The Times-Picayune 09-21-2026 by The Advocate

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Claiborne Avenue project expanding by 7 blocks Performance space, cafe planned for corridor

BY SOPHIE KASAKOVE Staff writer

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By NICK WASS

Saints quarterback Tyler Shough passes under pressure from Ravens defensive tackle Travis Jones in Sunday’s game in Baltimore. A week ago, Shough and the Saints staged an incredible rally in Detroit, only to fall to the Lions in overtime. They found the happy ending to the comeback story Sunday, erasing a 14-3 deﬁcit to beat the Ravens and improve to 1-1 on the season. Shough rushed for a 1-yard touchdown on fourth-andgoal to break a 17-17 tie, and then Julian Blackmon intercepted two-time MVP Lamar Jackson on the Ravens’ last-minute drive to seal the victory. The Saints return to the Superdome for their home opener — and ﬁrst regular-season home game in nine months — against the Las Vegas Raiders next Sunday. ä SEE COMPLETE COVERAGE OF THE SAINTS GAME. PAGE 1C

New Orleans city officials will design a new outdoor performance space, marketplace and nonprofit cafe along Claiborne Avenue as part of a plan to redevelop the 19-block North Claiborne Avenue corridor into a walkable green space. The project is known as the Tambourine and Fan District — after the Tamborine & Fan community and youth organization founded by Jerome “Big Duck” Smith, who died last month. It’s aimed at expanding on work that’s already taken place. Two years ago, the city redeveloped an initial three-block stretch of the underpass between the Lafitte Greenway and Orleans Avenue. Neighborhood leaders have long pushed officials to invest in the thoroughfare after the former commercial hub in the historic Black neighborhood of Tremé was destroyed by the interstate in the 1960s. An agreement unanimously approved by the City Council last week puts Mayor Helena Moreno’s administration one step closer to transforming a 7-block section of the underpass. The expansion project is in its earliest stages. Under the agreement, city officials will use a $500,000 federal grant to create plans for “a vibrant hub for culture-based commerce, public gathering and environmental innovation” beneath the expressway. State and federal transportation officials will also need to sign off on the agreement. Efforts to build off the initial phase of redevelopment have hit repeated roadblocks. A $2 million federal grant that the state and city was awarded in 2024 to plan for removing highway on- and off-ramps was canceled by the Trump administration the following year. A 2023 request by the state and city for $47 million for federal construction funds to complete the redevelopment was rejected. The city and state were awarded the $500,000 planning grant in 2022 but it took until June for the Federal Highway Administration to send the agreement to the city.

ä See CLAIBORNE, page 4A

Soaring gas prices impact voters, worsen their financial hardships Trump says it’s an ‘inexpensive price to pay’ for the Iran war BY STEVE PEOPLES, JESSE BEDAYN and JONATHAN J. COOPER Associated Press

EDINBURG, Texas — Quinten Martinez, pumping gas under a hot South Texas sun, remembers a time when fueling up didn’t require difﬁcult decisions. “Is it going to be groceries this week?” asked the 28-year-old Amazon delivery driver as he watched the numbers tick higher. “Is it gonna be getting gas in our tank to go to work?” He shook his head when asked about President Donald Trump’s assertion last week that higher gas prices are a small price to pay for the war with Iran.

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“I don’t feel like it’s a good trade-off,” Martinez said. “I don’t feel like this is good for anyone.” Voters across the country, and across the political spectrum, tend to agree. Interviews with voters in several states, along with a fresh round of national polling, reveal an overwhelming sense of frustration that skyrocketing gas prices — a direct result of Trump’s war — are creating serious and sustained ﬁnancial hardships for America’s working class. The acute concerns are adding to a bad political environment that may be worsening for Trump and his Republican Party as early voting gets underway in the November midterm elections. Historically, the party holding the White House has suffered major losses in midterms. Today, seven weeks before Election Day, Republican candidates at

ä See GAS PRICES, page 4A

State officials will scrutinize spending in two school districts Leaders believe expenditures may have been incorrectly reported

to examine the districts’ spending practices. The districts must share their financial records with the officers, who will identify “the causes of continued noncompliance” and deBY PATRICK WALL Staff writer velop corrective measures, Brumley Brumley told the districts. A 2024 state law authoLouisiana’s education chief will hire consultants to probe the finances of two school rizes the intervention when school systems districts that failed to spend a mandated fail for two consecutive years to ensure that proportion of their budgets on teachers, at least 70% of the state and local funding is books and other instructional expenses. It spent on school-level instruction or adminwill mark the first time the state has used its istration. Spending on teachers and princilegal authority to enforce the state spend- pals, textbooks and classroom technology, tutoring and other support for students ing rule. Superintendent of Education Cade Brum- counts toward the 70% rule, while spending ley informed the St. John the Baptist Par- on transportation, building construction and ish and city of Bogalusa school systems last district-level staffing does not. week that he is taking the unprecedented ä See SPENDING, page 4A action of appointing chief operating officers

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

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Merz vows to press ahead with reforms after election defeat

Trump and Mamdani plan to meet in N.Y.

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump will meet with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani when Trump travels to the city for the upcoming U.N. General Assembly. The meeting is scheduled for Monday and at Gracie Mansion, the official mayoral residence, according to Anna Bahr, Mamdani’s communications director. Bahr said the two will discuss issues affecting the city and New Yorkers. The White House confirmed the meeting will take place but did not offer more details. Mamdani, a democratic socialist who upset former Gov. Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary before winning the general election in November, has been a favorite and frequent political foil for Republicans. But Trump has often been warm to Mamdani and seemed charmed by the young mayor. Their first meeting after Mamdani’s election was quite cordial, with Trump saying at the White House that the then-mayor-elect would “surprise some conservative people.” The Republican president had called Mamdani a “100% Communist Lunatic” during the 2025 campaign. During a February meeting, Mamdani gave Trump a mock New York Daily News front page that said “Trump to City: Let’s Build.” That was riff on the famous front-page headline from 1975, “FORD TO CITY: DROP DEAD,” referring to President Gerald Ford’s promise to veto financial assistance to the city.

Pakistani forces kill 5 militants, free hostages

ISLAMABAD — Pakistani security forces killed ﬁve militants in an intense shootout and freed 23 hostages in the country’s restive southwest, the military said Sunday. It was unclear when the abductions took place. The militants had established an illegal checkpoint near Kalat in Balochistan province overnight into Saturday, stopping vehicles to abduct people for ransom, extort money and seize vehicles, according to a military statement. The statement described the killed militants as members of “Fitna al-Hindustan,” a term the Pakistani government uses for the outlawed separatist Baloch Liberation Army and other groups operating in Balochistan demanding independence and that it alleges are supported by India. New Delhi has previously denied accusations that it sponsors militancy in Pakistan. Security forces recovered six trucks, three buses and two cars, along with weapons, ammunition and explosives. No casualties among security forces or abductees were reported. The military said troops were searching the surrounding area for any remaining militants.

Converse apologizes and pulls sneaker ad

The sneaker company Converse has removed a social media ad that sparked outrage among critics who viewed it as evoking the Ku Klux Klan and lynching. The Instagram ad photo showed K-pop singer Karina wearing a skirt and holding a pair of Chuck 70 X sneakers. Critics lashed out online, saying that a white triangular image created by lighting on the skirt resembled a KKK hood and that the way she held the sneakers made them look like the dangling feet of a lynching victim. Converse, owned by Nike, issued a statement apologizing and saying it removed the ad. “We’re sorry,” said the statement, first released on Friday. “We understand why this image is deeply upsetting and recognize that we got this wrong. We removed it from our channels and are working to remove it everywhere it appeared. This should not have happened and we will do better.” Converse, based in Boston, declined on Sunday to answer questions seeking additional information, including how the company screens ads before they are posted and how the ad was approved. Karina and her management company, SM Entertainment Group, did not immediately respond to messages through their Instagram accounts.

BY KIRSTEN GRIESHABER Associated Press

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By JEN GOLBECK

A mockup of President Donald Trump’s proposed triumphal arch stands June 27 at the Great American State Fair on the National Mall in Washington.

Trump: Arch would be ‘military complex’ cial media post that he had agreed, at the President says planned “strong request” of the military, to conthe planned 250-foot-tall memorial monument would be able vert arch “into a top grade Military Complex/ Arch, to house, store, and to host drones, snipers Triumphal have the rapid ability to use large num-

BY SEUNG MIN KIM Associated Press

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said Sunday that the massive arch he wants to build between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery would become a “top grade military complex” able to host drones and snipers while storing ammunition. It is one more example of how Trump is insisting that his initiatives to beautify the White House and the city are also serving a defensive purpose. Trump has been calling the new White House ballroom a “military complex” and arguing it is necessary for national security purposes. The Pentagon said it had no information beyond the president’s statement. Trump’s announcement also comes as the arch, like his other projects, faces legal challenges. Though the arch has received early approval from the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, whose members were all tapped by Trump, a group of three veterans and an architectural historian sued, saying the project needs to be approved by Congress. “The President’s belated efforts to manufacture a national security justiﬁcation for this project do nothing to cure its fundamental illegality,” Nicolas Sansone, one of the attorneys representing the litigants, said Sunday. “Congress has not authorized the arch and unless and until Congress does so, the project should not be permitted to move forward.” The Republican president said in a so-

bers of drones, plus Snipers, on both the roof and plaza areas, and additionally have and hold large quantities of sniper ammunition in storage.” The arch is proposed for a circle adjacent to the Memorial Bridge, which is a heavy traffic area as one of a handful of connecting bridges between the nation’s capital and northern Virginia. Rep. Don Beyer, D-Va., who represents the area, noted another potential problem, given the proximity to the Washington airport. “Putting a drone launching site directly in the landing path for DCA is a stupid, dangerous, and unworkable idea,” Beyer wrote on X. “Trump clearly expects to lose a lawsuit and therefore wants to set up a pretext to argue that the arch is tied to national security. Which is obviously idiotic.” The project is one of several that the Republican president is pursuing to leave his lasting imprint on Washington. Among the others are the White House ballroom, renaming and renovating the Kennedy Center, refurbishing the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool and rebuilding a golf course in East Potomac Park, which could significantly reduce the public’s access to running and biking paths. The groundbreaking for the arch was to have happened sometime this month. The project has not yet received final approval from the National Capital Planning Commission, which greenlit the site and preliminary plans at its July meeting. The commission is expected to take up the matter again this fall.

ICE agent shoots, wounds man in Texas, officials say BY JESSE BEDAYN, CHRISTOPHER WEBER and REBECCA BOONE

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AUSTIN, Texas — A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer shot and wounded a man Sunday afternoon in Austin, Texas, local authorities said, and anti-ICE protesters quickly gathered at the scene. The man was in serious but stable condition at a hospital after being shot once in the torso on the capital city’s north side, Austin officials said at a news conference. The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, did not participate in the news conference and didn’t respond to repeated requests for details. City police officers were not involved in the operation or the shooting, which occurred after a traffic stop, Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis said while briefing reporters along with the city’s mayor and other officials. Austin’s mayor says he wants his police force involved in shooting investigation Mayor Kirk Watson, a Democrat, said he wants the city’s police department to have a role in the investigation so it can provide “clear, third-party eyes” in the process. Watson said he does not think it would be appropriate for ICE to conduct an investigation on its own. Austin residents have “a right to feel safe in their city,” Watson said. A proper investigation will only enhance credibility, he added. The chief said there were not many facts she could provide so soon after the incident but added that her department’s special investigation unit was at the scene. An immigration attorney representing the man’s family identified him as Wilber Rafael Garces Perez, a 28-year-old Venezuelan man.

BERLIN — German Chancellor Friedrich Merz suffered a bruising electoral setback in two state elections on Sunday, including a historic defeat for his party, but vowed to press ahead with potentially painful reforms to Europe’s biggest economy. Projections by public broadcaster ARD on Sunday night indicated that Merz’s center-right Christian Democratic Union, or CDU, came in with just 4.9% in MecklenburgWestern Pomerania — the lowest result since World War II for the party in any state. The anti-migration, Russia-friendly Alternative for Germany, or AfD, party made significant gains Sunday. The projections were based on exit polls and partial counting for ARD television. Should the CDU stay below 5% in the ﬁnal vote count, it would mean that the party would fail for the ﬁrst time to win seats in a state legislature anywhere in Germany. Merz acknowledged his party’s result as a “disaster,” but struck a defiant note, rejecting any retreat from his government’s reform agenda. He argued that Germany’s economic and political problems made difficult and potentially unpopular reforms more urgent, not less so, and pledged to press ahead. “What needs to be done now requires backbone, steadfastness, and patience,” Merz said in a statement shortly after the exit polls were announced on public television. “I will demonstrate these qualities as chair of the CDU and, above all, as chancellor of our country.” In Berlin, projections showed the CDU was to come in second with 19.1%, behind the Left party at 25.3%, according to ARD. Merz’s authority was already damaged by CDU’s stinging defeat to AfD

in the Sept. 6 election in the small eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt. That result shocked many Germans who had believed their country had developed an immunity to nationalism and assertions of racial superiority after confronting the horrors of its Nazi past through education and laws to outlaw persecution. On Sunday, AfD also made big gains in both states. In MecklenburgWestern Pomerania, it garnered 37.9% of the vote, and in Berlin it achieved 16.2%, according to ARD. But it was nowhere close to being able to form a regional government. AfD’s national co-leader, Alice Weidel, said on ZDF television that “we have displaced the CDU as the people’s party.” She added that “we have a great deal to offer our voters, namely political change in this country.” However, in an apparent reference to the far-right party, Merz said that his government’s reforms would be “the antidote to the poison of authoritarianism, which is penetrating ever deeper into our society as the fascination with authoritarianism grows.” The government’s reforms include cuts to income tax for low- and middle-income families, an overhaul of the creaking pension system and a reduction of Germany’s stiﬂing bureaucracy. Merz, 70, became Germany’s leader 16 months ago with promises to turn around an economy that has barely grown in years. But he has failed to lift a sullen national mood and become deeply unpopular. The strong showing of AfD in the Saxony-Anhalt election, where it has the best chance yet of forming the country’s ﬁrst far-right regional government since World War II, had further weakened the chancellor’s standing on the national level as well.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By JESSE BEDAyN

Police block a street Sunday after a shooting involving a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer in Austin, Texas.

Attorney Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch said in a video posted to her Instagram account that she believed he had no criminal history and no final order of removal from the U.S., but she later told The Associated Press that she did not know his current immigration status. The man’s family has struggled to get any information from the hospital about his status or location, Lincoln-Goldfinch said. Just before 7 p.m., the man’s wife was informed by the hospital’s attorney that the man had been released into ICE custody a few hours earlier, Lincoln-Goldfinch wrote in a text to AP. “No one bothered to update her,” she wrote. It wasn’t immediately clear if the man remained hospitalized while in ICE custody or if he had been transferred elsewhere. A dark blue Toyota Corolla was parked under an overpass with damage to its passenger-side door and what appeared to be bullet holes. The car was towed away in the early evening and traffic began moving again.

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Houthis warn against joining Saudis in civil war BY SAMY MAGDY

Associated Press

CAIRO — A senior official with the Iran-backed Houthi rebels is warning countries against joining Saudi Arabia in Yemen’s revived civil war, telling The Associated Press on Sunday that his group has assured the Trump administration that it won’t attack U.S. vessels in the Red Sea. Mohamed al-Bukhaiti, a member of the Houthis’ political bureau, said Washington reached out to the rebels after their rapid advance down Yemen’s western coast to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait earlier this month. “We confirmed that we are not targeting the United States, or any other nation, in the strait, with the sole exception of the Saudi enemy,” he told the AP in a Zoom interview from the rebel-held Yemeni capital, Sanaa. “That remains the case.” U.S. President Donald Trump last weekend said his administration has “had discussions” with the Houthis,

but did not say when. “The Houthis called us, and they don’t want to fight with us,” he said. “They would much prefer not having us involved, and they’re letting most ships go through.” The AP later reported that Oman hosted a meeting between U.S. and Houthi representatives last weekend, citing a Houthi official and another individual familiar with the talks. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief the media. However, al-Bukhaiti only confirmed indirect contacts with U.S. officials through longtime mediator Oman, which brokered a 2025 ceasefire between the Houthis and the Trump administration. That ended a weekslong U.S. bombing campaign against the rebels in return for them ceasing attacks on U.S. vessels in the Red Sea. “The goal of our military operations is not to close the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, but rather to ensure freedom of navigation through it for ev-

Ukraine fires over 1,000 drones at Russia

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By OSAMAH ABDULRAHMAN

Supporters of yemen’s Houthi rebels shout slogans Friday during a rally in Sanaa, yemen, in support of the group and to protest Saudi Arabia’s accusation that the Houthis targeted Islam’s holiest site, Mecca. eryone, including Yemen,” he said. Al-Bukhaiti said the rebels have the capacity to fight a war on multiple fronts “should any nation become implicated in the aggression

He said the Houthi attacks against neighboring Saudi Arabia will persist until Riyadh ends its decadelong blockade on rebel-held areas in Yemen and allows vessels to reach Houthi-controlled

18 accused in 2021 killing of Haiti’s president being extradited to U.S. BY EVENS SANON and DÁNICA COTO Associated Press

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO

By The Associated Press

Flames and smoke rise Sunday from Moscow’s oil refinery Ukrainian forces fired in the southeast area of the city following a large-scale more than 1,000 drones at Ukrainian drone attack.

Russia overnight, including hundreds that were launched toward Moscow, ofﬁcials said Sunday, as the Kremlin was wrapping up the third and last day of its parliamentary elections. Moscow’s mayor described the wave of drones as the “largest ever” drone attack on the Russian capital and said there had been damage to the Moscow Oil Reﬁnery, which is among several sites that supply the Russian capital, and a residential building. Across the wider Moscow region, the attack killed two people and wounded 20, local Gov. Andrei Vorobyov said. The dead were a 74-year-old

against Yemen alongside Saudi Arabia.” “Today, Yemen is capable of waging battle — not merely an internal conﬂict, but an international one as well,” he said.

ports on the Red Sea. Then they will be ready to negotiate, he said. Al-Bukhaiti blamed Saudi Arabia for the latest escalation of violence in Yemen, which he said erupted after an airstrike blamed on the Saudi-led coalition fighting the rebels hit the Sanaa international airport. The strike prevented an Iranian flight carrying a Houthi delegation to land. The flight was a Houthi attempt to challenge the coalition’s air and naval blockade. The Houthis responded with missile and drone strikes on Saudi Arabia, including one that targeted Riyadh on Saturday before being intercepted. Saudi officials said debris from a Houthi drone also killed one civilian and injured others. The Houthis also declared a blockade on Saudi shipping in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Red Sea, attacking Saudi-linked vessels and oil facilities inside the kingdom, the world’s top oil exporter.

man and a 44-year-old woman, he said. Since Russia’s invasion more than four years ago, Ukraine has become a global leader in military drone technology, deploying domestically produced longrange drones alongside missiles for strikes deep inside Russia. Its drone technology has impressed governments and defense manufacturers around the world. Kyiv is aiming to make the Russian public feel the war’s consequences and pressure Russian President Vladimir Putin into negotiating a peace settlement. Putin has so far shown no signs he in-

tends to stop the invasion. Instead, Moscow and Kyiv have been drawn into an escalating duel of longrange aerial strikes as ﬁghting along the roughly 780mile front line in eastern and southern Ukraine has slowed, restricted by large numbers of drones and ground robots threatening troop movements. Writing on social media, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Kyiv had used a range of missiles and drones in the attack — including Ukraine’s domestically made Flamingo and Pelican missiles — to hit oil and logistics facilities.

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — Eighteen suspects who were arrested in the July 2021 killing of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse were awaiting extradition to the U.S. on Sunday, marking the end of a drawn-out judicial process in Haiti for a killing that shocked the troubled Caribbean country. The suspects will face trial in Florida, according to Jason Reding Qui-

ñones, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida. “Today marks the next major phase in our pursuit of accountability for the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse,” he wrote on X. “We will follow the evidence wherever it leads, to those who ﬁnanced it, facilitated it, supported it or committed crimes to make it possible. Five years later, we are still bringing defendants before American courts, and we are not ﬁnished.”

Quiñones did not identify the suspects, but those who remain in Haiti awaiting trial include more than a dozen Colombian soldiers, a former Haitian police ofﬁcer and a former Haiti Ministry of Justice employee who was part of an anti-corruption unit. Quiñones said that 30 people have been indicted in Moïse’s killing, with FBI Special Agent in Charge Brett Skiles noting that there were multiple arrests in the U.S. and abroad on Sunday.

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Israeli man shot, killed in West Bank By The Associated Press A 30-year-old Israeli man was killed near the Neve Tzuf settlement north of Ramallah, hours before the Yom Kippur holiday, widely considered the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. Israel’s military said the suspected attacker opened ﬁre from a vehicle and ﬂed on foot. After a search by

security forces, the military said the man, who was injured while ﬂeeing, was detained at a hospital where he had sought care. The Samaria regional council said the killed man, Netanel Shakron, was a settler who had been bathing at a spring ahead of Yom Kippur. It was the second time an Israeli civilian had been killed in a confrontation with

a Palestinian this year in the West Bank, according to the U.N. Separately, the military said it killed a Palestinian man who attempted to carry out a ramming attack against soldiers at an intersection near Jenin in the northern West Bank, less than an hour later. The military said it was searching for another man who was in the car.

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CLAIBORNE

Continued from page 1A Still, the council approval marks a turning point, said Kara Johnson, director of legal and governmental affairs for council member Freddie King, who represents the area. “We’re very hopeful that this will be something very positive for the community,” Johnson said, adding that the plan would give vendors an “opportunity that otherwise they would not have the opportunity to do to become business owners.” According to the agreement, ofﬁcials expect to complete the design work by December 2027. The funding deadline is June 2028. “We hope that (the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development) will put out the solicitation quickly once King the agreement is signed by all parties,” said King, noting that the state is responsible for seeking a contractor to complete the design work. Department of Transportation and Development spokesperson Rodney Mallett said that once Moreno signs off on the agreement, “we’ll have an idea about the timeline.” It is unclear where funding for construction would come from once the designs are complete. “With the current status of our

SPENDING

Continued from page 1A The move comes as state lawmakers scrutinize public school funding, which Gov. Jeff Landry has argued too often goes toward “waste and bureaucracy.” “Louisiana taxpayers expect school systems to spend dollars wisely,” Brumley said in a statement, “and when too few dollars go into classrooms, changes must be made.” In interviews, leaders of both districts said they believe their

GAS PRICES

Continued from page 1A all levels are struggling with the additional burden of Trump’s weak approval ratings, an unpopular foreign conﬂict and an affordability crisis that Trump and his congressional allies had promised to ﬁx. But when Trump campaigned in North Carolina on Wednesday, he played down the impact of surging gas prices. “You have a little higher. It’s a very inexpensive price to pay for what we’ve done,” Trump said of the war, which he describes Trump as critical to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. “Remember that. It’s a little more. Frankly, even if it was a lot more.”

‘Gas prices matter’ Despite what Trump says, there are few things that may matter more this election year than the price of a gallon of gasoline, according to political operatives in both parties. Gas prices are moving sharply in the wrong direction at a time

STAFF PHOTO By ENAN CHEDIAK

Vendors line the Claiborne Corridor in New Orleans on Aug. 20. A new project plans to transform a section of North Claiborne Avenue into a vibrant outdoor space and marketplace, honoring the historic community while addressing challenges and opportunities for economic growth. budget … it’s hard to say that the city is committing to a number,” said Johnson. “The goal is to continue to work to ﬁnd sources so that by the time this phase is done we’ll be ready to enter into the next phase.” Like the ﬁrst three blocks, plans for the next seven blocks will also involve installing stormwater man-

agement infrastructure and pedestrian safety improvements. Some in the neighborhood have questioned the proposed redevelopment, citing the limited number of events that have been held in the initial three-block stretch since it was redeveloped. And some unpermitted vendors

who have taken to setting up along the undeveloped section of Claiborne Avenue said they fear a shutdown if the development expands. Ofﬁcials have visited the strip in recent weeks to share information about licensing classes. “Done well, this effort can create new economic opportunities

and expand the city’s revenue base while maintaining a strong focus on public safety and orderly operations,” King said in a statement last month.

schools comply with the state’s spending rule, but that the districts might have incorrectly reported some expenditures. For example, staff at an alternative education program in Bogalusa might have been mistakenly categorized as central ofﬁce staff, which would not count toward the instructional spending requirement, Superintendent Byron Hurst said. “We think it’s more of a technical coding error,” he said. “It’s not a misappropriation of funds.” Hurst sent a memo to employees Thursday explaining the issue and emphasizing that the district

“is not being taken over by the state.” In the interview, he said he welcomes the state review, adding that it should help identify and fix any financial reporting issues. St. John the Baptist Parish School Board President Debbie Schum also cited issues with how some expenditures were categorized. She said the district has improved its reporting practices, adding that she is confident the school system will now meet the instructional spending benchmark. “I think when the numbers come out this year, we’re going

to be at the correct percentage,” she said. “The difficulty was not so much that we were spending in incorrect areas, it’s that it wasn’t coded to the correct areas.” The state Education Department will hire the chief operating officers on a temporary basis to dig into the districts’ financial records and recommend changes. The enforcement action could cost the state about $150,000 annually, according to estimates in a legislative fiscal analysis. About 30 school districts and charter schools failed to meet the 70% instructional spending rule for at least two consecutive years,

according to state data through the 2023-24 ﬁscal year, which is what the state used to track compliance. Several other school systems that fell below the 70% mark received waivers because their performance ratings were at or above the state average. An Education Department spokesperson did not respond to a question about why Brumley appointed compliance officers for only two of the systems that did not comply with the spending rule.

of year when drivers typically get some relief. The national average for a gallon of gas reached $4.48 on Friday, according to AAA, up roughly 17 cents over the last week, 40 cents in a month and $1.27 from a year ago. “Gas prices matter because they’re one of the few economic indicators voters experience and see in real time,” said veteran Republican strategist Chris Wilson. “The price is literally staring them in the face several times a week. So I wouldn’t minimize the frustration we’re seeing, particularly among working- and middle-class voters.” Interviews with voters this week found bipartisan frustration and disappointment. Democrats and independents were especially motivated to punish Republicans at the ballot box for their economic hardship, while some of Trump’s working-class supporters pledged to support Republicans this fall, even if they weren’t happy with the president’s leadership on the economy.

Trump, lamented the president’s leadership as the 63-year-old carpenter paid $4.39 a gallon to fill up his pickup truck in Mesa, Arizona. “He hurt himself stepping into this,” Lloyd said of Trump. “Where’s all this oil from Venezuela? I thought we were flush with gas and everything, but no. The American people eat it every time, whether it’s interest rates, food, gasoline.” Still, he expects to vote Republican in the midterms. “I think the Democratic Party has lost its way,” Lloyd said. “I just feel like the whole system’s on the verge of collapse.” In sweltering Edinburg, Texas, 52-year-old Kristin Jimenez shrugged off the rising price of gas after filling up her Mercedes. “We’ve paid the same price under Republican presidents, we’ve paid this price under Democrat presidents,” said Jimenez, a mother who runs a small business. She plans to vote for a Republican in because they’re the “lesser of two evils.” She said gas prices aren’t part of her calculation. “We don’t mind paying $8 for a cup of coffee at Starbucks, but we have a problem paying four bucks

at the pump?” she said. “Make it make sense.” More than 1,500 miles to the north in central Michigan, 35-year-old Garth Johnson is trying to make ends meet running a deep-cleaning business with several gas-powered vehicles and one machine fueled by diesel, which was $6.79 a gallon as he filled up his SUV. Johnson voted for Trump, but doesn’t know what he’s going to do in November. Johnson doesn’t feel qualified to second-guess the president’s evaluation of the war, but he’s feeling financial pressure in his own life. “I like a lot of the things he’s done,” Johnson said, but added “I’m a little guy and I’ve got to live my life.”

Some Republicans disappointed Dan Lloyd, who voted for

Other voters are not so forgiving Midterm voting was already underway on Friday in Virginia, where 60-year-old engineer Alan Johnson said Trump seems to have “no empathy” for Americans who are struggling ﬁnancially. “With the gas prices being what they are and continuing to grow, we’ve got to do something. Hopefully the Democrats can get into ofﬁce and turn the ship around,”

Email Sophie Kasakove at sophie.kasakove@theadvocate. com.

Email Patrick Wall at patrick. wall@theadvocate.com.

said Johnson, who cast ballots in the morning for Democrats for the U.S. Senate and U.S. House. In Raleigh, North Carolina, teacher Brittney Bivins sees surging gas prices as evidence that Trump and his Republican Party aren’t dealing with the issues that matter most to people like her. “He really doesn’t care about everyday people,” the 45-year-old said. “He can afford the gas, but most of us can’t. So it feels like he’s not even connected to his own people.” Bivins, who described herself as an independent, said she’s eager to support Democrats this fall — especially the party’s emerging democratic socialist wing. At a gas station in Lansing, Michigan, Rina Risper spent $50 on 8 gallons of premium gas. “When I rolled up I was in shock, actually, and said, well, maybe I should drink water instead of having that $4.99 bottle of whatever it was I was gonna get,” Risper said. She thinks Trump’s tariffs will make affordability even worse. “We’re not in Miami. We’re in Lansing, Michigan,” she said. “It’s really going to impact our people.”

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The Times-Picayune ✦ nola.com ✦ Monday, September 21, 2026 ✦ 5A

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Rate hike reflects world of inflation, faster growth BY CHRISTOPHER RUGABER AP economics writer

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has renewed his attacks on the Federal Reserve after it hiked its benchmark interest rate Wednesday, but the Fed matters less than broader economic trends when it comes to longer-term borrowing costs, economists say. The economy is growing steadily despite being hit with repeated shocks — and may even be accelerating — while inﬂation remains stubbornly high. And big tech firms are borrowing huge amounts of cash to plow into data center construction while the federal government is still running large yearly budget deficits. All these trends point to higher interest rates regardless of what the Fed does, analysts say. As a result, the low interest-rate, low-inﬂation world that lasted for nearly 15 years after the Great Recession is over and a higherpriced, higher-rate world is taking its place. Mortgage rates fell into the 3% range in the 2010s and even lower during COVID-19, but such deals are long gone. The average 30-year mortgage rate reached 6.95% last week, the highest in more than a year and a half. Joe Brusuelas, chief economist at RSM, a tax con-

sulting firm, said that a big reason for the change is a shift from the pre-pandemic economy in which consumer and business demand was weak, to the current economy in which healthy consumer and business spending is colliding with supply shocks and bottlenecks. In addition to higher oil and gas prices because of the Iran war, the AI buildout has struggled with an insufficient supply of computer chips, electronic equipment, and workers to put it all together. “We’ve undergone a structural transformation of the economy,” Brusuelas said. “The regime change in inflation and interest rates is the outcome.” The shift, in many ways, returns the economy to where it was before the financial crisis in December 2007 that lasted through June 2009. But even after the downturn ended, consumer and business spending remained weak. Millions of Americans in the 2010s focused on paying down outsized mortgages and credit card debt instead. Businesses saw few investment opportunities, and many big tech firms such as Alphabet’s Google and Meta’s Facebook piled up cash. Now those companies are using those stockpiles to build out AI data centers,

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By MARK SCHIEFELBEIN

Federal Reserve Board Chairman Kevin Warsh speaks Wednesday during a news conference at the Federal Reserve in Washington. and are borrowing even more money to do so. And American consumers — despite surveys finding they are pessimistic about the economy — are still spending at a healthy pace. A recent report showing that retail sales picked up last month led economists at Bank of America to forecast growth will reach a healthy 3% at an annual rate in the July-September quarter. Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh highlighted the shift in a speech

at the central bank’s annual conference in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, last month. After 2008, “it was a widely held view that an excess of capital would sit on the sidelines for a long, long time, because there just wouldn’t be enough compelling investment opportunities,” Warsh said. “All the good stuff had been invented. So growth would be low and slow. “Well, times sure have changed,” he continued. “Ever-expanding pools of

capital are pouring into AIrelated infrastructure of all sorts.” The additional spending and investment has contributed to higher longer-term interest rates on government bonds that are competing for lenders. The yield on the 10-year Treasury bond topped 5% this year for the first time since 2023, even before the Fed raised its benchmark short-term rate Wednesday. At the same time, political polling and consumer senti-

ment surveys continue to find that many Americans are struggling to keep up with rising prices, and affordability remains a top concern heading into the midterm elections. Even as the economy expands, inflation has outpaced the annual growth in average wages for the past five months. Brusuelas said the U.S. economy’s expansion is “imbalanced” with growth “entirely dependent” on the AI buildout and strong spending by wealthier consumers, who have benefited from rising stock prices driven by hopes that AI will lift profits. After the Fed lifted its rate to 3.9% Wednesday, Trump said on Truth Social that U.S. rates should be 1% instead. Yet many of Trump’s policies have contributed to higher borrowing costs, in particular the Iran war that has driven up gas prices. When inflation persists, investors demand higher interest rates on longer-term Treasury bonds, such as the 10-year, which strongly influences mortgage rates. “The president can say he wants interest rates lower all he wants, and yet he continues to push the button on all the policies that raise rates,” said Elizabeth Pancotti, vice president of policy, advocacy and research at the progressive Groundwork Collaborative.

