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W e d n e s d ay, s e p t e m b e r 30, 2026

St. George finalizes draft of master plan

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U.S. Senate approves college sports bill Legislation sets up national system for student-athletes BY MARK BALLARD Staff writer

calling it an example of “good planning,” at the Tuesday open house. “This is not about one person, or even a group of people; this is about thousands of people in this particular area that want safe environments for their families; they want a place where they can raise their children,” Edmonds said. The plan offers broad goals for the city, such as improving the roads and transportation system and preserving natural resources. Then, more speciﬁcally, the plan outlines 16 implementation strategies that the city is already working on, which are aimed at turning St. George’s goals into realities. Two of the biggest are upgrading stormwater management

WASHINGTON — Legislation that pays college athletes and protects universities from most litigation headed Tuesday to the U.S. House, where it faces an uncertain future despite overwhelming support in the Senate. Senators, who had flown into town Monday afternoon, voted late that night, 77-22, to send the Protect College Sports Act of 2026 Kennedy to the House. Both Louisiana senators, Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-Baton Rouge, and Sen. John Kennedy, R-Madisonville, voted in favor of final passage. “College sports is in desperate need for stability. This legislation sets student-athletes up for success,” Cassidy said. “We’ve made a lot of people happy with this bill,” Kennedy said. Democratic Sen. Chris ä Scott Murphy, of Connecticut Rabalais: and a leader of the opposi- Protect tion, noted that LSU PresiCollege dent Wade Rousse last week said the university’s Sports Act athletic department is pro- is needed jected to be $26 million but only on short this fiscal year and 50-yard line. LSU athletics has overPAGE 1C spent its budget over the past six years by a total of $177.5 million. “LSU just paid a buyout of over $53 million to the coach they fired. In fact, last year the buyout for just three coaches at LSU totaled over $169 million,” Murphy said. “Yet, this bill only restricts, only caps the money going to players. Does nothing to cap the money going to coaches.” The sweeping bill sets up a national system through which student-athletes can profit from the sale of their “name, image and likeness” and collect a portion of the

ä See PLAN, page 11A

ä See SENATE, page 9A

STAFF PHOTO By PEARL SPURLOCK

Chris Zielewski takes a photo of a map of St. George on Tuesday at the St. George Fire Protection District during an open house to show the St. George 2050 Comprehensive Plan.

‘Road map’ to guide city’s development BY CLAIRE GRUNEWALD Staff writer

St. George is finalizing its first master development plan mapping out the city’s growth for the next few decades. On Tuesday, city officials celebrated and shared the plan’s draft at a news conference and open house after a year of work. The St. George 2050 Comprehensive Plan will map out the city’s growth through residential and commercial

development, infrastructure and public services over the next 24 years. The plan calls for annual reviews and updates every three to ﬁve years to keep the document current. “It’s a road map for St. George as we begin to grow and as we grow into our new identity as a brand-new city,” Mayor Dustin Yates said. “And it’s not something that just stipulates what’s going to take place in the next year; it’s something that looks ahead.” Over the past year, the city has hosted multiple public meetings and surveys to gather feedback and engagement from residents about what they want the city’s future to look like. More than 700 residents participated, according to Yates. Sen. Rick Edmonds, R-Baton Rouge, commended the city and the draft,

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ELECTION

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Attack ads on Edmonds, Miguez stir up Republican leaders BY TYLER BRIDGES Staff writer

Last week, a Washington-based super PAC launched an attack ad against state Sen. Rick Edmonds, who is campaigning to win a vacant congressional district representing metro Baton Rouge. On Tuesday, a Louisiana-based super PAC returned ﬁre by launching

WEATHER HIGH 93 LOW 73 PAGE 8B

an attack against state Sen. Blake Miguez, who is Edmonds’ chief Republican rival for the congressional seat. And there were signs Tuesday that the anti-Edmonds ad by the Washington-based Club for Growth has irked Republican political leaders and could pull some of them to Edmonds’ side. The latest events are playing out

a little more than a month before the Nov. 3 jungle primary when Edmonds, Miguez and eight other candidates are competing to replace U.S. Rep. Cleo Fields to represent the 6th Congressional District. Edmonds and Miguez are attracting the most attention because they are the best-known candidates, have the most money and the state Legislature drew the district to elect a

Republican. Both have earned a reputation as pro-Trump conservatives. Last week, political analysts said the 30-second attack on Edmonds by Club for Growth could badly damage his campaign if Edmonds didn’t have enough campaign money to respond. Louisiana First Victory Fund

ä See ADS, page 10A Edmonds

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

Miguez

102ND yEAR, NO. 92

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2A ■ Wednesday, September 30, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

BRIEFS

FROM WIRE REPORTS

Toddler pulls out loaded gun at Michigan daycare

CANTON, MICH. — A toddler pulled out a loaded pistol Monday at a daycare in southeast Michigan and one of the child’s parents has been taken into custody as the investigation continues, officials said. No one was injured in the incident in Canton and police praised the daycare staff for acting quickly to make sure all of the children were kept safe, police Chief Joseph Bialy said during a news conference. Bialy said the child’s other parent is a police officer from a neighboring jurisdiction. He said the handgun found at the daycare was not a service weapon. “I don’t think there was any ill intent by truly anyone involved,” he said. “I think it really falls back on safe security of a firearm, making sure that we know where our firearms are located, that they are not accessible to anyone.” Bialy said he watched video of the child taking the gun out of a backpack and described it as “shocking.” He said it was hard for him to watch even though he knew the outcome. The daycare already had a lot of security in place but is going to increase its protocols and start searching all backpacks, he said.

Estonia blames Russia for arson attack TALLINN, Estonia — Estonian authorities said Tuesday that an arson attack carried out last month on a defense company that provides military vehicles to Ukraine was an act of sabotage commissioned by Russian security services. Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said that “such actions are absolutely unacceptable” and that Russia’s charge d’affaires in Tallinn was being summoned to his ministry. A fire broke out overnight on Aug. 15 at a building in the Estonian capital used by Milrem Robotics, but was quickly brought under control, the BNS news agency reported. On Aug. 17, two Latvian suspects were detained in neighboring Latvia, and a third followed the next day. The suspects were handed over to Estonia. Milrem has supplied THeMIS unmanned ground vehicles to Ukraine. The Estonian Internal Security Service said that it has concluded that the arson attack “was a deliberate and preplanned act commissioned by Russian security services.” It said in a statement that “the modus operandi of the Milrem attack is consistent with other acts of sabotage carried out in Europe on behalf of Russia,” adding that it “assesses that the attack is directly attributable to the Russian Federation.” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that “such statements are unfounded, ill-considered, absolutely not reﬂecting the reality, not containing any substantiation whatsoever.”

Survivors, victims found after boat capsizes SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — The U.S. Coast Guard said Tuesday it had rescued 49 people and was searching for 10 others after a boat carrying migrants recently capsized in open waters west of Puerto Rico. At least three bodies have been recovered since the boat, carrying 62 passengers, overturned late Sunday near Mona Island. Officials said one passenger attacked others with a machete, causing severe injuries and forcing dozens to jump into the water. U.S. Coast Guard spokesperson Ricardo Castrodad said in a phone interview Tuesday that the majority of people aboard the boat were migrants from the Dominican Republic, while two are believed to be from Haiti. He said he didn’t know what prompted the attack, which “created a situation of panic.” Castrodad said the number of victims could have been much higher if it weren’t for a vessel passing through the area on Monday afternoon that reported the incident and helped rescue four people.

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Third-country removals continue

the policy “an entirely lawSupreme Court allows quick deportations while weighing policy called ful and critical tool for immigration

BY LINDSAY WHITEHURST Associated Press

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Tuesday let President Donald Trump’s administration continue swiftly deporting people to countries other than their own for now, while the justices consider whether the policy is legal. The apparent 6-3 order temporarily lifts lower court requirements for migrants to get a chance to object before being sent to countries to which they have no ties. The Supreme Court will hear arguments in December. The Trump administration said

last week the lower court order forced the cancellation of a deportation ﬂight carrying about 70 people bound for three countries. The conservative majority has sided with the administration before on the core Trump administration policy, allowing deportation ﬂights to temporarily continue last year. The court said it will consider several questions: whether the policy is lawful, whether lower courts had the authority to consider the case and issue a sweeping block, as well as other questions the government deems appropriate. Under a series of often-secret

agreements, the Trump administration has deported some 25,000 people to more than two dozen countries, including Liberia and Guyana. The vast majority have been sent to Mexico. Trump’s Republican administration has said that it sends people with final deportation orders to third countries when they can’t be returned to their homelands or their native countries won’t accept them, including those who have criminal convictions. Those governments provide assurances that people won’t be persecuted or tortured, federal attorneys said. Attorney General Todd Blanche

enforcement” in a social media post. Some migrants, though, have found themselves imprisoned in countries they’d never heard of before their arrivals. Others also face serious safety risks and are left with little choice except to return to the home countries they were ﬂeeing. Many have no criminal convictions and have been found to be at risk of torture or persecution, attorneys for the immigrants said. The case comes amid a sweeping immigration crackdown by the Trump administration, which has pledged to deport millions of people who are living in the United States illegally.

Congress votes to end production of penny BY MARY CLARE JALONICK Associated Press

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By JACQUELyN MARTIN

President Donald Trump, center, between Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, left, and Elon Musk, speaks in the East Room of the White House in Washington on Tuesday while surrounded by top executives of AI firms.

Trump says top tech firms sign accord Artificial intelligence companies agree to ‘self-police’ development BY CHRISTOPHER RUGABER, WILL WEISSERT and MEG KINNARD Associated Press

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Tuesday said that he and a large group of leaders of artificial intelligence companies had signed a voluntary accord that will include internal and external reviews during a meeting at the White House aimed at addressing Americans’ fears about the technology. “I think I’m seeing tremendous selfpolicing. And they understand that they have to self-police,” Trump told reporters during an impromptu press conference outside the West Wing. Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson met leading executives from top tech firms that are spending hundreds of billions of dollars to build out AI infrastructure, including data centers in communities across the country that have sparked grassroots, bipartisan opposition. The group included CEOs who have called for a slowdown in the development of the technology after several high-profile incidents where AI agents have gone rogue. Trump repeatedly praised the business executives for developing a technology that he said would produce “unbelievable growth.” Investment in data centers and the accompanying computer equipment has accelerated the economy and boosted the stock market, which has swelled investment accounts for higher-income

Americans and lifted their spending. Yet there were some notes of caution Tuesday. Dario Amodei, CEO of Anthropic, who has been one of the most outspoken voices calling for a slowdown in the development of AI, said “the technology has very real risks.” “And, you know, the mechanism, how we address those risks is still under discussion,” Amodei said. Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Facebook parent company Meta, said the accord included “a set of principles and commitments around building robust internal controls and detecting if there are any issues with the technology, coupled with multiple layers of auditing and controls.” Trump suggested there would be about 10 people named to a committee to “watch over the whole enterprise” and said the accord would be “morally binding.” He also said he would name someone to oversee the agreement in coming days after consulting with industry. Earlier Tuesday, Trump promised that the U.S. government wouldn’t limit the development of artificial intelligence or support calls for “guardrails” or other restrictions. “I will never stifle the growth of a technology that will be bigger than the industrial revolution,” Trump said at the unveiling of an AI chatbot, America.gov, intended to help Americans navigate government services. “We can’t stifle it, and we’re leading by a lot.” The unveiling of the AI government chatbot occurred at a daylong event in Washington during which multiple Trump administration officials celebrated a “Golden Age” fueled by what Trump insists on calling “super intelligence,” rather than artificial intelligence.

Taiwan: U.S. arms sales to island unchanged, but $14B package stalled BY HUIZHONG WU Associated Press

BANGKOK — Taiwan’s defense minister said Tuesday that existing U.S. arms sales to Taiwan remain unchanged, and that Taipei remains in talks with the U.S. over individual deals. A record $14 billion arms package to the island, however, remains stalled. The minister’s remarks come as concerns mount that President Donald Trump could halt arms sales to Taiwan. China has pressed Washington to halt the arms sales, most prominently during a May summit in Beijing between Trump and China’s President Xi Jinping. The United States paused the $14 billion arms deal after that meeting. “As for arms sales, we are in continuous discussions with the Americans on this,” Taiwan’s Defense Minister Wel-

lington Koo told reporters in front of the Legislative Yuan in Taipei. “We haven’t received any notice of any changes to sales or our cooperation.” Koo said he received assurances from the U.S. side that its policy toward the island remained unchanged. Koo also said that 66 advanced F16-V ﬁghter jets have reached a production stage where they’re ready to be delivered. The jets for Taiwan were supposed to be delivered in 2024, according to local media, but the project has been delayed by the pandemic and production line issues. U.S. arms sales to Taiwan are a major source of tension between Beijing and Washington because China claims the island as its territory. While the U.S. does not formally recognize Taiwan as a country, it is the island’s largest informal ally and bound by law to ensure that Taiwan can defend itself.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Mint stopped making pennies in 2025, but legislation passed by the Senate and headed to President Donald Trump’s desk will formally end their production after 234 years. The bill, passed by voice vote late Monday, directs the government to not make pennies, giving a legal stamp of approval to the Trump administration’s decision to stop producing the currency last year. The penny, among the ﬁrst coins to be made after the Mint was established in 1792, has become increasingly expensive to produce and is used by fewer and fewer consumers as digital transactions have become more standard. Trump is expected to sign the bill. He wrote in a social media post last year that the U.S. has produced the 1-cent coin for “far too long.” The Mint says that production of a penny now costs almost 4 cents and that ceasing to make them would generate immediate savings of $56 million annually. The bipartisan bill, called The Common Cents Act, was sponsored by Reps. Lisa McClain, R-Mich., and Robert Garcia, D-Calif. “When it comes to taking on waste and making sure

our tax dollars are spent wisely, it’s common sense that we should stop making a coin that costs nearly four times more than it’s worth to produce,” Garcia said. Pennies are still in circulation, and the formal end to their production doesn’t mean consumers or stores can’t use them. The Mint said it made 3.2 billion pennies in 2024. The bill outlines new procedures for stores as pennies are phased out, and it allows them to round transactions up or down to the nearest 5 cents. Retailers had pushed for the bill to eliminate the threat of lawsuits as penny circulation has dwindled. “Businesses across the country have faced cascading impacts from the lack of pennies in circulation, operating under constant uncertainty about how to handle cash transactions when exact change is unavailable,” a coalition of retailer groups wrote to House leaders in a letter earlier this year. The bill would also allow the government to use an inner layer of zinc when producing the nickel, which could increase in circulation as the penny is phased out. The 5-cent coin is currently made from both nickel and copper, which is more expensive than zinc.

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Hurricane remnants bring more rains to Southwest Flash flooding possible due to Polo BY MARTÍN SILVA REY and MEGAN JANETSKY

Associated Press

PUERTO SAN CARLOS, Mexico — Hurricane Polo smashed into the western coast of Mexico Tuesday, swamping coastal areas and toppling trees before the storm’s soggy remnants headed toward the U.S. Southwest, where residents already were struggling with ﬂoods. Polo struck the Mexican state of Baja California Sur in the morning with maximum sustained winds of 110 mph. It crossed the Gulf of California and weakened to become a tropical storm as it moved inland to the northeast, and its remnants were expected to reach the U.S. by Tuesday night. North-central New Mexico, including Albuquerque and Santa Fe, could feel the brunt of the severe weather, with as much as 3 to 4 inches of rain through Wednesday and possibly more, forecasters said. That is after storms rolled through parts of the U.S. Southwest overnight Monday, saturating the ground, which can make

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By EDUARDO VERDUGO

A resident enters his home surrounded by water brought by Hurricane Polo in Puerto San Carlos, Baja California Sur state, Mexico on Tuesday. ﬂooding worse.

The system made a brisk pass through Phoenix early Tuesday, dumping up to 2 inches of rain before tapering. North of the city, a truck was swept away in a wash in the New River area. The driver got out safely, Maricopa County sheriff’s officials said. The rocky, desert area typically gets less than 10 inches of rain annually with little vegetation to soak it up, making ﬂash ﬂooding a perpetual risk. Near Zion National Park in Utah, the East Fork of the Virgin River raged with chocolate floodwater seen carrying a shipping container downstream. In the small town of Order-

Heavy rains in Southwest Bands of rain continued to sweep across the U.S. Southwest, causing desert rivers to surge and usually dry arroyos to rage with floodwater. Nearly all of the region was under flood watches as the complex system of tropical weather — with Polo the main event — spread northeast from Mexico. “Definitely looking at the chances for urban flooding,” said National Weather Service meteorologist Carter Greulich in Albuquerque. “Don’t drive through flooded roadways. Remain out of the arroyos, especially in our urban areas.”

ville, Utah, where ﬂooding began Monday night, Sabrina Dubay was driving home when her partner called and told her to stay away. “The river came in and swept around the entirety of our house,” Dubay said, adding that her partner told her, “We’re about to lose everything.” A camper, snowmobile trailer, and other items from Dubay’s yard were swept away by the river. Neighbors and friends arrived to dig a trench around the house as the water rose around their home. “It was coming in through our front doors,” she said. Flooding also was reported in southern New Mexico. An unusually soggy September across the region set the stage: When the ground is saturated, rainfall has nowhere to go but run off. “Runoff is likely going to

small ﬁshing town of Puerto San Carlos on the Baja California peninsula, residents waded among downed trees through ankle-high water that flooded some homes. Seeing their roughened community largely intact brought relief to those who had prepared for the worst. Shopkeeper Elbia María Bachomo, 40, picked through furniture strewn through her home. She and her three children had gathered their clothes quickly and left for a shelter Monday as water began ﬂooding into their home. Her husband was out on the water fishing for sardines when Polo hit. Bachomo said he was fortunate to ‘We were lucky’ escape alive. “I thought, ‘Oh no, what Hurricane Polo pummeled Baja California Sur with are we going to come back powerful winds and rain as to? We will be left with nothit made landfall. ing.’ But we were lucky,” she After Polo passed over the said.

start much quicker and lead to those flooding impacts quicker,” Greulich said. Forecasters said the flood risk would move into parts of the central U.S. beginning late Tuesday and into Wednesday. Starting late Wednesday, widespread heavy rain was expected to hit the Dallas-Fort Worth, Austin and San Antonio areas. Life-threatening flash flooding was possible, with low-lying areas especially vulnerable. Parts of west Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa were under flood watch through Thursday, with some areas expecting up to 5 inches of rain.

Suspects released in possible bomb plot at U.S.-run base

the air base as she drove British counterterror has denied involvement. The head of U.K. Counter home in the early hours of police confirm no Terrorism Policing, Lau- Sunday. She said she came Taylor, stressed that across a group of men, some explosives found rence the suspects — all British with their faces covered,

BY SYLVIA HUI and ALASTAIR GRANT Associated Press

LONDON — A surprise decision by the U.K.’s counterterrorism police to release five suspects on bail during an investigation into a suspected bomb plot at a U.S.operated air force base in England has deepened questions and uncertainty about the incident. Police confirmed Tuesday that no explosives were found in three vans linked to the suspects, and said the decision to grant bail was grounded in “experience and strategy.” U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters on Monday he was surprised that the five young British men who were arrested Sunday on suspicion of explosives and terrorism offenses near the RAF Fairford base were freed a day later. “I wouldn’t have done that,” Trump said. The base has been used by American bombers during decades of conflicts in the Middle East, including this year’s war with Iran. Counterterror detectives have said they were investigating “multiple lines of inquiry,” including whether the suspects had a link to Iran. Iran

nearby, and that the men ran away when they saw her vehicle. Earlier, army bomb-disposal experts used a robot to examine the vans. Taylor said “a quantity of petrol was recovered” from the vans, but no explosives.

nationals in their 20s — face stringent conditions and “absolutely remain under investigation.” “Now I understand why this development was surprising to some, but I would like to reiterate that this is an investigative decision, and one which is grounded in experience and strategy,” he said. Taylor said people’s concerns about the incident were being “heightened by the international commentary that we are seeing.” In an interview with Fox News, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the case “clearly involves the hands of a foreign actor,” but did not name a speciﬁc country or give more details. “I know a lot of people are disturbed by the news that some of these people have been released on bail, as some of the people are being investigated,” he added.

Possible Iran role Taylor, the counterterror police chief, said lines of inquiry include whether the suspected offenses were committed by “proxies or individuals, either knowingly or unknowingly, working on behalf of a foreign state.” Investigators haven’t concluded whether the incident was state-backed or what the motive was, but authorities have strongly hinted that Iran is possibly involved. They are also investigating a possible link to Russia or nonstate militant groups. RAF Fairford has also been the focus of protests by antiwar campaigners. Defense Secretary Wes Streeting said the U.K. “shouldn’t be cowed by saber rattling from Iran,” adding that “the Iranian regime is one that wishes harm to our country, our allies, and the freedom and democracy that we enjoy.” The Iranian embassy denied the country’s involvement in the suspected plot.

Police found no explosives A police cordon remained in place around three vans found close to the Fairford base on Tuesday, as armed police and counterterrorism ofﬁcers continued to examine the scene. A local farmer said she called police after seeing the vans blocking a road near

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Iran’s currency hits record low as war erodes economy Conflict sends rial value plummeting BY AAMER MADHANI and FARNOUSH AMIRI Associated Press

Iran’s currency fell to a new record low on Tuesday, with traders in Tehran exchanging more than 2.5 million rials to the U.S. dollar in a stark reﬂection of how the war in the Middle East has steadily eroded the Iranian economy. The latest decline came just 27 days after the rial hit its previous record low of 2.2 million to the dollar on Sept. 2. The currency has repeatedly reached new lows since the war began in February. The Iranian economy has been under duress for years in the face of international sanctions. But a U.S. naval blockade on Iranian oil and new sanctions imposed since the start of the war have sent it into free fall. Meanwhile, Iran’s top diplomat said indirect negotiations with the United States aimed at reopening the critical Strait of Hormuz have become “more serious,” while the Iranian Revolutionary

the U.S. side. “They are set to raise the matter with the American side once more, after which the final U.S. response will be conveyed to us,” Araghchi said. “If there is a response, the Qataris will convey it to us and a decision will be made in Tehran on that basis.” Officials, including from the U.S., have confirmed to The Associated Press that mediators are working with Iran and the U.S. on trying to broker a deal to end the fighting and open the strait. ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By VAHID SALEMI The mediation efforts conMotorbikes drive past missiles and banners showing portraits tinue even after U.S. Presiof the Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, dent Donald Trump earlier center, and the late armed forces commanders and nuclear this week spurned an Iranian proposal to reopen the strait in scientists who were killed in Israeli and U.S. strikes displayed seven days if the U.S. agreed in a military exhibition commemorating the 1980-88 Iraqto lift its blockade of Iranian ports, release frozen Iranian Iran war at Baharestan Square in Tehran on Monday. assets and waive sanctions on Iranian oil sales, among other Guard Corps’ chief spokes- chokepoint of the war. Araghchi made the com- conditions. man Gen. Hossein Mohebbi on Tuesday called on Ameri- ments shortly before deTensions in the Strait of cans to take to the streets and parting New York — where protest the conflict. he attended last week’s gathering of world leaders at the Prospect of talks U.N. General Assembly — Foreign Minister Abbas and after meeting with PakiAraghchi told Iranian me- stani and Qatari mediators. Araghchi said the Qatari dia late on Monday that the “current focus is solely on intermediaries were exthe Strait of Hormuz,” the pected to soon engage with

Hormuz were underscored by a report Tuesday that a cargo vessel was struck by an “unknown projectile” while moving through the strait on Monday. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said it had received a delayed report from a third party. The strike caused a ﬁre on board that was extinguished, UKMTO said, and all crew members were reported safe, UKMTO said. The vessel, which wasn’t identiﬁed, continued on its way, the report said. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack.

weeks before critical midterm elections in the United States. Mohebbi, the Guard spokesman, read a letter during a news conference in Iran’s capital, Tehran, appealing to Americans to pressure their government and claiming that the only way for the war to end is for Washington to admit defeat and leave the Mideast. Mohebbi’s remarks come as Trump’s Republican Party faces ﬁerce headwinds as it looks to maintain control of Congress. But polling shows the war has darkened the American electorate’s mood ahead of the Nov. 3 Iran sends message election in which elevated The Iranian Revolution- gasoline prices, a byproduct ary Guard Corps on Tuesday of the conﬂict, loom large. Mohebbi also accused the made an appeal to everyday Americans to push their U.S. of using Iran’s nuclear government to end the U.S. program as a ruse to “plunder war against Iran, a provoca- Iran’s wealth” and to turn the tive message that comes just country “back into a colony.”

2 Navy aviators eject while landing plane on carrier off Virginia coast BY BEN FINLEY and KONSTANTIN TOROPIN Associated Press

WASHINGTON — Two U.S. Navy aviators ejected as they were landing their plane on the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier off the coast of Virginia, a mishap that also injured six sailors aboard the vessel. It is the latest mishap involving Navy aircraft in the past couple of years, including two Navy jets that collided during an air show

in Idaho in May as well as a ﬁghter jet and a helicopter crashing into the South China Sea in October. Pentagon data released last year showed a spike in aviation mishaps across the U.S. military in 2024. The two aviators ejected from their E/A-18G Growler on Monday after a failure of the arresting gear that was designed to bring the jet to a halt after landing, the Navy said in a statement. They were rescued and safely returned to the ship, it said.

The aviators, who are attached to the “Zappers” of an electronic attack squadron and assigned to Carrier Air Wing 3, and six other sailors were evaluated by the ship’s medical personnel, the Navy said. One sailor was transported to a hospital in the Norfolk, Virginia, area to be treated for injuries that were not life threatening, while the two aviators and two sailors injured on the ﬂight deck were ﬂown to a naval medical center for further evaluation.

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Ex-special counsel defends New York governor pushes for Cornell investigation prosecutions of Trump Republicans assail his team’s tactics in hearing

BY ERIC TUCKER and ALANNA DURKIN RICHER Associated Press

WASHINGTON — Former special counsel Jack Smith forcefully defended his prosecutions of President Donald Trump and his investigative tactics, pushing back against repeated Republican criticism in a congressional hearing Tuesday Smith that featured a senator’s bungled attempt to accuse him of lying about a basketball game. The hearing offered a forum for Republicans to try to paint Smith as a political operative and assail him anew for what they contend were politicized prosecutions that unfolded during the 2024 presidential race. Democrats rallied in defense of Smith, eliciting testimony on the legal and factual basis for the criminal cases against the then-candidate and decrying the Trump administration’s ﬁring of prosecutors involved in the investigations. Smith, for his part, defended his work in an hours-long Senate Judiciary Committee hearing — the latest congressional effort to revisit federal cases that accused Trump of conspiring to overturn the results of the 2020 race and of hoarding classiﬁed documents at his Mara-Lago estate in Florida. Both were abandoned after Trump’s 2024 election win. “Anybody who has worked with me and knows me during the course of my career knows that I would not let pol-

itics play a role. And I would just add that if you knew the people I worked with, they would not either,” Smith said. He lamented what he called an unprecedented assault on the rule of law by the Trump administration, along with terminations of his team that he said had deprived the government of crucial expertise and made the country less safe. “That has never happened in my career. I have never seen anything remotely like it in any Republican or Democratic administration,” he said.

Accusation backfires The testimony did nothing to appease Smith’s Republican critics, including Sen. Eric Schmitt of Missouri, who called Smith a “dirtbag.” In the hearing’s most memorable moment, Schmitt asked Smith whether he recalled attending a professional basketball game in Atlanta in February 2024, around the time a local district attorney also prosecuting Trump over election interference was under scrutiny for a romantic relationship with a special prosecutor in the case. Smith appeared perplexed by the question, which tried to make an unsubstantiated link between the federal and state prosecutions of Trump. “I do not have a recollection of going to Atlanta,” Smith said. “I deﬁnitely did not go to a Hawks game. I’m sure of that.” At that point, staffers held up posterboard displaying a series of text messages that, according to Schmitt, purported to show communications about Smith’s attendance at an NBA game between the Atlanta Hawks and the Golden State Warriors. “I think you’ve already perjured yourself,” Schmitt said.

The confusion was hashed out minutes later when Smith volunteered that he indeed had gone to a basketball game in February 2024 — an Iowa Hawkeyes women’s matchup at the University of Maryland that had nothing to do with the Atlanta Hawks. “Could it then be that the University of Iowa is the Hawkeyes? Could that be it?” Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar said as she chided Schmitt. “That might be the confusion over the names of the team. But perhaps you should have looked at it more carefully.”

Subpoenas for records Smith was pressed by Republican senators about his access to the phone records of GOP lawmakers as he investigated Trump’s efforts to reverse his loss to Democrat Joe Biden. Prosecutors issued subpoenas for toll records of numerous Republican members of Congress who were contacted by Trump or his aides on Jan. 6, 2021, the day supporters of the president rioted inside the U.S. Capitol. Smith has said such subpoenas are common in investigations and were necessary in this instance to understand the “scope of the conspiracy” between Trump and his Republican allies. The subpoenas, he said Tuesday, provided corroborating evidence that Trump and his alleged co-conspirators sought to exploit the violence of the day by invoking it to try to further delay the congressional certiﬁcation of Biden’s win. “They were taking the fact that law enforcement officers had been brutally assaulted at this institution and using that to seek to delay the proceedings further in violation of the law,” Smith said.

Hochul calls for probe into handling of rape allegation

BY KIMBERLEE KRUESI Associated Press

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul on Tuesday called for an investigation into Cornell University’s response to a 2024 gang rape allegation in which a woman says she was sexually assaulted by seven students after being plied with alcohol and drugs. The woman ﬁled a lawsuit this month saying she was sexually assaulted at the Chi Phi fraternity house on Cornell’s campus in October 2024. Her suit says the assault occurred after she was pressured into snorting ketamine, smoking marijuana and drinking alcohol, to the point where she was incapable of consenting to sex. The woman reported the incident to Cornell’s campus police department, but the local district attorney’s office opted not to pros-

ecute anyone at the time. It reopened the criminal investigation Monday as public outrage built over the woman’s allegations. Hochul said she supported Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten’s decision to reopen his investigation, but said bigger questions remain about Cornell’s reporting, response, and prevention systems, as well as its campus culture. The governor called for an outside law ﬁrm to be hired to independently investigate the university’s response. “The allegations in this case are nothing short of horrifying,” Hochul said in a statement. “For any student to come forward after an experience like this takes extraordinary courage. No student should ever be left wondering whether the institutions meant to protect them will listen and act.” An email seeking comment was sent to Cornell on Tuesday. Van Houten defended his ofﬁce’s actions Tuesday in several media interviews,

arguing that while the male students involved did things that were “morally wrong,” the woman’s initial account of the incident to police didn’t include allegations that she was drugged, incapacitated beyond the ability to consent, or forced into sex. “She went to the police because she knew it wasn’t right,” Van Houten told CNN. Van Houten has not released the victim’s sworn statement to police, but instead released a summary with some of her direct quotes included. He also defended his office’s decision not to do additional investigation after the woman, who was identified in court filings by the pseudonym Jane Doe, initially spoke to police. “There were no question marks. There was no additional need to find information because we had all of the information that the police collected from Jane Doe through her very detailed, very comprehensive statement that she provided,” Van Houten said.

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Homeland Security taps $20M in taxpayer funds

cials, which echo the GOP’s camera lens with the “Paid which were ﬁrst reported by Pro-Trump television ads draw bipartisan criticism midterm election slogans, for by the U.S. Government” the Wall Street Journal.

BY LISA MASCARO and ALI SWENSON Associated Press

WASHINGTON — The Department of Homeland Security has tapped $20 million to pay for the campaign-style ads glorifying President Donald Trump that have drawn widespread criticism from Republicans and Democrats as a blatant misuse of taxpayer dollars that likely runs afoul of anti-propaganda law. In a letter Tuesday to Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, two top Democratic senators said that the money is being drawn from Trump’s so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill” and was supposed to go for U.S. Customs and Border Protection. “We should not have to remind you that using govern-

ment funding to create or air political ads like the ones that have been running over the last few days is illegal and a shockingly corrupt misuse of taxpayer dollars,” wrote Sen. Patty Murray of Washington, the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, and Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut, the ranking Democrat on the subcommittee that handles Homeland Security funding. The senators, in their letter to Mullin, demanded answers within the next 48 hours about “how this president is literally stealing their tax dollars to air campaign ads celebrating himself.” They asked the secretary if the department plans to use additional federal funds to air these ads or create new ones, and if so to share con-

against imagery of Trump’s tenure in office — one with a “Love me, Love me” song refrain in the background — appear to violate a law against congressionally appropriated funds being used for propaganda. Experts also have said the ads, which are airing on network and cable TV and streaming, differ from other administrations’ PSAs because they aren’t designed to help Americans access any specific program. Over the weekend, a new ad promoting the president resembles a black-and-white video from his own 2024 campaign that shows Trump walking down a hallway as his voice can be heard warning of a “final battle” against “globalists” and “warmonAd spend is up to $2.5M gers.” It ends with Trump The unusual commer- staring straight into the

tracting information with the Congress. They also asked Mullin if he had spoken to Trump about using the taxpayer funds for the ads. The political uproar over Trump’s hagiographic ads, which started running last week during popular TV shows, including college and National Football League programming, has not abated as critics on the left and right raise alarms about the use of taxpayer funds, particularly so close to the midterm elections. The White House has defended the advertisements, which disclose that they are funded by the U.S. government, as public service announcements.

message printed. Sen. Thom Tillis, a Republican from North Carolina, compared Trump’s ads to those used by authoritarian former leader Viktor Orban of Hungary. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a Republican from South Dakota, said it “shouldn’t be paid for with taxpayer dollars.” Data from the outside firm AdImpact shows more than $2.5 million was spent on the three ads over the past seven days. The actual amount spent could be significantly more, depending on whether networks classified the ads as political. The senators said that DHS has committed $20 million to the campaign. A person who was unauthorized to discuss the situation and granted anonymity confirmed the findings,

Ads likely skirting the law The unusual ad campaign comes as Republicans face an increasingly volatile midterm election season with their control of the House and Senate — and Trump’s future agenda — all at risk. Voters say they are struggling with high prices of gas and groceries, and are concerned about the lengthy U.S. war against Iran, now in its seventh month. Democrats are gearing up for vast oversight of Trump and his administration if they seize power, and impeachment is not off the table. House Democrats said Trump’s director of the Office of Management and Budget, Russ Vought, moved the money from Homeland Security to the ad campaign on Sept. 19.

Pope Leo wraps up France trip Pontiff urges Europe to blunt ‘desire for domination’

BY NICOLE WINFIELD Associated Press

METZ, France — Pope Leo XIV urged Europe on Monday to draw from its Christian roots and tradition of dialogue to blunt the “desire for domination” driving today’s wars, as he wrapped up a visit to France by recalling the forces that contributed to the continent’s peaceful integration. Leo traveled to the eastern city of Metz, near the border with Luxembourg and Germany, to honor Robert Schuman, a French Catholic statesman regarded as one of the founding fathers of European unity after World War II. Leo decided to end his four-day visit to France in Metz, at a conference center named for Schuman, to drive home his appeal. The

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By GREGORIO BORGIA

Pope Leo XIV arrives at Notre-Dame Cathedral to lead the vespers on Friday in Paris. American pope wants Europe to draw from its Christian foundations and traditions to respond to wars and other conflicts, including Russia’s war in Ukraine, and the challenges of migration. “Over the past 80 years, Europe has amply demonstrated that it is possible to articulate divergent opinions, claims and interests through encounter rather than conﬂict,” he said. “We need to commit ourselves to patient dialogue, to show courage in

negotiation and to be willing to give up some positions for the greater good of peace,” he said, without naming speciﬁc conﬂicts or positions. Élysée Palace, the French presidential office, had invited all European Union heads of state and the heads of European institutions to attend the conference. But only a handful, from smaller states such as Monaco, Andorra and Luxembourg, joined President Emmanuel Macron.

Watchdog: Trump can’t cancel more than $800M in approved spending BY KEVIN FREKING Associated Press

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump is not permitted to withhold beyond the end of the fiscal year ending Wednesday more than $800 million in spending approved by Congress. Trump That’s according to a review from the Government Accountability Ofﬁce that was sent to federal lawmakers and Vice President JD Vance on Tuesday. The president announced his intention on Friday night

to impound more than $800 million from 11 appropriations accounts, using a rare and contested power to axe funding for immigrant services and diversity-focused initiatives. But the GAO said federal law provides that funds proposed for rescission must be made available at a certain point unless Congress completes action on a bill that goes along with the president’s request. “Any withholding of appropriated funds beyond their date of expiration, regardless of size, subverts both the constitutional process for enacting federal law and Congress’s constitutional power of the purse,” wrote the GAO’s general counsel.

Under the Impoundment Control Act, the administration can withhold funds for 45 days as Congress considers the issue. Lawmakers can pass a bill that includes all or part of the president’s request, but if Congress has not acted on the request within that 45-day window, the president must release the funds. But Trump made congressional action all but impossible by announcing the cuts with just five days left in the federal fiscal year and with the House out of session through the November election. The GAO, an independent, nonpartisan agency that works for Congress, says the maneuver known as a “pocket rescission” is illegal.

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Continued from page 1A revenues their games create; limits athletes’ ability to transfer between schools; and exempts universities from antitrust laws that are the avenues for lawsuits that have changed the traditional way of college sports, in which the student-athletes aren’t paid but bring in billions of dollars. Though the legislation is in their court now, the lower chamber isn’t scheduled to return to Capitol Hill until Nov. 9 — after voters in the congressional midterms have selected a new Congress. When the House does return, representatives face this bill plus a full plate of work and only 20 days to do it. If the House doesn’t pass the bill and put it on Trump’s desk to sign into law, the new 120th Congress, which convenes in January, will have to start all over again. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Benton, is off campaigning in hopes of keeping the Republican majority necessary for him to stay head of the chamber. Before leaving on his crosscountry trek, Johnson said passing the legislation is going to require persuading a handful of House Republicans. The margins in the 435seat House are so narrow that the bill is lost if all Democrats vote no and two Republicans bolt, depending on how many representatives show up. The legislation has wide support, including from the SEC, Big 10 and other major athletic conferences, as well as coaches and President Donald Trump. Former LSU football coach Nick Saban, who also coached at Alabama, testified before Congress over the summer that college sports need national rules, rather than allowing each state make its own. “Without that legal cer-

makes all of that possible? The fans,” Kennedy said. “My amendment would have done something for the people who pay for the tickets and make games possible by ensuring they don’t get hit with unlimited ticket-price increases.” Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, opposed Kennedy’s proposed change in wording, arguing that it amounted to setting price controls on college sporting events. “All this bill does is fix prices,” Kennedy responded. Cassidy also voted against Kennedy’s amendment. “I’m a conservative. I don’t think the federal government should be intervening in a private market that way,” Cassidy said. The amendment came 18 votes shy of the 60 needed ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By MARIAM ZUHAIB to be added to the bill. The legislation, if enacted U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., left, and Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, led the push for the into law, would exempt colProtect College Sports Act. lege sports from antitrust laws, which would allow the “Everybody makes money help create, whereas pro- universities, the coaches universities to coordinate from college sports: the fessional athletes receive and the athletes. But who between themselves when universities, the coaches about half the revenues. Since July 2025, some and the athletes. But House Republicans also who makes all of that have tried to persuade possible? The fans. My enough of their GOP colamendment would have leagues, so far unsuccessdone something for the fully, to back the Student and Opporpeople who pay for the Compensation tunity through Rights and tickets and make games Endorsements Act. SCORE possible by ensuring gives the universities more say-so than the Protect Colthey don’t get hit with lege Sports Act but otherunlimited ticket-price wise is similar. increases.” A ﬁnal vote in the Senate was slowed Monday night SEN. JOHN KENNEDy, by last-minute negotiations. R-Madisonville Republicans and Democrats each had four amendtainty, every rule becomes ments they wanted attached another lawsuit, every stan- to the instrument. Kennedy wanted an dard becomes another risk, and the system keeps drift- amendment to cap ticket ing toward a professional price increases at 4% anmodel,” Saban said. nually. But the bill also has sigKennedy argued on the niﬁcant opposition, includ- Senate floor that, if Coning the NAACP, the AFL- gress is providing special CIO and the Congressional protections to college athBlack Caucus, which argue letics, it should also provide that student-athletes don’t protections to the fans who have rights to collective make college sports posbargaining under the bill sible. and are receiving about “Everybody makes mon20% of the revenues they ey from college sports: the

negotiating, say, television rights. But the antitrust exemption also protects universities and their athletic departments, as well as the NCAA governing body, from most litigation. The Protect College Sports Act roughly doubles the $21.5 million revenue sharing cap and allows the schools an additional $27 million to keep its athletes from moving to another institution; sets up an enforceable system for student-athletes to make money from the use of their name, image, and likeness; and limits agent fees. Athletes would be allowed to transfer once without having to sit out, and guarantees would allow them to use their scholarships to return to school and complete their degrees. Coaches would not be allowed to change programs during the season. Email Mark Ballard at mballard@theadvocate. com.

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Continued from page 1A stepped up Tuesday to assist Edmonds by portraying Miguez in a 30-second ad as an untrustworthy conservative.

Miguez ad ruffles feathers

STAFF FILE PHOTO By HILARy SCHEINUK

Sen. Rick Edmonds, R-Baton Rouge, left, speaks with Sen. Blake Miguez, R-New Iberia, in the Senate chamber during the 2025 legislative session. Edmonds.

New ad hits Miguez In the ad that began airing Tuesday, Louisiana First Victory Fund hit Miguez for not living in the congressional district. Louisiana First Victory Fund also attacked Miguez by saying that “the people bankrolling” him — Club for Growth — “want to end our flood insurance.” Club for Growth, which says it favors “pro-growth” and “limited government,” wants to end the federal government’s National Flood Insurance Program and replace it with private insurance. As with other so-called “dark money” groups, Louisiana First Victory Fund does not have to disclose its donors. The ad also highlighted a 19-year-old Iberia Parish Sheriff Department’s report in which Miguez’s then-girl-

AP P

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eling medical laboratory technician, lives in St. Francisville. Stephen Wagley, who owns Delta College, which trains students to work in medical ﬁelds, lives in Baton Rouge. He has begun broadcasting TV ads where he calls himself “a conservative outsider.” Three Democrats are running. Chauna Banks, who served 12 years on the East Baton Rouge Parish Metro Council, is a staffer for the East Baton Rouge Parish school system. Pat Forbes, who spent 20 years in high-level state government positions for three governors, lives in Baton Rouge. Lindsay Garcia, a former social studies teacher in New Orleans who obtained a law degree from Southern University last year, lives in Walker. Rufus Craig, a lawyer, is a Libertarian candidate from Baton Rouge. The top two finishers in the Nov. 3 jungle primary, regardless of party, will advance to the runoff in December.

SENATE PRESIDENT CAMERON HENRy, R-Metairie

ULE ED

SELF-SCH TO

friend accused him of rape at home after an argument at a bar. The report said she fled their apartment in New Iberia, hid from Miguez, called 911 but ended up not pressing charges. As The Advocate | The Times-Picayune reported in March, Miguez denied the allegation, and the mother and brother of the accuser told the newspaper that she had battled a drug

“For him to allow a third-party group to attack Sen. Edmonds for votes they both took just showed why we have tried so hard to keep D.C. politics out of the race.”

“For Blake to run against someone in an area he doesn’t live is disheartening for everyone involved.” Miguez lives in Erath in Vermilion Parish and represents a district south of Lafayette that is outside of the 6th Congressional District. He has bought a house in Baton Rouge. He tries to counter attacks on his residency by noting that Edmonds is a pastor in McComb, Miss. Edmonds lives in south Baton Rouge, and his Senate district overlaps with the boundaries of the 6th Congressional District. Political operatives who are close with Landry — who has had a testy relationship with Miguez — didn’t respond when asked whether the governor is now raising money to help elect Edmonds. Landry intervened last month to ensure that the Louisiana Republican Party endorsed both Miguez and

SCAN

Political insiders said Club for Growth’s assault on Edmonds might invite more attacks on Miguez. That’s because the group slammed Edmonds for supporting two measures backed by Gov. Jeff Landry and the legislative leadership. Club for Growth gave these Republican leaders an additional reason to be angry because Miguez joined Edmonds in voting for the two measures. One bill reduced taxes overall by decreasing income taxes while raising the sales tax. The Club for Growth ad said Edmonds raised the sales tax, without mentioning the income tax reduction. Club for Growth also said Edmonds voted to give “sweetheart tax deals for woke Big Tech companies” — a reference to legislation in 2024 that authorized Landry to give big tax breaks to Meta for its $50 billion data center now under construction in Richland Parish. Landry, legislative leaders and business leaders have all championed this bill. “For him to allow a thirdparty group to attack Sen. Edmonds for votes they both took just showed why we have tried so hard to keep D.C. politics out of the race,” state Senate President Cameron Henry, R-Metairie, said in an interview Tuesday. “A lot of people who were not engaged in the race just yet have become more motivated that the local guy wins the race, that being Rick Edmonds.” Henry, who is supporting Edmonds, predicted that other outside groups would begin attacking Miguez. “They seem to be more engaged in making Rick Edmonds successful,” he said.

problem and that they seriously doubted her allegation against Miguez. Lionel Rainey, who is the political operative behind the anti-Miguez Louisiana First Victory Fund, said he believes the accuser and added about the ad, “These are real issues that voters in the district care about.” Miguez’s campaign hit back at its attackers. “When swampy politicians don’t want to defend their records, they resort to personal attacks and distractions,” Chris Pack, a campaign spokesperson, said in a statement. “Blake Miguez is focused on the issues Louisiana families actually care about, like lowering costs, cutting taxes and delivering conservative results. Mississippi Pastor Rick Edmonds and his allies should think long and hard about whether they really want to make baseless personal attacks the focus of this campaign. We’re perfectly happy to keep this race focused on the candidates’ records and the issues that matter to Louisiana voters. Whether it stays that way is up to Rick.” Besides Miguez and Edmonds, four other Republicans are running to represent the 6th Congressional District. Monique Appeaning is a former high-level aide to Baton Rouge Mayor Sid Edwards who also worked as a government analyst. She lives in St. George. Larry Davis III is a member of the Livingston Parish Republican Parish Executive Committee who lives in Denham Springs. Michael Mebruer, a trav-

By Amanda McElfresh | amcelfresh@theadvocate.com This article is brought to you by East Baton Rouge Parish Schools. East Baton Rouge Parish families will have the opportunity to explore dozens of specialized education options during Magnet Mania on Sunday, Oct. 4. The free event will take place from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Louisiana Art & Science Museum, 100 South River Road, Baton Rouge. It will showcase all 31 of the district’s magnet programs, giving families the chance to learn about options ranging from STEM and visual and performing arts to broadcasting, foreign language immersion, Montessori education and much more. Dr. Casaundra McNair, Executive Director of Innovative and Specialized Programs for EBR Schools, said parents and guardians of all schoolaged children are welcome to attend Magnet Mania. Montessori programs begin for children as young as three years old, and magnet programs across the district are available at elementary, middle and high school levels. “If you come to Magnet Mania, you can meet the magnet site coordinators,” Dr.McNairsaid. “You can also meet student ambassadors who ca n g ive youtheirexperience about their programs. Your child can talk to other children and see exactly how their experience is.” Families interested in learning more can continue their exploration during Magnet Showcase Week, which will be October 5-8 at magnet schools throughout the district. “We can’t show you everything at Magnet Mania,” Dr. McNair said. “If you go to schools during Showcase Week, you can actually explore the programs, see what they have to offer and dig a little bit deeper into the theme.” EBR Schools Magnet Program application prior-

ity pool will be open from October 14 to December 4 at ebrmagnet.org. Applications will be accepted for the 2027-28 school year. While applications can be submitted year-round, Dr. McNair strongly encouraged interested families to apply during the priority pool. “You have the best chance of getting into the school of your choice if you apply in the priority pool,” she said. “That allows us to gather all the information. It just gives us time to prepare for your students.” With more magnet programs in East Baton Rouge Parish Schools than ever before, Dr. McNair said students have unprecedented access to education pathways that match their skills and interests. “It’s about opening the eyes of our children of East Baton Rouge Parish to just see what the possibilities in the world are,” she said. “I look at Baton Rouge as a sea of opportunity.” The magnet programs have been recognized as some of the best in the nation. East Baton Rouge Parish was named the 2026 National Magnet District of the Year by Magnet Schools of America, and several individual schools have earned awards for academic excellence. “We have absolutely amazing programs with amazing educators that truly power the programs that are happening for our kids. And, they’re all free,” Dr. McNair said. Learn more about EBR Magnet Programs, Magnet Mania, Showcase Week or application information at ebrmagnet.org or by calling 225-922-5443.

