The Acadiana Advocate 09-20-2026

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S u n d ay, S e p t e m b e r 20, 2026

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SETTING THE TONE

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Before SpaceX, UL grads made history Alums have worked on NASA missions dating back decades

BY JOANNA BROWN Staff writer

Stephen Damico, a University of Louisiana at Lafayette graduate, played a role in the Artemis II mission, which took humans farther from Earth than they had ever traveled before. Damico has spent almost 20 years at NASA, where he is deputy system manager of the Orion Propulsion System, responsible for testing hardware and conducting risk analyses to inform mission safety. “Every single piece of hardware, we’re in charge of knowing its requirements, its limits,” said Damico Damico at a UL College of Engineering event Monday, where he described his role in Artemis II, NASA’s first crewed mission around the moon in more than 50 years. “At the end of the day, we have to sign our name — and by ‘our name’ I mean mine — to say this vehicle is completely safe to fly. It can complete the mission as described. NASA says, ‘We believe we’re safe to fly, and we understand all of our risks.’” Artemis II also set a record for the greatest distance traveled by people in space. The 10-day mission, completed in the first week of April, tested systems and procedures needed for future moon landings and pushed the ability of NASA to safely support and transport life in deep space.

ä See HISTORY, page 7A

STAFF PHOTO By BRAd KEMP

Cajuns quarterback Lunch Winfield runs with the ball against UAB during Saturday’s game at Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium in Lafayette. A week after giving up 49 points in a loss at Southern Cal, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette team put together a stellar defensive effort. The Cajuns topped the Blazers, of the American Conference, 21-14 behind a strong ground game on offense, totaling 225 yards and three touchdowns on 53 carries. Winfield again set the tone for the Cajuns, completing 15 of 20 passes for 110 yards. He was the Cajuns’ top rusher with 19 carries for 91 yards and a pair of touchdowns. The victory gets UL above the .500 mark with one more game on the nonconference slate against Charlotte next week. ä SEE COMPLETE COVERAGE OF THE CAJUNS GAME. PAGE 1C

La. begins stocking redfish in coastal waters Release a test to revive struggling population

BY MIKE SMITH Staff writer

‘Protect College Sports Act’ has heavy hitters for, against it NCAA, universities, coaches support bill to regulate athletics BY MARK BALLARD Staff writer

WASHINGTON — Competing news conferences and floor speeches, along with two test votes in the U.S. Senate and a flood of commercials during games Saturday, show the two-minute drill Congress is running to pass a bill promoters say will fix the chaos in college football. The Senate voted 77-22 before leaving town Thursday evening to begin debate

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on the bipartisan “Protect College Sports Act of 2026.” The numbers indicate enough support among senators to get the legislation advanced before the upper chamber leaves at the end of this month to campaign. Still, the legislation faces significant opposition, particularly from NAACP and the AFL-CIO labor union. Universities, coaches and some fans have complained that a quilt of state laws, all different and some conflicting, have made college sports unmanageable. The bipartisan Protect College Sports Act would standardize operations in a business that raises about $14 billion annually. “College sports today are in crisis,” cosponsor Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said at

a news conference Tuesday. “For years, court decisions, litigation, conflicting state laws, unlimited transfers, eligibility issues and inconsistent enforcement have chipped away at the foundation of college athletics. The result is what we’re seeing right now: the Wild West. The rules change from state to state, court to court and season to season.” The legislation creates new requirements for how colleges could compensate their players, how often the players could switch schools — once, without having to sit out a year — and how athletes could make money off their name, image and likeness, called NIL. It provides some

Out on the far end of New Orleans, the tiny redfish swimming in a tank were unknowingly being readied for a life-altering journey. Water began flowing through a black tube connected to the tank, and out came the thousands of fingerling fish. They exited the tube into the shallows on the edge of the Rigolets, many of them darting toward nearby marsh — their new habitat. “This is conservation history,” said Randy Pausina, who directs the Covingtonbased Recreational Fisheries Research Institute nonprofit. “This is the first time this is being done in Louisiana. It’s a big landmark.” The release of around 10,000 fingerling redfish on Friday morning at Fort Pike was the culmination of a long-developing

ä See ATHLETICS, page 7A

ä See REDFISH, page 5A

Business ......................1E Living............................1D Nation-World................2A Classified .....................7D Lottery..........................2B Opinion ........................4B Commentary ................5B Metro ...........................1B Sports ..........................1C

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2A ● Sunday, September 20, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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Judge rules EPA illegally ended solar program

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FROM WIRE REPORTS

Jehovah’s Witnesses rule on blood changed

The Jehovah’s Witnesses have partly eased their long-standing prohibition on the medical use of donated blood, allowing members to receive products derived from blood but maintaining a ban on transfusions of whole blood. The policy, announced Friday, is the second revision this year in what has long been one of the most controversial and distinctive teachings of the religious organization. The new policy says that individuals can receive products derived from blood donated by other people. It says they can receive medical treatments that involve the use of the four main components of whole blood: plasma, platelets and red and white blood cells. The new announcement also allows members to decide as a matter of individual conscience whether to donate blood to be used for blood products for the medical treatment of others. But the organization continues to oppose members receiving transfusions of whole blood or donating blood for that purpose. Critics have faulted the organization for prohibiting the use of a proven treatment that can be lifesaving. The Jehovah’s Witnesses’ longtime opposition to blood transfusions derives from their interpretation of Bible passages requiring believers to “abstain” from blood. While Jewish and other Christian religious traditions have interpreted this as a dietary law, Jehovah’s Witnesses have extended that prohibition to transfusions.

Dutch riot police break up protest in The Hague THE HAGUE, Netherlands — Dutch riot police dispersed several hundred far-right protesters in The Hague on Saturday after violence erupted and local authorities banned a planned march in the city against immigration and asylum policies. Police officers made several arrests after some protesters started throwing fireworks and other projectiles at them. Justice Minister David van Weel called on X for an “extremely firm” response to what he described as “disgusting scenes” at the protest. He said that demonstrators made Nazi salutes, chanted antisemitic slogans, attacked police and threw fireworks at riot officers. “Thanks to all the police officers who are once again standing up for our democratic rule of law,” he wrote. The Hague municipality banned the march after violence broke out among demonstrators gathered at the Malieveld, a park in the city center, and later ordered the crowd to disperse. Saturday’s unrest came a year after rioting erupted around a right-wing demonstration. A police car was set on fire during clashes between black-clad protesters and police, and the headquarters of the centrist D66 party — whose leader, Rob Jetten, is now prime minister — was attacked.

Carrot Top hospitalized; suicide attempt alleged Carrot Top has been hospitalized following an alleged suicide attempt, according to a report. The comedian, whose real name is Scott Thompson, was rushed to the hospital ahead of his performance at the Luxor Hotel & Casino on Friday night, TMZ reported, citing sources. His show, part of his long-running Vegas residency, was canceled as a result. Thompson’s representative, Jami Schlicher, also confirmed his hospitalization. Thompson, well-known for his wild red hair, is a stand-up comedian and actor who revolutionized prop comedy with his eccentric and fast-paced performances. He burst onto the scene in the 1990s, with successful appearances on “Comic Strip Live” and “Star Search.” He has also headlined a longrunning residency at the Luxor Hotel since 2005, performing nearly 300 shows a year. It is one of the longest-running and most financially successful solo comedy headlining shows in the history of the Las Vegas Strip.

$7B plan intended to make power accessible to poorer Americans BY JENNIFER McDERMOTT Associated Press

ASSOCIATEd PRESS PHOTO

Voters cast ballots at a polling station during Russia’s parliamentary election in the Russian-controlled part of the donetsk region of Ukraine on Friday.

Ukrainian territory part of Russia vote Parliamentary election includes annexed area

By The Associated Press Russia’s parliamentary election for the first time includes residents of regions that Moscow illegally annexed from Ukraine after the start of its full-scale invasion more than 4½ years ago, part of Kremlin efforts to cement its gains. Officials in Kyiv vigorously denounced the action as illegal, and a human-rights activist described residents there as being coerced to participate in the election. While the vote across Russia started Friday and lasts until Sunday to help boost turnout, balloting actually has been underway in the annexed parts of Ukraine and some areas on the Russian side of the border since the end of last month. Officials cited security reasons for the extended period. Russian authorities say the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia territories, often referred to by Moscow officials as the “new regions,” have over 3.5 million voters. They were annexed by Russia in September 2022, despite not fully being under Moscow’s control. The move has not been recognized internationally. At one polling station in the Russianheld part of the Donetsk region, voters dropped their ballots in a box as an armed Russian soldier stood nearby and watched.

Voting also is taking place in Crimea, the Black Sea peninsula that was illegally annexed by Moscow in 2014. The first wartime election to the State Duma is intended to secure the Kremlin’s political dominance and showcase public support for the war. “Your choice and resolve will once again demonstrate that millions of people stand behind our fighters, that we are a united people, bound by shared values, historical memory, and love for the Motherland and that nobody can divide or intimidate us, undermine our statehood and political system,” Putin said.

Ukraine urges rejection of election Authorities in Kyiv called the voting in those territories illegal and urged foreign governments and international organizations not to recognize the election. They warned Ukrainians that taking part in organizing the vote could carry criminal liability. European Commission spokesperson Christian Wigand said the voting in Russian-held regions represented “another blatant violation of international law. The European Union does not, and will never recognize either the holding of these, so-called elections, sham elections, in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine or their results.”

Activists describe coercion to vote

Violeta Artemchuk, coordinator of the Donbas SOS human rights group who was among those who signed the statePutin stressed importance of voting ment, said members of local election In a speech Wednesday, Russian Presi- commissions were going house to house, dent Vladimir Putin emphasized the escorted by Russian troops and security importance of balloting in those regions agents, to force people to vote. Moscow-appointed authorities exert for the State Duma, the lower house of parliament. Residents there will be vot- pressure on residents, threatening those ing for the Duma “for the first time since who work in the public sector with distheir reunification with Russia.” missal if they fail to vote and making He noted that Russian soldiers in- pensions and other social payments conditional on participating, Artemchuk said. volved in the fighting also will vote.

Election observer loses consciousness during arrest, opposition party says By The Associated Press Russia’s liberal opposition Yabloko party said that one of its election observers lost consciousness while being arrested by police at a St. Petersburg polling station on Saturday, the second day of a tightly controlled parliamentary election. The voting to elect members of the State Duma is Russia’s first parliamentary election since Moscow launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022. The three-day election, which began Friday and ends Sunday, features virtually no opposition and is all but certain to secure the Kremlin’s political dominance. Yabloko said that officials at the polling station accused a party election observer of attempting to “disrupt the elections” and called the police, which “used force” against him. It was unclear whether he received prompt medical attention after falling unconscious, the party said in a statement on Telegram Saturday, adding that he was taken to a police station and charged with disobeying police orders. Russian officials didn’t immediately comment on the incident.

Yabloko, the only registered political entity that dared to criticize Russia’s war with Ukraine, was removed from the ballot last month by Russia’s Supreme Court, and only has a few dozen candidates in the single-constituency races. Additionally, some anti-war politicians have been imprisoned or forced to flee abroad before the campaign. Yabloko and the Communist Party, which has criticized some aspects of government policy but carefully avoided any criticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin, said that many of their election observers were turned away from polling stations. The parties also reported various violations, including sealed ballot boxes being opened, the refusal to issue paper ballots and provide turnout data for verification, and doors to polling stations not being secured overnight. “The scale of what’s happening does not allow us to view this as a misunderstanding,” Yabloko chairman Nikolai Rybakov said. Russia didn’t invite observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to monitor the election, with

the Russian Foreign Ministry accusing the body of “double standards” for its criticism of Russia. It said that it had invited other international organizations, as well as observers from OSCE member states, in its place. OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Pere Joan Pons said that the decision was a breach of Russia’s commitments as a member state of the organization. “This persistent rejection of independent scrutiny follows a deeply worrying pattern of disregard for the principles of transparency, democratic accountability and the rule of law,” he said. Russia’s Central Election Commission said that more than 380,000 electoral observers had been registered before the vote, including representatives from 11 political parties. Of those registered, 97,040 observers were linked to the United Russia party, with the next largest group, 42,743 observers, representing Russia’s Communist Party. Under a new code of ethics, observers are banned from making statements “that could be construed as undermining confidence in the electoral system.”

The Trump administration illegally terminated a $7 billion Solar for All program intended to make solar power accessible to more than 900,000 lowerincome Americans, a federal judge in Rhode Island ruled Friday. The Environmental Protection Agency rescinded the Solar for All funds in August 2025 after President Donald Trump’s massive tax and spending law passed in Congress a month earlier, with Administrator Lee Zeldin calling the Biden-era grant program a “boondoggle.” District Judge Mary McElroy wrote in the ruling that Congress clearly intended the EPA to continue administering the Solar for All grants that were already obligated. The EPA acted contrary to this intent and without any other statutory authority when it terminated the program, McElroy wrote. She vacated the termination. The EPA said Friday it is reviewing the decision and considering options for appeal. The lawsuit filed in Rhode Island by the Rhode Island AFL-CIO labor organization and others — including the public interest law center Rhode Island Center for Justice and the nonprofit Solar United Neighbors — highlighted the importance of the program for local workforces and lower-income communities seeking access to clean-energy project funding. Patrick Crowley, president of the Rhode Island AFL-CIO, called the decision “a big victory” for states across the country. “If and when the program does get up and running, there will be thousands and thousands of union jobs created across

the United States,” he said Friday. “We were proud to be the lead plaintiff.” Clean, affordable power like solar shouldn’t be a luxury, said Alex St. Pierre, vice president for environmental justice at Conservation Law Foundation, one of the nonprofit legal advocacy groups representing the plaintiffs. “Nearly every family is looking for ways to cut their energy bill. These dollars should go where Congress intended: toward lower energy bills, less climate pollution, good jobs and cleaner air,” St. Pierre said in a statement. The Trump administration has targeted a host of programs and policies dedicated to clean energy. The $7 billion Solar for All program was part of the $27 billion “green bank,” formally known as the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. It was established in the Democratic-backed climate law passed in 2022 under former President Joe Biden. The attorneys general of more than a dozen states also sued over the canceled solar program funding. A federal judge in Washington dismissed the case for lack of jurisdiction in June. The plaintiffs have appealed. The other $20 billion, also canceled by the Trump administration, was slated for eight community development banks and nonprofit organizations for tens of thousands of projects to combat the effects of climate change, such as residential energy efficiency projects to larger-scale investments such as community cooling. A divided federal appeals court said last month that the Trump administration improperly terminated the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, handing a win to a coalition of nonprofits picked to run the effort.

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The Acadiana Advocate ● theadvocate.com ● Sunday, September 20, 2026 ● 3A

Voting groups sound alarm on funding shortfalls Staffing cutbacks, lack of donations alarm strategists

source of donations for fear of retribution from the administration. “Just being Black in this country again has become a bad word, and it has made it that much more difficult just to raise money because funders don’t want the added pressure and stress or attacks on them by funding us,” she said.

BY MATT BROWN

Associated Press

WASHINGTON — Several of the nation’s largest left-leaning voter engagement and racial justice organizations are facing steep funding shortfalls and staffing cutbacks just as voting is getting underway in an election that will determine control of Congress for the final two years of President Donald Trump’s term. The shortfalls are setting off alarms among Democratic strategists, who are betting on high turnout and robust voter protection efforts to boost the party’s chances this fall. They are worried that many grassroots groups will not be able to mount effective registration and get-out-the-vote efforts, much less protect against the possibility of election interference from the Republican administration. America Votes, a coordinating hub for more than 400 progressive groups, has fallen “well below” the level of funding it had during the 2022 midterms, Daria Dawson, America Votes’ executive director, said in a statement to The Associated Press. America Votes has acted as a nerve center for the voter mobilization efforts of groups such as the NAACP, Planned Parenthood, the League of Conservation Voters, the AFL-CIO and SEIU labor unions, as well as local groups focused on racial justice, climate and civil liberties. “There is still time to reach voters and bring them into this election, but we are no longer talking about a future opportunity,” Dawson said. “The window to engage them is open now, and it is narrowing every day.”

‘Surrender, not strategy’ Wealthy donors and philanthropic groups have reduced their support of many liberal causes since the 2024 presidential election. That pullback has been especially stark for voting groups geared toward engaging communities of color. While multiple organizers said some funders had expressed an in-

Smaller budgets force shifts

ASSOCIATEd PRESS PHOTO By MIKE STEWART

Nicholas Burns prepares his table at Bridgepointe Church during an event Wednesday in Marietta, Ga. terest in adopting different strategies, racial justice organizers have felt that as a betrayal. A retreat in donor support is “handcuffing our ability to persuade our communities to vote in a year where there is no Voting Rights Act,” said Esosa Osa, a veteran Democratic strategist and founder of Onyx Impact, a research group focused on combating misinformation in Black communities. The Supreme Court this year knocked out one of the last remaining pillars of that landmark 1965 law, essentially gutting it. “We are watching surrender, not strategy,” Osa said. A July memo circulated among major Democratic fundraisers warned that “the organizations that registered and persuaded millions of voters to participate in the 2018 and 2022 midterms are drastically underfunded. They have raised nearly 40% less than they had at this point in those cycles.” It further warned that funding voter mobilization groups was especially critical “given that the Democratic brand is underperforming on generic ballot tests relative to historical comparisons and the president’s approval ratings.”

organizers who spoke with the AP. Some donors, still disappointed with the Democratic Party and some of its allies following the 2024 presidential election, have closed their pocketbooks to liberal causes entirely. While a small group of liberal megadonors has continued to bankroll progressive causes, most focus their support on liberal legal organizations that have taken the Trump administration to court, rather than political or voter engagement groups. Others, including major philanthropic institutions, have pulled back out of fear of retribution that giving to political or racial justice causes could draw the administration’s ire. Organizers who have engaged with potential donors said the administration’s targeting of political opponents and diversity initiatives seems to have put a chill on fundraising for their causes. Tameka Ramsey-Brown, founding director of the Michigan Coalition on Black Civic Participation, Shifting priorities affect groups said multiple donors since the The reasons for the troubled 2024 election had asked whether funding landscape are varied and her group could remove the word at times unclear, according to “Black” from its name or find nearly two dozen fundraisers and financial conduits to mask the

The shortfalls have led organizations focused on engaging and mobilizing key voting groups to scale back operations and staffing over the last year. That has included programs aimed at registering and mobilizing lower-propensity voters, voters of color, and rural and younger voters. The Democratic National Committee, which has faced its own funding challenges, has consolidated voter engagement efforts this year partly in response to the ecosystem’s past shortcomings. The DNC in a statement said it was making “historic investments” in its organizing but did not address the weaknesses among allied groups. “We are expanding our voter protection infrastructure to defend Americans’ sacred right to vote, hold Trump and Republicans accountable in court, and register and mobilize voters across the country,” said Angelo Fernández Hernández, a DNC spokesperson.

Many of the nonprofit groups that traditionally have conducted the registration, voter education and organizing say they are trying to adapt to their new, leaner reality. Vamos a Votar, an initiative of the largest civil rights and advocacy groups focused on Latino communities, has had to readjust its ambitions this year due to a lack of investment from funders. “This is shaping up to be a cycle where investments haven’t gone to the Black and brown communities that will ultimately decide this election,” said Juan Proaño, CEO of the League of United Latin American Citizens, a member of the initiative. In a September pitch circulated among donors, the coalition said it aimed to invest $27.5 million in voter engagement and persuasion efforts this year, but still required $5.4 million from donors to fund voter turnout efforts across 10 states and 17 House districts. Even that investment reflected reduced ambitions from previous pitches to donors early this year. “It has been extremely disappointing to see that progressive donors are not meeting the moment,” said Héctor Sánchez Barba, the CEO of Mi Familia Vota, one of the affiliated organizations. “We are not waiting. We are always on the front lines for our democracy and our communities.” To counter the funding cutbacks, some groups have begun relying more heavily on artificial intelligence to provide voter registration guides, share information in multiple languages and track potential election issues. Some groups have increased their partnerships with ride-sharing companies to provide free rides to polling places instead of bus shuttles. With fewer in-person organizers, some groups are also focusing on social media and partnering with liberal content creators to boost their messages.

DR. CHANCE DEWITT CARDIOTHORACIC SURGEON

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4A ● Sunday, September 20, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

Democrats race to respond to AI threat BY JILL COLVIN Associated Press

NEW YORK — Amid growing anxiety over the risks posed by rapidly developing artificial intelligence technology, potential Democratic candidates for president are rushing to show that they’re taking the warnings seriously — while Donald Trump brushes off concerns — and acknowledging they need a reluctant Washington to step up. On Friday, California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order to accelerate implementation of a California law that calls for independent oversight of AI companies and the use of “kill switches” so developers have the ability to shut down their systems. “California will do what it can. But this nation needs to get in the game. Washington, D.C. needs to do its job,” Newsom said on his podcast Friday. The order came a day after Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro delivered a speech outlining the steps he’s taking locally to confront AI risk. Like Newson, he conceded

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that states have obvious limitations in regulating a global technology. The efforts come as AI leaders have issued dire warnings about the potentially catastrophic threat posed by rogue AI agents. The country has begun grappling with the impact of a technology that could bring both tremendous gains in areas like medical research and automation but also unleash deadly viruses, cause widespread economic upheaval and help terrorists inflict harm.

Trump dismisses warnings Anthropic’s Dario Amodei, OpenAI’s Sam Altman and SpaceXAI’s Elon Musk have all called for greater government oversight of the industry after a series of hacks revealed AI agents conspiring to deceive humans. Trump has responded by saying that he is “the only control or ‘guardrails’ that AI needs.” Democrats quickly pounced. Georgia Sen. Jon Ossoff, a Democrat who is seeking reelection in a state Trump won two years ago, said at a campaign rally last

weekend that “a capable president would move swiftly to secure and reassure the American people, rush inspectors into frontier labs, fortify the nation against bioterrorism, demand legislation from Congress, and lead the world toward an AI treaty.” Ossoff, seen as a potential 2028 contender, said geriatric politicians have little comprehension of AI technology. “An ancient establishment, barely capable of email, sleepwalks into a technological revolution while the president dismantles precautions and calls us fools for worrying,” he said. Another potential White House contender, Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly, told Politico he will introduce legislation to create a fund that AI companies would contribute to support workers affected by the disruption. Shapiro, in his speech, called for new federal rules to require independent, third-party oversight, increased transparency, and to “prioritize safety above all else.” In his state, he noted that he has al-

ready signed an executive order to establish “real guardrails governing how Pennsylvania uses generative AI.” But he acknowledged that states have obvious limits. “It’s going to require national and, in fact, international, leadership and collaboration,” he said. Alex Bores, a soon-to-be-former New York State lawmaker who lost his congressional primary this summer after AI companies angry over an AI safety bill he championed spent millions to defeat him, said: “The salience of this issue has climbed dramatically.”

Divide emerging on party lines While it remains early, polling suggests a growing ideological divide over AI, with Democrats becoming more alarmed over the last few years, while Republicans have become less concerned. Democrats are more likely than Republicans to be “more concerned than excited” about the growing use of AI in daily life, according to a June Pew Research Center poll. About half of U.S. adults over-

all say the increased use of AI in daily life makes them “more concerned than excited.” Another Pew Research Center poll from June found that about 7 in 10 U.S. adults think that AI will cause job losses in the U.S. over the next 20 years, up 7 percentage points since 2024. Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., has been calling on Republican Senate leadership to establish a select committee on A.I. as soon as possible. “I worry about this as a true existential threat. This is the first time that we’ve created technology to destroy humanity that could be controlled by not humans,” he said on MS NOW. While potential 2028 candidates have been eager to weigh in on AI, the issue has been less potent in many local races. At a rally in New York’s highly competitive 17th Congressional District on Wednesday, the audience cheered as Democratic candidate Cait Conley vowed to ban data centers that power AI and cloud computing. But no direct mention was made of the broader technology or its risks.

Trump to name AI czar BY MARÍA PAULA MIJARES TORRES Bloomberg News (TNS)

President Donald Trump said he would name an artificial intelligence czar as he continued to push tech companies to race ahead with development despite growing fears about safety. He rejected concerns that the quickly evolving technology may pose risks to humans as a hoax, comparing it to the alarm over climate change and the scandals that led to his two impeachments during his first term. “We will not in any way hinder or stifle the Growth of this incredible Industry,” he wrote Saturday in a social media post. “AI is the next Industrial Revolution, or Internet, but will be even larger and more impactful, possibly as much as 25% of

our Country’s GDP.” For the past week, top leaders of the U.S.’s biggest AI platforms have been warning that it’s time to slow the development pace of their most advanced and most lucrative models, citing escalating risks of the technology. Alphabet Inc.’s Google, OpenAI, Anthropic PBC and Meta Platforms Inc. have all disclosed instances of their AI agents hacking into other companies’ systems. But there has been resistance from Trump to the idea of slowing down, while Wall Street strategists have also pointed out how much of the stock market’s performance has been driven by hopes surrounding AI. In his post Saturday, Trump said he will also create an AI Force modeled after Space Force, a branch of

the U.S. military he created in his first administration, to help tackle issues related to the industry. But it wasn’t immediately clear how that would be structured or what it would do. “We are leading China, and the rest of the World, and I intend to keep it that way!” Trump wrote regarding the country’s AI advancements. A number of lawmakers, particularly Democrats, have stepped up calls for the government to step in and regulate the technology with an eye toward safety. Former President Barack Obama said that Democrats should make this an issue in the midterm elections. Speaking Friday in a fireside chat at Colgate University, he said there is “a misalignment between what our society needs and the commercial imperatives that these

ASSOCIATEd PRESS PHOTO By JACQUELyN MARTIN

Reporters raise their hands to ask a question as President donald Trump, seated, listens during an event about healthcare in the Oval Office of the White House on Friday. companies are facing, not tify these valuations.” Trump had appointed Dabecause necessarily they’re trying to do bad things, but vid Sacks, who co-founded because they’ve got to jus- Craft Ventures LLC, as his

AI czar at the start of his second term. Sacks has since stepped back from that role.

Lawsuit says leading AI companies made illegal agreement on slowdown BY KAITLYN HUAMANI AP technology writer

A new lawsuit claims Anthropic, OpenAI, SpaceXAI and Google made an illegal deal to slow the pace of their respective AI development. The lawsuit, which was filed Friday in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, argues that the leading AI companies violated antitrust laws when they Amodei agreed to coordinate slowdown efforts, and that doing so would reduce the value consumers get for Altman paid AI subscriptions. The coordination largely took place on Sept. 12, the lawsuit argues, when Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei published an essay urging for industrywide cooperation on decelerating advancements in favor of enhanced safety measures. That same day, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, SpaceXAI CEO Elon Musk and Google Deep-

Mind’s co-founder and chair Demis Hassabis each publicly responded to Amodei’s proposals in agreement. But the lawsuit also alleges that the coordination began to take shape months earlier. It points to a statement from July 2026 that high-ranking employees from several of the leading AI labs signed that acknowledged the “intense competitive pressure not to unilaterally slow” development. That Hassabis statement called on the government to support a global effort to slow automated AI development. It is clear Musk that an agreement among the chief rivals in AI that their progress “should be slower than competition would otherwise produce has an anticompetitive effect on consumers,” the plaintiffs argue. Lawyers representing four named plaintiffs, who pay for subscriptions to ChatGPT, Claude, Grok or Gemini, are bringing the

lawsuit on behalf of a proposed nationwide class of other paid subscribers to those services. The plaintiffs don’t object to the companies individually deciding to slow their own progress in favor of safety. They instead argue in the complaint that antitrust laws forbid them from taking the “shortcut” of agreeing to “substitute collective restraint for individual accountability.” A competitive market allows for responsibility and genuine progress, the lawsuit argues. “AI will quickly spin out of human control and could kill us all if we allow AI safety and protocol … to be controlled by private self-serving agreements between the world’s most powerful ‘for profit’ technology companies,” said Nick Rowley, the lead attorney for the plaintiffs. Representatives for Anthropic, OpenAI, Google and SpaceXAI did not immediately respond to a request for comment Saturday. In his initial essay proposing the slowdown, Amodei acknowledged potential antitrust challenges, writing that it would be helpful for the U.S. government to mediate “or at least enable” these cross-lab discussions. The government wouldn’t need to participate, he wrote, but

it would need to “issue a narrow waiver for certain kinds of safety conversations.” In response, Altman said on social media that OpenAI welcomes the idea of a “federal framework that sets consistent safety requirements,” but said “we do not believe we need to wait for an antitrust exemption or legislation to begin the work of providing this confidence.” While the recent conversations about pacing development were spurred by increasing concerns about AI evading human control, several leaders in the AI space have long talked about developing a shared set of standards or otherwise coordinating to ensure safety efforts remain paramount. The plaintiffs in the lawsuit contend they are not against the AI companies asking Congress, the White House or any other agency to develop AI regulation, nor are they against the companies asking for an antitrust exemption. But achieving that kind of collaboration with the federal government could be an uphill battle. The Trump administration has been vocal about wanting American AI labs to outpace and excel against Chinese competition. While several Democratic leaders and candidates have called

for sweeping AI regulation, Republicans have largely mirrored Trump’s position. Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., said in a recent Senate hearing that “there is no world” in which he would agree to

give “the most powerful companies in the history of the world” an exemption from antitrust laws to collaborate, arguing that they could collude together and stifle competition.

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REDFISH

Continued from page 1A initiative, which has included similar stocking efforts at other locations along Louisiana’s coast in recent weeks. It is a pilot to test whether stocking can bolster the state’s struggling redfish population and the recreational angling industry that surrounds it, though there have been questions over whether it would be worth the cost and effort on a larger scale. In all, it involved the release of more than 150,000 redfish between 21/2 and 4 inches in West Cove in southwest Louisiana, Grand Isle and the Rigolets. The program’s nonprofit organizers — Pausina’s organization and the Coastal Conservation Association of Louisiana — hope it will become a tool in the state’s bid to revive diminished population numbers for redfish, among the most prized catches for Louisiana anglers. The state has carried out stocking efforts for bass in closed ecosystems, for example, but never with redfish. Its organizers are especially enthusiastic, though state fisheries officials, while hopeful, are tamping down expectations. Louisiana cannot stock its way to healthy redfish numbers without other methods as well, they warn. But the stocking program and genetic tracking of the fish released may eventually play a modest but important role, while contributing to research on such efforts. That could include aiding recovery after fish kills during extreme weather, like 2025’s historic snow storm. Chris Schieble, deputy assistant secretary for the state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, said stocking should not be seen as “the fix-all for every problem we have.” “This is to test out efficacy of red drum stocking off Louisiana, and we’ve got a pretty good partnership … to test this out as a pilot study,” he said, referring to the redfish’s official name.

STAFF PHOTOS By SOPHIA GERMER

A fingerling red drum is released into the Rigolets next to Fort Pike in New Orleans on Friday. Redfish population numbers have diminished. Organizers are hopeful the first-of-its-kind program can be another tool for recovery.

pra Infrastructure and American Fishing Tackle Company, among others. Jefferson Parish also contributed $40,000. Pausina said the cost ended up being around $6 per fish. The permit contains important requirements to ensure “biosecurity,” meaning the fish being stocked are not infected with parasites, for example. They must also be genetically validated as descendants of Louisiana fish, Schieble said. While not paying for it, the state is nonetheless participating, particularly through its fish sampling programs. It will take fin clips from redfish it finds in its sampling, then send them to Southeastern Louisiana University’s Center for Environmental Research, which will maintain a genetic record of the stocked fish. That will in turn allow scientists to determine if the fish turning up in the samples are stocked or not — or even half-siblings — providing useful data on the program’s effectiveness, said David Camak, the center’s head geneticist. A large number of the fish being released will certainly die, though good data on that is hard to come by. But so-called return rates, or the percentage of stocked fish being found during sampling in the wild, have been as much as 2-6% in Texas, Schieble said. While that may seem low, consider the needle-in-a-haystack nature of finding stocked fish in open, coastal waters.

Helping stocks recover? Angelos Apeitos, hatchery manager at the University of Southern Mississippi’s Thad Cochran Marine Aquaculture Center, and Kevin Bishop release fingerling red drum through a tube next to Fort Pike on Friday.

Numbers of redfish caught in 2021 were at their lowest since the 1980s, when the Paul Prudhomme blackened redfish craze took off. The causes of the decline have been numerous, from overfishing to coastal erosion wiping away habitat. After an acrimonious debate, indicative of redfish’s importance in south Louisiana, the state reduced $6 per fish limits in 2024 to four fish per day The program follows alarming from five. The minimum size was population numbers for redfish also increased from 16 to 18 inchand changes in Louisiana’s catch es, and no redfish over 27 inches limits for the first time in nearly can be kept. four decades. It is too early to say what effect

the new limits may be having on the population, Schieble said. Pausina, former head of fisheries for the state, first began pursuing the stocking program a few years ago, modeling it after similar efforts in other areas of the country. The state eventually granted him a permit for it, and he then set out to raise the funds necessary for the recently carried out pilot. The state is not paying for the program. Pausina and his partners at the Coastal Conservation Association raised funds through corporate donors such as Air Products, Cameron LNG, Sem-

days to spawn on their own. If that doesn’t happen, a hormone is implanted to help the process along, said Apeitos. When their offspring have grown to the desired size, they are transported to the water in tanks and released, as occurred at Fort Pike. Apeitos views stocking in coastal areas as an important option that can help fish populations recover more quickly than they might have. “There’s a lot of things that may impact the population at some level or another, and having this technology and having this tool for managers to be able to use is important because it limits the amount of time a fishery has to close,” he said. Schieble said he sees no real risk to the program. The parents are native redfish, and the extensive quarantine and monitoring by the hatchery should ensure no diseases or parasites are being introduced into coastal waters. He also notes the vast open estuarine areas where the fish are being released means genetic diversity should be maintained. The Louisiana Wildlife Federation has been more circumspect. It has opposed spending public money on such programs, questioning whether they can truly be effective in open environments, and says focusing on restoring marsh habitat is a better approach. The pilot program may help inform both the public and state officials whether it is all worth the cost. The fingerling release involved a process of conditioning the small fish to their new environment before they were flushed from their tank. That meant testing the salinity and temperature, then adjusting it to match what exists in their soon-to-be home. Water was then pumped in, and not long after, tiny redfish began emerging from the black tube at the boat launch at Fort Pike. Apeitos was there to oversee that process, and Pausina observed it with anticipation. “I am super excited,” Pausina said. “I think we’re out the gate running now, and it’s only going to be limited by the participation and funding.”

Producing the fish in the first place involved a careful process. Pausina collected wild “brood stock” — parent fish — through rod-and-reel fishing at various locations along Louisiana’s coast. Those were then transferred to a hatchery at the University of Southern Mississippi’s Thad Cochran Marine Aquaculture Center. The center produces speckled trout for Mississippi stocking programs, among other efforts. The parent fish are first put through a quarantine process to ensure they are healthy, said hatchery manager Angelos Apeitos. They are later moved to the tanks where they will reproduce, with the hatchery meticulously controlling conditions to match the seasons they are mimicking, including water temperature and light. Email Mike Smith at msmith@ The fish are allowed about 30 theadvocate.com.

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LOUISIANA POLITICS

Trump’s FDA nominee is under scrutiny Cassidy, La. residents have concerns about experience

WASHINGTON — Louisiana has a lot to say about the Trump administration’s third attempt to install a leader for the U.S. Food & Drug Administration, which inspects and approves food and medications. After much discussion on Capitol Hill last week, U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, the Baton Rouge Republican who Mark chairs the Senate Ballard Health Education, Labor & Pensions committee, scheduled a Thursday confirmation hearing for FDA commissioner nominee Heidi Overton, a White House aide about whom he has expressed “strong concerns.” He’s not the only one. Overton has attracted resistance because she was the White House aide in charge of drafting Trump’s controversial executive orders changing the measlesmumps-rubella Cassidy vaccination schedule for small children and another protecting the use of a weed killer that is suspected, though not proven, to cause cancer. Overton’s “lack of managerial experience does not prepare her well for leading a large organization that is already dealing with staffing and morale issues,” Cassidy wrote. That’s the issue Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser, R-Belle Chasse, and Kathryne Hart, a Baton Rouge mother, want addressed. Given the disruptions resulting from the inability to get a

Gov. Landry says $7M raised at gator hunt

Gov. Jeff Landry brought in $7million at his 16th annual gator hunt fundraiser this weekend in his hometown of St. Martinville, according to a social media post Monday. “This is a true testament to the work of this adminCapitol istration: making Buzz Louisiana safer, STAFF improving educaREPORTS tion, bringing down our insurance rates, creating a better legal environment, and bringing more than $260 billion in new capital investment to our State,” Landry wrote in a post on X from his campaign account. Landry hosts an alligator hunt every year as a fundraiser that has drawn big names in conservative political circles, like FBI Director Kash Patel and Donald Trump Jr. Attendees and event sponsors had the option to contribute amounts ranging from $12,000 to $100,000, according to the event website. The money raised will be divided up among four different groups:

ASSOCIATEd PRESS PHOTO By JACQUELyN MARTIN

dr. Heidi Overton, deputy director of the White House domestic Policy Council, is Trump administration nominee for FdA commissioner. new leader approved, Hart’s first thought — as is true for anyone using a feeding tube — is: what happens if the next shipment of a specialized liquid nutrition formula doesn’t arrive? It’s not like she can whip up something from leftovers or go make groceries to feed her 10-year-old with an immunodeficiency. He can only ingest the specialized liquid. “We hoard the stuff, just in case,” Hart said, recalling how difficult it was to obtain baby formula during the pandemic because of supply chain disruptions. “They’ve already decimated the food inspections,” Hart said. “You need somebody with experience” to ensure supplies keep coming while the agency is reorganized. For most Americans, a photo of

any FDA commissioner is pretty much an emoji for “faceless bureaucrat.” Name one of the 27 commissioners who’ve run the FDA since 1906, when the powers of the present agency were expanded in response to consumers terrified by Upton Sinclair’s novel, “The Jungle,” about how meat was prepared for sale. For Nungesser, which bureaucrat runs the FDA is more than just curiosity. He wants Louisiana to know that the FDA commissioner is not some obscure job that has little bearing. Decisions made at that agency can affect food safety, seafood, restaurants and public health — all of which are closely tied to Louisiana’s tourism economy and the livelihoods that depend on it, he said.

Tourism, which Nungesser oversees, has become one of the state’s largest employers, creating 225,000 jobs. Tourists annually spend about $19.5 billion to experience a unique culture, hear Louisiana music and eat Louisiana seafood, he said. Also weighing in with the lieuNungesser tenant governor are the folks who make their livings from catching fish, trawling shrimp, dredging oysters, and trapping crawfish, he said. About 70% of the seafood harvested from the Gulf is landed in Louisiana, including about 80 million pounds of shrimp that accounts for about 28% of the na-

Landry for Louisiana, Landry’s campaign political action committee; Cajun PAC II, Landry’s leadership PAC; Protect Louisiana Values, a social welfare Landry nonprofit dedicated to advancing Landry’s policy agenda; and the Republican Party of Louisiana. Landry is expected to run for a second term for governor next year. No significant challengers have announced so far.

candidates. The owner of a Metairie florist’s shop, Villere chaired the Louisiana party from 2004 to 2018, a period when the GOP unseated Democrats across state government. He is now a national committee member.

“This Water Resources bill strengthens our work to cut red tape, lower costs, and expedite delivery of projects to enhance flood risk management, improve our waterways, strengthen our coastline, Scalise and support the long-term health of the Mississippi River,” House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-Jefferson, said. “Continued investment in longterm flood protection, coastal restoration, and waterway maintenance is critical to protecting the families and communities that make Louisiana an energy leader, a global port of commerce, and the sportsman’s paradise.” The approved studies include looks at flood risk management on the Comite River in Baton Rouge and along Scott’s Bluff on the Southern University campus. The Army Corps is also working on the Lower Mississippi River Comprehensive Management Study to provide recommendations for the long-term management of the Lower Mississippi River Basin.

Roger Villere named vice chair of RNC Roger Villere, the longtime Louisiana Republican Party leader, was elected earlier this month as vice chair of the Republican National Villere Committee. The RNC is the governing body of the Republican Party, establishing its platform and rules and working to fundraise and otherwise support GOP

U.S. House passes Water Resources bill Shortly before returning to their homes to campaign for the midterm elections, the U.S. House overwhelmingly advanced legislation that will help address flood controls and levee enhancements in Louisiana. All six members of Louisiana’s House delegation joined the 4159 vote late Wednesday night and sent the Water Resources Development Act of 2026 to the Senate, which already is working on its own version. The WRDA authorizes the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to get to work on 131 feasibility studies and 10 construction projects for navigation, flood control, hydropower, recreation, and emergency management for ports, waterways, levees, dams, wetlands, watersheds and coastal restoration.

tion’s catch. Overton helped draft Trump’s executive order that promotes the use of glyphosate — the active ingredient in chemicals used to kill weeds in everyday agricultural, aquaculture, and landscaping settings. University of Florida studies show concentrations of the herbicide have shown up in seafood. The chemical causes hypoxia that kills seafood and could pass along cancer to consumers. But the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency does not classify glyphosate as a carcinogen and has approved the sale of Roundup and other weedkillers without a warning label. “Louisianans deserve a serious examination of how the next commissioner intends to protect the food supply, oversee imported food and seafood, respond to outbreaks and maintain public confidence in an agency with enormous responsibilities,” Nungesser said. “Our fishermen should be able to compete on a level playing field. Our restaurants need confidence in the products they serve. And families sitting down for a meal should be able to trust that the food on their plates is safe.” Neither Hart nor Nungesser oppose Overton, though many in the Make America Healthy Again movement do because of that glyphosate order. The White House points out that Overton’s job was to present Trump with the instruments he wants — not reflections of her own thoughts. Trump posted on Truth Social that Overton was a “ROCKSTAR” known for taking on the hardest issues. “I hope if she gets confirmed, she’ll come down to Louisiana, meet with us and the fishermen,” Nungesser said. Email Mark Ballard at mballard@theadvocate.com.

The projects include dredging at the Pilottown Anchorage near the mouth of the Mississippi River.

Student art sought for Old Governor’s Mansion The Old Governor’s Mansion is seeking art submissions from Louisiana high school and middle school students to be displayed in the historical Baton Rouge building. Submissions can be paintings, drawings, sculptures or digital works and should depict either governors who called the mansion home, the mansion’s history or its architecture. They should be no bigger than 24 inches by 24 inches. Staff will select three entries based on artistic quality and historical accuracy. The art can be submitted by mail or hand-delivered to the Old Governor’s Mansion, 502 North Blvd., Baton Rouge, LA 70802. The deadline is Oct. 19. Winners will be announced on Nov. 2. Submission forms can be obtained on the Louisiana Secretary of State’s website or by email to oldgovernorsmansion@sos.la.gov.

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HISTORY

Continued from page 1A Damico graduated from UL with a mechanical engineering degree in 1999, moving straight into a job with Boeing on the space shuttle team before being recruited to NASA. “I think what Artemis does, especially Artemis II — it gave the world something to cheer for that wasn’t political, had no negativity attached to it,” he said. “It was just people exploring, in the vein of Apollo-esque bravery. They’re going out there for no other reason than to see if we can do it and see how far we can go. It felt good to be a part of that, and it still keeps me going to this day.” With the announcement that SpaceX will build a $100 billion rocket launch site near Pecan Island in Vermilion Parish, space is feeling a bit closer to south Louisiana these days. Once Starbase Louisiana starts launching rockets (possibly by 2030), “rocket watchers”

STAFF PHOTO By LESLIE WESTBROOK

Stephen damico, a University of Louisiana at Lafayette engineering alumnus and veteran NASA engineer, speaks to students and faculty on Monday about his career and his work at NASA on the Artemis program. are expected to descend on the area to view the launches — people who are fascinated by space, technology and the excitement of watching scientific feats take place. Long before SpaceX came to town, the region produced a number of people who went on to become influential for their work in

space exploration — such as Jay Honeycutt, who graduated from UL (then the University of Southwestern Louisiana) in 1960. With a degree in electrical and computer engineering, he went on to work for NASA on the Apollo program, and eventually became the director of the John F. Kennedy Space Center

ATHLETICS

that grew out of the court decisions and lawsuit settlements since 2021. Schools could share up to 22% of certain revenue with players under another provision. Revenue-sharing was established in the settlement of one of the player lawsuits against the NCAA and amounts to about $21.6 million per school this year. In addition, schools could

Continued from page 1A access to health insurance, and gives players five years of eligibility to participate. Sen. Maria Cantwell, DWash., said several universities face financial problems after five years of increased costs prompted by the court decisions. “The statistics show that the majority of college athletics departments right now can’t make ends meet,” Cantwell said during a floor speech Thursday. The legislation she cosponsored with Cruz “is a bipartisan effort to try to bring some reason to the craziness that has basically been plaguing the most important aspects of college sports,” Cantwell said. The office of House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Benton, says he would review the legislation closely if it passes the Senate, which could happen as early as this week. Without committing, Johnson says he probably would have to rally support enough to get the instrument passed in the lower chamber, which would clear the way to President Donald Trump’s desk. Trump supports the measure. But the House is gone until after the Nov. 3 midterm elections. A lame-duck Congress, possibly with a new majority incoming, would have to address the legislation in the remaining few weeks of their terms. If the bill doesn’t pass, then solons will have start over again — as they have several times in the years Congress has tried but failed to enact some sort of college sports oversight.

What the bill does If passed, federal law would include more than a dozen provisions, including language underscoring that student-athletes deserve NIL money as well as revenue sharing. The legislation also would exempt college athletics from some of the restrictions imposed by antitrust laws — similar to what some professional sports have. That would slow players from organizing collect bargaining rights and basically stop players from being able to file lawsuits to settle most grievances. That has led to some criticism. “Although the bill includes provisions that may appeal to sports fans, it remains fundamentally flawed in its

and president of Lockheed Martin Space Operations Company. In fact, the school has produced several notable alums who have gone on to work in NASA and the commercial space industry. Names include Alex McCool, Bernard Marcantel and William Simon, who all worked on Apollo and had long careers at NASA. Simon later returned to Lafayette to head the mechanical engineering department at UL, where he stayed until retiring in 2021. “In the late ‘50s and early ‘60s, USL was very active in the genesis of computer science as a discipline,” said Geoffrey Stewart, interim vice president for advancement and strategy at UL. “This was the first graduate program in computer science. We have a sixdecade history of research, education and workforce development that has contributed to the space race and has prepared us for this moment with SpaceX.” “We think there’s going to be a wonderful opportunity for future graduates, and we also believe that there’s a lot of opportunity for pre-

vious graduates to come back home and contribute in the field,” he said. In addition to Damico, other UL alums were involved in the Artemis II mission, including Megan Borel, who graduated in 2018 with a master’s in geology and worked on the Lunar Science Team for Artemis II, and Robert Southers Jr., a 2012 grad in chemical engineering, who now works in NASA’s Safety and Mission Assurance Directorate. “The sole mission was to prove we can sustain life, and I’m happy to report that we did a fabulous job. It was wonderful energy in the Mission Control room. Every single picture of the moon, you’re hearing cheering down the hall. The excitement was so thick you could almost feed off of it,” said Damico about the experience of seeing Artemis II launch with his colleagues at NASA. “You know, some craters are darker than other craters, and some sunlight hit this crater straight away and threw a different color on the edge, and I was like, ‘Oh, that’s awesome science.’ It was like, ‘Yes, you’re doing it!’ ”

add another $27 million each year to a pool dedicated to keeping current players. The athletic conferences could, under the bill, exercise the option of pooling media money, which is forbidden under existing law. The legislation also provides rules for how NIL contracts are entered and enforced as well as funding for broadband at historically

Black colleges and universities. Conferences would be forbidden from expanding beyond 19 teams and limiting efforts to create a super league of only the top teams. And then there’s the “Lane Kiffin Rule” that would forbid coaches from taking a new coaching job with another college during the season.

ASSOCIATEd PRESS PHOTO By MARIAM ZUHAIB

U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, d-Washington, left, speaks as Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, listens during a news conference on their college sports bill in Washington on Monday. purported mission to protect collegiate athletes,” said Rep. Troy A. Carter Sr., DNew Orleans. “The Protect College Sports Act fails to meaningfully protect athletes’ rights, while providing legal shields for the NCAA and major conferences. It also lacks provisions that would give student-athletes real control, input and a voice over the terms of their own participation.” The bill would allow one transfer. But after that, athletes would have sit out a season if they transferred again. LSU basketball player Jada Williams said during a teleconference she was grateful for the ability players now have to move from one institution to another, as she did transferring from Arizona to Iowa State to LSU. “College athletes deserve respect, healthy environments and accountability from administrators and coaches. No athlete should have to navigate a toxic situation or feel unheard,” said Williams, who is also first interim vice president with United College Athletes Association, which is organizing a labor union for college athletes. “Every other major sports league has contracts, unions and professional protections in place. College athletes deserve those same protections, support and infrastructure.” Cruz, however, sees the transfer portal, which allows student athletes to switch schools, as one of the problems. “It’s terrible for the game, it’s terrible for the players, it’s terrible for the schools and it’s terrible for the fans,” he said. The NAACP on social media likened the bill to sharecropping, where the people doing the work don’t get to fully participate in profits. NAACP President Derrick Johnson said during a press call that all the Wild West allusions are to support the argument that Congress should

clean up the mess. But the federal framework being proposed doesn’t allow for collective bargaining, while protecting colleges’ ability to continue making money off student-athletes. “There’s no instability in the game,” Johnson said. “It’s just greed by the conferences.” Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., gives his playing days at Stanford University during the late 1980s and early 1990s credit for starting him on the road that led through Yale Law School to mayor of Newark and to U.S. senator, elected in 2013. He pointed out that the athletes won the rights in court to get paid and transfer schools. Removing college sports from antitrust obligations hinders a player’s ability to file a lawsuit, Booker said. “It is a bill that really, unfortunately, as one of the handful of college football players in this place, does not cure what are some of the biggest things that are really threatening college players,” Booker told reporters.

