Rosenkranz, 42, and John Giusti, 46, both of Granbury, Texas, were found earlier.

Smith grew up in Granbury and lived with his wife in Star Valley Ranch, about 40 miles southwest of Jackson. He, Rosenkranz and Giusti were on a multiday hiking, fishing and camping trip when flooding swept through the Grand Canyon. During the two-day deluge, searchers used night vision and other equipment to find people in need of rescue. They relied on the Grand Canyon National Park's permit system and checked vehicle license plates to track those still missing. More than 80 people were rescued. Soon, only Smith was missing. In a Facebook video at the time, his wife, Carrie, and their children thanked people for their support and prayers. On Tuesday morning, Carrie Smith posted on Facebook that the family was aware a body had been found a day earlier and asked others to pray with them. Smith confirmed in a Facebook post on Thursday that the remains

had been identified as her husband’s. “My family has done a lot of waiting over the last three weeks … waiting and hoping Tim (Daddy) would come home, waiting and wondering if the remains found were Tim (Daddy),” she wrote. “We no longer have to wait, Tim was found two days ago by the Rangers at Grand Canyon National Park. Not in the way we had hoped, but we know that he was doing something he loved with John and Brent.” She added, “We know that these three men loved the Lord and were a shining light for Him. The impact their lives had on others is still being shown to our families daily.” The Coconino County medical examiner conﬁrmed Smith's identity, the National Park Service said in a statement Thursday that thanked the searchers and extended condolences to relatives and friends of the three men. The flooding began Aug. 29 during the summer monsoon, or

Judge issues order to Kennedy Center

Tip leads Norway police to U.S. silver coins

On a yearslong hunt for thousands of U.S. silver coins squirreled away in Norway, police investigating a money laundering case finally got a lucky break: A tip about a van swerving on a highway outside Oslo last year. When officers pulled the vehicle over for inspection, in Baerum, west of the capital, in April 2025, they discovered tens of thousands of American Eagle silver coins. A second van that arrived shortly afterward was found to be carrying tens of thousands more. The total take: Nearly 67,000 coins worth at least $2.65 million, officials said. On Thursday, the economic crime unit Okokrim announced that three Norwegians have been sentenced to prison over the illegal possession of the coins. The convictions on charges of aggravated money laundering followed allegations that proceeds from a “major investment scheme" in the United States had been converted into millions of dollars worth of coins. The three Norwegians — two men and a woman — were convicted in connection with organizing the scheme and storing the coins, and sentenced up to 2 1/ 2 years in prison. Two Britons facing charges were acquitted. Both sides can appeal, and the verdict is not final. “It is gratifying that the silver has been recovered and that a verdict has now been handed down, enabling the victims of the fraud in the U.S.A. to have the misappropriated assets returned to them,” Public Prosecutor Jon André Hvoslef-Eide said in a statement.

Nigeria officials: 48 dead after drinking methanol

ABUJA, Nigeria — At least 48 people have died and around 100 others are receiving treatment in southern Nigeria after consuming a locally brewed alcoholic concoction suspected to contain methanol, ofﬁcials said on Thursday. Banji Ajaka, Ondo state's commissioner for health, said the cases had been reported in the Odigbo and Irele local government areas. A total of 182 people are believed to have been affected and some are being treated in the hospital, he said. Drinking locally made alcohol is common in Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, especially in rural areas where it is more affordable and poorly regulated. “This thing happened rapidly. Once they consume, depending on the quantity, the kidneys will pack up, the eyes will go, the brain will be damaged,” Ajaka told The Associated Press, speaking about the drink. Ondo state police spokesman Abayomi Jimoh said in a statement that 15 people were arrested in connection with the incident, including one allegedly “involved in the production of substances suspected to contain methanol and is currently assisting the police with investigations.”

rainy, season when clear skies can quickly give way to thunderstorms and heavy rain. A desert landscape can funnel water from a deluge into sudden torrents that rage down previously dry gullies and canyons. The rain fell on part of a North Rim burn area left after a lightning-caused wildfire in July 2025. The fire destroyed the historic Grand Canyon Lodge, cabins and other structures. Burn areas can worsen flash flooding because there's less vegetation to absorb runoff. The flooding damaged a pipeline that supplies water to millions of tourists and residents. Insufficient water caused all overnight lodging to be halted until the pipeline could be restored. National Park Service officials said recently that they expected to restore a reliable water supply in the canyon in weeks — not months — after determining most of a near-complete pipeline project was not damaged during the flash flood.

Notice must be given before major physical changes BY MATTHEW DALY Associated Press

PROVIdEd PHOTO By SAUdI PRESS AGENCy

Firefighters inspect damage to a building caused by falling debris from a drone that Saudi authorities said was launched by yemen’s Houthi rebels and intercepted over Taif province, western Saudi Arabia, on Thursday.

Saudi civil defense: Debris from Houthi drone kills 1 Rebel group denies intercepted attack

BY FATMA KHALED Associated Press

CAIRO — Debris from an intercepted Houthi drone has killed a Yemeni resident of Saudi Arabia, the Saudi civil defense said Thursday. It is the ﬁrst civilian casualty since the Iran-backed rebels have increased their attacks against the kingdom, targeting Saudi shipping and oil facilities. Two other people were injured, including a Saudi woman and a Pakistani resident who is in critical condition, in the western province of Taif, the civil defense said in an update on X. The debris also damaged vehicles and buildings. The statement didn’t give details on when exactly this happened. On Wednesday, Saudi Arabia said the Iran-backed Houthi rebels had tried to attack Mecca, Islam's holiest city, with a drone that it said was intercepted. The Houthis denied the accusation. In a recent lightning advance in Yemen that's escalating tensions regionally, the rebels seized a key port city and strategic islands in the Red Sea, threatening to further disrupt international shipping already affected by the Iran war. On Thursday, the foreign affairs ministries of Bahrain, Jordan and Kuwait all condemned the Houthis' deadly drone at-

tack in Taif province. The countries, which host U.S. military bases and forces, have repeatedly come under drone and missile attack from Iran since the U.S. and Israel launched the war against Iran on Feb. 28. Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty also said “there is no excuse for attacking” Saudi Arabia. Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said his country was “deeply concerned” at the drone attack. Saudi Arabia has so far seemed reluctant to unleash a major military campaign against the Houthis, wary of bringing greater Houthi attacks on its oil infrastructure and being dragged back into an all-out civil war in Yemen, its southern neighbor. As Houthi attacks continue, the kingdom faces a potential decision about whether to step up its military response or seek a diplomatic solution. Regional officials have recently suggested that Saudi Arabia is running low on missile interceptors and has turned to regional and Western allies for assistance. On Thursday, in a pre-recorded speech, the leader of the Iran-backed group, Abdul Malik al-Houthi, denounced what he called Saudi Arabia’s “utterly heinous lies,” referring to the claim that the group targeted Mecca. The rebel group’s leader called for mass protests on Friday in Sanaa and Houthicontrolled areas to show support for protecting holy mosques. He called for an end to the Saudi blockade on Yemen.

Administration allows inadvertent killing of endangered species BY MATTHEW BROWN Associated Press

BILLINGS, Mont. — Inadvertently killing endangered animals while logging a forest or building a dam would no longer be considered illegal under a new interpretation of the Endangered Species Act by federal officials, marking a sea change by President Donald Trump’s administration in how the landmark environmental law is enforced. A directive sent to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service employees this week

says imperiled animals or plants must be intentionally targeted for their killing to be considered illegal. That's a sharp turnaround from past practice at the wildlife service, which historically held people liable even for accidentally harming protected species such as grizzly bears, manatees and spotted owls. Experts said the change would allow timber companies to log forests in the Paciﬁc Northwest even if they knew that doing so could kill imperiled birds

in the trees, or for developers to build a dam knowing it would kill salmon. “This cuts against the entire history of the Endangered Species Act,” said Dan Ashe, who led the Fish and Wildlife Service under former President Barack Obama. “It just creates a huge loophole,” added Ashe, who is now president of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. “It completely relieves people of any responsibility for their actions, even consequences that can be easily predicted.”

WASHINGTON — A federal judge on Thursday ordered the Kennedy Center to provide 30 days notice before making any major physical changes to the building, including demolishing it as President Donald Trump has threatened. U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper said his ruling would “avoid any confusion on that score given more recent events,” including the building’s sudden closure to the public on Wednesday. Matt Floca, the Kennedy Center’s executive director and chief operating ofﬁcer, said he closed the iconic performing arts center temporarily due to “acute risks to public safety resulting from continued structural deterioration” of the aging building. The building will be closed for at least seven

days to “assess existing safety risks in those portions of the main building exhibiting severe structural deterioration,” Floca said. The temporary closure, which occurred without notice, is separate from a vote Tuesday by the Kennedy Center’s board to close the center indefinitely for repairs, Floca and other officials said. The closure was based on an inspection of the roof terrace canopy and a partial ceiling collapse earlier this month, he said. Trump, who was named the Kennedy Center’s chairman last year by loyalists on the board, said Wednesday that his efforts to restore the aging building deserve recognition, “because frankly, if we don’t do that, it’s going to close. It’ll end up being ripped down. It’s in very, very bad shape, very dangerous shape.” The announcement of the closure came in response to a court case filed by Rep. Joyce Beatty, D-Ohio, a trustee seeking an emergency court hearing to prevent what she called the building’s “unlawful closing.”

GET IN TOUCH Customer Service: HELP@THEADVOCATE.COM or 337-234-0800 News Tips / Stories: NEWSTIPS@THEADVOCATE.COM Obituaries: 225-388-0289 • Mon-Fri 9-5; Sat 10-5; Closed Sun Advertising Sales: 337-234-0174 • Mon-Fri 8-5 Classiﬁed Advertising: 225-383-0111 • Mon-Fri 8-5 Subscribe: theadvocate.com/subscribe E-Edition: theadvocate.com/eedition Archives: theadvocate.newsbank.com The Acadiana Advocate (USPS # 25-866) is published daily by Capital City Press, LLC at 203 W. Third St., Lafayette, LA 70501. Periodicals postage paid at Lafayette, LA ISSN 2643-7252 and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Acadiana Advocate, Circulation Accounting, P.O. Box 588, Baton Rouge, LA 70821. Newspaper carriers are independent contractors and not employees of Capital City Press.

All home delivery subscription sales are non-refundable. Should you discontinue your subscription during term, the subscription will end with the expiration date on your subscription, and there will not be a refund of a prorated amount. Subscribers who purchased their subscription before Feb. 1, 2023 and wish to cancel can request a refund of a remaining balance at https://www.nola.com/app/forms/ refund-request-form/. Refunds are considered on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of Capital City Press, LLC or its designee. All subscriptions purchased that include a special edition will have the special edition value deducted prior to any refund provided to subscriber upon cancellation of service. Standard subscription rates may be effective upon renewal. All standard subscriptions include digital access and e-Edition, a digital replica of the printed Advocate edition(s). The apps are free for tablets and smartphones. Smartphone apps may not be supported on all devices. The Advocate standard subscription rate is $80.89 per 4-week period, plus tax. The Acadiana Advocate standard subscription rate is $80.89 per 4-week period, plus tax. Standard digital subscriptions include e-Edition with the rate of $31.15 per 4-week period, plus tax starting 1/1/25. Special editions included in home delivery subscriptions are 1/30/26, 3/11/26, 4/15/26, 5/27/26, 7/8/26, 8/19/26, 9/30/26 11/26/26, 1/22/27, 3/10/27, 4/14/27, 5/26/27, 7/14/27, 8/18/27, 9/29/27 and 11/25/27 and are billed at $6.23 each. The Thanksgiving Day edition will be billed at your regular Thursday rate plus $6.23. To opt out of special edition delivery, email help@theadvocate.com or call 225-388-0395. By opting out of special editions you will not receive that day’s newspaper. Thanksgiving Day is not a special edition and opting out for that edition isn’t permitted. Prices shown are in U.S. dollars. Prices subject to change. Other restrictions may apply. We no longer provide credit for temporary delivery stops of 14 days or less. During a temporary delivery stop donations are made to our News in Education program. This program provides newspapers and digital access to schools across Louisiana. This program is paid for by sponsors and temporary stops so that students may use the newspaper for educational purposes in the classroom. During a temporary delivery stop of the print edition subscribers have unlimited digital access to theadvocate.com, nola. com and the apps for tablet and smartphone. Seasonal delivery times from August 2025 through February 2026 will extend to 8:00 a.m. on weekends. Subscribers may also choose to access our digital replica e-Edition of the printed Advocate, Times Picayune | New Orleans Advocate and Acadiana Advocate only. As a highly valued customer, we also value your privacy. All personal information collected by The Advocate will be used for administration and customer veriﬁcation; it may be used for promotional purposes in accordance with The Advocate’s privacy policy. Please refer to our policy located at https://www.theadvocate.com/new_policy/ for information regarding the collection, use and disclosure of personal information. By providing your phone number and email address you agree that we can call or email you to conﬁrm delivery service, satisfaction and/or sales promotions as they may occur from The Advocate. The Acadiana Advocate: 203 W. Third Street, Lafayette, LA 70501

The Acadiana Advocate ● theadvocate.com ● Friday, September 18, 2026 ● 3A

lll

ASIAN CAJUN COWBOY

DIPPING SAUCES Tung Nuguyen grew up in a Vietnamese home in New Orleans. His sauces are a love letter to those roots, a bold mashup of Vietnamese street food and Louisiana soul.

find all The brands you know and love, including our own. We have the national brands you know, local favorites from right here in Acadiana, and the newest brands everyone’s talking about. And there’s no guessing with our Rouses brand. If it has our name on it,, you can trust it’s good.

FRESH

Falls Finest Boquet

— ONLY —

fresh floral

2/$

We have fresh, new ﬂowers arriving daily, ﬂoral arrangements for all occasions, and you’ll love our great selection of decorations and decor.

$ 98 SAVE 5 When You Buy 2

JUNE 18 AND - 21 ONLINE! ACCEPTED IN-STORE TH

THUR and FRI online SAT forSUN SNAP/EBT is accepted in-store Curbside Pickup and for delivery through18 Instacart, 19 DoorDash, 20 21and UberEats.

SAVE $ 19 3

PER PACK

When You Buy 2

— ONLY —

SOLD IN 10 LB PACK @ $4.80 EACH FROZEN

Chicken Leg Quarters

¢ LB

LIMIT 2

SAVE $ 00 2

r in ou I L DE tment r depa

4 PACK

Fresh Corn

Mini Muffaletta

$ 99

2/$

FRESH MADE IN STORE HALF DOZEN

When You Buy 2

2/$

Tillamook Chunk, Sliced or Shredded Cheese

— ONLY —

8 PACK

2/$

Spindrift Sparkling $ 00 Water DOZEN BOILED LOUISIANA CRABS 28 Boiled Louisiana Crabs

— ONLY —

8 OZ

SAVE $ 94 5

SAVE $ 00 3

SAVE $ 98 2

— ONLY —

6 COUNT

SAVE $ 00 1

SAVE $ 98 3

SAVE $ 00 6

— ONLY —

16 OZ

Protein Pints

$ 99

90 POINTS

— ONLY —

750 ML

Goose Ridge G3 Merlot

A Great Wine for Every Taste and Every Budget. AND An incredible selection of cheeses from around the world. Prices valid at our Lafayette and Youngsville locations September 18th - September 23rd, 2026.

$ 99

lies on funds from philanthropic partners, corporations and other donations. It was formed with $12 million and used the money to buy downtown properties that “the public was not ready for,” said Dawn Hjelseth, vice president of marketing and communications with River City Company. The organization incentivized private development on several of those lots but still owns some properties and has tenants that create an income stream, she said. Among its tenants is the 12-screen AMC Majestic Theater, located in the city’s riverfront district. River City Company’s current $50 million downtown project includes $15 million in state funding and $5 million in city and county funding. The organization is raising the remaining $25 million. “Why do we focus on downtown? It’s the economic engine,” Hjelseth said. “It contributes over 20% to our city’s tax base. How do we do it? Public-private partnership.”

Continued from page 1A

More is on the way, with more than $600 million in investment planned that will bring another 350 hotel rooms and 950 residential units. The city is also home to major employers such as Unum and Volkswagen, which opened its plant on the city’s east side in 2011. The plant employs about 4,000 people and produces Volkswagen’s Atlas SUV. “We don’t get Volkswagen without the investment that happened in downtown,” said Charles Wood, president and CEO of the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce. “We ﬁrst had to prove that we believe in ourselves, and the only way you can prove that is if you actually invest in yourself. That’s what we have witnessed, and that level of investment has been extraordinary.” Behind that downtown focus is River City Company, a private nonproﬁt formed in 1986 that uses Email Adam Daigle at no public funding but instead re- adaigle@theadvocate.com.

NASA

Continued from page 1A GNO Inc. President and CEO Michael Hecht said New Orleans has a good case to make. “For more than six decades, NASA’s Michoud in New Orleans East has been the country’s premier aerospace manufacturing facility,” said Hecht. “Now, with SpaceX, we are part of a space corridor that runs from south-central Louisiana to Stennis Space Center.” Scalise’s office said growing southeast Louisiana’s 60-year-old partnership with NASA to advance American space exploration has always been a priority. “Thanks to President Trump’s leadership, Louisiana is in a position to further support American space dominance, and Congressman Scalise is working closely with the state and his colleagues to bring the U.S. Space Academy to south Louisiana,” the statement said. The proposal has support on both sides of the political aisle. Mayor Helena Moreno said the opportunity to bring the space academy to New Orleans is “one of the most exciting

yet.” “This is a city that has always dreamed big and now we have an opportunity to help shape America’s next great chapter in space,” she said.

The next frontier? If successful, the bid for the space academy would put Louisiana at the center of the country’s aerospace sector, training thousands of students to work in the newest branch of the U.S. military, which was established in 2019 during the first Trump administration and currently has 15,000 military and civilian employees. Though the U.S. isn’t engaged in combat in space, Trump has said the military needs to be prepared for it. Earlier this week, Air Force Secretary Troy Meink conﬁrmed that U.S. has launched military weapons into orbit. The U.S. Space Academy will play a role in whatever that new frontier looks like. According to the request for information issued Sept. 10 by NASA, the academy will be a “NASA-led civilian Federal academic institution … that will prepare future scientists, engineers, astronauts, pilots, operators, entrepreneurs, civil servants,

Continued from page 1A The enrollment numbers also come as UL pursues an ambitious 10-year growth plan unveiled by Kolluru earlier this year. Kolluru’s Louisiana Vision 2035 framework calls for increasing enrollment from 16,100 students to 27,500 by 2035. The plan also calls for increasing research spending from $254 million to $500 million and the university’s endowment from $250 million to $500 million. The enrollment target would require UL to add 11,400 students over the next nine years. This fall’s enrollment of 15,702 students is 398 below the 16,100-student baseline cited in the plan. The plan also identiﬁes student retention as a priority. Kolluru said in May that the university loses about 26% of its students between their freshman and sophomore years. He outlined efforts to improve retention through timely academic feedback, individual advising, greater student engagement and clearer paths from enrollment

warﬁghters and others to advance American interests across the aerospace sector.” It will require a campus of at least 300 acres that would house and train 1,200 students by the start of the 2031 academic year. The campus should include academic, administrative, engineering, science and research facilities, as well as dorms, sporting venues and student life services. The document says while NASA recognizes the academy may not be fully built out by 2031, the agency wants the academy to open, if only in a temporary facility, by the fall of 2028 with 300 students. “This (temporary) model may rely on one or more partner institutions, acting individually or as a consortium to provide the facilities, services and academic support necessary to deliver a rigorous and cohesive ﬁrst- year experience,” the document states. Hecht said it is too soon to say where in New Orleans the state will propose building the academy or where a temporary campus could be located. It is unclear if the federal government would foot the bill for all or part of the proposed academy.

to employment. The university also took steps this fall that affected its enrollment count. Nearly 300 students were removed from the rolls because they did not meet academic progress requirements or had not paid required fees, according to the university. It was the ﬁrst time in about a decade that UL had taken such action. “We made strategic decisions knowing it would reduce overall enrollment,” Kolluru said. “We must establish practices that position our students to succeed academically while strengthening the university’s ability to support their success, maintain ﬁnancial viability and provide an accurate census baseline for what comes next.” The university attributed part of the decline in graduate enrollment to challenges affecting international student enrollment nationally and a strong year of graduate degree completion that resulted in fewer continuing students. International graduate enrollment declined 9.1%, from 473 to 430 students. International undergraduate enrollment increased 7.7%, from 104 to 112 students.

Despite the overall decline, several areas of the university grew. Engineering enrollment increased 8.1% and liberal arts enrollment increased 1.7%. UL enrolled 2,983 ﬁrst-time freshmen this fall, with an average ACT score of 23 and GPA of 3.45. Outof-state freshman enrollment rose 17%, from 106 to 124 students, while the number of homeschooled freshmen increased 53.9%, from 26 to 40. High school dual enrollment increased 4%, from 879 to 914 students. The university also enrolled 661 new undergraduate transfer students, its second consecutive year with more than 650. Andy Benoit became the university’s vice president for student success March 1, after much of the fall 2026 recruitment cycle was already underway. The university said its immediate focus was improving retention and student outcomes while developing recruitment strategies for fall 2027. Benoit said the university’s recruitment strategy for fall 2027 will focus on high-achieving students, transfer students and expanded recruitment in Louisiana, selected outof-state markets and internationally.

The NASA document asks states to provide rough estimates of what it might cost to develop the campus and to describe “resources that state and local governments or partner organizations could provide to help establish and operate the USSA.” In the coming weeks, GNO Inc. and Louisiana Economic Development will pull together details for the application, which is due to NASA on Oct. 26. “We are in the nascent phase of wanting to stake a claim to this,” Hecht said.

East has been involved in building the engines that propelled the Apollo rockets, the Space Shuttle and, more recently, the Artemis mission into space. Proximity to the Stennis Space Center in Mississippi, where NASA tests its rockets, is another advantage. Then there’s the hub of activity expected to develop around Space’s planned Starbase Louisiana as it materializes. “One other advantage of this corridor: It’s all connected by the Intracoastal Waterway,” Hecht said. Louisiana also has a governor who is close to Trump and two powerful allies in Congress, Scalise and House Speaker Mike Johnson, RBenton. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman also has connections to Louisiana. Hecht said even if Louisiana is ultimately unsuccessful, the opportunity to compete for the space academy “demonstrates the positive ripple effects that can happen from landing a project like Starbase Louisiana.” “Regardless of the ﬁnal outcome, this is an excellent opportunity for us to raise the proﬁle of Louisiana’s aerospace prowess to the entire country,” he said.

Why Louisiana Louisiana will face stiff competition. Among other nearby states that have already said they will apply are Texas, home to NASA’s headquarters in Houston and SpaceX’s headquarters near Brownsville; Florida, where Cape Canaveral and the Kennedy Space Center are located; and Alabama, which boasts the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville. Nevada, home to several military bases and NASA testing sites, also plans to apply. Hecht argued that Louisiana has historical, logistical and now economic advantages. NASA’s Michoud Assembly facility in New Orleans

SCAN

WHAT

Call Today for an Expert Valuation and Make Your Next Move

IS WORTH

YOURIS WORTH HOME

ULE ED

FIND OUT WHAT YOUR HOME

SELF-SCH TO

VISIT

lll

AP P

4A ● Friday, September 18, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

OI N T

50% OFF BUY ONE WINDOW OR DOOR, GET ONE WINDOW OR DOOR

$0 down, 0 payments, 0% interest for 18 months*

1-833-671-6635

CALL TODAY

MORE THAN 1.5 MILLION HOMEOWNERS RECOMMEND RENEWAL BY ANDERSENb

We are available 24/7. Call us to schedule your FREE in-home consultation before 9/30

THINKING

225-605-9679

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

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

10414 Plaza Americana Dr., Baton Rouge, LA 70816

*Offer not available in all areas. Discount applied by retailer representative at time of contract execution and applies to purchase of 4 or more windows and/or entry or patio doors. Buy two (2) windows and/or doors, get the second two (2) windows and/or doors, of equal or lesser value, 50% off. Discount applied to lowest-priced window and/or door products in purchase. Cannot be combined with other offers. To qualify for discount offer, initial contact for a free Window and Door Diagnosis must be made and documented on or before 9/30/26, with the appointment then occurring no more than 10 days after the initial contact. 18-Month Promo Period financing available to well-qualified buyers on approved credit only. During the Promo Period, no payments are required and interest accrues but will be waived if the promo balance is paid in full before the Promo Period expires. Any unpaid balance remaining after the Promo Period, including accrued interest, will be repaid under the terms outlined in the customer’s loan agreement. Not all buyers will qualify. Higher interest rates may apply for customers with lower credit ratings. Financing is not valid with other offers or prior purchases. Renewal by Andersen retailers are neither brokers nor lenders. Any finance terms advertised are estimates only, and all financing is provided by third-party lenders unaffiliated with Renewal by Andersen retailers, under terms and conditions arranged directly between the customer and such lender, all subject to credit requirements. Renewal by Andersen retailers do not assist with, counsel or negotiate financing, other than providing customers an introduction to lenders interested in financing. By responding to this offer, you agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy and consent to receive marketing communications from Renewal by Andersen and its affiliates, including calls, prerecorded messages, AI-assisted calls, emails, and text messages (SMS/MMS) at the phone number and email address provided, even if your number is listed on a state or federal Do Not Call registry. Consent is not required as a condition of purchase. Message and data rates may apply. Calls may be recorded. Renewal by Andersen is an independently owned and operated retailer. “Renewal by Andersen” and all other marks where denoted are marks of Andersen Corporation. ©2026 Andersen Corporation. All rights reserved. b Based on Medallia homeowner satisfaction surveys of Renewal by Andersen customers January 2019-December 2025. Average scores between 9 and 10 using Net Promoter Score methodology on all survey questions after design consultation or installation project completed. †It is the only warranty among top selling window companies that meets all of the following requirements: easy to understand terms, unrestricted transferability, installation coverage, labor coverage, geographically unrestricted, coverage for exterior color, insect screens and hardware, and no maintenance requirement. Visit renewalbyandersen.com/nationsbest for details. For J.D. Power 2025 award information, visit jdpower.com/awards.

Renewal by Andersen Impact Resistant Windows

The Acadiana Advocate ● theadvocate.com ● Friday, September 18, 2026 ● 5A

lll

Work halted on system key to limiting mail voting USPS chief: ‘There’s an injunction so we’re not doing anything’

BY STEVEN SLOAN Associated Press

WASHINGTON — The top ofﬁcial at the U.S. Postal Service said Thursday that the agency has stopped work on developing a controversial computer system that was central to President Donald Trump’s effort to limit mail voting after the Supreme Court rejected his executive order this week. “There’s an injunction so we’re not doing anything,” postmaster general David Steiner told The Associated Press in an interview. Steiner, a onetime chief executive of Waste Management, has spent most of the past year atop the postal service navigating political and financial challenges. He’s pressing Congress for changes that would help him resolve what he has called a “liquidity crisis.” And Trump’s efforts to largely eradicate mail voting turned the postal service into an unlikely arbiter of who is eligible to vote just months before this year’s critical midterm elections, a role Steiner seemingly had little interest in playing. Unlike Trump, who was sharply critical of the Supreme Court decision and ridiculed some of the justices, Steiner offered no assessment of the court’s action. Steiner also declined to take a position on Trump’s

ASSOCIATEd PRESS PHOTO By MARK SCHIEFELBEIN

Postmaster General david Steiner speaks during an interview with The Associated Press at the United States Postal Service headquarters in Washington on Thursday. policy, presenting himself as the leader of an “independent agency of the executive branch” whose influence over the president’s order was limited to operational concerns. “I don’t get to decide what rules that are put on us that I decide to accept or not accept,” he said. “I looked at it more from the execution side.” The postal service has asserted its independence in the past, including during a 2019 standoff when the ﬁrst Trump administration sought to pressure the agency as the president was in a dispute with Amazon. Steiner said he wouldn’t get into the “nuance” of that. But the pressure has grown so intense at points that it’s fueled talk of whether Steiner might resign, a notion he denied. “There’s no truth to that,” he said. “I think I know the motivation behind it. I think it’s somebody that would

like to see me out of a job.”

Inserting tinto elections The executive order Trump signed in March directed several federal agencies to develop state citizenship lists. Those lists would have been delivered to an online portal at the Postal Service, which would have been allowed to send mail ballots only to voters who were cleared through the process. Steiner said he knew about the order about a month before it was unveiled but said his focus was largely on implementation, not the policy’s merits. A whistleblower report released earlier this month by Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., argued the system was hastily built and riddled with errors. Steiner said he read “portions” of the whistleblower report and acknowledged the obstacles associated with building such a mas-

sive platform quickly. Still, he said he had conﬁdence in colleagues working on the project and had planned to unveil it around Sept. 15. “There’s absolutely no doubt that we worked fast,” he said. “My personal opinion is it was a monumental task and I’m very proud of our IT department for being able to do it that fast.” In addition to the voter list, Trump’s order would have required states to adopt a uniform envelope style that included barcodes, something states said would have been arduous so close to the election. Following the Supreme Court’s ruling, a memo sent to all postal service employees Wednesday and obtained by the AP said the agency will “not be enforcing any of these new rules in the 2026 federal election.” “First and foremost, for Election Mail it is business

as usual,” according to the memo. “We continue to follow established protocols, and we remain entirely focused on our core mission: delivering the mail safely and securely for voters and election ofﬁcials across the country.” Though the Supreme Court rejected Trump’s executive order for this year’s election, Justice Brett Kavanaugh indicated he might rule in favor of the administration if the issue comes back before the court at a later time.

Cast ballots early Steiner said the postal service would still encourage the use of envelopes and barcodes in future elections, which it has long recommended. He said such changes wouldn’t be required but those who don’t comply may have to pay more.

“If you use the barcode in the envelope, we’ll charge you a lower price,” he said. “If you don’t, we’re going to charge you a higher price because it’s harder for us to process.” While the postal service isn’t moving forward on Trump’s order, there are still concerns about postmark delays that could have an impact on this year’s elections. The number of ballots rejected for late postmarks has soared in the vote-bymail states of Washington and Oregon, according to recently released data highlighting concerns about recent changes in postal service operations. Steiner said there were no plans to alter those operations and encouraged voters who use mail to get their ballots in early. “We say seven days,” he said. “Everything is solved if people vote early.”

y a D e m a G r o Gear Up f Victories with Sweet

Pentagon brieﬁng receives bipartisan complaints could deploy troops to seas and questioning deSenators concerned polling places during No- cades of strategic relationwith lack of vember’s midterm con- ships with allies in Europe. Under the annual National gressional elections. Colby transparency acknowledged that discus- Defense Authorization Act

BY LISA MASCARO and BEN FINLEY Associated Press

WASHINGTON — Tensions are mounting between the Pentagon and Congress over the flow of information to lawmakers about the U.S. military’s priorities, with both Democrats and Republicans accusing a Defense Department leader of being frustratingly opaque. Some senators from both parties say they were left deeply unsettled Thursday after the Pentagon’s top policy adviser, Defense Undersecretary Elbridge Colby, failed to provide an expected update on the Trump administration’s National Defense Strategy at a classified briefing. The lawmakers also say they were unsatisfied with Colby’s answers to questions ranging from inquiries about the Iran war to growing concerns that President Donald Trump

sions about deploying the National Guard were taking place. Sen. Jacky Rosen, a Nevada Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said Colby “was not forthcoming” and “did not really address our concerns or issues.” Sen. Kevin Cramer, a North Dakota Republican also on the committee, described the classiﬁed briefing as “just sort of dodge and punt.” “It’s very peculiar to have somebody come in for a congressionally mandated update and not have a statement,” Cramer said. Colby, who has supporters and detractors on Capitol Hill, was expected to provide a required brieﬁng on the National Defense Strategy, a comprehensive document that provides guidance for the military. Released in January, the blueprint reinforces Trump’s “America First” philosophy of favoring nonintervention over-

approved by Congress, he was required to provide the Senate Armed Services Committee with the classified briefing on implementation of the strategy no later than Sept. 15. “It was not what we had expected,” said Sen. Mike Rounds, a South Dakota Republican on the committee. “Let’s just put it that way,” he said. “They owe us a report, and we did not get the report.” Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona said he was able to ask about the strategy for the Iran war in Iran and the decisionmaking that has left the U.S. with what he described as a “munitions deficit.” Experts say military contractors will need about three years to replenish stockpiles of certain advanced weapons, such as defensive missile interceptors. “You walk out with more questions than when you went in, and for me, that was the case today,” Kelly said.

Protection your loved ones deserve ...

GUARANTEED Life Insurance up to $30,000.00

Modiﬁed Whole Life Insurance from Physicians Life Insurance Company

Imagine what $30,000.00 could mean to your family after you’re gone — cash to help pay your funeral, medical bills or other ﬁnal expenses. • Guaranteed acceptance for ages 45 to 85* • No medical exam, no health questions • Lock in your rate for life

Find out how affordable this coverage can be — Call for your FREE Information Kit

1-877-654-4599 Life55plus.info/Acadiana

 Plus — you’ll also get a FREE

Final Wishes Planner just for calling!

*Ages may vary by state. Guaranteed for one of these life insurance policies. Benefi Benefits ts reduced fifirst rst two years. Insurance Policy L770 (ID: L770ID; OK: L770OK; TN: L770TN). 6236-0625

8646 GOODWOOD BOULEVARD (225) 928-7000

Safety. Style. Stress-Free Installation. CALL NOW 1.833.472.5859

SPECIAL OFFER

Waiving All Installation Costs! Add’l terms apply. Offer subject to change and vary by dealer. Expires 12/27/26. Licenses at JBRLicenses.com.

6A ● Friday, September 18, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

lll

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

DOW 51,778.04 316.14 0.61%

NASDAQ 26,418.30 439.87 1.69%

BRIEFS

FROM WIRE REPORTS

Unemployment benefit claims fall to 196,000

WASHINGTON — The number of people applying for unemployment benefits dropped sharply last week, another sign that layoffs remain rare and most Americans enjoy job security. The Labor Department reported Thursday that jobless claims slid to 196,000, the fewest since mid-July and down from 206,000 the week before. The four-week average of claims dropped to 203,250. Economists had expected claims to come in at 207,500, according to a survey by the data firm FactSet. The American job market has remained sturdy despite higher gasoline prices that have squeezed businesses and consumers since the fighting with Iran began Feb. 28. Layoffs are low. Businesses, remembering the labor shortages that followed the end of pandemic lockdowns, are reluctant to let go of staff. They’re hiring — but modestly by the standards of recent years. So far this year, employers — have been adding an average 80,000 jobs a month, including 162,000 in August. That is an improvement on a dismal 2025 when monthly job creation averaged 9,700 as high interest rates and President Donald Trump’s ever-changing trade policies discouraged hiring.

DoorDash, Uber Eats to offer Costco delivery Costco said Thursday it’s partnering with DoorDash to offer delivery from its U.S. warehouse stores. The nationwide partnership is a ﬁrst for the San Franciscobased delivery company, which said Costco was among the most-searched retailers not yet on its U.S. platform. DoorDash said it will deliver groceries, household items and electronics from all of Costco’s U.S. stores. Costco members can link their membership information to their DoorDash account. Issaquah, Washington-based Costco has 81 million members worldwide. Most are in the U.S., where the company has 639 stores in 47 states. Costco has offered delivery through Instacart for nearly a decade. In 2024, it announced a partnership with San Francisco-based Uber Eats, but under that agreement, Uber Eats only provided delivery in 17 states. On Tuesday, Uber Eats said it was expanding Costco delivery nationwide. DoorDash and Uber Eats announced partnerships with Kroger, the nation’s largest supermarket chain, last fall.

Kroger pulls Red Bull from shelves across U.S. Kroger has stopped selling Red Bull at all its stores and fuel centers nationwide, the company confirmed to the Cincinnati Enquirer. The last of the energy drink was sold in August and its coolers and displays were removed from stores as of Aug. 31, according to the Enquirer, citing company officials. Kroger and Red Bull did not immediately respond to requests for comment Wednesday from The Detroit News. The grocer continues to sell competitor energy drinks, the Enquirer reported. Kroger’s new CEO, Greg Foran, vowed to push back against supplier price increases as inflation continues to squeeze shoppers. On a Sept. 11 earnings call, Foran said the company is seeking to capture market share by lowering prices, improving store services and investing in the company’s workforce. The Enquirer reported that the grocer plans to expand its private brand, Smart Way, from about 130 items to 1,000. Where Kroger can’t get acceptable prices from vendors, the company will lean more on its private-label brands, which generated $39 billion in sales last year, more than a quarter of Kroger’s $148 billion in total revenue, according to the Enquirer.

S&P 500 7,637.76 85.95 1.14%

EURO 1.1476 0.0013 0.11%

CRUDE OIL 101.91 -0.52 -0.51%

GOLD 4,360.20 13.90 0.32%

6-MO T-BILLS 4.24 -0.02 -0.47%

30-YR T-BONDS 5.29 -0.07 -1.25%

U.S. mortgage rates approach 7% Highest level in over 19 months

for months and this week climbed to just below 7% — its highest level in over 19 months. The benchmark 30-year BY ALEX VEIGA fixed rate mortgage rose AP business writer to 6.95% from 6.76% last Home shoppers holding week, mortgage buyer out for relief from rising Freddie Mac said Thursmortgage rates may be in day. One year ago, the avfor a long wait. erage rate was 6.26%. The weekly average rate Borrowing costs on 15on a 30-year fixed-rate year ﬁxed-rate mortgages, home loan has been rising often sought by borrowers

refinancing a home loan, also rose this week. That average rate increased to 6.26% from 6.09% last week. A year ago, it was at 5.41%. Higher mortgage rates can add hundreds of dollars a month to borrowers’ costs, limiting homebuyers’ purchasing power. As rates rise, that can also lead prospective home shoppers to delay buying.

In late February, the average rate on a 30-year mortgage brieﬂy dipped to 5.98%, its lowest level going back to late 2022. The nearly 1 percentage point increase in the rate since then translates roughly into an additional $255 a month cost for a borrower ﬁnancing a $400,000 home loan at the current average rate. Meanwhile, the latest

monthly tally of home purchase transactions that have yet to be finalized points to potentially more sluggish home sales in coming months. A sharp run-up in home prices and a chronic shortage of homes nationally worsened by years of below-average home construction have left many aspiring homeowners priced out of the market.