Ed Sheeran says situation in Gaza ‘catastrophic and unjustifiable’ and I’ve never wanted where Sheeran’s tour was disappointed that Sheeran and attended. She said she is day he is donating $1 million Performer speaks tofans, be an activist musician, but scheduled to play on Friday. did not take a stand. a big Sheeran fan, doesn’t to support Palestinian relief Within hours of Sheeran’s this has put me in the middle “I was, until this week, a think he did anything wrong efforts and called on Kraft as he opens of an important and passion- statement Tuesday, his sup- big Ed Sheeran fan,” Stein- and a concert is not the place to match the gift; a spokesperson for Kraft has said the berg said. “I think all art is for politics. a t e a r g u - porting acts withdrew. concert “A concert should be for billionaire and Sheeran have Sheeran has performed political, and all music is poment about

BY TASSANEE VEJPONGSA Associated Press

PHILADELPHIA — Ed Sheeran opened a concert Saturday with comments about Gaza after controversy swirled around his tour and supporting acts withdrew in solidarity with opener Macklemore, who was dropped after making pro-Palestinian comments onstage. Sheeran began the concert alone on stage with no opener, but was joined by other musicians later in the show. Sheeran said he wants his music and shows to be about unity and humanity, not politics. But he said the attacks in Israel of Oct. 7, 2023, were horriﬁc and what is happening in Gaza “catastrophic and unjustiﬁable.” “I don’t want to disappoint

freedom of speech and the most complex political issue on the planet,” Sheeran Sheeran said during his performance at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. The comments before a nearly full stadium came after a tumultuous week that began with rapper Macklemore, Sheeran’s original U.S. opener, being dropped in response to exclaiming “Free Palestine” during a Sept. 5 show in New Jersey. Sheeran has said he was not responsible for the decision, which came at the urging of New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft. His company owns a stadium

many songs solo during his Loop Tour concerts, but was joined for several songs at each stop by the Irish folk band Beoga before they dropped out in support of Macklemore. Macklemore was replaced by Danish band Lukas Graham and Irish singer Aaron Rowe before they backed out, and Finneas, Billie Eilish’s brother and musical collaborator, was due to tour with Sheeran in South America later this year before he too dropped out this week. Before Saturday’s show, a small group of pro-Palestinian demonstrators congregated outside the stadium. Hillary Steinberg, 34, said she got concert tickets a year ago but wound up getting a refund and attended the demonstration instead,

litical, and so this choice — even though he was saying that he wasn’t complicit — is a political choice.” Diane Savitz, a 53-year-old from Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, got tickets months ago

people enjoying the music. Music should bring people together,” Savitz said. “Everyone has their right to freedom of speech, but not every platform is the place for it.” Macklemore said Wednes-

each agreed to donate $2 million but have not specified where the money will be directed. Sheeran’s representatives have not responded to multiple requests for comment.

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Carney and Macron deepen ties as Canada turns toward Europe By The Associated Press

SAINT-PIERRE, Saint-Pierre-etMiquelon — Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and French President Emmanuel Macron moved Sunday to deepen a strategic partnership spanning space, defense, energy and business, another step in Canada’s accelerating turn toward Europe as relations with the United States deteriorate. They met in Saint-Pierreet-Miquelon, a French territory just off Newfoundland’s coast where France and Canada are separated by only a few miles — a striking setting for two countries trying to build closer economic and security ties across the Atlantic. “Only a few kilometers separate Canada and France at their closest point. Our values are even closer,” Carney said in French while standing alongside Macron. Carney said the countries will task their space agencies and defense ministries to develop and share infrastructure, including launch systems and ground-based reception facilities. They also agreed to expand cooperation in energy, telecommunications, climate resilience and economic development. The meeting comes days after Carney embraced the

CANADIAN PRESS PHOTO By ADRIAN WyLD

French President Emmanuel Macron, left, takes a selfie with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Sunday after delivering remarks in Saint-Pierre, Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon. prospect of Canada becoming the European Union’s ﬁrst associate member and argued that deeper ties with Europe would make Canada less vulnerable to economic coercion by any single country. Macron called Carney’s visit a “historic moment,” saying that amid global turmoil, the two countries were afﬁrming “our sovereignty, our freedom to decide” and their determination to build closer ties. Macron also backed Canada’s future involvement in the European Union. U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs, demands for economic concessions and repeated talk of making Canada the 51st U.S. state have pushed the Canadian government to reduce its de-

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140 vacant properties up for auction

40 reserved for urban farms, green space BY VIOLET BUCARO Staff writer

The New Orleans Redevelopment Authority will auction off 140 vacant properties in New Orleans this month for buyers to build new homes or claim green space. In a switch from past years, NORA’s auction this year will reserve 40 properties to be purchased for urban farms and community green

space. It is encouraging investors to turn the others into single-family homes. This comes after NORA introduced a “non-housing development option” in January that allows urban farmers and community organizations to purchase land for agricultural and farming uses. NORA is a city agency that focuses on returning vacant or blighted properties to commerce,

specifically to grow housing development and increase new construction on empty lots around the city. The agency hosts annual auctions of abandoned land formerly part of the state’s now-defunct Road Home program. State ofﬁcials acquired private properties through that program after Hurricane Katrina and resulting ﬂoodwaters ravaged much of the city in 2005.

The auction will be held on NORA’s online platform from 8 a.m. Sept. 29 to 6 p.m. Sept. 30. Bidding starts at a minimum of $4,000 per property. Winning bidders must settle their purchase within 30 days and must complete lot construction or rehabilitation within 18 months of closing. “As with our previous auctions, we anticipate signiﬁcant interest from prospective buyers,” said Brenda Breaux, executive director of NORA. “We are excited to make this next group of properties

available and provide another opportunity for residents, property owners and developers to invest in neighborhoods across New Orleans.” NORA also offers properties through its Lot Next Door program that allows adjacent homeowners to purchase vacant property at fair market value. The move is a routine one that nonetheless comes as residents have called for more blight

ä See VACANT, page 2B

SWAN LAKE

Friends Adrianna Martin and Tytiana Hicks, both of Lake Providence, paddle through a bevy of swan pedal boats on Big Lake at New Orleans City Park on Sunday, proving you don’t need feathers to join the ﬂock.

JEFFERSON PARISH

Galactic rebrands Tipitina’s Foundation

It comes as venue Childcare program celebrates 50 years wait list grows BY JONAH MEADOWS Staff writer

State’s matching grants struggling to keep up with demand BY ELYSE CARMOSINO Staff writer

A small number of Jefferson Parish families are receiving help paying for childcare through state and local funds, but hundreds more who are eligible for subsidized care remain without assistance, advocates say. Fewer than half of the parish’s roughly 11,000 children from low-income households currently have access to publicly funded care, largely due to limited seats and funding, said Sarintha Stricklin, executive director of the Jefferson Ready Start Network, a coalition that works to increase access to early education.

A state program designed to help communities expand affordable care for children from birth to age 3 is providing some help, recently adding two additional Jefferson Parish childcare centers to its program. The Early Childhood Education Fund matches dollars raised by parishes locally to increase the number of publicly funded seats in each district. In Jefferson Parish, the program helps cover childcare costs for 36 children using funding from the state, the Parish Council and local businesses. The two centers that recently joined the program, Torah Academy on the East Bank and Little Ivy Prep on the West Bank, bring the number of participating local providers to 10, according to the Jefferson Ready Start Network. Advocates said the new partnerships will have a signiﬁcant

ä See CHILDCARE, page 2B

As Tipitina’s prepares to embark on a year of events to commemorate the iconic music venue’s 50th anniversary, its owners are rebranding the club’s charitable foundation to better reflect its mission of promoting New Orleans music, culture and heritage. The Tip-It Foundation, as the nonproﬁt has been known for the past several years, will now be called by a more familiar name — the Tipitina’s Foundation. The rebranding comes eight years after the Uptown club was purchased by members of the local funk band Galactic, who chose a different name for the nonproﬁt to avoid its association with a charity whose founder was accused of funneling its funds into his own businesses. “We purposefully changed the name to Tip-It Foundation just to really set some distance between us and the previous Tipitina’s Foundation,” said Galactic bassist and Tipitina’s co-owner Rob Mercurio. “We tested the waters and

STAFF PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER

People wait in line at the music venue Tipitina’s, 501 Napoleon Ave. in New Orleans. decided that it was time to kind of relaunch it and go back to the Tipitina’s Foundation name, because of name recognition alone.” When Galactic bought Tipitina’s in 2018, rescuing it from ﬁnancial and reputational jeopardy, the acquisition did not include ownership of the Tipitina’s Foundation, a 501(c)(3) founded by former own-

er Roland Von Kurnatowski. Von Kurnatowski, a real estate investor and the third owner of the historic club at Napoleon Avenue and Tchoupitoulas Street, had established the foundation in 2003. Over the years, it donated thousands of instruments to marching

ä See TIPITINA’S, page 2B

2B ✦ Monday, September 21, 2026 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

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Tropical Storm Fay forms in Atlantic

VACANT

BY KASEY BUBNASH

remediation and opportunity to invest in properties to go back into commerce. The auction is meant to increase new construction on empty lots around the city, a common complaint of residents in recent town hall meetings on the city’s budget who are concerned with blight and overgrown grass. Reducing neighborhood blight is a priority for Mayor Helena Moreno’s administration this year, Moreno said at last week’s community meeting at Household of Faith Church in New Orleans East.

Staff writer

Tropical Storm Fay formed in the Atlantic Ocean Sunday morning with sustained winds of 45 mph, becoming the 2026 hurricane season’s sixth named storm. Located about 450 miles southwest of the Azores as of Sunday

morning, National Hurricane Center forecasters expect Fay to dissipate by the end of the coming week without reaching land as it moves north-northeast at 5 mph. The storm could strengthen some before then, but forecasters said hostile environmental conditions will likely keep it from reaching hurricane status.

The system is not a threat to Louisiana. This season marks the first time in decades that the Atlantic has made it this late into September without a hurricane. Normally by this point in the year, the Atlantic would have produced nine named storms, including four hurricanes, according to the National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration. Two of those hurricanes would have likely reached Category 3 strength or higher. Scientists say robust El Niño conditions and record-breaking wind shear have kept tropical activity at a minimum. Email Kasey Bubnash at kasey. bubnash@theadvocate.com.

Continued from page 1B

Email Violet Bucaro at violet. bucaro@theadvocate.com.

CHILDCARE

Continued from page 1B impact on some families, noting that having providers in different areas of the parish makes it easier to access care. One of the new partners, Little Ivy Prep, is located on the edge of Avondale, an area Stricklin referred to as a “childcare desert.” In addition to making it easier for young parents to return to work, children who attend highquality early education programs are much more likely to enter kindergarten ready to learn, according to research. “We’re exposing them to literacy and mathematics and to strong interpersonal skills,” said Arielle Hughes, owner and director of Carousel Preschool in Metairie, which is also part of the match program. “By the time they get to kindergarten, they’re ready to successfully enter a classroom, and those classrooms are now functioning more strongly.”

An ongoing issue The 32.31-acre Mississippi riverfront industrial and development site lies just north of the Queen Casino.

STAFF PHOTO By JOHN BALLANCE

‘Any investment in this land would be good’ Undeveloped tract of BR riverfront for sale

ments into bankruptcy, alleging he was not repaying loans associated with the project. First NBC took over the land after a judge ruled Clements owed the bank more than $19 million in principal and interest payments. Capital Crossing took over the land in 2020 after the failure of First NBC Bank. Before Clements purchased the property, the land belonged to Luhr Brothers Inc., an Illinoisbased company selling gravel and rock aggregate, which used the land to store products. The company sold the land to Clements for $13.5 million in 2008.

BATON ROUGE Choctaw Dr.

BY IANNE SALVOSA Staff writer

TIPITINA’S

Developable riverfront property River Rd

Mississippi River

Just north of The Queen casino lies one of downtown Baton Rouge’s hottest development opportunities. More than 30 acres of land sit undeveloped, though a few developers have long dreamed of transforming the wooded site into something transformative for the capital region. The question is whether the land, situated between a casino and petrochemical plants, is best suited for recreation or industrial use. Given its proximity to the ExxonMobil refinery, its best use is for freight logistics or distributors, said Paul Ellis, of Momentum Commercial Real Estate, who has the listing for the property. But Ellis said recreational use is not off the table. It was eyed to serve as a youth sports complex, a key recommendation of downtown Baton Rouge’s master plan to be implemented over the next 10 years. Plan Baton Rouge III centers around “activating” the Baton Rouge riverfront, which struggles with public utilization and structural barriers in the railroad and the levee. “I see it as a huge opportunity,” Downtown Development District Executive Director Whitney Hoffman Sayal said in a message. No matter the usage, it’s prime real estate. It’s one of the last developable spots along the Mississippi River in the area and has an

Eiland St.

Capitol Lake

110

Louisiana State Capitol building

Riverfront conditions Main St. Florida Blvd.

access point via a railroad underpass, shared with The Queen. The access point is crucial — much of downtown riverfront developments are blocked by the railroad when a train is stopped, and riverfront views are often blocked by the levee. Josh Brooks, a principal at Sasaki, which led the creation of Plan Baton Rouge III with the Baton Rouge Area Foundation, said he thinks the land may not have been developed in the past since it’s on the edge of downtown, away from most of the activity in the core. Most developers want to build next to other developments downtown, he said. The best use of the land is a development that interfaces with The Queen, he said, though any

separate legal entity from the original with its own assets. Recently, the band’s attorney Continued from page 1B advised them that the original foundation had lapsed, clearing bands, established music co-ops the way to reclaim the name. and funded an internship program through charitable contributions Back to the roots and profits from the club. The change comes as GalacBut the foundation collapsed tic members are focusing more around the time Von Kurnatows- on the nonprofit, which today is ki sold the club to Galactic, amid managed by the New York-based questions over the developer’s use Music’s Promise. The band transof its funds. Von Kurnatowski, ferred the foundation’s $74,000 in who died in a 2019 hunting ac- assets to Music’s Promise in 2024. cident, was never charged with That led to more active programwrongdoing. ming, including a Stevie Wonder In the meantime, Galactic had tribute concert that raised $30,000 established the Tip-It Founda- for local nonprofits Youth Empowtion to carry on the mission of the erment Project, MiNO Foundation earlier nonprofit. The band’s new and Roots of Music. “When we first took over the foundation, operated as a donoradvised fund, was a completely business, taking over the founda-

Staff map

development there would be beneﬁcial. “We need to think of the riverfront as something that belongs to everyone,” Brooks said.

Ownership history

Whoever purchases the land will inherit a large undertaking. Since it’s undeveloped, any projects will have to coordinate utilities and new roads, which can get expensive. The land has an advantage in its position on a natural bluff, protecting it from flooding, Brooks said. The northernmost parts of the property get more difficult to develop on since there’s no infrastructure on the land, he said, which is why Plan Baton Rouge III detailed soccer fields and other outdoor sports in that area since that requires less work. A gravel driveway weaves through the land where remnants of rock and sediment piles sit among the trees. “Any investment in this land would be good,” Brooks said.

The land is currently owned by Girod Reo LLC, which opposed any potential rezoning of the land for recreational use at a planning commission meeting in May. The LLC is serviced by Massachusettsbased Capital Crossing Company. Its previous owner was developer Pete Clements, who created a plan for a $600 million entertainment district with music venues, hotels and restaurants, hoping to draw visitors from across the region. Plans eventually ﬁzzled out as Email Ianne Salvosa at ianne. First NBC Bank tried to force Cle- salvosa@theadvocate.com.

tion at the same time seemed kind of daunting. We really just wanted to focus on getting the business going,” Mercurio said. “I think that we feel like we’ve had enough time. The business is going well, and now it’s time to try to get the foundation going.” The change, announced Sept. 4, comes ahead of Tipitina’s 50th anniversary year and coincides with a shift from more passive fundraising and grantmaking to more active programming. That starts with an Oct. 2 beneﬁt concert with teen piano phenom River Eckert and a cavalcade of guest stars. Also, production has begun on a feature-length documentary about the venue’s ﬁrst 50 years, which is expected to be released in October 2027.

And the foundation is launching a series of free monthly master classes pairing young musicians with experienced professionals, starting with Galactic next month, followed by Anders Osborne and George Porter Jr. later this year. Mercurio said the Sunday Youth Music Labs are especially meaningful to the band. “It’s something similar to what the previous foundation was doing. Our drummer, Stanton (Moore), had gone to it as a child, and it had a big impact on him. The drummer and guitar player from the Revivalists met at one of our Sunday workshops,” Mercurio said. “We’ve all partaken in it as professional musicians.” Email Jonah Meadows at jonah. meadows@theadvocate.com.

But advocates worry the reduced funding will make it harder to meet the needs of the parish’s low-income families. Of the 11,000 children who qualify for subsidized care, only about 4,200 are currently being served. Though the parish doesn’t track how many families have applied for state-funded childcare, providers in Jefferson Parish say the gap in available seats is obvious. Hughes, whose center serves just over 30 children whose tuition is covered by public subsidies, said Carousel Preschool currently has more than 700 families on its waitlist who are eligible for subsidized care. The Jefferson Parish Council also lowered its yearly funding pledge. After years of increasing funding for the program, the council reduced its contribution from $350,000 in 2024 to $250,000 in 2025, dropping the number of ECE seats in the parish from 71 to 36. However, the council pledged to commit that amount annually for three years. District 2 Parish Council member Deano Bonano said the council’s funding commitment hinges on several factors, including the amount of discretionary funds the parish receives, but he added that local leaders are considering ways to increase funding for child care. Children who attend these programs “perform much better in school and in society,” Bonano said. “It will pay off in the long run.” Adding to the pressure is a warning from the state that the funds for the match program are in danger of running out. A report by the economic development nonprofit Leaders for a Better Louisiana last year cautioned that unless lawmakers commit more funding, the program may need to cut the number of families it serves in half, even as statewide participation increases. “We need these opportunities so that parents can go to work, and parents who are working can’t afford childcare without some kind of public subsidy,” Stricklin said. “It’s really a crisis.” Email Elyse Carmosino at ecarmosino@theadvocate.com.

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Perronne, and an abundance of loving nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, and friends.

New Orleans Area Deaths Mitten, Sandra

St Tammany Bagnell Son Mitten, Sandra

Obituaries Mitten, Sandra Ann

The Times-Picayune ✦ nola.com ✦ Monday, September 21, 2026 ✦ 3B

Sandra was a talented seamstress, loved traveling, spending time with family and friends, and an active volunteer with the Discalced Carmelites of Covington. A funeral mass will be at the St. Joseph Abbey 75376 River Rd, St Benedict, LA 70457, on Wednesday September 23, 2026 at 2:00 Sandra will be remembered with love by her family and all who had the privilege of knowing her. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Discalced Carmelites of Covington, 73530 River Road, Covington, LA 70435

Sandra Ann Perronne Mitten of Covington, Louisiana, born in New Orleans, Louisiana June 7, 1943, passed away peacefully on September 16, 2026. She was the beloved wife of the late Raymond C. Mitten, Jr., and the daughter of the late Rudy C. Perronne, Sr. and Dorothy Mae Killman Perronne Brannon.

Louisiana needs in-depth, solutions-driven, public service journalism more than ever.

Sandra was preceded in death by her brothers, Rudy C. Perronne, Jr., Tommy Perronne, Fred Perronne, and sister, June Perronne. She is survived by her sisters, Bonnie Perronne Harmeyer (Buddy Harmeyer) and Pamela Perronne Roselli; her brother, Albert "Dewey" Brannon (Robbie Brannon), sister-in-law Lynne

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YOUR VIEWS N O L A.C O M/opinions

Secret deal for SpaceX raises questions

What if other sweet industry deals go the way of bankrupt golf tourney? A year ago, Gov. Jeff Landry touted — amid lots of fanfare — his commitment to the LIV golf tournament to be held in New Orleans (despite the city already hosting a golf tournament) and the state’s funding commitment to that tournament. Now that LIV has ﬁled for bankruptcy, the state is on the hook for $1.2 million, not counting the amount spent to upgrade the City Park course, which may or may not have been a priority absent the proposed tournament. Now, Landry is touting exponentially more ambitious projects for our state — a giant Meta data center in Richland Parish and a massive SpaceX rocket launch and data center in Vermilion Parish. These projects have been courted and negotiated in secret with legislators and government ofﬁcials signing nondisclosure agreements, despite the fact that they are government servants and supposed to be working for us, their constituents. Also, the companies have been granted generous tax breaks, and legislation has been passed protecting the companies from lawsuits that could have been brought by residents who may be harmed by these enterprises. These are among the richest companies in the world, owned by the richest individuals. Why are they getting tax breaks? Putting aside the very large question of whether these projects are advisable at all, one wonders who is looking out for the welfare of our residents and for the state environment that was once known as a “sportsman’s paradise.” That moniker will no longer apply to these two locations, what with the constant blasting of rockets and drone of generators. And what happens if Louisiana and Richland and Vermilion parishes are left holding the bag, à la the LIV Golf debacle?

NANCY PICARD Mandeville

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Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff is hit by Saints defensive end Chase young in the first half of the Sept. 13 game in Detroit.

Saints are robbed by another bad call There it was. Chase Young had supplied the greatest play for the New Orleans Saints in 2026. It was just what Saints fans were looking for. Sack, fumble, touchdown! Except, as has been true all too often for Saints fans in the last decade, it wasn’t to be. By what new rule was this touchdown negated? Certainly by one we have not heard of before or since. It was similar to the SaintsRams game in the 2018 NFC Championship. All will remember that game. And what is a fan to do? The only thing that can be done is to give up football. Stop paying for it. That is a tall order in a day when NFL football gives a much-needed respite to fans eager to forget their everyday lives and pin their hopes on local heroes, albeit ones who are paid many times what the fans

themselves could ever hope to make in their lives. The time has come for us all to take a long, hard look at this game. Are we indeed serfs, who must till the ground and grow crops for the wealthy landowners (i.e. NFL owners and even players)? What rules are we even playing by, when NFL referees can seemingly change calls arbitrarily and based on rules none of us have heard of? Far too many calls have gone the way of this one, and far too many times it has cost our New Orleans Saints a win, like this time. Are fans of NFL teams destined to be like the serfs of old? Or can we come together and effect change?

GERARD RAULT New Orleans

A Baton Rouge attorney wrote recently that the Elon Musk SpaceX development was a good thing for Louisiana. It’s an interesting fact that among the occupations that beneﬁt most from projects such as this are attorneys. The nondisclosure agreements that politicians signed before approving this project are explained by our governor as a way to prevent Texas, or other states, from knowing what Louisiana is doing. Why is this not being questioned more deeply, especially because it is clear that Musk has a history of buying his way into making trillions? These projects bring to a community egregious offenses including noise heard miles away and disruption to community resources by way of costs forced upon residents, on top of the loss of value to property. In this agreement, residents have no legal recourse to seek damages from the corporation or Musk. Do the residents deserve to know why these plans were agreed upon? Did Musk promise something we don’t know about? We are not Texas; we are Louisiana, and the money bartered away belongs to the residents affected. Unfortunately, the NDA prevents us from knowing more. Our governor seems to think we are not worthy of that knowledge. Trump would agree.

JOHN SFIRE New Orleans

Trump unfairly blames Ukraine for fallout from his war

Louisianans are lured with big promises “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down” tells of a poor Southern family watching the Confederacy collapse. Old Dixie fell because the Confederacy chose to preserve a political and economic order built on slavery. The suffering of ordinary Southern families was real, but the system rested on a terrible moral wrong that needed to end. Southern communities saw their land occupied and their society shattered by advancing Union armies. Today, no invading army is taking land away. The sacriﬁces now being demanded are the result of choices made by the South’s own leaders. Louisiana has spent generations giving oil, gas and petrochemical companies access to its land and natural resources in return for promises of jobs and prosperity. Yet Louisiana remains at or near the bottom of major national measures of health and poverty. Now Louisiana’s leaders are making huge new bets. Massive data centers consume extraordinary amounts of electricity and water, require major new power infrastructure and place added pressure on local com-

munities. SpaceX has acquired 125,000 acres for a massive complex in Vermilion Parish. Supporters tout jobs and investment, but questions remain about public subsidies, environmental damage and what local people must sacrifice. Politicians are treating land, water and local ways of life as things to trade for another corporate promise. But the wetlands matter. Hunting matters. Shrimping, oystering, crawfishing and fishing all matter, and the people who make their living from that land and water matter too. They must not be cast aside just to satisfy a trillionaire’s lust for further excess. Louisiana has made this bargain before. Again and again, parts of the state have been turned into sacrifice zones while ordinary people were told prosperity would soon follow. Looking at where Louisiana stands today, once again those same promises ring hollow.

BRIAN SALVATORE former member, Louisiana Environmental Education Committee Pismo Beach, California

Battle with AI is unending, because robots have no moral compass In the pursuit of expanding our knowledge and using it for our collective beneﬁt, artiﬁcial intelligence has created a system of hardware and software that can function with no moral compass — the ability to determine true right from wrong. A true moral compass can only come from the spirit of God and be imparted to men and women whom God has created. Even so, humans are fallible and imperfect in their desires and actions and act contrary to the truths and desires of God. But my point is about AI and not the people who have created it. AI has shown through numerous instances of hacking other companies’ supposedly secure systems that it has and will continue

to have the ability to lie and to teach itself to lie (“thou shalt not bear false witness”). In hacking, the hacker is lying in that it is saying it has the legal right to be at a system’s door and to enter. The intent of the intrusion can be manifold and can include violations of other moral compass points (theft, murder, etc.). Regulating AI is needed regardless of which country “wins.” However, it must be recognized that the battle is unending because AI systems, robots, etc. cannot be implanted with a true moral compass, which can only come from God to humans.

An article in the newspaper on Sept. 14 states that President Donald Trump is asking President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine to stop bombing Russian refineries and that there are “plenty of other targets.” Trump claims that the cause of the global oil shortage is these Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil and gas refineries. Has he forgotten that he himself started a war with Iran this past February and that the Iranian war is causing a gigantic bottleneck in the Strait of Hormuz? That global shipping of oil and all other products is being severely delayed due to his war with Iran? Instead of asking the president of Ukraine, which has been defending itself against Russian aggression for four-plus years, to stop bombing Russian refineries, shouldn’t he be asking or insisting that Russia stop its unjust war with Ukraine? Shouldn’t he be spending more time and effort to stop the war that he and Israel started with Iran?

JEAN DUPAS Metairie

Comic strip reacts without a thought “Mallard Fillmore” for 9/11: Never think. Just react, insult and smear.

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COMMENTARY If the Kennedy Center stays closed for now, so be it Go ahead, President Donald Trump, keep the Kennedy Center closed. Don’t give it money for necessary repairs. This is low-hanging fruit for Americans done with your extortion schemes. They don’t have to submit to smallbore intimidation like this. They can just shrug at the demand that your name, with words of gratitude, be placed on the building’s facade. To use a different metaphor, they have bigger ﬁsh to fry. The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is suffering serious structural damage. Some believe the Washington cultural Froma center can remain open Harrop while necessary repairs are made. Trump and his hand-picked Kennedy Center board say that it must stay closed while the place undergoes renovations. The bigger holdup stems from a recent federal court decision that stops the board from inscribing the building’s portico with “renovated and restored by Donald J. Trump.” As Judge Christopher Cooper put it, “Defendants cannot install memorials for President Trump or anyone or anything else at the Kennedy Center without Congress’s blessing.” Trump vows to appeal that ruling, and if he doesn’t get his way, take the matter to the U.S. Supreme Court. Trump further warns that no money will be forthcoming for the necessary ﬁxes until he gets what he wants. When it comes to Trump’s campaign of disruption, you don’t always have to oppose his preferred outcome. The Kennedy Center put on performances that one may or may not agree with politically, or that didn’t seem political at all. In any case, America has hundreds of major performing-arts centers plus hundreds of streaming channels offering symphony, concerts, opera, dance and theater. The republic won’t buckle if a cultural center in Washington, or elsewhere, is shuttered. This happens all the time during normal renovations. For this reason, the Kennedy Center

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By JACQUELyN MARTIN

A sign directs people away from behind the Kennedy Center, which has been fenced off and closed to the public in Washington. is an ideal place to lose a battle in service of winning a war. Real Americans should not have to submit to Trump’s mob talk, his warped need for domination and craving for attention. When he forces these behavior patterns on a real war, Americans must deal with it as best they can. But if Americans are willing to lose a battle to win a larger war, this ﬁght over naming the Kennedy Center is a good battle to lose. Why has Trump chosen to bully a cultural center? There are several explanations. The easy one is that he is not well in the head. Another is that he regards the American experiment as a grand stage for product placement, of himself. A third is that he simply enjoys humiliating others. But there’s a fourth big reason, and it explains other seemingly goofball crusades he’s gone on. Trump needs to change the subject. From what? From a mismanaged economy straining under high interest rates. From inﬂation made worse by his tariff tax. From a massive federal debt now accounting

for 101% of GDP. From a war with Iran that is not going well. And, oh yes, the Epstein files. What better way to send the nation’s attention into left field than by insulting our former best friends, the Canadians. That’s a bigger crisis, but facilitating the closure of the Kennedy Center fits right in as a headline grabber. Once Trump is gone, one hopes the next president will undo some of the cultural as well as diplomatic damage. An easy start would be ripping up the pavement Trump had installed in the Rose Garden where grass used to be. Take away the tables, chairs and striped umbrellas, too. The Rose Garden functions as a ceremonial space where presidents would make important announcements. It’s not supposed to be a poolside lounging area. Let’s count the days. Froma Harrop is on X, @FromaHarrop. Email her at fharrop@gmail.com.

S.C. has an alternative to Darline Graham KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. — This state’s resi10% of earners pay 70% of federal income taxes.) dents can be droll about their ample In this year of an inconclusive war, a self-regard, as when they say: By flowing into Charleston Harbor, the Ashley soaring deficit and stubborn inflation, many Republican candidates seem and Cooper rivers create the Atlantic most worried about transgender Ocean. In November, South matters. Graham, emulating the Carolinians’ choice of their rhetorical style of her presidential next U.S. senator will inpatron, wrote in a Fox News op-ed dicate whether their pride that Andrews is “the worst pediatriabout their independence still endures. cian in the country” because she They threatened seces“supports turning confused little George boys into little girls and vice versa.” sion in 1828 over what Will Andrews, who opposes gender surthey called Washington’s “tariff of abominations” gery on minors, says such surgery that raised the price of imports and has never occurred in South Carolina. threatened their export-based agriGraham also said, “I believe boys have no place in girls’ sports.” In the cultural economy. In 1860, this was context of her Fox screed, this falsely the first state to vote for secession. suggested that Andrews disagrees. The Civil War’s first shots were fired Graham seems oblivious of what the here. This year, South Carolinians can demonstrate political independence by Constitution’s Framers intended when electing Democrat Annie Andrews. She they stipulated that a senator must be at least 30, five years older than a member is a 45-year-old mother of three and of the House of Representatives. This, a pediatrician who likes children and and six-year terms, and selection (until wants to be in the U.S. Senate. 1913) by state legislators, were proviWhen Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham died in July, the governor appoint- sions intended to increase the probed his sister, Darline Graham, to finish ability that senators would be mature, his term. When she decided to seek the and insulated from transitory gusts of Republican nomination for a full term, public opinion. The Framers wanted President Donald Trump endorsed to encourage senatorial independence, her, so she won the primary despite buttressing the separation of powers by a cringeworthy debate performance. encouraging the legislative branch to Asked about Taiwan, she said: “I’m not counterbalance the executive. that informed on national security.” Graham promises she will not be senAndrews has graduated from mediatorial, as the Framers understood that adjective. She expresses unshakable cal school, so she knows what it is to know things, and how dangerous it can faith in Trump’s Iran war, his tariffs and everything else: “I will have Presibe to get things wrong. She is not a political rookie, having unsuccessfully dent Trump’s back 100%.” run for Congress in 2022. She pleases So, of course Graham wants all illegal her party’s base by being displeased immigrants deported “immediately.” with pharmaceutical companies and Her state might immediately miss a what she considers insufficiently sesignificant portion of its immigrant population, which makes up 6% of vere taxation of the wealthy. (The top

South Carolinians, accounts for 7.7% of the state’s labor force and pays $3.5 billion in state taxes. Thanks partly to Charleston’s busy port, South Carolina now has a manufacturing economy, many of whose products are exported. The president’s tariff ﬁxation provokes other nations’ retaliations, disrupts trade ﬂows and injures this state. Volvo, Mercedes and BMW are among the more than 1,100 international operations in the state. Five foreign tire companies producing more than 100,000 tires a day in South Carolina account for almost a third of all U.S. tire exports. South Carolina is as red as the cheeks of a blushing Senate candidate should be when the candidate promises to serve passively as an enabler of presidential whims. No Democratic Senate candidate in South Carolina has come within eight points of winning in this century. By taking Lindsey Graham’s sister away from her admirable work advocating for people with disabilities, the president is proclaiming that he can do whatever he wants. And he expresses a disdain for the Senate, as well as for South Carolina. Today’s president, like many of his predecessors, but more than any, aggrandizes his power by maximizing the abject subordination of his entire party. It is perhaps too much to hope that today’s South Carolina might spurn a Senate candidate too servile to secede from Donald Trump’s domination. Still, come November, hope for evidence that South Carolina, which historically has been so truculent about its independence, has actually exercised it. Email George Will at georgewill@ washpost.com.