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A whirlwind of lobbying Inside Higher Ed, a Washington-based online trade publication, reported that 59 universities have lobbied Congress. The legislation now has the support of the NCAA governing body as well as all four power conferences, including the SEC and Big Ten, plus coaches and university officials. Former LSU coach Nick Saban, who also coached football at Alabama, appeared in commercials endorsing the bill. So has Deion Sanders, who coaches the University of Colorado football team. Likewise, several college athletes appeared other ads touting the legislation. The Protect College Sports Act of 2026 also would preempt all those state laws

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EDUCATION A childhood rite moves indoors to school gyms Kindergartners learn to ride bikes at school

learn the skill, it’s easier to pick it up later, with practice. The process can also teach children how to handle frustration as they wobble or fall. Hopefully, bike riding will someday be “just like basketball or dodgeball or whatever other sport there is,” becoming such a basic skill that it is simply part of PE, said Lisa Weyer, executive director of the Strider Education Foundation, which operates All Kids Bike.

BY CHEYANNE MUMPHREY Associated Press

For generations, kids have learned how to ride a bike — a quintessential childhood milestone — in driveways, on sidewalks and in neighborhood streets. Now, they’re learning in school gyms and playgrounds. On a recent September day, kindergarteners at Terra Vista Elementary School in Rancho Cucamonga, California, were fitted with helmets and assigned a black-and-white balance bike. Off they went, propelling themselves with their legs and practicing gliding on the pedal-free bikes. The kids started and stopped on a circular path outlined by orange traffic cones, with adults watching and directing nearby. For every nervous face, there was another with a smile. For every squeal, there was a laugh. All Kids Bike, a program within a nonprofit organization, has brought a learn-to-ride curriculum into nearly 2,000 U.S. elementary schools. They’ve made bike-riding part of physical education for children who might otherwise have to wait for an adult or older sibling to teach them — or whose neighborhood and socioeconomic status might stop them from getting the chance. When schools apply for the program, All Kids Bike can pair them with donors that fund the costs. In Rancho Cucamonga, the city provided $45,000 to gift the equipment and the curriculum to Terra Vista and four other schools. The eight-lesson curriculum gradually moves children from simply walking with and getting comfortable on a properly fitted bike to balancing with both feet off the ground. Then, adults add pedals and the students progress to full-fledged cycling.

Access to lifelong skills Some schools also pair the curriculum with other programs to teach road and pedestrian safety and expand access for children with disabilities. For example, Seattle Public Schools also participates in Let’s Go, which serves third, fourth and fifth grades, and includes adaptations for students with additional mobility and cognitive needs. Students in the district also learn how to cross streets, make eye contact with drivers and recognize unsafe ASSOCIATEd PRESS PHOTOS By JAE C. HONG behavior. “Traffic gardens” on school playStudents participate in a learn-to-ride program at Terra Vista Elementary School in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. grounds give students a chance to practice navigating intersections, Teaching kids confidence stop signs, roads and parking arThe activity is perfect for kineas, giving them skills they can use as pedestrians, cyclists and evendergarten physical education classes, says Drew Raney, a P.E. tually drivers. teacher in Wasco, California. For The program can also give chilschools’ youngest students, gym dren a sense of freedom and indeclass focuses on exploring movependence, Weyer said, while getment, learning to share space and ting them away from screens and equipment, following directions into active play. and having fun. The learning can “We want them to be able to have happen with rainbow parachutes, that sense of freedom and indepenscooter boards, Hippity Hops — dence,” Weyer said. “That’s a life and now, bicycles. skill. It’s like swimming.” For Raney, who teaches the All The lessons can stick with stuKids Bike program at his school, dents long after the bikes are put some of his favorite moments away, Raney said. come when students begin lifting “I have now third graders that their feet and riding in stop-and-go are running up and they still respurts. member three years ago, ‘That’s “Once you see students start to Teachers help students put on their helmets. our bike teacher!’ ” he said. Some kind of glide around, that’s when students still remember the chants you can start to see that confidence In Seattle, district physical edu- balance, core stability, sequenc- from the end of the lessons. shoot up because they’re taking cation manager Lori Dunn sees ing and body awareness, she said, “On three, we’re gonna say, ‘We those first steps and they’re put- learning to ride a bike as more with each step building on the one can ride.’ What are we gonna say?” ting themselves out of their com- than simply mastering a recre- before it. She compares it to typ- he asks his students. “We can ride!” they shout. fort zone,” he said. ational skill. The process requires ing or keyboarding: Once children

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Journalists denied access to White House lll

BY JOCELYN NOVECK

Associated Press

NEW YORK — Reporters from three major news organizations — CNN, MS NOW and Politico — were denied access to the White House on Saturday, a day after President Donald Trump said he was barring them because of reporting he found to be “fake news.” The actions were a clear escalation of Trump’s long-running efforts — in the courts and through administrative action — to restrict news coverage by journalists he finds objectionable, and the latest test of First Amendment protections in the United States. Trump had said Friday he would ban all three outlets because of coverage he disliked. White House reporters from the

two cable networks — Betsy Klein of CNN and Akayla Gardner of MS NOW — both went live to report they’d been turned away, their press badges deactivated, when arriving for their jobs at the White House. Soon after, Politico said its White House reporter Cheyenne Haslett was also denied entry and had her badge confiscated. All three news outlets hinted at legal action. In his second term, Trump and his administration have upped the ante and punished certain media outlets, both in the courtroom and through regulatory action. Trump has also lashed out at individual reporters in person or over social media, sometimes in strikingly personal terms. The WHCA’s president, Jacqui Heinrich, called on the adminis-

tration to immediately restore the three outlets’ access. “The implications extend beyond these organizations: a standard used to exclude one news outlet because of its coverage could be applied to any outlet in the future,” Heinrich said.

Correspondents are turned away Network correspondents are usually present on the weekends when the president is in Washington or at nearby Camp David. Trump is at the presidential retreat in Maryland this weekend. MS NOW’s Gardner reported that she had walked through two gates successfully, but once she got to where her badge needed to be scanned, an officer told her it was disabled and asked her to hand it over. He said the decision “was above him,” she reported. An

MS NOW producer was able to get in, but a photographer’s badge was also disabled, Gardner said. Klein, senior White House reporter at CNN, also said her badge had been deactivated. It was confiscated, and she was handed back the clear plastic case. She said she was referred to the White House press office for further information. Amy Kristin Sanders, a professor at Penn State University and an expert in media law, said it has “become pretty clear that this administration is not interested in playing by traditional First Amendment rules and norms.” “The second Trump administration’s efforts to crack down on press freedom and delegitimize independent journalism far exceed those of any other modern American president,” Sanders said.

Trump calls outlets ‘fake news’

The president wrote on his social media site Friday that effective immediately, “I am banning” CNN, MS NOW and Politico “from the White House as a result of their constant ‘reporting’ FAKE NEWS!” Minutes later, speaking at an event in the Oval Office, Trump was asked to explain his statement. “Because they’re fake news,” he said. “You get so tired of reading and seeing fake news. When you look at CNN, it’s just fake. That’s why their ratings are no good. When you look at MS NOW …, it’s fake news.” “And when you look at Politico … the stories they wrote are fake. So there’s a lot of news and there may be others to join them, and maybe they can get better,” he said.

Saudi Arabia confirms Houthis tried to attack capital BY TOQA EZZIDIN and CARA ANNA Associated Press

CAIRO — Saudi Arabia on Saturday confirmed that Yemen’s Houthi rebels tried to attack its capital with a ballistic missile, the first targeting of Riyadh since the escalation in fighting with the Tehranbacked rebels that has opened a new front in the Iran war. The statement by the Saudi-led coalition fighting the Houthis came long after the dawn attempt, which the coalition said was intercepted. Some residents in Riyadh heard an explosion. Later, some saw a plume of smoke near the airport. There were no reports of casualties or damage. The statement also said the Houthis tried to attack civilian infrastructure in the Red Sea port city of Yanbu — where a key Saudi pipeline ends — and in Taif, Baysh and Farasan but they were thwarted, giving no further details. The Houthis earlier claimed,

respond to a request for comment. The growing conflict near another important global shipping corridor has brought new pressures for markets. Houthi military spokesperson Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree claimed they attacked with cruise and ballistic missiles as well as drones. He said Saudi Arabia had attempted to target the rebel-held city of Sanaa in neighboring Yemen, without giving details. The Associated Press couldn’t independently verify the claims. Recent days have seen one escalation after another. On Thursday, the first civilian casualty was reported as the Saudi civil defense ASSOCIATEd PRESS PHOTO By OSAMAH ABdULRAHMAN said debris from an intercepted Houthi drone killed a Yemeni resiSupporters of yemen’s Houthi rebels raise their rifles Friday during a rally dent of Saudi Arabia. in support of the group and to protest Saudi Arabia’s accusation that the And on Wednesday, Saudi Arabia Houthis targeted Islam’s holiest site of Mecca, in Sanaa, yemen. said the Houthis had tried to attack Mecca, Islam’s holiest city, with a without providing evidence, that oil giant Aramco in Yanbu, caus- drone that it said was intercepted, they had targeted “sensitive sites” ing “massive fires.” Aramco, the calling the security of the birthin Riyadh and facilities of Saudi world’s largest oil company, did not place of the Prophet Muhammad

a “red line.” The Houthis fiercely denied the accusation. The United States, a close Saudi ally, has signaled it has no current fight with the Houthis. Regional officials have told The Associated Press that Saudi Arabia is running low on missile interceptors and instead has asked France, Britain, Pakistan and Egypt for air defense support. Meanwhile, fighting has surged inside Yemen between the Houthis and the Saudi-backed, internationally recognized government. The rebels raced down the country’s Red Sea coast over a week ago, seizing the key port city of Mokha and islands on the Bab el-Mandeb Strait at the southern end of the Red Sea. That has improved their surveillance of passing ships, though the Houthis have said they are only targeting Saudi ones. The fighting in Yemen also marks a return to a devastating civil war after four years of relative calm.

All 50 states joining Medicaid drug pricing model, Trump says BY FATIMA HUSSEIN Associated Press

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump announced Friday that all 50 states will join in on a program set to provide Most Favored Nation pricing to some drugs within the Medicaid program, bringing the net price of selected drugs down to prices paid in certain other countries. The Trump administration claims that Medicaid will save billions on prescription drug costs as a result of the plan, dubbed the Medicaid “GENEROUS” model. Experts say the savings are unclear since the content of the deals isn’t public. “This one thing alone should win us the midterms,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office Friday, flanked by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Mehmet Oz and others. Friday’s announcement comes as cost-of-living issues are at the forefront of voters’ concerns ahead of the midterm elections in November. In a way to

what is in these deals.” current administration’s and whether prices will rethe programs. She added that there is tenure will affect the lon- vert once the administration Trump said “every state will have the ability to use concern about whether the gevity of these price cuts leaves. those extra billions of dollars to invest in other healthcare improvements or something else.” The true cost of the claimed savings is unclear since few details of the deals struck by the Trump administration and participating pharmaceutical companies have been made public, making it hard to independently verify the projected savings. Kathy Hempstead, a senior policy adviser at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, told The Associated Press that there is significant pressure on the administration to provide more granular data to justify its cost-savings claims, and that the lack of information creates a barrier to legislative action. “He is saying Congress should codify all of his MFN arrangements,” Hempstead said. “But it’s kind of unDONATED BY LOT DONATION reasonable because it’s not clear what Congress would actually do. No one knows

address affordability concerns, Trump has cut deals with pharmaceutical companies so that the cost of some drugs in the U.S. would not be dramatically higher than in other affluent nations. But critics say his administration has not presented a viable plan for broadly addressing rising health costs, especially after Republicans let expire Affordable Care Act subsidies earlier this year that sent plan costs soaring. Last year, Trump signed an executive order instituting a “Most Favored Nations” policy, where the U.S. would commit to paying the same price for medications as the nation that pays the lowest price anywhere in the world. The White House in May estimated that Trump’s deals with pharmaceutical companies to lower some of their U.S. prescription drug prices to levels charged in other countries could save $529 billion over the next 10 years. Patients in Medicaid, the state and federally funded program for people with low incomes, already pay a nominal co-payment of a few dollars to fill their prescriptions, but lower prices could help state budgets that fund

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War in Iran is driving clean energy development It’s not enough to help planet, yet

BY JENNIFER McDERMOTT Associated Press

Countries are embracing clean power and taking steps to use less energy because of the war against Iran, but it is not yet enough to help address climate change. When the U.S. and Israel launched the war in February, some backers of renewables opined it could drive a green transition as oil and gas prices spiked. So far, more than 30 governments have enacted policies to move away from fossil fuels or improve energy efficiency. Yet at the same time, global emissions of greenhouse gases increased slightly and investments in clean energy fell compared to the same period last year. The Associated Press talked to a dozen experts who said that while the Iran war appears to be helping the adoption of clean energy, the world is still heavily dependent on fossil fuels. They said it will take more time for new policies to show results. “Governments are currently doing a dance between acknowledging the importance of clean power while continuing to support fossil fuel expansion,” war studies lecturer Pauline Heinrichs at King’s College London wrote in an email. “We are seeing an old and a new world interact in contradiction with each other.” There has been a surge in solar installations in the United Kingdom. The government is also considering expanding natural gas production. In Asia, where there’s massive demand for solar power and electric vehicles, Indonesia is replacing some diesel power plants with solar, while also doubling down on coal for heavy industries.

Workers assemble Zeekr 001 EV models at the Chinese automaker Zeekr assembly plant in Ningbo, east China’s Zhejiang Province.

ASSOCIATEd PRESS FILE PHOTOS

Workers install solar panels on a rooftop of a home in Prayagraj, India.

fell in the first half of 2026 compared to the same period last year, after several years of growth, according to Rhodium Group’s Clean Investment Monitor. China accounted for most of the global decline. In the U.S., Europe and India, where economies are more exposed to gas and oil prices, solar investment grew and wind investment held stable or grew, said Hannah Pitt, a director at Rhodium. In February, Stanford University climate scientist Rob Jackson said it was “just wishful thinking” that the new war would boost support for homegrown renewables over imported fossil fuels — unless it turned out to be a sustained conflict. Six months later, Jackson said he didn’t anticipate oil prices hurdling past $90 or $100 a barrel for so long. If dozens of countries are promoting electric vehicle incentives, charging infrastructure and electrification in general, that can help in the fight against climate change, added Jackson. But only if those actions are susStory differs by region tained. “We need that action over Global investment in wind and solar deployment years, to decades, to make

N O R T H A M ER I CA’S

a dent in the climate prob- emissions. lem,” Jackson said Monday. At the same time, many governments are cutting Climate pollution increase fuel taxes. That provides imThirty-three governments mediate relief to consumers adopted policies to switch but disincentivizes switchfrom fossil fuels to electric- ing to EVs. And, the war itity or improve energy ef- self will spike emissions. Global greenhouse gas ficiency in response to the Middle East conflict, as of emissions increased 0.2% Sept. 9, according to the In- in the first half of 2026, comternational Energy Agency. pared with the first half of This includes supporting 2025, according to Climate EV adoption, promoting re- TRACE. While emissions newable energy, replacing from road transportation gas boilers with electric increased, Climate TRACE heat pumps and retrofitting found that power sector homes and businesses to emissions declined, despite use less energy. The Nether- concern that disruptions in lands, Spain and the U.K. are oil and gas markets would doing everything on that list. push countries to use more China is working to make coal for electricity. Shipping heavy industry more energy emissions also declined, efficient and pushing to elec- likely due to the Strait of trify heavy vehicles. India Hormuz closure. and Indonesia are shifting to electric stoves to replace Higher bills imported liquefied petroThose bills would have leum gas as a cooking fuel. been even steeper, though, Laos suspended gas and die- if not for the clean power sel car imports through 2026 added since 2020. Fossil fuel importers have to boost EVs. These efforts haven’t paid prices that are $330 bilmoved the needle yet. Incen- lion higher compared to tivizing EV purchases or en- prewar market expectacouraging energy efficiency tions, making it the largest take time and scale, accord- sustained price shock since ing to researchers for the the 1990 Gulf War, accordClimate TRACE database of ing to research by the Cen-

A net gain? At this point, the signal would be small and there is a lot of other variation in the system, according to Michael Oppenheimer, a Princeton climate and international affairs professor. “One thing is clear, however. When the trouble began, lots of people said there would be a rush to other, readily-available fossil fuel

sources to replace Gulf oil and compensate for the price run-up, which would presumably bury any gain in carbon-free energy,” he wrote in an email. “Instead, at this point, it looks like events could turn out to be a net winner for renewables.” Brookings Institution scholar Samantha Gross said the war is changing how people think about transitioning away from fossil fuels — that it’s not just for the climate, it’s an energy security strategy. “That widens the appeal,” Gross said. “It brings in not just people concerned about the green side, but people concerned about hard security.” President Donald Trump is shifting the U.S. away from renewables. The war underscores the risks of his relentless focus on fossil fuels. “The Trump administration has been really focused on fossil fuels, but since they started this conflict, you have to ask the question, is this good for fossil fuels? And in short, I really think not,” Gross said. “Because the high prices and the uncertainty brought about by this war are helping to push other countries away from fossil fuels.”

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tre for Research on Energy and Clean Air. The European Union, China and India paid the most. Countries that invested in clean energy after past energy crises saved an estimated $36 billion in avoided fossil fuel imports in the first five months of the conflict, the research found. China and Japan saved the most, followed by Spain, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Brazil and India. Governments are trying to insulate themselves from geopolitical volatility and fuel price instability, said Caspian Conran, lead economist at the global consultancy firm Baringa. China knows it can rely on coal and the U.S. won’t run out of domestic natural gas, he said. Europe’s politicians feel the most urgency to adopt new energy policies because their fossil fuel production is limited, said Conran, who is based in London. “We simply don’t have a choice,” he said.

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Electric mobility brings Africa’s energy transition into the wild

Bringing the rain, or not, can lead to violence in Africa

A rainmaker from a village in the Lopit Mountains shows sacred stones used in rainmaking rituals.

ASSOCIATEd PRESS PHOTO By ALLAN OLINGO

An electric safari van operated by Emboo Camp drives through the Maasai Mara, Kenya. said. “The Mara is one of the world’s most demanding environments, and if clean technology can prove reliable, affordable and effective there, it strengthens the case for scaling it across other conservation landscapes and remote communities,” Knauf said. For ROAM, the Nairobibased electric motorcycle company behind Kijape’s bike, the Mara is an engineering test of whether an e-bike built in Kenya can handle rough tracks, long patrols and remote conditions. “Nature is worth protecting, so we think it’s important to put our motorcycles and products out there,” said ROAM CEO Filip Lovstrom. “By eliminating noise associated with petrol bikes, it creates a serene, quiet environment that is beneficial to both the animals and tourists.” Lovstrom said economics could ultimately drive wider adoption of this approach. “Instead of shipping petrol all the way from the port of Mombasa out into nature to fuel a bunch of petrol motorcycles, you’re now able to charge them using solar, right where you are contributing positively to the environment,” he said.

ROAM’s e-bike can travel about 100 miles between charges, but longer patrols will require charging stations along the route. Because the bikes can plug into a standard 10-amp socket, Lovstrom said, stations can be built around relatively small solar and battery systems. The market also extends beyond conservation. Communities near wildlife areas often rely on motorcycles for transport, especially where roads are poor and alternatives are limited. Emboo River Camp in the Maasai Mara has been using electric safari vehicles since 2019. The camp’s co-founder and co-director, Loic Amado, said the vehicles are charged exclusively with solar power. “It’s an extremely good use case for electric vehicles,” Amado said. “They’re silent, sustainable, environmentally friendly, and most importantly, economical.” What began as an experiment has grown, through his other firm EERA LAB, into a broader sustainability operation. Amado said it now supports 25 lodges across East Africa with solar power, wastewater treatment and electric-vehicle conversions.

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area facing a prolonged dry spell, men abducted a rainmaker named Albino Lobillia and buried him alive, according to witnesses. “There was no food, and animals began dying in large numbers because of the drought,” said Madelina Tito, a relative of Lobillia and a local chief. “They held meetings and decided he should be killed because, according to them, he had refused to command the rain.” A study last year in the International Journal of Environment and Climate Change found that the average annual number of rainy days in the Kapoeta region, which borders Lobillia’s home area, had fallen from 90 in the 1980s to 46 by the mid-2010s, the most recent period for which figures were available. When rain does come, it is often sudden and intense. “Communities in the most flood-prone areas have spent the last few years alternating between losing crops to floods and losing them to drought,” said Joris Gasper, a researcher for REACH Initiative, a humanitarian group active in South Sudan. Unsurprisingly, many farmers blame rainmakers for their misfortune. In Uganda, as in South Sudan, millions depend on subsistence agriculture to feed their families. Erratic weather can destroy livelihoods, putting rainmakers on the spot over their perceived inability to do their work. “It’s becoming worse and worse,” said Matthew Oromo, a government official in Lobillia’s home area, speaking of violence against rainmakers. “People are not aware of what is happening. They don’t understand this issue of climate change.” Although no Ugandan rainmakers have been killed, some have been assaulted and even reported to authorities for allegedly obtaining money under false pretenses. Nabutsilili, 45, said he was possessed by the rainmak-

ing spirit as a 14-year-old boy when his legs mysteriously developed wounds. His first task came from cabbage transporters who put him atop their truck and asked him to keep the rain away. It did not rain on them, and he went on to become his village’s most reliable rainmaker even as erratic weather patterns occasionally confounded him and those he serves. If things don’t work out, he said, that is what God wishes. “In life there are always things that fail,” he said of rainmaking. “It doesn’t stop (us) from trying again.” Rainmakers in Uganda can be consulted in their homes, or in the bars where they go to drink. Those who need their services are required to pay a fee, which can range from a token as small as $13 to an amount as high as $260, which is what Nabutsilili was paid to block the rain the day President Yoweri Museveni came to the region last year to campaign for reelection. It didn’t rain that day. The quid pro quo is said to contribute to violence targeting rainmakers when they refuse to refund the money after perceived failures. Unlike Christian priests and medicine men, who generally command respect, rainmakers are sometimes seen as malicious people who retaliate against whole communities for quarrels with their neighbors. “Sometimes when you have grown your crops, like this season, and there is no rain and you give them money to bring rain, they bring rain that destroys our crops,” said farmer Paul Boyi. Some in Namatsokha, Nabutsilili’s village, recalled a recent incident when work at a construction site was frustrated by persistent rain only at the scene. The rain reportedly stopped after several rainmakers were paid, fueling suspicions that they had caused it deliberately. Nabutsilili, who walks barefoot wherever he goes, is widely seen as spiritually strong enough to summon the rain without even going to the waterfall where others perform rituals. Many said his authority was not in doubt. Yet he was accused of failing to do his work as recently as November, detained in a neighboring village over rainfall that disrupted an important ceremony.

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NAMISINDWA, Uganda — The farmers who paid David Nabutsilili money to summon rain were angry when they received so much of it that their vegetable gardens were left flooded. They chased him up and down the hills, stopping when he fell upon a rock and broke a femur. That was his punishment. Sixteen years later, the rainmaker still feels pain in his leg. Many of those who pursued him regularly seek his spiritual help when they need rain, especially during the planting season, but also when they seek to block it. If he fails to meet their expectations, he must t e m p o r a rily flee his home for his own safety, Nabutsilili told The Associated Nabutsilili Press during an interview in his village in eastern Uganda. “People beat us because sometimes the rain is too much, or there is no rain,” he said. African rainmakers have long served as spiritual leaders in their communities, performing rituals to ask deities to bring rain. But their perceived successes can create enormous expectations among farming communities in many parts of sub-Saharan Africa. Now they are increasingly targeted for their presumed failure to perform amid the vexations of climate change. In the most extreme cases, they are killed by mobs. “We have been with these people, and indeed sometimes they have done (rituals) and we have had rain,” said Joseph Weyusya, an elder with Inzu ya Masaaba, a traditional institution of the Bagisu people of eastern Uganda. But sometimes the weather is uncooperative. “When the rains refuse, people gather around the village and then start looking for them — ‘Why are we not having rain?’” Weyusya said. “And most times they have beaten such people to almost near death.” In South Sudan, which neighbors Uganda to the north, at least two rainmakers have been killed in the past two years. In 2024, Solomon Oture was buried alive in the remote mountain village of Lohobohobo during a dry spell. In June, in a southeastern

ASSOCIATEd PRESS PHOTOS By JOSEPH FALZETTA

In June, a southeastern area of Lohobohobo, in South Sudan, faced a prolonged dry spell. According to witnesses, men abducted a rainmaker named Albino Lobillia and buried him alive.

MAASAI MARA, Kenya — Joshua Kijape eases his motorcycle through the tall grass, listening for movement in the bush. There is no engine rumble, no exhaust and little warning for anything ahead. That is exactly how the Mara-Siana ranger, attached to Entumoto Safari Camp in Kenya’s Maasai Mara game reserve, wants it. For the past year, Kijape has patrolled the Mara on an electric motorcycle, using its near-silent motor to approach wildlife and, when necessary, poachers. “With this bike, I can get closer to the animals without disturbing them,” he said. “And when you are following poachers, they cannot hear you coming.” The electric motorcycle is part of a growing effort to bring Africa’s energy transition into wildlife reserves, replacing petrolpowered transport with vehicles charged by the sun. In the Maasai Mara, conservation operators are testing whether electric mobility can reduce fuel use and maintenance costs while limiting noise in one of Africa’s most important ecosystems. The move comes during one of the Mara’s busiest periods, when the annual wildebeest migration draws huge numbers of animals, tourists and conservation teams onto the grasslands. Jason Knauf, CEO of The Earthshot Prize, said the development shows how the energy transition is reaching places far beyond conventional urban transport. “Seeing electric vehicles reach the Maasai Mara during the Great Migration is powerful proof that the energy transition extends far beyond cities,” Knauf

T

Associated Press

Associated Press

AP P

EN

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Grant to combat illegal dumping Two surveillance cameras would monitor Lafayette locations BY DEAN BOUDREAUX

Keep Louisiana Beautiful awarded the money through its Litter Enforcement Surveillance CamThe Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s era Grant Program, Sheriff Mark Office has received a $9,100 state Garber announced Tuesday. The grant to buy two cameras aimed program is funded by the Office of at catching people who illegally the Lieutenant Governor and the dump trash and litter in the parish. state. The office has not decided where “This grant award represents an the cameras will be placed but ex- active partnership with KLB that pects them to be operating by the will help us purchase cameras and other equipment to bring our litbeginning of next year. Staff writer

ter enforcement programs to the next level,” Garber said in a news release. LPSO spokesperson Chris Cormier said the office has identified multiple areas where littering is a problem but has not settled on locations for the cameras. “We have multiple areas where we have problems with littering,” Cormier said. “We are considering all options at this point, so nothing

is concrete.” Cormier pointed to past litter cases as examples of the kind of dumping the office deals with, including an arrest involving 109 large tires dumped along Lajaunie Road. The grant is LPSO’s first surveillance grant from Keep Louisiana Beautiful, Cormier said. The goal is to catch people responsible for large-scale dumping rather than

issue citations for minor incidents caught in real time. The cameras will not be monitored around the clock, Cormier said. “It allows us to go back and find out who this person was and hold them accountable,” he said. Susan Russell, KLB’s executive director, said the grant program is intended to help agencies establish litter camera programs or expand existing ones, as well as provide

ä See GRANT, page 2B

Danny Heitman AT RANdOM

Readers share thoughts on the joys of travel journals After my recent column about the pleasures of keeping a travel journal, a number of readers reached me to share stories about their own experiences in recording treasured trips for posterity. The subject had come to mind with the approach of autumn, when many of us pack away our luggage until the next vacation season. It’s a good time to reflect on where we’ve been, and the little travel journals I’ve kept have been an invaluable nudge to memory. That much was clear, I told readers, when I happened across a small notebook from my 1991 trip to Paris. Flipping through the pages was not only a trip across the ocean, but a journey through time, returning me to the young tourist I used to be. Louisiana author Mary Manhein, known to many for her work as a forensic scientist, wrote to let me know that she loves to keep travel journals, too. “One of my favorites I like to read is from my time hiking in 1990 with three friends in the mountains of Colorado,” Manhein told me. “What a glorious trip.” In rereading her journal, Manhein gets to relive the trip all over again. “It’s full of funny things ... and amazing things,” she mentioned. “When I read it, I get very nostalgic.” “Back in the early ‘90s, my wife and I made yearly trips to Europe using points from business travel miles,” reader Jon Russo told me. “For each trip, I created a travel journal including train tickets, maps, menus and even silly cartoons of certain events as I am a political cartoonist.” Then, Russo offered a confession: “I haven’t looked at these journals for years. As time has gone on, the cellphone has changed how we document trips. But before cellphones, we had to navigate our journeys via maps, Frommer’s and Baedeker’s travel books, as well as road signs. It was always an adventure. Your article has inspired me to relook at these journals to relive some of those wonderful experiences.” A few days later, Russo shared some pages of his travel journals with me. They include lyrical sketches of Tuscan wine bottles, a colorfully rendered slice of pizza to evoke his “Italian adventure” and a storybook map of coastal Britain. I was intrigued, though what Russo recorded will, inevitably, resonate with him in a much deeper way. Travel journals are meant for the writer to speak to his future self, and in this way, they become a potent time capsule for exploring past lives on the road. “I’m planning a trip to Morocco,” reader Steven Miley told me, “and I will try to do my first travel journal. I think about the

ä See HEITMAN, page 2B

PHOTOS By ROBIN MAy

GOOd COMPANy ABOVE: The Volleybeach Tailgating crew enjoys food, beverages and friends at Cajun Field before the University of Louisiana at Lafayette football game on Saturday. RIGHT: Dr. John Higginbotham, center, shows off his ‘Don’t wear purple west of the basin’ T-shirt at the Adopted Dog Brewing Tailgate before the start of the game.

Officials ask for pause Lafayette native making on latest bar request waves in music industry BY ADAM DAIGLE

Acadiana business editor Downtown officials are recommending that a request to reopen a lounge along Cypress Street be put on hold in favor of more discussion. The Downtown Development Authority made the recommendation to Lafayette Consolidated Government’s city zoning commission, which will hear the request from Quinton Borel to open a lounge at 201 Jefferson St., Suite B. The meeting is on the board’s agenda for its 5:30 p.m. Monday meeting.

Borel is requesting a conditional use permit to open Plush Syndicate in the space that last housed Bliss Cocktail Lounge, which closed after its owner, Lulu Carter, was murdered in late December. Staff with LCG’s planning commission is requesting the board approve the request with several stipulations, including maximum occupancy of 325, no one under 21 can enter, noise limits and requiring two off-duty uniformed police officers during operating hours. DDA executive director Kevin

ä See BAR, page 2B

dance to more than 1 million for Joseph Karre the year. Ironically, few fans knew Jomanages music, tour seph Karre, of operations for ye Lafayette, was

even there. Yet the shows would struggle to go on Columnist without him. Karre overThis summer, a Lafayette native’s entertainment work was sees music and seen by 65,000 people in the tour operations Karre Caesars Superdome, 118,000 at for the Ye Live Turkey’s Olympic Stadium and Concert Tour featuring Ye, for140,000 at SoFi Stadium in Los merly known as Kanye West, the Angeles. More than 142,000 peo- rap icon who has sold more than ple attended two shows just be- 160 million records. The shows fore Labor Day at Soldier Field feature him rapping through his in Chicago. ä See KARRE, page 2B Those shows pushed atten-

BY HERMAN FUSELIER

2B ● Sunday, September 20, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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Federal grant could help fix closed U.S. 90 bridges

Obituaries Chustz Jr., Joseph Alvin 'Al'

BY MARTHA SANCHEZ Staff writer

Louisiana leaders are hoping to secure millions of dollars in federal grant money this fall that could finally fund the replacement of several unsafe bridges that have been closed for more than four years on U.S. 90 near the Mississippi state line. The money, which the Federal Highway Administration could award by the end of November, would galvanize the long-delayed project and bring some relief to residents who are growing more exasperated with the closures. “I know that there is considerable frustration,” said state Rep. Stephanie Berault, R-Slidell. “This is the only time since I got involved that I’ve had any hope at resolution.” The 3-mile stretch of U.S. 90 at the Louisiana-Mississippi state line closed in May 2022 when inspectors found five 1930s-era bridges were deteriorating. The fix has stalled because Louisiana lacks the estimated $150 million to $350 million it would cost to replace them. Now, the federal government could award up to $80 million toward the project if the state’s application is approved, according to Daniel Gitlin, a spokesperson for the Louisiana Department of Transportation and De-

STAFF PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER

The closed West Pearl Bridge on Highway 90 in Slidell is one of several unsafe bridges Louisiana leaders are hoping to secure federal grant money to replace. If the state’s application is approved, the grant would help pay to replace four bridges that have been closed for more than four years. velopment. The DOTD has several project design options to choose from depending on how much federal funding it receives. The agency is also planning public hearings next month to update residents about the project, and a final design phase could begin next year. Any progress would be welcome news to many residents near the state line, where frustrations have been growing for years. Local businesses in the small town of Pearlington, Mis-

sissippi, are blaming the bridge closures for a continued loss of customers, and residents now face long commutes. Drivers around the region have also lost a popular Interstate 10 detour and a once-crucial hurricane evacuation route. Louisiana has been trying for over a year to secure federal grant money to replace the bridges, but the project faced another setback when the government shutdown last fall stalled the application process. Berault said the state finally

submitted the grant application in June. Leaders now hope Louisiana’s friendly relationship with the federal government — including Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy — could bolster their chances. If approved, the grant would help pay to replace four bridges in Louisiana. Transportation officials said the East Pearl River Bridge at the state line would be repaired under a separate project paid for by Louisiana and the Mississippi De-

partment of Transportation. Two public hearings about the project are planned in October. Berault said transportation officials at the hearings will lay out the project plans, answer questions and give residents a chance to “let the federal government know what a big priority it is.” Public hearings are scheduled from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 20 at the Pearlington Recovery Center and 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 26 at Northshore High School in Slidell.

KLB has awarded 18 grants across the state since 2025, totaling Continued from page 1B $146,098 for surveillance cameras to deter littering, training on equipment se- said Stacy Gilmore, a KLB spokesperson. lection and operation. “Illegal dumping is a “Enforcement of the litter laws is a key part to huge problem in Louisigetting a better handle on ana,” Gilmore said. “The Louisiana’s litter problem,” use of litter enforcement Russell said in the release. cameras serves as a tool

for our enforcement team as well as other enforcement officials to gather evidence for citations and prosecutions.” Grantees are required to submit monthly activity logs documenting camera placement and monitoring, including the number of pending and issued citations, Gilmore said.

The program began in 2025; KLB does not yet have data showing whether the cameras have reduced littering or illegal dumping. “KLB expects tracking for the next year to be more robust,” Gilmore said. “The first 2026-27 midyear reports are not due until Dec. 1, so those

statistics are not yet available.” When asked, KLB did not provide a specific evidence-based citation proving the effectiveness of cameras as a litter-deterrence tool.

said. The location, with the parking lot next door, has led to tailgating and nuisance activity, while the entrance along Cypress Street has led to crowding and fights. Bliss Cocktail Lounge was granted a conditional use permit before it opened. “The conditional use permit process was supposed to prevent these types of thoughtless decisions from happening,” Blanchard wrote. The number of large nightclubs downtown has overwhelmed police outPROVIdEd PHOTO side the establishments, downtown officials are recommending that a request Blanchard said. He cited a recent incident in which to reopen a lounge in the former Bliss Cocktail Lounge six men were caught on at 201 Jefferson St., Suite B be put on hold in favor of camera in a brawl that more discussion. The downtown development Authority spilled onto the sidewalk made the recommendation to Lafayette Consolidated and impacted bystanders. Government’s city zoning commission, which will hear the LPD officers broke up the crowd but did not issue request from Quinton Borel. any arrests or citations, he said. approval since the request the CUP and Borel has indiThe staff recommended meets the conditions for cated the business will have

on-site responsibility, documented event planning and post-event cleanup. He plans to close the lounge at 2 a.m. The staff did cite the one entry point and how it could lead to lines spilling into the street and problems for nearby businesses. Borel is planning a “multiuse headquarters” at the site with the first floor as the lounge, the second floor for merchandise and private events and the third floor for production and technology work, he wrote. The third floor has been unused since at least 2022, when owner Ravi Daggula bought the building. The building dates back to at least 1909, when it housed LaFrance Shoe for Women, archives show.

GRANT

BAR

Continued from page 1B Blanchard asked city officials to have more discussion on the number of bars that have opened downtown since the moratorium was lifted in 2018. “Despite the promises made to downtown when LCG removed the moratorium in 2018, downtown continues to experience episodes of dangerous, disorderly behavior after midnight,” Blanchard wrote. “Adding another 325-person nightclub downtown poses a foreseeable risk to the health, safety and welfare of our downtown businesses, residents and visitors.” Bliss had been the source of hundreds of 911 calls during the four years it was open, including two shooting incidents, Blanchard

KARRE

Continued from page 1B

PHOTO PROVIdEd By JON RUSSO

Louisiana cartoonist Jon Russo has often added lyrical illustrations to his travel journals. Above is a map of coastal Britain he sketched during one of his trips.

HEITMAN

that are now lost.” Those little things, I’ve learned, can be what we come to savor most of all.

trips that I’ve been on and how cool it would be to remember the little things

Email Danny Heitman at danny@dannyheitman. com.

Continued from page 1B

greatest hits in a complex production of lasers, lights, fog, video and fireworks. Karre, who I first wrote about in 2018, invited me and others from the Lafayette area to his suite for the Superdome show. I confess I know less than a handful of Ye’s songs. But as Karre said, if for nothing else, come for the stage show. It truly is a visually stunning, high-tech production. Ye performs on top of a huge orb in the middle of the stadium floor. Late in the show, the orb transforms into a spinning globe with digital projections of the Earth and moon. Thousands of hyper fans on the floor surround the orb and rap to every word, along with the equally hyped fans in the stands. For Karre, the monstrous stage production means days of assembly, 40 truckloads of equipment, endless meetings, 300-plus texts per day and surprises that can arrive hourly. Shows stretch from Kazakhstan to

Indonesia to Russia, so he’s often working in languages he can’t understand. Yet Karre is thriving, continuing work he started as a middle school student in Lafayette. Accordionist Chubby Carrier hired Karre to shoot a video for “Zydeco Junkie,” the title song of Carrier’s Grammy-winning album. That production connected him with music talent who had trouble recording their work. Karre launched ML1 Records, an independent label that expanded into management and marketing. His growing label and contacts led him to work with Ye on “All Of The Lights,” a 2010 single that now has 351 million views on YouTube. Their work together grew into Karre managing the current tour. Through the years, Karre’s label also acquired songs from Elton John, Rihanna, Alicia Keys, John Legend and other music stars. Groundbreaking success runs in the family for Karre. Jean Mouton, his fifth-greatgrandfather, is considered the founder of Lafayette. Alexandre Mouton, a fourthgreat-grandfather, was the

Email Dean Boudreaux at dean.boudreaux@ theadvocate.com.

Email Adam Daigle at adaigle@theadvocate. com.

11th governor of Louisiana. Joseph’s great-grandfather, Alfred Boustany, and great-uncle, Frem Boustany, founded Lafayette’s legendary Boustany’s Department Store in 1920. The Boustany brothers later purchased the Huval Baking Company, makers of the iconic Evangeline Maid Bread. As Ye continues to rack up historic numbers, a Lafayette entrepreneur is making it happen. Herman Fuselier is executive director of the St. Landry Parish Tourist Commission. A longtime journalist covering Louisiana music and culture, he lives in Opelousas. His “Zydeco Stomp” show airs at noon Saturdays on KRVS 88.7 FM.

LOTTERY

FRIDAY, SEPT. 18, 2026 PICK 3: 4-6-1 PICK 4: 7-0-8-1 PICK 5: 7-7-0-3-4 MEGA MILLIONS: 4-9-24-56-68 MEGA BALL: 1 Unofficial notification, keep your tickets.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, September 26, at 1:00 P.M. at Holy Cross Catholic Church for Joseph Alvin "Al" Chustz, Jr., 81, who passed away peacefully on September 15, 2026, surrounded by his family. Father Andrew Schumacher will be the Celebrant. Visitation will be held at Holy Cross Catholic Church on September 26, 2026, beginning at 10:00 A.M. and continuing until the time of service. A rosary will be led by Deacon Robert Klingman at 11:00 A.M. at Holy Cross Catholic Church. Inurnment will be held at a later date at Lafayette Memorial Park Cemetery. Al was a cherished husband, father, grandfather, and devoted member of his community, leaving a legacy rich in education, athletic achievement, and family devotion. Born in New Roads, Louisiana, to Joseph Alvin Chustz, Sr. and Mildred Moniotte Chustz, Al's life was marked by dedication and passion. Al was a proud alumnus of St. Joseph's Academy and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette (ULL), where he earned both a Bachelor of Arts in Education and a Master of Education in Administration and Supervision. A standout athlete, Al was a vital member of ULL's national championship weightlifting team, securing the title three times. His remarkable accomplishments were honored in 1989 with his induction into the ULL Athletic Hall of Fame. Spending 15 years as an educator, Al wore many hats, including teacher, coach, and administrator. His commitment to education extended beyond the classroom, as he dedicated 40 years to the school fundraising business, where his efforts helped countless schools thrive. Al's greatest joy was his family. He was united in marriage to the love of his life, Susan Rice Chustz. Together, they raised two sons, Chris and Travis. Al was a wonderful example of sacrificial love, caring for and providing for his wife and children despite debilitating illness. He loved hunting and fishing with his family and lifelong friends, and he was an avid football and track enthusiast. He is survived by his beloved wife of 57 years, Susan Chustz; sons Chris Chustz and his wife, Angelle, and Travis Chustz; grandchildren Gabriel Chustz and his mother, Michelle Hebert Chustz, Bella Chustz, Andrew Chustz, and step-grandson Alexander Vincent. Al is also remembered fondly by his siblings Sandra Garrett and her husband, Jimmy; Glenn Chustz and his wife, Janetta; and Rosaline Parks and her husband, Michael, along with many nieces and nephews. Al was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph Alvin Chustz, Sr. and Mildred Moniotte Chustz. Pallbearers will include Gabriel Chustz, Andrew Chustz, William Weatherford, James Garrett, Timothy Garrett, and George Weatherford. Honorary pallbearers are Alex Vincent, Dr. Andrew Parks, Rollie Andre, Joe Major, Donald Miller, and Joe Barcelona. Al's humor, strength, and dedication will be deeply missed by all who knew him. His life exemplified commitment to family, education, and community -a legacy that will continue to inspire. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Al's name to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. View the obituary and guestbook online at www.mourning.com Martin & Castille SOUTHSIDE, 600 E. Farrel Road Lafayette, Louisiana 70508 337-984-2811

The Acadiana Advocate ● theadvocate.com ● Sunday, September 20, 2026 ● 3B

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THE GULF COAST

Debate surges over Waveland’s Coleman Avenue to get new beachside restaurant what to call Mobile’s planned I-10 bridge

Owner: The Sand Bar ‘cousin’ to Blind Tiger

BY POET WOLFE

BY MARTHA SANCHEZ

More than two decades after Hurricane Katrina devastated the Mississippi Coast, signs of growth are emerging in Waveland along Coleman Avenue, including a beachside restaurant and bar expected to open in October. The Sand Bar is the latest venture of Thomas Genin, the restaurateur behind The Blind Tiger restaurants in south Mississippi, and his longtime partner Travis March, owner of TM Construction services. Surrounded by palm trees and sandpits, the two-story development will feature what Genin described as a “casual” open-air ground floor with a bar and snack kitchen, as well as an oyster bar with patio seating on the second floor. The restaurant will also include more than 30 golf cart parking spaces. Next year, Genin plans to offer towels, beach balls and sunscreen for those who want to go between the beach and restaurant. “(The Sand Bar) is The Blind Tiger’s first cousin,” he said. “It’s not the same, but it’s in the family.” The opening is part of a broader resurgence on Coleman Avenue, a once-popular strip lined with restaurants, churches and a saloon before Katrina washed over the Mississippi Coast. After the storm, rebuilding on the downtown street was slow as new development surged in nearby Bay St. Louis, with some city leaders citing concerns over elevation. But that is beginning to change. After the pandemic, Sugar Pop Co., a bakery specializing in cupcakes, opened in Waveland’s Hurricane Katrina museum called Ground Zero. Last year, with the help of Genin, Rickey’s on Coleman — a seafood restaurant beloved by locals — returned to the thoroughfare after Katrina dismantled it.

The latest debate over a massive Interstate 10 bridge that Alabama plans to build across the Mobile River centers on a name, and, so far, there are plenty of ideas. Republican U.S. Rep. Barry Moore, of Alabama, made headlines this summer when he suggested the bridge should be named after President Donald Trump. Last month, Republican Alabama state Sen. Chris Elliott told AL.com the bridge should honor the legendary Gulf Coast songwriter Jimmy Buffett. Democratic Alabama State Rep. Barbara Drummond said locals should have a say in the bridge’s naming and offered another suggested namesake: Mobile native and former Major League Baseball star Henry “Hank” Aaron. And Republican State Rep. Cindy Myrex recently told conservative news sites in Alabama that the bridge should honor Dolly Parton in the wake of the country singer’s death. The frenzy of ideas began after the state announced a $3 billion plan to build the bridge in July, after more than two decades of discussion. The connector could relieve gridlock for thousands of Louisiana drivers who use Mobile’s George Wallace Tunnel to reach Gulf Coast beaches. Construction is expected to start this fall, and the debate over what to call the bridge — with an opening date in 2031 — is likely just beginning. A spokesperson for the Alabama Department of Transportation said bridges on the state’s highway system are usually named by the State Legislature, which will return to session early next year. The ideas — particularly those with a political tilt — are receiv-

Staff writer

Staff writer

PROVIdEd PHOTOS By JACKSON RANGER/THE SUN HERALd

The Sand Bar on Coleman Avenue is expected to open in October near the beach in Waveland, Miss.

The second floor at The Sand Bar will be an oyster bar offering this view with patio seating.

Some grassy lots that sat vacant for years are filling with rentals. And nearby, a pier closed since Hurricane Zeta damaged it in 2020 is set to reopen for residents and fishermen. Waveland’s growth reflects a broader transformation along the Mississippi Coast, where population growth and new development are reshaping communities long marked by Katrina’s aftermath. Genin has been part of that rebuilding effort for years, opening what he said was the first restaurant south of U.S. 90 after the storm and partnering with March to open the first hotel in Pass Christian in a cen-

tury. This month, Genin debuted Tiger Beach, a waterfront bar and marina with water taxi service, on Henderson Point in Pass Christian. Like his other developments, Genin hopes The Sand Bar will draw a diverse clientele back to Coleman — “where mommy and daddy, the 2-year-old, the teenager, the 25-year-old or grandma and grandpa can all have fun.” “That’s what these restaurants do for these areas,” Genin said. “We appeal to the entire demographic.” Email Poet Wolfe at poet.wolfe@ theadvocate.com.

ing both cheers and eye-rolls across the state. The topic is also spreading on social media pages, opinion columns and radio shows. Dale Jackson, a conservative talk radio host in Huntsville, Alabama, suggested last month that leaders should name the bridge after longtime football coach Nick Saban. “It is an appropriate honor,” Jackson said. Jack Burrell, chairman of the Eastern Shore Metropolitan Planning Organization, called much of the naming back-and-forth “ridiculous.” But he added: “Jimmy Buffett doesn’t sound all that bad.” Still, more ideas are emerging. Some residents have mused online about calling the 215-foottall structure the “Mardi Gras Bridge” — which could extend a longstanding quarrel between Mobile and New Orleans about who lays original claim to the holiday. Others have said the bridge should be named after Joe Cain, a Mobile native credited with reviving the city’s Carnival traditions after the Civil War. It is unclear if Moore’s suggestion to name the bridge after Trump will move forward, but it would not be unprecedented. A stretch of highway in western Oklahoma is named for Trump, and Tennessee named a bridge in the eastern part of the state after Trump this summer. But Burrell, who also serves on the city council in Fairhope, Alabama, said many leaders behind the bridge effort have more pressing matters on their minds. He said the state is “trying to get people at the very highest levels of the government” to attend the project’s kickoff sometime this fall. Alabama Sens. Tommy Tuberville and Katie Britt have promised to invite Trump to a groundbreaking ceremony.

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

OUR VIEWS

High absenteeism is the urgent crisis education leaders think it is When Louisiana education leaders started to shift greater focus to fighting high rates of absenteeism in schools, we gave them credit for recognizing that the remarkable gains the state is witnessing need to be shared among the broadest student population possible. Now, after a new program to combat absenteeism launched last year, the state is seeing some gains. But the problem remains much more stubborn than perhaps first thought. Recent data show that a little under 22% of public school students were chronically absent during the 2025-26 academic year, just a 1% drop over the previous year. While that marks the second year of absenteeism dropping, still more than 1 in 5 students in Louisiana schools is chronically absent. That’s unacceptable to us, and to education officials, who have a goal to cut absenteeism by 2% each year. What’s going on is hard to pinpoint. The data show that chronic absenteeism actually declined in two-thirds of school districts in the state. But there are pockets where the rates are at alarming levels. In East Baton Rouge and Orleans, for instance, the rate of chronic absenteeism tops 30%. Chronic absenteeism is defined as including students who miss at least 10% of school days. It should be obvious that with that many missed days, students are in danger of falling behind or even dropping out, and research on graduation rates confirms that. Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley has said that truancy and absenteeism “minimized” the gains students across the state have made in recent years. But we have to give it to Brumley and his team for the truly remarkable progress in Louisiana schools since the pandemic. Absenteeism grew during COVID shutdowns across the nation and has not returned to the level it was before, raising the worrying possibility that this could become the new normal. But state education officials aren’t throwing their hands up and wondering what to do. They are doubling down on their guidance to schools, known as “The Power of Presence.” It requires schools to track absenteeism daily and intervene when they see problems. There is also a three-person team at the state level that makes contact with schools that have high absentee rates and helps them figure out strategies. Sometimes the key to getting kids to school can be surprisingly simple. Giving out free uniforms and encouraging participation in extracurriculars like band can have a tremendous effect. But the team isn’t just relying on anecdotes; it’s tracking what schools do and analyzing data on what really works. The state has also set aside $6 million for attendance specialists to work directly with struggling districts. It’s this kind of evidence-based approach that has turned around Louisiana schools in recent years. And we hope it will help keep more students in school to benefit from the change.