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Wednesday, September 30, 2026 ■ 11A

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Probe of Murrill indictment ongoing State Police cite intimidation, perjury as possible crimes

BY JOHN SIMERMAN Staff writer

Louisiana State Police have outlined a host of possible crimes surrounding the July indictment of Attorney General Liz Murrill, including some of the same offenses an Orleans Parish grand jury accused her of perpetrating against top city officials. Perjury, jury tampering, obstruction of justice and unlawful disclosure of grand jury proceedings are among the “possible violations” spelled out in an Aug. 12 request to the Louisiana Supreme Court for a special prosecutor. Also listed were public intimidation and malfeasance in office — the charges Murrill briefly faced in Orleans Parish before a different special prosecutor, former criminal court judge Laurie White, dropped the case under pressure.

Murrill was accused of crimes for letters she sent to New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno, Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams and five New Orleans City Council members. She wrote that they risked their jobs for defying the Legislature’s choice to fill a unified court clerk post in New Orleans. Gov. Jeff Landry ordered a State Police investigation soon after the grand jury returned the indictment on July 2, while pledging to pardon Murrill if she were ever convicted on the 16 felony charges. Republican state leaders threatened payback, and the city officials targeted in those letters urged White to drop the case. “In order to proceed with its investigation, Louisiana State Police needs access to a conflict-free prosecutor to assist with issuance of subpoenas, obtaining search

warrants, and other exercises of the prosecutorial role — such as requests to impanel a special grand jury,” wrote Jasson Hessick, an assistant secretary for the state Department of Public Safety and Corrections. Hessick filed the request for a special prosecutor, reasoning that both the district attorney and attorney general were conflicted. He did not name a preferred choice for the role. The high court went on to tap northshore District Attorney Collin Sims for the job, under an order signed by Justice Cade Cole dated Aug. 17. Sims, who was reelected this year without opposition, issued a statement last week saying his goal regarding the grand jury will be to “confirm or dispel any concerns that it may have been misused.” The grand jury that indicted

Murrill was said to have launched its investigation on its own initiative under a little used state law. Williams’ office recused itself before District Judge Leon Roche appointed White to oversee it. Murrill has since suggested inappropriate political influence on the grand jury from Williams, Moreno or others. Landry has insisted he won’t meet with Moreno until their suspicions are cleared up. The request by State Police said the agency has a “reasonable belief” that crimes “may have occurred” around the grand jury proceedings. It says the belief is based on “publicly available materials — including pleadings, court minutes, witness statements, press conferences, and statements by other various stakeholders.” Meanwhile, lawyers for Murrill have filed lawsuits over public records against Williams and White, while pressing the city as well for communication about the grand jury’s work.

One Supreme Court justice balked at the appointment of Sims, arguing that the court has meddled enough already in the matter, first by issuing a swift stay of Murrill’s indictment before she was booked. Louisiana Supreme Court Justice John Michael Guidry argued that the court’s actions violated the separation of powers in the Constitution. “All of this gives the appearance of this court facilitating and micromanaging — from its inception — a matter which this court will have the ﬁnal say on anything that results from any grand jury proceedings handled by this prosecutor and this judge,” he wrote. Cole’s order says the court planned to appoint retired Judge Robert Chaisson, who served on the state appeals court in Gretna until 2023, to preside over the inquiry. The court initially appointed Chaisson over Murrill’s criminal case.

STAFF PHOTOS By PEARL SPURLOCK

Katrina Stokes views diagrams detailing proposed future land use categories during an open house on Tuesday at the St. George Fire Protection District. The open house invited residents and stakeholders to learn more about the St. George 2050 Comprehensive Plan.

PLAN

Continued from page 1A and drainage infrastructure, and establishing street maintenance and operations standards. Under these strategies, the plan has outlined time frames, policies and programs to achieve. For upgrading stormwater management and drainage infrastructure, it says it will take ﬁve to 10 years, and one policy under it is to prepare a citywide drainage master plan. “This plan is going to be the framework that we use to make and guide decisions for land use, economic development, housing, transportation and a number of other things, including parks and recreation,” city Planning Director Bryant Dixon said. The document also includes a future land use map, which will guide the city on where to put future development. It also includes an opportunity area map, which similarly shows

St. George Mayor Dustin yates speaks during Tuesday’s open house at the St. George Fire Protection District. how St. George intends to grow. On this map, areas like the one near the Siegen Lane and Interstate 10 intersection are predicted for high growth, while farther down near Airline Highway has more of a medium growth goal. The plan will next go

through the Planning and Zoning Commission and then City Council in November, following a 30-day online public comment period, Dixon said. Email Claire Grunewald at claire.grunewald@ theadvocate.com.

An Excellent Education is Every Child’s Birthright Learn more at BRALLIANCE.ORG

12A ■ Wednesday, September 30, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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Source of flyer images revealed Livingston council member admits giving candidate checks BY GIGI LIMAN Staff writer

Parish Council member Erin Sandefur has been identified as the person who received and passed along images of Livingston Parish government checks to district attorney candidate Sherman Mack, who used them in a campaign mailer targeting his opponent, according to an internal

Official touts benefits of data centers

2026. parish investigation. The mailer acThe images exposed the parcused Brad Casish’s bank account and routing information, forcing ofﬁcials to cio, Mack’s opposhut down the account and open nent in the 21st a new one. Judicial District According to investigation docurace, of having excessively benments obtained by The Advocate, Sandefur Sandefur requested a clerk proefited from the vide her with the payments the parish’s litigation, because Cascio parish sent to the Moody Law works as a lawyer at Moody Law Firm for 2023, 2024, 2025 and Firm, which the parish govern-

ment pays for legal services, in addition to his position as an assistant district attorney. Images of checks lined the edges of the campaign ad, with bold text in the center that read: “While Livingston Parish was suffering defeats in the courtroom — Brad Cascio was Cashin’ in.” The checks, however, were real. So too were the dollar amounts, names, bank account numbers

and routing numbers visible in the images on the mailer. The parish opened an internal investigation Friday, the day after parish Chief Financial Ofﬁcer Mickey McMorris informed the council’s ﬁnance committee of the incident. “The bank contacted us earlier this week and said that compromised our security on that account,” McMorris said at the Thursday meeting.

ä See CHECKS, page 2B

TIME CHECK

Regulator says firms failing at relaying message as Tulane panelists tackle AI BY SAM KARLIN Staff writer

A top Louisiana utility regulator said Tuesday that tech companies are “failing” to communicate why the ongoing boom of artiﬁcial intelligence data centers is positive for Americans, as Meta and other tech companies continue to build massive facilities in the state to power their AI products. Public Service Commissioner JP Coussan, R-Lafayette, made the comments during a panel on data centers and affordability as part of the Tulane Future of Energy Forum. The panel also included an Entergy executive and academics, Coussan who discussed ways to ensure residents don’t foot the bill for the unprecedented build-out of electric infrastructure. “They have absolutely failed on their communications,” Coussan said of data center developers. “They’re playing catch up, and I think they’re doing a decent job of playing catch up.” Coussan added that nondisclosure agreements, which Gov. Jeff Landry’s administration and other elected ofﬁcials have widely embraced to lure data centers and other companies to the state, have “struck a chord” with voters. But he defended their use as a necessity, saying Louisiana

STAFF PHOTO By ROBIN MILLER

LSU’s Memorial Tower peeks through the live oaks surrounding the Parade Grounds.

ä See DATA, page 2B

BR police searching for Longtime Feliciana DA to step down for new role as district judge man in rape, stabbing Sam D’Aquilla to resign Wednesday

He will join Division A Judge Betsy Jones on the bench in January. Their terms run six years. BY JAMES MINTON D’Aquilla said Contributing writer Assistant District Attorney Bruce Sam D’Aquilla, the longtime disDodd is expected trict attorney for East and West to be sworn in as Feliciana parishes, is set to resign S. D’Aquilla interim district Wednesday in anticipation of takattorney on Thursday in St. Franing ofﬁce as district judge. D’Aquilla was elected without cisville. opposition as the Division B judge D’Aquilla, 61, of Jackson, was in the district when qualifying ﬁrst elected as the district attorended in August. ney for the 20th Judicial District

in 2002. He is a former East Feliciana Parish School Board member and the son of the late St. Francisville Mayor Billy D’Aquilla. Before he was elected district attorney, D’Aquilla was an assistant district attorney from 1993 to 1996, then he served as a public defender in East and West Feliciana from 1996 to 2002. Cy D’Aquila and Ken Fabre are running for district attorney in the Nov. 3 election. Cy D’Aquila and Sam D’Aquilla are distant relatives.

Police are searching for a man who allegedly beat and stabbed a woman, raped her and held her prisonCRIME er inside her home. escaped by usBLOTTER She ing a ride-share serstaff vice, police said. reports The Baton Rouge Police Department issued a warrant for Tyson Wright, 20, on Monday afternoon for attempted seconddegree murder, ﬁrst-degree rape, false imprisonment and theft from the incident that happened in July. On July 19, the victim called the

Police Department to report she had been recently discharged from Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center because of injuries caused by Wright. The victim told police that between 10 p.m. and 11 p.m. July 13, she was awakened in her home off Plank Road by Wright punching and hitting her with a Glock handgun. Wright also allegedly grabbed a pair of scissors and stabbed the victim seven to eight times, causing severe injuries, according to his warrant.

ä See BLOTTER, page 2B

2B ■ Wednesday, September 30, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

New Orleans music producer arrested Man accused of exposing bounce artist to HIV

BY MISSY WILKINSON Staff writer

A New Orleans music producer was arrested on a count of intentional exposure to AIDS after he allegedly infected a bounce artist whose albums he had produced. Mykel “MykelOnTheBeat” Cook, 33, was booked into Orleans Justice Center on Sept. 18, according to court records. Initially, he was held without bail pending a Gwen’s Law hearing. Magistrate Commissioner Joyce Sallah set Cook’s bail at $250,000 and issued a domestic protective order for the victim. Cook has since posted bail. He has domestic violence convictions

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from 2021 and 2023 in St. Charles and Jefferson parishes, respectively. A producer whose credits include Boosie BadAzz, Chance the Rapper and NBA YoungBoy, Cook allegedly met the victim in 2018 and “agreed to assist her in pursuing a music career and later assumed the role of her music producer,” according to an afﬁdavit supporting his arrest. Cook did not respond to requests for comment. The Times-Picayune does not typically identify sex crime victims. However, Jayvonda Bazile, 38, also known as Bog Vonnie, asked to be named in order to raise awareness in the music community. She believes Cook has infected other people. Bazile said Cook did not disclose his HIV status when he was mastering, mixing and recording her

albums, or when the two escalated their partnership years later. “We became friends, and we weren’t in a relationship, but we were casually hooking up, or hanging out, doing music. Doing work to get us in a better spot in life,” said Bazile, a mother of four. Bazile said Cook logged hospital stays every few years. “Once specifically on my session, he caught a seizure and was foaming from the mouth,” Bazile said. “A mutual friend was like, ‘You better be using protection, because he’s got AIDS.’ ” In February 2023, Bazile said she started having fevers, night sweats and difﬁculty swallowing. After a case of oral thrush sent her to an urgent care center in March 2023, she was diagnosed with HIV. During the investigation, NOPD Detective Herman Franklin ob-

tained a warrant for Cook’s medical records. The records showed that Cook had been diagnosed with HIV in 2019 and had been receiving treatment at University Medical Center, according to the arrest afﬁdavit. New Orleans’ rates of new HIV diagnoses are historically among the nation’s highest, with roughly 33 to 35 new cases per 100,000 residents, according to UNAIDS. Thanks to antiretroviral treatment and regular blood work, Bazile said, her viral load is now undetectable. The lesions and sores have gone away, though her voice remains raspier. “I have problems with breathing,” Bazile said. “The voice I am carrying now is the voice we produce, but I feel a change in myself.” Bazile launched her music career after Magnolia Shorty’s 2010

murder left a void among female bounce artists. “I missed hearing a girl rap,” Bazile said. She remains busy with bookings and received an outpouring of support from fans after she went public with her diagnosis. She said people have gotten tested as a result. “I came out because I wanted to break the chain, so nobody else will be affected like me,” Bazile said. Cook’s arrest comes less than two years after another ﬁgure in New Orleans’ music scene was booked on the same charge. In April, Warren “DJ Hardhead” Murphy III was convicted of a count of intentional exposure to AIDS, along with multiple counts of domestic abuse battery. If convicted of intentional exposure to AIDS, Cook faces up to 10 years in prison.

CHECKS

DATA

“The check was on a mailer? Wow, OK,” Sandefur said after McMorris delivered the news, seemingly caught off guard by the revelation. Creating a new account and rerouting all recurring payments is expected to take a couple of weeks, according to Parish Deputy Finance Director Gail Housley. Questions were immediately raised about how Mack obtained the checks for the mailer, prompting the investigation led by McMorris. He said the checks were not sought through a public records request, as would have been standard, because the bank account information would have been redacted. Cascio said that no one from Moody Law Firm supplied the checks. Sandefur admitted in a statement Tuesday that she sent the checks to Mack but denied wrongdoing. “I had concerns about Mr. Cascio’s involvement with Deer Run/Ascension Properties. I requested the invoices to review, and I shared them,” Sandefur said. “There was no confidential information included, that I know of, and the account and routing numbers are disclosed every time the parish makes a payment. If there was a mistake, it was a mistake by the administration and not by anyone else. If the information should have been redacted before I received it, who failed to do that and why?” Sandefur’s statement refers to the parish’s yearslong litigation with Ascension Properties Inc. over the company’s proposed Deer Run development. The parish, sued twice over claims it unfairly targeted

has historically struggled to create lasting economic development. And he complained that media outlets highlight “the one person in a community that’s negatively impacted by economic development.” Coussan, one of five elected members to the PSC that regulates utilities, has not signed an NDA. The executive secretary of the PSC has. The panel was among several during the three-day event to touch on the boom of data centers, which recent national polls have shown as unpopular among voters of both parties. Data centers have turned into a political liability for some candidates running in the upcoming midterms as voters sour on the AI-driven build-out and as affordability concerns mount. They have also generated a windfall for some investors and fund managers, a panel of whom said Monday that they expect the momentum to last, even if it weakens some in the coming years. Panelist Joshua Hodge, executive director of the MIT Center for Energy and Environmental Policy Research, on Tuesday pointed to his organization’s research that found electricity rates increased in counties with new data center entrants from 2010 to 2024, with higher increases for investor-owned utilities and in areas with deregulated markets. Hodge said regulators and utilities can stem these increases by forcing data centers to deploy more flexibility, like spreading their demand over time and across data centers in different states, as well as by enhancing the grid with more efficient technologies. “The private sector and civil society has, thus far, done not nearly enough on how to reduce costs associated with data centers,” Hodge said during the panel. “I can’t overemphasize how important it is to reduce those costs before we decide how to allocate those costs. Right now, we’re just kind of working on how we’re allocating those costs.” Coussan and Entergy executive Larry Hand said they’re confident that the deals struck between Entergy and Meta for its Hyperion data center in Richland Parish will be a net benefit to customers in the long run. They pointed to provisions in the deal requiring Meta to put up billions to cover the costs of a huge build-out of new power plants. Hand said Entergy may explore ways to introduce flexibility once Meta is up

Continued from page 1B

BLOTTER

Continued from page 1B The warrant also said Wright strangled the victim until she lost consciousness and refused to let her leave the residence during and after the assault. Wright also allegedly took the victim’s phone and refused to let her seek any medical attention. The victim told police Wright raped her during the physical assault, the warrant said. She told police she never consented to any sexual activity and was extremely scared during the incident. The warrant said the victim using a ride-share service to reach a hospital, where she was admitted for treatment of her injuries. When she was released from the hospital July 18, she left to stay elsewhere with family because she was scared to return to the area where Wright was, the warrant said. The victim identified Wright through a photograph provided by police.

Three SLU students killed in crash Ofﬁcials have conﬁrmed the identities of the three

Continued from page 1B

STAFF PHOTO By PEARL SPURLOCK

Livingston Parish Council member Erin Sandefur speaks during a council meeting in August. the development and broke state and local laws through new zoning rules, ultimately settled with the company, thanks in part to legal services provided by Moody Law Firm. “The truth is I never handled any part of that litigation. I never billed a single hour for that case and she knows that,” Cascio said. The parish’s investigation determined that, because Sandefur is a parish ofﬁcial, the redactions normally made in response to a public records request were not necessary. Government employees and elected ofﬁcials can review documents without the redactions that would apply to records released to the general public. “I find Councilwoman Sandefur’s statement to be another lie, to cover up the corruption that Sherman Mack dragged her in,” Cascio said. “Mr. Mack and Ms.

Southeastern Louisiana University students who were killed in an early morning crash Monday on Interstate 55. The Tangipahoa Parish Coroner’s Office said Carmelo Riley, Brian Smith II and Tyrell Yates died of multiple traumatic injuries in the single-vehicle crash. Yates was a basketball player for the Lions in the 202324 season. Louisiana State Police responded to the crash at 3:30 a.m. on the I-55 ramp near La. 51. Two of the occupants were dead at the scene, and the third suffered severe injuries and was taken to a hospital, where he later died. During the initial investigation, troopers found the driver of the 2017 Honda Accord was traveling north on La. 51 at a high rate of speed. The car struck a concrete support column of the elevated part of the interstate for reasons still under investigation. The driver, who was restrained, and the front seat passenger, who was unrestrained, died on impact. The rear seat passenger was also restrained and died at the hospital. William Wainwright, president of SLU, conﬁrmed the

Cascio

Mack

Sandefur circumvented the proper procedure for political purposes. They just weren’t careful enough to get away with it this time.” Mack refuted the idea that he was culpable for releasing sensitive information in his campaign mailer. “The check images on the mailer are public record and include the same information any citizen who receives a check from the parish government receives,” Mack said. “In fact, my opponent has been campaigning for the last year on taxpayer time while drawing a full-time salary paid for by the taxpayer.” The investigative report

students were part of the university in a statement. He expressed condolences to the families and encouraged students to use their counseling services. “There are simply no words that can adequately express the sorrow we feel for their families, friends, classmates, faculty and all those whose lives they touched. On behalf of our entire university community, I extend our deepest condolences to their families during this incredibly difﬁcult time. I ask that we come together as a Southeastern Family and keep them, and all those who loved these students, in our thoughts and prayers,” the statement said.

Teen arrested after man fatally shot A 17-year-old accused of killing a man on Plank Road in August was already in jail in a case where a woman was robbed at gunpoint on Sept. 10, Baton Rouge police said. Rocquial Hines was arrested Tuesday on a count of first-degree murder in the death of Chad Hawkins, 53 , police said. Hawkins was pronounced dead at the scene after he

will be handed over to the council. It also has been sent to District Attorney Scott Perrilloux for guidance regarding any further action. “Based on what I know at this point, I don’t see how this is potentially a criminal matter, but I qualify that with the fact that I haven’t received anything ofﬁcial on how any of this actually happened,” Perrilloux said. “A council member requesting ﬁnancial information from parish government is understandable, but using it in a political campaign without deleting and redacting sensitive information is certainly reckless at a minimum.” The controversy is the latest in the contentious race to replace Perrilloux, who is stepping down after 30 years in the role. Voters will decide his successor in the Nov. 3 election.

was found about 2:10 a.m. Aug. 6 suffering from gunshot wounds in the 7400 block of Plank Road. During the investigation, police identified Hines as a suspect and interviewed him, the department said on Facebook. Hines admitted his involvement in the shooting, police said. Hines was arrested on Sept. 10 after a woman reported being held at gunpoint. He was jailed on counts of armed robbery, carjacking, resisting an ofﬁcer, illegal possession of a handgun by a juvenile and aggravated assault with a ﬁrearm.

Pedestrian killed in Baker identified The East Baton Rouge Parish Coroner’s Ofﬁce conﬁrmed the Baker pedestrian who was killed Monday morning was 54-year-old Dedrick Williams. Williams was struck by a car on La. 19 shortly after 6 a.m., according to Baker police. Both lanes of the state highway between Ben Williams and Spur Lanes were closed Monday for investigation. No further details are available.

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and running, but said the idea was not on the table when Meta came to the state. “We took the approach of making sure there was enough new generation that they’re paying for to support their load,” Hand said. “It’s not reasonable for a utility to say, ‘We want you to pay for all your generation, Meta, but we want you to be interruptible.’ You can’t have it both ways.” Private equity executives said Monday that tech companies have broadened their horizons for where to build data centers, seeking cheap land and affordable and quick access to power. That dynamic has brought “hyperscale” data centers to places like Richland Parish, which have historically not attracted major investments. The build-out is also causing a reckoning surrounding electric rates, which President Donald Trump and Landry have sought to address by issuing “ratepayer protection” orders. Meta has said it’s following the pledge and is paying for its own costs. The PSC is ultimately responsible for which costs are passed along to residents. A PSC consultant found that a proposed Entergy acquisition of a power plant in Texas would effectively mean residential customers subsidizing Meta’s data center; that plan was put on hold. Hand added that inflation is also causing electric costs to rise, noting the cost of limestone and copper — key inputs for electric infrastructure — have risen dramatically over the past ﬁve years.

P.O. BOx 2406 BatOn ROuge, La 344-STOP

Submit a tip anonymously from our website www.crimestoppersbr.com, or download the free anonymous P3 Tips App. CaLL tOLL FRee 1-877-723-7867

9/30/2026

Crime Stoppers will pay a cash reward for information leading to the arrest of these wanted fugitives.

KAYLA ANTHONY

04/06/1988

WHITE / FEMALE 5’05 HGT / 165 LBS BLACK HAIR BLUE EYES MONETARY INSTRUMENT ABUSE

KEVIN KELLER

05/16/1967

WHITE / MALE 6’00 HGT / 200 LBS GRAY HAIR HAZEL EYES FELONY THEFT

Warrants active as of 9/29/26

IMPORTANT: ALL PERSONS ARE PRESUMED INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY

If you have any information on these fugitives contact: CRIME STOPPERS at 344-STOP (7867), submit a tip anonymously from our website www.crimestoppersbr.com, or download the free anonymous P3 Tips App.

REMEMBER YOU DO NOT HAVE TO GIVE YOUR NAME TO COLLECT THIS OR ANY CRIME STOPPERS REWARD BUT YOU MUST CALL CRIME STOPPERS.

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BUSINESS

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Wednesday, September 30, 2026 ■ 3B

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

DOW 51,349.92 -131.59 -0.26%

NASDAQ 26,797.54 -22.84 -0.09%

BRIEFS

FROM STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

Job openings slip to 7.1M in August

WASHINGTON — U.S. employers posted fewer job openings in August, but the American labor market remains resilient in the face of higher energy costs caused by the fighting with Iran. U.S. job openings slid to 7.08 million from a revised 7.34 million in July, the Labor Department reported Tuesday. Openings came in below the 7.2 million that forecasters had expected and were the lowest since they hit 6.9 million in March. The department’s Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey also showed that layoffs fell and the number of people quitting their jobs — a sign of confidence in their prospects — retreated slightly in August. The JOLTS report’s measure of gross hiring — before subtracting people who quit or lost their jobs — ticked up modestly in August but remains at low levels. The U.S. job market is sturdy, though unspectacular, despite an energy shock from the Iran war. Hiring has rebounded from a miserable 2025. Employers — businesses, nonprofits and government agencies — have added an average 80,000 jobs a month so far this year. That is an improvement on the 9,700-a-month average last year when high interest rates and uncertainty about President Donald Trump’s trade policies discouraged businesses from hiring.

S&P 500 7,670.84 -12.85 -0.17%

EURO 1.1340 -0.0029 -0.25%

CRUDE OIL 89.38 -3.22 -3.48%

GOLD 4,147.70 11.30 0.27%

6-MO T-BILLS 4.37 -0.05 -1.13%

Economy conﬁdence at lowest since 2014 BY MATT OTT

AP business writer WASHINGTON — Americans’ confidence in the economy sank to the lowest level in more than a decade this month as prices remain elevated and wages stagnate amid the ongoing Iran war. The Conference Board said Tuesday that its consumer confidence index tumbled 6.7 points to 81.9 in September, down from 88.6 in August. That’s the lowest reading in the board’s survey since April 2014 and below the lowest level reached during the pandemic. Respondents’ views of their present situation fell by 7.9 points to 109.3. Their short-term outlook also slid, falling 5.9 points to 63.6. Americans remain flustered by the economy after five years of el-

evated inflation, potentially posing a risk to President Donald Trump and Republicans in the midterm elections, which are a little more than a month away. Write-in responses to the board’s survey, collected from Sept. 1-23, were mostly pessimistic this month, with frequent references to the high cost of gas, goods and services. “The Consumer Confidence Index deteriorated notably in September, following two prior months of softening,” said Dana Peterson, the Conference Board’s chief economist, adding that consumers’ views of current business conditions became negative for the first time since September 2024. Trump has continued to blame high prices on his predecessor, Democrat Joe Biden, yet inflation

has risen since Trump’s inauguration last year. Earlier this month, the government reported that consumer inflation accelerated last month and gas prices spiked as fighting in the Middle East dragged on. The consumer price index rose 3.4% last month compared with a year ago, the Labor Department said Friday, just like July. But inflation quickened month to month as costs jumped 0.4% from July, quadrupling the 0.1% registered in the previous month. The Federal Reserve two weeks ago raised its benchmark interest rate for the first time since 2023 in an effort to quell stubbornly high inflation, and the central bank signaled another rate hike could occur later this year. The quarter-point increase lifted

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO

The Oura ring is a wearable sleep tracking device.

Smart ring maker Oura puts off IPO NEW YORK — Smart ring maker Oura Inc. says it is postponing a planned initial public offering due to market “uncertainty.” In a Tuesday news release, Oura said it’s delaying the IPO “despite strong demand.” The IPO market had a solid start to the year but tailed off in the third quarter, according to research firm Renaissance Capital. Concerns about a possible slowdown in spending on artiﬁcial intelligence, the Federal Reserve’s resumption of rate hikes and a surge in bond yields — making borrowing more expensive — all played a factor, Renaissance said. Oura customers use the ring to monitor their health, including sleep patterns and ﬁtness activity. The company gets the bulk of its revenue from ring sales, with the rest coming from subscriptions.

the Fed’s key rate to about 3.9% and, over time, could result in higher borrowing costs for mortgages, auto loans and credit cards. Gasoline prices — which currently average $4.46 for a gallon of regular — are not all that is rising. Prices for appliances, car repairs, and wireless phone services also jumped in August. The most recent measure of the Federal Reserve’s preferred inﬂation gauge — the personal consumption expenditures price index — was up 3.7% in June from a year earlier. That was down from May’s 4.1% year-over-year increase but up from 2.8% before the Iran war began on Feb. 28. It was 2.5% when Trump was inaugurated in January 2025. The government issues its August PCE data Wednesday.

High airfares could stick around even if jet fuel prices fall BY RIO YAMAT

AP airlines and travel writer

Walmart: Personal info not used to set prices NEW YORK — Walmart is aiming to assuage customers’ fears about its new pricing technology as it rolls out digital price labels at its stores. In a statement posted on the company’s website, Walmart Inc.’s CEO John Furner vowed that the Bentonville, Arkansasbased retailer isn’t using personal information like income, shopping history or a customer’s willingness to pay to set prices, and it won’t be doing so in the future either. “We don’t set different prices based on who you are or the time of day, and we won’t,” Furner wrote Friday. “Whether you’re buying groceries or electronics on a hot afternoon or in a sudden rush for an item, it’s never a reason to charge you more.” The pledge from Walmart comes as concerns are mounting from some shoppers, consumer advocates and lawmakers skeptical about the rollout of digital price labels by the discounter and other stores. Digital price labels are rapidly replacing paper shelf tags at U.S. supermarkets and let stores change prices instantly from a central computer instead of having workers swap out paper labels by hand.

30-YR T-BONDS 5.57 0.02 0.31%

THE CANADIAN PRESS FILE PHOTO

Canadian whisky is on the shelves at a British Columbia Liquor store in Vancouver.

Ban on $1B of Canadian imports goes into effect BY PAUL WISEMAN AP economics writer

WASHINGTON — U.S.-Canada relations, already tense, are likely to deteriorate further after the United States went ahead early Tuesday with a decision to ban nearly $1 billion worth of Canadian imports, including alcoholic beverages, dairy products and motorcycles. The ban amounts to barely a ripple in $880 billion worth of annual two-way trade between the two northern neighbors. But it marks another ratcheting up of President Donald Trump’s second-term trade war with America’s longtime ally and trading partner. The import ban “certainly won’t do anything to help the trade tensions between the United States and Canada,” said trade attorney Patrick Childress, a partner at Holland & Knight and a former U.S. trade ofﬁcial. The latest sparring began over the summer when Trump reached back to a Great Depression law to impose 50% tariffs on about $20 billion worth of Canadian imports, charging that Canada discriminates against U.S. dairy, auto and alcoholic beverage producers. Canada promptly counterpunched with tariffs of 15%, 25% or 50%, matching U.S. imports dollar for dollar. To punish Canada for retaliating against his tariffs, Trump decided to ban a list of Canadian products, effective 12:01 a.m. Eastern time Tuesday.

Modest impact likely The economic impact is likely to be minimal. Childress noted that the products on the banned list were already facing Trump’s tariffs. ”For a lot of these goods, the 50% was already acting as a de facto ban by making importation from Canada into the United States uneconomical, he said. Jacob Jensen, director of trade policy at the center-right American Action Forum think tank, calculates that the ban would cover $967 million worth of Canadian imports, based on 2025 numbers. Of that, 87% would be alcoholic beverages that the U.S. targeted because of some Canadian provinces responding to Trump’s provocations by banning U.S. booze from store

shelves. Also banned are some dairy products — including the milk byproduct whey. The two countries have long clashed over Canada’s attempts to protect its dairy industry from foreign competition by imposing hefty tariffs once dairy imports have exceeded a quota. The ban also covers motorcycles. Bombardier Recreational Products in Quebec conﬁrmed that its threewheel Can-Am Spyder and Canyon motorcycles “will be excluded from importation into the U.S.” But BRP said the impact likely won’t be felt until next year because it has completed most production and shipments for the current season. Independent spirit distillers and beer brewers are expected to bear the brunt of the ban more than some well-known Canadian brands that may have workarounds. For example, Crown Royal can ship its whisky in bulk for processing, bypassing the ban. And beer maker Labatt Brewing Co. has some bottling operations in the U.S., exempting some of its beer from the ban. Diageo, which owns Crown Royal, and Anheuser-Busch InBev, which owns Labatt, did not respond to requests for comments. A distillery just across the Detroit River in Canada has stopped shipping whiskey to Michigan due to the ongoing tariff war and Trump’s ban on Canadian alcohol. “It’s really unfortunate,” said Danielle Moldovan, director of marketing at the Wolfhead Distillery in Amherstburg, Ontario. “We are a border town. The Americans are great friends of ours, and they visit our distillery on a daily basis.” Moldovan is worried about the long-term impact on Wolfhead’s business. Buyers in Georgia were interested in importing the distillery’s Coffee Whisky. And its Michigan importer was considering its Vanilla Almond Biscotti and Banana Caramel Vodka. But “those products are going to be put on hold right now until we have further clariﬁcation about what’s going to happen, how long this ban’s going to last,” Moldovan said. “This marks yet another escalation in the trade war that may result in further retaliation on the Canadian side,” Jensen said. He expects Canadian exporters and

U.S. importers “impacted by these bans will be highly motivated” to demand that trade officials on both sides find some way to reach a “resolution of this whole ordeal.” The impasse imperils efforts to renew the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement, a North American trade pact Trump pressured America’s neighbors into accepting in his first term and which he once declared “the most modern, upto-date, and balanced trade agreement in the history of our country.” The deal allowed most goods to cross North American borders duty free. But since returning to the White House last year, Trump has announced a series of tariffs that have clouded the future of trade in the region.

Finding new trading partners Trump has directed most of his ire at Canada. He is openly seeking to pull Canadian manufacturing south. And he has inﬂamed public opinion in Canada by repeatedly suggesting that the country become America’s 51st state. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney came to power last year on a promise to stand up to Trump. In addition to retaliating against Trump’s tariffs — China is the only other country to do so, with very different results — Carney has sought to reduce Canada’s reliance on the United States, which last year accounted for more than 70% of Canadian exports. “There is now a price to be paid for access to the United States market,” Carney said earlier this month. The Canadian prime minister wants to double Canada’s nonU.S. trade over the next decade. Carney has embraced the prospect of Canada becoming the European Union’s first associate member. And he said last week that trade negotiations with India are making “good progress” and that the two countries are aiming to conclude talks by the G20 summit in midDecember. Carney also broke with the U.S. earlier this year, striking a deal with China to allow a limited number of Chinese electric vehicles into Canada at a sharply reduced tariff in exchange for China lowering tariffs on Canadian canola.

Travelers could be stuck paying high airfares even if oil and jet fuel prices fall, major U.S. airlines and industry analysts say. The price of jet fuel shot up after the Iran war began and retreated sharply in the spring before surging again as the summer went on. Such fluctuations make it harder for airlines to plan ahead and give them a reason to be cautious about lowering ticket prices, according to Brett House, an economist who teaches at Columbia Business School. Jet fuel has risen even faster than oil during the war, reflecting both higher crude prices and tight supplies of the refined fuel that is one of airlines’ largest operating expenses. Carriers cut some less profitable flights and raised fares and baggage fees, although major U.S. airlines said higher passenger revenue initially covered only part of their soaring fuel costs. Airfares haven’t moved in lockstep with fuel prices, however. The Argus U.S. Jet Fuel Index plunged from an early April peak of $4.88 a gallon to a wartime low of $2.70 in June, but average fares remained elevated. The average fare, not including optional fees for services such as checked bags and seat selection, rose from $405 in the past three months of 2025 to $428 in the first quarter of this year and to $436 in the April-June period, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Part of the disconnect between fuel prices and airfares comes down to timing, House said. Airlines typically decide several months in advance how many flights to operate and seats to offer, factoring in expected fuel costs and other expenses. They begin selling tickets even earlier. While prices for seats on the same flight can change repeatedly, airlines can’t charge more for seats already sold if fuel prices suddenly spike, he explained. “It’s not just the level of fuel costs that is a problem or a challenge for airlines,” House said. “It’s also the volatility.” There are few signs of relief so far for travelers as airlines adjust their schedules and prices for the remainder of the year. In August, U.S. airfares were 23% higher than a year earlier, according to the Labor Department. Jet fuel prices kept climbing this month, reaching $4.53 a gallon on Sept. 17, according to the Argus index. At $4.30 a gallon on Friday, the average price across the four U.S. markets the index tracks remained nearly twice the 2025 average. Travelers shopping for holiday flights already are encountering the highest airfares in a decade, travel-booking company Hopper said in a report published the same day.

4B ■ Wednesday, September 30, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

Funerals Today Blanchard, Ethel

St. Patrick Catholic Church, 12424 Brogdon Lane, Baton Rouge at 11:00am.

Caplan, Ralph

Jewish Cemetery, 1415 North St., Baton Rouge at 10:00am.

D'Armond, Dane

Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church at 10am.

Lamb, Freddie Mae

First Little Rock Baptist Church, 312 South 17th Street, Baton Rouge at 9:00am.

Obituaries Bell, Shante Evette

With deep, profound sadness, the family of Shante Evette Bell announces that on Thursday, September 17, 2026, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, she gained her heavenly wings and went home to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Shante, 48, was born to Sandy Gail Bell and Michael Irvin. She was a beloved daughter, sister, aunt, niece, cousin, and friend. Shante leaves behind a legacy of warmth and laughter to all that knew and loved her. Services are Thursday, October 1 at Sunlight Baptist Church, 1777 America Street, Viewing at 9 am until Services at 11 am.

Caplan, Ralph

daughters, Holly Caplan (Abraham Elhiany) and Allyson Chargois (Keith Chargois); granddaughters Amanda Phares (Thomas Phares) and Stella Koufos; and great-grandson Thomas Phares. Ralph was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 61 years, Leonie "Lee" Lampert Caplan. Together, Ralph and Lee traveled the world, built businesses, supported organizations they cared about, and—most importantly—created lifelong friendships. A proud LSU and Southeastern Louisiana University graduate, Ralph also served on active duty in the U.S. Army Band as a young man. He was a visionary and entrepreneur who began his career selling Olivetti typewriters before recognizing the coming digital age. He went on to build Office Automation, Inc., serving as its president for 27 years before retiring after 45 years in the office equipment industry. Ralph lived a life full of adventure and passion. He was a professional drummer, world traveler, avid golfer, accomplished swimmer, entrepreneur, and devoted friend. He loved playing second lines through the French Quarter with his band, Dr. Jazz, traveling the world with Lee, and spending time with the people he loved. But above all else, Ralph was "Dad" to Holly and Allyson, "Poppy" to his grandchildren and greatgrandson, and a beloved brother-in-law, friend, and family member. His legacy lives on in the countless lives he touched and the memories he created. As Ralph would say, "And away we go!" The family extends heartfelt thanks to Ralph's caregivers, Angela Morgan, Latrice Young, Noel Richard, and Wendy Johnson, for their loving care and support. A burial will be held at the Jewish Cemetery, 1415 North St. Baton Rouge, LA 70806, on Wednesday September 30, 2026 at 10:00AM.

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Fields, Wilson 'Frog'

October 5, 1940-September 15, 2026

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to St. Jude's Children's Hospital, and will be greatly appreciated. Share sympathies, memories, and condolences at www.CharletFuneralHome. com.

Pettit, Jr., Robert Lee

The viewing will be at 9:00am and service at 10:00am on Friday, October 2, 2026, at Hall's Celebration Center, 9348 Scenic Highway, Baton Rouge, LA 70807.

Forbes, Elaine Anderson

Elaine Anderson Forbes, born February 21, 1943, died September 26, 2026. Survived by her daughter, Kelli McKnight (Randy); son Rusty Forbes (Delilah); grandsons Cody Forbes (Kalli) and Mason McKnight (Jewel); granddaughter Connor Layne McKnight; great-grandchildren Charlotte Forbes, Caroline Forbes, and Baby McKnight; sister-in-law Linda Munn; brother-in-law Roy Stewart. She was preceded in death by her husband Wayne Forbes; parents Murphy and Eva McCrory Anderson; sisters Frankie Watson, and Patsy Smith; brother MJ Anderson and nephew Roger Watson; and sister-in-law Aline Stewart. Pallbearers will be Randy McKnight, Cody Forbes, Mason McKnight, Tim Watson, Jordan Watson, and Bubba Munn. She was a member of the Olive Branch Baptist Fellowship.

Robert Lee "Bob" Pettit Jr. of New Orleans, Louisiana, passed away peacefully at his home on Wednesday September 23, 2026 at the age of 93. Bob, affectionately referred to as "BB" by his grandchildren, was born in Baton

St. Louis Hawks, beginning a long and accomplished career in the NBA. During his 11-year career, he received many accolades including the NBA's first ever MVP, 11x NBA All-Star, 4x All-Star game MVP and led the Hawks to the 1958 title over the Boston Celtics. Bob retired in 1965 as the leading scorer in the history of the league. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1970 and the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in 1973. After retiring from basketball, Bob enjoyed a successful career as a banker and financial consultant. He enjoyed spending time with friends at The Stratford Club, The Boston Club, The Recess Club, and participated in several carnival organizations in New Orleans as well as being a member of New Orleans Country Club and Baton Rouge Assembly. Bob was an avid reader, art collector and played bridge to keep his mind sharp. He also enjoyed hunting at the Coastal Club and spending his summers in the mountains of Colorado and North Carolina. Despite all of his accomplishments, Bob was the

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Ralph Caplan passed away peacefully on September 28, 2026, at the age of 92. A native of New Orleans, Ralph was a resident of Baton Rouge since 1973. He is survived by his

Rouge, Louisiana on December 12,1932 to Margaret Brandon Pettit and Robert Lee Pettit Sr. Bob grew up in Baton Rouge and spent many summers in Pinckneyville, MS with his Brandon family relatives. He attended Dufrocq Elementary and Baton Rouge High School. It was at Baton Rouge High that his talent and passion for the sport of basketball was developed. Bob frequently said that one of his proudest achievements was winning the basketball state championship for Baton Rouge High School his senior year. Bob attended LSU from 1950-1954 where he earned a degree in Business, was a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon Fraternity and excelled as a member of the men's basketball team. Bob starred on the team earning 2x All American honors, 3x First Team All SEC, and lead the Tigers to their first ever NCAA Final Four. His #50 jersey was the first jersey in LSU history, in any sport, to be retired. His years at LSU and the friendships he made there were extremely special to him. In 1954, Bob was drafted by the NBA's Milwaukee/

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last person to boast about himself or any of his achievements. He was a modest and humble man with a gentle soul. All those who knew him understood this and loved him for it. Above all, the most important things to Bob were his family and friends. He treasured the relationships he built throughout his life and the time he spent with those he loved. He will be dearly missed by all. Bob was preceded in death by his wife of 46 years, Carole Crowell Pettit, his father, Robert Lee Pettit Sr and his mother, Margaret Brandon Pettit. He is survived by his wife, Alma Slatten Pettit; his children, Peyton Pettit Coates (Jonathon) of Tibbie, Alabama, Robert Lee Pettit III (Conway) of Baton Rouge, Mary Pettit Mozingo (Michael) of Baton Rouge; and his 10 adoring grandchildren: Bobby Pettit, Crossland Pettit, Lucy Jane Pettit, Charlie Pettit, Leven Greene, Lydia Greene, LR Greene, Deacon Mozingo, Camille Mozingo, and Mason Mozingo. He was preceded in death by his step-son, Bill Slatten (Jane) and survived by two stepchildren, Scott Slatten (Becky) and Elizabeth Healy (Dunbar), and nine step-grandchildren. A service will be held at St. Martin's Episcopal Church in Metairie, Louisiana, on Friday, October 2, 2026. Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m. followed by the service at 12:00 p.m. Private burial will follow. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Bob's name to St. Martin's Episcopal Church, 2216

Metairie Road, Metairie, LA 70001, or to a charity of your choosing.

Woodland, Don

Don L. Woodland passed away peacefully on September 16, 2026. He was born in Ballinger, Texas and raised in Austin, Texas. He was a member of the first graduating class of William B. Travis High School and received his B.B.A, M.B.A and Ph.D in Finance from the University of Texas at Austin. Don married Molly Howell (Austin, Texas) in 1960. They moved to Dallas where he was a Financial Economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas.

ation Chair of Banking and Associate Professor of Finance at Louisiana State University. During his distinguished 21-year career at LSU, he served as Professor of Finance, Chairman of the Department of Finance, and Dean of the College of Business. While at LSU, he began working with the Graduate School of Banking of the South, now the Graduate School of Banking at Louisiana State University. Upon his retirement from LSU, Don became the fulltime Executive Vice-President and Director of GSBLSU, serving in that position for 31 years.

West Texas ranch in South Louisiana. He will be remembered for his kindness, dry sense of humor, no-nonsense approach to life, and love of family. He is survived by his daughters Wendy Woodland and Leigh Anne Kelley, son-in-law Robert Kelley, grandsons Travis and Logan Saari, his daughters' mother, Molly H. Wood-

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Wednesday, September 30, 2026 ■ 5B land, niece Carolyn White and her husband Clinton, and numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased in death by his wife, JoAnn Woodland, his siblings, and his parents. Per his wishes, a grave-side service will be held in Texas with his immediate family. Our family expresses our deepest appreciation to the staff of Serenity

He retired from GSBLSU in 2018 after 50+ years of service. His impact on banking education is significant as he set a standard for academic excellence and leadership at the school which continues today. Don was an exceptional leader. His down-to-earth demeanor, sincerity, strive for excellence, and encouragement made everyone feel appreciated. In his downtime, he enjoyed spending time at his ranch in Spillman, LA. It was his little slice of a

He began his career in academia in 1965 at Oklahoma State University as Assistant Professor of Finance. In 1966, Don was named the first holder of the Louisiana Bankers Associ-

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Those wishing to honor his memory may donate to the GSBLSU's Dr. Don L. Woodland Banking Education Scholarship at www.gsblsu.org.

