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‘KIND OF EERIE’

beach towns go quiet as category 2 storm makes landfall

Southern names 3 ﬁnalists for top job board of Supervisors to make final choice

BY HALEY MILLER Staff writer

Gulf Coast with growing intensity on Friday, scrambling forecasters’ earlier predictions. On Friday evening, the National Hurricane Center expected Isaias to strike as a Category 3 storm, though it ultimately made landfall as a Category 2 with 105 mph winds near Destin, Florida just before 8:30 p.m. The forecast for the Atlantic’s first

Three candidates will advance to the final round of the search for Southern University’s next president. Brian Bridges, Roscoe Jones and Larissa Littleton-Steib will be considered by the Southern University Board of Supervisors to lead the public historically Black university system, which has campuses in Baton Rouge, Shreveport and New Orleans. The search committee interviewed six semifinalists — Jaffus Hardrick, Willie Smith, John Belton, Bridges, Jones and LittletonSteib — throughout the day Friday in Baton Rouge. The interviews were done in executive session, though each candidate was allowed opening remarks to the public. Bridges is a senior adviser at the education consulting firm Whiteboard Advisors and the former secretary of higher education for the state of New Jersey. He served as a vice president for the United Negro College Fund, a Washington, D.C.-based organization that funds scholarships and advocates for HBCUs, as well as chief diversity officer for Ohio University. He has a doctorate in higher education from Indiana University. In his opening remarks, Bridges said he is a “Southern gentleman with Northern sensibilities” who saw the “emancipating power of

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double red flags alert beachgoers that swimming is prohibited near the beach ball water tower in Pensacola beach, Fla., on Friday. BY MARTHA SANCHEZ

Staff writer

The surging winds and growing waves that began battering the Florida Panhandle and Alabama Gulf Coast on Friday forced thousands across the region to retreat into homes and shelters as they waited, on edge, for Hurricane Isaias. Tropical storm conditions reached the coastline Friday afternoon, transform-

ing dozens of popular beach towns into a strange, uneasy quiet. A few surfers braved the rising waves, but the streets were empty except for a handful of cars and television reporters. “It’s kind of eerie,” said Nic Allegretto, the mayor in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, which would normally be bustling on a Friday afternoon. “The majority of our citizens have taken this very seriously.” Hurricane Isaias surged towards the

Mike Ditka, NFL legend and former Saints coach, dies at 86 BY JIM LITKE

AP sports writer CHICAGO — Mike Ditka, who personiﬁed the toughness and grit of Chicago in a Hall of Fame career as a player and coach of the Bears and the leader of arguably the most dominant team in NFL history, has died. He was 86. Ditka’s family announced his death on Friday in a statement. “It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend, Mike Ditka,” the family said.

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“While the world knew Mike as a Hall of Fame football player, legendary coach, and leader of the Chicago Bears’ Super Bowl XX championship team, we knew him as the heart of our family. Mike will be missed beyond measure and remembered forever.” Nicknamed “Iron Mike” as a player, Ditka helped revolutionize the tight end position and in 1988 was the ﬁrst to play at the spot to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He then moved to the sidelines and later took over as Chicago’s coach. His 1985 team featured one of the game’s most domi-

mike ditka coached the New orleans Saints from 1997 to 1999.

nant defenses ever. It also had enough outsized personalities to record a rap video, “The Super Bowl Shufﬂe,” and back up their boasting in the championship game three months later. Ditka had less success with the Saints. Overseeing the team from 1997 to 1999, his most memorable moment was the Ricky Williams trade, in which the Saints gave up eight draft picks to Washington to move up and take the running back at No. 5 in 1999. “We proudly honor his chapters as

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Thieves steal 30,000 bottles of wine in Italy ROME — Thieves stole about 30,000 bottles of some of Italy’s most prized wines worth an estimated $5.8 million from a winery in Tuscany, in what the producer described Friday as the country’s largest wine theft on record. The theft targeted Marchesi Antinori’s facility near Cortona, in the province of Arezzo, where a group of at least seven thieves on Saturday night made off with bottles of some of Italy’s most sought-after wines, including Solaia, Tignanello and Guado al Tasso. The theft was discovered Monday, but the company made it public on Friday to avoid interfering with the investigation. Chief Executive Renzo Cotarella said the thieves disabled the winery’s alarm system and surveillance cameras before entering with two large trucks. Using the company’s forklifts, they loaded the vehicles with wine and ﬂed during the night. “It is certainly a very wellprepared gang,” Cotarella said, adding that it may be the same group that has targeted other Italian wineries in recent months. “A theft of this size and value has never occurred in Italy.” The stolen bottles were all from the 2023 vintage and are typically sold at a retail price of between $168 and $560 each. They included about 10,000 bottles of Solaia, one of Antinori’s ﬂagship wines, from what Cotarella described as an exceptional year.

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U.S. to obtain diesel from Russia

will deliver an additional 3 ministration to target the top im- diately respond to questions about Trump’s deal with Russia who was paying for the diesel from million tons “within a short period porters of Russian oil and gas. Russia and when the fuel being supSen. Richard Blumenthal, Dof time” after that, he wrote. Putin marks sharp Trump’s shocking announcement Conn., who co-sponsored the Rus- plied under the agreement would after he signed a sweeping sian sanctions law, slammed it as a become available. It also did not reversal of u.S. policy comes Russia sanctions law last month “poorly concealed attempt to miti- clarify whether subsequent supahead of midterms that aimed at clamping down on gate the havoc caused by Trump’s plies of Russian diesel set to come

BY MICHELLE L. PRICE and COLLIN BINKLEY Associated Press

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said he has struck a deal to obtain diesel from Russia, a stunning reversal of years of U.S. pressure on Moscow over its war with Ukraine and an attempt to address high fuel prices ahead of the U.S. midterm elections. Trump said on social media on Friday that he struck the deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin in a phone call in which he was expected to discuss a suspected case of plague in Russia. Instead, Trump announced that Russia will immediately supply more than 300,000 tons of diesel, followed by an additional 500,000 tons in November and 1 million tons “immediately thereafter.”

Russia’s oil and gas revenues that fuel its war against Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called it “a weak decision, unfortunately, a weak decision by strong partners,” according to a statement released by the Ukrainian Embassy in Washington. Trump announced the deal as his envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner were meeting with Ukrainian ofﬁcials in Miami to discuss a proposal to try to end the Russia-Ukraine war. “I believe our team is simply being used as a smokescreen. And that is certainly not fair. It is certainly not how partners should treat each other,” Zelenskyy said. Trump’s move casts doubt on the likelihood of the White House imposing sanctions on Russia this month, given that a bipartisan law passed by Congress directs the ad-

illegal war in Iran.” “The President’s decision to lift sanctions on Russian diesel is an embarrassment and makes us complicit in Putin’s war against Ukraine,” he said in a statement. Trump, in his announcement, did not address the sanctions or Russia’s war but said, “Lower prices for Americans, especially our Great Farmers, Ranchers, and Truckers, is my Greatest Priority.” Trump said later as he left the White House for a campaign rally that he was thankful for the deal. “I want to thank President Putin. To be honest with you, we have massive amounts of oil coming into our country, and it’s diesel, which is what we want. So, thank you,” Trump said. He did not answer shouted questions about the criticism from Zelenskyy. The White House did not imme-

U.S. hits International Criminal Court with sweeping sanctions BY MATTHEW LEE and MOLLY QUELL Associated Press

Trump taps Zacharia as new press secretary WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump announced Friday that Katie Zacharia, a communications adviser for his media company, will succeed Karoline Leavitt as White House press secretary. Trump revealed his selection of Zacharia on his Truth Social platform, where he often makes political and official announcements. Zacharia is a conservative commentator for Trump Media & Technology Group, which operates the social media site. In naming Zacharia, Trump described her as “a loyal and brilliant supporter, right from the beginning.” Zacharia briefly worked as a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security earlier this year and has been a commentator for Fox News and Newsmax. Trump said Zacharia had been involved in his presidential campaigns, notably in swing states. A request for comment left with Zacharia was not immediately answered. A LinkedIn profile noted that she earned a law degree from Pepperdine University. Leavitt announced her departure Aug. 12 and left the position Aug. 27. She will serve as an on-air contributor on Fox News Channel beginning Nov. 1, the network said Monday.

Saudis say 3 killed in Houthi strikes on airport

BEIRUT — An airline pilot was among three Saudi citizens killed in attacks targeting Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport and a Saudia airlines plane, the kingdom’s civil aviation authority said Friday. Several people “of different nationalities” were wounded. Thursday’s attacks were the deadliest in Saudi Arabia since the kingdom and allied forces in neighboring Yemen launched a major military offensive against Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels last weekend. The attacks also marked a significant escalation on the latest front in the Iran war, which has kept oil prices and financial markets volatile. U.N. special envoy Hans Grundberg told the U.N. Security Council that the situation in Yemen remained “highly fluid,” with civilians bearing the brunt of escalating violence in a country already facing dire humanitarian conditions and food insecurity. By Friday afternoon, at least 124 flights to and from Riyadh had been canceled after hundreds more were canceled a day earlier, according to flighttracking site FlightAware.

next month would be supplied prior to Election Day on Nov. 3. Gas prices globally have surged as the war in Iran upends the energy sector. While diesel future prices dipped on the news on Friday, the national average for a gallon of diesel in the U.S. remained high at $6.28, according to AAA, after hitting a record $6.52 on Sept. 22. A statement from Putin, released by the Kremlin on Friday, said that during their call he and Trump dedicated “significant attention to the prospects of resolving the Ukrainian crisis” and also discussed “the situation around Iran and various aspects of bilateral relations.” Russia “confirmed its readiness to supply oil and oil products to the American and global markets,” Putin said. “I am confident that this will have a positive impact on the entire global economy.”

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People gather Friday outside a shopping mall after an earthquake in Panama city.

2 major quakes, multiple aftershocks rock Panama

BY ALMA SOLÍS, MEGAN JANETSKY and JUAN ZAMORANO Associated Press

PANAMA CITY — Two powerful 7.7 and 6.6 magnitude earthquakes and a series of aftershocks roiled southern Panama Friday afternoon, collapsing buildings near the epicenter and prompting evacuations across the country. The earlier quake, felt as far away as neighboring Colombia, was centered about 6 miles southwest of the remote community of Pitaloza Arriba, in the central province of Herrera, the USGS said. It struck at a depth of 6 miles. The USGS initially reported the first quake as magnitude 8, then revised it to 7.6 and later to 7.7. Visibly shaken residents of Panama City, the capital, gathered outside as they waited for news of the quake’s impact on Friday. “We felt it very strongly. It knocked things over in the kitchen, but we’re okay, though we’re very scared,” Rosendo Domínguez, 60, who is from Herrera province, where the earthquake

struck, told The Associated Press by phone. “Everyone is outside, scared.” Multiple aftershocks continued to rattle Panama, including several measuring magnitude 5.8, 5.5 and 5.2. Seismologists at the University of Panama recorded more than 45 aftershocks, though many were too weak to be felt. Despite the strength of the successive quakes, Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino said authorities had not documented anyone killed as of Friday evening, though he cautioned that could change in the coming hours or days. “Nobody was ready, and no one is ever ready for this type of disaster,” Mulino said, after calling for calm earlier in the day. Images of crumbling buildings and deep ﬁssures slicing through roads added to fears across a region battered by a series of devastating earthquakes in recent months. Two back-to-back 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes roiled Venezuela’s La Guaira state in June, killing more than 6,500 people and

leaving 17,000 homeless. In August, a 7.4 magnitude earthquake in Colombia killed at least 289 people. The notably lesser toll in nearby Panama may have been due to the country’s strict building codes, especially governing construction of skyscrapers in the capital, said Carlos Valdés, head of the Seismology Department at the National Autonomous University of Mexico. Omar Smith of the National Civil Protection Service said on the Telemetro Reporta news channel that damage was concentrated in the central provinces of Veraguas, Herrera and Los Santos and there were no reports of damages in Panama City. Smith said several injuries have been reported, including one person struck by debris from a partially collapsed structure in the city of Penonomé, around 93 miles from the capital. He confirmed a partial collapse and cracks at the cathedral in the district’s main square, as well as damage in the governor’s ofﬁce building and the Dos Continentes hotel.

Vance expresses doubts about plan to stream Fort Hood shooter’s execution BY JULIE CARR SMYTH and MICHELLE L. PRICE

Associated Press

HEBRON, Ky. — Vice President JD Vance cast doubt Friday on whether the Pentagon will livestream the execution of Fort Hood shooter Nidal Malik Hasan in December but told reporters that if it is livestreamed, “I’m not going to be watching it.” The Republican vice president said, “I don’t know that that’s actually going to happen,” when

asked about the plans that the Pentagon confirmed Thursday. But Vance then tried to set aside the controversy over the shocking plans for a public execution and said Hasan’s crimes should not be forgotten. Hasan was convicted of killing 13 people and injuring 32 others in a shooting spree at the military base in 2009. “So whatever the controversy is about the method of the execution, I hope that people don’t forget that this is a guy

who brutally murdered a lot of innocent people,” Vance said. “Now, that said, I mean, look, if it’s ultimately livestreamed, I’m not going to be watching it,” he added. Vance is a convert to the Catholic Church, which has long opposed capital punishment. Earlier Friday morning, the head of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops condemned the U.S. government’s decision to livestream Hasan’s execution.

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration has imposed sweeping new sanctions on the International Criminal Court as part of its campaign to dismantle the tribunal over investigations into the United States and its allies, including Israel. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the sanctions Friday, after the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to South African jurist Navi Pillay, a former judge at the ICC and other international courts. Trump has coveted that prize for himself. “We will ban transactions with this rogue court, cutting off their resources and crippling its ability to operate against us,” Rubio said in a video address posted to social media. “The United States and the American people are not subject to

the jurisdiction of this fake ICC.” The sanctions cut the court off from U.S.-based ﬁnancial services, technology companies and even using U.S. dollars. They set a six-month timeline for U.S. companies and individuals that have business with the court to wind that business down. The ICC denounced the step as an attack on the rule of law and the foundations of international order, themes that Rubio had appeared to embrace only two days ago in a speech in front of the Acropolis in Athens. “It is an attempt to obstruct the course of justice and to prevent the court from doing what it was created to do,” the court said in a statement. “It is an assault on the rule of law and on the very foundations of the international legal order which strikes at the simple principle that no one stands above the law.”

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Navi Pillay wins Nobel Peace Prize Trump creates panel to probe Lisa Cook

Jurist honored for her work in international justice

move is latest effort to fire Fed governor

BY STEFANIE DAZIO, JAMEY KEATEN and KOSTYA MANENKOV

BY CHRISTOPHER RUGABER AP economics writer

Associated Press

OSLO, Norway — Navi Pillay, a South African-born jurist and former U.N. human rights chief whose career has spanned from defending the rights of an imprisoned Nelson Mandela to leading a panel that found that Israel committed genocide in Gaza, won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday for efforts that the award committee said promoted international law as it comes under attack. Her win is sure to be seen as a high-profile rebuke to U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who have both rejected the findings of the U.N. commission she led on Gaza. The leaders also have been highly critical of the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court. Pillay has worked at both. Hours after the award was announced in Norway, the Trump administration imposed sweeping new sanctions on the International Criminal Court as part of its campaign to dismantle the tribunal over investigations into the United States and its allies, including Israel. On the 125th anniversary of the prize’s inception, the Norwegian Nobel Committee sought “to remind the world that the rule of law, national and international, underpins the system we have set up to ensure peace and resolve conﬂicts nonviolently. Peace requires justice,” committee Chairman Jørgen Watne Frydnes said. Judges “guard the thin red line between order and chaos,” and the world needs ju-

dPA PhoTo by dANIeL KArmANN

South African-born jurist and former u.N. human rights chief Navanethem ‘Navi’ Pillay speaks Friday at the Nuremberg Forum in Nuremberg, Germany, following the announcement that she had been awarded the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize. rists “of courage, vision and determination, qualities that Navi Pillay demonstrates in her work on the bench.” In places such as Israel and in apartheid-era South Africa, she and peers took on some of the world’s most painful and sensitive legal issues and most vulnerable populations. Pillay, 85, received the news while attending a forum in Nuremberg, Germany, where the trials of Nazi war criminals helped lay the foundations of international law. She was in the same room where the trials were held when the prize was announced. She said efforts to weaken international criminal justice “endanger the progress painstakingly made since Nuremberg, and they risk returning us to a world in which power, rather than law, determines whose suffering matters.” Pillay chaired the Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel, which was created by the U.N.-backed Human Rights Council. The commission a year ago concluded Israel was responsible for genocide in Gaza with a speciﬁc intent to destroy Palestinians in Gaza.

Gaza was among Pillay’s first comments Friday after hearing she had won. “What’s happening there is genocide,” she said to applause. The commission also found that the Israeli president, prime minister and former defense minister “have incited the commission of genocide.” Israel, which has refused to cooperate with the commission since it was established in 2021, has strenuously denied the accusations. Pillay has repeatedly rebuffed critics who accused her of antisemitism or turning a blind eye to the Hamas attacks in Israel. Under her leadership, the commission also issued reports accusing Hamas of war crimes and violations of international humanitarian law during its Oct. 7, 2023, attack. In an interview with The Associated Press last year, she recalled how she worked closely with some Jewish lawyers in the ﬁght against apartheid in her native South Africa and was invited to Israel as the U.N. rights chief from 2008 to 2014. Growing up under the harsh system of segregation inﬂuenced Pillay’s interest in human rights and the

Officials: FlyDubai co-pilot planned to crash plane into Tel Aviv airport

BY ERIN CUNNINGHAM Associated Press

JERUSALEM — The ax-wielding co-pilot who attacked the captain of a FlyDubai flight to Tel Aviv last month intended to seize control of the airplane and fly it into the passenger terminal at Israel’s main international airport, authorities in the United Arab Emirates said Friday. The suspect, an Omani national, did so “with the intention of causing the greatest possible number of human casualties,” the UAE’s top prosecutor said in a statement carried by the state news agency WAM. Most of the 174 passengers on the flight were from Israel. The statement said the co-pilot “drew inspiration” from the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in the United States

and used two previous flights from Dubai to Tel Aviv to “familiarize himself with the ﬂight route and the airport.” It said none of FlyDubai’s security or professional checks had indicated that the pilot, who was identitifed by The Associated Press as 29-year-old Hamam al-Hammami, harbored extremist views or plans to carry out an attack. Hammami “admitted that he had acted alone, without the involvement of others,” the statement said, adding that he “provided a detailed confession outlining his motives and the stages of planning and execution” in the presence of his lawyer. It also suggested he was radicalized at a mosque in Australia while attending the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology in 2017.

The update from the public prosecutor Friday was the most comprehensive since the UAE took over the investigation shortly after the incident on Sept. 30. FlyDubai is a governmentowned airline. The crisis unfolded suddenly in the skies above Jordan and Saudi Arabia, when Hammami attacked the captain, Smit Machchhar, with a crash ax in the cockpit. Bloodied and beaten, Machchhar managed to open the cockpit door, alerting passengers and crew to the assault. Passengers detained Hammami and helped steady the aircraft, which had plunged roughly 14,000 to 16,000 feet in less than a minute. Two reserve pilots then guided the plane to an emergency landing at Tabuk airport in Saudi Arabia.

law. Starting with Mandela’s presidency, South Africa’s government has openly compared the situation faced by non-White people during apartheid to the Palestinians’ plight. “We know too well that our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians,” Mandela said soon after apartheid ended. The Nobel announcement came at another critical time for Gaza, just two days after the anniversary of the Hamas-led 2023 attack that killed about 1,200 people and sparked the war. Over 74,000 Palestinians have since been killed, with their territory devastated. Saturday marks a year since a fragile ceaseﬁre took effect, while Israeli strikes continue. Netanyahu wrote on X that the Nobel committee “has lost its moral compass” by awarding its highest honor to “a bigot who built her career around inventing and propagating blood libels against the one and only Jewish state.” The award was announced less than three weeks before Israel’s election, in which Netanyahu is ﬁghting to stay in power.

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump opened another chapter in his effort to fire Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook Friday by establishing a “committee of inquiry” to investigate allegations that she made false statements in mortgage applications. The inquiry will include a hearing Cook at the White House Nov. 5, Trump said in a written memo, that Cook “shall” attend to answer questions from the committee. The hearing wouldn’t be public but a transcript would be published, the memo said. Trump’s extraordinary demand that Cook testify before the committee will likely renew concerns about threats to the Federal Reserve’s independence. The president has repeatedly called for the central bank to cut its key interest rate, but just last month, the Fed raised it instead, led by Chair Kevin Warsh, whom Trump appointed earlier this year. Trump’s attempts to fire Cook from the Fed’s sevenmember board of governors represent the ﬁrst time in the central bank’s 113-year history that a president has sought to remove a Fed governor. Cook was appointed by former President Joe Biden and is the ﬁrst Black woman on the Fed’s board. Trump’s attacks on her followed other efforts to oust or indict Black officials, such as New York Attorney General Letitia James and Gen. Charles Q. Brown, the former chairman of the

Joint Chiefs of Staff. “As President, it is my job to ensure the laws are faithfully executed, including by firing subordinates who cannot be trusted to tell the truth and follow the law,” Trump wrote in the memorandum. Cook’s attorneys, Abbe Lowell and Norman Eisen, said they were considering having Cook appear at the Nov. 5 hearing and respond to the charges. “We have engaged with the White House to evaluate whether the process proposed has a possibility of being a genuine one and not simply a box checking exercise,” Lowell and Eisen said in a statement. “Governor Cook welcomes the opportunity to present the facts so she can clear her name and demonstrate there is no legal basis to fire her.” The “committee of inquiry” will be composed of Kevin Hassett, the president’s top economic adviser, who has frequently echoed Trump’s criticisms of the Fed; Keith Sonderling, the acting director of the Office of Government Ethics, whom the president has also appointed to lead the Labor Department, and Andrea Lucas, the chair of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, whom Trump appointed in November 2025. Trump initially tried to fire Cook in August 2025 after alleging she had committed mortgage fraud by declaring two different properties to be her “primary” residence in mortgage applications in 2021. Mortgages on primary homes can often receive a lower interest rate or other beneficial terms. Cook has denied any wrongdoing and has not been charged with a crime.

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FBI arrests suspect in hacking of bureau’s jobs portal by ShinyHunters BY ERIC TUCKER Associated Press

The FBI has arrested an accused co-conspirator of a criminal hacking group that said last month that it had breached the bureau’s jobs portal and obtained sensitive and personal data on nearly all employees of the law enforcement agency, Director Kash Patel said Friday. The arrest was the latest targeting ShinyHunters, the group that claimed responsibility for the hack, as the FBI continues a global investigation into the breach of its network, which Patel said “occurred on a platform managed by a thirdparty vendor.” “We will continue to work closely with our partners

to disrupt what’s left of the ShinyHunters group and their associates, no matter where they operate,” Patel said in a statement. The identity of the person arrested was not immediately clear, nor what charges they might face. In a message taking responsibility for the hack and announcing the collection of sensitive information, ShinyHunters said it had taken action over false allegations contained in an FBI public advisory from May that described the organization as a “cyber criminal group specializing in large-scale data breaches and extortion.” That advisory characterized ShinyHunters as “threat actors” who often “use their real or exaggerat-

ed claims of access to sensitive or personal information to prompt payment from victims,” commonly harass or threaten people and “may falsely claim to have sensitive or compromising information, including embarrassing photographs or videos of victims, which frequently do not exist.” Experts said that although the data that appeared to be compromised was the type of personal information that is routinely accessed during a breach, the hack nonetheless had alarming national security implications given that it could expose agents and their families to extortion, swatting and other harassment and because the identities of spouses were also said to have been obtained.

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DITKA

ing McMahon and defensive tackle William “The Refrigerator” Perry run for touchdowns instead of Walter Payton, Chicago’s loyal and long-suffering running back. Ryan departed for a head coaching job in Philadelphia soon after. While the Bears continued to be a contender for most of the next five years, a 5-11 season prompted Ditka’s departure in 1992.

continued from page 1A a head coach in New Orleans,” the Saints said in a statement. “While his time leading our franchise on the field was brief in longevity, his presence left an indelible mark on our organization. Mike approached his tenure with the Saints with the same bold authenticity and relentless drive that defined his entire career.” He was arguably the NFL’s most recognizable — and imitated — personality during his time as Chicago’s coach with his thick but neatly groomed mustache and sweater vest with “BEARS” emblazoned across the chest. The iconic look is still mimicked by fans at Bears games decades later. That along with his fiery, red-faced sideline tantrums inspired the popular “Da Bears” skit on “Saturday Night Live” during the 1980s. After retiring as a coach, Ditka became a restaurateur, pitchman and TV personality, as well as a forceful advocate for improved medical and retirement benefits for former players. Ditka was tough and gruff, the quintessential Chicago Bear. He did everything from order off the menu to knock defensive backs on their butts with a growl. His adopted hometown reveled in every minute. Revered as “Da Coach,” Ditka was the ringmaster of the 1985 Bears, one of the most dominant and perhaps the zaniest Super Bowl-winning team in league history. “When I got to Chicago in the summer of 1985, Mike Ditka and the Chicago Bears were king,” former President Barack Obama wrote on X. “Coach Ditka set the tone for a team that was punishing, dominant, and fun — and the city loved him for it. I’m thinking of the Ditka family and Bears fans everywhere on the passing of a legend.” Ditka was enshrined in the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame, and the Bears said during a ceremony in 2013 that his “No. 89” jersey will be the last one retired by the team. “Player. Coach. Legend,” the Bears wrote in a trib-

Tenure in New Orleans

ASSocIATed PreSS FILe PhoTo

mike ditka reaches out to shake hands with New england Patriots coach raymond berry after the bears won Super bowl XX in New orleans. ute on social media. “Mike Ditka embodied the spirit of Chicago and will be deeply missed.” Ditka was the ﬁrst person enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, who had won Super Bowls as a player, assistant coach and head coach. Tom Flores, inducted in 2021, is the only other person to accomplish the feat. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said Ditka “epitomized football over so many years” during his career.

‘Iron Mike’ He was born in Carnegie, Pennsylvania, the son of a welder who changed the family name from Dyczko. He grew up in nearby Aliquippa — which also later produced fellow Pro Football Hall of Famers Ty Law and Darrelle Revis — close to the coal-mining and steel-manufacturing plants that dotted the western part of the state, a big, talented, three-sport athlete and AllAmerican at Pitt whose bruising style made his first nickname, “Iron Mike,” a good fit. Selected fifth overall by flinty Chicago owner George Halas in the 1961 draft, Ditka went on to Rookie of the Year honors, multiple Pro Bowl trips and the 1963 NFL Championship. He and Baltimore’s John Mackey changed the tight end position and offensive schemes forever. He was a battering

ram of a blocker, but Ditka was just as likely to catch a short pass and pinball through an entire secondary or outrace a lone safety on a deep touchdown throw. He left Chicago in 1966, playing brieﬂy for Philadelphia and Dallas.

that. I was what I was and they were what they were and, damn, it was fun.” The Bears demolished the New England Patriots 46-10 in the Super Bowl, but Ditka often said he regretted hav-

After a ﬁve-year absence, he returned to coaching with the New Orleans Saints, but failed to revive the franchise. His tenure with the team might be best remembered for the trade before the 1999 NFL draft when he dealt a package of eight draft picks — including each one the Saints had that year and two of its ﬁrst three selections in 2000 — to Washington to move up from 12th overall to No. 5 so New Orleans could select running back Ricky Williams.

After a miserable 1999 season ended with a 3-13 record — Ditka’s worst as either a player or coach — he left the sidelines for good.

Post-football career Ditka’s face and demeanor were so familiar by then that a second act became an easy segue. He began building a stable of restaurants and appeared as himself in TV sitcoms from “Cheers” to “Third Rock from the Sun,” as well as shows such as “L.A. Law.” He also stayed close to the game as an NFL analyst and game-day show personality at ESPN. “Mike Ditka was larger than life, an iconic football ﬁgure whose presence commanded attention the moment he walked into a room,” ESPN vice president and executive producer Seth Markman said in a statement. “He was fearless and candid on the air, bringing the same authenticity and conviction that deﬁned his football career.

‘Da Coach’ Ditka moved to the sideline in 1973 as an assistant to the revered Tom Landry and stayed with the Cowboys for eight years, including winning the Super Bowl during the 1977 season, before returning to a hero’s welcome in Chicago as head coach in 1982. Ditka’s return to the Bears lasted 10 tumultuous years, including ﬁve straight NFC Central titles, the Super Bowl win, a DUI conviction, a heart attack, a long-running feud with defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan and, finally, a new nickname — “Da Coach.” The public beefs with Ryan mirrored the behindthe-scenes battles that Ditka waged trying to contain a team bristling with outsized personalities. “It was more than a team,” Ditka once said. “It was a team of characters that had character that played for a crazy man, who let him be crazy and had fun doing it and don’t apologize for it ever. I wouldn’t want to be one of these suits walking around on the sideline today. “I have no desire to be

ASSocIATed PreSS FILe PhoTo

mike ditka was the first tight end elected to the Pro Football hall of Fame.

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EERIE

continued from page 1A hurricane this year was troubling news for the Florida Panhandle, which could now face up to 9 feet of storm surge from the Alabama state line to Grayton Beach. But the eastward shift was a small sign of hope for the Alabama Gulf Coast, which had been bracing for a direct hit as recently as Thursday. Forecasters said the warm Gulf water had helped Isaias rapidly intensify over the past 24 hours. Wind shear that had been expected to weaken it on approach did not materialize, as earlier predicted. By Friday afternoon, much of the Gulf Coast was already experiencing rain, strong winds and rising water. Still, leaders expressed confidence in the region’s planning. “Everybody’s working together,” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis told reporters on Friday. “We have the resources that we need in place to be able to respond, to be able to help people in need and to be able to rapidly get things back to normal, from power restoration to the economy.” A state of emergency was issued by both DeSantis and Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey, and many low-lying and vulnerable communities along the immediate coastline were under evacuation orders. Ofﬁcials around the region have spent the past week pleading with residents of those areas to leave and readying boats, high-water vehicles and thousands of linemen. Forecasters said the storm’s worst fury would hit Florida Panhandle cities east of the eyewall but stressed that the Alabama and Mississippi coasts were not in the clear. Several feet of storm surge is still possible from the mouth of the Mississippi River to the Alabama coast. Coastal ﬂooding from Isaias even blocked parts of Lakeshore Drive in New Orleans on Friday. The National Weather Service in Mobile said the storm

Waves wash against an eroded stretch of sand as sightseers gather near the pier in Pensacola beach, Fla., on Friday.

Plywood covers windows and sandbags line entrances at the Flora-bama, a popular bar near the Florida-Alabama state line, on Friday. could also send high winds across southern Alabama that might lead to downed trees and power outages, and much of the Gulf Coast is also at risk for tornadoes. By Friday afternoon, most businesses across the region were closed. Even many

Waffle House locations, which are known for staying open no matter the weather, were shuttered around the Panhandle. But at least one saloon — McGuire’s Irish Pub in Pensacola, Florida — remained open. Business was steady, though not

crowded. Colten Wright, a commissioner in neighboring Santa Rosa County, said local authorities had done their best over the past several days to prepare residents for the storm, including by issuing an evacuation order for the

barrier island of Navarre Beach. But he said reactions among residents were mixed. “You see some that have made no preparations and still have Halloween decorations in their front yard,” Wright said as he readied to

STAFF PhoToS by dAvId GruNFeLd hunker down at home for the evening. “And then you see others that were boarded up two days ago.” The western Florida Panhandle has managed to avoid catastrophic hurricanes in recent years, and the last significant storm to strike the Alabama Gulf Coast was Hurricane Sally in 2020. But Isaias made landfall on the near-anniversary of Hurricane Michael, a Category 5 storm that wreaked catastrophic damage near Panama City Beach on Oct. 10, 2018. Walton County Sheriff Michael Adkinson, whose deputies patrol the stretch of Florida’s Scenic Highway 30A just next door to Panama City, said many locals have vivid memories of Michael’s devastation that have spurred them to action this time around. “It made people very aware of what can happen,” he said. Photojournalist David Grunfeld and The Associated Press contributed reporting.

CREATE YOUR PERFECT david White secures the final board on his law office window across the street from the historic Pensacola village in Pensacola, Fla., on Friday.

SOUTHERN

continued from page 1A a higher education” while growing up in New York. “I am committed to making sure that people who look like me have every opportunity they can if they want to go to college, and be able to succeed and thrive in life afterward,” Bridges said. “I’ve dedicated my life to an access agenda.” Jones is the former dean of Drake University Law School. He sat on the boards of multiple legal organizations and served on numerous political staffs, including as senior counsel for U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J.; chief of staff for former U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger, now the Democratic governor of Virgin-

ia; and acting chief of staff and legislative director for late U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif. He has his law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law. In his statement to the committee, Jones said his life represents Southern’s mission. His mother was an educator, and his father was an ofﬁcer in the U.S. Marine Corps who marched at Selma during the Civil Rights Movement, he said. He also emphasized his political experience and said he knows how to lobby for Southern in both Baton Rouge and Washington. “This institution is more than a university,” Jones said. “It is an idea. It is a promise, and it is a promise that lives in the lives of all of our constituents.” Littleton-Steib is chancel-

lor of Delgado Community College in the New Orleans area. She previously served as chancellor of Baton Rouge Community College. Early in her career, she worked as a special education teacher with the Jefferson Parish school system. She holds a doctorate from Jackson State University in urban higher education administration. Littleton-Steib said her connections in government and industry position her to lead the Southern system. She secured more than $60 million in philanthropic investments at Delgado, she said, adding that the college is in talks with Meta and SpaceX. “I am poised and ready,” Littleton-Steib said. “I have the connections and the relationships to take this system to the next level.”

