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F R I D AY, O C T O B E R 23, 2026

Alexandria at epicenter of controversial flights

ICE uses small airport for third-country deportations

$2.00X

Louisiana now has access to drug for executions Pentobarbital was used in botched Tennessee execution

BY JOHN SIMERMAN and PATRICK SLOAN-TURNER Staff writers

tation campaign. The number of flights is likely an undercount because the administration sometimes uses untraceable deportations via commercial planes, and there are difficulties confirming flights to some countries. The England Authority, a quasi-governmental body that oversees the airport and its surrounding territory, has faced protests since approving a second U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement staging facility earlier this year, which officials say will hold undocumented women and children who have chosen to be deported. It’s expected to open within days. “These third-country removals are

Early last year, before Louisiana used nitrogen gas for the first time in an execution, a top state prison official testified that lethal injection wasn’t a viable option. With pharmaceutical companies threatening to withhold other medication that the state relied on to treat chronic conditions among inmates, it wasn’t worth the risk, said Seth Smith, chief of operations for the Department of Public Safety and Corrections. “I’m afraid that we would lose our possibility of getting life-saving drugs that we need for other people,” Smith testified in the case of Jessie Hoffman, who was put to death with nitrogen gas less than two weeks later in March 2025. But this week, state officials told a federal judge that obtaining a lethal injection drug, pentobarbital, for executions was not a problem at all. The revelation came as state officials sought to deny death row inmate Todd Wessinger a fresh avenue to challenge his impending execution date. At a status conference Wednesday before U.S. District Judge John deGravelles, a state lawyer “initially stated that pentobarbital is available to the State as an alternative to nitrogen hypoxia and that there is no dispute on this,” according to the court minutes. But the lawyer, Elizabeth Brown, then retracted that statement, saying she didn’t know if the state possessed the drug or whether it would have to disclose it, and she “suggested that its possession of (or ability to obtain) pentobarbital was beyond the scope of this litigation and immaterial to the issues before the court.”

ä See FLIGHTS, page 4A

ä See DRUG, page 5A

STAFF PHOTO BY JAVIER GALLEGOS

Alexandria International Airport is the site of frequent deportation flights, including 39 third-country deportation flights since President Donald Trump took office. BY JAMES FINN and JUSTIN O’CONNOR Staff writers

Long a hub of the federal government’s deportation system, a central Louisiana airport is now the nation’s leader in dispatching controversial “third-country” deportation flights, which the Trump administration uses to haul immigrants to countries where they often have no ties. Of 110 third-country flights since President Donald Trump retook office early last year, 39 departed from the Alexandria International Airport — about 35% of the total. That’s more than any other airport in the country, according to data compiled by ICE Flight Monitor, a watchdog project of Human Rights First, and analyzed by The Times-Picayune | The

Advocate. Deportation flights bound for third countries ramped up dramatically in recent months, despite a legal challenge that has landed before the U.S. Supreme Court. Just between June and September, the number of third-country flights across all U.S. airports was more than double the entire total from 2025. The small Alexandria airport formed the backbone of that surge, dispatching nearly half those flights. So far this year, 34 third-country flights left Alexandria — a nearly sevenfold increase from 2025, based on data through the end of last month. The data shows the extent to which Alexandria has grown into the epicenter of the Trump administration’s mass-depor-

SU’s Faulk diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease NFL Hall of Famer in first season leading Jaguars

Sandeep Thakkar, whose show primarily talks about the disease. Parkinson’s disease is a progressive disorder of the central nervous system affecting the body’s movement. BY TOYLOY BROWN III Faulk said he’s well physically and Staff writer mentally, as he has been dealing with the Southern University coach Marshall disease for about a year and a half. He Faulk revealed he has been diagnosed ﬁrst realized there was an issue with his with Parkinson’s disease in a podcast in- hand while playing golf. “The rigidity in my hand, just someterview released on Wednesday. Faulk, 53, shared the news on an epi- times after I play a lot or I practice a sode of “Caring Neurologist” with Dr. lot,” Faulk said. “I just thought it was,

WEATHER HIGH 86 LOW 54 PAGE 14C

you know, normal nerves when putting and stuff like that.” He spoke to his doctor about it at one of his two physicals per year after he had the same hand issues when he wasn’t golfing. “I was like, ‘Wow, is that something?’” Faulk said. “‘Is that normal?’ And the doctor was — he literally was like, ‘You need to go get checked.’” Faulk called himself “one of the lucky

STAFF FILE PHOTO JAVIER GALLEGOS

Marshall Faulk is in his first season as coach at ä See FAULK, page 5A Southern University.

Business ......................6A Commentary ................3B Nation-World................2A Classified ..................10C Deaths .........................4B Opinion ........................2B Comics-Puzzles .....7C-9C Living............................5C Sports ..........................1C

102ND YEAR, NO. 115

2A l Friday, October 23, 2026 l theadvocate.com l The Acadiana Advocate

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FROM WIRE REPORTS

7.0 quake hits Tibet, killing 16, injuring 32 BEIJING — A magnitude 7 earthquake hit China’s Tibet region on Thursday evening, killing at least 16 people, injuring 32 and collapsing hundreds of homes in the northern regional city of Nagqu, official media said. Search and rescue efforts continued following the collapse of at least 339 homes, the Nagqu media office said, citing city government officials. Among the injured, 11 people were in serious condition and the other 21 sustained minor injuries, the media office said. Rescue teams from police and fire departments were building tents to house people displaced by the quake. The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake occurred at 10:33 p.m., with its epicenter 119 miles east-northeast of Nagqu, in a sparsely populated, highaltitude area of northern Tibet.

Josephine brings winds to Eastern Seaboard MIAMI — Josephine, which forecasters described as a “powerful extratropical low” system with tropical storm-force winds, remained offshore in the Atlantic on Thursday but brought impacts including coastal ﬂooding and gale-force winds to the Eastern Seaboard. Large swells that could create life-threatening surf and rip current conditions were possible along the coast up to Atlantic Canada, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said in an advisory. Josephine had maximum sustained winds of 65 mph. It was centered about 235 miles eastsoutheast of Nantucket, Massachusetts, moving northeast at 17 mph. The hurricane center said Josephine was forecast to continue moving away from the United States and remain south of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. It was expected to continue gaining strength and become “a powerful extratropical cyclone with hurricane-force winds.” Tropical Storm Vance was well off Mexico’s southern coast and was forecast to intensify and become a hurricane and then a major hurricane by the weekend.

Pentagon puts limits on troops’ betting WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has issued a new directive telling troops they cannot use “nonpublic information” to make bets on prediction markets. “Our enemies watch movements in these markets,” Hegseth wrote in a memo dated Tuesday and reviewed by The Associated Press. “When an American Service member, intelligence professional, or other Department civilian engages in a ﬁnancial transaction on a military outcome, they create a signal.” The one-page document, which was reported earlier by CBS News, comes months after a U.S. Special Forces soldier involved in the military operation to capture then-Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was charged with using classified information about the mission to win more than $400,000 on the prediction market Polymarket. The memo stresses that troops are forbidden from using both classified and unclassified but nonpublic information to make trades on platforms like Polymarket and Kalshi. It says violators could be subject to administrative punishment and criminal charges.

MAHA adviser Means leaves administration WASHINGTON — Calley Means, a top adviser to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and a chief advocate for the Make America Healthy Again movement, resigned from his Trump administration role Thursday. In a statement, Means said he “leaves with tremendous respect” for President Donald Trump and Kennedy. He did not say why he was leaving. Means used his perch at the Department of Health and Human Services to attack the nation’s leading physician groups, federal agencies and government scientists, claiming they only protect their own interests. Means is the brother of wellness inﬂuencer, author and entrepreneur Dr. Casey Means.

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Trump ordered to sit for deposition

can alter the trial schedule, position could be recorded on video President has accused BBC of defamation case and the defense said it would be but only for attorneys, meaning it

BY DAVID FISCHER Associated Press

MIAMI — A federal judge on Thursday ordered President Donald Trump to sit for a deposition in his $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the BBC by Dec. 11. The order from U.S. Magistrate Judge Enjoliqué Lett came as lawyers for the British broadcaster complained that Trump had delayed his appearance in his own lawsuit. Charles Tobin, attorney for the BBC, said that with two months left in the discovery period, “we still haven’t been able to depose the plaintiff.” Meanwhile, it remained uncertain whether former special counsel Jack Smith would be allowed to sit for a deposition. Federal rules require current and former employees to receive permission from agency heads before testifying in court cases. Smith has requested permission but has not

received an answer, and the judge ruled that the department must respond to him by Nov. 2. In arguments about Trump’s deposition, Tobin noted there had been an agreed-upon date of Oct. 16, but Trump had canceled it for a “matter of national importance.” He said the Republican president was in fact campaigning in Georgia that day. “He was participating in party politics and prioritized that over sitting for the deposition,” Tobin said. Lett said Trump must sit for a deposition by Dec. 11, or face sanctions up to dismissal of his lawsuit — unless the discovery period is extended by the presiding judge. Discovery, where lawyers for both sides exchange documents and other evidence, is scheduled to end Dec. 18, and the BBC’s attorneys want to make sure they have Trump’s deposition before that deadline. Lett said only the presiding judge assigned to the

open to scheduling the deposition at a later time if the trial schedule was also changed. Trump, who has often avoided depositions, filed his lawsuit against the BBC last December. He accused the publicly funded broadcaster of defamation as well as deceptive and unfair trade practices related to a documentary, “Trump: A Second Chance.” The BBC acknowledged that filmmakers spliced together quotes from different sections of the speech Trump delivered to his supporters on Jan. 6, 2021, before the storming of the U.S. Capitol, to make it seem he was directly urging violence. The broadcaster apologized over the editing, and the head of the BBC and its top news executive both resigned. But the BBC has denied Trump’s claims that it defamed him. Trump’s attorneys also argued against recording his deposition on video, asking for only a court reporter. The judge ruled that the de-

wouldn’t be released to the public. To bolster its defense, the broadcaster subpoenaed former special counsel Jack Smith earlier this month. Trump’s lawyers have argued that there is no good reason for Smith, who is not a party to the case, to appear. The BBC has said Smith has extensive knowledge of what happened that day. Earlier in the hearing, Tobin, the BBC lawyer, argued that Smith has not objected to being deposed for this case, meaning the only objection is coming from Trump. Tobin said the BBC is not trying to relitigate the events of Jan. 6, but Smith is one of the leading experts in what happened that day, and his deposition could lead the BBC to evidence that could help their case. Trump’s lawyer, Alejandro Brito, said Smith has no personal knowledge of Trump’s Jan. 6 speech or Trump’s state of mind when he gave it. All of Smith’s knowledge about the case is secondhand, Brito argued.

Frat suspended at University of Ariz.

chapter to comply Student alleges Arizona with any investigation. Phi Epsilon does assault by 2 men not“Sigma tolerate sexual assault

BY MIKELLA SCHUETTLER Associated Press

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO BY SOPHIE BATES

Smoke billows after a fire Wednesday caused evacuations at Brookdale Senior Living in Clinton, Miss.

Fire destroys Miss. senior living center, killing two BY DAVE COLLINS and LAURA TURBAY Associated Press

Two people were killed and dozens were rescued when a fire tore through a Mississippi senior living center that was home to more than 100 residents, authorities said Thursday. Firefighters were called to the blaze in Clinton, about 10 miles northwest of Jackson, at about 5 p.m. Wednesday, and multiple wings of the center were on fire, Clinton Mayor Will Purdie said at a news conference. “It’s with a heavy heart that I share with you that two residents lost their lives in that fire,” Purdie said. Clinton’s fire chief, Levius Buckley, said staff at the Brookdale Clinton center got about 85 residents out of the facility safely and firefighters helped get another 10 to 15 out. He said at least four people were taken to hospitals. All surviving residents were either with relatives or at other facilities on Thursday, Purdie said. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Buckley said the center’s sprinkler system was working at the time. An 82-year-old man and an 82-year-old woman were confirmed dead after the fire at the senior living facility, according to Hinds County Coroner Jeramiah Howard.

The mayor credited firefighters and Brookdale Clinton staff with saving lives. Authorities searched the site through the night to account for everyone. “Last night, I was once again reminded of the strength of this community through its overwhelming response,” Purdie said. Portions of the center were destroyed by the blaze. Although several wings remain standing, they won’t be habitable for some time, Buckley said. It took about three hours to get the fire under control, and firefighters remained there into the early morning hours. Residents who were led to safety were bused to a church, where a crowd of people who appeared to be residents’ family members or loved ones waited outside Wednesday. WLBT-TV showed images of a handful of older people sitting across the street and watching as bright orange flames and black smoke stretched into the sky. One of them was in a wheelchair and the others had walkers or other mobility aids. One also had a small dog. The roof of the building was partially collapsed, as firefighters sprayed the building. A spokesperson for Brookdale Senior Living said Thursday that company staff are heartbroken over the deaths of the two residents.

Ariz. has rare tornado outbreak BY JESSICA HILL and WUFEI YU Associated Press

PHOENIX — Yet more severe weather struck Thursday as the Four Corners region surveyed blown-away roofs, trees knocked onto homes and power lines downed from overnight tornadoes that injured one person. The injuries weren’t life threatening but rare for an area better known for scalding heat. But this fall has been unusually soggy in the Southwest with El Niño conditions that have sent one tropical system after another in from the Paciﬁc, causing the Grand Canyon and surrounding deserts to rage with ﬂoods. Now, golf-ball-size hail and tornadoes join the mix. National Weather Service meteorologists suspect at least three tornadoes touched down as storms swept across central Arizona late Wednesday. The nasty weather hit during Lenna Landy’s yoga routine in Overgaard, Ari-

zona, a community of about 3,000 people 140 miles northeast of Phoenix. Landy had ignored alerts about a possible tornado, but then the storm struck. “It was like Zeus-was-angry kind of level, of thunder cracks,” Landy said. The power went off, her house shook and Landy couldn’t find her glasses. “If this is my end, I won’t see it coming,” she recalled thinking. “The scariest part was just like, how quickly it came on,” Landy said. The storm peeled off nearby roofs, shattered windows and blew a shed into a home, she said. A spruce tree in her yard was split in half. Still more severe weather, including large hail, struck Thursday with much of Arizona under tornado and flood watches. Similar weather soaked New Mexico, while swaths of Utah and Colorado were under flood watches and warnings. Tornadoes are somewhat but not exceptionally unusual in Arizona.

The University of Arizona has suspended a fraternity’s activities after a female student alleged two men sexually assaulted her at the fraternity’s house in August. The Sigma Phi Epsilon chapter at the southern Arizona school was already on probation, but the university said it has now imposed an activities suspension, stating the fraternity poses a risk to the university community. An investigation into the allegations continues. “It has been determined that your organization presents a substantial risk to members of the university community,” said Associate Dean of Students Whitney Mohr in a letter sent to the fraternity on Wednesday. The local chapter did not respond to calls or emails, but the national fraternity organization said it had ordered members of the

or sexual misconduct. The Fraternity has suspended those involved while the investigation proceeds,” Brian Warren, chief executive ofﬁcer of Sigma Phi Epsilon, said in a statement Tuesday. It didn’t elaborate on the identities of those involved or their connection to the fraternity. The female student told investigators that she consensually kissed a man and was drinking on the night of Aug. 26, but then woke up to two men sexually assaulting her in the fraternity house, according to search warrant records dated Sept. 9 and published Monday night by KOLDTV in Tucson. She told police she remembers feeling one man’s breath on her face and had trouble swallowing the next morning due to possible strangulation, according to the records. The next day, she reported the incident to police and underwent a forensic exam at a hospital.

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The Acadiana Advocate l theadvocate.com l Friday, October 23, 2026 l 3A

Mixed messages Russian missiles pound Kyiv Moscow says over on limits to 800 Ukrainian Starshield access drones downed Ukraine has not received official explanation BY FARNOUSH AMIRI and HANNA ARHIROVA

Associated Press

Recent efforts to throttle Ukraine’s access to satellite systems have created a blame game of sorts among Trump administration officials and their allies, who have offered mixed messages about what led to the sudden restrictions on Kyiv’s ability to intercept Russian strikes. The limitations placed on Starshield — SpaceX’s military-grade version of the Starlink satellite internet service and the backbone of Ukraine’s drone operations and communication — last week alarmed the country’s military and government officials, with commanders reporting lost drones and disrupted missions. After days of handwringing, President Donald Trump asserted Thursday that the service is running again at full speed. However, a senior European official familiar with the situation on the ground in Ukraine said Thursday that nothing has changed in the operation of Starshield, with its speed cap still set at about 100 mph. Ukraine has not received a clear official explanation of who ordered the restrictions or why, according to the official, who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity. Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal announced a new inquiry into how the technologies were slowed down for Ukraine’s defense systems. Questions have percolated since last week about who ordered the interruptions to the Elon Musk-made satellite internet system that Ukraine has relied on for years to counter Moscow’s attacks. Trump has maintained that he didn’t make the call. Vice President JD Vance has hinted at White House coordination with Musk, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have denied any administration involvement. Here are the players in their own words:

Trump Over the last week, Trump has repeatedly told reporters that he didn’t order restrictions on a satellite communications system used by Ukraine’s military, causing its drones to lose speed. The president also earlier doubted the disruption came from Musk, formerly a close adviser and frequent companion. “Well, I don’t know if it was anybody, but it wasn’t me, and I don’t think it was Elon,” Trump said Friday. “And

from what I understand, it’s the same as it’s always been.” On Thursday, Trump appeared to confirm that the service had been down and claimed that it was once again working at optimal speeds. The Wall Street Journal reported that Musk had agreed to lift restrictions, and Trump demurred when asked if he had requested to lift the cap. “You know, whether I called or whether somebody else called, doesn’t make any difference,” Trump told reporters. “I guess the bottom line, he put it back.”

Rubio and Hegseth Rubio has insisted that the Trump administration and the U.S. government more broadly had nothing to do with interruptions to Ukraine’s access to crucial satellite data. Speaking to reporters in India on Wednesday, Rubio said for the third time in four days that any throttling of network access to Ukraine was not directed or ordered by Trump or anyone else in his administration. “The president has nothing to do with the decisions that are made by Starlink and Starshield and by Mr. Musk. That’s a private company. The president doesn’t run that company and can’t direct that company to do anything,” Rubio said. Hegseth has echoed Rubio’s comments, denying on Tuesday any American role in slowing down the satellite internet service while also pushing the responsibility to Musk’s company. “We haven’t pulled anything back,” Hegseth told reporters, before adding that “there are terms of service that ultimately need to be complied to.” He offered no elaboration on what terms of service Ukraine needed to comply with.

Musk Musk, leader of the company behind Starlink and Starshield, last week put the onus on the Trump administration. “Starshield systems are owned and controlled by the US government. Any limits on speed or usage are decided by the US military and ultimately POTUS,” he wrote Oct. 14 on X. “Starlink is a commercial service owned and controlled by SpaceX. Usage of Starlink is limited to civilian or defensive activities and cannot be used for offensive military action, as doing so would be inappropriate for a commercial company,” Musk added.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy Shortly after the systems failed to work, 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.

BY DEREK GATOPOULOS Associated Press

KYIV, Ukraine — Russia bombarded Kyiv with ballistic missiles in an hourslong nighttime barrage, while the Russian military said Thursday that its air defenses intercepted over 800 drones ﬁred by Ukraine at Moscow and other cities. At least four people were killed in Ukraine and dozens of others were wounded, officials said, in the attacks that began only hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed “in principle” Wednesday to resume threeway negotiations between Russia, Ukraine and the United States. “Russia has not changed the way it wages this war, and it is taking no steps that would signal a genuine desire to end it,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said after the barrage. Putin’s consent came in talks in St. Petersburg with U.S. President Donald Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, who spoke of a “new momentum” toward peace after meeting Tuesday with Zelenskyy in Norway. The talks are supposed to start sometime after Nov. 10. No date was set. The U.S. has proposed the United Arab Emirates as a possible location for the new talks, said Zelenskyy, who has said only a meeting of leaders can end the deadlock.

170 strikes in about a week Russia’s aerial attacks hit 12 regions of Ukraine overnight, killing at least four people and wounding scores of others, including ﬁve children, Zelenskyy said on social media Thursday. Two women, ages 50 and 60, were killed and dozens of other people were wounded in a Russian strike on a market in Lozova, in Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv region, said Oleh Syniehubov, head of the regional military administration. Another person was killed in other strikes on Kharkiv, the State Emergency Service said. The Ukrainian capital endured a noisy night as 21 ballistic missiles came in three waves, Zelenskyy said, smashing apartment buildings, energy facilities, a railway station and the Kyiv subway system, shopping malls and businesses. One person was killed in Kyiv. The Russian attack on Kyiv included three ballistic missiles carrying cluster munitions — bombs that open in the air and release scores of smaller bomblets, Zelenskyy said. Ukrainians are bracing for the bitterly cold months ahead as the recent escalation in Russian attacks targets the power grid to deny civilians heat, light and running water. Ukraine says Russia is stockpiling ballistic missiles for an annual campaign Ukrainians

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO BY EFREM LUKATSKY

A woman looks at her damaged apartment Thursday after a Russian missile attack in Kyiv, Ukraine. describe as “weaponizing winter.” Since Oct. 11, Russia has launched 170 strikes on Ukraine’s critical energy facilities, Zelenskyy said.

Putin mulls attending G20 The Ukrainian leader has pleaded with Washington to supply more Patriot airdefense ammunition to stop the missiles, and to heap more sanctions on Russia to pressure Moscow to pursue peace. Instead, Trump has agreed with Putin to import diesel from Russia and waived heavy sanctions on Moscow, while U.S. ofﬁcials say Patriot ammunition is in short supply. “Russia is clearly taking advantage of the slowdown in air defense supplies from our partners,” Zelenskyy said. “It is equally clear that when some partners ease the pressure on Russia, it only reinforces Putin’s belief that his goals are within reach.” Western analysts say Putin wants to cut out Europe and Kyiv and negotiate Ukraine’s future directly with Washington. The

Trump administration has also disparaged Europe. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Thursday that Putin had received an invitation to attend the G20 summit in Miami in December but hasn’t yet decided whether to go.

Trump envoy chided Witkoff, the Trump envoy who met Wednesday with Putin in St. Petersburg, was harshly criticized in Ukraine and the U.S. for praising the Russian leader as a “humanitarian” after he released a retired American teacher who was imprisoned on charges of ﬁghting as a mercenary in Ukraine. Assassination attempts against Putin’s foes — routinely denied by the Kremlin — have been common during his decades in power. Aerial strikes have killed thousands of civilians and hundreds of thousands of soldiers on both sides. The latest “brutal” Russian attacks demonstrate “what Russian ‘humanism’ truly sounds like,” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on social media.

“Appeasement, servility, and ﬂattery will not stop this war. Only strength will.”

Russia downs drones Russia’s Defense Ministry said that air defenses overnight downed 808 Ukrainian drones, with two people reported wounded. Moscow’s Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said that 630 of the drones were fired toward the Russian capital between late Wednesday and early Thursday. Moscow airports temporarily restricted air trafﬁc overnight. The Russian military hit facilities involved in making and storing drones and cruise missiles, as well as striking transport infrastructure in Kyiv, the Defense Ministry said. In other developments, the bodies of 252 people, said by Russia to be Ukrainian soldiers, were returned to Ukraine in an exchange, Ukraine’s agency for prisoners of war said Thursday. Russia received 25 bodies of Russian soldiers, a member of a parliamentary group overseeing the exchanges told the RBC news outlet.

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4A l Friday, October 23, 2026 l theadvocate.com l The Acadiana Advocate

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FLIGHTS

citizens to exercise caution while traveling to a country or, in some cases, not to travel there at all. Among them: Central African Republic, the Congo and Uganda, each of whom have each accepted a single thirdcountry ﬂight from Alexandria. The State Department has issued Level 4 “Do Not Travel” advisories for those countries citing threats including terrorism, kidnapping and potential exposure to Ebola.

Continued from page 1A

Unknown destination The woman deported to St. Lucia, a bartender who had also worked for the local government in Los Angeles County, said ICE agents arrested her in July at New Orleans Louis Armstrong International Airport when she arrived for the Tales of the Cocktail conference. (Conference organizers did not respond to an inquiry about the case.) As she battled illness in ICE detention, the woman retained New Orleans immigration attorney Jeremy Jong to try to help secure her release. She was deported before Jong could accomplish that. In an interview, Jong said the case highlighted how the threat of immigration enforcement has eroded New Orleans’ reputation for hospitality. “People getting arrested by ICE when they’re on their way to New Orleans to go to a conference should trigger alarm bells for every elected leader here,” Jong said. “If they want to keep New Orleans a good place to visit, they are going to have to make sure that ICE is not around here.” At St. Lucia’s Hewanorra International Airport, the country’s government officials greeted the six deportees and debriefed them. Jong’s client said they were given a meal of mac and cheese, vegetables and rice. They visited a doctor. DHS officials have cast third-country deportations as a punishment reserved for criminals. But Saint Lucian officials have issued public statements assuring the public that third-country deportees are closely vetted before the island agrees to take them, including for potential criminal histories. The woman aboard the St. Lucia ﬂight told the TimesPicayune | The Advocate that she has no criminal record. Public records show she has not been cited or accused of a crime in the United States. She said she and the other deportees have encountered far better conditions than those reported by other third-country deportees. They are housed in apartments and go shopping together, she said. She is set to receive a work permit from the St. Lucia government in the coming weeks. Still, her future is uncertain. “They’re treating her well now,” said Jong, her attorney. “What I worry about is when whatever money the U.S. is giving St. Lucia runs out — what happens then? Do they send her back to her country of birth, where she runs a signiﬁcant risk of being killed?”

STAFF FILE PHOTO BY DAVID GRUNFELD

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents patrol New Orleans Louis Armstrong International Airport earlier this year.

STAFF FILE PHOTO BY JAVIER GALLEGOS

Flags fly next to the control tower of Alexandria International Airport at England Airpark.

Watched by federal agents, six immigrants shufﬂed across a dark stretch of tarmac before dawn on Aug. 31. A plane waited for them at the Alexandria airport. They didn’t know their destination. “I asked the ofﬁcer, ‘Where

country nationals from the Trump administration. The woman said she had never been to the island long favored by beach vacationers. An ICE spokesperson declined to respond to specific questions about the St. Lucia flight. The flight to St. Lucia is the only one of its kind to date, according to the ICE Flight Monitor data. More frequent destinations of the third-country flights include Equatorial Guinea, which has received five planes carrying third-country nationals from Alexandria since the start of the administration. Cameroon and Eswatini have each received four, according to ICE Flight Monitor. In August of this year, 16 ICE-chartered flights dispatched immigrants to third countries. Most took off from Alexandria. The surge in flights since April comes as the legality of Trump’s third-country deportations remains undecided. The U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments on the issue in December, after a federal appeals court in Boston found that the practice violated several

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Heavy leaves

Pinecones

Pine needles

Seed pods

Flights mostly to Africa

am I going?’” said a woman who was in the group of six after being held for weeks inside Richwood Correctional Center in north Louisiana. “He said, ‘You’re going to the beach.’” With the shackled detainees aboard, the ICE-chartered Bombardier CRJ-200 took off at 6:29 a.m. from Alexandria, records show. It landed two hours later in Miami to refuel, then again in Puerto Rico. In an interview, the woman, whom The Times-Picayune | The Advocate is not naming because she fears retaliation by officials in her home country, said she probed for answers about where they were headed while in the air. “I asked, ‘What’s the process after this?’” said the woman, whom U.S. ofﬁcials marked for third-country removal because her ethnicity and religion put her at risk of torture in her home country. “(An ICE agent) said, ‘We’re just going to hand you over to the St. Lucia government.’” The jet landed at 6:44 p.m. local time in St. Lucia, a tiny Caribbean nation with an agreement to accept third-

patched about 30% of thirdcountry flights from the U.S. since Trump retook office. Most flights from Harlingen have landed in Costa Rica. Alexandria, in contrast, has sent third-country flights to 22 nations across five continents. DHS declined to respond to specific questions about the program. The U.S. State Department, which negotiates the deals with thirdcountry governments to accept deportees, did not respond to multiple inquiries. “Illegal aliens being sent to a third country receive notice and assurances prior to their removal, and the Department of State is given diplomatic assurances from destination countries that the illegal aliens being removed there will be safe,” the unnamed DHS spokesperson said.

elements of the law. Twice, the high court has granted stays to prevent the lower court’s ruling from going into effect, at least temporarily allowing the Trump administration to continue the flights. Deportees to third countries generally come from nations whose strained diplomatic ties to the U.S. pose challenges in organizing deportation flights, such as Cuba. Others, the U.S. government acknowledges, could be tortured if they return to their home nations. In those cases, attorneys for some ICE detainees have argued that third-country removals could still result in their clients being redeported to home countries where they face grave risks. Attorneys made that argument in Louisiana federal courts on behalf of Ibrahim Mohammed, a 43-year-old Ethiopian man whom ICE tried deporting this spring to Eswatini, and later to Equatorial Guinea. A member of the Amhara ethnic minority, Mohammed, who is represented by the National Immigration Project, testified in federal court in Baton Rouge that he feared being deported to a third country lest its governments return him to Ethiopia. Vernon Liggins, the senior ICE official who ordered Mohammed’s arrest, would not answer a judge’s questions about whether the government agreements with Eswatini and Equatorial Guinea would prevent Mohammed from being returned to Ethiopia. A federal judge later held Liggins in contempt in the case, finding agents under his supervision repeatedly violated Mohammed’s dueprocess rights. Of 22 countries to receive third-country nationals from Alexandria, 18 have elevated travel advisory levels assigned by the State Department — warnings to U.S.

SCH

sinister in every respect,” said Stephanie AlvarezJones, a southeast regional attorney for the National Immigration Project, who represents people marked for removal to third countries. “Alexandria is a cornerstone in this sinister project.” Alvarez-Jones described the airport as being almost impossible to get communications into or out of, despite being a hub for removals and transfers. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security defended the program as a key public safety measure in a statement by an unnamed spokesperson. “Third-country removals are an essential public safety tool that remove the most dangerous criminal illegal aliens from our streets,” the spokesperson said. Third-country deportations were rare under past administrations. But during Trump’s second term, a surge in flights and land transports have led to more than 25,000 deportees arriving in nations they’ve mostly never visited, based on potentially conservative estimates from Human Rights First and Refugees International, two nonpartisan human rights advocacy groups. Federal data suggests a far smaller number of deportees, about 16,000, have arrived in third countries under the current administration. Watchdog groups who rely on foreign government records and other sources have disputed that tally. Trump’s State Department has struck agreements with nearly three-dozen countries’ governments to receive third country nationals. The terms vary, but the deals typically involve payment from the U.S. in exchange for holding deportees. Some agreements say the country on the receiving end will hold third-country deportees in prisons, while others allow deportees to apply for asylum. In the worst cases, deportees have reported enduring prisonlike conditions. In an Equatorial Guinea hotel, deportees told The New York Times they were hooded, bound, beaten and pushed down a stairway for telling the outside world about a lack of food and water. In other countries, deportees are held in maximum-security prisons or forced to sleep on detention center benches. England Authority Executive Director Ralph Hennessy has defended the agency’s work with ICE, noting that its contracts have spanned presidential administrations of both political parties. “The majority of these protesters are trying to be very vocal about something that they don’t have the full picture of, or if they do, they just don’t like it,” he said in a recent interview. The scale of Alexandria’s role in third-country deportations appears comparable only to the airport in Harlingen, Texas, which has dis-

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Continued from page 1A ones” who got the diagnosis early and said he’s not in poor spirits because it’s something that can be managed through treatment, comparing it to recovering from injuries during his NFL career. The Jaguars’ first-year coach said he has become more active and is sleeping more since beginning treatment. While life has remained normal, he still experiences rigidity in his hands, but the condition has not worsened. “The little tremors that I get, you know, they are what they are,” Faulk said. “I just pay attention to my gait, you know, while I walk, when I’m working out, my ability to balance. It’s still where it is.” The podcast host asked Faulk if he shared his diagnosis with family and friends. “I haven’t really had the conversation with them about it,” he said. “If it comes a time to where my lifestyle changes, then I will. Then that conversation could be had. I’m functioning. I’m good. You know, I

DRUG

Continued from page 1A The judge, an appointee of former President Barack Obama, disagreed, according to the court record. After he “encouraged the parties to work together to resolve many of the factual issues such as the availability of pentobarbital,” more details emerged. “Defense counsel clariﬁed that the State does not have pentobarbital on hand, but, if Wessinger chooses that as an option, pentobarbital is readily available within the time frame necessary for an execution.” Wessinger argues that execution by single-drug lethal injection pentobarbital would pose less risk of cruel and unusual punishment, which is forbidden by the U.S. Constitution, compared with nitrogen gassing. The state’s formal response was to agree to kill Wessinger with only pentobarbital if he chose it. Corrections Secretary Gary Westcott, who is empowered to select the execution method among those authorized in state law, wrote in an afﬁdavit that he was ceding the choice to Wessinger. “The only way Plaintiff will be executed by nitrogen hypoxia is if he voluntarily declines to elect pentobarbital and thus voluntarily agrees to be executed by nitrogen hypoxia,” state lawyers wrote. State officials and attorneys for Wessinger were mum after the closed-door status conference. Attorney General Liz Murrill declined to comment about what’s changed with the state’s ability to access lethal injection drugs, citing the litigation. “Our statement is that if Wessinger’s preferred method is pentobarbital, we will accommodate that request,” she said.