6B ■ Wednesday, September 30, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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

OUR VIEWS

Protecting air quality requires vigilance and speed We’ve taken the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality to task in the past, urging stricter enforcement of rules on air and water quality. We know the agency has faced challenges, including staffing and budget cuts that have affected its ability to its job. Still, a recent report on the slow enforcement of air quality rules in an area of southwest Louisiana that is home to many petrochemical companies raises significant concerns. The analysis by the Environmental Integrity Project and Micah 6:8 Mission, an environmental nonprofit based in Sulphur, showed that between January 2021 and August 2026, DEQ penalties for air quality violations came more than five years after the earliest cited violation in three out of five cases. We know that in Lake Charles and surrounding communities, air quality has long been a pressing concern. Residents regularly report rotten egg smells and irritants that can make it hard to breathe. The DEQ said that this analysis was too limited in scope to reflect the true range of its enforcement actions. Officials note that they have taken steps in recent years to bring violators in compliance more quickly. Jerry Lang, the department’s top enforcement official, pointed out that it had issued 3,456 enforcement actions statewide, including 975 actions for air quality over a fiveyear period. This analysis looked at 28 formal enforcement actions and 50 informal actions at 23 sites in the Lake Charles area during the period. Lang also said that the Lake Charles facilities involve some of the most complex operations that DEQ is involved in regulating. Those are fair points, but we would argue that the state should take a look at where it can improve rather than dismiss the findings. Lang noted that after a 2021 report by the Louisiana Legislative Auditor, the agency instituted formal enforcement timeframes and other measures. That is the way we hope the state would respond. Some of the examples cited in this new report should raise alarm bells. It pointed out that despite the Phillips 66 oil refinery in Lake Charles listing hundreds of air pollution exceedances from 2020 to 2023 in required quarterly reports, it took until 2025 for the state to file a compliance order to force corrections. It took until March 2025 for the state to notify Indorama Ventures Olefins in Westlake about potential penalties for alleged violations which occurred from 2016 to 2019. The delay may weaken a legal case going forward. There are real-world consequences too of this administrative delay. The longer polluters are allowed to operate unimpeded, the longer communities are exposed to health risks. And it sends a message to other companies that want to operate in this state that Louisiana isn’t serious about protecting its citizens. As we look to welcome new industries across our state, we must do better.

After novelty wears off, reconsider noisy drones By now most people in Baton Rouge are aware that Amazon offers two-hour delivery by drone and that people living within 71/2 miles of the distribution center are experiencing a lot of noise (“Amazon manager hears noise concerns about Baton Rouge drone delivery service,” Sept. 9). In one walk around a city block, we experienced 18 of them. They ﬂy low, just clearing the treetops. They sound like loud airplanes. It is like living under an overpass. There are studies in progress of the impact on wildlife. FAA says nothing can be done; Amazon listens politely on their customer service line. And they plan on increasing ﬂights to 1,000 per day! We understand the novelty of seeing a drone and having it land in your yard with your goods. I am asking

Term limits overdue for members of Congress We need to insist on term limits for our U.S. congressmen and women. We also need to insist on a mandatory retirement age. We have many senators and representatives who have overstayed their welcome in our Capitol. We actually had one representative who was there for 59 years. What? If a senator or representative can’t accomplish their goals in two to three terms, they need to give someone else a chance. On average they work in the Capitol 165 to 179 days a year and are afforded a $79 per diem for meals and incidentals. They have an annual salary of $174,000 with leaders earning slightly more. Fifty percent of them are millionaires. We need fresh blood and vibrant young people, especially as all the new technology is evolving. It is way past time to institute these changes. What are we waiting for? I’m just a concerned citizen.

that once you have experienced this kind of delivery the ﬁrst time, you reconsider how urgently you needed it. Why not just use ground delivery? Amazon trucks are super quiet, have no exhaust and deliver in one day. If your delivery is lifesaving medicine or equipment, then use the drones. If not, can’t you wait one day or even make a trip to a store yourself? With decreasing usage of the drone service, perhaps Amazon would not expand the services. Do we want 2,000 ﬂights a day? Each trip out must have a trip back in. Where are the quiet, peaceful neighborhoods? Please reconsider how urgently you really need that 3or 4-pound object.

MARCIA LECOMPTE Baton Rouge

SHARON S. WOODS Lafayette

Love must win, or we all will lose My father told me some people are always ready to go to extremes. I understand that seeing the world in terms of black and white must be comforting. To never doubt your world view must make so many choices easy. Most of us see shades of gray, always changing. New information, new view. It seems so important to me, even though often quite disturbing, discomforting and difﬁcult.

Extreme views can be the source of so much pain, suffering, injustice and death. Right now, anyone with eyes open is witness to exactly that and who knows how much more inhumanity. If you are motivated more by human potential to love vs. our obvious fear-motivated choices, ﬁnd your voice and make a difference. Love must win, or we all lose.

Time to stop fake news at the White House President Trump asserts: ““Fake News should not be allowed in the White House!!!” If he is correct, then he should be barred from speaking or communicating in any way.

J. KEVIN CURLEY Slidell

STEPHEN KUPPERMAN New Orleans

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

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Have you ever listened to Toby Keith sing “American Soldier” or hear the bells ring while he sang to soldiers? In this background, young men and women are in wars fighting. Their faces had different skin tones, appearances and gender. Many would never come home. And the soldiers know they might never come home, but love of their country and freedom for their children is why they fight. Yet today, we see strange flags waving in our streets, young college kids protesting against America. Others burn the American flag, tearing down the

statues of the founders of America. We the people stand for nothing if we keep electing people who, with a stroke of the pen, sign our freedom away. We welcome socialists to get in ofﬁce and spit on those brave young soldiers’ graves by our vote. A great many of us sit in our lounge chairs at the end of a working day and kiss our loved ones. Then we bury our heads in the sand. Do not think they will leave our religion and faith alone. We see homeless people on the streets and wonder why. We did this by our vote; we assigned them to close

the mines, stop the pipeline and send our jobs overseas by our vote. No, America is not perfect. My understanding is that the party in power has a plan for America’s young — a plan to bring jobs back, build energy reserves and return education to the states to increase knowledge. Invite companies back for more jobs and to build homes in which rear our children. Read, think and pray while you can; stand up for the soldiers and innovators.

JACQUELYN C. WHITE St. Francisville

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COMMENTARY Court can start fixing bad law

That one of America’s worst laws was passed with good intentions does not diminish the suffering it has caused. Beyond broken hearts and bodies, the Indian Child Welfare Act has, as identity politics invariably do, stained American law by sacrificing individual rights to a group’s interests. George The stain is not indelible. Will The Supreme Court can begin expunging it by deciding to hear a case that highlights the ICWA’s incompatibility with the Constitution’s guarantee of equal protection of the laws. The case comes from a Minnesota court that deemed the foster parents of Indian twins to be unfit, for an astonishing reason. Congress passed the ICWA in 1978, eight years after historian Dee Brown’s book “Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee” quickened interest in the nation’s often horrific history regarding Native American tribes. Mistreatment often included compulsory assimilation of Indian children into the nation’s majority society. As an advocate of compulsory assimilation infamously said, “Kill the Indian” in order to “save the man.” In 1978, Congress tried to make amends by being respectful of tribal identities. It made a mess. For more than a year, Nathan and Kellie Reyelts demonstrated their respectfulness — learning the language of the twins’ tribe, and tribal customs — as foster parents for Indian fraternal twins who, because of severe prenatal drug exposure, need serious ongoing care at the Mayo Clinic. But a state court has decreed that the Reyeltses’ questioning of the ICWA’s constitutionality is “indicative” of a negative “attitude toward the

importance of the children’s tribal identity.” This decree was made when the Reyeltses objected to the twins’ being taken from them, at the behest of the Red Lake tribe, to a reservation 350 miles from the Reyeltses and the Mayo Clinic. The decree involved ignoring stringent constitutional rules against policies involving race- and national-origin-based classiﬁcations. The ICWA has repeatedly been implemented not to serve “the best interest of the child” — the national standard regarding non-Indian children — but to serve tribal interests determined solely by the tribes. Hence a 6-year-old girl was taken from her adoptive family — the only family she had ever known — because a great-great-great-great-grandparent was Choctaw. A California court has said that “children are not dogwood trees, to be uprooted, replanted, then replanted again.” But they often are so treated in obeisance to the ICWA’s race-based binary of “Indian” and “non-Indian” children. The former, subject to tribal jurisdictions less protective than states’ laws, are often more abused, and for longer. In custody cases, tribes talk about a child’s “cultural identity,” but biology is determinative. Different tribes have different criteria concerning eligibility for membership. But no criteria require consideration of cultural, social, political or linguistic connections to a tribe. Given the primacy of race in the ICWA’s adoption restrictions, children deemed “Indian” must be adopted by “Indian families,” regardless of tribe. America’s foundational premise is that each individual’s natural rights merit protection from other individuals, and governments. The ICWA’s premise is that

this tenet is unsuitable for Native Americans. They should be subsumed into a collectivity, not treated as individuals, lest their cultural identity be diluted. The idea is that individualism is somehow unsuitable for Native Americans, so tribalism, semi-enforced by the U.S. government, is suitable. Timothy Sandefur of the Goldwater Institute, which is representing the Reyeltses, understands the pedigree of such thinking: the myth of the Noble Savage. Indians are too savage for modernity, and too noble to care. Federal law can legitimately help tribes preserve their identities — within constitutional limits. Not by, for example, forbidding tribal members to marry outside the tribe. But the ICWA has been implemented to prevent parents from agreeing to have their children adopted by non-Indians. This support for tribal identities ignores the rights of American citizens, which all Indians have been since passage of the 1924 Indian Citizenship Act. The ICWA has subjected Indian children to less stringent legal standards than those that protect non-Indian children from neglect and abuse. In 2015 and 2022, this column detailed sickening examples of Indian children fatally abused by Indian adults: These children’s sufferings could not be stopped by state ofﬁcials, whose authority was superseded by the ICWA. In 1943, when American citizens of Japanese descent had ample reason to fear their government, the Supreme Court said: “Distinctions between citizens solely because of their ancestry are by their very nature odious to a free people.” Hence, the ICWA is too.

margins but won the primary by only 48.4% to 47.6%. Running further behind Harris is Minnesota’s Peggy Flanagan, winner of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor party nomination, who, as lieutenant governor, has been attacked for failure to prevent the hundreds of millions of dollars of Medicaid fraud by Somali immigrants. Local and personal factors help explain Democrats’ apparent difficulty in nailing down Senate wins in northern New England. In New Hampshire, John Sununu, son and brother of governors, won the same Senate seat in 2002 and lost it in 2008. The centrist record of his brother Chris Sununu, governor from 2017 to 2025, has made him surprisingly competitive in a high-education, Trump-averse state, which national Democrats have deprived of its first-in-the-nation presidential primary. In Maine, Republican Susan Collins, after 30 years in the Senate, chairs the Appropriations Committee and has a moderate record, which helped her win reelection in 2020 by 51% to 42% after Democrat Sara Gideon outspent her twoto-one and led in every public poll. This year, Democrats nominated Graham Platner, Marine veteran and oysterman, though he turned out to have a Nazi tattoo, and his only oyster customer was his mother’s restaurant. Forced out by allegations of sexual harassment, he was replaced in September by logger Troy Jackson, whose working-class credentials seemed stronger but who had finished only third, with 21%, in the June primary for governor. All of which looks like the beginning — the birthing pains, you might say — of a post-Donald Trump politics. The Republican polling firm Echelon Insights has been asking respondents whether they are “Trump-first” or “party-first” Republicans. In February 2025, a month after Trump’s second inauguration and two months before his “liberation day” tariffs, Trump-first Republicans outnumbered party-firsters by a record 63% to 33%. That was bound to decline at some point, and it has. This September, partyfirst Republicans, at 56%, significantly outnumbered Trump-first Republicans at 34%. Poll numbers have Democrats favored to win majorities in the House of Representatives and, by narrower margins, the Senate. But disparate regional trends suggest the Republicans may be getting a head start at what my Washington Examiner colleague Byron York calls “moving into the post-Trump future.”

The perfect metaphor to characterize the UN General Assembly delegates who walked out before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke is this: “There are none so blind as those who will not see.” You can’t make people understand the truth if they choose to ignore it. The problem with the Middle East is that both Cal have their own Thomas sides “truth,” which is contradictory because the only alternative to truth is falsehood. Prime Minister Netanyahu, as he has done in previous UN appearances, laid out the truth which dozens of delegates didn’t want to hear. “Moral Cowards,” Netanyahu called them as he invited others who fit his description to follow them out the door. Netanyahu then proceeded to detail what he sees as objectively true. About denying Iran the ability to create a nuclear weapon, Netanyahu said it was “the easiest decision” he has ever made. If he and the U.S. had not done so, he said, “we’d all be dead.” Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian, ludicrously told Bret Baier of Fox News that Iran was not building a nuclear weapon and never intended to. Netanyahu continued: “In defending itself, Israel is also defending many of the countries whose delegates just left this hall! In fact, I want you to know that many of their leaders even thank us privately for taking out Iran’s nukes. It’s hard to imagine more mind-blowing hypocrisy, but that’s exactly what it is.” Hypocrisy appears to be the main diet for many at the UN. It is good to repeat the history of Israel which, the prime minister noted, extends back to the days of Moses as well as contradict the lies about the country practicing colonialism. In denying Israel is practicing colonialism, he singled out Great Britain and France which were once colonial empires and are now among Israel’s critics. Netanyahu then got to the heart of the lies perpetrated against the only democracy in the region. Speaking of what Israel looked like before the 1967 war, he said “…at the time, on this tiny patch of Earth, no West Bank, no Gaza, no Golan Heights, just the very survival of this one and only Jewish state, because this is what this conflict is about. It’s not about territories; it’s about a Jewish state at any boundaries. And yet, at the time, we were threatened with annihilation by three Arab armies that were about to invade us.” Those Arab armies may no longer be attacking or planning to attack Israel, but some of their religious and political twins are. They have gone by different names – the PLO, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, Hamas, Hezbollah – but all have the same goal: the elimination of Israel and death to the Jews and America. They have said so and have never revoked their charters which openly speak of that goal. Those anti-Israel “free Palestine” demonstrators with their nicely printed T-shirts and signs outside the UN were as deliberately blind as the delegates who walked out. No “journalist” I saw asked who those people were, if they were paid, and who gave them the T-shirts and signs. They also didn’t ask if they have jobs (other than demonstrating), or any other relevant question. There was much more in Netanyahu’s speech that deserves reading or watching if you missed it. Countering propaganda is sometimes difficult, but Netanyahu does it better than almost anyone else. It is among many reasons he deserves another term in next month’s Israeli elections. To add to the metaphor which began this column, there is this about people who plug their ears and cover their eyes to ignore information that counters the lies they choose to believe. It’s “the blind leading the blind.” Should anyone need clarification, it describes a scenario where an unqualified, ignorant, or clueless person tries to guide others who are equally ill-informed.

Michael Barone is on X, @MichaelBarone.

Email Cal Thomas at tcaeditors@ tribpub.com.

Email George Will at georgewill@ washpost.com.

Moving toward post-Trump politics From the clutter of midterm election poll results, it’s possible sometimes to see new patterns of political support emerging. The overall pattern, as it stands, makes some sense. As in the 2006 and 2018 offyear cycles, the Republican president’s job approval had sagged to well below 50%. Polls at this point in Michael the year showed Democrats Barone competitive in states and districts that the president had carried by solid margins two years before. Democrats ended up gaining 30 House seats in 2006 and 41 in 2018, ousting Republican speakers and, in both elections, installing Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.). A similar result is expected this time, with Democrats needing to gain only three seats to win control, though Pelosi is retiring from Congress at age 86. Such gains are not necessarily inevitable. Census redistricting ended up favoring Republicans. As Republican pollster Patrick Rufﬁni has pointed out, the summer polling understated Republicans’ fall polling and November percentages in Senate races in 2014, 2018 and 2022. But he spots no similar move in polls conducted up through mid-September. What I ﬁnd striking is a sharp divergence in Senate polling between what have turned out to be seriously contested races in the North and in the South. According to RealClearPolitics, in the South, Democrats have big leads in North Carolina (+8) and Georgia (+7). They narrowly lead in Texas (+2) and are only slightly behind in South Carolina (-3). In each state, they’re polling far ahead of Trump 2024 benchmarks in North Carolina (Trump +3), Georgia (Trump +2), Texas (Trump +14) and South Carolina (Trump +18). Overall, these Trump +9 Southern states are averaging +3 Democratic in Senate races — a big +12 Democratic swing. The picture is different in four states up on the Canadian border. Democrats have only narrow edges in RealClearPolitics averages in Maine (+2), New Hampshire (+5), Michigan (+3) and Minnesota (+4). These numbers are in line with 2024 benchmarks in Maine (Harris +7), New Hampshire (Harris +3), Michigan (Trump +1) and Minnesota (Harris +4). Overall, these four states that averaged Harris +3 are now averaging Democrats +3. No swing at all. What accounts for the difference? One answer that quickly occurs is candidate selection. Trump effectively chose the Republican nominees in the Southern races. He prompted the retirement of the occasionally anti-Trump incumbent Sen. Thom

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By MATT SLOCUM

President Donald Trump pumps his fist on the first tee box prior to the Presidents Cup golf tournament Sunday.

Tillis (R-N.C.) and replaced him with the unknown Michael Whatley to run against a reputedly centrist two-term Democratic governor. He issued a late endorsement of scandal-prone state Attorney General Ken Paxton in the Texas Republican runoff rather than incumbent Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and evidently never considered the young Rep. Wesley Hunt (R-Texas), who ran third in the primary. After the sudden death of incumbent South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham in July, Trump encouraged his inexperienced sister Darline Graham Nordone to run for the remainder of his term and endorsed her to run in November for a full term. And while contesting the 2020 result in Georgia, Trump discouraged Republican turnout in the two January 2021 runoffs, which enabled Sens. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) and Rafael Warnock (D-Ga.) to win 51% to 49%. Warnock won a full term against Trump-endorsed Herschel Walker by the same margin in 2022, and Ossoff seems headed for a bigger win this year. That gives the two Democrats 20 years in the Senate from a state that didn’t elect a Democratic senator between 2000 and 2021. Meanwhile, up by the Canadian border, left-wing and anti-Israel Democratic activists and primary voters have given their party’s Senate nominations to candidates who, so far at least, are running behind former Vice President Kamala Harris’s percentages in their states. Running closest to Harris is Democratic Michigan Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed, who led primary polls by wide

The perfect description for U.N. protest

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

TO SEND US A LETTER, SCAN HERE

8B ■ Wednesday, September 30, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

lll

TODAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

MONDAY

A thunderstorm this afternoon

An afternoon t-storm or two

A heavy t-storm in the p.m.

Showers and a heavier t-storm

A shower and t-storm; humid

An afternoon t-storm or two

HIGH

LOW

93° 73°

LOW

HIGH

91° 75°

LOW

88° 74°

Beaumont 90/78 Port Arthur 89/79

Baton Rouge 93/73

Lake Charles 91/75

New Orleans 91/77 Houma 89/75

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

Hattiesburg 94/71

Alexandria 95/71

Lafayette 92/73

10s

20s

30s

40s

50s

84° 69°

LOW

81° 67°

TEMPERATURE Jackson 94/70

Many 95/71

LOW

YESTERDAY

Baton Rouge through 5 p.m. Tuesday

Longview 95/74

-0s

86° 72°

Monroe 97/71

Shreveport 96/73

-10s

LOW

Today looks like another mostly sunny, hot and breezy day. Temperatures this afternoon will rise to the low to mid-90s. The dew point temperatures are slightly higher today, which means humidity may be more noticeable and heat index temps could rise to the mid- to upper 90s. Winds today will be southeasterly at 5 to 10 mph. There is a slight chance of rain today, higher tomorrow and there’s a marginal risk on Saturday with a slight risk of excessive rainfall that could lead to flash flooding on Sunday.

60s

70s

80s

90s 100s 110s

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

TODAY’S TIDES Lake Pontchartrain (Tchefuncte River) Shell Beach South Point, Marsh Island Cypremort Point Grand Isle (Barataria Pass) Mississippi River (Southwest Pass) Wine Island

Sunrise today Sunset tonight Moonrise today Moonset today LAST

OCT 3

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

FIRST

OCT 10

Atlanta Austin Boston Charlotte Chicago Dallas Denver Houston Las Vegas

HIGH

10:17a 4:37a 3:56a 5:39a ----1:03a

6:57 a.m. 6:51 p.m. 9:28 p.m. 11:13 a.m. NEW

City

PRECIPITATION

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

92°/70° 86°/65° 92°/67° 95° in 1953 43° in 1967

TODAY

88 94 68 87 68 93 60 91 93

67 78 60 61 66 76 49 78 70

FULL

OCT 18

s t pc s r t r t s

OCT 25

88 90 79 88 72 79 65 90 94

THU. Lo

69 74 66 65 57 71 44 76 72

s t pc s r t pc t s

FT.

0.9 2.1 2.3 1.8 ----2.0

LOW

10:23p 2:19p 11:10a 2:58a 11:18a 9:49a 12:20p

MODERATE

READING 108 MAIN POLLUTANT Ozone

MAIN POLLUTANT Ozone

0.00” 0.00” 4.28” 44.47” 47.74”

FT.

HIGH

0.1 0.5 0.1 1.7 0.2 0.3 0.2

SOURCE: LOUISIANA DEQ AND AIRNOW.GOV

FT.

LOW

FT.

--- ----- ----- ----- --9:47p 2.5 11:39p 2.4 --- --- 2:55p 0.2 --- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ---

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

Today Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday

City

2:35a 8:49a 3:40a 9:55a 4:46a 11:02a 5:50a 12:05p 6:49a 12:35a 7:43a 1:29a 8:31a 2:18a

Los Angeles Miami Nashville New york City Philadelphia Phoenix St. Louis San Francisco Seattle

85 85 92 75 79 85 90 76 66

TODAY Lo

65 78 64 65 65 70 74 54 51

3:04p 9:19p 4:11p 10:26p 5:17p 11:33p 6:21p ---7:19p 1:04p 8:10p 1:57p 8:56p 2:44p

s t pc pc pc sh pc s pc

87 86 94 78 83 91 87 74 63

THU. Lo

67 79 70 66 66 73 66 55 53

s t pc c pc s t pc pc

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

N O R T H A M ER I CA’S

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

FLOOD STAGE

34 48 48 35 27 22 17

TUE. 24-HOUR STAGE CHANGE

10.90 17.50 19.70 7.20 4.60 3.27 3.30

+1.38 +1.26 +0.70 +0.20 +0.20 -0.14 +0.23

27.00

-0.19

-1.76

-0.02

18 29 8

-1.30 9.74 2.11

none -0.01 +0.20

13 15

2.43 0.58

none none

47 34 29 20 12 6

6.77 4.38 3.57 3.39 2.80 3.03

-0.03 -0.10 +0.05 -0.13 +0.10 -0.06

data as of 7 a.m. Tuesday

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SPORTS

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

‘They got a job to do’

W e d n e s d ay, s e p t e m b e r 30, 2026

1Cn

M C N E E S E S T A T E A T L S U • 6 : 4 5 P. M . S A T U R D A y • S E C N

WEEKS AFTER

Faulk getting no kicks out of special teams BY TOYLOY BROWN III Staff writer

Accountability was a principle Marshall Faulk wanted to become a defining part of Southern’s culture entering the season. The first-year coach is staying true to his desires and didn’t sugarcoat the poor play he sees from the Southern kickers who aren’t living up to his standards. “They suck right now,” Faulk said at Tuesday’s virtual media availability. “We can’t kick the ball inbound. We can’t kick a punt. We can’t flip the field. We can’t make extra points. S*** looked like Charlie Brown (Saturday). We’re at a higher level than that, Faulk and my expectaä Arkansas- tions for them are Pine Bluff at greater.” Southern (2-3, 0-1 Southern. SWAC) is one of 6 P.M. SATURDAy, the worst specialSWAC TV teams groups in the Southwestern Athletic Conference so far. It’s the least efficient at extra-point attempts (11 of 16). The most missed PATs last year by a SWAC team was four by Florida A&M (24 of 28). The Jaguars rank ninth in total field goals (3 of 4) and 11th in both net kickoff yards (37.1) and net punting average (31.4) this season. In the Jaguars’ 35-17 loss to Jackson State on Saturday, freshman Chris McMcKenna made a 27-yard field goal on the opening drive, sophomore Nathan Zimmer missed an extra-point attempt in the second quarter and freshman punter Trey Johnson averaged only 29.1 yards on seven punts. “That’s not acceptable,” Faulk said. “Like they got a job to do. They got one damn job to do, and you do your damn job. There’s guys out there banging their heads, getting banged up. You don’t even get hit, and you just got to make a damn kick.” Faulk voiced his disappointment in the kicking unit after other games. He was reminded Tuesday about his comments wishing he could cut players after Southern allowed a recovered onside kick in a win against Kentucky State. He also asked was asked how the kicking issues can be fixed. “What’s worse than getting cut is not being able to play and staying on the team,” Faulk said. “So look, one of them got to step up. That’s the reality. You know, Nathan, he kicks and punts. Trey has been — I just don’t know what’s going on with him. And then Chris, every once in a while, you know, he gets in his own head and kicks the ball out of bounds or not in the quadrant of the field to where we can cover properly.” Faulk said that on multiple occasions, kicks have gone in the opposite direction of what was planned. He also said that he knows they are capable of performing better. “If they could not do it, they would not be here,” he said. “We’ve watched them kick all summer, all spring, you know, and fall camp. And now, they look like a triple dumb and dumber and dumbest.”

ä See SOUTHERN, page 3C

STAFF PHOTO By JAVIER GALLEGOS

Southern kicker Chris McMckenna kicks off gainst Kentucky State on Sept. 5 at A.W. Mumford Stadium.

STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

LSU linebacker Davhon Keys leads the way as the Tigers gang-tackle Texas A&M running back Carsyn Baker in the backfield during the third quarter on Saturday in Tiger Stadium.

LSU is down its star linebacker, but Keys knows how to produce BY KOKI RILEY Staff writer

Davhon Keys has been in this position before. When star linebacker Whit Weeks went down with an ankle injury that cost him much of his junior season last year, Keys stepped in his place as the LSU season began to fall apart. He played so much that he ﬁnished with 88 tackles, tied for the fourth-most in the Southeastern Conference. Keys ﬁnds himself in a similar position

this season after another injury to Weeks, who suffered a right leg injury Saturday during LSU’s 35-6 win over Texas A&M that will sideline him for an extended period. “The ﬁrst thing is, you’re devastated for him because you never like to see anyone get hurt,” Keys said Tuesday. “But then you’ve got to ﬂip that mindset. You’ve got to go in to play for him.” It was the latest chapter in what already has become an injury-plagued campaign for LSU. The Tigers already were dealing with injuries to star tight end Trey’Dez

Green, starting safety Dashawn Spears and others before Weeks’ injury. “Look at the points per game when (Weeks) played versus when he didn’t last year,” LSU coach Lane Kifﬁn said. “It’s not just because of the player that he is; it’s the mentality and what he brings around him and how he is.” Understating Weeks’ impact is foolish, but Keys is a very capable backup. Besides being a tackling machine last season, he recorded 15 quarterback

ä See LSU, page 3C

Congress must get bill past goal line The bill now goes to the Attempt to stabilize House of Representatives, and herein lies the ﬁrst snag. Or college sports not snags. For starters, there’s the in the clear just yet legislative clock. The House

STAFF PHOTO By BRETT DUKE

Saints linebacker Pete Werner brings down Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers on Sunday in New Orleans. Bowers had 10 receptions for 116 yards and one touchdown in the Raiders’ 35-27 win.

Saints had few answers for Raiders star Bowers

BY LUKE JOHNSON Staff writer

Three weeks into the season, the New Orleans Saints have faced three transcendent skill position players, and they’ve gotten burned twice. Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs rushed for 156 yards and a pair of touchdowns in a Week 1 loss by the Saints. Against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 2, the Saints limited Derrick Henry to a relatively modest 68 yards rushing and a touchdown. New Orleans’ latest task was Brock Bowers, the superb Raiders tight end.

ANALYSIS

ä Falcons at Saints. 7:15 P.M. MONDAy, ESPN

Bowers won decisively. He hauled in 10 of 13 targets for 116 yards and a touchdown against New Orleans, but it wasn’t just the counting stats. Las Vegas targeted Bowers seven times on third down, and he hauled in five of those targets — all for first downs. Bowers missed the first two

ä See SAINTS, page 4C

Sanity in college athletics is halfway to being restored — or at least brought back into discussion. In a political version of Monday night football, the U.S. Senate voted overwhelmingly, 77-23, to pass the Protect College Sports Act Scott (PCSA). As curRabalais rently written, the bill would give the NCAA an antitrust exemption (Hooray! Fewer lawsuits!), limit athletes to a single transfer without penalty (having to sit out a year like the old days on the second one) and, quite importantly, bring stricter regulation to the player revenue-sharing cap. All this sounds great, and it is. But saying that the PCSA will become law at this point is like saying a team will score a touchdown because the offense reached the 50-yard line. Maybe they eventually punch it in, but there is a long, long way to go.

is not scheduled to reconvene until Nov. 9, after the Nov. 3 midterm elections. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, one of the co-authors of the bipartisan bill, said Speaker of the House Mike Johnson has given indications the House will take a vote on the PCSA before the midterms. Johnson, who is from Louisiana, has not given such assurances publicly. If House leadership changes to Democratic hands early next year, will its members support the PCSA or even consider it? Remember the SCORE Act? That never got off the legislative runway. In our highly divided political world, the fact that the Senate gave such an overall bipartisan endorsement to the bill is a good sign for its support. But that’s 100 senators. There are 435 representatives, a much more contentious and fractionalized group. There could be a vote after the midterm elections and before this Congressional term is up, but reps who may be retiring or who have been voted out make it

ä See RABALAIS, page 3C

2C ■ Wednesday, September 30, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

lll

BROADCAST HIGHLIGHTS On TV

WOMEN’S AUSTRALIAN RULES FOOTBALL 4 a.m. (Th.) Hawthorn at Carlton FS2 COLLEGE GOLF 4 p.m. NB3 Collegiate: Match Play Golf WOMEN’S COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL 6 p.m. Vanderbilt at LSU SECN HORSE RACING Noon America’s Day at the Races FS2

MLB PLAYOFFS Philadelphia at Atlanta Chi. White Sox at Houston Boston at N.y. yankees Chi. Cubs at San Diego NHL 6:30 p.m. Pittsburgh at Philadelphia 9 p.m. Los Angeles at Colorado MEN’S SOCCER 6 p.m. Cavalry FC at Ottawa 1 p.m. 4 p.m. 7 p.m. 9 p.m.

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Healthy Pelicans sweating ‘details’ New coach Mosley striving to instill a new mindset

Giants cut WR Beckham after no catches in return

Odell Beckham Jr.’s return to the New York Giants, with the fanfavorite receiver making the team at age 33 after being out of football for more than a year, lasted just three games with no catches. The Giants released Beckham on Tuesday and signed return specialist Braxton Berrios to the active roster from the practice squad. Beckham was thrown at just once during his brief cameo back with the team that drafted him in the ﬁrst round in 2014. Jameis Winston threw one deep pass intended for Beckham during the first quarter. Fans later chanted “OBJ! OBJ!” to no avail, as Beckham was on the ﬁeld for only six plays of the ugly 12-7 win and 20 of 191 (10.5%) this season.

BY ROD WALKER Staff writer

Instead of knocking on wood, Jamahl Mosley simply knocked on the side of his head. Moments later, Trey Murphy did something similar, bending down and tapping the wooden floor of the New Orleans Pelicans’ practice facility. Tuesday was the first day of training camp, and both Murphy and Mosley “knocked on wood” because the team was fully healthy as it starts preparing for the season. No injuries to start camp is new territory for the Pelicans, but a healthy roster wasn’t the only thing new. This was the first practice under new head coach Mosley, hired in May to turn things around in New Orleans. The words hanging on the walls were new, too. Relentless. Mental toughness. Resilient. Together. Dominate. Physicality. That’s the mindset Mosley is trying to instill in the team he inherited. It took just one practice for players to get an understanding of how their new coach operates. “One thing I’ve noticed about Mosley is that he’s really, really into the details,” Murphy said. “If we are not doing a drill right, he’s going to make sure we do it over and do it right. That’s something you can really appreciate. If you keep the rope tight, then whenever you’re ready to pull (the rope), it’s ready.” Mosley, who spent the previous five seasons as head coach of the Orlando Magic, liked what he saw in his new team on the first day. “I love the energy in the building, the intensity,” Mosley said. “The work ethic was there. It’s

Ex-Auburn staff member accused of sharing secrets

STAFF PHOTO By DAVID GRUNFELD

New Orleans Pelicans coach Jamahl Mosley talks with the media during media day on Monday at the Smoothie King Center. what we talked about from the beginning. Starting with the foundation of our defense and them moving into our offense and the structure of it.” That intensity will continue. Tuesday was the ﬁrst of 17 practices before the Oct. 21 season opener. The ﬁrst of some two-aday sessions is Wednesday. Zion Williamson, entering his eighth NBA season, is pleased with what he’s seen from Mosley thus far. Williamson was the last one to leave the court Tuesday, staying afterward to work on his 3-point shot. “I have to make a minimum of 50, and then I can get out of here,” Williamson said. He and his teammates are buying into what Mosley is selling. “I love basketball, and I love X’s and O’s and seeing how different people see the game,” Williamson

said. “When he was in Orlando, he had a great defensive team. We want to bring that same thing, but with our own ﬂair to it.” This time a year ago, Murphy and Herb Jones were both rehabbing shoulder injuries. Dejounte Murray was still working his way back from a torn Achilles. Derik Queen was nursing a wrist injury. That wasn’t the case Tuesday with every player suited up. “It’s huge,” Mosley said. “Getting on the same page right away without anybody walking in with anything happening right now. Knock on wood that everybody stays healthy as we are getting everybody on the same page and preaching the same message and communicating the right way.” One of those messages was written on the T-shirts that Mosley and some of his players wore

during practice. On the front, it read: “In Nola, culture means business.” On the back, it read: “We stand on business.” “What it means is this city represents grit, hard work, toughness, determination,” Mosley said. “No matter where you’re from in this city. We’ve talked about representing it the right way and those guys have to feel it and know it every time they step in the building.” Tuesday was the ﬁrst step. “It was a great ﬁrst day of practice,” Williamson said. “We are pretty much setting our identity of what we want to look for on defense and what we want to look for on offense. But today was more of a defensive day. It was a good day at work.” Email Rod Walker at rwalker@ theadvocate.com.

Sixers adjusting to LeBron whirlwind

A former Auburn staff member has been arrested on charges of stealing trade secrets from the football program and sending them to competitors, according to court records. David Rudolph Jenrath, 24, turned himself in to authorities Monday and was charged with two felonies: theft of trade secrets and computer tampering. A news release issued Tuesday by the Auburn Police Department said a “business reported that sensitive information was stolen from the business and distributed to their competitors. The business reported that one of their competitors received the information and turned it over to them.” It’s unclear which schools received the stolen information. A complaint alleges that the incident occurred on July 19.

Knicks still considering visit to the White House

The New York Knicks are still deciding whether they will become the ﬁrst NBA champions to visit the White House under President Donald Trump, coach Mike Brown said Tuesday. The president traditionally has invited the reigning champions, but that has not been the case under Trump. No team went during his ﬁrst term or after he was elected again in 2024. But Trump and Knicks owner James Dolan are close. They sat together when Trump attended Game 3 of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden, and Dolan indicated after the Knicks won the championship that an offer would be accepted. “No, it’s still something that our guys, or the organization, is internally discussing and, you know, whatever we decide to do, we’ll all do together,” Brown said.

BY DAN GELSTON AP sportswriter

CAMDEN, N.J. — The answers Anfernee Simons gamely tried to offer about the first day of 76ers training camp were suddenly drowned out by the furious whirring overhead of a helicopter leaving the team’s complex. LeBron James’ helicopter. James used the rotorcraft for the rich to take him after practice from New Jersey to presumably close to wherever he decided to live in New York. The helicopter noises are usually reserved for when billionaire team owner Josh Harris lands at the complex for the NBA draft or a major news conference. Not anymore. The Sixers are getting used to the LeBron Effect, even as a pair of players and coach Nick Nurse professed all was good on the court. Off the court, make room. Sixers staff moved the news conference backdrop from a corner where a few dozen reporters are usually stuffed to shout questions at Joel Embiid or Tyrese Maxey to a spot closer toward midcourt for a roomier feel for the more than 50 credentialed reporters, bloggers, TV camera operators and more that came to get an early report card on James’ official first day as a Sixer. James was gone Tuesday by the time media were allowed on the court to watch practice. Embiid, Maxey and former Boston star Jaylen Brown were all absent, too, a day after holding court on media day. Nurse is starting his fourth season as coach of the Sixers. He’s used to handling the demands that come with working in a major market and dealing with star players in Philly such as with Embiid

Court grants Florida guard Aberdeen a fifth season

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By CHRIS SZAGOLA

From left, Philadelphia 76ers players Jaylen Brown, LeBron James, Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe pose for photos during the team’s media day on Monday in Camden, N.J. and his daily injury report or the high drama that surrounded former Sixer James Harden. Nurse said he had conversations with the team about looking out for each other and staying connected while navigating a spotlight season that already has a postseason-type of aura around the franchise before the Sixers even played a game. “It is going to be different,” Nurse said. “More people, more eyes, more stories, more national TV. All that kind of stuff. It’s the same, just a little more. I’m just trying to get to the practice ﬂoor and to the game ﬂoor. If we can do those two things, all that other stuff, we’ll just kind of handle it as smoothly as we can.”

Nurse called the sight of so much talent “impressive” once the Sixers hit the ﬂoor for practice. James is a future Hall of Famer. Embiid has certainly built a strong case. Brown was an NBA Finals MVP and champion with the Celtics. Maxey earned his first All-Star start last season and has blossomed into an elite talent. The fifth starter also is more than just that other guy. VJ Edgecombe was third in rookie of the year voting last season, and his buoyant personality and defensive playmaking made him an instant fan favorite and immediate force in helping the Sixers return to the playoffs. Edgecombe worked out with James over the summer and

volunteered that he orchestrated the starting ﬁve group text thread — well, once he asked Maxey for James’ number. The magnitude of the moment truly hit him ahead of practice when James put on his No. 23 jersey in the same locker room as Edgecombe. The 21-year-old Edgecombe tried not to get starstruck. But he’s still LeBron James. “It’s like, damn, that’s still Bron,” Edgecombe said with a laugh. “He was in the locker room and I’m like, oh, that’s Bron over there. His locker was open. He was in there before everybody, as usual. He dapped me up. He’s like, ‘What up? What up?’ We know each other for a minute.”

Florida guard Denzel Aberdeen has been granted a temporary injunction that will allow him to play this upcoming season. Circuit court judge George Wright granted the injunction during a Tuesday hearing in Alachua County. Gators coach Todd Golden and several players attended the proceedings. Aberdeen’s attorney, Jesse Panuccio, filed a lawsuit against the NCAA earlier this month. His motion noted that more than 30 courts across the country have ruled that the NCAA’s “arbitrary decision” against athletes who began college in 2022-23 and completed four seasons of eligibility is “unlawful.” The NCAA’s move to a five-year, age-based eligibility model has led to a series of court fights around the country.

Clark, Mitchell help Fever defeat Aces, even series INDIANAPOLIS — Caitlin Clark finished with 27 points and 15 assists while reaching another milestone Tuesday night, and Kelsey Mitchell added 26 points to keep the sixth-seeded Indiana Fever’s postseason alive with a 99-89 victory over the reigning WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces. Clark helped Indiana even the best-of-three series at 1-1 as she became the first player in league history to produce a points-assists double-double in the first half of a playoff game. She had 14 points and 11 assists in the first 20 minutes. Game 3 will be played Thursday at Las Vegas.

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The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Wednesday, September 30, 2026 ■ 3C

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

One thing off their plate College coaches say they’re glad to be out of redshirt business

BY LARRY LAGE AP sportswriter

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — College football coaches have one thing off their overflowing plates. In an era that has added revenue sharing, NIL and the transfer portal to day-to-day duties, coaches no longer need to decide if seldomused players — usually freshmen — should appear in four or fewer games to redshirt and gain an extra year of eligibility. The NCAA approved a new eligibility model for Division I athletes in June, permitting five seasons of competition over a five-year period that begins with athletes’ full-time enrollment or the academic year after their 19th birthday, whichever occurs first. The Division I Cabinet unanimously approved the major change from the longstanding tenet of college sports that gave athletes five years to complete four seasons with their eligibility clock starting at the time of enrollment, regardless of age. Redshirt years will no longer be awarded for injuries or for athletes who play in four or fewer games. Michigan puts about 100 players in uniform for home games and 80 on the road, including Saturday’s game at Minnesota. Kyle Whittingham is a big fan of the new rule because it means anyone who suits up for the maize and blue can play on any given Saturday. “I think it’s one of the best things the NCAA has done for a lot of years,” Whittingham said. At Vanderbilt and other schools around the country, more freshmen are getting playing time, particularly on special teams as well as in spot duty on offense and defense. The Commodores, who play at No. 2 Georgia on Saturday, have played seven freshmen so far this season. That’s an increase from three freshmen at this time a year ago due to the new rule. “What it gives us a chance to do is not put limitations on what impact a freshman can have, and that could be one snap a game for the entire season,” Vanderbilt coach Clark Lea said. “That could be an expanded role for part of the season, but we’re not going to have to

LSU

Continued from page 1C pressures, according to Pro Football Focus, and played at least 10 snaps in each of the first three games prior to Weeks’ injury. He had five tackles and a quarterback pressure against Texas A&M. When the Aggies went for it on fourth-and-1 with more than eight minutes left to play in the third quarter, Keys made a tackle that forced a turnover on downs. “Davhon played really well last week, which was obviously great to see,” Kiffin said. “Really talked to him about, before he went in, this is a really big opportunity. You’ve got to play really physical.” Keys can’t be the only linebacker who steps up. Tylen Singleton, who played 10 snaps on Saturday; Weeks’ brother Zach; and Keylan Moses will need to play bigger roles as Keys becomes a starter. Kiffin liked what he saw from Singleton, a speedy former fourstar recruit, on Saturday. Keys firmly believes that Singleton, Zach Weeks and Moses have improved since last season. “They’ve been doing a great job. Even since January, they’ve been improving,” Keys said. “And getting to see them get in (the game), seeing Tylen make that big tackle for loss, seeing Zach get in (and) get his hands dirty, I love seeing it.” Charles Ross was also in line for a bigger role, but he tore his ACL

SOUTHERN

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By GEORGE WALKER IV

Vanderbilt coach Clark Lea looks on during a game against NC State on Sept. 19 in Nashville, Tenn.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By KAyLA WOLF

Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell looks on during a game against Notre Dame on Sept. 5 in Green Bay, Wis. have conversations about how far they are along on a redshirt. That eliminates all that. “It’s way more straightforward.” That’s the NCAA’s hope at a time when college sports is engulfed in chaos, which Congress is attempting to address. The Senate passed a sweeping bipartisan bill on Monday that would regulate college sports in an industry that has been upended by skyrocketing athlete

payments and near-unrestricted transfers between schools. With the five-in-five rule, the NCAA believes it adds much-needed structure to a stressed system that is often challenged. Extended eligibility will only be granted for religious missions, maternity leave or active-duty military service. It did, however, lead to a string of days in court. The new rules did not grandfather

in athletes from the high school Class of 2022, triggering lawsuits across the country as attorneys argued it was not fair to prevent their clients from competing in college for a fifth season. Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz, who is in his 28th season, said the rule would have made sense 30 years ago. “The nice thing now is, if we think a freshman can help us, we’ve got a little room to not only experiment with it but also maybe experiment longer and give a guy more opportunity,” said Ferentz, whose 14thranked Hawkeyes host No. 5 Ohio State on Saturday. Wisconsin, coming off a win at No. 13 Penn State, has been rolling first-year players onto the field to help the program get off to a strong start with a 3-1 record overall and 1-0 in the Big Ten. “It’s gotten to the point where midway through the season, they’re not freshmen anymore,” Badgers coach Luke Fickell said heading into Saturday’s home game against Michigan State. “If they were here early, they’re not freshmen now. We’re going to need it. As you get some injuries and things happen, we’re going to see more and more of those guys. I think there’s a little bit more pressure on those guys. They’ve got to do it now.”

season in Baton Rouge was never fully feasible, so injuries were probably going to hurt LSU more than other teams vying for College Football Playoff spots. But LSU’s linebacker depth was seen as a strength heading into the year. The Tigers entered the season with Weeks and TJ Dottery — a two-year starter at Ole Miss before transferring to LSU — as starters, while Keys started for much of last season and Singleton played more than 100 snaps on defense. Zach Weeks, as a freshman, played more than 40 snaps a year ago. Another injury, particularly to Dottery or Keys, could be problematic. But defensive coordinator Blake Baker’s background is in coaching linebackers. He was the linebackers coach at LSU in his first stint with the program in 2021 before returning to Baton STAFF FILE PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON Rouge to resume that role and beLSU linebacker Davhon Keys gets set to run through a tackling drill during come the defensive coordinator in 2024. an Aug. 8 practice. Baker is no longer the linebackers coach. That responsibility now “Davhon played really well last week, which was obviously great to lies with Lane’s brother, Chris Kifsee. Really talked to him about, before he went in, this is a really fin. But if there was one position on defense he’d make sure to button big opportunity. You’ve got to play really physical.” up, it would be linebacker. Baker has made sure to stock that room LANE KIFFIN, LSU coach with plenty of talent. “Coach Baker always puts us in the right spot,” Keys said. “And as while playing on the kickoff cover- game,” Kiffin said. “So there’s not long as you trust your coach and age team Saturday. Ross was LSU’s a lot of numbers there. You eventu- trust what you’re supposed to do, you’re going to make plays.” fourth linebacker on the depth ally run out.” chart, Kiffin said. Kiffin’s concerns about lineback“That’s really hard to lose two of er depth are somewhat warranted. Email Koki Riley at koki.riley@ your top four or five guys in one Building a deep roster in his first theadvocate.com.

and-9 with 41 seconds remaining in the first half against Jackson State (4-0, 1-0). Continued from page 1C Faulk chose not to attempt a 39yard field goal and had play-caller Fred McNair dial up a pass play that The kicking issues played a role was completed 3 yards short of the in the decision-making when the first-down marker. When Faulk was asked about the Southern offense was 22 yards away from the end zone on fourth- decision, he said that if Southern at-

tempted the ﬁeld goal and missed, then the question would be why he didn’t go for it. “I’m a realist,” he said. “I’m gonna take my shots and take my chances, and if my punter’s not punting well, we’re playing with all four downs. I don’t care where we’re at on the ﬁeld. And if my kicker’s not kicking extra points, I’m damn sure not try-

ing ﬁeld goals. We’re gonna go for it. Hey man, that’s where we’re at right now.” Next up for Southern is its homecoming game against ArkansasPine Bluff (2-2, 0-1) at 6 p.m. Saturday at A.W. Mumford Stadium. Email Toyloy Brown III at toyloy. brown@theadvocate.com.