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6A n Saturday, october 10, 2026 n theadvocate.com n The Advocate

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TODAY

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

decreasing clouds

Sunny and warm

Sunshine

An afternoon shower in spots

hot; a stray afternoon shower

Partly sunny, a shower; hot

HIGH

LOW

HIGH

84° 59°

LOW

HIGH

90° 61°

LOW

91° 66°

HIGH

91° 66°

Beaumont 88/65 Port Arthur 88/67

Alexandria 88/60 Baton Rouge 84/59

Lake Charles 89/63

20s

30s

Houma 86/59

50s

YESTERDAY

TODAY

reAdING 60 mAIN PoLLuTANT Particulates

mAIN PoLLuTANT Particulates

60s

70s

80s

90s 100s 110s

NEW

OCT 10

OCT 18

Atlanta Austin boston charlotte chicago dallas denver houston Las vegas

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

HIGH

7:04 a.m. 6:39 p.m. 7:01 a.m. 6:29 p.m.

FIRST

City

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

12:10a 3:00a 3:46a 5:16a 9:56p 9:26p 11:04p

Sunrise today Sunset tonight moonrise today moonset today

TODAY

72 92 64 66 79 90 83 90 90

61 66 49 65 60 68 58 67 67

FULL

r s pc r pc s s pc pc

NOV 1

SUN.

73 91 65 76 74 90 80 92 71

63 70 54 59 61 72 51 70 60

FT.

LOW

0.00” 0.00” 1.31” 46.38” 49.19”

FT.

HIGH

0.6 2:17a 0.6 1.6 11:04a 0.8 2.0 8:43a 0.7 1.5 12:29a 1.1 1.3 7:21a 0.5 1.7 5:27a 0.7 1.6 8:23a 0.7

FT.

t s pc t pc s c s t

LOW

FT.

8:19a 0.7 6:01p 0.3 --- ----- --5:28p 2.4 9:36p 1.7 8:10p 1.6 12:21p 0.5 --- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ---

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

City

Los Angeles miami Nashville New york city Philadelphia Phoenix St. Louis San Francisco Seattle

82 91 69 69 74 93 81 65 58

TODAY Lo

68 81 62 57 60 71 59 52 44

c sh r pc pc t pc pc pc

Good

Source: LouISIANA deQ ANd AIrNoW.Gov

Today 11:19a 5:07a 11:41p 5:30p Sunday 12:28p 5:53a ---- 6:16p monday 12:31a 6:43a 12:55p 7:07p Tuesday 1:24a 7:36a 1:48p 8:01p Wednesday 2:19a 8:31a 2:44p 8:57p Thursday 3:15a 9:27a 3:40p 9:53p Friday 4:10a 10:23a 4:35p 10:48p

LAST

OCT 25

moderATe

PRECIPITATION

89°/69° 83°/61° 89°/67° 93° in 1963 44° in 1952

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

New Orleans 82/63

40s

92° 67°

high/low Normal high/low Last year’s high/low record high record low

Hattiesburg 75/56

Lafayette 85/62

10s

LOW

baton rouge through 5 p.m. Friday

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

HIGH

92° 68°

Jackson 74/58 Many 88/60

LOW

TEMPERATURE

Longview 88/63

-0s

LOW

Monroe 86/60

Shreveport 89/62

-10s

HIGH

We continue to watch Isaias as it makes its way across Alabama. Locally, expect a partly sunny morning to give way to a mostly sunny afternoon. Temperatures today will rise to the mid-80s. Winds will be out of the north at about 15 mph with gusts up to 20 mph. The air is dry, dew points are low and humidity hardly noticeable. There is no significant rain in the forecast today, but if you’re in Kentucky for the LSu game, bring your poncho. If you’re tailgating for the Saints game tomorrow, the weather will be great.

73 92 71 64 66 90 86 67 62

SUN. Lo

61 80 58 59 63 69 67 54 43

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

r t r r r t s pc 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

FRI. 24-HOUR STAGE CHANGE

6.70 23.20 25.90 12.10 7.60 6.61 5.30

+3.16 -1.13 -0.80 -0.30 +0.10 +0.25 +0.51

25.46

+0.98

-1.68

-0.17

18 29 8

-1.28 9.86 3.40

-0.04 -0.09 +0.07

13 15

2.50 0.75

-0.08 -0.10

47 34 29 20 12 6

11.05 7.63 5.93 5.49 4.00 2.97

-0.19 -0.10 -0.35 -0.08 +0.20 -0.05

data as of 7 a.m. Friday

Why you need dental insurance in retirement. Many Americans are fortunate to have dental coverage for their entire working life, through employer-provided benefits. When those benefits end with retirement, paying dental bills out-of-pocket can come as a shock, leading people to put off or even go without care. Simply put — without dental insurance, there may be an important gap in your healthcare coverage.

When you’re comparing plans ...  Look for coverage that helps pay for major services. Some plans may limit the number of procedures — or pay for preventive care only.  Look for coverage with no deductibles. Some plans may require you to pay hundreds out of pocket before benefits are paid.  Shop for coverage with no annual maximum on cash benefits. Some plans have annual maximums of $1,000.

Medicare doesn’t pay for dental care.1

Previous dental work can wear out.

That’s right. As good as Medicare is, it was never meant to cover everything. That means if you want protection, you need to purchase individual insurance.

Even if you’ve had quality dental work in the past, you shouldn’t take your dental health for granted. In fact, your odds of having a dental problem only go up as you age.2

Early detection can prevent small problems from becoming expensive ones. The best way to prevent large dental bills is preventive care. The American Dental Association recommends checkups twice a year.

Treatment is expensive — especially the services people over 50 often need. Consider these national average costs of treatment ... $274 for a checkup ... $299 for a filling ... $1,471 for a crown.3 Unexpected bills like this can be a real burden, especially if you’re on a fixed income.

1 “Medicare & You,” Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 2025. 2 “Aging changes in teeth and gums”, medlineplus.gov, 4/17/2022. 3 FairHealth, Inc. National average dental fees. Data current as of July 2025; subject to change.

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1B 1AN

Tensions boil over at Livingston council

members seek state review of leaked checks

BY GIGI LIMAN Staff writer

A Livingston Parish Council meeting featured accusations of lying, a political “witch hunt” and policy written by ChatGPT before the council voted to have state ofﬁcials review the events that led to parish banking information being published in a campaign ad. The council’s 6-2 vote Thursday night on an amended resolution

proposed by council member Erin Sandefur sends both the case of the released checks and the parish’s payments to Moody Law Firm — whose billing on the Deer Run litigation is why Sandefur said she shared the checks in the ﬁrst place — to the Louisiana Attorney General’s Ofﬁce for review along with the Louisiana Board of Ethics. The vote capped a contentious meeting, the first since it was revealed that the checks on dis-

trict attorney candidate Sherman Mack’s mailer were sent to him in their unredacted form by Sandefur. The parish government’s bank account was compromised because the mailer included unredacted checks. It was part of just two of 41 agenda items, but discussion over Sandefur’s actions dominated the night, with council members and residents sparring over who was responsible for the exposure,

whether the attention to the situation stemmed from legitimate concerns or political maneuvering and what safeguards should be adopted going forward. The controversy began after a campaign mailer sent out by Mack revealed the Livingston Parish government’s bank account and routing numbers, compromising the account’s security and forcing the parish to close it. The mailer, which was sent in recent weeks, accused Brad Cascio, Mack’s opponent in the 21st Judicial District race, of having

excessively benefited from the parish’s litigation. In addition to his role as an assistant district attorney, Cascio works as a lawyer at Moody Law Firm, which the parish government paid to assist in its litigation with Ascension Properties Inc. over the company’s proposed Deer Run development. Images of checks lined the edges of the mailer, with bold text in the center that read: “While Livingston Parish was suffering defeats in the courtroom — Brad

ä See COUNCIL, page 2B

ELECTION

RUN AROUND

2 face off for 23rd JDC judge race Kim Landry takes on incumbent Jason verdigets BY ANNAKATE FREELAND Staff writer

STAFF PhoTo by mIchAeL JohNSoN

A runner navigates Dalrymple Drive while on a run past City-Brooks Community Park in Baton Rouge on Thursday.

One of La.’s oldest World War II veterans dies at 105

Staff report

Elmo Sholes, one of the oldest World War II veterans in Louisiana, died at the age of 105, Gov. Jeff Landry said Friday. “Saddened to hear the news of Mr. Elmo Sholes’ passing. He lived 105 years full of strength, service, and patriotism,” Landry said in a statement posted to social media. It was not immediately clear what his cause of death was. “We are grateful for his service to our nation. Our thoughts are with his family, his church family and the Morganza community,” the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs said. Born on Dec. 26, 1920, Sholes served in the Philippines and Paciﬁc Islands during the war. He retired as a corporal, according to the Veterans Affairs ofﬁce. Sholes, a Morganza resident, was a community leader within the Church of God in Christ, serving the church for 65 years as a pastor, elder and eventually superintendent. Sholes was honored by Landry last year with a World War II commemorative coin. The governor also declared May 13, 2025, “Elmo Sholes Day” in the veteran’s home parish of Pointe Coupee.

‘Once in a lifetime’ George rodrigue original painting discovered in Shreveport home to be auctioned in New orleans

Jason Verdigets

Acadiens in the 1970s, which is how he ended up agreeing to design the poster for the 1981 festival, his ﬁrst festival poster design. Magnus said several thousand posters were made, and Rodrigue donated them to the festival, and the proceeds went to the festival costs. He designed another poster for the festival in 1983. The painting included his signature style of cutting the tree off and including less of the sky, which she said was meant to invite the viewer into the painting with the subjects as if you were under the tree with them. According to Magnus, subjects of Rodrigue’s paintings were never shaded as if under trees either; they were always bright compared to the landscape.

Verdigets, a 49-year-old Republican and father of three, was born in New Orleans and raised in Gonzales. He graduated from East Ascension High School in 1995, earned his undergraduate degree from LSU in 2000 and received his law degree from Southern University Law Center in 2003. Verdigets said his interest in becoming a lawyer began in high school after reading “To Kill a Mockingbird.” Before becoming a judge, Verdigets maintained a private practice, primarily handling insurance defense and some personal injury work. He then worked as an assistant district attorney. Verdigets was first elected in 2014, barely beating out his opponent, O’Neil Parenton, with 51% of the votes. “There was an open seat, and after serving as an assistant district attorney for several years, it just got in my blood being in the courtroom, and I just had a passion for it and wanted to serve the community,” he said. He was elected again in 2020 when he was unopposed.

ä See RODRIGUE, page 2B

ä See ELECTION, page 2B

BY MOLLY TERRELL Staff writer

An original George Rodrigue painting, found almost 50 years after it was painted for the 1981 Festivals Acadiens in Lafayette, will soon go up for auction in New Orleans. Cindy Wilkinson, owner of Estate Pros LLC in Shreveport and a certified appraiser since 1996, said the discovery of Rodrigue’s painting was a “once in a lifetime” find for her. The painting by a renowned Louisiana artist, internationally known for his iconic blue dogs, was quietly sitting above a fireplace in a Shreveport home. Wilkinson discovered the painting while meeting with the attorney and administrator of the estate of the late Margaret Shehee Cole to prepare for an estate sale. After reviewing hundreds of records and searching the image, she discovered that it was the original art used for the poster design for Festivals Acadiens, a festival that grew from Lafayette’s celebration of Cajun music, food, crafts and culture, and continues today as Festivals Acadiens et Créoles. According to Rodrigue’s widow, Wendy Rodrigue Magnus, Rodrigue was really good friends with Jimmy Domengeaux, who founded the Council for the Development of French in Louisiana and started the Festivals

The 23rd Judicial District Court, which covers Ascension, Assumption and St. James parishes, has only one contested race for a seat on the bench this fall. The race is in Division A, where two-term incumbent Judge Jason Verdigets faces challenger Kim Landry. If Verdigets wins another term, Rob Snyder will be the only new face on Landry the bench. Snyder challenged incumbent Judge Stephen Tureau’s candidacy over tax filings, and the Louisiana Supreme Court ultimately disqualiﬁed Tureau from the Verdigets race. In all other divisions, incumbents were the only candidates to qualify. Election Day is Nov. 3; early voting runs Oct. 20 to Oct. 27.

ProvIded PhoTo by cINdy WILKINSoN

An original George rodrigue painting, created for the 1981 Festival Acadiens, will soon be auctioned in New orleans after nearly 50 years.

2B n Saturday, october 10, 2026 n theadvocate.com n The Advocate

lll

All 3 accused in Southern homecoming shooting arrested The three men who allegedly multiple passengers, including an shot at cars after the Southern 11-month-old infant, a 5-year-old University Homecoming Parade and a 12-year-old. One of the victims said three last month have been arrested on suspects pulled up to the seven counts of attempted cars at 1000 Osprey Ave. first-degree murder each. CRIME and jumped out. Keller Kedrick Keller, 18, and Jakehireyus Franklin, 19, BLOTTER was holding an AR-15, and Franklin was holding a turned themselves in on staff handgun, while Johnson Thursday afternoon. They reports was instigating the two, acwere booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison cording to arrest warrants. on seven counts of attempted firstKeller and Franklin began shootdegree murder, three counts of ing at the vehicles as the victims aggravated criminal damage to began fleeing the area. One person property and one count of illegal was shot on his lower left side. The use of weapons. other victim was hit in his upper Jahiem Johnson, 20, turned him- right back. All three vehicles were hit and self in on Tuesday and was booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish damaged by the gunfire. The susPrison on seven counts of principal pect cars then fled north on Scenic to attempted first-degree murder, Highway. three counts of principal to aggraAccording to arrest warrants, vated criminal damage to property one of the victims said Johnson and one count of principal to ille- told him at the parade, “We’re gogal use of a weapon. Court records ing to do something about you.” show he is currently being held The man said he gave a statement to Zachary police in 2025 that led without bail. According to victim statements, to Johnson’s arrest on three counts three cars were leaving the pa- of attempted first-degree murder. rade on the afternoon of Sept. Johnson, who was on probation in 27 and driving south on Scenic connection with the case, threatHighway. The three vehicles had ened retaliation against the victim

for his statements, police said.

Six men accused of stealing windowpanes Six men are accused of stealing 30 to 50 windowpanes, valued at $500 each, from an apartment building, according to arrest warrants. Baton Rouge police responded to 1251 N. Ardenwood Drive on the night of Oct. 1 in response to people reportedly stealing windowpanes from the property. Police observed two pickup trucks with ﬂatbed trailers carrying multiple windowpanes each, as well as multiple people walking through the apartment complex, collecting windowpanes and loading them onto the trailers. Police conducted a trafﬁc stop on the trucks and found about 30 to 50 windowpanes on the trailers, along with a refrigerator from the complex. In interviews with police, multiple suspects said they were obtaining windowpanes from the property to break them down and scrap them for metal. They said the property’s management told

them they could no longer get the windowpanes, but that a security guard told them to come back and retrieve them. Security staff and property management denied the claims that the men were given permission to return to the property. They also said the men were not permitted to take any old or new property from the complex and that each windowpane costs about $500, totaling at least $15,000. Arrest warrants were ﬁled for Darren Cooks, 28; Bryan Walker, 36; Dante Scott, 21; Ke’Vontae Yates, 25; Steven White, 58; and Derrick Robinson, 40.

BRPD officer who resigned arrested for gun theft A former Baton Rouge police officer who resigned earlier this year after he allegedly touched a woman’s bottom has been arrested again after police found two guns in his possession that he took from a suspect and never reported as evidence. Stefan Jones, 32, faces charges of theft of a firearm and malfeasance in office.

New Baton Rouge pizza place focuses on N.Y. flavor Prince St. Pizza grand opening was Friday

the restaurant. Pizza is the main attraction here, and the walk-up spot covers two styles: Sicilian soho square pizza and Neapolitan round pizza. Durbin said one of the most popular pizzas is the “Spicy Spring,” a square pie with fra diavolo sauce, thick-cut pepperoni, mozzarella and pecorino Romano. The other crowd favorite is the “Naughty Louisiana’s first location Pie,” a square pie with spicy vodka Inside a former Blaze Pizza, sauce, pepperoni, fresh mozzarelthe 2,400-square-foot space seats la, ricotta and Zab’s Hot Honey. about 42 diners. The walls are For those who want to church it green with an accent brick wall, up with a dipping sauce, your readding a classic New York feel to quest will be met. But not in the

way you think. “True New Yorkers — you don’t put ranch on pizza,” Durbin said. “But we wanted to have a dippable option, so we call it ‘Not Ranch.’” He describes the “Not Ranch” as a garlic aioli, and he personally pairs it with a slice of the “Spicy Spring.” The sauce is whipped, bringing a light, aromatic texture to complement the pie. Sides of marinara sauce, hot honey, fra diavolo and spicy vodka are also available. The restaurant also offers vegetarian and gluten-free pizza options. For something other than pizza, try the Caesar salad, Italian chopped salad, mozzarella sticks or Sicilian-style garlic bread. It also offers a chocolate chunk cookie and cheesecake for dessert. Durbin says the college scene in Baton Rouge made it a natural ﬁt for Prince St. Pizza, and it is a great opportunity for a late-night slice pre- or post game. He believes it is hard to ﬁnd a good slice of pizza outside of New York. “We want to not only deliver a great slice and deliver happiness to the guests,” Durbin said, “but we want to become a destination for a premiere slice of pizza for the community.” Prince St. Pizza, 6556 Siegen Lane, Baton Rouge. It is open 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and 11 a.m. to midnight Fridays and Saturdays.

later he painted “Watchdog,” now recognized as the ﬁrst painting in what would become the Blue Dog series, according to Wilkinson. Value of the painting Jacques Rodrigue, Rodrigue’s son and executive director of the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts, said the foundation has been cataloging Rodrigue’s work and is up to about 3,500 paintings so far, but there are many paintings that have no record of where they ended up, like the 1981 canvas. “It’s always exciting when a

piece that we aren’t sure about shows up,” Jacques said. He said he was familiar with Shreveport collector Virginia Shehee, and that his father was likely close enough friends with her that he didn’t keep a record of the painting after coming to a deal with her. Jacques said about 40 of Rodrigue’s paintings come back into circulation every year, sold through the gallery or public auctions like this one. George Rodrigue’s circa 1981 original oil painting will be offered by Neal Auction Company Nov.

19-20, and according to Marney Robinson, the director of ﬁne art for the company, the auction estimates that this painting will go for $40,000-$60,000. “It’s a fantastic early painting filled with Louisiana symbolism and is a classic case on how he depicts his home state,” Robinson said. The catalog and bidding information will be available on nealauction.com closer to the time of the auction, Robinson said. Contact Neal Auction Company at (504) 899-5329.

the attorney general’s ofﬁce, the discussion grew tense as members debated whether Sandefur’s initial decision to share the checks crossed a line. “To take that information and then use it to help another campaign that you’re not even involved with that, that’s a mistrust in my book,” council member John Mangus said. “Mr. Mangus, you don’t know what happened. And have you ever heard the old saying, what happens when you assume? And so it is probably not a good idea to assume,” Sandefur replied. One by one, animated residents offered competing views of the situation during the public comment section of the meeting. “I just gotta be honest, it almost seems like a witch hunt. And I don’t like witch hunts,” said one member of the public. “I think we’re trying to do something here when there’s not adequate information to say there was wrongdoing.” Others accused parish ofﬁcials of lying about how they learned that the bank account information had been exposed, suggesting there wasn’t a legitimate concern from the bank. “I’ve dealt with banks, small banks, large banks, regional

banks. Banks don’t call. That’s a lie,” another member of the public said, prompting the parish government’s ﬁnancial department to defend themselves and demand an apology. “I can show proof of when I got a copy of that mail emailed to me from the bank. I picked up the phone; they said, ‘Are you aware of a mailer being mailed out?’” Deputy Finance Director Gail Housley said.

tioned whether parish staff should have prevented the disclosure. “I was not informed by the administration that the documents were in any way confidential. If the administration made a mistake, then it should investigate itself,” Sandefur previously told The Advocate. At Thursday’s meeting, Sandefur asked whether the administration’s staff has any requirements for disseminating and handling documents. “So what about the policy for the administration office? Is there a policy for the administration office?” Sandefur asked. “Why would we?” said Livingston Parish Chief Financial Officer Mickey McMorris. “The problem does not lie with our administration.” The discussion over the policy’s substance shifted to how it was written after Sandefur alleged that AI, not Taylor, penned it. “It’s even in ChatGPT format,” Sandefur said. “OK, and I used a lot of ChatGPT to make some of this. OK?” Taylor responded. The council ultimately voted to table the proposed policy, deciding to discuss and revise it in a committee before bringing it to a vote again.

BY MADDIE SCOTT Staff writer

Raymond Durbin pointed to a large metal box on the back kitchen wall of the new Prince St. Pizza location in Baton Rouge. The box read “Property of New York WaterMaker” in big letters on the front. “That’s what makes it all come together for us,” said Durbin, a partner and national director of operations of Prince St. Pizza. “Every time they use water to make a recipe, it comes right from our New York WaterMaker.” To Southerners, it may seem like an unnecessary step — installing a patented filter system to mimic the taste of New York water, yet Prince St. Pizza and New Yorkers alike swear by it. Each Prince St. location receives a sample of New York water, Durbin said, and the team adjusts the water filters to match the exact pH level and water alkalinity so that it is the same taste profile. The system connects to a kitchen faucet that is used in every sauce and dough recipe. “It’s all about the water when it comes to the bagel, the pizza,” Durbin said. “It makes a difference.”

RODRIGUE

continued from page 1b “George never painted his ﬁgures in shadow because he said that his ﬁgures are not lit by the sunlight,” Magnus said. “They glow from the inside out with spirit of the Cajun culture.” The 1981 painting occupies a significant place in the chronology of Rodrigue’s work because he became known in Louisiana for his festival designs, but two years

COUNCIL

continued from page 1b

Cascio was Cashin’ in.” Questions about how Mack obtained the images quickly began to swirl after the parish’s ﬁnance department told the Parish Council’s Finance Committee about the mailers at a Sept. 24 meeting. Sandefur subsequently acknowledged sending the checks, saying she was concerned about the parish’s payments to Moody Law Firm.

Sending it to the AG The decision to refer the matter to Attorney General Liz Murrill’s ofﬁce and the Board of Ethics adds another layer of review to a situation already under criminal investigation by 21st Judicial District Attorney Scott Perrilloux. Perrilloux endorsed Cascio in the district attorney race but said that would not play a role in his investigation. Thursday’s meeting also underscored how the controversy has spread beyond the district attorney’s race to a quagmire about the handling of public records and potential misconduct in ofﬁce. While the council unanimously supported sending the matter to

ProvIded PhoTo by mAddIe ScoTT

The new Prince St. Pizza location in baton rouge offers authentic New york water, unique pizza options and a vibrant dining experience. In 2012, the original location opened in Manhattan and began expanding in 2020. The brand has grown to 20 locations across New York, California, Florida, Texas, Tennessee, Nevada and one in Ontario, Canada. Now, Louisiana is getting a taste in Baton Rouge at 6556 Siegen Lane, which held a grand opening Friday.

Council considers request policy The council also considered a proposal by council member Billy Taylor to establish rules for council members seeking documents from the clerk’s ofﬁce. The policy would require members to submit requests in writing and explain why they want the records. The council does not have any independent rules regulating how and for what purpose council members can obtain records from the clerk’s ofﬁce. Sandefur opposed the proposed policy, saying it would impose new, burdensome requirements on council members without establishing comparable rules for parish employees who handle and provide documents. Since acknowledging that she sent the checks, she has ques-

The counts stem from an incident where he was working extra duty at a nightclub along Acadian Thruway in November 2025. During the night, two firearms were seized and placed in Jones’ squad car to return as evidence. BRPD executed a search warrant at Jones’ apartment on 5855 Scholars Ave. on Tuesday where they found a handgun that was seized from the suspect at the nightclub. A rifle was located at Jones’ parents’ house along Gloria Drive. Jones said he kept the two firearms instead of reporting them because he didn’t feel like dropping them into evidence and doing all the paperwork, according to the warrant. He voluntarily resigned from the department in February after an internal investigation was opened regarding him allegedly touching a gas station employee’s bottom. In the past, Jones was placed on leave by his department for other incidents, once for brandishing a Taser and threatening patrons outside a Tigerland bar in 2019 and again for falsifying military records to get time off work in 2022.

ELECTION

continued from page 1b During his time as a judge, Verdigets said he is proud of helping secure a new courthouse in Gonzales, which opened in 2021. The building was needed to ensure each judge had a courtroom, he said. He said he was also proud to help create a new division in 2024 that helped move cases through the system faster. If elected again, Verdigets said he would work to provide more resources for juveniles in the area, including efforts to establish a juvenile detention center. His campaign slogan is “common sense and no nonsense,” a phrase he said reﬂects his approach to the law and decision-making. “It’s sort of what I’m known for, and it’s what I believe. We don’t have to make things more complicated than it is. It’s just using a lot of common sense, and you can get through a lot of the cases that way,” he said.

Kim Landry Landry, 58, is a Republican originally from Baton Rouge. She graduated from St. Joseph’s Academy in 1986 and earned her undergraduate degree from LSU in 1990 and received her law degree from Southern University Law Center in 1996. She has been married for 35 years and has two children. Landry said she has lived in Ascension Parish for about 25 years, since purchasing office space there. Landry said her grandfather inspired her to pursue a legal career. “My grandfather practiced law for almost 70 years, and I just remember going in his office when I was a kid and watching him read through books, watching him with his clients, and how respected he was, and I said, ‘That’s what I want to do. I want to serve people that way,’’ she said. If elected, Landry said one of her priorities would be devoting more time to criminal cases. “They get one day a month,” Landry said. “The victims, as well as the criminal defendants, just linger and linger, so first and foremost, I would want to put more time into providing an opportunity for people to move those cases a lot faster.” Landry said she admires 21st Judicial District Court Judge Charlotte Foster for the way she treats people in her courtroom. “She is amazing. She is what I would like to be when it comes to how she handles everybody that comes in her courtroom. She is nice and respectful. She has her stern moments, but no one ever feels like she’s degrading them.” She previously ran for Ascension Parish judge in 2018 when the sitting judge retired. Although she didn’t win, she said she is giving it another shot because the role has been a “goal in life.” “I picked up my stuff, and I moved on,” she said. “And I thought I was moving toward retirement. But I was approached by people in the community about making a change, and I have always wanted to do this. That’s been my goal in life. To become a judge.”

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Funerals Today Anderson, Edna

First Presbyterian Hammond at 11am.

Church

Aucoin, Janice

St. Joseph’s Cathedral, 401 Main Street, Baton Rouge at 10:00am.

Augustine, Donna

Mt. Olivet Cemetery, 2050 Caton St., New Orleans at 10:00am.

Barbier, Gary

Greenoaks Funeral Home, 9595 Florida Blvd., Baton Rouge at 11:00am.

Brown Jr., Emmett

St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, 15208 LA-73, Prairieville at 11:00am.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Charlie Ancona and Ada Lejueune; his siblings, Beverly Horn, Joyce Lasseigne, Debbie Ancona. A visitation will be held from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM and a funeral service at 10:00 AM on 2026-10-07 at Frioux Funeral Home, 316 Youngsville Hwy. in Lafayette, LA.

Chambers, Charlotte Lavern

Byrd, Henry

Hall Davis of Port Allen at 10am.

Chambers, Charlotte

W.K. Gordon Prayer Garden, 8930 Plank Road, Baton Rouge, LA at 10am.

Collins, Herbert

Mt. Pilgrim 1:00pm.

Baptist

Church

Davis Sr., Claude

Resthaven Funeral Home, 11817 Jefferson Highway, Baton Rouge at 2:30pm.

Ellsworth, Caroline

Christ Church Cathedral, 1117 Texas Ave., Houston, Texas 77002 at 10am.

Gentile, Madeline

Holy Family Catholic Church in Port Allen at 11am.

Gentile Sr., Andrew

Holy Family Catholic Church in Port Allen at 11am.

Green, Marjorie

First Emmanuel Missionary Baptist Church, 575 Education St. at 11am.

Kinchen, Ollie

Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church at 10am.

Mayeux, Keith

Seale Funeral Home, 720 S. Range Ave., Denham Springs at 12:00 PM

Nunneley, Frederick

Broadmoor Baptist Church, 9755 Goodwood Boulevard, Baton Rouge at Noon.

Techow, Bruce

Greenoaks Funeral Home at 2pm.

Obituaries Ancona, Charles Wayne

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dren, Cade Broussard, Sarah, Grace and Caroline Semko; his sister, Patricia Gerald and her husband Ronnie.

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

Charlotte Chambers, 67, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, passed away on September 30, 2026. Charlotte was born on July 9, 1959, in Magnolia, Mississippi. She was the eldest child of Delos Butler Sr. and Lula Mae Butler. She graduated from Southern University in 1981 and went on to work as a postal clerk with the U.S. Postal Service until her health no longer permitted. In her free time, Charlotte loved reading, listening to gospel music and spending quality time with her family. She is survived by her husband, Michael Chambers Sr.; her five children; ten grandchildren; six siblings; and a host of relatives and close friends. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, October 10, 2026, at W.K. Gordon Prayer Garden, 8930 Plank Road, Baton Rouge, LA 70811. Burial will follow immediately at Southern Memorial Gardens Cemetery, 3012 Blount Road, Baton Rouge, LA 70807. A funeral service will be held from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM on 2026-10-10 at W.K. Gordon Prayer Garden, 8930 Plank Rd..

Green, Marjorie L.

Charles Wayne Ancona died peacefully on October 5, 2026, surrounded by his loving family. Known for his easy smile and gift for making everyone feel welcomed, Charles carried his warmth and jovial spirit with him throughout his life. A native of Baton Rouge, he graduated from Istrouma High School in 1958. Drawn by both adventure and a sense of duty, Charles enlisted in the U.S. Navy and rose to the rank of Electronics Technician (Radio) Petty Officer Third Class. At the U.S. Naval Air Station on Whidbey Island, Washington, he earned a Commendation for Outstanding Service and, later, the Good Conduct Medal. Charles enrolled at LSU under the G.I. Bill at the ripe age of 27. A chance meeting at Don's Seafood in 1968 changed the course of his life when he met Susan Ducote from Port Allen, who would become his beloved wife. They married two years later and soon welcomed their daughter and son. With his easygoing charm, Charles found his calling in a career in sales. For 12 years, he thrived as General Sales Manager of Woodfin-Smith Pontiac in Baton Rouge. In 1984, Charles and Susan turned his lifelong dream of business ownership into reality when they purchased Acadian Pontiac Buick in New Iberia. Charles eventually transitioned to a career as a health insurance broker, spending more than 25 years working at The Insurance Center in New Iberia. A lifelong outdoorsman, Charles was seldom seen during hunting season without a rifle or duck call in hand and his son, Jason, by his side. His appreciation for nature was also captured by his camera, and he became an accomplished amateur wildlife photographer. In retirement, "Paw Charles" spent his time golfing and photographing his four wiggling grandchildren. He is survived by his loving wife of 56 years, Susan Ducote Ancona; his children, Jennifer Ancona Semko of Great Falls, Virginia, and her husband William, Jason Wayne Ancona; his four grandchil-

Marjorie L. Green, affectionally known as Margie, was born on October 31, 1958 to Reverend Tommy A. Green and Viola I. Green. She transitioned peacefully on September 27, 2026 surrounded by her loving family. A graduate of McKinley High School and Southern University and A&M College. A member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Survived by her sister, Cheryl G. Brumfield (Kenneth), Sisters-in-law, M. Sabrina Green and Audrey R. Green; loving nieces, nephews and a host of wonderful family members and friends. Proceeded in death by her parents, Reverend Tommy A. Green and Viola I. Green; brothers, Elvin L. Green, Sr., LeeRoy Green and Tommy Leslie Green. Religious service at 11:00 AM, Saturday, October 10, 2026, First Emmanuel Missionary Baptist Church, 575 Education Street, officiated by Henry J. Brown, Pastor. Internment: Heavenly Gates Mausoleum Arrangements Entrusted To Hall Davis & Son Funeral Service

How to place an Obituary Notice EMAIL:

obits@theadvocate.com OR CALL FOR MORE INFORMATION:

225-388-0289

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

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BUSINESS

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DOW 51,654.95 423.31 0.83%

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FROM STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

OpenAI fires 3 in dispute over AI risks

LONDON — OpenAI said on Friday that it fired three safety researchers for a “breach of trust,” defending the dismissals after the trio accused the company of putting its corporate interests before safety as the reason for removing them. The ChatGPT maker said in a post on X that it “parted ways” with the researchers after an investigation found “they violated clear policies on handling sensitive information.” The statement comes after the three researchers, Tomek Korbak, Jasmine Wang and Mikita Balesni, posted a letter to OpenAI’s various safety oversight groups detailing the circumstances around their firings and their concerns about AI. The researchers said they feared that the “internal and external communications” about their dismissals have chilled the company’s culture that encouraged speaking freely and disagreeing openly about safety concerns. They urged OpenAI to stick to its promise to allow third-party safety monitors inside the company and preserve the ability to monitor rapidly advancing frontier AI models that could pose unknown risks. The firings, which were first reported by The Wall Street Journal, are the latest sign of turmoil inside leading AI companies over the safety of the technology, highlighted by a series of incidents involving rogue AI agents. OpenAI disputed the researchers’ version of events, saying the firings “were not about safety concerns or speaking out.” It was not more specific about why they were fired, but said: “We cannot do the work in front of us without a high degree of trust.”

