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Plan sought to track funds from opioid settlement

T R O J A N S

$2.50X

DESTRUCTION OF TROY

State sends $73.5M to parishes, sheriffs BY DEAN BOUDREAUX Staff writer

Louisiana is distributing $73.5 million in opioid settlement money to parishes and sheriffs, but questions remain about how the public can track the spending and who will be responsible for making sure the money is being used as intended. At a meeting Wednesday, state ofﬁcials approved the latest distribution and discussed plans for an opioid ombudsman to advise local governments and a public dashboard to track spending. The discussion comes as the Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s Ofﬁce compiles local spending data after a May 2025 report found that no entity was tasked with enforcing the terms of the settlements. The money comes from lawsuits against manufacturers and distributors of opioid painkillers and is intended to help address the harm caused by the opioid crisis, including through addiction treatment and other response efforts. The Louisiana Opioid Abatement Task Force and the Opioid Abatement Administration Corp. approved a distribution of about $73.5 million, the sixth annual distribution. Lafayette Parish MayorPresident Monique Blanco Boulet made the motion, which members approved. Curtis Nelson, the task force’s executive counsel, said payments would go out by the end of October or by the second week of November. The task force and corporation distribute the money but do not control how local governments spend it. Officials focused Wednesday on providing guidance and making spending information more accessible.

STAFF PHOTO By BRAD KEMP

University of Louisiana at Lafayette safety Lake Bates, defensive lineman Priest Ashe and linebacker Jake St. Andre stop Troy running back Jaheim Merriweather at Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium on Saturday. The Ragin’ Cajuns dominated the ﬁrst half against the Trojans, leading 19-0 and allowing less than 100 yards of offense. Although Troy scored ﬁrst in the second half, the Trojans never scored again as the Cajuns tacked on two more touchdowns. The Cajuns ran for 243 yards on 49 carries, and three different running backs scored a touchdown. ä SEE COMPLETE COVERAGE OF THE CAJUNS GAME. PAGE 1C

ä See SETTLEMENT, page 3A

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ELECTION

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Residents set to vote on 10 As Voting Rights Act ebbs, many Black voters are fired up constitutional amendments Louisiana elections could see midterm changes

But entire slate of measures could fail, some experts say

BY TYLER BRIDGES Staff writer

JONESBORO — It was the mid-1960s, and young Black activists in this blue-collar mill town in central Louisiana were determined to overturn the decades of Jim Crow laws that treated them as second-class citizens. They picketed the “Whites only” public STAFF PHOTO By JILL PICKETT library and were arrested on charges of “disturbing the peace.” Annie Johnson sits in front of the former They drank out of the “Whites only” drink- public library in Jonesboro, where in 1964 ing fountains and were hustled to jail. she was arrested for picketing. They organized an armed vigilante group called Deacons for Defense and Justice to stop the Ku Klux Klan from intimidating Parish, after President Lyndon Johnson civil rights workers who were registering pushed through Congress the Civil Rights Black people to vote. Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of But segregation laws slowly fell by the ä See VOTERS, page 4A wayside in Jonesboro, the seat of Jackson

WEATHER HIGH 76 LOW 49 PAGE 6B

BY ALYSE PFEIL Staff writer

When early voting begins Tuesday and Louisiana residents arrive at the polls, they will ﬁnd a lengthy ballot waiting for them. In addition to local races and the closely watched midterm elections for Congress, voters must also decide on 10 proposed amendments to the state constitution, affecting everything from property tax rules to gubernatorial term limits to drinking water lines. In the past two election cycles, voters rejected every amendment on the ballot. And now, with widespread pessimism about the state of politics and the arcane

nature of the policy proposals, many political observers think that could easily happen again. “Given that I would say voters are in an unhappy mood this year, and they’re having to vote on 10 amendments, it’s not out of the question you could have 10 noes,” said John Couvillon, a pollster who has worked in Louisiana politics for 15 years. Couvillon said constitutional amendments are often a barometer of voter sentiment and a referendum on the amendment process itself. Despite the headwinds, some argue the 10 ballot measures deserve real consideration on their merits. Leaders for a Better Louisiana, a nonpartisan civic group, supports ﬁve of the amendments, is taking no position on two and opposes three. “We understand that voters can tire from constantly being asked to consider

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

ä See AMENDMENTS, page 6A

102ND yEAR, NO. 110

2A ● Sunday, October 18, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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Search continues after boat capsizes off Mexican coast

BRIEFS

FROM WIRE REPORTS

3 sentenced in surfer killings in Mexico

ENSENADA, Mexico — A judge on Friday sentenced three Mexican men to more than 158 years in prison each for the 2024 murders of two Australian brothers and their American friend, a case that tarnished Mexico’s image by exposing the risks foreigners face when visiting the tourismdependent country. The sentencing, which came a week after the men were found guilty, marked the end of a lengthy legal process over the killings of Australians Callum and Jake Robinson, and American Carter Redd Rhoad. Their bodies were found in May 2024, and at least four people were arrested for their alleged involvement in the crime. A judge in the coastal city of Ensenada, in Baja California state, ruled that Jesús Gerardo García, known as “el Kekas,” Irineo Francisco “N” and Ángel Jesús “N” would each serve 158 years and nine months in prison for murder, robbery with violence and vehicle theft with violence. Antonio Otañez, president of the Baja California surfers’ association, welcomed the outcome, saying “justice has been served.” But he acknowledged that the killings had caused a “major drop” in tourist visits, particularly by surfers, to the region known for its beautiful beaches. The Robinson brothers — Callum and Jake — and their American friend decided to travel to Mexico in late April 2024 to pursue one of their passions, surfing, at a beach in Punta San José, about 50 miles from the city of Ensenada in Baja California state. Unaware of the risks they faced, the three friends decided to camp on the beach on the night of April 27, 2024. Their attackers confronted them there, shot them dead in the early morning hours and then dumped their bodies into a well more than 50 feet deep. The bodies were found on May 3 after several days of searching.

Fisherman killed by alligator in Florida

A 71-year-old man fishing on the shore of a Florida lake was killed Friday by a nearly 12-foot alligator, the second fatal attack reported this year. Steven Hamilton, of Winter Garden, was standing on the shore of Lake Apopka at Dr. Bradford Memorial Park, 15 miles northwest of Orlando, when he was attacked about 5 p.m., the Winter Garden Police Department said. The presence of other active alligators in the water complicated any chance of rescuing Hamilton, whose body was recovered about two hours later, Winter Garden Fire Chief Jose Gainza told FOX35. Police Capt. Michael Mason said authorities were not alerted in advance that an alligator was near the lake’s shore, possibly because it “has tons of alligators in it.” He said police launched a joint investigation with the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, whose trappers captured and killed the alligator. Mason reminded people to be aware of their surroundings and respect wildlife. “Keep your distance,” he said. “It looks like it’s docile, it looks like your Florida emblem, but it can be dangerous.”

Pakistani forces, Afghan Taliban exchange fire

ISLAMABAD — Pakistani forces and Afghan Taliban personnel exchanged fire at several locations along Pakistan’s northwestern border Saturday, with Pakistani security officials and state-run media saying troops backed by artillery destroyed Taliban posts. The officials also said Pakistani troops killed an unspecified number of Pakistani Taliban militants trying to cross into Pakistan from a remote area of eastern Afghanistan during the clashes. The fighting lasted for hours along the border in Kurram district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, according to three Pakistani security officials. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media. There was no immediate comment from Afghanistan’s Taliban government.

16 rescued, but others missing

BY MIKELLA SCHUETTLER Associated Press

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By KATERyNA KLOCHKO

A car burns Saturday after a Russian airstrike on a neighborhood in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine.

Ukraine urges support for sanctions on Russia

Lindsey Graham, the legislation had Trump signed order sought to clamp down more quickly on the flow of financial resources fueling to put restrictions on hold Russia’s 4½-year-old war against Ukraine.

BY SUSIE BLANN and KATIE MARIE DAVIES The bill had sought to sanction Russian ofAssociated Press

KYIV, Ukraine — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged supporters Saturday to speak out in favor of new U.S. sanctions against Russia, hours after President Donald Trump signed an executive order putting the sweeping restrictions on hold. The White House decision has heightened fears that Ukraine could be left exposed to Moscow’s escalating attacks as winter approaches. Overnight Russian attacks killed at least four people, including an ambulance driver, and wounded dozens, ofﬁcials said. Ukrainian drones killed a woman in a Russian border region and disrupted ﬂights at Moscow’s airports, according to Russian authorities. In a social media statement, Zelenskyy called Trump’s decision unfortunate but avoided directly criticizing the U.S. leader despite deepening tensions between Ukraine and Washington in recent days. “A decision was unfortunately made in America to completely disregard the Lindsey Graham Act, which was supposed to impose truly effective pressure on Russia to bring this war to an end,” Zelenskyy wrote. “This Act could have helped enormously – and still can! But it needs to actually work, and every voice in support of it matters.” He separately thanked Democrats and Republicans who supported the legislation, saying that blocking it would encourage Russia to continue killing and that limiting Ukraine’s ability to retaliate would not bring peace. “Nevertheless, we very much hope — and I personally hope — that the president of the United States of America will do everything possible to make (Russian President Vladimir) Putin stop the killing, stop the attacks on our energy infrastructure, and end this war,” he said. Asked about contacts with Washington, Zelenskyy said Ukraine’s lead negotiator, Rustem Umerov, had met Friday with U.S. presidential envoy Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law. Zelenskyy said the U.S. was working to arrange a three-way meeting involving him, Trump and Putin, potentially in the Middle East, Europe or the United States. Named after late South Carolina Sen.

ﬁcials, banks and a shadow ﬂeet of tankers that keeps Russian energy moving. Trump personally signed the legislation just last month and his move came just two days before a deadline set in the law itself for its implementation. Trump told Congress that the pause was in the national interest but gave no further details. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, who co-drafted the bill, criticized Trump’s move, saying the president was turning his back on “the majority of Americans, their representatives in both houses of Congress, and our European allies.” Trump’s unexpected decision comes a week after he had agreed to purchase diesel from Russia to try to bring down global energy prices, despite that potentially hurting Ukraine. Republicans and Democrats alike say the purchase will help Russia execute its war against Ukraine — without making a difference to global fuel prices, which are elevated mostly due to Trump’s war on Iran.

Starlink restrictions Zelenskyy said that Kyiv was investigating sudden speed restrictions on Ukraine’s use of Starshield, the militarygrade version of SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service, which is the backbone of Ukraine’s drone operations and communication. The restrictions, imposed without warning early Thursday, cut the internet data connection when a communication terminal moves faster than 100 mph. The cap forced Ukrainian drones to fly slower than usual, making it easier for Russian weapons to target or evade them. Zelenskyy said that there were no similar restrictions in European Union countries and that they apply only to Ukraine. “In other words, this is a planned operation,” he said. It was unclear who was responsible. SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk said this week that the U.S. government owns and controls the system, with decisions about its use resting with the U.S. military and, ultimately, the president. The Pentagon has not answered questions from The Associated Press about the restrictions. Trump told reporters Friday that he did not order restrictions on the system. He also doubted that the disruption came from Musk.

Trump’s decision on Russian sanctions outrages Congress BY LISA MASCARO

AP congressional correspondent WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s abrupt decision to waive sanctions on Russia days before they were to take effect drew outrage Saturday from members of Congress, which had overwhelmingly passed the legislation in a bipartisan display of American support for Ukraine in the war with Russia. Lawmakers from both parties blasted the executive order late Friday, the latest in a series of steps that the Republican president has taken drawing the United States closer to Russia’s Vladimir Putin. Trump recently announced a diesel deal with Putin to import Russian energy in a long-shot effort to curb high gas prices in the U.S. that are roiling the midterm elections on Nov. 3. “I think it’s clear Russia is the aggressor, and we’ve got to do everything we can to put economic pressure on Russia,” Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., said in an interview with The Associated Press. “So it’s not the ﬁrst thing I would be doing.” “Beyond irresponsible,” said Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., on social media, hours after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed hope that the sanctions that were supposed to take effect Sunday targeting Russia’s economy

Authorities are continuing the search for 11 people believed to be missing after a boat departing from Mexico capsized off the coast of Baja California. Sixteen Mexican nationals were already rescued on Friday, including one who was treated for shark bites. The U.S. Coast Guard and Navy are searching the waters using multiple aircraft and boats, along with assistance from the Mexican Navy. An additional helicopter will be deployed later today, according to the Coast Guard. The boat capsized in an area frequented by smugglers and did not happen in U.S. waters, according to the Coast Guard. Survivors told ofﬁcials there were 27 people on board. “We were able to help, and that’s why we launched our assets,” said Petty Ofﬁcer Charlie Valor on Saturday. The region is popular with fishing and leisure boats, but fatal attempts to transport migrants from Mexico to the U.S. have occurred in the past. The Mexican consulate in San Diego said all those rescued were Mexican nationals. The Coast Guard said Customs and Border Protection was investigating

and interviewing the survivors, but the agency did not immediately respond to requests for updates. If survivors were witnesses to a crime, they may be eligible for humanitarian parole and permitted to remain in the country for a limited period. Rescuers were searching the area with helicopters, a fixed-wing plane, a cutter and a Navy combat ship on Saturday. The efforts remain ongoing. A mayday call was transmitted from someone on the boat around 1 a.m. on Friday, said Coast Guard Lt. Santiago Tamburini. A rescue helicopter reached the site about two hours later. It took about 90 minutes for the crew, which included a rescue swimmer, to pull the 16 people from the water, Tamburini said. The boat went down about 140 miles west of Ensenada, Mexico. The Coast Guard said at least one person was treated with injuries consistent with shark bites. Three were taken to Scripps Mercy Hospital San Diego, including the person with a suspected shark bite and two people treated for cold exposure, said hospital spokesperson Janice Collins on Friday. Three others were evaluated at Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla and later discharged, said Steve Carpowich, a Scripps Health spokesperson, on Friday.

could be revived. “What part of enforcing a law passed 8611 by the Senate does the President and his advisers not understand?” Tillis said. “It’s unconscionable that this administration is capitulating to a Russian dictator who illegally invaded Ukraine.” Republican Sen. John Cornyn, of Texas, said “Lindsey would be appalled,” referring to the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who worked endlessly on the bill before he died this summer. The bill is known as the Lindsey Graham Russian Sanctions Act. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, of New York, said in a statement that “by giving the Russian economy life support, Trump’s deal with the devil keeps getting dirtier.” Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., said Trump is “thumbing his nose” at Congress and “enabling Vladimir Putin to continue his war of aggression.” She urged her colleagues to take action to reverse course. The next steps are highly uncertain with the House and Senate on recess until after Election Day. Trump said he was waiving the sanctions indeﬁnitely, citing national security concerns. It is unlikely Congress would be in a position to take any action to challenge Trump’s moves until lawmakers return to Washington.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By DENIS POROy

A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter lifts off Friday at Coast Guard Station San Diego. Authorities continued the search Saturday for 11 people believed to be missing after a boat departing from Mexico capsized off the coast of Baja California.

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Hurricane Trudy strengthens to Category 2, approaches Mexico coast Typhoon Champi becomes Category 4 near Guam

By The Associated Press MIAMI — Trudy strengthened to a Category 2 hurricane as it moved toward Mexico’s southwestern and west-central Paciﬁc coast on Saturday, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said. A hurricane warning was in effect from Manzanillo in Colima state to Cabo Corrientes in Jalisco. The latest NHC data showed the Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 100 mph and was about 205 miles southsoutheast of Cabo Corrientes in Jalisco state and 115 miles southsouthwest of Manzanillo, moving northwest at 10 mph. Meanwhile, Typhoon Champi strengthened into a Category 4

SETTLEMENT

weather system as it moved toward Guam. Trudy’s center was expected to pass near the coast into Sunday. After the latest warning, Mexico’s government issued a tropical storm warning for Las Islas Marias and discontinued a similar warning for its coast south of Lazaro Cardenas. The Mexican navy urged mariners and coastal residents to exercise extreme caution because of high waves, heavy rain and the risk of rising rivers, ﬂooding and landslides in vulnerable areas. Colima authorities said the risks remained low, but warned that heavy rainfall could cause damage because the ground was already saturated by successive storms along the Paciﬁc coast. Trudy was expected to bring 4-8 inches of rain through the week- Champi strengthened into a Catend, with isolated totals of around egory 4 storm as it moved west toward Guam at 15 mph. 15 inches. By Saturday night, Champi was Also in the Pacific, Typhoon

ing ways to pay for the position, including cooperative endeavor agreements. Nelson said the task Continued from page 1A force has reserve money that could help fund it. Ombudsman proposed “It’s not a matter of if we’re going to bring on the ombudsman,” Michael Dupree, public protec- Nelson said. Franckiewicz said reserves and tion director for the Louisiana Department of Justice, said Attorney expected receipts would cover the General Liz Murrill supports cre- costs for at least the next 10 years. ating an opioid ombudsman posi- Officials did not provide a salary, total cost or start date. tion in her office. Dupree said the Attorney GenThe person would be an opioid expert who would visit local gov- eral’s Office also plans to update ernments and sheriffs’ offices to its website with frequently asked provide technical support and ex- questions and a portal explainplain what settlement money could ing allowable uses for settlement funds. be spent on, Dupree said. Local officials can now ask the Attorney General’s Office whether Auditor preparing report a proposed use qualifies, and the Kristen Jacobs, a performance office responds by letter. Dupree audit manager with the Legislaoffered an example of the ques- tive Auditor’s Office, gave the first tions it receives: “Can we build a public progress report on Senate Concurrent Resolution 22, which cafeteria?” He said the office is modeling the asks the auditor to prepare a writposition on Arizona, which has a ten, nonevaluative report on settlededicated opioid ombudsman who ment spending. “travels around the state.” The report is due March 12, and The proposed position would pro- Jacobs said it could be completed vide guidance but would not have sooner. Her office has received expendiauthority to enforce settlement terms or compel local governments ture data from every sheriff and to change their spending. all but two parishes. Dupree said the office is explorThe report will categorize spend-

The storm was forecast to pass south of Guam early Sunday local time and continue intensifying through the day. Guam and Rota remained under a typhoon warning, while Tinian and Saipan were under a tropical storm warning and typhoon watch. The governors of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands both PROVIDED PHOTO requested emergency disaster By THE NATIONAL declarations on Friday. Approval OCEANIC AND by President Donald Trump would ATMOSPHERIC authorize federal support and funding for emergency protective ADMINISTRATION measures. Airports, harbors and some health facilities in the territories were closed. Resources were unlikely to reach the islands for three to ﬁve days, according to Saturday updates from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The territories are still recoverabout 25 miles southeast of Guam, with maximum sustained winds of ing from Super Typhoons Sinlaku 140 mph, according to the U.S. Na- and Bavi, which struck in April and July, respectively. tional Weather Service.

A GOES-19 GeoColor satellite image from Thursday shows Hurricane Trudy in the Pacific.

“This is everybody’s money,” he said. Nelson said the panel has received at least two quotes and is seeking more. One vendor, which he said works with Mississippi and Oklahoma, quoted $46,500 to build the site and $7,000 a year to host it. Nelson said he wants flexibility to spend up to $100,000 if another vendor offers more features. Members did not vote on the proposal. Nelson said he would seek at least two more quotes before the end of the month and bring a vendor recommendation to the corporation for approval. The first vendor’s pricing is valid through Nov. 12, Nelson said. He estimated the site could be running in about 90 days. Under the proposal, parishes would upload spending reports through a portal rather than submitting spreadsheets, and the system would generate the dashboard, Nelson said. “We need to automate reporting,” he said. The dashboard also could show the sheriffs’ share of the money, Public spending dashboard even though sheriffs do not file anDanny Bonin, of the We Save nual spending reports, Nelson said. “I think we need to have a dashLives Coalition, urged the panel earlier in the meeting to create a board fairly quickly,” Boulet said. public dashboard. Neither the proposed ombuds-

ing according to the settlement agreement and is intended to be easier to understand, Jacobs said. It also will include a fact sheet for each parish showing total allocations, unspent money and high-level spending, alongside state opioid death and hospitalization figures. Sheriffs are not required to file annual spending reports, Nelson said. Jacobs said the auditor’s request is for a one-time report. Boulet said the progress “settles some of the anxiety” over how money is being spent. Jacobs said the auditor’s office also collected feedback from parishes and sheriffs and may offer the task force recommendations on annual reporting. Rep. Annie Spell, a co-sponsor of the resolution, said in written responses that its goal is “to establish a factual baseline, not assign blame.” Once the information is available, the Legislature “will be better equipped to determine whether additional oversight or accountability measures are necessary,” she said.

man nor the dashboard would give the state new authority to enforce the settlement’s spending requirements.

State programs highlighted Dr. Peter Croughan, of the Louisiana Department of Health, briefed the panel on programs that could be relevant to local efforts to address opioid addiction. He said 68 of 71 hospitals have signed up to launch a bridge program, which starts emergency room patients on addiction medication and connects them with follow-up care. Project M.O.M., which serves pregnant and postpartum women, now has nine navigators, one for each region. He also cited a Lake Charles-area behavioral health agency that used settlement money to open a medication-assisted treatment urgent care clinic, calling it a “great example of evidence-based use of opioid settlement dollars.” The panel’s next joint meeting is scheduled at 10 a.m. Feb. 18. Nelson said he expects the auditor’s team to share a draft of its report with the task force well before then. Email Dean Boudreaux at dean. boudreaux@theadvocate.com.

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VOTERS

Continued from page 1A 1965. Black voter registration surged, and Black candidates began to win elections to local offices. They worked to ensure that Black residents had better roads, better schools and access to government jobs. Now Black political leaders in Jonesboro — and throughout Louisiana — believe that their hard-fought political gains are at risk in the upcoming elections after the U.S. Supreme Court in April weakened voting rights protections in the Louisiana v. Callais decision, and the state Legislature promptly eliminated the Black-majority congressional district represented by Cleo Fields. Republicans could redraw political boundaries at every level of government throughout Louisiana to eliminate Black-majority seats. “We need to think back about how long it took for us to become voters,” said Annie Johnson, 82, who was among those arrested in 1964 for picketing outside Jonesboro’s library. “We found out that voting could do some things for us.” Conditions are ripe for a disproportionately large turnout of Black voters this fall because of high fuel and grocery prices from President Donald Trump’s war against Iran, Gov. Jeff Landry’s moves against Black elected officials in New Orleans, the loss of Fields’ congressional seat and the potentially historymaking campaign of Jamie Davis, the Democratic U.S. Senate candidate. He is attempting to become the first Black person elected statewide in Louisiana in 150 years. Davis, a farmer from Tensas Parish in northeast Louisiana, has built a grassroots network that is aiming to drive a big turnout, and he has drawn enthusiastic crowds in Jonesboro and elsewhere throughout the state. Nonprofit groups such as the NAACP and the Power Coalition for Equity and Justice and such individuals as Public Service Commissioner Davante Lewis and Gary Chambers Jr., an activist based in Baton Rouge, have been speaking at events throughout the state to rally voters. So have officials from the Louisiana Democratic Party. But no one can say for sure whether these activities will actually result in a big Black voter turnout. The first indication will come on Wednesday when the Secretary of State’s Office reports the numbers from the day before, the first day of the weeklong early voting period in advance of the Nov. 3 election. To be sure, Republicans are making their own effort to get their voters to the polls to elect U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow to the Senate, win the Baton Rouge-based congressional seat that Fields is vacating and retain the four seats held by incumbent Republicans, including House Speaker Mike Johnson,

STAFF PHOTOS By JILL PICKETT

Leslie Thompson leans against the front porch of a house in Jonesboro on Wednesday. Thompson said the house was used by Deacons for Defense. Thompson was the first Black mayor of Jonesboro. were burned to the ground early one morning in January 1965. As a teenager then, Simmons was struck that, when he visited downtown with his grandmother, she stepped off the sidewalk to let White people pass. When Simmons questioned her later, she said, “Son, one day you’ll understand what this was all about.” But Simmons and other young Black residents pushed for change in Jackson Parish, and it finally came there — and throughout Louisiana. After passage of the civil rights acts, the number of

Black voters in Jackson Parish increased by 35% from 1964 to 1970, according to figures supplied by the Louisiana Secretary of State’s Office. The old sheets list Black voters as “colored.” Today, life has improved for Black residents in Jonesboro, local leaders say, although acute problems remain. Streets in predominantly Black neighborhoods are paved, kids are graduating from high school and Black people have many of the same job opportunities that White people do. James Bradford and Ed-

ä See VOTERS, page 5A

WE BUY, WE SELL Windy Calahan, head of the Jackson Parish NAACP, stands in front of Jackson Parish Courthouse in Jonesboro on Wednesday. who represents northwest Louisiana, and Majority Leader Steve Scalise, who represents suburban New Orleans. “The liberal left is angry, and I believe they’re motivated and will show up,” said Derek Babcock, chair of the Louisiana Republican Party. “We can’t take it for granted that Louisiana will vote red. We need our people to show up. I’m telling everyone to get their friends and family out to vote as well. We need to elect candidates who hold traditional conservative values, want to reduce government regulation and are pro-life.”

Echoes of history Over time, Jonesboro has declined like a lot of small towns in Louisiana. Its once-

thriving downtown has withered, and its population has dropped from its peak in 1970 to about 4,200 today. Its main tourist attraction is the Jimmie Davis Tabernacle, built just outside the city limits to honor the two-term governor with a place for music and Christian worship. Davis is buried there. The beginning chords of his famous song, “You Are My Sunshine,” are etched into his gravestone. Davis completed his second term in 1964, a time when Black residents led a hardscrabble existence in Jonesboro. “Nearly eight out of every ten Black families lived in poverty,” wrote Lance Hill, then a Tulane grad student, in his 2004 book, The Deacons for Defense: Armed

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Resistance and the Civil Rights Movement. “Ninetyseven percent of Blacks over the age of twenty-ﬁve had never completed a high school education. The ‘Black quarters’ in Jonesboro and Hodge consisted of dilapidated clapboard shacks, with cracks in the walls that whistled in the bitter winter wind. Human waste ran into the dirt streets for want of a sewerage system.” Black people had to sit in the upstairs balcony to watch movies at the Palace Theater downtown, remembered Herbert Simmons, who grew up outside of Jonesboro. The Klan that was active in central Louisiana burned a cross in front of his father’s funeral home. Two Black churches

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VOTERS

Continued from page 4A die James Barnes were the ﬁrst Black people elected to the Jackson Parish Police Jury, in 1973, after a court order led to the creation of two Black-majority districts. Leslie Thompson was elected as the first Black mayor of Jonesboro in 2006, and he has been succeeded by two more Black mayors. Many White residents have moved to other parts of Jackson Parish, giving Black voters a numerical majority in Jonesboro.

Redistricting? While they don’t think Louisiana might return to Jim Crow, Black elected ofﬁcials worry the Callais decision means that Republican-controlled school boards, police juries and parish commissions could redesign their voting maps to strengthen Republican majorities. Today, two of the seven members of the Jackson Parish School Board are African American. They cast the only two votes this year against closing JonesboroHodge Middle School. Gerry Mims, who is one of the two and is completing 36 years on the School Board this year, doubts that his Republican colleagues on the board would want to eliminate a Black-majority seat. Mims noted that Republicans already have a solid majority. Two of the seven Jackson Parish Police Jury members also are African Americans. Sheketia Combs, one of the two, said she has good relations with her colleagues. But, she said, referring to influential White people in Jackson Parish, “If they could get every seat on the Police Jury White, they would do it. This area is racist. They don’t want to acknowledge that. But they know it’s the truth. It shouldn’t be, but it is. We have to face the fact that we have race issues.” Todd Culpepper, the Police Jury president, who is White, said he hadn’t heard any discussion about redrawing the police jury lines because of the Callais decision. “We work together,” Culpepper said. “I can’t ever imagine going in and changing a minority district to a majority.” One area where it might happen is in East Baton Rouge Parish, where Republicans hold a one-seat majority on the School Board and a two-member majority on the Metro Council. “The (school) board can add seats to create more Republican districts,” said Dadrius Lanus, one of the four Black Democrats on the board and the executive director of the Louisiana Democratic Party. Lanus said Democrats would vigorously ﬁght that change if proposed. The bigger fight would come if the Republican majority in the state Legislature attempts to use the Callais ruling to redraw its

Landry was elected governor outright in the primary, the Black voter share was only 25%, Couvillon said. Every one percentage point increase in Black turnout amounts to about 11,000 additional Black voters, based on the secretary of state’s preliminary estimate of a 40% overall turnout for the Nov. 3 election. Black voters typically cast about 90% of their votes for Democrats. Famed Democratic strategist James Carville is buoyed about the prospects in Louisiana because Black voters are turning out in disproportionately larger numbers during the early voting period in Georgia, which began on Tuesday. “You don’t see that in one state and not another,” Carville said. State Sen. Sam Jenkins, DShreveport, is hopeful. “Many Black voters want to use the midterms to put guardrails on Trump,” he STAFF PHOTOS By JILL PICKETT said. Ashley Shelton, who Jackson Parish School Board member Gerry Mims stands in front of the Jackson Parish School District offices in Jonesboro. heads the New Orleansbased Power Coalition, has Monroe been organizing forums for 20 167 voters for months. 4 “ Vo t e r a p a t h y r u n s strong,” she said. “The Jonesboro thing that’s different about 61 this election is that there Mississippi River are so many different pain Alexandria points for voters — at the LA. MISS. gas pump, at the grocery 49 store, your paycheck is not matching inflation. SNAP Baton Opelousas 165 recipients are down.” Rouge What could dampen Black Lafayette 10 voter turnout is that Davis, Staff map a political unknown before this year, doesn’t have political boundaries to elimenough money to fully ininate Black-majority House troduce himself to voters and Senate seats in an effort statewide. Nor does he have to increase the Republican much money to spend on a ranks. get-out-the-vote effort. Some GOP legislators “There has been a lot of have begun advocating for publicity and lot of people that move before the 2030 initiating for a good turncensus — redistricting nor- Jonesboro Alderman Devin Flowers stands in front of the former Jackson High School, a out,” said Annie Johnson, the one-time civil rights acmally occurs afterward — said state Rep. Beau Beaul- Black high school in Jonesboro. Flowers’ mother and father both graduated from the school, tivist in Jonesboro. “If they don’t turn out, it won’t be lieu, R-New Iberia, who and his father was a member of the Congress of Racial Equality. because different organizachairs the House committee that handles redistricting. this year’s election — and only $440,000. In the June runoff elections haven’t tried. We just Black voters typically tion, the Black voter share have to wait and see.” “The jury is out on wheth- next year’s, when Landry, er or not it happens,” he said, the other statewide elected turn out at proportionally was only 27%, said New Ornoting that neither Landry officials, all legislators and lower rates than White vot- leans-based pollster Greg Email Tyler Bridges at nor legislative leaders have numerous local elected of- ers in Louisiana, however. Rigamer. In 2023, when tbridges@theadvocate.com. called for moving up the re- ficials will be on the ballot. “Any time Blacks have districting schedule. Of the Democrats’ 42 seats come into a certain stain the 105-member Legisla- tus, the Whites are totally ture, 36 are held by African against that,” said Windy Calahan, a longtime NAACP Americans. Meanwhile, some conser- leader in Jackson Parish. vatives remain dissatisfied “They don’t want to see us that the Legislature turned in a position of authority or only Fields’ seat into a Re- power. If we had more Afpublican-majority district. rican Americans in office, The plaintiffs and lawyers there would be maybe less behind the Callais case are crime and economics would pushing for a court order to be different. I’m praying turn the district of U.S. Rep. that the turnout will be Troy Carter, a Black Demo- high.” The closed primaries in crat from New Orleans, into a Republican-majority dis- May — which occurred just after the Legislature decitrict as well. “The Constitution says mated Fields’ congressional we’re not going to allocate seat – give hope to Calahan power by race but by com- and others. African Americans acmon interests,” said Paul Hurd, a lawyer in Monroe counted for 34% of the Treat yourself to the hottest styles of the who is the co-lead attorney voters in that election, alon the case. “Callais says though they account for moment featuring UGG’s iconic comfort. quit segregating voters. only 31.8% of registered Segregation inherently cre- voters, said John Couvilates racial problems.” lon, a Baton-Rouge based pollster and demographer. Will voter turnout go up? This occurred even though African American politi- the Republican candidates cal leaders say the best way combined spent $36 million to protect their seats is to on that election, while the generate a big turnout in Democrats combined spent

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6A ● Sunday, October 18, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate special tax breaks AMENDMENTS having like this one chip away at

Continued from page 1A

amendments to the constitution,” Adam Knapp, CEO of Better Louisiana, said in a statement. “Nevertheless, some of them represent smart policy choices that can only be enacted by changing the constitution.” Early voting runs from Tuesday through Oct. 27, excluding Sunday, Oct. 25. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3.

Amendment fatigue? University of Louisiana at Monroe political science professor Pearson Cross said he will not be surprised if voters again reject all of the amendments. Most are so “deep in the weeds” that they’ll seem irrelevant to voters, Cross said. “Voters are going to look at this ballot and they’re going to see that government is continuing to ignore the things that seem to matter most to them right now, which are the high cost of living, of food, of fuel,” he said. “These amendments speciﬁcally are, to most voters, going to be completely beside the point.” Cross said the current fatigue with Louisiana’s amendment process harkens back to the early 1970s when there were literally dozens of amendments on one ballot, right before the state adopted a new Constitution in 1974. “Voters just basically rejected them all. They had had it,” Cross said. “We’re seeing some of that same spirit now.” Leaders for a Better Louisiana contends the constitution should provide a framework for governance, and that detailed, prescriptive policy belongs in state statute, which can be adjusted as needed through the legislative process. While there has been little organized lobbying either for or against the amendments this fall, the past two election cycles saw major political backlash. In spring of 2025, four amendments backed by Gov. Jeff Landry failed after a coalition of left-leaning groups campaigned against them, and the Rev. Tony Spell, a conservative pastor in Baton Rouge, vocally agitated against one of Landry’s most important priorities. Then, in May this year, Louisianans rejected all ﬁve amendments amid anger from Black and Democratic voters over a fresh U.S. Supreme Court decision targeting the Voting Rights Act and frustration, especially in New Orleans, with Landry’s political agenda. This fall, the Louisiana Democratic Party is formally opposing Amendment 4, supporting Amendment 7, and not taking a position on the other eight measures. The Republican Party of Louisiana is backing all 10. Here’s an overview of the 10 proposed amendments to the Louisiana Constitution on the ballot.

Amendment 1 Amendment 1 would allow the surviving spouse of some disabled military veterans who have died to transfer a special, higher property tax exemption to a new home if they move. The transfer could only happen once. Supporters say it’s fair to give the surviving spouse of a military veteran the chance to move one time and still get the property tax benefit; opponents say

the property tax base that pays for local government services.

Amendment 2 Amendment 2 would give local governments more ﬂexibility to roll back or roll forward property taxes. Voters initially approve a property tax rate, or millage, for a certain period, such as a 10- or 20-year term. When property values go up, the approved millage brings in more money. When that happens, property taxes may be “rolled back,” lowering the tax rate so it nets the same amount of tax revenue. Or the rate may be “rolled forward,” keeping the tax rate the same and collecting the increased amount of revenue. If the tax rates drop below the initial voter-approved millage and local governments do not roll forward taxes within a four-year period, the tax rate is lowered permanently. Amendment 2 would remove that timer, allowing them to roll forward at any point during the term of the millage. Supporters say the current rule incentivizes local governments to charge a higher millage than needed for fear of losing their taxing authority at a later time; opponents say the current system is a guardrail against levying property tax rates that are too high.

Amendment 3 Amendment 3 would limit when someone who has been convicted of a crime can be let out on bail before they are sentenced or the appeal process has played out. In cases of conviction for an “aggravated offense” against a minor, Amendment 3 would create a constitutional prohibition against bail. Rape, sexual battery, kidnapping and human trafﬁcking are examples of aggravated offenses. Supporters say people who have been convicted of violent crimes against minors should not be allowed to go free; opponents say judges should have discretion to determine bail based on the circumstances of the case.

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owners like seniors, people with permanent disabilities and disabled veterans can have the assessed value of their home “frozen” so their property taxes don’t go up in subsequent years. To qualify for the freeze, a household income must be less than $100,000 annually. Amendment 9 would increase that income cap to $150,000, and beginning in 2028, the threshold would be STAFF FILE PHOTO By HILARy SCHEINUK adjusted every year accordLouisiana is set to vote on 10 constitutional amendments ing to the Consumer Price Index. at the same time as the midterm elections that will decide Supporters say the cost control of Congress. of living and inﬂation have significantly increased in offer a bigger property tax bition could create unintend- recent years and the income exemption to seniors who ed consequences related to cap should go up to account qualify for a tax freeze due international economic de- for that; opponents say givto having a household in- velopment and investment. ing property tax breaks to more people could strain locome below $100,000. That income cap would increase Amendment 9 cal government budgets. to $150,000 if Amendment 9 Amendment 9 would expasses. pand the pool of homeown- Amendment 10 Currently, the ﬁrst $75,000 ers who qualify for a special Amendment 10 would of a home’s fair market assessment level, more com- require the Legislature to value is exempt from taxes. monly understood as a prop- create property tax exempIf Amendment 6 passes — erty tax freeze. tions for blighted properties and local voters in a city Currently, certain home- that have been rehabilitated, or parish also approve the new exemption — seniors who qualify for a tax freeze would see their property tax exemption grow: n Homeowners aged 65-68 would get an exemption on $135,000 of the property’s fair market value; n Ages 69-72: $195,000; n Ages 73-76: $255,000; n Ages 77-80: $315,000; n 81 and older: $375,000. Supporters say retired seniors often have a fixed income that makes it hard to afford property tax hikes caused by rising home values; opponents say giving a substantial property tax break to more people could strain local government budgets, which are funded by property taxes.

Amendment 7

Amendment 4 would impose stricter term limits for Louisiana governors. Currently, governors who serve two consecutive terms are not allowed to serve for a third consecutive term; however, they are allowed to serve as governor again if they take a break for at least one term. Amendment 4 would limit Louisiana governors to a lifetime limit of two terms. Supporters say the lifetime two-term limit would ensure more qualiﬁed candidates have the chance to serve in Louisiana’s most powerful political ofﬁce; opponents say it unnecessarily restricts voters’ choice.

Amendment 5

Amendment 8

Amendment 5 would give state officials greater flexibility on how to pay off debt owed to Louisiana’s state retirement systems. Currently, the constitution requires the oldest debt to be paid off first. Amendment 5 would eliminate this requirement. Supporters say the flexibility would allow officials to pay off the most expensive debt, even though it may not be the oldest; opponents say the current system ensures debt payments get made.

Email Alyse Pfeil at alyse. pfeil@theadvocate.com.

New look, Same Heart: Ronald McDonald House South Louisiana Expanding Acadiana Footprint

Amendment 7 would allow taxpayer money to be used to ﬁx drinking water utility lines that contain lead located on private property. Currently, the Constitution generally prohibits using public funds for private uses, though it also contains a list of exceptions such as support for the needy, wildlife protection and transportation projects. Amendment 7 would create another exception to explicitly allow public funds to mitigate hazards found in drinking water infrastructure located on a private property. The impetus for the change came from a new EPA rule passed in 2024 that requires water systems to replace dangerous lead-containing water lines by 2037. Supporters say adding the language to the constitution will ensure that New Orleans does not run afoul of Louisiana law when replacing water lines; opponents say it is unnecessary because the Louisiana attorney general has already issued a formal opinion saying the private water line replacements would comply with Louisiana law.

Amendment 4

something that is currently not allowed under the Constitution. It would then be optional for local governments whether to offer that tax break. If Amendment 10 is approved this year, a new state statute would take effect for local blighted property tax break programs: Parishes would have to set rehab standards to qualify for the tax break, and the exemption could be no more than 75% of the assessed value of the property and be offered for no longer than 20 years. Those rules could later be changed by the Legislature. Supporters say it provides a ﬁscally responsible tool for local governments to reduce blight, which can cause public safety problems and reduce property values. Opponents say local government would be giving up needed tax revenue they could get from rehabbed properties.

Amendment 8 would prohibit private entities deemed as “foreign adversaries” or an “agent” of a foreign adversary from expropriating privately owned property, a process often referred to as “eminent domain.” Foreign adversaries include the countries of China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia and the Maduro regime in Venezuela. Proponents say the amendment creates a safeguard against the inﬂuence of foreign enemies in Louisiana. Opponents say state statutes Amendment 6 already restrict land ownerAmendment 6 would al- ship by foreign adversaries, low cities and parishes to and the constitutional prohi-

This article is brought to you by Ronald McDonald House South Louisiana. For more than four decades, Ronald McDonald House South Louisiana has helped families stay close when a child needs critical medical care. Now, the organization is entering a new chapter with a refreshed name (formerly Ronald McDonald House Charities of South Louisiana) and a continued focus on expanding its reach across Southwest Louisiana to ensure that families have access to comfort, support and a place to stay close to their children during some of life’s most difficult moments. Since its founding in December 1983, Ronald McDonald House South Louisiana has served more than 43,000 families seeking specialized pediatric medical care from New Orleans to Acadiana and far beyond state lines. While the organization is headquartered in New Orleans at the Ronald McDonald House® on Manning Family Children’s campus, they also operate a Family Room inside Our Lady of Lourdes Women’s & Children’s Hospital. Located on the first floor of the hospital, the Family Room provides a place of respite for loved ones while their children undergo medical treatment. It features three private ensuites, laundry facilities and supplies, and a kitchenette stocked with breakfast options and snacks. Siblings can enjoy Wi-Fi, games, puzzles and entertainment options in the comfortable communal living room that also offers families another space to rest, relax and regroup. According to Ronald McDonald House South Louisiana CEO Grace McIntosh, the Family Room cared for more than 40 families this past year who stayed at the hospital for an average of 21 days; equating to 896 nights. “These numbers illustrate the significant growing need in the Acadiana region,” McIntosh said. “As more families come to Acadiana seeking specialized pediatric care, we want to ensure they have the support and resources they need throughout their journey.” The nonprofit’s work is rooted in a simple idea: Families should be able to stay together when a child is sick. For families traveling long distances for medical treatment, the cost of lodging, meals and other necessities can add another layer of stress to an already overwhelming experience. Ronald McDonald House South Louisiana helps ease those burdens by

providing resources and supportive spaces that allow families to focus on what matters most: their child. That mission is also driving the nonprofit’s next chapter. Ronald McDonald House South Louisiana is preparing for a much-anticipated expansion in the Acadiana region, where the need for family-centered support continues to grow. The existing Family Room has helped establish a foundation for serving families in the region, while the planned expansion will create greater capacity to support families who need to remain close to their children during extended medical stays. A gracious land donation from Our Lady of Lourdes Women’s & Children’s Hospital is helping movethatvisionforward,providinganimportantfoundation for the nonprofit’s expansion goals in Acadiana. The donated land will serve as a launching point for creating a larger, more comprehensive space to support families as they navigate their children’s medical journey. Community support is essential to making that vision a reality. Every dollar raised through the nonprofit’s capital campaign helps ease the financial and emotional burdens families face while accessing critical care for their children. Those contributions also fuel the organization’s expansion in Acadiana, helping create the spaces and resources needed to serve more families in the years ahead. The brand refresh marks an important moment for Ronald McDonald House South Louisiana, but the heartoftheorganizationremainsunchanged.Formore than 40 years, families have turned to the nonprofit for a place to stay, a place to rest and a community that understands what they are going through. With a new name and an expanding footprint, Ronald McDonald House South Louisiana is building on its legacy while preparing to welcome even more families in need. For more information about Ronald McDonald House South Louisiana and how the community can getinvolved,visitwww.ronaldmcdonaldhousesola.org. Stay tuned in the coming months for exciting news about the organization’s plans to expand its footprint and bring even greater support to families throughout the Acadiana region!

The Acadiana Advocate ● theadvocate.com ● Sunday, October 18, 2026 ● 7A

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LOUISIANA POLITICS Looming mid-terms have big implications for La. WASHINGTON — Asked one too many times about predictions that the Republican majority’s days are numbered, Speaker Mike Johnson said he’d probably mow lawns for a living after ballots are counted in the Nov. 3 congressional midterms. Within hours, Johnson had to clarify during a campaign stop in Shreveport that his response was tongue-in-cheek, meant to convey that he would attack any job with fervor. In the recent past — going back to Speaker Newt Gingrich, R-Ga., in 1998 — Republican speakers who don’t deliver majorities have soon left the Mark House. Ballard Johnson still believes, as he always has, that Republicans would defy history to maintain control of the U.S. House. “If we didn’t, I’m sure most of my colleagues would call upon me to continue to lead, even in the scenario of a divided government,” he said. Also wedded to the speaker’s “we’re gonna win” narrative, Majority Leader Steve Scalise, the Jefferson Republican who is the House’s second highest-ranking leader, refuses to entertain the “what happens next” question. Both their staffs say nothing will be decided until after the election. If their prediction proves too cheery, as many prognosticators now say, Louisiana will no longer be “punching above its weight” in national politics. Both Johnson and Scalise will lose their jobs running the lower chamber, deciding everything from what legislation to move to assigning ofﬁce space. Under the rules, GOP leadership doesn’t automatically move one rung down. They will be elected through a secret ballot when the new Congress convenes

pick up enough House seats to win the majority — the only question is how many, he said. Sabato, whose Crystal Ball publication out of the University of Virginia is one of the most respected handicappers, said past polls have been burdened by many White blue-collar workers, mostly Trump supporters, refusing to participate. The election cycle is different in that voters are voicing disappointment in Trump, the ongoing military conflict with Iran, and the high prices for housing and fuel. Trump has been campaigning to shore up support in states he won by double digits in the 2024 presidential election. Sabato pointed out that his estimates could undercount Democratic gains because he has been burned so often by the election results out of deep red states. But this year, Kansas is in play, and that state last elected a Democratic senator in 1930 as part of FDR’s historic wave. Even then, George S. McGill failed to win a second term in 1936, Sabato pointed out. If Republicans keep their House majority, Johnson has said the STAFF PHOTO By JILL PICKETT House will focus on more reducSpeaker of the House Mike Johnson addresses the audience during a campaign stop for his reelection bid on tions in federal spending, shoring up Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Oct. 10 in Shreveport. Act, and more tax cuts. House Minority Leader Hakeem joined the Louisiana National in January. Jeffries, the Brooklyn Democrat gins told Roll Call Wednesday. Republicans could face a lead- Guard. who likely will become speaker if That is, provided both win elec- Polls favor Democrats power shifts, has said a Democratership fight that could include Johnson squaring off against tions in January to chair member Johnson shifted Wednesday to ic majority would vote to reinstate Scalise to lead the minority. conferences. saying the pollsters are all wrong. the tax credits, which expired in A third candidate, House JuCarter is the only announced He’s been seeing “huge crowds” 2025 and are used by lower income candidate to lead the Congressio- at rallies he’s held with about 40 people to buy health insurance diciary Committee Chair Jim Republican candidates around the through the Affordable Care Act Jordan, R-Ohio, is also said to be nal Black Caucus. country. marketplace. Democrats would interested. Higgins has not revealed if he Johnson could be correct about then try to reverse the restrictions The two highest-ranking memhas any intentions of running but at least some of the surveys, said that are forcing thousands off of is routinely included on lists of bers of the Louisiana delegation Larry Sabato in a podcast with Medicaid and food stamps. then will transition from two LSU possible candidates to run the Carter predicted a couple weeks Freedom Caucus — an influential United States Studies Centre at grads to — maybe — an Xavier group of right-wingers that is los- the University of Sydney that was ago, “We’re going to be very busy.” University alum, Rep. Troy A. published in Australian newspaCarter Sr., D-New Orleans, and ing some of its most prominent Email Mark Ballard at Rep. Clay Higgins, R-Lafayette, members. pers Thursday. But all the polls who didn’t graduate college but “It’s a time of transition,” Higare agreeing that Democrats will mballard@theadvocate.com.