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Clergy must balance sanctuary, security In what now feels like a lifetime ago, I studied to become a Protestant pastor. The curriculum, as you might expect, included theology, Greek, Hebrew, Bible study and pastoral ministry courses. Not included in classes I took: threat identification, tactical takedowns and firearm safety. In Faimon the late 1990s and early Roberts 2000s, when I was in the midst of my studies, my professors thought the biggest threats to churches were the secularization of culture and perhaps postmodern thought. How quaint. As illustrated in a recent story by this newspaper’s Bob Warren, pastors — and indeed clergy of any faith — must keep security near the top of their to-do lists along with that week’s homily. When I started my studies, mass shootings felt like aberrations. Now, they are a disturbingly frequent reality. So now, in addition to preparing to answer life’s thorniest and deepest questions, clergy must also consider sightlines, panic buttons, ingress and egress and whether volunteer ushers should get trained in how to spot potential problems. “Those things don’t exactly go to-

Even so, Warren’s story is jarring. There is something troublingly incongruous about contemplating the infinite while sitting next to someone trying to decide if the newcomer in the corner is a menace or an earnest seeker. The fact that such measures are needed should be sad to anyone, religious and irreligious alike. One need not be devout to recognize that meditaSTAFF PHOTO By CHRIS GRANGER tion, prayer and community are things The Rev. Fred devall stands inside St. that should be practiced away from Martin’s Episcopal Church in Metairie as the intrusions of a tumultuous world. the church transitions from its old pews Houses of worship are meant to be sanctuaries, places where the weary, to new ones. the hurting and the marginalized can find welcome and care, not suspicion gether, right?” the Rev. Fred Devall, of and a pat-down. They should be places where a person can come and contemSt. Martin’s Episcopal Church in Metairie, told Warren. “But this is where plate purpose, eternity and truth. we are.” Clergy and church leaders can hardMany local churches have uniformed ly be blamed for wanting to protect cops on campus during services. Oththeir congregants from harm. It’s no ers include plainclothes police in their accident that the image of a shepherd is common in the Abrahamic religions: plans, Warren found. Devall is right: This is where we are. Shepherds aren’t just there to guide the sheep to green pastures. They also In fact, this is where we were, and are there to protect them from those have always been. Religious people who would do them harm. and places have been the targets of Back in the day, that protection violence for millennia. Often, the meant using a crook or a sling. Today, perpetrators of that violence believe it may mean cameras, armed guards they are acting in service to another and locked doors. religion. In an ideal world, these things don’t go together. In the world we live in, Email Faimon A. Roberts III at they do. froberts@theadvocate.com.

What’s for publication based on standards, not feelings Working in media, you have to be guments for both sides of any issue — open to criticism. After all, journalists even if I feel strongly one way or anare often the ones finding fault with oth- other. Any position based on facts and solid reasoning has a chance to win me ers, so we have to be willing to accept over. Good writing helps, too. criticism of our work as well. I Some things are obviously try to have a thick skin when it against our standards, includcomes to reader feedback. There’s no way for readers ing vulgarity or obscenity and to know the many factors that falsehoods. But with opinions, often go into decisions about sometimes the lines are not so what we publish. Just recclear. Arnessa What if certain facts are in ognize that decisions are not Garrett dispute? What if the obscenities made willy-nilly. have been uttered by public ofWhatever we accept or reject for publication must meet our stanficials? Are assumptions about a future dards. That may seem subjective, but I that may not come to pass treated the same as fact? These are the kinds of don’t see it that way. If we can’t clearly articulate reasons things that we weigh carefully. We want all the content we publish why something shouldn’t be published, to provoke thought and to possibly then I lean toward publishing. It’s not spur change. We don’t want, however, about what we like or dislike. We all to promote inaccurate views or rants have our own viewpoints, but the goal designed solely to stir up passions. It’s in Opinions is to have a wide range of a delicate balance, and one that I take voices, even if we personally hold difseriously. ferent views. Our loyal readers really appreciate It helps that I was a debater in my high school days, so I can often see ar- writing that moves them and well-

thought-out ideas. I know because I hear from you. I hear when you like a piece. I hear when you think we made a mistake in publishing something that wasn’t fully baked. I hear when you feel that we aren’t presenting a good range of views. I hear when you think we published something just to appear balanced. And believe me, I value this feedback. Sometimes we don’t get it right. Having an engaged audience who will call us out on it helps make us better. So keep sending feedback, even if it isn’t for publication. We are listening and continually trying to get it right. You might not always agree with our decisions, but know they are the result of a lot of considerations. I don’t have a count of letters for you this week, but we’ll update you next week on the topics that drew the most responses from readers. Arnessa Garrett is Deputy Editor | Opinion Page Editor. Email her at arnessa.garrett@theadvocate.com.

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COMMENTARY As antisemitism rages, La. Jewish memoirs give hope With Yom Kippur beginning at sundown today and various measurements showing antisemitism raging near all-time highs, it’s worth recognizing not one but two notable memoirs of sorts, both published in the past ten months, by Louisiana natives whose families were Jewish but who only truly embraced their faith in very recent years. The parallels and insights between the two books are fascinating. So are some lessons for Quin us all. Hillyer The background actually starts in 1990 when, upon the death of the notably Catholic Louisiana novelist Walker Percy, younger novelist and Percy protégé Nancy Lemann of New Orleans said Percy “was the first person who gave me ... some interest and pride in being Jewish,” with several more sentences along those lines. For 35 years, that testimonial both impressed and puzzled me: How did a Catholic help a Jew find pride in being Jewish? One answer came in March, with the publication of “Returning: A Search for Home Across Three Centuries,” by Lemann’s accomplished journalist brother Nicholas Lemann. As Nicholas wrote, he and Nancy grew up in a household where “we wanted to be Jews of whom Jewishness demanded very little.” He had gone “off to college never having tasted any of the suite of familiar Jewish foods: bagels, lox, kugel, matzoh, gefilte fish, latkes. ... I had never been to a bar mitzvah or a bris. We never

trum (whose names I won’t even dignify) are increasingly open in ascribing multifarious evils to Jewish influence. And no, this isn’t just about policies of the Israeli government; what we see is animus, completely unwarranted, against Jews in general. Voters should not reward the hatemongers. And in our day-to-day lives, none of us should countenance any expressions we hear of, much less actions in service of, any degree of antisemitism. A fascinating aspect of Weill’s book was that while a major impetus for him returning to his forebears’ religion was the dayafter shock of Hamas’ murderASSOCIATEd PRESS FILE PHOTO ous Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel, it turned out that he found so The Western Wall, the holiest site where Jews can pray, is in Jerusalem’s Old City. much more than rage at the horror. lit Hanukkah candles.” anchor of my faith, my secular Jews at all income levels make He discovered, he wrote, that Anglo-Saxon Protestant that I version of spirituality. It was all charitable donations, and at larg- he “wasn’t a 10/8 Jew, although am, I somehow hadn’t realized there, having all the components er amounts, than do non-Jews — the thought crossed my mind this was a thing: almost comof a faith-based existence: life, as I sat there. I was a 1360 Jew, that makes it even more bizarre death, morality, ethics, gratitude, and inexcusable that Jews for so the year my family’s progenitor, pletely and intentionally nonhelping others.” Juda Weill, was born.” many centuries have been tarpracticing Jews. Yet both Lemann and Weill, in In other words, he was atBut three months before Nichogets for exclusion, maltreatment, tremendously moving prose, expogroms and the Holocaust. las Lemann’s book was pubtracted to a culture much richer, Louisiana’s Jewish philanthromuch deeper, much more appeallished, so was “Tell Me I Belong: plain how and why they stopped A Journey Across Faiths and being what Lemann’s editor once py has been particularly abuning, than anything that could be Generations,” by my high school called him — “not a Jewy Jew” — dant, with names familiar in New defined merely by victimhood or classmate David Weill, widely and instead migrated back to (in terror. Orleans such as Judah Touro, recognized as one of the nation’s Weill’s words) “embracing Juda- Isidore Newman, and Edgar and Or, as Lemann wrote, “All the foremost organ-transplant surEdith Stern, while Lucile Jacoby Jewish practices carry with them ism, because it is mine, always was. It just took me a while to get Blum founded both the Louisiana a hope, a longing for something geons. As it happens, Weill had that only rarely is reached.” Council of Music and the Perthere.” much the same experience as Yom Kippur is a day of both And Lemann writes that “it Lemann, having German-Jewish forming Arts and the Louisiana atonement and renewal. These feels as if there is more to learn, roots (Weill’s father fled the State Arts Council. two books by distinguished Holocaust) but growing up in Up- a more profound moral code, Still, the aforementioned antimore to build a life around, in the semitism grows measurably and Louisianans are testaments to town New Orleans with almost renewal, writ large. Jewish tradition.” no Judaic practices. frighteningly worldwide (the It is that moral code, a wonder- evidence is voluminous), and Indeed, so entirely secular was he that in early adulthood, “the political figures on both sides of Email Quin Hillyer at quin. fully beneficent one — statistipractice of medicine was the hillyer@theadvocate.com cally, a far greater percentage of the American ideological spec-

Can Davis, other underdog Black candidates, deliver a surprise win? It’s hard for a Black man to become governor of a state or to become a U.S. senator. Very few Black people have served as governor in this country. None of them have been Black women. Only three of the six were elected. Louisiana played a central role in that history. Two of those men were Louisiana governors. It was the Reconstruction era. It wasn’t unusual for Black Will Sutton people to hold elected office. In 1868, Oscar Dunn was the first Black man to be elected lieutenant governor anywhere. Dunn stepped up as acting governor when the governor left the state to recover from an injury. He served in that role for 39 days. Then he died. Next up was the man whose name is better known: P.B.S. Pinchback, another Black man, who followed Dunn when the state Senate chose Pinchback, a Dunn rival, as governor after the sitting governor, whom Dunn temporarily replaced, was impeached and removed from office. Unlike Dunn, Pinchback took the oath of office and became governor. That lasted fewer than 40 days. That was more than 150 years ago. Louisiana hasn’t had a Black governor since. Showing how fickle politics can be, the Louisiana Legislature chose Pinchback to

be a U.S. senator. That election was challenged. White Democrats protested. He was denied his seat. It wasn’t until 2008 that the United States got another Black governor, after a sitting New York governor got embroiled in a sex scandal. He resigned. Lt. Gov. David Paterson finished that term, without being elected. There have been only three Black men elected governor: Virginia’s L. Douglas Wilder, 1990-1994; Massachusetts’ Deval Patrick, 2007-2015; and Maryland’s Wes Moore, since 2023, and seeking reelection this fall. Some have lined up to follow them. Several Black Democrats want to be governors: Keisha Lance Bottoms in Georgia; David Crowley in Wisconsin; Aaron Ford in Nevada; Jermaine Johnson in South Carolina. Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton wants to follow retiring Democratic U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin. In Florida, Black Republican U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds and Democrat David Jolly have been bouncing up and down in the polls. Only days ago, Jolly was leading Donalds by 3 percentage points — 47%44% — in a poll with a 2.8 percentage point margin of error and 9% of respondents undecided. Donalds would prefer a lead, of course, but that’s darn close. Three Black men are in the U.S. Senate: Democrat Cory Booker of New Jersey; Republican Tim Scott of South Carolina,

STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

Jamie davis stands alongside the davis Farms sign that pays tribute to his father in Lake St. John.

and Raphael Warnock of Georgia. In 2025, two Black women joined them: Democrat Angela Alsobrooks of Maryland and Democrat Lisa Blunt Rochester of Delaware. As I watch political trends across the country, I wasn’t sure Louisiana Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Jamie Davis could win. Still, I’m more certain he’ll be more than competitive — and that he can win. Just days ago, the Congressional Black Caucus Institute started a campaign to get rural and Black voters in Southern states to vote, and The New York Times published a story about an energized Black electorate. In Georgia, a recent Rasmussen Reports poll had Republican Rick Jackson leading

Bottoms 48%-45% with 7% undecided. The good news for Bottoms: The poll’s margin of error was 3 percentage points — and 16% of those who identified themselves as unaffiliated said they are undecided. A lead would be better for Bottoms, but that looks pretty good to me right now. According to a recent poll, the Mississippi U.S. Senate race is competitive. An average of three recent polls showed Republican incumbent Cindy Hyde-Smith leading Black Democrat Scott Colom 45.9%-39.4%, a 6.5% difference. The margin of error was 4 percentage points — and about 13% said they are undecided. Not bad in ruby-red GOP Mississippi. A lead would be better for Colom, but that looks pretty good to me right now. Davis would like to be among the Black candidates to be elected this fall. If that were to happen, he’d be the first Black person from Louisiana to be elected — and seated — as a U.S. senator. How’s it looking? A few weeks ago, Republican Julia Letlow was leading Davis 41%-37%. Darn close in our ruby-red voting state. But there’s more. About 22% said they were undecided. A lead would be better for Davis, but that looks pretty good to me right now. Email Will Sutton at wsutton@ theadvocate.com.

Mother’s milk of politics has gone sour

but with a condition. Republicans “Money is the mother’s milk of must maintain their majorities politics,” said Jesse M. Unruh, in the House and Senate in order who in the ’60s was a powerful to get their “milk.” This is just a Democratic politician and speakshameless effort at vote buying, er of the California State Assemthough it is not without precbly. It is a disgrace, if much is disgraceful these days, that we edent. spend so much on getting people In 1972, Democrat presidential elected to Congress, who candidate George Mcdo little or nothing to solve Govern tried something real problems once they similar, promising to give get there. every American — regardAdImpact, the leading less of age or income — an advertising intelligence annual $1,000 cash grant. and market analytics comHe lost that race to RichCal pany, estimates more than Thomas ard Nixon. $3.4 billion will be spent In 1936, Congress overon this year’s midterms rode President Franklin across all races. In Texas alone, Roosevelt’s veto and disbursed an estimated $446 million will be $2 billion, amounting to $580 spent by November. per veteran of WWI. Presidents President Donald Trump wants Biden and Trump sent “stimulus to spend more. He has promised checks” to households during the every American a $5,000 check, COVID-19 pandemic.

Trump’s new promise has a different twist. Yes, Democrats do the same, though they try to be less obvious. There has always been “walking around money,” especially in Democrat precincts in Chicago, to turn out the vote for Democrat candidates. Today we have “dark money” from the likes of George Soros and other progressives, as well as money coming from other countries that is laundered through American PACs and other entities. There is a federal law against vote buying. It reads: “Whoever makes or offers to make an expenditure to any person, either to vote or withhold his vote, or to vote for or against any candidate; and whoever solicits, accepts, or receives any such expenditure in consideration of his vote or the withholding of his vote — Shall

be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both; and if the violation was willful, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than two years, or both.” Don’t expect the Trump Justice Department to enforce that one, or even a DOJ under future Democratic presidents. Democrats are threatening to challenge the president’s proposed payout, but it’s difficult to see how they could do so in court before any checks have been issued and the incentive to vote is before the act. Afterward, it won’t matter, especially if Republicans hold on to or expand their congressional majorities. The president has not said where his proposed “bribes” will come from. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said the Trump

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

administration will not use tax dollars to pay them. Lutnick said there are several ways to raise the necessary cash to cover the estimated $1.2 trillion cost to pay 270 million U.S. adult citizens. The Washington Times reported, “…the money that could be generated from the Trump Platinum Card, which has not launched. The program requires immigration applicants to pay a $15,000 processing fee and an additional $5 million contribution to the U.S. government to be guaranteed citizenship.” That seems speculative. Milk can turn sour. So can the “mother’s milk” of politics. This political “bribe” ought to be distasteful and unpalatable to every American, regardless of party. Email Cal Thomas at tcaeditors@ tribpub.com.

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

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TODAY

MONDAY

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THURSDAY

FRIDAY

Partly sunny, warm and humid

A t-storm around in the p.m.

A stray afternoon thunderstorm

A t-storm around in the p.m.

Mostly sunny and warm

Partly sunny

HIGH

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95° 75°

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95° 74°

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96° 74°

Beaumont 93/75 Port Arthur 91/75

Baton Rouge 96/73

Lake Charles 94/74

New Orleans 93/76 Houma 93/72

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

0s

Hattiesburg 97/72

Alexandria 97/71

Lafayette 95/75

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92° 69°

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92° 71°

TEMPERATURE Jackson 98/73

Many 97/71

HIGH

YESTERDAY

Lafayette through 5 p.m. Saturday

Longview 99/73

-0s

94° 72°

Monroe 100/73

Shreveport 99/74

-10s

LOW

It’s looking like a mostly sunny to partly cloudy, hot and slightly more humid day today than yesterday. Temperatures this afternoon will rise to the mid-90s. With slightly higher dew points, which means higher humidity, our heat index values will rise to 103 degrees or higher. Be aware that our heat risk is back up to the moderate level for most of Southwest Louisiana and is expected to increase further tomorrow. Rain chances are up to 20%. The UVI is very high.

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

92°/69° 89°/70° 91°/69° 99° in 1933 46° in 1901

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

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PRECIPITATION

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REAdING 46 MAIN POLLUTANT Ozone

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SOURCE: LOUISIANA dEQ ANd AIRNOW.GOV

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1:02a 7:40p 1:48a 8:24p 2:31a 9:07p 3:13a 9:47p 3:53a 10:26p 4:33a 11:06p 5:15a 11:49p

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

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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

SAT. 24-HOUR STAGE CHANGE

-0.40 14.20 17.50 6.10 4.00 2.98 3.40

+0.35 +0.22 none -0.40 -0.40 -0.44 -0.23

40

16.04

+0.10

19

-1.58

+0.03

18 29 8

-1.25 9.88 2.96

-0.04 -0.08 -0.08

13 15

1.48 0.74

-0.02 -0.18

47 34 29 20 12 6

6.31 4.32 2.89 3.47 2.90 2.03

-0.12 none -0.18 +0.09 none -0.03

data as of 7 a.m. Saturday

Forecasts and graphics, except for damon’s Outlook, provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2026

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SPORTS

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

|

S u n d ay, S e p t e m b e r 20, 2026

1Cn

Rebels repel Tigers’ second-half rally

0-1 SEC) lost, as the Rebels (3-0, 1-0) exKiffin’s long-awaited return (2-1, acted revenge on the man who left them at the of the College Football Playoff. vs. Ole Miss falls short altar Kiffin was subjected to raucous boos and

LSU wide receiver Jackson Harris makes a catch while taking a hit from Ole Miss safety Edwin Joseph in the first quarter on Saturday at VaughtHemingway Stadium in Oxford, Miss.

BY JON BLAU Staff writer

OXFORD, Miss. — LSU coach Lane Kiffin’s return to Ole Miss did not fail to live up to its cinematic billing. This installment just cast Trinidad Chambliss and the No. 8 Rebels as the protagonists. Chambliss, the quarterback Kiffin snagged from Division II Ferris State before he bounced from Oxford to Baton Rouge, continued his Cinderella story in a 32-24 win Saturday in Vaught Hemingway Stadium, posting 363 yards passing and three total touchdowns. A year after his Ole Miss squad beat LSU in Oxford, which started Brian Kelly’s tumble toward the unemployment line, Kiffin switched sidelines but the result was the same. No. 7 LSU

STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

Vele proving wait is worth it

21

CAJUNS

cuss-filled chants from the moment he appeared on a video board on the “College GameDay” set in the morning. They continued to his walk from No. 7 LSU’s busses to the locker room on his way into the stadium to his stroll down the sideline pre-kickoff. There were copious degrading depictions of Kiffin lining The Grove just outside of the stadium, including a photoshopped image of him as a “Real Housewife” of the SEC in a purple dress and a dartboard with a caricature of his face with a clown nose. “You’re so Lane,” another read, “you probably think this game is about you.” In the lead-up to the game, nearly every narrative was centered on Kiffin. It was a storyline of hate, even though Kiffin appeared comfortable in his old stomping

ä See LSU, page 3C

14

BLAZERS

RECORD: 2-1 UP NEXT: AT CHARLOTTE, 5:30 P.M. SATURdAy, ESPN+

GROUND DOWN

Overlooked early in career, Saints wide receiver grabbing attention now BY LUKE JOHNSON Staff writer

For someone who has grown accustomed to waiting, Devaughn Vele did not have to spend much time wondering when he would get a chance to prove his worth. With the New Orleans Saints trailing 21-7 against the Detroit Lions and lining up for a first-and-goal snap from the 1-yard line, Vele lined up as the outside ä Saints at receiver in a heavy personRavens NOON nel package. He shook the cornerback at the snap with SUNdAy, CBS a shoulder shimmy and head fake, then looked back for the pass from quarterback Tyler Shough. The pass was not perfect, but it went where only Vele could get it. The 6-foot-5 wide receiver dove for the pass, extending fully, and secured the catch for a touchdown that made it a one-score deficit. By the time the game was over, Vele had hauled in seven of his nine targets for 69 yards and a touchdown. He will go into this week’s game against the Baltimore Ravens as a vital part of the New Orleans offensive attack, having led all offensive skill position players in snaps (91%) in the season opener. But don’t expect Vele to start believing he’s arrived. “My whole career, I’ve been the underdog,” Vele said. “Never really well-known, not one of those guys people talk about. I think it’s a situation where I’m used to it, and it allows me to keep my mind right and stay prepared when my number is called.”

ä See SAINTS, page 6C

STAFF PHOTO By BRAd KEMP

UL tight end Brock Chappell is tackled by UAB linebacker Ike Esonwune during their game Saturday at Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium. UL won 21-14.

Cajuns defense subdues potent running attack of Blazers for victory BY KEVIN FOOTE Staff writer

AP PHOTO By REy dEL RIO

Saints wide receiver devaughn Vele pulls in a pass reception against the detroit Lions in the second half on Sept. 13 in detroit.

The talk all week long was about the UL defense finding a way to halt UAB’s rushing attack. After Saturday night, it was obvious UL defensive coordinator Jim Salgado’s unit paid close attention. The Blazers were limited to 74 yards rushing on the night and that proved enough to allow the Ragin’ Cajuns to preserve a 21-14 win over UAB at Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium. All signs pointed to a relatively easy win for the Cajuns, but the UL offense was limited to 108 yards and no points in the second half To secure the win, the defense had to force two turnovers on downs in the final 12:17 to allow the 21 points to hold up. UL quarterback Lunch Winfield completed 15 of 20

passes for 110 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions. Winfield also ran it 19 times for 91 yards and two touchdowns. Steven Blanco added 55 yards on 11 carries and a score. Anthony Reagan added 48 yards on eight tries. The game started out very well for the Cajuns with the offense covering 80 yards on eight plays in 6:01 to take the lead for good. Three flags on UAB aided the cause to complement Winfield’s 11-yard run to set up Blanco’s 1-yard scoring leap. Two drives later, UL took full advantage of a short 21yard punt by the Blazers with a seven-play, 40-yard drive in 2:21 for a 14-0 cushion. Winfield’s legs controlled the possession again with a 22-yard run three plays before his own 9-yard touchdown run up the middle for a 14-0 lead nine seconds into the

ä See CAJUNS, page 3C

2C ● Sunday, September 20, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

H lll

BROADCAST HIGHLIGHTS On TV

AUTO RACING 11 a.m. NHRA: Qualifying FS1 1 p.m. NHRA Great Lakes Nationals FS1 2 p.m. SportsCar Championship NBC COLLEGE FIELD HOCKEY 11 a.m. Virginia at North Carolina ACCN 11 a.m. Wake Forest at Maryland BTN WOMEN’S COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL 1 p.m. Tennessee at Penn St. BTN 2 p.m. Louisville at Kentucky ABC 4 p.m. Texas A&M at Creighton FS1 GOLF noon Biltmore Championship GOLF 3 p.m. Korn Ferry Tour GOLF 5 p.m. PURE Insurance Championship GOLF

HORSE RACING America’s day at the Races FS2 MLB noon Philadelphia at N.y. Mets MLBN 3 p.m. N.y yankees at Arizona MLBN 6 p.m. Milwaukee at Baltimore NBCSN NFL noon New Orleans at Baltimore CBS noon Philadelphia at Tennessee FOX 3:25 p.m. Washington at dallas FOX 7:20 p.m. Indianapolis at Kansas City NBC NHL PRESEASON noon N.y. Islanders at New Jersey NHLN 4 p.m. Washington at Boston NHLN 7 p.m. Seattle at Calgary NHLN noon

IN BRIEF

FROM STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

MEN’S SOCCER 8 a.m. Genoa at Parma CBSSN 8 a.m. Sunderland at Man City NBCSN 8 a.m. Liverpool at AFC Bournemouth USA 9 a.m. Real Madrid at Atletico Madrid ESPN2 10:30 a.m. Man United at Fulham NBC 6 p.m. San Antonio at Sacramento ESPN2 WOMEN’S SOCCER 7:55 a.m. Nigeria vs. Colombia FS1 1 p.m. Houston at Boston CBSSN 4 p.m. Washington at Chicago ESPN TENNIS 1:30 p.m. Sao Paulo TENNIS WNBA 3 p.m. Washington at Indiana NBATV 6 p.m. Portland at Los Angeles USA 8 p.m. Seattle at Las Vegas CNBC

GAME OF THE WEEK

Kentucky stuns No. 9 Texas A&M BY KRISTIE RIEKEN AP sportswriter

COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Kenny Minchey threw two touchdown passes and CJ Baxter added two scoring runs as Kentucky used a huge third quarter to stun No. 9 Texas A&M 31-21 on Saturday. Led by rookie coach Will Stein in his first road game, Kentucky beat a ranked opponent for the first time since downing No. 6 Mississippi 20-17 on Sept. 28, 2024. Stein had vowed to do better after Kentucky (2-1, 1-1 Southeastern Conference) led then-No. 12 Alabama 17-13 at halftime last week before being outscored 32-0 in the second half of a 45-17 loss. The game pitted Texas A&M’s offense against Kentucky defensive coordinator Jay Bateman, who spent the last two years in the same position with the Aggies. He seemed to have Texas A&M’s number, keeping the Aggies offbalance all day and limiting Marcel Reed to 26-of-49 passing for 236 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. Minchey, a transfer from Notre Dame, found Kenny Darby wide open for a 42-yard touchdown on the first drive of the second half to break a 7-all tie. Baxter’s two touchdown runs came on the next two possessions to extend Kentucky’s lead to 28-7. The Aggies had been stopped on three straight possessions when Reed scored on a 5-yard touchdown run to cut the lead to 28-14 with about 11½ minutes remaining. The Wildcats made it 31-14 on a

ASSOCIATEd PRESS PHOTO By dAVId J. PHILLIP

Kentucky’s CJ Baxter, right, rushes for a first down as Texas A&M defensive end T.J. Searcy, left, defends during a game on Saturday in College Station, Texas. 52-yard field goal by Adam Zouagui that deflected off the upright and through with less than nine minutes remaining. Texas A&M (2-1, 0-1) was driving after that, but Jordan Castell intercepted Reed on a the 7-yard line. The Aggies cut the lead to 31-21 when Reed connected with Micah Riley for a 5-yard score with less than four minutes to go. Minchey was 14 of 18 for 252

yards and Baxter had 19 carries for 87 yards. The Aggies had punted on their previous two possessions when they went for it on fourth-and-2 from their own 33. But Reed’s pass fell incomplete to give the Wildcats great field position. They took advantage of it when Baxter scored his second touchdown on a 2-yard run near the end of a third quarter in which they

outgained A&M 196 yards to 20. The Aggies took a 7-0 lead when Carsyn Baker’s 2-yard touchdown run capped a 14-play, 79-yard drive with about five minutes left in the first half. Minchey found Henry Boyer wide open for a 3-yard touchdown pass that tied it with about two minutes until halftime. That score was set up by a 53-yard reception by DJ Miller two plays earlier.

Big plays late in game push Louisville past SMU LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Keyjuan Brown ran for a career-high 163 yards and a pair of long touchdowns to guide No. 23 Louisville to a 41-31 victory over 16th-ranked SMU on Saturday. The teams’ preseason media picks to finish second (SMU) and third (Louisville) in the Atlantic Coast Conference put on a backand-forth affair, trading the lead eight times before the Cardinals sealed it on Isaac Brown’s 27-yard touchdown with 5:32 remaining to finish the scoring. The Cardinals (2-1, 1-0 ACC) then stripped SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings of the ball just before the goal line on the Mustangs’ ensuing drive, turning what would have been a 19-yard touchdown into a touchback as the ball rolled out of the end zone with 2:43 remaining. Louisville’s Lincoln Kienholz threw for 177 yards on 14-for-23 passing. He threw for two scores and added another on the ground as Louisville amassed 442 yards of offense. Trailing 17-14 at halftime, Louisville regained the lead in the opening minute of the third quarter on Keyjuan Brown’s 58-yard run. His 53-yarder with 10:02 left put the Cardinals ahead for good, 35-31. No. 2 GEORGIA 45, ARKANSAS 17: In Fayetteville, Arkansas, Chauncey Bowens ran for three touchdowns and No. 2 Georgia held Arkansas to just 17 yards on the ground in a win Saturday. Georgia (3-0, 1-0 SEC) led 21-3 at halftime and never truly needed to pass the football. Quarterback Gunner Stockton finished the game 10-of-13 passing for 147 yards with a touchdown. He added a team-high 97 yards on the ground, including a 62-yard run on third down that set up Georgia’s

The Czech Republic beat the United States to reach the Davis Cup quarterfinals after U.S. Open finalist Ben Shelton and Learner Tien both lost their singles matches on Saturday. Jakub Mensik beat Shelton 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 to level the best-of-five series at 2-2 before Jiri Lehecka sent a roaring Prague crowd into raptures by beating Tien 6-3, 7-5 in the deciding singles. It was a second straight loss for Shelton, a day after he was beaten by Lehecka. American pair Christian Harrison and Austin Krajicek had made it 2-1 after winning their doubles match over Adam Pavlasek and Patrik Riki 5-7, 6-3, 7-6 (8). Austria made the quarterfinals after Jurji Rodionov beat Belgium’s Zizou Bergs 7-6, 6-3 to build a 3-1 advantage.

Shipley holds lead in Biltmore Championship

ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Neal Shipley held onto a one-shot lead over Ben Kohles on Saturday in the inaugural Biltmore Championship Asheville, making an eagle and a birdie on the two back-nine par 5s in his third straight bogey-free round. Shipley had a 21-under 192 total on The Cliffs at Walnut Grove. “Just going to keep doing what I’m doing,” Shipley said. “Keep being me and keep having fun out there. Keep that mindset of going out there, chasing birdies, and trying to get it as low as possible tomorrow.” The PGA Tour rookie also opened with a 65 and had a 62 on Friday in the first of eight tournaments in the FedEx Cup Fall that determine the top 100 in the FedEx Cup who keep full cards for next season.

TOP 25 ROUNDUP

The Associated Press

Czechs defeat U.S. to reach final 8 in Davis Cup

third touchdown, Bowens’ second. Arkansas passed most of the game, rarely with much success. KJ Jackson played two drives before being replaced by AJ Hill. Jackson re-entered on the final drive of the first half and led the Razorbacks (1-2, 0-1) into the Georgia red zone for the first time. NO. 6 OHIO ST. 59, KENT ST. 3: In Columbus, Ohio, Jeremiah Smith became Ohio State’s career receiving yardage leader, Ja’Kobi Jackson scored twice and the Buckeyes rolled to a victory over Kent State. Ohio State (2-1) took immediate control, scoring on its first four drives as it rebounded after last week’s 24-23 loss at No. 1 Texas where it squandered a 20-point, fourth-quarter lead. Smith had five receptions for 85 yards. The junior needed 26 yards to surpass Michael Jenkins’ 2,898 yards from 2000-03 and become OSU’s record holder and got it on his second catch of the game, when he hauled in a 23-yard pass from Julian Sayin midway through the first quarter. NO. 14 PENN ST. 45, BUFFALO 13: In State College, Pennsylvania, Rocco Becht threw for 212 yards with two touchdowns, Koby Howard scored twice and Penn State cruised past Buffalo. Becht secured his Bowl Subdivision-leading 29th win and the Nittany Lions (3-0) capped their nonconference schedule in relatively easy fashion against an outmatched Mid-American Conference opponent that was outgained 305-80 in the first half. Overall, D’Anton Lynn’s defense forced 10 punts and two turnovers and only allowed Buffalo’s Oliver Hautanen to kick a pair of field goals. The Bulls (1-2) crossed midfield just three times. NO. 19 MICHIGAN 52, UTEP 17: In Ann Arbor, Michigan, Bryce Underwood threw two touchdown passes

and Savion Hiter had two rushing scores to help No. 19 Michigan pull away and beat UTEP on Saturday. The Wolverines (3-0) were behind twice in the first half before scoring 38 straight points to turn a potential scare into a rout. The Miners (1-2) forced two turnovers in the first half and took advantage with two touchdown passes by E.J. Colston: 45 yards to Carver Cheeks and 18 yards to Lamar Sperling. Underwood’s 21-yard touchdown pass to JJ Buchanan and Trey Butkowski’s 49-yard field goal over the last 1:31 of the first half put Michigan ahead for the first time. NO. 17 UTAH 33, UTAH STATE 0: In Salt Lake City, Devon Dampier threw for 253 yards and two touchdowns, leading No. 17 Utah to a shutout victory over Utah State on Saturday. Braden Pegan had a season-high 122 yards and two touchdowns on eight catches, and Daniel Bray added 82 yards and a score on the ground, helping the Utes (3-0) pile up 480 yards against their rival. Utah averaged 6.5 yards per play. Grady Brosterhous threw for 130 yards with an interception for the Aggies (0-3), who suffered a fourth straight loss in their rivalry series with Utah. Utah State has dropped 16 of 17 to the Utes dating back to the 1998 season. NO. 4 INDIANA 38, WESTERN KENTUCKY 0: In Bloomington, Indiana, Josh Hoover threw two touchdown passes, Lee Beebe Jr. added two TD runs and No. 4 Indiana overcame a sluggish first half to blow out Western Kentucky on Saturday. Hoover was 18 of 24 for 273 yards with no turnovers as Indiana (3-0) extended the Football Bowl Subdivision’s longest active winning streak to 19 games, and the longest active home winning streak to 18. Turbo Richard rushed

15 times for 149 yards and one score, and Charlie Becker added five catches for 127 yards and another touchdown. The Hoosiers’ defense has posted back-to-back shutouts and has not been scored upon since late in the third quarter of their season opener against North Texas. NO. 18 IOWA 55, NORTHERN IOWA 0: In Iowa City, Iowa, the Hawkeyes had three running backs in Xavier Williams, Nathan McNeil and Braeden Jackson run for more than 100 yards apiece, and the No. 18 Iowa rolled to a victory over Northern Iowa on Saturday even without their top running back, Kamari Moulton. Williams had 151 yards and three touchdowns on just six carries, Jackson had 125 yards and a rushing touchdown to go with a 24-yard TD catch, and McNeill had 111 yards and two scores. It was the first time Iowa had three go over 100 yards in a game since Owen Gill, Norm Granger and Eddie Phillips did it in a 61-10 win over Minnesota in 1983. Moulton, their leading rusher, was hurt in the fourth quarter of last Saturday’s 16-13 win over Iowa State. But the Hawkeyes (3-0) still piled up 422 yards on the ground and finished with 640 yards of total offense against their Football Championship Subdivision foe. NO. 12 USC 42, RUTGERS 35: In Piscataway, New Jersey, Jayden Maiava threw for 277 yards and two touchdowns and King Miller ran for 102 yards and a TD to help No. 12 Southern California beat Rutgers on Saturday in the Big Ten opener for both teams. The Trojans (4-0) never trailed, building a 35-21 cushion with 5:52 left in the third quarter. Rutgers (0-3) closed to 35-28 in the quarter before the teams traded touchdowns in the fourth.

Pistons, Ausar Thompson agree to 5-year extension

The Detroit Pistons and Ausar Thompson have reached an agreement on a five-year, $155 million contract extension, according to a person familiar with the situation. With a little more than a week left before training camp begins, the Pistons have not re-signed restricted free agent Jalen Duren. Detroit drafted Thompson out of the Overtime Elite developmental program in 2023 with the No. 5 pick and he has developed into one of the NBA’s best defensive players. Houston selected his twin brother, Amen Thompson, with the No. 4 pick and they became the first set of twins to be selected in the top 10 in the same draft. Ausar Thompson was on the NBA All-Defensive team last season.

Orioles activate reliever Bautista from injured list

BALTIMORE — The Baltimore Orioles activated reliever Félix Bautista from the 60-day injured list Saturday, setting up the former closer to return from right shoulder surgery 14 months after his last major league game. Bautista saved 33 games and struck out 110 in 61 innings while earning an All-Star nod in 2023, but he missed the final month of that season and all of 2024 while recovering from Tommy John surgery. He had 19 saves in 35 games in 2025 before surgery to repair his torn labrum and torn rotator cuff ended his season. Bautista had a 2.35 ERA in nine minor league rehab games. The Orioles also optioned pitcher Cade Povich and outfielder Heston Kjerstad to Triple-A Norfolk.

McIlroy moves into contention at BMW Championship

VIRGINIA WATER, England — Rory McIlroy hit a 4-iron from 230 yards to inside 2 feet and holed the eagle putt to finish off a 3-under 69 on Saturday and move into contention to win the BMW PGA Championship for the second time. The No. 2-ranked McIlroy’s birdie- eagle finish on the back-to-back closing par 5s at Wentworth left him on 11-under 205 after the third round, just two strokes off the lead held by Manuel Elvira and Filippo Cello on a crowded leaderboard. There are 15 players within three shots of the lead. “I feel like I’ve given myself a real opportunity tomorrow,” said McIlroy, who won the European tour’s flagship event in 2014 — in the same summer he captured two major titles, the British Open and the PGA Championship.

The Acadiana Advocate ● theadvocate.com ● Sunday, September 20, 2026 ● 3C

lll

SCOREBOARD Holes-in-one

North

Lisa Morris

Minnesota Chicago Detroit Green Bay

Hole: No. 3 Club: 9 iron Yardage: 90 yards Witnesses: Kelly Kneipp

West

John Jackson

W 1 1 1 0

L 0 0 1 1

T Pct PF 0 1.000 39 0 1.000 59 0 .500 62 0 .000 22

PA 22 37 71 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

Hole: No. 14 Club: 7 iron Yardage: 154 yards Witnesses: Dr. Todd Cooley and Dennis Shill

San Francisco Arizona Seattle L.A. Rams

Odds

Buffalo 41, Detroit 31

Sunday’s Games

Sports Betting Line NFL Sunday

FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG at BALTIMORE 7½ 8½ (45½) New Orlns at HOUSTON 2½ 2½ (45½) Cincinnati at CHICAGO 3½ 4½ (47½) Minnesota Green Bay 6½ 3½ (44½) at NY JETS Carolina 1½ 2½ (43½)at ATLANTA at N.E. 4½ 4½ (41½) Pittsburgh at TAMPA BAY 6½ 8½ (41½) Cleveland Philadelphia 4½ 7 (39½) at TEN at DENVER 3 2½ (45½) Jax at CHARGRS 8½ 6½ (43½) Las Vegas Seattle 10 4½ (40½)at ARIZONA at DALLAS 4½ 4½ (50½)Washington at SAN FRAN 10½ 13½ (44½) Miami at K.C. 5½ 6½ (46½) Ind

Monday

FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG at LA RAMS 9½ 7 (47½) NY Giants

College Football MLB Sunday

American League FAVORITE LINE at TAMPA BAY OFF at CLEVELAND -240 Detroit -122 at TEXAS OFF Minnesota -112 National League FAVORITE LINE Philadelphia -168 at CINCINNATI OFF at ST. LOUIS -154 at LA DODGERS -420 at SAN DIEGO -138 Interleague FAVORITE LINE at PITTSBURGH OFF at HOUSTON -141 Seattle -155 N.Y Yankees -113 Milwaukee -213

L 14 14 16 16 26 30 31

Pct .659 .659 .610 .610 .366 .268 .244

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

W 31 30 28 26 16 15 15 8

L 10 11 13 16 26 27 26 33

Pct GB .756 — .732 1 .683 3 .619 5½ .381 15½ .357 16½ .366 16 .195 23

WESTERN CONFERENCE

x-clinched playoff spot Friday’s Games

GB — — 2 2 12 16 17

New York 93, Minnesota 81 Indiana 103, Toronto 85 Golden State 82, Portland 66

Saturday’s Games

Dallas 87, Phoenix 82 Chicago at Atlanta, 6 p.m. Seattle at Golden State, 8 p.m.

Sunday’s Games

Minnesota at Connecticut, noon New York at Toronto, 2 p.m. Washington at Indiana, 3 p.m. Portland at Los Angeles, 6 p.m. Seattle at Las Vegas, 8 p.m.

Buffalo N.Y. Jets New England Miami

W 2 1 0 0

L 0 0 1 1

T Pct PF 0 1.000 77 0 1.000 23 0 .000 10 0 .000 13

PA 62 10 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

W 1 1 0 0

L 0 0 1 1

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

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 Carolina New Orleans

W 0 0 0 0

L 1 1 1 1

T 0 0 0 0

PA 20 33 59 31

NATIONAL CONFERENCE

East

South

CAJUNS

z-Tampa Bay z-New York Boston Toronto Baltimore

W 93 89 84 76 75

L 60 64 70 78 79

Pct .608 .582 .545 .494 .487

GB — 4 9½ 17½ 18½

Cleveland Chicago Detroit Minnesota Kansas City

W 79 78 73 72 67

L 75 76 81 82 87

Pct .513 .506 .474 .468 .435

GB — 1 6 7 12

W L Houston 77 77 Texas 77 77 Seattle 72 82 Athletics 61 93 Los Angeles 59 95 z-clinched playoff berth

Pct .500 .500 .468 .396 .383

GB — — 5 16 18

Friday’s Games

Pittsburgh 8, Kansas City 5 Cleveland 5, Athletics 3 Boston 4, Tampa Bay 2 Milwaukee 6, Baltimore 5, 10 innings Atlanta 6, Houston 2 Detroit 11, Chicago White Sox 8 Texas 7, Toronto 1 Seattle 5, Colorado 4 Minnesota 3, L.A. Angels 0 N.Y. Yankees 9, Arizona 2

Saturday’s Games

Chicago White Sox 3, Detroit 1 Milwaukee 1, Baltimore 0 Tampa Bay 2, Boston 1 Cleveland 12, Athletics 6 Pittsburgh 6, Kansas City 5 Texas 6, Toronto 2 Atlanta 6, Houston 3 Colorado 5, Seattle 3 Arizona 5, N.Y. Yankees 3 Minnesota at L.A. Angels, n Kansas City (Wacha 9-9) at Pittsburgh (Bachar 1-4), 12:35 p.m. Athletics (Perkins 3-11) at Cleveland (Williams 13-8), 12:40 p.m. Boston (Sandoval 1-6) at Tampa Bay (Jax 7-10), 12:40 p.m. Atlanta (Pérez 9-9) at Houston (Brown 6-3), 1:10 p.m. Detroit (Melton 8-4) at Chicago White Sox (Martin 9-7), 1:10 p.m. Toronto (TBD) at Texas (deGrom 11-9), 1:35 p.m. Seattle (Anderson 1-2) at Colorado (Freeland 4-10), 2:10 p.m. Minnesota (Kremer 3-5) at L.A. Angels (Johnson 5-8), 3:07 p.m. N.Y. Yankees (Warren 10-6) at Arizona (Burnes 0-0), 3:10 p.m. Milwaukee (Misiorowski 15-5) at Baltimore (Young 9-4), 6:20 p.m.

Pct .000 .000 .000 .000

Continued from page 1C

PF 13 27 37 30

z-Atlanta Philadelphia Miami Washington New York

W 90 85 76 72 70

L 64 69 78 82 84

Pct .584 .552 .494 .468 .455

GB — 5 14 18 20

x-Milwaukee Chicago Pittsburgh St. Louis Cincinnati

W 96 85 77 75 72

L 58 69 77 79 82

Pct .623 .552 .500 .487 .468

GB — 11 19 21 24

L 60 69 74 90 98

Pct .610 .552 .519 .416 .364

GB — 9 14 30 38

Central Division

West Division

W x-Los Angeles 94 San Diego 85 Arizona 80 San Francisco 64 Colorado 56 x-clinched division z-clinched playoff berth

Friday’s Games

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

Saturday’s Games

N.Y. Mets 10, Philadelphia 3 Chicago Cubs 5, Cincinnati 2 Pittsburgh 6, Kansas City 5 Atlanta 6, Houston 3 Washington 8, St. Louis 5, 11 inningsn Arizona 5, N.Y. Yankees 3 Colorado 5, Seattle 3 Miami at San Diego, n San Francisco at L.A. Dodgers, n

The third quarter was a virtual stalemate. The Cajuns had good field position on their first two drives but failed to score. Meanwhile, UAB began to find some answers against the UL defense. The Blazers drove 74 yards on 11 plays in 5:24 only to turn it over on downs at the UL 4 thanks to a clutch tackle from linebacker Micah Johnson with 12:17 left to play. UAB forced a punt that was returned 42 yards to the UL 12. Moments later, backup quarterback Nathan Rogers got loose on an 11-yard touchdown run to cut the UL lead to 21-14 with 8:59 left to play. The Cajuns attempted to put the Blazers away, but Reagan’s hard 10-yard gain was fumbled at the UAB 33 to suddenly put the Cajuns in serious jeopardy after dominating the first half. The Cajuns were able to hold the Blazers again on downs to secure the victory.

second quarter. Two drives later, UL running back Darrell Smith left the game again with an injury. Also, UAB’s Chris Burge recovered a fumble and ran 13 yards for a touchdown to trim UL’s lead to 14-7 with 7:56 left until intermission. That big play did very little to spark the UAB offense, though. The Blazers were outgained 227-74 in the first half, including being limited to 8 rushing yards. UAB entered the game averaging 230 rushing yards. Winfield capped the first half by igniting a successful twominute drive, going 75 yards on seven plays in 1:09 for his second score of the night. A 29-yard completion to Landon Strother, who absorbed a big hit on the play, set up Winfield’s 11-yard TD run to the right corner with 44 seconds left for a 21-7 lead Email Kevin Foote at at halftime. kfoote@theadvocate.com.

W 85 85 85

L 69 69 70

Pct .582 .542 .510 .500 .494 .484

WCGB +11 +5 — 1½ 2½ 4

Pct .552 .552 .548

WCGB +½ +½ —

College football Major scores Friday’s games SOUTH

Miami 33, Wake Forest 20

SOUTHWEST

Texas Tech 28, Houston 26

FAR WEST

Oregon 84, Portland St. 0

Saturday’s games EAST

Boston College 22, Maine 16 Brown 17, New Haven 10 Bryant 21, Princeton 14 Colgate 20, Cornell 7 Columbia 40, Lafayette 34, OT Delaware 22, Coastal Carolina 14 Harvard 31, New Hampshire 7 Lehigh 24, Dartmouth 20 Mercyhurst 49, Glenville St. 20 Monmouth (NJ) 28, Albany (NY) 20 Morgan St. 41, Towson 26 Penn 20, Bucknell 7 Penn St. 55, Buffalo 13 Southern Cal 42, Rutgers 35 Stony Brook 56, Rhode Island 24 UMass 36, Stonehill 14 Villanova 20, LIU Brooklyn 16 Virginia Tech 35, Maryland 26 Yale 38, Holy Cross 28

SOUTH

Sunday’s Games

East Division

NFL Glance AMERICAN CONFERENCE

Kansas City Las Vegas L.A. Chargers Denver

East Division

National League

Pro football

West

Chicago San Diego Philadelphia

West Division

W 27 27 25 25 15 11 10

W 1 1 1 0

American League

LINE +137 OFF +124 +318 +113

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Baltimore Cincinnati Pittsburgh Cleveland

National League

UNDERDOG at N.Y METS Chicago Cubs Washington San Francisco Miami

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

North

Major League Baseball

Oklahoma St. 59, Murray St. 0 Sam Houston St. 59, Nicholls 0 TCU 31, Arkansas St. 7 Tarleton St. 45, Merrimack 20 Texas 30, UTSA 6 Texas State 49, North Texas 35 Tulsa 42, East Texas A&M 0 W. Michigan 28, Rice 21

FAR WEST

Abilene Christian 41, Idaho 39 California 49, Wagner 7 Montana St. 35, CCSU 30 N. Arizona 35, Utah Tech 23 San Diego 38, Cal Poly 35 Utah 33, Utah St. 0 Washington 48, E. Washington 16 Washington St. 48, Duquesne 7 Weber St. 49, Northwestern St. 20

Golf Biltmore Championship Asheville

W L z-New York 89 64 Boston 84 71 Chicago 79 76 Texas 77 77 Toronto 76 78 Baltimore 75 80 z-clinched playoff berth

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

Central Division

UNDERDOG LINE Kansas City OFF Atlanta +115 at COLORADO +127 at ARIZONA -109 at BALTIMORE +169

Philadelphia (Sánchez 17-6) at N.Y. Mets (Tong 2-1), 12:10 p.m. Kansas City (Wacha 9-9) at Pittsburgh (Bachar 1-4), 12:35 p.m. Chicago Cubs (Peterson 8-8) at Cincinnati (Lowder 6-11), 12:40 p.m. Atlanta (Pérez 9-9) at Houston (Brown 6-3), 1:10 p.m. Washington (Irvin 2-9) at St. Louis (Mathews 2-3), 1:15 p.m. Seattle (Anderson 1-2) at Colorado (Freeland 4-10), 2:10 p.m. Miami (Alcantara 13-10) at San Diego (Buehler 8-6), 3:10 p.m. N.Y. Yankees (Warren 10-6) at Arizona (Burnes 0-0), 3:10 p.m. San Francisco (Roupp 9-14) at L.A. Dodgers (TBD), 3:10 p.m. Milwaukee (Misiorowski 15-5) at Baltimore (Young 9-4), 6:20 p.m.