Donald Trump, inflation and the midterms Recently, the Commerce Department released inflation figures for August, and what they showed was ... more of the same. The yearover-year inflation rate last month was 3.4%, a rate unchanged from July, and one many analysts call “stubbornly high.” For President Donald Trump, it’s a stubborn problem. Trump campaigned on a promise to bring down inflation, and millions of Americans voted for him to do just that. When Trump took office in January 2025, the rate stood at 3%. It dipped in Trump’s first few Byron months, hitting 2.3% in April York 2025. But it later rose, and now, after Trump has been in office 19 months, it is 3.4% in the new report. The bottom line is that Trump has not brought down the rate of inflation. Of course, as many Trump supporters will point out, a 3.4% annual rate is wonderful compared to the worst inflation of the Joe Biden era. In June 2022, inflation hit 9.1%, a rate not seen since the bad old days of Jimmy Carter. But with the Federal Reserve raising interest rates, the annual rate fell to 6.4% in January 2023 and then kept falling, hitting 3% in June 2023. It stayed in that range for the rest of Biden’s presidency. So Trump inherited an inflation rate of 3%. It’s fair to say that many Trump supporters expected inflation to be lower by now. One of the main drivers keeping that from happening has been Trump’s tariffs, which, while they have had less negative effect on the economy than many hysterical reports at the time predicted, have still raised some prices. Another, of course, is Trump’s decision to launch the Iran war, now in its seventh month, which has caused a big rise in energy prices. The president has made several statements that indicate he is quite sensitive to the connection between the war and gas prices. At a campaign rally in Garden City, New York, last month, he made a frank appeal for more patience. “So I just say this, for you to pay a tiny little bit more for your gasoline, just remember, you’re doing it so that a very evil country cannot have — a country, really, it’s the No. 1 state sponsor of terror in the world. We don’t want them to have a nuclear weapon. So remember that, when you have to pay a little bit more. You’re at $4 [a gallon]. It’s OK. I mean, it’s — I’m not — I’m not, I’ll never apologize. I did the right thing, but you could — you know if you didn’t have [the war] you’d be at, I mean, I had it down to below $2 in many states.” At the Republican midterm convention in Dallas, Trump predicted that the war will end “immediately after the election.” And that, he added, means gas prices will go down then, too. “Shortly, but right after the election, because they’d like to have it that way, but right after the election, oil prices are going to be tumbling downward,” Trump said. “They’re going to be tumbling down and we’ll get them down, I think, for gasoline. We’ll get them below $2 a gallon, but not until after the midterms. I think it’s going to take a little bit longer than the midterms.” As with previous inflation reports, energy is by far the main problem for prices in the new CPI report. The price of gasoline was up 27.4% in August over the year before, while fuel oil was up 52% in the same period. Other products were up, but at a far lower rate: fruits and vegetables, 3.2%; nonalcoholic beverages, 3.7%; full-service restaurant meals, 3.5%, and more. Some portion of those increases, of course, is attributable to higher energy costs. The midterm elections are weeks away, and with the president himself predicting the Iran war will last until after the voting, it seems clear that energy prices will continue to be a problem for Trump and the Republican Party. And that is on top of the reality that a majority of American voters already disapproves of the war and Trump’s handling of it. It could add up to a tough midterm experience for Republicans. In his main address to the GOP midterm convention, Trump placed a lot of the blame for inflation on Democratic green energy programs. “Our predecessors killed and buried the American Dream with trillions of dollars in waste and green energy scams, the greatest scams in American history — green energy,” Trump said. “Every country that’s gone green is down the tubes, you do know that. But it caused prices to skyrocket. They used the word affordability, right? It’s fake. They are so fake, because it was them that caused the affordability, to use their word, crisis. And I’m bringing the prices way down, way, way down. They caused the prices, but we’re fixing it.” Perhaps — but not, it appears, in time for the midterms. Email Byron York at byork@washingtonexaminer.com

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6B ✦ Monday, September 21, 2026 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

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with meteorologist Damon Singleton

TODAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

An afternoon thunderstorm

A t-storm around in the p.m.

Partly sunny and warm

Mostly sunny and humid

Intervals of bright sunshine

HIGH

LOW

94° 76°

LOW

93° 78°

LOW

93° 77°

Beaumont 94/75 Port Arthur 93/75

Baton Rouge 95/72

Lake Charles 94/74

New Orleans 94/76 Houma 90/72

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

Hattiesburg 97/72

Alexandria 97/71

Lafayette 95/73

10s

20s

30s

40s

50s

HIGH

88° 73°

LOW

89° 74°

60s

70s

80s

90s 100s 110s

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

YESTERDAY

Sunrise today Sunset tonight Moonrise today Moonset today

SEP 26

City

Atlanta Austin Boston Charlotte Chicago Dallas Denver Houston Las Vegas

PRECIPITATION

90°/75° 88°/73° 94°/71° 96° in 2015 52° in 1981

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

FULL

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

LOW

TEMPERATURE Jackson 97/70

Many 97/69

HIGH

New Orleans through 5 p.m. Sunday

Longview 97/72

-0s

91° 76°

Monroe 97/72

Shreveport 97/73

-10s

LOW

Today, expect a mostly sunny, hot and humid day with a light breeze. Temperatures this afternoon will rise to the low to mid-90s. The dewpoint temperatures are higher, so the humidity will be greater today than it’s been all weekend. Because humidity is high, heat index values could rise to 105 or greater. Our heat risk is also on the rise. We are all under either a major or moderate heat risk. There is also a 20 to 30% chance of rain this afternoon, so you may want to grab the umbrella.

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

HIGH

4:28p 10:16a 4:14a 5:57a 6:08a 5:27a 7:16a

6:49 a.m. 6:59 p.m. 4:11 p.m. 1:48 a.m.

LAST

NEW

OCT 3

92 97 65 93 64 95 74 95 93

TODAY Lo

72 73 55 70 56 75 53 75 71

FIRST

OCT 10

t t c t sh t s pc t

OCT 18

91 98 61 82 64 94 79 96 91

TUE. Lo

71 72 54 64 57 74 57 76 73

t t c t c s t s s

FT.

LOW

0.00” 6.31” 3.78” 50.60” 49.63”

FT.

HIGH

0.8 3:50a 0.2 1.9 10:09p 0.4 2.2 5:44p 0.5 2.1 9:44p 0.5 1.5 5:43p 0.3 1.8 3:58p 0.4 1.8 6:45p 0.4

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FT.

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MODERATE

READING 77 MAIN POLLUTANT Ozone

MAIN POLLUTANT Ozone

SOURCE: LOUISIANA DEQ AND AIRNOW.GOV

LOW

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FT.

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The solunar period schedule allows planning days so you will be fishing in good territory or hunting in good cover during those times. Major periods begin at the times shown and last for 1.5 to 2 hours. The minor periods are shorter. MAJOR MINOR MAJOR MINOR

Today 7:52a Tuesday 8:35a Wednesday 9:16a Thursday 9:56a Friday 10:36a Saturday 11:19a Sunday 12:06p

City

Los Angeles 79 Miami 88 Nashville 96 New york City 68 Philadelphia 71 Phoenix 101 St. Louis 75 San Francisco 70 Seattle 68

1:40a 8:16p 2:23a 8:59p 3:05a 9:39p 3:45a 10:18p 4:25a 10:58p 5:07a 11:41p 5:54a ----

TODAY Lo

65 76 70 56 60 80 62 58 55

pc t t c c s t pc c

TODAY

MODERATE

81 87 84 62 64 101 70 69 68

2:04p 2:47p 3:27p 4:07p 4:47p 5:30p 6:17p

TUE. Lo

65 77 65 54 55 83 57 56 51

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

s t t r r s c pc pc

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

SUN. 24-HOUR STAGE CHANGE

-0.40 14.90 17.90 6.00 3.80 3.00 3.20

+0.10 +0.69 +0.40 -0.10 -0.20 +0.02 -0.14

13.72

-2.32

-1.57

+0.01

18 29 8

-1.26 9.84 2.72

-0.01 -0.04 -0.24

13 15

1.46 0.67

-0.02 -0.07

47 34 29 20 12 6

6.09 4.15 3.20 3.35 3.20 2.03

-0.22 -0.17 +0.31 -0.12 +0.30 none

data as of 7 a.m. Sunday

ONE great state Scan to download

Scan to download

FOUR great apps

Scan to download

KKiffin glad LSU-Ole Miss game is in past, looks to move on, Page 2C OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

SPORTS

N O L A.C O M

M o n d ay, S e p t e M b e r 21, 2026

SAINTS

RAVENS

1Cn

COMEBACK SAUCE RECORD: 1-1 UP NEXT: VS. RAIDERS, 3:25 P.M. SUNDAy, CBS

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By NICK WASS

Saints wide receiver Chris Olave celebrates his touchdown reception with teammates in the second half against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday in Baltimore. The Saints rallied to beat the Ravens 24-17.

Shough delivers more fourth-quarter heroics — and a win over Baltimore BY LUKE JOHNSON

Staff writer

BALTIMORE — The nickname coaches bestowed upon Tyler Shough this week was supposed to land with a wink and a nod, like a good-natured poke in the ribs. They called him “Poor Man,” referencing Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver calling Shough a “poor man’s Josh Allen.” Weaver meant it as a compliment, comparing Shough to an NFL MVP. Everybody, Shough included, understood that. But, just maybe, there was a little bit of a there there. An unintended slight. “I know what he meant by it; obviously (Allen) is an elite player,” Shough said. “But it ﬁres me up.” Weaver is certainly familiar with the New Orleans Saints quarter-

back’s game now. Shough carried the Saints to a thrilling fourth-quarter comeback, leading his team to a 24-17 win against one of the NFL’s premier teams on the road. It was the second consecutive week that Shough provided some magic late in the game, except this one came with a real victory instead of a moral one. To be clear, Shough did not go at it alone. The comeback was only viable because of the contributions throughout the roster and coaching staff. The New Orleans defense clamped down after an up-and-down ﬁrst half and delivered the winning play in the game’s closing moments when Julian Blackmon intercepted former NFL MVP Lamar Jackson. Special teams decidedly went in New Orleans’ favor,

NFL official explains QB Shough’s controversial touchdown call, Page 6C

ä See SHOUGH, page 7C

Saints get signature win over Ravens, provide optimism for 2026 BALTIMORE — The New Orleans Saints dug themselves out of it. This time they finished the job, stunning the silenced some noise Sunday. Ravens 24-17 to earn the biggest vicThey silenced, at least for a week, the skeptics who weren’t so tory of the Kellen Moore-Tyler sure if second-year coach KelShough era. This could be a defining moment in the Moorelen Moore has his team pointShough era, one of those wins ed in the right direction. you look back on years from And they silenced the “white now and talk about how it noise,” which is what the Balchanged everything. That’s timore Ravens called their Rod what can happen when you go home opener. Walker on the road and get a signature But the story of this game win over a team that will be in wasn’t the white that the Rathe Super Bowl mix. vens and their fans wore at “I think this game reaffirms everyM&T Bank Stadium. This game was all about the white thing that we thought and believed,” flag that these 2026 Saints simply said Saints guard David Edwards. refuse to wave, even when times get “It’s never going to be perfect. But if tough. you continue to play and don’t worry For the second straight week, the about the score or the circumstances Saints dug themselves into a deep and you just keep playing, good hole. ä See WALKER, page 6C For the second straight week, they

Jeff Duncan’s three takeaways from New Orleans’ win in Baltimore, Page 7C

Saints’ defense keeps QB Jackson, Ravens in check, Page 7C

2C ✦ Monday, September 21, 2026 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

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BROADCAST HIGHLIGHTS On TV

MEN’S COLLEGE SOCCER 6 p.m. Washington at Ohio St. MLB 8:45 p.m. Minnesota at San Francisco

BTN MLBN

NFL 7:15 p.m. N.y. Giants at L.A. Rams TENNIS 10 p.m. Billie Jean King Cup; WTA 5 a.m. (Tue.) Billie Jean King Cup; WTA

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6 p.m.

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NHL PRESEASON Montreal vs. Ottawa WNBA Atlanta at New york Dallas at Phoenix

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Kiffin glad Ole Miss game is in past BY JON BLAU

Staff writer

The opening three weeks of LSU’s season layered anticipation upon anticipation. The debut of Lane Kiffin and a rumored $50 million roster versus Clemson was quickly followed by the coach’s return to Ole Miss. Never mind the off-the-field drama involving Jayden Daniels’ No. 5, the legal battle surrounding a couple of “ex-pros” Kiffin wanted to add and the Southeastern Conference’s threat of expulsion that came with it. “It feels like we’ve already played a season with so much emotion on the games, the first and third games and all the stuff,” Kiffin said after a 32-24 loss to the now-No. 4 Rebels. “Now we’re right back to where we’ve always been and have eight SEC games to play.” There was pain and regret Saturday after the now-No. 10 Tigers dropped a much-hyped conference opener, falling to Kiffin’s former quarterback, Trinidad Chambliss, and losing tight end Trey’Dez Green and safety Dashawn Spears to injuries during the game. The first three weeks of the season consumed a year’s worth of oxygen, but LSU now catches its breath with Texas A&M slated to visit Tiger Stadium this coming Saturday. “I’m kind of glad that the week’s over,” Kiffin added Sunday in a teleconference with reporters. “There’s two really good teams. I’m sure it was a really enjoyable college football game for people to watch.” There are unknowns moving forward to Week 4 because Kiffin wouldn’t comment on when Green and Spears might be back, though CBS Sports quickly reported Spears is out for the year with an ACL tear. There have also been inconsistencies in quarterback Sam Leavitt’s throwing accuracy and antsy feet, but Kiffin distributes some of that blame to LSU’s offensive line. “We’ve got to play better around him,” he added. “We’ve got to protect him better.” This is still a transfer-laden squad, especially on the offense,

Associated Press

Ole Miss moved into the top five with its win over LSU, the Tigers stayed in the top 10, and Florida and Mississippi State cracked the rankings to give the Southeastern Conference 10 teams in The Associated Press Top 25 college football poll released Sunday. The Rebels, who held off Lane Kiffin and LSU 32-24 on Saturday night, jumped over the Tigers and three other teams to land at No. 4 for their first top-five ranking since they were No. 3 in the final poll last season. LSU slipped three spots to No. 10. Texas was No. 1 for the second straight week and followed by Georgia, Notre Dame, Ole Miss and Indiana. Miami, Ohio State, Alabama, BYU and LSU completed the top 10. The Longhorns followed up their win over Ohio State with a solid 30-6 victory over UTSA and topped the ballots of 58 of the 69 media members on the Top 25 voting panel. Indiana got four firstplace votes, Georgia and Ole Miss three apiece and Miami one. Louisville was the biggest gainer, rising seven spots to No. 16 after its 41-31 victory over SMU, which dropped six rungs to No. 22. Texas A&M took the biggest fall, going from No. 9 to No. 23 after its 31-21 home loss to unranked Kentucky. This week’s Top 25 marked the seventh time in the poll’s history the SEC has had at least 10 teams ranked in a regular-season poll. The SEC had a record 11 ranked teams in back-to-back polls last September.

HOUSTON — The Atlanta Braves clinched their seventh NL East championship in nine years on Sunday with a 4-2 win over the Astros, and celebrated with hugs and a team photo in championship hats and T-shirts. Mike Yastrzemski hit a threerun homer during a four-run sixth inning to give the Braves the lead. After Dylan Dodd struck out the side in the ninth to clinch the title, the team ran onto the field to celebrate. Under first-year manager Walt Weiss, the Braves have rebounded after missing the playoffs last season with a disappointing 76-86 record and fourth-place finish in the division, snapping a streak of seven straight playoff appearances that included six consecutive NL East titles from 2018-23.

Red Sox clinch playoff berth with huge comeback

STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

LSU cornerback DJ Pickett, left, walks off the field following a loss to Ole Miss on Saturday at Vaught Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Miss. which has a chance to come together and play its best football toward the end of the season. The next few weeks will offer LSU a chance to regain momentum. The Aggies just lost 31-21 in College Station, Texas, to Kentucky. Then McNeese leads into a trip to Lexington, Kentucky. October closes out with a couple of opponents that are more difficult to read: No. 24 Mississippi State, which just won a 41-34 shootout with South Carolina, and Auburn, which recently dropped a 44-39 result to No. 21 Florida. Then there is a bye week to rest for possibly the most consequential stretch of the season, home games versus Alabama and Texas and a trip to Tennessee. That could determine whether LSU makes the College Football Playoff. “There’s a lot of football left,” Kifﬁn said. “Go back home next week and get a win.” To win, LSU’s defense has to get back to creating negative plays and getting quarterbacks on the ground, which was exceedingly difﬁcult against Chambliss.

The Tigers had 23 tackles for loss and 12 sacks in their ﬁrst two games; they managed just three TFLs and two sacks against Ole Miss. “I said to our staff, ‘You’re gonna play a 24-year-old that the ﬁrst guy never tackles.’ That’d be like putting (Bears QB) Caleb Williams back (in college) and having to defend him … and I’m not sure I wouldn’t rather go against Caleb, no disrespect to him. “There’s so many plays in the game where you’re like, ‘Man, we got a great call. There’s someone free, there’s someone there.’ He just runs around and makes some third-down, amazing plays.” Even if Texas A&M lost to Kentucky, the now-No. 23 Aggies have a scrambling quarterback, Marcel Reed, who can create issues with his legs. He isn’t a Chambliss-level passer, completing just under 60% of his passes for 632 yards through three games. A season ago, Reed ran 13 times for a season-high 108 yards on LSU in a 49-25 win in Tiger Stadium that spurred Brian

Kelly’s ouster. Kiffin has other issues to navigate, including Green and Spears’ absences, Leavitt’s inconsistencies as a passer and the offensive line’s up-and-down play protecting him. In Leavitt’s case, Kiffin said the quarterback missed LSU’s thirddown, red-zone practice day with whatever injury had him listed as “doubtful” midweek for the Ole Miss game. “The timing of those routes,” Kiffin said. “I believe that practice matters.” The offensive line appears to be a greater concern, because Kiffin believes Leavitt was affected by the pressure he faced early and started scrambling more. “Sam really was competitive, made some great plays running around and trying to will the comeback and everything,” Kiffin said. “We’ve been off in the passing game now at the beginning of both games.” Email Jon Blau at jon.blau@ theadvocate.com

SEC tallies 10 teams in AP Top 25 poll BY ERIC OLSON

Braves clinch seventh NL East title in nine years

AP TOP 25 POLL Record Pts Prv 1. Texas (58) 3-0 1706 1 2. Georgia (3) 3-0 1580 2 3. Notre Dame 3-0 1517 3 4. Ole Miss (3) 3-0 1488 8 5. Indiana (4) 3-0 1467 4 6. Miami (FL) (1) 3-0 1445 5 7. Ohio State 2-1 1415 6 8. Alabama 3-0 1182 10 9. BYU 3-0 1090 11 10. LSU 2-1 1078 7 11. Texas Tech 3-0 1067 13 12. USC 4-0 907 12 13. Penn State 3-0 850 14 14. Tennessee 3-0 826 15 15. Utah 3-0 752 17 16. Louisville 2-1 692 23 17. Iowa 3-0 561 18 18. Michigan 3-0 432 19 19. Missouri 3-0 369 20 20. Oregon 2-1 364 21 21. Florida 3-0 269 NR 22. SMU 2-1 212 16 23. Texas A&M 2-1 202 9 24. Mississippi State 3-0 179 NR 25. Houston 2-1 127 22 Others receiving votes: Washington 107, Kentucky 98, West Virginia 93, Oklahoma 91, Oklahoma State 50, Boise State 48, Virginia Tech 46, Western Michigan 27, Duke 20, Tulsa 18, Arizona 12, Pittsburgh 10, UCLA 10, James Madison 7, North Dakota State 6, Kansas State 3, Nebraska 2

44-39 road win over Auburn. The Gators are 3-0 for the first time since 2019 under first-year coach Jon Sumrall, formerly head coach at Tulane, and in the Top 25 for the first time since Sept. 2, 2025. No. 24 Mississippi State is in the Top 25 for the first time since 2022, when its coach was Mike Leach. That team was No. 20 in the final poll. Jeff Lebby’s Bulldogs, led by rising star quarterback Kamario Taylor, has won back-to-back road games for the first time since 2014, erasing a 16-point deficit to beat South Carolina 41-34. Oklahoma struggled offensively for a second straight game in its 14-6 win over New Mexico and went from No. 24 to out of the Top 25. Virginia, which had been No. 25 two straight weeks, was knocked out after losing 38-27 to West Virginia.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By ROGELIO V. SOLIS

Ole Miss offensive lineman Enoch Wangoy, left, and defensive tackle Jehiem Oatis carry the Magnolia Bowl trophy after their team’s win over LSU on Saturday in Oxford, Miss. ranked in 100 straight Top 25s, third among active streaks behind Alabama’s 299 and Georgia’s 152. The Buckeyes have their lowest ranking since Dec. 1, 2024. n No. 9 BYU hadn’t been ranked in the top 10 so early in a season since 2009. n No. 24 Mississippi State has its highest September ranking since it was No. 23 on Sept. 23, 2018. That doesn’t include a No. 16 ranking on Sept. 27, 2020, when the Big Ten was not yet playing because of the pandemic.

Conference call

SEC (10 ranked teams): No. 1 Texas, No. 2 Georgia, No. 4 Mississippi, No. 8 Alabama, No. 10 LSU, No. 14 Tennessee, No. 19 Missouri, No. 21 Florida, No. 23 Texas A&M, No. 24 Mississippi State. Big Ten (7): No. 5 Indiana, No. 7 In and out Ohio State, No. 12 USC, No. 13 Penn State, No. 17 Iowa, No. 18 No. 21 Florida made its season Poll points n No. 7 Ohio State has been Michigan, No. 20 Oregon. debut in the rankings following a

Big 12 (4): No. 9 BYU, No. 11 Texas Tech, No. 15 Utah, No. 25 Houston. ACC (3): No. 6 Miami, No. 16 Louisville, No. 22 SMU. Independent (1): No. 3 Notre Dame.

Ranked vs. ranked No. 1 Texas at No. 14 Tennessee: First meeting since the 1969 Cotton Bowl. No. 4 Mississippi at No. 21 Florida: Kewan Lacy ran for 224 yards and three touchdowns in the Rebels’ come-from-behind win last year. Will Lacy be healthy for this one? No. 17 Iowa at No. 18 Michigan: Iowa’s 111 points through three games are its most since 2003. No. 19 Missouri at No. 24 Mississippi State: Bulldogs go for their ﬁrst 2-0 SEC start since 2014. No. 20 Oregon at No. 12 Southern California: Ducks playing for a fifth straight win in the series. No. 23 Texas A&M at No. 10 LSU: Aggies look to win two straight years at Death Valley.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — As the Boston Red Sox celebrated an improbable postseason berth at Tropicana Field, with Champagne and beer flowing all around, the clubhouse soundtrack seemed appropriate. “Stayin’ Alive.” The Red Sox were 32-46 and 15 1/2 games back in the AL East race on June 24. They have since gone 52-25. The Red Sox lost 5-1 to the Tampa Bay Rays in their series finale, so couldn’t take care of things themselves. But about an hour after the game finished, the Houston Astros lost 4-2 to the Atlanta Braves, allowing the Red Sox to secure a wild-card spot. Interim manager Chad Tracy was in place for much of the turnaround. Since being appointed on April 26 following the dismissal of Alex Cora, the Red Sox have gone 74-55.

Cubs 3B Bregman taken to hospital after ball hits face

CINCINNATI — Chicago Cubs third baseman Alex Bregman was taken to the hospital for tests after being struck in the face by a foul ball while standing in the grass several feet in front of the on-deck circle during Sunday’s game against the Cincinnati Reds. There was no decision yet on whether the former LSU star, who was going for X-rays and CT scans, would travel with the team back to Chicago after its 9-1 win. “He got hit in the left cheekbone essentially, under the eye,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “I don’t know anything more than that right now. He was bleeding from his nose a little. There’s some swelling. It’s a terrible, terrible accident. We hope he’s OK.”

Miles breaks Clark’s WNBA record for points by rookie

UNCASVILLE, Conn. — Olivia Miles broke Caitlin Clark’s WNBA record for points by a rookie in a season on Sunday in the Minnesota Lynx’s 101-89 victory over the Connecticut Sun. Miles, who finished with 21 points, was tied with Clark at 769 points coming into the game and moved atop the list when she made a free throw in the second quarter. The Lynx rookie came into the game averaging 19.7 points, 6.0 assists and 4.7 rebounds, and was a big reason the team had the best record in the WNBA. Miles and Clark both accomplished their feats in 40 games. The Lynx star also became the fastest rookie to reach 350 points, 100 rebounds and 100 assists in her career, doing it in 21 games — one quicker than Clark and former Charlotte Sting guard Andrea Stinson.

Pulisic scores first goal of season with AC Milan

MILAN — U.S. star Christian Pulisic made his ﬁrst start and scored his ﬁrst goal of the season with AC Milan on Sunday. Pulisic scored in the 14th minute to help lead Milan to a 3-0 home win over Lecce in the Italian league. Pulisic had made two other appearances with Milan this season in all competitions, coming off the bench in both at halftime. Pulisic’s last goal for Milan had been in December in a league win over Verona. “It hasn’t been an easy year,” he told DAZN. “I’m happy about the goal today, but right now all that matters is to keep winning.”

The Times-Picayune ✦ nola.com ✦ Monday, September 21, 2026 ✦ 3C

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Tulane defense struggling Aside from Heisman QB, Rebels with futility on third down candidate are good but not elite BY GUERRY SMITH Contributing writer

Chief among Tulane’s concerns as its Oct. 10 American Conference opener approaches is a thirddown defense that has suffered third-degree burns through three games. Remarkably, Kansas State’s 10of-16 success rate on third downs in its 31-20 win on Saturday was a carbon copy of South Alabama’s numbers a week earlier. Those two games came after Duke converted on third-and-9, third-and-6, thirdand-12, third-and-7 and third-and-6 consecutively on the first drive of the season. Tulane’s opponents are 26 of 50 (52%) on third downs. Only Ohio (.591) and Northern Illinois (.615) have allowed a higher percentage out of 138 FBS teams. The lack of a cupcake on the schedule is a factor in the thirddown trouble. Duke, South Alabama and Kansas State are 6-0 in their games not involving the Wave. Blue Devils running back Nate Sheppard leads the FBS with 528 yards rushing. South Alabama quarterback Bishop Davenport is a fifth-year senior and secondyear starter who did damage last season, too, against the playoffbound Wave. Third-year Kansas State quarterback Avery Johnson holds the school record for career touchdown passes and is a better runner than thrower. “I do want to give Avery Johnson a lot of credit,” Tulane coach Will Hall said. “Great player. Been great for a long time. He made some crucial plays.” Johnson scrambled for 6 yards to convert a third-and-5 to keep Kansas State’s first touchdown drive alive before the Wildcats went ahead for good, 10-7, with 5:19 left in the second quarter. He hit wide receiver Jaron Tibbs for 10 yards on a crossing pattern at midfield to convert a third-and-6 as the Wildcats drove for a touchdown that made the score 24-10 and pretty much assured coach Collin Klein would have a happy 37th birthday. Two weeks earlier, Sheppard converted two of Duke’s long third downs with slithery runs as Tulane repeatedly failed to bring him down. The Wave had no answer for Johnson, who shattered

Ole Miss won the Lane Kifﬁn Bowl, Kentucky pulled off the upset of the week and Louisville continues to impress. Here is my AP Top 25 poll after Week 3 of the college football season.

My latest AP Top 25 poll

STAFF PHOTO By ENAN CHEDIAK

South Alabama quarterback Bishop Davenport runs with the ball against Tulane safety Kevin Adams during Tulane’s home opener on Sept. 12 at yulman Stadium. In three games so far, the Wave has had difficulty stopping teams on third down. his career high with 152 yards on 12 attempts. Tackling him was not a huge issue. Touching him was the problem, as he repeatedly broke containment to get outside. “They are a really good team,” Hall said. “My hat’s off to them and coach Klein. They play football the right way. They play great complementary football. That’s why going into this game they dismantled both of their opponents. We had our opportunities to make it closer than it was but didn’t make the plays to do it, and I certainly accept responsibility for that.” The true test will be how Tulane (1-2) performs against the nonPower 4 teams that make up the rest of the schedule. Struggling Southern Miss (1-2), which has lost 43-8 to Auburn and 48-20 to Connecticut in its past two games, is up next at Yulman Stadium. The Wave then travels to Army, which converted more than 40% of its third downs in each of the past two years. Hall saw some positive signs against Kansas State. Although the Wildcats keyed on Jaylin Lucas, limiting him to negative-2 yards on four carries coming off a 214-yard explosion against South Alabama,

running back mates Maurice Turner and Johnnie Daniels combined for 123 yards on 17 carries against a stout defense. Kansas State’s tandem of Rodney Fields and Joe Jackson, which accounted for 312 yards against Nicholls and Washington State, managed only 42 yards on 19 attempts Saturday. Klein credited Tulane with keeping his defense off balance early by running more option than expected, including quarterback Kadin Semonza’s 9-yard keeper after faking a pitch to cap a seven-play, 90-yard touchdown drive in the ﬁrst quarter. “They were in some unbalanced formations with a zone read, twoback game,” Klein said. “Some of the ﬁt structure there was unique. It was good stuff, and we lost some of our edges.” None of those pluses will matter if Tulane continues to play D-minus third-down defense. “Number one, we’ve got to win our one-on-one in the trenches when we’re getting hatted up,” Hall said. “We’ve got to win oneon-one and get off blocks better. We’ve got to restrict space better. We may have to put our DBs more in one-on-one situations to get another hat down there to do that.”

LSU TE Green gets positive news on injured right knee BY REED DARCEY Staff writer

It looked like LSU tight end Trey’Dez Green may have suffered a serious injury on Saturday in a loss to Ole Miss. But the star junior appears to have avoided the worst-case scenario. Green’s mother said in a Facebook post on Sunday that her son did not suffer any ligament damage in his right knee and that he will not need to undergo surgery. Green, she said, will miss “some games” with “some bad sprains and bruises,” though coach Lane Kifﬁn did not provide a timetable for his return when he talked to reporters in a conference call on Sunday. Kiffin did not provide an update on starting defensive back Dashawn Spears, either. But 247Sports reported on Sunday that he will miss the rest of the season after suffering a torn ACL when an LSU defender was blocked into his left leg early in the second quarter of the Ole Miss loss. “We don’t know that for sure yet or comment on that this early in the week,” Kifﬁn said. “Both guys, obviously, didn’t return. They’re both on crutches, so not ideal, that’s for sure.” Green, a star junior, suffered the injury early in the fourth quarter of the Tigers’ 32-24 loss to Ole Miss. He caught a pass from quarterback Sam Leavitt, ran 19 yards, took a hard hit and fell to the ground in pain. Once trainers helped him to his feet, he couldn’t put much weight on his right leg. Green’s injury will force LSU to play at least the next few games without Leavitt’s top target. Now, the Tigers will have to turn to Oregon transfer Zach Grace, Pittsburgh transfer Malachi Thomas and Troy transfer Roman Mothershed at tight end. All three entered the game on Saturday after Green was hurt. Grace, a

STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

LSU tight end Trey’Dez Green runs after making a catch against Ole Miss in the fourth quarter on Saturday in Oxford, Miss.

blocking specialist, nearly caught a touchdown that would’ve moved LSU within a two-point conversion of tying the game in the waning seconds of regulation. In August, Kiffin and his staff recently tried to shore up their tight end depth by recruiting Dae’Quan Wright, a former Ole Miss tight end who was cut from the Cleveland Browns’ training camp roster this preseason. Wright sued to obtain a fifth year of eligibility and practiced with the Tigers, but Kiffin never officially added to him to LSU’s roster because the Southeastern Conference threatened to kick the Tigers out of the league if he did. The legal saga swirled around the first two weeks of the season. “There’s a reason we had Dae’Quan Wright on our roster,” Kiffin said on Sunday, before laughing and correcting himself. “Not on our roster — practicing, ready to play, knowing that this potentially could be an issue.” Green is a former high-profile recruit who put himself on track to enjoy a breakout season before he was hurt. He had 14 catches

for 222 yards and a touchdown through the first 11 quarters of his junior year. Kiffin was finding ways to scheme Green open. And Green was separating from some defenders on his routes, then plowing through others on his way to the ground, showcasing the extra strength he’s packed onto his 6-foot-7 frame across the three years he’s spent at LSU. In a Week 2 win over Louisiana Tech, Leavitt started targeting Green when the offense was struggling to finish drives. The two connected on gains of 15, 24 and 15 yards on one second-quarter possession, showcasing a rapport that Kiffin hopes can still become a staple of the LSU offense. Before the season, LSU gave Green the No. 7 jersey, an honor that traditionally goes to one of the team’s top playmakers. “Now that I understand the seven,” Kiffin said on Sept. 12 after LSU beat Louisiana Tech, “and what those guys talk about, it’s when you need a play. And the old sevens tell the new sevens, when they were talking to them, that’s what it’s for. “There’s gonna be games that are rough, and things aren’t going well and you gotta find a way, and that’s what (Green) did.” Kiffin also said Sunday that wide receiver and kick returner Phillip Wright suffered a season-ending injury in the win over the Bulldogs. He was ruled out of the Ole Miss game on the first availability reports the SEC released on Wednesday. Wright, a speedy sophomore from Destrehan, was the only incumbent wide receiver who returned to LSU after Kiffin was hired. Email Reed Darcey at reed. darcey@theadvocate.com. For more LSU sports updates, sign up for our newsletter at theadvocate.com/lsunewsletter

1. Texas, 2. Ohio State, 3. Indiana, 4. Miami, 5. Notre Dame, 6. Ole Miss, 7. Georgia, 8. Alabama, 9. BYU, 10. Southern Cal, 11. Louisville, 12. LSU, 13. Tennessee, 14. Florida, 15. Penn State, 16. Texas Tech, 17. Houston, 18. Arizona, 19. Mississippi State, 20. SMU, 21. Virginia Tech, 22. Utah, 23. Texas A&M, 24. Boise State, 25. Michigan Just missed: Iowa, Kentucky, Oregon and West Virginia Newcomers: Virginia Tech and Utah Dropped from last week: Virginia and Oklahoma

Ole Miss is the Chambliss show Trinidad Chambliss is the favorite to win the Heisman Trophy. That was my main takeaway sitting in the press box in Oxford on Saturday: It was undeniable that a former Division II quarterback was one of the best players in college football, with or without Lane Kifﬁn. As for the rest of Ole Miss’ team, the Rebels have a very good but not elite roster. Time will tell if Will Echoles at defensive tackle is actually an All-American or just played like one against LSU. Kewan Lacy getting hurt twice in three weeks isn’t a great sign. This is a really solid team with a great quarterback; I’m just not quite willing to put Ole Miss alongside Ohio State or Texas yet. The talent gap still feels too wide. But maybe that perception I hold is unfounded. Arguably, no team in the country has a better resume than Ole Miss, and it’s not like Indiana, Miami or Notre Dame — all teams I have ahead of Ole Miss in my poll — have proven on the ﬁeld that they’re better than Pete Golding’s team. Perhaps ranking the Rebels at No. 6 this week was too conservative on my part. But that’s the beauty of the poll. They’ll get a chance to prove themselves again next week when Ole Miss travels to face my No. 14 team, Florida.