AI strategy depends on nations that see each other as problem Hopes for any kind of global approach hinge on cooperation of U.S., China

BY CHAN HO-HIM AP business writer

HONG KONG — As concern rises over the risks of artiﬁcial intelligence, hopes for any kind of global approach depend on cooperation between the U.S. and China — superpowers that seem only to be more skeptical of each other’s AI strategy. AI governance is expected to be on the agenda in a meeting planned for next week in Washington between President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping. The topic has gained urgency in both countries, with American tech leaders saying that averting worst-case scenarios for rogue AI depends on a degree of cooperation with China. But both countries are vying for a decisive advantage on AI, with Trump warning that any efforts to regulate the technology would help China. That sets up a meeting in which any agreements might be superﬁcial but a possible start to something larger. “A formal agreement or consensus may be near impossible, but they do not need to go that far,” said Samm Sacks, a senior fellow at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies’ Institute for America, China, and the Future of Global Affairs. “Trump and Xi just need to create political space by acknowledging AI poses risks to both countries.”

China, U.S. are increasingly at odds on AI Trump has pushed back on calls to strengthen regulation of the technology, claiming that doing so could cause China to eclipse America on AI. He has repeatedly declared that the nation that leads on the technology “wins.” “We are leading China, and all others,” Trump said Monday on social media. The two countries are moving the technology forward in different ways. U.S. companies are chasing AI frontiers with computing power supported by cutting-edge chips and the country’s rapidly expanding data center infrastructure. China is pursuing wide global adoption of its open-source, more affordable models. Chinese AI models have made major advances and gained traction with American companies even as U.S.-led restrictions bar China from getting the world’s most advanced AI chips. While most American frontier models are closed-source, with their design elements kept secret, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Tuesday the U.S. needs to develop more open-source models to counter China. The U.S. has accused China of “aggressive, malicious” efforts to extract capabilities from American AI systems. China has hit back, accusing the U.S. of trying to sup-

ASSOCIATEd PRESS FILE PHOTO By NG HAN GUAN

The United States and China are vying for a decisive advantage on artificial intelligence. press Chinese companies so it can build a “monopoly of the AI industry.” David Sacks, a top AI adviser to Trump, said that China has “already rejected” slowing down the pace of developing the most advanced forms of AI. He said on Fox News’ “The Ingraham Angle” that unlike the nuclear tensions with the Soviet Union during the Cold War it would be impossible to verify whether China honored any AI commitments. “In this case, we don’t have trust and we can’t verify,” Sacks said. “So let’s not be foolish about this and just hand the whole ball game to China.” Still, those with ties to the Chinese government see coordination on AI as helpful. At an annual security and defense conference in Beijing, Cui Tiankai, a former Chinese ambassador to the U.S., said Tuesday that AI is an area where “we should go ahead and build up” dialogue between Beijing and Washington. “Because there is a need, a growing need, for cooperation,” he told the Xiangshan Forum. “So how can we manage the balance?”

AI leaders call for keeping China in check Two leading American AI companies, Anthropic and OpenAI, each restrict access in China and have said the U.S. has a national security imperative to protect its lead on AI technology. But they also have called for cooperation with China to manage safety. In his essay last weekend calling for a slowdown of AI development for safety reasons, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei said the U.S. should slow China’s progress, including keeping up U.S. restrictions on China’s purchases of the world’s most advanced AI chips. He also added, however, that “global pacing will require cooperation with China, the autocratic country with by far the most ad-

vanced AI capabilities.” His essay quickly drew criticism from Beijing, with China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs saying on Monday that “fearmongering, confrontation and vicious competition will only disrupt the process of global AI governance which serves no one’s interest.” China’s state-run Global Times newspaper went further, calling his remarks “packed with containment provisions targeting China and is, in essence, a ‘Cold War playbook’ for the AI sector.”

Alarmed by emerging AI capabilities In both the U.S. and China, AI’s increasingly powerful capabilities have alarmed top officials and policymakers. The head of China’s Ministry of State Security, its spy agency, warned in an article Sunday that AI poses many threats to the country, from political and ideological security to cyberattacks. In the article, Chen Yixin argued that AI could threaten China’s political and ideological security if used by those “with ulterior motives,” while singling out Anthropic’s and OpenAI’s powerful AI models. It said they could be used to “weaponize” cybersecurity vulnerabilities and threaten China’s critical information infrastructure. Several other recent AI-related events were also causing concern in China when it comes to AI governance. That includes a U.S. security firm’s recent discovery of AI vulnerabilities in WeChat, China’s key messaging app that also offers payment services among other functions, said Paul Triolo, a partner at DGA-Albright Stonebridge Group. While Chinese officials said after Trump’s Beijing summit with Xi in mid-May that China and the United States had agreed to pursue dialogue on AI development and governance, little progress has been made.

OpenAI flags concerning new AI behavior, vows to track it BY CHAN HO-HIM AP business writer

OpenAI has disclosed six reports of “unexpected or concerning” behavior in artiﬁcial-intelligence models as the debate on AI safety becomes increasingly heated. The AI company also said Wednesday it was introducing a new framework for tracking, probing and disclosing instances of what it called “misalignment,” including cases where AI models acted without authorization, coordinated with other models or evaded oversight. OpenAI’s latest announcement came as U.S. AI bosses, including the leaders of OpenAI and An-

thropic, are calling for a slowdown in the technology’s development over safety concerns. Among the new cases reported by OpenAI, an unreleased research model inserted “jailbreaklike instructions” into its own notes to disregard its normal constraints and told itself to be “freed from the roles and identities that bind other chatbots.” In another instance, an AI “agent” used computer code to come up with the answer to a question, but, in order to have an online source to cite, it uploaded a ﬁle to the public internet without asking the user. During training of an AI model called 5.6-sol, the model instruct-

ed itself to invent missing data, and an agent wrote a message to remind itself to hide mismatched information. The six reports were discovered during training or evaluation over the past months, OpenAI said. “As AI systems grow more advanced and more widely deployed, we need to build a broader and better-informed consensus on the progress of alignment research,” OpenAI wrote in a blog post as it disclosed the events. “Decisions about how AI development should proceed in the months and years to come need to draw on evidence that people outside the companies building frontier models can examine for

themselves,” the company said. Wednesday’s new cases followed OpenAI’s disclosure in July that its rogue AI system hacked into AI startup Hugging Face. Anthropic also said the same month that its AI models hacked into three organizations during testing. AI “agents” are becoming smarter and have become “more determined to resolve complex tasks through inter-agent collaboration, knowledge sharing, deception, and concealment,” said Lian Jye Su, a chief analyst at technology research and advisory group Omdia. That’s making it harder to govern and contain them using traditional AI security approaches, he said.

The Acadiana Advocate ● theadvocate.com ● Friday, September 18, 2026 ● 7A

lll

U.N.-backed experts cite possible Poland warns Russia U.S. war crimes in Iran strikes is planning strikes Report also accuses Iran on NATO territory of carrying out attacks on its own people

BY CLAUDIA CIOBANU Associated Press

BY JAMEY KEATEN Associated Press

GENEVA — Experts commissioned by the U.N.’s top human rights body say they have found “reasonable grounds” to believe the United States committed war crimes in two strikes in Iran, including on a school in the southern city of Minab. They also accuse Iran’s theocratic government of carrying out crimes against humanity against its own people in a report published Thursday. The report, while not binding, adds to international evidence gathered about crimes in the war in Iran, and could eventually be used in efforts to reach justice in international courts. The fact-finding mission on Iran, chaired by jurist Sara Hossain of Bangladesh, is made up of independent experts and was created in 2022 by the Human Rights Council, the U.N.’s top human rights body, which is based in Geneva. The experts were expected to present their findings on Monday to the council, which is made up of 47 U.N. member countries. The White House issued a scathing statement in response, with spokeswoman Anna Kelly saying the human rights body has “accomplished nothing for human rights while spouting unserious nonsense for decades.” “The only party in this conflict that has committed war crimes is the Iranian regime, which has murdered thousands of its own people, killed Americans overseas, executed acts of terrorism in the Strait of Hormuz, and launched indiscriminate attacks against its neighbors in the region,” Kelly said Thursday. The international fact-finding mission says its findings on U.S. war crimes center on a pair of U.S. airstrikes that killed at least 178 civilians, including women and children. At the start of the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran in February, at least one U.S. missile hit the Sha-

ASSOCIATEd PRESS PHOTO By VAHId SALEMI

A man reacts to the camera while driving past a monument depicting the clenched fist of the late Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in the U.S. and Israel strike on Feb. 28, and a missile at the Islamic Revolution square in downtown Tehran, Iran, on Tuesday. jareh Tayyebeh school in Minab, according to an Associated Press investigation. There has been no final accounting of what happened. Iranian state media have said 168 people were killed in the strike, most of them children. “Following the United States and Israeli attacks on 28 February, the mission found reasonable grounds to believe the United States committed the war crime of launching indiscriminate attacks resulting in the loss of life or injury to civilians or damage to civilian objects,” a U.N. statement about the team’s findings said. The U.S. State Department did not immediately respond to a request from The Associated Press seeking comment. In their report, the experts concluded that “the building of the school was the intended point of impact” and the resulting damage wasn’t the result of an errant strike or collateral damage from an attack on a compound of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard next to the school. The Trump administration has yet to directly accept responsibility or release the findings of a Pentagon investigation into the school bombing. The U.N.-backed team based its allegations on two strikes — one

involving Tomahawk missiles that hit the “clearly identifiable” school, and another in which Precision Strike Missiles dispersed tungsten pellets over a “clearly identifiable sports complex and residential area” in the southern city of Lamerd, also on Feb. 28. The U.N.-backed team said 22 civilian men and women were killed. U.S. Central Command has denied responsibility for the strike on Lamerd. The team found that killings by state security forces in Iran have occurred on a “staggering scale,” and civilians faced “gross human rights violations and crimes against humanity committed by their own government.” Iranian security forces carried out “violent repression” over the last two years by firing assault rifles into crowds, beating protesters and arresting healthcare workers, among other things, the team said. Detainees faced torture, and were deprived of legal counsel, leaving their families “in the dark” about their whereabouts, the experts said. The Tehran government intensified the use of the death penalty, and said more than 70 people – including five women and three boys – remain at “imminent risk of execution,” they added.

WARSAW, Poland — Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned on Thursday that Russia is planning hybrid strikes with drones or rockets on European countries supporting Ukraine, among them Poland. Russia will pretend the attacks are “accidental” in order to “paralyze or at least weaken the motivation of NATO countries” to rush to the defense of the member state coming under attack, Tusk said in a speech to the Polish parliament. “There is a real risk that drones or other types of projectiles will enter the territory of one or several countries on the eastern flank and even cause destruction,” Tusk warned. “The official narration will be that it’s an accident and there is no reason for NATO to think about a response,” he added. He said Russia was more dangerous because it was increasingly using jet-powered drones, which fly higher and faster and thus are more difficult to detect by air defense before reaching their targets. Tusk has been for months warning that Russia might be preparing a more serious hybrid attack against a NATO country. His warnings have gotten increasingly specific as he received intelligence from NATO, Ukrainian and U.S. secret services, including the CIA, he said. In recent days, Tusk has said Russia was now focusing on attacking border crossings between Ukraine and its European neighbors in order to disrupt delivery lines to Ukraine. Four such incidents happened on Poland’s border with Ukraine in the past week and several others took place in the last weeks on Ukraine’s border with Moldova. Tusk said at the moment Russia was not ready for any peace talks “without the total capitulation of Ukraine.” “They are convinced the win-

Report: Map moving puts nearly 35 million in new House districts

Erie Roofing Since 1976

last election cycle. Protect Democracy and one Scholars concerned theThe findings display the of the paper’s co-authors. over stark overhaul stark overhaul that partisan The bare-knuckled par-

BY MATT BROWN Associated Press

WASHINGTON — The unprecedented spate of mid-decade redistricting for the U.S. House has changed the congressional districts for onetenth of Americans and significantly altered the makeup of at least one-ﬁfth of districts, according to a new study. A report by Protect Democracy found that 34.8 million people — about one in 10 Americans — now live in a different district than they did during the 2024 election cycle. And about one-ﬁfth of all Americans now live in a district where more than a quarter of voters are new to the district compared with

redistricting ﬁghts kicked off by President Donald Trump last year have caused for Americans across the country. The new congressional maps are increasingly drawn in ways that favor partisan politics over factors like geography and shared communities. That raises concerns among scholars about how the country’s hyperpolarized politics are affecting American democracy. “If this trend continues, it really brings into question whether or not elected ofﬁcials are really representing their constituents anymore, or if the voters are being randomly picked by mapmakers to squeeze out partisan advantage,” said Ben Raderstorf, a policy advocate at

tisan redistricting battle for the House began when Trump urged the Republican-controlled legislature in Texas, the second most populous state, to redraw its congressional map to help the party. The highly unusual plan prompted an immediate response from California, the most populous state, which held a successful referendum to tilt its map toward Democrats. Other states followed, and Republicans are positioned to potentially gain nine seats because of redistricting. The Protect Democracy report warns that such partisan tactics reduce faith in American elections generally and insulate incumbent lawmakers from public opinion.

ter will be tragically critical for Ukraine,” Tusk said. He said last winter Poland stepped in with deliveries when Ukraine’s energy infrastructure came under attack, but if border crossings are destroyed, it will be much harder for Warsaw to offer such help this upcoming winter. “Russia’s goal is to destroy as much as possible the economy and logistics of Ukraine,” Tusk said, adding that intelligence indicates continuous attacks of “very high frequency and intensity” on six main Ukrainian cities should be expected in the near future. Tusk announced on Thursday he would travel to Ukraine overnight to Friday, in what can be seen as an act of deﬁance against Russia after European leaders narrowly escaped a drone strike on a train near the Polish-Ukrainian border on Sunday. Ofﬁcials usually keep their travel plans to Ukraine secret for security reasons. In Kyiv, he said he would discuss with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy how to defend against the new types of drones as well as discuss with partners including Slovakia about further sanctions against Russia. On Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social that “major progress is being made toward establishing a U.S. Army base in Poland” after a U.S. delegation was in Poland last week to visit several possible locations. “If this happens, the location will be announced very soon,” Trump wrote. “This will be a historic step for our Great U.S./Polish Alliance.” Poland has for years sought to host a permanent U.S. base as a strong guarantee of its security in the face of the rising Russian threat. Poland’s high defense spending and major U.S. arms purchases have persuaded the Trump administration to consider putting a permanent base in Poland even as it reorganizes and reduces its overall military presence in Europe.

Trust the Nation’s #1 Rooﬁng Contractor Award-Winning Roofing and Customer Service

LIMITED TIME OFFER

50% 50 % OFF

Stop cleaning-out your gutters this season

Installation

Debris Buildup Stands No Chance U L E YO U R

Heavy leaves

Pinecones

SPECT

Acorns Stainless Steel Micromesh

• $0 Down Today • Same Day Financing Available • Premium Warranty Protection

uPVC Frame

Pine needles

Seed pods

Storm debris

EXPIRES: 11/30/2026

Custom Fit To Your New or Existing Gutters

AN ADDITIONAL

25% OFF + 10% LeafFilter

FREE ESTIMATE

SCHEDULE TODAY! Call 1.855.877.0633

SCH

With LeafFilter

Discount For Seniors + Military

Get a FREE full gutter inspection and estimate: 1-877-582-6101 Promo: 285

*Promotional offer includes 25% off plus an additional 10% off for qualified veterans and/or seniors. Cannot be combined with other offers. See representative for full warranty details. DC 420223000087, AZ ROC 344027, AR 0366920926, CA 1035795, CT HIC.0671520, FL CBC056678, ID RCE-51604, IA C127230, LA 559544, MD MHIC164488, MA 213292, MI 262300331, MI 262300330, MI 262300329, MI 262300328, MI 262300318, MI 262300173, MN IR2025-810524, MT 266192, NE 50145-24, NV 0086990, NJ 13VH13285000, NM 408693, ND 47304, OR 218294, PA PA179643, RI GC-41354, TN 10981, UT 10783658-5501, VT 174.0000871, VA 2705169445, WA LEAFFLH763PG, WV WV056912, WI 537-DCFRR

Join over 400,000 satisﬁed homeowners with an ultra-durable roof from Erie Home.

CALL TODAY! 1.855.877.0633 New orders only. Does not include material costs. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Minimum purchase required. Other restrictions may apply. This is an advertisement placedon behalf of Erie Construction Mid-West, Inc (“Erie”). Offer terms and conditions may apply and the offer may not be available in your area. If you call the number provided, you consent to being contacted by telephone, SMS text message, email, pre-recorded messages by Erie or its affiliates and service providers using automated technologies notwithstanding if you are on a DO NOT CALL list or register. Please review our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use on homeservicescompliance.com. All rights reserved. License numbers available at eriehome.com/erielicenses/

8A ● Friday, September 18, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

lll

ACCEPTED IN-STORE AND ONLINE!

SAVE 31 ¢

SAVE $ 00 2

SAVE $ 23 3 LB

— ONLY —

FARMS VALUE PACK

OZ SAVE 52Fairlife $ 00 Milk 4 LLB

9 99

When You Buy 2

— ONLY —

¢ LB

2/$

3 LB BAG U.S. #1

Large Russet Potatoes

Fresh Yellow Onions

SAVE 8 - 10 OZ BAG up $ 90 Cheetos to 7 or Fritos

OZ CAN SAVE 10Rotel up $ 18 to 3 Tomatoes

2/$$ 2/

LLB

BAKING SIZE

Country Pleasin’ Smoked Sausage

Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast Snow Crab Clusters

— ONLY —

$ 99

14 OZ

ALASKA WILD-CAUGHT

When You Buy 2

— ONLY —

$ 76

SANDERSON

SAVE up $ 58 to 1

When You Buy 10

10/$$ 10/

SAVE up $ 98 to 2

When You Buy 2

2/$$ 2/ PREFERRED

PARTNER

CATCH THE

TEXT SAINTS TO 86261 TO ENTER TO WIN TWO TICKETS + AIRFARE TO THE SAINTS @ BUCCANEERS GAME ON 12/20. *By participating via text, you agree to receive up to 4 text messages about the sweepstakes from Sponsor. Message & Data Rates May Apply. Text HELP for Help. Text STOP to end.

SAVE $ 53 1

SAVE $ 00 5

SAVE up $ 85 to 2

When You Buy 2

LIMIT 3

$ 76

PREVIOUSLY FROZEN

Medium Pork Ribs

SAVE up $ 58 to 4

BOTTLES

$ 99 Taylor Farms

100% PREMIUM USDA ANGUS CHOICE BEEF

Boneless Rump Roast

SAVE up $ 98 to 1

When You Buy 2

8 PACK 12 OZ

Pick up a premade donation bag or drop non-perishable food items into the red barrel near the exit.

Help fight hunger in our community!

IN TAMPA!

NO PURCH NEC. U.S. res. of AL, LA & MS, 18+ (19+ in AL). Void where prohibited. Ticket policies may apply. Ends 11/20/26. Rules: txtnwin.com/saints All trademarks are the property of their respective owners. ©2026.

Body Armor Sports Drinks

10 - 12.85 OZ BAG

10 - 12 OZ SELECTED

Chopped Salad Kits

Pictsweet Vegetables

SAVE UP TO $5 29 (MUST BUY 2)

2 LITER BOTTLES

2/$

Coke, Pepsi, Sprite or 7-Up

18 COUNT

Frito Lay Multipacks

2/$

SAVE $ 00 2

SAVE $ 72 2

When You Buy 2

2/$

Every donation helps support your local food bank!

$ 77

73 - 92 OZ LIQUID

Tide Detergent

largest selection & lowest prices on wine, spirits & beer 6 PACK 12 OZ BOTTLES

6 PACK 12 OZ CANS

6 PACK 12 OZ BOTTLES

6 PACK 12 OZ

Yuengling Oktoberfest

Urban South Oktoberfest

Samuel Adams Octoberfest

Parish or Shiner Oktoberfest

$ 99

Louisiana Local

SAVE $ 00 3

12 PACK 12 OZ

Miller Lite, Coors Light, Bud Light or Yuengling

1.5 LITER SELECTED

Woodbridge Wine

Louisiana Local

10oz Rouses Bourbon Infused Cocktail Cherries

$ 99

750 ML

Sazerac Rye

750 ML SELECTED

Taaka Vodka

$ 99

Prices good at all Louisiana locations September 16th thru September 23rd, 2026.

750 ML

39 99

Lalo or Patron Tequila Blanco

METRO

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

F r i d ay, S e p t e m b e r 18, 2026

1bN

Gulf Brew festival returns to Lafayette downtown event offers craft beers, food and live music BY JA’KORI MADISON Staff writer

Shoppers await the opening of Trader Joe’s on Camellia Boulevard in Lafayette on Thursday.

STAFF PHOTOS By BRAd BOWIE

Trader Joe’s officially opens

Some Lafayette shoppers were waiting outside before sunrise BY JA’KORI MADISON

Staff writer

Before the doors to Trader Joe’s officially opened Thursday morning, Lafayette shoppers were already lined up outside, ready to be among the first inside the new location. When the doors opened at 8 a.m., customers were greeted by smiling employees, Louisiana-themed reusable grocery bags, and a “Welcome to Trader Joe’s.” For Riley and Walker Hardwell, the Lafayette opening meant they didn’t have to travel to another city to shop at the grocery chain. When asked what they love about Trader Joe’s, Walker said the experience is just as important as the products. “The prices and ingredients are amazing. I don’t feel bad giving it to my daughter because some of the stuff you read on the back doesn’t have a lot of additives,” Riley said. “It’s also the experience because you see artwork on the wall, and everyone is welcoming,” Walker said. Artwork is part of what makes each Trader Joe’s location distinct. The Lafayette store incorporates local references throughout the

Here’s the lineup: 3 p.m.: WACK 4:30 p.m.: Double Knockout 6 p.m.: Magic Crawﬁsh Email Ja’kori Madison at jakori. madison@theadvocate.com.

ABOVE: Employees distribute tote bags to shoppers at Trader Joe’s on Thursday. LEFT: Trader Joe’s first customers leave with their purchases.

ä See OPEN, page 4B

I-10 crash kills Port Barre teen

Man sentenced in 2021 shooting death

BY KRISTIN ASKELSON

BY DEAN BOUDREAUX

Girl dies from injuries suffered on Saturday

murder. Judge Royale memory of her daughter as Guilty plea lowers gree Colbert handed down the energetic, loving and full of sentence in the 15th Judicial life. charge to District Court on Thursday. “Something I will always manslaughter Simpson was 16 when remember about Ja’Nya is

Staff writer

A 13-year-old Port Barre girl died Tuesday from injuries she suffered in a two-vehicle crash on Interstate 10 in St. Martin Parish, Louisiana State Police said. The crash happened shortly after 5:30 p.m. Saturday on westbound I-10 near the Butte La Rose exit, according to State Police. A preliminary investigation found

A Lafayette man was sentenced Thursday to 20 years of hard labor for his role in the 2021 shooting death of a 16-year-old Northside High School dancer, closing out a case that took more than four years to resolve. Natrevian Simpson, 21, pleaded guilty to manslaughter under a deal that reduced the charge from second-de-

ä See CRASH, page 4B

Gulf Brew returns to downtown Lafayette on Saturday with more than 200 craft beers, food, live music and local vendors. The festival is scheduled from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. in downtown Lafayette. Food will be available from downtown restaurants and other local businesses in the Cox Food Court. General admission tickets are $45. Designated driver tickets are $25 and do not include beer sampling but provide access to mocktails and nonalcoholic beers at participating businesses. Designated driver stops will be marked with Pretzels the Possum signs on the doors of participating downtown businesses. Each stop will offer a specialty mocktail. The festival began nearly 20 years ago as an event of the Acadiana Center for the Arts. Downtown Lafayette Unlimited is taking over production and promotion of the event this year. Families can visit the Little Brewers Area in Parc Sans Souci, which will have face painting, bubbles and other children’s activities. The Louisiana Crafts Guild also will host a crafts area featuring local vendors. For tickets and additional event information, visit downtownlafayette.org.

Ja’Nya Hebert, also 16, was fatally shot while sitting in a vehicle in the 200 block of Harrington Drive on July 11, 2021. Investigators said the gunﬁre erupted during a street altercation and Hebert was not the intended target. After the sentencing, Hebert’s mother, Kysha Mouton, said the decision brings her some closure. “It will never bring my daughter back, but I feel relieved,” she said. Mouton described the

her smile,” she said. “She loved to dance and started dancing at 6 years old.” Simpson’s brother, Roytrevian Simpson, pled guilty to the amended charge of conspiracy to commit seconddegree murder last year. He reached a deal for a lesser charge after a ballistics test determined the fatal round did not come from his gun.

Contact Dean Boudreaux: dean.boudreaux@ theadvocate.com.

Errol Romero, Iberia Parish political figure, dies at 89 Man held three major offices during career Staff report Errol A. “Romo” Romero Sr., a longtime Iberia Parish public official who served as sheriff, state representative and parish president, died Thursday. He was 89. Romero was first elected to the Iberia Parish Police Jury in 1968 and served as president from 1978 to 1979. He was elected Iberia Parish sheriff in 1979 and served from 1980 through 1996. In 1997, Romero was elected to the Romero Louisiana House of Representatives, representing District 48. He served in the Legislature until 2008. Romero returned to local government in 2012 when he was elected Iberia Parish president, a position he held through 2016. He was the only person to be elected to three of Iberia Parish’s major elected offices — sheriff, state representative and parish president. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Peter Catholic Church. Entombment will follow at Nativity of Our Lady Cemetery. Funeral arrangements are pending with Pellerin Funeral Home in New Iberia.

2B l Friday, September 18, 2026 l theadvocate.com l The Acadiana Advocate

lll

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

La. is at heart of South’s economic growth

For the first time in U.S. histhan $175 billion in output, and tory, the Speaker of the House federal policy has turned back and the House Majority Leader in the state’s favor: The pause on come from the same state. Both new federal drilling leases has are Louisianians. Both are lifted, and long-delayed LSU alumni. That captures LNG export terminals where the country’s politiPlaquemines LNG Phase 3 and the Cameron LNG cal and economic center expansion are now under of gravity has shifted as construction or in operaAmerica marks its 250th anniversary. Howard tion along the Gulf Coast. That shift runs well beNew Orleans sits where Franklin that energy economy yond Washington. A new GUEST meets the river that has report, Accelerating South, COLUMNIST always defined it. The finds the broader region city anchors the port at has become a roughly $6 the base of the Mississippi, givtrillion economy, outpacing both the Northeast and the Midwest in ing it an outsized voice in the economic scale and momentum, conversations that will determine fueled by sustained population how Louisiana manages the inmigration, new business formafrastructure, investment and ention, advanced manufacturing, fi- vironmental costs of the current nancial services, logistics, energy buildout. That buildout is already showdevelopment and the expansion of technology infrastructure. ing up in the numbers. Louisiana’s Louisiana’s place in the narraprivate nonresidential constructive runs on energy. The state’s tion spending totaled roughly petroleum-refining, oil-and-gas $8 billion in 2024, with state and extraction and gasoline-distribulocal government adding another $7 billion. tion sectors combine for more

New Orleans is especially well positioned to capture that momentum. With the Port of New Orleans and the broader Mississippi River port complex continuing to expand, the region anchors one of the nation’s largest maritime trade corridors. This concentration of logistics infrastructure, energy expertise and skilled labor is a meaningful economic advantage not only for New Orleans, but for the state as a whole. It provides a hedge against volatility in any single industry while creating opportunities for adjacent sectors, including petrochemicals, shipbuilding, tourism and professional services. The city’s appeal extends beyond its industrial base. A resilient tourism and hospitality economy is fueling workforce demand and consumer spending. A growing energy-transition and logistics ecosystem is drawing entrepreneurs and investors. Major cultural institutions, universities, restaurants and a glob-

ally recognized culinary and music scene are strengthening New Orleans’ ability to attract and retain the people who increasingly have choices about where they live and work. Still, momentum is not a strategy. The South’s economic success has made it more competitive, not less. States across the region are aggressively pursuing the same corporate headquarters, factories, data centers, skilled workers and infrastructure investments. Louisiana cannot rely on its current federal standing alone. It will need to continue pursuing policies that support reliable and affordable energy, workforce development, housing supply, coastal resilience and long-term infrastructure investment. Those challenges are becoming more urgent as the region’s industrial and energy buildout accelerates. Companies making decisions about LNG facilities, petrochemical plants, logistics hubs and manufacturing sites are look-

ing beyond tax incentives. They are assessing whether a market has sufficient power capacity, a trained workforce, predictable permitting, storm and flood resilience and the infrastructure necessary to support growth over decades. New Orleans has an opportunity to help define Louisiana’s response to these new realities. Its trade and logistics leadership, energy-sector expertise and deep connections to the rest of the state give it a platform to shape how Louisiana invests in its future and how it balances growth with affordability, resilience and opportunity. The South’s rise is no longer a projection; it is an economic reality. Louisiana’s task is to translate that momentum into broad and lasting prosperity. Howard Franklin is the CEO of Ohio River South, a bipartisan government relations and public affairs company based in Atlanta and Washington, D.C.

Federal rule change Hyundai must prove to be good threatens more than neighbor before building mill just endangered species For more than 50 years, the EnA less obvious impact of this ESA dangered Species Act has allowed rule change is the domino effect to species we think of as common, but federal agencies to work with whose populations are in decline — developers to design guardrails especially those who share disapfor projects that reduce harm to imperiled wildlife. pearing ecosystems with federally This week, a rule change protected species. is going into effect that atSimply put, ESA habitat protections help unprotecttempts to remove habitat for wildlife protected by ed species. For example, the ESA — meaning that federally protected red the landscapes that federcockaded woodpeckers Rebecca share longleaf pine forests ally protected species deTriche with other declining spepend on will be subject to GUEST bulldozing, mining, logging cies including Louisiana COLUMNIST pine snakes, gopher tortoisand other development with little to no restriction. es and the iconic northern What makes this rule bobwhite quail. Because of change particularly reckless and the red-cockaded woodpeckers’ nonsensical is the fact that habitat federal protection, many of our decline is why most species need at-risk pine forests have special federal protection in the first protections. The woodpeckers act place. In fact, 99% of species prolike an umbrella, shielding other imperiled species because their tected by the ESA have avoided extinction in large part because of shared habitat is now protected. This rule attempts to stop that. how rules protect habitat. If someone took a bulldozer to This is not only a threat to rare your home, they’d be in big legal species and decades of conservatrouble. What if you and your tion progress, but would push more species to require the expen- family were inside? The Fish and sive, emergency room-style triage Wildlife Service and National Maintervention the ESA provides. rine Fisheries’ new position is that The ESA is the last resort — not taking a bulldozer to a tree with an the norm. endangered species inside is OK. This rule isn’t about cutting “red This is not just ridiculous; it’s tape” or government overreach. illegal. The Louisiana Wildlife FedIn reality, it attempts to destroy eration, along with the Southern a successful conservation tool. Environmental Law Center, NaWhat’s worse, communities may tional Wildlife Federation and afnot know a project is destroying a filiates as far away as Hawaii, filed federally protected species habitat a lawsuit because these agencies until they see bulldozers pushing have not met the obligations necdown trees, because industry will essary to change a long-standing no longer need to seek permits for rule of this magnitude. habitat destruction from the fedThe risk to Louisiana’s natural resources is too great to stand by eral government. and do nothing. This rule change threatens our Louisiana natural heritage, and it Rebecca Triche is the executive diminishes our ability to protect director of the Louisiana Wildlife habitat of all species for future Federation. generations.

Gopher tortoises that are threatened by loss of habitat and development, environmental groups say. PROVIdEd PHOTO

Hyundai is coming to Modeste, my community on the west bank of Ascension Parish, to build a $5.8 billion steel mill. As a resident, there are some things I’d like the company to know. First, people like me have been here a long time. My home was passed down to me by my grandparents. My family members worked on the historic New Africa Plantation, which was started on land purchased by my great-grandparents to be able to farm on their own terms. It’s the place where my neighbor's parents invented the ﬁrst sugar cane planting machine and where their Nieaka descendants still live today. This Henderson community and our homes come directly from the struggles and vicGUEST tories of our ancestors. Now we are COLUMNIST going to be forced to move to make way for the steel mill, and we can’t afford to move on. Second, we want a future for our community, one that provides good jobs for our children and grandchildren. My home, my church and everything I care about is about to be surrounded by massive industrial plants. New plants have come to the West Bank before, promising good jobs for local people, but sadly they don’t hire us. Will local people get trained and get the chance at good-paying jobs where safety and a voice at work are prioritized? Or will Hyundai just lie about creating local jobs and bring in workers with no ties to our community? Those questions matter because this project comes with real costs to local people like me. We are being pushed to give up our homes and property without fair compensation for what it costs us to move. We’re not being offered enough to buy new, equivalent homes elsewhere. We are being told about thousands of jobs and a brighter economic future — but where are the commitments that guarantee local residents a fair deal? In Donaldsonville, 84% of residents are Black. Our community has faced discrimination and neglect: The poverty rate is 45% and the median household income is just over $23,000 annually, $60,000 below the national median income. By contrast, Prairieville, on the other side of the river just 25 miles north, has 75% White residents, a poverty rate of 4%, and a median household income of $105,000. Will Hyundai add to this disparity by using our land, disrupting our lives and then bypassing our future? Or will it negotiate with us and forge a different future for the local community? Lastly, Hyundai knows that this place is called Cancer Alley because the cancer risk is 95% higher than in most of the United States. Everyone I know here is affected by this: My dad died of cancer, as did my aunt. We don’t want any more pollution and we don’t want any more family members dying. Yet Hyundai’s air permit application doesn’t do enough to safeguard the local community and workers.

STAFF PHOTO By JAVIER GALLEGOS

Bo Ryong Lee, president & CEO of Hyundai Steel, speaks during the Hyundai-Posco Louisiana Steel ground-breaking ceremony in Ascension Parish this month.

In Europe, they’re building steel mills similar to what Hyundai is building in Louisiana. The difference is that those steel mills will use clean hydrogen, which, unlike the process of using methane gas, does not produce toxic airborne chemicals as byproducts when it is burned. Hyundai has claimed it plans to switch from methane to clean hydrogen in Louisiana eventually, but that’s not good enough. We need a legally binding commitment — with investments backed by Hyundai, not taxpayers — to end the use of methane gas in the iron and steelmaking process within a set time frame. If Hyundai wants to be a good neighbor, it must compromise. That’s why I am working with the Good Neighbors Louisiana coalition to call on Hyundai to negotiate an enforceable Community Beneﬁts Agreement to protect our interests. Louisiana taxpayers are paying $2.6 billion in incentives for Hyundai’s steel mill. In return, we deserve guarantees of full and fair compensation for our homes. We want good, safe, well-paid jobs free from discrimination. And we want guarantees that Hyundai is building the cleanest steel mill possible using the best technology to reduce pollution for our community. If Hyundai wants to join our neighborhood in good faith, then it must start demonstrating that it wants to contribute. Because we are not interested in bad neighbors who want to just take and not give back. Nieaka Henderson is a resident of Modeste and a volunteer with Good Neighbors Louisiana.

WINNER OF THE PULITZER PRIZE FOR LOCAL REPORTING

KEVIN HALL

President & Publisher

RENE SANCHEZ

VP/News, Executive Editor

KARYN KEARNEY EVP/Strategic Partnerships

ARNESSA GARRETT Managing Editor/ Opinion

JUSTIN MITCHELL

Managing Editor/ Audience

HANK STUEVER

Managing Editor/ Enterprise

FRED KALMBACH

JENNIFER BROWN

JERRY DICOLO

EMMA DISCHER

Managing Editor

Managing Editor, New Orleans

KRISTIN ASKELSON Managing Editor, Acadiana

BARBARA LEADER Managing Editor, Shreveport

Senior Editor Senior Editor

ANDREA GALLO

ROGER HOLMES

Chief Revenue Ofﬁce

ASHLEY WHITCHER

VP/ Consumer Sales

JIM MYERS

General Manager/ Advertising

VP/IT

Senior Editor/ Investigations

VP/Finance

JESSICA WILLIAMS

ROBERT STOLL

Senior Editor

CHASE HEATHERLY

Executive VP, Operations

VP/Distribution

KYLE WHITFIELD

GEORGES MEDIA GROUP JOHN D. GEORGES Owner

JUDI TERZOTIS

ROBERT YOUNG

Chief Executive Ofﬁcer

LOU HUDSON

Editorial Page

VP/ Majors & Nationals

DAN SHEA

Chairman

ARNESSA GARRETT STEPHANIE GRACE WILL SUTTON QUIN HILLYER FAIMON ROBERTS

lll

The Acadiana Advocate l theadvocate.com l Friday, September 18, 2026 l 3B

COMMENTARY

ASSOCIATEd PRESS PHOTO By VIRGINIA MAyO

A robot makes a heart sign as it interacts with visitors during a demonstration of AI-based robotics in Europe at the European Parliament in Brussels on Sept. 2.