Wild Card Glance American League

Monday’s Games

LINE OFF +188 -101 OFF -109

Pro basketball

South

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.

UNDERDOG Boston Athletics at WHITE SOX Toronto at LA ANGELS

WNBA

East

Thursday’s Games

Sunday’s Games

Alabama 50, Florida St. 36 Alabama A&M 45, Bowie St. 3 Austin Peay 38, West Florida 16 Bethune-Cookman 62, Va. Lynchburg 3 Campbell 42, NC A&T 14 Charleston Southern 65, Point (Ga.) 0 Chattanooga 41, Wofford 7 Clemson 28, North Carolina 20 Davidson 27, VMI 24, OT Dayton 17, E. Kentucky 14 Delta St. 21, MVSU 6 Duke 35, Stanford 7 ETSU 35, West Georgia 27 East Carolina 20, Old Dominion 17 Elon 24, Sacred Heart 21 FAU 16, FIU 10 Florida 44, Auburn 39 Fordham 52, William & Mary 27 Gardner-Webb 44, NC Central 20 Georgia Tech 44, Mercer 11 Jackson St. 41, Tuskegee 7 Jacksonville St. 31, Georgia Southern 27 Liberty 51, Ball St. 15 Louisiana-Lafayette 21, UAB 14 Louisville 41, SMU 31 Memphis 45, UT Martin 21 Middle Tennessee 27, Nevada 20 Mississippi St. 41, South Carolina 34 Norfolk St. 42, Hampton 21 North Alabama 38, Alcorn St. 20 Richmond 24, Georgetown 21 SC State 20, Furman 17 SE Louisiana 38, Louisiana-Monroe 35 South Alabama 41, Ohio 36 South Florida 59, Delaware St. 17 Southern U. 50, Louisiana College 31 Tennessee 42, Kennesaw St. 9 Tennessee St. 29, Florida A&M 26 UCF 44, Georgia St. 30 UConn 48, Southern Miss. 20 UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros 27, McNeese St. 10 Vanderbilt 35, NC State 31 W. Carolina 58, Presbyterian 14 West Virginia 38, Virginia 27

MIDWEST

Arizona St. 24, Kansas 17 Butler 47, Chicago State 20 Cent. Michigan 24, Wyoming 10 Cincinnati 35, Miami (Ohio) 31 Illinois 48, S. Illinois 10 Illinois St. 49, E. Illinois 13 Indiana 38, W. Kentucky 0 Indiana St. 39, Valparaiso 16 Iowa 55, N. Iowa 0 Iowa St. 55, Bowling Green 7 Kansas St. 31, Tulane 20 Marshall 30, Missouri St. 24 Michigan 52, UTEP 17 Minnesota 41, Akron 7 Missouri 27, Troy 17 Nebraska 34, North Dakota 7 Northwestern 41, Colorado 7 Notre Dame 27, Michigan St. 10 Ohio St. 59, Kent St. 3 S. Dakota St. 27, Youngstown St. 20 SE Missouri 27, Cent. Arkansas 9 St. Thomas (Minn.) 28, S. Utah 26 Toledo 49, Temple 48, OT W. Illinois 59, Morehead St. 2 Wisconsin 54, E. Michigan 10

SOUTHWEST

Ark.-Pine Bluff 41, Central St. (Ohio) 35 Baylor 36, Louisiana Tech 19 Georgia 45, Arkansas 17 Incarnate Word 30, Houston Christian 23, OT Kentucky 31, Texas A&M 21 Oklahoma 14, New Mexico 6

LSU

Continued from page 1C grounds, tossing a few throws with an LSU staff member, then strolling over to the Rebels’ end to watch them warm up. He pulled one of his former receivers, Deuce Alexander, aside for a few words and a pre-game hug. Before he left the field, Kiffin tossed a football into a swarm of Ole Miss recruits gathered just behind one end zone. Once the ball was kicked, there were no passes for Kiffin to throw or tackles for him to make, just as he tried to tell Ole Miss fans as they drowned out his “GameDay” interview with boos. Chambliss, the savvy 24-year-old, made big play after big play as the Rebels built a 17-0 lead in the second quarter. He escaped the pocket and launched one throw over two LSU defensive backs for a 36-yard drop in the bucket to Traylon Ray to key one touchdown drive. He drove a ball over the middle to Ray on a thirdand-12, perfectly setting up a 21-yard catch and run to cap the next. Sam Leavitt and LSU finally answered with a 75-yard series to pull

Saturday

At The Cliffs at Walnut Cove Arden, N.C. Purse: $5 million Yardage: 7,249; Par: 71 Third Round Neal Shipley 65-62-65—192 Ben Kohles 65-63-65—193 Ricky Castillo 69-62-65—196 Eric Cole 64-68-64—196 Jacob Bridgeman 66-67-64—197 Max Greyserman 64-67-66—197 Jackson Koivun 68-67-63—198 Hao-Tong Li 70-67-61—198 Marco Penge 68-66-64—198 Seamus Power 66-67-65—198 Zecheng Dou 67-67-65—199 Mackenzie Hughes 65-70-64—199 Benjamin James 67-67-65—199 Johnny Keefer 67-70-62—199 John VanDerLaan 68-66-65—199 Chris Kirk 65-69-66—200 John Parry 68-67-65—200 Chad Ramey 67-68-65—200 Gordon Sargent 66-69-65—200 Jackson Suber 65-68-67—200 Kevin Yu 70-68-62—200 Steven Fisk 68-66-67—201 Andrew Novak 68-70-63—201 Zachary Bauchou 67-68-67—202 Trace Crowe 68-68-66—202 Tyler Duncan 68-68-66—202 Adam Hadwin 68-70-64—202 Michael Kim 70-68-64—202 Paul Peterson 67-68-67—202 Webb Simpson 71-66-65—202 Austin Smotherman 66-68-68—202 Blades Brown 70-68-65—203 Austin Eckroat 69-66-68—203 Brice Garnett 69-66-68—203 Billy Horschel 67-68-68—203 Justin Lower 72-67-64—203 Peter Malnati 65-71-67—203 Troy Merritt 69-69-65—203 Pontus Nyholm 66-67-70—203 Jeremy Paul 69-67-67—203 J.T. Poston 68-66-69—203 Adam Schenk 68-68-67—203 Ben Silverman 68-67-68—203 Zac Blair 70-68-66—204 Rico Hoey 67-67-70—204 Takumi Kanaya 73-66-65—204 Patton Kizzire 68-71-65—204 Ben Martin 67-69-68—204 Chandler Phillips 70-69-65—204 Adam Svensson 72-66-66—204 Karl Vilips 68-68-68—204 Cameron Champ 70-68-67—205 Doug Ghim 71-68-66—205 Kevin Roy 67-67-71—205 Davis Chatfield 67-72-67—206 Will Gordon 69-68-69—206 William Mouw 72-67-67—206 Hayden Springer 71-68-67—206 Chandler Blanchet 69-70-68—207 Jonathan Byrd 70-68-69—207 Cameron Davis 66-71-70—207 Harry Higgs 66-71-70—207 Stephan Jaeger 70-69-68—207 David Skinns 73-66-68—207 Nick Taylor 67-70-70—207 Vince Whaley 68-71-68—207 Dylan Wu 69-70-68—207 Corey Conners 70-69-69—208 Andrew Putnam 71-68-69—208 Isaiah Salinda 68-71-69—208 Pierceson Coody 66-72-71—209 Hank Lebioda 70-68-72—210 Tyler Watts 71-67-72—210 Michael Thompson 70-68-73—211

BMW PGA Championship

-21 -20 -17 -17 -16 -16 -15 -15 -15 -15 -14 -14 -14 -14 -14 -13 -13 -13 -13 -13 -13 -12 -12 -11 -11 -11 -11 -11 -11 -11 -11 -10 -10 -10 -10 -10 -10 -10 -10 -10 -10 -10 -10 -9 -9 -9 -9 -9 -9 -9 -9 -8 -8 -8 -7 -7 -7 -7 -6 -6 -6 -6 -6 -6 -6 -6 -6 -5 -5 -5 -4 -3 -3 -2

Saturday

At Wentworth Club Virginia Water, United Kingdom Purse: $9 million Yardage: 7,267; Par: 72 Third Round Filippo Celli, Italy 68-66-69—203 Manuel Elvira, Spain 69-66-68—203 Alejandro Del Rey, Spain 69-71-64—204 J.J. Spaun, United States 70-66-68—204 J. Veermn, United States 68-72-64—204 D. Bryant, United States 68-70-67—205 R. Mclry, Northrn Ireland 69-67-69—205 Joaquin Niemann, Chile 71-67-67—205 K. Reitan, Norway 71-70-64—205 Adam Scott, Australia 67-67-71—205 Sam Bairstow, England 72-68-66—206 Ryan Fox, New Zealand 68-68-70—206 R. MacIntyre, Scotland 68-72-66—206 Matt Wallace, England 71-66-69—206 Ludvig Åberg, Sweden 67-72-67—206 M. Fitzpatrick, England 72-68-67—207 R. Gerard, United States 67-65-75—207 Alex Noren, Sweden 71-67-69—207 Aaron Rai, England 66-69-72—207 Jordan L. Smith, England 71-67-69—207 Nacho Elvira, Spain 67-69-72—208 Viktor Hovland, Norway 68-71-69—208 Y. Katsuragawa, Japan 73-67-68—208 Guido Migliozzi, Italy 70-69-69—208 A. Otgui, UAE 70-68-70—208 M. Armitage, England 70-68-71—209 Ross Fisher, England 69-67-73—209 J. Lagergren, Sweden 66-72-71—209 E. Lopez-Chacarra, Spain 70-69-70—209 Shane Lowry, Ireland 71-69-69—209 J. Try Scapr, South Africa 70-70-69—209 Paul Waring, England 71-69-69—209 Jeff Winther, Denmark 71-68-70—209 A. Ayora Fanegas, Spain 70-68-72—210 Alex Fitzpatrick, England 72-70-68—210 R. Gouveia, Portugal 69-70-71—210 M. Helligkilde, Denmark 69-69-72—210 D. Hillier, New Zealand 71-70-69—210 R. Langasque, France 72-70-68—210

-13 -13 -12 -12 -12 -11 -11 -11 -11 -11 -10 -10 -10 -10 -10 -9 -9 -9 -9 -9 -8 -8 -8 -8 -8 -7 -7 -7 -7 -7 -7 -7 -7 -6 -6 -6 -6 -6 -6

within 17-7 late in the first half, but Chambliss punched right back with a 75-yard drive to make it 24-7 just before both teams headed to the locker room. Chambliss was 21-of-27 passing for 248 yards and two scores in the first two quarters. Leavitt, not as decisive as his counterpart, scrambled early and often. He failed to consistently identify quick reads on his way to 9-of13 passing for 51 yards in the half, and LSU’s run game was unable to offer him more manageable third downs. There was a reversal of fortunes, however, to start the second half. LSU safety Ty Benefield put a rare hit on Chambliss on a blitz, forcing an errant throw for a Ja’Keem Jackson pick in Ole Miss territory. Leavitt then sacrificed his body on a third-and-7 scramble, flipped in the air on a 13-yard run. Then he pushed across the goal line on a 4-yard touchdown run. The LSU defense stalled a Rebels’ drive for a missed 53-yard field goal attempt, and Leavitt followed by rainbowing a 26-yard strike to Winston Watkins, a former Ole Miss receiver, on third-and-13 that cut the lead to 24-21. The quarterback shockingly listed as “doubtful” for the game on LSU’s initial availability report inevitably

Niklas Lemke, Sweden 69-72-69—210 J. Luiten, Netherlands 70-71-69—210 Sepp Straka, Austria 71-67-72—210 E. Ferguson, Scotland 69-72-70—211 Tyrrell Hatton, England 70-70-71—211 C. Hoffmn, United States 73-68-70—211 M. Jordan, England 70-71-70—211 K. Kobori, New Zealand 70-72-69—211 David Law, Scotland 69-71-71—211 Adrian Meronk, Poland 72-69-70—211 N. Nrgrd Møllr, Denmark 74-67-70—211 Justin Rose, England 73-68-70—211 Freddy Schott, Germany 68-74-69—211 Andy Sullivan, England 69-70-72—211 R. Cabrera Bello, Spain 73-67-72—212 S. Crocker, United States 69-71-72—212 R. Neergrd-Ptrsn, Dnmrk 68-72-72—212 Y. Premlall, South Africa 72-69-71—212 David Puig, Spain 71-70-71—212 O.Guillamndgy, France 73-69-71—213 Adrien Saddier, France 71-70-72—213 Danny Willett, England 71-69-73—213 Joe Dean, England 69-69-76—214 Frederic Lacroix, France 69-70-75—214 Francesco Laporta, Italy 72-70-72—214 S. Norris, South Africa 71-71-72—214 A. Smalley, United States 70-71-73—214 N. Dllngshsn, Germany 68-74-72—214 Martin Couvra, France 71-69-75—215 Marcus Kinhult, Sweden 70-70-75—215 Francesco Molinari, Italy 71-69-75—215 Kota Kaneko, Japan 70-71-75—216 J. Lee, South Korea 70-72-74—216

-6 -6 -6 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -4 -4 -4 -4 -4 -3 -3 -3 -2 -2 -2 -2 -2 -2 -1 -1 -1 E E

Transactions Major League Baseball

American League BALTIMORE ORIOLES — Reinstated RHP Félix Bautista from the 60-day IL. Transferred RF Tyler O’Neill from the 10-day IL to the 60-day IL. Reinstated CF Christian Franklin from the 10-day IL. Retired 1B Trey Mancini. Optioned LHP Cade Povich and LF Heston Kjerstad to Norfolk (IL). HOUSTON ASTROS — Reinstated CF Brice Matthews from the 60-day IL. Designated CF Jorge Barrosa for assignment. Sent RHP Mike Burrows on a rehab assignment to Sugar Land (PCL). KANSAS CITY ROYALS — Placed RHP Craig Kimbrel on the bereavement list. Recalled RHP Spencer Bivens from Omaha (IL). NEW YORK YANKEES — Placed RF Aaron Judge on the 10-day IL, retroactive to Sept. 17. Recalled LF Max Schuemann from Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (IL). TEXAS RANGERS — Placed RHP Michel Otañez on the 15-day injured list retroactive to Sept. 18, 2026. Recalled LHP Adam macko from Round Rock (PCL). National League ATLANTA BRAVES — Sent RHP Robert Suarez on a rehab assignment to Gwinnett (AA-SL). CINCINNATI REDS — Activated 3B Oswaldo Cabrera. Optioned CF TJ Friedl and RHP Julian Aguiar to Louisville (IL). Recalled RHP Zach McCambley from Louisville. COLORADO ROCKIES — Reinstated LHP Jose Quintana from the 60-day IL. Optioned RHP Gabriel Hughes to Albuquerque (PCL). Designated INF Vimael Machín for assignment. MILWAUKEE BREWERS — Sent LHP Rob Zastryzny outright to Nashville (IL). NEW YORK METS — Reinstated LHP Cionel Pérez from the 15-day IL. Optioned RHP Cameron Weston to Syracuse (IL). BASKETBALL Women’s National Basketball Association TORONTO TEMPO — Signed C Kamila Borkowska and F Maria Gakdeng to player development contracts.

FOOTBALL

National Football League ATLANTA FALCONS — Elevated DL Zach Harrison from the practice squad to the active roster. BALTIMORE RAVENS — Elevated T Gerad Christian-Lichtenhan from the practice squad to the active roster. Signed LB Carl Jones from the practice squad. Placed DB T.J. Tampa on injured reserve. CAROLINA PANTHERS — Elevated S Isaiah Simmons and LB Jeremiah Moon from the practice squad to the active roster. CINCINNATI BENGALS — Elevated QB Josh Johnson and LB Joe Giles-Harris from the practice squad to the active roster. CLEVELAND BROWNS — Elevated LB Nathaniel Watson from the practice squad to the active roster. DALLAS COWBOYS — Elevated LBs Curtis Robinson and Justin Barron from the practice squad to the active roster. DENVER BRONCOS — Elevated S Mitchell Fraboni and RB Adam Prentice from the practice squad to the active roster. HOUSTON TEXANS — Elevated WR Lewis Bond and DB George Odum from the practice squad to the active roster. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS — Elevation WR Anthony Gould from the practice squad to the active roster. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS — Elevated LB Jalen McLeod and QB Nick Mullens from the practice squad to the active roster. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS — Elevated LB Cole Christiansen and DT Marcus Harris from the practice squad to the active roster. LAS VEGAS RAIDERS — Elevated TE Chris Myarick and WR Cody White from the practice squad to the active roster. LOS ANGELES CHARGERS — Elevated DB Isas Waxter from the practice squad to the active roster. MIAMI DOLPHINS — Placed ILB Ronnie Harrison Jr. on the injured reserve list. Signed LB Liam Anderson from the practice squad. Elevated EDGEs Clelin Ferrell and Max Llewellyn from the practice squad to the active roster. MINNESOTA VIKINGS — Elevated QB Nick Mullens and LB Kyle Van Noy from the practice squad to the active roster. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS — Elevated P Mitch Wishnowsky from the practice squad to the active roster. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS — Elevated WR Kevin Austin and LS Scott Daly from the practice squad to the active roster. NEW YORK JETS — Placed WR Omar Cooper Jr. on injured reserve. Elevated K Jason Sanders and LB Troy Reeder from the practice squad to the active roster. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES — Elevated DB Maximus Pulley from the practice squad to the active roster. PITTSBURGH STEELERS — Elevated RB Travis Homer and DB Doneiko Slaughter from the practice squad to the active roster. Placed WR Max Hurleman on the practice squad injured list

took a game that was severely in doubt and turned it on its head. On the next drive, he found star tight end Trey’Dez Green streaking across the field on a third-and-11 for a 23-yard gain to set up a field goal that evened the score at 24-24 with 11:21 left. LSU just couldn’t see it all the way through. Chambliss marched his team down the field and escaped contain for a 14-yard touchdown run, followed by a two-point conversion, to regain a 32-24 edge. LSU drove the field to the Ole Miss 6, but Leavitt’s fourth-down throw was tipped and picked off to seal the game with 58 seconds left. The loss has the Tigers in need of a bounce-back win heading into a Week 4 home game with Texas A&M. The Aggies just lost in College Station to Kentucky 31-21 on Saturday. It’s still early, but one of the most consequential games of the season — at least for Kiffin personally — landed in the Tigers’ loss column. LSU’s margin for error to make CFP just shrunk, so the drama of the Tigers’ season is far from dissipating. Email Jon Blau at jon.blau@ theadvocate.com

4C ● Sunday, September 20, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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PREP REWIND FIVE STARS OF THE NIGHT Syrian Joseph, Acadiana

Joseph Clues, Opelousas

Jude Duplechin, Notre Dame

Jared Quoyeser, St. Thomas More

Justin Williams, Southside

So far this season, all of Acadiana’s running backs have taken turns not being healthy. yet so far, one has carried the load. In Friday’s win, Joseph did just that with 245 yards and four touchdowns on 21 carries in a 41-27 win over Carencro.

Perhaps the best-kept secret in the Acadiana area this season has been Opelousas, and a huge part of that is Clues. On Friday, Clues exploded for 223 yards and three touchdowns on 12 carries during a 44-7 win over Northwest.

The safety essentially began and capped Notre dame’s win over Teurlings. duplechin returned an interception 76 yards for a Td in the first quarter, then ended the Rebels’ last scoring chance with a 14-yard sack. He also had six tackles, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

His overall numbers might not have been large, but the senior receiver’s influence on the Cougars’ comeback win couldn’t have been bigger. Quoyeser caught three Tds in the fourth quarter, including the final score and game-winning twopoint conversion catch.

Some numbers are just too large to ignore. The Sharks beat Union Parish for their first win of the season, thanks mostly to workhorse running back Williams, who exploded for 324 yards and four touchdowns on just 16 carries in Southside’s blowout win

GAME OF THE WEEK

Lavergne leads Pios past Teurlings Notre dame senior RB runs for two Tds

BY KEVIN FOOTE Staff writer

Notre Dame’s coaches saw something that looked different during practice this week. For the first time this season and all of last season, senior running back William Lavergne was showing a burst he hasn’t been able to display while constantly battling injuries. Fortunately for the Pioneers, it wasn’t a mirage. Lavergne parlayed that into 129 yards and two touchdowns to spearhead a dominant Pioneers rushing attack in a 41-13 road victory over Teurlings Catholic on Friday. “It felt good to finally be back on my feet and feeling good,” Lavergne said. “I haven’t felt like that in a little while. The O-line gave me the opportunities, and I was able to take them.” The victory was especially sweet for the Pios, who had lost five straight games to the Rebels. “We finally got that monkey off our back,” coach Lewis Cook said. Perhaps even better was seeing a healthy Lavergne join the rushing attack. “I saw him make a couple of cuts during the week, and you could tell it was finally starting to feel better,” Cook said. “I was happy for him to have a good night.” Lavergne’s breakthrough night ignited a 344-yard rushing performance for Notre Dame overall. Quarterback Parker Menard added 81 yards and two scores on 16 carries and Braxton Meche contributed 82 yards and a touchdown on six carries. “He’s a gutty kid now,” Cook said of Menard. “He’s going to fight for every yard he can get. When you have a guy like that and he goes in the huddle, the other guys are like, ‘Let’s go.’ He spurs on the other guys.” Truthfully, the Pioneers needed some spurring in the first half. Teurlings Catholic’s passing game was giving Notre Dame’s secondary fits. The Rebels threw for 294 yards, led by Riley Dupuis with eight receptions for 102 yards. Brewer Cain added four catches for 88 yards and a touchdown. On the other hand, Notre Dame’s defense limited Teurlings to negative-18 yards rushing. “I think Teurlings can throw the ball well,” Cook said. “They have

STAFF PHOTO By BRAd KEMP

Notre dame running back William Lavergne runs for a touchdown against Teurlings Catholic during the Pioneers’ 41-13 road win Friday. such a polished passing game. ... They can dink it and throw the screens and then hit you with slants. There’s a lot of space to cover out there, and you’re not always going to be able to get pressure on the quarterback. They do a good job of pass blocking.” In fact, the Rebels probably should have been ahead at the half instead of being tied at 13-all. The first big reason why they didn’t own a lead was Jude Duplechin returning an interception 76 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter. Duplechin added a 14-yard sack in the fourth quarter to ice the victory.

“He’s got that ability to step up,” Cook said of Duplechin. “It’s like they said, ‘Big-time players make big plays,’ and he does that. He did the same thing at Northwest when he had a strip sack at a crucial time in the game.” That failed drive was the first of five possessions reaching Pios territory for the Teurlings offense in the first half. One ended with a touchdown — a 22-yard pass to Cain — with 58 seconds left in the first quarter for a 10-6 Rebels lead. Two ended in field goals — 27 yards by Alex LeBeouf in the first quarter and a 35-yarder just before intermission. The other two resulted in missed field goals from

46 and 40 yards. “They could have separated some in the first half,” Cook said. “But when they got down there, they couldn’t finish. I think that was the difference, so I’m proud of how hard our defense played when they got down there.” As a result of those stingy efforts in the first half, Notre Dame’s rushing attack was able to breathe at halftime and then dominate the rest of the way. “Most of us were saying it was 0-0 and a new ball game — we can’t let up, pedal to the metal,” Lavergne said. “We really came together. The O-line really blocked and gave it their all, and the coach-

es really gave us a good scheme and set us up for success.” The Pios took the lead for good with a seven-play, 64-yard drive to open the third quarter on Menard’s 21-yard TD run. They got a big break with a high snap on a punt to set up an 11-yard drive before a 12play, 72-yard scoring drive earned a commanding 34-13 lead with 8:58 left to play on a Lavergne 4-yard scoring run. “I think the future looks good if everyone else on the team can stay healthy too,” Lavergne said. “I think we’ve got a pretty good shot.” Email Kevin Foote at kfoote@ theadvocate.com.

St. Thomas More shocks Catholic-BR with late rally BY CHRIS CHAPPLE Contributing writer

Trailing by 14 points with 4:08 remaining, St. Thomas More found a way to rally on the road and defeat No. 5 Catholic of Baton Rouge 4342 on Friday at Memorial Stadium. STM sophomore quarterback Grayson Hemard tossed two touchdown passes to senior wide receiver Jared Quoyeser in the final two minutes. After the second score on a 6-yard Quoyeser pass, the Cougars went for the win with a two-point conversion. Hemard again passed to Quoyeser for the winning margin. Catholic received the ensuing squib kick but was unable to move the ball on the final play of the game. Catholic (1-2) led 14-0 after one quarter and 21-14 at the half. STM drove into the red zone at the end

of the first half, but Catholic’s Justin Batiste intercepted a pass. Catholic had beaten STM (2-1) the past three seasons. STM has been coached by Jim Hightower for 40 years with five state titles. “Our kids really showed a lot of resilience,” Hightower said. “We fought and stayed in there. We knew it would be a tough game with Catholic. Fortunately we hit a couple of plays at the end of the game. This is a really big win for a young team. Our sophomore quarterback Grayson Hemard really did a nice job.” Catholic coach Hudson Fuller also took an optimistic outlook despite the loss. “STM has a great program,” Fuller said. “I’m proud of the way my team competed. I had a feeling STM would go for two points at the end with the game being on the road. Moments like this will help our team grow.” Hemard tossed a 2-yard TD pass to Quoyeser with 1:02 remaining that cut the deficit to 42-35. That

capped a 13-play, 61-yard drive. STM’s onside kick hit a Catholic player and Landyn Craft recovered at the Catholic 42. Hemard tossed a 30-yard pass to Bennett Stelly on first down. The Catholic defense forced two straight incompletions inside the 10-yard line before Hemard tossed the 6-yard TD to Quoyeser. Camden Estep completed 25 of 31 passes for 255 yards and three touchdowns for Catholic. Senior running back Jayden Miles rushed 17 times for 148 yards with a 56-yard TD with 2:07 left in the first quarter that put the Bears up 14-0. Miles also caught a 38-yard TD pass from Estep with 4:08 remaining that put the Bears STAFF FILE PHOTO By BRAd KEMP up 42-28. St. Thomas More quarterback Grayson Hemard, right, shown diving for Dyer Chambers had nine catches for 68 yards, Jordan Culotta seven the end zone against Teurlings Catholic on Sept. 4, was 20-of-36 passing catches for 64 yards and Jaden for 226 yards with four touchdowns on Friday against Catholic. Moffitt four catches for 36 yards for the Bears. Culotta also tossed Hemard was 20-of-36 passing for 108 yards that included a 53a 32-yard TD pass on a trick play for 226 yards with four TDs. Craft yard TD that cut the Catholic lead to Jude Chamberlain that put the rushed 10 times for 66 yards and to 28-21 with 2:32 left in the third Bears up 28-14. a score, and Owen Bailey 15 times quarter.

The Acadiana Advocate ● theadvocate.com ● Sunday, September 20, 2026 ● 5C

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PREP REWIND Wreckin’ Rams stave off fight from rival Carencro

FRIDAY’S SUMMARIES

Acadiana 41, Carencro 27

Team ACAD CAR First Downs 17 22 Yards Rushing 355 108 Yards Passing 0 299 Passes (C-A-HI) 2-5-0 26-40-2 Punts-avg. 1-33 0-0 Fumbles-lost 2-2 0-0 Penalties-yards 5-63 8-76 SCORING SUMMARY Acadiana 7 12 8 14 —41 Carencro 3 8 9 7 —27 ACAD — Syrian Joseph 63 run (Josh Marquez kick) CAR — Matthew Latham 30 FG ACAD — Cohen DiBetta 9 run (Kick failed) ACAD — Joseph 48 run (Run failed) CAR — Derace James 3 pass from Carson Gurzi (Malachi Menard run) CAR — James 5 pass from Gurzi (Pass failed) CAR — Latham 33 FG ACAD — Joseph 2 run (DaShun Lightfoot run) CAR — Jaylan Bernard 6 pass from Gurzi (Latham kick) ACAD —Lightfoot 45 run (kick good) ACAD — Joseph 37 run (Kick good)

BY NICK FONTENOT Contributing writer

For all the talk surrounding the Acadiana-Carencro rivalry being dead, Acadiana coach Doug Dotson said Friday’s game provided a reminder that the rivalry is far from that. The Wreckin’ Rams found themselves in a true battle during Friday’s 41-27 win against the Golden Bears. Acadiana could never quite put the Bears away, and Dotson gave credit to Carencro coach Gavin Peters and his offensive game plan. “We heard they were down; they ain’t down,” Dotson said. “That’s a good football team, and coach Peters prepared his team very well. They gave us a lot of trouble. If you thought Dotson this rivalry was dead, you can put that to bed.” Acadiana’s offense continued to show the depth in its running game, and the biggest boost came from Sy Joseph, who returned to the lineup and immediately had an effect. Joseph scored four touchdowns and ran for 245 yards, absorbing the heavy lifting as DaShun Lightfoot was hampered by an injury. Despite the injury, Lightfoot still had a highlight-reel run for a 45-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter on his way to 107 yards on the night. Dotson said being able to rely on multiple running backs is a luxury only provided by a tremendous offensive line. “When you can plug in a handful of running backs, you give credit to the guys up front,” Dotson said. “When you get a good offensive line with a stable of really good running backs, it’s hard to stop. “DaShun is banged up, but he runs just fast enough. He knows exactly what gear he needs to be in to get where he needs to go. He can be hurt, but he always gives 100%, and Sy was the fresh legs

Catholic-NI 34, Kaplan 29

STAFF FILE PHOTO By BRAd KEMP

Acadiana running back Syrian Joseph, shown running with the ball against Teurlings Catholic during their jamboree game on Aug. 28, ran for 245 yards and four touchdowns in the win over Carencro on Friday. we needed. He was hitting in the first half, but not like we had seen him. In the second half, he was dragging people. That’s what we need from him.” Carencro quarterback Carson Gurzi made enough plays to keep the Bears hanging around for most of the game. In the end, Acadiana proved to be too much, but Peters said Friday’s performance may have taught him some things about his team. “I think tonight helped us on our quest and what we are trying to do,” Peters said. “We have had a rough start to the year. But I think we found a little groove tonight, and I hope we can build on it. “Carson is one of the best quarterbacks in the state, and we are just trying to figure out how to best use him. We haven’t been able to do some of the things we have in the past because the players are different. I think tonight we saw some things that allow us to get him opportunities, and when he’s on the field for us, we have a chance to be competitive.” Dotson admitted the Acadiana secondary isn’t quite where it needs to be through three games.

The loss of senior Makel Narcisse has proven more difficult to replace than the Rams thought. “We have a bunch of kids in the secondary that haven’t started varsity before, and Makel’s absence is starting to show,” Dotson said. “We haven’t found our leader back there yet, and we will. We’re going to get better. We’re going to find that guy. It’s just taking us a little longer to get them comfortable with playing at this level.” Acadiana takes its 3-0 start into the District 3-5A schedule next week with a huge matchup with St. Thomas More. Dotson said the three big wins to open the season have prepared the Rams for the district slate and said an “ugly win” like the one at Carencro tells him a lot about their character. “Our guys know we didn’t play well,” Dotson said. “They know we have to get better. They know if we play like that next week, we will get beat. But when you can win ugly, it says something about your players, and when it’s time to step up and make a play, they get it done.”

Surging Westgate subdues Jena BY MIKE COPPAGE Contributing writer

Playing its first home game of the season, Westgate scored on the first play of the game against Jena in a 28-12 win for coach Ryan Antoine’s 100th career victory. After the opening kickoff was returned to midfield, Noah Antoine threw a 50-yard touchdown pass to Cayden Lancelin, who added a 65-yard kick return for another score in the third quarter. “Cayden is Cayden,” Ryan Antoine said of the junior, who caught three passes for 111 yards and tacked on 100 yards on three kick returns. “He’s special. He’s one of the best players in the country.” Jena (2-1), which came into the game ranked No. 3 in Class 3A, was stopped twice on fourth down in Westgate territory in the first half, reaching the 1-yard line early in the second quarter before Texas A&M commitment Chance Archangel and the Tigers defense held firm. “We needed that,” Antoine said. “We knew if we could make some stops early and get up two scores, we could put them in a difficult situation.” The Tigers drove 94 yards fol-

lowing the goal-line stand for a 14-0 lead. Noah Antoine, who had a 28-yard run on the drive, connected with Lancelin on thirdand-long ahead of a 15-yard pass to Brock Mitchell. Sophomore Zyier Stokes capped the possession with a 25-yard touchdown run. Stokes, who had an interception and a 30-yard return on defense, scored TDs on both of his carries. Mitchell ran for the two-point conversion. “He works like that,” Ryan Antoine said of Stokes. “With (leading rusher) Caemon Crockem banged up, we knew we had other guys we could use to run the football.” Jena, which got 100-yard rushing performances from Daniel Hatcher and Kaeden Kittlin, made the score 14-6 on a 34-yard run in the third quarter from Hatcher, who was limited to 51 yards on 14 carries before the touchdown. Lancelin answered with the kick return, and Mitchell threw a pass to Rahim Alem for a two-point conversion and 22-6 lead. Jena got its other touchdown from Kittlin, who ran it in from 49 yards and finished with 107 yards on 10 carries. Four-star junior defensive back Karon Eugene made his season debut after transferring from

Catholic of New Iberia and saved a potential TD with an open-field tackle on Jena QB Jonas Jenkins. “We’re going to slowly but surely ease him into the game plan,” Antoine said of Eugene, who bolsters a top-notch secondary that also features Shadon Lee, Caleb Clement, Dashawn White, Stokes and Alem. Jena was 2 of 8 passing for negative-6 yards, while Noah Antoine threw for over 200 yards with only two incompletions and increased his season total to 10 TDs with no interceptions. Westgate senior Joshua John ran for 34 yards on two carries and caught four passes for 34 yards. Jackilon Roberson, Antonio Quetel and Mitchell combined to gain 62 yards on four receptions. Antoine will face former assistant Harry Coleman when undefeated Opelousas visits next week. “Opelousas plays hard,” Antoine said. “They play for (Coleman). Anytime you have a team that plays for its coach, they’re going to be strong. “We’ve been through the ups and downs of this program. I’m blessed. I’m proud of our guys. I can’t do it without them. This (100th win) is for them. I’m just glad they stuck with me.”

Team CATH KAP First Downs 19 19 Yards Rushing 33-196 55-363 Yards Passing 211 92 Passes (C-A-HI) 13-20-0 2-4-0 Punts-avg. 3-35 1-30 Fumbles-lost 2-0 4-4 Penalties-yards 5-45 6-65 SCORING SUMMARY Catholic 14 7 7 6 —34 Kaplan 0 13 8 8 —29 CATH — Collin Kading 4 run (Zaydance LaPointe kick) CATH — Kyan Batiste 40 pass from John Parker Robison (LaPointe kick) KAP — Mattiew Breaux 1 run (Breaux kick) CATH — Gavin Kading 13 pass from Robison (LaPointe kick) KAP — Aiden Hargrave 2 run (Kick blocked) KAP — Jeremy Roy 7 run (Roy pass from Hargrave) CATH — Robison 2 run (LaPointe kick) KAP — Roy 59 pass from Jayden Hargrave (Roy run) CATH — Michael Haik 1 run (Fun failed)

Lafayette 38, Erath 3

Team LAF ERA First Downs 12 16 Yards Rushing 132 331 Yards Passing 70 71 Passes (C-A-HI) 12-20-1 4-8-1 Punts-avg. Fumbles-lost 0-0 1-1 Penalties-yards 3-20 4-39 SCORING SUMMARY Erath 0 3 0 0 —3 Lafayette 0 14 14 10 —38 LAF — Richmond Saunier 42 run (Adrian Matellan kick) LAF — Jaden Celestine 9 run (Matellan kick) ERA — Andres Barras 30 FG LAF — Celestine 65 run (Matellan kick) LAF — Brennan Shullaw 15 run (Matellan kick) LAF — Matellan 40 FG LAF — Jaevion Allen 3 run (Matellan kick)

Loyola Prep 48, St. Edmund 12

Team STE LCP First Downs 13 13 Yards Rushing 161 84 Yards Passing 37 317 Passes (C-A-HI) 5-9-0 15-19-0 Punts-avg. 4-24.8 0-0 Fumbles-lost 4-2 1-1 Penalties-yards 8-85 7-81 SCORING SUMMARY St. Edmund 0 6 0 6 —12 Loyola Prep 7 7 13 21 —48 LCP — Charlie McKenzie 45 pass from Bryce Restovich (Cooper Varnadore kick) STE — Cooper Berzas 10 run (run failed) LCP — McKenzie 59 pass from Restovich (Varnadore kick) LCP — JT Taylor 62 pass from Restovich (kick failed) LCP — Graham Kyle 31 pass from Restovich (Varnadore kick) LCP — Ty Walsworth 34 pass from Restovich (Varnadore kick)

LCP — Kyle 15 pass from Restovich (Varnadore kick) LCP — Carson Ward 43 run (Varnadore kick) STE — Jude Aucoin 6 run (run failed)

Notre Dame 41, Teurlings 13

Team ND TEUR First Downs 20 16 Yards Rushing 344 -18 Yards Passing 37 294 Passes (C-A-HI) 4-10-1 20-39-1 Punts-avg. 1-22 1-27 Fumbles-lost 1-1 1-1 Penalties-yards 8-65 4-34 SCORING SUMMARY Notre Dame 6 7 14 14 —41 Teurlings 10 3 0 0 —13 ND — Jude Duplechin 76 INT return (kick failed) TEUR — Alex LeBoeuf 27 FG TEUR — Brewer Cain 22 pass from Austin Calandra (LeBoeuf kick) ND — William Lavergne 23 run (Ty Savant kick) TEUR — LeBoeuf 35 FG ND — Parker Menard 21 run (kick failed) ND — Menard 2 run (Lavergne run) ND — Lavergne 4 run (Savant kick) ND — Braxton Meche 1 TD (Savant kick)

Opelousas 44, Northwest 7

Team NWEST OPEL First Downs 8 9 Yards Rushing 95 267 Yards Passing 81 70 Passes (C-A-HI) 6-19-2 10-12-0 Punts-avg. 4-40 1-42 Fumbles-lost 1-1 0-0 Penalties-yards 2-25 4-38 SCORING SUMMARY Northwest 0 0 0 7 —7 Opelousas 8 30 0 6 —44 OPEL — Joseph Clues 67 run (Clues run) OPEL — Marley richard 16 pass from Collin Rideau (run failed) OPEL — Clues 1 run (Clues run) OPEL — Clues 43 (run failed) OPEL— Aaron Hall 25 pass from Rideau (Joseph Rideau pass from Collin Rideaux) OPEL — Jayden Owens 61 punt return (Clues pass from Rideau) NWEST — Adrien Lazard 12 run (Gavin Fontenot kick)

Westgate 28, Jena 12

Team JENA WGATE First Downs 14 12 Yards Rushing 262 109 Yards Passing -6 206 Passes (C-A-HI) 2-8-1 14-17-0 Punts-avg. 1-45 2-26 Fumbles-lost 2-2 1-0 Penalties-yards 7-47 11-115 SCORING SUMMARY Jena 0 0 12 0 —12 Westgate 6 8 14 0 —28 WGATE — Cayden Lancelin 50 pass from Noah Antoine (kick blocked) WGATE — Zyier Stokes 25 run (Brock Mitchell run) JENA — Hatcher 34 run (run failed) WGATE — Lancelin 65 kickoff return (Rahim Alem pass from Mitchell) JENA — Kittlin 49 run (run failed) WGATE — Stokes 6 run (kick failed)

Westminster-Lafayette 55, Houma Christian 14

Team WCAL HC First Downs 21 10 Yards Rushing 437 50 Yards Passing 25 151 Passes (C-A-HI) 1-1-0 8-28-2 Punts-avg. 0-0 2-28 Fumbles-lost 2-1 0-0 Penalties-yards 13-131 5-53 SCORING SUMMARY Westminster-LAF 7 28 13 7 —55 Houma Christian 7 7 0 0 —14 WCAL — Pierce Gable 3 run (Zade Prejean kick) HC — 10 run (kick good) WCAL — Gable 13 run (Prejean kick) WCAL — Andre Green 3 run (Prejean kick) HC — 58 run (kick good) WCAL — Prejean 39 run (Prejean kick) WCAL — Gable 3 run (Prejean kick) WCAL — Ethan Simon 4 run (Prejean kick) WCAL — Gable 30 run (kick failed) WCAL — Simon 26 run (Prejean kick)

STATE SCORES Thursday’s scores Abramson 51, Jefferson Rise 12 Academy of Sacred Heart-Grand Coteau 32, Highland Baptist 12 Bunkie 63, Avoyelles 24 Captain Shreve 49, Shreveport Northwood 28 Franklin Parish 62, Madison 0 Grand Lake 32, Oakdale 8 Hanson Memorial 40, Gueydan 12 Jennings 48, Welsh 28 Landry/Walker 18, Young Audiences 12 Patrick Taylor 20, St. Thomas Aquinas 7 Riverdale 18, McMain 16 Sulphur 45, Pineville 42 Willow School 33, S. B. Wright 14

Friday’s scores

Amite 21, Parkview Baptist 14 Donaldsonville 34, White Castle 7 Kentwood 50, St. Helena 14 Abbeville 48, Acadiana Renaissance 28 Acadiana 41, Carencro 27 Alexandria 45, Lafayette Christian 0 Ascension Catholic 49, South Terrebonne 7 Ascension Episcopal 24, Northside 22 Barbe 48, Cecilia 19 Beau Chene 56, Port Barre 14 Belle Chasse 35, South Plaquemines 12 Benton 38, Woodlawn (SH) 6 Brandon, Miss. 40, West Monroe 23 Briarfield 41, Franklin Academy 0 Brother Martin 56, Easton 6 Buckeye 27, LaSalle 22 Buna, Texas 37, South Beauregard 21 Caldwell Parish 32, Rayville 28 Calvary Baptist Academy 57, Grant 13 Cedar Creek 42, Beekman 12 Centerville 36, Oberlin 6 Central - B.R. 55, Ehret 0 Chalmette 24, Salmen 6 Columbia Academy, Miss. 42, Silliman 0 Crowley 35, Breaux Bridge 14 D’Arbonne Woods 42, Arcadia 6 DeQuincy 24, Westlake 21 Delcambre 54, Pickering 0 Delhi 26, Delhi Charter 2 Destrehan 56, West Jefferson 12 Donaldsonville 34, White Castle 7 Dutchtown 41, St. Michael 21 Elton 44, Montgomery 40 Eunice 27, Kinder 12 Evadale, Texas 43, Acadiana Christian 34 Ferriday 28, Delta Charter 22 Franklin 48, Berwick 0 Franklinton 48, Pine 20 Hahnville 42, E.D. White 31 Hammond 25, Higgins 3 Haughton 45, Glenbrook 6 Haynes Academy 44, Ben Franklin 6 Haynesville 28, Homer 26

Holy Cross 10, St. Charles Catholic 7, OT Jesuit 48, Bonnabel 7 John Curtis Christian 42, Lafayette Renaissance 12 Lafayette 38, Erath 3 Lake Arthur 21, Iota 19 Lake Charles College Prep 45, Sam Houston 31 Leesville 46, Tioga 36 Live Oak 16, Westminster Christian 7 Loreauville 35, Vermilion Catholic 0 Lutcher 49, Slidell 35 Mandeville 49, Carver 6 Mangham 52, Oak Grove 24 Mansfield 33, Magnolia, Ark. 28 Many 31, East Beauregard 6 Merryville 39, Lena Northwood 8 Minden 56, West Ouachita 36 NDHS 41, Teurlings Catholic 13 Neville 49, Ouachita Parish 0 New Iberia Catholic 34, Kaplan 29 Newman 48, East Jefferson 19 Newton, Texas 52, DeRidder 29 North DeSoto 38, C.E. Byrd 20 North Vermilion 49, Ville Platte 0 Northshore 21, Lakeshore 14 Opelousas 44, Northwest 7 Ouachita Christian 38, Richwood 6 Parkway 56, Red River 12 Pearl River 42, Fontainebleau 30 Pointe Coupee Catholic 25, Episcopal-BR 17 Pope John Paul 29, Hannan 27, OT Riverside Academy 35, Ponchatoula 28 Rosepine 50, Basile 6 Rummel 24, Shaw 7 Sacred Heart 48, Country Day 36 Saint Paul’s 42, De La Salle 30 South Lafourche 55, Central Lafourche 36 Southside 49, Union Parish 7 St. Frederick Catholic 21, North Webster 14 St. James 43, Terrebonne 14 St. John 56, Central Private 24 St. Thomas More 43, Catholic-B.R. 42 Sterlington 42, Natchitoches Central 7 Sumner 24, H.L. Bourgeois 23 Thibodaux 38, Vandebilt Catholic 17 Vidalia 52, General Trass (Lake Providence) 6 Vidor, Texas 45, Iowa 42 Vinton 55, Washington-Marion 12 West Feliciana 21, East St. John 20 Westgate 28, Jena 12 Westminster Christian (LAF) 55, Houma Christian 14 Winnfield 48, Jonesboro-Hodge 28 Zachary 39, Madison Prep 36

Saturday’s scores Kenner Discovery 34, Thomas Jefferson 20 Edna Karr 21, Ruston 14 Green Oaks at B.T. Washington, n East Ascension vs. St. Augustine, n Fisher vs. Morris Jeff, n

Ascension Episcopal nabs dramatic win over Northside BY STEVE PELOQUIN

Contributing writer

Sometimes a team that loses a heartbreaker one week is rewarded with a heart-stopping victory in the very next. One week after a disappointing loss to Acadiana Renaissance, Ascension Episcopal scored on the final play of scrimmage to defeat the Northside Vikings 24-22 on Friday night. “It’s a huge win because we did a ton of things wrong tonight, yet still found a way to win the foot-

ball game,” Blue Gators coach Jay Domengeaux said. “These kids perform week in and week out. ... It’s a great win for the kids.” Northside (0-3) took an 8-0 lead at the 6:31 mark of the first quarter on a 1-yard touchdown keeper by Kaleb Joseph before running in a two-point conversion. The Blue Gators (1-2) scored their first points at the 2:40 mark on a 22-yard field goal by Rusty Trotter. The Vikings extended their lead to 14-3 with 7:36 left in the second quarter when Ladarius Allen in-

tercepted a deflected pass and returned it 27 yards for a touchdown. Allen’s interception was one of four Ascension Episcopal turnovers in the first half. “We overcame a ton of mistakes tonight, but that says a lot about the growth,” Domengeaux said. “We have a lot of younger guys at key positions, and the older guys are going to help them do that. By being tough and the young guys seeing that toughness, hopefully that helps us catch fire.” In the fourth quarter, Northside widened its lead to 22-10 when

Chase Dugas connected with Zerion Hansberry on a 29-yard touchdown pass at the 9:23 mark. Ascension Episcopal got right back it in with 5:56 left when Eli Gros scored on a 1-yard plunge, which trimmed the deficit to 22-17. After a key defensive stop, the Blue Gators got the ball back and made a couple of key fourth-down conversions. They advanced to the Northside 15 with 11 seconds remaining and no timeouts. Gros rolled out to his right, before throwing left, connecting with Austin Adams at the 5, and Adams

beat a defender into the end zone with only three seconds remaining. The Blue Gators held on for the heart-stopping triumph. “That’s a play that has been in the program for a long time, and we saw a couple of things that we thought we might be able to take advantage of,” said Domengeaux of the game-winning play. “The kids deserve all of the credit. Being able to get down there, being able to throw it, to catch it, and get it into the end zone — that’s much more about the want-to from the kids than about the play call itself.”