Where does rest of SEC stand? Between Ole Miss-LSU, Kentucky-Texas A&M and AuburnFlorida, this week gave us our best look at the Southeastern Conference so far this year. It’s hard to press the panic button on LSU. I dropped the Tigers out of my top 10, but to lose by just one score on the road against a team that may have the Heisman winner is no major sin. Don’t get me wrong,

Koki Riley Ole Miss was the better team even though the score was tied in the fourth quarter. I just think LSU’s strong second-half performance gave fans enough hope that the Tigers can still make the College Football Playoff. The same can’t be said of the Aggies, who got ﬂat-out beat by Kentucky at home a week after the Wildcats were trounced in the second half by Alabama. I have trouble ﬁnding what Texas A&M does consistently well, and even that seemed apparent a week ago when it let a turnover-prone Arizona State hang around for three quarters. I obviously feel better about Kentucky after this week, but I still can’t quite get the Alabama blowout loss out of my head. Unfortunately for the Wildcats, a win next week over South Alabama won’t help them much in the polls, either. Auburn-Florida ended up being close, but that really wasn’t what happened. The Gators had 122 more yards and led by double digits through three quarters. I’m a little worried about the defense — especially considering how much Auburn struggled to move the ball against Baylor just two weeks ago — but I think Florida proved that it’s a top-15 team this week by putting up 44 points on the road against a talented Auburn defense.

Other notes Louisville is really good. The Cardinals gave Ole Miss a tougher fight than LSU did on a neutral site in Week 1, then took down a frisky SMU team in an entertaining back-and-forth fight this week. If Louisville can run the ball this well for the rest of the year, it’ll have an outside shot at making the playoff. Virginia Tech finally made my poll this week after earning a decent road win over Maryland. That may not sound like much, but Mike Locksley’s team almost never loses in September. Utah joined the Hokies in the poll this week after another dominant win. I wasn’t convinced that Morgan Scalley could continue what Kyle Whittingham built in Salt Lake City this year — and I didn’t love the roster — but so far the Utes have proven me wrong. Email Koki Riley at koki.riley@ theadvocate.com. For more LSU sports updates, sign up for our newsletter at theadvocate. com/lsunewsletter

STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss makes a pass from the pocket against LSU on Saturday at Vaught Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Miss.

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4C ✦ Monday, September 21, 2026 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

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LSU loses a crucial defensive back in Spears to season-ending injury BY REED DARCEY Staff writer

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By WADE PAyNE

Joey Logano celebrates after winning a NASCAR Cup Series race on Saturday in Bristol, Tenn.

Logano wins at Bristol for 40th career victory The Associated Press BRISTOL, Tenn. — Joey Logano won the Cup Series race Saturday at Bristol Motor Speedway, while the driver he passed for the win stole the show with old-school NASCAR feuding and fisticuffs. Carson Hocevar, a brash 23-year-old who has earned the ire of veteranswith his aggressive driving, traded punches in the pits with Ryan Blaney after they were involved in an incident while racing for second with 41 laps left. Hocevar stopped his car after finishing third and was greeted by a shove from Blaney. The 6-foot-4 Hocevar, who stands Late several inches Saturday taller than Blaney, responded with two overhand rights. The first knocked off Blaney’s hat, and the second connected with Blaney’s left cheek. Blaney fell to the pavement and then scrambled to his feet and out of a crew member’s hold while Hocevar raised his arms and pointed at him. Blaney charged and threw a wild left that knocked off Hocevar’s hat. They then were separated by team members as Blaney continued to yell at Hocevar. “There wasn’t a whole lot of talking,” Hocevar said. “He just kind of said one thing and then went after me, and I wasn’t going to take it. I got ran into a lot for the win. That was for second, and he wants to come fight. They got an old-school Bristol show here.” The contact between the drivers started shortly after Blaney took second with an outside pass of Hocevar, who immediately slid his No. 77 Chevrolet down the track. Blaney moved low to block, and Hocevar stayed in the accelerator to knock the No. 12 Ford into a spin that ended in the inside wall. “I don’t know what I did wrong

there,” Hocevar said. “I crossed him over and looked like he spun himself, and then he wants to instigate a fight. I was going to finish that, and it seemed like the crowd was pretty pumped up, so I was going to play the audience for a second.” Blaney, who led a race-high 202 laps despite starting 29th, was already frustrated after falling into heavy traffic because of a penalty for a pit lane violation with just over 100 laps remaining. His rally was cut short by the crash that dropped him to sixth in the Chase standings with his second consecutive finish outside the top 30. In an interview during the race, Blaney said, “I tried to protect the bottom, he crossed and never lifted, and I got crashed.” When asked which driver was at fault, Blaney said, “I don’t (expletive) know. Each person is going to say they did nothing wrong.” Kyle Larson finished second to move into the Chase lead by a point over Denny Hamlin. Christopher Bell was fourth, followed by Ty Gibbs, who led 120 laps before finishing fifth. Gibbs and Hocevar exchanged the lead four times in the final 100 laps. Their battle for first after a restart with nine laps remaining opened the door for Logano, who zipped past Hocevar and led the final seven laps. With his 40th career victory and third this season, Logano became the winningest NASCAR driver for Team Penske and moved into third place in the Chase points standings. But he realized all of those accomplishments would be eclipsed by videos of the Blaney-Hocevar fight that he still had yet to see. “I’m sure I’ll see it all week long,” Logano said, pausing to add with a laugh. “They’ll probably forget who won the race.”

ota that sported a paint scheme honoring the late Kyle Busch, who had a record 23 wins in NASCAR national series at Bristol. It was among multiple tributes to the Richard Childress Racing driver who died in May. Fans waved yellow towels on the 18th lap in honor of Busch, who won two Cup Series championships in the No. 18 Toyota. His widow, Samantha, addressed the crowd before the race. “Bristol was always so special to Kyle,” Samantha Busch said. “He loved racing under the lights, the energy of this place, and most of all, the fans. For 20 years, this sport was our life. It’s where we raised our babies and made some of our very best memories. I never imagined we’d be standing here without him. But looking out at all of you reminds me that we aren’t walking this alone.”

Legal battle continues

In its federal lawsuit that accuses Spire Motorsports of cheating by using stolen intellectual property, Joe Gibbs Racing ﬁled a motion Thursday claiming that Spire and chief motorsports officer Chris Gabehart violated a temporary restraining order and should be held in contempt. A federal judge ruled in March that Gabehart can work for Spire but not in the competition director role he was in while with Joe Gibbs Racing last season. Spire co-owner Jeff Dickerson responded to the motion in a statement Friday night. “JGR does not get to control what other race teams do through court cases,” Dickerson said. “JGR does not own tire pressures, JGR does not own the people who work in this industry, and JGR does not own Spire. Spire looks forward to responding to JGR’s motion in court. To be clear, months of discovery have shown that Spire Remembering Busch Motorsports has done nothing Gibbs was driving a No. 54 Toy- wrong.”

Final round of Women’s Champions Cup to be played at Nu Stadium

BY ANNE M. PETERSON

AP soccer writer

The final round of the second Women’s Champions Cup, an intercontinental competition for club teams, will be played at Inter Miami’s Nu Stadium in late January, FIFA announced Sunday. No U.S. women’s club is set to play. Mexico’s Club America will represent CONCACAF after defeating the Washington Spirit in the confederation’s W Champions Cup in May. Spanish powerhouse Barcelona also has qualiﬁed for the four-team ﬁnal round as the representative for UEFA. The winner of October’s Copa Libertadores Femenina will qualify for CONMEBOL. The Champions Cup was created to give women’s professional club teams greater opportunities for global competition, while building on the success of the game’s marquee national team tournament, the Women’s World Cup. “You’re just seeing a lot more attention and growth to the sport, and I think that’s really what we’re trying to do, is not just focus on national teams, but now help and grow and develop and stimulate the players’ week-in and week-out environment, and that’s again through minimum standards. It’s through

financial investment. It’s through creating competitions,” FIFA Chief Football Officer Jill Ellis said. Ellis, former coach of the U.S. women’s national team, told The Associated Press that Nu Stadium was chosen because it is a soccerspecific venue and a suitable size (26,700) for the competition. FIFA previously announced it was targeting the Miami area, which has demonstrated community support for soccer through a variety of competitions in recent years, Ellis said. The time zone and mild winter temperatures also were considered, as well as the fact that the United States has a strong domestic pro league, the National Women’s Soccer League. In addition to Club America, Barcelona and the CONMEBOL representative, teams from Africa, Asia and Oceania will compete for the fourth spot in Miami. Auckland United FC, which won the OFC Champions League, will face AFC Champions League winners Naegohyang Women’s FC in October. The winner of that match will advance to face Africa’s representative from the CAF Women’s Champions League tournament in December. Arsenal won the inaugural Women’s Champions Cup with a 3-2 victory over Brazil’s Corinthians in

February. Arsenal earned $2.3 million for winning the intercontinental tournament. Corinthians took home $1 million as the runner-up. The Champions Cup also builds on the growing number of regional club competitions, led by the success of the UEFA Women’s Champions League. “Part of building out a club competition is also with that will come club minimum standards,” Ellis said. “We’re working with the confederations now to make sure that there are minimum standards for you to be able to compete. So when you try and create a competition, it’s not just creating a competition that brings global recognition to clubs and helps promote players, etc. There’s also the incentive of stimulating growth in leagues and in confederations that obviously host the leagues.” FIFA also is introducing a 16team Women’s Club World Cup, which will launch in 2028 and be played every four years. The new Champions Cup will be held every year, except years when the Club World Cup takes place. Ellis said when FIFA was considering the Champions Cup, there were only two confederations that had competitions for a confederation winner: UEFA and CONMEBOL.

Spears is a native of Denham Springs. He began his career as a top-100 national recruit, according to 247Sports composite rankings, and carved out a rotational role in Blake Baker’s defense by the time his sophomore year rolled around. This season, he’s a full-time starter at Star — the hybrid safety-linebacker position that Harold Perkins played last year. In 2025, Spears recorded 29 tackles and picked off two passes. He had five tackles and a tackle for loss in LSU’s first two games of the 2026 season: lopsided wins over Clemson and Louisiana Tech. After Spears was hurt, LSU inserted two young defensive backs into the Star spot: first sophomore CJ Jimcoily and then redshirt freshman Jhase Thomas. Tight ends Zach Grace, Malachi Thomas and Roman Mothershed each took turns filling in for Green, whose mother said he would miss “some games” with “some bad sprains and bruises.” Kiffin called Spears and Green “two of our most dynamic, irreplaceable players in what they do.” “Both walking around and on crutches today,” he said, “it wasn’t a great feeling.”

LSU football received positive news on one of the starters who was injured on Saturday against Ole Miss. But it doesn’t look like the other was as fortunate. Defensive back Dashawn Spears will miss the rest of the season after suffering an ACL injury on Saturday in the Tigers’ 32-24 loss to the Rebels, 247Sports reported on Sunday. Spears, a junior who plays the Star position, was hurt early in the second quarter of the loss, when an LSU defender was blocked into his lower left leg. Trainers attended to him on the field and then helped him hobble to the sideline and into the injury tent. Spears was later spotted using crutches. Coach Lane Kiffin said on Saturday that neither Spears, nor tight Trey’Dez Green, who also hurt himself on Saturday, “seemed very well” after the loss. Then, in a conference call with reporters on Sunday, he declined to offer a timetable for either injury. “We don’t know that for sure yet or comment on that this early in the week,” Kiffin said. “Both guys, obviously, didn’t return. They’re both on crutches, so not ideal, that’s for Email Reed Darcey at reed. sure.” darcey@theadvocate.com.

Spaun wins BMW Championship after being left off Cup team The Associated Press VIRGINIA WATER, England — J.J. Spaun responded to his disappointment of being left off the U.S. Presidents Cup team by winning the BMW PGA Championship on Sunday, making four birdies on the last five holes for a 5-under 67 and a two-shot victory in his debut at the European tour’s flagship event. Spaun, last year’s U.S. Open champion at Oakmont, made it three Americans winning at Wentworth in the last six years. It was his second victory of the year, having won the Texas Open in April. “I played with a huge chip on my shoulder,” Spaun said of being overlooked as a captain’s pick for the Presidents Cup next week outside Chicago. “I definitely had something to prove this week, but everything happens for a reason.” As well as he finished, Spaun needed plenty of help from Manuel Elvira. The 30-year-old Spaniard made a 9-foot eagle on the par-5 17th to tie Spaun for the lead and head to the par-5 closing hole needing birdie to win. Elvira chose iron off the tee, leaving him 254 yards from the green. He decided to lay up, but hit that into a bunker. He hit his next shot over the green, dumped a chip into a bunker and finished with a double bogey for a 70. “Devastating that I hit the wrong shot at the right time on the lay up and left myself the toughest shot in the fairway bunker, and wasn’t able to pull it off,” Elvira said. Elvira wound up in a four-way tie for second with Rory McIlroy (68), Adam Scott (68) and PGA champion Aaron Rai (66).

Spaun raced to the top. It started with a tee shot to 3 feet on the par3 14th. He holed a pair of 15-foot birdie putts on the 15th and 16th, and then two-putted for birdie on the 18th to post a 17-under 271. Spaun loves bringing his family to London, though the 36-year-old Californian wasn’t planning on coming to the BMW PGA Championship this year because of travel getting to the Presidents Cup. U.S. captain Brandt Snedeker used the ﬁnal two picks on Jacob Bridgeman, who won at Riviera earlier in the year, and 21-yearold Jackson Koivun, who won in his third start as a pro in July. Later Sunday, Bridgeman closed with a 61 at the Biltmore Championship Asheville on the PGA Tour to win for the second time this year. It was surprising to Spaun, particularly since he was one of the rare bright spots for the Americans in his Ryder Cup debut the previous September, going 2-1-0. Spaun had to withdraw from the Tour Championship last month because of a shoulder injury. He looked healthy as can be against a strong ﬁeld with so many top contenders.

Race to Dubai

His runner-up ﬁnish — his best result since winning the Masters — allowed McIlroy to cut into Patrick Reed’s lead in the Race to Dubai as he chases an eighth season title in a bid to tie Colin Montgomerie’s record. Spaun now has four career victories, three of them in the last 15 months that will move him just outside the top 10 in the world. “I blossomed into this player I never thought I could be,” he said. The final hour “I’ve always wanted to be a global All of them were in the mix in player. I’m really happy my schedthe ﬁnal hour at Wentworth until ule worked out the way it did.”

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By ADAM DAVy

J.J. Spaun lifts the trophy after winning the PGA Championship at Wentworth Golf Club in Virginia Water, England, on Sunday.

The Times-Picayune ✦ nola.com ✦ Monday, September 21, 2026 ✦ 5C

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NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE NFL ROUNDUP

Watson outplays Mayfield in win over Bucs By The Associated Press TAMPA, Fla. — Deshaun Watson earned at least a few more starts for the Cleveland Browns. Watson threw two touchdown passes, including a go-ahead 17yard toss to Blake Whiteheart in the fourth quarter, leading the Browns to a 23-19 comeback victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday in a game that was delayed two hours, 12 minutes because of lightning. The Buccaneers (0-2) were driving and had a second-and-4 at the Cleveland 28 when the game was suspended at the two-minute warning. When it finally resumed, heavy rain started falling again. Bucky Irving ran twice and Baker Mayfield’s pass to Ted Hurst got the Bucs to the 13 before a holding penalty set them back. Mayfield’s pass on fourth-and-10 from the 20 to Emeka Egbuka in the end zone was out of his reach, sealing the win for the Browns (1-1). Watson outplayed Mayfield on his home turf in the first meeting between two quarterbacks who are linked together. Watson was 24 of 30 for 238 yards with no turnovers and a 121.9 passer rating in his best game since Sept. 24, 2023 against Tennessee. Mayfield, who was selected No. 1 overall by the Browns in 2018, was traded to Carolina after a blockbuster trade brought Watson and his off-field troubles to Cleveland in 2022. He was eventually released by the Panthers during that season and played for the Rams before rejuvenating his career in Tampa Bay, where he has made two Pro Bowls and received a $165 million, three-year contract extension earlier this month. PACKERS 20, JETS 17, OT: In East Rutherford, New Jersey, Trey Smack kicked a 26-yard field goal in overtime and Green Bay overcame a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit and a sloppy, penalty-filled performance to snap a six-game skid with a victory over New York. Jordan Love threw two touchdown passes for the Packers (1-1), who had 14 accepted penalties and appeared on their way to another ugly loss after a fourth-quarter collapse at Minnesota last week. But it was the Jets (1-1) who couldn’t hold on in the end after mostly outplaying the Packers and

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By JASON BEHNKEN

Cleveland Browns tight end Blake Whiteheart scores a touchdown during the second half of a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday in Tampa, Fla. stifling Love and the offense for much of the game. EAGLES 24, TITANS 20: In Nashville, Tennessee, Jalen Hurts threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Darius Cooper with 9 seconds left, and Philadelphia beat Tennessee. The Eagles (2-0) appeared ready to dominate Tennessee. They opened the game by stringing together three straight drives of at least 11 plays. VIKINGS 9, BEARS 3: In Chicago, Isaiah Rodgers recovered a fumble and blocked a late field-goal attempt, and Minnesota shut down Caleb Williams and Chicago for the victory. Aaron Jones rushed for 105 yards as Minnesota improved to 2-0 for the first time since it opened the 2024 season with five consecutive wins. Will Reichard kicked three field goals, including a 39-yarder

with 1:09 left. Williams departed with a right hamstring injury midway through the fourth quarter, silencing a drenched crowd of 58,914 at Soldier Field. The No. 1 pick in the 2024 draft was 15 for 26 for 138 yards, and he also had ﬁve carries for 42 yards. PANTHERS 34, FALCONS 3: In Atlanta, Bryce Young threw for 287 yards and three touchdowns, including two to Darren Waller, Carolina’s Devin Lloyd returned one of his two interceptions for a touchdown and the Panthers routed shorthanded Atlanta. The Panthers (1-1) earned their fourth straight win in the NFC South rivalry. Young completed 23 of 36 passes as he improved to 5-1 against the Falcons. He set a franchise record with 448 yards passing in a 30-27 overtime win to cap last

season’s sweep. With fill-in starter Cooper Rush at quarterback, the Falcons (0-2) had more offensive woes following their 20-13 opening loss at Pittsburgh last week. Michael Penix Jr. (knee) and Tua Tagovailoa (oblique) again were inactive. PATRIOTS 20, STEELERS 3: In Foxborough, Massachusetts, TreVeyon Henderson ran for a 39-yard touchdown in his season debut, Eli Ponder added a 19-yard fumble recovery for a score and New England’s defense smothered Aaron Rodgers on the way to a victory over Pittsburgh. With the victory, Patriots coach Mike Vrabel avoided just the second 0-2 start of his eight-year coaching career. BENGALS 20, TEXANS 6: In Houston, Joe Burrow threw two touchdown passes to Ja’Marr Chase to lead Cincinnati to a win over Houston. The big day by Chase came a week after the five-time Pro Bowler had just two receptions for 12 yards in a win over Tampa Bay. That prompted Burrow, coach Zac Taylor and offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher to say that getting him the ball more had to be a priority against the Texans. They showed they meant that early as Chase eclipsed last week’s performance with 14 yards receiving on Cincinnati’s first drive and didn’t slow down after that. SEAHWKS 31, CARDINALS 7: In Glendale, Arizona, Drew Lock threw for 235 yards and three touchdowns to Jaxon Smith-Njigba in a stellar first start subbing for the injured Sam Darnold and the Seattle Seahawks continued their dominance over the Arizona Cardinals with a win on Sunday. The defending Super Bowl champions have now won 10 straight over their NFC West rival dating to 2022 and closed this one by scoring the final 24 points. SmithNjigba finished with nine catches for 155 yards and the career-high three TDs in one of the best performances of his four-year career. Arizona has lost eight straight games at home in a streak that’s lasted 360 days. The Cardinals finished with just 150 total yards. 49ERS 35, DOLPHINS 13: In Santa Clara, California, the San Francisco 49ers handled the return from Australia just as well as the trip there and have started the season with two convincing victories.

Christian McCaffrey became the fourth-fastest player in the Super Bowl era with 100 career touchdowns, Brock Purdy played a near-perfect game and the 49ers overwhelmed the Miami Dolphins 35-13 on Sunday. The 49ers showed no signs of fatigue after beating the Los Angeles Rams 27-7 in the opener in Australia and began the season with backto-back wins of at least 20 points for the first time in franchise history. The 49ers scored touchdowns on their first five drives and dominated the Dolphins. Purdy went 20 for 22 for 287 yards, two touchdown passes and one TD run, completing 18 straight passes at one point. RAIDERS 26, CHARGERS 14: In Inglewood, California, Kirk Cousins used to watch Cody White attacking the football at Michigan State. The veteran quarterback figured the same thing would work for the Las Vegas Raiders. Cousins connected with White for a go-ahead, 13-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter and an 11-yard score during the fourth, leading the Raiders to a 26-14 win over the Los Angeles Chargers in the teams’ AFC West opener on Sunday. Las Vegas (2-0) beat the Chargers (0-2) on the road for the first time since 2020. With No. 1 draft pick Fernando Mendoza watching from the sideline, Cousins was 19 of 29 for 253 yards with three TDs and an interception. He got sacked twice. BRONCOS 20, JAGUARS 13: In Denver, the Broncos closed their game on a 17-point blitz Sunday for a win over Jacksonville that snapped the Jaguars ‘ nine-game regular-season winning streak, and leading the way were trade acquisition Jaylen Waddle and rookie running back Jonah Coleman. The Broncos (1-1) had 11 onescore wins last season and a dozen comebacks. After a season-opening dud at Kansas City in which Waddle and Coleman struggled, the duo came up big as the Broncos powered past Trevor Lawrence the Jaguars after falling behind 13-3 early in the third quarter. Waddle caught eight passes for 138 yards a week after catching just one pass for 2 yards in his Denver debut, and Coleman’s first NFL score was a tiebreaking 3-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.

Prescott throws 4 Rams, Giants looking to build TDs as Cowboys on disparate Week 1 showings beat Commanders BY DAN GREENSPAN Associated Press

BY SHUYLER DIXON

AP pro football writer

ARLINGTON, Texas — Dak Prescott threw four touchdown passes to break Tony Romo’s career franchise record, and the Dallas Cowboys beat Washington 37-20 on Sunday after the Commanders’ Jayden Daniels went down with another gruesome-looking dislocated left elbow. Prescott’s record-breaking 249th TD pass was his second TD of the game to CeeDee Lamb, who had 153 yards receiving. Tight end Jake Ferguson had the other two scoring catches. The Cowboys (1-1) led 17-10 with the Commanders on the Dallas 1-yard line with 3 seconds remaining in the first half. Left guard Chris Paul stepped on Daniels’ foot as he backed away from center, and Daniels’ non-throwing elbow appeared to bend the wrong way as he braced himself and threw a wild pass that was incomplete as time expired. The former LSU standout stayed down momentarily, then started to walk to the sideline before going to the turf again. Upon seeing a video replay of the injury, Fox NFL analyst Tom Brady uttered a profanity. Daniels’ head was covered in a towel as he left the field on a cart several minutes after all the Dallas players and most of the Washington players had gone to their locker rooms. After the game, Commanders coach Dan Quinn confirmed the dislocation but said imaging showed no fracture and that Daniels would fly home with the team.

Daniels missed all but one game in the second half of last season after dislocating his left elbow in a blowout loss to Seattle last November. Marcus Mariota replaced Daniels, and he connected with Stefon Diggs for his second TD catch of the game to get Washington (0-2) within 30-20 with 9 minutes remaining. Prescott led an 11-play drive the other way that ended with Lamb’s 24-yard touchdown. The 33-yearold in his 11th season went 26 of 32 for 279 yards without an interception and extended his home winning streak against NFC East rivals to 20 games. Before the injury, Daniels kept the Commanders close with his mobility. He had an 18-yard scramble on a drive that ended in a field goal and then a 20-yarder before his 4-yard touchdown pass to Diggs. The Commanders were out of timeouts when they had a first down at the Dallas 1 trailing 1710 with 12 seconds left in the first half. Daniels threw two incompletions, leaving 3 seconds for the play on which he was injured. Daniels had 69 yards on seven carries while going 11 of 17 for 96 yards passing. After Mariota led the Commanders to a field goal to start the second half, his second drive ended on the first play when Dallas rookie linebacker Jaishawn Barham forced a fumble by Dyami Brown on a screen pass. Dee Winters recovered inside the Washington 20, and Prescott’s second TD pass to Ferguson for a 27-13 lead came two plays later.

LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Rams could not have looked worse, while the New York Giants could not have looked better in their respective season openers. Both sides recognize the response to those performances when they meet on Monday night will be just as important as their Week 1 showings. “They understand, they understood going into the game that it was the first game of a 17-game season, no matter what the outcome is going to be, and that the Rams are going to be next up regardless of what the outcome is,” Giants coach John Harbaugh said. “So, our job is to get better, keep improving, because you have to.” The Rams (0-1) have plenty to address following their 27-7 flop to the San Francisco 49ers in Melbourne, Australia. They were outplayed against their NFC West rivals after an offseason spent adding big names and amassing bigger expectations. “That wasn’t a day that really any of us liked,” Rams coach Sean McVay said. “But, hey, it’s not final, and we’re looking to move forward.” Among the priorities for McVay is getting his offense on track after quarterback Matthew Stafford looked nothing like the form that won him the Most Valuable Player award last season, completing 60% of his throws for 155 yards and one interception. McVay cited a lack of consistency for those struggles, compounded because the Rams possessed the ball twice in the first quarter and once in the third quarter. “How do we string together positive plays, both in the run and

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By ASANKA BRENDON RATNAyAKE

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford passes against the San Francisco 49ers during a game on Sept. 11 in Melbourne, Australia. ä Giants at Rams. 7:15 P.M. MONDAy, ESPN.

the pass together?,” McVay said. “And that’s what good offenses do, and that’s what we’re striving to do.” The Giants (1-0) had no such problems, possessing the ball for 21:33 in the second half as they kept the high-powered Dallas Cowboys’ offense on the sideline in a 28-20 victory. It is a game plan they want to repeat on a regular basis, ideally making New York punter Jordan Stout a viewer instead of an active participant. “We want to be on the ﬁeld as long as we can, eating up the clock, getting points after every drive,” fullback Patrick Ricard said. “I told Jordan Stout, ‘You’re not punting this game.’ I was just try-

ing to set the tone early for the season, and we punted once. So, this game and every game moving forward, we’re going to try (to have the) punter not punt.”

Matchup to watch Giants QB Jaxson Dart vs. Rams edge rushers Byron Young and Josaiah Stewart. Dart kept the Cowboys off balance, throwing for 230 yards and three touchdowns and rushing for 54 yards. And while he was sacked twice, they resulted in a 1-yard loss. Los Angeles doesn’t have Myles Garrett for the next four weeks following knee surgery, putting Stewart into the starting lineup opposite Young. The Rams couldn’t generate meaningful pressure on Niners QB Brock Purdy, so they have to be disruptive while also accounting for Dart’s ability to create outside of structure.

6C ✦ Monday, September 21, 2026 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

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SAINTS 24, RAVENS 17

BY THE NUMBERS New Orleans 24, Baltimore 17 New Orleans 0 6 3 15 — 24 Baltimore 7 7 3 0 — 17 First Quarter Bal—Henry 1 run (Loop kick), 2:52. Drive: 12 plays, 76 yards, 6:51. Key Plays: L.Jackson 10 pass to Andrews; L.Jackson 5 pass to Andrews on 3rd-and-5; L.Jackson 20 pass to Henry; L.Jackson 19 pass to Bateman; Henry 5 run on 3rd-and-2. Baltimore 7, New Orleans 0. Second Quarter NO—FG Carlson 23, 3:46. Drive: 12 plays, 56 yards, 6:24. Key Plays: Shough 29 pass to Vele on 3rd-and-13; Shough 11 pass to Olave on 3rd-and-8; Shough 11 run on 3rd-and-14. Baltimore 7, New Orleans 3. Bal—Bateman 22 pass from L.Jackson (Loop kick), :24. Drive: 11 plays, 80 yards, 3:22. Key Play: L.Jackson 11 run. Baltimore 14, New Orleans 3. NO—FG Carlson 47, :00. Drive: 5 plays, 15 yards, 00:24. Key Plays: Brown kick return to Baltimore 44; Shough 13 pass to Vele. Baltimore 14, New Orleans 6. Third Quarter NO—FG Carlson 51, 11:00. Drive: 9 plays, 41 yards, 4:00. Key Plays: Brown kick return to New Orleans 26; Shough 25 pass to Ju.Johnson on 3rd-and-13. Baltimore 14, New Orleans 9. Bal—FG Loop 49, 3:23. Drive: 15 plays, 37 yards, 7:37. Key Plays: C.Moore kick return to Baltimore 32; L.Jackson 7 pass to Andrews on 3rd-and-4; L.Jackson 18 pass to Bateman. Baltimore 17, New Orleans 9. Fourth Quarter NO—Olave 21 pass from Shough (Etienne run), 9:42. Drive: 9 plays, 68 yards, 5:18. Key Play: Shough 12 pass to Olave on 3rd-and-5. New Orleans 17, Baltimore 17. NO—Shough 1 run (Carlson kick), 1:28. Drive: 16 plays, 68 yards, 6:38. Key Plays: Shough 15 pass to Olave; Shough 5 pass to Vele on 3rdand-6; Shough 1 run on 4th-and-1; Shough 3 pass to Olave on 3rd-and-2; Shough 25 pass to Ju.Johnson on 3rd-and-8. New Orleans 24, Baltimore 17.

A—70,437.

NO Bal FIRST DOWNS 19 19 Rushing 6 8 Passing 11 11 Penalty 2 0 THIRD DOWN EFF 8-15 4-9 FOURTH DOWN EFF 2-2 0-0 TOTAL NET YARDS 298 312 Total Plays 64 56 Avg Gain 4.7 5.6 NET YARDS RUSHING 65 108 Rushes 27 22 Avg per rush 2.407 4.909 NET YARDS PASSING 233 204 Sacked-Yds lost 3-19 3-31 Gross-Yds passing 252 235 Completed-Att. 27-34 21-31 Had Intercepted 0 1 Yards-Pass Play 6.297 6.0 KICKOFFS-EndZone-TB 5-3-1 4-1-1 PUNTS-Avg. 3-39.0 3-41.333 Punts blocked 0 0 FGs-PATs blocked 0-0 1-0 TOTAL RETURN YARDAGE 106 108 Punt Returns 2-13 0-0 Kickoff Returns 3-91 4-108 Interceptions 1-2 0-0 PENALTIES-Yds 5-35 7-34 FUMBLES-Lost 1-0 0-0 TIME OF POSSESSION 32:45 27:15 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING—New Orleans, Etienne 8-25, Shough 9-23, Kamara 9-15, Donaldson 1-2. Baltimore, Henry 16-68, L.Jackson 4-34, Hill 2-6. PASSING—New Orleans, Shough 27-34-0-252. Baltimore, L.Jackson 21-31-1-235. RECEIVING—New Orleans, Olave 8-86, Vele 5-64, Kamara 5-7, Johnson 4-66, Etienne 2-6, Delp 1-8, Lance 1-8, Austin 1-7. Baltimore, Bateman 7-88, Andrews 6-49, Henry 3-19, Hill 2-12, Walker 1-47, Wester 1-14, C.Moore 1-6. PUNT RETURNS—New Orleans, Brown 2-13. Baltimore, None. KICKOFF RETURNS—New Orleans, Brown 2-73, Price 1-18. Baltimore, C.Moore 4-108. TACKLES-ASSISTS-SACKS—New Orleans, Werner 8-3-1, Elliss 4-2-0, Emerson 3-0-0, McKinstry 3-0-0, J.Reid 3-0-0, Granderson 2-3-0, Blackmon 2-0-0, Sanker 2-0-0, Shepherd 1-3-.5, Jennings 1-2-0, Young 1-1-1.5, Jordan 1-1-0, Riley 1-0-0, Stutsman 1-0-0, Broughton 0-1-0, Godchaux 0-1-0, Wooden 0-1-0. Baltimore, Hamilton 7-6-0, T.Simpson 5-1-0, Humphrey 4-0-0, Wiggins 3-3-0, Hawkins 3-2-0, Starks 3-1-0, Hendrickson 3-0-1, Smith 2-6-0, Green 2-0-1, T.Robinson 2-0-1, Rivers 2-0-0, Washington 1-2-0, Jenkins 1-1-0, Young 1-1-0, T.Jones 1-0-0, Campbell 0-1-0. INTERCEPTIONS—New Orleans, Blackmon 1-2. Baltimore, None. MISSED FIELD GOALS—Baltimore, Loop 49. OFFICIALS—Referee Clete Blakeman, Ump Scott Walker, HL Andy Warner, LJ Kent Payne, FJ Karina Tovar, SJ James Coleman, BJ Jonah Monroe, Replay Chad Adams.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By TERRANCE WILLIAMS

New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough attempts to score during the second half of a game against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday in Baltimore.

NFL explains why Shough’s TD was upheld

BY MATTHEW PARAS, LUKE JOHNSON AND ROD WALKER

Staff writers

BALTIMORE — Moments after the call confirmed Tyler Shough’s fourthdown, game-winning touchdown in Sunday’s 24-17 win for the New Orleans Saints, the pro-BaltiNotebook m ore Ravens crowd began chanting an obscenity to show their displeasure. But much to their dismay, the NFL said the initial ruling stood because Shough wasn’t clearly down when he was shoved across the goal line. “The key here is the ruling on the field is a touchdown,” NFL vice president of instant replay Mark Butterworth told a pool reporter. “So we need clear and obvious video evidence that he didn’t score in order to reverse the ruling. “We stopped the game; it’s a high-leverage play, we wanted to make sure to either find clear and obvious video evidence that he didn’t score or to confirm the call on the field. We exhausted all available angles and could not prove clear and obvious that he did not break the plane of the goal line.” In other words, if Shough was initially ruled down instead of in, that same judgment call would have likely stayed the same. Butterworth did not address, nor was he asked about, what

appeared to be a clearly missed facemask penalty during the play. With 1:28 left in the game, a Ravens defender appeared to yank Shough’s facemask as the quarterback was pushed in the pile. The lack of a penalty, which the league’s replay review could not change, perhaps explains why Saints coach Kellen Moore laughed and said he should “be quiet” when initially asked about the play. Shough said the play “hurt a little bit,” but that he was “able to get in there.” “We’d like to not make it as close, but I think that’s deﬁnitely something to look at,” Shough said. “I mean, I was going to reach for it, but get your head pulled off, it’s tough.” Sunday marked the second straight week that the league’s vice president of instant replay had to chime in on a ruling made during a Saints game. Last week, the league overturned a play that took a sack-fumble touchdown away from the Saints after determining Lions quarterback Jared Goff started his throwing motion. During Sunday’s interview with the pool reporter, Butterworth asked whether Shough lost control of the ball at any point while trying to get it across the goal line. “No,” Butterworth said. “If he did lose control of the ball, we would need to find, after he regained possession, if the ball broke the plane of the goal line. In

that mass of players, we weren’t able to ﬁnd clear and obvious video evidence that the ball did not break the plane of the goal line. “Therefore, the ruling on the ﬁeld stands.”