Nitrogen vs. pentobarbital Wessinger filed his law-

The Acadiana Advocate l theadvocate.com l Friday, October 23, 2026 l 5A

Faulk, a New Orleans native, was introduced as Southern’s new coach Dec. 1. Before leading the program, he was the running backs coach at Colorado. He was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 2011 after a 12year career, notching 12,279 yards rushing, 6,875 yards receiving and 136 total touchdowns. The former second overall pick in the 1994 NFL Draft is one of two running backs in the league’s history with at least 12,000 rushing and 5,000 career receiving yards. The other tailback is Marcus Allen. Faulk was a Super Bowl XXIV champion with the then-St. Louis Rams and was The Associated Press NFL MVP that season. He is a seven-time Pro Bowler and a three-time All-Pro. He was also a major part of the Rams’ “Greatest Show on Turf” offense. After his playing career, he became an analyst at NFL Network. Faulk attended Carver High STAFF FILE PHOTO JAVIER GALLEGOS School in New Orleans and then Marshall Faulk, a New Orleans native and member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, is in his first year as coach starred at San Diego State Uniof the Southern Jaguars. versity. In three seasons with the Aztecs, he rushed for 4,589 just think I caught it early. I’m in a for people to seek help if they ex- said that people shouldn’t limit yards — 6 yards per attempt — good place.” perience symptoms, regardless of themselves because there are mul- and 57 touchdowns across three Faulk said he wants to advocate how much money they have. He tiple avenues to treatment. seasons.

suit last month to prevent the state from killing him with nitrogen gas, arguing it’s unconstitutionally cruel. As an alternative, he offered single-drug pentobarbital. His lawsuit was filed weeks before the botched Sept. 30 execution of Christa Pike by the same method in Tennessee. Pike survived two doses of the drug and spent 10 days in the hospital before being discharged back to prison. A report this week in the local newspaper there, The Tennessean, found that the state has spent nearly $1.2 million on lethal execution drugs since the start of 2023. Less is known about Louisiana’s procurement of either nitrogen gas or lethal drugs. Other than a required review by the state inspector general for potential ﬁnancial conﬂicts with lawmakers, the same law that expanded Louisiana’s execution methods in 2024 — adding nitrogen gas and relegalizing electrocution — cloaked their procurement in secrecy. Wessinger was sentenced to death for killing two employees during a 1995 robbery at a Baton Rouge restaurant. He has fought his death sentence for decades. A federal appeals court recently denied him. Among the 55 prisoners on Louisiana’s death row, Wessinger is considered closest to an execution date. Earlier this month, Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore said he plans to apply for a death warrant. Once signed by a judge, the order would set the date, time and location for the state to execute Wessinger. The death warrant would be submitted to Baton Rouge District Judge Gail Horne Ray’s courtroom, but Murrill’s office has a pending motion to recuse the judge from the case. Ray and other judges have an active civil lawsuit against the state in which Murrill’s office is a defen-

dant. Murrill has argued that the plaintiff judges in that case should not be allowed to rule on any cases — including Wessinger’s — that involve the attorney general. Corrections officials declined to comment this week when asked about how the state plans to acquire lethal injection drugs.

Drug company ultimatums In his testimony in federal court last year, Smith said the agency had received “multiple correspondence” from various drug companies prohibiting the use of their products for lethal injections. “They all told us the same thing,” Smith testified. “If we get caught using one of their drugs, they are no longer going to supply drugs we need to treat people.” He added that those ultimatums from drug companies did “not have an expiration date.” Other states have obtained pentobarbital by routing around drug manufacturers and using compounding pharmacies that use raw ingredients to make drugs. Compounded pharmaceuticals do not require approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Oklahoma was the first state to authorize executions by nitrogen gas as states struggled to acquire lethal injection drugs. Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana and Arkansas followed, though only Alabama and Louisiana have used the gas in executions so far. Alabama was the first to try nitrogen gas, using it for seven executions before the Atlanta-based 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in June barred its use to kill double murderer Jeffery Lee. Alabama turned last month to lethal injection instead to execute Lee. Louisiana modeled its nitrogen gas execution protocol after Alabama’s. Wessinger’s federal case has its next court date scheduled for Nov. 2.

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

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Video game developer BioWare shuts down

Video game publisher Electronic Arts is shutting down the popular and influential game development studio BioWare after more than three decades. The upcoming “Mass Effect” game, the fifth since 2007, has been canceled. BioWare announced the closure on social media Wednesday following a report by Bloomberg that also said the company is laying off 400 people, including about 50 at BioWare. The Redwood Shores, California-based maker of popular titles like “Battlefield” and “The Sims” closed the $55 billion sale of its business to Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund PIF, investment firm Silver Lake Partners and Affinity Partners, which is run by President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, in August. Representatives for EA did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment on the layoffs. “What generations of BioWare built together is something to celebrate and remember,” the studio said via social media. “These games became so much more because you played them, debated your choices, fell in love with characters, and made these worlds your own.” BioWare built its reputation on immersive role-playing adventures, from sword-and-sorcery fantasies like “Baldur’s Gate” and “Dragon Age” to science fiction epics like “Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic” and “Mass Effect.” But its effort to branch out into multiplayer shooters, 2019’s “Anthem,” steered away from the studio’s strength as a creator of compelling single-player narratives. It failed to find the sort of loyal audience that keeps online hits like “Fortnite” and “Overwatch” humming.

Comcast planning significant jobs cuts

Comcast Corp. is planning a significant number of job cuts as part of an overall restructuring of its cable-TV, broadband and wireless businesses, according to people familiar with the company’s thinking. The reorganization is designed to put Comcast in a stronger position to operate as an independent company after it spins off the NBCUniversal businesses next year, said the people, who asked to not be identified because the plans haven’t been made public. The cuts, which could start to be announced in a matter of weeks, are aimed at creating a more nimble workforce and freeing up cash to invest in more growth opportunities, among other long-term goals. The Philadelphia-based media and telecom conglomerate has been losing cable-TV subscribers for some time as customers cut the cord in favor of streaming options. More recently, Comcast has also been shedding internet customers with rivals such as AT&T Inc., T-Mobile US Inc. and Verizon Communications Inc. pushing attractively priced fiber optic or fixed wireless connections.

Las Vegas Strip signs: Tipping not required

Digital marquees on the Las Vegas Strip have a new message: “When watching a performance or taking a photo, tipping is not required.” The signs from Clark County are being put up for “public safety,” said a representative from the county. Clark County Commissioner Michael Naft , directed visitors to look for nearby law enforcement or call 911 if they felt harassed in an X post on Saturday. Street performers and costumed individuals have been a mainstay on the Strip, looking to tourists to kick over extra cash for watching a performance or taking a picture with them. Recently, showgirl impersonators on the Strip became the subject of a viral video after a picture led to a brawl.

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Insurance costs continue to climb Survey shows American workers paying more than last year

BY FATIMA HUSSEIN Associated Press

WASHINGTON — People who rely on employer-sponsored health insurance paid more for their coverage this year, with employees at small businesses and their employers especially squeezed by the surging costs, according to a new survey by healthcare research nonproﬁt KFF. The 2026 Employer Health Benefits Survey, released Thursday, found that covered workers were paying hundreds of dollars more toward their premiums this year compared with last year. The costs

were particularly pronounced for employees at small businesses made up of 10 to 99 workers who typically shoulder a larger share of their insurance costs than those at bigger companies. Rising healthcare costs have emerged as an important issue for voters in the midterm elections and are part of broader affordability concerns. An AP-NORC poll conducted in October found that about 7 in 10 registered voters call healthcare “one of the most important issues” in this election. Almost 157 million Americans under retirement age rely on employer-sponsored healthcare coverage. According to the KFF study, employers report that workers are paying on average $7,471 annually toward the premiums for employer-sponsored family health ben-

eﬁts this year, which is up roughly 9%, or $621, from last year. “Workers are paying a bigger chunk this year,” said Matthew Rae, associate director of KFF’s Program on the Health Care Marketplace, “which also brings up the issue of affordability.” President Donald Trump has tried to make healthcare affordability part of his midterms pitch, saying that his most-favored nation prescription drug pricing would reduce costs and promising rebates for some Americans. But other steps taken by Trump’s Republican administration have raised costs for some, and the survey indicates that many are seeing their health insurance expenses climb without clear improvements in beneﬁts. The impact could be felt more

acutely among small businesses, which employ roughly 62.3 million people, or 45.9% of private-sector workers, according to the Small Business Administration. Covered workers at smaller firms contributed an average of $9,687 in 2026 toward family coverage, compared with $6,840 at firms with 200 or more workers, the survey says. In 2025, they paid roughly $8,900, compared with about $6,200 for larger firms, the report said. The survey found that covered workers at smaller firms contribute an average of 37% of the premium for family coverage, compared with 25% at larger firms. And 32% of covered workers at small firms are enrolled in plans in which they must pay more than half the family premium, compared with just 6% at larger companies.

Sharp drops for AI stocks overwhelm markets worldwide as oil prices jump Meta says it hit 'major milestones'

BY STAN CHOE and ALEX VEIGA AP business writers

NEW YORK — The latest shudder for stocks in the artificial-intelligence industry pulled markets lower worldwide on Thursday, while oil prices hit their highest levels since May on worries about the war with Iran. The weakness for tech stocks was so overwhelming that it masked strength for the rest of the U.S. market, where the majority of stocks actually rose. AI-related stocks have been swinging on worries that their boom may be under threat because of how expensive it’s become to borrow money to build data centers and buy more AI chips. Lam Research, whose equipment and services help make semiconductors, reported gains in profit and revenue for the summer that were slightly stronger than analysts expected, for example. Usually, that helps boost a stock’s price, but Lam Research’s tumbled 11.8%. The global tide against AI stocks knocked Nvidia down 4.4%. Because the chip giant is the largest company on Wall Street by total value, movements for its stock carry more weight on the S&P 500 than any other, and it was the single strongest force pulling the index lower. CoreWeave, which has borrowed money to buy Nvidia’s AI chips that it rents out to customers over the cloud, has been particularly shaky in recent weeks because of worries about its debt. It dropped 10.1%. The price for a barrel of Brent crude oil leaped 4% to $113.17 after touching its highest level in five months. It’s shot up from less than $97 at the start of the month on uncertainty about when the war with Iran will allow the global energy industry to return to normal. The yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury tumbled to 4.97% from 5.13% late Wednesday and from more than 5.30% earlier this month. That’s a major move for the bond market. Thursday’s drop in yields came even as another report suggested the U.S. economy may be doing better than economists expected. It said fewer U.S. workers applied for unemployment benefits last week, which

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO BY JEFF CHIU

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg speaks during the Meta Connect conference Sept. 23 in Menlo Park, Calif. Zuckerberg said this week that more than 10 million people in the U.S. and Canada have set up accounts for Muse.

business is strong, and we’re seeing velocity across the board.” Meta said the number of daily active users on its “family of apps” — Facebook, Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp — grew 3% from a year earlier to an average of 3.64 billion. And during a call with analysts, ZuckerMeta earnings berg noted that more than 10 million people Meta Platforms lost 7% after reporting in the U.S. and Canada have set up accounts stronger revenue for the latest quarter for Muse, the personal artificial intelligence than analysts expected, though its profit fell agent the company launched in August. short. The company behind Facebook and Instagram also said it’s creating a new class Mortgage rates fall of stock to raise money to pay for AI investMortgage rates fell this week for the first time since late August, easing some of the ments and other expenses. Meta reported net income of $9.86 billion, pressure on prospective homebuyers facing or $3.83 per share, for the July-September higher borrowing costs on home loans. The benchmark 30-year fixed-rate mortperiod. Revenue grew 26% to $64.60 billion, up from $51.24 billion in the prior-year quar- gage dropped to 7.32% from 7.40% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. ter . “We hit major milestones this quarter to- One year ago, the average rate was 6.19%. Borrowing costs on 15-year fixed-rate ward delivering personal superintelligence for everyone — including launching Muse mortgages, often sought by borrowers refiand Muse Wonder, our first frontier model,” nancing a home loan, also eased this week. said CEO Mark Zuckerberg in a statement. That average rate slipped to 6.68% from “Our investments are paying off, the core 6.71% last week. A year ago, it was at 5.44%.

could signal that layoffs remain low across the country. Procter & Gamble, Lockheed Martin and CSX were among the latest companies to join the list of those topping proﬁt expectations for the summer, and gains for their stocks helped limit the market’s losses Thursday.

Cheese revenue lost as protest torpedoes output

enough to end the protest. “Yesterday, no mozzarella was sures to help truckers and farmers Italy’s production of The disruption is particularly produced,” Saccani said, explain- face higher fuel costs, bringing ﬁbuffalo mozzarella halted damaging to buffalo mozzarella ing it was a “3 million-euro block nancial aid to those two groups to a

BY GIADA ZAMPANO Associated Press

ROME — A truckers’ protest in southern Italy has halted the production of the famed buffalo mozzarella, causing an estimated loss of 3 million euros in just 24 hours as the milk cannot reach dairies in the Naples region and the ﬁnished cheese cannot reach customers, an ofﬁcial said. The weeklong strike by truck drivers over the high cost of diesel driven up by the Iran war has also blocked deliveries of other basic goods to supermarkets and left gas pumps empty in much of southern Italy. The government approved new tax breaks for truckers Thursday, but it was too early to tell whether they were

because the production of the protected cheese depends on a tightly timed supply chain. Buffaloes have to be milked regardless of whether dairies are operating, while production rules require that their milk be turned into mozzarella within 60 hours. Buffalo mozzarella is softer, creamier and richer than cow’smilk mozzarella. Pier Maria Saccani, director of the Consortium for the Protection of Mozzarella di Bufala Campana DOP, said that about 1 million liters of buffalo milk produced on Wednesday couldn’t be turned into mozzarella because of the transport blockade. The consortium oversees production standards and protects the designation of origin of the cheese in Italy and abroad.

in 24 hours” — a loss of about 3.4 million dollars. Farmers typically have only enough capacity to hold the fresh milk until dairy trucks collect it and cannot store large quantities for extended periods. “So this blockade has obviously caused panic among farmers, who say, ‘Where are we going to put it?’” Saccani added. The dairies making mozzarella cannot afford to accumulate a highly perishable product if trucks are unable to deliver it to customers. Several dairies have remained closed as a result, Saccani said, describing the situation as a “complete production blockade.” During an extraordinary Cabinet meeting on Thursday, the Italian government led by Premier Giorgia Meloni approved new mea-

combined 540 million euros in tax credits, up from 434 million euros. Some farmers have resorted to feeding part of the unused milk to their animals because they have nowhere to send it, Saccani said, adding that the transport disruption is also threatening supplies of animal feed and diesel needed to keep farms operating. “It’s a very, very complex and delicate situation,” he said. Buffalo mozzarella is an important industry in the Campania region, where the city of Naples is located, and in neighboring areas of southern Italy. Saccani said that in 2025, the production of Mozzarella di Bufala Campana DOP totaled just under 58,000 metric tons, with about 37% of production exported. France is its largest foreign market.

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The Acadiana Advocate l theadvocate.com l Friday, October 23, 2026 l 7A

Poll: Voters prioritize affordability, Iran BY LINLEY SANDERS and MIKE CATALINI

Associated Press

WASHINGTON — Regardless of the outcome of the Nov. 3 election, a new AP-NORC poll shows voters from both major political parties want the next Congress to focus on making life more affordable and ending the war in Iran, while fewer are looking for an emphasis on President Donald Trump — whether it’s investigating him or supporting his agenda. The results suggest that voters are ready for Congress to tackle core issues, despite Trump’s centrality in the midterm campaign. About 8 in 10 registered voters, including a large majority of Republicans and Democrats, say lowering the cost of living should be one of the highest priorities for the session coming up, the survey from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research ﬁnds. Justin Campbell, a 31-year-old Democrat from Brookhaven, Mississippi, said he wants the govern-

ment to focus on helping people like him rather than wealthy people. “I’m not a millionaire and probably won’t ever be,” he said. “I prefer policy that helps me instead of someone I’ll never be.” Most voters also want Congress to prioritize ending the war with Iran, with roughly 7 in 10 saying this should be a top focus. Substantially fewer voters, about 4 in 10, want Congress to make investigating the Trump administration a high priority. But the poll also indicates that there are deep divisions within the parties on what to focus on, with moderate Democrats and Republicans differing sharply from voters on the left and right wings of their parties.

Prefer focus on cost of living Lowering the cost of living and ending the Iran war overshadow a wide range of other issues as voters consider priorities for the next Congress. While most registered voters say reducing costs and ending the war should be among the highest priori-

ties for Congress, only about half say reducing the budget deficit and finding common ground between the two parties should be high priorities. About 4 in 10 want investigating the administration and passing new laws regulating artificial intelligence to be high priorities. Fewer, about 3 in 10, prioritize ending military aid to Israel, and only about 2 in 10 want a focus on supporting Trump’s agenda. Though most registered Democrats want Congress to investigate the administration, that falls behind the larger priorities of lowering costs and ending the conflict with Iran. About 6 in 10 registered voters who identify as Democrats call investigations into the administration “one of the highest priorities.” Arthur Brown, a 71-year-old Democrat in Magee, Mississippi, wants to see the next Congress work on making the economy stronger and prices lower. He feels less urgently about holding Trump accountable, mostly because there’ll be only two years left in Trump’s term. He thinks it’s more important to try to turn the economy around.

For Republican voters, bolstering Trump’s goals also falls behind lowering the cost of living, ending the war in Iran and reducing the budget deﬁcit. In a strikingly tepid show of support for the president, only about 4 in 10 Republican voters say the next Congress should make supporting the administration’s agenda one of its highest priorities.

publicans and how strongly to investigate the administration. About three-quarters of Democratic voters who identify as supporters of democratic socialism say one of the top priorities should be investigating the administration, compared with slightly less than half of Democrats who say they’re not democratic socialists. Campbell, the Democrat in Mississippi, identiﬁes as a democratic Democratic socialists’ priorities socialist and wants Congress to House Democrats have begun hold the administration accountplanning an ambitious 100-day able. “It feels a little cliché to just agenda for what they would do if say roll back the past two years, they win control of Congress in No- but honestly, mostly just roll back vember. House Democratic leader the stuff he’s done the past two Hakeem Jeffries of New York has years,” Campbell said. said the party’s top priorities include making life more affordable MAGA Republicans’ priorities and conducting vast oversight of Republicans are broadly aligned the administration. on what they want the next ConThe Democratic Party has reck- gress to do, regardless of whethoned in primary campaigns with er they identify with the “Make a growing wing of democratic so- America Great Again” movement cialists. Their progressive stances — except when it comes to Trump. At least half of MAGA and nonon some issues have divided the party — including on whether to MAGA Republicans want leaders continue military aid to Israel, to lower costs, end the Iran war and whether to compromise with Re- reduce the federal budget deﬁcit.

Trump backs Ramaswamy on controversial ad

to win, and certainly line of attack by the Acton Donna Arthur, calling her “a against Democrat Sherrod Tuesday. “It’s a shame he Estranged mother ocrat doesn’t want someone who campaign had mentioned liar” and insinuating she has Brown — has said he would continues to get away with do a much better job Ramaswamy’s mother and mental health issues. not have run the ad, as has it,” she wrote. of Ohio Democrat will Acton, Ohio’s COVID- Republican Secretary of At the same time, Media than he is capable of doing. said that also was wrong — I suggested, on the other “family members have al- 19-era health director, has State Frank LaRose, who is Matters for America, a leftfeatured in ad hand, made no secret of facing running for state auditor. leaning media watchdog that Vivek should keep ways histori-

BY JULIE CARR SMYTH Associated Press

it up, and let everyone listen to the mother of a defective, dishonest, and incapable Candidate, explain how the daughter is a DISASTER who, uncontrollably, lies, cheats, and steals!” At a gathering with reporters at the Ohio Statehouse, DeWine recalled the painful experiences of rape victims he dealt with as a county prosecutor and state attorney general. “It’s wrong to run this ad,” he said. “And, even at this late time — my wife, Fran, saw the ad just run this morning on TV — I would just urge the Ramaswamy campaign to take this down.” The term-limited DeWine’s remarks place him at odds with Ramaswamy, whom he has endorsed. The biotech entrepreneur and former presidential candidate plans to spend $4 million to broadcast it online and on television.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — President Donald Trump said Thursday that Vivek Ramaswamy, the Republican nominee for Ohio governor, should keep running a controversial ad featuring the estranged mother of Democratic opponent Amy Acton, posting on social media that it was “hitting pay dirt.” Trump also denounced Ohio Repub- Acton lican Gov. Mike DeWine, who criticized the ad as “deeply, deeply troubling” earlier in the day. Acton previously served in DeWine’s administration as a health ofﬁcial. Her mother lost custody of Acton and her brother after her husband — the children’s stepfather — was Not pulling endorsement indicted for raping Acton. “He strongly suggested But the governor stopped that Vivek should, ‘take short of pulling his backing down the Ad,’” Trump wrote. of the Republican for now. “He probably wants a Dum- DeWine recalled a previous

cally been off limits” — though he noted it was never used in a multimillion-dollar ad campaign. Ramaswamy That critique from the summer cited an investigative report into Geetha Ramaswamy’s role at a pharmaceutical company run by her son, who Acton and Democrats described as “hiring his own mother to manipulate clinical trial data.” The Ramaswamy campaign called those claims “slanderous” and said he’s being held to a different standard than Acton and other Democrats who have attacked Republicans’ families.

Ohio Republicans divided By chiming in, DeWine has entered the fray of a growing rift among Ohio Republicans over the advertisement — as both the governor’s race and a race for U.S. Senate appear far tighter than expected. The video features Acton’s birth mother,

homelessness and abuse as a child. Arthur lost custody of her children after their stepfather, Arthur’s husband, was indicted on a charge of rape involving Acton. Acton’s campaign on Tuesday posted a video of her brother, who supported her backstory about living in a tent and being abused. Republican Vice President JD Vance, an Ohio native son, expressed disgust during an Ohio campaign swing Wednesday with Republicans “whining” about the ad as low and in poor taste. But Republican U.S. Sen. Jon Husted, DeWine’s former lieutenant governor — running in a tight retention race

Los Angeles Times (TNS)

A 71-year-old man was killed early Thursday morning after a self-driving Tesla struck him as he was crossing Interstate 80 in Vallejo, the California Highway Patrol said. Ofﬁcers responded to a report of a crash on the westbound freeway around 2:35 a.m. Thursday, CHP said. When emergency responders arrived, they found the

man’s injuries had been fatal. The Tesla driver, a 26-yearold man from San Francisco, told authorities the vehicle had been operating in full self-driving autonomous mode at the time of the crash, CHP said. The driver “was cooperative and remained on scene,” CHP said, and provided officers with footage of the crash captured on the Tesla’s dashboard camera. CHP said its preliminary review of the video shows the

Conservative media support The ad is also dividing Republicans nationally. Nikki Haley, who sparred with Ramaswamy during the 2024 Republican presidential primary over the personal nature of his attacks, called him “a bad guy” in a social media post

N O R T H A M ER I CA’S

group, has reported that many within the national conservative media are promoting and praising the ad. Wayne Allyn Root, of Gateway Pundit, called it “absolutely hilarious” and Daily Wire host Michael Knowles described it as “brilliant.” Police and court records show Cledith Arthur was arrested and charged with the rape of Acton in July 1978, when she was 12, after her biological father lodged a formal complaint against him. The abuse allegedly happened from December 1976 to April 1978. Cledith Arthur failed to show for a court appearance and became a fugitive.

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Another influential Ohio Republican, former U.S. Rep. Jim Renacci, posted a lengthy essay on X overnight, suggesting that “the floor may have just fallen out from under the Republican campaign for Ohio Governor” and urging every Republican to distance themselves from it.

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SpaceX gets access to former school

Pecan Island High leased from UL-affiliated nonprofit BY CLAIRE TAYLOR Staff writer

SpaceX will be able to lease the former Pecan Island School property from a University of Louisiana at Lafayette-afﬁliated nonproﬁt while preparing for an anticipated purchase in 2027, under agreements approved Thursday by the University of Louisiana system Board of Supervisors.

provements at 28902 La. 82 in Pecan Island — to Ragin’ Cajun Facilities for $1 a year. Ragin’ Cajun Facilities will then sublease the property to SpaceX in exchange for the cost of improvements and repairs the company makes. The leases are intended to give SpaceX access to the property before an anticipated purchase in 2027. Details of the contemplated sale were not immediately available.

The board approved two agreements involving UL, Ragin’ Cajun Facilities Inc., a nonproﬁt afﬁliated with the university, and Space Exploration Technologies Corp., known as SpaceX. Under the arrangement, UL will lease 5.024 acres in Vermilion Parish — including the former school, the Peter M. John and David M. John Wildlife and Coastal Preservation Center, and other buildings and im-

Ragin’ Cajun Facilities was organized to support the university’s mission through the development, management and improvement of facilities. Elon Musk, his representatives and Louisiana ofﬁcials in August announced plans to construct a $100 billion rocket launch and recovery facility along a rural stretch of the Gulf Coast south of Pecan Island. Acquiring the leased property “will facilitate the development of Starbase, Louisiana, and support the educational, research, workforce

development and public-service missions” of the university, the sublease states. Starbase Louisiana is the name of the complex Musk plans to build in Vermilion Parish. An existing complex in Texas is named Starbase Texas. The UL leases are supposed to be temporary, allowing SpaceX immediate access to the property to start making improvements pending an anticipated 2027 purchase of the

ä See SPACEX, page 4B

Call prompts response at two schools Law enforcement searches two campuses

BY JOANNA BROWN

Staff writer

A suspected “swatting” call created a law enforcement response at two Lafayette Parish schools Thursday morning. Lafayette High School was put under a shelter-in-place order following a suspected hoax 911 call on Thursday, which is termed “swatting.” The call also led to students at the W.D. & Mary Baker Smith Career Center being placed on “hold” status while law enforcement assessed the situation. The shelter-in-place at Lafayette High School was initiated after a 911 caller claiming to be a student said they were on campus with a ﬁrearm. That call was made just before 7:45 a.m., and the shelterin-place order was lifted around 9:20 a.m. Career Center students were placed under a hold while ofﬁcials determined whether the caller had classes there, according to Lafayette Parish school system spokesperson Tracy Wirtz. LPSS policy states that a “hold”

COME OUT FRIGHTING

ABOVE: A skeleton crew greets passersby outside a home on Bonaire Drive in Lafayette on Thursday. RIGHT: A witch watches over her potions at a home on Robinhood Circle. BELOW: A gaggle of googly eyes gawk through the greenery on Greenbriar Road on Thursday. STAFF PHOTOS BY LESLIE WESTBROOK

ä See SCHOOLS, page 4B

Fort Polk soldier pleads guilty to online threats Man said he would ‘kill every single Jew’ BY MEGAN WYATT

Staff writer

A soldier stationed at Fort Polk has pleaded guilty to a federal charge that stemmed from his threats on a social networking platform earlier this year to bring an assault riﬂe into a synagogue “to kill every single Jew I know.” Jakob Joshua Marcoulier, a 22-year-old from Massachusetts, made the threats on Feb. 10 on the social networking platform Discord, court documents say. An Oct. 15 plea agreement says he was connected to the internet at the Fort Polk Army Base in Vernon Parish when he spoke the threats aloud to other users playing video games on the site. That led to an FBI tip from

someone who believed the threat “sounded planned and thought out.” Marcoulier, who used the username el.bostino, believed no others would know his identity, according to the recent court ﬁlings. “After this deployment if the Jews still have reign over our government, I am going to walk into a synagogue with my AK (assault riﬂe)” and extra magazines of ammunition, Marcoulier said through Discord, court records show. “And I am going to kill every single Jew I know. Inside of that synagogue. “And that’s my goal in life, is to make sure the Jews never withstand the proper approval of Christ,” Marcoulier added. He taunted the other Discord users, saying others wouldn’t act on those types of threats. “But I will,” Marcoulier said, court records show. “I just have to

ﬁnish this, I have to go back overseas and do what I have to do. And then you’ll see me in the news. I promise you.” He described himself as being “in the federal government.” He said he wanted to kill Jewish people “in order to make sure the white youth is f***ing secured.” Marcoulier was arrested April 23 and charged with one count of transmitting threats through interstate commerce. He pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas LeBlanc as part of an Oct. 15 plea agreement. Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 21 by U.S. District Judge James Cain Jr. Katryna Lyn Spearman, his defense attorney, said Marcoulier will remain jailed until sentencing. “He pled to the charges in the indictment,” Spearman said. “We didn’t negotiate. He accepted responsibility.”

Marcoulier faces up to five years in prison and up to a $250,000 ﬁne. “Antisemitic hate has no place in Louisiana or anywhere else, and our Office is committed to working with our federal partners to investigate threats that arise from that hate,” said U.S. Attorney Zachary Keller of Louisiana’s Western District, in a Thursday email. “This case, which arose from statements Mr. Marcoulier made on Discord, shows the importance of citizens reporting threats they encounter and that our law enforcement partners are taking those reports and tracking down those who terrorize others.” Christopher Surridge, an Army spokesperson, was not able to provide Marcoulier’s military status before deadline. Email Megan Wyatt at mwyatt@ theadvocate.com.

Two former McNeese players headed to MLB World Series Milwaukee Brewers face Tampa Bay Rays on Friday

BY COURTNEY PEDERSEN Staff writer

Two former McNeese State University baseball players have made it to the 2026 Major League Baseball World Series. Cowboys baseball alumni Grant Anderson, 29, and Jace Peterson, 36, are part of the Milwaukee Brewers, who have made it to the World Series against the Tampa Bay Rays, according to a Facebook post from the school. The series opens Friday in Milwaukee. Anderson, No. 56, a right-handed pitcher, is a Port Arthur, Texas, native who came to McNeese State in 2016 and played three seasons a relief pitcher. He joined the Brewers in 2025

ä See PLAYERS, page 4B

2B l Friday, October 23, 2026 l theadvocate.com l The Acadiana Advocate

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

Cassidy should block FDA’s evasive nominee

aimed at changing childhood vacOn Sept. 24, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions cine recommendations, including Committee held its first a call to give the measles, hearing on Dr. Heidi mumps and rubella vacOverton, President Doncine as three separate shots. She called the order ald Trump’s nominee to “a historic action.” lead the Food and Drug There is no medical case Administration. U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, Margot for those changes. Decades who chairs the commitAnderson of research show the MMR vaccine is safe and effectee, rightly questioned GUEST her about her record, her tive. Splitting it up adds COLUMNIST views and how she would red tape and costs for famirun the agency. He could lies, creates more doctor be a deciding vote on whether she visits and undermines trust in a is confirmed. As a physician here vaccine that works. in Louisiana, I urge him to reject And it comes as measles outher nomination. breaks across the country are the The FDA’s decisions reach my worst in more than three decades. patients every day. We rely on Doctors are already working to them to keep our food supply rebuild confidence in vaccines, safe, which especially matters in and we need an FDA commisa state like ours where food is so sioner who will help, not one who central to our culture and econcreates more confusion. Cassidy, himself a physician, omy. We count on them to make sure the medicines we prescribe, has seen this. Before the hearing, he said publicly that Overton’s acthe vaccines we recommend and the devices we use are safe and tive role in the vaccine order calls effective. And we trust that their into question her commitment to decisions will follow the evidence, sound science and to protecting not politics. children’s health, and that this That is why Overton’s record is alone is “almost disqualifying.” extremely concerning. I agree. She recently stood beside the The hearing did little to nothing president in the Oval Office as he to alleviate those concerns. When announced an executive order Cassidy asked Overton what she’d

this administration.” We’ll find out in time if he’s right. But for now we know that legacies are shaped by choices, and as Cassidy prepares to leave office at the end of this term, I hope he’ll consider his legacy. He voted to confirm Kennedy as secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services even after expressing his concerns, ultimately helping to install him as part of an administration that has failed to stanch a deadly measles outbreak. Confirming a commissioner who further undermines vaccine access would only make that legacy worse. I appreciate that Cassidy has ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO BY MARIAM ZUHAIB already raised his concerns about Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-Baton Rouge, talks with Dr. Heidi Overton before Overton and asked some tough her nomination hearing to become the commissioner of Food and Drug questions. But I hope he’ll look Administration at the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions past her answers, or rather her (HELP) Committee on Capitol Hill on Sept. 24. non-answers, remember her dangerous record on vaccines and ultimately vote against this do if Trump or Health and Human Throughout the committee hearServices Secretary Robert F. Ken- ing, she dodged questions on criti- nomination. From one physician to another, nedy Jr. pushed her to scale back cal health issues from vaccines the childhood vaccine schedule, to tobacco and vape usage among from a constituent to my senaOverton deflected, saying she children, all while filling the time tor, I urge Cassidy to vote no on would “follow the law” and statuwith platitudes — seemingly to Overton. avoid discussing real issues. tory requirements. Cassidy recently warned that Dr. Margot Anderson is a pediatShe wouldn’t firmly say that the ongoing measles outbreak is Trump was wrong when he ric infectious disease specialist in called the MMR vaccine “lethal.” “going to be a terrible legacy for New Orleans.