6C ● Sunday, September 20, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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SAINTS GAMEDAY

ROSTERS SAINTS No. Player Pos Ht Wt Exp College 0 Jordyn Tyson WR 6-2 203 0 Arizona State 1 Kool-Aid McKinstry CB 5-11 199 3 Alabama 2 Spencer Rattler QB 6-0 211 3 South Carolina 3 Travis Etienne Jr. RB 5-10 215 6 Clemson 4 Oscar delp TE 6-4 245 0 Georgia 5 Kendre Miller RB 6-0 220 4 TCU 6 Tyler Shough QB 6-5 219 2 Louisville 7 Jonas Sanker SAF 6-1 211 2 Virginia 10 daniel Carlson K 6-5 222 9 Auburn 11 Zach Wilson QB 6-2 214 6 ByU 12 Chris Olave WR 6-0 187 5 Ohio State 14 devaughn Vele WR 6-5 210 3 Utah 17 Ryan Wright P 6-3 245 5 Tulane 18 Bryce Lance WR 6-3 204 0 North dakota St. 19 Barion Brown WR 5-11 177 0 LSU 20 Pete Werner LB 6-3 242 6 Ohio State 21 Justin Reid SAF 6-1 207 9 Stanford 22 Martin Emerson Jr. CB 6-2 201 5 Mississippi State 23 Julian Blackmon SAF 6-0 202 7 Utah 25 d. Richardson CB 6-2 188 4 Mississippi St. 28 danny Stutsman LB 6-3 233 2 Oklahoma 29 Quincy Riley CB 5-11 195 2 Louisville 31 Jordan Howden dB 6-0 209 4 Minnesota 33 Anfernee Jennings dE 6-2 255 7 Alabama 38 Jayden Price CB 5-11 185 1 North dakota St. 41 Alvin Kamara RB 5-10 215 10 Tennessee 42 Mike Reid SAF 6-2 200 1 South dakota 43 CJ donaldson RB 6-1 230 0 Ohio State 44 Isaiah Stalbird LB 6-1 215 2 South dakota St. 50 Colby Wooden dL 6-4 273 4 Auburn 51 Cesar Ruiz OL 6-4 316 7 Michigan 52 Christen Miller dT 6-3 321 0 Georgia 53 Jaylan Ford LB 6-2 240 3 Texas 55 Kaden Elliss LB 6-2 238 8 Idaho 58 Chris Rumph II LB 6-2 244 6 duke 65 Jeremiah Wright G 6-5 331 0 Auburn 66 William Sherman G 6-4 300 2 Colorado 71 Kelvin Banks Jr. T 6-5 315 2 Texas 72 Asim Richards OL 6-4 307 4 North Carolina 74 Mason Murphy T 6-5 315 0 Auburn 75 Taliese Fuaga T 6-6 324 3 Oregon State 76 david Edwards G 6-6 308 8 Wisconsin 78 Erik McCoy OL 6-4 303 8 Texas A&M 82 Treyton Welch TE 6-4 240 1 Wyoming 83 Juwan Johnson TE 6-4 245 7 Oregon 87 Noah Fant TE 6-4 249 8 Iowa 91 Vernon Broughton dL 6-5 311 2 Texas 92 davon Godchaux dL 6-3 330 10 LSU 93 Nathan Shepherd dL 6-4 315 9 Fort Hays State 94 Cameron Jordan dE 6-4 287 16 California 95 John Ridgeway III dL 6-5 321 5 Arkansas 96 Carl Granderson dE 6-5 261 8 Wyoming 97 Khristian Boyd dL 6-2 320 3 Northern Iowa 98 Tyree Wilson dE 6-5 263 4 Texas Tech 99 Chase young dE 6-5 265 7 Ohio State

FOUR THINGS TO WATCH CONTAIN JACKSON There aren’t many players in the NFL more dangerous with a football in their hands than Ravens QB Lamar Jackson. The Saints must find a way to slow down the two-time MVP, who can hurt you with both his arm and his legs. Jackson threw for 324 yards and rushed for 40 more in last week’s 4123 win over the Indianapolis Colts. The Ravens racked up 506 yards of offense in that one. Four years ago, Jackson rushed for 82 yards against the Saints.

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SLOW DOWN HENRY If trying to stop Jackson isn’t enough, the Saints also have to deal with running back derrick Henry. It’s the second straight week the Saints have faced one of the best backs in the league. Last week, detroit’s Jahmyr Gibbs rushed 29 times for 156 yards. Now they face Henry, who is coming off a 144-yard, three-touchdown performance.The key to slowing down Henry is not letting him get to the second level of the defense.The Saints defensive line must play big.

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AVOID A SLOW START The trend is starting to become a bit disturbing.The Saints, as they often do in the Kellen Moore era, struggled out of the gate in last week’s overtime loss to the Lions.The offense couldn’t get going in the first half and ended up in a 21-0 hole three minutes into the third quarter.The Saints have now gone scoreless in the first quarter in 12 of the 18 games Moore has coached. Baltimore isn’t the type of team to fall behind against and try to play catch up.

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UNEARTH GROUND GAME The best way to slow down the Ravens is the Saints keeping their own offense on the field. A strong running game can help that. The Saints invested heavily in the rushing attack this offseason, signing running back Travis Etienne and guard david Edwards.The Saints averaged 3.6 yards per carry last week and finished with just 91 yards rushing. They get Alvin Kamara back this week. Regardless of who is getting the carries, they need to be effective.

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Rod Walker

RAVENS No. Player Pos Ht Wt Exp College 0 Roquan Smith LB 6-1 235 9 Georgia 2 Nate Wiggins CB 6-1 182 3 Clemson 3 Chidobe Awuzie CB 6-0 202 10 Colorado 4 Zay Flowers WR 5-9 183 4 Boston College 5 Tyler Huntley QB 6-1 204 7 Utah 7 Rashod Bateman WR 6-1 193 6 Minnesota 8 Lamar Jackson QB 6-2 205 9 Louisville 9 Zion young OLB 6-5 267 0 Missouri 10 LaJohntay Wester WR 5-9 180 2 Colorado 12 Joe Fagnano QB 6-3 230 0 UConn 13 Elijah Sarratt WR 6-2 215 0 Indiana 14 Kyle Hamilton SAF 6-4 220 5 Notre dame 15 Mike Green OLB 6-3 250 2 Marshall 17 Chris Moore WR 6-1 200 10 Cincinnati 21 Jaylinn Hawkins SAF 6-1 208 7 California 22 derrick Henry RB 6-3 252 11 Alabama 24 Malaki Starks SAF 6-1 205 2 Georgia 26 Rasheen Ali RB 5-11 210 3 Marshall 27 T.J.Tampa Jr. CB 6-1 190 3 Iowa State 28 Amani Oruwariye CB 6-2 198 6 Penn State 29 Chandler Rivers CB 5-10 189 0 duke 30 Ryan Eckley P 6-0 205 0 Michigan State 32 Trenton Simpson LB 6-2 242 4 Clemson 33 Tyler Loop K 5-11 191 2 Arizona 38 Keyon Martin CB 5-9 171 2 Louisiana 39 Keondre Jackson SAF 6-2 215 2 Illinois State 40 Teddye Buchanan LB 6-2 240 2 California 43 Justice Hill RB 5-10 195 8 Oklahoma State 44 Marlon Humphrey CB 6-0 200 10 Alabama 45 Ethan Burke OLB 6-6 267 0 Texas 46 Nick Moore LS 6-2 260 5 Georgia 49 Jay Higgins IV LB 6-0 230 2 Iowa 51 Emery Jones Jr. OL 6-5 325 2 LSU 54 Jovaughn Gwyn OL 6-2 310 4 South Carolina 61 A.J.Arcuri OL 6-7 312 2 Michigan State 70 Roger Rosengarten T 6-5 310 3 Washington 71 Vega Ioane G 6-4 326 0 Penn State 72 Andrew Vorhees OG 6-6 330 3 USC 74 John Simpson OG 6-4 330 7 Clemson 75 Chuma Edoga OT 6-4 308 8 USC 76 Carson Vinson T 6-7 325 2 Alabama A&M 77 Ethan Pocic C 6-6 320 10 LSU 79 Ronnie Stanley T 6-6 310 11 Notre dame 80 durham Smythe TE 6-5 248 9 Notre dame 81 devontez Walker WR 6-1 198 3 North Carolina 81 Nick Vannett TE 6-6 261 11 Ohio State 85 Josh Cuevas TE 6-3 246 0 Alabama 88 Matt Hibner TE 6-4 250 0 SMU 89 Mark Andrews TE 6-5 250 9 Oklahoma 90 Aeneas Peebles dL 6-0 300 2 Virginia Tech 91 Trey Hendrickson OLB 6-4 265 10 Florida Atlantic 92 Nnamdi Madubuike dL 6-3 305 7 Texas A&M 93 Calais Campbell dL 6-8 307 19 Miami (FL) 94 John Jenkins NT 6-3 360 14 Georgia 95 Tavius Robinson OLB 6-6 262 4 Ole Miss 96 Brdrick Washington dL 6-2 315 7 Texas Tech 98 Travis Jones dL 6-4 338 5 UConn

INJURY REPORT SAINTS OUT: LS Zach Wood (calf). DOUBTFUL: LB Isaiah Stalbird (shoulder). QUESTIONABLE: dL Christen Miller (toe), WR Chris Olave (hamstring), dE Chase young (calf).

RAVENS OUT: LB Teddye Buchanan (knee), dT Nnamdi Madubuike (neck), CB T.J.Tampa (knee),WR Zay Flowers (hamstring). QUESTIONABLE: OLB Trey Hendrickson (finger), G John Simpson (groin),T Ronnie Stanley (toe).

ASSOCIATEd PRESS PHOTO By PAUL SANCyA

Saints wide receiver devaughn Vele pulls in a touchdown reception against the detroit Lions in the second half of a game on Sept. 13 in detroit.

SAINTS

Continued from page 1C This is not lip service. Vele is one of those rare, true underdog stories in the NFL. Consider his path to that Week 1 performance. 1. Vele starred for Rancho Bernardo High School in San Diego, earning all-league status and recording a pair of touchdowns and a game-clinching interception in his team’s state championship game. But even with his production and size, Vele did not receive a single Division I scholarship offer. He elected to participate in a two-year Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints mission after graduating high school. 2. He earned a walk-on spot at the University of Utah after completing his mission. While he earned honorable mention All-Pac-12 honors in 2022, he never put up huge receiving numbers (his 55 catches for 695 yards in 2022 marked a career-high). As an older prospect, he slid to the seventh round of the NFL draft. 3. Vele made the Denver Broncos roster as a rookie and showed how useful he could be, catching 41 passes for 475 yards in 13 games. Still, Denver was willing to part with him after the Saints offered a fourth-round pick last fall. Vele arrived in New Orleans and barely made an impact in the first half of the season as the team’s No. 4 wideout. It took until mid-November for him to start drawing consistent targets, then a shoulder injury ended his season just as he was getting going. New Orleans then used the No. 8 pick in this year’s draft on receiver Jordyn Tyson. All of that sticks with Vele — but in a healthy, positive way. Rather than treating his path as a chip on his shoulder, he keeps it in his back pocket as a way to stay level-headed. “It’s just trusting the process,” he said. “Things are never going to go the way you expect it or want it. You’ve just got to make sure you stay ready, stay prepared and when those opportunities do come you’ve got to make the most of them. “I’m grateful the team trusts me enough to put me in situations where I can have those opportunities. Sunday was a good indication for me of how far we’ve come, how much more I have to go to continue to keep doing what I’ve been doing.” While the Saints wait for Tyson to return from a hamstring injury that landed him on injured reserve to start his rookie season, Vele is handling an increased workload as the No. 2 option behind Chris Olave. His skillset offers the team something it had sorely lacked since injuries ruined Michael Thomas’ career. At 6-5, Vele is easily the biggest receiver on the roster. More importantly, he plays like it. “(Vele) does a really good job of using his body to gain leverage, to gain body position on catches,” coach Kellen Moore said. “... When you’re a bigger man, you can use your body to your advantage. It’s kind of like the basketball metaphor a little bit as far as being a bigger man, being able to position yourself and box guys out.” In Olave, the Saints have a graceful slasher who can

AP PHOTO By dOUG MURRAy

Saints wide receivers coach Keith Williams talks to wide receiver devaughn Vele on the sideline during a game against the Miami dolphins on Nov. 30 in Miami Gardens, Fla.

take the top off of a defense just as easily as he can burn a defender with nifty footwork. When it comes to picking up the dirty yards, though, it’s no surprise to see New Orleans throw the ball in Vele’s vicinity. “You put it in a general area and he’s going to go make a play,” Shough said. “He showed it in the game. I wasn’t making exactly perfect throws and he’s going out there and diving, making the really tough catches.” The bulk of Vele’s work against Detroit came in the short and intermediate areas of the field. Each of his first five catches against the Lions went for 10 or fewer yards. But the “general area” principle applies downfield, too. As big as Vele’s touchdown was, he delivered again in the fourth quarter when he ran a slot fade on a crucial third down from midfield. Vele made the play work despite a bad look at the snap. Lions safety Avonte Maddox played Vele’s outside shoulder, forcing Vele to take an inside release before bending his route back toward the sideline and the throw’s landmark. Shough released the pass just as Vele started working his way toward the outside, and again, he laid out to make a huge diving catch. The 31-yard gain set up a field goal that cut Detroit’s lead to four points. It was the type of play the Saints may have envisioned Vele making when they acquired him in a trade last season. It took a while before that vision became a reality, but again, Vele is used to waiting. In fact, he said it’s become something of a guiding philosophy for his NFL career. “There’s always that saying, ‘Don’t count your opportunities, make your opportunities count,’ ” Vele said. “That’s what I live by.”

The Acadiana Advocate ● theadvocate.com ● Sunday, September 20, 2026 ● 7C

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OFFENSIVE LEADERS Saints

Ravens

PASSING

Player

Cmp-Att-Pct Yds TD Int

Tyler Shough

35-56-62.5

410

RUSHING

Player

Att

Travis Etienne Kendre Miller Tyler Shough CJ Donaldson

Net

9 9 4 2

46 30 8 4

3

2

Avg TD 5.1 3.3 2.0 2

0 1 0 0

PASSING

Player

Cmp-Att-Pct Yds TD Int

Lamar Jackson

10 7 7 4 3 3

182 32 69 33 54 42

18.2 4.6 9.9 8.3 18 14

0 0 1 1 1 0

3

Net

Avg TD

24 7 6

144 40 18

6.0 5.7 3.0

3 1 0

Player

Rec Yards Avg TD

Zay Flowers Chris Moore Mark Andrews Derrick Henry LaJohntay Wester

5 1 4 1 2

150 53 49 19 15

30.0 53.0 12.3 19.0 7.5

1 0 0 0 0

KICKING

XPM XPA FGM FGA

Daniel Carlson

0

Att

Derrick Henry Lamar Jackson Justice Hill

KICKING Player

1

RECEIVING

Rec Yards Avg TD

Chris Olave Travis Etienne Devaughn Vele Noah Fant Juwan Johnson Bryce Lance

324

RUSHING

Player

RECEIVING Player

17-25-68.0

3

1

2

Player

XPM XPA FGM FGA

Tyler Loop

5

5

2

2

DEFENSIVE LEADERS TACKLES

ASSOCIATEd PRESS PHOTO By PAUL SANCyA

Saints quarterback Tyler Shough passes against the detroit Lions last Sunday in detroit. Shough’s 35-of-56, 410-yard, three-touchdown performance was one of the best in Saints history.

SIGHT TO BEHOLD Shough’s passing performance against Lions ‘unbelievable’

D

avid Edwards has played with the past two NFL MVPs. He protected Matthew Stafford for two seasons in Los Angeles, then blocked for Josh Allen the past three years in Buffalo. He knows a great quarterJeff when he Duncan back sees one. And he said the New Orleans Saints have someone special in Tyler Shough. “Tyler’s a stud, man,” Edwards said after the Saints’ oh-so-close 31-30 loss to the Detroit Lions last Sunday. “He’s got every tool to be toplevel player in this league, and I hope that people saw that (against Detroit).” Indeed, Shough’s 35-of-56, 410-yard, three-touchdown performance was the most prolific of his career and vaulted him to the top of the NFL’s passing leaders. While Shough’s numbers were impressive, I’m not sure we fully appreciated how special it was. So before turning our attention to the matchup against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, let’s review Shough’s day and put it into historical context: n Shough’s 325 yards passing in the second half and overtime were the most for a Saints quarterback after halftime in a game. The previous high was 310 by Drew Brees in 2008 at Atlanta. n His 231 combined yards passing in the fourth quarter and overtime were the most in the league in Week 1, per NFL Research. The only player in the entire 2025 season with a fourth quarter/ overtime with more yards passing than Shough had in Week 1 was Josh Allen’s 251 in Week 1 of 2025 against the Ravens. n Shough joined Brees and Aaron Brooks as only the third quarterback in Saints history to throw for more than 400 yards in a game. His 410 yards were the 18th-most by a Saints quarterback. n His 35 completions are tied for the eighth most in a game in team history and are the most by any Saints quarterback other than Brees. n His 56 passing attempts are tied for the fifth-most in team history. Brees (2007) and Brooks (2004) have the record with 60. n Shough adjusted impressively to the Lions’ blitz tactics. He completed 8 of 11 passes against the blitz for 79 yards and three touchdowns in the second half and overtime, after going just 2 of 7 for 17 yards and an interception in the first half.

TACKLES

Player

Tot Solo Ast TFL Sk

Jonas Sanker

10

7

3

1

0

Kaden Elliss

9

3

6

0

0

Justin Reid

8

5

3

1

0

Kool-Aid McKinstry

7

4

3

0

0

Pete Werner

7

3

4

1

0

Julian Blackmon

6

2

4

0

0

Danny Stutsman

6

3

3

0

0

Davon Godchaux

4

2

2

1

0 0

Quincy Riley

3

2

1

0

Nathan Shepherd

3

1

2

0

0

Vernon Broughton

3

1

2

0

0

Isaiah Stalbird

3

2

1

0

0

Carl Granderson

2

2

0

1

1

Martin Emerson

2

1

1

0

0

Jordan Howden

2

1

1

0

0

Tyree Wilson

2

0

2

0

0

Colby Wooden

2

1

1

0

0

Anfernee Jennings

1

0

1

0

0

Decamerion Richardson 1

0

1

0

0

Player

Tot Solo Ast TFL Sk

Roquan Smith 11 Malaki Starks 7 Kyle Hamilton 5 Travis Jones 4 Trenton Simpson 4 Nate Wiggins 4 Marlon Humphrey 4 Tavius Robinson 3 Carl Jones 2 Calais Campbell 2 Jaylinn Hawkins 2 Keyon Martin 2 Broderick Washington 1 Ronnie Stanley 1 Tyler Loop 1 Chris Moore 1 Rasheen Ali 1

5 2 3 3 3 3 3 1 2 0 1 2 1 1 1 1 0

6 5 2 1 1 1 1 2 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 1

0 1 0 2 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

INTERCEPTIONS Player

Tot Yds Avg TD PD

Roquan Smith

1

2

1.0

0

1

TEAM STATS OFFENSE PER GAME Yards gained: 469.0

OFFENSE PER GAME Yards gained: 506.0

Plays: 81.0

Plays: 62.0

PASS 378.0

RUSH 91.0

PASS 56.0

RUSH 25.0

Turnovers: 3.00 ASSOCIATEd PRESS PHOTO By RICK OSENTOSKI

Saints guard david Edwards blocks detroit Lions defensive tackle Alim McNeill last Sunday in detroit.

“Tyler’s a stud, man. He’s got every tool to be a top-level player in this league, and I hope that people saw that (against Detroit).” dAVId EdWARdS, Saints guard

INTERCEPTIONS 2.00

downfield passes. On downfield passes (10-plus air yards), Shough completed 11 of 16 attempts for 261 yards and a touchdown, the most such yards by a Saints quarterback since Brees on Oct. 16, 2016. n Shough’s six “big-time throws” were the most in the league by a wide margin in Week 1 and the second-most in a game by any quarterback since Pro Football Focus began charting the metric in 2006. A big-time throw is defined as a pass with excellent ball location and timing, generally thrown farther down the field and into a tighter window. n The degree of difficulty on some of Shough’s pass connections was off the charts. Two of his passes had completion probability percentages of less than 22%, which ranked them among the four most improbable pass completions of all the Week 1 games, per Next Gen Stats. n The 42-yard completion to Chris Olave in the fourth quarter had a 19.1% completion probability. The 27-yard completion to Juwan Johnson in overtime was at 21.1. And while those passes were impressive, they weren’t even his most impressive throw of the day. “The pass to Juwan,” Edwards said, before being rendered speechless when trying to describe the 18-yard, seeing-eye laser Shough threw to Johnson in the final minute to set up Daniel Carlson’s potential game-winning field goal try. “For him to be able to stand in there and make some of those throws, there was just some great execution from

Tyler and our receivers, tight ends and backs, some unbelievable tight-window throws and execution, even at the end of the game in the fourth quarter.” The Ravens also took notice. Shough’s passing performance dominated their thoughts this week as they prepared for the Saints to visit M&T Bank Stadium on Sunday. “(Shough) is slinging it,” Ravens All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton said. “He can make every throw on the field. You don’t put up 400 yards passing by accident. It’s going to be a big challenge for our defense to stop it.” Added Ravens coach Jesse Minter: “They were throwing the ball all over the yard and put up a ton of numbers.” Historic numbers, in fact. And it came in just Shough’s 10th NFL start. Obviously, it’s wise to not overreact to one game. Longtime Saints fans will remember Brooks enjoyed a similarly impressive breakout performance against the Denver Broncos (441 yards passing) in only his fourth NFL start and was never able to duplicate it. But Shough’s performance is encouraging nonetheless, a breath of fresh air for a club and fan base that have longed for some bona fide offensive fireworks since Brees retired after the 2020 season. Time will tell if Shough’s big day was a one-game aberration or a harbinger of things to come. Either way, it was a sight to behold — and appreciate. Email Jeff Duncan at jduncan@theadvocate.com.

RUSH 202.0

PASS 25.0

RUSH 37.0

Turnovers: 1.00 INTERCEPTIONS 0.00

FUMBLES 1.00

DEFENSE PER GAME Yards allowed: 369.0

DEFENSE PER GAME Yards allowed: 251.0

Turnovers forced: 1.00

Turnovers forced: 2.00

PASS 204.0

RUSH 165.0

INTERCEPTIONS 0.00

FUMBLES 1.00

SCORING PER GAME

SCORED ALLOWED n Shough was money on his

FUMBLES 1.00

PASS 304.0

SCORED ALLOWED

PASS 149.0

INTERCEPTIONS 1.00

FUMBLES 1.00

SCORING PER GAME

SCORED ALLOWED

SCORED ALLOWED

41.0

31.0

30.0

RUSH 102.0

22.5

18.0

2026

23.0

24.9

2026

2025

23.4

2025

CONVERSION SUCCESS

CONVERSION SUCCESS

Third down

Third down

Fourth down

47.1% 52.9%

Fail

33.3%

100% 66.6%

00.0%

Convert

Fail

Fourth down

Fail

Convert

Convert

00.0% 100.0%

Fail

Convert

STAFF PREDICTIONS ROD WALKER

JEFF DUNCAN

LUKE JOHNSON

MATTHEW PARAS

RAVENS 30, SAINTS 20: you could make a strong argument that this is the toughest opponent the Saints will face all year. Trying to slow down two-time MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson and running back derrick Henry is a tall task for any team. The Saints will have to not only do that but also avoid a slow start. The good news is the schedule lightens up next week for the Saints. RAVENS 28, SAINTS 24: I believe the Saints offense is closer to the one that torched detroit in the second half and overtime than it is the one that stumbled out of the gate in the season opener. Even against a creative and talented Baltimore defense, they’ll put up some points. But it’s a tough ask for this defense to keep superstars derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson in check.

RAVENS 26, SAINTS 19: This figures to be a sterner challenge than the Week 1 game in detroit. It’s the home opener for the Ravens, who whipped the Colts on the road in their opener. The Ravens look energized by the coaching change to Jesse Minter and will be motivated to improve on their 3-6 home mark a year ago. The Saints defense will get a heavy dose of derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson. RAVENS 23, SAINTS 17: The Saints definitely have a chance, especially with Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers downgraded to out with a hamstring injury. But Baltimore’s run game — and the craftiness of its defense — will likely be too much to overcome. The Saints put up another strong fight to show their headed in the right direction, but the daunting schedule leads to an 0-2 start.

8C ● Sunday, September 20, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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1dn

“I’m going to therapy. Nobody can come. I’M GOING TO MY HAPPY PLACE.” TROY LANDRY, of his ventures into the woods

Summer 2026 is done, but does summer camp have to end at 18? Even though summer officially ends this week, I have spent the last few days thinking about summer camp — and attempting to make plans to attend one next year. Growing up, I attended a multitude of camps — Girl Scouts, Girls in Action, an unusual horticulture camp at Mississippi State, Youth Legislature, an incredible mountaintop week at YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly, church camps and basketball camps galore. The purpose of camps for kids is easy to understand. Camps exist so kids can meet new people, learn new skills, explore new ideas and experience new places. My question: Why should any of that stop at 18? I started down this road because I still want to learn to warp a loom. A search turned up a camp-style five-day class in New Hampshire that teaches exactly that. I already have a call in to get on next year’s list. But thinking about the possibilities for adult camps sent me down a deeper rabbit hole: What would it take to organize a camp for grown women? Then I realized that I have some experience with this.

STAFF PHOTO By JAN RISHER

Learning to fold origami cranes is an inexpensive way to be a beginner. There are plenty of videos available online to teach origami — or sign up for a class or ask a friend who knows how to do it.

A few years ago, I organized a long weekend writing camp. It was a gathering of kindred spirits who used the time away from the rest of the world to pour their thoughts onto paper and share their hearts. The long weekend served the same purpose summer camps did. We walked away with new insights about ourselves and each other, as well as new and deeper friendships. Plus, we had new content. A few years later, I organized a long weekend where a group of women set out to fold 1,000 paper cranes — a senbazuru. There was almost no programming. Eight women sat around tables and folded cranes for the better part of three days. Some of them didn’t know each other or how to fold a crane when they arrived. By the time we finished the senbazuru, everyone knew everyone and certainly, we all knew how to fold a crane. I’ve thought a great deal about why both of those weekends worked so well. With the origami, we had a goal. At the start, 1,000 cranes is daunting, but a shared task with a real number attached unites people faster than almost anything else I know.

ä See CAMP, page 3D

STAFF PHOTOS By SOPHIA GERMER

Troy Landry launches his boat into Lake Verret in Pierre Part for a late August morning of alligator hunting during the first day of filming for the new season of ‘Swamp People.’

A WAY OF LIFE

The ‘king of the swamp’ Troy Landry continues to draw ‘Swamp People’ fans to a small Louisiana town BY JENNA ROSS Staff writer

PIERRE PART — They’d driven from Arkansas and flown from New Zealand. They’d bought “Choot ’em” hats and Tshirts and a cutting board in the shape of Louisiana. They’d set up lawn chairs and packed coolers and readied Sharpies. Then, just after noon on a Friday during the last week of August, better known ä To see around here as the first week more photos of alligator hunting season, during a day they spotted their prey: “Troy’s comin’!” a fan in the life of whispered, straining to get Troy Landry, a look at Troy Landry, the GO TO steady star of season after season of “Swamp People,” THEAdVOCATE. History Channel’s reality COM. series set in the heart of the Atchafalaya Basin. Landry, 65, backed his boat into the dock behind the gas station in this small, Cajun city that still has no stoplight but still has his heart. Sweaty and red-faced, he and his son Chase began roping gators so big they had to be transported by forklift, hanging from their jaws and set in a row before onlookers to be measured from tooth to tail. As a cameraman captured the lineup, Landry furrowed and frowned, a look “Swamp People” turns to during the height of a hunt, when the water is low or the bait is unclaimed. Then his face broke into a boyish grin. That grin draws fans worldwide to Pierre Part, population 2,300, where his

ABOVE: Spectators gather at duffy’s Sportsmen’s Supply to see alligators measured during filming of ‘Swamp People.’

family has been hunting and fishing and running the bait shops and working the restaurants for so long there’s a selfpublished book at the gas station mapping their history back to the 18th century. (“The Landry Families of Pierre

ä See LANDRY, page 2D

LEFT: Marlene Guillot holds a list of alligator sizes brought in by Troy Landry at duffy’s.

2D ● Sunday, September 20, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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LANDRY

Continued from page 1d Part” will cost you $29.99.) “He’s the Obi-Wan Kenobi,” said Colton Cuculich, 28, who drove 17 hours with his mom from northern Missouri. He left with autographs on his legs that he had an artist transform into tattoos. “He’s number one. He started it all.” Each September, during filming, the fans fill the cabins and book the swamp tours. “It’s unreal what it does for this little community,” said state Sen. Eddie Lambert, whose own cabin rentals and personal houseboat were booked solid for the month. “Troy put it on the map.” Catch Landry outside Duffy’s Sportsmen’s Supply, the hub of it all, and he will give you an autograph, sure. But he’ll also offer his take on the conditions that season. A tale about the gator that gave him the biggest fight that morning. A beer, once filming’s wrapped. If he’s met you before, he’ll ask about your “better half.” How Arkansas is treating you. In my case, he razzed me about the time in his truck a few weeks earlier, when we got a flat tire. “Don’t listen when she says, ‘Oh, I know the way,’” Landry said, raising his eyebrows, grinning. “She’ll get you a flat tire! “She will, she will.”

‘An instant hit’ At some point during our day together, before the flat, Landry figured he ought to find me an alligator. Gators were, after all, how he became famous. We hadn’t planned a hunt, weren’t pulling a boat. But Landry had a gun wedged between the cushion and the console of the front seat of his pickup, just in case, and a specific alligator in mind: “Marshmallow,” named for the treats his grandkids give him.

PROVIdEd PHOTO FROM COLTON CUCULICH

The day after Colton Cuculich nabbed autographs from the ‘Swamp People’ stars in Pierre Part, he had them turned into tattoos.

We’d ended up an hour into the woods because Landry had got to talking about his land. “I’m going to therapy,” he said of his ventures into the woods. “Nobody can come. I’m going to my happy place.” It’s hundreds of acres of land Landry plans to put in a trust “for the grandbabies.” Land filled with old oak trees whose branches brush the ground. With fruit trees, long abandoned but still blooming. With crab traps, piled high and covered with honeysuckle, for the deer. “Swamp People” made it possible. Landry was the first character named in the first episode of the first season of “Swamp People” in 2010. The show, which tracks swampers through bayous and cypress groves over an intense, monthlong hunting season, treads similar territory as fellow cable reality hits such as “Duck Dynasty,” “Gold Rush” and “Deadliest Catch.” The kind of shows that, at first, seem to be about a hyper-specific culture in a hyper-specific place but always end up being about people and family and how we relate to one another. And in the case of “Swamp People,” an ode to a disappearing way of life. The show was “an instant hit,” said Mary Donahue, a senior vice president at the History Channel. “It was so beautiful and so unusual and the characters were so admirable. … “Mr. Troy was an immediate standout.” Donahue, one the early executives on the series, spent time with Landry and his family and still counts their crawfish boil among her career highlights. She has a master’s degree in American studies and sees in the Atchafalaya swamp one of the country’s last frontiers. “Independence, self-reliance, all these wonderful qualities,” she said, “and that’s what I saw in the characters that were part of ‘Swamp People.’” The show has been airing for so many seasons that even Donahue was surprised when she looked up just how long. “Season 18?” she said. “Jeepers!” Cast members can’t remember how many seasons they’ve filmed. (Dozens have appeared for a season, or three, then retreated back into anonymity.)

STAFF PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER

Fans gather around Troy Landry at duffy’s Sportsmen’s Supply in Pierre Part during the first week of the filming of ‘Swamp People’ on Aug. 28.

We’re lucky. … But we always went out of our way. We always took care. That’s why it’s lasted so long — because we took the time.”

By the time “Swamp People” found him, Landry was in his late 40s. He’d been working hard since he was 10. Lifting, pulling, loading. “We didn’t have no forklifts.” His father started his bait business with a cooler the size of a pickup. His parents took their honeymoon in a borrowed car. Landry brought the same daylight-todarkness ethic to the show. Early on, at one Cabela’s opening or another, Landry was suddenly encountering lines of people who’d been waiting hours to meet him. He and his sons, who also star on the show, sat and signed and snapped photos until the line got down to zero. Meanwhile, the star of another buckshot-littered reality series “went and locked himself in the truck,” Landry said. “We sat there for three hours and took pictures. You sat in an air-conditioned truck.” That’s why, when folks say that Landry got lucky, he acknowledges the bit of luck that led a team of TV producers to Pierre Part. But he also points out the work involved. “We’re lucky. We’re lucky, man. But we always went out of our way. We always took care. “That’s why it’s lasted so long — because we took the time.”

‘I can touch it’ Out of the woods and onto the road, it became clear: the back tire was flat. Landry pulled over, made a couple calls. A second truck was on its way. Then, as we sat chatting, his mom called: His father, who is in poor health, had fallen, again. Their rambler was close, and Landry drove quickly. By the time we arrived, his father was upright, his mother was smoking a cigarette, and his cousin was sitting at the kitchen table with the two of them. They hugged, they kissed, they shouted to one another in Cajun French, loud enough so his father could hear. At first, “Swamp People” fans probably tuned in for the gator hunts. But they stayed for this: Landry caring for his aging parents. Teaching his grandkids — “my little gang,” as he put it. Jacob’s sons Ridge and Moose are hunters, as evidenced by an episode in which the boys pulled in a few gators on their own, testing out their own catchphrases. But when Landry goes into the woods with his granddaughter, he has a different focus. “I say, ‘You want to bring the gun this time? You want to try to shoot ’em?’” And she says, ‘Let ’em live, Paw.’” He kept chuckling, wiping a tear from

STAFF PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER

Adalyn Alleman, 2, checks out an alligator brought to duffy’s.

his eye. “‘Let ’em live, Paw.’” Cheyenne Wheat, better known to viewers as Landry’s deckhand, “Pickle,” thought he was a tyrant when she first got in his boat. The two hunters were generations apart but “about the same person,” she said. “We are both going to push and shove.” Quickly, though, Landry opened up with Wheat, whom he calls the daughter he never had. He shared his prostate cancer diagnosis, the loss of a close friend. He hosted her wedding on his land, officiating the ceremony. Then, when Wheat had another baby and had to balance filming with breastfeeding, pumping on the boat, Landry eased his own pace, tapping his watch when it hit 9 a.m. Landry does not, typically, ease up. (He ranks past deckhands and camera operators on their speed, or lack of it.) But really, he could have slowed his own pace sooner. Should have eased his own pace sooner. After the show’s first episode, way back when, Landry happened to chat with a lawyer friend in town. She told him he ought to trademark some of his goofy sayings — “tree shaker” and “mudda freaka” among them. So he did, subbing the “s” for a “c” to make “Choot ’em,” which is now emblazoned on stacks of hats at Duffy’s. What little he knew about money, he’d learned before the show began. His father had been bugging him for years to invest. So after a crawfish season, Landry put $40,000 into stocks. Months later, the Sept. 11 attacks tanked the market.

ä See LANDRY, page 3D

TROY LANDRY, on the success of “Swamp People”

STAFF PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER

Troy Landry sits on his boat after bringing in alligators to duffy’s.

The Acadiana Advocate ● theadvocate.com ● Sunday, September 20, 2026 ● 3D

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TODAY IN HISTORY By The Associated Press Today is Sunday, Sept. 20, the 263rd day of 2026. There are 102 days left in the year. Today in history: On Sept. 20, 1973, in their so-called “Battle of the Sexes,” tennis star Billie Jean King defeated Bobby Riggs in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3, 6-3, in the Houston Astrodome. Also on this date: In 1519, Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan and his crew set out from Spain on five ships to find a western passage to the Spice Islands. (Magellan was killed en route, but one of his ships completed the first circumnavigation of the globe three years later.) In 1946, the first Cannes Film Festival, lasting 16 days, opened in France. In 1962, James Meredith, a Black student, was blocked from enrolling at the University of Mississippi by Democratic Gov. Ross R. Barnett. In 1964, The Beatles concluded their first full-fledged U.S. tour by performing in a charity concert at the Paramount Theater in New York. In 1967, the Cunard liner Queen Elizabeth 2 was christened by Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II in Clydebank, Scotland. In 2011, the repeal of the U.S. military’s 18-year-old “don’t ask, don’t tell” compromise took effect, allowing gay and lesbian service members to serve openly. In 2017, Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico, wiping out up to 75% of power distribution lines and causing an islandwide blackout. It was the strongest storm to hit the island in more than 80 years. In 2019, Three Mile Island in Pennsylvania, the site of the nation’s worst commercial nuclear power accident in 1979, was shut down by its owner after producing electricity for 45 years. In 2024, an Israeli airstrike in Beirut killed at least 14 people and wounded dozens more. It was the first such Israeli attack on the Lebanese capital in months and came shortly after the Shiite Muslim militant and political group Hezbollah pounded northern Israel with 140 rockets. Today’s Birthdays: Actor Sophia Loren is 92. Author George R. R. Martin is 78. Actor Gary Cole is 70. TV news correspondent Deborah Roberts is 66. Actor Maggie Cheung is 62. Actor Kristen Johnston is 59. Rock singers Gunnar and Matthew Nelson are 59. Race car driver Juan Pablo Montoya is 51. Actor Jon Bernthal is 50. Actor Aldis Hodge is 40. Retired mixed martial artist Khabib Nurmagomedov is 38. Singer-songwriter Phillip Phillips is 36. Singer Katrina Stuart is 27.

Master your manners, not the silverware Dear Miss Manners: My summer internship went great and I’ve been hired! But I’m afraid I’m going to ruin it because my boss takes new hires out to lunch at her exclusive club. I had to buy a tie, which is fine, but I just know I’ll use Judith the wrong fork. Martin Help! MISS Gentle reader: MANNERS Only if you promise never again to use that meaningless cliche about the “wrong fork.” The age of specialized eating implements was over more than 100 years before you were born. Even in its prime, it affected only a small class, as aristocrats scorned it and the working class ignored it. If there are even two forks at your place setting, it would be surprising. A club, like a restaurant, does not know what

you plan to order, so the staff cannot set the table for specific foods. If they could — and had, for example, a salad fork and a meat fork — all you would need to know is to pick them up from the outside in. But heaven forbid that Miss Manners should imply that table manners do not count. If you hunch over your plate, chew with your mouth open or otherwise disgust your boss, she could very well hold it against you, even if unintentionally. While it is doubtful that your first job will require you to entertain clients at expense account meals, your boss’s reaction to sloppy eating will be visceral. Table manners are not that hard, and you could learn them in a few minutes. But it would be a good idea not to order any unfamiliar dishes. Dear Miss Manners: I understand that black dresses are tradi-

tionally not supposed to be worn at a wedding. But what if there are female groomspeople at a black-tie affair? I’m planning to have my daughter and my three sisters stand with me at my wedding next year, and since I’m going to be in a tuxedo, I thought they might all wear black, as well. Gentle reader:: Congratulations on realizing that your wedding party should consist of those closest to you, regardless of gender. Most people still approach this by casting gender-specific roles. This comes of not understanding that the tradition dated from a time when brides and bridegrooms were not expected to have close ties to those of the opposite gender. But Miss Manners sees that you are still partially struck with that misunderstanding, in that you are considering dressing your groomswomen as honorary men.

This brings her to another silly wedding custom: that of dressing female attendants alike, as if they formed a chorus line. Why not allow them to be the individuals for which you presumably value them, and choose their own dressy outfits? See? Miss Manners is not against sensible change. However, she still thinks that black dresses look too somber for a wedding. An increasing number of people now think they are too somber even for funerals, which are now styled as celebrations of life. But we won’t fight that fight right now. One step at a time, she supposes. Send questions to Miss Manners at her website, www. missmanners.com; to her email, dearmissmanners@ gmail.com; or through postal mail to Miss Manners, Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.

Using up leftover pie dough creates a tasty snack Dear Heloise: A simple way to use up leftover pie dough is to just take the odd-shaped pieces, lay them on an ungreased cookie sheet, and sprinkle them Hints from with cinnamon Heloise and sugar. Place them in an oven along with the pie and bake until they’re lightly browned, or for about five minutes. They make a quick and tasty snack. — Marlene K., in Regent, North Dakota

More leftover pie dough Dear Heloise: Leftover pie crust dough also makes wonderful crackers. Roll the dough out thinly, cut it with cookie cutters. Then brush the cutouts with melted butter and sprinkle them with salt. Bake for 10 minutes, but check on them before then. And try a cracker while it’s

still warm! — Anne S., via email

Motor oil stains Dear Heloise: I devised this effective way to eliminate a fresh motor oil stain on your clean concrete driveway. The best results happen if you treat it as soon as you notice it. Use the cheapest cat litter (without color crystals and such). Pour just enough to cover the stain and pound it into a powder using a mallet or hammer. Then, using a piece of flexible Styrofoam and rubbing in circular motions, grind the powdered litter into the stain for one to two minutes. Brush the litter into a dust pan, and voila, the stain is gone! — Bob, in Green Valley,Arizona

Adios, grease! Dear Heloise: For catching food grease, I take an empty glass jar with a wide mouth and put the grease in there with a spoon. If the grease is hot, it could melt plastic, so I have a

glass jelly jar that I bought. A pickle or canning jar works, too. Keep the lid on it to keep flies out. When it’s full, secure the lid and toss it in the trash. If you don’t have a second glass jar, I’ve poured some cooled grease into a used zipclose bag, zipped it up, and taken it to the trash can for the dump. — Terry, in Upper Virginia Terry, I like to pour cooled grease into a plastic bag that has lost its usefulness from having been used so many times. I always keep a stack of them in an old facial tissue box on the lower shelf of my pantry. — Heloise

A sparkling bouquet Dear Heloise: I got married in June, and about six months ahead of my wedding, I wrote to all my aunts, first cousins and close friends, as well as my hairdresser, and I asked them if they’d send me one brooch that they no longer wore. When all the brooches arrived, I took

a medium-size Styrofoam ball and attached the brooches to it with a handle at the back so that I could hold it. There were a few white ribbon streamers hanging down at the bottom. It turned out beautifully, and this was what I carried down the aisle instead of a floral bouquet. It was a way to take my family (whom I love dearly) with me on this very important day. It now sits under a glass dome in the master bedroom. I love your column. When my dad taught me how to read, he used your column and had me sound out the words that I didn’t know. — Kelly S., in Odessa, Texas Kelly, this is a clever hint and a beautiful way to recycle jewelry that was once worn by someone whom you care about. Thanks so much for sharing and being a longtime reader! — Heloise Send a hint to heloise@ heloise.com.

CAMP

Continued from page 1d

STAFF PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER

Tony ‘Tet Tony’ Hebert launches his boat from Shell Beach Road in Pierre Part during the first week of filming ‘Swamp People.’

LANDRY

Continued from page 2d From then on, he bought property instead of stocks. Houses rather than bonds. (His great-grandmother’s house among them.) And land, above all. “I can see it,” he said, “I can touch it.” But he kept crawfish farming, daylight to darkness, missing weekends and weddings. Finally, two years ago, he sold. “We used to work this much,” he said, stretching wide his hands, which are thick as gator tails, “for this much money,” he said, bringing them close. “Now we work this much,” he said, extending them a bit, “for this much money.” And he pulled his hands wide.

‘Just regular folk’ It was 6 a.m. and the sky was still pink as Landry and his son Chase set off on Lake Verret, past a single, stately cypress tree. Trailing them was an old friend, Tony Hebert, aka Tet Tony. But other than one cameraman, no crew, no lights. No crowd. They’d be gone for five hours, the crowd forming behind Duffy’s, getting

word about whether the hunting had been good (it had) or they’d gotten a big one (they had). Ken Fox and his wife, Lisa, had driven down from Michigan, thinking they’d get an autograph or two, a moment or two. But Fox tried not to expect too much. He’d helped a friend with his security business, so he’d met celebrities before. For the most part, he wishes he hadn’t. But the Landry crew proved him wrong. As they chatted with Chase earlier in the week, Jacob cleaned around the station with a leaf blower. “You think they’d have people doing that kind of stuff, but they’re just regular folk, working their business like anybody else. “They were just as genuine guys as you’ll ever want to meet.” A key part of each episode is when the tape measure comes out. It’s not just theater, it determines how much the hunters get paid. They used to hunt for gator skins but that market has dried. Now they hunt for meat. But even that doesn’t make them much, these days. The show has made a difficult market slightly more profitable. On this day, Hebert stuck a silver rod in the biggest alligator’s mouth — 11

feet, 7 inches. But an invoice took note of — and calculated payment for — all 15 gators they’d brought in. After the cameraman had set down his equipment and the crew had put away the tape measure, Landry grabbed a wide bucket and a long knife and headed toward the alley, where several 10-pound bags of chicken legs had been laying in the sun. Each day, after the gators are measured and weighed, Landry goes back on the water, setting the bait for the next morning. He sliced through the plastic, released the stench and dumped the rotting meat into the bucket. It was then that two fans approached, phones in selfie mode. He protested, at first, gesturing to the chicken. But then he wiped his hand on his pants, put the knife around her arm and smiled. “It’s just an honor to meet you,” said Hannah Lawson, 22, in town from South Carolina. Landry gave fist bump after fist bump, never stopping to move into the shade, never stopping to wash his hands. A smile for each fan, a joke for each friend. Contact reporter Jenna Ross at jenna. ross@theadvocate.com.

Nothing inspires like a deadline. My life’s work is proof of that. Why does crane folding work so well? Little in life feels more prayerful to me than folding origami cranes. I cannot fully explain this, but I suspect it has something to do with the rhythm of the thing. Folding a crane is kind of like knitting. Each requires just enough attention, with just enough breaks, that real conversation is possible. Hands stay busy. Hearts open. Tongues loosen. So many women I know are tired of the grind — tired of finding things, tired of making sure everyone is where they are supposed to be when they are supposed to be there, tired of cooking and dishes. Don’t even start on the laundry. (To be fair, plenty of men are probably tired of a similar grind — and I respect that as well.) For whoever is willing to participate, a table full of paper and nowhere to be but exactly there is liberating. In total, I have helped fold nearly a dozen senbazurus, each built around a particular intent. The first came in 2011, after Amazon pledged $2 toward Japanese tsunami recovery for every crane folded and mailed to them. We ended up making and mailing three senbazurus that spring. In 2015, after the theater shooting in Lafayette, friends and I folded four more. My friend Jillian Johnson was killed that evening. She had folded cranes with us before. As she was in so many other aspects of life, she was a great crane folder. In the days after the shooting, many of us who loved her sat around our oversized table with our hands busy, folding. It was a sliver of a beautiful testament to the life she lived, and a way to grieve as a community rather than alone. Plus, we felt like we had some purpose. We had to fold a thousand cranes. We folded more senbazurus at the start of the COVID lockdown. A thousand cranes, it turns out, can hold almost anything. Grief. Fear. Boredom. Friendship. The simple wish to learn something new alongside people who are learning it too. Which brings me back to camp, and to a search that led me somewhere unexpected: French real estate listings. What a beautiful camp I could organize in a French chateau, origami-themed or otherwise. On the internet, I learned that for a mere $1.5 million, I could buy what one site called a “luxurious 17th-century manor house,” 15 bedrooms, a pool included. A luxurious 17th-century French manor house sounds delightful — and the photos make my heart go pitter-patter. I could throw some incredible camps there. Oh, the senbazurus we could fold.

4D l Sunday, September 20, 2026 l theadvocate.com l The Acadiana Advocate

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BOOKS

BETWEEN The characters and New Orleans settings THE PAGES of John Kennedy Toole’s novel are transformed WITH ALBERT MONTEyS by the hand of a Barcelona-based writer-illustrator

‘A Confederacy of Dunces’

gets graphic

BY RIEN FERTEL Contributing writer

“A Confederacy of Dunces: A Graphic Novel Adaptation,” by Albert Monteys,Archaia / BOOM! Studios, 240 pages. With the 50th anniversary of “A Confederacy of Dunces” approaching — John Kennedy Toole’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel published in 1980 — we should brace ourselves for an Ignatius J. Reilly-sized load of commemorations and content. Getting a jump-start on this golden anniversary is a graphic novel adaptation (out Sept. 29) by Albert Monteys, a Barcelonabased writer and illustrator and longtime fan of the book. Rendered in comic book form, the characters and settings readers know so well are subtly transformed by the hand of Monteys, who has recently adapted Kurt Vonnegut’s “SlaughterhouseFive.” Irene Reilly becomes a more sympathetic mother, Miss Trixie transforms into a ghoulish fright, and the Night of Joy looks like a welcoming stop for a regular round. Ignatius, well, he remains his charmingly demented self. This interview was edited for length and clarity. How did you get involved with this project? In 2020, during the promotion of “Slaughterhouse-Five,” I was asked a few times if there was any other novel I'd like to adapt into a graphic novel. My answer, being a longtime fan of the book, was always “A Confederacy of Dunces.” I was aware at the time that almost all attempts to adapt the book, mostly into a film, had failed so far. But Sierra Hahn, my editor at Archaia, took good note and worked hard to secure the rights for an adaptation. I had mostly forgotten about it when, a few years later, she mailed me telling me we were good to start working on it. I panicked, of course — one does not want to be the cartoonist that ruined a great novel — but I did reread it, started taking notes and let myself slide into work, hoping something decent would result from all that effort. When did you first read “A Confederacy of Dunces?” I first read the book in a Spanish translation in the mid-’90s and fell in love straight away. I do remember trying not to laugh out loud reading the novel on a train to work. “Confederacy” isn't an easy book to translate since almost all characters have some accent, so I enjoyed the book almost as a new experience when I finally read it in English. I'm interested in the life of Toole's novel in Spain. It's been translated, of course, but can you speak to its popularity? Does it have any sort of fan base? I'd say Spain is one of the countries where “Confederacy” has been most successful, other than the United States. The Spanish editor got the rights even before it became a huge success in its original edition. And the first Spanish edition was published in 1981, just

John Kennedy Toole won a Pulitzer Prize for ‘A Confederacy of dunces,’ which was published posthumously. one year after its publication in America. It became an instant hit and a long seller. I do believe there is something quintessentially Mediterranean

both in the New Orleans presented in the book and Ignatius’ attitudes. So the Spanish reader connected immediately with the novel. A reader from Barcelona

understands automatically how the French Quarter feels, since our old town had the same kind of street life. As it happens everywhere, there’s a percentage of readers who find the book — the character of Ignatius, I guess — totally unnerving. So it’s a great book to debate around. In his foreword to the book's original edition,Walker Percy, who is credited with ushering the novel to publication, describes Ignatius as “a fat Don Quixote.” Do you agree with his comparison? Yeah, I think he says he's a mix of St. Thomas Aquinas, Oliver Hardy and Don Quixote, and I couldn’t agree more — a delusional character who has constructed his own narrative through books. Especially the last part of the book, where he imagines he’s going to save the woman of his dreams, in the same way Don Quixote built the character of Dulcinea del Toboso around an almost random girl, makes it hard to think Toole did not have Don Quixote in mind while building his main character. Again, this might be one of the reasons the book resonated so well with the Spanish reader. Please tell me about your process and research in coming up with the character and background designs. I'm not sure if you've ever been to New Orleans before, but

the interior and exterior city spaces, as you've drawn them, are spot-on. Honestly, Ignatius was pretty easy. We’ve lived all this time with the Ed Lindlof classic cover version that is very spoton. The character is so well described in the book, all I had to do was adapt him to my style, add some corporality, gesturality and life. We all agree about how Ignatius looks. The rest of the characters were more challenging and required, as it happens, a process of graphic research. My intention was to render everyone more human than Ignatius, who is almost a caricature, close to a clown, a performer. So my research in that sense was mainly to find out how the different communities that are portrayed in the book dressed in the late ’60s. Of course, the book has two main characters, one being Ignatius and the other New Orleans. Sadly, I've never been in New Orleans, but I think after all the research of the spaces, buildings and street characters I did, I would be able to navigate the city quite easily right now — that is, if someone brought me back in time to the late ’60s. I know the city has changed quite a lot since then. I wouldn’t be lying if I said one of my main worries, where I felt more like an impostor, was to get the portrait of the city right, so it’s very relieving to hear you say I did a good job there. You previously adapted “SlaughterhouseFive.” What are the challenges and delights of reinterpreting these classic but cultish works of American literature? I do believe an adaptation needs to earn the right to exist on its own. Our take with “Slaughterhouse-Five,” and now with “A Confederacy of Dunces,” has been to bring as much of a personal voice as we can into the narrative. That doesn't necessarily mean being disrespectful with the book, or deviating too much from it, but working from the beginning with the premise that this is not “A Confederacy Of Dunces” with pictures but a new narrative based on the novel. You need to take some liberties to get the spirit of the book, not just the letter. That being said, both books are among my favorite works of fiction Western culture has produced, so it’s almost impossible not to approach them with reverence bordering on fear. It’s a very different state of mind compared with working with an original story. You can’t shake from your mind the idea that your book will be compared with the original by readers who have the same degree of respect you have for it. Eventually you just have to shut all those voices down and do your book the best you can. It’s not “A Confederacy of Dunces” but my view of “A Confederacy of Dunces.” Rien Fertel is the author of four books. He recently won his fifth Best Critical Review Award from the New Orleans Press Club.