Kennedy stumps for Republicans

Klux Klan imagery to call him reporters have rushed to buttona racist, as did U.S. Sen. Bernie hole Kennedy for a pithy quote Sanders, Independent-Vermont. about the day’s events. “What an original defense,” That has made Kennedy a popuKennedy, R-Madisonville, said on lar candidate among Republicans Fox News Sunday. “How seeking election. could I possibly be a racAt a steak fry on behalf of Sen. Pete Ricketts, Rist? I’m not a Democrat.” Nebraska, Kennedy told Polls, forecasters, and diners that in Louisiana, commentators give El“We eat things that you Sayed a very slight edge would call an exterminain the contest with Rogers. Republicans hold a 53-47 tor for to get it out of your majority in the U.S. Senbackyard.” He added, “We have the ate but many polls suggest Kennedy best food in the world as Democrats have a shot at long as you don’t ask too many taking control in the Nov. 3 midquestions.” term elections. Kennedy helped raise about Republican candidates have called on Kennedy to join them on $400,000 at a recent event in a Jackson, Mississippi, suburb for the campaign trail and add some Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith. He’s also star power to their events. Kennedy is a best-selling author on the road to Alaska, Ohio and Texas – all red states in which and a favorite on conservative Democratic candidates seem media, like NewsNation and Fox competitive. News. And now that Kennedy has ﬂirtKennedy’s bent towards rural witticisms have been a welled with a presidential run in 2028, known facet of his public face in CNN, along with other national Louisiana since he ﬁrst entered media sources, are following his public life in 1996 as state revappearances more closely. Kennedy says he’s running enue secretary. He was then state treasurer for for a third term as Louisiana’s over a decade. Since he joined the soon-to-be senior senator in 2028 but reserved the right to run for U.S. Senate in 2017, Capitol Hill

Louisiana U.S. Sen. John Kennedy and his homespun wit sparked a war of words with the Michigan candidate vying to become the ﬁrst Muslim in the U.S. Senate. During a campaign appearance in Michigan for Republican candidate Mike Rogers, a former member of the U.S. House, Kennedy told reporters last week that Abdul Elthe DemoCapitol Sayed, cratic candidate, Buzz “sleeps in a Bin STAFF Laden jersey,” reREPORTS ferring to the chief instigator of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. El-Sayed struck back on social media, writing: “That’s rich coming from someone who wears his bed sheets out at night.” While Fox News host Larry Kudlow said he didn’t understand El-Sayed’s response, Kennedy did. A Mississippi native who grew up in Zachary, Kennedy pointed out that El-Sayed used the Ku

president if he feels Republicans have rallied behind a “goober.” He won’t deﬁne who might be a “goober” or what it would take for a candidate to be considered one.

Carter sponsors college preparedness bill U.S. Rep. Troy Carter has introduced a bill that would distribute $100 million through FEMA each year for colleges and universities across the country to better prepare for hurricanes and other disasters. A release from Carter, D-New Orleans, and cosponsor Jared Moskowitz, D-Florida, said the need for greater emergency resilience in higher education was clear after Hurricanes Katrina, Ida and Irma “devastated universities in Louisiana and Florida.” “Our climate crisis makes extreme weather events more frequent and severe, so we need to ensure uniquely vulnerable communities, such as our colleges and universities, have the support and resources they need to prepare for and respond to disasters and emergency situations,” Carter said in a statement. Carter and Moskowitz are co-

chairs of the Disaster Preparedness and Recovery Caucus. The legislation would create a grant program for colleges and universities to enhance their disaster preparation and response. Institutions could use the money to pay personnel related to emergency management, update their institutional emergency plans, or construct emergency operations or refuge centers, according to the Carter bill text. The grants would run from $250,000 to $5 million under the proposal. The bill would appropriate $100 million for each ﬁscal year from 2027 to 2031 for FEMA to carry out the program. After three years, FEMA would be required to submit a report to Congress on how the grants were used and if they were effective. Because the bill proposes a national grant program, the Bayou State would not be guaranteed funding, but a spokesperson for Carter said Louisiana universities are the types of applicants the program has in mind.

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Trump touts power in second term at Ky. rally BY MICHELLE PRICE and JESSE BEDAYN Associated Press

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. — President Donald Trump touted his power in his second go around in the White House Saturday while rallying in Kentucky to bolster Republican turnout as his party struggles in the midterms, saying, “I can do stuff that is unbelievable.” Trump, who spoke in the city of Highland Heights to boost Republican candidates including Ed Gallrein for the U.S. House, was riffing on his decision to change how the U.S. government refers to the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. “I don’t think I could have done this in my ﬁrst term. This is a much more powerful term,” Trump said. “Google wouldn’t have taken my call in the ﬁrst. Now, they kiss my ass.” “Well, I also changed the name of a lake in Canada to the Lake America,” he continued, referring to Lake Ontario. Trump’s self-proclaimed

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By JEFF DEAN

President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally on Saturday at Truist Arena in Highland Heights, Ky. power is set against voter frustration with how he’s wielded it, with tariffs and the Iran war driving up prices and more Americans seeing the president looking out for his own interests and not those of the country. With control of both chambers of Congress on the line, and with it the prospects of Democratic-led investiga-

tions of his administration should they win, Trump has put himself at the fore for voters, asking them to “pretend that I’m on the ballot.” But Republicans privately worry that growing disapproval of his administration is a liability. Trump nominated one of his personal lawyers to serve as attorney general,

ordered military strikes on accused drug smuggling boats, is trying to put his name on the Kennedy Center, and has enriched himself and his family while he’s been in ofﬁce. While meandering through topics onstage in Kentucky, Trump touched on gas prices, saying that the war with Iran was going to end

soon — an assertion he’s made many times over the course of the nearly eightmonth conflict — and that gas prices will drop to lower than previously. The crowd cheered. Facing the electoral headwinds, Trump is working to paint a portentous picture of Democrats in the final weeks before the midterms. That includes the claim that if his opposing party wins, the U.S. will “have a depression,” and that the Democratic platform includes abolishing the U.S. Senate and U.S. Supreme Court. Those are not on the Democratic Party’s platform. But Trump is trying to lump them in with the Democratic Socialists of America, which have had a few candidates win in this year’s primary elections. Trump also rehashed his dubious promise that if Republicans win the House and the Senate then every adult American would get $5,000. That would most likely cost more than $1 trillion and require congressional approval, while exacerbating the

country’s nearly $1.8 trillion annual budget deﬁcit. Trump added a new, seemingly conditional promise for Kentucky. That if Republicans win, he said, the Department of Defense would invest in revitalizing a drug manufacturing facility in the state. The president pulled Gallrein on stage, the Republican candidate for the U.S. House district who beat Rep. Thomas Massie in the GOP primary. Massie had aggravated Trump by pushing for the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files and opposing the Iran war, and the president responded by successfully backing Gallrein in the party’s primary. Massie, however, still has a following for standing on his staunchly conservative principles, even when it meant voting against his own party. When Trump lashed out at Massie as a “jerk” and “loser” and trumpeted Gallrein as a more loyal replacement, the crowd’s response was tepid, with about half the arena clapping at Trump’s barbs and other half silent.

Masked settlers attack European diplomats in West Bank BY CARA ANNA Associated Press

JERUSALEM — Masked settlers wielding metal bars attacked a group of European diplomats during a visit to the occupied West Bank on Saturday, one of those assaulted said, on a second straight day of violence against Palestinians and foreigners during the sensitive olive harvest. At least four people have been killed and over 100 injured since the harvest began earlier this month, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. Activists say Israeli authorities do little to stop attacks that in-

volve weapons ranging from slingshots to guns. An attack on Friday seriously injured a Washington Post photographer and others. In the attack in the Christian village of Taybeh on Saturday, settlers targeted Belgium’s consul general, French and Polish diplomats and Catholic representatives, Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot said. He linked the attack to Israel’s “illegal settlement policy” and pledged to push for further European Union sanctions. “Impunity for violent settlers must end,” he added. Bernard Baudoux, a French mayor among those attacked, described it in a

Facebook post. “Three vehicles arrived. Several masked individuals, armed with metal bars, got out and came toward us with extreme aggressiveness,” he wrote. Baudoux said he put on his French tricolor sash. “That didn’t stop them. I was struck with metal bars and kicked before being thrown to the ground. We were finally able to get back to our vehicles.” He said he was fine. He and others had traveled to Taybeh to formalize a twinning agreement between the village and his community, and then participated in the residents’ olive harvest. Religious leaders in Taybeh

also conﬁrmed the attack. Video shared by an activist at the scene, Amit Orfali, shows Baudoux leaning against a vehicle while sitting on the dusty ground. Other clips showed young masked men knocking insistently on a driver’s side window and asking for IDs, while other masked men carrying sticks advanced in the distance. Orfali said the masked men “threatened to kill us.” The attacks came less than two weeks before closely contested elections that could end Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s time in office. His government, the most nationalist and far-

right in Israel’s history, faces domestic criticism over security failures and international criticism over the treatment of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza. Some of the government’s senior ofﬁcials are settlers themselves. The French mayor was “violently assaulted by extremist settlers,” France’s foreign minister, Jean-Noël Barrot, said on X, adding that Israeli authorities “must urgently put an end to this criminal violence and ensure the safety of civilians, as they are required to do under international law.” “We are deeply outraged by this incident,” Poland’s

foreign ministry said in a statement. Israel’s military in a statement conﬁrmed the attack on the diplomats and called it a “severe act of violence,” but said the visit had not been coordinated with it and no soldiers were at the scene. Israeli police said they had opened an investigation and vowed to work “until everyone who took part in these cases is brought to justice.” Foreign Minister Gideon Saar on X condemned the “severe acts of violence by Israeli rioters,” adding that his ministry was in contact with ambassadors from the countries concerned.

Clashes, fires, looting break out as protesters rally across France BY SYLVIE CORBET and JADE LE DELEY Associated Press

PARIS — Violent clashes, ﬁres and looting marred demonstrations across France on Saturday as hundreds of thousands of people marched against rising living costs and poor conditions in schools. About 400 people were arrested nationwide, Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said. Nuñez said 110 marches drew about 550,000 people across the country. Organizers, including the CGT labor union and students’ organizations, said about 800,000 demonstrators took to the streets. Nuñez described troublemakers as “extremely violent, radical far-left groups” whom, he said, sought con-

frontations with police and targeted public buildings, including city halls and local government ofﬁces. He said those groups have been joined by offenders willing to loot shops. Most of those arrested are adults, he said. Some incidents were still ongoing in central Paris on Saturday evening. “There is no place for violence in our Republic,” French President Emmanuel Macron said in a message on X. “Those who vandalized property, attacked government ofﬁces and businesses, and even looted our town halls will be prosecuted and punished.” “We will stand united against those who sow chaos … and who prevent people from peacefully expressing their demands,” Macron

added. In Paris, police fired tear gas and water cannons to push back people wearing hoods and masks and throwing fireworks, paving stones and other objects at officers in the Place de la République, northeast of the Paris city center. Associated Press reporters saw thick black smoke rising from cars, bicycles and other vehicles, and trash bins on fire. A newspaper kiosk also burned, while several shops were looted. Several people have been injured in the clashes. Many metro stations were closed Saturday at police request, including those around the Champs-Elysées and near the presidential palace, parliament and government offices.

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EDUCATION

‘I never set out to homeschool my kids’ BY BIANCA VÁZQUEZ TONESS AP education writer

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By SHELBy LUM

William Walter, 11, and his mother, Katherine, read a book together during homeschooling hours in White Sulphur Springs, Mont. learn to write. Along with autism, Will has apraxia, a rare speech disorder. Will thrived in a privately run preschool program, owned by a former special education teacher. But the academic expectations of elementary school would pose a challenge. “Will’s speech and language delays will make it difﬁcult for him to learn to read in kindergarten,” his preschool teacher wrote in his special education plan. Will’s mom was most concerned about Will’s inability to communicate, fearing he would get frustrated if he wasn’t understood. Federal law guarantees students with disabilities the right to study in what’s called the “ least restrictive environment.” That means they receive support to learn alongside children without disabilities as often as possible. The school district agreed to place Will in a mainstream classroom and provide him a teacher’s aide.

Hitting a roadblock Two weeks before Will would start kindergarten, Walter called the White Sulphur Springs superintendent. She says she was

told the district had hired neither Will’s aide nor a special education teacher. Later, the superintendent disputed some of this, saying he did hire “extra” aides. Walter kept Will home for kindergarten — plus his siblings, for convenience. She planned to send Will back to school for ﬁrst grade. In March, on a visit to meet the newly hired special education teacher, Will’s future ﬁrst grade teacher stopped by to meet him too. Written accounts collected by law enforcement and the school district and supplied to The Associated Press by the Walters portray different versions of what happened that day. According to the first grade teacher, Will hit her early in their encounter. Then, he approached her with an object she thought was a toy, holding it in front of her face. In interviews, Will’s mother explained it was actually his communication device — an iPad with software that speaks the pictures he chooses. The teacher said she gripped Will’s wrists and moved “the toy” down from her face. He tried to pull away, dropping to the ground. She followed him, still gripping his

Driving hours for therapy Every Wednesday for the last nine years, Will and his mom have driven 90 minutes to Helena for his specialized therapies. At occupational therapy one morning in July, Will sits on a platform swing. He reaches a noodle into the pretend water and almost loses his balance, then rights his body. The exercise helps Will strengthen his core, but more importantly, he practices managing his emotions and behavior. Practice like this has helped Will and the Walters minimize conﬂict. But Will does still occasionally get frustrated. The reasons can vary — a change in routine, guests in the home — and sometimes they’re not apparent at all. This year, Will is working on ﬁrst and second grade reading, third

grade math and sixth grade science and history. He’s progressed to doing more things independently. Therapies are vital for Will, and the public school would have provided them at least partially. Now, the Walters pay for them through their health insurance, which covers one visit a week for occupational and speech therapy. His apraxia diagnosis calls for speech therapy three to ﬁve times a week. At $100 an hour, the Walters can’t afford that. On average, they told AP, they already spend $10,000 to $12,000 a year on his therapies and evaluations.

Taxpayers could help After the incident at the public school, Walter lobbied the Montana Legislature for a ban on physical restraint in public schools. It didn’t pass, but lawmakers took interest in the Walters’ work to homeschool Will on their own dime. In 2023, Montana created a taxpayer-funded scholarship to help students with disabilities pay for therapies, homeschooling expenses or private school tuition after they leave public school. Seventy-ﬁve students were approved for the scholarship, worth $6,600 on average, before meeting a court challenge. The state paused the scholarship distribution this year. Advocates for children with disabilities argue the scholarships hurt students with special needs because their rights are no longer protected when they leave public school. And, they say, the money is insufﬁcient to educate them adequately. They say these programs incentivize parents to pull their children out of schools, taking funding from other kids. Walter doesn’t think her decision has hurt remaining public school students. And she’s convinced she’s the best person in White Sulphur Springs to provide Will’s education. She plans to homeschool him from now on.

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WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, Mont. — “You can’t hit me, Will. You know that,” Katherine Walter says to her 11-year-old son, deflecting a swat. “Why?” William asks, half-heartedly pushing his chest into his mother’s open hands. “You are in the red zone,” she says. “I need you to take it back to the green. What can I do to help you?” A few hours later, Will is curled up in his favorite chair, listening to his mother read. It takes skill and patience to teach Will, who has autism and a neurological disorder that makes it difficult to speak. The Walters say they no longer trust their school system to educate him without restraining him. Katherine Walter teaches him herself. America’s public education system offers some of the world’s best services and protections for students with disabilities, guaranteed by federal law. But more parents like the Walters are abandoning their rights to those services. They say public schools are failing their kids and they’re better off teaching them at home. In many states, they’re receiving thousands of dollars from taxpayers to do it. Before the Walters even married, they debated where their future children would go to school. Mike insisted their children would attend the same rural Montana school district he did. “He had such a good experience,” Katherine says. “But I’m not sure the school is the same now.” The Walters’ children also have more complex needs than Mike had. Their oldest child, Lester, 15, has dysgraphia, a neurological condition that made it difficult to

wrists, and he kicked her. Will’s mother described the incident in starker terms. She told the superintendent that the first grade teacher pulled Will from where he had fled under a table and “pinned” him to the floor. Walter filed a complaint with the sheriff, alleging the teacher had assaulted Will. The county attorney concluded the teacher was defending herself. However, he said, “her actions escalated an already difficult situation.” The superintendent at the time determined the teacher had acted appropriately, calling Walter’s allegations “not credible.” “I never set out to homeschool my kids,” Walter says. “But we needed the school to say they would never restrain a child to the floor again.” Walter filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education, to no avail. Finally, the family filed a personal injury lawsuit against the district, arguing it was negligent and didn’t properly train its staff. They settled last year for $40,000, with no admission of wrongdoing by the district. The whole Walter family kept homeschooling.

Her son has serious disabilities and public school didn’t help

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Pope returns to Vatican days after surgery

said. Surgeon: Leo XIV garitora Leo had the lower lobe of his right lung removed on should be fit for Tuesday in the first major event of his 17-month Latin America tour health pontificate. The surgery

BY COLLEEN BARRY Associated Press

VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV returned to the Vatican on Saturday days after lung cancer surgery, as his surgeon said there are “no clinical reasons” to prevent his planned trip to Latin America next month. “The Holy Father has put his heart and soul into his recovery,” Dr. Stefano Margaritora told Vatican News, adding that he expected the pope to recover fully from surgery “in another 10 days or so.” Leo, 71, is scheduled to make an ambitious Nov. 6-17 trip to Uruguay, Peru and Argentina, including a dozen ﬂights and two helicopter rides to high altitudes. “As for a long trip involving air travel in about three weeks, I would say there are no clinical reasons why it should not take place,” Mar-

conﬁrmed he had adenocarcinoma, the most common type of lung cancer. He left the hospital on Saturday, well ahead of the week-long hospital stay the Vatican had initially anticipated. “I am much better, thank you,” the pope said when asked how he was as he was driven away in a black SUV. Leo greeted patients inside the hospital accompanied by his surgeon, before waving to well-wishers outside who cried out “Holiness” as he walked to a waiting vehicle. He paused when a 13-yearold Ukrainian girl presented him with a homemade papal doll that she said had helped her through successful cancer treatment. She had briefly met Leo at an audience in St. Peter’s Square last December—an encounter she told reporters “gave her the strength to overcome the illness.” Since the surgery, Leo

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By GREGORIO BORGIA

Pope Leo XIV leaves Rome’s Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic on Saturday after Tuesday’s surgery to remove lung cancer. has shown signs of recovering well. He had a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, held meetings with senior aides and celebrated Mass in a makeshift hospital chapel. He will take on his ﬁrst ofﬁcial duty on Sunday, deliv-

ering the traditional Angelus blessing to the faithful in St. Peter’s Square. It comes exactly one week after the pontiff revealed to throngs in the square that the nodule had been found and would be surgically removed — an unusually candid revelation

for the Vatican. Margaritora, the chief thoracic surgeon at Rome’s Gemelli hospital, also conﬁrmed that the nodule was discovered by chance during routine abdominal examinations. It appeared as “a small spot” at the base

of the lung, which extends down to the diaphragm, he said. He added that if the spot had been higher up, “it certainly would not have been seen.” The cancer was in its early stages, and the pope had “no respiratory symptoms, and felt perfectly well,” Margaritora said. He described Tuesday’s procedure to remove the lobe as “routine” and “without complications,” but acknowledged that it “stirred deep feelings ... to operate on a pope, who for the ﬁrst time – at least in modern history – is undergoing surgery for a malignant tumor.” The Vatican did not disclose that the tumor was malignant until after Tuesday’s successful surgery. It later confirmed that the pope had undergone a biopsy before being admitted to Gemelli. Experts say the state-of-the-art Ion robotic bronchoscopy would have indicated whether the tumor was malignant and possibly whether cancer had spread to the lymph nodes.

No Kings rallies across U.S. urge voters to vote early in midterms By The Associated Press Rallies organized by the No Kings network opposed to President Donald Trump were held Saturday in cities and communities across the U.S., with an aim of getting people out to vote early in the midterm elections. The hundreds of planned events were billed as nonpartisan, though they sought to build on nearly two years’ worth of No Kings marches and demonstrations by people upset with Trump’s presidency. A band entertained what appeared to be a few hundred people in caps and coats at the Lincoln Memo-

rial in Washington. Despite the chilly weather, many in the crowd danced to the tunes. “VOTE EARLY” and “HANDS OFF MY VOTE!” were among the many signs held aloft. At an Atlanta rally, City Councilman Michael Julian Bond told the crowd to urge others to vote ahead of the Nov. 3 general election. “The Constitution gives you one power, right? That is the power to vote. Are you gonna use that power?” he ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By MADISON SWART said. “You don’t see Superman Protesters gather for a No Kings rally on Saturday in New giving up his power,” Bond york. continued. “You don’t see Black Panther giving up his Woman giving up her magic up your right, your power, power. You don’t see Wonder lasso. So why would you give your obligation to vote? Be a

N O R T H A M ER I CA’S

conﬁrmed. On Friday the Justice Department warned that local officials who process and tabulate ballots submitted by suspected noncitizen voters are putting themselves at risk of criminal investigation and potential prosecution. Earlier that day Democratic Sens. Alex Padilla of California, Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island and Dick Durbin of Illinois wrote to Attorney General Todd Blanche demanding that the Justice Department commit to not seizing ballots or other election materials before the midterm elections are certiﬁed.

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super hero, use your power. Go to the polls and vote.” Gatherings were also held in Louisiana, including in New Orleans and Baton Rouge. Trump has long been suspicious of mail voting and has claimed without evidence that voting fraud cost him the 2020 presidential election. His administration sued California election ofﬁcials Thursday, asking a judge to bar the state from counting mail-in ballots for the midterm elections from people whom the federal government has identiﬁed as “likely” noncitizens until their immigration status can be

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The Acadiana Advocate ● theadvocate.com ● Sunday, October 18, 2026 ● 13A

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UKRAINE

Civilians risk lives to escape from Russian-held city BY YURAS KARMANAU and HANNA ARHIROVA Associated Press

Food and medical supplies have been scarce for months in Oleshky, which sits on the Dnipro River that separates Ukrainian forces from the city’s Russian occupiers. There’s no electricity, heat or running water. Roads leading from town are mined and dotted with burned-out cars. Menacing drones buzz overhead. One desperate resident watched the front-line city slide further toward a humanitarian crisis as its trapped population dwindled to fewer than 2,000 people. She decided it was time to escape via what’s been dubbed “the road of death.” So the 40-year-old former hairdresser walked — for 12 miles, along the partially mined road — fearing that “every step could have been my last,” she said. Once a city of about 24,000, Oleshky was captured by Moscow’s forces on the first day of their full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Its buildings were shelled and burned, and its infrastructure damaged. Further calamity struck in June 2023 when floodwaters inundated the city after the Kakhovka Dam collapsed from an explosion that an Associated Press investigation found was likely caused by the Russian military, killing hundreds of residents. And now those still left in the battered city along Ukraine’s southeastern front face death from hunger or disease as another harsh winter looms, with no agreement in sight for even a humanitarian evacuation. “There is nothing left in Oleshky,” said the woman, who fled in August and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because she feared for her security. “No food, no supplies, no medical care, no aid what-

soever.” Both sides blame each other for the catastrophe. Russia says Ukraine deliberately blocks supplies and evacuations; Kyiv counters that Moscow is effectively holding civilians hostage. Ukraine has appealed repeatedly for a local ceasefire to organize evacuations. Russia, which as the occupying power is obligated by international law to ensure civilians under its control have what they need to survive, has made no commitment. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned Oleshky’s suffering at the hands of Russia on Oct. 12 at an international forum in Poland, saying the city had been “razed to the ground.” Ukraine is “trying to help these people, but they are under occupation,” he said. “Unblock the city of Oleshky and bring our citizens back.” In a phone call Friday with President Vladimir Putin, Pope Leo XIV urged a ceasefire to allow food and medicine deliveries to Oleshky and to safely evacuate civilians, the Vatican said. The Kremlin said Putin voiced support for the Vatican efforts to help protect the population and secure vital supplies, and voiced readiness to cooperate. Remaining residents reportedly scrounge for food amid destroyed buildings, or try to grow vegetables in garden plots. Water is drawn from wells. Firewood is used for warmth. Bodies at the city morgue decompose with no electricity. Another 100 bodies fill the basement of Oleshky’s hospital, said Tetiana Hasanenko, the exiled head of the city’s Ukrainian military administration. The U.N. human rights office said the last regular food delivery by road was May 26. Oleshky’s Russian-installed officials said this month they delivered 2 tons of aid, although they admitted it was

rights commissioner Dmytro Lubinets. The mined roads make an evacuation impossible, and not all residents want to leave, according to the city’s Russian-installed ofﬁcials. Vladimir Saldo, who was appointed by Moscow as governor of the occupied part of the Kherson region, promised earlier this month to help anyone who wants to leave the town. The former hairdresser told AP that residents have appealed to local authorities several times for a humanitarian corridor and submitted lists of those hoping to leave, but nothing came of it. The International Committee of the Red Cross was ready to assist an evacuation but only if both countries agree and there are security guarantees for civilians, said ICRC spokesperson Sarah Davies. Voronetskyi, the Ukrainian lieutenant, said the food shortages in Oleshky have persisted for months and are getting “worse and worse.” His brigade has flown drones capable of carrying at least 44 pounds each over the Dnipro into the city with food aid for at least a year, he said, adding that more than 7 tons were delivered since September. The parcels contained canned food, ingredients for baking bread, along with buckwheat, rice, sugar and candy for children. along with hygiene kits and medicine, including insulin, he said. But Voronetskyi cautioned that these supplies weren’t meant to get people through the winter but to help them “gather their strength, pack their things ... and still try to leave Oleshky.” Russia should “come in and take the people out,” he said. “No one will stop you.” Karmanau reported from Tallinn, Estonia, and Arhirova reported from Kyiv, Ukraine.

PHOTO PROVIDED By UKRAINIAN 34TH SEPARATE MARINE BRIGADE ‘BORySFEN’

Destroyed cars are seen on Sept. 30 on a highway from the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky in the Kherson region of Ukraine. hardly enough. The U.N. ofﬁce said Oleshky’s hospital lacks medicine and basic supplies, drone attacks prevent ambulances from reaching patients, and it’s unsafe to take them elsewhere. “It is impossible to live in Oleshky, there is no life left there,” said another resident who fled to Russian-held Mariupol and spoke on condition of anonymity because he feared for his security. Even the Russian soldiers have moved deeper into the occupied part of the Kherson region, farther from the Dnipro, according to the former hairdresser. The Moscow-appointed authorities seemed to have “given up on us a long time ago,” she said. She considered herself lucky to have survived the journey from Oleshky to the village of Radensk, also occupied by Russia but farther from the front line and thus better off. She said an acquaintance who tried to bring food into Oleshky was killed on the road when his car came under ﬁre, adding that she saw

a photo of him “covered in blood, with bread and chicken legs scattered around him.” Hasanenko said the route from Oleshky to Radensk is known as “the road of death” because “corpses lie on this road and no one is taking them away.” She cited an explosion this month that killed four people and left an 86-year-old man badly wounded. Russian troops were driven out of the larger city of Kherson across the Dnipro in 2022 but mined the roads around Oleshky, said Lt. Yevhen Voronetskyi, a spokesman with Ukraine’s 34th Separate Marine Brigade. Kyiv’s drones also remotely mined forest paths used by Russian troops, he said. Some evacuees who make it to Radensk try to return to Oleshky with food “because they have children waiting at home, or immobile elderly parents,” Hasanenko said, saying at least 35 children remain there. Ksenia Arkhipova, who fled Oleshky in 2022 and now helps others leave, said nearby occupied towns and

villages in a zone along the Dnipro face similar dire conditions and mined roads. It takes six to eight hours to walk or cycle from Oleshky to Radensk, she said, because evacuees might be older and weakened by hunger, or they have to wait out attacks or carry their bikes to avoid the mines. Travel is only possible in dry weather, Arkhipova said, and “I’m terrified at the thought of the coming winter, when many people in Oleshky will be simply doomed.” Some of them don’t want to leave their homes or risk a dangerous journey, Voronetskyi said. Russia and Ukraine have discussed a possible temporary ceasefire and humanitarian corridor but reached no agreement, the U.N. human rights office said. “With winter approaching, the issue is urgent,” it said. While communications with Moscow continue, “Russia has not provided clear, verifiable guarantees for conducting a humanitarian operation,” according to the office of Ukrainian human

Meta denies accusation of anti-Lula bias in Brazil after ruling The company said it had two global technical disruptions earlier in October: one froze view counts on Instagram Reels across more than 100 countries while content distribution remained normal, and another brieﬂy disrupted ad creation from existing Instagram posts in one of its tools for one day. Addressing the Lula campaign’s concerns regarding Meta AI, the company explained that a loophole involving generic ﬁrst names combined with electoral numbers briefly prevented some users from generating images of the president,

Kenya’s Ebola cases rise to 7 BY EVELYNE MUSAMBI

Associated Press

NAIROBI, Kenya — Three Kenyan health workers have tested positive for Ebola after caring for the country’s first confirmed case, the Health Ministry said Saturday. Another person linked to the ﬁrst Ebola case also tested positive while in quarantine, bringing the total number of infections in Kenya to seven.

The ministry said the four new patients were in isolation and receiving care. The other two patients were in stable condition. The ﬁrst patient died on Oct. 5, days after he arrived in Kenya from Congo, where an outbreak has killed at least 4,300 people since May, accounting for nearly half of all conﬁrmed cases there. The outbreak involves the rare Bundibugyo virus, for which there is no approved vaccine or treatment.

Ebola is highly contagious and spreads through direct contact with the bodily ﬂuids of an infected person, including blood and vomit, or through contact with contaminated materials and surfaces, such as bedding and clothing. About 130 people who had been in contact with the ﬁrst patient, a 40-year-old Kenyan man, were identified, the ministry said. Of those, 128 were in quarantine and two were being traced, it said.

while still allowing them to do so for Flávio Bolsonaro for another day. Meta did not, however, address why Bolsonaro’s Instagram and WhatsApp channels received algorithmic

Meta will continue to enforce its rules, comply with Brazilian electoral legislation, correct errors when they occur, and ensure a level playing ﬁeld for everyone who uses our services,” Meta said.

recommendations, a practice ruled illegal by Brazil’s electoral court. “Brazilian voters deserve facts, not a political narrative constructed by combining unrelated technical issues.

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using biased algorithms and AI restrictions to favor Bolsonaro. The suit in Brazil echoes related European cases in Romania and Germany, where courts previously intervened to correct platform imbalances. Meta said in response that a series of recent platform issues stemmed from unrelated global technical glitches, strict anti-fraud measures, and regulatory compliance rather than targeted suppression. It insisted its systems do not distribute content based on political ideology and emphasized that rules are applied equally.

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14A ● Sunday, October 18, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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1 killed in football game shooting ‘you just run,’ coach says of scramble to safety

BY ERIC NARCISSE Staff writer

STAFF PHOTOS By LESLIE WESTBROOK

Bicycle riders with the Gulf Coast Brotherhood Foundation arrive at the police station in Lafayette on Friday. The cyclists, who are all first responders with various agencies across the country, have traveled 450 miles across three states to honor fallen officers and first responders, including Senior Cpl. Segus Jolivette, of the Lafayette Police Department, and Lt. Allen ‘Noochie’ Credeur, of the Rayne Police Department.

HONORING THE FALLEN

Assistant Chief Keith Reed, of the State Fire Marshal’s Office and Gulf Coast Brotherhood Foundation board member, presents a plaque to Alexis Jolivette, left, the wife of fallen Lafayette Police Senior Cpl. Segus Jolivette, and Danielle Demette, right, the fiancé of fallen Rayne Police Lt. Allen ‘Noochie’ Credeur, on Friday at the Lafayette police station.

Cyclists dedicate 450-mile ride to first responders, 2 from Acadiana Gulf Coast Brotherhood Foundation cyclists greet the Lafayette police mounted unit Friday in Lafayette.

BY DEAN BOUDREAUX

Staff writer

Cyclists with the Gulf Coast Brotherhood Foundation arrived at the Lafayette Police Department on Friday afternoon, ending a 450-mile ride from Gulf Shores, Alabama, to honor 15 fallen law enforcement officers, firefighters and emergency medical workers from across Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. The five-day ride, which began Monday, included two Acadiana honorees: Lafayette police Senior Cpl. Segus Jolivette

ä See RIDE, page 3B

VILLE PLATTE — After 20 years of coaching football, Rob Pool, of Church Point, thought he had seen just about everything the game could throw at him. Then gunfire erupted near the field during Friday night’s game at Ville Platte. With Church Point leading the Ville Platte Bulldogs 14-0 and about nine minutes remaining in the second quarter, officials stopped play to discuss a penalty. During the stoppage, one of Pool’s assistant coaches told him “something is going on over there.” Seconds later, Pool saw players, coaches and managers on the Bulldogs’ sideline running toward the locker room. “All of the kids are running. Their bench started running toward the locker room, so we just followed suit because you don’t know what’s going on in that situation,” Pool said. The commotion followed a shooting behind the stands on the home side of the stadium that left one person dead and two others injured. Pool said he initially did not hear gunshots. Instead, he and his team reacted to seeing people fleeing the area. “I didn’t hear any gunshots initially,” he said. “You can hear them on the people’s recordings, but we didn’t hear anything. We just knew everybody was vacating their side, so we did the same thing.” In that moment, Pool said, the priority was getting everyone away from potential danger. “You don’t really know if it is something really going on that’s serious or is it just a knee-jerk reaction when somebody’s running, you just run,” he said. “We live in a society where this stuff is not uncommon, and stuff happens all the time. So, you just have to get everybody away from whatever’s going on and then figure it out later.” Church Point’s visitors’ locker room is beneath the stands on its side of the field, so the Church Point team did not have far to go to reach safety, Pool said. The team followed the emergency procedures discussed before the game and got its spirit groups back onto buses. The Louisiana High School Athletic Association requires schools to hold a pregame administrative conference to discuss safety procedures and other game-day matters.

ä See SHOOTING, page 3B

Former KATC broadcaster Krewe de Acadian shares cancer diagnosis news launches Red Dress Marcelle Fontenot: Run in Lafayette ‘Fight it strong and early’

BY JOANNA BROWN Staff writer

This week, a longtime Acadiana news personality shared that she received a breast cancer diagnosis in late August. Marcelle Fontenot, a broadcast journalist who was the news anchor at KATC for nearly 20 years, underwent a lumpectomy two weeks ago to remove cancerous cells. She is back in her role as chief communications ofﬁcer at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and said early detection made a huge dif-

ference in her cancer journey. “I did not have a tumor; I had calcification. That’s how early of a stage I was,” said Fontenot, Fontenot who has a history of breast cancer in her family. That history means that she’s been getting routine mammograms for years, and she encourages other women to not put them off. She did not initially plan to share news of her surgery but changed her mind after a friend said that Fontenot’s diagnosis encouraged her to go get a mammogram for the ﬁrst time in three years. “As women, there’s so much on

the list to get done, we often put health and wellbeing on the back burner,” she said. “I’ll still need to go through radiation and treatment, but there’s no chemo necessary. This happens for women every day, where they get a diagnosis and have to go into surgery immediately — that’s not my case. That’s why I thought, ‘if I can get it this early, other women can too and not have to go through that.’ ” Fontenot said her prognosis is very good, and detection, diagnosis and surgery all took place before she ever felt sick. “When I told my sons, I said ‘I’m not sick, I don’t feel bad, I don’t feel effects. I just know

ä See NEWS, page 3B

establishments. The event will Downtown bar hop to conclude with a gathering at Chips a gumbo cook-off. benefit Hospice of featuring Everyone is encouraged to wear Acadiana, businesses red dresses, from gowns and tutus

to prom dresses — regardless of gender — and travel together from bar to bar. Staff writer “We get to have fun, have someLafayette will host its ﬁrst Red thing to do for our members, do a Dress Run on Nov. 7, bringing a community event, support local bar hop to downtown with the goal businesses and give back to an orof supporting local businesses and ganization that needs some help,” raising money for Hospice of Aca- said Charles Sharma, founder of Krewe de Acadian. diana. The participating bars will reOrganized by Krewe de Acadian, the event is from noon to 5 p.m. main undisclosed until the event, beginning at Marley’s Sports Bar ä See RUN, page 3B before moving to other downtown

BY JA’KORI MADISON

2B l Sunday, October 18, 2026 l theadvocate.com l The Acadiana Advocate

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THE GULF COAST Orange Beach hopes drones stop drownings BY MARTHA SANCHEZ Staff writer

STAFF PHOTO By JUSTIN MITCHELL

The Markham Hotel recently opened at 14th Street and 23rd Avenue in Gulfport, Miss. It began operating in 1927. Hurricane Katrina flooded the ground floor and damaged the roof in 2005.

BOUTIQUE STAyS, HISTORIC REBIRTHS Hotels are opening along the coast BY MARTHA SANCHEZ Staff writer

More than a dozen new hotels have opened over the last several years on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, and more are under construction as the region attracts a growing number of visitors from Louisiana and across the country. The building boom includes small boutique stays, legacy hotel brands and historic redevelopments. Developers and local leaders say the investments are helping invigorate the region’s economy and will position cities to attract even larger festivals and events in the future. “The demand for rooms is there,” said Pat Fontaine, executive director of the Mississippi Hospitality and Restaurant Association. Among the region’s most anticipated projects is a 114-room Marriott Tribute hotel being built as part

of a $105 million town center development in downtown Gulfport. The town center, called Channel South, will also include stores and luxury apartments. It is expected to open next year at the intersection of U.S. 90 and 49, across from the beach. Gulfport is also celebrating several other new hotel projects. The 115-room Markham Hotel — which was founded 100 years ago but closed in 1970 — reopened in April a few blocks from the Channel South project. A new Hampton Inn by Hilton opened about three miles east of downtown over the summer, and a Holiday Inn is also under construction nearby on U.S. 90. The proliferation of hotels is driven largely by the region’s growing festival and event scene, said Pattye Meagher, director of communications for Coastal Mississippi, the local tourism agency. The annual car show Cruisin’ The Coast attracted more than 10,700 registered participants this year, breaking a previous record. Meagh-

er said sporting events — including a triathlon and golf tournaments held along the coast — are also bringing in thousands of new visitors. The number of boutique hotels is growing too, especially in the artsy city of Ocean Springs. The Marble Springs Hotel, which includes suites and a three-bedroom house, opened in the city in August. Jonathan Cothern, the architect behind another new boutique development called the Pullman House, said many guests come from southern Louisiana and northern Mississippi to celebrate anniversaries, birthdays and bachelorette parties. In Biloxi, an 11-room development called Hotel Biloxi opened last summer in a property that formerly held a nightclub and a breakfast restaurant. Jourdan Nicaud, the hotel’s owner, is also redeveloping the historic Magnolia Hotel in Biloxi, and runs several other hotels from Pass Christian to Ocean Springs. “They’re all slammed,” Nicaud said.

First responders in Orange Beach, Alabama, are hoping to respond faster to drownings and other 911 calls starting next summer with a new tool: self-launching drones. City leaders said the drones, which could begin flying in June, will drop life preservers to struggling swimmers and improve safety across the popular Gulf Coast vacation spot. The drones will use information from 911 dispatchers and callers’ cell phone coordinates to reach emergencies before ﬁrst responders arrive. Similar technology is growing more popular among public safety agencies around the country and in New Orleans, where police are defending a new drone program that has also raised privacy questions among some residents. Orange Beach leaders said the city’s program could be useful for both locals and Louisiana visitors on the city’s shoreline, where lifeguards have responded to 260 water rescues so far this year. The drones “can do so much ahead of time,” said Jeff Silvers, a city council member in Orange Beach. “Any time you can take beach rescue to the next level in response time, it’s huge down here.” Orange Beach officials called the program a necessary step as the region’s population grows and tourism increases. Almost 9 million visitors vacationed in Baldwin County last year, and the U.S. Census Bureau estimates Orange Beach is now home to about 9,000 people — a nearly 9% increase since 2020. Orange Beach Fire Chief Jeff Smith said the city’s surf rescue team now responds to more 911 calls about distressed swimmers than he can

remember over the past three decades. The drones will operate around the city and be able to carry several kinds of cargo, including flotation devices for beach rescues, AEDs for heart attacks and medications for drug overdoses. Emergency responders will be able to maneuver the drones to the specific area of an emergency if it differs from a 911 caller’s phone coordinates, Smith said. The drones will also send video feeds to first responders. The technology could be a regular sight for beachgoers as early as this summer. Smith estimated the city’s surf rescue team responds to 15 to 20 calls each month in the height of summer tourist season. Under an agreement with the electronics company Motorola, Orange Beach will use the drone program for free for one year, then decide whether to buy it for about $176,000 a year, according to city records. Leaders in Orange Beach said the drones will not replace lifeguards. Many cities around the country are also starting to use drone technology in response to fires, emergencies and crimes. Those contracts are leading to some controversy among residents who argue the drones threaten privacy, and are demanding more transparency over how law enforcement agencies use them. Public safety agencies — including in New Orleans and Jefferson Parish — have credited the drone programs with improving emergency response times and more safely chasing and identifying suspects of crimes. Jack Robertson, another city council member in Orange Beach, called the program “a great system.” “All it does is save lives quicker,” he said.

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SHOOTING

NEW ORLEANS

Cathedral restoration delayed until next year

The $45 million restora- Contractors and Holly & But preliminary tion project is aimed at re- Smith Architects, both New work to begin soon storing some of the luster to Orleans companies, are

BY BOB WARREN Staff writer

The start of an ambitious restoration of St. Louis Cathedral in the French Quarter has been delayed by a few months as project leaders worked to raise money and gather additional historic and building data. But church officials now expect the project to get underway in earnest next year. Later this month, utility upgrade work will begin on Pere Antoine Alley and Pirates Alley, which flank the cathedral. That work is a precursor to the larger restoration ahead, officials say. Sometime this year — a specific time frame remains fluid, according to Eve Peyton, assistant director and development liaison at St. Louis Cathedral — massive scaffolding will go up to essentially encase the cathedral’s exterior, with actual restoration work starting in 2027. The work to be done beneath Pere Antoine and Pirates alleys includes power supply upgrades from Entergy, as well as water and sewer work, Peyton said. She said the flagstone that covers the alleys will be pulled up, but pedestrian access will remain open. The flagstone will be replaced once the work is complete.

St. Louis Cathedral, perhaps New Orleans’ most iconic and photographed building. The current cathedral, which dates to 1851 and carries the formal name “Cathedral-Basilica of St. Louis, King of France,” is pocked by termite damage, water damage and the general wear and tear that comes along with being nearly 200 years old. Long a focal point for tourists and residents, ofﬁcials have said the cathedral, perched outside the gates of Jackson Square between two other historic structures, the Cabildo and Presbytère, is too important to let decay. Archdiocese of New Orleans and church leaders earlier this year announced the restoration plan, which will be funded entirely through donations raised by a private campaign, “Our City Our Cathedral,” spearheaded by New Orleans Saints and Pelicans owner Gayle Benson, a longtime parishioner at the Roman Catholic church. The campaign has an overall goal of $75 million. Once it begins, the restoration is expected to take between 18 to 24 months, according to architects and builders involved with the project. Exterior work will be handled ﬁrst before the work moves inside. Ryan Gootee General

managing the project.

‘Minimizing the chaos’ Last spring, church officials thought the work would have begun by the end of summer. But Peyton said various delays cropped up to push the timeline back. Peyton said leaders had to make sure they had raised adequate money to begin the work. The fundraising campaign continues, she said. She also said additional work to study the structure and consult with historical experts pushed the start back a bit. “It’s just the nature of this project,” Peyton said Wednesday. “We want to do it right. We don’t want to cut any corners.” The restoration also comes as unrelated street and utility work in the French Quarter has lingered, causing headaches for residents and business owners dealing with closed streets and limited access. Peyton said church officials are cognizant of what’s happening. They have been working to make sure the cathedral work doesn’t add to any problems and have reached out to the businesses nearest the cathedral to discuss the restoration. “We’re committed to minimizing the chaos,” she said. “We deﬁnitely are mindful of our neighbors.”

STAFF PHOTO By LESLIE WESTBROOK

Gulf Coast Brotherhood Foundation cyclists arrive Friday at the Lafayette police station. The cyclists, who are all first responders with various agencies across the country, have traveled 450 miles across three states to honor fallen officers and first responders, including Senior Cpl. Segus Jolivette, of the Lafayette Police Department, and Lt. Allen ‘Noochie’ Credeur, of the Rayne Police Department.

RIDE

Continued from page 1B and Rayne police Lt. Allen “Noochie” Credeur. About 40 riders made the trip across Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana, according to the Gulf Coast Brotherhood’s website. The foundation’s list of

RUN

Continued from page 1B Sharma said, partly to preserve the surprise of the next stop and partly to accommodate participating businesses’s operating schedules. Organizers plan to visit ﬁve establishments during the bar hop, with the possibility of adding another stop. Although the Red Dress Run is a longstanding tradition in New Orleans, organizers hope Lafayette’s inaugural event will offer a smaller, more communityoriented experience. “Not everybody can go to New Orleans or is quite comfortable with the magnitude of the size of the New Orleans event,” Sharma said. “So, you know, we’ll have a little smaller event over here.” The Red Dress Run originated in San Diego in 1987 and was adopted by New

2026 honorees includes two Alabama officers, six Mississippi ﬁrst responders and seven from Louisiana. Jolivette, 35, died July 25, 2024, after he was shot during a SWAT operation in Jeanerette, according to the Officer Down Memorial Page. He had served 11 years with Lafayette police. Credeur, 49, died May 5, 2025, while ofﬁcers served

a search warrant in Rayne. Rayne Police Chief Carroll Stelly said at the time that Credeur was killed by friendly ﬁre. The foundation’s route also included Louisiana stops in Slidell, Kenner, Mandeville, Baton Rouge and Carencro.

Orleans in 1995. Lafayette’s event is being organized independently of the New Orleans run, though Sharma reached out to organizers there to let them know about the local event. “The response that they gave was amazing,” Sharma said, recalling his conversations with New Orleans organizers about Lafayette’s event. He said the positive response reinforced the event’s focus on building community connections and supporting a nonproﬁt. Krewe de Acadian organizes events for its members throughout the year, with members helping develop ideas for different activities. This year, founding members Brandy and Kevin Romero suggested bringing the Red Dress Run tradition to Lafayette. Krewe de Acadian members can participate as part of their membership, while nonmembers can register for $35. Registered participants

will be eligible for prizes and giveaways throughout the day, including a drawing for two pairs of tickets to the krewe’s ball. Participating establishments are expected to offer event specials, such as specialty drinks or shots. Some businesses also have donated gift cards and other items for participant giveaways. Registration fees collected from nonmembers will be used to support Hospice of Acadiana, Sharma said. The gumbo cook-off will feature Brittany Prudhomme and Kori Hebert. Local artist Big Hulk is also scheduled to perform. Nonmembers can register through the event’s registration page. The registration deadline is Nov. 6. For information, call (337) 254-9045 or email broussardmardigras@gmail.com.

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

Email Ja’kori Madison at jakori.madison@ theadvocate.com.

Continued from page 1B “In that meeting, you go over emergency action plans if something happens,” Pool said. “You just get everybody to their locker rooms and get everybody out of harm’s way. So, as soon as we had the issue, we just went ahead and followed that. We knew where we were going, and we got our spirit groups back on the buses.” Pool said he did not hear players discussing the incident afterward and did not notice anyone visibly shaken. The game was declared no-contest and will not be resumed or rescheduled, leaving both Church Point and Ville Platte with nine games on their schedules. For Pool, the decision was secondary to the safety of the players and others at the game. “It doesn’t really matter,” he said of losing a game from the schedule. “We just move on to the next week.” Email Eric Narcisse at enarcisse@ theadvocate.com.

NEWS

Continued from page 1B now that this is something I have to get taken care of, and I’d rather fight it strong and early,’ ” she said. The community response has been an outpouring of support and well-wishes, with one woman sharing that she saw Fontenot in the clinic during one of her appointments and prayed for her during that time. “She’s a 13-year survivor, and she recognized me and said a prayer not knowing what the outcome was,” said Fontenot. “I’m so grateful for the love and support, and I hope that all the mammograms of all the women that go because of my story are clear.” Email Joanna Brown at joanna.brown@ theadvocate.com.