When employers and educators work together, state wins

Louisiana is attracting historic levels Technical Community College has supof investment. We hear announcements ported STEM education and helped edualmost weekly: billions of dollars, new cators connect classroom learning with facilities and thousands of jobs promised the skills and technologies shaping Louisiacross energy, advanced manufacturing, ana’s workforce. technology and other industries. In northeast Louisiana, Meta is The momentum is undeniable, partnering with Louisiana Delta and so is the sense of possibility. Community College to prepare But the more important question residents for careers connected is what comes next. to its Richland Parish data center, The success of these investincluding scholarships for data ments will be measured by more Richard center-related training. In Ascension Parish, River than dollars spent or jobs anNelson Parishes Community College is nounced. It will be measured by GUEST working with Hyundai to develop whether Louisianans are prepared COLUMNIST the workforce needed for its new to seize the opportunities they cremanufacturing facility, aligning ate and build better lives because training with the skills required for adof them. For too long, talented Louisianans have vanced manufacturing. believed they had to leave home to ﬁnd The companies, industries and regions opportunity. Families have watched chilare different, but the principles are the same: Workforce development works best dren and grandchildren move elsewhere when employers and educators build the because they could not see a future for pathway together. themselves here. For many, the deciThat work means helping students see sion to stay or leave is not simply about where they would rather live. It is shaped career possibilities earlier, creating techby where they can ﬁnd the education, nical training tied to high-value employcareers and economic security to build a ment and giving working adults opporlife. tunities to build new skills and advance Today, we have a chance to change that without putting their lives on hold. story. Our colleges are uniquely positioned to Doing so will require more than attract- make those connections. They understand the communities they serve, work diing investment. Employers need skilled people, and Louisianans need clear, afrectly with employers and can respond as economic and workforce needs evolve. fordable pathways to the careers those When industry and education work investments create. together, employers gain a skilled workThe Louisiana Community & Technical College system helps connect the two. force, communities retain talented people Each year, nearly 130,000 students turn to and families gain greater economic stabilour colleges for education and training, ity. demonstrating the demand for accessible We have an extraordinary opportunity pathways to opportunity across Louisiana. to make economic growth mean someAcross our 12 colleges, partnerships thing lasting for those of us who call this with long-standing employers and comstate home. If we successfully connect education panies making major new investments and opportunity, Louisiana will gain more in Louisiana are aligning education and than a skilled workforce and a stronger training with the needs of a changing economy. More Louisianans will have the economy. In Baton Rouge, ExxonMobil and Baton freedom to choose Louisiana — not beRouge Community College have worked cause they lack alternatives, but because together to prepare residents for highthey see a future worth building here. demand industrial careers, including through the North Baton Rouge Industrial Richard Nelson is the president of the Training Initiative. In southwest LouisiLouisiana Community & Technical Colana, ExxonMobil’s work with SOWELA lege system.

With big investments come big pollution risks As Elon Musk and AI companies rushed and all aerospace companies from some to establish operations in Louisiana, you taxes and preventing Louisiana residents had to wonder: Why would some of the from suing if they are harmed by noise, world’s wealthiest companies move to a vibrations, heat exhaust and sonic booms. state that annually ranks among the naNot to be outdone, Vermilion Parish extion’s poorest, least educated and most empted SpaceX from billions in property polluted? taxes over the next 25 years in Well, those are some of the reaexchange for $25 million annually from the company. sons why. Landry and other state politiPoor states are easy targets for wealthy companies because, descians then agreed to the comperate to attract higher-paying pany’s requirement for nondisjobs, they offer dramatic incenclosure agreements so the people Bob tives like eliminating taxes and Marshall they represent will never know what other parts of their futures reducing environmental regulaGUEST were compromised. Then, to tions. But the resulting costs to COLUMNIST seal the secrecy forever, Landry human health and environmental signed another law exempting impacts can make those deals big SpaceX from public records laws. losers. And these high-tech industries are also And poorly educated populations livpolluters. ing paycheck to paycheck can be shortn Texas and the EPA fined SpaceX for sighted. Politicians often say that voters aren’t worried about what might happen repeatedly ignoring Clean Water Act in a decade; they’re worried about paying regulations and routinely discharging next month’s rent. They’re right, so they tens of thousands of gallons of industrial get reelected. wastewater laced with toxins including That combination is a reason poor mercury into adjacent wetlands. n It’s being sued for degrading surstates are always among the most polluted. America’s five most polluted states rounding wetlands in a national wildlife — Louisiana, New Mexico, Mississippi, refuge. n Records show a single SpaceX launch Arkansas and West Virginia — are also among the poorest. releases as much as 3,300 tons of methFinally, a poorly educated and economi- ane into the air and thousands of gallons cally depressed population is usually ripe of industrial wastewater into wetlands. Since 2023, it launched and tested only for the politics of demagoguery. Their 700 rockets. It plans to launch 30 a day politicians convince them that anyone — thousands a year — over the marshes against the deal really hates them, their of southwest Louisiana. What will those culture and their futures. totals be? That’s long been a winning playbook n Massive data centers under construcin Louisiana for polluting industries. Oil and gas arrived on the coast in the tion carry large environmental risks as 1930s promising riches to a poor state. well, especially to public water supplies. When the oil played out, they left behind And like SpaceX, no one is sure just what thousands of leaking wells and more than the state has given up because officials 10,000 miles of canals eviscerating the bargained for us under nondisclosure wetlands and playing a major role in our agreements. existential coastal crisis. I’m not against bringing high-tech and Petrochemical companies joined the pa- space industries to Louisiana — but only if the risks are made public and verified rade as well, gifting the state with some by independent science agencies. of the nation’s most dangerous air. Ask yourself this: Would you take mediAlong the way, attempts to stop the carnage were blocked by demagoguing cine from a doctor who signed an NDA politicians. with the drug company not to reveal its The same game plan has played out side effects? with the arrival of SpaceX and data cenEven poorly educated people with low incomes who are choking on pollution ters. And this time residents don’t know know better than that. exactly what they are giving up and how they might suffer. Bob Marshall is a Pulitzer Prize-winning Gov. Jeff Landry pushed the LegislaLouisiana environmental journalist. ture to approve laws exempting SpaceX

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COMMENTARY DIALOGUE ON RACE VOTING RIGHTS AND REDISTRICTING WITH PRESS ROBINSON

‘My hopes are not the same’ Civil rights pioneer Press Robinson explains how Callais case has changed the voting landscape

Civil rights pioneer Press Robinson Sr., was the featured speaker at a recent gathering of the group Dialogue on Race Louisiana, part of a national nonprofit begun in Baton Rouge in 1994 to foster honest discussions about racism and the systems that support it. Robinson delivered remarks on voting rights and redistricting. At 89, he said he hopes a new generation can take the baton in the civil rights struggle. Maxine Crump, founder and CEO of Dialogue on Race, introduced Robinson. The following conversation has been edited for length and clarity. CRUMP: In 1957, a young college student who had just turned 21 walked into the registrar’s office carrying more than a request for a voter’s card. He carried determination. He carried the quiet belief that his voice mattered. Before he could be registered, the clerk handed him a section of the U.S. Constitution to read aloud. After only a few lines, the clerk stopped him and said, “That’s enough.” In that moment, he received his registration card, but he recognized that this practice was only used when Black citizens showed up to register to vote. He recognized the injustice. For citizens who were White, registering to vote was treated as a basic right, which it is. That day taught him something he would never forget: Voting is your voice, dignity, justice and the power of a community to be heard. He came to understand that democracy is strongest when every voice has a fair chance to speak, and every vote has a fair chance to count. The young man I just talked about became Dr. Press L. Robinson Sr., a man whose life has been shaped by courage, service and an unwavering commitment to justice. Dr. Robinson served as the lead plaintiff in Robinson v. Callais, a key redistricting case at the center of the national conversation surrounding Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, working alongside the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. Before that fight, though, he had led the federal lawsuit that challenged East Baton Rouge Parish’s discriminatory at-large voting system. After that victory, he became the first African American elected to the East Baton Rouge School Board in 1980, where he served 22 years, including three terms as board president. His commitment to service has shaped generations of students and colleagues. During 42 years with the Southern University System, he served as professor of chemistry, vice chancellor of academic affairs and chancellor at Southern University at Shreveport and New Orleans, Dr. Robinson often reminds us that history repeats itself, yet his life reminds us of something just as powerful. History can be challenged, redirected and transformed when people come together. The following are excerpts from Robinson’s remarks.

On redistricting People often talk about redistricting and voting rights as separate issues. But in reality, they’re inseparable. And together, they sit at the intersection of law, politics, democracy and civil rights. At ﬁrst glance, redistricting sounds like something that might be left to statisticians, lawyers or state legislators. And I understand that. That’s because we hear terms like population data, district boundaries, geographic compactness, apportionment and election maps. So it’s natural that people would think in those terms. Yet, I’m here to tell you that re-

STAFF PHOTO BY JAVIER GALLEGOS

Press Robinson Sr. speaks during The Dialogue on Race and Redistricting on Oct. 15. districting is fundamentally about political power. It’s about deciding which voters are grouped together, which communities are represented together and ultimately, which voters have a meaningful — note the word meaningful — opportunity to elect representatives of their choice. Unfortunately today, our politicians are selecting their voters, when voters should be selecting their politicians. So they got it backward, y’all. We need to straighten that out. We need to change that.

On the Callais case And of course, I have to just mention that when the Supreme Court made its decision on April 29, 2026, in the Callais case — which began, of course, as Robinson v. Ardoin, changed over to Robinson v. Landry when (Nancy) Landry was elected secretary of state, and is now Louisiana v. Callais — that was our suit. I had the opportunity to serve as the plaintiff in that suit. Now on paper, the process of redistricting is pretty straightforward. People move, populations change, district boundaries change. But the thing that you must remember is that when districts are redrawn, the distribution of political power is redrawn. That’s why the Constitution and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and decades of Supreme Court decisions placed legal limits on how these lines could be drawn.

On political power To understand this relationship between redistricting and voting rights, we must understand a very simple principle: Votes matter, not only because they are cast, but because of how electoral systems translate those votes into representation. Voters can have the formal right to cast a ballot and still face barriers to meaningful representation because of dilution, such as packing and cracking. Now, when you pack voters, you put them all in one district. And when you crack them, you spread them out

over several districts so that their votes may not even count. This is exactly what’s being done in Louisiana today as related to the U.S. House districts. Black voters are concentrated in District 2 and literally sprinkled out in the other ﬁve districts so that they cannot have a signiﬁcant impact on who’s elected.

On House District 2 Louisiana, as you probably well remember, created a congressional map with two majority-Black districts to comply with Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act and a federal court order. A federal court in Baton Rouge told them they had to redraw it. And the most conservative court perhaps in the United States, the Fifth Circuit, told them they had to redraw and provide two districts. But the United States Supreme Court, which had for years upheld these principles, in Louisiana v. Callais, stripped away the effectiveness of Section 2. April 29, 2026. I’ll never forget it. My hopes were high until then. I’m still in the ﬁght, but my hopes are not the same. And it did so by ruling that the map that the state of Louisiana came up with was a racial gerrymander. In other words, that it used race improperly. Now I won’t go into all of … whatever went on with the governor, why he did what he did and why that district ran from Baton Rouge to Shreveport. They certainly weren’t the [maps] that we proposed. We had districts that were much more compact. And as a matter of fact, the districts that we presented reached all of the milestones of the law. But the governor had other ideas. With Sections 2 and 5 both gutted, the Voting Rights Act of ‘65 is now, today, as we speak, for all practical purposes, completely demolished. And as Supreme Court Justice [Elena] Kagan says, it’s a dead letter. In other words, no provisions remain except the Constitution itself, which protects voters’ rights to an equal opportunity to participate politically and, under the

relevant legal framework, to elect representatives of their choice.

On what’s at stake So what will become of Black voting rights and representation in America? This is what could happen and seems to be happening unless we change it. The country could be headed toward the largest ever decline in representation by Black members throughout the political spectrum. The largest ever. With protection of the collective voting power of racial minorities no longer readily available once the maps are drawn, Black representation is destined to decrease dramatically — not only in the U.S. Congress, but for local elections, state elections. Remember there’s still a suit in federal court about redistricting the Louisiana Legislature. That has not been resolved yet, but you can bet the gerrymandering will be in full force in that process. With representation by Black members decreasing, a National Public Radio analysis has found that the Section 2 ruling could put 15 House districts currently represented by Black members of Congress at risk. The advocacy groups Fair Fight Action and Black Voters Matter estimate that as much as 11% of the Hispanic caucus could be lost and close to 200 Democratic-held state legislative seats mostly representing majority Black districts in the South could be eliminated. That’s what’s before us. That’s the possibility. Many states are moving to try to make that happen. This prospective state of ofﬁceholding harkens back to the days of Jim Crow. Let’s be real about it. That’s where it’s trying to go. We may not see the return of racist poll taxes, Black codes, literacy tests, the jelly bean test and other such voter restrictions. But we are witnessing more modern tactics, such as proof of citizenship when registering to vote, voter identiﬁcation to cast a ballot, limits on when and how voters can mail their ballots in, relocation of poll-

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ing places, reduction of the number of polling places and mail-in ballot [dropoff] sites, purging voter rolls, threats of violence and intimidation — even by our own government. But we can’t let that stop us from going to the polls and voting.

On the way forward Let us remember that voters of color deserve an equal voice in our democracy and that racism in America unfortunately is still alive and well. We must avoid being fooled by the specious claim that discrimination no longer exists. The Supreme Court’s decision in Callais is a direct frontal attack on African American voting rights, constitutionally protected rights of Blacks that were earned with much suffering and sacrifice by our ancestors. Callais is not over yet. The Supreme Court remanded it to the three-judge panel in Shreveport. And on Oct. 27, there’s gonna be a hearing because the Callais plaintiffs don’t want any majority-Black district in Louisiana, so they’re going to claim that District 2 is a racial gerrymander and ask the court to declare such. Because of the diminished legal protection, we must now fight as we did in the ’60s and ’70s. We must demand new voting rights legislation, continue the struggle in the courts. Every vote from us is a vote for us. Let us stay in lockstep, informed, prepared and ready for the participation we deserve. I urge Blacks and other minorities — and all of us — let nothing keep you from committing to the fight and adopting the following mantra: We will not tire, we will not falter and we will not fail. For a fuller transcript of Robinson’s remarks, go to our website and click on the Opinions tab. For more information on the Dialogue on Race series, go to dialogueonrace.org. Dr. Press Robinson’s memoir, “Pressing Forward: My Life as a Baton Rouge Community Pioneer,” is available from LSU Press at lsupress.org.

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LSU to increase game day safety Stricter measures include crowd control

BY HALEY MILLER

Staff writer

After a brawl following LSU’s homecoming game Saturday that ended with the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Ofﬁce deploying pepper balls, LSU is ramping up crowd control on game days. “I want to be clear that the behavior I witnessed

this weekend is unacceptable and does not reﬂect the excellence that LSU strives to demonstrate in all we do,” LSU President Wade Rousse said in a statement Thursday. “Everyone attending an LSU football game should be able to enjoy the traditions that make Tiger fans proud.” The stricter measures will include enhanced foot and mobile patrols, with more intense monitoring of locations known for large gatherings. LSU will also establish “CLEAR distinctions” between what the university calls traditional tailgating and large-scale

gatherings with DJs and live bands that arise during and after game time, a statement from the university said. The statement emphasized that student tailgates must end one hour before kickoff. People who violate LSU policy or the law may “face removal from campus,” with university disciplinary action or criminal enforcement where applicable, the statement said. The university will also focus on maintaining safe pedestrian routes and enhancing reporting resources for those who observe dangerous behavior, the statement

said. “I recognize that large, uncontrolled crowds and disruptive behavior can negatively impact an otherwise enjoyable experience for fans, and that has to stop, now,” Rousse said. “The overwhelming majority of our visitors to campus simply want to enjoy LSU with their family and friends.” The fight broke out between several women around 4:30 p.m. Saturday and was encouraged by the crowd, police said. The incident occurred near the Enchanted Forest, Pentagon and Greek Theater, according to LSU.

Four N.O. restaurants now have Michelin Stars Many more get new honors

BY IAN McNULTY Staff writer

The constellation of Michelin Stars in New Orleans has shifted and expanded. Michelin released its 2026 guide Wednesday night during an event in Nashville, doling out its coveted stars and a larger selection of “recommended restaurants” and Bib Gourmand restaurants rated for good value. The regional American South guide now includes 265 restaurants over a sixstate area, including Louisiana and the Gulf Coast. Dakar NOLA, the Senegalese tasting menu restaurant that started as a communal pop-up just a few years ago, earned its ﬁrst star rating. “Food is a language for me, that’s how I communicate with the world,” said Dakar NOLA chef and coowner Serigne Mbaye from the stage in Nashville. “We cook to nurture the world. That’s the … reason why we do it,” he said.

PLAYERS

Continued from page 1B after a couple of seasons with the Texas Rangers and a few years in the minor leagues. Peterson, a consultant to player development and high performance for the Brewers, is a Moss Bluff

SCHOOLS

Continued from page 1B is placed during situations that require clear hallways. Students stay in classrooms while the situation is assessed, and parents are not notiﬁed because there’s no danger imminent. Shelter-inplace is used when a threat is near the school. Students and staff are required to remain indoors, and parents are updated via the district’s communication tools. Wirtz said that the shelterin-place at Lafayette High was ordered while law enforcement searched both

SPACEX

Continued from page 1B property. Details of the contemplated sale were not immediately available. The lease and sublease allow the property to be used for: n Business and administrative ofﬁces n Engineering, scientific and research activity n Residential lodging, dormitory and housing for personnel, contractors and guests n Dining and recreational facilities n Training and workforce development n Warehousing, staging, laydown and storage n Parking, maintenance and fueling of vehicles and equipment

The restaurant from Mbaye and business partner Effie Richardson is unique and has been a magnet for national and international accolades, practically since opening. It made a big step this year with a new location to rise to the next level. Michelin took note. Among the oldest and most prestigious of dining awards, the Michelin Guide announced the accolades during a live event at Nashville’s Pinnacle music hall, where many chefs, restaurateurs and staff gathered. This is the second year for Michelin’s regional guide for the American South, which is updated annually. In the Michelin system, restaurants can gain or lose recognition from year to year, building suspense for the annual reveal. There are now 38 New Orleans restaurants across a broad range of styles that are included in the Michelin Guide, up from 32 last year. Local restaurants that retained previous star rankings are Saint-Germain and Zasu, each at one star, and Emeril’s Restaurant, at two stars — the only twostar rated restaurant in the

American South guide. Dakar NOLA was one of just three new restaurants in the region to join the guide at the one-star level. The others are Uberto Restaurant in Gay, Georgia, and So. Fox in Atlanta. One category is “recommended” restaurants, which are endorsed by Michelin but not at the star level or with the value proposition of a Bib Gourmand winner. Six New Orleans restaurants were added to the recommended list, joining 17 that made the list in 2025 (one from last year’s list, 34 Restaurant & Bar, subsequently closed). The new additions are: n Casimiro, the casual Mexican breakfast and lunch cafe in the Bywater n Crustacean Club, the seafood tasting menu in the French Quarter n Evviva, the Italian restaurant in Faubourg Marigny n Feliciana, the French restaurant in Covington n Jewel of the South, the upscale tavern in the French Quarter n Saint Claire, the French/ Louisiana restaurant in

native who played both football and baseball at McNeese, excelling more in the latter according to his page on the team’s website. In his time at McNeese, Peterson was a two-time ﬁrst team all-Southland Conference selection in 2010 and 2011 and received the team’s MVP award in 2011. He still holds the school career record with 78 stolen

bases. Peterson was inducted into the McNeese Athletic Hall of Fame in 2018. In the 2011 MLB Draft, Peterson was drafted by the San Diego Padres as the 58th overall pick in the supplemental first round and played for several teams including the New York Yankees, Milwaukee Brewers and Arizona Diamondbacks before retiring in 2024.

campuses. No threat was identiﬁed at either campus, and normal activities resumed at Lafayette High School and the Career Center. An LPSS statement shared that the call was likely a hoax. “Swatting” is a false emergency call that brings a law enforcement response to a particular location. “We will thoroughly investigate these incidents and pursue the arrest of anyone found to be involved,” said Lafayette Parish Sheriff Mark Garber. “Anyone who engages in this reckless behavior should understand that they will be held accountable for their actions.”

The incident remains under investigation by the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Ofﬁce. “Actions like this are not harmless pranks. They create unnecessary fear and anxiety for students, families, and employees, divert critical emergency resources, and disrupt valuable instructional time,” said LPSS Superintendent Francis Touchet Jr. in an ofﬁcial statement. “Anyone responsible for deliberately creating this kind of disruption must be held accountable, including through school disciplinary measures and criminal prosecution when applicable.”

n Fabrication, assembly, testing and light industrial operations n Communications, antenna, satellite and information technology n Standby and emergency power generation and associated fuel storage n Security and access control n Construction, installation, operation, maintenance, repair, replacement, demolition and removal of any of the foregoing. Built in the 1960s, Pecan Island School’s enrollment had dropped to about 57 before Hurricane Rita devastated the area in 2005, prompting many families to move to higher ground. The 39,000-square-foot school was sold in 2008 to John Properties LLC. In May 2025, Peter John and David John of John Properties LLC donated the school and prop-

erty to UL for use as a wildlife and coastal preservation center. UL President Ramesh Kolluru in a letter dated Sept. 28, one month after announcement of the SpaceX project, asked the UL system president and CEO to place the lease on the Oct. 22 board agenda.

Algiers. In addition, Maringouin in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, was added to the recommended list. Another level is Bib Gourmand, an award for what Michelin calls “simpler style of cooking” at the “best value for money restaurants.” One New Orleans restaurant joined the 11 listed in the first year: Safta’s Table, the neighborhood Mediterranean restaurant from chef Alon Shaya and his Pomegranate Hospitality company, which opened earlier this year. His other restaurant, Saba, retained its listing on the Bib Gourmand list. Regionally, Elsie’s Plate & Pie in Baton Rouge and St. Francisville Inn & Restaurant in St. Francisville were again on the recommended list. On the Gulf Coast, The Noble South in downtown Mobile is on the Bib Gourmand list again, while in coastal Mississippi White Pillars in Biloxi and the tasting menu restaurant Vestige in Ocean Springs were on the recommended list once more.

As a kindergarten teacher at Luling Elementary School, she made learning joyful and secured grants for a mentoring program supporting positive male role models. She also served faithfully at Holy Family Catholic Church, earning the Archdiocese of New Orleans' Order of St. Louis IX Award. In retirement, she volunteered at St. Charles Parish Hospital's gift shop and supported student scholarships through bake sales.

Obituaries Fabre, Frances Comeaux 'Maddie'

Frances "Maddie" Fabre, born September 11, 1941, in Lafayette, Louisiana, passed away peacefully on October 15, 2026, at age 85. A devoted mother, Mere, and GrandMere, she shared a lifetime of faith, laughter, and unconditional love for her family. The beloved wife of the late Leon Rudolph Fabre Sr., Maddie was the loving mother of Jackie Melancon (Glenn) of Sherman, Texas; Brian Fabre (Andrea); Michelle Boudreaux (Tim); and the late Lee Fabre. She leaves behind ten grandchildren, seven greatgrandchildren, and five siblings who will cherish her memory. A 1959 graduate of Mt. Carmel Academy in Lafayette, Maddie devoted her life to serving others.

Maddie expressed her love through cooking and gathering family around the table. Her kitchen was a place of delicious food, laughter, storytelling, and cherished Cajun traditions. Guided by her faith, she fed the hungry, welcomed strangers, comforted the sick, and lifted spirits with her humor and kindness. Her legacy of faith, generosity, and devotion to family will live on in all who knew her. Visitation and Funeral Mass will be held Saturday, October 24, at Holy Family Catholic Church in Luling. The Rosary begins at 9:30 a.m., followed by visitation until 11 a.m. and Funeral Mass at 11 a.m. Interment will be Monday, October 26, at 11 a.m. at Calvary Cemetery in Lafayette.

How to place an Obituary Notice EMAIL:

obits@theadvocate.com OR CALL FOR MORE INFORMATION:

225-388-0289

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

obituaries.theacadianaadvocate.com,

click submit an obituary and select create a memoriam.

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Pelicans’ Mosley era begins with loss, but grit is there

There will come a day when Jamahl Mosley gets to reflect on his coaching journey that has now landed him in New Orleans. There were a few reminders Wednesday, particularly text messages from friends, as he prepared to make his debut as the Pelicans’ head coach. But Mosley isn’t looking back. He’s locked in on the now, trying to breathe life into a team that has Rod been lifeless the past two Walker seasons. “Obviously the journey ä Pelicans changes as far as where you are, what you’ve at Jazz done,” Mosley said before 8:30 P.M. the season opener against FRIDAY, GCSEN the Indiana Pacers. “It’s great to reflect and look back. The reality is we’re here now. This is the moment we need to be in, celebrating this moment.” And for most of the game, it looked as if there would be something to celebrate. The Pelicans showed all that grit and toughness that Mosley had talked about since being hired before fizzling out in a 123-120 loss. A team whose staple is going to be its defense held the Pacers to just 18 points

F R I D AY, O C T O B E R 23, 2026

1CN

SAIN T S VS. S T EEL ERS • 8:30 A .M. SUNDAY • NF L N

NFL had plenty to change at Paris’ Stade de France to host Saints

FRENCH QUARTERS

ä See WALKER, page 3C

PROVIDED PHOTO BY NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

Saints quarterback Tyler Shough tours the Stade de France on Thursday as the team finalized preparations for Sunday’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Saint-Denis, France.

PARIS — When Alvin Kamara mentioned where the New Orleans Saints were playing in Paris the other day, the few people with him responded the same way. They told him that Stade de France was the country’s nicest stadium. “I’m deﬁnitely excited for the scenery and to be a part of it,” Kamara said. “It’s the ﬁrst NFL game being STAFF PHOTO BY DAVID GRUNFELD

Pelicans forward Zion Williamson and coach Jamahl Mosley chat during the first half against the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday at the Smoothie King Center.

played in France.” One step onto the grounds of the massive 81,338-seat stadium makes it clear why Stade de France was so highly recommended. Opened in 1998, the all-purpose facility still looks modern enough — but carries a rich history that includes hosting some of the country’s most iconic events. From France winning the 1998 FIFA World Cup to a dramatic 2007 Rugby World Cup to serving as a

Tackle Jackson relishing productive ﬁnal season with UL

main hub of the 2024 Paris Olympics, Stade de France has become an integral part of Paris, much like the Caesars Superdome is to New Orleans. ä See SAINTS, page 3C

RB Jones indispensable to LSU’s offense

Once a low-profile transfer, ä LSU at Auburn 11 A.M. SATURDAY,ABC sophomore tailback now one On3, the recruiting service that said the of SEC’s top ball carriers redshirt junior was the 54th-best tailback

BY KEVIN FOOTE Staff writer

With the NCAA rule allowing five years to play five seasons, UL right tackle George Jackson will be one of the last sixth-year performers for the Ragin’ Cajuns. And he’s making the most of it. After missing most of last season injured, Jackson is both playing at a high level and offering valuä UL at able leadership to anSouthern Miss other young offense for the Cajuns. 4 P.M. SATURDAY, “Anyone who has ESPN+ played as many snaps as he’s played for us, there’s a lot of value in that and George has played really well this year,” UL coach Michael Desormeaux said. Most of all, Desormeaux appreciates Jackson’s commitment to the program, taking him with Lunch Winfield as UL’s two representatives to the Sun Belt Media Days in July. “He’s a guy who has never wavered,” he said. “He’s always wanted to be here. He’s been a starter for a long time.” Desormeaux credits Jackson’s leadership as a big reason the offensive line has

ä See UL, page 3C

BY REED DARCEY Staff writer

STAFF PHOTO BY MICHAEL JOHNSON

LSU running back Dilin Jones cuts away from the Mississippi State defense in the first quarter on Saturday at Tiger Stadium.

For coach Lane Kiffin, the most gratifying part of dipping into the transfer portal is pulling out pleasant surprises. Each year, Kiffin and his staff are trying to find players such as LSU running back Dilin Jones. The portal entrants who fly under the radar and then prove that more teams should’ve spent more time trying to scoop them up. “I really like those stories,” Kiffin said. And the first-year LSU coach certainly has one in Jones, the transfer tailback whose emergence this season as one of the top ball carriers in the Southeastern Conference has been as noteworthy as it is surprising. Jones was once a highly rated recruit, but he didn’t do much with the 92 carries he received over two years at Wisconsin. In the offseason, 247Sports didn’t even include him in its list of the top 50 transfer running backs of the cycle. Neither did

to enter his name into the portal in 2026. So, Jones was quite a find for Kiffin and his staff. Only three SEC running backs have rushed for more yards this season than Jones, who has 566 yards and five touchdowns on 128 carries. The Wisconsin transfer isn’t just benefiting from the Kiffin scheme either. He’s picking up yards for himself. Just two SEC tailbacks have forced more missed tackles than Jones has through seven games (33), according to Pro Football Focus data, and only three have rushed for more yards after contact (445). Add those impressive numbers to what Jones has done as a pass catcher out of the backfield — his 190 receiving yards rank ninth among all FBS running backs — and you’ll see why a former low-profile transfer has become one of the LSU’s most indispensable offensive players ahead of a Week 8 road game against Auburn (11 a.m., ABC).

ä See LSU, page 3C

2C l Friday, October 23, 2026 l theadvocate.com l The Acadiana Advocate

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BROADCAST HIGHLIGHTS On TV

AUTO RACING 11:30 a.m. NASCAR Truck: Qualifying FS2 12:30 p.m. Formula 1: Practice APPLETV 3 p.m. NASCAR Truck: RV Stop 225 FS2 4 p.m. Formula 1: Practice APPLETV 10:55 p.m. Grand Prix of Australia FS2 COLLEGE FOOTBALL 4 p.m. NC Central at Delaware St. ESPN2 6 p.m. UMass at UConn CBSSN 6 p.m. Duke at Virginia ESPN 6 p.m. Yale at Penn ESPNU 7:30 p.m. Army at Tulsa ESPN2 8 p.m. Air Force at Wyoming CW 9:30 p.m. NC State at Stanford ESPN MEN’S COLLEGE HOCKEY 6 p.m. Merrimack at Notre Dame NBCSN

IN BRIEF

FROM STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

MEN’S COLLEGE SOCCER North Carolina at Duke ACCN WOMEN’S COLLEGE SOCCER 5 p.m. Stanford at North Carolina ACCN WOMEN’S COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL 6 p.m. Indiana at Ohio St. BTN 6 p.m. Texas A&M at Georgia SECN 8 p.m. Washington at Wisconsin BTN 8 p.m. Ole Miss at Auburn SECN GOLF 6:30 a.m. Genesis Championship GOLF noon PGA: Bermuda Championship GOLF 3 p.m. Stifel Charity Classic GOLF 9 p.m. BMW Ladies Championship GOLF GYMNASTICS 12:30 p.m. World Artistic Championships NBCSN 7 p.m.

HORSE RACING America’s Day at the Races FS2 2026 Breeders Crown FS1 MLB WORLD SERIES 7 p.m. Tampa Bay at Milwaukee FOX NBA 6 p.m. New York at Boston PRIME 8:30 p.m. New Orleans at Utah GCSEN 8:30 p.m. Houston at San Antonio PRIME NHL 7 p.m. Montreal at Chicago NHLN MEN’S SOCCER 8:15 a.m. Al Nassr at Al Faisaly FS2 1:55 p.m. Middlesbrough at Bolton CBSSN 2 p.m. Nottingham at Ipswich USA TENNIS 10 p.m. Osaka-WTA TENNIS 1 p.m. 7 p.m.

Surprising Rays-Brewers showdown

Steelers fan event in Paris canceled following protests PARIS — A weekend event for Pittsburgh Steelers fans in Paris has been canceled because of security concerns following recent street protests in the French capital. The NFL and the team both said Thursday that the event — at a bar in the Bastille neighborhood — was off. The announcement came a day after league commissioner Roger Goodell said he has a high comfort level in the the teams playing in Paris amid recent civil unrest. More demonstrations could be in store this weekend in the capital and elsewhere around France. “Preparations for Sunday’s NFL Paris game at Stade de France continue as planned,” it added, “with the NFL working closely with local authorities and partners on all operational and security matters.”