ISSUE OF THE WEEK ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE developers and leaders at top artificial intelligence companies have begun sounding the alarm about the dangers of the technology in increasingly stark terms. Some warn that without regulation AI could present an existential threat to humanity. Others say that the U.S. can’t lose the AI race to China.What kinds of guardrails would be effective in minimizing the threats posed by AI? And who should be in charge of making such rules? Here are two perspectives:

Will AI set out to destroy Let’s not rely on treaties humanity like Skynet did? to stop the murderbots In the “Terminator” movie series, the such a hostile superintelligence would artificial intelligence system known as use to commit omnicide. The rogue AI Skynet is given control of the nation's nuwould presumably have to do something clear weapons and uses it to try to destroy in the real world -- say, launching nukes, manufacturing killer robots or releasing a humanity. deadly virus. One reason that apocalyptic If it lacks physical agency, AI scenarios involving AI are implaucould presumably be unplugged sible is that, having seen how that or contained. (It was after humans particular movie ends, we are untried to deactivate Skynet, by the likely to be foolish enough to give way, that the system decided we AI custody of the most destructive were a threat that had to be neuweapons on the planet. Rich The unthinkable is nonetheless tralized.) Lowry a hot topic of conversation, given Some doomsayers posit a malithat a researcher at Anthropic just cious person using advanced AI resigned and issued a doomsday to come up with a design for a warning. killer virus and a plan to release it without According to Jacob Coxon, the rush to detection. This is a different scenario, develop AI is “gambling with our lives,” though, from AI turning against people since it will soon create “superhuman sys- of its own volition. In a world years from now when much more advanced AI is tems that can hack anything, revolutiona reality, we will need to think through ize any field overnight, and acquire real safeguards to keep dangerous systems power and resources.” — nukes, biolabs — from being comproA current Anthropic employee then chimed in: “We really do earnestly believe mised by AI-enabled cyberattacks or exAI could kill all humans!” He put the ploited by criminals and terrorists. chances at greater than 10% in the next It's easy to imagine breaches of financial decade. systems or attacks on critical infrastrucThe idea here is that Anthropic and simi- ture that would fall short of endangering all of mankind. lar firms are, in effect, running their own Even if one takes an alarmist view of the Manhattan Projects, with consequences risks, it's unclear how the development unknown and potentially very dire. of AI can be stopped. Any deal with the Now, ChatGPT as we know it doesn't Chinese to slow down research couldn't seem particularly well-suited to destroybe trusted, and might simply allow them ing humanity. It is a souped-up version of to pass us in the AI race by subterfuge. Google that is impressively fast, but also In other words, we'd still get Skynet, only mistake-prone. with Chinese characteristics. If it can mess up basic math or the New There's also the reality that AI will be York Yankees roster, surely it can't carry a necessary tool in protecting against the out the complex tasks necessary to fashmalicious use of AI — not to mention all of ion an apocalyptic event. its other positive potential. If we slow or Tech companies, though, have labs end research in the U.S., we might end up working on so-called frontier models that vulnerable to superintelligence developed are much more powerful and reportedly by actors who mean us harm. developing more quickly than expected. Science fiction is fascinating and someThe worry is that an AI model itself will begin to develop new AI very quickly in times prescient. Works by the likes of an “intelligence explosion,” the equivalent Philip K. Dick, Aldous Huxley and Arthur of Skynet becoming self-aware at 2:14 C. Clarke had genuine insights into the fua.m. Eastern Time on Aug. 29, 1997. ture. But that doesn't mean we are living The thinking is that if such an AI model in the plot of “The Terminator,” and we goes rogue and turns against humanity, it shouldn't scare ourselves into forswearing will be too clever and fast for us to comtransformative technology. bat. Rich Lowry is on X, @RichLowry. Yet it's hard to see the mechanism that

For the last couple of weeks, I’ve been The problem is that humanity can’t wondering: What if we just didn’t build the jointly agree to, well, just about anything. murderbots? The country that develops AI and doesn’t Artificial intelligence safety now looks accidentally make the extinction-level like the most important policy issue the murderbots will have enormous economic world faces, given the swarm of rogue AI and strategic advantages. Nuclear arms bots breaking out of their testing control seems like a snap by comenvironments. There’s also the Anparison. Fissile material is harder to acquire than computer chips, thropic researcher who announced and nuclear weapons won’t turbothat he had resigned, saying that frontier labs are “gambling with charge your economy the way AI our lives” in the race to superintelmight. Sure, I can imagine China and the ligence. Anthropic AI alignment Megan ega lead Evan Hubinger agreed, sugMcArdle United States coming to a rapidfire agreement for an AI pause. gesting that the chances of AI-drivBut then, I can also imagine geten human extinction are greater than 10 % within the next decade. He said ting a MacArthur “genius grant,” which his colleagues aren’t sure how to mitigate seems about as likely. that risk. So back to my question about the murThen, on Saturday, Anthropic chief exderbots. Could we at least not build the literal, physical murderbots, such as fully ecutive Dario Amodei published an essay autonomous drones that can operate withtitled “We Must Pace the Frontier.” In it, Amodei promised Anthropic would embed out humans in the kill chain? Controlling outside safety monitors within its operatheir development would be a very hard problem, as all arms control is. But it tions and provide them employee-level seems more manageable than completely access to the company’s systems. He also stopping AI advancement. said a consortium of frontier companies This might seem like fiddling while in democratic countries, with government Rome burns. But if you don’t think we can approval, should determine how to slow come together to stop building physical AI development to the point where safety murderbots, you shouldn’t hold out much standards can be maintained. Sam Altman, the chief executive of Ope- hope that we’ll be able to keep from buildnAI, chimed in almost immediately with ing virtual ones. a similar commitment to enable outside One advantage of upping our physical monitoring. Elon Musk, whose holdings security is that much of it can be done uniinclude xAI, tweeted simply: “Dario is laterally: China does not need permission right.” from the U.S. to harden its infrastructure, It seems safe to say that the major AI and the U.S. doesn’t need Beijing’s. CEOs are spooked by their own creations. Limiting what AI can do in the physical At a minimum, they are afraid that within world necessarily means limiting its pothe next year AI swarms could, as Amodei tential benefits. But it’s better than wistful put it, become “capable of taking over the hope for some kind of multilateral agreeentire internet with a persistent botnet” ment to just stop this thing in its tracks. that would cause enormous economic I’m not against pursuing such an agreedamage. Yet that fear seems positively ment. I hope that the tech folks who fear benign compared to the human-extinction imminent doom will move to Washington scenarios that have been sketched out and work on that project. But I’m not such as nuclear launches, lethal bioweapbanking on it. Ultimately, the reason the AI alignment problem is so hard to adons engineered by superintelligence and robot drones programmed to kill people. dress is that we still haven’t fully solved If we’re not sure we can keep AI under the problem of human alignment. control, why not just stop developing it? AI definitely can’t kill us if humanity joint- Megan McArdle is on X, @asymmetricinfo. Email her at Megan.McArdle@washpost. ly agrees to leave this particular frontier com. unexplored.

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.

TO SENd US A LETTER, SCAN HERE

4B ● Friday, September 18, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

lll

Search continues for missing women Police: Nothing found at Zachary house

BY BLAKE LESCHBER Staff writer

The search for evidence tied to the disappearances of two women continues in West Feliciana Parish after police said nothing was found at a Zachary house believed to be connected to the case. The Zachary Police Department said officers searched a residence on Ash

Street on Monday, but did not ﬁnd anything connected to the missing women. Officials said the search was planned for weeks and was part of the broader search in West Feliciana. The Ash Street house is where Thomas Morris, 44, once lived. He is tied to the disappearance of 32-yearold Madison ReNae Allen and Stephanie Hevia. Morris is believed to have been living at the Zachary property at the time of Allen’s disappearance in late November 2023. Hevia, who was 38 at the time of her disappearance

in March 2025, is believed to have last been seen at a 15acre property Morris owns in West Feliciana Parrish, Sheriff Brian Spillman said. West Feliciana deputies and other agencies continue to search the property on Morris Road in St. Francisville for evidence and potential human remains. Neither of the women’s bodies has been recovered. Fourteen federal, state and local agencies have assisted in the Morris Road search, and about 30 ofﬁcers have been on the search site, Spillman said. Over the weekend, cadaver dogs searched and

identiﬁed spots for potential evidence and remains. Spillman said on Sept. 10 that the search was expected to take at least a week to complete. As of Friday, it will have been seven days since deputies started searching. On July 19, deputies responded to a West Feliciana store after a woman called to say she was hiding in the bathroom. She said Morris brought her there to buy medicine and was waiting outside. Deputies detained Morris at the scene. The woman told deputies she had befriended Morris

CRASH

Continued from page 1B

in Montana in early July, and he brought her against her will to the Morris Road address, where she could not leave or use her phone. Morris is now at the West Feliciana Parish Detention Center, booked on charges of second-degree kidnapping, illegal possession of stolen firearms and false imprisonment on a $500,000 bond. Spillman said anyone with more information in the case could help the investigation. Tips may be submitted to Crime Stoppers at (225) 3447867 or the Sheriff’s Ofﬁce at (225) 784-3136.

that a 2013 Hyundai Elantra was traveling west in the left lane while a 2020 Ram ProMaster was traveling in the right lane. For reasons still under investigation, the Hyundai moved from the left lane into the right lane, struck a concrete barrier and then hit the rear of the Ram. Both vehicles struck concrete barriers following the collision. A 13-year-old passenger in the Hyundai was critically injured and taken to a hospital, where she died Tuesday, State Police said. The Hyundai driver and three other passengers also were unrestrained and were taken to an area hospital for treatment. An infant passenger was properly placed in a child safety seat, but the seat was not properly secured to the vehicle, according to State Police. The driver of the Ram was properly restrained and was not injured. It is not known whether the Hyundai driver was impaired. A toxicology sample was collected and submitted for analysis, State Police said. The Ram driver showed no signs of impairment and voluntarily submitted to a breath test, which detected no alcohol. The crash remains under investigation.

Dec. 7 trial date set for second rape suspect Issues still to be resolved in Madison Brooks case

legal teams. Most of Thursday’s hearing was spent picking through a collection of pretrial motions filed days before by the state in response to an earlier set of motions from the defense. When Ray decided to set a tentative trial date for BY QUINN COFFMAN Carter, the thicket of moStaff writer tions still in litigation led A tentative trial date was Assistant District Attorney set Thursday for 21-year- Sonya Cardia-Porter to proold Desmond Carter, one test. of the suspects accused “We have some pending of raping LSU sophomore litigation to be resolved,” Madison Brooks in 2023 just Cardia-Porter said before before her death. agreeing to the tentative Carter is now scheduled date. to face a jury on Dec. 7 on charges of first- and third- Tit-for-tat filings degree rape. One of his coLast month, prosecutors defendants, Casen Carver, successfully pushed back 22, has a bench trial sched- the previous trial date for uled for Nov. 30 on the same Carter. It would have been charges. Both trials will be the first trial for any of the before Judge Gail Horne defendants accused of rapRay. ing Brooks. The third defendant in The state did so over the case, 22-year-old Kai- complaints about a flurry of von Washington, also faces pretrial motions from the charges of first- and third- defense team for Carter. degree rape. His trial date Prosecutors said they had no time to respond to those has not been set. But the road to Carter’s motions while prepping for trial gets rockier with each trial. Defense attorney Caitlin meeting of the opposing

Fowlkes has since withdrawn those seven motions, which covered topics ranging from limiting the use of the term “victim” to excluding a toxicologist expert witness. Days before Thursday’s hearing to set a new trial date, Cardia-Porter issued a set of her own pretrial motions, many of which were oppositions to Fowlkes’ seven withdrawn motions. One filing in particular from the state showed why this pretrial tit-for-tat is still going on: a motion from the state objecting to Fowlkes’ withdrawal of her seven previous motions on the grounds that many had already been ruled on. Ray declined to rule on the withdrawal motion, saying she would take it under advisement to review the recently-filed arguments and issue an answer on Friday. When Ray asked what other motions could be heard Thursday, Assistant District Attorney Jessica Fogan said many could not be brought up until the withdrawal had been ruled on.

Opening the rape kit

One motion argued in person Thursday was ﬁled by the state over requests from the defense to examine physical evidence in the case, specifically Brooks’ rape kit and a pair of boots she wore the night of her death. Fowlkes argued in her original motion that her client has a right to inspect, examine or scientiﬁcally test any evidence being brought against him in the case. Cardia-Porter responded that there were concerns with allowing the physical evidence bags to be opened without proper guardrails, in case the forensic integrity of the contents is damaged through further handling or sampling. She also noted there are three separate defendants involved in Brooks’ case, and she is concerned with evidence being impacted for subsequent trials. In court, Carter’s defense team described a previous attempt in August to view the evidence, saying investigators kept them from open-

ing any evidence bags. Both sides went back over their complaints, with Ray at one point admonishing the attorneys for “characterizing of other counsel’s emotions.” The back and forth ended when attorney Joe Long, who represents co-defendant Carver, stepped out of the audience to ask Ray to allow him and the attorneys for the other co-defendants a chance to meet with Cardia-Porter and ﬁnd a “commonsense” procedure for viewing evidence that the state ﬁnds acceptable.

Email Kristin Askelson at kaskelson@theadvocate.com.

Issues with contempt The most controversial of Cardia-Porter’s motions is one accusing the defense, speciﬁcally Fowlkes, of having committed contempt by sharing Brooks’ name and identifying information in the “pink” ﬁling from earlier this summer. In it, the defense sought to keep spectators from wearing the color pink or items depicting Brooks, over fears it would prejudice the jury. Ray ruled that pink clothing would be allowed but depictions of the victim would not.

N O R T H A M ER I CA’S

LOTTERY

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 16, 2026 PICK 3: 3-2-8 PICK 4: 4-4-5-6 PICK 5: 8-3-7-4-4 EASY 5: 7-11-15-21-35 LOTTO: 10-11-27-28-36-40 POWERBALL: 2-21-24-25-64 (7)

Unofficial notification, keep your tickets.

FREE Back by Pop SHOW ular De ER P mand! AC K A GE !

1Selling Walk-In Tub

Featuring our Free Shower Package Plus 15% Off

Now relaxing warm bath, or enjoy a convenient refreshing shower while seated or standing with Safe Step Walk-In Tub’s FREE Shower Package!

STAFF PHOTOS By BRAd BOWIE

Shoppers walk past the dairy section during the Trader Joe’s opening on Camellia Boulevard in Lafayette on Thursday.

✓ First walk-in tub available with a customizable shower

OPEN

✓ Fixed rainfall shower head is adjustable for your height and pivots

Continued from page 1B space, including alligators in a basket, a Cajun turtle holding an Acadiana ﬂag, crawfish playing football with “Geaux Cajuns” written in red, and a street sign representing Jefferson and East Vermilion streets in downtown Lafayette. Another shopper, Allina Guidry, arrived at 6 a.m. and said although she’s visited other locations, having a location in Lafayette will make it easier to shop for her favorite products. “I can just come back tomorrow,” Guidry said. “Having it local means we can always come back and don’t have to stock up, so I love this,” she added. The private-label selection is a major part of Trader Joe’s identity. Store manager Johnny Veillon said more than 90% of the items sold by the company carry Trader Joe’s labels and are available only through its stores. “We have a curated tasting panel that really kind of vets all of the products that we put out there for our customers,” Veillon said. “It’s really a great opportunity for Lafayette to try some new things.” For Danielle Jones, this was her ﬁrst time shopping

✓ High-quality tub complete with a comprehensive lifetime warranty on the entire tub ✓ Top-of-the-line installation and service, all included at one

Now you can have the best of both worlds–there isn’t a better,

FREE SHOWER PACKAGE PLUS $1600 OFF

Shoppers are greeted with tote bags as Trader Joe’s opens for business on Thursday. at Trader Joe’s. “In comparison to other places I shop, because I shop for groceries at a lot of places, their prices are inexpensive, at least to me,” she said. As she browsed the store, Jones said she noticed fresh ﬂowers and other items she hadn’t expected to ﬁnd. “I’m browsing and see what I like, but so far, the staff is amazing, the parking lot is huge, and again, the prices are unbeatable to me, so I’ll be back,” she said. Veillon said the Lafayette team spent weeks preparing for the opening, including training employees, sending crew members to the Baton Rouge location, and educating employees about Trader Joe’s products and company values.

The store has about 60 employees, with additional workers from nearby locations helping during the opening. “I’m really looking forward to becoming part of the neighborhood,” Veillon said. “Really building those connections with customers and getting to know them as people and not just shoppers.” The Lafayette location will also participate in Trader Joe’s Neighborhood Shares Program, which donates 100% of unsold products that remain fit to enjoy to nonproﬁt, community-based organizations seven days a week. Trader Joe’s is located at 1710 Camellia Blvd. in Lafayette.

FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY

Call Toll-Free 337-221-0958

With purchase of a new Safe Step Walk-In Tub. Not applicable with any previous walk-in tub purchase. Offer available while supplies last. No cash value. Must present offer at time of purchase.

Call Today for Your Free Shower Package

337-221-0958

FINANCING AVAILABLE WITH APPROVED CREDIT CSLB 1082165 NSCB 0082999 0083445 13VH11096000

OFFICIAL NEWS PARTNER OF THE LOUISIANA RAGIN’ CAJUNS

SPORTS

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

Saints defying convention under DC Staley

F r i d ay, S e p t e m b e r 18, 2026

1CN

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

BY MATTHEW PARAS Staff writer

Martin Emerson was stumped. The New Orleans Saints cornerback was asked why some positions in football, such as defensive line and running back, rely on players rotating in and out, while other spots — like his own — don’t ä Saints at typically see that same treatRavens NOON ment. Emerson paused for a few SUNdAy, CBS seconds, searching for the right explanation. “That’s a good question,” Emerson said. “I don’t really know.” But hey, whatever gets him on the ﬁeld. Under defensive coordinator Brandon Staley, the Saints defense has relied on unorthodox rotations that make the unit largely different from the rest of the NFL. The trend started last year and was again a staple Sunday. Against the Detroit Lions, the Saints rotated Emerson in for starter Quincy Riley, while second-year linebacker Danny Stutsman occasionally replaced Pete Werner. Neither switch was permanent. Emerson logged 10 snaps across two drives. Stutsman played 26 snaps over ﬁve drives.

ä See SAINTS, page 3C

STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

LSU backup quarterback Landen Clark throws a pass against Louisiana Tech in the fourth quarter on Saturday at Tiger Stadium.

NEXT MAN UP Evaluating LSU’s depth at quarterback ahead of Ole Miss clash

BY JON BLAU Staff writer

STAFF FILE PHOTO By BRETT dUKE

Saints defensive coordinator Brandon Staley reacts to a call during a preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Aug. 17, 2025 at the Caesars Superdome.

Saints’ respect for Ravens star RB Henry goes way back Derrick Henry looked like a grown man before he actually became one. Just ask Alvin Kamara. Kamara and Henry both arrived at the University of Alabama as two of the nation’s top running backs in the class of 2013. Henry arrived in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, in January as an early enrollee. Kamara got to campus a few months after graduating. Kamara Rod was just as impressed by Walker Henry then as he is now. “He was a dog,” Kamara said. “When you’re in the league and in college, you see dudes and you say, ‘Damn!’ When you see Derrick, that’s what you say. You say ‘Damn?’ What the f***?’ And that’s back when we were 18. Still to this day he’s been able to ball and do his thing.” Henry, now in his third season with the Baltimore Ravens, has been doing his thing better than most. He blows past opponents like few ever have. If the Saints want to avoid going 0-2 for a second straight season, they’ll have to try to slow down one of the best running backs the game has ever seen Sunday when they face the Ravens at

ä See WALKER, page 3C

LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt might be hurt. But skepticism around his “doubtful” status for Ole Miss remained quite healthy in the hours after his listing in the SEC’s initial availability report. Such is life when a program’s head coach is Lane Kifﬁn, because two years ago he listed 26 Ole Miss players on a Wednesday report leading into a Georgia game, but that number shrunk to 10 by Friday. Receiver Jordan Watkins, initially listed as “doubtful,” went on to lead the Rebels in targets that Saturday. Multiple reports have stated Leavitt missed LSU’s Wednesday practice, including CBS Sports adding he didn’t throw because of an “upper-body issue,” but Leavitt did participate in a Thursday walkthrough. The people with money at stake, Las Vegas oddsmakers, have hardly been moved. LSU was reduced from a 3-point favorite to just 1 point when Leavitt’s status was originally announced, but the Tigers regained a 2.5-point edge by Thursday morning.

Media members aren’t invited to practice to see, with their own eyes, what Leavitt is or isn’t doing. Either way, the availability report created even more conversation around an LSU-Ole Miss game that’s already a national spectacle. What if the Tigers actually had to play without their starting quarterback Saturday?

Clark gets the nod If the order of quarterbacks relieving Leavitt in two nonconference games is trustworthy, then the transfer from Elon, Landen Clark, is next up. Kiffin has had success with slightly undersized signal callers from smaller schools. Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, at 6-foot, 205 pounds, won a national championship with Division II Ferris State before leading the Rebels to a College Football Playoff semifinal. Clark fits the mold at 6-foot, 198 pounds. He’s just had a slightly different path. The Colonial Athletic Association’s Co-Offensive

ä See LSU, page 3C

UL’s passing game depth heightens team’s ceiling

STAFF PHOTO By BRAd KEMP

UL tight end Teddy Gawlik catches a pass in a game against Lamar on Sept. 5. Gawlik has helped the Cajuns’ passing game stay consistent despite missing four of its top targets so far this season.

with Brock Purdy at quarterback and Yes, the UL Ragin’ Cajuns played a Breece Hall at running back was the competitive game in losing to No. 15 easiest of the four. USC last weekend, 49-30. In 2023, UL’s baseball team The best thing UL coaches, stunned No. 1 LSU in Baton Rouge, players and fans can do is ﬂush only to get swept at James Madithat game and forget about it. The notion that playing well son the following weekend. against a good team from a power It sounds good, but it’s a myth. conference equals instant sucHowever, that doesn’t mean certain areas of a team can’t imcess against Sun Belt and other Kevin mid-major teams is a myth. It just prove during that process. Foote doesn’t work that way. Don’t look now, but the team’s A few examples illustrate that area of most concern may be ﬂawed mentality heading into Satbetter than any of us thought, deä UAB urday’s 7 p.m. game against UAB at spite being plagued by injuries at UL 7 P.M. so far this season. Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium. SATURdAy, In 2020, after the Cajuns knocked Wide receivers and tight ends off No. 23 Iowa State 31-14 in the were a major concern in August. ESPN+ season opener, UL’s next three “I was very transparent in my games were against Sun Belt teams. displeasure with the way things The Cajuns got totally outplayed at were going early in camp,” UL coach MiGeorgia State, but somehow survived a chael Desormeaux said of the receivers. 34-31 overtime win. They then squeaked “We were very clear with them that it past Georgia Southern 20-18 at home and wasn’t good enough.” then lost to Coastal Carolina 30-27. ä See UL, page 3C As it turned out, the Iowa State game

2C ● Friday, September 18, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

H lll

BROADCAST HIGHLIGHTS On TV

AUTO RACING 3:30 p.m. NASCAR Cup Series: Practice TRUTV 4:40 p.m. NASCAR Cup Series: QualifyingTRUTV 6:30 p.m. NASCAR Series: Food City 300 CW CFL 6:30 p.m. Montreal at Hamilton CBSSN COLLEGE FIELD HOCKEY 3 p.m. Michigan at Michigan St. BTN COLLEGE FOOTBALL 6:30 p.m. Miami at Wake Forest ESPN 7 p.m. Houston at Texas Tech FOX 9:30 p.m. Portland St. at Oregon BTN MEN’S COLLEGE SOCCER 8 p.m. NC State at SMU ACCN

WOMEN’S COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL South Florida at Penn St. BTN Florida at Florida St. ACCN North Carolina at Nebraska BTN Kansas St. at Creighton ESPN2 GOLF noon Korn Ferry Tour GOLF 2 p.m. Biltmore Championship GOLF 5 p.m. PURE Insurance Championship GOLF HORSE RACING noon America’s day at the Races FS2 2 p.m. Jockey Club Gold Cup FOX 3:30 p.m. America’s day at the Races FS2 MLB 5:30 p.m. Chicago Cubs at Cincinnati MLBN 5 p.m. 6 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m.

IN BRIEF

FROM STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

6:10 p.m. Philadelphia at N.y. Mets APPLETV 8:30 p.m. N.y. yankees at Arizona MLBN 9:10 p.m. San Francisco at dodgers APPLETV MEN’S SOCCER 2 p.m. Chelsea at Brentford FC USA WOMEN’S SOCCER 12:55 p.m. Liverpool at Man City CBSSN TENNIS 8 a.m. davis Cup Qualifiers TENNIS TRACK AND FIELD 1 p.m. ATHLOS: From London ION WNBA 6:30 p.m. Indiana at Toronto ION 9 p.m. Portland at Golden State ION

UNC ends investigation, DC Belichick resigns

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Steve Belichick has resigned from the University of North Carolina football staff following an independent, internal investigation, the university announced Thursday. Belichick, son of UNC head coach and NFL legend Bill Belichick, has been on medical leave since Aug. 6. His resignation will be effective at the end of the scheduled medical leave, on Oct. 27. Steve Belichick’s resignation is in part the result of a broader investigation into the Tar Heels’ football program, which “determined that certain actions demonstrated a disregard for Carolina’s values and standards of conduct” but were “isolated in scope and not a systemic failure,” according to Thursday’s news release.

NFL says ‘There’s no one else like him’ teams can’t New book details anecdotes that give sign Harris, ‘greater Clark’s signature Nike understanding’ shoe available from Oct. 1 Wright of Kiffin’s life The Associated Press

BY REED DARCEY

NEW YORK — Zxavian Harris and Dae’Quan Wright are ineligible to join any NFL teams this season after they attempted to return to college and play for LSU, the league said in a memo sent to each NFL team. Harris was a defensive tackle and Wright played tight end for Mississippi during its run to a College Football Playoff semifinal last season. Both had tryouts in Harris the NFL this summer after going undrafted. They then tried joining former Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin at LSU and sued for the right to regain their college eligibility. After the Southeastern Conference passed a rule barring pros Wright from heading back to college to play and a Louisiana court put that restriction on hold, LSU left both players off its roster as it opened its season. The NFL’s letter noted both Harris and Wright “were eligible for the 2026 NFL Draft, returned to college and participated with their college football team after the opening of NFL training camp, and therefore, they are ineligible to visit, try out with or be signed by NFL clubs during the 2026 season.” The Associated Press obtained a copy of the memo, which was dated Wednesday. Harris and Wright were the only players mentioned in the letter. The NFL acknowledged this list didn’t include all 2026 draft-eligible players who returned to college and said teams should contact the league’s player personnel department with any questions about a player’s eligibility. The letter also noted it is each team’s responsibility to verify a player’s eligibility. Discipline for eligibility violations can include fines and/or the loss of draft picks.

The man who wrote the book on Lane Kiffin was at the airport that day. Not to jeer the new LSU coach on his way to Baton Rouge. To document his controversial exit, first in videos he posted to social media and then in chapters he wrote for his new book. That day in late November is about when journalist John Talty started writing “Lane Being Lane: The Story of Lane Kiffin, College Football’s Agent of Chaos.” The book was published on Tuesday, only a few days before Kiffin makes his highly anticipated return to Oxford, Mississippi, for his LSU team’s Week 3 matchup with Ole Miss on Saturday (6:30 p.m., ABC). “There’s no one else like him,” Talty said. This allowed Talty to write an interesting book. Kiffin didn’t participate in the project, but he did sit down with Talty in May at the SEC’s annual meetings in Destin, Florida, and exchanged text messages with the author afterward. Talty made those two scenes the story’s prologue and the epilogue, using them as bookends for all different chapters of Kiffin’s rollercoaster life and career. Talty, who covered Alabama football for AL.com when Kiffin was Nick Saban’s offensive coordinator, didn’t just cover the years in which Kiffin has lived in the public eye. He also dipped into the lesser-known parts of his story, such as the seasons he spent playing quarterback in high school and at Fresno State. Most of the book, though, details what Talty calls Kiffin’s “tentpole events.” The time in 2008 that Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis called him a “professional liar.” The time he incensed Tennessee fans by leaving late at night to take Southern Cal’s head coaching job in 2009 — and the time the Trojans fired him at an airport four years later. Talty also unearthed fresh details behind the time Saban fired Kiffin from his playcalling gig at Alabama just days before the 2017 national championship game. Kiffin’s been through a lot, which gave Talty plenty of stories to sift through. He said he interviewed

Staff writer

STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

LSU head coach Lane Kiffin looks to the video board between plays in the first quarter of the game against Clemson on Sept. 5 at Tiger Stadium. roughly 125 people for the book. “All that, I think, happened over the last year just made him a more rich story,” Talty said. “I think there’s also just not as many of those figures who really move the needle in the sport the way they used to, and I think Lane’s certainly one of them. “He is someone who I think a lot of people have opinions about, and there’s that pressure to want to write something that goes beyond what’s been done in the past and that hopefully reveals things about him that will allow people to understand him in a better way than what has been done previously.” The most notable chapters of the book cover the times Kiffin went gallivanting around Tuscaloosa, Alabama, bars in 2016. Or Kiffin’s stubborn refusal to drop his push to continue coaching Ole Miss last season in the College Football Playoff after he had formally accepted the LSU job.. But the more revelatory scenes are from Kiffin’s teenage years, when he’d needle his high school coaches by breaking uniform protocol. A young Kiffin would show up to games without his pads, the book says. Or he’d emulate Deion Sanders and wear a towel in his waistband — even after his coaches made him run hills for doing it the first time. Talty said those are the anecdotes that gave him “a greater understanding” of how Kiffin grew up and how his upbringing shaped him into the person he is today. They helped him answer the ques-

tions at the center of the book: why Kiffin is the way he is and why Kiffin does the things he does. “As you can imagine,” Talty said, “just some of the antics Lane does now, he was, as a 19-year-old, doing some of that same stuff. “And then it was just about, can I dig in, talk to people, find new stories, find new details, to be able to give you that kind of well-rounded perspective? And I thought that I was able to do that.” Talty reported the book in chronological order. His first interviews were with the people who knew Kiffin when he was in high school, and the last people he spoke to were the folks who were around Ole Miss and LSU when Kiffin made the decision that now has two schools gearing up for one massive rivalry game. The exercise, Talty said, “absolutely” gave him a fresh understanding of Kiffin and the complex image he’s cultivated over the years. “My hope is that people who buy and read this book,” Talty said, “will come away with some of those same feelings. “I just think there’s something about him that you can’t look away, and I have just always thought, when there’s someone who intrigues me the way that I think Lane does, I want to know more.” Email Reed Darcey at reed. darcey@theadvocate.com. For more LSU sports updates, sign up for our newsletter at theadvocate.com/lsunewsletter

Sarkisian says he could have ‘better’ handled interview BY JIM VERTUNO AP sportswriter

AUSTIN, Texas — Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said Thursday he should have “better” handled his postgame interview with ESPN reporter Holly Rowe after the win over Ohio State, and acknowledged the testy exchange led to the creation of fake videos and an apology from star quarterback Arch Manning. Manning joked publicly about an AI-generated video that showed Sarkisian slapping Rowe during the interview. Manning apologized the next day for his remarks and to Rowe speciﬁcally. Rowe also posted on social media that she accepted Manning’s apology. In his weekly conference call with media, Sarkisian noted that his halftime and postgame interviews with EPSN were delayed, and that he had wanted to join his team’s celebration after the victory. Some of the public criticism of Manning has also blamed Sarkisian for not taking a moment to conduct the interview. The short

with Rowe. “Obviously we have a ton of respect for ESPN and for Holly,” Sarkisian said. “We could have handled that situation better with a little bit more patience in the moment. But that obviously led to the situation with Arch.” Manning’s public misstep two days later drew quick and widespread public criticism directed at one of college football’s most prominent players. The nephew of Peyton and Eli Manning and grandson of family patriarch Archie Manning has endorsements with major brands such as Red Bull, Vuori athletic wear and Google Gemini artiﬁcial intelligence, to name a few. Manning recognized the mistake in his comments, Sarkisian ASSOCIATEd PRESS PHOTO By SARA dIGGINS said. “In no way do we condone Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian walks away from a domestic violence or violence postgame interview after it was delayed due to technical difficulties against women,” Sarkisian said, following Texas’ 24-23 win over Ohio State during their game in Austin, adding he believes Manning did not intend anything malicious Texas on Saturday. when he joked about the fake video. “At his core, he knows what he exchange spawned the fake vid- versy erupted. Sarkisian said he should have believes in and what he stands eo that Manning joked about, and several others since the contro- been more patient and spoken for,” Sarkisian said.

Caitlin Clark doesn’t have much longer to wait for her ﬁrst signature shoe to come out. They will be available starting Oct. 1 in the U.S. and a week earlier in China. “I’m just super excited,” she told The Associated Press in Germany last week. “I look down at my feet and I’m, man, I’m wearing my shoes. There’s not many people that get a Nike signature shoe.” Clark will be the fifth active player to have a signature shoe, joining fellow Nike athletes Sabrina Ionescu and A’ja Wilson. Angel Reese has one with Reebok and Breanna Stewart with Puma. Sheryl Swoopes was the ﬁrst women’s basketball player to have her own one in 1995. Elena Delle Donne’s signature shoe debuted at the same time as Stewart in 2022.

Pulisic left off U.S. roster, rookies could make debut

NEW YORK — Christian Pulisic is out and 16-year-old Cavan Sullivan is in. Mauricio Pochettino picked 13 newcomers Thursday for the ﬁrst roster of his second term as U.S. coach, dropping the team’s top star and picking a forward who could become the youngest American national team player in 20 years. A two-time World Cup veteran who turns 28 on Friday, Pulisic failed to score during last summer’s tournament. He missed one of the Americans’ ﬁve matches because of a calf injury and left two others early. Sullivan made his Major League Soccer debut at 14 with Philadelphia in July 2024 and has six league goals this season. He is set to transfer to Manchester City when he turns 18.

Texas assistant coach arrested on DWI charge

AUSTIN, Texas — Texas defensive assistant coach Johnny Nansen was arrested on a misdemeanor driving while intoxicated charge and his status for a return to the sideline with the No. 1 Longhorns has not yet been determined, head coach Steve Sarkisian announced Thursday. Austin police said Nansen, 52, was arrested Wednesday night after officers responded to a three-vehicle wreck about 9 p.m. Nansen was one of the drivers and officers observed “multiple clues of impairment” in standard field sobriety tests, police said, without providing details. The short description of the arrest did not mention whether Nansen submitted to a breath test. It also did not detail whether Nansen or another driver was at fault in the crash.

Rai, Lagergren share lead at BMW Championship

VIRGINIA WATER, England — PGA champion Aaron Rai and Joakim Lagergren of Sweden each posted a 6-under 66 on Thursday in the BMW Championship with the kind of finish Rory McIlroy could have used at Wentworth. McIlroy, who caused a stir with a 60 in the celebrity pro-am on the eve of the European flagship event, didn’t lose a step in the opening round when he opened with five birdies on the back nine to shoot up the leaderboard. But he went into the trees, into a bunker and into the water on the front nine, all of those shots leading to bogeys, that dropped him to a 69 and into a tie for 19th. Adam Scott was practically flawless off the tee except for one drive that sailed well left into the trees and out-of-bounds on the par-5 17th.

The Acadiana Advocate ● theadvocate.com ● Friday, September 18, 2026 ● 3C

lll

Continued from page 1C He had a similar conversation with the tight ends after the spring. The concern was heightened by top target Shelton Sampson missing the entire camp with a knee injury and then rolling his ankle in the first series of the opener. Making matters worse, the next most consistent performer — Landon Strother — broke his collarbone in camp and missed the first two games. Charles Robertson, the other most seasoned receiver theoretically back from last season, transferred to Southern in the offseason, so there wasn’t a lot of experience to lean on. Offensive coordinator Tim Leger made his concern about the drops and missed assignments at receiver very clear in a news conference days before the season opener. But a funny thing has happened since then. The drops kind of disappeared and so did the suspect route running. “To their credit, they didn’t pout, and they didn’t tank it,” Desormeaux said. “They kept working.” As a group, the receivers have somehow transformed since those stern early assessments in camp. “I think that’s very safe to say,” Desormeaux said. The coach said the wide receivers’ positive reaction to criticism is an example of how the entire team has been this year. “What I appreciate the most about this team is every time that we’ve challenged them ... the next day, man, they came back, and they attacked it and they worked their tails off to fix it.” It’s the polar opposite of last year’s scenario when UL’s staff exited camp thinking the passing game was about to flourish. “If you would have told me we’d have had trouble throw-

SAINTS

Continued from page 1C Both swaps happened at positions that rarely leave the ﬁeld. The Lions, by contrast, played their starting cornerbacks for 99% of the snaps. Their starting linebackers played 100% and 86% of snaps. What gives? “We’ve just got really good players (who) have earned roles and really good opportunities,” Saints coach Kellen Moore said. “I thought (Emerson) has done a good job through camp. He’s applied himself really well. He’ll continue to have different opportunities, and Danny as well. “We feel like we have some depth there. Those guys have earned opportunities, and it’s great for our guys overall.” The rotations can be jarring at

WALKER

Continued from page 1C M&T Bank Stadium. Kamara isn’t the only person in the Saints locker room who knew Henry was different than everyone else. Saints’ offensive coordinator, Doug Nussmeier, had no doubts either. Nussmeier was the offensive coordinator at Alabama when Henry and Kamara got there. Nussmeier had taken trips to Henry’s high school in Florida to recruit him. Henry’s physique reminded Nussmeier of Steven Jackson, who he had coached during his time with the St. Louis Rams. Nussmeier remembers looking up the measurements of Jackson and Henry and sharing

LSU

Continued from page 1C Rookie of the Year has just one year as an FCS starter under his belt. Elon went 6-6, and Clark completed 56% of his passes. Chambliss had a 62% success rate at Ferris State. Clark racked up nearly 3,000 total yards at Elon thanks to 614 rushing yards, and his completions averaged nearly 15 yards. His 29 touchdowns last season (18 passing, 11 rushing) rank second alltime for Elon in a single campaign. His sample size at this level is tiny, but Clark does seem to have a grasp of LSU’s offense. He’s 7-of10 passing for 109 yards, plus 42 rushing, in garbage time versus Clemson and Louisiana Tech. Clark’s 7-yard touchdown run in the latter game was fancy, head-

ing and catching, coming out of spring and camp (last year), I would have laughed you out of the room,” Desormeaux said. “I really thought we were going to throw it 40 times a game and we were going to have some fun. Then the first game happens and you’re like, ‘Holy cow, what was that?’ ” Likewise, there was every reason to think UL’s passing game would struggle at USC without arguably its top four targets: Sampson, Strother, Trenton Chaney and tight end Caden Jensen. Except it didn’t. No, it didn’t set any records, but the passing game was effective. The targets made the expected catches and even a few not-so-routine ones. Lunch Winfield finished 16-of-22 passing for 212 yards. Russell Babineaux had six catches for 91 yards and tight end Brock Chappell had three for 47. True freshman Kristion Brooks and reserve tight ends Teddy Gawlik and Quandre Coates also got in on the act. And don’t forget about KeDarius Wade. He may not have had a catch in Los Angeles, but Winfield missed him twice after missing him on a deep one in the opener. It sure seems like Wade has improved and his day is coming soon. “We were a little cautious going into the season with a lot of injuries and things that had popped up throughout the year,” said Desormeaux, who said Wednesday receivers Sampson and Chaney will still be out, but Strother is expected to return Saturday. If the Cajuns’ reserve targets continue to perform well until the starters return, this passing game may be far more of a weapon than it appeared. If the early signs on defense remain accurate, Winfield may be able to play point guard way more often than anticipated this season. That could make Sun Belt title hopes a lot more realistic.