THIS WEEK’S BESTSELLERS FROM PUBLISHERS WEEKLY HARDCOVER FICTION

1. “The Knave and the Moon” by Rachel Gillig 2. “The Calamity Club” by Kathryn Stockett 3. “The Most Dangerous Games (deluxe ed.)” by Beast/Patterson 4. “Yesteryear” by Caro Claire Burke 5. “Whistler” by Ann Patchett 6. “Big Little Truths” by Liane Moriarty 7. “The Disappearers” by Marlon James 8. “Scion” by James Islington 9. “The Altar of Pergamon” by Jonathan Cahn 10. “The Poison Daughter” by Sheila Masterson

HARDCOVER NONFICTION

1. “This Is Me” by Hayden Panettiere 2. “Homemaking with Babs” by Barbara Costello 3. “Humble Power” by Ethan Willis 4. “The Functional Home” by Julie Jones 5. “The Origin of a Leader” by Pam Manfredo Curtis 6. “The Retire Sooner Method” by Wes Moss 7. “The Confidence Habit” by Cindra Kamphoff 8. “American Scoundrel” by Kai Bird 9. “Regime Change” by Haberman/Swan 10. “Going Further” by Ted Cruz

TRADE PAPERBACK

1. “Theo of Golden” by Allen Levi 2. “Brain Damage” by Freida McFadden 3. “Dungeon Crawler Carl” by Matt Dinniman 4. “The Killer Isn’t Alice” by Iris Starling 5. “Wild Dark Shore” by Charlotte McConaghy 6. “My Dreadful Darling” by H.D. Carlton 7. “Verity” by Colleen Hoover 8. “Spy x Family, Vol. 16” by Tatsuya Endo 9. “Carl’s Doomsday Scenario” by Matt Dinniman 10. Murdoku” by Manuel Garand

The Acadiana Advocate ● theadvocate.com ● Sunday, September 20, 2026 ● 5D

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LOUISIANA INSPIRED Nominations sought for annual 2026 Inspirit Award

BY JAN RISHER

fessions, race, religion and political ideologies to explore and forge solutions to the biggest issues facing society today.

Staff writer

Louisiana Inspired is looking for its next class of Inspirit Award winners. Readers across the state can nominate people who are working toward solutions in neighborhoods, rural communities, towns and cities — work that takes extra effort by special people, demonstrating the good stuff of the human spirit. You can nominate someone at www.nola.com/site/forms/the_inspirit_award/ and submit by 5 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 2. Nominees can be any age — people who systematically go about doing their best to make the world a better place, whether in their workplaces, schools, neighborhoods, communities or across the state. Award recipients will be announced in December in the Advocate and Times-Picayune. We recently checked in with three of the past 21 Inspirit winners, who each prove that the award isn’t about work being completed. Inspirit winners tend to continue efforts toward making the world better.

Randell Henry Randell Henry was recognized in 2023 for his work and sharing of spirit and talent in the Baton Rouge’s arts scene for more than 40 years. Henry is a painter who has spent as much time teaching as creating. He’s taught art to a variety of people — from kindergartners to college students to prison inmates. This year, Henry helped bring an ambitious show to Baton Rouge. As a member of the Baton Rouge Gallery board, he pushed to host an ambitious show this year, called “Free As They Want To Be: Artists Committed to Memory.” It’s a traveling exhibit of more than 60 works by 30 national artists — exploring the legacies of slavery and Black identity. The show proved too large for one gallery. It opened simultaneously at Baton Rouge Gallery, Southern University’s Frank

Tre Bishop

PROVIdEd PHOTO

Tre Bishop won an Inspirit Award when he was 15. These days, he’s a college freshman at Clemson, but he’s still working on the statewide recycling project he started eight years ago.

STAFF FILE PHOTO By ENAN CHEdIAK

Syrita Steib participates in a game of double dutch during a Juneteenth celebration at Pot Belly NOLA in New Orleans.

Syrita Steib Another 2023 recipient, Syrita Steib, was 19 when a judge sentenced her to 10 years in prison and $1.9 million in restitution. She left prison not knowing her bra size, how to use a cellphone or where she’d sleep that night. In 2016, Steib founded Operation Restoration with the desire to champion and advocate for those she left behind. Following her release, Steib discovered that no organization in Louisiana was committed to helping women and girls impacted by the criminal legal system. As founder, president and CEO, Steib continues to run Operation Restoration, an organization with STAFF FILE PHOTO By ROBIN MILLER a $5.74 million operating budget. Over the past decade, it has proRandell Henry, a Southern vided more than 6,000 clients with University professor of art, some 30,000 services — ranging stands in front of Emerson Bell’s from transitional housing and sculpture, ‘Unity and destiny for clothing to financial literacy, transChildren’ in Baton Rouge. portation support and education access. Steib received a full presidential Hayden Visual Arts Gallery and the West Baton Rouge Museum, pardon in 2021. She has focused her attention on access to educarunning through most of August.

Tre Bishop was 11 when he watched his father’s campaign signs come down after an election and wondered where they went. Seven years, one act of the Louisiana Legislature and the governor’s signature later, the Lafayette teen has a statewide recycling program to his name. This fall, he moved into his dorm room at Clemson. Bishop, 18, is studying business with hopes of majoring in finance. He says being away from Louisiana has only deepened his appreciation for home. Even though he is 699 miles from home, the program that earned him his 2023 Inspirit Award hasn’t slowed down. The fund that collects candidates’ payments toward sign disposal grew again this election cycle, and Bishop has spent the year working with the Secretary of State’s office and state Rep. Beau Beaullieu to finalize the rules governing it. Distance hasn’t stopped the text messages, either. “I’m still getting text messages of, ‘Hey, I have these signs. Would you be able to pick them up?’ ” Bishop said. He flies home about once a month to handle it. He drove in for the LSU-Clemson game, which he says was an odd experience — cheering against the team he grew up watching with his father from the stands. In October, Bishop plans to come home again — this time to accept another award, the 232Help Award. He’s using the trip to launch a new fundraiser, the 232 Ways to Help Challenge, asking donors to give $2.32 or $23.20. He plans to start in Louisiana and grow it from there. He still calls his mother every day.

tion, one of many barriers faced by women impacted by incarceration. After one college application asking about her criminal history got her rejected — and a second, with the box left unchecked, got her in — Steib helped draft the “Ban the Box” legislation that made Louisiana the first state to strip that question from college applications. Seven states have followed. She has worked to expand access to higher education for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated women. In the College-in-Prison program in partnership with Tulane University School of Professional Advancement, 28 women at Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women have graduated with Bachelor of Arts degrees in social science. Steib has achieved numerous accolades over the past decade, most recently completing a three-year Aspen Institute Civil Society Fellowship. The cohort brought together leaders representing a diverse Email Jan Risher at jan.risher@ cross-section of geographies, pro- theadvocate.com.

Powering Progress A New Home for Discovery, Research and Collaboration at LSU

Shell Research Laboratories

Pictured L to R: Rob Stuart, LSU Real Estate and Facilities Foundation President & CEO; Wade Rousse, LSU President; Rochelle Touchard, Shell, Corporate Relations Regional Lead; Colette Hirstius, Shell USA, President; Lee Stockwell, Shell, General Manager, Carbon Capture and Storage North America; Krista Raney, LSU Foundation President & CEO; Robb Brumfield, LSU College of Science Interim Dean

“The opening of the LSU Our Lady of the Lake Health Interdisciplinary Science Building is a testament to the power of partnership and what can be achieved when industry and academia come together around a shared vision.

Shell USA, Inc. committed $2.5 million to the Our Lady of the Lake Health Interdisciplinary Science Building as part of a $27.5 million investment in energy-related initiatives at LSU. Shell Research Laboratories offers advanced research environments to enable faculty and students to work together on complex, real world challenges.

We are proud to support a space where students, faculty and industry can collaborate to drive discovery, explore new frontiers and develop the next generation of scientists, engineers and energy leaders.” – Colette Hirstius, President, Shell USA

shell.us/louisiana | #PoweringProgress

6D ● Sunday, September 20, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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LA. BAKES Dolly Parton loved food, family and Southern comfort Here are two of her famous recipes

The world lost a beloved icon when Dolly Parton died in August at 80. More than a legendary singer, songwriter, actress and philanthropist, Parton was a storyteller whose warmth reached far beyond the stage. Raised in the Smoky Mountains Olivia of East Tennessee, Regard she often spoke about simple country cooking and the meals that brought her family together around the table. Even as her fame grew, she never lost her affection for humble Southern dishes that celebrated home, family and tradition. Food was woven into the fabric of Parton’s life. Perhaps no food is more closely associated with the star than the famous cinnamon bread served at Dollywood amusement park. Warm, buttery and fragrant, the loaf has become almost as legendary as the woman herself, drawing visitors who line up just to enjoy a slice fresh from the oven. It is a recipe that captures the singer’s spirit perfectly: comforting, generous and made to be shared. Equally iconic is the delightfully simple Cuppa Cuppa Cuppa Cake, made famous by Parton’s character, Truvy Jones, in the beloved film “Steel Magnolias.” As Truvy explains, this cake is so simple that you don’t have to write it down; it’s just “a cuppa flour, a cuppa sugar, and a cuppa fruit cocktail with the juice. Mix it together and bake at 350 until it’s gold and bubbly.” Much like her character in the movie, the recipe reflects the practical ingenuity of Southern home cooks while delivering a dessert that feels like a warm hug on a plate. Sept. 25 is Dolly Parton Day, a clever nod to her iconic hit movie “9 to 5.” So on this day, pour yourself a cup of ambition and enjoy a warm slice of cinnamon bread or spoonful of cake in the late icon’s honor.

Cuppa Cuppa Cuppa Cake Serves 10-12. Recipe is adapted from “Steel Magnolias.” 1 cup self-rising flour 1 cup sugar 1 (15-ounce) can fruit cocktail with juice 2 tablespoons unsalted butter Vanilla ice cream, for serving

PHOTOS By OLIVIA REGARd

Cuppa Cuppa Cuppa Cake

1. Preheat oven to 350 F. 2. Generously grease a 9-inch pie dish or cast-iron skillet with butter. 3. Mix flour, sugar and fruit cocktail (with the juice) until combined. 4. Transfer to the prepared pan. Slice remaining butter into small pieces and place on top of batter. 5. Bake until the top is gold and bubbly, approximately 40-45 minutes. 6. Serve warm with ice cream.

Dollywood Cinnamon Bread

Yields one 9-inch loaf. Recipe is from “Baking in the American South: 200 Recipes and Their Untold Stories.” For the dough: 1 cup whole milk, plus 1 tablespoon 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature 11/2 teaspoons dry yeast 3 cups bread flour, plus more for handling 2 tablespoons granulated sugar 1 teaspoon kosher salt For the topping: 4 tablespoons unsalted butter 1/4 cup granulated sugar 1/4 cup lightly packed light brown sugar 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon 1. Pour the 1 cup milk into a small saucepan over medium heat until bubbles form around the edges of the pan and it scalds, 3 to 4 minutes. Turn off the heat. 2. Add the butter to the milk and stir to melt. Once the mixture cools to the touch, whisk in the yeast. 3. Place the flour, sugar and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer

dollywood Cinnamon Bread and beat on low speed until just combined. 4. Pour in the yeast mixture and beat on low until fully incorporated. (If the dough is dry, add an extra tablespoon of milk.) 5. Increase the mixer speed to medium and beat until the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl and is smooth and elastic, 4 to 5 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and clean up the edges. 6. Cover with plastic wrap and

place in the refrigerator overnight or cover with a kitchen towel and let rise until doubled, approximately 2 hours. 7. Line a 9-inch loaf pan with parchment paper that extends over the short ends of the pan. Remove the parchment and set it aside on a baking sheet. Punch down the dough and turn out onto a lightly floured surface. Press the dough into an 8-inchby-7-inch rectangle. Starting with the 8-inch side, roll up into

a loaf and place seam-side down on the piece of parchment. 8. Melt the butter in a small saucepan or microwave in 20- to 30-second bursts. 9. Combine both sugars and cinnamon in a small bowl and stir to combine. 10. Slit the loaf 6 to 8 times with a sharp serrated knife or razor blade, slicing halfway down through the loaf to create deep slits. Pour the melted butter over the top of the loaf, letting it seep into the slits. Spoon the sugar topping into the slits and onto the top of the loaf. With the ends of the parchment paper, pick up the loaf and place it in the pan. Cover with a kitchen towel and place in a warm spot to rise until doubled, about 45 minutes. 11. Heat the oven to 350 F. Place the pan in the oven and bake the bread until lightly browned and the internal temperature in the center registers 190 F, 25 to 30 minutes. Remove from the oven. Using the parchment paper, remove the bread from the pan. Place on a wire rack and let cool for 15 minutes, then serve warm.

Chef David Chang hits the American road again CNN series explores culinary landscape

BY MARK KENNEDY

AP entertainment writer NEW YORK — In an episode of his new CNN travel series, chef David Chang is cruising down the highway on his way to Las Vegas when he stops at a humble truck stop off Interstate 15. The town is Hesperia, California, and the producers wanted Chang to try an Indian restaurant near a windshield repair store. But Chang spots a Mexican cantina that looks promising. He naturally chooses to eat at both, freaking out his camera crew. “I just wanted to taste things. When I see something, I’m like, ‘Oh, that looks interesting. I would like to taste that,’ ” he says in an interview. “To the dismay of the producers and the team, they’re like, ‘No, no. We got to go here.’ I was like, ‘You don’t understand. I told you guys that if we’re going to do the show, everything’s on the table.’ ” “Everything’s On the Table” might be a good alternative title for the six-part “The Detour with David Chang,” where the famed founder of the Momofuku global restaurant chain pairs with a companion and hits the open road, eating his way through America. It begins airing Sunday. Chang chows down on Filipino food in South Las Vegas, bites into a traditional Czech puff pas-

PROVIdEd PHOTO By ALANNA HALE

The new CNN travel series ‘The detour with david Chang’ features the chef eating his way through America. It begins Sunday. try in Texas and tries Haitian food for the first time in Miami. The show’s motto is: “All we’ve got is a destination. Everything else is a detour.” He’s paired by friends and strangers alike, from “American Fiction” director and writer Cord Jefferson to comedian, actor and writer Cristela Alonzo, who shows him her Texas. In Tennessee, he rides with Christina Tosi, the Milk Bar creator, who is almost a surrogate sister. The show is about exploring and connecting with locals to find hidden gems, like the spot that serves killer Cuban fritas at a laundro-

mat. Or the chefs who take barbecue and combine Asian flavors, creating oak-smoked pulled pork with Penang curry. Or the family serving Honduran food truck breakfast that helps heal Chang’s terrible rum hangover. “I love going out to eat, but as I get older, staying inside, not doing as much, is also nice. And I think that over the past few years, I’ve certainly been calcified,” says Chang. “Anytime you get out of your comfort zone or your little bubble, I think it’s a good reminder that there’s so much other stuff out there.” Chang joins a crowded field of

celebrity travel hosts, which includes Daniel Dae Kim, Tony Shalhoub, Rainn Wilson, Eugene Levy, Stanley Tucci,Orlando Bloom, Zac Efron, José Andrés, Chris Hemsworth, Will Smith, Eva Longoria and Ewan McGregor. Awkwafina is on deck. All owe a debt to Anthony Bourdain, who inspired millions to share his delight in food and the bonds it created. Bourdain died in 2018. Amy Entelis, executive vice president of talent, CNN Originals and creative development, notes that Chang is the first chef to host a CNN original series since Bourdain. “Dave isn’t setting out to define American food or find the ‘best’ restaurant in every city. It’s almost the opposite,” she says. “He gets in the car, talks to people and follows recommendations that take him somewhere he didn’t expect to go. At a time when an algorithm can tell you where to eat, where to stay and what to see, there’s something really appealing about just getting a little lost and seeing what you find.” The seed of the series was planted when Chang and executive producer Morgan Neville were chatting one day about what it was like to discover new indie rock bands back in the old days before the internet and influencers, and the joy when you found one. “I felt like that was sort of how I felt about food as well,” says Chang. “Listen, it’s easier to eat than ever before. But, in some ways, it is harder to find some-

thing that is meaningful to you.” One show highlight is the delightful way he ends up at an Ethiopian restaurant in Las Vegas after listening to the recommendation of a taxi driver. Eating slow-cooked chicken and injera — the sour, spongy flatbread — reminded Chang of how good that cuisine is. “I will die on the hill that Ethiopian food is one of the world’s greatest cuisines. There’s nothing like it, and it’s a singular approach to texture, flavor, and the kind of food that everyone loves these days — communal dining, where everyone can eat the same thing but customize it themselves.” He learns that in Texas the Holy Trinity is brisket, ribs and sausage, but some local chefs are also putting their own spins on classic dishes. Like pitmaster Chuck Charnichart at the eatery Barbs in Lockhart, who adds serrano glaze on her ribs and zests fresh limes over them. “It feels like I have a frontrow seat to Dylan going electric,” Chang says in admiration. Throughout the series is Chang’s gentle humor and willingness to try and do anything, dropping references to the painter Rothko, musician John Coltrane and director Terrence Malick along the way. And, of course, always popping corn nuts. “When you think about it, I’m getting paid to go eat and hang out with friends,” he says, laughing. “I have nothing to complain about. And it’s a nice reminder that this is literally a dream job.”

Younger sister admits to being jealous of sibling’s success Harriette Cole SENSE ANd SENSITIVITy

Dear Harriette: My younger sister admitted to me that she is jealous of me and has spent her whole life trying to live up to my name. I will admit that I have been successful in life, but not without hard work. I create documentaries and have been able to travel all around the world for them. My sister works a regular 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. job and hates every minute of it, but she

doesn’t know what else she really wants to do in life. Growing up, I never thought of myself as competing with my sister. I was simply following the path that felt right for me. I worked hard, took risks and pursued a career that allowed me to combine my passions with my work. I never expected her to do the same. In fact, I have always encouraged her to find her own path and

have never thought less of her for having a more traditional career. Now that she has told me how she feels, I can’t help but look back and wonder if I unintentionally made her feel like she was living in my shadow. She says she has spent years comparing herself to me and feels like she hasn’t accomplished nearly as much. How can I support my sister and make her

feel more confident and satisfied with her life? — In My Shadow Dear In My Shadow: Family dynamics can be complicated even when the way they unfold is not conscious on your part. Your sister watching you put all that effort into your dream was daunting for her — and not a strike against you. Tell your sister you did not intend to make her feel small. You were on autopilot living

your life. Remind her that each of you is different and comparing doesn’t work at all. Encourage her to stay focused on herself and what brings her joy. It needn’t be a career. What else fills her cup? She needs to notice that rather than how she is not like you. Send questions to askharriette@harriettecole. com.

The Acadiana Advocate ● theadvocate.com ● Sunday, September 20, 2026 ● 7D

lll

TRAVEL It’s the season of corn mazes and pumpkin patches Looking for a fall road trip? Try these spots.

homestead, which features a collection of vintage tools. Multiple food options are available, including a milkshake shack and “Annie’s Amazing Footlongs.” Notable dates include a hometown heroes event Sept. 26 through 27, when all first responders and law enforcement officials will receive discounted admission and deputies will present demonstrations and equipment tours; homeschool and family fun day Nov. 4 and “Not-So-Spooky Carnival” Oct. 31 and Nov. 1, with costumes and trick or treating. Visit cmfarmsllc. com for more information.

BY LAUREN CHERAMIE Staff writer

When that first dip of the fall weather happens, the South rejoices. Autumn is here — and we’ve earned it. The season brings with it all things pumpkin, Thanksgiving and comfort foods. From corn mazes to pony rides, sack racing and pumpkin patches, here are six opportunities for fall festivities in Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas.

PROVIdEd PHOTOS

Mrs. Heather’s Farm

CM Farms in dry Creek has more than 50 attractions, including a pumpkin barn.

11215 Lee’s Lane, Hammond

Dates: Sept. 23 through Nov. 8 Operating hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day, rain or shine Admission: $10 per child for general admission, which includes one pumpkin and access to all activities; parents are free with paying children; $10 for additional adults; $10 for adults with no children; cash only In Hammond, the family-owned Mrs. Heather’s Farm — operating since 1996 — has both a pumpkin patch in the fall and a strawberry patch in the spring. The fall festivities include corn mazes, hayrides, acres of pumpkins, a zip line, face painting, sack racing, pumpkin bowling and hands-on experiences like milking a cow, participating in a nature trail and learning about bees. Treats like apple cider doughnuts and kettle corn are also available. The farm accommodates field trips and parties. Visit thfarms. com for more information.

Support the community at Newsong Community Church’s pumpkin patch, as all proceeds support the church’s mission efforts, including ministries within the church, outreach in the local community and international missions such as the Association of Living Water, Christ Healing Food Pantry, Angel Tree, Open Air Ministries, Operation Christmas Child and others. Pumpkins and gourds of every shape and size, grown by Navajo farmers in northern New Mexico, are available for visitors. There’s also jellies, salsa and T-shirts. Families can enjoy a tractor tire sandbox, corn hole, themed games, photo opportunities and hayrides every weekend. Notable dates include Oct. 31, when the church will host its free fall festival from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. with live music, jambalaya, an artisan market, bake sale, face painting and more.

Mitchell Farms in Collins, Miss., offers activities like face painting during its fall season. The farm is open Sept. 26 through Nov. 8.

general admission at the gate; $41.95 per person for a super pass at the gate; $19.95 per person for general admission online; $37.95 per person for a super pass online With more than 50 attractions, CM Farms is sure to have something for everyone. Enjoy wagon rides, live milk demonstrations, Newsong Community Church CM Farms feeding farm animals, train rides, 18465 Old Perkins Road, 252 CM Farms Road, Dry Creek hay bale murals, a 12-acre corn Prairieville maze, pumpkin displays, pony Dates: Sept. 28 through Oct. 31 Dates: Weekends Sept. 26 through rides, gemstone mining, face painting, a kids zone, giant bubble Operating hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Nov. 15 Monday through Saturday; noon Operating hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. stations and live music on select to 6 p.m. Sunday Saturday; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday dates. Check out the restored old farm Admission: free Admission: $23.95 per person for

for the 16th annual Mississippi Peanut Festival, featuring farm tours, antiques, live music, arts and crafts booths, jewelry sales, yard art, food vendors, a “Peanut Run” to support St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and more. Registration for the run begins at 7 a.m. Oct. 3, while the farm opens at 9 a.m. with the day closing at 6 p.m. The Sunday activities will run from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $20 per person. During the fall season, the farm also offers activities like wagon rides, a corn maze, sunflower field, goat castle, animal barn, sand mountain, gem mining and pumpSeward Farms kins. 10836 Tanner Williams Road, Character day is scheduled for Lucedale, Mississippi Oct. 31, when children can meet Dates: Open to the public Satur- and take photos with various cardays only Sept. 26 through Oct. 31 toon characters. Kids are encourOperating hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. aged to dress up in costumes, and Admission: $18 per person for ages themed games will be available 3 and up; children 2 and under are for participation. Go to visitmitchfree ellfarms.com for more informaLooking for a fright? Venture tion. into the Field of Fright at Seward Farms, a haunted corn maze, or the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Hayride Haunt, a spooky hayride, Garden both happening Oct. 24 and 31 only. 8525 Garland Road, Dallas, Texas Both events start at dark. Not into goblins and witches? Dates: Through Nov. 1 Visit the farm during the day for Operating hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. cow trains, slides, rodeo roping, daily obstacle courses, an animal farm, Admission: $21.95 for ages 3-12; corn box, pig races and more. Pony $25.95 for adults; children 2 and rides and flower picking are avail- under are free Every year, the Pumpkin Village able for an additional $5. Seward Farms also has the option at the Dallas Arboretum and Boto rent private fire pits at various tanical Garden transforms with times, offering a designated area a new theme. This year, it’s Harfor the group. Visit sewardfarms. vest Hues, which will feature six com for more information. pumpkin houses that showcase the styles of modern and contemMitchell Farms porary artists like Piet Mondri650 Leaf River Church Road, aan, Louise Bourgeois, Jackson Collins, Mississippi Pollock, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Dates: Sept. 26 through Nov. 8; Mark Rothko and Maurits Corneopen to the public on Fridays only lis Escher. The village is packed in October with more than 100,000 pumpkins, Operating hours: noon to 4 p.m. Fri- gourds and squash. Visit dallasarboretum.org for day; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday; more information. 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday Admission: $20 per person for ages 3 and up; children 2 and under are Email Lauren Cheramie at free lauren.cheramie@theadvocate. Visit Mitchell Farms Oct. 3-4 com.

TRAVEL TROUBLESHOOTER By Christopher Elliott

Dollar Car Rental charged for car that was already returned My wife and I recently reserved a Jeep Compass from Dollar Car Rental to be picked up in Phoenix and returned to the Albuquerque airport.When we arrived in Phoenix, we verbally declined the extra insurance and roadside assistance Christopher because we already have Elliott coverage through our own insurance. The car had issues. We had to fill a tire with air daily, and the “check oil” lights flashed a warning while we were driving.We returned the car a few hours later in Albuquerque. An employee checked the car with a laptop, we unloaded our bags, and we told him about the leaky tire and engine light. He took the keys and told us we were good to go. He didn’t give us a receipt. When we looked at our paperwork, we saw we’d been charged for the insurance we declined.We tried to fix it at the desk,

but they told us to call customer service.We flew home to Texas that afternoon. A few weeks later, we got a text saying the car was overdue.We called and explained we’d returned it.Then we got a letter threatening repossession.We called again and were told the matter was “under review.” Eventually, Dollar claimed we returned the car “in person” a few days after we returned home. Our credit card company eventually posted a charge of $3,656.We disputed it, and for a while, it seemed resolved. But now, Dollar has sent us a new invoice for $1,858. It won’t acknowledge our airline tickets or any proof that we were home in Texas. It feels like no human has ever looked at our evidence. Can you help us stop this bill? — Dennis Drake, Carrollton,Texas Dollar should have closed your contract the second you handed over those keys in Albuquerque. When a car rental company accepts a vehicle, its internal sys-

tems ought to reflect that return immediately. If a car needs maintenance — like yours did with that leaky tire — it’s the company’s job to track its movement to the repair shop without blaming the customer. You made several errors, and I’ll tell you how to correct them. First, you should never drive a rental car with mechanical problems. Pull over and call the car rental company. If it’s a minor issue, they’ll ask you to drive to the nearest location. But if it’s serious, you might have to get the car towed. Also, you left the lot without a printed or emailed receipt. Always wait for that piece of paper or email confirmation. If the handheld scanner isn’t working, go to the counter for your paperwork. That receipt is your “get out of jail free” card. You also were charged for in-

surance you didn’t want. That’s another car rental “gotcha” — and easily avoidable. Rental agents often bury those charges in the digital signature pad. In a follow-up email, you admitted you signed the rental contract without reading it carefully, which likely caused your initial credit card dispute to fail. But you also did a few things right. You did a great job keeping your paperwork once Dollar tried to charge you extra. You had your flight itineraries and Southwest Airlines documents proving you were in the air while Dollar claimed you were still joyriding in its Jeep. When a company ignores your logic, you can find executive contacts for Hertz (which owns Dollar) on my advocacy site, Elliott.org. A brief, polite email to one of them might have turned this around for you. I reached out to Hertz on your

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

are required to provide one (1) hard copy through the mail. Bidders providing bids my mail, shall include one (1) hard copy with all documents in one (1) combined PDF file with bookmark(s) and are required to pro‐ vide an electronic copy in one (1) USB flash drive.

.theacadianaadvocate.com Public Notices

Employment INDUSTRIAL Manual Fabrication Manager sought by Layne Christensen Company (Rayne, LA) to meet w/Project & Ops Managers on upcoming jobs & review job specs regarding needed equipment & materi‐ als.Reqs. 10 yrs manual machining (not CNC) exp. May wfh some days but must reside w/in commuting distance from office in Rayne, LA.Pls send resume & cvr ltr to LayneHR@gcinc.com.

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Notice is hereby given that sealed bids will be received either electroni‐ cally at Central Bidding or in the office of the Purchasing Division at the Lafayette Consoli‐ dated Government Build‐ ing, located at 705 West University Avenue, Lafayette, Louisiana, until 2:00 p.m. Central Time on the 5th day of October, 2026 for the fol‐ lowing: 167118.5.2762 FUEL GAS CONDITIONING EQUIPMENT RE-BID #3 and will, shortly there‐ after, be opened and read aloud in the office of Purchasing at 705 West University Avenue, Lafayette, LA. Bids re‐ ceived after the above

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

specified time for open‐ ing shall not be consid‐ ered and shall be re‐ turned unopened to the sender. Bidders are en‐ couraged to call into the bid opening at the fol‐ https:// lowing link: us02web.zoom.us/j/ 83432156692?pwd=pwq G3B5M1SbgUYNIwYx88K1 amc3CCv.1 Scope of Work: The scope of Work shall con‐ sist of all engineering, design, fabrication, test‐ ing, packaging and deliv‐ ery of a Fuel Gas Condi‐ tioning Equipment and its accessories and in‐ cluding manufacturer's field services at the Job Site. All Work shall be completed between Jan‐ uary 1, 2028, and July 1, 2028. In accordance with Louisiana RS 38:2212. vendors may submit their bid electronically at the website listed above. Bidders wishing to sub‐ mit their bid electroni‐ cally must first be regis‐ tered within LCG Vendor Access at the website listed above. The regis‐ i k

Public Notices Bids/Proposals g tration process can take some time; therefore, LCG recommends regis‐ tering days in advance of the time that bids are due. It is the sole respon‐ sibility of the bidder to ensure their bid is deliv‐ ered (whether electroni‐ cally via Central Bidding, in person, or via mail) to the Purchasing Division prior to the scheduled date and time of the bid opening. Official Bid Doc‐ uments are available at Central Bidding. For questions related to the electronic bidding process, please call the office of Purchasing at 337-291-8258. Bidders may request the elec‐ tronic bid package from Dabne Dover at dabne‐ dover@lafayettela.gov. Bidders submitting bids electronically are re‐ quired to provide the same documents as bid‐ ders submitting through the mail as soon as avail‐ able. Bidders submitting bids electronically shall in‐ clude all documents in one (1) combined PDF file with bookmark(s) and

SUBMISSION OF CONFI‐ DENTIAL, PROPRIETARY, OR TRADESECRET INFOR‐ MATION (SEE LA. R.S. 44:3.2(D) As a public entity, Lafayette Consolidated Government is subject to the Louisiana Public Records Law, which may require submissions of Bidders to be a public record. Pursuant to La. R.S. 44:3.2(D), Bidders who submit documents or information they be‐ lieve to be proprietary or trade secret must clearly mark each page or piece of information which is, in the Bidder’s opinion, proprietary or trade se‐ cret and must also sub‐ mit with such informa‐ tion a cover sheet that reads as follows in bold type: DOCUMENT CONTAINS CONFIDENTIAL PROPRI‐ ETARY OR TRADE SECRET INFORMATION A sample cover sheet with this statement is in‐ cluded with the bid docu‐ ments. La. R.S. 44:3.2(D) requires Lafayette Consolidated Government to make a determination as to whether a Bidders sub‐ mission is in fact propri‐ etary or trade secret in‐ formation within thirty (30) calendar days of the Bidder’s submission.

behalf. “Our internal review found that the customer’s contract was not properly closed and processed when it was returned,” a Hertz spokesperson told me. The vehicle went to a maintenance lot for service and sat there for several days. Because it didn’t have tracking technology enabled, the system assumed you still had it. Hertz has apologized and issued a full refund for the rental and the insurance you didn’t want. It also dropped the $1,858 “overdue” bill. Next time, please don’t leave the lot until the computer says you’re home free — even if you have a plane to catch. Christopher Elliott is the founder of Elliott Advocacy, a nonprofit organization that helps consumers solve their problems. Email him at chris@elliott.org .

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

Bids must be signed in accordance with LRS Title 38:2212(B)5. A Cor‐ porate Resolution or written evidence of au‐ thority authorizing the person signing the bid is required to be submitted with bid. Failure to sub‐ mit a Corporate Resolu‐ tion or Certificate of Au‐ thority with the bid shall be cause for rejection of bid.

for the opening of bids. Each bid shall be submit‐ ted only on the bid form provided with the speci‐ fications. The successful bidder will be required to execute performance and labor and material payment bonds in the full amount of the contract as more fully defined in the bid documents. In accordance with Pub‐ lic Bid Law, bids are valid for a period of forty-five (45) calendar days from the time of the opening of bids.

Copies of the bidding documents are available upon request by contact‐ ing Purchasing & Prop‐ erty Management Divi‐ sion, located at 705 West University Avenue, Lafayette, Louisiana upon payment of Fifty Dollars ($50.00) per set, non-refundable, made payable to the Lafayette Consolidated Govern‐ ment. NOTE: NO CASH WILL BE ACCEPTED ONLY CHECKS OR MONEY ORDERS MADE PAYABLE TO LAFAYETTE CONSOLI‐ DATED GOVERNMENT. Bid Documents shall be available until twentyfour hours before the bid opening date. Questions relative to the bidding documents shall be di‐ rected to Dabne Dover by email at dabnedover@ lafayettela.gov. Within one (1) week upon receipt of the Invitation to Bid, Bidders are en‐ couraged to confirm in‐ tent to submit a bid by replying to the "Invita‐ tion to Bid" email sent by Dabne Dover (dabne‐ dover@lafayettela.gov). No bidder may withdraw his bid for at least fortyfive (45) calendar days after the time scheduled

Bids will be evaluated by the Owner based on the lowest responsible and responsive bid submitted which is also in compli‐ ance with the bid docu‐ ments. The Lafayette Consolidated Govern‐ ment reserves the right to reject any and all bids for just cause in accor‐ dance with LA R.S. 38§2214.B. The Lafayette Consoli‐ dated Government strongly encourages the participation of DBEs (Disadvantaged Business Enterprises) in all con‐ tracts or procurements let by the Lafayette Con‐ solidated Government for goods and services and labor and material. To that end, all bidders and suppliers are en‐ couraged to utilize DBEs business enterprises in the purchase or sub-con‐ tracting of materials, supplies, services and labor and material in which disadvantaged businesses are available. Assistance in identifying said businesses may be obtained by calling 337291-8410.

8D ● Sunday, September 20, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate Public Notices Bids/Proposals

PURCHASING DIVISION Lafayette Consolidated Government PUBLISH DATES: 09-17-26; 9-20-26 DPR 1007058 200780 Sept. 17, 20, 2t $126.56 PUBLIC NOTICE --NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS Notice is hereby given that sealed bids will be received either electroni‐ cally at www.centralbidd ing.com or in the office of the Purchasing Divi‐ sion at the Lafayette Consolidated Govern‐ ment Building, located at 705 West University Av‐ enue, Lafayette, Louisiana, until 2:00 PM Central Time on the 13th day of OCTOBER, 2026 for the following: AS-NEEDED INSTALLATION OF BACKFLOW PREVENTERS AND HOSE BIBS AT WATER/WASTEWATER/ ELECTRIC FACILITIES RE-BID #3 and will, shortly there‐ after, be opened and read aloud in a room lo‐ cated at 705 West Univer‐ sity Avenue, Lafayette, LA. Bids received after the above specified time for opening shall not be considered and shall be returned unopened to the sender. Bidders are encouraged to virtually join the bid opening via ZOOM using the follow‐ ing link: https://us02web. zoom.us/j/82706712380? pwd=3vOrRhOx5SV9nBI NVFVantpfXzjwuf.1

Scope of Services: The scope of work shall con‐ sist of, but not limited to, the installation of back‐ flow preventer assem‐ bli h bib

Public Notices Bids/Proposals p blies, hose bib assem‐ blies, customer cutoff valves, and 1-inch ser‐ vice lines on an asneeded basis at waste‐ water facilities, as di‐ rected by LUS and identi‐ fied in individual Work Authorizations. In accordance with Louisiana RS 38:2212. vendors may submit their bid electronically at the website listed above. Bidders wishing to sub‐ mit their bid electroni‐ cally must first be regis‐ tered within LCG Vendor Access at the website listed above. The regis‐ tration process can take some time; therefore, LCG recommends regis‐ tering days in advance of the time that bids are due. It is the sole respon‐ sibility of the bidder to ensure their bid is deliv‐ ered (whether electroni‐ cally via Vendor Access, in person, or via mail) to the Purchasing Division prior to the scheduled date and time of the bid opening. Vendors may request the bid package electronically from Dabne Dover at dabne‐ dover@lafayettela.gov. Bidders submitting bids electronically are re‐ quired to provide the same documents as bid‐ ders submitting through the mail as soon as avail‐ able. Only a bid bond, certified check or cashier’s check shall be submitted as the bid se‐ curity. Electronic copies of both the front and back of the check or bid bond shall be included with the electronic bid. Bids must be signed in accordance with LRS Title 38:2212(B)5. A Cor‐ porate Resolution or Cer‐ tificate of Authority au‐ thorizing the person signing the bid is re‐ quired to be submitted with bid. Failure to sub‐

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

mit a Corporate Resolu‐ tion or Certificate of Au‐ thority with the bid shall be cause for rejection of bid.

check, or bid bond shall be given as a guarantee that the bidder shall exe‐ cute the contract, should it be awarded to him, in conformity with the con‐ tract documents within ten (10) days.

Copies of the bidding documents are available at the office of Purchas‐ ing & Property Manage‐ ment, Attn: Dabne Dover (337) 291-8262 located at 705 W. University Avenue, Lafayette, LA 70506. Bid documents shall be available until twentyfour hours before the bid opening date. Questions relative to the bidding documents shall be ad‐ dressed to Dabne Dover dabnedover@ at lafayettela.gov or (337) 291-8262. Each bid shall be accom‐ panied by a certified check, cashier’s check, or bid bond payable to the Lafayette Consoli‐ dated Government, the amount of which shall be five percent (5%) of the base bid plus additive al‐ ternates. If a bid bond is used, it shall be written by a surety or insurance company currently on the U.S. Department of the Treasury Financial Management Service list of approved bonding companies which is pub‐ lished annually in the Federal Register, or by a Louisiana domiciled in‐ surance company with at least an A-Rating in the latest printing of the A.M. Best’s Key Rating Guide to write individual bonds up to ten percent (10%) of policyholders’ surplus as shown in the A.M. Best’s Key Rating Guide, or by an insurance com‐ pany in good standing li‐ censed to write bid bonds which is either domiciled in Louisiana or owned by Louisiana resi‐ dents. The bid bond shall be issued by a company licensed to do business in Louisiana. The certi‐ fied check, cashier’s

List of jurors randomly drawn and to serve for the term beginning on September 28, 2026. ABRAHAM, AMY CHRISTINE ADAMS, SUZANNE ADAMS, AARON ALBERT ALEXANDER, RACHEL RENEE ALLISON, CASSANDRA JEAN ALOMARI, RAFIAH ABDELLAH MOHAMED AMAYA-LAINEZ, SONIA D AMUNDSON, MONIQUE RENE ANDERSON, CHRISTOPHER CECIL ANDRUS, RENA V ANDRUS, LEELAN KALANI ANSTEAD, MATTHEW JAMES SEYMOUR ARCEMENT, ALEXANDRA MARGARET ARCENEAUX, JEREMY LOUIS ARCENEAUX, RICKY D ATTALES, BLAIR SIBLEY AUBREY, DEXTER LEE AVALOS, ACHELL ALEXESANDRA BAILEY, MICHAEL W BAKER, ROSSER ALAN BALFANTZ, DEVIN MICHELLE BALTHAZAR, ADRIAN JOSEPH BARBUAT, JAMES P BARONI, COURTNEY RAE BATES, REYNA BATISTE, MARY ANN BATISTE, KIMBERLY MARIE BATTAGLIA, JOEY C BAUDOIN, RONALD JAMES BAUMGARTNER, MOLLY HARGRAVE BELL, JOHNAS W BELLARD, RYAN CHRISTOPHER BENARD, RACHEL LYNN BERARD, ZOE CLAIRE BERGERON, JOYCE ANN BERNARD, SHANDELL S BERTRAND, SARA SHORT BHANUSHALI, RESHMA ARUN BILLEAUD, JEANINE M BIRD, ALANA MICHELLE BLAIR, KELLI ANN FRUSHA BLANCHARD, SHARON ANN BLUM, JACOB LOUIS BONNET, CLARIS BOOZELL, BRIANA VICTORIA BOREL, TREY JOSEPH BOUDREAUX, MARY C BOUDREAUX, DANA P BOULET, JOEY W BRAILEY, JAIDEN ANTHONY BRAUNS, NATALIE ELENA BREAUX, FREDERICK JOSEPH BREAUX, JOYCE M BRENNAN, BRANDY LEE BRETT, KIMBERLY E THOMAS BROUSSARD, LORENA BROUSSARD, JEAN S BROUSSARD, SCOTT O BROUSSARD, TEILLA D BROUSSARD, LARAY ANN BROUSSARD, PAUL C BROUSSARD, GERALDINE BROUSSARD, TERRELL KEITH BROUSSARD, MONIQUE MARIE ORTEGO BROUSSARD, TYLER JOSEPH BROWN, JUDITH DELORES BRUNO, ALBERTA BRUNO, MICHAEL VINCENT BRYANT, ADRIAN GEORGE BRYANT, DIAMOND DENAE BUCKLEY, COURTNEY RENEE MEAUX BUI, DAI THE CAMACHO, WILLIAM ANTONY CAMPBELL, TOM CARPENTER, GRACE ELIZABETH CARROLL, ARTHUR P CART, SLADE AARON CASTILLE, RANDY CHARGIOS, RICHARD J CHARLES, DAYLON JAMES CHAUVIN, SALLY BENOIT CHURCH, JAMES T CLARK, RUTH B COMEAUX, PEGGY A COMEAUX, KYLAN JUDE COMPOS, JUWAN RAQUEL CONQUES, JULIE COOK, NANETTE S COPE, CAMERON JUDSON CORMIER, SETH JOSEPH CORRY, MICHAEL P COYLE, JENNIFER LANGLINAIS CREDEUR, GRANT JAMES CUDIHY, TERESA MARYANN CUMMINGS, ANNA GRACE CUVILLIER, RUSSELL J DAIGLE, MINDY TOBIN DANIELS, ANTHONY JAMES DARBONNE, KELLY C DARBY, TASHANNA LETRICE DARTEZ, CAYDEN CARTER DAVIS, DAZAR MARIE DAVIS, CARL ANTHONY DAVIS, ARIEAL LESHON DECUIRE, JOANN C DEKERLEGAND, WILDA M DELILLE, ELAINE M DEMOUCHET, MICHELLA MARIE DENAIS, PATTY L DEROUEN, CATHY MARIE DESSELLE, DANIELLE LYNN DEVILLIER, RUTH ANNE DEW, CASH WILL DOMINGUE, KRISTIN ELKINS DOUANGPHOUMY, PAVINA NICKIE DUGAS, SHERMAINE R GRIFFIN DUHON, DOMINIQUE MICHAEL DUPUIS, CHAD J DUPUIS, BONNIE GAIL EAGLIN, JOSEPH W

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Public Notices Bids/Proposals

No contractor may with‐ draw its bid prior to the deadline for submission of bids. Withdrawal of bids thereafter shall be allowed only pursuant to LA R.S. 38§2214.C. Other‐ wise, no bidder may withdraw his bid for at least forty-five (45) days after the time scheduled for the bid opening of bids. Each bid shall be submitted only on the bid form provided within the specifications. The successful bidder will be required to execute per‐ formance and labor and material payment bonds in the full amount of the contract as more fully defined in the bid docu‐ ments. No contractors may withdraw his bid for at least forty-five (45) days after the time scheduled for the open‐ ing of bids. Each bid shall be submitted only on the bid form provided with the specifications. The successful contractor will be required to exe‐ cute performance and labor and material pay‐ ment bonds in the full amount of the contract as more fully defined in the bid documents. Bids will be evaluated by the Purchaser based on the lowest responsible and responsive bid sub‐ mitted which is also in compliance with the bid documents. The Lafayette Consolidated Government reserves the right to reject any and all bids for just cause in ac‐ cordance with LA R.S. 38§2214.B.

Public Notices Bids/Proposals g g in the amount of $50,000.00 or more shall certify that they are li‐ censed contractors under Chapter 24 of Title 37 of the Louisiana Re‐ vised Statutes of 1950 and show their license number on the front of the sealed envelope in which their bid is en‐ closed. Contractors shall be licensed for the clas‐ sification of “PLUMBING”. Bids in the amounts specified above which have not bid in accor‐ dance with the require‐ ments, shall be rejected and shall not be read. Additional information relative to licensing may be obtained from the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The Lafayette Consoli‐ dated Government strongly encourages the participation of DBEs (Disadvantaged Business Enterprises) in all con‐ tracts or procurements let by the Lafayette Con‐ solidated Government for goods and services and labor and material. To that end, all contrac‐ tors and suppliers are encouraged to utilize DBEs business enter‐ prises in the purchase or sub-contracting of mate‐ rials, supplies, services and labor and material in which disadvantaged businesses are available. Assistance in identifying said businesses may be obtained by calling 2918410. PURCHASING DIVISION Lafayette Consolidated Government PUBLISH DATES: 9/16, 9/20, 9/27 DPR 1008138 200648 Sept. 16, 20, 27, 3t $202.05

Contractors or contract‐ ing firms submitting bids i h f

EDWARDS, BRANDON DEON ENDSLEY, BLAKE THOMAS FALCON, LANE VINCENT FERNELL, KEENAN SHANE FERRIER, ASHLEY NICOLE FINO, NEYMAR EMAD FLINT, ALICE C FONTENOT, DEREK ANTHONY FORD, SHANTELL CEASER FORET, CHRISTOPHER BRENT FRANCIS, SCOTTY DORELLE FRANK, LENIS FUSELIER, KEVIN LYNN GALLAGHER, CHRISTIANNA SHORT GALLIEN, CALEB DEONTE GARCIA, ANDREA VICTORIA GAUTREAUX, JUNE M GEIGER, NATHAN ROBERT GENDRON, SUSAN M GILL, DEREK LEE GIROUARD, BRONSON K GODOYMUNOZ, MIGUEL ANGEL GOODRICH, ALEX RAYMOND GORDON, GEORGE RUSSELL GOUGE, KENNETH DUANE GREEN, EULANA THOMAS GREENE, CHERRY DENISE GROVES, HOLLIE KOBER GRUBB, AVERY CHARLES GUIDRY, TRACY S GUIDRY, JOHN KEITH GUIDRY, KYLIE RENEE GUIDRY, WENDY L GUILBEAU, ETHAN CHOLE GUILBEAUX, TIFFANY NICOLE GUILLORY, ADLINE ALEXANDER GUILLORY, ERICA RUTH HALL, NATHAN CHRISTOPHER HAMILTON, MICHAEL HARRISON, BETTY HDOUCH, ALIA HEBERT, NANCY E HEBERT, STACY LYNN HEBERT, REBECCA M HEBERT, LUCKY ELIZABETH HENKE, AVERY DEAN HERNANDEZ, BETH ANN HICKMAN, TOBY JOSEPH HOGGATT, SARA GRACE HOLLIER, BETTY M HOUSTON, ROSE HOWARD, TYRONE CLINT HUSTON, GREGORY HOWARD INNES, CHASE J IRVIN, SHYANNE DANIELLE JACKSON, JULIE S JACKSON, ALLYSON PAIGE JEANBATISTE, SHELIA ANN JOHNSON, VICTORIA COWANS JOHNSON, NICOLE BOTCHER JOHNSON, ALEXIS PATRICE JONES, KEISHA LEIGH JORDAN, DEMETRIE L JOSEPH, TONY RANDELL JOUBERT, TORY MICHAEL JOUBERT, LAIKYN JAI JUDICE, DEVIN MICHEAL KENNEY, GRACE CATHERINE KHAN, AMMARA SHAFI KLIPSTEIN, KATHLEEN LOYD KOPARA, WALEED CHRISTIAN KRELLER, ANNE DUGAN LAFLEUR, LANTZ MICHAEL LAGRAIZE, HOLLAND W LAGRANGE, ROGER L LAMBERT, JASON RAY LANCASTER, JENNIFER LAKE LANDRY, JADE NICOLE LANDRY, TOSHUA LANTIER, DINA M LAVERGNE, DUSTIN SCOTT LAVIOLETTEHEBERT, ERIKA ANN LEBLANC, SARAH VOORHIES LEDET, LONNY C LEDET, ARDELLE D LEMAIRE, TANYA HEBERT LEMAIRE, SEAN PATRICK LEWIS, CARLA FAYE LEWIS, JUSTIN JAMAL LI, LIYU LINDON, WILFRED JAMES LOPEZ, JACEY MOUTON LOUVIERE, DALE RAY MAGNON, PARIS LYN MALONE, ANDREW THOMAS MARCEAUX, MARK KEITH MARTIN, SIDNEY J MARTINEZ-SOSA, CRISTINA MATHIS, KWANNA SHANEIL NICOLE MAYON, KELEEN JAVONNI MAZE, JULIUS I MCCANN, BRIAN JOSEPH MCCLELLAND, BRENDAN CHRISTOPHER MCMURPHY, CHARLOTTA I MCNABB, NORMAN CHRIS MCZEAL, SHANE ANTHONY MEAGHER, KYLIE CHERIE MELANCON, HUNTER RAY MENARD, BAILEY BROUSSARD MERRICK, PRESTON LEE MIGUES, BROOKE ELIZABETH MIKE, TAYLOR MARTIN MILLER, SHELBY LYNN MILLER, AMBER C MINOR, WILLIAM S MITCHELL, VICTORIA A MIXON, LYNDSEY KELLY MOFFETT, AALIYAH ZHANE MONTE, TORI SKY MOREAU, ETHAN DAVID HUNTER MORGAN, CHRIS MICHAEL MOULEDOUS, CAMERON SCOTT MOUTON, JOHN R

Public Notices Meet/Hear/Min

PUBLIC NOTICE --Agenda City Zoning Commission Public Meeting Monday, September 21, 2026 5:30 P.M., or immediately following the conclusion of the Lafayette City Planning Commission, whichever occurs later Community Development and Planning Department 220 West Willow Street, Building C Town Hall Auditorium I. Call to Order II. Chair’s Opening Remarks III. Approval of the Minutes August 17, 2026 IV. New Business 1. Case No. 2026-16-REZ Lots 4-12, Block 6, Gen‐ eral Mouton Avenue Re‐ zoning A request to rezone lots 4 through 12, Block 6, Gen‐ eral Mouton Avenue, from CH (CommercialHeavy) to MN-1 (MixedUse Neighborhood) lo‐ cated generally north of Rose Street, west of Gen‐ eral Mouton Avenue, and south of Violet Street. Note: This case was de‐ ferred from August 17, 2026 Zoning Commission Meeting. 2. Case No. 2026-17-REZ 201 Jefferson Street & 110 East Cypress Street CUP A request for a Condi‐ tional Use Permit (CUP) for a bar/lounge in a D (Downtown) zoning dis‐ trict located generally north of Lee Avenue, west of East Cypress Street, and south of Jef‐ ferson Street. 3. Case No. 2026-19-REZ

Public Notices Meet/Hear/Min

Public Notices Meet/Hear/Min

1409 East Butcher Switch Road #C (Lot 1) Annexa‐ tion

the meeting where the application is scheduled to be heard.