BY RONALD BLUM

AP baseball writer

MILWAUKEE — The Miz will try to whiz his famous fastball by batters on baseball’s biggest stage, opening a new-look World Series between teams guaranteed to produce a first-time champion. Jacob Misiorowski brings his record-setting heat to the mound for the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday night when he throws the first pitch of the best-of-seven championship against the Tampa Bay Rays, a matchup of modest-money marvels who bumped off glamorous rivals with a throwback baseto-base style. “Forrest Gump, everyone,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said Thursday, introducing his ace to the assembled media. “I’m still fresh to this and have no idea what the hell is going on,” Misiorowski said a few minutes later. Few predicted this pairing of pennant winners when the season opened March 25. The first World Series with robot umpires is the first since 1980 between teams seeking their first championship and also could be the first with a 104 mph pitch — thanks to Misiorowski — and the first to be played totally indoors. “I’m excited to see two great teams that play the game a little differently than maybe it’s been played the last decade or so,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. Milwaukee is in the Series for the second time after a 44-year absence — an appropriate number given that it was the jersey of the Cream City’s most famous baseball player, Hank Aaron, who became a star with the Milwaukee Braves in the 1950s and ended his career with the expansion Brewers in the 1970s. Both teams fell short in previous Series trips, the Brewers losing to St. Louis in 1982 and the Rays to Philadelphia in 2008 and to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2020. Not since the Phillies beat Kansas City in 1980 have two teams met seeking their first title. The time before that was in 1920.

Misiorowski likely to set record Misiorowski, a 24-year-old righthander in his ﬁrst full major league season, is a starting pitcher like no other. He threw 1,115 pitches of 100 mph or higher this year — shattering the old high of 673 since tracking began in 2008, by Jordan Hicks in 2018. His fastest pitch was 105.5 mph to the Chicago Cubs’ Pete Crow-

JJ Watt signs multi-year deal with CBS as analyst

JJ Watt thought the call he was getting from David Berson on Monday was about potentially breaking Jim Nantz’s hand while doing a demonstration during the Buffalo Bills-Las Vegas Raiders game. Not only did Nantz turn out to be ﬁne, although a bit sore, but the chairman of CBS’ and Skydance’s Sports Division had better news to deliver. He was making Watt the permanent lead analyst for CBS Sports’ NFL coverage. The announcement was made Thursday morning along with Watt signing a multi-year agreement. Watt joined play-by-play announcer Jim Nantz and sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson after Tony Romo went on leave following his July 23 arrest in Wisconsin.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO BY MARK J. TERRILL

Milwaukee Brewers center fielder Garrett Mitchell celebrates his solo home run during Game 4 of the NL Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Oct. 15 in Los Angeles. ä Rays at Brewers. 7 P.M. FRIDAY, FOX

Armstrong on June 27, and he appears likely to break the 101.1 mph record for a Series starter by the New York Mets’ Noah Syndergaard in 2015 and possibly the overall Series high of 103.2 mph by Cubs reliever Aroldis Chapman to Cleveland’s Coco Crisp in Game 2 of 2016. Misiorowski didn’t finish the ﬁfth inning in either of his ﬁrst two postseason starts this year. Batters have swung at 94 of his 182 postseason pitches and fouled off 51 — 28% of pitches and 54% of swings. “He hasn’t been as crisp,” Murphy said. “They’re obviously looking at an area. They’re trying to exploit everything. He’s exposed, like all these guys get at some point.”

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO BY PHELAN M. EBENHACK

Tampa Bay Rays’ Junior Caminero celebrates a two-run home run against the Cleveland Guardians during Game 6 of an AL Championship Series on Oct. 19 in St. Petersburg, Fla.

said. “You can win a baseball game so many different ways.” Rays batters had the fewest strikeouts among the 30 teams and Tampa Bay’s 45 sacrifice bunts were the most among American League teams since 2015. “I was a little discouraged for the last 10 or 15 years in the way the game had gone as far as relying on the home run, not worrying about strikeouts,” said Hall of Famer Robin Yount, a star of the ’82 Brewers. “The game today looks like they’re starting to really focus on playing baseball again.”

Small-payroll champion

This marks the first time since 1991 that both Series teams are in the bottom half of payrolls: the Brewers were 19th as of Aug. 31 and the Rays 25th. Milwaukee, MLB’s smallest market, could become the first small-market chamThrowback offenses pion since Kansas City in 2015. The In an age where power bats usu- Rays rank 15th in market size. To reach the Series, the Brewally rule, Milwaukee scored a major league-low 32.1% of its runs ers swept the deep-pocketed, twoon homers and Tampa Bay was time champion Dodgers in the NL second-lowest at 34.4%, according Championship Series and the Rays swept the New York Yankees in an to the Elias Sports Bureau. “It’s cool that you don’t have to AL Division Series. The highest-paid player in the be that team to hit 170 home runs a game or whatever,” Misiorowski Series, Brewers outfielder Chris-

tian Yelich, was 44th overall in the majors on opening day. Yandy Díaz, who earns most among the Rays, ranked 154th.

Robot umps changing games Batters have succeeded on 63% of challenges during the postseason in the first year of the Automated Ball-Strike System, winning 40 of 63 appeals to the robot umps. That is up from 49% during the regular season. Catchers’ 58% success rate in the playoffs (58 of 99) is down a tick from 59% during the regular season and pitchers are 1 for 1 — Tampa Bay’s Grifﬁn Jax made the only challenge. The 60% overall rate is up from 54% in the regular season. Tampa Bay’s batters have yet to make a postseason challenge. Milwaukee’s have won 4 of 7, including a perfect 2 for 2 by Jake Bauers. Brewers catcher William Contreras has won 60% (12 of 20) and Rays catcher Liam Hicks 67% (8 of 12).

Rest vs. rust Milwaukee will have had seven days off going into the opener. While teams with less rest are 1515 in the Series since Wild Card Era started in 1995, they are 12-4 since 2009.

Dream guard Howard wreaks havoc with 5 steals BY DOUG FEINBERG

ä Golden State at Atlanta.

ATLANTA — Rhyne Howard has been a ball hawk for Atlanta on the defensive end all season long, leading the WNBA in steals. She’s upped her play in the WNBA Finals. Howard had five steals on Wednesday night in Atlanta’s 97-71 rout of the Golden State Valkyries in Game 3. That came after she had six steals in the Game 2 victory. She’s the ﬁrst player in WNBA history to have consecutive games with ﬁve or more steals. “On the other side you have one of the better scorers (Gabby Williams) in the postseason, so I just needed to make her life hard, take her shots away, take her looks away, get in the passing lanes and making sure that they’re not getting anything easy, as opposed to what we’re trying to get on the offensive end,” said Howard, who averaged 2.3 steals this season. Howard and the Dream have been locked in defensively the entire series so far. Even in the Game 1 loss they only gave up 68 points. They just didn’t force as many turnovers. On Wednesday, Atlanta

turned 17 Golden State turnovers into 22 points. “We’re No. 1 in a lot of categories, and that ﬁrst game we didn’t show why,” Howard said. “So I think Game 2 and Game 3 today, we showed why we were No. 1 in those categories not only in the postseason, but in the games leading up.” Golden State guard Veronica Burton knows the Valkyries need to do better taking care of the basketball, especially when Howard is around. “She’s long. I think she’s deceptively long, and she has good instincts,” Burton said. “We’ve got to take care of the ball more when she’s in the gaps.” Howard also had her offense going in the victory with 16 points, four assists and four rebounds. She had 17 points combined in the ﬁrst two games. The All-Star was more aggressive getting to the basket instead of settling for 3-pointers. Howard had 10 free throw attempts while only attempting two 3-pointers.

AP basketball writer

NOON, SATURDAY, NBC.

Forward Gayle cleared to play 5th season at Michigan

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Roddy Gayle has been cleared to play a fifth season of college basketball for No. 16 Michigan, according to Wolverines coach Mike Boynton. Gayle, who is from Niagara Falls, New York, said he was told on Wednesday that a judge in his home state made the latest ruling to pave the way for him to play. Gayle is expected to play for the defending champion Wolverines against No. 10 Houston in an exhibition game on Sunday in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The 6-foot-5 guard is among a slew of players who have joined lawsuits across the country after the NCAA instituted sweeping changes to its eligibility rules, allowing five years of competition over a five-year period.

Davidson, Yooshida tied for 1st in LPGA South Korea

GWANGJU, South Korea — Karis Davidson had six birdies in eight holes but bogeyed her ninth Thursday for a 6-under 66 and was tied for the ﬁrst-round lead at the LPGA’s BMW Ladies Championship. Davidson, who started on the 10th hole Thursday, was level with Yuri Yoshida on the Pine Beach Golf Links southwest of Gwangju. Davidson and Yoshida are both seeking their first wins on the LPGA Tour. No. 3-ranked Haeran Ryu shot 67 and was tied for third. Her round included a chip-in birdie from off the 5th green. Also tied for third were Americans Lucy Li and Lauren Coughlin and European Solheim Cup player Julia Lopez Ramirez.

NASCAR fines Smith $50K for ramming car after race

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO BY SANTIAGO MEJIA

Atlanta Dream guard Rhyne Howard, left, moves the ball while defended by Golden State Valkyries forward Kayla Thornton during WNBA Finals Game 3 on Wednesday in Atlanta.

NASCAR issued a $50,000 fine to Cup Series driver Zane Smith after he rammed Carson Hocevar’s car during a post-race cool-down lap Sunday at Phoenix Raceway after ignoring orders to refrain from such antics. NASCAR vice president of racing communications Mike Forde said on the “Hauler Talk” podcast that Smith and Hocevar had been warned back in July not to engage in any post-race contact following a run-in at Chicagoland Speedway. NASCAR elected not to fine drivers Michael McDowell and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. after similar post-race contact on Oct. 11 at Charlotte Motor Speedway following the checkered flag. There is precedence for such a fine. In 2024, NASCAR fined Bubba Wallace $50,000 for hitting Alex Bowman on the cool-down lap after the Chicago Street Race.

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SAINTS

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hosts soccer matches, the league has had to re-stitch the grass to better suit NFL players. There needs to be stability and traction, Pappas said. “There are different attributes that are needed for a soccer-specific field versus an NFL-specific field,” he said. “A lot of that is due to soccer is very much a ball-onthe-ground sport, right? So the planarity and smoothness of how a ball rolls on the soccer pitch is critical to their gameplay. … Our athletes are typically larger, typically faster, applying more force to the ground. “Getting that footing is really imperative,” he added. Other areas Pappas and his team have had to alter and monitor include accounting for rain in this week’s forecast, as well as covering the nine-lane athletic track that circles the field. Locker rooms have been expanded — now capable of holding the size of an NFL roster. The stadium’s eighth floor, once a hospitality area, has been converted to coaches’ booths, an instant replay area and other operations. Some fixes are temporary. The booths will be removed after the event so the hospitality area can be restored. But the cables and channels that the league’s operations installed — so coaches and other staff can talk to each other during the game — will remain. That will make it easier for if — and more like, when — the NFL comes back to Paris. “We’re not just here to play a game and then leave,” Barker said. “This is a long-term investment for us. This is a very important market for us. We’re opening offices here, and our plan is to play many, many games in France. So we’re looking forward to the first one.”

Now, the Saints will also be part of the history. But for the game to happen, France’s iconic stadium had to be tailored to the precise setup that has made the NFL a well-oiled machine over the years. Details, big and small, have to be just right. “It’s always going to have challenges whenever you have an American sport in a European stadium,” said Jon Barker, the NFL’s global head of major events and international games. “There’s going to be things that we have to do. We have to change the field. We have to change the locker rooms. We have to change some of our camera platforms. … But we’re in great shape today. “If you want to play this game tomorrow, let’s go.” By now, the NFL has become more than equipped to handle the necessary work. France is the ninth foreign country to host an NFL game, the latest part of an international slate that began in 2007. Some venues have held up better than others. The field tends to get the most scrutiny. Just this season, the playing surface in Brazil for a Sept. 27 game between the Dallas Cowboys and Baltimore Ravens became a major talking point after comments from a local soccer star torched the conditions in the lead-up to the contest. The league also once moved a game from Mexico City in 2018 because of the field’s poor quality. In Paris, NFL field director Nick Pappas expressed confidence Thursday that Stade de France’s field would be up to standard. But work, as always, had to be done. Email Matthew Paras at matt. Because the stadium typically paras@theadvocate.com

Desormeaux credits Wilson’s maturity and persistence to beContinued from page 1C ing ready for the unexpected challenge. “Last year, he kind of started to been making the running game get a little bit of a role on some such a huge part of UL’s 5-2, 2-1 special teams and start to kind of earn a little trust and a little bit start to the season. The Cajuns are currently fifth in of respect that way,” Desormeaux the Sun Belt at 200 rushing yards said. “All he did was he just kept showing up day after day and cona game. “It’s definitely fun,” Jackson tinued to climb the depth chart. said. “As an older guy now, just being able to get the young guys Numbers game going and just being able to take There’s a lot of numbers to conthe leadership role, it’s just defi- sider in this matchup between UL and Southern Miss on Saturday in nitely a great opportunity.” With all of his experience, Jack- Hattiesburg. Let’s start with scoring. UL son is navigating his final season more like a professional player ranks fifth in the Sun Belt at 30 points per game and second on than earlier in his career. “Taking that step forward of defense at 19.3 points per game. film studying and just being able Southern Miss is 11th on offense to play fast throughout the game, (24.2) and 13th on defense at 32.7. In total yards, UL is 11th in the knowing what the defense is about to do,” he explained. “Our league on offense at 377.9 yards coaches put us in a great position and first on defense (298.3), while each and every week to just go out Southern Miss ranks No. 8 on ofthere, play fast, and dominate.” fense at 394.5 and 13th on defense (446.7). More Kerry Wilson In terms of the running game, Whether it’s special teams or the Cajuns lead the Sun Belt on now contributing in the second- defense at only 104.3 yards and ary, redshirt junior safety Kerry are fourth on offense (200.3), Wilson’s name keeps popping up compared to Southern Miss being during the Cajuns’ five-win season 10th on offense (133.7) and dead last on defense at 252.0 a game. so far. With the passing game, the CaWilson had three tackles in UL’s 33-6 win over Troy, including the juns are 13th offensively at 177.6 final fourth-down stop that put an per game and No. 3 on defense at exclamation point on the already 194.0, while Southern Miss stands impressive victory. third on offense (260.8) and fourth “I have a lot of respect for on defense (194.7). Kerry,” Desormeaux said. “He’s If those categories tell the tale, earned it day in and day out. He’s the Cajuns should be able to run filling a role that we have a big the ball effectively Saturday. need and he’s doing it well.” But the game is in Hattiesburg With the loss of senior safety and the other numbers that don’t Collin Jacob to a broken arm, Wil- favor the Cajuns is UL is 2-24 allson has joined forces with fellow time in games played there. As reserve Lake Bates to keep the a head coach, Desormeaux is 1-1 there with a 23-13 win in 2024. ball rolling.

WALKER

Continued from page 1C in the second quarter, outscoring the Pacers by 17 points in the period to build a 66-56 halftime lead. That lead was 92-86 heading into the fourth quarter. Yves Missi showed that he can be the inside presence the Pels need, ﬁnishing with 13 points, 14 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 blocked shots. “I thought Yves was incredible,” Mosley said. “Absolutely incredible.” Zion Williamson, who has worked all offseason on improving his 3-point shot, buried his second trey of the night at the halftime buzzer, sending the crowd into a frenzy. Williamson shot just four 3-pointers all last season. He shot that many Wednesday. Seven different players scored in double ﬁgures, showing just

how deep the Pels are. It’s so deep that Herb Jones, the team’s best defender, came off the bench for the ﬁrst time since his rookie season. The Pelicans probably could have at least used him in the closing lineup when they couldn’t get enough stops. But in the end, a Pacers team that was in the NBA Finals two seasons ago prevailed. Their two superstars, Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam, delivered time and time again late. The Pelicans, as has often been the case the last few years, were unable to ﬁnish. “I feel like we are right there and that we are going to make that turn,” Williamson said. “But it’s tough saying it when, respectfully, I feel like we’ve dealt with that the past two or three years. I’ve said it before. It’s hard to win in this league. So if we want to win, that’s just a hurdle we’ve got to get over.” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle has no doubt Mosley will be able to

The Acadiana Advocate l theadvocate.com l Friday, October 23, 2026 l 3C

SAINTS NOTES Chase Young, center, talks with teammates as he puts on his helmet during practice on Wednesday in Versailles, France. STAFF PHOTO BY CHRIS GRANGER

Saints grateful for week to adjust to European time zone BY LUKE JOHNSON Staff writer

VERSAILLES, France — Ryan Wright has been part of several NFL teams to make a trip across the Atlantic Ocean and play a football game, but this week is also a bit of a new experience. The New Orleans Saints punter flew in on Monday with the rest of his teammates, and he will finally be fully acclimated to a European time zone by the time kickoff arrives this Sunday. “On a shorter week, you just kind of have to deal with it; you’ve got to man up and play the game,” Wright said. “Whereas when we’re here for the entire week, you get a couple days to get acclimated and have a true normal week. Either way you’ve still got to play the game and the goal is to win.” The Saints flew out of New Jersey a few hours after beating the New York Giants last Sunday, arriving in France Monday morning. While there are some other considerations with the Saints holding exclusive marketing rights in France, this is also how the team has typically operated when it has come to international games. And if the football reasons behind it weren’t obvious, they became clear when hearing the players speak after practices this week. “Today was the first day I felt normal; every other day was a struggle,” said defensive back Martin Emerson Thursday, his fourth day in France. “I felt kind of delusional; I was so tired,” running back Kendre Miller said. Cam Jordan, the Saints’ 37-year-old

edge rusher, was especially happy to arrive early. Speaking to reporters after the team’s ﬁrst practice Wednesday afternoon, he tried to conceptualize the idea of playing a game 48 hours after arrival. “I would not lie to you, it wouldn’t have happened,” Jordan said. “I would’ve been out there looking like a jellyﬁsh.” Of course, the players getting their bodies synced up with the local time zone is not a guaranteed predictor of success. The Saints know that from their past trip abroad. In 2022, New Orleans spent the entire week in London only to lose 28-25 to the Minnesota Vikings, who’d arrived the Friday before the game. It’s worth noting that Minnesota went 13-4 that season. Wright was on that Vikings team, and he converted a 4th and 2 by throwing a pass to Josh Nailor for 13 yards on a fake punt.

hits. He also made two tackles for loss and wore the green dot on his helmet as the relayer of the defensive play calls. The defense as a whole struggled without Elliss’ presence in the lineup, giving up

Attendance report Kicker Daniel Carlson, who remained in the United States after the Giants game to be present for the birth of his child, was still not in attendance during the period of Thursday’s practice that was open to the media. Veteran defensive tackle Davon Godchaux continued to take his regular Thursday rest day, and offensive guard Cesar Ruiz also continued to miss practice with a knee injury that he suffered against the Giants. Ruiz and rookie receiver Jordyn Tyson attended practice as spectators.

MVP visit

After missing each of the past three games with a calf injury, Saints linebacker Kaden Elliss said he will be ready to play in the Saints Week 7 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. “It was tough to not get to play the game you love with the guys you love for the city you love,” Elliss said. “But at the end of the day I’m thankful to be back and I’m excited.” Elliss was one of the Saints’ priciest acquisitions this offseason, and he was showing why in his ﬁrst three games. He hadn’t yet recorded a sack, but he was a major part of the New Orleans pass rush, recording ﬁve quarterback

The day before the Saints beat the New York Giants to snap a three-game losing skid, they had a special visitor in their team meeting: New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson. The Most Valuable Player in last season’s NBA Finals received the invite because of his connection to the team’s sports psychologist. Saints coach Kellen Moore has also interacted with Brunson in the past during his time with the Philadelphia Eagles, and he welcomed the opportunity to have a star from another sport present at the team meeting. Brunson was apparently content to simply be an observer to the Saints’ process and did not address the team.

Jones does a little bit of everything for LSU. His runs keep the offense ahead of the chains, which allows the unit to engage its tempo. When defenses blitz quarterback Sam Leavitt, he blocks free rushers. When the Tiger receivers don’t come open, he ﬂares out and gives Leavitt an easy completion. And when Jones gets the ball in his hands, he’ll probably use either his strength or his agility to evade tacklers. “I don’t even know how some people can tackle him in space,” Leavitt said after LSU’s win over Mississippi State on Saturday. “He does an incredible job of making the ﬁrst guy miss on checkdowns

and making explosive plays for me. It’s super easy for me to just check the ball down and go get a ﬁrst down.” Leavitt has made those kinds of plays a staple of the LSU offense in recent weeks. Jones caught more passes in his past two games (15) than he did in his first five (11). He had seven catches for 84 yards in the Tigers’ Week 6 loss to Kentucky and eight catches for 64 yards in their Week 7 win over Mississippi State. Jones has now ofﬁcially run for more yards in seven games than LSU’s leading rusher, Caden Durham, did all last season. In 2025, the Tigers rushed for only 104 yards per game, which ranked 104th among FBS teams. This year, Jones has helped LSU run for 196 yards per game. That rate ranks 32nd in the nation and fourth in the SEC. Only South

Carolina, Tennessee and Georgia have picked up more yards on the ground than the Tigers. And Kiffin’s offense still has room to improve. LSU averaged only 2.8 yards per carry in its last two games. It rushed for 94 yards against Kentucky and 90 against Mississippi State. The quick passes to Jones have become an extension of the ground game – a counterattack to use against defenses that load up to stop the run. Opponents didn’t respect LSU’s rushing attack last season. Now they have to, in large part because Jones has emerged as Kifﬁn’s latest transfer portal success story. “Dilin’s done great,” Kifﬁn said. “Really made a lot of people miss in the run game, and he’s been very helpful in the pass game.

get the Pelicans over that hump. Mosley worked as an assistant for seven years under Carlisle while he was the head coach of the Dallas Mavericks. Carlisle watched closely what Mosley did the last ﬁve years as head coach of the Orlando Magic. “He totally changed the culture in Orlando,” Carlisle said. “He took that team from being a team that was not known as having any kind of disposition or physicality or that kind of attitude and turned them into a monster defensive team. A very physical team. He’s going to do the same thing here.” There were some positive signs. The Pels outrebounded the Pacers 50-42. They got to the free-throw line 37 times and knocked down 34 of them. Derik Queen gave some valuable minutes off the bench with 10 points and 10 rebounds. But most importantly, the effort was there. “Guys are buying into how hard they need to play and how they have to communicate with

one another,” Mosley said. “This is Game 1.” That’s what fans should remember. This was just the first of 82 games. Despite it being a game the Pelicans let slip away, it won’t define the season. Eventually, though, the Pels will have to figure out who their own Siakam or Haliburton is. They will need someone to take them across the finish line during crunch time. That’ll be up to Mosley to figure that out. In Orlando, his teams had success in crunch time. In a league where the line between wins and losses is usually razor thin, he’ll need to have that same crunch time success in New Orleans. If he does, he can breathe life into basketball here as he did in Orlando when he got the Magic into the playoffs the past three seasons. For now, Mosley is far too busy to look back on his past success. “Right now it’s with the Pelicans,” Mosley said. “And (with) this group of guys and these

coaches and this organization is where you’re excited to be and the journey you’re about to embark on.” Ideally, he would have started off with a win. His players would have, too. Especially in a game they feel like they controlled. “I’m just p***** off that we didn’t get that win,” said Dejounte Murray. “I wanted that win for us, the fans and obviously for him. But we’ll get it sooner than later.” Mosley will make sure they keep plugging away, much like Wednesday’s halftime act. Red Panda, who rides a unicycle while flipping bowls from her leg to the top of her head, had a few bowls crash to the floor towards the end of her act. But she stayed persistent as the Smoothie King Center crowd cheered her on. She finished strong. The Pelicans didn’t. But in their first game under Mosley, it looks like he can get them pointing in the right direction.

LSU

Continued from page 1C

Ready to go

4C ● Friday, October 23, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

lll

THE VARSITY ZONE

SCOREBOARD Odds

College football

NFL

Scores, schedule Tuesday’s scores

Sunday FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG Pittsburgh 1½ 3½ (44½) at NEW ORL. at CAROLINA 1½ 3 (44½) Tampa Bay Cleveland 3 1½ (37½) at TENNESSEE at NY JETS 2½ 4½ (39½) Miami San Francisco 4½ 2½ (49½) at ATLANTA at HOUSTON 5½ 10½ (42½) NY Giants at MINNESOTA 3 6½ (41½) Indianapolis at BALTIMORE 3½ 1½ (49½) Cincinnati Denver 7½ 4½ (43½) at ARIZONA at DETROIT 1½ 3½ (53½) Green Bay LA Rams 8½ 4½ (48½) at LAS VEGAS at SEATTLE 3 2½ (42½) Kansas City

Monday FAVORITE Dallas

OPEN TODAY O/U 3 4½ (44½)

UNDERDOG at PHILA.

FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O/U at VIRGINIA 6½ 2 (47½) at UCONN 15½ 14½ (50½) at TULSA 1½ 2½ (54½) Air Force 5½ 5½ (45½) NC State 7½ 6½ (55½)

UNDERDOG Duke UMass Army at WYOMING at STANFORD

College football

Saturday

Lafayette Christian wide receiver Kaden Ledet is tackled by Franklin’s Tre Edmonds last Friday at Lafayette Christian. Ledet has been part of a strong special teams unit for the Knights.

Unexpected plus

Special teams playing big role in Lafayette Christian’s success BY ERIC NARCISSE Staff writer

Lafayette Christian was banking on its defense being a strength early on in the season. And rightfully so, considering the experience the Knights returned on that side of the football. In time, the Knights were confident the offense would become a strength once it gelled. What coach Matt Standiford didn’t foresee was his team becoming elite on special teams. “I’m going to be honest, I was hoping that we would be solid enough to flip the field on punts,” said Standiford, whose Knights host Loreauville at 7 p.m. Friday. “Wyatt (Whitney) is one of the better punters in our area and I think he showed that throughout his season last year. “This year, I was honestly just hoping we would be adequate enough to not get us beat. But his group has exceeded my expectations. It has been a collective effort and I’m super, super proud of those guys.” Whitney is averaging 35.3 yards per punt and has downed four of his 18 punts inside the 20 with a long punt of 50 yards. Jude Fairchild is 3 of 4 on field

goals with a career long of 34 yards and is 19 of 23 on extra-point tries. Maybe the biggest plus for the Knights has come punt and kickoff returns. LCA (5-2) has returned four kicks for touchdowns — two punt returns by Caine Veillon and kickoff returns by Sky Ryan Alexander and Kaden Ledet. The Knights also have blocked five punts — one returned for a touchdown by Braylon Lemaire — and one blocked ﬁeld goal. “It’s been a collective effort from all the coaches,” Standiford said. “The guys have really bought in and that’s been a game-changer for us, especially as of late. So our special teams has been a bright spot for us.” Standiford said the Knights’ dominance in special teams isn’t something that has happened by chance. “We have meetings every Monday during lunch,” he said. “We watch ﬁlm as a group, just like we do on offense and defense. We try to put as much time into it as possible because we understand the impact that it makes on a Friday night. “On our kickoff team, we have only one starting defensive guy that runs down on it. So, the other

dudes — who are capable of playing for us — have found a spot to be able to bring something to the table.” Standiford credited long snapper Aiden Fa Kouri, Major Derouen and Tyler Cook for being vital parts of the unit. “Aiden has really stepped into our long snapping role on field goals and PATs,” he said. “Ironically, the one game he missed is the one game we had a bad snap. He’s actually leading our group in tackles on special teams. Then you have guys like Major and Tyler, who are backups on their respective sides of the ball. “But they put their egos aside and have been some of our best special teams guys. They understand that they can change the game without the ball in their hands or they can change the game without playing every single snap on defense. It has been a really selﬂess group.” Standiford said he hopes his special team’s unit continues to be as special on Friday. “Special teams is going to be a huge factor in this game,” Standiford said. “That’s one area that we have seen on ﬁlm. I think there’s some things we can exploit. We have to see if we’re up to the task.”

St. Thomas More RB Craft glad he returned for senior season BY MIKE COPPAGE Contributing writer

There would be no regrets for Landyn Craft. After sitting out last football season, the St. Thomas More senior running back wasn’t going to look back and ponder what might have been. “I wasn’t going to miss the chance to go out there and play with my brothers one more time,” said Craft, whose collegiate future is in baseball. Perhaps more than any other Cougar, senior running back Owen Bailey was vocal and persuasive when it came to encouraging Craft to return to the gridiron. “That’s the beauty of our team this year,” offensive coordinator Shane Savoie said. “We have so many people contributing. Owen and Landyn are tremendous teammates. “In a culture where ‘it’s all about me’ these days, those guys get more excited for the other one’s success than their own.” Craft leads the team in rushing with 439 yards on 64 carries with seven touchdowns. The 5-foot-11, 215-pound bruiser wore down Barbe in last week’s 35-14 win, rushing for close to 100 yards with three touchdowns and punishing the previously undefeated Buccaneers with his size and speed. “I’m just really excited about how well we’ve developed the running back room under strength and conditioning coach David LeBlanc,” said Savoie, whose 6-1 Cougars put their 4-0 District 3-5A record on the line at South-

Connor Baer, who has rushed for 369 yards on 27 carries and three TDs, draws comparisons to former Cougars star Hutch Swilley, now at McNeese State. “Coming into the season, the question was how much depth we would have behind Owen,” Savoie said. “Having Craft come in, we feel like we have two solid seniors with development underSTAFF PHOTO BY BRAD KEMP neath them.” Sophomore quarterbacks GraySt. Thomas More running back son Hemard and Preston Pelleriin Landyn Craft dives into the end have combined for 363 yards on zone against Barbe last Friday. 81 carries and two TDs. “We joke about it,” Savoie said of this year’s ground attack, WEEK 8 SCHEDULE which is in contrast to some seasons where the stats were skewed Thursday’s games toward the passing game. “Our ofSulphur (5-2) at Acadiana (4-3), n Cecilia (5-2) at Opelousas (5-2), n fense is designed to take what the Northwest (4-3) at Rayne (3-4), n Franklin (3-3) at Delcambre (5-2), n defense gives us.” Westminster (3-4) at Collegiate-BR (0-5), n With the Cougars’ huge offenFriday’s games sive line, defenses are usually All games at 7 p.m. forced to give up chunks of yardNew Iberia (1-6) at Lafayette (4-3) St. Thomas More (6-1) at Southside (4-3) age to whichever Cougar is carryAcadiana Renaissance (3-4) at Lafayette ing the ball. Renaissance (5-2) Loreauville (5-2) at Lafayette Christian “Owen is probably the most (5-2) physical downhill runner,” Savoie Livonia (1-5) at Carencro (3-4) Hanson (3-4) at Westminster-Lafayette said of the 5-foot-8, 185-pounder. (7-0) “His running style doesn’t match Liberty (0-7) at Northside (1-6) Teurlings (1-6) at Westgate (6-0) his body. He runs with a big ole Lake Charles Prep (6-1) at North Vermilion heart and a ton of passion.” (5-2) Abbeville (2-5) at Erath (3-4) Baer is elusive with great vision, Crowley (3-4) at Church Point (4-2) a talented back who can cut on a Breaux Bridge (0-7) at Beau Chene (6-1) Eunice (7-0) at Mamou (2-5) dime and pull away in the open Iota (3-4) at Ville Platte (0-6) ﬁeld, said Savoie, who described St. Martinville (2-5) at Kaplan (5-2) Catholic-NI (4-3) at West St. Mary (4-3) Craft as a “perfect combination” Lake Arthur (7-0) at Notre Dame (7-0) Houma Christian (1-6) at Gueydan (1-5) of what Bailey and Baer bring to Highland Baptist (0-7) at Ascension Christhe table. tian (7-0) “Landyn is a tremendous athside (4-3, 3-1) on Friday. lete and great teammate,” Savoie Bailey’s (64 carries for 412 said. “There are a lot of qualities yards, three TDs) numbers are al- to him, with just as many off the most identical to Craft. Sophomore ﬁeld.”

FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG LSU 6½ 7 (51½) at AUBURN at MIAMI (FL) 23½ 20½ (48½) Pittsburgh at N’WESTERN 16½ 16½ (58½) Rutgers Indiana 6½ 7½ (41½) at MICHIGAN at TOLEDO 2½ 3½ (46½) W. Michigan at TCU 6½ 10½ (56½) West Virginia Texas Tech 11½ 10½ (56½) at CINCINNATI at SMU 17½ 18½ (55½) Cal at FAU 10½ 8½ (51½) Rice Baylor 2½ 2½ (53½) at KANSAS at KENT STATE 3½ 3 (46½) Akron Miami (OH) 1 3 (40½) at C. MICHIGAN Oregon 13½ 8½ (50½) at ILLINOIS at UCLA 13½ 14½ (43½) Michigan State North Texas 1½ 2½ (63½) at NAVY at ALABAMA 2½ 13½ (50½) Texas A&M Oklahoma 2½ 5½ (44½) at MISS. ST. BYU 9½ 6½ (43½) at UCF at GA. TECH 5½ 5½ (50½) Boston College at BUFFALO 4½ 3 (44½) Bowling Green at S. CARO. 2½ 2½ (50½) Tennessee Iowa 2½ 7 (40½) at MINNESOTA Hawaii 7 4½ (47½) at N. ILLINOIS at BALL STATE 9½ 14½ (51½) Sacramento St. Kansas State 2½ 2½ (55½) at ARIZONA ST. at TROY 17½ 13½ (50½) UL-Monroe at OHIO 9½ 11½ (48½) E. Michigan at NEVADA 5½ 6½ (46½) San Jose State at LA. TECH 8½ 13½ (45½) Old Dominion UL 10½ 9½ (52½) at SO. MISS Boise State 16½ 13½ (52½) at WASH. ST. San Diego St. 1½ 1½ (63½) at COLO. ST. Georgia State 1½ 2½ (58½) at ARK. ST. at CLEMSON 1½ 2½ (49½) Virginia Tech at OKLA. ST. 14½ 13½ (56½) Colorado at N. CARO. 9½ 8½ (46½) Syracuse at ARIZONA 10 10 (51½) Iowa State at KENTUCKY 9½ 10½ (52½) Vanderbilt USC 1½ 3 (50½) at WISCONSIN at TEXAS ST. 9½ 13½ (61½) Utah State at TEXAS 9½ 3½ (54½) Ole Miss UTSA 4 2½ (51½) at TULANE at NEW MEX. 3½ 4½ (41½) N. Dakota St. at UTAH 5½ 6½ (56½) Houston

NBA

FAVORITE TODAY O/U UNDERDOG at MILWAUKEE 1½ (237½) Chicago at BOSTON 2½ (223½) New York Toronto 5½ (236½) at WASH. Minnesota 1½ (237½) at ORLANDO at INDIANA 6½ (236½) Dallas Atlanta 2½ (226½) at CHARLOTTE at MIAMI 1½ (236½) Detroit at UTAH 2½ (241½) New Orl. at SAN ANT. 6½ (227½) Houston at LA LAKERS 9½ (228½) L.A. Clippers Portland 7½ (232½) at SACRA. at GOLDEN ST. 3½ (235½) Memphis

MLB

World Series FAVORITE at MILWAUKEE

LINE UNDERDOG -194 Tampa Bay

LINE +158

Pro football NFL glance AFC East

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

NFC East

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

W 5 4 2 0

L 1 2 4 5

T 0 0 0 0

Pct .833 .667 .333 .000

PF 197 136 112 70

PA 171 113 122 132

W 4 2 2 1

L 2 4 4 5

T 0 0 0 0

Pct .667 .333 .333 .167

PF 154 144 144 84

PA 104 164 143 129

W 4 4 4 3

L 2 2 2 2

T 0 0 0 0

Pct .667 .667 .667 .600

PF 106 137 156 128

PA 122 128 132 109

W 5 4 3 0

L 0 2 3 6

T Pct 0 1.000 0 .667 0 .500 0 .000

PF PA 140 83 114 125 162 162 90 151

W 3 2 2 1

L 2 4 4 4

T 1 0 0 1

Pct .583 .333 .333 .250

PF 136 106 151 132

PA 140 137 159 172

W 3 2 2 1

L 2 4 4 5

T 0 0 0 0

Pct .600 .333 .333 .167

PF 146 142 152 119

PA 123 153 178 138

W 5 4 4 3

L 0 2 2 2

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

PF PA 109 64 127 125 150 119 164 148

W 6 3 2 2

L 0 3 4 4

T Pct 0 1.000 0 .500 0 .333 0 .333

PF 177 148 126 135

Thursday’s game

Wednesday’s score

New Mexico St. 30, Sam Houston State 24

Thursday’s games SOUTH

Liberty (5-1) at Kennesaw St. (1-5), n James Madison (7-0) at Appalachian St. (4-2),n East Carolina (3-3) at Memphis (5-2), n

Friday’s games EAST

NC Central (2-5) at Delaware St. (4-3), 4 p.m. Yale (3-2) at Penn (2-3), 6 p.m. UMass (4-3) at UConn (3-3), 6 p.m.

SOUTH

Friday

STAFF PHOTO BY BRAD KEMP

Delaware 61, Missouri State 38 Marshall 20, South Alabama 13 Middle Tennessee 26, FIU 23

PA 110 122 178 138

New England at Chicago, n

Sunday’s games

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

Monday’s game

Duke (4-2) at Virginia (4-3), 6 p.m.

SOUTHWEST

Army (4-2) at Tulsa (4-3), 7:30 p.m.

FAR WEST

Air Force (5-1) at Wyoming (4-3), 8 p.m. NC State (3-3) at Stanford (3-4), 9:30 p.m.

State schedule

Saturday’s games

LSU (5-2) at Auburn (4-2), 11 a.m. Southern (3-4) at Texas Southern (1-5), 2 p.m. Nicholls (2-5) at Northwestern St. (0-7), 2 p.m. Louisiana-Monroe (0-6) at Troy (3-3), 3 p.m. Old Dominion (2-5) at Louisiana Tech (4-2), 4 p.m. UL (5-2) at Southern Miss (1-5), 4 p.m. Southeastern (4-3) at Stephen F. Austin (7-0), 5 p.m. UTSA (6-1) at Tulane (3-3), 7 p.m.

Pro basketball NBA glance EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division

Philadelphia Toronto New York Brooklyn Boston Southeast Division Atlanta Washington Charlotte Orlando Miami Central Division Detroit Indiana Milwaukee Chicago Cleveland

W 1 1 0 0 0

L 0 0 1 1 1

Pct 1.000 1.000 .000 .000 .000

GB — — 1 1 1

W 1 1 1 0 0

L 0 0 0 1 1

Pct 1.000 1.000 1.000 .000 .000

GB — — — 1 1

W 1 1 0 0 0

L 0 0 1 1 0

Pct 1.000 1.000 .000 .000 .000

GB — — 1 1 ½

W 1 1 0 0 0

L 0 0 1 1 1

Pct 1.000 1.000 .000 .000 .000

GB — — 1 1 1

W 1 1 1 0 0

L 0 0 0 1 0

Pct 1.000 1.000 1.000 .000 .000

GB — — — 1 ½

W 1 1 0 0 0

L 0 0 1 1 1

Pct 1.000 1.000 .000 .000 .000

GB — — 1 1 1

WESTERN CONFERENCE Southwest Division Houston Memphis Dallas San Antonio New Orleans Northwest Division Portland Oklahoma City Minnesota Utah Denver Paciﬁc Division L.A. Clippers L.A. Lakers Golden State Sacramento Phoenix

Wednesday’s scores

Washington 128, Milwaukee 116 Atlanta 132, Orlando 125 Charlotte 110, Brooklyn 103 Minnesota 131, Miami 106 Toronto 135, Chicago 92 Memphis 123, Utah 103 Indiana 123, New Orleans 120 Houston 128, Dallas 110 Portland 124, Phoenix 83 L.A. Clippers 121, Sacramento 96 L.A. Lakers 127, Golden State 105

Indiana 123, New Orleans 120 Late Wednesday

FG FT Reb INDIANA Min M-A M-A O-T A PFPTS Oubre Jr. 27:44 2-5 0-0 0-2 3 3 4 Siakam 35:17 13-23 3-8 2-8 1 3 30 Zubac 33:38 7-12 2-4 4-15 0 5 16 Haliburton 33:31 8-15 5-5 0-2 12 0 23 Nembhard 33:40 6-10 6-7 0-2 9 4 18 Toppin 24:42 7-12 2-3 1-3 1 3 20 Walker 18:31 1-6 0-0 0-6 2 2 3 Jackson 15:31 2-3 2-2 1-4 1 0 6 Sheppard 12:10 1-3 0-0 1-1 0 4 3 Nance Jr. 5:14 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 2 0 Totals 240:00 47-90 20-29 9-43 29 26 123 Percentages: FG .522, FT .690. 3-Point Goals: 9-30, .300 (Toppin 4-9, Haliburton 2-6, Sheppard 1-2, Siakam 1-3, Walker 1-3, Nance Jr. 0-1, Nembhard 0-3, Oubre Jr. 0-3). Team Rebounds: 9. Team Turnovers: None. Blocked Shots: 4 (Zubac 2, Oubre Jr., Walker). Turnovers: 13 (Walker 4, Haliburton 3, Nembhard 2, Siakam 2, Oubre Jr., Zubac). Steals: 9 (Jackson 3, Toppin 2, Haliburton, Nembhard, Oubre Jr., Siakam). Technical Fouls: Haliburton, 7:08 fourth.

FT Reb

N.O. Min M-A M-A O-T A PF PTS Murphy III 31:33 4-11 1-1 0-4 1 2 11 Willi’son 32:08 7-16 6-6 1-3 3 3 22 Missi 29:55 5-6 3-4 7-14 5 3 13 Fears 20:56 2-10 3-4 1-3 1 3 8 Murray 34:21 9-18 3-3 2-3 7 2 23 Bey 23:37 4-9 3-3 0-5 0 1 13 Queen 18:05 2-4 6-6 1-10 1 3 10 Mathurin 17:52 3-7 5-6 1-3 2 3 11 Jones 16:54 2-4 0-0 1-2 0 3 5 Poole 14:39 0-4 4-4 0-2 3 1 4 Totals 240:00 38-89 34-37 14-49 23 24 120 Percentages: FG .427, FT .919. 3-Point Goals: 10-30, .333 (Bey 2-4, Williamson 2-4, Murphy III 2-5, Murray 2-5, Jones 1-1, Fears 1-5, Mathurin 0-3, Poole 0-3). Team Rebounds: 6. Team Turnovers: 1. Blocked Shots: 6 (Missi 3, Murray 3). Turnovers: 14 (Murray 4, Williamson 3, Bey 2, Fears, Jones, Missi, Poole, Queen). Steals: 11 (Williamson 3, Missi 2, Murray 2, Queen 2, Jones, Mathurin). Technical Fouls: None. Indiana 38 18 30 37 — 123 New Orleans 31 35 26 28 — 120 A — 17,232 (16,867). T — 2:24.

WNBA Finals

(x-if necessary); (Best-of-7) Atlanta 2, Golden State 1 Saturday: Golden State 68, Atlanta 64 Monday: Atlanta 79, Golden State 65 Wednesday: Atlanta 97, Golden State 71 Saturday, Oct. 24: Golden State at Atlanta, noon Monday, Oct. 26: Atlanta at Golden State, 7 p.m. x-Thursday, Oct. 29: Golden St. at Atlanta, TBA x-Saturday, Oct 31: Atlanta at Golden St., TBA

Dallas at Philadelphia, 7:15 p.m.

Atlanta 97, Golden State 71

Carolina at Green Bay, 7:15 p.m.

Late Wednesday

Thursday, Oct. 29 Sunday, Nov. 1

Arizona at Dallas, noon Atlanta at Tampa Bay, noon Baltimore at Buffalo, noon Cleveland at Pittsburgh, noon Indianapolis at Jacksonville, noon Las Vegas at N.Y. Jets, noon Minnesota at Detroit, noon Tennessee at Cincinnati, noon L.A. Chargers at L.A. Rams, 3:05 p.m. Kansas City at Denver, 3:25 p.m. New England at Miami, 3:25 p.m. Philadelphia at Washington, 7:20 p.m. Open: Houston, N.Y. Giants, New Orleans, San Francisco

Monday, Nov. 2

Chicago at Seattle, 7:15 p.m.

Major League Baseball World Series glance Best-of-7; x-if necessary; All games at 7 p.m.

Milwaukee vs. Tampa Bay

Friday: Game 1: Tampa Bay at Milwaukee (Misiorowski 16-5) Saturday: Game 2: Tampa Bay at Milwaukee Monday: Game 3: Milwaukee at Tampa Bay Tuesday: Game 4: Milwaukee at Tampa Bay x-Wednesday, Oct. 28: Game 5: Milwaukee at Tampa Bay x-Friday, Oct. 30: Game 6: Tampa Bay at Milwaukee x-Saturday, Oct. 31: Game 7: Tampa Bay at Milwaukee

GOLDEN STATE (71) Thornton 0-1 0-0 0, Zandalasini 4-8 1-2 13, Stokes 1-3 0-0 2, Burton 1-7 0-0 3, Williams 5-18 2-3 15, Amihere 0-1 0-0 0, Salaun 5-7 0-3 13, Charles 0-1 3-4 3, Jocyte 0-0 0-0 0, Gueye 1-5 4-4 6, Chen 1-5 0-0 2, Hayes 6-13 1-1 14. Totals 24-69 11-17 71. ATLANTA (97) Hillmon 6-10 0-1 15, Howard 4-11 7-10 16, Reese 7-12 5-5 21, Canada 4-10 2-3 10, Gray 2-8 4-6 8, Kone 2-2 0-0 5, Bonner 3-4 0-1 7, Okot 1-1 1-1 3, Borlase 5-10 1-2 12, Paopao 0-1 0-0 0, Walker-Kimbrough 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 34-69 20-29 97. Golden State 15 25 17 14 — 71 Atlanta 23 23 25 26 — 97 3-Point Goals — Golden State 12-30 (Zandalasini 4-6, Salaun 3-4, Williams 3-8, Burton 1-4, Hayes 1-4, Chen 0-1, Gueye 0-1, Stokes 0-1, Thornton 0-1), Atlanta 9-22 (Hillmon 3-5, Reese 2-2, Kone 1-1, Bonner 1-2, Borlase 1-2, Howard 1-2, Paopao 0-1, Canada 0-3, Gray 0-4). Fouled Out — None. Rebounds — Golden State 34 (Stokes 11), Atlanta 37 (Reese 12). Assists — Golden State 19 (Williams 8), Atlanta 26 (Canada 8). Total Fouls — Golden State 21, Atlanta 17. A — 17,099 (18,118)

Transactions FOOTBALL NFL ARIZONA CARDINALS — Claimed OT Albert Reese off waivers from Carolina. Waived TE Shawn Bowman. Signed TE Shawn Bowman to the practice squad. Released OL Austin Deculus from the practice squad.

Boo at the Zoo

The annual H alloween c elebra t i o n a t BREC’s Bat on Rouge Z oo c ont inue s from 9: 30 a.m . t o 5 p. m . (last e nt r y at 4 p.m.) S a t u rd ay and S u n d ay. Look f or fe s t i ve ac t i v i t i e s , live ent er t a i nm ent, princess and c h a r a c t e r m e e t -and-gr e e t s , and sea sonal t r ea t s . R egular admissio n a pplie s. br zoo.org .

LIVING

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

‘NIGHT OF THE LIVING LADYRAT’ With Bozo Red, Scab Labor and Snowmiser

8 p.m. Friday l Manship Theatre’s Hartley/Vey Studio Theatre, 235 North Blvd. l $15 l manshiptheatre.org

F R I D AY, O C T O B E R 23, 2026

5CN

Country singersongwriter Trace Adkins says he’s performed many shows in Louisiana over the last 30 years. | PROVIDED PHOTO BY ANGELEA YODER

Bozo Red headlines show for new album, label debut BY JOHN WIRT

Contributing writer Friday night’s music at the Manship Theatre’s Hartley/Vey Studio Theatre celebrates two debuts. “Night of the Living Ladyrat” is an album release show for Bozo Red and an introduction to the new local label Ladyrat Records. Bozo Red tops the threeband bill with labelmates Scab Labor and Snowmiser. Bozo Red’s “40 Gallons and a Mule,” available earlier this month in the digital format, will be on sale Friday for the ﬁrst time as a vinyl record album. “I’ve always wanted to release a vinyl record,” Bozo Red’s John Wiese said of that resurrected method of distributing recorded music. “It’s legitimizing, a more complete dedication to the physical medium aspect of things. That’s what we’re trying to get across.” Bozo Red features singerbassist Wiese, singer-guitarist Heath Soniat and drummer Mike Naquin. Co-frontmen Wiese and Soniat sing lead for the songs they write individually. It’s easy to tell who’s who. Wiese’s frenzied songs are ﬁt for a headbangers’ ball. Soniat crafts more conventional but still heavy songs, including the album’s only slower-tempo

ä See SHOW, page 6C

‘IT IT IS STILL A THRILL’

Trace Adkins is set to headline Boots on the Bayou in Gonzales, a return to his home state BOOTS ON THE BAYOU

BY JUDY BERGERON

Staff writer

rganizers say it’s time to dust off your boots. The two-day country music festival Boots on the Bayou is back in Gonzales this weekend, with country superstar and Louisiana native Trace Adkins (“This Ain’t No Thinkin’ Thing,” “Ladies Love Country Boys,” “You’re Gonna Miss This”) headlining the festival’s ﬁrst night on Saturday. Veteran country artist Brantley Gilbert closes out the fest on Sunday night. Taking place at the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center, the lineup also features Justin Moore, Priscilla Block, Drew Green, The Hip Abduction, Ben Ragsdale, Parish County Line, KG & The Bad Habits, Pants Party,

Saturday and Sunday l Lamar-Dixon Expo Center, 9039 S. St. Landry Ave., Gonzales l $59, one-day general admission pass; $109, two-day general admission pass; VIP and VIP Platinum experiences also available l botbmusic.com Willie Pake, Sami G and Chase Tyler. In addition to all the live music, BOTB also offers Cajun food, tailgating and camping in an authentic Louisiana festival experience, organizers say. Adkins, 64, grew up in Sarepta and attended Louisiana Tech University. Before his homecoming show on Saturday, he talked about his decades of performing, his acting sideline, and even LSU wom-

en’s basketball coach Kim Mulkey. This interview has been edited for clarity and length. You’ll be headlining Boots on the Bayou this weekend. Do you recall the first time you returned to your home state as a headliner? Does performing in Louisiana add a layer of sentimentality to it? I don’t recall the ﬁrst show, but I have performed many shows in Louisiana over the last 30 years. It is still a thrill to get to return even now. Growing up in Sarepta, when did you realize you had a musical gift? How did you go about pursuing that and why did you go in the country music direction? I am not sure I ever looked upon it as a gift. It’s just something I have always done. I used to stand beside my grandaddy in church and listen

ä See ADKINS, page 6C

PROVIDED ALBUM COVER ART

Local artists who focus on La.’s nature to stage exhibit BY ROBIN MILLER

Saturday in the park. As indicated by the title, all artwork is being exStaff writer hibited outdoors as a way to highFour Baton Rouge-based artists, light nature in Louisiana, while also each with a love for Louisiana’s placing emphasis on its state parks. natural landscape, are gathering The project began with artists at Fontainebleau State Park in Leslie Charleville, known for her Mandeville to celebrate this love gyotaku alligator prints, and muthrough an exhibit of their work. ralist Ellen Ogden, whose vibrant The show, titled “Plein Wild,” paintings often depict Louisiana which plays on the “plein air” or landscapes. open air method of painting, began ä See EXHIBIT, page 6C Thursday and continues through

GREATER BATON ROUGE STATE FAIR Through Sunday, Nov. 1

l Airline Highway Park/

Fairgrounds, 16072 Airline Highway l 5 p.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday and noon10 p.m. Saturday-Sunday l $15, general public on Friday, Saturday and Sunday; free, children under 48 inches tall (ride coupons and wristbands sold separately) l For a full list of activities and schedule, visit gbrsf.com

Official sounds off on what to expect at fair BY JUDY BERGERON

ing, alluding to the fact that fairs usually have livestock, and thus, some less-than-pleasant It was two weeks from smells. the Greater Baton Rouge That’s a minor inconveState Fair’s opening day and chairman Cliff Barnience, though, compared to all the fun of a state fair. ton’s voice exuded calm- Barton Cracking jokes and ratness. “You know what the difference tling off fair stats and attractions between a festival and a fair is?” as if he does it in his sleep, BarBarton began the riddle. ä See FAIR, page 6C “It’s the smell,” he said, laughStaff writer

6C l Friday, October 23, 2026 l theadvocate.com l The Acadiana Advocate

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SHOWS TO WATCH — ACADIANA FRIDAY

BACH LUNCH FEATURING AMELIE CECILE: Parc San Souci, Lafayette, noon LIVE MUSIC: Cane River Pecan Company Pie Bar, New Iberia, 5 p.m. AUSTIN REAUX: Cafe Sydnie Mae, Breaux Bridge, 6 p.m. FRIDAY NIGHT JAM: La Maison de Begnaud, Scott, 6 p.m. JONIVAN JONES: Adopted Dog Brewing, Lafayette, 6 p.m. LIVE MUSIC: Charley G’s Seafood Grill, Lafayette, 6 p.m. LIVE MUSIC: Prejean’s, Broussard, 6 p.m. DOYLE TAUZIN: Buck & Johnny’s, Breaux Bridge, 6:30 p.m. THE CAST: SHUCKS!, Abbeville, 6:30 p.m. AVERY COHEN TRIO: Whiskey and Vine, Lafayette, 7 p.m. TRIPLE SHOT BAND: Silver Slipper, Arnaudville, 7 p.m. BTE PRESENTS “WHERE THE SUGA STILL SWEET”: A PLAY BY BRIAN EGLAND: Acadiana Center for the Arts, Lafayette, 7:30 p.m. LIVE MUSIC: The Barrel of Broussard, Broussard, 8 p.m. WELLNESS CHECK: Blue Moon Saloon, Lafayette, 8 p.m. ZACH TOP CONCERT: Cajundome, Lafayette, 8 p.m.

SATURDAY

JEFFERY BROUSSARD & CREOLE COWBOYS: Buck & Johnny’s, Breaux Bridge, 8 a.m. TROY LEJEUNE BAND: Fred’s, Mamou, 8 a.m. CAJUN JAM: Moncus Park, Lafayette, 9 a.m. SATURDAY MORNING JAM SESSIONS: The Savoy Music Center, Eunice, 9 a.m. CAJUN JAM: Tante Marie, Breaux Bridge, 11 a.m. ISAAC LEJEUNE: Cafe Sydnie Mae, Breaux Bridge, 11 a.m. CAJUN FRENCH MUSIC JAM: Vermil-

TODAY IN HISTORY FRIENDS: Prejean’s Restaurant, Lafayette, 6 p.m. GREENLIGHT SESSIONS OPEN MIC: The Jefferson Street Greenroom, Lafayette, 7 p.m.

WEDNESDAY

STAFF FILE PHOTO BY BRAD BOWIE

Jamie Bergeron & Kickin’ Cajuns will perform at Lakeview Park, Eunice, at 8 p.m. Saturday. ionville Living History Museum & Folklife Park, Lafayette, 1 p.m. CAJUN JAM SESSION: Touchet’s Bar, Maurice, 2 p.m. JAXON MECHE ALBUM RELEASE: Adopted Dog Brewing, Lafayette, 6 p.m. JAYME & MIKE: Cafe Sydnie Mae, Breaux Bridge, 6 p.m. LIVE MUSIC: Charley G’s Seafood Grill, Lafayette, 6 p.m. LIVE MUSIC: Prejean’s, Broussard, 6 p.m. BONSOIR CATIN: NUNU Arts & Culture Collective, Arnaudville, 6 p.m. TROUBADOUR: SHUCKS!, Abbeville, 6:30 p.m. BUDDY ANDREWS & THE BRANDED: Silver Slipper, Arnaudville, 7 p.m. FRENCH, ROSEN, SMITH & TYLER: Whiskey and Vine, Lafayette, 7 p.m. JAMIE BERGERON & THE KICKIN’ CAJUNS: Lakeview Park, Eunice, 8 p.m. LIVE MUSIC: The Barrel of Broussard, Broussard, 8 p.m. THE CAJUN COUSINS FEATURING IVY DUGAS & KALEB TRAHAN: La Poussiere Cajun Dancehall, Breaux Bridge, 8 p.m. ONE TRICK PONY: Toby’s Lounge, Opelousas, 8:30 p.m. THREE AM: ‘90S & ‘00S NIGHT: Rock ’n’ Bowl de Lafayette, Lafayette, 9 p.m. THE DEBTORS: Blue

ADKINS

Continued from page 5C to him sing the bass parts so I was just copying him. As for choosing country music, I recall hearing the great Ed Bruce (“You’re the Best Break This Old Heart Ever Had”) on a TV show. I was able to sing along with him so I ﬁgured I might as well do what he did and sing country songs. Having a role in “Deepwater Horizon” probably brought back recollections of your time on an oil rig and your close call. Is that why you sought out or were sought out for the film? I don’t think my oil rig experience was the reason I got the role. My character was a grieving father so it wasn’t necessary. But I did get to rough up Mark Wahlberg a little! Fans loved you on the series “Monarch”? Any plans for another TV role? Nothing is in the works but I am always looking. I’m sure we’ll hear some of your classic songs at BOTB, but might we get to listen to any new tunes? Are you doing any songwriting of late? We may do a couple new things but folks want to hear the hits so I give them what they want. I am going into the studio in a few weeks with Scott Hendricks producing so I hope to have some new stuff out early in 2027. For someone who’s never seen you in concert, what can they expect? How long is your typical festival appearance? A greatest hits show with

EXHIBIT

Continued from page 5C “Ellen and I showed our work in an exhibit last year at the Julien Poydras Museum and Arts Center in New Roads,” Charleville said. “It was in a historical building, but we felt that in this show, the work, itself, belongs in the environment that inspires it. We wanted to show our love for our state parks.”

Moon Saloon, Lafayette, 10 p.m.

SUNDAY

WITCHES BRUNCH W/ SARAH & MYLES: Cafe Sydnie Mae, Breaux Bridge, 10:30 a.m. LIVE MUSIC: Tante Marie, Breaux Bridge, 11 a.m. THE SUNDAY PEOPLE: Whiskey and Vine, Lafayette, 11 a.m. LES FRERES MICHOT: Prejean’s, Carencro, 11:30 a.m. BAL DU DIMANCHE — JOE WHIT & THE ZYDECO HITTAZ: Vermilionville Living History Museum & Folklife Park, Lafayette, 1 p.m. LIVE MUSIC: Charley G’s Seafood Grill, Lafayette, 6 p.m. SWAMP BLUES REVIVAL: Silver Slipper, Arnaudville, 7 p.m. “WAITRESS”: Heymann Center, Lafayette, 7 p.m.

MONDAY

PATRICIO LATINO SOLO: Cafe Habana City, Lafayette, 11 a.m. LIVE MUSIC: Charley G’s Seafood Grill, Lafayette, 6 p.m. BLUEGRASS JAM: Cité des Arts, Lafayette, 6:30 p.m.

TUESDAY

GARRET ROSEN: Whiskey and Vine, Lafayette, 6 p.m. LIVE MUSIC: Charley G’s Seafood Grill, Lafayette, 6 p.m. TERRY HUVAL &

MUSICAL LINEUP SATURDAY n 2 p.m. - Gates open n 3 p.m. - Parish County Line n 4:30 p.m. - Ben Ragsdale n 6 p.m. - Drew Green n 7:30 p.m. - Justin Moore n 9 p.m. - Headliner Trace Adkins SUNDAY n 1 p.m. - Gates open n 1:30 p.m. - Pants Party n 3 p.m. - KG & The Bad Habits n 4:30 p.m. - The Hip Abduction n 6 p.m. - Priscilla Block n 7:30 p.m. - Headliner Brantley Gilbert Also featuring Willie Pake, Sami G and Chase Tyler

DULCIMER JAM: St. Landry Visitor Center, Opelousas, 10 a.m. ABI CLAIR: Park Bistro, Lafayette, 6 p.m. ANDREW WAIN: Whiskey and Vine, Lafayette, 6 p.m. LIVE MUSIC: Charley G’s Seafood Grill, Lafayette, 6 p.m. WANTED WEDNESDAY KARAOKE NIGHT: The Barrel of Broussard, Broussard, 6 p.m. CAJUN JAM: Blue Moon Saloon, Lafayette, 8 p.m.

THURSDAY

JON MELANCON: Buck & Johnny’s, Breaux Bridge, 6 p.m. LADIES NIGHT WITH DJ DONOVAN IN THE MIX: Cowboys Nightclub, Scott, 6 p.m. LIVE MUSIC: Charley G’s Seafood Grill, Lafayette, 6 p.m. PAUL TASSIN: Whiskey and Vine, Lafayette, 6 p.m. STEVE & BOBBY: Cafe Sydnie Mae, Breaux Bridge, 6 p.m. MIKE BROUSSARD: SHUCKS!, Abbeville, 6:30 p.m. D’LOVELIES: Hideaway on Lee, Lafayette, 7 p.m. DALE HARRIS ALBUM RELEASE PARTY: Blue Moon Saloon, Lafayette, 7 p.m. KARAOKE PARTY — PANDA ENTERTAINMENT: Black Bull, Youngsville, 8 p.m.

Compiled by Marchaund Jones. Want your venue’s music listed? Email info/photos to showstowatch@ theadvocate.com. The deadline is noon FRIDAY for the following Friday’s paper.

When I was at Louisiana Tech, Kim was a rock star. I would see her around campus but never had the nerve to speak with her. Years later, we reconnected and have stayed in contact ever since. She is still a rock star. What led to your getting involved with the Wounded Warrior Project and what do you want people to know about the organization? I am not sure how I became involved with WWP but I have worked with them for two decades. Probably every show there will be someone who tells me about how WWP helped them or a family member. An honorable organization. Do you still have family in Louisiana? Yes, my mom, my brother Clay and my daughter Sarah as well as grandchildren, and nephews. All in or around Sarepta. How has country music changed since the beginning of your career and where do you see it going? Probably the biggest change is how music is consumed. There was no Spotify or Apple Music when I started. You recorded an album and then went on the road in an attempt to convince radio to play your music. The fans bought physical product and you hopefully sold a bunch. Now, all of that has changed. Country music as a genre has always evolved which is why it has been around so long. I don’t see that changing any time soon.

a few cover tunes mixed in. My show is typically about 90 minutes long. You’ve done a few duets. Is there anyone on your shortlist to collaborate with? I have been fortunate to do some cool duets. Snoop Dogg, Melissa Etheridge, Pitbull, Keb’ Mo’ and Stevie Wonder added some cool harmonica on a song. There was someone else that I did a few songs with but I can’t remember who it was. Oh yeah … Blake Shelton. Considering that Kim Mulkey now coaches LSU’s Lady Tigers basketball team, we have to ask about this “crush” rumor. Tell us that story. Email Judy Bergeron at Do you two still keep up with each jbergeron@theadvocate. other? com.

In the meantime, Charleville and Ogden joined forces with biologist-artist Ashley Ferguson and Madeline Ellis, artist, founder and owner of Mimosa Handcrafted, to put together “Plein Wild.” “We were not only artists who have a deep appreciation for our state and its nature, but artists who lift each other up,” Charleville said. “There is no competition among us — we’re friends, and we support one another in our work.” The artists hope the ex-

hibit will be an annual event, each year at a different state park. For “Plein Wild” at Fontainebleau, hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. each day with a closing celebration at 3 p.m. Saturday. “Louisiana State Parks also has launched their passport program, and this would be a perfect time for visitors to take advantage of that,” Charleville said. “Fontainebleau will also waive the entrance fee for all students who mention the show at the gate during the exhibition.”