RABALAIS

Continued from page 1C even harder to predict the PCSA’s passage. This much is certain: College athletics needs legislative guardrails. Schools have shown they are completely unable to govern themselves. They even set up something called the College Sports Commission to enforce rules the schools agreed to regarding NIL payments. There was a cap on revenue sharing for this athletic year of $21.5 million. Schools blew past that figure like Sha’Carri Richardson speeding to the finish line. All you need to know is Arkansas spent between $22 million and $25 million on its football roster alone and is near the bottom of the Southeastern Conference in terms of that sort of spending. “A lot of schools, it appears, made a lot of NIL guarantees coming out of the football transfer portal and basketball transfer portal that they’re not allowed to do under the rules,” College Sports Commission CEO Bryan Seely said in May at the SEC spring meeting. “And now, there is increasing pressure on them to get those NIL deals clear. A lot of those NIL deals will not get cleared because they don’t comply with the rules. What do we do?” You look to Congress to give guidance. To make rules. To meddle, if you want to put a cynical spin on things. It’s a fair bet the PCSA won’t make it, but something must. You need to look no further than LSU athletics, which is reportedly operating at a multimillion-dollar deficit because of the rampant spending its leaders think the school must do to stay competitive.

Kiffin’s decision ESPN’s Football Power Index (FPI) gives LSU a 99% chance to defeat McNeese State on Saturday in Tiger Stadium (6:45 p.m., SEC Network). No offense to the Cowboys (2-3), but that basically means unless a sinkhole swallows the No. 11-ranked Tigers (3-1) on their march down Victory Hill before Saturday’s game, this game is pretty much in the bag. The talent gap between the teams is that big. After a disturbing recent spate of injuries to key players, the question for LSU coach Lane Kiffin is whether he should consider resting some starters against McNeese. That starts with quarterback Sam Leavitt, who played brilliantly in this past Saturday’s 35-6 rout of Texas A&M despite an injured hamstring. As you’d expect, Kiffin didn’t tip his hand at his Monday news conference, other than to say: “We’ll be extremely cautious this week all around.” The main question surrounds Leavitt. After McNeese, LSU has three testy but winnable SEC games in October against Kentucky, Mississippi State and Auburn. Backup quarterback Landen Clark ran for two touchdowns against A&M (though he was 0-of-5 passing with a couple of drops) but should be capable enough to lead the Tigers past the Cowboys. I think Kiffin should start with resting Leavitt and receiver Winston Watkins (he left the A&M game after a blow to the head that could have been a concussion) and go from there. This is a week for just getting by, getting reserves some experience, getting a win and getting on to the next game. There are bigger, more difficult tasks ahead. For more LSU sports updates, sign up for our newsletter at theadvocate. com/lsunewsletter

4C ■ Wednesday, September 30, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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Madison Prep makes short work of GOHS BY CHARLES SALZER

Contributing writer

A crowded volleyball schedule for Madison Prep kept up its hectic pace Tuesday night at the Chargers gym, but the result didn’t take long. Behind the power hitting of Tabrina Knighten and Taylor Decuir, Madison Prep swept Glen Oaks in a nondistrict match by scores of 257, 25-17 and 25-11. Decuir led the way with 10 kills while Knighten added nine for Madison Prep (17-7), which is rated 10th in this week’s Division III power ratings. Decuir added nine aces as Glen Oaks (7-5) struggled with its serve receive all night. “This year has been really good for us,” Knighten said. “We came out hot and won our first few

games, and we’re really high on energy. (High energy) is what we feed off of.” Including a pair of matches at Ascension Christian last Saturday, Tuesday’s game was MPA’s fourth in four days. By the time the Chargers play Brusly on Thursday, and two more matches at CatholicPointe Coupee on Saturday, they will have played seven matches in eight days. The busy pace suits first-year coach Saije Bady just ﬁne. “We worked hard this summer,” said Bady, who inherited a team that advanced to the second round of the Division III playoffs last season. “Everybody is back except our libero and right-side hitter. Our goal this season is to go to the championship.”

VOLLEYBALL SCORES

from Dalize Walker helped the Chargers extend their advantage to 17-6. Tuesday’s matches Madison Prep closed out a 25-7 Ascension Christian def. Collegiate Baton set win with Knighten serving on Rouge 25-10, 25-11, 25-13 the final seven points. North Iberville def. East Iberville 25-19, 2426, 14-25, 25-21, 15-12 The second set was the closest of Tara def. Baker 25-17, 25-23, 22-25, 25-21 the three and was tied 10-10 after Glencoe Charter def. LSD 25-9, 25-16, 25-14 Slaughter Charter def. Broadmoor 25-8, a winning back-row spike by Glen 25-10, 25-12 Oaks’ Kalaysiah George. KnightPonchatoula def. Central 25-18, 25-17, 25-16 Livonia 3, False River 0 (25-23, 25-16, 25-21) en’s kill sparked a 3-0 run that put Madison Prep 3, Glen Oaks 0 (25-7, 25-17, Madison Prep in the lead for good, 25-11) West Feliciana 3, McKinley 0 (25-11, 25-13, but the Chargers had a hard time 25-23) creating more distance. Brusly 3, Plaquemine 0 (25-3, 25-19, 25-12) Prairieville 3, St. Charles 0 (25-14, 25-13, 25-9) The Chargers’ lead hovered at Southern Lab 3, GEO Next Generation 1 (25three points until Decuir’s winner 10, 23-25, 25-13, 25-10) gave Madison Prep a 20-16 lead. In the first set, Madison Prep From there, Sanigyh Early served trailed briefly before surging into up four aces as the Chargers postthe lead. The Chargers won nine of ed a 25-17 win. 10 points to turn a 3-2 deficit into The third set was tied 3-3 before an 11-4 lead. Two consecutive aces the Chargers ran off 11 consecu-

SAINTS

Continued from page 1C

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By NAM y. HUH

Chicago Bears quarterback Case Keenum celebrates the team’s win against the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday in Chicago. The Bears won 27-7.

QB Keenum leads way in Bears’ rout of Eagles

Chicago coach Johnson didn’t alter way he called the plays for backup BY JAY COHEN

AP sportswriter

CHICAGO — Chicago Bears coach Ben Johnson could have employed a conservative approach. He could have used Case Keenum as a game manager and looked for his defense and special teams to step up. The thing is, that just isn’t how Johnson operates. Johnson called plays on Monday night as if he had no idea it was Keenum’s first regular-season start in almost three years. He treated the situation as if it was business as usual, and Keenum directed the Bears to a 27-7 win over the Philadelphia Eagles. “He’s the best play-caller, play designer, game-planner I’ve been around,” Keenum said of Johnson. “Really it was fun to do it at this stage of my career where I see the game a lot like him. And that really helps to execute it how he sees it.” Chicago (2-1) played without Caleb Williams, who is week-to-week with a right hamstring injury. Backup quarterback Tyson Bagent emerged from the NFL’s concussion protocol on Sunday, but the Bears ended up going with Keenum for his first regular-season action since he started for Houston on Dec. 24, 2023. Johnson displayed his confidence in Keenum right away. The 38-year-old quarterback was 9 for 11 for 69 yards and a touchdown in

the first quarter. “You could tell that he was ready, and he couldn’t wait to get out there,” Johnson said, “but at the same time, under control. And the rest of the unit feeds off of that. They always feed off of the quarterback, and I think his demeanor really radiated there, but he’s always positive, and the guys love that.” Chicago had a 7-0 lead when it drove to the Philadelphia 1 early in the second quarter. After a 2-yard loss for D’Andre Swift and an incomplete pass for Keenum, Johnson had a decision to make. Johnson kept his offense on the field on fourth down instead of sending out Cairo Santos for a short field goal. K eenum threw incomplete, but the gamble was in line with Johnson’s usual aggressive strategy — signaling to his team that his expectations hadn’t changed with Williams out. “I’m just really proud of the group throughout, because they really don’t bat an eye,” Johnson said. “When things get a little bit sideways, or we go for it on fourth down and we don’t get it, everyone’s ready to respond the right way, so it’s great to see.” Keenum passed for two touchdowns and rushed for another TD against the Eagles. It looks as if Williams won’t be ready for Chicago’s next game against the New

York Jets, so Johnson will have to decide whether he wants to stay with Keenum or put Bagent in the starting lineup. He wasn’t ready to make an announcement late Monday night. “We’ll have a discussion as a coaching staff, and we’ll see where we need to go from here,” he said. “But I said it last week, and I’ll say it again, there was a reason why Tyson ended training camp as our No. 2 quarterback.” Chicago has held back-to-back opponents to fewer than 10 points for the ﬁrst time since 2012. It’s an impressive turnaround for a defense that yielded 37 points and 478 yards in Week 1 against Carolina. The Bears forced three turnovers against Philadelphia, including rookie safety Dillon Thieneman’s first career interception. They allowed just 62 yards while shutting out the Eagles in the second half. Linebacker T.J. Edwards, who also had an interception, said he thought defensive coordinator Dennis Allen called a great game. “I think every week he’s got some wrinkles in there that are going to show someone a different look but again it’s on us to kind of get him in that third-and-longer so we can get to those things,” Edwards said. “We weren’t able to do that until we got in the second half.”

Cowboys owner Jones rues coaching miscues BY SCHUYLER DIXON AP pro football writer

FRISCO, Texas — Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is leaving little doubt that he believes errors in game management by his coaching staff in the final seconds of a 34-31 loss to Baltimore on Sunday cost his team the victory. Speaking on his radio show Tuesday, Jones was asked what explanations there were for leaving enough seconds on the clock after a tying field goal for a defensive breakdown to put the Ravens in position for the winning kick in Rio de Janeiro. “There is no explanation you’re satisfied with. None,” Jones said.

“Let’s be sure that we all understand that. They (coaches) don’t have one that they’re satisfied with. We made mistakes during that time. There’s no question about it. So there is no explanation. But there’s an evaluation of how not to make the same mistakes again.” Trailing 31-28, the Cowboys had a ﬁrst down at the Baltimore 2-yard line with 23 seconds left when Dak Prescott threw incomplete into the end zone. After a false-start penalty against tight end Luke Schoonmaker, Prescott scrambled to the Baltimore 5, and coach Brian Schottenheimer called his ﬁnal timeout with 14 seconds remaining.

The coach who is also the playcaller instructed Prescott to either throw a quick out to receiver George Pickens or throw the ball away, based on the amount of time left, with no ability to stop the clock. Prescott didn’t wait long to choose the throwaway, and the play lasted just four seconds. There were seven seconds remaining after Brandon Aubrey’s field goal, and the Dallas defense left a gap at just about the exact spot of the target line for a Baltimore field goal. Lamar Jackson completed a 27yard pass to Zay Flowers, got the timeout called with a second to go, and Tyler Loop made the 56-yard field goal.

games of the season, which added a layer of difficulty for the Saints when coming up with a defensive game plan. The Raiders offense almost certainly was going to flow through Bowers, but the Saints had little to go on when it came to preparing for what he was going to look like in the Klint Kubiak offense. “He’s a really good player. Klint did a really good job of moving him around,” Saints coach Kellen Moore said. “First action with him out there on the field, and they created a lot of opportunities that were advantageous, as far as playing him in different spots.” Though he’s listed as a tight end, Bowers does much more than that. He lined up all over the field against the Saints, spending most of his time lined up as the outside receiver in the formation or in the slot. Here’s how it shook out: n Outside receiver: 11 routes — six catches on nine targets for 81 yards n Tight end: Eight routes — two catches on two targets for 16 yards n Slot: 12 routes — two catches on two targets for 19 yards and a touchdown n Wing: One route — no targets Most of Bowers’ damage came when he was lined up outside. The Raiders’ very first offensive snap featured Bowers in this alignment. Though Saints defensive back Quincy Riley was shading Bowers’ outside shoulder, he was giving Bowers a nearly 10-yard cushion. Bowers started the game with an easy 8-yard gain on a quick out. It was a sign of things to come. The Raiders threw Bowers the ball on three of his first four routes. Kirk Cousins found him over the middle of the field for a gain of 18 after Kaden Elliss got sucked in by a play-action fake, another play where Bowers was lined up outside. New Orleans tried to switch when Bowers lined up outside and motioned into a stack, with Jonas Sanker communicating that he had Bowers in coverage. Bowers beat him easily with a slant for a gain of 19. The Saints tried putting their best cover corner, Kool-Aid McKinstry, on Bowers with press coverage on a third-and-4 play. Bowers ran a stutter-go, and while McKinstry stayed plastered to him, a good backshoulder throw beat the coverage as Bowers picked up 20. When the Raiders really needed it, they schemed up ways to get Bowers open. He lined up in the slot for a third-andgoal from the 4-yard line late in the fourth quarter, and Las Vegas dialed up a rub concept. Sanker tried going over the rub

tive points, 10 on Decuir’s serve. Decuir had four aces during the stretch as her team took a 14-3 lead. Glen Oaks never got its deﬁcit under 10 again, and Knighten ended the match with a pair of kills. Glen Oaks, which made the playoffs for the ﬁrst time in 18 seasons last year, was led by captain Sabreka Johnson with two kills and three blocks. Mia Odulate was the top defender with six digs. “We’ve got all but one player back from last year, but we fell into a slump tonight,” Glen Oaks coach Katrina Dotson said. “What we need to do is communicate better on the court. Some things can be handled off the court, but on the court we’ve got to communicate and play harder than what we have been.”

route but couldn’t recover in time, and Bowers hauled in a touchdown that put Las Vegas up by eight points in the closing minutes. McKinstry was the only player to ﬁnd a degree of success against Bowers, especially in the red zone. He made a great play to break up a third-and-5 pass to Bowers near the goal line, then locked up Bowers on consecutive plays from the Saints’ 7-yard line late in the ﬁrst half, including a forced throwaway. “We had our opportunities; we just weren’t able to get it done,” Moore said. “He’s a really good player; he’s going to be a good player in this league for a long time. We’re going to play some hard downs against those types of guys, and he just won more often than not.” It’s not going to get easier for the Saints next week against Atlanta.

Next up If the title of best running back in the NFL doesn’t go to Gibbs or Henry, it belongs to Bijan Robinson of the Falcons. Robinson is coming off one of the best games of his career, torching the Green Bay Packers for 194 yards combined and a pair of rushing touchdowns. Robinson is a home-run hitter, ripping off 55- and 31-yard runs against Green Bay, but he is also one of the league’s most efﬁcient runners. His 60.6% success rate ranks fourth in the NFL among qualiﬁed players. New Orleans has done a decent job in the past against Robinson as a runner. In six career games against the Saints, Robinson has averaged 61 yards rushing per game. But he is an extremely capable pass catcher, and New Orleans is certainly aware of that. Robinson has caught 22 passes for 256 yards and a pair of scores against the Saints in his career.

Rough finish Left tackle Asim Richards has big shoes to ﬁll in replacing the injured Kelvin Banks. He held up fairly well through three quarters Sunday, but there were three notable negatives in the fourth quarter that had big consequences. Raiders edge rusher Malcolm Koonce beat Richards with speed to get to Tyler Shough for a controversial strip-sack, then beat him with power on Shough’s interception, pushing Richards back into Shough as he was releasing the ball. But Koonce also got Richards in the run game, rag-dolling him with a violent shed on a key third-and-1 play with three minutes remaining to drop Alvin Kamara for no gain. There were plenty of dirty hands in the fourth quarter, but New Orleans needs better play out of Richards if it is still going to be in the hunt when Banks returns.

Raiders tight end Brock Bowers makes a 4-yard touchdown reception as Saints safety Jonas Sanker defends in the fourth quarter on Sunday. STAFF PHOTO By DAVID GRUNFELD

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Wednesday, September 30, 2026 ■ 5C

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MLB POSTSEASON

White Sox beat Astros to take Game 1 of series BY KRISTIE RIEKEN

Associated Press

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By MIKE STEWART

Braves third baseman Austin Riley hits a three-run home run off Phillies pitcher Jhoan Duran in the eighth inning in Game 1 of the National League Wild Card Series on Tuesday in Atlanta.

Riley homers to rally Braves past Phillies

BY CHARLES ODUM

Associated Press

ATLANTA — Austin Riley hit a three-run homer off All-Star closer Jhoan Duran in the eighth inning and the Atlanta Braves rallied past the Philadelphia Phillies 5-3 on Tuesday in the opener of a best-of-three National League Wild Card Series. Duran (0-1), who allowed just two homers in 61 regular-season games, gave up a single to Michael Harris before hitting Ozzie Albies with a pitch. Riley drove the go-ahead blast over the wall in right-center ﬁeld. Harris had three hits. The Braves can clinch the series on Wednesday and end the Phillies’ history of postseason success in the NL East rivalry. Philadelphia beat Atlanta in the 1993 NLCS and the 2022 and 2023 NLDS. Riley’s go-ahead homer was especially satisfying after he hit only .219 with 19 homers in a frustrating regular season. “Especially knowing how my season was not the way I wanted it, that’s why the postseason is a clean slate,” Riley said, adding he was “trying to do something good” for his teammates. Braves ace Chris Sale said Riley

never let his struggles affect his approach to the game during the regular season. “You couldn’t tell if he was the leading MVP candidate or if he was struggling,” Sale said. “I really mean that. He’s the same guy. He kept doing the work and had a great moment.” Sale dueled early against Phillies left-hander Jesus Luzardo, who was sharp after missing time down the stretch with left shoulder inflammation. Luzardo was expected to make an abbreviated start, but he pitched onerun ball over five innings with 77 pitches. “In my mind, if we got 75 pitches from him today, we would be in a pretty good spot,” Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly said of Luzardo. “... He kind of gave us more than we thought, honestly.” Atlanta pounced when Philadelphia went to the bullpen — a common theme for the Phillies as they slumped into the postseason. Their relievers had a 5.79 ERA in September, worst in the majors. Albies hit a tiebreaking triple off Alex McFarlane in the sixth for a 2-1 lead. Center fielder Derek Hill had an opportunity to make a leaping catch of Albies’ drive at the wall, but he appeared to jump too high. The ball hit Hill’s wrist

below his glove. J.T. Realmuto put Philadelphia ahead 3-2 with a two-run triple in the seventh inning — right ﬁelder Ronald Acuña bobbled the ball near the wall, but he wasn’t charged with an error. Mattingly handed the ball over to Duran in the seventh, perhaps hoping the 28-year-old had three innings in him to close things out. Duran made just one multi-inning appearance this season. Sale gave up three runs as he faded in the seventh in his effort to deliver as the ace of Atlanta’s depleted rotation. Sale hit Bryan De La Cruz with a pitch with one out in the seventh before giving up a single to Bryson Stott. Right-hander Didier Fuentes then gave up Realmuto’s two-run triple to the right-field corner. Alec Bohm hit a high fastball from Sale for a run-scoring double over Harris in center in the first inning. Sale didn’t give up another hit until Edmundo Sosa doubled with two outs in the ﬁfth. Luzardo gave up three hits with six strikeouts. He pitched longer than many expected after throwing a scoreless eighth inning in Sunday’s 7-3 win over the Tampa Bay Rays that clinched the wildcard berth.

Musgrove makes Padres roster despite not pitching since 2024 BY GREG BEACHAM Associated Press

SAN DIEGO — Veteran right-hander Joe Musgrove is on the San Diego Padres’ roster for their NL Wild Card Series nearly two full years after his most recent appearance in a major league game. Musgrove was a surprise addition to manager Craig Stammen’s 26-man roster Tuesday before the Padres hosted the Chicago Cubs. “We’re banking on him, and of all the guys in the clubhouse, he’s probably one of the top guys that you can trust,” Stammen said. Musgrove hasn’t played for his hometown team since Oct. 2, 2024, when he left the Padres’ clinching Wild Card Series victory over Atlanta with a right elbow injury. He underwent Tommy John surgery and missed the 2025 season, and he subsequently missed the entire 2026 regular season when his recovery progressed much more slowly than expected. General manager AJ Preller was obviously pleased by the thought of Musgrove ﬁnally making his return. “I don’t think any of us thought the next time we’d see him is potentially in this year’s playoffs,” Preller said. “But it’s a good feeling to have somebody that we all trust, and then the amount of effort that he puts into his craft is real. I know at times there was some frustration from people, you know, ‘Why can’t Joe come back?’ It’s not for a lack of effort.

I think I’ve seen him turn the corner the last couple of weeks and feel really good. We felt good about putting him on the roster and his chances to help us win a series.” Now 33 years old, Musgrove made four rehab appearances in August, pitching up to five innings in Triple-A games. He said his postgame recoveries continued to be difficult, but Musgrove has been throwing in instructional league games this month, and the Padres liked what they saw in velocity, movement and arm recovery. Once Musgrove looked good and recovered well after facing major league hitters in recent days, the Padres were ready to activate him. “What we’ve seen from him the last week or 10 days has been very good, impressive,” Stammen said. “And I think the last thing we were just waiting on is his ability to recover after pitching to hitters, and he’s been able to do that. He’s been able to play catch every day, including the day after some of his outings. So great news for Joe that he’s finally feeling capable of handling a major league workload, and no better time to put him on the roster than now.” Stammen and Preller didn’t commit to a plan for using Musgrove, but he seems likely to be a reliever if he appears in the bestof-three Wild Card Series. Michael King is starting the series

opener, and Nick Pivetta will start Game 2 for San Diego. Musgrove made seven relief appearances while winning a World Series title with the Houston Astros in 2017 before he became a regular rotation member in Pittsburgh and San Diego. “He’s going to be able to help us in any role,” Preller said. “It’s a short series, and he understands. We’ll see how Craig or (pitching coach) Ruben (Niebla) want to use him, but he’s going to be ready to go.” San Diego chose Musgrove for its 11-man postseason pitching staff over several possible candidates, including dependable right-hander Randy Vásquez, lefty reliever Wandy Peralta, trade deadline acquisition Casey Mize and Griffin Canning. Outfielder Miguel Andújar also was a surprising inclusion on the Padres’ roster. He hasn’t played since July 19 because of a broken wrist, but he took at-bats at Petco Park on Monday. Ethan Salas, the Padres’ 20-yearold catcher, made the Wild Card Series roster as expected. If Salas plays in this series, he will become the youngest catcher ever to appear in the MLB postseason. Salas was called up Sept. 1, becoming the youngest player to catch a major league game since Iván “Pudge” Rodríguez in 1991. After a slow start, Salas finished the regular season with 10 hits in his last 24 at-bats, including several clutch hits.

HOUSTON — Colson Montgomery hit a solo homer and Sam Antonacci drove in two runs to lead the Chicago White Sox over the Houston Astros 6-3 in Game 1 of an AL Wild Card Series on Tuesday. The White Sox, in the postseason for the first time since 2021, made a remarkable turnaround this year to become the only team in major league history to follow consecutive 100-loss seasons with a playoff berth. They had lost 100 games three straight seasons, including 121 defeats in 2024, setting the record for most losses since 1899. “We came here to win the series and the first part of that is getting this first win, which is great,” manager Will Venable said. He added that he was impressed with the poise his young team showed. “A bunch of young guys that haven’t been in this situation before, they didn’t back down at all,” he said. “So really good stuff to come out and have an early win.” The White Sox got a letter of support from Pope Leo XIV, a Chicago native, prior to the game and got to work immediately to show off for

the pontiff. They led 3-0 after two innings and held on for their first playoff win since Oct. 10, 2021 in the ALDS against Houston. The AL West-winning Astros eked out a playoff spot with an 8181 record to become the first team to reach the postseason without a winning record. Houston lost its eighth straight home playoff game in its ninth trip to the postseason in the last 10 years. Game 2 in the best-of-three series is Wednesday in Houston. Manager Joe Espada is confident his team will respond Wednesday to force a Game 3. “Our backs have been against the corner before and I think that’s when we are our best, when we fight back,” he said. “We know it’s a do or die and we’ve been here before, so I really admire how they bounce back and they react to challenges. I expect them to go out there and bounce back and our offense to get going.” MVP favorite Yordan Alvarez said they’re ready for the challenge. “Tomorrow we have to come out here and win or there’s no tomorrow after that,” he said in Spanish through a translator.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By KAREN WARREN

White Sox shortstop Colson Montgomery runs the bases after hitting a solo home run during the fourth inning in Game 1 of the American League Wild Card Series against the Astros on Tuesday in Houston. Atlanta 5, Philadelphia 3

Chi. White Sox 6, Houston 3

Phila. ab r h bi Atlanta ab r h bi Turner ss 3 0 0 0 Baldwin c 4 0 0 0 Schwrbr dh3 1 1 0 Acuña rf 3 0 0 0 Harpr rf-1b 4 0 0 0 Olson 1b 4 0 0 0 Bhm 1b-3b 4 0 1 1 Dubn lf-ss 4 0 1 0 Hill cf-rf 3 0 0 0 Harris II cf 3 2 3 0 Marsh ph 1 0 1 0 Albies 2b 2 2 1 1 De La Crz lf3 1 0 0 Riley 3b 3 1 1 3 Stott 2b 4 1 1 0 Ystrz dh-lf 4 0 1 1 Sosa 3b 2 0 1 0 Kim ss 2 0 0 0 Crwfr ph-cf1 0 0 0 Smith ph 1 0 0 0 Realmuto c3 0 1 2 Hicklen lf 0 0 0 0 Iglesias p 0 0 0 0 Totals 31 3 6 3 Totals 30 5 7 5 Philadelphia 100 000 200 — 3 Atlanta 010 001 03x — 5 DP—Philadelphia 0, Atlanta 1. LOB—Philadelphia 4, Atlanta 6. 2B—Bohm (1), Sosa (1), Dubón (1). 3B—Realmuto (1), Albies (1). HR—Riley (1). S—Harris II (1). IP H R ER BB SO Philadelphia Luzardo 5 3 1 1 1 6 McFarlane 1 2 1 1 0 2 Duran, L,0-1, BS,0-1 2 2 3 3 0 1 Atlanta 1 3 1 9 Sale 6 ⁄3 4 3 2 ⁄3 1 0 0 0 0 Fuentes, BS,0-1 Lee, W,1-0 1 0 0 0 0 1 Iglesias, S,1-1 1 1 0 0 0 0 HBP—Sale 2 (Turner, De La Cruz), Luzardo 2 (Riley, Acuña Jr.), Duran (Albies). ABS Challenge—Realmuto (Ball-Overturned to Strike); Harris II (StrikeConﬁrmed); Albies (Strike-Overturned to Ball). Umpires—Home, Dan Merzel; First, Adam Beck; Second, Mark Ripperger; Third, Jordan Baker; Right, Charlie Ramos; Left, Nestor Ceja. T—2:26. A—30,127 (41,149).

White Sox ab r h bi Houston ab r h bi Antonacci lf3 1 1 2 Peña ss 4 1 1 0 Doyle cf 0 0 0 0 Alvarez dh 4 0 1 0 Teel c 5 0 1 0 Paredes 3b4 0 1 0 Vargas 3b 4 0 0 0 Altuve 2b 4 0 0 0 Murakm 1b3 2 1 1 Diaz c 4 0 0 0 Benntnd dh1 0 0 0 Walker 1b 2 0 0 0 Grch ph-dh 3 0 2 0 Spence cf 4 1 1 0 Acuñ pr-dh 0 0 0 0 Smith rf 4 0 1 0 Peters cf-lf 4 0 1 0 B.Monty rf 4 1 2 0 Vlzqz ph-lf 3 1 1 2 Meidrth 2b 4 1 2 1 C.Monty ss 3 1 1 1 Totals 34 6 11 5 Totals 33 3 6 2 Chicago 120 110 100 — 6 Houston 000 020 010 — 3 E—Walker (1), Vargas (1). DP—Chicago White Sox 0, Houston 3. LOB—Chicago White Sox 9, Houston 6. HR—C.Montgomery (1), Velázquez (1). SF—Murakami (1). S—Peters (1), Trammell (1). IP H R ER BB SO Chicago White Sox H.Smith 3 2 0 0 0 1 Hicks, W,1-0 1 1⁄3 0 0 0 0 1 Newcomb 1 2 2 2 0 0 Sandlin, H,1 1 1⁄3 0 0 0 1 0 Taylor 2 1⁄3 2 1 0 1 5 Houston 2 Blubaugh, L,0-1 ⁄3 0 1 0 3 0 1 King ⁄3 4 2 2 0 1 Ullola 3 1 1 1 0 4 Hendrickson 1 2⁄3 3 1 1 1 0 1 VanWey ⁄3 0 0 0 0 0 Sousa 1 2 1 1 0 1 Abreu 1 0 0 0 0 1 Hader 1 1 0 0 0 1 HBP—King (C.Montgomery), Hendrickson (Antonacci). WP—Sousa 2. Umpires—Home, Alex MacKay; First, Alex Tosi; Second, Ryan Additon; Third, Alan Porter; Right, Paul Clemons; Left, Edwin Moscoso. T—3:13. A—34,011 (41,000).

Late night in New York

AP PHOTO By yUKI IWAMURA

New york yankees third baseman Amed Rosario throws out Boston Red Sox center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela at first base on Tuesday in New york. The yankees won 9-0.

6C ■ Wednesday, September 30, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

lll

SCOREBOARD Odds NFL Thursday FAVORITE Pittsburgh

Sunday

OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG 3 2½ (38½) at CLEVELND

FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG Indianapolis 1½ 3½ (47½) at WASH. at CINCINNATI 2½ 2½ (51½) Jacksonville at BUFFALO 3 6½ (48½) New England LA Rams 2½ 3 (43½) at PHILA. Green Bay 1½ 4 (39½)at TAMPA BAY Arizona 7 1½ (44½) at NY GIANTS at BALTIMORE 8½ 11½ (43½) Tennessee at CHICAGO 8½ 3 (42½) NY Jets at HOUSTON 2½ 2½ (48½) Dallas at MINNESOTA 7½ 10½ (38½) Miami at SAN FRAN 2½ 2½ (47½) Denver at SEATTLE 3 7 (43½) LA Chargers Kansas City 5½ 4½ (48½) at LAS VEGAS Detroit 3 3½ (50½) at CAROLINA

Monday

FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O/U at N. ORLEANS 2½ 2½ (48½)

College football Thursday

FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O/U at N. MEX. ST. 1½ 2½ (57½) at TULSA 3½ 1½ (57½)

Friday

UNDERDOG Atlanta

UNDERDOG W.Kentucky North Texas

FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG at VA TECH 5½ 3½ (55½) Pittsburgh Liberty 6½ 7 (50½) at DELAWARE Penn State 7 2½ (46½) at N’WESTRN

Saturday

FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG Notre Dame 23½ 21 (47½) at N.CAROLN at SMU 20½ 21 (55½) Boston Coll at KANSAS 21½ 18½ (49½) Middle Tenn. Syracuse 7½ 6½ (50½) at UCONN at HOUSTON 11½ 12½ (51½) UCF at IOWA STATE 1½ 3½ (52½) West Virginia at AIR FORCE 1½ 3½ (45½) Navy Michigan 8½ 5½ (43½) at MINN. at WAKE FRST 11½ 12½ (53½) Stanford Alabama 3 5½ (60½) at MISS. ST at WISCONSIN 9½ 10 (43½) Michigan St at GEORGIA 23½ 24½ (50½) Vanderbilt W.Michigan 16½ 13½ (46½) at BUFFALO Toledo 13½ 19½ (52½) at BALL ST at C.MICHIGN 5½ 6½ (47½) Akron at UMASS 2½ 6½ (48½) E.Michigan at TENNESSEE 7½ 7 (54½) Auburn at MIAMI (OH)15½ 13½ (43½) Bowling Grn Memphis 22½ 20½ (52½) at CHARLOTT Virginia 1½ 2½ (51½)at FLORIDA ST Ohio State 14 14 (45½) at IOWA at GEORGIA ST 1½ 2½ (52½) Old Dominion Louisville 7½ 3½ (58½) at NC STATE Ohio 3½ 3 (50½) at KENT ST Florida 2½ 5 (57½) at MISSOURI at UNLV 1½ 2½ (53½) Cal at NDSU 21 18½ (45½) Wyoming at JAMES MAD.14½ 18½ (56½) Marshall at NEBRASKA 11½ 14½ (52½) Maryland at N. MEXICO 21½ 22½ (48½) UTEP at S.CAROLINA 7 2½ (53½) Kentucky at ILLINOIS 9½ 10 (61½) Purdue Oregon State 5½ 6½ (61½) at COLO. ST at TEXAS A&M15½ 14 (50½) Arkansas at S. ALABAM 15½ 14 (57½) UL Monroe UTSA 10½ 11½ (55½) at RICE BYU 5½ 6½ (47½) at TCU Ga. Southern 1½ 2½ (53½) at C.CAROLIN at BOISE ST 20½ 20½ (51½) Utah State Texas Tech 15½ 13 (50½) at COLORADO Army 3½ 2½ (46½) at LA. TECH at USC 10 9½ (58½) Washington at S. FLORIDA 6½ 6½ (48½) Temple Miami (FL) 7 16½ (47½) at CLEMSON at UL 5½ 6½ (47½) Arkansas St Indiana 23½ 24½ (56½) at RUTGERS at WASH. ST 1½ 2½ (45½) Fresno State at ARIZONA ST 4½ 4½ (49½) Baylor Texas State 3½ 4½ (59½)at S. DIEGO ST at ARIZONA 8½ 7 (55½) Cincinnati

MLB

Wednesday

American League FAVORITE LINE UNDERDOG at HOUSTON OFF Chi. White Sox

LINE OFF

at N.Y YANKEES National League FAVORITE Philadelphia at SAN DIEGO

NHL

-142 Boston

+118

LINE UNDERDOG -118 at ATLANTA OFF Chicago Cubs

LINE -104 OFF

Wednesday

FAVORITE LINE UNDERDOG at PHILADELPHIA -142 Pittsburgh at TORONTO -122 N.Y Islanders at COLORADO -187 Los Angeles

LINE +117 -101 +151

Pro basketball WNBA playoff glance (x-if necessary)

First Round

(Best-of-3) New York 2, Minnesota 0 Sept. 27: New York 91, Minnesota 75 Tuesday: New York 87, Minnesota 71 Golden State 1, Dallas 0 Sept. 27: Golden State 104, Dallas 80 Wednesday: Golden State at Dallas, 8 p.m. x-Friday: Dallas at Golden State, TBA Las Vegas 1, Indiana 1 Sept. 27: Las Vegas 102, Indiana 85 Tuesday: Indiana 99, Las Vegas 89 Thursday: Indiana at Las Vegas, TBA Atlanta 1, Washington 0 Sept. 27: Atlanta 92, Washington 77 Wednesday: Atlanta at Washington, 6 p.m. x-Friday: Washington at Atlanta, TBA

Baseball MLB postseason glance x-if necessary

WILD CARD SERIES (Best-of-3)

American League

Chicago White Sox 1, Houston 0 Tuesday: Chicago 6, Houston 3 Wednesday: Chicago at Houston (Brown 6-4), 4:10 p.m. (Peacock/NBCSN) x-Thursday: Chicago at Houston, 4 p.m. (Peacock/NBCSN) New York 1, Boston 0 Tuesday: New York 9, Boston 0 Wednesday: Boston (Gray 18-5) at New York (Fried 5-5), 7:15 p.m. (NBC/Peacock) x-Thursday: Boston (Suarez 8-5) at New York (Cole 10-9), 7 p.m. (NBC/Peacock)

National League

Atlanta 1, Philadelphia 0 Tuesday: Atlanta 5, Philadelphia 3 Wednesday: Philadelphia (Sánchez 18-7) at Atlanta (Mahle 7-10), 1:15 p.m. (NBC/ Peacock) x-Thursday: Philadelphia at Atlanta, 1 p.m. (NBC/Peacock) San Diego vs. Chicago Cubs Tuesday: Chicago at San Diego, n Wednesday: Chicago at San Diego, 9:10 p.m. (Peacock/NBCSN) x-Thursday: Chicago at San Diego, 9 p.m. (Peacock/NBCSN)

DIVISION SERIES (Best-of-5)

American League

Cleveland vs. Chicago or Houston Saturday: Chicago-Houston winner at Cleveland, TBD (TBS/HBO Max) Monday: Chicago-Houston winner at Cleveland, TBD (TBS/HBO Max) Oct. 7: Cleveland at Houston-Chicago winner, TBD (TBS/HBO Max) x-Oct. 8: Cleveland at Houston-Chicago winner, TBD (TBS/HBO Max) x-Oct. 10: Chicago-Houston winner at Cleveland, TBD (TBS/HBO Max) Tampa Bay vs. Boston or New York Saturday: Boston-New York winner at Tampa Bay, TBD (TBS/HBO Max) Monday: Boston-New York winner at Tampa Bay, TBD (TBS/HBO Max) Oct. 7: Tampa Bay at Boston-New York winner, TBD (TBS/HBO Max) x-Oct. 8: Tampa Bay at Boston-New York winner, TBD (TBS/HBO Max) x-Oct. 10: Boston-New York winner at Tampa Bay, TBD (TBS/HBO Max)

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National League

Los Angeles vs. Atlanta or Philadelphia Saturday: Atlanta-Philadelphia winner at Los Angeles, TBD (FOX/FS1) Sunday: Atlanta-Philadelphia winner at Los Angeles, TBD (FOX/FS1) Oct. 6: Los Angeles at Atlanta-Philadelphia winner, TBD (FOX/FS1) x-Oct. 7: Los Angeles at Atlanta-Philadelphia winner, TBD (FOX/FS1) x-Oct. 9: Atlanta-Philadelphia winner at Los Angeles, TBD (FOX/FS1) Milwaukee vs. San Diego or Chicago Saturday: San Diego-Chicago winner at Milwaukee, TBD (FOX/FS1) Sunday: San Diego-Chicago winner at Milwaukee, TBD (FOX/FS1) Oct. 6: Milwaukee at San Diego-Chicago winner, TBD (FOX/FS1) x-Oct. 7: Milwaukee at San Diego-Chicago winner, TBD (FOX/FS1) x-Friday, Oct. 9: San Diego-Chicago winner at Milwaukee, TBD (FOX/FS1)

Pro football NFL glance AMERICAN CONFERENCE East

Buffalo N.Y. Jets New England Miami South Jacksonville Indianapolis Tennessee Houston North Pittsburgh Baltimore Cleveland Cincinnati West Kansas City Las Vegas Denver L.A. Chargers

W 3 1 1 0

L 0 2 2 3

T Pct PF PA 0 1.000 101 78 0 .333 64 61 0 .333 36 51 0 .000 36 86

W 2 1 0 0

L 1 2 3 3

T 0 0 0 0

Pct .667 .333 .000 .000

PF PA 82 36 72 91 37 59 54 75

W 2 2 2 2

L 1 1 1 1

T 0 0 0 0

Pct .667 .667 .667 .667

PF PA 53 60 92 78 54 71 80 63

W 3 3 2 0

L 0 0 1 3

T Pct 0 1.000 0 1.000 0 .667 0 .000

PF PA 88 50 88 54 60 70 44 76

W 2 2 1 1

L 1 1 2 2

T 0 0 0 0

Pct .667 .667 .333 .333

PF PA 55 69 46 55 88 82 75 92

W 1 1 1 0

L 2 2 2 3

T 0 0 0 0

Pct .333 .333 .333 .000

PF PA 89 83 81 83 51 68 62 79

W 3 2 2 1

L 0 1 1 2

T Pct 0 1.000 0 .667 0 .667 0 .333

PF PA 71 41 93 95 89 53 56 91

W 3 2 1 1

L 0 1 2 2

T Pct 0 1.000 0 .667 0 .333 0 .333

PF PA 98 50 75 50 61 63 63 81

NATIONAL CONFERENCE East

Philadelphia N.Y. Giants Dallas Washington South Carolina New Orleans Atlanta Tampa Bay North Minnesota Detroit Chicago Green Bay West San Francisco Seattle L.A. Rams Arizona

Monday’s game

Monday, Oct. 5

Atlanta at New Orleans, 7:15 p.m.

Late Monday

Chicago 27, Philadelphia 7

Philadelphia 0 7 0 0 — 7 Chicago 7 3 10 7 — 27 First Quarter Chi—Burden 8 pass from Keenum (Santos kick), 8:47. Second Quarter Chi—FG Santos 29, 1:52. Phi—Hurts 1 run (J.Elliott kick), :00. Third Quarter Chi—FG Santos 48, 10:17. Chi—Raymond 41 pass from Keenum (Santos kick), 5:47. Fourth Quarter Chi—Keenum 1 run (Santos kick), 7:19. A—59,588. Phi Chi First downs 14 24 Total Net Yards 248 375 Rushes-yards 19-107 35-128 Passing 141 247 Punt Returns 1-8 2-15 Kickoff Returns 3-70 1-32 Interceptions Ret. 0-0 2-0 Comp-Att-Int 16-26-2 24-34-0 Sacked-Yards Lost 2-12 0-0 Punts 4-41.75 2-52.5 Fumbles-Lost 1-1 1-0 Penalties-Yards 10-61 5-45 Time of Possession 23:07 36:53 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING—Philadelphia, Barkley 15-82, Hurts 4-25. Chicago, Swift 20-84, Monangai 10-31, Burden 1-7, Keenum 4-6. PASSING—Philadelphia, Hurts 16-25-1-153, Dalton 0-1-1-0. Chicago, Keenum 24-34-0-247. RECEIVING—Philadelphia, D.Smith 6-65, Lemon 3-29, Wicks 2-32, Shipley 1-11, Ertz 1-9, Bigsby 1-5, Mundt 1-4, Barkley 1-(minus 2). Chicago, Burden 7-61, Raymond 6-90, Loveland 4-31, Odunze 3-44, Swift 2-4, Roush 1-16, Z.Thomas 1-1. MISSED FIELD GOALS—None.

College football State schedule

Chicago 27, Philadelphia 7

Thursday’s game

Pittsburgh at Cleveland, 7:15 p.m.

Sunday’s games

Kansas City at Las Vegas, 3:25 p.m. L.A. Chargers at Seattle, 3:25 p.m. Detroit at Carolina, 7:20 p.m.

Indianapolis vs. Washington at London, 8:30 a.m. Arizona at N.Y. Giants, noon Dallas at Houston, noon Green Bay at Tampa Bay, noon Jacksonville at Cincinnati, noon L.A. Rams at Philadelphia, noon N.Y. Jets at Chicago, noon New England at Buffalo, noon Tennessee at Baltimore, noon Miami at Minnesota, 3:05 p.m. Denver at San Francisco, 3:25 p.m.

Saturday’s games

Alcorn St. (3-2) at Grambling (2-2), 2 p.m. Ark.-Pine Bluff (2-2) at Southern (2-3), 6 p.m. UL-Monroe (0-4) at South Alabama (2-2), 6 p.m. Nicholls (2-3) at Houston Christian (2-3), 6 p.m. Northwestern St. (0-5) at Lamar (3-1), 6 p.m. Army (2-1) at Louisiana Tech (1-2), 6:30 p.m. McNeese (2-3) at LSU (3-1), 6:45 p.m. Arkansas St. (2-2) at UL (3-1), 7 p.m.

Soccer MLS glance Eastern Conference Nashville New England Inter Miami CF Charlotte FC Chicago Philadelphia Orlando City New York New York City FC Cincinnati D.C. United Columbus Toronto FC Atlanta CF Montréal

W 18 14 12 12 12 11 10 9 8 8 6 8 6 7 6

L T Pts GF 3 6 60 55 9 4 46 45 5 10 46 64 8 7 43 47 8 6 42 46 10 6 39 54 13 4 34 48 11 6 33 34 10 9 33 41 9 9 33 55 8 12 30 34 14 5 29 39 10 11 29 39 14 6 27 32 15 6 24 34

GA 21 36 50 38 38 44 64 48 36 64 42 43 51 45 54

Vancouver FC Dallas San Jose Houston St Louis City

W 15 13 13 13 12

L 6 6 8 9 6

GA 26 42 39 32 36

Western Conference

T Pts GF 5 50 59 8 47 50 6 45 49 5 44 34 8 44 45

Los Angeles FC 11 9 8 41 43 Colorado 11 13 3 36 38 LA Galaxy 9 10 9 36 37 Seattle 9 9 8 35 33 Portland 9 13 5 32 48 Real Salt Lake 9 13 5 32 40 San Diego FC 8 11 8 32 47 Austin FC 7 10 10 31 35 Minnesota United 7 12 8 29 40 Sporting Kansas City 6 17 3 21 31 NOTE: Three points for victory, one point for tie.

30 38 44 34 51 44 47 47 49 63

Wednesday’s game

St. Louis City at New York, 6:30 p.m.

Thursday’s game

Sporting Kansas City at Seattle, 8:30 p.m.

Oct. 6

Vancouver at Chicago, 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 10

CF Montréal at Toronto FC, noon New York City FC at Chicago, 1:30 p.m. Cincinnati at Atlanta, 6:30 p.m. FC Dallas at Charlotte FC, 6:30 p.m. D.C. United at Miami, 6:30 p.m. Seattle at New England, 6:30 p.m. San Diego FC at New York, 6:30 p.m. Columbus at Orlando City, 6:30 p.m. Real Salt Lake at Philadelphia, 6:30 p.m. Nashville at Austin FC, 7:30 p.m. Portland at Sporting Kansas City, 7:30 p.m. Houston at Minnesota, 7:30 p.m. San Jose at Colorado, 8:30 p.m. Vancouver at Los Angeles FC, 9:30 p.m.

Tennis ATP World Tour Chengdu Open Results Tuesday At Chengdu Center, Chengdu, China Purse: $1,210,115 Surface: Hardcourt outdoor Men’s Singles Championship Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (2), Spain, def. Hubert Hurkacz (5), Poland, 6-4, 7-6 (7). Men’s Doubles Championship Luke Johnson, Britain, and Jan Zielinski, Poland, def. Andre Goransson, Sweden, and Robert Galloway (4), United States, 7-6 (7), 7-5.

Transactions Football National Football League

BALTIMORE RAVENS — Waived LB Carl Jones Jr. Released WR Shedrick Jackson from the practice squad. CAROLINA PANTHERS — Signed G Torricelli Simpkins III from the practice squad to the active roster. Waived LB Maema Njongmeta. CINCINNATI BENGALS — Signed TE Tanner Hudson from the practice squad and WR Mitchell Tinsley from Houston’s practice squad to the active roster. Placed CB Jalen Davis on injured reserve. Waived WR Ke’Shawn Williams. Signed S Isaiah Nwokobia and S Beau Brade to the practice squad. GREEN BAY PACKERS — Released RB Damon Bankston and G Cordell Volson from the practice squad. LAS VEGAS RAIDERS — Placed WR Jack Bech on injured reserve. Signed WR Cody White. Waived WR Justin Shorter. Signed WR Phillip Dorsett to the practice squad. LOS ANGELES RAMS — Waived S Tanner Ingle. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS — Placed OL Greg Van Roten on injured reserve. Released LB Riley Wilson from the practice squad. NEW YORK JETS — Signed K Jason Sanders from the practice squad to the active roster. Waived K Blake Grupe and CB Jordan Clark. Signed OL Nick Dawkins and OL Jimmy Morrissey to the practice squad. WASHINGTON COMMANDERS — Signed RB Austin Ekeler to the active roster. Placed LB Leo Chenal on injured reserve and LB Marvin Jones on the practice squad/injured list.