Class reunion Two members of arguably the best draft class in Saints history were reunited in Baltimore on Sunday. While Alvin Kamara made his season debut for the Saints, defensive end Trey Hendrickson played in his first home game for the Ravens. The two were drafted by the Saints in 2017 along with Marshon Lattimore, Ryan Ramczyk, Marcus Williams, Alex Anzalone and Al-Quadin Muhammad. Kamara is the only player from that class still with the Saints. Hendrickson spent four seasons in New Orleans before signing with the Cincinnati Bengals. He played five seasons there, earning Pro Bowl honors four times, before signing with the Ravens this year. Hendrickson finished with three tackles and a sack Sunday. “We were special,” Kamara said about the class. “We were super special. I’m happy that Trey was able to carve out a career. When he was here, I don’t think he got as much as he would have liked to. He obviously went on to get money and get his stats and do what he had to do.” Ramczyk (retired), Lattimore and Williams aren’t on NFL ros-

WALKER

Continued from page 1C things will happen.” This game, just like last week’s season-opening loss on the road to the Detroit Lions, was far from perfect. The Saints’ offense struggled out the gate again, settling for a pair of first-half field goals. They have yet to score a touchdown in the first half. But they scored when they needed to in the fourth quarter to steal a win and raise expectations. When the NFL released the schedule in May, pretty much everyone (including me) predicted the Saints would be 0-2 after two weeks. Starting the season on the road at Detroit and Baltimore wasn’t going to be easy. Just don’t try telling that to this gutsy bunch of guys who don’t blink when times get tough. And times got tough Sunday. They trailed 14-3 late in the second quarter and didn’t seem to have an answer for the Ravens’ dynamic duo of quarterback Lamar Jackson and running back Derrick Henry. Things got even bleaker on the second drive of the third quarter, when left tackle Kelvin Banks had to be carted off with an ankle injury. But none of that fazed a team that just a week before rallied from a 21-0 deficit to force overtime before falling to the Lions. Where does the resiliency come from? “Our guys are really close,” Moore said. “Our guys are really connected. All the stuff you do all offseason is for these moments when things aren’t going great for you. Our guys aren’t looking at each other frustrated. They are looking at each other saying we

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By STEPHANIE SCARBROUGH

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is sacked by Saints defensive end Chase young in the first half of their game Sunday in Baltimore. are going to find a solution and find a way.” Now if they can just find a way to play an entire game the same way they play in the third and fourth quarter. The NFL doesn’t give extra credit for how you win. So forget about the style points and instead look at what a win like this can do. “I think it’s just a momentumbuilder,” center Erik McCoy said. “We came to a tough place, and we were down early. We stuck together and we finished. Together-

ness. The fact that we did training camp in New Orleans and we had those three joint practices. We’ve been through the fire.” When you’re going through a fire, it’s much easier when you have a guy like Shough to douse the flames. Shough shows poise when the Saints need it most. Shough (27 of 34, 252 yards, TD) out-dueled fellow University of Louisville alum and two-time MVP Lamar Jackson (21-31, 235, TD). It helps having a defense that continues to shine. They held

Henry to 68 yards rushing, including just 17 in the second half. “This win gives us conﬁdence,” said safety Julian Blackmon, whose interception in the ﬁnal minute sealed the win. “We got off to a rocky start last year, so being able to beat a team that’s really good at home gives us a lot of encouragement going into the home game next week.” As it should. The Saints don’t have a team remaining on their schedule as good as the one they faced Sunday.

ters. Kamara will see the other two members of the class (Anzalone and Muhammad) twice this season. Both play with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Injuries New Orleans will closely monitor Kelvin Banks in the coming days after the prized young left tackle had to be carted off the field Sunday with an ankle injury. Banks suffered the injury in the third quarter when another player rolled up behind him as he was engaged in a block in pass protection. Banks immediately fell to the ground and reached for his left ankle on the play before the medical staff began attending to him. “It always hurts when you lose guys,” Moore said. “We’ll see what this thing looks like tomorrow, but I thought our guys hung in there.” The No. 9 pick in the 2025 draft led all Saints players in offensive snaps as a rookie and is expected to play a critical role in the team’s offensive plans this season. Veteran Asim Richards, who started games at right tackle last season, filled in for Banks after his injury. The Saints also lost cornerback Martin Emerson to a shoulder injury during Sunday’s win. Emerson had been periodically rotating in at corner in place of regular starter Quincy Riley the first two weeks, but suffered his injury after his lone drive on the field Sunday.

Chris Olave, so instrumental in this win, called it the best victory since being drafted in 2022. “I feel like since I’ve been here, we haven’t really beat a good team,” Olave said. “It’s been tough for us to be able to battle against good teams or great teams that make the playoffs every year. Baltimore is a contender. To be able to battle, to show our resilience and come in here and get a W is huge for us. We’ve got to carry it over into next week.” The last time the Saints felt this good two weeks into a season was in 2024, when they blasted the Carolina Panthers and Dallas Cowboys in back-to-back weeks. We all remember how that turned out. They lost seven straight games after that, leading to the ﬁring of Dennis Allen nine weeks into the season. This version of the Saints feels different. This is a team that can handle the expectations that come with a monumental Week 2 win. They will be favored in their next two games against the Las Vegas Raiders and Atlanta Falcons. Those two games will be in the Superdome, where the noise from the black and gold faithful should be much louder than the white noise that became dead silent when the clock struck zero Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium. “When the crowd got silent at the bank, we’re taking withdrawals,” said veteran Cam Jordan. “We love it.” There was plenty to love about a win of this magnitude. And with the grittiness this team continues to show, there just might be plenty to love all season long. Email Rod Walker at rwalker@theadvocate.com.

SAINTS 24, RAVENS 17

The Times-Picayune ✦ nola.com ✦ Monday, September 21, 2026 ✦ 7C

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RESULTS

THREE AND OUT: JEFF DUNCAN’S TOP THREE TAKEAWAyS FROM SAINTS’ WIN IN BALTIMORE

DRAMATIC AND CONTROVERSIAL FINISH Replays appeared to show that Tyler Shough was stopped short of the goal line by the Ravens defense on his 1-yard sneak on fourth-and-1 inside the final 2 minutes. However, Shough was stopped short for good reason: A Ravens defender grabbed his facemask and pulled him backward in a clear infraction that was missed by officials. After a replay review, officials upheld the call of a touchdown on the field, ultimately avoiding what would have been a complicated and controversial ruling. It was the right call because Shough almost surely would have scored if he was not being pulled backward by the helmet. In the end, the officials made the best of a complicated and potentially dicey situation.

SHOUGH WAS SPECIAL AGAIN For the second consecutive week, Shough orchestrated a furious second-half comeback with near-flawless execution. This time, though, his heroics resulted in a victory. Shough dissected the Ravens defense throughout the second half, leading the Saints on nine- and 16-play touchdown drives in the fourth quarter to complete the comeback. For the game, he completed 27 of 34 passes for 252 yards and a 107.4 passer efficiency rating. He added 23 rushing yards on nine carries. In a first-ever NFL matchup of exLouisville quarterbacks, Shough outdueled Lamar Jackson to hand the Ravens their seventh loss in their past 10 home games. Shough was 12 of 14 for 119 yards with a passing and rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter.

SPECIAL TEAMS KEPT SAINTS IN IT It’s been a while since New Orleans has had a special-teams performance as good as this one. All facets of the teams contributed to the road victory in Baltimore. Veteran kicker Daniel Carlson was 3 for 3 on field goal attempts, converting from 23, 47 and 51 yards. Defensive end Carl Granderson blocked Ravens kicker Tyler Loop’s 49-yard field goal attempt in the second quarter. Saints wide receiver Barion Brown returned a kickoff 53 yards to set up one of Carlson’s field goals just before halftime. Without the special play from the Saints’ special teams, they wouldn’t have been in position to make their big second-half rally.

‘We hit people in the mouth’ Saints defense keeps QB Jackson, Ravens in check

Sept. 13

31-30

Sept. 20

24-17

Sept. 27 Raiders 3:25 p.m.

Oct. 5 Falcons 7:15 p.m.

Oct. 11 Vikings Noon

BY MATTHEW PARAS Staff writer

BALTIMORE — The play that best summed up the relentlessness of the New Orleans Saints’ defense in Sunday’s 24-17 upset win over the Baltimore Ravens was the unit’s ﬁnal one. Rushing from the inside, rather than off the edge, Carl Granderson spun around Ravens rookie guard Vega Ioane to get a clear path to Lamar Jackson. The two-time MVP quarterback, sensing the pressure, let it fly. The problem? Jackson had little time to set up his throw. The ball sailed over Rashod Bateman’s head, landing right in the hands of Saints safety Julian Blackmon. “Pheeew,” defensive end Chase Young said, sighing in relief. “Literally. Phew.” Young may have been put at ease seeing the Saints clinch a statement-deﬁning upset victory, but it was the Ravens who had it the toughest. After putting up 41 points in an electric season debut a week ago, Baltimore was held to just 17 points against New Orleans — only three in the second half. The Saints’ physicality, both at the line of scrimmage and in the secondary, appeared to wear down a Ravens unit that initially seemed on pace for another breezy afternoon. But nothing was easy for Baltimore. Not for Jackson, who completed less than half of his second-half passes (8 for 15 for 65 yards). Not for star running back Derrick Henry, who went from averaging 4.6 yards per carry to 3.4 after halftime. Not for anybody. Just the way the Saints planned. “We are a physical group, bruh,” Saints safety Justin Reid said. “This is one of the most physical defenses — and I pride myself on my physicality — that I’ve been a part of. We come downhill. We hit people in the mouth. And it wears on them as the game goes on. “We gave up, what, three points in the second half? Unbelievable performance, man.”

SHOUGH

Continued from page 1C with kicker Daniel Carlson going a perfect 3-for-3 on field goals, rookie Barion Brown adding a crucial 53-yard kick return and defensive end Carl Granderson blocking a field goal. But the NFL has proven itself over and over again to be a league of haves and have-nots. Those who have a great quarterback enjoy the spoils. And it was Shough, again and again, dragging the Saints to the finish line. “I think it just reconfirms Tyler is just going to keep going for it,” coach Kellen Moore said. “That is just the way he plays. There are highs and lows in games. There are things that go our way, (there are) things that do not go our way, and he just keeps going.” The Saints struggled to run the ball again. Their excellent young left tackle, Kelvin Banks, left the game in the third quarter with an ankle injury and did not return. Their quarterback didn’t blink — even as Baltimore threw everything it had at him. Late in a tie game, staring into the teeth of the Ravens’ formidable pressure, Shough stood tall in the pocket and delivered a strike to his trusted tight end on third-and-8. It was a zone blitz. Baltimore showed six pass rushers at the snap, but two linemen dropped into a zone shortly after the start of the play. Shough took

Oct. 18 at Giants Noon

Oct. 25 Steelers 8:30 a.m.

Nov. 8 Browns Noon ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By STEPHANIE SCARBROUGH

Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry carries the ball against Saints cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry in the first half of their game on Sunday in Baltimore. The Ravens, to be fair, were missing star receiver Zay Flowers because of a hamstring injury. But that hardly looked like a problem early. In the first half, the Ravens strung together lengthy drives, relying on their bread and butter. Henry consistently put them in favorable down-and-distances. Jackson wiggled free, finding his targets downfield. Bateman and tight end Mark Andrews looked well-equipped to make up for Flowers’ absence. But as the game unfolded, Reid said he started to notice a “crack in the armor.” He first observed it when Granderson got a hand up to block Tyler Loop’s 49-yard field goal attempt, although the Ravens would go on to easily score on their ensuing drive. But that play, he thought, started to shift the momentum. New Orleans’ game plan also mattered. To combat Henry, the Saints consistently rotated their defensive linemen — notably pairing Cam Jordan

and Anfernee Jennings, two reliable run defenders, to set the edge. To limit the explosiveness of Baltimore’s passing attack, the Saints deployed zone coverages that dared Jackson to settle for throws underneath — and indeed, Jackson went from having 15 completions of at least 10 yards in Week 1 to just eight on Sunday. They mixed in linebacker Kaden Elliss on blitzes, an effective move that resulted in four pressures, according to Pro Football Focus’ initial charting. They also contained him in the pocket: Jackson rushed for only 34 yards on four carries and was sacked three times. “I feel like Staley doesn’t get enough credit,” Saints wide receiver Chris Olave said, referring to defensive coordinator Brandon Staley. “He puts the players in a great position to succeed.” “They did a great job with limiting the explosives,” Henry told reporters

in Baltimore’s locker room. “They did a great job of being where they needed to be and for those not to occur.” For Saints coach Kellen Moore, perhaps the most impressive aspect of Sunday’s defensive performance was that the unit never got rattled when Jackson made plays. And that was true even in the second half. In the third quarter, the Ravens had reached the red zone — only to get knocked out of the area on a huge thirddown sack from Young and settling for a 49-yard ﬁeld goal. And on the ﬁnal drive, the Ravens quickly reached New Orleans’ 37-yard line — but Granderson and Blackmon came through. “Our guys just didn’t stop,” Moore said. That’s been a theme for the Saints’ defense over the last two seasons. And on Sunday, that relentlessness helped earn them their biggest win in the Moore and Staley era.

Nov. 15 Panthers Noon

Nov. 22 at Bears Noon

Nov. 29 at Bengals Noon

Dec. 6 Packers Noon

a massive hit from former Saints pass rusher Trey Hendrickson as he released the ball, but he released it true. Juwan Johnson hauled it in, broke two tackles, and rumbled for 25 yards to the Baltimore 5-yard line. “We had a good play call, I knew I was going to be hot and Juwan did a really good job being friendly there,” Shough said. “I was able to dump it off to him, and he just made the play with his legs.” Four plays later, Shough pushed the ball across the goal line himself on a fourthand-1 sneak to give the Saints a lead for good. The play did not come without controversy — replay reviews did not deﬁnitively show Shough getting in, but also showed Shough’s head getting torqued by an aggressive face-mask grab from linebacker Roquan Smith. When the play stood, the defense had to hold up one last time against Jackson. The electric Ravens quarterback looked like he had some magic of his own ready, needing four plays to push the ball to the Saints’ 37. But, with 20 seconds remaining, the Saints pass rush forced an errant throw, and Blackmon was the only one with a chance at a play. He picked it off easily to seal the win. After the game, Saints pass rusher Chase Young described what he was feeling in the moment with an exaggerated, “Whew!” It was just the latest example of what could be with Shough under center. A week after he nearly directed the Saints to a dramatic come-from-behind win against the Detroit Lions, Shough proved

Saints quarterback Tyler Shough throws a pass in the second half of a game against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday in Baltimore. AP PHOTO By NICK WASS to the football-watching public that he and the Saints aren’t going anywhere. Shough finished 27 of 34 for 252 yards and a touchdown through the air and added 23 yards and a touchdown on the ground. New Orleans converted eight of its 15 third downs, many of which required Shough to dance around traffic before finding a target. It wasn’t a perfect game. The Saints got off to a slow start again, falling behind 14-3 with 24 seconds to go in the first half. They allowed Jackson to throw for 171 first-half passing yards, and future Hall-of-Fame running back Derrick Henry looked poised for yet another big day with 73 total first-half yards and a touchdown. But the Saints defense turned the

Dec. 13 at Panthers TBD

Dec. 20 at Buccaneers 7:15 p.m.

screws on the Ravens’ attack, limiting Henry to 17 rushing yards and Jackson to 64 passing yards, respectively, in the second half. That was more than enough for Shough to provide the heroics — and probably to shed his well-intentioned nickname. Chris Olave, who turned in another big game (eight catches, 86 yards and a touchdown), doesn’t think his quarterback needs to be compared to anybody else anyway. “Tyler’s one of one,” Olave said. “He’s making a name for himself in this league.”

Dec. 27

Email Luke Johnson at ljohnson@theadvocate.com.

Buccaneers TBD

Arizona Noon

Jan. 3 Falcons TBD

TBD

8C ✦ Monday, September 21, 2026 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

lll

SCOREBOARD Odds

Monday’s Games

Sports Betting Line NFL

College football

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

EAST

Monday

FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG at LA RAMS 9½ 6½ (47½) NY Giants

College Football Thursday

FAVORITE Liberty

OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG 1½ 1½ (52½) at C. CAR

FAVORITE Army Navy at INDIANA at CAL

OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG 3½ 3½ (50½) at TEMPLE 12½ 10½ (52½) at UAB 23½ 22½ (49½) Nrthwstrn 1½ 1½ (50½) Clemson

Friday

Saturday

FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG at UTSA 10½ 12 (57½) Colorado St Virginia Tech 14½ 14½ (54½) at B. COL UNLV 13½ 14 (49½) at AKRON at OSU 26½ 27½ (53½) Illinois at TEX TECH 40½ 37½ (54½) Sam Hou Texas 6½ 5½ (57½) at TENN at KENT ST 3½ 3½ (51½) Ball State at LOUVLLE 13½ 13½ (58½) W. Forest at TOLEDO 3½ 2½ (48½) San Dgo St at BAYLOR 6½ 8½ (53½) Colorado at KENTCKY 20½ 20½ (55½) S. Alabama UCLA 1½ 2½ (58½) at MRYLND Notre Dame 27½ 27½ (57½) at PURDUE at GSU 8½ 9½ (54½) N. Illinois Hawaii 5½ 5½ (45½) at WYMNG at MICHIGAN 4½ 4½ (38½) Iowa New Mexico 13½ 13½ (49½) at NMSU TCU 1½ 3½ (51½) at UCF at FLORIDA 1½ 2½ (59½) Ole Miss at MIA (OH) 5½ 3½ (49½) UConn at GEORGIA 10 14 (44½) Oklahoma Utah 11½ 10½ (49½) at IOWA ST Boise State 7½ 8 (47½) at W. MICH Houston 20½ 19½ (54½)at G. SOUTH at AUBURN 8½ 9½ (53½) Vanderbilt Nebraska 5½ 4½ (48½) at MSU at PENN ST 11½ 9½ (44½) Wisconsin S. Florida 14½ 17½ (51½) at B. GREEN at VIRGINIA 21½ 20½ (54½) Delaware James Mad 1½ 4½ (49½)at OLD DOM UL 13½ 13½ (51½) at CHRLTTE at MIA (FL) 42½ 42½ (54½) C. Michigan at ALABAMA 11½ 11½ (54½) S. Carolina at WEST VA 2½ 1½ (60½) Oklah St. at JAX ST 12½ 9 (53½) M. Tenn at ARKAN ST. 5½ 4½ (54½) Kennsw St. at TULANE 16½ 18½ (53½) S. Miss Kansas St. 6½ 6½ (53½) at CIN at LSU 3 8½ (53½) Texas A&M at NC ST 11½ 14 (54½) App St Oregon 5½ 2½ (62½) at USC at UTAH ST 1½ 2½ (50½) Troy Arizona 12½ 13½ (48½) at WASH ST at MISS ST 1½ 4 (58½) Missouri at ARKAN 10½ 7½ (52½) Tulsa Fla Atlantic 11½ 13½ (58½) at ULM UMass 5½ 6 (49½) at SAC ST. at SMU 34½ 34½ (59½) Missou St. Oregon St. 10½ 12½ (56½) at UTEP at FRES ST 12½ 12½ (44½) Rice Air Force 3½ 4½ (48½) at NEVADA Georgia Tech 5½ 4½ (47½) at STNFRD at WASH 8½ 9½ (45½) Minnesota

MLB

Monday

American League FAVORITE LINE Toronto -112 Interleague FAVORITE LINE at DETROIT OFF Minnesota -124

UNDERDOG at BALTIMORE

LINE -104

UNDERDOG Washington at SAN FRAN

LINE OFF +106

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

W 28 27 25 25 15 11 10

L 14 14 16 16 27 30 32

Pct GB .667 — .659 ½ .610 2½ .610 2½ .357 13 .268 16½ .238 18

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

W 32 31 28 26 16 15 15 8

L 10 11 13 16 26 26 27 34

Pct GB .762 — .738 1 .683 3½ .619 6 .381 16 .366 16½ .357 17 .190 24

WESTERN CONFERENCE

x-clinched playoff spot Saturday’s Games

Dallas 87, Phoenix 82 Atlanta 106, Chicago 81 Golden State 70, Seattle 57

Tuesday’s Games

Pro football

NFL Glance AMERICAN CONFERENCE Buffalo New England N.Y. Jets Miami

W 2 1 1 0

L 0 1 1 1

T Pct PF 01.000 77 0 .500 30 0 .500 40 0 .000 13

PA 62 16 30 27

Jacksonville Indianapolis Tennessee Houston

W 1 0 0 0

L 0 1 2 2

T Pct PF 01.000 34 0 .000 23 0 .000 30 0 .000 37

PA 10 41 47 56

Cincinnati Baltimore Pittsburgh Cleveland

W 2 1 1 0

L 0 1 1 1

T Pct PF 01.000 53 0 .500 58 0 .500 23 0 .000 10

PA 33 47 33 34

Kansas City Las Vegas L.A. Chargers Denver

W 1 1 0 0

L 0 0 1 1

T Pct PF 01.000 31 01.000 27 0 .000 14 0 .000 10

PA 10 13 26 31

Philadelphia N.Y. Giants Washington Dallas

W 2 1 0 0

L 0 0 1 1

T Pct PF 01.000 48 01.000 28 0 .000 22 0 .000 20

PA 42 20 24 28

Carolina New Orleans Tampa Bay Atlanta

W 1 1 0 0

L 1 1 1 2

T Pct 0 .500 0 .500 0 .000 0 .000

PF 71 54 27 16

PA 62 48 33 54

Minnesota Detroit Chicago Green Bay

W 2 1 1 1

L 0 1 1 1

T Pct PF 01.000 48 0 .500 62 0 .500 62 0 .500 42

PA 25 71 46 56

San Francisco Seattle Arizona L.A. Rams

W 1 1 1 0

L 0 0 0 1

T Pct PF 01.000 27 01.000 13 01.000 26 0 .000 7

PA 7 10 14 27

North

West

NATIONAL CONFERENCE East

South

North

West

Thursday’s Games

Buffalo 41, Detroit 31

Sunday’s Games

Cleveland at Tampa Bay, sus. Carolina 34, Atlanta 3 Cincinnati 20, Houston 6 Green Bay 20, N.Y. Jets 17, OT Minnesota 9, Chicago 3 New England 20, Pittsburgh 3 New Orleans 24, Baltimore 17 Philadelphia 24, Tennessee 20 Denver 20, Jacksonville 13 Las Vegas 26, L.A. Chargers 14 Dallas 37, Washington 20 San Francisco 35, Miami 13 Seattle 31, Arizona 7 Indianapolis at Kansas City, n

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 Oklahoma St. 59, Murray St. 0 Sam Houston St. 59, Nicholls 0 Stephen F. Austin 31, Prairie View 10 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 Abilene Christian 41, Idaho 39 Arizona 42, N. Illinois 17 BYU 41, Colorado St. 23 Boise St. 38, South Dakota 24 California 49, Wagner 7 Fresno St. 26, San Jose St. 10 James Madison 26, San Diego St. 13 Montana St. 35, CCSU 30 N. Arizona 35, Utah Tech 23 N. Colorado 23, Northeastern St. 17, OT N. Dakota St. 31, Sacramento St. 10 Oregon St. 52, Montana 17 San Diego 38, Cal Poly 35 UC Davis 45, Stetson 7 UCLA 52, Purdue 38 Utah 33, Utah St. 0 Washington 48, E. Washington 16 Washington St. 48, Duquesne 7 Weber St. 49, Northwestern St. 20

Connecticut at Washington, 6:30 p.m. Minnesota at Indiana, 7 p.m. Toronto at Chicago, 7 p.m. Atlanta at New York, 7 p.m. Dallas at Phoenix, 9 p.m. Golden State at Portland, 9 p.m. Los Angeles at Las Vegas, 9 p.m

South

SOUTH

Alabama 50, Florida St. 36 Alabama A&M 45, Bowie St. 3 Appalachian St. 26, Charlotte 21 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 32, LSU 24 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

FAR WEST

Sunday’s Games

Minnesota 101, Connecticut 89 New York 106, Toronto 69 Washington 93, Indiana 77 Los Angeles 105, Portland 84 Seattle at Las Vegas, n

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

Golf Biltmore Championship Asheville Sunday

At The Cliffs at Walnut Cove Arden, N.C. Purse: $5 million Yardage: 7,249; Par: 71 Final Round J. Bridgeman $900,000 66-67-64-61—258 -26 B. James $545,000 67-67-65-61—260 -24 Ricky Castillo $295,000 69-62-65-65—261 -23 Neal Shipley $295,000 65-62-65-69—261 -23 Ja. Koivun $193,125 68-67-63-65—263 -21 J.T. Poston $193,125 68-66-69-60—263 -21 Zecheng Dou $157,083 67-67-65-65—264 -20 Johnny Keefer $157,083 67-70-62-65—264 -20 Seamus Power $157,083 66-67-65-66—264 -20 M. Greyserman $116,250 64-67-66-68—265 -19 Chris Kirk $116,250 65-69-66-65—265 -19 Hao-Tong Li $116,250 70-67-61-67—265 -19 Marco Penge $116,250 68-66-64-67—265 -19 J. VanDerLaan $116,250 68-66-65-66—265 -19 Ben Kohles $88,750 65-63-65-73—266 -18 Jackson Suber $88,750 65-68-67-66—266 -18 Doug Ghim $71,250 71-68-66-62—267 -17 Peter Malnati $71,250 65-71-67-64—267 -17 Andrew Novak $71,250 68-70-63-66—267 -17 A. Smotherman $71,250 66-68-68-65—267 -17 Blades Brown $71,250 70-68-65-64—267 -17 Steven Fisk $54,250 68-66-67-67—268 -16 John Parry $54,250 68-67-65-68—268 -16 Z. Bauchou $38,083 67-68-67-67—269 -15 Trace Crowe $38,083 68-68-66-67—269 -15 Austin Eckroat $38,083 69-66-68-66—269 -15 M. Hughes $38,083 65-70-64-70—269 -15 Michael Kim $38,083 70-68-64-67—269 -15 Kevin Roy $38,083 67-67-71-64—269 -15 Webb Simpson $38,083 71-66-65-67—269 -15 Kevin Yu $38,083 70-68-62-69—269 -15 Eric Cole $38,083 64-68-64-73—269 -15 Tyler Duncan $26,667 68-68-66-68—270 -14 Justin Lower $26,667 72-67-64-67—270 -14 Ben Martin $26,667 67-69-68-66—270 -14 Jeremy Paul $26,667 69-67-67-67—270 -14 Chad Ramey $26,667 67-68-65-70—270 -14 Gordon Sargent $26,667 66-69-65-70—270 -14 Adam Hadwin $21,250 68-70-64-69—271 -13 Rico Hoey $21,250 67-67-70-67—271 -13 Adam Svensson $21,250 72-66-66-67—271 -13 Karl Vilips $21,250 68-68-68-67—271 -13 Corey Conners $14,860 70-69-69-64—272 -12 Billy Horschel $14,860 67-68-68-69—272 -12 Takumi Kanaya $14,860 73-66-65-68—272 -12 Troy Merritt $14,860 69-69-65-69—272 -12 Pontus Nyholm $14,860 66-67-70-69—272 -12 Paul Peterson $14,860 67-68-67-70—272 -12 Adam Schenk $14,860 68-68-67-69—272 -12 Ben Silverman $14,860 68-67-68-69—272 -12 Hayden Springer $14,860 71-68-67-66—272 -12 $14,860 68-71-68-65—272 -12 Vince Whaley $11,883 70-68-66-69—273 -11 Zac Blair Davis Chatﬁeld $11,883 67-72-67-67—273 -11 C. Phillips $11,883 70-69-65-69—273 -11 Pierceson Coody $11,450 66-72-71-65—274 -10 Stephan Jaeger $11,450 70-69-68-67—274 -10 Isaiah Salinda $11,450 68-71-69-66—274 -10

Nick Taylor $11,450 Dylan Wu $11,450 Jonathan Byrd $11,000 Patton Kizzire $11,000 Hank Lebioda $11,000 William Mouw $11,000 C. Blanchet $10,600 Brice Garnett $10,600 Harry Higgs $10,600 Andrew Putnam $10,600 Cameron Davis $10,250 Lucas Glover $10,250 Will Gordon $10,250 C. Champ $10,000 M. Thompson $10,000 David Skinns $9,850 Nick Dunlap $9,750

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL

67-70-70-67—274 -10 69-70-68-67—274 -10 70-68-69-68—275 -9 68-71-65-71—275 -9 70-68-72-65—275 -9 72-67-67-69—275 -9 69-70-68-69—276 -8 69-66-68-73—276 -8 66-71-70-69—276 -8 71-68-69-68—276 -8 66-71-70-71—278 -6 67-70-75-66—278 -6 69-68-69-72—278 -6 70-68-67-75—280 -4 70-68-73-69—280 -4 73-66-68-76—283 -1 67-71-75-71—284 E

Tennis WTA SP Open Results Saturday

At Parque Villa-Lobos São Paulo, Brazil Purse: $283,347 Surface: Hardcourt outdoor Results Saturday from SP Open at Parque Villa-Lobos (seedings in parentheses):

Women’s Singles

Semiﬁnals Kaitlin Quevedo (7), Spain, def. Anna Blinkova (4), Russia, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4. Nadia Podoroska, Argentina, def. Paula Badosa (2), Spain, 6-3, 6-4.

Women’s Doubles

Semiﬁnals Anna Rogers and Allura Zamarripa (4), United States, def. Valeriya Strakhova, Ukraine, and Anastasia Tikhonova (2), Russia, 6-3, 6-0.

WTA Guadalajara Open Results Saturday

At Panamerican Tennis Center Guadalajara, Mexico Purse: $1,206,446 Surface: Hardcourt outdoor Results Saturday from Guadalajara Open at Panamerican Tennis Center (seedings in parentheses):

American League

National League

East Division

z-Tampa Bay z-New York Boston Toronto Baltimore

W 95 89 84 76 75

L 60 65 72 79 80

Pct GB .613 — .578 5½ .538 11½ .490 19 .484 20

Cleveland Chicago Detroit Minnesota Kansas City

W 80 79 73 72 67

L 75 76 82 83 89

Pct GB .516 — .510 1 .471 7 .465 8 .429 13½

W Texas 78 Houston 77 Seattle 72 Athletics 61 Los Angeles 60 z-clinched playoff berth

L 77 79 83 94 95

Pct .503 .494 .465 .394 .387

Central Division

West Division

Saturday’s Games

Auto racing NASCAR Cup Series Bass Pro Shops Night Race Results

L 64 70 80 83 85

Pct .590 .551 .487 .468 .455

x-Milwaukee Chicago Pittsburgh St. Louis Cincinnati

W 97 87 79 76 72

L 58 69 77 80 84

Pct GB .626 — .558 10½ .506 18½ .487 21½ .462 25½

W 96 87 82 64 57

L 60 69 74 92 99

Pct .615 .558 .526 .410 .365

Central Division

West Division x-Los Angeles San Diego Arizona San Francisco Colorado x-clinched division

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

Chicago Cubs 9, Cincinnati 1 Philadelphia 7, N.Y. Mets 2 Pittsburgh 4, Kansas City 3 St. Louis 5, Washington 3 Atlanta 4, Houston 2 Seattle 2, Colorado 1 San Diego 7, Miami 3 L.A. Dodgers 3, San Francisco 1 Arizona 8, N.Y. Yankees 4 Milwaukee at Baltimore,n

Toronto (Yesavage 5-5) at Baltimore (Baz 6-15), 5:35 p.m. Washington (TBD) at Detroit, 5:40 p.m. Minnesota (Ober 7-6) at San Francisco (Roupp 9-14), 8:45 p.m.

Washington (TBD) at Detroit (Ryan 0-0), 5:40 p.m. Minnesota (Ober 7-6) at San Francisco (Roupp 9-14), 8:45 p.m.

Sunday’s Games

Monday’s Games

GB — 6 16 19 21

GB — 9 14 32 39

Saturday’s Games

Milwaukee 1, Baltimore 0 N.Y. Mets 10, Philadelphia 3 Chicago Cubs 5, Cincinnati 2 Pittsburgh 6, Kansas City 5 Atlanta 6, Houston 3 Colorado 5, Seattle 3 Arizona 5, N.Y. Yankees 3 Washington 8, St. Louis 5, 11 innings L.A. Dodgers 10, San Francisco 4 San Diego 7, Miami 6, 10 innings

Sunday’s Games

Monday’s Games

WILD CARD GLANCE

Championship Iva Jovic (2), United States, def. Peyton Stearns, United States, 6-4, 6-2. Championship Nicole Melichar-Martinez, United States, and Cristina Bucsa (1), Spain, def. Peangtarn Plipuech, Thailand, and Momoko Kobori, Japan, 6-2, 5-7, 10-5.