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Obituaries Keaty, Alicia Anne

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, at a 10:00 am Mass of Christian Burial in the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Lafayette for Alicia Anne Keaty, age 80, who passed away on Saturday, October 10, 2026, at her residence in Lafayette. The family requests that visitation be observed in the Cathedral on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, from 8:30 am until time of services. A Rosary will be prayed at 9:00 am. The Very Reverend Chester Arceneaux, VF, will officiate the Mass and conduct the funeral services. Inurnment will be held at St. John Catholic Cemetery in Lafayette. Survivors include her children, Renée Judice Casbon and her husband, Matt, and W. Scott Keaty and his wife, Denise; six grandchildren, Joshua Michael Keaty, Alexander David Keaty, Catherine Elaine Casbon, Caroline Elise Casbon, Matthew André Casbon, Jr., and Anthony Paul Casbon; two brothers, Thomas St. Paul Keaty, Jr. and his wife, Sherry, and Dr. William Armshaw Keaty and his wife, Phyllis, numerous nieces, nephews, greatnieces, and great-nephews whom she loved dearly. She was preceded in death by her parents, Thomas St. Paul Keaty, Sr., and Alicia Armshaw Keaty; and her brother, Robert Burke Keaty. Anne, a loving mother, grandmother, sister, and friend, was a native of Baton Rouge and a longtime resident of Lafayette, Louisiana. Her life was marked by devotion to her family, a love of learning, and a deep and abiding Catholic faith. A graduate of St. Joseph's Academy in Baton Rouge, Anne attended Newcomb College at Tulane University before earning her Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Hawaii in 1971. She later earned her Juris Doctor from the LSU School of Law in 1978 and was admitted to the Louisiana Bar the same year. Following law school, Anne served as a law clerk to Judge Douglas J. Nehrbass of the Fifteenth Judicial District Court in Lafayette. She then worked for several years with Tenneco Oil Company before beginning a long and rewarding career in higher education at the University of Southwestern Louisiana, now the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. There she dedicated many years to teaching, research, and leadership, serving as a professor, advisor, and department head in the College of Business and ultimately earning the title of Professor Emerita. An avid reader with an inquisitive mind, Anne delighted in mysteries, documentaries, and any opportunity to learn something new. She found peace in nature, especially listening to the rain. Above all, Anne's greatest joy was her family. She cherished

her children and grandchildren and took enormous pride and pleasure in their lives, events, milestones, and achievements. Anne was a member of the Junior League of Lafayette and the Louisiana State Bar Association. Through her professional life and community involvement, she formed lasting friendships and shared her time and talents with others. During her time as a professor, Anne poured herself into her students. She cared deeply about their education and success, and her genuine concern for them, passion for teaching, and investment in their lives left a lasting impact on those she taught. A devoted parishioner of the Cathedral in Lafayette, Anne was a powerful prayer warrior whose extensive prayer list reflected her concern for those in need. She held a special devotion to the Blessed Mother and faithfully prayed the Rosary daily. She also held a special place in her heart for sick children and was a devoted supporter of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Anne will be lovingly remembered for her steadfast faith, inquisitive mind, thoughtful spirit, kind heart, and enduring love for her family and friends. Her legacy lives on in the many lives she touched and in the memories treasured by those who knew and loved her. Her children and grandchildren will especially carry with them the knowledge that they were deeply loved and faithfully prayed for throughout her life. Pallbearers will be Joshua Keaty, Alexander Keaty, André Casbon, Anthony Casbon, Will Keaty, Jim Keaty, and Thomas St. Paul Keaty, III. Honorary Pallbearer will be William Ellis. The Casbon and Keaty families extend their gratitude and heartfelt appreciation to her best friend and devoted helper, Leslie Cormier; and her caregivers, Joice Jenkins and Vancraisha St. Julien. Memorial contributions may be made in memory of Alicia Anne Keaty to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital - www.stjude.org/ donate/donate-to-st-jude (800) 805-5856 - 501 St. Jude Place Memphis, TN 38105. View the obituary and guestbook online at www.mourning.com Martin & Castille Funeral Home DOWNTOWN, 330 St. Landry Street, Lafayette, Louisiana 70506, 337-2342311

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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.theacadianaadvocate.com, click submit an obituary and select create a memoriam.

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

OUR VIEWS

Good jobs forecast a positive sign for La. future

It should be no surprise, given the raft of major new projects around the state, that Louisiana could see significant job growth in its near future. In fact, the number of new jobs could reach 55,000 over the next two years, a 2.7% increase, according to the Louisiana Economic Forecast, an annual report prepared by economist Loren Scott that he presented at a forum in Baton Rouge last week. Among Louisiana metros, Baton Rouge is expected to add the most total jobs, 16,500, while Lake Charles is expected to have the biggest percentage growth. The New Orleans area, on the other hand, won’t benefit as much. The long post-pandemic decline in convention business will limit the city’s growth to one of the slowest among the state’s metro areas, the report says, even if the planned Louisiana International Terminal in Violet will offset that somewhat. Similarly, St. Tammany Parish, which was recently designated as a stand-alone metro area by the U.S. Census Bureau, is expected to see the slowest growth in the state, driven partly by the uncertain future of two local companies that were sold to multinational corporations. Overall, the forecast is a welcome one. But it doesn’t come without caveats. Many of the new jobs are in the energy sector, which is a volatile market right now, especially given the ongoing war with Iran. Scott based at least part of his forecast on the conflict resolving and oil dropping to around $68 per barrel, both of which are far from assured. And we would be remiss if we didn’t note that many of the new jobs are due to the surge in construction for data centers, LNG plants and other new facilities. Those jobs are not permanent. For instance, while the Monroe area is expected to hit a record level of employment next year, once construction on Meta’s massive new data center is complete, the number of folks employed there will drop precipitously. And of course, many of these new projects were lured, at least in significant part, by the offering of massive tax breaks to the companies responsible. We understand the necessity of presenting a competitive package to firms willing to invest in our state, but we worry that, like too many times in the past, the eventual payoff will disappoint. But if we can hold companies to their promises, we will reap the fruits of an extraordinary period of economic development. The state is in a unique position now to build a diversified economy with high-paying jobs in industries of the future. So we urge our elected leaders, both current and future, to commit to the long view to truly benefit the state. Scott’s rosy forecast is a positive sign, but the optimisim will only be worth it when the his prediction becomes reality.

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

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The lessons coming from Boca Chica shorebirds appear to have adapted, The potential effects of SpaceX’s more research is needed on the effects massive facility in Vermilion Paron wildlife. ish are, at this point, little more than All of that has come with just a handspeculation. The project is years from completion. ful of launches each year, far less than But about 500 miles to the west and the nearly 500 SpaceX CEO Elon Musk south, near Brownsville, Texas, wants for Boca Chica or the it has been more than a decade thousands he would like to see since SpaceX arrived in town, in Vermilion Parish. and about seven years since it There are a couple of clear began sending rockets up into takeaways from Lubben’s low-earth orbit from the state’s piece. coast. First, the SpaceX project Faimon in Texas, at least so far, deReporter Alex Lubben recentRoberts fies easy narratives. Certainly ly traveled to the site, called Boca Chica, to understand how some good has come from it, the presence of a spaceport had but not everybody has benchanged what was once a poor, sleepy efited. The area still has poverty that is community. far above average, for instance. The answers he got depended largely The second is that, even more than on whom he was asking. a decade in, much is still unknown. A Local economic development offull accounting of the repercussions is still years off. ficials say the company has transThere’s no reason to think it won’t be formed the town. They point to new the same in Louisiana. restaurants, housing developments Right now, the massive $100 billion and coffee shops. The area has seen planned investment, thousands of new industrial development as well. rocket scientist jobs and the idea of a But some worry that the region’s “spaceport” are enough to put stars in poor are being left behind. Similarly, the environmental effects anyone’s eyes. But what that will look like once it’s remain only partially understood. Regulators have said the launches pol- actually up and running — if it ever is, as there is plenty of skepticism lute local wetlands, and while some

about SpaceX’s ability to realize its interplanetary ambitions — is largely a mystery. And what it will do to one of Louisiana’s pristine wildernesses, a haven for birds and those who hunt them, is is a matter of conjecture. By the time those things are known, the project’s political champions, perhaps Musk himself and probably this columnist, will have departed the public stage. Some of us will probably have exited planet Earth, though not on one of Musk’s spaceships. It will be up to future Louisianans to contend with the blessings and curses of what we do today. That’s why it’s so important that we resist the urge to fall into easy narratives about what the project will bring. If we do, and we dismiss those who disagree, it makes it far tougher to develop steps that will protect future generations from truly negative outcomes, at least to the extent possible. One way to do that is to heed the lessons that have come, and will come, from Boca Chica. The site may be only 550 miles away, but it’s more than a decade ahead. Email Faimon A. Roberts III at froberts@theadvocate.com.

Elections require special consideration late to correct the record. As the midterm elections approach, On constitutional amendments and we get many letters about candidates ballot measures, we also welcome letand issues. We are happy to provide a forum for ters that seek to illuminate what voters readers to share what they are should consider before casting thinking about as they prepare their ballots. to go to the polls. We generally And generally we want to fosallow letters praising or criticizter discussion that may raise issues that would otherwise go ing a candidate on the issues. unnoticed. We published our However, so our Opinion pages don’t become a forum Arnessa recommendations on the 10 for blatant electioneering, we Garrett constitutional amendments on the Nov. 3 ballot last week. You reject letters that exhort readcan find them on our website ers to vote for Candidate X or under the Opinion tab. Candidate Y. We believe readers can The Editorial Board considered all look at the issues and make their own the arguments for and against the decisions. And it’s easy to imagine a letter-writ- amendments and discussed how they fit in with the principles we generally ing campaign designed to create the impression that one candidate has a lot espouse on the role of government and how it should run. more support than another. In recent With early voting starting Tuesday, years, we have also stopped publishwe know many of you are looking for ing letters on races for public office information on what is on the ballot. a week before Election Day. That’s We hope our recommendations prove because if there are some claims in a useful. We know people have busy letter that are disputed, it is often too

lives and don’t always have time to dive deeply into some of these issues. There’s a lot of information online, but we hope you ﬁnd our reporting and opinion content a trusted resource as you make your decisions. It is one of the most important things we do. Turning to our letters inbox, for the week of Oct. 8-15, we received 56 letters. The midterm election was the topic you were most interested in, and we received eight letters on the topic. Next, the announcement of a potential livestreamed federal execution concerned a lot of readers. Though the idea was later nixed by President Donald Trump, we received seven letters on the topic. Lastly, we have received four letters on the idea of socialism and what that means in America. Arnessa Garrett is Managing Editor | Opinion Page Editor. Email her at arnessa.garrett@theadvocate.com.

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COMMENTARY La. constructs an impressive business-friendly profile for its “breadth and consistency Louisiana keeps doing well in sustained over time.” important ratings of state busiThe ratings are compiled in ness climates, while policy initiafour broad categories with ﬁve tives and practices by Gov. Jeff subcategories each, so the thorLandry’s administration should further improve the situation. oughness adds heft. Louisiana has The latest ranking came always done reasonably early this month from well by Area DevelopArea Development magament’s standards because of its inexpensive and zine, which said Louisiana abundant energy supplies. has the ninth-best overall Indeed, this year it ranks business atmosphere in second in the country for the country, with signiﬁQuin lowest energy costs and cant improvement in some Hillyer fourth for energy availareas of focus. State business rankings ability and grid capacity. sometimes can seem a dime-aThis year, though, our state’s dozen, but GNO Inc. President advantages are far more wideMichael Hecht — referring to spread, ranking in the top 10 in an the heavy-analytics approach impressive nine of the 20 factors to baseball made famous by the analyzed: fourth in workforce book (and subsequent movie) training programs; seventh for by New Orleans native Michael labor cost competitiveness, water Lewis — calls Area Development and wastewater capacity, regula“effectively the ‘Moneyball’ of tory environment and property economic development journals. tax environment; eighth for busiIt is the journal of record for site ness incentive programs; and selectors and business consulninth for what’s called “overall tants.” Hecht particularly lauded speed to market.” And as Justin Shea, media the journal’s “level of detail and director at Area Development, … level of credibility.” told me by email, even where Adam Knapp, CEO of Leaders Louisiana is weakest — ranked for a Better Louisiana, agreed number 32 for “climate risk and that Area Development is “well resilience” — that’s hardly the respected across the industry”

fault of Louisiana residents ourselves. The natural problem we face, he said, is that “roughly 40% of Louisiana’s developed land is in a high-risk flood zone.” Asked an open-ended question about “the most hopeful signs for Louisiana’s business climate,” Shea highlighted its fourthranked workforce training, plus the reports they are getting “about the state’s focus and investment in site readiness.” As it happens, Hecht, when asked the same question, also immediately noted site readiness, which he called a huge factor in what Area Development categorizes as “overall speed to market.” What that means, Hecht said, is “the time that’s going to develop between a project being considered and the doors literally opening or the first product being delivered or the first container being moved off the dock.” Both he and Knapp said that recently enacted policies will serve to hasten Louisiana’s move up the rankings in “speed to market.” Hecht particularly pointed to the Fast Sites initiative overseen by Susan Bourgeois, the secretary of Louisiana Economic

Development. As described in an earlier column here, Fast Sites is a “revolving fund” used to get potential business sites ready at the front end with water service, roads, high-transmission wires and other infrastructure, so companies can actually get operational much more quickly once they move in. The other element improving our speed to market, Hecht said, “is less a policy and more an attitude” involving the Landry administration’s highly focused “whole of government” approach to “bring everybody together in the same room” to coordinate business-recruitment plans. Knapp speciﬁcally identiﬁed the same thing, with the administration “making sure we’re better coordinated up and down the chain of government. ... It’s this idea that if you have the Public Service Commission talking to the department of economic development talking to the transportation department, talking to local governments, too, that they have this ability to have a kind of crossgovernment coordination.” Finally, Knapp credited — among a longer list of improvements in the state’s business

climate — the Landry-backed tax changes passed in late 2024 which reduced business and personal income taxes, along with investments in Louisiana’s transportation infrastructure, including the major new port facility coming in the town of Violet. As Bourgeois told me, “Louisiana is delivering at a speed and a scale that we have never delivered on before … with multiple projects in diverse regions in diverse kinds of companies.” She said that with high-proﬁle new business investments from Hyundai and SpaceX and Meta, among others, people are saying, “Louisiana is ‘having a moment.’ But we’ve turned that ‘moment’ into ‘momentum.’” Better yet, she stressed, she sees that momentum continuing at full tilt. Shea, speaking from Area Development’s analytic perspective, summed it up: “Louisiana is working on the practical things that matter when companies and their advisers are trying to get shovels in the ground.” Good. Let’s keep it up. Email Quin Hillyer at quin. hillyer@theadvocate.com

Constitutional amendment fatigue is real and understandable Gov. Jeff Landry was definitely that delves far too much into the not on the same page as most Lou- weeds, hamstringing state and in some cases local government offiisiana voters back in the spring of 2025, when they decicials — an intractable probsively rejected his call to lem that could theoretically pass four constitutional be addressed by the type of amendments, including a overhaul Landry had promassive overhaul of the posed if not for the aforesection dealing with taxes mentioned lack of trust. and the budget. As for the fatigue, well, Stephanie the current slate of quesHe might be today, Grace though, as voters try to tions is unlikely to solve decipher a whopping list that one. of 10 proposed amendments on Probably the most talked-about the Nov. 3 ballot. proposed amendment this time Asked by the USA Today netaround would limit governors to two terms in office over their lifework’s Greg Hilburn if he had any thoughts to share, Landry had times; currently they can serve this to say: “Oh Lord, I’ve given two consecutive terms, sit one or up on the amendments.” more out and then run again, as Judging by the crowded ballot, former Gov. Edwin Edwards once the same can’t be said of the Leg- did. Is this actually a pressing probislature, even though five more attempts to amend the constitution lem? fell to defeat this past spring. Well, a lot of Democrats believe Both times, there was sigRepublicans think so, because one person it would theoretically nificant, organized opposition to prohibit from a future ballot is some of the questions. And both John Bel Edwards, the still-intimes, that opposition morphed his-prime former governor who seamlessly into a “vote no on all” managed to leave office with his vibe. Chalk it up to fatigue over being popularity intact, despite being a asked to make too many nuts-and- Democrat in a Republican state. Edwards himself seems to buy bolts decisions. And to distrust into that theory. When the Legisin the motives of the people putting the questions before voters. lature placed it on the ballot, he And to a bloated constitution tweeted: “I think this is what the

Gov. Jeff Landry kids call ‘living in somebody’s head rent free.’” To be fair, the amendment’s author, state Rep. Mike Bayham, R-Chalmette, says the measure is not aimed at anyone in particular. But then why, and why now? It’s not even clear that the new restriction would legally apply to Edwards, Bobby Jindal or eventually Landry — which makes this question even less necessary. That’s not the only proposed amendment that seems to be aimed at particular political constituencies. One would re-

STAFF PHOTO By ENAN CHEDIAK move judicial discretion over post-conviction bail for certain heinous crimes — which sounds tough on crime but would likely do little other than preclude full consideration of the speciﬁc cases. Another would prevent a far-fetched scenario in which Louisiana politicians help foreign adversaries acquire land through expropriation. Elsewhere on the list are several attempts to offer property tax relief for speciﬁc constituencies — or at least let localities do so — although voters must consider the

flip side of who pays more if the beneficiaries of the amendment pay less. Some of the proposals appear pretty commonsense. One would give local governments more flexibility to adjust the property taxes they collect between assessments, which could allow them to more nimbly react to circumstances and avoid rolling millage collections forward to cover unknown future costs. Another would allow governments to use one-time windfalls to pay down their most expensive debt rather than their oldest, which would benefit everybody. Yet another would make it clear that federal money slated for lead remediation can be used on pipes that run to homes on private property, a condition of the funding in the first place. If voters were only asked to approve fixes like these, maybe they’d be inclined to vote yes. Facing 10 questions, some of which don’t seem remotely urgent, I’m wondering how many will make like Landry and just wash their hands of the whole thing. Email Stephanie Grace at sgrace@theadvocate.com.

Xavier Ochsner medical school takes off, thanks to help It recognizes more than 150 It’s a big deal that Xavier Ochmedical schools, including only sner College of Medicine (XOfour predominantly Black instituCOM) has received pre-accreditation, positioning the college to tions. enroll medical students as early The Howard University College as fall 2027. of Medicine in Washington, D.C. If Xavier University of and the Meharry Medical Louisiana, the nation’s only School of Medicine were Catholic HBCU, were a Rofounded in the 1800s. Neither received accrediman Catholic priest or sister, it might be considered tation until decades later. for sainthood since that The Morehouse School of pathway requires veriﬁed Medicine in Atlanta was Will miracles. founded in 1975 as a twoSutton year Morehouse College Xavier has a national reputation for preparing program, separated from students for medical school. In the college, became an indepenthe 2025-2026 academic year, dent institution and was accredXULA was one of the top three ited in the mid-1980s. The Charles undergraduate institutions placR. Drew University of Medicine and Science in Los Angeles was ing 15 or more Black or African created after the Los Angeles American students in U.S. mediWatts uprising in the 1960s. cal degree programs. Xavier had Started as the Charles R. Drew 102 students apply; 98 got admitPostgraduate Medical School, ted. Drew later teamed with the Now, Xavier students — and UCLA David Geffen School of students across Louisiana — can Medicine. consider XOCOM. Students could get two years of Ochsner and Xavier announced science basics at UCLA, then two that the Liaison Committee on more years of medical training at Medical Education has authoDrew. UCLA and Drew amicably rized XOCOM to recruit up to 50 separated as Drew became an students for its desired August launch. That has been a short run- independent, four-year medical program. The ﬁnal joint cohort is way to accreditation.

scheduled to graduate in 2027 — as Xavier plans to start its first medical program cohort. After 40 years together, UCLA and Drew are separated, but they can’t do without each other. They’ve started a joint Urban Health Equity Pathways program. Xavier’s pathway has been significantly different. XOCOM was founded in 2022. With an October 2026 preliminary accreditation, the new college can recruit and officially open its doors to students. XOCOM can gain provisional accreditation status as it proves it is on the way to graduating qualified medical students. Usually, full accreditation is granted once the first cohort is about to graduate. That could happen in just four years. Xavier has a history of producing medical school-ready students. About a third of the university’s enrolled students are pre-med majors. Most of them major in biology or biology-pre-med, though the formal pre-med curricula also include biology pre-medical, B.S., chemistry (pre-professional), B.S., and pre-medical psychology, B.S. Since 2022, Xavier students have gone on to medical

programs including LSU New Orleans, Howard University, Meharry Medical, Morehouse College, LSU Shreveport, the University of Rochester in New York, Tulane University, the University of Pennsylvania, and others. Xavier will continue to produce successful pre-med students for these and other med programs. With XOCOM, Xavier students will have the option of continuing a Xavier education while pursuing an M.D. with the Ochsner brand name. They might be Xavier students for eight years. Xavier students won’t be the only students applying. Annually, the existing four Louisiana medical colleges and schools have more than 24,000 applications. Fewer than 700 are accepted. XOCOM gives thousands of applicants another Louisiana medical college option — and one based in New Orleans, a magnet for many students, tourists and visitors. There’s a place for some of them at XOCOM’s Benson Tower headquarters in downtown New Orleans’ BioDistrict. Laini Tuboku-Metzger of Dunwoody, Georgia, right outside of Atlanta, graduated from Xavier

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

in 2023, then spent two years at Brown University in a fully funded health degree program. Now she’s a ﬁrst-year Morehouse medical college student. She told me she loved Xavier and New Orleans. Though she wanted to be closer to family and had experience with the Morehouse medical program in middle school and high school, she said she might have considered XOCOM if it had been an option. In an April 2022 column, I wrote: “If there is a higher education institution with the sort of track record of fundraising, partnership and student success needed to pull this off, it’s Xavier.” I added, “Stand by and watch the university’s leaders go to work.” It’s 2026. Consider how long it took other four-year M.D. programs to be founded, to enroll students, to become successful and to achieve full accreditation. Now consider how quickly Xavier and Ochsner have moved toward accreditation. Stand by and watch these leaders work. Email Will Sutton at wsutton@ theadvocate.com.

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

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6B ● Sunday, October 18, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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TODAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

Partly sunny and nice

Mostly sunny and pleasant

Sunny and pleasant

Plenty of sunshine Plenty of sunshine Plenty of sunshine

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76° 49°

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78° 53°

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79° 51°

82° 52°

Beaumont 75/56 Port Arthur 73/62

Baton Rouge 77/47

Lake Charles 76/51

New Orleans 74/60 Houma 74/51

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

Hattiesburg 75/42

Alexandria 75/48

Lafayette 76/49

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HIGH

84° 53°

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86° 56°

TEMPERATURE Jackson 75/44

Many 75/45

HIGH

The gale warning, wind advisory and red flag warning have all expired. The breezy conditions will remain. Winds today are northeasterly at 5 to 10 mph, so the air will remain dry, dew points will be low and humidity will hardly be noticeable. Expect a sunny, dry and breezy Sunday. Temperatures this afternoon will be below average rising to the mid- to upper 70s after morning lows in the 40s and 50s. High pressure has taken over our weather, so expect sunshine and mild temperatures through Monday.

FRIDAY

60s

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Sunrise today Sunset tonight Moonrise today Moonset today

OCT 18

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Austin Boston Dallas Fairbanks Honolulu Las Vegas Louisville Miami Nashville

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

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

HIGH

12:59p 7:13a 3:13a 3:50a 2:54a 1:58a 4:02a

7:12 a.m. 6:34 p.m. 2:15 p.m. none

FULL

LAST

OCT 25

75 54 72 33 88 78 66 83 69

TODAY Lo

46 42 51 20 75 63 41 76 39

NEW

NOV 1

s s s pc sh s s t s

NOV 9

78 58 75 36 86 82 71 86 74

MON. Lo

51 47 54 27 74 64 44 75 42

pc s s pc pc s s pc s

FT.

0.9 2.0 2.3 2.0 1.5 1.9 1.8

LOW

1:08a 7:46p 2:41p 6:51p 3:05p 1:26p 4:07p

0.00” 0.89” 2.48” 47.05” 51.18”

READING 32 MAIN POLLUTANT Ozone

MAIN POLLUTANT Particulates

FT.

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0.2 0.5 0.6 0.5 0.3 0.4 0.4

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

Today 5:58a 12:10p 6:23p ---Monday 6:46a 12:34a 7:09p 12:57p Tuesday 7:29a 1:18a 7:52p 1:40p Wednesday 8:10a 1:59a 8:32p 2:21p Thursday 8:48a 2:37a 9:10p 2:59p Friday 9:26a 3:15a 9:49p 3:37p Saturday 10:07a 3:55a 10:30p 4:18p

City

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

74 79 61 82 60 62 66 85 80

TODAY Lo

60 69 44 68 34 43 41 65 65

pc pc s t s s s s pc

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GOOD

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76 80 67 86 67 68 70 79 82

MON. Lo

61 62 51 70 37 46 44 66 63

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

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TODAY

GOOD

PRECIPITATION

71°/51° 81°/60° 87°/64° 92° in 2006 38° in 1943

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

FIRST

100% U.S. BASED CUSTOMER SERVICE.

YESTERDAY

Lafayette through 5 p.m. Saturday

Longview 73/45

-0s

LOW

Monroe 75/43

Shreveport 74/46

-10s

HIGH

THURSDAY

s pc pc pc s s s s pc

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

FLOOD STAGE

34 48 48 35 27 22 17

SAT. 24-HOUR STAGE CHANGE

5.60 24.80 26.70 11.90 6.49 5.70 4.70

+0.35 +0.06 +0.20 +0.40 -0.31 +1.34 +0.38

22.40

-0.34

-1.65

-0.06

18 29 8

-1.37 9.69 2.49

-0.03 -0.02 +0.02

13 15

1.40 0.56

+0.01 none

47 34 29 20 12 6

10.42 6.94 5.38 4.98 3.40 2.13

-0.05 -0.14 -0.23 -0.02 -0.60 -0.35

data as of 7 a.m. Saturday

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S U N D AY, O C T O B E R 18, 2026

1CN

UL pounds Troy with long drive for SBC win Cajuns stymie Trojans, break free in third quarter

BY KEVIN FOOTE

Staff writer

On a night when a lot of things didn’t go well for either team, the UL Ragin’ Cajuns put together a drive that was a thing of beauty in the third quarter. After the visiting Troy Trojans scored for the ﬁrst time to open the second half, UL responded with a 16-play, 91-yard drive in 8:22 to vault the Cajuns to a 33-6 victory on Saturday at Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium. The ﬁrst play of the drive was the longest one, a 13-yard pass to tight end Brock Chappell. Steven Blanco’s 2-yard plunge put the Cajuns up 26-6. It was the second UL drive that covered at least eight minutes this season, and the second drive as long as 91 yards. The victory improved UL to 5-2 overall and 2-1 in Sun Belt play, while reigning Sun

UL running back JJ Garner runs away from Troy safety Marcus Goree on his way to a touchdown on Saturday at Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium.

Belt West champion Troy dropped to 3-3 and 1-1. The defenses muddied up the game under blue skies. The longest pass play by either team over the ﬁrst three quarters was 13 yards. UL quarterback Lunch Winﬁeld had his busiest rushing day of the season with 15 carries for 65 yards. As a passer, he was only 11 of 21 for 70 yards and one touchdown. JJ Garner led the UL running backs with 62 yards and a score on 10 carries, followed by Anthony Reagan with 58 yards and a score on 11 carries. Blanco added 50 yards on 10 carries with his touchdown. As a team, UL rushed for 243 yards. UL limited Troy to 3 of 12 on third down and 267 total yards for the game. Troy

STAFF PHOTO By BRAD KEMP

ä See CAJUNS, page 3C

LSU

M I S S I S S I P P I S T.

ZERO SUM RECORD: 5-2 UP NEXT: AT AUBURN, 11 A.M. SATURDAy, TBD

Saints’ O-line investments losing ground Envisioned foundation shows signs of crumbling

BY MATTHEW PARAS Staff writer

When the New Orleans Saints signed veteran guard David Edwards to a fouryear, $61 million deal in March, the contract was another significant commitment for a team that consistently invests heavily in the offensive line. Over the past five seaä Saints at sons, the Saints have Giants NOON drafted three tackles in the first round. New OrSUNDAy, FOX leans has given big-money extensions to homegrown interior linemen whom they also drafted relatively high. And they’ve spent big in free agency. All those resources haven’t paid off. The Saints entered the season expecting their offensive line to be a main strength. Instead, as New Orleans prepares to face another blitz-heavy team in Sunday’s game against the New York Giants, quarterback Tyler Shough has faced more pressure than any other quarterback in the league. The run game again has struggled to get off the ground. And the two cornerstone positions, left tackle and right tackle, vastly have underperformed. It’s not for a lack of trying. “We’ve got some good guys up there,” coach Kellen Moore said. “Obviously, we’re all continuing to work hard, put ourselves in position to be more successful. We’ll just keep getting better.”

Grounded run game On Monday after a loss to the Minnesota Vikings, the Saints showed footage from

ä See SAINTS, page 6C STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

LSU wide receiver Malik Elzy, right, celebrates after a touchdown against Mississippi State in the third quarter on Saturday at Tiger Stadium. LSU won 31-0.

Kiffin said LSU had no 'option' but to win, and Tigers respond with shutout BY JON BLAU Staff writer

LSU coach Lane Kiffin doesn’t like talking to his teams about the College Football Playoff, because it would deviate from his process-oriented approach. But there was no getting around the implications of Saturday’s game with No. 16 Mississippi State. Not only because of what a third SEC loss in four games would mean for the Tigers’ season but also what it would mean for Kiffin’s first year in Baton Rouge. “I’m human, too,” said Kiffin, who would have been subjected to loud criticism nationally and locally if he started 1-3 in SEC play at LSU. “Last night’s speech to the team, last thing I said, which I never usually say, ‘We have to win. We have to win tomorrow.’ “There’s no other option but winning this game, because I can’t imagine what this would have looked like.”

Kifﬁn didn’t need to let his imagination run wild for too long. Partially because the Bulldogs wouldn’t have star quarterback Kamario Taylor nor lead running back Fluff Bothwell available Saturday because of injuries. But mainly because No. 22 LSU (5-2, 2-2 SEC) was equipped with a “kill mentality,” as quarterback Sam Leavitt put it, during a 31-0 win in Tiger Stadium on Saturday. “We had a rough outing last weekend,” said Leavitt, referring to a 35-34 overtime loss at Kentucky. “Had another opportunity in front of the best fans in the nation to go put on a show and a performance.” As hostile as road venues have been to LSU, home has been like heaven. All ﬁve of LSU’s victories have come in Tiger Stadium by a combined score of 225-44. LSU is 29-4 against Mississippi State since the conference expanded in 1992, and the

ä See LSU, page 3C

AP PHOTO By TyLER KAUFMAN

Saints guard David Edwards lines up during a game against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sept. 27 at the Caesars Superdome.

2C l Sunday, October 18, 2026 l theadvocate.com l The Acadiana Advocate

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AUTO RACING 2 p.m. NASCAR: Freeway 500 USA COLLEGE FIELD HOCKEY 1 p.m. Syracuse at North Carolina ACCN WOMEN’S COLLEGE SOCCER 11 a.m. Ohio St. at Purdue BTN 2 p.m. LSU at Texas A&M SECN 2:30 p.m. North Carolina at Wake Forest ACCN WOMEN’S COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL 11 a.m. Miami at Pittsburgh ACCN noon Arizona St. at Kansas ESPN noon South Carolina at Ole Miss SECN

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GAME OF THE WEEK

Auburn upsets No. 1 Georgia BY CHARLES ODUM

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By COLIN HUBBARD

Auburn quarterback Byrum Brown throws a pass during a game against Georgia on Saturday in Athens, Ga. one-week stay atop the AP Top 25. Auburn (4-2, 2-2) beat the Bulldogs on the ground. Tailback Nate Frazier returned from a rib injury to start for Georgia but was ineffective, gaining only 19 yards on nine carries. Georgia trailed 24-14 before rallying with a 42-yard ﬁeld goal by Peyton Woodring. Stockton led a tying touchdown drive that began at the Georgia 6 and covered 94 yards in 13 plays, capped by his 4-yard pass to London Humphreys. Stockton’s two interceptions

doubled his previous season total through six games. The Bulldogs also were hurt by mistakes, including three personal foul penalties. After Georgia took a 14-0 lead, Auburn scored the next 24 points. Georgia looked dominant in the opening minutes, even after Stockton had to leave after hitting the field helmet-first on the first play of the game. Ryan Puglisi completed each of his three passes, including a 41-yarder to Craig Dandridge, before Dwight Phillips’ 15-yard scoring run.

Stockton returned for the next possession and threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to tight end Lawson Luckie for the 14-0 lead. Auburn responded with a physical run-first attack led by the 235-pound Brown, who was effective both on designed runs and when taking off after dropping back to pass. Top-ranked teams had won 93 consecutive home games against unranked teams since LSU lost to Arkansas 50-48 in two overtimes on Nov. 23, 2007.

TOP 25 ROUNDUP

Ohio St. loses QB Sayin, beats Indiana By The Associated Press BLOOMINGTON, Ind.— No. 4 Ohio State got the victory it craved. It just came at a hefty price — the loss of starting quarterback Julian Sayin for several weeks with an injured right arm. Sayin threw a 38-yard touchdown pass to Jeremiah Smith on fourthand-1 early in the fourth quarter before leaving, and the Buckeyes held on Saturday for a 19-15 victory over No. 5 Indiana when wide receiver Nick Marsh’s left foot came down out of bounds on what would have been the go-ahead score for the Hoosiers with 1:02 to go. The defending national champions had won 22 straight overall and 19 in a row at home, the two longest active streaks in the Football Bowl Subdivision. The Buckeyes (6-1, 4-0 Big Ten) also got a measure of revenge for last December’s loss to the Hoosiers in the league’s title game. Instead, the Buckeyes simply ran out the clock. But the Hoosiers (6-1, 3-1 Big Ten) sure didn’t go down easily. After Smith’s score gave the Buckeyes a 19-7 lead, Josh Hoover returned from a right arm injury, led the Hoosiers down the field and capped the 75-yard drive with a 19yard TD pass to Marsh and a 2-point conversion pass to Turbo Richard to cut the deficit to 19-15 with 10:30 left. Indiana coach Curt Cignetti suffered his first home loss in three seasons in the first top five game ever played at Memorial Stadium. FLORIDA 27, NO. 7 TEXAS 24: In Austin, Texas, Florida quarterback Tramell Jones threw two touchdowns to Lacota Dippre in his first career start, Jadan Baugh scored a fourthquarter touchdown and the Gators rallied to beat No. 7 Texas and hand the Longhorns their second consecutive loss. Texas led 17-3 in the second quarter after Ryan Niblett returned a punt 63 yards for a touchdown, the third of his career. Florida rallied to tie it on a pair of touchdown passes from Jones to Dippre. The first came with 18 seconds left in the first half and the second capped a 15-play drive that took

ROTTERDAM, Netherlands — The U.S. women’s national gymnastics team will have to make a go of it at the world championships without Hezly Rivera. The 18-year-old LSU gymnastics commitment is the youngest member of the U.S. team that captured gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics, as well as a two-time national all-around champion, withdrew from worlds on Saturday because of a left ankle injury. Rivera had been dealing with pain in the ankle during training. She told reporters on Thursday she was “day to day.” Rivera will be replaced on the five-woman team by alternate Dulcy Caylor. The U.S. women, who are seeking their eighth straight world team title, are scheduled to compete in qualifying on Sunday.

Williams leads Valkyries past Dream in Finals Game 1

AP sportswriter

ATHENS, Ga. — Alex McPherson kicked a game-winning 34-yard field goal as time expired and Auburn, led by quarterback Byrum Brown’s dominant running game, upset No. 1 Georgia 27-24 on Saturday. It’s the second straight week the top team in the AP Top 25 lost to an unranked foe after then-No. 1 Texas fell to Oklahoma last Saturday. Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton led a long game-tying touchdown drive in the fourth quarter but lost a fumble with 58 seconds remaining and the Bulldogs driving for a potential goahead field goal. Stockton, who also threw two interceptions, fumbled on a run from the Auburn 46. Safety Sylvester Smith-Reed recovered for the Tigers at the Auburn 44. A roughingthe-passer penalty on Georgia’s Gabe Harris helped set up McPherson’s game-winning kick. Auburn players swarmed the field. Brown ran for 115 yards and a touchdown on 26 carries and added a scoring pass. Georgia (6-1, 4-1 Southeastern Conference) saw its streaks of nine straight wins over Auburn and 53 consecutive wins over unranked teams come to an end in a loss that also will end the Bulldogs’ short

Gymnast, LSU pledge Rivera out of world championships

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By DOUG MCSCHOOLER

Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin, left, hands off to running back Bo Jackson, right, during a game against Indiana on Saturday in Bloomington, Ind. eight minutes of the third quarter. NO. 24 SMU 23, VIRGINIA 13: In Dallas, Kevin Jennings threw two touchdown passes, former SMU soccer player Brendan Baird boosted the struggling special teams with three ﬁeld goals and the Mustangs beat Virginia. Kendrick Raphael ran for 124 yards as SMU (5-1, 3-1 Atlantic Coast) improved to 10-0 at home in ACC games since rejoining a power conference league in 2024. The Mustangs are 17-3 overall in the ACC. The Cavaliers (4-3, 2-2) were held to fewer than 300 total yards for a third consecutive game by an SMU defense that led a win over Boston College two weeks ago despite Jennings’ offense gaining just 218 yards. Virginia finished with 258 yards. NO. 25 NORTHWESTERN 24, MICHIGAN ST. 21: In East Lansing, Michigan, Jackson Kleather kicked three ﬁeld goals, including the game-winning 34-yarder with 2 seconds left Saturday to rally Northwestern to a win over Michigan State. Aidan Chiles tied the game at 21 with 7:24 remaining when he scored on a 1-yard run and threw to Alex

Honig on a 2-point conversion for Northwestern (5-1 overall, 2-1 Big Ten). After Matthew Smith blocked Michigan State’s Liam Boyd 33yard ﬁeld-goal attempt, Chiles then drove the Wildcats 64 yards in eight plays to set up the winning kick. Chiles, who started 20 games at Michigan State the past two seasons before transferring to Northwestern, completed 18 of 27 passes for 226 yards and also had 16 carries for 25 yards. The Spartans (2-5, 0-4) had led 2113 early in the fourth quarter when Alessio Milivojevic tossed a 53-yard touchdown pass to Chrishon McCray. He completed 19 of 30 passes for 216 yards and two touchdowns. NO. 10 TEXAS TECH 53, ARIZONA ST. 25: In Lubbock, Texas, J’Koby Williams ran for a career-high 165 yards with two long touchdowns after an early fumble, Ben Roberts returned an interception for a touchdown and No. 10 Texas Tech overwhelmed Arizona State on Saturday in a matchup of the past two Big 12 champions. The reigning champion Red Raiders (6-0, 3-0 Big 12) broke a school record with their eighth consecutive regular-season conference vic-

tory, since a 26-22 loss last year at Arizona State. Their 12th home win in a row is one short of the longest streak in school history set in 1942. The Red Raiders scored on the last seven drives of the first half, with four TDs and three field goals by Stone Harrington (31, 42 and 37 yards) for a 43-10 halftime lead. They already had 404 of their 502 total yards by then. Reed Harris had his Big 12-leading eighth TD catch for Arizona State (3-3, 1-2) on the first drive after halftime, on a 2-yard pass from backup Mikey Keene. NO. 14 TENNESSEE 26, NO. 6 ALABAMA 10: In Knoxville, Tennessee, DeSean Bishop rushed for 159 yards and two touchdowns, lifting No. 14 Tennessee over No. 6 Alabama. The Crimson Tide (5-2, 3-2 Southeastern Conference) have lost consecutive regular-season games for the first time since 2007 after also losing to No. 1 Georgia last week. The Volunteers (6-1, 3-1) relied on a stout defense and the steady play of quarterback George MacIntyre (197 passing yards) to win their third straight game. Alabama had just 201 yards of total offense, including 54 rushing, and turned the ball over four times. Crimson Tide quarterback Keelon Russell threw for 147 yards and scored the only touchdown on a 19-yard run. Alabama lost two fumbles, and Russell threw two interceptions. NO. 9 OLE MISS 31, NO. 13 MISSOURI 3: In Oxford, Mississippi, Trinidad Chambliss threw for three touchdowns and ran for another Saturday as No. 9 Mississippi beat No. 13 Missouri. Ole Miss (5-1, 3-1 SEC) was never seriously threatened after trailing 3-0 in the opening 10 minutes. Chambliss had a five-yard touchdown run and finished 20-of-36 passing for 241 yards, including touchdown passes of 10, 21 and 17 yards to Caleb Odom, Horatio Fields and Caleb Cunningham. Missouri (5-2, 2-2) trailed 21-3 at halftime and did not reach the red zone in the second half until the final two minutes. Jamal Roberts, after consecutive 200-plus yards rushing performances, rushed for 39 yards on 20 carries.

SAN FRANCISCO — Gabby Williams converted two free throws with 1:18 left to put Golden State ahead, two more with 4.1 seconds to go and ﬁnished with 26 points facing constant pressure from Atlanta’s stingy defense, and the Valkyries held off the Dream 68-64 in Game 1 of the WNBA Finals on Saturday. Williams scored 16 of her points in the second quarter and no other Valkyries reached double figures as they shot 32.1% and 7 of 33 from 3-point range. Rhyne Howard missed a 3-point try with 1:09 left but Angel Reese made a steal moments later. Kiah Stokes missed the ﬁrst of two free throws with 23.8 seconds left. Then Allisha Gray missed a 3 with 9 seconds left. Williams then hit the free throws a few seconds later to seal the victory.

MIchigan QB Underwood benched, replaced by Carr

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Bryce Underwood got benched and Tommy Carr was given a chance to lead Michigan’s lackluster offense. Kyle Whittingham, in his first season as coach of college football’s winningest program, made the move in the third quarter when the Wolverines were trailing Penn State 3-0 on Saturday in the eventual 21-18 victory for Michigan. Tommy Carr’s brother is Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr, grandson of 1997 national championship winning coach Lloyd Carr and College Football Hall of Fame defensive back Tom Curtis, a former Wolverine. Tommy Carr is the son of Michigan graduates, including former walk-on quarterback Jason Carr. Underwood’s job has been in jeopardy since his shaky performance in the season-opening.

Nuggets’ Strawther will be re-evaluated after sprain

DENVER — Denver Nuggets guard/ forward Julian Strawther will be out indeﬁnitely after spraining his left knee while playing a preseason game at the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday. The Nuggets said Friday night that Strawther will be re-evaluated in six weeks. He was projected to come off the bench for Denver this season. Strawther played in 57 games a season ago and averaged 7.2 points. He also saw action in two playoff games as the Nuggets were knocked out in the ﬁrst round by Minnesota. The 24-year-old out of Gonzaga was taken 29th overall in the 2023 draft. Strawther has started 18 games over his career.

Fokina to face Jodar in Shanghai Masters final

SHANGHAI — Alejandro Davidovich Fokina upset future No. 1 Alexander Zverev 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 to reach the Shanghai Masters final on Saturday. The 25th-seeded Spaniard, who won the ATP 250 Chengdu Open in China last month, reached the second Masters final of his career after losing on clay at Monte Carlo in 2022. He will try for his third title of the year — and of his career — against 20-year-old Spaniard Rafael Jodar, who also secured a big win by toppling 2019 champion Daniil Medvedev 6-3, 6-4 to reach his first Masters final. The No. 12-seeded Jodar is looking for his second career title after winning on clay at the Grand Prix Hassan II in Marrakech, Morocco in April.

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The Acadiana Advocate l theadvocate.com l Sunday, October 18, 2026 l 3C

Tigers carry no empathy on peculiar day

The Bulldogs churned up a Strange game. Day games in Tiger Stadium al- lot of turf between the 20s and ways have an odd feel, like some- a couple of times threatened to score, including one drive that one invited you to a fancy steak ended at the LSU 2 just before dinner but plopped a still frozen halftime. But really, threatened filet on your plate. is too strong of a word. State Adding to the oddity on this was defanged, shorthanded, bright blue, blustery October outgunned. Pick your adjective. Saturday was a game between LSU lost menacing edge ranked Southeastern Conrusher Princewill Umanference opponents that seemed like anything but. mielen early in the game Mississippi State was when he took a blow to the ranked higher (16th) than head but still was able to LSU (22nd), but the enhold the Bulldogs offense at arm’s length. tire thing felt like a fait Scott To a college football accompli once word was Rabalais world outside Louisiana passed that dangerous (and some in it) that is Bulldogs quarterback Karooting for LSU and Lane Kiffin mario Taylor and their talented to go careening out of the Colrunning back Fluff Bothwell were both out with injuries. lege Football Playoff picture State was forced to start redshirt three weeks before the first CFP freshman Parker Puckett at rankings are released, it seemed quarterback, a player with only like a bully bad break for State. 14 career pass attempts, which Kiffin, in remarks sure to enhappens to be 14 more than you dear him to his detractors even or I have in an SEC game. more, was having none of it. From kickoff, it was evident “I don’t have a lot of empathy the Tigers were going to go all for injuries and bad breaks,” he anaconda on the Bulldogs, just said. “This team from Day One wrap them up and never let go. has gotten more bad breaks this LSU scored a touchdown on its season, phenomenal leaders sitfirst drive, just the second time ting game after game. this season that’s happened, and “I’m really proud of our coachbasically put State in a sleeper es and players for moving people hold en route to a 31-0 victory. around. You’re seeing people

playing different positions than they were supposed to play. This team was built to be a championship team with significant players, starters, that could match up with anyone when they’re healthy.” Sounds harsh, but as former ESPN broadcaster and New Orleans native Stan Verrett said amid the hail of criticism lobbed at LSU and Kiffin after his hiring, it’s a cold game. One in which empathy scores no touchdowns and sentimentality forces no turnovers. Kiffin was wary that Mississippi State coach Jeff Lebby could conjure up some magic even with a backup quarterback and a couple of cowbells playing on offense. Like Kiffin, Lebby is an offensive whiz with strong influences from the Art Briles’ coaching tree. In fact, Lebby is Briles’ son-in-law. “That’s a great offensive coach over there,” Kiffin said. “I’ve watched him with backups over the years play really well. Their system can move without great play from the quarterback position.” Speaking of great play from the quarterback position, that’s what LSU got Saturday from Sam Leavitt.

LSU

CAJUNS

Continued from page 1C turned it over on downs three times. The first half was ugly football, but the Ragin’ Cajuns was as comfortable as a pig in slop. It started when Troy fumbled a 50-yard punt by Mason Golding at the Troy 8. Three plays later, KeDarius Wade caught a 3-yard touchdown pass from Winfield for a 7-0 lead with 12:15 left in the first quarter. Over its next three drives, UL punted each time. In the second quarter, the Cajuns mustered an eight-play, 76yard drive in 3:40 to take a twoscore lead. A roughing-the-passer flag helped, and Garner finished off the possession with a 37-yard touchdown run. The Cajuns botched the extra point to keep it 13-0 with 2:21

era. “Getting to the check-down, making guys miss and always having positive plays.” After two frustrating defeats — 32-24 at Ole Miss and 35-34 in overtime at Kentucky — creating some positivity for themselves was the Tigers’ main mission. Kifﬁn told his players plainly at their Friday night meeting that they had to have this win. Yes, it took something off LSU’s conquest that arguably the Bulldogs’ two best players were out. But there was nothing Kifﬁn’s Tigers could do about that. You play who is playing, period. And State didn’t hold back anything just because LSU was without guys like Trey’Dez Green on offense and Whit Weeks on defense. Next week is another week. Another challenge. LSU has to try to snap an eight-game SEC road losing streak at Auburn, which went on the road and stunned No. 1-ranked Georgia 27-24. Strange game for LSU? Strange win? Perhaps. But one the Tigers need not apologize for earning.

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LSU NOTEBOOK

Continued from page 1C Tigers’ shutout marked their first in SEC play since a 45-0 win over the Bulldogs in 2007. This game was never in doubt, even with Leavitt aggravating his hamstring injury during practices for Mississippi State and star edge rusher Princewill Umanmielen getting roughed up on a tackle early in the game. It wouldn’t matter. The Bulldogs (4-2, 2-2) gained just 24 yards on their first three possessions, which featured a forced fumble by LSU edge rusher Jordan Ross to force a punt and a pick by Ty Benefield to shortcircuit another possession. Leavitt, who finished 31-of-38 passing for 289 yards and four touchdowns, continued to hone in on his decisiveness as a passer as he’s literally hamstrung as a runner. He dinked and dunked, rolling out and hitting Eugene Wilson just outside the end zone for a 10-yard score to get things going. Wilson pushed and shoved his way across the line. After Benefield’s interception, Leavitt continued picking apart the opposing secondary, completing an 85-yard march on a 27-yard catch and run by Jackson Harris. LSU would fumble away its third drive, but Leavitt picked up where he left off on the Tigers’ fourth possession. In the red zone, he found a wide-open Harris over the middle for a 17-yard touchdown to make it 21-0. “Every single week, we’ve just gotten better, and I’m gonna keep saying it,” Leavitt said. “We keep playing cleaner ball, understanding just how this offense works. And then once it starts and gets going, it’s pretty magical.” The Tigers would hold onto the shutout thanks to a goal-line stop with under two minutes left in the first half, sacking Parker Puckett on third-and-goal at the LSU 2 and holding Mississippi State’s receiver out of the end zone on a quick fourth-down pass. The Bulldogs’ last five drives of the game ended with a turnover on downs. Puckett completed 11 of 15 for 82 yards through two quarters, but the Bulldogs had just 45 yards

Maybe his day seemed more impressive contrasted against the fact that the former Arizona State transfer had thrown at least one interception in every previous game this season — the only FBS quarterback to do so. There is something counterintuitive about Leavitt. Like in LSU’s similar-looking 35-6 rout of Texas A&M on Sept. 26, his hamstring was acting up again. Leavitt was able to extend plays with his feet, but mostly he was forced to commit to the pass instead of scrambling and putting the football in harm’s way. As against the Aggies, Leavitt was on target Saturday. He carved up a Bulldogs defense angled to dissuade LSU from throwing a lot of deep balls with short and intermediate routes, finishing his matinee performance going 31 of 38 for 289 yards and four touchdowns. “Sam really played well for not being 100%,” Kiffin said. “We talked a lot this week about trusting the receivers to go make plays.” The receivers reciprocated that trust with no dropped passes or passes tipped up in the air for defenders to intercept. “Just taking a profit,” Leavitt said, a quote truly fit for the NIL

Umanmielen, Harris make early exits BY REED DARCEY Staff writer

STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

LSU running back Dilin Jones looks to stiff-arm Mississippi State safety Kendel Dolby in the first quarter on Saturday at Tiger Stadium. rushing on 21 carries. Puckett finished 16-of-26 passing for 121 yards. “If we’re trying to shut somebody out, we don’t really ever talk about it,” said Ross, who finished with a sack and 2.5 tackles for loss. “We really focus on one player at a time, and we try to dominate our opponent that way.” LSU would play keep-away at the start of the third quarter, stringing together a 16-play, 74yard field goal drive that consumed 8:10 of the clock. Tigers running back Dilin Jones not only had 84 yards rushing but also 58 yards receiving on eight catches. Mississippi State wouldn’t touch the ball in the second half until the 6:45 mark of the third quarter. The possession ended with another turnover on downs as a Puckett pass went incomplete on fourth-and-7 on the LSU 35. The very next LSU drive, Leavitt capped the Tigers’ fifth series of 60-plus yards with a 6-yard touchdown pass to Malik Elzy to make it 31-0. Every positive was on the Tigers’ side of the ledger Saturday,

left until intermission. The Trojans continued to slip and slide through the first half on a beautiful day on artificial turf. Quarterback Goose Crowder fumbled the snap on second down, and Micah Johnson recovered it for UL at the Troy 28. The Cajuns stumbled, though, as UL settled for a 42-yard Tony Sterner field goal and a 16-0 lead with 1:44 left in the half. The sloppy play continued on the ensuing kickoff when Troy fumbled it and had to start at its own 9. Lester Jones’ big stop on third-an-2 then forced the Trojans to punt. That allowed the Cajuns to need only one first down to set Sterner up for a 46-yard field goal on the final play of the first half. His make sent the Cajuns into the break with a 19-0 cushion. Troy was limited to six first downs and 97 total yards in the first half. The Trojans put together one long drive that covered 61

aside from the injury count. Along with Umanmielen, Harris — who had six catches for 85 yards and two touchdowns — came up limping after an injury to his left leg. He jogged off to the locker room soon after. “Doctors held him,” Kifﬁn said. “Obviously, the right thing to do. That’s all I got for you.” LSU has just one more game to survive, a road trip to Auburn, before a Halloween weekend bye. There is a chance tight end Trey’Dez Green and, possibly, linebacker Whit Weeks could return on the other side of that break. That will set up back-to-back home games against Alabama and Texas that could revive the Tigers’ playoff chances. The Tigers are 2-2 in SEC play, rather than a disastrous 1-3. They had only one option, and they took it. “I feel like we can’t lose, we can’t lose another game,” Ross said. “That’s our mindset.” Email Jon Blau at jon.blau@ theadvocate.com

yards on 15 plays in 6:50, but a critical holding flag forced Troy to settle for a 42-yard field goal attempt that was missed with 6:01 left in the second quarter. Despite scoring 19 points in the first half, the UL offense collected only nine first downs and 163 yards. Winfield had a team-high 11 carries for 46 yards but was only 7-of13 passing for 35 yards and a score in the first 30 minutes. The sloppy play continued in the third quarter. Troy marched 75 yards on eight plays in 4:12 after the second-half kickoff. Crowder ran for 9 yards on fourth-and-8, then UL gave backup quarterback Hunter Kilcrease a wide-open field for a 23-yard touchdown run. The Trojans missed the extra point to keep it at 19-6 with 10:48 left in the third quarter. After that, it was all Cajuns. Email Kevin Foote at kfoote@theadvocate.com.