S&P 500 7,811.54 46.18 0.60%

EURO 1.1203 -0.0012 -0.10%

CRUDE OIL 91.66 0.17 0.19%

GOLD 4,191.40 59.60 1.44%

Ram trucks hit with another recall

Federal safety officials say the tire pressure monitoring systems on more than 16,000 Ram trucks could have been damaged during assembly, prompting a recall. The recall covers 2026 Ram trucks produced by Stellantis NV, which began notifying dealers of the issue this week. Sensors notify drivers when tire pressure drops significantly, and federal regulators say broken tire pressure monitors could lead to flats and increase the likelihood of a crash. Stellantis spokesperson Frank Matyok in an email said the automaker is not aware of any accidents or injuries related to the issue. Stellantis will pay for 2026 Ram 1500 trucks to be inspected and for the replacement of any damaged sensors.

30-YR T-BONDS 5.6 -0.01 -0.11%

Wall Street finishes week with gains

Treasury yields ﬂipped up and lied 11.6% and helped lift the U.S. business to have a signal that can oil prices continue to down in the bond market following stock market despite the swings in penetrate walls and connect cusyo-yo due to war their own sharp moves earlier in the oil and bond markets. The in- tomers inside buildings who may

BY STAN CHOE

AP business writer NEW YORK — The U.S. stock market ﬁnished its record-setting week with gains on Friday, even as other ﬁnancial markets remained indecisive. The strength came as oil prices continued to yo-yo because of uncertainty about when the war with Iran will allow the global energy industry to return to normal. The price for a barrel of Brent crude bounced between $102.50 and $105 before settling at $104.72, up 0.4%.

the week. The yield on the 10-year Treasury eventually climbed to 5.24% from 5.22% late Thursday. It recently touched its highest level since 2002 because of worries about high inﬂation, the U.S. government’s massive debt load, signals that the U.S. economy is continuing to grow and other factors. High yields threaten to slow the economy by making borrowing money more expensive for everyone, and the average 30-year ﬁxedrate mortgage has already leapt to its highest level in nearly three years. On Wall Street, Humana ral-

surer said it received encouraging data about its quality ratings versus its competitors for Medicare Advantage plans. Companies that own cell towers were also at the front of the market, including leaps of 15.6% for Crown Castle and 9.3% for American Tower. They rallied after SpaceX announced a purchase that could help it become a major mobile carrier in the United States. It still needs to get approval from U.S. regulators, but SpaceX said the purchase of low-band spectrum would allow its Starlink Mobile

EU and China strike interim trade deal

HONG KONG — The top trade envoys for China and the European Union agreed Friday on a broad initial deal following two days of talks aimed at calming escalating tensions over trade imbalances, the EU trade commissioner said. Neither side provided clear details on the preliminary deal, but European Commissioner for Trade Maros Sefcovic said it includes lower tariffs for some European goods to China as well as measures to stabilize rare earth supply chains. The EU trade envoy said the deal could cut up to 50% of Chinese electric and plug-in hybrid vehicle imports to the EU and could lower tariffs on products beneﬁting “almost every” EU nation. The deal would require approval from leaders across the 27-nation EU. He said that “by this step we are actually preventing several millions of car exports from China to the European Union.” The two sides were seeking to resolve key factors behind China’s growing trade surplus, which hit $410 billion last year. China’s Commerce Ministry posted online that Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao expressed concerns about the EU’s recent restrictive measures. He said that China is not the root of the EU’s problems but a partner in solving them.

6-MO T-BILLS 4.33 0.02 0.46%

not be able to access its satellites. SpaceX’s stock added 1.2%. The threat of another big competitor sent stocks lower across the wireless industry, including drops of 13.3% for T-Mobile US, 9.8% for AT&T and 8.7% for Verizon. Delta Air Lines erased an early loss and eked out a tiny gain of less than 0.1% after reporting profit and revenue for the summer that was slightly weaker than analysts expected. CEO Ed Bastian said demand remains strong and customers want to ﬂy, but the airline is also having to absorb a $6 billion increase in fuel costs this year.

ASSocIATed PreSS PhoTo by ocTAvIo JoNeS

An American flag flaps in the wind generated by the effects of hurricane Isaias on an empty beach on Friday in mon Louis Island, Ala.

Hurricane Isaias’ effects in Gulf of Mexico could nudge fuel prices higher Loss of power to refineries could slow oil processing

BY MATTHEW BROWN and JOSH KELETY Associated Press

Hurricane Isaias is forecast to miss the oil industry’s biggest hubs along the Gulf Coast but could still nudge fuel prices higher if it triggers power outages that shut down refineries for processing crude, according to industry experts. An extended shutdown of refineries would put a crimp in fuel supplies that already have taken a hit from the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and Russia’s war against Ukraine. Chevron’s facility in Pascagoula, Mississippi, and Vertex Energy’s refinery in Mobile, Alabama, which constitute 2.4% of the nation’s refining capacity, are at risk of flooding and power outages, said Andrew Lipow, a Houston-based oil analyst. Any problems could take the facilities offline at a time when diesel supplies are already low. Isaias strengthened into a major hurricane Friday as it barreled toward the Gulf Coast,

where final preparations were underway for potentially life-threatening storm surges and high winds. If the storm moves through quickly and its impacts are minimal, refineries would continue to run at reduced capacity and prices for gasoline and diesel could rise just a few cents, said Carl Larry with the energy analysis firm Enverus. But if refineries such as Chevron’s shut down completely, it could take them weeks to recover and that could cause fuel prices to jump more significantly, Larry said. “Major issues, like a power shutdown, and the prices will spike immediately. It’s possible a dollar,” he said. “Those diesel prices that already are above $6 could start approaching $7.” Other experts said even if the refineries that turn oil into fuel for consumers take a hit, the gas price impacts should be minimal. “We’re talking about potentially under a million barrels a day, probably somewhere in the ballpark of 500,000 barrels a day, of refining capacity,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. “That may have a small impact on gas prices, primarily in the Gulf Coast, but I don’t think it rises to a criteria that would impact gas prices nationally.”

As refineries on the coast braced for the storm, it already had caused temporary shutdowns of offshore oil wells that pump about 15% of U.S. crude. As of Friday, personnel from 129 production platforms — about a third of the facilities in the Gulf of Mexico — were evacuated, according to the federal Marine Minerals Administration. More than two-thirds of Gulf oil production was shut down as a precaution, equal to almost 1.5 million barrels of oil a day, the agency said. Chevron, BP and Shell were among companies that reported evacuating personnel and shutting platforms. The storm’s impact on oil and gas prices so far is dwarfed by the effect of the conflict in the Middle East. And once the storm passes, workers will be able to return to platforms in the Gulf and quickly resume operations, barring significant damage. “I would expect that the shut-in oil production will probably return pretty quickly within just a couple of days,” De Haan said. Prices for Brent crude, the international standard, were above $104 a barrel Friday. That price has varied between $96 and nearly $110 over the past month driven by uncertainty over the war with Iran.

Survey: Americans 75 and older are wealthiest group BY CHRISTOPHER RUGABER

AP economics writer

WASHINGTON — Bolstered by steady gains in the stock market, families headed by someone aged 75 or older are now America’s wealthiest, while the youngest families saw their wealth decline in the past three years, a government report released Friday said. The finding from the Federal Reserve’s Survey of Consumer Finances underscores how robust stock market gains have made wealthier American families even richer since the survey, conducted every three years, was last completed in 2022. The median net

worth of the richest one-tenth of American families soared 31% to $3.6 million from 2022 to 2025, the survey found. The median is the midpoint between the richest and poorest families. For the oldest families aged 75 and over, median net worth jumped to nearly $505,000, up from just over $367,000 in 2022. Three years ago, families aged 65 to 74 were the richest. All the ﬁgures are adjusted for inﬂation. Average wealth for the oldest age group rose 10% to $1.96 million. The higher average, compared with the median, reflects the fact that wealthier Americans pulled up the average relative to

the median. Those aged 35 and below reported median net worth of $33,000, a drop of 23% from 2022. Overall, the survey found broad gains in income, even after adjusting for inﬂation, which slightly reduced income inequality compared with three years earlier. Higherincome families actually saw their incomes drop, likely because of declines in business income, which the Fed said can be volatile. Median family incomes rose about 7% from 2021 to 2024, the Fed said, to about $82,000. The survey measures incomes in the year prior to the periods covered by the report. The middle one-ﬁfth

of families saw the biggest income gain, while the top ﬁfth reported lower incomes. Even so, the proportion of Americans struggling with high debt payments and falling behind on their payments jumped, a sign of the toll that sharply higher inﬂation and higher interest rates have taken on lower-income Americans. In 2025, nearly 20% of U.S. families said they had been late on a loan payment in the previous year, up sharply from 12.2% in 2022. And the proportion of families dedicating 40% or more of their incomes to debt payments jumped to 8.6%, the highest in at least 12 years, the report showed.

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

ANOTHER VIEW

Georgia governor race on my mind Of the 36 gubernatorial races this year, Georgia is the one to watch. It has everything: swing state politics, close polls, piles of money, historical implications — and, naturally, Donald Trump hovering over it all. Republican Gov. Brian Kemp is term-limited, leaving the field to Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms, 56, a former mayor of Atlanta, and Republican businessman Rick Jackson, 72, a billionaire in the healthcare services industry. If Bottoms wins, she’ll be the nation’s first Black woman governor. Tort reform was Jackson’s entry into politics. He funded an effort to overhaul Georgia’s medical malpractice laws and pushed Ron for changes to the state’s foster care system. Faucheux He’s also been a generous donor to Republican candidates and causes. Jackson is the founder and CEO of Jackson Healthcare, a company that has received nearly $1 billion in state contracts since the pandemic. His advisory board includes former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and former Georgia U.S. Rep. Tom Price. When he entered the governor’s race, Jackson proposed freezing property taxes and cutting the state income tax in half. On DEI, he says he supports “diversity” and “inclusion” but rejects the “equity” piece, calling it communism. Then there’s the money. Jackson spent $108 million — most of it his own — getting through the Republican primary and runoff. Ultimately, he defeated GOP Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, who was endorsed by both Trump and Kemp. Jackson has reserved another $102 million in advertising for the general election. Cheap, he’s not. Bottoms has served as a magistrate judge, Atlanta city council member and director of the county’s recreation authority. In 2018, she squeaked into the mayor’s office by less than a percentage point. In 2022, Joe Biden appointed her to replace former Louisiana U.S. Rep. Cedric Richmond as director of the White House Office of Public Engagement. Bottoms has had her share of reported ethics controversies, including a taxpayer-funded mailer that went partly outside her council district as well as improperly reported campaign contributions. As mayor, Bottoms refused to cooperate with ICE and would not pick up people held on immigration violations. She also tangled with both the Trump and Kemp administrations over pandemic policies. She was reportedly one of four shortlist prospects to become Biden’s running mate in 2020. Her gubernatorial platform focuses on flood mitigation and water infrastructure. She has called for a statewide pause on new data center construction, a position Jackson has attacked by pointing to her alleged support for data center tax breaks in 2018 and 2019. Jackson says he’ll only support data centers if they win local approval and comply with all EPA standards. Bottoms has gone after Jackson for promising to be “Donald Trump’s favorite governor.” Jackson’s response: “I don’t owe anybody anything.” He says he’ll stand up for Georgians. Jackson’s most powerful ad shows he wasn’t a pampered rich kid. The stark ad recounts a childhood marked by abandonment and abuse, housing projects and five foster homes. He later became a shoeshine boy and ticket scalper before starting his own company, which grew over time and created thousands of jobs. His slogan: “Winning against all odds … he’s running for governor to do the same for you.” Bottoms’ biographical ad takes a different route. It introduces voters to a fifth-generation Georgian who is the daughter of R&B singer Major Lance and a former local and federal official. Her campaign ads frequently connect Jackson to Trump. Her campaign has spent about $6 million so far and reserved another $8 million in general-election airtime. Of course, she also benefits from independent expenditures and support from outside groups such as the Democratic Governors Association. For Bottoms, voter turnout is essential, especially among Black voters statewide and suburban women around Atlanta. The Senate race is part of that equation. Georgia’s Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff has a clear lead over his Republican opponent, so Democrats hope Ossoff’s campaign will pull voters to the polls to vote for him and Bottoms. The most recent polls, at press time, give Jackson an average lead of about two points. Election handicappers call the race a toss-up, although analyst Nate Silver sees it leaning toward Bottoms. Georgia should be on the minds of every election watcher between now and Nov. 3.

YOUR VIEWS

Amendments and charter questions need early coverage

A simple plan for voting? Just use common sense. In his recent letter to your paper, Josh Mayer tried to “put things in perspective” with a simple guide on how to vote this November. (“Dissatisfied with current events? Time for a change,” Sept. 29.) Here is a different simple guide. If you are angry about gas prices, remember where they were a few years ago and why they were high. The party in power shut down drilling, refineries and pipelines, and they put many out of work. Today, we’ve shut down potential nuclear destruction from fanatics calling for our death for over 47 years. Do you want to vote for the party that these fanatics are hoping will return to Congress? If you are not horrified by thugs and criminals invited into our country, maybe you should vote for the people who allowed this to occur. If you want to return to open borders and chaos, then you know who to vote for.

If you welcome people who have no desire to assimilate or to accept and respect our culture, who wave their country’s flag as they protest our laws and country, who take your tax dollars, who fill our emergency rooms, schools, public housing and government programs with no thought or means of giving back or being productive, then vote for the party that brought this here. If you want your daughters competing in sports with biological males because you are confused about what a woman is, vote for those just as confused as you. If you prefer the party with the “big tent” because they welcome anyone, crazy ideas and all, then remember the circus also has a big tent. It, too, is filled with clowns. Don’t let “Trump Derangement Syndrome” and the lunatics of the Democratic Socialists of America get in the way of common sense.

In past elections, the newspaper seemed to wait until very close to Election Day to publish endorsements, and even to explain the various amendments and questions on the ballot. Because so many citizens are now voting early either in person or by absentee ballot, I wish you would provide earlier coverage of the amendment and charter questions we’re being asked to vote on, explain the issues and publish any recommendations close to when early voting starts, so voters have time to consider and decide as informed voters. Absentee ballots are already being mailed. Especially when ballots contain a large number of amendments and changes to be considered, as is the case this time, early coverage would be much more helpful than recommendations only days before Election Day. Thank you for all the help you give to inform us voters.

JAMES BELLINA Gretna

CAROLYN PERRY New orleans

President Trump’s words raise concern in two california cities On Oct. 5, the president of the United States said the following words while speaking at a rally, with respect to Iran: “They could take out a city,” he said. “Let them take — let them take out Los Angeles. Let them take out San Diego.” I will abstain from explaining how those words make me feel personally, even though my adult son and daughter both live in Los Angeles. I want this newspaper’s readers to think about the ease and carelessness with which the president of the United States spoke of the total annihilation of two major U.S. cities with a combined metropolitan population of 16 million people. This ease of reckoning, this carelessness as to the consideration of

Is the NFL trying to squash our Who dat spirit?

consequences, should be read as the overt threat that it is surely intended to be: President Donald Trump is inviting the country we, the United States of America, are at war with to nuke Los Angeles and San Diego. A madman is in charge of the nuclear codes. This is a five-alarm fire. Meanwhile, U.S. Sen. John Kennedy is asking Jack Smith if he believes in the Easter Bunny or is holding up meme signs for the Eric Schmitt Show. It is past time for serious members of the House of Representatives to impeach Trump and for the Senate to vote to remove him from office, before it’s too late.

This year we are celebrating 60 years of agonizing over bad calls against the Saints at the most crucial times. We have seen bad calls going against the Saints in the Detroit Lions and Las Vegas Raiders games, and of course there was the classic “no call” in the Rams playoff game. It makes fans wonder why the NFL and its leadership have something against New Orleans, owner Gayle Benson and the millions of fans across the world who cheer for da Black and Gold. Is it because we are nonconforming and free-spirited and they, the NFL, are trying to rein in our spirit by slowing our momentum in games, or what?

JAMES TAYLOR baton rouge

SANDRA MARKS Slidell

Ron Faucheux is a nonpartisan political analyst, pollster and writer based in Louisiana.

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GAMEDAY L Su AT K eN T ucK y 6 P. m . S A T u r d A y • e S P N

Through pain and perseverance, LSu freshman deuce Geralds has found joy putting quarterbacks ‘in the ground’

DIGGING DEEP T

BY JON BLAU Staff writer

here was a bounce in Deuce Geralds’ step Tuesday as he walked out of the LSU football facility and explained why he’s adopted a “gravedigger” persona. The symbolism clicked for the freshman defensive tackle during his astounding run of five sacks in his first five games. One of the 18-year-old’s favorite musical artists, NBA YoungBoy, raps about being a “grave digga.” “That’s what I do,” said Geralds, who has celebrated takedowns with stabs of his imaginary shovel. “I put quarterbacks in the ground.” He’s been doing it for years, finishing his Georgia high school career with a state-record 54 sacks. He just never celebrated them. He was a craftsman who poured untold hours into his pass-rush moves without considering how he’d move after his deed was done. Now he does. He’s joyfully celebrating sacks. He’s smiling wider than his father, Daverin, has seen in a long time. And it means much more than a freshman coming into his own. ä See LSU, page 2C

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LSU

BROADCAST INFORMATION

continued from page 1c

LSU at Kentucky

6 p.m. Saturday, Kroger Field, Lexington, Ky. TV: eSPN | Line: LSu by 8½ Radio: WdGL-Fm, 98.1; WWL-Am, 870; WWL-Fm, 105.3; KLWb-Fm, 103.7

TEAM SCHEDULES Kentucky

LSU Date Opponent 9.5 Clemson 9.12 La. Tech 9.19 at Ole Miss 9.26 Texas A&M 10.3 McNeese 10.10 at Kentucky 10.17 Mississippi State 10.24 at Auburn 11.7 Alabama 11.14 Texas 11.21 at Tennessee 11.28 at Arkansas

Time/TV W, 51-10 W, 45-14 L, 32-24 W, 35-6 W, 63-14 6 p.m./ESPN 11 a.m./TBD 11 .a.m/TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD

Date 9.5 9.12 9.19 9.26 10.3 10.10 10.17 10.24 11.7 11.14 11.21 11.28

Opponent Time/TV Youngstown State W, 45-13 Alabama L, 45-17 at Texas A&M W, 31-21 South Alabama W, 45-21 at South Carolina W, 35-34 (OT) LSU 6 p.m./ESPN at Oklahoma 6:30 p.m./SECN Vanderbilt TBD at Tennessee TBD Florida TBD at Missouri TBD Louisville TBD

DEPTH CHARTS LSU

Kentucky OFFENSE

OFFENSE

WIDE RECEIVER

6 WINSTON WATKINS 83 Corey Barber

WIDE RECEIVER

3 EUGENE WILSON 1 Jayce Brown

WIDE RECEIVER

4 JACKSON HARRIS 88 Malik Elzy

LEFT TACKLE

77 JORDAN SEATON 65 Sean Thompkins

LEFT GUARD

50 WILLIAM SATTERWHITE -or-67 Bo Bordelon

CENTER

61 BRAELIN MOORE 50 William Satterwhite

RIGHT GUARD

55 ALIOU BAH 70 Devin Harper

RIGHT TACKLE

75 WESTON DAVIS 69 Darrin Strey

TIGHT END

44 ZACH GRACE 12 Malachi Thomas

QUARTERBACK

10 SAM LEAVITT 11 Landen Clark

RUNNING BACK

13 DILIN JONES 22 Harlem Berry

5-10 5-11

182 183

So. Fr.

5-11 5-11

190 175

Jr. Sr.

6-2 6-2

202 217

Jr. Jr.

6-5 6-5

307 308

Jr. Jr.

6-3 6-6

293 305

So. Sr.

6-2 6-3

301 293

Sr. So.

6-5 6-4

327 312

Sr. So.

6-6 6-7

315 314

So. Fr.

6-2 6-3

236 242

Jr. Jr.

6-2 6-0

216 195

Jr. So.

5-11 211 5-1 0 193

So. Sr.

WIDE RECEIVER

19 KENNY DARBY 83 Prince Jean

6-1 6-1

180 187

Fr. Fr.

6-4 6-2

208 184

Sr. So.

6-3 6-2

208 185

So. Sr.

6-6 6-5

325 328

Sr. Jr.

6-6 6-2

32 9 Sr. 329 Sr.

6-3 6-4

30 8 Sr. 310 Jr.

6-3 6-2

329 329

Sr. Sr.

6-8 6-6

329 329

Sr. Sr.

6-4 6-6

249 270

Jr. Sr.

6-2 r 6-4

211 217

Sr. Sr.

6-1 5-10

227 204

Sr. Jr.

90 MI’QUISE HUMPHREY-GRACE 6-4

271

Sr.

8 Lorenzo Cowan

205

Jr.

WIDE RECEIVER

4 NIC ANDERSON 5 Ja’Kayden Ferguson

WIDE RECEIVER

7 DJ MILLER 6 Shane Carr

LEFT TACKLE

53 LANCE HEARD 67 Mark Robinson

LEFT GUARD

73 OLAUS ALINEN 57 Jordan Knox

CENTER

72 COLETON PRICE 75 Hayes Johnson

RIGHT GUARD

77 Tegra Tshabola 57 Jordan Knox

RIGHT TACKLE

71 MALACHI WOOD 73 Olaus Alinen

TIGHT END

81 WILLIE RODRIGUEZ 87 Henry Boyer

QUARTERBACK

3 KENNY MINCHEY 10 Callum Withe

RUNNING BACK

1 CJ BAXTER 26 Jason Patterson

DEFENSE

DEFENSIVE END 1 PRINCEWILL UMANMIELEN 55 Lamar Brown

6-4 6-5

244 285

Sr. Fr.

DEFENSIVE TACKLE 90 STEPHIYLAN GREEN 88 Richard Anderson 96 Dominick McKinley

6-3 6-3 6-6

296 339 297

Jr. Fr. Jr.

DEFENSIVE TACKLE 99 DEUCE GERALDS 47 Malik Blocton

6-1 6-3

279 286

Fr. Jr.

6-5 6-3

246 252

Jr. Jr.

DEFENSIVE END 29 JORDAN ROSS 97 Dylan Carpenter

LINEBACKER 42 DAVHON KEYS 35 Zach Weeks

6-0 6-3

227 228

Jr. Fr.

LINEBACKER 6 TJ DOTTERY 24 Tylen Singleton

6-2 6-1

225 227

Sr. So.

STAR 2 TY BENEFIELD 31 CJ Jimcoily

6-3 6-3

208 218

Sr. So.

CORNERBACK 5 DJ PICKETT 21 Michael Turner

91 JADEN WILLIAMS

6-4

290

Sr.

6 Ahmad Breaux

6-3

278

Jr.

DEFENSIVE TACKLE 94 TAVION GADSON

6-5

303

Sr.

93 Kalen Edwards

6-4

335

So.

DEFENSIVE END 15 CEDRIC WORKS

6-4

247

So.

-or- 2 SAM GREENE

6-2

251

Sr.

LINEBACKER 22 GRANT GODFREY

6-3

240

Sr.

9 Alex Afari

6-2

227

Sr.

LINEBACKER 0 ELIJAH BARNES

6-1

244

So.

25 Tavion Wallace

6-1

241

So.

NICKEL 3 AARON GATES

6-0

199

Sr.

24 Jaden Smith

6-3

205

So.

So. So.

5-11 6-0

164 188

Jr. Jr.

20 TERHYON NICHOLS

5-11

194

Jr.

6-1 6-2

175 213

Fr. Sr.

27 Isaiah McMillian

6-1

176

Fr.

5 JORDAN CASTELL

6-2

211

Sr.

6-0 6-1

206 175

Jr. Fr.

10 Dyllon Williams

6-2

191

So.

SAFETY 0 TAMARCUS COOLEY 28 Jhase Thomas

DEFENSIVE TACKLE

189 162

SAFETY 28 Jhase Thomas 13 Faheem Delane

SPECIAL TEAMS

CORNERBACK 12 HASAAN SYKES

6-0

192

Jr.

30 Grant Grayton

6-3

194

So.

CORNERBACK

SAFETY

SAFETY 14 TY BRYANT

6-0

196

Sr.

13 Cyrus Reyes

6-1

192

Jr.

KICKER 80 SCOTT STARZYK

175

So.

6-5 6-1

208 211

Jr. Fr.

6-3 6-1

213 224

So. Fr.

LONG SNAPPER

5-10

193

Sr.

KICK RETURNER

5-11 5-11

190 175

Jr. Sr.

LONG SNAPPER 43 SILAS HALL 39 Mack Mulhern

KICK RETURNER 22 Harlem Berry

PUNT RETURNER 3 EUGENE WILSON 1 Jayce Brown

KICKER 88 ADAM ZOUAGUI

5-11

191

Sr.

6-1

201

Sr.

6-3

237

Jr.

6-2

184

So.

6-0

181

So.

PUNTER 48 THOMAS O’HARA 47 SPENCER RADNOTI 5 JA’KAYDEN FERGUSON

PUNT RETURNER 12 BROCK COFFMAN

COACHES Lane Kiffin was 3-1 against Kentucky while at ole miss, but every margin was within seven points.

Will Stein is in his first season as the Kentucky coach after serving as the oregon offensive coordinator.

ProvIded PhoTo

deuce Geralds is held by his mother colbie Geralds in an undated photo. colbie died of a pulmonary embolism at the age of 28.

Colbie’s influence It’s hard for Deuce to remember his mom sometimes. That’s why he enjoys living in Baton Rouge again, surrounded by dozens of family members who have Colbie stories. He leaned back in a chair in an LSU football meeting room as he considered whether to tell one. He decided not to, because it might not be ﬁt for print. What he can say is that it’s a story about how his mother didn’t take “bull(crap)” from anyone. “Excuse my language,” Deuce said. “After hearing some stories about her, I can see where I got some of my, like, ferocity from.” Colbie was a competitor, playing for a statewinning basketball team at Southern Lab. She transferred to Scotlandville as a junior, which is how she met Daverin, a football player and future valedictorian. They were just friends initially, and Colbie had many. She was a “sounding board,” Daverin said, whenever someone had a problem. Their mutual issue became schoolmates who nagged them, “Why y’all don’t date each other?” When they ﬁnally did, they fell in love fast — faster than Daverin, a freshman offensive lineman at Ole Miss, and Colbie, a pre-nursing student at Southern, would have preferred. Daverin II, aka Deuce, was on the way. “It was just very uncomfortable,” Daverin said. “But we really took our time with it and decided that this is a gift from God. We wanted to embrace it, do our very best to give him the best life and just raise him in love.” Colbie was a young but dedicated mother. She’d bring Deuce everywhere, including his dad’s football games in Oxford, Mississippi, where he was handed over to be cradled by Daverin and his teammates. He was brought into football facilities as a babbling toddler, running free through locker rooms. Deuce looked up to the very big men in his life, including his grandfather, David Geralds, who played for the Houston Oilers during the Earl Campbell era. Deuce, on his own, took an interest in football legends. David would think his grandson was popping in a movie, but it’d be highlights of the “Minister of Defense” Reggie White, Vikings maniac John Randle and Bucs bad boy Warren Sapp. “We would talk about versatility, being explosive, shedding blocks,” David said. “He was a guy that really was into details and technique.” He was set on a football path. He was self-motivated. His resolve would just be tested. Colbie made Deuce breakfast on that fateful day in 2016. Daverin told both he loved them as he beat them out the door to make his 30-minute commute to Roswell, Georgia, for his job as a software engineer at General Motors. He talked with Colbie during those drives. She wasn’t feeling well, just like the day prior when she visited the doctor but was sent home with nothing more than iron tablets. Daverin wanted her to get to urgent care or an emergency room. Colbie answered, “I don’t think I can make it

ProvIded PhoTo

deuce Geralds and billette Geralds pose for a photo.

over there.” Daverin, concerned, turned his car around. Then he was startled. His son screamed, “She’s falling out, Dad!” “It tore me up just to know he was out there, trying to save his mom at 8 years old, waiting for somebody to come help,” Daverin said. “That probably changed him, which caused him to maybe be a little more serious of a kid at that age.” Deuce took seriously what his father told him at the hospital. Daverin couldn’t fathom why God allowed this. “But baby boy,” he said, “just know I got you.” The pain they were feeling now, Daverin added, “God’s gonna use that pain to help heal somebody else.”

‘Bonus’ mom In serving others, Deuce and Daverin found purpose. They continued their charity work, buying stacks of cheeseburgers from McDonald’s and handing them out to people experiencing homelessness. They collected winter coats and Thanksgiving turkeys. Deuce has offered counsel to others who have lost loved ones, including a cousin whose mother died from cancer ﬁve years ago. “It’s OK to think about it. Don’t try to just put it off and not think about it. But use it as fuel to keep going,” Deuce told his cousin. “If she was here, she’d be pushing you to keep going. So you gotta start pushing yourself.” Deuce understood that in his own case, he had no one to lean on but his father. He didn’t even want to do that. “I fed off my dad’s energy, his will to work hard every day,” Deuce said. “I’d try to take the most off his plate as I could and make sure I was on my grind and working just as hard.” They dealt with grief by staying busy. Daverin was up at 5 a.m., driving Deuce to and from football and school in Gwinnett County. They adopted a “gotta go to work” mentality before Deuce’s “bonus” mom brought those exact words into their lexicon. Billette Long, now Billette Geralds, is the daughter of Billy Long, a strength coach who worked on a Southern football staff with defensive line coach David Geralds. Billy’s mantra, “Gotta go to work,” was popularized when he linked up with the St. Louis Rams and the “Greatest Show on Turf” squad that won a Super Bowl in 1999. “The mailman,” Billy shouted, prompting a

STAFF PREDICTIONS JON BLAU

SPECIAL TEAMS

5-9

PUNTER 90 GRANT CHADWICK 99 Hayden Craig

6-3

6-4 6-1

CORNERBACK 11 PJ WOODLAND 8 Ja’Keem Jackson

DEFENSIVE END

Geralds grew up way too fast on June 29, 2016. His mother Colbie passed out in the driver’s seat before she could drive 8-year-old Deuce to summer camp. He sprung out of the car, knocking on neighbors’ doors in search of help. They tried CPR. She never regained consciousness. A pulmonary embolism, an undiagnosed blood clot, took the 28-year-old mother. Their young family was only months into their new life in Georgia after moving from Baton Rouge. Deuce had told family members, “Next time I come back to Baton Rouge, I’ll be at LSU.” He had a dream, which father and son were left to chase. “I could tell by the joy that he has when he’s on the ﬁeld, that’s really the only time he’s free again,” Daverin said, “and he’s not that young kid that tried to save his mom but wasn’t able to do it.” Hours upon hours of work that’s been invested into Deuce’s most reliable outlet has unleashed a 6-foot-1, 285-pound defensive tackle on blockers who are years older and should be stronger than him. They have proven no match. He’s just 2.5 sacks short of LSU’s freshman record less than halfway through his freshman year. His burdens unleashed, he is celebrating his successes. Because this is what he does. He puts quarterbacks in the ground. Now, more gleefully than ever.

SCOTT RABALAIS

LSU 31, KENTUCKY 21 This one is simple: Quarterback Sam Leavitt and the LSu offense have to take care of the ball versus a Kentucky squad that ranks top 50 nationally in rushing and has a veteran passer in Kenny minchey, who has 11 touchdowns to just one interception. If the Tigers don’t hand the Wildcats extra opportunities and allow the home team to control the ball, a more talented LSu squad should win. emphasis on “should.”

LSU 31, KENTUCKY 23 The Tigers are statistically superior to the Wildcats in virtually every category. That includes points off turnovers (31-30), even if just slightly. Points off turnovers will decide this game. Sam Leavitt has thrown at least one interception in every contest, but LSu cannot afford to set the Wildcats up for short scoring drives off turnovers to set off a hostile crowd. Simply put, if the Tigers play the cleaner game, they win.

REED DARCEY

KOKI RILEY

LSU 30, KENTUCKY 20 The Kentucky offense is more dangerous than it was last season, but it has the worst third-down conversion rate in the country (25%). The LSu defense is built to take advantage. Princewill umanmielen, deuce Geralds and the rest of the defensive front need to win their one-on-one matchups and push the Wildcats behind the chains, forcing them into some long third-down tries. That’s how the Tigers win on the road.

LSU 28, KENTUCKY 17 Kentucky is a promising program with an exciting young coach and a surprisingly deep war chest of financial resources. but unranked teams are just 6-70 against ranked teams across college football this year, and LSu has a clear talent advantage on at least one side of the ball, probably both. I expect defensive coordinator blake baker to have his way against former LSu and current Kentucky offensive coordinator Joe Sloan.

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mob of players to respond each time, “… gotta go to work!” “The coaches … gotta go to work!” “D-Line … gotta go to work!” “O-Line … gotta go to work!” Billette grew up taking attendance for her dad’s teams. She became an assistant strength coach at Southern in 2010, but she’d lose her athletes’ attention when Daverin, the Ole Miss alum, came into her weight room and started his SEC-level routine. “I’m gonna take me a break and they could just do whatever Olympic press you’re doing right now, because it does look better than my workout,” Billette said with a laugh. Billette, who also moved to Georgia, reached out to Daverin when Colbie died, just to offer support. They wouldn’t reconnect for another eight or nine months. “I just said, ‘Lord, if I can take a load off of him, if I can just be there to support him and Deuce, just let me do the best that I can possibly do,’ ” said Billette, who dated and then married Daverin. They went to work as a blended family. She loved on Deuce as she could, happy to play football and buy him all the chicken wings he could ever want. Most people just assumed Billette was Deuce’s biological mom, and they were floored when they learned she wasn’t. She’s missed only one of Deuce’s sporting events since she’s been in his life because she was in a wedding. “It just shows you the type of person she is and the type of kid he is,” Daverin said. On the field, Deuce was supported in every way. He’s had his own D-line trainer, Marcus Howard, since sixth grade, shuttling among field drills, sand pits and weight rooms. Howard brought Geralds around current pros, including Charles Harris, a 2017 NFL first-round draft pick out of Missouri, when he was in middle school. He vividly remembers Geralds locked onto Harris’ every move, like he was convinced he could outperform him. “When I’m surrounded by other great players, I feel like I need to rise — and not even meet them, I want to beat them,” Geralds said. “I don’t care about age difference, where they’re at. I’ll either try to do it just as hard or even harder every single time.” He’s not just been ahead of the curve but placed himself beyond it. Geralds started attending Alabama football camps in seventh grade. That was Billette’s idea. Her favorite celebrities are Beyonce and Nick Saban. She just wrote down Collins Hill for the school because that’s eventually where he’d be. His first camp, Saban had his eyes on Deuce during 1-on-1 drills but he didn’t say anything to him. “That’s fine,” Billette said. “We’re gonna be on his mind.”