By The Associated Press Today is Friday, Oct. 23, the 296th day of 2026. There are 69 days left in the year. Today in history: On Oct. 23, 1983, 241 U.S. service members, most of them Marines, were killed in a suicide truck-bombing at the U.S. Marine Corps barracks at Beirut International Airport in Lebanon, while a near-simultaneous attack on French barracks in Beirut killed 58 paratroopers. Also on this date: In 1915, an estimated 25,000 women marched on Fifth Avenue in New York City in support of women’s suffrage. In 1944, the Battle of Leyte Gulf began; the largest naval battle of World War II resulted in a major Allied victory against Japanese forces, paving

SHOW

Continued from page 5C track, a near ballad with psychedelic overtones. Wiese has named Bozo Red’s music “junk rock.” “We’re in the punk scene, but I don’t think we sound punk-like,” he said. “And I didn’t like calling it rock. That’s such a plain term. I call it ‘junk rock’ because it’s a little wonky. The rhythms are different and my lyrics are a tad strange.” Wiese’s songwriting inspirations include beat poets Bob Dylan and Captain Beefheart. “Captain Beefheart liked the sound of the words,” he said. “He didn’t care much about the meaning. It’s almost impressionistic.” Bozo Red’s songs, while recognizable as rock songs, do exceed the expected. “That’s something I am proud of,” Wiese said. “Not necessarily proud of the songs’ difﬁculty, but their inventiveness.” Unusual, too, Wiese’s bass, rather than taking a supporting role, plays prominently in the band’s arrangements. “It’s a little bit more for-

FAIR

Continued from page 5C ton makes the fair sound like a well-oiled machine. But it is in fact, a big deal and there’s a year of planning involved. “It takes a village,” longtime volunteer Barton said of the 11-member board and 100 or so other volunteers behind the scenes. And behind the fair itself is its philanthropic arm, a foundation which has returned close to $5 million to the community through grants, scholarships and sponsorships for organizations involved with families, children and quality of life. Back to the fun, Barton shared that there will be a new pig racing group on the

the way for the retaking of the Philippines. In 1995, a Houston jury convicted Yolanda Saldivar of murdering Tejano singing star Selena; Saldivar was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole and remains in prison. In 2001, Apple released the iPod. An estimated 450 million iPod devices were sold before the line was discontinued in 2022. In 2002, Chechen rebels stormed a Moscow theater and took about 800 hostages, demanding that Russian forces withdraw from Chechnya. Russian special forces raided the theater on Oct. 26; most of the rebels and 120 hostages were killed. In 2004, a magnitude 6.8 earthquake rocked central Japan, killing at least 68 people and injuring thousands amid massive power

outages, scattered fires and damage to buildings, bridges and highways. In 2020, the rival factions in Libya’s civil war signed a permanent ceasefire after years of fighting that had split the North African country in two. While the truce ended large-scale warfare, the country remained divided between east and west. Today’s birthdays: Film director Philip Kaufman is 90. Advocate and humanitarian Graça Machel is 81. Film director Ang Lee is 72. Jazz singer Dianne Reeves is 70. Country singer Dwight Yoakam is 70. Activist and philanthropist Martin Luther King III is 69. Film director Sam Raimi is 67. Comedic musician “Weird Al” Yankovic is 67. Rock musician Robert Trujillo (Metallica) is 62. Actor Ryan Reynolds is 50. R&B singer Miguel is 41.

ward in my songs,” he said. “And the bass is what the rest of the song is assembled around.” Wiese’s introduction to the bass guitar came via a video clip of The Who, featuring bassist John Entwistle ripping through “My Generation” in a 1967 episode of “The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour.” Gonzo bassist Les Claypool (Primus, Claypool Lennon Delirium) and abrasive post-rock singer-shredder Jack White are two more inﬂuences. “Jack White also loves the acoustic blues realm and garage rock,” Wiese said. “Things he’s done, they’re honest and raw. I like his school of thought. He’s not very digital in his creating. It feels real. The same with Bob Dylan.” Wiese’s theatrical background influences Bozo Red’s performances. “My parents had me on a stage in the second grade,” he said. “I always found myself in comic relief roles.” On stage with Bozo Red, Wiese complements his frenetic stage presence by donning a ﬂoor-length red coat, a British soldier’s World War II helmet, combat boots

and striped chef’s pants. Blues music, Wiese said, is the foundation of everything he does. His ﬁrst in-person exposure to blues was a performance by Louisiana-born blues star Buddy Guy at the Baton Rouge Blues Festival. Later, he participated in the weekly blues jams at Phil Brady’s Bar & Grill. But broader musical interests compelled Wiese beyond blues. “I loved the Chicago-style blues, but the bass playing is constricting,” he said. “That’s why I got into original music, the local DIY, doit-yourself scene.” Boza Red’s album, recorded at the local Studio Dudio, as well as Ladyrat Records, are DYI, grassroots projects. Wiese, Conner Guiberteau and Brian Domingue founded Ladyrat Records with idealistic goals in mind. “It’s not just people making noise for the sake of noise,” he said. “These people have passion. When we ﬁnd that quality in people, we want to put it on record. Our only thing is, don’t punch down and don’t only be in it for fame.” Email John Wirt at j_ wirt@msn.com.

scene this year, Wild Beals Speedway. The company will not only be bringing speeding pigs, but also racing goats and ducks. “On the weekends, we will have Louisiana Snake ID who will be talking to people about snakes and showing different snakes in cages,” Barton said. The chairman said Tina Miser, the Human Cannonball, also is expected to draw crowds. Among the acts and activities scheduled for return engagements are: n The one-man band Washboard Willie, who circulates the fairgrounds performing daily; n Strolling magician Tim Spinoso, who demonstrates his tricks to visitors daily; n A caricature artist; n Face painting done by

clowns; n Stage entertainment; n Agriculture shows; n A student volunteer awards ceremony; n Oyster shell painting; n Special events including a Lego competition. And that’s just a start. For a complete schedule of events and entertainment, go to gbrsf.com. “But when you stop and consider for $15, you can stay all day. You can see the Human Cannonball, you can see the pig racing, there’s a lot you can see for that,” Barton said in explaining that despite the rising expense of producing the fair, the base gate admission hasn’t risen. Weekday discounts also are available. Ride coupons and wristbands are an extra charge. For more ticket info, visit etix.com.

YEARS

Hosted by JAMES FOX-SMITH of Country Roads Magazine This episode features Brandon Juan Surtain - a painter whose interest in art and architecture is rooted in preservation and life both before and after Hurricane Katrina.

TONIGHT•8PM

KLPB 24

www.lpb.org

The Acadiana Advocate ● theadvocate.com ● Friday, October 23, 2026 ● 7C

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FrAnK And erneSt

roSebUdS

zItS

zodIAC LIBRA (sept. 23-oct. 23) You are stepping into new territory. Keep your eyes wide open and your money and possessions in a safe place. Ditch pie-in-the-sky ideas that offer little gain and take up plenty of your valuable time. scoRPIo (oct. 24-nov. 22) Doing too much too fast will backfire. Slow down; refuse to get wrapped up in someone else's ideas, problems or scams. Distance yourself from negativity, and cling to people and projects that help you grow. sAGITTARIus (nov. 23-Dec. 21) Let the creative juices flow, and start building the life you want to live. Separate yourself from those heading in a different direction, and align yourself with those who share your vision. cAPRIcoRn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) You have more maneuverability than you realize. Don't sit tight when you can reach out and communicate with people who have traveled the path you want to take. AQuARIus (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) You are overdue for a change of pace. Gear up and get ready to engage in what's available, and discover what works best for you. Don't sit back when action is necessary. PIscEs (Feb. 20-March 20) Invest in and take better care of yourself. Let go of whatever is holding you back, and head in a direction that offers hope for a better future. Avoid financial and health issues tied to stress. ARIEs (March 21-April 19) Keep the momentum flowing. Start conversa-

tions, share your thoughts and recognize who and what will help you reach your goal. Transitions can be favorable if cultivated properly. TAuRus (April 20-May 20) Slow down, be methodical and press forward with questions, adjustments and caution when agreeing to requests. Focus on quality, content and separating yourself from any competition you encounter. GEMInI (May 21-June 20) Raise questions, embrace change and align yourself with those who have something of interest to share. Put your energy into emerging as the best version of yourself and offering what you can to those in need. cAncER (June 21-July 22) Don't waste your time and energy on situations you have no control over. Concentrate on what makes you happy, creative pursuits that soothe your soul and spending time with those who enrich your life. LEo (July 23-Aug. 22) Keep life simple, conversations factual and offers doable. Refuse to let ego or power plays put you in a vulnerable position. Domestic problems will surface if you don't hold up your end of a bargain. VIRGo (Aug. 23-sept. 22) Thinking ahead and talking to experts will point you in the right direction. Avoid snap decisions. Protect your reputation. Offer only what's feasible. The horoscope, an entertainment feature, is not based on scientific fact. © 2026 by NEA, Inc., dist. By Andrews McMeel Syndication

For better or For WorSe WonderWord

peAnUtS

SALLY Forth

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

ToDAy's cLuE: T EQuALs R

Mother GooSe And GrIMM

SherMAn’S LAGoon FAMILY CIrCUS

dooneSbUrY

8C ● Friday, October 23, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

CurTiS

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

BaBY BLueS

BLondie

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The Acadiana Advocate ● theadvocate.com ● Friday, October 23, 2026 ● 9C

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B.C.

Bridge By PHILLIP ALDER MarkTwainwrote,“Hismoneyistwice tainted: ‘taint yours and ‘taint mine.” ‘Taint that just the case! It is great to get twice the money for one piece of work. At the bridge table, as we saw yesterday, that is sometimes possible in the bidding. I pointed out that a jump-shift response by a passed hand is fit-showing: length in that suit and partner’s suit. That was in an uncontested auction. When the opponents sail in, I like to use fit-jumps even by an unpassed hand. I jump as high as I am willing to drive the auction. In this deal, after South opens one diamond and West overcalls one heart, North jumps to two spades, showing a limited hand with five spades and fourplus diamonds. (With a stronger hand, North could jump to three spades.) The auction then proceeds to five diamonds by South. West leads the heart ace and shifts to his trump. East wins and plays a club. How should South continue after guessing well to win with his club ace? Declarer needs three dummy entries: one to take the spade finesse, one to ruff out East’s spade king, and one to reach the established spade winners. Those entries are a heart ruff, the diamond queen and the diamond six — did you see the necessity for South not to play

garfield

Pearls Before swiNe

hagar the horriBle

his diamond five at trick two? Then you can bring home the contract with four spades, five diamonds, one club and the heart ruff. Note that if North initially responds one spade, East would jump to four hearts and leave both North and South wondering what to do. © 2026 by NEA, Inc., dist. By Andrews McMeel Syndication

wuzzles Each Wuzzle is a word riddle which creates a disguised word, phrase, name, place, saying, etc. For example: NOON GOOD = GOOD AFTERNOON

PiCKles

Previous answers:

mallard fillmore

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

ToDAy’s WoRD — AMnEsIc: am-NEE-sik: One who has lost memory.

Bizarro

marmaduKe

Average mark 29 words Time limit 40 minutes Can you find 36 or more words in AMNESIC? yEsTERDAy’s WoRD — EFFIcAcIous face fiasco ficus fief fife fisc focus fuse cafe case cause

ciao cisco coca coif cuff accuse office safe sauce scoff scuff

secco sofa suffice

loCKhorNs hidato Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer

today’s thought “The ear that hears the reproof of life stays among the wise. He that refuses instruction despises his own soul: but he that hears reproof gets understanding.” Proverbs 15:31-32 What kind of person are you? — G.E. Dean

10C ● Friday, October 23, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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Public Notices Meet/Hear/Min

OPERATING BUDGET OF THE LAFAYETTE CITYPARISH CONSOLIDATED GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE FOR ADJUSTMENTS OF REVENUE AND APPROPRIATION ESTIMATES

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Pets

LOST PROMISSORY NOTE: Anyone knowing the whereabouts or having possession of one (1) certain Promissory Note originally in favor of BancorpSouth Bank, a State Chartered Bank executed by Song Liu and Jing Liu., dated 10/05/2020, in the original loan amount of $216,480.00, please contact Elizabeth Crowell Price by mail at 1505 N 19th Street, Monroe, LA 71201 or by phone at 801-355-2886. 204620-October 22-24, 3t $221.74

Garage Sales

CATS RAGAMUFFIN & RAGDOLL KITTENS www.CatsByFrancy.com/kittens $1500up! Reg. Shots & Guaranty 337-230-3150 CKC YORKIE puppies vet checked shot worming meet halfway $750.00 334-467-3416

CARENCRO Garage Sale 121 Ancestral Rd, off Hwy 1252 Friday 12pm-6pm Saturday 9am-until

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Public Notices Bids/Proposals

tution of the United States, the following propositions, to-wit:

PUBLIC NOTICE --NOTICE TO BIDDERS Notice is hereby given that sealed bids will be received until 11:00 AM, Wednesday, November 18, 2026, at the Scott City Hall Building, 125 Lions Club Road, Scott, Louisiana and shall thereafter be opened and publicly read aloud for: I-10 SOUTH FRONTAGE ROAD – HAROLD GAUTHE DRIVE – ABIGAYLES ROW OVERLAY AND RECONSTRUCTION The project will consist of patching, reconstruct‐ ing and overlaying roads in various locations within the City of Scott. Bids received after the time specified above will not be considered. The Specifications and Documents may be ex‐ amined at the City Hall building of the City of Scott and may be ob‐ tained at the office of Grooms Engineering, LLC, 714 East Kaliste Saloom Lafayette, Road C4, Louisiana 70508 (337-2610693) upon the payment of $80.00 for each set. De‐ posits on the first set of documents furnished bono fide prime bidders will be fully refunded upon return of the docu‐ ments no later than ten days after receipt of bids. On other sets of documents furnished to bidders the deposit less actual cost of reproduc‐ tion, will be refunded upon return of the docu‐ ments no later than ten days after receipt of bids. If the Bidder in‐ tends to have the specifi‐ cations shipped, prior prepaid arrangements must be made with a third party courier or parcel shipping service. No specifications shall be released without the above deposit in receipt at the office of Grooms Engineering, LLC. The Specifications and Docu‐ ments shall be available until twenty-four (24) hours before the time scheduled for the open‐ ing of bids. Bids shall be submitted inside a sealed envelope addressed to City of Scott showing the name of the project as above and the name of the Bid‐ der. Any Bidder submit‐ ting a bid in the amount of $50,000.00 or more shall be a licensed con‐ tractor in accordance with Louisiana R.S. 37:2150-2164 and shall show the license number on the front of the sealed envelope in which the bid is enclosed. The Bid‐ der shall hold a license with the classification ‘Highway, street and bridge construction’ or its subclassification ‘Highway, street and bridge construction – Permanent or paved highways and streets (asphalt hot and cold plant mix)’ as issued by the State of Louisiana Li‐ censing Board for Con‐ tractors. Bids submitted not in accordance with these requirements shall be rejected and returned unopened to the Bidder. Bids must be submitted on the Bid Form included in the Specifications and the Documents. Each bid shall be accom‐ panied by a Certified Check, Cashier’s Check, or Bid Bond payable to the City of Scott, the amount of which is not to be less than five (5) percent of the total bid. This surety shall be given as a guarantee that the bidder will execute the contract should it be awarded to him in con‐ formity with the Docu‐ ments. A Performance Bond and a Payment Bond each in the full amount of the contract must be completed upon award of the contract by the successful bidder. No Bidder may withdraw the submitted bid for at least forty-five (45) days after the time scheduled for the opening of bids, except to withdraw bids in accordance with Title 38 of the Louisiana Re‐ vised Statutes. CITY OF SCOTT, LOUISIANA /s/ Jan-Scott Richard, Mayor /s/ Shelley Gautreau, Clerk Publish: Friday, October 23, 2026 Friday, October 30, 2026 Friday, November 6, 2026 204443 Oct. 23, 30, Nov. 6, 3t $152.23

Legal Notices

PUBLIC NOTICE --NOTICE OF SPECIAL ELECTION Pursuant to the provi‐ sions of a resolution adopted by the Lafayette City Council (the "Gov‐ erning Authority"), act‐ ing as the governing au‐ thority of the City of Lafayette, State of Louisiana (the "City"), on August 4, 2026, NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a special election will be held within the City on SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2026, and that at the said election there will be submitted to all regis‐ tered voters in the City qualiﬁed and entitled to vote at the said election under the Constitution and Laws of the State of Louisiana and the Consti‐

PROPOSITION NO. 1 OF 4 (RECREATION) (MILLAGE CONTINUA‐ TION) Shall the City of Lafayette, State of Louisiana (the "City"), continue to levy a 2.01 mills tax on all property subject to taxation in the City (an estimated $3,810,000 reasonably ex‐ pected at this time to be collected from the levy of the tax for an entire year), for a period of 10 years, beginning with the year 2029 and ending with the year 2038, for the purpose of maintain‐ ing and operating the playgrounds, recreation centers and other recre‐ ation activities within the City, said millage to represent a 0.09 mills in‐ crease (due to reap‐ praisal) over the 1.92 mills tax authorized to be levied through the year 2028 pursuant to an elec‐ tion held on April 28, 2018? PROPOSITION NO. 2 OF 4 (PUBLIC BUILDINGS) (MILLAGE CONTINUA‐ TION) Shall the City of Lafayette, State of Louisiana (the "City"), continue to levy a 1.18 mills tax on all property subject to taxation in the City (an estimated $2,230,000 reasonably ex‐ pected at this time to be collected from the levy of the tax for an entire year), for a period of 10 years, beginning with the year 2028 and ending with the year 2037, for the purpose of maintain‐ ing and operating public buildings of the City, said millage to represent a 0.05 mills increase (due to reappraisal) over the 1.13 mills tax authorized to be levied through the year 2027 pursuant to an election held on April 29, 2017? PROPOSITION NO. 3 OF 4 (STREETS, ROADS AND ALLEYS) (MILLAGE CONTINUA‐ TION) Shall the City of Lafayette, State of Louisiana (the "City"), continue to levy a 1.35 mills tax on all property subject to taxation in the City (an estimated $2,560,000 reasonably ex‐ pected at this time to be collected from the levy of the tax for an entire year), for a period of 10 years, beginning with the year 2029 and ending with the year 2038, for the purpose of the main‐ tenance of the public streets, roads and alleys within the City, said mill‐ age to represent a 0.06 mills increase (due to reappraisal) over the 1.29 mills tax authorized to be levied through the year 2028 pursuant to an elec‐ tion held on April 28, 2018? PROPOSITION NO. 4 OF 4 (PUBLIC SAFETY MAINTE‐ NANCE) (MILLAGE CONTINUA‐ TION) Shall the City of Lafayette, State of Louisiana (the "City"), continue to levy a 3.33 mills tax on all property subject to taxation in the City (an estimated $6,310,000 reasonably ex‐ pected at this time to be collected from the levy of the tax for an entire year), for a period of 30 years, beginning with the year 2028 and ending with the year 2057, for the purpose of operating, maintaining and support‐ ing the Police and Fire Departments of the City, including pension and re‐ tirement liabilities, said millage to represent a 0.05 mills increase (due to reappraisal) over the 3.28 mills tax authorized to be levied through the year 2027 pursuant to an election held on Novem‐ ber 15, 1997? The said special election shall be held at the polling places for the fol‐ lowing precincts, which polls will open at seven o'clock (7:00) a.m. and close at eight o'clock (8:00) p.m., in accor‐ dance with the provi‐ sions of La. R.S. 18:541, to wit: PRECINCTS 07(PART) 09(PART) 10(PART) 11(PART) 12(PART) 13(PART) 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24(PART) 25(PART) 30(PART) 31(PART) 32(PART) 33(PART) 34(PART) 35(PART) 38(PART) 39(PART) 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50(PART) 51 52 53 54(PART) 55(PART) 56 57 58 59(PART) 60 63 64(PART) 65 66 67(PART) 68 69 70 72 73

Legal Notices

74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86(PART) 87 88 89 90 91(PART) 92(PART) 93(PART) 94 95(PART) 96(PART) 97(PART) 104(PART) 105(PART) 109(PART) 112(PART) 113(PART) 115(PART) 117(PART) 120(PART) 121(PART) 125(PART) 126(PART) 127(PART) 128(PART) 130(PART) The polling places for the precincts in the City are hereby designated as the polling places at which to hold the said election, and the Commissionersin-Charge and Commis‐ sioners, respectively, shall be those persons designated according to law. The estimated cost of this election as deter‐ mined by the Secretary of State based upon the provisions of Chapter 8-A of Title 18 and actual costs of similar elections is $88,000. Notice is further given that a portion of the monies collected from the taxes described in the Propositions shall be remitted to certain state and statewide retirement systems in the manner required by law. The said special election will be held in accor‐ dance with the applica‐ ble provisions of Chapter 5, Chapter 6-A and Chap‐ ter 6-B of Title 18 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, as amended, and other con‐ stitutional and statutory authority, and the offi‐ cers appointed to hold the said election, as pro‐ vided in this Notice of Special Election, or such substitutes therefor as may be selected and designated in accor‐ dance with La. R.S. 18:1287, will make due re‐ turns thereof to said Governing Authority, and NOTICE IS HEREBY FUR‐ THER GIVEN that the Gov‐ will erning Authority meet at its regular meet‐ ing place, the Council Au‐ ditorium, 705 West Uni‐ versity Avenue, Lafayette, Louisiana, on TUESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2027, at 5:30 P.M., and shall then and there in open and public session proceed to examine and canvass the returns and declare the result of the said special election. All registered voters of the City are entitled to vote at said special election and voting machines will be used. /s/ Joseph Gordon-Wiltz JOSEPH GORDON-WILTZ, LAFAYETTE CLERK OF THE COUNCIL 202926-oct 2-9-16-23-4t $323.84 PUBLIC NOTICE --NOTICE OF SPECIAL ELECTION Pursuant to the provi‐ sions of a resolution adopted by the Lafayette Parish Council (the "Gov‐ erning Authority"), act‐ ing as the governing au‐ thority of the Parish of Lafayette, State of Louisiana (the "Parish"), on August 4, 2026, NO‐ TICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a special election will be held within the Parish on SATURDAY, DE‐ CEMBER 12, 2026, and that at the said election there will be submitted to all registered voters in the Parish qualified and entitled to vote at the said election under the Constitution and Laws of the State of Louisiana and the Constitution of the United States, the fol‐ lowing propositions, towit: PROPOSITION NO. 1 OF 5 (BOND) Shall the Parish of Lafayette, State of Louisiana (the "Parish"), incur debt and issue not exceeding $77,000,000 of general obligation bonds, in one or more series, to run not exceeding 30 years from the date thereof, to bear interest at rates not exceeding 7% per annum, and to be payable from ad valorem taxes to be levied and collected in the manner provided by Article VI, Section 33 of the Louisiana Constitution of 1974, as amended, and other constitutional and statutory authority, for the purposes of con‐ structing, acquiring and improving public infra‐ structure, including pub‐ lic roads, highways and bridges, and related drainage to address commuter congestion in the Parish, title to which shall be in the public, with no estimated in‐ crease in the millage rate to be levied in the first year above the 1.85 mills currently being levied to pay the general obliga‐ tion bonds of the Parish? PROPOSITION NO. 2 OF 5 (LIBRARY) (MILLAGE CONTINUA‐ TION) Shall the Parish of Lafayette, State of Louisiana (the "Parish"), continue to levy a special tax of 3.12 mills on all property subject to taxa‐ tion in the Parish (an es‐ timated $9,050,000 rea‐

sonably expected at this time to be collected from the levy of the tax for an entire year), for a period of 10 years, beginning with the year 2027 and ending with the year 2036, for the purpose of the maintenance and support of the public li‐ brary of Lafayette Parish and its branches, said millage to represent a 0.21 mills increase (due to reappraisal) over the 2.91 mills tax authorized to be levied through the year 2026 pursuant to an election held on Novem‐ ber 8, 2016? PROPOSITION NO. 3 OF 5 (MINIMUM SECURITY DE‐ TENTION & CORREC‐ TIONAL FACILITY) (MILLAGE CONTINUA‐ TION) Shall the Parish of Lafayette, State of Louisiana (the "Parish"), continue to levy a 2.21 mills tax on all property subject to taxation in the Parish (an estimated $6,410,000 reasonably ex‐ pected at this time to be collected from the levy of the tax for an entire year), for a period of 10 years, beginning with the year 2028 and ending with the year 2037, for the purpose of the main‐ taining, operating and improving the minimum security detention and correctional facility, said millage to represent a 0.15 mills increase (due to reappraisal) over the 2.06 mills tax authorized to be levied through the year 2027 pursuant to an election held on Novem‐ ber 18, 2017? PROPOSITION NO. 4 OF 5 (JUVENILE DETENTION) (MILLAGE CONTINUA‐ TION) Shall the Parish of Lafayette, State of Louisiana (the "Parish"), continue to levy a 1.25 mills tax on all property subject to taxation in the Parish (an estimated $3,620,000 reasonably ex‐ pected at this time to be collected from the levy of the tax for an entire year), for a period of 10 years, beginning with the year 2029 and ending with the year 2038, for the purpose of acquiring, improving, operating and maintaining the juvenile detention and juvenile rehabilitation facilities in the Parish, said millage to represent a 0.08 mills increase (due to reap‐ praisal) over the 1.17 mills tax authorized to be levied through the year 2028 pursuant to an elec‐ tion held on April 28, 2018? PROPOSITION NO. 5 OF 5 (COURTHOUSE & JAIL COMPLEX) (MILLAGE CONTINUA‐ TION) Parish of Shall the Lafayette, State of Louisiana (the "Parish"), continue to levy a 2.51 mills tax on all property subject to taxation in the Parish (an estimated $7,280,000 reasonably ex‐ pected at this time to be collected from the levy of the tax for an entire year), for a period of 10 years, beginning with the year 2028 and ending with the year 2037, for the purpose of the main‐ taining, operating and improving the Lafayette Parish Courthouse Com‐ plex, said millage to rep‐ resent a 0.17 mills in‐ crease (due to reap‐ praisal) over the 2.34 mills tax authorized to be levied through the year 2027 pursuant to an elec‐ tion held on November 18, 2017? The said special election shall be held at each and every polling place in the Parish, which polls will open at seven o'clock (7:00) a.m. and close at eight o'clock (8:00) p.m., in accordance with the provisions of La. R.S. 18:541. The polling places for the precincts in the Parish are hereby designated as the polling places at which to hold the said election, and the Com‐ missioners-in-Charge and Commissioners, re‐ spectively, shall be those persons designated ac‐ cording to law. The estimated cost of this election as deter‐ mined by the Secretary of State based upon the provisions of Chapter 8-A of Title 18 and actual costs of similar elections is $111,500. Notice is further given that a portion of the monies collected from the taxes described in the Propositions shall be remitted to certain state and statewide retirement systems in the manner required by law. The said special election will be held in accor‐ dance with the applica‐ ble provisions of Chapter 5, Chapter 6-A and Chap‐ ter 6-B of Title 18 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, as amended, and other con‐ stitutional and statutory authority, and the ofﬁ‐ cers appointed to hold the said election, as pro‐ vided in this Notice of Special Election, or such substitutes therefor as may be selected and designated in accor‐ dance with La. R.S. 18:1287, will make due re‐ turns thereof to said Governing Authority, and NOTICE IS HEREBY FUR‐ THER GIVEN that the Gov‐ erning Authority will meet at its regular meet‐ ing place, the Council Au‐ ditorium, 705 West Uni‐ versity Avenue, Lafayette, Louisiana, on TUESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2027, at 4:30 P.M., and shall then and there in open and public session proceed to examine and canvass the returns and declare the result of the said special election. All registered voters of the Parish are entitled to vote at said special elec‐ tion and voting machines will be used. /s/ Joseph Gordon-Wiltz JOSEPH GORDON-WILTZ, LAFAYETTE CLERK OF THE COUNCIL 202949-OCT 2-9-16-23-4T $279.24

Public Notices Meet/Hear/Min

PUBLIC NOTICE --NOTICE The Lafayette City Coun‐ cil and the Lafayette Parish Council each met in Regular Session on Oc‐ tober 20, 2026 and adopted the following or‐ dinances: ORDINANCE NO. JO-048-2026 A JOINT ORDINANCE OF THE LAFAYETTE CITY COUNCIL AND THE LAFAYETTE PARISH COUNCIL AMENDING THE FY 25/26

BE IT ORDAINED by the Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council, that: SECTION 1: The FY 25/26 operating budget of the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Govern‐ ment is hereby amended to provide for various ad‐ justments of revenue and appropriation estimates. SECTION 2: All revenue projections for the FY 25/26 have been re‐ viewed by the Office of Finance and Manage‐ ment and recalculated in light of actual receipts to date. Appropriation line items have also been re‐ viewed by the Office of Finance and Manage‐ ment and amended where necessary. SECTION 3: The adjust‐ ments shall be as re‐ flected in any pertinent documents which are at‐ tached hereto and made a part hereof and filed in the Office of the Clerk of the Council. SECTION 4: All ordi‐ nances or resolutions, or parts thereof, in conflict herewith are hereby re‐ pealed. SECTION 5: After first having been adopted by a majority of the autho‐ rized membership of both the Lafayette Parish Council and the Lafayette City Council, this joint ordinance shall become effective upon signature of this joint or‐ dinance by the Lafayette Mayor-President, the elapse of ten (10) days after receipt by the Lafayette Mayor-Presi‐ dent without signature or veto, or upon override of a veto, whichever oc‐ curs first. ***** ORDINANCE NO. JO-049-2026 A JOINT ORDINANCE OF THE LAFAYETTE CITY COUNCIL AND THE LAFAYETTE PARISH COUNCIL AMENDING THE FY 25/26 OPERATING BUDGET OF THE LAFAYETTE CITYPARISH CONSOLIDATED GOVERNMENT BY AUTHORIZING THE TRANSFER OF $200,000 IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG) FUNDS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND PLANNING DEPARTMENT TO THE HOUSING LOANS PROGRAM BE IT ORDAINED by the Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council, that: SECTION 1: The FY 25/26 operating budget of the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Govern‐ ment is hereby amended by transferring $200,000 in CDBG funds within the Community Development and Planning Depart‐ ment to the Housing Loans Program. Funds will be used for First Time Home Buyer loan activities and other CDBG-eligible in-house loan activities. SECTION 2: This transfer of funds shall be contin‐ gent upon completion of environmental reviews and the finding of no sig‐ nificant impact as reached in accordance with HUD environmental review regulations. SECTION 3: This transfer of funds shall be as re‐ flected in any pertinent documents which are at‐ tached hereto and made a part hereof and filed in the Office of the Clerk of the Council. SECTION 4: The Commu‐ nity Development and Planning Department is hereby granted the au‐ thority to recognize, via administrative budget re‐ vision, the annual CDBG program income re‐ ceived at the end of the program year. CDBG pro‐ gram income must be recognized before the end of the Lafayette CityParish Consolidated Gov‐ ernment’s fiscal year end, but program income is not known until Octo‐ ber 1 of each year, leav‐ ing insufficient time to recognize program in‐ come through a Council ordinance. SECTION 5: The Lafayette Mayor-President, or her designee, is hereby au‐ thorized to amend the operating budget within the grant period by transferring any unex‐ pended appropriated balances into or out of salaries and benefits line items and all other ex‐ pense line items in order to expend the total award amount in accor‐ dance with the CDBG reg‐ ulations. SECTION 6: All ordi‐ nances or resolutions, or parts thereof, in conflict herewith are hereby re‐ pealed. SECTION 7: After first having been adopted by a majority of the autho‐ rized membership of both the Lafayette Parish Council and the Lafayette City Council, this joint ordinance shall become effective upon signature of this joint or‐ dinance by the Lafayette Mayor-President, the elapse of ten (10) days after receipt by the Lafayette Mayor-Presi‐ dent without signature or veto, or upon override of a veto, whichever oc‐ curs first. ***** /s/ Joseph Gordon-Wiltz JOSEPH GORDON-WILTZ LAFAYETTE CLERK OF THE COUNCIL 204859 Oct. 23 1t $48.49 PUBLIC NOTICE --NOTICE The Lafayette City Coun‐ cil and the Lafayette Parish Council each met in Regular Sessions on October 20, 2026 and in‐ troduced the following ordinance. JO-050-2026 A joint ordi‐ nance of the Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council amending the FY 26/27 capital budget of the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Govern‐ ment by transferring $5,000 from the Environ‐ mental Quality Reserve to the Dean Domingue Compost Facility within the Capital Improve‐ ments Department, Envi‐ ronmental Quality Divi‐ sion for additional fund‐ ing needed. The ordinance will ap‐ pear before the each, the Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council for public hear‐ ing and final adoption in the Ted A. Ardoin CityParish Council Audito‐ rium located at 705 W. University Avenue, Lafayette, LA on Novem‐ ber 10, 2026. /s/ Joseph Gordon-Wiltz JOSEPH GORDON-WILTZ LAFAYETTE CLERK OF THE COUNCIL 204861 Oct. 23 1t $10.97

Public Notices Meet/Hear/Min

PUBLIC NOTICE --NOTICE The Lafayette City Coun‐ cil met in Regular Ses‐ sion on October 20, 2026 and introduced the fol‐ lowing ordinances. CO-093-2026 An ordi‐ nance of the Lafayette City Council amending the Lafayette Develop‐ ment Code so as to re‐ classify the property of Case No. 2026-16-REZ Lots 4-12, Block 6, Gen‐ eral Mouton Avenue Re‐ zoning, located generally north of Rose Street, west of General Mouton Avenue, and south of Vi‐ olet Street; being re‐ zoned from CH (Commer‐ cial-Heavy) to MN-1 (Mixed-Use Neighbor‐ hood). CO-094-2026 An ordi‐ nance of the Lafayette City Council approving a Conditional Use Permit to allow a bar/lounge in a D (Downtown) Zoning Dis‐ trict, Case No. 2026-17REZ 201 Jefferson Street, Suite B CUP (Conditional Use Permit), located gen‐ erally north of Lee Av‐ enue, west of East Cy‐ press Street, and south of Jefferson Street. CO-095-2026 An ordi‐ nance of the Lafayette City Council amending the Lafayette Develop‐ ment Code and the offi‐ cial map of the City of Lafayette, providing for the annexation of addi‐ tional land into the Cor‐ porate Limits of the City of Lafayette, Louisiana, Case No. 2026-19-REZ 1409 East Butcher Switch Road #C (Lot 1) Annexa‐ tion, located generally north of East Butcher Switch Road, east of Louisiana Avenue, and south of Gloria Switch Road; and assigning a zoning classification of RS-1 (Residential SingleFamily) (District 1). CO-096-2026 An ordi‐ nance of the Lafayette City Council amending the FY 26/27 operating and capital budget of the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Govern‐ ment by transferring $225,509.80 from various capital budget line items and appropriating to pur‐ chase three (3) replace‐ ment 1-ton dual crew trucks with 3-yard bed within the Drainage De‐ partment. The ordinances will ap‐ pear before the Lafayette City Council for public hearing and final adop‐ tion in the Ted A. Ardoin City-Parish Council Audi‐ torium located at 705 W. University Avenue, Lafayette, LA on Novem‐ ber 10, 2026. /s/ Joseph Gordon-Wiltz JOSEPH GORDON-WILTZ LAFAYETTE CLERK OF THE COUNCIL 204863 Oct. 23 1t $22.12 PUBLIC NOTICE --NOTICE The Lafayette Parish Council met in Regular Session on October 20, 2026 and introduced the following ordinance. PO-050-2026 An ordi‐ nance of the Lafayette Parish Council amending the FY 26/27 operating budget of the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government by adjusting the manning tables within the Library De‐ partment by adjusting the status of one (1) Li‐ brary Technical Assistant I less-than full time posi‐ tion to a regular full-time position. The ordinance will ap‐ pear before the Lafayette Parish Council for public hearing and final adop‐ tion in the Ted A. Ardoin City-Parish Council Audi‐ torium located at 705 W. University Avenue, Lafayette, LA on Novem‐ ber 10, 2026. /s/ Joseph Gordon-Wiltz JOSEPH GORDON-WILTZ LAFAYETTE CLERK OF THE COUNCIL 204858 Oct. 23 1t $9.47

Public Notices Meet/Hear/Min

PARISH ORDINANCE NO. PO-047-2026 AN ORDINANCE OF THE LAFAYETTE PARISH COUNCIL AMENDING THE FY 25/26 OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGET OF THE LAFAYETTE CITYPARISH CONSOLIDATED GOVERNMENT BY TRANSFERRING $15,950 FROM THE PARISH COUNCIL DISTRICT 5 CAPITAL APPROPRIATION TO THE PARKS, ARTS, RECREATION & CULTURE DEPARTMENT FOR MISCELLANEOUS INTERIOR DESIGNS AND IMPROVEMENTS BE IT ORDAINED by the Lafayette Parish Council, that: SECTION 1: The Lafayette Parish Council desires to provide funding assis‐ tance to the Parks, Arts, Recreation & Culture De‐ partment for miscella‐ neous interior designs and improvements through the reallocation of existing Parish Council District 5 capital appro‐ priations budgeted at $60,000, but with a cur‐ rent balance of $46,789.77. SECTION 2: The FY 25/26 Operating and Capital Budget of the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government is hereby amended by transferring $15,950 from the Parish Council District 5 Capital Appropriation to the Parks, Arts, Recreation & Culture Department for miscellaneous interior designs and improve‐ ments. SECTION 3: These adjust‐ ments shall be as re‐ flected in any pertinent documents which are at‐ tached hereto and made a part hereof and filed in the Office of the Clerk of the Council. SECTION 4: All ordi‐ nances or resolutions, or parts thereof, in conflict herewith are hereby re‐ pealed. SECTION 5: This ordi‐ nance shall become ef‐ fective upon signature of the Lafayette MayorPresident, the elapse of ten (10) days after re‐ ceipt by the Lafayette Mayor-President without signature or veto, or upon an override of a veto, whichever occurs first. ***** PARISH ORDINANCE NO. PO-048-2026 AN ORDINANCE OF THE LAFAYETTE PARISH COUNCIL AMENDING THE FY 25/26 OPERATING & CAPITAL BUDGET OF THE LAFAYETTE CITYPARISH CONSOLIDATED GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE FOR ADJUSTMENTS OF REVENUE AND APPROPRIATION ESTIMATES BE IT ORDAINED by the Lafayette Parish Council, that: SECTION 1: The FY 25/26 operating & capital bud‐ get of the Lafayette CityParish Consolidated Gov‐ ernment is hereby amended to provide for various adjustments of revenue and appropria‐ tion estimates. SECTION 2: All revenue projections for the FY 25/26 have been re‐ viewed by the Office of Finance and Manage‐ ment and recalculated in light of actual receipts to date. Appropriation line items have also been re‐ viewed by the Office of Finance and Manage‐ ment and amended where necessary. SECTION 3: The adjust‐ ments shall be as re‐ flected in any pertinent documents which are at‐ tached hereto and made a part hereof and filed in the Office of the Clerk of the Council. SECTION 4: All ordi‐ nances or resolutions, or parts thereof, in conflict herewith are hereby re‐ pealed. SECTION 5: This ordi‐ nance shall become ef‐ fective upon signature of the Lafayette MayorPresident, the elapse of ten (10) days after re‐ ceipt by the Lafayette Mayor-President without signature or veto, or upon an override of a veto, whichever occurs first.