LSU lost two starters to injuries on Saturday in its 31-0 win over Mississippi State. Defensive end Princewill Umanmielen left in the first quarter after he was injured while tackling a ball carrier near the line of scrimmage. Wide receiver Jackson Harris exited in the third quarter after injuring his left ankle on a 24-yard reception. Trainers attended to Umanmielen on the field after he made the stop. They then took away his helmet and walked with him slowly toward the sideline and into the injury tent. The senior emerged after a couple of minutes and rejoined his teammates near the bench. The LSU radio broadcast said Umanmielen hit his head on the tackle. Harris limped off the field and into the locker room before appearing on the sideline later in sweats with a walking boot on his left foot. The reception in which he was hurt was his sixth of the game, and it gave him 85 yards on the day. He also had two touchdown catches. Umanmielen, an Ole Miss transfer, is LSU’s top defensive player. He entered Week 7 ranked second among FBS defenders in sacks (eight), squarely on pace to break the Tigers’ single-season sack record, which Arden Key set when he dropped opposing quarterbacks 12 times in 2016. Umanmielen had two tackles, including one for a loss, before he was hurt Saturday. Harris, a Hawaii transfer, has emerged as one of quarterback Sam Leavitt’s top targets. The redshirt junior caught six passes for 163 yards and two touchdowns in LSU’s Week 4 win over Texas A&M, then added a combined 10 receptions for 91 yards and a score across the next two games. LSU put redshirt junior Dylan Carpenter in Umanmielen’s spot on the edge. Redshirt junior Malik Elzy and freshman Corey Barber rotated in at receiver in place of Harris. LSU wide receiver Tre Brown was also injured against Mississippi State. He walked off the field on crutches in the first half but returned to the game at the start of the second half.

Rushing milestone

STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

LSU defensive end Princewill Umanmielen is escorted off the field by the LSU medical staff in the first quarter against Mississippi State on Saturday at Tiger Stadium.

in each of the last two seasons of coach Brian Kelly’s tenure. With Kifﬁn in charge of the offense, the Tigers were able to begin the back half of their schedule on Saturday ranked 27th among FBS teams in rushing offense (214 yards per game) and third in rushing touchdowns (20). Those ranks should improve after Week 7. LSU piled up 379 total yards and scored three touchdowns on its four trips to the red zone. Leavitt completed 31 of 38 pass attempts for 289 yards and four touchdowns. It was his ﬁrst game of the year without a turnover.

A rare meeting Before Saturday, LSU and Mississippi State had met 87 times in the AP poll era (since 1936), but only four of those games had been ranked matchups. Saturday’s clash was the fifth, and it was also the first of the five in which the Bulldogs were ranked ahead of the Tigers. Mississippi State was slotted at No. 16 ahead of the Week 7 clash, while LSU was ranked No. 22. The Tigers were still the heavy favorites to win, in large part because the Bulldogs were missing both quarterback Kamario Taylor and running back Fluff Bothwell. The two injured starters were each ruled out prior to kickoff. Taylor, a sophomore, emerged as one of the nation’s top quarterbacks in the first five weeks of the season. Even though Mississippi State had an open date in Week 6, he still entered Week 7 with more passing touchdowns (17) than any other SEC quarterback and more passing yards (1,450) than all but two. The Bulldogs gave redshirt freshman Parker Puckett his first career start in Taylor’s place. He completed 16 of 26 pass attempts for 121 yards and an interception.

LSU has rushed for more yards in seven games this season than it did across the 13 contests it played last season. The Tigers needed to tally 70 yards rushing on Saturday in their game against Mississippi State to eclipse the 1,352 yards that the team piled up in 2025. They wound up with 90, which was more than enough to have a productive offensive day against a struggling Bulldogs defense. Sophomore Dilin Jones was the leading rusher for LSU. He picked up 84 yards on 18 carries. LSU was stuck outside the top Email Reed Darcey at reed. 100 nationally in rushing offense darcey@theadvocate.com.

4C l Sunday, October 18, 2026 l theadvocate.com l The Acadiana Advocate

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PREP REWIND FIVE STARS OF THE NIGHT Ty Hills, Lafayette Christian

Justin Williams, Southside

Walker Pugh, St. Thomas More

Thomas Carter, Loreauville

The Knights quarterback hit big plays in the second half to help LCA blow past Franklin, tossing four touchdown passes on 14-of-21 passing for 183 yards. Hills also ran for 26 yards on six carries.

After a couple of rough weeks, Williams is becoming a regular candidate again. This time, he ran for 214 yards and two touchdowns on 33 workhorse carries to lead the Sharks to a 35-20 victory over Lafayette High.

Barbe’s explosive offense came to Lafayette averaging 52.3 points a game with one of the state’s best running backs. All Pugh did to limit the Bucs to two scores was collect 10 solos, 11 assists and two quarterback hurries.

No, Carter didn’t put up the most prolific numbers all season in leading the Tigers to a 12-10 comeback win over Catholic High. Carter did so by rushing for 137 tough yards and a touchdown on 31 carries for the huge rivalry win.

Pierce Gable, Westminster-Lafayette The Pierce Gable train continues to steamroll the opposition. This time, he ran for 200 yards and four TDs on nine carries. He also had six tackles and a pick-six.

GAME OF THE WEEK

STM cools off red-hot Barbe offense BY KEVIN FOOTE Staff writer

The Barbe Buccaneers came to Lafayette on Friday averaging 52.3 points a game. They left having experienced the wrath of St. Thomas More’s defense, which limited Barbe to two touchdowns in a 35-14 victory and moved the Cougars into the driver’s seat in the District 3-5A race. Trailing 14-6 at halftime, the Cougars’ defense unleashed its relentless pressure in the second half and just wore down the Bucs. “I think our constant pursuit just started to take its toll on them,” STM coach Jim Hightower said. The Cougars exploded for three touchdowns in the third quarter to take full control of the game. “We run the ball hard, we throw the ball, we know what to do,” STM running Landyn Craft said. “We’re disciplined, and that’s what we showed tonight. You can do whatever you want against us, but we’re going to figure you out. So that’s what we did.” The truth is the Cougars were outplayed in the first half, but one huge defensive play by senior defensive end Hayden Hemard kept the Bucs from taking full advantage. Leading 7-0 and driving again, Barbe quarterback Jelandon Gray was tackled on a third-and-10 scramble, and the ball was stripped by STM defenders Tristan Klock and Hunter Schugg. Hemard corralled the ball near Gray’s helmet and raced 52 yards for a defensive touchdown. “I caught that ball and I saw so much field,” Hemard said. “I regret pointing and kind of celebrating a little too early. He kind of caught me at the end, but it’s a great feeling. It was the first time I had ever done that. That was awesome.” And even though Barbe responded with a seven-play, 59-yard drive to take a 14-6 lead into halftime, the Bucs hadn’t taken full advantage of their opportunity in the first half. So when the third quarter started, the homestanding Cougars were ready. St. Thomas More scored on a 10-play, 80-yard drive to open the third quarter and never looked back. A nifty 46-yard reception by Bennett Stelly got STM to the 2, and Craft did the honors with a 1-yard TD plunge. Craft’s two-

STAFF PHOTO By BRAD KEMP

St. Thomas More defensive end Hayden Hemard, center, rerturns a fumble 52 yards for a touchdown during a 35-14 win over Barbe on Friday. point run tied the game with 8:48 left in the third. That drive ignited four consecutive touchdown possessions for the Cougars. “Barbe was doing some really great things up front in the first half,” said Craft, who finished with 85 yards and three touchdowns on 10 carries. “So we had to figure out what we wanted to do against them — in and out fronts. “In the second half, we knew our defense was going to get stops.” On Barbe’s first drive of the third quarter, Hemard was at it again, delivering a 9-yard sack of Gray to force a punt. “That play specifically, I sacked him, but it’s not just me sending the tone,” Hemard said. “It was our whole defense. I mean, it’s a mindset. We came out here knowing that they haven’t been in this situation before where they had to play. “In the second, third and fourth

quarters, we knew what we were going to do, and we came out and did it.” Defensive coordinator Terry Tidwell explained he noticed something that worked in the first half, so he made sure the Bucs saw it more in the second half. “We made some adjustments,” he said. “We did something in the first half that bothered them a good bit. So we came out in the second half, and we did it repeatedly, and it disrupted their blocking schemes a little bit.” Another big part of STM’s secret to success was linebacker Walker Pugh, who was all over the field once again. “He played ... well, Walker Pugh,” Tidwell said. “That’s what he does. He was challenged with, ’You can’t tackle No. 10,’ and he never missed No. 10 tonight. Every time they met head to head, No. 10 went to the ground.”

No. 10 is Barbe running back Jordin Griffin, who still rushed for 142 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries. “He might be the fastest running back we’ve ever played, so we knew we had to get, like, four or five guys to the ball every play,” Pugh said. “So we worked on pursuit every day, I practiced, and we just got the guys to the ball. “We’re just gritting. We play every play 100%.” Gray also put up respectable numbers with 109 yards rushing and a score on 18 carries, but only threw for 88 yards. “We just tackled a lot better in the second half,” Tidwell said. “We didn’t tackle like we should have in the first half. We weren’t making contact and bringing them down on that first hit. We talked about it at halftime.” Leading 28-14 midway through the fourth quarter, the Cougars

made the biggest stop of the night. Barbe had driven 78 yards on 13 plays in 6:38 only to fall inches short at the 2 on a Gray scramble. “That was a big one,” Tidwell said. “We told them that they’re an edge team, so make sure you don’t give up the weak side edge just because they may start ﬂowing this way. He came back that way, and our guys were persistent and just kept going.” STM’s offense then drove 98 yards on nine plays for a 21-point lead with 3:31 left. STM rushed for 277 yards with Conner Baer adding 68 yards on six carries. “We’ve got three dudes — me, Owen Bailey and Conner Baer,” Craft said. “And how about that Oline? I mean, they opened up holes like that ... that was great.” Email Kevin Foote at kfoote@ theadvocate.com.

Southside ground attack too much for Lafayette High BY ERIC NARCISSE Staff writer

Southside coach Jess Curtis said the game plan against Lafayette High on Friday was simply to play the Sharks’ style of football. Behind a physical offensive line and hard running by their backﬁeld, that’s exactly what the Sharks did en route to beating the Mighty Lions 35-20. “We wanted to play Southside football,” Curtis said. “To play a physical brand of football. Control the tempo of the game and be physical. Be the more physical team.” Offensively, the Sharks were outstanding. Led by running backs Justin Williams and Kollen Francois, the Sharks ran the ball 52 times for 411 yards. “I can say something about all of those guys. Kollen’s lightning,” Curtis said. “We have thunder and lightning back there. I’ve got two guys who can run through you, and Kollen (can run by you). We’re proud of him. That’s kind of our offense. Something’s going to be there. They are going to give us

something, and we take what they give us.” Williams finished with a gamehigh 214 yards and two touchdowns on 33 carries, while Francois rushed for 82 yards and three touchdowns on eight carries. “That’s what he is (a tone-setter),” Curtis said of Williams. “We kind of got away from that early in the year. Here at Southside, we call them dirty yards. You may have to get a 3-yard gain and that kind of sets our offense up. We ride Justin. Justin is always going to set the tone for this offense.” Francois gave the Sharks an early 7-0 lead with a 12-yard touchdown run that capped a 10-play, 58-yard opening drive with 7:28 remaining in the first quarter. After the Lions responded on the first play of the ensuing possession — a 62-yard touchdown pass from Richmond Saunier to Brendan Shullaw — to tie the game at 7-7, the Sharks saw Williams take the second play of their next possession 54 yards for a touchdown for a 14-7 lead with 6:25 remaining in the first quarter. Williams rushed for 119 yards and a touchdown on 17

ﬁrst-half carries. In the second quarter, the Lions once again tied the game 14-14 with a 12-yard touchdown run by sophomore running back Jaevion Allen with 11:10 left in the first half. Midway through the second quarter, the Sharks regained the lead for good, as Francois scored on a 3-yard touchdown run to give Southside a 21-14 lead with 5:02 left until halftime. Southside (4-3) extended its lead to 28-14 with 9:01 remaining in the third quarter on Francois’ third touchdown — a 31-yard run. Lafayette High (4-3) cut the deﬁcit to 28-20 with 8:30 remaining in the game on a 37-yard touchdown pass from Saunier to Shullaw, but that’s as close as the Lions would get. Williams closed out the game with a 27-yard touchdown run with less than three minutes remaining to give the Sharks a commanding 35-20 lead. “It’s a big win. … This team has grown a lot,” Curtis said. “(We’re) real talented. A lot of people have counted us out. We like that. Kids have kind of reset. … When we do

FILE PHOTO By LEE BALL

Kollen Francois of Southside, shown carrying the ball against Westgate on Sept. 10, scored three touchdowns against Lafayette on Friday. what we do here at Southside, we are hard to beat.” The Lions’ star running back Jaden Celestine, who ﬁnished with 13 yards on three carries, didn’t return to the game after a secondquarter carry with nine minutes remaining. The Lions were led offensively by Saunier, who completed 10 of

19 passes for 195 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 42 yards on six carries. He also caught a pass on a trick play that fell short of the end zone for 3 yards. Saunier’s favorite target on the night was Shullaw, who caught six passes for 147 yards and two touchdowns.

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The Acadiana Advocate l theadvocate.com l Sunday, October 18, 2026 l 5C

PREP REWIND

Cecilia ﬂexes muscles in rout of Beau Chene

BY MIKE COPPAGE Contributing writer

Until proven otherwise, the Cecilia Bulldogs reign supreme in District 5-4A. On Friday night for homecoming, the Bulldogs thrived behind the “angry running” of senior Deondre Briscoe, who scored all four of his touchdowns in the first half of a 61-14 win over previously unbeaten Beau Chene. “Look, he was fired up about this game,” Cecilia coach Cody Champagne said of the 6-foot, 200-pound Briscoe, who ran for three TDs and caught a 10-yard pass from quarterback Layne Champagne for a 14-0 lead early in the first quarter. “I think he had a chip on his shoulder.” Briscoe, who finished with 196 yards rushing on 16 carries, pushed his season total over the 700-yard mark. After the Bulldogs (5-2, 2-0) recovered the opening kickoff at the Beau Chene 20, Briscoe carried three times for all of the drive’s yardage. “Look, it’s homecoming,” coach Champagne said. “We could’ve handled it any other way, but the guys came out and played well. There are some little small things we have to clean up. We’ll have to make those plays next week (against Opelousas), for sure.” In part, Champagne was referring to the offense going threeand-out and then the Bulldogs getting their punt blocked by Beau Chene, which capitalized on a short field with a 3-yard Christian Wheeler TD run for a 14-6 deficit with 2:26 left in the first quarter. Tyrese Henry ran for a 71-yard TD that cut the Bulldogs’ lead to 38-14 early in the second quarter, but Beau Chene (6-1, 1-1) gained only 100 yards in the first half. “We put the defense in a bad spot on the first TD, but other

Contributing writer

Down 10 points at halftime to their bitter rivals, there was no way Loreauville football players Christopher Jones and Thomas Carter were going to let the Tigers lose to Catholic-New Iberia. Jones led a defense that pitched a secondhalf shutout, and Carter’s touchdown run in the third quarter Christopher was the turning Jones point as the Tigers rallied for a 12-10 win over the Panthers on Friday night. “We were asleep in the second quarter,” Carter said. “We were down, we weren’t waking up — we knew we had to wake up and do something.” It took until the midway point of the third quarter for the Tigers to ﬁnally wake up. They did with

Thursday’s scores Acadiana Renaissance 43, McMain 8 Albany 28, Loranger 20 Alexandria 48, Pineville 10 Amite 42, Independence 6 Baker 37, Belaire 6 Brother Martin 36, John Curtis Christian 28 Captain Shreve 40, Natchitoches Central 27 Crowley 26, Mamou 12 DeRidder 31, South Beauregard 21 Easton 22, East Jefferson 6 Grand Lake 49, Merryville 12 H.L. Bourgeois 53, General Trass (Lake Providence) 2 Higgins 21, Haynes Academy 6 Jennings 48, Westlake 7 Lafayette Christian Academy 43, Franklin 6 Lake Arthur 42, Kinder 0 Lake Charles College Prep 39, Sterlington 38 Oakdale 28, Elton 24 Ouachita Christian 65, Lincoln Preparatory School 12 Patrick Taylor 27, Landry/Walker 26 Plaquemine 55, Tara 0 Rayne 26, LaGrange 0 Sacred Heart 49, North Central 14 South Terrebonne 37, Assumption 29 Sumner 48, Bogalusa 12

Friday’s scores

PHOTO By ROBIN MAy

Cecilia senior Deondre Briscoe carries the ball downfield during the Bulldogs’ rout of Beau Chene on Friday. than that, we were lights out,” said Champagne, who got a fumble recovery from Chance Guidry and an interception by Kinley Etienne in the first half, which ended with CHS ahead 52-14. Wheeler, the star running back who is filling in for injured QB Braydon Marks, finished with 8 yards on 16 carries. Wheeler and Cayson Woods were a combined 1-of-5 passing. “We have to keep getting better,” Champagne said. “We wanted to hit some shots tonight (with downfield passing) but didn’t get the opportunity.” Layne Champagne completed 8 of 16 passes for 118 yards with two TDs to 6-4 wide receiver Ashton Ruffin. Aiden Landry kicked a 21-yard field goal for the Bulldogs, who

gained 325 yards in the first half. When Champagne left the game briefly after an awkward slide following an 8-yard gain, star LSU receiver commitment Braylon Calais moved to QB and directed a scoring drive. “I still think our best offense is ahead of us,” Champagne said. Calais caught two passes for 76 yards and ran for 30 yards on three carries, the final one an 8-yard QB keeper with just over a minute left in the first half. Briscoe scored on runs of 19 and 25 yards for a 38-6 lead at the 11:38 mark of the second quarter. Backup QB Cane Stelly got into the end zone and ran the offense well with Chase Narcisse at tailback. “Deondre ran angry tonight,” coach Champagne said. “I’m super proud of our guys.”

Loreauville uses second-half rally to beat rival Catholic-NI BY NEAL McCLELLAND

WEEK 7 FOOTBALL REPORT

Carter’s touchdown run, which cut a 10-0 Catholic High halftime lead to 10-6 with about ﬁve minutes left in the the period. Up to that point, Loreauville’s night was marked with fumbles, missed opportunities and frustrating penalties. “We kept having our chances in the first half, but we kept shooting ourselves in the foot,” Loreauville coach Terry Martin said. “To be able to overcome all the mistakes, all the penalties that we had, I’m really proud of what the kids did tonight.” Loreauville’s mistakes in the game were numerous. The Tigers turned the ball over four times, had a Carter 53-yard touchdown run called back by not one but two penalties, kept two Catholic scoring drives alive by committing penalties and dropped an interception that surely would have been a picksix. “We just weren’t playing well and kept making mistakes,”

Jones said. Coming out of halftime, though, the Tigers finally found their footing. Turning to its workhorse, Loreauville started running the ball in between the tackles. “They kept giving me the ball, and I had to keep running it to help my team win,” Carter said. “That’s kind of been our identity all year,” Martin said. “Thomas just had a good night running the ball.” On defense, the Tigers were finally able to stop the Panthers’ running and passing attacks. “We knew we could stop them,” Christopher’s brother Christian Jones said. “We just had to do it.” And twice in the final four minutes of the game, Loreaville’s defense was able to stop Catholic to preserve the win. “It’s a big win, but we have LCA next week,” Martin said. “We’ll find out at practice starting tomorrow how they’ll use this win tonight.”

Airline 47, Huntington 20 Ascension Catholic 26, St. Martin’s Episcopal 21 Ascension Christian 31, White Castle 20 Ascension Episcopal 42, Hanson Memorial 0 Avoyelles 30, St. Martinville 20 B.T. Washington 26, Bossier 20 Bonnabel 20, West Jefferson 6 Bunkie 44, Buckeye 7 Catholic-Pointe Coupee 51, Varnado 14 Catholic High 70, Zachary 38 CHEF 36, Amite School, Miss. 20 Caldwell Parish 56, D’Arbonne Woods 7 Calvary Baptist 61, North Caddo 0 Carencro 54, Breaux Bridge 6 Cecilia 61, Beau Chene 14 Cedar Creek 35, Glenbrook 15 Centerville 44, Gueydan 14 Columbia Academy, Miss. 28, Oak Forest 0 Country Day 70, Fisher 13 De La Salle 42, Jefferson Davis, Miss. 14 Delhi Charter 41, Madison 12 Delta Charter 70, Holy Savior Menard 24 Destrehan 35, Hahnville 14 Dunham 35, Donaldsonville 6 Dutchtown 20, Tioga 16 East Ascension 49, Live Oak 24 East Beauregard 52, Pickering 8 East Feliciana 50, Helix Mentorship 6 East Iberville 42, Highland Baptist 0 Ehret 28, Riverdale 3 Episcopal 42, Slaughter Charter 8 Eunice 30, Northwest 23 Franklinton 49, Pearl River 14 Hannan 26, Opelousas Catholic 7 Haughton 43, C.E. Byrd 33 Haynesville 50, Arcadia 6 Holy Cross 21, Chalmette 3 Homer 57, Magnolia Excellence 0 Iota 42, Port Barre 0 Iowa 56, St. Louis 21 Istrouma 12, Glen Oaks 6 Jeanerette 52, Vermilion Catholic 16 Jena 52, Grant 12 Kaplan 27, Parkview Baptist 6 Karr 27, Rummel 20 Kennedy 26, McDonogh #35 7 Kentwood 53, Central Private 0 Lafayette Renaissance 32, Teurlings Catholic 27 Lakeside 20, Winnfield 14 Leesville 67, North Vermilion 22 Loreauville 12, New Iberia Catholic 10 Loyola Prep def. Carroll, forfeit Lutcher 35, St. James 20 Madison Prep 53, Brusly 20 Mandeville 44, Ponchatoula 7 Mangham 49, Ferriday 16 Mansfield 40, Woodlawn (SH) 20 Many 43, Red River 22 Marksville 32, Erath 29 Montgomery 64, Ringgold 30 Notre Dame 50, Basile 0 Neville 49, Franklin Parish 24 North DeSoto 57, Southwood 6 North Webster 28, Bastrop 8 Northshore 24, Hammond 13 Oak Grove 58, Beekman 23 Opelousas 33, Livonia 0 Parkway 46, Benton 27 Pine 50, Northlake Christian 0 Catholic-Pointe Coupee 51, Varnado 14 Prairieville 26, Walker 7 Reed 28, Abbeville 20 Rosepine 47, Plain Dealing 0 Salmen 20, Lakeshore 17 Sam Houston 33, Acadiana 20 Scotlandville 27, Broadmoor 26 Shaw 34, Belle Chasse 6 Shreveport Northwood 55, Minden 20 Slidell 19, Covington 7 South Terrebonne 37, Assumption 29 Southern Lab 53, North Iberville 0 Southside 35, Lafayette 20 Springfield 42, Northeast 35 St. Amant 27, Denham Springs 21 St. Charles Catholic 63, Patterson 18 St. Edmund Catholic 46, Academy of Sacred Heart-Grand Coteau 8 St. Helena 26, St. Thomas Aquinas 7 St. Michael 42, McKinley 0 St. Thomas More 35, Barbe 14 Sulphur 55, New Iberia 7 Tallulah 22, Briarfield 12 Terrebonne 27, Central Lafourche 23 Thibodaux 28, East St. John 27 Tri-County Aca., Miss. 48, Riverfield Academy 8 Union Parish 27, Richwood 6 University 66, Collegiate Baton Rouge 0 Vandebilt Catholic 46, Berwick 0 Vidalia 18, Rayville 8 Vinton 42, DeQuincy 3 Welsh 56, Washington-Marion 13 West Feliciana 49, Port Allen 0 West Monroe 49, Ouachita Parish 0 West St. Mary 26, Delcambre 22 Westminster Christian (LAF) 48, Central Catholic 7 Willow School 43, Discovery 0 Woodlawn 46, Liberty 14 Wossman 54, West Ouachita 51

Saturday’s scores

Carver 28, Abramson 21

Carencro 54, Breaux Bridge 6 Team First Downs Yards Rushing Yards Passing Passes (C-A-HI) Punts-avg. Fumbles-lost Penalties-yards SCORING SUMMARY

BB 8 28 50 3-8-0 3-17 5-4 8-140

CHS 18 285 136 9-11-0 0-0 0-0 11-95

Eunice scores comeback win over Northwest BY RHETT MANUEL Contributing writer

With three minutes left and a perfect season on the line, the Eunice Bobcats and head coach Andre Vige felt an unfamiliar feeling. Doubt. This was, after all, the Northwest Raiders. Familiarity between the Bobcats and Raiders runs deep. The rivals separated by a 20-minute drive face each other every season and typically end up in a close game. So when Eunice went down 23-22 with 3:07 remaining following a 6-yard Jayden Lazard touchdown, surprise was hardly

in the stadium. But Eunice found a way again with senior running back Devontre Williams scoring two secondhalf touchdowns to lift the Bobcats to a 30-23 win. “I love these guys,” Vige said. “They give me everything they have. We didn’t play our best game tonight, and (Northwest) was playing a little harder than us. “But this team has resiliency and never gives up.” Eunice struggled for yardage in the ﬁrst half against Northwest’s defense. Annual games breed familiarity, and Northwest knew what to expect early from Eunice. “We see them every year,”

Northwest coach Chris Edwards said. “They know what to expect from us, and it’s the same on their side. It was just keying in on those assignments.” But when Northwest keyed in on the running game, Eunice used a pair of touchdown passes to take a 15-0 lead with 6:19 remaining in the ﬁrst half. The second pass, a 35-yarder from Beau Brown to Tyler Collins, was thrown into the wind and down the sideline. “He’s got a pretty strong arm,” Vige said of Brown. “We thought (Collins) was wide open, but their defensive back closed on it and (Collins) made a great play.” Northwest responded with a touchdown right before half-

time, a 5-yard connection between quarterback Chase Dupre and Keadon Jenkins, and a Lazard 7-yarder to tie the game. That’s when Williams sprung into action following an interception by Eunice junior cornerback Demarkis Williams, his younger brother. Williams’ 53-yarder put Eunice up 22-15 with 11 minutes to go. After the lead change and the winner, Williams gave all the credit to those around him. “I’m just grateful,” he said. “This is a great group of guys who all want to work and block for each other. “After all those losses, it’s fun to be winning these games with my guys.”

Breaux Bridge 0 6 0 0 —0 Carencro 14 10 20 10 —54 CAR — Carson Gurzi 41 run (run failed) CAR — Dentrell Morrison 13 pass from Gurzi (Holden Links pass from Gurzi) BBHS — Dakowen Celestine 16 run (kick failed CAR — Cardaye Batiste 1 run (Matthew Latham kick) CAR — Latham 29 FG CAR — Batiste 40 run (kick failed) CAR — Malachi Menard 45 run (Links kick) CAR — Batiste 2 run (Latham kick) CAR — Roland Bruno 3 run (Latham kick) CAR — Latham 33 FG

Kaplan 27, Parkview 6 Team KHS PB First Downs 25 4 Yards Rushing 384 (-5) Yards Passing 36 45 Passes (C-A-HI) 6-7-0 4-9-2 Punts-avg. 0-0 2-52 Fumbles-lost 3-1 3-0 Penalties-yards 6-65 2-20 SCORING SUMMARY Kaplan 14 0 6 7 — 27 Parkview Baptist 0 0 0 6 —6 KAP — Jeremy Roy 35 run (De’Maurion Cormier run) KAP — Cormier 20 run (Run failed) KAP — Cormier 3 run (Run failed) KAP — Jayden Hargrave 2 run (Mathiew Breaux kick) PARK — BJ Singleton 95 kickoff return (Kick failed)

Lafayette Christian 43, Franklin 6 Team FHS LCA First Downs 13 20 Yards Rushing 54 174 Yards Passing 130 183 Passes (C-A-HI) 11-30-0 14-21-0 Punts-avg. 4-34 0-0 Fumbles-lost 3-3 2-2 Penalties-yards 12-113 11-90 SCORING SUMMARY Franklin 6 0 0 0 — 6 LCA 6 9 14 14 — 43 FRAN — Jahiri Perry 69 pass (kick failed) LCA — Kyzer White 8 run (kick failed) LCA — Kaden Ledet 29 pass from Ty Hills (Jude Fairchild kick) LCA — Josh Wilson safety LCA — Ledet 82 kickoff return (Fairchild kick) LCA — Micah Whitlock 26 pass from Hills (Fairchild kick) LCA — Tristen Jones 39 pass from Hills (Fairchild kick) LCA — Whitlock 21 pass from Hills (Fairchild kick)

Southside 35, Lafayette High 20 Team First Downs Yards Rushing Yards Passing Passes (C-A-HI) Punts-avg. Fumbles-lost Penalties-yards

SHS 20 52-411 14 1-3-1 2-58.5 0-0 7-45

LHS 11 24-99 198 10-20-0 3-27 0-0 2-10

SCORING SUMMARY Southside 14 7 7 7 — 35 Lafayette 7 7 0 6 — 20 SHS — Kollen Francois 12 run (Jackson Fontenot kick) LHS — Brendan Shullaw 62 pass from Richmond Saunier (Damian Rubio kick) SHS — Justin Williams 54 run (Fontenot kick) LHS — Jaevion Allen 12 run (Rubio kick) SHS — Francois 3 run (Fontenot kick) SHS — Francois 31 run (Fontenot kick) LHS — Shullaw 37 pass from Saunier (Kick failed) SHS — Williams 27 run (Fontenot kick)

St. Edmund 46, Berchmans 8 Team BER STE First Downs 8 15 Yards Rushing 95 162 Yards Passing 43 185 Passes (C-A-HI) 3-8-0 10-15-1 Punts-avg. 3-39 2-13.5 Fumbles-lost 5-2 0-0 Penalties-yards 2-10 3-38 SCORING SUMMARY Berchmans 0 0 0 8 —8 St. Edmund 24 16 0 6 — 46 STE — Nathan Driggs 23 run (Ben Miller run) STE — Camdyn Loewer 16 run (Miller run) STE — Driggs 9 run (Miller run) STE — Cooper Berzas 1 run (Berzas run) STE — Jack Aucoin 17 pass from Loewer (Miller run) STE — Xander Langlinals 11 pass from Trip Fontenot (run failed) BER — Will Miller 4 run (Colston Davis pass from Will Miller)

St. Thomas More 35, Barbe 14 Team BHS STM First Downs 21 18 Yards Rushing 242 277 Yards Passing 88 118 Passes (C-A-HI) 13-22-1 5-11-0 Punts-avg. 3-36.3 2-30 Fumbles-lost 2-1 0-0 Penalties-yards 11-66 7-61 SCORING SUMMARY Barbe 7 7 0 0 — 14 STM 0 6 22 7 — 35 BAR — Jelandon Gray 5 run (Will Flavin kick) STM — Hayden Hemard 52 fumble return (kick failed) BAR — Jordin Grifﬁn 1 run (Flavin kick) STM — Landyn Craft 1 run (Craft run) STM — Jared Quoyeser 19 pass from Hemard (Jack Fontenot kick) STM — Craft 5 run (Fontenot kick) STM — Craft 43 run (Fontenot kick)

Westminster-Lafayette 48, Central Catholic 7 Team WCAL CC First Downs 12 9 Yards Rushing 389 -19 Yards Passing 33 134 Passes (C-A-HI) 1-2-0 15-24-2 Punts-avg. 0-0 5-29 Fumbles-lost 1-1 0-0 Penalties-yards 5-60 5-42 SCORING SUMMARY WCAL 21 27 0 0 — 48 CC 0 0 0 7 — 7 WCAL — Zade Prejean 21 run (Prejean kick) WCAL — Pierce Gable 39 run (Prejean kick) WCAL — Gable 5 run (Prejean kick) WCAL — Gable 62 run (Kick failed) WCAL— Prejean 77 run (Prejean kick) WCAL — Gable 64 run (Prejean kick) WCAL — Gable 33 int. return (Prejean kick) CCMC — Luke Vaccarella 23 pass for Kyler Willis (Kick good)

WEEK 8 SCHEDULE Thursday’s games Sulphur (5-2) at Acadiana (4-3) Cecilia (5-2) at Opelousas (5-2) Northwest (4-3) at Rayne (3-4) Franklin (3-3) at Delcambre (5-2) Westminster (3-4) at Collegiate-BR (0-5)

Friday’s games

New Iberia (1-6) at Lafayette (4-3) St. Thomas More (6-1) at Southside (4-3) Acadiana Renaissance (3-4) at Lafayette Renaissance (5-2) Loreauville (5-2) at Lafayette Christian (5-2) Livonia (1-5) at Carencro (3-4) Hanson (3-4) at Westminster-Lafayette (7-0) Liberty (0-7) at Northside (1-6) Teurlings (1-6) at Westgate (6-0) Lake Charles Prep (6-1) at North Vermilion (5-2) Abbeville (2-5) at Erath (3-4) Crowley (3-4) at Church Point (4-2) Breaux Bridge (0-7) at Beau Chene (6-1) Eunice (7-0) at Mamou (2-5) Iota (3-4) at Ville Platte (0-6) St. Martinville (2-5) at Kaplan (5-2) Catholic-NI (4-3) at West St. Mary (4-3) Lake Arthur (7-0) at Notre Dame (7-0) Houma Christian (1-6) at Gueydan (1-5) Highland Baptist (0-7) at Ascension Christian (7-0) Central Catholic (3-4) at Jeanerette (4-2) JS Clark (4-3) at Sacred Heart (7-0) St. Edmund (4-3) at Opelousas Catholic (1-6) Vermilion Catholic (1-6) at Centerville (3-4)

6C l Sunday, October 18, 2026 l theadvocate.com l The Acadiana Advocate

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SAINTS GAMEDAY

ROSTERS SAINTS No. Player Pos Ht Wt Exp College 1 Kool-Aid McKinstry CB 5-11 199 3 Alabama 2 Spencer Rattler QB 6-0 211 3 South Carolina 4 Oscar Delp TE 6-4 245 0 Georgia 5 Kendre Miller RB 6-0 220 4 TCU 6 Tyler Shough QB 6-5 219 2 Louisville 7 Jonas Sanker SAF 6-1 211 2 Virginia 10 Daniel Carlson K 6-5 222 9 Auburn 11 Zach Wilson QB 6-2 214 6 ByU 12 Chris Olave WR 6-0 187 5 Ohio State 13 Cedric Tillman WR 6-3 215 5 Tennessee 14 Devaughn Vele WR 6-5 210 3 Utah 17 Ryan Wright P 6-3 245 5 Tulane 18 Bryce Lance WR 6-3 204 0 North Dakota St. 19 Barion Brown WR 5-11 177 0 LSU 20 Pete Werner LB 6-3 242 6 Ohio State 21 Justin Reid SAF 6-1 207 9 Stanford 22 Martin Emerson Jr. CB 6-2 201 5 Mississippi State 23 Julian Blackmon SAF 6-0 202 7 Utah 25 D. Richardson CB 6-2 188 4 Mississippi St. 28 Danny Stutsman LB 6-3 233 2 Oklahoma 29 Quincy Riley CB 5-11 195 2 Louisville 31 Jordan Howden DB 6-0 209 4 Minnesota 33 Anfernee Jennings DE 6-2 255 7 Alabama 36 Lorenzo Styles Jr. SAF 6-0 194 0 Ohio State 41 Alvin Kamara RB 5-10 215 10 Tennessee 42 Mike Reid SAF 6-2 200 1 South Dakota 43 CJ Donaldson RB 6-1 230 0 Ohio State 44 Isaiah Stalbird LB 6-1 215 2 South Dakota St. 49 Zach Wood LS 6-3 255 10 SMU 50 Colby Wooden DL 6-4 273 4 Auburn 51 Cesar Ruiz OL 6-4 316 7 Michigan 52 Christen Miller DT 6-3 321 0 Georgia 53 Jaylan Ford LB 6-2 240 3 Texas 55 Kaden Elliss LB 6-2 238 8 Idaho 58 Chris Rumph II LB 6-2 244 6 Duke 65 Jeremiah Wright G 6-5 331 0 Auburn 66 William Sherman G 6-4 300 2 Colorado 72 Asim Richards OL 6-4 307 4 North Carolina 74 Mason Murphy T 6-5 315 0 Auburn 75 Taliese Fuaga T 6-6 324 3 Oregon State 76 David Edwards G 6-6 308 8 Wisconsin 78 Erik McCoy OL 6-4 303 8 Texas A&M 82 Treyton Welch TE 6-4 240 1 Wyoming 83 Juwan Johnson TE 6-4 245 7 Oregon 87 Noah Fant TE 6-4 249 8 Iowa 91 Vernon Broughton DL 6-5 311 2 Texas 92 Davon Godchaux DL 6-3 330 10 LSU 93 Nathan Shepherd DL 6-4 315 9 Fort Hays State 94 Cameron Jordan DE 6-4 287 16 California 95 John Ridgeway III DL 6-5 321 5 Arkansas 96 Carl Granderson DE 6-5 261 8 Wyoming 97 Khristian Boyd DL 6-2 320 3 Northern Iowa 98 Tyree Wilson DE 6-5 263 4 Texas Tech 99 Chase young DE 6-5 265 7 Ohio State

GIANTS No. Player Pos Ht Wt Exp College 1 Malik Nabers WR 6-0 200 3 LSU 2 Deonte Banks CB 6-2 200 4 Maryland 3 Abdul Carter OLB 6-3 252 2 Penn State 5 Kayvon Thibodeaux OLB 6-5 258 5 Oregon 8 Jevón Holland SAF 6-1 207 6 Oregon 9 Isaiah Likely TE 6-4 241 5 Coastal Carolina 12 Colton Hood CB 6-0 195 0 Tennessee 13 Jake Haener QB 6-1 200 3 Fresno State 15 Jordan Stout P 6-3 214 5 Penn State 17 Darnell Mooney WR 5-11 177 7 Tulane 18 J.J. McCarthy QB 6-3 219 3 Michigan 19 Jameis Winston QB 6-4 231 12 Florida State 20 Greg Newsome II CB 6-0 192 6 Northwestern 22 Dru Phillips CB 5-11 180 3 Kentucky 23 Najee Harris RB 6-1 232 6 Alabama 24 Ar’Darius Washington SAF 5-8 180 5 TCU 25 Jason Pinnock SAF 6-0 200 6 Pittsburgh 26 Devin Singletary RB 5-7 203 8 Florida Atlantic 27 Tyler Nubin SAF 6-2 210 3 Minnesota 28 Elijah Campbell DB 5-11 190 6 Northern Iowa 29 Tyrone Tracy Jr. RB 5-11 210 3 Purdue 31 Nic Jones CB 6-0 189 3 Ball State 34 Dominic Zvada K 6-3 187 0 Michigan 35 Nikko Reed CB 5-10 180 2 Oregon 41 Micah McFadden LB 6-2 232 5 Indiana 44 Cam Skattebo RB 5-11 215 2 Arizona State 45 Patrick Ricard FB 6-3 300 10 Maine 46 Zaire Barnes LB 6-1 232 4 Western Mich. 49 Tremaine Edmunds LB 6-4 251 9 Virginia Tech 51 Jack Kelly LB 6-1 240 0 ByU 52 Arvell Reese LB 6-4 243 0 Ohio State 53 Jihad Ward OLB 6-5 285 10 Illinois 54 Malik Harrison LB 6-3 255 7 Ohio State 58 Ben Mann LS 6-5 232 0 Boston College 60 Bryan Hudson C 6-5 305 1 Louisville 61 J.Michael Schmitz Jr. C 6-4 320 4 Minnesota 64 Aaron Stinnie OL 6-3 312 9 James Madison 65 Francis Mauigoa OL 6-6 335 0 Miami (FL) 71 Marcus Mbow OL 6-5 300 2 Purdue 72 Jermaine Eluemunor OL 6-4 338 10 Texas A&M 74 J.C. Davis OL 6-4 322 0 Illinois 76 Jon Runyan Jr. G 6-4 307 7 Michigan 78 Andrew Thomas T 6-5 315 7 Georgia 84 Theo Johnson TE 6-6 264 3 Penn State 85 Chris Manhertz TE 6-6 235 11 Canisius 86 Thomas Fidone II TE 6-6 255 2 Nebraska 88 Malachi Fields WR 6-4 222 0 Notre Dame 89 Charlie Jones WR 6-0 188 5 Purdue 91 Darius Alexander DL 6-4 310 2 Toledo 93 Shelby Harris DT 6-2 288 12 Illinois State 97 Bobby Jamison-Travis DL 6-3 328 0 Auburn 98 DJ Reader DL 6-3 335 11 Clemson 99 C.J. Okoye DL 6-6 365 2

INJURY REPORT SAINTS OUT: LB Kaden Elliss (calf), EDGE Anfernee Jennings (knee). QUESTIONABLE: RB Alvin Kamara (back), WR Chris Olave (illness), DL Nathan Shepherd (illness), DB Lorenzo Styles Jr. (knee), LS Zach Wood (calf).

GIANTS OUT: CB Colton Hood (concussion), TE Theo Johnson (neck), S Tyler Nubin (neck). QUESTIONABLE: OLB Abdul Carter (calf), OT Jermaine Eluemunor (calf), OT Andrew Thomas (groin). LIMITED: CB Greg Newsome II (groin).

FOUR THINGS TO WATCH

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RUN THE BALL

PLAY WITH URGENCY

Former Saints QB Jameis Winston is now running the Giants offense after Jaxson Dart’s Week 2 knee injury. Winston (20-1 as the starter) has thrown three touchdowns and for more than 250 yards in each of the past two games. He’s been sacked nine times, so the Saints pass rushers need to get to him. The more uncomfortable they can make him, the better chance they have of forcing a mistake or two. Winston is completing just 57.6% of his passes.

The Saints are only as good as Tyler Shough makes them. Shough is coming off his worst game and will need to bounce back to get the offense going. Shough completed 16 of 26 passes for a career-low 96 yards and two interceptions in last week’s loss to the Vikings. Even worse, the Saints converted just 2 of 10 third downs. That’s simply not good enough. The Giants will send their fair share of pressure, but it won’t like the Vikings brought.

The Saints have plenty of weak spots, but none is bigger than their inability to run the football. They rank 29th in rushing, averaging 81.8 yards per game. Their 3.5 yards per carry is 28th in the NFL. The Giants may be just exactly what the Saints need to finally get the ground game going. They are allowing 5.2 yards per carry, which is 30th in the league. So if the Saints can’t run against them, they may not be able to run against anybody this season.

If losing three straight home games isn’t enough to light a fire under the Saints, perhaps the words of owner Gayle Benson earlier this week will. Benson called the Saints’ start to the season “unacceptable.” The players heard the message loud and clear. Now that we know the Saints heard Benson, it’s time for them to show it on the field. The Saints, still in the thick of the NFC South race, have played better on the road. Maybe that trend continues. Rod Walker

STAFF PHOTO By DAVID GRUNFELD

From front left, Saints guard Cesar Ruiz, center Erik McCoy and guard David Edwards line up in front of quarterback Tyler Shough during the first half against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sept. 27 at the Caesars Superdome.