Baton Rouge return In no time, Deuce would be on a lot of coaches’ minds. As a ninth grader, he was pulled to Saban’s ofﬁce before a camp and handed a scholarship offer. Daverin’s alma mater, Ole Miss, was in hot pursuit with Lane Kifﬁn visiting Collins Hill

on a day it was closed because of snowy roads. There was one other car in the parking lot that day. LSU defensive line coach Bo Davis rolled down his window and asked Kiffin, “What’s up, dawg?” “He’s just a dynamic player that makes plays,” Kiffin said. “Obviously, the height’s not what a lot of people want. I just love who he is and how relentless that he is.” It wasn’t guaranteed Deuce would end up with the Tigers. There was ample turnover with the school’s D-Line coaches, including Davis bouncing to the Saints in 2025. Billette believes LSU and NFL alum Kyle Williams were instrumental in rebuilding a connection. Williams didn’t last either, but Kiffin became the LSU coach. He promised Geralds, a defensive tackle who still cherishes a periodic carry on offense, chances to run the ball. “I feel like I could have won a national championship anywhere I went. I was confident in myself regardless,” Geralds said. “But I feel like the place I wanted to really do it at is LSU.” The boy who departed Baton Rouge telling family members he’d return an LSU football player grew up sentimental but also exceptionally practical. It’s fair to say his life was altered by the loss of his mother. His maturation accelerated. His seriousness intensified. But he won’t exaggerate the point and say he plays for Colbie. He’s self-motivated. He plays because he loves it. He wanted to be a Tiger, but he had to balance emotion with logic. There is a reason Daverin and Billette have a succession plan for their businesses in case anything happens. Deuce, who will turn 19 this month, would inherit everything. He’s wise beyond his years. He’ll overhear Billette grumbling about an employee, and Deuce will bluntly say, “Let that person go. Just let them go, don’t even waste time.” Deuce was the only son Billette needed, but it was Deuce who told his father and bonus mom to have kids because he wanted siblings. He now has Dallas and Dakota. Denver is slated to enter the mix in January. “I said a few siblings,” Deuce told Billette, “and you just keep going.” He’s a strong, independent person, but there’s a strength in numbers Deuce feels in Baton Rouge. He had 50 family members at his first spring game in Tiger Stadium. David likes to sit at home and watch the games, replaying Deuce’s sacks during commercial breaks. The way he explodes out of a stance, the fast hands he uses to swat away blockers, it’s a beautiful thing. So are the celebrations he’s pulled out after sacks. Grandad doesn’t think it has to be seen as grave digging. It’s just Deuce saying, in his own way, he’s going to work. “He could have done it with a jackhammer, but he did it with a shovel,” David said. “It’s still going to work.” Back to work, doing exactly what he feels like he’s meant to do. “I’m just so happy for him,” David said, “that he was able to find peace out there on that field. Something to give him genuine joy.”

OFFENSIVE LEADERS LSU

Kentucky

PASSING

Player

Cmp-Att-Pct Yards TD Int

Sam Leavitt

92-139-66.2

1221

RUSHING

Player

Att

Dilin Jones Sam Leavitt Harlem Berry Stacy Gage Landen Clark Husan Longstreet

Net

94 45 27 21 19 5

Avg TD

426 220 196 166 94 35

4.5 4.9 7.3 7.9 4.9 7.0

5 6 1 2 4 0

RECEIVING Player

Rec Yards Avg TD

PASSING

Player

Cmp-Att-Pct Yards TD Int

Kenny Minchey

RUSHING

Player

Att

Net

Avg TD

68 45 20 5 5 2

361 355 126 37 17 14

5.3 7.9 6.3 7.4 5.7 7.0

CJ Baxter Jason Patterson Jovante Barnes Martels Carter Jr. Mikkel Skinner Jordan Colbert

6 3 1 0 0 0

RECEIVING Player

Rec Yards Avg TD

Kenny Darby Willie Rodriguez Nic Anderson Henry Boyer DJ Miller Mikkel Skinner CJ Baxter

25 22 9 8 5 7 7

XPM XPA FGM FGA

Player

23 15 14 19 8 8 3 3 11

354 317 222 210 98 89 70 50 48

15.4 21.1 15.9 11.1 12.3 11.1 23.3 16.7 4.4

322 194 120 116 96 91 62

12.9 8.8 13.3 14.5 19.2 13.0 8.9

3 1 1 3 0 1 0

KICKING

KICKING Scott Starzyk

1148

2 2 1 0 2 0 1 0 0

Winston Watkins Jackson Harris Trey’Dez Green Eugene Wilson Corey Barber Jr. Jayce Brown Phillip Wright Tre’ Brown Dilin Jones

Player

97-142-68.3

XPM XPA FGM FGA

Adam Zouagui

DEFENSIVE LEADERS TACKLES

Player

TJ Dottery Whit Weeks Princewill Umanmielen Ty Beneﬁeld Davhon Keys Deuce Geralds PJ Woodland Jhase Thomas DJ Pickett Jordan Ross Tamarcus Cooley Faheem Delane Tylen Singleton Dylan Carpenter Zach Weeks Malik Blocton

Tot Solo Ast Loss Sk 30 23 22 21 15 14 13 13 13 12 11 9 8 8 8 8

11 10 10 8 7 10 7 7 12 5 7 2 5 5 2 2

19 13 12 13 8 4 6 6 1 7 4 7 3 3 6 6

1 2.5 10 1 1 5 0 1 0 4.5 1 1 2 1.5 0 1

0 0 8 1 0 5 0 0 0 1.5 1 0 0 1 0 0.5

INTERCEPTIONS

Player

Tamarcus Cooley DJ Pickett

Tot Yards Avg TD BU 2 1

21 32

10.5 32.0

0 0

2 0

TACKLES

Player

Grant Godfrey Jordan Castell Ty Bryant Bo Barnes Hasaan Sykes Sam Greene Tavion Gadson M. Humphrey-Grace Terhyon Nichols Isaiah McMillian Alex Afari Jr. Jaden Williams Cyrus Reyes Lorenzo Cowan CJ Works Jaden Smith

Player

Tot Solo Ast Loss Sk 42 42 38 25 18 17 14 14 13 13 11 9 9 8 7 7

17 16 16 11 12 10 4 6 5 7 6 5 3 5 6 5

25 26 22 14 6 7 10 8 8 6 5 4 6 3 1 2

3 2 0.5 0 1 0.5 2.5 3 0.5 1 0 1 0 1 0 1

2 0 0.5 0 0 0 1.5 2.5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

INTERCEPTIONS

Tot Yards Avg TD BU

Jordan Castell Antwan Smith

2 1

0 31

0.0 31.0

0 0

TEAM STATS OFFENSE PER GAME Yards gained: 547.8

OFFENSE PER GAME Yards gained: 416.8

Plays: 83.0

Plays: 65.0

PASS 310.2

RUSH 237.6

PASS 36.0

RUSH 47.0

Turnovers: 1.60

PASS 229.6

RUSH 187.2

PASS 28.8

RUSH 36.2

Turnovers: 1.00

INTERCEPTIONS 1.40

FUMBLES 0.20

INTERCEPTIONS 0.20

FUMBLES 0.80

DEFENSE PER GAME Yards allowed: 220.6

DEFENSE PER GAME Yards allowed: 376.6

PASS 162.2

PASS 232.4

RUSH 58.4

Turnovers forced: 1.60 FUMBLES 0.40

INTERCEPTIONS 1.20

SCORING PER GAME SCORED ALLOWED

RUSH 144.2

Turnovers forced: 2.00

INTERCEPTIONS 1.20

FUMBLES 0.80

SCORING PER GAME

SCORED ALLOWED

43.6 34.6

22.8

19.8

26.8

15.2 2026

2025

ASSocIATed PreSS PhoTo by mATTheW hINToN

26.4

23.0

2026

2025

CONVERSION SUCCESS

Third down

Fourth down 20.0%

LSu defensive tackle deuce Geralds, right, and defensive end Princewill umanmielen celebrate after sacking mcNeese quarterback Jake Strong during the first half on oct. 3 at Tiger Stadium.

48.1%

Fail

24.5%

51.9% 80.0% Convert

Fail

Convert

Fourth down

36.3%

75.5%

Fail

63.7% Convert

Fail

Convert

COLLEGE FOOTBALL SCHEDULE State Saturday’s games

SOUTH

Jacksonville St. 27, Kennesaw St. 26 FIU 22, New Mexico St. 3

Tulane (2-2) at Army (2-2), 11 a.m. Southern (2-4) at Prairie View (2-4), 3 p.m. UL (4-1) at Louisiana Tech (2-2), 6:30 p.m. Southeastern Louisiana (3-2) at UTRGV (2-3), 7 p.m.

Thursday’s games SOUTH

Top 25

SOUTHWEST

Liberty 35, Sam Houston St. 3 W. Kentucky 34, Missouri St. 13

Friday’s games

UTSA 31, South Florida 24 South Alabama 56, Arkansas St. 49

Saturday’s games

Columbia (2-1) at Marist (3-2), n

No. 8 BYU (4-0) vs. Iowa St. (3-2), n No. 20 Iowa (4-1) at Washington (3-2), n No. 1 Texas (4-0) vs. Oklahoma (2-2) at Dallas, 2:30 p.m. No. 2 Georgia (5-0) at No. 6 Alabama (5-0), 6:30 p.m. No. 3 Notre Dame (5-0) vs. Stanford (2-3), 2:30 p.m. No. 5 Ohio St. (4-1) vs. Maryland (2-3), 3:15 p.m. No. 7 Indiana (5-0) at Nebraska (5-0), 11 a.m. No. 9 Ole Miss (3-1) at Vanderbilt (3-2), 2:30 p.m. No. 10 LSU (4-1) at Kentucky (4-1), 6 p.m. No. 12 Utah (4-0) vs. Kansas (2-2), 9:15 p.m. No. 13 Oregon (3-1) vs. No. 21 UCLA (4-0), 2:30 p.m. No. 14 Missouri (4-1) vs. Texas A&M (3-2), 11 a.m. No. 15 Tennessee (4-1) at Arkansas (2-3), 3:15 p.m. No. 16 Florida (4-1) vs. South Carolina (2-3), 11:45 a.m. No. 18 Oklahoma St. (3-1) vs. UCF (3-2), 11 a.m. No. 19 Southern Cal (5-1) at Penn St. (3-2), 6:30 p.m. No. 22 Houston (4-1) at Kansas St. (3-1), 2:30 p.m. No. 23 Boise St. (4-1) at Fresno St. (4-1), 9:30 p.m. No. 25 Pittsburgh (5-0) vs. North Carolina (2-2), 11 a.m.

Nation Tuesday’s games SOUTH Troy 55, Southern Miss 34

Wednesday’s games

Friday’s games EAST SOUTH

Florida A&M 28, Alabama St. 27 Florida St. (3-2) at Louisville (2-3), n

FAR WEST

Wyoming (2-3) at San Jose St. (3-2), n Iowa (4-1) at Washington (3-2), n Washington St. (1-4) at Utah St. (1-4), n Iowa St. (3-2) at BYU (4-0), n

Saturday’s games EAST

North Carolina (2-2) at Pittsburgh (5-0), 11 a.m. Dartmouth (1-2) at Yale (2-1), 11 a.m. Tulane (2-2) at Army (2-2), 11 a.m. Bryant (4-1) at Brown (1-2), 11 a.m. Stonehill (1-4) at Sacred Heart (2-3), 11 a.m. Robert Morris (3-2) at Morgan St. (4-1), 11 a.m. Arizona (4-1) at West Virginia (3-2), 11 a.m. Princeton (2-1) at Wagner (1-4), 11 a.m. Bucknell (1-4) at Georgetown (0-4), 11:30 a.m. LIU Brooklyn (1-5) at Duquesne (1-3), noon Harvard (3-0) at Cornell (2-1), noon American International (0-0) at CCSU (1-3), noon Howard (2-3) at Penn (1-2), noon Franklin Pierce (0-1) at Delaware St. (3-3), noon

Miami (Ohio) (2-3) at UMass (4-1), 1 p.m. Richmond (5-1) at Fordham (1-5), 2:30 p.m. Tulsa (3-2) at Navy (1-3), 2:30 p.m. UConn (2-3) at Temple (2-3), 2:45 p.m. Stony Brook (3-2) at Towson (0-6), 3 p.m. Coastal Carolina (1-4) at Marshall (3-2), 6 p.m. Southern Cal (5-1) at Penn St. (3-2), 6:30 p.m.

SOUTH

Wake Forest (4-1) at NC State (3-2), 11 a.m. SC State (5-1) at Charleston Southern (2-3), 11 a.m. ETSU (4-2) at The Citadel (2-3), 11 a.m. New Hampshire (2-4) at NC A&T (1-5), 11 a.m. Davidson (2-4) at Presbyterian (2-3), 11 a.m. South Carolina (2-3) at Florida (4-1), 11:45 a.m. Rice (1-4) at East Carolina (2-2), noon William & Mary (2-4) at NC Central (2-4), noon Old Dominion (1-4) at Appalachian St. (3-1), noon Samford (1-4) at Chattanooga (3-3), noon Wofford (3-3) at Elon (4-2), 1 p.m. Va. Lynchburg (0-3) at Norfolk St. (3-3), 1 p.m. Northeastern St. (0-2) at West Florida (3-2), 1 p.m. Arkansas Baptist (0-1) at Alcorn St. (3-3), 2 p.m. W. Carolina (3-3) at Mercer (4-2), 2 p.m. E. Illinois (1-4) at Gardner-Webb (2-4), 2:30 p.m. Duke (4-0) at Georgia Tech (1-3), 2:30 p.m. UT Martin (1-4) at Tennessee St. (1-4), 2:30 p.m. Furman (2-4) at Tennessee Tech (4-1), 2:30 p.m. Jackson St. (5-0) at Grambling St. (3-2), 4 p.m. West Georgia (1-4) at E. Kentucky (1-4), 5 p.m. Tarleton St. (5-0) at Austin Peay (5-1), 6 p.m. UAB (3-2) at Memphis (4-1), 6 p.m. Bethune-Cookman (3-2) at Alabama A&M (4-2), 6 p.m. James Madison (5-0) at Georgia Southern (2-3), 6:30 p.m. Syracuse (2-2) at Virginia (3-2), 6:30 p.m. Georgia (5-0) at Alabama (5-0), 6:30 p.m.

MIDWEST

2 0

Sacramento St. (1-4) at Bowling Green (1-4), 11 a.m. Texas A&M (3-2) at Missouri (4-1), 11 a.m. Morehead St. (1-4) at Dayton (3-1), 11 a.m.

Ball St. (1-4) at Northwestern (3-1), 11:30 a.m. San Diego (2-3) at Butler (4-1), noon Youngstown St. (4-2) at Indiana St. (2-4), noon S. Illinois (3-3) at South Dakota (4-2), 1 p.m. Drake (2-3) at Valparaiso (2-3), 1 p.m. SE Missouri (2-3) at Lindenwood (Mo.) (1-3), 1 p.m. Stetson (1-4) at St. Thomas (Minn.) (4-2), 1 p.m. E. Michigan (3-3) at Akron (1-4), 2:30 p.m. Stanford (2-3) at Notre Dame (5-0), 2:30 p.m. Illinois (2-3) at Michigan St. (2-3), 2:30 p.m. Kent St. (2-3) at W. Michigan (3-2), 2:30 p.m. Buffalo (2-3) at Toledo (4-1), 2:30 p.m. Cent. Michigan (3-2) at Ohio (3-2), 2:30 p.m. North Dakota (5-1) at N. Iowa (2-2), 4 p.m. Air Force (3-1) at N. Illinois (0-4), 6:30 p.m. Minnesota (4-1) at Purdue (2-3), 7 p.m.

SOUTHWEST

MVSU (2-4) at Texas Southern (1-4), 2 p.m. Charlotte (0-5) at North Texas (3-2), 2:30 p.m. Incarnate Word (2-3) at Lamar (4-1), 3 p.m. Tennessee (4-1) at Arkansas (2-3), 3:15 p.m. Nevada (1-3) at UTEP (1-4), 6 p.m. Cent. Arkansas (2-3) at Abilene Christian (2-4), 7 p.m.

FAR WEST

Idaho (1-4) at Weber St. (3-3), 2 p.m. Virginia Tech (4-1) at California (2-3), 2:30 p.m. UCLA (4-0) at Oregon (3-1), 2:30 p.m. Utah Tech (0-6) at Portland St. (1-4), 3 p.m. Montana (5-1) at N. Arizona (4-2), 4 p.m. Cal Poly (3-3) at Idaho St. (4-1), 5 p.m. San Diego St. (2-3) at Oregon St. (3-2), 5 p.m. N. Dakota St. (5-0) at UNLV (3-2), 6 p.m. N. Colorado (2-4) at E. Washington (1-5), 6 p.m. Hawaii (1-4) at Arizona St. (2-2), 9:30 p.m. Boise St. (4-1) at Fresno St. (4-1), 9:30 p.m.

4C n Saturday, october 10, 2026 n theadvocate.com n The Advocate

lll

THE NATION

THINGS TO WATCH IN WEEK 6 Who, what and where to keep an eye on in this week’s games around the nation

GEORGIA, ALABAMA SET FOR SHOWDOWN

No. 2 Georgia heads to No. 6 Alabama for a highly anticipated Southeastern conference game on Saturday. Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton is coming off what coach Kirby Smart called Stockton’s most complete performance of the season, throwing for 295 yards and three touchdowns against vanderbilt. Georgia has outscored its opponents by a combined 190 points this season. Alabama’s defense fared well against Stockton last year, holding him to fewer than 160 passing yards in both outings. Georgia’s defense has forced 10 turnovers through five games. The bulldogs’ plus-6 turnover margin is the second-best in the Sec behind Alabama.

TEXAS CAN’T OVERLOOK UNRANKED OU

coach Steve Sarkisian and Texas are going into their red river rivalry game with oklahoma ranked No. 1, but both teams have sputtering offenses. Sooners Qb John mateer, who threw three interceptions against Texas last year, has struggled, and they have only 37 points total their past three games. Texas quarterback Arch manning has been inconsistent and under pressure since a big fourth-quarter comeback to beat then-No. 1 ohio State in Week 2. ou has struggled in pass protection this season. The Sooners gave up five sacks to the Longhorns last year and edge rusher collin Simmons had 2½. Simmons had a school record 5½ sacks against Tennessee.

NITTANY LIONS SEEK IDENTITY AHEAD OF USC

After cruising through nonconference play, Penn State (3-1, 0-2 big Ten) has stumbled mightily in their first two conference games. The poor start coupled with conservative coaching calls in both losses have riled a loyal fan base. Penn State must establish some semblance of a rhythm and find an identity. Scoring just four touchdowns while allowing 58 points and giving up 533 rushing yards to two middling big Ten teams isn’t it. Another reality is the piecemeal roster, as it’s taking time for the team to build chemistry. uSc (5-1, 0-1) will try to extend Penn State’s losing skid on Saturday.

— Associated Press

Can’t count out UK despite LSU edge Early in LSU’s 1958 national championship season, the Tigers fended off an unheralded, pass-happy team from Abilene, Texas, called Hardin-Simmons. The score was 20-6, a relief to then-coach Paul Dietzel. “This is a good one to get behind you,” Dietzel said. “It’s always tough trying to convince anyone Hardin-Simmons has a good team.” Nearly 70 years later, a similar task faces LSU on Saturday night against the Kentucky Wildcats. Unlike its blueblood men’s basketball program, Kentucky football has never been part of Southeastern Scott aristocracy. Rabalais Conference Kentucky’s last of two SEC championships came 50 years ago. The Wildcats have never sniffed the College Football Playoff. And unlike some of the heavyweights on LSU’s schedule this year — Alabama, Texas, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Ole Miss, even down-in-the-mouth Clemson — Kentucky is traditionally a middleweight at best. The statistics don’t bode well for the Wildcats, either. Instead, they add up to a mismatch. I scoured 21 major statistical categories (the things I stay up late at night to do for you people) and found LSU had an advantage in 17 of them. Often huge advantages. Like the fact LSU is ranked second nationally in total defense and third in total offense, while Kentucky is ranked 92nd and 53rd in those respective categories. Or that the Wildcats are dead last among 138 FBS teams in third-down offense (a 24.5% conversion rate) while LSU is ninth in third-down defense (26.1%) and 12th in third-down conversions itself (51.9%). Kentucky’s statistical edges are few, though one, turnover margin, potentially looms large in this matchup (more on that later). College football, of course, is played on a field, not a stat sheet. But emotion, swagger and momentum also count for an awful lot. That underdog spirit. Kentucky football has always had that by the bucket full. And that has made its smallish, 61,000-seat Kroger Field often seem like a pit that big favorites like No. 10-ranked LSU (-8.5 per ESPN on Thursday night) have a difficult time extricating themselves from. It’s happened many, many times for LSU over the years. Like in 1986, when quarterback Tommy Hodson got hit so hard he bit through his tongue and needed ingame stitches to complete a 25-16 win that kept the Tigers on pace for their first SEC championship since 1970. Or how about the time in 2001 LSU had to overcome not one but two Kentucky safeties to win 29-25 on Rohan Davey’s 6-yard touchdown pass to Michael Clayton with just 13 seconds left. It was a win LSU needed to stay on track for its first trip to the SEC championship game, where it knocked No. 2 Tennessee out of the national championship game. Don’t even get me started on the Bluegrass Miracle in 2002. “We’re fighters,” first-year Kentucky coach and longtime UK fan Will Stein said this week (he rushed the field in 2007 when Kentucky beat No. 1 LSU 43-37 in three overtimes). “We play really hard. “We’ve got a lot of growth to do. But we

1. TEXAS Record: 4-0, 1-0 Sec Previous ranking: 1 Last week: off This week: vs. oklahoma in dallas, 2:30 p.m. Saturday (Abc) 2. ALABAMA Record: 5-0, 3-0 Previous ranking: 3 Last week: beat mississippi State 56-23 This week: vs. Georgia, 6:30 p.m. Saturday (Abc) 3. GEORGIA Record: 5-0, 3-0 Previous ranking: 2 Last week: beat vanderbilt 38-14 This week: at Alabama, 6:30 p.m. Saturday (Abc) 4. OLE MISS Record: 3-1, 1-1 Previous ranking: 5 Last week: off This week: at vanderbilt, 2:30 p.m. Saturday (eSPN) 5. LSU Record: 4-1, 1-1 Previous ranking: 6 Last week: beat mcNeese State 63-14 This week: at Kentucky, 6 p.m. Saturday (eSPN) 6. MISSOURI Record: 4-1, 1-1 Previous ranking: 10 Last week: beat Florida 45-17 This week: vs.Texas A&m, 11 a.m. Saturday (Abc) 7. FLORIDA Record: 4-1, 2-1 Previous ranking: 4 Last week: lost to missouri 45-17 This week: vs. South carolina, 11:45 a.m. Saturday (Sec Network) 8. MISSISSIPPI STATE Record: 4-1, 2-1 Previous ranking: 8 Last week: lost to Alabama 56-23 This week: off 9. TENNESSEE Record: 4-1, 1-1 Previous ranking: 7 Last week: beat Auburn 24-14 This week: at Arkansas, 3:15 p.m. Saturday (Sec Network)

ASSocIATed PreSS PhoTo by SAm crAFT

Kentucky quarterback Kenny minchey looks to pass against Texas A&m on Sept. 19 in college Station, Texas. The Wildcats beat the Aggies 31-21. have the right mindset and makeup.” Stein has the Wildcats off to a 4-1 start, just like LSU under Lane Kiffin, records that both include lopsided wins over preseason top 10 Texas A&M (Kentucky won 31-21 in College Station, LSU won 35-6 in Tiger Stadium). Kentucky is also coming off its largest road comeback ever, coming off the mat down 17-0 at South Carolina to win 35-34 in overtime. Yes, you can say Texas A&M isn’t any good this season. You can certainly say South Carolina coach Shane Beamer is on the road to buyout city, a firing that seems nearly inevitable. But you can’t say the Wildcats don’t believe. They may not do anything statistically great or anything to overwhelm you. They just find a way. LSU linebacker TJ Dottery at least sounded this week as though the Wildcats have the Tigers’ attention. “Great team,” he said. “I have much respect for them, how they try to run the ball and assert their dominance.” Kentucky’s success starts with turnovers. That’s how the South Carolina game turned for UK, when the Gamecocks fumbled at their 33 leading to the Wildcats’

first touchdown. That’s something LSU must avoid at all costs. If the Tigers play mistake free or at least win the turnover battle, they will beat Kentucky. That puts the focus on LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt more than ever. Leavitt said Tuesday his sore hamstring that’s bothered him the past two games is 100% A-OK going into this one. Kiffin’s rather dubious SEC availability reports seem to back him up; Leavitt’s name hasn’t been on there once this week. But Leavitt seems addicted to turnovers, throwing seven interceptions in five games, at least one per Saturday. He’s got to be more protective of the football, more like UK’s Kenny Minchey, who isn’t as talented as Leavitt but has an enviable 11-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio. I think LSU will win Saturday night. The Tigers may even be helped by the weather if rain from what’s left of Hurricane Isaias pours on Kroger Field to take some of the feistiness out of UK fans. But LSU shouldn’t expect it to be easy. As soft as a trip to bluegrass country sounds, history shows it’s usually more like a bed of nails. And one that you are always glad is behind you.

TV HIGHLIGHTS 11 a.m. Texas A&m at missouri Abc 11 a.m. Tulane at Army cbSSN 11 a.m. Wake Forest at Nc State cW 11 a.m. North carolina at Pittsburgh eSPN 11 a.m. ucF at oklahoma St. eSPN2 11 a.m. dartmouth at yale eSPNu 11 a.m. Indiana at Nebraska FoX 11 a.m. Arizona at West virginia TNT 11:30 a.m. ball St. at Northwestern bTN 11:45 a.m. South carolina at Florida SecN 2:30 p.m. Texas vs. oklahoma Abc 2:30 p.m. virginia Tech at california AccN

SEC RATINGS by KoKI rILey

2:30 p.m. 2:30 p.m. 2:30 p.m. 2:30 p.m. 2:30 p.m. 2:30 p.m. 2:30 p.m. 2:45 p.m. 3:15 p.m. 3:15 p.m. 5 p.m. 6 p.m.

ucLA at oregon cbS Tulsa at Navy cbSSN ole miss at vanderbilt eSPN duke at Georgia Tech eSPN2 houston at Kansas St. FoX Illinois at michigan St. FS1 Stanford at Notre dame Nbc uconn at Temple eSPNu maryland at ohio St. bTN Tennessee at Arkansas SecN San diego St. at oregon St. uSA N. dakota St. at uNLv cW

6 p.m. 6 p.m. 6 p.m. 6:30 p.m. 6:30 p.m. 6:30 p.m. 6:30 p.m. 6:30 p.m. 7 p.m. 9:15 p.m. 9:30 p.m. 9:30 p.m.

LSu at Kentucky eSPN uAb at memphis eSPN2 Nevada at uTeP FS1 Georgia at Alabama Abc Syracuse at virginia AccN Air Force at N. Illinois cbSSN J. madison at Ga. Southern eSPNu Southern cal at Penn St. Nbc minnesota at Purdue bTN Kansas at utah eSPN boise St. at Fresno St. cW hawaii at Arizona St. FS1

10. KENTUCKY Record: 4-1, 2-1 Previous ranking: 9 Last week: beat South carolina 35-34 in oT This week: vs. LSu, 6 p.m. Saturday (eSPN) 11. AUBURN Record: 3-2, 1-2 Previous ranking: 11 Last week: lost to Tennessee 24-14 This week: off 12. OKLAHOMA Record: 2-2, 0-1 Previous ranking: 12 Last week: off This week: vs.Texas in dallas, 2:30 p.m. Saturday (Abc) 13. TEXAS A&M Record: 3-2, 1-2 Previous ranking: 14 Last week: beat Arkansas 34-7 This week: at missouri, 11 a.m. Saturday (Abc) 14. SOUTH CAROLINA Record: 2-3, 0-3 Previous ranking: 14 Last week: lost to Kentucky 35-34 in oT This week: at Florida, 11:45 a.m. Saturday (Sec Network) 15. VANDERBILT Record: 3-2, 0-2 Previous ranking: 13 Last week: lost to Georgia 38-14 This week: vs. ole miss, 2:30 p.m. Saturday (eSPN) 16. ARKANSAS Record: 2-3, 0-2 Previous ranking: 16 Last week: lost to Texas A&m 34-7 This week: vs.Tennessee, 3:15 p.m. Saturday (Sec Network)

SPORTS

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

S at u r d ay, O c t O b e r 10, 2026

Check out the Week 6 high school football results. PAGeS 8c, 10c

5cN

S o u T h e r N A T P r A I r I e v I e W • 3 P. m . S A T u r d A y • h b c u G o

BOUNCE-BACK SPOT

Southern running back Trey holly breaks a tackle against ArkansasPine bluff last Saturday at A.W. mumford Stadium. holly and the Jaguars will try to rebound from their loss to uAPb when they travel to face Prairie view on Saturday afternoon. STAFF PhoTo by JAvIer GALLeGoS

both Southern, Prairie view look to turn things around after disheartening losses BY TOYLOY BROWN III

MORE ON PAGE 7C

Staff writer

arshall Faulk called Southern an easy target. The first-year coach didn’t mince words in his description because he believes Southern is suffering from self-inflicted mistakes on the field. Off the field, multiple players — including starting quarterback Christian Johnson — may not play Saturday because of “conduct detrimental to the team” that also kept them out of last week’s game.

■ SWAC power rankings ■ Southern stats, schedule ■ Toyloy Brown’s prediction Faulk doesn’t want to give Prairie View (2-4, 2-1) any useful information about player availability ahead of Saturday’s 3 p.m. road game. What’s more vital, he said, is the grit Southern (2-4, 0-2) shows if it wants to begin turning its season around. “These things, the only way to get out

of them is you got to ﬁght your way out of them,” Faulk said. “I’m gonna tell you in this game coming up, there’s going to be a point in time where we got to make a stand and defend, or make an offensive play or on special teams. And if we make that play, we start heading in the right direction.” If Southern doesn’t have Johnson or backup quarterback Ashton Strother, who also sat out for conduct reasons, the Jaguars likely will rely again on sophomore Wyatt McCauley. In his ﬁrst start last week, McCauley was 12-of-24 passing for 141 yards with

STAFF PhoTo by mIchAeL JohNSoN

Wade: LSU being cautious with team’s NCAA eligibility issues BY TOYLOY BROWN III

Will Wade received great news at 3:30 p.m. Thursday. Michael Ruzic was granted NCAA eligibility to play for the Tigers three hours before the team’s ﬁrst exhibition game. After Wade confirmed Ruzic’s full eligibility after the Tigers’ 6360 exhibition win over McNeese State on Thursday at Townsley Law Arena, he clariﬁed that “anybody we played tonight is fully eligible.” While LSU took every player previously reported except for former St. John’s star RJ Luis, only seven players participated

ä See SOUTHERN, page 7C

As Brees enters Ring of Honor, who’s next?

LSu basketball coach Will Wade watches pregame warmups for LSu’s football game against Texas A&m on Sept. 26 at Tiger Stadium.

Staff writer

one touchdown and one interception. Freshman Vashaun Coulon replaced the Long Beach City College transfer with 4:46 left in the third quarter after a costly red-zone interception by McCauley. McCauley will need to be steadier than he was in Southern’s 41-10 loss to Arkansas-Pine Bluff. After helping the Jaguars take a 10-7 lead by going 8-of-14 passing for 102 yards and a touchdown, his accuracy and decisionmaking faltered.

in the contest. The only player to not warm up in pregame was Austin Nunez because the Texas-San Antonio transfer had foot surgery a couple of weeks ago, Wade said. Wade said he could have played two other expected rotation players who he said are eligible, but he explained why he did not. “We were being extra cautious not to poke the bear,” he said. “We have another two that are cleared to play, but we wanted to make sure all the paperwork was ﬁnal before we did it. We were not trying to do anything untoward toward any acronym. So we were extra cautious.” Wade later said with one of the players, LSU provided one more

piece of paperwork to the NCAA in the afternoon before the exhibition. “The NCAA couldn’t turn it around quick enough,” Wade said. The college transfers who played against McNeese were senior guard Abdi Bashir (Kansas State), junior guard Divine Ugochukwu (Michigan State), senior forward Mo Dioubate (Kentucky) and fifth-year senior Donovan Dent (UCLA). The only substitutes were freshmen forward Jordan Bender and center Strake Pearson, both unranked high school recruits. Wade, who refrained from naming the players who he said were

ä See WADE, page 6C

The greatest player in Saints history will take his rightful place in the Caesars Superdome rafters Sunday afternoon. In what had to be the easiest decision the organization has ever made, Brees will be inducted into the Saints’ Ring of Honor during Sunday’s game against the Minnesota Vikings. If the Saints really want to give Brees what he deserves, they eventually will Rod erect a statue of Walker him outside the Dome, too. But that’s a column for another day. For now, let’s talk about who should be the next Saints great to gain a spot in the Ring of Honor. The Ring of Honor commemorates former players, administrators and individuals with signiﬁcant contributions to the franchise. It’s a far more exclusive club than the Saints Hall of Fame. The team Hall of Fame will have 63 members after Terron Armstead and Mark Ingram go in next month. The Ring of Honor will have just nine people after No. 9 goes in Sunday. Brees will join Rickey Jackson, Archie Manning, Willie Roaf, Morten Andersen, Tom Benson, Will Smith, Sam Mills and Jahri Evans.