PUBLIC NOTICE ---

*****

NOTICE

PARISH ORDINANCE NO. PO-049-2026

The Lafayette Parish Council met in Regular Session on October 20, 2026 and adopted the fol‐ lowing ordinances: PARISH ORDINANCE NO. PO-046-2026 AN ORDINANCE OF THE LAFAYETTE PARISH COUNCIL AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. PO-033-2026 TO AUTHORIZE THE FUNDING REALLOCATED THEREIN TO ALSO BE USED FOR THE PURCHASE OF A RESCUE VEHICLE RATHER THAN FOR THE PURCHASE OF A WASHER AND DRYER BE IT ORDAINED by the Lafayette Parish Council, that: WHEREAS, Ordinance No. PO-033-2026 amended the FY 25/26 operating and capital budget of the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Govern‐ ment by transferring $10,000 from the Parish Council District 2 Capital Appropriation to the Duson Volunteer Fire De‐ partment within Section 4190 - Parishwide Fire Protection for the pur‐ chase of gas monitors, a washer, a dryer, and mis‐ cellaneous costs associ‐ ated therewith; and WHEREAS, the Duson Vol‐ unteer Fire Department has determined that the need for a rescue vehicle is more pressing than the need for a washer and dryer; and WHEREAS, the Lafayette Parish Council desires to amend Ordinance No. PO-033-2026 to authorize the funding reallocated therein, to be used not only for gas monitors but also for the purchase of a rescue vehicle rather than for the purchase of a washer and dryer. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED by the Lafayette Parish Council, that: SECTION 1: All of the aforedescribed “Whereas” clauses are herein adopted as part of this ordinance. SECTION 2: Parish Ordi‐ nance No. PO-033-2026 is hereby amended to au‐ thorize the funding real‐ located therein, to be used not only for gas monitors but also for the purchase of a rescue ve‐ hicle rather than for the purchase of a washer and dryer, and, to that end, the words “a washer, a dryer” in the title and Section 2 of said ordinance are removed and replaced with “a res‐ cue vehicle.” SECTION 3: All ordi‐ nances and resolutions, or parts thereof, in con‐ ﬂict herewith are hereby repealed. SECTION 4: This ordi‐ nance shall become ef‐ fective upon the signa‐ ture of the Lafayette Mayor-President, the elapse of ten (10) days after receipt by the Lafayette Mayor-Presi‐ dent without signature or veto, or upon override of a veto, whichever oc‐ curs ﬁrst. *****

AN ORDINANCE OF THE LAFAYETTE PARISH COUNCIL AUTHORIZING THE LAFAYETTE MAYOR-PRESIDENT TO ENTER INTO A COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE LAFAYETTE CITYPARISH CONSOLIDATED GOVERNMENT, THE LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY AND THE STATE OF LOUISIANA CONCERNING ACT 3 OF THE 2026 REGULAR LEGISLATIVE SESSION OF THE LOUISIANA LEGISLATURE AND AMENDING THE FY 25/26 CAPITAL BUDGET OF THE LAFAYETTE CITY-PARISH CONSOLIDATED GOVERNMENT BY INCREASING REVENUES IN THE AMOUNT OF $40,000 RECEIVED FROM THE STATE OF LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY AND APPROPRIATING WITHIN THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND PLANNING DEPARTMENT (8166) AS AN EXTERNAL APPROPRIATION FOR THE LAFAYETTE PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE FOR MILTON COMMUNITY CENTER CRIME CAMERAS LOCATED WITHIN THE COMMUNITY PARK NAMED PICARD PARK FUNDS WILL BE USED TO PURCHASE AND INSTALL THE SURVEILLANCE CAMERA EQUIPMENT THROUGHOUT THE PARK AND CONNECT TO THE LAFAYETTE PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE REAL TIME CRIME CENTER BE IT ORDAINED by the Lafayette Parish Council, that: WHEREAS, Act 3 of the 2026 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legisla‐ ture, which was adopted in accordance with Arti‐ cle VII, Section 10, of the Constitution of the State of Louisiana, is the ap‐ propriation for the ex‐ penditure of State funds and said Act 3 contains a line-item appropriation within the State’s budget for the beneﬁt of Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Govern‐ ment (LCG) of which the sum of $40,000 has been allocated for this project; and WHEREAS, Article VII, Section 14(C) of the 1974 Constitution of the State of Louisiana and LSA-R.S. 33:1324, et seq. provide that, for a public pur‐ pose, public entities, parishes, municipalities, and political subdivi‐ sions may engage in and make cooperative en‐ deavor agreements/in‐ tergovernmental agree‐ ments between them‐ selves for speciﬁc pur‐ poses. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED by the Lafayette Parish Council, that: SECTION 1: All of the aforedescribed “Whereas” clauses are adopted as part of this di

Public Notices Meet/Hear/Min p p ordinance. SECTION 2: The Lafayette Parish Council hereby authorizes the Lafayette Mayor-President to enter a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement with the Louisiana Department of Treasury and the State of Louisiana. SECTION 3: The FY 25/26 capital budget of the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Govern‐ ment is hereby amended by increasing revenues in the amount of $40,000 re‐ ceived from the State of Louisiana Department of Treasury and appropriat‐ ing within the Commu‐ nity Development and Planning Department (8166) as an external ap‐ propriation for the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office for Milton Commu‐ nity center crime cam‐ eras located within the community park named Picard Park. Funds will be used to purchase and in‐ stall the surveillance camera equipment throughout the park and connect to the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office Real Time Crime Center. SECTION 4: The Lafayette Parish Council hereby authorizes the Lafayette Mayor-President, or her designee, to conduct all negotiations, execute and submit all docu‐ ments, including but not limited to applications, agreements, amend‐ ments, payment re‐ quests, memoranda of understanding, and so on, which may be neces‐ sary for the completion of the aforementioned project. SECTION 5: This transfer of funds shall be as re‐ flected in any pertinent documents which are at‐ tached hereto and made a part hereof and filed in the Office of the Clerk of the Council. The Lafayette Mayor-Presi‐ dent, or her designee, is hereby authorized to amend the operating budget prior to project completion by de-oblig‐ ating any unused funds deemed unnecessary for the completion of the project, as approved by the Louisiana Depart‐ ment of Treasury. SECTION 6: All ordi‐ nances or resolutions, or parts thereof, in conflict herewith are hereby re‐ pealed. SECTION 7: This ordi‐ nance shall become ef‐ fective upon signature of the Lafayette MayorPresident, the elapse of ten (10) days after re‐ ceipt by the Lafayette Mayor-President without signature or veto, or upon an override of a veto, whichever occurs first. ***** /s/ Joseph Gordon-Wiltz JOSEPH GORDON-WILTZ LAFAYETTE CLERK OF THE COUNCIL 204857 Oct. 23 1t $103.15 PUBLIC NOTICE --PROCEEDINGS OF THE LAFAYETTE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING OF THE PARISH OF LAFAYETTE, STATE OF LOUISIANA, TAKEN AT A REGULAR MEETING OF OCTOBER 20, 2026 HELD AT 705 W. UNIVERSITY AVENUE, LAFAYETTE, LA. ATTENDANCE COUNCIL: Donald Richard (Chair, District 2), Ken Stansbury (Vice-Chair, District 3), Bryan Tabor (District 1), John Guil‐ beau (District 4) and AB Rubin (District 5) ABSENT: None COUNCIL STAFF: Joseph Gordon-Wiltz (Clerk of the Council), Cindy M. Semien (Associate Clerk for Legislative Affairs), Kelly Comeaux (Assis‐ tant Clerk for Legislative Affairs) Jeremy Richard‐ son (Associate Clerk for Operations and Citizen Advocacy). ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF: Monique B. Boulet (Mayor-President), Rachel Godeaux (Chief Administrative Officer), Robert A. Mahtook, Jr. (City-Parish Attorney) and Paul Escott (Assis‐ tant City-Parish Attor‐ ney), Karen Fontenot (Chief Financial Officer) (4:31:00) COMMENCEMENT Call to order Chair Richard called the Regular Parish Council Meeting of October 20, 2026 to order. AGENDA ITEM NO. 1: Invo‐ cation and Pledge of Al‐ legiance The Chair called upon Councilmember Rubin to deliver the invocation and called upon Coun‐ cilmember Guilbeau, to lead the Pledge of Alle‐ giance. WELCOME AND CHAIR ANNOUNCEMENTS Chair Richard made the following announce‐ ments: - Due to Election Day, the Council Meetings in No‐ vember and December will be on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month, returning to the typical 1st and 3rd Tues‐ days in January 2027; AGENDA ITEM NO. 2: COUNCIL ANNOUNCE‐ MENTS Rubin and Guilbeau pro‐ vided words of condo‐ lences for the family of former Councilmember Pat Lewis. AGENDA ITEM NO. 3: EX‐ ECUTIVE/MAYOR-PRESI‐ DENT’S REPORT Boulet’s announcements: - Echoed sentiments of Rubin and Guilbeau - The Louisiana DOTD Road Show would be held at the Council Audi‐ torium on October 29 at 1:30 pm; - Shared information on Halloween and Thanks‐ giving events in the Aca‐ diana region; - Announced that early voting started today and urged all to participate ORDINANCES FOR FINAL ADOPTION AGENDA ITEM NO. 4: PO046-2026 An ordinance of the Lafayette Parish Council amending Ordi‐ nance No. PO-033-2026 to authorize the funding re‐ allocated therein to also be used for the purchase of a rescue vehicle rather than for the purchase of a washer and dryer, mo‐ tion to adopt by Guil‐ beau, seconded by Rubin, and the vote was as follows: YEAS: Tabor, Richard, Stansbury, Guilbeau, Rubin NAYS: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None Motion to adopt was ap‐ proved. AGENDA ITEM NO. 5: PO047-2026 An ordinance of the Lafayette Parish Council amending the FY 25/26 operating and capi‐ tal budget of the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Govern‐ ment by transferring $15,950 from the Parish Council District 5 capital appropriation to the Parks, Arts, Recreation & Culture Department for miscellaneous interior designs and improve‐ ments, motion to adopt by Rubin, seconded by Guilbeau, and the vote was as follows: YEAS: Tabor, Richard,

Public Notices Meet/Hear/Min

Stansbury, Guilbeau, Rubin NAYS: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None Motion to adopt was ap‐ proved. AGENDA ITEM NO. 6: PO048-2026 An ordinance of the Lafayette Parish Council amending the FY 25/26 operating & capital budget of the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government to provide for adjustments of rev‐ enue and appropriation estimate, motion to adopt by Stansbury, sec‐ onded by Tabor, and the vote was as follows: YEAS: Tabor, Richard, Stansbury, Guilbeau, Rubin NAYS: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None Motion to adopt was ap‐ proved. AGENDA ITEM NO. 7: PO049-2026 An ordinance of the Lafayette Parish Council authorizing the Lafayette Mayor-Presi‐ dent to enter into a Co‐ operative Endeavor Agreement between the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Govern‐ ment, the Louisiana De‐ partment of the Treasury and the State of Louisiana concerning Act 3 of the 2026 Regular Leg‐ islative Session of the Louisiana Legislature and amending the FY 25/26 capital budget of the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Govern‐ ment by increasing rev‐ enues in the amount of $40,000 received from the State of Louisiana De‐ partment of the Treasury and appropriating within the Community Develop‐ ment and Planning De‐ partment (8166) as an ex‐ ternal appropriation for the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Ofﬁce for Milton Community Center crime cameras located within the community park named Picard Park Funds will be used to purchase and install the surveil‐ lance camera equipment throughout the park and connect to the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Ofﬁce Real Time Crime Center, motion to adopt by Guil‐ beau, seconded by Tabor. A motion to amend to strike the second Where As clause from the ordi‐ nance, as it was not ap‐ plicable by Stansbury, seconded by Amend‐ ment, and the vote was as follows: YEAS: Tabor, Richard, Stansbury, Guilbeau, Rubin NAYS: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None Motion to amend was ap‐ proved. The Chair then called for a vote to adopt, as amended, and the vote was as follows: YEAS: Tabor, Richard, Stansbury, Guilbeau, Rubin NAYS: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None Motion to adopt, as amended, was approved. JOINT ORDINANCES FOR FINAL ADOPTION AGENDA ITEM NO. 8: JO048-2026 A joint ordi‐ nance of the Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council amending the FY 25/26 operating budget of the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Govern‐ ment to provide for ad‐ justments of revenue and appropriation estimates, motion to adopt by Stansbury, seconded by Tabor, and the vote was as follows: YEAS: Tabor, Richard, Stansbury, Guilbeau, Rubin NAYS: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None Motion to adopt was ap‐ proved. AGENDA ITEM NO. 9: JO049-2026 A joint ordi‐ nance of the Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council amending the FY 25/26 operating budget of the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Govern‐ ment by authorizing the transfer of $200,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds within the Community Development and Plan‐ ning Department to the Housing Loans Program, motion to adopt by Rubin, seconded by Tabor, and the vote was as follows: YEAS: Tabor, Richard, Stansbury, Guilbeau, Rubin NAYS: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None Motion to adopt was ap‐ proved. INTRODUCTORY ORDINANCE AGENDA ITEM NO. 10: PO050-2026 An ordinance of the Lafayette Parish Council amending the FY 26/27 operating budget of the Lafayette CityParish Consolidated Gov‐ ernment by adjusting the manning tables within the Library Department by adjusting the status of one (1) Library Techni‐ cal Assistant I less-than full time position to a regular full-time position, motion to introduce by Rubin, seconded by Guil‐ beau, and the vote was as follows: YEAS: Tabor, Richard, Stansbury, Guilbeau, Rubin NAYS: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None Motion to introduce was approved. JOINT INTRODUCTORY ORDINANCES AGENDA ITEM NO. 11: JO050-2026 A joint ordi‐ nance of the Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council amending the FY 26/27 capital budget of the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Govern‐ ment by transferring $5,000 from the Environ‐ mental Quality Reserve to the Dean Domingue Compost Facility within the Capital Improve‐ ments Department, Envi‐ ronmental Quality Divi‐ sion for additional fund‐ ing needed, motion to in‐ troduce by Guilbeau, sec‐ onded by Tabor, and the vote was as follows: YEAS: Tabor, Richard, Stansbury, Guilbeau, Rubin NAYS: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None Motion to introduce was approved. (4:48:00) ADJOURN There being no further business to come before the Council, Chair Richard declared the Regular Meeting ad‐ journed. /s/ Joseph Gordon-Wiltz JOSEPH GORDON-WILTZ, LAFAYETTE CLERK OF THE COUNCIL 204864 Oct. 23 1t $87.71

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Legal Notices

PROCEEDINGS OF THE LAFAYETTE CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF THE CITY OF LAFAYETTE, STATE OF LOUISIANA, TAKEN AT A REGULAR MEETING OF OCTOBER 20, 2026 HELD AT 705 W. UNIVERSITY AVENUE, LAFAYETTE, LA. ATTENDANCE COUNCIL: Kenneth Boudreaux (Chair, District 5), Liz Hebert (Vice-Chair, District 3), Elroy Broussard (District 1), Andy Naquin (District 2), and Thomas Hooks (District 4) ABSENT: None COUNCIL STAFF: Joseph Gordon-Wiltz (Clerk of the Council), Cindy M. Semien (Associate Clerk for Legislative Affairs), Kelly Comeaux (Assistant Clerk for Legislative Affairs), Jeremy Richardson (Associate Clerk for Operations and Citizen Advocacy) ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF: Monique B. Boulet (Mayor-President), Rachel Godeaux (Chief Administrative Officer), Robert A. Mahtook, Jr. (CityParish Attorney) and Paul Escott (Assistant City-Parish Attorney). Karen Fontenot (Chief Financial Officer) (5:34:00) COMMENCEMENT Call to order Chair Boudreaux called the Regular City Council Meeting of October 20, 2026 to order. AGENDA ITEM NO. 1: Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance The Chair called upon Councilmember Naquin to cite an invocation and Councilmember Hebert to lead the Pledge of Allegiance. WELCOME AND CHAIR ANNOUNCEMENTS Boudreaux made the following announcements: • Due to Election Day, the Council Meetings in November and December will be on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month, returning to the typical 1st and 3rd Tuesdays in January 2027; • Item #7 CO-085-2026 – Finance requested an amendment to implement a budget revision that is necessary to provide emergency housing funding to Acadiana Regional Coalition on Homelessness & Housing; • Item #8 CO-086-2026 – Mayor-President requested an amendment to strike the second Where As clause from the ordinance, as it was not applicable; • Item #9 CO-087-2026 – Mayor-President requested an amendment to strike the second Where As clause from the ordinance, as it was not applicable; • Item #10 CO-088-2026 – Mayor-President requested an amendment to strike the second Where As clause from the ordinance, as it was not applicable; • Item #11 CO-089-2026 – Mayor-President requested an amendment to strike the second Where As clause from the ordinance, as it was not applicable.; • Provided information on former Councilmember Pat Lewis’ funeral arrangements; • Announced the end of Breast Cancer Awareness Month and urged all to get their yearly screenings; • Announced that it is the end of Domestic Violence Awareness Month; • Announced that there is a public meeting for the Jefferson Market Deli and other concerns related to the Jefferson Street area and Plaza Project on October 29 at The Greenhouse; • Announced that early voting has started and urged all to participate. AGENDA ITEM NO. 2: COUNCIL ANNOUNCEMENTS Broussard provided words of condolences for the family of former Councilmember Pat Lewis. He also announced that the residents’ meeting for Himbola Manor Apartments would be held on Wednesday, October 21 at 10am – 12pm and 4pm – 6pm. Boudreaux emphasized that the meeting would be for residents and their immediate concerns. AGENDA ITEM NO. 3: EXECUTIVE/MAYOR-PRESIDENT’S REPORT Boulet’s announcements: • Offered words of condolences for former Councilmember Pat Lewis; • Echoed remarks of Boudreaux on the Himbola Manor Apartments; • The meeting for the Johnson Street/Louisiana Avenue Corridor would be held at the Downtown Convention Center on October 26 5:30 – 7:30 pm; • The Louisiana DOTD Road Show would be held at the Council Auditorium on October 29 at 1:30 pm; • Shared information on Halloween events in the Acadiana region; • Chase Edwards, Assistant District Attorney explained the order of abatement; • Corporal Brooks of the Lafayette Police Department provided statistics tied to Plantation Inn; • Elsa Dimitriadis, representing ARCH, provided information on assessments of households residing at the Plantation Inn. • Hebert requested information on how the community can help those affected within the Plantation Inn relocation efforts and for Council staff assistance in collaboration with ARCH; • Boudreaux asked Dimitriadis for an update on the state legislation and its impact on homelessness; • Robbie Mahtook spoke to the legal process involved. RESOLUTION AGENDA ITEM NO. 4: CR-017-2026 A resolution of the Lafayette City Council to approve a mid-year amendment to the FY 2026 budget of the Downtown Development Authority (“DDA”), the governing authority of the Lafayette Centre Development District (“LCDD”), as adopted by the DDA Board of Directors on August 19, 2026, motion to adopt by Naquin, seconded by Hebert, and the vote was as follows: YEAS: Broussard, Naquin, Hebert, Hooks, Boudreaux NAYS: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None Motion to adopt was approved. Kevin Blanchard signed in to speak but only if there were questions AGENDA ITEM NO. 5: CR-018-2026 A resolution of the Lafayette City Council affirming the selection of funding recipients for the 2026-2027 external agencies funding program, motion to adopt by Hebert, seconded by Hooks, and the vote was as follows: YEAS: Broussard, Naquin, Hebert, Hooks, Boudreaux NAYS: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None Motion to adopt was approved. ORDINANCES FOR FINAL ADOPTION AGENDA ITEM NO. 6: CO-084-2026 An ordinance of the Lafayette City Council amending the FY 25/26 operating and capital budget of the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government by adjusting various capital projects in Fund 6500 American Rescue Plan/21-City and Fund 1010 General Fund-City Fund to expedite spending of the ARPA grant funds, motion to adopt by Naquin, seconded by Hooks, and the vote was as follows: YEAS: Broussard, Naquin, Hebert, Hooks, Boudreaux NAYS: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None Motion to adopt was approved. AGENDA ITEM NO. 7: CO-085-2026 An ordinance of the Lafayette City Council amending the FY 25/26 operating & capital budget of the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government to provide for adjustments of revenue and appropriation estimates, motion to adopt by Naquin, seconded by Hebert. A motion to amend to implement a budget revision that is necessary to provide emergency housing funding to Acadiana Regional Coalition on Homelessness and Housing by Hebert, seconded by Broussard, and the vote was as follows: YEAS: Broussard, Naquin, Hebert, Hooks, Boudreaux NAYS: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None Motion to amend was approved. The Chair then called for a vote to adopt, as amended, and the vote was as follows: YEAS: Broussard, Naquin, Hebert, Hooks, Boudreaux NAYS: None ABSENT: None

Legal Notices

ABSTAIN: None Motion to adopt, as amended, was approved. AGENDA ITEM NO. 8: CO-086-2026 An ordinance of the Lafayette City Council authorizing the Lafayette Mayor-President to enter into a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement between the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government, the Louisiana Department of the Treasury and the State of Louisiana concerning Act 961 of the 2026 Regular Legislative Session of the Louisiana Legislature and amending the FY 25/26 capital budget of the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government by increasing revenues in the amount of $10,000 received from the State of Louisiana Department of the Treasury and appropriating within the Lafayette Police Department to acquire special response gear upgrades that includes helmets, gloves, shields, batons, protective padding riot gear, body armor, motion to adopt by Naquin, seconded by Hooks. A motion to amend to strike the second Where As clause from the ordinance, as it is not applicable by Naquin, seconded by Hebert, and the vote was as follows: YEAS: Broussard, Naquin, Hebert, Hooks, Boudreaux NAYS: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None Motion to amend was approved. The Chair then called for a vote to adopt, as amended, and the vote was as follows: YEAS: Broussard, Naquin, Hebert, Hooks, Boudreaux NAYS: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None Motion to adopt, as amended, was approved. Christina Dayries, Chief of Staff, provided justification for this amendment and the following three. AGENDA ITEM NO. 9: CO-087-2026 An ordinance of the Lafayette City Council authorizing the Lafayette Mayor-President to enter into a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement between the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government, the Louisiana Department of the Treasury and the State of Louisiana concerning Act 961 of the 2026 Regular Legislative Session of the Louisiana Legislature and amending the FY 25/26 capital budget of the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government by increasing revenues in the amount of $220,000 received from the State of Louisiana Department of the Treasury and appropriating within the Lafayette Police Department in support of the initial development phase of a new canine training facility for the Lafayette Police Department supported by the Lafayette Consolidated Government, the requested funds will cover land acquisition, land surveys, site fencing, and preliminary project costs; the primary outcome will be a fully prepared site ready for facility construction and obstacle course installation, motion to adopt by Naquin, seconded by Hebert. A motion to amend to strike the second Where As clause from the ordinance, as it is not applicable by Hebert, seconded by Broussard, and the vote was as follows: YEAS: Broussard, Naquin, Hebert, Hooks, Boudreaux NAYS: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None Motion to amend was approved. The Chair then called for a vote to adopt, as amended, and the vote was as follows: YEAS: Broussard, Naquin, Hebert, Hooks, Boudreaux NAYS: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None Motion to adopt, as amended, was approved. AGENDA ITEM NO. 10: CO-088-2026 An ordinance of the Lafayette City Council authorizing the Lafayette Mayor-President to enter into a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement between the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government, the Louisiana Department of the Treasury and the State of Louisiana concerning Act 3 of the 2026 Regular Legislative Session of the Louisiana Legislature and amending the FY 25/26 capital budget of the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government by increasing revenues in the amount of $100,000 received from the State of Louisiana Department of the Treasury and appropriating within the Lafayette Police Department to acquire patrol ballistic shields, increase onsite equipment storage such as hats, duty belts, batons, baton holders, OC spray, OC spray holder, handcuffs, handcuff cases, and rain gear and holsters motion to adopt by Naquin, seconded by Hebert. A motion to amend to strike the second Where As clause from the ordinance, as it is not applicable by Hebert, seconded by Naquin, and the vote was as follows: YEAS: Broussard, Naquin, Hebert, Hooks, Boudreaux NAYS: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None Motion to amend was approved. The Chair then called for a vote to adopt, as amended, and the vote was as follows: YEAS: Broussard, Naquin, Hebert, Hooks, Boudreaux NAYS: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None Motion to adopt, as amended, was approved. AGENDA ITEM NO. 11: CO-089-2026 An ordinance of the Lafayette City Council authorizing the Lafayette Mayor-President to enter into a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement between the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government, the Louisiana Department of the Treasury and the State of Louisiana concerning Act 3 of the 2026 Regular Legislative Session of the Louisiana Legislature and amending the FY 25/26 capital budget of the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government by increasing revenues in the amount of $100,000 received from the State of Louisiana Department of the Treasury and appropriating within the Lafayette City Marshal’s Office to acquire a mobile metal detector system for the safety of school and specialized events, a trailer for the purpose of transporting the agency’s 4x4 all-terrain vehicle, and automated external defibrillators (AEDS), motion to adopt by Broussard, seconded by Naquin. A motion to amend to strike the second Where As clause from the ordinance, as it is not applicable by Hebert, seconded by Hooks, and the vote was as follows: YEAS: Broussard, Naquin, Hebert, Hooks, Boudreaux NAYS: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None Motion to amend was approved. The Chair then called for a vote to adopt, as amended, and the vote was as follows: YEAS: Broussard, Naquin, Hebert, Hooks, Boudreaux NAYS: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None Motion to adopt, as amended, was approved.