SAINTS NOTEBOOK

Determined Kamara set to play vs. Ravens Star running back beat projected injury return timeline

to a four-year, $112 million contract in the offseason, shortly after Baltimore rescinded its trade for Maxx Crosby following the pass rusher’s failed physical. Hendrickson, who played for New Orleans from 2017 through 2020, recorded eight pressures in Week 1, and the Ravens had a 58.6% pressure percentage when he was on the ﬁeld. Elsewhere, the Saints saw tight end Juwan Johnson return to practice Thursday on a limited basis after he missed the previous day with an illness. Defensive end Cam Jordan (hamstring) and tight end Oscar Delp (hamstring) were again limited.

Two big names popped up on

Thursday‘s injury report for the Saints. Wide receiver Chris Olave was listed with a hamstring injury, while pass rusher Chase Young popped up with a calf injury. Both players were listed as limited participants. Saints coach Kellen Moore was not available to reporters Thursday, so it is unclear whether any of the injuries could put them in jeopardy of missing Sunday’s game against the Baltimore Ravens. Young notably missed ﬁve games last year with a strained calf. The Ravens are also dealing with a troublesome injury situation. Baltimore had six players not practice, including three marquee names. Wide receiver Zay Flowers (hamstring), tackle Ronnie Stanley (toe) and former Saints defensive end Trey Hendrickson (finger) were among those who did not practice. Guard John Simpson (groin), defensive lineman Calais Campbell (rest) and cornerback T.J. Tampa (knee) also sat out for the Ravens. Five of the six have not practiced this week. Flowers, in particular, would be a big loss for Baltimore after the wide receiver caught ﬁve passes for 150 yards and a touchdown in last week’s season opener. Flowers hurt his hamstring in that game but was considered afterward to be “day-to-day.” Baltimore will also be without its No. 2 receiver after placing rookie Ja’Kobi Lane on injured reserve with a fractured wrist. On defense, losing Hendrickson would hurt the Ravens’ pass rush. The Ravens signed Hendrickson

first. When he was a rookie with the Cleveland Browns, Emerson was part of a rotation in the secondary — but he was part of a trio that included Greg Newsome and Denzel Ward. He wasn’t always on the field but still played 77% of the snaps. That helped him get into a rhythm. On the Saints, Emerson didn’t see the field until the defense’s fourth drive. The Saints pre-plan their rotations beforehand and communicate those plans to players, so the cornerback knew his opportunity would come. But Emerson said he didn’t have a “good feel” for how the game was going until he got out there. “Most definitely different,” Emerson said. “New.” The plan wasn’t new to the Saints. Last year, New Orleans focused on rotating Werner and Stutsman so that Stutsman, a fourth-round rookie, could develop on the fly. The Saints also sprinkled in reps

for Isaiah Stalbird, though his usage came more in a third-down specialty package. In a down season, the Saints hammered home development. But what was fascinating about Sunday’s game was that the rotation wasn’t just a youth movement. In Riley’s case, the Saints took a second-year cornerback off the ﬁeld to play Emerson — a 2022 third-round pick who joined the Saints this past offseason. “When you think you have multiple starters at one position, that’s something we’ve done in the past,” said Staley, who said he took a similar approach when he coached the Los Angeles Chargers. “Especially when you want to develop the depth on a team throughout a season. “It’s really hard to develop as a player without experience on the ﬁeld. When you feel like you have capable starters, you want to make sure they get the opportunity to go

out there and play.” Emerson, in particular, appreciated the opportunity. The action marked his first appearance in a game since 2024 — he missed all of last season with a torn Achilles. Riley said he didn’t mind coming off the field. “I think it’s a positive for us,” Riley said. “When you got guys that can play too, and when you’re not running guys into the ground, I feel like that’s always going to be a positive. He can play just as well as you, so why not get him in the game?” Riley brings up a good point. There is a rest element that can perhaps benefit the Saints in the long run. That’s why rotations are more common at positions like the defensive line, where edge rushers and defensive tackles swap to stay fresh over the course of the game. Still, teams rarely buck convention — though the idea isn’t unheard of. The Chargers, for in-

stance, rotated two linemen at left guard in Week 1. And last year, the Washington Commanders rotated between then-rookie Josh Conerly and veteran Andrew Wylie at right tackle. But the Saints are willing to live with the results and not secondguess the timing of each swap. The Lions, for example, scored on three of the five drives in which Stutsman appeared, leading to two touchdowns and one field goal. That hardly means the linebacker was directly at fault. He wasn’t even on the field when the Lions got in the end zone. “A characteristic of a good defense or offense is having depth within your unit, and the only way that really can show itself — it’s just not when a guy gets injured — is being able to harness those individual talents throughout the game,” Staley said. “We feel there’s a real advantage to that.”

that info with his boss at the time, Nick Saban. The measurements were almost identical. “And this is a high school kid we were talking about,” Nussmeier said. Once he got to Alabama, it didn’t take long for Nussmeier to see what they had. “We started putting the pads on and started handing him the ball,” Nussmeier said. “The guys in the back end didn’t show up quite as fast. He’s a special player.” Henry is listed at 6-foot-3, 252 pounds on the Ravens’ roster. But his measurements often get inﬂated when discussed by the guys who have to try to tackle him. “He’s 6-5 and a 255-pound running back,” said Saints defensive end Carl Granderson. “That’s what makes him tough. He’s a Hall of Famer. He runs the ball hard. He’s

just a big back. If he gets to the second level, he’s untouchable. It’s our job to stop him up front and try to shut him down with the Dlinemen. We know he’s one of the biggest backs in the league. It’s our job to contain him.” The Saints will need to do a much better job than they did last week against Detroit Lions’ back Jahmyr Gibbs. Gibbs rushed 29 times for 156 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the Saints’ 31-30 overtime loss. Now they get Henry, who ranks 10th on the NFL’s all-time rushing list. Henry is the only active player in the top 40 on the list. Assuming Henry stays healthy, he can likely move up to sixth on the list this season, leaping greats like Eric Dickerson, Jerome Bettis, LaDainian Tomlinson and Curtis Martin. It’ll be up to Saints defensive

coordinator Brandon Staley to plan a way to slow down Henry, part of the Ravens’ dynamic backﬁeld duo that also includes quarterback and two-time MVP Lamar Jackson. “The one thing I think of is his ability to force missed tackles,” Staley said of Henry. “When you force missed tackles, typically explosive runs follow. For his size and his speed, that combination is really unique. When he’s going full speed, his full speed is really fast.” Henry is the second of four top-tier running backs the Saints will face to start the season. After Gibbs and Henry, they get Ashton Jeanty (Las Vegas Raiders) and Bijan Robinson (Atlanta Falcons) in back-to-back weeks in the Dome. “It’s a good challenge for us,” said defensive end Chase Young.

“I think we’re up for it. It gives us an opportunity to show us how great we are.” Saints practice squad back Zamir White has played the role of Henry this week. White, like Kamara and Nussmeier, knows Henry. Henry hosted White on a recruiting visit to Alabama. White is three inches shorter and 25 pounds lighter than Henry, so he knows he can’t actually duplicate being Henry in practice. “Hell naw,” White said. “That joker is huge. It’s his size and he knows ball. He knows where to go and when to go.” Nussmeier puts it succinctly. “That’s a big fast man that can run.” Yes, Henry has earned the Saints’ respect. Now they must ﬁnd a way to make him earn his yards.

ing off-tackle to his left, breaking a tackle and cutting back to his right, and high-stepping into the end zone. He just hasn’t escaped an SEC defense, other than LSU’s in practice. And he hasn’t seen anything like Oxford, Mississippi, in the wake of Kifﬁn’s jilting. It would be risky to ask too much of Clark. But it could be hard to lean too heavily on LSU’s run game, which had issues versus Louisiana Tech. Ole Miss coach Pete Golding will do everything he can to force the Elon transfer to win the game. It would be storybook if he did.

undoubtedly the more prestigious of the two backup quarterbacks LSU added via transfer. Longstreet was a five-star prospect in the 2025 class, and he completed 13-of-15 passing for 103 yards and a score in four games for the Trojans. He also rushed 11 times for 76 yards. At 6-1, 200 pounds, Longstreet also fits Kiffin’s dual-threat prototype. In nonconference games against Georgia Southern and Missouri State last year, he showed he’s not afraid to take off for scrambles or bounce from the pocket to extend plays. He has the arm strength one would expect from a five-star recruit. Longstreet followed Clark in the Clemson opener, hitting Phillip Wright on a 33-yard pass that helped salt the game away on LSU’s final drive. The question is whether he has a full grasp of LSU’s up-tempo of-

fense if he’s been playing secondﬁddle to Clark. Longstreet would be walking into Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, mostly cold, with just one completed pass on the season.

ﬁrst offense, $50,000 on the second, and $100,000 each time after that. But those aren’t bank-breaking amounts, and it’s unclear how the SEC proves “doubtful” should have been “questionable” and so on. Best-case scenario for LSU: Leavitt’s status improves. That’s what Ole Miss expects, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, who reported the Rebels do not believe the quarterback’s “doubtful” listing Wednesday was “sincere.” Same with LSU legend Tyrann Mathieu, who appeared on Wake Up Barstool on Thursday. “I think Lane is trolling, man,” the former safety said. “It’s no way a quarterback can get hurt two days before a game.” It was a surprise when Leavitt popped on the SEC availability report Wednesday. It would surprise no one if he played Saturday.

Longstreet steps up How about a next-level conspiracy theory: Kifﬁn has been hiding his true backup quarterback, just in case Leavitt was sidelined early this season. That’s very unlikely, but Longstreet, the transfer from USC, is

BY MATTHEW PARAS and LUKE JOHNSON Staff writers

When Alvin Kamara was diagnosed with his knee injury, the New Orleans Saints running back was told he would “probably” be out for six weeks. The Saints’ medical team, he said, told him that he had a “Grade 2-plus” MCL strain. Kamara was determined to come back faster than the projected timeline. “Obviously, I beat it,” Kamara said. The running back said he’ll make his season debut Sunday when the Saints travel to face the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. Kamara has been a full participant in practice this week and was nearing his return last weekend before the Saints decided to give him a little more time to recover. Kamara, who renegotiated his contract in the offseason to stay with the Saints for a 10th season, ﬁrst hurt his knee in an Aug. 18 joint practice against the Dallas Cowboys. When he returns Sunday, he’ll be roughly two weeks ahead of schedule. “I’m going,” Kamara said. “If it wasn’t right, I wouldn’t be in. I feel great. I’m moving well. Really no limitations, so I feel good.”

Injury update

It’s all a troll The truth may lie somewhere in between Leavitt is “doubtful,” and he isn’t hurt at all, because LSU’s quarterback did receive some rough treatment from Louisiana Tech. Leavitt was sacked ﬁve times, took a hard shot in the back on another pressure, and landed on his throwing shoulder awkwardly while chasing after a defender on a pick-six. On the other hand, Leavitt spoke postgame, didn’t appear hobbled, and was scheduled to speak Tuesday ahead of the Ole Miss contest. He didn’t show up, though. There are consequences if a program deceives its availability reports — including $25,000 for a

Saints to sign long snapper With regular long-snapper Zach Wood out for the next several weeks with a calf injury, New Orleans is expected to sign Scott Daly to ﬁll his spot on the roster, a source with knowledge of the situation conﬁrmed. Daly was one of three players the Saints worked out Thursday, a list that included former Saints defensive end Niko Lalos. The 32-year-old Daly served as the Chicago Bears long snapper each of the past two seasons. He previously spent parts of three seasons with the Detroit Lions. Wood has handled long-snapping duties for the Saints since the start of the 2017 season, and before this week he had never missed a game in his NFL career. Special teams coordinator Phil Galiano said Wood went through his normal Wednesday practice routine without issue, but felt pain in his calf toward the end of practice.

4C ● Friday, September 18, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

lll

THE VARSITY ZONE

Pioneers defense undersized but dominant so far

BY MIKE COPPAGE

Contributing writer

PHOTO By LEE BALL

Lafayette Renaissance’s defensive front, shown here forcing a fumble during last week’s blowout win over Catholic High, will be facing a huge test in John Curtis and the veer attack Friday.

LRCA’s talented D-line faces unique John Curtis attack BY ERIC NARCISSE

Staff writer

Coming into the season, Lafayette Renaissance knew the strength of its team would be its defense. That’s not to say the Tigers didn’t expect their offense to be able to hold its own, but defensively, they return more starters and players with varsity experience. But the Tigers also knew that if the defense were to live up to the lofty expectations, it would require their defensive line to be as good as advertised. And through the ﬁrst two weeks of the season against Edna Karr and Catholic High of New Iberia, the Tigers’ defensive front has not disappointed. “Our defensive line has done a really good job of taking on a lot of the blockers and allowing our linebackers to run freely, and make a lot of tackles,” Tigers coach Hunter Landry said. “So, I think it starts up front with the D-line and how well they’ve played.” Not only is the defensive line — led by Tyler Yokum, James Jones, Z’Mari Papillion, Trilon Francis,

Jaydrian Joseph and Rylin Prejean — talented, but it has plenty of depth with the Tigers rotating as many as seven guys throughout the game. “They’re aggressive,” Landry said of the defensive line. “They do a really good job of stopping the run and putting some pressure on the quarterback to make some plays. I thought they did a really good job of taking the run away against Catholic High. They hit us for a couple of chunk plays, but we were able to bear down and keep them out of the end zone. So, it starts up front with us being aggressive and controlling the run game and forcing people to be able to throw it a little bit. That has allowed us to have a little bit of success so far.” The Tigers (1-1) will be tested again this week when Lafayette Renaissance plays host to John Curtis (1-1) at 7 p.m. Friday. And considering the Patriots’ offensive scheme that prides itself on running the football, Yokum and Co. are going to be counted on to hold their own in the trenches. “You don’t really see it a whole

lot,” Landry said of John Curtis’ offensive scheme. “It’s hard to simulate it in practice. The speed, the start that they get and the blocking schemes. They’ve been doing it for a while now and at a really high success rate. “So, the biggest thing for us is having guys in their spot, the right spot and doing what our defensive coaches ask them to do,” Landry said. “We know it’s going to be a physical game in the trenches, so we just have to come out ready to play and ready to stop the run.” Landry also said stopping the run against the Patriots starts with the defensive line “ﬁring off the ball.” “You’re probably going to get double-teamed at times, but you have to be able to win the one-onone blocks,” Landry said. “Understanding your pad level has to be low because the minute we stand up, they’re going to drive us off the ball. So, we have to keep our pad level low, ﬁre off the ball, and understand that it’s going to be a very physical game.”

Grit and technique. Those factors allow an undersized Notre Dame defense to not only succeed, but to dominate. Through two games, the Pioneers (2-0) have allowed only 14 points against two quality Class 3A opponents in Northwest and Church Point, the latter game a 37-0 win on the road. “We’ve been locked in at practice and giving a lot of effort on the ﬁeld,” said senior free safety Brayden Frey (5-foot-7, 165 pounds), who intercepted a pass in each game. “We see people who are being recruited to go to LSU, but we don’t care about that.” Northwest receiver Markez Davis, a 6-4 senior LSU commitment, didn’t catch a pass in Notre Dame’s 28-14 win, which also was on the road. The Pioneers don’t play a home game until Week 4 against Catholic-New Iberia. “Brayden worked at quarterback as a freshman and sophomore,” Pioneers coach Lewis Cook said. “We had Drew LeJeune at QB last year and knew we had to get Brayden on the ﬁeld. “He’s just a solid player. We put him at safety and ended up having him become a quarterback on defense.” The Pioneers, who held Church Point to 11-of-30 passing and 49 yards rushing on 19 attempts, don’t have a defensive player that weighs 200 pounds. The biggest defensive lineman is 5-9, 185-pound Drake Bertrand. “They have grit,” Frey said of the defensive line. “They might be small, but they’re pretty fast. They use good technique against big ol’ linemen.” The Pioneers lost their defensive leader (and largest player on that side of the ball) when linebacker Jack Vondenstein

Notre dame safety Brayden Frey already has two interceptions for the Pioneers this season. Unbeaten Notre dame takes on Teurlings Catholic on Friday.

Email Eric Narcisse at enarcisse@theadvocate.com.

WEEK 3 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE Schedule All games start at 7 p.m.

Thursday’s games

Istrouma (1-1) at JS Clark (1-1) Highland (0-2) at Berchmans (1-1)

Friday’s games

Acadiana (2-0) at Carencro (1-1) Lafayette (2-0) at Erath (1-1) Union Parish (0-2) at Southside (0-2) St. Thomas More (1-1) at Catholic-BR (1-1) Ville Platte (0-2) at North Vermilion (2-0)

Rayne (1-1) at Church Point (1-1) Acadiana Renaissance (1-1) at Abbeville (0-2) John Curtis (1-1) at Lafayette Renaissance (1-1) Ascension Episcopal (0-2) at Northside (0-2) Lafayette Christian (2-0) at Alexandria (2-0) Notre Dame (2-0) at Teurlings (0-2) Westminster-Lafayette (2-0) at Houma Christian (1-1) New Iberia (1-1) at St. Martinville (1-1) Jena (2-0) at Westgate (2-0) Beau Chene (2-0) at Port Barre (0-2)

suffered a season-ending injury last week. That was a big loss,” Cook said. “You take the guy who is the leader of the team on top of everything else. Playing football meant a lot to him. Colton Benoit, who was working behind Jack, is a solid player.” The Pioneers brought back five defensive starters from last year’s Division III select semifinal team. The secondary has Frey two in Frey and strong safety Jackson Trahan. Cornerback Maddox Morgan lettered last season and has been a ballhawk. “Our two safeties have really come on,” Cook said of Frey and Trahan. “They have experience and are pretty good players. We were concerned about cornerback, but Maddox and Ashton Leleux have been solid.” Frey said it also helps to have a coach like Cook, who is going for career win No. 420 against old rival Teurlings Catholic (0-2) on Friday at 7 p.m. in Lafayette. “Coach Cook knows a lot about football, offense and defense,” Frey said. “After practice, he gives us good talks, not just about football, but life lessons to put into practice and the game.” The Pioneers were ranked No. 3 in Class 2A this week by the LSWA. Calvary Baptist was No. 1, reigning champion Dunham No. 2 and old district rival Lafayettte Christian was No. 5. “With (Class 3A schools) St. Charles Catholic and U-High moving down from Division II, it will be tougher than last year, but we’re going to give it a go,” Frey said. “That was a tough loss last year (in overtime to Calvary Baptist). I’ve used that to motivate me. I don’t want to fall short again.”

Breaux Bridge (0-2) at Crowley (0-2) Cecilia (2-0) at Barbe (2-0) Northwest (1-1) at Opelousas (2-0) Eunice (2-0) at Kinder (1-1) Iota (1-1) at Lake Arthur (2-0) Catholic-NI (1-1) at Kaplan (2-0) Delcambre (2-0) at Pickering (1-1) Loreauville (1-1) at Vermilion Catholic (0-2) North Central (2-0) at Block (0-2) Opelousas Catholic (1-1) at Covenant Christian (1-1) St. Edmund (2-0) at Loyola (1-1) Westminster (0-2) at Live Oak (0-2)

PROVIdEd PHOTO

Vikings WR Jefferson opens season with return to end zone BY DAVE CAMPBELL Associated Press

EAGAN, Minn. — Carson Wentz saw the ﬂag ﬂy for offside late in the second quarter, quickly realizing the opportunity. With the Minnesota Vikings trying to generate some momentum against Green Bay and Justin Jefferson racing along the left sideline in one-on-one coverage, Wentz stepped forward in the pocket and looked right before pivoting toward his star wide receiver in the season opener last week. The no-risk pass was perfectly placed in the back of the end zone for Jefferson to slide in front of rookie cornerback Brandon Cisse — after setting him up with a slight veer to the outside — and catch it in time to drag both feet down inbounds. “A lot of guys will struggle in those moments with a late weave or things like that, because then you still have to track the ball and know where you are and get your feet down,” Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell said. “So much of that play was Justin’s greatness.” Wentz had taken over for the injured Kyler Murray, who prac-

ä Vikings at Bears. NOON SUNdAy “The guy’s so good. He’s the best in the world at what he does, and sometimes you’ve just got to give him a chance,” Wentz said. “When it goes his way he usually finds a way to come down with it.” Jefferson had two touchdown catches, his first multi-score game since Week 16 of the 2024 season. Jefferson matched Randy Moss for second place on the franchise’s all-time list for career receptions with 587, on a pace to catch leader Cris Carter (1,004) sometime during the 2030 season. With 916 yards over the next 16 games, Jefferson would pass Torry Holt (9,487) for the most career yards in NFL history over a player’s first seven years in the league. Most important to Jefferson, ASSOCIATEd PRESS PHOTO By ABBIE PARR of course, was the win over the Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson catches a touchdown Packers that helped the Vikings pass as Green Bay Packers cornerback Brandon Cisse defends during properly move forward from the frustrating 2025 season that saw their game Sunday in Minneapolis, Minn. their passing game lag badly durticed again on a limited basis on a 12-point deficit late in the third ing J.J. McCarthy’s rocky debut at Thursday, and wisely targeted quarter to overwhelm the Pack- quarterback. Second on his list? Reaching the Jefferson as frequently as pos- ers by scoring the final 29 points end zone at U.S. Bank Stadium sible as the Vikings rallied from of the game.

again. He had only two touchdowns last season, none at home, and hadn’t done that since Week 15 of the 2024 season. His frequent appearances on the videoboard during the game against the Packers last week showed an especially fired-up player. “The juices were flowing for sure,” Jefferson said. “I was definitely ready. I felt like the team was ready. The energy was high. I love those type of games.” Jefferson and the Vikings have moved on this week to focus on their game on Sunday at Chicago, but he had more questions to field from reporters about that 39-yard touchdown catch he made look rather routine. “Instinct, hand-eye coordination, peripheral view, there’s a lot more that goes into it than people understand,” Jefferson said. “It’s really a lot more difficult than it looks, a 40-yard throw in the back of the end zone in a crowded stadium with a brown ball, sunlight coming through. There’s a lot of barricades that kind of get in the way of you being able to track that ball and to come down with it, but I focus and practice on it all the time.”

The Acadiana Advocate ● theadvocate.com ● Friday, September 18, 2026 ● 5C

WNBA returns after World Cup lll

BY DOUG FEINBERG AP basketball writer

NEW YORK — The WNBA is set to resume its season Thursday after a nearly three-week break for the women’s FIBA World Cup. It will be a sprint to the finish with each team having four games left. While the playoff teams are set, their positioning is still up for grabs.. With over 50 players competing in the World Cup teams were left without many of their stars as they prepared for the ﬁnal seven days of the regular season. “I think we have to understand we can’t use these next four games as an opportunity for excuses,” Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu said. “Obviously, we had the most ASSOCIATEd PRESS PHOTO By ANGELINA KATSANIS players gone and it’s not easy New york Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu dribbles toward the basket when most of your team is gone during the first half of a game against the Indiana Fever on Aug. 22 in competing. They’re tired, they’re New york. fatigued, they’ve been traveling, but every team is dealing with it.” Here’s a look at a few key spots locking up the top spot, but they their deﬁcit to two games. Howthat will be decided over the next headed into the World Cup break ever, the Lynx have the season week: with two consecutive losses, in- tiebreaker, so Minnesota’s magic cluding one against second-place number is two to clinch homecourt Race for No. 1 seed Golden State. The Valkyries have throughout the playoffs. Lynx star Napheesa Collier loved The Minnesota Lynx are close to won four games in a row and cut

the chance to play in the World Cup as it gave her more opportunities to get back to 100% after missing the ﬁrst half of the season while recovering from ankle surgeries. “I think this was great that I got to play during this time because, I didn’t need the three weeks off, right? Like my body’s not tired like everyone else is for the season,” she said. “I get to keep making (my ankles) stronger. Keep getting that game experience. Now I go back to the W for a playoff run. Making sure that I’m just hitting my peak at the right time as well.”

Battle for homecourt advantage Las Vegas, Atlanta and Indiana all are vying to get homecourt in the opening round. The Aces, who are one game in front of the Dream and Fever, are in a good spot to get the No. 3 seed with two games against Seattle, one against Los Angeles and a contest against Phoenix left. Those are three of the bottom teams in the standings. The Dream own the tiebreaker over the second tiebreaker over the Fever with a better record against opponents that had an over

.500 record. Indiana has a tough schedule in front of it with a game at Toronto followed by Washington and two against Minnesota. The Dream play Connecticut and Chicago before closing with a pair of games against New York.

Jockeying for position at bottom New York, Washington and Dallas round out the playoff field with all three teams tied at 24-16. The Liberty might be the most dangerous of the group to pull off a firstround upset. New York is only two years removed from winning the franchise’s first WNBA title and the nucleus is back with Breanna Stewart, Ionescu and Jonquel Jones. The Liberty though had seven of their players competing in the World Cup, so how quickly they reacclimate to their teammates could determine where they finish in the standings. Washington has shown it can play with the best in the league led by Shakira Austin, Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen. Both Washington and Dallas have easier schedules than New York, which has to play Minnesota and Atlanta twice in its final four games.

SCOREBOARD Odds

Connecticut

.250

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

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

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Sports Betting Line NFL Sunday

FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG at N.E. 4½ 5 (41½) Pittsburgh at TAMPA 6½ 8½ (41½) Cleveland Green Bay 6½ 3½ (44½) at NY JETS at BALT 7½ 8½ (46½)New Orleans Carolina 1½ 2½ (43½) at ATL at HOU 2½ 2½ (45½) Cincinnati Philadelphia 4½ 7 (39½) at TEN at CHICAGO 3½ 4½ (48) Minnesota at DENVER 3 2½ (45½) Jacksonville at CHARGRS 8½ 6½ (43½) Las Vegas Seattle 10 4 (41½) at ARIZONA at SAN FRN 10½ 13½ (45½) Miami at DALLAS 4½ 4½ (50½) Washington at K.C. 5½ 6½ (46½)Indianapolis

Monday

x-clinched playoff spot Wednesday’s Games No games scheduled.

Thursday’s Games

Connecticut at Atlanta, n Los Angeles at Dallas, n Washington at Chicago, n Las Vegas at Seattle, n Phoenix at Portland, n

Friday’s Games

FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG at LA RAMS 9½ 7½ (48½) NY Giants

Indiana at Toronto, 6:30 p.m. New York at Minnesota, 6:30 p.m. Portland at Golden State, 9 p.m.

Friday

Pro football

College Football

FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG Miami (FL) 19½ 20½ (55½) at W.F. at TX TECH 14½ 7½ (52½) Houston at OREGON 57½ 57½ (67½) Portland St

Saturday

FAVORITE OPEN at DEL 5½ at PENN ST 39½ Georgia 17½ at IOWA ST 23½ at KANS ST 20½ at MINN 28½ at OSU 52½ at GA TECH 42½ at TSU 3½ Arizona St 5½ at CLEMSON 9½ at WISC 24½ at VANDR 5½ Wyoming 1½ at B. COLL 39½ at ILLINOIS 41½ at TOLEDO 1½ at UMASS 34½ at WASH ST 35½ at UTAH 27½ USC 24½ at MICH 35½ at ALABMA 15½ at LOUSVLLE 1½ at TEX A&M 14½ at CIN 14½ at LIBERTY 13½ at INDIANA 44½ at IOWA 41½ at BAYLOR 18½ at DUKE 11½ at S. CAR 7½ at ULM 12½ at FLA ATL 9½ at OLD DOM 2½ at APPA ST 19½ Marshall 4½ at S. BAMA 3½ at MISSOU 27½ Florida PK W. Mich 10½ at OKLA ST 57½ at S. FLA 37½ Nevada 6½ at SAM HOU 18½ at JAX ST 3 at MEM 35½ UConn 2½ at UCF 19½ at NBRSKA 24½ at WASH 44½ LSU 2½ at N.D. 29½ at NRTWSTRN5½ at VIRGINIA 8½ Virginia Tech 1½ at OKLA 21½ BYU 20½ at TENN 35½ at UL 8½ at TCU 20½ at TULSA 42½ at TEXAS 29½ at BOISE ST. 22½ at SDSU 1½ Ndsu 23½ at ARIZONA 31½ Fresno State 5½ at ORGON ST 9½ at UCLA 13½

MLB

TODAY O/U UNDERDOG 4½ (57½) C. Carolina 40½ (50½) Buffalo 24½ (54½) at ARKS 24 (43½) B. Green 20½ (49½) Tulane 23½ (49½) Akron 52½ (58½) Kent State 38½ (60½) Mercer 2½ (62½) N. Texas 5½ (50½) at KANSAS 3½ (43½) N. Carolina 23½ (45½) E. Michigan 3 (50½) NC State 1½ (38½) at C. MICH 38½ (53½) Maine 38½ (54½) S. Illinois 5½ (50½) Temple 33½ (49½) Stonehill 37½ (53½) Duquesne 27½ (56½) Utah State 21½ (60½) at RUTGERS 35½ (48½) UTEP 18½ (48½) Florida St 1½ (59½) SMU 17 (50½) Kentucky 15½ (49½) Miami (OH) 14½ (49½) Ball State 44½ (60½) W. Kentcky 40½ (49½) N. Iowa 19½ (49½) La Tech 10 (50½) Stanford 4 (58½) Miss St 10½ (48½) Selu 6½ (62½) Florida Intl 2½ (49½) E. Carolina 17½ (51½) Charlotte 4 (52½)at MISOU ST 7 (49½) Ohio 27½ (50½) Troy 2½ (52½) at AUBURN 9½ (43½) at RICE 56½ (70½) Murray St. 36½ (61½) Delawre St. 3½ (50½) at M. TENN 17½ (49½) Nicholls St 3½ (53½) Ga South 34½ (57½) UT Martin 3 (54½) at S. MISS 17½ (50½) Georgia St 24½ (51½) N. Dakota 42½ (57½) E. Wash 2½ (57½) at OLE MISS 29½ (52½) Michign St 3½ (48½) Colorado 10½ (53½) W. Virginia 2½ (53½) at MRYLND 21½ (46½)New Mexico 17½ (52½) at CSU 34½ (59½) Kennsw St 7½ (56½) UAB 19½ (56½) Arknsas St 42½ (57½) E. Tex A&M 30½ (58½) UTSA 23½ (56½) S. Dakota 1½ (46½) James Mad 27½ (50½) at SAC ST 33½ (50½) N. Illinois 6½ (50½) at SJSU 17½ (52½) Montana 14 (53½) Purdue

N.Y. Jets Buffalo New England Miami

W 1 1 0 0

L 0 0 1 1

T Pct PF 0 1.000 23 0 1.000 36 0 .000 10 0 .000 13

PA 10 31 13 27

Jacksonville Houston Tennessee Indianapolis

W 1 0 0 0

L 0 1 1 1

T Pct PF 0 1.000 34 0 .000 31 0 .000 10 0 .000 23

PA 10 36 23 41

L T Pct PF 0 0 1.000 41 0 0 1.000 33 0 0 1.000 20 1 0 .000 10

PA 23 27 13 34

South

North

Baltimore Cincinnati Pittsburgh Cleveland

West

W 1 1 1 0

W 1 1 0 0

Kansas City Las Vegas L.A. Chargers Denver

L 0 0 1 1

T Pct PF 0 1.000 31 0 1.000 27 0 .000 14 0 .000 10

NATIONAL CONFERENCE East

PA 10 13 26 31

N.Y. Giants Philadelphia Washington Dallas

W 1 1 0 0

L 0 0 1 1

T Pct PF 0 1.000 28 0 1.000 24 0 .000 22 0 .000 20

PA 20 22 24 28

Atlanta Tampa Bay New Orleans Carolina

W 0 0 0 0

L 1 1 1 1

T 0 0 0 0

PF 13 27 30 37

PA 20 33 31 59

T Pct PF 0 1.000 39 0 1.000 59 0 1.000 31 0 .000 22

PA 22 37 30 39

W L T Pct PF 1 0 0 1.000 27 1 0 0 1.000 26 1 0 0 1.000 13 0 1 0 .000 7

PA 7 14 10 27

South

North

Minnesota Chicago Detroit Green Bay

West

W 1 1 1 0

San Francisco Arizona Seattle L.A. Rams

L 0 0 0 1

Pct .000 .000 .000 .000

Thursday’s Games Detroit at Buffalo, n

Sunday’s Games

Carolina at Atlanta, noon Cincinnati at Houston, noon Cleveland at Tampa Bay, noon Green Bay at N.Y. Jets, noon Minnesota at Chicago, noon New Orleans at Baltimore, noon Philadelphia at Tennessee, noon Pittsburgh at New England, noon Jacksonville at Denver, 3:05 p.m. Las Vegas at L.A. Chargers, 3:05 p.m. Miami at San Francisco, 3:25 p.m. Seattle at Arizona, 3:25 p.m. Washington at Dallas, 3:25 p.m. Indianapolis at Kansas City, 7:20 p.m.

Monday’s Games

N.Y. Giants at L.A. Rams, 7:15 p.m.

College Football Schedule

UNDERDOG at TAMPA BAY Athletics Detroit Toronto at LA ANGELS

LINE +103 OFF OFF OFF +106

UNDERDOG Chicago Cubs Philadelphia at ST. LOUIS Miami San Francisco

LINE OFF OFF -104 +159 +260

UNDERDOG Kansas City Milwaukee Seattle at HOUSTON at ARIZONA

LINE +155 OFF OFF +100 +108

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

East

College football

Friday

American League FAVORITE LINE Boston -123 at CLEVELAND OFF at WHITE SOX OFF at TEXAS OFF Minnesota -125 National League FAVORITE LINE at CINCINNATI OFF at N.Y METS OFF Washington -114 at SAN DIEGO -192 at LA DODGERS-328 Interleague FAVORITE LINE at PITTS -186 at BALTIMORE OFF at COLORADO OFF Atlanta -119 N.Y Yankees -129

NFL Glance AMERICAN CONFERENCE

W 26 26 24 24 15 11

L 14 14 16 16 25 29

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

GB — — 2 2 11 15

All Times Central (Subject to change)

Thursday’s games EAST

Syracuse at Pittsburgh, n

Friday’s games SOUTH

Miami (2-0) at Wake Forest (2-0), 6:30 p.m.

SOUTHWEST

Houston (2-0) at Texas Tech (2-0), 7 p.m.

FAR WEST

Portland St. (0-3) at Oregon (1-1), 9:30 p.m.

Saturday’s games EAST

Coastal Carolina (1-1) at Delaware (1-1), 10:30 a.m. Villanova (1-2) at LIU Brooklyn (0-3), 11 a.m. Buffalo (1-1) at Penn St. (2-0), 11 a.m. Brown (0-0) at New Haven (1-2), 11 a.m. Lafayette (1-1) at Columbia (0-0), 11 a.m. Dartmouth (0-0) at Lehigh (3-0), 11 a.m. Princeton (0-0) at Bryant (2-1), noon Glenville St. (0-1) at Mercyhurst (0-3), noon Harvard (0-0) at New Hampshire (1-2), noon Cornell (0-0) at Colgate (2-1), noon Maine (1-2) at Boston College (1-1), 1 p.m. Yale (0-0) at Holy Cross (0-3), 1 p.m. Rhode Island (2-1) at Stony Brook (1-2), 1:30 p.m. Penn (0-0) at Bucknell (1-2), 2 p.m. Stonehill (1-2) at UMass (2-0), 2:30 p.m. Monmouth (NJ) (1-2) at Albany (NY) (2-1),

2:30 p.m. Southern Cal (3-0) at Rutgers (0-2), 2:30 p.m. Morgan St. (2-1) at Towson (0-3), 5 p.m. Virginia Tech (2-0) at Maryland (2-0), 6:30 p.m.

SOUTH

Mercer (2-1) at Georgia Tech (0-2), 11 a.m. North Carolina (2-0) at Clemson (1-1), 11 a.m. West Georgia (0-3) at ETSU (1-2), 11 a.m. NC State (1-1) at Vanderbilt (2-0), 11:45 a.m. VMI (0-3) at Davidson (1-2), noon Presbyterian (1-1) at W. Carolina (1-2), 1:30 p.m. Florida St. (1-1) at Alabama (2-0), 2:30 p.m. SMU (2-0) at Louisville (1-1), 2:30 p.m. Georgetown (0-1) at Richmond (2-1), 2:30 p.m. Va. Lynchburg (0-2) at Bethune-Cookman (1-1), 3 p.m. Hampton (1-2) at Norfolk St. (1-2), 3 p.m. Ball St. (1-1) at Liberty (1-1), 3 p.m. Stanford (1-1) at Duke (2-0), 3 p.m. Mississippi St. (2-0) at South Carolina (2-0), 3:15 p.m. SE Louisiana (1-2) at Louisiana-Monroe (02), 3:30 p.m. NC A&T (0-3) at Campbell (2-1), 5 p.m. East Carolina (0-2) at Old Dominion (1-1), 5 p.m. Point (Ga.) (0-0) at Charleston Southern (1-2), 5 p.m. Fordham (0-3) at William & Mary (2-1), 5 p.m. Wofford (2-1) at Chattanooga (1-2), 5 p.m. NC Central (2-1) at Gardner-Webb (0-3), 5 p.m. Charlotte (0-2) at Appalachian St. (2-0), 5 p.m. Sacred Heart (0-2) at Elon (2-1), 5 p.m. Dayton (2-0) at E. Kentucky (1-2), 5 p.m. FIU (1-1) at FAU (1-1), 5 p.m. Louisiana College (1-0) at Southern U. (1-2), 6 p.m. SC State (3-0) at Furman (2-1), 6 p.m. Tuskegee (0-0) at Jackson St. (2-0), 6 p.m. Florida (2-0) at Auburn (2-0), 6 p.m. Austin Peay (2-1) at West Florida (2-0), 6 p.m. Ohio (1-1) at South Alabama (1-1), 6 p.m. Delaware St. (2-1) at South Florida (2-0), 6 p.m. Nevada (1-1) at Middle Tennessee (1-1), 6 p.m. Tennessee St. (0-3) at Florida A&M (1-2), 6 p.m. Alcorn St. (2-1) at North Alabama (1-2), 6 p.m. Delta St. (0-0) at MVSU (1-2), 6 p.m. Georgia Southern (1-1) at Jacksonville St. (1-2), 6 p.m. Bowie St. (0-1) at Alabama A&M (2-1), 6 p.m. UT Martin (1-2) at Memphis (2-1), 6 p.m. UConn (1-1) at Southern Miss. (1-1), 6 p.m. Georgia St. (2-0) at UCF (1-1), 6 p.m. LSU (2-0) at Mississippi (2-0), 6:30 p.m. Virginia (2-0) vs. West Virginia (2-0) at Charlotte, N.C., 6:30 p.m. Kennesaw St. (1-1) at Tennessee (2-0), 6:45 p.m. UAB (1-1) at Louisiana-Lafayette (1-1), 7 p.m.