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W e d n e s d ay, s e p t e m b e r 30, 2026

1dn

THE BEST THINGS WE ATE THIS WEEK STAFF REPORT

Give your taste buds something new to savor

Combination plate

n Mezcal Mexican

Restaurant, 3546 Ambassador Caffery Parkway, Lafayette

When someone says, “Hey, let’s go out for Mexican,” STAFF PHOTO By Mezcal Mexican JOANNA BROWN Restaurant is one of my favorite places to stop. They always have great flavors, one of the best 2-for1 margarita deals, and it’s hard to resist ordering all of my favorites on one plate — taco, enchilada and chile relleno. Many Mexican restaurants in the area offer a version of a combo deal that lets you mix and match according to what you’re in the mood for, and an enchilada is always at the top of my list. The enchilada at Mezcal is perfect, with tender meat, a great texture that holds together really well and a smoky, richly flavored sauce blanketing the whole thing. I also thought that the chile relleno was a standout at this place, with the fresh, spicy flavor of the pepper standing out against the sauce and cheese. Next time you’re looking for a place to bring the family for Mexican, Mezcal would be a great choice. — Joanna Brown, staff writer

ä See BEST, page 3D

STAFF PHOTOS By PEARL SPURLOCK

Chef Emeril Lagasse leads the Southern University Human Jukebox marching band into L’Auberge Casino & Hotel Baton Rouge on Thursday, in celebration of the grand opening of his new restaurant, Emeril’s Chop House.

HERE WE ARE

Emeril’s Chop House wasn’t in Lagasse’s plans. Here’s why he changed his mind in Baton Rouge. BY MADDIE SCOTT Staff writer

Lauren Cheramie BON VIVANT

Morgan Winery offers class, guided tasting Bon vi·vant /noun/ a sociable person who has cultivated and reﬁned tastes, especially with respect to food and drink.

New food, drinks on the block Try the fall specials at Sonny’s BBQ, 12475 Florida Blvd., Baton Rouge, including cheese curds, maple barbecue pork burnt ends, pulled pork grilled cheese, pecan pie egg rolls and more. The Gregory, inside the Watermark Hotel at 150 Third St., Baton Rouge, introduced its $16 fall cocktails. Try the

ä See BON VIVANT, page 2D

When Emeril Lagasse was thinking about how to bring his signature style to Baton Rouge, a market previously untouched by the chef, he originally wanted to open a burger concept. But then a new idea took EMERIL’S shape inside the room at CHOP HOUSE dining L’Auberge Ca777 L’Auberge Ave., sino & Hotel. “All of a sudden, Baton Rouge l we were sitting at Open daily 5 p.m. to one of the tables,” 10 p.m. for dining Lagasse said on Sept. 22. “And I said, ‘This would make a great chop house.’ So here we are.” Over a year later, Emeril’s Chop House held a grand opening on Thursday, debuting a robust menu and dining space with help from Mike the Tiger and Southern University’s Human Jukebox. The renowned chef’s entrance to his ribbon cutting was first heard before it was seen. Drums

An assortment of dishes on the menu at Emeril’s Chop House sounded across the room, and there was Lagasse walking redcarpet-bound with the Southern University drum line and LSU’s Mike the Tiger. The rest of the marching band emerged from another entrance and broke into song. “Do Whatcha Wanna”

echoed throughout the hall, and the room cheered. Afterward, a few ﬁgures spoke to the crowd, including East Baton Rouge Parish Mayor-President Sid Edwards, who said this

ä See CHOP HOUSE, page 2D

I love taking care of guests. I love serving great food. I love putting a smile on people’s faces.” BRENDAN RUFTy, L’Auberge chef de cuisine

2D ■ Wednesday, September 30, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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CHOP HOUSE Continued from page 1D

is proof that “Baton Rouge is open for business.” Champagne glasses filled hands throughout the room. “Here’s a toast to all of you,” Lagasse said, raising his glass. “Emeril’s Chop House, Baton Rouge. Here we are.”

STAFF PHOTO By JAVIER GALLEGOS

A platter of Emeril’s barbecue shrimp

Some borrowed, some new The menu at Emeril’s Chop House embraces a mix of the chef’s classic dishes, like his iconic barbecue shrimp, offered as an appetizer. The dish is served at Lagasse’s two-Michelin-star flagship restaurant, Emeril’s, which opened in New Orleans in 1990. Served with a rosemary biscuit, the shrimp is made with a rich, buttery barbecue base. “Barbecue shrimp,” Lagasse said. “That’s one of the ﬁrst dishes I created when I opened Emeril’s 36 years ago.” Some inspiration was pulled from his Las Vegas restaurant Delmonico Steakhouse, such as the truffle and Parmesan potato chips, a starter Lagasse described as delicate and crispy. Other dishes are collaborations between him and the culinary team at L’Auberge, which includes Brendan Rufty, the casino’s chef de cuisine. “We’re just trying to serve the best local ingredients, source the best beef, source the best seafood we can get,” Rufty said. “Just really showcase those things in the

STAFF PHOTO By PEARL SPURLOCK

Banana cream pie

see everything they do.” In the past, Rufty has worked as a sous chef in a four-star kitchen, but this experience with Emeril’s Chop House is on “another level” for him and his team. STAFF PHOTO By JAVIER GALLEGOS Working with Lagasse has been an honor, he said. To create the best kitchen atmosphere, Rufty said he was taught to show up for his team as a leader. “I’m able to push the team as well, and that’s what it’s all about for me,” Rufty said. “I love taking care of guests. I love serving great food. I love putting a smile on people’s faces.”

Emeril’s Chop House is located inside L’Auberge Casino & Hotel. best possible way we can, and let the chips fall where they may.” To start, other appetizers on the chop house menu include Alaskan king crab legs with drawn butter and gin cocktail sauce; pan-fried crab cakes with asparagus, cucumber, baby heirloom tomato, radish and quail egg; and roasted bone marrow with parsley salad and toasted brioche. Customers can look forward to entrees like the ﬁlet mignon, smoked Kurobuta

pork chop, ribeye or Australian black opal Wagyu strip. For a seafood ﬁx, try the Gulf ﬁsh amandine with Frenchstyle green beans and Creole meunière, the Maine lobster tail with New Orleans bordelaise butter or the Faroe Islands salmon with beluga lentils, garlic spinach and Creole mustard vinaigrette. Get another bite of a classic rendition with the chicken and andouille gumbo made with Louisiana Jazzman rice. Other soups include the lobster bisque or the French onion soup. For something sweet, order the banana cream pie, another longtime Lagasse staple. “One of the things that I’ve been educated to in the 40-something years I’ve been in New Orleans is that people in Louisiana eat a lot of soup,” Lagasse said. “They just love soup. It doesn’t matter if it’s 100 degrees outside.”

Prime location

STAFF PHOTO By PEARL SPURLOCK

Lobster mac and cheese is on the restaurant’s menu.

dish that’s been brought from 18 Steak to the chop house is the Wagyu burger that features white cheddar, smoked bacon, grilled onions and an egg, served on a toasted brioche bun with a side of fries. Personally, he’s a big fan of the apple cured bacon, an appetizer. “It’s applewood smoked bacon, thick-cut,” Rufty ‘Honor’ to work with Emeril said. “Cut it down in the slicRufty, a 26-year-old from er, nice and thick. Basically STAFF PHOTO By PEARL SPURLOCK Toledo, Ohio, will lead the caramelize it hard on both Chef Emeril Lagasse shakes Mike the Tiger’s paw on culinary team at Emeril’s sides, and then it’s ﬁnished Thursday at L’Auberge Casino & Hotel in Baton Rouge during Chop House. He said a crowd-favorite the grand opening of Lagasse’s latest restaurant.

BON VIVANT

offering soft serve in two ﬂavors: cinatoast swirl and espresso martini swirl.

Continued from page 1D

In the know praline old fashioned, made with Knob Creek, praline liqueur, candied pecan and orange and aromatic bitters, or the St. Pear Affair, made with Western Son prickly pear vodka, St. Germain, fresh lemon and simple syrup. JINYA Ramen Bar, 10000 Perkins Rowe, Baton Rouge, has two chef’s specials on the menu, available through Nov. 30: aka oni spicy garlic ramen and crispy tonkatsu with steamed rice. Try the fall drink menu at Brew Ha-Ha, 711 Jefferson Highway, Baton Rouge, which features a salted maple almond shaken espresso, almond joy latte, caramel apple matcha, blackberry vanilla black tea and more. Luna Cocina, 3109 Perkins Road, Baton Rouge, is now

Every Wednesday at Carrabba’s Italian Grill, 7275 Corporate Blvd., Baton Rouge, enjoy a $15 special. Choose a pizza — cheese, pepperoni, margherita or chicken caprese — and a glass of wine — Mark West Pinot Noir, Chloe Pinot Grigio, Peroni or Peroni 0.0. Paul and Lindsay Dupre of Elsie’s Plate & Pie will travel to Chicago in November alongside other Louisiana chefs and restaurateurs for the Taste Louisiana event, a one-night-only celebration of Southern ﬂavors on Nov. 4 at City Hall by Recess in Chicago’s West Loop. DIG Baton Rouge is hosting Burger Week Oct 19-31, which will feature specialty burgers from Modesto, Overpass Merchant, Court to Table, Curbside Burgers and

more. Stay tuned for more.

Wine and spirits Morgan Wines class: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday at The Tipsy Librarian, 7450 Jefferson Highway, Baton Rouge Morgan Winery is coming to Baton Rouge to share their story and processes with participants at The Tipsy Librarian. Representatives from the winery will lead the class through a guided tasting experience of seven organically farmed wines — three white wines and four reds. Customers will enjoy cheese and charcuterie as well. Tickets are $85 per person, available for purchase at www.thetipsylibrarian.com. If you have an upcoming food event or a kitchen question, email lauren. cheramie@theadvocate. com. Cheers!

with root beer syrup glaze.” In preparation for the chop house, Rufty hopped on a ﬂight to Las Vegas and trained for a week at Delmonico Steakhouse, Lagasse’s restaurant that’s been open for 27 years. “I went out there and worked with every single facet and aspect of the kitchen, so I worked with their sauciers, their butchers and sous chefs — and a little bit with the front-of-house staff,” Rufty said. “I got to

A red ribbon and several pairs of scissors later, Emeril’s Chop House is open for business. The restaurant is located on the third ﬂoor of L’Auberge Hotel & Casino (777 L’Auberge Ave.), formerly where 18 Steak was. The remodeled dining space spans 175 seats. Lagasse collaborated with the team at L’Auberge to bring the restaurant to fruition. Rufty will lead the culinary team at Emeril’s Chop House under the direction of L’Auberge Executive Chef Jared Tees. Erika Mizell will hold day-to-day operations as general manager of the restaurant. Reservations can be made online at L’Auberge’s website.

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The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Wednesday, September 30, 2026 ■ 3D

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Speak clearly to older folks Dear Heloise: As people age, in! More and more people their speech starts to slur. need assistance with hearConsonants soften; voices ing problems as our populabecome monotone. tion ages. You never The guttural parts of know when you sound lessen. Speakmight need to help or speak to someone ing clearly to comwho’s hard of hearpensate for the loss of these vocal charing or completely deaf. In fact, about acteristics is very helpful to older folks Hints from 15% of the AmeriHeloise can population has a with tinnitus and orhearing problem of dinary hearing loss. some kind. — Heloise (This was explained to me by an acoustical engineer.) — Andy G., in Youngstown, New York Downsizing with ease Dear Heloise: Andrea, in Being hard of hearing Tucson, Arizona, asked about downsizing. As a Dear Heloise: I very much widow who was in the same related to the reader who predicament, I recommend wrote about enunciation. I giving family and friends often get people who know an opportunity to choose that I’m partially deaf and items with a deadline. feel like they have to talk Knowing the size of my really loud, and I often tell next residence gave me inthem it’s not necessary. Although I can’t read lips, they sight into how much I could don’t have to talk so loud. keep. Also, you should There’s somebody I’d make a list of donations for like to make this request to tax purposes. currently, but I think this Because I had some particular person just has antiques and vintage cola loud voice. I think I’ll tell lectibles, I hired someone them that I appreciate them who deals with estate sales talking loudly because to conduct a sale of what I they know that I’m hearing hadn’t already donated and impaired, but it’s not neces- to oversee day-after picksary. Will they get offendups. It entitled them to a percentage of the proceeds. ed? Who knows! — M.R.E., in I moved prior to the sale, Omaha, Nebraska M.R.E., thanks for writing and whatever wasn’t sold at

the sale was donated. They also cleaned up afterward, so the house was practically ready to put on the market. I just wish that it hadn’t taken me 10 years to get a good plan together! — Becky B., in Oregon

Shopping sound-off Dear Heloise: Recently, I decided to go shopping at a large store. It was on a rainy day, and I had gone through my sock drawer and thrown away some threadbare socks. So, off I went! But I noticed that these days, there are less helpers in stores to ask questions like, “Where are the womens’ socks?” — Faith G., via email Faith, this a problem everywhere due to places being understaffed. People get angry when they ﬁnd something they want to purchase, and no one’s there to ring up the sale. Or they have questions, but no one can answer them. I suggest asking to see a store manager and letting them know what’s bothering you. You’re a paying customer, and someone should take the time to wait on you. — Heloise Send a hint to heloise@ heloise.com.

TODAY IN HISTORY By The Associated Press Today is Wednesday, Sept. 30, the 273rd day of 2026. There are 92 days left in the year. Today in history: On Sept. 30, 1949, the Berlin Airlift came to an end after delivering more than 2.3 million tons of cargo to blockaded residents of West Berlin over 15 months. Also on this date: In 1777, the Continental Congress — forced to ﬂee by advancing British forces — moved to York, Pennsylvania, after brieﬂy meeting in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. In 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt dedicated the Boulder Dam (now the Hoover Dam) on the Colorado River at the ArizonaNevada border. In 1938, addressing the public after co-signing the Munich Agreement, which

allowed Nazi annexation of Czechoslovakia’s Sudetenland, British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain proclaimed, “I believe it is peace for our time.” In 1947, the World Series was broadcast on television for the ﬁrst time, as the New York Yankees defeated the Brooklyn Dodgers 5-3 in Game 1; the Yankees would go on to win the Series four games to three. In 1955, actor James Dean was killed at age 24 in a two-car collision near Cholame, California. In 1972, Pittsburgh Pirates star Roberto Clemente connected for his 3,000th and ﬁnal hit, a double against Jon Matlack of the New York Mets at Three Rivers Stadium. In 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed treaties to illegally annex more occupied Ukrainian territory in a sharp escala-

tion of his seven-month invasion. Today’s birthdays: Actor Angie Dickinson is 95. Singer Johnny Mathis is 91. Actor Len Cariou is 87. Singer Marilyn McCoo is 83. Actor Barry Williams is 72. Singer Patrice Rushen is 72. Actor Fran Drescher is 69. Country musician Marty Stuart is 68. Actor Crystal Bernard is 65. Actor Eric Stoltz is 65. Rapper-producer Marley Marl is 64. Country musician Eddie Montgomery (Montgomery Gentry) is 63. Rock singer Trey Anastasio (Phish) is 62. Actor Monica Bellucci is 62. Actor Tony Hale is 56. Actor Jenna Elfman is 55. Actor Marion Cotillard is 51. Tennis Hall of Famer Martina Hingis is 46. Olympic gold medal gymnast Dominique Moceanu is 45. Actor Lacey Chabert is 44. Actor Kieran Culkin is 44. Singerrapper T-Pain is 42.

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Bowl from Okki Tokki

BEST

Continued from page 1D

Custom bowl

n Okki Tokki, 549 Main St.,

Baton Rouge

After wanting to try Okki Tokki for the past year, I ﬁnally visited the Koreaninspired spot during a stroll downtown during lunchtime. The local business has two locations in Baton Rouge where customers customize their own bowl, choosing a base, protein, toppings and sauce. I chose garlic fried rice, Korean fried chicken bites, cucumbers, cabbage, roasted corn, pickled daikon, scallions, cilantro, sesame seeds and OT sauce. It took one bite for me to think, “I can’t believe I waited a year to try this.” The Korean fried chicken

was delicious and crispy, and the OT sauce was creamy with a little spice. The veggies were fresh with a nice crunch. It’s a great spot for a ﬁlling, refreshing meal. — Maddie Scott, features reporter

Short ribs

n Cecelia Creole Bistro, 421 N.

3rd St., Baton Rouge

If there’s a short ribs dish on the menu at a restaurant, you can bet your money that I’m ordering it. At Cecelia, the short ribs are served over Boursinwhipped potatoes and sauteed broccolini. The dish is topped with a Cabernet demi glace that gives the short ribs a rich, savory ﬁnish that balances the smoky, greasy ﬂavors of the meat. It’s a meal that, theoretically, could leave for left-

STAFF PHOTO By LAUREN CHERAMIE

Short ribs from Cecelia Creole Bistro in Baton Rouge

overs. That is, unless you’re hungry enough to savor every last bite at the restaurant. Don’t forget to save room for Cecelia’s incredible cornbread — either for an appetizer or dessert. Your choice. — Lauren Cheramie, deputy features editor

A sweet celebration of the sugarcane harvest!

October 4, 2026 11AM-4PM

Live Music • Tractor Display • Folk Life Demonstrations • Sweet Treats

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4D ■ Wednesday, September 30, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

FrAnK And erneSt

roSebUdS

zItS

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zodIAC LIBRA (sept. 23-oct. 23) Don't let anger take over when your energy will bring higher returns if you focus on professional and domestic adjustments that ease stress through additional security and stability. scoRPIo (oct. 24-nov. 22) The less you share, the easier it will be to get things done. Put your energy into physical achievements that set you apart from anyone who wants to compete with you. sAGIttARIus (nov. 23-Dec. 21) Having an open mind and plenty of energy will drive you forward. A passionate attitude as well as support from friends, family and associates will give you the courage to let your actions carry your plans through to completion. cAPRIcoRn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Precision is necessary in every aspect of your life. Offer only what's possible. Choose to use both intellect and physical skills to ensure you give your very best to whatever you pursue. AQuARIus (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Spending an emotional moment with someone special will help you recognize how you can cut your overhead and bring in more cash. Let go of the past and embrace new beginnings. PIscEs (Feb. 20-March 20) Rethink your strategy before you make a move. Make sure you have your paperwork up to date and your finances in order before dealing with institutions or agencies. ARIEs (March 21-April 19) Trust your instincts, and put your ego and temper

aside. You'll gain the most if you channel your energy into self-improvement, fitness and helping others. Focus on meaningful relationships. tAuRus (April 20-May 20) Align yourself with positive people and situations. Staying on top of what's happening and what's possible will help ward off any negativity that tries to trickle into your orbit. GEMInI (May 21-June 20) You'll shine as you outmaneuver whoever wants to engage in a battle of wits. When someone lets anger take over, you know you've won and can move on to more challenging encounters. cAncER (June 21-July 22) Focus inward. Structure your day around selfimprovement, activities that push you to look and feel your best, and spending time with someone who likes you the way you are. LEo (July 23-Aug. 22) Put a lid on your emotions until you have the facts. An overactive imagination needs creative direction to benefit you. Keep your thoughts to yourself. Bide your time. VIRGo (Aug. 23-sept. 22) Express your thoughts carefully, with detail, and be willing to consider what others want and need to meet you in the middle. Getting along is the path to better days ahead. 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: R EQuALs L

Mother GooSe And GrIMM

SherMAn’S LAGoon FAMILY CIrCUS

dooneSbUrY

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Wednesday, September 30, 2026 ■ 5D

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CurTiS

Hi and LoiS

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

BaBY BLueS

BLondie

THe wiZard oF id

nea CroSSwordS

La TimeS CroSSword

6D ■ Wednesday, September 30, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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B.C.

Bridge By PHILLIP ALDER Shoshana Zuboff, who recently retired from her post as the Charles Edward Wilson Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School, said, “Activities that seem to represent choices are often inert reproductions of accepted practice.” There are bridge deals that appear to fit a mold, but with careful analysis, one can see that they are not an inert reproduction of accepted practice. In today’s deal, South is in two notrump. How should he plan the play after West leads the heart queen and East signals with his nine? South starts with six top tricks: two spades, one heart and three diamonds. There are two routes to eight tricks: four spades, one heart and three diamonds; or two spades, one heart and five diamonds. Getting four spade tricks seems to require the finesse to work — a 50 percent chance; while collecting five diamond winners is a 54 percent shot. So it seems right to play on diamonds. Here, though, when the diamonds break badly, South does not have a hand entry to take the spade finesse. He will cash the spade ace and king to drop the queen, but that only provides three tricks in the suit, not four. The right line, after winning with the heart ace, is to lead the spade jack to encourage West to cover if he has the

garfield

Pearls Before swiNe

hagar the horriBle

queen. But after he plays low, declarer wins with dummy’s king and cashes the spade ace. When the queen drops, South leads a spade to his nine, then takes dummy’s three top diamonds and spade 10 for his contract. If the spade queen does not appear, declarer needs diamonds to run. © 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 — REJoIcED: rih-JOYST: Felt great delight.

Bizarro

marmaduKe

Average mark 28 words Time limit 35 minutes Can you find 30 or more words in REJOICED? yEstERDAy’s WoRD — AFIELD aide ailed fade fail felid field file flea fled

idea ideal idle lade laid lead leaf life dale

deaf deal dial diel

loCKhorNs hidato Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer

today’s thought “He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.” Psalms 107:20

Amen! God is faithful. Stand on God’s Word. G.E. Dean

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Wednesday, September 30, 2026 ■ 7D

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Announcements Anyone knowing of the whereabouts of MARY PENELL BRUMFIELD AKА MARY PENELL BUTLER BRUMFIELD and her heirs, assigns or legatees, please contact Barrington R. Neil, Attorney at Law, 328 Government St., Baton Rouge, LA, 70802, Ph: (225) 344-1704. 202524-Sept 30-Oct 2, 3t $115.30

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Please be advised that Deon Sumer Guidry, Esq. has been appointed to represent Marcus Simmons in the matter of Shekinah Potts vs. Marcus Simmons in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

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Public Notices

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

PUBLIC NOTICE --ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS BID EVENT NO. #184 Sealed Bids will be re‐ ceived electronically through our E-Procure‐ www. ment site at jeffparish.gov/supplier until 2:00 p.m., October 27, 2026 and shall, at the below listed time and place, be publicly opened and read aloud. At no charge, bidders may sub‐ mit via Jefferson Parish’s electronic procurement page by visiting www. jeffparish.gov/supplier to register for this free site. Bids will be accepted and received through Bridge until 2 p.m. The public bid opening will be held at the West Bank Pur‐ chasing Department at 200 Derbigny Street, Suite 4400, Gretna, LA 70053 beginning at 2:30 p.m. on each bid opening date for the following project: Two (2) Year Pre-Placed Emergency Contract for Roof Repairs and Replacements Parish Wide for the Department of General Services Jefferson Parish strongly encourages the involve‐ ment of small busi‐ nesses, minority busi‐ nesses, women's busi‐ ness enterprises, and veteran-owned busi‐ nesses to stimulate par‐ ticipation in procurement and assistance pro‐ grams. work in accor‐ dance with the speciﬁca‐ tion with no additional cost to the owner. Late bids will not be accepted The Jefferson Parish Council reserves the right to reject all bids and to reject bids for just cause, pursuant to the law. Jefferson Parish and its partners as the recipi‐ ents of federal funds are fully committed to awarding a contract(s) to ﬁrm(s) that will provide high-quality services and that are dedicated to di‐ versity and to containing costs. Thus, Jefferson Parish strongly encour‐ ages the involvement of small businesses, minor‐ ity businesses, women's business enterprises, and veteran-owned busi‐ nesses to stimulate par‐ ticipation in procurement and assistance pro‐ grams. Megan Grantham Director Purchasing Department Misty A. Camardelle Assistant Director Purchasing Department ADV: The Baton Rouge Advocate: September 30, October 7, and 14, 2026 For additional informa‐ tion, please visit the Pur‐ chasing Webpage at https://www.jeffparish. gov/464/Purchasing or you may call 504-3642678. 202392-sept 30-oct 7-143t $134.32

PUBLIC NOTICE --ADVERTISEMENT FOR BID Sealed Bids will be re‐ ceived by the Purchasing Office, University of New Orleans, Admin. Annex, Room 1004F, 2000 Lakeshore Dr., New Or‐ leans, LA 70148 for: BOILER AND CHILLER REPLACEMENT FOR NET CHARTER SCHOOL EAST CAMPUS Sealed Bid No. BTB2933 until: October 22, 2026 @ 2:00 PM at which time and place the Bids will be opened and read. There will be a NONMandatory Pre-Bid Con‐ ference held on October 14, 2026 at LSU New Or‐ leans, Administration Bldg, Room 112 at 10:00AM CONTRACTORS MUST BE LICENSED BY THE LOUISIANA STATE LI‐ CENSING BOARD FOR CONTRACTORS UNDER CATEGORY MECHANICAL WORK. Evidence of authority to submit the bid shall be required in accordance with R.S. 38:2212a(1)(c) (i). The right is reserved to reject any or all bids and to waive informali‐ ties. UNO is an equal op‐ portunity/affirmative ac‐ tion employer. Specifications may be obtained from the Pur‐ chasing Office by calling ( ) il

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Public Notices Bids/Proposals g y g (504) 280-6172 or email at tabacino@uno.edu. By: Troy A. Bacino, Asst. Director Procurement, LSU New Orleans 201161-sept 23-30-oct 73t $81.73 PUBLIC NOTICE --ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS The Recreation and Park Commission for the Parish of East Baton Rouge (BREC) will receive electronic or paper bids for the construction of the following project: SB 1878 MELVIN KIP HOLDEN PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE IMPROVEMENTS AT HARDING BLVD 2750 HARDING BLVD BATON ROUGE, LA 70807 Project Description: Fur‐ nish and install a prefab‐ ricated pedestrian bridge, approximately 8’ x 110’ which crosses Monte Sano Bayou and will also include demoli‐ tion of previously exiting bridge structures, rip rap installation in the chan‐ nel, concrete paving to tie-in to existing path‐ ways on either side of the bridge, and other misc. work associated with the new bridge in‐ stallation. Electronic OR Paper bids will be received until 2:00 PM CT, October 27, 2026, by the BREC Finance De‐ partment, BREC Adminis‐ tration Building, 6201 Florida Boulevard, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. All electronic bids will be downloaded and publicly read aloud, along with all paper bids received, im‐ mediately after the 2:00 PM bid closing in Room 1501 of the BREC Admin‐ istration Building. Bid‐ ders or their authorized representatives are in‐ vited to be present. No bids will be received after 2:00 PM on the same day and date. Bids, amendments to bids, or requests for withdrawal of bids, re‐ ceived after the time specified for bid opening shall not be considered for any cause whatso‐ ever, except as required by law. Bids shall be firm for a period of forty-five (45) days from the date of the opening of bids and no bid shall be with‐ drawn for any reason during this period of time except as allowed per LSA-R.S.38:2214.C. Bid‐ ders shall obtain an orig‐ inal set of bidding docu‐ ments from BREC as fol‐ lows. Complete bid documents are available on disk for purchase for Ten Dollars ($10.00) at the BREC Pur‐ chasing Department, 6201 Florida Blvd., Baton Rouge, LA, 70806. Any Ad‐ denda, if issued, will be e-mailed to prospective bidders who have pur‐ chased plans and regis‐ tered with the BREC Pur‐ chasing Department. Plans may be picked up or BREC will overnight / mail plans at bidder’s ex‐ pense. Contact the BREC Purchasing Department at (225)273-6421. Complete bid documents are available in elec‐ tronic format at www. bidexpress.com. Ques‐ tions about this proce‐ dure shall be directed to Bid Express Customer support@ Service at bidexpress.com. Toll Free: (888) 352-BIDX (2439), Phone: (352) 3814888, Fax: (888) 971-4191, Monday through Friday, 6am - 7pm CT. Bidders are responsible for their own reproduc‐ tion costs. A set of docu‐ ments can be printed by most reprographers. Electronic bids and elec‐ tronic bid bonds must be submitted through www. bidexpress.com prior to the bidding deadline. Electronic bid bonds will be downloaded by the BREC Finance Depart‐ ment immediately after the 2:00 PM bid closing. Bidders utilizing the elec‐ tronic bid process are re‐ sponsible for confirming that all documents are properly submitted and received by Bid Express. Questions about this pro‐ cedure shall be directed to Bid Express Customer support@ Service at bidexpress.com. Toll Free: (888) 352-BIDX (2439), Phone: (352) 3814888, Fax: (888) 971-4191, Monday through Friday, 6am - 7pm CT. Paper bid forms must be submitted in a sealed, opaque envelope and en‐ dorsed SB 1878 MELVIN KIP HOLDEN PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE IMPROVEMENTS AT HARDING BLVD for the Recreation and Park Commission for the

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

Parish of East Baton Rouge along with Con‐ tractor’s license number as required by LSA-R.S. 37:2151-2165. Bids with no license number will be rejected. One (1) copy of the bid form shall be submitted. Bid form blanks must be duly filled in by the Bidder. Bidders are cautioned not to attach any condi‐ tions or provisions to their proposals. Any for‐ eign conditions will ren‐ der the proposal invalid and may cause its rejec‐ tion. A Certified Check or Cashier’s Check, payable to the Recreation and Park Commission for the Parish of East Baton Rouge or a satisfactory Bid Bond, in compliance with LSA-R.S. 38:2218.A&C, executed by the Bidder and an ac‐ ceptable surety, in an amount equal to five per‐ cent (5%) of the total bid, shall be submitted with each paper bid. BREC is an Equal Oppor‐ tunity Employer. The Bid‐ der is encouraged to uti‐ lize minority participa‐ tion in this contract to the extent possible through the use of small, disadvantaged and women-owned busi‐ nesses as suppliers or subcontractors. All Contractors bidding on this work shall com‐ ply with all provisions of the State Licensing Law for Contractors, LSA-R.S. 37:2150-2163, as amended, for all public contracts. It shall also be the responsibility of the General Contractor to as‐ sure that all subcontrac‐ tors comply with this law. Contractors must be licensed in the proper category of work. If re‐ quired for bidding, Con‐ tractors must hold an ac‐ tive license issued by the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors in the classification of "HIGHWAY, STREET, AND BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION” and must show their li‐ cense number on the face of the bid envelope and the Uniform Public Works Bid Form. BREC reserves the right to reject any or all bids for just cause as allowed by LSA-R.S. 38:2214. Bids shall only be ac‐ cepted by Contractors who have formally ob‐ tained a complete set of the contract documents and in whose name the proposal forms and/or specifications were is‐ sued. The construction esti‐ mate will be read aloud at the bid opening. A pre-bid conference will be held at 9:00 AM CT, October 14 at 3280 Hard‐ ing Blvd, Baton Rouge, LA 70807. The pre-bid con‐ ference is non-manda‐ tory. Bidders should re‐ view the bid documents and drawings prior to this meeting. RECREATION AND PARK COMMISSION FOR THE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE ____________________ /s/ Dr. Brooks Williams, Superintendent THE ADVOCATE BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA To be Published Three Times: 9/30/26, 10/6/26, 10/12/26 END OF SECTION 202309 Sept. 30, Oct. 6, 12, 2026 3t $290.22

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PUBLIC NOTICE --ADVERTISEMENT SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY AND A&M COLLEGE DEPARTMENT OF COMPUTER SCIENCE REQUEST FOR BID BID #50016-10365 OPTICOOL SYSTEM BID OPENING DATE AND TIME: OCTOBER 9, 2026 @ 2:00 PM Sealed bids will be re‐ ceived by Southern Uni‐ versity, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in the Pur‐ chasing Department, 8100 James L. Prestage Drive, PO Box 9543, J. S. Clark Administration Building Annex, South Entrance, First Floor East, Baton Rouge, LA 70813. Bids will be opened and read aloud in a public meeting in the Southern University Purchasing Department. MAIL, HAND-DELIVER OR ELECTRONIC SUBMITTAL TO PURCHASING DEPARTMENT NO LATER THAN 2:00 PM-ON OCTOBER 9, 2026

Alternative submittal: Electronic submittal: Use link to submit bid online: http://www.sus.edu/bid certification Bidders are solely re‐ sponsible for ensuring timely delivery of their bids. The Southern Uni‐ versity Purchasing De‐ partment is not responsi‐ ble for any delays caused by bidders’ chosen means of delivery. Failure to meet the bid deadline submittal date and time shall result in rejection of bid. ALL BID SPECIFICATIONS AND ADDENDA CAN BE OBTAINED BY ACCESSING THE LA STATE PROCURE‐ MENT WEBSITE https://wwwcfprd.doa. louisiana.gov/osp/lapac/ pubMain.cfm. (Search by bid # 5001610365) We highly recommend registering your com‐ pany with Louisiana State Procure‐ ment/LAPAC Inquiries will be ac‐ cepted until October 5, 2026 by 5:00 PM. Inquiries shall be submitted to Linda Antoine at lin‐ da_antoine@subr.edu Responses to inquiries will be posted on LAPACLA State Procurement website on October 7, 2026 by 5:00 PM Vendors are responsible for checking addenda posted on LAPAC Any person requiring special accommodation should notify the Pur‐ chasing Office of the type(s) of accommoda‐ tion required not less than seven (7) days be‐ fore the bid opening date. Additional contact is Henry Thurman, South‐ ern University Safety De‐ partment at henry_thur‐ man@subr.edu or 225771-4741 Bidders shall include the following envelopes of choice: company’s name, address, Louisiana con‐ tractor’s license number, if applicable, bid number, bid opening date and time. Bids may be withdrawn by written, telegraphic fax notice or email and received at the address or email address desig‐ nated in the Invitation to Bid prior to the time set for bid opening, as recorded by date stamp at the Purchasing Office. Bids received after clos‐ ing time will be returned unopened. Evidence of authority to submit the bid shall be required in accordance with R.S. 38:2212(a)(1)(c) and/or R.S. 39:1594(c)(2)(d). The Southern University System is a participant in the Louisiana for the Small Entrepreneurships Program (the Hudson Ini‐ tiative) and the Louisiana Initiative for Veterans and Service-Connected Disabled VeteransOwned Business Small Entrepreneurships. Bid‐ ders are encouraged to consider participation. A list of certified vendors and additional informa‐ tion can be obtained http:// from website www.ledsmallbiz.com. Potential participants may also register at this website. Any questions concern‐ ing bid documents, please contact Mary Jane Spruel, Assistant Di‐ rector of Purchasing at (225) 771-2800 or email to maryjane_spruel@subr. edu and the Architect Firm.

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No bid may be with‐ drawn for a period of forty-ﬁve (45) days after receipt of bids, except under the provisions of idd i

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Public Notices Bids/Proposals

p LA. R.S. 38:2214. Bidder is required to comply with provisions and require‐ ments of LA R.S. 38:2212(B)(5).

y Louisiana Residents and is licensed to write surety bonds. Sureties used for obtaining bonds for this project must ap‐ pear as acceptable on the U.S. Department of the Treasury Circular 570. The construction period begins when a notice to proceed is issued after the contract is

The University reserves the right to reject all bids and to waive any infor‐ malities incidental thereto. Bids shall be accepted from Contractors regis‐ tered for 32000000-Elec‐ tronic Components, 32131000 Electronic Com‐ ponents, 39120000 Elec‐ trical Equipment, 40101700 Cooling Sys‐ tems, Opti cool System. SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY & A&M COLLEGE AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER Linda A. Antoine, Director of Purchasing DATES ADVERTISED SEPTEMBER 30, 2026 202176 Sept. 30, 1t $58.64 PUBLIC NOTICE --Audubon Commission in‐ vites bids from qualified licensed general contrac‐ tors to renovate and alter portions of Wolden‐ berg Park which will in‐ clude renovations and repairs to hardscapes, landscape, site furnish‐ ings, and some terraced earthwork specified in the Eskew+Dumez+Rip‐ ple, APC. Drawings titled Goldring Woldenberg Park Phase III – Above Deck dated May 1, 2026, located at Audubon Aquarium, 1 Canal Street, New Orleans, LA 70130. Bids are due on or before October 15, 2026, at 10 am. Bids shall be submit‐ ted in a sealed envelope marked “Woldenberg Park Phase III- Above Deck” Contractors should supply one (1) original by hand delivery, mail, private courier or submit electronically through Bidnet www.bid netdirect.com//audubon natureinstitute Bids will be publicly opened and read aloud at the place and time that the bids are to be received. In ac‐ cordance with LA RS 38: 2212.E(6), bids for this project may be submit‐ ted electronically via up‐ load to BidNet www.bid netdirect.com//audubon natureinstitute. All bid documents shall be up‐ loaded by October 15, 2026, at 10 am. Questions about this procedure should be di‐ rected to Bidnet Direct Vendor Support Team at 800-835-4603 Option 2 or email at support@bidnet. com. A bid bond will be required, according to the contract documents, and should be uploaded with the rest of the re‐ quired Bid Documents. If a scanned copy of the Bid Bond is uploaded, the original notarized bid bond must be produced “on-demand” per the Owner’s request. There will be a non-mandatory pre-bid site visit meeting at Audubon Aquarium, 1 Canal Street, New Or‐ leans, LA 70130 on Octo‐ ber 1, 2026, at 1 pm in the Gulf Conference Room. Submit to the following: Audubon Commission c/o Audubon Nature In‐ stitute - Administrative Building at Audubon Zoo Attn: Cecilie H. Primeaux 6500 Magazine Street New Orleans, LA 70118. Bids received after the day, and time specified above will be rejected by the Audubon Commis‐ sion as non-responsive and returned to the bid‐ der unopened. All ques‐ tions regarding this invi‐ tation shall be addressed in writing, (7) seven cal‐ endar days prior to bid opening excluding Satur‐ days, Sundays and holi‐ days and shall be sub‐ mitted to Cecilie H. Primeaux at ch‐ primeaux@auduboninst itute.org. Bid packages shall be available on the first date of advertise‐ ment. Complete Bidding Documents for this pro‐ ject are being distributed in electronic form on be‐ half of the Owner by Bidnet Direct. They may be obtained without charge and without de‐ posit. Printed copies are not available from the Owner or Designer. Bonds shall be written by a surety or insurance company currently on the U.S. Department of the Treasury Financial Management Service list of approved bonding companies, or by a Louisiana domiciled in‐ surance company with at least an A- rating in the latest printing of the A.M. Best’s Key Rating Guide to write individual bonds up to ten percent of poli‐ cyholders’ surplus as shown in the A.M. Best’s Key Rating Guide, or by an insurance company that is either domiciled in Louisiana or owned by i i id d

signed; the Liquidated Damages are one thou‐ sand ($1000.00) dollars per day. The construction period is 215 calendar days. Contractor Licens‐ ing, the State of Louisiana public bid laws, LA Revised Statutes Sections 37 and 38, apply to the award of this Contract. Bids shall be accepted from Contractors who are licensed, under the laws of the State of Louisiana, for the classi‐ fication of “Building Con‐ struction”. This procurement is un‐ dertaken pursuant to LRS 38:2212 et seq. and CFR 2 Part 200 Federal Contract Provisions. This project is funded by the U.S. De‐ partment of Housing and Urban Development FY 2022 Community Project Funding Program and is subject to that program’s requirements. The atten‐ tion of bidders is called particularly to the re‐ quirements of Section 3 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968, Section 109 (Non-Dis‐ crimination) of the Hous‐ ing and Community De‐ velopment Act of 1974, Section 503 (Non-Dis‐ crimination Against Em‐ ployees with Disabilities) and Section 504 (NonDiscrimination Against Individuals with Disabili‐ ties) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Segregated Facilities, Executive Order 11246, equal op‐ portunity requirements, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and all re‐ quirements of the HUD CPF Construction Con‐ tract Compliance Provi‐ sions included in the Pro‐ ject Manual. Audubon Nature Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The provisions of these statues shall govern and control all procurement hereunder notwithstanding any pro‐ visions herein to the con‐ trary. The Contractor shall begin procurement of materials within ten (10) working days of the receipt of the Notice to Proceed. Audubon Na‐ ture Institute strongly encourages small busi‐ nesses, minority busi‐ nesses, women's busi‐ ness enterprises, vet‐ eran-owned businesses, and labor surplus area firms ’s, and Section 3 Business Concerns to participate in this pro‐ curement process. Any person with disabilities requiring special accom‐ modations must contact Audubon Nature Institute no later than seven (7) days prior to bid opening: ADA Coordi‐ nator, 6500 Magazine Street, New Orleans, LA 70118, (504) 861-2537. 200866-SEP 17-24-30-3T $278.83 PUBLIC NOTICE --NOTICE TO BIDDERS SP# 174 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‐ ing: RFx No. 3000026701, Christmas Canteen - DOC - PE, 10/13/26 RFx No. 3000026725, Gro‐ cery Items (Canteen Re‐ sale) – DOC – PE, 10/15/26 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 202375 Sept. 30, 2026 1t $12.62 PUBLIC NOTICE --NOTICE TO BIDDERS The East Feliciana Parish School Board is accept‐ ing sealed bids until 2:00 pm, Tuesday, October 27, 2026 in connection with E-rate and related items utilized in East Feliciana Parish School Board

SPORTS 24/7 ON

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

owned schools/facilities.

Full information and bid specs may be obtained upon request from Chuck Hurst, Louisiana Sheriffs' Task Force, 1175 Nichol‐ son Drive, Baton Rouge, LA 70802, by phone at 225-343-8402, or by email at Chuck@lsa.org. The right to reject any and all bids and waive informali‐ ties is reserved.

Specifications may be obtained at the office of: Jonathan Loveall, Supervisor (225) 683-8277 East Feliciana Parish School Board 12732 Silliman Street Post Office Box 397 Clinton, LA 70722, during regular office hours of 7:00 am until 4:15 pm, Tuesday through Friday. The Board re‐ serves the right to reject any and/or all bids. Sealed bids should indi‐ cate whether any and/or all items bid are on State Contract Pricing (by indi‐ cation of State Contract Number on each item), be delivered to the above address and identified by marking on the envelope "E-Rate Sealed Bid," due 2:00 pm, Tuesday, Octo‐ ber 27, 2026. Bids may also be accepted online at http://centralauctionh ouse.com. The East Feli‐ ciana Parish School Board has the right to re‐ ject any and/or all nonresponsive bids/quotes. Keisha L. Netterville, Superintendent of Schools 200393-sep 16-23-30-3t $58.77

PUBLIC NOTICE --Sealed bids will be re‐ ceived by the Louisiana Sheriffs' Task Force at it's ofﬁce located at 1175 Nicholson Drive, Baton Rouge, LA 70802 until 10am/Tuesday, October 13, 2026 for the follow‐ ing: 100KW MOBILE GENERA‐ TOR Full information and bid specs may be obtained upon request from Chuck Hurst, Louisiana Sheriffs' Task Force, 1175 Nichol‐ son Drive, Baton Rouge, LA 70802, by phone at 225-343-8402, or by email at Chuck@lsa.org. The right to reject any and all bids and waive informali‐ ties is reserved. 201274-sep 23-30-2t $148.86 PUBLIC NOTICE --Sealed bids will be re‐ ceived by the Louisiana Sheriffs' Task Force at it's ofﬁce located at 1175 Nicholson Drive, Baton Rouge, LA 70802 until 10am/Tuesday, October 13, 2026 for the follow‐ ing: 100KW MOBILE GENERATOR

Public Notices DEQ Permits g 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. 201955-SEP 30-1T $262.23

201274-sep 23-30-2t $178.98

Legal Notices

Public Notices DEQ Permits PUBLIC NOTICE --BAILEY AND ASSOCIATES CONSULTING

PUBLIC NOTICE --Notice is hereby given that Teche-Vermilion Freshwater District has applied for a 401 Water Quality Certification to clear, grade, excavate, and place fill to install a permanent reinforced concrete bypass struc‐ ture comprised of two 8foot by 8-foot box cul‐ verts, demolish and re‐ place an existing water control structure with a new reinforced concrete structure comprised of three 8-foot by 8-foot box culverts, rehabilitate an existing access road and boat launch, and con‐ struct associated infra‐ structure like an access road in and near Ruth Canal off LA-31 near Ruth and Breaux Bridge in St. Martin Parish. The TecheVermilion Fresh Water District is applying to the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, 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 (10) days of this notice by referencing WQC 260727-01, AI 252177 to the following address: Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality Water Permits Division P.O. Box 4313 Baton Rouge, LA 708214313 Attn: Water Quality Certi‐ fications Comments may be sub‐ mitted by email to DEQWaterQualityCertifica‐ tions@la.gov. A copy of the application is available for inspec‐ tion and review at the LDEQ Public Records Center at 602 North Fifth Street, Baton Rouge, LA f

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the dissolution of Bailey and Associates Consulting (charter #42603449K), a Louisiana limited liability company, has been authorized by its Sole Member/Man‐ ager. The Company is to be liq‐ uidated out of court. James Bailey has been appointed Liquidator to conduct the winding up and liquidation of the af‐ fairs of Bailey and Asso‐ ciates Consulting. The name and address of the Liquidator are: James Bailey 5945 Forsythia Ave Baton Rouge, LA 70808 202489 Sept. 30, 2026 1t $114.73 PUBLIC NOTICE --Burns & McDonnell on behalf of Cloud Connec‐ tor, LLC is requesting au‐ thorization to construct a natural gas pipeline be‐ tween an interconnect station near Melville, Louisiana in St. Landry Parish, and Venture Global Plaquemines LNG, LLC and Plaquemines Ex‐ pansion, LLC Terminals in Plaquemines Parish. The U.S. Army Corps of Engi‐ neers (CEMVN) will be accepting public com‐ ments on the project until October 8, 2026. To further review and/or provide comments, addi‐ tional information and plans related to the pro‐ posal may be obtained at the following website: www.mvn.usace.army. mil/missions/regulatory/ public-notices (see Ref#: MVN-2026-00308-BV). If you have any questions or would like additional information, please con‐ tact Courtland Vice with CEMVN, Regulatory Divi‐ sion at (504) 862-1349 or at courtland.l.vice@

NOTICE OF SPECIAL ELECTION NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that an election will be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, within Cross Gates Subdivision Crime Prevention and Neighborhood Improvement District (“District”) and that at said election all registered voters in the district shall be entitled to vote on the following: CROSS GATES SUBDIVISION CRIME PREVENTION AND NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT Shall the Cross Gates Subdivision Crime Prevention and Neighborhood Improvement District (“District”) be authorized to levy and collect an annual parcel fee of $150 on each improved and unimproved parcel within the District for a period of 10 years, beginning in 2027 and ending in 2036, as provided in La. R.S. 33:9097.42 with the proceeds of the parcel fee to be used to aid in crime prevention and to add to the security of the District residents by providing for an increase in the presence of law enforcement personnel and to add to the betterment of the District by providing for beautification and other improvements (an estimated $11,700.00 is reasonably expected to be collected from the initial collection)? The estimated cost of said election, as determined by the Louisiana Secretary of State, is $600.00 based on the actual cost of similar elections. The election will be held in accordance with the Louisiana Election Code at the following polling places in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana from 6:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m: Precinct

Polling

Place Location

03/015A&B (P)

Shenandoah Elementary School

16555 Appomattox Ave. Baton Rouge, LA 70817

NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN that the district will meet on November 5, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. at 16445 N. Antioch Crossing, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70817, and shall then and there in open and public session proceed to examine and canvass the returns and declare the result of the special election.