SAINTS

Continued from page 1C the team’s 15-play, 66-yard drive to players. To offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier, the series was an example of how the run game is supposed to look. Physical. Downhill. Creating movement. “That’s what we’re capable of,” Nussmeier said. To this point, those clips have been hard to ﬁnd. Like last season, the Saints have one of the worst rushing attacks in the league. Their 3.5 yards per carry ranks 28th in the NFL. Is it the running backs? Is it the line? Is it the scheme itself? The blame can be passed around. But the line hasn’t generated enough physicality consistently. Moore regularly speaks about the importance of creating a push to attack the second level of the defense. But this season, according to Next Gen Stats, the Saints’ running backs have averaged 0.83 yards before contact, also 28th. The stat suggests defenses are making contact with the backs quickly in part because there’s little space for them to run. The line has done its job at times. It ranks 16th in an ESPN metric called run block win rate, which judges whether a unit or player can sustain a block for 2.5 seconds or longer. And according to Next Gen Stats, the Saints have rushed for 81 fewer yards than expected. That stat suggests the running backs aren’t taking advantage of their blocks. Whatever the case, the outcome hasn’t been what the Saints have wanted. “Our motto is and always will be, ‘Take care of the down guys first,’ ” center Erik McCoy said. “That’s how you create the most interior push. Do I think there’s room for growth there? Yes. It’s hit and miss. Some plays yes; some plays no. Some games yes; some games no. There’s not a consensus.” Individually, the offensive linemen are also hit and miss when it comes to run blocking. McCoy ranks ninth among all interior linemen in run block win rate at 77%. Edwards is at 75.2%, followed by tackles Taliese Fuaga at 74.1% and Asim Richards at 72.2%. Guard Cesar Ruiz is last among the current starters at 71.6%. Kelvin Banks, before going down with an ankle injury, led the Saints at 80.6%. The league average run block win rate among offensive linemen with at least 100 snaps is 72.1%. “Success in the run game starts and ends with, ‘Did we do our job that we practiced at the beginning of the week?’ ” Edwards said. “Did I use the technique that applies to the defense’s

technique? Did I hit the block the way ting them in obvious passing situations, that Erik is expecting me to hit the which in turn makes it easier for opposblock? Did I hit the block that Asim is ing teams to apply pressure. But the expecting me to block? Saints often leave their tackles on an is“I don’t worry about the back’s track. I land with no help. don’t worry about the tight ends. I worry According to Next Gen Stats, Shough’s about my role within the overall big pic86 pressures lead the league, and the second-year quarterback ranks 15th in ture. … Then you just try to get everyone pressure rate at 38.3%. His play style to do that together, and that’s when you also opens him up to a higher sack rate have successful run games and high efsince he has an aggressive mindset and ficiency outputs.” tries to keep plays alive. Cornerstone issues When the Saints give up pressure, they One reason the Saints aggressively give it up quickly, with opponents’ averpursued Edwards in the offseason is that left guard appeared to be the missage time to pressure just 2.59 seconds, the NFL’s seventh-fastest speed. ing piece for a promising offensive line. Per FTN Fantasy, which charts presThrough five games, the Saints’ splashy signing has been mostly fine. sures differently than Pro Football FoHe’s allowed 11 pressures, according cus and Next Gen Stats, seven of Fuaga’s to Pro Football Focus, but allowed pressures have zero sacks. According come in under 2.5 seconds. to ESPN, he holds a pass In his third season, block win rate of 85.1%. Fuaga’s regression raises But a greater concern uncomfortable questions. has emerged, one that New Orleans will have to changes the potential decide in the offseason long-term outlook of the whether to pick up the line. 24-year-old’s fifth-year opThe tackles haven’t tion, projected to be $22.3 been cornerstones. million. And that’s a large Banks suffered a serinumber for a tackle who has gotten beaten as often ous ankle injury in Week 2 as Fuaga. that reportedly will keep If his option is declined, him out at least until Dewould the Saints be better cember. DAVID EDWARDS, off trying Fuaga at guard Richards, his replaceSaints offensive guard — the spot where many ment, has struggled. draft experts thought if Despite giving up only he’d be better suited for one pressure against the given his size. That would then leave Vikings, Richards has given up a presthe Saints searching for another tackle, sure rate of 12.7% — the NFL’s secondwhich may require another premium highest rate, according to Pro Football draft pick. Focus. The Saints flirted with benching Since drafting McCoy with a secondRichards for third-string tackle Mason round pick in the 2019 draft, the Saints Murphy against the Vikings but stuck have used a first- or second-round pick with Richards after Murphy was unon an offensive lineman with a third even in his lone drive. of those selections. That’s tied for the Richards isn’t the only Saints tackle league’s second-highest rate, behind in the top 10 of pressure rate allowed. only the Texans, who have drafted seven Fuaga ranks eighth at 9.4%. And beoffensive linemen across 18 first- or seccause the Saints throw the ball so much, Fuaga actually leads the league in total ond-round picks since 2019. pressures allowed with 21. General manager Mickey Loomis beRight below Fuaga in pressure rate lieves in investing heavily in the trenches allowed is Los Angeles Chargers tackle — 18% of his picks have been offensive Trevor Penning, the Saints’ first-round linemen, the 14th-highest rate among all bust whose own inconsistencies led New teams since 2002 — but the upswing of Orleans to draft Fuaga. late reflects some of the Saints’ problems “We’ve played in a couple obvious pass in either identifying or developing the ofsituations, and those become challenging fensive line. for everyone,” Moore said. “We’ve got to The Saints drafted Fuaga because do a better job overall as an offense to they missed on Penning. A year later, execute and play cleaner football. Tali’s the Saints drafted Banks with the ninth certainly had some good moments in this overall pick, partly because it let Fuaga season, and like any player, he’s just trymove from left to right tackle, his college position. ing to get better.” More resources may be required soon. The Saints’ approach hasn’t done any favors for pass protection. Moore is right that they haven’t helped Email Matthew Paras at their linemen by falling behind and putmatt.paras@theadvocate.com

“Success in the run game starts and ends with, ‘Did we do our job that we practiced at the beginning of the week?’ ”

The Acadiana Advocate l theadvocate.com l Sunday, October 18, 2026 l 7C

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SAINTS at GIANTS

Noon Sunday, East Rutherford, N.J. Line: Saints by 1½ (Over/Under: 46½) TV: FOX | Radio: KMDL-FM, 97.3; KPEL-AM, 1420

six-day-a-week newsletter

OFFENSIVE LEADERS Saints

Giants

PASSING

Player

Cmp-Att-Pct Yds TD Int

Tyler Shough

137-205-66.8

1299

RUSHING

Player

Att

Net

Avg TD

Player

Rec Yards Avg TD

Player

30 29 28 16

128 83 86 72

4.3 2.9 3.1 4.5

Chris Olave Devaughn Vele Juwan Johnson Alvin Kamara Travis Etienne Noah Fant

39 25 25 13 11 9

537 252 248 41 51 73

6 3

Net

81 27 11

3 0

Avg TD

294 97 54

3.6 3.6 4.9

1 0 0

RECEIVING 13.8 10.1 9.9 3.2 4.6 8.1

1 2 3 0 0 3

Isaiah Likely Malik Nabers Malachi Fields Cam Skattebo Darnell Mooney Devin Singletary

Rec Yards Avg TD 33 29 10 10 8 4

284 329 146 79 109 22

8.6 11.3 14.6 7.9 13.6 5.5

4 2 1 0 0 1

KICKING

XPM XPA FGM FGA

Daniel Carlson

805 250

Att

Cam Skattebo Najee Harris Jaxson Dart

KICKING Player

76-132-57.6 26-34-76.5

RUSHING

RECEIVING Player

Cmp-Att-Pct Yds TD Int

Jameis Winston Jaxson Dart

0 2 2 1

Travis Etienne Kendre Miller Alvin Kamara Tyler Shough

PASSING

Player

XPM XPA FGM FGA

Dominic Zvada

DEFENSIVE LEADERS TACKLES Tot Solo Ast TFL Sk

Pete Werner Jonas Sanker Danny Stutsman Justin Reid Julian Blackmon Kaden Elliss Kool-Aid McKinstry Carl Granderson Quincy Riley Davon Godchaux Nathan Shepherd Colby Wooden Tyree Wilson Chase Young Khristian Boyd Isaiah Stalbird Cameron Jordan Anfernee Jennings Vernon Broughton

35 33 31 29 26 24 21 16 14 13 12 12 11 9 9 9 8 7 6

18 22 13 20 14 11 1 7 9 4 3 4 6 5 5 5 2 3 1

17 11 18 9 12 13 7 9 5 9 9 8 5 4 4 4 6 4 5

3 1 0 1 0 2 0 4 0 1 0 1 1 3 2 0 0 0 0

Player

Tot Yds Avg TD PD

Julian Blackmon

Love between Winston, TEAM STATS the Saints still remains “I’m grateful for it. I love that organization. My heart and soul is with Who Dat.” JAMEIS WINSTON, Giants quarterback “Teammates always respect Jameis,” Saints defensive end Cam Jordan said. “On the outside looking in, you think he’s light and kind-hearted. And he is kind-hearted. But he’s as focused as they come. In his mind, he practices like he’s the No. 1 (quarterback) that he was and that he now is. I think it goes a long way with having a professional at quarterback like Jameis. Whatever you want to put on him, winnability, whatever it is. He gets the job done.” The Saints were the team that gave Winston a chance after the Tampa Bay Buccaneers replaced him with Tom Brady. He started just 10 games in New Orleans. He sat behind Drew Brees in 2020. The next year he beat out Taysom Hill for the starting job in a training camp battle that divided the fanbase. In his very first start, he threw five touchdowns to beat Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers in a game moved to Jacksonville, Florida, because of Hurricane Ida. “That win was for the city,” Winston said that day. Winston would have loved to get more wins for the city that embraced him. He went 6-4 as the starter. His first season as a starter ended a month after that Packers game when he suffered a season-ending knee injury on Halloween against the Bucs, the team that drafted him with the No. 1 overall pick six years earlier. The Saints won that game to improve to 5-2. They have gone 32-51 since. Winston started the first three games of the 2022 season, but he never got his job back after a back and foot injury. He finished that year as Andy Dalton’s backup and spent the 2023 season as Derek Carr’s backup. That was Winston’s last season in New Orleans. His final play in a Saints uniform came in the regular-season finale against the Atlanta Falcons. He was supposed to take the snap from McCoy

and take a knee in the waning seconds of the lopsided win. Instead, he handed the ball to running back Jamaal Williams, who hadn’t scored a touchdown all year. That was Winston, choosing to shun conventional wisdom to do something for one of his teammates. Winston never has been afraid of taking chances. There are times when he will throw a pass that makes you say, “Wow, how did he do that?” And there are other times he may throw an interception that makes you say, “Dang, why did he do that?” Some have labeled his willingness to take risks as the Jameis Winston Experience. “Risk taker?” Jordan asked rhetorically. “He’s been a ball mover. You know he’s going for points, for sure. Sometimes you see it in every throw and it can be taken advantage of. At the same time, he can make all the throws, so you have to be aware of where he’s at and what he can do.” Winston has shown he’s willing to try anything. When he’s not playing football, he’s doing commercials or one of his side gigs, like being a correspondent for the Super Bowl or the World Cup. He signed with the Cleveland Browns after he left the Saints and stayed there for one season. He faced the Saints that year, completing 30 of 46 passes for 395 yards and two touchdowns in a 35-14 Saints win. Now he’s on his fourth NFL team. “I’m grateful to be a New York Football Giant,” Winston said. “And the New York Football Giants have given me the privilege to be their starting quarterback, and I’m going to honor that and do my very best at that.” And more times than not, the guys on Winston’s second NFL team will root for him. “Every other week, I am wishing him the best,” McCoy said. “Just not this one.”

Player

Tot Solo Ast TFL Sk

Arvell Reese 43 Tremaine Edmonds 41 Greg Newsome 22 Jevon Holland 21 Tyler Nubin 19 Andru Phillips 19 Abdul Carter 14 Deonte Banks 14 D.J. Reader 12 Chauncey Golston 12 Shelby Harris 10 Colton Hood 10 Zaire Barnes 8 Keyvon Thibodaux 6 Ar’Darius Washington 6 CJ Okoye 5 Brian Burns 4

30 27 15 13 14 16 4 9 8 9 4 7 5 1 4 2 4

13 14 7 8 5 3 10 5 5 3 6 3 3 5 2 3 0

4 3 0 0 0 2 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 0

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

INTERCEPTIONS Player

Jevon Holland Deonte Banks Arvell Reese Greg Newsome

Tot Yds Avg TD PD 3 1 1 1

0 98 8 0

0 1 0 0

OFFENSE PER GAME Yards gained: 322.0

OFFENSE PER GAME Yards gained: 308.2

Plays: 64.2

Plays: 62.6

PASS 240.2

Jameis Winston is not in New Orleans anymore, but New Orleans is still in him. Truth be told, it always will be. Memories of playing in the Superdome, attending secondline parades or just mingling with the locals on a random day in some New Rod Orleans neighWalker borhood tend to stick with a person. So those four years Winston spent as quarterback for the Saints have shaped the 12-year veteran, as he reminded the New York media Wednesday. Winston, now in his second season with the New York Giants (3-1-1), will play his former team Sunday when the reeling Saints (1-4) make the trip to MetLife Stadium. For Winston, who often talks about his appreciation for getting to play the game he has loved since he was a kid growing up in Alabama, the opportunity to face his former team means even more. “I’m grateful for it,” Winston said. “I love that organization. My heart and soul is with Who Dat.” So yeah, Winston still loves the Saints. And the Saints players who shared a locker room with him still love him. “He is the best,” Saints center Erik McCoy said. “Always in a good mood. Always going to see the bright side of things. Funny. And honestly, just a good guy to be around. I love the guy. I think anybody who has played with him would say that.” When the NFL schedule was announced in May, this game was expected to be a matchup between two of the ﬁrst three quarterbacks selected in the 2025 draft — the Giants’ Jaxson Dart and the Saints’ Tyler Shough. But Dart injured his knee in Week 2, opening the door for Winston. The Giants haven’t lost since Winston took over. They are 2-0-1 after last week’s tie against the Washington Commanders. Winston has thrown for 805 yards with six touchdowns and three interceptions. The Saints respect what he’s done.

1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2.5 0 0 0.5 0 1 4 1 0 0 0 0

INTERCEPTIONS

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By JEROME MIRON

New york Giants quarterback Jameis Winston warms up before a game against the Dallas Cowboys on Sept. 14 in Arlington, Texas. Winston played for the Saints from 2020-23.

TACKLES

Player

RUSH 81.8

PASS 41.0

RUSH 23.2

Turnovers: 2.20 INTERCEPTIONS 1.00

FUMBLES 1.20

PASS 199.2

RUSH 109.0

PASS 33.2

RUSH 29.4

Turnovers: 1.40 INTERCEPTIONS 0.60

FUMBLES 0.80

DEFENSE PER GAME Yards allowed: 361.0

DEFENSE PER GAME Yards allowed: 327.0

Turnovers forced: 1.00

Turnovers forced: 1.60

PASS 148.8

RUSH 212.2

INTERCEPTIONS 0.20

FUMBLES 0.80

SCORING PER GAME

SCORED ALLOWED

30.2

23.6

2026

PASS 199.4

RUSH 127.6

INTERCEPTIONS 1.20

FUMBLES 0.40

SCORING PER GAME

SCORED ALLOWED

22.5

18.0

21.2

21.8

2025

SCORED ALLOWED

25.8

22.4

2026

2025

CONVERSION SUCCESS

Third down

45.8%

Fourth down

25.0%

54.2%

Fail

44.3%

Fail

Fourth down

25.0%

55.7%

75.0% Convert

4 7 4 5

Convert

Fail

75.0% Convert

Fail

Convert

STAFF PREDICTIONS ROD WALKER

JEFF DUNCAN

SAINTS 26, GIANTS 17: Despite everything the Saints have shown the past three weeks, I think they can turn things around.At least for this one game. For whatever reason, they have played much better on the road than they have at home. This feels like a must-win.They can’t go to Paris on a four-game losing streak.

SAINTS 27, GIANTS 26: It might be now or never for the Saints, who were put on blast by owner Gayle Benson this week. This game could be a high-scoring affair as both defenses are missing key starters. Sometimes the most desperate team wins. In this case, it’s the Saints over their old friend Jameis Winston.

LUKE JOHNSON SAINTS 27, GIANTS 20: I don’t think the Saints are as bad as their three-game losing skid suggests, and I don’t think the Giants are as good as their 3-1-1 record suggests — especially with backup quarterback Jameis Winston standing in. After the comments from owner Gayle Benson this week, I expect the Saints to come out strong.

MATTHEW PARAS GIANTS 19, SAINTS 14: The Giants are a beatable opponent.And maybe this is the game that everything will come together for the Saints. But after Gayle Benson put on the pressure coupled with Kellen Moore’s inability to solve recurring problems, I’m less than confident this will be the week the Saints figure it out.

8C ● Sunday, October 18, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

lll

SCOREBOARD Odds

Sunday

FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG at JAX 1½ 2½ (42½) Houston Pittsburgh 1½ 2½ (39½) at TAMPA at IND 3½ 6½ (44½) Tennessee Chicago 3 1½ (52½) at ATL New Orleans 2½ 1½ (46½) at NYG at NE 9½ 7½ (43½) NY Jets Carolina 6½ 3½ (39) at PHILA Baltimore 7 3½ (39½) at CLE at LA RAMS 13½ 12½ (51½) Arizona at K.C. 2½ 7½ (41½) LAC Buffalo 6½ 4½ (53½) at VEGAS at GREEN BAY 3 1½ (53½) Dallas FAVORITE OPEN TODAY at SAN FRAN 5½ 7½

MLB

O/U UNDERDOG (52) Wash

Sunday

American League FAVORITE LINE Tampa Bay -122

NHL

Sunday

FAVORITE LINE at MINNESOTA -199 Carolina -204

UNDERDOG at CLEVELAND

LINE -110

UNDERDOG Columbus at CALGARY

LINE +160 +165

Pro basketball

Saturday, October 17: Golden State 68, Atlanta 64 Monday, October 19: Atlanta at Golden State, 7 p.m. Wednesday, October 21: Golden State at Atlanta, 7 p.m. Saturday, October 24: Golden State at Atlanta, noon x-Monday, October 26: Atlanta at Golden State, TBA x-Thursday, October 29: Golden State at Atlanta, TBA x-Saturday, October 31: Atlanta at Golden State, TBA

Pro football NFL Glance

AMERICAN CONFERENCE W Buffalo 4 New England 3 N.Y. Jets 2 Miami 0

L 1 2 3 5

T 0 0 0 0

Pct .800 .600 .400 .000

PF 164 110 93 70

PA 141 94 96 132

Jacksonville Indianapolis Houston Tennessee

W 4 2 1 0

L 1 3 4 5

T 0 0 0 0

Pct .800 .400 .200 .000

PF 123 124 110 58

PA 70 138 112 109

Baltimore Cleveland Pittsburgh Cincinnati

W 4 3 3 3

L 1 2 2 2

T 0 0 0 0

Pct .800 .600 .600 .600

PF 146 93 111 128

PA 119 112 109 109

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

L 0 2 2 5

T Pct 0 1.000 0 .667 0 .600 0 .000

PF 118 114 132 84

PA 77 125 129 129

L 1 3 3

T 1 0 0

PF 109 92 138

PA 106 112 136

West

NATIONAL CONFERENCE East N.Y. Giants Philadelphia Dallas

W 3 2 2

.300

115

149

Carolina Atlanta Tampa Bay New Orleans

W 2 2 1 1

L 2 3 4 4

T 0 0 0 0

Pct .500 .400 .200 .200

PF 121 119 100 118

PA 109 122 112 151

Minnesota Green Bay Detroit Chicago

W 5 3 3 3

L 0 2 2 2

T Pct 0 1.000 0 .600 0 .600 0 .600

PF 109 104 164 119

PA 64 112 148 96

W San Francisco 5 Seattle 3 L.A. Rams 2 Arizona 1

L 0 3 3 4

T Pct 0 1.000 0 .500 0 .400 0 .200

PF 154 148 119 108

PA 93 122 120 162

North

West

Thursday’s Games

Denver 17, Seattle 14, OT

Sunday’s Games

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

Major League Baseball

No. 2 Golden State 1, No. 4 Atlanta 0

North

Washington at San Francisco, 7:15 p.m.

(Best-of-5)

South

Monday’s Games

WNBA Playoff Glance (x-if necessary) Finals

East

South

Sports Betting Line NFL

Monday

Washington

Pct .700 .400 .400

MLB Postseason Glance LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

(Best-of-7)

American League

(TBS, TruTV, HBO Max)

Cleveland 2, Tampa Bay 1

Monday, Oct. 12: Game 1: Cleveland 7, Tampa Bay 3 Tuesday, Oct. 13: Game 2: Tampa Bay 3, Cleveland 1 Thursday, Oct. 15: Game 3: Cleveland 3, Tampa Bay 2 Saturday, Oct. 17: Game 4: Tampa Bay at Cleveland, n Sunday, Oct. 18: Game 5: Tampa Bay at Cleveland, 4 p.m. x-Monday, Oct. 19: Game 6: Cleveland at Tampa Bay, 7 p.m. x-Tuesday, Oct. 20: Game 7: Cleveland at Tampa Bay, 7 p.m.

National League Milwaukee 4, Los Angeles Dodgers 0

Sunday, Oct. 11: Game 1: Milwaukee 2, Los Angeles Dodgers 1 Monday, Oct. 12: Game 2: Milwaukee 7, Los Angeles Dodgers 4 Wednesday, Oct. 14: Game 3: Milwaukee 6, Los Angeles Dodgers 2 Thursday, Oct. 15: Game 4: Milwaukee 6, Los Angeles Dodgers 4

Auto racng NASCAR Cup Series Freeway Insurance 500 Lineup After Saturday qualifying; race Sunday

At Phoenix Raceway Avondale, Ariz. Lap length: 1.00 miles (Car number in parentheses) 1. (12) Ryan Blaney, Ford, 137.143 mph. 2. (22) Joey Logano, Ford, 136.976. 3. (19) Chase Briscoe, Toyota, 136.825. 4. (11) Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 136.809. 5. (20) Christopher Bell, Toyota, 136.617. 6. (45) Tyler Reddick, Toyota, 136.374. 7. (54) Ty Gibbs, Toyota, 136.291. 8. (71) Michael McDowell, Chevrolet, 136.199. 9. (21) Josh Berry, Ford, 136.142.

10. (24) William Byron, Chevrolet, 135.936. 11. (1) Ross Chastain, Chevrolet, 135.782. 12. (88) Connor Zilisch, Chevrolet, 135.649. 13. (34) Todd Gilliland, Ford, 135.338. 14. (7) Daniel Suárez, Chevrolet, 135.308. 15. (2) Austin Cindric, Ford, 135.059. 16. (9) Chase Elliott, Chevrolet, 134.998. 17. (17) Chris Buescher, Ford, 134.943. 18. (6) Brad Keselowski, Ford, 134.933. 19. (35) Riley Herbst, Toyota, 134.600. 20. (38) Zane Smith, Ford, 134.569. 21. (16) AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet, 134.524. 22. (5) Kyle Larson, Chevrolet, 134.484. 23. (23) Bubba Wallace, Toyota, 134.419. 24. (3) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet, 134.419. 25. (97) Shane Van Gisbergen, Chevrolet, 134.338. 26. (60) Ryan Preece, Ford, 134.333. 27. (41) Cole Custer, Chevrolet, 134.253. 28. (77) Carson Hocevar, Chevrolet, 134.223. 29. (43) Erik Jones, Toyota, 134.193. 30. (4) Noah Gragson, Ford, 134.118. 31. (47) Ricky Stenhouse Jr, Chevrolet, 133.744. 32. (42) John H. Nemechek, Toyota, 133.615. 33. (10) Ty Dillon, Chevrolet, 133.546. 34. (48) Alex Bowman, Chevrolet, 133.403. 35. (33) Austin Hill, Chevrolet, 133.383. 36. (67) Corey Heim, Toyota, 133.323. 37. (51) Cody Ware, Chevrolet, 132.964.

College football Major Scores Friday’s games EAST

Columbia 28, Penn 27

SOUTH

Appalachian St. 35, Coastal Carolina 32 Tulane 31, Memphis 17

MIDWEST

Washington 38, Purdue 26

EAST

Albany (NY) 48, Stony Brook 31 Army 56, FAU 24 Boston College 27, Pittsburgh 21 Bryant 17, Maine 14 Buffalo 25, UMass 18, OT CCSU 43, Mercyhurst 40 Charlotte 38, Temple 31 Cornell 48, Lehigh 38 Dartmouth 27, Merrimack 21 Duquesne 14, Stonehill 7 Georgetown 27, Colgate 17 Harvard 30, Holy Cross 7 Howard 31, Morehouse 17 LIU Brooklyn 14, Wagner 9 Lafayette 20, Bucknell 7 Monmouth (NJ) 42, New Hampshire 21 New Haven 26, Robert Morris 15 Princeton 16, Brown 10 Rhode Island 41, Yale 23 Rutgers 37, Maryland 30 Sacred Heart 35, Hampton 21 Villanova 38, Fordham 17 West Virginia 45, Cincinnati 42

SOUTH

Alabama A&M 61, Grambling St. 31 Auburn 27, Georgia 24 Austin Peay 24, West Georgia 10 Bethune-Cookman 34, MVSU 14 Campbell 24, Towson 20 Clemson 37, Charleston Southern 0 Davidson 34, Morehead St. 31, OT Jackson St. 27, Florida A&M 17 James Madison 49, Georgia St. 22 LSU 31, Mississippi St. 0 McNeese St. 24, Northwestern St. 21 Mississippi 31, Missouri 3 NC A&T 27, Chicago State 12 North Carolina 24, Duke 20 Presbyterian 47, Stetson 43 Stephen F. Austin 56, Nicholls 0 Tennessee 26, Alabama 10 Tennessee Tech 49, E. Kentucky 20 UT Martin 17, Gardner-Webb 6 Virginia Tech 34, Georgia Tech 24 West Florida 37, West Alabama 3 Wofford 41, VMI 14

MIDWEST

Ball St. 32, Bowling Green 31, OT Dayton 19, Butler 9 Illinois St. 35, S. Illinois 14 Kansas St. 35, Kansas 24

Lindenwood (Mo.) 20, E. Illinois 13 Marist 27, Drake 22 Miami (Ohio) 34, Akron 14 Michigan 21, Penn St. 18 North Dakota 21, S. Dakota St. 10 Northwestern 24, Michigan St. 21 Ohio St. 19, Indiana 15 SE Missouri 40, W. Illinois 30 Toledo 34, E. Michigan 14 W. Michigan 21, Cent. Michigan 14

SOUTHWEST

Alabama St. 21, Ark.-Pine Bluff 15 Florida 27, Texas 24 Prairie View 41, Alcorn St. 38 SMU 23, Virginia 13 Texas A&M 41, The Citadel 0 Texas Tech 53, Arizona St. 25 Tulsa 38, Rice 17

FAR WEST

Air Force 41, UNLV 31 Idaho 42, Montana 35 San Diego 38, Valparaiso 13 Weber St. 27, Idaho St. 20 Wyoming 41, N. Illinois 23

No. 22 LSU 31, No. 16 Mississippi State 0

Mississippi St. 0 0 0 0 — 0 LSU 14 7 10 0 — 31 First Quarter LSU_E.Wilson 10 pass from Leavitt (Starzyk kick), 9:57. LSU_J.Harris 27 pass from Leavitt (Starzyk kick), 3:27. Second Quarter LSU_J.Harris 17 pass from Leavitt (Starzyk kick), 6:13. Third Quarter LSU_FG Starzyk 26, 6:45. LSU_Elzy 6 pass from Leavitt (Starzyk kick), :31. MSST LSU First downs 17 29 Total Net Yards 291 380 Rushes-yards 42-170 31-91 Passing 121 289 Punt Returns 0-0 0-0 Kickoff Returns 1-34 1-18 Interceptions Ret. 0-0 1-0 Comp-Att-Int 16-26-1 31-38-0 Sacked-Yards Lost 3-9 2-16 Punts 2-32.0 2-35.0 Fumbles-Lost 2-0 1-1 Penalties-Yards 7-66 3-30 Time of Possession 30:10 29:50 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING—Mississippi St., Wilson 18-71, Puckett 11-40, Gayten 8-36, Hill 5-23. LSU, D.Jones 18-85, Leavitt 4-11, Wilson 2-9, Berry 1-3, (Team) 1-(minus 1), Barber 1-(minus 1), Clark 3-(minus 5), Watkins 1-(minus 10). PASSING—Mississippi St., Puckett 16-26-1121. LSU, Leavitt 31-38-0-289. RECEIVING—Mississippi St., A.Evans 7-40, Magee 3-36, M.Johnson 3-26, Wilson 2-15, Ragins 1-4. LSU, D.Jones 8-58, Harris 6-85, Watkins 4-31, Wilson 3-32, Barber 3-24, Z.Grace 2-21, Elzy 2-20, Gage 2-9, Mothershed 1-9. MISSED FIELD GOALS—None.

Hockey NHL Glance EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division Boston Tampa Bay Ottawa Florida Buffalo Toronto Montreal Detroit

GP 8 8 8 8 8 8 7 7

W 6 6 6 4 4 3 3 2

L OT Pts GF GA 2 0 12 30 18 2 0 12 25 21 2 0 12 23 20 2 2 10 22 22 3 1 9 24 30 3 2 8 28 28 3 1 7 23 27 3 2 6 16 21

Carolina N.Y. Rangers Washington New Jersey N.Y. Islanders Pittsburgh Columbus

GP 9 9 8 8 7 8 5

W 7 6 5 4 3 3 2

L OT Pts GF GA 1 1 15 34 21 3 0 12 28 21 3 0 10 28 24 4 0 8 25 27 3 1 7 20 17 4 1 7 27 27 3 0 4 16 21

Metropolitan Division

Philadelphia

GP 8 8 8 8 7 7 7 8

W 6 5 5 4 3 3 2 3

L OT Pts GF GA 2 0 12 31 21 2 1 11 36 24 2 1 11 26 20 2 2 10 23 24 3 1 7 25 23 3 1 7 16 13 2 3 7 18 22 5 0 6 21 32

WESTERN CONFERENCE Central Division

Utah Colorado Minnesota Winnipeg St. Louis Dallas Nashville Chicago

Paciﬁc Division

11 33

GP W L OT Pts GF GA Vegas 9 7 2 0 14 36 22 Edmonton 7 5 1 1 11 31 22 Seattle 8 5 2 1 11 32 23 Anaheim 7 4 3 0 8 22 21 San Jose 7 4 3 0 8 19 25 Vancouver 10 2 7 1 5 30 45 Los Angeles 5 0 3 2 2 11 21 Calgary 7 1 6 0 2 14 35 NOTE: Two points for a win, one point for overtime loss. Top three teams in each division and two wild cards per conference advance to playoffs.

Friday’s Games

Colorado 5, Pittsburgh 2 Boston 4, Anaheim 2

Saturday’s Games

Washington 4, New Jersey 2 Carolina 3, Winnipeg 2 Tampa Bay 4, Vancouver 2 Seattle at Florida, 5 p.m. Buffalo at Montreal, n Dallas at Chicago, n N.Y. Islanders at Toronto, n N.Y. Rangers at Columbus, n Ottawa at Philadelphia, n San Jose at Detroit, n St. Louis at Nashville, n Boston at Los Angeles, n Edmonton at Utah, n Pittsburgh at Vegas, n

Sunday’s Games

No games scheduled

Transactions FOOTBALL

National Football League ATLANTA FALCONS — Signed OLB Bralen Trice to the active roster. Signed S Jammie Robinson to the practice squad. ARIZONA CARDINALS — Activated S Kitan Crawford from injured reserve. BALTIMORE RAVENS — Activated WR Ja’Kobi Lane from injured reserve. Signed LB Carl Jones from the practice squad. CHICAGO BEARS — Activated CB Kyler Gordon from the PUP list. Signed DB Nick McCloud to the active roster. Placed DL Dayo Odeyingbo on injured reserve. Waived DB Xavier Woods. GREEN BAY PACKERS — Activated WR Savion Williams off injured reserve. Placed DTs Jonathan Ford, Javon Hargrave and WR Skyy Moore on injured reserve. HOUSTON TEXANS — Activated LB Henry To’oTo’o and S Ja’Marcus Ingram. Waived LB Aiden Fisher and CB Collin Wright. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS — Activated TE Will Mallory from injured reserve. LOS ANGELES CHARGERS — Activated WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith from injured reserve. Released WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling. Signed OLB Caleb Murphy to the active roster. LOS ANGELES RAMS — Activated OT Keagen Trost. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS — Activated WR A.J. Brown. Released RB Hassan Haskins from the practice squad. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS — Activated S Zach wood. NEW YORK JETS — Activated WR Omar Cooper Jr. from injured reserve. PITTSBURGH STEELERS — Placed WR Roman Wilson on injured reserve. Signed RB Lew Nichols to the active roster. TENNESSEE TITANS — Activated CB Joshua Williams from injured reserve. Waived DB Erick Hallett.

BASKETBALL

National Basketball Association LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS — Signed G Cam Christie to a Two-Way contract.

NOVEMBER 14 I 2026 NEW ORLEANS MUSEUM OF ART

Go to: runsignup.com/Race/LA/NewOrleans/runNewOrleans or scan the QR Code:

LOUISIANA INSPIRED: Mechanic launches program to help teens learn automotive skills 5D

LIVING

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

S u n d ay, O C T O B E R 18, 2026

1dn

Jan Risher

Music becomes time travel One afternoon in the spring of 1978, I was riding shotgun in my mom’s white Delta 88 Oldsmobile. That car had the stickiest seats I’ve ever known — black pleather. As we pulled into our driveway on Marion Boulevard in Forest, Mississippi, the DJ at the local radio station, WQST, announced a giveaway. The second caller would win an album. I’m not even sure I caught the album or the artist. I was too excited about the possibility of winning something. We had a big ole driveway. I ﬂung the car door open before my mom pulled all the way into the carport. I ran inside and dialed, as in literally dialed — on a rotary phone — 469-3701. (There are enough clues in the preceding sentence for a good archaeologist a thousand years from now to date it within 25 years.)

AP FILE PHOTO By DANNy JOHNSTON

On Sept. 6, 2012, singer Glen Campbell performs during his ‘Goodbye’ Tour in Little Rock, Arkansas.

The DJ answered. I breathlessly asked, “What caller am I?” He said, “You’re caller No. 1.” I hung up and dialed all seven digits again. To my amazement, the phone rang. I said, “What caller am I?” He said, “This time you’re caller No. 2 and have won a double album of ’Glen Campbell Live at the Royal Festival Hall.’” The station had experienced a fun two-year run by bringing in a DJ named Big Daddy Bobaloo and rebranding from WQST to T92. Hence, every morning, Big Daddy Bobaloo would say, “This is Big Daddy Bobaloo on T92.” For that brief period, T92 was like magic. Everybody I knew had been listening to Big Daddy in the morning. On the day I was caller No. 2, I was ecstatic, but even at 13, I understood what my big win meant. If one eighth-grader on a rotary phone could be both caller No. 1 and caller No. 2, T92’s days were numbered. That afternoon, I did my best to convince my mother to take me to pick up my prize, never mind that we didn’t have a working record player. She was of a more reasonable mind and said we could go the next day. And so we did. I had been babysitting a lot and had a little stash of cash. Within weeks, I had enough in hand to go to the Western Auto and buy myself a stereo with two large speakers. It had a cassette player, and I could make mix tapes. The combination of the Glen Campbell double album and the stereo changed my life. I retired the ﬂip-clock radio Santa brought me two Christmases earlier. Granted, Glen Campbell was the only album I had for a month

ä See CAMPBELL, page 6D

PROVIDED PHOTOS By CLIFF COUVILLON

Leisuremann’s Sazerac mix does the work of crafting the classic cocktail for you.

MOBILE MIXERS

From a Smoky Mountains hiking trip to Lafayette business, these powdered cocktails go anywhere BY JA’KORI MADISON

Staff writer

craving for an Old Fashioned during a hiking trip in Tennessee led Clifford Couvillon to create a Lafayette-based business that makes powdered cocktail and mocktail mixers designed to be enjoyed almost anywhere. Couvillon and his friend Matt Curtis were hiking Mount LeConte in the Smoky Mountains with a group of friends when they decided they wanted a cocktail. The group improvised, combining powdered orange drink mix, whiskey and a bottle of Angostura bitters dating to the 1970s that they found at the mountain lodge to make an Old Fashioned. The drink inspired Couvillon and Curtis to consider whether they could turn the idea into a business. After months of development, they created their ﬁrst powdered cocktail mixer, the Old Fashioned, in September 2016. Nearly a decade later, Leisuremann’s Cocktail Mixes has expanded to 21 ﬂavors available in single-serve packets, jars and bulk packaging. The lineup includes classics such as margaritas, mojitos, cosmopolitans, Bloody Marys,

Leisuremann’s offers a larger jar size for the Mai Tai cocktail mix. piña coladas and Hurricanes, along with more unusual creations. The company’s formula is simple: water, mix and spirit. Couvillon said what sets Leisuremann’s apart is the ability to enjoy classic cocktails in places where

carrying individual ingredients would be inconvenient, from airplanes and camping trips to tailgates, backyard gatherings and virtual happy hours.

ä See COCKTAILS, page 6D

Baton Rouge interior design ﬁrm closes showroom Dixon Smith Interiors designed a space in the 2021 Ivy Designer Showhouse in the Bocage neighborhood in Baton Rouge. The event benefitted Basket of Hope Louisiana. PROVIDED PHOTO By SARA ESSEX BRADLEy

BY JOY HOLDEN Staff writer

Dixon Smith Interiors announced on its Instagram page that the design firm will be closing, along with its 10,000-square-foot showroom at 1655 Lobdell Ave., Baton Rouge, to begin a new chapter. Although the ﬁrm is closing, designers Joel Fazende and Mary Caroline Dansky will continue their careers in inte-

rior design through a new joint venture to be announced soon. In the post, the design team expressed their gratitude for the years of Baton Rouge’s support, including their experiences working with designers, clients, vendors, craftsmen, artists and friends. The design ﬁrm previously focused on furnishing layouts, drapery and wallpaper selections, art cura-

ä See CLOSURE, page 6D

2D l Sunday, October 18, 2026 l theadvocate.com l The Acadiana Advocate

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October is royalty announcement time for Troubadours Acadiana might be falling into the fall season, spooky spirits and all, but for Lafayette Mardi Gras krewes, it’s starting to look like Carnival time. The Krewe of Troubadours recently held its Jesters’ Feast to announce their royal court for the 2026-27 Mardi Gras season. The elegant affair was held on Oct. 11 at the City Club in Lafayette. Members and guests gathered to celebrate the newly revealed Sir Richard

Kris Wartelle

Coeur De Lion and Queen Berengaria of Navarre, Christopher

PHOTOS By KRIS WARTELLE

Harry Dyson, Isabell Dyson, Queen Berengaria Sydney Dyson and Beth Dyson

King Richard Coeur de Lion Christopher Lee and Amy Lee

Lee and Sydney Dyson. The announcement luncheon is a Troubadours tradition that celebrates royalty and also reveals the theme for the upcoming ball. This year, King Richard and his Queen Berengaria will take a seaside

Lillia Mosser and Ruby Guillory

journey along the Cliffs of Dover. Elaborate costumes will showcase designs echoing that theme. This is the 74th year the Krewe of

Camille Heard, Addison Delhomme, and Addison Falgout

Denise Castille, Ashley Martin, Emily Rose Davis, James Martin and Wes Castille

Troubadours has been in existence, and they don’t show any signs of

Bethany Broussard and Juliet Cieslak

slowing down. Each year, they put on an elaborate ball that includes the krewe’s long and storied history.

Chuck Anselmo, Cecile Anselmo and Katherine Anselmo

Danielle and Mae Keaty

This year will also be a historical one because it will be one of the earliest Mardi Gras seasons we’ve ever seen.

Maisy Prellop and Stella Furby

That means krewes are in for a fast and furious season. Whatever comes, we look forward to seeing what kind of magical journey the Troubadours

Kate Labue, Sydney Dyson, and Sharon Misra

Isabella LaCour and Catherine LaCour

have in store.

Acadiana Animal Aid spotlights furry friends at Bark in the Dark Acadiana Animal Aid’s premier fundraiser, Bark in the Dark, is the annual gala beneﬁting Acadiana’s homeless cats and dogs. Every year, the event attracts animal lovers and philanthropists who believe in the mission of the no-kill animal shelter. The organization advocates, rescues and provides shelter to protect the

Jayden Bias, Travis Nichols, Brian Crutchfield, Joel McGee

animals until they ﬁnd forever homes. The future pets also receive lifesaving care while at the sanctuary. This year’s event took

Kris Wartelle

place on Oct. 8 at Le Pavillon in Lafayette.

The evening included a buffet dinner, live and silent auctions, and lots of opportunities to see and experience some of the shelter’s most adorable residents. Board president and major benefactor Sandy Giles is the

PHOTOS By KRIS WARTELLE

Tucker Guillott with Scarlet Letter and Abby Gayle Clark with Great Gatsby

Skip Boudreaux, Kyle and Stefanie Kellner Abigail Boudreaux and Karen Patin

prime organizer of Bark in the Dark. Through this kind of fundraising, she and her husband, Bob Giles, have been helping to build the organization into one of the most successful shelters in the South. One of the main attractions at Bark

Ruth Moncus and Mike Hamner

in the Dark is the presence of the animals themselves. While there, we saw plenty of adorable pets just waiting to be taken home and we wanted to adopt every single one of

Sandy Giles and Sherry Hernandez

them. Luckily, many of them did ﬁnd loving homes. For those who may

Courtney and Matt Oldenburg

be interested, there are still plenty of opportunities to adopt a new pet, volunteer, or support Acadiana Animal Aid. You can visit them at acadianaanimalaid.org to learn more about the mission or to ﬁnd your own furry friend.

Karen Hardy and Debra Billeaud

Hailey Cormier and Dawn Ortte

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The Acadiana Advocate l theadvocate.com l Sunday, October 18, 2026 l 3D

TRAVEL A Florida road trip reveals freshwater treasures BY PATRICK CONNOLLY

walks at Three Sisters Springs helps visitors see manatees up close. Ranger-led discussions and volunteer-guided walking tours provide more information and context during manatee season, ensuring an educational experience. Address: 917 Three Sisters Springs Trail in Crystal River Fees: $12.50 per adult in the summer; $20 in winter. Discounts available for seniors ages 55+, military members and children. More information: crystalriverﬂ.org

Orlando Sentinel (TNS)

ORLANDO, Fla. — Decades before Walt Disney ever set his sights on bringing Mickey Mouse to Florida and building theme parks that have drawn countless millions, the Sunshine State’s tourism revolved around springs. From the glass-bottom boat tours of Silver Springs, which began in the 1870s, to the Weeki Wachee mermaid show, which began in the 1940s, Florida’s freshwater gems have long drawn visitors from around the world and still do. Beginning in Central Florida, it’s possible to embark on a road trip to see several of these pristine blue jewels in one go. Florida has more than 1,000 natural springs throughout the state.

Honorable Mentions

Silver Springs State Park When visitors first started flocking to Silver Springs for tourism more than 150 years ago, the area had 19th-century steamboats churning up and down the Ocklawaha and Silver Rivers. The glass-bottom boat tours started in the late 1870s when Hullam Jones and Phillip Morrell attached a piece of glass to the bottom of a rowboat, allowing visitors to gaze down into the crystal-clear springs without getting wet. On a modern-day glass-bottom boat tour, visitors learn about the movies filmed at Silver Springs, including “Tarzan” and “Creature from the Black Lagoon,” the health of the springs and the Florida fauna people might encounter. There’s a chance of seeing alligators, native birds and nonnative monkeys that were introduced by a jungle boat captain in the 1930s. The 30-minute tour stops at several major springs that make up the Silver River headwaters, including the largest and most stunning one, Mammoth Spring. A lot has changed in Florida over the history of Silver Springs tourism, but the boat tours feel like a time capsule in the best way.

TNS PHOTO By PATRICK CONNOLLy

Karissa Bellile experiences the underground cavernous spring at Devil’s Den Spring in Williston, Fla. While a glass-bottom boat tour is the highlight of many visits to Silver Springs, the park also offers a gift shop, food, paddling experiences, camping and hiking. It’s recommended to book tours online in advance, especially during times of peak visitation. Address: 5656 E. Silver Springs Blvd. in Silver Springs Fee: $17 per 30-minute tour; $2 per person admission fee (before taxes) More information: ﬂoridastateparks. org/silversprings or silversprings. com

Devil’s Den Devil’s Den Spring is a private diving and snorkeling site housed within a 120-foot-wide cave. When early settlers came upon the “Devil’s Den” prehistoric spring, they noticed what they thought was smoke rising from the underworld and kept their distance. In reality, it was just harm-

less steam rising from the spring. If only they had known how beautiful the place was, they could have discovered something truly remarkable. Now, the site welcomes divers and snorkelers to enjoy the refreshing spring waters while exploring a whole other hidden world located beneath the earth. Camping is also available on site, as is the “new and improved” John’s Oasis swimming pond. Visitors are welcome to swim, snorkel or dive in the oasis before or after their experience swimming in Devil’s Den. Serenity is abundant, especially for a place with such a menacing name. Address: 5390 N.E. 180th Ave. in Williston Fees: $30 per person for a 90-minute snorkeling session; $15 per person for a nonsnorkeling day pass. Equipment rentals and diving are available. More information: devilsden.com

Three Sisters Springs in Crystal River When visiting the “manatee capital of the world,” there are multiple ways to engage with Florida’s fabled and beloved sea cows. The most intimate manatee encounters can be experienced while swimming with the gentle giants on a guided tour. There are several dozen area outfitters to help in achieving this bucket-list endeavor. For people hoping to see manatees without hopping onto a boat or getting wet, it’s possible to see the marine mammals during a visit to Three Sisters Springs, a unit of the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge. On a winter day this past season, around 500 manatees were spotted congregating in the springs at once, keeping warm as temperatures in the Gulf dropped. A network of trails and board-

In the world of Central Florida springs, the above gems are only the start. Many other freshwater gems are worth visiting for tubing, swimming, snorkeling and sightseeing. Ichetucknee Springs State Park: Northwest of Gainesville, this park offers paddling and tubing on a picturesque spring run, perfect for cooling off on hot summer days. The three-hour tube run makes for a great spring-fed lazy river. More information: floridastateparks.org Wekiwa Springs State Park: In Seminole County, this park is one of Central Florida’s favorite outdoor playgrounds with a large swimming area, kayaking opportunities and a long hillside for soaking in the sun. The park also offers a network of hiking trails and a campground. The park requires online reservations in advance. More information: floridastateparks.org De Leon Springs State Park: This Volusia County park presents fresh, cool water in a large swimming area at the spring for cooling off in the heat. The park is also famous for its Old Sugar Mill Pancake House, a cook-your-own-breakfast restaurant. More information: floridastateparks.org A Florida Springs Passport: Available online, it contains 20 of Florida’s springs and places to take notes about the experience of each one. More information: floridaspringspassport.com

TRAVEL TROUBLESHOOTER By Christopher Elliott

Holland America cruise changes price after payment My husband and I are loyal Holland America Line customers. Since we live in south Florida, we often look for last-minute deals. A few months ago, I saw a 10-day cruise on the Zuiderdam posted on its website. The prices were changing as I watched, but I managed to book an ocean-view room for $479 per person.The total came to $958. We applied a $200 cruise credit and paid the remaining $758 in full. I received an email confirmation showing our booking was paid. Three days later, I received a new confirmation from Holland America indicating we now owed an additional Christopher $1,530. I immediately called our personal Elliott cruise consultant, who was completely unhelpful. She told me the original price was a pricing error.When I asked to speak with a supervisor, she refused. I followed the advice on your site and emailed guest relations managers. I even

sent screenshots of the pricing I saw online. Holland America wouldn’t budge.We felt this was a bait-and-switch.We ended up canceling for a full refund because we weren’t going to pay double the price. But we really wanted to take this cruise to see crew members we know. Is there any way Holland America can be held to the original price it advertised and accepted? — Cindy Woodring, Coral Springs, Fla. Holland America should have honored the price it published on its website. When a company displays a price, accepts your payment and sends a “paid in full” conﬁrmation, it should be a done deal. The only exception is when the company made an obvious fare error — for example, moving a decimal point and charging $9.58 instead of $958. The cruise line pointed to Section 2 of its cruise contract, which it says lets it off the hook for pricing errors. I didn’t see anything

in Section 2 about pricing errors, but in several places on its site, Holland America gives itself the right to cancel a cruise for any “lawful” reason. In supplemental pricing terms, the company says, “Holland America Line reserves the right not to honor any published prices that it determines were erroneous due to printing, electronic or clerical error. Holland America Line shall have the right to refuse or cancel any bookings made at an incorrect price whether or not the order has been conﬁrmed and your credit card charged.” But was this an obvious error? I think $47 a day on a luxury cruise, with all meals included, is almost too good to be true. But for a lastminute deal during the offseason? Maybe not. You did the right thing by taking screenshots and keeping a paper trail. You also tried to esca-

late the issue within the company. When a front-line agent refuses to let you talk to a supervisor, it’s time to stop calling and start writing. You can find the names and email addresses of the Holland America executives on my advocacy site, Elliott.org. I reached out to Holland America on your behalf. “We regret that a pricing error briefly appeared for this voyage and apologize for the confusion this caused,” a representative told me. “Once the issue was identified, we promptly notified affected agents and guests.” Holland America says it won’t honor the incorrect fare, but it has offered complimentary stateroom upgrades to anyone who chooses to continue with their voyage. That “goodwill” upgrade required you to pay the extra $1,530 first. This is a disappointing result,

especially considering your loyalty status. When a cruise line makes a mistake on its own website, it should own it — not ask its best customers to pay for the glitch. Next time, consider keeping your booking while you escalate your complaint to the executives. Once you hit “cancel,” your leverage disappears faster than the shrimp buffet on formal night. I’m writing this column as a public service for the rest of us. I’m not happy about the resolution, but now you know: Even if you paid for everything, your cruise line can withdraw its offer and ask you to pay more. Christopher Elliott is the founder of Elliott Advocacy, a nonproﬁt organization that helps consumers solve their problems. Email him at chris@elliott.org or get help by contacting him on his site.