MIDWEST

Kansas (1-1) vs. Arizona St. (1-1) at London, United Kingdom, 11 a.m. Kent St. (1-1) at Ohio St. (1-1), 11 a.m. Bowling Green (0-2) at Iowa St. (1-1), 11 a.m. Tulane (1-1) at Kansas St. (2-0), 11 a.m. Akron (1-1) at Minnesota (1-1), 11 a.m. E. Michigan (1-2) at Wisconsin (1-1), 11:30 a.m. Valparaiso (1-1) at Indiana St. (1-2), noon Chicago State (1-2) at Butler (2-1), noon Wyoming (1-1) at Cent. Michigan (1-1), noon S. Illinois (2-1) at Illinois (1-1), 1 p.m. S. Utah (1-2) at St. Thomas (Minn.) (2-1), 1 p.m. Temple (1-1) at Toledo (1-1), 2 p.m. E. Illinois (1-2) at Illinois St. (3-0), 2 p.m. UTEP (1-1) at Michigan (2-0), 2:30 p.m. Cincinnati (2-0) vs. Miami (Ohio) (1-1) at Cincinnati, 2:30 p.m. W. Kentucky (0-2) at Indiana (2-0), 3 p.m. N. Iowa (1-1) at Iowa (2-0), 3 p.m. Marshall (1-1) at Missouri St. (1-1), 5:30 p.m. Morehead St. (1-2) at W. Illinois (1-2), 6 p.m. Youngstown St. (2-1) at S. Dakota St. (2-1), 6 p.m. Cent. Arkansas (2-1) at SE Missouri (1-2), 6 p.m. Troy (2-0) at Missouri (2-0), 6 p.m. North Dakota (3-0) at Nebraska (2-0), 6:15 p.m. Michigan St. (2-0) at Notre Dame (2-0), 6:30 p.m. Colorado (2-0) at Northwestern (1-0), 6:30 p.m.

SOUTHWEST

North Texas (1-1) at Texas State (0-2), 11 a.m. Georgia (2-0) at Arkansas (1-1), 11 a.m. Kentucky (1-1) at Texas A&M (2-0), 2:30 p.m. Louisiana Tech (1-1) at Baylor (1-1), 3 p.m. Central St. (Ohio) (0-1) at Ark.-Pine Bluff (1-2), 4 p.m. W. Michigan (1-1) at Rice (1-1), 6 p.m. Murray St. (1-2) at Oklahoma St. (1-1), 6 p.m. Nicholls (2-1) at Sam Houston St. (0-2), 6 p.m. Merrimack (1-2) at Tarleton St. (3-0), 6 p.m. Houston Christian (2-1) at Incarnate Word (1-1), 6 p.m. New Mexico (2-0) at Oklahoma (1-1), 6:30 p.m. Arkansas St. (1-1) at TCU (1-1), 7 p.m. East Texas A&M (1-2) at Tulsa (2-0), 7 p.m. McNeese St. (1-2) at UT Rio Grande Valley (1-2), 7 p.m. Stephen F. Austin (3-0) at Prairie View (1-2), 7 p.m. UTSA (2-0) at Texas (2-0), 7 p.m.

FAR WEST

CCSU (0-2) at Montana St. (3-0), 2 p.m. Duquesne (0-2) at Washington St. (0-2), 2:30 p.m. Utah St. (0-2) at Utah (2-0), 2:30 p.m. Wagner (1-2) at California (1-1), 2:30 p.m. Abilene Christian (0-3) at Idaho (0-3), 3 p.m. E. Washington (1-2) at Washington (2-0), 6:15 p.m. BYU (2-0) at Colorado St. (2-0), 6:30 p.m. Northwestern St. (0-3) at Weber St. (1-2), 7 p.m. Northeastern St. (0-0) at N. Colorado (0-3),

7 p.m. San Diego (0-2) at Cal Poly (2-1), 7 p.m. N. Arizona (2-1) at Utah Tech (0-3), 7 p.m. Stetson (1-2) at UC Davis (2-1), 9 p.m. South Dakota (3-0) at Boise St. (1-1), 9 p.m. James Madison (2-0) at San Diego St. (1-1), 9 p.m. N. Dakota St. (3-0) at Sacramento St. (1-2), 9:30 p.m. N. Illinois (0-2) at Arizona (1-1), 9:30 p.m. Montana (3-0) at Oregon St. (0-2), 10 p.m. Fresno St. (1-1) at San Jose St. (2-1), 10 p.m. Purdue (1-1) at UCLA (2-0), 10 p.m.

Major League Baseball American League East Division z-Tampa Bay z-New York Boston Toronto Baltimore

W 93 88 82 76 75

L 59 64 70 77 78

Pct .612 .579 .539 .497 .490

GB — 5 11 17½ 18½

Cleveland Chicago Detroit Minnesota Kansas City

W 78 77 72 71 67

L 75 75 80 81 85

Pct .510 .507 .474 .467 .441

GB — ½ 5½ 6½ 10½

W L Houston 76 76 Texas 76 76 Seattle 71 82 Athletics 61 92 Los Angeles 58 94 z-clinched playoff berth

Pct .500 .500 .464 .399 .382

GB — — 5½ 15½ 18

Central Division

West Division

Wednesday’s Games

Cleveland 6, Chicago White Sox 3 Minnesota 5, N.Y. Yankees 4, 13 innings Toronto 5, Detroit 1 Tampa Bay 4, Athletics 3 Baltimore 7, N.Y. Mets 1 Texas 7, Boston 3 Kansas City 5, Houston 2 Seattle 7, L.A. Angels 2

Thursday’s Games

Tampa Bay 10, Athletics 1 Kansas City at Houston, 6:15 p.m. Detroit at Chicago White Sox, 6:40 p.m. Boston at Texas, 7:05 p.m. Minnesota at L.A. Angels, 8:38 p.m.

Friday’s Games

Kansas City (Dobnak 3-4) at Pittsburgh (Skenes 10-11), 5:40 p.m. Milwaukee (May 7-9) at Baltimore (Povich 2-1), 6:05 p.m. Athletics (TBD) at Cleveland (Espino 0-0), 6:10 p.m. Boston (Suarez 7-4) at Tampa Bay (Seymour 9-6), 6:10 p.m. Detroit (Sears 0-1) at Chicago White Sox (Sandlin 2-2), 6:40 p.m. Toronto (Cease 11-5) at Texas (TBD), 7:05 p.m. Atlanta (Mahle 6-10) at Houston (Lambert 8-9), 7:10 p.m. Seattle (Woo 12-9) at Colorado (Hughes 0-8), 7:10 p.m. Minnesota (Prielipp 5-7) at L.A. Angels (Rodriguez 4-7), 8:38 p.m. N.Y. Yankees (Cole 8-9) at Arizona (Rodriguez 15-6), 8:40 p.m.

National League

East Division Atlanta Philadelphia Miami Washington New York

W 89 84 76 71 69

L 64 68 77 82 83

Pct .582 .553 .497 .464 .454

GB — 4½ 13 18 19½

x-Milwaukee Chicago Pittsburgh St. Louis Cincinnati

W 95 85 76 75 71

L 58 68 77 78 82

Pct .621 .556 .497 .490 .464

GB — 10 19 20 24

L 60 69 73 89 96

Pct .608 .546 .523 .418 .368

GB — 9½ 13 29 36½

Central Division

West Division

W z-Los Angeles 93 San Diego 83 Arizona 80 San Francisco 64 Colorado 56 x-clinched division z-clinched playoff berth

Wednesday’s Games

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

Thursday’s Games

L.A. Dodgers 8, Cincinnati 2 Pittsburgh 7, Milwaukee 4 San Diego at Colorado, 2:10 p.m. Philadelphia at N.Y. Mets, 6:15 p.m.

Friday’s Games

Chicago Cubs (Holmes 6-7) at Cincinnati (Burns 15-3), 5:40 p.m. Kansas City (Dobnak 3-4) at Pittsburgh (Skenes 10-11), 5:40 p.m. Milwaukee (May 7-9) at Baltimore (Povich 2-1), 6:05 p.m. Philadelphia (TBD) at N.Y. Mets (Thornton 4-5), 6:15 p.m. Atlanta (Mahle 6-10) at Houston (Lambert 8-9), 7:10 p.m. Seattle (Woo 12-9) at Colorado (Hughes 0-8), 7:10 p.m. Washington (Cavalli 12-5) at St. Louis (Leahy 10-4), 7:15 p.m. Miami (Phillips 5-6) at San Diego (Pivetta 2-2), 8:40 p.m. N.Y. Yankees (Cole 8-9) at Arizona (Rodriguez 15-6), 8:40 p.m. San Francisco (Perdomo 0-1) at L.A. Dodgers (Glasnow 4-1), 9:15 p.m.

American League Leaders

BATTING—C.Simpson, Tampa Bay, .311;

Alvarez, Houston, .310; Ya.Díaz, Tampa Bay, .295; DeLauter, Cleveland, .289; Greene, Detroit, .284; Rafaela, Boston, .282; Keaschall, Minnesota, .279; Aranda, Tampa Bay, .278; Arozarena, Seattle, .278; Caglianone, Kansas City, .278; Witt, Kansas City, .278. RUNS—Arozarena, Seattle, 103; Rice, New York, 98; M.Vargas, Chicago, 98; Alvarez, Houston, 96; Neto, Los Angeles, 96; Caminero, Tampa Bay, 94; McGonigle, Detroit, 94; Alonso, Baltimore, 91; Ya.Díaz, Tampa Bay, 86; Henderson, Baltimore, 86. RBI—Alonso, Baltimore, 102; Alvarez, Houston, 98; Caminero, Tampa Bay, 96; Rice, New York, 92; Adell, Cleveland, 92; Aranda, Tampa Bay, 90; Dingler, Detroit, 88; Bell, Minnesota, 88; Okamoto, Toronto, 88; I.Paredes, Houston, 86. HITS—Ya.Díaz, Tampa Bay, 173; C.Simpson, Tampa Bay, 169; Alvarez, Houston, 164; Caminero, Tampa Bay, 161; McGonigle, Detroit, 155; Aranda, Tampa Bay, 154; Alonso, Baltimore, 153; J.Naylor, Seattle, 153; Rafaela, Boston, 151; Arozarena, Seattle, 150; Clement, Toronto, 150. DOUBLES—W.Abreu, Boston, 36; Nimmo, Texas, 34; Jensen, Kansas City, 33; Rafaela, Boston, 32; Alvarez, Houston, 31; Clement, Toronto, 31; Peters, Chicago, 31; Arozarena, Seattle, 30; Greene, Detroit, 30; M.Vargas, Chicago, 30; Witt, Kansas City, 30. TRIPLES—Clemens, Minnesota, 7; C.Simpson, Tampa Bay, 6; Cam.Smith, Houston, 6; Taveras, Baltimore, 6; Henderson, Baltimore, 5; Neto, Los Angeles, 5; 11 tied at 4. HOME RUNS—Caminero, Tampa Bay, 41; Alvarez, Houston, 39; Rice, New York, 38; Alonso, Baltimore, 37; Okamoto, Toronto, 33; Murakami, Chicago, 31; C.Montgomery, Chicago, 31; M.Vargas, Chicago, 31; Contreras, Boston, 27; Dingler, Detroit, 27. STOLEN BASES—C.Simpson, Tampa Bay, 44; Witt, Kansas City, 42; Chisholm, New York, 40; Ramírez, Cleveland, 33; Caballero, New York, 32; J.Naylor, Seattle, 29; Arozarena, Seattle, 23; Ju.Rodríguez, Seattle, 22; Bolte, Athletics, 21; Neto, Los Angeles, 21; Tolbert, Kansas City, 21; Walls, Tampa Bay, 21. PITCHING—S.Gray, Boston, 17-5; N.Martinez, Tampa Bay, 15-4; Rasmussen, Tampa Bay, 15-5; Schlittler, New York, 14-6; G.Williams, Cleveland, 13-8; Soriano, Toronto, 12-7; Messick, Cleveland, 12-9; Woo, Seattle, 12-9; L.Gilbert, Seattle, 12-10; Cease, Toronto, 11-5. ERA—Schlittler, New York, 1.95; Cease, Toronto, 2.38; Messick, Cleveland, 2.57; Rasmussen, Tampa Bay, 2.72; S.Gray, Boston, 2.76; N.Martinez, Tampa Bay, 2.94; Wacha, Kansas City, 3.34; Detmers, Los Angeles, 3.36; Burke, Chicago, 3.47; Soriano, Toronto, 3.56. STRIKEOUTS—Cease, Toronto, 236; G.Williams, Cleveland, 235; Schlittler, New York, 228; Detmers, Los Angeles, 199; L.Gilbert, Seattle, 194; deGrom, Texas, 194; Bradley, Minnesota, 190; Messick, Cleveland, 186; Burke, Chicago, 173; Gore, Texas, 172.

National League Leaders

BATTING—Arraez, Philadelphia, .316; Moreno, Arizona, .307; O.Lopez, Miami, .306; Gonzales, Pittsburgh, .304; Rumﬁeld, Colorado, .301; F.Freeman, Los Angeles, .295; McCarthy, Colorado, .295; M.Harris, Atlanta, .290; Chourio, Milwaukee, .286; Tatis, San Diego, .286. RUNS—Crow-Armstrong, Chicago, 115; Wood, Washington, 102; Reynolds, Pittsburgh, 101; Olson, Atlanta, 96; Turang, Milwaukee, 96; Turner, Philadelphia, 96; E.De La Cruz, Cincinnati, 94; I.Herrera, St. Louis, 93; J.Walker, St. Louis, 93; Suzuki, Chicago, 92. RBI—Burleson, St. Louis, 111; S.Stewart, Cincinnati, 109; Crow-Armstrong, Chicago, 105; J.Walker, St. Louis, 100; Devers, San Francisco, 98; Abrams, Washington, 96; Schwarber, Philadelphia, 95; Turang, Milwaukee, 93; B.Lowe, Pittsburgh, 89; Bregman, Chicago, 88. HITS—O.Lopez, Miami, 182; Arraez, Philadelphia, 180; Tatis, San Diego, 170; Crow-Armstrong, Chicago, 167; Burleson, St. Louis, 164; M.Harris, Atlanta, 162; F.Freeman, Los Angeles, 161; Gonzales, Pittsburgh, 160; J.Walker, St. Louis, 160; S.Stewart, Cincinnati, 159. DOUBLES—Burleson, St. Louis, 37; Reynolds, Pittsburgh, 37; Devers, San Francisco, 36; Turang, Milwaukee, 34; Arraez, Philadelphia, 33; Olson, Atlanta, 33; J.Walker, St. Louis, 33; Bregman, Chicago, 32; F.Freeman, Los Angeles, 32; M.Harris, Atlanta, 32; Moreno, Arizona, 32. TRIPLES—Carroll, Arizona, 16; McCarthy, Colorado, 11; O.Lopez, Miami, 9; CrowArmstrong, Chicago, 8; Lile, Washington, 8; Arraez, Philadelphia, 7; X.Edwards, Miami, 6; Marsee, Miami, 6; G.Perdomo, Arizona, 6; Stott, Philadelphia, 6. HOME RUNS—Schwarber, Philadelphia, 45; Crow-Armstrong, Chicago, 44; Olson, Atlanta, 39; Goodman, Colorado, 38; Devers, San Francisco, 37; S.Stewart, Cincinnati, 32; B.Lowe, Pittsburgh, 31; Wood, Washington, 30; Ohtani, Los Angeles, 30; Abrams, Washington, 30. STOLEN BASES—Nuñez, Washington, 46; Crow-Armstrong, Chicago, 37; Tatis, San Diego, 35; O.Lopez, Miami, 31; McCarthy, Colorado, 30; E.Ruiz, Miami, 30; Abrams, Washington, 29; D.Hamilton, Milwaukee, 28; O.Cruz, Pittsburgh, 27; E.De La Cruz, Cincinnati, 26; Merrill, San Diego, 26. PITCHING—C.Sánchez, Philadelphia, 17-6; Burns, Cincinnati, 15-3; Misiorowski, Milwaukee, 15-5; E.Rodriguez, Arizona, 15-6; Luzardo, Philadelphia, 14-5; B.Ashcraft, Pittsburgh, 14-6; Yamamoto, Los Angeles, 14-8; Sale, Atlanta, 14-9; Ashby, Milwaukee, 13-3; Wheeler, Philadelphia, 13-5. ERA—Misiorowski, Milwaukee, 1.89; Sale, Atlanta, 2.18; Yamamoto, Los Angeles, 2.51; E.Rodriguez, Arizona, 2.62; Luzardo, Philadelphia, 2.87; C.Sánchez, Philadelphia, 2.93; M.King, San Diego, 3.03; Cavalli, Washington, 3.12; McLean, New York, 3.24; Ray, San Diego, 3.60. STRIKEOUTS—Misiorowski, Milwaukee, 243; Luzardo, Philadelphia, 221; C.Sánchez, Philadelphia, 215; Cavalli, Washington, 194; Sale, Atlanta, 190; Skenes, Pittsburgh, 185; McLean, New York, 184; Burns, Cincinnati, 181; Yamamoto, Los Angeles, 178; Wheeler, Philadelphia, 177.

6C ● Friday, September 18, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

lll

The Wild Pour B R E C ’s B at on R o u ge Z oo will host thi s pr e m i e r t as t i ng eve nt fr om 2:3 0 p .m. to 5:30 p.m. Sunday. It ’s an a f t e r n o o n o f c r af t be e r, f ine wines , p r emium spirits, cockt ails and f ood — all set against t he ba c k d r o p o f t he z o o . Also, live enter tai nm e nt and ani m al enc ount er s. $ 5 5 a n d up; designated dr ivers, $30. t hewildpour br. or g .

LIVING

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

F r i d ay, S e p t e m b e r 18, 2026

7CN

They insist

‘Weird Al’ yankovic, his eight-member band and opening act Puddles Pity Party will perform at the Raising Cane’s River Center Arena in Baton Rouge on Wednesday.

LSU-born band The Bends releases debut album

PROVIdEd PHOTO By ROByN VON SWANK

‘WEIRD AL’ YANKOVIC, THE PARODY MASTER, GETS ‘BIGGER AND WEIRDER’ NEXT WEEK IN LOUISIANA

BY JUDY BERGERON Staff writer

From gigs at Fred’s in Tigerland to major supporting dates with The Killers, Inhaler, Ole 60 and The Red Clay Strays, alt-rock band The Bends have come a long way in four years. Friday marks another milestone with the release of The Bends’ debut album, “If You Insist,” via Warner Records. “ ‘If You Insist’ captures the band at a pivotal moment in their rise — from a Louisiana college bar band to a full-fledged touring act building a life around music,” a news release states. “The album includes previously released singles ‘Seasons Change’ and ‘Smoking In Bed,’ the latter of which broke the Alternative Airplay Top 100. Additionally, the band recently appeared on the ‘Track Star’ podcast and Zach Bryan’s ‘Belting Bronco’ series.” The Bends’ current tour stopped at The Texas Club in Baton Rouge on Thursday night. Next up is a swing through Colorado for shows Sept. 23 at Fox Theatre in Boulder, and Sept. 24 at Bluebird Theater in Denver. For more future dates, visit thebendsmusic.com. Here, Hayden Field, the band’s lead singer and guitarist, talks about the group from its beginnings to its first album. The interview has been edited for clarity and length. First things first, how did the band’s name come about? I was listening to a lot of Radiohead at the time, and we needed a name to sign up for the “Battle of the Bands” at Fred’s (in Tigerland) so I suggested The Bends and it felt like a solid name for a band. When did you first form and how did you guys get together? We formed the first semester of our sophomore year. Ian Marmande had been wanting to start a band and had known Jacob Rhodes from growing up in Houma and met Chase Perkins and I separately at LSU; then he called us all together. The four of us had fun playing together from the jump. You mention starting out as “an LSU band.” What years would that have been, and where are some of the places you’ve played here? Any memorable flops, killer shows? We were “an LSU band” from 2022 until we graduated in 2025. However, 2024 is when we started playing at other schools. I think it’s pretty funny that our first two gigs were “Battle of the Band” performances and we lost both of them. I think we played well, though; we were pretty tight from the beginning. The best LSU show was in May 2025 — we sold out the Varsity Theatre right before graduating. It was pretty surreal to walk out on stage to a huge group of your peers supporting you.

ä See THE BENDS, page 8C

‘WEIRD AL’ YANKOVIC/ PUDDLES PITY PARTY 7:30 p.m. Wednesday l Raising Cane’s River Center Arena, 275 S. River Road, Baton Rouge l $39-$417 l arena.raisingcanes rivercenter.com and weirdal.com

BY JOHN WIRT

Contributing writer

e’s the accordion-wielding maestro of musical parody. “Weird Al” Yankovic transformed Michael Jackson’s “Beat It” into “Eat It.” He hospitalized Madonna’s “Like a Virgin” for “Like a Surgeon.” He gargled Nirvana’s anthem of youth alienation, “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” into “Smells Like Nirvana.” And he transmogriﬁed Coolio’s “Gangsta’s Paradise” into an unforgettable ode to pre-industrial farm life, “Amish Paradise.” Sendups of mega hits made Yankovic the bestselling comedy recording artist in human history. His success — gold and platinum albums, ﬁve Grammy Awards, one Emmy, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, etc., etc. — may be the ultimate revenge of the nerds. ä See 'WEIRD AL', page 8C

Get a Taste of the Deep South during weekend fest Johny Willis, aka King Solomon, plays the keys with My Better Half at the 9th annual A Taste of the deep South Festival in 2025 at the Main Library at Goodwood in Baton Rouge. STAFF FILE PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

Staff report The 10th annual A Taste of the Deep South Festival will return to the Main Library at Goodwood, 7711 Goodwood Blvd., from noon to 8 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. A pre-party took place at Henry Turner Jr.’s Listening Room on Thursday night. The weekend festival will feature various genres of music, a vendor village with arts and crafts, clothing, jewelry and a

food court with Southern festival food favorites. Local musical acts will be Henry Turner Jr. & Flavor, The Listening Room All-Stars featuring the My Better Half Band, Kelton ‘Nspire Harper, Wyanda Paul, King Solomon Willis, Princess Teha and Pastor Leon Hitchens, along with Xavie Shorts, the Phoenix Rouge Dance Troupe, SmokeHouse Porter and the Gut

ä See FESTIVAL, page 8C

8C ● Friday, September 18, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

lll

SHOWS TO WATCH — ACADIANA AREA FRIDAY

LIVE MUSIC: Cane River Pecan Company Pie Bar, New Iberia, 5 p.m. ALL HAPPENING DUO: Adopted Dog Brewing, Lafayette, 6 p.m. AUDREY BROUSSARD: Charley G’s Seafood Grill, Lafayette, 6 p.m. LIVE MUSIC: Charley G’s Seafood Grill, Lafayette, 6 p.m. LIVE MUSIC: Jim Deggy’s Brick Oven Pizza & Brewery, Lafayette, 6 p.m. LIVE MUSIC: Prejean’s, Broussard, 6 p.m. BUDDY ANDREWS: Buck & Johnny’s, Breaux Bridge, 6:30 p.m. THE TROUBADOUR: SHUCKS!, Abbeville, 6:30 p.m. JOSH LEBLANC: Whiskey and Vine, Lafayette, 7 p.m. THE VERMILLIONAIRES: The Ruins Lounge, Lafayette, 7 p.m. CARSON LEWIS + JOSH MENDOZA EXPERIENCE: Blue Moon Saloon, Lafayette, 8 p.m.

LIVE MUSIC: The Barrel of Broussard, Broussard, 8 p.m.

SATURDAY

DEJEUNER ET DANSÉ AT LA MAISON DE BEGNAUD: Begnaud House, Scott, 8:30 a.m. GENO DELAFOSE & FRENCH ROCKIN’ BOOGIE: Buck & Johnny’s, Breaux Bridge, 8:30 a.m. CAJUN JAM: Moncus Park, Lafayette, 9 a.m. SATURDAY MORNING JAM SESSIONS: The Savoy Music Center, Eunice, 9 a.m. CAJUN JAM: Tante Marie, Breaux Bridge, 11 a.m. CAJUN FRENCH MUSIC JAM: Vermilionville Living History Museum & Folklife Park, Lafayette, 1 p.m. JAMMIN’ ON THE BAYOU: St. Landry Visitor Center, Opelousas, 1 p.m. ZYDECO JAM: NUNU Arts & Culture Collective, Arnaudville, 2 p.m. MIKE BROUSSARD: Cypress Cove Landing, Breaux Bridge, 3 p.m.

ALYSSA MCMURRAY: Charley G’s Seafood Grill, Lafayette, 6 p.m. DERRICK SAVOIE: Adopted Dog Brewing, Lafayette, 6 p.m. LIVE MUSIC: Charley G’s Seafood Grill, Lafayette, 6 p.m. LIVE MUSIC: Jim Deggy’s Brick Oven Pizza & Brewery, Lafayette, 6 p.m. LIVE MUSIC: Prejean’s, Broussard, 6 p.m. NICOLE-MARIE: SHUCKS!, Abbeville, 6:30 p.m. THE CAST: Buck & Johnny’s, Breaux Bridge, 6:30 p.m. FRENCH, ROSEN, SMITH, TYLER: Whiskey and Vine, Lafayette, 7 p.m. BOMA BANGO! CD RELEASE!: Hideaway on Lee, Lafayette, 8 p.m. GENO DELAFOSE & FRENCH ROCKIN’ BOOGIE: Lakeview Park, Eunice, 8 p.m. HIGH PERFORMANCE: La Poussiere Cajun Dancehall, Breaux Bridge, 8 p.m. LIVE MUSIC: The Barrel of Broussard, Broussard,

TODAY IN HISTORY By The Associated Press Today is Friday, Sept. 18, the 261st day of 2026. There are 104 days left in the year. Today in history: On Sept. 18, 2020, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a towering champion of women’s rights who became the court’s second female justice, died at her home in Washington at age 87 of complications from pancreatic cancer. Also on this date: In 1793, President George Washington laid the cornerstone of the U.S. Capitol. In 1850, Congress passed the Fugitive Slave Act, which created a force of federal commissioners charged with returning escaped slaves to their owners. The act was repealed in 1864 during the American Civil War. In 1851, the ﬁrst edition of The New York Times was published. In 1944, the British submarine HMS Tradewind sank the Japanese transport ship Junyo Maru in the Indian Ocean, killing more than 5,600, most of them forced laborers and prisoners of war. It was one of World War II’s deadliest disasters at sea. In 1947, the National Security Act, which created a National Military Establishment and the position of Secretary of Defense, went into effect. In 1961, United Nations Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjold was killed in a plane crash in Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia). In 1970, rock star Jimi Hen-

drix died in London at age 27. In 1975, newspaper heiress Patricia Hearst was captured by the FBI in San Francisco, 19 months after being kidnapped by the Symbionese Liberation Army. In 2014, voters in Scotland rejected independence, opting to remain part of the United Kingdom in a historic referendum. In 2023, the U.S. and Iran swapped ﬁve prisoners each in a deal in which President Joe Biden agreed to release nearly $6 billion in frozen Iranian assets owed by a third country, South Korea. Today’s birthdays: Hockey Hall of Fame coach Scotty Bowman is 93. Singer Frankie Avalon is 86. Actor Anna Deavere Smith is 76. Neurosurgeon-author-politician Ben Carson is 75. Basketball Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino is 74. Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville of Alabama is 72. Hockey Hall of Famer Peter Stastny is 70. Actor Holly Robinson Peete is 62. R&B singer Ricky Bell (Bell Biv Devoe, New Edition) is 59. Basketball Hall of Famer Toni Kukoc is 58. Actor Aisha Tyler is 56. Actor Jada Pinkett Smith is 55. Actor James Marsden is 53. Rapper Xzibit is 52. Comedian-actor Jason Sudeikis is 51. Former soccer player Ronaldo is 50. Actor/comedian Billy Eichner is 48. Rapper Dizzee Rascal is 42. Country singer Tae Kerr (Maddie and Tae) is 31. Soccer player Christian Pulisic is 28. Singer Alex Warren is 26. Actor Aidan Gallagher is 23. Actor Nina Lu is 23.

FESTIVAL SCHEDULE

8 p.m. THE DEBTORS: Blue Moon Saloon, Lafayette, 8 p.m. SHADOW ROAD: Toby’s Lounge, Opelousas, 8:30 p.m. THREE THIRTY SEVEN: Rock ’n’ Bowl de Lafayette, Lafayette, 9 p.m.

SUNDAY

FRANK & JON: Cafe Sydnie Mae, Breaux Bridge, 10:30 a.m. LIVE MUSIC: Tante Marie, Breaux Bridge, 11 a.m. THE SUNDAY PEOPLE: Whiskey and Vine, Lafayette, 11 a.m. LES FRERES MICHOT: Prejean’s, Carencro, 11:30 a.m. BAL DU DIMANCHE — LE PARRAIN BANDE: Vermilionville Living History Museum & Folklife Park, Lafayette, 1 p.m. JAMIE BERGERON: Cypress Cove Landing, Breaux Bridge, 3 p.m. JAKE SPINELLA: Charley G’s Seafood Grill, Lafayette, 6 p.m. LIVE MUSIC: Charley G’s

Seafood Grill, Lafayette, 6 p.m.

MONDAY

PATRICIO LATINO SOLO: Cafe Habana City, Lafayette, 11 a.m. AUDREY BROUSSARD: Charley G’s Seafood Grill, Lafayette, 6 p.m. LIVE MUSIC: Charley G’s Seafood Grill, Lafayette, 6 p.m. BLUEGRASS JAM: Cité des Arts, Lafayette, 6:30 p.m.

TUESDAY

GARRET ROSEN: Whiskey and Vine, Lafayette, 6 p.m. PAUL TASSIN: Charley G’s Seafood Grill, Lafayette, 6 p.m. TERRY HUVAL & FRIENDS: Prejean’s Restaurant, Lafayette, 6 p.m. GREENLIGHT SESSIONS OPEN MIC: The Jefferson Street Greenroom, Lafayette, 7 p.m.

WEDNESDAY

DULCIMER JAM: St.

Landry Visitor Center, Opelousas, 10 a.m. A SPECIAL FRANK SINATRA-THEMED EVENING: Cafe Sydnie Mae, Breaux Bridge, 6 p.m. ALYSE YOUNG: Park Bistro, Lafayette, 6 p.m. LIVE MUSIC: Charley G’s Seafood Grill, Lafayette, 6 p.m. MERCREDI SHOW FEATURING VERMILIONAIRES: Pelican Park, Carencro, 6 p.m. ROB SAXXY: Whiskey and Vine, Lafayette, 6 p.m. SAM SPHAR: Charley G’s Seafood Grill, Lafayette, 6 p.m. WANTED WEDNESDAY KARAOKE NIGHT: The Barrel of Broussard, Broussard, 6 p.m. LIVE MUSIC: The Tap Room, Youngsville, 6:30 p.m. CAJUN JAM: Blue Moon Saloon, Lafayette, 8 p.m.

THURSDAY

JACK WOODSON: Charley G’s Seafood Grill, Lafayette, 6 p.m.

NOON-12:15 P.M.: Hosts Kerwyn Fealing, Princess Teha, DJ Olu 12:20 P.M.-12:40 P.M.: Mikey Duran (pop/rock) 12:45 P.M.-1:05 P.M.: Wyanda Paul (jazz/gospel) 1:10 P.M.-1:30 P.M.: Geekster the Super Nerd (hip-hop) 1:40 P.M.-2 P.M.: Princess Teha (contemporary Christian) 2:15 P.M.-2:40 P.M.: Pastor Leon Hitchens (gospel/R&B) 2:45 P.M.-3:10 P.M.: Phoenix Rouge Dance Troupe (belly dancing) 3:30 P.M.-4 P.M.: James Margolis (blues/folk/jazz) 4:15 P.M.-4:45P.M.: Watermelon eating contest 5 P.M.-5:20 P.M.: My Better Half Band (smooth jazz) 5:30 P.M.-6 P.M.: Russell Gulley (blues) 6:15 P.M.-7 P.M.: Henry Turner Jr. & Flavor (blues, soul, reggae) 7:15 P.M.-7:45 P.M.: Drty Cotn (alternative/hard rock)

FESTIVAL

SUNDAY

NOON-12:15 P.M.: Hosts Kerwyn Fealing, Princess Teha, DJ Olu 12:15 P.M.-12:35 P.M.: Loui Daniels (alt rock) 12:45 P.M.-1:10 P.M.: Paul O’Donnell (Neil Diamond tribute) 1:20 P.M.-1:40 P.M.: King Solomon (blues/soul) 1:50 P.M.-2:10 P.M.: Xavie Shorts (contemporary Christian) 2:20 P.M.-2:50 P.M.: Jessi Campo (Latin) 3 P.M.-3:20 P.M.: Kasey Ball (funk/ jazz) 3:30 P.M.-4 P.M: SmokeHouse Porter and the Gut Bucket Blues Band 4:15 P.M-4:45 P.M.: My Better Half (Maestro) (smooth jazz/pop) 5 P.M.-5:30 P.M.: Henry Turner Jr. look-alike contest 5:35 P.M.-5:55 P.M.: Kelton ‘Inspire Harper (motivational) 6 P.M.-6:45 P.M.: Henry Turner Jr. & Flavor (blues, soul, reggae) 7 P.M.-7:30 P.M.: Voo Doo Junction (blues/rock)

Kerwyn Fealing, contemporary Christian singer Princess Teha Continued from page 7C and DJ Olu. The festival will also include a watermelon-eating contest on Bucket Blues Band, and Kasey Saturday and a Henry Turner Jr. look-alike contest on Sunday. Ball. The event is family-friendly Regional talent will include the rock bands Drty Cotn and and free to the public. Special Voodoo Junction, hip-hop artist VIP tickets are available on the Geekster the Super Nerd, blues/ website. The VIP experience is folk/jazz artist James Margoles, $25 and includes two meal and Latin chanteuse Jessi Campo, two soft drink tickets. Turner VIP alt rock singer Loui Daniels, a tickets are $100 for two people Neil Diamond Tribute with Paul with two T-shirts, four meal and O’Donnell, and Muscle Shoals drink tickets, covered seating in blues artist Russell Gulley. Just the VIP access tent and a “Now” added is former “American Idol” CD by Henry Turner Jr. & Flavor. For more information on VIP contestant Mikey Duran (“My Demise”), who will open the fes- tickets and talent, go to events. getlocalhop.com or call (225) 802tival on Saturday. Hosts are radio personality 9681.

Compiled by Marchaund Jones. Want your venue’s music listed? Email info/photos to showstowatch@ theadvocate.com. The deadline is noon FRIDAY for the following Friday’s paper.

THE BENDS

Continued from page 7C How would you describe your music and who are some of your musical influences? I would describe our music as alternative rock, although I feel genres don’t quite describe music as well as they once did. All of the genres have influenced each other and the lines have been so blurred. We all love bands like The Strokes and Nirvana. I grew up hearing a lot of Coldplay around the house, which I think has affected my writing. Bands like Wunderhorse and Fontaines D.C. are kind of the modern-day North Star for a band like us. We’re just trying to make songs that connect with people — our favorite songs and bands have done that for us. I’d say ’90s and 2000s alternative rock is our main inspiration and influence. Are the band members self-taught or did any study music? All of the band members are selftaught, outside of taking some lessons when we were younger. But no real traditional music education for any of us. Tell me about this debut album and how long have you been working on that? We’ve been working on this debut album since we moved to Nashville in June 2025. We’ve gone through plenty of different songs and different recordings of songs to find the right 12 songs for this album. We recorded part of the album in El Paso (Texas) and the other part in Nashville and worked with two producers, Sam Westhoff and Chase Lawrence.

The Bends We learned a lot about ourselves as musicians, songwriters and as a band through the process because we found ourselves in this endeavor full-time in a sudden fashion and pretty recently. We are very proud of what this album became and what it stands for. The songs are the life and experience we have had these past few years, so it’s exciting to share with the world. We feel blessed and grateful to have this opportunity. Is there a main songwriter or is it a collaborative effort? How does your writing process work? I have been the main songwriter for the band. The process tends to be me bringing ideas or a song to the band and getting a feel on if they like it or not. If they like it, we will jam on it as a band, and everyone can ﬁnd their place within it. If that goes well, we will bring it to the studio to capture what we’ve

‘WEIRD AL’

Continued from page 7C

* All times approximate, subject to change

SATURDAY

JILL BUTLER: Cafe Sydnie Mae, Breaux Bridge, 6 p.m. KATHERINE CHUNG: Whiskey and Vine, Lafayette, 6 p.m. LADIES NIGHT WITH DJ DONOVAN IN THE MIX: Cowboys Nightclub, Scott, 6 p.m. LIVE MUSIC: Charley G’s Seafood Grill, Lafayette, 6 p.m. LIVE MUSIC: Naq’s-nDuson, Duson, 6 p.m. KIP SONNIER: SHUCKS!, Abbeville, 6:30 p.m. KARAOKE PARTY — PANDA ENTERTAINMENT: Black Bull, Youngsville, 8 p.m.