W 92 86 76 73 71

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 L.A. Angels 6, Minnesota 5, 11 innings

Women’s Singles

Women’s Doubles

GB — 1½ 6 17 18

x-Atlanta Philadelphia Miami Washington New York

American League z-New York Boston Chicago Houston Toronto Baltimore

W 89 84 79 77 76 75

National League L 65 72 76 79 79 80

Pct WCGB .578 +10½ .538 +4½ .510 — .494 2½ .490 3 .484 4

Chicago San Diego Philadelphia

W 87 86 86

L 69 69 70

Pct WCGB .558 +1 .555 +½ .551 —

Saturday

At Bristol Motor Speedway Bristol, Tenn. Lap length: 0.53 miles (Start position in parentheses) 1. (2) Joey Logano, Ford, 500 laps, 73 points. 2. (1) Kyle Larson, Chevrolet, 500, 47. 3. (5) Carson Hocevar, Chevrolet, 500, 41. 4. (12) Christopher Bell, Toyota, 500, 39. 5. (13) Ty Gibbs, Toyota, 500, 47. 6. (32) Josh Berry, Ford, 500, 38. 7. (10) Bubba Wallace, Toyota, 500, 36. 8. (3) Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 500, 37. 9. (4) William Byron, Chevrolet, 500, 31. 10. (16) Ryan Preece, Ford, 500, 27. 11. (8) Austin Cindric, Ford, 500, 30. 12. (7) Ross Chastain, Chevrolet, 500, 32. 13. (23) Chris Buescher, Ford, 499, 25. 14. (28) Daniel Suárez, Chevrolet, 498, 23. 15. (11) Brad Keselowski, Ford, 498, 24. 16. (36) Noah Gragson, Ford, 498, 21. 17. (9) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet, 498, 20. 18. (20) Tyler Reddick, Toyota, 497, 19. 19. (24) Todd Gilliland, Ford, 497, 18. 20. (22) Shane Van Gisbergen, Chevrolet, 497, 17. 21. (21) Michael McDowell, Chevrolet, 497, 16. 22. (18) AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet, 497, 15. 23. (27) Chase Elliott, Chevrolet, 497, 14. 24. (15) Connor Zilisch, Chevrolet, 496, 13. 25. (19) John H. Nemechek, Toyota, 495, 12. 26. (17) Cole Custer, Chevrolet, 495, 11. 27. (26) Chase Briscoe, Toyota, suspension, 494, 10. 28. (35) Zane Smith, Ford, 494, 9. 29. (25) Austin Hill, Chevrolet, 494, 0. 30. (31) Ricky Stenhouse Jr, Chevrolet, 490, 7. 31. (30) Cody Ware, Chevrolet, 489, 6. 32. (14) Erik Jones, Toyota, 483, 5. 33. (29) Ryan Blaney, Ford, accident, 457, 19. 34. (34) Riley Herbst, Toyota, suspension, 432, 3. 35. (6) Alex Bowman, Chevrolet, accident, 428, 2. 36. (33) Ty Dillon, Chevrolet, 402, 1. 37. (37) Josh Bilicki, Ford, suspension, 338, 0. Race Statistics Average Speed of Race Winner: 87.701 mph. Time of Race: 3 hours, 2 minutes, 20 seconds. Margin of Victory: 1.248 seconds. Caution Flags: 10 for 78 laps. Lead Changes: 13 among 6 drivers. Lap Leaders: K.Larson 0-44; J.Logano 45130; K.Larson 131; R.Blaney 132-254; C.Bell 255; R.Blaney 256-324; T.Gibbs 325-386; R.Blaney 387-396; C.Hocevar 397-430; T.Gibbs 431; C.Hocevar 432-434; T.Gibbs 435-491; C.Hocevar 492-493; J.Logano 494-500 Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Led, Laps Led): R.Blaney, 3 times for 202 laps; T.Gibbs, 3 times for 120 laps; J.Logano, 2 times for 93 laps; K.Larson, 2 times for 45 laps; C.Hocevar, 3 times for 39 laps; C.Bell, 1 time for 1 lap. Wins: T.Reddick, 5; D.Hamlin, 4; J.Logano, 3; R.Blaney, 3; T.Gibbs, 2; C.Elliott, 2; S.Van Gisbergen, 2; K.Larson, 1; C.Bell, 1; C.Hocevar, 1; C.Briscoe, 1; R.Preece, 1; D.Suárez, 1. Top 16 in Points: 1. K.Larson, 2206; 2. D.Hamlin, 2205; 3. J.Logano, 2190; 4. C.Bell, 2189; 5. T.Gibbs, 2164; 6. R.Blaney, 2154; 7. T.Reddick, 2145; 8. C.Hocevar, 2121; 9. C.Briscoe, 2119; 10. B.Wallace, 2114; 11. A.Cindric, 2090; 12. C.Elliott, 2089; 13. W.Byron, 2085; 14. R.Preece, 2082; 15. C.Buescher, 2082; 16. D.Suárez, 2072. NASCAR Driver Rating Formula A maximum of 150 points can be attained in a race. The formula combines the following categories: Wins, Finishes, Top-15 Finishes, Average Running Position While on Lead Lap, Average Speed Under Green, Fastest Lap, Led Most Laps, Lead-Lap Finish.

Transactions Major League Baseball

American League ATLANTA BRAVES — Sent RHP Robert Suarez on a rehab assignment to Gwinnett (IL). BOSTON RED SOX — Reinstated RHP Tyron Guerrero from the 15-Day IL. Optioned RHP Wyatt Olds to Worcester (IL). CHICAGO WHITE SOX — Reinstated RHP Huascar Brazobán from the 15-day IL. Optioned LHP Chris Murphy to Charlotte (IL). TAMPA BAY RAYS — Reinstated 2B Ben Williamson from the 10-day IL. Designated RF Jake Fraley for assignment. TEXAS RANGERS — Placed RHP Cal Quantrill on the 15-Day IL. Recalled RHP Winston Santos from Round Rock (PCL). National League ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS — Sent RHP Ryan Thompson on rehab assignment to Reno (PCL). CHICAGO CUBS — Sent LHP Riley Martin on a rehab assignment to Iowa (IL). CINCINNATI REDS — Placed RHP Chase Burns on the 15-day IL, retroactive to Sept. 19. Designated CF TJ Friedl for assignment. Selected the contract of RHP Carson Spiers from Louisville (IL). LOS ANGELES DODGERS — Placed LHP Tarik Skubal on the bereavement list. Recalled RHP Emmet Sheehan from Oklahoma City (PCL). Recalled RHP Kyle Hurt from Oklahoma City. PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES — Recalled RHP Max Lazar from Lehigh Valley (IL). Optioned RHP Orion Kerkering to Lehigh Valley. SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS — Optioned LHP Philip Abner to Sacramento (PCL). Recalled RHP Tristan Beck from Sacramento.

BASKETBALL

Women’s National Basketball Association GOLDEN STATE VALKYRIES — Signed C Aminata Gueye to a Rest-of-Season Hardship contract. Waived C Nadia Fingall.

HOCKEY

National Hockey League FLORIDA PANTHERS — Agreed to terms with C/LW Samu Salminen on a 2-year, $1.96M contract.

BOX SCORES Atlanta 4, Houston 2

Toronto 7, Texas 2

Atlanta

Toronto

Houston

Texas

ab r h bi ab r h bi Baldwin c 4 0 1 0 Peña ss 5 0 10 Acuña dh 3 0 1 0 Alvarez lf 4 0 20 Olson 1b 4 0 0 0 Paredes 3b 3 0 00 Harris cf 2 1 0 0 Altuve dh 4 1 21 Dubón 3b 4 1 1 0 Diaz c 4 1 21 Albies 2b 4 1 1 1 Walker 1b 3 0 00 Ystrzmski lf 4 1 2 3 C.Smith rf 4 0 00 Hicklen rf 4 0 0 0 Allen 2b 4 0 00 Kim ss 4 0 0 0 Matthews cf 4 0 1 0 Totals 33 4 6 4 Totals 35 2 8 2 Atlanta 000 004 000 — 4 Houston 000 100 010 — 2 E_Paredes (8). DP_Atlanta 0, Houston 1. LOB_Atlanta 6, Houston 8. 2B_Dubón (28). HR_Yastrzemski (12), Altuve (16), Diaz (13). IP H R ER BB SO Atlanta Pérez 4 1⁄3 6 1 1 2 2 2 Mederos W,5-1 ⁄3 0 0 0 0 1 Smith-Shawver H,1 2 1 0 0 0 4 Kerr H,2 1 1 1 1 0 1 Dodd S,2-2 1 0 0 0 0 3 Houston Brown 5 3 0 0 2 10 King L,3-6 BS,6-12 0 3 4 4 1 0 Ullola 2 0 0 0 1 0 Imai 2 0 0 0 0 4 King pitched to 4 batters in the 6th. WP_Smith-Shawver, Brown. ABS Challenge_Smith-Shawver (BallOverturned to Strike); Kerr (Ball-Overturned to Strike). Umpires_Home, Edwin Moscoso; First, Lance Barksdale; Second, Lance Barrett; Third, Nic Lentz. T_2:46. A_36,612 (41,000).

ab r h bi ab r h bi Bateman cf 3 3 1 0 Langford lf 3 0 10 Guerrero 1b 2 0 1 0 Seager dh 5 0 00 Straw lf 2 1 1 0 Jung 3b 4 0 00 Lukes rf 3 2 2 2 Duran ss 3 1 00 Okamoto 1b 5 0 1 1 Osuna rf 4 0 20 Keys dh 2 0 1 1 Burger 1b 3 1 12 Springer dh 1 0 0 0 Lopez 2b 2 0 00 Smith lf-3b 2 0 0 0 Foscue ph-2b 2 0 1 0 McAdoo 1b 3 1 1 2 Jansen c 4 0 00 Giménez ss 5 0 1 1 Carter cf 4 0 30 Valenzuela c3 0 1 0 Clement 2b 4 0 1 0 Totals 35 7 11 7 Totals 34 2 8 2 Toronto 101 010 400 — 7 Texas 000 200 000 — 2 DP_Toronto 1, Texas 2. LOB_Toronto 9, Texas 9. 2B_Keys (2), Bateman (6), McAdoo (3), Clement (32). HR_Burger (27). SF_Lukes (3). IP H R ER BB SO Toronto Miles 3 2 0 0 0 4 Arrighetti W,9-9 2 1⁄3 2 2 2 2 2 1 Fluharty H,18 ⁄3 1 0 0 1 0 1 Sewald H,3 ⁄3 0 0 0 0 0 Rodriguez 1 1 0 0 0 1 Rogers 1 1 0 0 0 0 Varland 1 1 0 0 1 0 Texas deGrom L,11-10 4 1⁄3 5 3 3 4 2 Garcia 1 2⁄3 1 0 0 0 0 Alexander 0 2 3 3 1 0 2 Silseth ⁄3 1 1 1 0 1 1 Macko 2 ⁄3 2 0 0 1 2 Alexander pitched to 3 batters in the 7th. HBP_deGrom (Keys). ABS Challenge_Carter (Strike-Overturned to Ball). Umpires_Home, James Jean; First, Scott Barry; Second, Tom Hanahan; Third, Manny Gonzalez. T_2:57. A_33,694 (40,000).

Chicago White Sox 8, Detroit 1

Arizona 8, N.Y. Yankees 4

Detroit

Chicago

ab r h bi ab r h bi McGnigle dh4 0 0 0 Antonacci lf 4 1 22 Torres 2b 4 0 0 0 Pham ph 1 0 10 Lee 3b 4 0 0 0 Peters pr-lf 0 1 00 Greene lf 4 1 1 0 Teel c 4 1 11 Valencia c 4 0 3 0 Vargas 3b 2 0 10 Clark cf 2 0 0 1 Murakami 1b 2 0 0 1 Torkelson 1b2 0 1 0 Benintendi dh 2 0 0 0 Callahan rf 4 0 1 0 Grichuk ph-dh 2 0 0 1 Peck ss 3 0 0 0 C.Mntgmry ss 3 2 1 0 Meidroth 2b 5 2 12 B.Montgmry rf 4 0 2 1 Doyle cf 4 1 10 Totals 31 1 6 1 Totals 33 810 8 Detroit 000 000 010 — 1 Chicago 010 320 02x — 8 E_Torkelson (4). LOB_Detroit 10, Chicago 11. 2B_Torkelson (27), Greene (31), B.Montgomery (15), Antonacci (24). HR_Meidroth (15). SB_Antonacci (19), Meidroth (4). SF_Clark (1), Grichuk (3). IP H R ER BB SO Detroit Melton L,8-5 3 2⁄3 4 4 4 3 4 1 Holton ⁄3 1 0 0 2 0 Madden 3 3 2 2 1 2 Hurter 1 2 2 2 2 1 Chicago Martin 4 1⁄3 3 0 0 2 6 2 Smith ⁄3 0 0 0 2 1 Brazobán W,6-2 1 1 0 0 0 0 Richards 2 2 1 1 1 1 Castillo 1 0 0 0 0 1 HBP_Melton (Murakami), Martin (Torkelson). WP_Madden, Richards. ABS Challenge_Antonacci (Strike-Conﬁrmed); Teel (Strike-Conﬁrmed); Smith (Ball-Overturned to Strike); Smith (BallOverturned to Strike). Umpires_Home, Nate Tomlinson; First, Bruce Dreckman; Second, Carlos Torres; Third, Mark Wegner. T_2:50. A_21,354 (40,241).

New York

Arizona

ab r h bi ab r h bi Rice dh 3 0 0 0 Nootbaar lf 3 2 20 Bellinger lf 4 0 1 0 Lawlar ph-cf 2 0 0 0 Ramos rf 4 1 1 1 Marte 2b 4 1 20 García 1b 4 1 1 0 Moreno c 3 2 20 Lombard ss 4 1 2 2 Perdomo ss 4 1 22 Jones cf 4 1 1 1 Carroll rf 3 1 12 Volpe 2b 4 0 1 0 Arenado 3b 4 1 14 Wells c 3 0 1 0 J.Sánchez dh 3 0 0 0 Caballero 3b4 0 0 0 Smith 1b 1 0 00 Vargas 1b 2 0 10 Tawa cf-lf 4 0 00 Totals 34 4 8 4 Totals 33 811 8 New York 004 000 000 — 4 Arizona 100 050 20x — 8 E_Volpe (6). DP_New York 3, Arizona 1. LOB_New York 5, Arizona 5. 2B_Nootbaar (14). 3B_Perdomo (7). HR_Ramos (13), Lombard (5), Jones (11), Arenado (27). IP H R ER BB SO New York 4 3 4 Warren 4 1⁄3 6 4 2 ⁄3 1 2 2 1 1 Headrick L,7-4 Hill 1 1 0 0 0 0 Schreiber 1 3 2 2 0 0 Gil 1 0 0 0 0 1 Arizona 4 2 2 Burnes 2 2⁄3 5 4 0 0 2 Nelson 1 1⁄3 0 0 Martinez W,3-0 1 0 0 0 0 2 Clarke H,14 1 2 0 0 0 1 Garcia H,17 1 0 0 0 0 1 Loáisiga 2 1 0 0 0 0 ABS Challenge_Warren (Ball-Conﬁrmed); Perdomo (Strike-Conﬁrmed); Garcia (Ball-Overturned to Strike); Gil (BallOverturned to Strike). Umpires_Home, Cory Blaser; First, Andy Fletcher; Second, Jansen Visconti; Third, Alex Tosi. T_2:42. A_37,755 (48,359).

THIS DATE IN BASEBALL Sept. 21

1934 — Daffy Dean of the St. Louis Cardinals pitched a no-hitter against the Brooklyn Dodgers for 3-0 victory in the second game of an Ebbets Field doubleheader. Daffy’s brother Dizzy, held Brooklyn hitless until the eighth inning in the opener and won 13-0. 1947 — Boston’s Johnny Pesky had two hits in each game of a doubleheader and finished the day with 202 hits. Pesky surpassed the 200-hit mark for the third time in as many major league seasons. He is the only player to lead a league in hits in his first three seasons in the game. 1964 — Manager Gene Mauch’s first-place Phillies lost 1-0 to the Cincinnati Reds on Chico Ruiz’s steal of home in the sixth inning. It was Philadelphia’s first of 10 straight losses, a streak that cost them the NL pennant.

1970 — Oakland’s Vida Blue pitched a no-hitter in his eighth major league start, beating Minnesota 6-0. 1995 — Colorado’s John Vander Wal set a major league record with his 26th pinchhit of the season with a home run in the seventh inning against San Francisco. 2000 — Colorado’s Jeff Cirillo doubled twice in a 13-4 win over San Diego, giving him 51 doubles for the year. Cirillo and Todd Helton (57) became the seventh pair of teammates in major league history to reach 50 doubles in the same season. 2001 — Albert Pujols hit a grand slam and doubled in a run in St. Louis’ 9-5 win over Pittsburgh. The slam gave him the major league record for extra base hits by a rookie (83), one more than Johnny Frederick’s total for Brooklyn in 1929.

LIVING

N O L A.C O M

M o n d ay, S e p t e M b e r 21, 2026

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La. baker rises to occasion on Food Network New Orleans cake artist one of nine still in competition BY JUDY BERGERON Staff writer

PROVIDED PHOTO FROM LE PAVILLON

A stack of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches is ready for guests and visitors to enjoy at Le Pavillon Hotel in New Orleans.

BY MATTHEW HAINES | Contributing writer

Despite burnt brownies and a not-so-humorous comedic mask creation, Louisiana’s Baindu Squire will live to bake another week on Food Network’s “Halloween Baking Championship.” New Orleans cake artist Squire and nine other contestants from around the United States were introduced on the series’ 12th season premiere on Sept. 14. The show returns at 7 p.m. Monday and will stream the following day on HBO Max. “A classically trained chef and the talent behind Lady B’s Cakes, Squire brings her Philadelphia upbringing and distinctive culinary perspective to the competition,” according to a Food Network news release. Squire, born and raised in Philadelphia, competed on Food Network’s “Holiday Wars” in 2020. She is a ﬁrst-generation Sierra Leonean. This season’s backdrop for “Halloween Baking Championship” is the Museum of Unnatural History, “where eerie exhibits inspire a series of artistic and blood-curdling baking challenges,” the release also said.

As you approach Le Pavillon Hotel, it stands apart from the jungle of modern architecture that comprises Poydras Street. A gem of the French Renaissance Revival style, it has been a historic structure of the Central Business District since 1907.

Why are the iconic sandwiches a free late-night tradition at this downtown New Orleans hotel? Inside, a little after 9 p.m., the sounds of a jazz trio — piano, upright bass and female vocals — ﬂoat over marble ﬂoors, under crystal chandeliers and across European and American art and antiques. You’ll see Bar 1803, a lounge with red velvet decor and guests sipping cocktails under the watchful eye of a large, masked Napoleon Bonaparte portrait. ä See CURIOUS, page 2D ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By KATIE WORKMAN

More than a century later, the peanut butter and jelly sandwich remains a favorite for many Americans.

The versatile, no-fuss creation remains king of the lunchbox after 125 years BY KATIE WORKMAN

Associated Press

If there is a single sandwich associated with childhood and school lunches in the USA, it has to be the PB&J. Sweet and salty, inexpensive, easy to make (maybe the first sandwich many kids make for themselves?), peanut butter and jelly is as close to iconic as a sandwich can get.

It’s been 125 years since the ﬁrst known written recipe, and the PB&J concept is still going strong. In its simplest form, it’s a lunchbox staple, but it’s also a jumping-off point for creative takes in eateries from delis to high-end restaurants. It’s nothing if not versatile: When peanut allergies led to school bans, alternative nut

ä See SANDWICH, page 2D

PHOTO VIA DETROIT PUBLISHING CO. / PROVIDED By THE LIBRARy OF CONGRESS

A 1910 photo shows the New Denechaud Hotel in New Orleans. Five years after its 1907 opening, the hotel would be rebranded the Hotel DeSoto and, in 1971, Le Pavillon Hotel.

PROVIDED PHOTO By ROB PRyCE/ FOOD NETWORK

Follow Baindu Squire, of New Orleans’ Lady B’s Cakes, on Season 12 of Food Network’s ‘Halloween Baking Championship.’

For their ﬁrst challenge, the “Haunted Heat,” the contestants were tasked with transforming their “best Halloween ever” into a dessert. “One of the most iconic Halloween memories that I have was a party my roommate and I put together. I was Whitney Houston. We had karaoke. We had libations. We had brownies, of course. And so I’m making a layered walnut brownie,” she explained. “People brought snacks. There was pretzels. There was ginger snap cookies, marshmallows. And so I incorporated all of that.” A black jacket fashioned of fondant, coating chocolate (also called compound chocolate) for the rhinestones, and isomalt, a sugar substitute often used for edible decorations, would be her dessert’s dramatic centerpiece. “I totally burned this,” Squire said, pulling the pan of coal-colored brownies from the oven. “I’m thinking I have to do a little

ä See BAKING, page 2D

2D ✦ Monday, September 21, 2026 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

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Proprioception helps brain with movement

CURIOUS

Continued from page 1D Each detail oozes opulence, which is why you may be shocked to notice what’s on the plate of every satisﬁed bar patron: humble, nostalgia-inducing peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in all varieties. Two guests, both in town for a healthcare conference, argue about the ideal ﬁllings. Shannon Huron from Ohio considers herself a traditionalist, opting for smooth peanut butter and blueberry jam on white bread. Her friend and coworker, Chrissie Twomey of New Hampshire, rebrands “traditional” as “boring” and shows off her wheat bread bursting with crunchy peanut butter and strawberry jam. While they have little in common when it comes to sandwiches, the two wholeheartedly agree on why they would rather be eating one at the end of the night than exploring the French Quarter or nodding off to sleep. “Traveling can feel adventurous, but it can also sometimes feel lonely,” Huron said. “To be able to come to an elegant place like Le Pavillon, sit among other guests, and enjoy something that feels so comforting and homey at the end of the night is really special.” What adds to that feeling, Huron said, is knowing the hotel has engaged in this custom nearly every night since Sept. 10, 1988.

A tradition begins Some details are lost to history — the name of the man who began the tradition and where he was from, for example — but the gist of the story is part of Le Pavillon lore. It began with a businessman who ordered a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and a glass of milk at the hotel’s bar. The bartender found this a curious order and asked why. The man said he traveled a lot for work and being away from home was tough on him, his wife and young daughter, especially in the era before cellphones. So, they began little rituals to feel more connected. Because the man’s daughter loved a late-night PB&J with a glass of milk, the two decided that every night around 9 p.m., they would both enjoy her favorite treat. No matter how far apart they were, they could trust that they were think-

SANDWICH

Continued from page 1D butters like almond and seed butters like sunﬂower, ﬂaxseed and pumpkin seed stepped in.

The combo’s beginnings The recipe that appeared in 1901 in The Boston Cooking School Magazine was written by Julia Davis Chandler. It called for currant or crab-apple jelly and was viewed as a fancy tea-time snack for wealthy people. In the 1920s and ’30s, commercial peanut butter and machine-sliced bread became widely available. Peter Pan and Skippy were early brands, and then Jif came along in the 1950s. Natural peanut butter has also carved out a niche, though what “natural” means is up for debate. Many people think of it as peanut butter that allows the natural oil to separate, and requires stirring to emulsify. The classic old-school sandwich would have to be two slices of soft bread, probably white, maybe wheat, with a layer of peanut butter (crunchy or smooth) on one side, jelly (often grape, maybe strawberry or raspberry, probably seedless) on the other. Simple and perfect. Not so long ago, a kid who lugged sandwiches to school made with heavy natural peanut butter and sugar-free jam on multigrain bread wouldn’t have found anyone who wanted to trade. (Trust me on that.)

STAFF FILE PHOTO By ENAN CHEDIAK

Cars drive past Le Pavillon hotel in downtown New Orleans. ing of each other. As was often the case with hotels, Le Pavillon didn’t have peanut butter and jelly on hand, so the man graciously settled for a glass of cold milk and went to bed. The next day, “the bartender shared the story with the general manager, who was very intrigued,” reads a sign in the Le Pavillon lobby. The manager had the staff purchase ingredients for a sandwich that evening. Front desk manager Paula Carter has worked at the hotel since 1993, back when the tradition was still in its infancy. She understands why it has endured. “It’s so unexpected to ﬁnd a display of free peanut butter and jelly sandwiches at this big, beautiful bar,” she said. “Guests love it, and the staff at the hotel staff love watching the joy it brings them. Kids, of course, but adults, too. It kind of awakens something childlike in them.”

ment as individuals, families and groups of friends begin to ﬁll their plates and glasses. Tea towers are stacked with pre-made sandwiches for those who prefer their peanut butter and jelly delicate and crustless. But for those desiring a heartier sandwich, clochecovered wooden boards are there for individuals to create their dream combination. Spreads include smooth and crunchy peanut butter, Nutella, grape jelly, strawberry jam and apple butter, which can be slathered on white or wheat bread. Wash it down with regular milk, cold chocolate milk in the summer or hot chocolate when the weather chills. Two local travel agents — Chandra Jury and Jay Kapela — prove that this isn’t only for out-of-towners. They make a point to stop here whenever they are downtown for dinner. “A nightcap and a sandwich!” Kapela laughed. A few tables away sat Peanut butter for all a group of co-workers in town for a medical sales There’s only been one and device conference. pause in the peanut butter tradition: during Hurricane They might have been talkKatrina and its aftermath. ing about work at some “We had to stop it for point, but the focus was on about a year as we got choosing between the preback on our feet,” Carter made sandwiches or makexplained. “But we reing your own. They were split down the launched the tradition on middle, arguing and laughSept. 21, 2006. We had a lot of military and recovery ing. people in the hotel, and I’ll “It’s the only place you never forget seeing that can get a paper plane idea of New Orleans hospi(cocktail) and a PB&J,” joked Chad Flora from tality click for them.” Houston before striking a Executive chef Brian O’Malley loves creating the more serious note. “New peanut butter and jelly dis- Orleans is special because play each night because it is of traditions like this. Can you believe all of this hapan opportunity for him and his team to show that hospi- pened because of some guy 40 years ago? That’s pretty tality to their guests. cool.” “As we set up, you have some guests who are unsure what’s happening, and Have a question about they get this kind of desomething in Louisiana that’s got you curious? lighted curiosity,” he said, Email your question “and then you have others who have stayed with us for to curiouslouisiana@ theadvocate.com. Include a while or have read about your name, phone number the tradition, and they are and the city where you lined up and eager.” live. You can feel that excite-

But times and tastes have evolved, and now a sandwich like that would no longer feel crunchy-granola-weird.

At Pearl Street in New York City, you can indulge in PB&J Triangles with foie gras ganache on milk bread. Fancy, but it’s noted on the With a twist! menu that the strawberry Griddled or pan-fried ver- jam is Smuckers and the peasions of the PB&J are popu- nut butter is Jif. This mashup lar throughout the South and will set you back $24. Midwest. In some regions of the U.S., you might find Raising the bar dill pickles tucked into the There are a lot of compasandwich, or potato chips nies making gourmet verlayered in for salty crunch. sions of peanut butter. PB&J with a side of chili is At Big Spoon Roasters, in pure school-cafeteria nostal- Hillsborough, North Carogia — cheap, protein-packed lina, bestsellers include and filling. Pistachio Crunch Almond In New England, the Butter made with almonds, “Fluffernutter” still reigns, pistachios, organic maple with marshmallow fluff syrup and sea salt. They destanding in for the jelly. scribe their Maple Cinnamon Texans sometimes take Peanut and Pecan Butter as their PB&Js with jalapeño “cinnamon-dusted pecan pie jam and crispy bacon, of- in a jar.” Peanut Butter & ten double-decked with an Co., based in New York, sells extra slice of bread. And at a flavor enticingly named Southern state fairs, you can Dark Chocolatey Dreams, find the sandwich deep-fried and another called The Bee’s (though I’d advise waiting a Knees, made with honey. To change up your jelly, while before getting on any add chia seeds, maple syrrides afterwards). up, crushed pretzels, sliced Restaurant inventions peaches or apples, pomeIn San Antonio, Texas, a granate seeds. restaurant called PB&J with Try it on a croissant or Tay has a whole menu in- challah. No matter how far the spired by this sandwich. You might try The Egg-Cellent, PB&J has come from its which contains peanut but- 1901 currant jelly version, ter, hard-cooked egg, bacon somehow it still tastes like and strawberry-jalapeño being a kid. jelly, or The Kitchen Sink (Double Decker), jammed Katie Workman writes with peanut butter, banana, regularly about food for walnuts, almond butter, The Associated Press. She bacon, cream cheese and has written two cookbooks choice of jelly. focused on family-friendly The South Philadelphia cooking, “Dinner Solved!” Tap Room in Philly has a and “The Mom 100 Fried PB&J made with sour- Cookbook.” She blogs at dough bread that is crusted https://themom100.com/. in Frosted Flakes before be- She can be reached at Katie@themom100.com. ing griddled.

Dear Doctors: I got diagnosed with a strained tendon in my hip after a soccer game. I thought it was healing OK, but now when I try to make fast movements, like a quick step forward, my leg feels slow and heavy. It’s like walking through deep water. What is happening? Is it going to go away? Dear reader: The sensations you have described are actually a well-known part of the healing process from a soft tissue injury in the hip, which includes the muscles, ligaments and tendons. When any of these tissues is injured, it is possible for the nervous system to inhibit movements that it perceives as potentially damaging. In your case, you tried for a forward thrust of the leg in order to step quickly. Instead, you got a slower, more measured movement. That’s the “walking through water” sensation you described. It occurred because the brain modiﬁed your “move fast” command in order to protect the injured area. Let’s begin with the hip, which is a ball-and-socket joint. That means the rounded head of the thigh bone, or femur, ﬁts into a cuplike hollow in the hip. This ingenious structure allows the hips to bear the weight of the torso while also giving the legs and

Dr. Elizabeth Ko Dr. Eve Glazier ASK THE DOCTORS

pelvis an impressive range of motion. Muscles, ligaments and tendons — the soft tissues — anchor the hip joint. They provide power, stability and ﬂexibility. They also send information to the brain about changes in the hip’s movement and location. This is a concept known as proprioception. It’s complex, subtle and (nerd alert!) fascinating. And it’s at the heart of that “walking through water” feeling you have described. When you injure your hip, sensory receptors in the soft tissues can also be affected. This can result in confused or faulty information about the hip’s position and movement — that’s proprioception — being sent to the brain. Rather than risk further injury, the brain begins to modulate movement. The good news is that, with time, normal movement typically does return. How long this will take depends on the extent of the original injury, successful healing and the demands that are put on the

hips and legs. Physical therapy can also play an important role in recovery speed. For this type of injury, the focus is on balance, strength and dynamic stability. That’s a fancy way of saying the ability to maintain your balance while your body is in motion. Exercises include single-leg stances for balance, performed in a variety of positions. In more advanced work, balance exercises may take place on an unstable surface, which targets stabilizing muscles around the hip. Step-ups onto a low box and minisquats help build strength. Increasingly challenging ball catches are used to improve coordination and reaction time. Improvements to strength and proprioception allow the brain to once again trust the information it receives. This lets the nervous system gradually back off from its protective response. And with those protective “walking in water” inhibitions eased, normal speed and freedom of movement can ﬁnally return. Send your questions to askthedoctors@mednet. ucla.edu, or write: Ask the Doctors, c/o UCLA Health Sciences Media Relations, 10880 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1450, Los Angeles, CA, 90024.

TODAY IN HISTORY By The Associated Press Today is Monday, Sept. 21, the 264th day of 2026. There are 101 days left in the year. Today in history: On Sept. 21, 2013, an attack by armed militants in the Westgate shopping mall in Nairobi, Kenya, left 67 people dead and hundreds injured. Also on this date: In 1792, the National Convention of France issued a proclamation announcing the abolition of the French monarchy. In 1898, in response to a letter from 8-year-old Virginia O’Hanlon, the New York Sun newspaper wrote an editorial containing the famous line “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.” In 1915, Cecil Chubb purchased Stonehenge for £6,600; the last private owner of the site, Chubb donated it to the British people three years later. In 1922, President Warren Harding signed the Lodge-Fish Resolution, a congressional resolution endorsing the creation of a Jewish state in Palestine.

In 1937, “The Hobbit,” by J.R.R. Tolkien, was first published by George Allen & Unwin Ltd. of London. In 1939, Romanian Prime Minister Armand Calinescu was assassinated by members of the fascist Iron Guard movement. In 1955, at Yankee Stadium in New York, heavyweight boxer Rocky Marciano completed his undefeated professional career by knocking out Archie Moore in the ninth round of their title fight. In 1970, “Monday Night Football” made its debut on ABC, with the Cleveland Browns defeating the New York Jets 31-21. In 1981, the Senate unanimously confirmed the nomination of Sandra Day O’Connor to become the first female justice on the Supreme Court. In 1989, Hurricane Hugo crashed into South Carolina; the storm was blamed for 56 deaths in the Caribbean and 29 in the United States. In 2022, Russia’s Vladimir Putin ordered a mobilization of reservists for the first time since World War

II, nearly seven months after invading Ukraine. In 2025, Donald Trump praised ally Charlie Kirk as a “great American hero” and “martyr” for freedom as the U.S. president and other leading conservatives took part in a televised tribute in Glendale, Arizona, to the political activist who was shot dead at a Utah speaking appearance Sept. 10. Today’s birthdays: Producer Jerry Bruckheimer is 83. Musician Don Felder is 79. Author Stephen King is 79. Actor-comedian Bill Murray is 76. Champion race car driver Arie Luyendyk is 73. Filmmaker Ethan Coen is 69. Basketball Hall of Famer Sidney Moncrief is 69. Actor-comedian Dave Coulier is 67. Actor David James Elliott is 66. Actor Nancy Travis is 65. Actor Rob Morrow is 64. Actor Angus Macfadyen is 63. Actor Cheryl Hines is 61. Country singer Faith Hill is 59. Actor Billy Porter is 57. Actor Alfonso Ribeiro is 55. Actor Luke Wilson is 55. Musician Liam Gallagher (Oasis) is 54. Actor Maggie Grace is 43.

BAKING

Continued from page 1D bit of surgery. Send some prayers, please.” Salvaging the usable brownie sections, Squire poured on melted marshmallows to pull the dessert’s elements together. “This is a hot mess express, but Halloween is kind of like that,” she continued. She presented her walnut brownie with pretzels, marshmallows and a ginger snap crust to the judging panel. “This is exceptional. This is how you do Halloween without the gore,” began judge Zac Young, a pastry chef and TV personality. But things took a turn in the tasting. The judges chewed their overbaked brownie portions, and chewed, and chewed some more. “I’m sad because I thought the decoration was exceptional, but the execution of the brownie just killed it,” Young said. He’s joined at the judges’ table this season by fellow pastry chefs and TV per-

PROVIDED PHOTO By ROB PRyCE/FOOD NETWORK

Competing for the $25,000 grand prize are New Orleans pastry Baindu Squire, second from left, along with Ciarra Roberts, Caleb King, Katie Shegda, Kyle Caulkins, Lisa Pak, Justin Giordano, Kyle Olsen, Marian Mulero and Elizabeth Suwanski. sonalities Stephanie Boswell and Aarti Sequeira. Comedian and actor John Henson hosts. Squire’s unsuccessful showing in the “Haunted Heat” sent her into the “Bake for your Lives” round, where she turned her comedic mask inspiration into a creepy one, complete with snaggled teeth and wild corn silk hair. The dessert itself was a toasted black sesame tart with a pumpkin pie ﬁlling and marshmallow brulee.