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ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES WANTED Applications for ARCHITECTURAL Services for the following projects will be accepted until 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, October 14, 2026. (Your attention is called to the 2:00 p.m. deadline -- exceptions WILL NOT be made). Applications shall be submitted on the standard LSB - 1 (September 2019 edition) only, with no additional pages attached. Please be sure to use an up-to-date copy of the form. These forms are available at the Office of Facility Planning and Control and on the Selection Board page of the Facility Planning & Control website at https://www.doa.la.gov/doa/fpc/selection-boards/. Do not attach any additional pages to this application. Applications with attachments in addition to the pre-numbered sheets or otherwise not following this format will be discarded. One fully completed signed copy of each application shall be submitted. The copy may be printed and mailed or printed and delivered or scanned in PDF format and e-mailed. Printed submittals shall not be bound or stapled. E-mailed PDF copies, as well as printed copies, shall be received by Facility Planning & Control within the deadline stated above. The date and time the e-mail is received in the Microsoft Outlook Inbox at Facility Planning & Control shall govern compliance with the deadline for e-mailed applications. Timely delivery by whatever means is strictly the responsibility of the applicant. By e-mailing an application the applicant assumes full responsibility for timely electronic delivery. DO NOT submit both printed and e-mail copies. Any application submitted by both means will be discarded. 1. Louisiana State University System IDIQ Professional Design Services, Architectural Services, Region A (North) Program 3 - IDIQ Contract 1, TBD, Louisiana, Project No. TBD, TBD. This project consists of one Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) master contract for the purpose of addressing deferred maintenance needs in the North area, otherwise known as “Region A” of the Louisiana State University System. Region A is comprised of the following Louisiana State University System campuses and facilities: Louisiana State University Shreveport, Louisiana State University Shreveport Health Shreveport, and five (5) Louisiana State University Shreveport AgCenter Research Stations. The work includes project needs as determined by the agency, up to, and including the complete renovation of buildings, including associated utility infrastructure, drainage, street, sidewalk, and site infrastructure, and the demolition of public facilities. This IDIQ professional design contract shall not include design services for new buildings. It is considered beneficial for the selected Designer to be familiar with Louisiana State University campus standards, active campus operations, and applicable code, accessibility, historic preservation, hazardous materials, and sustainability requirements. Contracts issued under this selection will consist of a master contract for professional design services where an agency can issue multiple, separate task orders to the Designer for different design efforts. Fees for individual task orders issued under the master contract will utilize the state fee curve. The master contracts issued under this selection shall have a term not to exceed two years and shall have a maximum total fee of one million dollars, not inclusive of amendments that shall be related to services necessary for the completion of ongoing projects. The owner is not obligated to issue task orders in any quantity that equals the maximum total fee by the end of the term of the agreement and may cease the issuance of task orders prior to the end of the term of the agreement. The Designer shall retain an accredited LDEQ Asbestos Inspector to complete an inspection of all suspect building materials that will be removed/impacted by task orders associated with this project as a reimbursable expense. If any materials are found to contain asbestos, the Designer shall provide, as part of their basic services, an accredited LDEQ Asbestos Designer to design the asbestos abatement specifications. If asbestos air monitoring is required during abatement activities, the Designer shall obtain an airmonitoring firm as a reimbursable expense. The Designer will survey the site for other hazardous materials and include in the specifications. If lead-based paint or mold inspections are required, these will be provided as a reimbursable expense. If any materials are found to contain leadbased paint or mold, the Designer shall provide, as part of their basic services, an industrial hygienist to design the abatement specifications. The Designer is responsible for identifying and specifying any contractor provided and owner provided testing required for the project. If any owner provided testing laboratory services are required for the construction of the project, the Designer will obtain a minimum of three quotes for the engagement of a testing laboratory, with which the Designer will contract as a reimbursable expense. All design associated with issued task orders issued for the project are to include, as necessary, building structure, envelope, roof, all associated exterior and interior finishes, interior and exterior signage, mechanical, electrical power and lighting, plumbing, with sprinkler, fire alarm, building controls management, security cameras, access control, and the infrastructure necessary for the installation and construction of these elements. Depending on the scale and scope of the task order issued, the following may be required to be implemented on the part of the selected Designer. The Percent for Universal Design program: the Designer will identify and develop features that utilize universal design principles and incorporate them into the project. The cost of these features will be at least 2% of the estimated construction cost. The Percent for Art program: the Designer will cooperate with the selected artist to incorporate the artwork into the design of the building. Refer to La R.S. 25:900.1 for requirements. Task orders associated with this project may require the services of an owner contracted third-party Commissioning Agent. The Designer will be required to coordinate with this separately contracted party, and the participation and oversight of the third-party Commissioning Agent is to be expected in all phases of the project. Task orders associated with this project may require that the Designer utilize total performance methodology to confirm compliance with the provisions of the Louisiana State Energy Conservation Code. The Designer will be required to provide the analysis as an additional service, through selfperformance if qualified, or via consultant as a reimbursable expense. One (1) design professional firm will be selected for this advertisement. The Designer shall prepare and submit all required drawings to Facility Planning & Control in AutoCAD and hard copy. Drawings shall follow the format specified in the “Instructions to Designers for AutoCAD Drawings Submittal”. The available funds for construction (AFC) are approximately $10,000,000.00 with a fee of approximately $1,000,000.00. Contract design time is 730 consecutive calendar days; including TBD days review time. Thereafter, liquidated damages in the amount of TBD per day will be assessed. For questions related to the project please contact Patrick Fulkerson, Facility Planning & Control, patrick.fulkerson@la.gov, (225) 219-4270. 2. Louisiana State University System IDIQ Professional Design Services, Architectural Services, Region B (Southwest) Program 3 IDIQ Contract 1, TBD, Louisiana, Project No. TBD, TBD. This project consists of one Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) master contract for the purpose of addressing deferred maintenance needs in the Southwest area, otherwise known as “Region B” of the Louisiana State University System. Region B is comprised of the following Louisiana State University System campuses: Louisiana State University Alexandria, Louisiana State University Eunice, and four (4) Louisiana State University AgCenter Research Stations. The work includes project needs as determined by the agency, up to, and including the complete renovation of buildings, including associated utility infrastructure, drainage, street, sidewalk, and site infrastructure, and the demolition of public facilities. This IDIQ professional design contract shall not include design services for new buildings. It is considered beneficial for the selected Designer to be familiar with Louisiana State University campus standards, active campus operations, and applicable code, accessibility, historic preservation, hazardous materials, and sustainability requirements. Contracts issued under this selection will consist of a master contract for professional design services where an agency can issue multiple, separate task orders to the Designer for different design efforts. Fees for individual task orders issued under the master contract will utilize the state fee curve. The master contracts issued under this selection shall have a term not to exceed two years and shall have a maximum total fee of one million dollars, not inclusive of amendments that shall be related to services necessary for the completion of ongoing projects. The owner is not obligated to issue task orders in any quantity that equals the maximum total fee by the end of the term of the agreement and may cease the issuance of task orders prior to the end of the term of the agreement. The Designer shall retain an accredited LDEQ Asbestos Inspector to complete an inspection of all suspect building materials that will be removed/impacted by task orders associated with this project as a reimbursable expense. If any materials are found to contain asbestos, the Designer shall provide, as part of their basic services, an accredited LDEQ Asbestos Designer to design the asbestos abatement specifications. If asbestos air monitoring is required during abatement activities, the Designer shall obtain an airmonitoring firm as a reimbursable expense. The Designer will survey the site for other hazardous materials and include in the specifications. If lead-based paint or mold inspections are required, these will be provided as a reimbursable expense. If any materials are found to contain leadbased paint or mold, the Designer shall provide, as part of their basic services, an industrial hygienist to design the abatement specifications. The Designer is responsible for identifying and specifying any contractor provided and owner provided testing required for the project. If any owner provided testing laboratory services are required for the construction of the project, the Designer will obtain a minimum of three quotes for the engagement of a testing laboratory, with which the Designer will contract as a reimbursable expense. All design associated with issued task orders issued for the project are to include, as necessary, building structure, envelope, roof, all associated exterior and interior finishes, interior and exterior signage, mechanical, electrical power and lighting, plumbing, with sprinkler, fire alarm, building controls management, security cameras, access control, and the infrastructure necessary for the installation and construction of these elements. Depending on the scale and scope of the

Legal Notices

task order issued, the following may be required to be implemented on the part of the selected Designer. The Percent for Universal Design program: the Designer will identify and develop features that utilize universal design principles and incorporate them into the project. The cost of these features will be at least 2% of the estimated construction cost. The Percent for Art program: the Designer will cooperate with the selected artist to incorporate the artwork into the design of the building. Refer to La R.S. 25:900.1 for requirements. Task orders associated with this project may require the services of an owner contracted third-party Commissioning Agent. The Designer will be required to coordinate with this separately contracted party, and the participation and oversight of the third-party Commissioning Agent is to be expected in all phases of the project. Task orders associated with this project may require that the Designer utilize total performance methodology to confirm compliance with the provisions of the Louisiana State Energy Conservation Code. The Designer will be required to provide the analysis as an additional service, through selfperformance if qualified, or via consultant as a reimbursable expense. One (1) design professional firm will be selected for this advertisement. The Designer shall prepare and submit all required drawings to Facility Planning & Control in AutoCAD and hard copy. Drawings shall follow the format specified in the “Instructions to Designers for AutoCAD Drawings Submittal”. The available funds for construction (AFC) are approximately $10,000,000.00 with a fee of approximately $1,000,000.00. Contract design time is 730 consecutive calendar days; including TBD days review time. Thereafter, liquidated damages in the amount of TBD per day will be assessed. For questions related to the project please contact Patrick Fulkerson, Facility Planning & Control, patrick.fulkerson@la.gov, (225) 219-4270.

3. Louisiana State University System IDIQ Professional Design Services, Architectural Services, Region C (Baton Rouge) Program 3 - IDIQ Contract 1, TBD, Louisiana, Project No. TBD, TBD. This project consists of one Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) master contract for the purpose of addressing deferred maintenance needs in the Baton Rouge area, otherwise known as “Region C” of the Louisiana State University System. Region C is comprised of the following Louisiana State University System campuses: Louisiana State University A&M (Baton Rouge), Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Lallie Kemp Medical Center, and nine (9) LSU AgCenter Research Stations. The work includes project needs as determined by the agency, up to, and including the complete renovation of buildings, including associated utility infrastructure, drainage, street, sidewalk, and site infrastructure, and the demolition of public facilities. This IDIQ professional design contract shall not include design services for new buildings. It is considered beneficial for the selected Designer to be familiar with Louisiana State University campus standards, active campus operations, and applicable code, accessibility, historic preservation, hazardous materials, and sustainability requirements. Contracts issued under this selection will consist of a master contract for professional design services where an agency can issue multiple, separate task orders to the Designer for different design efforts. Fees for individual task orders issued under the master contract will utilize the state fee curve. The master contracts issued under this selection shall have a term not to exceed two years and shall have a maximum total fee of one million dollars, not inclusive of amendments that shall be related to services necessary for the completion of ongoing projects. The owner is not obligated to issue task orders in any quantity that equals the maximum total fee by the end of the term of the agreement and may cease the issuance of task orders prior to the end of the term of the agreement. The Designer shall retain an accredited LDEQ Asbestos Inspector to complete an inspection of all suspect building materials that will be removed/impacted by task orders associated with this project as a reimbursable expense. If any materials are found to contain asbestos, the Designer shall provide, as part of their basic services, an accredited LDEQ Asbestos Designer to design the asbestos abatement specifications. If asbestos air monitoring is required during abatement activities, the Designer shall obtain an air-monitoring firm as a reimbursable expense. The Designer will survey the site for other hazardous materials and include in the specifications. If lead-based paint or mold inspections are required, these will be provided as a reimbursable expense. If any materials are found to contain lead-based paint or mold, the Designer shall provide, as part of their basic services, an industrial hygienist to design the abatement specifications. The Designer is responsible for identifying and specifying any contractor provided and owner provided testing required for the project. If any owner provided testing laboratory services are required for the construction of the project, the Designer will obtain a minimum of three quotes for the engagement of a testing laboratory, with which the Designer will contract as a reimbursable expense. All design associated with issued task orders issued for the project are to include, as necessary, building structure, envelope, roof, all associated exterior and interior finishes, interior and exterior signage, mechanical, electrical power and lighting, plumbing, with sprinkler, fire alarm, building controls management, security cameras, access control, and the infrastructure necessary for the installation and construction of these elements. Depending on the scale and scope of the task order issued, the following may be required to be implemented on the part of the selected Designer. The Percent for Universal Design program: the Designer will identify and develop features that utilize universal design principles and incorporate them into the project. The cost of these features will be at least 2% of the estimated construction cost. The Percent for Art program: the Designer will cooperate with the selected artist to incorporate the artwork into the design of the building. Refer to La R.S. 25:900.1 for requirements. Task orders associated with this project may require the services of an owner contracted third-party Commissioning Agent. The Designer will be required to coordinate with this separately contracted party, and the participation and oversight of the third-party Commissioning Agent is to be expected in all phases of the project. Task orders associated with this project may require that the Designer utilize total performance methodology to confirm compliance with the provisions of the Louisiana State Energy Conservation Code. The Designer will be required to provide the analysis as an additional service, through self-performance if qualified, or via consultant as a reimbursable expense. One (1) design professional firm will be selected for this advertisement. The Designer shall prepare and submit all required drawings to Facility Planning & Control in AutoCAD and hard copy. Drawings shall follow the format specified in the “Instructions to Designers for AutoCAD Drawings Submittal”. The available funds for construction (AFC) are approximately $10,000,000.00 with a fee of approximately $1,000,000.00. Contract design time is 730 consecutive calendar days; including TBD days review time. Thereafter, liquidated damages in the amount of TBD per day will be assessed. For questions related to the project please contact Patrick Fulkerson, Facility Planning & Control, patrick.fulkerson@la.gov, (225) 219-4270.

5. Louisiana State University System IDIQ Professional Design Services, Architectural Services, Region C (Baton Rouge) Program 5 - IDIQ Contract 1, TBD, Louisiana, Project No. TBD, TBD. This project consists of one Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) master contract for the purpose of addressing deferred maintenance needs in the Baton Rouge area, otherwise known as “Region C” of the Louisiana State University System. Region C is comprised of the following Louisiana State University System campuses: Louisiana State University A&M (Baton Rouge), Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Lallie Kemp Medical Center, and nine (9) Louisiana State University AgCenter Research Stations. The work includes project needs as determined by the agency, up to, and including the complete renovation of buildings, including associated utility infrastructure, drainage, street, sidewalk, and site infrastructure, and the demolition of public facilities. This IDIQ professional design contract shall not include design services for new buildings. It is considered beneficial for the selected Designer to be familiar with Louisiana State University campus standards, active campus operations, and applicable code, accessibility, historic preservation, hazardous materials, and sustainability requirements. Contracts issued under this selection will consist of a master contract for professional design services where an agency can issue multiple, separate task orders to the Designer for different design efforts. Fees for individual task orders issued under the master contract will utilize the state fee curve. The master contracts issued under this selection shall have a term not to exceed two years and shall have a maximum total fee of one million dollars, not inclusive of amendments that shall be related to services necessary for the completion of ongoing projects. The owner is not obligated to issue task orders in any quantity that equals the maximum total fee by the end of the term of the agreement and may cease the issuance of task orders prior to the end of the term of the agreement. The Designer shall retain an accredited LDEQ Asbestos Inspector to complete an inspection of all suspect building materials that will be removed/impacted by task orders associated with this project as a reimbursable expense. If any materials are found to contain asbestos, the Designer shall provide, as part of their basic services, an accredited LDEQ Asbestos Designer to design the asbestos abatement specifications. If asbestos air monitoring is required during abatement activities, the Designer shall obtain an airmonitoring firm as a reimbursable expense. The Designer will survey the site for other hazardous materials and include in the specifications. If lead-based paint or mold inspections are required, these will be provided as a reimbursable expense. If any materials are found to contain leadbased paint or mold, the Designer shall provide, as part of their basic services, an industrial hygienist to design the abatement specifications. The Designer is responsible for identifying and specifying any contractor provided and owner provided testing required for the project. If any owner provided testing laboratory services are required for the construction of the project, the Designer will obtain a minimum of three quotes for the engagement of a testing laboratory, with which the Designer will contract as a reimbursable expense. All design associated with issued task orders issued for the project are to include, as necessary, building structure, envelope, roof, all associated exterior and interior finishes, interior and exterior signage, mechanical, electrical power and lighting, plumbing, with sprinkler, fire alarm, building controls management, security cameras, access control, and the infrastructure necessary for the installation and construction of these elements. Depending on the scale and scope of the task order issued, the following may be required to be implemented on the part of the selected Designer. The Percent for Universal Design program: the Designer will identify and develop features that utilize universal design principles and incorporate them into the project. The cost of these features will be at least 2% of the estimated construction cost. The Percent for Art program: the Designer will cooperate with the selected artist to incorporate the artwork into the design of the building. Refer to La R.S. 25:900.1 for requirements. Task orders associated with this project may require the services of an owner contracted third-party Commissioning Agent. The Designer will be required to coordinate with this separately contracted party, and the participation and oversight of the third-party Commissioning Agent is to be expected in all phases of the project. Task orders associated with this project may require that the Designer utilize total performance methodology to confirm compliance with the provisions of the Louisiana State Energy Conservation Code. The Designer will be required to provide the analysis as an additional service, through selfperformance if qualified, or via consultant as a reimbursable expense. One (1) design professional firm will be selected for this advertisement. The Designer shall prepare and submit all required drawings to Facility Planning & Control in AutoCAD and hard copy. Drawings shall follow the format specified in the “Instructions to Designers for AutoCAD Drawings Submittal”. The available funds for construction (AFC) are approximately $10,000,000.00 with a fee of approximately $1,000,000.00. Contract design time is 730 consecutive calendar days; including TBD days review time. Thereafter, liquidated damages in the amount of TBD per day will be assessed. For questions related to the project please contact Patrick Fulkerson, Facility Planning & Control, patrick.fulkerson@la.gov, (225) 219-4270.

4. Louisiana State University System IDIQ Professional Design Services, Architectural Services, Region C (Baton Rouge) Program 4 - IDIQ Contract 1, TBD, Louisiana, Project No. TBD, TBD. This project consists of one Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) master contract for the purpose of addressing deferred maintenance needs in the Baton Rouge area, otherwise known as “Region C” of the Louisiana State University System. Region C is comprised of the following Louisiana State University System campuses: Louisiana State University A&M (Baton Rouge), Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Lallie Kemp Medical Center, and nine (9) LSU AgCenter Research Stations. The work includes project needs as determined by the agency, up to, and including the complete renovation of buildings, including associated utility infrastructure, drainage, street, sidewalk, and site infrastructure, and the demolition of public facilities. This IDIQ professional design contract shall not include design services for new buildings. It is considered beneficial for the selected Designer to be familiar with Louisiana State University campus standards, active campus operations, and applicable code, accessibility, historic preservation, hazardous materials, and sustainability requirements. Contracts issued under this selection will consist of a master contract for professional design services where an agency can issue multiple, separate task orders to the Designer for different design efforts. Fees for individual task orders issued under the master contract will utilize the state fee curve. The master contracts issued under this selection shall have a term not to exceed two years and shall have a maximum total fee of one million dollars, not inclusive of amendments that shall be related to services necessary for the completion of ongoing projects. The owner is not obligated to issue task orders in any quantity that equals the maximum total fee by the end of the term of the agreement and may cease the issuance of task orders prior to the end of the term of the agreement. The Designer shall retain an accredited LDEQ Asbestos Inspector to complete an inspection of all suspect building materials that will be removed/impacted by task orders associated with this project as a reimbursable expense. If any materials are found to contain asbestos, the Designer shall provide, as part of their basic services, an accredited LDEQ Asbestos Designer to design the asbestos abatement specifications. If asbestos air monitoring is required during abatement activities, the Designer shall obtain an air-monitoring firm as a reimbursable expense. The Designer will survey the site for other hazardous materials and include in the specifications. If lead-based paint or mold inspections are required, these will be provided as a reimbursable expense. If any materials are found to contain lead-based paint or mold, the Designer shall provide, as part of their basic services, an industrial hygienist to design the abatement specifications. The Designer is responsible for identifying and specifying any contractor provided and owner provided testing required for the project. If any owner provided testing laboratory services are required for the construction of the project, the Designer will obtain a minimum of three quotes for the engagement of a testing laboratory, with which the Designer will contract as a reimbursable expense. All design associated with issued task orders issued for the project are to include, as necessary, building structure, envelope, roof, all associated exterior and interior finishes, interior and exterior signage, mechanical, electrical power and lighting, plumbing, with sprinkler, fire alarm, building controls management, security cameras, access control, and the infrastructure necessary for the installation and construction of these elements.

6. Louisiana State University System IDIQ Professional Design Services, Architectural Services, Region D (New Orleans) Program 3 - IDIQ Contract 1, TBD, Louisiana, Project No. TBD, TBD. The project consists of one Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) master contract for the purpose of addressing deferred maintenance needs in the New Orleans area, otherwise known as “Region D” of the Louisiana State University System. Region D is comprised of the following Louisiana State University System campuses: Louisiana State University Health New Orleans and Louisiana State University New Orleans. The work includes project needs as determined by the agency, up to, and including the complete renovation of buildings, including associated utility infrastructure, drainage, street, sidewalk, and site infrastructure, and the demolition of public facilities. This IDIQ professional design contract shall not include design services for new buildings. It is considered beneficial for the selected Designer to be familiar with Louisiana State University campus standards, active campus operations, and applicable code, accessibility, historic preservation, hazardous materials, and sustainability requirements. Contracts issued under this selection will consist of a master contract for professional design services where an agency can issue multiple, separate task orders to the Designer for different design efforts. Fees for individual task orders issued under the master contract will utilize the state fee curve. The master contracts issued under this selection shall have a term not to exceed two years and shall have a maximum total fee of one million dollars, not inclusive of amendments that shall be related to services necessary for the completion of ongoing projects. The owner is not obligated to issue task orders in any quantity that equals the maximum total fee by the end of the term of the agreement and may cease the issuance of task orders prior to the end of the term of the agreement. The Designer shall retain an accredited LDEQ Asbestos Inspector to complete an inspection of all suspect building materials that will be removed/impacted by task orders associated with this project as a reimbursable expense. If any materials are found to contain asbestos, the Designer shall provide, as part of their basic services, an accredited LDEQ Asbestos Designer to design the asbestos abatement specifications. If asbestos air monitoring is required during abatement activities, the Designer shall obtain an air-monitoring firm as a reimbursable expense. The Designer will survey the site for other hazardous materials and include in the specifications. If lead-based paint or mold inspections are required, these will be provided as a reimbursable expense. If any materials are found to contain lead-based paint or mold, the Designer shall provide, as part of their basic services, an industrial hygienist to design the abatement specifications. The Designer is responsible for identifying and specifying any contractor provided and owner provided testing required for the project. If any owner provided testing laboratory services are required for the construction of the project, the Designer will obtain a minimum of three quotes for the engagement of a testing laboratory, with which the Designer will contract as a reimbursable expense. All design associated with issued task orders issued for the project are to include, as necessary, building structure, envelope, roof, all associated exterior and interior finishes, interior and exterior signage, mechanical, electrical power and lighting, plumbing, with sprinkler, fire alarm, building controls management, security cameras, access control, and the infrastructure necessary for the installation and construction of these elements.

10D ■ Wednesday, September 30, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate Legal Notices

Legal Notices

Depending on the scale and scope of the task order issued, the following may be required to be implemented on the part of the selected Designer. The Percent for Universal Design program: the Designer will identify and develop features that utilize universal design principles and incorporate them into the project. The cost of these features will be at least 2% of the estimated construction cost. The Percent for Art program: the Designer will cooperate with the selected artist to incorporate the artwork into the design of the building. Refer to La R.S. 25:900.1 for requirements. Task orders associated with this project may require the services of an owner contracted third-party Commissioning Agent. The Designer will be required to coordinate with this separately contracted party, and the participation and oversight of the third-party Commissioning Agent is to be expected in all phases of the project. Task orders associated with this project may require that the Designer utilize total performance methodology to confirm compliance with the provisions of the Louisiana State Energy Conservation Code. The Designer will be required to provide the analysis as an additional service, through self-performance if qualified, or via consultant as a reimbursable expense. One (1) design professional firm will be selected for this advertisement. The Designer shall prepare and submit all required drawings to Facility Planning & Control in AutoCAD and hard copy. Drawings shall follow the format specified in the “Instructions to Designers for AutoCAD Drawings Submittal”. The available funds for construction (AFC) are approximately $10,000,000.00 with a fee of approximately $1,000,000.00. Contract design time is 730 consecutive calendar days; including TBD days review time. Thereafter, liquidated damages in the amount of TBD per day will be assessed. For questions related to the project please contact Patrick Fulkerson, Facility Planning & Control, patrick.fulkerson@la.gov, (225) 219-4270. 7. Louisiana State University System IDIQ Professional Design Services, Architectural Services, Region D (New Orleans) Program 4 - IDIQ Contract 1, TBD, Louisiana, Project No. TBD, TBD. This project consists of one Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) master contract for the purpose of addressing deferred maintenance needs in the New Orleans area, otherwise known as “Region D” of the Louisiana State University System. Region D is comprised of the following Louisiana State University System campuses: Louisiana State University Health New Orleans and Louisiana State University New Orleans. The work includes project needs as determined by the agency, up to, and including the complete renovation of buildings, including associated utility infrastructure, drainage, street, sidewalk, and site infrastructure, and the demolition of public facilities. This IDIQ professional design contract shall not include design services for new buildings. It is considered beneficial for the selected Designer to be familiar with Louisiana State University campus standards, active campus operations, and applicable code, accessibility, historic preservation, hazardous materials, and sustainability requirements. Contracts issued under this selection will consist of a master contract for professional design services where an agency can issue multiple, separate task orders to the Designer for different design efforts. Fees for individual task orders issued under the master contract will utilize the state fee curve. The master contracts issued under this selection shall have a term not to exceed two years and shall have a maximum total fee of one million dollars, not inclusive of amendments that shall be related to services necessary for the completion of ongoing projects. The owner is not obligated to issue task orders in any quantity that equals the maximum total fee by the end of the term of the agreement and may cease the issuance of task orders prior to the end of the term of the agreement. The Designer shall retain an accredited LDEQ Asbestos Inspector to complete an inspection of all suspect building materials that will be removed/impacted by task orders associated with this project as a reimbursable expense. If any materials are found to contain asbestos, the Designer shall provide, as part of their basic services, an accredited LDEQ Asbestos Designer to design the asbestos abatement specifications. If asbestos air monitoring is required during abatement activities, the Designer shall obtain an air-monitoring firm as a reimbursable expense. The Designer will survey the site for other hazardous materials and include in the specifications. If lead-based paint or mold inspections are required, these will be provided as a reimbursable expense. If any materials are found to contain lead-based paint or mold, the Designer shall provide, as part of their basic services, an industrial hygienist to design the abatement specifications. The Designer is responsible for identifying and specifying any contractor provided and owner provided testing required for the project. If any owner provided testing laboratory services are required for the construction of the project, the Designer will obtain a minimum of three quotes for the engagement of a testing laboratory, with which the Designer will contract as a reimbursable expense. All design associated with issued task orders issued for the project are to include, as necessary, building structure, envelope, roof, all associated exterior and interior finishes, interior and exterior signage, mechanical, electrical power and lighting, plumbing, with sprinkler, fire alarm, building controls management, security cameras, access control, and the infrastructure necessary for the installation and construction of these elements. Depending on the scale and scope of the task order issued, the following may be required to be implemented on the part of the selected Designer. The Percent for Universal Design program: the Designer will identify and develop features that utilize universal design principles and incorporate them into the project. The cost of these features will be at least 2% of the estimated construction cost. The Percent for Art program: the Designer will cooperate with the selected artist to incorporate the artwork into the design of the building. Refer to La R.S. 25:900.1 for requirements. Task orders associated with this project may require the services of an owner contracted third-party Commissioning Agent. The Designer will be required to coordinate with this separately contracted party, and the participation and oversight of the third-party Commissioning Agent is to be expected in all phases of the project. Task orders associated with this project may require that the Designer utilize total performance methodology to confirm compliance with the provisions of the Louisiana State Energy Conservation Code. The Designer will be required to provide the analysis as an additional service, through self-performance if qualified, or via consultant as a reimbursable expense. One (1) design professional firm will be selected for this advertisement. The Designer shall prepare and submit all required drawings to Facility Planning & Control in AutoCAD and hard copy. Drawings shall follow the format specified in the “Instructions to Designers for AutoCAD Drawings Submittal”. The available funds for construction (AFC) are approximately $10,000,000.00 with a fee of approximately $1,000,000.00. Contract design time is 730 consecutive calendar days; including TBD days review time. Thereafter, liquidated damages in the amount of TBD per day will be assessed. For questions related to the project please contact Patrick Fulkerson, Facility Planning & Control, patrick.fulkerson@la.gov, (225) 219-4270. 8. Louisiana State University System IDIQ Professional Design Services, Architectural Services, Region D (New Orleans) Program 5 - IDIQ Contract 1, TBD, Louisiana, Project No. TBD, TBD. The project consists of one Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) master contract for the purpose of addressing deferred maintenance needs in the New Orleans area, otherwise known as “Region D” of the Louisiana State University System. Region D is comprised of the following Louisiana State University System campuses: Louisiana State University Health New Orleans and Louisiana State University New Orleans. The work includes project needs as determined by the agency, up to, and including the complete renovation of buildings, including associated utility infrastructure, drainage, street, sidewalk, and site infrastructure, and the demolition of public facilities. This IDIQ professional design contract shall not include design services for new buildings. It is considered beneficial for the selected Designer to be familiar with Louisiana State University campus standards, active campus operations, and applicable code, accessibility, historic preservation, hazardous materials, and sustainability requirements. Contracts issued under this selection will consist of a master contract for professional design services where an agency can issue multiple, separate task orders to the Designer for different design efforts. Fees for individual task orders issued under the master contract will utilize the state fee curve. The master contracts issued under this selection shall have a term not to exceed two years and shall have a maximum total fee of one million dollars, not inclusive of amendments that shall be related to services necessary for the completion of ongoing projects. The owner is not obligated to issue task orders in any quantity that equals the maximum total fee by the end of the term of the agreement and may cease the issuance of task orders prior to the end of the term of the agreement. The Designer shall retain an accredited LDEQ Asbestos Inspector to complete an inspection of all suspect building materials that will be removed/impacted by task orders associated with this project as a reimbursable expense. If any materials are found to contain asbestos, the Designer shall provide, as part of their basic services, an accredited LDEQ Asbestos Designer to design the asbestos abatement specifications. If asbestos air monitoring is required during abatement activities, the Designer shall obtain an air-monitoring firm as a reimbursable expense. The Designer will survey the site for other hazardous materials and include in the specifications. If lead-based paint or mold inspections are required, these will be provided as a reimbursable expense. If any materials are found to contain lead-based paint or mold, the Designer shall provide, as part of their basic services, an industrial hygienist to design the abatement specifications. The Designer is responsible for identifying and specifying any contractor provided and owner provided testing required for the project. If any owner provided testing laboratory services are required for the construction of the project, the Designer will obtain a minimum of three quotes for the engagement of a testing laboratory, with which the Designer will contract as a reimbursable expense. All design associated with issued task orders issued for the project are to include, as necessary, building structure, envelope, roof, all associated exterior and interior finishes, interior and exterior signage, mechanical, electrical power and lighting, plumbing, with sprinkler, fire alarm, building controls management, security cameras, access control, and the infrastructure necessary for the installation and construction of these elements. Depending on the scale and scope of the task order issued, the following may be required to be implemented on the part of the selected Designer.

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The Percent for Universal Design program: the Designer will identify and develop features that utilize universal design principles and incorporate them into the project. The cost of these features will be at least 2% of the estimated construction cost. The Percent for Art program: the Designer will cooperate with the selected artist to incorporate the artwork into the design of the building. Refer to La R.S. 25:900.1 for requirements. Task orders associated with this project may require the services of an owner contracted third-party Commissioning Agent. The Designer will be required to coordinate with this separately contracted party, and the participation and oversight of the third-party Commissioning Agent is to be expected in all phases of the project. Task orders associated with this project may require that the Designer utilize total performance methodology to confirm compliance with the provisions of the Louisiana State Energy Conservation Code. The Designer will be required to provide the analysis as an additional service, through self-performance if qualified, or via consultant as a reimbursable expense. One (1) design professional firm will be selected for this advertisement. The Designer shall prepare and submit all required drawings to Facility Planning & Control in AutoCAD and hard copy. Drawings shall follow the format specified in the “Instructions to Designers for AutoCAD Drawings Submittal”. The available funds for construction (AFC) are approximately $10,000,000.00 with a fee of approximately $1,000,000.00. Contract design time is 730 consecutive calendar days; including TBD days review time. Thereafter, liquidated damages in the amount of TBD per day will be assessed. For questions related to the project please contact Patrick Fulkerson, Facility Planning & Control, patrick.fulkerson@la.gov, (225) 219-4270. 9. Facility Upgrade, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Project No. 19-601-26-04, F.19002697, F.19002698 (Supplement). This project consists of renovations and additions to Alex Box Stadium at the Louisiana State University campus. The scope of work includes, but is not limited to, the renovation of an existing approximately 8,000 s.f. indoor batting cage facility, addition of a new approximately 11,500 s.f. pitching lab facility, addition of a new approximately 30,000 s.f. infield practice facility and addition of a new viewing platform. The project is to be constructed in multiple phases. The scope of work includes assessment of the existing utilities to ensure adequate capacity for the new building requirements including, but not limited to, mechanical systems, electrical power and lighting, sprinkler modifications, fire alarm upgrades, building controls, and access control adjustments as required. All roofing systems are to be investigated to confirm their durability and warrantability to facilitate the renovation portion of the project. In a previous project, Programming through Design Development was completed and existing files will be made available to the selected Designer. Design services for this project will be limited to Program Completion, Design Development and Construction Document Submittal (up to 45%) according to the Louisiana Capital Improvement Projects Procedure Manual for Design and Construction, 2020 Edition. The fee has been adjusted to account for this. At the Owner’s option the contract may be amended to include additional phases with the corresponding fee adjustment. The Percent for Universal Design program will apply to this project. The Designer will identify and develop features that utilize universal design principles and incorporate them into the project. The cost of these features will be at least 2% of the estimated construction cost. The Percent for Art program will apply to this project and the Designer will cooperate with the selected artist to incorporate the artwork into the design of the building. Refer to La R.S. 25:900.1 for requirements. The Designer shall retain an accredited LDEQ Asbestos Inspector to complete an inspection of all suspect building materials that will be removed/impacted by this project as a reimbursable expense. If any materials are found to contain asbestos, the Designer shall provide, as part of their basic services, an accredited LDEQ Asbestos Designer to design the asbestos abatement specifications. If asbestos air monitoring will be required during abatement activities, the Designer will obtain an air-monitoring firm as a reimbursable expense. The Designer will survey the site for other hazardous materials and include in the specifications. If lead-based paint or mold inspections are required these will be provided as a reimbursable expense. If any materials are found to contain lead-based paint or mold, the Designer shall provide, as part of their basic services, an industrial hygienist to design the abatement specifications. The Designer is responsible for identifying and specifying any contractor provided and owner provided testing required for the project. If any owner provided testing laboratory services are required for the construction of the project, the Designer will obtain a minimum of three quotes for the engagement of a testing laboratory, with which the Designer will contract as a reimbursable expense. All design including building structure, envelope, roof, all associated exterior and interior finishes, utility and site improvements, interior and exterior signage, mechanical, electrical power and lighting, plumbing, with sprinkler, fire alarm, building controls management, security cameras, access control, and the infrastructure necessary for the installation and construction of these elements are to be included in the project. Furniture, fixtures, equipment and data/telephone will be provided under separate contracts, although coordination of these items and systems with the work will be necessary on the part of the Designer. This project will require the services of an owner contracted third-party Commissioning Agent. The Designer will be required to coordinate with this separately contracted party, and the participation and oversight of the third-party Commissioning Agent is to be expected in all phases of the project. The project will require that the Designer utilize total performance methodology to confirm compliance with the provisions of the Louisiana State Energy Conservation Code. The Designer will be required to provide the analysis as an additional service, through self-performance if qualified, or via consultant as a reimbursable expense. The Designer shall prepare and submit all required drawings to Facility Planning & Control in AutoCAD and hard copy. Drawings shall follow the format specified in the “Instructions to Designers for AutoCAD Drawings Submittal”. The available funds for construction (AFC) are approximately $15,000,000.00 with a fee of approximately $490,855.00. Contract design time is 170 consecutive calendar days; including 57 days review time. Thereafter, liquidated damages in the amount of $300.00 per day will be assessed. For questions related to the project please contact James Pugh, Facility Planning & Control, james.pugh@la.gov, (225) 219-1129. 10. Repairs and Renovations, Aerospace Engineering Building, Nunez Community College, Chalmette, Louisiana, Project No. 01-107-06-17, F.01004850. This project consists of the renovation of the Aerospace, Manufacturing, and Welding Program building at Nunez Community College Campus in Chalmette, Louisiana. The building is a two-story joisted masonry structure completed in 2019 with an area of approximately 19,304 s.f. The scope of work consists of, but is not limited to, the complete reconfiguration of the existing classrooms, laboratory spaces, workshops, offices, conference areas and support spaces. The project also includes the addition of a passenger elevator, replacement of the existing HVAC system, electrical system and fire alarm panel upgrades, installation of a fire sprinkler system and reroofing of the building. Site improvements include landscaping and site lighting. It is anticipated that the construction will be performed with the interior work in a first phase and the exterior work in a second phase. All design including building structure, envelope, roof, all associated exterior and interior finishes, interior and exterior signage, mechanical, electrical power and lighting, plumbing, with sprinkler, fire alarm, building controls management, security cameras, access control, and the infrastructure necessary for the installation and construction of these elements are to be included in the project. The Designer shall retain an accredited LDEQ Asbestos Inspector to complete an inspection of all suspect building materials that will be removed/impacted by this project as a reimbursable expense. If any materials are found to contain asbestos, the Designer shall provide, as part of their basic services, an accredited LDEQ Asbestos Designer to design the asbestos abatement specifications. If asbestos air monitoring will be required during abatement activities, the Designer will obtain an air monitoring firm as a reimbursable expense. The Designer will survey the site for other hazardous materials and include in the specifications. If lead-based paint or mold inspections are required these will be provided as a reimbursable expense. If any materials are found to contain leadbased paint or mold, the Designer shall provide, as part of their basic services, an industrial hygienist to design the abatement specifications. The Designer is responsible for identifying and specifying any contractor provided and owner provided testing required for the project. If any owner provided testing laboratory services are required for the construction of the project, the Designer will obtain a minimum of three quotes for the engagement of a testing laboratory, with which the Designer will contract as a reimbursable expense. The Percent for Universal Design program will apply to this project. The Designer will identify and develop features that utilize universal design principles and incorporate them into the project. The cost of these features will be at least 2% of the estimated construction cost. The Percent for Art program will apply to this project, and the Designer will cooperate with the selected artist to incorporate the artwork into the design of the building. Refer to La R.S. 25:900.1 for requirements. Furniture, fixtures, equipment and data/telephone will be provided under separate contracts, although coordination of these items and systems with the work will be necessary on the part of the Designer. This project will require the services of an owner contracted third-party Commissioning Agent. The Designer will be required to coordinate with this separately contracted party, and the participation and oversight of the third-party Commissioning Agent is to be expected in all phases of the project. The project will require that the Designer utilize total performance methodology to confirm compliance with the provisions of the Louisiana State Energy Conservation Code. The Designer will be required to provide the analysis as an additional service, through self-performance if qualified, or via consultant as a reimbursable expense. The Designer shall prepare and submit all required drawings to Facility Planning & Control in AutoCAD and hard copy. Drawings shall follow the format specified in the “Instructions to Designers for AutoCAD Drawings Submittal”. The available funds for construction (AFC) are approximately $6,750,000.00

Legal Notices

with a fee of approximately $542,766.00. Contract design time is 360 consecutive calendar days; including 120 days review time. Thereafter, liquidated damages in the amount of $500.00 per day will be assessed. For questions related to the project please contact Mark Bradley, Facility Planning & Control, mark.bradley@la.gov, (504) 568-8545. 11. Parking Garage, Downtown Health Education Campus, Louisiana State University - Alexandria, Alexandria, Louisiana, Project No. 19602-26-02, F.19002694. This project consists of the construction of a new three-level, opendeck parking structure providing approximately 270 spaces on an existing surface lot to serve Louisiana State University - Alexandria Downtown Health Education Campus. The Designer will be responsible for developing the structural system, including foundations, based on geotechnical surveying, as well as addressing stormwater requirements and any necessary utility relocations informed by topographic surveying. Design services for this project will be limited to the Program Completion, Schematic Design, Design Development and Construction Documents Submittal (55%) according to the Louisiana Capital Improvement Projects Procedure Manual for Design and Construction, 2020 Edition. The fee has been adjusted to account for this. At the owner’s option the contract may be amended to include additional phases with the corresponding fee adjustment. Site development will be a part of the project, including site preparation, service access, parking, site accessories, site lighting, landscaping, and security systems. All design including building structure, envelope, roof, all associated exterior and interior finishes, interior and exterior signage, mechanical, electrical power and lighting, plumbing, with sprinkler, fire alarm, building controls management, security cameras, access control, and the infrastructure necessary for the installation and construction of these elements are to be included in the project. The Designer is responsible for identifying and specifying any contractor provided and owner provided testing required for the project. If any owner provided testing laboratory services are required for the construction of the project, the Designer will obtain a minimum of three quotes for the engagement of a testing laboratory, with which the Designer will contract as a reimbursable expense. The Designer shall prepare and submit all required drawings to Facility Planning & Control in AutoCAD and hard copy. Drawings shall follow the format specified in the “Instructions to Designers for AutoCAD Drawings Submittal”. The available funds for construction (AFC) are approximately $5,750,000.00 with a fee of approximately $223,718.00. Contract design time is 365 consecutive calendar days; including 122 days review time. Thereafter, liquidated damages in the amount of $200.00 per day will be assessed. For questions related to the project please contact Evan Dowden, Facility Planning & Control, evan.dowden@la.gov, (318) 840-0802. 12. Energy, Coast and Environmental Building Refurbishment, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Project No. 01107-24-05, F.01004860. This project consists of building envelope restoration at the Energy, Coast and Environmental (ECE) Building located on the Louisiana State University campus. Deficiencies associated with the facility’s exterior enclosure systems have resulted in deterioration and water intrusion over time. The project shall include an existing envelope assessment and provide long-term solutions for the exterior wall assemblies, roof assemblies, exterior openings, sealants, flashings, waterproofing and associated envelope components. The scope of work includes, but is not limited to, repair or replacement of deteriorated exterior wall assemblies, rehabilitation or replacement of exterior openings, roof repair or replacement, and associated envelope repairs. The building and adjacent buildings will remain occupied during construction and work shall be coordinated with Louisiana State University, including scheduled utility shutdowns, maintenance of building access and emergency egress, as well as implementation of dust, noise, and hazardous material abatement containment measures. Any required relocation of personnel will be coordinated by Louisiana State University. Site considerations include limited staging and material storage areas, contractor access, protection of occupied spaces, coordination of deliveries and debris removal, and maintaining safe separation between construction activities and building occupants. Design services for this project will be limited to the Program Completion, Schematic Design, Design Development and Construction Documents Submittal (up to 55%) according to the Louisiana Capital Improvement Projects Procedure Manual for Design and Construction, 2020 Edition. The fee has been adjusted to account for this. At the owner’s option the contract may be amended to include additional Phases with the corresponding fee adjustment. The Designer shall retain an accredited LDEQ Asbestos Inspector to complete an inspection of all suspect building materials that will be removed/impacted by this project as a reimbursable expense. If any materials are found to contain asbestos, the Designer shall provide, as part of their basic services, an accredited LDEQ Asbestos Designer to design the asbestos abatement specifications. If asbestos air monitoring will be required during abatement activities, the Designer will obtain an air-monitoring firm as a reimbursable expense. The Designer will survey the site for other hazardous materials and include in the specifications. If lead-based paint or mold inspections are required these will be provided as a reimbursable expense. If any materials are found to contain lead-based paint or mold, the Designer shall provide, as part of their basic services, an industrial hygienist to design the abatement specifications. This project will require the services of an owner contracted third-party Commissioning Agent. The Designer will be required to coordinate with this separately contracted party and the participation and oversight of the third-party Commissioning Agent is to be expected in all phases of the project. The Designer shall prepare and submit all required drawings to Facility Planning & Control in AutoCAD and hard copy. Drawings shall follow the format specified in the “Instructions to Designers for AutoCAD Drawings Submittal”. The available funds for construction (AFC) are approximately $5,200,000.00 with a fee of approximately $224,198.00. Contract design time is 360 consecutive calendar days; including 90 days review time. Thereafter, liquidated damages in the amount of $200.00 per day will be assessed. For questions related to the project please contact Patrick Fulkerson, Facility Planning & Control, patrick.fulkerson@la.gov, (225) 219-4270. 13. Sturgis Hall Waterproofing and Repairs, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Project No. 01-107-24-05, F.01004859. This project consists of building envelope restoration at Sturgis Hall located on the Louisiana State University campus. Deficiencies associated with the facility’s exterior enclosure systems have resulted in deterioration and water intrusion over time. The project shall include an existing envelope assessment and provide long-term solutions for the exterior walls assemblies, roof assemblies, exterior openings, sealants, flashings, waterproofing and associated envelope components. The scope of work includes, but is not limited to, full removal and replacement of the failed brick veneer, including necessary repairs to the existing backup wall and structural steel, new waterproofing and insulation, through-wall flashing, weeps, expansion provisions, and corrosion-resistant anchorage. Repairs to the north, south, and east elevations shall include masonry cleaning and localized repair, tuckpointing, replacement of deteriorated sealants, correction of deficient brick window sills, and investigation of concealed wall cavity conditions. Additional envelope improvements will include rehabilitation of deteriorated window assemblies and perimeter seals, localized exterior door repairs, roof repairs and installation of a new protective roof coating system, and reflashing and resealing of existing skylights. The building and adjacent buildings will remain occupied during construction and work shall be coordinated with Louisiana State University, including scheduled utility shutdowns, maintenance of building access and emergency egress, as well as implementation of dust, noise, and hazardous material abatement containment measures. Any required relocation of personnel will be coordinated by Louisiana State University. Site considerations include limited staging and material storage areas, contractor access, protection of occupied spaces, coordination of deliveries and debris removal, and maintaining safe separation between construction activities and building occupants. Design services for this project will be limited to the Program Completion, Schematic Design, Design Development and Construction Documents Submittal (up to 55%) according to the Louisiana Capital Improvement Projects Procedure Manual for Design and Construction, 2020 Edition. The fee has been adjusted to account for this. At the owner’s option the contract may be amended to include additional phases with the corresponding fee adjustment. The Designer shall retain an accredited LDEQ Asbestos Inspector to complete an inspection of all suspect building materials that will be removed/impacted by this project as a reimbursable expense. If any materials are found to contain asbestos, the Designer shall provide, as part of their basic services, an accredited LDEQ Asbestos Designer to design the asbestos abatement specifications. If asbestos air monitoring will be required during abatement activities, the Designer will obtain an air-monitoring firm as a reimbursable expense. The Designer will survey the site for other hazardous materials and include in the specifications. If lead-based paint or mold inspections are required these will be provided as a reimbursable expense. If any materials are found to contain leadbased paint or mold, the Designer shall provide, as part of their basic services, an industrial hygienist to design the abatement specifications. This project will require the services of an owner contracted third-party Commissioning Agent. The Designer will be required to coordinate with this separately contracted party, and the participation and oversight of the third-party Commissioning Agent is to be expected in all phases of the project. The Designer shall prepare and submit all required drawings to Facility Planning & Control in AutoCAD and hard copy. Drawings shall follow the format specified in the “Instructions to Designers for AutoCAD Drawings Submittal”. The available funds for construction (AFC) are approximately $2,600,000.00 with a fee of approximately $118,127.00. Contract design time is 540 consecutive calendar days; including 90 days review time. Thereafter, liquidated damages in the amount of $125.00 per day will be assessed. For questions related to the project please contact Patrick Fulkerson, Facility Planning & Control, patrick.fulkerson@ la.gov, (225) 219-4270.