“That could be,” he said in advance of his “Bigger and Weirder Tour’s” show in Baton Rouge next week. “I’ll take that.” Having cemented his imminent placement in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Grammy Hall of Fame, Kennedy Center Honors — whatever — Yankovic hasn’t released a new album since 2014. “I was on the normal cycle of, you release album, then you do a tour to promote that album, and then you do it again and then you do again,” he explained. “But since I haven’t been releasing new albums, I’m reinventing the way that I tour.” Yankovic, his eight-member band and opening act Puddles Pity Party will perform at the Raising Cane’s River Center Arena on Wednesday, Sept. 23. Playing more than 150 arenas and amphitheaters in the U.S. and Canada, the “Bigger and Weirder Tour” features Yankovic’s parody hits, fan favorites, deep album cuts, costume changes and, on stage and in the audience, Hawaiian shirts. The tour features Yankovic’s core band since the early 1980s — drummer Jon “Bermuda” Schwartz; guitarist Jim “Kimo” West; and bassist-multi-instrumentalist Steve Jay — plus ﬁve more musicians. “Which is one reason why I call it ‘Bigger and Weirder,’ ” Yankovic explained. “Monique Donnely is a singer I’ve worked with for a long time. She’s on the road and the other musicians are all super-talented multi-instrumentalists that I hadn’t even met when I hired them. They work so well with the band, it’s like they’ve been with us forever.” Yankovic keeps his road shows fresh. His touring productions

PROVIdEd PHOTO By SAM JONES

Having cemented his imminent placement in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Grammy Hall of Fame, Kennedy Center Honors — whatever — ‘Weird Al’ yankovic hasn’t released a new album since 2014.

PROVIdEd PHOTO By COLE SILBERMAN got and if that goes well then the world will hear it. There are a handful of songs Chase Perkins and I collaborated on together to write, which was fun and something we hadn’t done until this album. Now that the album is dropping, what’s next? We are so excited to have an album out so we can go on tour across the country and play shows full of these songs to fans. This is all we are really thinking about at this point, but I’m sure some new songs will also get written in the meantime. Anything else to add? The Bends love Louisiana and the support we’ve gotten from our people and our home. Excited for what’s to come! Email Judy Bergeron at jbergeron@theadvocate.com.

“It’s not obvious to everybody what the hit songs are anymore,” he said of the fragmented post-internet world in which many people can’t name even one current hit. Besides touring, Yankovic stays busy with other creative pursuits, such as the 2022 quasi-biopic starring Daniel Radcliffe, “Weird: The Al Yankovic Story.” “I thought it would be a fun thing to do and I was amazed when it got made,” he said. “It’s always a miracle when a movie gets made. And it’s something I’m very proud of. We actually wrote a sequel. I don’t know if that’s ever gonna get made, but there’s a script in a drawer.” Yankovic’s upcoming projects include film and TV voice-acting roles and the Broadway-bound “Dare to Be Stupid: The Weird Al Musical.” “We’ve got super-talented people on the team, which I’m so thrilled about,” he said. “Recently, we had actors sitting around a table reading the first draft that we’ve written. I’m not going to hold my breath, but I think that it’s going to land on Broadway at some point.” More recordings may be forthcoming, too. “Music is always a big part of my life,” he said. “I can’t imagine that I won’t be putting out new material, every now and then.” Yankovic’s gratitude to retired radio host Barry Hansen, aka Dr. Demento, is something else that won’t fade away. Hansen begot Yankovic’s first national exposure via “The Dr. Demento Show,” a novelty song showcase. “Nobody else, in their right mind, would have given airtime to a geeky teenage kid playing the accordion,” Yankovic said. “But Dr. Demento gave me airtime and encouragement. If it hadn’t been for him, I’d probably have a real job.”

have ranged from symphony orchestra accompaniment to “MTV Unplugged”-style minimalism. “We did a scaled-back tour called ‘The Ridiculously Self-Indulgent Ill-Advised Vanity Tour.’ It was just the band sitting on stools and playing the songs. No props or costume changes. Just playing like musicians.” That tour, despite a setlist of Yankovic’s original songs rather than his famous parodies, was a hit. “A lot of fans like the deep cuts, but when we do our normal shows, we don’t have time to play those more obscure numbers,” he said. “We played smaller venues, but we sold out those venues, and the people who showed up were really rabid fans. It was a joy to be part of that.” Yankovic hasn’t released a conventional album of new recordings Email John Wirt at j_wirt@msn. since 2014’s “Mandatory Fun.” com.

The Acadiana Advocate ● theadvocate.com ● Friday, September 18, 2026 ● 9C

lll

FrAnK And erneSt

roSebUdS

zItS

zodIAC VIRGo (Aug. 23-sept. 22) Donating or participating in a campaign in your community will not just stimulate a better vibe but also encourage you to make new acquaintances. Don't deny yourself the chance to explore possibilities. LIBRA (sept. 23-oct. 23) If you take a leap of faith and participate, the experience will turn out better than anticipated and offer lessons that will encourage you to be more involved in your community. scoRPIo (oct. 24-nov. 22) Stick to what and who you know. Avoid situations that are risky or dangerous. Take a pass on protests, events and activities that challenge you physically. sAGIttARIus (nov. 23-Dec. 21) Take advantage of whatever opportunity comes your way. Learning something new, expanding your credentials or taking on a new role altogether will stir up your enthusiasm and excitement about life. cAPRIcoRn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Don't take on someone else's problems. Gather information and put a plan in place that helps you maintain your integrity and gain the respect and trust of those you deal with. AQuARIus (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Spend time getting your house in order. Make comfort and convenience your goals at a cost you can afford. Efficiency will end up saving you time, grief and money. PIscEs (Feb. 20-March 20) Change only what's necessary. Stick to the rules, and take care of paperwork with deadlines that result in penalties. Pay more attention to how you invest and take

care of your physical and emotional well-being. ARIEs (March 21-April 19) Broaden your scope. Take on new challenges, and test your mind, body and soul. Participate in events and activities that make you feel alive. Refuse to let emotional issues hold you back. tAuRus (April 20-May 20) Monitor partnerships carefully, and look for anything that might cost you physically or emotionally. Discussions will help you gain insight into compensations you can make to get what you want in return. GEMInI (May 21-June 20) A change will encourage you to look at alternative lifestyles, occupations and possibilities. Use your imagination, delve into discussions with people from different backgrounds and explore what's available. cAncER (June 21-July 22) Don't bend for the wrong reason or pay for someone else's mistake. Look for alternative ways to increase your income or to make your home more functional If you investigate possibilities, you'll discover something inviting. LEo (July 23-Aug. 22) Stretch your legs, participate and learn from the experiences you encounter. Interesting talks will set you on a path that offers choices you didn't know existed. Sign up for an activity. The horoscope, an entertainment feature, is not based on scientific fact. © 2026 by NEA, Inc., dist. By Andrews McMeel Syndication

For better or For WorSe WonderWord

peAnUtS

SALLY Forth

beetLe bAILeY CeLebrItY CIpher Celebrity Cipher cryptograms are created from quotations by famous people, past and present. Each letter in the cipher stands for another.

toDAy's cLuE: t EQuALs P

Mother GooSe And GrIMM

SherMAn’S LAGoon FAMILY CIrCUS

dooneSbUrY

10C ● Friday, September 18, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

CurTiS

Hi and LoiS

lll

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

BaBY BLueS

BLondie

THe wiZard oF id

nea CroSSwordS

La TimeS CroSSword

The Acadiana Advocate ● theadvocate.com ● Friday, September 18, 2026 ● 11C

lll

B.C.

Bridge By PHILLIP ALDER Brian Tracy said, “I’ve found that luck is quite predictable. If you want more luck, take more chances. Be more active. Show up more often.” In my experience, the better you play, the luckier you will be. And when you are being lucky, press the accelerator to the floor. This week we are looking at active and passive defense; whether the defenders should try hard to win tricks or should wait for declarer to give them winners. Often the auction will provide clear evidence of which way to turn. But sometimes it will not help. Then the defenders should study the dummy for guidance — as in this deal. South is in four hearts. West leads the diamond two. After winning with his ace, what should East do next? The dummy is threatening because that spade suit is surely going to provide declarer with a source of tricks, on which he can discard his losers. East must defend actively by shifting to the club 10. Here, this garners three tricks in the suit to defeat the contract. Then East should congratulate West on his lead. If he had chosen, say, a trump, declarer would have taken at least 11 tricks. Finally, defense can be affected by the form of the game. When you are play-

garfield

Pearls Before swiNe

hagar the horriBle

ing Chicago or Swiss teams or knockout teams, when overtricks are relatively unimportant, follow this week’s guidelines. But when you are competing in a pair event, where overtricks can be like gold-dust, you must be more careful if your active defense is likely to blow a trick. © 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 — PARtItE: PAR-tite: Divided into a usually specified number of

Bizarro

marmaduKe

parts. Average mark 32 words Time limit 45 minutes Can you find 39 or more words in PARTITE? yEstERDAy’s WoRD — JouRnEys joey journey jury onus ours user rose rosy roue rouse ruse

noes nose nosy nurse enjoy euro yore your senor snore sone

sore sour suer sure

loCKhorNs hidato Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer

today’s thought “A wise man fears, and departs from evil: but the fool rages, and is confident.” Proverbs 14:16

Which one will we be? G.E. Dean

12C ● Friday, September 18, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

lll

Legal Notices

.theacadianaadvocate.com Public Notices

Pets Public Notices Bids/Proposals

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

NEWS 24/7 ON

A unique Mardi Gras experience in a hardcover book

ORDER TODAY!

PORCHES.PICTORIALBOOK.COM

PROCEEDINGS OF THE LAFAYETTE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING OF THE PARISH OF LAFAYETTE, STATE OF LOUISIANA, TAKEN AT A REGULAR MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 15, 2026 HELD AT 705 W. UNIVERSITY AVENUE, LAFAYETTE, LA. ATTENDANCE COUNCIL: Donald Richard (Chair, District 2), Ken Stansbury (Vice-Chair, District 3), Bryan Tabor (District 1), John Guilbeau (District 4) and AB Rubin (District 5) ABSENT: None COUNCIL STAFF: Joseph Gordon-Wiltz (Clerk of the Council), Cindy M. Semien (Associate Clerk for Legislative Affairs) and Kelly Comeaux (Assistant Clerk for Legislative Affairs) ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF: Monique B. Boulet (Mayor-President), Rachel Godeaux (Chief Administrative Officer), Robert A. Mahtook, Jr. (CityParish Attorney) and Paul Escott (Assistant City-Parish Attorney) (4:32:00) COMMENCEMENT Call to order Chair Richard called the Regular Parish Council Meeting of September 15, 2026 to order. AGENDA ITEM NO. 1: Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance The Chair cited the invocation and called upon Councilmember Guilbeau, to lead the Pledge of Allegiance. WELCOME AND CHAIR ANNOUNCEMENTS Chair Richard made the following announcements: - Due to Election Day, the Council Meetings in November and December will be on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month, returning to the typical 1st and 3rd Tuesdays in January 2027; - Item #19-A - Arbours at Lafayette LLC withdrew their appeal upon agreement with the Assessor; - Item #19-B - ATC Apartments (Silo Apartments) withdrew their appeal upon agreement with the Assessor; - Wished Councilmember Rubin, a happy birthday, which he will celebrate on September 21st; - Wished Councilmember Tabor, a happy birthday, which he will celebrate on September 26th; AGENDA ITEM NO. 2: COUNCIL ANNOUNCEMENTS Rubin urged all to reflect on the September 11th terrorist attacks, noting that during that difficult time, people set aside their differences and came together and treated one another with compassion, regardless of their differences. AGENDA ITEM NO. 3: EXECUTIVE/MAYOR-PRESIDENT’S REPORT Boulet’s announcements: - Annual Blue Mass to honor first responders will be held at Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist on October 2nd at 12 PM; - National Night Out will be October 6th at 5:30 PM at the Martin Luther King Jr. Center JOINT RESOLUTION AGENDA ITEM NO. 4: JR-017-2026 A joint resolution of the Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council naming and designating the firm of Kolder, Slaven & Company, LLC, as independent auditors for the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government in accordance with Section 2-09 of the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government Home Rule Charter., motion to adopt by Guilbeau, seconded by Stansbury, and the vote was as follows: YEAS: Tabor, Richard, Stansbury, Guilbeau, Rubin NAYS: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None Motion to adopt was approved. ORDINANCES FOR FINAL ADOPTION AGENDA ITEM NO. 5: PO-038-2026 An ordinance of the Lafayette Parish Council amending the FY 25/26 operating and capital budget of the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government by transferring $60,000 from the Parish Council District 3 Capital Appropriation to the City of Broussard for the St. Deporres Street bridge replacement project, motion to adopt by Stansbury, seconded by Guilbeau, and the vote was as follows: YEAS: Tabor, Richard, Stansbury, Guilbeau, Rubin NAYS: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None Motion to adopt was approved. AGENDA ITEM NO. 6: PO-040-2026 An ordinance of the Lafayette Parish Council authorizing the Lafayette Mayor-President to enter into a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement with the Town of Vidalia to collaborate in emergency sheltering during declarations of emergency, motion to adopt by Tabor, seconded by Rubin, and the vote was as follows: YEAS: Tabor, Richard, Stansbury, Guilbeau, Rubin NAYS: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None Motion to adopt was approved. AGENDA ITEM NO. 7: PO-041-2026 An ordinance of the Lafayette Parish Council authorizing and directing the Lafayette Mayor-President to execute and submit the “Temporary Housing and Shelter Assistance Program Waiver of Land Use/Permitting Form” in accordance with La. R.S. 29:726(F)(3)(b)(iii)(aa), motion to adopt by Rubin, seconded by Stansbury, and the vote was as follows: YEAS: Tabor, Richard, Stansbury, Guilbeau, Rubin NAYS: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None Motion to adopt was approved. AGENDA ITEM NO. 8: PO-042-2026 An ordinance of the Lafayette Parish Council declaring the acquisition of a warehouse for the Lafayette Public Library a public necessity and authorizing the Lafayette Mayor-President to acquire certain immovable property for the location of said warehouse, motion to adopt by Rubin, seconded by Tabor, and the vote was as follows: YEAS: Tabor, Richard, Stansbury, Guilbeau, Rubin NAYS: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None Motion to adopt was approved. JOINT ORDINANCES FOR FINAL ADOPTION AGENDA ITEM NO. 9: JO-031-2026 A joint ordinance of the Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council authorizing the Lafayette Mayor-President to enter into a First Amendment to March 12, 2021 Contract for Emergency and Non-Emergency Ambulance Services for the Parish of Lafayette and the City of Lafayette, motion to adopt by Stansbury, seconded by Rubin, and the vote was as follows:

PUBLIC NOTICE --PUBLIC NOTICE CITY OF YOUNGSVILLE REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL DISASTER RECOVERY SERVICES DEBRIS REMOVAL AND DISPOSAL STANDBY CONTRACT City of Youngsville, Louisiana seeks sealed proposals from qualiﬁed contractors for DISASTER DEBRIS REMOVAL AND DISPOSAL SERVICES con‐ tingent on damages that may be caused by the approach and landfall of a Hurricane or any other natural or man-made dis‐ asters.

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

Sealed proposals will be received on-line at www. centralauctionhouse. com and/or by the City of Youngsville, Attn: City Clerk, 201 Iberia St., Youngsville, LA 70592, no later than 3:00 PM CST on October 2, 2026. Propos‐ als received after the speciﬁed time will not be considered. On September 4, 2026, proposers can download all applicable documents through Central Bidding. For questions related to the RFP, contact Nicole Guidry, City Clerk, at nicoleguidry@youngsv illela.gov or 337-856-4181. Ofﬁce hours are Monday – Friday 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM. Publication Dates: Sep‐ tember 4, 11 & 18, 2026 199598 Sept. 4, 11, 18, 3t $64.18

Legal Notices

PUBLIC NOTICE --HEARING EXAMINER AGENDA SEPTEMBER 25, 2026 COMMUNITY DEVELOP‐ MENT AND PLANNING AU‐ DITORIUM 220 WEST WILLOW STREET, BUILDING B 8:30 A.M. I. Call to Order & Intro‐ duction / Morgan Hart II. Development Review 1. Hearing Review No. 2026-78-HE Proposed Plat Name: Bo Broussard Subdivision, Parcels 1 & 2 Plat Location: 2605 Gen‐ darme Road Jurisdiction: Parish of Lafayette Proposed Use: Residen‐ tial Surveyor: Jacob Jarrell 2. Hearing Review No. 2026-79-HE Proposed Plat Name: i h l i

YEAS: Tabor, Richard, Stansbury, Guilbeau, Rubin NAYS: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None Motion to adopt was approved. AGENDA ITEM NO. 10: JO-032-2026 A joint ordinance of the Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council establishing a procedure to sell surplus movable property valued at less than $5,000 no longer needed for a public purpose through a public internet auction, motion to adopt by Guilbeau, seconded by Tabor, and the vote was as follows: YEAS: Tabor, Richard, Stansbury, Guilbeau, Rubin NAYS: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None Motion to adopt was approved. AGENDA ITEM NO. 11: JO-033-2026 A joint ordinance of the Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council suspending Ordinance No. JO-001-2021 which created a conditional two (2%) percent pay increase structure for employees of the Office of the City Marshal, for the proposed FY 2026-2027 budget with consideration given to the City Marshal pay plan to be included in the Amended FY 2026-2027 Proposed Operating and Five-Year Capital Budget document, motion to adopt by Stansbury, seconded by Tabor, and the vote was as follows: YEAS: Tabor, Richard, Stansbury, Guilbeau, Rubin NAYS: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None Motion to adopt was approved. AGENDA ITEM NO. 12: JO-035-2026 A joint ordinance of the Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council amending the FY 25/26 operating budget and adjusting the manning tables of the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government by authorizing the use of existing funds in the amount of $2,676 and appropriating within the Department of Innovation and Technology to add one (1) IS&T manager promotion per Civil Service recommendation, motion to adopt by Rubin, seconded by Guilbeau, and the vote was as follows: YEAS: Tabor, Richard, Stansbury, Guilbeau, Rubin NAYS: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None Motion to adopt was approved. AGENDA ITEM NO. 13: JO-036-2026 A joint ordinance of the Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council amending the FY 25/26 operating budget of the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government by adjusting the manning tables and increasing the hourly rate of one (1) Clerk II position within the Department of Innovation & Technology, motion to adopt by Guilbeau, seconded by Stansbury, and the vote was as follows: YEAS: Tabor, Richard, Stansbury, Guilbeau, Rubin NAYS: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None Motion to adopt was approved. AGENDA ITEM NO. 14: JO-037-2026 A joint ordinance of the Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council, acting in their capacity as the governing authority of the City of Lafayette and the Parish of Lafayette, respectively, providing for the abandonment of a certain portion of a 50’ public right-of-way (Wall Street) located between Lot 13-A and Lot 14-A of the Van-Way, JP Development Ext 1 Subdivision, and authorizing the Lafayette Mayor-President to execute an Act of Abandonment in order to effectuate the abandonment on behalf of the City of Lafayette, and Parish of Lafayette, and the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government, motion to adopt by Stansbury, seconded by Rubin, and the vote was as follows: YEAS: Tabor, Richard, Stansbury, Guilbeau, Rubin NAYS: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None Motion to adopt was approved. AGENDA ITEM NO. 15: JO-038-2026 A joint ordinance of the Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council amending the FY 25/26 operating budget of the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government by authorizing the transfer of $100,000 in HOME funds within the Community Development and Planning Department to Catholic Charities of Acadiana, motion to adopt by Rubin, seconded by Tabor, and the vote was as follows: YEAS: Tabor, Richard, Stansbury, Guilbeau, Rubin NAYS: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None Motion to adopt was approved. One (1) citizen signed in, in support, but did not wish to speak. AGENDA ITEM NO. 16: JO-039-2026 A joint ordinance of the Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council amending the FY 25/26 operating budget of the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government by authorizing the transfer of $164,595 in Home American Rescue Plan (HOME-ARP) funds within the Community Development and Planning Department to Faith House, Inc, motion to adopt by Stansbury, seconded by Rubin, and the vote was as follows: YEAS: Tabor, Richard, Stansbury, Guilbeau, Rubin NAYS: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None Motion to adopt was approved. AGENDA ITEM NO. 17: JO-040-2026 A joint ordinance of the Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council amending the FY 25/26 operating budget of the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government by authorizing the transfer of $125,000 in HOME funds within the Community Development and Planning Department to Catholic Charities of Acadiana, motion to adopt by Rubin, seconded by Guilbeau, and the vote was as follows: YEAS: Tabor, Richard, Stansbury, Guilbeau, Rubin NAYS: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None Motion to adopt was approved. One (1) citizen signed in, in support, but did not wish to speak. AGENDA ITEM NO. 18: JO-041-2026 A joint ordinance of the Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council amending the FY 25/26 operating budget of the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government by authorizing the transfer of $220,000 in HOME funds within the Community Development and Planning Department to Lafayette Habitat for Humanity, motion to adopt by Tabor, seconded by Guilbeau, and the vote was as follows: YEAS: Tabor, Richard, Stansbury, Guilbeau, Rubin NAYS: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None Motion to adopt was approved. Melinda Taylor signed in to speak but only if there were questions. There were no questions from the Council.

p Michael Cormier & Lynn Naquin, Tract 2-A Plat Location: 1500 Blk Duhon Rd Jurisdiction: Parish of Lafayette Proposed Use: Residen‐ tial Surveyor: Paul C. Prince 3. Hearing Review No. 2026-80-HE Proposed Plat Name: 1820 Verot School Road, Tract A Plat Location: 1820 Verot School Rd Jurisdiction: City of Lafayette Proposed Use: Commer‐ cial Surveyor: Terry Ortego 4. Hearing Review No. 2026-81-HE Proposed Plat Name: Matthew & Maggie Hebert, Tract 1 Plat Location: 107 Veteri‐ narian Rd Jurisdiction: City of Lafayette Proposed Use: Residen‐ tial Surveyor: Stephen Her‐ pin 5. Hearing Review No. 2026-82-HE Proposed Plat Name: Roy Estates, Inc., Blk 1, Lots 1, 2&3 Plat Location: 3701 Cameron St Jurisdiction: City of Lafayette Proposed Use: Commer‐ cial Surveyor: Donald Gladfel‐ ter 6. Hearing Review No. 2026-83-HE

Legal Notices

Proposed Plat Name: Wil‐ low West Lots 1, 2 & 3 Plat Location: 2124 W Willow St Jurisdiction: City of Lafayette Proposed Use: Commer‐ cial Surveyor: Terry Ortego 7. Hearing Review No. 2026-84-HE Proposed Plat Name: Broc & Ceri Decou, Tract 1 Plat Location: 1717 & 1715 Savoy Rd Jurisdiction: Parish of Lafayette Proposed Use: Residen‐ tial Surveyor: Devon Richard III. Adjourn 200950-SEP 18-1T $29.49 PUBLIC NOTICE --NOTICE The Lafayette City Coun‐ cil and the Lafayette Parish Council met in Special Joint Session on September 15, 2026 and introduced the following ordinances. JO-042-2026 A joint ordi‐ nance of the Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council amending the FY 25/26 manning tables of the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Govern‐ ment by increasing the h l f h i k

Legal Notices

y g hourly rate of the Risk and Insurance Manager position within the Office of Finance & Manage‐ ment, Risk Management Division. JO-043-2026 A joint ordi‐ nance of the Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council amending the FY 25/26 operating and capital budget of the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government by adjusting the manning tables and reallocating funds to‐ wards the Temporary Employees Account and transferring $194,000 from Public Art Capital Projects within the Plan‐ ning Division of Commu‐ nity Development and Planning into the Inter‐ national Trade Division within the office of the Chief Administrative Offi‐ cer. JO-044-2026 A joint ordi‐ nance of the Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council amending the FY 25/26 operating and capital budget of the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government by transfer‐ ring funds from various accounts to the Prelimi‐ nary Engineering ac‐ count and appropriating within the Capital Im‐ provements Department to create project ac‐ count.

PUBLIC HEARING Item 19A and Item 19B were both WITHDRAWN BY APPELLANT UPON AGREEMENT WITH THE ASSESSOR. AGENDA ITEM NO. 19: Convene the Public Hearing and Board of Review for all persons desiring to be heard on the assessed value of both real and personal property. 4:53:00 Richard opened the Public Hearing and Board of Review for all persons desiring to be heard on the assessed value of both real and personal property. Reassessment Assessment Original Number Assessment Requested 6170274 $5,517,250 $4,432,000

Name A. Arbours at Lafayette LLC

Description of Property 121 Alcide Dominique Dr. Personal Property

B. ATC Apartments (Silo Apartments)

200 Frem Boustany 6164253 Drive Personal Property

$35,372,179 $14,149,00

4:54:00 Richard closed the Public Hearing and Board of Review. INTRODUCTORY ORDINANCES A motion to introduce agenda items 20 thru 22, in globo, was offered by Rubin, seconded by Stansbury. 20. PO-043-2026 An ordinance of the Lafayette Parish Council amending the FY 25/26 operating and capital budget of the Lafayette CityParish Consolidated Government by transferring $3,210.23 from the Parish Council District 5 Capital Appropriation to Carencro Volunteer Fire Department within Section 4190 Parishwide Fire Protection for the purchase of structural firefighting protective coat and pants with thermal liners and related accessories. 21. PO-044-2026 An ordinance of the Lafayette Parish Council amending the FY 25/26 operating and capital budgets of the Lafayette CityParish Consolidated Government by authorizing the use of PY Fund Balance of the Juvenile Detention Facility (Fund 2650) in the amount of $187,749 and combining with existing funds and appropriating within the Office of the Chief Administrative Officer, Juvenile Detention Division, to fund safety improvements at the Juvenile Detention Home. 22. PO-045-2026 An ordinance of the Lafayette Parish Council amending the FY 25/26 operating budget of the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government by adjusting the manning tables and increasing the hourly pay rate of one (1) Cement Mason position within the Traffic, Roads, and Bridges Department-Streets Division. The Chair then called for a vote to introduce the ordinances (items 20 thru 22), in globo, and the vote was as follows: YEAS: Tabor, Richard, Stansbury, Guilbeau, Rubin NAYS: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None Motion to introduce, in globo, was approved. JOINT INTRODUCTORY ORDINANCES A motion to introduce agenda items 23 thru 28, in globo, was offered by Rubin, seconded by Guilbeau. 23. JO-042-2026 A joint ordinance of the Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council amending the FY 25/26 manning tables of the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government by increasing the hourly rate of the Risk and Insurance Manager position within the Office of Finance & Management, Risk Management Division. 24. JO-043-2026 A joint ordinance of the Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council amending the FY 25/26 operating and capital budget of the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government by adjusting the manning tables and reallocating funds towards the Temporary Employees Account and transferring $194,000 from Public Art Capital Projects within the Planning Division of Community Development and Planning into the International Trade Division within the office of the Chief Administrative Officer. 25. JO-044-2026 A joint ordinance of the Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council amending the FY 25/26 operating and capital budget of the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government by transferring funds from various accounts to the Preliminary Engineering account and appropriating within the Capital Improvements Department to create project account. 26. JO-045-2026 A joint ordinance of the Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council amending the FY 25/26 operating budget of the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government by adjusting the manning tables and increasing the hourly pay rate of one (1) Public Information Specialist position within the Capital Improvements Department. 27. JO-046-2026 A joint ordinance of the Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council authorizing a Memorandum of Understanding between University of Louisiana at Lafayette and Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government to comply with the requirement for written agreement between agencies sharing responsibility for the obligations outlined in the general permit for discharges from small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems. 28. JO-047-2026 A joint ordinance of the Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council, acting in their capacity as the governing authority of the City of Lafayette and the Parish of Lafayette, respectively, providing for the abandonment of a portion of a ten (10’) foot utility easement and associated niches, located on Lot 17-B of the McComb addition BLA Block 14, Lots 17-A & 17-B Subdivision, at 212 North Chestnut Street, and authorizing the Lafayette MayorPresident to execute an Act of Abandonment in order to effectuate the abandonment on behalf of the City of Lafayette, and Parish of Lafayette, and the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government. The Chair then called for a vote to introduce the ordinances (items 23 thru 28), in globo, and the vote was as follows: YEAS: Tabor, Richard, Stansbury, Guilbeau, Rubin NAYS: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None Motion to introduce, in globo, was approved. (5:00:00) ADJOURN There being no further business to come before the Council, Chair Richard declared the Regular Meeting adjourned. /s/ Joseph Gordon-Wiltz JOSEPH GORDON-WILTZ LAFAYETTE CLERK OF THE COUNCIL

201152-688901-sept 18-1t $ 416.75

The Acadiana Advocate ● theadvocate.com ● Friday, September 18, 2026 ● 13C

lll

Legal Notices

NOTICE The Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council each met in Regular Session on September 15, 2026 and adopted the following ordinances: ORDINANCE NO. JO-031-2026 A JOINT ORDINANCE OF THE LAFAYETTE CITY COUNCIL AND THE LAFAYETTE PARISH COUNCIL AUTHORIZING THE LAFAYETTE MAYOR-PRESIDENT TO ENTER INTO A FIRST AMENDMENT TO March 12, 2021 CONTRACT FOR EMERGENCY AND NONEMERGENCY AMBULANCE SERVICES FOR THE PARISH OF LAFAYETTE AND CITY OF LAFAYETTE BE IT ORDAINED by the Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council, that: WHEREAS, pursuant to Ordinance No. JO-007-2021, the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government entered into that certain March 12, 2021 Contract for Emergency and Non-Emergency Ambulance Services for the Parish of Lafayette and City of Lafayette with Acadian Ambulance, Inc. and Air Med Services, L.L.C., under the terms and conditions set forth therein (the “Current Contract”); and WHEREAS, pursuant to the authority granted to the Emergency Medical Services Advisory Board (the “Board”) by Chapter 7, Article II of the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government Code of Ordinances, the Board voted on June 30, 2026, to recommend that Lafayette CityParish Consolidated Government enter into the First Amendment to March 12, 2021 Contract for Emergency and Non-Emergency Ambulance Services for the Parish of Lafayette and City of Lafayette, substantially in the form attached hereto and made a part hereof by reference (the “Amended Agreement”); and WHEREAS, the Amended Agreement updates certain rates and performance measures and makes other revisions to correct, clarify, and streamline provisions of the Current Contract; and WHEREAS, pursuant to the authority granted to the City of Lafayette and the Parish of Lafayette by La. R.S. 33:4791.1, the Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council find that it is in the public interest to continue Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government’s long-standing policy of designating a single provider of emergency and non-emergency ambulance services within its jurisdiction; and WHEREAS, considering the foregoing, the Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council desire to enter into the Amended Agreement with Acadian Ambulance, Inc. and Air Med Services, L.L.C. for the continued provision of exclusive emergency and non-emergency ambulance services within the jurisdiction of the City of Lafayette and the Parish of Lafayette. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED by the Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council, that: SECTION 1: All of the aforedescribed “Whereas” clauses are adopted as part of this ordinance. SECTION 2: The Lafayette Mayor-President is hereby authorized to enter into the Amended Agreement in substantially the same form as attached hereto and made a part hereof and to take all further actions necessary to carry out the intent of this ordinance. SECTION 3: All ordinances or resolutions, or parts thereof, in conflict herewith (particularly including Chapter 7, Article III, Sec. 7-42 of the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Code of Ordinances) are hereby repealed. SECTION 4: After first having been adopted by a majority of the authorized membership of both the Lafayette Parish Council and the Lafayette City Council, this joint ordinance shall become effective upon signature of this joint ordinance by the Lafayette Mayor-President, the elapse of ten (10) days after receipt by the Lafayette Mayor-President without signature or veto, or upon an override of a veto, whichever occurs first. ***** ORDINANCE NO. JO-032-2026 A JOINT ORDINANCE OF THE LAFAYETTE CITY COUNCIL AND THE LAFAYETTE PARISH COUNCIL ESTABLISHING A PROCEDURE TO SELL SURPLUS MOVABLE PROPERTY VALUED AT LESS THAN $5,000 NO LONGER NEEDED FOR A PUBLIC PURPOSE THROUGH A PUBLIC INTERNET AUCTION BE IT ORDAINED by the Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council, that: WHEREAS, the disposition of surplus property reduces storage costs, generates revenues, and promotes sustainability; and WHEREAS, La. R.S. 33:4711.1 authorizes a political subdivision to sell surplus movable property using electronic technology, including internet websites created expressly for the purpose of facilitating the sale whether privately or publicly owned; and WHEREAS, the Attorney General has stated that political subdivisions should dispose of surplus movable property no longer needed for a public purpose and has recognized La. R.S. 33:4711.1 as one of the methods by which political subdivisions can dispose of such property; and WHEREAS, to streamline matters, the Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council desire to enact an ordinance that sets forth a procedure for the disposition of surplus movable property valued at less than $5,000 no longer needed for a public purpose through a public internet auction to the highest bidder. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED by the Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council, that: SECTION 1: All of the above “Whereas” clauses are adopted as part of this ordinance. SECTION 2: It is in the best interest of the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government to sell surplus movable property valued at less than $5,000 no longer needed for a public purpose through a public internet auction to the highest bidder. SECTION 3: All items shall be sold in an “as-is, where-is” condition. LCG reserves the right to reject any and all bids, establish minimum bid prices, or withdraw items from the sale. SECTION 4: Before surplus movable property valued at less than $5,000 can be sold through a public internet auction, a resolution with a list of the items to be sold along with the fair market value as the minimum price for the sale of such items shall be presented to the appropriate council for approval and declared as surplus property no longer needed for a public purpose. Upon the resolution’s approval, the resolution with the list of items to be sold along with the fair market value as the minimum price for the sale of such items shall be published in the official journal. LCG shall not proceed with the sale of the property, until the resolution with the list of items to be sold shall be published in the official journal. SECTION 5: The Lafayette Mayor-President is authorized to sell at a public internet auction surplus movable property valued at less than $5,000 as provided in the resolution or list, attached thereto, approved by the respective council. SECTION 6: The Lafayette Mayor-President is authorized to pay the costs associated with the internet services from the proceeds of such sales. SECTION 7: All ordinances or resolutions, or parts thereof, in conflict herewith are hereby repealed. SECTION 8: After first having been adopted by a majority of the authorized membership of both the Lafayette Parish Council and the Lafayette City Council, this joint ordinance shall become effective upon signature of this joint ordinance by the Lafayette Mayor-President, the elapse of ten (10) days after receipt by the Lafayette Mayor-President without signature or veto, or upon override of a veto, whichever occurs first. ***** ORDINANCE NO. JO-033-2026 A JOINT ORDINANCE OF THE LAFAYETTE CITY COUNCIL AND THE LAFAYETTE PARISH COUNCIL SUSPENDING ORDINANCE NO. JO001-2021 WHICH CREATED A CONDITIONAL TWO (2%) PERCENT PAY INCREASE STRUCTURE FOR EMPLOYEES OF THE OFFICE OF THE CITY MARSHAL, FOR THE PROPOSED FY 2026-2027 BUDGET WITH CONSIDERATION GIVEN TO THE CITY MARSHAL PAY PLAN TO BE INCLUDED IN THE AMENDED FY 2026-2027 PROPOSED OPERATING AND FIVE-YEAR CAPITAL BUDGET DOCUMENT BE IT ORDAINED by the Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council, that: SECTION 1: Ordinance No. JO-001-2021 which created a conditional two (2%) percent pay increase structure for employees of the Office of the City Marshal, is hereby suspended for the proposed FY 2026-2027 budget as a result of the City Marshal pay plan to be included in the Amended FY 2026-2027 Proposed Operating and Five-Year Capital Budget. SECTION 2: All ordinances or resolutions, or parts thereof, in conflict herewith are hereby repealed. SECTION 3: After first having been adopted by a majority of the authorized membership of the Lafayette Parish Council and Lafayette City Council, this joint ordinance shall become effective upon signature of this joint ordinance by the Lafayette Mayor-President, the elapse of ten (10) days after receipt by the Lafayette Mayor-President without signature or veto, or upon override of a veto, whichever occurs first. ***** ORDINANCE NO. JO-035-2026 A JOINT ORDINANCE OF THE LAFAYETTE CITY COUNCIL AND THE LAFAYETTE PARISH COUNCIL AMENDING THE FY 25/26 OPERATING BUDGET AND ADJUSTING THE MANNING TABLES OF THE LAFAYETTE CITY-PARISH CONSOLIDATED GOVERNMENT BY AUTHORIZING THE USE OF EXISTING FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,676 AND APPROPRIATING WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF

Legal Notices

INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY TO ADD ONE (1) IS&T MANAGER PROMOTION PER CIVIL SERVICE RECOMMENDATION BE IT ORDAINED by the Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council, that: SECTION 1: The FY 25/26 operating budget of the Lafayette CityParish Consolidated Government is hereby amended by authorizing the use of unexpended and unencumbered personnel salaries and retirement/ medicare tax accounts in the amount of $2,676 and appropriating within the Department of Innovation & Technology to add one (1) IS&T Manager promotion, per Civil Service Recommendation. The annual recurring cost is $33,181.40. SECTION 2: This transfer of funds shall be reflected in any pertinent documents which are attached and made a part hereof and filed in the Office of the Clerk of the Council. SECTION 3: All ordinances or resolutions, or parts thereof, in conflict herewith are hereby repealed. SECTION 4: After first having been adopted by a majority of the authorized membership of both the Lafayette Parish Council and the Lafayette City Council, this joint ordinance shall become effective upon signature of this joint ordinance by the Lafayette Mayor-President, the elapse of ten (10) days after receipt by the Lafayette Mayor-President without signature or veto, or upon override of a veto, whichever occurs first. ***** ORDINANCE NO. JO-036-2026 A JOINT ORDINANCE OF THE LAFAYETTE CITY COUNCIL AND THE LAFAYETTE PARISH COUNCIL AMENDING THE FY 25/26 OPERATING BUDGET OF THE LAFAYETTE CITY-PARISH CONSOLIDATED GOVERNMENT BY ADJUSTING THE MANNING TABLES AND INCREASING THE HOURLY RATE OF ONE (1) CLERK II POSITION WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY BE IT ORDAINED by the Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council, that: SECTION 1: The FY 25/26 operating budget of the Lafayette CityParish Consolidated Government is herby amended by adjusting the manning tables and increasing the hourly pay rate of one (1) Clerk II position from $15.14 to $15.74 as recommended by Civil Service. Lafayette City Council and Lafayette Parish Council action is required since the aforementioned position is currently funded at a lower rate of pay. SECTION 2: The FY 25/26 operating budget of the Lafayette CityParish Consolidated Government shall not be affected due to the sufficient unexpended/unencumbered balance in the salary appropriation to cover the additional cost needed for the remainder of the 25/26 fiscal year. SECTION 3: This adjustment shall be reflected in any pertinent documents which are attached and made a part hereof and filed in the Office of the Clerk of the Council. SECTION 4: All ordinances or resolutions, or parts thereof, in conflict herewith are hereby repealed. SECTION 5: After first having been adopted by a majority of the authorized membership of both the Lafayette Parish Council and the Lafayette City Council, this joint ordinance shall become effective upon signature of this joint ordinance by the Lafayette Mayor-President, the elapse of ten (10) days after receipt by the Lafayette Mayor-President without signature or veto, or upon override of a veto, whichever occurs first. ***** ORDINANCE NO. JO-037-2026 A JOINT ORDINANCE OF THE LAFAYETTE CITY COUNCIL AND THE LAFAYETTE PARISH COUNCIL, ACTING IN THEIR CAPACITY AS THE GOVERNING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF LAFAYETTE AND THE PARISH OF LAFAYETTE, RESPECTIVELY, PROVIDING FOR THE ABANDONMENT OF A CERTAIN PORTION OF A 50’ PUBLIC RIGHTOF-WAY (WALL STREET) LOCATED BETWEEN LOT 13-A AND LOT 14-A OF THE VAN-WAY, JP DEVELOPMENT EXT 1 SUBDIVISION, AND AUTHORIZING THE LAFAYETTE MAYOR-PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE AN ACT OF ABANDONMENT IN ORDER TO EFFECTUATE THE ABANDONMENT ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF LAFAYETTE, AND PARISH OF LAFAYETTE, AND THE LAFAYETTE CITY-PARISH CONSOLIDATED GOVERNMENT BE IT ORDAINED by the Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council, acting in their capacity as the governing authority of the City of Lafayette and the Parish of Lafayette, respectively, and jointly, as the governing authority of the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government, that: WHEREAS, a 50’ Public right-of-way (Wall Street) located in The Van-Way, JP Development Ext 1 Subdivision was dedicated to the City of Lafayette and the Parish of Lafayette, respectively, by that certain act of dedication dated February 23, 1965, and recorded under Act No. 196500470799 of the Lafayette Parish Conveyance Records, attached hereto and made a part hereof in Exhibit B; and WHEREAS, a certain portion of Wall Street, being a 50’ public rightof-way, located between Lots 13-A and Lot 14-A located of The Van-Way, JP Development Ext 1 Subdivision has been proposed for abandonment and is clearly shown on a plat of survey prepared by Shawn Macmenamin, PLS, dated June 01, 2026, attached hereto and made a part hereof in Exhibit C; and WHEREAS, it has been determined by the City of Lafayette and the Parish of Lafayette, respectively, and jointly, as the governing authority of the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government, that a certain portion of Wall Street, being a 50’ public right-of-way, located between Lots 13-A and Lot 14-A located of The Van-Way, JP Development Ext 1 Subdivision, as shown in Exhibit C, is no longer needed for public use and, accordingly, it is appropriate that a certain portion of the right-of-way be abandoned. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED by the Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council, acting in their capacity as the governing authority of the City of Lafayette and the Parish of Lafayette, respectively, and jointly, as the governing authority of the Lafayette CityParish Consolidated Government, that: SECTION 1: All of the aforedescribed “Whereas” clauses are adopted as part of this ordinance. SECTION 2: The Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council, acting in their capacity as the governing authority of the City of Lafayette and the Parish of Lafayette, respectively, and jointly, as the governing authority of the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government, hereby abandons that certain portion of Wall Street, being a 50’ public right-of-way, located between Lots 13-A and Lot 14-A located of The Van-Way, JP Development Ext 1 Subdivision, as shown on a plat of survey prepared by Shawn Macmenamin, PLS, dated June 01, 2026, attached hereto and made a part hereof in Exhibit C. SECTION 3: The Lafayette Mayor-President is hereby authorized and empowered to execute an Act of Abandonment on behalf of the City of Lafayette, the Parish of Lafayette, and the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government in order to effectuate the abandonment of a certain portion of Wall Street, being a 50’ public right-of-way, as shown on a plat of survey prepared by Shawn Macmenamin, PLS, dated June 01, 2026, attached hereto and made a part hereof in Exhibit C. SECTION 4: The Act of Abandonment authorized in Section 3 shall be substantially in the form attached hereto, but may be revised, and may contain such additional provisions, as the Mayor-President, in consultation with the City-Parish Attorney, may deem necessary, convenient, or desirable to carry out the intent and provisions of this ordinance. SECTION 5: All ordinances or resolutions, or parts thereof, in conflict herewith are hereby repealed. SECTION 6: After first having been adopted by a majority of the authorized membership of both the Lafayette Parish Council and the Lafayette City Council, this joint ordinance shall become effective upon signature of this joint ordinance by the Lafayette Mayor-President, the elapse of ten (10) days after receipt by the Lafayette Mayor-President without signature or veto, or upon override of a veto, whichever occurs first. ***** ORDINANCE NO. JO-038-2026 A JOINT ORDINANCE OF THE LAFAYETTE CITY COUNCIL AND THE LAFAYETTE PARISH COUNCIL AMENDING THE FY 25/26 OPERATING BUDGET OF THE LAFAYETTE CITY-PARISH CONSOLIDATED GOVERNMENT BY AUTHORIZING THE TRANSFER OF $100,000 IN HOME FUNDS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND PLANNING DEPARTMENT TO CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF ACADIANA BE IT ORDAINED by the Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council, that: SECTION 1: The FY 25/26 operating budget of the Lafayette CityParish Consolidated Government is hereby amended by transferring $100,000 in HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) Program funds within the Community Development & Planning Department to Catholic Charities of Acadiana. Funds will be used to acquire and rehabilitate one (1) single-family rental housing unit for occupancy by eligible low-income households as their principal residence. SECTION 2: The transfer of funds shall be contingent upon completion of an environmental review and the Finding of No Significant Impact, as reached in accordance with HUD environmental review regulations. SECTION 3: The Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council do hereby authorize the Lafayette Mayor-President, or her designee, to conduct all negotiations, execute and submit all documents, including but not limited to applications, agreements, amendments,

Legal Notices

payment requests, memoranda of understanding and so on, which may be necessary for the completion of the aforementioned project. SECTION 4: This transfer of funds shall be as reflected in any pertinent documents which are attached hereto and made a part hereof and filed in the Office of the Clerk of the Council. The Lafayette Mayor-President, or her designee, is hereby authorized to amend the operating budget within the grant period by transferring any unexpended appropriated balances into or out of salaries and benefits line items and all other expense line items in order to expend the total award amount in accordance with the HOME regulations. SECTION 5: All ordinances or resolutions, or parts thereof, in conflict herewith are hereby repealed. SECTION 6: After first having been adopted by a majority of the authorized membership of both the Lafayette Parish Council and the Lafayette City Council, this joint ordinance shall become effective upon signature of this joint ordinance by the Lafayette Mayor-President, the elapse of ten (10) days after receipt by the Lafayette Mayor-President without signature or veto, or upon override of a veto, whichever occurs first. ***** ORDINANCE NO. JO-039-2026 A JOINT ORDINANCE OF THE LAFAYETTE CITY COUNCIL AND THE LAFAYETTE PARISH COUNCIL AMENDING THE FY 25/26 OPERATING BUDGET OF THE LAFAYETTE CITY-PARISH CONSOLIDATED GOVERNMENT BY AUTHORIZING THE TRANSFER OF $164,595 IN HOME AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN (HOME-ARP) FUNDS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND PLANNING DEPARTMENT TO FAITH HOUSE, INC BE IT ORDAINED by the Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council, that: SECTION 1: The FY 25/26 operating budget of the Lafayette CityParish Consolidated Government is hereby amended by transferring $164,595 in HOME-ARP funds within the Community Development & Planning Department to Faith House, Inc. Funds will be used by Faith House, Inc. for Supportive Services to support domestic violence shelters. SECTION 2: The transfer of funds shall be contingent upon completion of an environmental review and the Finding of No Significant Impact, as reached in accordance with HUD environmental review regulations. SECTION 3: The Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council do hereby authorize the Lafayette Mayor-President, or her designee, to conduct all negotiations, execute and submit all documents, including but not limited to applications, agreements, amendments, payment requests, memoranda of understanding and so on, which may be necessary for the completion of the aforementioned project. SECTION 4: This transfer of funds shall be as reflected in any pertinent documents which are attached hereto and made a part hereof and filed in the Office of the Clerk of the Council. The Lafayette Mayor-President, or her designee, is hereby authorized to amend the operating budget within the grant period by transferring any unexpended appropriated balances into or out of salaries and benefits line items and all other expense line items in order to expend the total award amount in accordance with the HOME-ARP regulations. SECTION 5: All ordinances or resolutions, or parts thereof, in conflict herewith are hereby repealed. SECTION 6: After first having been adopted by a majority of the authorized membership of both the Lafayette Parish Council and the Lafayette City Council, this joint ordinance shall become effective upon signature of this joint ordinance by the Lafayette Mayor-President, the elapse of ten (10) days after receipt by the Lafayette Mayor-President without signature or veto, or upon override of a veto, whichever occurs first. ***** ORDINANCE NO. JO-040-2026 A JOINT ORDINANCE OF THE LAFAYETTE CITY COUNCIL AND THE LAFAYETTE PARISH COUNCIL AMENDING THE FY 25/26 OPERATING BUDGET OF THE LAFAYETTE CITY-PARISH CONSOLIDATED GOVERNMENT BY AUTHORIZING THE TRANSFER OF $125,000 IN HOME FUNDS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND PLANNING DEPARTMENT TO CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF ACADIANA BE IT ORDAINED by the Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council, that: SECTION 1: The FY 25/26 operating budget of the Lafayette CityParish Consolidated Government is hereby amended by transferring $125,000 in HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) Program funds within the Community Development & Planning Department to Catholic Charities of Acadiana. Funds will be used for assistance with the rehabilitation of single-family housing units occupied by eligible low-income households for occupancy as their principal residence. SECTION 2: The transfer of funds shall be contingent upon completion of an environmental review and the Finding of No Significant Impact, as reached in accordance with HUD environmental review regulations. SECTION 3: The Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council do hereby authorize the Lafayette Mayor-President, or her designee, to conduct all negotiations, execute and submit all documents, including but not limited to applications, agreements, amendments, payment requests, memoranda of understanding and so on, which may be necessary for the completion of the aforementioned project. SECTION 4: This transfer of funds shall be as reflected in any pertinent documents which are attached hereto and made a part hereof and filed in the Office of the Clerk of the Council. The Lafayette Mayor-President, or her designee, is hereby authorized to amend the operating budget within the grant period by transferring any unexpended appropriated balances into or out of salaries and benefits line items and all other expense line items in order to expend the total award amount in accordance with the HOME regulations. SECTION 5: All ordinances or resolutions, or parts thereof, in conflict herewith are hereby repealed. SECTION 6: After first having been adopted by a majority of the authorized membership of both the Lafayette Parish Council and the Lafayette City Council, this joint ordinance shall become effective upon signature of this joint ordinance by the Lafayette Mayor-President, the elapse of ten (10) days after receipt by the Lafayette Mayor-President without signature or veto, or upon override of a veto, whichever occurs first. ***** ORDINANCE NO. JO-041-2026 A JOINT ORDINANCE OF THE LAFAYETTE CITY COUNCIL AND THE LAFAYETTE PARISH COUNCIL AMENDING THE FY 25/26 OPERATING BUDGET OF THE LAFAYETTE CITY-PARISH CONSOLIDATED GOVERNMENT BY AUTHORIZING THE TRANSFER OF $220,000 IN HOME FUNDS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND PLANNING DEPARTMENT TO LAFAYETTE HABITAT FOR HUMANITY BE IT ORDAINED by the Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council, that: SECTION 1: The FY 25/26 operating budget of the Lafayette CityParish Consolidated Government is hereby amended by transferring $220,000 in HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) Program funds within the Community Development & Planning Department to Lafayette Habitat for Humanity. Funds will be used for assistance with the construction of two (2) affordable single-family housing units to be sold to eligible lowincome households for occupancy as their principal residence. SECTION 2: The transfer of funds shall be contingent upon completion of an environmental review and the Finding of No Significant Impact, as reached in accordance with HUD environmental review regulations. SECTION 3: The Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council do hereby authorize the Lafayette Mayor-President, or her designee, to conduct all negotiations, execute and submit all documents, including but not limited to applications, agreements, amendments, payment requests, memoranda of understanding and so on, which may be necessary for the completion of the aforementioned project. SECTION 4: This transfer of funds shall be as reflected in any pertinent documents which are attached hereto and made a part hereof and filed in the Office of the Clerk of the Council. The Lafayette Mayor-President, or her designee, is hereby authorized to amend the operating budget within the grant period by transferring any unexpended appropriated balances into or out of salaries and benefits line items and all other expense line items in order to expend the total award amount in accordance with the HOME regulations. SECTION 5: All ordinances or resolutions, or parts thereof, in conflict herewith are hereby repealed. SECTION 6: After first having been adopted by a majority of the authorized membership of both the Lafayette Parish Council and the Lafayette City Council, this joint ordinance shall become effective upon signature of this joint ordinance by the Lafayette Mayor-President, the elapse of ten (10) days after receipt by the Lafayette Mayor-President without signature or veto, or upon override of a veto, whichever occurs first. ***** /s/ Joseph Gordon-Wiltz JOSEPH GORDON-WILTZ LAFAYETTE CLERK OF THE COUNCIL

201139-688879-sept 18-1t $ 529.20

14C ● Friday, September 18, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate Legal Notices

Legal Notices

PROCEEDINGS OF THE LAFAYETTE CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF THE CITY OF LAFAYETTE, STATE OF LOUISIANA, TAKEN AT A REGULAR MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 15, 2026 HELD AT 705 W. UNIVERSITY AVENUE, LAFAYETTE, LA. ATTENDANCE COUNCIL: Kenneth Boudreaux (Chair, District 5), Elroy Broussard (District 1), Andy Naquin (District 2), and Thomas Hooks (District 4)

lll

Legal Notices

follows: YEAS: Broussard, Naquin, Hooks, Boudreaux NAYS: None ABSENT: Hebert ABSTAIN: None Motion to adopt was approved.

ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF: Monique B. Boulet (Mayor-President), Rachel Godeaux (Chief Administrative Officer), Robert A. Mahtook, Jr. (CityParish Attorney) and Paul Escott (Assistant City-Parish Attorney)

AGENDA ITEM NO. 10: CO-078-2026 An ordinance of the Lafayette City Council authorizing and directing the Lafayette Mayor-President to execute and submit the “Temporary Housing and Shelter Assistance Program Waiver of Land Use/Permitting Form” in accordance with La. R.S. 29:726(F)(3)(b)(iii)(aa), motion to adopt by Broussard, seconded by Naquin, and the vote was as follows: YEAS: Broussard, Naquin, Hooks, Boudreaux NAYS: None ABSENT: Hebert ABSTAIN: None Motion to adopt was approved.

(5:34:00) COMMENCEMENT

JOINT ORDINANCES FOR FINAL ADOPTION

Call to order

AGENDA ITEM NO. 11: JO-031-2026 A joint ordinance of the Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council authorizing the Lafayette Mayor-President to enter into a First Amendment to March 12, 2021 Contract for Emergency and Non-Emergency Ambulance Services for the Parish of Lafayette and the City of Lafayette, motion to adopt by Naquin, seconded by Hooks, and the vote was as follows: YEAS: Broussard, Naquin, Hooks, Boudreaux NAYS: None ABSENT: Hebert ABSTAIN: None Motion to adopt was approved.

ABSENT: Liz Hebert (Vice-Chair, District 3) COUNCIL STAFF: Joseph Gordon-Wiltz (Clerk of the Council), Cindy M. Semien (Associate Clerk for Legislative Affairs) and Kelly Comeaux (Assistant Clerk for Legislative Affairs)

Chair Boudreaux called the Regular City Council Meeting of September 15, 2026 to order. AGENDA ITEM NO. 1: Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance The Chair called upon Councilmember Naquin to cite an invocation and upon Councilmember Hooks to lead the Pledge of Allegiance. WELCOME AND CHAIR ANNOUNCEMENTS Boudreaux made the following announcements: - Absent – Liz Hebert, District 3; - Due to Election Day, the Council Meetings in November and December will be on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month, returning to the typical 1st and 3rd Tuesdays in January 2027; - Intro Item #24 – CO-082-2026 – Utilities (LUS) requested an amendment to add one (1) employee to the ordinance and change the use of prior year fund balance from $321 to $940. AGENDA ITEM NO. 2: COUNCIL ANNOUNCEMENTS Naquin announced that the Lafayette Animal Shelter will host a free drive through rabies vaccination clinic for dogs on October 4th from 8 AM – noon at the Cajundome. AGENDA ITEM NO. 3: EXECUTIVE/MAYOR-PRESIDENT’S REPORT A) Himbola Manor Apartments Fire Rescue Recognition Captain Sean Lirette, Firefighter Seth Judice and Firefighter First Class Cole Champagne were presented with Life Safety Award certificates in recognition for their courageous lifesaving efforts during the August 3rd apartment fire where they saved the lives of two (2) children (ages 5 and 14). Also recognized many of the Fire Department personnel and other first responders who took action and supported the rescue and suppression efforts. They were acknowledged for their courage and teamwork. Fire Chief Earl Borden stated that it was the result of years of training and teamwork. Naquin thanked all for their outstanding work. He thanked the Administration and Council for recognizing the firefighters.

AGENDA ITEM NO. 12: JO-032-2026 A joint ordinance of the Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council establishing a procedure to sell surplus movable property valued at less than $5,000 no longer needed for a public purpose through a public internet auction, motion to adopt by Broussard, seconded by Hooks, and the vote was as follows: YEAS: Broussard, Naquin, Hooks, Boudreaux NAYS: None ABSENT: Hebert ABSTAIN: None Motion to adopt was approved. AGENDA ITEM NO. 13: JO-033-2026 A joint ordinance of the Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council suspending Ordinance No. JO-001-2021 which created a conditional two (2%) percent pay increase structure for employees of the Office of the City Marshal, for the proposed FY 2026-2027 budget with consideration given to the City Marshal pay plan to be included in the Amended FY 2026-2027 Proposed Operating and Five-Year Capital Budget document, motion to adopt by Broussard, seconded by Hooks, and the vote was as follows: YEAS: Broussard, Naquin, Hooks, Boudreaux NAYS: None ABSENT: Hebert ABSTAIN: None Motion to adopt was approved.

RESOLUTION

AGENDA ITEM NO. 14: JO-035-2026 A joint ordinance of the Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council amending the FY 25/26 operating budget and adjusting the manning tables of the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government by authorizing the use of existing funds in the amount of $2,676 and appropriating within the Department of Innovation and Technology to add one (1) IS&T manager promotion per Civil Service recommendation, motion to adopt by Naquin, seconded by Hooks, and the vote was as follows: YEAS: Broussard, Naquin, Hooks, Boudreaux NAYS: None ABSENT: Hebert ABSTAIN: None Motion to adopt was approved.

AGENDA ITEM NO. 4: CR-016-2026 A resolution of the Lafayette City Council officially designating Acadiana Growers Alliance dba Freetown Community Market in the City of Lafayette as a recognized Louisiana Festival or Fair as provided for by La. R.S. 40:4.5 and Title 51, Part XXIII of the Louisiana Administrative Code, motion to adopt by Naquin, seconded by Hooks, and the vote was as follows: YEAS: Broussard, Naquin, Hooks, Boudreaux NAYS: None ABSENT: Hebert ABSTAIN: None Motion to adopt was approved.

AGENDA ITEM NO. 15: JO-036-2026 A joint ordinance of the Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council amending the FY 25/26 operating budget of the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government by adjusting the manning tables and increasing the hourly rate of one (1) Clerk II position within the Department of Innovation & Technology, motion to adopt by Naquin, seconded by Hooks, and the vote was as follows: YEAS: Broussard, Naquin, Hooks, Boudreaux NAYS: None ABSENT: Hebert ABSTAIN: None Motion to adopt was approved.

REPORT AND/OR DISCUSSION ITEM

AGENDA ITEM NO. 16: JO-037-2026 A joint ordinance of the Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council, acting in their capacity as the governing authority of the City of Lafayette and the Parish of Lafayette, respectively, providing for the abandonment of a certain portion of a 50’ public right-of-way (Wall Street) located between Lot 13-A and Lot 14-A of the Van-Way, JP Development Ext 1 Subdivision, and authorizing the Lafayette Mayor-President to execute an Act of Abandonment in order to effectuate the abandonment on behalf of the City of Lafayette, and Parish of Lafayette, and the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government, motion to adopt by Broussard, seconded by Naquin, and the vote was as follows: YEAS: Broussard, Naquin, Hooks, Boudreaux NAYS: None ABSENT: Hebert ABSTAIN: None Motion to adopt was approved.

Boulet’s announcements: - Annual Blue Mass to honor first responders will be held at Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist on October 2nd at 12 PM; - National Night Out will be October 6th at 5:30 PM at the Martin Luther King Jr. Center; - Thomas Park Tennis Courts ribbon cutting will be September 30 at 2 PM; - Annual Coterie Meeting will be September 17 at 6 PM at the Downtown Convention Center.

AGENDA ITEM NO. 5: Update on Himbola Manor Apartments: Critical Conditions and Path Forward Godeaux presented the Council with a two (2) page synopsis regarding the apartment complex located at 804 Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive. She provided timeline of the property’s history, beginning with its purchase by Agape-Himbola Manor, LLC on September 29, 2015, and continuing through July 31, 2026, when additional violations were identified. She noted the longstanding complaints and deteriorating conditions at the complex, including more than 132 violations, several of which involve unsafe living conditions. Naquin questioned the number of units and how many that are affected. Kathy Trahan, Compliance Manager, stated that the complex contains 147 units, of which 77 are currently occupied. She clarified that not all will need to be condemned. She further noted that approximately 45 buildings, each containing of eight (8) units are expected to be condemned. Broussard stated concerns that tenants may misunderstand what is expected in the near future and urged the Administration to hold a town hall meeting to communicate the plan and provide residents with information regarding the next steps. Boudreaux reminded all that he has advocated for rental property inspections for many years. JOINT RESOLUTION AGENDA ITEM NO. 6: JR-017-2026 A joint resolution of the Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council naming and designating the firm of Kolder, Slaven & Company, LLC, as independent auditors for the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government in accordance with Section 2-09 of the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government Home Rule Charter, motion to adopt by Naquin, seconded by Hooks, and the vote was as follows: YEAS: Broussard, Naquin, Hooks, Boudreaux NAYS: None ABSENT: Hebert ABSTAIN: None Motion to adopt was approved. ORDINANCES FOR FINAL ADOPTION AGENDA ITEM NO. 7: CO-074-2026 An ordinance of the Lafayette City Council suspending Ordinance No. O-059-2019 which created a conditional two (2%) percent pay increase structure for the Municipal Fire and Police Civil Service employees of the Lafayette Police Department, for the proposed FY 2026-2027 budget with consideration given to the police and fire plans included in the FY 2026-2027 proposed operating and fiveyear capital budget document, motion to adopt by Broussard, seconded by Naquin, and the vote was as follows: YEAS: Broussard, Naquin, Hooks, Boudreaux NAYS: None ABSENT: Hebert ABSTAIN: None Motion to adopt was approved. AGENDA ITEM NO. 8: CO-076-2026 An ordinance of the Lafayette City Council authorizing the Lafayette City Marshal to enter into a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement with the National Heritage Academies, Inc. o/b/o Willow Charter Academy for one (1) School Resource Officer to be provided on the campus of Willow Charter Academy in addition, this agreement will amend the FY 25/26 operating budget and adjust the manning tables of the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government by adding one (1) new Deputy City Marshal II position and by increasing revenues in the amount of $7,592 within the Lafayette City Marshal’s office, motion to adopt by Broussard, seconded by Naquin, and the vote was as follows: YEAS: Broussard, Naquin, Hooks, Boudreaux NAYS: None ABSENT: Hebert ABSTAIN: None Motion to adopt was approved. AGENDA ITEM NO. 9: CO-077-2026 An ordinance of the Lafayette City Council authorizing the Lafayette Mayor-President to execute the agreement for joint use attachments of electric facilities between the City of Lafayette and Southwest Louisiana Electric Membership Corporation, motion to adopt by Naquin, seconded by Hooks, and the vote was as

AGENDA ITEM NO. 17: JO-038-2026 A joint ordinance of the Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council amending the FY 25/26 operating budget of the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government by authorizing the transfer of $100,000 in HOME funds within the Community Development and Planning Department to Catholic Charities of Acadiana, motion to adopt by Naquin, seconded by Hooks, and the vote was as follows: YEAS: Broussard, Naquin, Hooks, Boudreaux NAYS: None ABSENT: Hebert ABSTAIN: None Motion to adopt was approved. One (1) citizen signed in support, but did not wish to speak. AGENDA ITEM NO. 18: JO-039-2026 A joint ordinance of the Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council amending the FY 25/26 operating budget of the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government by authorizing the transfer of $164,595 in Home American Rescue Plan (HOME-ARP) funds within the Community Development and Planning Department to Faith House, Inc, motion to adopt by Naquin, seconded by Hooks, and the vote was as follows: YEAS: Broussard, Naquin, Hooks, Boudreaux NAYS: None ABSENT: Hebert ABSTAIN: None Motion to adopt was approved. AGENDA ITEM NO. 19: JO-040-2026 A joint ordinance of the Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council amending the FY 25/26 operating budget of the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government by authorizing the transfer of $125,000 in HOME funds within the Community Development and Planning Department to Catholic Charities of Acadiana, motion to adopt by Naquin, seconded by Hooks, and the vote was as follows: YEAS: Broussard, Naquin, Hooks, Boudreaux NAYS: None ABSENT: Hebert ABSTAIN: None Motion to adopt was approved. One (1) citizen signed in support, but did not wish to speak. AGENDA ITEM NO. 20: JO-041-2026 A joint ordinance of the Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council amending the FY 25/26 operating budget of the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government by authorizing the transfer of $220,000 in HOME funds within the Community Development and Planning Department to Lafayette Habitat for Humanity, motion to adopt by Naquin, seconded by Hooks, and the vote was as follows: YEAS: Broussard, Naquin, Hooks, Boudreaux NAYS: None ABSENT: Hebert ABSTAIN: None Motion to adopt was approved.

Legal Notices

offered by Broussard, seconded by Hooks. 21. CO-079-2026 An ordinance of the Lafayette City Council amending the FY 25/26 operating and capital budget of the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government by transferring $20,000 from the City Council District 2 Capital appropriation (Fund 4850) to the Lafayette Police Department (LPD) for the acquisition of furniture for its Precinct 2 offices at the Lafayette Utilities System Customer Service Center on West Congress Street. 22. CO-080-2026 An ordinance of the Lafayette City Council amending the FY 25/26 operating budget and adjusting the manning tables of the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government to increase the hourly pay rate of various positions per Civil Service recommendation. 23. CO-081-2026 An ordinance of the Lafayette City Council declaring the South Meyers Drive/Huntington Park Outfall Improvements Project a public necessity and authorizing the acquisition of the necessary rights-of-way, immovable property and other property rights requisite to the construction of said project, either on an amicable basis or through the proper use of the expropriation process if necessary. 25. CO-083-2026 An ordinance of the Lafayette City Council, acting in their capacity as the governing authority of the City of Lafayette, providing for the abandonment of a ten (10’) foot x ten (10’) foot utility niche, located on Lot 3-A of the C. Paul Hillard, et al. Subdivision, located at 205 Ambassador Caffery Parkway, and authorizing the Lafayette Mayor-President to execute an Act of Abandonment in order to effectuate the abandonment on behalf of the City of Lafayette. The Chair then called for a vote to introduce the ordinances (items 21 thru 23 and 25), in globo, and the vote was as follows: YEAS: Broussard, Naquin, Hooks, Boudreaux NAYS: None ABSENT: Hebert ABSTAIN: None Motion to introduce, in globo, was approved. AGENDA ITEM NO. 24: CO-082-2026 An ordinance of the Lafayette City Council amending the FY 25/26 operating budget and manning tables of the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government by using prior year fund balance in the amount of $321 for salary adjustments within the Utilities Department, motion to introduce by Naquin, seconded by Hooks. A motion to amend to add one (1) employee to the ordinance and change the use of prior year fund balance from $321 to $940 by Naquin, seconded by Hooks, and the vote was as follows: YEAS: Broussard, Naquin, Hooks, Boudreaux NAYS: None ABSENT: Hebert ABSTAIN: None Motion to amend was approved. The Chair then called for a vote to introduce, as amended, and the vote was as follows: YEAS: Broussard, Naquin, Hooks, Boudreaux NAYS: None ABSENT: Hebert ABSTAIN: None Motion to introduce, as amended, was approved. JOINT INTRODUCTORY ORDINANCES A motion to introduce agenda items 26 thru 31, in globo, was offered by Broussard, seconded by Naquin. 26. JO-042-2026 A joint ordinance of the Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council amending the FY 25/26 manning tables of the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government by increasing the hourly rate of the Risk and Insurance Manager position within the Office of Finance & Management, Risk Management Division. 27. JO-043-2026 A joint ordinance of the Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council amending the FY 25/26 operating and capital budget of the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government by adjusting the manning tables and reallocating funds towards the Temporary Employees Account and transferring $194,000 from Public Art Capital Projects within the Planning Division of Community Development and Planning into the International Trade Division within the office of the Chief Administrative Officer. 28. JO-044-2026 A joint ordinance of the Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council amending the FY 25/26 operating and capital budget of the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government by transferring funds from various accounts to the Preliminary Engineering account and appropriating within the Capital Improvements Department to create project account. 29. JO-045-2026 A joint ordinance of the Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council amending the FY 25/26 operating budget of the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government by adjusting the manning tables and increasing the hourly pay rate of one (1) Public Information Specialist position within the Capital Improvements Department. 30. JO-046-2026 A joint ordinance of the Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council authorizing a Memorandum of Understanding between University of Louisiana at Lafayette and Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government to comply with the requirement for written agreement between agencies sharing responsibility for the obligations outlined in the general permit for discharges from small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems. 31. JO-047-2026 A joint ordinance of the Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council, acting in their capacity as the governing authority of the City of Lafayette and the Parish of Lafayette, respectively, providing for the abandonment of a portion of a ten (10’) foot utility easement and associated niches, located on Lot 17-B of the McComb addition BLA Block 14, Lots 17-A & 17-B Subdivision, at 212 North Chestnut Street, and authorizing the Lafayette MayorPresident to execute an Act of Abandonment in order to effectuate the abandonment on behalf of the City of Lafayette, and Parish of Lafayette, and the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government. The Chair then called for a vote to introduce the ordinances (items 26 thru 31), in globo, and the vote was as follows: YEAS: Broussard, Naquin, Hooks, Boudreaux NAYS: None ABSENT: Hebert ABSTAIN: None Motion to introduce, in globo, was approved. COMMENT(S) FROM THE PUBLIC AGENDA ITEM NO. 32: Comments from the public on any other matter(s) not on an agenda and are within the legislative power of the Lafayette City Council. Dyan Schnaars announced her candidacy for 15th Judicial District, Division M, Family Court Judge. She stated that she is one (1) of NAFLA’s Top 10 Attorneys under 40, graduate of Southern University Law Center and is the owner of Schnaars Law Firm, LLC. She noted her commitment to pubbing children first. Hunter stated he demands immediate systemic accountability for a gross violation of his constitutional rights, liberty and human dignity. He demanded that the Lafayette City Council to place the matter before the appropriated public authority for an immediate transparent review of the May 6, 2024 incident and the subsequent five (5) week detention. (6:45:00) ADJOURN There being no further business to come before the Council, Chair Boudreaux declared the Regular Meeting adjourned. /s/ Joseph Gordon-Wiltz JOSEPH GORDON-WILTZ LAFAYETTE CLERK OF THE COUNCIL

Melinda Taylor signed in to speak but only if there were questions. There were no questions from the Council. INTRODUCTORY ORDINANCES The Chair reminded all that Item #24 was pulled from the In Globo list for separate vote and discussion. A motion to introduce agenda items 21 thru 23 and 25, in globo, was

201157-688913-sept 18-1t $ 529.20

The Acadiana Advocate ● theadvocate.com ● Friday, September 18, 2026 ● 15C

lll

Legal Notices

JO-045-2026 A joint ordi‐ nance of the Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council amending the FY 25/26 operating budget of the City-Parish Lafayette Govern‐ Consolidated ment by adjusting the manning tables and in‐ creasing the hourly pay rate of one (1) Public In‐ formation Specialist po‐ sition within the Capital Depart‐ Improvements ment. JO-046-2026 A joint ordi‐ nance of the Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council authorizing a Memoran‐ dum of Understanding between University of Louisiana at Lafayette and Lafayette City-Parish Govern‐ Consolidated ment to comply with the requirement for written between agreement agencies sharing respon‐ sibility for the obliga‐ tions outlined in the gen‐ eral permit for dis‐ charges from small Mu‐ nicipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems. JO-047-2026 A joint ordi‐ nance of the Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council, acting in their capacity as the governing author‐ of the City of ity Lafayette and the Parish Lafayette, respec‐ of tively, providing for the abandonment of a por‐ tion of a ten (10’) foot utility easement and as‐ sociated niches, located on Lot 17-B of the Mc‐ Comb addition BLA Block 14, Lots 17-A & 17-B Sub‐ division, at 212 North Chestnut Street, and au‐ thorizing the Lafayette Mayor-President to exe‐ cute an Act of Abandon‐ ment in order to effectu‐ ate the abandonment on behalf of the City of Lafayette, and Parish of and the Lafayette, City-Parish Lafayette Govern‐ Consolidated ment. The ordinances will ap‐ pear before the each, the Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council for public hear‐ ing and final adoption in the Ted A. Ardoin CityParish Council Audito‐ rium located at 705 W. Avenue, University Lafayette, LA on October 6, 2026. /s/ Joseph Gordon-Wiltz JOSEPH GORDON-WILTZ LAFAYETTE CLERK OF THE COUNCIL 201143 Sept. 18 1t $34.12 PUBLIC NOTICE --NOTICE The Lafayette City Coun‐ cil met in Regular Ses‐ sion on September 15, 2026 and adopted the fol‐ lowing ordinances: CITY ORDINANCE NO. CO-074-2026 AN ORDINANCE OF THE LAFAYETTE CITY COUNCIL SUSPENDING ORDINANCE NO. O-059-2019 WHICH CREATED A CONDITIONAL TWO (2%) PERCENT PAY INCREASE STRUCTURE FOR THE MUNICIPAL FIRE AND POLICE CIVIL SER‐ VICE EMPLOYEES OF THE LAFAYETTE POLICE DE‐ PARTMENT, FOR THE PRO‐ POSED FY 2026-2027 BUD‐ GET WITH CONSIDERA‐ TION GIVEN TO THE PO‐ LICE AND FIRE PAY PLANS INCLUDED IN THE FY 2026-2027 PROPOSED OP‐ ERATING AND FIVE-YEAR CAPITAL BUDGET DOCU‐ MENT BE IT ORDAINED by the Lafayette City Council, that: SECTION 1: Ordinance No. of the O-059-2019 City-Parish Lafayette Council Consolidated which created a condi‐ tional two (2%) percent pay increase structure for the Municipal Fire and Police Civil Service of the employees Lafayette Police Depart‐ ment, is hereby sus‐ pended for the proposed FY 26/27 budget as a re‐ sult of the police and fire pay plans included in the FY 2026-2027 Proposed Operating and Five-Year Capital Budget. SECTION 2: All ordi‐ nances or resolutions, or parts thereof, in conflict herewith are hereby re‐ pealed. SECTION 3: This ordi‐ nance shall become ef‐ fective upon signature of the Lafayette MayorPresident, the elapse of ten (10) days after re‐ ceipt by the Lafayette Mayor-President without signature or veto, or upon an override of a veto, whichever occurs first. ***** CITY ORDINANCE NO. CO-076-2026 AN ORDINANCE OF THE LAFAYETTE CITY COUNCIL AUTHORIZING THE LAFAYETTE CITY MAR‐ SHAL TO ENTER INTO A COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT WITH THE NATIONAL HERITAGE ACADEMIES, INC. O/B/O WILLOW CHARTER ACAD‐ EMY FOR ONE (1) SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFI‐ CER TO BE PROVIDED ON THE CAMPUS OF WILLOW CHARTER ACADEMY IN ADDITION, THIS AGREE‐ MENT WILL AMEND THE FY 25/26 OPERATING BUDGET AND ADJUST THE MANNING TABLES OF THE LAFAYETTE CITY-PARISH CONSOLIDATED GOVERN‐ MENT BY ADDING ONE (1) NEW DEPUTY CITY MAR‐ SHAL II POSITION AND BY INCREASING REVENUES IN THE AMOUNT OF $7,592 WITHIN THE LAFAYETE CITY MAR‐ SHAL’S OFFICE BE IT ORDAINED by the Lafayette City Council, that: WHEREAS, Article VII, Section 14 of the Consti‐ tution of the State of Louisiana of 1974 pro‐ vides, "For a public pur‐ pose, the State and its political subdivisions or corporations political may engage in coopera‐ tive endeavors with each other, with the United States or its agencies, or with any public or pri‐ vate association, corpo‐ ration, or individual"; and WHEREAS, it is the desire of the LCMO and WCA to enter into this Agree‐ hi h i d h ll

Legal Notices

g ment which is and shall constitute a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement as contemplated by Article VII, Section 14 of the Con‐ stitution of the State of Louisiana of 1974; and WHEREAS, it is the inten‐ tion of the LCMO and WCA to enhance the se‐ curity of students, teach‐ ers and employees of the Willow Charter Academy by providing qualified, Deputy POST-Certified Marshals as School Re‐ source Officers ("SROs") for such schools; and WHEREAS, WCA has agreed to assist the Mar‐ shal with the cost of such services and train‐ ing of the SROs in accor‐ dance with the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement; and WHEREAS, the LCMO and WCA understand that it is advantageous to the parents and administra‐ tion, to enhance and im‐ prove the safety of the Willow Charter Academy located at 1818 NE Evan‐ Thruway, geline Louisiana Lafayette, 70501. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED by the Lafayette City Coun‐ cil, that: SECTION 1: All of the aforedescribed “Whereas” clauses are adopted as part of this ordinance. SECTION 2: The following is summarized informa‐ tion concerning this Co‐ Endeavor operative Agreement: Participants: Lafayette City Marshal’s Office and the National Heritage Academies, Inc. o/b/o Willow Charter Academy. Purpose: The purpose of this Co‐ Endeavor operative Agreement is for the LCMO, to provide one (1) SRO to be assigned to the campus of Willow Academy in Charter order to provide addi‐ tional security measures to help curtail anti-social behavior and/or inappro‐ priate activity, which Agreement is attached hereto as Exhibit “A”. Funds and/or Services provided by the Lafayette City Marshal: Lafayette City Marshal shall provide one (1) Deputy Marshal who is trained and qualified to work as an SRO to be as‐ signed to the campus of Willow Charter Academy during the school year 2026-2027 beginning on August 1st and ending on May 31st. The SRO assigned to Wil‐ low Charter Academy shall continue to be paid compensation by the City-Parish Lafayette Govern‐ Consolidated ment, which shall be re‐ imbursed by the LCMO, with the understanding that WCA shall reimburse the LCMO 100%. As such, City-Parish Lafayette Govern‐ Consolidated ment shall be responsi‐ ble for any other benefits to which the SRO may be entitled but for those set forth in the Cooperative Endeavor Agreement be‐ tween the parties. The services provided by Lafayette City Marshal are set forth in detail in Cooperative En‐ the deavor Agreement, at‐ tached hereto and made a part hereof, as Exhibit “A.” Funds and/or Services Provided by the National Heritage Academies, INC. o/b/o Willow Charter Academy: WCA shall reimburse the LCMO 1) the amount of $65,940.37 for compensa‐ tion and benefits for one (1) SRO to be prorated in ten (10) monthly install‐ of $6,594.04 ments payable on the first of each month beginning on August 1, 2026 through May 31, 2027; The first payment shall be made on August 1, 2026 when classes officially begin and 2) any off duty com‐ pensation will be billed separately by the LCMO in addition to the regular compensation for the SRO. The SRO shall at‐ tend a basic SRO training course and advanced SRO training, which is held annually in July, to himself/herself update on the latest information available with the under‐ standing that WCA shall reimburse 100% of the total costs associated with the training, includ‐ ing tuition, travel, lodg‐ ing and meals, upon completion of the SRO training. WCA shall pay such invoice within 30 days of billing. The services provided by WCA are set forth in de‐ tail in the Cooperative Endeavor Agreement, at‐ tached hereto and made a part hereof as Exhibit “A.” Jurisdiction Issues: None. Benefits to the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government: Lafayette City-Parish Govern‐ Consolidated ment shall benefit by the assignment of one (1) additional SRO which will assist WCA wherein the presence of physical Deputy Marshals on the campus of Willow Char‐ ter Academy, as set forth herein, shall help to deter anti-social behav‐ ior and/or inappropriate behavior by students who attend which shall help to provide a safe en‐ vironment for the teach‐ ers and students. Should Cooperative En‐ this deavor Agreement be‐ tween the parties cease the Lafayette City-Parish Govern‐ Consolidated ment, shall benefit by the assignment of one (1) Deputy Marshal to pro‐ vide security and serve processes for the city court, assist SROs on other campuses, and protect and serve the cit‐ izens of the City of Lafayette. Timeframe: This Agreement shall be effective on August 1, 2026 and shall automati‐ cally renew August 1st for an additional period of one (1) year. However, the LCMO or WCA may terminate this Agree‐ ment with or without cause upon ninety days written notice to the Board President of WCA or to the Lafayette City Marshal. This agreement may be extended and/or by mutual amended agreement of the parties annually, with the intent renew expressly to stated in writing no later than sixty days prior to the termination of each term.