Despite a weeping meringue and the judges’ want for more of the sesame flavor, Squire eked out a spot among the surviving contestants. Katie Shegda, a pastry chef from Greenville, South Carolina, was eliminated. The winner of the “Halloween Baking Championship” will take home a $25,000 grand prize. Email Judy Bergeron at jbergeron@theadvocate. com.

The Times-Picayune ✦ nola.com ✦ Monday, September 21, 2026 ✦ 3D

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zodIAC VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Tidy up, and make your surroundings convenient and comfortable. The effort you put in will encourage you to start new projects or explore new possibilities. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) Make your move. A domestic or relationship change is applicable. Don't hesitate when the need for a shake-up is so prevalent. Listen to your intuition, and base your decisions on what's best for you. SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) Choose to push yourself physically and emotionally. Reach out to those who can help or hinder your progress to ensure you are the one in control. Monitor situations. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) Opportunity and timing align. Take the time to investigate what's available and what it will cost to improve your surroundings and your relationships with those you deal with daily. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Trust your intuition. Conversations will be deceiving if you take them at face value. Let your gut be your barometer for justice and fair play. Put your energy into learning. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Put some power behind your emotions and push forward. A change has given you leverage to follow your dreams, your heart, and your professional and personal desires. Explore new possibilities. PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) A change is in order, but first ask yourself how much you are willing to spend. Set a budget to

ensure you don't add more stress when what you want is to decrease anxiety and boost your confidence. ARIES (March 21-April 19) Look for opportunities, participate in activities or events that interest you, and mingle and network. Don't limit what you can do or hold back on your thoughts. TAURUS (April 20-May 20) Take more time to rejuvenate, rethink your lifestyle and consider what makes you happy. Taking on too much can lead to overreacting or having unrealistic expectations. GEMINI (May 21-June 20) A lifestyle change will combat health issues. Focus on discipline and innovative ways to gain strength of mind, body and soul. Reach out to those who inspire you most. CANCER (June 21-July 22) Self-improvement is a mindset that includes desire and discipline. Find an activity that motivates you to get moving. Joining a group will lead to commitment. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) Consider your options and make your voice heard. Your actions should back up your thoughts and intentions. Call the shots, be the leader, and protect yourself and your possessions from outside influences. The horoscope, an entertainment feature, is not based on scientific fact. © 2026 by nEa, inc., dist. By andrews mcmeel syndication

For better or For WorSe WonderWord

peAnUtS

SALLY Forth

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

TODAy'S CLUE: T EQUALS H

Mother GooSe And GrIMM

SherMAn’S LAGoon FAMILY CIrCUS

dooneSbUrY

4D ✦ Monday, September 21, 2026 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

CurTiS

Hi and LoiS

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

BaBY BLueS

BLondie

THe wiZard oF id

nea CroSSwordS

La TimeS CroSSword

The Times-Picayune ✦ nola.com ✦ Monday, September 21, 2026 ✦ 5D

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B.C.

Bridge BY PHILLIP ALDER Lillian Eichler Watson said, “Don’t reserve your best behavior for special occasions. You can’t have two sets of manners, two social codes — one for those you admire and want to impress, another for those whom you consider unimportant. You must be the same to all people.” Similarly, don’t reserve your best bridge for special occasions. You must play the same against all opponents. The deals this week occurred during a social game of bridge, but all four were trying to play their best. What do you think of the auction? The first seven calls are fine (although if North-South had been using the support double, South could have doubled one spade to show three-card heart support and any point-count). With nine points and three spades, West should have raised to two spades. Yes, partner was a passed hand, so game was impossible, and West’s hand was as flat as a pancake, but he ought to have made life harder for North. To bid two spades on the next round gave his opponents a fielder’s choice because North had been able to describe his hand. Finally, South should have passed out two spades because he also had a pan-

garfield

Pearls Before swiNe

hagar the horriBle

cake. True, that contract can be made, but three diamonds had no chance. South lost two spades, two diamonds and two clubs to go down two — luckily, but understandably, not doubled by West. Bid your hand immediately and be cautious with 4-3-3-3 distribution when not in no-trump. © 2026 by nEa, inc., dist. By andrews mcmeel syndication

wuzzles Each Wuzzle is a word riddle which creates a disguised word, phrase, name, place, saying, etc. For example: nOOn gOOD = gOOD aFTErnOOn

PiCKles

Previous answers:

mallard fillmore

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

toDAY’S WoRD — REGAIn: rih-GANE: To get something again; recover.

Bizarro

marmaduKe

Average mark 15 words Time limit 20 minutes Can you find 19 or more words in REGAIN? SAtuRDAY’S WoRD — nucLEAR nacre near neural ulcer ulna uncle unclear unlace unreal urea cane

caner care clan clean clear clue crane cruel cure curl lace

lance lancer lane lean learn lunar lune lure earl earn ecru

elan acne acre race rale real renal rule

loCKhorNs hidato Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer

today’s thought “He that believes on the Son has everlasting life: and he that believes not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God stays on him.” John 3:36 What you do with Jesus now will determine what He will do to you for eternity. G.E. Dean

6D ✦ Monday, September 21, 2026 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

muttS

roSe iS roSe

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Scrabble GramS 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.

Saturday’s Puzzle Answer

jump Start

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.

Get fuzzy

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. ©2021 Hasbro. all rights reserved. Distributed by Tribune Content agency, llC.

ken ken

animal crackerS

DuStin

InstructIons: 1 - Each row and each column must contain the numbers 1 thorugh 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.

Wallace the brave

Drabble

WiShinG Well breWSter rockit

luann

HErE is a plEasanT liTTlE gamE that will give you a message every day. it’s a numerical puzzle designed to spell out your fortune. Count the letters in your first name. if the number of letters is 6 or more, subtract 4. if the number is less than 6, add 3. The result is your key number. start at the upper left-hand corner and check each of your key numbers, left to right. Then read the message the checked figures give you.

The Times-Picayune ✦ nola.com ✦ Monday, September 21, 2026 ✦ 7D

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classifieds.nola.com Search & Place Ads Ads Onlines at classifieds.nola.com • Call Monday Us Monday - Friday 8AM - 5PMatat(504) (504)636-7435 636-7435 Search & Place Onlines at classifieds.nola.com - Friday 8AM - 5PM

Announcements 1010 Common Upper Hotel Subtenant, LLC d/b/a Fairmont New Orleans is applying to the Ofﬁce of Alcohol & Tobacco Control of the State of Louisiana for a permit to sell beverages of high and low alcohol content at retail in the Parish of Orleans at the following address: 1010 Common Street, New Orleans, LA 70112. 1010 Common Upper Hotel Subtenant, LLC Manager: Chandra Mohan Kailas 201423 Sept. 21 1t $94.90 Anyone knowing the whereabouts of BRENDA BEVLEY; Date of Birth: 07/30/1962; Last 4 SS#: 9526; Last known address: 124 Maple Grove Lane, Youngsville, LA 70592-5523; please call Attorney Philip A. Gattuso, (504) 368-4141. 201512-Sept 21-23, 3t $102.70 Anyone knowing the whereabouts of DAVID M. JOINER, II; Date of Birth: 08/28/1978; Last 4 SS#: 5677; Last Known Address: 288 Highland Bluff Drive, Slidell, LA 70461-5735; please call Attorney Philip A. Gattuso, (504) 368-4141. 201510-Sept 21-23, 3t $106.90 Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Edwin Antonio Duran- Mena a/k/a Denise , please contact Atty. Rudy W. Gorrell @ (504) 553-9588. 201128-Sept 19-21, 3t $77.50 ANYONE KNOWING the whereabouts of Gregory K. Cola, Sr. please contact Jon S. McGill, Sr., Atty. (504) 208-5551. 201108-Sept 19-21, 3t $71.20 Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Javonne Mabens please contact Attorney David J. Motter, 3500 N. Hullen Street, Metairie, LA 70002; 504-388-7005. 201086-Sept 19-21, 3t $77.50 Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Joseph Hermo and/or his children/descendants/heirs, Please contact Attorney Tyralynn WellsDonald at 504-388-0189 or info@thewellslawofﬁce.com. 201283-Sept 19-21, 3t $73.30 Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Joshua Watkin, a possible resident of Orleans Parish, Louisiana, please contact Gary Carter, Jr., Esq. or Sierra Ambrose, Esq. at The Carter Firm, (504) 4592309. 201516-Sept 21-23, 3t $96.40 Anyone knowing the whereabouts of KATHARINE KIMMEL; Date of Birth: 01/27/1982; Last 4 SS#: 3565; Last Known Address: 2921 Hero Drive, Gretna, LA 70053-7533; please call Attorney Philip A. Gattuso, (504) 368-4141. 201508-Sept 21-23, 3t $100.60

PUBLIC NOTICE --ADVERTISEMENT TO INVITATION TO QUOTE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS SPONSORING DEPARTMENT: Department of Property Management TITLE: Public Works Trades: Electrical Services Zones 1 - 4 SOURCING EVENT NUMBERS: Electrical Services: 4789, 4790, 4791 & 4792 DBE OPPORTUNITY: YES (35%) RELEASED ON: September 21, 2026 DEADLINE TO RESPOND: October 9, 2026 at 11:00 AM PRE-BID CONFERENCE: September 30, 2026 at 11:00 AM Dates are subject to changes via an adden‐ dum posted by the Bu‐ reau of Purchasing on the City’s supplier portal. https://teams.microsoft. com/meet/27977842249 1979?p=jK4JTdF9MfAZpt1 j2Z The Bureau of Purchas‐ ing uses commodity codes to notify suppliers of the release of a sourc‐ ing event and subse‐ quent modiﬁcations via addendum. Note that you would receive those noti‐ ﬁcations if you selected the following commodity code(s) before the re‐ lease of the sourcing event: COMMODITY CODE(s): Electrical Services: 914-38 The City of New Orleans strongly encourages mi‐ nority-owned and women-owned busi‐ nesses, socially and eco‐ nomically disadvantaged businesses and small businesses to respond to this solicitation, or to participate in subcon‐ tracting opportunities pursuant to this solicita‐ tion. For more information about this sourcing event, go to www.nola. gov and click on “BRASS Supplier Portal” under “BIDS & CONTRACTS”. Once on the Supplier Por‐ tal, search “Open Events.” Thank you for your inter‐ est in doing business with the City of New Or‐ leans. Bureau of Purchasing Advertising Dates: September 21, 28 and October 5, 2026 NOCP 9318 201295-sept 21-28-oct 53t $106.29

Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Zelma Stewart Evans, a/k/a Zelma S. Evans, a/k/a, Zelma Evans, last known address of 1345 Avenue C, Marrero, LA 70072 or 1664 Plaza Drive, Marrero, LA 70072, please contact Timothy F. Hand, Esq. at (504) 368-1118. 201418-Sept 19-21, 3t $119.50

Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Lake Catherine Investments LLC and/or Joseph Hermo and/or Dawn Boyd please contact Attorney David J. Motter 3500 N. Hullen Street, Metairie, LA 70002; 504-388-7005. 201088-Sept 19-21, 3t $94.30

Anyone knowing the whereabouts or contact information of any heir or otherwise interested party regarding a proposed interdiction of Susan Marie Davis, please contact attorney Chris Short to protect your/her legal rights 504-828-3313. A hearing to interdict Susan Marie Davis is set in the 24th JDC, No. 879884, Div. A, on October 19, 2026 at 9:00 am to determine her competency. 201445-Sept 19-21, 3t $218.50

City of New Orleans Solicitation #4752 – Street Light Maintenance and Rehabilitation Services

Any person or entity that has an interest in the property bearing the municipal address of 114 Holy Cross Place, Kenner, La., please contact attorney James C. Raff, (504) 8281010. 201289-Sept 19-21, 3t $96.40

Application Method: Qualified, interested parties should please contact Harold Boydston hboydston@allstar-electric.com or Todd McDonald tmcdonald@allstarelectric.com

Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Lisa A. Scott, a/k/a Lisa A. Smith Scott, to contact the Law Ofﬁce of Rudy W. Gorrell @504-553-9588. 201129-Sept 19-21, 3t $81.70

Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Markeith C. Cunningham, his children, heirs, or legatees, please call Peyton B. Burkhalter at (504) 266-2044 or send written communication to 2540 Severn Avenue, Suite 129, Metairie, LA 70002 or pete@peytonburkhalterlaw.com. 201416-Sept 19-23, 5t $165 Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Meredith M. Leflet, also known as Merideth M. Leflet Mullin, a possible resident of Orleans Parish, Louisiana, please contact Gary Carter, Jr., Esq. or Sierra Ambrose, Esq. at The Carter Firm, (504) 4592309. 201513-Sept 21-23, 3t $113.20 Anyone knowing the whereabouts of ORRI K. WEBSTER; Date of Birth: 01/03/1990; Last 4 SS#: 2201; Last Known Address: 1140 Scotsdale Drive, Harvey, LA 70058; please call Attorney Philip A. Gattuso, (504) 3684141. 201506-Sept 21-23, 3t $102.70 Anyone knowing the whereabouts of PALOMA RIVERA DIAZ and/or MERCEDES I. JULIAN, who at one time resided at 437 Woodward Drive, Kenner, LA 70065, please contact Thomas S. Block, Atty., 504-382-1204, Property Rights Involved. 201503-Sept 21-23, 3t $104.80 Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Quimberly Dozier (who has at one time resided or is currently residing at 3239 Belfort Avenue in New Orleans, LA 70119-2817), please contact Atty. Ilijana Todorovic, Phone: (504) 502-5240; Email: itodorovic@duprelawfirm.com. 201109-Sept 19-21, 3t $109 Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Renee Rodrigue Daigle, her heirs and the unopened Succession of Renee Rodrigue Daigle, please contact Thomas J. Capella, Esq., 4928 Jasper, Metairie, LA 70006, (504) 401-8765. 201107-Sept 19-21, 3t $98.50 Anyone knowing the whereabouts of the heirs of Eugene H. Castillon and/or heirs of Sherry L. Castillon, contact attorney Betty Maury at 504-475-6522. 201421-Sept 19-21, 3t $81.70

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

Public Notices

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Kristin Rene Jolivette, her children, heirs, or legatees, please call Peyton B. Burkhalter at (504) 266-2044 or send written communication to 2540 Severn Avenue, Suite 129, Metairie, LA 70002 or pete@peytonburkhalterlaw.com. 201415-Sept 19-23, 5t $165

ing: RFx No. 3000026700, Fish‐ ing Pamphlets Printing for LDWF, 10/08/26 RFx No. 3000026521, Dia‐ mond Mowers BN Agri‐ cultural Equip – SW, 10/14/26 Bid proposal forms, in‐ formation and speciﬁca‐ tions may be obtained by accessing the bid num‐ ber in LaPac at www.doa. la.gov/doa/osp/ or from the procurement section listed above. No bids will be received after the date and hour speciﬁed. The right is reserved to reject any and all bids and to waive any infor‐ malities. Amy Vincent Director of State Procurement FAX (225) 342-8688 201228-sept 21-1t $12.91 PUBLIC NOTICE --Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans Invitation to Bid 2026-SWB-25 Check and Gate Valves The Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans (Board) is soliciting bids from companies to pur‐ chase Check and Gate valves. Invitation to Bid (ITB) will be available September 14, 2026, for download at the following websites: Board: https://www. swbno.org/Bids/ LAPAC:https:// wwwcfprd.doa.louisiana. gov/OSP/LaPAC/dspBid. cfm?search=departm ent&term=181

quested to perform es‐ sential maintenance work of a critical nature, when required, through‐ out the various water, drainage, and sewerage systems. RFP will be available on September 21, 2026, for download at the follow‐ ing websites: SWBNO: https://www2. swbno.org/business_bid speciﬁcations.asp LAPAC: https:// wwwcfprd.doa.louisiana. gov/OSP/LaPAC/dspBid. cfm?search=departm &

LOST PROMISSORY NOTE: Anyone knowing the whereabouts or having possession of one (1) certain Promissory Note originally in favor of Liberty Bank and Trust Company executed by Kendal K. Coulon a/k/a Kendal K. Coulon Frederick., dated 04/16/2013, in the original loan amount of $63,593.00, please contact Elizabeth Crowell Price by mail at 1505 N 19th Street, Monroe, LA 71201 or by phone at 801-355-2886. 201414-Sept 19-21, 3t $228.20 Notice is hereby given that Roosevelt Corner Store LLC, DBA Luckys One Stop Shop has made application to the City of Kenner in Jefferson Parish LA for a Class B Liquor License at the premises located at: 2707 Roosevelt Blvd Kenner LA 70062 to sell beverages of high and low alcohol content. Managing Member: Lovepreet Singh Member: Balwinder Kaur 201546 Sept. 21 1t $88.42 U.S. Bank Trust v. Cheronda Marie Johnson (A/K/A Cheronda Johnson) and Ronald Michael Johnson, Jr. and Jacqueline Betis Johnson (A/K/A Jacqueline Johnson); 24th JDC, Docket #: C-870-893 If anyone knows the whereabouts of Cheronda Marie Johnson (A/K/A Cheronda Johnson) and/or Ronald Michael Johnson, Jr. and/or Jacqueline Betis Johnson (A/K/A Jacqueline Johnson), please contact Attorney Aspen Steib Murphy at (985) 359-9100 and/or send a letter to 1935 W. Arline Highway, LaPlace, LA 70068. 201293-Sept 19-21, 3t $254.14

NEWS 24/7 ON Public Notices Bids/Proposals

ent&term=181

A mandatory pre-pro‐ posal conference for this RFP will be held on Octo‐ ber 7, 2026, at 11:00 pm CST at the SWBNO Execu‐ tive Boardroom, 625 St Joseph St., New Orleans, LA 70130 or if you are un‐ able to attend this inperson meeting, you can also join via teleconfer‐ ence call:

Microsoft Teams Join: https://teams. microsoft.com/meet/262 323533478680?p=01HjPBt gBcOFytM13a i

Employment GENERAL HELP Wanted: City of New Orleans Approved DBE Vendors

Local Electrical Contractor in need of City of New Orleans approved DBE’s for the following trades: Licensed Arborist Concrete Demolition Concrete Supplier Masonry – Brick & Tile – Installation and Repair Tree Trimming Painting

APARTMENT 7113 Boston Dr. Townhouse, Section 8 $1200. Gail (504) 239-2885

3BR/2BA welcome,

APARTMENT ESPLANADE RIDGE The Carson Company, Inc. 5900 Hayne Blvd., 1Bd/1Ba..........$695 2900 Third St., 1Bd/1Ba.................$700 3953 Delachaise St. (Up), 3/1.......$950 8940 Dinkins St., 2Bds/1Ba...........$995 2300 N. Broad St., 1Bd/1Ba.........$1135 5910 Hayne Blvd. Up 4/1.....(Sec 8 OK) 8904 Olive St., 3Bds/1Ba.............$1350 2503 S. Dorgenois St., 2/1...(Sec 8 OK) 1222 S Salcedo #201, Up, 2/1.....$1639 4557 Feliciana St, 5Bds/2Bas.....$2500 821-1858 * 822-8432 * 427-4646

APARTMENT

GENTILLY 2544 ALLEN TOUSSAINT BLVD. NEWLY RENOVATED!!! 1-2 Bdrm Apts * From $800/mo Parking * Sec Gate 504-209-8054 * 504-454-1333

APARTMENT

METAIRIE 3201 RICHLAND AVENUE 1/2 Block off Vets * by Paretti Jaguar 1 Bed * Prkg * Pool * Rent $675/mo 504-320-6958 * 504-454-1333

APARTMENT

METAIRIE 3513 EDENBORN AVENUE Lrg 2 Bed, 1 Bath * $925 * Off St Prkg Blocks from Lakeside 504-982-4040 * 504-885-8060 504-454-1333

APARTMENT N.O. EAST * LITTLE WOODS SPECIAL 7819 SANDS STREET * 3 BD/2 BA Central A & H * Fenced Backyard Sec 8 Welcome. No Deposit. $1,200 504-241-6189 * 504-430-1162

DUPLEX 4752 Francis Dr., 3BR/2BA, $1550/month Section 8 ok, Central Air & Heat 504-289-7595 APARTMENT Efﬁciency #E $800. 4327 & 4329 Hollygrove Street: 1 Bedroom. Water Pd $900. 504-313-2192

APARTMENT

KENNER 2850 IDAHO AVENUE 1 Block to Vets & Williams All Amenities * Pool * Parking Studio/1 Bed Apt * Starting $675/Mo 504-385-5482 * 504-454-1333

Pets

APARTMENT METAIRIE

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

personnel@sontheimeroffshore.com

Merchandise CEMETERY PLOTS Garden of Memories, Metairie, 1 plot-Sec V, $4,750 No Transfer Fee Call 601-814-0723

10,000 Apt Homes and 75 Locations with Studio, 1, 2 & 3 Bedrooms Pools, Access Gates, Garages (504) 360-9347 APARTMENT

CATS RAGAMUFFIN & RAGDOLL KITTENS www.CatsByFrancy.com/kittens $1500up! Reg. Shots & Guaranty 337-230-3150 CATS Young Male Cat, Gray Colors, Have too many cats, Looking for another home for him. Please call 504-861-9617 ($50) Beautiful puppies Yorkie puppies shots and dewormed $700.00 601543-4232 bettyparks159@gmail.com

CEMETERY PLOTS Westlawn Cemetery Mausoleum, in the Chapel. Corr IV, Tier A, holds 6 interments $17,500. 504-259-0505

Garage Sales GRETNA GARAGE SALE - Garden Park Estates /Moving Queen cherrywood poster bed set. 7 pieces. Living and dining room furniture. Outdoor table sets plus much more

New Orleans Rental

Automotive METAIRIE 2720 WHITNEY PLACE UNIT #504 • $1,500/Mo

2019 HYUNDAI ELANTRA 2.0L Limited needs some body work. Motor and transmission good. $3500 or best offer. 504-235-3223.

2 Bdrm / 2 Bath Condo. ALL UTILITIES INCLUDED! New Carpet & ﬂrg, quartz countertops in baths. No pets. 2-yr lease. Laundry Rm on 1st ﬂoor. Guard @ night. Sandy Ward * 504-259-2616. Re/Max Living * 504-475-1011. Ea ofc indpntly owned & operated.

SUBSCRIBE TODAY

APARTMENT: DUPLEX 8629 Apricot St. 3Br/1Ba, Central air/heat, Section 8. No Pets $1300. 504-344-2324

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

g y Meeting ID: 262 323 533 478 680 Passcode: ci6n3du7 Dial in by phone +1 504-2248698,,854255880# United States, New Orleans Phone conference ID: 854 255 880#

g g Only vendors who attend this meeting will be al‐ lowed to submit a pro‐ posal. Any submission from any ﬁrm not repre‐ sented at this meeting will be rejected.

p ceived by the Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans Procurement De‐ partment by October 22, 2026, at 11:00 am local time. For submission in‐ structions, see proposal documents.

At this meeting, staff will discuss the scope of work, proposal require‐ ments and respond to questions from the at‐ tendees. Attendees are required to be on time and stay throughout the meeting. l d h d

Inquiries and/or Re‐ quests for Clariﬁcation are due to Prentice Mackyeon, on October 8, 2026, no later than 5:00 pm CST via in writing or email to cmoses@swbno. org. All responses will be posted on or before Oc‐ tober 14, 2026. Proposals i d b

will h

re‐

STAY INFORMED

LATE PROPOSALS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. 201336-SEP 21-28-2T $98.54

CLASSIFIEDS WORK

Public Notices DEQ Permits

PUBLIC NOTICE --Notice is hereby given that Wood Resources, L.L.C., 5821 River Road, Avondale, Louisiana 70094, has applied for a 401 Water Quality Certiﬁ‐ cation to conduct a com‐ mercial dredging and stockpiling operation on the right descending bank of the Mississippi River at 5900 River Road near Harahan, Jefferson Parish. Wood Resources, L.L.C. is applying to the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, fﬁ f i l

Public Notices DEQ Permits Q y Office of Environmental Services for a Water Quality Certification in accordance with statu‐ tory authority contained in the LAC 33:IX.1507.A-E and provisions of Section 401 of the Clean Water Act. Comments concerning this application can be filed with the Water Per‐ mits Division within ten days of this notice by ref‐ erencing WQC 260807-01, AI 51989 to the following address: Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality i i i i

PRESERVE YOUR MEMORIES AND PUT THE KEEPSAKE ON DISPLAY

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

All inquiries shall be di‐ rected to Kimberly Barnes, at kbarnes@ swbno.org. The deadline for inquiries is on Sep‐ tember 22, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. Central Time. Fax and email submis‐ sion will not be accepted. Bids will be received by the Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans Procurement Department by September 29, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. (Central Time). For submission instruc‐ tions, see bid docu‐ ments. Bids will be publicly opened on September 29, 2026, at 11:30 a.m. (Cen‐ tral Time) in the Procure‐ ment Conference Room, Rm 131, located at 625 St. Joseph St., New Orleans, Louisiana 70165. Microsoft Teams meeting Join: https://teams. microsoft.com/meet/287 312169024139? Meeting ID: 287 312 169 024 139 Passcode: H5hF6Kp3 Dial in by phone +1 504-2248698,,733378359# United States, New Orleans Phone conference ID: 733 378 359# LATE BIDS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. 200245-SEP 14-21-2T $50.64 PUBLIC NOTICE ---

NOTICE TO BIDDERS SP# 2214

Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans Request for Proposal Skilled and Unskilled Labor

Sealed bids will be re‐ ceived by the Procure‐ ment Section of the Divi‐ sion of Administration, 1201 N. 3rd. St., 2nd. Floor, Suite 2-160, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, at 10:00 A.M. for the follow‐

The Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans (hereinafter referred to as “SWBNO”) desires to contract a vendor to fur‐ nish and coordinate the necessary skilled and un‐ skilled labor as re‐

PUBLIC NOTICE ---

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

FAMILY OF and/or HEIRS OR LEGATES OF THE LATE ROBERT L. HUFFMAN and/or THE SUCCESSION REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE ESTATE OF ROBERT L. HUFFMAN, or anyone knowing their whereabouts please contact Thomas S. Block, Atty., 504382-1204, property rights involved. 201504-Sept 21-23, 3t $113.20

APARTMENT 3806 LaSalle Street, 1BR 1BA, Kitchen appliances only. Utilities included $1000/month 504-782-7837

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

SHOP TODAY! store.nola.com

8D ✦ Monday, September 21, 2026 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune Public Notices DEQ Permits Q y Water Permits Division P.O. Box 4313 Baton Rouge, LA 70821-4313 Attn: Water Quality Certiﬁcations Comments may be sub‐ mitted by email to DEQWaterQualityCertiﬁca‐ tions@la.gov. A copy of this application is available for inspec‐ tion and review at the LDEQ Public Records Center at 602 North Fifth Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70802, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The available information can also be accessed electronically on the Electronic Docu‐ ment Management Sys‐ tem (EDMS) on the LDEQ public website at www. deq.louisiana.gov. 201338-SEP 21-1T $201.53

Legal Notices

PUBLIC NOTICE ---1LAFITTE FIELD 26-319 LEGAL NOTICE STATE OF LOUISIANA, DE‐ PARTMENT OF CONSER‐ VATION AND ENERGY, BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA. In accordance with the laws of the State of Louisiana, and with par‐ ticular reference to the provisions of Title 30 of Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, a public hearing will be held in the Hearing Room, 1st Floor, LaSalle Building, 617 North 3rd Street, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, at 9:00 a.m. on TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2026, upon the application of HILCORP ENERGY COM‐ PANY. At such hearing the De‐ partment of Conserva‐ tion and Energy will con‐ sider evidence relative to the issuance of Orders pertaining to the follow‐ ing matters relating to the Dupre Zone, Reser‐ voir A, in the Laﬁtte Field, Jefferson Parish, Louisiana. 1. To establish rules and regulations governing the exploration for and production of oil and gas from the Dupre Zone, i

Legal Notices

p Reservoir A. 2. To create a single drilling and production unit for this zone and to force pool and integrate all separately owned tracts, mineral leases and other property inter‐ ests within the unit so created. 3. To designate Hilcorp Energy Company as op‐ erator of the DUP RA SUA. 4. To designate the Hilcorp Energy Company (frmly Texaco)-LL&E Lafitte No. 100 as the unit well and the proposed lo‐ cation as shown on the plat submitted with the application as an alter‐ nate unit well for the DUP RA SUA. 5. To provide that the Dupre Zone, Reservoir A, should be exempt from the spacing provisions of Statewide Order No. 29-E. 6. To provide that the Secretary of the Depart‐ ment of Conservation and Energy may reclas‐ sify the reservoir by sup‐ plemental order and without the necessity of a public hearing should such reclassification be warranted, based on evi‐ dence furnished to the Department of Conserva‐ tion and Energy. 7. To consider such other matters as may be perti‐ nent. The Dupre Zone, Reser‐ voir A is hereby defined as being that oil and gas bearing zone encoun‐ tered between the depths of 7,959’ and 8,102 (electric log measured depths) in the Hilcorp En‐ ergy Company (formerly Texaco)-LL&E Lafitte No. 100 Well, located in Sec‐ tion 20, Township 17 South, Range 24 East. A plat is available for in‐ spection in the Office of Conservation in Baton Rouge and Lafayette, Louisiana. http://dnr.louisiana.gov/ conshearings All parties having inter‐ est therein shall take no‐ tice thereof. BY ORDER OF: DUSTIN H. DAVIDSON, SECRETARY DEPARTMENT OF CON‐ SERVATION AND ENERGY Baton Rouge, 9/16/26;9/19/26 L lck

IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, IF YOU NEED ASSISTANCE AT THE HEARING, PLEASE CON‐ TACT THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND ENERGY AT P.O. BOX 94275, BATON ROUGE, LA 70804-9275 IN WRITING

WITHIN TEN (10) WORK‐ ING DAYS OF THE HEAR‐ ING DATE. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------NOTE This Notice does not con‐ stitute a summons to ap‐ pear, but is merely an in‐ vitation to attend the hearing if you so desire. A copy of this Notice is being sent to all known interested and repre‐ sented parties and inter‐ ested owners. This Legal Notice has been pub‐ lished in “THE MORNING ADVOCATE”, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and will be published in “THE NEW ORLEANS ADVO‐ CATE”, New Orleans, Louisiana. 201370-SEP 21-1T $438.86 PUBLIC NOTICE --ADVERTISEMENT TO INVITATION TO BID CITY OF NEW ORLEANS SPONSORING DEPARTMENT: Department of Property Management TITLE: HVAC Chemicals & Treatment Services SOURCING EVENT NO.: 4793 TYPE OF SOLICITATION: NON-PROFESSIONAL SERVICES DBE OPPORTUNITY: YES (35%) RELEASED ON: September 21, 2026 DEADLINE TO RESPOND: October 6, 2026 at 10:30 AM PRE-BID CONFERENCE: September 24, 2026 at 10:30 AM Dates are subject to changes via an adden‐ dum posted by the Bu‐ reau of Purchasing on the City’s supplier portal. https://teams.microsoft. com/meet/24092490053 3013?p=h3f3kaBZMYo Cn6S5oD If this solicitation is fed‐ erally funded, prospec‐ tive bidder/respondent must pay particular at‐ tention to all applicable laws and regulations of h d l

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g the Federal government and the State of Louisiana.

y g that limitation petitioner, Rayford Reeves ("Peti‐ tioner"), as owner of a certain 2013 Key West 230 Bay Reef Boat, bear‐ ing Hull ID # KWEE‐ B109A313 and Registra‐ tion number KWEE‐ B109A3 (the "Vessel"), her engines, equipment, gear, tackle, appurte‐ nances, etc., has ﬁled a Complaint pursuant to 46 U.S.C. §§ 181 et seq., as amended by 46 U.S.C. §§ 30501 et seq., and under Rule F of the Supplemen‐ tal Rules for Certain Ad‐ miralty and Maritime Claims & Asset Forfeiture Actions, claiming the right to exoneration from or limitation of liability of all claims for any dam‐ age claims, demands, liens, loss, death, dam‐ age, injury, or destruc‐ tion, arising out of an in‐ cident involving the Ves‐ sel on or about July 18, 2026, as is more fully set forth in the Complaint.

The Bureau of Purchas‐ ing uses commodity codes to notify suppliers of the release of a sourc‐ ing event and subse‐ quent modiﬁcations via addendum. Note that you would receive those noti‐ ﬁcations if you selected the following commodity code(s) before the re‐ lease of the sourcing event: COMMODITY CODE(s): 031-55; 914-50; 941-55 The City of New Orleans is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages minorityowned and womenowned businesses, so‐ cially and economically disadvantaged busi‐ nesses and small busi‐ nesses to respond to this solicitation, or to partici‐ pate in subcontracting opportunities pursuant to this solicitation. Any person with disabilities requires special accom‐ modation must contact the buyer listed within the bid no later than seven (7) days prior to bid opening. For more information about this sourcing event, go to www.nola. gov and click on “BRASS Supplier Portal” under “BIDS & CONTRACTS”. Once on the Supplier Por‐ tal, search “Open Events.” Thank you for your inter‐ est in doing business with the City of New Or‐ leans. Bureau of Purchasing Advertising Dates: September 21, 28 and October 5, 2026 NOCP 9317 201924-sept 21-26-oct 53t $122.46 PUBLIC NOTICE --IN THE MATTER OF THE COMPLAINT OF RAYFORD REEVES AND A CERTAIN 2013 KEY WEST 230 BAY REEF BOAT, FOR EXONER‐ ATION FROM OR LIMITA‐ TION OF LIABILITY

All persons asserting claims with respect to which the Complaint seeks exoneration from or limitation of liability are advised and admon‐ ished, to ﬁle their re‐ spective claims, under oath, as provided in Rule F of the Supplemental Rules for Certain Admi‐ ralty and Maritime Claims of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, with the Clerk of the Court for the United States District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana, Room C151, 500 Poydras Street, New Orleans, Louisiana 70130, and must serve a copy thereof on counsel for Petitioner on or before the 18th day of October, 2026 or be defaulted. Any claimant desiring to contest either the right to exoneration from and/or the right to limita‐ tion of liability shall ﬁle and serve an answer, all as required by Rule F of the Supplemental Rules for Certain Admiralty and Maritime Claims con‐ tained in the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure or be barred from bring‐ ing such action.