STAFF FILe PhoTo by chucK cooK

Saints quarterback drew brees celebrates after throwing his sixth touchdown pass against the detroit Lions on Sept. 13, 2009, in the Superdome. ä Vikings at Saints. NooN SuNdAy, FoX

So who should be next? Here is my list of some other Saints who deserve a spot.

Jim Mora Mora already should be up there. The Saints never ﬁnished above .500 in the franchise’s ﬁrst 19 years of existence. In Year 20, Mora was hired and things

ä See WALKER, page 6C

6C ■ Saturday, october 10, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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BROADCAST HIGHLIGHTS ä College football TV. PAGe 4c

On TV

AUTO RACING 8 a.m. Formula 1: Qualifying APPLeTv noon NAScAr cup Series: Practice TruTv 3 p.m. NAScAr: blue cross Nc 250 cW WOMEN’S COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL 6 p.m. Wisconsin at Nebraska FoX GOLF noon Korn Ferry Tour championship GoLF 3 p.m. PGA Tour champions Tour GoLF 10 p.m. PGA: baycurrent classic GoLF

HORSE RACING 11 a.m. America’s day at the races FS1 2:30 p.m. America’s day at the races FS2 MLB 7 p.m. chicago White Sox at cleveland TbS NBA PRESEASON 7 p.m. Philadelphia at boston NbATv 9:30 p.m. San Antonio at Phoenix eSPN2

IN BRIEF

FROM STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

NHL Philadelphia at boston Toronto at colorado MEN’S SOCCER 9 a.m. bournemouth at chelsea 9 a.m. brentford Fc at Aston villa 11:30 a.m. Tottenham at man united WOMEN’S SOCCER 1:30 p.m. u.S. vs. Spain TENNIS 11 p.m. beijing Final noon 6 p.m.

NhLN NhLN NbcSN uSA Nbc TbS TeNNIS

Olave good to go vs. Vikings BY LUKE JOHNSON and MATTHEW PARAS

Staff writer

After an interesting week of injury intrigue, Chris Olave will play Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings. That didn’t feel like a given at various points throughout the week. Olave did not participate in the New Orleans Saints’ walkthrough practice Wednesday, less Notebook than 48 hours after he limped off the ﬁeld late in a blowout loss to the Atlanta Falcons. Saints coach Kellen Moore said multiple times that Olave’s absence was for a rest day and was not related to an injury. Then Olave showed up on Thursday’s injury report with a foot injury, which brought about a whole new line of questions that Moore addressed after Olave was a full participant in practice Friday. “He had a little thing come up in practice (Thursday). He got stepped on,” Moore said. Olave said the hit he took late in Monday’s loss to the Falcons left him only sore on Tuesday morning. He and the training staff made a “mutual” decision to give him a rest day on Wednesday since New Orleans held a walkthrough practice. “They did a good job looking out for me, to be honest,” Olave said. “I appreciate them for that.” The foot injury he suffered in Thursday’s practice left him with a bruised foot, but he was feeling ﬁne by Friday afternoon. Olave has caught at least eight passes in each of the Saints’ four games this season, and he has eclipsed 100 yards in three of the four games. Olave is on pace to record 149 receptions and more than 2,000 yards receiving this season.

NEW YORK — The New York Knicks are focused on their NBA title defense now and will worry about contract negotiations later. That means Karl-Anthony Towns and Josh Hart will have to wait on extensions they hoped would get done before the season. The Knicks said Friday that won’t happen, perhaps setting up an uncomfortable situation with some of their most important players. “As an organization, our entire focus is on preparing for the upcoming season and delivering another year for our fans to be proud of. As a result, we will not be negotiating contract extensions until later in the season and will remain solely focused on preparing for the start of the season,” according to a statement from a team spokesman. ASSocIATed PreSS PhoTo by TerrANce WILLIAmS

Saints wide receiver chris olave runs with the ball after catching a pass against ravens safety malaki Starks on Sept. 20 in baltimore.

WALKER

continued from page 5c began to change. He guided them to a 12-3 record in his second season, the first time they had ever reached double digits in wins. They made their first playoff appearance that season and went on to make the playoffs in four of Mora’s first seven seasons. Saints fans no longer had to wear paper bags over their heads.

Jim Finks The former general manager spent only seven seasons in New Orleans, but Finks hired Mora and was named the NFL’s executive of the year in 1987 after that 12-win season. His work in New Orleans, along with his time as general manager of the Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears, earned him a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1995.

Sean Payton The winningest coach in franchise history

continued from page 5c also playable, said there is additional paperwork to complete. The approach his program has is don’t “risk” anyone’s status by putting them in the ﬁrst exhibition game. The only date that matters is Nov. 3, its season opener against LSUNew Orleans. LSU didn’t play five players who are likely rotation pieces in 22-year-old Italian-Senegalese wing Saliou Niang, 23-year-old French center Brice Dessert, 24-year-old Israeli center Gilad Levy and ﬁfth-year senior Skyy Clark (UCLA). Clark and Dent are among the more than 70 plaintiffs who

PHILADELPHIA — Eagles running back Saquon Barkley and receiver DeVonta Smith have been ruled out of Sunday’s game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in London because of hamstring injuries. Barkley hurt his right hamstring early in last week’s 24-20 loss to the Los Angeles Rams and didn’t practice all week. Smith also didn’t practice this week and will miss his second straight game. Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts was added to the injury report Friday with a calf issue though he was a full participant at practice and the team later released veteran QB Andy Dalton. Dalton’s exit means Tanner McKee and rookie Cole Payton will back up Hurts.

Knicks focus on upcoming season over negotiations

Friday, joining safety Julian Blackmon (shoulder), wide receiver Barion Brown (thigh), linebacker Jaylan Ford (ankle), cornerback Lorenzo Styles (calf) and defensive tackle Christen Miller (illness). The Saints will be without linebacker Kaden Elliss (calf), defensive end Anfernee Jennings (knee) and rookie guard Jeremiah Wright (concussion). Elliss and Jennings will miss their second straight contest, while Wright suffered his injury Thursday. The Saints must decide whether to activate Ford and Styles from Kamara questionable injured reserve. The two sufSaints running back Alvin Ka- fered injuries in the preseason mara is questionable for Sunday’s that have kept them out for at game against the Vikings after least the ﬁrst four weeks. Both the 31-year-old was limited the players were full participants last two days with a back injury. throughout practice this week. Kamara’s injury is different Kamara was one of six players the Saints listed as questionable than the knee ailment that he

WADE

Eagles stars Barkley, Smith ruled out of London game

dealt with against the Falcons. Moore said Wednesday that Kamara told the team he was experiencing “back soreness.” The running back has only 25 carries for 74 yards and two touchdowns this season.

Dikta memories Moore has coached the Saints for more than a year. He’s been in the league for even longer. So he laughed when asked whether he could ever imagine trading an entire draft class for one player. “Probably not these days,” Moore said. The Saints’ all-in trade for Ricky Williams still has a lasting impact 27 years later and was again remembered Friday upon news that former Saints coach Mike Ditka died.

raised the bar in New Orleans. Payton is to coaches what Brees is to players in Saints’ lore. Anyone who ever coaches the Saints will be measured against the standard Payton set. Because of what the Saints did in the Payton-Brees era, the expectations around here are different. All the wins and the Super Bowl are enough, but also throw in the fact that Payton arrived here and helped breathe life into a city that was going through a very difﬁcult time.

Mickey Loomis While Finks took the Saints out of their dark days, the franchise under Loomis reached new heights. His 20-plus years include nine playoff trips, seven division titles and the franchise’s only Super Bowl title. Hiring Payton changed the franchise. The past few years haven’t been great, but that shouldn’t overshadow the entire body of work.

Pat Swilling, Vaughan Johnson OK, so I’m cheating a little bit here with a 2-for-1 special. But all four members of the

gained eligibility for a ﬁfth season through a temporary restraining order in a lawsuit ﬁled in California against the NCAA. What will determine their eligibility going into the regular season is a court hearing for a preliminary injunction on Oct. 20. The only difference in Clark’s situation is that he was also part of a Kentucky eligibility lawsuit that saw the Kentucky Court of Appeals dissolve the injunction that permitted Class of 2022 athletes to play. When Wade was asked directly whether Clark would be available for the next exhibition game, he said, “I think we’ll have more for the next one.” “We can’t play anybody who’s not fully cleared,” he said. “If we could, we’d have played every-

Ditka, who coached the Saints from 1997-99, was responsible for the trade that saw New Orleans send eight total draft picks — its entire 1999 class, plus two future first-round and a second-round selection — to the Washington Redskins so they could draft the Texas running back with the ﬁfth overall pick. Moore shared his memories of Ditka, the Hall of Fame tight end best known for coaching the 1985 Chicago Bears to a Super Bowl victory, on Friday. “Special combination of player and coach,” Moore said. “Impact on this game is so prominent. My parents are from (the) Chicago area so obviously kind of grew up with a lot of awareness to the Bears. And just a really, really special person that means a lot to the NFL community.”

Dome Patrol should be in the ring. Jackson and Mills, both Pro Football Hall of Famers, are already up there. But the Dome Patrol was so iconic and respected around the entire NFL that all four members deserve a spot. Before Brees came along, the Dome Patrol was what the Saints were known for. So add Swilling and Johnson.

Cam Jordan The defensive end is in Year 16. Nobody in team history has played more games in a Saints uniform than Jordan. He checks all the boxes, which is why he’s on my Mount Rushmore of Saints players. Longevity. Productivity. Durability. His work in the community. He’s done it all. He’s one sack away from passing the great Lawrence Taylor and moving to No. 15 on the all-time sacks list. His place in the Ring of Honor is a nobrainer, much like the guy who’s getting his spot Sunday. Email Rod Walker at rwalker@theadvocate. com.

body. We’re just tying up some loose ends with a little bit of paperwork.” Wade said Ruzic’s eligibility, along with some more international players coming up, was an “expected result.” He is conﬁdent in their eligibility because his signees have former overseas teammates who play at other schools and have already gotten cleared by the NCAA Eligibility Center. “The other guys made more money than our guys made,” Wade said. “We have all their contracts. We know all their situations. Like it was inevitable that they were going to have to clear our guys once they started clearing these kids at other schools.” Wade, who previously led McNeese (2023-25) to a pair of NCAA

Tournament appearances, didn’t mention or allude to Luis after the exhibition game. The former undrafted NBA player in 2025 who played a few preseason games has an uphill climb even though he was granted a preliminary injunction Aug. 24. The Southeastern Conference implemented rules that prevent member schools from adding players such as Luis who’ve signed an NBA or G League deal. Wade said that in due time, his complete team will be dangerous in the SEC. “I mean, we’re about to be loaded up here now,” he said. “Better watch out.” Email Toyloy Brown III at toyloy.brown@theadvocate.com

Dream advances to finals for first time since 2013

NEW YORK — Angel Reese scored 22 points, Rhyne Howard added 21 and the Atlanta Dream beat the New York Liberty 85-83 on Friday night to advance to the WNBA Finals for the ﬁrst time since 2013. The fourth-seeded Dream completed the three-game sweep of the Liberty and haven’t lost in the postseason this season. They will face the winner of the Las Vegas-Golden State series when the WNBA Finals begin on Oct. 17. The Dream hadn’t reached the semifinals since 2018 before this season. Now, they’ll try to win the franchise’s ﬁrst championship with four more victories. Atlanta led 83-81 with 17.7 seconds left after turning the ball over, giving New York one last chance. DeWanna Bonner hit two free throws with 6.2 seconds left to seal the win.

Djokovic falls to Hurkacz in Shanghai Masters

SHANGHAI — Novak Djokovic went from triumph in Beijing to a shock in Shanghai after a straight-sets loss to Hubert Hurkacz on Friday. The 24-time Grand Slam winner was beaten 6-4, 6-3 in a secondround match that lasted 87 minutes. Earlier at the Shanghai Masters, U.S. Open runner-up Ben Shelton celebrated his 24th birthday by advancing with a victory against Daniel Altmaier and top-seeded Alexander Zverev also progressed. But Djokovic’s exit was the big story, coming after his victory in the China Open earlier this week, his 102nd career title. Hurkacz certainly has form in Shanghai, having been champion in 2023.

Mertens to face Qinwen in China Open semifinals

BEIJING — Elise Mertens beat Iga Swiatek 7-6 (0), 6-3 on Friday to book her place in the semifinals of the China Open. Mertens’ run has now seen her beat three Grand Slam winners in Beijing, following victories against Jelena Ostapenko and Coco Gauff. She took 1 hour and 50 minutes to see off six-time Grand Slam winner and No.8 seed Swiatek in straight sets. “Sometimes you just grow into a tournament,” said Mertens, who is through to her first WTA 1000 singles semifinal since 2021. Mertens next faces Olympic gold medalist Zheng Qinwen after she put out No.6 seed Elina Svitolina 6-3, 7-6 (8). Zheng was a quarterfinalist at the U.S. Open as a qualifier.

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GAMEDAY

PASS 163.3

RUSH 170.3

Plays: 63.8 PASS 26.0

RUSH 37.8

Turnovers: 0.83 INTERCEPTIONS 0.50

FUMBLES 0.33

DEFENSE PER GAME Yards allowed: 412.8 PASS 189.0

Turnovers forced: 0.83 FUMBLES 0.33

SCORING PER GAME 38.2

22.3

33.5

21.2

SCORED ALLOWED

2026

2025

LEADERS PASSING Christian Johnson 58.47%, 728 yards, 6 Tds, INT RUSHING Trey Holly 110 carries, 552 yards, 5.0 avg, 5 Tds Mike Franklin 29 carries, 263 yards, 9.1 avg, 2 Tds Christian Johnson 34 carries, 84 yards, 2.5 avg, 2 Tds RECEIVING Daejawn Smith 20 catches, 256 yards, 12.8 avg, 2 Tds Trey Holly 9 catches, 68 yards, 7.56 avg Miles Dixon 8 catches, 155 yards, 19.38 avg, Td DEFENSE Tay James 37 tackles, 3 for loss, 2 sacks Ty Lee 25 tackles, 2 for loss

SCHEDULE AUGUST 29 vs. Alabama State L, 30-17 SEPTEMBER 5 Kentucky St. W, 34-15 12 at houston L, 77-6 19 La. christian W, 50-31 26 at Jackson State L, 35-17 OCTOBER 3 uAPb L, 41-10 10 at Prairie view 3 p.m./hbcu Go 24 at TSu 2 p.m. SWAc Tv 31 at Florida A&m 2 p.m. NOVEMBER 7 bethune-cookman 2 p.m. 14 Alcorn State university 2 p.m. 28 Grambling 1 p.m./Nbc

PREDICTION PRAIRIE VIEW 27, SOUTHERN 14:

While Southern should be motivated after a demoralizing homecoming loss last week, it’s facing an equally inspired Prairie view group that suffered an unexpected one-point loss to mississippi valley State. Southern’s injuries on the defensive front will be difficult to overcome, especially if edge rusher ckelby Givens is out. Prairie view, which won the SWAc title last year thanks to a stout defense, will be prepared for Southern’s rushing attack and give whoever coach marshall Faulk starts at quarterback some issues. Toyloy Brown III

BY TOYLOY BROWN III Staff writer

The Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils are cellar dwellers no more. In Week 6 of The Advocate’s Southwestern Athletic Conference football power rankings, two big upsets have shaken things up. Here is where things stand: Record: 5-0, 2-0 Previous ranking: 1 Last week: 31-28 win vs. Alabama A&M in Mobile, Ala. This week: 4 p.m. Saturday at Grambling Extra points: The Tigers still have a top-two offense and defense in the SWAC. This week, Jackson State looks to end a two-game losing streak against Grambling. Star junior running back Nate Blount left last week’s game in the third quarter with an injury, and his status is uncertain for Saturday.

2. Alabama A&M Record: 4-2, 1-1 Previous ranking: 4 Last week: 31-28 loss vs. Jackson State in Mobile, Ala. This week: Noon Saturday vs. Bethune-Cookman Extra points: The Bulldogs blew a 21-10 second-half lead in the rain against top-ranked Jackson State at in Mobile, Alabama, last weekend. Despite senior quarterback Cornelius Brown’s 263-yard, three-touchdown performance, Jackson State won the total offense battle with 405 yards to 358 with a more balanced approach. Next up is a surging BethuneCookman squad after it beat Alabama State.

3. Grambling Record: 3-2, 1-1 Previous ranking: 5 Last week: 63-59 win vs. Alcorn State This week: 4 p.m. Saturday vs. Jackson State Extra points: The Tigers came back from 17 points down to defeat the Braves in their homecoming game. Grambling is handling the quarterback position by committee with RJ Johnson out due to an undisclosed illness. Senior Ashton Frye completed 11 of 17 passes for 203 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Junior Jacobe Robinson completed 13 of 17 passes for 167 yards and two touchdowns.

4. Alabama State Record: 3-3, 1-2 Previous ranking: 2 Last week: 16-10 loss at BethuneCookman This week: 28-27 loss Friday vs. Florida A&M Extra points: The Hornets remain the No. 1 defense in the SWAC, but the focus is on the offense and more speciﬁcally the quarterback position. The Hornets are struggling without injured starter Andrew Body.

5. Prairie View Record: 2-4, 2-1 Previous ranking: 3 Last week: 28-27 loss at Mississippi Valley State This week: 3 p.m. Saturday vs. Southern Extra points: Coach Tremaine Jackson took accountability for blowing a 24-0 lead to Mississippi Valley State. Jackson said he didn’t

SOUTHERN

continued from page 5c

SWAC STANDINGS Conf. W L Jackson St. 2 0 BCU 1 0 Ala. A&M 1 1 Fla. A&M 1 1 MVSU 1 1 Ala. State 1 2 Conf. W L Alcorn St. 2 1 Prairie View 2 1 UAPB 1 1 Grambling 1 1 Southern 0 2 Texas So. 0 2

East

Friday’s Games

All Games W L PF PA 5 0 199 90 3 2 148 135 4 2 205 112 2 4 115 211 1 4 90 205 3 1 159 110

PF 66 16 95 49 43 91

PA 45 10 80 67 68 52

PF 155 100 92 77 27 54

All games PA W L PF PA 154 3 2 234 248 56 2 3 143 180 63 2 2 182 167 80 2 2 181 176 76 2 3 134 229 95 1 3 116 242

West

Florida A&M 28, Alabama St. 27

Saturday’s Games

Bethune-Cookman at Alabama A&M, noon Arkansas Baptist at Alcorn St., 2 p.m. MVSU at Texas Southern, 2 p.m. Southern at Prairie View, 3 p.m. Jackson St. at Grambling, 4 p.m.

Oct. 17 Games

Alcorn St. at Prairie View, 2 p.m. Alabama St. at Ark.-Pine Bluff, 2 p.m. Grambling at Alabama A&M, 2 p.m. Bethune-Cookman at MVSU, 2 p.m. Florida A&M at Jackson St., 2 p.m.

3 p.m. Saturday, Prairie view, Texas ONLINE: hbcu Go | Radio: KQXL-Fm, 106.5 Line: Prairie view by 14½ (over/under: 55½)

1. Jackson State RUSH 223.8

INTERCEPTIONS 0.50

SOUTHERN at PRAIRIE VIEW

Delta Devils rise after huge upset

TEAM STATS OFFENSE PER GAME Yards gained: 333.6

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Saturday, october 10, 2026 ■ 7C

The Prairie View defense, a force during its run to winning last year’s SWAC championship, won’t hesitate to pressure an inexperienced quarterback. The Panthers also have four interceptions, tied for third in the conference. Faulk said the Prairie View interior defensive line is probably the best in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. “They got a defensive line that’s pretty good,” Faulk said. “Then their corners are very disciplined. They play a lot of man outside. They don’t just cover you; they attack you.” In SWAC play, Prairie View is allowing the third-fewest points per game (18.7) and the fourthfewest total yards (296.3). The Panthers also will be motivated after a surprising 28-27

STAFF FILe PhoTo chrIS Todd

The Southern defense tackles mississippi valley State quarterback Josh brown in rice-Totten Stadium in Itta bena, miss., on Aug. 20, 2025. brown led the delta devils to an upset over Prairie view on Saturday.

SWAC POWER overlook the Delta Devils because he respects the game too much. RANKINGS Jackson kept his comments short during this week’s SWAC coaches media call, and said the team les and half a sack. “looks forward” to facing Southern. The Panthers are 3-2 against 8. Arkansas-Pine Bluff the Jaguars in the previous ﬁve Record: 3-2, 1-1 matchups. Previous ranking: 8 Last week: 41-10 win at Southern 6. Alcorn State This week: Bye Extra points: Coach Alonzo HampRecord: 3-3, 2-1 Previous ranking: 6 ton expressed how disrespected Last week: 63-59 loss at Grambling he felt by Southern schedulThis week: 2 p.m. Saturday vs. Ar- ing his team for homecoming, and the Golden Lions left Baton kansas Baptist Extra points: The Braves have Rouge with a message. In the win, the No. 2 scoring offense in the freshman quarterback Garrison SWAC but the second-worst de- Davis threw for four touchdowns fense in the conference, giving and ran for 92 yards. UAPB has up an average of 41.3 points per the No. 3 scoring offense in the game. Senior quarterback Jaylon SWAC, averaging 36.4 points per Tolbert is the top passer in all of game, in addition to having the FCS football, throwing for 1,882 No. 6 defense in the conference. yards going into Week 6. Alcorn State should get some relief this 9. Mississippi Valley State week against NAIA foe Arkansas Record: 2-4, 1-1 Baptist for its homecoming. Previous ranking: 12 Last week: 28-27 win vs. Prairie 7. Bethune-Cookman View This week: 2 p.m. at Texas SouthRecord: 3-2, 1-0 Previous ranking: 7 ern Last week: 16-10 win vs. Alabama Extra points: Not only did the Delta State Devils pull off the biggest upset in This week: Noon Saturday at Ala- the conference but they also did it by making the largest Week 5 bama A&M Extra points: Freshman redshirt SWAC comeback. Valley trailed running back Rashon Brown and Prairie View 24-0, but quartersenior safety Naim Lassiter were back Josh Brown led the charge named the conference offensive with 101 yards rushing and three and defensive players of the week touchdowns in addition to his 144 after leading the Wildcats to the yards passing and one touchdown. second biggest upset in the SWAC. Brown scored the only touchdown 10. Texas Southern of the game in addition to rushing Record: 1-4, 0-2 for 260 yards on 31 carries. LasPrevious ranking: 9 Last week: 66-10 loss at Florida siter led the team with nine tackloss at Mississippi Valley State last weekend. Coach Tremaine Jackson said on the SWAC coaches call Monday that he didn’t coach well enough last week and plans to have his group return to form against the Jaguars. “Luckily, we’ve been here before, and we dug ourselves out of this before,” the second-year coach said. “And we’ll dig ourselves out of it again.” Jackson said he doesn’t know who will be available for Southern, but he assumes the Jaguars will have their playmakers. “I just always err on the side of everybody’s gonna always be healthy against Prairie View,” he said. The best counter Faulk possesses is the running game. Jackson called Trey Holly one of the best running backs his staff has studied and complimented the offensive line. The 5-foot-7, 192-pound tailback leads the SWAC with 552 yards rushing on 110 carries (5.0 yards per at-

tempt) and ﬁve touchdowns. Holly has carried a heavier load with third-string back Champ Davis missing three games because of a shoulder injury and backup Mike Franklin out last week for conduct reasons. Absences might also affect the Southern defense as it could miss standout defensive end Ckelby Givens, who is “coming off some remnants of a concussion,” Faulk said. The Jaguars also have injuries to starting defensive end Jordyn Dickerson and backup Kai Brown. If those three remain out, Southern may not be able to exploit a Prairie View offensive line that has allowed a conference-high nine sacks in league play. Faulk also pointed out one of Prairie View quarterback Tevin Carter’s top targets, 6-7 tight end Travon Jones, could create matchup problems. Carter has been solid as well, completing 63.1% of his passes for 950 yards, eight touchdowns and one

Atlantic This week: 2 p.m. Saturday vs. Mississippi Valley State Extra points: The Tigers have the worst defense in the SWAC, giving up an average of 48.4 points per game. Senior running back Athean Renfro had 101 yards rushing and a touchdown in the blowout loss to Florida Atlantic. Texas Southern squeezed out a 2320 win against Mississippi Valley State in 2025.

11. Florida A&M Record: 2-4, 1-1 Previous ranking: 11 Last week: Bye This week: 28-27 win Friday at Alabama State Extra points: Coach Quinn Gray said he evaluated the Rattlers’ program “from top to bottom” during the team’s bye week, from equipment down to the personnel. FAMU returned to the ﬁeld for a reschedule game Friday against Alabama State and won.

12. Southern Record: 2-4, 0-2 Previous ranking: 10 Last week: 41-10 loss vs. ArkansasPine Bluff This week: 3 p.m. at Prairie View Extra points: The Jaguars have the No. 10 defense and No. 10 offense in the SWAC. Junior running back Trey Holly is the third-leading rusher in the conference, but starting quarterback Christian Johnson missed the homecoming game due to violating a team rule, coach Marshall Faulk said. Star defensive end Ckelby Givens missed the homecoming game with a head injury.

interception. Before Southern can worry about the Prairie View offense, it must not be demolished on special teams. Prairie View leads the SWAC in kickoff return average (39.5 yards) and net kickoff yards (44.6). Southern is 11th (18.6) and 10th (33.8) in those categories, respectively. Faulk has pushed for more effort on special teams and plans to use defensive starters on kickoffs and punts to help stabilize the units. Faulk said desperation also will shape the outcome. This will be especially true when mistakes eventually happen. “The adversity hits, and it’s like we’re shell-shocked,” he said. “I keep saying, ‘Hey, just keep swinging. You just got to keep ﬁghting, and that’s the only way I know. You got to ﬁght your way out of this.’ ” Email Toyloy Brown III at toyloy.brown@theadvocate.com.

8C ■ Saturday, october 10, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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THE VARSITY ZONE

LATE THURSDAY

Duffour, St. Charles run past St. James BY SPENCER URQUHART

yards on 15 carries and scored St. Charles’ final touchdown from 5 yards out to put the Comets up by 14. St. Charles had a chance to take a three-score lead in the final quarter after freshman Bryan Houser’s interception. The Comets got to the 1-yard line but turned the ball over on downs. “Disappointed that we don’t close the game out at the 1-yard line,” Stein said. “If we punch that in, the game is over. We’ve got to do a better job closing games out.” St. James quickly went 99 yards down the field, with Davis finding Jackson over the middle on what ended up a 74-yard touchdown pass to put the Wildcats within one score. St. Charles was forced to punt after getting the ball back. St. James drove down to the Comets’ 6-yard line, but Aucoin’s interception sealed the game. “The last two years (against St. Charles) were one-possession games, and it came down to that tonight,” St. James coach LaVanta Davis said. “(St. Charles) is always physical, always wellcoached.” The St. James quarterback Davis completed 9 of 16 passes for 228 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Mitchell was his top receiver, finishing with 200 yards on 6 catches, and junior running back Xavier Johnson ran for 125 yards on 25 carries. St. Charles scored first after senior defensive lineman Kayden Asevedo blocked a St. James punt and recovered it for a 25-yard touchdown. St. James put together a 13play scoring drive in the second quarter, and a 1-yard touchdown run by junior Montrell Steib tied things up 7-7. St. Charles (5-1, 1-0) will be back at home next Friday in a Week 7 district matchup against Patterson. St. James (5-1, 0-1) will continue district play next Friday on the road against Lutcher.

Staff writer

St. Charles Catholic threw the ball six times in the first half against St. James, which Comets coach Wayne Stein felt like was too much for his traditionally run-heavy offense. The second half began with three straight rush attempts by St. Charles, the third of which was taken 47 yards for a touchdown by senior running back Evan Duffour. St. James had trouble containing Duffour, who found the end zone again from 54 yards out. Trailing by two touchdowns, St. James staged a comeback effort in the fourth quarter. The Wildcats had cut the lead to eight points but couldn’t close the gap after St. Charles senior defensive back Drew Aucoin’s interception with 32 seconds left. St. Charles began district play with a 28-20 win over River Parishes rival St. James. The game was rescheduled to Thursday at St. James from its original Friday date due to the inclement weather threat from Hurricane Isaias. “We got back to old school St. Charles Catholic football in the second half,” Stein said. “I’m extremely proud of our defense for coming out on short rest. We were walking wounded on Monday, but they came out and answered the bell again.” Duffour’s ﬁrst touchdown run gave St. Charles a 14-7 lead, but St. James answered on its next drive when sophomore quarterback LaVanta Davis connected with junior Kamon Mitchell on a 70-yard touchdown pass to tie the game. St. Charles got the lead back after Duffour’s second touchdown. The senior ﬁnished with 196 rushing yards on 24 carries. “It was all thanks to my O-line,” Duffour said. “I know how hard I’ve worked this year, and it’s showing up now.” St. Charles quarterback Landree LeBlanc thew just eight passes but made an impact with Email Spencer Urquhart at his legs. The senior ran for 62 surquhart@theadvocate.com.

LATE THURSDAY

St. Amant displays ‘attitude’ to beat Walker BY CHARLES SALZER

contributing writer

St. Amant brought a threegame losing streak into its District 5-5A game against Walker, but the Gators and senior running back Jourden Hickerson played like winners all night long. Hickerson rushed for 168 yards and scored four touchdowns as the Gators pulled away in the second half for a 42-14 win over the Wildcats at The Pit in St. Amant. “This game was about attitude,” Hickerson said. “We lost our last three games so this was a statement game. It was our second district game, and we had to get out and control the line of scrimmage.” St. Amant (3-3, 1-1) gave Hickerson enough room to score on runs of 1, 2 and 6 yards. He carried the ball 30 times and pushed his season rushing total to more than 1,000 yards. His fourth score came on an 8-yard pass from Brock Koontz. The Gators gained 310 total yards, picked up 16 first downs and had no turnovers. Walker (4-2, 1-2) trailed 14-7 at the half but squandered opportunities to get its defense off the field in the third quarter. A roughing-the-passer penalty on third down kept alive a touchdown drive on St. Amant’s first series of the second half. In the fourth quarter, the Gators kept a scoring drive going with a fake punt on fourth-and-8 after Walker had scored to make it 28-14. “(St. Amant’s) defensive line is really good,” Walker coach Chris Harrell said. “They gave us fits all night. They kind of got the better of us in the trenches on both sides.”

Quarterback Jayce Evans completed 10 of 18 passes for 91 yards. He threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Kason Lewis but was also intercepted in the second half. Evans was sacked twice but was pressured all game by the Gators defense. He finished with a team-high 97 yards rushing. Both teams moved the ball well in the first half. St. Amant scored touchdowns on its first two possessions while Walker sandwiched in a score of its own as the Gators took a 14-7 lead after one quarter. The second quarter featured long drives by each squad, but neither produced any points. The Gators began the second quarter on their own 8 and held the ball for seven minutes. Along the way, they ran off 13 plays and had a first down at the Walker 29 before a holding penalty stalled the drive. Koontz threw incompletions on third and fourth down, and Walker took over at its 28. From there, the Wildcats used 13 plays to burn off the last five minutes of the half. Helped by two St. Amant penalties, Walker moved inside the Gators 10 with less than 20 seconds to go in the half. St. Amant’s Cody Saucier blocked Aaron Stern’s 19-yard field goal on the last play of the half. St. Amant took the opening kickoff and moved 62 yards for its first touchdown. Hickerson finished the drive with a 1-yard TD run. Walker responded with Lewis’ 18-yard receiving touchdown from Evans. St. Amant came right back with Koontz’ 28-yard touchdown pass to Aiden Broussard.

STAFF PhoTo by mIchAeL JohNSoN

Zachary wide receiver ethan Kimmie breaks free from central defensive back harlem Lindsey in the first quarter on Friday at central.