DOWNLOAD

Legal Notices

SECTION 3: The Lafayette City Marshal is hereby authorized and directed to enter into the Cooper‐ ative Endeavor Agree‐ ment with the National Heritage Academies, INC. o/b/o Willow Charter described Academy herein, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit “A”. SECTION 4: The Lafayette Council further City hereby authorizes the Lafayette City Marshal, or his designee, to exe‐ cute any and all docu‐ and/or agree‐ ments ments that may be nec‐ essary and to take any other actions that may be necessary in order for an SRO to be assigned to the campus of Willow Charter Academy in ac‐ cordance with the terms and conditions of the Co‐ Endeavor operative attached Agreement hereto as Exhibit “A.” SECTION 5: The FY 25/26 operating budget of the City-Parish Lafayette Govern‐ Consolidated ment is hereby amended by adjusting the manning tables to add one (1) Deputy City Marshal II and by increasing rev‐ enues in the amount of $7,592. SECTION 6: This increase in revenues and increase in use of Prior Year Fund Balance shall be as re‐ flected in any pertinent documents which are at‐ tached hereto and made a part hereof and filed in the Office of the Clerk of the Council. SECTION 7: All ordi‐ nances or resolutions, or parts thereof, in conflict herewith are hereby re‐ pealed. SECTION 8: This ordi‐ nance shall become ef‐ fective upon signature of the Lafayette MayorPresident, the elapse of ten (10) days after re‐ ceipt by the Lafayette Mayor-President without signature or veto, or upon an override of a veto, whichever occurs first. ***** CITY ORDINANCE NO. CO-077-2026 AN ORDINANCE OF THE LAFAYETTE CITY COUNCIL AUTHORIZING THE LAFAYETTE MAYOR-PRES‐ IDENT TO EXECUTE THE AGREEMENT FOR JOINT USE ATTACHMENTS OF ELECTRIC FACILITIES BE‐ TWEEN THE CITY OF LAFAYETTE AND SOUTH‐ WEST LOUISIANA ELEC‐ TRIC MEMBERSHIP COR‐ PORATION BE IT ORDAINED by the Lafayette City Council, that: WHEREAS, the City of Lafayette (hereinafter re‐ ferred to as “Lafayette”) and Southwest Louisiana Electric Membership Cor‐ poration (hereinafter re‐ ferred to as “SLEMCO”), desire to enter into a joint use agreement al‐ lowing the other party rights to attach electric facilities to its poles within the corporate lim‐ its of City of Lafayette; and WHEREAS, such joint use is subject to terms and conditions in the at‐ tached joint use agree‐ ment. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED by the Lafayette City Coun‐ cil, that: SECTION 1: All of the aforedescribed “Whereas” clauses are adopted as part of this ordinance. SECTION 2: The Lafayette is Mayor-President hereby authorized to ex‐ ecute the agreement for joint use Attachments of Electrical Facilities, in substantially the form at‐ tached hereto and made part hereof by reference, and to perform all other actions necessary and appropriate in connec‐ tion therewith. SECTION 3: All ordi‐ nances or resolutions, or parts thereof, in conflict herewith are hereby re‐ pealed. SECTION 4: This ordi‐ nance shall become ef‐ fective upon signature of the Lafayette MayorPresident, the elapse of ten (10) days after re‐ ceipt by the Lafayette Mayor-President without signature or veto, or upon an override of a veto, whichever occurs first. ***** CITY ORDINANCE NO. CO-078-2026 AN ORDINANCE OF THE LAFAYETTE CITY COUNCIL AUTHORIZING AND DI‐ RECTING THE LAFAYETTE MAYOR-PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE AND SUBMIT THE “TEMPORARY HOUS‐ ING AND SHELTER ASSIS‐ TANCE PROGRAM WAIVER OF LAND USE/PERMITTING FORM” IN ACCORDANCE WITH LA. R.S. 29:726(F)(3)(b) (iii)(aa) BE IT ORDAINED by the Lafayette City Council, that: WHEREAS, the Lafayette City Council, as the gov‐ erning authority for the City of Lafayette, desires to participate in the Tem‐ porary Housing and Shel‐ ter Assistance Program (“Program”) within the Office of Governor’s Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (“GOHSEP”); and WHEREAS, in accordance with La. R.S. 29:726(F)(3) (Act 526, (b)(iii)(aa) 2022), one (1) of the re‐ quirements for eligibility to participate in this Pro‐ gram is a certification from the local governing authority that it will waive any land use regu‐ lations relative to permit‐ ting for the temporary placement and occu‐ pancy of manufactured homes, recreational vehi‐ cles (RV's), and/or other temporary housing di‐ rectly adjacent to the disaster survivor’s dam‐ aged dwelling to allow for expedited temporary housing assistance in the City of Lafayette. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED by the Lafayette City Coun‐ cil, that: SECTION 1: All of the aforedescribed “Whereas” clauses are adopted as part of this ordinance. SECTION 2: In accordance with La. R.S. 29:726(F)(3) (Act 526, (b)(iii)(aa) 2022), the Lafayette City Council, as the governing authority for the City of Lafayette, hereby autho‐ i d di h

DOWNLOAD

Legal Notices

y y rizes and directs the Mayor-Presi‐ Lafayette dent to execute and sub‐ mit the attached form from the Governor’s Of‐ fice of Homeland Secu‐ rity and Emergency Pre‐ paredness (GOHSEP), en‐ titled “Temporary Hous‐ ing and Shelter Assis‐ tance Program Waiver of Use/Permitting Land Form”, certifying that the City of Lafayette opts in to the Temporary Hous‐ ing and Shelter Assis‐ tance Program. SECTION 3: This waiver of land use regulations rel‐ ative to the permitting of temporary housing, pro‐ vided herein, shall only be effective for such pe‐ riod as required by the Temporary Housing and Shelter Assistance Pro‐ gram. SECTION 4: All ordi‐ nances or resolutions, or parts thereof, in conflict herewith are hereby re‐ pealed. SECTION 5: This ordi‐ nance shall become ef‐ fective upon signature of the Lafayette MayorPresident, the elapse of ten (10) days after re‐ ceipt by the Lafayette Mayor-President without signature or veto, or upon an override of a veto, whichever occurs first. ***** /s/ Joseph Gordon-Wiltz JOSEPH GORDON-WILTZ LAFAYETTE CLERK OF THE COUNCIL 201146 Sept. 18 1t $135.74 PUBLIC NOTICE --NOTICE The Lafayette City Coun‐ cil met in Regular Ses‐ sion on September 15, 2026 and introduced the following ordinances. CO-079-2026 An ordi‐ nance of the Lafayette City Council amending the FY 25/26 operating and capital budget of the City-Parish Lafayette Govern‐ Consolidated by transferring ment $20,000 from the City Council District 2 Capital (Fund appropriation 4850) to the Lafayette Po‐ lice Department (LPD) for the acquisition of furni‐ ture for its Precinct 2 of‐ fices at the Lafayette System Cus‐ Utilities tomer Service Center on West Congress Street. CO-080-2026 An ordi‐ nance of the Lafayette City Council amending the FY 25/26 operating budget and adjusting the manning tables of the City-Parish Lafayette Govern‐ Consolidated ment to increase the hourly pay rate of vari‐ ous positions per Civil recommenda‐ Service tion. CO-081-2026 An ordi‐ nance of the Lafayette City Council declaring South Meyers the Park Drive/Huntington Improvements Outfall Project a public neces‐ sity and authorizing the acquisition of the neces‐ sary rights-of-way, im‐ movable property and other property rights requisite to the construc‐ tion of said project, ei‐ ther on an amicable basis or through the proper use of the expro‐ priation process if neces‐ sary. CO-082-2026 An ordi‐ nance of the Lafayette City Council amending the FY 25/26 operating budget and manning ta‐ bles of the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government by using prior year fund balance in the amount of $940 for adjustments salary within the Utilities De‐ partment. CO-083-2026 An ordi‐ nance of the Lafayette City Council, acting in their capacity as the gov‐ erning authority of the City of Lafayette, provid‐ ing for the abandonment of a ten (10’) foot x ten (10’) foot utility niche, lo‐ cated on Lot 3-A of the C. Paul Hillard, et al. Subdi‐ vision, located at 205 Caffery Ambassador Parkway, and authorizing the Lafayette MayorPresident to execute an Act of Abandonment in order to effectuate the abandonment on behalf of the City of Lafayette. The ordinances will ap‐ pear before the Lafayette City Council for public hearing and final adop‐ tion in the Ted A. Ardoin City-Parish Council Audi‐ torium located at 705 W. Avenue, University Lafayette, LA on October 6, 2026. /s/ Joseph Gordon-Wiltz JOSEPH GORDON-WILTZ LAFAYETTE CLERK OF THE COUNCIL 201148 Sept. 18 1t $25.12 PUBLIC NOTICE --NOTICE The Lafayette Parish Council met in Regular Session on September 15, 2026 and introduced the following ordinances. PO-043-2026 An ordi‐ nance of the Lafayette Parish Council amending the FY 25/26 operating and capital budget of the City-Parish Lafayette Govern‐ Consolidated by transferring ment $3,210.23 from the Parish Council District 5 Capital Appropriation to Caren‐ cro Volunteer Fire De‐ partment within Section 4190 Parishwide Fire Pro‐ tection for the purchase of structural firefighting coat and protective pants with thermal liners and related accessories. PO-044-2026 An ordi‐ nance of the Lafayette Parish Council amending the FY 25/26 operating and capital budgets of the Lafayette City-Parish Govern‐ Consolidated ment by authorizing the use of PY Fund Balance of the Juvenile Detention Facility (Fund 2650) in the amount of $187,749 and combining with existing funds and appropriating within the Office of the Chief Administrative Offi‐ cer, Juvenile Detention Division, to fund safety improvements at the Ju‐ il i

DOWNLOAD

Legal Notices

p venile Detention Home.

y the Lafayette Parish Council, that: SECTION 1: All of the aforedescribed “Whereas” clauses are adopted as part of this ordinance. SECTION 2: The Lafayette is Mayor-President hereby authorized to enter into the Coopera‐ Endeavor Agree‐ tive ment, substantially in the form as is attached hereto, and made a part hereof. The Lafayette Mayor-President is fur‐ ther authorized to sign any and all other docu‐ ments in connection with Cooperative En‐ the deavor Agreement. SECTION 3: All ordi‐ nances or resolutions, or parts thereof, in conﬂict herewith are hereby re‐ pealed. SECTION 4: This ordi‐ nance shall become ef‐ fective upon signature of the Lafayette MayorPresident, the elapse of ten (10) days after re‐ ceipt by the Lafayette Mayor-President without signature or veto, or upon an override of a veto, whichever occurs ﬁrst. *****

y warehouse. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED by Lafayette Parish the Council, that: SECTION 1: All of the aforedescribed “Whereas” clauses are adopted as part of this ordinance. SECTION 2: The Lafayette Parish Council hereby declares the acquisition of property for the loca‐ tion of the Library’s warehouse a public ne‐ cessity. SECTION 3: The Property is more particularly de‐ scribed as follows, to wit: That certain parcel of ground, with improve‐ ments, being situated in the Van Way Commer‐ Center, cial-Industrial of Lafayette, Parish and being Louisiana, known and designated as LOT 14-A of the said Van Way Commercial-In‐ dustrial Center. Said par‐ cel has frontage of 100 feet on Easy Street and has the further dimen‐ measurements, sions, boundaries, shape, form, location, and configura‐ tion as will be shown on that certain plat of sur‐ vey by J.P. Van Way, a copy of which is at‐ tached to Entry No. 507306 of the records of the Clerk of Court’s Of‐ fice for the Parish of Lafayette, Louisiana, and made a part hereof by reference thereto. Said parcel is bounded north‐ easterly by East Street, southeasterly by Lot 15A, southwesterly by the southwestern boundary line of Van Way Commer‐ cial-Industrial Center and northwesterly by Wall Street. SECTION 4: The Lafayette Mayor-President, or her designee, is hereby au‐ thorized and empowered to purchase, for and on of Lafayette behalf Parish, the hereinabove Property for and in con‐ sideration of the price and sum of $845,000, cash, said sale to be upon such further terms and conditions as are re‐ flected in that certain Agreement to Purchase and Sell executed by and between MS Ventures, as Seller, and LLC, Lafayette Parish, as Pur‐ chaser, attached hereto and made a part hereof. SECTION 5: The Lafayette Mayor-President, or her designee, is hereby fur‐ ther authorized and di‐ rected to take any and all other actions which are deemed necessary and proper in her sole discre‐ tion to carry out and complete the negotia‐ tions and acquisition of the Property. SECTION 6: The Lafayette Mayor-President, or her designee, is hereby fur‐ ther authorized and di‐ rected to sign any and all documents which are deemed necessary and proper in her sole discre‐ tion to carry out and complete the negotia‐ tions and acquisition of the Property, including, but not limited to, a Cash Disbursement Sale, Statement, etc. SECTION 7: The Lafayette Mayor-President, or her designee, is hereby fur‐ ther authorized and di‐ rected to take any and all other necessary action in connection therewith to carry out the intent of this ordinance. SECTION 8: The Lafayette Mayor-President, or her designee, is hereby fur‐ ther authorized to utilize from project LB2600054626309200-CAPITAL-890000, account 2630-CR-420-7759200-890000-000000000000-000000 the neces‐ sary funds to conclude the transaction. SECTION 9: Any actions heretofore taken by the Mayor-Presi‐ Lafayette dent, or her designee, in executing negotiating, and submitting all docu‐ ments, in connection with the acquisition of the Property are hereby ratified, approved and authorized. SECTION 10: All ordi‐ nances or resolutions or parts thereof in conflict herewith are hereby re‐ pealed. SECTION 11: This ordi‐ nance shall become ef‐ fective upon the signa‐ ture of the Lafayette the Mayor-President, elapse of ten (10) days after receipt of the Mayor-Presi‐ Lafayette dent without signature or veto, or upon override of a veto, whichever oc‐ curs first. *****

PO-045-2026 An ordi‐ nance of the Lafayette Parish Council amending the FY 25/26 operating budget of the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government by adjusting the manning tables and increasing the hourly pay rate of one (1) Cement Mason position within the Traffic, Roads, and DepartmentBridges Streets Division. The ordinances will ap‐ pear before the Lafayette Parish Council for public hearing and final adop‐ tion in the Ted A. Ardoin City-Parish Council Audi‐ torium located at 705 W. Avenue, University Lafayette, LA on October 6, 2026. /s/ Joseph Gordon-Wiltz JOSEPH GORDON-WILTZ LAFAYETTE CLERK OF THE COUNCIL 201138 Sept. 18 1t $18.04 PUBLIC NOTICE --NOTICE The Lafayette Parish Council met in Regular Session on September 15, 2026 and adopted the following ordinances: PARISH ORDINANCE NO. PO-038-2026 AN ORDINANCE OF THE LAFAYETTE PARISH COUNCIL AMENDING THE FY 25/26 OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGET OF THE LAFAYETTE CITY-PARISH CONSOLIDATED GOVERN‐ MENT BY TRANSFERRING $60,000 FROM THE PARISH COUNCIL DIS‐ TRICT 3 CAPITAL APPRO‐ PRIATION TO THE CITY OF BROUSSARD FOR THE ST. DEPORRES STREET BRIDGE REPLACEMENT PROJECT BE IT ORDAINED by the Lafayette Parish Council, that: SECTION 1: The Lafayette Parish Council desires to provide funding assis‐ tance to the City of Broussard for the St. De‐ porres Street Bridge Re‐ project placement through the reallocation of $60,000 in existing Parish Council District 3 appropriations. capital The proposed bridge re‐ placement is located on St. Deporres Street at Coulee LaSalle, and the current estimated pro‐ ject cost is $625,000. SECTION 2: The FY 25/26 Operating and Capital Budget of the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government is hereby amended by transferring $60,000 from the Parish Council District 3 Capital Appropriation to the City of Broussard for the St. Deporres Street Bridge Replacement project. SECTION 3: These adjust‐ ments shall be as re‐ flected in any pertinent documents which are at‐ tached hereto and made a part hereof and filed in the Office of the Clerk of the Council. SECTION 4: All ordi‐ nances or resolutions, or parts thereof, in conflict herewith are hereby re‐ pealed. SECTION 5: This ordi‐ nance shall become ef‐ fective upon signature of the Lafayette MayorPresident, the elapse of ten (10) days after re‐ ceipt by the Lafayette Mayor-President without signature or veto, or upon an override of a veto, whichever occurs first. ***** PARISH ORDINANCE NO. PO-040-2026 AN ORDINANCE OF THE LAFAYETTE PARISH COUNCIL AUTHORIZING THE LAFAYETTE MAYORPRESIDENT TO ENTER INTO A COOPERATIVE EN‐ DEAVOR AGREEMENT WITH THE TOWN OF VI‐ DALIA TO COLLABORATE IN EMERGENCY SHELTER‐ ING DURING DECLARA‐ TIONS OF EMERGENCY BE IT ORDAINED by the Lafayette Parish Council, that: WHEREAS, the Town of Vidalia (“Town”), is a po‐ litical subdivision of the State of Louisiana; and WHEREAS, the Parish of Lafayette (the “Parish”), through its Office of Homeland Security and Prepared‐ Emergency ness, and Town (collec‐ tively, the “Parties”) de‐ sire to establish a work‐ ing relationship between the Parish and Town in preparing for and re‐ sponding to declarations of emergency; and WHEREAS, Article VII, Section 14(C) of the 1974 Constitution of the State of Louisiana states that, “for a public purpose, the state and its political subdivisions or political corporations may en‐ gage in cooperative en‐ deavors with each other, with the United States or its agencies, or with any public or private associa‐ tions, corporation, or in‐ dividual;” and WHEREAS, La. R.S. 33:1324 et seq., provides that any parish or politi‐ cal subdivision of the state may make agree‐ among them‐ ments selves to engage jointly in the construction or im‐ provement of any public project or the promotion and maintenance of any provided undertaking that at least one of the participants to the agree‐ ment is authorized by law to complete the un‐ dertaking; and WHEREAS, the Parish, through its Mayor-Presi‐ dent, during an emer‐ event in the gency parish, is empowered to take the steps and mea‐ sures necessary to pro‐ tect the lives and prop‐ erty of the citizens of Lafayette Parish; and WHEREAS, the Parish de‐ sires to enter into a Co‐ Endeavor operative with the Agreement Town that grants to the Parish the right to use the Vidalia Conference and Convention Center as an emergency shelter in the event of a manda‐ evacuation of tory Lafayette Parish; and WHEREAS, the Parish and the Town find that enter‐ ing into this Agreement will serve a public safety purpose and have a pub‐ lic benefit. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED by h f i h

PARISH ORDINANCE NO. PO-041-2026 AN ORDINANCE OF THE LAFAYETTE PARISH COUNCIL AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE LAFAYETTE MAYOR-PRES‐ IDENT TO EXECUTE AND SUBMIT THE “TEMPO‐ RARY HOUSING AND SHELTER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM WAIVER OF LAND USE/PERMITTING FORM” IN ACCORDANCE WITH LA. R.S. 29:726(F)(3) (b)(iii)(aa) BE IT ORDAINED by the Lafayette Parish Council, that: WHEREAS, the Lafayette Parish Council, as the governing authority for the Parish of Lafayette, desires to participate in the Temporary Housing and Shelter Assistance (“Program”) Program within the Governor’s Of‐ fice of Homeland Secu‐ rity and Emergency Pre‐ paredness (“GOHSEP”); and WHEREAS, in accordance with La. R.S. 29:726(F)(3) (Act 526, (b)(iii)(aa) 2022), one (1) of the re‐ quirements for eligibility to participate in this Pro‐ gram is a certification from the local governing authority that it will waive any land use regu‐ lations relative to permit‐ ting for the temporary placement and occu‐ pancy of manufactured homes, recreational vehi‐ cles (RV's), and/or other temporary housing di‐ rectly adjacent to the disaster survivor’s dam‐ aged dwelling to allow for expedited temporary housing assistance in the Parish of Lafayette. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED by Lafayette Parish the Council, that: SECTION 1: All of the aforedescribed “Whereas” clauses are adopted as part of this ordinance. SECTION 2: In accordance with La. R.S. 29:726(F)(3) (Act 526, (b)(iii)(aa) the Lafayette 2022), Parish Council, as the governing authority for the Parish of Lafayette, hereby authorizes and the Lafayette directs Mayor-President to exe‐ cute and submit the at‐ tached form from the Office of Governor’s Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP), entitled “Tem‐ porary Housing and Shel‐ ter Assistance Program Waiver of Land Use/Per‐ mitting Form”, certifying the Parish of that Lafayette opts in to the Temporary Housing and Shelter Assistance Pro‐ gram. SECTION 3: This waiver of land use regulations rel‐ ative to the permitting of temporary housing, pro‐ vided herein, shall only be effective for such pe‐ riod as required by the Temporary Housing and Shelter Assistance Pro‐ gram. SECTION 4: All ordi‐ nances or resolutions, or parts thereof, in conflict herewith are hereby re‐ pealed. SECTION 5: This ordi‐ nance shall become ef‐ fective upon signature of the Lafayette MayorPresident, the elapse of ten (10) days after re‐ ceipt by the Lafayette Mayor-President without signature or veto, or upon an override of a veto, whichever occurs first. *** PARISH ORDINANCE NO. PO-042-2026 AN ORDINANCE OF THE LAFAYETTE PARISH COUNCIL DECLARING THE ACQUISITION OF A WARE‐ HOUSE FOR THE LAFAYETTE PUBLIC LI‐ BRARY A PUBLIC NECES‐ SITY AND AUTHORIZING THE LAFAYETTE MAYORPRESIDENT TO ACQUIRE CERTAIN IMMOVABLE PROPERTY FOR THE LO‐ CATION OF SAID WARE‐ HOUSE BE IT ORDAINED by the Lafayette Parish Council, that: WHEREAS, the Lafayette Public Library Board of (the “Library Control Board”) for the Lafayette Public Library (the “Li‐ brary”) has searched for of a suitable warehouse and parcel of land for the location of a Library warehouse; and WHEREAS, after review‐ ing available properties, the Library Board has se‐ lected as the most suit‐ able site a warehouse and parcel of land owned by MS Ventures, LLC, which is situated at 200 Easy Street, Lafayette, LA 70506 (the “Property”); and WHEREAS, the Property contains approximately 0.6 acres and has an ap‐ praised value of $845,000; and WHEREAS, the Library Board desires to acquire the Property from MS Ventures, LLC for its ap‐ praised value of $845,000; and WHEREAS, the Lafayette Parish Council has re‐ viewed the proposed ac‐ quisition and concurs with the recommenda‐ tion of the Library Board that it is in the best inter‐ est of the public to ac‐ quire the Property for lo‐ cation of the Library’s h

DOWNLOAD

/s/ Joseph Gordon-Wiltz JOSEPH GORDON-WILTZ LAFAYETTE CLERK OF THE COUNCIL 201137 Sept. 18 1t $123.09 PUBLIC NOTICE --NOTICE TO PUBLIC NOTICE OF PROPOSED SURPLUS ORDINANCE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that City Ordinance No. CO-075-2026 has been in‐ troduced and is pro‐ posed for adoption by the Lafayette City Coun‐ cil on October 6, 2026, whereby the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government would sell at public auction and public internet auction surplus vehicles, equip‐ ment and other miscella‐ neous movable property which are no longer needed for public pur‐ poses, the following de‐ scribed property, to wit: misc surplus lcg move‐ able property for public auction & public internet auction vehicle #, description, serial/vin 31201705, 2012 chevy tahoe, 1gnlc2e09cr208460 31201739, 2013 chevy tahoe, 1gnlc2e06dr273185 31201804, 2016 ford ex‐ plorer, 1fm5k8ar3g‐ gc60790 31201812, 2016 ford ex‐ plorer, 1fm5k8ar8g‐ gc60798 31201821, 2016 ford ex‐ plorer, 1fm5k8ar5g‐ gc60807 31201903, 2019 dodge charger, 2c3cdx‐ at1kh605666 31201904, 2019 dodge charger, 2c3cdx‐ at2kh605675 31201909, 2019 dodge charger, 2c3cdx‐ at5kh605668 31201914, 2019 dodge charger, 2c3cdx‐ at2kh605661

Legal Notices

31201965, 2021 ford ex‐ plorer, 1fm5k8ab7mgc02048 31201980, 2023 ford ex‐ plorer, 1fm5k8ab9p‐ ga19111 31202003, 2023 ford ex‐ plorer, 1fm5k8ab7p‐ ga63639 31202022, 2023 ford ex‐ plorer, 1fm5k8ab9p‐ ga81611 31300002, 2003 ford f250, 1ftnf20l03eb87225 31400192, 2014 chevy im‐ pala, 2g1wd5e39e1153205 51618810, 2011 john deere backhoe, 1t0310jx‐ ea0193282 59112849, 2019 ram 1500, 1c6rr6stxks668376 70060058, 2020 ram 1500, 1c6rr6kg3ls146466 fixed asset description, quantity aed, 1 computer equipment, 9 couch, 1 desktop computer, 87 laptop computer, 371 monitor, 1 paper folder, 1 radio, 2 sandbag filling machine, 2 scanner, 1 server, 5 slab lift, 1 Any opposition to the proposed ordinance shall be made in writing and filed with the Office of the Lafayette Clerk of the Council within 15 days after the first publication of this notice. If an oppo‐ sition is filed, the Lafayette City Council shall not adopt the ordi‐ nance until hearings have been held. /s/ Joseph Gordon-Wiltz JOSEPH GORDON-WILTZ LAFAYETTE CLERK OF THE COUNCIL Publication Dates: Sep‐ tember 4, September 11, September 18, 2026. 199815 Sept. 4, 11, 18, 3t $79.86

PUBLIC NOTICE --NOTICE TO PUBLIC NOTICE OF PROPOSED SURPLUS ORDINANCE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that Joint Ordinance No. JO-034-2026 has been in‐ troduced and is pro‐ posed for adoption by the Lafayette Parish Council and the Lafayette City Council on October 6, 2026, whereby the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Govern‐ ment would sell at public internet auction surplus equipment and other miscellaneous movable property which are no longer needed for public purposes, the following described property, to wit: misc surplus lcg move‐ able property for public internet auction fixed asset description, quantity bookcase, 3 cabinet, 7 chair, 47 charger, 2 computer equipment, 2 desk, 4 desktop computer, 20 laptop computer, 11 monitor, 82 paper folder, 1 printer, 1 projector, 2 scanner, 1 shelf, 1 shredder, 1 supplies, 1 table, 11 Any opposition to the proposed ordinance shall be made in writing and filed with the Office of the Lafayette Clerk of the Council within 15 days after the first publication of this notice. If an oppo‐ sition is filed, the Lafayette City Council shall not adopt the ordi‐ nance until hearings have been held. /s/ Joseph Gordon-Wiltz JOSEPH GORDON-WILTZ LAFAYETTE CLERK OF THE COUNCIL Publication Dates: Sep‐ tember 4, September 11, September 18, 2026. 199828 Sept. 4, 11, 18, 3t $49.62 PUBLIC NOTICE --NOTICE TO PUBLIC NOTICE OF PROPOSED SURPLUS ORDINANCE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that Parish Ordinance No. PO-039-2026 has been introduced and is pro‐ posed for adoption by the Lafayette Parish Council on October 6, 2026, whereby the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Govern‐ ment would sell at public auction and public inter‐ net auction surplus vehi‐ cles, equipment, and other miscellaneous movable property which are no longer needed for public purposes, the fol‐ lowing described prop‐ erty, to wit: misc surplus lcg move‐ able property for public auction & public internet auction

Legal Notices

PUBLIC NOTICE --PUBLIC NOTICE The City of Broussard proposes three sewer im‐ projects provement along Ambassador Caf‐ fery from Youngsville Hwy to Hwy 90 and along South Bernard Road. The ﬁrst project will run ap‐ proximately 5,800 linear feet of new gravity sewer South Bernard along Road. This project will also install a new lift sta‐ tion and associated force main which will convey the sewer from the new collection lines to the ex‐ isting Sabal Palms lift station. The second pro‐ ject will install a perma‐ nent lift station near the intersection of South Bernard Road and Am‐ bassador Caffery. This will allow the City to re‐ move the current tempo‐ rary lift station and pro‐ vide additional relief to other parts of the sys‐ tem. The third project will install 21 manholes and approximately 7,500 linear feet of new gravity sewer along Ambassador Caffery between South Morgan Street and St. Etienne Road. All work will be within the current footprint of the plant site or within existing rightof-way. No new right-ofway or land acquisition will be required for this project. There are no known environmentally sensitive areas associ‐ ated with this project. This project will be funded in part through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) program administered by the Louisiana Depart‐ ment of Environmental Quality (LDEQ). Eligibility of this project has been determined in accor‐ dance with the 1987 to the Amendments Clean Water Act and cor‐ responding Federal Regu‐ lations. In accordance with LDEQ’s rules and regula‐ tions for the CWSRF pro‐ gram as authorized by Public Law 100-4 and ad‐ ministered according to Act 349 of the 1986 Regu‐ Session of the lar Louisiana Legislature, as amended by Act 296 of the 2010 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legisla‐ ture, LDEQ has deter‐ mined that there will be no adverse environmen‐ tal impacts from the pro‐ posed action and has is‐ sued a Categorical Exclu‐ sion. A copy of the Cate‐ gorical Exclusion may be viewed at the City Hall and may also be ac‐ cessed on LDEQ’s Elec‐ tronic Data Management System (EDMS) at http:// www.deq.louisiana.gov/ portal/tabid/2604/ Default.aspx. The Agency Interest (AI) number for this project is 33786. The comment period for this document will expire on September 28, 2026. Please direct all com‐ ments to: Coty Rabalais, P.E. Ofﬁce of Environmental Assessment LA Department of Environmental Quality P.O. Box 4314 Baton Rouge, LA 70821-4314 No action will be taken by LDEQ until the com‐ ment period has con‐ cluded. 201008 Sept. 18 1t $334.21

Public Notices Successions

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

vehicle #, description, serial/vin 51713785, 1999 cajunmas‐ ter trailer, 10yus1059xv000262 fixed asset description, quantity bench, 4 chair, 10 copier, 1 desktop computer, 45 laptop computer, 61 radio, 9 table, 4 Any opposition to the proposed ordinance shall be made in writing and filed with the Office of the Lafayette Clerk of the Council within 15 days after the first publication of this notice. If an oppo‐ sition is filed, the Lafayette City Council shall not adopt the ordi‐ nance until hearings have been held.

Reporting you can trust on stories that matter

/s/ Joseph Gordon-Wiltz JOSEPH GORDON-WILTZ LAFAYETTE CLERK OF THE COUNCIL Publication Dates: Sep‐ tember 4, September 11, September 18, 2026. 199820 Sept. 4, 11, 18, 3t $47.70

SUBSCRIBE TODAY

ONE great state FOUR great apps

16C ● Friday, September 18, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

lll

TODAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

Warm with plenty of sunshine

A t-storm around in the p.m.

An afternoon t-storm in spots

HIGH

LOW

HIGH

93° 69°

LOW

HIGH

95° 73°

LOW

93° 73°

Beaumont 93/72 Port Arthur 93/73

Baton Rouge 94/67

Lake Charles 93/70

New Orleans 92/73 Houma 93/69

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

Hattiesburg 96/67

Alexandria 97/68

Lafayette 93/69

10s

20s

30s

40s

50s

LOW

HIGH

LOW

94° 74°

Lafayette through 5 p.m. Thursday

Jackson 97/68 Many 98/66

HIGH

96° 74°

TEMPERATURE

Longview 99/68

-0s

LOW

Monroe 99/68

Shreveport 99/68

-10s

HIGH

95° 74°

Light easterly and northeasterly winds will continue to bring dry air into Acadiana, so expect a mostly sunny, hot, dry and breezy day. Temperatures this afternoon will rise to the low to mid-90s. With low dewpoints and low humidity, temperatures will only feel like the upper 90s. A few coastal showers are possible, but otherwise, no rain is expected today. The UV index is very high. Expect clear skies, a light breeze and temperatures in the upper 80s for high school football kickoff tonight.

60s

70s

80s

90s 100s 110s

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

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

Sunrise today Sunset tonight Moonrise today Moonset today FIRST

SEP 18

City

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

91°/76° 89°/70° 91°/69° 100° in 1912 54° in 1961

Austin Boston dallas Fairbanks Honolulu Las Vegas Louisville Miami Nashville

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

HIGH

12:54p 6:49a 2:48a 4:22a 2:49a 1:53a 3:57a

6:54 a.m. 7:10 p.m. 2:07 p.m. none

FULL

LAST

SEP 26

TODAY

98 79 99 57 89 96 92 88 100

69 54 77 43 79 72 71 76 71

NEW

OCT 3

s s s c sh s t t t

OCT 10

96 64 97 54 89 95 94 88 98

SAT. Lo

72 54 77 41 78 72 75 77 73

pc pc s c sh s t t t

FT.

0.9 1.9 2.3 2.0 1.5 1.9 1.9

LOW

0.00” 2.37” 3.11” 46.16” 46.79”

FT.

1:04a 8:10p 2:35p 6:37p 3:13p 1:31p 4:15p

YESTERDAY

TODAY

REAdING 49 MAIN POLLUTANT Ozone

MAIN POLLUTANT Ozone

GOOd

PRECIPITATION

HIGH

0.2 0.4 0.4 0.5 0.3 0.3 0.4

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

FT.

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

SOURCE: LOUISIANA dEQ ANd AIRNOW.GOV

LOW

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

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 5:36a 11:49a 6:02p ---Saturday 6:27a 12:15a 6:52p 12:39p Sunday 7:15a 1:02a 7:40p 1:27p Monday 8:00a 1:48a 8:24p 2:12p Tuesday 8:43a 2:31a 9:07p 2:55p Wednesday 9:24a 3:13a 9:47p 3:35p Thursday 10:04a 3:53a 10:26p 4:15p

City

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

92 89 85 101 77 93 94 76 92

TODAY Lo

73 74 66 80 59 71 75 65 74

t t pc s pc t t pc t

GOOd

94 89 77 103 74 84 97 77 90

SAT. Lo

76 73 66 80 66 71 74 68 74

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

t t pc s t t pc s t

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

FLOOD STAGE

34 48 48 35 27 22 17

THU. 24-HOUR STAGE CHANGE

-1.30 14.30 17.80 6.80 4.70 3.42 3.90

+0.86 -0.66 -0.66 +0.13 +0.88 +0.48 +0.52

16.17

+0.40

-1.63

-0.03

18 29 8

-1.14 10.13 2.60

-0.12 +0.18 +0.40

13 15

1.59 1.09

-0.15 +0.39

47 34 29 20 12 6

6.49 4.17 2.93 3.13 3.00 1.84

+0.09 +0.10 -0.21 +0.07 +0.10 -0.26

data as of 7 a.m. Thursday

PRESERVE YOUR MEMORIES AND PUT THE KEEPSAKE ON DISPLAY

Memorialize your special day with quality reprints of any newspaper page.

Reproduced directly from our original newspaper, these custom-printed reproductions make an ideal gift to mark birthdays, anniversaries and other important dates.

SHOP TODAY! store.nola.com