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Wednesday, September 30, 2026 ■ 11D

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14. Practice Track Renovations, New Orleans City Park, New Orleans, Louisiana, Project No. 06-A20-26-01, F.06002385. This project consists of renovations to the existing Practice Track at New Orleans City Park and surrounding site. The scope of work includes, but is not limited to, demolition, base repair and resurfacing of the existing 400-meter track, as well as in-field reconstruction, additional supporting infrastructure including bleachers, site lighting, and miscellaneous field amenities, and a new restroom facility and storage building. The project will be phased contingent on additional funding being available. The Designer is responsible for identifying and specifying any contractor provided and owner provided testing required for the project. If any owner provided testing laboratory services are required for the construction of the project, the Designer will obtain a minimum of three quotes for the engagement of a testing laboratory, with which the Designer will contract as a reimbursable expense. All design including building structure, envelope, roof, all associated exterior and interior finishes, interior and exterior signage, mechanical, electrical power and lighting, plumbing, and the infrastructure necessary for the installation and construction of these elements are to be included in the project. Furniture, fixtures, equipment and data/telephone will be provided under separate contracts, although coordination of these items and systems with the work will be necessary on the part of the Designer. The Designer shall prepare and submit all required drawings to Facility Planning & Control in AutoCAD and hard copy. Drawings shall follow the format specified in the “Instructions to Designers for AutoCAD Drawings Submittal”. The available funds for construction (AFC) are approximately $2,500,000.00 with a fee of approximately $207,146.00. Contract design time is 270 consecutive calendar days; including 90 days review time. Thereafter, liquidated damages in the amount of $200.00 per day will be assessed. For questions related to the project please contact Jay Seastrunk, Facility Planning & Control, jay.seastrunk2@la.gov, (504) 568-8545. 15. Center for Advanced Learning and Simulation, 3rd Floor Renovations, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, Project No. 19-604-26-01, F.19002685. This project consists of the build-out of a 7,540 s.f. shell space to provide clinical offices and associated support spaces on the 3rd floor of the Center for Advanced Learning and Simulation Building on the LSU Health Sciences Center campus, located in New Orleans, Louisiana. All design including interior finishes, interior and exterior signage, mechanical, electrical power and lighting, plumbing, with sprinkler, fire alarm, building controls management, security cameras, access control, and infrastructure necessary for the installation and construction of these elements are to be included in the project. The Percent for Universal Design program will apply to this project. The Designer will identify and develop features that utilize universal design principles and incorporate them into the project. The cost of these features will be at least 2% of the estimated construction cost. The Percent for Art program will apply to this project, and the Designer will cooperate with the selected artist to incorporate the artwork into the design of the building. Refer to La R.S. 25:900.1 for requirements. The Designer shall retain an accredited LDEQ Asbestos Inspector to complete an inspection of all suspect building materials that will be removed/impacted by this project as a reimbursable expense. If any materials are found to contain asbestos, the Designer shall provide, as part of their basic services, an accredited LDEQ Asbestos Designer to design the asbestos abatement specifications. If asbestos air monitoring will be required during abatement activities, the Designer will obtain an air -monitoring firm as a reimbursable expense. The Designer will survey the site for other hazardous materials and include in the specifications. If lead-based paint or mold inspections are required these will be provided as a reimbursable expense. If any materials are found to contain lead-based paint or mold, the Designer shall provide, as part of their basic services, an industrial hygienist to design the abatement specifications. The Designer is responsible for identifying and specifying any contractor provided and owner provided testing required for the project. If any owner provided testing laboratory services are required for the construction of the project, the Designer will obtain a minimum of three quotes for the engagement of a testing laboratory, with which the Designer will contract as a reimbursable expense. Furniture, fixtures, equipment and data/telephone will be provided under separate

Legal Notices

contracts, although coordination of these items and systems with the work will be necessary on the part of the Designer. The Designer shall prepare and submit all required drawings to Facility Planning & Control in AutoCAD and hard copy. Drawings shall follow the format specified in the “Instructions to Designers for AutoCAD Drawings Submittal”. The available funds for construction (AFC) are approximately $2,500,000.00 with a fee of approximately $207,146.00. Contract design time is 300 consecutive calendar days; including 100 days review time. Thereafter, liquidated damages in the amount of $200.00 per day will be assessed. For questions related to the project please contact Jay Seastrunk, Facility Planning & Control, jay.seastrunk2@la.gov, (504) 568-8545. 16. Bayou Oaks Driving Range Renovations, New Orleans City Park, New Orleans, Louisiana, Project No. 06-A20-26-02, F.06002386. This project consists of renovations to Bayou Oaks Driving Range located in New Orleans City Park. The existing structure is a double level cast concrete structure with 60 driving stalls, built-in seating and digital tracking displays. The scope of work includes, but is not limited to, upgrades and expansion of the stalls, a new, integrated shaded structure, modern fall protection and related improvements. Prior to any design work being initiated, the Designer shall retain the services of a licensed structural engineer to confirm that the existing structure can accommodate the proposed upgrades. The Percent for Universal Design program will apply to this project. The Designer will identify and develop features that utilize universal design principles and incorporate them into the project. The cost of these features will be at least 2% of the estimated construction cost. The Designer shall retain an accredited LDEQ Asbestos Inspector to complete an inspection of all suspect building materials that will be removed/impacted by this project as a reimbursable expense. If any materials are found to contain asbestos, the Designer shall provide, as part of their basic services, an accredited LDEQ Asbestos Designer to design the asbestos abatement specifications. If asbestos air monitoring will be required during abatement activities, the Designer will obtain an air-monitoring firm as a reimbursable expense. The Designer will survey the site for other hazardous materials and include in the specifications. If lead-based paint or mold inspections are required these will be provided as a reimbursable expense. If any materials are found to contain leadbased paint or mold, the Designer shall provide, as part of their basic services, an industrial hygienist to design the abatement specifications. The Designer is responsible for identifying and specifying any contractor provided and owner provided testing required for the project. If any owner provided testing laboratory services are required for the construction of the project, the Designer will obtain a minimum of three quotes for the engagement of a testing laboratory, with which the Designer will contract as a reimbursable expense. All design including building structure, envelope, roof, all associated exterior and interior finishes, interior and exterior signage, mechanical, electrical power and lighting, plumbing, with sprinkler, fire alarm, building controls management, security cameras, access control, and the infrastructure necessary for the installation and construction of these elements are to be included in the project. Furniture, fixtures, equipment and data/telephone will be provided under separate contracts, although coordination of these items and systems with the work will be necessary on the part of the Designer. The Percent for Art program will apply to this project, and the Designer will cooperate with the selected artist to incorporate the artwork into the design of the building. Refer to La R.S. 25:900.1 for requirements. The Designer shall prepare and submit all required drawings to Facility Planning & Control in AutoCAD and hard copy. Drawings shall follow the format specified in the “Instructions to Designers for AutoCAD Drawings Submittal”. The available funds for construction (AFC) are approximately $2,300,000.00 with a fee of approximately $200,538.00. Contract design time is 270 consecutive calendar days; including 90 days review time. Thereafter, liquidated damages in the amount of $200.00 per day will be assessed. For questions related to the project please contact Jay Seastrunk, Facility Planning & Control, jay.seastrunk2@la.gov, (504) 568-8545. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS APPLICABLE TO ALL PROJECTS: Applicants are advised that design time ends when the Documents are “complete, coordinated and ready for bid” as stated in to Article 3.3.1 (4) of the Capital Improvements Projects Procedure Manual for Design and Construction. Documents will be considered to be “complete, coordinated

Legal Notices

usace.army.mil. A certiﬁ‐ cation that the proposed activity will not violate applicable water quality standards will be re‐ quired from the LDEQ be‐ fore a Department of the Army permit could be is‐ sued.

VISION OF TRACTS Z-1-A & Z-1-B INTO TRACTS Z-1A-1, Z-1-A-2, Z-1-B-1, Z-1B-2, Z-1-B-3, & Z-1-B-4 BEING A PORTION OF THE RUSSELL LONG PROP‐ ERTY LOCATED IN SEC‐ TION 50, 51, & 52, T-8-S, R2-E, GREESNBURG LAND DISTRICT, EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH, LOUISIANA DATED SEP‐ TEMBER 10, 2026, BY WESTWOOD PROFES‐ SIONAL SERVICES, INC., ATTACHED HERETO AS EXHIBIT 1.

6. Approval of Minutes: Motion by Council Mem‐ ber Murrell, seconded by Council Member Ed‐ monds to approve the minutes of the August 25, 2026 council meeting.

3. Motion by Council Member Murrell, sec‐ onded by Council Mem‐ ber Monachello to ap‐ prove Resolution to au‐ thorize the mayor to exe‐ cute a Cooperative En‐ deavor Agreement with the Louisiana Division of Administration, Ofﬁce of Facility Planning and Control, for FP&C Project No. 50-mqa-26-01 (Man‐ chac-Fountain Regional Detention and Preserva‐ tion) and to provide for related matters.

201952-SEP 28-OCT 8-11T $1,405.06

PUBLIC NOTICE --EXHIBIT A CITY OF ST. GEORGE, STATE OF LOUISIANA OFFICIAL NOTICE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the St. George City Council (the "City Coun‐ cil") proposes to con‐ sider the creation of an economic development district to be called "Eco‐ nomic Development Dis‐ trict No. 1 of the City of St. George" (the "Dis‐ trict"), pursuant to the authority of Part II, Chap‐ ter 27, Title 33 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, as amended (La. R.S. 33:9038.31 through 9038.42, inclusive). The public is further notified that the City Council plans to consider the creation of the District and related matters at its regular meeting to be held at 5:00 p.m. on Octo‐ ber 13, 2026, at which time the public will be af‐ forded an opportunity to comment upon the cre‐ ation of the District. As of the publication of this notice, the property con‐ tained within the pro‐ posed boundaries is not developed and there are no existing commercial structures within the proposed boundaries. Further information re‐ garding the proposed District, including a map of the proposed parcels of property contained within the proposed boundaries, is available during normal office hours at the office of the City Clerk, St. George City Hall, 11207 Proverbs Ave., St. George, La. 70816. The proposed bound‐ aries of the District are as follows: A TOTAL OF 55.505 ACRES COMPRISED OF SEVEN SEPARATE TRACTS, SAID TRACTS BEING IDENTI‐ FIED AS: A 21.606 ACRE TRACT, 11.498 ACRE TRACT, 1.289 ACRE TRACT, 2.468 ACRE TRACT AND 0.753 ACRE TRACT, EACH LOCATED NORTHWEST OF THE IN‐ TERSECTION OF AIRLINE HIGHWAY AND ANTIOCH ROAD, BEING MORE PAR‐ TICULARLY DESCRIBED AS: THAT CERTAIN 21.606 ACRE TRACT IDENTIFIED AS TRACT Z-1-B-1 OF THE MAP SHOWING RESUBDI‐ VISION OF TRACTS Z-1-A & Z-1-B INTO TRACTS Z-lA-1, Z-l-A-2, Z-1-B-1, Z-1B-2, Z-1-B-3, & Z-1-B-4 BEING A PORTION OF THE RUSSELL LONG PROP‐ ERTY LOCATED IN SEC‐ TION 50, 51, & 52, T-8-S, R2-E, GREESNBURG LAND DISTRICT, EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH, LOUISIANA DATED SEP‐ TEMBER 10, 2026, BY WESTWOOD PROFES‐ SIONAL SERVICES, INC., ATTACHED HERETO AS EXHIBIT 1. THAT CERTAIN 11.498 ACRE TRACT IDENTIFIED AS TRACT Z-l-A-2 OF THE MAP SHOWING RESUBDI‐ VISION OF TRACTS Z-1-A & Z-1-B INTO TRACTS Z-lA-1, Z-1-A-2, Z-1-B-1, Z-1B-2, Z-1-B-3, & Z-1-B-4 BEING A PORTION OF THE RUSSELL LONG PROP‐ ERTY LOCATED IN SEC‐ TION 50, 51, & 52, T-8-S, R2-E, GREESNBURG LAND DISTRICT, EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH, LOUISIANA DATED SEP‐ TEMBER 10, 2026, BY WESTWOOD PROFES‐ SIONAL SERVICES, INC., ATTACHED HERETO AS EXHIBIT 1. THAT CERTAIN 1.289 ACRE TRACT IDENTIFIED AS TRACT Z-1-B-3 OF THE MAP SHOWING RESUBDI‐

THAT CERTAIN 2.468 ACRE TRACT IDENTIFIED AS TRACT Z-1-B-4 OF THE MAP SHOWING RESUBDI‐ VISION OF TRACTS Z-1-A & Z-1-B INTO TRACTS Z-1A-1, Z-1-A-2, Z-1-B-1, Z-1B-2, Z-1-B-3, & Z-1-B-4 BEING A PORTION OF THE RUSSELL LONG PROP‐ ERTY LOCATED IN SEC‐ TION 50, 51, & 52, T-8-S, R2-E, GREESNBURG LAND DISTRICT, EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH, LOUISIANA DATED SEP‐ TEMBER 10, 2026, BY PROFES‐ WESTWOOD SIONAL SERVICES, INC., ATTACHED HERETO AS EXHIBIT 1. THAT CERTAIN 0.753 ACRE TRACT IDENTIFIED AS TRACT L-1 OF THE MAP SHOWING TRACTS B-1 AND L-1 DATED JUNE 19, 2001 BY LANDSOURCE IN‐ CORPORATED, AND RECORDED IN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH ON JULY 17, 2001 (ORIG: 502 BUNDLE: 11249), AT‐ TACHED HERETO AS EX‐ HIBIT 1. A 6.878 ACRE TRACT AND 11.013 ACRE TRACT, EACH LOCATED NORTHEAST OF THE INTERSECTION OF AIRLINE HIGHWAY AND ANTIOCH ROAD, AND BEING MORE PARTICU‐ LARLY DESCRIBED AS: THAT CERTAIN 6.878 ACRE TRACT IDENTIFIED AS TRACT A-1-A-3-A-5 ON PAGE 1 OF THE MAP SHOWING RESUBDIVI‐ SION OF TRACT A-1-A-3-A DATED MAY 28, 2013, BY CSRS INC., AND RECORDED IN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH ON JUNE 10, 2014 (ORIG: 912 BUNDLE:12583), AT‐ TACHED HERETO AS EX‐ HIBIT I. THAT CERTAIN 11.013 ACRE TRACT IDENTIFIED AS TRACT A-l-A-3-B-1-A IN THE MAP SHOWING RE‐ SUBDIBIVISION OF TRACTS A-l-A-2-A-4 & A-lA-3-B-1 DATED MAY 5, 2025 BY LANDSOURCE IN‐ CORPORATED, AND RECORDED IN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH ON APRIL 2, 2026 (ORIG: 707 BUNDLE:13426), AT‐ TACHED HERETO AS EX‐ HIBIT 1. 202388- SEP 30-OCT 7-2T $150.36 PUBLIC NOTICE --Minutes of Regular Meeting of the Mayor and Council Members of the City of St. George, State of Louisiana, held on Tuesday, September 8, 2026 at 5:00 pm at St. George City Hall, 11207 Proverbs Ave, St. George, LA 70817 I. Preliminary Business: 1. Call to Order: Mayor Dustin Yates called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. 2. Pledge of Allegiance 3. Invocation 4. Roll Call: Present: Council Member Edmonds, Council Mem‐ ber Talbot, Council Mem‐ ber Monachello, Council Member Murrell, Council Member Dellucci Absent: Council Member Himmel, Council Member Cook 5. Approval of Revised Minutes: Motion by Council Member Murrell, seconded by Council Member Edmonds to ap‐ prove the revised min‐ utes of the August 11, 2026 council meeting.

7. Proclamation desig‐ nating September as Emergency Preparedness Month presented. 8. Presentation by Bran‐ don Boylan on Monthly Activity Report. 9. Presentation by Cody Nobles on Department of Public Works Report. II. New Business (Items for Public Hearing and Action) 1. Motion by Council Member Murrell, sec‐ onded by Council Mem‐ ber Talbot to add a Reso‐ lution to authorize the mayor to execute a Co‐ operative Endeavor Agreement with the Louisiana Division of Ad‐ ministration, Office of Fa‐ cility Planning and Con‐ trol, for FP&C Project No. 50-mqa-26-01 (ManchacFountain Regional Deten‐ tion and Preservation) and to provide for re‐ lated matters to the agenda. YAYS: Edmonds, Monachello, Talbot, Mur‐ rell, Dellucci NAYS: None ABSENT: Cook, Himmel 2. Motion by Council Member Murrell, sec‐ onded by Council Mem‐ ber Monachello to add Resolution to authorize the mayor to execute a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement with the Louisiana Division of Ad‐ ministration, Office of Fa‐ cility Planning and Con‐ trol, for FP&C Project No. 50-mqa-26-02 (Jefferson Highway safety widening and drainage improve‐ ments) and to provide for related matters to the agenda. YAYS: Edmonds, Monachello, Talbot, Mur‐ rell, Dellucci NAYS: None ABSENT: Cook, Himmel 1. Motion by Council Member Murrell, sec‐ onded by Council Mem‐ ber Monachello to amend Ordinance lan‐ guage to reflect title change as Planning and Zoning Commission. YAYS: Edmonds, Monachello, Talbot, Mur‐ rell, Dellucci NAYS: None ABSENT: Cook, Himmel Motion by Council Mem‐ ber Murrell, seconded by Council Member Ed‐ monds to approve Ordi‐ nance to amend Title 1, Chapter 5 of the Code of Ordinances relative to the size and terms of the Planning Commission and to provide for re‐ lated matters as amended. Public comment was opened with no speak‐ ers. YAYS: Edmonds, Monachello, Talbot, Mur‐ rell, Dellucci NAYS: None ABSENT: Cook, Himmel 2. Motion by Council Member Murrell, sec‐ onded by Council Mem‐ ber Dellucci to approve Resolution designating and authorizing Stephanie Phillips-Gros to act as an authorized representative of the city of St. George for matters pertaining to the Engi‐ neering Department. Public comment was opened with the follow‐ ing speakers: YAYS: Edmonds, Monachello, Talbot, Mur‐ rell, Dellucci NAYS: None ABSENT: Cook, Himmel

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Public comment was opened with no speak‐ ers. YAYS: Edmonds, Monachello, Talbot, Mur‐ rell, Dellucci NAYS: None ABSENT: Cook, Himmel 4. Motion by Council Member Murrell, sec‐ onded by Council Mem‐ ber Talbot to authorize the mayor to execute a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement with the Louisiana Division of Ad‐ ministration, Ofﬁce of Fa‐ cility Planning and Con‐ trol, for FP&C Project No. 50-mqa-26-02 (Jefferson Highway safety widening and drainage improve‐ ments) and to provide for related matters. Public comment was opened with no speak‐ ers. YAYS: Edmonds, Monachello, Talbot, Mur‐ rell, Dellucci NAYS: None ABSENT: Cook, Himmel Motion by Council Mem‐ ber Murrell seconded by Council Member Ed‐ monds to enter Executive Session at 5:18pm. Motion by Council Mem‐ ber Murrell, seconded by Council Member Ed‐ monds to end Executive Session at 5:55pm Meeting 5:56pm.

adjourned

Meeting minutes proved _____________.

at ap‐ on

Dustin Yates, Mayor Attest: Lorraine Beaman, City Clerk 202492-sept 30-1t $91.35 PUBLIC NOTICE --Publication Ascension Water Com‐ pany (“Ascension”) filed with the Louisiana Public Service Commission (“LPSC”) a Request for Letter of Non-Opposition for Increase in FlowThrough Rates seeking to update the flow-through rate for water purchased from the Baton Rouge Water Company. If ap‐ proved, Ascension will be authorized to amend its tariff to reflect the in‐ crease in the flowthrough rate referenced above, effective immedi‐ ately. This request af‐ fects Ascension’s cus‐ tomers located in Ascen‐ sion Parish. The water purchased from the Baton Rouge Water Com‐ pany will increase to $1.616 per 1,000 gallons. Customers can contact the Louisiana Public Ser‐ vice Commission with questions or comments at (225) 342-4999. 202569 Sept. 30, 2026 1t $122.39

PUBLIC NOTICE --PUBLIC HEARING – Applications for Re-Subdivisions and Conditional Use-Permit The City of St. Gabriel Planning and Zoning Commission will hold a Public Hearing Meeting for the applications for bdi i i d

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pp Re-Subdivisions and a Conditional Use Permit on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, at St. Gabriel City Council Chambers – Room 32 – 5035 Iberville Street, St. Gabriel, La 70776 at 6:00 pm. During the public hear‐ ing, all interested parties will be given the right to appear and be heard on the matters of: - Re-Subdivision of Parcel ID: 0410569391 - Re-Subdivision of Parcel ID: 0500643312, 0510643350, 0510643352 - Conditional Use Permit for a Home Occupation Class 2. Accommodations will be made for persons with disabilities and non-Eng‐ lish speaking individuals provided that a seven (7) day notice is received by the City. Advertisement ments:

Require‐

First Ad: Wednesday, September 23, 2026 Second Ad: Wednesday, September 30, 2026 Third Ad: Wednesday, October 7, 2026 201181-sept 23-30-oct 73t $57.78 PUBLIC NOTICE --VBR-232 Lafayette, Inc. (Public Beneﬁt Corporation) September 8, 2026 A scheduled Special Board Meeting of VBR232 Lafayette, Inc. was held jointly with Visit Baton Rouge Board of Di‐ rectors on Tuesday, Sep‐ tember 8, 2026 at 359 Third Street at 12:00 pm. Present: Scott Michelet Mary Stein Claude Reynaud Gary Jupiter Absent: Marty Engquist Present but not partici‐ pating in formal action: Rowdy Gaudet, VBR Board Member Robyn Merrick, VBR Board Member Stephen Hightower, VBR Board Member Janice DeLerno, VBR Board Member Jeremy Fontenot, VBR Board Member Gary Patureau, VBR Board Member Karen Soniat, VBR Board Member Jill Kidder, Staff Lauralyn Maranto, Staff Danielle Prejean, Staff Emily Mastrantonio, Staff Geraldine Bordelon, Staff Stacy Simon, Staff Laura Cating, Staff Lisa Clary, Staff Chuck Elkins, Legal Counsel Henry Olinde, Legal Counsel Trippe Hawthorne, Legal Counsel Lisa Nice, GFP

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September 8, 2026 WHEREAS, Visit Baton Rouge (“VBR”), as a Louisiana public entity, caused public notice to be duly advertised solic‐ iting bids for the public works project known as New Headquarters for Visit Baton Rouge (the “Project”) in accordance with the Louisiana Public Bid Law, La. R.S. 38:2211 et seq.; and WHEREAS, sealed bids were received and pub‐ licly opened on Septem‐ ber 1, 2026, at the time and place stated in the advertisement for bids; and WHEREAS, after review and evaluation of all bids and bidder responsibility and responsiveness cri‐ teria, the Board of Direc‐ tors of VBR has deter‐ mined that Build Com‐ mercial Construction, LLC (Louisiana Contrac‐ tor License No. 70230) submitted the lowest re‐ sponsive and responsible bid, consisting of a Base Bid of $5,239,000.00 and the following available Alternates: Alternate No. 1 ($91,300.00), Alternate No. 2 ($50,273.00), and Al‐ ternate No. 3 ($528,333.00), and that said Contractor’s Base Bid was within the pre‐ construction estimate of $5,456,353.00 established by the design profes‐ sional of record; and WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of VBR ﬁnds it to be in the best interest of VBR to award the con‐ tract for the Project to Build Commercial Con‐ struction, LLC as the low‐ est responsive and re‐ sponsible bidder. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Directors of VBR that the contract for New Headquarters for Visit Baton Rouge is hereby awarded to Build Com‐ mercial Construction, LLC as the lowest re‐ sponsive and responsible bidder for a Base Bid of $5,239,000.00, plus the following selected Alter‐ nates: X Alternate No. 1 ($91,300.00) X Alternate No. 2 ($50,273.00) ☐ Alternate No. 3 ($528,333.00) for a total contract price of $________________. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Jill Kidder, President & CEO, is authorized and directed to execute, on behalf of VBR, the con‐ struction contract with Build Commercial Con‐ struction, LLC and all documents necessary to complete the award, in‐ l di h i f

Discussion was held re‐ garding questions relat‐ ing to Alt#1, Alt#2, and Alt#3. Gary Patureau re‐ ported that he may have a sponsor for Alt#3 (3rd ﬂoor) and that he would be meeting with the pro‐ posed sponsor that af‐ ternoon. A motion was made by Claude Reynaud, sec‐ onded by Stephen High‐ tower to approved the following Resolution: RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF VISIT BATON ROUGE CON‐ CERNING AWARD OF PUB‐ LIC WORKS CONTRACT PURSUANT TO LOUISIANA PUBLIC BID LAW

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and ready for bid” only if the advertisement for bid can be issued with no further corrections to the Documents. Design time will not necessarily end at the receipt of the initial Construction Documents Phase submittal by Facility Planning and Control. Any re-submittals required to complete the documents will be included in the design time. In addition to the statutory requirements, professional liability insurance covering the work involved will be required in an amount specified in the following schedule. This will be required at the time the Designer’s contract is signed. Proof of coverage will be required at that time. SCHEDULE LIMITS OF PROFESSIONAL LIABILITY Construction Cost Limit of Liability $0 to $10,000,000 $1,000,000 $10,000,001 to $20,000,000 $1,500,000 $20,000,001 to $50,000,000 $3,000,000 Over $50,000,000 To be determined by Owner Applicant firms should be familiar with the above stated requirements prior to application. The firm(s) selected for the project(s) will be required to sign the State’s standard Contract Between Owner and Designer. When these projects are financed either partially or entirely with Bonds, the award of the contract is contingent upon the sale of bonds or the issuance of a line of credit by the State Bond Commission. The State shall incur no obligation to the Designer until the Contract Between Owner and Designer is fully executed. Firms will be expected to have all the expertise necessary to provide all architectural services required by the Louisiana Capital Improvement Projects Procedure Manual for Design and Construction for the projects for which they are applying. Unless indicated otherwise in the project description, there will be no additional fee for consultants. Facility Planning and Control is a participant in the Small Entrepreneurship Program (the Hudson Initiative) and applicants are encouraged to consider participation. Information is available from the Office of Facility Planning and Control or on its website at https://www.doa.la.gov/doa/fpc/. Applications shall be delivered or mailed or emailed to: LOUISIANA ARCHITECTURAL SELECTION BOARD c/o FACILITY PLANNING AND CONTROL E-Mail: selection.board@la.gov Use this e-mail address for applications only. Do not send any other communications to this address. Mail: Post Office Box 94095 Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9095 Deliver: 1201 North Third Street Claiborne Office Building Seventh Floor, Suite 7-160 Baton Rouge, LA 70802 The meeting date for the Louisiana Architectural Selection Board is Wednesday, October 28, 2026 at 10:00 AM in room 1-100 Louisiana Purchase Room of the Claiborne Building, 1201 North Third Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70802. If you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation in order to participate in this meeting, please contact Cheryl Schilling at Cheryl.Schilling@la.gov or (225) 342-6060 as soon as possible but no later than 48 hours before the scheduled meeting.

202365-692524-Sept. 30-1t $ 1,728.72

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p cluding the Notice of Award, Notice to Pro‐ ceed, and contingency change orders within ap‐ proved budget authority, and to accept and ap‐ prove the performance and payment bonds and certiﬁcates of insurance required to be submitted by Build Commercial Construction, LLC, upon Build Commercial Con‐ struction, LLC’s timely submission of all re‐ quired bonds, insurance, and other post-award documents in accor‐ dance with the contract documents and Louisiana law. A quorum of the Board of Directors being present, the foregoing Resolution having been submitted to a vote, the vote re‐ sulted as follows: Member Yes/No/Abstain/Absent Janice Delerno Gary Jupiter Jr. Karen Soniat Ph.D. Claude Reynaud Jr. Rowdy Gaudet (Chairman) Marty Engquist Gary Patureau Stephen Hightower (Vice Chairman) Robyn Merrick (Secretary/ Adopted by the Board of Directors of Visit Baton Rouge at a special meet‐ ing of the said Board of Directors after being duly noticed on the 8th day of September, 2026. ____________________ Rowdy Gaudet, Chairman I certify that the forego‐ ing is a true and correct copy of the Resolution adopted by the Board of Directors of Visit Baton Rouge on September 8, 2026. ____________________ Merrick, Secretary/Treasurer Motion carried with the acceptance of Alt#1 and Alt#2. Discussion was held re‐ garding Alt#3. Gary Pa‐ tureau stated that he will attempt to ﬁnd sponsor‐ ship(s) for Alt#3. The an‐ ticipated date for all doc‐ uments to be signed is September 24, 2026 to in‐ clude construction docu‐ ment, CEA between the two entities, and all doc‐ uments prepared by Matthew Clark and Mack Gregorie. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned. 202487-sept 30-1t $81.22

Public Notices Meet/Hear/Min

PUBLIC NOTICE --CITY OF CENTRAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL Central City Hall 11530 Sullivan Road Central, LA 70818 https://www.centralgov. com/ Tuesday, September 8, 2026 MINUTES 6:00 PM

Scott Michelet called the meeting to order and opened the meeting for public comment. Trippe Hawthorne pre‐ sented an overview in re‐ gard to a proposed con‐ struction contract rela‐ tive to the 232 Lafayette Street project.

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I. Preliminary Business 1) Call to Order - Mayor Evans called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. 2) Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance – By Pastor Jeff Stanﬁll from Covenant Community Church 3) Roll Call Present: Fralick, Lavergne, Lazaroe, McK‐ inney, Myer and Wells Absent: Roy 4) Approval of the min‐ utes from the August 25, 2026 Council Meeting. Council Member Myer moved to approve the August 25, 2026 minutes as written. The motion was seconded by Council Member Wells. There were no objections. The August 25, 2026 minutes are approved as written. II. Zoning Cases ) i i d

Public Notices Meet/Hear/Min g 1) Discussion and action regarding the following P&Z case(s): None 2) Introduction of the fol‐ lowing P&Z item(s) (with public hearing to be held at the September 22, 2026, Council meeting). a) PD-26-0002: Illumination Park Planned Unit Develop‐ ment (PUD) Preliminary and Final Development Plans. An ordinance ap‐ proving the Preliminary and Final Development Plans for PD-26-0002, an outdoor drive-thru light show on 21.87 acres of property at the northeast corner of Central Thruway and A. J. LeBlanc Road, on Tracts 2-A-1 and 2-A-2, Emile Lesage, Sr. Property, in the R/A (Rural/Agricul‐ tural) & ORD (Office, Re‐ search and Develop‐ ment) zoning districts, Central Thruway Overlay. (Applicant: James Ho‐ hensee) Commission action (Au‐ gust 27, 2026): Mr. Sheri‐ dan moved to approve with these stipulations: business hours are re‐ stricted to 6 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.; existing mature trees must not be dis‐ turbed; add a flashing caution light near the property’s entrance that will be turned off during non-business hours; re‐ quire a traffic and secu‐ rity plan to be filed with the Central police de‐ partment and City Hall staff. Mr. Pino seconded. Public comment: Re‐ becca Austin. Vote: 6 yeas (Firmin, Freneaux, Pino, Sharafkhani, Sheri‐ dan, Johnson), 0 nays, 1 absent (Harper). Motion passed, and PD-26-0002 was recommended for approval with stipula‐ tions. T-26-0005: Zoning b) Overlay Districts. An or‐ dinance amending Title 7 Unified Development Code (UDC) and Appen‐ dix 1 Comprehensive Zoning Code (CZC) to move zoning overlay dis‐ tricts from the CZC to the UDC, make minor adjust‐ ments, and provide for related matters. Commission action (Au‐ gust 27, 2026): Mr. Fre‐ neaux moved to approve with the condition that the term “substantial” in Sec. 7:2.41(c)(3) be de‐ fined like the other over‐ lay districts. Mr. Firmin seconded. Public com‐ ment: none. Vote: 6 yeas (Firmin, Freneaux, Pino, Sharafkhani, Sheridan, Johnson), 0 nays, 1 ab‐ sent (Harper). Motion passed and T-26-0005 was recommended for approval with a condi‐ tion. III. Old Business (Public Hearing and Action re‐ garding the following in‐ strument(s)): 1) An ordinance to amend Title 13 of the Central Code of Ordi‐ nances An ordinance amending Title 13 of the code of or‐ dinances of the City of Central to incorporate, with modifications, the criminal provisions of Title 13 (Sections 13:1 through 13:1056.6) of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Baton Rouge and Parish of East Baton Rouge (By Council Mem‐ ber Myer). Council Action (August 25, 2026): Council Mem‐ ber Myer moved to ap‐ prove this item. The mo‐ tion was seconded by Council Member Lazaroe. Council Member Myer of‐ fered an amendment to add the underlined words below to Sec. 13:93(b) of Title 13: “The prohibition of this section shall not apply to the shooting or discharg‐ ing of a pistol, revolver, rifle or shotgun or other firearm within five hun‐ dred (500) feet of a house, dwelling, or other structures, with the per‐ mission of the resi‐ dent/occupant of any such house, dwelling, or other occupied struc‐ ture.” The motion was sec‐ onded by Council Mem‐ ber Lazaroe. Public com‐

Public Notices Meet/Hear/Min

ment: Terry Summers, Michelle Lewis. Addi‐ tional Council discus‐ sion. Council Member Wells made a motion to defer this item to the second meeting in Octo‐ ber. The motion was sec‐ onded by Council Mem‐ ber Roy. Public comment: Steven Calone, Terry Summers. Vote on defer‐ ral: 3 yeas (Fralick, Roy and Wells), 4 nays (Lavergne, Lazaroe, McK‐ inney and Myer), 0 ab‐ sent. Motion failed. Vote on the amendment: 7 yeas (Fralick, Lavergne, Lazaroe, McKinney, Myer, Roy and Wells), 0 nays, 0 absent. Vote on the mo‐ tion as amended: 5 yeas (Fralick, Lavergne, Lazaroe, McKinney and Myer), 1 nay (Wells), 0 absent, 1 abstained (Roy). The amended mo‐ tion passed. City Attorney (Septem‐ ber 8, 2026): City Attor‐ ney Celestin announced that this item was ap‐ proved by Council at the August 25, 2026 meeting, however, Mayor Evans used his authority under the Lawrason Act to veto it. Per the Lawrason Act: An ordinance vetoed by the Mayor shall be con‐ sidered again by the Council at its next regu‐ lar meeting after the veto. City Attorney Ce‐ lestin announced that five affirmative votes are needed to override the Mayor’s veto. Council Action (Septem‐ ber 8, 2026): Council Member Myer moved to approve this item. The motion was seconded by Council Member Lavergne. Council Mem‐ ber Myer stated that, after some discussion, he has decided to work with the administration and the City Attorney on a new, revised set of criminal provisions. He stated that he intends to bring a revised version back to Council at a fu‐ ture meeting. Public comment: Roger Corco‐ ran, Aaron Moak, Dwayne Rogers, Steven Caloni. Vote: 1 yea (Fral‐ ick), 5 nays (Lavergne, Lazaroe, McKinney, Myer and Wells), 1 absent (Roy). Motion failed. The proposed Ordinance is denied. IV. New Business (Public Hearing and Action re‐ garding the following in‐ strument(s)): 1) A resolution to ap‐ prove a CEA with the EBRSO to establish coop‐ erative law enforcement in Central A resolution to approve a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement (CEA) with the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office to establish a cooperative law enforcement delivery model, to authorize the Mayor to sign the CEA and to provide for re‐ lated matters (By Council Members Myer and Roy) Council Member Myer moved to approve this item. The motion was seconded by Council Member McKinney. Pub‐ lic comment: Roger Cor‐ coran, Jason Demoulin, Steven Caloni. Vote: 6 yeas (Fralick, Lavergne, Lazaroe, McKinney, Myer and Wells), 0 nays, 1 ab‐ sent (Roy). Motion passed. The proposed resolution is approved. 2) A resolution to concur with the newly adopted Comprehensive Master Plan A resolution to concur with the Master Plan en‐ titled “Central 2045: A Plan for the Future” and to provide for related matters (By Council Member Lavergne) Council Member Lavergne moved to ap‐ prove this item. The mo‐ tion was seconded by Council Member Myer. Council Member Lavergne provided a summary for this item. Public comment: None. Vote: 3 yeas (Lavergne, McKinney and Myer), 3 nays (Fralick, Lazaroe and Wells), 1 absent (Roy). Motion passed. The proposed resolution is approved. 3) Non-action item – Dis‐

12D ■ Wednesday, September 30, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate Public Notices Meet/Hear/Min

cussion regarding capital outlay project 50-MW823-01 related to the multi-use arena and funding. Mayor Evans presented a timeline of the project’s funding. Council discus‐ sion. Public comment: Bodi White, Lauren Ven‐ trella and Steven Caloni. Additional Council dis‐ cussion. No action was taken. V. New Business (NonPublic Hearing): 1) Introduction of the fol‐ lowing item(s) (with pub‐ lic hearing to be held at the September 22, 2026, Council meeting): None VI. Reports and Presentations: 1) Mayor’s Reports and Presentations - Mayor Evans gave an update on the DOTD roundabout project at Hooper Road and Sulli‐ van Road. - Mayor Evans thanked City Council and the FLECC Committee and said that he is happy that the City is moving for‐ ward with the Hybrid Model for law enforce‐ ment. VII. Other Business: 1) Public Comment None 2) Announcements None 3) Adjournment Council Member Myer moved to adjourn. The motion was seconded by Council Member Wells. The meeting was ad‐ journed at 8:10 p.m. S/ Wade Evans, Mayor S/ Mark Miley, Clerk 202454 Sept. 30, 1t $130.09 PUBLIC NOTICE --CITY OF CENTRAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL Central City Hall 11530 Sullivan Road Central, LA 70818 https:// www.centralgov.com/ Tuesday, August 25, 2026 MINUTES 6:00 PM I. Preliminary Business 1) Call to Order - Mayor Evans called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. 2) Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance – By Pastor Clint Newsom from Zoar Baptist Church 3) Roll Call Present: Fralick, Lavergne, Lazaroe, McK‐ inney, Myer, Roy and Wells Absent: None 4) Approval of the min‐ utes from the August 11, 2026 Council Meeting. Council Member Myer moved to approve the August 11, 2026 minutes as written. The motion was seconded by Council Member Wells. There were no objections. The August 11, 2026 minutes are approved as written. Council Member Roy made a motion to move Item VI. 1) up to be heard at this time. The motion was seconded by Council Member Myer. There were no objections. VI. Reports and Presenta‐ tions: 1) Introduction of Wendy Edwards – candidate for Family Court Judge Wendy Edwards spoke to the public about her can‐ didacy for Family Court Judge. II. Zoning Cases 1) Discussion and action regarding the following P&Z case(s): a) T-26-0003: Floodplain and Stormwater Man‐ agement. An Ordinance to amend Title 7 Unified Development Code to move floodplain and stormwater manage‐ ment regulations from Chapter 15 to Chapter 4, and provide for related matters. Commission Action (July 23, 2026): Mr. Sharafkhani moved to approve. Mr. Pino sec‐ onded. Public comment: None. Vote: 7 yeas (Firmin, Freneaux, Harper, Pino, Sharafkhani, Sheridan, Johnson), 0 nays, 0 ab‐ sent. Motion passed, and T-26-0003 was recom‐ mended for approval. Council Action (August 25, 2026): Council Mem‐ ber McKinney moved to approve this item. The motion was seconded by Council Member Myer. Public comment: None. Vote: 7 yeas (Fralick, Lavergne, Lazaroe, McK‐ inney, Myer, Roy and Wells), 0 nays, 0 absent. Motion passed and T-260003 was approved. b) T-26-0004: Performance and Spe‐ cific Use Standards. An Ordinance to amend Title 7 Unified Development Code (UDC), Title 12 Nui‐ sances, and Appendix 1 Comprehensive Zoning Code (CZC) to move per‐ formance and specific use standards from the CZC to the UDC, make minor adjustments, and provide for related mat‐ ters. Commission Action (July 23, 2026): Mr. Pino moved to approve with the con‐ dition that REV (Rural Event Venue) permits re‐ main required for applic‐ bl b i

lll

Public Notices Meet/Hear/Min

Public Notices Nat Res Coastal

q pp able businesses. Mr. Harper seconded. Public comment: None. Vote: 6 yeas (Freneaux, Harper, Pino, Sharafkhani, Sheri‐ dan, Johnson), 1 nay (Firmin), 0 absent. Mo‐ tion passed, T-26-0005 was recommended for approval with the condi‐ tion that REV (Rural Event Venue) permits re‐ main required for applic‐ able businesses. Council Action (August 25, 2026): Council Mem‐ ber Myer moved to ap‐ prove this item. The mo‐ tion was seconded by Council Member Roy. Council discussion. Council Member Wells moved to amend the item to remove the words “non substantive” from Section 7:1.6. of the staff report. The motion failed due to lack of a second. Public comment: None. Additional Council discussion. Council Member Myer moved to amend the motion to ac‐ cept the Planning and Zoning Commission’s recommendation to ap‐ prove with the condition that REV permits remain required. The amend‐ ment was seconded by Council Member Wells. Public comment: None. Vote on amendment: 7 yeas (Fralick, Lavergne, Lazaroe, McKinney, Myer, Roy and Wells), 0 nays, 0 absent. Vote on the mo‐ tion as amended:7 yeas (Fralick, Lavergne, Lazaroe, McKinney, Myer, Roy and Wells), 0 nays, 0 absent. Motion passed and T-26-0004 was ap‐ proved with the condi‐ tion that REV (Rural Event Venue) permits re‐ main required for applic‐ able businesses.

g thority Community Infra‐ structure Fund Grant Ap‐ plication for the Culvert Improvement Project and to provide for related matters (By Council Member Roy) Council Member Roy moved to approve this item. The motion was seconded by Council Member Myer. Public comment: None. Vote: 7 yeas (Fralick, Lavergne, Lazaroe, McKinney, Myer, Roy and Wells), 0 nays, 0 absent. Motion passed.