Breaking point Zachary’s running game finds its stride in time to topple central

BY JACKSON REYES Staff writer

Zachary coach David Brewerton knew his team’s run game was close. Against Central on Friday night, everything finally clicked. The Broncos led 3-0 at the break, but Jeremey Patton helped break the game open in the second half by carrying the ball 21 times for 147 yards and two touchdowns. His efforts helped Zachary (4-2) defeat Central 31-21 on Friday night at Central High to open District 4-5A play. “In the games leading up to this one, we always felt like we were one step away with our running backs,” Brewerton said. “We knew that was going to break at some point. It did tonight.” Patton finished with 231 yards rushing on 34 carries. “Second half, coach (Brewerton) told me he was going to give me the ball,” Patton said. “I told him I had him.” The Broncos moved the ball in the first half, but turnovers plagued drives. Jacori Platt threw a pick on Zachary’s opening drive. The Broncos fumbled on their second drive, and Platt threw his second interception on the third drive. Zachary found the scoreboard late in the second quarter on a 37-yard field goal. Brewerton credited his defense for keeping his team in the game in the first half, despite the turnovers. “We asked them all week long, win first down and get off the field on third down,” Brewerton said. “We did that time and time again tonight.” Central (3-3) scored on the opening drive of the third quarter after Max Gassiott found Brody Diel for a 41-yard reception, setting up an 8-yard touchdown run by Gassiott. Zachary answered after Platt connected with Trikoby Rheams downfield, who shrugged off a defender for a 42-yard touchdown. On the ensuing kickoff, Zachary forced a

central defensive back brody diel dives to break up a pass intended for Zachary wide receiver ethan Kimmie in the end zone on Friday at central. fumble at the Wildcats 37. Platt found Rheams again for an 18-yard gain. Two plays later, Patton bulldozed his way into the end zone for a 10-yard touchdown to make it 17-7 late in the third. After a defensive stop, Gassiott found Diel on a flea flicker for a 60-yard gain to Zachary’s 20 to start the fourth. Four plays later, Gassiott trimmed the deficit to three points on a 10-yard touchdown run. Zachary struck back after Patton ripped off a 44-yard run on the drive’s first play. The 5-foot-9 running back then found space toward the left sideline and left defenders behind for a 38-yard touchdown run two plays later. “He’ll fool you with how little he is,” Brewerton said. “He runs it extremely hard, and his (yards after the catch) yardage is a lot. Just a hardworking kid.” After a stop, the Broncos stretched the lead after Platt dropped it into the bucket of Ethan Kimmie for a 40-yard touchdown, extending the lead to 17 points. Zachary picked off Gassiott on the ensuing drive, allowing the Broncos to bleed more clock. Gassiott found Marcus Watson for a 15-yard touchdown with less than a minute left, but Zachary recovered an onside kick to seal it. The win marks Zachary’s fourth straight after a 0-2 start.

West Feliciana answers coach’s challenge in win over Parkview BY RICH LOUP

contributing writer West Feliciana coach Terry Minor challenged his undefeated team earlier this week, and his squad was up to the task Friday night. The Saints (6-0) scored on their first four possessions and never looked back in breezing to a 49-14 victory at Parkview Baptist in a District 7-3A opener for both teams. Ty London led a balanced rushing attack with 96 yards and two touchdowns as West Feliciana, ranked No. 8 in Class 3A, rolled up 354 yards on the ground. De’Corine King rushed for two more touchdowns and caught one of Brooks Hebert’s three scoring tosses. “This week at practice, we felt like we had to go and make sure we didn’t have relief syndrome,” West Feliciana coach Terry Minor said. “Whenever you have success early, you become the mountain. So you have to be able to go and develop young men to have success.” West Feliciana asserted its will from the opening kickoff. London’s slippery 7-yard touchdown run

capped a 58-yard opening drive that took just 2:28. JP St. Romain added the extra point for a 7-0 Saints lead with 9:24 to go in the first quarter. After Parkview (1-5) went threeand-out on its first offensive series, West Feliciana struck again with a 63-yard scoring drive that took 4:21 off the clock. Thirty-nine of those yards came on a fourth-and-17 touchdown pass from Hebert to King, who beat two Parkview defenders inside the 5 for the score. Leading 14-0, West Feliciana recovered a surprise onside kick at the Parkview 45. Hebert rolled to his right and flicked a short pass to Ezra Morrow for a 5-yard score and a 21-0 cushion with 31 seconds remaining in the first quarter. The Saints increased their lead to 28-0 with 4:10 to go in the half when London notched his second touchdown with a 3-yard run to cap a 61-yard scoring drive. A special teams error led to Parkview’s first score in the final minute of the first half. Parkview recovered a punt that hit a West Feliciana player at the Saints 6.

Two plays later, quarterback BK Gavlik scored on a 6-yard keeper. Tristan Daigle added the extra point to cut the deficit to 28-7 with 39 seconds before halftime. The Eagles hoped the late firsthalf score would create a secondhalf spark, but a fumble on the third-quarter kickoff led to Ean Hills’ 21-yard touchdown run on the next play as West Feliciana went up 35-7. Nick Dixon of Parkview notched two touchdown-saving plays, including an interception, for the Eagles. He also added a 57-yard kickoff return in the fourth quarter. Gavlick accounted for two touchdowns, including a 53-yarder on a middle screen pass to Marquise Franklin in the fourth quarter. Parkview coach Devin Ducote hopes his team can build on the individual moments of success. “I think there are some bright spots, for sure, we gotta lean into,” Ducote said. “We gotta really do some soul searching and find out who’s competing and see who’s healthy and ready to go.”

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Saturday, october 10, 2026 ■ 9C

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SCOREBOARD Odds Sports Betting Line NFL Sunday

FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O/U UNDR at JAX 11/2 71/2 (421/2) Phila at PITT 21/2 21/2 (431/2) Ind Houston 31/2 71/2 (38) at TEN at NE 81/2 31/2 (441/2) Vegas at NY JETS 21/2 21/2 (391/2) Cleve at WASH 21/2 4 (411/2) Giants Chicago 3 11/2 (451/2) at G.B. Minnesota 11/2 21/2 (411/2) at N.O. Cincinnati 51/2 7 (431/2) at MIA Denver 21/2 31/2 (421/2) at LAC Detroit 81/2 51/2 (541/2) at ARI at SEATTLE 31/2 3 (461/2)San Frn at ATLANTA 41/2 31/2 (431/2) Balt

Monday

FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O/U UNDER at LA RAMS 3 31/2 (541/2) Buffalo

College Football Saturday

FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O/U UNDER Indiana 81/2 71/2 (481/2) at NEB at B. GREEN 61/2 81/2 (441/2) Sac St. at MISOU 11/2 31/2 (491/2) Tx A&M Arizona 31/2 3 (611/2)at W. VA at PITTS 41/2 31/2 (471/2) N. Car at OKLA ST 91/2 101/2 (531/2) UCF at ARMY 61/2 31/2 (481/2) Tulane W. Forest 21/2 31/2 (581/2) at NCS at NWSTRN341/2 351/2 (521/2) Ball St at FLA 141/2 121/2 (581/2) S. Car at APP ST 51/2 91/2 (471/2)Old Dom Miami (OH) 21/2 31/2 (451/2) at UMS at OHIO 31/2 3 (461/2) C. Mich E. Michigan 51/2 51/2 (521/2)at AKRN Va Tech 111/2 10 (531/2) at CAL at KANS ST 11/2 21/2 (551/2) Hou Illinois 21/2 21/2 (481/2) at MSU at W. MCH 131/2 131/2 (431/2) Kent St Duke 51/2 61/2 (431/2) at GT at N TEX 241/2 281/2 (571/2) Char at OREGN 121/2 101/2 (581/2) UCLA Ole Miss 101/2 91/2 (541/2)at VNDR at TOLEDO 171/2 191/2 (551/2) Buffalo at NAVY 31/2 21/2 (481/2) Tulsa at N.D. 351/2 391/2 (541/2) Stanfrd Texas 61/2 71/2 (391/2)at OKLA at TEMPLE 3 31/2 (541/2) UConn at E. CAR 91/2 91/2 (471/2) Rice Tenn 141/2 131/2 (511/2) at ARK at OSU 371/2 331/2 (561/2) Mrylnd at OR ST 141/2 151/2 (531/2) Sdsu Ndsue 11/2 3 (481/2)at UNLV LSU 101/2 81/2 (501/2)at KENT Nevada 91/2 91/2 (491/2) at UTEP at MEM 161/2 141/2 (531/2) UAB at MRSHLL 21/2 31/2 (591/2) C. Car at VIRGINIA 61/2 91/2 (501/2) Syrcse Air Force 121/2 7 (461/2)at N. ILL at BAMA 21/2 11/2 (511/2)Georgia at LA TECH 11/2 3 (471/2) UL at PENN ST PK 11/2 (541/2) USC J. Madison 10 71/2 (511/2) at GAS Minnesota 51/2 21/2 (501/2) at PURi

Pro basketball WNBA Playoff Glance (x-if necessary) Semiﬁnals (Best-of-5)

Golden State 2, Las Vegas 0

Sunday, October 4: Golden State 71, Las Vegas 60 Wednesday, October 7: Golden State 83, Las Vegas 81 Friday, October 9: Golden State at Las Vegas, n x-Sunday, October 11: Golden State at Las Vegas, TBA x-Wednesday, October 14: Las Vegas at Golden State, TBA

Atlanta 3, New York 0

Sunday, October 4: Atlanta 92, New York 82 Wednesday, October 7: Atlanta 101, New York 98, OT Friday, October 9: Atlanta 85 New York 83

Major League Baseball MLB Postseason Glance DIVISION SERIES

Thursday, Oct. 8: Cleveland 9, Chicago White Sox 5 Saturday, Oct. 10: Chicago White Sox at Cleveland, 7:10 p.m. (TBS/TruTV/ HBO Max)

Tampa Bay 3, N.Y. Yankees 0

Saturday, Oct. 3: Tampa Bay 1, N.Y. Yankees 0 Monday, Oct. 5: Tampa Bay 5, N.Y. Yankees 2 Wednesday, Oct. 7: Tampa Bay 4, N.Y. Yankees 3

National League (FOX, FS1)

L.A. Dodgers 3, Atlanta 1

Saturday, Oct. 3: L.A. Dodgers 5, Atlanta 3 Sunday, Oct. 4: Atlanta 3, L.A. Dodgers 2 Tuesday, Oct. 6: L.A. Dodgers 3, Atlanta 1 Wednesday, Oct. 7: L.A. Dodgers 4, Atlanta 1

Milwaukee 3, San Diego 1

Saturday, Oct. 3: Milwaukee 3, San Diego 2 Sunday, Oct. 4: Milwaukee 4, San Diego 3 Tuesday, Oct. 6: San Diego 4, Milwaukee 3 Wednesday, Oct. 7: Milwaukee 3, San Diego 1

Late Thursday Cleveland 9, White Sox 5 Cleveland

Chicago

ab r h bi ab r hbi Kwn lf 3 2 1 0 Mdrth 2b 4 2 1 0 Rmírz 3b5 2 2 3 Grichk lf 2 0 0 0 DeLutr rf4 0 1 1 Petrs lf 3 0 1 0 Adell dh4 0 1 2 Vrgs 3b 2 2 1 1 Lowe 1b4 0 2 0 Mrkmi 1b 3 0 1 1 Mrtínz lf3 1 0 0 Pham dh 0 0 0 0 Halpin cf1 0 0 0 Antnccidh 2 0 1 2 Bzna 2b4 1 1 1 Doyle cf 3 0 1 1 Gno 2b 1 0 0 0 Bnntndi ph1 0 0 0 Hdgs c 1 0 0 0 Teel c 4 0 0 0 Bailey c3 2 2 2 B.Mntry rf 5 0 0 0 Rccho ss2 1 0 0 C.Mntry ss4 1 2 0 Totals 35 9 10 9 Totals 33 5 8 5 Cleveland 000 036 000 — 9 Chicago 002 020 001 — 5 DP_Cleveland 0, Chicago 1. LOB_ Cleveland 7, Chicago 12. 2B_Bazzana (2), Meidroth (2). HR_Bailey (1), Ramírez (1), Vargas (1). SB_Murakami (1), Vargas (1), Martínez (1), Adell (0), DeLauter (0). SF_Antonacci (1), Doyle (1). IP H R ER BB SO Cleveland Messick 2 1⁄3 2 2 2 4 5 Armstrong 1 2⁄3 0 0 0 0 2 1 Bibee H,1 ⁄3 0 2 2 2 1 1 Herrin BS,0-1 ⁄3 1 0 0 1 0 Sabrowski W,1-1 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 Gaddis 1 ⁄3 1 0 0 0 1 C.Smith 1 2 1 1 1 1 Williams 1 1 0 0 0 1 Chicago 2 H.Smith ⁄3 0 0 0 3 0 Fedde 3 2⁄3 3 2 2 1 1 2 Hicks BS,0-1 ⁄3 1 1 1 0 1 Kay L,0-1 BS,0-1 1⁄3 1 2 2 0 0 Taylor 0 4 4 4 2 0 Hudson 1 2⁄3 0 0 0 0 0 Davis 2 1 0 0 1 1 Sabrowski pitched to 3 batters in the 6th, C.Smith pitched to 2 batters in the 9th, Taylor pitched to 6 batters in the 6th. HBP_Herrin (Antonacci), Kay (Martínez). ABS Challenge_Smith (Ball-Confirmed); Armstrong (Ball-Overturned to Strike); Bibee (Ball-Overturned to Strike); Kwan (Strike-Overturned to Ball); Hudson (Ball-Overturned to Strike); Antonacci (Strike-Overturned to Ball); Gaddis (Ball-Confirmed); Williams (Ball-Confirmed). Umpires_Home, Jansen Visconti; First, Vic Carapazza; Second, Tom Hanahan; Third, Cory Blaser; Right, Todd Tichenor; Left, Gabe Morales. T_3:39. A_39,920 (40,241).

Pro football

(Best-of-5) x-if necessary

NFL Glance AMERICAN CONFERENCE

(TBS, TruTV, HBO Max)

East

American League

Chicago White Sox 2, Cleveland 2 Saturday, Oct. 3: Chicago White Sox 3, Cleveland 0 Monday, Oct. 5: Chicago White Sox 4, Cleveland 3 Wednesday, Oct. 7: Cleveland 9, Chicago White Sox 3

Buffalo New England N.Y. Jets Miami

W 3 2 1 0

L 1 2 3 4

T 0 0 0 0

Jacksonville

W 3

L 1

T Pct PF PA 0 .750 104 53

South

Pct PF PA .750 127 107 .500 65 77 .250 76 84 .000 46 101

Indianapolis Tennessee Houston

2 0 0

2 4 4

0 .500 102 104 0 .000 55 83 0 .000 84 109

Cleveland Baltimore Pittsburgh Cincinnati

W 3 3 2 2

L 1 1 2 2

T 0 0 0 0

W Kansas City 4 Las Vegas 3 Denver 2 L.A. Chargers 0

L 0 1 2 4

T Pct PF PA 0 1.000 118 77 0 .750 115 84 0 .500 74 94 0 .000 67 106

North

West

Pct PF PA .750 81 95 .750 116 96 .500 77 87 .500 97 85

NATIONAL CONFERENCE East

N.Y. Giants Philadelphia Dallas Washington

W 3 2 2 1

L 1 2 3 3

T 0 0 0 0

Pct PF PA .750 82 79 .500 75 93 .400 138 136 .250 88 122

Carolina Atlanta New Orleans Tampa Bay

W 2 2 1 1

L 2 2 3 4

T 0 0 0 0

Pct PF PA .500 121 109 .500 96 92 .250 105 128 .200 100 112

Minnesota Chicago Detroit Green Bay

W 4 3 2 2

L 0 1 2 2

T Pct PF PA 0 1.000 86 51 0 .750 112 65 0 .500 119 127 0 .500 73 105

San Francisco Seattle L.A. Rams Arizona

W 4 3 2 1

L 0 1 2 3

T Pct PF PA 0 1.000 122 64 0 .750 105 73 0 .500 85 83 0 .250 87 117

South

North

West

Thursday’s Games

Tampa Bay 24, Dallas 16

Sunday’s Games

Philadelphia vs Jacksonville at London, GBR, 8:30 a.m. Chicago at Green Bay, noon Cincinnati at Miami, noon Cleveland at N.Y. Jets, noon Houston at Tennessee, noon Indianapolis at Pittsburgh, noon Las Vegas at New England, noon Minnesota at New Orleans, noon N.Y. Giants at Washington, noon Denver at L.A. Chargers, 3:05 p.m. Detroit at Arizona, 3:25 p.m. San Francisco at Seattle, 3:25 p.m. Baltimore at Atlanta, 7:20 p.m. Open: Kansas City, Carolina

Monday’s Games

Buffalo at L.A. Rams, 7:15 p.m.

Late Thursday Tampa Bay 24, Dallas 16 Tampa Bay 0 7 17 0 — 24 Dallas 7 3 0 6 — 16 First Quarter Dal_Ja.Williams 1 run (Aubrey kick), 10:51. Second Quarter TB_Irving 5 pass from Daniels (McLaughlin kick), 14:49. Dal_FG Aubrey 41, :21. Third Quarter TB_Egbuka 14 run (McLaughlin kick), 14:00. TB_Irving 1 run (McLaughlin kick), 7:31. TB_FG McLaughlin 41, 2:58. Fourth Quarter Dal_Pickens 18 pass from Prescott (pass failed), 5:26.

A_92,351.

TB Dal First downs 24 20 Total Net Yards 419 366 Rushes-yards 39-241 13-50 Passing 178 316 Punt Returns 1-12 1-10 Kickoff Returns 3-61 5-127 Interceptions Ret. 2-1 0-0 Comp-Att-Int 19-25-0 24-42-2 Sacked-Yards Lost 1-11 0-0 Punts 4-40.75 3-45.333 Fumbles-Lost 0-0 1-1 Penalties-Yards 14-92 7-57 Time of Possession 39:21 20:39 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING_Tampa Bay, Irving 21-165, Daniels 7-23, Gainwell 4-18, Tucker 5-18, Egbuka 1-14, Godwin 1-3. Dallas, J.Williams 12-45, Luepke 1-5. PASSING_Tampa Bay, Daniels 19-250-189. Dallas, Prescott 24-42-2-316. RECEIVING_Tampa Bay, Egbuka 6-38, Godwin 3-37, Otton 3-25, Gainwell 3-10, Irving 2-10, T.Johnson 1-64, Durham 1-5. Dallas, Pickens 9-130, Flournoy 3-90, Ferguson 3-19, Turpin 2-22, Mingo 2-20, J.Williams 2-17, Lamb 2-9, Schoonmaker 1-9. MISSED FIELD GOALS_None.

Ohtani’s bat quiet so far in playoffs BY BETH HARRIS AP sportswriter

Shohei Ohtani is scuffling at the plate, and so far the Los Angeles Dodgers superstar is coming up mostly empty in the postseason. After stumbling into the playoffs while battling biceps and knee injuries, he was 2 for 13 (.154) with two walks, four strikeouts and one stolen base in their four-game NL Division Series win over the Atlanta Braves. That’s clearly not up to the four-time MVP’s standards. “He’s a very good selfevaluator, a very extremely high competitor and expects a lot from himself,” manager Dave Roberts said. As Ohtani goes, so go the Dodgers. They weren’t much better, hitting just .203 against Atlanta. Ohtani was dropped to fifth in the order — his lowest as a Dodger — for Game 3 of the NLDS. He reached base twice, once on a catcher’s interference and one walk. He moved up to the cleanup spot for Game 4. He had previously only started in the first or second spot. Some of Ohtani’s offensive slump can be traced to nagging injuries that limited him to just 139 games in the regular season. He went on the injured list for the first time as a Dodger in September. Ohtani has admitted he’s still not 100% healthy. At times, he doesn’t appear comfortable at the plate. “I haven’t been able to get a good grasp of the root cause of all this,” he said through a translator last week. “I think that process is going to happen during the offseason when I’m go-

ASSocIATed PreSS PhoTo by mIKe STeWArT

Los Angeles dodgers two-way player Shohei ohtani strikes out during the fourth inning in Game 4 of the National League division Series against the Atlanta braves on Wednesday in Atlanta. ing to have a little bit more time to be able to address it. But as of now, it’s something I’m just going to have to manage.” Health is only part of the equation. He’s been uncharacteristically aggressive swinging at pitches outside of the strike zone, something Roberts hopes he improves going into Game 1 of the NL Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday. “He can still do a better job of staying in the strike zone,” Roberts said. “It’s hard to have success when you’re out of the zone.” Roberts has maintained unwavering trust in Ohtani and

believes his bat will come to life as the Dodgers’ bid for a third consecutive World Series championship continues. Bolstered by their pitching, the Dodgers are in the NLCS against the Brewers for the second straight year. Ohtani led the Dodgers to a four-game sweep of Milwaukee last year, when the Brewers hit a measly .118 against Dodgers pitching. He was 5 for 14 (.357) with three home runs, four walks and five strikeouts as NLCS MVP — all three homers came in a memorable Game 4 clinch in which he also struck out 10 as a pitcher. He had a 1.643 OPS and 1.143 slugging percentage.

SATURDAY’S STATE COLLEGE CAPSULES Tulane at Army WHEN: 11 a.m. Saturday WHERE: Michie Stadium (36,000), West Point, N.Y. TV: CBSSN RECORDS: Tulane 2-2, 0-0 American Conference; Army 2-2, 1-1 LATEST LINE: Army by 31/2 (481/2) SERIES: Tulane leads 14-10-1 LAST MEETING: Tulane won 24-17 in 2025. NOTES: Tulane hasn’t revealed who will start at QB for the game. ... It’s the conference opener for both teams as reiging league champion Tulane tries to get a winning start. ... Army leads the FBS in rushing offense (averaging 334.3 yards per game), but its defense allows 6.89 yards per offensive play, which ranks 132nd nationally. ... Army ranks 20th among FBS teams in third-down conversion rate (50%) while Tulane’s defense is is 131st in third-down defense (48.4%).

UL at Louisiana Tech

WHEN: 6:30 p.m. Saturday WHERE: Joe Aillet Stadium (28,562), Ruston ONLINE: ESPN+ RECORDS: UL 4-1, 1-0 Sun Belt Conference; Tech 2-2, 0-0 LATEST LINE: Tech by 3 (471/2)

SERIES: Tech leads 48-33-6 LAST MEETING: Tech won 43-14 in 2015. NOTES: This is the 88th all-time meeting between the programs in a series that dates to 1910. It’s their ﬁrst matchup since 2015. ... The Bulldogs have an eightgame win streak in the series. ... The Cajuns lead the Sun Belt in total defense, allowing j267.2 yards per game (19th nationally). ... Louisiana Tech returns to the Sun Belt after being a member from 1991-2001.

Southeastern at UTRGV

WHEN: 7 p.m. Saturday WHERE: Vackar Stadium (13.498), Edinburg, Texas ONLINE: ESPN+ RECORDS: SLU 3-2, 1-1 Southland Conference; UTRGV 2-3, 1-2 LATEST LINE: SLU by 41/2 (551/2) SERIES: SLU leads 1-0 LAST MEETING: SLU won 45-31 in 2025. NOTES: No. 25 SLU, on a three-game win streak, is closing out a three-game road 652-mile trip to Ediburg, Texas. ... The Vaqueros are 9-0 at home in the past two seasons since joining the Southland. ... Lions WR Dkhai Joseph is second in FCS with two punt return touchdowns, while ranking fourth nationally with 22.2 yards per punt return. Open dates: Nicholls State, McNeese State, Northwestern State, UL-Monoe

YEARS

11 teams. 6 conferences. 1 state.

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THE VARSITY ZONE WEEK 6 FOOTBALL REPORT Thursday’s scores

PhoToS by PATrIcK deNNIS

St. michael running back Gavin romero runs after catching a pass in the first half against Plaquemine on Friday at St. michael. romero scored four touchdowns in the win.

Romero, St. Michael hang on to get past Plaquemine BY WILLIAM WEATHERS

Friday’s scores AREA

Denham Springs 19, East St. John 6 Ascension Christian 15, East Iberville 6 Southern Lab 66, White Castle 0 St. Michael 28, Plaquemine 27 Ascension Catholic 60, West St. John 14 West Feliciana 49, Parkview Baptist 14 Zachary 31, Central 21 East Feliciana 34, Catholic High Pointe Coupee 20 Woodlawn 38, St. Martinville 20 North Vermilion 63, Glen Oaks 32 University 42, Kaplan 12

contributing writer

St. Michael built three twotouchdown leads that still required a couple of lump-in-yourthroat moments by game’s end. C.J. Levingston’s interception at his own 5-yard line with 4:30 remaining was the ﬁrst such moment. The Warriors then celebrated a key 28-27 District 6-4A victory Friday at Warrior Stadium when Plaquemine’s 37-yard ﬁeld goal on the final play came up short. St. Michael (5-1, 3-0) remained in a tie for the district lead with Madison Prep (4-2, 3-0), which the Warriors host on Oct. 23. “It’s random,” St. Michael coach Zach Leger said of the district schedule’s arrangement. “We got the luck of the draw of Plaquemine and Madison Prep in week six and eight. I really like where we’re at because it allows us to become competitive and learn how to win.” Junior running back Gavin Romero continued to shine in his role for injured starting running back Deonte Camel. A week after rushing for 149 yards and two touchdowns, Romero had 32 carries for 190 yards and all four of his team’s touchdowns — the last one from 4 yards out at the 10:23 mark of the third quarter. Dylan Raffray added his fourth successful extra point. “He was carrying most of the load, and I would come in and give him a little break,” Romero said of Camel. “I’m now taking the role over since he’s injured.” Plaquemine (3-3, 2-1) continued to apply pressure over the last 22 minutes. Quarterback Jermaine Robin-

Beau Chene 41, Livonia 0 Broadmoor 14, McKinley 6 Brusly 54, Tara 0 Carver 50, McMain 0 Central Lafourche 39, H.L. Bourgeois 7 Central Private 46, Ben Franklin 18 Country Day 63, Houma Christian 7 Covenant Christian Academy 40, Fisher 15 Destrehan 32, Thibodaux 20 Dutchtown 44, Live Oak 18 E.D. White 42, South Terrebonne 0 East Ascension 43, Prairieville 21 East Beauregard 44, DeQuincy 20 Easton 29, Higgins 6 Ehret 21, Belle Chasse 10 Episcopal-BR 21, Donaldsonville 0 Eunice 49, Ville Platte 6 Hahnville 49, Terrebonne 0 Hannan 40, Franklinton 26 Haughton 41, St. Frederick Catholic 0 Haynesville 54, Glenbrook 36 Huntington 33, C.E. Byrd 28 Independence 53, Northlake Christian 0 JS Clark Leadership Academy 22, Opelousas Catholic 0 Jennings 36, DeRidder 31 Jesuit 24, Chalmette 7 Karr 40, John Curtis Christian 28 Kentwood 50, Varnado 0 Lafayette Renaissance 51, Northside 14 Lake Charles College Prep 67, LaGrange 0 Lakeshore 41, Erath 34 Landry/Walker 55, Thomas Jefferson 12 Leesville 49, RHS 6 Lutcher 56, Berwick 7 Mansﬁeld 42, Lakeside 15 McDonogh #35 34, Abramson 13 Newman 48, Morris Jeff 0 North Webster 22, Bossier 0 Northwest 45, Mamou 21 Ponchatoula 40, Fontainebleau 21 Pope John Paul 49, Loranger 7 Rayville 66, Madison 6 Riverside Academy 49, St. Martin’s 0 Rosepine 54, Pickering 0 Salmen 28, Pearl River 21 Shr. Northwood 58, B.T. Washington 26 Slaughter 30, Springﬁeld 14 Slidell 42, Hammond 7 South Beauregard 28, Washington-Marion 6 South Lafourche 44, Ellender 7 South Plaquemines 33, Reed 6 St. Amant 42, Walker 14 St. Augustine 48, Holy Cross 0 St. Charles Catholic 28, St. James 20 St. John 43, North Iberville 40 Sterlington 66, Loyola Prep 46 Sumner 18, Albany 8 Teurlings Catholic 49, Acadiana Renaissance Charter 14 Vandebilt Catholic 50, Patterson 0 Vermilion Catholic 25, Central Catholic 13 West Jefferson 39, East Jefferson 35 Westminster Christian (LAF) 27, Ascension Episcopal 26

STATEWIDE

Plaquemine quarterback Jermaine robinson, right, scrambles out of the pocket as St. michael defender champ Williams gives chase on Friday at St. michael. son scored on a 43-yard run with 4:13 showing in the third quarter and connected with UL commitment John Walker on a 60-yard scoring pass in the ﬁnal 36 seconds of the quarter. Robinson, who accounted for 478 yards (321 passing, 157 rushing) and four touchdowns, moved the Green Devils within scoring territory. On fourth-and-9 and moving around in the pocket, Robinson’s pass went toward Walker (11 catches, 159 yards, TD), who was initially wide open near the end zone until Levingston closed on the ball. St. Michael intercepted Robinson three times as Seth Darsam and Cooper Terito also came up with interceptions. The Warriors also had two fumble recoveries from Alex Warthen and Cody Doming. The Green Devils got the ball

back with 1:45 remaining and drove from their own 36 to the Warriors’ 20 when, after a St. Michael timeout, Deacon Nicolosi’s effort from the left hash was no good. “These kids have a lot of heart,” Plaquemine coach Donald Williams said. “We just came out real slow and that was kind of the point of emphasis this week at practice. We’ve just got to go back to work. The kids showed tremendous effort.” St. Michael converted a pair of turnovers into touchdowns for a 14-0 lead in the ﬁrst seven minutes of the game. Those miscues set up the ﬁrst two of Romero’s touchdowns from 30 and 3 yards, respectively. “I couldn’t be prouder of a kid that’s stepped up,” Leger said. “He’s got his opportunity, and he’s literally been running with it.”

Alexandria 44, West Monroe 7 Amite 23, St. Thomas Aquinas 6 Ascension Christian 15, East Iberville 6 Assumption 56, Morgan City 0 Avoyelles 22, Many 20 Barbe 66, Acadiana 17 Catholic 55, Liberty 0 Beekman 28, D’Arbonne Woods 20 Calvary Baptist 64, Homer 14 Carroll 0, Bastrop 0 Cecilia 42, Breaux Bridge 0 Cedar Creek 48, North Caddo 0 Delhi 0, LaSalle 0 Denham Springs 19, East St. John 6 Elton 46, Merryville 6 Evangel Christian 63, Natchitoches Central 28 Ferriday 54, Delhi Charter 12 Grand Lake 42, Oberlin 7 Jena 36, Marksville 30 Lafayette 34, Sam Houston 14 Lake Arthur 62, Basile 7 Lincoln Preparatory School 46, Arcadia 14 Loreauville 46, Franklin 6 Mangham 65, Vidalia 28 Notre Dame 27, Abbeville 8 Catholic-New Iberia 42, Delcambre 6 North Central 44, Highland Baptist 14 North DeSoto 61, Minden 27 Northshore 7, Saint Paul’s 3 Patrick Taylor 49, Jefferson Rise 6 Pine 23, St. Helena 22 Plain Dealing 22, Pine Prairie 0 Rummel 33, Brother Martin 10 Ruston 56, Ouachita Parish 21 Shaw 65, Willow School 0 Southern Lab 66, White Castle 0 Southside 77, Sulphur 39 St. Louis 47, Westlake 20 Sterlington 66, Loyola Prep 45 Tioga 28, West Ouachita 13 Union Parish 28, Caldwell Parish 21 University 42, Kaplan 12 Vinton 42, Oakdale 0 West Feliciana 49, Parkview Baptist 14 Woodlawn (BR) 38, St. Martinville 20 Zachary 31, Central-B.R. 21

Broadmoor 14, McKinley 6

Team MHS BHS First Downs 15 7 Yards Rushing 44-169 21-64 Yards Passing 42 77 Passes (C-A-HI) 6-10-1 8-16 Punts-avg. 4-66 5-195 Fumbles-lost 4-2 1-0 Penalties-yards 7-45 13-95 SCORING SUMMARY McKinley 0 0 0 6 —6 Broadmoor 0 8 6 0 —14 BHS: Brailand Porter 70 punt return (Revinder Mendez kick failed) BHS: Team safety BHS: Quentin Williams 34 pass to Tyreke

Robinson (Mendez kick failed) MHS: Kaleb Brown 3 run (Denim Robinson kick failed)

St. Amant 42, Walker 14

Team WHS STA First Downs 13 16 Yards Rushing 32-113 37-208 Yards Passing 92 102 Passes (C-A-HI) 10-18-1 12-18-0 Punts-avg. 2-40.5 0-0 Fumbles-lost 2-0 0-0 Penalties-yards 5-55 9-85 SCORING SUMMARY Walker 7 0 0 7 —14 St. Amant 14 0 14 14 —42 STA: Jourden Hickerson 1 run (Paxton LeBlanc kick) WHS: Kason Lewis 18 pass from Jayce Evans (Aaron Stern kick) STA: Aiden Broussard 28 pass from Brock Koontz (LeBlanc kick) STA: Hickerson 8 pass from Koontz (LeBlanc kick) STA: Hickerson 2 run (LeBlanc kick) WHS: Tyler Whisman 1 run (Stern kick) STA: Hickerson 6 run (LeBlanc kick) STA: Keyon Pavageau 9 run (LeBlanc kick)

St. Charles 28, St. James 20

Team SC SJ First Downs 16 15 Yards Rushing 40-262 33-126 Yards Passing 23 277 Passes (C-A-HI) 6-8-0 14-22-2 Punts-avg. 4-31.3 3-26 Fumbles-lost 1-1 1-1 Penalties-yards 4-40 4-25 SCORING SUMMARY St. Charles 7 0 14 7 —28 St. James 0 7 7 6 —20 SC: Kayden Asevedo 25 punt block return (Logan Wooten kick) SJ: Montrell Steib 1 run (Bricen Ferchaud kick) SC: Evan Duffour 47 run (Wooten kick) SJ: Kamon Mitchell 70 pass from LaVanta Davis (Ferchaud kick) SC: Duffour 54 run (Wooten kick) SC: Landree LeBlanc 5 run (Wooten kick) SJ: Mitchell 74 pass from Davis (kick blocked)

St. Michael 28, Plaquemine 27

SCORING SUMMARY Plaquemine 7 7 13 0 —27 St. Michael 21 0 7 0 —28 SMHS: Gavin Romero 30 run (Dylan Raffray kick) SMHS: Romero 3 run (Raffray kick) PHS: Jerome Royal 36 pass from Jermaine Robinson (Deacon Nicolosi kick) SMHS: Romero 48 run (Raffray kick) PHS: Robinson 12 run (Nicolosi kick) SMHS: Romero 4 run (Raffray kick) PHS: Robinson 43 run (Nicolosi kick) PHS: John Walker 60 pass from Robinson (Kick failed)

University 42, Kaplan 12

Team UNIV KAP First Downs 21 17 Yards Rushing 218 265 Yards Passing 176 33 Passes (C-A-HI) 11-24-0 3-5-2 Punts-avg. 1-41 1-19 Fumbles-lost 0-0 3-0 Penalties-yards 8-90 8-60 SCORING SUMMARY University 8 20 14 0 —42 Kaplan 0 6 0 6 —12 UNIV — Caiden Bellard 9 pass from Knox Kiffin (Luca Picarella run) KAP — Jeremy Roy 4 run (Run failed) UNIV — Bellard 1 run (Kai Joo Kick) UNIV — Bellard 7 run (Kick failed) UNIV — Stephen Saia 35 pass from Kiffin (Joo kick) UNIV — Bellard 2 run (Joo Kick) UNIV — Kiffin 4 run (Joo Kick) KAP — De’Maurion Cormier 3 run (Kick blocked)

West Feliciana 49, Parkview Baptist 14

Team WFHS PBS First Downs 25 6 Yards Rushing 354 56 Yards Passing 152 93 Passes (C-A-HI) 16-26-1 8-16-0 Punts-avg. 1-21.0 3-46.3 Fumbles-lost 1-1 4-2 Penalties-yards 13-120 7-50 SCORING SUMMARY West Feliciana 21 7 14 7 —49 Parkview Baptist 0 7 0 7 —14 WFHS: Ty London 7 run (JP St. Romain kick) WFHS: De’Corine King 39 pass from Brooks Hebert (St. Romain kick) WFHS: Ezra Morrow 5 pass from Hebert (St. Romain kick) WFHS: London 3 run (St. Romain kick) PBS: BK Gavlick 6 run (Tristan Daigle kick) WFHS: Ean Hills 21 run (St. Romain kick) WFHS: King 2 run (St. Romain kick) PBS: Marquise Franklin 53 pass from Gavlick (Daigle kick) WFHS: King 5 run (St. Romain kick)

Zachary 31, Central 21

Team ZHS CHS First Downs 17 17 Yards Rushing 40-284 24-83 Yards Passing 145 258 Passes (C-A-HI) 6-15-2 13-31-1 Punts-avg. 1-37 3-29.7 Fumbles-lost 2-1 2-1 Penalties-yards 6-60 6-50 SCORING SUMMARY Zachary 0 3 14 14 —31 Central 0 0 7 14 —21 ZHS: Even Lopez 35 ﬁeld goal CHS: Max Gassiott 8 run (Pedro De Sousa Costa kick) ZHS: Jacori Platt 42 pass to Trikoby Rheams (Lopez kick) ZHS: Jeremey Patton 12 run (Lopez kick) CHS: Gassiott 10 run (De Sousa Costa kick) ZHS: Patton 38 run (Lopez kick) ZHS: Platt 40 pass to Ethan Kimmie (Lopez kick) CHS: Gassiott 15 pass to Marcus Watson (De Sousa Costa kick)

Top LSU baseball transfers limited or out for 1st fall scrimmage BY KOKI RILEY Staff writer

More than four months remain before LSU baseball ofﬁcially begins the 2027 season. But on Thursday, the Tigers took to the diamond for the ﬁrst time since their season ended at the SEC Tournament in Hoover, Alabama, last May. Here are five takeaways from the scrimmage.