Legal Notices

City Council amending the FY 25/26 operating and capital budget of the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government by increasing revenues in the amount of $177,954.54 in FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program funds received from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, as well as transferring $17,795.46 in capital outlay funds from the Lafayette Fire Department to serve as a local match, and appropriating within the Community Development and Planning Department for Lafayette Fire Department firefighter cancer screenings, motion to adopt by Naquin, seconded by Hebert, and the vote was as follows: YEAS: Broussard, Naquin, Hebert, Hooks, Boudreaux NAYS: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None Motion to adopt was approved. JOINT ORDINANCES FOR FINAL ADOPTION AGENDA ITEM NO. 15: JO-048-2026 A joint ordinance of the Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council amending the FY 25/26 operating budget of the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government to provide for adjustments of revenue and appropriation estimates, motion to adopt by Hebert, seconded by Hooks, and the vote was as follows: YEAS: Broussard, Naquin, Hebert, Hooks, Boudreaux NAYS: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None Motion to adopt was approved. AGENDA ITEM NO. 16: JO-049-2026 A joint ordinance of the Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council amending the FY 25/26 operating budget of the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government by authorizing the transfer of $200,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds within the Community Development and Planning Department to the Housing Loans Program, motion to adopt by Naquin, seconded by Broussard, and the vote was as follows: YEAS: Broussard, Naquin, Hebert, Hooks, Boudreaux NAYS: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None Motion to adopt was approved. INTRODUCTORY ORDINANCES A motion to introduce agenda items 17 thru 20 in globo, was offered by Hebert, seconded by Naquin. 17. CO-093-2026 An ordinance of the Lafayette City Council amending the Lafayette Development Code so as to reclassify the property of Case No. 2026-16-REZ Lots 4-12, Block 6, General Mouton Avenue Rezoning, located generally north of Rose Street, west of General Mouton Avenue, and south of Violet Street; being rezoned from CH (Commercial-Heavy) to MN-1 (Mixed-Use Neighborhood). 18. CO-094-2026 An ordinance of the Lafayette City Council approving a Conditional Use Permit to allow a bar/lounge in a D (Downtown) Zoning District, Case No. 2026-17-REZ 201 Jefferson Street, Suite B CUP (Conditional Use Permit), located generally north of Lee Avenue, west of East Cypress Street, and south of Jefferson Street. 19. CO-095-2026 An ordinance of the Lafayette City Council amending the Lafayette Development Code and the official map of the City of Lafayette, providing for the annexation of additional land into the Corporate Limits of the City of Lafayette, Louisiana, Case No. 202619-REZ 1409 East Butcher Switch Road #C (Lot 1) Annexation, located generally north of East Butcher Switch Road, east of Louisiana Avenue, and south of Gloria Switch Road; and assigning a zoning classification of RS-1 (Residential Single-Family) (District 1). 20. CO-096-2026 An ordinance of the Lafayette City Council amending the FY 26/27 operating and capital budget of the Lafayette CityParish Consolidated Government by transferring $225,509.80 from various capital budget line items and appropriating to purchase three (3) replacement 1-ton dual crew trucks with 3-yard bed within the Drainage Department. The Chair then called for a vote to introduce the ordinances (items 17 thru 20), in globo, and the vote was as follows: YEAS: Broussard, Naquin, Hebert, Hooks, Boudreaux NAYS: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None Motion to introduce, in globo, was approved. Item #18 – Quentin Borel provided a presentation and spoke in support of issuing a permit to use for Plush Bar & Lounge citing safeguards for ID verification. Item #18 – Kevin Blanchard spoke in opposition of issuing the permit to use for Plush Bar & Lounge citing balance of day and nighttime business in the downtown area. JOINT INTRODUCTORY ORDINANCES AGENDA ITEM NO. 15: JO-050-2026 A joint ordinance of the Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council amending the FY 26/27 capital budget of the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government by transferring $5,000 from the Environmental Quality Reserve to the Dean Domingue Compost Facility within the Capital Improvements Department, Environmental Quality Division for additional funding needed, motion to introduce by Naquin, seconded by Hooks, and the vote was as follows: YEAS: Broussard, Naquin, Hebert, Hooks, Boudreaux NAYS: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None Motion to introduce was approved. COMMENT(S) FROM THE PUBLIC AGENDA ITEM NO. 22: Comments from the public on any other matter(s) not on an agenda and are within the legislative power of the Lafayette City Council. Mae Ella Robinson signed in to speak on issues surrounding Himbola Manor Apartments. Family Court Judge Susan Theall asked for support in her re-election campaign while noting that she has been practicing law for 40 years. (6:40:00) ADJOURN There being no further business to come before the Council, Chair Boudreaux declared the Regular Meeting adjourned. /s/ Joseph Gordon-Wiltz JOSEPH GORDON-WILTZ LAFAYETTE CLERK OF THE COUNCIL

AGENDA ITEM NO. 12: CO-090-2026 An ordinance of the Lafayette City Council authorizing and accepting the donation to the City of Lafayette from Link & Learn, LLC of certain internet access equipment previously contributed by Link & Learn, LLC to the former cooperative endeavor agreement by and among the Lafayette Parish School Board, Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government, and Link & Learn, LLC, motion to adopt by Naquin, seconded by Broussard, and the vote was as follows: YEAS: Broussard, Naquin, Hebert, Hooks, Boudreaux NAYS: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None Motion to adopt was approved. AGENDA ITEM NO. 13: CO-091-2026 An ordinance of the Lafayette City Council authorizing the Lafayette Mayor-President to enter into a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement by and between the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, Public Safety Services, Office of State Fire Marshal, Fire and Emergency Training Academy and the City of Lafayette concerning fire and emergency training, motion to adopt by Naquin, seconded by Hebert, and the vote was as follows: YEAS: Broussard, Naquin, Hebert, Hooks, Boudreaux NAYS: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None Motion to adopt was approved. Fire Chief Earl Borden explained the benefit that Lafayette will have from serving as a regional training site. AGENDA ITEM NO. 14: CO-092-2026 An ordinance of the Lafayette

204866-699984-oct 23-1t $ 529.20

12C ● Friday, October 23, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate Legal Notices

Legal Notices

NOTICE The Lafayette City Council met in Regular Session on October 20, 2026 and adopted the following ordinances: CITY ORDINANCE NO. CO-084-2026 AN ORDINANCE OF THE LAFAYETTE CITY COUNCIL AMENDING THE FY 25/26 OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGET OF THE LAFAYETTE CITY-PARISH CONSOLIDATED GOVERNMENT BY ADJUSTING VARIOUS CAPITAL PROJECTS IN FUND 6500 AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN/21-CITY AND FUND 1010 GENERAL FUND – CITY FUND TO EXPEDITE SPENDING OF THE ARPA GRANT FUNDS BE IT ORDAINED by the Lafayette City Council, that: SECTION 1: The FY 25/26 operating and capital budget of the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government is hereby amended to adjust various projects in Fund 6500 American Rescue Plan/21-City and Fund 1010 General Fund – City Fund to expedite spending of the ARPA grant funds. SECTION 2: The aforesaid adjustments shall be as reflected in any pertinent documents which are attached hereto and made a part hereof and filed in the Office of the Clerk of the Council. SECTION 3: All ordinances or resolutions, or parts thereof, in conflict herewith are hereby repealed. SECTION 4: This ordinance shall become effective upon signature of the Lafayette Mayor-President, the elapse of ten (10) days after receipt by the Lafayette Mayor-President without signature or veto, or upon an override of a veto, whichever occurs first. ***** CITY ORDINANCE NO. CO-085-2026 AN ORDINANCE OF THE LAFAYETTE CITY COUNCIL AMENDING THE FY 25/26 OPERATING & CAPITAL BUDGET OF THE LAFAYETTE CITY-PARISH CONSOLIDATED GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE FOR ADJUSTMENTS OF REVENUE AND APPROPRIATION ESTIMATES BE IT ORDAINED by the Lafayette City Council, that: SECTION 1: The FY 25/26 operating & capital budget of the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government is hereby amended to provide for various adjustments of revenue and appropriation estimates. SECTION 2: All revenue projections for the FY 25/26 have been reviewed by the Office of Finance and Management and recalculated in light of actual receipts to date. Appropriation line items have also been reviewed by the Office of Finance and Management and amended where necessary. SECTION 3: The adjustments shall be as reflected in any pertinent documents which are attached hereto and made a part hereof and filed in the Office of the Clerk of the Council. SECTION 4: All ordinances or resolutions, or parts thereof, in conflict herewith are hereby repealed. SECTION 5: This ordinance shall become effective upon signature of the Lafayette Mayor-President, the elapse of ten (10) days after receipt by the Lafayette Mayor-President without signature or veto, or upon an override of a veto, whichever occurs first. ***** CITY ORDINANCE NO. CO-086-2026 AN ORDINANCE OF THE LAFAYETTE CITY COUNCIL AUTHORIZING THE LAFAYETTE MAYOR-PRESIDENT TO ENTER INTO A COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE LAFAYETTE CITY-PARISH CONSOLIDATED GOVERNMENT, THE LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY AND THE STATE OF LOUISIANA CONCERNING ACT 961 OF THE 2026 REGULAR LEGISLATIVE SESSION OF THE LOUISIANA LEGISLATURE AND AMENDING THE FY 25/26 CAPITAL BUDGET OF THE LAFAYETTE CITY-PARISH CONSOLIDATED GOVERNMENT BY INCREASING REVENUES IN THE AMOUNT OF $10,000 RECEIVED FROM THE STATE OF LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY AND APPROPRIATING WITHIN THE LAFAYETTE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO ACQUIRE SPECIAL RESPONSE GEAR UPGRADES THAT INCLUDES HELMETS, GLOVES, SHIELDS, BATONS, PROTECTIVE PADDING RIOT GEAR, BODY ARMOR BE IT ORDAINED by the Lafayette City Council, that: WHEREAS, Act 961 of the 2026 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature, which was adopted in accordance with Article VII, Section 10, of the Constitution of the State of Louisiana, is the appropriation for the expenditure of State funds and said Act 961 contains a line-item appropriation within the State’s budget for the benefit of Lafayette CityParish Consolidated Government (LCG) of which the sum of $10,000 has been allocated for this project; and WHEREAS, Article VII, Section 14(C) of the 1974 Constitution of the State of Louisiana and LSA-R.S. 33:1324, et seq. provide that, for a public purpose, public entities, parishes, municipalities, and political subdivisions may engage in and make cooperative endeavor agreements/ intergovernmental agreements between themselves for specific purposes. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED by the Lafayette City Council, that: SECTION 1: All of the aforedescribed “Whereas” clauses are adopted as part of this ordinance. SECTION 2: The Lafayette City Council hereby authorizes the Lafayette Mayor-President to enter a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement with the Louisiana Department of Treasury and the State of Louisiana. SECTION 3: The FY 25/26 capital budget of the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government is hereby amended by increasing revenues in the amount of $10,000 received from the State of Louisiana Department of Treasury and appropriating within the Lafayette Police Department to acquire special response gear upgrades that includes helmets, gloves, shields, batons, protective padding riot gear, body armor. SECTION 4: The Lafayette City Council hereby authorizes the Lafayette Mayor-President, or her designee, to conduct all negotiations, execute and submit all documents, including but not limited to applications, agreements, amendments, payment requests, memoranda of understanding, and so on, which may be necessary for the completion of the aforementioned project. SECTION 5: This transfer of funds shall be as reflected in any pertinent documents which are attached hereto and made a part hereof and filed in the Office of the Clerk of the Council. The Lafayette MayorPresident, or her designee, is hereby authorized to amend the operating budget prior to project completion by de-obligating any unused funds deemed unnecessary for the completion of the project, as approved by the Louisiana Department of Treasury. SECTION 6: All ordinances or resolutions, or parts thereof, in conflict herewith are hereby repealed. SECTION 7: This ordinance shall become effective upon signature of the Lafayette Mayor-President, the elapse of ten (10) days after receipt by the Lafayette Mayor-President without signature or veto, or upon an override of a veto, whichever occurs first. ***** CITY ORDINANCE NO. CO-087-2026 AN ORDINANCE OF THE LAFAYETTE CITY COUNCIL AUTHORIZING THE LAFAYETTE MAYOR-PRESIDENT TO ENTER INTO A COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE LAFAYETTE CITY-PARISH CONSOLIDATED GOVERNMENT, THE LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY AND THE STATE OF LOUISIANA CONCERNING ACT 961 OF THE 2026 REGULAR LEGISLATIVE SESSION OF THE LOUISIANA LEGISLATURE AND AMENDING THE FY 25/26 CAPITAL BUDGET OF THE LAFAYETTE CITY-PARISH CONSOLIDATED GOVERNMENT BY INCREASING REVENUES IN THE AMOUNT OF $220,000 RECEIVED FROM THE STATE OF LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY AND APPROPRIATING WITHIN THE LAFAYETTE POLICE DEPARTMENT IN SUPPORT OF THE INITIAL DEVELOPMENT PHASE OF A NEW CANINE TRAINING FACILITY FOR THE LAFAYETTE POLICE DEPARTMENT SUPPORTED BY THE LAFAYETTE CONSOLIDATED GOVERNMENT, THE REQUESTED FUNDS WILL COVER LAND ACQUISITION, LAND SURVEYS, SITE FENCING, AND PRELIMINARY PROJECT COSTS; THE PRIMARY OUTCOME WILL BE A FULLY PREPARED SITE READY FOR FACILITY CONSTRUCTION AND OBSTACLE COURSE INSTALLATION BE IT ORDAINED by the Lafayette City Council, that: WHEREAS, Act 961 of the 2026 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature, which was adopted in accordance with Article VII, Section 10, of the Constitution of the State of Louisiana, is the appropriation for the expenditure of State funds and said Act 961 contains a line-item appropriation within the State’s budget for the benefit of Lafayette CityParish Consolidated Government (LCG) of which the sum of $220,000 has been allocated for this project; and WHEREAS, Article VII, Section 14(C) of the 1974 Constitution of the State of Louisiana and LSA-R.S. 33:1324, et seq. provide that, for a public purpose, public entities, parishes, municipalities, and political subdivisions may engage in and make cooperative endeavor agreements/ intergovernmental agreements between themselves for specific purposes. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED by the Lafayette City Council, that: SECTION 1: All of the aforedescribed “Whereas” clauses are adopted as part of this ordinance. SECTION 2: The Lafayette City Council hereby authorizes the Lafayette Mayor-President to enter a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement with the Louisiana Department of Treasury and the State of Louisiana. SECTION 3: The FY 25/26 capital budget of the Lafayette City-

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Parish Consolidated Government is hereby amended by increasing revenues in the amount of $220,000 received from the State of Louisiana Department of Treasury and appropriating within the Lafayette Police Department in support of the initial development phase of a new canine training facility for the Lafayette Police Department. Supported by the Lafayette Consolidated Government, the requested funds will cover land acquisition, land surveys, site fencing, and preliminary project costs. The primary outcome will be a fully prepared site ready for facility construction and obstacle course installation. SECTION 4: The Lafayette City Council hereby authorizes the Lafayette Mayor-President, or her designee, to conduct all negotiations, execute and submit all documents, including but not limited to applications, agreements, amendments, payment requests, memoranda of understanding, and so on, which may be necessary for the completion of the aforementioned project. SECTION 5: This transfer of funds shall be as reflected in any pertinent documents which are attached hereto and made a part hereof and filed in the Office of the Clerk of the Council. The Lafayette MayorPresident, or her designee, is hereby authorized to amend the operating budget prior to project completion by de-obligating any unused funds deemed unnecessary for the completion of the project, as approved by the Louisiana Department of Treasury. SECTION 6: All ordinances or resolutions, or parts thereof, in conflict herewith are hereby repealed. SECTION 7: This ordinance shall become effective upon signature of the Lafayette Mayor-President, the elapse of ten (10) days after receipt by the Lafayette Mayor-President without signature or veto, or upon an override of a veto, whichever occurs first. ***** CITY ORDINANCE NO. CO-088-2026 AN ORDINANCE OF THE LAFAYETTE CITY COUNCIL AUTHORIZING THE LAFAYETTE MAYOR-PRESIDENT TO ENTER INTO A COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE LAFAYETTE CITY-PARISH CONSOLIDATED GOVERNMENT, THE LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY AND THE STATE OF LOUISIANA CONCERNING ACT 3 OF THE 2026 REGULAR LEGISLATIVE SESSION OF THE LOUISIANA LEGISLATURE AND AMENDING THE FY 25/26 CAPITAL BUDGET OF THE LAFAYETTE CITY-PARISH CONSOLIDATED GOVERNMENT BY INCREASING REVENUES IN THE AMOUNT OF $100,000 RECEIVED FROM THE STATE OF LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY AND APPROPRIATING WITHIN THE LAFAYETTE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO ACQUIRE PATROL BALLISTIC SHIELDS, INCREASE ONSITE EQUIPMENT STORAGE SUCH AS HATS, DUTY BELTS, BATONS, BATON HOLDERS, OC SPRAY, OC SPRAY HOLDER, HANDCUFFS, HANDCUFF CASES, AND RAIN GEAR AND HOLSTERS BE IT ORDAINED by the Lafayette City Council, that: WHEREAS, Act 3 of the 2026 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature, which was adopted in accordance with Article VII, Section 10, of the Constitution of the State of Louisiana, is the appropriation for the expenditure of State funds and said Act 3 contains a line-item appropriation within the State’s budget for the benefit of Lafayette CityParish Consolidated Government (LCG) of which the sum of $100,000 has been allocated for this project; and WHEREAS, Article VII, Section 14(C) of the 1974 Constitution of the State of Louisiana and LSA-R.S. 33:1324, et seq. provide that, for a public purpose, public entities, parishes, municipalities, and political subdivisions may engage in and make cooperative endeavor agreements/ intergovernmental agreements between themselves for specific purposes. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED by the Lafayette City Council, that: SECTION 1: All of the aforedescribed “Whereas” clauses are adopted as part of this ordinance. SECTION 2: The Lafayette City Council hereby authorizes the Lafayette Mayor-President to enter a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement with the Louisiana Department of Treasury and the State of Louisiana. SECTION 3: The FY 25/26 capital budget of the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government is hereby amended by increasing revenues in the amount of $100,000 received from the State of Louisiana Department of Treasury and appropriating within the Lafayette Police Department to acquire patrol ballistic shields, increase onsite equipment storage such as, hats, duty belts, batons, baton holders, OC spray, OC spray holder, handcuffs, handcuff cases, and rain gear and holsters. SECTION 4: The Lafayette City Council hereby authorizes the Lafayette Mayor-President, or her designee, to conduct all negotiations, execute and submit all documents, including but not limited to applications, agreements, amendments, payment requests, memoranda of understanding, and so on, which may be necessary for the completion of the aforementioned project. SECTION 5: This transfer of funds shall be as reflected in any pertinent documents which are attached hereto and made a part hereof and filed in the Office of the Clerk of the Council. The Lafayette MayorPresident, or her designee, is hereby authorized to amend the operating budget prior to project completion by de-obligating any unused funds deemed unnecessary for the completion of the project, as approved by the Louisiana Department of Treasury. SECTION 6: All ordinances or resolutions, or parts thereof, in conflict herewith are hereby repealed. SECTION 7: This ordinance shall become effective upon signature of the Lafayette Mayor-President, the elapse of ten (10) days after receipt by the Lafayette Mayor-President without signature or veto, or upon an override of a veto, whichever occurs first. ***** CITY ORDINANCE NO. CO-089-2026 AN ORDINANCE OF THE LAFAYETTE CITY COUNCIL AUTHORIZING THE LAFAYETTE MAYOR-PRESIDENT TO ENTER INTO A COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE LAFAYETTE CITY-PARISH CONSOLIDATED GOVERNMENT, THE LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY AND THE STATE OF LOUISIANA CONCERNING ACT 3 OF THE 2026 REGULAR LEGISLATIVE SESSION OF THE LOUISIANA LEGISLATURE AND AMENDING THE FY 25/26 CAPITAL BUDGET OF THE LAFAYETTE CITY-PARISH CONSOLIDATED GOVERNMENT BY INCREASING REVENUES IN THE AMOUNT OF $100,000 RECEIVED FROM THE STATE OF LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY AND APPROPRIATING WITHIN THE LAFAYETTE CITY MARSHAL’S OFFICE TO ACQUIRE A MOBILE METAL DETECTOR SYSTEM FOR THE SAFETY OF SCHOOL AND SPECIALIZED EVENTS, A TRAILER FOR THE PURPOSE OF TRANSPORTING THE AGENCY’S 4X4 ALL-TERRAIN VEHICLE, AND AUTOMATED EXTERNAL DEFIBRILLATORS (AEDS) BE IT ORDAINED by the Lafayette City Council, that: WHEREAS, Act 3 of the 2026 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature, which was adopted in accordance with Article VII, Section 10, of the Constitution of the State of Louisiana, is the appropriation for the expenditure of State funds and said Act 3 contains a line-item appropriation within the State’s budget for the benefit of Lafayette CityParish Consolidated Government (LCG) of which the sum of $100,000 has been allocated for this project; and WHEREAS, Article VII, Section 14(C) of the 1974 Constitution of the State of Louisiana and LSA-R.S. 33:1324, et seq. provide that, for a public purpose, public entities, parishes, municipalities, and political subdivisions may engage in and make cooperative endeavor agreements/ intergovernmental agreements between themselves for specific purposes. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED by the Lafayette City Council, that: SECTION 1: All of the aforedescribed “Whereas” clauses are adopted as part of this ordinance. SECTION 2: The Lafayette City Council hereby authorizes the Lafayette Mayor-President to enter a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement with the Louisiana Department of Treasury and the State of Louisiana. SECTION 3: The FY 25/26 capital budget of the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government is hereby amended by increasing revenues in the amount of $100,000 received from the State of Louisiana Department of Treasury and appropriating within the Lafayette City Marshals Office to acquire a mobile metal detector system for the safety of school and specialized events, a trailer for the purpose of transporting the agency’s 4x4 All-Terrain Vehicle, and Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs). SECTION 4: The Lafayette City Council hereby authorizes the Lafayette Mayor-President, or her designee, to conduct all negotiations, execute and submit all documents, including but not limited to applications, agreements, amendments, payment requests, memoranda of understanding, and so on, which may be necessary for the completion of the aforementioned project. SECTION 5: This transfer of funds shall be as reflected in any pertinent documents which are attached hereto and made a part hereof and filed in the Office of the Clerk of the Council. The Lafayette MayorPresident, or her designee, is hereby authorized to amend the operating budget prior to project completion by de-obligating any unused funds deemed unnecessary for the completion of the project, as approved by the Louisiana Department of Treasury. SECTION 6: All ordinances or resolutions, or parts thereof, in conflict herewith are hereby repealed. SECTION 7: This ordinance shall become effective upon signature of the Lafayette Mayor-President, the elapse of ten (10) days after receipt by the Lafayette Mayor-President without signature or veto, or upon an override of a veto, whichever occurs first. ***** CITY ORDINANCE NO. CO-090-2026 AN ORDINANCE OF THE LAFAYETTE CITY COUNCIL AUTHORIZING

Legal Notices

AND ACCEPTING THE DONATION TO THE CITY OF LAFAYETTE FROM LINK & LEARN, LLC OF CERTAIN INTERNET ACCESS EQUIPMENT PREVIOUSLY CONTRIBUTED BY LINK & LEARN, LLC TO THE FORMER COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT BY AND AMONG THE LAFAYETTE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD, LAFAYETTE CITY-PARISH CONSOLIDATED GOVERNMENT, AND LINK & LEARN, LLC BE IT ORDAINED by the Lafayette City Council, that: WHEREAS, the Lafayette Parish School Board, Link & Learn, LLC, and Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government d/b/a LUS Fiber entered into a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement (“CEA”) on May 5, 2022 to provide a dedicated Wi-Fi network to serve certain students of the Lafayette Parish School System in certain areas of Lafayette Parish, sometimes known as the “Link & Learn Project;” and WHEREAS, Link & Learn, LLC contributed certain internet access equipment to the CEA (the “Equipment”), while retaining ownership of the Equipment during the life of the Link & Learn Project; and WHEREAS, the CEA is now terminated and the Link & Learn Project is no longer operational; and WHEREAS, Link & Learn, LLC has no further use for the Equipment and desires to donate it to the City of Lafayette d/b/a LFT Fiber “as is” and “where is”; and the City of Lafayette d/b/a LFT Fiber desires to accept the donation. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED by the Lafayette City Council, that: SECTION 1: The “Whereas” clauses in the preamble of this ordinance are adopted as part of this ordinance. SECTION 2: The Lafayette Mayor-President is hereby authorized to accept a donation of the Equipment to the City of Lafayette d/b/a LFT Fiber, “as is,” and “where is,” including the execution of an Act of Donation substantially in the form attached hereto and made a part hereof. SECTION 3: The Lafayette Mayor-President, or her designee, is hereby further authorized to take any and all actions and to execute any and all documents which are, in the judgment of the Lafayette MayorPresident, in consultation with the Lafayette City-Parish Attorney or his designee, necessary, convenient, or desirable to accept the donation of the Equipment and carry out the purposes of this ordinance. SECTION 4: All ordinances or resolutions, or parts thereof, in conflict herewith are hereby repealed. SECTION 5: This ordinance shall become effective upon signature of the Lafayette Mayor-President, the elapse of ten (10) days after receipt by the Lafayette Mayor-President without signature or veto, or upon override of a veto, whichever occurs first. ***** CITY ORDINANCE NO. CO-091-2026 AN ORDINANCE OF THE LAFAYETTE CITY COUNCIL AUTHORIZING THE LAFAYETTE MAYOR-PRESIDENT TO ENTER INTO A COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT BY AND BETWEEN THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND CORRECTIONS, PUBLIC SAFETY SERVICES, OFFICE OF STATE FIRE MARSHAL, FIRE AND EMERGENCY TRAINING ACADEMY AND THE CITY OF LAFAYETTE CONCERNING FIRE AND EMERGENCY TRAINING BE IT ORDAINED by the Lafayette City Council, that: WHEREAS, Article VII, Section 14(C) of the Constitution of the State of Louisiana provides that, “For a public purpose, the state and its political subdivisions. . . may engage in cooperative endeavors with each other, with the United States or its agencies, or with any public or private association, corporation, or individual;” and WHEREAS, the Fire and Emergency Training Academy (herein “FETA”) is a division of the State of Louisiana’s Department of Public Safety and Corrections, Public Safety Services, Office of State Fire Marshal, which serves as a central hub for firefighter training, certification, and education, with the goal of enhancing fire protection and emergency services across the state; and WHEREAS, FETA provides high-quality fire and emergency training to local fire and emergency departments and districts and the training sessions offered by FETA are coordinated through local fire and emergency departments and training services districts to ensure standardization and certification of all training programs, personnel, and courses pursuant to La. R.S. 40:1551; and WHEREAS, the City of Lafayette (herein the “City”) wishes to assist in the coordination and facilitation of FETA’s training courses within its geographical area; and WHEREAS, the City maintains sufficient office and training space available for use by FETA; and WHEREAS, the parties desire to enter into a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement (herein sometimes simply the “Agreement”) setting forth the terms and conditions of the City’s facilitation of FETA’s training courses within its geographical area and the use by FETA of the City’s available office and training space; and WHEREAS, FETA and the City each have common responsibilities, goals and objectives concerning fire and emergency services and public safety within the Parish of Lafayette and the surrounding areas, and by entering into the Agreement the efforts of the parties could produce efficiencies in the use of public funds and an increase in public safety through increased training opportunities for the state; and WHEREAS, the Parish of Lafayette and FETA have reasonable expectations of receiving benefit or value from the Agreement that is equivalent to or greater than the consideration described in the Agreement. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED by the Lafayette City Council, that: SECTION 1: All of the aforedescribed “Whereas” clauses are herein adopted as part of this ordinance. SECTION 2: The Lafayette Mayor-President is hereby authorized to enter into the Cooperative Endeavor Agreement with the State of Louisiana’s Department of Public Safety and Corrections, Public Safety Services, Office of State Fire Marshal concerning FETA, in substantially the same form as attached herewith, and to take all action necessary to carry out the intent of this ordinance. SECTION 3: All ordinances and resolutions, or parts thereof, in conflict herewith are hereby repealed. SECTION 4: This ordinance shall become effective upon the signature of the Lafayette Mayor-President, the elapse of ten (10) days after receipt by the Lafayette Mayor-President without signature or veto, or upon override of a veto, whichever occurs first. ***** CITY ORDINANCE NO. CO-092-2026 AN ORDINANCE OF THE LAFAYETTE CITY COUNCIL AMENDING THE FY 25/26 OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGET OF THE LAFAYETTE CITY-PARISH CONSOLIDATED GOVERNMENT BY INCREASING REVENUES IN THE AMOUNT OF $177,954.54 IN FEMA ASSISTANCE TO FIREFIGHTERS GRANT PROGRAM FUNDS RECEIVED FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, AS WELL AS TRANSFERRING $17,795.46 IN CAPITAL OUTLAY FUNDS FROM THE LAFAYETTE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO SERVE AS A LOCAL MATCH, AND APPROPRIATING WITHIN THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND PLANNING DEPARTMENT FOR LAFAYETTE FIRE DEPARTMENT FIREFIGHTER CANCER SCREENINGS BE IT ORDAINED by the Lafayette City Council, that: SECTION 1: The FY 25/26 operating budget of the Lafayette CityParish Consolidated Government is hereby amended by increasing revenues in the amount of $177, 954.54 received from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Assistance to Firefighter Grant Program and appropriating within the Community Development and Planning Department for cancer screenings for Lafayette Fire Department firefighters. SECTION 2: The FY 25/26 operating and capital budget of the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government is hereby further amended by transferring $17,795.46 in Capital Outlay funds from the Lafayette Fire Department to the Community Development and Planning Department as a local match. SECTION 3: The Lafayette City Council hereby authorizes the Lafayette Mayor-President, or her designee, to conduct all negotiations, execute and submit all documents, including but not limited to applications, agreements, amendments, payment requests, memoranda of understanding, and so on, which may be necessary for the completion of the aforementioned project. SECTION 4: This transfer of funds shall be as reflected in any pertinent documents which are attached hereto and made a part hereof and filed in the Office of the Clerk of the Council. The Lafayette Mayor-President, or her designee, is hereby authorized to amend the operating budget within the grant period by de-obligating any unused funds deemed unnecessary for the completion of the project. SECTION 5: All ordinances or resolutions, or parts thereof, in conflict herewith are hereby repealed. SECTION 6: This ordinance shall become effective upon signature of the Lafayette Mayor-President, the elapse of ten (10) days after receipt by the Lafayette Mayor-President without signature or veto, or upon override of a veto, whichever occurs first. ***** /s/ Joseph Gordon-Wiltz JOSEPH GORDON-WILTZ LAFAYETTE CLERK OF THE COUNCIL

204862-699982-oct 23-1t $ 529.20

The Acadiana Advocate ● theadvocate.com ● Friday, October 23, 2026 ● 13C

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TODAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

Warm with plenty of sunshine

Plenty of sun

Partly sunny

Partial sunshine

Partly sunny

HIGH

LOW

HIGH

86° 54°

LOW

HIGH

84° 53°

LOW

81° 55°

HIGH

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

Beaumont 86/61 Port Arthur 84/65

Hattiesburg 85/48

Alexandria 86/50

Lafayette 86/54

Baton Rouge 86/52

Lake Charles 86/55

10s

20s

30s

Houma 83/54

40s

50s

LOW

YESTERDAY

60s

70s

80s

FULL

OCT 25

City

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

Austin Boston Dallas Fairbanks Honolulu Las Vegas Louisville Miami Nashville

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

HIGH

8:47a 3:28a 2:38a 4:27a 11:53a 10:11a 1:01p

Sunrise today Sunset tonight Moonrise today Moonset today

90s 100s 110s

PRECIPITATION

84°/51° 79°/58° 80°/55° 92° in 1939 36° in 1917

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

New Orleans 82/61

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

HIGH

82° 55°

Lafayette through 5 p.m. Thursday

Jackson 85/52 Many 87/47

LOW

81° 55°

TEMPERATURE

Longview 86/50

-0s

LOW

Monroe 86/48

Shreveport 86/52

-10s

HIGH

80° 56°

Expect another beautiful day in Southeast Louisiana. Expect a mostly sunny and warm Friday with a light breeze. Temperatures this afternoon are about average, rising to the mid-80s. Our winds will remain east-northeast at 5 to 10 mph, much lighter than the winds in Paris, France, where they are blowing at 20 to 30 mph. There is no rainfall in the forecast today and none expected this weekend. While that is good news for your outdoor activities, everyday without rain, our drought conditions could get worse.

FT.

NEW

NOV 1

87 55 84 27 87 70 73 83 77

TODAY Lo

56 39 59 18 71 60 47 71 46

FIRST

NOV 9

s s s s pc pc s sh s

NOV 17

86 59 84 34 85 76 74 84 78

SAT. Lo

60 41 62 27 74 57 49 71 47

FT.

HIGH

0.5 3:29a 0.4 1.5 9:16a 1.1 2.0 7:05a 1.2 1.4 11:05a 0.7 0.9 4:36a 0.8 1.2 2:40a 1.0 1.1 5:38a 0.9

7:15 a.m. 6:29 p.m. 4:51 p.m. 4:34 a.m.

LAST

LOW

0.00” 0.89” 3.36” 47.05” 52.06”

pc s pc pc pc s s t s

9:12p 3:34p 3:07p 5:35p 9:10p 8:46p 10:18p

FT.

MODERATE

READING 74 MAIN POLLUTANT Ozone

MAIN POLLUTANT Ozone

SOURCE: LOUISIANA DEQ AND AIRNOW.GOV

LOW

FT.

0.6 3:14p 0.4 1.4 8:07p 1.2 2.1 7:18p 1.3 1.4 11:04p 1.0 1.0 2:46p 0.9 1.3 2:05p 1.1 1.3 3:48p 1.1

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 9:26a Saturday 10:07a Sunday 10:52a Monday 11:44a Tuesday 12:13a Wednesday 1:17a Thursday 2:27a

City

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

3:15a 9:49p 3:55a 10:30p 4:39a 11:17p 5:30a ---6:28a 12:43p 7:33a 1:49p 8:43a 2:59p

TODAY

82 82 62 80 61 69 76 72 83

61 64 40 63 37 47 50 59 63

s s s s s s s pc s

TODAY

MODERATE

79 83 64 79 64 67 75 75 84

3:37p 4:18p 5:04p 5:57p 6:58p 8:05p 9:15p

SAT. Lo

61 69 39 60 39 46 52 61 68

FLOOD STAGE

34 48 48 35 27 22 17

THU. 24-HOUR STAGE CHANGE

2.70 22.70 25.00 10.70 6.10 4.71 3.60

-0.85 -0.20 -0.10 -0.20 -0.20 -0.14 -0.13

17.42

-0.51

-1.86

-0.12

18 29 8

-1.35 9.66 2.63

none +0.01 -0.19

13 15

1.36 0.56

+0.01 +0.02

47 34 29 20 12 6

9.81 6.65 5.06 4.74 3.20 2.37

-0.13 -0.20 -0.23 -0.09 -0.20 -0.05

data as of 7 a.m. Thursday

SELF-SCH TO

ULE ED

SCAN

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

s sh s s s s s s pc

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SPECIAL OFFER

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AP P

14C l Friday, October 23, 2026 l theadvocate.com l The Acadiana Advocate

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