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4D l Sunday, October 18, 2026 l theadvocate.com l The Acadiana Advocate

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BOOKS

BETWEEN THE PAGES WITH CHRISTOPHER RICE

Anne Rice’s ‘Interview with the Vampire’ turns 50 Christopher Rice reflects on his mother’s legacy Anne Rice BY RIEN FERTEL

Contributing writer

As Halloween descends, what better way to celebrate New Orleans’s greatest contribution to the spooky-verse than the 50th anniversary of Anne Rice’s “Interview with the Vampire”? Knopf, the novel’s original publisher, recently issued a special edition decorated in blood-red paper edging and featuring an afterword by the author’s son, Christopher Rice, that adds several fascinating layers to the “Vampire” mythos. Christopher Rice is a bestselling novelist in his own right, as well as the co-manager, alongside his longtime production partner, Eric Shaw Quinn, of his mother’s literary estate. Over the coming weeks, the pair will appear at a coven of vampire-centric events in New Orleans to mark the golden anniversary of the birth of Lestat, Louis, Claudia and the rest of the Vampire Chronicles collective. On Oct. 24, they will serve as co-grand marshals of the Krewe of Boo! parade, which will feature an Anne Rice-themed float. The next night, the Prytania Uptown will host a special screening of the 1994 camp-classic film. On Oct. 30, the sold-out Anne Rice Vampire Lestat Fan Club Ball returns to town for its 38th iteration. And on Halloween, Christopher Rice and Quinn will commemorate the novel’s jubilee at Loyola University’s Roussel Performance Hall — tickets on sale from Garden District Book Shop, the site of Anne Rice’s most legendary signing events. Last week, I spoke on the phone with Christopher Rice about the legacy of his mother’s debut novel, coming of age just as Lestat captured the attention of a culture hungry for fresh blood, and what he misses about New Orleans. This interview was edited for length and clarity. You make the point in your afterword to “Interview with the Vampire” that the book was not initially a success but rather “a critically reviled flop,” in your mother’s assessment. What really defines a flop is something that didn’t live up to expectations. The things that line up for a book prepublication can be elements that work against it. The advance, movie and paperback rights. It’s something that all of these people have invested in, all this marketing, and the New York Times is calling it, essentially,

other, surprising direction in understanding Lestat’s journey throughout the Chronicles, which is that this character is a mix of your parents, Stan and Anne. Anne always blended herself into her characters in a way without respect for gender boundaries. I think Louis was who Anne was at one point in her life, and Lestat is who she had to become to survive her grief for my sister. It is a misnomer to say that my father was the model for Lestat — though my father physically might have been the model. My dad never struggled with a belief in God; he was a devout atheist. And my mother, even though she was not always a member of the Catholic Church, was always open to the idea that there was a spiritual world beyond the material. That interplay between the two of them, especially when they lost someone so close to them, is very much in the relationship between Louis and Lestat. When you start to continue in the series, you realize that Lestat’s STAFF PHOTO By CHRIS GRANGER quest for adventure, his constant seeking, his refusal to be pinned Nancy Smith stands next to the tomb of author Anne Rice as Smith walks around Lake Lawn Metairie down by anyone’s dogma — that’s Cemetery in New Orleans in 2023. Anne. There’s no denying it. I don’t know if she was ever cisco, which is where we were very open to that idea, but she living at the time, in the Castro District where people were walk- did repeatedly say, “If I was going up and down the street in ing to be a vampire, I would want BDSM gear. So it didn’t really to be Lestat. And, if I was going catch me too off guard. to be a man, I would want to be 6 What did captivate me was the feet tall and blonde.” historical nature of the costumes, You moved to New Orleans at the age of the transportive ambitions of 10, leaving at 23. What do you miss most how these people were dressed. about the city? What memories are conThe book had taken them out of jured up about this place? the time that they were living The food, the food and the food. in and put them in a time where There is just a sense of artistry they wanted to remain. around food in that city that I There was a paperback edition have not found anywhere else on of “Interview” that had a famthe planet. I truly haven’t. I live out in Southern California. We’re ily portrait with Louis, Lestat either the taco and hamburger and Claudia hanging around our capital of the world or this sort house. But the nature of that book seemed very different from of maniacally trendy nutritional what my mother was working on ideology — and I just don’t have patience for it. currently, when I first began to So that’s what I miss. Some of retain memories of her as a pubmy most nostalgic memories STAFF FILE PHOTO By BRETT DUKE lished author. She was writing historical fiction; there was noth- are about going down to Mr. B’s Christopher Rice is photographed in New Orleans last year. with my mother and my father. ing supernatural about it. There were no witches or vam- They would allow me to read a book at the table, which I thought pires in these stories, and this preposterous — and comparing view with the Vampire” shook was very progressive of them. it to a “Spider-Man” comic book, off the dust, if you will, of all this little paperback book off to the I would read “The Indian in the side of the console table in the which at the time was the kiss of dismissal that had been heaped front hallway was this odd thing. Cupboard” and sit in that beautideath for any sort of literary am- on it in the beginning. That story about encountering those first So for people to show up dressed ful restaurant, this fine dining bition. So it stung her for a while. like the characters from that experience surrounded by the I don’t think it was until the mo- cosplayers who were influenced by “Interenergy of the French Quarter. ment I describe in the afterword, view,” the beginnings of a second life for the book cover was jarring. It was the beginning of the shift from Those are some of my greatest where people started showing up book. What did that mean to you? Was it something that had been almost a memories. in costume and saying again and any sort of revelation? coping skill for her. There are two cities in this again, steadily over time, that The story of your mother channeling Rien Fertel is the author of four this dismissed book had reached country where you are not surthe grief over the death of her daughter, books. He recently won his fifth them, affected them. Everything prised to encounter costumed Michele, into the character Claudia is well Best Critical Review Award from began to turn. It wasn’t really people. One of them is New Orknown. But you also point readers in anthe New Orleans Press Club. until the early 1980s that “Interleans, and the other is San Fran-

THIS WEEK’S BESTSELLERS FROM PUBLISHERS WEEKLY HARDCOVER FICTION

1. “Threshing Day (Wing and Claw ed.)” by Rebecca Yarros 2. “The French Illusion” by John Grisham 3. “American Hagwon” by Min Jin Lee 4. “The Calamity Club” by Kathryn Stockett 5. “Hollywood, Ending” by John Green 6. “Astarion (Baldur’s Gate 3)” by T. Kingﬁsher 7. “Dawn of the Cursed Queen (deluxe ed.)” by Amber V. Nicole 8. “Hollow Bones” by Jodi Picoult 9. “Sometimes I Scare Myself” by Jeneva Rose 10. “Heated Rivalry (collector’s ed.)” by Rachel Reid

HARDCOVER NONFICTION

1. “The Steps” by Sylvester Stallone 2. “Plantyou Quickies” by Carleigh Bodrug 3. “Swan Song” by Charles Spencer 4. “Protocols” by Andrew D. Huberman 5. “Tough Enough” by Baird/Hunter 6. “The American Way of Killing” by Malcolm Gladwell 7. “Rules to Live By” by Jimmy Chin 8. “Fictional Selves” by Kyle MacLachlan 9. “The Cauldron” by Simon Sebag Monteﬁore 10. “The Art of Gravity Falls” by Hirsch/Renzetti

TRADE PAPERBACK

1. “Theo of Golden” by Allen Levi 2. “Verity” by Colleen Hoover 3. “The Long-Lived King” by Terrace/ Crisostomo/Han 4. “Dungeon Crawler Carl” by Matt Dinniman 5. “Murdoku” by Manuel Garand 6. “Brain Damage” by Freida McFadden 7. “Kneel Before Me” by Lindsay Straube 8. “The Killer Isn’t Alice” by Iris Starling 9. “Cursed City” by Kate Golden 10. “Carl’s Doomsday Scenario” by Matt Dinniman

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The Acadiana Advocate l theadvocate.com l Sunday, October 18, 2026 l 5D

LOUISIANA INSPIRED Mechanic launches training program for teens It honors his sons who drowned in 2011

BY DESIREE STENNETT Staff writer

With a gray Chevy Malibu hoisted to chest height on a mechanical lift, 15-year-old Tali Vernon and 17-year-old Juel Hatch Jr. stuck their arms behind the front wheel, looking for the strut. Replacing it would stop the car from bouncing too much, making it easier and safer to drive. For the boys, it was considered a “big job” and one of the most difﬁcult they had tackled. Over their shoulder stood Aaronne “Seven” Simmons, offering guidance. He peppered the teens with questions about which tools and attachments they would need, instructing them to keep everything organized. He watched as they wiggled the old part loose, arms ready in case they needed help. “The same way you got it out, put it back,” he said. The boys are part of NOLA Service Circle, a program Simmons created in the spring out of his Central City auto shop of the same name. He teaches kids as young as 13 to change oil, replace tires, work on brakes, and do other routine car maintenance. They can work their way up to “big jobs” like the one Tali and Juel had. Juel completed the 16-week curriculum months ago but still goes to the shop most days after school. He hopes to learn about transmissions soon, and so far, his favorite kind of car to work on is the Nissan Maxima. “They just makes sense to me, the way they’re built,” he said. “They’re easy for me to understand.”

A stolen start Simmons never planned to start a nonproﬁt.

STAFF PHOTOS By CHRIS GRANGER

Juel Hatch, 16, left, a student at Eleanor McMain Secondary School, asks questions to shop owner Aaronne Simmons, who runs a mentorship program where he teaches boys and young men how to do basic car maintenance. Amyn Scott, 17, a student at New Orleans Charter Science and Mathematics High School, sorts a wrench set at NOLA Service Circle in New Orleans.

Five years ago, he started selling old, worn-out cars to junkyards for scrap metal. It was a good living. Eventually, he met a mechanic who taught him routine car repairs. When he came across a ﬁxable vehicle, he’d repair it and sell it to someone in need for cheap. Most of the work was done in an empty lot he rented in New Orleans East. He also operated Forever Lounge in the Lower 9th

Ward, but there were problems. Someone started breaking windows at the lounge and surrounding homes and cars. One night, someone broke in and stole a laptop and other items. In an Instagram post, Simmons offered a reward if it was returned. It worked, but he was struck by how young the culprits were. “They were kids,” he said. “Instead of trying to hurt them or put them in jail or something like that, I decided to do something

Mars platform

for them. I decided to teach them that you don’t have to steal people’s things out of their cars; you can just fix (the cars) and charge them for fixing it.” He sold drinks at second lines to raise a little money, started a GoFundMe, and put out a call for donations. He told parents they could bring their kids all summer. He raised more than $12,000, but the money went quickly. He started with 25 boys and bought everyone work boots and uniforms and socks. He provided lunch every day. Eventually, Simmons was able to secure a yearlong lease on an auto shop on South Galvez Street in Central City so they could work more comfortably. At $4,000 a month, expenses to run the nonprofit keep adding up even as donations have slowed. Simmons, determined to keep it going, has been paying for everything out of his own pocket until donations start flowing again or he can secure a grant. “I just wanted to give these kids some hope,” he said.

Tragedy sparks service Simmons started the program in honor of his two 13-year-old sons, Aaronne Mitchell and Aaronne Russell. In 2011, the boys drowned in Lake Pontchartrain while taking an afternoon swim with their neighbor’s dogs near Lincoln Beach. Their bodies were recovered after a dayslong search. “I often ﬁnd myself wondering what kind of young men you would’ve grown into,” Simmons wrote in a July Facebook post dedicated to his sons. “I wish more than anything that y’all were here to see your dad today. I wish you could see the work I’m doing in the community, pouring into young men, teaching them life skills, showing them love, and helping them ﬁnd their purpose.

“Every young man I encourage reminds me of the opportunity I never got to have with you,” he wrote. Their memory drives him to be a role model to as many young men as he can, Simmons said. And as the program grows, he’s hoping girls may want to join as well. In less than a year, he’s been able to get nine young men certifications to become mechanics. Six have found jobs at Take 5 Oil Change, Firestone and Walmart auto centers. He’s also helped two boys fix up cars to take with them to college. Elijah “Eman” Carter, now a freshman at Southern University, was among the first wave of students to join the program over the summer. One of his favorite moments happened during a downpour. He was in the middle of replacing a starter on a truck when it started to rain, but they didn’t stop. “That was what made the program fun,” said Carter, who is studying electrical engineering and plans to open his own auto shop one day. “We all wanted to be there, and we all wanted to work and get our hands dirty.” Now away at college with a car he fixed up himself in Simmons’ program, Carter, 19, is offering oil changes and other car maintenance services to other students to make extra cash. He hopes the community will keep supporting the program, and that teens will keep signing up to learn, even if they don’t know much about cars. “Every time we got a new student, they fit right in no matter what you know or don’t know,” he said, calling the program “a brotherhood.” “You’re going to learn about cars, but it’s going to feel like you’re at home because everyone is so positive.” Email Desiree Stennett at desiree.stennett@theadvocate.com.

“It’s just a great sense of pride to be part of the energy past and energy into the future. We have produced a billion barrels and we are not done yet.” Billy Lott Operation Supervisor

reaches historic 1-billion barrel milestone

Since 1996, the Shell-operated Mars platform has played a defining role in deep water energy production. Designed for waters nearly 3,000 feet deep, Mars was a bold step forward at the time and helped redefine what was possible offshore. Nearly 30 years later, continued investment, enduring engineering, and the commitment of generations of people have helped bring Mars to this landmark achievement. To be the first platform in the Gulf to reach one billion barrels is a momentous milestone, but for those who have been part of Mars, it has never been just about the number. The Mars community identifies as Martians, united by the enduring principle, “once a Martian, always a Martian.” This milestone carries the weight of long days offshore, shared challenges, and moments of problem-solving that happen when people rely on one another. It reflects years of dedication and quiet perseverance, and the deep sense of pride that comes from being part of something that continues to move forward.

Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry joined Shell GOA and Pipeline staff to commemorate one billion barrels produced from the Shell Mars asset via the Mars booster station in Port Fourchon. From L to R: Greg Mouras, Nick Stone, Ken Duplantis, Jeff Bergeron, Gov. Jeff Landry, Lynn Belanger, Shawn Danos, Wayland Neil, Colette Hirstius, Chris Nace, Kevin McMahon, Richard Krebs, Sean Guillory

shell.us/louisiana | #PoweringProgress

6D l Sunday, October 18, 2026 l theadvocate.com l The Acadiana Advocate

AN EYE FOR STYLE lll

La. designer launches collection with Dillard’s, a bold nod to her BR roots

BY LAUREN CHERAMIE Staff writer

The swans that Hadley Greene grew up watching in her Baton Rouge neighborhood have made their way into every Dillard’s store in the country with the release of her new fashion line this month. On Oct. 5, her 30-piece collection with Dillard’s upscale Gianni Bini brand hit stores and online, combining her Louisiana roots and easygoing California surroundings as a Los Angeles resident. After graduating from University High School in 2020, Greene now works as a jewelry designer for Milliard Diamond Concierge and as a social media creator in L.A. When she returns to her hometown, she doesn’t mind if her outﬁt — maybe one of below-theknee jean shorts and an over-thetop shirt — turns heads. She isn’t bothered if people stare. “Around high school, I started viewing clothes as armor — as this buffer that people would look at before they actually looked at me as a person,” Greene said. “When we designed this collection, I really wanted people to feel conﬁdent in how they’re dressing and making the day to day more exciting and enjoyable.”

The McCombs Jacket is included in Hadley Greene’s collection with Dillard’s.

Her collection was more than a year in the making, full of patterns, feathers, bold colors and callbacks to her childhood. It has launched online and in stores with prices ranging from $109 to $299 for clothing, and $119 to $249 for shoes. Green zebra print and swan motifs run through the 17 garments and 13 pairs of shoes, but Greene says she designed the pieces to be wearable and easily integrated into someone’s closet. Each item in the capsule is named after someone she loves or something that has had an inﬂuence on her life. The Krissy Khaki Trench is named after her mother, Kristen Hadley. The Castleman Cape, Boomer Button Down, Roch Riding Boot and Ryder Riding Boot pay tribute to her brothers. The Dolly Button Down is in homage to Louisiana’s Louis Armstrong’s rendition of “Hello Dolly.” The shirt has “Looking Swell Sunshine” and “I Love You Dolly” embroidered on each side of the collar — the sunshine bit a reference to “You Are My Sunshine,” the Louisiana state song written by Louisiana Gov. Jimmie Davis, which her mother sang often to her when she was a child. The design for the Marylebone Mini Dress was pulled from a swanpatterned vintage folding screen that Greene saved for years. The McCombs Military Jacket is an ode to both a family ranch in Texas and the hours she spent watching Michael Jackson documentaries with her boyfriend, musician Aodhan King. Michael Mamp, director and curator of the LSU Textile and Costume Museum, says the jacket is “very reminiscent” of Zouave jackets of the mid-19th century. “The collection has updated basics with nostalgic and historic references ranging from the 19th century to grunge of the 1990s, all with feminine touches and moments of whimsy,” Mamp said. Many designers dream of one day being in a department store, and for Greene, it started with a social media message from Alexandra Dillard, whose grandfather founded the company. She asked Greene to guest design for Gianni Bini, a Dillard’s brand.

CLOSURE

Smith Interiors will share additional information about the Continued from page 1D closing of the showroom, including details about the “Closing the Doors” sale, which will be in Notion, new construction and more. vember. Contact Fazende at joel@theThe showroom included furniture, antiques, original art, bramblesantiques.com or Dansky upholstery and accessories that at mc@danskydesignstudio.com. were available for customers to purchase on the spot. Email Joy Holden at joy. In the coming weeks, Dixon holden@theadvocate.com.

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By LAURENT REBOURS

An Air France Concorde takes off at Roissy airport, north of Paris, for a test flight over the Atlantic ocean in 2001.

CAMPBELL

Continued from page 1D or so, but at least it was a double album — there were lots of song options. I listened to the album over and over again, stacking the two records, listening all the way through and then turning them over. Glen Campbell wasn’t exactly what the rest of the eighthgrade cool kids were listening to, but I dissected those songs and what he said in between them like a science experiment. To this day, I can quote pieces of what Campbell said between the songs. He had traveled to England for the concert on the Concorde. “And that thing goes so fast,” he said, stretching out the word “fast” like it had 19 a’s in it. A year ago, I decided to revisit as many of the songs I’ve loved along the way. I highly recommend the exercise. I hadn’t listened to Glen Campbell earnestly for years. When I did, I was struck by how good the music was — not how good it was for a

13-year-old girl who didn’t know any better. Just how good it was. He opened the album with a song by Janis Ian called “Stars” that segued into “Rhinestone Cowboy.” Jimmy Webb conducted the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra for much of the album, including his own song, “Wichita Lineman,” which has remained one of my favorites throughout the decades. I’ve tried twice to buy a copy online and have come up empty. This week, I listened to as many of the recordings as I could on YouTube. Music is the closest thing I know to time travel. I am happy that 13-year-old me appreciated that music. Back then, on occasion, I quasiforced my friends to listen to my big prize. They were kind about it, but they never shared my enthusiasm. So, mostly, I listened to Glen on my own, dreaming about what it would be like to be a rhinestone cowgirl or to ﬂy on the Concorde. That thing went so fast. Email Jan Risher at jan. risher@theadvocate.com.

PHOTOS By MARy CAROLINE RUSSELL

Designer Hadley Greene shows off the Mills Maxi Dress, which is featured in Greene’s collection with Dillard’s. After a year of design pitches, ﬁtting meetings, sampling fabrics and more, the project culminated with a photo shoot at Hotel Peter & Paul in New Orleans with Nashville-based photographer Mary Caroline Russell. “It was extremely daunting,” Greene said of conducting a twohour pitch meeting in front of the Dillard’s team, “but their design team has been so brilliant in bringing my ideas to life. The whole collection is centered around this Louisiana heritage that’s balanced with LA ease, because I do think both really shaped my design eye and what I’m drawn to.” Growing up in Baton Rouge, Greene says she was intentional in trying to differentiate her personal style and stand out among the crowd. Her parents allowed her to express herself through clothes. After graduating from University High in 2020, she studied in Switzerland for a year before transferring to the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. In Switzerland, fashion took on

An assortment of shoes is displayed from Baton Rouge native Hadley Greene’s collection with Dillard’s.

clothing choices wasn’t necessary anymore. She now dresses “on the offense rather than the defense.” Greene says designers like Michael Rider at Celine and Jonathan Anderson at Dior are inspirations, adding that Anderson’s curiosity adds whimsy and personality into the clothes he designs. Her collection debut with Dillard’s coincided with the end of Paris Fashion Week on Oct. 6, where Greene says personality was on full display. “The second that you stop being curious, that’s when your life loses joy,” she said. Greene’s designs are built to be versatile. She says designing clothes that instill confidence in people is her goal. “Getting dressed and expressing myself creatively has changed my life,” Greene said. “I would only hope that it would make others feel more conﬁdent and secure in themselves.”

a larger meaning for Greene. “I found so much security in hiding behind a piece of very shocking and jarring clothing that someone could comment on before they’re like, ‘Wait, how are you doing?’” she said. She noted that changing geography — Louisiana, Europe, California and more — played a part in the evolution of her personal style and burgeoning sartorial Email Lauren Cheramie at conﬁdence. The shock factor she lauren.cheramie@theadvocate. was previously chasing with her com.

COCKTAILS

Continued from page 1D

“The convenience isn’t the fact that it’s an easy-to-mix product, it’s that you can enjoy our mixers anywhere,” Couvillon said. “Our model is you can create a consistent cocktail without the guesswork.” Couvillon moved to Lafayette in 2005 to attend the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. When Hurricane Katrina devastated his hometown, he made Lafayette his home. His experiences with the storm also influenced the business. Couvillon created the Hurricane mixer as a nod to New Orleans and a way to support disaster-relief efforts. Proceeds from every purchase of the Hurricane mixer go to organizations such as the Cajun Navy, he said. “We like giving money to the boots on the ground whenever we can,” he said. Rather than using artificial coloring to give the Hurricane mixer a deep red appearance, Leisuremann’s uses hibiscus powder, which gives the mix its pink hue. The company also avoids artificial flavors, colors, preservatives and anti-clumping agents. Other flavors reflect Couvillon’s personal interests and experiences. Turkey Gravy, for example, was inspired by wassail, a traditional spiced holiday beverage. “I wanted something that had this kind of like holiday reference to it but was also an eye-catching game changer,” he said. Por Mi Amante, a tequila cocktail featuring strawberry, citrus and spice, was developed for his wife, who enjoys the drink. Developing the flavors requires research and experimentation. Couvillon visits bars and restaurants around Lafayette and surrounding communities to taste different versions of a cocktail before beginning work on a mix. He records flavor profiles in spreadsheets and journals, noting differences in citrus, sweetness and other characteristics. “I try a lot of cocktails before I even get to the point of me saying I’m going to try and make a mix,” he said. That research helps him establish a baseline for how a classic cocktail should taste before he begins experimenting with ingre-

Clifford Couvillon is the owner of Leisuremann’s Cocktail.

PROVIDED PHOTOS

Single-serve packets cost $3. Small jars cost $12.95, while larger jars cost $15.95. Bulk bags are also available for larger gatherings and businesses that need to prepare cocktails in quantity. A singleserve packet makes one drink, while jars generally produce eight to 10 servings, with larger jars yielding about 12 to 16, depending on the flavor. Each package includes recommended water measurements and suggestions for pairing the mix with spirits. Couvillon recommends dissolving the powder in Leisuremann’s Cocktail Mixes the specified amount of water be— born in the mountains of fore adding alcohol. Room-temperTennessee — are a clever way to ature water can help the mix dismake craft cocktails while on the solve more effectively than very go. cold water, he said. For customers in Lafayette, Leidients and proportions. suremann’s products are available “My mojito took at least four online with free delivery throughyears to develop because I wanted out the area or at Pink Paisley, 101 to achieve the mint flavor I tasted,” Arnould Blvd. in Lafayette. Couvillon said. For online orders, information Leisuremann’s also offers mock- about the mixes and flavor profiles, tail mixers in 12 flavors inspired visit leisuremanns.com. by classic cocktails, including margarita, Old Fashioned, cosmo- Email Ja’kori Madison at jakori. politan, Bloody Mary and mai tai. madison@theadvocate.com.

The Acadiana Advocate l theadvocate.com l Sunday, October 18, 2026 l 7D

lll

LOUISIANA BAKES Fresh-baked flavor, smells of fall have arrived There’s a certain morning each year when summer quietly slips away. The air feels a little lighter and the sunlight turns golden instead of blazing. In Louisiana, fall may arrive a bit later than elsewhere, but when it does, it brings one unmistakable flavor with it — pumpkin spice. Love it or roll your eyes at it, pumpkin spice has become the unofficial aroma of the season. Cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and cloves have a way of transforming ordinary afternoons into something cozy and comforting. Olivia Regard The scent drifting from the oven feels like an invitation to slow down, gather around the kitchen table and savor the change in seasons. When I bake fall treats, I use homemade pumpkin spice instead of buying a premade spice mix. Making your own pumpkin spice blend is easy and allows you to control the ratio of spices. I love the balance in the recipe below, but if cinnamon or ginger are your favorite, increase the amounts; and if a bit more kick from allspice or cloves is your aim, adjust accordingly. This year, I’m celebrating the arrival of fall with two pumpkin treats that capture everything I love about cooler days. First is a pumpkin loaf with streusel topping. Moist pumpkin bread is infused with warm spices and crowned with a buttery streusel that bakes into a crisp, crumbly layer. It’s the kind of loaf that feels right at home alongside a weekend newspaper or tucked into a lunchbox. Each slice offers the perfect balance of tender cake and sweet crunch. The loaf tastes equally delicious without the streusel topping, so omit it if that is your preference. The second recipe is a pumpkin spice snack cake with cane syrup glaze, a nod to Southern autumn traditions. The cake is soft, gently spiced, and easy enough for any day of the week. What makes it special is the glaze. Rich Louisiana cane syrup adds notes of caramel and molasses that complement the spices beautifully, creating a dessert that feels both familiar and uniquely Southern. As the days grow shorter and the temperatures finally begin to dip, these recipes offer a delicious reminder that fall isn’t just a season. It’s a feeling, and it starts in the kitchen.

Pumpkin Streusel Loaf

Makes one loaf. Recipe is by Olivia Regard. For the loaf: 1 cup sugar ½ cup olive oil 2 eggs 1 can pumpkin puree 2 overripe bananas, mashed 1½ cups all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons pumpkin spice ¼ teaspoon kosher salt

½ teaspoon baking soda ¼ teaspoon baking powder For the streusel: 2/3 cup pecan pieces, toasted ¼ cup unsalted butter ½ cup light brown sugar ½ cup all-purpose flour One big pinch of flaky sea salt

1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease a 9-inch loaf pan with butter and line with parchment paper. 2. Whisk together the sugar and oil until blended. Whisk in the eggs and pumpkin puree. 3. Mash the bananas and fold into the wet ingredients. 4. In another bowl, sift together the ﬂour, pumpkin spice, salt, baking powder and baking soda. 5. Fold the pumpkin mixture into the dry ingredients and stir until combined. Let the batter rest while you make the streusel topping. 6. For the streusel: Melt ¼ cup butter. Stir in ½ cup

sugar, ½ cup ﬂour, and pinch of sea salt. Mix in cup toasted pecans and set aside. 7. When ready to bake, pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Top the batter with the streusel topping, gently pressing the streusel into the batter. 8. Bake until the loaf is dark and a tester inserted deep into the middle comes out clean, 60 minutes. 9.If the streusel topping begins to overcook, tent the loaf with foil for the last 10 minutes of baking. Transfer loaf to a cooling rack and cool in pan for 10 minutes. Remove from the pan and let cool completely on the rack.

Pumpkin Snack Cake with Cane Syrup Glaze

Pumpkin Spice Blend 3 tablespoons ground cin1. Combine spices. namon 2. Store in a small jar 2 teaspoons ground ginger or container until ready 2 teaspoons freshly ground to use. nutmeg 1½ teaspoons ground allspice 1½ teaspoons ground cloves

PHOTOS By OLIVIA REGARD

Pumpkin Streusel Loaf

Pumpkin Snack Cake on low speed, gradually add sugar cup at a time. Continwith Cane Syrup ue beating the mixture until it is thick and grainy. Glaze 6. Increase the speed to meServes 12. Recipe is by Olivia Regard. For the cake: 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons baking powder 1 ½ teaspoons pumpkin spice blend ½ teaspoon kosher salt 1 ¼ cups unsalted butter, cold, cut into cubes 1 1/3 cups sugar 5 eggs, room temperature ½ cup heavy cream For the glaze: 2 tablespoons unsalted butter 1/3 cup cane syrup 1 cup powdered sugar ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract Pinch of kosher salt 1. Preheat oven to 325 F. 2. Grease bottom of 9-inchby-13-inch pan with butter. 3. Sift together ﬂour, baking powder, pumpkin spice and salt. 4. In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the butter until smooth. 5. With the mixer running

Best practices for ceiling fans

TODAY IN HISTORY Today is Sunday, Oct. 18, the 291st day of 2026. There are 74 days left in the year. Today in history: On Oct. 18, 1977, Reggie Jackson hit three home runs in Game 6 of the World Series to lead the New York Yankees to an 8-4 win and a 4-2 series victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers; his success in the Fall Classic earned him the nickname “Mr. October.” Also on this date: In 1867, the United States took formal possession of Alaska from Russia. In 1898, the American flag was first raised in Puerto Rico, shortly before Spain formally relinquished control of the island to the U.S. In 1931, inventor Thomas Edison died at his home in West Orange, New Jersey, at the age of 84. In 1954, Texas Instruments unveiled the Regency TR-1, the first commercially produced transistor radio. In 1962, James D. Watson, Francis Crick and Maurice Wilkins were

Employment

EDUCATION Notice of Vacancy & Request for Applications SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS Lead with vision. Inspire with purpose. Achieve with impact. MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS: Certified for the position of Superinten‐ dent of Schools or eligible for immedi‐ ate certification to serve as a Superin‐ tendent as reflected on the applicant's certificate or as confirmed in writing by LDOE at the time of appli‐ cation. LDOE confirmation must ac‐ company the completed application. Applicants must be able to serve as Su‐ perintendent alone without the ap‐ pointment of an employee to handle curriculum or other components of the position.

awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for determining the double-helix molecular structure of DNA. In 1968, American Bob Beamon shattered the previous long jump world record by nearly 2 feet, leaping 29 feet, 2¼ inches at the Summer Olympics in Mexico City. In 1972, Congress passed the Clean Water Act, overriding President Richard Nixon’s veto. In 1977, West German commandos stormed a hijacked Lufthansa jetliner on the ground in Mogadishu, Somalia, freeing all 87 hostages and four crew members and killing three of the four hijackers; the Lufthansa ﬂight had been hijacked ﬁve days earlier by members of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and made multiple stops before the rescue raid. In 2007, two bombs exploded near a motorcade carrying former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto in Karachi hours after her return from eight years in exile, killing more than 130 people; Bhutto herself was unhurt but would be assassinated in

MAIL APPLICATIONS TO Superintendent Search Avoyelles Parish Schools PO Box 279 Marksville, LA 71351

Dear Heloise: Fans don’t cool the air, whether it’s a ceiling fan or another type of fan. They remove the heat from one’s body, be it a human or an animal. So, if you leave a pet at home, leave a fan running for them. My dog Hints from laid right in Heloise front of our floor fan for most of this summer. Turn fans off if no one’s there. Leave a house fan on for pets if you don’t have a portable fan. — Frank A., in Ventura, California Frank, after consulting with a fan manufacturer, here’s what they suggested: n Air flow: The moving air flows across your skin and hair, making sweat evaporate faster and lowering your body temperature. n Room temperature: The

room’s actual temperature stays the same, or on occasion, the fan can even cause the room to feel warmer due to its motor. n Cost savings: If you or others aren’t in a room, you can turn off your ceiling fan to help lower your energy bill. — Heloise

Packaging battles Dear Heloise: Purchase a rotary leather punch online and use the large cutting punch to cut the heat-sealed spots between batteries. Then separate the upper and lower plastic that holds batteries captive. Afterward, just put the batteries in an empty pill bottle. It’s the safest way to get the batteries out. The sharpest scissors cannot cut the hard plastic without potentially cutting yourself. — James S. Email heloise@heloise.com.

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

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Public Notices Bids/Proposals

PUBLIC NOTICE --NOTICE TO BIDDERS

Reporting you can trust on stories that matter

QUESTIONS For questions regarding the applica‐ tion process, please contact the APS Central Office at 318-253-5892. Equal Employment Opportunity Em‐ ployer. Avoyelles Parish Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, or other prot ected class in employment or the provision of ser‐ vices.

December 2007. In 2018, President Donald Trump threatened to close the U.S. border with Mexico if authorities could not stop a caravan of migrants from Central America. In 2019, the ﬁrst all-female spacewalking team made history high above Earth, replacing a broken part of the International Space Station’s power grid. It was the ﬁrst time in a half-century of spacewalking that no men were part of a spacewalk as NASA astronauts Christina Koch and Jessica Meir completed the job with wrenches and power-grip tools. Today’s Birthdays: Composer Howard Shore is 80. Author Terry McMillan is 75. Tennis Hall of Famer Martina Navratilova is 70. Boxing Hall of Famer Thomas Hearns is 68. Actor Jean-Claude Van Damme is 66. Jazz musician Wynton Marsalis is 65. Musician Ne-Yo is 47. Olympic gold medal skier Lindsey Vonn is 42. Actor Zac Efron is 39. WNBA player Brittney Griner is 36. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is 35. Actor Sophie Thatcher is 26.

Pets

SALARY: Negotiated by the Board APPLICATION MATERIALS Application materials and complete in‐ structions are available at: www.avoyellespsb.com/employment

dium-high and beat until the mixture is light and ﬂuffy, approximately 5 minutes. 7. With the mixture on low speed, add the eggs one at a time, alternating with half of the dry mixture in between the addition of each egg. Add heavy cream and beat until just combined. 8. Transfer the batter to the prepared pan. The batter will be thick. Spread batter into an even layer. 9. Bake until top is lightly golden and a wooden pick inserted into the center comes out clean, approximately 3040 minutes. Cool completely on a wire rack. 10. Make the glaze: Add butter and maple syrup to a small saucepan over low heat. Stir until butter melts. Remove from heat. Stir in the powdered sugar, vanilla and pinch of salt. 11. Spread glaze over cooled cake, letting it drip over the edges.

SUBSCRIBE TODAY

Notice is hereby given that sealed bids will be received either electroni‐ cally at www.centralbidd ing.com or in the ofﬁce of the Purchasing Divi‐ sion at the Lafayette Consolidated Govern‐ ment Building, located at 705 West University Av‐ enue, Lafayette, Louisiana, until 10:00 am Central Time on the 29th day of October, 2026 for the following: 15 KV POLE MOUNT DIS‐ TRIBUTION LINE RE‐ CLOSER TRIPLE/SINGLE and will, shortly there‐ after, be opened and read aloud in a room at City Hall located at 705 West University Avenue, Lafayette, LA. Bids re‐ ceived after the above speciﬁed time for open‐ ing shall not be consid‐ ered and shall be re‐ turned unopened to the sender. The bid opening will be available to at‐ tend via zoom. Atten‐ dance is not mandatory. The passcode is 335301 d h i i li k i

Public Notices Bids/Proposals p and the invite link is https://us02web.zoom. us/j/85140247095? pwd=KIdt2NU5c24DDCZ Ox1U6HSbnMTAptb.1 The meeting will be at the time of the bid open‐ ing. In accordance with Louisiana RS 38:2212., vendors may submit their bid electronically at the website listed above. Bidding Documents are available to view only at the website. Bidders may request the electronic bid package from (Keirston St. Amant / kstamant@Lafayettela. gov) Vendors submitting bids electronically are re‐ quired to provide the same documents as bid‐ ders submitting through the mail as soon as avail‐ able. Only a bid bond, certiﬁed check or cashier’s check shall be submitted as the bid se‐ curity. Electronic copies of both the front and back of the check or bid bond shall be included with the electronic bid. Bids must be signed in accordance with LRS Title 38:2212(B)5. A Cor‐ porate Resolution or Cer‐ tiﬁcate of Authority au‐ thorizing the person signing the bid is re‐ quired to be submitted with bid. Failure to sub‐

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

mit a Corporate Resolu‐ tion or Certificate of Au‐ thority with the bid shall be cause for rejection of bid. Copies of the bidding documents are available at the Purchasing Office located at 705 West Uni‐ versity Avenue, Lafayette, LA 70506. Tele‐ phone number (337) 2918034 (Attn: Keirston St. Amant). Bidding docu‐ ments shall be available until twenty-four (24) hours before the bid opening date. Each bid shall be accom‐ panied by a certified check, cashier’s check or bid bond payable to the Lafayette Consolidated Government, the amount of which shall be five percent (5%) of the base bid plus additive alter‐ nates. If a bid bond is used, it shall be written by a surety or insurance company currently on the U.S. Department of the Treasury Financial Management Service list of approved bonding companies which is pub‐ lished annually in the Federal Register, or by a Louisiana domiciled in‐ surance company with at least an A-Rating in the latest printing of the A.M. Best’s Key Rating Guide to write individual bonds up to ten percent (10%) of policyholders’ surplus h i h

Public Notices Bids/Proposals p y p as shown in the A.M. Best’s Key Rating Guide, or by an insurance com‐ pany in good standing li‐ censed to write bid bonds which is either domiciled in Louisiana or owned by Louisiana resi‐ dents. The bid bond shall be issued by a company licensed to do business in Louisiana and counter‐ signed by a person who is under contract with re‐ siding in this state. The certiﬁed check, cashier’s check, or bid bond shall be given as a guarantee that the bidder shall exe‐ cute the contract, should

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

it be awarded to him, in conformity with the con‐ tract documents within ten (10) days.

compliance with the bid documents. The Lafayette Consolidated Government reserves the right to reject any and all bids for just cause in ac‐ cordance with LA R.S. 38§2214.B.

The Lafayette Consoli‐ dated Government strongly encourages the participation of DBEs (Disadvantaged Business Enterprise) in all con‐ tracts or procurements let by the Lafayette Con‐ solidated Government for goods and services and labor and material.

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8D ● Sunday, October 18, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate Public Notices Bids/Proposals

To that end, all contrac‐ tors and suppliers are encouraged to utilize DBEs business enter‐ prises in the purchase or sub-contracting of mate‐ rials, supplies, services and labor and material in which disadvantaged business are available. Assistance in identifying said businesses may be obtained by calling (337) 291-8410. PURCHASING DIVISION Lafayette Consolidated Government PUBLISH DATES: 10-18 DPR 992929

10-14,

203472-OCT 14-18-2T $94.82 PUBLIC NOTICE --NOTICE TO BIDDERS Notice is hereby given that sealed bids will be received either electroni‐ cally at www.centralbidd ing.com or in the ofﬁce of the Purchasing Divi‐ sion at the Lafayette Consolidated Govern‐ ment Building, located at 705 West University Av‐ enue, Lafayette, Louisiana, until 3:00 pm Central Time on the 23rd day of November, 2026 f h f ll i

Public Notices Bids/Proposals y for the following: LFT Fiber MDU Installation Stock Material Bid and will, shortly there‐ after, be opened and read aloud in the Ofﬁce of Purchasing located at 705 West University Av‐ enue, Lafayette, LA. Bids received after the above speciﬁed time for open‐ ing shall not be consid‐ ered and shall be re‐ turned unopened to the sender. Bidders may at‐ tend the bid opening in person, but are highly encouraged to virtually join the bid openings via Zoom using the following link: https://us02web.zoom. us/j/81273018361? pwd=a2KxztZcj3adh4x 2uHyQrR39dOUk8U.1. In accordance with Louisiana RS 38:2212 electronic Bids may be submitted on Central Bidding (www.central bidding.com). It is the sole responsibility of the bidder to ensure their bid is delivered (whether electronically in Central Bidding, in person, or via mail) to the Purchasing Division prior to the scheduled date and time of the bid opening. Ven‐ dors may request the bid electronically from Lay‐ lb i i i

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

y y cia Batiste at lbatiste@ lafayettela.gov. Ofﬁcial Bid Documents are avail‐ able on Central Bidding (www.centralbidding. com). For questions re‐ lated to the electronic bidding process, please call Laycia Batiste at 337291-7173.

versity Avenue, Lafayette, LA 70506. Tele‐ phone number (337) 2917173 (Attn: Laycia Batiste). Bidding docu‐ ments shall be available until twenty-four (24) hours before the bid opening date.

Vendors submitting bids electronically are re‐ quired to provide the same documents as bid‐ ders submitting through the mail as soon as avail‐ able. Only a bid bond, certified check or cashier’s check shall be submitted as the bid se‐ curity. Electronic copies of both the front and back of the check or bid bond shall be included with the electronic bid. Bids must be signed in accordance with LRS Title 38:2212(B)5. A Cor‐ porate Resolution or Cer‐ tificate of Authority au‐ thorizing the person signing the bid is re‐ quired to be submitted with bid. Failure to sub‐ mit a Corporate Resolu‐ tion or Certificate of Au‐ thority with the bid shall be cause for rejection of bid. Copies of the bidding documents are available at the Purchasing Office located at 705 West Uni‐

List of jurors randomly drawn and to serve for the term beginning on October 26, 2026: ABDULRAHMAN, NABAT MOHAMMED ADAMS, JODY J ADAMS, JAMES ADAMS, BRYAN AJAM, MOUNA ALDRICH, STACY LYN ALFRED, STEPHANIE M ALFRED, SHANTELL DANIELL ALI, YASIR ALMANDEEL, MOFDDI ALSTON, DENNIS SHARON ANCELET, EDITH L ANGELLE, JADE MEAUX ARCENEAUX, RANDY JOSEPH ARDOIN, QUASIA NATALIA ARSEMENT, GEORGE NATHAN ASHMORE, WILLIAM GEORGE ASWELL, STELLA HEBERT AUGUST, DOBIE J AUGUST, DANA HAMILTON AUSTIN, ALEXONDRA N AUTIN, BREA ESTHER AVILA, SARAH ELIZABETH AVILA-ORTEGA, FACUNDO BADER, LEO R BAGGS, BRITTANY RAE BARBER, CHRISTOPHER JOSEPH BARRAS, DAVID WAYNE BARTIE, TYRONNE CAMPBELL BAUDOIN, SCOTTY J BEDFORD, NICKOLAS CHARLES BEGNAUD, EDDIE J BEJEMINO, QUENNIE MIE DELFIN BENOIT, CAROL J BENOIT, LAUREN GRACE BENOIT, AMYLON STEPHON BERGERON, CLOVIS BLAKE, ROBERT ANTHONY BLANCHARD, AARON JAMES BOONE, VICTORIA LYNN BOSWELL, TIMOTHY LORENZO BOUDREAUX, FRANCIS J BOUDREAUX, PETER A BOUTTE, CHRISTOPHER LEE BOUTTE, CLARISSA WILLIAMS BOYD, REESE ELIZABETH BRASSEAUX, JANICE F BREAUX, JEANNINE G BROOKS, DURWIN PAUL BROUSSARD, CLEVIS E BROUSSARD, BETTY A BROUSSARD, ANDREW BARRETT BROUSSARD, TERRY J BROUSSARD, HILDA W BROUSSARD, ROBERT DUANE BROWN, MYESHA NESHON BROWN, TREYLIN JOSEPH BROWN, HEATHER DAWN BUDDEN, AJA ANGELLE BULLIARD, MOLLY ANNE BURGIN, MICHAEL RAY BURKETT, LESLIE CHARLES BUTLER, ROYCE ANTHONY CADE, BECKY C CADONA, BRITTANY STOVER CALAIS, KAYSHA KRISTINE CALLAIS, RYCKMAN CLEO CAMP, JOSHUA PAUL CANNON, WADE LAWRENCE CARRIER, CULLEN ALEXANDER CARRIER, JOHN R CARTER, JASMOND CAPONE CASTELBLANCO-ESTEBAN, WALTER G CASTILLE, JOSEPH L CELESTINE, DENARIUS ANTHONY CHAMPAGNE, JOAN L CHARLOT, KORTLYN PAUL CHASSION, CHEVAL RENEE CHIZER, ENZLY JOSEPH CITIZEN, SHAMEKA LYNN CITIZEN, KEVIN J CLARK, BRIAN JOHN CLAY, ELLEN P CLAY, LASHALA TRANICE CLEMONS, SAVANNAH LEIGH CLOUTIER, RACHEL THERESE COBB, KELLY M COLGIN, CY PATRICK COLLETT, BETTY D COLLINS, COREY CONNOR-FLORES, JASON LAWRENCE COOK, BRITTANY LATRICE COOK, PAUL WAYNE CORMIER, HONORA A CORMIER, VONSHEAKA FEANDREA COUGEVAN, MARILYN COUNCIL, SHANE DAVID COURVILLE, DOMINICK JAMES CREDEUR, CHAD MICHEAL CRIM, WILLIAM LEE CROSS, TAMIKA MARIE CRUZ-CHAVEZ, JOSE ARTURO CUMMINGS, JAMES PATRICK CUMMINGS, MADELINE GENE CURRY, SHANE WILLIAM DAIGLE, MICHELLE FONTENOT DAIGLE, CANDACE CASTILLE DAMOND, ROSALYN ANN DANIELS, CARMEN DAUDEY, CATHRYN DIANNE DAUPHINE, IRVIN H DAVIS, FREDDIE L DAVIS, JAMILA ELIZABETH DAVIS, MARCHELLI RENEE DEAN, MARK ANTHONY DEHART, MICHAEL G DELAHOUSSAYE, GAVIN WILLIAM DEQUEANT, KANDICE ELIZABETH DERRICK, LAUREN ELIZABETH DESHOTELS, LADANA WILLIAMS DIAZ, TAMI D DIEDLING, BRIAN T DISMUKE, MADISON DANIELLE DIXON, ZAHKEYA ARIEL SHAW DOMINGUE, GABRIEL WALTER DOMINGUE, ROZENA M DOMINIC, TRAVIS DORE, KEVIN P DORE, CYNTHIA DUGAS, TERRY L DUHON, DANIEL J DUHON, RYBREA JASHAE DUMESNIL, MEAGHAN ALIZABETH DUPLECHIN, TERRY B EAGLIN, HERBERT EDMOND, SANDY EDMOND, JALECIA LASHEY

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Public Notices Bids/Proposals

Each bid shall be accom‐ panied by a certiﬁed check, cashier’s check or bid bond payable to the Lafayette Consolidated Government, the amount of which shall be ﬁve percent (5%) of the base bid plus additive alter‐ nates. If a bid bond is used, it shall be written by a surety or insurance company currently on the U.S. Department of the Treasury Financial Management Service list of approved bonding companies which is pub‐ lished annually in the Federal Register, or by a Louisiana domiciled in‐ surance company with at least an A-Rating in the latest printing of the A.M. Best’s Key Rating Guide to write individual bonds up to ten percent (10%) of policyholders’ surplus as shown in the A.M. Best’s Key Rating Guide, or by an insurance com‐ pany in good standing li‐ censed to write bid bonds which is either domiciled in Louisiana or owned by Louisiana resi‐ d h bid b d h ll

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

y dents. The bid bond shall be issued by a company licensed to do business in Louisiana and counter‐ signed by a person who is under contract with re‐ siding in this state. The certiﬁed check, cashier’s check, or bid bond shall be given as a guarantee that the bidder shall exe‐ cute the contract, should it be awarded to him, in conformity with the con‐ tract documents within ten (10) days.

g Enterprise) in all con‐ tracts or procurements let by the Lafayette Con‐ solidated Government for goods and services and labor and material. To that end, all contrac‐ tors and suppliers are encouraged to utilize DBEs business enter‐ prises in the purchase or sub-contracting of mate‐ rials, supplies, services and labor and material in which disadvantaged business are available. Assistance in identifying said businesses may be obtained by calling (337) 291-8410.