(BLH) & 217.4 ac of cy‐ press swamp and 44.3 acres of cypress swamp preservation within 658.9 acres for purposes of es‐ tablishing the Terre‐ bonne Basin Umbrella Mitigation Bank. Site ac‐ tivities include degrada‐ tion of roads, backﬁlling of ditches, removal of culverts and water con‐ trol structures, swaling of drainage ditches, and l i f i

2) Introduction of the fol‐ lowing P&Z item(s) (with public hearing to be held at the September 8, 2026, Council meeting). None III. Old Business (Public Hearing and Action re‐ garding the following in‐ strument(s)): None IV. New Business (Public Hearing and Action re‐ garding the following in‐ strument(s)): 1) An ordinance to amend Title 13 of the Central Code of Ordi‐ nances An ordinance amending Title 13 of the code of or‐ dinances of the City of Central to incorporate, with modifications, the criminal provisions of Title 13 (Sections 13:1 through 13:1056.6) of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Baton Rouge and Parish of East Baton Rouge (By Council Mem‐ ber Myer). Council Member Myer moved to approve this item. The motion was seconded by Council Member Lazaroe. Council Member Myer offered an amendment to add the underlined words below to Sec. 13:93(b) of Title 13: “The prohibition of this section shall not apply to the shooting or discharg‐ ing of a pistol, revolver, rifle or shotgun or other firearm within five hun‐ dred (500) feet of a house, dwelling, or other structures, with the per‐ mission of the resi‐ dent/occupant of any such house, dwelling, or other occupied struc‐ ture.” The motion was sec‐ onded by Council Mem‐ ber Lazaroe. Public com‐ ment: Terry Summers, Michelle Lewis. Addi‐ tional Council discus‐ sion. Council Member Wells made a motion to defer this item to the second meeting in Octo‐ ber. The motion was sec‐ onded by Council Mem‐ ber Roy. Public comment: Steven Calone, Terry Summers. Vote on defer‐ ral: 3 yeas (Fralick, Roy and Wells), 4 nays (Lavergne, Lazaroe, McK‐ inney and Myer), 0 ab‐ sent. Motion failed. Vote on the amendment: 7 yeas (Fralick, Lavergne, Lazaroe, McKinney, Myer, Roy and Wells), 0 nays, 0 absent. Vote on the mo‐ tion as amended: 5 yeas (Fralick, Lavergne, Lazaroe, McKinney and Myer), 1 nay (Wells), 0 absent, 1 abstained (Roy). The amended mo‐ tion passed. 2) A resolution for the Culvert Improvement Project (Blackwater Bayou Culverts) A resolution in support of the Delta Regional Au‐ thority Community Infra‐ structure Fund Grant Ap‐ plication for the Culvert Improvement Project and to provide for related matters (By Council Member Wells) Council Member Wells moved to approve this item. The motion was seconded by Council Member Myer. Public comment: None. Vote: 7 yeas (Fralick, Lavergne, Lazaroe, McKinney, Myer, Roy and Wells), 0 nays, 0 absent. Motion passed. 3) A resolution for the Culvert Improvement Project (Greenwell Springs-Port Hudson Cul‐ verts) A resolution in support of the Delta Regional Au‐ h i i f

V. New Business (NonPublic Hearing): 1) Introduction of the fol‐ lowing item(s) (with pub‐ lic hearing to be held at the September 8, 2026, Council meeting): None VI. Reports and Presentations: 1) Introduction of Wendy Edwards – candidate for Family Court Judge Moved to the ﬁrst hear‐ ing item. 2) Mayor’s Reports and Presentations Mayor Evans provided an update on the 2026 Road Rehab Project. 3) A report from the Cen‐ tral Police Department concerning law enforce‐ ment within the City of Central. Michelle Lewis gave a re‐ port for the Central Po‐ lice Department. 4) A report from IBTS re‐ garding services pro‐ vided to the City of Cen‐ tral. IBTS Program Director, Taurus Freeman, gave a presentation on the ser‐ vices provided to the City of Central in the month of July 2026. 5) Distribution of the City of Central Accounts Payable Disbursement Report, Fuel Report and Deposit Totals for period of July 1, 2026 through July 31, 2026. Reports were distributed. VII. Other Business: 1) Public Comment None 2) Announcements - Mayor Evans stated that on October 10, 2026 Kiwanis is hosting an event at Central City Hall and that the City plans to couple that event with our annual Fall Fest event. 3) Adjournment Council Member Myer moved to adjourn. The motion was seconded by Council Member Lavergne. The meeting was adjourned at 6:58 p.m. S/ Wade Evans, Mayor S/ Mark Miley, Clerk 202437 Sept. 30, 1t $133.79

Public Notices Nat Res Coastal

PUBLIC NOTICE --NOTICE the Louisiana De‐ partment of Conserva‐ tion and Energy, Ofﬁce of Permitting and Compli‐ ance (OPC) has received the following applica‐ tion(s) for a Coastal Use Permit (CUP) in accor‐ dance with La. R.S. 49:214.21 et seq., and the rules of the Coastal Man‐ agement Program. Appli‐ cations for coastal use permits may be in‐ spected at 617 North 3rd Street, Room 1078, Baton Rouge, LA or on the OPC https:// webpage at: www.dce.louisiana.gov/ page/coastalmanagement-publicnotices. Copies are avail‐ able, costs apply. Written comments are solicited from the public and must be received within 25 days of the date of this notice. Comments must be uploaded directly to our electronic record through the OPC web‐ page or mailed to: OPC Administrator, Kyle Balkum, and P.O. Box 44487, Baton Rouge, LA 70804-4487. All comments must contain the appro‐ priate CUP number and the commenter's full name and contact infor‐ mation. Below are the referenced applica‐ tion(s): *************** CUP NUMBER: P20260719 Name: Terrebonne Basin Conservation, LLC c/o Natural Resource Profes‐ sionals, LLC 7330 HIGH‐ LAND ROAD SUITE B-1 BATON ROUGE, LA 70808 Attn: Gregg Fell Location: Lafourche Parish, LA; Lat. 29-41-14.05 N, Long. 9040-25.61W; Description: Rehabilitation of 252.1 ac of Bottomland Hardwood

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Public Notices Nat Res Coastal

WBR Public Notices

g planting of native BLH and cypress swamp species. A total of 7649 cy of material will be ex‐ cavated and placed on‐ site.

WBR Legal Notices

202537 Sept. 30, 1t $23.20

WBR Legal Notices g School Board Committee meeting and regular board meeting for Octo‐ ber are listed below: Committee Meeting/s: Wednesday, October 21, 2026 Date Change 5pm

PUBLIC NOTICE --NOTICE The dates of the West Baton Rouge Parish h l d i

GREATER BATON ROUGE PORT COMMISSION Commission Meeting 5:00 p.m. Thursday, August 27, 2026 The Greater Baton Rouge Port Commission met in regular session at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 27, 2026 at the Maritime Security Operations Center meeting room in West Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana. Following the Call to Order and the Pledge of Allegiance, the roll was called. PRESENT Mr. Johnny B. Bradberry Ms. Rebecca A. Cunard Mr. Brad J. Daigle Mr. Michael D. DeLaune Mr. Ted H. Glaser Ms. Brenda R. Hurst Mr. Bob Kelly Mr. Troy S. LeBoeuf Mr. Wally McMakin Mr. Travis M. Medine Mr. Keith E. Morris Mr. Jessel M. Ourso, III Ms. Lynn Robertson Ms. Lynnel B. Ruckert Mr. Donald M. Schexnayder Mr. Bobby Watts

ABSENT Mr. Shelton C. Dixon

Regular Board Meeting: Wednesday, October 21, 2026

WBR Legal Notices

WBR Legal Notices g

Time Change 6pm

School Board

Location: West Baton Rouge Parish School Board Board Room 3761 Rosedale Road Port Allen, Louisiana 70767

Publish: September 23, 2026 September 30, 2026 October 7, 2026 October 14, 2026

Matthew Daigrepont President West Baton Rouge h l d

200509-sept 23-30-oct 714-4t $58.16

into a settlement with the M/V Elbabe, its owners and operators and insurer for damages to the Port’s midstream buoy system. This matter may be discussed in executive session pursuant to LA. R.S. 42:16 and 42:17(A)(2) – (Discussion of potential settlement of a matter involving prospective litigation where formal demand has been made and discussion in open session would have detrimental effect on the Port’s bargaining and/or litigation position). The matter as to which settlement is to be considered is prospective litigation arising out of the damages sustained to the Port’s midstream buoy system caused by an allision with the M/V Elbabe. The parties on which demand has been made are the M/V Elbabe, its P & I insurer, The Brittania Steam Ship Insurance Association, LTD., and its registered owner, Mangusta Maritime, LTD., ISM manager, Niovis Shipping Co. S.A., and commercial operator, Bray Shipping Company, LTD. Mr. Steve Glusman addressed the Commission by stating that the settlement is $250K, with our payment to Travelers for their subrogation claim, the Port installed a new buoy system for the total cost to the Port of $1,257.00.

Agenda Item 4 - Public Comments: Comments from the public regarding any/all of the agenda items listed below will be accepted at this point in the meeting. The meeting chairperson may also allow further comments from the public as and when each agenda item is considered during the meeting process.

On a motion by Ms. Rebecca Cunard, seconded by Mr. Troy LeBoeuf, the Commission unanimously approved entering into a settlement with the M/V Elbabe, its owners and operators and insurer for damages to the Port’s midstream buoy system, as outlined by Mr. Glusman. Agenda Item 10 - Financial Report Ms. Katie LeBlanc presented the monthly financial report. No action was required.

There were no public comments.

Agenda Item 11 - Other matters

Agenda Item 5 - Approval of minutes of a Commission meeting held on Thursday, July 23, 2026.

Mr. Randy Haynie and Mr. Ryan Haynie with Haynie and Associates, the Port’s lobbying and government relations firm, were in attendance and addressed the Board on the general session update and legislative issues pertaining to the Port.

On a motion by Mr. Michael DeLaune, seconded by Mr. Travis Medine, the minutes were unanimously approved. Agenda Item 6 - Monthly Engineering Report Mr. Cortney White presented the monthly engineering report, as outlined in documentation presented to all Board members. A. Discussion and appropriate action regarding the Dock 1 Corrosion Evaluation, Repairs, and Prevention project. Mr. Cortney White addressed the Board by stating that as presented at the Committee meeting, port staff recommends proceeding with the pilot program to install the cathodic protection system for a cost estimate of approximately $200K. Following a discussion, on a motion by Mr. Bob Kelly, seconded by Ms. Brenda Hurst, the Commission unanimously approved proceeding with the pilot program to install the cathodic protection system for a cost estimate of approximately $200K. B. Discussion and appropriate action regarding the fire suppression system for the Inland Rivers Marine Terminal Warehouse. Mr. Cortney White addressed the Board by stating that the fire suppression system for the Inland Rivers Marine Terminal Warehouse needs to be replaced in order to receive verification from the Louisiana state fire marshal for an estimated cost of approximately $185K. Mr. White and port staff recommend approval to proceed. Following a discussion, on a motion by Mr. Troy LeBoeuf, seconded by Mr. Ted Glaser, the Commission unanimously approved to proceed with replacement of the fire suppression system for the Inland Rivers Marine Terminal Warehouse for approximately $185K. Agenda Item 7 - Discussion and appropriate action concerning entering into a lease agreement with Agrippa Industries, Inc. for the warehouse and shop/office at the Inland Rivers Marine Terminal (IRMT) and a lease of the container handling equipment (container handler and reach stacker). Following a discussion, on a motion by Mr. Bobby Watts, seconded by Mr. Michael DeLaune, the Commission unanimously approved entering into a lease agreement with Agrippa Industries, Inc. for the warehouse and shop/office at the Inland Rivers Marine Terminal (IRMT) and a lease of the container handling equipment (container handler and reach stacker), as outlined in documentation presented to all Board members. Agenda Item 8 - Discussion and appropriate action regarding authorizing proceeding with maintenance and repair items necessary on the container handler and reach stacker equipment. Following a discussion, on a motion by Ms. Rebecca Cunard, seconded by Mr. Jessel Ourso, the Commission unanimously approved proceeding with maintenance and repair items necessary on the container handler and reach stacker equipment, and authorize a contractor for the repairs for approximately $79K. The Port will be reimbursed the cost of the repairs.

Mr. Jay Hardman addressed the Commission, for informational purposes only, by stating that all Board members have been given a revised listing of business with leases and/or contracts with the Port. Agenda Item 12 - Discussion and appropriate action concerning accepting Mr. Hardman’s notice of pending retirement and entering into a contract with Greg Johnson as Executive Director or engaging in an executive search. This matter may be discussed in executive session pursuant to LA. R.S. 42:16 and 42:17(A)(1). On a motion by Ms. Brenda Hurst, seconded by Ms. Lynn Robertson, the Commission moved to go into executive session. YES Mr. Johnny B. Bradberry Ms. Rebecca A. Cunard Mr. Brad J. Daigle Mr. Michael D. DeLaune Mr. Ted H. Glaser Ms. Brenda R. Hurst Mr. Bob Kelly Mr. Troy S. LeBoeuf Mr. Wally McMakin Mr. Travis M. Medine Mr. Keith E. Morris Mr. Jessel M. Ourso, III Ms. Lynn Robertson Ms. Lynnel B. Ruckert Mr. Donald M. Schexnayder Mr. Bobby Watts

ABSENT Mr. Shelton C. Dixon

Thereafter, the Commission met in executive session. Thereafter, the Commission reconvened in open session. Ms. Brenda Hurst moved, seconded by Ms. Lynn Robertson, to move Mr. Greg Johnson into the Executive Director position with a 3 year contract, effective December 1, 2026 or sooner should Jay Hardman decide to retire sooner, and that Mr. Johnson receive Mr. Hardman’s salary on the date Mr. Hardman retires. Ms. Lynn Robertson then moved to amend the motion to add that Mr. Johnson meet with the Executive and Finance Committees to discuss his plans. The amended motion was seconded by Mr. Troy LeBoeuf, and the Commission voted to approve the motion 15-1, with Ms. Lynnel Ruckert voting nay. Agenda Item 13 - Adjournment With a unanimous vote, the Commission meeting adjourned. Secretary: Ted H. Glaser President: Donald M. Schexnayder Date approved: September 24, 2026

202370-692530-Sept. 30-1t $ 313.12

Agenda Item 9 - Discussion and appropriate action concerning entering

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RECIPE GUIDE

AUTUMN 2026

2 THE DISH RECIPE GUIDE | THE ADVOCATE

RECIPE GUIDE

or decades, recipes have made their way into this newspaper the way the best ones always travel — handed over, scribbled down, passed along. Deputy features editor Lauren Cheramie and I dug through archives of the last 30 years in search of recipes that have stood the test of time. Many of the dishes in these pages are the ones readers clipped, saved and kept coming back to. Plenty of them carry the flavor of this place. Some come from acclaimed cooks, including Marcelle Bienvenu, and from much-loved local restaurants and chefs. Others are family heirlooms — the kind of recipes that live on index cards with the corners frayed. Louisiana classics fill these pages: Holly Clegg’s Louisiana crawfish king cake on page 12, Debra Broussard Taghehchian’s seafood gumbo on page 8, Kevin Belton’s catfish with crawfish sauce on page 14 and Olivia Regard’s oyster pie on page 9. The pineapple cake on page 4 first went by another name. It was a Cajun cake. Lauren and I also slipped in two of my family’s favorites. One is the old standby crockpot Mississippi pot roast on page 4, passed along by a Mississippi cousin. The other is my mother-in-law’s albondigas, a Mexican meatball soup featured on page 3. It is my favorite Mexican dish. The flavor is full and yet delicate. I’ve cooked the albodigas recipe for 30 years. Occasionally when I’ve shared it with friends, a few have reported that their meatballs fell apart in the pot. Mine never have. As with houseplants, I suspect the secret lies in a certain amount of neglect. My only real advice is this: Don’t cook the soup on high. Turn down the flame, set the lid slightly askew and let the pot simmer on the back burner while the whole house fills with the smell of supper. That’s the way with most recipes worth keeping. Their hold only grows stronger with time. Save these pages. Spill roux on them. Write notes in the margins. Then pass them along to a cousin. Happy cooking,

Jan Risher Louisiana culture editor

Blackberry and Peach Cobbler BY DEBRA TAGHEHCHIAN Serves 6 Originally published in The Advocate in 2021.

BLACKBERRY MIXTURE • • • • •

3 cups blackberries 1 medium peach, peeled and sliced 1/2 cup sugar 1 tablespoon cornstarch 1 tablespoon water

Combine all ingredients in a saucepan. Cook over medium heat until berries release their juice and the mixture thickens. Pour mixture into an 8-by-8-inch or oval dish.

TOPPING • • • • • • • • • •

2 tablespoons cold butter, grated 3/4 cup ﬂour 1 tablespoon sugar 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup buttermilk 1 tablespoon soft butter 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 1/4 cup sliced almond 2 tablespoons crushed pistachios

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Preheat oven to 400 F. Mix ﬂour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Combine. Add butter and toss. Add buttermilk and stir until just combined. Drop small spoons of dough onto the blackberry and peach mixture. Top with soft butter, cinnamon and nuts. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until golden brown.

6. 7.

THE DISH RECIPE GUIDE | THE ADVOCATE 3

RECIPE GUIDE

Albondigas

BY JAN RISHER, AS TAUGHT TO HER BY MARIA LUISA SALDANO ARRENDONDO DE NAUDIN

Originally published in The Advocate in 2021 • • • • • 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

8-10 cups of chicken broth 1 whole onion 1.5 pounds good hamburger meat 3/4 cup to 1 cup uncooked shortgrain rice jalapeños to taste (I sometimes

• •

use one, as the Rotel provides enough heat for me, but my husband prefers more.) 1 bunch cilantro 1 can Rotel or 2 cups chopped tomatoes

Start with a large pot. Add 8 to 10 cups of chicken broth (make your own, buy or use bouillon) and a whole onion. Mix 1.5 pounds of good hamburger meat (or ground chuck) in a bowl with uncooked rice. Mix together with your hands. Once the meat and rice are mixed, turn on the pot of broth on medium heat. Immediately start making meatballs with the beef/rice mixture (about the size of golf balls or slightly smaller). Place each meatball in the broth. Cook as slowly as possible. If broth comes to a boil, turn down to low and cover and cook on low for 10 more minutes. The meatballs will start ﬂoating as they’re cooked. (If you cook it too fast, the meatballs and rice will break up and come apart. It’s still delicious, just not as pretty.) Then, I prefer to add one can of roasted tomato mild Rotel (though you can chop tomatoes and add jalapeños to your taste). Cook about 10-15 more minutes. Then add a bunch of fresh cilantro, chopped. Turn off the burner. Serve and enjoy.

Tasso Shrimp with Mango Salsa FROM JUBAN'S RESTAURANT

Serves 6 Originally published in The Advocate in 2005 • • • 1. 2. 3.

24 (16-20 count) shrimp, peeled and deveined, tail on 24 (1/2 inch-wide) strips of sliced tasso ham Salt and pepper, to taste

• • • •

2 mangoes, peeled, seeded and diced 4 tablespoons (2 ounces) heavy cream 2 tablespoons (1 ounce) white wine 1 pound unsalted butter, cut into small pieces

Take one slice of tasso and wrap around each shrimp. Place four shrimp on a wooden skewer. Season with salt and pepper. Over a hot grill, cook about two minutes on each side until shrimp are thoroughly cooked. In a small stainless-steel saucepan, over medium heat, combine mangoes, cream and white wine. Reduce by 2/3. Slowly add butter, constantly stirring with a whisk, until all butter has been incorporated. Remove from heat. To serve, divide mango butter between six plates. Add two tablespoons Mango Salsa (see recipe) to center of plate. Remove shrimp from skewers and place four on each plate on top of salsa. Garnish with a sprig of cilanro

MANGO SALSA • • •

15-20 mango slices, diced 1-2 ﬁre-roasted red bell peppers, chopped 1 small purple onion, chopped

• • • •

½ bunch cilantro, chopped 1 pinch of salt Juice of 1 lime 1 teaspoon or ¼ ounce Tabasco sauce

4 THE DISH RECIPE GUIDE | THE ADVOCATE

RECIPE GUIDE

Pineapple Cake BY KEITH COURRÉGÉ AND MARCELLE BIENVENU Keith Courrégé called this a Cajun cake. Why? We don’t really know, so we renamed it Pineapple Cake. However, we do know that this is a moist cake similar to a pineapple upside-down cake but baked in a large dish rather than a skillet. Makes 12-14 servings Originally published in The Advocate in 2009

FOR THE ICING

FOR THE CAKE

• • • • • • • •

½ stick (4 tablespoons) butter ½ cup packed light brown sugar Pinch of salt ¼ cup evaporated milk 2 cups confectioner’s sugar 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 1 cup grated coconut 1 cup chopped pecans

To make the cake: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Grease and flour a 9-by-13-inch baking dish and set aside. Cream the sugar and eggs with an electric mixer in a mixing bowl until light and fluffy. Add the pineapple, flour, pecan meal, baking powder and salt. Mix to blend. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake until a cake tester inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes. Remove from oven and cool completely. In the meantime, prepare the icing. To make the icing: Combine the butter, sugar, salt and evaporated milk in the top of a double boiler over medium heat. Stir constantly until the mixture is smooth. Remove from the heat and cool for 15 minutes. Beat in the confectioner’s sugar until the mixture is of a spreading consistency. Stir in the vanilla, coconut and pecans and mix well. Pour the icing over the cooled cake.

2. 3. 4.

• • •

2 cups sugar 2 eggs 2 cups crushed pineapple with can syrup 1 ½ cups all-purpose ﬂour ½ cup pecan meal 2 ½ teaspoons baking powder ¼ teaspoon salt

• • • •

Mississippi Pot Roast BY JAN RISHER, ADAPTED FROM ONE BY RONDA SQUIRES HOLDEN

Originally published in The Advocate in 2019 1 package Ranch dressing mix 3 banana peppers

1 roast that will ﬁt in your crock pot 1 stick butter (I usually use a half stick) 1 package brown gravy mix

Place roast in crock pot (if you’re new to this — make SURE the piece of plastic paper from the bottom of the roast has been removed). Slice the butter and place on top of roast. Place banana peppers around roast. (You can place whole or cut off stems.) Sprinkle gravy and dressing mix on top of roast. Do not add any liquid. Put lid on crock pot. Place on low heat. Cook for about six hours. Serve with mashed potatoes or rice. It’s just that easy — and delicious!

2. Photo by Jan Risher

• •

• • •

THE DISH RECIPE GUIDE | THE ADVOCATE 5

RECIPE GUIDE

Aceite de Achiote (Annatto Seed Infused Oil)

BY ANNE MILNECK Chef and instructor at the Chef John Folse Culinary Institute at Nicholls State University and owner of Red Stick Spice Company in Baton Rouge Originally published in The Advocate in 2025 • •

1 cup neutral oil (vegetable oil) 3 tablespoons whole annatto seeds

In a saucepan, heat the oil and seeds over low to medium heat. Cook, swirling the pot often, for 10 minutes. Turn off the heat and allow the seeds to infuse in the oil for 20 minutes. Strain off the seeds and discard. Store the annatto-infused oil in a glass jar or container with a lid at room temperature. Use within three weeks.

Suggested uses: Use the oil to saute aromatics for a pot of beans; sizzle raw rice in a tablespoon of the infused oil before adding the cooking liquid; toss cauliﬂower ﬂorets in 3 tablespoons of the infused oil before roasting.

ACHIOTE PASTE • • • • • • • • • •

3 tablespoons whole annatto seeds 2 teaspoons ground coriander 2 teaspoons ground cumin 2 teaspoons smoked sweet paprika 2 teaspoons Mexican oregano leaf 1 teaspoon ground black pepper 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar 1/4 cup vegetable or olive oil

Use a mortar and pestle or spice grinder to grind the annatto seeds to a ﬁne powder. In a bowl, combine the ground annatto seeds and all other ingredients and stir to create a paste. Use the paste on chicken, pork or beef as a marinade. Marinate the meat at least 8 hours or, ideally, overnight.

ACHIOTE PORK TENDERLOIN • • • •

Achiote paste (recipe above) Salt 2 pork tenderloins, trimmed Vegetable or olive oil

Lightly salt the pork tenderloins on all sides, then rub with the achiote paste. Place in a zip-top bag and refrigerate overnight. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. When ready to cook, remove the pork tenderloin from the fridge and allow it to sit at room temperature for 15 minutes to take off the chill. Heat a heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Drizzle in oil to coat the bottom of the skillet. Sear the pork tenderloin on all sides until golden brown. Move the skillet to the oven, and roast for 15-25 mins or until an internal temp of 145 degrees. Move from the skillet and rest the meat for 15 mins before slicing. Serve sliced for sandwiches or with a side of Mexican rice and beans.

2. 3. 4.

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RECIPE GUIDE

Smoked Salmon Dip BY REV. MICHAEL ALELLO

Serves 8-10 Originally published in The Advocate in 2013 • • • • • • • •

6 ounces tartar sauce 2 tablespoons capers 2 tablespoons diced purple onion (small dice) 2 teaspoons lemon juice Salt and pepper, to taste ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper 8 ounces smoked salmon, diced Toast points or crackers

1. 2.

Combine tartar sauce, capers, onion and lemon juice. Add salt, pepper and cayenne pepper to taste. (When adding salt, remember the capers are salty.) Fold in diced salmon pieces. Chill and serve with toast points or crackers.

Avocado Citrus Salad with Marinated Onions COURTESY OF THE NATIONAL ONION ASSOCIATION Serves 4-6 Originally published in The Advocate in 2009 • • • • • • • • •

1 medium red onion ½ cup rice vinegar, divided ¼ cup honey plus 1 tablespoon, divided ¼ cup water ½ cup olive oil 2 oranges, plus 2 teaspoons of orange zest 1 avocado, halved, pitted and skin removed 1 grapefruit, peeled and sliced, seeds removed Endive and/or romaine lettuce spears

To marinate onions: Peel and thinly slice red onion. Combine ¼ cup vinegar, ¼ cup honey and water in jar with tight lid; shake well. Add onions and shake jar well, then refrigerate at least six hours. Shake jar occasionally. For dressing: Put oil, ¼ cup vinegar, 1 tablespoon honey and zest in small jar with a lid. Shake well. To make salad: Peel and slice oranges, remove seeds. Slice avocado. Arrange endive and/or romaine, oranges, avocado and grapefruit slices on plates. Put drained onions on top of each salad. Drizzle with dressing.

2. 3. 4.

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RECIPE GUIDE

Louisiana Cioppino (Italian seafood stew)

BY THE DIRESTO FAMILY Serves 8-10 people - Originally published in The Advocate in 2026

SEAFOOD STOCK • • • • • •

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil Shrimp shells from 2 pounds of peeled shrimp 2 lobster tail shells 1 pound bag of Louisiana gumbo crabs 6 cups water 1 small yellow onion, coarsely chopped

• • • • • • •

2 carrots, coarsely chopped 2 celery stalks, coarsely chopped 4 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed Handful of fresh parsley 1 bay leaf 10 black peppercorns 2 teaspoons sea salt

•

1 pound Louisiana shrimp, peeled and deveined 1 pound Louisiana lump or claw crabmeat 1 pound firm and meaty (not flaky) fish filets, catfish or cod, cut into 1-inch chunks Optional: 2 pounds mussels, with 1/4 cup flour for cleaning Optional: 1/2 pound scallops Handful of Italian flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped 10 leaves of fresh basil, chopped

FOR THE STEW • • • • • • • • • •

4 tablespoons or half stick salted butter 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil 1 small yellow onion, ﬁnely diced 5 garlic cloves, minced 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper ﬂakes 1 cup or 1 small bottle dry white wine 2 tablespoons tomato paste 3 large cans (28 ounces) whole/ peeled San Marzano tomatoes 1/2 teaspoon each sea salt and ground black pepper 4 cups homemade seafood stock (or store-bought substitute + clam juice)

• • • • • •

FOR THE STOCK 1. 2. 3. 4.

Cut crabs into pieces, wash and pat dry. In a large pot or Dutch oven, add olive oil and warm over medium heat. Add shrimp shells, lobster shells, and crab pieces and sauté until shells turn pink. Add water, stir in all other ingredients, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for three hours. Strain in ﬁne mesh strainer and set stock aside.

FOR THE STEW 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

6. 7.

Photos by Quentin DiResto Sauté onions in butter and olive oil over medium-low heat until translucent. Stir in garlic and red pepper flakes and sauté for an additional one minute. Stir in tomato paste and white wine, simmer until the liquid reduces by half. Crush the tomatoes by hand and stir into the pot along with seafood stock. Bring to a boil, then cover, reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes. If using mussels: Fill a large bowl with cold water, mix in 1/4 cup of all-purpose flour, and submerge and soak mussels for 30 minutes in the refrigerator. Then rinse mussels thoroughly and scrub shells with a hard brush if necessary. Discard any mussels that are already open. Add mussels to pot and simmer, covered, for 5 minutes or until shells open. With a slotted spoon, remove them from the heat and put in a separate bowl until serving, discarding any mussels that did not open while cooking. (Because of mollusk allergies, for this recipe, I did not include the scallops, and I cooked the mussels in a separate pot using two cups of the stew sauce.) Add the remaining seafood, parsley and basil, stir, increase heat momentarily, then simmer until seafood is just done and firm. Overcooking the shrimp and scallops will cause them to shrink, and overcooking the fish will cause it to flake. Serve in bowls, adding mussels on top, with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and good bread for dipping.

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RECIPE GUIDE

Seafood Gumbo

BY DEBRA BROUSSARD TAGHEHCHIAN Makes 6-8 servings Originally published in The Advocate in 2024 • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 1. 2. 3.

4. 5. Photo by Debra Broussard Taghehchian

3/4 cup jarred prepared roux 2 quarts water (8 cups) 3 tablespoons of vegetable oil 1 large onion, chopped medium dice 1 green bell pepper, chopped medium dice 2 stalks of celery, chopped medium dice 1/2 package or 1 ounce of dried shrimp 2 pounds peeled small shrimp, 50-60 count per pound 1 pound fresh large shrimp with heads and peels 1 quart water or seafood stock 1 pound of fresh crabmeat 1 pint fresh shucked oysters 1/2 cup chopped green onions 1/2 cup chopped parsley Salt Red cayenne pepper Granulated garlic In a stock pot, dissolve roux with 2 quarts of water. Boil for 30 minutes. In a skillet, add 3 tablespoons of oil and the chopped onions, green bell peppers and celery. Sauté vegetables until they become translucent. Add to the roux and water mixture. Add dried shrimp and boil for 30 minutes. While gumbo boils, peel and devein large shrimp. Place shrimp in the refrigerator. Rinse the peelings and shrimp heads and place in a pot and cover with 1 quart of water. Boil for 5-10 minutes. Drain liquid into a bowl and discard the heads and peelings. Add shrimp liquid to the gumbo. Add small shrimp to the gumbo. Drain oyster liquid into a bowl and place oysters in the refrigerator. Add oyster liquid to the gumbo. Season gumbo to taste with salt, red cayenne pepper and granulated garlic. Allow gumbo to gently boil for 30 minutes. Fifteen minutes before serving, add crabmeat, fresh large shrimp and oysters. Cook for 10 minutes over medium heat until shrimp is cooked through and turns pink in color, and the oysters become plump and the edges curl. Turn off heat and add green onions and parsley.

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RECIPE GUIDE

Oyster Pie BY OLIVIA REGARD Serves 6-8 Originally published in The Advocate in 2024 • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

2 (9-inch) unbaked pie crusts 1 pts. oysters, drain and reserve oyster liquid. Halve or quarter the oysters if large. 3 strips of bacon, chopped or ¼ cup butter (see note below to make pie meat-free) 1 cup chopped onion ½ cup chopped celery ½ cup chopped green onions 2-3 cloves garlic, chopped ½ teaspoon kosher salt ¼ teaspoon fresh-cracked black pepper 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper ¼ cup ﬂour ½ cup heavy cream ½ lemon, juiced ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley

Photo by Olivia Regard If you desire a meat-free option, omit the bacon and step 3. Sauté the vegetables in ¼ cup olive oil or butter. 1. 2. 3.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Place one pie crust into a pie plate and set aside. Cook bacon over medium high heat until browned. Remove with a slotted spoon and reserve ¼ cup bacon grease in the pan. (Note: If making the pie meat-free, begin by melting the butter in a skillet). 4. Sauté the onions and celery and cook until soft and the onions translucent. 5. Add the green onions, garlic salt, pepper, and cayenne. Cook, stirring for one minute. 6. Add the flour and stir continuously until the mixture is a golden-brown roux. 7. Gradually stir in ¾ cup reserved oyster liqueur, heavy whipping cream, and lemon juice. Cook until thickened, approximately 4-5 minutes. 8. Add the oysters and cook for one to two minutes. Remove from heat. 9. Fold in parsley and bacon (if using). Let cool slightly and adjust the seasoning to taste. 10. Pour the oyster filling into the prepared pie crust and top with the remaining crust. Crimp the pie crust edges to seal and cut several decorative slits in the top of the pie crust for venting while baking. 11. Bake until golden brown and the filling is bubbly, approximately 30-35 minutes. 12. Remove from the oven and let cool on a wire rack for 15 minutes before serving.

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RECIPE GUIDE

Mini Pecan Pies BY OLIVIA REGARD

Makes 24 single-serve pies (or one 9-inch pie*) Originally published in The Advocate in 2025 • • • • •

1 cup pecan halves, toasted ½ cup melted butter, cooled 1 cup sugar 3 eggs, room temperature ¾ cup light Karo syrup

• • • •

¼ cup Steen’s molasses 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt 2 teaspoons vanilla 2 (9-inch) pie shells

1. 2. 3. 4.

Photo by Olivia Regard

Preheat oven to 350 F. Toast pecan pieces for approximately 10 minutes until fragrant. Melt the butter and set aside to cool while pecans toast. Whisk together eggs, sugar, light Karo syrup, Steen’s molasses, salt and vanilla. Stir in cooled butter. 5. Butter muffin tins. (Use mini tins for bite-sized pies or standard muffin tins for single-serve pies.) 6. Cut pie shells into rounds using a 3¼-inch biscuit cutter. Gently press dough into muffin tins to create a small well for the filling, leaving space between the dough and the bottom of the muffin tin. 7. Break pecan halves into smaller pieces and add toasted pecans to pie shell (about 1 teaspoon of pecan pieces per shell). 8. Add one tablespoon of filling to the pie shell with pecan pieces. 9. Bake 17 minutes until filling is set. 10. Let pies cool in tins, then gently remove. Store in an airtight container. Note: This recipe is great for preparing ahead of a gathering. The baked pies freeze well in an airtight container. Any extra filling can also be frozen for future baking. Return frozen filling to room temperature before baking. *For one 9-inch pie, use only one of the two pie shells. Press the pie shell into a pie plate or cast-iron skillet. Adjust baking time to one hour.

Stuﬀed Artichokes

RECIPE FROM "EXTRA! EXTRA! READ ALL ABOUT IT!" BY CORINNE COOK Originally published in The Advocate in 2024, from the cookbook that was published in 1995 • • • • •

3 artichokes 3 cloves garlic, minced 1 small onion, grated 3½ to 4 cups Italian bread crumbs 1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley

• • •

6 ounces fresh Romano cheese, grated Salt and pepper 1 (8-ounce) bottle olive oil

TO PREPARE ARTICHOKES: Cut off about 1 inch from the top of the artichoke. Cut stem close to base of bottom of artichoke so that it will remain standing. Do not discard the stem, but peel off hard covering down to the center core. Chop the tender core up in the bread mixture. Snip off leaf tips with scissors to remove thorny tips. Wash thoroughly and drain. Place artichoke upside down on table and press down ﬁrmly with palm of your hand. This opens the leaves and makes stufﬁng between the leaves easier. 1. 2. 3. 4. Photo by Javier Gallegos

Mix chopped stem, garlic, onion, bread crumbs, parsley and cheese in large pan. Season, if desired, with salt and pepper. Starting at the bottom row, go around the artichoke, opening leaves with one hand and stufﬁng the bread mixture between the leaves with your other hand. Place stuffed artichokes in heavy pot with lid. Pour the olive oil slowly over each artichoke, being sure to saturate each one well. You want it to seep into the bread mixture. Pour about 1 inch of water in bottom of pot. When water boils, turn heat down to simmer, cover and cook about 1 hour or until leaves pull apart easily.

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RECIPE GUIDE

Sourdough Popovers BY OLIVIA REGARD Originally published in The Advocate in 2024 • • • • • • • •

1 1/4 cups milk (whole or 2%) 2 tablespoons unsalted butter 3 large eggs, at room temperature* 1/2 cup sourdough starter discard 1 teaspoon ﬁne sea salt Freshly ground black pepper 1 cup all-purpose ﬂour Cooking spray

*I learned this the hard way: If your eggs are not at room temperature, your popover will not be light and airy, but instead will be custardy, seem undercooked and deﬂate quickly after removed from the oven. 1.

Place the oven rack in the position just below the center of the oven and place a 6-cup popover pan or muffin tin inside the oven. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees while you prepare the popover batter. 2. In a small saucepan, gently warm the milk and butter over low heat. 3. Place the eggs into a large bowl and add the sourdough starter, salt and a few turns of freshly ground black pepper (approximately 1-2 teaspoons), and whisk to combine. 4. Gradually whisk the warm milk mixture into the egg mixture until fully incorporated. 5. Add the flour and continue to whisk until the batter becomes thin, frothy and free of lumps. 6. Remove the hot popover pan from the oven and spray the inside of the cups with cooking spray. 7. Ladle the batter into the pan, filling each cup about 2/3 full. The batter will sizzle when you add it to the hot popover pan. 8. Place the pan with the batter into the oven and immediately reduce the heat to 400 degrees. 9. Bake for 35-40 minutes. Resist the urge to open the oven door while the popovers bake. The popovers will rise beautifully and are fully baked when a deep golden brown in color. 10. Serve piping hot with good, salted butter. Note: If you want to experiment with the flavors of your popovers, consider adding to the batter during step 3 above — 1 to 2 tablespoons of herbs (rosemary, chives, or thyme), one tablespoon of Dijon mustard and two teaspoons of garlic powder or other spices.

Photo by Olivia Regard

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RECIPE GUIDE

Louisiana Crawﬁsh King Cake RECIPE ADAPTED BY HOLLY CLEGG FROM HER "GULF COAST FAVORITES" COOKBOOK. Makes 4 servings Originally published in The Advocate in 2017 • • • • 1. 2.

Provided photos

3. 4. 5.

½ cup chopped onion ½ cup chopped red or green bell pepper 1 teaspoon minced garlic 1 cup Louisiana crawﬁsh tails, drained and rinsed

• • • •

1/3 cup chopped green onion 3 tablespoons reduced-fat cream cheese 2 (8-ounce) cans reduced-fat crescent rolls Topping

Preheat oven 350 F. Line a 10-inch round pizza pan with foil then coat with nonstick cooking spray. In nonstick skillet coated with nonstick cooking spray, sauté onion, red pepper and garlic until tender. Add crawfish, green onion and cream cheese, stirring until creamy. Remove from heat. Separate crescent rolls at perforations into 16 slices. Place slices around prepared pan with points in the center. About halfway down from points, press seams together. Spread crawfish mixture on dough in the center where seams have been pressed together. Fold dough points over filling, then fold bottom of triangle over points forming circular roll like king cake. Bake about 20–25 minutes or until golden brown. Sprinkle with Mardi Gras Topping (below).

MARDI GRAS TOPPING • •

6 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese Yellow, green, red and blue food coloring

Divide cheese into three small bowls. Add a few drops of yellow food coloring to one bowl and a few drops of green food coloring to the next. In the last bowl, add equal amounts of red and blue food coloring; mix to make purple. Sprinkle cheese over baked king cake. Return to oven 1-2 minutes or until cheese melted.

Nutritional information per serving: calories 136, calories from fat 46%, fat 7g, saturated fat 2g, cholesterol 26mg, sodium 317mg, carbohydrate 15g, dietary ﬁber 0g, sugars 3g, protein 6g. Dietary Exchanges: 1 starch, ½ lean meat, 1 fat

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RECIPE GUIDE

Grilled Double-Cut Pork Chop with Cane Gastrique BY ISACC TOUPS, TOUPS MEATERY Makes 4 servings Originally published in The Advocate in 2021

PORK CHOPS & BRINE • • • •

2 20-ounce bone-in double-cut pork chops (not frenched) 1 gallon water 1 cup dark brown sugar 1 cup kosher salt

• • •

2 tablespoons whole black peppercorns 4 bay leaves Ice (lots of it)

CANE SYRUP GASTRIQUE • • •

1 cup cane syrup (or molasses) 1 cup cane vinegar (or cider vinegar) 4 tablespoons unsalted butter (½ stick)

FOR SERVING • •

Dirty Rice Sliced green onions, for garnish

Brine the chops: Combine water, sugar, salt, pepper and bay leaves in a large pot and bring to a boil. Simmer for 20 minutes, then give it a good stir to make sure all the salt and sugar are dissolved. In a 3-gallon food-safe bucket, add the brine and enough ice until you have exactly 1½ gallons of brine. Once the brine is cold, place the pork chops in brine, cover and refrigerate for 24 hours. Remove the chops from the brine and pat dry with paper towels. Season heavily with more salt and fresh ground black pepper. Make the gastrique: In a saucepan, combine the cane syrup and cane vinegar. Bring to a boil over medium heat and cook until the liquid has reduced to 1 cup, about 20 minutes. (There’s no need to stir, but watch closely as it likes to burn.) You can make in larger batches, the shelf life is pretty much inﬁnite. Store in a sealed jar; it does not need to be refrigerated. Grill the chops: Preheat the grill to high. Preheat the oven to 400 F. Grill all sides of pork chop (even bone side) for 2 to 3 minutes on each side to get really hard grill marks. Put the pork chops in a roasting pan and top each with 2 tablespoons of butter. Roast for 8 to 10 minutes, until 135 F internal temperature (for medium) or preferred temperature. Allow the chops to rest for 3 minutes in the pan. Then right before you serve, dip them on all sides in the juices and the butter that’s left in the pan. To serve: Serve immediately. Place the dirty rice on a platter, place the warm pork chops on top, and drizzle ¼ cup gastrique generously over the top of each. Garnish with sliced green onion.

Provided Photo

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RECIPE GUIDE

Catﬁsh with Crawﬁsh Sauce BY KEVIN BELTON

Originally published in The Advocate in 2023 • • • • • • •

5 catﬁsh ﬁllets 4 tablespoons butter 1 tablespoon kosher salt 1 tablespoon black pepper ground 1 tablespoon olive oil 2 teaspoons Creole seasoning 2 tablespoons shallots, minced

1. 2.

Season catfish fillets with salt and pepper. Heat a skillet over medium heat, add butter and cook catfish 2-3 minutes per side until cooked through. While fish is cooking, in another skillet heat olive oil, sauté shallots and garlic for 2 minutes. Add crawfish tails and season with Creole seasoning. Stir in heavy cream, hot sauce, green onions and parsley. Heat thoroughly taste and adjust with salt and pepper. When fish is cooked, remove to plates and top with crawfish sauce.

3. 4. 5.

• • • • • • •

1 tablespoon garlic, minced 1 pound crawﬁsh tails 2 cups heavy whipping cream 1 tablespoon hot sauce ¼ cup green onions, chopped ¼ cup parsley, chopped kosher salt and pepper to taste

Speckled Trout Amandine BY KEVIN BELTON Originally published in The Advocate in 2023 • • • • • • • • •

4 speckled trout ﬁllets Salt and pepper, to taste 1 cup milk ½ cup ﬂour vegetable oil 1 cup butter 1 cup sliced almonds Juice of 1 lemon parsley, chopped

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Sprinkle fillets with salt and pepper, dip into milk and roll in flour. Fry in 3/4 inch of hot oil in a shallow skillet until golden on both sides. Remove and keep warm. In a separate pan, melt and whip butter until frothy. Add sliced almonds, lemon juice and parsley. Place each fillet on a heated plate and pour sauce over it.

Photos by Monica Belton

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RECIPE GUIDE

Parmesan-Crusted Baked Catﬁsh BY KEVIN BELTON

Serves 4 Originally published in The Advocate in 2025 • • • • • • • • • • •

4 catﬁsh ﬁllets 2 eggs, beaten 1⁄2 cup milk 1 cup seasoned breadcrumbs 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese 2 teaspoons garlic, minced 1⁄4 cup fresh parsley, chopped 2 teaspoons dried oregano 1 teaspoon sea salt 1 teaspoon coarse-ground black pepper Nonstick cooking spray

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

Heat oven to 400 degrees. Rinse fillets and pat dry. Mix eggs and milk in a small bowl. Combine the remaining ingredients in another bowl. Dip fillets into egg mixture, and then into breadcrumb mixture, coating evenly. Place fillets, rounded side up, on a greased baking sheet. Spray fillets lightly with nonstick cooking spray and bake, uncovered, for about 15 minutes, or until fish flakes when tested with a fork.

Creole Slaw BY KEVIN BELTON

This recipe calls for a quarter cup of mayonnaise, but for a lighter version, substitute plain Greek yogurt. This slaw is best eaten the same day, as it loses its crunch over time. However, you can refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Serves 6-8 Originally published in The Advocate in 2025 • • • • • •

16 ounces of packaged coleslaw mix 1/4 cup mayo 1 tablespoon Creole seasoning 2 tablespoons Creole mustard 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar 2 teaspoons sugar

1. 2. 3. 4.

Combine the mayo, mustard, seasoning, cider and sugar. Mix well. Add the seasoning mixture to the coleslaw. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes prior to serving. Taste and adjust for seasoning. If you want a spicier slaw, add a splash of hot sauce Photos by Monica Belton

16 THE DISH RECIPE GUIDE | THE ADVOCATE

RECIPE GUIDE

Cannoli BY OLIVIA REGARD

Originally published in The Advocate in 2026

FOR THE SHELLS • • • •

1 1/4 cups all-purpose ﬂour, plus more for dusting 2 1/2 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into tiny pieces 1 teaspoon granulated sugar 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

• • • • •

1/16 teaspoon ground cinnamon 3 tablespoons marsala wine 3 tablespoons cold tap water 6 cups canola oil for frying 1 large egg white, well-beaten

FOR THE FILLING • • • •

1 (16-ounce) container ricotta cheese 1/2 cup powdered sugar, plus extra for dusting 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

• • • •

1/16 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 orange or lemon for zest (optional) 1/4 cup heavy cream 3/4 cup mini chocolate chips, divided

FOR THE SHELLS 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14.

Lightly grease a large bowl with a small amount of olive oil. Set aside. In the bowl of a food processor, combine flour, butter, sugar, salt and cinnamon. Pulse the mixture until the butter is completely incorporated. Add the marsala wine and water and continue processing until the dough forms. Transfer the dough to the prepared bowl and cover tightly with plastic wrap. Allow the dough to rest 3 hours (or up to 8 hours) at room temperature. When ready to form the dough into shells, sprinkle ¼ cup flour onto a large work space. Turn the dough out onto the floured surface and roll the dough into a large circle about 1/16-inch in thickness. Use additional flour as needed to prevent sticking. Lightly brush the entire surface with the beaten egg white. Gently fold the dough in half, then dust with more flour and re-roll into a circle about 1/16-inch in thickness. Using a cookie or biscuit cutter, cut the dough into 4-inch rounds. Heat the oil in a 5-quart pot or Dutch oven until the oil reaches 360 F. Line a large baking sheet with 4 layers of paper towels and set aside. Photo by Olivia Regard Lightly grease cannoli forms with nonstick spray or oil, then place each form onto a piece of prepared cannoli dough. Wrap the dough around the form and brush with the egg white to firmly seal the end pieces. Carefully place 4 to 5 cannoli forms into the hot oil and fry until the dough is bubbling and lightly gold, about 2 minutes. Remove the forms and gently tap the tapered end of the form against the prepared baking tray so the pastry shell slides free. Let cool. Reuse the forms to fry the remaining dough. Cool the shells to room temperature and use immediately, or store up to 1 week in an airtight container.

FOR THE FILLING 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Place the ricotta cheese into a fine mesh strainer lined with a cheesecloth and place the strainer over a bowl. Let sit in the fridge to drain for at least 6 hours and up to 24 hours. In a large bowl, whisk the cheese until smooth. Sift in the confectioners’ sugar, salt and ground cinnamon. Stir in the vanilla extract and citrus zest. Mix well until just combined. In a separate bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the heavy cream until stiff. Using a rubber spatula, gently fold into the ricotta mixture. Stir in the chocolate chips. Cannoli are best served immediately. So, if ready to serve, place the mixture into a pastry bag fitted with a 1/2-inch open tip. If enjoyment is delayed, refrigerate the filling until ready to serve. The filling can be made up to 24 hours in advance. Pipe the filling into one end of each cannoli shell, filling the shell halfway, then pipe the filling into the other end. Place remaining mini chocolate chips on a small plate. Dip each end of the cannoli into the chocolate chips, then lightly dust with confectioner’s sugar. Serve at once.