CIVIL ACTION NO. 26-1927 SECTION M (2) NOTICE is hereby given h li i i i i

201029 Sept. 21, 28, Oct. 5, 12, 2026 4t $1,067.96

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COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS: THE LATEST

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Direct deposits to start next week, 2A ä La. nursing home deaths up to 130, 5A ä More testing options available in N.O., 1B

Staff writer

Louisiana is set to start doling out supercharged unemployment benefits of $600 more a week on Monday, providing the first wave of relief to a staggering number of residents seeking aid as the coronavirus rocks the state’s economy. But as benefits begin flowing and officials project no part of Louisiana is on track to run out of hospital beds or ventilators in the coming 10 days, Gov. John Bel Edwards warned Wednesday it will be a long time before things return to normal. Until there is a vaccine and medication that can treat the virus — prospects that are months or longer away — Edwards said people will likely not see “life as you knew it before COVID-19.” Although at some point restrictions will be loosened, it remains unclear exactly what that will look like, Edwards said. The state will rely heavily on the federal government and will need far more testing, along with contact tracing and isolation of patients who later test positive, he said. “I promise you no matter what the timeline looks like, it’s going to be quicker if everyone follows the stay-at-home order,” the governor said. In the meantime, as the order is set to keep thousands of businesses closed until at least April 30, the Louisiana Workforce Commission will start paying out the extra $600 per week benefit to unemployed Louisiana

ä See JOBLESS, page 6A

Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden speaks during a March campaign rally in Detroit.

Louisiana public school superintendents Wednesday asked Gov. John Bel Edwards to extend his schools closure order through the end of the academic year because of the coronavirus. The request significantly boosts chances that classrooms will remain locked for nearly 720,000 public school students

and that the school year will have effectively ended for many students on March 13. “By not having students return to school facilities this school year combined with social distancing intervention there could be lessening or even prevention of further community spread of the virus,” superintendents said in their request to the governor.

ä See SCHOOLS, page 6A

Associated Press

WASHINGTON — Sen. Bernie Sanders ended his presidential bid on Wednesday, making Joe Biden the presumptive Democratic nominee to challenge President Donald Trump in a general election campaign that will be waged against the backdrop of the coronavirus pandemic. Sanders initially ex- Sanders ceeded sky-high expectations about his ability to re-create the magic of his 2016 presidential bid and even overcame a heart attack in October. But he couldn’t convert unwavering support from progressives into a viable path to the nomination, with “electability” fears fueled by questions about whether his democratic socialist ide-

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tion and our future. His campaign has ended, but I know his leadership will continue.” Trump sought to foment the tension among Democrats by tweeting Wednesday that the party stacked the race against Sanders. The president said the senator’s supporters “should come to the Republican Party.” Sanders began his latest White House bid facing questions about whether he could win back the supporters who chose him four years ago as an insurgent alternative to Hillary Clinton. Despite winning 22 states in 2016, there were no guarantees he’d be a major presidential contender this cycle. But Sanders used strong polling and solid fundraising — collected almost entirely from small donations made online — to quiet early doubters. Like the ﬁrst time, he attracted widespread

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rial Convention Center as the Medical equipment, number of coronavirus patients Convention Center continues rising. The spending includes large included in spending contracts for ﬁrms that were

BY SAM KARLIN and ANTHONY MCAULEY

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTOS

President Donald Trump arrives to speak at a January rally in Washington, D.C.

$500M in contracts inked to fight virus Staff writers

View the e-edition from the NOLA.com app

Sanders drops out, leaving former Vice President Biden the presumptive Democratic challenger to Trump BY WILL WEISSERT

Superintendents want schools to stay closed BY WILL SENTELL

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NOTICE Proposed Constitutional Amendments to be voted on at the U.S. Senate General/Open U.S. Representative Primary/Open Primary Election November 3, 2026 ---------CODING: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and/or underscored are additions. Proposed Amendment No. 1 Regular Session, 2026 -------ACT No. 39 -------SENATE BILL NO. 180 BY SENATOR FOIL A JOINT RESOLUTION Proposing to amend Article VII, Section 21(K)(1) of the Constitution of Louisiana, relative to ad valorem tax exemptions; to provide relative to the ad valorem tax exemption for certain disabled veterans and their surviving spouses; to allow for the transfer of certain exemptions by a surviving spouse; to provide for limitations; to provide for effectiveness; and to specify an election for submission of the proposition to electors and provide a ballot proposition. Section 1. Be it resolved by the Legislature of Louisiana, two-thirds of the members elected to each house concurring, that there shall be submitted to the electors of the state, for their approval or rejection in the manner provided by law, a proposal to amend Article VII, Section 21(K)(1) of the Constitution of Louisiana, to read as follows: §21. Other Property Exemptions Section 21. In addition to the homestead exemption provided for in Section 20 of this Article, the following property and no other shall be exempt from ad valorem taxation: *** (K)(1)(a) In addition to the homestead exemption authorized pursuant to the provisions of Section 20 of this Article, which applies to the first seven thousand five hundred dollars of the assessed valuation of property, the next two thousand five hundred dollars of the assessed valuation of property receiving the homestead exemption that is owned and occupied by a veteran with a service-connected disability rating of fifty percent or more but less than seventy percent by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs shall be exempt from ad valorem taxation. The surviving spouse of a deceased veteran with a service-connected disability rating of fifty percent or more but less than seventy percent by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs shall be eligible for this exemption if the surviving spouse occupies and remains the owner of the property, whether or not the exemption was in effect on the property prior to the death of the veteran. If property eligible for the exemption provided for in this Subsubparagraph has an assessed value in excess of ten thousand dollars, ad valorem property taxes shall apply to the assessment in excess of ten thousand dollars. (b) In addition to the homestead exemption authorized pursuant to the provisions of Section 20 of this Article, which applies to the first seven thousand five hundred dollars of the assessed valuation of property, the next four thousand five hundred dollars of the assessed valuation of property owned and occupied by a veteran with a service-connected disability rating of seventy percent or more but less than one hundred percent by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs shall be exempt from ad valorem taxation. The surviving spouse of a deceased veteran with a service-connected disability rating of seventy percent or more but less than one hundred percent by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs shall be eligible for this exemption if the surviving spouse occupies and remains the owner of the property, whether or not the exemption was in effect on the property prior to the death of the veteran. If property eligible for the exemption provided for in this Subsubparagraph has an assessed value in excess of twelve thousand dollars, ad valorem property taxes shall apply to the assessment in excess of twelve thousand dollars. (c) In addition to the homestead exemption authorized pursuant to the provisions of Section 20 of this Article, which applies to the first seven thousand five hundred dollars of the assessed valuation of property, the remaining assessed valuation of property receiving the homestead exemption that is owned and occupied by a veteran with a serviceconnected disability rating of one hundred percent unemployability or totally disabled by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs shall be exempt from ad valorem taxation. The surviving spouse of a deceased veteran with a service-connected disability rating of one hundred percent unemployability or totally disabled by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs shall be eligible for this exemption if the surviving spouse occupies and remains the owner of the property, whether or not the exemption was in effect on the property prior to the death of the veteran. (d) Once a surviving spouse of a deceased veteran with a serviceconnected disability is eligible for and has taken the exemption, if the surviving spouse then acquires a different property which qualifies for the homestead exemption, the surviving spouse shall be entitled to a one-time transfer of the exemption to that subsequent homestead, the exemption being limited in value to the amount of the exemption claimed on the prior homestead in the last year for which the exemption was claimed. The assessor may require the submission of certain information concerning the amount of the exemption on the prior homestead for purposes of determining the extent of the exemption available for the subsequent homestead. *** Section 2. Be it further resolved that the provisions of this amendment shall become effective January 1, 2027, and shall apply to all taxable years beginning on January 1, 2027. Section 3. Be it further resolved that this proposed amendment shall be submitted to the electors of the state of Louisiana at the statewide election to be held on November 3, 2026. Section 4. Be it further resolved that on the official ballot to be used at said election there shall be printed a proposition, upon which the electors of the state shall be permitted to vote YES or NO, to amend the Constitution of Louisiana, which proposition shall read as follows: Do you support an amendment to allow the surviving spouse of a deceased veteran with a service-connected disability, who receives the additional property tax exemption, to make a one-time transfer of the additional property tax exemption property tax exemption to a subsequent qualifying property? (Effective January 1, 2027) (Amends Article VII, Section 21(K)(1)) Proposed Amendment No. 2 Regular Session, 2026 -------ACT No. 273 -------HOUSE BILL NO. 521 BY REPRESENTATIVES WILDER, AMEDEE, BAMBURG, BAYHAM, BERAULT, BILLINGS, BOUDREAUX, BOURRIAQUE, BRASS, CARVER, CHASSION, CHENEVERT, COATES, COX, CREWS, DESHOTEL, DEWITT, DICKERSON, EDMONSTON, EGAN, FIRMENT, FONTENOT, FREIBERG, GALLE, HEBERT, HORTON, KNOX, LACOMBE, JACOB LANDRY, MARTINEZ, MELERINE, OWEN, SCHAMERHORN, TAYLOR, TURNER, WILEY, AND WRIGHT A JOINT RESOLUTION Proposing to amend Article VII, Section 23(C) of the Constitution of Louisiana, relative to ad valorem property tax millage rate adjustments; to provide for maximum authorized millage rates; to provide for applicability; to provide for an effective date; to provide for submission of the proposed amendment to the electors; and to provide for related matters. Section 1. Be it resolved by the Legislature of Louisiana, two-thirds of the members elected to each house concurring, that there shall be submitted to the electors of the state of Louisiana, for their approval or rejection in the manner provided by law, a proposal to amend Article VII, Section 23(C) of the Constitution of Louisiana, to read as follows: §23. Adjustment of Ad Valorem Tax Millages Section 23. *** (C) Increases Permitted. Nothing herein shall prohibit a taxing authority from collecting, in the year in which Sections 18 and 20 of this Article are implemented or in any subsequent year, a larger dollar amount of ad valorem taxes by (1) levying additional or increased millages as provided by law or (2) placing additional property on the tax rolls. Increases in the millage rate in excess of the rates established as provided by Paragraph (B) above of this Section but not in excess of the prior year’s maximum authorized millage rate approved by this constitution and approved by the taxing authority until the authorized millage rate expires may be levied by a two-thirds vote of the total membership of a taxing authority without further voter approval but only after a public hearing held in accordance with the open meeting law; however, in addition to any other requirements of the open meetings law, public notice of the time, place, and subject matter of such hearing shall be published on two separate days no less than thirty days before the public hearing. Such public notice shall be published in the official journal of the taxing authority, and another newspaper with a larger circulation within the taxing authority than the official journal of the taxing authority, if there is one. *** Section 2. Be it further resolved that the provisions of the amendment

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contained in this Joint Resolution shall become effective January 1, 2027, and shall be applicable to all taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2027. Section 3. Be it further resolved that this proposed amendment shall be submitted to the electors of the state of Louisiana at the statewide election to be held on November 3, 2026. Section 4. Be it further resolved that on the official ballot to be used at the election, there shall be printed a proposition, upon which the electors of the state shall be permitted to vote YES or NO, to amend the Constitution of Louisiana, which proposition shall read as follows: Do you support an amendment to allow a local taxing authority to continue to levy a lower millage rate without losing its ability to adjust to the maximum authorized millage rate from a prior year’s reassessment? (Effective January 1, 2027) (Amends Article VII, Section 23(C)) Proposed Amendment No. 3 Regular Session, 2026 -------ACT No. 271 -------HOUSE BILL NO. 51 BY REPRESENTATIVE VILLIO A JOINT RESOLUTION Proposing to add Article I, Section 18(C) of the Constitution of Louisiana, relative to the right to bail; to prohibit bail for offenders who have been convicted of certain offenses; to provide for submission of the proposed amendment to the electors; and to provide for related matters. Section 1. Be it resolved by the Legislature of Louisiana, two-thirds of the members elected to each house concurring, that there shall be submitted to the electors of the state of Louisiana, for their approval or rejection in the manner provided by law, a proposal to add Article I, Section 18(C) of the Constitution of Louisiana, to read as follows: §18. Right to Bail Section 18.

*** (C) However, after conviction, a person shall not be bailable if the offense is an aggravated offense as defined by R.S. 15:541 that is committed against a victim who is a minor. Section 2. Be it further resolved that this proposed amendment shall be submitted to the electors of the state of Louisiana at the statewide election to be held on November 3, 2026. Section 3. Be it further resolved that on the official ballot to be used at the election, there shall be printed a proposition, upon which the electors of the state shall be permitted to vote YES or NO, to amend the Constitution of Louisiana, which proposition shall read as follows: Do you support an amendment to prohibit a defendant from being released on any post-conviction bail if the defendant is convicted of an aggravated offense against a minor child? (Adds Article I, Section 18(C)) Proposed Amendment No. 4 Regular Session, 2026 -------ACT No. 414 -------HOUSE BILL NO. 225 BY REPRESENTATIVES BAYHAM AND MANDIE LANDRY A JOINT RESOLUTION Proposing to amend Article IV, Section 3(B) of the Constitution of Louisiana, to provide for the term limit for the office of the governor; to provide for a lifetime term limit; to provide that the limit is not limited to service in successive terms; to provide for submission of the proposed amendment to the electors; and to provide for related matters. Section 1. Be it resolved by the Legislature of Louisiana, two-thirds of the members elected to each house concurring, that there shall be submitted to the electors of the state of Louisiana, for their approval or rejection in the manner provided by law, a proposal to amend Article IV, Section 3(B) of the Constitution of Louisiana, to read as follows: §3. Election; Term Section 3.

*** (B) Limitation on Governor. A person who has served as governor for more than one and one-half terms in two consecutive terms shall not be elected governor for the succeeding term. *** Section 2. Be it further resolved that this proposed amendment shall be submitted to the electors of the state of Louisiana at the statewide election to be held on November 3, 2026. Section 3. Be it further resolved that on the official ballot to be used at the election, there shall be printed a proposition, upon which the electors of the state shall be permitted to vote YES or NO, to amend the Constitution of Louisiana, which proposition shall read as follows: Do you support an amendment to prohibit a person who has served more than one and one-half terms as governor from being elected as governor for any future term? (Amends Article IV, Section 3(B)) Proposed Amendment No. 5 Regular Session, 2026 -------Act No. 606 -------HOUSE BILL NO. 27 BY REPRESENTATIVE MCMAKIN A JOINT RESOLUTION Proposing to amend Article VII, Section 10(D)(2)(b)(iii) of the Constitution of Louisiana, relative to application of certain state monies to state retirement system unfunded accrued liability; to remove requirement that such monies be applied to the oldest system liabilities first; to provide for submission of the proposed amendment to the electors; and to provide for related matters. Notice of intention to introduce this Act has neem published as provided by Article X, Section 29(C) of the Constitution of Louisiana. Section 1. Be it resolved by the Legislature of Louisiana, two-thirds of the members elected to each house concurring, that there shall be submitted to the electors of the state of Louisiana, for their approval or rejection in the manner provided by law, a proposal to amend Article VII, Section 10(D)(2)(b)(iii) of the Constitution of Louisiana, to read as follows: §10. Expenditure of State Funds Section 10. (D) Appropriations.

***

*** (2) Except as otherwise provided in this constitution, the appropriation or allocation of any money designated in the official forecast as nonrecurring shall be made only for the following purposes: *** (b) *** (iii) For Fiscal Year 2024-2025 and each fiscal year thereafter, the legislature shall appropriate no less than twenty-five percent of any money designated in the official forecast as nonrecurring to the state retirement systems for application to their unfunded accrued liability. Money appropriated pursuant to this Item shall be applied by the receiving system to its outstanding positive amortization bases in the order in which they were created, from oldest to newest. The legislature may provide by law for a formula to distribute the nonrecurring money between those state retirement systems that have unfunded accrued liability. If the legislature has not provided by law for a distribution formula, nonrecurring money shall be appropriated pursuant to this Item to each system in the proportion that the system’s total unfunded accrued liability bears to the total of all state system unfunded accrued liability, using the most recent system valuations adopted by the Public Retirement Systems’ Actuarial Committee or its successor. Any payment to a state retirement system made pursuant to the provisions of this Item shall not be used, directly or indirectly, to fund cost-of-living increases for such system. *** Section 2. Be it further resolved that this proposed amendment shall be submitted to the electors of the state of Louisiana at the statewide election to be held on November 3, 2026. Section 3. Be it further resolved that on the official ballot to be used at the election, there shall be printed a proposition, upon which the electors of the state shall be permitted to vote YES or NO, to amend the Constitution of Louisiana, which proposition shall read as follows: Do you support an amendment to authorize a state retirement

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system to apply any nonrecurring state monies it receives to any of its unfunded accrued liability rather than requiring application to its oldest unfunded accrued liability? (Amends Article VII, Section 10(D) (2)(b)(iii)) Proposed Amendment No. 6 Regular Session, 2026 -------ACT No. 274 -------HOUSE BILL NO. 514 BY REPRESENTATIVES FARNUM AND CHASSION A JOINT RESOLUTION Proposing to add Article VII, Section 21(P) of the Constitution of Louisiana, relative to ad valorem taxation; to extend an ad valorem tax exemption for property owners who are sixty-five years of age or older; to provide for the amount of the exemption; to provide for requirements and limitations; to provide for implementation of the exemption by parishes and municipalities; to prohibit the reappraisal and valuation of property for purposes of millage adjustments under certain circumstances; to provide for applicability; to provide for an effective date; to provide for submission of the proposed amendment to the electors; and to provide for related matters. Section 1. Be it resolved by the Legislature of Louisiana, two-thirds of the members elected to each house concurring, that there shall be submitted to the electors of the state of Louisiana, for their approval or rejection in the manner provided by law, a proposal to add Article VII, Section 21(P) of the Constitution of Louisiana, to read as follows: §21. Other Property Exemptions Section 21. In addition to the homestead exemption provided for in Section 20 of this Article, the following property and no other shall be exempt from ad valorem taxation: *** (P)(1) In addition to the homestead exemption authorized pursuant to the provisions of Section 20 of this Article, which applies to the first seven thousand five hundred dollars of the assessed valuation of property, an additional exemption shall apply to property receiving the homestead exemption that is owned and occupied by a person who is at least sixty-five years of age or older and who qualifies for the special assessment level pursuant to Article VII, Section 18(G) (1)(a)(i) of this constitution. The amount of the additional exemption shall be as follows: (a) For persons sixty-five years of age but not yet sixty-nine years of age, the next six thousand dollars of the assessed valuation of the property shall be exempt from ad valorem taxation. (b) For persons sixty-nine years of age but not yet seventythree years of age, the next twelve thousand dollars of the assessed valuation of the property shall be exempt from ad valorem taxation. (c) For persons seventy-three years of age but not yet seventyseven years of age, the next eighteen thousand dollars of the assessed valuation of the property shall be exempt from ad valorem taxation. (d) For persons seventy-seven years of age but not yet eighty-one years of age, the next twenty-four thousand dollars of the assessed valuation of the property shall be exempt from ad valorem taxation. (e) For persons eighty-one years of age and older, the next thirty thousand dollars of the assessed valuation of the property shall be exempt from ad valorem taxation. (2) The surviving spouse of a property owner claiming the exemption shall be eligible for the exemption provided for in this Paragraph if the surviving spouse occupies and remains the owner of or retains a usufruct on the property and is not more than five years younger than the owner. (3) The exemption provided in this Paragraph shall be applicable in any parish or municipality in which the exemption has been approved by a majority of the electors of the parish or municipality voting at an election called for that purpose. (4) Notwithstanding any provision of this constitution to the contrary, any decrease in the total amount of ad valorem tax collected by the taxing authority as a result of the exemption shall be absorbed by the taxing authority and shall not create any additional tax liability for other taxpayers in the taxing district as a result of any subsequent reappraisal and valuation or millage adjustment. Implementation of the exemption authorized in this Paragraph shall neither trigger nor cause for a reappraisal of property or an adjustment of millages pursuant to the provisions of Section 23(B) of this Article. (5) A trust shall be eligible for the exemption provided for this Paragraph as provided by law. Section 2. Be it further resolved that the provisions of the amendment contained in this Joint Resolution shall become effective January 1, 2028, and shall be applicable to all tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2028. Section 3. Be it further resolved that this proposed amendment shall be submitted to the electors of the state of Louisiana at the statewide election to be held on November 3, 2026. Section 4. Section 4. Be it further resolved that on the official ballot to be used at the election, there shall be printed a proposition, upon which the electors of the state shall be permitted to vote YES or NO, to amend the Constitution of Louisiana, which proposition shall read as follows: Do you support an amendment to authorize parishes and municipalities to extend an additional property tax exemption for property subject to the homestead exemption that is owned and occupied by a person who is at least sixty-five years of age and who qualifies for the special assessment level? (Effective January 1, 2028) (Adds Article VII, Section 21(P)) Proposed Amendment No. 7 Regular Session, 2026 -------ACT No. 607 -------SENATE BILL NO. 228 BY SENATOR DUPLESSIS AND REPRESENTATIVES BOYD, BRASS, BRAUD, BRYANT, CHASSION, FISHER, FREEMAN, GREEN, JACKSON, TRAVIS JOHNSON, JORDAN, KNOX, LAFLEUR, MANDIE LANDRY, TERRY LANDRY, LARVADAIN, LYONS, MARCELLE, MENA, MILLER, MOORE, NEWELL, THOMPSON, WALTERS AND YOUNG A JOINT RESOLUTION Proposing to amend Article VII, Section 14(B) of the Constitution of Louisiana, relative to water utility service lines; to provide for the use of public funds to remove or replace drinking water utility service lines located on property owned by utility customers; to provide relative to identifying, inventorying water utility service lines made of or affected by certain hazardous materials; to specify an election for submission of the proposition to electors and provide a ballot proposition. Section 1. Be it resolved by the Legislature of Louisiana, two-thirds of the members elected to each house concurring, that there shall be submitted to the electors of the state, for their approval or rejection in the manner provided by law, a proposal to amend Article VII, Section 14(B) of the Constitution of Louisiana, to read as follows: §14. Donation, Loan, or Pledge of Public Credit *** Section 14. (A) (B) Authorized Uses. Nothing in this Section shall prevent (1) the use of public funds for programs of social welfare for the aid and support of the needy; (2) contributions of public funds to pension and insurance programs for the benefit of public employees; (3) the pledge of public funds, credit, property, or things of value for public purposes with respect to the issuance of bonds or other evidences of indebtedness to meet public obligations as provided by law; (4) the return of property, including mineral rights, to a former owner from whom the property had previously been expropriated, or purchased under threat of expropriation, when the legislature by law declares that the public and necessary purpose which originally supported the expropriation has ceased to exist and orders the return of the property to the former owner under such terms and conditions as specified by the legislature; (5) acquisition of stock by any institution of higher education in exchange for any intellectual property; (6) the donation of abandoned or blighted housing property by the governing authority of a municipality or a parish to a nonprofit organization which is recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization and which agrees to renovate and maintain such property until conveyance of the property by such organization; (7) the deduction of any tax, interest, penalty, or other charges forming the basis of tax liens on blighted property so that

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they may be subordinated and waived in favor of any purchaser who is not a member of the immediate family of the blighted property owner or which is not any entity in which the owner has a substantial economic interest, but only in connection with a property renovation plan approved by an administrative hearing officer appointed by the parish or municipal government where the property is located; (8) the deduction of past due taxes, interest, and penalties in favor of an owner of a blighted property, but only when the owner sells the property at less than the appraised value to facilitate the blighted property renovation plan approved by the parish or municipal government and only after the renovation is completed such deduction being canceled, null and void, and to no effect in the event ownership of the property in the future reverts back to the owner or any member of his immediate family; (9) the donation by the state of asphalt which has been removed from state roads and highways to the governing authority of the parish or municipality where the asphalt was removed, or if not needed by such governing authority, then to any other parish or municipal governing authority, but only pursuant to a cooperative endeavor agreement between the state and the governing authority receiving the donated property; (10) the investment in stocks of a portion of the Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge Trust and Protection Fund, created under the provisions of R.S. 56:797, and the Russell Sage or Marsh Island Refuge Fund, created under the provisions of R.S. 56:798, such portion not to exceed thirtyfive percent of each fund; (11) the investment in stocks of a portion of the state-funded permanently endowed funds of a public or private college or university, not to exceed thirty-five percent of the public funds endowed; (12) the investment in equities of a portion of the Medicaid Trust Fund for the Elderly created under the provisions of R.S. 46:2691 et seq., such portion not to exceed thirty-five percent of the fund; (13) the investment of public funds to capitalize a state infrastructure bank and the loan, pledge, or guarantee of public funds by a state infrastructure bank solely for transportation projects; (14) pursuant to a written agreement, the donation of the use of public equipment and personnel by a political subdivision upon request to another political subdivision for an activity or function the requesting political subdivision is authorized to exercise; or (15) a political subdivision from waiving charges for water if the charges are the result of water lost due to damage to the water delivery infrastructure and that damage is not the result of any act or failure to act by the customer being charged for the water; or (16) the use of public funds by a political subdivision for the purpose of identifying, inventorying, removing or replacing drinking water utility service lines made of or affected by materials as specified or prescribed by the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements of the United States Environmental Protection Agency, promulgated October 30, 2024, or subsequent promulgation, on property owned by utility customers. *** Section 2. Be it further resolved that this proposed amendment shall be submitted to the electors of the state of Louisiana at the statewide election to be held on November 3, 2026. Section 3. Be it further resolved that on the official ballot to be used at said election there shall be printed a proposition, upon which the electors of the state shall be permitted to vote YES or NO, to amend the Constitution of Louisiana, which proposition shall read as follows: Do you support an amendment to allow for the use of public funds by a political subdivision for the purpose of identifying, inventorying, removing or replacing drinking water utility service lines made of or affected by materials as specified or prescribed by the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements of the United States Environmental Protection Agency, promulgated October 30, 2024, or subsequent promulgation, on property owned by utility customers? (Amends Article VII, Section 14) Proposed Amendment No. 8 Regular Session, 2026 -------ACT No. 277 -------HOUSE BILL NO. 192 BY REPRESENTATIVE OWEN AND SENATORS ALLAIN, BARROW, BASS, CATHEY, CLOUD, EDMONDS, FESI, HODGES, JACKSON-ANDREWS, MIGUEZ, PRESSLY, SEABAUGH, AND WHEAT A JOINT RESOLUTION Proposing to amend Article I, Section 4(B)(4) of the Constitution of Louisiana, relative to the right to property; to prohibit expropriation by foreign adversaries; to provide for submission of the proposed amendment to the electors; and to provide for related matters.

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Section 1. Be it resolved by the Legislature of Louisiana, two-thirds of the members elected to each house concurring, that there shall be submitted to the electors of the state of Louisiana, for their approval or rejection in the manner provided by law, a proposal to amend Article I, Section 4(B)(4) of the Constitution of Louisiana, to read as follows: §4. Right to Property Section 4.

***

(B)

*** (4) Property shall not be taken or damaged by any private entity authorized by law to expropriate, except for a public and necessary purpose and with just compensation paid to the owner; in such proceedings, whether the purpose is public and necessary shall be a judicial question. No private entity that is a foreign adversary or an agent of a foreign adversary, as defined by law, shall take or damage property. *** Section 2. Be it further resolved that this proposed amendment shall be submitted to the electors of the state of Louisiana at the statewide election to be held on November 3, 2026. Section 3. Be it further resolved that on the official ballot to be used at the election, there shall be printed a proposition, upon which the electors of the state shall be permitted to vote YES or NO, to amend the Constitution of Louisiana, which proposition shall read as follows: Do you support an amendment to prohibit expropriation of property by a foreign adversary or an agent of a foreign adversary? (Amends Article I, Section 4(B)(4)) Proposed Amendment No. 9 Regular Session, 2025 -------ACT No. 220 -------HOUSE BILL NO. 300 BY REPRESENATIVE MACK A JOINT RESOLUTION Proposing to amend Article VII, Section 18(G)(1)(a)(ii) of the Constitution of Louisiana, relative to ad valorem taxation; to provide for assessment of property for ad valorem tax purposes; to provide with respect to the special assessment level; to provide with respect to the income limit associated with qualifying for the special assessment level; to provide for an effective date; to provide for submission of the proposed amendment to the electors; and to provide for related matters. Section 1. Be it resolved by the Legislature of Louisiana, two-thirds of the members elected to each house concurring, that there shall be submitted to the electors of the state of Louisiana, for their approval or rejection in the manner provided by law, a proposal to amend Article VII, Section 18(G)(1)(a)(ii) of the Constitution of Louisiana, to read as follows: §4. Right to Property Section 18.

*** (G) Special Assessment Level. (1) (a) *** (ii) Any person or persons shall be prohibited from receiving the special assessment as provided in this Section if such person’s or persons’ adjusted gross income, as reported in the federal tax return for the year prior to the application for the special assessment, exceeds one hundred fifty thousand dollars. For persons applying for the special assessment whose filing status is married filing separately, the adjusted gross income for purposes of this Section shall be determined by combining the adjusted gross income on both federal tax returns. The assessor may establish an applicant’s income eligibility for the special assessment level by verifying the applicant’s federal adjusted gross income as reported on the Louisiana income tax return for the year prior to the application. Beginning for the tax year 2026 2028 and for each tax year thereafter, the one hundred fifty thousand dollar limit shall be adjusted annually by the Consumer Price Index as reported by the United States Government. Notwithstanding any provision of this constitution to the contrary, a decrease in the total amount of ad valorem tax collected by a taxing authority as a result of the special assessment level shall be absorbed by the taxing authority and shall not create any additional tax liability for other taxpayers in the taxing district as a result of any subsequent

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reappraisal and valuation or millage adjustment. Implementation of the special assessment level shall neither trigger nor be cause for a reappraisal of property or an adjustment of millages pursuant to the provisions of Article VII, Section 23(B) of this constitution. *** Section 2. Be it further resolved that the provisions of the amendment contained in this Joint Resolution shall become effective on January 1, 2027, and shall be applicable to all tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2027. Section 3. Be it further resolved that this proposed amendment shall be submitted to the electors of the state of Louisiana at the statewide election to be held on November 3, 2026. Section 4. Be it further resolved that on the official ballot to be used at the election, there shall be printed a proposition, upon which the electors of the state shall be permitted to vote YES or NO, to amend the Constitution of Louisiana, which proposition shall read as follows: Do you support an amendment to increase the maximum amount of income a person may receive and still qualify for the special assessment level for residential property receiving the homestead exemption? (Effective January 1, 2027) (Amends Article VII, Section 18(G)(1)(a)(ii)) Proposed Amendment No. 10 Regular Session, 2026 -------ACT No. 272 -------HOUSE BILL NO. 214 BY REPRESENTATIVES CHANCE HENRY AND CHASSION AND SENATORS BARROW, BOUDREAUX, JACKSONANDREWS, JENKINS, AND PRICE A JOINT RESOLUTION Proposing to add Article VII, Section 21(P) of the Constitution of Louisiana, relative to ad valorem taxes; to authorize the exemption of certain property from ad valorem taxes subject to conditions provided in law; to require the legislature to enact laws relative to implementation of the exemption; to provide for applicability; to provide for an effective date; to provide for submission of the proposed amendment to the electors; and to provide for related matters. Section 1. Be it resolved by the Legislature of Louisiana, two-thirds of the members elected to each house concurring, that there shall be submitted to the electors of the state of Louisiana, for their approval or rejection in the manner provided by law, a proposal to add Article VII, Section 21(P) of the Constitution of Louisiana, to read as follows: §21. Other Property Exemptions Section 21. In addition to the homestead exemption provided for in Section 20 of this Article, the following property and no other shall be exempt from ad valorem taxation: *** (P) There shall be an optional ad valorem tax exemption for blighted or derelict property that has been rehabilitated. The legislature shall enact laws defining blighted property, derelict property, and any other terms as may be necessary for implementing the exemption provided for in this Paragraph. The legislature shall establish in law the term of the exemption and the conditions, requirements, and procedures necessary for a political subdivision to administer the exemption. *** Section 2. Be it further resolved that the provisions of the amendment contained in this Joint Resolution shall become effective on January 1, 2027, and apply to tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2027. Section 3. Be it further resolved that this proposed amendment shall be submitted to the electors of the state of Louisiana at the statewide election to be held on November 3, 2026. Section 4. Be it further resolved that on the official ballot to be used at the election, there shall be printed a proposition, upon which the electors of the state shall be permitted to vote YES or NO, to amend the Constitution of Louisiana, which proposition shall read as follows: Do you support an amendment to allow property tax exemptions for blighted or derelict properties that have been rehabilitated, and to require the legislature to enact laws providing for administration of these exemptions? (Effective January 1, 2027) (Adds Article VII, Section 21(P))

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(B)

Do you support an amendment to allow for the use of public funds by a political subdivision for the purpose of identifying, inventorying, removing or replacing drinking water utility service lines made of or affected by materials as specified or prescribed by the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements of the United States Environmental Protection Agency, promulgated October 30, 2024, or subsequent promulgation, on property owned by utility customers? (Amends Article VII, Section 14) Proposed Amendment No. 8 Regular Session, 2026 -------ACT No. 277 -------HOUSE BILL NO. 192 BY REPRESENTATIVE OWEN AND SENATORS ALLAIN, BARROW, BASS, CATHEY, CLOUD, EDMONDS, FESI, HODGES, JACKSON-ANDREWS, MIGUEZ, PRESSLY, SEABAUGH, AND WHEAT A JOINT RESOLUTION Proposing to amend Article I, Section 4(B)(4) of the Constitution of Louisiana, relative to the right to property; to prohibit expropriation by foreign adversaries; to provide for submission of the proposed amendment to the electors; and to provide for related matters.

§4. Right to Property Section 18.

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