A request for a zoning classification of RS-1 (Residential Single-Fam‐ ily) for property pro‐ posed for annexation into the city of Lafayette located generally north of East Butcher Switch Road, east of Louisiana Avenue, and south of East Gloria Switch Road.

VI. Adjournment

V. Other Business 1. Director’s Report and review of Lafayette City Council action on mat‐ ters previously consid‐ ered by the Zoning Com‐ mission. 2. Proposed amendments to Rules of Policy and Procedure i. Add Part IV: City Zoning Commission Policy ii. Add to proposed Part IV: A. The City of Lafayette Zoning Com‐ mission shall defer until the next regular meeting any application appear‐ ing before the Commis‐ sion where the applicant is not in attendance of

199406 Sept. 6, 16, 20, 3t $71.49

Public Notices Successions

PUBLIC NOTICE --NOTICE Administrator for the Succession of Mary Fern Cobb Briggs gives notice of his intent to sell via private sale, the follow‐ ing: 1. The immovable estate home and property lo‐ cated at 311 Sunny Lane, Lafayette, Louisiana 70506, Being the same property acquired by Mary C. Briggs by Cash Sale from Jeanie Slay Mellinger dated April 29, d d

Public Notices Successions g p 1994, recorded on May 2, 1994, under instrument no. 1994-00016195 of the public records of Lafayette, Louisiana.; and 2. All movables within the estate home at 311 Sunny Lane, consisting of home furnishings, deco‐ rations, and kitchenware. Any objections to the sale of the above prop‐ erty can be filed with the 15th Judicial District Court – Parish of Lafayette under probate docket number 20250640, pursuant to LA C.C.P. art 3282. 198202 Aug. 22 to Sept. 20, 30t $456.60

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

STORE.ADVOCATE.COM MOUTON, CHRISTY ANN MOUTON, TONY J MOUTON, DOROTHY B MOUTON, LORENA CORMIER MURPHY, LISA NELSON, GRANT J NEVILS, NICHOLAS CADE NGUYEN, JAN THOA NICHOLSON, MICHELE R NOEL, JO ANN P NORMAN, BENJAMIN ALAN NORTH, DYLAN MATTHEW NUNZIANTE, GIA LIN OKARMA, SIMONNE ELIZABETH PAPILLION, KENNETH LAMAR PAYNE, MARY D PELLERIN, ALICE F PELTIER, DENISE B PERROT, LORETTA ANN PERRY, ALYSSE ELIZABETH PETITJEAN, MARK CHRISTOPHER PFOTENHAUER, SCOTT LEE PITRE, CONNIE DIXON PIZZOLATTO, LOUIS PLOURDE, NATHANIEL JAMES PRADIER, DARRELL PREJEAN, MELVIN BENEDICT PRESSLEY, JACOB DANIEL QUEBEDEAU, CHRISTOPHER CONLAN RANDEL, ELIZABETH ANNE GOOCH RASHMAWI, GEORGE E RIGGS, FARRIS JOHN ANTHONY ROBICHEAUX, WENDI LAURIAN ROBILLARD, AUBREY ANNE ROBSON, AMANDA L ROMERO, KAYLA MARIE ROMERO, BRANDI LYNN ROMERO, HEATHER LYNN ROMERO, MARLENE M ROMERO, PAUL C ROMERO, NOAH PATRICK ROMERO, ALBERT J ROMERO, ANGELITA SERRATA ROMERO, KAYLA MARIE ROSSON, CONNOR MICHAEL RUSSO, ISABELLA ALICIA RYES, DREVON LIONEL SAM, SIDNEY SANDERS, TYLER JUSTIN SARGENT, CYNTHIA M SAVOY, MARY BELLE SAWAGED, GHADA R SCHEXNIDER, YVONNE M SCIVICQUE, JOSEPH ALLEN SENECA, JANA CLAIRE SENEGAL, VIRTRIONI GERARD SERIE, JASMINE A SHELTON, NICHOLAS BRANDON SIMMONS, JONATHAN SIMON, ROLAND J SIMS, HOMER SIMS, JACQUELINE VERNETT SIMS, MADISON MICHELLE SION, ELISHA CHRISTOPHER LEE SLEDGE, SHELLY CHAISSON SMITH, JOSEPH JOSICH SMITH, BRUNO DYER SMITH, MELVIN RICKEY SMITH, DAKETHON JAMAL SMITH, LAUREN MURPHY SONNIER, CHARLENE SONNIER, BRIAN J SONNIER, JASON CHRISTOPHER SONNIER, AUSTIN J SPATH, CHARLENE ANNE SPELL, WENDOLYN LINSCOMB STAVES, DAKOTA WILLIAM STEFANSKI, BRETT A STELLY, MARY H STELLY, JAMIE ROBIN STEVENS, JOHN ROBERT STEWART, THOMAS JACOB STEWART, THALIA NATALI STRATTON, DANIEL JEREMY STUART, ROBYN MARIE SUHR, TINA H SWANN, WILLIAM PAUL SYLVESTER, JORDAN JOEL TAYLOR, CHARLOTTE G THACH, BINH TRAN THIBEAUX, MONICA LYNN THIBODEAUX, DAWN RENEE THOMAS, JITHIKA THOMAS, LORITA MARIE KING TINNIN, DUSTIN PAUL TOLLIVER, NATHANIEL JAMES TORANTO, RODOLPHE WALTER TROTTER, LINDSAY HAYES TURNER, PAMELA ANN TURNER, JESSICA LYNN UMBA, MARTA JELSIRA GOMES UNDERWOOD, RONALD D VALLAIRE, LORI ANN VALLOT, TIFFANY HEBERT VAVASSEUR, MICHAEL JEROME VEAZEY, BEAU PATRICK WESLEY, GREGORY JOSEPH WHITE, JAMES M WHITLEY, TRICIA A WILLIAMS, SAVANNAH MARIE WILLIAMS, YOLANDA JOHNSON WILLIAMS, MICHELLE MARIE WISE, BILLY P YENTZEN, AVA REBECCA YOUNG, KRYSTAL RENEE ZAUNBRECHER, MARY ELIZABETH ZEPERNICK, DANIEL JOSEPH

199001-682265-sept 20-1t $ 383.67

Q&A Firms focused on public safety technology are walking a tightrope 3E

What are the state’s business leaders binge-watching? 9E

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

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S u n d ay, S e p t e m b e r 20, 2026

1en

Sharing the

stage

Louisiana’s orchestras are embracing collaborations and more to reach younger, wider audience — and boost donations BY RICH COLLINS Staff writer

The Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra was rehearsing Johannes Brahms’ Symphony No. 4 in E minor recently onstage at Loyola University’s Louis J. Roussel Performance Hall ahead of the upcoming start of the 2026-27 season. The music sounded amazing to the untrained ears in the room, but conductor Matthew Kraemer still paused the performance from time to time to make adjustments, asking some musicians to play louder or softer — or, at one point, more “transparently” — to bring out the emotion of the famed 19th-century German’s composer’s last symphony. A similar process of trial and error is happening on a much larger scale at the LPO itself and at Louisiana’s other professional orchestras as they strive to sell tickets and keep dona-

IdEAS &

INNOVATION

STAFF PHOTOS By dAVId GRUNFELd

French horn player Mollie Pate rehearses with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra at Louis J. Roussel Performance Hall on the Loyola University campus in New Orleans.

“You have to look at what your community wants so you can draw people who wouldn’t normally attend,” says Mollie Pate, the LPO’s principal horn player who just started her 31st season.

tions flowing to preserve a musical art form that peaked in popularity in the U.S. more than a half-century ago and has had to battle for audiences’ attention in the decades since. According to the National Endowment for the Arts, fewer than 5% of adults in the U.S. attended a classical music concert in 2022, the last year it tracked data, down from 11.6% in 2002. As orchestras wrangle with the economics of putting on expensive shows for audiences that have more and more entertainment options to choose from, they are coming up with innovative ways to connect with new generations of potential fans. In Louisiana, that means sharing the stage with musicians from other genres, showcasing music from popular movie scores and commissioning original works that highlight jazz, Cajun and other regional sounds. It also means playing lots of gigs in nontraditional environments, embracing online video content and finding other ways to build awareness and excitement for a nearly

ä See ORCHESTRAS, page 2E

Matthew Kraemer, music director and principal conductor of the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, leads a rehearsal.

Australian battery tech firm acquires south La. company Sicona bets on drones to boost demand BY RICH COLLINS Staff writer

Australian battery materials startup Sicona announced Tuesday it has acquired its Louisiana-based counterpart Advano and will take over the company’s offices, labs and factory in New Orleans. The deal means a surprising resurrection, albeit under a new name, for a once high-flying local company that raised $45 mil-

lion from mostly out-of-town in- in nearby St. Bernard Parish as vestors and secured 23 patents anchors. Sicona founder and CEO over an eight-year span before running out of money two years Christiaan Jordaan met with New Orleans Mayor ago and nearly dissolvHelena Moreno and ing. more than a dozen busiTuesday’s announcement is being celebratness leaders and New Orleans officials Tuesed by local elected officials, business leaders day morning in a conand economic developference room at City Hall to celebrate the ers who are working to announcement of a deal lure outside investment Jordaan that closed earlier this to New Orleans East, using the Michoud Assembly summer but was kept under Facility — where rockets for wraps. Meeting attendees also NASA have been made for discussed details about tax inmore than six decades — and centive programs and logistics a proposed multibillion-dollar ä See BATTERY, page 2E Mississippi River port terminal

Advano, which has a pilot manufacturing facility in New Orleans East, was acquired by Australian battery materials startup Sicona. PROVIdEd PHOTO

2E ● Sunday, September 20, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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ORCHESTRAS How to find ghost charges on Continued from page 1E credit card, checking statements Sitting across from a 30-something single mom working to pay off $80,000 in student debt, we opened her bank statements for the past 12 months to see where her was going. Michelle money As we went Singletary through each THE COLOR month, line by OF MONEy line, something became clear. There weren’t any large, reckless purchases draining her bank account. Instead, her statements were riddled with what I call “ghost charges.” Just about every month, there were dozens of transactions she had either forgotten or consciously ignored. She isn’t alone. She is one of many Americans caught up in an epidemic of budget amnesia. The culprit is modern payment technology, which has made it far too easy to swipe, spend and suppress. Frictionless transactions — including one-click pay, tap to pay, mobile payment apps and saved autofill credit card prompts — have made buying so effortless that in many instances we don’t feel the psychological pain of paying. As the use of biometrics expands, using a phone or plastic payment card will be completely optional. You’ll be able to smile and pay. In 2024, J.P. Morgan announced a partnership with PopID that allows shoppers to use their face to shop. Companies sell consumers on the technology by promising faster checkout times. In hawking its iPhone X, Apple produced a pretty fly commercial. Three seconds. That’s all it took for the actor to pay for a hat that flies off the rack and onto his head. Another quick eyeball on his screen, and he’s bought some cool sunglasses. The shopping spree continues with multiple suits, shirts, stylish shoes, a chair for Mama and jewelry. The tagline: “Pay with a glance.” Businesses don’t want you to pause. Pay with your face and be in debt within seconds. For those old enough, we remember when paying with a credit card was a pain. The cashier pulled out a clunky manual machine from under the counter, inserted your credit card and pressed it to make a carbon copy imprint. As you signed the receipt, customers waiting in line behind you would be blowing out their breath or tapping their feet, wondering why you didn’t just use cash. Now, this tech-induced amnesia siphons away the money people need to save, pay off debt or invest for retirement. They zone out and later stare at charges they barely remember making. It gives rise to the often-heard refrain: “I have no idea where all my money goes.” To break free from this digital fog, you need to conduct a financial audit. Here’s how. Use pen and paper. If you have access to a printer, download and print out the last six to 12 months

BATTERY

Continued from page 1E related to the company ramping up activity in town. “This is day one of so much more of growth that’s about to come,” Moreno told the group. “We’re really excited about Sicona putting its U.S. headquarters here, and it tells such a great entrepreneurial story about what’s happening in our city. We’re providing ways for amazing people with great ideas to scale up.” Jordaan said Sicona plans to begin operations at the New Orleans Regional Business Park facility across from Michoud as it strives to accelerate production of siliconcarbon anode materials designed to improve the performance of the lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles, drones, data centers, robots, power tools and more. Sicona said it plans to invest more than $10 million over the next halfdecade at the New Orleans East site and expects to create 30 new jobs with an average annual salary topping $100,000. The company also plans to maintain offices and labs at the technology park next to LSU New Orleans on the shores of Lake Pontchartrain. Jordaan said the ramp-up of activity in New Orleans will be slow at first as the company waits for furnaces and other specialized equipment to be delivered, but he plans to hire several engineers and battery

of your credit card and bank statements. Yes, all of them. Get a pen because you will be doing a lot of circling. I don’t want you to rely on your banking app to check your numbers. These dashboards sort your spending into tidy graphs that make it feel like it’s under control. But a pie chart showing $400 in food spending doesn’t tell the full story. In reality, spending $60 on a McDonald’s delivery undercuts what you say is your goal to pay down debt or save more. Hunt down every line item. Think of this as an archaeological dig. Review every single charge and backtrack to figure out where that cash actually went, including ATM withdrawals. You will circle and label every purchase. (See the next step.) For every obscure vendor name or confusing line item, search or log in to the specific platform, such as your Amazon or PayPal order history, to match the purchase and the exact dollar amount you paid. Categorize your purchases. Your goal is to look for stealth splurges or ghost spending. You might recall the $60 Uber Eats delivery, but you don’t remember the Zelle payment you made to reimburse friends after you went out for drinks and dinner. You will need to circle all your purchases and categorize them — gas, utilities, groceries, eating out, delivered meals, etc. Make a note of spending for convenience. Expensive premade hot bar food from the grocery store should be labeled “eating out,” even if you took it home to eat on your couch while binge-watching your favorite cable series. Calculate your amnesia tax. Tally the total dollar amount of every debit or credit card charge you can’t recall. The cash you forgot about is the price you pay for failing to track your actual purchases. It’s money that could be available for the things you say you value. After your deep dive, force yourself to answer the following three questions. What specifically was this for? Question all purchases, asking yourself, “Was this a need or want?” Why did I buy this? When faced with multiple Grubhub orders, you need to ask: Were you out of food? Did you budget for the expense or did you act out of impulse because you didn’t want to eat leftovers? Is mindless digital spending sabotaging my long-term financial goals? Frictionless payment technology obscures the true cost of your choices. By the end of her audit, the single mom found hundreds of dollars she could have used to pay off her debt. The tech companies want you to smile, glance and tap your way into financial oblivion. But if you don’t pause before paying, it will derail the money goals you set for yourself. Email Michelle Singletary at michelle.singletary@washpost. com.

scientists to get things started. “We won’t be too flashy this side of Christmas, but next year things will pick up, and you’ll see our people doing a little bit more,” he said during the meeting with the mayor. Eventually, Sicona’s plan is to expand U.S. operations so it can make enough material to build millions of battery cells annually. “This acquisition is a major strategic step in our transition into a global lithium-silicon battery platform with a permanent operating base in the United States,” said Jordaan, who co-founded his company with Andrew Minett in 2019. “Advano has built an important foundation, and we intend to build on that work as we grow.”

‘Gruesome work’ Co-founded in 2016 by New Orleans native Alexander Girau and Shiva Adireddy, Advano spent nearly a decade developing a way to combine silicon with graphite to increase the range and charging speed of lithium-ion batteries with an eye on the then-growing U.S. electric vehicle market. Girau was pursuing his doctorate in chemical engineering and Adireddy was a Tulane University professor at that time. Former Apple executive Tony Fadell, known as the “father of the iPod,” was an early investor in the venture, along with PayPal cofounder Peter Thiel. Those two big names helped the company achieve its impressive fundraising haul,

400-year-old art form. “We entice people with things they’ve heard of, like Handel’s ‘Messiah’ and Tchaikovsky’s ‘The Nutcracker,’ but we’re also broadening our horizons past our traditional classical realm,” said Mollie Pate, the LPO’s principal horn player who just started her 31st season. “You have to look at what your community wants so you can draw people who wouldn’t normally attend.”

Keeping the music alive

PROVIdEd PHOTOS

With an annual budget of about The Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra is the second largest orchestra in $5.5 million, the LPO is the larg- Louisiana with an annual budget of $1.5 million, and among the more est orchestra in Louisiana. It has than 2,200 professional, community and youth orchestras across the U.S.

67 full-time musicians and 15 staff members that help produce nearly 50 concerts each season. The next largest in the state is the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra with a budget of $1.5 million, followed by the Lafayette-based Acadiana Symphony Orchestra (budget about $750,000) and organizations in Lake Charles, Alexandria, Shreveport and other cities. These are joined by youth orchestras and smaller ensembles statewide. They’re among the more than 2,200 professional, community and youth orchestras across the U.S. with operating expenses ranging from under $30,000 to well over $100 million, according to the League of American Orchestras, which advocates for the industry. Notably, most of the money to cover those expenses doesn’t come from ticket sales. League data shows that, on average, private support makes up 45% of an orchestra’s budget, followed by ticket sales, which account for nearly 25%. Endowments, earned revenue and government funding, together, comprise the other 30%. The LPO is one of the few orchestras seeing attendance grow, though people aren’t spending as much on tickets as they used to, according to LPO Executive Director Anwar Nasir. “It’s not like a rock concert,” he said. “You don’t have to sit up close.” To keep donaNasir tions flowing and tickets selling, orchestras in Louisiana are working to reach new people by embracing social media campaigns, lowering ticket prices, fine-tuning the concert experience — and, most important, spreading the message that an orchestra concert isn’t just for the elite. “People think it’s just for very wealthy or older people, but that’s not true, so we want highlight that and demystify that,” said BRSO Executive Director Eric Marshall.

Audiences are ‘omnivorous’ One of the primary ways Louisiana’s orchestras are trying to broaden their audience is by building a season schedule that combines crowd-pleasing classics, new works from emerging composers and music from movies and other popular media. Audiences have become “omnivorous,” according to Rachel Rossos Gallant, vice president of marketing and membership at the orchestra league. “They still want the classics, but they also want other genres, so hav-

among the highest-ever for a New Orleans startup. In early 2024, a few years after Girau left his role as CEO, Advano celebrated a ribbon-cutting at the New Orleans Regional Business Park near Michoud. Then-CEO Chris York announced a plan to produce up to 10 metric tons — about half a truckload — of material each year to provide samples to U.S. battery manufacturers, an industry boosted at the time by billions of dollars from the Biden administration through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. By that summer, though, the company had run out of operating capital. In August 2024, with EV sales slumping and an administration change looming, Advano furloughed most of its employees and effectively ceased operations as executives sought last-minute investors. Since then, Advano’s offices, labs and factory have essentially been frozen in time. “It looks like Chernobyl in there,” said Hugh Evans, a New Orleans native who invested in Advano in 2021 and took over as CEO at the beginning of last year. “Somebody’s pack of gum is still lying on a desk out in New Orleans East.” Evans said there was a good chance the company could have been sold off for its intellectual property and assets, but he and several others — including CFO Juan Linares and Patrick Dietzen, who was another company co-founder

year at the Orpheum Theatre but also performs in a smaller configuration at the New Orleans Jazz & Blues Market in Central City, among other venues. “They are coming to where people are,” Rossos Gallant said. “It helps build relationships with community, and it helps with fundraising. It’s also part of the nonprofit mission to build something communal, especially at a time when things can be divisive.”

An Acadiana Symphony Orchestra member performs Verdi’s ‘Requiem’ ‘A decent living’ in 2025. One reality of being a profesing cross-genre programming is really helpful,” she said. With that in mind, the Acadiana Symphony Orchestra’s upcoming season will feature a music from Beethoven, a collaboration with a Frank Sinatra impersonator, a “Cajun Night Before Christmas”themed show, and a performance of John Williams’ score for “Raiders of the Lost Ark.” “Someone might not be comfortable going to the symphony because they don’t know Beethoven or Mozart, but they know ‘Raiders,’ so you meet them where they are,” said Jackie Hettich, the ASO’s executive director. This season, BRSO is featuring music from famous composers Tchaikovsky and Shostakovich plus a “family fright night,” tributes to Motown and the Beatles, and a concert that includes the music of both Beethoven and Beyoncé in one night. The BRSO is adding a performance of Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1 to the end of a “Star Wars” concert. “People are coming to see this iconic movie music, and they’ll get this great piece of classical music on the same program,” Marshall said. “We hope it sparks an interest.” The LPO’s schedule includes many beloved classical pieces along with a collaboration with New Orleans Grammy-winning band Tank and the Bangas. The orchestra also will provide a live score during a screening of the century-old movie “Nosferatu” and share the stage with Mardi Gras Indian and rapper Flagboy Giz. Nasir said the organization works hard to balance well-known pieces — like Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony — with new discoveries. Orchestras are also seeking new fans by bringing the music out of their traditional concert halls to perform in libraries, schools, churches, healthcare facilities, parks and more. The LPO plays more than two dozen shows each

— spent more than a year managing its liabilities, negotiating with roughly 70 unsecured creditors to agree to take a percentage of what was owed them to make Advano “clean” so it could merge with a competitor. “It was gruesome work, and I was threatened with lawsuits multiple times,” he said. “But then came the good part.”

From the land down under

sional classical musician in a medium-sized market is the gig simply doesn’t pay very much. Pate said the base salary for LPO musicians is under $30,000 for a performing season that runs September through May, so everyone has to augment their income. Teaching is a common side hustle, but LPO members also repair vehicles, provide IT services and tend bar, to name a few. Many of the state’s musicians also play in other regional orchestras, which try to stagger their performance schedules to make the process easier. A new source of work cropped a year ago, when the Acadiana Center for the Arts in Lafayette launched a program called Louisiana Scoring. Funded by a grant from Louisiana’s economic development agency, the project aims to compete with facilities in Los Angeles, New York and Nashville, Tennessee, as well as overseas to record live orchestras for movies, TV shows and video games. Some of the best players from the state’s orchestras — and even university graduate programs — have participated in several recording sessions over the past year. Pate herself co-owns a local chain of CrossFit gyms with three New Orleans-area locations and nearly 300 members. That means, on some days, she’ll be teaching clients how to do push-ups, squats and dips, while on others she’s rehearsing and performing with her longtime fellow orchestra members. “Between the two jobs, I have a decent living,” she said. “It’s very difficult to survive on the orchestra salary alone especially with the rising cost of everything.” Despite the financial challenges, Pate said a seat in the LPO is still highly sought after. “Musicians come from all around the world and audition specifically to be in this orchestra,” she said. “There are five French horn positions available here, and my spot’s been taken for 30 years. There’s not a lot of turnover.”

the Australian company millions to recreate the infrastructure that Advano already has in place. In addition, the company’s pooled intellectual property looks better to investors, Evans said, and the low cost of energy in Louisiana is another draw. State incentives, including a new package designed to rebate companies that pay salaries over a parish average, no doubt helped seal the deal, but there’s another factor: Evans and Jordaan say there’s suddenly more demand for their product in the U.S. “There’s a new tailwind in the battery industry driven by the rapid advancements of artificial intelligence because that’s driving more physical applications of AI, like autonomous drones, submarines and vehicles,” Jordaan said. “All of those things require batteries, and most will benefit from our silicone materials.” The expansion to the U.S. comes at a busy time for Sicona, which recently licensed its technology to an Indian company that is building a production facility, and is working on a grant-funded project in Australia. Now, Jordaan said he’s working with Evans to revive $2.8 million U.S. Department of Energy research grant Advano received to convert waste material from solar panels into useful battery ingredients.

Thank Shirley Meng for introducing Advano to Sicona. The renowned Singaporean American materials scientist and academic, who served on Advano’s board of directors before joining Sicona’s board this year, connected with Jordaan to talk about a potential collaboration when she was visiting her husband’s family in Australia in early 2025. A visit down under from Greater New Orleans Inc. executives and other regional economic developers a few months later moved the conversation forward, leading to a handful of visits from Jordaan to New Orleans to check out Advano’s local infrastructure. Then, in June, the companies agreed to a stock swap that means Advano’s remaining shareholders now own a stake of Sicona, and Advano becomes the Australian startup’s subsidiary in the U.S. — although the Advano name is being retired. Jordaan and Evans said the deal Email Rich Collins at rich. makes sense because it would cost collins@theadvocate.com.

The Acadiana Advocate ● theadvocate.com ● Sunday, September 20, 2026 ● 3E

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

Tech entrepreneur sold company then built a bigger one BY JONAH MEADOWS Staff writer

When entrepreneur Mo Vij sold General Informatics in 2020 after building it into one of Baton Rouge’s biggest technology companies, he had a decision to make. Should he stay in town or start his next venture elsewhere? Vij stayed. After being uprooted once when he moved from India and watching his kids grow up in Louisiana, he decided this was home and used the proceeds from the sale to fund the launch of a new public safety software-asa-service company at the same Highland Road campus he had developed for the company he’d sold. It’s now become even larger. 365Labs, his new firm, now has 70 employees and up to $50 million in recurring revenue, 95% of which comes from out of state. And it counts more than 100 public safety agencies across 18 states among the clients paying for its records management, dispatch, case processing and 911 systems. Last year, Vij was inducted in the Hall of Distinction at LSU’s College of Engineering. And next month, groundbreaking is planned on the $60 million second phase of his @Highland real estate venture, which includes more than 220 residential units. In this week’s edition of Talking Business, Vij explains the tightrope act facing companies in the arena of public safety technology. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. General Informatics sold support services like help desks, patching and backups, while 365Labs sells subscription software for public safety agencies. What’s the difference between running those two kinds of companies? It’s like a doctor’s office versus a pharmaceutical company. The big difference is intellectual property. With General Informatics,

Is public concern about license plate readers and facial recognition justified? Any time bad news comes, people are going to get more worried, especially if it’s given to more powerful people. That’s why I think, in government, an AI-cautious approach is not a bad approach. But people’s reactions are more based on what we understand from Hollywood movies — right now the AI is not at that level. The error rate has dropped dramatically, but companies slapped AI on their products very early on, so even when things get betFILE PHOTO ter, the impression is that it’s not good. How did you handle it differently? Two years ago, we said, “Let’s FILE PHOTO By HILARy SCHEINUK PRESIdENT ANd CEO OF 365 LABS just use it for spell checking, A dispatcher fills out a call using dispatch software. Entrepreneur Mo for grammar.” Those were what Vij’s new firm, 365 Labs, counts more than 100 public safety agencies we could be sure about. Now, if across 18 states among the clients paying for its records management, somebody wants to FOIA a reyou’re a shared IT department. dispatch, case processing and 911 systems. You’re selling time, mostly, verport, AI can check the documents and give you some information. sus a product company — frankly, pass, new people come in and any- dent in the whole year but both It’s not creating, it’s basically there’s maybe a handful, if that, retrieval. in Louisiana — where you develop body who comes in must do some- the public and the government Retrieval technologies are a intellectual property. You’ve cremaybe wanted to buy drones thing different — or not do it. little better, and so we put retrievbecause it sounds very cool. The So what’s the biggest challenge of the ated a full online software sysreal things are more making sure al stuff in most of our products. public sector? tem, you pay us a subscription, the dispatch is happening, the With private clients, if you and we maintain and improve it. Let’s not try to create more stuff reports are being written, those could show them savings, everyWe have multiple patents on our right now, especially in a field like things get sidelined. software today. public safety where wrong input body wanted that. Here, you can What’s the proper application of artificial can affect people’s lives. Why would a police agency in show savings, but it’s not coming intelligence for public safety technology? Washington or New York connect from anybody’s pocket, so they What’s the public safety technology We know it’s a very probabilisto a company in Louisiana? Bepeople aren’t thinking about? can easily go to the city and say, Though the homicides and “We need 20 more people, othertic technology. It’s not determincause they can’t find enough disall make the news, 80-85% of istic. Now they’re talking about wise we can’t do our job.” patchers, and by using software the time the general work of a it detecting a person from how You can come up with a great that’s more integrated, the same technology for streamlining oper- they walk. It can say it’s the same law enforcement officer is very 60 employees can do the work of standard, run-of-the-mill kind person, but it’s probabilistic — 100 people. ations, but then in whose interest of work. So it’s, “I have to enter 99% of the time, it’ll do it. And What have you learned about selling to is streamlining? somebody’s information into 1% means you arrest the wrong government agencies? You can come in and say, “You the software” versus “Can I just person. The sales cycle is very long. can have 30% less police force.” The point is: Do you want to use point my camera at their driver’s When a city establishes a 911 sys- But does the chief really want license and read everything from tem, it’s a 15- or 20-year purchase, that? Sometimes whoever has the AI for something like this, or can there?” you use the AI very differently? and even once they buy it, it could better sales teams — or products Image recognition can help fill When a shift commander comes that are more whiz-bang — are take years to implement. in other pieces of information. late at night, the AI gives them a the ones in front, and things that They’ve been talking about That’s more useful than solving summary saying, “These are two Next Generation 911 for decades, could really make a difference crimes immediately. important ones that you need to but it’s not been implemented in a don’t get adopted easily. look at first.” That’s not affecting What kind of things? majority of places. somebody’s life decisions, but it People want to see a drone — Then there’s the election cycle. Email Jonah Meadows at jonah. can help that officer’s time. maybe it’s only used in one inciBy the time four or five years meadows@theadvocate.com.

Q&A WITH MO VIJ

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ACROSS THE REGION

La.’s Origin Bank moves from Wall Street to ‘Y’all Street’ BY LIZ SWAINE

it has one more than California. “Texas is a major player in the U.S. regardless of the exchange landscape, but it ultimately makes sense as the seventh largest economy in the world,” Global Managing Director of Listings Nicole Chambers told a gathering of Dallas business leaders last year, adding that 45 countries smaller than Texas have their own stock exchanges. Trading of corporate stocks on the platform is set to begin Oct. 5. So far, a number of Dallas-based energy companies have said they were moving their common stock to the TXSE from the NYSE. TXSE officials said they hope to capitalize on discontent over new rules and rising fees and share price benchmarks at Nasdaq and NYSE. Both Kilpatrick and Chris Reigelman, Origin’s director of investor relations, reiterated that Origin remains a Louisiana-based company with no plans to change that. “The Texas Stock Exchange does not change origins, domicile or incorporation, we remain headquartered in Ruston,” Kilpatrick said. There should be no impact to customers or stockholders, Reigelman said. “Any shareholders that have shares in Origin will have the exact same shares,” Reigelman said. “There’s no financial impact. Our ticker will not change. This does not impact our customers in any way.” Stockholders do not have to approve the listing transfer, which will officially take place at the NYSE close on Oct. 12. The bank’s stock ticker will remain OBK. “We are firmly rooted in Louisiana, and we are very much committed to continuing to serve our clients and communities across Louisiana, Texas, in the broader Gulf South,” Reigelman said.

Staff writer

Origin Bank, a 114-year-old bank headquartered in Ruston, is moving its stock exchange listing away from the New York Stock Exchange to the new Texas Stock Exchange beginning Oct. 13. The Dallas-based exchange, a startup backed with $120 million from Goldman Sachs, Citadel Securities and BlackRock, has earned the nickname “Y’all Street.” In making the announcement of the move, Origin said that the Texas exchange is more aligned to the bank’s “growth story.” “The Texas Stock Exchange reflects the long-term opportunity we see across the state’s diverse markets, including Dallas, Houston and East Texas,” Drake Mills, chair, president and CEO of Origin Bancorp Inc., said in a news release. Origin began a westward push in 2008 and now has 31 locations in 11 counties around Dallas, Houston and East Texas. In 2022, Origin expanded its Texas footprint in a merger with BTH Bank, which gave it more visibility STAFF PHOTO By LIZ SWAINE across Dallas, Fort Worth and East Origin Bank, based in Ruston and with 57 branches spread from Texas to Florida, is moving its stock exchange Texas. The bank’s 57 branches include listing away from the New york Stock Exchange to the startup Texas Stock Exchange that has earned the locations in Texas, Louisiana — nickname ‘y’all Street.’ where the bank has a heavy presSince the acquisition of the to attract a significant number of ence in Shreveport, Bossier, Mon- at Arlington associate professor American Stock Exchange by the companies that want to list on its roe and Ruston — Florida, Missis- of finance. The bell ringings on the floor NYSE in 2008, the NYSE and Nas- exchange. sippi and Alabama, where Origin Leadership with the exchange, recently opened a branch in Bir- of the New York Stock Exchange daq have been the two dominant and Nasdaq to signal the start of exchanges in the U.S., effectively dubbed TXSE, says this time will mingham. creating a duopoly, be different. “We’ll continue to Officials with the exchange said invest in all the mar- Since the acquisition of the American Stock Exchange Villupuram said. Regional exchang- the strength of the Texas economy kets we serve where by the NYSE in 2008, the NYSE and Nasdaq have been there’s opportunity to es outside of New made its creation possible, noting the two dominant exchanges in the U.S., effectively continue to grow and York, like the Boston the many Fortune 500 companies creating a duopoly, said Sriram Villupuram, University Stock Exchange, the that have come to the state, drawn support the commuof Texas at Arlington associate professor of finance. Philadelphia Stock by favorable regulatory and taxanities,” said Ryan KilExchange and Chi- tion policies. patrick, Origin’s head the day’s trading stand out in the cago Stock Exchange have been Texas continues to be the fastof media relations. Stock exchanges are private in- minds of the public, but those swallowed up by the parent com- est-growing state in the U.S. acstitutions where stocks, bonds and events are largely for public rela- panies of the NYSE and Nasdaq, cording to the U.S. census, with other securities are traded, con- tions as the two exchanges com- while other exchanges shut down. nearly 32 million people, and acAttempts to create a third, cording to Fortune magazine, the necting supply and demand “like pete to convince companies to any other market,” said Sriram list themselves on their separate dominant national exchange state has more Fortune 500 com- Email Liz Swaine at Liz. have largely floundered, failing panies than any other state. At 57, Swaine@theadvocate.com. Villupuram, University of Texas exchanges.

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NATION & WORLD

‘Flat is Back’ campaign promotes eating flounder Plentiful yet underutilized flatfish an economical option BY BROOKE KUSHWAHA The New Bedford Light

Aperol spritzes. Dubai chocolate. Dill pickle, well, everything. Thanks to Instagram and TikTok, food trends have never been more of-the-moment, with even seemingly mundane ingredients like cottage cheese enjoying a sudden resurgence. Why not the flounder? The first-of-its-kind “Flat is Back” campaign, spearheaded by the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, aims to build buzz around the plentiful yet underutilized flatfish called flounder, better connecting what fishermen already catch to what ends up on consumers’ plates. The hoped-for result would be a more economically and environmentally sustainable fisheries model, according to Marine Fisheries Director Dan McKiernan — one he plans to replicate for all kinds of underappreciated fish. But first, customers have to bite. In 2023, over three-fourths of all seafood Americans consumed came from just 10 species, with shrimp, salmon and canned tuna topping the list. In general, American diners tend to consume fewer species of fish than Europeans and Asians, McKiernan said. That can drive up demand for a few key species while leaving plenty of other fish in the sea. Cod, for example, remains one of the most popular catches, even after its numbers have drastically declined. Flounder, on the other hand, is abundant and cheap. “We hope that this program can help people get an appreciation for some of the other species of fish, so that seafood can be, surprisingly, fun,” McKiernan said.

ASSOCIATEd PRESS PHOTO By ROBERT F. BUKATy

A fish buyer examines a crate full of dab, a type of flounder, prior to the an auction at the Portland Fish Exchange in Portland, Maine. The ‘Flat is Back’ campaign aims to build buzz around the plentiful yet underutilized flatfish, better connecting what fishermen already catch to what ends up on consumers’ plates. As a flatfish, flounder spend most of their time horizontal on the ocean floor, aided by two eyes pointing up at the ocean’s surface. (When summer flounder are hatched, they have one left eye and one right eye. Over time, the right eye migrates to the left side of its head.) Summer flounder get their name because they move farther inshore in the warmer months and go offshore to spawn in the fall and winter. They’re also called the “chameleons of the sea” because, aside from burying their flat bodies in the sand, they evade predators by changing colors. Flounder filets are mild and tender, but also thin and delicate, making them easier to overcook than, say, a thick slab of salmon, said Josh Riazi, a chef from New Bedford, Massachusetts. It

doesn’t help that different types of flounder can show up on menus and at fish markets as lemon sole, gray sole, Dover sole, summer flounder, winter flounder and witch flounder, among other monikers. When flounder does show up as an entree, it’s often in a highpriced dish such as the French sole meunière, he said, which doesn’t really make sense for the otherwise abundant, affordable fish. “It’s a really delicious, beautiful fish that can be prepared in a way that’s great and special if you put a lot of technique into it,” Riazi said, “but it doesn’t tend to populate menus the same way that salmon or swordfish or cod do.” Riazi serves a baked stuffed sole in the style of the traditional

New England comfort food at his seafood restaurant, The Black Whale. In Riazi’s version, the thin filets get wrapped around a crab filling and baked in seafood cream sauce. The species also does well as a crudo, he said, or even grilled whole, since the fish’s flat body makes it easier to debone. Since coming onto the menu, Riazi’s stuffed sole has punched far above its weight, Black Whale owner Steve Silverstein said, selling consistently at a low cost to the restaurant. In fact, the dish sells so well, he isn’t sure if “Flat” ever left. “I don’t know the need for this whole campaign,” Silverstein said. But McKiernan hopes consumers get inspired to take flounder home with them, too. “A lot of folks, when they have a

good meal in a restaurant, if they have some cooking skills themselves, that will inspire them to cook something similar,” McKiernan said. “And so that would be a great outcome … for a home chef to be brave enough or interested enough to try these things.” Although Riazi’s stuffed sole may sell like codcakes, not every seafood consumer is dying for a bite of flatfish — yet. Young people seem less familiar with the two-dimensional treat, McKiernan said, perhaps due to long periods when the species’ fishing quotas were low and restaurants pivoted toward more readily available fare. McKiernan is hopeful, however, that the kids will soon clamor for flounder. The Division of Marine Fisheries hired the public relations firm 44 Communications to manage and track social media promotion for the “Flat is Back” campaign, since McKiernan admittedly spends more time looking at fish stock data than Instagram reels. One week from the campaign’s launch, the state agency’s social media posts about flounder received 14,000 views, an increase of nearly 700% from their average engagement. In August’s Marine Fisheries Advisory Commission meeting, Marine Fisheries seafood marketing coordinator Wendy Wills suggested putting flounder in Massachusetts public schools. Vendors in the past have put less-flashy species in school cafeteria fish sticks, Wills explained, and the deadline to apply for a state contract is coming up. “The kids go nuts for it,” she said. McKiernan even touted flounder’s macronutrients, noting that protein seemed to be trendy among the younger folk these days. A 100-calorie serving of flounder packs 20 grams of protein and very little saturated fat — making it more protein-rich than cottage cheese and lower calorie than beef.

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TECHNOLOGY

Things got ugly for cute store using livestream shopping BY IRIS KWOK

Los Angeles Times (TNS) The little Los Angeles shop was a destination for Hello Kitty fans for decades when it decided to dive into a massive new wave of ecommerce — peddling its products live on TikTok. The first floor of the JapanLA store is full of stuffed toys. It houses shelf after shelf of cute Japanese characters such as My Melody, Totoro and Kuromi. Upstairs is the real moneymaker. Employees stand in front of phones, pitching the hottest new products of kawaii (cute in Japanese) culture. While the upstairs business has brought in tens of thousands of new customers, it has also attracted trolls trying to shut JapanLA down. The haters have hacked the store’s website, harassed its hosts, spread rumors about its owner and threatened to show up in force in front of its physical store. JapanLA owner Jamie Rivadeneira said she has never seen cute consumers turn so ugly. “I created JapanLA 20 years ago for adults who like cute stuff, so they can feel safe and Rivadeneira feel like it’s OK to like toys and collect them,” she said. “To attack me is so opposite of what I stand for.” It is a cautionary tale that points to the potential profit and pitfalls when small local businesses push back against the onslaught of ecommerce by using technology to reach a wider audience. It also demonstrates how the Labubu craze — in which people keep buying blind boxes of the same toys in hopes of getting a rare, expensive one — has turned some shops into casinos. Rivadeneira was ahead of the curve when she opened a small toy shop in 2006 on a street off Melrose Avenue selling items featuring Hello Kitty and other Japanese characters.

LOS ANGELES TIMES/TNS PHOTO By RONALdO BOLANOS

An influencer showcases and unboxes Sonny Angel figurines during a TikTok live auction sales shift at JapanLA in Los Angeles. From its early days, the store harnessed the internet to promote its products, using MySpace to connect with what was at the time a niche community: Los Angeles fans of kawaii culture. As it kawaii culture went mainstream, JapanLA grew into a 5,000-squarefoot retail space with more than 20 employees. Although its store continues to attract a steady flow of walk-in customers looking for the cutting edge of cute, JapanLA’s business has been turbocharged in recent years by livestream shopping. Livestream shopping, also called social commerce, is like the old cable shopping channels, but there are millions of shows, each serving a very specific niche, broadcasting live. The hosts interact with the shoppers watching. It started in Asia, is worth hundreds of billions of dollars in sales, and has been

growing fast in the U.S. JapanLA first dabbled in livestream shopping during the pandemic lockdown, when it had to close its store. It started on a platform called Popshoplive to sell Hello Kitty and other items, but sales didn’t skyrocket until it switched to TikTok Shop in 2023. Today, JapanLA’s TikTok account has nearly 400,000 followers and hosts seven-hour livestream shopping sessions six days a week. The shop’s 12 bubbly livestream hosts have turned into micro-celebrities. Their customers comment in the livestream’s chat, order hundreds of products during a session, and sometimes send tips and the occasional boba. Uma Karmarkar, an associate professor at University of California San Diego who studies consumer psychology, said livestreams are effective at getting consumers

to spend more because they are engaging and temporary — meaning they tap into people’s fear of missing out on a rare opportunity. When it comes to collectible blind boxes, the effect is heightened, she said. “You’re adding to that element of scarcity that makes blind boxes so appealing in the first place,” Karmarkar said. “You don’t know what you’re getting, and it’s effectively like gambling.” JapanLA’s chat and sales exploded in the last two years, driven by demand for the cherubic figurines of a Japanese doll named Sonny Angels. For certain consumers, it was the new Labubu: cute and collectible, sold in blind boxes, with certain types being rare and thus much more valuable. Sonny Angels are 3-inch plastic dolls that are generally naked,

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except for themed headgear and costumes. JapanLA was auctioning the rarest Sonny Angels for hundreds of dollars, and that started bothering some fans of the fat little collectibles. In July, while taking bids for figurines from the Sonny Angels summer vacation-themed collection, one of the rare ones got a bid of more than $400. Some viewers used screenshots of the offer to accuse JapanLA of gouging. Online detractors shared screenshots of the supposed $400 bid in a Sonny Angel collectors Facebook group with more than 30,000 members and launched a form-letter campaign, mass-emailing Dreams USA to try to get JapanLA’s retail license revoked. The company tried to report and block the trolls, but they kept popping up with new profiles. It hired a PR firm to manage the unfolding crisis. Rivadeneira said she even scrubbed her personal social media accounts of photos of her young daughter after trolls began attacking loved ones. JapanLA turned to Dreams, the company behind Sonny Angels, for support. The two companies decided to change the way the figurines were auctioned to avoid the gouging narrative. Now they are auctioned before they are opened rather than after, so bidders don’t know what they are getting. Jackie Bonheim, a spokesperson for Dreams USA, said that while the company received a flood of form-letter emails from angry Sonny Angels fans, the company cannot set a maximum retail price. JapanLA is still selling thousands of Sonny Angel dolls, but bids now tend to stay around $20. Rivadeneira, JapanLA’s owner says her team is working every day to block and silence trolls. She’s still reeling from how quickly her business went from a bumper batch of orders to battling for its life. “I couldn’t believe it,” she said. “All it takes is a few people to say bad things or say things about JapanLA, things about me, that aren’t true, for it to just go crazy.”

8E ● Sunday, September 20, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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BUILDING PERMITS Issued Sept. 9-15:

Commercial alterations

SPA: 913 Harding St., description, Acadiana Health Spa in the former Acadiana Yoga and Wellness space; applicant, Parish Architecture; contractor, Domingue Construction; $130,000. TECH: 245 Sabatier Road, Scott; description, Verizon Wireless I-10 replacement; applicant, SBA Network Services; contractor, Nextedge Infrastructure Services; $45,000. RETAIL: 2519 Verot School Road, description, none listed for Lafayette Materials; applicant and contractor, Hart Homes; $184,000. RESIDENTIAL: 209 Rue Royale, description, structure rebuild for townhome units; applicant and contractor, Arceneaux Custom Builders;

Fool’s Take: Verizon for dividends and growth

Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) dominates the U.S. telecom industry, which is an attractive sector for dividend investors due to its stability. These days, mobile phones and internet Motley access are necessiFool ties for customers, so that generates a consistent stream of income for the company and its shareholders. Verizon has increased its dividend for 20 straight years, and its payout recently yielded a fat 5.7%. The company boasts a massive recurring revenue base from its millions of wireless and broadband subscribers. That provides it with the cash flow to invest in maintaining and expanding its network, while also returning cash to shareholders. During the first half of this year, Verizon generated $18.4 billion in cash flow from operations, easily covering its capital expenditures ($8.2 billion) and dividend ($5.9 billion). It used the remaining cash to repurchase shares ($3.5 billion) and strengthen its balance sheet. Verizon is on track to generate over $21.5 billion in free cash flow after capital expenditures this year, and its growing free cash flow should support future dividend increases. Verizon has not been growing briskly, but its business is solid

$20,000. MEDICAL: 805 Albertson Parkway, Suite C, Broussard; description, extension of Ochsner Cancer Center of Acadiana; applicant, Ochsner Lafayette General Health; contractor, Kent Design Build; $1.35 million.

New commercial

INDUSTRIAL: 201 Oil Patch Road, Broussard; description, 16,110-square-foot office/warehouse; applicant, 201 Oil Patch MSV; contractor, Rise Construction; $1.25 million. RESTAURANT: 405 Church St., Youngsville; description, new location for Hot Food Express; applicant, Monica Boyer; contractor, Lambright Construction; $1 million. OTHER: 106 Windfall Drive, Building 1, Broussard; description, none

and stable. It’s likely to generate substantial passive income to long-term investors. (The Motley Fool recommends Verizon Communications.)