No bidder may withdraw his bid for at least fortyﬁve (45) days after the time scheduled for the opening of bids. Each bid shall be submitted only on the quotation form provided with the speci‐ ﬁcations. Bids will be evaluated by the Purchaser based on the lowest responsible and responsive bid sub‐ mitted which is also in compliance with the bid documents. The Lafayette Consolidated Government reserves the right to reject any and all bids for just cause in ac‐ cordance with LA R.S. 38§2214.B. The Lafayette Consoli‐ dated Government strongly encourages the participation of DBEs (Disadvantaged Business i ) i ll

EDWARDS, HEATHER WALKER EDWARDS, MARKISHA RENEE ELLINGER, MCKAYLA JOBETH ERUWAYO, NGONZI DOREEN ESPREE, MARKEITHA NICOLE EVIVIE, DERRICK WAYNE FABACHER, MICHELE M FARRIS, LIONEL E FELDER, LAUREN DEGRAAUW FELDER, NIKITA FONTENOT, JOHN W FRANCIS, SIRDARREN VICTORIAN FRANCIS, PAIGE LASHA FRANCIS, CLAUDERICK E FRANCIS, CIARA RAE CLARK FRANK, KAYLYN MARSHAE FRANKLIN, LOGAN DOUGLAS FREAS, LEONA T FRISHBERG, KATHLEEN REES FURMAN, DANIEL JAMES FURMAN, KRISTINE FRADY GABLE, SUSAN ROUGEAU GALLIEN, SHIVLEY A GARCIA, DEBRA KAY GARCIA-DEBUENROSTRO, XOCHIL GARY, JUDY B GARY, CORY MICHAEL GARY, KERRIE MULLICAN GASHI, KRISTIN MICHELLE GAUTHIER, MISTY DAWN GILES, EARL LEE GILLASPIE, MARGARET F GLAZE, ERICKA LYNN GOODWIN, JANET ANASTASIA GORENCEL, CHRISTOPHER MATTHEW GOULD, STEVEN LLOYD GRAFFAGNINO, EMILY RUTH GRANBERRY, CARLA RICHARD GRANGER, RACHAEL JEANNE GRANIERI, CARL C GREMILLION, MARY KAY GRIGGS, GEORGE C GRINAGE-DOMINGUE, SHANNA LEE GRISSOM, BARBARA BREAUX GUIDRY, JEANINE MARIE GUIDRY, OLIVIA MEGHAN GUIDRY, BRAX KARLON GUIDRY, JOVI KORYNN GUILBEAU, ALEX JAMES GUILLOT, SARAH MICHELLE HAMILTON, TERESA HAMILTON, BARBARA W HAMMOND, SCOTT ANTHONY HANKS, RACHEL ANN HARRIS, DARYIN DEIONTRAY HARUKI, MAKI T HAYNES, JEFFERY LECOY HEBERT, JODI HEBERT, PAUL J HEBERT, DEBORAH HEBERT, EGLES J HEBERT, PETE JOSEPH HEBERT, ANTHONY GALBERT HEBERT, LEXI MECHE HELARIE, MARY JANE HENDERSHOT, TYLER JOHN ANTHONY HERNANDEZ, ERIC JOHN HERNANDEZ-ZUNIGA, PATRICIO HIGHTOWER, JOAN MARIE HOFFPAUIR, MARCIA S HOLLIDAY, CHRISTOPHER GENE HUNDY, LAURA COLLEEN HUVAL, FARRAH RICKS IRVING, TANCE SAMUEL ISSE, ABDIRISAQ FARAH JACKSON, JAYMII N JOHNSON, JAMES T JOHNSON, STEVEN C JONES, TRAVON ANTONIO JONES, ROCHELLE MITCHELL JONES, KENNETH WAYNE JONES, CHRISTOPHER LANDRY JORDAN, PAULA S JOSEPH, TIKI M KELLER, JASON PAUL KING, JAMES ROBERT KIZZIAR, GEORGANNE P KOKENGE, MARCELLE LABORDE, DONALD P LABORDE, DAISIE G LACOUR, ALCINE P LAFLEUR, ROBERT KANE LAIL, BAILEY RAY LAMBERT, TOMMY LANCLOS, DAVID YVES LAPEROUSE, ROBYNNE S LATHAN, KATISHA C LATIOLAIS, SARAH ROSE LEAL, ALICIA MARIE LEBLANC, KEONTE JMON LEBLANC, SHELTON J LEBLANCWEBER, STEVI BLAKE LEDET, ASHLEY CLAIRE GONDRON LEGER, TOBY MICHAEL LEMAIRE, PRESTON JOSEPH LEOPAUL, CAROLYN CLAIRE LEWIS, KAREN B LINDSEY, MICHAEL RAY LIVING, TYNAJAIH ASHANIT LOPEZMEJIA, KASIE L LORMAND, KRISTYN PAIGE LOUIS, FREDRICK J LOYER, MARY ELLEN MABIE, DIANNE B MALONE, DEVON MARIE MARKS, KYLIE RENEE MARTENS, MICHAEL MATTHEW MASON, ARTHUR EUGENE MASOUDZULETA, KEMEL MATTHEW, KEITH DANIEL MAYFIELD, HARRINGTON MCCRORY, CHRISTINE INDEST MCZEAL, MORGAN DANIELLE MCZEAL, DIANA MARIE MEAUX, JOHN D MENARD, RONNI MICHELLE MERCKLE, MELINDA M MIKKILINENI, SAI RANGANATH MILBY, MIRANDA NOEL MILLER, DEMORNAY MARIE MILLER, JUDE MICHAEL MILLS, NATASHA EVETT MITCHELL, JOHN H MOHAMMED, MOHSEN NASSER ALI MORAIN, GEORGIA S MOREAU, EVA LYNN MORTON, KENZIE KLING MOULIS, SCOTT DAMON MOUTON, CARL G MULLINS, ANDREW JOSEPH

PURCHASING DIVISION Lafayette Consolidated Government PUBLISH DATES: 10-16-26, 10-18-26 DPR 1005461 203858 Oct. 16, 18, 2t $99.96

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PUBLIC NOTICE --Agenda City Zoning Commission Public Meeting Monday, October 19, 2026 5:30 P.M., or immediately following the conclusion of the Lafayette City Planning Commission, whichever occurs later Community Development and Planning Department 220 West Willow Street, Building C Town Hall Auditorium I. Call to Order II. Chair’s Opening Remarks III. Approval of the Minutes September 21, 2026 IV. New Business 1. Case No. 2026-18-REZ 302 Pershing Avenue Re‐ zoning A request to rezone the subject property, from RS-1 (Residential SingleFamily) to MN-1 (MixedUse Neighborhood) lo‐ cated generally north of East Foch Street, east of Marne Street, and south of Pershing Avenue. 2. Case No. 2026-20-REZ 107 Felicie Drive Rezon‐ ing h

Public Notices Meet/Hear/Min g A request to rezone the subject property, from RS-1 (Residential SingleFamily) to MN-1 (MixedUse Neighborhood) lo‐ cated generally north of Johnston Street, west of Felicie Drive, and south of Patricia Street. 3. Case No. 2026-21-REZ 600 Loire Avenue Rezon‐ ing A request to rezone the subject property, from CH (Commercial-Heavy) to IL (Industrial-Light) lo‐ cated generally north of Salvador Drive, east of Louis Arceneaux Road, and south of Vaucluse Drive. V. Other Business 1. Director’s Report and review of Lafayette City Council action on mat‐ ters previously consid‐ ered by the Zoning Com‐ mission. 2. LDC Amendments 3. Proposed amendments to Rules of Policy and Procedure i. Add Part IV: City Zoning Commission Policy ii. Add to proposed Part IV: A. The City of Lafayette Zoning Com‐ mission shall defer until the next regular meeting any application appear‐ ing before the Commis‐ sion where the applicant is not in attendance of

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the meeting where the application is scheduled to be heard. VI. Adjournment 202608 Oct. 4, 14, 18, 3t $63.78

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MUNNERLYN, MICHAEL W MURPHY, AUBREY NICOLE NAQUIN, AARON PAUL NELSON, CARLA J NELSON, FREDERICK LEE NOLAN, JAMES T NOSWORTHY, JACOB EARL OCONNOR, ROBERT D OJEDA-GONZALEZ, LEIDYSBETH OLIVIER, BRANDON DEVON OVERHOLSER, ANNA ELIZABETH PADGETT, WILLIAM R PAGAN, LILIANA THERESE PANTALION, JESSICA PARKS, TIFFANY DUGAS PARMER, DANIEL PARRIA, ALEXIS RENAE PATEL, ABHISHEK DHARMENDRA PATRICK, QUAID AVERIE PELLERIN, MARTHA LYNETTE PELTIER, LINDSEY BROOKE PENARAMIREZ, JANPAUL PERRODIN, BENTON J PETTY, ROBERT JASON PHELPS, TIFFANY BROOKE PILLETTE, ALEXANDRIA JOSEPHINE PIMENTELALVARE, JULIA PATRICIA PIRAGINO, DAVID JOHN POOLER, TREMAYNE D POWELL, MELISSA D PRINCE, BROOKE HAILEY PROVOST, JOHN M RABALAIS, CHRISTIAN PAUL RANDAZZO, JONATHAN ANTONIO RASCOE, JOSEPH MICHAEL REDDICK, CLAIRE ELIZABETH RIOSCOLMENAREZ, ANGEL A RIVERS, HAILIE RENE ROBERSON, ISAIAH ANDRE ROBERTS, RICHARD WILLIAM ROBERTSON, KIM BERNARD ROBERTSON, LANE TALBOTT ROBICHEAUX, RUSSELL GILBERT ROCHON, SHERRY TRAHAN ROGERS, HARRISON JAMES ROMERO, BRENT JAMES ROMERO, CHARRISSA ROY, BRYAN MITCHELL RUDDICK, TARAH J RUGERIO, VALERIO LAURA SAM, DIAMOND SABREA SAMPY, ELISHA DANIELLE SAUCIER, DANA MICHELLE SCHEXNAYDER, SHEILA ANN SCHUETZ, KEVIN KELLY SCHWING, JOHN E SCOTT, THOMAS B SCRANTON, MONICA A BRISCOE SEAL, BRITTANY AMBER SENEGAL, SATHONEE ADAIRE SHELVIN, GERALYN C SILVA, RENE SIMON, JODY SKELTON, ELIZABETH CLAIRE SMALL, JANINE Z SMITH, ERICA BLAKE SMITH, ZAYNE ALEXANDER SMITH, MAKAYLA LE SMITH, JEAN LUC SMITH, FELICIA A SNELLGROVE, CHARLES WESLEY SOLOMON, BRENDA SONNIER, LEAH ANN SOPHABMIXAY, KHEUAVANH SPARROW, TIFFANY SPENCIL, SUSAN WORDFLOW SPEYRER, KELSEY BROOKE STANSBURY, MATTHEW COLT STELLY, SHELLEY M STJULIEN, MIA GRACE STORDAL, DOUGLAS PAUL TALLEY, PATRICK COLLINS TASSIN, JASON PAUL TATE, DENNIS WARD TAYLOR, ALBERTHA J TAYLOR, MELVIN FRANCIS THIBEAUX, DECIELLA D THIBEAUX, RAYFORD THIBODEAUX, MICHAEL THIBODEAUX, JEREMY DELANE THIBODEAUX, JEREMY PAUL THIBODEAUX, LUCILLE THOMAS, SAMANTHA LEBINE THOMAS, RASHAUD ALVIN TOBEH, BELAL MOHAMMED TOBY, SIRIS ORION PAUL TORRES, TERRI JO TRAHAN, TIMOTHY RYAN TRAHAN, BRIDGET F TRAHAN, GWEN MATHERNE TRAHAN, KALEB LEE LYNDON TRAHAN, LINDA M TURLAND, SANDRA H VALENZUELA, AMILLIO CEPRIANO VALIER, DEMERIESE NAIMA VELA, BRIAN MATTHEW VENABLE, COURTNEY MARIE VICE, GABRYELLE MECHE WALKER, CERESA MARIE WALKER, LEAH DANIELLE WALLACE, ELIZABETH CHRISTINE HAYES WALTERS, BARBARA A WANG, HSUCHING WASHINGTON, APRIL A WASHINGTON, BRANDON JAMES WATERS, DELORES H WEATHERALL, PRENELLA J WEBER, SHARNELL MATTHEWS WHITE, DENISE BOUDREAUX WHITE, RENEE HUGHES WHITE, FRANCHESCKA T WHITE, COURTNEY RENEE SAVOIE WHITMAN, ANN DEARING WIESTLING, BOBBY JOE WILBURN, SKYE NICHOLE WILLIAMS, ERNEST CHARLES WILLIAMS, SUSAN E WILLIAMS, CALTA RICHARD WILLIAMSON, STEVEN MAXWELL WILLIS, DEZAVIAN LASTARSKY ALLEN WINN, ZACHARY RAYMOND WITTENBERG, JENNIFER CLAIRE YOUNG, NATHAN JAMES ZENO, NAKIYA NICOLE

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SCARE TACTICS Ghosts, vampires and witches are major contributors to state’s ‘dark tourism’

1EN

BY RICH COLLINS Staff writer

Morgan Black used to be a social worker in Los Angeles. Then, in 2024, during one of her frequent visits to New Orleans, she had an epiphany that led her to change careers and switch hometowns all at once. “I was walking around the French Quarter and heard several people complain about their boring walking tours,” Black said. “Later, I went on Indeed. com and saw an ad for a paranormal tour guide and I said to myself, ‘I can rock this.’” Shortly after, Black moved to New Orleans and began dressing as the “French Quarter Nun” five days a week to lead tours about ghosts, vampires, voodoo and other more esoteric topics. “People love the spiritual and paranormal, and I love to entertain,” Black said. She’s not the only one. For three decades, tourists

interested in the paranormal have made pilgrimages to New Orleans — often billed as one of the country’s most haunted cities — to immerse themselves in the atmosphere. Every day in the city’s oldest neighborhood, scores of guides regale visitors with oft-told stories that range from the tragic ﬁre at Lalaurie Mansion to the legend of a ghostly priest wandering Père Antoine’s Alley to a table permanently set for the ghost of a former property owner at Muriel’s Jackson Square restaurant. Tour companies with names like Haunted History or French Quarter Phantoms — and even, incongruously, Lizzie Borden Ghost Tours — fight for consumers’ attention online, often sharing a third of the revenues from their tickets, which start around $30, with third-party sales platforms.

IDEAS &

INNOVATION

PROVIDED PHOTO

Morgan Black says she became a paranormal tour guide in 2024, taking on the persona the ‘French Quarter Nun.’

STAFF PHOTOS By ENAN CHEDIAK

Tour guides, top and above, stop at the LaLaurie Mansion during haunted New Orleans tours through the French Quarter. New Orleans is often billed as one of the country’s most haunted cities.

ä See SCARE, page 2E

Industrial real estate demand in south Louisiana is hot Other sectors are more sluggish

BY STEPHANIE RIEGEL Staff writer

Louisiana’s industrial construction boom is fueling demand for warehouse space across the region, including the Greater New Orleans area — a welcome trend in an otherwise lackluster real estate market that is showing signs of improvement in some sectors and battling ongoing challenges in others. Megaprojects like new artiﬁcial intelligence data centers, liqueﬁed natural gas export terminals and the Hyundai steel mill in Ascension Parish, though located outside the region’s largest cities, are creating a ripple effect that extends to New Orleans and Baton Rouge, where industrial space is approaching full occupancy and developers are building new proj-

Commercial Brokers, said at a forum last week. “I could see a million square feet of industrial development coming out of the ground on spec in the next few years. It’s already happening.” Juge’s comments came at the New Orleans Metropolitan Association of Realtors’ annual Economic and Real Estate Forecast, where local experts painted a mixed picture of the area’s real estate market. The state’s industrial boom, they said, offers hope. But it’s still unclear whether mega construction projects will be enough to diversify the area’s economy and reverse decades of population decline. Here are key takeaways from STAFF PHOTO By GRACE MAyER the forum, held Oct. 8 at the JefTowering cranes unload 15,000 tons of aluminum from the MV Lipsi shi, ferson Performing Arts Center. Industrial properties in the docked at Avondale Global Gateway. Greater New Orleans region are ects before even locking in ten- ment projects in this state that roughly 97% occupied on average, we’ve never ever seen,” Richard outperforming the national averants. “You’re seeing spec develop- Juge, CEO and owner of RE/MAX age by 4 points. Rental rates are

continuing to climb, and 137,000 square feet of new warehouse space is under construction. Demand in the capital region is even greater. In Ascension Parish, more than 2 million square feet of new industrial space is under construction, while in Baton Rouge, another 200,000 square feet is going up — and it’s all speculative, an encouraging sign, experts said. Juge predicted that more construction is to come, particularly around Baton Rouge and further north toward data centers in Rapides, Bossier and Richland parishes. Closer to New Orleans, he sees opportunities on the West Bank in Jefferson Parish near Waggaman and Avondale, where prices for large undeveloped tracts remain attractive. Lack of infrastructure in those areas, such as water and sewage systems, could slow some of the growth, he said.

ä See INDUSTRIAL, page 2E

2E l Sunday, October 18, 2026 l theadvocate.com l The Acadiana Advocate

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Here’s why your pay raise still leaves you feeling broke “I hate payday.” Who dislikes the day they get paid for all their work? Yet over the years, as I’ve sat across the table from individuals and couples trying Michelle to stretch their Singletary income, I’ve heard THE COLOR variations of that OF MONEy same disheartening line. “I hate it because all my money is gone as soon as it hits my bank account,” one guy told me during a ﬁnancial meeting in which I was trying to help him and his wife balance their budget. The feeling he described is the reality for millions of households: mounting debt payments make it hard to save for emergencies, invest for retirement or achieve other ﬁnancial goals. You expect necessities — housing, transportation and food — to take up much of your pay. But nonmortgage debt (credit cards, auto loans and student loans) is steadily consuming an increasing share of what remains. A new report reveals that, for the average worker since late 2022, debt payments have risen 14.8%, compared with 1.7% real income growth, meaning the debt people are servicing has grown eight times faster than real takehome pay, according to the Century Foundation, a progressive think tank, and Protect Borrowers, an advocacy group focused on consumer debt. About 80% of working-age adults carry consumer debt, with required monthly payments claiming roughly 10% of aftertax household income, up from 8.9% at the end of 2022. Credit cards and auto loans drive nearly all of this burden, accounting for 44% and 40% of monthly debt obligations, respectively. For a single earner, real monthly take-home pay has risen by an average of $109 since late 2022, while required monthly debt payments have increased by $57. This means 52 cents of every dollar in wage gains was absorbed by nonmortgage debt service before it could be spent on basic necessities or used to build a savings cushion. In a dual-earner household where both partners experienced the average increase in debt payments, their combined monthly debt obligations rose by $114, outpacing their total household real income gain of $109. As a result, 100% (and then some) of the household’s net income gain

was wiped out by rising debt obligations. “For the average family, it really feels like we’re on the precipice of a cliff where they’re trying to manage their finances with this kind of Jenga of different types of debt,” said Julie Margetta Morgan, president of the Century Foundation. “The rest of the economy is humming along almost without them buoyed by AI stocks.” Without adequately considering the liabilities side of a household’s budget, “conventional measures of real earnings increasingly understate workers’ financial insecurity,” the report notes. With the midterm elections a few weeks away, affordability is on the minds of many voters. The analysis raises an important question: Is your wage growth largely an illusion? To emphasize the drag debt has on household finances, the two organizations propose a new economic metric: Real Income Net of Debt. The goal is to force policymakers to confront the extent to which debt is precariously propping up American households, Margetta Morgan said. I’ve often heard critics characterize consumer debt as the result of reckless or unnecessary spending. But the data disputes that narrative. The reality is many households are turning to debt to afford the basics, such as groceries and gas. “There are these stereotypes that debt is some kind of frivolous spending,” Margetta Morgan said. “It is absolutely unfair. What we see time and again is people making pretty rational choices. ... People are putting their basic expenses onto credit cards.” When government safety nets pull back, families have no choice but to borrow to bridge the gap. Millions of Americans, including more than a million children, have lost access to federal food assistance through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, according to an analysis by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a progressive policy organization. At the same time, about onethird of Americans — roughly 82 million people — say they have had to make financial sacrifices, cutting back on essentials like food and utilities to cover healthcare expenses, according to findings from the West HealthGallup Affordability Index. “Families are increasingly re-

lying on consumer debt to build their own safety nets,” Margetta Morgan said. Auto loans are also straining family budgets. A monthly car payment that includes a comma is the new normal for an increasing number of borrowers. A record 21.2% of new-car buyers took out $1,000-plus monthly loans in the third quarter of 2026, borrowing an average of $44,664, according to recent data from Edmunds, a car-shopping website. The average new-car payment rose to $787, up from $756 a year earlier. Used-car shoppers aren’t escaping the squeeze either. The average payment was $582 on $30,703 in debt, pushing a record 6.5% of used-car buyers into four-figure monthly payments. Debt taken on for basic necessities disproportionately impacts working-class families, the report said. Monthly credit card and auto payments are surprisingly similar across income tiers, but lower-income earners pay far higher interest rates for less valuable goods. “It is much more expensive to be poor in this country, and as a result, it’s also much harder to climb out of that kind of mountain of debt,” Margetta Morgan said. For millions of working families, student debt adds another layer of burden. Student loans account for just 7.5% of total consumer debt payments, a share that could rise as more borrowers face higher monthly payments due to recent policy changes, according to findings from the Century Foundation and Protect Borrowers. Traditional economic metrics measure affordability by looking at wages and prices. But that leaves out the hidden siphon draining family budgets every month: debt. Workers are losing ground as prices outstrip paychecks. When required debt service is factored in, net earnings drop even further. Wages, inflation and debt form an economic trio that provides a fuller picture of a household’s financial well-being. Taken together, these factors explain why families feel broke in an economy that looks good on paper. The affordability crisis isn’t a hoax or a phony talking point. It’s real people looking at their bank accounts and realizing the math simply isn’t mathing. Email michelle.singletary@washpost.com.

SCARE

Continued from page 1E There’s no economic impact report for Louisiana’s haunted tourism industry, which is concentrated in New Orleans and has outposts in St. Francisville, Baton Rouge, the River Parishes and other spots, but the region is widely recognized as a domestic hub that contributes to the $34 billion global “dark tourism” sector, a much larger category that also includes travel to battleﬁelds and the sites of disasters and infamous crimes. Activity revs into high gear every October, when American consumers — who spend $13.5 billion annually on Halloween costumes, decorations and candy — look for more haunted tours, attractions and other forms of supernatural exploration. And these fall visitors in search of scares are anything but frightening to tourism boosters, who hope to reverse the 3% dip in downtown hotel occupancy from 2024 to 2025 due to a nationwide drop in international visitors, higher travel costs and a more competitive market for meetings and conventions “Haunted tourism is a signiﬁcant part of New Orleans’ visitor economy,” said Alice Glen, an executive at New Orleans & Co., the city’s destination marketing organization. “When approached thoughtfully and respectfully, these experiences can deepen historical understanding and build appreciation for the people and places that tell New Orleans’ story.”

Vampire movie starts industry Today’s haunted tour companies in New Orleans are carrying on a tradition that started in the 1990s, when industry pioneers like Richard Rochester, founder of Magic Tours, and Sidney Smith, founder of Haunted History Tours, began escorting visitors through the French Quarter and telling stories that captured interest piqued by

STAFF FILE PHOTO By BRETT DUKE

The Myrtles Plantation in St. Francisville bills itself as ‘One of America’s Most Haunted Homes.’ There’s no economic impact report for Louisiana’s haunted tourism industry, but the region is widely recognized as a domestic hub that contributes to the $34 billion global ‘dark tourism’ sector. the local filming of the Tom Cruise movie “Interview with the Vampire” in 1993. Rochester’s initial source material was the book “Ghost Stories of Old New Orleans” by Jeanne deLavigne, according to Randy Bibb, a veteran guide who teaches classes on the topic. “He was a big, tall guy dressed like a vampire with a loud voice,” Bibb said. “When he was putting together the tours, there were no vampire stories, so he had to start making some up — and since he couldn’t create enough of those to satisfy people, he turned to ghosts.” Bibb said some of Rochester’s tales, like the story of five boys killed in an 18th-century fire at the current site of the Andrew Jackson Hotel, were created for a practical reason: to fill a blockslong gap between the locations of other existing ghost stories in the Quarter. Though Rochester himself left town in the early 2000s and Magic Tours is gone, Smith led Haunted History for three decades until his death last year and witnessed the growth of the industry he helped create as TV shows like “Ghost Adventures” reeled in a new generation of thrill seekers.

Rob Florence, a three-decade veteran of the walking tour industry, said when he launched his company, NOLA Historic Tours, in 1995, there were only a handful of other similar businesses in town. Florence Now, there are dozens, including many dedicated to paranormal themes. A spokesperson for the New Orleans Ground Transportation Bureau, which regulates tour companies, said there are about 900 active tour guide licenses in the city, but that number includes guides of all types. “There seems to be a ghost tour on every corner,” said Kalila Smith, Sidney Smith’s exwife and the current operator of the tour company K. Smith she helped create. “And you can only slice the pie so many ways.” Most nights outside the Lalaurie Mansion at the corner of Royal and

INDUSTRIAL

Continued from page 1E

Commercial occupancy By one measure, the downtown New Orleans office market is holding steady, with occupancy rates averaging a little below 80% — not bad compared with some other small and midsized markets. But occupancy rates tell only part of the story. In 1989, New Orleans had 70 office buildings. Today, it has 25, 64% fewer than it did four decades ago, due to a wave of historic building renovations and conversions to hotels and apartments post-Hurricane Katrina. “The CBD has held steady occupancy not because of new demand but because we keep removing supply from the market,” said Scott Graf, of Corporate Realty. At the same time, construction costs have risen — 67% in the last decade alone — and operating expenses have increased 25%. During the same period, lease rates for Class A office buildings have only increased about 9% — about $1.75 per square foot since 2016. And after expenses, net rents have actually fallen about 4% over the past decade, making it impossible to justify new construction.

Retail space is at a premium On the retail side, anchor tenants are increasingly important in affecting the performance of strip malls. Centers anchored by supermarkets outperform those without by several points and ﬁll up more quickly, according to Carly Plotkin, a senior adviser with Stirling. Demand is high and supply is limited, with only about 30,000 square feet of new shopping center space under construction across the New Orleans metro area. Value and off-price retail are continuing to expand, with chains Dollar Tree and Five Below showing the most growth. Traditional retail centers, meanwhile, are ﬁnding opportunity in diversifying to mixed-use, lifestyle centers like Clearview City Center and The Francis at Elmwood.

Residential market uncertainty

STAFF FILE PHOTO By CHRIS GRANGER

New Orleans’ occupancy rate only tells part of the story. While office space is averaging about 80% occupied, the city has fewer buildings compared with four decades ago.

and 2025, with St. Tammany Parish leading the region with a 3% jump in sales. The bigger story in the residential sector, however, is the glut of inventory on the market, which Wagner said is the highest at any time since 2000. In September, the supply of available homes on the market topped 8 months, meaning the amount of time it would take for them all to sell. That’s 50% more inventory than was available between 2013-19, a period of relative stability in the market after the Great Recession and before the pandemic that Wagner uses as a benchmark. “It’s not just New Orleans,” Wagner said. “The whole region has excess supply right now except Acadiana, which is back to ‘normal.’” He said the lack of excess inventory in Acadiana is not related to SpaceX’s recently announced plans for the area but, rather, a more general recovery.

Captializing on the moment With $250 billion worth of new megaprojects announced or under construction across the state, experts said there’s no question Louisiana is having a moment. But how can the New Orleans region and its real estate sector capitalize on the moment? “If we don’t have a strong, diversified growing economy, we are not going to be solving any of our community problems,” said Andy Kopplin, president and CEO of the Greater New Orleans Foundation. Kopplin said the nonproﬁt is focused on developing the biomedical district on the edge of the CBD. Keith Schneider, managing director and head of real estate for Benson Capital, said focusing on making the area more affordable, efﬁcient and providing incentives to get real estate projects done is key. “That is what we need to focus on,” he said. “Because if we don’t improve the quality of life, how are we going to bring people here?” Staff writer Grace Mayer contributed to this story.

Homebuying activity in the Greater New Orleans area started to heat up at the start of 2026, as interest rates inched down, and several new insurance carriers began writing homeowners policies in the market again. More recently, however, with uncertainty around the war in the Middle East, inﬂation pressures and interest rates rising again, the recovery appears uncertain. “We’re in a thawing market, but it’s still a cold market,” said Gary Wagner, an economist at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. The number of closed sales in the metro area through Septem- Email Stephanie Riegel at stephaber nudged up about 1% over 2024 nie.riegel@theadvocate.com.

Governor Nicholls streets, one of the most famous haunted houses in the country, a half-dozen tour guides compete with each other for volume, outlandishness and theatricality, according to Florence. Sometimes, the spectacle leads to controversy. An unpermitted marketing stunt in July prompted complaints that the “haunted house” treatment of the Lalaurie Mansion is insensitive to the memory of the actual enslaved people who were tortured and killed there in the 1800s. That incident illustrates a bigger challenge for the industry, according to Nitasha Sharma, an assistant geography professor at the University of Alabama who studies dark tourism. “The immersive spooky side shouldn’t take over the real histories,” Sharma said. “People actually suffered at some of the sites where recreational horror is created, so they shouldn’t get pushed into the background.” Drew Cantwell, the general manager of The Myrtles Plantation in St. Francisville, said that issue is top of mind at a remote historic home with a reputation for hauntings that’s been a tourist attraction since the 1990s. “We’re fully aware and transparent about the terrible things that happened on these grounds year ago,” he said. “We encourage guides to tell the history and explain those things, because it’s a great opportunity for learning, and then we also talk about how we’re moving forward.”

20 guides is half of what it was at its peak. Jennifer Talley, co-founder of the New Orleans Paranormal Society, which offers “ghost-hunting experiences,” blames the downturn she’s witnessed on broader trends. “Tourism in New Orleans has just tanked since 2024,” she said. “There’s just too much going on and I think everybody is ’New Orleansed out.’” Susan Weidmann, an assistant professor recreation management at Appalachian State University, said economic challenges aren’t just affecting tourism locally. “Everyone has to cut from their budget, and tourism/recreation and leisure is one of the ﬁrst things to go,” she said.

Branching out

Not all the tour companies are sitting idle through the slump. In July, Talley and her husband, Christopher, hosted their ﬁrst New Orleans ParaCon, a gathering of psychics, paranormal investigators, UFO experts and more. The event drew several hundred attendees, and she’s already working on next year’s follow-up. Black, the former social worker, meanwhile, continues to suit up and hit the street ﬁve nights a week, counting on her glowing online reviews to boost business. “This work is way more taxing than people realize because, rain or shine, you’re outdoors doing tours in the summer heat,” she said. “But I love it. I may make less money than I used to, but my mental health is better.” ‘Too much going on’ Florence, the tour company Despite the increase in haunted owner, said the paranormal tours, tour operators and guides in New like it or not, are a part of the city’s Orleans, Smith said the business landscape. “It’s fashionable for hip French is “not near what it was” when Haunted History debuted more Quarter people to complain about them,” he said. “But that would be than three decades ago. She said increased competition like moving to Aspen, Colorado, combined with declining visitation and complaining about skiing.” meant the company’s revenue was down 17% year-over-year from Email Rich Collins at rich.col2024 to 2025, and its stable of about lins@theadvocate.com.

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The Acadiana Advocate l theadvocate.com l Sunday, October 18, 2026 l 3E

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

Firm building city’s affordable housing for past 25 years Q&A WITH TERRI NORTH

BY RICH COLLINS Staff writer

PRESIDENT AND CEO OF PROVIDENCE COMMUNITy HOUSING

Terri North and three partners formed Providence Community Housing in the wake of Hurricane Katrina and spent the next two decades leading, among other things, the $250 million redevelopment of the former Laﬁtte public housing complex, which included creating roughly 150 housing units in the surrounding neighborhood. They also took over management of some of the Archdiocese of New Orleans’ portfolio of apartments for low-income seniors, Christopher Homes. Last month, Providence closed on the financing for its biggest single project to date: the Rivana Apartments in the River District, a planned neighborhood being built from scratch on vacant industrial land just upriver from the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Providence was brought in by the neighborhood’s original developers to help land an investor and get the $111 million project started before deadlines ran out to take advantage of state funds. It’s due to break ground in the next few weeks and be complete by 2028. In this week’s Talking Business, North talks about why she founded Providence and how rising interest rates and inﬂation have made the job much harder. This conversation has been edited for brevity and clarity. How and why did Providence Community Housing begin? I spent much of the 1990s as a banker, then felt the calling to switch careers and work for Willwoods Community, a Catholic organization that focuses on housing. I helped convert several

STAFF FILE PHOTO By DAVID GRUNFELD

Providence Community Housing, formed after Hurricane Katrina by Terri North and three partners, was instrumental in the redevelopment of Lafitte Housing Project, now known as Faubourg Lafitte. buildings while there. Father Michael Jacques, Jim Kelly, Charlotte Bourgeois and I created Providence after Hurricane Katrina, when the federal government passed the Gulf Opportunity Zone Act, which included a large supply of LowIncome Housing Tax Credits and Community Development Block Grants. The intent was to encourage developers to come to town and build. What have your signature projects been? One of our first acts was to buy and renovate five senior living homes from the archdiocese. The second was redeveloping the Lafitte Housing Project, now known as Faubourg Lafitte, as the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development was looking to transform the city’s “big four” public housing complexes: Lafitte, the B.W. Cooper, C.J. Peete and St. Bernard. They all have different names now. Large, out-of-town developers did the other three, but Father Jacques, who was at St. Peter Claver in Treme, really wanted to have an involvement with the

Lafitte, and we joined forces with Enterprise Community Partners, a national nonprofit that works with developers like us, and HUD chose us for the job. Why did Enterprise need a small local organization like you? We had a local presence and an association with the neighborhood, and we were able to reach out to the residents. We took a very community-driven approach. We started working in 2007 to build out the infrastructure, the street grid, the plumbing underneath, the utilities, everything that would work with the new design. We just completed construction of the final phase this summer, nine years after it began. There are now 516 units — far fewer than the original 896 — on the 12-acre Lafitte site. We created additional units throughout Treme and Mid-City, including rentals and homes sold. What’s your business model? How do you keep the lights on? Our primary source of income is developer and management fees. We also raise money and get grants, but we’re a nonprofit in a

for-profit world. That’s why we’re always looking to create more units. How did you wind up joining the Rivana project? We have worked with VPG, one of the Rivana developers, before. They purchased a property that we developed on the West Bank after Hurricane Ida. Years earlier, they built a home for us when they were first getting into business. The Rivana team had taken the project a very long way, but they were running into brick walls and running out of time. They needed to use the money that the state has in it, about $16 million, but the state was going to be reticent to give that extension without knowing some definite time frames: Who’s the investor? How are we going to get this done? We have those relationships, we’ve been doing these projects, and we’re well known for sticking with things. The big challenge was finding an investor and getting things to move. Right now, the market here for Low-Income Housing Tax Credit investments is very limited. We have a very close relationship with Capital One, which is the primary investor down here now. VPG looked at some other people but decided we were the best partner for the job and asked us to join in February. What happens next with the Rivana? We’re in charge of building it, placing it into service and getting people to live there. As a developer, we make guarantees, so we have to finish the construction or else we’re on the hook. We have to lease it up correctly or else we’re on the hook. That’s the risk all developers take. How has the financing for affordable housing evolved?

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When I first started doing this, the key piece was predominantly just a mortgage using a lot of the government-backed products combined with tax credits. Occasionally, you needed a little help from a private grant, community funds or something else. But those gaps were usually small. But as interest rates go up, you can afford less mortgage and the gaps have grown, so now you have to find way to fill these gaps. There was pushback from some on the New Orleans City Council before approving a payment in lieu of taxes agreement for the Rivana. How did you pitch it? They’re in a really tough position with the budget crisis, but I told them this is an investment in the city’s future. We can’t stop doing that because we’re having budget problems. How do you respond to critics who say the Rivana units are too expensive? The need was already great for affordable housing, and it’s growing because people are still making what they were making in 2015, and all their expenses have risen — and we’re building at such a slow rate. To have any sort of major impact, this is the kind of project that you can do. I’m not saying it’s the best way. It is the way that is set up now to get something done. I hope we get to the point where people make living wages, that they are able to work and support themselves, but we have residents that work 60 hours a week and still qualify for affordable housing because their income isn’t high enough. I always say, and I’m totally serious about this, I want someone to put me out of business. Email Rich Collins at rich.collins@theadvocate.com.

4E l Sunday, October 18, 2026 l theadvocate.com l The Acadiana Advocate

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ACROSS THE REGION

Haynesville Shale is seeing billion-dollar changes Energy prices expected to stay high BY LIZ SWAINE

Staff writer

Mergers and acquisitions in the Haynesville Shale have reached $7.8 billion so far in 2026, which has outpaced even West Texas’ Permian Basin, according to a J.P. Morgan Securities analyst. The investments in the Ark-LaTex region of the Haynesville have involved upstream and midstream operations, which is both the exploration and production of natural gas and the moving and cleaning of it. In the Permian Basin, $7.4 billion was invested on crude oil and what is called “wet” gas — things like propane and butane — which gives companies multiple revenue streams. Earlier this month, Dallas-based Silver Hills Energy Partners sold its portfolio of upstream and midstream assets in the Haynesville Shale to the multinational Centalion Group Ltd. for roughly $1.5 billion, giving Centalion a $2 billion position in the Haynesville. The Wall Street Journal reports Centalion already holds a number of lucrative long-term contracts to export U.S. liquefied natural gas overseas. Another deal in which Williams Cos. acquired Momentum Midstream was finalized in September. Williams, headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma, offered Momentum $5.5 billion in a combination of cash, debt consideration and stock. Momentum has been a significant player in the northwest Louisiana/ east Texas Haynesville Shale, with roughly 1 million acres under lease and 4,000 miles of gathering and transmission pipelines. Chad Zamarin, Williams president and CEO, said the purchase enhances his company’s position and growth potential. “With the acquisition now complete, Williams has established a

STAFF FILE PHOTO By LIZ SWAINE

The investments in the Ark-La-Tex region of the Haynesville Shale have involved upstream and midstream operations, like this midstream facility in Red River Parish, which is involved in both the exploration and production of natural gas and the moving and cleaning of it. premier Haynesville position that strengthens our ability to serve rapidly growing LNG, power and industrial demand along the Gulf Coast,” he said in a statement. Williams’ purchase of Momentum makes the company the largest gatherer of natural gas in the Haynesville Shale and will accelerate two planned major pipeline expansions, according to the company’s second-quarter earnings presentation. The most recent quarterly report of the Dallas Federal Reserve Bank showed additional expansion in the oil and gas sector even though uncertainty remains high, especially among exploration and production companies. The Fed noted that costs of doing business for both exploration and production and oilﬁeld service

firms are growing at a faster-thanaverage pace. Oilfield services firms are also dealing with longer supplier delivery times. The Dallas Fed asked companies to look into their crystal balls to guess the price of a barrel of West Texas Intermediate crude oil at the end of the year. The average was $88, but responses went as high as $126. For reference, as of Oct. 12, the price was hovering at $93. “My oil price crystal ball broke when the administration first hit Iran,” one industry respondent to the Fed’s survey said. For natural gas, respondents believe the forecast for the next five years is going to trend higher for producers and more expensive for homeowners, moving from a maximum of $3.29 per million British thermal units (MMBtu) in six

months to a maximum of $4.28 in ﬁve years. Natural gas closed Oct. 12 at $3.18 per MMBtu. When asked when crude oil exports from the Persian Gulf might return to normal levels, the energy business respondents were roughly even on the belief that it might be the second quarter or 2027 or 2028 or later, showing additional uncertainty. The majority of respondents feel it will be at least another year before the spread between fuel prices and crude oil prices to return to 2025 levels. That means they expect higher prices at the pump to continue for a while. “Diesel is the mother’s milk of the economy. We are just starting to see the impact on the wider economy,” one respondent told the Dallas Fed. The Dallas Fed doubled down on

the likelihood of continued higher fuel prices. There are a variety of challenges affecting the crack spread, which is the difference between the price of oil and wholesale prices of diesel, gasoline and jet fuel. Fed economists believe the likely outcome is that even when the Iran war ends and the ﬂow of crude oil through the Strait of Hormuz normalizes, U.S. fuel prices will remain high. “As inventory buffers dwindle, consumers will be increasingly forced to balance the market through reduced consumption, greater price volatility and potentially higher prices,” the report said. Email Liz Swaine at liz.swaine@ theadvocate.com.

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6E l Sunday, October 18, 2026 l theadvocate.com l The Acadiana Advocate

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NATION & WORLD

More Latino nonproﬁts are helping entrepreneurs BY TERRY TANG

Associated Press

SAN FRANCISCO — From the pink neon sign on the sunshine yellow wall to the multicolored Mexican paper garlands, Mission Lotería’s storefront emits cultural pride everywhere you look. After seven years of promoting local businesses in San Francisco’s predominantly Latino Mission District, the nonprofit has a brick-andmortar space that reflects its passion for the neighborhood. Now, beyond events like taco tours and a Bad Bunny look-alike contest, it can provide a spot for Latino entrepreneurs and artists to sell their goods. Luis Quiroz, Mission Lotería founder, is still nervous about hitting monthly numbers amid a rough economy in one of the country’s most high-priced cities. But he and his team believe in their — for lack of a better word — mission. “What’s the economics term? High risk, high reward,” Quiroz said. “I feel like we’re at a really good place. Almost every day, people come in, they’re like, ‘Oh, my God, I’ve been following you for so long.’” Despite both a rise in costs and fears around immigration crackdowns, some Latinos are making it their business, literally, to champion other Latino entrepreneurs. But beyond just shelf space, they are giving artists and business people advice, resources and connection to a bigger audience. The complex political and economic climate has only intensified their desire to invest their own time and resources in uplifting other Latino and Hispanic creatives. More places are starting to recognize Latino businesses and the inherent disadvantages they encounter. Yesi Chavez has stocked greeting cards, magnets and “Trader Jose’s” minitotes at Mission Lotería since it opened just before the start of Hispanic Heritage Month. It’s been a brand boost as store shoppers recognize her merchandise when

TNS PHOTO By AKASH PAMARTHy

Mission Loteria CEO Luis Quiroz explains Loteria cards to Ashley Creek, 45, at the store in San Francisco. Inspired by the traditional Mexican game of lotería, Mission Lotería features cards representing real businesses in the Mission District, encouraging players to visit local establishments and collect cards.

“An incubator space for business owners to come together, mitigate risk — so now their risk is so low that they’re able to be bold and they’re able to really play in their businesses.” STEPHANIE VASQUEZ, Amor Collective founder she sells at pop-ups. It’s also special to Chavez, who works full-time as a hotel events administrator, to display alongside other Latinos. “I feel like Latinos, as far as I’ve seen, they really come together and try to support their own and try to make sure that, especially, Latina women are well supported,” Chavez said. Amor Collective, where you can ﬁnd fun merch made entirely by Latinas, like concha bread earrings or Día de Muertos (Day of the

Dead) candles, opened in August in downtown Phoenix after quietly operating in the suburbs. Founder Stephanie Vasquez made the bold relocation move despite it meaning higher rent. A space next door to her coffeehouse became available and the shop, in Vasquez’s opinion, deserved to be in the bustling downtown. The grand opening “was emotional,” Vasquez said. “I will say that the Latino community truly supports us.”

A decade ago, Vasquez established a nonprofit, Empowering Latina Leaders in Arizona, or ELLA (Spanish for “her”). She created it after seeing how underpaid Latinas remain. In fact, Hispanic female full-time workers make 79% of the median earnings their White counterparts earn, making them the lowest earning by race and gender, according to a July quarterly earnings report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Vasquez started monthly pop-up

Working What’s

markets for Latina entrepreneurs. A permanent storefront seemed like a natural next step, so she opened Amor Collective four years ago in the Phoenix suburb of Peoria. “An incubator space for business owners to come together, mitigate risk — so now their risk is so low that they’re able to be bold and they’re able to really play in their businesses,” she said. More than 35 entrepreneurs have signed a one-year lease with Amor. They are invited to monthly meetings where Vasquez arranges for guest speakers on topics like public relations and banking. A few members have been afraid to come because they’ve had family detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. So Vasquez made them Zoom-friendly, too. “It’s very clear that coming together as a community is very necessary,” Vasquez said. “This is where I think it’s important for the consumer, whether you have the privilege of not being afraid to come out, then to come to spaces like this and support communities that might be in need.” The current mood of Latinos nationwide is divided when it comes to achieving the American dream. Nearly one-fifth of Latino adults say it is out of reach for them, according to Pew Research. Nearly 3 in 10, or 27%, believe the American dream doesn’t exist altogether. For Quiroz, who was undocumented as an infant and carries proof of his legal permanent status, he wants Mission Lotería to feel welcoming for Latino and Hispanic people whether they were born in the U.S. or somewhere else. Future plans include creating content to introduce entrepreneurs via social media, YouTube and a podcast. The ongoing construction inside includes carving out a podcast room in the back. “People can really hear the stories of these business owners and their journey,” Quiroz said. “Anytime I get a chance to speak to them, their stories are so fascinating.”

with

in Greater New Orleans business

Michael Hecht President & CEO GNO Inc.

New Investment + More Validation A double-dose of good news for you today: First, last week GNO, Inc.’s Startup Noir NOLA initiative hosted its second Venture Voir, an inperson experience that introduces out-of-state venture capital funds, angel groups, and CDFIs to the region’s diverse startups. Investors in major markets don’t historically source deals in the Gulf South, so Venture Voir brings them here to meet founders of color directly. This year’s tour included panels at Newlab New Orleans and the Shop Workspace, a visit to NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility, and a closing dinner where investors sat down with local founders raising capital. Key local partners included Idea Village and Corridor Ventures. In two years, Venture Voir has introduced over 20 out-of-state funds to local startups including: Munivestor, Bea’s Bayou Skincare, Dreamland Koffucha, Codegig, Zenistry Labs, Zokoyo Potty Pal, Kinkz Hair Products and MilestoneMate. Venture Voir also brought Kiva, a crowdfunding platform for small business loans, into the Greater New Orleans market. Unlike equity investment, Kiva contributions are loans, not donations, and lenders are repaid as borrowers make payments.

You can learn more about Startup Noir NOLA here

Next, Area Development released its 2026 Top States for Doing Business last week. Based on a survey of 50 site consultants, the rankings placed Louisiana as #9 overall in the nation and backed up the case Venture Voir made to investors. Louisiana ranked:

•

• •

After falling out of the Top Ten, Louisiana has been back at the top of the rankings for the past two years.

#2 for energy costs #4 for energy availability; grid capacity; and workforce training programs

You can see the full Area Development rankings here

• •

#7 for labor cost competitiveness; water and wastewater capacity; regulatory environment; and property tax environment #8 for business incentives programs #9 for overall speed to market

A greater choice for business

gnoinc.org

ECONOMY

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The Acadiana Advocate l theadvocate.com l Sunday, October 18, 2026 l 7E

Mattel eyes new revenue amid slowing Barbie sales Upcoming water park features characters, games BY ELLA CHAKARIAN

Los Angeles Times (TNS) With Barbie sales slipping, Mattel is looking to its characters and games to build a new revenue stream: water parks. The El Segundo, California, company has been trying to ﬁnd more ways to turn its roster of beloved toys into bigger moneymakers. Former chief executive Ynon Kreiz, who spearheaded a campaign to upgrade earnings from Mattel’s intellectual properties, recently stepped down amid investor disappointment. As Roger Lynch, the former CEO of Condé Nast, takes over as Mattel’s chief, he inherits a struggling strategy to turn Mattel’s portfolio of toys and games into entertainment franchises and experiences that generate revenue away from the toy aisles. One of the latest bets to reduce dependence on Barbie is Mattel’s first Wonder Indoor Waterpark, which is slated to open at the end of 2027 in Bellevue, Nebraska. The park is expected to cover roughly 100,000 square feet and have a retractable roof for yearround operation. Construction is underway in a mixed-use area designed to boost tourism in Omaha’s southern suburbs. Some planned attractions include a Barbie activity pool and a Hot Wheels slide tower. It will also feature a lazy river that ﬂoats past scenery inspired by Mattel games, including UNO, Rock ’Em Sock ’Em Robots and Magic 8 Ball. A Mattel spokesperson said the company is exploring opportunities to bring such interactive experiences “beyond traditional destination markets.” Outside Nebraska, the company is planning water parks in Florida, Illinois and North Carolina.

STAFF FILE PHOTO By LESLIE WESTBROOK

A girl picks out a Barbie toy at Target in Lafayette. The 2023 film ‘Barbie’ had revitalized sales for the decades-old doll for Mattel, sparking more than $150 million in sales from dolls and other related products. “We see a real opportunity to take the kind of immersive entertainment traditionally concentrated in major markets and bring it to more communities in a scalable, year-round format,” Natalia Premovic, Mattel’s chief consumer products and experiences ofﬁcer, said in a news release. Mattel’s other park ambitions have had rocky starts. In Arizona, the original developer for the ﬁrst Mattel Adventure Park exited the project and a neighboring resort took over. In Kansas, a theme park was origi-

nally slated to debut in 2026 but received a formal operating deadline extension to May 2031. The toy company is trying different things in hopes of repeating the huge success of the 2023 “Barbie” ﬁlm. The movie that was the fun half of the “Barbenheimer” summer took in close to $1.5 billion at the box ofﬁce and revitalized excitement around the 60-something Barbie, sparking more than $150 million in sales from dolls and other related products. This year, the company hoped

for another revenue rush from a movie tied to its buff action ﬁgures, “Masters of the Universe.” The movie failed to dominate the summer like “Barbie.” It generated less than $120 million worldwide despite a production budget of about $170 million. In the second quarter, Mattel reported a net loss of $18 million, compared with net income of $53.4 million a year earlier, even as sales rose. Net sales were up 10%, but toy performance was mixed. Doll billings dipped 5%, with

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Barbie gross billings falling 16%. Infant, toddler and preschool billings dropped 11% on lower FisherPrice demand. Hot Wheels, games and action ﬁgures sales grew. Kreiz’s departure came as investors grew increasingly impatient with the company’s strategy and wider performance. Mattel shares had fallen more than 35% this year on concerns about how it planned to drive growth, before rebounding more than 30% recently amid reports of a potential takeover bid.