Top transfers not in action Angel Laya, Bino Watters, Dawson Park and Jason Wachs were LSU’s major transfer portal additions this summer, but none of them swung the bat or played in the ﬁeld on Thursday. Laya (Oregon) and Wachs (Tulane) squared up to bunt in the top and bottom of the second inning, respectively, before getting replaced in the batter’s box. Park was only used as a pinch runner, and Watters didn’t play at all. The four transfers — along with sophomore Mason Braun, who didn’t play — were unavailable or limited because of a virus that

forced them to miss multiple days of practice over the past week, Jay Johnson told The Advocate. Johnson is hopeful Braun and Laya can participate in Friday’s scrimmage. The only transfer who played was Cade Kurland, the Florida transfer who hit .279 with a .853 on-base plus slugging percentage last season. Right-handed pitching transfers Kaden Smith, Diego Velazquez and Landon Hood didn’t play, either.

Washington in infield Thursday was the public’s first look at Washington on the infield after Johnson announced in September that the highly touted freshman outfielder would move to the infield in 2027. “Obviously, right-handed thrower, great athlete, can really move,” Johnson said. “We’re exploring the infield thing. It’s gonna benefit him. It’s gonna benefit us. “He’s gonna be a stud, and eventually he’ll put more money in his pocket because he can do that.” Washington played second and third base, cleanly fielding a

ground ball in the fourth and fifth nal innings of the scrimmage. innings after helping turn a double play in the second on a grounder Freshmen featured heavily to Steven Milam. His only mistake Thursday’s scrimmage was most was not covering second base on productive for LSU’s freshmen, a stolen-base attempt in the third. the majority of whom saw the field in some capacity for the first time Who pitched? at Alex Box Stadium. Martinez also saw action as a hitLSU rotated through seven pitchers on Thursday, starting with ter, in addition to pitching two inright-hander William Schmidt and nings. Lucas Nawrocki — another ending the night with junior left- two-way player as a left-handed hander Ethan Plog. pitcher — took multiple trips to the Schmidt threw only one shutout plate despite not pitching. Dominic inning, but he hit 98 mph with his Santarelli arrived at LSU primarfastball and struck out two of the ily as an outfielder but played first three batters he faced. Freshman base on Thursday. right-hander Cooper Sides tossed Nate Davis-Cleary made the the bottom of the first and threw best catch of the night, ranging two scoreless innings with a fast- from center field into left-center to make an inning-ending catch. ball that sat in the mid-90s. Two more freshmen — righthander Jordan Martinez and left- ABS at Alex Box Stadium hander Bradyn Cupit — pitched afThe NCAA approved the use of ter Sides. Redshirt freshman left- the Automated Ball-Strike System hander Jonah Aase, who missed in August, opening the door for the all of last season recovering from challenge system to be used in all Tommy John surgery, threw three of LSU’s games this season. LSU innings in his return to the mound. benefited from playing with ABS Sophomore right-hander Zion in two games at the SEC TournaTheophilus also threw over the fi- ment last May.

So on Thursday, the Tigers didn’t hesitate to practice issuing challenges with the system in place, challenging four pitches during the scrimmage, three of which were successful. Junior Cade Arrambide, freshman Dylan Minnatee and fifthyear senior Eddie Yamin all overturned called strikes at the plate in the sixth inning. Freshman Omar Serna had the only unsuccessful challenge of the night, when he challenged a called ball as the catcher in the second inning.

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BR church celebrates Armenian faith, culture with event The doors of St. Garabed Armenian Apostolic Church in Baton Rouge will swing open on Sunday for more than a worship service. The church, 6208 Florida Blvd., welcomes the community from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 11 for its Feast of the Holy Translators to celebrate Armenian faith, culture, food and traditions. “The purpose of the festival is to introduce the Armenian community to Kaltakdjian the locals and also to non-Armenians and to let them know that we are here in Baton Rouge and Louisiana,” said Vasken Kaltakdjian, chairman of the church’s governing parish council. “We’re going to have our church doors open for everyone who would like to come in, visit and look at the church.” Considered one of the most beloved celebrations in the Armenian Apostolic Church, the Feast of the Holy Translators commemorates the special group of ﬁfth-century scholars and church leaders who gave the Armenian people their alphabet and translated the Holy Scriptures. Kaltakdjian, 67, said the festival will feature cultural exhibits, music and tours with clergy and historians. “There’s not necessarily going to be a service,” Kaltakdjian said. “The clergy is going to explain what our Armenian church is, where we come from and what’s the history behind it — and why the day is dedicated to the Feast of the Holy Translators.” For Kaltakdjian, such celebrations are important for keeping the church and heritage alive for future generations. He is a native of Damascus, Syria, who has resided in Baton Rouge for 48 years. “Every celebration in our church means a lot,” he said. “It gives us life, it gives us hope, and it gives us a lot of love. That’s what we pass along to our children and our family.” One way heritage is passed along is through traditional Armenian cuisine, including shish kebab, dolma, lahmajoun and baklava. Kaltakdjian knows more than a little about Armenian food. His family immigrated to the United States in 1978. His father, Serop Kaltakdjian, opened the original Serop’s sandwich shop in Baton Rouge.

S at u r d ay, O c t O b e r 10, 2026

1dN

VIEW FOR A GOOD MEAL

STAFF FILe PhoTo by hILAry ScheINuK

diners enjoy the rooftop patio for an early dinner at Tsunami in downtown baton rouge.

As october gives way to more temperate climes, consider dining outdoors around br Staff report

ous lunch and dinner options like sandwiches, soups, salads and shareable boards. The sleeper hit has the unimaginative name “Protein Plate,” — don’t let the name discourage. It hits the spot. The market in the front of the restaurant includes grab-and-go meals, wine and gifts.

Barracuda Taco Stand

n 2504 Government St.

This New Orleans-born taco stand seats diners outside with shady spots equipped with fans to cool off over modern Mexican fare. Chicken, pork, beef, crispy fish, mushroom and broccoli tacos are the main attraction here, but don’t sleep on the bowls, packed with beans, pickled onions, rice, cabbage, cotija cheese, cilantro and a protein of choice. Don’t forget the happy hour nachos, margaritas, tacos and beer, which is every weekday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Bin 77

n 10111 Perkins Rowe, Studio 160

Located in Perkins Rowe, Bin 77 is a wine bar and restaurant with an enjoyable patio that often hosts live music. Bin 77 received the “Award of Excellence” from Wine Spectator in 2025 — a recognition that requires restaurants to offer at least 90 wine selections, feature an assortment of quality producers and match the wines to the menu in price and style. Some of our favorite items on the menu are the chicken club sandwich, baked brie,

Brasserie Byronz

n 515 Mouton Street

This “Frenchie-American” spot offers dishes like chicken paillard, crawﬁsh and grits, pot roast bourguignon and steak haché. Plus, ProvIded PhoTo From INSTAGrAm it has a wonderfully shaded patio bLdG 5’s menu has a selection of that doesn’t get a lot of street noise. boards, often including limited-time It also serves sandwiches, burgers, salads, sides, appetizers and desspecials, like the chef’s board for sert — and has a great bar.

two, pictured.

parmesan chive trufﬂe fries and lobster ravioli. One perk for the patio: It doesn’t get a lot of street noise and offers a lot of shade.

The Chimes

n 3357 Highland Road

This is a Baton Rouge icon. The Chimes is the stuff of LSU legend. It’s a taproom/restaurant serving seafood platters, po-boys, sandwiches, burgers and more. A cultn 2805 Kalurah St. favorite dish is the spinach and arThe eatery, marketplace, patio tichoke dip appetizer that’s served and bar have a rustic and laid-back with fried bowtie pasta chips to interior with attention to detail in ä See OUTDOORS, page 2D every corner. Diners enjoy vari-

BLDG 5

ä See MATTERS, page 2D

Food Bank debuts mobile grocery store to serve areas in need Kyra muse, nutrition services manager at the Greater baton rouge Food bank and program director for Groceries on the Geaux, speaks at the launch on Sept. 28. STAFF PhoTo by Joy hoLdeN

BY JOY HOLDEN Staff writer

Kyra Muse was three weeks into her job as the nutrition services manager at the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank when she was assigned as the program director for a mobile grocery store project. She said she felt overwhelmed with the large task, but she put her whole effort into it. Now, that project has come to life with the introduction of the food bank’s “Groceries on the

Geaux” initiative, a 22-foot truck that will expand grocery store access in the city by providing fresh and affordable food. On Sept. 28, food bank employees, leadership and board members gathered to celebrate the launch of the mobile store. “This mobile market will travel into communities throughout our service area, particularly communities where access to fresh food is limited,” said Liz Pfifer, president and CEO of the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank who has been with the

nonprofit for 11 months. “Inside, our neighbors will have something that is extremely important to us: choice.” To start, Groceries on the Geaux will debut in Modeste in Ascension Parish this month, but it will eventually serve all 11 parishes in the Greater Baton Rouge area, including Livingston and West Feliciana parishes. The goal is to bring affordable and nutritious food — fresh fruits and vegetables,

ä See GROCERIES, page 3D

2D ■ Saturday, october 10, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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RELIGION BRIEFS FROM STAFF REPORTS

Unitarian Church to host QUUeer Fête

FILe PhoTo

A sprawling oak tree anchors the patio courtyard of SoLou on Perkins road in baton rouge.

OUTDOORS

continued from page 1d dip. The outdoor dining upstairs offers views all the way to the Mississippi and the state capitol.

Cocha

n 445 N. 6th St.

The outdoor dining options are tables along the sidewalk in front of the downtown restaurant — but it’s an enjoyable spot with great service. Cocha prides itself on its locally sourced ingredients and globally inspired menu. The restaurant offers vegetarian, vegan, dairy-free and gluten-free options. Highlights on the menu include roasted vegetable lasagna, slow-roasted pork and Venezuelan Corn Cake. If you’re up for trying something bold, order the grilled Spanish octopus, which features grilled chorizo bilbao, white bean puree, olives, celery, lemon, arugula, white beans, ﬁngerling potatoes and Calabrian chili vinaigrette.

Court to Table

n 7477 Burbank Drive, Studio B

Cool weather complements pickleball any day, particularly when there’s a table of smoked brisket, loaded cheese fries and mozzarella sticks to celebrate a good game. Court to Table opened its Baton Rouge location in June 2025, bringing a big menu that can cure many cravings — think pizza, tacos, burgers, soups, salads and shareables such as spinach and artichoke dip. It’s a great spot to eat and enjoy the outdoors, even if you’re not playing pickleball.

Curbside Burgers

n 4158 Government St.

What once started as a food truck, Curbside Burgers is now a popular spot in Mid City that serves creative burger creations. Try the “Big Brett Burger” with pork belly preserves, blue cheese sauce and fried onion strings or the “K.G.B.” with

MATTERS

continued from page 1d The younger Kaltakdjian continues to operate Serop’s, upholding the family recipes of Greek and Lebanese food, along with highquality service. “I inherited it from my father and from my uncles,” Kaltakdjian said.

The Unitarian Church of Baton Rouge, 8470 Goodwood Blvd., will host two events Friday-Saturday, Oct. 16-17, as part of its third annual QUUeer Fête weekend. The Rev. Sean Neil-Barron will present “Queer Encounters and the Practice of Flirtatious Hope” from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 16. The QF+ event will explore the ways queer and trans people have found and Barron built connections with one another and what those experiences can reveal about belonging and the sacred. Admission is free, and a reception will follow. QUUeer Fête will run from 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17. The familyfriendly and alcohol-free

event will feature music by New Orleans singer-songwriter Joy Clark and The Gais Do-Do Band, along with spoken word, community resources and food. Tickets begin at $15, with children 12 and under free, and are available at www. unitarianbr.org/QF.

Chabad offers Kabbalah course Chabad at LSU & Greater Baton Rouge will offer “Kabbalah and the Hidden Architecture of You,” a six-part course led by Rabbi Peretz Kazen, beginning Oct. 19 and continuing through Nov. 23. The course will explore kabbalistic ideas including the soul, reincarnation, soulmates, dreams, names, human psychology and other concepts from Jewish mysticism. No previous knowledge of Kabbalah or Hebrew is required, and the course is open to the public. In-person classes will be held from 11 a.m. to

12:30 p.m. Mondays at the Main Library at Goodwood in Baton Rouge, with an online Zoom option from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Registration is $109, including a full-color textbook, with limited scholarships available upon request. For information or registration, call (225) 2677048 or visit ChabadBR. com/JLI.

Installation at St. Luke Baptist St. Luke Baptist Church, 240 Van Buren St., Baton Rouge, will hold a special installation service for the Rev. Gerald Boatner at 11 a.m. Sunday. Boatner The guest speaker will be the Rev. Henry J. Brown, pastor of First Emmanuel and Star of Bethlehem Baptist churches.

TODAY IN HISTORY STAFF FILe PhoTo by JAcK bArLoW

curbside’s John denver burger is a delightful combination of hatch chiles, bacon, two patties and lots of cheese. praline bacon, a fried egg and sharp cheddar cheese. The outdoor courtyard at Curbside includes a pergola system, televisions, extra seating and sun shades.

DiGiulio Brothers Italian Cafe

is satisfying, too. There are over 50 beers on tap, the popular Chelsea’s grilled cheese and spicy tomato soup and a fantastic barbecue pork sandwich on the menu. Every Thursday night, enjoy $8 classic martinis.

Pedro’s Tacos & Tequila Bar Feel the cool fall breeze

n 2903 Perkins Road

while sipping a glass of red wine under the stars at this Italian restaurant. It’s like something out of “Lady and the Tramp.” The outdoor patio area was renovated in September 2025 to add mahogany French doors, red umbrellas and greenery. The doors can be propped open on days with beautiful weather, and the sunroom area also has air conditioning units and TVs.

n 7655 Andrea Drive

Enjoy a margarita and live music at Pedro’s off Siegen Lane. Some of our favorite menu items include the beef quesadilla, taco soup, chile relleno and carne asada. The restaurant also serves several vegetarian options.

SoLou

n 2112 Perkins Palm Ave.

On one of the prettiest patios in Baton Rouge, diners can enjoy Louisiana comn 3109 Perkins Road fort food with a twist, along The rooftop patio at this with craft cocktails. Some of Tex-Mex restaurant is a cozy the signature dishes are the sight, especially when dark shrimp corn dogs, crabmeat falls and the string lights illu- cheesecake and tabletopminate the space. The menu roasted s’mores. Brunch is features tacos, salads, chips served every day until 3 p.m. and dips, fajitas and recently, the viral soft serve margaritas in flavors of espresso n 100 Lafayette St. martini, cinnaswirl, lemon blueberry and more. Located at the top of the Shaw Center of the Arts, Tsunami Sushi can be hard to find on the first visit, but n 3808 Government St. the view of the Mississippi The open-air, dog-friendly River from the 4,000-squarepatio with lush greenery is foot terrace is worth it. The enough of a reason to visit restaurant is known for its Mid City Beer Garden, but specialty rolls and terraceit’s a good thing that the food side cocktail service.

Luna Cocina

Tsunami

by The Associated Press Today is Saturday, Oct. 10, the 283rd day of 2026. There are 82 days left in the year. Today in history: On Oct. 10, 1973, Vice President Spiro T. Agnew, accused of accepting bribes, resigned his ofﬁce and pleaded no contest to one count of federal income tax evasion. President Richard Nixon later tapped congressman Gerald Ford to replace Agnew. Nixon resigned in 1974 amid the Watergate scandal and Ford succeeded him. Also on this date: In 1845, the U.S. Naval Academy was established in Annapolis, Maryland, with an inaugural class of 50 students. In 1911, Chinese revolutionaries launched an uprising that led to the collapse of the Qing (or Manchu) Dynasty and the establishment of the Re-

public of China. In 1935, the George Gershwin opera “Porgy and Bess,” featuring an all-Black cast, opened on Broadway, beginning a run of 124 performances. In 1964, the Summer Olympics began in Tokyo, the ﬁrst Summer Games to be telecast around the world. In 1966, the Beach Boys’ single “Good Vibrations,” written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love, was released by Capitol Records. In 2001, a month after the Sept. 11 attacks, U.S. jets stepped up bombing of the Afghan capital of Kabul while President George W. Bush unveiled a list of 22 most-wanted terrorists, including Osama bin Laden. In 2014, Malala Yousafzai, a 17-year-old Pakistani girl, and Kailash Satyarthi, a 60-year-old Indian man, were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for risking their lives

for the right of children to receive an education and to live free from abuse. In 2018, Michael, the ﬁrst Category 5 hurricane to strike the U.S. mainland in 26 years, barreled onto the Florida Panhandle with 160 mph winds, causing widespread devastation and billions of dollars in losses. Today’s birthdays: Actor Peter Coyote is 85. Entertainer Ben Vereen is 80. Actor Charles Dance is 80. Author Nora Roberts is 76. Rock singer David Lee Roth is 72. Country singer Tanya Tucker is 68. Actor Julia Sweeney is 67. Actor Bradley Whitford is 67. California Gov. Gavin Newsom is 59. Football Hall of Famer Brett Favre is 57. Actor/ TV host Mario Lopez is 53. NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr. is 52. Hockey Hall of Famer Chris Pronger is 52. Singersongwriter Mýa is 47. Actor Dan Stevens is 44. NBA player Josh Giddey is 24.

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The roots of Louisiana’s Armenian community date back to the mid-1970s, when Armenians from Syria and Lebanon started settling in the area. St. Garabed draws members from south Louisiana to Shreveport and Mississippi. St. Garabed members leased other churches before purchasing its own building about 25 years ago. “Being a small community,

we cannot afford to have a full-time clergy. Therefore, we have once-a-month services, and our clergy is usually visiting priests,” Kaltakdjian said. The diocese in New York provides priests from cities such as New York, Dallas, Boston and Chicago. Contact Terry Robinson at terryrobinson622@gmail. com.

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Places of Worship Directory Places of Worship Baha'i Faith Baton Rouge Baha'i Faith Public Informational Meeting 2nd Sunday of Each month @ 2:30-3:30 pm Goodwood Library Room B Visit bahai.org, bahai.us and bahai-br.us

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Baptist

Bapt-Southern

Mount Zion First Baptist Church Dr. Rene’ F. Brown, Pastor 356 T. J. Jemison Blvd. Sunday School: 8:30 am Sun. Service: 9:30am Wednesday Bible Study: 12 noon & 7:15 pm Communion Service First Sunday: 6pm Broadcast: 11am 106.5 FM www.mtzionﬁrstbaptist.com

TRUE LIGHT CHURCH Rev.BAPTIST Dennis R. Hebert, Pastor 3836 North Street Phone 383-3912 Sunday School – Sunday Worship – 9:00 10:00A.M. Wed. Prayer Service &A.M. Bible Study – 6:00 P.M. Communion Service 2nd Sunday 10:00 A.M.– Place a Classiﬁed ad?

225-388-0111

Methodist

Quakers B.R. FRIENDS MEETING Worship 11:30 AM SUNDAYS Information 225-665-3560

930 North Boulevard (Corner of North & T.J. Jemison) 225-383-4777 Rev Brady Whitton Senior Pastor www.ﬁrstmethodist.org Sunday Worship Sanctuary 8:30 AM & 11:00 AM America Street - 9:45 AM First Baptist Church Baton Rouge 529 Convention Street Sunday School 9:15 am Sunday Worship 10:45 am. Broadcast live stream of Sunday Worship on Youtube and Facebook. Wednesday Prayer meeting and Bible Study 5:30 pm www.fbcbr.com

Sunday School (for all ages) - 9:40 AM Services Broadcast Sunday 9:30 AM WBXH (Cox Channel 16, Digital Channel 39, Dish TV Ch. 39) 10:30 AM WAFB Channel 9 Radio Broadcast 5:30 AM- WYNK 101.5 FM 8:00 AM- THE RIVER 96.1 FM

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The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Saturday, october 10, 2026 ■ 3D

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Salon customer feels excluded by language Dear Miss Manners: I have been go- guage. Unfortunately, this is not the ﬁrst salon where I have ing to a nail salon twice a encountered this. I feel so month for two years. The awkward when it happens, owner and staff are all but I’m really uncomfortVietnamese. My manicurist gives wonderful maniable bringing it up. pedis, and I have no comWhat is the best way to handle this? Do I need to plaints about the service. Judith change salons? If I were At some point during Martin to say something, what each appointment, and mISS would you suggest? Can sometimes several times mANNerS I express how awkward while I am there, the ownthis feels? I would like to er and some employees remain a customer there. will have a conversation in VietGentle reader: Learn how to speak namese. This happens in front of Vietnamese. me and other customers. They Miss Manners is not suggesting sometimes laugh afterward, especially after someone leaves the a “gotcha” moment where you go on the attack, trying to prove salon. I believe they are making comments about their customers. that these employees are berating their customers. But a few polite I understand they may feel phrases in their language would comfortable in their native lan-

serve to warn the manicurists that their conversations may not be private. Or you could simply acknowledge that people can talk among themselves, without eavesdroppers assuming ill will. Dear Miss Manners: My husband and I have been godparents to the lovely daughter of very good friends. She is about to turn 18. For her entire life, we have been attentive. We have attended baptisms, communions, school performances and graduations. We have faithfully given birthday and Christmas gifts. Never once have we received any recognition or a thank-you note. I am wondering how to gently cut the cord. I do not want to be mean, and my wish is not to

comment on her manners. I am looking for a phrase that we can include with the ﬁnal gift. Something along the lines of, “Now that you are an adult, you don’t need us anymore.” Do you have any thoughtful phrases that will let the relationship disengage? Gentle reader: The phrase you are seeking exists, but you would be better not to express it. Allow Miss Manners to explain. You want to — but quite rightly know you cannot — say, “You are a rude little girl and you should have acknowledged all those birthday and holiday gifts. Well, here’s the last one you will get from us. Good riddance.” So instead, you are looking for something that ends the obliga-

tion without being mean or critical. Any announcement that does that will, by its very lack of information, imply things you do not mean. A curt “goodbye” is alarming, and if you soften it by talking about not seeing her as much, it will sound like you are feeling neglected and self-pitying. Would it not be far easier to cross her birthday off your calendar and go on about your business? Send questions to Miss Manners at her website, www. missmanners.com; to her email, dearmissmanners@gmail.com; or through postal mail to Miss Manners, Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.

Colleague asks for too much support Easy accessibility Dear Harriette: My co-worker that we can each handle our own teams. How do I get keeps leaning on me for my colleague and our supesupport even though we both are in the same leadriors to understand that? — Overload ership position and Dear Overload: For have our own teams now, do your best to run. She gets frazto fulﬁll your job zled when there’s a responsibilities and lot on her plate. I’m help out when you the opposite: When can. Your superiors I feel overwhelmed, Harriette have noticed your keeping my compoCole capability and your sure is the only thing SeNSe ANd willingness to help that helps. But beSeNSITIvITy when support is cause I am calm and needed. When it don’t panic when I comes time for your yearly have a lot on my plate, my colleague often turns to me, review, be prepared to talk about your ability to lead, asking me to review her including how you have work or asking me to ofhad to take up the slack for fer her coverage when her your colleague. Ask for a team is short-staffed. promotion based on your It’s gotten to a point now performance throughout that sometimes our supervisors notice her demeanor the past year. Dear Harriette: My husband and ask me to take on some recently got into runof her responsibilities. I think it’s unfair for me to ning, and now I feel like have to assume some of he would rather run than her workload just because spend time with me and his she is a bit more scattered, children on the weekends. especially when we were He runs on Saturdays and hired under the impression Sundays with different

GROCERIES

continued from page 1d dairy products, frozen proteins, shelfstable foods and cooking essentials at discounted prices — closer to communities with limited access to fullservice grocery stores. The truck has refrigerated sections for proteins and dairy and metal shelving for dry goods, canned goods and fruit. “A primary goal of the program is to increase food access,” Muse said. “We’ll partner with local organizations, our own pantry partners, community centers, parks and other trusted community locations to establish reoccurring market sites.” CF Industries out of Donaldsonville partnered with Mitsui & Co and JERA to provide a $1.797 million donation from Blue Point Number One, which has made the grocery truck possible. The money will cover costs associated with operating the mobile market for

running groups, and then he goes out with people in the groups for lunch. Before picking up running, he would make the family breakfast and we would all spend time together playing outside with the kids or doing other activities as a family. I’ve asked him to stay back at least one day of the weekend with the family, but he has told me no multiple times. I am happy that he has found something he enjoys, and I don’t want to take that away from him. At the same time, I feel like his new hobby has completely changed our family routine and left me feeling like I am doing most of the parenting on weekends. The kids have started asking why their dad is always gone on Saturdays and Sundays, and I don’t know what to tell them. I have tried explaining to him that I am not asking him to give up running, but he doesn’t seem to understand why

having one weekend day together is important to me. I miss the time we used to spend together as a family, and I worry that if this continues, we will become more disconnected from each other. How can I get him to understand that I am asking for balance rather than asking him to give up something he loves? — No More Running Dear No More Running: Encourage your children to ask their dad to spend time with them. When they ask you where he is, suggest that they speak to him. Separately, tell your husband again that while his new hobby is good for his physical health, it is damaging the family dynamic. Ask him again to give one day of the weekend to the family. The children are growing up and need their father, and you need your husband. Send questions to askharriette@ harriettecole.com.

launch with representatives from Blue Point Number One. “We believe that being a good neighbor means investing in the places where our employees live and work at CF Industries,” said McCreary, who was integral in the grant process. “Our mission is to provide clean energy to feed and fuel the world sustainably. Feeding the world is about supporting communities and helping ensure that local families have access to nutritious food.” “Groceries on the Geaux” will be a certified SNAP retailer and accept cash, credit or debit as well. “There’s been an enormous amount of work behind what you see here toSTAFF PhoTo by Joy hoLdeN day: months of work, months of lots of refrigerated dairy and proteins are on meetings, planning, logistics, operaoffer in the Groceries on the Geaux truck. tions, communications, coordination and countless details to bring us to three years. where we are today,” Pﬁfer said in her Jackie McCreary, the community re- closing remarks. lations manager for CF Industries and one of Feeding Louisiana’s Hunger Ac- Email Joy Holden at joy.holden@ tion Ambassador for 2026, attended the theadvocate.com.

The Right Realtor changes everything. Real estate is more than a transaction. It’s knowing the neighborhood. It’s knowing the market. It’s knowing when to listen-and when to lead. I bring experience, local knowledge, and a personal approach to every move.

CHARISSE HANCHEY, REALTOR®,CRS, ABR, 225.315.0512 | www.charissehanchey.com

ZACHARY

Thinking about Selling or Buying a home?

SOLD

Dear Heloise: Today I this? — Ben R., via email opened a can of paint that Ben, as a person who I use infrequently and hates to see waste, I see sparsely. Consenothing wrong with it, but your quently, it’s been company may not opened and reagree. Perhaps the sealed many times. best person to ask Today, when I went is your boss. to reseal it, it didn’t Some people feel feel like the lid was Hints from awkward asking properly seating Heloise for a to-go conitself in the can. I pulled off the lid tainer, but others and looked at the pattern feel that too much food of the paint to match it in America is tossed into with that on the rim of the landfills, where it benefits can. I found the pattern no one. From my point of and matched it up, and the view, there’s really nothlid seated itself in the can ing wrong with it, but as I easily. said, get a second opinion I had a much newer can from your boss. — Heloise of paint that had only been opened and resealed once, Realtor referrals and I needed to access Dear Heloise: In response it. Before I opened it, I to Hazel F., in Jackson, took a marker and drew a Mississippi, find a repuline from the lid over the table Realtor in your comrim of the lid and can, as munity for contractor well as a little bit down referrals. As a licensed the side of the can. Now, Realtor for over 17 years, every time I open the can, I kept a list of contractors I can close it in the exact whom I called “Carol’s same position as it was Crew,” and I shared this when it was opened. It’s list with anyone who was guaranteed to be sealed interested. All my contracwell, maximizing the life tor referrals were vetted of the paint (and possibly and personally used by me averting inadvertent spills before I referred them to through mismatched spots anyone else. on the rim and lid). And I always told my cliI hope others might find ents to hire licensed prothis useful. — Dan S., in Allenfessionals in the areas of electricity, plumbing and town, Pennsylvania HVAC. Having this list Take it or leave it? has made my life so much easier, and it did the same Dear Heloise: I’m in a new for my clients. Thanks for job where I take clients the years of advice! — Carol out to meals regularly, whether it’s a casual lunch D., in New Braunfels,Texas Carol, this hint is so helpor dinner or an upscale event. Lately, the subject ful for people who want to of dining etiquette has purchase a home, whether come up. At one of these it’s a new home or presaid meals, multiple colowned. You’re going above and beyond to make your leagues have told me that clients happy in their new it’s frowned upon to ask for a box to take your left- homes, which makes me believe that you must also overs. get many referrals from I understand that this former buyers. Great job, may have been a rule at one point, but I feel like it’s Carol! — Heloise better to take your food to go instead of wasting it. Send a hint to heloise@ What are your thoughts on heloise.com.