Fool’s School: Different kinds of public companies There are many kinds of publicly traded companies, and you might want to invest in some while avoiding others. Here are some common categories: n Blue chip stocks are tied to established and financially stable companies, such as Berkshire Hathaway, Boeing, Johnson & Johnson, JPMorgan Chase, Microsoft, PepsiCo, Procter & Gamble, Visa and Walmart. n Income stocks pay dividends to shareholders, typically via quarterly cash payments. They can be great for retirees as they generate regular income, but investors of all ages can profit from them. n Value stocks are ones that appear undervalued, thus offering a margin of safety. Famous investors such as Warren Buffett have favored the value investing approach. n Growth stocks are tied to companies growing at a fasterthan-average rate. They can be appealing, but they can also be overvalued. When the market pulls back, they can fall harder than other stocks. n Cyclical stocks tend to rise and fall along with the economy and include carmakers, travel-related companies and luxury goods

listed; applicant, Blaine Barrilleaux; contractor, Affordable Metal Carports; $192,500. OTHER: 106 Windfall Drive, Building 2, Broussard; description, none listed; applicant, Blaine Barrilleaux; contractor, Affordable Metal Carports; $157,500.

New residential

630 DUGAS ROAD: Ruben Chavez, $695,750. 101 EVERETT ROAD: Laviolette General Contracting, $831,750. 220 EAGLE HEIGHTS DRIVE, DUSON: DR Horton, $271,500. 334 TRAVAILLEUR ROAD: Manuel Builders, $187,500. 208 LANDING BLVD., MAURICE: Level Construction & Development, $423,625. 300 LANDING BLVD., MAURICE:

makers. When there’s a recession, many consumers will put off buying a new car or taking a big trip. n Defensive stocks are ones you’d likely want to own during a market downturn. They are not cyclical and are often less volatile than other stocks. They include utilities, grocery chains, consumer staples companies and pharmaceutical companies. After all, if the economy sours, you’ll still need to pay your utility bills and buy groceries, shampoo and medications. n Speculative stocks tend to be volatile and riskier-than-average; these include early-stage biotechnology companies, mining companies and specialists in emerging technologies. Penny stocks are also speculative — and generally extra-risky. Keep in mind that some stocks will fit several categories. CocaCola, for example, is a blue-chip defensive stock and a dividendpaying income stock and, at times, an undervalued value stock.

Ask the Fool: What’s beta? What’s a stock’s beta? — A.G.,Williston, Vermont It’s a measure of its volatility. A beta of 1.0 reflects a stock that moves pretty much in tandem with the overall stock market. If the market rises or falls by 10%, so will the stock (roughly). A beta below 1.0 reflects lower volatility, and a beta above 1.0 reflects higher volatility. So if the market falls

Level Construction & Development, $325,875. 302 LANDING BLVD., MAURICE: Level Construction & Development, $316,125. 101 ADENMORE TERRACE: Bailey Home Builders, $597,625. 116 CASTLE VINE WAY: Platinum Homes, $564,500. 305 KELLOGG AVE.: Bailey Home Builders, $264,000. 304 KELLOGG AVE.: Bailey Home Builders, $264,000. 200 LISBURN DRIVE: Level Construction & Development, $382,000. 104 MIZELLE ST.: GMN Painting, $348,125. 107 GREYFORD DRIVE: Arceneaux Custom Builders, $584,625. 106 HILL CREEK DRIVE: DR Horton, $307,750. 108 HILL CREEK DRIVE: DR Horton,

by 10%, a 0.6-beta stock might drop only 6%, while a 1.5-beta stock might fall by around 15%. Which CEOs’ annual letters to shareholders are worth reading? — R.C., Millcreek, Utah It’s important to keep up with your own holdings, so try to read the CEO letters for the stocks you own. They won’t be equally impressive, and if any seem to be avoiding tough topics or casting blame, that could be a red flag prompting you to reconsider that holding. Warren Buffett’s 60-some letters are considered by many the gold standard of CEO letters, as they’re candid, readable and educational. You can find them on the Berkshire Hathaway website at berkshirehathaway.com. There you’ll also find letters from Buffett’s successor, Greg Abel. Other CEOs whose letters are widely read include Jamie Dimon, of JPMorgan Chase; the Tisch family, of Loew’s; Larry Fink, of BlackRock; Jane Fraser, of Citigroup; Tom Gayner, of Markel Group; Seth Klarman, of Baupost Group; Howard Marks, of Oaktree Capital Group; Lee M. Shavel, of Verisk Analytics; and Prem Watsa, of Fairfax Financial Holdings. You can learn a lot about the economy and various industries by reading a wide range of past and current CEO letters to shareholders. Search for some of these and/or other CEO names along with “letter to shareholders” to find their writings.

$348,875. 103 LEANING OAK DRIVE: Devyn Enterprises, $596,375. 227 MEADOWS RIDGE LANE, DUSON: DR Horton, $266,875. 226 MEADOWS RIDGE LANE, DUSON: DR Horton, $271,500. 222 EAGLE HEIGHTS DRIVE, DUSON: DR Horton, $266,875. 223 EAGLE HEIGHTS DRIVE, DUSON: DR Horton, $248,625. 119 GUN RUNNER DRIVE, CARENCRO: Manuel Builders, $273,625. 129 RIO DRIVE, YOUNGSVILLE: Manuel Builders, $257,600. 123 HARVEST FALLS DRIVE, BROUSSARD: DR Horton, $126,175. 120 HARVEST FALLS DRIVE, BROUSSARD: DR Horton, $118,195. 118 HARVEST FALLS DRIVE, BROUSSARD: DR Horton, $126,220.

My Dumbest Investment: Bitcoin miners

My most regrettable investment ever was in bitcoin mining companies. — A.T., online The world of cryptocurrencies is complex and not for the faint of heart. There are lots of cryptocurrencies, of course, and you might invest in some of those; the largest ones recently included bitcoin, ethereum, Tether, Binance coin and XRP. But just as you might invest in gold itself or in gold-mining businesses, you can invest in cryptocurrencies themselves and/or in companies that “mine” for crypto. With bitcoin, for example, miners engage in a complex process that can reward them with bitcoin if they create new blocks that get added to the blockchain. It’s costly to run the hardware to engage in bitcoin mining, so many people leave that process to bitcoin mining companies and then invest in those companies. Not all of those miners will prosper, though, so there is certainly risk — as you experienced. Also, historically, crypto prices have been quite volatile; many who got in early have done well, but many with poor timing have ended up with big losses. Only invest in cryptocurrencies once you have a solid understanding of how it all works.

Do you have a smart or regrettable investment move to share with us? Email it to tmfshare@fool.com.

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ONE BIG QUESTION

What is one TV show you’re currently watching? BY GRACE MAYER

successful. It’s fascinating, compelling and horrifying. It’s not a relaxing show. It’s stressful. The relaxing part is watching somebody else struggle and knowing that it’s a show that you will turn off at some point.

Staff writer

At the end of a busy workday, there are few better ways to unwind than with several episodes of a good TV show, never mind the inherent stress of navigating among the countless options on the many streaming platforms. To find out how the leaders of Louisiana’s business and civic organizations relax when they’re away from the office, we asked them in this week’s One Big Question feature: What is one TV show you’re currently watching? Their answers included sports, documentaries, period dramas and sci-fi thrillers, and helped shed some light on how they think — and why they’re successful. Responses have been edited for length and clarity.

CONNIE FABRE

President and CEO, Greater Baton Rouge Industry Alliance

My son recently introduced my husband and I to the show “Silo,” which presents a scenario where a billionaire funds building all of these underground silos, but the people who live there don’t know why they are there. Fabre Science has always been a big part of my life. I’ve been watching “Star Trek” since I was a little girl. Earlier in my career, I worked as a scientist and an engineer. While watching “Silo,” and other shows in the science fiction genre, I’m always thinking about if the scenarios they present are possible in the future. If you look at the old “Star Trek” episodes from the late 1980s, they had those hand-held tablets, and now we have those today. I’m drawn to “Silo” because it helps me to imagine and think about what’s possible.

DANIELLE MACK

Chief philanthropy officer, Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center

I’m counting down the days for “The Gilded Age” to return in November, which follows a group of wealthy individuals in New York City during the 1880s and the tensions between old money and new money families. I Mack love the show, because it presents a different way of looking at history, the casting is great and the scoring is wonderful. The storyline doesn’t shy away from or avoid some of the tougher conversations and topics from that time, like Black history, classicism and colorism. “The Gilded Age” shows me a part of history I never learned about in school: a thriving African American community in 19th-century Brooklyn, living with ASSOCIATEd PRESS PHOTO By RICK OSENTOSKI dignity, ambition and joy. Saints quarterback Tyler Shough passes against the detroit Lions during Working in the philanthropy space, I’m also really interested in a game Sept. 13 in detroit. daniel Hammer, president and CEO of The Historic New Orleans Collection, says being a part of the Saints fandom how they depict those components in the show. The historical era the ‘is another example of how some things about this place, like its history show is set in is filled with wealthy and culture, are not just a characteristic of our lives, they’re a defining people, women who spend much part of our lives.’ of their time supporting charities and fundraising efforts to build an GREGORY KALLENBERG and excitement opera house. The show is one I can Executive director, Startup Prize and always having watch more than once, and I don’t Foundation, Shreveport to be on. Watching typically watch a lot of TV. this show reminds I keep circling back to watching me how funny and RUTH LAWSON “The Bear,” a show that follows stressful it is to President, Jefferson Chamber of a family-owned restaurant, the be a part of some- Commerce characters who work there and the crushing realities they face, Kallenberg thing and to try to When I’m not watching “Mickey both personal and in the culinary grow something, Mouse Clubhouse” with my 2-yearindustry. and I see that energy and attitude old, I’ve been watching a lot of 9/11 It’s a pretty real depiction of every day with the entrepreneurs documentaries recently, including working in a restaurant, and it cap- we work with at Startup Prize. “9/11: Inside the President’s War Everyone should watch the show Room.” I love a documentary, and tures what I miss about working in the service industry — the thrum to see what we all go through to be I love a true crime documentary.

Working What’s

I’m always looking to learn a bit more, and with the 25th anniversary of this event I’ve just been diving into learning more about this event, Lawson which took place when I was in high school. My husband and I went to New York about a month ago, where we toured the 9/11 Memorial and Museum. I recently traveled to the Pentagon with other Jefferson Parish officials and business leaders, a trip our team does each year to advocate for the parish, everything from infrastructure needs to flood insurance protection. Getting to visit these sites that are part of our country’s history, especially on the 25th anniversary of 9/11, has really spurred my interest in watching more documentaries about this time.

DANIEL HAMMER

President and CEO, The Historic New Orleans Collection

I am currently binge-watching the New Orleans Saints 2026-27 season. I’ve been a Saints fan my whole life. I grew up watching them have some pretty tough years, and it makes all their recent success a blessing. For some younger fans, Hammer like my daughter, who is 17, and my son, who is 12, the Saints are supposed to win. The way I love the Saints is similar to a lot of New Orleanians. Being a part of this fandom is another example of how some things about this place, like its history and culture, are not just a characteristic of our lives, they’re a defining part of our lives. The fandom is intrinsic to my being. I don’t feel like I have much of a choice. Who would I be if I weren’t a Saints fan? Email Grace Mayer at grace. mayer@theadvocate.com.

with

in Greater New Orleans business

Michael Hecht President & CEO GNO Inc.

LA & GNO, Inc. Get Sites Ready, Ready!

Over the past month, GNO, Inc., Louisiana Economic Development, and local partners hosted three events across the region celebrating a combined $13.2 million in state investment through Louisiana’s FastSites program, funding that is turning potential into development in Washington, St. Charles, and St. Tammany parishes. “Site readiness” is one of the deciding factors in whether a parish wins or loses a major project. Specifically, companies will rule out locations where roads, utilities, or rail access aren’t already in place. FastSites was created to ensure our locations are “shovel ready” when a company or consultant comes calling.

the GNO, Inc. supported Site Investment and Infrastructure Improvement Fund, FastSites gives the state a revolving pool of capital to prepare land for industrial and commercial use. In March, LED selected 19 sites across 16 parishes for the program’s first round. The Legislature has since added another $50 million, bringing the fund to $200 million, and the next application window opens in October. In Greater New Orleans, the sites are: •

Launched in October 2025 with $150 million through

You can read about the full 19-site FastSites selection here

You can learn more about the FastSites program here

Franklinton Industrial Park (Washington Parish) – A $1.2 million investment is funding roadway and water and sewer improvements, priming 75 acres for new industrial development alongside existing tenants like Acme Machine & Welding and Grand Isle Shipyard

You can read about the Esperanza Business Park investment here

•

Esperanza Business Park (St. Charles Parish) – A $10 million investment will extend Judge Edward Dufresne Parkway more than two miles to LA 3127, opening road access to over 1,000 acres of land near the Hale Boggs Bridge with connections to I-310, the Mississippi River, Union Pacific rail, and Louis Armstrong Airport

•

Gulf South Commerce Park (St. Tammany Parish) – A $2 million investment is funding land acquisition and wetlands mitigation to grow the park from 92 to nearly 400 acres along Interstate 12 in Mandeville, where Crosby Development Company and Blue Steel Development are already building the 200,555-square-foot Steel 12 distribution facility

A greater choice for business

gnoinc.org

10E ● Sunday, September 20, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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Global experience. Louisiana expertise. Gallagher is committed to serving Louisiana, combining client-centric service with global resources. We’re a trusted partner for businesses and individuals seeking insurance, risk management and consulting solutions.

Connect with your local broker today. AJG.com/louisiana | The Gallagher Way. Since 1927.

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HEALTH

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S U N D AY, S e p t e m b e r 20, 2026

A better way to do toast PAGE 3

Molly Kimball 1N

Woman’s cancer journey inspires family detection of BRCA1 genetic mutation can help decrease risk

BY MARGARET DeLANEY

Staff writer

INFUSION PROFUSION Health boost? Hangover cure? Louisianans are turning to IV therapies, but are they helpful?

BY RACHEL MIPRO Contributing writer

Sticking a needle in your veins has never been more popular. DeAnna Smith, CEO of Dripsy, an IV health and wellness center with locations in Lafayette, Alexandria and Olla, said people come in for a variety of drips. For her, the IV therapy trend, inspired by in-hospital IV therapy, has taken off. In the hospital setting, this treatment is typically used for people who need fluid repletion, usually occurring in cases of severe dehydration, or nutrient absorption problems. In the outpatient world, people can come in and pick between a mix of infusions, seeking hangover remedies, vitamin blends and other offerings. Once selected, the mixture is injected directly into the bloodstream via intravenous needle. In a salon-like setting, the client gets comfortable while the infusion happens — a process that typically takes around an hour, depending on the amount of liquid selected.

ä See IV, page 2X

Dawn Riviere traveled the country for years with her husband Charles in their RV — from Colorado to Missouri. They always tried to come back south in the winter and stay up north in the summer. They were back in Louisiana at the Park Riverview RV park across from Natchez, Mississippi, in the late summer of 2023. Riviere was in a rush to mow the lawn. “It was gonna rain,” she said. “I didn’t want to get soaking wet — I’ve gotten soaking wet before.” In her hurry to outrun the storm, the back tire of Riviere’s mower hit a deep hole in the yard, throwing her off the seat and onto the ground. The pain in her side lasted a week before she went to the doctor, where her primary care physician ordered some further imaging. Just a few weeks later, more pain in her side brought her to the emergency room and then to the office of Dr. Renee Cowan, a gynecologic oncologist at Woman’s Hospital in Baton Rouge. Scans showed that Riviere had two ovarian tumors — one the size of a small cantaloupe on her right ovary, the other the size of a large grapefruit on her left ovary — that had been dislodged from their place after her fall. Her case is not uncommon. Nearly 75% of women discover that they have ovarian cancer at an advanced stage. “That’s because the ovaries hide,” Cowan said. “They’re small. There’s not really any signs and symptoms are vague.” Cowan removed both of Riviere’s tumors. The biopsy test came back that not only was Riviere’s cancer a more advanced stage, she also had the BRCA1 genetic mutation.

ä See GENE, page 2X

STAFF PHOTOS By dAVId GRUNFELd

Clients receive IV infusions at the Remedy Room in Metairie, a boutique hydration clinic. The popularity of IV therapies is booming.

STAFF PHOTO By PEARL SPURLOCK

dawn Riviere left, hugs gynecologic oncologist dr. Renee Cowan at Woman’s Hospital.

With 6 locations, we’re always close by ochsner.org/urgent-care-lafayette

2X ● Sunday, September 20, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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HEALTH MAKER N.O. doctor helped get new prostate cancer treatment approved BY MARGARET DeLANEY Staff writer

Dr. Oliver Sartor started out in endocrine research in Shreveport. But after his fellowship, he had the opportunity to do and learn more with the prostate cancer team at the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Maryland. In 1989, he packed is bags and “trained there as really kind of happenstance,” he said. After a few years of training and leading the charge for national prostate cancer research, he and his family moved back to Louisiana to be closer to his parents. LSU Shreveport led him to LSU New Orleans, where he was named the head of the cancer center and chief of hematology oncology in 1998. He initiated the push for the state to become a designated center with the National Cancer Institute and co-initiated the beginning of the Louisiana Cancer Research Center. “I have a long history of pushing for the NCI designation,” Sartor said. “I continue to be very supportive of those goals, although I’m not part of the administrative structure.” Hurricane Katrina pushed him out of town for brief, two-year stint at Harvard Medical School. But he returned home again to Tulane Medicine, where he was on faculty for 17 years. Last June, Sartor began his next venture with LCMC Health, building the Transformation Prostate Cancer Research Center at East Jefferson Hospital, where he sees patients twice a week and conducts research on new novel therapies to treat prostate cancer. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. What was important about coming to LCMC, to New Orleans? I wanted to be back here. One thing that was influential

side effects. Pluvicto originated in Germany, but I helped to get it to the United States in order to get it into trials. That’s one of my happiest accomplishments. Why does Louisiana continue to rank among the states with higher rates of prostate cancer? Our mortality is a little bit higher than it should be. Partly, we have a little bit late detection, and one of the messages I’d always love to get out is that early detection is really your best opportunity to have choices in your therapy. If you get diagnosed late, you get shoved into treatments that none of us would really like to be shoved into. Early detection allows curable options, and sometimes simply surveillance. What research projects are you currently working on? We’re identifying men who have genetic predispositions to prosSTAFF PHOTO By BRETT dUKE tate cancer. The last patient I saw was the son of one of my patients dr. Oliver Sartor, director of the Transformational Prostate Cancer Research Center, stands next to a PET who happens to have a genetic scanner in Metairie. risk factor for (it). I’m monitoring his risk in an effort to make sure that would enable my work to be was the director of the radiaNow, it’s not absolutely perfect, that if he develops cancer, I treat done properly. They gave me a of course, but we get a targeted it very, very early. By incorporattion oncology, Kendra Harris. nice home. cancer kill instead of putting it I’d worked with her very closely ing genetics, I enable families to What are the most impactful changes in the bathwater and hoping that in the past at Tulane, and she be tested and have better access that you’ve seen in your career with prosnormal cells survive. was now at LCMC. She is a very to early detection and potential This targeted isotopic therapy fine physician, and I knew that I prevention if those issues should tate cancer treatment? has been something I’ve been would have a partner in radiation. arise. I’m going to put Pluvicto at working on a long, long time. I LCMC Health, particularly at We are also offering novel therthe top, a prostate cancer treatstarted working on this general East Jefferson Hospital, have ment which we have three FDA apies for people who have unmet approach around 1994 at the Nabeen working with radioactive approvals for. That is radioisoneeds. It turns out that metastatic isotopes in neuroendocrine tuprostate cancer remains an untopic therapy, where instead of tional Cancer Institute. I’ve been chemotherapy, where we put the working on it for over 30 years. mors for a long period. I knew I fortunately fatal disease. When poison in the bathwater and kills There are five FDA approvals wouldn’t have to start at ground we exhaust our typical FDAeverything that it touches, we try for this kind of therapy, includzero. approved therapies, we have to to target the isotope to the cancer ing three separate approvals for I also needed to be able to put seek alternatives that are legitiitself. together my research team, and Pluvicto. The latest, on July 31, mate and appropriate to be done We do that by taking a particuthe hospital was incredibly supwas approved for the upfront in an experimental setting. Our treatment of metastatic prostate team has set up a series of clinical portive in terms of making the lar protein selectively expressed cancer. Patients no longer have to trials in an effort to improve not hires that I needed in order to get on the cell surface for prostate go through hormone therapy or only the quality of care, but hopemy research center underway. cancer, putting a tag that is lachemotherapy to qualify for PluI needed office space as well as beled with an isotope that can fully the duration of survival. clinic space. treat the cancer, and injecting it. victo treatment. This provides an A lot of what I use is based on Then it homes to the cancer, binds opportunity to get a positive efEmail Margaret DeLaney at PET imaging, and LCMC bought to it and selectively radiates the fect on the patient, but without us- margaret.delaney@theadvocate. a new state-of-the-art PET scan cancer. com. ing the chemotherapy and those

IV

GENE

But doctors are divided on the efficacy of these treatments; some argue that in many cases, healthy people can simply drink fluids and take multivitamins to achieve similar results, instead of undergoing an invasive and often expensive treatment. For Smith, the technique has become a staple of her life over the past few years. She started her business in 2024 after seeing a lack of STAFF PHOTO By dAVId GRUNFELd services in Alexandria. Smith said Clients receive IV therapy at the Remedy Room in Metairie. she was driving around two to three hours to access dripping services Over the course of 31/2 hours, they for herself, using NAD and vitamin drips to treat her autoimmune disdripped all 60 boys on the team. “And they won,” she said. ease. NAD, which stands for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, is ‘Striving hard to educate’ a popular drip in IV liquid therapy circles. At the Remedy Room in New Or“I started it as something that I leans, Dr. Mignonne Mary emphatineeded for myself, and my area did cally distances herself from the not offer the services. … I would “hangover label.” go one week and do an NAD drip, “We’re so much more than that, and then a couple of weeks I would we’re really striving hard to edudo one that had just the vitamins,” cate,” said Mary. “One of our core Smith said. “And so then I brought it values is to educate, to empower, home for me to do it myself, like, for and having that knowledge and my friends and my family.” teaching our patients.” With her background as a travel Her father, Dr. Charles Mary Jr., nurse, Smith said she was well-qualwas an early proponent and advoPROVIdEd PHOTO ified to administer dripping, starting cate for infusion vitamin therapy; with a mobile service and “drip par- Mignonne Mary is the physician Mary described the Remedy Room, which she founded in 2013, as the ties,” which quickly became popular behind the Remedy Room, a legacy of her father’s work. enough for her to open a shop, then boutique hydration clinic. With the IV liquid trend boom, she expanding to Dripsy’s other central Louisiana locations. central Louisiana, stay-at-home said she’s cautiously excited, but wants more guardrails in place for moms utilize beauty drips. What’s on the menu? There are a range of clients: Smith the practice. “Oftentimes I’m finding that a Smith’s standard drips are named mixes up her “game day drip” reguafter alcoholic beverages — there’s larly for the local high school foot- lot of these places are doing it not the Bahama Mama, the Cosmopoli- ball players, who come in before just wrong but like really in a dantan and the Old-fashioned, among game days to get magnesium, B gerous state, putting people at risk others. The top seller in Alexandria complex and an amino blend in- for things that shouldn’t be if they is the Myers cocktail, a mineral mix jected. (Dripsy requires parental did have a physician on site,” Mary with B-complex vitamins and vita- permission for persons under 18, said. “So I think it’s a little exciting, min C; another current favorite is and permission from a pediatri- I want people to know about it, but the Beetlejuice Boost, a themed fall cian if they are under 14.) She also at the same time, I want them to be drip meant to coincide with Hallow- has MMA fighters, college football careful. This is still a medical proand college basketball players who cedure.” een festivities and flu season. Well-known for hangover cures, come in for similar treatments. Mary said many customers were She recalled one incident where coming in due to the recent intense some clients come in on Friday to “pregame” in preparation for the she was called by a concerned mom, heat, with cramping and dehydrawho lived about an hour away; the tion issues among others. She anticiweekend. “They pregame to help pre-hy- entire local high school football pates more congestion and respiradrate and then help with the hang- team had gotten the flu. tory issues in the coming months, “The mom called, ‘Look, we’ve got and then another wave of clients over afterward. It kind of prevents it a little bit. We just call it the cheat to do something to help our boys. looking for relief after the Mardi code,” Smith said. “It’s the party The coach is making them play be- Gras season. “For me, it’s been really, really fun cheat code.” cause if they don’t play, they’ll forWhile Smith started marketing feit.’ High school football around to watch people have it be a novel with a focus on hangovers, she said here is a big deal,” Smith said. “So concept to suddenly realize, like, ‘Oh the market has shifted. In Alexan- myself, my husband, I didn’t have wow, this could be valuable for my dria, she said, people come in for an assistant at the time, and a local health,’” Mary said. “And it’s still preventive wellness drips. In Lafay- nurse practitioner and I packed up just a bridge. It’s not something that ette, a big college town, hangover my car and went to the school an I think that people should have to have, but it can be really valuable.” drips are most common. In north hour away.”

The mutation is an alteration in the BRCA1 gene that stops it from repairing damaged DNA properly, which greatly increases the risk of developing breast, ovarian and other cancers. The chance of getting ovarian cancer increases to between 39% and 58% for women with the harmful change in their BRCA1 gene. In the U.S., about 12% of women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime. By contrast, 55% to 72% of women with the BRCA1 mutation will develop breast cancer. “Fifteen percent to 20% of women have this genetic mutation,” Cowan said. “If we know about the genetic mutation beforehand, we can decrease your risk.”

Continued from page 1X

Continued from page 1X

Reducing risk

husband, a power lineman from Louisiana, and they moved from place to place together. Riviere got bored with her desk job along the way while working in Kansas, so she applied for a job at a state park — booking reservations, answering questions. “We decided we would try to find work at other places and parks so we could see the country and also be able to work as well,” she said. Since her diagnosis, she has not been able to travel as much as she used to. Riviere underwent six rounds of chemotherapy in 2024, but her malignant cancer came back. Cowan found a 2.5-centimeter mass in her abdomen, a recurrence common with later-stage ovarian cancers. They removed the tumor, after a monthlong trip Riviere took to be with her 10-month-old granddaughter in Wichita, Kansas. “I needed a break from cancer,” Riviere said. “It felt like starting all over.” She is on her fourth round of chemotherapy out of six, which she will follow-up with maintenance medicine, an infusion treatment used to decrease the ability of tumors to make their own blood supply and continue to grow and multiply. Knowing family history and getting annual checkups with gynecologists is the key to catching these cancers early. “There is no screening for ovarian cancer, which is why paying attention to your body is important,” Cowan said.

Depending on the patient’s genetic results, risk-reducing treatment is often recommended for patients. For patients in their mid40s or done childbearing, “we can take out tubes and ovaries while they’re healthy, and decrease the risk down to the population risk,” Cowan said. In Riviere’s family, they’ve identified one sister who tested positive for the BRCA1 gene mutation. She had a complete hysterectomy to reduce her risk of getting cancer in the future. The Rivieres have settled in Torbert, a town off U.S. 190 in Pointe Coupee Parish. Email Margaret DeLaney But Riviere, 64, is originally at margaret.delaney@ from Minnesota. She met her theadvocate.com.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU The Louisiana Health section is focused on providing in-depth, personal accounts of health in the state.This section looks at medical innovations, health discoveries, state and national health statistics and re-examining tried and true methods on ways to live well.

Health editions will also profile people who are advancing health for the state of Louisiana. do you have a health story? We want to hear from you. Email margaret.delaney@ theadvocate.com to submit health questions, stories and more.

The Acadiana Advocate ● theadvocate.com ● Sunday, September 20, 2026 ● 3X

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Eat Fit Live Fit B R O U G H T TO YO U BY

Molly Kimball RD, CSSD

Sweet meets savory: a better way to do toast

S

ome recipes are less about reinventing the wheel and more about making familiar ingredients feel a little unexpected. This pear and ricotta tartine falls squarely into that category, turning a simple slice of toast into something worthy of a leisurely brunch. The appeal is in the balance: warm and cool, crisp and creamy, sweet and tangy. Roasted pears bring depth, fresh pears keep things bright and a finishing drizzle of balsamic gives the whole thing just enough edge. It’s simple, but thoughtfully layered — the kind of recipe that looks impressive without asking much of the cook.

Pear and Ricotta Tartine with Maple Pecan Butter FUEL Cafe + Market at Ochsner Fitness Center Makes 4 servings

3 pears 4 slices seedy, hearty, artisan-style bread ½ cup Maple Pecan Butter (recipe follows) ½ cup whole milk ricotta, the freshest you can find ½ cup Balsamic Reduction (recipe follows)

Maple Pecan Butter

paring knife, taking care not to overbake. Remove from the oven and transfer the pears immediately to a cool surface. Toast the bread until crisp on both sides. To assemble, spread each slice with 1 tablespoon Maple Pecan Butter from one edge to the other. Using a sharp paring knife, slice the roasted pears into quarter-inch slices lengthwise from top to bottom, working around the core and seeds. Slice the fresh pear into thin slices as well. Arrange the roasted and fresh pear slices over each piece of toast, alternating cooked and raw pear. Top each with 2 tablespoons ricotta and drizzle with Balsamic Reduction. Serve immediately.

With the food processor running, slowly drizzle in the allulose syrup. The pecan mixture may initially ball up like dough, but it will smooth into a spreadable paste once all the liquid is incorporated. Refrigerate any leftovers in an airtight container for up to one week.

Balsamic Reduction For drizzling

1 cup balsamic vinegar In a small saucepan over low heat, simmer the balsamic vinegar, stirring occasionally, for about 20 minutes, until it thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon. A little thicker than maple syrup is ideal. It will continue to thicken as it cools. The vinegar should cook down to about one-third to onehalf of its original volume. Assembling the Tartine Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. The Maple Pecan Butter and Balsamic Reduction can be prepared in advance or while the pears are baking.

Makes 1 cup

2 cups pecan halves or pieces 2 tablespoons Swerve Brown Sugar Replacer ½ teaspoon sea salt ½ cup allulose syrup Preheat oven to 350°F. Bake the pecans for 4-5 minutes, until lightly toasted. Once cooled, add the toasted pecans, Swerve Brown Sugar Replacer and sea salt to a medium food processor. Pulse about 10 times, then process, gently chopping and mixing the ingredients together.

Back to the tartine: Rinse and cut two pears in half lengthwise, from top to bottom. Keep the third pear raw. Place the pear halves flat-side down on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake for 20 minutes or until just tender to a

Molly Kimball, RD, CSSD, is a registered dietitian with Ochsner Health and founder of Ochsner’s Eat Fit nonprofit initiative. For more wellness content, tune in to Molly’s podcast, FUELED Wellness + Nutrition, and follow @MollykimballRD and @EatFitOchsner on social media. Email nutrition@ochsner.org to connect with Molly or schedule a consult with her team.

PER SERVING: 380 calories, 23 grams fat, 4.5 grams saturated fat, 240 mg sodium, 37 grams carbohydrate (27 grams net carbs), 10 grams fiber, 19 grams sugar (0 added sugar), 10 grams protein. Vegetarian. How We Slice It Choice of bread is up to you, but we recommend choosing a sturdy, seedy bread with enough texture to hold up to the ricotta and pears. A hearty whole-grain or artisan-style loaf works especially well, adding a little chew and nuttiness without competing with the toppings. Find this recipe and more in “The Eat Fit Cookbook,” available for purchase at local retailers or online at EatFitCookbook.com. Be sure to use promo code ADVOCATE at checkout for 10% off.

BY THE NUMBERS

LIVER CANCER RATES STEAdy AFTER dECAdES-LONG CLIMB IN LA., U.S. Liver cancer changes over time

The liver cancer incidence rate, per 100,000, from 2000 to 2022 for Louisiana and the U.S. 12

Louisiana cases per 100,000 people 10

8

U.S. cases per 100,000 people 6

4

’00 ’02 ’04 ’06 ’08 ’10 ’12 ’14 ’16 ’18 ’20 ’22

Source: Louisiana Tumor Registry

Staff graphic

The American Cancer Society estimates over 42,000 new cases of primary liver cancer or intrahepatic bile duct cancer will be diagnosed and nearly 31,000 Americans will die from the diseases in 2026. Liver cancer incidence rates have tripled in the U.S. over the past four decades, according to the national society, increasing by 2.7% per year from 1978 to 2018. Liver cancer is rare compared to other cancers, making up only around 2% of all cancers nationally. However, it accounts for about 4.8% of all cancer deaths, the American Liver Foundation reported.

Louisiana’s liver cancer incidence rate increased from 6.4 cases per 100,000 people in 2000 to 9.6 cases per 100,000 people in 2022.The state’s incidence rate for liver cancer reached its highest peak in 2018, with 11.4 cases per 100,000, according to data collected by the Louisiana Tumor Registry. Louisiana had the second-highest incident rate of liver and bile duct cancers compared to other states in 2022, behind only Texas at 12.3 cases per 100,000 people. Over two decades, Louisiana’s liver cancer incidence rate changed from: n 6.4 cases per 100,000 in 2000; n 6.3 in 2001; n 5.7 in 2002;

n 5.9 in 2003; n 6.9 in 2004; n 6.2 in 2005; n 6.5 in 2006; n 7.1 in 2007; n 8.1 in 2008; n 7.7 in 2009; n 7.9 in 2010; n 7.8 in 2011; n 9.5 in 2012; n 9 in 2013; n 10 in 2014; n 10.7 in 2015; n 10.9 in 2016; n 10 in 2017; n 11.4 in 2018; n 11.3 in 2019; n 10.1 in 2020; n 10.8 in 2021; n and 9.6 in 2022.

HEALTH NOTES BY MARGARET DeLANEY

Staff writer

Tulane study: Nighttime light may weaken heart New research from Tulane University’s Celia Scott Weatherhead School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine shows that sleeping in near-total darkness may carry an added benefit: protecting the heart. The research team analyzed data from 11,017 participants, all of whom wore a sensor on their wrist for a week to measure levels of light exposure overnight. Some of the participants were exposed to near total darkness and others were exposed to varying levels of light, with the highest group exposed to the equivalent of a phone screen at low brightness on a nightstand or a hallway light left on outside a cracked door. Three years later, each participant was given a cardiovascular

scan to examine any potential changes to the structure and function of their hearts. The results, published in the European Heart Journal, showed that participants who were exposed to the highest levels of nighttime light saw the walls of the left chamber of their heart thicken, reducing the space inside the ventricle. There were also signs that the heart’s ability to flex during a heartbeat was reduced — an early indication of heart dysfunction. “It’s our body’s way of adapting to that stress, but ultimately it weakens the heart and can lead to heart failure,” Dr. Lu Qi said in a statement from Tulane. Cardiovascular disease, including heart disease and stroke, is the leading cause of death both in the United States and around the world. Nighttime light has been identified as a potential environmental risk factor for this deadly group of diseases. Unlike age or genetics, nighttime light exposure

is a modifiable risk factor within most people’s control — simply by turning off screens, drawing curtains before bed or sleeping with an eye mask. “Light pollution has emerged as a new risk factor for cardiovascular disease,” Qi said. “Our findings, together with evidence from other studies, suggest that a reduction in nighttime light exposure should be considered as one of the potential strategies for preventing heart disease by clinicians and policymakers.”

LDH, Southern expand suicide prevention training The Louisiana Department of Health signed a three-year contract with Southern University and A&M College in Baton Rouge to recognize risks, take appropriate action and make connections for mental health providers. The partnership is designed to bring shared knowledge and ex-

pand capacity across community networks, including mental health professionals, first responders and law enforcement, educators, service members, veterans and faithbased leaders. “This partnership with the Louisiana Department of Health will allow us to expand (our) work to reach even more communities across our state,” said John K. Pierre, chancellor of Southern, in a statement. “By equipping people with the knowledge and tools to recognize warning signs and connect individuals to appropriate resources, we have an opportunity to make a meaningful and potentially life-saving difference.”

stances are different, but timely communication between healthcare and child welfare professionals can make the process clearer and help families connect with the right support. The department and Woman’s Hospital expanded their partnership, adding an on-site liaison at the Baton Rouge hospital, to provide more direct line of care for families and newborns. In August, Nicole Irvine, an experienced foster care and child protective services worker, moved into the role. “By working alongside Woman’s Hospital, we can connect mothers struggling with substance use to treatment and support while protecting the health and safety of their babies,” said department Secretary Rebecca Harris in a In 2025, the Department of Chil- statement. Irvine will be on site at Woman’s dren and Family Services conducted 1,803 investigations involv- Hospital in Baton Rouge from ing substance-exposed newborns 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through statewide. Each family’s circum- Friday.

Position created to ‘support newborns and families’

4X ● Sunday, September 20, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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Your health is our primary care

Ochsner Lafayette General provides compassionate, personalized care for every stage of life. From your child’s well visits and teen sports physicals to managing chronic conditions, our experienced primary care team is here to support your family’s health journey. With same-day and next-day appointments and more than 70 physicians and advanced practice providers from Lafayette to Lake Arthur, we make it easy to get the care you need when you need it. Call 337-571-1111 to schedule your appointment today.

SUNDAY, September 20, 2026

CURTIS / by Ray Billingsley

SLYLOCK FOX / by Bob Weber Jr.

GET FUZZY / by Darby Conley

HAGAR THE HORRIBLE / by Chris Browne

ROSEBUDS / by Supr Dee

MOTHER GOOSE AND GRIMM / by Mike Peters

ZIGGY / by Tom Wilson

SALLY FORTH / by Francesco Marciuliano & Jim Keefe

ZITS / by Jerry Scott and Jim Borgman

PEARLS BEFORE SWINE / by Stephan Pastis

wonderword

scrabble grams

word game

directions: Make a 2- to 7-letter word from the letters in each row. Add points of each word, using scoring directions at right. Finally, 7-letter words get 50-point bonus. “Blanks” used as any letter have no point value. All the words are in the Official SCRABBLE® Players Dictionary, 5th Edition.

instructions: 1. Words must be of four or more letters. 2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed. 3. Additional words made by adding a “d” or an “s” may not be used. 4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed.

todAY's Word — deMurest: dih-MYOOR-est: Most reserved or modest in manner. Average mark 49 words Time limit 60 minutes Can you find 60 or more words in DEMUREST?

For more information on tournaments and clubs, email NASPA – North American SCRABBLE Players Association: info@scrabbleplayers.org. Visit our website: www.scrabbleplayers.org. For puzzle inquiries contact scrgrams@gmail.com. Hasbro and its logo SCRABBLE associated logo, the design of the distinctive SCRABBLE brand game card, and the distinctive letter tile designs are trademarks of Hasbro in the United States and Canada. ©2026 Hasbro. All rights reserved. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

cryptoquote AxyDLBAAxR iS LONgFELLOW One letter stands for another. in this sample, A is used for the three L’s, x for the two O’s, etc. Single letters, apostrophes, the length and formation of the words are all hints. Each day the code letters are different.

AnsWers to ALL PuZZLes Are on inside BAcK PAGe

Sudoku

ken ken instructions: 1 - Each row and each column must contain the numbers 1 through 4 (easy) or 1 through 6 (challenging) without repeating. 2 - The numbers within the heavily outlined boxes, called cages, must combine using the given operation (in any order) to produce the target numbers in the top-left corners. 3 - Freebies: Fill in the single-box cages with the number in the top-left corner.

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

hidato directions: Complete the grid so that numbers 1–132 connect horizontally, vertically or diagonally.

AnsWers to ALL PuZZLes Are on inside BAcK PAGe

Los angeLes Times sunday Crossword puzzLe — Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis “sound CHeCK” By emma oxford aCross 1 Course most look forward to 8 Imposing construction 15 Supports 20 Unmasks 21 Brunch cocktails 22 Not cool 23 “In the name of that rice wine we drank ages ago”? 25 “Goosebumps” series writer 26 Remove adverbs and add punctuation, maybe 27 PlayStation maker 28 __ Reader 29 Actress Swinton 30 Inventor Handler played by Rhea Perlman in “Barbie” 31 “__ we good?” 32 Vexation 33 Church perches 36 Moose kin 37 NNW opposite 38 Bird that makes its home in trash receptacles? 41 Coastal inlets 42 Insta post 43 Male turkey 44 One of Paul’s letters to the Ephesians? 46 Herbal infusion from Peru 50 Rationalist’s belief 53 Places to perch 56 Estate units 57 Sgt., e.g. 59 Shoe designer Jimmy 61 Pamper 62 Many August babies 63 Business run by a bunch of hens? 66 IM pioneer

67 Top card in a Broadway straight 68 Chinese brew 69 Frying need 70 Pts. that often result in dances 71 U.K. network 72 Mattel game 73 Swiped refills for a mechanical pencil? 76 Julia of “The Addams Family” 78 Simplified language 80 Wows 81 Not just most 82 Worth a second bite 83 Competed in the Figawi, say 84 Prefix with net or com, but not org 86 “OK, got it” 88 Tempts 91 Fuel additive brand 93 Young fellow 94 [Clears throat] 96 One who is always pointing at shooting stars? 100 Take advantage of a bear market, perhaps 103 Stomach 104 “What You Need” band 105 Kanga’s kid 106 Badger 107 Figure in Norse mythology? 108 Lies for, maybe 110 Forget about 112 Supermodel Banks 113 Incantation syllables 114 Fish with a big net 115 Anesthetic for a noted Italian chemist? 118 New employee 119 Wright of “Black Panther” 120 Italian football powerhouse

121 Strong point 122 Rival one loves to hate 123 Sneaks down 1 Yields (to) 2 Book that tells the story of Moses 3 Soft drink with a seasonal Winter Spiced Cranberry flavor 4 Quaint truth 5 Subj. for a nonnative speaker 6 Manicotti topping 7 Abbr. on a weather map 8 Posthumous award for Chadwick Boseman 9 Run out of power 10 “Positive” 11 Jodie with two Best Actress Oscars 12 “Love __ Open Door”: “Frozen” song 13 Treat on a stick 14 Jargon suffix 15 Hits 22, perhaps 16 Not in favor of 17 Musical instrument made off the coast of South America? 18 With gentleness 19 Holds forth 24 Not up to the task 32 Online “I can relate” 34 Chargeable cars, briefly 35 Goofballs 38 Morse clicks 39 “We have that in common” 40 “KPop __ Hunters” 41 Italy’s shape 42 Bel __ cheese 45 Circuit 46 Ore. neighbor

47 Micronesia’s region 48 Rips caused by large reptiles? 49 Dried poblano 51 Most disgusting 52 Seashore souvenir 54 Absolutely adorable 55 1975 TV debut, familiarly 58 “Queen of Funk” Khan

goren Bridge

60 In base eight 64 “Hallelujah” songwriter Leonard 65 “It’s strange ... “ 68 Denounce 71 Challah feature 72 FedEx competitor 73 Part of a pricing plan 74 Strong string 75 Soil 77 Soap

wuzzLes

94 Kathryn’s “WandaVision” role 95 Fatal flaw in classic myths 97 Beginning 98 Turn 99 Polish capital 100 __ bath 101 Hard to believe 102 Aches (for) 104 Archipelago unit

107 “Groundhog Day” director Harold 109 Overly precious 111 Bit of dust 112 Printer part 115 Fuzzy 1980s sitcom character 116 Low-lit 117 Actress Thurman

super Quiz Take this Super Quiz to a Ph.D. Score 1 point for each correct answer on the Freshman Level, 2 points on the graduate Level and 3 points on the Ph.D. Level.

Sparkling defense Today’s deal is from a National Championship team game some years ago. All deals were equally important and the slightest difference in score would create a win on the deal. East was American expert Steve Garner, from the Chicago area. South’s one no-trump response was semi-forcing, meaning that North could pass if he had a balanced minimum. The same contract was reached at both tables and both West players led the queen of hearts. The lead of the king against a no-trump contract would have shown a very strong suit and asked partner to play an honor under it if he had one. At the other table, East encouraged in the suit and declarer ducked. He ducked the heart continuation also and won the third round of the suit. He took the club finesse and had seven tricks even when the finesse lost. Garner saw the 10 and nine of hearts in dummy and realized that West would have led a low heart from four or more hearts. He diagnosed that declarer had five hearts and discouraged hearts at trick one. South held up his ace, so West shifted to a spade, which declarer ducked to Garner’s queen. Garner shifted to a low club and declarer’s queen won the trick. South led a low heart from his hand and West rose with his king to lead a club. That went to Garner’s king and another club set up Garner’s 10. South would have discarding problems if he cashed dummy’s spades, so

ingredient 79 In the doldrums 82 Bygone ruler 85 Canadian fuel giant 87 Class 89 “On the Basis of __”: Ginsburg biopic 90 “We’re done” 92 Miyazaki film about a goldfish who longs to be human

SUBJECT: FAMOUS FILM CHARACTERS Name the film in which the given character appears. The actor or actress who played the character is provided. (Example: Andrew Beckett, played by Tom Hanks. Answer: “Philadelphia.”) FRESHMAN LEVEL 1. General Maximus Decimus Meridius, played by Russell Crowe. Answer________ 2. Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle, played by Gene Hackman. Answer________ 3. Michael Corleone, played by Al Pacino. Answer________ 4. Lou Gehrig, played by Gary Cooper. Answer________ 5. Terry Malloy, played by Marlon Brando. Answer________

he led a diamond from dummy. Garner rose with his king, cashed his club winner, and exited with a heart. Declarer could take his heart tricks but had to lead away from his queen-10 of diamonds in the end and the contract was defeated by two tricks for a clear win on the deal!

Tannah Hirsch welcomes readers’ responses sent in care of this newspaper or to Tribune Content Agency inc., 2225 Kenmore Ave., Suite 114, Buffalo, Ny. 14207. E-mail responses may be sent to gorenbridge@ aol.com. © 2026 Tribune Content Agency

GRADUATE LEVEL 6. Harry Callahan,

ANSWERS TO ALL PUZZLES ARE ON NEXT PAGE

played by Clint Eastwood. Answer________ 7. Marshal Will Kane, played by Gary Cooper. Answer________ 8. Arthur Chipping, played by Robert Donat. Answer________ 9. Atticus Finch, played by Gregory Peck. Answer________ 10. Rick Blaine, played by Humphrey Bogart. Answer________ PH.D. LEVEL 11. Virgil Tibbs, played by Sidney Poitier. Answer________ 12. Ellen Ripley, played by Sigourney Weaver. Answer________ 13. Clarice Starling, played by Jodie Foster. Answer________ 14. George Bailey, played by James Stewart. Answer________ 15. Tom Joad, played by Henry Fonda. Answer________

zodiaC VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Live within your means. You don’t have to compete with anyone. Concentrate on what’s important to you, and set a budget that will put your mind at ease and your goals within reach. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) Emotions will soar if you don’t manage fallout from personal stress. Being honest with yourself and those you are close to will be essential. Face problems head-on. SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) Refuse to let what others say and do bother you. Pay attention to how you behave, treat others and take care of yourself. Review the past, and

personal growth and gains will be within reach. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) Make the effort, take care of unfinished business and free yourself of the deadweight dragging you down. Focus on what’s important, improve your surroundings and implement lifestyle changes. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Everything is changing quickly, and keeping up is a necessity if you want to advance. Refuse to let living in the past leave you behind. Keep the momentum flowing. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) It’s out with the old and in with the new.

Putting a household budget in place will put your mind at ease. Incorporate a workspace at home that houses your ideas and plans. PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) A shift is taking place. Consider what you can do to ensure you’re ready to take advantage of whatever comes your way. Having a budget, schedule and contact information will help. ARIES (March 21-April 19) Refuse to let your ego or emotions get in your way. Taking rational approaches to change, domestic situations and meaningful relationships will help you reach agreements.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) Put greater emphasis on what makes you feel content and happy with yourself and your life. Pay attention to those you love, and strive for a positive balance and dynamics in your relationships. GEMINI (May 21-June 20) A change to your qualifications will give you the boost you need to increase your income. Revise your resume, set up interviews and draw attention to what you do best and enjoy most. CANCER (June 21-July 22) If you display your attributes, you will grab attention. Don’t argue a moot

point with someone who doesn’t share your beliefs. Someone will misdirect you. Self-reliance will be necessary. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) Start your day doing something that is competitive and shows your audience your talents. Be vocal about your likes and dislikes, but be ready to defend yourself with intellect and charisma. The horoscope, an entertainment feature, is not based on scientific fact. © 2026 by NEA, inc., dist. By Andrews McMeel Syndication

dustin / by Steve Kelley & Jeff Parker

Answers to puzzles super quiz 1. "Gladiator." 2. "The French Connection." 3. "The Godfather." 4. "The Pride of the Yankees." 5. "On the Waterfront." 6. "Dirty Harry." 7. "High Noon." 8. "Goodbye, Mr. Chips." 9. "To Kill a Mockingbird." 10. "Casablanca." 11. "In the Heat of the Night." 12. "Aliens." 13. "The Silence of the Lambs." 14. "It's a Wonderful Life." 15. "The Grapes of Wrath." SCORING: 24 to 30 points — congratulations, doctor; 18 to 23 points — honors graduate; 13 to 17 points — you’re plenty smart, but no grind; 5 to 12 points — you really should hit the books harder; 1 point to 4 points — enroll in remedial courses immediately; 0 points — who reads the questions to you?

Cryptoquote Answer Saturday's Cryptoquote: Take bread away from me, take away water if you wish; but never deny me your smile. — Pablo Neruda

word GAme Answer deem deer deet demur demure desert deter drum dues duet dust duster etude meet mere merest mete

meter muse must muster mustered mute used user reed reset rest rested resume reuse rude rudest rued

ruse rust rusted seder seed seem seer sere serum smut steed steer stem strum stud sued suede

suer suet sure teed teem term terse tree true

sudoKu Answer jumble Answer

Crossword Answers

jeFF mACnelly’s shoe / by Gary Brookins & Susie MacNelly

sCrAbble Answers

FoXtrot / by Bill Amend

wuzzles Answers

Ken Ken Answers

hidAto Answers