8E ● Sunday, October 18, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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BUSINESS BRIEFS

Office building near Maurice sells for $3.35M

An ofﬁce building just outside the city of Lafayette sold for $3.35 million. Two LLC registered to David Jonathan Foreman bought the building at 100 Enterprise Blvd. from Johnston Street Ventures LLC, which is registered to local developers Cliff Guidry and Tim Bradley, land records show. The 20,000-square-foot building just north of Maurice was built in 1981 and is home to multiple tenants, including Blackhawk Technology Group. Johnston Street Ventures bought the building in 2021 for nearly $2.8 million, records show. Last month, Guidry and Bradley also sold an industrial building at

350 Grifﬁn Road in Youngsville to foot shopping center with seven space earlier this month, land reForeman for $3.9 million, records spaces for retailers, coffee shops or cords show. show. It’s the latest business to move quick-service restaurant tenants. into the building, which was ﬁrst built in the late 1990s to house one of four KFC locations in Lafayette. It was later home to Hardee’s, LouiA sushi restaurant that opened A space on Ambassador Caffery siana Wing Co., Smitty’s Wings and in Lafayette last fall will open a Parkway that’s been home to a most recently Morain Coffee Co. Broussard location. handful of restaurant concepts will Fish Box Sushi will open in the have another one next month. newly built Caffery Rowe Retail Bun’s, a fast-casual restaurant Center, 6922 Ambassador Caffery that opened a Baton Rouge location Parkway, after signing a lease for last year, will open at 2424 AmbasSite work has begun on the comthe space, records show. sador Caffery Parkway in early mercial site across Our Lady of Owned by Timmy Nguyen and November. Lourdes Regional Medical Center Tory Tanh, the restaurant at 530 The Baton Rouge restaurant, in Lafayette. Settlers Trace Blvd. is self-service. which specializes in hamburgers, The 27.5-acre tract at 4800 AmCustomers grab a box, choose from Philly cheesesteaks and chicken bassador Caffery Parkway, which a selection of more than 10 special- wings, takes pride in its signature a Tennessee real estate company bought in 2023, is undergoing dirt ty rolls and appetizers and pay by buns from made from scratch. Co-owners Jordan Younis and work and other horizontal prepaweight at the register. Caffery Rowe is a 12,000-square- Don Mousa signed a lease for the ration before construction begins,

Fish Box Sushi to open second location

Baton Rouge restaurant to open Lafayette location

Work begins on large commercial project

BUILDING PERMITS Issued Oct. 7-13

Commercial alterations

HOTEL: 107 Republic Ave., description, Links Escape golf simulator at stayAPT Suites Lafayette South; applicant, Pecot & Co. Architects; contractor, Triad Construction Services; $230,000. LANDSCAPE: 601 Girard Park Drive, description, roundabout landscaping for Ochsner Lafayette General; applicant and contractor, Land Architecture; $268,500. RESIDENTIAL: 701 S. College Road, description, skywalk post repair at 701 S. College Condos; applicant and contractor, Hiatt Hom Solutions, $39,301. RESTAURANT: 2011 Kaliste Saloom Road, description, buildout for Don Juanz Baja Beach Tacos; applicant, Don Juanz Baja Beach Tacos; contractor, WTH Construction; $112,000. STORAGE: 4924 U.S. 90 E., Broussard; description, open storage structure addition; applicant, Billeaud Investments; contractor, Billeaud Planter; $69,573. STORAGE: 4924 U.S. 90 E., Building H, Broussard; description, open storage structure addition; applicant, Billeaud Investments; contractor, Billeaud Planter; $69,573. STORAGE: 4924 U.S. 90 E.,

Building I, Broussard; description, open storage structure addition; applicant, Billeaud Investments; contractor, Billeaud Planter; $69,573. STORAGE: 4924 U.S. 90 E., Building S, Broussard; description, open storage structure addition; applicant, Billeaud Investments; contractor, Billeaud Planter; $69,573. STORAGE: 502 E. Gloria Switch Road, Carencro; description, storage building; applicant, Halliburton; contractor, Sonny Greer Construction; $145,000.

New residential

102 PALISADE PLACE A, DUSON: Hammerhead Homes, $195,625. 102 PALISADE PLACE B, DUSON: Hammerhead Homes, $143,375. 128 PALISADE PLACE A, DUSON: Hammerhead Homes, $195,625. 128 PALISADE PLACE B, DUSON: Hammerhead Homes, $143,375. 103 WINTER PARK PLACE A, DUSON: Hammerhead Homes, $195,625. 911 POPE DRIVE, CARENCRO: Austen’s Construction & Remodeling, $491,750. 604 TRADITIONS DRIVE: Level Construction & Development, $374,000. 2711 GENDARME ROAD: Joelco General Contractors, $510,000.

126 CATHOLIQUE ROAD, CARENCRO: Jeffery Heard, $1,040,750. 111 GUN RUNNER DRIVE, CARENCRO: Manuel Builders, $311,125. 109 BEXLEY COURT: DSLD, $299,750. 125 STEEP MEADOWS LANE: DSLD, $436,625. 226 EAGLE HEIGHTS DRIVE, DUSON: DR Horton, $248,625. 228 EAGLE HEIGHTS DRIVE, DUSON: DR Horton, $271,500. 225 EAGLE HEIGHTS DRIVE, DUSON: DR Horton, $267,750. 200 BELLE LAKE DRIVE: DR Horton, $307,750. 202 BELLE LAKE DRIVE: DR Horton, $347,125. 213 BELLEMEADE LANE: Milton Hebert Construction, $487,250. 110 BEXLEY COURT: DSLD, $233,250. 308 ABERCROMBIE WAY, BROUSSARD: EJ Rock Construction, $347,000. 301 BUENOS AIRES AVE., YOUNGSVILLE: EJ Rock Construction, $325,000. 100 SHORE DRIVE, YOUNGSVILLE: Hays Homes, $740,000. 117 BELLE VIE ESTATES, CARENCRO: self-contracting, $500,000. 304 DUNWOODY COURT, CARENCRO: DSLD, $106,920. 111 CLAVELLE ROAD, CARENCRO: Keith Credeur, $150,000.

said Ryan Pecot with Stirling Properties, which is managing the development. Work could take some time since there are no utilities connected to the site, Pecot said. Pecot told Developing Lafayette the development will have five tracts ranging from 9 acres to 2 acres. Construction could start next summer. No tenants have been signed for the project, Pecot said. No building permit has been issued by Lafayette Consolidated Government. Chattanooga, Tennessee-based Rise Partners, which has developed commercial, residential industrial projects in Tennessee and adjoining states, paid an undisclosed amount for the property, land records show. It had been listed at $20 million and is zoned commercial heavy.

Fool’s School: Shorting stocks

stocks.) If the stock does fall in value, you’ll “cover” your short by buying shares on the open market Buying low and then at the now lower price to selling high isn’t the only way to make replace the ones that you money in the borrowed. If you short Home Surgery Kits at stock market. You can $100 per share and cover when it hits $75, you’ll also proﬁt by reversing make $25 per share (less commissions, fees and order Motley that interest). Shorting can be and betFool proﬁtable if you are good ting against at identifying stocks that stocks you will fall. expect to fall. This is But what if, instead of “shorting,” and it’s perfalling, shares of Home fectly legal. Surgery Kits rise to $150? Here’s how it works: If you cover your short Imagine that many investhen, you’d lose $50 per tors are excited about share (plus commissions, the Home Surgery Kits fees and interest). Co. (ticker: OUCHH) and If you invest in a stock have bought lots of shares, sending the stock price up. expecting it to rise and it falls to zero, you’ll lose You, however, are skepti100% of your money — cal, and you don’t think home surgeries will catch but no more. However, if a shorted stock keeps on. You expect the comrising, it might double or pany to fail. So you contact your bro- triple in value; if you hang kerage and place an order on through all that, your loss could be 100%, 200% to short Home Surgery or even more. Kits — a stock you don’t Also, the most you can own. Your brokerage will bor- gain with shorting is 100%, if the stock falls to row shares from a Home zero; if you buy a stock the Surgery Kits shareholder and will sell them for you. usual way, your potential gains are almost unlim(Again, this is legal, and plenty of people short ited.

Shorting is really only for experienced investors, and all of us could do quite well without shorting.

Ask the Fool: Buyout stock moves If a company gets bought by another company, does its stock price go up? — E.B., Wilmington, Delaware It often does. Much depends on what investors think of the acquiree’s value and the acquisition price. For example, if a company’s total market value is around $10 billion and it’s bought for $15 billion, its shares may pop on the news, largely reﬂecting the new valuation. Acquiring companies will often pay a premium price if the acquiree is seen as desirable, perhaps due to strong brands or valuable technology. Offering a premium price can also keep rivals from trying to buy the acquiree. A struggling company, though, might be bought for relatively little. The acquiring company’s stock, meanwhile, might drop if investors think that it’s paying too much or that the deal is not a promising one.

The biggest stories in business, delivered to you every weekday

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The Acadiana Advocate l theadvocate.com l Sunday, October 18, 2026 l 9E

MADE IN LOUISIANA 117-year-old reﬁnery undergoing major capital investments Arabi plant pumps out 6M pounds of sugar daily

BY JONAH MEADOWS Staff writer

Deep within an upper floor of the Domino Sugar Chalmette refinery, there’s a high-tech hub hidden beneath the plant’s antique shell. Here, in the control room in an upper story of the 1.5 million-squarefoot facility, operators watch over walls of monitors alit with a multicolored array of trendlines that show the status of key refinery operations. “That green line is the production line that we have,” said Refinery Technical Manager Chris Combs. “We want that line to be flat, and as high up that graph as possible.” Other screens show the status of individual batches as they undergo the filtration processes that transform the millions of pounds of raw cane sugar processed by the plant around the clock into 32 types of sugar products — white, brown, powdered, liquid, extra-fine, coarse, cubes, molasses and more. The mammoth refinery, located in Arabi although named after the nearby historic Chalmette Battlefield, has shaped St. Bernard Parish for more than half of its 117-year history, surviving fires, a deadly explosion and devastating flooding. Today, its 535 employees produce about 6 million pounds of processed sugar a day — about one-sixth of all cane sugar consumed in the U.S. — and for the last quarter-century, the refinery has been owned by the world’s largest cane sugar producer, ASR Group, whose executives have described it as the Florida-based

The mammoth Domino Sugar Chalmette Refinery in Arabi has shaped St. Bernard Parish for more than half of its 117-year history, surviving fires, a deadly explosion and devastating flooding.

firm’s largest and most important American asset. Now, the plant is undergoing the largest capital investment in ASR’s history with construction underway on a $785 million filtration building that executives say will significantly reduce the refinery’s energy and water usage.

STAFF PHOTO By CHRIS GRANGER

Sizable scoops Louisiana sugar farmers supply 100% of the raw cane sugar that feeds the reﬁnery’s 24-hour-a-day operations, with a majority arriving via the Mississippi River. Every year, about 200 barges, plus a steady stream of trucks, deliver more than 750,000 tons of it from sugar mills upriver. The plant produces its own potable water and electricity, pulling water from the river to run a 9-megawatt natural gas power plant on site. It takes workers a full day to unload a single barge, each of which can hold about 3.5 million pounds of sugar. Whenever a sugar-filled barge is moored at the refinery’s wharf, longshoremen operate giant clamshell cranes that roll on rails as they scoop up bucket after bucket of the beige granules, 10,000 pounds at a time. At the riverside, the raw ingredient is dropped onto scales and weighed before it’s carried via the plant’s vast conveyer belts network to a pair of multistory sugar sheds piled high with colossal dunes of raw sugar. Delivery trucks are weighed before and after unloading onto their loads directly into the sheds, which resemble an A-frame airplane hanger and can, together, hold more than 120 million pounds of sugar, with a special retractable conveyer belt depositing incoming loads onto the pile. From there, a front-end loader

scoops up the sugar into a hopper and begins the reﬁning process.

to attach. “That’s where our actual crystals will start to grow from,” he said. Crystal method A batch of everyday table sugar The goal of refining is to remove might take 90 minutes, while the the color — the whiter the sugar, the large-grain crystals found in cookpurer the sucrose — and to shape its ies or candies can take up to six crystals to meet a range of customer hours. specifications. Monitors inside the control room First, the raw sugar is “washed” show little green dots indicating the to strip the film of molasses that size of the crystals as they’re culticoats each crystal through a process vated. called affination, leaving behind a brown, crusty waste product called Shake it up “mud” that’s distributed to farms. From the pans, the sugar spins “We call it melting. We’re not ac- through centrifuges and tumble tually melting the sugar; we’re dis- dryers, then waits in silos with solving it in water,” Combs said. “At enough space for more than 15 milthat point, it stays in a liquid phase lion pounds of finished product. until we purposely make it back into Vibrating screeners sort the cryssugar crystals again, after we filter tals by size, and gravity carries it.” them down to the production floor, In the 12-story “pan house,” the where dozens of packaging lines fill syrup is boiled under a vacuum, everything from 1-pound bags to which lowers its boiling point to 2,000-pound totes. prevent scorching or coloration, in Each line needs only one or two 11 large vacuum pans — seven for people. Networked machines seal white sugar, three for molasses and and weigh the bags while workers one for brown sugar. watch for problems, with a robotic “We boil the pan at about 150 to arm knocking out any package that 165 degrees. That allows us to con- misses its weight. The equipment trol the supersaturation of the pan, monitoring the line is checked regthen we’ll introduce what we call ularly to make sure it’s functional, ‘seed’ to the pan,” Combs said. with a metal-filled dummy container The “seed” crystals are created on hand for testing purposes. on-site by finely grinding up exist“The operator will plop it on the ing sugar, which provide surfaces scale and send it through the metfor the dissolved sugar molecules al detector,” Peter O’Malley, ASR

Group’s vice president of corporate relations, said on a recent tour of the facility. “That way, we know that’s going to trigger the metal detection.” As much as the refinery feels like a modern, automated assembly line inserted into a turn-of-the-century landmark, the historic 70-acre plant is expanding as it continues, as this newspaper predicted in 1909, to play an important role in the development of St. Bernard Parish and “in enhancing the commercial interest of New Orleans.” Over the summer, workers took down an old, unused smokestack, and distributed its bricks to members of the community, longtime plant workers and their families. Foundation work is underway for the new filtration building, due to be completed in 2028, behind the sprawling complex. It will “significantly” cut down on production costs, though the final system design is still under review, O’Malley said. Nevertheless, some things will stay the same in the sticky-floored factory. The refinery’s iconic Christmas tree remains on the 14th floor of the filtration building, now staying up year-round to spare staff from an intimidating installation, unplugged until the holidays. Email Jonah Meadows at jonah. meadows@theadvocate.com.

LOOKING BEYOND:

Jones Walker on Representing Louisiana’s Construction Industry Leaders Pt. II

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Protecting the Bottom Line When Construction Disputes Turn into Claims Owners occupy a position in construction disputes because they bear the ﬁnancial burden and risks of project failure. Unlike contractors who move on, owners live with the results for years. Claims may come from contractors, subcontractors asserting liens, or third parties alleging injury or property damage, often long after completion.

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Private owners enjoy ﬂexibility but face exposure, while public owners operate under strict rules providing protections — in either case, a prompt response is critical. Enforcing notice requirements, preserving documents, and relying on contracts, insurance, and indemnity provisions give owners a defense, while contract enforcement and early strategy protect business interests. Jones Walker is proud to help lead the way for Louisiana’s construction industry as it navigates a complex legal environment.

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

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DISCOVERy | INNOVATION | LIVING WELL

HEALTH

LOUISIANA

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

S U N D AY, O C T O B E R 18, 2026

Reading food labels PAGE 3

Molly Kimball 1XN

Nursing home beds becoming increasingly scarce

GETTy IMAGES PHOTO

Oldest baby boomers turning 80 this year

BY PAULA SPAN

KFF Health News (TNS)

PIECE

BY PIECE Dementia rates are high in Louisiana. These experts have tips to keep our brains healthy.

BY MATT HAINES Contributing writer

As executive director of the Louisiana’s Alzheimer’s Association chapter, Delores Hurst thinks a lot about dementia. Part of that is professional: Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, accounting for 60% to 80% of all cases. But it’s also personal. Hurst had grandparents who died of dementia. As a Baton Rouge resident, she’s aware that the problem goes well beyond her family, though. According to the National Library of Medicine, Louisiana has the nation’s ﬁfth-highest rate of Alzheimer’s, with 12.4% of residents over 65 living with the disease. Commercial insurance data shows that Louisiana’s early-onset Alzheimer’s and dementia diagnosis rates also track above national averages. “We have some things working against

us,” Hurst said. “We love our fried foods, and we don’t always exercise as much as we could — especially during the hot summer. Add that to a lack of access to adequate healthcare and a high rate of other diseases like obesity, heart disease and diabetes, and the result is 95,000 Louisianans with Alzheimer’s.” The rate of those living Hurst with the disease is even higher in minority communities. Hurst and many other experts in the ﬁeld believe there is reason for optimism, however. “We understand so much more about dementia than we used to,” she said, “which means there is a lot we can do to protect ourselves from potentially getting these horrible diseases.”

You are what you eat Dr. Demetrius Maraganore, chair of Tulane University’s Department of Neurology and the founding director of the Tulane Healthy Brain Aging Initiative, has been focused on helping people achieve healthy brain aging for more than four decades. “A lot has changed in a short amount of time,” he said. “It wasn’t long ago that the message around Maraganore dementia was bleak: ‘There’s no cure and no way to slow it down or prevent it, but send us a check so we can keep researching.’” “The outlook,” he added, “is different now.”

ä See DEMENTIA, page 2X

The San Vicente de Paúl Nursing Home in New York’s South Bronx hasn’t admitted a patient since December 2024. ArchCare, which operates the facility, has reduced its capacity from 120 available beds to 53 and plans to shrink it further. Another ArchCare nursing home, on Staten Island, has shut down a full floor. North of the city, in Dutchess County, its Ferncliff Nursing Home has contracted from 309 available beds to 196. The eight nursing homes owned by ArchCare, a nonprofit that provides eldercare through the Archdiocese of New York, have 269 fewer usable beds than they did 18 months ago, a nearly 12% decline, creating waiting lists for patients seeking long-term care. Across New York state, 24 nursing homes have closed since 2020, resulting in a loss of more than 3,000 licensed beds, according to LeadingAge New York, which represents nonprofit senior living organizations. That mirrors a national trend. In 2015, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services certified 15,648 nursing facilities. A decade later, that number had fallen by more than 900. With the oldest baby boomers turning 80 this year, an age when the need for long-term care climbs sharply, researchers are sounding alarms. Will there be enough nursing home beds for a rapidly graying nation? “We’re seeing a serious problem and it’s heading in the wrong direction,” said David Grabowski, a health policy researcher at Harvard Medical School. He is an author of a study in JAMA Internal Medicine that found a 5% decrease in national nursing home capacity from 2019 to 2024. “As you look at the demographics, this is only going to get worse, maybe a lot worse,” he said, especially given looming Trump administration policies on immigration and Medicaid financing. The reasons for the shrinkage? ArchCare blames inadequate state reimbursement for Medicaid, a perennial industry complaint. The primary payer for nursing home care, Medicaid provides less than the daily cost of care, said Clif Porter, chief executive of the American Health Care Association, an industry trade group. “Before the pandemic and inflation, the losses were sustainable,” said Jason Hutchens, ArchCare’s chief operating officer. More recently, he said, “we were running at an unsustainable loss — we had no choice.” Nursing homes, most of them forprofit, try to compensate by attracting short-stay patients covered by Medicare, which pays higher rates

ä See BEDS, page 3X

More moments. More memories. GET SCREENED Breast Cancer Awareness Human head silhouette and missing pieces of jigsaw puzzle.

Jenny C. | Breast Cancer Patient

2X l Sunday, October 18, 2026 l theadvocate.com l The Acadiana Advocate

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HEALTH MAKER BR hospital adds machine to help save babies ECMO an advanced life support device

damage can happen. Recovery includes physical therapy for muscle stiffness and speech therapy.

Esperanza’s hope

BY MARGARET DeLANEY

Staff writer

In a ﬁght to save more of Louisiana’s smallest patients, a Baton Rouge hospital invested in a device that replaces the function of the heart and lungs by pumping blood outside of the body. Called ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation machine), the machine is an advanced lifesupport used for infants, children or adults with respiratory or cardiac failure. At Woman’s Hospital, the ECMO will be used for babies in the neonatal intensive care unit who are experiencing lung failure. The machine’s tubes, pumps, filters and monitors take over a patient’s heart or lung function, allowing the body to rest. “(It) allows the body to heal the process that initiated the problem to begin with,” said Dr. Danielle Thompson, a neonatologist for InfaMedics neonatology group and medical director for the ECMO program at Woman’s Hospital. “It just gives the time for the body, for the lungs and the heart to heal.” At Woman’s, ECMO can be used for babies born with meconium aspiration syndrome (breathing issues when a baby inhales meconium), sepsis, respiratory distress syndrome (immature lungs), pulmonary high blood pressure (when blood pressure in the lungs is elevated and prevents blood oxygenation) or congenital abnormalities that prevent lungs from developing properly. “The condition has to be reversible,” said Dr. Steven Spedale, medical director of InfaMedics, and champion of bringing ECMO to the Baton Rouge hospital. “It’s not a life-saver for all babies. But for very speciﬁc cases, when the condition is reversible, it can be lifesaving.” There are five Louisiana hospitals with ECMO machines, but Woman’s is only the third in the state with one for newborns. The other two infant-sized machines are in New Orleans hospitals. As a non-ECMO hospital, Woman’s Hospital used to make a critical decision before it’s too late: to move a patient to New Orleans or not. “We have to get the baby there before the baby is too sick to be transported. For us, it’s really been a dicey game,” Spedale said. “This is a very old technology in some ways, but it’s going to be new for babies in this region. Ba-

DEMENTIA

Continued from page 1X An important factor, he says, is diet. Trillions of microbes live in every human gut. These microbes influence your brain health via the gut-brain axis, he explained. To study the relationship between foods and brain health, Maraganore and his team sorted lab rats into two groups: One group eats a “Western diet” common in places where many foods are fried, high in fat and “ultraprocessed.” The other group eats a “Mediterranean diet” featuring fruit, olive oil, nuts, fiber and seafood. “The diet high in fats produces unhealthy gut bacteria that triggers the immune system to attack it,” he said. This attack makes the gut inflamed and leaky, allowing the bacteria to enter the bloodstream and travel to the brain, where inflammation is once again triggered and memory networks are disrupted. The Mediterranean diet, he said, “keeps our immune system quiet and happy.”

Heart rate up Eating habits can affect the brain in other ways, as well, said Bianca Coats, a registered dietician based in Zachary. Poor heart health, for example, signiﬁcantly increases the risk of developing dementia by reducing oxygen and nutrient delivery to the brain. High blood pressure also damages the brain by stressing blood vessels, impairs the brain’s ability to clear away the toxic waste proteins — like betaamyloid and tau, which are known to lead to Alzheimer’s disease. High blood sugar, which can lead to diabetes, creates these same issues while also contributing to brain cells’ ability to absorb the glucose needed to support memo-

STAFF PHOTOS By JAVIER GALLEGOS

Bill Harris, a perfusionist and ECMO coordinator for Integration Health, explains how the ECMO works to oxygenate a patient’s blood at Woman’s Hospital. ton Rouge is just growing up in terms of its medical capabilities.”

How it works The heart of the system, a centrifugal pump, rotates blood without oxygen “like a tornado,” said Bill Harris, a perfusionist and ECMO coordinator for Integration Health. “It’s sucking the blood in and pushing it out forcibly through the artiﬁcial lung, the oxygenator,” he said. The oxygenator blows off carbon dioxide and circulates warm water into the blood to keep babies warm. The arterial oxygenrich blood then goes back into the body’s circulation. For babies, ECMO tubes are typically inserted into the neck, where blood vessels are bigger and more easily accessible. “If we didn’t have this, and a baby was really ill, we would have to turn the ventilator up to very high settings to normalize blood,” Harris said. Extended time on ventilators on high settings can make the lungs stiff or, because pressure on the lungs is so high, it could cause pneumothoraces, or holes in the lung. “Once we try everything we do conventionally and it doesn’t work, we’ll go to ECMO,” Harris said. “And be able to turn the ventilator down to very low settings. We’re

Dr. Steven Spedale, a neonatologist, talks about how Esperanza Pineda, a former ECMO patient, is living proof of the technology’s lifesaving ability. providing a healthy environment for the lungs to heal over time.” To be on the machine, physicians administer a blood thinner, heparin, to prevent blood clots forming inside the closed circuit. This can cause bleeding in the brain in some cases, which is why staff neurologists perform regular EEGs, or tests to measure brain activity. “It’s not like we put you on (ECMO) and everything is going to be rosy,” Spedale said. “There will be some babies we put on ECMO that won’t survive.”

Survival rates vary widely for patients on ECMO, determined by certain illnesses, existing health conditions and age. Younger patients experience higher survival rates, while adult patients over 65 face signiﬁcantly lower discharge rates. Babies are typically on the machine for ﬁve to seven days, and up to two weeks depending on the condition. Adults can be on ECMOs for weeks, months or over a year. Even if a newborn is discharged from the hospital, long-term brain

A good night’s sleep

In the 1960s, heart-bypass machines were imperfect, especially for babies. As a young surgeon, Dr. Robert “Bob” Bartlett, the “father of ECMO” who died in October 2025, looked to create an alternative option for patients who needed more time. He used silicone rubber to create a “membrane lung,” allowing free movement of gases and blood to flow more easily outside of the body. However, Bartlett’s first trial on adult humans was cut short after 90% of the patients died. Then, hope arrived. Esperanza Pineda was born in 1975 in Irvine, California, where Bartlett was conducting research on his new machine. She was born cyanotic, a baby with underdeveloped lungs that turned her skin blue. Pineda’s mother was an immigrant from Mexico who, after hearing of her condition, fled the hospital believing her baby would not survive. Just 20 hours after her birth, Bartlett wheeled in the ECMO. “With today’s regulations, you can’t just take your equipment out of lab and put it on a human being. But that’s what they did,” Spedale said. “That’s like launching a rocket for the first time.” Pineda was hooked up to the machine for a week, and went home to her foster mother at 10 weeks old. As an adult, she was put in contact with Bartlett after her annual doctor’s appointment in Missouri. Since reconnecting, she’s traveled far and wide to share her story with other ECMO patients and parents alike. “My mom never named me. It was the nurses. The nurses named me Hope, which translates to Esperanza,” Pineda said. “I would like to be that hope for parents. I survived. You can’t always guarantee what’s going to happen, but I would like to give them that hope.” When Pineda was born, ECMO “seemed to work for the neonatal population much better than it did for the older pediatrics or the adult population,” Harris said. Woman’s Hospital cannot prepare for when a newborn will need an ECMO, but medical teams spent several months building policies and protocols for their first patient. “We’re not going to have a baby every single day that’s going to qualify for this type of treatment,” Spedale said. “When we reach the point of having a baby that is in need of it, we’re prepared.”

“Clonazepam, Valium, Benadryl and all of those ‘PM drugs’ can inAnother essential component in crease the risk of Alzheimer’s, so staving off neurological decline is if you’re having trouble sleeping naturally, you really need to speak sleep. “I always tell people, ‘Don’t sleep to a doctor.” on sleep,’” said Hurst from the Louisiana chapter of the Alzheim- Taking brain health seriously er’s Association. Both the Alzheimer’s Association She said it’s a myth that elderly and the Tulane Healthy Brain Agadults require less sleep; the aging ing Initiative outline 10 habits to adult brain needs sleep more than follow to help maintain a healthy ever to rebuild and regenerate. brain. These lists are available on The brain is very active given its their websites, and both organizasmall size, consuming a massive tions also encourage questions by share of the body’s total energy, email and telephone. including 25% of its glucose. A Reducing stress, eliminating healthy brain produces metabolic smoking, regular visits to the denbyproducts such as amyloid-beta tist, staying social and challenging and tau. During deep sleep, the the brain with mental exercises or brain is given the opportunity to learning new skills can all help. clear out these proteins. Without Protecting your head from potenthis cleaning process, known as tial injury, such as wearing a helthe glymphatic system, amyloid met when biking, is also important. and tau are allowed to accumulate Also important: educated about into dense, insoluble plaques be- dementia and its symptoms, and tween the neurons that infamously seek out a diagnosis when potenlead to dementia. tial symptoms emerge. Maraganore suggests that seven “There is no cure to dementia, PHOTO PROVIDED By BIANCA COATS hours of sleep is the nightly sweet but we no longer have to sit here spot for adults. like a sitting duck,” Hurst said. Bianca Coats, a dietician, is passionate about the connection of food “We need that to preserve brain “We have learned that there is and neurological health. health and we need to do it with- quite a bit we can be doing to grow out unhealthy sleep aids,” he said. older with a healthy brain.” beating can lower our risk of disry and thinking. “This is why I always encourage eases like Alzheimer’s.” my patients to avoid the processed The Tulane Healthy Brain Aging sugars you find in things like store- Initiative agrees. Maraganore sugWE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU bought cookies and pies,” said gests five days per week of aeroCoats. “Instead, we want to go bic exercise that gets your heart for leafy greens — cabbage, kale pumping faster than 100 beats The Louisiana Health Health editions will also and spinach — grains, crucifer- per minute for at least a half-hour. section is focused on profile people who are ous vegetables like broccoli and This can include running, dancing, providing in-depth, personal advancing health for the cauliflower, Omega 3s in salmon, brisk walking, and so much more. tuna and flaxseed, as well as teas, But for those that don’t like aeroaccounts of health in the state of Louisiana. berries and walnuts. Walnuts have bic exercise, Maraganore says state. This section looks Do you have a health story? healthy fats that are great for our walking 7,000 or more steps each brains.” day can also help. at medical innovations, We want to hear from you. Just as important for brain “Exercising in these ways can rehealth discoveries, state and Email margaret.delaney@ health, Coats says, is exercise. duce your odds of Alzheimer’s by national health statistics and theadvocate.com to submit “Exercise helps with every- 40 to 50%,” he said. “They actually thing,” she said. “It reduces our cause the hippocampus to grow so re-examining tried and true health questions, stories and stress levels, which helps with physical activity leads to a bigger methods on ways to live well. more. long-term brain health, but it’s also brain. But not only does exercise more direct: getting your heart grow the brain. It also repairs it.”

The Acadiana Advocate l theadvocate.com l Sunday, October 18, 2026 l 3X

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Eat Fit Live Fit

Molly Kimball RD, CSSD

B R O U G H T TO YO U BY

How I actually read a food label

amount in a typical slice of bread. Sodium moves higher on my list with soups, frozen meals, sauces and other prepared foods. I also check the serving size. A nutrition panel can look fantastic until we realize the numbers are for a portion much smaller than what we’d actually eat.

’ve been a dietitian for decades, but I don’t stand in the grocery aisle carefully reading every line of every Nutrition Facts label. When I do look, I don’t start at the top and work my way down. I don’t tally up percentages of daily values or have a cutoff that determines whether a food goes into my cart. And sometimes, the label barely impacts my decision at all, because not every food choice is about protein, ﬁber or added sugar. Sometimes, it’s about ﬁnding that cracker with exactly the right texture for a particular cheese, or the thick, ridged potato chip that’s perfectly salty and extra crunchy. But when nutrition is part of my decision, especially with foods I buy week after week, what I look at depends entirely on what I’m buying.

Then I Scan the Ingredients

The Nutrition Facts panel gives me the numbers, but the ingredient list tells me the bigger story behind the numbers. I scan for artiﬁcial colors and other ingredients I don’t necessarily avoid completely but don’t want making up a large part of my everyday diet. I’m also skeptical about those front-ofpackage claims like keto, high protein or plant-based. Rather than taking them at face value, I turn the package around and see what’s really inside.

What Is This Food Giving Me?

The main question I ask: What is this food actually giving me? With yogurt, I’m usually checking protein and added sugar first. With bread or cereal, I look at total carbohydrate, fiber and protein. When looking for a soup or a prepared meal, sodium matters more. When I want something sweet, I’ll look at added sugar and total carbohydrate, along with what’s being used to sweeten it. Are there meaningful protein, fiber or nutrient-dense ingredients? Or am I mostly getting calories, refined carbohydrates and sweetness? Protein is one of the first numbers I look for in foods where I expect it. A product may say “protein” in giant font across the front, but if I turn it over and see three grams, that’s not particularly impressive. For perspective, a 3-ounce portion of chicken is about the size of a deck of cards and has around 25 grams of protein.

The same goes for fiber. If a label brags about 10 grams, I want to know where it’s coming from. Beans, nuts, seeds, vegetables and whole grains naturally provide fiber with other nutrients. Other products get much of their fiber from isolated fibers added during manufacturing. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but 10 grams from lentils isn’t quite the same nutritional package as 10 grams added to a highly processed snack.

I’m Not Looking for Perfection

What Deserves a Closer Look?

If you want to simplify it, ask yourself three questions:

Added sugar is one of the ﬁrst places I look, and the Nutrition Facts label now separates it from total sugar. I don’t evaluate the naturally occurring sugar in plain Greek yogurt with berries the same way as 15 grams of sugar added to ﬂavored yogurt. Total carbohydrate matters to me, too, especially with breads, cereals, snack foods and sweets. For perspective, 15 grams of carbohydrate is roughly the

1. 2. 3.

What is this food giving me? What deserves a closer look? Do the ingredients back up what the front of the package is telling me?

Most of us don’t need to analyze every gram and ingredient every time we shop. For foods we buy regularly, ﬁgure out the two or three things that matter most and check those. A food label is information. It doesn’t have to be the reason we choose a food, but when nutrition matters to us, knowing how to interpret that information can help us make choices that better ﬁt what we’re looking for nutritionally.

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

BY THE NUMBERS

LOUISIANA’S RATE OF TRIPLE-NEGATIVE BREAST CANCER IS HIGHER THAN U.S. AVERAGE Triple-negative breast cancer is an aggressive form of breast cancer where cancer cells don’t have estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors, or too much of a cancer protein called HER2. It gets its name from the “negative” test results for all three receptors. It tends to grow and spread faster. It also has fewer treatment options. Triple-negative breast cancer accounts for 10% to 15% of all breast cancers, and is more common in Black women, women who have not gone through menopause and women who have an inherited BRCA1 gene mutation. Most breast cancers are detected before a woman shows any symptoms through regular breast cancer screening such as mammography.Triple-negative breast cancer, however, is more likely to occur in younger women before they reach screening age at 40 years old.That’s why it’s important for women of any age to be familiar with their breasts so they can spot any changes, such as a hard lump, according to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. In Louisiana, 548 women were diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer in 2022, at a rate of 19.4 cases diagnosed per 100,000 women, according to data collected by the Louisiana Tumor Registry from LSU Health New Orleans.That’s higher than the national incidence rate of 14.1 cases diagnosed per 100,000 women. These parishes had the highest average incidence rate of triple-negative breast cancer, per 100,000, between 2018 and 2022: n East Feliciana Parish with 31 cases per 100,000; n Natchitoches Parish with 30.6 cases per 100,000; n Iberville Parish with 29 cases per 100,000; n Morehouse Parish with 27.4 cases per 100,000; n St. John the Baptist Parish with 25 cases per 100,000; n St. Bernard Parish with 24.9 cases per 100,000; n West Baton Rouge Parish with 24.6 cases per 100,000; n De Soto and East Baton Rouge parishes with 24.4 cases per 100,000; n and Pointe Coupee Parish with 23.7 cases per 100,000. Twenty-eight parishes had an incidence rate of triple negative breast cancer too small to be significant, according to the Louisiana Tumor Registry.

BEDS

Continued from page 1X than Medicaid. When they can’t, “unless you’re extremely rapacious or extremely efﬁcient, you’re not going to make it,” said Vincent Mor, a health services researcher at the Brown University School of Public Health who is an author of an article, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, raising concerns about reduced capacity. “The numbers don’t add up.” Staff shortages, which have plagued nursing homes for decades, have also caused contractions and closures. Nursing home aides work stressful, low-paying jobs with his-

torically high turnover rates. Their median hourly wage last year was $20.67, according to federal data compiled by PHI, a research and advocacy group for direct care workers. Although pay has risen over the past decade, about 40% of nursing home aides rely on some form of public assistance, such as Medicaid or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, PHI reported. The number of nursing home aides has rebounded from the COVID pandemic, according to PHI, but fewer are working than in 2015. And while hiring and retention have improved, Porter said, “there’s still a signiﬁcant gap between demand, especially future demand, and where the workforce

Triple-negative breast cancer The incidence rate, per 100,000, for women diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer in each Louisiana parish from 2018 to 2022.

Webster Webster

Lincoln Lincoln

Bienville Bienville

Richland Richland

Caldwell Caldwell

Franklin Franklin

Winn Winn

20% to 25%

Madison Madison

Jackson Jackson

Red R ed River River

More than 25%

EEast ast Carroll Carroll

Ouachita Ouachita

Caddo Caddo

DeSoto DeSoto

West West Morehouse Carroll Morehouse Carroll

Union Union

Claiborne Claiborne

Bossier Bossier

15% to 19.9% Tensas Tensas

Less than 15%

Catahoula Catahoula Natchitoches Natchitoches

Grant Grant

Sabine Sabine

LaSalle LaSalle

Rapides Rapides

Vernon Vernon

Avoyelles Avoyelles

Beauregard Beauregard

Allen Allen

Evangeline Evangeline

W. Feliciana W. Feliciana E. FFeliciana E. eliciana

JJefferson efferson Davis Davis

Cameron Cameron

Tangipahoa Tangipahoa

St. S t. Helena Helena Pointe Pointe St. LLandry St. andr y C Coupee oupee WBR WBR

Calcasieu Calcasieu

Too small for data collection

Concordia Concordia

EBR EBR

Livingston Livingston

Washington Washington

St. Tammany St. Tammany

Acadia A cadia St. John St. John Iber ville Iberville Lafayette St. Lafayette Ascension A scension St. M Martin artin JJefferson efferson St. James St. James St. St. Iberia Iberia Assumption Assumption Charles Charles Vermilion Vermilion St. Mary St. Mar y

Lafourche Lafourche

Orleans Orleans St. Bernard St. Bernard Plaquemiines Plaquemines

Terrebonne Terrebonne

Staff map Sources: Louisiana Tumor Registry, LSU Health New Orleans

currently is.” National occupancy rates, which fell sharply during the pandemic, have returned to a more typical 80%. That ﬁgure can be misleading; it doesn’t mean 1 bed in 5 sit empty, awaiting a patient. Occupancy counts state-licensed beds, but the more meaningful number is operating beds — how many are actually available depending on a facility’s stafﬁng and other factors. That number is usually lower and, in many cases, sinking. The American Health Care Association reported in 2024 that almost half of nursing homes were limiting admissions and 57% had waiting lists for new residents. It’s possible, of course, that they

also face ﬁnancial losses because of lower demand. “Nursing homes close because people don’t want to go to nursing homes,” said Sam Brooks, director of public policy for the National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care, an advocacy group. “The quality is so low that people avoid them like the plague.” Last year, Medicare inspectors found at least one quality violation serious enough to harm or jeopardize residents in 27% of nursing homes, according to an analysis by KFF, a health information nonproﬁt. In recent decades alternatives emerged that diverted patients from nursing homes. About a million older adults currently live in assisted living facilities. And among Medicaid recipients, the ongoing

policy shift called “rebalancing” has enabled more people to receive services at home (where most want to be) rather than in nursing homes. In 1988, only 10% of Medicaid expenditures for long-term services went to home- or community-based services; the rest paid for institutional care. By 2020, more than 60% of expenditures funded home and community care, said Priya Chidambaram, a KFF senior policy manager specializing in Medicaid, citing a staff analysis. How big a problem these trends pose depends partly on geography. The decline in the number of nursing homes in rural locations — about 10% from 2015 to 2025 — was much greater than the national drop of about 6%.

4X ● Sunday, October 18, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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More moments. More memories. GET SCREENED

Jenny C. | Breast Cancer Patient

At Ochsner Cancer Center of Acadiana, women have access to comprehensive breast care close to home. From mammography and imaging services to cancer treatment and surgical breast reconstruction, our expert team delivers personalized care at locations throughout Lafayette, Crowley, New Iberia and beyond. Visit ochsner.org/CCA to schedule your mammogram today.

Breast Cancer Awareness

SUNDAY, OctOber 18, 2026

CURTIS / by Ray Billingsley

SLYLOCK FOX / by Bob Weber Jr.

GET FUZZY / by Darby Conley

HAGAR THE HORRIBLE / by Chris Browne

ROSEBUDS / by Supr Dee

MOTHER GOOSE AND GRIMM / by Mike Peters

ZIGGY / by Tom Wilson

SALLY FORTH / by Francesco Marciuliano & Jim Keefe

ZITS / by Jerry Scott and Jim Borgman

PEARLS BEFORE SWINE / by Stephan Pastis

wonderword

scrabble grams

word game

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

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

todAY's Word — nestLinG: NEST-ling: A young bird that has not left the nest. Average mark 47 words Time limit 60 minutes Can you find 60 or more words in NESTLING?

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

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

AnsWers to ALL PuZZLes Are on inside BAcK PAGe

Sudoku

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

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

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

AnsWers to ALL PuZZLes Are on inside BAcK PAGe

Los angeLes Times sunday Crossword puzzLe — Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis “CaLiFornia sCHemin” By paTTi VaroL aCross 1 Come & Get It! pet food brand 5 “Scrubs” role for Judy Reyes 10 Some language exams 15 Escalator part 19 Large Hadron Collider org. 20 Orca habitat 21 Upgrade, as machinery 22 Simplicity 23 Fizzled out 24 Versace parent company 25 “12-Point Type: A History”? 27 Prankster? 30 Fortune 31 Corporate VIPs 32 Dance club version, say 34 Like fabric in a quilting kit 38 Silver-white metal 41 Audition hopeful 43 Like a car made between 1919 and 1930 44 “You for Me” singer Rita 45 Cut-rate vacation rentals? 49 Issa of “Insecure” 50 Chutney fruit 52 D-backs st. 53 Chimp kin 54 Helsinki native 55 Perform terribly 56 Barbie’s boo 57 IRS convenience 58 Pickles 59 Rowlands with an Honorary Academy Award 60 Poor grade 61 Played a pipe in a parade 62 Figure in the 1953 British Mount Everest expedition

63 Decorative jugs 65 Teams 66 Home network need 67 “MasterChef” host Gordon 69 Bank investment? 70 Word with brow or blow 71 __ bean 74 Noisy, as a crowd 75 Driveway brick 76 With 16-Down, official cocktail of the city of Oakland 77 Shot in the arm, say 78 Eyelash treatment 79 Basic framework 80 Frames 81 Leftover 82 Playpen denizen 83 Motto of a therapist who uses origami to teach anger management? 86 Cake mix need 87 Traditional source of wood for baseball bats 89 On the periphery 90 “No __!” 92 Had a snack 93 Fillable flatbreads 95 H-Town ALer 96 Gain back 98 Morning-afterthe-wedding stories? 104 Useful tool in making some Thanksgiving pies? 108 Vedder of Pearl Jam 109 Make mittens, perhaps 110 Winged archer 111 Primer mes del año 112 PowerPoint unit

113 Periphery 114 Well-worn trail 115 Showed again 116 Words to live by 117 Short message of gratitude down 1 Adapter letters 2 “Help me, ObiWan Kenobi. You’re my only hope” speaker 3 Slice and dice, perhaps 4 Coming right up 5 “Priscilla” writer/ director Sofia 6 Ranch units 7 Raise 8 Some pub pals 9 “Devious Maids” star 10 Magic, on sports tickers 11 Form of energy healing 12 Tack on 13 “Not one word of this is true!” 14 Walking noisily 15 The continents, e.g. 16 See 76-Across 17 PC “oops” key 18 Split __ soup 26 Forest plants 28 Hoka rival 29 Highlighter hue 33 Automatic dripbrew pioneer 35 One with next-level skills in being thoughtful and compassionate? 36 Tanzania neighbor 37 Wee 38 Claim on some menus 39 Mighty mad 40 The dog days of summer? 41 Correspond 42 Adam’s eldest 43 Ivy, for one

46 Tools with teeth 47 Zodiac ram 48 Un-locked? 51 Really bothers 54 Mozilla web browser 57 Down source 58 Figure, casually 60 Towel off 61 Fin 62 “I don’t have all day!” 64 Tuner’s asset

goren Bridge

65 Cut 66 Damp 67 Lanai furniture material 68 Melodic passage 69 Strike zone? 70 Pulitzer-winning rapper Kendrick 72 Brink 73 Wise words 75 Leader of the Holy See 76 Attic pests 77 Strong urge 79 Big name in

wuzzLes

94 Prefix with structure 95 Slyly cutting 97 Hathaway of “The Odyssey” 99 Just chilling 100 All-father of Norse myth 101 Roddick who was the last American man to win the US Open 102 __ in a blanket 103 Half note feature

104 Energy 105 Cy Young stat 106 Basic bed 107 Long time

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

One more for luck

Today’s deal is from a recent team match. The auction is quite normal for tournament play. West led the ace of spades and East followed suit with the 10! West read this unnecessary high card as a suit-preference signal for hearts, the higher ranking of the two remaining suits other than spades and trumps. West shifted smartly to the queen of hearts and defeated the contract. On any other play, the king of spades say, South would have won, drawn trumps, and led the queen of diamonds. That finesse would lose, but the favorable position of the 10 of diamonds would give South two heart discards and 11 tricks. Nice defense! At the other table, the bidding was the same except that East persevered to five spades, which was doubled. North led a club. West ruffed in dummy, drew trumps, and led the queen of hearts. He was able to discard a diamond on the jack of hearts and the favorable location of the ace of diamonds

classic travel guides 80 Disorderly place 83 Primp 84 Island feast 85 Springsteen’s __ Band 88 Clobber 91 “Guardians of the Galaxy” voice role for Bradley Cooper 93 Overly inquisitive sort

SUBJECT: ITALY (Example: The capital city. Answer: Rome.) FRESHMAN LEVEL 1. Italy extends into what large sea? Answer________ 2. Italy is not an island, it is a _____. Answer________ 3. What Italian island is near the “toe” of Italy? Answer________ 4. What city is built on a group of about 120 islands linked by bridges? Answer________ 5. What is the most popular sport in Italy? Answer________

gave him 11 tricks and a huge gain for his team. There is a way to defeat five spades. North must lead a low diamond at trick one! Would you have found that lead? Neither would we. Tannah Hirsch welcomes readers’ responses sent in care of this newspaper or to Tribune Content Agency inc., 2225 Kenmore Ave., Suite 114, Buffalo, Ny. 14207. E-mail responses may be sent to gorenbridge@ aol.com. © 2026 Tribune Content Agency

GRADUATE LEVEL 6. What sea is on Italy’s east coast? Answer________ 7. What mountain range is on Italy’s northern land border? Answer________ 8. What are the three

colors on the national flag? Answer________ 9. It is the third largest city and the largest in southern Italy. Answer________ 10. Name either of the two enclaves within Italy. Answer________ PH.D. LEVEL 11. What is the largest metropolitan area in Italy? Answer________ 12. What fascist dictator titled himself “Duce”? Answer________ 13. What active volcano is on the east coast of Sicily? Answer________ 14. What large Italian island is located about 125 miles west of mainland Italy? Answer________ 15. Italy is nicknamed “Lo Stivale,” which translates to ____. Answer________

ANSWERS TO ALL PUZZLES ARE ON NEXT PAGE

zodiaC LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) Be the stabilizer when chaos or discord surfaces. How you handle situations will be how others judge you. Situations that require mediation will be a perfect platform to demonstrate how valuable you are. SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) Breathe. Let your physical condition determine whether you should stop or go. Whether you push yourself or are trying to heal, having a clear head and a plan in place are the best ways to approach what’s next. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) Putting more energy toward expanding your expertise and vying for posi-

tions that will lead to higher income will change how you feel about your relationships, commitments and the lifestyle you want to pursue. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Devise a plan that will help you meet both work and domestic demands. Listen to what others say, and assess the validity of how they interpret situations. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) You can put emotional energy to good use — or you can overreact and be met with opposition. Put yourself first, walk away from drama and channel your energy into enhancing your skills.

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) It’s time to take care of yourself and your heart’s desires. Stop worrying about what everyone wants from you, and start manifesting what makes you feel good. ARIES (March 21-April 19) If you step away from certain situations, you’ll get a unique view of what’s possible. Protecting yourself without hurting others is the solution. TAURUS (April 20-May 20) Curb bad habits, and refuse to let the little things get to you. When in groups, keeping a positive attitude will help deter troublemakers from goading you into an argument.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) You’ll thrive on change. Research, then develop a plan that fits your schedule and helps you reach your destination. Helping a meaningful cause will encourage you to be more giving with your time and money. CANCER (June 21-July 22) Use your connections to bring about change or to gain access to a group you want to join. Offer your time and expertise rather than cash donations. Starting a healthy lifestyle will be uplifting. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) Tiptoe through conversations that can damage your reputation or cost you a friendship.

Reflect before you speak, and verify your facts before you share. A problem at home will require an expert. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Trust yourself and your ability to get the facts. Suggestions you receive will fall short. Protect your assets, reputation and earning capability from those trying to implement changes that favor them more than you. The horoscope, an entertainment feature, is not based on scientific fact. © 2026 by NEA, inc., dist. By Andrews McMeel Syndication

dustin / by Steve Kelley & Jeff Parker

Answers to puzzles super quiz 1. Mediterranean Sea. 2. Peninsula. 3. Sicily. 4. Venice. 5. Soccer. 6. Adriatic Sea. 7. Alps. 8. Red, white and green. 9. Naples. 10. Vatican City or San Marino. 11. Milan. 12. Benito Mussolini. 13. Mount Etna. 14. Sardinia. 15. The Boot.

SCORING: 24 to 30 points — congratulations, doctor; 18 to 23 points — honors graduate; 13 to 17 points — you’re plenty smart, but no grind; 5 to 12 points — you really should hit the books harder; 1 point to 4 points — enroll in remedial courses immediately; 0 points — who reads the questions to you?

Cryptoquote Answer Saturday's Cryptoquote: The flame-red moon, the harvest moon, rolls along the hills, gently bouncing, a vast balloon. — Ted Hughes

word GAme Answer nest nesting nine egis enlist ensign sent sign signet silent silt sine sing singe single singlet site

sling slit snit stein stile sting tennis tensing tile tine ting tinge tingle tinsel legist lenis lens

lent lest lien line linen ling lint list listen lite ingest ingle inlet inset intel isle islet

istle gelt gent gest gilt gist glen glint glisten

sudoKu Answer jumble Answer

Crossword Answers

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

sCrAbble Answers

FoXtrot / by Bill Amend

wuzzles Answers

Ken Ken Answers

hidAto Answers