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SANTA MARIA’S CHARLESTONTOWNE COMMUNITY $161,000

Accredited Buyer’s Representative® (ABR)® Certified Residential Specialist® (CRS)® Seniors Real Estate Specialist® (SRES)® LisaB@coldwellbankerone.com www.BatonRougehomeswithLisa.com

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4D ■ Saturday, october 10, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

FrAnK And erneSt

roSebUdS

zItS

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zodIAC LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) Distance yourself from people using pressure tactics to entice you into something dubious. Be adamant regarding what you will and won't do, and turn your focus on more productive pastimes. SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) Sit back and observe. Refuse to let anyone goad you into a debate or push you into something you don't want to do. Focus inward on how you can look and do your best. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) Get out, mingle and entertain, and you'll connect with someone of interest. Put more thought into investments, staying fit and making your living space more accommodating. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Stick close to those you know and trust. Don't engage in costly ventures or let temptation set in and overindulgence take over. Gather information and verify facts. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) When one door closes, another opens. Put a plan and a budget in place, and attend events that offer insight into new possibilities and friendships. Avoid health or financial risks. PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) Staying on top of what's possible and budgeting for what you want will save you from making a hasty decision that can put you in debt or harm's way. Take time to rest. ARIES (March 21-April 19) Be true to yourself. Follow your dreams, and take responsibility for how your life unfolds. Choose to mix business with

pleasure by selecting a path that makes you feel alive. TAURUS (April 20-May 20) Avoid letting stubbornness get in your way. Look at situations, assess how you feel and distance yourself from what disturbs you. Arguing with someone who will never agree with you is a waste of time. GEMINI (May 21-June 20) Get ready to take flight. Whether it's a small change or a big one, embrace life with gusto and enjoy the ride. Fill your day with people and projects that make you feel good about life. CANCER (June 21-July 22) Emotional havoc will be present. Don't assume anything. When in doubt, ask direct questions, show concern and be honest with those you are dealing with. Don't jeopardize your reputation. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) Keep life simple, stick to the truth and be a good influence for others. Domestic problems will arise if compromise isn't made. Try to see both sides of whatever situation you face. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Reach out with a kind word or gesture. How you treat others will set standards and boundaries with those you encounter. A job offer won't fulfill your needs. Get what you want in writing before you commit. 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: X EQUALS O

Mother GooSe And GrIMM

SherMAn’S LAGoon FAMILY CIrCUS

dooneSbUrY

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Saturday, october 10, 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

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La TimeS CroSSword

6D ■ Saturday, october 10, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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Bridge BY PHILLIP ALDER David Letterman said, “Traffic signals in New York are just rough guidelines.” There are other cities like that. In colorful Cairo, no one seemed to stop for a red light unless either other cars were crossing the junction or a police officer was standing there. Bridge defense signals are often only suggestions to partner, but sometimes are strict guidelines. In this deal, how should East and West play to defeat four spades after West leads a low heart in answer to his partner’s lead-directing double? North’s four-heart response was a Texas transfer. It guaranteed at least a six-card spade suit and either gameonly or slam-going values. Yes, here North would have done better to respond three no-trump, but that might have backfired. When playing third hand high, East is supposed to put up the bottom of touching honors first — but not when he has ace-king-doubleton. Then, he takes the first trick with the ace and cashes the king, high-low with a doubleton. And if he can get West back on lead, East can receive a heart ruff to defeat the contract. But which minor should East lead at trick three? West must give East a suit-preference signal. If West’s entry is in the lowerranking of the other two side suits, he

garfield

Pearls Before swiNe

hagar the horriBle

plays his lowest heart at trick two. Here, though, because his entry is in the higherranking side suit, West drops his highest heart, the jack. Then East will know to shift to a diamond at trick three. West will take that trick and give his partner a heart ruff for down one. Signal as clearly as possible. © 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 — WALLABIEs: WAHL-uh-bees: Small or medium-sized kangaroos.

Bizarro

marmaduKe

Average mark 37 words Time limit 60 minutes Can you find 50 or more words in WALLABIES? YEsTERDAY’s WoRD — GARRIson gain gnar grain grin groan groin argon arson ragi rain rang

rani raring rigor ring roan roar roaring rosin inro iron sang

sari sarin sarong sign sing snag soar soaring sonar song organ

osar noir nori

loCKhorNs hidato Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer

today’s thought “These things have I spoken to you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.” John 15:11

Jesus can give us joy that the world cannot give us. — G.E. Dean

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Saturday, october 10, 2026 ■ 7D

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classifieds.theadvocate.com Search Search& &Place PlaceAds AdsOnline Onlineatatclassifieds.theadvocate.com classifieds.theadvocate.com* Call * Call -Friday Us Monday-Friday 8AM-5PM at 225-383-0111 8AM-5PM at 225-383-0111 Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Leonard Sutton Broussard please contact attorney Larry McAlpine at 225-317-1956. 203371-Oct 8-10, 3t $64.90

Announcements Anyone claiming to be or knowing the whereabouts of Darren Young, please contact Susan Ford Fiser, Attorney at Law, 1630 Metro Drive, Alexandria, Louisiana, 71301, (318) 442-8899. 203438-Oct 10-12, 3t $90.10 Anyone knowing the whereabouts of a certain Promissory Note payable to EUSTIS MORTGAGE CORPORATION, A LOUISIANA CORPORATION, executed by BRYAN KEITH CLINTON, and dated September 20, 2002, from dated until paid, and providing reasonable attorney fees, and all charges associated with the collection of same. Please contact Herschel C. Adcock, Jr., Attorney at Law, at P.O. Box 87379, Baton Rouge, LA 708798379, (225) 756-0373. 203495-Oct 10-12, 3t $228.22

Anyone knowing the whereabouts of anyone associated with the Succession of Alex M. Schlattman please contact attorney Melanie Newkome Jones at 225-344-2200. 203189-Oct 9-11, 3t $79.60 Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Corey Kinchen please contact Atty. Benjamin Beychok at (225) 9060050. 203432-Oct 10-12, 3t $64.90

BATON ROUGE Old Jefferson Subdivision Multiple Homes Participating Look for Signs & Balloons Saturday, October 10th, 8am-2pm Rain or Shine!

Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Wendell Lenoir Sr. please contact attorney Larry McAlpine at 225-3171956. 203377-Oct 8-10, 3t $64.90

BATON ROUGE ROUZAN ESTATE SALE - MCM, DECOR, & MORE! 5138 CHENEAU LN. Thurs 3-7, Fri 8-6, Sat 8-5, Sun 8-5. See 150+ pics at estatesales.net

BLACK BOOM VADER MC Vin L2BBAACG4SB001075 If vehicle is not claimed & charges paid w/in 15 days, it may be disposed of: Smart Tow, 3045 Rosenwald Rd Baton Rouge, LA 70807 203413-Oct 10-11, 2t $49.00

BATON ROUGE WIMBLEDON NEIGHBORHOOD GARAGE SALE Saturday, October 10th, 7am-noon Look for the balloons!!

IF YOU WORKED WITH LESTER MALVEO IN THE 70S OR 80S PLEASE CALL ME 205-335-9553. 202729-Oct 3-30, 28t $439.40

Employment GENERAL HELP The Diocese of B.R. Child Nutrition Pro‐ gram is seeking FT school Cafeteria Mgrs., Cooks, & Porters. HS Diploma or Equiv. and BG Check req. Apply at www.cnpbr.org/employment.

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

October 1, 2026, it was ordered as follows: WHEREAS, XK8, LLC, by act executed by Sid J. Gautreaux, III, Sheriff and Tax Collector for the Parish of East Baton Rouge, for unpaid 2021 ad valorem taxes, as memorialized in the Tax Sale Certificate recorded in the Conveyance Records of East Baton Rouge Parish, bearing Original 896 and Bundle 13216, purchased prop‐ erty at tax sale; WHEREAS, XK8, LLC has applied to this Honorable Court for a Monition or advertisement, in confor‐ mity with LA. REV. STAT. § 47:2271, et. seq.; THERE‐ FORE, in the name of the State of Louisiana and the 19th Judicial District Court for the Parish of East Baton Rouge, all in‐ terested persons are cited and admonished to show cause within six (6) months from the date on which this Monition is first advertised, why grounds exist for a nul‐ lity under the provisions of Chapter 5 of Subtitle III of Title 47 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950. The property affected by this monition is: ONE CERTAIN TRACT OR PARCEL OF GROUND, together with all buildings and im‐ provements thereon, sit‐ uated in the Parish of East Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana, and being designated as LOT 12-A on that certain map made by Phillip J. Thomas, dated June 8, 2020, entitled “MAP SHOWING THE SURVEY AND EXCHANGE OF PROPERTY BETWEEN LOTS 12 & 13, SQUARE 12 CAPITAL HEIGHTS INTO LOTS 12-A & 13-A, SQUARE 12 LOCATED IN SECTION 82, T-7-S, R-1-E, BATON G.L.D. EAST ROUGE PARISH, LA FOR MIKE & ANNIE DOIRON.” Said map recorded in the official records of East Baton Rouge Parish as Original 979 of Bundle 13032, said tract contain‐ ing approximately 0.110 Acres, more or less, and being subject to such servitudes and having such measurements and dimensions as shown on said map. The Hon. Doug Welborn Clerk of 19th Ju‐ dicial District Court for the Parish of East Baton Rouge 300 North Boule‐ vard, Baton Rouge, LA 70801. Jonah Freedman, Esq. La. Bar No. 35780, 700 Camp Street Suite 316 New Orleans, LA 70130 Counsel for XK8, LLC.

The LACPC is a Joint Co‐ operative Commission established under Louisiana’s Local Ser‐ vices Law, La. R.S. 33:1322 et seq. It assists mem‐ bers and afﬁliates in cre‐ ating joint-use, coopera‐ tive, and group-purchas‐ ing contracts for items needed to provide and enhance public services, including parks and recreation services. The LACPC and its com‐ missioners will have sole discretion to determine whether any respon‐ dents qualify to receive contracts under this so‐ licitation. While price is a component of the LACPC’s evaluation process, best value and quality of services pro‐ vided will be the deter‐ mining factor. The product and services of accepted proposers will be offered through the LACPC and the fol‐ lowing LACPC afﬁliated group purchase organi‐ zations: 1) the LACPC – Louisiana Local Govern‐ ment Group Purchasing Organization (for munici‐ palities and parishes); 2) the LACPC - Louisiana Parks and Recreation Group Purchasing Orga‐ nization (for municipal and parish-controlled parks and recreation dis‐ tricts); and 3) the LPSSchools Group Purchas‐ ing Organization. Questions related to this solicitation may be for‐ warded to BID ADMINIS‐ lacpc@ TRATOR at lamats.net. 203424 Oct. 13, 27, 2026 2t $511.26

PUBLIC NOTICE -- The Louisiana Ofﬁce of the State Museum is re‐ questing proposals for a Public-Private Partner‐ ship project to design, build, furnish, operate, and maintain an in‐ door/outdoor café at the New Orleans Jazz Mu‐ seum. For more informa‐ tion go to opportuni‐ tiesinlouisiana.com. 202696-oct 2-20-t $93.29

Legal Notices

PUBLIC NOTICE --NOTICE MAGNOLIA HOME BUILDING AND RENOVA‐ TIONS, LLC AND JEFFREY A. KLEINPETER Pursuant to an order of the 19th Judicial District Court for the Parish of East Baton Rouge in the matter of XK8, LLC, PRAYING FOR MONITION, Docket No. C784883, 19TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, Parish of East Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana, dated

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Public Notices Meet/Hear/Min

PUBLIC NOTICE --A. CALL TO ORDER Commissioner Slaughter called the meeting to order at 6:33 p.m., on Monday, September 21, 2026, at the Zachary City Hall lo‐ cated at 4700 Main Street, Zachary, LA B. INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Invocation by Commis‐ sioner Womack Pledge of Allegiance by Commissioner Slaughter C. OPENING PROCEDURES 1. ROLL CALL MEMBERS PRESENT Mindy Slaughter Jared Watkins Jason Floyd – arrived at 6:43 p.m. Tommy Womack Kevin Williams MEMBERS ABSENT James Peay – excused, gave prior notice Christi Murphy – ex‐ cused, gave prior notice 2. READING OF CITY POL‐ ICY RELATIVE TO OPEN MEETINGS An opportunity for public comment shall be ob‐ served before a vote is taken on any agenda item. Once recognized by the presiding ofﬁcer, the person afforded the ﬂoor, shall identify the agenda item upon which he or she wishes to pro‐ vide comment and shall limit his or her com‐ ments to matters that are strictly relevant to that agenda item. Com‐ h ll d

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quilt never used homemade quilt $5.00 504-295-4327 $5.00 504-295-4327 sherylab13@gmail.com advocate

Public Notices Meet/Hear/Min g mentary shall not exceed three (3) minutes per person. No dialogue be‐ tween Planning and Zon‐ ing board members and the public shall be per‐ mitted at these meet‐ ings, except to clarify the nature of questions and/or comments. The presiding ofﬁcer re‐ serves the right to limit and/or terminate any commentary when deemed necessary or outside of public deco‐ rum. 3. CHANGES/ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA The motion was made by Commissioner Womack The motion was sec‐ onded by Commissioner Slaughter To approve amending agenda to add item 3C New Business, ZOI Case 30-26. YEAS: Slaughter, Watkins, Womack, Williams NAYS: None ABSENT: Floyd, Peay, Murphy ABSTAINED: None D. READING OF THE MIN‐ UTES 1. Approval of minutes of the August 3, 2026, regu‐ lar meeting and approve them as written. And ac‐ knowledgement of the September 14, 2026, meeting cancellation due to a power outage, Meet‐ ing Cancellation Record. The motion was made by Commissioner Womack The motion was sec‐ onded by Commissioner Slaughter To approve minutes of the August 3, 2026, regu‐ lar meeting and approve them as written. And ac‐ knowledgement of the September 14, 2026, meeting cancellation due to a power outage, Meet‐ ing Cancellation Record. YEAS: Slaughter, Watkins, Womack, Williams NAYS: None ABSENT: Floyd, Peay, Murphy ABSTAINED: None E. PRESENTATION OF DELEGATION F. ANNOUNCEMENTS G. ZONING The consent agenda con‐ sists of items with no outstanding issues that do not require plan amendments, text amendments, variances, or waivers. Consent agenda items may be ap‐ proved with a single mo‐ tion without a public UNLESS re‐ hearing, moved from the consent agenda and placed in the regular agenda order. Items placed on the Con‐ sent Agenda by the Plan‐ ning & Zoning Staff will not have time allocated for speaking, UNLESS there is a member of the Planning & Zoning Com‐ mission of the public at the meeting who wishes to speak on the item. In such cases, the item will be removed from the consent agenda and placed in the regular agenda order for discus‐ sion. 1. Consent Agenda 2. Old Business 3. New Business a) ZOI - 55838-SS J Glynn Property — Proposed re‐ subdivision of The J. Glynn Tract into Tracts A & B, on property located at 536 & 780 W. Irene Road, Zachary, La 70791. Commissioner Slaughter opened the PUBLIC HEARING at 6:39 p.m. There being no one to speak in favor of or against the Zone of Inﬂu‐ ence, Commissioner Slaughter closed the PUBLIC HEARING at 6:39 p.m. The motion was made by Commissioner Slaughter The motion was sec‐ onded by Commissioner Womack To approve a recommen‐ dation of no objection ZOI - 55838-SS J Glynn Property — Proposed re‐ subdivision of The J. Glynn Tract into Tracts A & B, on property located at 536 & 780 W. Irene Road, Zachary, La 70791. YEAS: Slaughter, Watkins, Womack, Williams NAYS: None ABSENT: Floyd, Peay, Murphy ABSTAINED: None b) ZOI 55895-EOP Zachary Estates Subdivi‐ sion — Proposed combi‐ nation of lots on Lots 7C-1 & 7-D-1 into Lot 7-C-1-

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Public Notices Meet/Hear/Min

A of the Zachary Estates Subdivision, on property located at 9410 & 9450 Munson Road, Zachary, La 70791 Commissioner Slaughter opened the PUBLIC HEARING at 6:41 p.m. There being no one to speak in favor of or against the Zone of Inﬂu‐ ence, Commissioner Slaughter closed the PUBLIC HEARING at 6:41 p.m. The motion was made by Commissioner Slaughter The motion was sec‐ onded by Commissioner Womack To approve a recommen‐ dation of no objection ZOI - 55895-EOP Zachary Estates Subdivision — Proposed combination of lots on Lots 7-C-1 & 7-D-1 into Lot 7-C-1-A of the Zachary Estates Subdivi‐ sion, on property located at 9410 & 9450 Munson Road, Zachary, La 70791. YEAS: Slaughter, Watkins, Womack, Williams NAYS: None ABSENT: Floyd, Peay, Murphy ABSTAINED: None

ICY RELATIVE TO OPEN MEETINGS An opportunity for public comment shall be ob‐ served before a vote is taken on any agenda item. Once recognized by the presiding officer, the person afforded the floor, shall identify the agenda item upon which he or she wishes to pro‐ vide comment and shall limit his or her com‐ ments to matters that are strictly relevant to that agenda item. Com‐ mentary shall not exceed three (3) minutes per person. No dialogue be‐ tween Planning and Zon‐ ing board members and the public shall be per‐ mitted at these meet‐ ings, except to clarify the nature of questions and/or comments. The presiding officer re‐ serves the right to limit and/or terminate any commentary when deemed necessary or outside of public deco‐ rum.

speak in favor. There being no one else to speak in favor of or against the CUPMH, Commissioner Slaughter closed the PUBLIC HEAR‐ ING at 6:52 p.m. The motion was made by Commissioner Slaughter The motion was sec‐ onded by Commissioner Floyd To approve - CUPMH-0226 - (21301 W.J. Wicker Road) - Proposed place‐ ment for a manufactured home on property lo‐ cated at 21301 WJ Wicker Road, Zachary, La 70791. YEAS: Slaughter, Watkins, Floyd, Womack, Williams NAYS: None ABSENT: Peay, Murphy ABSTAINED: None

I. REPORT OF THE CHAIRWOMAN J. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was journed at 6:43 p.m.

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_____________ Karen Burdette Recording Secretary ________________ Mindy Slaughter Chairman Karen Burdette, Recording Secretary CITY OF ZACHARY PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE STATE OF LOUISIANA 203465 Oct. 10, 2026 1t $108.86 PUBLIC NOTICE --A. CALL TO ORDER Commissioner Slaughter called the Special Meet‐ ing to order at 6:43 p.m., on Monday, September 21, 2026, at the Zachary City Hall lo‐ cated at 4700 Main Street, Zachary, LA B. INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance by Commis‐ sioner Slaughter C. OPENING PROCEDURES 1. ROLL CALL MEMBERS PRESENT Mindy Slaughter Jared Watkins Jason Floyd Tommy Womack Kevin Williams MEMBERS ABSENT James Peay – excused, gave prior notice Christi Murphy – ex‐ cused, gave prior notice 2. READING OF CITY POL‐

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Public Notices Meet/Hear/Min

H. REPORT OF THE CITY PLANNER

MOBILE HOME 1, 2 & 3 BR mobile homes, $675 & up 6061 Plank Rd. CALL 225-978-4653

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Public Notices Meet/Hear/Min

c) ZOI - Case 30-26 (536 West Irene Road) - To re‐ zone from Rural (R) to Heavy Industrial (M2) on property located on the north side of West Irene Road, west of Samuels Road, on a portion of property now or formerly known as J. Glynn. Sec‐ tion 80, T5S, R1W, GLD, EBRP, LA. Commissioner Slaughter opened the PUBLIC HEARING at 6:42 p.m. There being no one to speak in favor of or against the Zone of Inﬂu‐ ence, Commissioner Slaughter closed the PUBLIC HEARING at 6:43 p.m. The motion was made by Commissioner Slaughter The motion was sec‐ onded by Commissioner Womack To approve a recommen‐ dation of no objection ZOI - Case 30-26 (536 West Irene Road) - To re‐ zone from Rural (R) to Heavy Industrial (M2) on property located on the north side of West Irene Road, west of Samuels Road, on a portion of property now or formerly known as J. Glynn. Sec‐ tion 80, T5S, R1W, GLD, EBRP, LA. YEAS: Slaughter, Watkins, Womack, Williams NAYS: None ABSENT: Floyd, Peay, Murphy ABSTAINED: None

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ROOMS FOR RENT Furnished Rooms. $125/wk. $500/mo. 225-933-7560

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Leather sofa & rocker recliner set Navy blue leather match sofa & rocker set in beautiful navy blue leather. $375.00 225-300-5628 Lcdd@att.net

Legal Notices

Price lists are requested for new and retroﬁt light‐ ing packages and ser‐ vices for indoor and out‐ door sports complexes, including facilities for football, soccer, base‐ ball, softball, tennis, and other sports. Manufacturers must be able to provide informa‐ tion about materials and product sources and ori‐ gins located outside the United States and its ter‐ ritories.

DENHAM SPRINGS Livingston Trace Garage Sale Neighborhood Garage Sale Livingston Trace Subdivision John L. Lane & Caddo Drive Denham Springs Saturday, Oct. 10 7am - 2pm

FURNITURE Electric Leather coach and loveseat for $800. (225) 405-1632

Public Notices

The Commissioners of the LACPC Joint Munici‐ pal Commission are re‐ questing price lists through an RFP from sports-lighting manufac‐ turers that sell product and related services di‐ rectly to end users. Elec‐ tronic responses must be submitted by 2:00 p.m. CDT on November 12, 2026, at https://lamats. easibuy.com. Interested manufacturers must reg‐ ister at https://lamats. easibuy.com to access the complete RFP docu‐ ments and submit their offers. All solicitation re‐ quirements must be fol‐ lowed.

WANT TO BUY Old Records 33's, 45's & 78's. All types of music. Call 985-259-1889

HOUSE BACK ON MARKET! COMPLETELY UPDATED! 5723 Hartford Ave. $145,000 P & I $869 Approx. Glen Oaks S/D Off Greenwell St., 3BR 1.5BA, w/New C H/A New Light Fixtures & Windows Newly Painted Int/Ext, & Ceramic Flr thru out Call Charles for your showing 225-266-4078 Roy Carter Realty 225-357-6436

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Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Jessie B Stewart Jr and Stephanie Denise Moore please contact Atty. Benjamin Beychok at (225) 906-0050. 203430-Oct 10-12, 3t $77.50

PUBLIC NOTICE ---

Garage Sales

Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Veronica Andrews-Payne and Harold M Payne please contact Atty. Benjamin Beychok at (225) 906-0050. 203427-Oct 10-12, 3t $73.30

Anyone knowing the whereabouts of a certain Promissory Note payable to PREMIER MORTGAGE FUNDING, INC., executed by FABRAIN ORLANDO O'BEAR, and dated August 1, 2005, from dated until paid, and providing reasonable attorney fees, and all charges associated with the collection of same. Please contact Herschel C. Adcock, Jr., Attorney at Law, at P.O. Box 87379, Baton Rouge, LA 70879-8379, (225) 756-0373. 203447-Oct 10, 1t $221.74 Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Almo Barker please contact Atty. Benjamin Beychok at (225) 906-0050. 203433-Oct 10-12, 3t $64.90

Merchandise

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Baton Rouge Real Estate For Sale

3. CHANGES/ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA D. READING OF THE MINUTES 1. Approval of minutes of the September 14, 2026, regular meeting and ap‐ prove them as written. The motion was made by Commissioner Womack The motion was sec‐ onded by Commissioner Floyd To approve minutes of the September14, 2026, regular meeting and ap‐ prove them as written. YEAS: Slaughter, Watkins, Floyd, Womack, Williams NAYS: None ABSENT: Peay, Murphy ABSTAINED: None E. PRESENTATION OF DELEGATION F. ANNOUNCEMENTS G. PLANNING The consent agenda con‐ sists of items with no outstanding issues that do not require plan amendments, text amendments, variances, or waivers. Consent agenda items may be ap‐ proved with a single mo‐ tion without a public UNLESS re‐ hearing, moved from the consent agenda and placed in the regular agenda order. Items placed on the Con‐ sent Agenda by the Plan‐ ning & Zoning Staff will not have time allocated for speaking, UNLESS there is a member of the Planning & Zoning Com‐ mission of the public at the meeting who wishes to speak on the item. In such cases, the item will be removed from the consent agenda and placed in the regular agenda order for discus‐ sion. 1. Consent Agenda 2. Old Business 3. New Business a) CUPMH-5-25 (4464 New Weis Road) — Proposed placement of manufac‐ tured home on Lot 1 of the Jackson Church Sub‐ division, on property lo‐ cated at 4464 New Weis Road, Zachary, La 70791. Commissioner Slaughter opened the PUBLIC HEARING at 6:47 p.m. There being no one to speak in favor of or against the CUPMH, Commissioner Slaughter closed the PUBLIC HEAR‐ ING at 6:48 p.m. The motion was made by Commissioner Slaughter The motion was sec‐ onded by Commissioner Womack To deny - CUPMH-5-25 (4464 New Weis Road) — Proposed placement of manufactured home on Lot 1 of the Jackson Church Subdivision, on property located at 4464 New Weis Road, Zachary, La 70791. YEAS: Slaughter, Watkins, Floyd, Womack, Williams NAYS: None ABSENT: Peay, Murphy ABSTAINED: None b) CUPMH-02-26 - (21301 W.J. Wicker Road) - Pro‐ posed placement for a manufactured home on property located at 21301 WJ Wicker Road, Zachary, La 70791. Commissioner Slaughter opened the PUBLIC HEARING at 6:50 p.m. James Nolan, 9060 Lemon Rd., Slaughter, LA was there to speak in favor; Staci Alonzo, 2215 WJ Wicker Rd., was there to

c) Annexation-01-26 (19900 & 20100 Samuels Road) — Proposed peti‐ tion of annexation of property located at Tracts CA-1 & CA-2 of the J.N. Lipscomb Tract, T-4S, R-1-W, Sect 73 & T-5-S, R-1-W, Sect 65 & 88, 19900 & 20100 Samuels Road, Zachary, La 70791. Commissioner Slaughter opened the PUBLIC HEARING at 6:53 p.m. Josh Teekel, 19900 Samuels Rd. was there to speak in favor. There being no one else to speak in favor of or against the Annexation, Commissioner Slaughter closed the PUBLIC HEAR‐ ING at 6:54 p.m. The motion was made by Commissioner Slaughter The motion was sec‐ onded by Commissioner Floyd To approve - Annexation01-26 (19900 & 20100 Samuels Road) — Pro‐ posed petition of annex‐ ation of property located at Tracts CA-1 & CA-2 of the J.N. Lipscomb Tract, T-4-S, R-1-W, Sect 73 & T5-S, R-1-W, Sect 65 & 88, 19900 & 20100 Samuels Road, Zachary, La 70791. YEAS: Slaughter, Watkins, Floyd, Womack, Williams NAYS: None ABSENT: Peay, Murphy ABSTAINED: None d) SP-1-25 (Zachary Salon) — Proposed site plan for a 5,000-sf build‐ ing on Lot A-2 of the Mar‐ shall M. Hughes Tract, on property located at 19680 Old Scenic Highway, Zachary, La 70791 (DE‐ FERRED BY STAFF TO 10.05.2026 PZ MEETING) e) Public Hearing for adoption of the City of Zachary Land Use Master Plan. Commissioner Slaughter opened the PUBLIC HEARING at 6:57 p.m. There being no one to speak in favor of or against the Master Plan, Commissioner Slaughter closed the PUBLIC HEAR‐ ING at 6:57 p.m. The motion was made by Commissioner Womack The motion was sec‐ onded by Commissioner Floyd To approve - Adoption of the City of Zachary Land Use Master Plan. YEAS: Slaughter, Watkins, Floyd, Womack, Williams NAYS: None ABSENT: Peay, Murphy ABSTAINED: None

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WORKS Public Notices Meet/Hear/Min

Public Notices Sex Offenders

CITY OF ZACHARY PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE STATE OF LOUISIANA

Scars/Tattoos:

LOUISIANA

203473 Oct. 10, 2026 1t $115.60

203336, OCT 9-10 $250

203348, OCTY 9-10 $250

Public Notices Sex Offenders

I, BRYANT KEITH GREEN Sr., have been convicted of 14:43.1 Sexual Battery. My Address is: 1840 WALNUT ST BATON ROUGE, LA 70802 Race: BLACK Sex: MALE Date of Birth: 07/16/1984 Height: 5'4" Weight: 157 Hair Color: BLACK Eye Color: BROWN Scars/Tattoos: LOUISIANA

I, ISAAC Cordell GREEN AKA ISSAC GREEN, have been convicted of 14:81 - Indecent Behavior with Juveniles. Date Convicted: 08/01/2014. My Address is: 477 WINGATE DR BATON ROUGE, LA 70815 Race: BLACK Sex: MALE Date of Birth: 08/25/1976 Height: 6' Weight: 265 Hair Color: BALD Eye Color: BROWN Scars/Tattoos: LOUISIANA 203362, OCT 9-10 $250

203333, OCT 9-10 $250

I, WALLACE JAMES THOMAS aka WALLACE J THOMAS, have been convicted of 14:81.2 Molestation of Juvenile. Date Convicted: 11/29/2001. My Address is: 20600 MCHOST RD ZACHARY, LA 70791 Race: BLACK Sex: MALE Date of Birth: 12/10/1972 Height: 5'11" Weight: 195 Hair Color: BALAD Eye Color: BROWN Scars/Tattoos: LOUISIANA 203370, OCT 9-10 $250

ORDER PAGE REPRINTS ANYTIME I, Charles Lee McDermic Jr AKA DUDDLE, have been convicted of 14:43.1 Sexual Battery. Date Convicted: 05/29/2002. My Address is: 2453 Jefferson Ave Baton Rouge, LA 70802 Race: BLACK Sex: MALE Date of Birth: 5/14/1984 Height: 5'3" Weight: 274 Hair Color: BLACK Eye Color: BROWN

I, MARCUS MONTRELL JOHNSON aka MARCUS MONTRAEL JOHNSON, have been convicted of 14:92 (A)(7) CONTRIBUTING TO THE DELINQUENCY OF JUVENILES PERFORM SEXUALLY IMMORAL ACTS. Date Convicted: 11/01/2001. My Address is: 6377 Beechwood Dr Baton Rouge, LA 70805 Race: BLACK Sex: MALE Date of Birth: 8/8/1979 Height: 5'11" Weight: 200 Hair Color: BALD Eye Color: BROWN

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H. REPORT OF THE CITY PLANNER Report by Ms. Anderson, she stated that Mr. Hill was out sick for today’s meeting. I. REPORT OF THE CHAIRWOMAN Commissioner Womack requested that Attorney L.T. Dupre address his question regarding the Consent Agenda. Com‐ missioner Womack ques‐ tioned the provision stat‐ ing that there would be no public discussion on Consent Agenda items. Attorney Dupre stated that he would look into the matter. J. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was journed at 7:00 p.m.

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____________ Karen Burdette Recording Secretary _______________ Mindy Slaughter Chairwoman Karen Burdette, Recording Secretary

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WISE GUY’S GUTTERS & PATIOS DENHAM SPRINGS, LA 70726 WISEGUYSGUTTERSANDPATIOLA.COM GOLDDOG3447@YAHOO.COM

CALL 225-305-3776 FOR YOUR FREE ESTIMATE

LANDSCAPING Year-Round Christmas &

Commercial Leasing

Holiday Lighting Now Available

Fall Specials on Planting/New Flower Beds

Call For A Free Estimate • I Look Forward To Working With You

PROPERTIES & HOME CARE

225-726-8096

Rooﬁng Replacement & Repairs Carpentry • Painting • Drywall Repairs Pressure Washing • Concrete Work Swimming Pool Fill ins • Decks & Fences CALL BILLY • (225) 445-3139 • 40 YRS. SERVING BR

Top of the Line Landscaping Lawn Service

LAGNIAPPE

BOYD’S PAINTING

One Time, Some Time, Any Time or Every Time... We don't mind!

Exterior and Interior • Carpentry Roof Repairs • Pressure Washing Fence Repairs • Soft Wash Roofs

• Doors • Tile • Painting • Windows & Door Awnings • Pressure Washing • Bathroom & Kitchen Repairs • Porch Roof and Metal Patio Covers

LAWN SERVICES, Trim bushes, cleaning flowerbeds, landscape design, re-landscaping, lawn service maintenance. also do lighting & irrigation. licensed & Insured. 24 years experience. Theodore Smith, Jr. • Call/Text: 504-401-0661

1st Landscaping Job 5% off

QUALITY PAINTING • Interior/Exterior • Pressure Washing • Sheetrock Repair • Texturing/Acoustics • Handyman Work

• Wood Refinishing • Affordable Prices • RELIABLE • No Mess Left Behind • Licensed & Insured

Over 30 years Experience • No Jobs Too Big or Small FREE Estimates

225-256-8518

LAWN CARE SERVICES, LLC Year-Round Lawn Care South Baton Rouge Residential & Commercial Grass Cutting, Gutter Cleaning, FALL Clean-Up & Bush Trimming

Gerard “Gaston” Gravois

(225) 329-8737

CALL FOR SPECIAL PRICING! INSTALL NEW ROOFS, J-W METAL, ROOFING* SHINGLES, FLAT, & REPAIRS.

MILITARY DISCOUNTS

No Job Too Big or Too Small

N f or R i on A R f New R Roofs Repairs Any T Type Roof Roofing • Painting • Carpentry

Over 50 Years Experience

225.338.6809

All Work Warrantied

*Senior Citizen Discount

Roofing & Maintenance R

James Wells DBA

Big Jim Construction

STOP ALL LEAKS! CARPENTRY & PAINTING Lic/Ins. 225-205-9537

Quality Care Q

ROOF LEAKS STOPPED Free Estimates Licensed & Insured

Birdfeeders for Sale & Refilling

Denham Springs & Gonzales

$50 Almost Any Tree removed minus stump. Most stumps $20.

FIREWOOD Free Est. • 225-333-8593 • Lic/Ins.

225-290-1980 / 225-993-9204

tree trimming/flower bed clean up/flower bed designs/irrigation/ lighting pathways/prune & mulch/weeding/drainage/sod/pergola deck/power washing/stump grinding/consulting available

Residential and Commercial

225-773-4176

LEAK SPECIALIST

FIND AND FIX LEAKS ON ANY ROOF All work 35+ years of guaranteed experience No job to locally! big or small • Flashing • Gutters • Siding • Tree Pruning • Carpentry • Fences

FREE ESTIMATE!

RUSSELL CARPENTER ZACH CARPENTER

225-338-6922

Swimming Pool Fill-In’s

• All Types Roofing & Repairs • Fllashings • Sheet Metal • Dry Wall • Carpentry C • Painting • Masonry • Flooring • Electrical Spe cialty Ventilation and Insulation

FIBERGLASS - GUNITE - LINER

KEVIN ROBERTS

225-329-9502

(225) 603-2125

La. Lic. # 64014

(225) 603-2125 Cell KMRNBR55@GMAIL.COM

STEVE ROBINS Doug’s Tree Svs.

DISCOUNT FOR FIRST RESPONDERS

20 Years of Experience - Licensed and Insured

Call Casey For a Free Estimate pooldemolitionbycasey.com

To advertise here, please call 225-383-0111 or visit us at servicedirectory.theadvocate.com

tree service

Member of the BBB Licensed & Insured FREE Verbal Estimates to EBRP Residents 50 Years Experience Pruning & Trimming of Large Trees Small Tree Removal

Call 225.925.0610 Reasonable Rates for Quality Work!

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